cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sekem: A Remarkable Tale of Social Entrepreneurship with Critical Lessons for Policy (Innovations Case Discussion: Sekem)

fascinating tale illustrating the difficult path that faces a social entrepreneur who undertakes a major project that points to a path for improvement of the state of society. It concerns a dedicated and idealistic entrepreneur, Ibrahim Abouleish, who undertook to transform a strikingly arid location in the Egyptian desert, with the determination to make it bloom and yield valuable crops. Moreover, it was intended from the beginning that the project would prove to be long lived and selfsustaining financially. The heroic undertaking and its eventual success is an exciting tale, superior to fiction both because it describes actual achievement and also because it offers insights of value to other agronomists seeking to bring productivity to deserts of the world elsewhere. But, implicitly, there are also important lessons in the Sekem story for those crafting economic policy aimed at amelioration of the universal problem of poverty that besets even the most affluent economies of the world and continues to pervade the developing societies. My purpose in this short paper is to draw further attention to, and elaborate upon, the lessons for policy designers embedded in the Sekem case.
Traumatic Acid : an Accelerator of Abscission in Cotton Explants

WE have been investigating the physiology of bud abscission induced by the feeding action of lygus bugs, Lygus hesperus Knight, because explants are used for biological assays1. In this bioassay, various extracts are applied in agar to the stumps of the cotyledonary petioles and the time for 50 per cent of the petioles to abscise is used for comparative purposes. In the course of these experiments in which lygus bugs were fed a water extract made from lyophilized ‘Kentucky Wonder’ green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris, we discovered that the bean extract itself contained something which would greatly accelerate abscission of the explants. Many substances are known to accelerate abscission2; especially active is the plant hormone abscisin II (ref. 3). Physiologically, however, the cotton explants react quite differently to bean extract and abscisin II. With abscisin II, no well defined separation layer is formed4 and little colour change occurs in the petioles before abscission. When the extract from 0.1 mg of dried beans was applied to each petiole, a pronounced separation layer was present after 24 h and the distal 3 mm of the petioles had turned brownish. (We used explants having petioles 6 mm long in contrast to the petioles 3 mm long used by Addicott et al.1) Abscission induced by bean extract was physiologically similar to that caused by gibberellic acid (GA3), in which a separation layer is formed accompanied by an increase in cell number5. With both GA3 and bean extract but not with abscisin II, a hyaline layer appeared in the abscission zone 12–24 h before the formation of the separation layer.
A heuristic for maximizing the number of on-time jobs on two uniform parallel machines

We consider the problem of maximizing the number of on-time jobs on two uniform parallel machines. We show that a straightforward extension of an algorithm developed for the simpler two identical parallel machines problem yields a heuristic with a worst-case ratio bound of at least . We then show that the infusion of a “look ahead” feature into the aforementioned algorithm results in a heuristic with the tight worst-case ratio bound of , which, to our knowledge, is the tightest worst-case ratio bound available for the problem. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006
Holistic but customized resources for a course in numerical methods

Prototype web based resources have been developed for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods. The web modules are holistic, that is they include pre-requisite information, real-life applications, presentations and notes, simulations, and self-assessment. The student interest and learning are maximized by providing customization of content based on a student's engineering major and computational system of choice. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 11: 203–210, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.10053
Ternary Fission of Uranium-236* and -234

A detailed study of the ternary fission of ${\mathrm{U}}^{236*}$ and ${\mathrm{U}}^{234*}$ has been completed using a triple-coincidence technique and a three-parameter energy measurement on the product fragments. Arguments based on experimental energy, angular, and frequency correlations are presented for elimination of phenomena other than ternary fission as explanations of the observed data. Among possible interfering effects considered were (1) accidental events, (2) instrumental malfunctions, and (3) scattering phenomena. In connection with the third factor, an experimental determination of the characteristics of binary-fission-fragment scattering confirmed the absence of this phenomenon from all but one of the angular arrangements investigated. It is concluded that the major portion of triple events observed arises from a ternary-fission process. A difference in the ternary-fission properties of ${\mathrm{U}}^{236*}$ and ${\mathrm{U}}^{234*}$ is interpreted as caused by the dominant effect of underlying shell structure in forming the product fragments, an effect which may result in the formation of unique (preselected) fragments masses. Mass distributions indicate the formation of low-mass fission products with mass peaks centered near 30 and 50 amu. A qualitative mechanism by which the ternary-fission process may occur is presented.
Evidence for a 58-kilodalton polypeptide as precursor of the coat protein of cauliflower mosaic virus.

Abstract Purified cauliflower mosaic virus subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis separated into two zones, slow and fast, with the latter consisting of less than 5–10% of the total. When these two types of virions were excised from gels and subjected to analysis in dodecyl sulfate impregnated gels, the fast component consisted mainly of the 58- and 44-kilodalton (kd) phosphorylated forms of the coat protein whereas the slow component contained only lower molecular weight forms of the same protein. Pulse labeling experiments with 32 P (as orthophosphate) or tritiated thymidine showed the fast electrophoretic form of the virus to become labeled more rapidly than the slow form. With long labeling periods the slow form accumulated more label than the fast form suggesting a precursor-product relationship between the fast and slow electrophoretic forms. With [ 32 P]orthophosphate or [ 35 S]methionine labeling, the 58-kd phosphorylated protein showed a much higher relative level of labeling than that obtained with protein stains such as Coomassie blue. With longer labeling periods greater amounts of activity appeared in the 44-kd and lower molecular weight forms of the coat protein. These results supported previous results suggesting that the 58-kd protein is the primary translation product of the coat protein gene and that this is the form used in encapsidation to produce mature virions.
Influence of lithium content on high rate cycleability of layered Li1+xNi0.30CO0.30Mn0.40O2 cathodes for high power lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Layered Li1+xNi0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) materials have been synthesized using citric acid assisted sol–gel method. The materials with excess lithium showed distinct differences in the structure and the charge and discharge characteristics. The rate capability tests were performed and compared on Li1+xNi0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) cathode materials. Among these materials, Li1.10Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 cathode demonstrated higher discharge capacity than that of the other cathodes. Upon extended cycling at 1C and 8C, Li1.10Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 showed better capacity retention when compared to other materials with different lithium content. Li1.10Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 exhibited 93 and 90% capacity retention where as Li1.05Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2, Li1.15Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2, and Li1.00Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 exhibited only 84, 71, and 63% (at 1C), and 79, 66 and 40% (at 10C) capacity retention, respectively, after 40 cycles. The enhanced high rate cycleability of Li1.10Ni0.30Co0.30Mn0.40O2 cathode is attributed to the improved structural stability due to the formation of appropriate amount of Li2MnO3-like domains in the transition metal layer and decreased Li/Ni disorder (i.e., Ni content in the Li layer).
Molecular Mechanisms of Mechanosensation: Big Lessons from Small Cells

Little is known of molecular mechanisms of human mechanosensation. Only now are candidate eukaryotic sensors being identified. In contrast, bacterial sensors, including mechanosensitive channels, have been cloned, sequenced, reconstituted, and functional mutants characterized. Moreover, crystal structures for bacterial mechanosensitive channels have been resolved and structural gating transitions predicted. These studies give clues to general principles underlying the ability of a membrane protein to sense and respond to perturbations of its lipid environment that may be conserved between bacteria and humans.
Pronominal case and verbal finiteness contingencies in child English

Child English speakers use nonnominative pronouns in subject position but do not tend to use these types of pronouns with finite verbs. Recent findings demonstrate that knowledge of the pronoun paradigm is relevant to pronoun case errors below the 60% correct finiteness marking level but irrelevant above it. We use a receptive test with children who are above the 60% correct finiteness marking level and show that judgments of nominative case and verb finiteness correlate (r = .549, p < .001, n = 49), consistent with the predictions of case theory. Children at this level of finiteness marking show no asymmetry in feminine versus masculine nonnominative errors, but they do allow third singular -s with nonnominatives, which is problematic for both agreement tense omission model and constructivist priming accounts.
Wireless networks for enhanced monitoring of patients

Patient monitoring is a major part of many healthcare services. It can reduce the number of unnecessary hospitalisations, while increasing the access to healthcare for those who really need these services. Wireless and mobile technologies are finding a role in patient monitoring in several different environments: homes, hospitals and nursing homes. However, due to several limitations, including unpredictable and spotty coverage of users by wireless networks, the quality and reliability of patient monitoring have not been highly satisfactory. In this paper, we present a patient monitoring solution using ad hoc wireless networks, which can be formed dynamically among mobile and wearable devices. This allows transmission of vital signs under normal and emergency situations. To make patient monitoring by ad hoc wireless networks a reality, we bring together many related technical and non-technical issues.
Characterization of the oxygen probe pyrenebutyric acid in rabbit heart mitochondria.

Abstract The fluorescence of pyrenebutyric acid is quenched by oxygen and the quenching is a linear function of the oxygen concentration. In addition, pyrenebutyric acid has been shown to be readily taken up by the cell with a partition coefficient of approx. 200. Results are presented on the effect of pyrenebutyric acid on oxidative metabolism in rabbit heart mitochondria. 1. 1. Pyrenebutyric acid is readily taken up by heart mitochondria: 0.843±0.087 nmol pyrenebutyric acid taken up by M r mg dried weight. 2. 2. Pyrenebutyric acid does not alter the steady-state redox levels (State 1, 2, 4 or 5) of any member of the respiratory chain. 3. 3. Pyrenebutyric acid does not alter the response of cytochrome b, cytochrome c or NADH in the State 4-3-4 transition induced by the addition of ADP. Thus pyrenebutyric acid would appear to be non-toxic to oxidative metabolism.
A mathematical model and numerical method for thermoelectric DNA sequencing

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are single base pair variations within the genome that are important indicators of genetic predisposition towards specific diseases. This study explores the feasibility of SNP detection using a thermoelectric sequencing method that measures the heat released when DNA polymerase inserts a deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate into a DNA strand. We propose a three-dimensional mathematical model that governs the DNA sequencing device with a reaction zone that contains DNA template/primer complex immobilized to the surface of the lower channel wall. The model is then solved numerically. Concentrations of reactants and the temperature distribution are obtained. Results indicate that when the nucleoside is complementary to the next base in the DNA template, polymerization occurs lengthening the complementary polymer and releasing thermal energy with a measurable temperature change, implying that the thermoelectric conceptual device for sequencing DNA may be feasible for identifying specific genes in individuals.
A rapid method for the isolation of large quantities of rat liver parenchymal cells with high anabolic rates.

Abstract A rapid method for the isolation of rat liver parenchymal cells using in vitro liver perfusion is described. The procedure requires 40–50 min from hepatectomy to cell isolation with exposure to collagenase (20 mg/100 ml) for 10–15 min. Under optimal conditions 4.5 to 6.0 × 108 cells (3.0 g of cells) were isolated from the liver of a 200 g rat. Ninety to 95% of the cells isolated by this method excluded a vital stain and were undamaged when viewed with light microscopy. These cells actively incorporate NaHC14O3 into glucose and protein in the presence of lactate, alanine and pyruvate. Glucose production from gluconeogenic precursors was equivalent to that observed with the isolated perfused liver. Unlike liver slices or the isolated perfused liver, these cells show increasing gluconeogenic rates with increasing lactate concentrations above 20 mM. A concentration of 80 mM stimulated glucose production to 80–90% of the calculated in vivo gluconeogenic rate.
The use of paired optionally retrievable günther tulip filters in trauma patients with anatomical variants.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filtration is commonly performed to protect against pulmonary embolism in acutely injured patients with contraindications for anticoagulation therapy. Increasingly, optionally retrievable IVC filters are utilized, particularly in younger patients with longer life expectancies. There are well-described anatomical variants that preclude the typical infrarenal deployment of IVC filters. We describe three cases in which trauma patients with congenital anomalies required temporary prophylaxis with IVC filters. One patient had a duplication of the IVC requiring filter deployment in each IVC limb. The second patient had a low inserting accessory left renal vein, and a third patient had a megacava. Both of these patients required filter deployment in each common iliac vein. In each case, a pair of optionally retrievable Gunther Tulip filters was deployed and subsequently retrieved.
Capacitative calcium entry: from concept to molecules.

Rapid to moderately rapid changes in intracellular Ca 2+ concentration, or Ca 2+ signals, control a variety of critical cellular functions in the immune system. These signals are comprised of Ca 2+ release from intracellular stores coordinated with Ca 2+ influx across the plasma membrane. The most common mechanisms by which these two modes of signaling occur is through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 )-induced release of Ca 2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and store-operated Ca 2+ entry across the plasma membrane. The latter process was postulated over 20 years ago, and in just the past few years, the key molecular players have been discovered: STIM proteins serve as sensors of Ca 2+ within the ER which communicate with and activate plasma membrane store-operated channels composed of Orai subunits. The process of store-operated Ca 2+ entry provides support for oscillating Ca 2+ signals from the ER and also provides direct activator Ca 2+ that signals to a variety of downstream effectors.
RankFP: a framework for supporting rank formulation and processing

To enable ad-hoc ranking for data retrieval, we observe two major barriers: first, usability: ad-hoc ranking should be "user friendly", for ordinary users to easily specify their ranking criteria. Second, efficiency: ad-hoc ranking should be "database friendly", to be amenable to efficient processing. This paper proposes a new framework such that: 1) to achieve usability, it allows users to qualitatively and intuitively express their preferences by partial orders on selected examples, from which it effectively learns a quantitative global ranking function, and (2) to achieve efficiency, it integrates the front-end machine learner with a back-end top-k query processor to evaluate the learned functions. First, to support efficient query processing, our framework assumes the score-based ranking model. Such a model is both expressive and amenable to efficient query processing.
Hate Speech, Public Discourse, and the First Amendment

In recent decades, American courts have held that public hate speech, such as the Nazi march in Skokie, must be protected under the First Amendment because there is no principled way to distinguish that speech from other forms of political expression. Many American constitutional scholars take the same view. In this essay, which is a contribution to an international symposium on Extreme Speech and Democracy, I offer an alternative understanding of hate speech, public discourse, and freedom of expression. In Part I, I outline a general theory of the First Amendment. On this view, free speech is rooted in respect for the autonomy and dignity of human beings. But the same values that justify freedom of speech also give rise to other fundamental rights which are entitled to protection under the law. Speech that infringes these rights may be regulated by narrowly drawn laws, except in situations where the value of the speech is sufficient to justify the injuries it causes. Part II applies this approach to political hate speech like the Nazi march. I begin by arguing that this form of speech invades its targets' rights to personal security, personality, citizenship, and equality. The crucial question then becomes whether this form of speech nevertheless should be protected because of its political character. The answer to this question turns on our conception of political speech. After criticizing two of the leading theories in this area - Justice Holmes's vision of the marketplace of ideas and Robert C. Post's theory of public discourse - I argue that political speech is best understood as discourse among individuals who recognize one another as free and equal persons and members of the political community - a view that derives support from classic theorists such as Locke and Hegel as well as from contemporary theorists such as Meiklejohn and Habermas. By denying recognition to its targets, political hate speech violates the fundamental ground rules that should govern political debate. For these reasons, I contend that, in principle, this form of speech should not receive constitutional protection. Interpreting the First Amendment in this way would not only allow American law to reconcile the competing demands of free speech and human dignity, it would also bring that law into harmony with the approach to political hate speech that is taken by many other liberal democratic nations and the international community.
FREE AMINO ACID CHANGES IN DIFFERENT AGED BOVINE MUSCLES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO SHEAR VALUES

SUMMARY Free amino acid analyses were conducted on the longissimus and biceps femoris muscles from carcasses aged 2, 7 and 21 days to determine the relationships between these muscle constituents and palatability. Many of the free amino acids increased during aging. Shear values for the longissimus decreased faster with increased aging time than did shear values for the biceps femoris. Nevertheless, no significant interaction between aging period and muscle existed for any of the free amino acids. This indicates that proteolysis progressed at about the same rate in both the longissimus and biceps femoris muscles. The greater tenderness increase in the longissimus than in the biceps femoris during aging was probably due to greater amounts of connective tissue in the biceps femoris rather than to changes in free amino acids. Relationships between free amino acids in muscle and tenderness and flavor were low.
Viscosity of polystyrene solutions expanded with carbon dioxide

The viscosity of solutions of polystyrene (PS) in decahydronaphthalene (DHN) was measured in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) with a moving-piston viscometer. The effects of the CO2 pressure (0–21 MPa), polymer concentration (1–15 wt %), temperature (306–423 K), and polymer molecular weight (126 and 412 kDa) on the viscosity were investigated. In the absence of CO2, the increase in the viscosity with increasing polymer concentration was approximately exponential in concentration and was well described by the Martin equation. All the data fell on a single line when the relative viscosity was plotted against cM0.50 (where c is the concentration of the polymer in solution and M is the molecular weight of the polymer). The viscosity of the polymer solution decreased with increasing CO2 pressure under otherwise constant conditions. For a given CO2 pressure, the viscosity reduction was greatest when the relative viscosity was high in the absence of CO2, that is, for high-molecular-weight polymer, high polymer concentrations, and low temperatures. Reductions in the relative viscosity of almost 2 orders of magnitude were observed in some cases. The viscosity of solutions of PS in DHN also was measured in the presence of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). At a given pressure, SF6 was about as effective as CO2 in reducing the solution viscosity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 540–549, 2006
The future of medical education is no longer blood and guts, it is bits and bytes

In the United States, medical care consumes approximately $1.2 trillion annually (14% of the gross domestic product) and involves 250,000 physicians, almost 1 million nurses, and countless other providers. While the Information Age has changed virtually every other facet of our life, the education of these healthcare professionals, both present and future, is largely mired in the 100-year-old apprenticeship model best exemplified by the phase "see one, do one, teach one." Continuing medical education is even less advanced. While the half-life of medical information is less than 5 years, the average physician practices 30 years and the average nurse 40 years. Moreover, as medical care has become increasingly complex, medical error has become a substantial problem. The current convulsive climate in academic health centers provides an opportunity to rethink the way medical education is delivered across a continuum of professional lifetimes. If this is well executed, it will truly make medical education better, safer, and cheaper, and provide real benefits to patient care, with instantaneous access to learning modules. At the Center for Advanced Technology in Surgery at Stanford we envision this future: within the next 10 years we will select, train, credential, remediate, and recredential physicians and surgeons using simulation, virtual reality, and Web-based electronic learning. Future physicians will be able to rehearse an operation on a projectable palpable hologram derived from patient-specific data, and deliver the data set of that operation with robotic assistance the next day.
Utilization of Pulmonary Bridging Studies: Lung Toxicity Studies with Triethoxyoctylsilane-coated TiO2 Particles

The aims of this study were to assess in rats, using a well-developed, short-term pulmonary bioassay, the acute pulmonary toxicity of intratracheally instilled triethoxyoctylsilane (OTES)coated (i.e. hydrophobic) pigment-grade TiO2 particles relative to uncoated, hydrophilic TiO2 particle control samples and to bridge the results of these instillation studies with data previously generated from inhalation studies with uncoated, pigment-grade TiO2 particles, using these uncoated pigment-grade TiO2 particles as the inhalation/instillation bridge material. Rats were intratracheally instilled with 2 or 10 mg/kg of the following TiO2 particle types: TiO2 with OTES, TiO2 with Tween 80, or TiO2 with OTES and Tween 80. Saline-instilled rats served as controls. The lungs of sham and exposed rats were evaluated by bronchoalveolar lavage and histopathology at 24 h, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months post-exposure. The results demonstrated that only the high dose (10 mg/kg) pigment-grade TiO2 particles and those with Tween 80 produced a transient pulmonary inflammatory response, and this reached control levels within 1 month post-exposure. We conclude that the OTES coating on the pigment-grade TiO2 particle does not cause significant pulmonary toxicity.
HDL Apolipoproteins and ABCA1 Partners in the Removal of Excess Cellular Cholesterol

It is widely believed that HDL protects against atherosclerosis by removing excess cholesterol from arterial cells. Lipid-poor HDL apolipoproteins promote efflux of cholesterol, phospholipids, and other lipophilic molecules from cells by an active process mediated by a cell-membrane transporter called the ATP binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA1). ABCA1 either directly or indirectly translocates phospholipids and cholesterol to the cell surface, where they appear to form lipid domains that interact with amphipathic alpha-helixes in apolipoproteins. This interaction solubilizes these lipids and generates nascent HDL particles that dissociate from the cell. Binding of apolipoproteins to ABCA1 may also enhance the activity of this lipid-transport pathway. Thus, the apolipoprotein/ABCA1 pathway efficiently clears cells of excess cholesterol that would otherwise accumulate as intracellular lipid droplets. ABCA1 expression is highly induced by cholesterol loading of cells and is also modulated by sterol-independent mechanisms at both the transcriptional and posttranslational level. Studies of human disease and animal models have shown that both an increased availability of apolipoproteins and an enhanced macrophage ABCA1 activity are atheroprotective. These findings implicate the apolipoprotein/ABCA1 pathway as an important therapeutic target for treating cardiovascular disease.
"Levels of Measurement" Problem in Communication Research: A Review, Critique, and Partial Solution

This paper presents an investigation into an important scaling issue: the problem caused by the use of ordinal data in statistical procedures requiring at least interval-level data. Four elements of this problem are presented. First, a sketch of the various approaches to this problem ispresentedSecond the pragmatic and theoretical consequences of violating interval assumptions are outlined. Third evidence is provided which suggests that violations of interval assumptions are widespread in social science research.Finally,a partial solution and two alternative routes to implementation arediscussed
Semantics-Based Object Caching in Distributed Systems

In order to utilize the semantics of object methods to ensure cached object consistency, method group commutativity specifies the conditions under which a group of methods will commute. Method group commutativity is determined using a semantic specification of object methods, provided in terms of logical expressions, to create commutativity conjectures that are analyzed using the PVS theorem prover. This analysis results in the creation of a method commutativity specification (MCS), which is used by a distributed caching system to ensure the consistency of method invocations. For greater commutativity, weaker consistency requirements can be specified in the MCS. This base approach is enhanced by optimizations that consider a client's sequential execution of methods and that reduce the amount of data cached by the client. The effectiveness of method group commutativity and associated optimizations is evaluated using Java RMI application benchmarks.
Spectral Partitioning with Indefinite Kernels Using the Nyström Extension

Fowlkes et al. [7] recently introduced an approximation to the Normalized Cut (NCut) grouping algorithm [18] based on random subsampling and the Nystrom extension. As presented, their method is restricted to the case where W, the weighted adjacency matrix, is positive definite. Although many common measures of image similarity (i.e. kernels) are positive definite, a popular example being Gaussian-weighted distance, there are important cases that are not. In this work, we present a modification to Nystrom-NCut that does not require W to be positive definite. The modification only affects the orthogonalization step, and in doing so it necessitates one additional O(m3) operation, where m is the number of random samples used in the approximation. As such it is of interest to know which kernels are positive definite and which are indefinite. In addressing this issue, we further develop connections between NCut and related methods in the kernel machines literature. We provide a proof that the Gaussian-weighted chi-squared kernel is positive definite, which has thus far only been conjectured. We also explore the performance of the approximation algorithm on a variety of grouping cues including contour, color and texture.
Solving bioelectric field problems with the BioPSE software system

We introduce the Bioelectric Problem Solving Environment (BioPSE), and demonstrate its utility in solving forward and inverse bioelectric field problems. BioPSE is an extensible software toolkit of modeling, simulation, and visualization tools that have been tightly integrated into a unified, interactive software environment. BioPSE has been developed through the NIH NCRR Center for Bioelectric Field Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization; the software is open source, and is freely available for non-commercial use. To introduce BioPSE we provide a brief overview of the design of the system and then demonstrate the utility of BioPSE by using it to solve a cortical mapping problem.
ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF NON-UNIFORMLY ACTIVE CATALYST PELLETS FOR A NON-ISOTHERMAL SERIES REACTION

An analysis of the influence of the non-uniform distribution of the active species in a catalyst pellet on the effectiveness factor and selectivity for the case of a series non-isothermal reaction is carried out. The case in which the desired reaction has a lower activation energy than the undesired reaction is considered. The effect of different reaction parameters on the selectivity for a single pellet is studied, and the optimum activity distribution is determined for high values of Thiele modulus. It is shown that temperature gradients within the pellet have a detrimental effect on local and overall selectivity and that these gradients are a strong function of the distribution of catalytically active material within the pellet.
Key issues in end point selection for heart failure trials: composite end points.

Abstract Background Composite outcomes are commonly used in heart failure trials. The aim of this article is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of composite outcomes and recommend guidelines for reporting them. Examples are used to illustrate key points. Methods and Results A workshop jointly planned by the Heart Failure Society of America and the US Food and Drug Administration was convened in April 2004. One of the panel discussions concerned the use of composite outcomes in heart failure trials. With use of composite outcomes, event rates are higher and if it is reasonable to assume that the treatment effect is similar for each component of the composite outcome, sample size will be smaller than using one of the components as the primary end point. Composites end points are difficult to interpret if effects are not similar for all components or if the effect of treatment is primarily on a more common, less serious component of the composite. Composite outcomes typically only focus on the first occurring event. This can lead to a substantial loss of information in some trials. When composite end points are used, data collection for all components should continue until the end of the trial so that each component can be separately evaluated. Conclusion Composite end points should be used with caution. Additional research is need on optimally weighting components of composite outcomes and to better using the entire event history of patients in heart failure trials. Further analyses of completed trials could be useful in this respect.
Small intestinal Chlamydia infection in piglets.

Evidence of Chlamydia infection of small intestinal epithelial cells was found in 4 4-14-day-old nursing piglets and 2 22-30-day-old weaned piglets. Each nursing piglet was from a different South Dakota swine farm experiencing preweaning diarrhea. The first weaned piglet was 1 of 7 live piglets from a Minnesota swine farm that were having problems with postweaning weight loss and a mild cough; diarrhea had not been noted by the owner. The second weaned piglet was from an Iowa farm experiencing diarrhea beginning 5 days after weaning. Three piglets were submitted alive and necropsied at the diagnostic laboratory. Three piglets were necropsied by the herd veterinarians, who submitted fresh and formalinfixed samples to the laboratory. Increased fluidity of the colonic contents was the only macroscopic change in the intestinal tracts of 5 piglets. The submitting veterinarian reported that a pseudomembrane was adhered to the ileal mucosa of the sixth piglet. In 3 nursing piglets, the lymphatics in the cranial two-thirds of the small intestinal mesentery were filled with chyle, indicating absorption from the small intestine. Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) staining detected porcine rotavirus antigen in small intestinal enterocytes of 1 nursing and 1 weaned piglet but not in sections ofintestine from the other 4 piglets. Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGE) antigen was not found in IFA-stained frozen sections of small intestine from all piglets. Viral particles were not found by electron microscopic examination of negatively stained colonic contents. Bacterial culture procedures for enteric pathogens and IFA staining for K88, K99, and 987P pilus antigens of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli did not yield significant results. Microscopic examination revealed mild to moderate necrotizing enteritis in the distal jejunum and ileum of the 4 nursing piglets and 1 weaned piglet. Mild to moderate villous atrophy with attenuation, necrosis, and sloughing of the villous epithelium was present in affected areas of the small intestine (Figs. 1, 2). A variable amount of detritus and fibrin partially covered the mucosal surface, and abnormally high numbers of neutrophils were in the lamina propria of 3 piglets. Microscopic lesions in the small intestine from the rotavirus-positive weaned piglet consisted of moderate villous atrophy and attenuation of the villous epithelium; inflammation and epithelial necrosis were minimal. In hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections of distal jejunum and ileum from all piglets, the supranuclear region of many enterocytes contained large vacuoles. Basophilic round bodies < 1.0 μm in diameter were within these vacuoles (Fig. 2). Neither bacterial colonization of the brush border of enterocytes nor developmental stages of Isospora suis were found.
The Effect Of Price Limits Changes On Return Volatility: Evidence From The Stock Exchange Of Thailand

This paper investigates the effect of price limits changes on stock return behavior on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). We compare the short run behavior of stock return under different regimes of price limits. The comparison is based on structural volatility, as measured by ratio of open-to-open return variance and close-to-close return variance. We also examine the covariance components of the 24-hour return and 12-hour return to detect the relation between limit width and the pattern of overreaction. We analyze the impact of trading volume and market value on structural volatility and overreaction as well. We find that return behavior at the SET is found to be rather consistent with those of other exchanges that employed price limit namely, Tokyo Stock Exchange and Taiwan Stock Exchange. In particular, the changes of price limit at the SET magnify the pattern of return behavior that exists before and after the changes resulting in increases in structural price volatility and overreaction during the narrow limit regime.
Characterization of the osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells from human periodontal ligament based on cell surface markers

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated therapy has been shown to be clinically effective in regenerating tissue defects. For improved regenerative therapy, it is critical to isolate homogenous populations of MSCs with high capacity to differentiate into appropriate tissues. The utilization of stem cell surface antigens provides a means to identify MSCs from various tissues. However, few surface markers that consistently isolate highly regenerative MSCs have been validated, making it challenging for routine clinical applications and making it all the more imperative to identify reliable surface markers. In this study, we used three surface marker combinations: CD51/CD140α, CD271, and STRO-1/CD146 for the isolation of homogenous populations of dental mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) from heterogeneous periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis revealed that 24% of PDLCs were CD51(+)/CD140α(+), 0.8% were CD271(+), and 2.4% were STRO-1(+)/CD146(+). Sorted cell populations were further assessed for their multipotent properties by inducing osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. All three subsets of isolated DMSCs exhibited differentiation capacity into osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages but with varying degrees. CD271(+) DMSCs demonstrated the greatest osteogenic potential with strong induction of osteogenic markers such as DLX5, RUNX2, and BGLAP. Our study provides evidence that surface marker combinations used in this study are sufficient markers for the isolation of DMSCs from PDLCs. These results provide important insight into using specific surface markers for identifying homogenous populations of DMSCs for their improved utilization in regenerative medicine.
Calcification and ossification in a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon; report of a case.

A case of mucinous adenocarcinoma on the right side of the colon containing areas of calcification and ossification is reported. The correct diagnosis was suspected from the simple film of the abdomen.
Readability of common health-related quality-of-life instruments in Female Pelvic Medicine

Objectives The average American adult reads below the eighth-grade level. To determine whether self-reported health-related quality-of-life questionnaires used for pelvic floor disorders are appropriate for American women, we measured reading levels of questionnaires for urinary incontinence (UI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and fecal incontinence (FI). Methods An online literature search identified questionnaires addressing UI, POP, and FI. Readability was assessed using Flesch-Kincaid reading level and ease formulas. Flesch-Kincaid grade level indicates the average grade one is expected to completely and lucidly comprehend the written text. Flesch-Kincaid reading ease score, from 0 to 100, indicates how easy the written text can be read. Results Questionnaires were categorized by UI, POP, FI, and combined pelvic floor symptoms. The median Flesch-Kincaid reading level was 7.2, 10.1, 7.6, and 9.7, for UI, POP, FI, and combined pelvic floor symptoms, respectively. Reading levels varied greatly between questionnaires, with only 54% of questionnaires written below the eighth-grade level. Conclusions We identified significant variation in reading levels among the questionnaires and found the 2 most commonly used questionnaires per survey in 2008 at Society of Urodynamics and Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction were above the recommended eighth-grade reading level. As specialty societies focus on standardizing questionnaires for research, reading levels should be considered so they are generalizable to larger populations of women with pelvic floor disorders.
Effects of Carbon Phase Deposition in Silica Gel Pores on NO2 Reactive Adsorption at Ambient Conditions on Carbon/Silica Composites

Silica–carbon composite samples containing various carbon contents deposited within a silica gel matrix were synthesized. The composites were evaluated as nitrogen dioxide adsorbents at ambient conditions in either wet (70% RH) or dry air streams. The surface chemistry and textural features of the initial and exposed samples were characterized using nitrogen adsorption, potentiometric titration, thermal analysis, and FT-IR. The deposition of the carbon phase significantly increased the amount of NO2 adsorbed in comparison with that adsorbed on the silica gel. With an increase in the amount of carbon an increase in the performance was found. The positive effect was especially noticed when water was present in the system. An oxidation of the surface and release of NO was observed. The acidification/oxidation of the surface is more pronounced in moist conditions, and it is linked to the formation of nitric acid adsorbed in the pore system. The carbon phase besides providing some level of hydrophobicity also ...
Anomalously deep and fast failure of copper and bronze under the action of the corrosion products existing on them

When the corrosion products on copper and bronze are in close contact with a diluted aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and atmospheric oxygen, they rapidly transform into effective metal (alloy) oxidizers, which provide rapid and deep metal consumption. The metal can be almost fully consumed in a reasonable technological time provided the accumulated solid phase of the products is periodically removed.
Antagonism of hydrocarbon anesthetic-epinephrine arrhythmias in dogs by nethalide, a dichloroisoproterenol analogue.

SummaryAdministration of nethalide, an adrenotropic beta receptor antagonist, to dogs anesthetized with cyclopropane, trichloroethylene, or halothane was found to decrease markedly the sensitivity of the myocardium to epinephrine induced arrhythmias. From 4–15 times the minimum dose of epinephrine causing multiple ventricular ectopic beats during the control period was required to produce this arrhythmia 15 minutes after intravenous nethalide. Ventricular fibrillation was not observed with even large doses of epinephrine after nethalide but did occur during the control period in 2 of 3 dogs receiving halothane. Some possible problems that might be encountered with the use of this agent as an adjunct to anesthesia are discussed.
Field Surveillance Methods for West Nile Virus

Surveillance of West Nile virus (WNV) in populations of mosquitoes or sentinel animals is of primary importance when assessing the risks to human health posed by naturally circulating WNV. In this chapter we focus on methods for detection of both WNV and its enzootic transmission. Methods for virus detection include CDC mini light trap, CDC gravid trap, and dead bird surveillance. Methods for transmission detection include passive box traps, chicken-baited traps, and sentinel chickens.
Are These BRICS for Real? The Impact on the United States and the US Response

Schaefer and Poffenbarger return to the functionalism literature to assess the degree of formalization of the BRICS and to point to possible developmental paths for the organization. The work then turns its focus to the United States’ response to the organization. It uses data gathered from US State Department actions and briefings to demonstrate US engagement toward the BRICS states. The work concludes with a series of policy recommendations for the United States based on the assumption that the United States would be best served by attempting to prevent balancing actions to best ensure that the United States maintains its unipolarity through the use of more multilateral actions.
Globalization and women’s and girls’ health in 192 UN-member countries: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the ratification of the United Nations’ (UN’s) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and women’s and girls’ health outcomes using a unique longitudinal data set of 192 UN-member countries that encompasses the years from 1980 to 2011. Design/methodology/approach – The authors focus on the impact of CEDAW ratification, number of reports submitted after ratification, years passed since ratification, and the dynamic impact of CEDAW ratification by utilizing ordinary least squares (OLS) and panel fixed effects methods. The study investigates the following women’s and girls’ health outcomes: total fertility rate, adolescent fertility rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, neonatal mortality rate, female life expectancy at birth (FLEB), and female to male life expectancy at birth. Findings – The OLS and panel country and year fixed effects models provide evidence that the impact...
Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
PARENT‐TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: AN EXAMINATION OF PARENT‐TEACHER TRUST

Trust is an important dimension of parent educational involvement and parent-teacher relationships. Preliminary research suggests that parent trust in teachers and schools is associated with student learning and behavior. However, examinations of parent trust in children's education are limited. The present study investigated the influence of demographic variables on parent trust and relations among parent trust, student behavior, and parent involvement. Findings suggested that student eligibility for a free or reduced-price lunch predicted parent trust of teachers and schools, parent trust was correlated with dimensions of student behavior, and parent trust of teachers predicted parent involvement. Implications for parent involvement and parent-teacher relationships are discussed.