cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Access to Lung Transplantation in the United States: The Potential Impact of Access to a High-volume Center.

BACKGROUND Health disparities plague our healthcare system. Utilizing a novel approach, we sought to assess the effects of geographic disparities on access to lung transplantation (LT) in the United States. METHODS A total of 13 743 LT adult recipients in the United Network for Organ Sharing Database were identified between May 2005 and December 2014 with a zip code status. Geographic access was defined by global spherical distance from patient zip code centroid to transplant center. Measures analyzed included the association among socioeconomic status (SES), distance to a transplant center, and center switching behavior. RESULTS Median distance traveled was 62.9 miles. There was an inverse relationship between Diez Roux SES and median distance traveled (90 versus 80.1 versus 60.5 versus 30, P 158.7 miles was associated with worse survival (hazard ration 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.2; P = 0.005). Over 80% of patients exhibiting center switching were transplanted at a high-volume center than their home institution. Those more likely to switch to a high-volume center were those with an associates/bachelor (P < 0.005) or graduate-level degree (P < 0.05). Recipients with high-volume home institutions had the lowest probability of switching to an alternative center (odds ratio, 0.009; P < 0.001). There was no difference in survival when comparing those transplanted at their home institution versus those who sought transplantation at an alternative institution (55.3% versus 55.0%, P = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS Although there was no association among SES, distance traveled, and survival, access to LT services varies among populations in the United States.
Incorporating Diversity Measures into Ecological Site Descriptions to Manage Biodiversity on Heterogeneous Landscapes

On the Ground • We examined whether diversity metrics could be incorporated into the Ecological Site Descriptions and State and Transition Models (ESD-STM) framework to manage multiple goals including biodiversity on heterogeneous landscapes. • We evaluated plant diversity in two vegetation states (i.e., grassland and shrubland) across three ecological sites in Southern California and found that alpha diversity differed by ecological site and vegetation state. • Functional diversity remained similar across our three ecological sites. • Beta diversity between vegetation states was higher than that within each state—in other words, two states support more dissimilar vegetation communities than one state alone. • Describing both biodiversity metrics and forage values in ESD-STM may help guide conservation planning on working ranches, such as the Tejon Ranch in Southern California.
Theories of Liability for the Sexual Misconduct of Teachers

This article reviews two theories of liability adopted by courts to resolve complaints by school children for the sexual misconduct of teachers. Student complaints of sexual abuse by teachers has i...
A predictive framework of the tribological impact of physical activities on metal-on-plastic hip implants

Abstract For hip implant designs made of polyethylene, the wear process for acetabular cups plays a crucial role in joint lifetime. Though much of the wear occurs in the mixed lubrication regime, which is characterized by both fluid dynamics and contact mechanics related behaviors, current wear modeling approaches often ignore the interplay of these dominant tribological modes. In this work, a reasonably high-fidelity mixed lubrication modeling framework that is able to scale to patient-relevant timescales has been constructed. The model is focused on quantifying wear for an artificial hip implant on a patient-specific basis. The results show that different daily activities can result in vastly different wear levels.
Superoxide Formation from Aqueous Reactions of Biogenic Secondary Organic Aerosols.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a central role in aqueous-phase processing and health effects of atmospheric aerosols. Although hydroxyl radical (•OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are regarded as major oxidants associated with secondary organic aerosols (SOA), the kinetics and reaction mechanisms of superoxide (O2•-) formation are rarely quantified and poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a dominant formation of O2•- with molar yields of 0.01-0.03% from aqueous reactions of biogenic SOA generated by •OH photooxidation of isoprene, β-pinene, α-terpineol, and d-limonene. The temporal evolution of •OH and O2•- formation is elucidated by kinetic modeling with a cascade of aqueous reactions including the decomposition of organic hydroperoxides, •OH oxidation of primary or secondary alcohols, and unimolecular decomposition of α-hydroxyperoxyl radicals. Relative yields of various types of ROS reflect a relative abundance of organic hydroperoxides and alcohols contained in SOA. These findings and mechanistic understanding have important implications on the atmospheric fate of SOA and particle-phase reactions of highly oxygenated organic molecules as well as oxidative stress upon respiratory deposition.
Machine learning to identify geologic factors associated with production in geothermal fields: a case-study using 3D geologic data, Brady geothermal field, Nevada

In this paper, we present an analysis using unsupervised machine learning (ML) to identify the key geologic factors that contribute to the geothermal production in Brady geothermal field. Brady is a hydrothermal system in northwestern Nevada that supports both electricity production and direct use of hydrothermal fluids. Transmissive fluid-flow pathways are relatively rare in the subsurface, but are critical components of hydrothermal systems like Brady and many other types of fluid-flow systems in fractured rock. Here, we analyze geologic data with ML methods to unravel the local geologic controls on these pathways. The ML method, non-negative matrix factorization with k-means clustering (NMFk), is applied to a library of 14 3D geologic characteristics hypothesized to control hydrothermal circulation in the Brady geothermal field. Our results indicate that macro-scale faults and a local step-over in the fault system preferentially occur along production wells when compared to injection wells and non-productive wells. We infer that these are the key geologic characteristics that control the through-going hydrothermal transmission pathways at Brady. Our results demonstrate: (1) the specific geologic controls on the Brady hydrothermal system and (2) the efficacy of pairing ML techniques with 3D geologic characterization to enhance the understanding of subsurface processes.
(Phospho)Proteomic dataset of ischemia- and ultrasound- stimulated mouse cardiac endothelial cells in vitro.

Abstract Cardiac endothelial cells respond to both ischemia and therapeutic ultrasound; the proteomic changes underlying these responses are unknown. This data article provides raw and processed data resulting from our global, unbiased phosphoproteomics investigation conducted on primary mouse cardiac endothelial cells exposed to ischemia (2-hour oxygen glucose deprivation) and ultrasound (250 kHz, 1.2 MPa) in vitro [1]. Proteins were extracted from cell lysates and enriched phosphopeptides were analyzed with a high mass accuracy liquid chromatrography (LC) - tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) proteomic platform, yielding multiple alterations in both total protein levels and phosphorylation events in response to ischemic injury and ultrasound. This dataset can be used as a reference for future studies on the cardiac endothelial response to ischemia and the mechanistic underpinnings of the cellular response to ultrasound, with the potential to yield clinically relevant therapeutic targets.
Weak Coupling Between Spontaneous Local Cortical Activity State Switches Under Anesthesia Leads to Strongly Correlated Global Cortical States

Under anesthesia, neural dynamics deviate dramatically from those seen during wakefulness. During recovery from this perturbation, thalamocortical activity abruptly switches among a small set of metastable intermediate states. These metastable states and structured transitions among them form a scaffold that guides the brain back to the waking state. Here, we investigate the mechanisms that constrain cortical activity to discrete states and give rise to abrupt transitions among them. If state transitions were imposed onto the thalamocortical system by changes in the subcortical modulation, different cortical sites should exhibit near-synchronous state transitions. To test this hypothesis, we quantified state synchrony at different cortical sites in anesthetized rats. States were defined by compressing spectra of layer-specific local field potentials (LFPs) in visual and motor cortices. Transition synchrony, mutual information, and canonical correlations all demonstrate that most state transitions in the cortex are local and that coupling between sites is weak. Fluctuations in the LFP in the thalamic input layer 4 were particularly dissimilar from those in supra- and infra-granular layers. Thus, our results suggest that the discrete global cortical states are not imposed by the ascending modulatory pathways but emerge from the multitude of weak pairwise interactions within the cortex.
The Sterile Hot Brines of the Red Sea

The brines of the Atlantis II and Discovery Deeps, their sediments and the water overlying these Red Sea brines were examined for the presence or absence of bacteria. No bacteria were found in the Atlantis II sediments and brines, but they were present in the overlying transition and normal 22° waters. The sulfate reducing bacteria in this transition layer may account for the sulfur fractionation found in the metal sulfides in the sediments. In the Discovery Deep, bacteria were present in the sediment but were not demonstrated within the brines. The high temperature, salinity and metal concentrations in the Atlantis II brines are thought to act synergistically, preventing the growth of bacteria. The lower heavy metal concentration in Discovery Deep may make conditions slightly less hostile to life and permit the growth of bacteria in the sediments.
Degenerative changes at the neuromuscular junctions of red, white and intermediate muscle fibers: Part 1. Response to short stump nerve section

Abstract Degeneration at the neuromuscular junction following cutting the phrenic nerve at the 9th intercostal space differs in red, white and intermediate skeletal muscle fibers. The ultrastructure of the nerve terminal and the muscle fiber between 12 hours and 21 days following denervation suggests that lack of neurotrophic influences results in responses specific for each fiber type. Degeneration of axon ends is rapid and by 2 days axon terminals are missing from the end-plate areas of all 3 fiber types. Schwann cells “engulf” degenerating axon terminals and eventually replace them in the primary clefts. Schwann cells display specific morphological changes directly related to axonal degeneration. In all instances axon terminal degeneration precedes muscle fiber degeneration. Synaptic cleft changes are similar for all types of muscle fibers. Primary cleft structure appears to be dependent upon neurotrophic influence, whereas secondary cleft structure is relatively unaffected by denervation. Initial changes in subsynaptic regions of muscle fibers include focal loss of sarcomere alignment and skewing of the Z lines. By 21 days myofibrillar disorganization appears most severe in white fibers and least in red muscle fibers. The rate and degree of degeneration of the axon terminal and subjacent muscle fiber are different for each of the 3 muscle fiber types.
Two improved sparse decomposition methods for blind source separation

In underdetermined blind source separation problems, it is common practice to exploit the underlying sparsity of the sources for demixing. In this work, we propose two sparse decomposition algorithms for the separation of linear instantaneous speech mixtures. We also show how a properly chosen dictionary can improve the performance of such algorithms by improving the sparsity of the underlying sources. The first algorithm proposes the use of a single channel Bounded Error Subset Selection (BESS) method for robustly estimating the mixing matrix. The second algorithm is a decomposition method that performs a constrained decomposition of the mixtures over a stereo dictionary.
Low-energy coexisting band in 154Gd.

A low-energy coexisting band ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ (${E}_{x}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{k}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$) ${0}^{+}$ (1182), ${2}^{+}$ (1418), ${4}^{+}$ (1701) is identified in the deformed nucleus, $^{154}\mathrm{G}\mathrm{d}$. Detailed $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectroscopy following the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decays of $^{154}\mathrm{E}\mathrm{u}$ ($J=3$), $^{154g,{m}_{1},{m}_{2}}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{b}$ ($J=0,3,7$) is used to establish this structure. The structure is explained in terms of the pairing and deformation degrees of freedom, a ``pairing isomer,'' which results from the $\ensuremath{\nu}[505]\ensuremath{\uparrow}$ Nilsson intruder orbital.
Redefining services to libraries

OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., is a nonprofit computer library service and research organization based in Dublin, Ohio. OCLC operates an international computer network used by more than 16,000 libraries in 47 countries. OCLC has developed a strategic plan for its Reference Services Division to help it further the ease of access to, and use of, the worldwide body of knowledge and information. The plan describes a current library environment wherein tight budgets have encouraged networking and the sharing of resources to keep costs down while maintaining access to information. Meanwhile, as the publishing industry evolves to meet the changing demands of the library community, it is increasingly interested in electronic publishing. The plan also envisions a future in which information distriburion will shift to electronic means. Geographhic distance will become unimportant as telecommunications technology improves
pH regulation in spread cells and round cells

The aim of this work was to characterize the changes in pH regulation that lead to increased intracellular pH (pHi) in well-spread cells on tissue culture plastic relative to cells on a nonadhesive surface. Bicarbonate was not required for maintenance of a control steady state pHi or of the difference in pHi between round and spread cells. In the absence of bicarbonate, lowering the sodium content of the medium led to decreased pHi and elimination of the difference between round and spread cells. In the presence or absence of bicarbonate, adding ethylisopropyl amiloride lowered pHi and eliminated the difference between round and spread cells. Measurements of recovery from acute acidification in the absence of bicarbonate confirmed that Na+/H+ exchange was enhanced in spread cells. However, recovery from both acidification and alkalinization in the presence of bicarbonate showed that bicarbonate-dependent recovery in both directions, most likely due to sodium-dependent and -independent HCO3-/Cl- exchangers, was also stimulated in spread cells. We conclude that Na+/H+ exchange has a primary role in determining steady state pHi in 3T3 cells in serum and is responsible for the lower pHi in round cells. Bicarbonate-dependent pH regulatory mechanisms are also inhibited in round cells.
MoDe-X: Microarchitecture of a Layout-Aware Modular Decoupled Crossbar for On-Chip Interconnects

The number of cores in a single chip keeps increasing with process technology scaling, requiring a scalable interconnection network topology. Buffered wormhole-switched interconnect architectures are attractive for such multicore architectures. The 2D mesh on-chip interconnect provides a scalable, cost-efficient, flexible, and reliable next-generation interconnect topology in this context. In this paper, we provide a microarchitecture for a power and area efficient router for a 2D mesh interconnect. We propose an efficient crossbar implementation, called MoDe-X, that uses a reasonable power-performance tradeoff. The MoDe-X router uses a Modular-Decoupled Crossbar (MoDe-X) that incorporates dimensional decomposition and segmentation to achieve power and area savings. However, unlike most prior work that considers only logical representation of the crossbars, MoDe-X is a physically aware router accounting for the actual layout of router components to reflect practical design requirements. Our simulation results and power estimate show that the MoDe-X router architectures can reduce the overall router area by up to 40 percent and power consumption by up to 35 percent with very little performance impact that occurs only at higher loads. Further, by applying aggressive power gating techniques the net power reductions can be as much as 99 percent for some workloads with no additional performance impact.
Terminating Rubber and Plastic Cables in Contaminated Environments

For termination of rubber-insulated cable, it has been found practical to simply expose the factory insulation between stress cone and terminal for uncontaminated outdoor locations. In severe contamination exposure, however, the factory insulation surface and conventional tapes have been found susceptible to deterioration from leakage-current, resulting in tracking and subsequent flashover. This difficulty may be reduced or eliminated by applying track-resistant tapes or tubes over the factory insulation at the termination. Teflon FEP fluorocarbon resin shrink-fit tubing, recently developed, resists this tracking approximately 30 times better than previously-used antitracking tape covers.
Association of chronic urinary symptoms in women and Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Objectives. To determine the incidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum in women experiencing chronic urinary symptoms and to determine whether antibiotic therapy targeting these organisms is effective. Methods. Forty-eight consecutive women referred to our academic medical center for chronic voiding symptoms and possible interstitial cystitis underwent urologic evaluation, including culture screening for U. urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Patients with positive cultures were treated with a 1-g dose of azithromycin; persistent infection was treated with 7 days of doxycycline, ofloxacin, or erythromycin. Patients reported symptom severity (0, mild; 3, severe) and voiding frequency before and 6 months after treatment. Results. Positive cultures were obtained in 23 (48%) of 48 patients; 22 had U. urealyticum and 1 had M. hominis. All had negative cultures after treatment. The mean symptom severity score improved with treatment (2.2 to 0.7, P <0.001), and the mean urinary frequency decreased (9.2 daily to 6.8 daily, P <0.001). Two of the 23 patients experienced no improvement; one had detrusor instability and the other had medically related urinary frequency. Of the 25 patients with negative cultures, interstitial cystitis was established in only 9 (19% of the total sample). Conclusions. Although often overlooked or improperly treated, U. urealyticum and M. hominis infections may account for a large proportion of unexplained chronic voiding symptoms. Culture and treatment should be considered before pursuing more costly and invasive tests.
The Talking Cure as Action: Freud's Theory of Ritual Revisited

Freud made creative use of late Victorian theories of ritual as empty modes of behavior, using the idea of “seemingly meaningless” ritual to offer a compelling comparison with obsessive behavior. However, analytic hours, with their repetitive frame and repetition of unconscious conflicts, have stronger links with rituals than Freud admitted. Recent theories highlight the extensive power of rituals to organize and instantiate models of effective action, especially in terms of the multifunctionality of language. These new theories of ritual offer in turn new tools for understanding the therapeutic action of analytic hours.
A small computer system for EEG wavelength-amplitude profile analysis

Abstract A system for EEG signal analysis is described which uses a small, general-purpose computer and which has the following features: (a) it simulates some aspects of the process of human visual EEG interpretation; (b) it is easy to operate; (c) it is sufficiently quantitative to be applicable in research studies; (d) the process of data acquisition and analysis is sufficiently rapid to allow prompt analysis of information about EEG waveforms. The possibility of using this system in automatic EEG clinical diagnosis is under investigation.
An Ne-like Fe laser resonantly photo-pumped by Ne X Ly-α radiation

Abstract We propose using the Ne X Ly-α emission line generated by a neon Z-pinch to photo-pump neon-like iron (Z=26) resonantly and produce lasing on several 3p→3s transitions ranging from 200 to 400 A. By modeling the Ne Z-pinch output obtained on SATURN experiments as an X-ray source, the time-dependent properties of the Fe lasant are studied. The effect on the gain of varying parameters such as the ion density of the Fe lasant and the output of the Z-pinch is investigated. Our model yields a maximum gain of 4 and 13 cm-1 on the dominant laser lines at 254 and 387 A, respectively. However when the impact of radiation transfer on the gain of the various laser lines is considered in a one-dimensional cylindrical geometry, more realistic gains of 2–4 cm-1 are calculated on these lines.
Upregulation of HIV-1 expression in cocultures of chronically infected promonocytes and human brain cells by dynorphin

Abstract Using cocultures of human fetal brain cells and a chronically human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-infected promonocytic line U1, we investigated the effect of dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide found in the CNS, on upregulation of HIV-1 expression. Dynorphin and the synthetic κ receptor agonist U50,488 promoted HIV-1 expression with a bell-shaped concentration-response relationship in which maximal effects were observed at 10 −13 and 10 −11 M, respectively. Pretreatment for 30 min with the κ receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine completely blocked the stimulatory effect of dynorphin and U50,488. The involvement of cytokines on HIV-1 expression was tested. Dynorphininduced upregulation of HIV-1 in the cocultures was largely blocked by antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 but not by antibodies to IL-10. Also, dynorphin stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 in the brain cell cultures at both mRNA and protein levels, suggesting the involvement of these cytokines in opioid-induced HIV-1 expression. These findings suggest that endogenous opioid peptides such as dynorphin may have an immunomodulatory function in the CNS and could act as a cofactor in the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1.
Pasnau on category realism: author Meets Critics, Robert Pasnau, Metaphysical Themes 1274–1671

From the perspective of a contemporary metaphysician, Metaphysical Themes 1274�1671 is a fantastic book. It is an impressively rich, detailed, and thorough examination of a multitude of important metaphysical puzzles and arguments, written in a clear, engaging, lively, funny, and even on one occasion vulgar manner. The number of topics covered is astonishing: substance, attribute, form, matter, the metaphysics of predication, parts and wholes, the metaphysics of extension across space, persistence over time, the distinction between primary�secondary qualities, and many others. One of the disconcerting but exciting things about reading Pasnau�s book was both the familiarity of so many of the metaphysical topics the medieval philosophers pursued as well as well as their divergent inclinations on how best to pursue them. This book is a metaphysical thriller, and I highly recommend it. In what follows, I will engage as a metaphysician with Pasnau and through him some of the figures he discu ...
Inhibition and activation of chitin synthesis by Mucor rouxii cell extracts

Abstract The chitin synthetase activity of a “microsomal” fraction from Mucor rouxii increased during storage under the appropriate conditions. This increase in activity was blocked by an inhibitor present in the soluble cytoplasm. The inhibitor was thermostable, nondialysable, and its action was pH dependent. Sensitivity to the inhibitor was lost on prolonged storage. These observations agree with the mechanism of control of chitin synthetase in Saccharomyces proposed by Cabib and Farkas in which the enzyme is produced in a zymogen state and then converted to its active form by proteolysis. The inhibitor blocks this conversion.
High-Wire Act: HVdc Technology: The State of the Art

Developed to meet a combination of technical and economic considerations, high-voltage dc (HV dc) was launched in 1954 with the first commercial transmission link between the island of Gotland and the Swedish mainland. Since then, HV dc technology has advanced dramatically, and more than 100 HV dc transmission systems have been installed around the world.
Working ‘off the record’: polio eradication and state immunity in Chad

The reappearance of polio in Chad generates anxieties about governance as well as public health. Since Chad was declared polio-free in 2003, at least 180 cases of paralytic polio have been linked to importations of wild poliovirus from Nigeria. In efforts to eradicate polio through house-to-house vaccination campaigns, international agencies have aggressively implicated political leaders, placing those authorities in a bind. On the one hand, governments are required to demonstrate compliance in the form of universal vaccination. On the other hand, the legitimacy of political leaders and of local authorities in particular depends upon their ability to show compassion for their populations and to be responsive to individual circumstances and concerns about the drops. This article looks at how the obligation of the African state to adopt global public health policy as its own becomes problematic when the goals and protocols of international agencies rely on the assumption that the state controls its populati...
Location-aware source routing protocol for underwater acoustic networks of AUVs

Acoustic networks of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) cannot typically rely on protocols intended for terrestrial radio networks. This work describes a new location-aware source routing (LASR) protocol shown to provide superior network performance over two commonly used network protocols--flooding and dynamic source routing (DSR)--in simulation studies of underwater acoustic networks of AUVs. LASR shares some features with DSR but also includes an improved link/route metric and a node tracking system. LASR also replaces DSR's shortest-path routing with the expected transmission count (ETX) metric. This allows LASR to make more informed routing decisions, which greatly increases performance compared to DSR. Provision for a node tracking system is another novel addition: using the time-division multiple access (TDMA) feature of the simulated acoustic modem, LASR includes a tracking system that predicts node locations, so that LASR can proactively respond to topology changes. LASR delivers 2-3 times as many messages as flooding in 72% of the simulated missions and delivers 2-4 times as many messages as DSR in 100% of the missions. In 67% of the simulated missions, LASR delivers messages requiring multiple hops to cross the network with 2-5 times greater reliability than flooding or DSR.
Differential vertex operations in Lagrangian field theory

A general framework is derived for studying differential operations in renormalized perturbation theory. The method makes possible a simple, unified derivation of the renormalization group and Callan-Symanzik equations, as well as a direct test for broken symmetries (including broken scale invariance), without the necessity of defining currents and deriving their generalized Ward identites. A second-order differential equation of the Callan-Symanzik type is derived using similar methods.
The Dimensionality of Youths' Oriented Interests

ABSTRACT The stability and validity of two future orientation interests dimensions, matriculation/adulthood tasks and generalized concerns with self and others, was assessed. Using a nationally representative sample of 10th grade (N = 16,842), 12th grade (N = 18,221) and high school dropouts, African, East Asian, European, and Mexican American students' support for the stability of the two dimensions was attained. The positive association between the two future orientation interests (FOI) dimensions and peers' perceived educational engagement and matriculation attitudes provides evidence for the FOI's construct validity. These findings suggest that there is a need to involve school social workers and other support school personnel in efforts to personalize the educational experience in a manner that connects youths' views of their possible future selves to the daily activities of schools.
Effect of special diabetes program for Indians funding on system changes in diabetes care and outcomes among American Indian/Alaska Native people 1994-2004.

OBJECTIVES: The Alaska Native Medical Center diabetes program analysed Diabetes Care and Outcomes Audit data from 1994-2004 to evaluate the impact of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) funding on process and intermediate outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from standardized medical records reviews conducted between 1994 and 2004 from regional sites in Alaska. METHODS: We analysed 7,735 randomly selected records for trends over three time periods (pre-SDPI, transition and SDPI). RESULTS: Hemoglobin A1c, total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure significantly improved from the pre-SDPI to the SDPI period. However, as the number of people with diabetes increased, the percentage of patients receiving foot, eye and dental exams decreased, as did the percentage receiving nutrition, exercise and diabetes education. CONCLUSIONS: SDPI funding provided resources for interventions necessary to improve the effectiveness of diabetes care. This was associated with improved intermediate outcomes in American Indian/Alaska Native patients with diabetes. Further observations are needed to evaluate whether or not intermediate outcomes result in decreased cardiovascular disease, amputations, dialysis and retinopathy. Keywords: American Indian/Alaska Native; blood pressure; diabetes care; hemoglobin A1c; lipids; SDPI (Int J Circumpolar Health 2008; 67(2):203-212)
Proteomic analysis to characterize differential mouse strain sensitivity to cadmium-induced forelimb teratogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium ion (Cd2+) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, and it is a potent teratogen in mice. An intraperitoneal dose of 4 mg/kg of CdCl2 at gestational day 9 causes forelimb ectrodactyly in the C57BL/6N mouse strain, but the SWV/Fnn strain is resistant. The objective of this study was to identify differentially displayed proteins in two target tissues for cadmium teratogenesis, and to derive hypotheses regarding the mechanisms involved in the murine strain difference in Cd-induced forelimb ectrodactyly. METHODS: The global proteomics strategy used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for protein separation, and MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS for protein identification, to compare and identify proteins in forelimb buds and yolk sacs from the two mouse strains following Cd administration. RESULTS: More than 1,000 protein spots were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in day 10.0 mouse forelimb buds and yolk sacs. Thirty-eight proteins had identifiable differences in abundance levels in Cd-treated forelimb buds between the two strains. Of those 38 proteins, 14 could be associated with the unfolded protein response process and seven are associated with actin polymerization. The proteins that were found to be differentially abundant between the strains in yolk sacs that were exposed to CdCl2 were predominantly different than the proteins detected differentially in the limb buds of the two strains with an overlap of approximately 20%. CONCLUSIONS: These patterns of differentially displayed proteins rationalize a hypothesis that the differential murine strain response to cadmium-induced forelimb ectrodactyly is due to differences in their pathways for the unfolded protein response and/or actin polymerization. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Induction of differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells with L histidinol.

Abstract Addition of an analog of histidine, histidinol, together with lowering the level of histidine in the medium, can induce hemoglobin synthesis in murine erythroleukemia cells.
Temperature-staged liquefaction of coals impregnated with ferrous sulfate

Two coals, a high volatile A bituminous coal from Utah and a subbituminous coal from Texas, were subjected to temperature-staged liquefaction in hydrogen and hydrogen/hydrogen sulfide atmospheres. Addition of H2S to the reaction gas increased the conversion of both coals, through higher asphaltene yields from the bituminous coal and higher yields of all liquid products from the subbituminous coal. Generally the addition of ferrous sulfate to the coals, followed by liquefaction in hydrogen, had about the same effect as addition of H2S to the gas, though the systems with added FeSO4 had lower yields of preasphaltenes than obtained by use of H2:H2S. The addition of H2S to the gas combined with impregnation with FeSO4 provided significant enhancement of conversion of both coals. For both coals the effect of using the two additives together was to enhance the asphaltene yields. The results of this work suggest the possibility of selectively tailoring the behavior of the catalyst in different stages of the liquefaction process by selecting the appropriate gaseous atmosphere.
Histology, histochemistry, and emptying mechanism of the venom glands of some elapid snakes.

The venom glands of several species of elapid snakes are described. The main venom gland consists of many tubules which usually contain large amounts of secretion product. The accessory gland surrounds the entire venom duct and is usually composed of uniform mucous epithelium. The epithelium lining the tubules of the accessory gland of Naja naja is composed of two distinct types of cells. Histochemical tests indicate that the main venom gland reacts with mercury bromphenol blue and PAS but not with alcian blue. The accessory gland reacts with PAS and alcian blue, and not with mercury bromphenol blue. Treatment of sections with sialidase demonstrates the presence of a sialomucin in the accessory gland. Stimulation of the muscles associated with the venom gland offers an indication of the venom expulsion mechanism of Bungarus caeruleus. A comparison of the venom apparatus of elapid and viperid snakes emphasizes marked differences in the internal anatomy of the venom glands, muscles associated with the gland, and arrangement of glandular components. The morphological differences and dissimilar venom expulsion mechanisms support the recent view of the polyphyletic origin of venomous snakes.
Diffusion-mediated exciton processes in molecular crystals: Comment on the magnetic field dependence of fission and fusion

It is shown in a kinematic analysis based on Suna's theory of diffusion-mediated triplet exciton-exciton annihilation that the rate constants for triplet exciton fusion (annihilation) and singlet exciton fission have the same magnetic field dependence. The relation between Suna's theory and Noyes' stochastic theory of diffusion-mediated chemical reactions is briefly discussed.
Motivation underlying career choice for internal medicine and surgery

Self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan, 1985) was used to predict medical students' career choices for internal medicine or surgery based on their experiences of the autonomy support provided by the instructors in the two corresponding third-year clerkships. Fourth-year medical students (n = 210) at three medical schools completed questionnaires that assessed (1) retrospective prior likelihood (as of the end of second year) of their going into internal medicine and surgery, (2) their perceived competence with respect to these two medical specialties, (3) their interest in the problems treated in each specialty, (4) the autonomy support of the instructors on the two corresponding rotations, (5) the current likelihood (late in the fourth year) of going into each of the two specialties, and (6) their actual residency choices. For a subset (n = 64), actual prior likelihoods of going into the two careers had also been assessed at the end of their second year. Structural equation modeling confirmed, as hypothesized, (a) that perceived autonomy support of the corresponding clerkship would predict students' choices of internal medicine or surgery, even after the effects of retrospective (and actual) prior likelihood had been removed, and (b) that this relationship between perceived autonomy support and career choice was mediated by perceived competence and interest. The present study suggests that students' experiences on clerkships do affect the likelihood that they will select particular specialties, and that students' interest in the areas are good indicators of the selections they will make.
Activity of the conformationally rigid 2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoic acid (AP4) analogue (RS)-1-amino-3-(phosphonomethylene)cyclobutane-1-carboxyclic acid (cyclobutylene AP5) on evoked responses in the perforant pathway of rat hippocampus

Abstract The highly rigid and conformationally extended 2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoic acid (AP4) analogue (RS-1-amino-3-(phosphonomethylene)-cyclobutane-1-car☐ylic acid (cyclobutylene AP5) was synthesized and found to inhibit evoked responses in the rat lateral perforant path (LPP) with an IC50 of 41 (±1.5 S.E.M.) μM and the medial perforant pathway with an IC50 of 218 (±3.7 S.E.M.) μM. Furthermore, paired pulse potentiation experiments suggest that cyclobutylene AP5 acts, in part, at a presynaptic site in the LPP. Thus, cyclobutylene AP5 appears to act in a similar manner to l -AP4 in the perforant pathway. These data support the hypothesis that l -AP4 assumes an extended conformation at the l -AP4 receptor of the LPP.
Iodine as an extreme pressure lubricant additive

Abstract Iodine charge transfer complexes have been investigated as lubricants for stainless steels and low carbon steels. These complexes, either by themselves or as additives to hydrocarbon oils, function as effective boundary lubricants over a wide range of surface pressure. The addition of as little as a fraction of one per cent iodine, in the form of a charge transfer complex, to a hydrocarbon oil increased its load carrying capacility by a factor of almost one hundred and markedly reduced the wear. The effect of iodine concentration on both friction and wear has been evaluated for a number of steels. Preliminary experiments indicate that iodine complexes also function as good boundary lubricants for nickel, babbitt, and cobalt. The mechanism of lubrication appears to be the reaction of iodine with the wearing metal surface to form a metal diiodide, a lamellar solid having a crystal structure similar to molybdenum disulfide.
Judging in good faith

Part I: The Good Faith Thesis: 1. Stubborn indeterminacy 2. The good faith thesis 3. An illustrative case and first objections Part II. The Permissible Discretion Thesis: 4. Science and skepticism. 5. Critical claims 6. Philosophies of law Part III. Law, Morals and Politics: 7. Legal and moral duties 8. The politics of good faith Index.
Clinical evaluation of wavelet compression of digitized chest x-rays

In this paper we assess lossy image compression of digitalized chest x-rays using radiologist assessment of anatomic structures and numerical measurements of image accuracy. Forty chest x-rays were digitized and compressed using an irreversible wavelet technique at 10, 20, 40 and 80:1. These were presented in a blinded fashion with an uncompressed image for subjective A-B comparison of 11 anatomic structures as well as overall quality. Mean error, RMS error, maximum pixel error, and number of pixels within 1 percent of original value were also computed for compression ratios from 10:1 to 80:1. We found that at low compression there was a slight preference for compressed images. There was no significant difference at 20:1 and 40:1. There was a slight preference on some structures for the original compared with 80:1 compressed images. Numerical measures demonstrated high image faithfulness, both in terms of number of pixels that were within 1 percent of their original value, and by the average error for all pixels. Our findings suggest that lossy compression at 40:1 or more can be used without perceptible loss in the demonstration of anatomic structures.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Convergence of an iterative algorithm for solving Hamilton-Jacobi type equations

Solutions of the optimal control and H∞-control problems for non-linear affine systems can be found by solving Hamilton-Jacobi equations. However, these first order nonlinear partial differential equations can, in general, not be solved analytically. This paper studies the rate of convergence of an iterative algorithm which solves these equations numerically for points near the origin. It is shown that the procedure converges to the stabilizing solution exponentially with respect to the iteration variable. Illustrative examples are presented which confirm the theoretical rate of convergence.
A study of nonlinear dispersive equations with solitary-wave solutions having compact support

Abstract With the use of Adomian decomposition method, the prototypical, genuinely nonlinear K(m,n) equation, ut+(um)x+(un)xxx=0, which exhibits compactons — solitons with finite wavelength — is solved exactly. Two numerical illustrations, K(2,2) and K(3,3), are investigated to illustrate the pertinent features of the proposed scheme. The technique is presented in a general way so that it can be used in nonlinear dispersive equations.
The Psychotherapy of Work

quently asked and immediate means of identifying another person. The fact is that a person’s capacity in the area of work is quickly and often severely limited by psychological problems. Accordingly, decompensation and growth ought to manifest themselves as clearly in work activities as in interpersonal relationships. It is, therefore, conceivable that work activities might be deliberately structured in a fashion analogous to the structuring of social relationships in a therapeutic milieu. so as to constitute themselves a therapeutic modality in a hospital or workshop-type setting. The consultation room bias which ignores work experiences and for the most part typifies the contemporary American mental health scene is fortunately not universally held. An important exception is a pilot study reported by Bernard F. Riess, Ph.D., Research Director of the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York.5 Dr. Riess reports a pilot study of 450 patients of the Mental Health Center who after a median of 57 sessions reported a median weekly income rise of $29 per week, in sharp contrast to a predicted rise of $6 per week based on Department of Labor statistics for a comparable population. The refreshingly direct notion that successful psychotherapy ought to be directly represented in substantially increased earning capacity for wage earners is a notion which Dr. Riess proposes to explore in considerably more detail. In an even more radical development, psychiatry in the Soviet Union and in other communist states has taken the position that work activities constitute an invaluable treatment modaliy.4 Joseph Wortis, M.D., in his book Soviet Psychiatry, describes the efflorescence of occupational psychotherapy programs as resulting from “the fundamental theoretical convictions
Relation between Base Oil Composition and Oxidation Stability at Increased Temperatures

The sources of crude oil have become more uncertain, therefore, the quality of base oils may fluctuate. The authors have been studying the effects of base oil composition changes on oxidative stability. The long range goal is to develop a laboratory procedure to predict changes in Automatic Transmission Fluid performance with variation in base stock composition. In this initial study, the compositions often commercially available base oils, plus ten mixtures made from them, have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and their high temperature (180 C) oxidation rates determined. The relative oxidation stability, as measured in a glassware oxidation test without catalyst, was found to be most sensitive to the sulfur and aromatic content of the base oils. A correlation between composition parameters and oxidation rate has been derived. Presented at the 30th Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, May 5–8, 1975
Out of the Garden of Eden

Nuclear Fear: A History of Images. By Spencer R. Weart. Harvard University Press: 1988. Pp. 535. $29.50, £23.50. To be published in paperback next spring. Collapse of an Industry: Nuclear Power and The Contradictions of U.S. Policy. By John L. Campbell. Cornell University Press: 1988. Pp. 231. Hbk $32.50, £2680; pbk$11.95, £9.85.
What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him (or me): Verbal responses and attributions following sexual infidelity

This experimental investigation focused on attributions and verbal responses (either a description of events or an account) presented to one's partner after a sexual infidelity. Motivation to maintain the relationship and the reproacher's knowledge of the transgression were varied to investigate their impact on the type, honesty of, and attributional information in verbal responses. Results indicated that accounts were much more prevalent, and much more honest, as the partner's knowledge of the transgression increased. The moderate knowledge condition was consistently troubling for participants who wanted to be apologetic in case their partner knew of the transgression yet not to give away too much information in case they did not. Motivation to maintain the relationship influenced both accounts and attributions as participants interested in maintaining the relationship felt more guilty and more blameworthy for their actions and presented kinder verbal responses.