cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inter-Professional Education Saturday Seminar:

A teaching methodology was developed by a group of faculty from several departments who prepare undergraduate students for careers in health and human services. The three hour experience teaches them to work in interdisciplinary teams to develop case management skills by working on a complex case study. Approximately 260 students, 15 faculty, and 15 local agency representatives were involved in the most recent event.
Surgery for vascular laryngeal lesions

Vascular lesions of the larynx are those created by phonotrauma resulting in subepithelial bleeding. These are typically divided into 2 categories, hemorrhagic polyps and fibrovascular lesions (vocal nodules). Both of these types of lesions can disrupt the natural vibration of the vocal folds and cause dysphonia. In those patients whose voices are their livelihood, complete removal with preservation of as much normal superficial lamina propria and squamous epithelium is paramount. Here, we describe proper in office assessment with stroboscopy, options for treatment, and techniques in surgical excision.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Rehabilitative Training Enhances Motor Recovery After Bilateral Spinal Cord Injury to Cervical Forelimb Motor Pools

Closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitative training has emerged as a strategy to enhance recovery after neurological injury. Previous studies demonstrate that brief bursts of closed-loop VNS paired with rehabilitative training substantially improve recovery of forelimb motor function in models of unilateral and bilateral contusive spinal cord injury (SCI) at spinal level C5/6. While these findings provide initial evidence of the utility of VNS for SCI, the injury model used in these studies spares the majority of alpha motor neurons originating in C7-T1 that innervate distal forelimb muscles. Because the clinical manifestation of SCI in many patients involves damage at these levels, it is important to define whether damage to the distal forelimb motor neuron pools limits VNS-dependent recovery. In this study, we assessed recovery of forelimb function in rats that received a bilateral incomplete contusive SCI at C7/8 and underwent extensive rehabilitative training with or without paired VNS. The study design, including planned sample size, assessments, and statistical comparisons, was preregistered prior to beginning data collection ( https://osf.io/ysvgf/ ). VNS paired with rehabilitative training significantly improved recovery of volitional forelimb strength compared to equivalent rehabilitative training without VNS. Additionally, VNS-dependent enhancement of recovery generalized to 2 similar, but untrained, forelimb tasks. These findings indicate that damage to alpha motor neurons does not prevent VNS-dependent enhancement of recovery and provides additional evidence to support the evaluation of closed-loop VNS paired with rehabilitation in patients with incomplete cervical SCI.
The Evolving Journalistic Roles on Social Media: Exploring “Engagement” as Relationship-Building between Journalists and Citizens

Scholarly and pragmatic definitions of the term “engagement” vary drastically. This article attempts to capture the nuances of the term by exploring journalists’ roles on social media where “engage...
Single-cell transcriptomic analysis identifies the conversion of zebrafish Etv2-deficient vascular progenitors into skeletal muscle.

Cell fate decisions involved in vascular and hematopoietic embryonic development are still poorly understood. An ETS transcription factor Etv2 functions as an evolutionarily conserved master regulator of vasculogenesis. Here we report a single-cell transcriptomic analysis of hematovascular development in wild-type and etv2 mutant zebrafish embryos. Distinct transcriptional signatures of different types of hematopoietic and vascular progenitors are identified using an etv2ci32Gt gene trap line, in which the Gal4 transcriptional activator is integrated into the etv2 gene locus. We observe a cell population with a skeletal muscle signature in etv2-deficient embryos. We demonstrate that multiple etv2ci32Gt; UAS:GFP cells differentiate as skeletal muscle cells instead of contributing to vasculature in etv2-deficient embryos. Wnt and FGF signaling promote the differentiation of these putative multipotent etv2 progenitor cells into skeletal muscle cells. We conclude that etv2 actively represses muscle differentiation in vascular progenitors, thus restricting these cells to a vascular endothelial fate. The signals restricting specification of vascular progenitors are unclear. Here, the authors use scRNAseq to identify transitional steps during blood and vascular development in zebrafish and identify Etv2 as repressing skeletal muscle differentiation in vascular progenitors.
Polygenic Selection within a Single Generation Leads to Subtle Divergence among Ecological Niches.

Selection on standing genetic variation may be effective enough to allow for adaptation to distinct niche environments within a single generation. Minor allele frequency changes at multiple, redundant loci of small effect can produce remarkable phenotypic shifts. Yet, demonstrating rapid adaptation via polygenic selection in the wild remains challenging. Here we harness natural replicate populations that experience similar selection pressures and harbor high within-, yet negligible among-population genetic variation. Such populations can be found among the teleost Fundulus heteroclitus that inhabits marine estuaries characterized by high environmental heterogeneity. We identify 10,861 single nucleotide polymorphisms in F. heteroclitus that belong to a single, panmictic population yet reside in environmentally distinct niches (one coastal basin and three replicate tidal ponds). By sampling at two time points within a single generation, we quantify both allele frequency change within as well as spatial divergence among niche subpopulations. We observe few individually significant allele frequency changes yet find that the "number" of moderate changes exceeds the neutral expectation by 10-100%. We find allele frequency changes to be significantly concordant in both direction and magnitude among all niche subpopulations, suggestive of parallel selection. In addition, within-generation allele frequency changes generate subtle but significant divergence among niches, indicative of local adaptation. Although we cannot distinguish between selection and genotype-dependent migration as drivers of within-generation allele frequency changes, the trait/s determining fitness and/or migration likelihood appear to be polygenic. In heterogeneous environments, polygenic selection and polygenic, genotype-dependent migration offer conceivable mechanisms for within-generation, local adaptation to distinct niches.
Well-posedness and blow-up properties for the generalized Hartree equation

We study the generalized Hartree equation, which is a nonlinear Schrodinger-type equation with a nonlocal potential iut + Δu + (|x|−b ∗|u|p)|u|p−2u = 0,x ∈ ℝN. We establish the local well-posedness...
Polyolefin recycling by C–C bond alumination

Efficient catalysis that simultaneously cleaves thermodynamically inert C–C bonds and generates functional moieties to stimulate chemical recycling of polyolefins is lacking. In this issue of Chem, Kanbur et al. design an organozirconium catalyst combined with aluminum reagents to enable a clever tandem C–C cleavage and carboalumination process that yields value-added alkylaluminum products.
An Evidence-Based Framework for Evaluating Pharmacogenomics Knowledge for Personalized Medicine

Clinical annotations are one of the most popular resources available on the Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase (PharmGKB). Each clinical annotation summarizes the association between variant-drug pairs, shows relevant findings from the curated literature, and is assigned a level of evidence (LOE) to indicate the strength of support for that association. Evidence from the pharmacogenomic literature is curated into PharmGKB as variant annotations, which can be used to create new clinical annotations or added to existing clinical annotations. This means that the same clinical annotation can be worked on by multiple curators over time. As more evidence is curated into PharmGKB, the task of maintaining consistency when assessing all the available evidence and assigning an LOE becomes increasingly difficult. To remedy this, a scoring system has been developed to automate LOE assignment to clinical annotations. Variant annotations are scored according to certain attributes, including study size, reported P value, and whether the variant annotation supports or fails to find an association. Clinical guidelines or US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug labels which give variant-specific prescribing guidance are also scored. The scores of all annotations attached to a clinical annotation are summed together to give a total score for the clinical annotation, which is used to calculate an LOE. Overall, the system increases transparency, consistency, and reproducibility in LOE assignment to clinical annotations. In combination with increased standardization of how clinical annotations are written, use of this scoring system helps to ensure that PharmGKB clinical annotations continue to be a robust source of pharmacogenomic information.
Simulation of hydrogen production from thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide in sulfur recovery units

Abstract Large amounts of H2S are produced globally, mostly from the gas sweetening process of sour natural gas. H2S is usually considered to be an industrial waste product but has been identified as a resource for hydrogen and sulfur in recent years to render sweet gas production a cleaner process. In this study, thermal decomposition of H2S into hydrogen and sulfur was studied using a process simulator: ProMax®. A commercial SRU (sulfur recovery unit), located in the region of Abu Dhabi, together with the H2S splitting scheme of the Alberta Sulfur Research Limited were modeled and validated using plant data and field test results, respectively. With the net amount fraction of the acid gas feed to cracking coils (split amount fraction) considered as the controlling parameter, its effect on hydrogen production, thermal reactor energy requirement, burner flame stability, steam production, Claus reactors' temperature and sulfur recovery of the primary SRU were investigated using the integrated model and plant data. Reduction in sulfur recovery of about 0.31% of the primary SRU was recorded as a result of the retrofit for a split amount fraction of 0.245. However, optimization of the integrated model proved that the sulfur recovery could be restored to its initial value of 98.67%. Cost estimation analysis of the retrofit indicates that the capital investment could be recovered in less than four years.
A Separate Antibiotic Binding Site in Xanthosine 5'-Phosphate Aminase DIFFERENTIAL ALTERATION OF CATALYTIC PROPERTIES AND SENSITIVITY TO INHIBITION

Abstract The sensitivity of xanthosine 5'-phosphate aminase to the inhibitory effect of the antibiotic psicofuranine can be reduced by exposure to several kinds of agents capable of modifying protein structure. These include urea and ethylene glycol, reducing agents such as 2-mercaptoethanol, the chelators ethylenediaminetetraacetate and o-phenanthroline, and photo-oxidation with methylene blue. Urea, in causing a 3-fold reduction in the capacity of the aminase to bind psicofuranine and a similar reduction in sensitivity to inhibition by the aminase, also affects other properties of the aminase; the affinity constants for Mg++, NH3, adenosine triphosphate, and xanthosine 5'-phosphate are increased while the activity of the aminase is greatly reduced. 2-Mercaptoethanol reduces the sensitivity of the aminase to inhibition by psicofuranine, but reduces neither its activity nor its ability to bind psicofuranine. In contrast photo-oxidation with methylene blue desensitizes by selectively reducing the ability of the aminase to bind psicofuranine; the substrate-binding capacities of the aminase are not affected by the photo-oxidation. Psicofuranine increases the availability of sulfhydryl groups of the aminase for reaction with sulfhydryl reagents. This indication of a change in the tertiary structure of the aminase together with the additional evidence that the aminase contains a separate binding site for psicofuranine suggests that although the antibiotic is probably bound at a nonessential part of the enzyme it nevertheless may act by distorting the active center.
'Above All, Try Something' – Can Experimental Political Authority Be Justified?

In theory as well as in actual political practice, the idea of a conducting policy-making in a more controlled experimental way has recently gathered some support. Given the proliferation in academic debates of new ideas about the validity of causal inference and the entry of experimental and quasi-experimental methods in the social sciences, policy fields such as overseas development, but also in domestic social policy have begun tentatively to adopt randomization, controlled trials and other experimental methods. The idea of experimentation itself is of course much older, as is indeed evidenced by FDR’s oft-quoted exhortation to experiment with policy that provided the title to this paper: “Above all, try something.” John Stuart Mill, the “New Liberals” and progressives of the late 19th century, and of course not least John Dewey also emphasized the importance of experimentation for social progress.However, there are a number of key questions about whether the experimental method can be employed in politics more generally — that is, beyond narrow clearly defined contextsm — and of course there are some ethical concerns about whether it can be justified to implement coercive legislation in an experimental way. This paper argues that experimentation is not only possible, if we view politics generally as a procedure of increasingly sophisticated problem-solving under conditions of deep uncertainty, experimentation ought to be the standard way of implementing policy. This argument has two parts: first, I show that experimentation is justified beyond finding the most efficient means to fixed goals. It can also be applied to the “big moral questions,” once we recognize that in politics, moral rules are functional tools to address value conflicts, rather than representations of some objective standard of good. Second, I show that the ethical problems with experimental policy-making tend to be overstated. The apparently cogent objections that experimentation imposes unjustified risks on people, that it is inequitable or involuntary, or that it destroys evolved and traditional practices, as I argue, are largely founded on status-quo bias or a misunderstanding of the conditions of politics. If we think policy-making is ever justified, experimental policy-making is also justifiable. Given this result, we can see that if we focus on the problem-solving role of political activity, experimental methods in policy-making are not only allowed, there are good reasons to think that we ought to increase its use through our political system.
Comparison of 2 fluid ingress/egress systems for canine stifle arthroscopy using computed tomography.

Objective To evaluate volume of extra-articular fluid egress and complications associated with 2 fluid ingress/egress techniques for stifle arthroscopy. Study Design Ex vivo study. Study Subjects Canine cadavers (n = 14). Methods Four cadavers (8 stifles) were used to validate 3D computed tomographic (CT) methods to quantify stifle joint intra- and extra-articular volumes of iodinated contrast medium. Ten canine cadavers (20 stifles) had preoperative CT, followed by stifle arthroscopy using a 10% solution of iodinated contrast enhanced ingress fluid delivered by pressure bag (2PB) or by arthroscopic peristaltic pump (3FP). All 3FP limbs had an additional fluid egress portal placed by cannula and obturator. Arthroscopy was limited to 20 minutes/joint. The volume of the contrast medium egress into the soft tissues was measured on postoperative 3D CT reconstructed images. Results Mean percentage of total ingress fluids administered that remained in the joint and extra-articular tissues postoperatively was 8.8 ± 1.2% in 3FP and 33.2 ± 8% in 2PB (P = .014). Two 3FP joints had 4–5 mm egress obturator tracks on the proximal medial trochlear ridge. Two 2PB joints had severe joint collapse from extracapsular fluid precluding further examination. Intermittent visual blurring by joint fluid mixing or fat pad fragmentation/dissolution was noted in 2PB joints. Conclusions A superior technique was not identified: 2PB had greater egress fluid tissue accumulation, whereas 3FP had better viewing of intra-articular structures with less tissue egress fluid accumulation; however, cartilage damage was induced with the egress obturator.
Sudden collapse and death of women obtaining abortions induced with prostaglandin F2α

Abstract Two recent cases of sudden collapse and eventual death of the woman after induction of abortion with prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) have been reported to the Center for Disease Control as part of the epidemiologic surveillance of deaths due to abortion. We present these cases in order to document this event associated with the use of PGF 2α . The etiology of the sudden collapse is still unknown. Nonetheless, the deaths of these two healthy young women undergoing induced abortions with PGF 2α should heighten clinicians' awareness of some possible risks associated with these new abortifacients.
VOLUME CHANGES IN SANDS DURING CYCLIC LOADING

Measurements of the volume change behavior of sands under cyclic loading simple shear conditions suggest that the vertical strain due to compaction depends only on the shear strain amplitude induced in the sample at strains exceeding 0.05%. This indicates that cyclic shear strain, which deforms the sample allowing particles to move into denser packing, may well be a fundamental parameter in determining the volume change behavior of cohesionless soils under dynamic loading conditions. Quantitative data also showed that there was significantly more volume change for sand at relative densities below 60%. In addition, the importance of the first few strain cycles in determining the total vertical strain in the sample was indicated by the fact that for the range of test parameters studied, as much vertical settlement due to compaction occurs in the first 10 cycles as occurs in the next 40 cycles. The test data may be used to evaluate the possible magnitude of ground surface settlements due to ground shaking caused by earthquakes or other types of ground vibrations.
Survival of poliovirus in flowing turbid seawater treated with ultraviolet light.

Abstract The effectiveness of a model ultraviolet (UV) radiation unit for treating flowing turbid seawater contaminated with poliovirus was determined. At a turbidity of 70 ppm, the observed survival ratios ranged from 1.9 × 10-3 (99.81% reduction) to 1.5 × 10-4 (99.98% reduction) at flow rates ranging from 25 to 15 liters/min; no virus was recovered at flow rates of 10 and 5 liters/min. At a turbidity of 240 ppm, the observed survival ratios ranged from 3.2 × 10-2 (96.80% reduction) to 2.1 × 10-4 (99.98% reduction) at flow rates ranging from 25 to 5 liters/min. As expected, turbidity had an adverse influence on the effectiveness of UV radiation; however, by adjusting the flow rate of the seawater through the treatment unit, adequate disinfection was shown to be predictable.
Stochastic model of admixed basal and pulsatile hormone secretion as modulated by a deterministic oscillator

Neuroendocrine ensembles communicate with their remote and proximal target cells via an intermittent pattern of chemical signaling. The lack of a biomathematical formulation of the underlying burst-generating mechanics of such pulsatile secretory systems has greatly hampered quantitative analysis of the physiological, pharmacological, and pathological regulation of the amplitude and frequency components of seemingly randomly dispersed neuroendocrine signals. Here we present a stochastic differential equation model of episodic glandular signaling in which random, but structured, variations in burst amplitudes superimposed on basal hormone release are combined with a nonstationary Poisson process responsible for the timing of scattered secretory bursts. Burst timing and/or amplitude can be modulated by underlying deterministic trends, e.g., circadian variations in mean expected neurosecretory burst frequency or mass. We illustrate the diversity of output of this model and suggest its use in extracting underlying properties of irregular biological signals in relevant hormone time series. This representation of episodic secretory behavior combines stochastic and deterministic elements inherent in the intermittent activity of a neuroendocrine apparatus.
Condom Refusal and Young Black Men: the Influence of Pleasure, Sexual Partners, and Friends

The study investigated pleasure-related, partner-related, and social normative correlates of recent condom refusal in young Black men (YBM). A cross-sectional study of YBM (N = 561) attending clinics treating sexually transmitted diseases in three cities was conducted. Mean age was 19.6 years (SD = 1.87). Nearly one of every two young men (46.8 %) indicated recent refusal to use a condom after a request from their partner. Significant findings included the following: partner-related beliefs “I feel closer to my partner without a condom” (OR = 2.52, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.65–3.83) and “condoms make sex hurt for the female partner” (OR = 1.69, 95 % CI = 1.14–2.52), a scale measure of pleasure-related beliefs (OR = 2.58, 95 % CI = 1.73–3.84), and a scale measure of negative social beliefs associated with condom usage (OR = 1.05, 95 % CI = 1.00 – 1.10). Interventions addressing pleasure-related, partner-related, and social normative beliefs as barriers to condom use are warranted for YBM.
Measurement Techniques for Thermoelectric Materials and Modules

Thermoelectrics is a multidiscipline area of study, rich in condensed matter physics, chemistry, engineering, and material science. The figure of merit used for evaluating individual materials consists of three interdependent material properties. The measurement of these properties should be taken on the same sample for all three measurements, preferably simultaneously. Each of these measurements requires close attention to potential sources of losses for accurate analysis of the materials and testing of theoretical models. For example, relatively simple scanning measurement techniques can be used to gain insight into accurate geometry measurements and influences of contact dimensions. In addition, the field of thermoelectrics spans a wide temperature range, from cryogenic temperatures to > 1000 °C. This requires systems capable of large temperature variations, and/or multiple measurement systems for various ranges of interest. Additional measurements, such as Hall effect, help to gain further insight into the material properties and their optimization. The number and importance of measurements is further extended as the development of devices from these new materials is initiated, where studies of contact resistance and overall device performance must be evaluated. For mechanical robustness of fabricated modules, properties such as the coefficient of thermal expansion, and grain size for the new materials are of interest. Models for device behavior are useful in evaluating the measured results and further extracting material and device properties. In this paper, we review measurements used in evaluating bulk thermoelectric materials some of the information that can be extracted from these measurements, along with a model that can be used in conjunction with these measurements for module design.
T cells responsive to myelin basic protein in patients with multiple sclerosis

Gene mutation in vivo in human T lymphocytes appears to occur preferentially in dividing cells. Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are assumed to have one or more populations of diving T cells that are being stimulated by autoantigens. Mutant T cell clones from MS patients were isolated and tested for reactivity to myelin basic protein, an antigen that is thought to participate in the induction of the disease. The hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) clonal assay was used to determine mutant frequency values in MS patients with chronic progressive disease. Eleven of 258 thioguanine-resistant (hprt-) T cell clones from five of the six MS patients who were tested proliferated in response to human myelin basic protein without prior in vitro exposure to this antigen. No wild-type clones from these patients, nor any hprt- or wild-type clones from three healthy individuals responded to myelin basic protein. Thus, T cell clones that react with myelin basic protein can be isolated from the peripheral blood of MS patients.
Reappreciating W. D. Ross: Naturalizing Prima Facie Duties and a Proposed Method

The goal of this article is to try to resolve two key problems in the duty-based approach of W. D. Ross: the source of principles and a process for moving from prima facie to actual duty. I use a naturalistic explanation for the former and a nine-step method for making concrete ethical decisions as they could be applied to journalism. Consistent with Ross's position, the process is complicated, particularly in tougher problems, and it cannot guarantee correct choices. Again consistent with Ross, such complexity and uncertainty speak in the method's favor, given the difficulty—factual, motivational, and organizational—of ethics problems and decision making.
Ammonia emissions from anaerobic treatment lagoons at sow and finishing farms in Oklahoma

Abstract Ammonia emissions were measured periodically for two years at manure treatment lagoons at sow and finishing facilities in Oklahoma. Path-integrated ammonia concentrations were measured around both lagoons using tunable diode lasers. Emissions were calculated from these concentrations and measured air turbulence statistics using a backward Lagrangian stochastic model. The maximum summer emissions were approximately 16 g m−2 s−1 (135 g d−1 hd−1) (hd = head or 1 animal) at the sow lagoon and 5 g m−2 s−1 (39 g d−1 hd−1) at the swine finishing lagoon. Winter emissions were non-zero and likely a result of barn effluent entering the lagoon on top of the frozen surfaces. Average daily emissions from the two lagoons were similar when normalized by animal mass, with annual average daily mean emissions of 130 g d−1 AU−1 ± 72 g d−1 AU−1 (1 animal unit, AU = 500 kg) and mean summer average daily mean emissions of 285 ± 71 g d−1 AU−1. A semi-empirical model based on daily mean air temperature and daily mean wind speed accounted for 75% of the daily emission variability at the two lagoons.
Effect of chronic cocaine administration and cocaine withdrawal on coronary flow rate and heart rate responses to epinephrine and cocaine in isolated perfused rat hearts

The acute dose-dependent effects of epinephrine and cocaine on heart rate and coronary flow rate (CFR) were examined in isolated, perfused (Langendorff) rat hearts from animals: i) pretreated with daily cocaine injections (20 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks; ii) after 2-day withdrawal from 8-week cocaine pretreatment; iii) vehicle-treated controls. Chronic cocaine (CC) hearts were significantly less sensitive to the chronotropic effects of epinephrine than control (C) or withdrawal (CW) hearts. CW hearts exhibited significantly higher heart rates in response to epinephrine than C and CC hearts. Epinephrine alone (2.5 x 10(-7) M) decreased CFR 11% (C), 9%(CC), 14%(CW) from respective baseline levels. Cocaine alone had no significant effect on CFR in C hearts but produced slight dose-dependent decrements in CFR in CC and particularly CW hearts at higher doses. Cocaine plus epinephrine markedly decreased CFR in all groups, particularly in CW hearts. The results indicate that chronic daily cocaine administration produces a functional tolerance of the heart to the chronotropic actions of epinephrine but a 2-day withdrawal from chronic cocaine results in a rebound supersensitivity to adrenergic stimulation and cocaine's sympathomimetic effects. In addition, cocaine produces only minor decrements in coronary flow in the rat heart, while cocaine acts synergisticallly with epinephrine to produce a marked decrease in CFR.
Simulated Flight Tests of a Digitally Autopiloted Stol-Craft on a Curved Approach With Scanning Microwave Guidance

A work is described which studied the capabilities of a STOL aircraft equipped with digital minicomputer serving as an autopilot making a curved approach to a runway along a path prescribed by the Air Traffic Control system using radio-navigation data supplied by the developing Scanning Fan Beam Microwave Landing Guidance System. The work involved the development of an ATC scheme for effectively generating a flyable curved approach path and specifying such a path to the aircraft being served. The paths produced are made up of alternating straight and circular segments along which the plane is to maintain prescribed constant airspeeds. The digital autopilot functions include Navigation, Control Trimming, Anticipatory calculations, Generation of Control Commands based on utilization of linear optimal state-feedback control theory, Filtering (including Kalman techniques) of state measurements, and Estimation of prevailing winds. A complete simulation of such a system aboard a McDonnell-Douglas 188/Breguet 941 STOL transport, with realistic winds, turbulence, and measurement noise, was created and exercised on the Purdue University CDC 6500 computer system, and showed the capability of excellent adhesion of the airplane to the commanded flight path.
Neutron Absorption Cross Sections of U 235 and Pu 239 in the 5- to 50-kev Energy Range

The absorption cross sections of ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$ have been measured at six energies in the 5- to 50-kev energy range. Neutrons from the reaction ${\mathrm{V}}^{51}(p, n){\mathrm{Cr}}^{51}$ were used in spherical-shell transmission measurements. The results show, in general, a decrease in absorption cross section with increasing energy up to about 30 kev and then a nearly constant value (up to 50 kev) of about 2.8 barns for ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ and 2.2 barns for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$.
Dietary patterns of older adults in a rural, tri-ethnic community: a factor analysis approach

Abstract Health promotion interventions for older adults designed to alter nutrient intake patterns often fail because they do not consider their total dietary patterns. Factor analysis can be used to determine which foods or food groups cluster together. Food patterns of 130 African American (34%), Native American (30%), and white (36%) adults ≥70 years in two rural communities are reported here. A modified Block food frequency questionnaire was administered orally by trained interviewers to elicit usual diet. The 110 individual foods from the questionnaire were combined into 38 groups. Principal components factor analysis with promax rotation was used to identify 7 patterns that accounted for 45% of the variance of dietary intake frequency. These factors represent a variety of patterns, such as “American Diet”, “traditional breakfast,” and “meats.” With the exception of gender, few differences in patterns were observed for selected demographic and health characteristics. This approach can summarize complex dietary data into meaningful patterns and assist health promotion efforts among older adults.
State-Dependent Etomidate Binding in GABAA Receptors Probed with Cysteine Substitution and Protection from Modification

Background: A central tenet of ligand-receptor theory is that agonists bind more tightly to active than to inactive receptors. This is a difficult concept to test experimentally, because in most agonist-receptor systems, the act of assessing agonist binding affinity results in receptor activation. In α1β2γ2L GABAA receptors, the anesthetic etomidate is an allosteric agonist at high concentrations, and potentiates GABA activation at low concentrations. Sites mediating both actions were photolabeled with azi-etomidate, identifying the β2M286 sidechain as a contact point. We used a cysteine substitution and sulfhydryl modification to study etomidate interactions with this sidechain. Methods: using two-microelectrode voltage clamp electrophysiology in Xenopus oocytes, we characterized etomidate agonism and potentiation of GABA activation in α1β2M286Cγ2L GABAA receptors. We studied covalent modification of the β2M286C sidechain by a sulfhydryl-selective reagent, para-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (pCMBS) with and without GABA. Etomidate-dependent protection of the sulfhydryl was also assessed. Results: Oocyte-expressed α1β2M286Cγ2L receptors displayed reduced sensitivity to GABA, and no agonism by etomidate. However, etomidate still enhanced GABA-activated currents from α1β2M286Cγ2L receptors. Exposure of α1β2M286Cγ2L receptors to pCMBS irreversibly increased activation by low (EC10) GABA. The apparent rate of pCMBS modification increased with addition of GABA. Etomidate in a concentration-dependent manner reduced the rate of β2M286C modification by pCMBS. Etomidate protection at β2M286C was enhanced in the presence of GABA. Conclusions: Etomidate, like azi-etomidate, binds next to the β2M286 residue. Based on its apparent protectant potency, the affinity of etomidate for GABA-bound receptors is greater than that for resting receptors, as expected. Our results have important implications for both designing and interpreting experiments that use mutations to map allosteric modulator/agonist sites.Support: NIH (R01GM89745 and P01GM58448)
Partial Regularity of Suitable Weak Solutions of Complex Ginzburg Landau Equations

(1999). Partial Regularity of Suitable Weak Solutions of Complex Ginzburg Landau Equations. Communications in Partial Differential Equations: Vol. 24, No. 11-12, pp. 390-393.
Pricing an Industrial Technological Innovation: A Case Study What Decision Do You Recommend: Skim?, Penetration?, or Price Parity with an Older Technology?

Abstract The manufacturer of a new fencing wire wanted to know if he should price the wire more than, equal to, or less than a larger competitor's product when introducing the new product to customers. Compared to the competitor's product, the new fencing wire was manufactured using a unique technology and component materials. The physical and performance properties of the new product offered substantial benefits to customers in landbased industries (e.g., sheep stations and cattle range operations). In the case study, three alternative pricing strategies were proposed by three different senior managers. Which pricing decision would you recommend? A discussion of the likely effectiveness of each of the three alternatives is appended. The case study was based on a field study of marketing new technologies in New Zealand. The descriptions of the new and competing product technologies, and the events presented in the case, are factual.
Long-term inhibition of clinical and laboratory human immunodeficiency virus strains in human T-cell lines containing an HIV-regulated diphtheria toxin A chain gene.

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes persistent infection of T cells. Chemotherapy for infection in humans may slow HIV-related disease progression, but it does not eradicate viru...
On a trace functional for formal pseudo-differential operators and the symplectic structure of the Korteweg-devries type equations

We study the Lie geometric structure behind the Hamiltonian structure of the Korteweg deVries type equations.
Trivalent orbit polynomial graphs

Abstract We introduce orbit polynomial graphs, and discuss their connections with distance- transitive, distance-regular, and distance polynomial graphs. After some general results, we classify all of the nonsymmetric trivalent orbit polynomial graphs.
On an Elementary Density Problem for Polynomials over Finite Fields

Let M?Fqt] be a fixed polynomial and k?2 be an integer. In this paper we will give the density of the set of all monic irreducible polynomials P for which P+M is a k-free polynomial.
School-based research on the prevention of adolescent alcohol use and misuse: Methodological issues and advances.

In this article, I first review the early school-based approaches to the prevention of adolescent alcohol use and misuse (AAUM), problems associated with the earlier studies, remedies that have been suggested in response to these problems, and current school-based approaches to the prevention of AAUM. Findings from recent studies that I conducted and interpretations of these results are summarized. I discuss issues that I, and other currently active researchers in the school-based alcohol prevention field, find important. I then suggest some possible directions for future research.
Motility Protein Complexes in the Bacterial Flagellar Motor

Among the many proteins needed for the assembly and function of bacterial flagella, only five have been suggested to be involved in torque generation. These are MotA, MotB, FliG, FliM and FliN. In this study, we have probed binding interactions among these proteins, by using protein fusions to glutathioneS-transferase or to oligo-histidine, in conjunction with co-isolation assays. The results show that FliG, FliM and FliN all bind to each other, and that each also self-associates. MotA and MotB also bind to each other, and MotA interacts, but only weakly, with FliG and FliM. Taken together with previous genetic, physiological and ultrastructural studies, these results provide strong support for the view that FliG, FliM and FliN function together in a complex on the rotor of the flagellar motor, whereas MotA and MotB form a distinct complex that functions as the stator. Torque generation in the flagellar motor is thus likely to involve interactions between these two protein complexes.
Effects of amphetamines on mitochondrial function: role of free radicals and oxidative stress

Amphetamine-like psychostimulants are associated with long-term decreases in markers for monoaminergic neurons, suggesting neuronal loss and/or damage within the brain. This long-term "toxicity" results from formation of free radicals, particularly reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), although the mechanism(s) of ROS and RNS formation are unclear. Mitochondria are a major source of ROS and mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to some neurodegenerative disorders. Amphetamines also inhibit mitochondrial function, although the mechanism involved in the inhibition is uncertain. This review coordinates findings on the multiple pathways for ROS and RNS and describes a hypothesis involving mitochondrial inhibition in the initiation of amphetamine-induced cellular necrosis.
Accidental intracranial hyperalimentation infusion.

A case of infusion of hyperalimentation fluid into the subarachnoid space is presented. Massive loss of cerebral and cerebellar tissue and cerebrospinal fluid inflammation distinguish this case from a previous report.
Psychological Influences on the Policy Choices of Secretaries of State and Foreign Ministers

This article builds upon work linking the psychological characteristics of heads of government to their foreign policy preferences. The primary interest is in determining whether there is a similar...
The neurokinin 1 receptor regulates peritoneal fibrinolytic activity and postoperative adhesion formation.

Abstract Background Intra-abdominal adhesions are a common source of postoperative morbidity. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that a neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist (NK-1RA) reduces abdominal adhesion formation and increases peritoneal fibrinolytic activity. However, the cellular pathway by which the antagonist exerts its effects is unclear, as cultured peritoneal mesothelial cells exposed to the NK-1RA show increases in fibrinolytic activity despite having very low expression of neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) messenger RNA and protein. Our aim was to determine whether the NK-1R plays an essential role in the adhesion-reducing effects of the NK-1RA, or if the NK-1RA is acting independently of the receptor. Methods Homozygous NK-1R knockout mice and age matched wild-type mice underwent laparotomy with cecal cautery to induce adhesions. At the time of surgery, mice received a single intraperitoneal dose of either NK-1RA (25 mg/kg) or saline alone. Adhesion severity at the site of cecal cautery was assessed on postoperative day 7. In a separate experiment, peritoneal fluid was collected from wild type and NK-1R knockout mice 24 h after laparotomy with cecal cautery and administration of either NK-1RA or saline. Tissue plasminogen activator levels, representative of total fibrinolytic activity, were then measured in peritoneal fluid. Results In wild-type mice, NK-1RA administration significantly decreased adhesion formation compared with saline controls. Among the NK-1R knockout mice, there was no significant reduction in adhesion formation by the NK-1RA. Fibrinolytic activity increased 244% in wild-type mice administered NK-1RA compared with saline controls; however, the NK-1RA did not raise fibrinolytic activity above saline controls in NK-1R knockout mice. Conclusions These data indicate that the NK-1R mediates the adhesion-reducing effects of the NK-1RA, in part, by the upregulation of peritoneal fibrinolysis, and suggest that the NK-1R is a promising therapeutic target for adhesion prevention.
Lactose, sucrose, and molasses in simple and complex diets for nursery pigs

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of lactose, sucrose, and molasses in simple and complex diets for nursery pigs. In Experiment 1, 210 weaned pigs (4.6 kg) were used in a 30-day growth assay. Treatments included complex diets with 100 g crystalline lactose/kg, and 50% or 100% of the lactose replaced with sucrose or molasses. Overall, replacing lactose with sucrose or molasses did not affect weight gain, feed intake, or efficiency of feed utilization. Surprisingly, diets with molasses supported greater overall weight gain than diets with sucrose ( P P P P P P =0.07). In conclusion, sucrose and molasses effectively replaced lactose, supporting comparable performance in nursery pigs.
The Consumer Credit Protection Act: An Analysis of Public Policy Formulation*

On May 15, 1968, House and Senate conferees agreed on provisions of a compromise Truth-in-Lending bill to enable the consumer "to compare more readily the various credit terms available to him and avoid the uninformed use of credit." (16, p. 1). Truth-in-Lending, Title I of a four-title Consumer Credit Pro tection Act, in effect since July 1, 1969, instituted significant de partures in consumer credit practices and granted new rights to the consumer in obtaining credit cost information. The bill was passed following eight years of study by Congress, resulting in some 6900 pages of testimony and related information. The first truth-in-lending bill was introduced to Congress by Sena tor Paul Douglas in I960.1 He led the fight for passage until 1966 when he was defeated for re-election. Senator William Proxmire continued Douglas' efforts but held a more flexible position on major issues, and the Senate Banking and Currency Committee re ported a truth-in-lending bill to the Senate in June, 1967, when it was passed by that chamber. At the same time, the House Banking and Currency Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs was considering a Consumer Credit Protection Act, introduced by its chairman, Rep. Lenor K. Sullivan, which provided for additional consumer credit
High Throughput Dimensional Measurements With Electro-Optics

A dimensional measuring system, the profile monitor, has been developed to measure part dimensions with a standard deviation of 0.0001 inch at a throughput rate of 1200 parts/ minute. The monitor is one measurement system on an advanced high speed inspection system designed to monitor the production of cartridge cases. The complete system includes a mechanical handler, measurement instruments (which make five measurements), system monitoring instruments and a dedicated minicomputer. This paper describes the profile monitor and its performance. The profile monitor is an electro -optic system that utilizes fiber optics to project an image of the case onto chargecoupled device image sensors. Measurements are made for five different case dimensions: 1) head thickness, 2) head diameter, 3) extractor groove diameter, 4) gas seal length and 5) total length. The profile monitor consists of five major elements: the case gauging fixture, the optical system including an illumination source and folding optics, the diode array (detector), the processing electronics and the computer. Electronics consist of the diode array and driver, thresholding circuit, measurement timing logic and data buffers. The square image conduit (six micron fibers) is structured to take the edges of the projected case image and transfer the image to a 0.125 inch linear charge coupled device (CCD) sensor. Logic is employed to detect the shadowed edges of the case and count the number of elements darkened by the shadow.
Recreation of Wöhler’s Synthesis of Urea: An Undergraduate Organic Laboratory Exercise

An undergraduate laboratory exercise appropriate to the upper-level organic or inorganic course is presented. The objective of the laboratory is to recreate an experiment of historical significance familiar to organic chemistry students while also incorporating modern techniques of spectroscopic characterization and purification.
Immediate double-hip spica cast in multiple trauma patients

A specially designed, double-hip spica cast has been in use for four years at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington for patients whose injuries include unstable fractures of the pelvis or in the lumbosacral region. The cast is applied immediately after initial resuscitation and primary surgical care. The cast has reduced blood loss and pain, plus provided immediate treatment for the lower extremity and pelvic fractures. Eleven cases are reported, four in detail.
Embedded Ultrasonic Structural Radar With Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors for the NDE of Thin-Wall Structures

Embedded-ultrasonics structural radar (EUSR) is a new concept and methodology for in-situ nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) of thin-wall structures. EUSR consists (a) an array of piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) embedded into the structure; and (b) electronic modules for signal transmission/reception, processing, and interpretation. EUSR utilizes guided elastic waves (Lamb waves) generated omnidirectionally into the thin-wall structure by surface-mounted permanently-attached PWAS. The paper starts with the general concepts of the EUSR algorithm: transmission beamforming, reception beamforming, and time of fight determination. Next, details of the Lamb wave generation with PWAS, verification of group-velocity dispersion curves, identification of optimal excitation frequency, and confirmation of wave front omnidirectionality are discussed. In the third part of the paper, the actual implementation of the EUSR method in a proof-of-concept demonstration is presented. The construction of the PWAS phased array is described, and detection of cracks located broadside and offside of the PWAS array is illustrated. The method is shown to be easy to use through a visually interactive LabView™ interface. Very good detection accuracy is observed. Though the proof-of-concept experiments presented in this paper were illustrated on metallic structures, the EUSR concept works just as well on composite and hybrid structures.Copyright © 2002 by ASME