cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Tractotomy as an Abbreviated Thoracotomy Technique

Background: Operative abbreviated thoracotomy techniques in thoracic trauma include emergency center thoracotomy, ligation of major arterial branches, packing the thoracic cavity for diffuse bleeding, towel clip or Bogota bag closure of the chest, and pulmonary tractotomy. Pulmonary tractotomy with selective vascular ligation was originally described for deep through-and-through lung injuries that did not involve hilar vessels or airways. Pulmonary tractotomy has evolved into use as an abbreviated thoracotomy technique in patients with severe thoracic or multivisceral trauma. As with any operative technique in high-risk patients, specific procedure-related complications may occur and are analyzed herein. The objective of this manuscript is to review the indications, techniques, and results for pulmonary tractotomy in trauma patients requiring abbreviated thoracotomy. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 30 of 32 consecutive tractotomy patients treated at Ben Taub General Hospital, during a 3-year period. By using a model for logistic regression analysis, the characteristics of each patient and their clinical course were tested for impact on mortality. Results: Seventy percent of patients had at least one intraoperative parameter indicative of acidosis (pH 13.8 or partial thromboplastin time > 38.0 seconds), or hypothermia (core temperature < 34°C), and 50% of patients manifested two of these three parameters. The mortality rate among the 30 patients was 17%. Three of the five patients who died were noted to be acidotic, coagulopathic, and hypothermic. Twelve of 25 patients who survived more than 1 day had at least one thoracic complication. There were no late deaths. There was one failed tractotomy and one missed injury. A second thoracotomy was not required for control of a lung injury in any patient. Logistic regression analysis showed that intraoperative blood loss was the only predictive factor for mortality. Conclusion: Pulmonary tractotomy is a simple and effective technique in injured patients who require an abbreviated thoracotomy and has an acceptable mortality and complication rate. This follow-up report notes that as definitive therapy, tractotomy continues to allow for direct control of bleeding and air leak and obviates the need for formal resection.
Secondary pharmacology data to assess potential off-target activity of new drugs: a regulatory perspective

Secondary pharmacology data to assess potential off-target activity of new drugs: a regulatory perspective
Myosin Dynamics on the Millisecond Time Scale

Myosin is a motor protein associating with actin and ATP. It translates along actin filaments against a force by transduction of free energy liberated with ATP hydrolysis. Various myosin crystal structures define time points during ATPase showing the protein undergoes large conformation change during transduction over a cycle with approximately 10 ms periodicity. The protein conformation trajectory between two intermediates in the cycle is surmised by non-equilibrium Monte Carlo simulation utilizing free-energy minimization. The trajectory shows myosin transduction of free energy to mechanical work giving evidence for: (i) a causal relationship between product release and work production in the native isoform that is correctly disrupted in a chemically modified protein, (ii) the molecular basis of ATP-sensitive tryptophan fluorescence enhancement and acrylamide quenching, (iii) an actin-binding site peptide containing the free-energy barrier to ATPase product release defining the rate limiting step and, (iv) a scenario for actin-activation of myosin ATPase.
Adaptability of irrigated spring canola oil production to the US High Plains

Abstract Canola oil is high in oleic acid which is commonly used for food and industrial purposes. To determine adaptability of spring canola (Brassica napus L.) to the High Plains for industrial oil production, 26 irrigated trials were conducted from 2005 to 2008. Trials were divided into five regions—1: 36–37°N 108°W; 2: 39–40°N 101–103°W; 3: 41–42°N 102–103°W; 4: 41–42°N 104°W; 5: 43–44°N 106–108°W. Cultural practices were based on site-specific protocols. Four cultivars, Hyola 401, Hyola 357 Magnum, SW Marksman, and SW Patriot, were planted in replicated plots in April or May under standard irrigation and harvested in July to October depending on region. Seed yield Hyola 401 and Hyola 357 Magnum were higher than SW Marksman and SW Patriot across the five regions and within Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5. Regions 1, 2 and 3 yielded significantly greater than did Regions 4 and 5. Samples from 18 trials were examined for their oil content and fatty acid distribution. The four cultivars had greater than 38% oil content; SW Marksman and SW Patriot had higher oil content than Hyola 401 and Hyola 357 Mag. Higher oil content was achieved in Regions 1, 4 and 5. Across and within regions, the percent of oleic acid did not differ for the four cultivars. The mean content of oleic acid decreased going north from Region 2 to Region 5, as did seed yield in the High Plains. Linoleic acid increased going north from Region 1. Linolenic acids showed little variation across regions. Considering yield and total oil content together, growing spring canola would be excellent in the High Plains.
Assessing your aptitude for pharmacy leadership

There has been concern for decades regarding the critical need for leadership in health-system pharmacy, and this concern has reached new levels in recent years. Some worry that the growing shortages of pharmacy leaders and managers could, if left unresolved, result in health-system pharmacy
Does Scheme enhance an introductory programming course?: some preliminary empirical results

There is no consensus within the Computer Science community as to which programming language or languages ought to be used in introductory courses. In recent years a substantial contingent has proposed the use of Scheme, a dialect of Lisp, as a candidate for "Best First Language"; however, despite the articles touting success with this approach, there have been no empirical studies comparing the results of using Scheme versus other languages. This paper is a first step towards collecting data that might answer this question. We compare two pre-major courses at a four-year college, one taught using a structured version of Basic, the other taught using Scheme. A survey was used to compare student attitudes towards computer science and programming at the end of the course. While the survey was too small to provide statistically significant answers, there were indications that Scheme may in fact do a better job of capturing and holding students' interest in Computer Science.
Microtwinning in highly nonstoichiometric VOx thin films

Abstract Both pulsed-DC biased and commercial ion-beam sputtered VO x thin films maintain a face-centered-cubic nanocrystalline phase, even for stoichiometries of x > 1.5, which is well outside the bulk equilibrium solubility range for cubic VO x . Many of these highly nonstoichiometric films exhibit a high density of microtwins, which give rise to unusual fine structure in the selected-area electron diffraction patterns, namely: an additional defect ring; a significant broadening of the {2 0 0} ring; pairs of parallel rod features which are tangent to the additional defect ring; and additional fine-structure features between the {2 0 0} and {2 2 0} rings. The formation of the microtwins is correlated with the coalescence of vanadium vacancies along the {1 1 1} twin planes in the crystalline lattice.
International portfolio diversification: a synthesis and an update

Abstract This paper provides a synthesis of the existing literature on international portfolio diversification and presents some new results on the subject. We address the question of whether international portfolio diversification is always a reasonable method of reducing the risk of an investment portfolio without negatively affecting its return expectations. Unfortunately, there is still not a simple answer to this question. When ex-post data is examined, potential benefits of international diversification can certainly be detected. However, we also argue that it might be difficult for investors to select an optimal investment strategy ex-ante, when the correlation structure among the international equity is unstable over time. While such findings do not completely rule out the potential benefits of international diversification, they certainly make them more difficult to realize in practice.
“We teenagers can learn from each other’s mistakes” high-risk adolescent girls speak out about sex education

iors (e.g. kissing, petting, dancing—5 items, 1 point each), medium STI risk behaviors (e.g. oral/genital contact —2 items, 10 points each) and high STI risk behaviors (anal and vaginal sex—2 items, 100 points each) reported over the past 3 months. A score of at least 100 indicates coitus. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomonas infections were detected by PCR of vaginal secretions. A fixed intercept slope growth curve model controlling for age and partner change was fitted using LISREL 8.5. Results: The chi-square for the overall model indicates an excellent fit to the data ( 2 57.06 (58), P-value 0.51). A significant sexual repertoire intercept of 91.9 (non-significant intercept variance) demonstrated the importance of high-risk sexual behaviors in STI incidence. A significant negative sexual repertoire slope of 0.94 indicated less complex sexual repertoire over time. Associations over time are summarized in the Figure ( indicates significant path, p 0.05). Older age was associated with more complex initial sexual repertoire ( 0.56, p 0.05). A significant negative relationship between repertoire intercept and repertoire slope indicated greater change in repertoire slope among those with less complex sexual repertoire at enrollment. Sexual repertoire complexity was associated STI at all time points suggesting that increasing repertoire complexity (even among those having coitus) is associated with increased STI risk. The amount of change in sexual repertoire was associated with the likelihood of partner change at all time points. Partner change was independently associated with STI risk at each time point. Conclusions: These data confirm associations of established risk behaviors such as coitus and sex partner change, and low infection risk associated with non-coital behaviors. The data do suggest a general shift to fewer STI risk behaviors over time. However, as high-risk behaviors are added in new partnerships, STI risk increases. Moreover, STI risk increases even in coitally active relationships that include oral-genital and anal-genital sexual behaviors.
Designing a sustainable regional diet

Recently, Gussow and Clancy (1) have suggested the term "sustainable diet" to describe a diet composed of foods chosen for their contribution not only to health, but also to the sustainability (the capability of maintenance into the foreseeable future) of the u. S. agricultural system. Although Gussow and Clancy did not provide specific food-selection recommendations, they showed how the Dietary Guidelines (2) can be used to teach consumers about current threats to the food-producing system. They hoped, thus, to initiate a discussion of the appropriateness of incorporating issues of agricultural sustainability into nutrition messages. Before nutritionists can add such considerations to their educational efforts, however, certain underlying assumptions must be tested. The first of these has to do with the concept of "local" diets. This paper is intended to explore that concept. Based on a definition of sustainable agriculture as an activity "that uses human and natural resources to produce food and fiber in a manner that is not wasteful of such finite resources as topsoil, water, and fossil energy" (1), Gussow and Clancy reviewed a host of U.S. agricultural problems (energy ineffiCiency, geographic concentration, pesticide resistance, and ground water depletion) and concluded that consumers should, when possible, buy "locally-produced" foods to support a regional agriculture that preserves farmland and that is less energy intensive. To date, however, there has been no attempt to define the term "locally-produced" explicitly, nor to determine for any given region just what mix of locally-produced and imported foods would be most resource conserving. Haughton, attempting to devise procedures for designing an "ecologically sound" food gUide (3), concluded that designing a sustainable diet for New
Tafel slopes and corrosion rates obtained in the pre-Tafel region of polarization curves

Abstract A short review of previous attempts to determine Tafel slopes and corrosion rates from data obtained in the pre-Tafel region of polarization curves is followed by a description of the approach taken in the POLFIT program. Several examples are given of the application of this program including the use of factorial design experiments to determine the optimum conditions for formation of a chromate-free conversion coating on hot dipped galvanized steel.
Short-term effects of prescribed fire on lizards in mesquite-Ashe juniper vegetation in central Texas

Prescribed fire is a common land management tool used to reduce undesirable shrubs, improve forage quality, and enhance wildlife habitat for game species. However, it also has impacts on nongame species. We examined whether a prescribed fire would affect the abundance of lizards and invertebrates in central Texas. In February 2004, four sites were treated with low-intensity prescribed fires; four adjacent non-burned sites served as controls. Vegetation structure (litter depth, percent canopy cover, visual obstruction) and foliar cover were recorded prior to and seasonally following the burn. Lizards and potential invertebrate prey were collected from all plots between March and August 2004 (152 traps, 5908 trap nights). Lizard numbers were not significantly (P > 0.312) affected by the fire, nor were their potential prey or habitat greatly affected. Burning reduced numbers of Homoptera (P 0.25 for all measures); however, foliar cover of Texas wintergrass was lower in burned plots in March but recovered to non-burned levels by May. Our results suggest that small-scale, low-intensity fires have minimal impact on central Texas lizards, the vegetation structure of their habitat, or the invertebrates of their diet.
Do College Students Who Identify with a Privileged Religion Experience Greater Spiritual Development? Exploring Individual and Institutional Dynamics

College student spiritual development constitutes an important, yet understudied topic in higher education research. In particular, very little is known about whether and how this development varies among students from diverse religious backgrounds. Using a longitudinal sample of 14,527 students from 136 institutions, the current study explored the degree to which spiritual development is related to the religious affiliations of students and the type of colleges and universities they attend. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses demonstrate numerous differences between students who identify with religious majority groups (e.g., Lutherans, Methodists), religious minority groups (e.g., Muslims, Seventh Day Adventists), and no religion at all. In most instances, the presence of individual differences in spiritual development depends upon the religious affiliation of the institution. Moreover, several college experiences are positively associated with spiritual development. Implications for higher education practitioners and administrators are discussed.
Science Policy Conference Speakers Examine Megadisasters and Call for Risk Reduction Efforts

How well is the United States prepared for a megadisaster, such as a solar storm that knocks out the power grid for months, a large asteroid impact, a giant tsunami, or a rainstorm that lasts for weeks and leads to widespread flooding? Moreover, how can risk reduction efforts be made more effective? These were two topics addressed during two of the hazards sessions at the 2013 AGU Science Policy Conference on 25 and 26 June.
Facile chemical rearrangement for photopatterning of POSS derivatives

We report a useful acid-catalyzed crosslinking reaction which enables the direct photopatterning of POSS derivatives to form robust nanoporous matrices. Octakis(dimethylacetoxyethyl siloxy) POSS and octakis(dimethylacetoxypropyl siloxy) POSS were synthesized from commercially available octahydrido-POSS. Both the acetoxyethyl- and acetoxypropyl functionalities were observed to undergo thermal rearrangement at temperatures above 300 °C to form Si–O–Si bonds, thus forming a crosslinked POSS network. Interestingly, the same functionalities were also acid sensitive, and the chemical rearrangement occurred at much lower temperatures. Thus, patterned nanoporous features were lithographically generated when a photoacid generator (PAG) was used as a photosensitive agent to initiate the crosslinking of the POSS derivatives. The dielectric properties were evaluated for the crosslinked POSS films, which had a dielectric constant ∼2.3 and an elastic modulus of ∼2.0 GPa. These materials hold great promise for developing a photopatternable low-k material which eliminates the need for sacrificial layers when patterning low-k dielectric films.
Neuronal degeneration induced by stereotaxic injection of β-bungarotoxin into rat brain

Abstract The presynaptic protein neurotoxin β-bungarotoxin (β-bgt) caused degeneration of neurons, following stereotaxic administration into rat brain. Focal lesions were induced with as little as 0.1 ng (5 fmol) of β-bgt; indicating that the toxin is over 10 6 times more potent than kainic acid. More extensive studies in the septo-hippocampal system showed β-bgt lesions affected both cell bodies and nerve terminals and were not neurotransmitter-specific. The endogenous phospholipase A 2 activity of β-bgt did not simply account for the creation of lesions since an acidic phospholipase A isoenzyme from Vipera russellii was virtually inactive in causing neuronal damage.
An information processing review of the subjective value of money and prices

Abstract This article draws on current and classical psychological theories of consumer behavior to review current findings in the psychology and economics literature on the subjective value of money, using an information processing framework. Consumers subjectively value both prices and money. That is, consumers value an identical economic value as a price or as a sum of money differently depending on their individual characteristics, price presentation characteristics, monetary form characteristics, and the consumer context due to subjectivity in their: Perception (biases in assessing the subjective value of money and prices); Inferences (whether consumers use price information to make other judgments); affect (the feelings and emotions associated with spending and saving); memory (errors and biases in recall of money and prices); and information integration (the manner in which consumers integrate costs and benefits to make decisions of whether, when, how much, and what to spend on).
High Resolution NMR Studies of Lithium and Sodium lons at the Membrane Interface

Abstract High resolution NMR spectra of lithium-6, lithium-7 and sodium-23 in a liquid crystalline mesophase consisting of sodium decylsulfate, lithium sulfate, decanol and water have been recorded. From the quadrupole splittings of the two lithium isotopes, a ratio of the quadrupole moment (Q) of 7Li/6Li equal to 49 ± 1 was obtained. By comparing the temperature dependence of the quadrupole splittings of 6Li, 7Li and 23Na in the same mesophase, it is apparent that lithium and sodium ions interact differently with the polar head group of the mesophase. The implication of this difference is discussed.
Molecular aspects of fatty acid transport: mutations in the IYTSGTTGXPK motif impair fatty acid transport protein function.

Abstract The murine fatty acid transport protein (FATP) facilitates uptake of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) when expressed in mammalian cells. FATP's sequence contains a highly conserved motif, IYTSGTTGXPK, also found in a number of proteins known to interact with ATP. To explore the role of this motif, we independently mutated the central serine (serine 250) and threonine (threonine 252) residues in this motif and assessed the effects of these mutations on FATP function. When expressed in fibroblasts, the FATP mutants demonstrated impaired LCFA import and impaired binding of [α- 32 P]8-azido-ATP (azido-ATP) compared with wild-type FATP. These results suggest that serine 250 and threonine 252 are critical for FATP function and that the mechanism of action of FATP involves nucleotide binding which is dependent on these residues.
Characterization of ultrathin electroactive films synthesized via the self-limiting electropolymerization of o-methoxyaniline

Abstract The electropolymerization of o -methoxyaniline under self-limiting deposition conditions yields ultrathin ( o -methoxyaniline) coating becomes electroactive when transferred to acidic aqueous electrolytes. The morphology and chemical structure of the poly( o -methoxyaniline) coatings are characterized by surface-sensitive methods including atomic force microscopy, specular-reflectance infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. Fundamental understanding of the structure/property relationships derived from these investigations on planar substrates will ultimately be applied to three-dimensional electrode nanoarchitectures that incorporate such electroactive coatings for enhanced charge-storage functionality.
Map-based decision aids for fire support

The Fire Control Division at ARDEC is developing prototype decision aid tools to enable fire support echelons to rapidly respond to requests for fire support. Decision aids on fire support platforms can assist in route planning, site selection, and develop mobility overlays to enable the shooter to rapidly move into position and prepare for the fire mission. The Decision Aid system utilizes an integrated design approach which has each module interacting with the others by sharing data bases and common algorithms to provide recommended courses of action for route planning and generation, position selection, self defense, logistics estimates, situational awareness and fire mission planning aids such as tactical assessment, tactical planning, sustainment, etc. The Decision Aid system will use expert system artificial intelligence which will be developed from knowledge bases utilizing object oriented design. The modules currently reason on Defense Mapping Agency Interim Terrain Data and Digital Terrain Elevation Data and collect mission, intelligence, and sensor data from the digitized battlefield information distribution system to provide the crew or mission planners with intelligent recommendations. The system can provide a trade off analysis of time vs. safety, enable commanders to rapidly respond to fire support request, automatically generate OpOrders, and create overlays which depict mobility corridors, NBC areas, friendly units, overhead concealment, communications, and threat areas. The Decision Aids system can provide a vastly improved mobility, situational awareness, and decision cycle capabilities which can be utilized to increase the tempo of battle.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Helicon modes driven by ionospheric O+ ions in the plasma sheet region

It is shown that the precence of ionospheric-origin oxygen ion beams with anisotropic pressure can excite helicon modes in the near-Earth plasma shet region provided their Alfvenic Mach numbers lie in a certain range.
Proximity, Resemblance, Sidebars and Clusters: Ibn al-Nadīm’s Organizational Principles in Fihrist 3.3

The Kitāb al-Fihrist of Ibn al-Nadīm (d. 380/990), one of the most important bio-bibliographical works in Arabic, is an invaluable source for the study of the first four centuries of Arabic writerly culture and of medieval Islamicate history. Ibn al-Nadīm divides his work into 10 parts (and 30 chapters), organised according to different fields of knowledge and scholarship. He also subdivides the notices, entries and titles very deliberately, typically chronologically. Here, I describe another organisational phenomenon discernible in the third chapter of the third part of the Fihrist, namely organization based on notions I term ‘proximity’ and ‘resemblance’, which yield ‘sidebars’ and ‘clusters.’ This organisation yields valuable information about the writerly culture of the 3rd/8th, 4th/9th and 5th/10th centuries.
Monoclonal Antibody 11E10, Which Neutralizes Shiga Toxin Type 2 (Stx2), Recognizes Three Regions on the Stx2 A Subunit, Blocks the Enzymatic Action of the Toxin In Vitro, and Alters the Overall Cellular Distribution of the Toxin

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 11E10 recognizes the Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2) A1 subunit. The binding of 11E10 to Stx2 neutralizes both the cytotoxic and lethal activities of Stx2, but the MAb does not bind to or neutralize Stx1 despite the 61% identity and 75% similarity in the amino acids of the A1 fragments. In this study, we sought to identify the segment or segments on Stx2 that constitute the 11E10 epitope and to determine how recognition of that region by 11E10 leads to inactivation of the toxin. Toward those objectives, we generated a set of chimeric Stx1/Stx2 molecules and then evaluated the capacity of 11E10 to recognize those hybrid toxins by Western blot analyses and to neutralize them in Vero cell cytotoxicity assays. We also compared the amino acid sequences and crystal structures of Stx1 and Stx2 for stretches of dissimilarity that might predict a binding epitope on Stx2 for 11E10. Through these assessments, we concluded that the 11E10 epitope is comprised of three noncontiguous regions surrounding the Stx2 active site. To determine how 11E10 neutralizes Stx2, we examined the capacity of 11E10/Stx2 complexes to target ribosomes. We found that the binding of 11E10 to Stx2 prevented the toxin from inhibiting protein synthesis in an in vitro assay but also altered the overall cellular distribution of Stx2 in Vero cells. We propose that the binding of MAb 11E10 to Stx2 neutralizes the effects of the toxin by preventing the toxin from reaching and/or inactivating the ribosomes.
The selection of sucrose as the translocate of higher plants.

Abstract In the absence of a successful physical model to explain the choice of sucrose as the translocate of higher plants, the author advances the thesis that sucrose acts as a protected derivative of glucose. According to this hypothesis, the requisites of a good translocate include that it should be a non-reducing, easily hydrolyzed derivative of glucose. Various properties of the sucrose molecule enhance its suitability for such a role. The unusual translocates encountered in some species are more complex derivatives of glucose but include a sucrose residue in their structure.
Isolation and partial characterization of a chromophore-peptide fragment from pepsin digests of phytochrome.

Abstract A chromophore-containing peptide fragment has been isolated from pepsin digests of phytochrome by chromatography on polyacrylamide gel. The fragment has absorption maxima at 292, 370 and 658 nm, with an extinction coefficient of 32,000 at 658 nm. Acid hydrolysates indicate the amino acid composition of the peptide to be Ser (1), Gln (1), Pro (1), Ala (1), Cys ( ca . 0.6), Leu (2), Tyr (1), Arg (1) and His (2). N- and C- terminal sequences of Leu-Arg-Ala-Pro-His and His-Leu-Gln-Tyr, respectively, were determined.
The Rural Ideal and Agrarian Realities: Arthur E. Holt and the Vision of a Decentralized America in the Interwar Years

A revolution in rural life since the 1940s has produced agribusiness, corporate farms, and a situation in which less than five percent of Americans are engaged in farming activities and fewer still work family farms. Richard Hofstadter once observed, "The United States was born in the country and has moved to the city." Today, when few vestiges remain of "the localistic and personalistic frame of reference, which describes farming and country life effectively all the way through the depression years," it is important to remember the influence that an idealized picture of rural life had on earlier generations of American intellectuals. Amidst the profound changes in American society produced by industrialization, urbanization, and corporate capitalism, many thinkers adhered to a vision of simpler times-one of grass-roots democracy and disinterested citizenship, of interpersonal intimacy and cooperation in a matrix of face-to-face relationships and of local control. Whether endeavoring to resuscitate this way of life or merely lamenting its passing, they displayed a reluctance to accept the new order in either city or countryside.1 Of course, the economic and demographic processes that would alter life on farms and in villages and small towns beyond recognition began before the 1940s. Rural depopulation became severe in some areas by the 1880s, and after the turn of the century the rural exodus and decay of many rural churches and other institutions caused President Theodore Roosevelt to
Further studies in a.i. augmented process control using the boxes methodology

Abstract The application of the BOXES paradigm to continuous, non failing systems seems anomalous. The paper discusses such an application with special reference to a simulation of a trash to steam plant. The paper indicates cost savings attributable to intelligent control and opens for discussion real time BOXES applications for poorly or non-definable systems. The BOXES method must be modified to accommodate endless operation and focuses on the notion of augmenting a safe, non optimal system with AI generated control values. The paper compares the resulting plant performance to that of a simple rule based algorithm and a random idiot exercising the same control authority as BOXES.
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LACTIC CULTURES: PARTIAL PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOUND(S) PRODUCED BY Streptococcus thermophilus

Skim milk fermented by various lactic cultures was tested for antimicrobial activity by agar diffusion technique, using Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis as test organisms. Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus strongly inhibited the growth of the test organisms. Other lactic cultures, singly or in combination, showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity. A methanol-acetone (M-A) extract was prepared by lyophilizing fermented milk and extracting the powder sequentially with cold methanol and acetone. The methanol-acetone (M-A) extract strongly inhibited the growth of B subtilis, B. pumulis, P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, Flavobacterium capsulatum, Satmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Shigella sp. and Streptococcus lactis. The antimicrobial activity of S. thermophilus was not reported in the literature previously. The M-A extract contained ninhydrin-positive materials and did not lose antimicrobial activity even when it was exposed to a temperature of 100°C for 10 min. Five milliliters of M-A extract were applied to 20 × 2.2 cm Sephadex G-10 column equilibrated with 0.05N HCl which later served as the eluant. Fractions of 15 ml were collected at a flow rate of 2.5 ml/mm Sephadex fractionation of M-A extract showed that there were at least three active fractions. One of the fractions appeared in the void volume followed closely by the other fractions indicating that the latter two fractions have compounds of molecular weight less than 700 daltons. The purification achieved was about 400-fold. The activity (recovery) of the compound(s) increased upon fractionation on Sephadex indicating the possible presence of inhibitor(s). the cultures of L. acidophilus. acidophilus was shown to possess very potent antimicrobial activity. The purpose of this investigation was to screen various strains of lactic cultures for antimicrobial activity and to partially purify antimicrobial compound(s) produced by Streptococcus thermophilus in culture.
A developmental examination of children's understanding of task difficulty in the physical domain

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine children's understanding of task difficulty in the physical domain using the developmental component of Nicholls’ theory of achievement motivation as a framework. Children (N = 144; 8 boys and 8 girls at each age from 5–13 years) enrolled in public schools in a Southern city were participants. They were shown one normative and two objective arrays with structured interview questions following each array. A Piagetian structural analysis of the children's responses revealed the same three levels of understanding of task difficulty that Nicholls’ previously identified: egocentric, objective, and normative. Further, a nonparametric test of association between ordinal variables showed a significant positive relationship between children's age and their levels of understanding of task difficulty. No significant gender differences emerged for children's understanding of task difficulty. Children's personal preferences for task difficulty levels (i.e., easy, moder...
The binding of RNA to various celluloses.

Abstract Several celluloses were tested for their ability to bind homonucleotide oligomers and natural RNAs. Columns of these celluloses were run under conditions favoring hydrogen bond formation (neutral pH and high salt concentration). The materials binding at the high salt were released by eluting the columns with solutions of lower ionic strength. The binding to unesterified cellulose was much less specific than that found with celluloses esterified with oligo(dT) or oligo(dC) residues. The different cellulose preparations were quite different in their ability to bind the oligonucleotides and the RNAs. These variations suggested that an impurity present in the cellulose in varying amounts rather than the cellulose itself, is responsible for the binding properties of these samples. Treatment of the celluloses with sodium bisulfite reduced the amount of poly(A) binding which suggests that the binding is due to a lignin-like contaminant.
A numerical analysis of thermally developing flow in elliptic ducts with internal fins

Abstract The thermally developing laminar forced-convection flow and heat transfer characteristics in elliptic tubes with four longitudinal internal fins is numerically investigated in this article via the boundary-fitted coordinate system. The control volume-based finite-difference technique is applied to obtain the solution utilizing the numerically generated boundary- fitted coordinate. The elliptic tubes are maintained at a uniform wall temperature, peripherally as well as axially. Since the fins are considered to be continous and of zero thickness, the results presented are in terms of isotherms, variation of bulk temperature, and Nusselt number in the entire thermal region of the elliptic duct for various values of relative fin heights. Also studied and graphically illustrated is the effect of minor-axis to major-axis ratios in the elliptic duct with internal fins on the fully developed and developing heat transfer characteristics. For the special case of a circular duct, the results are compared with some limited findings in the literature, and very good agreement is obtained. Furthermore, the results exhibit a high heat transfer coefficient, expected in the entrance region, approaching asymptotically fully developed values at greater axial distances. The significance of each curve is also discussed in detail.
Guest Editorial: HCI studies in management information systems

Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) is gaining momentum in many IT fields as computing technology increasingly impacts individuals, businesses, society, commerce and government throughout the world. M...
Environmental Stewardship: Images from Popular Culture

Preface Introduction Origins: Whence We Come Origins of the Western Tradition Europe in the Continuum of the Western Tradition Tradition and the Founding of a Nation Repercussions: Expressions and Implications of Alienation Imagination and the Arts: Where We Saw Ourselves Emergence of the Simple Life Sciences, Art, and Literature Heroes, Wild Men, and the Noble Savage Reflections of the Natural World: What We Left Behind Lessons from beyond America's Western Tradition Images from Our First Nations Contemporary Amerindian Perspectives A Sense of Place Popular Culture: Outlets and Surrogates Place and Ambivalence in the Popular Arts Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan of the Apes: Timeless Surrogate Related Contemporaries and Descendants of Tarzan The Ape-Man's Modern Descendants and Remote Relatives Stewardship: Reconnection with the Natural World The Human Niche and Defining a Personal Environmental Ethic Cultural Sources for a Restored Relationship Toward a National Environmental Ethic Bibliography Index
An optical oxygen sensor and reaction vessel for high-pressure applications

We describe a simple hyperbaric chamber and optical oxygen probe (optrode), which is based on the dynamic fluorescent quenching of a ruthenium metal complex, that can be used to measure changes in oxygen concentration in either aqueous or gaseous media. Initial experiments illustrate the utility of this robust form of sensor. The optrode showed a typical response time of ,10 s, a linear temperature response with greater fluorescent quenching at lower temperatures, and was unaffected by pressures as great as 34.4 mPa (340 atm). Yeast cultures measured at 27.8 mPa (275 atm) showed an up to ninefold decrease in respiration rate compared to cells at 1 atm. The oxygen optrode is a simple and rugged device that appears exceptionally well suited for experimentation under conditions in which polarographic electrodes or conventional chemical analysis is difficult, e.g., at high or variable pressures. The ability to measure concentrations of molecular oxygen easily and accurately in gaseous, aqueous, or biological fluid samples is of primary importance in a large number of medical, biological, and physical studies. Most physiological and biological investigations that require the measurement of oxygen concentration commonly employ amperometric or potentiometric membrane-diffusion electrodes (i.e., polarographic or Clark-type electrodes, after Clark 1956; Kahn 1964) or utilize classic Winkler titration (based on redox chemistry). Unfortunately, these methods are inadequate for sensing in many situations. The Winkler titration is laborious and is not suitable for continuous noninvasive monitoring of oxygen concentrations. Electrodes tend to be fragile, easily fouled, consume oxygen during the measurement process, and are very susceptible to stirring effects as well as fluctuations in temperature and external pressure (see summary in Wolfbeis 1991). Optical sensors (optrodes) for measuring environmental parameters such as gas concentration, temperature, and ion presence are now starting to be used more frequently, particularly in those instances when measurements must be made under ‘‘extreme’’ conditions. The pioneering efforts of J. Peterson, O. Wolfbeis, and I. Klimant, as well as J. Bacon and J. Demas and their colleagues, have resulted in the engineering of several unique oxygen optrodes that are typically much more robust than their chemical or electrode counterparts (Peterson et al. 1984; Wolfbeis et al. 1986; Bacon and Demas 1987; Wolfbeis 1991). These sensors do not consume oxygen, have predictable temperature responses, 1
Synchronous Motors Design and Application to Meet Special Requirements

Many present day applications of synchronous motors call for modifications of normal motor characteristics, as regards starting torques, thermal capacity of the starting winding, synchronizing ability, maximum synchronous torque, and mechanical design. The salient-pole motor with squirrel-cage amortisseur winding has advantages over other types which have led to the general adoption of this type as standard. Without abandoning this form, the starting and the synchronous characteristics can be adjusted to meet a variety of requirements by changing the proportions of the design and by using special forms of control equipment. Other forms, such as the synchronous induction motor, the phase-wound damper motor, and the supersynchronous motor, are sometimes justified for meeting strict starting current limitations or for accelerating extremely heavy inertia loads. In the mechanical design of machines for definite space requirements, fabricated construction allows changes in construction to be made at small expense, and often permits motors to be built integral with the driven machine.
Effect of Collimator Selection on Tumor Detection for Dedicated Nuclear Breast Imaging Systems

The effect of collimation on the detection of small (<1 cm) breast tumors with dedicated nuclear breast imaging systems was determined. A breast phantom modeling tumors 4-9 mm in diameter was imaged with three dedicated systems (GE Medical Prototype CZT, Gamma Medica LumaGEM 3200 s, and Digirad 2020 tc), and a conventional gamma camera (Elscint Helix) using a variety of system-specific and generic collimators ranging from LEUHS to LEUHR. Acquisitions were performed using clinically relevant count densities determined from analysis of patient exams. Tumors were placed at depths of 1, 3, and 5 cm from the collimator in a 6-cm-thick breast, and tumor-to-background ratio was varied from 3:1 to 35:1. Tumor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was measured in each image. SNR measurements showed that an all-purpose or high sensitivity collimator is optimal for the detection of small tumors close to the collimator face. The three pixilated systems gave similar results and performed significantly better than the conventional gamma camera
Combining evidence using likelihood ratios in writer verification

Forensic identification is the task of determining whether or not observed evidence arose from a known source. It involves determining a likelihood ratio (LR) – the ratio of the joint probability of the evidence and source under the identification hypothesis (that the evidence came from the source) and under the exclusion hypothesis (that the evidence did not arise from the source). In LR- based decision methods, particularly handwriting comparison, a variable number of input evidences is used. A decision based on many pieces of evidence can result in nearly the same LR as one based on few pieces of evidence. We consider methods for distinguishing between such situations. One of these is to provide confidence intervals together with the decisions and another is to combine the inputs using weights. We propose a new method that generalizes the Bayesian approach and uses an explicitly defined discount function. Empirical evaluation with several data sets including synthetically generated ones and handwriting comparison shows greater flexibility of the proposed method.
Physically Based Modeling Simulation Testbed for Robotic Exploration of a Martian Surface

A rover’s performance on extraterrestrial terrain can be predicted by simulating the physical components of the rover, its environment, a nd all of the physical interactions in the rover -terrain system. Existing computer simulation software has two characteristics that can be improved upon. First, most simulations treat terrain as a solid geometric surface and use theoretical physics to pred ict interactions with a rover. However, since soil or sand is usually a semi -fluid solid, this modeling technique disregards some of the important material properties of the terrain. Second, simulations that do use physically based modeling with finite ele ment methods are very computationally intensive and require uncommonly powerful computers. The goal of this project is to create a physically based modeling software that runs on standard personal computers which can accurately simulate the interaction of Mars rovers with the Martian terrain and predict the performance of various rover designs on different terrain conditions. The simulation allows the user to set parameters such as the slope, friction, and other material properties of the surface, and give the rover initial conditions such as total available power and rover starting position. When running the simulation, the program can instantaneously extract rover performance data and output the data to a text file. The performance parameters of concern in clude the rover’s instantaneous position, velocity, and wheel slippage. The user has the option to choose from two methods to simulate the Martian soil. The first is the standard method that most existing simulation software uses, which treats the ground a s a large solid surface. The second method represents soil as a bed of line segments that can be deformed according to the interactions with the rover. Due to the semi -fluid nature of soil, the standard modeling technique is suspected to have difficulty in describing the motion of the soil as caused by the force of the rover’s wheels exerted on it, thereby creating inaccuracies in the model. In this study, we are particularly interested in determining whether this dynamic modeling technique gives a more acc urate simulation of real soil than the standard method.
A proton channel allows a hydrogen oxidation catalyst to operate at a moderate overpotential with water acting as a base

We report the incorporation of a simple enzyme-inspired proton channel onto a hydrogen oxidation catalyst. This modification facilitates proton transfer and lowers the overpotential for oxidation of H2 by 300 mV when using water as a base.
Energy concentration of high-protein, low-oligosaccharide, and conventional full fat de-hulled soybeans fed to growing pigs

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the energy concentration in de-hulled full fat soybeans (FFSB). Conventional (FFSB-CV; 435 g crude protein (CP)/kg and 241 g acid hydrolyzed ether extract (AEE)/kg), high-protein (FFSB-HP; 502 g CP/kg and 205 g AEE/kg), and low-oligosaccharide (FFSB-LO; 468 g CP/kg and 211 g AEE/kg) varieties of de-hulled FFSB were used. The digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in the 3 sources of de-hulled FFSB were determined using 24 growing barrows (initial BW: 28.3 ± 3.7 kg). A corn-based basal diet and 3 diets containing corn and each source of de-hulled FFSB were formulated. Pigs were placed in metabolism cages and randomly allotted to the 4 diets with 6 replicate pigs per diet. After a 5 d adaptation period, feces and urine were collected for 5 d. The DE and ME in each source of de-hulled FFSB were calculated using the difference procedure. The concentrations of DE and ME in de-hulled FFSB-CV, FFSB-HP, and FFSB-LO were 18.8 ± 1.17 and 17.4 ± 1.36; 20.0 ± 1.62 and 18.3 ± 1.87; and 19.7 ± 1.63 and 18.1 ± 2.16 MJ/kg dry matter, respectively, but no significant differences among the 3 sources of de-hulled FFSB were observed. In conclusion, the same energy values can be used for de-hulled high-protein and low-oligosaccharide varieties of soybeans as the values used for de-hulled conventional soybeans.