cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrically Based Non-Destructive Microstructural Characterization of All Classes of Materials

This paper gives a short summary of the background, theory and methodology needed to utilize electrical measurements as a non-destructive method for microstructural characterization. Examples are given for all classes of materials. Details are given for how to detect: (1) pore volume in thermal barrier coatings, (2) formation of surface layers due to moisture adsorption in a wide variety of materials, (3) orientation of fibers and whiskers in ceramic matrix and polymer matrix composites, (4) crack detection in metals and (5 ) stacking faults in semiconductors. Many other examples are mentioned. It needs to be emphasized that electrical measurements alone are not sufficient to identify the microstructural features of interest but must always be accompanied by complementary techniques. Proper data collection and data interpretation of properties of a specific set of materials can lead to in-line process monitoring, quality control monitoring, mechanical damage monitoring and environmental degradation monitoring of those materials.
L’addiction sexuelle comme diagnostic de santé mentale : une association possible ?

Resume La litterature clinique a decrit un comportement sexuel incontrolable, soit comme un trouble compulsif, impulsif ou addictif. Il y a eu un essai infructueux pour l’ajouter comme « trouble hypersexuel » dans l’annexe (et non dans la liste des diagnostics principaux) du DSM-5. Cet article concerne la polemique qui a lieu au sein de la communaute de sante mentale et parmi des chercheurs et qui en a bloque le progres. Des milliers de clients sont a la recherche d’un traitement du fait des consequences insupportables de leurs comportements sexuels qui sont incontrolables. Les acteurs de sante mentale sont en manque d’indicateurs de symptomes clairs et de directives diagnostiques pour mettre en place des modalites de traitement qui sont encore empiriques. Les cliniciens font de leur mieux pour traiter des clients dont le trouble n’a ni nom ni diagnostic etabli.
A general method for making peptide therapeutics resistant to serine protease degradation: application to dipeptidyl peptidase IV substrates.

Bioactive peptides have evolved to optimally fulfill specific biological functions, a fact which has long attracted attention for their use as therapeutic agents. While there have been some recent commercial successes fostered in part by advances in large-scale peptide synthesis, development of peptides as therapeutic agents has been significantly impeded by their inherent susceptibility to protease degradation in the bloodstream. Here we report that incorporation of specially designed amino acid analogues at the P1′ position, directly C-terminal of the enzyme cleavage site, renders peptides, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (7–36) amide (GLP-1) and six other examples, highly resistant to serine protease degradation without significant alteration of their biological activity. We demonstrate the applicability of the method to a variety of proteases, including dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), dipeptidyl peptidase 8 (DPP8), fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα), α-lytic protease (αLP), trypsin, and chymot...
A role for calsenilin and related proteins in multiple aspects of neuronal function

The protein variously called calsenilin, DREAM, or KChIP3 has been independently discovered three times, accounting for the three different names currently in use. Calsenilin appears to have three, perhaps independent, roles. Calsenilin binds and modulates some of the effects of the Alzheimer disease-related protein presenilin, while presenilin can modulate some of the effects of calsenilin. Calsenilin binds the dynorphin response element and regulates dynorphin expression, hence regulating nociception. Calsenilin binds Kv channels and modulates potassium conductance, playing a role in long-term potentiation as well as in other important plastic pathways. Other members of the calsenilin family share at least some of the roles. For example, KChIP1, KChIP2, and CALP can all bind presenilins and can all modulate A-type potassium channels. Further functional dissection of this family of proteins will provide insight into numerous aspects of neuronal function and will illuminate the role of the calsenilin family of proteins in disease.
The future of warfarin pharmacogenetics in under-represented minority groups.

Genotype-based dosing recommendations are provided in the US FDA-approved warfarin labeling. However, data that informed these recommendations were from predominately Caucasian populations. Studies show that variants contributing to warfarin dose requirements in Caucasians provide similar contributions to dose requirements in US Hispanics, but significantly lesser contributions in African–Americans. Further data demonstrate that variants occurring commonly in individuals of African ancestry, but rarely in other racial groups, significantly influence dose requirements in African–Americans. These data suggest that it is important to consider variants specific for African–Americans when implementing genotype-guided warfarin dosing in this population.
Ascitic fluid pH and lactate: Insensitive and nonspecific tests in detecting ascitic fluid infection

Ascitic fluid pH and lactate concentration have been proposed as useful tests for the detection of ascitic fluid infection. However, past studies involved small numbers of infected patients, and all did not use optimal culture techniques. This large study was performed using highly sensitive culture methods and sought (a) to compare the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of pH and lactate to that of the ascitic fluid neutrophil count and (b) to determine whether evaluation of ascitic fluid pH or lactate (or arterial–ascitic fluid pH or lactate gradient) would result in improved decision-making regarding empirical treatment of suspected ascitic fluid infection. Analysis of 206 ascitic fluid specimens obtained in 175 patients, including 101 infected specimens, revealed that ascitic fluid (or arterial–ascitic fluid) pH and lactate were less than 50% sensitive in detecting bacterial peritonitis and that these tests did not improve clinical decision-making about empirical treatment of suspected ascitic fluid infection. Although statistically significant differences in ascitic fluid pH were detected between infected samples and control samples, these differences did not appear to be clinically helpful. The ascitic fluid pH was 0% sensitive in detecting the presence of bacteria in the absence of neutrophils (i.e., no such specimens had a pH lower than 7.35). Ascitic fluid pH correlated well with neutrophil count and appears to be, at least in part, an indirect measure of the presence of neutrophils in ascitic fluid. Measurement of pH or lactate (or arterial–ascitic fluid gradients) is not helpful in the clinical management of infected ascitic fluid (HEPATOLOGY 1991;13:929–935.)
Parenting Stress and Child Adjustment: Some Old Hypotheses and New Questions

Individual differences in parenting stress, experienced by most parents as those aversive feelings that are associated with the demands of the parenting role, have been shown to be an important aspect of parent, child, and family functioning. A definition of parenting stress is provided, along with its application to more general stress models. Three implicit hypotheses in much of the past research on parenting stress and behavior are evaluated: (a) parenting stress is causally related to poor parenting, (b) poor parenting is causally related to problems in child adjustment, and (c) parenting behavior mediates the associations between parenting stress and child adjustment. In addition, three questions for future research regarding within-family and within-Individual variation in parenting stress are raised: (a) Is parenting stress genetically influenced? (b) Do mothers and fathers show similar or different levels of parenting stress? (c) Is parenting stress “child specific” within families?
The design discussion area: a collaborative learning tool in support of learning from problem-solving and design activities

The Design Discussion Area (DDA) supports student reports to each other about their design efforts as they are learning science from design activities. Its scaffolding was designed to support both the writing of well-formed stories about their design efforts and discussion about each design effort. At their best, these discussions are a source of ideas for other students; a venue for talking science, using evidence in support of claims, getting advice, and providing explanations that others can understand; and a vehicle for some of the reflection necessary to turn one's experiences into well-formed and well-indexed cases in one's memory. DDA was trialed with 200 students; it was easy for students to use but it wasn't as straightforward to integrate into classroom activities as we had supposed and didn't provide as useful scaffolding as we had imagined.
Lupus nephritis in a pediatric renal transplant recipient.

A case of aggressive lupus nephritis in a pediatric renal transplant patient is described. She initially presented with end-stage glomerulonephritis for which an underlying etiology could not be determined. Ten months after cadaveric renal transplantation, systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed, when she developed diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis in association with antinuclear antibody, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody and extrarenal manifestations of lupus. It is plausible that she developed recurrent rather thande novo lupus nephritis following transplantation. Reactivation of lupus nephritis in a renal transplant is unusual in adults, and is previously unreported in children.
Relationship of periventricular overgrowth to hydrocephalus in brains of fetal rats exposed to benomyl

Benomyl, a benzimidazole fungicide, was administered by gavage to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats in a daily dose of 62.5 mg/kg of maternal body weight beginning at gestational day (GD) 7. Fetuses examined histologically at GD16 or GD20 revealed a high incidence of craniocerebral anomalies—82.6% of those examined at GD16 and 100% of those examined at GD20. Hydrocephalus occurred in 65.2% of fetuses examined at GD16 and in 58.8% at GD20 but was more severe in the GD20 fetuses. A second common anomaly, termed periventricular “overgrowth” (PVO), consisted of subependymal cell masses that in some fetuses obliterated normal subcortical structures. PVO occurred in 34.8% of fetuses examined at GD16 and 76.5% at GD20. The size of the subependymal masses and the regions involved were considerably greater in the GD20 than the GD16 fetuses. Less common anomalies in the GD20 fetuses were periventricular necrosis (41.2%), a single fetus with exencephaly and another with porencephaly. In the majority of malformed fetuses, the severity of hydrocephalus did not parallel the severity of PVO around the lateral and third ventricles. PVO involved tissues surrounding the cerebral aqueduct in 17.4% of GD16 fetuses and 38.2% of GD20 fetuses. This “overgrowth” distorted the cerebral aqueduct in a large number of fetuses with ventriculomegaly, and at GD20 moderate and severe ventriculomegaly was in every instance associated with a narrow or completely occluded cerebral aqueduct. These relationships suggest that PVO in the midbrain may play a role in the production of aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus in this experimental model.
Software-defined SIMO step-up/down power converter with adaptive global/local power allocation scheme for DVS-enabled multicore systems

This paper presents a software-defined integrated single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) converter, tailored for DVS-enabled multicore systems. In this design, each power output employs a step-up/down voltage conversion, thereby enabling a wide range of variable output voltage. This is beneficial to dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) techniques that are in high demand by low-power multicore systems. With an adaptive global/local power allocation control algorithm, DVS tracking speed and line/load regulation are significantly improved, while the converter still retains low cross regulation. Designed with a 180-nm digital CMOS process, the converter precisely provides three independently variable power outputs from 0.9 to 3.0 V, with a total power range from 33 to 900 mW. A very fast load transient response of 3.25 µs is achieved, in response to a 67.5-mA full-step load current change. The design provides a cost-effective solution to robust, fast-transient, DVS-compatible, on-chip power supplies.
The Economics of Spam

We estimate that American firms and consumers experience costs of almost $20 billion annually due to spam. Our figure is more conservative than the $50 billion figure often cited by other authors, and we also note that the figure would be much higher if it were not for private investment in anti-spam technology by firms, which we detail further on. Based on the work of crafty computer scientists who have infiltrated and monitored spammers' activity, we estimate that spammers and spam-advertised merchants collect gross worldwide revenues on the order of $200 million per year. Thus, the "externality ratio" of external costs to internal benefits for spam is around 100:1. In this paper, we start by describing the history of the market for spam, highlighting the strategic cat-and-mouse game between spammers and email providers. We discuss how the market structure for spamming has evolved from a diffuse network of independent spammers running their own online stores to a highly specialized industry featuring a well-organized network of merchants, spam distributors (botnets), and spammers (or "advertisers"). We then put the spam market's externality ratio of 100 into context by comparing it to other activities with negative externalities. Lastly, we evaluate various policy proposals designed to solve the spam problem, cautioning that these proposals may err in assuming away the spammers' ability to adapt.
Environmental Education in the K-12 Curriculum: Finding a Niche

Abstract Significant progress has been made in the United States in including the environment in government, business, household, and individual decisionmaking. Unfortunately, there is no parallel trend in the nation's K-12 schools. This article reviews the basic precepts of environmental education, summarizes state-level efforts directed at its establishment, and makes suggestions for systematically incorporating it into the K-12 curriculum.
A sonication extraction method for the analysis of pyrethroid, organophosphate, and organochlorine pesticides from sediment by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.

A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 5 pyrethroid, 1 organophosphate, and 20 organochlorine pesticides in sediment. Pesticide residues were extracted using sonication with acetone-methylene chloride (1:1 vol/vol) and the extracts were subsequently cleaned with deactivated Florisil (magnesium silicate; U.S. Silica, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia). Gas chromatography with an electroncapture detector was used for analyte determination, and two columns were used for confirmation of the analytes. Four control sediments from different sources were spiked with a pesticide mix and analyzed for method validation. The method detection limits ranged from 0.22 to 0.85 µg/kg dry sediment. Recoveries for spiked samples at four concentrations (1, 5, 20, and 400 µg/kg dry sediment) were 71.9% to 129.8% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) < 11%. Taking the matrix effect into account, 1 µg/kg was chosen for the threshold of detection, but 0.5 µg/kg of spiked control sediment still provided good recoveries and RSDs. This method was validated using field-collected sediment taken from agricultural areas of Fresno County, California.
Acetylene reduction by cryptogamic crusts from a blackbrush community as related to resaturation and dehydration

Abstract N 2 fixation Microcoleus and Scytonema dominated cryptogamic crusts as related to the resaturation-dehydration phenomenon was estimated using the acetylene reduction assay. The mean maximum fixation rates were estimated to be 6.3 nmol N 2 m −2 s −1 for Microcleus and 9.4 nmol N 2 m −2 s −1 for Scytonema crusts. Nitrogen inputs were estimated to be 0.7–3.6 kg N 2 ha −1 yr −1 for a relic community, 0.4–2.0 kg N 2 ha −1 yr −1 for a light grazing community, and 0.02–0.17 kg N 2 ha −1 yr −1 for moderate and heavily grazed communities.
An Analysis of Guiseppe Tornatore's Films

For this review, we would like to spotlight a film director, Guiseppe Tornatore, instead of a specific film. Tornatore, an Italian director and writer, has directed 13 films and written 14 films. H...
Signatures of cardioembolic and large-vessel ischemic stroke.

Objective: The cause of stroke remains unknown or cryptogenic in many patients. We sought to determine whether gene expression signatures in blood can distinguish between cardioembolic and large-vessel causes of stroke, and whether these profiles can predict stroke etiology in the cryptogenic group. Methods: A total of 194 samples from 76 acute ischemic stroke patients were analyzed. RNA was isolated from blood and run on Affymetrix U133 Plus2.0 microarrays. Genes that distinguish large-vessel from cardioembolic stroke were determined at 3, 5, and 24 hours following stroke onset. Predictors were evaluated using cross-validation and a separate set of patients with known stroke subtype. The cause of cryptogenic stroke was predicted based on a model developed from strokes of known cause and identified predictors. Results: A 40-gene profile differentiated cardioembolic stroke from large-vessel stroke with >95% sensitivity and specificity. A separate 37-gene profile differentiated cardioembolic stroke due to atrial fibrillation from nonatrial fibrillation causes with >90% sensitivity and specificity. The identified genes elucidate differences in inflammation between stroke subtypes. When applied to patients with cryptogenic stroke, 17% are predicted to be large-vessel and 41% to be cardioembolic stroke. Of the cryptogenic strokes predicted to be cardioembolic, 27% were predicted to have atrial fibrillation. Interpretation: Gene expression signatures distinguish cardioembolic from large-vessel causes of ischemic stroke. These gene profiles may add valuable diagnostic information in the management of patients with stroke of unknown etiology though they need to be validated in future independent, large studies. ANN NEUROL 2010;68:681–692
Murine yolk sac and bone marrow hematopoietic cells with high proliferative potential display different capacities for producing colony-forming cells ex vivo.

Increasing evidence suggests that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from embryonic and fetal tissues demonstrate proliferative capacities greater than cells isolated from adult hematopoietic ...
Sharing Motherhood: Maternal Jealousy Among Lesbian Co-Mothers

Previous research has not adequately addressed how gay and lesbian couples emotionally negotiate unequal biological ties to their children. Because each co-parent has the potential to be their child's biological parent and because same-sex couples highly value relationship equality, unequal biological ties to children may cause feelings of jealousy between co-parents. To counter this, increasing numbers of lesbian couples have been using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to biologically co-mother, using the eggs of one partner and the womb of the other. While hardly common, this strategy can affect the emotional dynamics between the co-mothers and their children. This article explores how variables common to many lesbian-led families (including method of conception) may contribute to or protect against jealousy. Presented data comes from an 18-month ethnographic study of 30 lesbian-led families with young children living in a major northeastern city. Ten couples adopted infants, 10 couples used assisted insemi...
Calcium wave evoked by activation of endogenous or exogenously expressed receptors in Xenopus oocytes.

Abstract The mRNA encoding the cloned substance K receptor was microinjected into Xenopus laevis oocytes. After expression of the mRNA, Ca2+ was imaged in the oocytes with a digital imaging fluorescence microscopy system using the Ca2(+)-sensitive dyes fura-2 and fluo-3. Application of substance K caused a dose-related wave of Ca2+ mobilization to spread from a focus and to elevate the Ca2+ concentration in the oocyte. Activation of endogenous muscarinic or angiotensin II receptors in noninjected oocytes evoked a similar response. The Ca2+ rise in oocytes induced by substance K was due to internal Ca2+ mobilization and was independent of external Ca2+, since it occurred in Ca2(+)-free medium fortified with 2 mM EGTA. The Ca2+ imaging was well correlated with ion current measurements of voltage-clamped oocytes. Imaging, in addition to detecting the spatial spread of Ca2+ across the cell, was at least as sensitive as voltage clamping and much faster when screening oocytes for the expression of receptor mRNAs that stimulate Ca2+ mobilization. While it is known that fertilization of Xenopus eggs causes a spreading wave of Ca2+ mobilization, we found that activation of either native or newly expressed receptors in oocytes causes a similar change in Ca2+ distribution.
Long-exposure imaging through weak turbulence

Effects of weak turbulence on images of coherent sources or coherently illuminated objects taken with exposure times much greater than the turbulence's time constant are examined using the extended Fresnel principle. Two cases are considered. One in which the turbulent medium fills the region between the imaging system and the object and the other in which the turbulence occurs as a phase screen directly before the object. Assuming the Kolmogoroff spectrum for the index of refraction fluctuations and specifying a modulated Gaussian form to describe the object, a closed form result is reached which illustrates the effect of the turbulence on the image in a conceptually simple manner. A loss of resolution is found, manifesting itself as an effective reduction of the lens size. A simple relation is derived that relates the effective lens size to the actual lens size and the coherence length (rho) o, of a spherical wave propagating through the turbulent medium. This relation agrees well with the empirically known fact that increasing the size of the primary lens of a telescope beyond approximately 10 cm does little to improve resolution. Turbulence is also found to cause a coherent object to seem incoherent from the standpoint of the viewer if the resolution spot size of the imaging system is larger than (rho) o. Approximations upon which these results are based are supported by numerical calculations for particular objects. Finally, the implications of these discoveries are compared with papers that demonstrate superresolution for short- and long-exposure imaging.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Perioperative antibiotics for prevention of acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Endophthalmitis (inflammation of the inside of the eyeball due to infection or trauma) is a rare but potentially blinding complication of cataract surgery. It typically is caused by bacteria that enter the eye during surgery or in the first few days after surgery. Multiple preventive measures are used to try to prevent infection after surgery. Several studies have investigated different modes of prevention such as the types of antibiotics used, how the antibiotics are applied or taken, and when the antibiotics are given in the surgical process. The authors searched the literature for randomized controlled trials of cataract surgery that evaluated giving antibiotics shortly prior to, during, or immediately after surgery to prevent acute endophthalmitis. Four trials with a total of 100,876 adults and 131 endophthalmitis cases met the inclusion criteria. Of these four trials, two reported reduced rates of endophthalmitis when comparing antibiotics injected into the eye versus antibiotics given in eye drops. In one study, penicillin injected into the eye resulted in a 67% reduction in endophthalmitis after surgery. In the more recent ESCRS study, cefuroxime injected into the eye reduced the risk of endophthalmitis by 80% to 90%, depending on whether antibiotic drops were also utilized. This study provides the best available current evidence for antibiotic prevention of endophthalmitis. Cefuroxime is used widely in Europe but on a limited basis in the United States, where some physicians have expressed concerns regarding risk of contamination or dilution errors during the compounding process (preparing drugs for ocular use) that could cause ocular toxicity (harms). Given that clinical trials with rare outcomes need to enroll a large number of participants and are costly to conduct, it is unlikely that additional clinical trials will be conducted to assess how well perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis works to prevent acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Practitioners should consider the evidence shown by the ESCRS study, that antibiotics injected into the eye are likely to reduce the risk of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery when they can be sterilely obtained and delivered.
Chondroblastoma of bone

Chondroblastomas are unusual benign lesions of bone. They classically occur at the ends of long bones in young persons. The roentgenographic and histologic features are typical. We had an opportunity to study a large number of chondroblastomas. Most of the cases came from the consultation file started by Dr D. C. Dahlin at the Mayo Clinic. This method of ascertainment may tend to load our series with unusual and atypical examples. We found some unusual locations, such as the skull and facial bones and the small tubular bones of the hands and feet. We also found some unusual histologic features, such as mitotic activity, necrosis, and cellular atypia. However, despite the unusual features, the biological behavior of these tumors was that of a benign process with only limited local aggressiveness.
Modified Therapeutic Community for Co-Occurring Disorders: Single Investigator Meta Analysis

This paper presents the results of a meta-analysis for a single investigator examining the effectiveness of the modified therapeutic community (MTC) for clients with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD). The flexibility and utility of meta-analytic tools are described, although their application in this context is atypical. The analysis includes 4 comparisons from 3 studies (retrieved N = 569) for various groups of clients with COD (homeless persons, offenders, and outpatients) in substance abuse treatment, comparing clients assigned either to an MTC or a control condition of standard services. An additional study is included in a series of sensitivity tests. The overall findings increase the research base of support for the MTC program for clients with COD, as results of the meta-analysis indicate significant MTC treatment effects for 5 of the 6 outcome domains across the 4 comparisons. Limitations of the approach are discussed. Independent replications, clinical trials, multiple outcome domains, and additional meta-analyses should be emphasized in future research. Given the need for research-based approaches, program and policy planners should consider the MTC when designing programs for co-occurring disorders.
Emerging Drugs of Abuse

Patterns of recreational drug use undergo constant change. Health care providers must remain vigilant and informed regarding emerging drugs of abuse to care better for their patients. There is also a role for improved surveillance and characterization of novel drugs. This report reviews the clinical manifestations and toxicity of several new drugs of abuse, including dextromethorphan, hallucinogenic tryptamines (including "Foxy Methoxy"), hallucinogenic amphetamines (including 2C-B and 2C-T-7), as well as the herbal hallucinogen, Salvia divinorum .
Columbus Project telescope

The design for the Columbus binocular telescope has been completed and the project is now proceeding to the construction phase. The two 8-m f/1.2 borosilicate honeycomb mirrors will give an effective collecting area of 11.3 m and a baseline of 22 m for interferometry. The optics are supported on an exceedingly compact and rigid 'C-ring' mount with a lowest eigenfrequency of around 10 Hz. The system will be housed in a corotating enclosure and will be located on Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona. Instrumentation priorities have been established for the telescope and conceptual designs are now under development.
Characteristics of convergence insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a well-known syndrome of binocular visual dysfunction. In a review of 58 papers, considerable variation was noted in the criteria used to define the condition. Symptoms and decreased positive fusional vergences (both at the nearpoint) were the only criteria named in more than one-half of the studies. An extended nearpoint of convergence (NPC) and increased exophoria at near were criteria in about one-third of the papers. Examination of data in the reviewed papers shows that although considerable variability was noted, the distance exodeviation, distance negative vergences, visual acuity, refraction, and stereopsis were about the same as population norms. Positive vergences, negative vergence at near, and NPC were somewhat less than population norms. Vergences relative to Sheard's criterion, the near exophoria, accommodative amplitude, and the AC/A ratio were consistently below those derived from population norms. This considerable variation may largely be a result of different criteria used for diagnosis, subpopulations within the data, and other confounding factors.
Emergency coronary revascularization using polytetrafluoroethylene conduits in a patient in cardiogenic shock

There is growing awareness that a particular subset of patients with coronary artery disease who need surgical revascularization do not have autologous vein or internal mammary artery available or surgically applicable. The polytetrafluoroethylene graft has had limited use in aortocoronary bypass procedures. We describe a case of cardiogenic shock secondary to severe coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis, where the use of this synthetic graft contributed to a successful outcome. Angiographic patency was documented at 3 months follow-up. Our experience, plus a review of the literature, supports the use of polytetrafluoroethylene grafts during aortocoronary artery bypass to salvage infarcting or ischemic myocardium, when traditional autologous bypass conduits are not available or applicable.
Interaction between nickel and protein source in the ruminant.

Eighty growing steers were used to determine the effect of nickel supplementation on performance and metabolic parameters of steers fed corn silage-based diets supplemented with different crude protein sources. Crude protein sources examined included: (1) soybean meal, (2) blood meal, (3) urea, and (4) blood meal-urea (two-thirds of supplemental nitrogen from blood meal and one-third from urea). The protein sources differed in ruminal degradability, nitrogen solubility, and nickel content. Nickel was added within each protein treatment to supply either 0 or 5 ppm of supplemental nickel. The experiment was 84 d in duration and rumen fluid and blood samples were collected on days 42 and 80. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected by nickel supplementation. The addition of 5 ppm supplemental nickel greatly increased rumen bacterial urease activity regardless of protein source. When samples were collected prior to feeding on day 80, nickel increased serum urea nitrogen concentrations in steers fed urea, but decreased circulating urea concentrations in animals fed blood meal or the blood meal-urea combination.Ad libitum intake of trace mineral salt was greatly reduced in steers receiving 5 ppm supplemental nickel. The present study suggests that the source of protein may influence ruminant responses to dietary nickel.
Technical note: Shoulder subluxation as a complication of positioning during CT

Previously unreported, we note the complication of anterior shoulder subluxation that occurred secondary to patient positioning during chest CT examination. Positioning a patient's arms abducted and externally rotated over the head can precipitate anterior shoulder subluxation in patients with anterior shoulder instability.
Dynamic programming for noncausal problems

The theory of dynamic programming as used in most control applications relies heavily on the causal structure of the underlying dynamics. In this survey paper, we will show noncausal problems, such as those arising in partial differential equations, multidimensional smoothing and filtering, and digital image processing can often be converted into causal problems by imposing a causal vector structure on the process. The resulting problem can then be handled as a vector multistage decision process using dynamic programming. We will present this approach for some simple two-dimensional deterministic problems. Applications to the numerical solution of partial differential equations and image restoration will be shown. Although this paper covers a body of theory and applications which have been developed over the past decade, the approach presented here is considerably more unified than appears elsewhere.
Practitioner-Based Theory Building in Organizational Ethics

Understanding of organizational ethics phenomena requires complex understanding of organizational practices in their real world contexts. We can try to understand and build theory about these complex real world practices from the points of view of: (1) a traditional deductive, ethics literature-based, literature gap formulation approach; or, (2) an inductive, practitioner-based literature gap formulation approach. This consideration of inductive, practitioner-based versus deductive, literature-based literature gap formulation is related to the discussion concerning “engaged scholarship” and relationships and gaps between theory and practice in organization studies [Van De Ven, 2007, Engaged Scholarship: A Guide for Organizational and Research Knowledge (Oxford University Press, NY)]. However, there is an important difference with respect to the key issue of ethics literature versus practitioner-based literature gap formulation. This article offers examples of the two different approaches and makes comparisons between them. Implications for practice-based organizational ethics theory building, Ph.D. education, and public intellectual work are considered.
Insensitivity of noninvasive tests to detect coronary artery vasculopathy after heart transplant.

Abstract Obstructive coronary artery vasculopathy can be a major problem after cardiac transplant. The use of noninvasive tests to detect coronary artery vasculopathy was studied in 73 consecutive patients after heart transplant. Angiographically or autopsyproved coronary artery disease was noted in 19 consecutive patients (26%) followed prospectively for 2.5 ± 1.3 years (mean ± standard deviation). Patients underwent yearly surveillance echocardiographic, rest/exercise-gated wall motion, oral dipyridamole thallium, ambulatory etectrocardiographic monitor and angiographic studies. Positive test results were defined by decrease in ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality, failure to increase ejection fraction, lack of systolic blood pressure increase, and ischemic ST changes at maximal exercise (or on ambulatory monitor). Wall motion abnormalities and depressed ejection fraction on echocardiography were also abnormal studies as were fixed or reversible perfusion defects on thallium scan. Angiograms were considered positive when 50% luminal narrowing was observed and autopsy coronary artery vasculopathy was defined as cross-sectional coronary obstruction ≥70%. No procedure that was examined proved to be a sensitive noninvasive detector of heart transplant coronary artery vasculopathy. All except ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring had positive predictive values
The variable meaning of curricula: A Texas case study

This paper examines differences in interpretation of geography curriculum in the context of current debates in the United States on the utility of national standards. Classroom teachers and geography lecturers in Texas were asked to describe their understanding of the Texas state‐mandated curriculum in World Geography, a high school course (Texas Education Agency, 1988). Analysis of the responses indicates that state‐imposed curriculum means different things to different teachers and has a variety of meanings for geographers. There is little match in the expectations that university lecturers and teachers have for student learning. This situation is seen as an argument in favour of rich, detailed national standards in geography.
Isomers of Small Carbon Cluster Anions: Linear Chains with up to 20 Atoms

The structure of small carbon cluster anions, C n - (4 ≤ n ≤ 20), was investigated with the use of ion chromatography. With this technique, both the existence and the relative amounts of possible structural isomers can be determined. More than 99% of the ions C5- to C9- were found to be linear under these experimental conditions. Starting with C10-, a monocyclic isomer was observed, and linear and moncyclic structures coexisted from C10- through at least C20-. This result is in contrast to previous work on positive ions, which showed the existence of linear isomers from C5+ to C10+, with linear and cyclic isomers coexisting only from C7+ to C10+. Above C10+, no linear clusters were observed.
Can fluoroquinolones be considered once-daily therapy?

Fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents inhibit most Enterobacteriaceae at extremely low concentrations, ≤0.5 μg/mL. The half-lives of the agents range from 4 to 18 hours. Most of the available fluoroquinolones can be administered once daily to treat urinary tract and diarrheal infections. Newer agents with long half-lives that inhibit gram positive organisms at lower concentrations than the older fluoroquinolones, ≤1 μg/mL, and have a long postantibiotic effect have the potentiol to be used once daily as treatment of respiratory, skin-structure and selected bone infections as well
Oscillations in multi-stable monotone systems with slowly varying feedback

The study of dynamics of gene regulatory networks is of increasing interest in systems biology. A useful approach to the study of these complex systems is to view them as decomposed into feedback loops around open loop monotone systems. Key features of the dynamics of the original system are then deduced from the input-output characteristics of the open loop system and the sign of the feedback. This paper extends these results, showing how to use the same framework of input-output systems in order to prove existence of oscillations, if the slowly varying strength of the feedback depends on the state of the system.
Simaltaneous Measurement of Guest and Host Ordering in a Nematic Lyophase via Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract The temperature dependence of the order parameters P 2(cos θ) have been determined via fluorescence emission measurements for both a guest dye (3.3′diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide) and the lyotropic nematic host disodium cromoglycate. The guest is found to have a significantly lower order parameter than the host while both show the same temperature dependence. The angle between the absorption and emission moments of the dye is found to be approximately 64[ddot]. The higher moment of the order parameter, P 4(cos θ), can also be determined, but because of its sensitivity to this angle a quantitative measurement is not possible.
On the dressing method in multidimension

Abstract The dressing method based on the system of linear inhomogeneous algebraic equations is proposed for construction the particular solutions of n-dimensional (n is integer) nonlinear partial differential equations (PDE). The classical integrable systems are among them. We represent an example of (3+1)-dimensional generalization of modified Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation (mKP) with particular solutions.
Cellular Regulation of the Metabolism of Androgens in Rat Oral Mucosa. II. Product Activation of 17 β-hydroxysteroid Oxidoreductase Enzyme System

Product activation of 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase for testosterone and androstenedione was established using the enzyme preparation from rat oral mucosa. It is suggested that this activation could be due to the conformational changes of the enzyme.
SU-F-BRF-01: A GPU Framework for Developing Interactive High-Resolution Patient-Specific Biomechanical Models

Purpose: To develop a GPU-based framework that can generate highresolution and patient-specific biomechanical models from a given simulation CT and contoured structures, optimized to run at interactive speeds, for addressing adaptive radiotherapy objectives. Method: A Massspring-damping (MSD) model was generated from a given simulation CT. The model's mass elements were generated for every voxel of anatomy, and positioned in a deformation space in the GPU memory. MSD connections were established between neighboring mass elements in a dense distribution. Contoured internal structures allowed control over elastic material properties of different tissues. Once the model was initialized in GPU memory, skeletal anatomy was actuated using rigid-body transformations, while soft tissues were governed by elastic corrective forces and constraints, which included tensile forces, shear forces, and spring damping forces. The model was validated by applying a known load to a soft tissue block and comparing the observed deformation to ground truth calculations from established elastic mechanics. Results: Our analyses showed that both local and global load experiments yielded results with a correlation coefficient R{sup 2} > 0.98 compared to ground truth. Models were generated for several anatomical regions. Head and neck models accurately simulated posture changes by rotating the skeletal anatomy in threemore » dimensions. Pelvic models were developed for realistic deformations for changes in bladder volume. Thoracic models demonstrated breast deformation due to gravity when changing treatment position from supine to prone. The GPU framework performed at greater than 30 iterations per second for over 1 million mass elements with up to 26 MSD connections each. Conclusions: Realistic simulations of site-specific, complex posture and physiological changes were simulated at interactive speeds using patient data. Incorporating such a model with live patient tracking would facilitate real time assessment of variations of the actual anatomy and delivered dose for adaptive intervention and re-planning.« less
A micromechanical model for concrete in compression

Abstract This paper develops a general three-dimensional micromechanical constitutive theory for plain concrete subjected to uniaxial and triaxial compressive loads. The overall nonlinear response of the material is attributed solely to the activation and growth of the randomly oriented microdefects present in the mesoscale prior to any loading. In addition, kinetic equations are developed that describe the microcrack evolution as a function of the applied loads. These equations are shown to pattern the actual damage evolution in the solid as confirmed by the acoustic emission tests. The results generated from this model are shown to compare favorably to the experimentally observed trends for both uniaxial and triaxial compression even though the formulation is not adorned with any additional fitting parameters.
Pressure collapse in oxygen storage under zero-G.

A mathematical study has identified the operating and design conditions that may lead to pressure collapse in a supercritical, cryogenic oxygen storage system. Pressure collapse is attributed to unexpected mixing of warmer and colder stored oxygen, and physical property behavior which leads to consequent loss of pressure is identified. The extent and seriousness of pressure losses are indicated by the results of numerical case studies based on a mathematical model of a 5-ft capacity, supercritical, cryogenic oxygen storage system. The capabilities of a simple on-off heater system to control pressure were determined as functions of operating pressure range and limit, withdrawal rate, heating rate, and heater and oxygen-withdrawal locations. An electric heater (or heaters) uniformly distributed over the inside surface of the tank would be much better than a heater in the center of the tank. A maximum operating pressure between 70 and 100 atm is desirable.
Chronic liver disease.

To the Editor:—The review by Riley et al.1 of preventive care in patients with chronic liver disease offers a useful outline of the critical elements to be addressed by physicians serving this growing population. The authors appropriately cite the opportunity to prevent exacerbations and optimize the length of time between hepatitis, cirrhosis, and death, and stress patient education as a key element in this effort. It is disappointing to note, however, that the authors make no mention of efforts to prepare chronically ill patients for the end of life—perhaps because research on such efforts is so poorly represented in the literature. Most of these patients will die of their liver disease, but in most cases with unpredictable time courses. Similar problems arise in the care of patients with advanced heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes. Rarely can I determine if a chronically ill patient meets the 6-month prognosis framework that generally guides hospice enrollment. However, it is not hard for me to identify a group of patients whose deaths are individually unpredictable, but of whom I'm confident a significant percentage will be dead a year later. In addition to efforts to optimize therapeutics and ensure periodic diagnostic testing, these patients deserve to be educated on (1) the importance of establishing a health care proxy and a written advance directive, (2) the benefits of hospice (before they need it), and (3) the possibility that they may have less time left than they thought to spend with loved ones and address unfinished business. When told that despite best efforts their physician wouldn't be surprised if they were dead within a year, perhaps these patients might even choose to see less of the health care system.
Structure-nephrotoxicity relationships for para-substitutedN-phenylsuccinimides in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer 344 rats

Abstract N -(3,5-Dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) has proven to be one of the most nephrotoxic compounds of a series of N -(halophenyl)succinimides. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that chlorine content and position on the phenyl ring are important determinants for NDPS-induced nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the electron donating or withdrawing nature of phenyl group substituents and the nephrotoxic potential of the corresponding fungicides. Rats were administered a para -substituted N -phenylsuccinimide (0.4 or 1.0 mmol/kg, i.p.) or sesame oil (2.5 ml/kg, i.p.), and renal function was monitored at 24 h and 48 h. In Sprague-Dawley rats, a clear nephrotoxicity was was produced by NDPS. Weak nephrotoxicity was produced by N -(4- tert -butylphenyl)succinimed (NBPS). NDPS also was the most nephrotoxic compound in Fischer 344 rats, while weak nephrotoxicity was produced by NBPS. Lipophilic character (e.g. partition coefficient) did not correlate with acute nephrotoxicity in either rat strain. These results also indicate that there is a no correlation between the electronic nature of the phenyl substituents and resulting nephrotoxicity.