cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction: The Renewed Role of Remittances in the New World Order

The impact of remittances on local economic development is one part of a multilayered process involved in the elusive pursuit of economic and social development by people in Third World countries. Since the late 1980s, this pursuit has been made more difficult by what has been called "market triumphalism" in the new world order, which, instead of improving the position of the Third World, leaves most of its members farther behind the industrialized countries (Peet and Watts 1993; Ihonvbere 1992). Remittances channeled into some of the most backward regions and countries of the Third World are therefore likely to play a continuing role locally. What this role may be depends on such factors as how, by whom, where, and over what period of time the remittances are spent. Development may be viewed as based on two interrelated forces: the external transfer of resources and the internal marshaling of resources (Fig. 1). These forces are as relevant for nations as they are for regions, towns, and individuals. Economic base analysis and international trade theory have convincingly established this. To grow, a town or region must provide a good or service to an external market; the rate of this growth depends on the internal conditions which retain and recirculate basic income inside the region (i.e., the multiplier) (Tiebout 1962; Grossman 1984). While the economic base model oversimplifies, its broad framework (see Pred 1966) encapsulates the dilemma of developing countries today: they need to export goods or services to generate development capital, but they lack the infrastructure and societal mechanisms to effectively retain and use this capital. Notice also that the researcher's perspective influences his or her view about whether growth or development has occurred. The extent of growth and degree of inequality may depend on what spatial scale and what region and time period we choose to study, and on what paradigm-structural, functional, conflict, interactive, and so forth-we base our assumptions (Fig. 1). Regarding the external transfer of resources, traditional theory has taken two paths, either (1) espousing the virtues of comparative advantage (Ricardo 1971 [1817]), factor endowments (Heckscher 1919; Ohlin 1933), and product life cycles (Vernon 1966; Wells 1968); or (2) condemning the side effects of external dependency, whether they be assymetric center-periphery economic relationships (Prebisch 1970; Dos Santos 1973), internal colonialism (Gonzalez-Casanova 1964), or the evils of global capitalism (Frank 1978). All these theories have in common a focus on global problems and solutions. Regarding the internal marshaling of resources, traditional theory emphasizes the deterministic role of economic factors such as occupational specialization, the application of capital to labor, fixed resources, and labor surplus (Smith 1954 [1776]; Malthus 1976 [1798], 21-26); environmental constraints such as geographic isolation and climate (Semple 1911, 1-12; Huntington 1959 [1945]); and backward-
Micro and Mesoscale Robotic Assembly

Abstract Some of the challenges associated with Microsystems assembly are examined in this paper and illustrated with examples of ongoing research at the authors’ institution. One of the basic challenges in precision assembly is the need for very high accuracy over a large range of motion. This challenge is addressed through a “multiscale” approach, which involves the design of assembly tools and processes at multiple scales, and their integration into coherent system architectures. Parallelism is an important aspect of this architecture, with the goal of enabling high-throughput, fault-tolerant assembly at moderate cost. The modularity of the architecture is also important, given the need to frequently reconfigure microsystem assembly cells for small-batch production. This paper presents several concepts for the development of multiscale robotic tools for the assembly of microsystems. Numerical simulations and experimental results are used to illustrate the relevance of the proposed approaches. Extensions to manipulation at the nanoscale are briefly discussed. At the conclusion are some guidelines for the design of multiscale assembly systems.
Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin-Induced Acute Transient Encephalopathy in a Patient with Breast Cancer: A Case Report

Background: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has a unique pharmacokinetic profile and is widely used to treat a variety of malignancies, alone or in combination with other agents. Case Report: A 57-year-old female patient with metastatic breast cancer developed dural metastases to the brain and underwent craniotomy and whole-brain radiation. She continued to receive chemotherapy with carboplatin without any serious complications. Four months later, there was evidence of progression leading to the institution of PLD. During the first course of PLD, there was evidence of acute encephalopathy which resolved after 18 h with discontinuation of this agent. Interestingly, she did well when she was rechallenged with conventional doxorubicin in the following cycles. Conclusion: We hereby report, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of acute transient encephalopathy induced by PLD. We postulate that partial disruption of the blood-brain barrier may have been responsible for PLD-induced encephalopathy.
Predicted biologic activity of intravitreal bevacizumab.

Purpose To create a time- and dose-dependent mathematical model that compares the intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding activity of bevacizumab with that of ranibizumab. Methods Intravitreal half-lives and relative equimolar VEGF binding activities of bevacizumab and ranibizumab were incorporated into a first-order decay model. Time-dependent bevacizumab activities (relative to ranibizumab) for different initial doses (1.25 and 2.5 mg) and reinjection intervals (single, weekly, and every 3 days) were calculated and graphed. Results Twenty-seven days to 38 days after a single bevacizumab (1.25 mg) injection, the intravitreal VEGF binding activity would be comparable with that of ranibizumab at 30 days. Bevacizumab (2.5 mg) injections would need to be performed every 3 days for 1 month to equal the peak activity after a ranibizumab injection. Discussion On the basis of this mathematical model, intravitreal bevacizumab maintains significant VEGF binding activity for 4 weeks to 5 weeks. More frequent bevacizumab injections increase the average binding activity but not to that seen with a single ranibizumab injection.
How Can the Clinical Picture Guide Appropriate Laboratory Drug Testing in the Treatment of Pain Clinic Patients with Opioid Analgesics

It can be overwhelming when attempting to fully comprehend clinical scenarios associated with managing patients in pain clinics. Providers must correctly interpret multiple data sources in order to guide both patient treatment and management. Such data include details from the patient's clinic visit, social history, and urine drug testing (UDT) results. Substance abuse, in conjunction with aberrant behavior, can confound the clinical picture and has led some clinicians to marginalize lab results when considering treatment. Overlooking lab results or inappropriate use of the lab can multiply negative impacts associated with poor UDT interpretation skills. In such cases where clinicians fail to elucidate a clear clinical picture, outcomes due to inappropriate use of resources often lead to patient mismanagement and may lead to patient harm or death. Safe and clinically appropriate opioid prescribing requires a fundamental understanding of both pain management and laboratory testing. The challenge is to narrow information gaps between these two areas in order to improve patient management by diminishing overdose risk, drug abuse, aberrant behavior, and diversion. The need for evidence-based practice in terms of acceptable standards for lab use and interpreting UDTs has been expressed by opinion leaders in pain management who contend that UDTs are essential to assess and guide treatment. Pain management experts and laboratory medicine specialists agree that a UDT, like any lab test, can lead to negative patient impact unless an accurate result interpretation is made in the context of each case. Due to the likelihood of negative outcomes that accompany inappropriate result interpretation, the need for standardization is evident when treating and managing patients in pain clinics. While a universal treatment and management algorithm currently does not exist, elements of a standardization plan should be developed using guidelines requiring that practice is …
Extending the retention of friction‐reducing capability in low‐phosphorus engine oils

In advanced fuel-efficient engine oils containing molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate, Mo(dtc)2, as a friction-reducing additive, the friction-reducing capability is gradually depleted with mileage accumulation and is dependent on the presence of other additives, such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, Zn(dtp)2. Indeed, it has been shown that the loss of the friction-reducing capability of Mo(dtc)2 coincides with the depletion of Zn(dtp)2. The next generation of oils will specify a lower phosphorus content (e.g., 0.08% in ILSAC GF-4 and even lower in the specification after GF-4) to reduce the detrimental effects of phosphorus on catalyst systems. This will necessitate the use of less Zn(dtp)2, which could have an adverse effect on the retention of friction-reducing capability. The aim of this study was to determine if the retention of friction-reducing capability could be maintained or even increased at 0.05% phosphorus with newer molybdenum trinuclear, Mo3S7(dtc)4, additives. To facilitate the study, a modified laboratory-based ageing test was developed which correlated with the loss of friction-reducing capability in the Sequence VIB engine test. This ageing test was used to evaluate model blends of Mo3S7(dtc)4 with Zn(dtp)2 at 0.05% phosphorus and added antioxidants. The results indicate that it is possible to extend the retention of friction-reducing capability. However, whether or not it can be extended beyond the current drain intervals is still an open question.
Mentoring and socialisation: senior female faculty and mentoring practices

The research and literature on mentoring practices is relatively new, and within this emerging area, there are few studies that focus on the experiences of mentors. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the experiences of one group of mentors: senior female faculty in the sciences and engineering. Through interviews with female professors and associate professors, mentoring experiences are explored. Based on a grounded theory approach to collect and analyse the data, two major findings emerge. First, the interviewees revealed an overall organisational emphasis on mentoring students. This phenomenon is fostered by an academic environment that values anticipatory socialisation and scientific productivity over organisational socialisation and personal development. However, the interviewees explicitly expressed that a lack of mentoring for faculty members was detrimental to their careers. This second finding defines a clear disconnect between the values of the institution and the needs of the female faculty members.
Equilibrium Thin Films on Rough Surfaces. 1. Capillary and Disjoining Effects

Equilibrium menisci of wetting films on rough solid surfaces are calculated as Galerkin/finite element solutions of the augmented Young-Laplace (AYL) equation. Solutions are obtained for films on one-dimensional and two-dimensional periodic surfaces. The numerical solutions of the AYL equation indicate that wetting fluid distributions are characterized by three regimes: a thin-film regime dominated by disjoining pressure effects, a transition regime in which both disjoining pressure and capillarity are important, and a bulk regime dominated by capillarity. The interplay of capillarity, disjoining pressure, and the length scale of surface roughness is cast in the form of two dimensionless parameters, the values of which determine the distribution of the wetting fluid on the solid. Moreover, the transition from the thin films to pendular structures is traced through sequences of solutions of the AYL equation. The contributions of thin films and pendular structures to the total inventory of the wetting phase are analyzed by comparing analytical solutions of the Young-Laplace and the disjoining pressure equations to the finite element solutions of the AYL equations. 24 refs., 6 figs.
Elastic-Plastic Shakedown Evaluation Using ASME Code Section III and Section VIII Methods

Section III, Division 1 and Section VIII, Division 2 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code provide procedures for demonstrating shakedown using elastic-plastic analysis. While these procedures may be used in place of elastic analysis procedures, they are typically employed after the elastic analysis and simplified elastic-plastic analysis limits have been exceeded. In using the Section III, Division 1 and Section VIII, Division 2 procedures for elastic-plastic shakedown analyses, three concerns are raised. First, the Section III, Division 1 procedure is vague, which can result in inconsistent results between analysts. Second, the acceptance criteria contained in both procedures are vague, which can also result in inconsistent results between analysts. Lastly, differences in the procedures and acceptance criteria can result in demonstration of component elastic-plastic shakedown under Section III, Division 1 but not under Section VIII, Division 2. The authors presume that the ASME Code intends to provide similar design and analysis conclusions, which may not be a correct assumption. To demonstrate these concerns, a nozzle benchmark design subject to a representative thermal and pressure transient was evaluated using the two Code elastic-plastic shakedown procedures. Shakedown was successfully demonstrated using the Section III, Division 1 procedure. However, shakedown could not be demonstrated using the Section VIII, Division 2 procedure. The conflicting results seem to indicate that, for the nozzle design evaluated, the Section VIII, Division 2 procedure is considerably more conservative than the Section III, Division 1 procedure. To further assess the conservative nature of the Section VIII, Division 2 procedure, the nozzle benchmark design was evaluated using the same thermal transient, but without a pressure load. While shakedown was technically not observed using the Section VIII, Division 2 acceptance criteria, engineering judgment concluded that shakedown was demonstrated. Based on the results of all the evaluations, recommendations for modifications to both procedures were presented for consideration.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Band Filling Dynamics and Auger Recombination in Lead Sulfide Nanocrystals

Pump energy dependent pump probe transients were recorded in lead sulfide nanocrystals. Band filling dynamics were observed on a few-hundred femtosecond timescale followed by Auger dynamics over tens to hundreds of picoseconds.
Block Staining of Nervous Tissue with Silver IV. Embryos

Procedures having enhanced reliability over older methods for both Bielschowsky and Cajal types of stain are described.Fixation of embryos in a solution containing 4% formaldehyde and 0.5% trichloracetic acid greatly improved the staining of neural elements by Bielschowsky's method.Among the variations of Cajal's type of staining tried, a modification of Ranson's pyridin-silver method gave the most complete staining of neurofibrillar elements. Washing for 0.5 to 1 hour after silver impregnation and shortening of the reduction time from 24 to 4 hours corrected the tendency of the method to overstain.
Inter‐rater reliability of the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS) in a multi‐centre trial: results from Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study #394

The US Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) conducted Cooperative Study #394 at nine sites to determine whether vitamin E was a safe and effective treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD). The study used the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) to measure TD. To monitor inter-rater reliability (IRR) on the AIMS, personnel at each site did initial AIMS assessments, on seven occasions, on a set of five unique subjects from videotapes. On four of these occasions raters re-assessed sets of five subjects from seven to 13 months after their initial ratings. We analysed the initial ratings of 34 videotaped subjects and the second ratings of 19. To measure IRR, we used the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for each initial or second rating of the sets of interviews. The ICCs ranged from 0.50 to 0.86, and the ICC for the initial ratings over all 34 subjects was good (0.75; 95% confidence interval 0.64 to 0.83). To determine whether there was significant ‘rater drift’ during the study, we performed linear mixed effects regression on the data with fixed effects for rating (initial or second), rater type, and site and a random effect for rating. The results indicated that scores varied little between ratings (about 0.05 points). Copyright © 2000 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The increasing use of polypharmacotherapy for refractory mood disorders: 22 years of study.

BACKGROUND Few studies have approached the subject of polypharmacotherapy systematically. This retrospective review of 178 patients with refractory bipolar disorder or unipolar depression (Research Diagnostic Criteria or DSM-III-R criteria) discharged from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Biological Psychiatry Branch between 1974 and 1996 was conducted to assess the degree and efficacy of "add-on" pharmacotherapy. METHOD Following completion of formal structured blinded research protocols, patients entered a treatment phase (often again on a blind basis) in which all agents available in the community could be utilized. Each patient's retrospective life chart and all prospective double-blind nurse- and self-rated NIMH data were reviewed. The overall degree of improvement at discharge was assessed by rating on the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI) as modified for bipolar illness (CGI-BP). RESULTS A 78% improvement rate (moderate or marked on the CGI) was achieved at the time of discharge. There was a significant relationship between number of medications utilized at discharge as a function of discharge date (r = 0.45, p < .0001). The percentages of patients discharged on treatment with 3 or more medications were 3.3% (1974-1979), 9.3% (1980-1984), 34.9% (1985-1989), and 43.8% (1990-1995). No correlation was found between polypharmacy and age (r = -0.03, p = .66). Patients more recently discharged from the NIMH had an earlier age at illness onset, more lifetime weeks depressed, and a higher rate of rapid cycling than patients in the earlier cohorts. CONCLUSION Increasing numbers of medications in more recent NIMH cohorts were required to achieve the same degree of improvement at hospital discharge. More systematic approaches to the complex regimens required for treatment of patients with refractory mood disorder are clearly needed.
Application of CZT detectors in nuclear materials safeguards

High-resolution, gamma- and X-my spectrometry are used routinely in nuclear materials safeguards vetication measurements. These measurements are mostly performed with high-purity germanium (HJ?Ge) detectors, which require cooling at liquid-nitrogen temperatures, thus limiting their utility in field and unattended safeguards measurement applications. Sodium iodide (NaI) scintillation detectors do not require cooling, but their energy resolution (10% at 122 keV) is insu&ient for many verification measurements. Semiconductor detectors that operate at room temperatures, such as cadmium-zinc-telhuide (CZT) detectors, with energy resolution performance reaching 2.0% at 122 keV may be used for certain safeguards verification applications. We have developed hardware to utilize CZT detectors in X- and gamma-ray measurement, systems and software to apply such a system in measuring 215U enrichment for safeguards verification purposes. The paper reports on the CZT detector-based measurement system and measurement results obtained with it. The paper also discusses work on additional improvements to broaden the applications of the
The complex Chiari: issues and management strategies.

“Complex Chiari” malformations may be defined as cerebellar tonsil herniation combined with one or more of the following radiographic findings: brainstem herniation through the foramen magnum (Chiari 1.5 malformation), medullary kink, retroflexed odontoid, abnormal clival-cervical angle, occipitalization of the atlas, basilar invagination, syringomyelia or scoliosis. Patients with “complex Chiari” malformation are different from those with typical Chiari 1 malformation in that their management strategy has a higher chance of including other operative interventions aside from a typical suboccipital decompression. These other operative procedures include odontoid resection and craniocervical fusion. This paper outlines specific scenarios where these other operative procedures must be considered and carried out.
Effect of investigator experience on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Abstract The NHLBI PTCA Registry collected clinical data on 3, 101 PTCA procedures performed at 105 clinical centers between September 1977 and September 1981. To investigate the “learning curve” from introduction through the early application of this new therapy for revascularization, success rates and complication rates were examined by calendar year and according to investigator experience. Success rates improved by calendar year, from 54% in 1979 to 66% in 1981. Investigators with fewer than 50 cases had a success rate of 55%. After an investigator had performed 150 procedures, the success rate was 77%. The increase in success rate was largely the result of a dramatic increase in the ability to cross the narrowing with the catheter, and was accounted for by experience and improved equipment. Patient selection for PTCA was characterized by sex, age, previous CABG, number of diseased coronary arteries and stable Canadian Heart classification over time. Reflecting the increase in the success rate was the decrease in the need to perform elective CABG. Emergency CABG, death and MI rates were low (1% mortality, 5% nonfatal MI) and did not change significantly with time or with investigator experience.
Magnetic ordering of nickel hydroxide layers 30 Å apart obtained by intercalating dodecyl sulfate.

The nature of magnetic ordering in quasi-2D layered hydroxide of Ni (LH-Ni–DS) with hexagonal structure and synthesized by intercalating dodecyl sulfate (DS) ligand, (C12H25OSO3)−, between the layers using a hydrothermal technique is investigated. The observation of (00l) peaks up to l = 8 in x-ray diffraction on the sample yields an interlayer spacing c ≃ 30.5 Å and a crystallite size ≃ 16 nm. Assignment of the lines observed in the FTIR spectra to the various groups of the DS ligand confirms the intercalation. From the analysis of detailed investigations of the temperature dependence of the magnetization M at different magnetic fields, ac susceptibilities at frequencies from 0.1 to 1 kHz, and electron magnetic resonance spectra at 9.28 GHz, it is concluded that LH-Ni–DS orders ferromagnetically at TC ≃ 23 K. This TC is about 45% higher than TC ≃ 16 K reported for LH-Ni–Ac with c ≃ 8.6 Å obtained by intercalating an acetate ligand between the layers. The roles of the interlayer dipolar interaction, magnetic anisotropy and exchange interactions in determining TC in LH-Ni–L systems for several ligands L yielding different c-axes are discussed.
Influence of Ceria and Lanthana Promoters on the Kinetics of NO and N2O Reduction by CO over Alumina-Supported Palladium and Rhodium

Abstract The kinetic parameters of the NO+CO and N2O+CO reactions over alumina-, ceria/alumina-, and lanthana/alumina-supported Rh and Pd were determined from 425 to 625 K. For NO+CO, the presence of ceria and lanthana affected activity, apparent activation energy, dinitrogen selectivity, and reaction orders to varying degrees over both Pd and Rh. The turnover frequency (based on H2 chemisorption) for the ceria-promoted Pd catalyst was at least an order of magnitude greater than those for all other catalysts. Lanthana-promoted Pd was the next most active catalyst. Changes in kinetic parameters indicated that both ceria and lanthana facilitated NO dissociation on both Pd and Rh, but the effect of ceria on Pd was the most profound. For N2O+CO, ceria promoted the reaction rate on both Pd and Rh whereas lanthana did not promote the reaction on either metal. The ceria-promoted Pd catalyst was again the most active. However, the turnover frequencies for the N2O+CO reaction were about an order of magnitude lower than those for the NO+CO reaction under similar conditions. The rare earth components had very little effect on the activation energies and reaction orders for the N2O+CO reaction. In situ infrared spectroscopy showed the presence of isocyanate surface species on Rh/Al2O3 but not on Pd/Al2O3, which suggested two different reaction mechanisms for the N2O+CO reaction. No synergistic effect on NOx reduction was observed for a Pd/Rh bimetallic sample.
Computer science principles at Newbury Park High School

Newbury Park high School in Southern California is one of 10 high schools participating in the 2011-12 pilot of Computer Science Principles. Teacher Richard Kick describes student activities from his course, shares some examples of student work, and reflects on student engagement with the material and the inspiration they draw from it.
Chronobiology of the mammalian response to ionizing radiation potential applications in oncology

Ionizing radiation from all sources under appropriate conditions leads to cell death and tissue damage. It is used in cancer treatment under the assumption of a higher radiosensitivity of the fast dividing tumor cells as compared with adjacent host tissues. The radiosensitivities of proliferating host tissues like bone marrow and gastrointestinal lining epithelium are dose limiting. Since these host tissues and many tumors show circadian and other periodicities in their cell proliferation, the timing of radiation treatment according to host and/or tumor rhythms is expected to improve the toxic/therapeutic ratio of the treatment. The experimental data on the chronobiology of radiation exposure show circadian rhythmicity in radiation response after whole body irradiation in mice and rats with highest toxicity in light-dark 12h:12h synchronized animals during their daily activity span. Bone marrow toxicity as well as gastrointestinal epithelial damage show circadian rhythms in part due to radiation damage to the stem cells involved and especially in the intestine also due to damage to the microvasculature. Chronoradiotherapy of malignant tumors seems promising, alone or in combination with response modifiers, provided the host and potential tumor rhythms can be monitored.
Dietary Approaches to Epilepsy Treatment: Old and New Options on the Menu

Dietary therapies represent a potentially valuable adjunct to other epilepsy treatments, such as anticonvulsant medications, epilepsy surgery, and vagus nerve stimulation. Although the ketogenic diet (high fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate) is the most well-established dietary therapy for epilepsy, other possible approaches include the Atkins diet (high fat, high protein, low carbohydrate), a diet enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids, or overall restriction of calorie intake. This review discusses the current clinical status of each of these dietary approaches and suggests possible mechanisms by which they might suppress neuronal hyperexcitability and seizures.
Ambient temperature effect on urban CO air quality

Abstract Changes in the ambient temperature cause changes in vehicle emissions mainly during the cold-start period of operation. The influence that this effect has on the seasonal variation of urban CO concentrations is examined by means of a simple air quality model. For fixed meteorological conditions, the model predicts that the atmospheric CO concentrations at a center city measuring location will increase by 5–15% for a decrease in temperature from 75° to 25°F when none of the vehicles in that vicinity are in the cold-start mode and will increase by 55–75% when all of the nearby vehicles are in the cold-start mode. An inverse variation of CO concentration with change in temperature is derived from a statistical analysis of CO data reported both for midtown Manhattan (1975–1977) and for downtown Los Angeles (1970–1975). The magnitude of the derived variation is small for both cities and corresponds to the case where none of the vehicles in the vicinity of the measuring site are in the cold-start mode. It therefore follows that the variation of CO vehicle emissions with temperature does not have an important effect on CO air quality at these two urban centers. The highest CO concentrations are observed during the colder months in most American cities and the differences in meteorological conditions between winter and summer that might contribute to this are considered. Some significant factors are that, in the winter, multiday episodes of slowest dilution occur as well as nocturnal inversions of greater stability. From these considerations it is concluded that the meteorological factors play a significant role in the observation of high CO concentrations in urban areas during the colder months.
An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Clamped Length and Loading Direction on Self-Loosening of Bolted Joints

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the effects of clamped length and loading direction on the self-loosening behavior of bolted joints. Specially designed fixtures were used for the study. The experiments mimicked two plates jointed by an M12×1.75 Class 10.9 bolt and a nut. The joints were subjected to cyclic external loading. A constant preload of 25 kN was used for all the experiments conducted. During an experiment, the relative displacement between the two clamped plates, δ, was a controlling parameter. The reduction in clamping force, the applied transverse load, and the nut rotation were measured cycle by cycle. The relationship between, Δδ/2, the amplitude of the relative displacement between the two clamped plates, and, NL , the number of loading cycles to loosening is referred to as self-loosening curve and was obtained for different clamped lengths and applied load directions. Similar to a fatigue curve, an endurance limit can be identified from the self-loosening curve. It was found that increasing the clamped length can enhance the self-loosening endurance limits in terms of the controlled relative displacement of the two clamped plates. However, the load carrying capability was not influenced significantly due to the thickness of the clamped plates. For a given bolted jointed structure, an angle of the external load from the pure shearing direction resulted in an increase in self-loosening resistance.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Protein synthesis and the mechanisms of lasting change in anxiety induced by severe stress

Brief, unprotected exposure of rats to cats (predator stress) may be lastingly anxiogenic in a variety of tests of rodent anxiety. Recent findings suggest that predator stress induced plasticity in neural circuitry implicated in fear learning underlies some of these anxiogenic effects. In addition, recent work implicates a consolidation-like process in the impact of predator stress on anxiety in that effects of predator stress may be interrupted by immediate post stressor pharmacological interventions. The present study tested whether "consolidation" of the anxiogenic effects of predator stress were dependent on protein synthesis. In addition, the study examined whether a protein synthesis dependent reconsolidation-like process was at work when rats were exposed to a cat twice. Anisomycin (210 mg/kg) or vehicle (Tween 80 in saline) was injected subcutaneously 1 min after a single cat exposure (consolidation test paradigm) or a 1 min after a second cat exposure (reconsolidation test paradigm) and behavior tested 7-8 days after predator stress. In the consolidation test paradigm, anisomycin blocked the anxiogenic effects of predator stress in the elevated plus maze (EPM) measured with open arm exploration. Moreover, anisomycin blocked the potentiation of startle by predator stress when rats were startled in the light, but not when startled in the dark. In contrast, the delay of habituation of startle produced by predator stress was unaffected by anisomycin. Suppression of risk assessment in the EPM by predator stress was not affected by anisomycin either. In startle testing, vehicle injection 1 min after predator stress led to a lasting suppression, rather than enhancement of startle response. Vehicle plus predator stress enhanced and prolonged corticosterone level changes sampled over 30-180 min after treatment when compared to handled or predator stressed only rats. In addition, predator stress plus vehicle suppression of startle was blocked by a benzodiazepine anxiolytic (chloradiazepoxide) or the glucorticoid receptor (GR) blocker RU486. Both drugs returned startle to the predator stressed only heightened levels. It is argued that an added anxiogenic effect of vehicle injection plus predator stress leads to a suppression, rather than enhancement of startle. Startle suppression appears to be mediated, in part, by activation of GR by corticosterone which engages a protein synthesis dependent process, since anisomycin blocked the startle suppressive effects of vehicle. Startle suppression also appeared to be independent of the startle enhancing effect of predator stress and in competition with it. Since predator stress may model aspects of hyperarousal associated with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implications of these findings for understanding of mechanisms of initiation of the disorder and for treatment are discussed.
Primary Cutaneous Aspergillosis in an Immunocompetent Patient: Successful Treatment with Oral Voriconazole

We report a case of primary cutaneous aspergillosis in an immunocompetent child that responded rapidly to oral voriconazole therapy. Voriconazole may be considered as a treatment option for pediatric patients with primary cutaneous aspergillosis.
A comparison of single-photon emission computed tomography and planar imaging for quantitative skeletal scintigraphy of the mandibular condyle

A prospective study was designed to compare two methods of quantifying technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate uptake in the mandibular condyle. The standard technique expresses condylar activity as a ratio of condylar uptake to a reference (often the fourth lumbar vertebra) with planar scans (lateral images of the mandible). The experimental technique quantifies condylar activity as a ratio of condyle to clivus uptake with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The results of this study indicated that the uptake ratio of condyle/clivus by SPECT scintigram was positively correlated (p = 0.039) with the planar scan technique. The SPECT technique, similar to an axial computed tomography scan, was easier to perform with better reproducibility than the standard planar technique. In addition, activity in the clivus showed less variation than activity in the fourth lumbar vertebrae. With the development of normal uptake standards in the clivus, the SPECT technique may replace the planar image technique in nongrowing patients.
GroundWinds New Hampshire and the LIDARFest 2000 campaign

The GroundWinds New Hampshire instrument is a direct detection Doppler LIDAR system that utilizes backscatter signal from both Rayleigh and Mie scattering to measure Doppler shifts in the atmosphere from the ground. This system is the first of two planned systems that will be used to validate the technology and improve the design for other potential implementations. As a means to that end, a validation campaign was conducted in September 2000 to compare the GroundWinds measurements to that from four other systems. These were the GLOW instrument, the NOAA Mini MOPA system, and a Microwave sounder from the National Weather Service. This paper will review the design of the GroundWinds instrument, as well as summarize some of the preliminary GroundWinds results from the field experiment.
Alice and academic oncologists meet in corporate wonderland

“If any one of them can explain it,” said Alice. “I'll give him sixpence. I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it.s”
Quasi-linear ring colliding-pulse mode-locked femtosecond laser using binary energy-transfer gain dye mixture

A new method for femtosecond pulse generation using a binary energy-transfer dye mixture for the gain medium in a novel linear ring colliding-pulse mode-locked dye-laser configuration is reported. Pulses of 30-fsec duration and 18.7-nm spectral width are routinely generated.
Isolating Science from the Humanities The Third Dogma of Educational Research

The demand for scientifically-based educational research has fostered a new methodological orthodoxy exemplified by documents such as the National Research Council's Scientific Research in Educatio...
Analysis of flash lidar field test data for safe lunar landing

In May 2008, the Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) Project conducted a helicopter field test of a commercial flash lidar to assess its applicability to safe lunar landing. The helicopter flew several flights, which covered a variety of slant ranges and viewing angles, over man-made and natural lunar-like terrains. The collected data were analyzed to assess the performance of the sensor and the performance of two algorithms: Hazard Detection (HD) and Hazard Relative Navigation (HRN). The collected flash lidar data were also used to validate a high fidelity flash lidar software model used in ALHAT Monte Carlo simulations. The field test results, combined with prior simulation results, advanced the technology readiness level of the HD algorithm to TRL 5 and the HRN algorithm to TRL 4.12
Coordination of very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride and apolipoprotein B metabolism in humans: Effects of obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

To understand the relationship between very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride and VLDL apolipoprotein (apo) B, we studied their metabolisms simultaneously in 53 subjects with a range of obesity and glycemia. Obese subjects had increased production of both VLDL apo B and VLDL triglyceride and more VLDL of normal composition. Compared with nondiabetics, diabetic subjects had decreased clearance of both VLDL apo B and VLDL triglyceride, increased production of VLDL triglyceride but not of VLDL apo B, and more VLDL of abnormal composition. Production of both VLDL apo B and VLDL triglyceride were significantly correlated with plasma insulin concentrations, and rates of clearance of both were inversely correlated with plasma glucose. There was no direct correlation between total plasma free fatty acid concentration and production of either VLDL triglyceride or VLDL apo B, but VLDL triglyceride production was found to account for only a very small proportion of the nonoxidative component of free fatty acid turnover. We suggest that in obese subjects hyperinsulinemia induces overproduction of both VLDL apo B and VLDL triglyceride. In diabetes VLDL is increased in part because of decreased clearance; the altered composition is the result of the increase in VLDL-triglyceride production independent of apo B. The increase in VLDL triglyceride production may be mediated through plasma free fatty acids or glucose, although assessment of the relationship between these precursors and VLDL triglyceride is confounded by the fact that only a small portion of free fatty acids or glucose is converted to VLDL triglyceride.
Living on the edge The village and the state on the Goa-Maratha frontier

The New Conquest districts of Goa were seized by the Portuguese between 1763 and 1819, about 250 years after the Portuguese first colonised Goa. The villages of the New Conquests were contested terrains between quite a number of polities during that 250-year period, including the Bijapur Adilshahi rulers, the Mughals, the Marathas, the Kolhapur kings, the Sawants of Wadi, the Sonda kings and the Portuguese. The records for these villages have heretofore never been studied in any depth. My analysis of these records reveals the myriad ways in which the villages are both penetrated by state rule and retain their own structures. I conclude that the villages were able to persist over time within the context of the regional culture in varying degrees and under peculiar circumstances, but were not immune to the state penetration that transformed them to a degree. There is no one principle that can properly account for all cases, and no single formula for understanding village-state relations in late eighteenth a...
Coarctation of the aorta following coil occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus

A case is described in which coarctation of the aorta develops following coil occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus with a single Gianturco coil. This finding has yet to be reported in children undergoing this procedure and demonstrates the possibility of its occurrence and brings into question the need for and the duration of antibiotic prophylaxis following coil deployment.
Evaluation of body composition in neonates and infants

A better understanding of the nutritional needs of both healthy and sick infants is important. Not only does too much or too little nutrition during early life have long-term effects on health, but periods of rapid growth during the first year of life also have long-term consequences. Knowledge of the changes in body composition in early life can help to better define nutritional needs at these ages. Several methods are available for measuring body composition of neonates and infants. Most focus on an assessment of either body fatness or bone mineralization; only a few can monitor the quality of the non-fat lean tissues. This paper provides an evaluation of the different approaches currently available to monitor infant body composition, identifying both their strengths and limitations.
Twinning in bcc metals under shock loading: a challenge to empirical potentials

Using density functional theory (DFT), we found that high pressures intrinsically favor twinning in niobium by reducing the thickness of a stable twin. Five empirical interatomic potentials for niobium were considered in molecular dynamics (MD) shock simulations. The results show that two potentials exhibit the experimentally observed twinning behavior. Comparing with DFT under high pressure, we found that these two potentials are capable of reproducing the generalized stacking fault (GSF) curve, but the others predict several artificial metastable states along the GSF curve resulting in an artificial structural transformation.
Demystifying the Data-Based Decision-Making Process

Across the United States, teachers and teacher educators are facing increased accountability for improved student achievement. Using assessment results to inform instruction provides a catalyst to improve student outcomes and is a key skill for preservice teacher candidates. The process of data-based decision making is integral to performance tasks by teachers. Therefore, teacher– educators need to develop teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to collect and use data to assess their own teaching and, ultimately, improve student achievement. In addition, these student achievement data are now also important to the accountability processes and accreditation of educator preparation programs. The purpose of this article is to describe a conceptual model, including specific skills and processes of data-based decision making, to address accountability demands for continuous improvement based upon student learning results across multiple contexts. Considerations for implementation by teacher educators...
Infrared continuum observations of five-minute oscillations

Infrared continuum observations of the Sun at wavelengths between 10μ and 30μ show a nonisothermal response of the upper photosphere to compression waves associated with the five-minute oscillations. Observations were made with four broad-band filters with effective transmission wavelengths between 10μ and 26μ and with a 10″ aperture. Further observations at submillimeter wavelengths with a 2′ aperture did not resolve oscillatory fluctuations of five-minute period.
Quantum Degenerate Mixture of Ytterbium and Lithium Atoms

We have produced a quantum degenerate mixture of fermionic alkali-metal ${}^{6}$Li and bosonic spin-singlet ${}^{174}$Yb gases. This was achieved using sympathetic cooling of lithium atoms by evaporatively cooled ytterbium atoms in a far-off-resonant optical dipole trap. We observe the coexistence of Bose-condensed ($T/{T}_{\mathrm{c}}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.8$) ${}^{174}$Yb with $2.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms and Fermi degenerate ($T/{T}_{\mathrm{F}}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.3$) ${}^{6}$Li with $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms. Quasipure Bose-Einstein condensates of up to $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ ${}^{174}$Yb atoms can be produced in single-species experiments. Our results mark a significant step toward studies of few- and many-body physics with mixtures of alkali-metal and alkaline-earth-metal-like atoms, and for the production of paramagnetic polar molecules in the quantum regime. Our methods also establish a convenient scheme for producing quantum degenerate ytterbium atoms in a 1064 nm optical dipole trap.
Psychological concerns in sexual rehabilitation and mastectomy

Since the sexual functioning of the mastectomy patient is unimpaired, sexual rehabilitation primarily involves the resolution of emotional problems attendant upon the operation. The woman, deeming herself repulsive, fears rejection; her partner doubts his ability to help; and the couple drifts apart emotionally and sexually. Rehabilitation consists chiefly in allaying these fears: most women remain attractive; most men can trust their ardor. “Helping professionals” without psychosexual therapy training can assist the couple in avoiding these problems, by helping them confront the missing breast and establish good communication, and by providing advice on sexual activities during the recuperative period.
New schedules of interferon for chronic hepatitis C

Abstract Current treatment regimens with either long-term interferon monotherapy or interferon-ribavirin combination achieve sustained response rates of 40–50%. Options to improve the sustained response to interferon include longer treatment duration, higher fixed doses throughout the course of therapy, de-escalating strategies in which more intensive treatment is given during the initial weeks of treatment (so-called induction dosing) or escalation strategies in which the dose is progressively increased until a response occurs. Published literature supports the use of a treatment period of at least 12 months. Although higher doses which are fixed throughout the treatment course result in a moderate increase in sustained response rate, this may not be justified by the cost and added side effects. Athough high dose induction strategies may result in a more rapid decline in serum HCV RNA levels, it is not yet known whether this will result in better long-term outcome. Preliminary evidence suggests that the benefit may be confined to subgroups of patients who might be predicted to have a poor response to standard therapy, such as those with high pre-treatment viral levels.