cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal norepinephrine-equivalent dose to initiate epinephrine in patients with septic shock.

Abstract Purpose The specific norepinephrine dose at which epinephrine should be added in septic shock is unclear. This study sought to determine the norepinephrine-equivalent dose at epinephrine initiation that correlated with hemodynamic stability. Methods Septic shock patients receiving both norepinephrine and epinephrine were included in this study. Classification and regression tree analysis was conducted to determine breakpoints in norepinephrine-equivalent dose predicting hemodynamic stability, with two cohorts identified. The primary outcome was hemodynamic stability, and secondary outcomes were shock-free survival, time to achieve hemodynamic stability, and change in SOFA score. Results Optimal dose group was identified as initiating epinephrine when norepinephrine-equivalent dose was between 37 and 133 μg/min. A total of 138 and 61 patients were classified in optimal and non-optimal dose groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups except vasopressin use was more frequent in the optimal dose group. More patients in optimal dose group versus non-optimal dose group achieved hemodynamic stability (40 [29%] vs. 9 [14.8%]), absolute risk difference 14.2% [95% CI 2.5–25.9%]; p = .03). On multivariable analysis, initiating epinephrine within the optimal norepinephrine-equivalent dose range was independently associated with higher odds of hemodynamic response (OR 3.06 [95% CI 1.2–7.6]; p = .02). No differences were observed in other secondary outcomes. Conclusions Initiation of epinephrine when patients were receiving norepinephrine-equivalent doses of 37–133 μg/min was associated with a higher rate of hemodynamic stability.
Increasing the expression level of ChR2 enhances the optogenetic excitability of cochlear neurons

This study reveals a dose-response relationship between channelrhodopsin expression and optogenetic excitation. Both single cell and organismal responses depend on the expression level of the heter...
The Social Structure of Civility and Incivility in the Liberal Academy

This commentary is an extensive response to Emily-Chamlee Wright’s essay, “Self-Censorship and Associational Life in the Liberal Academy.” Chamlee-Wright raises the important issue of how to steer between abrasion, a necessary condition for the production of knowledge, and civility and tolerance as defined in the classical liberalism of Adam Smith, also a necessary virtue in intellectual life. The essay posits the existence of a social structure of civility and incivility in contemporary academic life which is constituted by some of the existential conditions of the university, including hierarchical social relations, power differentials, and ideological homogeneity. The concept of “righteous incivility” as a moral duty under extreme conditions is entertained.
When Is Recursion Easier for Children

Recursion is the heart of generative grammar. Our experiments with preschool children suggest that that recursive cyclic movement in wh-chains is available to 4-yr-olds. More surprisingly, extraction of wh-adjunct questions from doubly-embedded complements, i.e. three clauses, seems simpler for children than extraction from a single embedded clause. In comprehension experiments, children were more likely to resist answering the recursive questions with a response that only related the wh-trace to the last verb. We attribute this to the semantic uniformity imposed by cyclic wh-movement. Theoretical work has not yet answered satisfactorily the question of which options from the expanded left periphery might be available at each CP, but this might hold the clue for explaining the results in child language acquisition.
Preliminary Radiology Report Discordances and Patient Outcomes.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives At our institution, resident radiologists and fellows issue preliminary reports for off-hours imaging studies, which are overread by attending radiologists the next day using structured discrepancy templates. In this study, we examined the impact on patient management and outcome of studies with major discordance. Materials and Methods For our retrospective observational study, preliminary reports between March and June 2017 that received major discordance were identified through report text search. Electronic medical records were reviewed for patient management change and patient outcome. Results Of the 199 cases, 52 cases (26%) had management change and 119 cases (60%) did not have management change. In 25 cases (13%), the preliminary report was proven correct on subsequent management. Three cases (2%) were lost to follow-up. In only one case was adverse outcome directly related to the discordant finding. In cases with patient management change, there was higher proportion of perceptual error compared with those without management change (73% versus 59%). In 47 cases (24%), the discordant finding or diagnosis was known to the clinical team, and better history could have avoided the major change. Conclusion Adverse outcome from the discordant imaging finding was low (0.5%). Major change in preliminary report could be reduced with better clinical history. Patient management change was more frequently seen with perceptual errors, placing greater emphasis on strategies to reduce them.
Necrotizing Myopathy Resulting In Myocarditis And Sudden Death

Abstract Necrotizing myopathy (NM), a type of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells target skeletal muscle, resulting in muscle breakdown and weakness. Cardiac involvement in this disorder is rare. We highlight a case of autoantibody-negative NM complicated by myocarditis and sudden cardiac death. Case Report: A 45-year-old male with a history of hypertension, previous hepatitis B, and obesity presented with 6 months of progressive proximal lower extremity weakness. Workup revealed elevated creatinine phosphokinase, ESR and CRP, elevated troponin, and electromyography notable for a myopathic process. Age appropriate malignancy screening, infectious workup, and myositis panel were negative. The patient underwent left bicep biopsy which revealed muscle fiber necrosis and regeneration, consistent with the diagnosis of seronegative NM. Patient was discharged on mycophenolate and intravenous immunoglobulin with improvements in peripheral strength. Unfortunately, while recovering, he was readmitted with palpitations and dyspnea. Electrocardiogram showed a new trifascicular block and telemetry revealed frequent runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). A Cardiac MRI revealed evidence of myocarditis (Image 1). Endomyocardial biopsy showed fibrosis with entrapped myocytes (Image 2). He was treated with pulse dose intravenous glucocorticoids and mycophenolate was increased. EP study (EPS) was performed which did not reveal inducible VT; therefore, implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) was not implanted. Three months later the patient had sudden unexplained death at home. Discussion: Cardiac involvement in IIM—especially seronegative NM—is rare and not well described. Our patient had worsening cardiac involvement despite improvements in his skeletal myopathy. Despite a recent negative EPS, the patient had sudden unexplained death. Perhaps, a lower threshold for ICD implantation should be considered in this population. This case raises awareness for cardiac involvement in seronegative NM and raises the question of whether these patients are at increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Plasmon coupling in topological insulator multilayers

Topological insulators (TIs) house two-dimensional Dirac plasmons on their surfaces. In TI thin films, plasmons on the top and bottom surfaces couple electrostatically, giving rise to an acoustic and an optical plasmon mode. By extension, a superlattice comprising TI layers and trivially insulating layers could house multiple complex plasmon modes which could be used to create a new type of Dirac metamaterial. In this paper, we synthesize TI superlattices, fabricate them into stripe arrays, characterize their optical and plasmonic properties, and model the samples using transfer matrices. We excite plasmon modes that couple to the phonons in the superlattice, resulting in hybrid plasmon-phonon polaritons. These modes are modeled using an analytical Fano resonance model and the extracted resonant positions are reproduced by transfer matrix modeling. We also excite an epsilon near-zero mode in the top dielectric material ${({\mathrm{Bi}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{In}}_{0.5})}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$. Understanding the behavior of the polariton modes in this complex system will lend insight into the many-body interaction in low-dimensional systems.
A Guide to Annotation of Neurosurgical Intraoperative Video for Machine Learning Analysis and Computer Vision.

Objective Computer vision (CV) is a subset of artificial intelligence that performs computations on image or video data, permitting the quantitative analysis of visual information. Common CV tasks that may be relevant to surgeons include image classification, object detection and tracking, and extraction of higher order features. Despite the potential applications of CV to intraoperative video, however, few surgeons describe the use of CV. A primary roadblock in implementing CV is the lack of a clear workflow to create an intraoperative video dataset to which CV can be applied. We report general principles for creating usable surgical video datasets and the result of their applications. Methods Video annotations from cadaveric endoscopic endonasal skull base simulations (n = 20 trials of 1–5 minutes, size = 8 GB) were reviewed by 2 researcher-annotators. An internal, retrospective analysis of workflow for development of the intraoperative video annotations was performed to identify guiding practices. Results Approximately 34,000 frames of surgical video were annotated. Key considerations in developing annotation workflows include 1) overcoming software and personnel constraints; 2) ensuring adequate storage and access infrastructure; 3) optimization and standardization of annotation protocol; and 4) operationalizing annotated data. Potential tools for use include CVAT (Computer Vision Annotation Tool) and Vott: open-sourced annotation software allowing for local video storage, easy setup, and the use of interpolation. Conclusions CV techniques can be applied to surgical video, but challenges for novice users may limit adoption. We outline principles in annotation workflow that can mitigate initial challenges groups may have when converting raw video into useable, annotated datasets.
Thermographic imaging in a dog with macroglossia from an encircling, strangulating lingual linear foreign body

A dog presented 16 hours after an acute onset of severe generalized lingual swelling from an unknown cause. The dog had recently chewed a deer carcass. Initial physical examination and diagnostic testing did not reveal an underlying cause, and supportive care was provided. After 16 hours of hospitalization strangulating organic foreign material was found at the base of the tongue and removed. Macroglossia and secondary superficial lingual necrosis were successfully managed with supportive care while the patient was hospitalized. Thermographic imaging was used and indicated lingual hypothermia and subsequent normothermia, before and after removal of the linear foreign body respectively. Histopathologic analysis revealed the foreign body consisted of degenerate and autolyzed collagenous connective tissue, likely representing tissues such as tendon, fascia or a large thick-walled blood vessel which was suspected to have been consumed from the deer carcass. Thermographic imaging was employed and demonstrated to be consistent with hypoperfusion (hypothermia) of the affected tissue. Thermographic imaging adds value as an additional diagnostic tool for conditions with compromised blood flow.
Clustering of Diverse Multiplex Networks

The paper introduces the DIverse MultiPLEx (DIMPLE) network model where all layers of the network have the same collection of nodes and are equipped with the Stochastic Block Models (SBM). In addition, all layers can be partitioned into groups with the same community structures, although the layers in the same group may have different matrices of block connection probabilities. The DIMPLE model generalizes a multitude of papers that study multilayer networks with the same community structures in all layers (which include the tensor block model and the checker-board model as particular cases), as well as the Mixture Multilayer Stochastic Block Model (MMLSBM), where the layers in the same group have identical matrices of block connection probabilities. Since the techniques from either of the above mentioned groups cannot be applied to the DIMPLE model, we introduce novel algorithms for the between-layer and the within-layer clustering. We study the accuracy of those algorithms, both theoretically and via computer simulations. Finally, we show how our between-layer clustering algorithm can be extended to the Heterogeneous Multiplex Random Dot-Product Graph model, which generalizes the COmmon Subspace Independent Edge (COSIE) random graph model developed in Arroyo et al. (Journ. Machine Learn. Res., 2021).
Legacy of Actinides in the Weapons Complex

Highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium are the actinides of major concern in the legacy materials of the United States weapons complex. The HEU can be mixed with normal and depleted uranium to produce reactor-fuel uranium unsuitable for weapons use. Restoration of this mixture to weapon grade requires isotopic enrichment of the uranium. By contrast, plutonium can be converted to weapons-grade material by relatively simple chemical separations. This paper describes the plans being considered for disposition of the plutonium and presents a brief review of the amounts and types of transuranium (TRU) residues in various sites in the United States.
Educating Students for Social Work with Latinos: Issues for the New Millennium

The growth of the Latino population in the United States and their internal migration to new regions will have a strong influence on social work practice. To be culturally competent when working with this population, social workers and social work students must have adequate knowledge, values, and skills necessary for work with Latinos. In this article the authors discuss social work literature on Latinos, current and emerging trends in this literature, and the implications of these trends for social work education.
Layout-aware, distributed, compact model for multi-finger MOSFETs operating under ESD conditions

This work presents a scalable, distributed model for multi-finger MOSFETs operating under ESD conditions. A three-terminal transmission line pulsing measurement technique enables the model parameter extraction. The distributed model can reproduce trigger voltage, on-state resistance, and non-uniform turn-on effect as functions of layout geometries.
Distributive justice in the household : A comparison of alternative theoretical models

Abstract We analyze the theoretical basis on which wives and husbands evaluate the fairness of the division of household labor. Using distributive justice theory, we argue that evaluations are based on beliefs about equality and equity rules and social comparisons. We developed a number of formal models to account for evaluations of housework fairness and compare these with data from the 1987 National Survey of Families and Households. We find that husbands' evaluations of fairness of the division of household labor are based on more traditional gender-based division of labor as their comparisons tend to be based on comparisons to other men's participation in housework. In contrast, wives' evaluations are based on both gender role norms and the justice principle of marital equality, as they tend to be based on comparisons between their spouse and themselves.
Design Principles for Electronic Textual Resources: Investigating Users and Uses of Scholarly Information

We describe a project whose goal is to develop a coherent set of principles for the design of electronic textual databases to support scholarly activity, in particular in the humanities. The focus of the project is a series of investigations which aim to understand: the tasks and goals of scholars in the humanities; the behaviors of such scholars in their interactions with texts of all types; the circumstances which lead them to engage in particular text-related behaviors; and their explicit uses of texts to accomplish their tasks and achieve their goals. We report here on the initial stages of our overall project, describing our methods and presenting preliminary results of a classification of scholarly tasks and goals, and of behaviors in interaction with texts and parts of texts, and also suggestions about the relationship between goals and information-seeking activities.
Hedyotis correllii (Rubiaceae): A new Texas species

Hedyotis correllii is newly described as endemic to the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas. It is closely allied toH. humifusa by gross and micromorphological characters.
Complexities of the Dombrock blood group system revealed.

The Do a antigen was discovered after I began my career in immunohematology and I have been fortunate to be involved in several fascinating discoveries in the Dombrock blood group system. The Do a antigen and its antithetical antigen, Do b , have a prevalence that makes them useful as genetic markers. The paucity of reliable anti-Do a and anti-Do b has prevented this potential from being realized; however, our ability to type for DO alleles at the DNA level has made it possible to test cohorts from different populations. In 1992, the Dombrock blood group system was expanded to include three phenotypically related antigens, Gy a , Hy, and Jo a , when it was discovered that the Gy(a-) phenotype was the null of the Dombrock system. Based on the knowledge that the Dombrock glycoprotein is attached to the RBC membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage and subsequent to the assignment of the corresponding gene to the short arm of chromosome 12, expressed sequence tags from terminally differentiating human erythroid cells were analyzed in silico to identify the DO gene. This allowed determination of the molecular basis of the various Do phenotypes and the realization that DO is identical to the gene encoding a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase, ART4. No enzymatic activity in RBCs has been demonstrated and the function of this glycoprotein, on the outside surface of RBCs, has yet to be determined. This review is a synthesis of our current knowledge of the Dombrock blood group system.
Photo-Disintegration of Deuterium by 4.5 to 20.3 Mev X-rays

A study is made of the angular distributions and the distribution in energy of the photo-protons arising from the photo-disintegration of deuterium by the continuous x-ray spectrum produced when electrons accelerated in the betatron to a kinetic energy of 20.3 Mev impinged on a 0.005 in. Pt target. The collimated x-ray beam passed through a deuterium gas-filled reaction chamber in which nuclear emulsions were placed to detect the resulting photo-protons. The angular distributions for six photon energy intervals are consistent with a differential cross section in the center of mass system of the form: $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})\ensuremath{\approx}a+{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}(1+\ensuremath{\alpha}cos\ensuremath{\theta})$. Assuming an intensity spectrum for the betatron radiation of the shape determined by Koch and Carter a curve for the relative cross section for the photo-disintegration of deuterium as a function photon energy was determined. This curve falls off more slowly than does the Bethe-Peierls expression. The discrepancy, however, is within the experimental errors and the uncertainties in the spectrum of the betatron radiation.
Analyzing the normal mode dynamics of macromolecules by the component synthesis method: Residue clustering and multiple-component approach

A study of the component synthesis method (CSM) for analyzing the normal mode dynamics of macromolecules is reported. The procedure involves a reduction of the dimensions of the normal mode problems for large molecular systems and the accurate extraction of the low-frequency modes. A macromolecule is divided into small components based on a hierarchical clustering of the residues in the structure. Interactions between coupled components are treated by the method of static correlation. The normal modes of the components are obtained first, and a fraction of the low-frequency normal modes of the components under mutual correlations are then used as a reduced basis for solving for the normal modes of the whole molecule. Multiple components are introduced for large macromolecules so that the dimensions of the eigenvalue problems at the component level are small. The method is applied to the protein crambin. In test calculations in which the dimensions of the eigenvalue equations are reduced to 1/6 of their natural size, the errors in the normal mode frequencies calculated by the CSM procedure are only about 1–2% when compared with the exact values. The rms fluctuations of all atoms in crambin calculated by the CSM procedure are basically identical to the exact results. The CSM procedure is shown to be accurate for calculating the normal modes of large macromolecules with a significant reduction of the size of the problem. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Differential hormonal control of aggression and sexual behavior in female Syrian hamsters.

Abstract These experiments were designed to test the effects of chronic estradiol treatment on aggression and sexual behavior in female hamsters. Isolated female hamsters were ovariectomized and tested for their behavioral responses to a group-housed, ovariectomized female hamster (aggression test) and a group-housed, intact male hamster (sexual behavior test). Following these baseline tests, the experimental females were implanted sc with Silastic capsules containing different concentrations of estradiol (100, 25, 10, or 0%) diluted with cholesterol and retested 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after implantation. High levels of aggression were observed on the baseline test, with no changes in aggression toward an intruder female observed for any implant group on subsequent tests. Despite these high levels of aggression toward another female, most of the estradiol-treated females (80% at 14 days) were sexually responsive in the presence of a male. There was no effect of Silastic estradiol concentration on sexual behavior, even though a range of serum estradiol levels (39–105 pg/ml) resulted. Lordosis latencies decreased and lordosis durations increased over the extent of estradiol treatment. Seventeen days after Silastic implantation, all females were injected with progesterone and retested. Estradiol-treated females showed an extreme reduction in aggression toward a stimulus female, as well as a further stimulation of sexual behavior after progesterone treatment. High levels of aggression in cholesterol-treated females (0% estradiol) were maintained even after progesterone injection, and these females never displayed any sexual responsivity. These results suggest that sexual behavior in the female hamster is sensitive to estradiol alone, whereas the inhibition of aggression requires the combination of estradiol plus progesterone.
A complement fixation test for equine virus abortion.

Conclusions and summaryThe complement-fixation test described in this paper provides a means whereby the presence of antibodies to the virus of E.V.A. can be detected and quantitatively estimated in serum. The lung antigen employed in the test is specific in the sense that it does not react with sera from normal horses, and that similarly prepared antigen from the lungs of a normal horse does not react with positive sera. (Whether or not the antigen will react with antibodies to other viruses, and whether or not different strains of this virus exist, remain to be investigated.) By means of this test information may now be obtained on the immunological course of E.V.A. in diseased mares, which will perhaps help in the early diagnosis of E.V.A., and in the prognosis of this infection. The response of 2 horses to single injections of infected material has revealed the potent antigenicity of the preparations. The possibilities of prophylactic immunizations, using the complement-fixation test to check the prog...
Validity of a layperson-administered Web-based vision screening test.

Purpose To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Web-based vision-screening test (WBT) VisionForKids.org when administered by an untrained layperson in a controlled environment. Methods Visual acuities were obtained by an untrained layperson using the WBT under observation and by an ophthalmic professional using the Electronic Visual Acuity (EVA) Tester. Subjects were randomized to which method was used first. Subjects were considered to have failed by the following criteria: in children Results Visual acuities were obtained on 203 children between ages 3 and 12 years (average age, 7.4 years). Sensitivity of the WBT was 78.7% (95% CI, 66.0%-87.7%), specificity was 89.4% (95% CI, 82.9%-93.8%). The correlation coefficient of EVA testing with the WBT was 0.89 ( P Conclusions This layperson-administered WBT, VisionForKids.org, is valid for identifying amblyopia in a controlled environment, making it possible for cost-effective and easily accessible vision screening to be performed by laypersons.
The Legitimation of Sport: Pindar and Weiss

Allen Guttmann has discussed the quest for records as a distinguishing characteristic of modem sport. I contend in this paper that while on the surface a distinction between modern sport and earlier forms of sport can be made on the basis of that characteristic, this may conceal or obscure a significant continuity or parallel between Greek athletics and modem athletics. The parallel that I propose is the similarity, both functional and substantive, of records in modern athletics and the victory odes of Pindar in Greek athletics with regard to the possible legitimation of sport in the context of a symbolic world view. This parallei is developed through a discussion of Paul Weiss's treatment of records and an interpretation of Pindar's victory odes.
From embryo to axon

Many cell types in our body, ranging from neurons to the epithelial cells that line the lungs and skin, must be polarized to function properly. The same mechanism may establish the polarity of many of these cells.
The instantaneous rate dependence in low temperature laboratory rock friction and rock deformation experiments

[1] Earthquake occurrence probabilities that account for stress transfer and time-dependent failure depend on the product of the effective normal stress and a lab-derived dimensionless coefficient a. This coefficient describes the instantaneous dependence of fault strength on deformation rate, and determines the duration of precursory slip. Although an instantaneous rate dependence is observed for fracture, friction, crack growth, and low temperature plasticity in laboratory experiments, the physical origin of this effect during earthquake faulting is obscure. We examine this rate dependence in laboratory experiments on different rock types using a normalization scheme modified from one proposed by Tullis and Weeks [1987]. We compare the instantaneous rate dependence in rock friction with rate dependence measurements from higher temperature dislocation glide experiments. The same normalization scheme is used to compare rate dependence in friction to rock fracture and to low-temperature crack growth tests. For particular weak phyllosilicate minerals, the instantaneous friction rate dependence is consistent with dislocation glide. In intact rock failure tests, for each rock type considered, the instantaneous rate dependence is the same size as for friction, suggesting a common physical origin. During subcritical crack growth in strong quartzofeldspathic and carbonate rock where glide is not possible, the instantaneous rate dependence measured during failure or creep tests at high stress has long been thought to be due to crack growth; however, direct comparison between crack growth and friction tests shows poor agreement. The crack growth rate dependence appears to be higher than the rate dependence of friction and fracture by a factor of two to three for all rock types considered.
Origin of all three major coronary arteries from the right sinus of Valsalva: clinical, angiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings and incidence in a select referral population.

Objective: We sought to determine the incidence and imaging features by coronary angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of anomalies in which the right, circumflex, and left anterior descending coronary arteries arise separately from the right sinus of Valsalva. Background: The anomalous origin of all major coronary arteries from separate ostia in the right sinus of Valsalva has been reported as exceedingly rare, with mainly isolated cases reported. A knowledge of the origin and proximal courses of aberrant arteries is critical for patient management. Methods: 42 consecutive patients without other congenital heart disease referred to our institution for MRI evaluation of anomalous coronary artery over a six year period were evaluated. Analysis of angiograms and MRI was done to determine the anatomic origin and proximal pathway of coronary arteries (determined by conventional angiography and MRI) and degree of any stenosis (by angiography). Results: Seven of the 42 patients (17%) in this referral population had the described anatomy. Both conventional angiography and MRI depicted the origin and proximal courses of these arteries. In all patients, the circumflex passed behind the aorta. In three, the left anterior descending passed through the ventricular septum; in four, it passed anterior to the pulmonary trunk. Conclusions: This series is the largest ever reported on this complex anatomical variant and the first to give a systematic analysis of the anatomy by angiography and MRI. This constellation of multiple anomalous coronary arterial origins and proximal courses may not be as rare as previously reported. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Delayed post-ischemic albumin treatment neither improves nor worsens the outcome of transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Human albumin therapy within the first 4 h is highly neuroprotective in focal ischemia, but it is unknown whether delayed albumin therapy is deleterious. Rats received 2 h middle cerebral artery suture-occlusion. Human albumin (25%, 2.5 mg/kg; n=12) or vehicle (0.9% saline, 5 ml/kg; n=9) were administered at 19 h. Neurological status was evaluated daily, and histopathology and brain swelling were quantified at 3 days. Delayed albumin treatment, while ineffective, failed to show adverse effects.
Analysis of type II and type X collagen synthesis in cultured growth plate chondrocytes by in situ hybridization: Rapid induction of type X collagen in culture

Type X collagen is produced by hypertrophic chondrocytes and serves as a highly specific marker for chondrocyte maturation. This study was designed to compare the expression of type II and type X collagen in growth plate sections and in distinct populations of chondrocytes in culture by in situ hybridization. Growth plate sections were treated with type II and type X collagen cDNA probes. Type II collagen mRNA was present throughout the growth plate but greatest in the lower proliferating and upper hypertrophic regions. In contrast, type X collagen was expressed only in the hypertrophic region. Northern analysis confirmed the specificity of the probe for type X collagen mRNA. Chick growth plate chondrocytes were separated by countercurrent centrifugal elutriation into five distinct populations and plated in serum-containing medium. These cultures were examined at varying times after plating for the expression of type II and type X collagen mRNA. At 3 h, type II collagen was present in the majority of the cells in all fractions, and approximately 15-20% of the cells expressed type X collagen mRNA. The cells expressing type X were from the hypertrophic region. At 24 h, however, nearly all cells in culture expressed type X mRNA, and there was a decrease in expression of type II collagen mRNA. Similar results were obtained in cultures in the absence of serum, and SDS-PAGE analysis of collagen synthesis confirmed the expression of type X collagen in all populations of fractionated cells at 24 h at the protein level. Type X collagen is an important marker through which cellular matruation can be evaluated in culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Organic geochemistry of Cretaceous black shales from the Galicia Margin, Ocean Drilling Program Leg 103

Organic-carbon-rich "black shales" from three different Cretaceous episodes sampled during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 103 have been studied by organic geochemical methods. Rock-Eval analysis, carbon isotope data, and lipid biomarkers show organic matter to contain varying proportions of marine and continental materials. In Hauterivian-Barremian organic-carbon-rich turbiditic marlstones, major amounts of land-derived organic matter are found. Aptian-Albian black-colored shales are interspersed within green claystones, from which they differ by containing more marine organic matter. An abbreviated layer of black shale from the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary is dominated by well-preserved marine organic matter. Downslope transport and rapid reburial within a predominantly oxygenated dcepwater setting created most of these examples of black shales, except for the Cenomanian-Turonian deposits in which decpwater anoxia may have been involved.
An epidemiological assessment of bundle-branch block.

Complete bundle-branch block was found in 57 of 1,560 (3.7%) electrocardiograms routinely recorded on members of a retirement community. Of this number, 19 were identified as left bundle-branch block (LBBB), while 38 fulfilled the criteria for right bundlebranch block (RBBB). Individuals with LBBB were found to have cardiomegaly more frequently than did individuals with normal electrocardiograms. Individuals with RBBB, regarded as a homogeneous group, also demonstrated a greater prevalence of cardiomegaly than did the control group, but the difference from normals was less striking than in the case of LBBB. Neither LBBB nor RBBB was significantly associated with hypertension, as defined in the text. When the common, uncomplicated RBBB was regarded as a separate entity, the prevalences of hypertension and cardiomegaly were indistinguishable from those of a control group with normal electrocardiograms. The RBBB variant, regarded as a possible manifestation of left ventricular disease secondary to hypertroph...
The role of affect in the WTA/WTP disparity

Four studies demonstrated robust within- and between-subject differences in willingness-to-pay (WTP) and willingness-to-accept (WTA) measures of the value of lottery tickets. Buyers and sellers attended to different numerical cues and interpreted the same numbers differently when setting these two kinds of monetary values. Affective influences appeared to guide the valuation process. Buyers with stronger positive feelings about owning a ticket were willing to pay more for a ticket; sellers with stronger negative feelings about no longer having a ticket required a greater minimum payment in exchange for their ticket. In addition, the WTA/WTP disparity tended to be greater for more affectively-laden lottery tickets. The results suggest that WTA and WTP prices are constructed using salient numerical cues and affective feelings. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Penetration testing for the Optical Probe for Regolith Analysis (OPRA)

Abstract The Optical Probe for Regolith Analysis (OPRA) is a spike-shaped subsurface analytical probe that will be delivered to a planet, asteroid, or cometary body by a lander and/or rover. OPRA will be pushed down into the subsurface to record near infrared spectra as a function of depth down to maximum of 50 cm. Therefore, knowledge of the required penetration force to specific depths can be helpful in estimating the length of the probe. Test probes covering the anticipated diameter (2.5, 1.9, 1.2 and 0.9 cm diameter) and tip angle (T.A. = 30°, 60°, 90° and 120°) of OPRA were inserted mechanically into dry playground sand. The results showed that tip angle does not have a major effect, while probe diameter and density of the regolith are the most important parameters. Increasing probe diameter from 0.9 to 1.9 cm (i.e. a factor of 2) leads to an increase in penetration force from 200 to 1000 N (i.e. a factor of 5) at 20 cm depth. An increase in bulk density (B.D.) from 1550 to 1700 kg m −3 leads to an increase in penetration force from 10 to 200 N at 20 cm depth. Bearing capacity theory was used to explain the downward movement of the penetrometer through regolith and showed good agreement with the experimental results. This model was then used to take into account the effect of gravity on other planetary bodies. We observed a good agreement between the theoretical model and results from penetration testings on the Moon by the Apollo missions. Since the maximum allowed force for penetration is the weight of the lander/rover on their targeted planetary surface, our results put a strong constraint on the maximum reachable depth without endangering the whole mission.
Regional differences within the rat ventral tegmental area for muscimol self-infusions.

The present study examined the effects of activating GABAA receptors in the anterior and posterior regions of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on operant reinforcement behavior, using the technique of intracranial self-administration. Rats were given the opportunity to self-administer vehicle alone (artificial CSF) and vehicle containing 25, 50, and 100 μM muscimol, a GABAA agonist, into the anterior or posterior VTA during four sessions (3 h/session) in standard two-lever operant chambers. Rats received five times greater infusions of 50 and 100 μM muscimol than vehicle into the posterior VTA; both doses significantly increased responding above vehicle levels on the active and inactive (control) levers equally. When the response requirement for muscimol infusions was increased from a fixed-ratio 1 (FR1) to FR3 in a single-lever chamber, the total session responses increased approximately twofold. Muscimol was not self-infused when cannula placements were in the anterior VTA. The self-infusion of muscimol into the posterior VTA was attenuated by coadministration of picrotoxin. Overall, the results suggest that the activation of GABAA receptors in the posterior VTA produces goal-directed behavior.
Ensemble simulations of the decline and recovery of stratospheric ozone

[1] An ensemble of simulations of a coupled chemistry-climate model is completed for 1960–2100. The simulations are divided into two periods, 1960–2005 and 1990–2100. The modeled total ozone amount decrease throughout the atmosphere from the 1960s until about 2000–2005, depending on latitude. The Antarctic ozone hole develops rapidly in the model from about the late 1970s, in agreement with observations, but it does not disappear until about 2065, about 15 years later than previous estimates. Spring averaged ozone takes even longer to recover to 1980 values. Ozone amounts in the Antarctic are determined largely by halogen amounts. In contrast, in the Arctic, ozone recovers to 1980 values about 25–35 years earlier, depending on the recovery criterion adopted. By the end of the 21st century, the climate change associated with greenhouse gas changes gives rise to a significant superrecovery of ozone in the Arctic but a less marked recovery in the Antarctic. For both polar regions, ensemble and interannual variability is greater in the future than in the past, and hence the timing of the full recovery of polar ozone is very sensitive to the definition of recovery. It is suggested that the range of recovery rates between the hemispheres simulated in the model is related to the overall increase in the strength of the Brewer-Dobson circulation, driven by increases in greenhouse gas concentrations.
Automatic affective video indexing: Sound energy and object motion correlation discovery: Studies in identifying slapstick comedy using low-level video features

No longer is video creation and storage solely in the hands of professionals. Video repositories are growing at an astounding rate due advances in multimedia technologies. The vast size of video repositories presents challenges for users attempting to identify preferred content. Automated methods for content discovery are necessary to meet the needs of users. One of the more challenging areas of video content discovery is in identifying affective, or emotional, video content. Automatic affective video indexing techniques attempt to use computer-based methods to automatically identify content in videos that is affective in nature. This is the first known automatic affective video indexing study that focuses on slapstick, one of the most popular types of humor techniques. The study shows positive results and contributes to the field by identifying the targeted affective content without relying on actual human emotional responses.
Are deontology and teleology mutually exclusive

Current discussions of business ethics usually only consider deontological and utilitarian approaches. What is missing is a discussion of traditional teleology, often referred to as “virtue ethics.” While deontology and teleology are useful, they both suffer insufficiencies. Traditional teleology, while deontological in many respects, does not object to utilitarian style calculations as long as they are contained within a moral framework that is not utilitarian in its origin. It contains the best of both approaches and can be used to focus on the individual's role within an organization. More work is needed in exposing students and faculty to traditional teleology and its place in business ethic's discussions.
Understanding pharmacist decision making for adverse drug event (ADE) detection

Rationale, aims and objective Manual chart review is an effective but expensive method for adverse drug event (ADE) detection. Building an expert system capable of mimicking the human expert's decision pathway, to deduce the occurrence of an ADE, can improve efficiency and lower cost. As a first step to build such an expert system, this study explores pharmacist's decision-making processes for ADE detection. Methods Think-aloud procedures were used to elicit verbalizations as pharmacists read through ADE case scenarios. Two types of information were extracted, firstly pharmacists' decision-making strategies regarding ADEs and secondly information regarding pharmacists' unmet information needs for ADE detection. Verbal protocols were recorded and analysed qualitatively to extract ADE information signals. Inter-reviewer agreement for classification of ADE information signals was calculated using Cohen's kappa. Results We extracted a total of 110 information signals, of which 73% consisted of information that was interpreted by the pharmacists from the case scenario and only about half (53%, n = 32) of the information signals were considered relevant for the detection of the ADEs. Excellent reliability was demonstrated between the reviewers for classifying signals. Fifty information signals regarding unmet information needs were extracted and grouped into themes based on the type of missing information. Conclusions Pharmacists used a forward reasoning approach to make implicit deductions and validate hypotheses about possible ADEs. Verbal protocols also indicated that pharmacists' unmet information needs occurred frequently. Developing alerting systems that meet pharmacists' needs adequately will enhance their ability to reduce preventable ADEs, thus improving patient safety.
Estradiol (EE 2 ) and Growth Hormone (GH) Increase Bone Deposition in Girls with Turner's Syndrome † 400

Estradiol (EE 2 ) and Growth Hormone (GH) Increase Bone Deposition in Girls with Turner's Syndrome † 400
Medicine as Ecoculture

Gillick provides an explanatory model of the health care system, drawn on an analogy with the ecosystem, to help understand why new technology is introduced in particular regions and how physicians...
Assimilation and survival in cyberspace

The question addressed in this paper is how do complex networks survive competitive forces and hostile attacks. In particular we seek to understand survivability and defence in large-scale computing networks. An integrated network of software agents is proposed as a solution to creating a dynamic immunological defence mechanism within such computing networks.In order to investigate these processes a multi-agent simulation model has been developed which demonstrates spontaneous group formation and the maintenance of group integrity. These system aspects are proposed as integral components of survivability. Each agent is susceptible to virus infections, passed between each agent and social assimilation by its local neighbours. From this model we observe a wide range of complex social behaviours that could be selected from a few critical interaction parameters. We then introduced an artificial immune system to each agent, which allows learned 'antibody' solutions to be exchanged between the agents within a social group. This mechanism reduced the infection level to a small percentage of the non-cooperative state. Finally, the paper considers the specific problem of how we might utilise such knowledge to develop a fully implemented network defence system.
Strategies for assessing children's organophosphorus pesticide exposures in agricultural communities

Children can be exposed to pesticides from multiple sources and through multiple pathways. In addition to the standard pathways of diet, drinking water and residential pesticide use, children in agricultural communities can be exposed to pesticides used in agricultural production. A research program on children and pesticides was established at the University of Washington (UW) in 1991 and has focused on two major exposure pathway issues: residential proximity to pesticide-treated farmland and transfer of pesticides from the workplace to the home (paraoccupational or take-home exposure). The UW program selected preschool children of agricultural producers and farm workers in the tree fruit region of Washington state as a population that was likely to have elevated exposures from these pathways. The organophosphorus (OP) pesticides were selected as a common class of chemicals for analysis so that issues of aggregate exposure and cumulative risk could be addressed. This paper provides an overview of key findings of our research group over the past 8 years and describes current studies in this field. Soil and housedust concentrations of OP pesticides were elevated in homes of agricultural families (household members engaged in agricultural production) when compared to non-agricultural reference homes in the same community. Dialkyl phosphate metabolites of OP pesticides measured in children's urine were also elevated for agricultural children when compared to reference children and when compared to children in the Seattle metropolitan area. Proximity to farmland was associated with increased OP pesticide concentrations in housedust and OP pesticide metabolites in urine. Current studies include a community-based intervention to reduce parental transfer of pesticides from the workplace, and a systematic investigation of the role of agricultural spray drift in children's exposure to pesticides.
Nonsensitized murine B lymphocytes produce mouse interferon α/β in response to foreign cells

Abstract Nonsensitized murine lymphocytes produced mouse interferon when cocultured with foreign and transformed cells. Neutralization tests revealed that this interferon was of the α/β type. The B lymphocyte appeared responsible for the bulk of the interferon production as determined by cell “panning,” complement-mediated depletion, and immunofluorescence experiments.