cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES OF WETLANDS

If the general public is to appreciate and protect wetlands, they must learn these areas have values other than strictly economic ones. Nonconsumptive uses that neither deplete wetlands themselves, nor rob them of their wealth, can be divided into aesthetic, recreational and educational categories. Wetland areas provide unique sensory experiences. Examples are used to show how these have been documented in the graphic arts, music, and literature. Early prototype models have been developed for assessing visual-cultural values of freshwater wetlands; however, these values usually reflect the bias of the evaluator. Recreational use of wetlands is often most appropriate for an individual or small group. Although wetland playground or park activities may not in themselves destroy or deplete the resource, they are geared toward mass recreation which obscures the isolation and subtle mood changes of swamp, marsh or beach. Educational values of wetlands range from the simple joys of discovery to complex scientific research. Marshes provide a good place for ecosystem study because the physical stresses on the environment limit diversity and the number of metabolic pathways in the system. Educating the non-science public about wetland ecology is essential if these fragile environments are to escape development. A conceptual approach is developed in this paper to assess the educational, aesthetic, recreational, anthropological and/or theological functions and values of wetlands. The importance of these considerations is assessed, as are long term rewards that wetlands afford to man and biosphere.
Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Chimpanzees Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus by Pegylated Recombinant Human Megakaryocyte Growth and Development Factor

Three chimpanzees experimentally infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) developed significant chronic thrombocytopenia after 5, 4, and 2 years, with peripheral platelet counts averaging 64 +/- 19 x 10(3)/microL (P = .004 compared with 228 +/- 92 x 10(3)/microL in 44 normal control animals), mean platelet volumes of 11.2 +/- 1.8 fL (P > .5 compared with 10.9 +/- 0. 7 fL in normal controls), endogenous thrombopoietin (TPO) levels of 926 +/- 364 pg/mL (P .1). The serum levels of antiplatelet GPIIIa49-66 antibodies exhibited reciprocal reductions during periods of thrombocytosis (P .5 compared with baseline values). The striking increase in peripheral platelet counts produced by PEG-rHuMGDF therapy implies that thrombocytopenia in HIV-infected chimpanzees is attributable to insufficient compensatory expansion in platelet production resulting from HIV-impaired delivery of platelets despite stimulated megakaryocytopoiesis. These data suggest that PEG-rHuMGDF therapy may similarly correct peripheral platelet counts in thrombocytopenic HIV-infected patients.
Machine Learning Asset Allocation (Presentation Slides)

Convex optimization solutions tend to be unstable, to the point of entirely offsetting the benefits of optimization. For example, in the context of financial applications, it is known that portfolios optimized in sample often underperform the naive (equal weights) allocation out of sample. This instability can be traced back to two sources: (1) noise in the input variables; and (2) signal structure that magnifies the estimation errors in the input variables. There is abundant literature discussing noise induced instability. In contrast, signal induced instability is often ignored or misunderstood. We introduce a new optimization method that is robust to signal induced instability. For additional details, see the full paper at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3469961.
Comparative Efficacy of Hidrocystoma Treatments: A Systematic Review.

IntroductionAlthough various treatment options for hidrocystomas have been described, the comparative efficacy of these treatments is poorly understood.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of al...
Fast radio bursts from axion stars moving through pulsar magnetospheres

We study the radio signals generated when an axion star enters into the magnetosphere of a neutron star. As the axion star moves through the resonant region where the plasma-induced photon mass becomes equal to the axion mass, the axions can efficiently convert into photons, giving rise to an intense, transient radio signal. The energy released is determined by the axion star mass and conversion probability. Similarly, the peak frequency of the emitted radio signal is fixed by the axion mass, while cosmological redshift and Doppler shift could give rise to a wide range of frequencies. In particular, we show that a dense axion star with a mass $\sim 10^{-13}M_{\odot}$ composed of $\sim 10\: \mu$eV axions can account for most of the mysterious fast radio bursts in a wide frequency range.
Coteaching in Higher Education: A Case Study of Instructor Learning

Tenure-track faculty at research intensive universities have competing responsibilities in their role as both researchers and teachers, leading to barriers to pedagogical change. This has been well-documented in the sciences. Coteaching models of collaborative planning and teaching with an explicit goal of facilitating educator growth have been successful in increasing the use of research-based pedagogy in higher education settings. We documented our experiences coteaching in an undergraduate ecological agriculture course and, drawing on sociocultural views of faculty work as learning, identified opportunities for learning that occurred. We found that the collaborative teaching team structure provided timely access to pedagogical knowledge, the collaborative planning process was a mechanism for faculty learning, and observing members of the team teach provided opportunities for new insights. Coteaching has had significant, lasting impacts for the instructors. We recommend that universities implement coteaching as a mechanism for supporting faculty use of student-centered pedagogy.
On the Penetration of Meridional Circulation Below the Solar Convection Zone. II. Models with Convection Zone, the Taylor-Proudman Constraint, and Applications to Other Stars

The solar convection zone exhibits a strong level of differential rotation, whereby the rotation period of the polar regions is about 25%-30% longer than the equatorial regions. The Coriolis force associated with these zonal flows perpetually "pumps" the convection zone fluid, and maintains a quasi-steady circulation, poleward near the surface. What is the influence of this meridional circulation on the underlying radiative zone, and in particular, does it provide a significant source of mixing between the two regions? In Paper I, we began to study this question by assuming a fixed meridional flow pattern in the convection zone and calculating its penetration depth into the radiative zone. We found that the amount of mixing caused depends very sensitively on the assumed flow structure near the radiative-convective interface. We continue this hydrodynamic study here by including a simple model for the convection zone "pump", and calculating in a self-consistent manner the meridional flows generated in the whole Sun. We find that the global circulation timescale depends in a crucial way on two factors: the overall stratification of the radiative zone as measured by the square root of the Prandtl number times the ratio of the Brunt-Vaisala frequency to the rotation rate, and, for weakly stratified systems, the presence or absence of stresses within the radiative zone capable of breaking the Taylor-Proudman constraint. We conclude by discussing the consequences of our findings for the solar interior and argue that a potentially important mechanism for mixing in young main-sequence stars has so far been neglected.
General Linear Models

Oftentimes, researchers are confronted with a situation in which an observed dependent variable, which may or may not be related to observed covariates, is not amenable to analysis via “usual” linear model methodology. For instance, the dependent variable may be a count of some phenomenon, e.g., the number of individuals per plot. Since counts are discrete, they clearly fail the usual normality assumption for dependent variables, which among other things, specifies the dependent variable is continuous. Or perhaps the dependent variable is a proportion, constrained to lie in the interval (0,1), e.g., the proportion of habitable land in a given area. The latter also fails the normality assumption, which specifies that the dependent variable is defined on the interval (-\(\infty , \infty \)).
Evaluation of low dose prazosin for PTSD-associated nightmares in children and adolescents.

Introduction Knowledge about fundamental sleep disorders and dysregulation that occurs in children with PTSD is limited. Prazosin is an alpha-1 receptor antagonist often used off label for the treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares in adults; however, evaluation of its use in pediatrics and adolescents is limited. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of prazosin on nightmares associated with PTSD in this population. Secondary objectives included assessing side effects, changes in blood pressure, and 30-day readmission rates. Methods This was a retrospective, single-center chart review of inpatients diagnosed with PTSD nightmares from January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2019. Patients 4 to 18 years old with a PTSD diagnosis, experiencing nightmares, and initiating any dose of prazosin were assessed to determine efficacy and tolerance. Results Forty-two patients were evaluated to determine symptom improvement after initiation of prazosin for PTSD nightmares in children and adolescents. Of the 42 patients, 24 (57.1%) reported improvement in nightmares (average dose 1.05 mg). For secondary results, 38 (90.5%) patients continued prazosin at discharge, and 2 (5%) were readmitted within 30 days for reasons other than PTSD-associated nightmares. Thirty-four (81%) reported having no adverse effects to prazosin. There was no significant difference in systolic (P = .1883) or diastolic (P = .2777) blood pressure preinitiation and postinitiation of prazosin. Discussion Despite the limitations of this retrospective study, the data suggests that prazosin may be associated with an improvement in nightmares in children and adolescents with PTSD. Adverse events were rarely reported, and there was no significant change in blood pressure with initiation of prazosin.
Auditory attention following a left hemisphere stroke: comparisons of alerting, orienting, and executive control performance using an auditory Attention Network Test.

Introduction Auditory attention is a critical foundation for successful language comprehension, yet is rarely studied in individuals with acquired language disorders. Methods We used an auditory version of the well-studied Attention Network Test to study alerting, orienting, and executive control in 28 persons with chronic stroke (PWS). We further sought to characterize the neurobiology of each auditory attention measure in our sample using exploratory lesion-symptom mapping analyses. Results PWS exhibited the expected executive control effect (i.e., decreased accuracy for incongruent compared to congruent trials), but their alerting and orienting attention were disrupted. PWS did not exhibit an alerting effect and they were actually distracted by the auditory spatial orienting cue compared to the control cue. Lesion-symptom mapping indicated that poorer alerting and orienting were associated with damage to the left retrolenticular part of the internal capsule (adjacent to the thalamus) and left posterior middle frontal gyrus (overlapping with the frontal eye fields), respectively. Discussion The behavioral findings correspond to our previous work investigating alerting and spatial orienting attention in persons with aphasia in the visual modality and suggest that auditory alerting and spatial orienting attention may be impaired in PWS due to stroke lesions damaging multi-modal attention resources.
Abstract 153: Novel Machine Learning Proves Stroke Risk is Not Linear

Background: Current stroke risk assessment tools presume the impact of risk factors is linear and cumulative. However, both novel risk factors and their interplay influencing stroke incidence are d...
ARE SEGOND FRACTURES OF THE TIBIA PATHOGNOMONIC FOR ACL TEARS IN THE PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT POPULATION

Background:Segond fractures (avulsion fractures of the proximal lateral tibia) are considered to be pathognomonic for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in adult patients.Purpose:To describe th...
Lower Limb Proprioception and Strength Differences Between Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurotypical Controls

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex diagnosis characterized primarily by persistent deficits in social communication/interaction and repetitive behavior patterns, interests, and/or activiti...
Ureteral Stents: To Stent or Not to Stent, That Is a Great Question!

Some stones will move from the kidney and lodge within the ureter causing a blockage, referred to as ureteral obstruction. The back up of urine that ensues will cause the kidney to swell, known as hydronephrosis. This hydronephrosis may translate in significant flank pain, which can eventually bring a patient to the ER. To unblock the ureter, a ureteral stent is placed. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss conditions for which stent placement is indicated and what to anticipate while you have a stent.
Pharmaconutrition for the Treatment of Obesity

Obesity is rapidly becoming the leading cause of preventable death with the incidence of obesity doubling over the past 30 years. There are at least 60 known obesity-associated comorbid medical conditions in addition to 12 different types of cancer. Despite the rising trend of obesity, there are very few FDA-approved pharmacological treatments for weight reduction. Patients often turn to alternative therapies including dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and pharmaconutrition. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the clinical evidence for a number of pharmaconutritional supplements for the treatment of obesity. These supplements include green tea, green coffee extract, protein, and L-leucine.
Archaeopteryx and its paleoecology

The various reptilian relationships of Archaeopteryx are reviewed. Crocodilian and theropod ancestry for Archaeopteryx and therefore birds is rejected because, of the specialized morphology of both these taxa. In contrast the known morphology of certain thecodonts, provides the necessary features from which the primitive avian morphology of Archaeopteryx can be derived. The origin of flight in birds is discussed within the context of the ecological setting of the Solnhofen environment. The primitive level of the flight morphology of Archaeopteryx s used to interpret the flight capabilities of these early birds.
Adsorption of gases on coals and heattreated coals at elevated temperature and pressure: 2. Adsorption from hydrogen-methane mixtures

Abstract Experimental data were obtained using a static system for adsorption of H 2 CH 4 mixtures at temperatures from 22 to 207 °C and pressures up to ≈ 4.1 MPa on PCB activated carbon, Pittsburgh bituminous coal, Pittsburgh coke, Montana lignite and Montana char. The ideal adsorbed solution theory of Myers and Prausnitz gave excellent predictions except for the two raw coal samples. Deviations of experimental data from the theory were in opposite directions for the two coals: CH 4 was preferentially adsorbed on Pittsburgh coal and H 2 on Montana coal. Except for the two raw coals, the temperature and pressure dependences of the selectivity ratio agreed with the theoretical predictions. A modified correlation procedure for the Dubinin-Polanyi theory is presented for adsorption under supercritical conditions. The modified method has been applied to activated carbon and Montana char with satisfactory results. A comparison is given between this method and the Myers-Prausnitz theory.
Tumor cell killing by macrophages activated in vitro with lymphocyte mediators. 5. Role of proteases, inhibitors, and substrates.

Abstract The effect of protease inhibitors and substrates on the killing of tumor cells by in vitro activated macrophages was examined. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, a serine esterase inhibitor, and the active site titrants TPCK and TLCK (chloromethyl ketone derivatives of tosyl- l -phenylalanine and tosyl- l -lysine) inhibited macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent and irreversible fashion. The synthetic protease substrates, tosyl-lysine methyl ester and tosyl-arginine methyl ester and the natural esterase inhibitors soybean trypsin inhibitor and antithrombin III had no effect. These results suggest that an activated macrophage-associated esterase may play a modulating role in the cytolytic interaction between activated macrophages and tumor cells.
Lysine 84 is at the subunit interface of lac repressor protein.

Abstract Mutations have been generated at the Lys84 site of the lac repressor to explore its predicted role in inducer binding and/or subunit interaction. Four single mutations, Lys84-->Ala, Lys84-->Leu, Lys84-->Arg, and Lys84-->Glu, have been generated by site-specific mutagenesis. In addition, the mutation Tyr282-->Asp, which results in a monomeric repressor, has been coupled with these four single mutants to generate the four corresponding double mutants. Unchanged inducer binding affinities in all Lys84 mutants except Lys84-->Arg suggest that Lys84 does not contribute energy to inducer binding and is not found in the inducer-binding site as previously proposed (Sams, C. F., Vyas, N. K., Quiocho, F. A., and Matthews, K. S. (1984) Nature 310, 429-430). Interestingly, the double mutants with hydrophobic side chains at the Lys84 site are tetramers, while those with charged side chains remain monomers. This result agrees with the recent model of the lac repressor (Nichols, J. C., Vyas, N. K., Quiocho, F. A., and Matthews, K. S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 17602-17612), in which Lys84 is mapped by sequence alignment to the same face of the subunit as Tyr282. More detailed inducer binding, operator binding, and immunoblotting studies show that all the mutations at Lys84 have quaternary structures that deviate from wild-type protein, providing supportive evidence for the model placing this residue on the surface of the monomer subunit. Substitution of Lys84 by Ala or Leu results in 100-200-fold decreased association and dissociation rate constants for inducer binding and biphasic character. This decrease can be rescued at least partially in the respective double mutants at elevated pH, at which wild-type repressor shows a 10-fold decrease in affinity and cooperativity in inducer binding. In all substitutions with Ala or Leu, immunoblotting patterns with monoclonal antibody, an assay sensitive to alterations in quaternary structure, are distinct from wild-type repressor. Although substitution with Arg at position 84 yields a protein with 10-fold lower inducer binding affinity, the mutant shows decreased pH dependence of inducer binding. Substitution at this site with Glu results in cooperativity at neutral pH with no change in inducer binding at elevated pH. In addition, operator binding affinity of this mutant is affected by elevated pH, a phenomenon not observed in wild-type repressor. These changes in inducer and operator binding properties appear to be related to the altered quaternary structure of these mutants at Lys84.
Erlotinib in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

erlotinib study, these did not achieve statistical significance, perErlotinib in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer haps in part because of underpowering of those studies. It is only A Viewpoint by Andrew H. Ko when one looks at the hazard ratio for the PA 3 trial – a reflection Division of Hematology/Oncology, San Francisco of differences between the two arms over the entire course of study Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San treatment – that the survival advantage became more clear cut. Francisco, California, USA This fact, as well as the generally minimal toxicity profile seen
Hemin Control of Globin Synthesis ISOLATION OF A HEMIN-REVERSIBLE TRANSLATIONAL REPRESSOR FROM HUMAN MATURE ERYTHROCYTES

Abstract Human mature erythrocyte postribosomal supernatant contains a hemin-reversible translational repressor of globin synthesis as measured in the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system. Incubation of human supernatant minus hemin at 37° for 2 hours results in conversion of the repressor to a hemin-irreversible form. The presence of 35 µm hemin retards this conversion. Both hemin-reversible and -irreversible forms of the repressor may be partially purified by precipitation of supernatant at pH 5. Incubation of the partially purified hemin-reversible repressor minus hemin at 37° for 1 hour or longer results in conversion to the irreversible form. Hemin (35 µm) also retards this conversion. The activity of the repressor is destroyed by incubation with trypsin or by boiling and is therefore presumed to be a protein. Both forms of the repressor are eluted at the same point on a Sephadex G-200 column corresponding to a molecular weight of 3.0 x 105. The isolation of a hemin-reversible translational repressor from an erythroid cell which has lost its protein synthetic capability is evidence that this inhibitor is a physiological regulator of globin synthesis.
Structure of the SSB–DNA polymerase III interface and its role in DNA replication

Interactions between single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) and the DNA replication machinery are found in all organisms, but the roles of these contacts remain poorly defined. In Escherichia coli, SSB's association with the χ subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme has been proposed to confer stability to the replisome and to aid delivery of primers to the lagging-strand DNA polymerase. Here, the SSB-binding site on χ is identified crystallographically and biochemical and cellular studies delineate the consequences of destabilizing the χ/SSB interface. An essential role for the χ/SSB interaction in lagging-strand primer utilization is not supported. However, sequence changes in χ that block complex formation with SSB lead to salt-dependent uncoupling of leading- and lagging-strand DNA synthesis and to a surprising obstruction of the leading-strand DNA polymerase in vitro, pointing to roles for the χ/SSB complex in replisome establishment and maintenance. Destabilization of the χ/SSB complex in vivo produces cells with temperature-dependent cell cycle defects that appear to arise from replisome instability.
Madison Avenue vs. the Environmentalists

(1973). Madison Avenue vs. the Environmentalists. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 5, The Media and the Message, pp. 45-50.
A simple synthesis and evaluation of the bicyclo[8.3.0] enediyne framework

Abstract A synthesis of a simple trans fused [8.3.0]bicyclic enediyne framework was developed from cyclopentanone-trans-3,4-dicarboxylate. The rates of rearrangement of several derivatives of the framework were measured, and correlated with structural features. Preliminary studies to adjust the configuration about the ring fusion, expected to be an activation step, are discussed.
Low density granulocytes: a distinct class of neutrophils in systemic autoimmunity

Recent studies have renewed the interest on the potential role that neutrophils play in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune conditions. A distinct subset of proinflammatory, low-density granulocytes (LDGs) isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cell fractions of patients with SLE has been described. While the origin and role of LDGs needs to be fully characterized, there is evidence that these cells may contribute to lupus pathogenesis and to the development of end-organ damage through heightened proinflammatory responses, altered phagocytic capacity, enhanced ability to synthesize type I interferons, and to kill endothelial cells. Furthermore, these cells readily form neutrophil extracellular traps, a phenomenon that may promote autoantigen externalization and organ damage. This review examines the biology and potential origin of LDGs, describes the ultrastructural characteristics of these cells, and discusses their putative pathogenic role in systemic autoimmune diseases.
The phase diagram of UPt3: a status report

Abstract A review of recent attempts to understand the phase diagram of UPt 3 is given. No theory is completely successful in explaining all aspects of the diagram, but theories based on d-wave pairing remain the leading candidates for the ground state of this material.
The neuroendocrinology of human puberty revisited

The fundamental aspects of the hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)1 [1]pulse generator-pituitary gonado
Temperature and field dependence of carrier mobility in MOSFETs with reoxidized nitrided oxide gate dielectrics

Abstract The vertical field (Eeff) dependence of electron and hole mobility (μn,p) in MOSFETs with reoxidized nitrided oxide (RONO) gate dielectrics is characterized and compared with that of MOSFETs with thermal oxide (SiO2) gate dielectrics over temperatures ranging from 100 to 350 K. In the devices studied it is found that, at 300 K, μn(RONO)/μn(SiO2) is less than 1 for Eeff μn(SiO2) widens with decreasing temperature. However, μp(RONO)/μp(SiO2) is found to be consistently less than 1 at 300 K, and is degraded severely with decreasing temperature. A laser scanning technique was applied to measure the stress in thin N-rich Si layers that are on the surface of Si substrates and significant tensile stress was found. A model based on the nitridation-induced donor layer and tensile stress in the N-rich surface Si layer of RONO devices is proposed to qualitatively explain the field and temperature dependence of both μn(RONO) and μp(RONO). In addition, the saturation velocity of electrons (νsat) in RONO MOSFETs, important to the performance of short channel devices, is also determined. Implications of μn,p(RONO) and νsat on the performance of the RONO technology are discussed.
A conceptual framework and protocol for defining clinical decision support objectives applicable to medical specialties

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services established the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program in 2009 to stimulate the adoption of EHRs. One component of the program requires eligible providers to implement clinical decision support (CDS) interventions that can improve performance on one or more quality measures pre-selected for each specialty. Because the unique decision-making challenges and existing HIT capabilities vary widely across specialties, the development of meaningful objectives for CDS within such programs must be supported by deliberative analysis. We developed a conceptual framework and protocol that combines evidence review with expert opinion to elicit clinically meaningful objectives for CDS directly from specialists. The framework links objectives for CDS to specialty-specific performance gaps while ensuring that a workable set of CDS opportunities are available to providers to address each performance gap. Performance gaps may include those with well-established quality measures but also priorities identified by specialists based on their clinical experience. Moreover, objectives are not constrained to performance gaps with existing CDS technologies, but rather may include those for which CDS tools might reasonably be expected to be developed in the near term, for example, by the beginning of Stage 3 of the EHR Incentive program. The protocol uses a modified Delphi expert panel process to elicit and prioritize CDS meaningful use objectives. Experts first rate the importance of performance gaps, beginning with a candidate list generated through an environmental scan and supplemented through nominations by panelists. For the highest priority performance gaps, panelists then rate the extent to which existing or future CDS interventions, characterized jointly as “CDS opportunities,” might impact each performance gap and the extent to which each CDS opportunity is compatible with specialists’ clinical workflows. The protocol was tested by expert panels representing four clinical specialties: oncology, orthopedic surgery, interventional cardiology, and pediatrics.
Ultrastructural study of effect of methionine sulfoximine on developing and adult rat cerebral cortex.

The ultrastructural changes induced by the epileptogenic agent methionine sulfoximine on rat cerebral neocortex were studied. Rats perfused at the onset of convulsions showed no changes in presynaptic terminals. After severe and prolonged seizures there was clearing and “swelling” of about ten percent of presynaptic endings and glial oedema. It is suggested that the “swelling” of the presynaptic terminals is probably related to the metabolic effect of the seizures rather than to a direct action of the drug on synaptic membranes or on presynaptic terminals. Developing animals injected with a single adult convulsant dose of MSO did not develop seizures and did not show morphological changes in presynaptic terminals, although some glial swelling was observed. Daily administration of MSO during the period of neonatal development, in doses capable of inhibiting brain glutamine synthetase had no effect on the morphologic maturation of the neocortical synapses.
Evaluation of a statewide collaborative chat-based reference service: Approaches and directions

The State Library of North Carolina recently launched an 18-month pilot of a collaborative statewide chat-based virtual reference service, for which the authors have been contracted as program evaluators. The primary evaluation question motivating this pilot program is: “Is collaborative virtual reference an effective way to meet the information needs of North Carolinians?” This paper describes the evaluation plan, the methodologies, and the data analyses that will be employed to answer the evaluation question. The paper also describes some preliminary findings from one of the libraries participating in the service and currently offering chat-based virtual reference service.
In vivo absorption of steroidal hormones from smart polymer based delivery systems

The purpose of this study was to develop smart polymer based controlled delivery systems to deliver steroidal hormones after single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection at predetermined rates over extended period of time. In vivo absorption and pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel (LNG) and testosterone (TSN) were investigated from the thermosensitive and phase sensitive polymeric controlled delivery systems. A selective, reliable, and rapid method for determination of serum LNG concentration was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandom mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface (HPLC-MS-MS with APCI), while TSN in serum samples was detected and quantified by a competitive immunoassay. The delivery systems controlled the absorption of LNG in rabbits up to 6 weeks from thermosensitive and approximately 4 weeks from phase sensitive polymeric delivery systems. In vivo study of TSN delivery systems in castrated rabbits controlled the release of TSN for at least 2 months from both thermosensitive and phase sensitive polymers. Thermosensitive and phase sensitive polymer formulations significantly (p < 0.05) increased relative bioavailability of steroidal hormones compared to control. In conclusion, thermosensitive and phase sensitive polymer based delivery systems controlled the release in vivo in rabbits for longer duration after single s.c. injection.
Social Integration and Morale: A Re-Examination.

The concern for social integration among the aged lies in its implications for well-being in old age. Evidence about the link between social integration and morale is still inconclusive. This appears to be due to poor conceptionalization and lack of specification concerning the relationships between social integration and other correlates of morale. In this study, social integration is viewed in terms of both its subjective and objective aspects. The central hypothesis is that the relationship between objective aspects of social integration and morale is mediated by the subjective sense of integration. This hypothesis was examined through the use of a structural equation model. Four data sets were used for this inquiry which included surveys conducted in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Detroit. Findings indicate that objective social integration only has an indirect impact on morale, with subjective sense of integration being the intervening variable. This relationship remains significant even when other factors such as socioeconomic status, financial satisfaction, and health status were controlled.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation Regulates H2O2Production in Lung Fibroblasts Stimulated by Transforming Growth Factor β1

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a multifunctional, profibrotic cytokine involved in cellular growth and differentiation. We have previously described a cell surface-associated H2O2-generating NADH:flavin:O2 oxidoreductase (referred to as NADH oxidase) activity in human lung fibroblasts induced by TGF-beta1 (Thannickal, V. J., and Fanburg, B. L. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 30334-30338). In this study, the potential for regulation of this novel TGF-beta1-activated oxidase in fibroblasts by protein tyrosine phosphorylation was examined. Immunoblots using anti-phosphotyrosine antibody demonstrated a time-dependent but delayed phosphorylation of two proteins of 115 and 103 kDa in cells stimulated with TGF-beta1 (2 ng/ml). Similar to the effect on TGF-beta1-induced H2O2 production, phosphorylation of these proteins was blocked by the addition of actinomycin D. The protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A inhibited TGF-beta1-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, NADH oxidase activation, and H2O2 production in a dose-dependent manner. Catalase, diphenyliodonium (an inhibitor of flavoenzymes), and suramin (an inhibitor of receptor activation, added 4 h after TGF-beta1) had no effect on the induction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of the 115- and 103-kDa proteins preceded the generation of H2O2 production and returned to control levels when H2O2 was undetectable at 48 h after TGF-beta1 exposure. These results suggest that protein tyrosine phosphorylation by a nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinase(s) regulates the activity of the TGF-beta1-responsive H2O2-generating NADH oxidase in human lung fibroblasts. Additionally, this study demonstrates that TGF-beta1, which binds to a serine-threonine kinase receptor, is able to induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation in a delayed manner via a signaling pathway that requires transcriptional activation.
Quickly convergent integration methods for plane stress plasticity

Explicit finite-element programs, such as DYNA3D, are frequently used to solve large structural problems, such as automobile impacts, that involve tens of thousands of shell elements. Since the explicit finite-element programs do not use a stiffness matrix, the major cost of the calculation is the evaluation of the force vector. A significant part of that cost is the evaluation of the constitutive models. The standard algorithm for integrating J2 plasticity at the stress points is the radial return method. An iterative variation of radial return is commonly used to impose the zero normal stress condition within the shell elements. In this paper we explore several different non-iterative methods that impose the zero normal stress condition in an approximate manner. We show that the cost of the constitutive evaluation can be reduced by 25 per cent without introducing significant errors.
Properties of reptilian cutaneous mechanoreceptors.

Abstract Myelinated afferent fibers of the hind limb of alligator display two principle mechanoreceptor categories. Rapidly adapting fibers respond only to “on” and “off” transients of rectangular displacements of scales or claws, possess lowest thresholds (35 μ average) and are capable of discharging one impulse for each displacement for vibration rates of 100–200 cycle/sec. Slowly adapting fibers signal the magnitude of cutaneous displacement or force by variations in number of impulses and interspike intervals. These two types of receptors appear to be similar to mechanoreceptors of mammalian glabrous skin despite differences in morphological patterns and distribution of receptors.
Outcomes in partial liver transplantation: deceased donor split-liver vs. live donor liver transplantation.

Background Organ shortage has resulted in greater emphasis on partial liver transplantation (PLT) as an alternative to whole-organ liver transplantation.
791-3 The Influence of Clinical Risk Factors on the Use of Angiography and Revascularization After Acute Myocardial Infarction

After acute myocardial infarction (AMI). the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend angiography in patients “if the prognosis is judged to be poor … and … outcome can be improved by urgent bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty (PTCA).” In 4823 consecutive survivors of AMI, we examined the relationship between both angiography (n = 2274) and revascularization (n = 692 for PTCA, n = 469 for bypass surgery) and 7 clinical variables that predict mortality (age, recurrent angina, ejection fraction, heart failure, use of thrombolytics, prior infarction, cardiogenic shock). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that except for recurrent angina, most factors predicting higher mortality were associated with a lower use of angiography (OR(95%CI) = 2.75 (2.39–3.17) for recurrent angina, 0.47 (0.43–0.51) for older age, 0.85 (0.74–0.97) for prior infarction, 0.50 (0.43–0.59) for no thrombolytic treatment, and 0.63 (0.55–0.73) for heart failure during hospitalization). A similar relationship was observed among patients who underwent PTCA (OR(95%CI) = 1.94 (1.53–2.47) for recurrent angina, 0.51 (0.40–0.65) for low ejection fraction, 0.72 (0.57–0.93) for no thrombolytic therapy and 0.74 (0.56–0.98) for history of prior infarction). In contrast, patients with unfavorable prognostic profiles were more likely to undergo coronary bypass surgery (OR(95%CI) = 1.66 (1.34–2.06) for recurrent angina, 1.28 (1.11–1.47) for older age, 2.24 (1.78–2.82) for heart failure, 1.46 (1.18–1.80) for prior infarction and 1.28 for no thrombolytic therapy). Angiography and PTCA are performed more often in patients who are at relatively low risk for subsequent mortality. Since there is currently no evidence of a survival advantage from PTCA, the risks of this procedure could be avoided in some patients by initially treating them conservatively and subsequently performing PTCA in only those patients whose symptoms are not controlled with medications alone.
Wax on, wax off: pedagogical content knowledge in motor skill instruction.

Abstract Transforming subject matter and presenting it to students in comprehensible forms requires the use of alternative strategies such as analogies, metaphors, examples, demonstrations, and simulations.
Symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of GI, somatic, and psychological symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women with irritable bowel syndrome, and to determine whether symptoms differed by oral contraceptive use or predominant bowel pattern. Methods A daily diary was used to assess symptoms across one menstrual cycle. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance, controlling for age and body mass index, was used to compare patterns of symptoms across the menstrual cycle by oral contraceptive use and predominant bowel pattern (diarrhea, constipation, alternating). Data from control women are presented for comparison. Results For somatic and psychological as well as GI symptoms, women with irritable bowel syndrome had higher symptom severity than did controls. Women with irritable bowel syndrome using oral contraceptives had lower cognitive, anxiety, and depression symptoms (p < 0.05, but not significant after multiple comparison adjustment), but no differences were seen for most symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. All symptoms except diarrhea were highest in the alternating group and lowest in the diarrhea group, with the constipation group either intermediate or close to the alternating group. This pattern was significant after multiple comparisons adjustment for GI symptoms, and trending toward significance (p < 0.05, but not significant after multiple comparison adjustment) for menstrual, sleep, and cognitive symptoms. The strongest menstrual cycle effect was seen in somatic and menstrual symptoms. The pattern of symptoms over the menstrual cycle did not differ by predominant bowel pattern or by oral contraceptive use. Conclusions Many of the symptoms examined differed by predominant bowel pattern and menstrual cycle phase, not just the GI symptoms. The menstrual cycle variation was similar regardless of oral contraceptive use or predominant bowel pattern.
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody--a useful serological marker for vasculitis.

Systemic necrotizing vasculitides, including polyarteritis nodosa, Churg-Strauss syndrome, “overlap” systemic vasculitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, and idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis, are frequent clinical diagnostic problems. These diseases have diverse presentations and are often rapidly progressive, causing irreversible injury to the vessels of the kidneys and lungs before effective immunosuppressive therapy is instituted. Even in their less fulminant forms, they are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, a recently identified autoantibody, has a high sensitivity and specificity for this spectrum of diseases. The clinical and pathological similarities, the high frequency of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody expression, and the similar good response to immunosuppressive therapy suggest that these diseases may be linked by a common pathophysiological mechanism. Evidence is growing that antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody plays a central role in this mechanism. A revision in the classification scheme of vasculitides to recognize that the polyarteritis group (polyarteritis nodosa, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and “overlap” systemic vasculitis), Wegener's granulomatosis, and idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis are closely related diseases may be warranted. The clinical and pathological features of systemic necrotizing vasculitides and the current knowledge concerning antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are reviewed.
The Engineering Workstation And the Engineering Support System - Present Status, Future Directions

Workstations will be integrated with office automation tools to form comprehensive engineering support systems. This special report examines how we can successfully implement such systems.
The Impact of IT Management on the Efficiency of Top US Liberal Arts Colleges

This study of 41 highly ranked liberal arts colleges in the United States attempts to determine if there is any observable impact on the efficiency of the institutions relative to differing practices of information technology management in the context of a resource-based view of the colleges. The institutions are grouped into high- and low-efficiency groups according to their performance in graduating students. Five themes emerge from a review of the literature of information technology management in higher education. Ten independent variables representing IT management practices in those five areas are then compared across the two groups of high- and low-efficiency institutions. No significant difference was found between the two groups on any of the ten variables. Several potential reasons for this finding are discussed.
When the Spirit Shows up: An Autoethnography of Spiritual Reconciliation with the Academy.

This article is an autoethnography of the author's journey toward the reconciliation of her spirituality with the academy. She depicts the origin of her crisis in the academy, and why the climax of the crisis was critical to her reconciliation. Drawing on Cynthia Dillard's notion of an endarkened feminist epistemology, she identifies the Black Church community as the site where her spirituality is nurtured and recognizes its influence on her reconciliation with the academy. Implications of this study suggest the necessity for researchers to become engaged in public discourse about our spirituality as it relates to education, to continue to invite others to the conversation, and to recognize how the discourse might influence our decisions as researchers/educators.
Accuracy of the NDI Wave Speech Research System

Purpose This work provides a quantitative assessment of the positional tracking accuracy of the NDI Wave Speech Research System. Method Three experiments were completed: (a) static rigid-body track...
Carbon−Oxygen Bond Forming Mechanisms in Rhenium Oxo-Alkyl Complexes

Three C−X bond formation mechanisms observed in the oxidation of (HBpz3)ReO(R)(OTf) [HBpz3 = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate; R = Me, Et, and iPr; OTf = OSO2CF3] by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were investigated using quantum mechanics (M06//B3LYP DFT) combined with solvation (using the PBF Poisson−Boltzmann polarizable continuum solvent model). For R = Et we find the alkyl group is activated through α-hydrogen abstraction by external base OTf− with a free energy barrier of only 12.0 kcal/mol, leading to formation of acetaldehyde. Alternatively, ethyl migration across the M═O bond (leading to the formation of acetaldehyde and ethanol) poses a free energy barrier of 22.1 kcal/mol, and the previously proposed α-hydrogen transfer to oxo (a 2+2 forbidden reaction) poses a barrier of 44.9 kcal/mol. The rate-determining step to formation of the final product acetaldehyde is an oxygen atom transfer from DMSO to the ethylidene, with a free energy barrier of 15.3 kcal/mol. When R = iPr, the alkyl 1,2-migration pathway b...
Consumer Response to Adjustable Rate Mortgages: Implications of the Evidence from Illinois and Wisconsin

The innovation-adoption framework is used to determine consumers' levels of awareness of AMIs and the degrees to which they are able and willing to evaluate and/or accept the complicated alternatives available to them. A mail survey of consumers in Illinois and Wisconsin was structured to compare previous studies on this topic and to compare consumers across various demographic categories. Results indicate that awareness of AMIs is increasing, as is the willingness to accept them with an initial interest rate discount and a limitation on the range over which the interest rate can fluctuate. Findings suggest that some consumers have moved beyond the information-gathering stage, now view nontraditional mortgages as a legitimate mechanism for financing home purchases, and are willing to accept certain configurations of these instruments.
Intermediate-level vision tasks on a memory array architecture

With the fast advances in the area of computer vision and robotics there is a growing need for machines that can “understand images” at very high speed. A conventional von Neumann computer is not suitable for this purpose, because it takes a tremendous amount of time to solve most typical image analysis problems. Thus, it is now imperative to study computer vision in a parallel processing framework in order to reduce the processing time. In this paper we demonstrate the applicability of a simple memory array architecture to some intermediate-level computer vision tasks. This architecture, called theAccess Constrained Memory Array Architecture (ACMAA) has a linear array of processors which concurrently access distinct rows or columns of an array of memory modules. Because of its efficient local and global communication capabilities ACMAA is well suited for low-level as well as intermediate-level vision tasks. This paper presents algorithms for connected component labeling, determination of area, perimeter and moments of a labeled region, convex hull of a region, and Hough transform of an image. ACMAA is well suited to an efficient hardware implementation because it has a modular structure, simple interconnect and limited global control.