cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cholecystectomy and Liver Disease in Short Bowel Syndrome

Recently, an association has been proposed between cholecystectomy and various liver diseases. Our aim was to determine whether cholecystectomy in short bowel patients influences the risk of liver disease. We reviewed 422 adults: 182 underwent cholecystectomy prior to short bowel, 102 after developing short bowel, and 138 patients still had the gallbladder in place. Compared to pre and post short bowel, gallbladder patients were significantly less likely to have obesity (18 % and 21 % vs 9 %), central line infections (59 % and 69 % vs 46 %), intestine 1 year (72 % and 77 % vs 64 %). The incidence of fatty liver was similar (31, 26, and 25 %). Fibrosis/cirrhosis was less common in the gallbladder group (26 % and 36 % vs 16 %). Frequency of end-stage liver disease was similar (15, 22, and 11 %). On multivariate analysis, cholecystectomy, parenteral nutrition >1 year, line infection, and intestine 1 year, line infection, and intestine <60 cm were predictors of end-stage liver disease. Cholecystectomy does not appear to increase the incidence of liver disease in short bowel patients overall. Fibrosis/cirrhosis occurs significantly less frequently in patients with an intact gallbladder.
Communicating Price‐Quality Relationships

Despite myriad studies concerning the effects of price on perceived-quality, the results are inconsistent. These inconsistencies have prompted the call for greater theory development to help provide a more comprehensive understanding of the process through which consumers develop perceived-quality. A theory the Elaboration Likelihood Model, could be applied to suggest that it is essential to identify the level of involvement when predicting the effects of variables on perceived-quality. Yet, previously reported perceived-quality research has not examined whether a change in price also changes the level of involvement. The impact of price savings on the level of involvement was examined in the experiment reported in this paper. Results of this research suggest that communicating price savings can affect the level of involvement. Experimental results also suggest that consumers with high involvement develop their attitudes and perceptions of technical quality from a careful evaluation of the arguments presented in the message. Conversely, consumers with low involvement lack motivation to evaluate those arguments and they have little effect on attitudes or perception of technical quality. Consequently, the experimental results support the Elaboration Likelihood Model.
Atomic Beam Frequency Standards

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the various aspects of the atomic beam frequency standards. A description of the spectrum upon which the cesium standard is based is presented. The quantum transitions employed in present day atomic beam standards occur between the hyperfine levels in the ground state of the alkali metal cesium. The hyperfine splitting arises because of the interaction between the magnetic moment of the nucleus and the magnetic field produced by the valence electron at the position of the nucleus. The vector model is a simple and useful concept for the analysis of the fine and hyperfine structure of atoms in either very weak or very strong externally applied fields. The atomic trajectories and deflections can be calculated rather simply for the elementary field configurations ordinarily used in the deflecting fields of atomic beam machines. The beam intensity and intensity distribution are elaborated. The transition probability for two separated oscillating fields is also described.
Repeated Errors in Motor Learning

Analysis was made of the error records of three- groups of Ss carrying out two blocks of practice with the discrimination reaction timer. During the first block, an attempt was made to vary S-s ‘ commitment ’ to wrong responses by modelling the practice of the second group, and the observation of the third group, upon the responses of the control group-It was shown that, during the course of learning, Ss tend increasingly to repeat specific errors. Some support was found for the hypothesis that Ss learn the errors which they commit, although the contribution of early errors to the distribution of later errors was small and must be considered largely nonspecific. The method used to vary the degree of commitment had little effect.
A generalized approach to formulate the consistent tangent stiffness in plasticity with application to the GLD porous material model

Abstract It has been shown that the use of the consistent tangent moduli is crucial for preserving the quadratic convergence rate of the global Newton iterations in the solution of the incremental problem. In this paper, we present a general method to formulate the consistent tangent stiffness for plasticity. The robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach are examined by applying it to the isotropic material with J2 flow plasticity and comparing the performance and the analysis results with the original implementation in the commercial finite element program ABAQUS. The proposed approach is then applied to an anisotropic porous plasticity model, the Gologanu–Leblond–Devaux model. Performance comparison between the consistent tangent stiffness and the conventional continuum tangent stiffness demonstrates significant improvement in convergence characteristics of the overall Newton iterations caused by using the consistent tangent matrix.
Improved synthesis and deployment of (2S,3R)-2-(2Z,5Z-octadienyl)-3-nonyloxirane, a pheromone of the pink moth, Lymantria mathura.

We report two new syntheses of (2S,3R)-2-(2Z,5Z-octadienyl)-3-nonyloxirane, the main sex pheromone component of the pink moth, Lymantria mathura. The key step in the first route was the construction of (Z,Z)-1-bromo-1,4-heptadiene (6), which was coupled in the final step with 2-iodomethyl-3-nonyloxirane 4 via a Grignard reaction. The second approach employed alkylation of 1,4-heptadiynyllithium with epoxy triflates 7 in ether/hexane and provided the pheromone in ≥37% overall yield from alcohol 2. The 4:1 ratio of pheromone enantiomers, reportedly the most attractive to pink moth males, can be directly crafted from appropriately selected Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation conditions. Keywords: Pink moth; Lymantria mathura; (2S,3R)-2-(2Z,5Z-octadienyl)-3-nonyloxirane; (3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-9,10-epoxy-3,6-nonadecadiene; pheromone; syntheses
Relaxation oscillations, subharmonic orbits and chaos in the dynamics of a linear lattice with a local essentially nonlinear attachment

We study the dynamic interactions between traveling waves propagating in a linear lattice and a lightweight, essentially nonlinear and damped local attachment. Correct to leading order, we reduce the dynamics to a strongly nonlinear damped oscillator forced by two harmonic terms. One of the excitation frequencies is characteristic of the traveling wave that impedes to the attachment, whereas the other accounts for local lattice dynamics. These two frequencies are energy-independent; a third energy-dependent frequency is present in the problem, characterizing the nonlinear oscillation of the attachment when forced by the traveling wave. We study this three-frequency strongly nonlinear problem through slow-fast partitions of the dynamics and resort to action-angle coordinates and Melnikov analysis. For damping below a critical threshold, we prove the existence of relaxation oscillations of the attachment; these oscillations are associated with enhanced targeted energy transfer from the traveling wave to the attachment. Moreover, in the limit of weak or no damping, we prove the existence of subharmonic oscillations of arbitrarily large periods, and of chaotic motions. The analytical results are supported by numerical simulations of the reduced order model.
Chorioamnion plugging and the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes after laser surgery in twin–twin transfusion syndrome

Objective To examine the incidence of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) in pregnancies affected by twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) treated with laser photocoagulation where an absorbable gelatin sponge was used as a chorioamnion sealant of the fetoscopic access port. Method A retrospective review was undertaken of consecutive cases undergoing fetoscopic directed laser surgery for TTTS between October 2006 and November 2008 at Texas Children's Fetal Center, in which an absorbable gelatin sponge, used as a chorioamnion ‘plug’, was placed at the conclusion of the intervention as a possible prophylactic measure to prevent PPROM. We excluded cases that had a failure of plug placement and those in which it was not attempted. PPROM was defined as rupture of membranes before 34 weeks' gestation. A comparison was performed between the PPROM group and a no-PPROM group to determine risk factors and outcomes. Results Successful plug placement occurred in 79 of 84 cases (94%) in which it was attempted after laser surgery, with a rate of PPROM of 34% in these patients. PPROM occurred at an average gestational age of 26.5 ± 3.6 weeks, with an average procedure-to-PPROM interval of 5.2 ± 3.5 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences between the PPROM group and the no-PPROM group in maternal demographics or preoperative parameters including: amniotic fluid volumes in the recipient twin's gestational sac, volume of amnioreduction, and location of the placenta. The procedure-to-delivery interval for the total cohort (n = 79) was 9.2 ± 4.7 weeks, without a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.08). However, after exclusion of one PPROM outlier, the PPROM group had an average procedure-to-delivery time 2 weeks shorter than the group with no PPROM (P = 0.03). The live birth rates were similar in the PPROM and no-PPROM groups, at 77 and 73%, respectively. However, the average recipient's weight in the PPROM group was significantly lower than in the no-PPROM group (1321 ± 493 vs. 1705 ± 576 g; P = 0.02). Conclusion The rate of PPROM and the mean gestational age at delivery in pregnancies in which an absorbable gelatin sponge was used as a sealant of the fetoscopic port following laser photocoagulation for TTTS were comparable to those that have been reported by other laser centers where membrane sealants were not used. A randomized controlled trial should be considered to evaluate the effect of chorioamnion plugging. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolution of the magnetic ground state in the electron-doped antiferromagnet CaMnO 3

Measurements of the specific heat on the system ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{x}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}(xl~0.10)$ are reported. Particular attention is paid to the effect that doping the parent compound with electrons by substitution of La for Ca has on the magnetic ground state. The high- $(Tg40$ K) temperature data reveal that doping decreases ${T}_{N}$ from 122 K for the undoped sample to 103 K for $x=0.10.$ The low temperature $(Tl20$ K) heat-capacity data are consistent with phase separation. The undoped sample displays a finite density of states and typical antiferromagnetic behavior. The addition of electrons in the $xl~0.03$ samples creates local ferromagnetism as evidenced by a decreased internal field and the need to add a ferromagnetic component to the heat-capacity data for $x=0.03.$ Further substitution enhances the ferromagnetism as evidenced by the formation of a long-range ferromagnetic component to the undoped antiferromagnetic structure. The results are consistent with a scenario involving the formation of isolated ferromagnetic droplets for small x that start to overlap for $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.06$ giving rise to long range ferromagnetism coexisting with antiferromagnetism.
BEYOND CORPORATE STRATEGY

Up until now, strategic planning has been done primarily at the business unit and corporate levels. The growing complexity and interdependence of the business environment argues for a new concept of strategy. Companies must begin to view strategy from a collectivistic perspective. Only by collective action will companies be able to meet the challenges ahead.
Memory Equilibria in Two-Person Dynamic Games

The cooperative game with two players controlling a dynamic discrete-time deterministic system is considered. The cooperation is realized through the usage of memory equilibrium strategies enabling the players to formulate retaliation threats which prevent violation in the course of the game of an agreement negotiated at the beginning of the game. Several interesting properties of memory equilibria reflecting particular aspects of bargaining in the dynamic and imperfectly deterministic environment are discussed and illustrated by an example from the area of international relations.
Expression of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 by Follicular Dendritic Cells

Follicular dendritic cells are the major supporting cell of the germinal center microenvironment. The major function of follicular dendritic cells is to present antigen to B cells in secondary lymphoid tissuey. Through cell-cell interactions, FDCs are hypothesized to be central to the regulation of normal B cell growth and differentiation. The major receptor-ligand pair which mediates B cell-FDC adhesion is the βl integrin VLA-4, present on B cells and VCAM-I expressed on FDCs. Follicular nun-Hodgkin's lymphomas similarly employ this mechanism to bind to neoplastic germinal centers. The VCAM-I molecule can exist as a 6 or 7 immunoglobulin domain form. The major form of VCAM-I on activated endothelium is the 7 domain form. In this report we have determined by polymerase chain reaction of purified FDCs that they express predominantly mRNA for 7 domain VCAM-I. It is likely that the two forms of VCAM-I are associated with distinct functions, therefore the expression of 7 domain VCAM-I may be important in norm...
Role of nigral dopamine in amphetamine-induced locomotor activity.

Dopamine (100 μg) injected into the substantia nigra pars reticulata of rats pretreated with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, resulted in a stimulation of locomotor activity. Bilateral injection of the dopamine antagonist haloperidol (5 μg) into the substantia nigra pars reticulata resulted in a reduction of the locomotor activity evoked by a low dose of amphetamine (1.25 mg/kg s.c.). These results suggest that the release of dopamine from nigral dendrites is involved in amphetamine-induced locomotor activity.
Growth of alkali halides from molecular beams: Global growth characteristics.

Alkali-halide single crystals are shown to grow from molecular beams under conditions systematically different from those for metals and elemental semiconductors, for reasons related to ionic bonding. Heteroepitaxy, and the occurrence of epitaxially stabilized new alkali-halide alloys and compounds, are discussed.
Pore volume distribution of artificial skin by liquid extrusion analysis

Liquid extrusion pore volume analysis was used to characterize the pore structure of the collagen-based artificial skin material developed by Yannas and Burke.1 This technique is based on following the liquid loss from a saturated porous material as the pressure gradient across the material is increased. From the measured increments of volume of liquid drained at successively increasing pressures, each of which corresponds to a given pore radius, one obtains a cumulative pore volume curve as a function of pore radius from which pore volume distributions can be calculated. Using a nonswelling liquid (hexadecane) and a swelling liquid (aqueous surfactant solution), the effects of crosslinking and the method of drying were examined. In hexadecane, the median pore size of the uncrosslinked material is 25 μm, while for the crosslinked material, it is 115 μm. In water, the free volume of the crosslinked material is 36 mm3/mg, while for the uncrosslinked material it is an order of magnitude less. Sublimative drying provides a material with a total free volume of 55 mm3/mg, while evaporative drying collapses the porous structure to give a material with a total free volume of 8 mm3/mg. The liquid extrusion technique is relatively simple and allows pores to be measured in swollen materials in terms of their accessibility to skin cells. This method of pore characterization is considered more relevant for artificial skin than is a purely geometric characterization of pore dimensions.
Beryllium Doping in MBE-grown GaAs and AlGaAs

Beryllium is an effective p-dopant in GaAs and AlGaAs and plays an important role in device characterizations of hetero bipolar transistors. This work addresses the doping and mobility properties for two series of beryllium-doped samples: GaAs and AlGaAs. Within each series the doping ranged between 3×1015cm-3 to levels of 5×1019cm-3. Mobility and carrier concentrations were obtained through Hall and Polaron measurements. The doping concentration results suggest the onset of carrier compensation at higher doping levels. One possible explanation is that for high doping levels, Be is incorporated as interstitial donors. A thermodynamic model is used to explain the observations.
Factors contributing to infant overfeeding in low-income immigrant Latina mothers.

Abstract Background Approximately 10% of U.S. infants and toddlers are considered overweight. Hispanic infants persistently show higher prevalence rates for being overweight compared to other infants. Little is known about factors promoting excessive infant weight gain in Latinos. Purpose The aim of this study was to describe multidimensional factors and maternal feeding practices that may correlate with infant overfeeding in Latina mothers. Methods Participants were 62 low-income immigrant Latina mothers and their infants. Study measures were: acculturation; maternal feeding beliefs and practices; food availability; temperament; 24-hour dietary recall; and infant's weight-for-height z score. Results In regression models adjusted for infant's age, healthier feeding practices were significantly predicted by maternal education and infant's age. Most mothers preferred feeding their infants either formula or a combination of breast milk and formula. A significant proportion of the infants were overweight or obese and yet some mothers displayed difficulty recognizing this problem. Conclusion Future intervention efforts should focus primarily on the promotion of healthy feeding practices that discourage overfeeding and support exclusive breastfeeding among this ethnic group.
Evaluation of the Reinforcing Effects of Monoamine Reuptake Inhibitors Under a Concurrent Schedule of Food and i.v. Drug Delivery in Rhesus Monkeys

Most medications prescribed for attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder are psychomotor stimulants with reinforcing effects in laboratory animals (eg methylphenidate). The present studies were conducted to evaluate the reinforcing effects of the recently approved medication atomoxetine in monkeys trained to ‘choose’ between automated deliveries of either an i.v. injection or food. Rhesus monkeys were trained to lever-press under concurrent schedules of reinforcement; responses on one lever resulted in an injection of either saline or drug, and responses on the alternative lever resulted in food delivery. Data were collected on four measures: response rates, percentage of total responses occurring on the injection-lever (% ILR), number of injections earned, and number of food pellets earned. Dose–effect functions were determined for cocaine (0.003–0.3 mg/kg/inj), methylphenidate (0.003–0.1 mg/kg/inj), amphetamine (0.003–0.1 mg/kg/inj), atomoxetine (0.01–0.3 mg/kg/inj), and desipramine (0.03–1.0 mg/kg/inj) using a double alternation schedule of saline and drug availability. Results indicate that the distribution of behavior changed according to the drug and dose available for self-injection. Saline availability was typically associated with high rates of food-maintained responding. The % ILR increased from 3±1% when saline was available to >90% when >0.03 mg/kg/inj of cocaine, methylphenidate or d-amphetamine was available. However, no dose of atomoxetine or desipramine maintained self-administration behavior on the injection-lever. The number of food pellets earned per session decreased as the dose of each drug increased, indicative of behavioral activity with all five drugs. The reinforcing effects of cocaine, methylphenidate, and d-amphetamine in these studies are consistent with previous findings in nonhuman primates and with their documented abuse liability. The absence of reinforcing effects of atomoxetine support the view that, like desipramine, it has no evident abuse potential.
(1/a)-self similar a-stable processes with stationary increments

In this note we settle a question posed by Kasahara, Maejima, and Vervaat. We show that the α-stable Levy motion is the only (1α)-self-similar α-stable process with stationary increments if 0 < α < 1. We also introduce new classes of (1α)-self-similar α-stable processes with stationary increments for 1 < α < 2.
Social status gates social attention in monkeys.

Document S1. Supplemental Experimental ProceduresxDownload (.08 MB ) Document S1. Supplemental Experimental Procedures
Nonembeddable Factors of the Enveloping Algebras of Semisimple Lie Algebras

It is shown that the enveloping algebra of every (finite dimensional, complex) semisimple Lie algebra has a factor ring which cannot be embedded in any Artinian ring. The proof helps to clarify the connection between primary decomposition and embeddability, which was obscured in the original proof [3] that U(sl2(C)) admits a nonembeddable factor.
Effect of acylated amino acids and acylated amino acid analogs on microbial antitumor screen.

A series of N-acetyl, N-propionyl, and N-chloroacetyl derivatives of amino acids and amino acid analogs was tested for growth-inhibitory activity using a Lactobacillus casei system as a prescreen for possible antitumor activity. While none of the acetyl or propionyl derivatives of these amino acids and amino acid analogs caused any remarkable inhibition, certain chloroacetyl derivatives exhibited significant activity. The chloroacetyl derivatives, especially those of essential amino acids and of analogs of essential amino acids, showed modest, but pharmacologically significant, inhibition; those of nonessential amino acids exhibited no activity. When two such inhibitory acyl derivatives were combined in a single assay, the extent of inhibition was neither additive nor synergistic but was that of the more active of the two test components.
Quasioptical Microwave And Millimeter-Wave Power Combining

Quasioptical techniques have been studied recently for use in microwave and millimeter-wave power combining. Systems of self-excited sources have shown some promise, but raise significant questions about stability and efficiency. The current state of the art in this area is reviewed.
Optical Spectra of Cu2+ and Ni2+ in Intermediate Aluminate Spinels

Optical absorption spectra were determined for well characterized intermediate spinels, NiAl2O4 and CuAl2O4, equilibrated over a range of temperatures. The absorption spectra were interpreted satisfactorily in terms of crystal field theory and were consistent with results of detailed X-ray analyses. Covalent bonding caused some band shifts and changes in the ratio Dq(tetr. coord.)/Dq(oct. coord.) and the net stabilization energies of the transition metal cation.
Demography, social structure and learning through life

The modernisation of the Western world during the last two centuries has been a mix of industrialisation/computerisation and urbanisation. Consequently, reports on the future of adult learning and ...
Constrained shape optimization of airfoil cascades using a Navier-Stokes solver and a genetic/SQP algorithm

The objective in this aerodynamic shape design effort is to minimize total pressure loss across the two-dimensional linear airfoil cascade row while satisfying a number of constraints. They included fixed axial chord, total torque, inlet and exit flow angles, and blade cross-section area, while maintaining thickness distribution greater than a minimum specified value. The aerodynamic shape optimization can be performed by using any available flow-field analysis code. For the analysis of the performance of intermediate cascade shapes we used an unstructured grid based compressible Navier-Stokes flow-field analysis code with k-e turbulence model. A robust genetic optimization algorithm was used for optimization and a constrained sequential quadratic programming was used enforcement of certain constraints. The airfoil geometry was parameterized using conic section parameters and B-splines thus keeping the number of geometric design variables to a minimum while achieving a high degree of geometric flexibility and robustness. Significant reductions of the total pressure loss were achieved using this constrained method for a supersonic exit flow axial turbine cascade.Copyright © 1999 by ASME
Experimental study of enhanced melting process under ultrasonic influence

The effects of ultrasonic vibrations on the melting process of phase change material (PCM) in a rectangular vessel were experimentally investigated. A constant heat flux from a vertical heating plate was provided to the PCM. Ultrasonic vibrations were applied through a bottom plate of the enclosure. Three different heat fluxes and various ultrasonic frequencies in the range of 15 to 55 KHz were tested. The heat transfer coefficients on the heating plate, the solid-liquid interface shape, and the temperature distributions in the PCM during a complete melting process were measured at various experimental conditions. The results show that the overall melting phenomena was significantly affected by the ultrasonic vibrations and the change in frequency of the ultrasonic waves.
Systematic review: pharmacological and behavioral treatment for trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a psychiatric condition characterized by compulsive hair pulling. Three interventions have been studied in the treatment of trichotillomania: habit-reversal therapy (HRT) and pharmacotherapy with either selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or clomipramine. This systematic review compared the efficacy of these interventions in blinded, randomized clinical trials. The electronic databases of Medline, Premedline, PsychINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for relevant trials using the search terms "trichotillomania" or "hair pulling." Trials were eligible for inclusion if they compared habit-reversal therapy, SSRI pharmacotherapy, or clomipramine pharmacotherapy to each other or placebo and employed randomization and blinded assessment of outcome. Our primary outcome measure was mean change in trichotillomania severity. The summary statistic was standardized mean difference. Seven studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Overall, meta-analysis demonstrated that habit-reversal therapy (effect size [ES] = -1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.89, -.38) was superior to pharmacotherapy with clomipramine (ES = -.68, 95% CI = -1.28, -.07) or SSRI (ES = .02, 95% CI = -.32, .35). Clomipramine was more efficacious than placebo, while there was no evidence to demonstrate that SSRI are more efficacious than placebo in the treatment of trichotillomania. Future studies on trichotillomania should seek to determine if HRT can demonstrate efficacy against more rigorous control conditions that account for non-specific effects of therapy and determine if HRT can be an effective intervention for trichotillomania beyond the few sites where it is currently practiced in research studies. Future therapy and pharmacotherapy studies in trichotillomania should employ larger sample sizes and intention-to-treat analysis and seek to validate clinical rating scales of trichotillomania severity.
Treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defect with overnight wear of a prosthetic device for the ocular surface.

Purpose To report experience in the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defect using overnight wear of a prosthetic device for the ocular surface. Design Retrospective interventional case series. Methods A clinical database of patients who underwent prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem (PROSE) treatment from March 2003 to August 2008 was searched to identify patients treated for persistent corneal epithelial defect. In early 2003, overnight wear of a PROSE device and addition of commercially available, nonpreserved, topical ophthalmic moxifloxacin to the saline in the device reservoir became standard practice at this center when treating persistent corneal epithelial defect. Medical records were abstracted to obtain underlying diagnoses, previous treatments, days to re-epithelialization, and complications for subsequent analysis. Results PROSE treatment incorporating overnight wear, with adjunctive use of moxifloxacin, was employed in 20 eyes of 19 patients for a total of 372 days. Re-epithelialization occurred in 17 of 20 eyes. Median duration of treatment incorporating overnight wear was 8.5 days (range = 2-76 days). Healing occurred in ≤7 days in 12 eyes, 8-14 days in 3 eyes, and >14 days in 2 eyes (range = 1-35 days). There were no cases of microbial keratitis. Conclusions Overnight wear of a PROSE device is effective in promoting healing of persistent corneal epithelial defect. In comparison to an earlier series from this center, the rate of microbial keratitis as a complication of treatment has been reduced with the use of a nonpreserved topical fourth-generation fluoroquinolone in the device reservoir.
Relations between faculty use of online academic resources and student class attendance

We investigated connections between faculty use of online resources and student class attendance. Of particular interest was whether online submission of course assignments is detrimental to attendance. Students and faculty at a small, liberal arts college completed surveys about student attendance patterns, student reasons for non-attendance, varieties of online resources used by faculty, and perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of online resources. Almost one third (31%) of students indicated they were less likely to attend class if allowed to submit assignments online. In contrast, most faculty (94%) did not perceive online assignment submission as a threat to attendance, and no significant difference in reported absence rate was found between faculty who used this option and those who did not. Moreover, a higher number of course materials provided online by faculty was associated with fewer absences. Implications for training of faculty in use of electronic resources and recommendations for additional research on this topic are discussed.
Reappearance of Linac Bunch Structure on Booster Bunches during Capture and Acceleration

During adiabatic capture and initial 30 MHz beam bunching in the Fermilab Booster very high frequency structure is observed on the bunches. The structure has the appearance of a bunch shape oscillation instability which appears and disappears in a sporadic manner. A computer simulation of injection dynamics reveals the fact that the observed structure is related to re-appearance of the injected linac bunch structure after relocation within the booster phase space.
Projective-symmetric spaces

Gy. Soos [1] and B. Gupta [2] have discussed the properties of Riemannian spaces V n ( n > 2) in which the first covariant derivative of Weyl's projective curvature tensor is everywhere zero; such spaces they call Protective-Symmetric spaces . In this paper we wish to point out that all Riemannian spaces with this property are symmetric in the sense of Cartan [3]; that is the first covariant derivative of the Riemann curvature tensor of the space vanishes. Further sections are devoted to a discussion of projective-symmetric af fine spaces A n with symmetric af fine connexion. Throughout, the geometrical quantities discussed will be as defined by Eisenhart [4] and [5].
An SC-MEH molecular orbital study of HCo(CO)4 and Co(CO)4

Abstract The Self Consistent Modified Extended Huckel (SC-MEH) molecular orbital method has been applied to the HCo(CO) 4 and Co(CO) 4 molecules. The results show that the highest occupied orbitals are predominantly ligand in character, which is at variance with other published calculations. Computation of the UV and photoelectron spectra, bond energy and some associated parameters, and magnetic hyperfine parameters of Co(CO) 4 have been carried out and found to be in exceptionally good agreement with experiment. The reported results also provide an acceptable rationalization for the observed photolysis and homolytic activity of the HCo(CO) 4 molecule.
Quasi-elastic light scattering spectroscopy of single biological cells under a microscope

A microscope laser light scattering setup has been developed that allows to carry out the intensity autocorrelation spectroscopy of the light scattered from a volume as small as (2 . tm)3. This noninvasive technique makes cytoplasmic studies possible inside single live biological cells. The technique has been proven powerful as revealed in the studies of hemoglobin aggregation within sickle red blood cells crystallin synthesis in the lens fiber cells and secretion of protein containing granules in the acinar cells. 1.
In vitro and in vivo respirable fractions of isopropanol treated PLGA microspheres using a dry powder inhaler

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatment with isopropanol on the in vitro and in vivo distribution of poly ( d , l -lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres from a dry powder inhaler (DPI). 111In-labeled PLGA microspheres were prepared by solvent extraction/evaporation in order to determine the in vitro/in vivo respirable fraction (RF) and deposition pattern in the respiratory tract (RT) of an animal model. The in vitro RF, determined by cascade impaction, was significantly larger than that of untreated microspheres while the in vivo deposition in the RT, via intranasal administration using a breathing chamber, was two-fold larger for the isopropanol treated microspheres. About 20–30% of the radioactivity recovered from the RT was deposited beyond the trachea. Formulation strategies for powders in DPIs which maximize turbulence and minimize pressure drop should provide increased RFs, thereby providing more useful targeting to the pulmonary area.
The Effectiveness and Safety of Brimonidine as Mono-, Combination, or Replacement Therapy for Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension: A Post Hoc Analysis of an Open-Label Community Trial

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of brimonidine 0.2% (Alphagan®, Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA) as mono-, combination, or replacement therapy for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The study method was an open-label, comparative clinical evaluation involving 2335 patients. During the 2-month trial, data were collected at baseline (visit 1), month 1 (visit 2), and month 2 (visit 3). Various parameters were evaluated, including glaucoma medications (visit 1), IOP (visit 1- visit 3), and adverse events. A subset cohort of 1254 patients was selected that met specific study criteria. Data from these 1254 patients were used to evaluate adverse events and the change in IOP from visit 1 to visit 3. Patient data were grouped according to specific drug regimen, and drug regimens were categorized into supergroups of mono-, combination, and replacement therapy. The results of the study revealed that the o...
Access to Community Pharmacies by the Elderly in Illinois: A Geographic Information Systems Analysis

Community pharmacies play an important role in maintaining population health in the United States. They are large in number, distribute widely across geographic areas, and operate for long hours. Because the elderly population tends to use more medications and have more frequent interaction with pharmacies and pharmacists, this study was carried out to understand the geographic access to community pharmacies by the elderly in Illinois and to estimate the disparity in the access between rural and urban areas. The addresses of all community pharmacies operating in 2001 were geocoded to identify their locations. The Census 2000 data on demographics at the census block group level was used to estimate the geographic distribution of the Illinois population by age group. Using the centroid of each census block group and the locations of community pharmacies, the distance to a nearest pharmacy for each census block group was calculated. The distance was then weighted to compute the aggregated distance required for the elderly to access a pharmacy. There were 1373 community pharmacies operating in Illinois in 2001. Most pharmacies (93.8%) were located in urban areas. On average, there were 1.27 and 0.38 pharmacies per 10,000 people in urban and rural areas, respectively. The average distance for an elderly person in Illinois to locate a community pharmacy was 0.9 miles in urban areas, but it was six times more (5.9 miles) in rural areas. At least 10% of the rural elderly had to travel more than 11.8 miles to find a community pharmacy, but only 0.1% had to travel more than 20 miles. The geographic access to community pharmacies appears to be appropriate in Illinois. However, a small portion of rural elderly who do not have a pharmacy in their nearby areas may warrant special attention.
In-vivo imaging of retinal nerve fiber layer vasculature: imaging - histology comparison

Although it has been suggested that alterations of nerve fiber layer vasculature may be involved in the etiology of eye diseases, including glaucoma, it has not been possible to examine this vasculature in-vivo. This report describes a novel imaging method, fluorescence adaptive optics (FAO) scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), that makes possible for the first time in-vivo imaging of this vasculature in the living macaque, comparing in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging of this vascular bed. We injected sodium fluorescein intravenously in two macaque monkeys while imaging the retina with an FAO-SLO. An argon laser provided the 488 nm excitation source for fluorescence imaging. Reflectance images, obtained simultaneously with near infrared light, permitted precise surface registration of individual frames of the fluorescence imaging. In-vivo imaging was then compared to ex-vivo confocal microscopy of the same tissue. Superficial focus (innermost retina) at all depths within the NFL revealed a vasculature with extremely long capillaries, thin walls, little variation in caliber and parallel-linked structure oriented parallel to the NFL axons, typical of the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPCs). However, at a deeper focus beneath the NFL, (toward outer retina) the polygonal pattern typical of the ganglion cell layer (inner) and outer retinal vasculature was seen. These distinguishing patterns were also seen on histological examination of the same retinas. Furthermore, the thickness of the RPC beds and the caliber of individual RPCs determined by imaging closely matched that measured in histological sections. This robust method demonstrates in-vivo, high-resolution, confocal imaging of the vasculature through the full thickness of the NFL in the living macaque, in precise agreement with histology. FAO provides a new tool to examine possible primary or secondary role of the nerve fiber layer vasculature in retinal vascular disorders and other eye diseases, such as glaucoma.
Anastomotic coronary vessels in hypoplasia of the right ventricle

Abstract A unique heart with tricuspid atresia, absence of the pulmonic valve, an aneurysm of the base of the pulmonary artery, and a pseudoneoplastic mass of deformed vascular channels in the ventricular septum was described. Histopathologic study of the vessels revealed them to be anastomoses between the normal coronary arterioles and the hypoplastic right ventricle, so their development is attributed to an unusual degree of hyperplasia of normal intramyocardial communications in response to the physiological stimulus of blood regurgitated through the congenitally incompetent pulmonic valve.
Midlatitude nighttime D region ionosphere variability on hourly to monthly time scales

[1] Significant temporal variability of the nighttime D region is well known, but its inaccessibility means that the time scales, magnitudes, and sources for that variability are not well understood. We probed the ionospheric D region by measuring the high‐power broadband very low frequency (VLF) signals launched by lightning and propagating in the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide. We analyzed broadband sferic data of July and August 2005 recorded by our sensors located near Duke University by comparing measured sferic spectra to model results and extracted the height of an assumed exponential electron density profile for each measurement. The measured nighttime D region electron density profile heights showedlarge temporal variations ofseveral kilometers onsomenights andrelatively stable behaviors on others. The measured hourly average heights in 260 h ranged between 82.0 and 87.2 km, with a mean value of 84.9 km and a standard deviation of 1.1 km. The maximum variation in the 5 h period was around just above 4.0 km and the maximum variation in the 1 h period was around 1.3 km, with sharper gradients observed over shorter time periods. We also observed spatial variability as large as 2.0 km over 5° latitudes on some nights and no spatial variability on others. On some nights, the temporal variability exhibited a close correlation with the occurrence rate of lightning discharges under the probed region. This suggests that the direct energy coupling between lightning discharges and lower ionosphere can be a significant source of the D region variability. However, on other nights, the measured height temporal variability showed weak to no correlation with local lightning, displaced lightning (as would be expected for lightning‐induced electron precipitation), or geomagnetic activities. These measurements suggest that nighttime D region variability may be driven by many sources.
A novel flavivirus in the soybean cyst nematode.

Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), is a subterranean root pathogen that causes the most damaging disease of soybean in the USA. A novel nematode virus genome, soybean cyst nematode virus 5 (SbCNV-5), was identified in RNA sequencing data from SCN eggs and second-stage juveniles. The SbCNV-5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA helicase domains had homology to pestiviruses in the family Flaviviridae, suggesting that SbCNV-5 is a positive-polarity ssRNA virus. SbCNV-5 RNA was present in all nematode developmental stages, indicating a transovarial mode of transmission, but is also potentially sexually transmitted via the male. SbCNV-5 was common in SCN laboratory cultures and in nematode populations isolated from the field. Transmission electron microscopy of sections from a female SCN showed virus particles budding from the endoplasmic reticulum and in endosomes. The size of the viral genome was 19 191 nt, which makes it much larger than other known pestiviruses. Additionally, the presence of a methyltransferase in the SbCNV-5 genome is atypical for a pestivirus. When cDNA sequences were mapped to the genome of SbCNV-5, a disproportionate number aligned to the 3' NTR, suggesting that SbCNV-5 produces a subgenomic RNA, which was confirmed by RNA blot analysis. As subgenomic RNAs and methyltransferases do not occur in pestiviruses, we conclude that SbCNV-5 is a new flavivirus infecting SCNs.
The effects of an intervention strategy on children’s heart rates and skill performance

The purpose of this project was to examine the effectiveness of a fitness infusion instructional strategy (FI) on children’s activity levels and skill performance scores. This strategy included aerobic activity within the skill practice tasks and game play. In other words, students performed short bouts of activity between the practice and game/application trials. Participants were 86 fifth‐grade students who participated in six activities over a 24‐week period. The six activities were tennis skills, gymnastics, volleyball skills, floor hockey skills, basketball skills, and softball skills. Results indicated that both the control group and the FI group showed significant gains in skill performance scores from pre to posttest. The primary finding, however, was that the FI group exhibited heart rates that more than doubled those of the control group. These results suggest that infusing fitness into the skill practice and game play does not have a negative impact on skill development. In light of the alarmin...
Anterograde and retrograde transport of neutral sphingomyelinase-2 between the Golgi and the plasma membrane

Abstract The activation of neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) and consequent ceramide production are implicated in many stress-induced signaling pathways. Trafficking of nSMase2 from the Golgi compartment to the plasma membrane (PM) in response to signaling stimuli has been described. However, the precise mechanisms of transport remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the trafficking of nSMase2 between the Golgi and the PM. We show here that V5-nSMase2 localizes at the PM and Golgi in MCF-7 cells and confirm relocalization of nSMase2 to the PM at confluence. Although cycloheximide (CHX) treatment partially inhibited the Golgi localization of GFP-nSMase2, recovery of GFP-nSMase2 to an intracellular compartment was still observed after photobleaching. Moreover, in the presence of CHX, GFP- and V5-nSMase2 co-localized with endosomal/recycling markers. In HEK293 cells, activation of either protein kinase C-alpha or betaII, with the phorbol ester PMA led to relocalization of both wild-type and inactive nSMase2 to the pericentrion, a PKC-dependent subset of recycling endosomes. Finally, inhibition of nSMase2 endocytosis by K + depletion reduced the intracellular pool of nSMase2 and increased nSMase2 activity resulting in elevated ceramide levels. Altogether, these results suggest that nSMase2 traffics from the Golgi to the PM as a membrane protein en route to the cell surface and recycles back to the Golgi through the endosomal/recycling compartment. Moreover, the recycling of nSMase2 from the PM is important for its catalytic regulation.
Analysis of one-dimensional pressure pulse propagation in a closed fluid system

Abstract This paper describes a unique numerical method for linear inviscid fluid hammer analysis based on the method of characteristics. The uniqueness lies in that it uses the analytical solutions of the wave equation in place of the compatibility relatins of the more conventional method of characteristics. The numerical solution is obtained by a simple superposition technique for tracing the waves traveling along each characteristic and extending the solution from one constant time line to the next. Using a predetermined finite difference net of grids with equal spacings, an elimination is made of the spatial interpolation, thereby maintaining the wave amplitudes in their full strength in the numerical procedure. This is in contrast to the case of a nonlinear problem in which the pressure peaks are always flattened to some degree in the interpolation procedure. The computer program NAHAMMER is a system analysis code adequate for short-term pressure transients of most engineering problems of significance involving a moderate pressure source. It considers the simplified one-dimensional, linear, inviscid set of governing equations with an isentropic flow assumption. A closed fluid-network system is considered to be composed of a multiple of one-dimensional pipe sections and components that are connected by various joints. An analytical solution is obtained under an acoustic approximation for a simple system and the result shows good agreement with the numerical solution. As examples of the application of the method, complex problems of engineering importance are calculated and the results are presented.