cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel and accurate method for estimating umbilical arterial and venous catheter insertion length

Objective To develop a novel, rapid, and more accurate model for estimating umbilical arterial (UAC) and venous catheter (UVC) insertion length. Study design We evaluated UACs and UVCs from a retrospective cohort to determine the rate of correct initial positioning based on conventional birth weight-based equations utilized in our neonatal intensive care unit. We then derived new equations, developed the mobile application, UmbiCalc, to simplify implementation of the new equations, and validated their accuracy with prospective utilization. Results The conventional equations successfully predicted insertion length in 69% (364 of 524) of UACs and only 36% (194 of 544) of UVCs. Our new model was prospectively applied to 68 UAC and 80 UVC placements with successful initial positioning achieved in 90% [95% CI, 80.2-94.9] and 76% [95% CI, 65.9-84.2], respectively. Conclusions Our novel approach more accurately estimates UAC and UVC insertion length.
Changing Influences in Criminology: Examining 45 Years of Criminology Journal Citations

A growing body of research has recently been devoted to quantifying research productivity both on the part of individuals, as well as the prestige that individual productivity levels bring to depar...
Geological mapping from spaceborne imaging radars Kentucky-Virginia, USA

Radar images (at wavelength 23.5 cm) of a 50-km-wide swath across Kentucky and Virginia obtained with the Shuttle Imaging Radar experiment (SIR-A) in 1981 and with the Seasat SAR in 1978 are compared. Image tone and texture, lineament mapping, drainage mapping, and the effects of illumination geometry and incidence angle are considered, and sample Landsat images are evaluated. The dominant backscatter effect in the SIR-A images is found to facilitate the mapping of steeply sloping terranes and lineaments shorter than the Seasat length resolution limit of about 15 km. It is determined that optimum enhancement of topographic features is obtained when the radar look angle exceeds the surface slope angle by a discrete amount, avoiding layover or relief displacement. A variable-look-angle radar is needed to maintain low incidence angles in regions with widely varying slope angles, as illustrated by the Landsat MSS images.
A comparison of individuals with unanswered callings to those with no calling at all

Abstract The purpose of this research was to compare the life-, job-, and health-related experiences of those who perceive an unanswered occupational calling to those who (1) are living a calling and (2) perceive no calling at all. Surveys containing measures of callings, work engagement, job involvement, career commitment, life and job satisfaction, turnover intentions, physical health and emotional well-being were administered to 378 American academics. As expected, academics with an answered occupational calling tended to report better job attitudes and domain-specific satisfaction and less withdrawal intentions than those who reported an unanswered occupational calling or no calling at all. Furthermore, those who did not have a calling to a particular vocation reported better life-, job-, and health-related outcomes than those experiencing an unanswered calling. Surprisingly, only those academics experiencing an unmet calling reported significantly poorer physical and psychological health as compared to the other two calling groups. These results are consistent with the self-determination theory, which predicts that those who are able to satisfy their basic psychological needs reap benefits in terms of psychological growth, optimal functioning, and wellbeing. The study contributes to the literature on callings by showing that having a calling is a benefit only if it is met, but can be a detriment when it is not as compared to having no calling at all.
The proteasome inhibitor PS-341 (Bortezomib) upregulates death receptor 5 expression leading to induction of apoptosis and enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis despite increase of c-FLIP and survivin in human lung cancer cells.

2406 The proteasome inhibitor PS-341 (Bortezomib or Velcade), an approved drug for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, is currently being tested in clinical trials against various malignancies including lung cancer. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that PS-341 induces apoptosis and enhances tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells with undefined mechanisms. In the present study, we focused on revealing the mechanisms by which PS-341 induces apoptosis and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. PS-341 increased cleavage of caspase-8 and apoptosis. Prevention of caspase-8 activation by silencing caspase-8 expression using caspase-8 small interfering RNA (siRNA) abrogated PS-341-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that PS-341 induces caspase-8-depenent apoptosis. PS-341 induced expression of death receptor 5 (DR5) and cooperated with TRAIL to induce apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. Importantly, DR5 induction by PS-341 correlated with PS-341’s ability to induce apoptosis, whereas blockage of PS-341-induced DR5 upregulation using DR5 siRNA rendered cells less sensitive to apoptosis induced by either PS-341 or its combination with TRAIL. These results demonstrate that DR5 upregulation mediates PS-341-induced apoptosis and enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. We exclude the involvement of c-FLIP and survivin in mediating these events because c-FLIP (i.e., FLIPS) and survivin protein levels were actually elevated upon exposure to PS-341. Reduction of c-FLIP with c-FLIP siRNA sensitized cells to PS-341-induced apoptosis, suggesting that c-FLIP elevation protects cells from PS-341-induced apoptosis. Thus, the present study highlights the important role of DR5 upregulation in PS-341-induced apoptosis and enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. (Supported by GCC Distinguished Cancer Scholar award and DOD grant W81XWH-04-1-0142-VITAL)
Aesthetics into the Twenty-First Century

The new concerns facing aestheticians in the twenty-first century require serious attention if the discipline is to maintain continued viability as an intellectual discipline. Just as art changes as cultures develop, so must aesthetics. In support of this view is a personal account of evolving engagement with aesthetics and the factors that led to embracing change and a plurality of practices as essential to the health of aesthetic today. A brief examination of the state of aesthetics as it has evolved in the American Society for Aesthetics since its inception in the 1940s will follow. These two lines of development, one idiosyncratic and personal, and the other focusing on the aims and outcomes of one prominent national society, will perhaps offer some useful background for understanding the current state of aesthetics and the problems confronting the discipline today. Following these considerations will be a look at some of the main concerns reflected in the social and political aesthetics and the expansion of aesthetics to include the popular arts which again challenges aesthetics to move beyond its historic boundaries.
The Meaning of Folklore: The Analytical Essays of Alan Dundes

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2007 Pages: 580 Publisher: Utah State University Press ISBN: 978-0-87421-683-7 (hard cover). Prices: $49.95 USD(hard cover).
Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic, Sodium

Sodium has two fluorides: sodium fluoride, used in pesticide formulations and in the fluoridation of potable water supplies; and sodium bifluoride, used as a laundry sour and in the cleaning of stone and brick building faces. Physical and chemical properties are discussed.
Pregnancy in familial dysautonomia

This report describes the first two known instances of viable pregnancies in two patients with familial dysautonomia (Riley-Day syndrome). The offspring were apparently normal. Several conditions, specifically related to autonomic and sensory dysfunction in pregnancy, are discussed.
The effects of chronic 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (dutasteride) treatment on rat erectile function.

ABSTRACT Introduction Numerous clinical series have reported an association between 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) and sexual dysfunction, but there are limited preclinical data available. Aim To further investigate the mechanisms of erectile dysfunction (ED) related to 5ARI therapy using a rat model. Main Outcome Measures Outcome measures include serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT), relaxant and contractile properties of cavernosal muscle, and nitric oxide synthase expression. Methods Twenty adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomized into control (N = 10) and dutasteride (0.5 mg/rat/day, in drinking water, N = 10) groups. Serum samples were obtained at baseline, from which DHT was measured after 30 days of treatment via radioimmunoassay (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA). Before the terminal blood draw, erectile response was measured using cavernosal nerve stimulation. The relaxant and contractile properties of cavernosal muscle strips were evaluated in tissue baths, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and collagen deposition was performed. Results Mean serum DHT was suppressed by 86.5% (range 64.2–94.8%) after 30 days of 5ARI treatment and was statistically significant ( P = 0.0024). In vivo erectile response in the dutasteride treated group decreased significantly compared with control ( P P Conclusions The 5ARIs, as demonstrated in these rat cavernosal smooth muscle studies, have a detrimental effect on erectile function. Enhanced iNOS expression may protect penile smooth muscle from fibrosis. The effect of 5ARIs on human sexual function warrants further investigation. Pinsky MR, Gur S, Tracey AJ, Harbin A, and Hellstrom WJG. The effects of chronic 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitor (dutasteride) treatment on rat erectile function. J Sex Med 2011;8:3066–3074.
Cycles of Influence: Fiction, Folktale, Theory

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Stephen Benson Year: 2003 Pages: 316 Publisher: Wayne State University Press Prices: $39.95
On The Interpretation of Wide-scope Indefinites

This paper argues, on the basis of data from St'at'imcets (Lillooet Salish), for a theory of wide-scope indefinites which is similar, though not identical, to that proposed by Kratzer (1998). I show that a subset of S'at'imcets indefinites takes obligatory wide scope with respect to if-clauses, negation, and modals, and is unable to be distributed over by quantificational phrases. These wide-scope effects cannot be accounted for by movement, but require an analysis involving choice functions (Reinhart 1995, 1997). However, Reinhart's particular choice function analysis is unable to account for the St'at'imcets data. A Kratzer-style theory, on the other hand, accounts not only for the wide-scope effects, but also for the emergence of narrower-than-widest interpretations for indefinites which contain bound variables. I depart from Kratzer's analysis in claiming that St'at'imcets choice function indefinites are not 'specific'; the discourse context does not provide a value for the function variable. Therefore, I utilize wide- scope existential closure over choice functions rather than leaving the variables free. However, my analysis provides support for Kratzer's claim that English indefinites are ambiguous between a choice function interpretation and a quantificational interpretation, since St'at'imcets determiners overtly encode the English ambiguity. I conclude by suggesting that the proposed analysis of wide-scope indefinites may be universally valid.
Evaluating Weighted DFS Branch and Bound over Graphical Models

Weighted search was explored significantly in recent years for path-finding problems, but until now was barely considered for optimization tasks such as MPE/MAP and Weighted CSPs. An important virtue of weighted search schemes, especially in the context of anytime search, is that they are w-optimal, i.e. when terminated, they return a weight w, and a solution cost C, such that C ≤ w · C *, where C* is the optimal cost. In this paper we introduce Weighted Branch and Bound (WBB) for graphical models and provide a broad empirical evaluation of its performance compared with one of the best unweighted anytime search scheme, BRAOBB (won Pascal 2011 competition). We also compare against weighted best-first (WBF). Our results show that W BB can be superior to both unweighted BB and to weighted BF on a significant number of instances. We also illustrate the benefit of weighted search in providing suboptimality relative error bounds.
Circuit and system design for future microwave systems

Microwave systems continue to benefit from technological and system advances that provide for new levels of performance, form factor and lowered cost. In the past, these advances were primarily associated with new materials systems or device types (e.g. GaAs, GaN, InP, MEMS, HBTs, PHEMTs, etc.). Although improvements continue in these and other new areas, system designers are increasingly looking for areas where advances in CMOS digital IC technology can improve the performance of microwave systems. The ability to realize millions of logic gates in an area the size of a bond pad provides the signal processing capability required for highly adaptive microwave systems, which monitor their environment and adapt their matching, tuning, bias, or configuration, to realize the best possible performance. These adaptive microwave systems find wide application in areas as diverse as active phased-array radars, wireless local area networks and even the ubiquitous cellular telephone. This paper summarized the device and signal processing requirements of these new adaptive systems of the future, and highlight some of the research areas required for further development of the field.
ALGEBRA PROGRESS MONITORING AND INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Competence in algebra is linked to access to higher education, employment in better-paying jobs, and, increasingly, the ability to earn a high school diploma. For many students with learning disabi...
Induction of motor neuron sprouting in vivo by ciliary neurotrophic factor and basic fibroblast growth factor

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were tested for effects on sprouting by motor neurons innervating the adult mouse gluteus muscle. Factors were delivered by subcutaneous injection directly over the surface of the superior gluteus muscle once daily for 7 d and then end plates and axons were visualized by combined silver and cholinesterase staining. CNTF (500 ng daily) induced sprouting both from end plates and from the subset of nodes of Ranvier that are closest to the end plate. The effect of CNTF was potentiated twofold by coadministration of bFGF at doses of 2-20 ng daily, whereas treatment with bFGF alone failed to induce sprouting from either end plates or nodes of Ranvier. The sprouting stimulus delivered by the factors showed limited penetrance into the muscle and restricted lateral spread from the injection site.
The Philosophical Significance of Attention

What is the philosophical significance of attention? The present article provides an overview of recent debates surrounding the connections between attention and other topics of philosophical interest. In particular, it discusses the interplay between attention and consciousness, attention and agency, and attention and reference. The article outlines the questions and contemporary positions concerning how attention shapes the phenomenal character of experience, whether it is necessary or sufficient for consciousness, and whether it plays a special role in the best philosophical theories of action or conceptual reference. Various interdependencies between the answers to these questions are indicated, as well as how these answers might depend on the metaphysics of attention. Together with its companion piece (‘The Nature of Attention') this article serves as an introduction to the philosophy of attention.
Responsible Shale Gas Production: Moral Outrage vs. Cool Analysis

The relatively sudden boom in shale gas production in the United States using hydraulic fracturing has provoked increasingly intense political conflict. The debate over fracking and shale gas production has become polarized very quickly, in part because of the size of the economic and environmental stakes. This polarized debate fits a familiar template in American environmental law, pitting “cool analysis” against “moral outrage.” Opponents of fracking have generally framed their arguments in moral or ethical terms, while systematic research is beginning to build a more careful and nuanced understanding of the risks associated with shale gas production (though the record is far from complete). All of which makes the question of how to produce shale gas “responsibly” – corporate social responsibility being the focus of this symposium – very difficult to answer. This essay argues that: (i) because shale gas production entails difficult to measure and unevenly distributed costs and benefits, there is no clear responsible (read: ethically preferable) set of limitations that we ought to impose on shale gas production; and (ii) moral outrage is obscuring (or influencing perceptions of) empirical facts in the shale gas policy debate. More specifically, well-established behavioral heuristics – particularly, confirmation biases and the cultural cognition of risk – are impeding the development of a common understanding of the empirical facts necessary to guide policymaking. Recognizing this, policymakers must resist political pressures and work that much harder to ground their decisions in empirically-demonstrated facts – namely, those produced by sources that are less susceptible to these heuristics and biases. Thus, information generated by rigorous, empirical analyses performed by academic or government sources ought to be credited over anecdotes or studies associated with industry or NGOs that have staked out a clear pro or con position in the fracking debate. Indeed, responsible fracking decisions ought to consider all of the consequences of permitting, regulating or banning shale gas production, including the relative risks of shale gas production compared with the relevant energy alternatives.
Watchdogs and Whistleblowers

For many years now, I’ve been a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a nonprofit partnership of thousands of scientists and other actively involved citizens. I’d like to tell you about this organization and its activities. I think you’ll find this information interesting and useful. “OK,” you say skeptically; “UCS probably consists of a bunch of weirdo scientists and other radical social elements. Why should I take time out of my busy schedule to pay attention to what you or they have to say? Who needs ‘em anyway?” So what is the UCS really concerned about, and what do they do to act upon their concerns? What types of information do they examine? What services do they provide? What policies do they support? Let’s try to answer these questions concisely, in just a few paragraphs, so as to take as little of your time as possible. Above all, the UCS has earned my respect, and that of the scientific community, by sticking to the facts. They rigorously analyze scientific material and verify its authenticity. They display an unparalleled level of integrity. Scientists and informed citizens have come to trust the Union to provide accurate, scientifically based information. But that is only the beginning. The UCS promotes innovative policy development and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical solutions to our social, political and environmental problems. These problems include everyday concerns such as energy, transportation and pollution, but they also deal with international problems such as the threats of global warming, nuclear war and species extinction. The Union always relies on sound science and logic to secure governmental policy, corporate practices and consumer choices that will improve the health of our global environment. It attempts to serve as humanity’s stewards of the Earth, focusing on activities in the United States. Since 2000, the UCS has also been outspoken in defending governmental scientists against political Water Air Soil Pollut (2009) 199:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s11270-006-9277-9
Living AnatoME: Teaching and learning musculoskeletal anatomy through yoga and Pilates

Living AnatoME, a program designed in 2004 by two medical students in conjunction with the Director of Anatomy, teaches musculoskeletal anatomy through yoga and Pilates. Previously offered as an adjunct to the Gross Anatomy course in 2007, Living AnatoME became an official part of the curriculum. Previous research conducted on the program demonstrated its efficacy in providing relaxation and well-being to students who attended. In 2007, with all 144 gross anatomy students required to participate in a 1.5 hour Living AnatoME session on the upper and lower limbs, the impact of the program on students' comprehension of musculoskeletal anatomy was analyzed through the administration of 25-question pre- and post-tests, gauging knowledge in the following domains: upper limb, lower limb, muscle function, palpation, attachment/location, clinical correlate, and control (i.e., material not emphasized during the intervention). Analysis of postintervention tests revealed significant improvement in total Living AnatoME scores as well as in the domains of upper limb, muscle function, and palpation, indicating the possible efficacy of Living AnatoME in teaching anatomy. Performance on control questions also improved, although not significantly, which may indicate the role of other variables (e.g., additional study time) in increased performance. Anat Sci Educ. © 2010 American Association of Anatomists.
Amorphous Calcium Phosphate: The Contention of Bone

whenheservedasa radar officer in the USArmyAir Corps in the Pacific,earningthreebronzebattle stars. In 1954, hereceivedhis PhDand went to the American Dental Association ResearchDivision at the National BureauofStandards in Washington,DC, for post-doctoral training. While Chief Crystal Chemistat the National Institute of
A new threat in the air: Macroeconomic threat increases prejudice against Asian Americans

Macroeconomic conditions have long been suspected of increasing hostility toward ethnic outgroups. Integrating prior work on macroeconomic threat with recent threat-based models of prejudice, the current work employs an experimental approach to examine the implications of economic threat for prejudice toward ethnic outgroups. In Study 1, participants primed with an economic threat (relative to a non-economic threat and neutral topic) reported more prejudice against Asian Americans, an ethnic group whose stereotype implies a threat to scarce employment opportunities. In addition, economic threat led to a heightened state of anxiety, which mediated the influence of economic threat on prejudice against Asian Americans. Study 2 replicated and extended these findings by demonstrating that economic threat heightened prejudice against Asian Americans, but not Black Americans, an ethnic group whose stereotype does not imply a threat to economic resources. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for understanding the role of macroeconomic conditions in potentiating antisocial responses to particular outgroups.
Role of neuropeptide Y in the development of two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertension in the rat.

Abstract Objective: Along with the renin-angiotensin system, sympathetic stimulation may contribute to renovascular hypertension. The vasoactive peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) is co-released with and potentiates the pressor effects of norepinephrine through the Y-1 receptor. NPY, by exaggerating sympathetic activity, may contribute to renovascular hypertension, possibly by augmenting adrenergic-mediated renin release. This was studied by determining the effect of continuous Y-1 blockade on the development of two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertension and the effect of NPY on in vitro renin release. Methods: Mean arterial pressure and renal blood flow responses to NPY (10 μg/kg, administered intravenously) were measured in five anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats before and after BIBO3304TF administration to test the Y-1 antagonist BIBO3304TF. In hypertension studies, 28 rats underwent left renal artery clipping. Of these, 13 were implanted with a mini-osmotic pump for continuous BIBO3304TF infusion (0.3 μg/h, administered intravenously); the other 15 underwent sham implantation. Systolic blood pressure was then monitored for 4 weeks. Finally, in vitro renin release was measured from renal cortical slices (n = 6-12) incubated with NPY (10 –8 to 10 –6 mol/L) or NPY plus the adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (10 –4 mol/L). Results: BIBO3304TF attenuated the NPY-induced increase in mean arterial pressure by 54% ( P P P P Conclusions: The Y-1 receptor antagonist BIBO3304TF attenuated acute pressor responses to NPY and blunted the development of two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertension in rats. NPY may contribute to the hypertensive response in this renovascular hypertension model. Our in vitro data do not suggest that this is due to NPY enhancement of renin release. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:1015-21.)
A NOT SO PERFECT PEACE: A HISTORY OF CONFLICT ON IFALUK

Many accounts of the Caroline Islands have called the people in them non-violent. This paper uses early ethnographies, more recent ethnohistories, and new recollections on the part of the people of Ifaluk to reconstruct the extent of conflict on Caroline Islands and between them. Culture on Ifaluk in precontact times, and even in recent times, was violent in many respects. The evidence presented here contradicts several earlier arguments, among them: that the balance in the tribute relationship with Yap favoured outer islanders; that the balance in the tribute relationship between Ifaluk chiefs and commoners favoured commoners; and that sorcery and aggression were rare or absent on Ifaluk. Legends of wars between Ifaluk and other islands are also retold
Stiffness and Non-Stiff Differential Equation Solvers

The effects of stiffness are investigated for production codes for solving non-stiff ordinary differential equations. First, a practical view of stiffness as related to methods for non-stiff problems is described. Second, the interaction of local error estimators, automatic step size adjustment, and stiffness is studied and shown normally to prevent instability. Third, a practical test for stiffness in variable order Adams codes is developed. Numerical results for working codes are presented for each topic.
Inhibition of the sodium-translocating NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase [Na+-NQR] decreases cholera toxin production in Vibrio cholerae O1 at the late exponential growth phase

Abstract Two virulence factors produced by Vibrio cholerae, cholera toxin (CT) and toxin-corregulated pilus (TCP), are indispensable for cholera infection. ToxT is the central regulatory protein involved in activation of CT and TCP expression. We previously reported that lack of a respiration-linked sodium-translocating NADH–ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Na+-NQR) significantly increases toxT transcription. In this study, we further characterized this link and found that Na+-NQR affects toxT expression only at the early-log growth phase, whereas lack of Na+-NQR decreases CT production after the mid-log growth phase. Such decreased CT production was independent of toxT and ctxB transcription. Supplementing a respiratory substrate, l -lactate, into the growth media restored CT production in the nqrA-F mutant, suggesting that decreased CT production in the Na+-NQR mutant is dependent on electron transport chain (ETC) activity. This notion was supported by the observations that two chemical inhibitors, a Na+-NQR specific inhibitor 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HQNO) and a succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitor, thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA), strongly inhibited CT production in both classical and El Tor biotype strains of V. cholerae. Accordingly, we propose the main respiratory enzyme of V. cholerae, as a potential drug target to treat cholera because human mitochondria do not contain Na+-NQR orthologs.
Effect of fluid drag on low reynolds number discharge of solids from a circular orifice

A dimensionless solids flowrate for discharge from an orifice in the bottom of a containing vessel is shown to be a function of a parameter that measures the importance of fluid drag to particle inertia. The analysis assumes a linear relation between presure gradient and slip velocity and compares favorably to experiment within its supposed region of applicability for three experimental situations: the self-induced, air-impeded discharge of fine particles from a conical hopper; the discharge of particles from a sealed egg-timer-like vessel; and the air-assisted discharge of particles through an orifice.
Construction of a synthetic variant of the bacteriophage f1 gene V by assembling oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to only one strand of DNA.

Abstract A simple and widely applicable procedure for constructing synthetic variants of a gene, involving the synthesis of only one strand of DNA, has been developed. The method is suited for cases in which a cloned DNA with a sequence related to the gene to be constructed is available. First, a heteroduplex DNA which is single-stranded throughout the region of interest is made. This single-stranded region is then used as a template to correctly align and allow ligation of synthetic oligos corresponding to the entire gene. To favor the replication of the strand encoding the synthetic gene, a template strand containing some substitutions of deoxyuridine for deoxythymidine is used. This procedure was used to construct a synthetic bacteriophage f1 gene V which differs from the wild-type (wt) gene at 45 positions out of 298. The synthetic gene was designed to include nine restriction sites without altering the sequence of the encoded DNA-binding protein. The gene construction was found to be very efficient, and about 40 % of the resulting plasmids contained the desired synthetic gene. The synthetic gene was found to be fully active and could substitute for the wt gene in bacteriophage f1.
Emergency department visits by children and adolescents for antipsychotic drug adverse events.

The per capita number of outpatient visits in which an antipsychotic drug was supplied or prescribed increased approximately 660% among children and 380% among adolescents between the mid-1990s and the mid-2000s in the United States,1 prompting concerns about possible inappropriate prescribing.... Language: en
Identification of Procedures Used to Calculate and Modify Speaking Rate for People Who Stutter

Speaking rate is an important variable to measure during a stuttering diagnostic evaluation and to modify or treat for many individuals who stutter (Conture 2001; Gregory 2003; Guitar 1998, 2006; Zebrowski & Kelly 2002). This investigation identified procedures used by speech-language pathologists to calculate and modify speaking rate in a clinical setting. A questionnaire was developed and administered to 92 speech-language pathologists that assessed their knowledge of various aspects of speaking rate, as related to the assessment and treatment of people who stutter. Many speech language pathologists were unfamiliar with procedures used to calculate speaking rate during a diagnostic evaluation. Furthermore, many clinicians were seemingly unaware of speaking rate modification methods that can be employed when treating people who stutter. Findings broaden our understanding of methods used by speech-language pathologists to calculate and modify speaking rate when working with people who stutter, as well as those who exhibit other communication disorders.
Crystal growth morphology in high purity white phosphorus

Abstract The crystal growth morphology of high purity white phosphorus was studied at supercoolings ranging from 0.008 to 2.74°C. In contrast to theoretical predictions, the growing crystals ẃere found to be facetedat all supercoolings. At the smallest supercoolings the nearly equiaxial crystals were initially bounded by {100} and {110} faces, and at later times by only {110} faces because the {100} faces are more mobile and tend to disappear during growth. At higher supercoolings the crystals were of a faceted dendritic morphology with all growth facets being of the {110} type. It is suggested that the occurrence of facets on this low entropy of fusion material is related to the complexity of its crystal structure.
Gauging adoptability: a case study of e-portfolio template development

To help improve the decision-making process involved in planning for deployment of new centrally-supported internet technologies, the project described in this paper proposes a solution that makes use of web survey technology combined with some established research on users' technology adoption processes. Increasingly, academic computing service groups find themselves trying to decide when and how quickly to deploy new online services. As new forms of commercial and open source web-based applications become available at a quickening pace, for instance, questions arise as to whether a significant number of local users would actually use them. Moreover, the widespread use of XML and stylesheets as underlying presentation technologies in these web applications present academic support groups with even more deployment decisions, such as whether or not to invest time and resources in refining a particular web application's user interface. As described in this paper, these kinds of challenges can sometimes be met in a fairly easy and affordable way by drawing upon 1) recent developments in web survey technology along with 2) any of several models and constructs developed over the past two decades to help predict users' technology choices. Specifically, this paper describes a work-in-progress to develop an approach towards combining web survey systems together with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), in order to anticipate the usability and usefulness ratings among several candidate iterations of e-Portfolio templates under consideration for deployment in one university setting.
A bargain theory of pricing

Examines the roots of bargaining power in the nature of market structure, financial resources, sub‐situation possibilities and the innate skills of those doing the bargaining. Looks at the effects of these in pricing strategy. Concludes that, although highly “visible” bargaining is not the main determinant of price, but rather one of a series of factors.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 64

Nuclear structure data available through December 1973 are compiled, and adopted level properties are presented. The present compilation represents an update of the previous work by H. Verheul (Nuclear Data B2-3-65, 1967). Where possible, the data are presented in comparative level diagrams, thereby eliminating many tabular listings. Also, where no additional data have appeared since the previous compilation, only the values adopted in the latter are presented here. These modifications have resulted in a substantial reduction in the size of the compilation, hopefully without unduly sacrificing its utility.
Oxides formed on the (111) surface of lead II. Red PbO or litharge

Abstract The electron microscopy of oxidized lead films revealed that the oxide consists of a yellow PbO layer in which small (10−17−10−18 cm3) rectangular islands of red PbO are dispersed. The red PbO islands are thicker than the yellow PbO layer and are oriented with their [0 2 1] direction approximately perpendicular to the (111) surface of the lead film. Moire fringe patterns visible in the red PbO islands show that their lattices are bent. The magnitude and sign of this bendings was measured. It was found that the bending enables the red PbO islands to satisfy one epitaxial orientation near their center and two forms of another near their ends. However, the bending does not arise entirely from an attempt to satisfy two epitaxial relationships simultaneously. The bending seems to result promaroly from a gradient in the oxygen concentration. As this gradient is unlikely to be constant it is probable that a true elastic strain is also present. Simple explanations for the sign of the lattice bending and for the shape and orientation of the red PbO grains are proposed.
Preoperative staging and early postoperative complications in radical prostatectomy. Experiences in 35 cases

It is already a textbook item that in patients with prostatic cancer stage T1−T2 N0M0 radical prostatectomy is the only curative treatment. Radical prostatectomy is indicated also for patients in stage T3 N0M0 who underwent antiandrogenic (Fugerel) treatement for 3 months with the aim of reducing tumour volume. In the following 35 cases will be scrutinized, with special regard to preoperative staging and early postoperative complications.
Exciton migration and capture in a linear chain manganese salt

The thermally activated exciton motion in the linear chain salt, CsMnBr3, has been probed by investigating the spectroscopic properties of doped crystals. In crystals doped with Er3+ excitons are trapped at the rare earth impurity while in crystals doped with Li+ the excitons are trapped at “perturbed” Mn2+ ions. The time dependent and steady state experiments indicate that exciton migration is three-dimensional at high temperatures (above 120K) but is quasi-one-dimensional at lower temperatures.
Neuroendocrine Correlates of Separation Stress in the Siberian Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Siberian dwarf hamsters form monogamous male-female pair bonds. Disruption of the pair bond results in increases in body mass and behavioral alterations similar to profiles seen in human atypical depression. We examined behavioral and neuroendocrine correlates associated with separation of the male from his mate. Animals were paired (n = 28 pairs) for 3 weeks, then 15 pairs were separated and 13 pairs remained as controls. Behaviors of the males were observed in a novel environment following 3 weeks of pairing and 4 weeks of separation. The 5-min behavioral test monitored exploratory, territorial behavior, and locomotor activity. Separated males showed a significant increase in body mass (p < 0.01). paralleled by an increase in food consumption (p < 0.01). Separated males had decreased seminal vesicle mass (p < 0.05) and testicular mass (p < 0.05). Behavioral analysis revealed that separated males showed no significant differences in grooming, scent-marking, alert on 2 feet, or escape behavior when compared to paired males. Separated males did show significant increases in inactivity (p < 0.05). Plasma cortisol levels were significantly increased in separated animals (p < 0.05), but there were no significant effects on testosterone. Resting levels of plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine were less in separated males, but this was significant only for norepinephrine (p < 0.05). In conclusion, separation stress was accompanied by increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and decreased peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity and decreased reproductive profiles.
Quadriceps muscle weakness, activation deficits, and fatigue with Parkinson disease.

Background. People with Parkinson disease (PD) typically have complaints of weakness. The mechanisms underlying this deficit have not been well established, although many factors may contribute. Objective. This investigation aimed to characterize quadriceps muscle weakness and activation failure in people with PD and explore whether these deficits were related to disease severity. The authors further sought to examine quadriceps muscle fatigability. Methods. This was a cross-sectional comparison of 17 people with mild-severe PD and 17 healthy adults matched by age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor score (UPDRS motor) ranged from 9.5 to 61.0. Participants were divided into those with low-PD motor signs (UPDRS motor < 31.7) and high-PD motor signs (UPDRS motor ≥ 31.7). Measures of quadriceps performance included isometric torque, central activation using doublet interpolation, and an isokinetic fatigue test. Results. Participants with high-PD motor signs had...
Ambient air particles: effects on cellular oxidant radical generation in relation to particulate elemental chemistry.

Epidemiologic studies have reported causal relationships between exposures to high concentrations of ambient air particles (AAP) and increased morbidity in individuals with underlying respiratory problems. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are frequently present in the airways of individuals exposed to particles. Upon particulate stimulation the PMN may release reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can result in tissue damage and injury. In this study a wide range of AAP samples from divergent sources (1, natural dust; 2, oil fly ash; 2, coal fly ash; 5, ambient air; and 1, carbon black) were analyzed for elemental content and solubility in relation to their ability to generate ROS. Elemental analyses were carried out in AAP and dH(2)O-washed AAP using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Percent of sample mass accounted for by XRF-detectable elements was 1.2% (carbon black); 22-29% (natural dust and ambient air particles); 13-22% (oil fly ash particles); 28-49% (coal fly ash particles). The major proportion of elements in most of these particles were aluminosilicates and insoluble iron, except oil-derived fly ash particles in which soluble vanadium and nickel were in highest concentrations, consistent with particle acidity as measured in the supernatants. Human blood-derived monocytes and PMN were exposed to AAP and dH(2)O-washed particles, and generation of ROS was determined using luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL) assay. All the particles induced chemiluminescence response in the cells, except carbon black. The oxidant response of monocytes induced by AAP (with the exception of oil fly ash particles) was less than the response elicited by PMN. The LCL response of PMN in general increased with all washed particles, with oil fly ash (OFA) and one urban air particle showing statistically significant (p < 0. 05) differences between dH(2)O-washed and unwashed particles. The LCL activity in PMN induced by both particles and dH(2)O-washed particles was significantly correlated with the insoluble Si, Fe, Mn, Ti, and Co content of particles (p < 0.05). No relationship between LCL activity in PMN and soluble transition metals such as V, Cr, Ni, and Cu was noted. Pretreatment of the particles with a metal ion-chelator, deferoxamine, did not affect LCL in PMN, suggesting that metal ions are not related to the induction of LCL in PMN. Particulate S content and acidity of the particles as measured in the supernatants did not relate to LCL activity in PMN. These results point to the possibility that the insoluble constituents of the particles are related to LCL in PMN. Since some of these dusts are capable of depositing in the lungs and can cause infiltration of PMN, the ability to activate those cells may contribute to particulate toxicity.
Public health perspectives on testing for colorectal cancer susceptibility genes.

Abstract Context: About 131,600 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 1998. About 27,900 men and 28,600 women will die from colorectal cancer in 1998. Mutations to the hMSH2 gene on chromosome 2p and to the hMLH1 gene on chromosome 3p have been identified as causes of colorectal cancer. These mismatch repair genes, which have recently been cloned, account for most cases of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), one of the most common cancer susceptibility syndromes known. The carrier frequency of hMSH2 and hMLH1 gene mutations in the U.S. population is unknown. An adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene variant (I1307K allele), which was recently reported in 1 in 17 Ashkenazi Jewish persons, may double the risk for colorectal cancer in that population. Conclusions: The use of genetic tests for susceptibility to cancer of the colon and other sites needs careful scrutiny. Several issues must be addressed before such tests can be recommended for population-based prevention programs. For example, the screening of population subgroups raises concern about potential discrimination and stigmatization. Before genetic tests for colorectal cancer are incorporated into future programs, the safety, effectiveness, and quality of these tests must be evaluated.
Experimental use of testosterone compounds in premature infants.

IN A preliminary report Shelton and Varden (11) demonstrated that the oral administration of methyl testosterone to premature infants of both sexes, weighing less than 2000 grams, resulted in an apparent increase of expected survival, with concomitant minimal initial weight loss and early and sustained weight increase throughout the period of treatment. In an effort to obtain more conclusive data than the initial study provided, testosterone compounds were administered to a much larger group of infants on the premature wards of the Los Angeles County General Hospital, over a period of several months, according to the following procedure: All premature infants weighing less than 2000 grams were divided into three groups in rotation of entry, with no regard for sex or weight. The first group received methyl testosterone 5 mg. daily in propylene glycol, placed directly on the tongue immediately preceding an oral feeding or gavage. The second group received 4 mg. daily of testosterone propionate intragluteall...
An Empirical Examination of Cumulus Entrainment.

Abstract Most analytic theories and laboratory models of cumulus entrainment predict that the rate of influx of ambient fluid into a convective element depends inversely on the diameter of the updraft zone. A study of 15 continental cumulus congestus clouds containing apparent bubble-like rising elements failed to demonstrate the predicted radius dependence. Application of a standard one-dimensional entrainment computation to the measured cloud and environment conditions revealed no significant correlation between cloud dimensions and entrainment.
Comparison of physical, biophysical and physiological methods of evaluating the thermal stress associated with wearing protective clothing.

Results from hooted, flat plate measurements of materials used in the standard U.S. combat uniform and in three different CVV protective clothing ensembles (two U.S. and one U.K. ) are compared to the insulation and evaporative heat transfer properties of the uniforms made from these materials as measured On a static heated copper manikin. The relative rank of these 4 uniforms, with and without M17 gas mask, with respect to heat stress imposed on soldiers working in a hot environment, and the body heat storage during a 3-5 mph treadmill march for 110 min (50 min march, 10 min rest, etc. ) in a climatic chamber at 35°c, 50% RH with 3 mph wind were predicted from these static measurements. Physiological chamber trials wore then conducted under the specified conditions with 8 volunteer subjects to evaluate the accuracy of the rank ordering and of the heat storage predictions. The results confirm the relative ranking with respect to heat stress of these uniform systems from the static measures. However, the a...