cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minding our business : What the united states government has done and can do to ensure that U.S. multinationals act responsibly in foreign markets

The United States Government does not mandate that US based firms follow US social and environmental law in foreign markets. However, because many developing countries do not have strong human rights, labor, and environmental laws, many multinationals have adopted voluntary corporate responsibility initiatives to self-regulate their overseas social and environmental practices. This article argues that voluntary actions, while important, are insufficient to address the magnitude of problems companies confront as they operate in developing countries where governance is often inadequate. The United States can do more to ensure that its multinationals act responsibly everywhere they operate. First, policymakers should define the social and environmental responsibilities of global companies. They must consistently make their expectations for global business clear – and underscore that this objective can often be accomplished without mandates. Second, the US should closely examine the policies that undermine global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and address the many conflicting signals sent by policymakers. Third, the President should make the US government a CSR model by examining how to use its purchasing power to promote human rights. Finally, the US government should require pension funds to report on the social and environmental consequences of their investments. In these ways, Americans can mind our business – and thus make sure that US based firms do not undermine social and environmental progress when they operate in the developing world.
The role of subsurface oxygen in the local oxidation of zirconium and zirconium nitride thin films

This paper discusses the growth kinetics of nanometer scale oxide structures grown by atomic force microscope (AFM) assisted lithography. The addition of nitrogen into the sputtering gas during zirconium deposition results in a crystalline ZrN material with oxygen held in solid solution. The diffusion rate of oxygen is high through the crystalline material, allowing it to participate in local anodization and resulting in tall oxide features at low relative humidity. These nanostructures are, in some cases, an order of magnitude higher than previously seen in other material systems. Higher nitrogen content in the plasma results in a crystalline to amorphous transition in the films, and the height enhancement of the AFM-grown features disappears. We propose that mass transport of subsurface oxygen has an influence on surface oxidation kinetics in this material system.
Über eine eigenartige, mit Thrombenbildung verbundene Reaktion des Gefässendothels.

Zusammenfassung. In gewissen kapillaren und venosen Gefassgebieten mit Stauung des Blutes und schleichender Entzundung des umgebenden Gewebes fand Verf. eine eigenartige, mit Fibrinoidbildung verbundene Wucherung des Gefassendothels, die zu einer mehr oder weniger umfangsreichen Thrombenbildung fuhren kann. Die Veranderung durfte als eine neue, bisher nicht beschriebene Form von produktiver Thrombovaskulitis bezeichnet werden konnen. Die gereizten Endothelien wacbsen als lange schlanke Verbande in das stauende aber flussige Blut hinein und konnen dabei Teile der Blutmasse vom ubrigen Blute abtrennen. Die eingefangenen Erythrozyten geben dann in eine hyaline Masse uber, welche sich morphologisch-tinktoriell wie Fibrin verhalt. Am meisten ausgepragt waren die Veranderungen in den sog. Harnrohrenkarunkeln. Verf. hebt die Analogie mit der bei einigen allgemeinen Infektionskrankheiten wie Typhus, gewissen Kolibazillosen und Sepsis lenta beschriebenen sog. Endovasculitis verrucosa hervor. Auch bier treten eigenartige hyaline Thrombosen auf, die durch Intimawucherung und fibrinoide Umwandlung von kernhaltigen Zellen und roten Blutkorpern zustande kommen.
Titanium tetrafluoride as a catalyst for some organic reactions

Titanium tetrafluoride has been successfully employed in combination with triisobutyl aluminum (TBA) as a Ziegler type of catalyst to polymerize butadiene. The resulting polymer has a higher cis to trans ratio and a higher degree of crosslinking than one prepared with the titanium tetrachloride–TBA catalyst. It is of interest that vinyl chloride, a monomer containing a donor atom, was polymerized with the TiF4–TBA catalyst. Titanium tetrafluoride is not a very effective catalyst for the Friedel-Crafts type of reactions.
Using high-order harmonics with momentum imaging techniques to study atomic and molecular dynamics

We use high harmonics in conjunction with coincidence momentum imaging (COLTRIMS) techniques to study simple molecules like CO, CO2 and N2. We explore the dynamics near the double ionization threshold using EUV/IR pump/probe techniques.
Methods of tissue decellularization used for preparation of biologic scaffolds and in vivo relevance

Abstract Biologic scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) are widely used in both preclinical animal studies and in many clinical applications to repair and reconstruct tissues. Recently, 3-dimensional ECM constructs have been investigated for use in whole organ engineering applications. ECM scaffolds are prepared by decellularization of mammalian tissues and the ECM provides natural biologic cues that facilitate the restoration of site appropriate and functional tissue. Preservation of the native ECM constituents (i.e., three-dimensional ultrastructure and biochemical composition) during the decellularization process would theoretically result in the ideal scaffold for tissue remodeling. However, all methods of decellularization invariably disrupt the ECM to some degree. Decellularization of tissues and organs for the production of ECM bioscaffolds requires a balance between maintaining native ECM structure and the removal of cellular materials such as DNA, mitochondria, membrane lipids, and cytosolic proteins. These remnant cellular components can elicit an adverse inflammatory response and inhibit constructive remodeling if not adequately removed. Many variables including cell density, matrix density, thickness, and morphology can affect the extent of tissue and organ decellularization and thus the integrity and physical properties of the resulting ECM scaffold. This review describes currently used decellularization techniques, and the effects of these techniques upon the host response to the material.
Numerical solution of axisymmetric heat conduction problems using finite control volume technique

A finite control volume technique is developed to solve two-dimensional axisymmetric heat conduction problems using an arbitrary quadrilateral mesh. In this technique, the integral form of the conservation of energy equation is applied to control volumes of finite size. The boundary conditions considered include specified flux, aerodynamic heating, convection, and radiation. Two example problems involving a specified heat flux boundary condition and a specified temperature in conjunction with a temperature-dependent source are presented to demonstrate quadratic convergence as the mesh is spatially refined. The temperature-dependent source problem is solved using both a rectangular and a skewed mesh; the method is capable of producing accurate results on both rectangular and skewed meshes. Numerical comparisons with a Galerkin finite element code are also presented.
Ethanol self-selection in rats: a distinction between absolute and 95 per cent ethanol.

Abstract Preference-aversion functions for ethanol solutions prepared with absolute or 95 per cent ethanol were determined in normal, untreated rats. In a second experiment these functions were similarly determined except in this case, after 4 days of ad lib water, a second determination was made in which half the animals were intubated with saline and the others with p -chlorophenylalanine ( p CPA), a potent depletor of brain serotonin. In agreement with other studies, the intake of solutions prepared with absolute ethanol was markedly reduced by treatment with p CPA. In marked contrast to this finding, however, was the fact that this compound had little effect on preference-aversion functions for solutions prepared with 95 per cent ethanol. Ethanol intakes during saline intubations were not significantly lower than baseline levels for either group. The observed distinction between absolute and 95 per cent ethanol would seem to be particularly significant since it became apparent only during an experimental treatment and thus could be an important confounding variable in the self-selection study with animals.
Potential antimicrobials to control Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packaged cold-smoked salmon pâté and fillets.

In the wake of recent outbreaks associated with Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods and an increasing desire for minimally processed foods, there has been a burgeoning interest in the use of natural antimicrobials by the food industry to control this pathogen. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of nisin and salts of organic acids (sodium lactate (SL), sodium diacetate (SD), sodium benzoate (SB), and potassium sorbate (PS)) against twelve strains of L. monocytogenes in a TSBYE broth medium at 35 degrees C were determined. The MICs were strain-dependent and fell in the range of 0.00048-0.00190% for nisin, 4.60-5.60% for SL, 0.11-0.22% for SD, 0.25-0.50% for SB and 0.38-0.75% for PS, respectively. The two most antimicrobial-resistant strains were used as a cocktail in the following experiments to represent a worst case scenario. The five antimicrobials alone and in binary combinations were screened for their efficacy against the two-strain cocktail in TSBYE at sub-MIC and sub-legal levels at 35 degrees C. Seven effective antimicrobial treatments were then selected and evaluated for their long-term antilisterial effectiveness in cold-smoked salmon pâte and fillets during refrigerated storage (4 degrees C) of 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. The two most effective antimicrobial formulations for smoked salmon pâte, 0.25% SD and 2.4% SL/0.125% SD, were able to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes during the 3 weeks of storage. Surface application of 2.4% SL/0.125% SD was the most effective treatment for smoked salmon fillets which inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes for 4 weeks. These antimicrobial treatments could be used by the smoked salmon industry in the U.S. and Europe in their efforts to control L. monocytogenes as they are effective against even the most antimicrobial-resistant strains tested in this study.
Beef cow reproduction as affected by postpartum nutrition and temporary calf removal.

Abstract Data were collected on 306 multiparous cows over a 3-yr period (1984–1986) to evaluate the effect of postpartum nutrition and temporary calf removal on reproductive performance. All cows calved in a body condition score (BCS) of ≥ 5 and were randomly allotted at parturition to an experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors consisted of high or low-flush levels of postpartum nutritional management, with or without temporary calf removal for 48 h prior to the breeding season. The high diet contained 26.0 Mcal metabolizable energy. The low regimen of the low-flush diet contained 14.7 Mcal metabolizable energy, with the flushing regime consisting of a diet of 36 Mcal metabolizable energy. The flushing diet was offered 2 wk prior to breeding through the first 30 d of breeding. Interval to estrus was 45 and 44 d for high and low-flush, respectively (P>0.05), while interval to estrus with temporary calf removal and without temporary calf removal was 47 and 42 d, respectively (P 0.05). Interval to pregnancy was 81 and 82 d for high and low-flush, respectively (P>0.05), while interval to pregnancy with temporary calf removal and without temporary calf removal was 82 and 81 d, respectively (P>0.05). Cumulative percentages of animals pregnant at 20, 40 and 60 d of breeding, respectively, were high, 59, 83 and 91; low-flush, 59, 80 and 90; with temporary calf removal, 58, 83 and 91; and without temporary calf removal, 60, 80 and 90 (P>0.05). Calf performance in response to dam nutrition and temporary calf removal was not affected at weaning or at intervals prior to weaning (P>0.05). Interactions between nutrition level and removal of calf factors were not significant (P>0.05) for any of the parameters measured. The data suggest cows calving in BCS ≥ 5 have equivalent reproductive performance whether receiving high levels of energy postpartum or low levels of energy early postpartum, followed by a flushing diet fed immediately proceeding and continuing through the first 30 d of breeding. No beneficial effect of temporary calf removal was observed for cows calving with BCS ≥ 5.
Allogeneic BMT and patient eligibility based on psychosocial criteria: a survey of BMT professionals

BMT professionals were compared regarding their willingness to proceed with allogeneic BMT given select psychosocial issues. A questionnaire was sent to 660 physician members of ASBMT, 92 social work members of BMT Special Interest Group, Association of Oncology Social Work, and 626 nurse members of BMT Special Interest Group, Oncology Nursing Society; 597 responded with a response rate of 43.5%. Items included background information, followed by 17 case vignettes; each represented a different psychosocial issue to which respondents indicated whether or not they would recommend proceeding with allogeneic BMT. In every vignette, at least 10% of respondents indicated they would not proceed. In six vignettes, at least 64% indicated do not proceed: suicidal ideation (86.8%), uses addictive illicit drugs (81.7%), history of noncompliance (80.5%), no lay caregiver (69.3%), alcoholic (64.8%), and mild dementia/Alzheimer's (64.4%). In 10 vignettes, at least 73% indicated proceed. On four vignettes, professional subgroups differed in their recommendation on whether or not to proceed with allogeneic BMT. Qualitative data suggest that this decision is contingent on the perceived acuity, severity, and currency of the psychosocial issue, patient ability to comply with treatment given the issue, and its manageability as a risk factor for treatment related vulnerability and outcomes.
ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from Potato Tubers. Site-Directed Mutagenesis Studies of the Regulatory Sites

Several lysines (Lys) were determined to be involved in the regulation of the ADP-glucose (Glc) pyrophosphorylase from spinach leaf and the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (K. Ball, J. Preiss [1994] J Biol Chem 269: 24706-24711; Y. Charng, A.A. Iglesias, J. Preiss [1994] J Biol Chem 269: 24107-24113). Site-directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the relative roles of the conserved Lys in the heterotetrameric enzyme from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers. Mutations to alanine of Lys-404 and Lys-441 on the small subunit decreased the apparent affinity for the activator, 3-phosphoglycerate, by 3090- and 54-fold, respectively. The apparent affinity for the inhibitor, phosphate, decreased greater than 400-fold. Mutation of Lys-441 to glutamic acid showed even larger effects. When Lys-417 and Lys-455 on the large subunit were mutated to alanine, the phosphate inhibition was not altered and the apparent affinity for the activator decreased only 9- and 3-fold, respectively. Mutations of these residues to glutamic acid only decreased the affinity for the activator 12- and 5-fold, respectively. No significant changes were observed on other kinetic constants for the substrates ADP-Glc, pyrophosphate, and Mg2+. These data indicate that Lys-404 and Lys-441 on the small subunit are more important for the regulation of the ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase than their homologous residues in the large subunit.
Instructional leadership: Supervision that makes a difference

(1991). Instructional leadership: Supervision that makes a difference. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 30, Instructional Leadership: Making Supervision Meaningful, pp. 97-101.
Design-Based Research: Putting a Stake in the Ground

The emerging field of the learning sciences is one that is interdisciplinary, drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives and research paradigms so as to build understandings of the nature and conditions of learning, cognition, and development. Learning sciences researchers investigate cognition in context, at times emphasizing one more than the other but with the broad goal of developing evidence-based claims derived from both laboratory-based and naturalistic investigations that result in knowledge about how people learn. This work can involve the development of technological tools, curriculum, and especially theory that can be used to understand and support learning. A fundamental assumption of many learning scientists is that cognition is not a thing located within the individual thinker but is a process that is distributed across the knower, the environment in which knowing occurs, and the activity in which the learner participates. In other words, learning, cognition, knowing, and context are irreducibly co-constituted and cannot be treated as isolated entities or processes. If one believes that context matters in terms of learning and cognition, research paradigms that simply examine these processes as isolated variables within laboratory or other impoverished contexts of participation will necessarily lead to an incomplete understanding of their relevance in more naturalistic settings (Brown, 1992).1 Alternatively, simply observing learning and cognition as they naturally Correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to Sasha A. Barab, School of Education,
Completely Distributed Particle Filters for Target Tracking in Sensor Networks

Particle filters (or PFs) are widely used for the tracking problem in dynamic systems. Despite their remarkable tracking performance and flexibility, PFs require intensive computation and communication, which are strictly constrained in wireless sensor networks (or WSNs). Thus, distributed particle filters (or DPFs) have been studied to distribute the computational workload onto multiple nodes while minimizing the communication among them. However, weight normalization and resampling in generic PFs cause significant challenges in the distributed implementation. Few existing efforts on DPF could be implemented in a completely distributed manner. In this paper, we design a completely distributed particle filter (or CDPF) for target tracking in sensor networks, and further improve it with neighborhood estimation toward minimizing the communication cost. First, we describe the particle maintenance and propagation mechanism, by which particles are maintained on different sensor nodes and propagated along the target trajectory. Then, we design the CDPF algorithm by adjusting the order of PFs' four steps and leveraging the data aggregation during particle propagation. Finally, we develop a neighborhood estimation method to replace the measurement broadcasting and the calculation of likelihood functions. With this approximate estimation, the communication cost of DPFs can be minimized. Our experimental evaluations show that although CDPF incurs about $50%$ more estimation error than semi-distributed particle filter (or SDPF), its communication cost is lower than that of SDPF by as much as $90%$.
WINTER DISTRIBUTION AND SURVIVAL OF A HIGH-DESERT BREEDING POPULATION OF CANVASBACKS

Abstract The southernmost major breeding area of Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) is located at the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, in the high desert of the western Great Basin. We determined winter distributions, recovery rates, and survival for Canvasbacks banded in Nevada from March to November, 1968–2000. Winter recovery distributions did not differ by sex or age, but differed between direct recoveries (same year as banding) and indirect recoveries (after year of banding), indicating variable site use between years. Of direct band returns (October–March), 92% were from the Pacific Flyway and 56% were from California alone. In California, recovery distributions shifted from southern California and the San Francisco Bay estuary in the 1970s to the Central Valley in the 1980s and 1990s. In the 1990s, there were no recoveries in San Francisco Bay, historically the major wintering area for Canvasbacks in the Pacific Flyway. Adult and juvenile survival decreased by 24% between the 1980s and 199...
The use of c-src knockout mice for the identification of the main toxic signaling pathway of TCDD to Induce wasting syndrome

The effect of single intraperitoneal injection of 115 microg/kg of TCDD (i.e., approximately 1/2 of LD50) to male C57BL/6 mice on the liver mRNA expression changes of several growth factor related genes was assessed at 3 h, 24 h, 10 days, and 30 days posttreatment. The results revealed that the most consistently elevated mRNAs during the entire test period were those of c-Src, TGFalpha, and PDGFa. In contrast, those observed to be consistently suppressed were mRNAs for EGF receptor (EGFR), Ki-Ras, SAPKK, Sp-1, C/EBPbeta, and NFkB. Elevation of mRNAs for TGFbeta and STAT3 was observed only on day 10 and day 30. To assess the role of c-Src in the above action of TCDD, we conducted a parallel study with congenic C57BL/6 male c-src -/- mice. The results showed that in scr -/- mice the effect of TCDD was less in the case of mRNA expression of PDGF(AA), STAT3, C/EPBbeta, NMT-1, and AP-2gamma in addition to c-src as compared to scr +/+ mice. Those affected least by the absence of c-Src were SAPKK, and surprisingly, EGF receptor mRNAs, both of which were consistently downregulated in both strains. In most of the other cases, the extent of TCDD-induced changes were generally less pronounced in src -/- mice as compared to +/+ mice. These observations support the notion that c-Src is an important mediator of the effects of TCDD on TGFalpha, PDGF(AA), and C/EBPalpha, beta.
Residence time distribution in non‐intermeshing counter‐rotating twin‐screw extruders

This paper deals with the residence time distribution (RTD) in a non-intermeshing counter rotating twin screw extruder. The RTDs were measured in three vent zones of the extruder sparately, and in the adjacent zones combined, using a soluble dye as the tracer. Assuming that the RTDs in the adjacent zones are independent of each other, the overall RTD was also calculated using a previously developed statistical theory. The theory has also confirmed the consistency of the present measurements. A predictive RTD model for the non-intermeshing twin screw extruder, based on the flow analysis of the individual screw zones and their statistical superposition, was also developed. The predictions are in good agreement with experiment.
Development and use of active clinical decision support for preemptive pharmacogenomics

Background Active clinical decision support (CDS) delivered through an electronic health record (EHR) facilitates gene-based drug prescribing and other applications of genomics to patient care. Objective We describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of active CDS for multiple pharmacogenetic test results reported preemptively. Materials and methods Clinical pharmacogenetic test results accompanied by clinical interpretations are placed into the patient's EHR, typically before a relevant drug is prescribed. Problem list entries created for high-risk phenotypes provide an unambiguous trigger for delivery of post-test alerts to clinicians when high-risk drugs are prescribed. In addition, pre-test alerts are issued if a very-high risk medication is prescribed (eg, a thiopurine), prior to the appropriate pharmacogenetic test result being entered into the EHR. Our CDS can be readily modified to incorporate new genes or high-risk drugs as they emerge. Results Through November 2012, 35 customized pharmacogenetic rules have been implemented, including rules for TPMT with azathioprine, thioguanine, and mercaptopurine, and for CYP2D6 with codeine, tramadol, amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and paroxetine. Between May 2011 and November 2012, the pre-test alerts were electronically issued 1106 times (76 for thiopurines and 1030 for drugs metabolized by CYP2D6), and the post-test alerts were issued 1552 times (1521 for TPMT and 31 for CYP2D6). Analysis of alert outcomes revealed that the interruptive CDS appropriately guided prescribing in 95% of patients for whom they were issued. Conclusions Our experience illustrates the feasibility of developing computational systems that provide clinicians with actionable alerts for gene-based drug prescribing at the point of care.
Cravings as a mediator and moderator of drinking outcomes in the COMBINE study.

Aims Investigators of the COMBINE (Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions for Alcoholism) study examined whether combining medications with a behavioral intervention would improve outcomes over monotherapies. Unexpectedly, the combination did not offer any advantage over either treatment alone. This study aimed to explain the lack of incremental benefit offered by the combination over either monotherapy by assessing the role of cravings as a treatment mediator and moderator. Design Secondary mediation and moderation analyses of COMBINE study data. Setting Eleven United States academic sites. Participants A total of 863 patients randomized to one of four treatment groups: naltrexone (100 mg/day; n = 209), the combined behavioral intervention (CBI, n = 236), naltrexone and CBI combined (n = 213) and placebo naltrexone (n = 205). Measurements Percentage of days abstinent (PDA) measured between 13 and 16 weeks post-baseline. Cravings, the potential mediator/moderator, were measured at baseline, weeks 4 and 12 using the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale.Findings Compared with placebo,naltrexone,CBIandthecombinationallincreasedPDAbyanadditional6‐10percentagepointsforthosewith highcravings(P < 0.05forallthreetreatmentgroups).NonehadsignificanteffectsonPDAforthosewithlowcravings. The effects of all three treatments were mediated at least partially by cravings; craving reduction explained 48‐53% of treatment effects (P < 0.05 for all three treatment groups). Furthermore, naltrexone appeared to reduce cravings at 4 weeks, while CBI did not reduce cravings until 12 weeks. Conclusions The Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions for Alcoholism (COMBINE) naltrexone + CBI combination may not be more beneficial than either monotherapy because craving reduction is a common mechanism of both.
Query reformulation strategies for an intelligent search intermediary

The authors describe an intelligent search intermediary to help end-users locate relevant passages in large online full-text databases. Passage retrieval has advantages in efficiency and effectiveness over traditional document retrieval yet is more computationally tractable than question-answering systems under development by researchers in artificial intelligence. However, casual users need assistance with search strategies for full-text databases. The authors provide an expert system which automatically reformulates contextual Boolean queries to improve search results and ranks the retrieved passages in decreasing order of estimated relevance. It differs from other intelligent database functions in two ways: it works with semantically and syntactically unprocessed text and the expert system contains a knowledge base of domain-independent search strategies. A simple search scenario is presented. >
Opportunities for innovation in a system of systems framework

This paper examines various theories of innovation and sees how they apply to a system of systems framework. Systems of systems present an unusual challenge for innovation theory because some of the basic rules of the theory are broken by the system of systems paradigm. In particular, systems of systems are often deployed to solve complex problems that have a pressing need. However, pressing problems that require top system performance typically require an integrated solution — a solution where one entity controls all the components. By definition, a system of systems administrator does not control all the components and, indeed, may have control of none of them. This paper reviews various theories of innovation and applies them to an example that has previously been proposed for a system of systems.
Classifying children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure using measures of attention.

Deficits in attention are a hallmark of the effects of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure but although such deficits have been described in the literature, no attempt to use measures of attention to classify children with such exposure has been described. Thus, the current study attempted to classify children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (ALC) and non-exposed controls (CON), using four measures of attentional functioning: the Freedom from Distractibility index from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Third Edition (WISC‐III), the Attention Problems scale from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and omission and commission error scores from the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA). Data from two groups of children were analyzed: children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and non-exposed controls. Children in the alcohol-exposed group included both children with or without fetal alcohol syndrome. Groups were matched on age, sex, ethnicity, and social class. Data were analyzed using backward logistic regression. The final model included the Freedom from Distractibility index from the WISC‐III and the Attention Problems scale from the CBCL. The TOVA variables were not retained in the final model. Classification accuracy was 91.7% overall. Specifically, 93.3% of the alcohol-exposed children and 90% of the control children were accurately classified. These data indicate that children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure can be distinguished from non-exposed controls with a high degree of accuracy using 2 commonly used measures of attention. ( JINS, 2004, 10, 271‐277.)
Why is CpG suppressed in the genomes of virtually all small eukaryotic viruses but not in those of large eukaryotic viruses

Dinucleotide over- and underrepresentation is evaluated in all available completely sequenced DNA or RNA viral genomes, ranging in size from 3 to 250 kb (available RNA viruses fall into the small-virus category). The dinucleotide CpG is statistically underrepresented (suppressed) in all but four of the small viruses (more than 75 with lengths of or = 30 kb). Most retrotransposons in eukaryotic species also show low CpG relative abundances. Interpretations, especially in some cases of DNA viruses or viruses with a DNA intermediate, might relate to methylation effects and modes of viral integration and excision. Other possible contributing factors relate to dinucleotide stacking energies, special mutation mechanisms, and evolutionary events.
Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis: Incorporating Clinical Suspicion with Laboratory Testing and Imaging

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) requires a high index of suspicion, especially in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk factors. A strategy that combines an assessment of clinical probability of the diagnosis with use of D-dimer testing and imaging when appropriate maximizes diagnostic accuracy. Venous ultrasound is the imaging test of choice for most patients with suspected DVT.
Salsalate-induced changes in lipid, lipoprotein, and apoprotein concentrations in overweight or obese, insulin-resistant, nondiabetic individuals

Background and Objective Although salsalate administration consistently lowers plasma triglyceride concentrations in patients with type II diabetes, prediabetes, and/or insulin resistance, changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations have been inconsistent; varying from no change to a significant increase. To evaluate the clinical relevance of this discordance in more detail, we directly measured LDL-C and obtained a comprehensive assessment of changes in lipid, lipoprotein, and apoprotein concentrations associated with salsalate use in insulin-resistant individuals, overweight or obese, but without diabetes, using vertical auto profile method. Methods A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed in volunteers who were overweight or obese, without diabetes, and insulin resistant on the basis of their steady-state plasma glucose concentration during an insulin suppression test. Participants were randomized 2:1 to receive salsalate 3.5 g/d (n = 27) or placebo (n = 14) for 4 weeks. Comprehensive lipid, lipoprotein, and apoprotein analysis by vertical auto profile was obtained after an overnight fast, before and after study intervention. Results There was no change in directly measured LDL-C concentration in salsalate-treated individuals. However, salsalate administration was associated with various changes considered to decrease atherogenicity; including decreases in triglyceride and total very low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) concentrations, a shift from small denser LDL lipoproteins toward larger, more buoyant LDL particles, decreases in VLDL 1+2 -C and LDL 4 -C, and nonsignificant decreases in non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. No significant changes occurred in the placebo-treated group. Conclusions Atherogenicity of the lipid, lipoprotein, and apoprotein profile of insulin-resistant individuals who were overweight or obese improved significantly in association with salsalate treatment. The clinical importance of this finding awaits further study.
Abundance and diversity of archaeal ammonia oxidizers in a coastal groundwater system

Nitrification, the microbially catalyzed oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, is a key process in the nitrogen cycle. Archaea have been implicated in the first part of the nitrification pathway (oxidation of ammonia to nitrite), but the ecology and physiology of these organisms remain largely unknown. This work describes two different populations of sediment-associated ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in a coastal groundwater system in Cape Cod, MA. Sequence analysis of the ammonia monooxygenase subunit A gene (amoA) shows that one population of putative AOA inhabits the upper meter of the sediment, where they may experience frequent ventilation, with tidally driven overtopping and infiltration of bay water supplying dissolved oxygen, ammonium, and perhaps organic carbon. A genetically distinct population occurs deeper in the sediment, in a mixing zone between a nitrate- and oxygen-rich freshwater zone and a reduced, ammonium-bearing saltwater wedge. Both of these AOA populations are coincident with increases in the abundance of group I crenarchaeota 16S rRNA gene copies.
Preliminary studies of insect parasites in Indiana.

This list is based mainly upon parasites reared from field collected material while the author was working at the Bedford Entomological Laboratory of the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station during the summer of 1931. Special attention was given to Lepidopterous stem-borers and leaf rollers likely to be found near peach orchards. Several other records, obtained from specimens in the collection of the author, have been included. All records without indication of the year are for the 1931 season.
Slow and Steady: David Souter’s Life in the Law

While the preponderance of commentary on Supreme Court confirmation hearings laments the tightly scripted, unenlightening exchanges with inscrutable nominees, Justice Souter’s appearance before the Committee is an underappreciated success of the confirmation process. This essay reflects on the Souter hearings as a transparent account of a nominee’s philosophy of judging, an account that remained predictive of Souter’s views nearly two decades later, in his final days as a Justice.
A Pharmacological/Physiological Comparison of Metformin and Exercise

Type 2 diabetes is a significant health concern in the United States and its prevalence is expected to triple by 2050. Both metformin and exercise have shown to be effective in the management of blood glucose control. The pharmacological mechanism of action of metformin is largely based on the activation of AMPK to induce glucose transport. Likewise, the physiological actions of exercise appear to be a potent activator of AMPK, resulting in glucose uptake by the muscle. Research shows that metformin may control blood glucose slightly better than exercise in persons with type 2 diabetes. However, it appears that lifestyle interventions outperform metformin when trying to prevent the onset of diabetes. Both metformin and exercise have a positive and significant role in the management of type 2 diabetes and appear to work similarly to help manage blood glucose control.
Measurement of the Silicon Nanowire Thermal Conductivity

One-dimensional (1D) materials such as various kinds of nanowires and nanotubes have attracted a lot of attention recently because of their potential applications in nanoelectronic and energy conversion devices [1–3]. As the size of low dimensional materials is confined to be comparable to the phonon mean free path, the thermal conductivity can be reduced due to boundary scattering. A theoretical study [4] further suggests that as the diameter of a Si nanowire becomes smaller than 20 nm, the phonon dispersion relation can be modified due to the boundary confinement and the phonon group velocities will be less than that of the bulk, which will also tend to reduce the thermal conductivity. A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation [5] has shown that for nanowires of cross sections ranging from 2.58 to 28.62 nm2 , the thermal conductivity could be two orders of magnitude smaller than those of bulk Si crystals in a temperature range from 200 K to 500 K. In their paper, the authors also solved the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) and showed that the MD results fit reasonably well with the BTE solutions. It is very important to experimentally verify the theoretical predictions and provide experimental data for the device design in nanoelectronic and nanoscale energy conversion devices. However, no systematic experimental studies of the size effect on the nanowire thermal conductivity have been published.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Neonatal Chlamydial Infections in Massachusetts, 1992-1993

Introduction An increase in the numbers of babies reported with Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Massachusetts prompted a review of the medical records of both infants and mothers to evaluate the clinical presentation, the maternal epidemiologic profile, risks of transmission, and the screening practices of health care providers. Methods Medical records of 44/47 infants reported with a chlamydial infection in 1992-1993 were analyzed, as were 40 of the maternal records. Results Almost all of the infants (39, or 89%) had conjunctivitis, despite the fact that ocular prophylaxis with erythromycin was documented at birth for 34 infants. Five other infants presented with respiratory tract infections without conjunctivitis, and they had all received prophylaxis at birth either with erythromycin (3) or silver nitrate instillation (2). More than one fifth (10, or 22.7% ) had a respiratory tract infection. Seventy percent of the mothers were younger than 25. More than 85% were receiving prenatal care by the end of the second trimester. Twenty-five (62.5%) were screened for chlamydia. Nine women tested positive, seven of whom were tested beyond the first trimester. Seventy-five percent of the women who tested negative were tested in the first trimester. Discussion This case series supports previous data documenting that ocular prophylaxis can fail to prevent neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis, and does not prevent colonization or infection at other sites. This study reinforces the importance of primary prevention of neonatal infections through prenatal screening in the third trimester, treatment of infected mothers and their sexual partner(s), and active follow-up.
Body Image, Weight, and Self-Concept in Men:

In the traditional debate between biological and environmental determinants of body weight, the body has most often been explored in terms of its anatomical, genetic, or hormonal influences on personality, experience, and behavior. While obesity has been identified as a threat to our public health, correlating attitudes toward body image and self-concept have been explored within women to a limited extent, and even less so in relation to men. Consequently, men's body image will be discussed in light of current literature reveals for women. For men, as for women, as the social pressure to attain an "ideal" physique increases, the discrepancy between that ideal and one's body increases as well. This dynamic is more readily recognized for women than for men. As men are socialized not to discuss their body image concerns, negative self-concept and esteem may reinforce behaviors resulting in weight gain. In recent years, the proliferation of media has served to reinforce messaging related to one's body. This review of existing data and literature suggests that body image and self-concept are related to body weight in men (as with women) and need to be addressed as part of healthy weight management practices.
Optimal ascent trajectories and feasibility of next generation orbital spacecraft

This paper deals with the optimization of the ascent trajectories for single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) and two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) rocket-powered spacecraft. The maximum payload weight problem is studied for various combinations of initial thrust-to-weight ratio, engine specific impulse, and spacecraft structural factor. For TSTO rocket-powered spacecraft, two cases are studied: uniform structural factor and nonuniform structural factor between stages. The main conclusions are that: the design of SSTO configurations might be comfortably feasible, marginally feasible, or unfeasible, depending on the parameter values assumed; the design of TSTO configurations is not only feasible, but the payload appears to be considerably larger than that of SSTO configurations; for the case of a nonuniform structural factor, the most attactive TSTO design appears to be a first-stage structure made of only tanks and a second-stage structure made of engines, tanks, electronics, and so on. Improvements in engine specific impulse and spacecraft structural factor are desirable and crucial for SSTO feasibility; indeed, aerodynamic improvements do not yield significant improvements in payload weight. For SSTO configurations, the maximum payload weight behaves almost linearly with respect to the engine specific impulse and the spacecraft structural factor. The same property holds for TSTO configurations as long as the ratio of the structural factors of Stage 2 and Stage 1 is held constant. With reference to the specific impulse/structural factor domain, this property leads to the construction of a zero-payload line separating the feasibility region (positive payload) from the unfeasibility region (negative payload).
Sensitization for γ-Irradiation-Induced Apoptosis by Smac.

Abstract Smac is released from mitochondria during the onset of apoptosis and promotes apoptosis via abrogating the binding of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs) to caspases. γ-irradiation is one of the most commonly used therapeutic approaches in clinical oncology, which triggers cell death in tumors via DNA and/or membrane damage. Since we recently found that Smac agonists sensitized even resistant tumors for apoptosis induced by death receptor ligation or anticancer drugs, we investigated the effect of Smac agonists on apoptosis following γ-irradiation in the present study. Here, we report for the first time that overexpression of mitochondrial or cytosolic Smac significantly increased radiosensitivity of various cancers. Transfection-enforced expression of Smac strongly enhanced apoptosis upon γ-irradiation in SH-EP neuroblastoma cells, which were resistant to g-irradiation in the absence of Smac. Importantly, Smac overexpression also reduced clonogenic tumor cell survival following γ-irradiation. Analysis of signaling pathways revealed that overexpression of Smac resulted in more rapid and more potent activation of caspase pathways, e.g caspase-2, -3,- 8, -9. The broad range caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk abrogated apoptosis upon γ-irradiation indicating that apoptosis was mediated by caspases. In addition, overexpression of Smac promoted loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release upon γ-irradiation. Interestingly, γ-irradiation-induced mitochondrial perturbations were blocked in the presence of the caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk suggesting that caspase activity was required for mitochondrial alterations in response to γ-irradiation. Notably, cell cycle alterations and activation of NF-κB occured in a similar manner in vector control and Smac-transfected cells suggesting that Smac did not significantly alter the initial cellular stress response upon γ-irradiation. Importantly, Smac overexpression sensitized various tumor cell lines for γ-irradiation-induced apoptosis, indicating that the sensitization effect of Smac for γ-irradiation was not restricted to a particular cell type. By demonstrating that Smac can sensitize various tumor cells towards γ-irradiation-induced cell death, our findings provide for the first time evidence that Smac agonists may be a useful tool to enhance radiosensitivity in a variety of human cancers.
Student perceptions of the learning process during undergraduate field practicum: a qualitative study

AbstractAs social work education in China expands rapidly since 2000, field practicum is one of the most challenging areas. This qualitative study explored the field learning experiences of 27 students from a pioneer social work undergraduate program. Analysis resulted in six major themes revealing the students’ perspective on the process of learning by performing various practice events during 4-week summer block placements. Discussion focuses on the key features of this learning process. Suggestions for future research and implications for field instruction are included.
MSS architectures for 21st century wireless communications

Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications Systems (FPLMTS) are third generation mobile systems (TGMS) which are scheduled to start service around the year 2000. The objective of FPLMTS is to provide personal, portable communications anywhere, anytime. In FPLMTS there will be a satellite component and a terrestrial component. The advantage of the satellite component is that FPLMTS services can be provided in those areas of the world where it is impractical to install terrestrial infrastructure. The paper proposes a framework for the satellite component of FPLMTS. Two possible "tiers" of the satellite component are presented in terms of the FPLMTS network architecture functional model. Interfaces of the satellite component are also identified, along with a rationale for standardizing some of them. To conclude, the benefits of integration of the satellite and terrestrial components are discussed. >
Microglia: Features of Polarization and Aging

As a primary immune-like cell of the CNS, the association of microglia with brain injury and neurodegenerative disease has lead to a predominance of opinion as to the negative nature of microglia and their associated inflammatory-related responses. However, how to define what represents an adverse function of these cells continues to remain elusive especially with increasing data demonstrating the very complex nature of these cells and their performance within the CNS. Much of the work examining microglia with aging has been focused on the association of microglia and inflammatory factors as they occur within neurodegenerative conditions. The current chapter is focused rather on our current knowledge regarding the nature of microglia within the aged brain under non-injury or non-disease conditions. Gaining an appreciation of the normal shifts in function and inflammatory states of microglia will contribute to the understanding of how these cells contribute to the onset or progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
A Cybernetic Model of Macroeconomic Disequilibrium

In “On Keynesian Economics and the Economics of Keynes” (1968) Leijonhufvud described his cybernetic vision for macroeconomic microfoundations and the dynamics that move the economy from one equilibrium to another. Here I implement that vision in agent-based model.