cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Four-valued logics of truth, non-falsity, exact truth, and material equivalence

The four-valued semantics of Belnap--Dunn logic, consisting of the truth values True, False, Neither, and Both, gives rise to several non-classical logics depending on which feature of propositions we wish to preserve: truth, non-falsity, or exact truth (truth and non-falsity). Interpreting equality of truth values in this semantics as material equivalence of propositions, we can moreover see the equational consequence relation of this four-element algebra as a logic of material equivalence. In this paper we axiomatize all combinations of these four-valued logics, for example the logic of truth and exact truth or the logic of truth and material equivalence. These combined systems are consequence relations which allow us to express implications involving more than one of these features of propositions.
Bone marrow failure syndromes, a practical approach to diagnosis

The inherited bone marrow failure (IBMF) syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders with characteristic quantitative or qualitative abnormalities affecting one or more hematopoietic lineages. IBMF syndromes are due to germline mutations affecting structural proteins or key cellular pathways such as DNA repair, telomerase biology, and ribosomal biosynthesis. These mutations lead to single or multiple peripheral blood cytopenias that either result from an absence of one or more lineages of hematopoietic progenitors in the marrow or to an increase cell death of one or more marrow progenitor lineages. Most IBMF syndromes manifest in childhood, but some are recognized later in life depending on the severity of symptoms. This review we will summarize the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and genetic findings of the most frequent and best studied IBMF syndromes with a special focus on the diagnostic dilemmas which can occur during the work up of a child with suspected a IBMF syndrome.
Heightening Political Awareness in Social Work Students in the 1980s

Abstract Recent history, once again has demonstrated the importance of political decisionmaking in limiting or enhancing social welfare services and the quality of life in this country. This paper explores the needs of undergraduate social work students as they become sensitized to the possibilities and processes of social change, and discusses curriculum goals and classroom techniques aimed at strengthening students' professional commitments to social justice and concerns with social welfare policy.
Intake of Soy Isoflavones Reduces Breast Cancer Incidence among Women in North America

Inconsistency in findings from studies on soy intake and breast cancer risk, particularly among Western populations, has given greater weight to concerns about the safety of soy consumption. We pro...
Macroeconomic Effects of U.S. or Japanese Dominance in Structural Ceramic Technology for Heat Engines

This paper discusses Japan and the United States as the major contenders in the developmental race of structural ceramic components for heat engines. The article examines the growing need for advanced systems that exceed today's gasoline and diesel engines. The advanced systems include adiabatic diesel, Stirling, and gas-turbine engines. Such engines could achieve the high levels of fuel efficiency projected for them provided they contain structural ceramic components that can withstand mechanical stress at high operating temperatures. A recent Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) survey of ceramic fabricators and engine manufacturers identified different areas of U.S. and Japanese technical superiority. The U.S. is considered to be leading in basic research and in engine component testing. Japan probably leads in zirconiabased ceramics and in more focused research directed towards early commercialization of products.
A Profile of the Return-Suprise Relation

The relation of share prices to the information in annual earnings announcements is investigated by measuring return-surprise correlations across partitions of the distribution of earnings or earnings surprise. Correlations in each partition are compared to partitioned correlations from the normal distribution and reveal new insights into the return-surprise relation. In particular, a few extreme events in small firms and value stocks can have a disproportionate influence on estimates of the return-surprise relation. The largest losses and negative surprises are often accompanied by large positive returns during both announcement and pre-announcement periods, resulting in negative and non-normal return-surprise correlations. Large gains and positive surprises also tend to be accompanied by large positive returns, resulting in high and non-normal correlations. Small negative surprises are not highly correlated with return during announcement periods, but are reflected in pre-announcement returns. Although losses are less informative than gains over pre-announcement periods, losses (particularly small losses) are more informative than gains during earnings announcement periods.
Drink, Drank, Drunk: A Social-Political Grammar of Russian Drinking Practices in a Colonial Context

© 2003 David Koester All Rights Reserved The copyright for individual articles in both the print and online version of the Anthropology of East Europe Review is retained by the individual authors. They reserve all rights other than those stated here. Please contact the managing editor for details on contacting these authors. Permission is granted for reproducing these articles for scholarly and classroom use as long as only the cost of reproduction is charged to the students. Commercial reproduction of these articles requires the permission of the authors. The study of everyday life, like everything else in anthropology, is complicated by the consideration of a variety of cultural perspectives. In history, the concept of the everyday was introduced in distinction from the study of important political events and the activities of elites. In ethnological research, on the other hand, it was originally taken to mean the unmarked, unritualized activities –that is, not holidays or specially marked events—that make up the daily life of a society. Drinking practices in Russia disturb the coherence of this ethnological notion of the everyday precisely because the power of drinking plays upon the boundaries between the special occasion and everyday life. Drink marks special occasions. Drinking is a part of daily life. Daily life is thus filled with special occasions and it is the power of special occasions to draw together people across social boundaries such as ethnicity and political hierarchy that plays into the colonial effects of drinking that I will describe.
Neural Mechanisms Underlying Balance Control in Tai Chi

Background and Aims: The efficacy of Tai Chi (TC) to improve neuromuscular response characteristics underlying dynamic balance recovery in balance-impaired seniors at high risk for falling was exami
Hot Radiative Accretion onto a Spinning Neutron Star

(Abridged) A new type of self-similar hot viscous radiative accretion flow onto a rapidly spinning neutron star has recently been discovered. This ``hot brake'' flow forms in the two-temperature zone (close to a central object), but at a sufficiently low accretion rate and a high spin it may extend in the radial direction beyond ~300 Schwarzchild radii into a one-temperature zone. When the spin of the star is small enough, the flow transforms smoothly to an advection-dominated accretion flow. All gas parameters (density, angular velocity, temperature, luminosity, angular momentum flux) except for the radial velocity are independent of the mass accretion rate. The radiative efficiency may be arbitrarily large as M-dot -> 0. The gas angular momentum is transported outward under most conditions, hence the central star is nearly always spun-down. The flow is convectively stable. We also find that themal conduction in the flow is strong enough to make the flow thermally stable. The very fact that the density, temperature and angular velocity of the gas at any radius in the hot brake flow are completely independent of the outer and inner (except for the star spin) boundary conditions implies that the flow cannot be smoothly matched to a general external medium as well as to general conditions on the star surface. We demonstrate that there are two extra self-similar solutions: one bridges the gap between the original solution and the external medium, and another represents a boundary layer between the bulk of the flow and the star surface, in which the gas temperature rapidly drops while the density builds up. Finally, we briefly discuss that a hot brake flow may form around other rapidly spinning compact objects: white dwarfs and black holes.
Assessment of variability within electromorphs of alcohol dehydrogenase in Drosophila melanogaster

Ninety-six isochromosomal lines of Drosophila melanogaster from a natural population were screened electrophoretically for unusual mobility variants at the alcohol dehydrogenase locus, using a total of eight conditions of acrylamide electrophoresis. No additional mobility variation was found among the 50 "slow" and 46 "fast" mobility lines beyond that detected by standard methods of electrophoresis. However, two thermostability variants recovered by R. MILKMAN from a natural population, whose electrophoretic mobilities were previously thought to be distinguishable from those of "standard" alleles, are distinguishable from the standard electromorphs by these procedures. These results suggest that the Adh locus, although polymorphic, does not harbor substantial amounts of "hidden" allelic variability. This study also reports the appearance of substantial mobility variation among isogenic lines that can be induced under specific conditions of sample preparation involving the pretreatment of samples with NAD and acetone. However, genetic analysis demonstrates that this variability cannot be attributed to allelic differences at the structural locus, but instead appears to be dependent upon the concentration of the enzyme in a sample. These results are discussed in relation to the distribution of allelic variation at other enzyme loci.
Performance analysis of an implementation of the Beam and Warming implicit factored scheme on the NCUBE hypercube

A production 3-D Beam and Warming implicit Navier Stokes code has been implemented on the NCUBE hypercube using the grid allocation scheme of J. Bruno and P.R. Capello (see Proc. 3rd Conf. on Hypercube Concurrent Computers and Applications, p.1073-87, 1988). Predicted (32-b) performance on 1024 nodes is 67.1 MFLOPS. Efficiencies of 70% are attainable for implicit algorithms, although constant-memory scaled performance is found to decrease with increasing number of nodes, unlike the case for explicit implementations. >
Geochemical constraints on CaCO3 transport in subsurface sedimentary environments

Abstract Simple models for carbonate transport in subsurface sedimentary environments that do not carefully consider solution chemistry are unable to produce even order of magnitude predictions of the volume of water or time needed to transport calcium carbonate into or out of a carbonate rock unit. We feel that the time intervals necessary for creation or destruction of porosity cannot usually be well established, because the solution chemistry (e.g., PCO2) and flow velocities of ancient waters are generally not determinable. Our calculations also indicate that major changes in porosity of medium- to large-sized carbonate rock units cannot take place by transporting a significant fraction of the calcium carbonate into or out of the rock unit. This conclusion is based on both the time needed for sufficient volumes of water to flow through the unit, and the probable reaction kinetics between the solution and rock that will usually result in relatively sharp reaction fronts. Based on these considerations, we suggest that most changes in porosity in carbonate rocks are the result of the redistribution of material within the rocks, rather than massive importation or exportation of calcium carbonate. However, in some sequences, allochthonous cementation of limestones may occur, because of mobilization of CaCO3 brought about by high effective tectonic stresses and high pore-water fluid pressures.
Preparation and Composition of Mouse Tubular and Glomerular Basement Membranes

Abstract Methods were developed to obtain tubules and glomeruli and their respective basement membranes from mouse kidneys. While the procedures are especially useful for preparing tubules, one method can be used to simultaneously prepare both tubules and glomeruli. Tubules can be obtained from single animals, while a minimum of five animals are required in order to prepare glomeruli. Either minced whole kidneys or dissected cortex tissue is dispersed using a polytron and the desired fractions are obtained by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Discontinuous gradients consisting of 49.5, 53, 57, and 60% sucrose are used in the first method. Following centrifugation, tubules are collected on the 49.5% sucrose layer and glomeruli are pelleted on the bottom of the tube. In the second method, disrupted tissue is mixed with 57% sucrose and after centrifugation a layer of pure tubules is obtained from the top of the sucrose solution. Basement membranes are then obtained by a sonication method and the avera...
Abstract 2462: Overexpression of prostaglandin E2EP4 receptor enhances mouse skin tumorigenesis

Chronic inflammation has recently been suggested to be involved in cancer development, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key mediator of the inflammatory response, is known to be upregulated in several cancers. COX-2 is responsible for the production of prostaglandins, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is the major prostaglandin involved in inflammation. PGE2 binds to four receptors (EP1-EP4), and the EP4 receptor has recently been shown to be important in carcinogenesis depending on the tissue in which it is expressed. To determine the role of EP4 in skin carcinogenesis, transgenic mice were generated that overexpress EP4 in the basal layer of the skin under the control of the bovine keratin 5 promoter (BK5.EP4). Using a two-stage chemical carcinogenesis protocol, the BK5.EP4 mice were shown to develop both papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas earlier than wild type (WT) mice. However, a tumor observed before 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment on one BK5.EP4 mouse suggested that TPA was not necessary for the promotion of the tumors. Therefore a 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-only carcinogenesis protocol was performed, and by 30 weeks, the BK5.EP4 mice again developed more carcinomas compared to none on the WT mice. Immunohistochemistry performed on DMBA-treated mice demonstrated that the BK5.EP4 epidermis began to detach 48 hours after treatment with total detachment occurring 5 days after treatment, while WT mice had only increased epidermal thickening. By 7 to 10 days after DMBA treatment, patches were observed on the BK5.EP4 skin where it appeared the hair and epidermis were detaching, which were not seen on the WT mice. MMP-9, MMP-7, and E-cadherin expression also were upregulated in the BK5.EP4 mice at the same time detachment of the epidermis was occurring. However, no differences in proliferation, stem cell numbers, or CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression have been observed. These data suggest that overexpression of EP4 in the mouse skin can increase tumorigenesis, possibly through the wounding of the skin and the subsequent inflammation and epidermal regeneration acting as a tumor promoter. Supported by CA100140. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2462.
METHODS OF ADMINISTERING DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE AND THE PROBLEM OF ITS INACTIVATION BY THE LIVER1

WE HAVE previously presented evidence indicating that the natural secretions of the adrenal cortex of the rat, unlike those of the gonad, are not inactivated to any significant extent by the liver(I). This was concluded from experiments testing the functional capacity of regenerated adrenal cortex tissue growing on the intestinal mesentery as compared to that at other transplant sites. The possibility, however, that the synthetic substance, desoxycorticosterone acetate, is inactivated by the gut or its derivatives was suggested by the observation that this material, unlike other crystalline cortical substances, was inactive when given in single daily doses by stomach tube (2, 3), and that this inactivity was not due to the excretion of the material in feces (2). To test more specifically the role of the liver in this inactivation three desoxy corticosterone acetate-cholesterol2 pellets were implanted in a) the spleens, b) the kidneys, or c) subcutaneous tissues of young adrenalectomized rates (4).
Experimental Measurement of Quasi-Fermi Levels at an Illuminated Semiconductor/Liquid Contact

A novel electrode geometry and contacting procedure has allowed measurement of the quasi-Fermi levels, i.e., the apparent electrochemical potentials, of electrons and holes at an illuminated semiconductor / liquid contact. The key feature of our experiments is the use of a lithographically patterned, high purity (100-400 Ω-km n-type float zone material), low dopant density Si sample in contact with CH_3OH-dimethylferrocene^(+/o) solutions. The photogenerated carriers can be collected at the back side of the Si sample through a series of diffused n+ and p^+ points. The lifetime of photogenerated carriers approaches 2 ms in this sample, indicating that electronhole recombination is minimized in the bulk of the semiconductor. Furthermore, surface recombination is minimized by use of low saturation current density, ohmic-selective contacts at the back of the sample. The solid/liquid contact also has a low recombination rate. Therefore, the potentials measured at the diffused points yield values for the quasi-Fermi levels of electrons and holes under illumination of the semiconductor/ liquid contact. Transient photovoltage measurements have also been performed to confirm quantitatively that the quasi-Fermi levels are flat across the Si samples used in this work.
Afterschool centers in four rural communities in Michigan

Abstract As part of KLICK, a statewide project supported by federal funds, afterschool centers were developed in four rural communities in Michigan. It was not long before local values and needs moved the centers in different directions. We describe the first year of operation of the four centers, focusing on the role of on-site coordinators and on the informal, activity-based instruction that the coordinators provided.
Hypertension in the course of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and its pathogenetic mechanisms

All IDDM patients without late complications have blood pressures similar to the nondiabetic background population, and those who develop clinical nephropathy in Denmark have no familial predisposition to hypertension. Blood pressure remains normal until after development of microalbuminuria, indicating no primary role for hypertension in the pathogenesis of nephropathy. When microalbuminuria is present it does, however, play a crucial role in the progression of nephropathy. Sodium retention, possibly induced by hyperinsulinemia, and perhaps glucose-coupled sodium reabsorption in insulin treated patients, seem to play a central role in elevating the blood pressure, but this needs further clarification.
A conjecture on the stability of the periodic solutions of Ricker's equation with periodic parameters

In this work, we propose a conjecture about the stability of the periodic solutions of the Ricker equation with periodic parameters, which goes beyond the existing theory, and for the special case of period-two parameters we analytically show the conjecture is true. For this case we show that the stability region in parameter space obtained from the conjecture is larger than a previously proposed stability region. The period-three case is investigated numerically and similar extensions are realized. This suggests that the current theory cited in this paper, while giving sufficient conditions for stability is far from optimal.
Seeding Techniques and Scaffolding Choice for Tissue Engineering of the Temporomandibular Joint Disk

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk removal, or diskectomy, is a detrimental yet necessary surgery for patients with extremely displaced disks. Tissue engineering is an enticing methodology for improvement of the postoperative outcome of diskectomy. Unfortunately, the field of tissue engineering of the TMJ disk is only in the early stages of development. The initial objective of this investigation was to study the cellular response of TMJ disk cells in alginate culture. However, a marked decrease in cell population and the lack of detection of extracellular matrix (ECM) products did not support the use of alginate culture. The second objective was then to attempt TMJ disk cell culture in polyglycolic acid (PGA) nonwoven meshes. However, as suitable seeding methods for TMJ disk cells on PGA had not been determined, three techniques were selected for study: spinner flask, orbital shaker, and a novel pelleting technique. PGA constructs maintained cellularity throughout the culture period, and scaffolds seeded...
Facial sexual dimorphism, developmental stability, and susceptibility to disease in men and women

Abstract We investigated aspects of self-reported health history–the number and duration of respiratory and stomach or intestinal infections and the number of uses of antibiotics over the last 3 years–in relation to measured facial masculinity, developmental instability [facial asymmetry and body fluctuating asymmetry (FA)] and facial attractiveness in a sample of 203 men and 203 women. As predicted from the hypothesis that the degree of facial masculinity is an honest signal of individual quality, men's facial masculinity correlated negatively and women's positively with respiratory disease number and duration. Stomach illness, however, was not associated significantly with facial masculinity and antibiotic use correlated significantly (negatively) only with men's facial masculinity. For both facial asymmetry and body FA, significant, positive associations were seen with the number of respiratory infections. In addition, facial asymmetry was associated positively with the number of days infected and marginally, in the same direction, with antibiotic use. Facial attractiveness showed no significant relationships with any of our health-history measures. This study provides some evidence that facial masculinity in both sexes may signal disease resistance and that developmental stability covaries positively with disease resistance. The validity of our health measures is discussed.
Differential parental investment in families with both adopted and genetic children

Stepchildren are abused, neglected and murdered at higher rates than those who live with two genetically related parents. Daly and Wilson used kin selection theory to explain this finding and labeled the phenomenon “discriminative parental solicitude.” I examined discriminative parental solicitude in American households composed of both genetic and unrelated adopted children. In these families, kin selection predicts parents should favor their genetic children over adoptees. Rather than looking at cases of abuse, neglect, homicide and other antisocial behavior, I focused on the positive investments parents made in their children as well as the outcomes of each child. The results show that parents invested more in adopted children than in genetically related ones, especially in educational and personal areas. At the same time, adoptees experienced more negative outcomes. They were more likely to have been arrested, to have been on public assistance and to require treatment for drug, alcohol or mental health issues. They also completed fewer years of schooling and were more likely to divorce. In adoptive families, it appears that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Parents invest more in adoptees not because they favor them, but because they are more likely than genetic children to need the help. I conclude that discriminative parental solicitude differs in adoptive and step households because adoptive families generally result from prolonged parenting effort, not mating effort like stepfamilies.
The landmark hierarchy: a new hierarchy for routing in very large networks

Landmark Routing is a set of algorithms for routing in communications networks of arbitrary size. Landmark Routing is based on a new type of hierarchy, the Landmark Hierarchy. The Landmark Hierarchy exhibits path lengths and routing table sizes similar to those found in the traditional area or cluster hierarchy. The Landmark Hierarchy, however, is easier to dynamically configure using a distributed algorithm. It can therefore be used as the basis for algorithms that dynamically configure the hierarchy on the fly, thus allowing for very large, dynamic networks. This paper describes the Landmark Hierarchy, analyzes it, and compares it with the area hierarchy.
Synthesis of 2-(F-alkyl)ethanols and esters by phase transfer catalyzed SN2 reactions of 2-(F-alkyl)-1-iodoethanes

Abstract R F CH 2 CH 2 I (1) reacted well with carboxylate ions in liquid/liquid two phase systems. The S N 2 product, an ester (5) and the E-2 product, an alkene (4) were determined quantitatively in a careful study of several reaction parameters. Conversion of 1 reached 99% in 24 h at 90° and selectivity to ester (5/4) varied with nucleophilicity (basicity) of RCOO − . The weaker the base the slower the reaction, and the higher the selectivity. Values of 5/4 were: R  CF 3 , 12; NCCH 2 , 10; H, 2.3; CH 2 CH, 1.7. In a series of comparable basicity (K a of RCOOH = 1.5 to 2.2 x 10 −5 ), the branched ions were superior to short and straight chaine substances. 5/4 were: R  CH 3 , 0.6; CH 3 CHCH, 2.0; n-Bu, 1.3; and i-Bu, 2.76. KOAc vs. KO 2 CHMe 2 and 1 gave isobutyrate/acetate ester of 8.9. In these reactions toluene was better than octane as solvent. Several phase transfer catalysts (PTC) were evaluated. Reactions run in a dipolar, aprotic solvent gave highly inferior results. 1 with KOAc or with KO 2 CHMe 2 gave varying amounts of reaction, but mostly E-2 product. For KOAc 5/4 was 0.28 to 0.19. Catalysts such as ‘18-Crown-6’ decreased further the selectivity. However, it is believed that phase transfer processes can be improved further.
On the feasibility of further improving Figure of Merits (FOM) of low voltage power MOSFETs

A new low voltage power MOSFET concept termed the Junction Enhanced Trench Field Effect Transistor (JETFET) is proposed which combines the advantages of high cell density of trench MOSFET, low gate charge of LDMOS, and low drift region resistance of superjunction MOSFET. The JETFET concept was investigated using 2D process and device TCAD simulation. The feasibility of further improving the Figure of Merits (FOM) of power MOSFETs is demonstrated.
Facilitating sexual arousal via anger, aggression, or dominance

The hypothesis that either an angry emotional state or the expression of aggressive behavior facilitates sexual arousal has been the subject of considerable speculation but relatively little research. In a series of studies, Barclay found that anger increased sexual arousal as measured by the amount of sexual imagery produced in response to TAT-like stimuli that depicted males and females in dominant and submissive roles. In the present research, a series of experiments was conducted to determine whether such facilitation can be generalized beyond the specific procedures used by Barclay. Subjects (151 males and 136 females) in three experiments were angered by being negatively evaluated by a confederate identified as a fellow subject. Some subjects were subsequently given an opportunity to aggress; additionally, some subjects were exposed to male- and female-dominant pictorial stimuli. Results indicated that neither anger instigation nor the opportunity to engage in aggressive acts influenced self-reported sexual arousal. There was consistent evidence, however, that portrayals of dominance influenced perceptions of the stimulus person's sexuality. Though anger and aggression do not seem to facilitate sexual arousal, dominance cues (which can be confounded with anger manipulation) clearly elicit perceptions of sexuality.
Outdoor Advertising Recall: A Comparison of Newer Technology and Traditional Billboards

Abstract Much of the research on outdoor advertising predates recent technological advances. This study updates past research and adds to our understanding of how new technology such as “smartboards” affects consumers' recall of outdoor messages. This study finds that smartboards produced the lowest level of aided recall. Two related factors, message consistency and repetition, may account for these findings. Recall may be related to repetition insofar as the smartboard rotated multiple advertisers at eight-second intervals, meaning each advertiser likely failed to achieve wear-in. The tri-vision board repeated multiple messages for one advertiser, adding to wear-in while reducing the chance of early wear-out.
Solvated electron in (H2O)20- dodecahedral cavity: calculated stretch frequencies and vertical dissociation energy

Abstract A highly stable ( H 2 O ) 20 - dodecahedral cluster was identified by applying the density functional theory and 6-311++G** and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. This cluster has four non-H-bonding H atoms turned toward cavity and has vertical electron dissociation energy of around 1.32 eV. The examination of singly occupied molecular orbital suggests that the extra electron is located inside of the dodecahedral cage and is surrounded by 20 water molecules. Calculation of OH stretch frequencies suggests intensity maxima at around 2914 cm−1 for inward turned H atoms and around 3073 cm−1 for H-bonded H atoms. The six dangling H atoms (projected outward) show negligible intensity at around 3700 cm−1.
Diabetes-related knowledge, atherosclerotic risk factor control, and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes.

Patients who have diabetes mellitus have 2 times the incidence of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 2 times the mortality rate after ACS compared with patients who do not have diabetes. Poor patient understanding of diabetes is believed to impede appropriate self-management, thus accelerating cardiovascular complications. We investigated the relation between patients' diabetes-related knowledge (DRK) and measurements of risk factor control and cardiac outcomes. Two hundred patients who had diabetes mellitus and ACS and were admitted to a university hospital were enrolled over a 9-month period. At enrollment, clinical and demographic data were recorded, and each patient completed a previously validated DRK assessment. Clinical outcomes data were obtained 6 months after enrollment. Years of education and DRK assessment score were moderately correlated (r = 0.496, p
Quality assurance and improvement: the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network

Quality assurance and improvement (QA/QI) is a critical activity in medicine. The use of large-scale collaborative databases is increasingly essential to obtain enough reports with which to establish standards of practice and define the incidence of complications and risk/benefit ratios for rare events. Such projects can enhance local QA/QI endeavors by enabling institutions to obtain benchmark data against which to compare their performance and can be used for prospective analyses of inter-institutional differences to determine 'best practice'. The pediatric regional anesthesia network (PRAN) is such a project. The first data cohort is currently being analyzed and offers insight into how such data can be used to detect trends in adverse events and improve care.
Seismic wide-angle study of accreted Proterozoic crust in southeastern Wyoming

Abstract A seismic wide-angle experiment was conducted in southeastern Wyoming, USA to investigate the seismic character of a postulated Proterozoic magmatic arc south of the suture (Cheyenne Belt) to the Archean Wyoming Province. Recordings from vibrator and dynamite sources with offsets between 34 and 126 km reveal no evidence for Moho reflections. The large-offset recordings contain multicyclic bands of reflective phases from the middle to lower crust. The data were transformed into the intercept time-ray parameter ( τ - p ) domain to estimate local depth bounds. A subsequent 1D inversion using high-amplitude τ - p arrivals shows that the reflective part of the crust ranges from the depths of 25 to 40 km. This part of the crust exhibits velocities increasing from about 6.5 to 7.5 km/s. Reflectivity modeling shows that the lower crust might consist of a zone of alternating low- and high-velocity layers with average velocity increasing. The average lower crustal velocity of about 6.9 km/s suggests a predominantly mafic composition with interlayered intermediate to felsic components generating impedance contrasts that cause observable amplitudes from reflections at large offsets but not at clearly pre-critical and near-vertical distances. Our model is consistent with observations of interlayered sequences of gabbroic to ultramafic rocks with more felsic anorthositic and charnockitic rocks in the exposed lower crust of magmatic arc complexes. The lack of wide-angle Moho reflections might be explained by a gradational compositional boundary, or a transitional phase change from granulite to eclogite facies.
Normal ogive model on the continuous response level in the multidimensional latent space

The homogeneous case of the continuous response model is expanded to the multi-dimensional latent space, and the normal ogive model is presented. The operating density characteristic of the continuous item response and the vector of basic functions are developed. It is found out that there is a vector of sufficient statistics for estimating the subject's vector of latent traits, given the item parameter vectors. The relationship between the model and the linear factor analysis is observed. The matrix of item response information functions is introduced. Some additional observations are also made.
Robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy versus abdominal myomectomy: A comparison of short-term surgical outcomes and immediate costs

Abstract Study objective To compare surgical outcomes of myomectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopy with those performed by traditional laparotomy and to analyze the financial impact of these 2 approaches. Design Retrospective case-matched analysis (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting University teaching hospital. Patients A total of 58 patients with symptomatic leiomyomata. Intervention Myomectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopy or traditional laparotomy was administered. Measurements and main results An equal number of case-matched patients based on age, body mass index, and myoma weight were analyzed in each group. Among these 3 variables, there were no statistically significant differences between the robotic and laparotomy groups. Mean age was 36.59 ± 4.93 years (95% CI 34.71–38.46 years) versus 34.86 ± 4.41 years (95% CI 33.18–36.54 years), mean body mass index was 25.22 ± 3.85 kg/m 2 (90% central range [CR] 20.30–31.20 kg/m 2 ) versus 28.3 ± 6.95 kg/m 2 (90% CR 21.50–42.80 kg/m 2 ), and mean myoma weight was 227.86 ± 247.54 g (90% CR 11.60–680.00 g) versus 223.76 ± 228.28 g (90% CR 11.50–660.00 g), respectively. Patients with robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy had decreased estimated blood loss (mean 195.69 ± 228.55 mL [90% CR 50.00–700.00 mL] vs mean 364.66 ± 473.28 mL [90% CR 75.00–1550.00 mL]) and length of stay (mean 1.48 ± 0.95 days [90% CR 1.00–3.00 days] vs mean 3.62 ± 1.50 days [90% CR 3.00–8.00 days]) when compared with the laparotomy group. Both of these differences were statistically significant at p Conclusion As a new technology, it is not unexpected that a robotic approach to myomectomy costs more than a traditional laparotomy. On the other hand, decreased estimated blood loss, complication rates, and length of stay with the robotic approach in the end may prove to have a significant societal benefit that will outweigh upfront financial impact.
Electrochemical deposition of conducting polymer coatings on magnesium surfaces in ionic liquid

A conducting polymer-based smart coating for magnesium (Mg) implants that can both improve the corrosion resistance of Mg and release a drug in a controllable way is reported. As the ionic liquid is a highly conductive and stable solvent with a very wide electrochemical window, the conducting polymer coatings can be directly electrodeposited on the active metal Mg in ionic liquid under mild conditions, and Mg is highly stable during the electrodeposition. The electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coatings on Mg are uniform and can significantly improve the corrosion resistance of Mg. In addition, the PEDOT coatings can load the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone during the electrodeposition, which can be subsequently released upon electric stimulation.
Simplified procedure for provisional fabrication

During the period between tooth preparation and fixed partial denture cementation, a provisional restoration protects the teeth, maintains space, and keeps the patient comfortable. Numerous methods for fabricating provisional restorations have been reported.1 This tip presents a modification of the vacuum-formed template method. A siloxane-lined matrix is used to capture occlusal anatomic detail and contour.
Repetitive Stress Symptoms in Radiology: Prevalence and Response to Ergonomic Interventions

Purpose To determine the prevalence of repetitive stress symptoms among radiologists working in a archiving and communication systems (PACS) environment and to assess their responses to ergonomic interventions. Methods A survey instrument was designed in conjunction with occupational health specialists and administered to 107 faculty members, fellows, and residents working in a PACS-based radiology department. Data gathered included the number of hours per day working at a personal computer or PACS monitor, the presence of repetitive stress symptoms, and prior diagnosis of repetitive stress syndrome. Additionally, respondents who had received ergonomic chairs, ergonomic workstations, or ergonomic training were asked to rank the impact of these interventions on the severity of repetitive stress symptoms using a 7-point, Likert-type scale ranging from −3 ("markedly worse") to 3 ("markedly better"). Results A total of 73 responses were received (a 68% response rate) from 33 faculty members and 40 trainees (residents and fellows). A majority of respondents (68%) reported working more than 8 hours per day at a personal computer or PACS monitor (55% of faculty members, 80% of trainees). Repetitive stress symptoms were reported by 58% of respondents (52% of faculty members, 63% of trainees), and prior diagnoses of repetitive stress syndrome were reported by 38% (39% of faculty members, 38% of trainees). Improvements in repetitive stress symptoms (scale ratings of 1 to 3) were reported by 70% of respondents who received ergonomic chairs (n = 54), 80% who received ergonomic workstations (n = 55), and 80% who underwent ergonomic training (n = 20). Conclusion Repetitive stress symptoms are highly prevalent among radiologists working in a PACS-based environment but are responsive to ergonomic interventions. Radiology departments should implement ergonomic initiatives to reduce the risk for repetitive stress injuries.
Role of dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) and a novel E3-binding protein in the NADH sensitivity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from anaerobic mitochondria of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) plays changing roles during the aerobic–anaerobic transition in the life cycle of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum. However, the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) subunit appears to be identical in all stages, despite the fact that the PDC is less sensitive to NADH inhibition in anaerobic muscle. Therefore, we have cloned cDNAs encoding E3 and a novel anaerobic-specific E3-binding protein (E3BP) that lacks the terminal lipoyl domain found in E3BPs from yeast and mammals, and functionally expressed E3 and E3 mutants designed to have decreased dimer stability on the assumption that the binding of E3 to an anaerobic-specific E3BP might stabilize the E3 dimer interface and decrease E3 sensitivity to NADH inhibition. As predicted, the mutants exhibited decreased thermal stability, increased sensitivity to NADH and the binding of E3Y18F to the E3-depleted core of the pig heart PDC increased E3 activity and decreased E3 sensitivity to NADH inhibition. However, although the free A. suum E3 was less sensitive to NADH inhibition than the pig heart E3, both E3s were significantly more sensitive to NADH inhibition when assayed with dihydrolipoamide than their corresponding PDCs assayed with pyruvate. More importantly, the binding of rE3 to its core complex had little effect on its apparent Km for NAD+, Ki for NADH inhibition, or the NADH/NAD+ ratio yielding 50% inhibition. These data suggest that although binding to the core stabilizes the E3 dimer interface, it does not play a significant role in reducing the sensitivity of the A. suum PDC to NADH inhibition during anaerobiosis.
ZINC: A Free Tool to Discover Chemistry for Biology

ZINC is a free public resource for ligand discovery. The database contains over twenty million commercially available molecules in biologically relevant representations that may be downloaded in popular ready-to-dock formats and subsets. The Web site also enables searches by structure, biological activity, physical property, vendor, catalog number, name, and CAS number. Small custom subsets may be created, edited, shared, docked, downloaded, and conveyed to a vendor for purchase. The database is maintained and curated for a high purchasing success rate and is freely available at zinc.docking.org.
Exploring the Relationships among Epistemological Beliefs, Nature of Science, and Conceptual Change in the Learning of Evolutionary Theory

We explored the relationship between epistemological beliefs and nature of science in a college biology course. One hundred thirty-three college students participated in the research. Exploratory factor analysis with 29 Nature of Science (NOS) items yielded three aspects of NOS: empirical, tentative, and sociocultural nature of scientific knowledge. Pearson r correlations suggested that students who have immature epistemological beliefs are more likely to also have immature beliefs of nature of science. In addition, students’ epistemological beliefs significantly correlate with their conceptual change but their beliefs about nature of science did not. The research is significant in that it provides empirical evidence explaining the relationship between students’ epistemological beliefs and nature of science as well as the relationships between epistemological beliefs and conceptual change in evolution theory.
Electrocardiography to Define Clinical Status in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Secondary to Collagen Vascular Disease

Study objectives To determine the utility of the ECG for predicting clinical status in adults with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) secondary to collagen vascular disease. Design Retrospective study. Setting Outpatient clinic in a tertiary referral center. Patients Adult outpatients with PPH or PAH secondary to collagen vascular disease who underwent electrocardiography within 30 days of undergoing right-heart catheterization, echocardiography, and 6-min walk testing. Interventions None. Measurements and results The following measurements were recorded from each ECG: P-wave amplitude in lead II; mean frontal QRS axis; QRS duration; R-wave and S-wave deflections in leads I and V6; and the T-wave configurations in the precordial leads. These ECG variables were correlated with hemodynamic variables, RV size, and exercise capacity. Of the 61 patients included in this study, 56 (92%) were women. Eight of 61 patients (13%) had normal findings on ECGs. There was no significant difference in the demographics or hemodynamics when comparing groups with normal vs abnormal ECGs. All ECG parameters had no more than moderate correlation with hemodynamic variables, ventricular size measured by echocardiogram, and exercise capacity as measured by a 6-min walk. The best correlation was between mean the frontal QRS axis and cardiac index ( r = −0.46). Conclusions The ECG is an inadequate screening tool to rule out the presence of clinically relevant pulmonary hypertension, either primary or secondary to collagen vascular disease. The mean frontal QRS axis correlated best with the severity of hemodynamic impairment.
Potent, Orally Active Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor-1 Antagonists Containing a Tricyclic Pyrrolopyridine or Pyrazolopyridine Core

Two new classes of tricyclic-based corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF1) receptor-1 antagonists were designed by constraining known 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine ligands. Pyrrole- and pyrazole-based molecules 19g and 22a, respectively, were discovered that potently bind the recombinant CRF1 receptor (Ki = 3.5, 2.9 nM) and inhibit adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release from rat pituitary cell culture (IC50 = 14, 6.8 nM). These compounds show good oral bioavailabity (F = 24%, 7.0%) and serum half-lives in rats (t1/2 = 6.3, 12 h) and penetrate the rat brain ([brain]/[plasma] = 0.27, 0.52) but tend toward large volumes of distribution (VD = 38, 44 L kg-1) and rapid clearances (CL = 70, 43 mL min-1 kg-1). When given orally, both the pyrazole and the pyrrole leads dose-dependently inhibit stress-induced ACTH release in vivo. ACTH reductions of 84−86% were observed for 30 mg kg-1 doses.
International Occupational Therapists Continuing Education Needs and Opportunities: A survey

Article originally published in The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1(2). English. Published online 2013. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1035
Views to nature: Effects on attention

This study is based on a theoretical view which suggests that under increased demands for attention, individuals' capacity to direct attention may become fatigued. Once fatigued, attentional restoration must occur in order to return to an effectively functioning state. An attention-restoring experience can be as simple as looking at nature. The purpose of this study was to explore whether university dormitory residents with more natural views from their windows would score better than those with less natural views on tests of directed attention. Views from dormitory windows of 72 undergraduate students were categorized into four groups ranging from all natural to all built. The capacity to direct attention was measured using a battery of objective and subjective measures. Natural views were associated with better performance on attentional measures, providing support for the proposed theoretical view.