cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anterior urethral valves.

Abstract Three cases of anterior urethral valves, a rare congenital anomaly are reported. Anterior urethral valves probably represent an attempt at duplication of the urethra in the first twelve to fourteen weeks of intrauterine life. The most common type is cusp-like and most frequently located in the bulbar urethra. The presenting complaints are lower tract symptoms, and the diagnosis is usually made b y a voiding urethrogram.
Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 2011

AbstractOverall activity during the 2011 eastern North Pacific hurricane season was near average. Of the 11 tropical storms that formed, 10 became hurricanes and 6 reached major hurricane strength (category 3 or stronger on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale). For comparison, the 1981–2010 averages are about 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. Interestingly, although the number of named storms was below average, the numbers of hurricanes and major hurricanes were above average. The 2011 season had the most hurricanes since 2006 and the most major hurricanes since 1998. Two hurricanes affected the southwestern coast of Mexico (Beatriz as a category 1 hurricane and Jova as a category 2 hurricane), and the season’s tropical cyclones caused about 49 deaths. On average, the National Hurricane Center track forecasts in the eastern North Pacific for 2011 were very skillful.
SU-E-J-206: Are We Treating the Entire Lung Tumor by Contouring ITV on 4DCT MIP?

Purpose: To describe a case report of lungradiosurgery in which defining a target using a maximal intensity projection CT omitted a portion of the target due to an overlapping projection of the diaphragm. Methods: A Lung 4DCT was obtained, and all ten breathing phases from 0% to 90% were reconstructed. The gating window was set to treat phases 30% to 70%, and the corresponding Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) was generated. An ITV was contoured on the MIP. Tumor GTVs were contoured on all phases. Another ITV was generated by using the overlapped projection of all GTVs in the gating window when suspicion arose that part of the target was omitted. The volumes of the ITVs and GTVs were calculated. DVHs were analyzed on the plan generated to cover the MIP ITV. Results: The initial ITV based on the MIP omitted 15% of the target Since the ITVs of the diaphragm and the tumor overlap in the MIP, and the imaging technique cannot differentiate them, contouring tumor only on MIP has risk of missing part of the tumor. We have also found that the volumes of all 10 phases fluctuate with a standard deviation of 5.6%. This indicates the imperfection of 4DCT generation. If the treatment plan was generated based on MIP ITV, DVH shows the lack of coverage for the true ITV. Conclusions: We propose two methods to accurately delineate tumor ITV from 4DCT for cases in which the target is located adjacent to diaphragm. If it is desired to start with contouring ITV on MIP, thorough QA needs to be done by going through all gating phases to adjust the ITV accordingly. A more straightforward method is to contour the GTV on all gating phases and use the overlapped projections as the ITV.
Random fractals: self-affinity in noise, music, mountains, and clouds

Abstract Many of nature's seemingly complex shapes can be effectively characterized and modeled as random fractals based on generalizations of fractional Brownian motion, fBm. As a function of one dimension, t, the trace VH(t) provides a model for the “1/ƒ” noises. Extending fBm's to higher dimensions gives VH(x,y) as landscapes and VH(x,y,z) as clouds. Although all such fBm's are statistically self-affine, as characterized by the parameter H or the spectral density exponent β, either zerosets or trails of independent fBm's are statistically self-similar and may be represented by the fractal dimension D.
Fuel composition influences fire characteristics and understorey hardwoods in pine savanna

Summary Fuels in the groundcover of frequently burned south-eastern pine savannas include shed leaves of trees. Flammable needles of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) potentially increase maximum fire temperatures and durations of heating, negatively affecting other trees within the groundcover. Less flammable leaves that accumulate around the bases of understorey stems of hardwood trees such as mockernut hickories (Carya alba) in the fall potentially depress maximum fire temperatures and durations of heating, enhancing post-fire recovery. We experimentally manipulated amounts of pine and hickory leaves beneath understorey hickory stems in a pine savanna, measured temperatures during prescribed fires and assessed combustion of fuels and survival and regrowth of hickory stems. Pine needles increased fire temperatures and durations of heating relative to herbaceous fuels and increased combustion of hickory leaves. Hickory leaves, however, neither increased nor decreased fire characteristics relative to herbaceous fuels. All hickories survived fire by resprouting. When pine needles were absent, most hickories resprouted from buds located above-ground along the stem at heights inversely related to temperature increase. In contrast, resprouting occurred only from underground root crowns when pine needles were present. Such differences in locations of resprouts influenced sizes of stems at the end of the growing season. Synthesis. Groundcover fuels containing flammable leaves shed by pyrogenic species of savanna trees affect local fire characteristics and resprouting of non-pyrogenic understorey trees. Thus, local variation in flammable fuels produced by pyrogenic species can engineer landscape dynamics of other trees in savannas.
Emissions from commercial-grade charbroiling meat operations induce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human bronchial epithelial cells

Commercial charbroiling emissions are a significant source of ambient particulate matter (PM) in urban settings. The objective of this study was to determine whether organic extract of PM emissions from commercial charbroiling meat operations could induce an inflammatory response in human bronchial epithelial cells and whether this effect was mediated by oxidative stress. PM samples were collected during cooking hamburgers on a commercial-grade under-fired charbroiler and sequentially extracted with water and methanol to obtain the aqueous PM suspension (AqPM) and organic extract (OE). The pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory effects of OE were assessed using human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. While AqPM did not have any effect, OE effectively induced the expression of heme oxygennase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in BEAS-2B cells. OE also up-regulated the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and prostaglandin E2. OE-induced cellular inflammatory response could be effectively suppressed by the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 activator sulforaphane and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. In conclusion, organic chemicals emitted from commercial charbroiling meat operations could induce an inflammatory response in human bronchial epithelial cells, which was mediated by oxidative stress and p38 MAPK.
Miniature lasercomm module for integration into a small unmanned aerial platform

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing a small lasercomm terminal for both direct lasercomm and communication to a modulated retroreflector (MRR). A gimbal from Cloud Cap Technology serves as the terminal positioner, which is to be integrated onto a small, unmanned airborne vehicle. A lasercomm module must be developed that meets size, weight, power, and optical performance requirements. The final module incorporates the shared optics, the tracking optic and detector, and the lasercomm receiver optics and detector. This module was designed, fabricated, assembled, and integrated into the Cloud Cap T2 gimbal. After integration, the tracking signals were measured in the lab to establish the field of view and response to pointing errors.
Transport of water and methanol vapors in alkyl substituted poly(norbornene)

Abstract This report examines the ability of aliphatic-substituted polynorbornenes to separate methanol vapor from water-wet air streams. Single component transport properties of water and methanol were measured for each candidate polymer at 30 °C. The diffusion coefficient, sorption coefficient, and permeability were determined by measuring the rate of mass gain or loss of a sample due to sorption or desorption. The ratio of the permeabilities of the pure components yielded the ideal selectivity. The materials studied in this were methyl-, n butyl-, n hexyl-, and n decyl-polynorbornene. These polymers were glassy, with T g s of 150–380 °C, and have relatively high fractional free volumes (16–19%). The results of the study showed polynorbornenes were methanol selectivity with ideal selectivities of 1.2–9. This permeation selectivity is due primarily to the solubility selectivity of the materials.
Endoscopic cryotherapy: experimental results and first clinical use.

Abstract Background: Cryotherapy or the application of extreme cold has many potential applications in gastroenterology including tissue destruction and hemostasis but until now its development has been prevented by the lack of a delivery device suitable for use through the endoscope. We report here our experience with prototype devices using both liquid nitrogen driven by a cryosurgical system and cryogenic refrigerants (nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide) at or near ambient temperature. Methods: Cryotherapy was applied to the distal esophageal mucosa of dogs via a flexible catheter passed through an upper endoscope. In other dogs, cryotherapy was used for hemostasis in a bleeding ulcer model. The procedure was also used for palliation in a 58-year-old man with unresectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach with pyloric channel obstruction. Results: Freezing of the superficial mucosa was nearly instantaneous. All dogs survived the procedure and appeared to thrive. Histologic evaluation revealed significant necrosis of the superficial epithelial layer accompanied by a fibrinocellular infiltrate on the surface. These markers of acute injury subside by the fourth to sixth day and are replaced by regenerating epithelium, a process that is virtually complete by day 10. In the hemostasis experiments, bleeding ceased immediately after cryospraying of the lesions but resumed on thawing in most cases. Application of cryotherapy in the patient resulted in reduction of the pyloric mass with no immediately apparent adverse effects. Conclusions: These data, although preliminary, demonstrate the feasibility of endoscopic cryotherapy using a simple hand-held device. This device has broad potential for use in gastroenterology including ablation of superficial epithelium, debulking of large tumors and hemostasis.
The association of elevated plasma cortisol and early atherosclerosis as demonstrated by coronary angiography

Abstract To study the association of plasma cortisol and coronary atherosclerosis, we selected 71 male outpatients who had coronary angiography as part of their evaluation at our facility. Forty-eight percent of the angiograms showed no evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD), 20% showed mild CAD, and 32% showed moderate to severe CAD. We found significant correlations between elevated serial morning plasma cortisols and moderate to severe coronary atherosclerosis. Using the odds ratio, we compared plasma cortisol to the major risk factors for coronary artery disease. Plasma cortisol was second only to serum cholesterol as a discriminator in our patient population between diseased and non-diseased patients. We found a significant correlation between plasma cortisol and cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking — the three cardinal risk factors for CAD. The highest degree of correlation was found between cortisol and cholesterol. The possible significance of the association of cortisol and the major risk factors for CAD is discussed.
Teaching computer networks as a writing intensive course

A senior level course in Computer Networks was included in Radford University's Writing-Intensive Course program. This implied that writing was used in every facet of the course by the students and by the instructor. The volume and the diversity of the writing significantly enhanced the educational experience from both points of view. Some beneficial effects and some detrimental ones on the amount of subject matter covered were experienced. The fundamental nature of the course, however, was not altered, and the net effects of the writing are seen as very beneficial.
Homology Between Exon-Containing Portions of Rabbit Genomic Clones for Synovial Cell Collagenase and Human Foreskin and Synovial Cell mRNAs

Portions of rabbit genomic clones containing exons cross-hybridize with human synovial cell and human foreskin fibroblast mRNAs. These cross-hybridizing genomic fragments have been subcloned into pBR328 and may be useful probes in isolating cDNA and genomic clones from human tissue, and perhaps from other species as well. In addition, DNA sequence data on a 530 bp cDNA clone for rabbit synovial-cell collagenase indicate that this clone is composed primarily of 3'-untranslated region. As such, it is probably not useful in cross-species hybridizations.
Growth chemistry of nanocrystalline silicon and germanium films

Abstract We report on the growth of nanocrystalline Si:H and Ge:H films. The films were grown using plasma deposition and hot wire chemical growth techniques. Conditions such as pressure, temperature and hydrogen dilution were systematically varied. It is shown that excessive hydrogen dilution during growth leads to smaller grains in nanocrystalline Si and Ge. Films with very large grains (56 nm) could be obtained using hot wire growth techniques under appropriate conditions of growth. From the data, it is concluded that the natural growth direction for the films is 〈2 2 0〉, and that excessive bonded hydrogen leads to smaller grains.
Single bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: University of Pittsburgh Approach

Abstract Arthroscopic single-bundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction has been for the last decade, the preferred method of addressing injuries to the PCL that require surgical intervention. This article describes in detail the technique used at the University of Pittsburgh to arthroscopically reconstruct the anterolateral bundle of the PCL. Until clinical outcome studies show that newer double-bundle techniques are clinically superior, this technique remains the gold standard for surgical reconstruction.
Voices of Sexual Distortion: Rape, Birth, and Self-Annihilation Metaphors in the "Alien Trilogy.".

The immensely popular science fiction series sometimes referred to as the Alien Trilogy is analyzed for its mythopoetic critique of gender identity. The basis for this critique resides in the movies’ embodiment of the literalized myths of gender and family and its subsequent deconstruction of this framework through meta‐phoric ambiguity. By destabilizing the conventional frame through which the rhetorical subject is constructed, the movies question reified social practice. Such a reading revises the feminist challenge to these texts, locating them in a broader cultural tension revolving around reproductive practice.
Testing for Strategic Interaction Among Local Governments: The Case of Growth Controls

This paper helps to fill a gap in the public economics literature by providing empirical evidence on strategic interaction among local governments. Using the methodology of Case et al. ( Journal of Public Economics , 52 , 285–307 (1993)), the paper focuses on the adoption of growth-control measures by cities in California and looks for evidence of policy interdependence in these choices. The data are drawn from an elaborate survey of growth control practices in California cities, conducted by Glickfeld and Levine (“Regional Growth . . .Local Reaction,” Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge, MA, 1992). The survey results are used to compute an index of the stringency of growth controls in each city, which serves as the dependent variable for the study.
School Partnerships: Technology Rich Classrooms and the Student Teaching Experience:

Building upon an established relationship between a college and a local school district, this project formally designated a Partnership School, at which education students conduct field experience....
Smoke incursions into urban areas: simulation of a Georgia prescribed burn

This study investigates smoke incursion into urban areas by examining a prescribed burn in central Georgia, USA, on 28 February 2007. Simulations were conducted with a regional modeling framework to understand transport, dis- persion, and structure of smoke plumes, the air quality effects, sensitivity to emissions, and the roles of burn management strategy in mitigating the effects.The results indicate that smoke plumes first went west, but turned north-west at noon owing to a shift in wind direction. The smoke then invaded metropolitan Atlanta during the evening rush hour. The plumes caused severe air quality problems in Atlanta. Some hourly ground PM2.5 (particulate matter not greater than 2.5 µm in diameter) concentrations at three metropolitan Atlanta locations were three to four times as high as the daily (24-h) US National Ambi- ent Air Quality Standard. The simulated shift in the smoke transport direction and the resultant effects on air quality are sup- ported by the satellite and ambient air measurements. Two sensitivity simulations indicate a nearly linear relation between the emission intensities and PM2.5 concentrations. Two other simulations indicate that the impacts on air quality for the residents of Atlanta during the evening commute could have been reduced if the starting time of the burn had been altered.
Quiescent H-mode operation using torque from non-axisymmetric, non-resonant magnetic fields

Quiescent H-mode (QH-mode) sustained by magnetic torque from non-axisymmetric magnetic fields is a promising operating mode for future burning plasmas including ITER. Using magnetic torque from n?=?3 fields to replace counter-Ip torque from neutral beam injection, we have achieved long duration, counter-rotating QH-mode operation with neutral beam injection (NBI) torque ranging continuously from counter-Ip up to co-Ip values of about 1?N?m. This co-Ip torque is about 3 times the scaled torque that ITER will have. This range also includes operation at zero net NBI torque, applicable to rf wave heated plasmas. These n?=?3 fields have been created using coils either inside or, most recently, outside the toroidal coils. Experiments utilized an ITER-relevant lower single-null plasma shape and were done with ITER-relevant values , and ?N?=?2. Discharges have confinement quality H98y2?=?1.3, exceeding the value required for ITER. Initial work with low q95?=?3.4 QH-mode plasmas transiently reached fusion gain values of G?=??N , which is the desired value for ITER; the limits on G have not yet been established. This paper also includes the most recent results on QH-mode plasmas run without n?=?3 fields and with co-Ip NBI; these shots exhibit co-Ip plasma rotation and require NBI torque ?2?N?m. The QH-mode work to date has made significant contact with theory. The importance of edge rotational shear is consistent with peeling?ballooning mode theory. We have seen qualitative and quantitative agreement with the predicted torque from neoclassical toroidal viscosity.
Gas phase stripping of alkali cations from biomolecules via reaction with crown ethers

Abstract Electrospray mass spectra of biomolecules produced from salty solutions can exhibit a large number of alkali adducts. Often the number of attached alkali metal atoms exceeds the net charge state of the ion. For example, the spectral intensity of the 2+ charge state of gramicidin S, cyclo[Val-Orn-Leu- d -Phe-Pro]2, (GS), withdrawn from a sodium-containing water:methanol solution, is distributed over (GS + 2H)2+, (GS + H + Na)2+, (GS + 2Na)2+, (GS−H + 3Na)2+, (GS−2H + 4Na)2+, (GS−3H + 5Na)2+, and (GS−4H + 6Na)2+. Each additional metal cation displaces a proton without affecting the net charge of the biomolecule. Hence, in (GS−2H + 4Na)2+, at least two of the alkali metal adducts must involve displacement of protons from non-traditional basic sites. The character of these coordination sites must be either “salt-like” or zwitterionic. Alkali adducts of trapped polypeptide ions may be removed via gas phase ion-molecule “stripping” reactions with crown ethers 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, or 18-crown-6. Both products of the stripping reaction, the desalted biomolecule of reduced charge and the alkali-metal-attached crown, are observed in the FTICR mass spectra. For gas phase, “hyper-metallated” peptides, in which the number of adducted alkali metal ions exceeds the net charge, we suggest that some of the attached cations replace amide protons by coordinating as a salt or zwitterion to a tautomerized, deprotonated amide link in the backbone of the peptide. Alkali adduction to these non-traditional base sites leads to slightly higher stripping rates, probably by removing the secondary constraints of transannular NH···O  C hydrogen bonds, which makes attached alkali cations more accessible to the stripping reagent. Stripping of K+ is faster than stripping of Na+, as may be expected for electrostatically bound cations.
The Implicated Advocate: The Discursive Construction of the Democratic Practices of School Principals in the USA.

Changes in the public service sector during the last stages of the twentieth century contributed to an international reconfiguration of state-centric governance. Supported by the discourses of individualism, marketization, national governance, and competition, this (re)shaping of governance presents a specific dilemma for the political identity of educational leaders. In response to the troubling lack of international scholarship focused on the political role of educational leaders, this article provides insight into the ways in which the political identity of school leaders within the USA is influenced by dominant discourses. The understandings highlight the ways in which educational leaders are expected to realize their roles as resolute implementers of state policy, while also being directed to act as deliberative advocates within the jurisdiction of educational policy making. We believe that these competing discourses have altered the identity of educational leaders into what we have labeled as the im...
Effects of Concreteness and Contiguity on Learning from Computer-based Reference Maps

Today’s technology has reached new heights that have not been fully implemented. One of the areas where technology has not yet reached its full potential is in education. This study examined the effects of concreteness of location names and contiguity of location names with textual information on learning from computer-based reference maps. The research was designed to be a 3 concreteness (concrete vs. abstract vs. non-familiar) X 2 contiguity (non-contiguous vs. contiguous) with six treatment levels. One hundred and sixty-seven college students studied a digital reference map presented to them. The results indicate that participants in the contiguous condition recalled significantly more feature-related facts than those in the non-contiguous condition. The results also indicate that the participants’ performance in recall, matching feature-fact pairs, as well as in the inference was significantly more for concrete features names and abstract feature names than the non-familiar feature names. A significant interaction effect was also observed for the matching of fact-feature pairs. The findings are not thoroughly consistent with the concreteness and conceptual peg effects associated with Paivio’s dual coding theory (DCT). More research needs to be done to continue investigating this phenomenon. However, this study will assist teachers and designers better understand how to design cognitive maps and spatial displays that facilitate learning. Maps Participants are used to learning maps from textbooks or atlases in which they have to turn pages every time to find facts about a location. Multimedia maps overcome this annoyance. Though there are a number of definitions of multimedia. For this paper Mayer & Anderson’s (1991) definition of multimedia is used: “multimedia is presentation of material using both words and pictures.” When a geographical map is presented in a way where the graphical map and facts are presented on the computer screen, it becomes a multimedia map. There are different ways in which a multimedia map can be designed. One way is to have feature-to-fact contiguity where feature names and facts are placed contiguous to each other with respect to time. Also, it is not uncommon for participants to recall facts about certain locations better than others. This paper investigates the effects of concreteness of map feature names and the effects of feature-tofact contiguity on learning from computer-based maps. This study has theoretical and practical implications for those involved in geography instruction and instructional design.
Toxicokinetics and pathology of plant-associated acute selenium toxicosis in steers

Sixteen of approximately 500 yearling steers died of acute selenium (Se) toxicosis after grazing on a Se-contaminated range for only a few days. Field studies and chemical analyses identified the p...
Redesigning Advanced Cancer Care Delivery: Three Ways to Create Higher Value Cancer Care

The authors believe their cancer care model constructed from quality-improving strategies has potential to help US clinicians respond effectively to an urgent policy imperative.
A Simple Method of Harmonic Analysis for Use in Radio Engineering Practice

A simple method of harmonic analysis is applied for a-c waves with certain properties. Curves having such properties often occur in audio-and radio-frequency applications in the form of so-called "characteristics." This paper presents a graphical method of finding the amplitudes of the harmonics by working directly from the "characteristic." For obtaining the results, a polar planimeter is used. The design of a new mechanical harmonic analyzer is based on this method. In general, this method is a special case of a method of harmonic analysis formerly found by English and German authors.
An H-matrix-based method for reducing the complexity of integral-equation-based solutions of electromagnetic problems

Integral-equation-based methods generally lead to dense systems of linear equations. The resulting matrices, although dense, can be thought of as ldquodata-sparserdquo, i.e., they can be specified by few parameters. This can be accomplished by remodeling the problem subject to underlying hierarchical dependencies such that all interactions can be constructed from a reduced set of parameters. There exists a general mathematical framework called the ldquoHierarchical (H) Matrixrdquo framework [1-2], which enables a highly compact representation and efficient numerical computation of the dense matrices resulted from integral-equation-based methods. Storage requirements and matrix-vector multiplications using H-matrices have been shown to be of complexity O(N log N). Authors in [3] later introduced H2-matrices, which are a specialized subclass of hierarchical matrices. It was shown that the storage requirements and matrix-vector products are of complexity O(N). H-matrix-based techniques have been applied to solve electrostatic and magneto-static problems [4-6]. Questions that remain open are: Can recent advances in hierarchical matrix framework reduce the computation of electrodynamic problems? Can the matrices encountered in full-wave electromagnetics-based analysis be approximated as hierarchical matrices? In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of H-matrix-based techniques in integral-equation-based solutions of electrodynamic problems.
Rhabdomyolysis in a Prostate Cancer Patient Taking Ketoconazole and Simvastatin: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Objective To report a case of severe rhabdomyolysis resulting in acute renal failure caused by an interaction between ketoconazole and simvastatin in a patient with prostate cancer. Case summary A 64-year-old man who received ketoconazole for prostate cancer, along with simvastatin and fenofibrate for dyslipidemia, presented to our ambulatory clinic with complaints of blood in his urine and weakness following an increase in his ketoconazole dose. Two days after presentation, the patient was admitted with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure, as evidenced by elevated serum creatine kinase (>32,000 IU/L), serum myoglobin (20.6 ng/mL), and serum creatinine (4.2 mg/dL) as well as abnormal bone scintigraphy findings. Ketoconazole, fenofibrate, and simvastatin were discontinued. Renal function did not normalize with hydration, and intermittent hemodialysis was initiated; 10 days of hemodialysis resulted in normalization of electrolytes and creatine kinase. Symptom improvement and normalization of laboratory parameters were observed after prolonged hospitalization (24 days). Discussion Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men in the US. Androgen deprivation therapy is the standard initial treatment for biochemical recurrence or metastatic disease. Most patients experience progression to a castrate-resistant disease state, requiring the use of additional therapies. Ketoconazole is considered a secondary hormonal treatment option. We describe an interaction in a patient with prostate cancer between a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor and ketoconazole resulting in rhabdomyolysis, requiring hemodialysis. An objective causality assessment using the Horn Drug Interaction Probability Scale revealed that the adverse drug reaction was a possible result of the interaction. Conclusions The temporal fashion in which the episode occurred suggests that a possible simvastatin-ketoconazole interaction precipitated rhabdomyolysis in this patient. The use of ketoconazole for castrate-resistant prostate cancer can lead to drug-drug interactions in patients taking simvastatin or other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Clinicians should be aware of this severe adverse event and take steps to minimize its occurrence.
Strategic Decision-Making Tasks and Group Effectiveness: Insights from Theory and Research on Small Group Performance:

Strategic decision-making is a critically important aspect of top managers' jobs. Although researchers have addressed the issue of how groups ought to be constructed to handle strategic decision making effectively, there has been little attention paid to the idea that different subtasks of the strategic decision-making process might have different task requirements. Research on small groups, however, shows that the nature of the task a group has to perform is a critical factor in determining the types of groups and group procedures that are likely to yield effective group performance. This paper analyzes the various tasks involved in strategic decision making and draws on small group research to suggest some hypotheses about how groups might be designed to enhance their effectiveness on each of these tasks. The analysis highlights the key role of managerial beliefs about the nature of strategic decision making.
Condensed Tannin in Drinking Water Reduces Greenhouse Gas Precursor Urea in Sheep and Cattle Urine

Abstract Ingestion of small amounts of condensed tannin (CT) by ruminants may provide benefits including reduction of ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions by reducing urine urea excretion. However, providing grazing ruminants with sufficient amounts of CT-containing forages is difficult, and an alternative may be to provide CT in their drinking water. We conducted three trials to determine if urine urea levels in sheep and cattle decrease after they drink water containing CT. In two initial trials, blood serum urea was measured as a surrogate for urine urea when lambs or steers drank tap water containing low to higher amounts of quebracho tannin (QT). Serum urea concentration was measured after lambs drank the treatments for 7 d or steers for 4–6 d. Lambs consumed pellets (16% crude protein [CP] as fed) at 3.5% of body weight, and steers were fed cubes (15% CP as fed) at 3% of body weight. Mean serum urea concentration in sheep was reduced when they consumed water with QT ( P = 0.03) and was also reduced for cattle ( P P = 0.03). Reductions in daily urea excretion as a percentage of nitrogen intake were 3.5%, 6.6%, and 12.6%, respectively, for the low, medium, and high QT intake. Small amounts of QT in the drinking water of grazing ruminants can reduce their urine urea excretion.
The couple as context: Latino gay male couples and HIV

HIV-prevention efforts with gay men in relationships frequently omit primary partners. When they are considered, examinations of race/ethnicity are often overlooked despite higher infection rates among gay men of colour. Acknowledging both the need to contextualise the behaviours that may affect HIV risk for gay men of colour and the disproportionate impact of HIV on Latino gay men, the present study utilised semi-structured, qualitative interviews to explore relationship dynamics, sexual agreements and behaviours, safer sex choices and HIV risk among nine Latino gay male couples. All participants were HIV-negative and in concordant negative relationships. Additionally, nearly all reported closed agreements. Analysis revealed participants engaging in four behaviours that may actively reduce their HIV risk: approaching sexual agreements from a practical standpoint, maintaining a high literacy around HIV, having exposure to social support groups for Latino gay men and finding support in their relationship with another Latino gay man. Additional issues are raised where long-term HIV prevention is concerned. Intimate relationships are an important context for understanding both HIV risk and prevention among Latino gay men. Likewise, race/ethnicity provides an indispensable perspective on all research with gay couples. Future prevention efforts with gay men must strive to include both.
Effects of Micronutrient Intake on Survival in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

The authors examined the relation between dietary and supplemental micronutrient intake and subsequent mortality among 281 human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1)-infected participants at the Baltimore, Maryland/Washington, DC, site of the Multicenter Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Cohort Study. Subjects completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire at their baseline visit in 1984. Levels of daily micronutrient intake were examined in relation to subsequent mortality over the 8-year follow-up period by using multivariate Cox models, adjusting for age, symptoms, CD4+ count, energy intake, and treatment. The highest quartile of intake for each B-group vitamin was independently associated with improved survival : B 1 (relative hazard (RH) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.95), B 2 (RH = 0.59, 95% CI 0.38-0.93), B 6 (RH = 0.45, 95% CI 0.28-0.73), and niacin (RH = 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.91). In a final model, the third quartile of β-carotene intake (RH = 0.60, 95% CI 0.37-0.98) was associated with improved survival, while increasing intakes of zinc were associated with poorer survival. Intakes of B 6 supplements at more than twice the recommended dietary allowance were associated with improved survival (RH = 0.60, 95% CI 0.39-0.93), while intakes of B 1 and B 2 supplements at levels greater than five times the recommended dietary allowance were associated with improved survival (B 1 : RH = 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.98 ; B 2 : RH = 0.60, 95% CI 0.37-0.97). Any intake of zinc supplements, however, was associated with poorer survival (RH = 1.49, 95% CI 1.02-2.18). These data support the performance of clinical trials to assess the effects of B-group vitamin supplements on HIV-1-related survival. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal level of zinc intake in HIV-1-infected individuals.
Synthesis and photopolymerization of 1‐propenyl glycidyl ether

The ambifunctional monomer, 1-propenyl glycidyl ether, was prepared from allyl glycidyl ether, by a ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization reaction in high yield. 1-Propenyl glycidyl ether undergoes facile photoinduced cationic polymerization to yield a crosslinked polymer. The structure of this polymer was studied using 1H- and, 13C-NMR spectroscopies and employing well-characterized related polymers as models. The model polymers were prepared by the cationic polymerization of allyl glycidyl ether with BF3OEt2 followed by isomerization of the pendant allyl groups by a ruthenium catalyst. Subsequently, the resulting polyether-bearing pendant 1-propenyl ether groups was subjected to a diaryliodonium salt-photoinitiated polymerization. A comparison of the spectra of the polymers indicated the presence of cyclic acetal units in the polymer backbone. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Temperature and functional traits influence differences in nitrogen uptake capacity between native and invasive grasses

Performance differences between native and exotic invasive plants are often considered static, but invasive grasses may achieve growth advantages in western North America shrublands and steppe under only optimal growing conditions. We examine differences in N uptake and several morphological variables that influence uptake at temperatures between 5 and 25 °C. We contrast two native perennial grasses in western North America: Elymus elymoides and Pseudoroegneria spicata; two invasive annual grasses: Bromus tectorum and Taeniatherum caput-medusae; and one highly selected non-native perennial grass: Agropyron cristatum. The influence of temperature on N uptake is poorly characterized, yet these invasive annual grasses are known to germinate in warm soils in the autumn, and both experience cool soils during the short growing season following snowmelt in the spring. To further explore the influence of temperature on the correlation between morphological variables and N uptake, our data are applied to a previously published path model and one proposed here. Differences in N uptake between native and invasive grasses were small at the lowest temperature, but were large at the highest temperature. At lower temperatures, uptake of N by annuals and perennials was correlated with leaf N and mass. At higher temperatures, uptake by annuals was correlated only with these leaf traits, but uptake by perennials was correlated with these leaf traits as well as root N and mass. Consequently, our results imply that annual grasses face fewer morphological constraints on N uptake than perennial grasses, and annual grasses may gain further advantage in warmer temperature conditions or during more frequent warm periods.
Linear and nonlinear arithmetic in ACL2

sec:abstractAs of version 2.7, the ACL2 theorem prover has been extended to automatically verify sets of polynomial inequalities that include nonlinear relationships. In this paper we describe our mechanization of linear and nonlinear arithmetic in ACL2. The nonlinear arithmetic procedure operates in cooperation with the pre-existing ACL2 linear arithmetic decision procedure. It extends what can be automatically verified with ACL2, thereby eliminating the need for certain types of rules in ACL2’s database while simultaneously increasing the performance of the ACL2 system when verifying arithmetic conjectures. The resulting system lessens the human effort required to construct a large arithmetic proof by reducing the number of intermediate lemmas that must be proven to verify a desired theorem.
Lithium treatment inhibits renal GSK-3 activity and promotes cyclooxygenase 2-dependent polyuria.

The use of LiCl in clinical psychiatry is routinely complicated by overt nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), the mechanism of which is incompletely understood. In vitro studies indicate that lith...
Regional phase unwrapping method based on fringe estimation and phase map segmentation

In optical measurement techniques, such as holographic and shearographic interferometry, digital speckle pattern interferometry, and 3-D computer vision, phase is used as a carrier for different physical quantities. For example, phase could stand for information concerning shape and deformation. The useful information is coded and wrapped into the range of −π to +π rad in a phase map. Phase unwrapping is the basic technique to resolve 2π ambiguities and recover expected physical quantities. We describe a novel method for unwrapping phase in a noise-disturbed phase map, which is characterized by broken fringes induced by different sources, such as a poor coherence length, high light or weak reflection on the sample surface, too dense fringes due to stress concentration, etc. In our method, broken fringes are detected and estimated. The phase map is segmented into different regions based on the quality of phase. Regions are ranked and arranged to construct a systematic unwrapping sequence. Unwrapping errors brought by broken fringes are minimized by the proposed unwrapping scheme. Several applications are presented to validate the new method.
Factors Related to Family Caregivers’ Satisfaction With Home Care for Mental Illness in Taiwan:

In Taiwan, family caregivers play a significant role in the treatment of mentally ill patients at home because of cultural obligations. This descriptive, cross-sectional study explored factors affecting family caregivers’ satisfaction with home care services for the mentally ill and assessed the possibility of continuous use of home care and recommendation of home care to others based on the level of satisfaction of family caregivers. Data were collected using a questionnaire completed by a convenience sample of 75 primary family caregivers of mentally ill patients. Family caregiver satisfaction was significantly associated with caregiver age, marital status, support from family members to assist the caregiver during weekdays and weekends, the amount of time spent in caregiving per week, and feelings about having a mentally ill family member at home. Caregivers who had a higher level of satisfaction with home care were twice as likely as those with lower satisfaction to use the services again when needed. Home care nurses should pay close attention to the variables that support use of home care.
Running for Exercise Mitigates Age-Related Deterioration of Walking Economy

Introduction: Impaired walking performance is a key predictor of morbidity among older adults. A distinctive characteristic of impaired walking performance among older adults is a greater metabolic cost (worse economy) compared to young adults. However, older adults who consistently run have been shown to retain a similar running economy as young runners. Unfortunately, those running studies did not measure the metabolic cost of walking. Thus, it is unclear if running exercise can prevent the deterioration of walking economy. Purpose: To determine if and how regular walking vs. running exercise affects the economy of locomotion in older adults. Methods: 15 older adults (6963 years) who walk $30 min, 3x/week for exercise, ‘‘walkers’’ and 15 older adults (6965 years) who run $30 min, 3x/week, ‘‘runners’’ walked on a force-instrumented treadmill at three speeds (0.75, 1.25, and 1.75 m/s). We determined walking economy using expired gas analysis and walking mechanics via ground reaction forces during the last 2 minutes of each 5 minute trial. We compared walking economy between the two groups and to non-aerobically trained young and older adults from a prior study. Results: Older runners had a 7–10% better walking economy than older walkers over the range of speeds tested (p=.016) and had walking economy similar to young sedentary adults over a similar range of speeds (p=.237). We found no substantial biomechanical differences between older walkers and runners. In contrast to older runners, older walkers had similar walking economy as older sedentary adults (p=.461) and ,26% worse walking economy than young adults (p,.0001). Conclusion: Running mitigates the age-related deterioration of walking economy whereas walking for exercise appears to have minimal effect on the age-related deterioration in walking economy.
Toward an Integrated Model of Group Development: Disruption of Routines by Technology-Induced Change

Current research argues that the most prominent models of group development (the linear stage model and the punctuated equilibrium model) are simply different lenses for studying the same phenomenon. We argue that the two models are distinct (groups do not simultaneously follow both models) and that the key to understanding their use lies in routines. We studied six newly formed groups whose members came from the same organization that worked on similar projects over a seven-week period. Three groups worked nonmediated and three groups used a collaboration technology that was new to them. The three nonmediated groups followed the punctuated equilibrium model and the three collaboration technology groups followed the stage model. We argue that groups that enact the shared routines common in their organizations will experience a different group development path than those groups whose shared routines are disrupted and which must adapt to a new technology. When group members enact shared routines (which they...
Pasture and cattle responses to fertilization and endophyte association in the southern Piedmont, USA

A 3-year experiment was conducted to determine pasture and cattle responses to tall fescue–endophyte association (free, novel, and wild endophyte associated with ‘Jesup’ cultivar) and fertilization source (inorganic and broiler litter). Fertilization source had only minor or no effects on botanical composition, forage mass, cattle stocking rate, and yearly cattle performance and productivity. However, cattle performance and production were greater with broiler litter than with inorganic fertilization during summer, but lower in autumn and winter, suggesting a difference in timing of nutrient availability to forage due to mineralization of organic nutrients in broiler litter. Pastures with wild endophyte association either had higher forage mass during some periods or were able to carry more cattle than other endophyte associations. Cattle performance was lower with wild than with other endophyte associations at all times of the year, except in summer. Cattle gain in winter was not different among endophyte associations (64 kg ha � 1 ; p = 0.43), was lower in spring with wild endophyte than with other endophyte associations (244 kg ha � 1 versus 302 kg ha � 1 ; p = 0.04), was higher in summer with wild endophyte (147 kg ha � 1 versus 117 kg ha � 1 ; p < 0.001), and was lower in autumn with wild endophyte (97 kg ha � 1 versus 129 kg ha � 1 ; p = 0.10). Seasonal differences in pasture
Temperature-induced ordering and gelation of star micelles based on ABA triblocks synthesized via aqueous RAFT polymerization

The reversible formation of ordered physical gels from stimuli-responsive ABA [A = poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA), B = poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)] triblock copolymers is investigated utilizing dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering, and low-shear rheometry. As the temperature is increased above the phase transition temperature of the PNIPAM segment, triblock copolymers under a critical molecular weight are capable of packing into body-centered cubic arrays. Rheometric tests indicate that the storage moduli of the gels at 50 °C are inversely related to the molecular weight of the polymer.