cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stepped care in the treatment of trichotillomania

Trichotillomania (TTM) involves recurrent pulling out of one’s own hair, resulting in hair loss. TTM shows a one-year prevalence of 1 to 2% (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and can result in psychosocial impairment and stigma (Ricketts, Brandt, & Woods, 2012). A meta-analytic review concluded that habit reversal training (HRT; Azrin & Nunn, 1973) is the best-supported TTM treatment (Bloch, Weisenberger, Domrowski, Nudel, & Coric, 2007). Unfortunately, few clinicians receive adequate TTM training. In a survey of hair pullers, only 3% perceived their providers as TTM experts (Woods et al., 2006). Access to effective treatment might be improved by using stepped care, in which less intensive, restrictive, or costly methods are tried first, followed by more intensive ones only if initial results are unsatisfactory. If successful, stepped care reserves a costly and scarce resource for patients who need it. Our research addressed four questions about a two-step model of care for TTM: (1) web-based self-help; (2) in-person HRT. First, is web-based self-help for TTM efficacious? Patients can access the Internet from anywhere, regardless of proximity to an expert therapist. An uncontrolled study of a TTM self-help site, StopPulling.com, showed reduced symptoms (Mouton-Odum, Keuthen, Wagener, Stanley, & Debakey, 2006), but there are no published controlled trials. Second, is stepped care for TTM acceptable to patients? We studied acceptability in terms of treatment satisfaction, Step 2 entry and completion, and whether motivation declined if Step 1 failed to help. Third, are those who self-select to enter Step 2 the ones who need it, and do they benefit? Stepped care logic requires that later steps are reserved for those who need them, and that at least some patients find later step(s) useful, or the program will be inefficient. Finally, we examined maintenance of gains through 3-month follow-up.
Buffering from material recovery uncertainty in a recoverable manufacturing environment

Remanufacturing is becoming an increasingly important alternative to firms as they develop environmentally sound strategies aimed at minimizing waste and resources. Remanufacturing helps minimize costs through such methods as extending product life cycles via refurbishments and technical upgrades which require only a fraction of the resources and energy associated with a new product. The remanufacturing environment is characterized by a far greater degree of uncertainty than new manufacturing, due to such factors as material recovery uncertainty and probabilistic routings. In this study the use of safety stocks, with a material requirement planning system, to deal with the high inherent uncertainty in the system is examined. It is shown that some safety stocks must be kept in the system but have limited applicability. Additional safety stocks do not provide the manager in this environment with any added benefit beyond that obtained by keeping a minimum recommended level. The results obtained are somewhat counter-intuitive, since adding additional levels of safety stock does not add additional coverage when lead times are greater than one planning period. This lead time effect is explained fully and recommendations as to safety stock level to invest in are made.
Susceptibility of potato varieties and advanced breeding lines (Solanum tuberosum L.) to Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in greenhouse screenings

Late blight (Phytophthora infestons (Mont.) de Bary) has re-emerged as an important pathogen of the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp.tubero-sum L.) in North America. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative susceptibility of potato germplasm in the greenhouse in order to initiate a breeding program for resistance to the US-8/A2 mating type which is the more aggressive and prevalent strain of late blight. Whole plants of 147 cultivars and breeding lines were evaluated. Percent plant area infection was visually assessed. Seven days after inoculation, infection ranged from 0 to 100% and the overall mean was greater than 50%. Two-thirds of the cultivars and breeding lines tested were very susceptible to the US-8 genotype. The highest resistance was identified in the somatic hybrids betweenS. tuberosum andS. bulbocastanum and their backcross derivatives. Pike and Snowden were less susceptible than the other North American cultivars. Zarevo was most resistant among the European cultivars. Seven of the advanced breeding lines were equivalent to Zarevo in infection levels. The host plant resistance identified among the material tested in this study can be used by breeding programs to develop improved cultivars with resistance to US-8 genotypes of late blight.
HIV, Age, and the Severity of Hepatitis C Virus–Related Liver Disease: A Cohort Study

Even when treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), persons with HIV are more likely to develop or die of cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and some forms of cancer than are those without HIV of similar age and sex (1–3). Because the incidence rates of these conditions increase with age, an explanation of these findings is that HIV accelerates the biological effects of aging. The observations that both HIV infection and aging are associated with accelerated thymic atrophy, immunosenescence, and increased susceptibility to infections support this hypothesis (4–6). On the other hand, the increased risk for such conditions as cardiovascular and liver disease associated with HIV may merely reflect greater exposure to tobacco, alcohol, viral hepatitis, or illicit drugs, which themselves could be responsible for the observed elevated disease risk (3, 7, 8). Differences in the underlying age structure between younger populations with HIV infection and the general population at risk for these chronic diseases could also explain the age disparity (3). Because studies have lacked appropriate control participants without HIV; data on confounding exposures; or structured, valid disease assessments, it has not been possible to answer this question conclusively. To investigate whether HIV reduces the age at which liver disease occurs and understand other correlates of liver fibrosis in this setting, we studied a cohort of persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in whom liver fibrosis, HIV disease, and other key exposures have been systematically monitored since 2006.
Incidence and variables associated with inadequate antibody titers after pre-exposure rabies vaccination among veterinary medical students

Abstract Background This study sought to determine the proportion of subjects with inadequate antibody titers at two years after pre-exposure rabies vaccination and identify variables associated with inadequate antibody titers. Methods A retrospective chart review of vaccination records of veterinary students in Michigan, 2004–2009, was conducted. Antibody titers Results A total of 603 subjects (mean age 24.1 ± 4.2 years, male:female 106:497) were included. Nearly one third (177/603, 29.4%) had inadequate titers at two years. Male gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.87, 1.07–3.27; p = 0.029), vaccine manufacturer (AOR 1.49, 1.16–1.92; p = 0.002), BMI >25 (AOR 1.61, 1.02–2.54; p = 0.043), and duration between first and third doses of vaccine >21 days (AOR 2.49, 1.26–4.97; p = 0.009) were independently associated with inadequate titers. Conclusions Twenty-nine percent of subjects had inadequate antibody titers against rabies at 2 years. Gender, vaccine type/manufacturer, BMI of 25 or greater, and more than 21 days between the first and third doses of vaccine were independently associated with inadequate antibody titers at two years. Our data would support modifying the recommendations, so the third dose is recommended at 21 days rather than 21–28 days.
Dietary fish oil supplementation reduces myocardial infarct size in a canine model of ischemia and reperfusion.

Objectives. This study was conducted to determine whether the long-term administration of ish foil attenuates myocardial necrosis in an occlusion-reperfusion model of myocardial ischemia. Background. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have various biologic properties that may modify myocardial injury caused by severe ischemia and reperfusion. Methods. Of 21 dogs fed an identical diet, 10 were given supplemental fish oil containing 0.06 g/kg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid for 6 weeks. Under anesthesia and open chest conditions, the left circumflex coronary artery was occluded for 90 min, followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Regional myocardial blood flow was measured with 15-μm spheres before and during occlusion and during reperfusion. The area at risk and infarct size were measured using standard staining techniques. Results. In the dogs receiving supplemental fish oil, the platelet cell membrane content of eicosapentaenoic acid increased from 0.9 ± 0.56% to 7.1 ± 4.0% (p < 0.001). Infarct size was 29 ± 7% in the control group and 13 ± 3% in the fish oil group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the myocardial area at risk or rate-pressure product between the control and fish oil groups. There was no difference in regional myocardial blood flow between the groups at baseline study or during coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Conclusions. Dietary fish oil supplementation significantly reduced myocardial infarct size in this model. The difference in infarct size did not appear to be related to dissimilarities in regional myocardial blood flow or determinants of oxygen consumption. Further investigation is needed to determine the nature of the protective mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids on myocardial infarct size.
Semiconductor lasers beyond the fiber optics telecommunication wavelength

Semiconductor lasers emitting at 1.55 microns are the cornerstone of the high bandwidth optical communications industry. Semiconductor lasers operating at this and other wavelengths are also used in the engineering, biology, chemistry and medical fields. The light emission in most semiconductor lasers is due to the optical transition between the valence and conduction bands of the semiconductor active material. This means that the intrinsic properties of the semiconductor active material i.e., the bandgap energy dictates the emission wavelength. This limits the efficient operation of these lasers at wavelengths above 3 microns. In the mid 1990s this limitation was overcome with the emergence of new laser architectures, such as the intersubband and interband Quantum Cascade (QC) lasers. The emission wavelength in these QC lasers is set by engineering the bandgap to extend the accessible spectral range well beyond 3 microns. Optical radiation from intersubband QC lasers is emitted by electrons undergoing an optical transition between the quantized energy levels in the conduction band rather than by direct transition from the conduction to the valence bands as in conventional semiconductor lasers. Quantum engineering of the electronic energy levels has enabled demonstration of intersubband QC lasers covering a very wide spectral range from 3.5 to 150 microns (except for a window for the Reststrahlen gap). Despite rapid and tremendous progress in the research and development of these QC laser sources, the technology is far from being sufficiently mature to be deployed for use in space instruments. We will discuss our efforts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to advance QC laser technology sufficiently to enable their use in new instruments for future NASA Earth and Solar System Exploration missions.
Cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of the Streptococcus mutans membrane-bound, proton-translocating ATPase operon

Abstract The function of the membrane-bound ATPase in S. mutans is to regulate cytoplasmic pH values for the purpose of maintaining ΔpH. Previous studies have shown that as part of its acid-adaptive ability, S. mutans is able to increase H + -ATPase levels in response to acidification. As part of the study of ATPase regulation in S. mutans , we have cloned the ATPase operon and determined its genetic organization. The structural genes from S. mutans were found to be in the order: c, a, b, delta, alpha, gamma, beta, and epsilon; where c and a were reversed from the more typical bacterial organization. The operon contained no I gene homologue but was preceded by a 239-bp intergenic space. Deduced aa sequences from open reading frames indicated that genes encoding homologues of glycogen phosphorylase and nonphosphorylating, NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase flank the H + -ATPase operon, 5′ and 3′ respectively. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of three inverted-repeat nt sequences in the glgP-uncE intergenic space. Primer extension analysis of mRNAs prepared from batch-grown or steady-state cultures demonstrated that the transcriptional start site did not change as a function of culture pH value. The data suggest that potential stem-and-loop structures in the promoter region of the operon do not function to alter the starting position of ATPase-specific mRNA transcription.
DNA Diffusion in Mucus: Effect of Size, Topology of DNAs, and Transfection Reagents

DNA represents a promising therapeutic and prophylactic macromolecule in treating genetic diseases, infectious diseases and cancers. The therapeutic potential of DNA is directly related to how DNA transports within the targeted tissue. In this study, fluorescence photobleaching recovery was used to examine the diffusion of plasmid DNAs with various size (2.7-8.3 kb), topology, and in the presence of transfection reagents in mucus. We observed that DNAs diffused slower when size of DNAs increased; supercoiled DNAs diffused faster than linear ones; mucus did not reduce the diffusion of linear DNAs but retarded the diffusion of supercoiled DNAs. Diffusion data were fitted to models of a polymer chain diffusing in gel systems. Diffusion of linear DNAs in mucus were better described by the Zimm model with a scaling factor of -0.8, and supercoiled DNAs showed a reptational behavior with a scaling factor of -1.3. Based on the Zimm model, the pore size of bovine mucus was estimated and agreed well with previous experimental data. In the presence of transfection reagents, e.g., liposomes, the diffusion of DNAs increased by a factor of 2 in mucus. By using bovine mucus as a model system, this work suggests that DNA size, topology, and the presence of transfection reagents may affect the diffusion of DNA in tissues, and thus the therapeutic effects of DNA.
Theoretical analysis of a pulsed-laser-driven hypervelocity flyer launcher☆

Abstract High-power but low-total-energy pulsed lasers can be used to accelerate small-diameter, thin flyers to velocities in excess of several kilometers per second. The geometry under consideration involves placing the flyer on the end of an optical fiber through which the laser pulse is delivered. The blowoff products driving the flyer are thus fully tamped. a model, based on the Gurney theory for explosively driven plates, is derived for predicting the final velocity of these flyers. All but two of the required input parameters are readily available; those two can be extracted from one limited set of experimental measurements. Data on aluminum flyers illustrate that once the input parameters have been determined, the model predicts changes resulting from variations of laser fluence and pulse duration as well as flyer thickness and diameter. Additional data on copper and magnesium indicate that the energy-coupling efficiency can vary by at least 50%, depending on the flyer material.
Evidence from balloon measurements for chemical depletion of stratospheric ozone in the Arctic winter of 1989–90

Measurements of the vertical ozone profile with balloon-borne sensors in the Arctic during January and February 1990 indicate repeated minima in the 22-km region. A general negative correlation of the 22-km ozone mixing ratio with time spent by the air parcel in regions cold enough for the formation of polar stratospheric clouds, together with the presence of sunlight on a portion of the air-parcel trajectory, and an inability to explain the ozone minimum by conventional dynamical processes, suggest that this feature is related to chemical ozone depletion.
The developmental morphology and growth dynamics of the tobacco leaf

The developmental morphology and growth dynamics of the leaf of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi Nc. are described. Epidermal and internal cell patterns indicate that the leaf axis arises from approx. 100 cells in four layers of the shoot apex, while the lamina arises from several rows of cells in each of three layers of the leaf axis. Cell patterns at the apex and margin of the leaf do not support the classical view that these regions have a specialized meristematic function. Instead the development of the leaf appears to be largely dependent on intercalary growth. The pattern of growth within the lamina is surprisingly complex. In addition to a proximal-distal gradient in the duration of growth and cell division during development, localized transitory changes in the rate of these processes also occur. These observations are discussed in reference to previous discriptions of leaf development in tobacco.
ARPP-21, A cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein enriched in dopamine-innervated brain regions: Tissue distribution and regulation of phosphorylation in rat brain

ARPP-21 (cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr = 21,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate), a phosphoprotein substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, is unevenly distributed in adult rat brain. Using immunoblotting and phosphorylation in vitro followed by immunoprecipitation, ARPP-21 was found to be enriched in caudate-putamen, substantia nigra, nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle. Intermediate levels were found in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. ARPP-21 was very low in most other brain areas and was not detected in any of the peripheral tissues studied. Following unilateral lesion of the caudate-putamen with quinolinic acid, a marked decrease in the levels of ARPP-21 was observed in both the lesioned caudate-putamen (-75%) and the ipsilateral substantia nigra (-70%) compared with the unlesioned side. This result demonstrates the enrichment of ARPP-21 in striatonigral neurons. In slices of caudate-putamen, substantia nigra or cerebral cortex incubated in vitro, the phosphorylation of ARPP-21 was enhanced by 8-Br-cAMP, a stable analog of cAMP. In striatal slices, forskolin, a compound which stimulates adenylate cyclase directly, enhanced the phosphorylation of ARPP-21 with an EC50 of 0.5 microM. In conclusion, ARPP-21 is a neuron-specific phosphoprotein enriched in specific brain areas which are known to receive a rich dopaminergic innervation and to contain high levels of D1 dopamine receptors. The phosphorylation of ARPP-21 is likely to mediate some of the intracellular effects of neurotransmitters which stimulate adenylate cyclase in these regions, in particular dopamine and vasoactive intestinal peptide.
Nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular motion in polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethyl methacrylate

The proton magnetic resonance in polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethyl methacrylate has been studied between 77 and 400°K. The second moments of the absorption lines are compared with the values calculated for some of the modes of molecular motion possible in these polymers. This comparison leads to the conclusion that motion of the ester methyl and ethyl groups in the respective polymers occurs below 77°K. and that motion of the main chain methyl groups in polymethyl methacrylate and polyethyl methacrylate occurs above 130°K. This interpretation of the results is shown to be in agreement with previous measurements of the mechanical and dielectric properties of these polymers. The shape of the absorption line observed in polymethyl methacrylate at 77°K. was reproduced by a suitably weighted superposition of the absorption lines of rigid and rotating methyl groups and a rigid methylene group confirming that motion of one methyl group occurs below 77°K. in polymethyl methacrylate.
Cyclomorphosis in Scenedesmus subspicatus R. Chod. Cell Behavior During the Unicell-Colony Transformation of a Phenotypicly Plastic Organism

Abstract An ordered sequence of ecomorph development, from a unicellular type to multi-spined colonies to acaudate forms, takes place over time in the spiny forms of Scenedesmus . This is the first report of two steps of such a sequence, the unicell-colony morphogenesis, in one strain of S. subspicatus . A detailed analysis of growth and morphology of UTEX 2532 at 10°C revealed that colonies were formed at that temperature and that cell mortality was occurring during this unicell-colony transformation. As the unicellular stage disappears and colonial ecomorphs develop within the population, a deflection in the growth curve has previously been noted, especially with S. armatus . Such deflections also occurred with S. subspicatus . At various stages of growth the developmental phenomena in these phenotypicly plastic microorganisms were indicative of the occurrence of a cyclomorphosis. Supporting data are derived from experiments conducted at both cold and warm incubation temperatures. Additionally, cold temperature induction of extra spines on individual ecomorphs takes place when the processes of cell adhesion and subsequent spine formation, closely coupled at warm incubation temperatures (standard conditions), become uncoupled at 10°C. These developmental steps take place while progeny are still within the parent wall. With all the morphological changes, organisms are able to adapt to the prevailing environmental conditions.
Predicted hcp Ag-Al metastable phase diagram, equilibrium ground states, and precipitate structure

Formation energies of a number of hcp-based Ag-Al structures are obtained from ab initio electronic-structure calculations and used within a cluster expansion approach to construct an effective alloy Hamiltonian. Formation energies are found to be inherently asymmetric versus composition, providing an incipient tendency for precipitation in Al-rich alloy. Both ground-state search and Monte Carlo simulations based on the cluster expansion are used to determine the metastable hcp Ag-Al phase diagram. A new equilibrium hcp AgAl ground state is predicted and zero-energy domain boundary defects are found. From thermodynamic results, we discuss the precipitate structure and composition in Al-rich Al-Ag alloys and explain recent microscopy data.
Ineffectiveness of Glucose, Potassium, and Insulin Infusion During Pacing Stress in Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease

Eight patients with coronary artery disease and positive exercise electrocardiograms undergoing cardiac catheterization were subjected to periods of atrial pacing-induced tachycardia at identical rates, before and during a glucose, potassium, and insulin (GKI) infusion. Steady state elevation of glucose and insulin was obtained prior to repeating the atrial pacing test in the GKI state. With each patient serving as his own control, five developed augmented clinical signs of acute ischemia during the paced GKI state, two no change, and one subjective improvement. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was elevated in all patients (1-8 mm Hg) at rest during GKI infusion as compared to the rest control state. LVEDP during pacing was greater during the GKI paced state as compared to the control paced state in three of the eight patients whereas after pacing LVEDP was higher in four of eight patients during GKI. ST-segment depression was less during pacing in the GKI as compared to control state in fo...
On resistance to discharge.

Abstract The past two decades have seen a pronounced shift away from custodialism in hospital treatment and toward short-term admissions to general hospital psychiatric units. A major impetus for this trend has been an increasing awareness that dependency on a psychiatric hospital may perpetuate chronic illness. Psychiatrists have tried to limit chronicity by limiting substantially the time spent in the hospital, and by discharging the patient back to the community as soon as possible. Unfortunately, hospital dependency remains a serious problem even for short-term intensive treatment programs. The effectiveness of the hospital is often undermined by a struggle, usually covert, between patient and staff, in which the patient tries to prolong his hospital stay, while the staff, in mounting exasperation, tries various maneuvers to get him out of the hospital. The purpose of this paper is to describe patterns of resistance to discharge encountered in patients treated on an 18-bed psychiatric unit of a teaching hospital, and to explore the issue of hospital dependency in some depth. During the year from July 1, 1971 to June 30, 1972, 70 patients were admitted to this unit with an average stay of 67 days. Sources of financial support included Blue Cross, Major Medical, New York State Medicaid, Medicare, and personal finances. Of these patients, 26 (37%) showed significant resistance to discharge from the hospital, distributed as follows among the various diagnostic categories: 13 of 28 schizophrenics, seven of 17 borderline states, five of eight character disorders, and 2 of 12 affective disorders. Several patterns emerge from the case material. Resistance can take the form of refusal to accept realistic goals, covert sabotage of the mobilization process, blatantly negativistic behavior, either in the hospital or while out on pass, or recrudescence of symptoms when discharge becomes imminent. Each of these forms of resistance will be illustrated in brief case discussions.
Electrophysiological study of coupling between cultured cells of the mouse mammary gland in five distinct physiological states.

Electrical coupling has been observed between cultured cells of the mouse mammary gland in five distinct physiological or pathological states. We have employed young primary cultures of cells dissociated from the following tissues: normal glands from young virgin or midpregnant females, hyperplastic alveolar nodules (believed, to be precancerous) transplanted in gland-free mammary fat pads, and spontaneous mammary adenocarcinomas and their pulmonary metastases. All successfully impaled pairs of cells (a total of 97 pairs) were found to be ionically coupled. Furthermore, in normal and tumor cell cultures, electrical coupling was observed between dome-dome and dome-nondome cell pairs. This study correlates with electronmicroscopic studies of fresh normal, hyperplastic, and tumor samples, which show the presence of gap junctions in all three.
Caught in the Crossfire? Economic Injustice and Prophetic Motivation in Eighth-Century Judah

Prophetic complaints against landownership abuse that are attributed to eighth-century Judah pose an interpretive problem: their contextual ambiguity. Passages like as Isa. 5.8-10 decry land seizures but lack key socio-economic variables: motivations and the identities of perpetrators and victims. Faced with scarce archaeological and biblical evidence pertaining to landownership in the eighth century, several scholars have turned to the social sciences for clues. Marvin Chaney and D.N. Premnath have found interpretive value in cultural-evolutionary theory.Cultural-evolutionary theorists, like Gerhard Lenski and Timothy Earle, find that recurring patterns tend to emerge as agrarian societies experience rapid economic development and increased trade, including an abandonment of subsistence strategies, land consolidation, and a hoarding of the benefits amongst elites. While Chaney and Premnath have successfully used this model to explore economic abuses attributed to eighth-century Judah, when the region was absorbed into the Assyrian trade nexus, the effects of these recurring societal patterns on religious institutions have yet to be explored by biblical scholars.Religious practices and norms that support outmoded economic strategies tend to be overturned during these transitional periods to accommodate new economic goals. While some religious leaders are forced to choose between either honouring long-held traditions or capitulating to a new economic environment, others find that their place in society is rendered obsolete. Through considering these cultural-evolutionary patterns alongside Hezekiah's religious reforms, this paper explores the possibility that prophetic authors who condemned the displacement of farmers may have also been protesting their own displacement in an evolving Judean society.
Efficiency of a single insemination in preventing a second in the rock strain of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Abstract Most reports have indicated that under laboratory conditions multiple insemination of certain species of mosquitoes occur rather infrequently, inhibited by the pheromone matrone from the male accessory glands. Multiple inseminations have been reported in several species, however. Recent work has indicated that there may be a strain difference in this regard. This study with the ROCK strain of Aedes aegypti demonstrates that the amount or dilution of matrone placed into the female bursa at the time of a normal mating between virgin mosquitoes can be sufficient to inhibit a second insemination 3 days later in all females.
Acne keloidalis nuchae. A transepithelial elimination disorder.

: In four cases of acne keloidalis nuchae, varying stages of transepithelial elimination were observed histologically, suggesting that acne keloidalis represents a transepithelial elimination disorder akin to perforating folliculitis.
Pharmaceutical Applications of Isopropyl Alcohol. I. As a Solvent in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Ten galenical preparations official in the U. S. P. XII and the N. F. VII were prepared with ethyl alcohol and with isopropyl alcohol. Tables of comparison of the specific gravity, pH, color, odor, taste, changes on standing, and total extractive of the preparations were compiled.
A Fuzzy Rule-Based Approach to Scene Description Involving Spatial Relationships

Automated scene description is a very important part of, but also a very hard task in, high-level computer vision. Today, scene description is being applied in real problems such as robotic navigation. In this paper, we present a fuzzy rule-based approach that accomplishes the task of automated linguistic scene description. Membership functions for spatial relations between different components in the scene are evaluated, guided by a spatial relationship matrix that describes typical scene entities for which these relative locations are desirable. A fuzzy logic rule-based system is developed to combine the spatial relationships and other important scene properties to generate the final linguistic interpretation. Excellent results from several image examples of different types show the applicability of this approach.
Michigan's graduated driver licensing program: evaluation of the first four years.

Abstract Introduction: To evaluate the four-year outcome of Michigan's graduated driver licensing (GDL) program, motor-vehicle crash data for 16-year-old drivers in 1996 (pre-GDL), and 1998-2001 (post-GDL) were analyzed. Method: Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for several crash types were computed, and pre-post-GDL population-based crash rates were compared. Reductions in crash risks among 16-year-olds previously found in 1998 and 1999 were generally maintained in 2000 and 2001. Results: Reductions in crash risk among 16-year-olds from 1996 to 2001 were 29% for all, 44% for fatal, 38% each for nonfatal-injury and fatal-plus-nonfatal-injury, 32% for day, 31% for evening, 59% for night, 32% for single-vehicle, and 28% for multi-vehicle crashes. Even after adjusting for more general population-wide changes among drivers 25 years and older that might have contributed to changes in 16-year-old crash risk, reductions remained impressive (19% for all crashes in 2001). Impact on Industry: As one approach to reducing teenage motor-vehicle morbidity and mortality, GDL remains promising.
Zero-point entropy in stuffed spin-ice

The third law of thermodynamics dictates that the entropy of a system in thermal equilibrium goes to zero as its temperature approaches absolute zero. In ice, however, a ‘zero point’ or residual entropy can be measured—attributable to a high degeneracy in the energetically preferred positions of hydrogen ions associated with the so-called ‘ice rules’1,2. Remarkably, the spins in certain magnetic materials with the pyrochlore structure of corner-sharing tetrahedra, called ‘spin ice’, have an equivalent degeneracy of energetically preferred states, and also have a zero-point entropy3,4,5,6,7. Here, we chemically alter Ho2Ti2O7 spin ice by ‘stuffing’ extra Ho magnetic moments into otherwise non-magnetic Ti sites surrounding the Ho tetrahedra. The resulting series, Ho2(Ti2−xHox)O7−x/2, provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of increased connectivity between spins on a frustrated lattice. Surprisingly, the zero-point entropy per spin measured appears unchanged by these excess spins. The results suggest a chemical approach for studying ice-like frustration and other properties of the broad family of geometrically frustrated magnets based on the pyrochlore structure.
From Supply Chains to Supply Ecosystems: Implications for Strategic Sourcing Research and Practice

Traditionally, sourcing decisions such as what to buy and from whom to buy it were viewed as clerical in nature. Today, however, many executives view sourcing decisions as strategic and these decisions are being made from more prominent positions within firms. Indeed, over time more companies are embracing the concept of strategic sourcing—making acquisition decisions with the intent of creating value and achieving a competitive advantage. In this article, we introduce the Special Topic Forum articles on strategic sourcing and performance. Each offers important implications for strategic sourcing research and practice. An overall implication is that some traditional supply chains appear to be giving way to supply ecosystems, which represent a set of interdependent and coordinated organizations that share common adaptive challenges and that collectively shape the creation and nurturing of a sourcing base that contributes to competitive advantage and superior performance. We offer several theoretical perspectives that hold promise for explaining supply ecosystem functioning and outcomes. In terms of practice, firms need to adapt their strategic sourcing to this evolution or run the risk of being weakened.
Lateral diffusion of the GABAB receptor is regulated by the GABAB2 C terminus.

GABAB (γ-aminobutyric acid, type B) is a heterodimeric G-protein-coupled receptor. The GABAB1 subunit, which contains an endoplasmic reticulum retention sequence, is only transported to the cell surface when it is associated with the GABAB2 subunit. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching studies in transfected COS-7 cells and hippocampal neurons revealed that GABAB2 diffuses slowly within the plasma membrane whether expressed alone or with the GABAB1 subunit. Treatment of cells with brefeldin A revealed that GABAB2 moves freely within the endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that slow movement of GABAB2 is a result of its plasma membrane insertion. Disruption of the cytoskeleton did not affect the mobility of GABAB2, indicating that its restricted diffusion is not due to direct interactions with actin or tubulin. To determine whether the C terminus of GABAB2 regulates its diffusion, this region of the subunit was attached to the lymphocyte membrane protein, CD2, which then exhibited a slower rate of lateral diffusion. Furthermore, co-expression of a cytoplasmically expressed soluble form of the GABAB2 C terminus increased movement of the GABAB2 subunit. We constructed forms of GABAB2 with various C-terminal truncations. Truncation of GABAB2 after residue 862, but not residue 886, caused a dramatic increase in its mobility, suggesting that the region between these two residues is critical for restricting GABAB2 diffusion. Finally, we investigated whether activation of GABAB might modulate its movement. Treatment of COS-7 cells with the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen significantly increased its mobile fraction. These data show that the restricted movement of GABAB at the cell surface is regulated by a region within its C terminus.
Ultrastructural observations on synapse elimination in neonatal rabbit skeletal muscle.

Electron microscopic techniques were used to investigate two main questions about mammalian neuromuscular development. One, does neonatal synapse elimination proceed by the degeneration of synaptic terminals and preterminal axons, or are the terminals retracted into the parent axon, in a process analogous to the resorption of axonal growth cones? Two, is there any discernible relationship between the elimination of supernumerary synapses and the myelination of preterminal axons? Examination of several hundred sections through endplates fixed at the peak time of synapse elimination revealed no signs of degeneration. This result is not consistent with the proposal that the major mechanism of synapse elimination is terminal degeneration, according to calculations based on the time course of terminal degeneration following neonatal nerve transection.
Which came first, the neuritic plaque or the neurofibrillary tangle?

Abstract Hardy et al. emphasize the relationship of the vascular amyloid and the neuronal pathology in Alzheimer's disease, a realization that is long overdue. At times they try too hard to fit incomplete and sometimes not entirely germane data into their hypothesis. Nevertheless, despite the fact that there clearly are several pieces still missing in this puzzle, the proposed hypothesis should direct research into important and hitherto overlooked directions.
Refined finite-difference simulations using local integral forms: Application to telluric fields in two dimensions

This paper describes a new finite‐difference form for simulating the behavior of telluric fields near electrical inhomogeneities. The technique involves a local integration of the electric current density crossing a closed surface surrounding a mesh node. To illustrate the concept, a two‐dimensional (2-D) model is considered, but it is readily possible to generalize to three dimensions. The resulting expressions, which are accurate to second degree everywhere, have the form of nine‐point finite‐difference operators, but they have a higher precision than those derived from the usual differential forms which result in five‐point operators. In particular, the new form accounts for cross‐derivative (∂2U/∂x∂z) effects in the region about each node. Including this term can provide significant improvements in accuracy near sharp, localized discontinuities, where the anomalous field decays rapidly (as 1/r or 1/r2) with distance. An analytical solution is compared to finite‐difference calculations using both the c...
Experimental determination of wall shear rate in canine carotid arteries perfused in vitro

The mathematical model of Hung (Tsai and Hung, 1984) is employed to determine the wall shear rate acting on canine carotid arteries perfused in vitro. Model equations for pulsatile flow in a deformable vessel are coupled with experimental data of dynamic pressure drop, flow rate, vessel radius and radial wall motion. Derived quantities, e.g. velocity profiles and wall shear, are obtained for vessels exposed to 'normotensive' hemodynamics, 'hypertension' simulations and perfusions in which the compliance of the vessel wall is deliberately altered. Our results indicate that wall shear varies markedly as a function of the hemodynamic environment. The effects of vessel radius vs flow rate on the development of wall shear are also demonstrated. It is found that convective processes correlate with the magnitude of wall shear in the 'hypertension' simulations. The present findings and complementary published data may explain, at least in part, the variations in vessel wall transport and endothelial cell biology we observe as a function of the hemodynamic environment. For example we have documented that the exposure of canine carotids to 'hypertensive' (vs 'normotensive') hemodynamics is associated with an increased flux of lipoproteins (LDL) into the intima and luminal media. Alternations in wall compliance, on the other hand, profoundly influence endothelial shape, orientation and cytoskeletal array.
Diagnostic challenges in the fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of carotid body paragangliomas: Report of two cases

Two cases of carotid body paragangliomas sampled by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology prior to other medical diagnostic studies are presented. In the first case, the presence of an ipsilateral ulcerative lesion of the nasopharynx along with pronounced atypia of the specimen posed a challenge to the correct cytologic interpretation, which was initially sidetracked in favor of a metastatic epithelial lesion. In the second case, a tumor mass of unusually large size and extension which included the pharynx, coupled with a large amount of profusely hemorrhagic aspirate, presented a diagnostic problem, which was overcome by processing part of the specimen as a cell block, which by its histologic and immunochemical features provided a definitive pathologic diagnosis. In handling these two clinically complex cases of carotid paraganglioma, two learning principles became clear on how to reach a correct FNA diagnosis in such lesions: 1) The anatomic location of the lateral neck mass with its prolonged history, along with a hemorrhagic FNA specimen exhibiting at least some cytologic features reminiscent of endocrine neoplasm, are among the factors that help in arriving at a suggestive diagnosis of paraganglioma, when other clinical features tend to sidetrack from interpretation of the cytologic changes. 2) In the practice of FNA cytology, if the possibility of paraganglioma arises, processing part of the specimen as a cell block with accompanying histology and immunohistochemistry can provide a definitive diagnosis of such lesion.
Luminescence of Mn-activated SrLa2S4

Abstract The Th 3 P 4 -structure ternary sulfide compound SrLa 2 S 4 :0.01Mn 2+ is shown to be a photophosphor with a deep crimson emission peaking at 675 nm (1.84 eV) at 300 K. Measurement of the temperature dependence of emission and excitation spectra reveals a systematic shift in band position at 200 K which is interpreted as a second-order transition in the host structure.
Oxidation of Chromium(II) Amines by Water

AN interest in reactive reducing agents has led us to investigate aqueous solutions of chromium(II) containing excess of polyamines. We have observed that, in the absence of oxygen, these deep blue solutions (pH > 9) evolve hydrogen in accordance with the reaction : Although the reaction is quite slow when the amine is ethylenediamine or diethylenetriamine1, with purified triethylenetetramine or tris(β-aminoethyl)amine2 the reaction is sufficiently rapid to be studied conveniently. It is apparently autocatalytic with excess of the linear tetramine, and first-order in chromium(II) when the branched amine is present.
Data mining and visualization of average images in a digital hand atlas

We have collected a digital hand atlas containing digitized left hand radiographs of normally developed children grouped accordingly by age, sex, and race. A set of features stored in a database reflecting patient's stage of skeletal development has been calculated by automatic image processing procedures. This paper addresses a new concept, "average" image in the digital hand atlas. The "average" reference image in the digital atlas is selected for each of the groups of normal developed children with the best representative skeletal maturity based on bony features. A data mining procedure was designed and applied to find the average image through average feature vector matching. It also provides a temporary solution for the missing feature problem through polynomial regression. As more cases are added to the digital hand atlas, it can grow to provide clinicians accurate reference images to aid the bone age assessment process.
Influence of Negotiations between Preservice Teachers and Pupils on Instruction within Multi-Activity and Sport Education Units.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of negotiations between pupils and preservice teachers (PTs) on PTs' instruction within multi-activity (MA) teaching and sport education (SE). Participants were 17 PTs engaged in a secondary early field experience in which they taught 12-lesson MA and SE soccer units. Data were collected using six qualitative techniques and analyzed using analytic induction and constant comparison. Pupils initiated negotiations aimed at securing changes in instructional tasks and a reduction in standards of performance for those tasks. PTs initiated negotiations aimed at securing compliance with instructional and managerial tasks. During MA instruction, negotiations were relatively negative and common, increased as the unit progressed and adversely influenced the effectiveness of 11 PTs' pedagogies. During SE instruction, negotiations were relatively positive and infrequent, declined as the season progressed and enabled PTs to deliver good quality physical education.
An Exploration of Fisher's Framework for the Alignment of Supply Chain Strategy With Product Characteristics

Abstract:In his 1997 Harvard Business Review article, Fisher suggests that supply chain improvement efforts have not produced expected results due to misalignment of products with supply chain strategies. His framework appeals logically and researchers rapidly moved into modifications of Fisher's premise. A critical missing component, however, is a quantitative analysis of the benefits of the proper classification of products and alignment with the appropriate supply chain strategies to optimize performance. Quantifiable proof of Fisher's framework can strengthen the validity of the initial premise and expansions of his theory. This article presents such a quantitative analysis exploring the validity of Fisher's framework for improving performance.
Critical Practice Analysis of Special Education Policy: An RTI Example

Since 1997, revisions to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have shown promise for addressing special education equity concerns: For example, states have the option to use response to intervention (RTI) for determining and thus reducing inappropriate disability determination, and states and districts are required to assess and address disproportionality in special education eligibility and placement. Yet, despite policy revisions, equity concerns endure. Apparent policy inadequacies necessitate that special education research explores policy as a process whereby it is appropriated by local actors. Accordingly, we draw from critical policy scholarship to propose a framework for study of special education policy appropriation. The approach centers equity and attention to actors’ agency and structural forces. We discuss relevance of this framework and its theoretical tools for special education research concerned with how local actors enact federal special education policy. Finally, we pr...