cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbubble dynamics in microvessels: Observations of microvessel dilation, invagination and rupture

Understanding the interaction of acoustically activated microbubbles with small blood vessels is important for designing better imaging schemes, and for targeting and drug delivery applications. To understand the fundamental mechanisms of this interaction, high-speed microscopy was used to observe microbubble dynamics in microvessels of ex vivo rat mesenteries exposed to a single pulse of ultrasound with a center frequency of 1 MHz and peak negative pressure (PNP) of 1.2 MPa or 11 MPa. It was found that microbubble oscillation caused adjacent microvessel dilation, invagination and even rupture on a microsecond time scale. In small microvessels, microbubble contacted with the vessel wall during expansion under both low and high pressure levels, and microvessel dilation generated by microbubble expansion was larger than invagination induced by bubble collapse. Specifically, under 11 MPa PNP insonation, a small microvessel (17 mum) dilated to 2.7times, and then invaginated to 0.4times of its original diameter, followed by extravasation of re-expanding daughter microbubbles indicating that the microvessel had been ruptured. For large microvessels, microbubbles did not contact with the vessel wall during expansion, and generated much less dilation than invagination at both pressure levels. In one case, a large microbubble caused the wall of a 100 mum microvessel to form a jet-like structure during invagination.
Structure–Reactivity Studies, Characterization, and Transformation of Intermediates by Lithium Chloride in the Direct Insertion of Alkyl and Aryl Iodides to Metallic Zinc Powder

Employment of fluorophore-tagged alkyl and aryl iodides permitted detection of persistent surface intermediates during their direct insertion to commercially available zinc powder. The sensitivity of this subensemble microscopy technique enabled structure–reactivity studies in the formation of intermediates that are present in quantities sufficiently low as to have been undetected previously by traditional ensemble analytical techniques. These surface intermediates were transformed by lithium chloride, leading to the assignment of the mechanistic role of lithium chloride as changing the rate-determining step in the reaction by lowering the barrier for solubilization of these otherwise persistent surface organometallic intermediates. The temperature dependence/qualitative barrier of the direct insertion step was determined independently from the solubilization step and from the barrier for the overall reaction. Detection of these zinc surface intermediates at the single-molecule level, i.e., of individual ...
Use of plasma urea nitrogen as a rapid response criterion to determine the lysine requirement of pigs.

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential use of plasma urea N (PUN) concentrations as a rapid response criterion to determine amino acid requirements. A preliminary experiment (Exp. 1) indicated that a 3-d feeding time was required to re-equilibrate PUN concentrations after a change in the dietary concentration of lysine. In Exp. 2, 3, and 4, PUN was used to estimate the lysine requirement of growing pigs at different specific BW. Thirty individually penned crossbred pigs weighing 32 and 44 kg in Exp. 2 and 3, respectively, were assigned to five dietary treatments (.60, .70, .80, .90, and 1.00% lysine) for 5 d. The PUN decreased quadratically (P .10). Therefore, PUN concentrations can be used in short-term trials to accurately estimate the dietary lysine required to maximize total N utilization in pigs at a specific BW. In addition, the two-slope broken-line regression model had the highest R2 and the lowest mean square error compared with three other models as means for estimating lysine requirement from PUN concentrations.
B Lymphoblastic Leukemia Minimal Residual Disease Assessment by Flow Cytometric Analysis

Among the most thoroughly evaluated modalities for assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) in B acute lymphoblastic leukemia is multiparameter flow cytometry. Flow cytometric evaluation of MRD for B-ALL requires complete understanding of the immunophenotype of hematogones, the normal counterpart of leukemic B lymphoblasts. Assessment of multiple flow cytometry markers, in concert with each other in multidimensional histograms, is necessary to distinguish hematogones from malignant blasts. Emerging therapies targeting CD19 and other B-cell markers can disrupt the most frequently MRD assessment, requiring a revised approach as use of targeted therapies becomes widespread.
Claudin expression during early postnatal development of the murine cochlea

Claudins are major components of tight junctions, which form the paracellular barrier between the cochlear luminal and abluminal fluid compartments that supports the large transepithelial voltage difference and the large concentration differences of K+, Na+ and Ca2+ needed for normal cochlear function. Claudins are a family of more than 20 subtypes, but our knowledge about expression and localization of each subtype in the cochlea is limited. We examined by quantitative RT-PCR the expression of the mRNA of 24 claudin isoforms in mouse cochlea during postnatal development and localized the expression in separated fractions of the cochlea. Transcripts of 21 claudin isoforms were detected at all ages, while 3 isoforms (Cldn-16, − 17 and − 18) were not detected. Claudins that increased expression during development include Cldn-9, − 13, − 14, − 15, and -19v2, while Cldn-6 decreased. Those that do not change expression level during postnatal development include Cldn-1, − 2, − 3, − 4, − 5, − 7, − 8, −10v1, −10v2, − 11, − 12, −19v1, − 20, − 22, and − 23. Our investigation revealed unique localization of some claudins. In particular, Cldn-13 expression rapidly increases during early development and is mainly expressed in bone but only minimally in the lateral wall (including stria vascularis) and in the medial region (including the organ of Corti). No statistically significant changes in expression of Cldn-11, − 13, or − 14 were found in the cochlea of Slc26a4 −/− mice compared to Slc26a4 +/− mice. We demonstrated developmental patterns of claudin isoform transcript expression in the murine cochlea. Most of the claudins were associated with stria vascularis and organ of Corti, tissue fractions rich in tight junctions. However, this study suggests a novel function of Cldn-13 in the cochlea, which may be linked to cochlear bone marrow maturation.
Classification and Uses of Organophosphates and Carbamates

Publisher Summary The chapter offers the classification of organophosphates (OPs) and carbamates (CM) based on their chemical structures, and intended use or any syndrome they produce. Both OPs and carbamates (CM) are synthesized compounds. Within each class, the chemicals have some similarities and some differences. Because of the differences, these compounds produce varying degrees of cholinergic and noncholinergic effects, and as a result, they have different applications. Although a majority of these chemicals are used as pesticides, some are also used as chemical weapons of mass destruction. In addition, many of these compounds are used as therapeutic drugs in human and veterinary medicine. It is expected that in future, many more new OPs and CMs will be synthesized, and novel applications will be discovered. OPs are a large class of chemicals. An estimated several thousand OPs have been synthesized for various purposes. A majority of these compounds is used as pesticides, whereas others are used as nerve agents, flame retardants, and parasiticides in veterinary medicine. Different OP compounds have structural similarities within classes. All OPs have one thing in common: a phosphorus atom and a characteristic phosphoryl bond. In addition to their use as pesticides, CMs are used as drugs of choice in human medicine against Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis, and glaucoma, and in veterinary medicine as parasiticides. Classification of CMs is simpler than classifying OPs. Some CMs have structural similarity with ACh, and therefore, they cause direct stimulation of ACh receptors, in addition to acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) inactivation.
Resilience as a Coping Mechanism: A Common Story of Vietnamese Refugee Women

The boat was too small for three hundred people. I sat at the bottom of the boat with both legs curled up because there was no room for my legs. We could not stretch our arms. We could not walk on the boat to use the bathroom so we `did it’ right where we were. People above me urinated and feced on my head, so my whole body was covered with human waste. Before the journey I had brought with me some gold, money and jewelry I hid in my waist-belt. I covered my face with engine oil because I heard about sea pirates... When we boarded the boat my husband wanted my space and gave me a better spot but I did not want it because I wanted my husband and my children to be more comfortable. Fortunately, the worst spot saved my life. I, therefore, still had the gold and jewelry. That’s how we were able to buy food, medicine and goods to sell in the camps. That was how my children lived; they didn’t die of hunger and sickness. (Minh, a participant in this study).
Phase II trial of rucaparib (Without ADT) in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer harboring germline DNA repair gene mutations (TRIUMPH).

TPS5095Background: The clinical activity of PARPi in patients with homologous recombination DNA-repair mutations and metastatic prostate cancer has now been established. Focusing specifically on pa...
To Sign or Not to Sign: Tullio Levi-Civita, Giuseppe Levi and the Fascist Loyalty Oath of 1931

This paper considers the historical framework for the events leading up to the 1931 oath of allegiance to the Fascist government, which all of Italyâ€™s university professors were required to sign, and how Turinâ€™s professor of anatomy Giuseppe Levi and the Roman mathematician Tullio Levi-Civita responded. Â Key words: History, 20th Century - Jewish History - Fascism - Science and Society - Scientific Biography - Italy
Proficiency Testing in the U.S. Context: An Introduction

The introductory chapter introduces the readers to The Language Flagship Proficiency Initiative in which institutions were charged with institutionalizing proficiency assessment practices that align student placement with course goals, document ways in which assessement results are integrated into foreign language programs, and share practices within the broader foreign language community. The chapter provides background on this project and summarizes the contents of the 14 chapters in the book.
Creating and Validating Rapid Assessment Instruments for Practice and Research: Part 2:

In this age of accountability, social work practitioners face greater demands to demonstrate the effectiveness of their interventions. A practical way to accomplish this is to use rapid assessment instruments (RAIs) to measure a client’s level of functioning so that any subsequent change in functioning can be accurately detected over time. This first article in this two-part series outlined how to conceptualize and create an RAI, and how to plan and subsequently implement a design testing the newly created scale’s psychometric properties, laying the groundwork for Part 2 of this series. The purpose of this article is to further develop the foundations that were introduced in Part 1 by using the authors’ own works to illustrate how to develop a new scale and test its psychometric properties. Decision-making strategies and standards for how to interpret scale psychometrics are provided.
An Improved Theoretical Aerodynamic Derivatives Computer Program for Sounding Rockets

The paper outlines a Theoretical Aerodynamic Derivatives (TAD) computer program for computing the aerodynamics of sounding rockets. TAD outputs include normal force, pitching moment and rolling moment coefficient derivatives as well as center-of-pressure locations as a function of the flight Mach number. TAD is applicable to slender finned axisymmetric vehicles at small angles of attack in subsonic and supersonic flows. TAD improvement efforts include extending Mach number regions of applicability, improving accuracy, and replacement of some numerical integration algorithms with closed-form integrations. Key equations used in TAD are summarized and typical TAD outputs are illustrated for a second-stage Tomahawk configuration.
Shock, Resuscitation, and Fluid Therapy Strategies in Acute Care Surgery: From Pathophysiology to Practice

Hypovolemia and shock are commonly encountered by acute care surgeons caring for the critically ill. In addition to the shock associated with many surgical conditions, a number of interventions potentiate hypovolemia and/or contribute to the inflammatory and immune dysregulation common to shock states. By understanding oxygen kinetics, the cellular response to dysoxia, and fluid physiology, the surgeon can more readily identify shock, restore homeostasis and provide patients with the best chances of achieving optimal outcomes. Over the last few decades, the strategies that guide the care of patients with hypovolemia, septic shock, and hemorrhagic shock have dramatically changed. Therefore, this chapter also presents the evolution of and evidence for modern fluid resuscitation strategies and offers pragmatic approaches to goal-directed fluid therapy.
Pharmacokinetics of transdermal flunixin in sows

The objective of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of flunixin in 12 nonlactating sows following transdermal (TD) flunixin (3.33 mg/kg) and intravenous (IV; 2.20 mg/kg) flunixin meglumine (FM) administration using a crossover design with a 10-day washout period. Blood samples were collected postadministration from sows receiving IV FM (3, 6, 10, 20, 40 min and 1, 3, 6, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48 hr) and from sows receiving TD flunixin (10, 20, 40 min and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hr). Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to determine plasma flunixin concentrations, and noncompartmental methods were used for PK analysis. The geometric mean ± SD area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) following IV injection was 26,820.59 ± 9,033.88 and 511.83 ± 213.98 hr ng/ml for TD route. Mean initial plasma concentration (C0 ) was 26,279.70 ± 3,610.00 ng/ml, and peak concentration (Cmax ) was 14.61 ± 7.85 ng/ml for IV and TD administration, respectively. The percent mean bioavailability of TD flunixin was 1.55 ± 1.00. Our results demonstrate that topical administration is not an efficient route for delivering flunixin in mature sows.
Hard Lessons Learned Since the First Generation of Critical Pedagogy

McComiskey, Bruce. Teaching Composition as a Social Process. Logan: Utah State University Press, 2000. 147 pp. $19.95 (paper). Wallace, David, and Helen Rothschild Ewald. Mutuality in the Rhetoric and Composition Classroom. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2000. 165 pp. $14.95. Durst, Russel K. Collision Course: Conflict, Negotiation, and Learning in College Composition. Urbana: National Council of Teachers of English, 1999. 197 pp. $25.95.
The role of irrigation in changing wheat yields and heat sensitivity in India

Irrigation has been pivotal in wheat's rise as a major crop in India and is likely to be increasingly important as an adaptation response to climate change. Here we use historical data across 40 years to quantify the contribution of irrigation to wheat yield increases and the extent to which irrigation reduces sensitivity to heat. We estimate that national yields in the 2000s are 13% higher than they would have been without irrigation trends since 1970. Moreover, irrigated wheat exhibits roughly one-quarter of the heat sensitivity estimated for fully rainfed conditions. However, yield gains from irrigation expansion have slowed in recent years and negative impacts of warming have continued to accrue despite lower heat sensitivity from the widespread expansion of irrigation. We conclude that as constraints on expanding irrigation become more binding, furthering yield gains in the face of additional warming is likely to present an increasingly difficult challenge.
Design and Testing of a Real-Time Audio-Quality Feedback System for Weather Broadcasts and a Framework for a Weather Broadcast Transmission Technology Switch

Forecasting weather and forewarning the public with weather alerts help save lives and property immensely. Audio transmissions for alerting are not prone to local infrastructure failure and hence the most dependable. Reception of such alerts should have good clarity of audio. The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) method has traditionally been used in telephony to monitor audio reception quality. It requires an objective skilled listener using a scoring system for feedback used in improving audio quality. However, in weather radio, there is no dedicated listener 24/7. Without listening skills and listener training the MOS scoring could be skewed and of little use. Our paper focuses on the design, building and testing of audio-quality forensics system (AQFS) that uses measurements of network, radio and equipment parameters to monitor audio quality instead of listener feedback. Transmitter stations today have multiple connectivity options and the AQFS can alert the transmission operators to switch to alternate technology during failures. The AQFS also has control features to perform this switching automatically that we have tested. In this paper, we also report our findings, test results and inferences with recommendations. Apart from providing basic but detailed audio quality analysis and comparison of base and transmitted audio using two different mechanisms, the AQFS helped us detect complete audio loss, intermittent audio outages, Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) Headers, audio anomalies, fades, drops and strange tones which correlate with fading and outage events. The analysis helped at problem transmitter sites in improving audio quality.
Art and Politics in Freetown Christiania: a Benjaminian and Brechtian Utopia?

In this paper, which is positioned at the intersection of political sociology and the sociology of art, I discuss the implications of political art at the local level. I show how analyzing an existing example of locally engaged political art would contribute to the comprehension of the relationship between art and politics in contemporary societies. I employ a single case study, Freetown Christiania, in order to reveal the role of local artistic engagement in bringing about political outcomes, and in particular, relative autonomy at the local level. Though this study is solely focused on one community which has emerged within a specific context and time, it provides a unique lens to describe the relevance and potential of locally engaged political art for broader society. I utilize Freetown Christiania as an example of Benjaminian and Brechtian utopia in order to showcase how their micro-level artistic engagement has brought about relative autonomy at the local level. In particular, I describe the function of local artistic engagement in Freetown Christiania, especially their theatre group Solvognen (The Sun Chariot), as a unique artistic enterprise which has surpassed Benjamin’s and Brecht’s elaborations of the role of political art in modern societies through the employment of the elements of the avant-garde and postdramatic theatre. I argue that this peculiar combination of Benjaminian and Brechtian forms of political art on the one hand, and the avant-garde and postdramatic theatre on the other, has enabled them to create and sustain this micro-utopia in a neoliberal capitalist order.
High-rate X-ray spectroscopy in mammography with photon counting detectors using a limited number of energy bins

Abstract Direct measurement of mammographic X-ray spectra under clinical conditions can be useful for quality control (QC) in mammography for estimating image quality and patient dose. The measurement of mammographic X-ray spectra using the traditional detectors with multi-channel pulse height analyzer (MCA) systems is challenging because of the limitations imposed on measurements with high energy resolution at high photon counting rates, as well as geometrical restrictions, especially in a hospital environment. Semiconductor photon-counting detectors equipped with faster electronics enable utilization in somewhat high count rate situations at the expense of decreased energy resolution. This work presents a method for estimating mammography X-ray spectra from measurements acquired with a multi-energy bin photon counting detector. Simulation tests were conducted out for different incident X-ray spectra, energy thresholds and for multiple noise realizations assuming an ideal photon-counting X-ray detector with three energy thresholds. In addition, experimental measurements of mammography X-ray spectra were estimated by using a high-count rate Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) photon counting detector (with two or four energy thresholds) and a high resolution X-ray spectroscopy detector with Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) sensor for comparison. Differences between half-value layer values (HVL) obtained from the estimated spectra using the proposed method were found to be within 0.04 mm of the true values. This proposed method could be an attractive tool for laboratory research and calibration of photon-counting detectors.
Improved variance estimation for inequality-constrained domain mean estimators using survey data

Abstract In survey domain estimation, a priori information can often be imposed in the form of linear inequality constraints on the domain estimators. Wu et al. (2016) formulated the isotonic domain mean estimator, for the simple order restriction, and methods for more general constraints were proposed in Oliva-Aviles et al. (2020). When the assumptions are valid, imposing restrictions on the estimators will ensure that the a priori information is respected, and in addition allows information to be pooled across domains, resulting in estimators with smaller variance. Here, we propose a method to further improve the estimation of the covariance matrix for these constrained domain estimators, using a mixture of possible covariance matrices obtained from the inequality constraints. We prove consistency of the improved variance estimator, and simulations demonstrate that the new estimator results in improved coverage probabilities for domain mean confidence intervals, while retaining the smaller confidence interval lengths.
Automation, Productivity and Innovation in Information Technology

The rate of innovation in Information Technology (IT) has slowed down over time. The slowing down is evident from the data on quality adjusted price index of computers as well as the data on performance of microprocessors used in computers. The model in this paper shows that an IT-labor elasticity of substitution that is greater than one can explain the slowdown in innovation in IT. With an IT-labor elasticity of substitution that is greater than one, however, slowing innovation can result in sustained labor productivity and output growth in IT using firms and the IT using sector of the economy. Sustained growth is possible because the an IT-labor elasticity of substitution greater than one results in a continuously increasing share of IT in production costs, and the increasing IT share counteracts the effect of slowing innovation on labor productivity and output growth. In this environment of slowing innovation, increasing IT share and sustained growth, employment in the IT using sector of the economy can increase or decrease, depending on the values of the IT-labor elasticity of substitution and the price elasticity of demand for IT enabled consumption goods.
Preserving Autonomy in Early Stage Dementia

This article is limited to examining the question of the dementia patient's autonomy or self-determination in the context of offering advice and guidance to individuals with impaired cognitive functioning but who retain the capacity to make some judgements and decisions about the future. Autonomy will be defined, for our purposes, as independence and decision-making power. The means by which an individual may maintain some control and influence over future decisions relating to his health care by utilizing advance directives, will be discussed. These methods include durable power of attorney for health care and living wills. This article describes the health care planning and legal arrangements initiated by 332 individuals presenting at an out-patient dementia clinic for an initial assessment and the changes initiated by 115 of these patients who returned for a follow-up visit. Recommendations are made to social workers and other health care professionals to advise early-stage dementia patients to maintai...
Studies on the modification of the cellular response to injury. II. Electron microscopic studies on the protective effect of acidosis on anoxic injury of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Extracellular acidosis (pH 5.9 to 6.5) was found to significantly retard the subcellular response of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) to anoxic injury. The cells initially showed a reversible stage of cell injury with diffuse mitochondrial condensation and swelling of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at pH 7.9 by 1 h, while by 3 h at this pH all cells showed high amplitude and intramatrical flocculent densities of mitochondria, and fragmentation of membrane systems. At pH 7.4 cells were normal at 15 min., the mitochondria were condensed as above by 1 h, some cells still showed condensed mitochondria and dilated ER while others showed high amplitude swelling of mitochondria by 3 h and all cells showed irreversible changes by 4 h. At pH 5.9 to pH 6.5 mitochondria remained condensed until 3 h and only by 6 h did some cells show high amplitude swelling, whereas most cells showed persistent mitochondrial condensation. Not until 8 h did all cells show high amplitude swelling of mitochondria. Furthermore, ultrastructural differences in the pattern of necrosis were seen at the lower pH values consisting of greater density of the cell sap, irregularly dispersed flocculent densities in apposition to fragmented cytoplasmic membranes and in mitochondria, and more prominent persistent clumping of nuclear chromatin.
Do‐It‐Yourself Projects as Path toward Female Empowerment in a Gendered Market Place

The role of women as homeowners and heads of households are changing the dynamics in which women engage in do-it-yourself (DIY) behavior. Because there is limited extant theory associated with female involvement in DIY behavior, a qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted. Through grounded theory analysis several themes emerged during the coding process, and the themes of empowerment were especially relevant to the informants in this study. Five dimensions of empowerment were identified: empowerment through project initiation, production mastery, adding economic value to goods and services, unleashing creative potential, and empowerment through ownership. The findings show women’s involvement in DIY behavior and the consumption of DIY-related goods is closely tied to the concept of female empowerment.
Effects of clofibrate and 6-substituted chroman analogs on human platelet function: mechanism of inhibitory action.

Abstract The effects of cloflbrate (CPIB) and two related cyclic analogs, 6-chlorochroman-2-carboxylic acid (CCCA) and 6-phenylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (PCCA), on human platelet function were evaluated. CPIB, CCCA and PCCA all inhibited platelet activation, i.e. aggregation and secretion of [ 14 C]serotonin induced by ADP, epinephrine, collagen and thrombin, in a concentration-dependent manner. PCCA was at least fifty-two times more effective as an inhibitor of ADP-, epinephrine- and collagen-induced platelet activation and only 2-fold more effective as an inhibitor of thrombin-induced platelet activation when compared with CPIB or CCCA. Only PCCA inhibited platelet aggregation and [ 14 C]serotonin secretion induced by arachidonic acid (AA) in a concentration-dependent manner. CPIB and CCCA did not inhibit AA-induced platelet activation. In fact, both of these agents had a potentiating effect on the onset of platelet aggregation by AA. All three compounds inhibited thrombin-induced release of [ 3 H]arachidonic acid ([ 3 H]AA) from platelet phospholipids and thrombin-mediated malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Only PCCA, however, inhibited AA-induced MDA production. These results indicate that CPIB, CCCA and PCCA all inhibit platelet activation by inhibiting prostaglandin biosynthesis. PCCA blocked AA-induced platelet activation, and this additional inhibitory action of PCCA appears to be responsible for its comparatively higher inhibitory potency. A comparison of the structure-activity relationship of the inhibitors indicated that replacement of the chloro group by a phenyl group produced a compound (PCCA) that was a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis and was thereby a more effective antiaggregatory agent than either CPIB or CCCA.
Grasping Limb Patterning

Recent studies offer insights into how a molecular signal controls the growth and patterning of the digits on vertebrate limbs during development.
Implementing an Induction Scheduling Procedure and Consent Form to Improve Quality of Care

Inappropriate elective inductions of labor put patients at increased risk of cesarean, neonatal morbidity, and elevated cost. A scheduling procedure and consent form were implemented to eliminate elective induction at less than 39 weeks gestation and align indications for induction with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines. In 25 of the 28 months following implementation of the new process, we achieved the goal of eliminating elective induction of labor at less than 39 weeks gestation.
ENGINE MASS AIR FLOW METER

At Ford Motor Company, one car engineering concept that has been under development for several years is a precision engine air input measuring meter. Using both temperature and pressure sensors to normalize incoming air calculations, this vortex shedding principle meter constantly reports at a high electronic data rate to mass air inflow to the engine. Key elements of this composite device are economical, wide range, high accuracy sensors.
Characterization of Elastic-Viscoplastic Properties of an AS4/PEEK Thermoplastic Composite:

The elastic-viscoplastic properties of an AS4/PEEK (APC-2) thermoplastic composite were characterized at 24 C (75 F) and 121 C (250 F) by using a one-parameter viscoplasticity model. To determine the strain-rate effects, uniaxial tension tests were performed on unidirectional off-axis coupon specimens with different monotonic strain rates. A modified Bodner and Partom's model was also used to describe the viscoplasticity of the thermoplastic composite. The experimental results showed that viscoplastic behavior can be characterized quite well using the one-parameter overstress viscoplasticity model.
Controls on the hydrogen isotopic composition of biogenic methane from high-latitude terrestrial wetlands

[1] To investigate the controls on the δD isotopic composition of biogenic CH4 in terrestrial wetlands, we collected a series of samples for δD-H2O, δD-CH4, δ13C-CH4, and δ13C-DIC (dissolved ΣCO2) along a N-S transect across Alaska from 60°N to 70°N latitude from 7 to 15 August 2001. The δD-H2O and δD-CH4 values varied from −108‰ to −161‰ and from −308‰ to −394‰, respectively, from south to north and were significantly correlated, indicating the significant influence of the δD-H2O on the δD of terrestrial CH4 collected along a latitudinal spatial gradient. Additionally, the apparent fractionation factors (α, αA–B = RA/RB, where R = 13C/12C or D/H) for H2O → CH4 (αD) and DIC → CH4 (αC) varied from 1.26 to 1.42 and from 1.035 to 1.084, respectively, and were inversely correlated. We conclude that while δD-H2O is a critical factor controlling δD-CH4 across latitudes, the CH4 production mechanism is also responsible for variation in the δD-CH4. If the isotopic values of the precursors of methane, H2O, DIC, and organic matter are relatively constant, CH4 produced by acetate fermentation will be enriched in δ13C and depleted in δD relative to CH4 produced via the CO2 reduction pathway. Production mechanism variation will be particularly important in controlling variations in CH4 isotopic composition with depth. The strong dependence of δD-CH4 on the δD of environmental H2O indicates that specific fields on plots of δD-CH4 versus δ13C-CH4 may not always accurately represent the isotopic composition of CH4 produced by CO2 reduction in northern wetlands. Because of this variation at high latitude, we assert that δD-CH4 values cannot be associated with production mechanism in an absolute sense. The production mechanism effect is in addition to the effect of the δD-H2O.
A Potential Role for Glucagon in the Treatment of Drug-Induced Symptomatic Bradycardia

Nine cases of symptomatic bradycardia are presented in which treatment with intravenous glucagon was administered when atropine failed to improve the patient's condition significantly. Although the cause often was not obvious at presentation, all nine subjects took oral medications that could have contributed to the development of symptomatic bradycardia. Eight of nine patients demonstrated clinical improvement 5 to 10 min after glucagon administration, which was consistent with its peak clinical action. Beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin were ultimately thought to have contributed to the majority of these presentations. This report suggests that glucagon may have a role in the treatment of symptomatic bradycardia, particularly in the presence of beta-adrenergic blockade and perhaps calcium channel blockade. Furthermore, the results in these cases suggest that future clinical trials should not be limited to drug-induced symptomatic bradycardia.
Single center interventional radiology experience in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with ventricular assist devices

Purpose Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a well-recognized complication in patients with ventricular assist devices (VADs). Possible mechanisms include use of anticoagulation and development of GI angiodysplasia. Treatment of GI bleeding in this patient population is not well-defined. We aim to study VAD patients with GI bleeding, including an in depth analysis of those patients referred to interventional radiology (IR) for further management. Materials and Methods A single center retrospective review of VAD patients between 2005 and 2011 was conducted. Patients who subsequently developed GI bleeding were identified. Covariates such as gender, age, days on support prior to first episode of bleed, and management of GI bleeding was analyzed. Patients referred to IR were analyzed in detail and the outcomes associated with intervention recorded. Results GI bleeding was common, seen in 23/154 (15%) of VAD patients. Of these, none required surgery for the treatment of recurrent bleeding, and all episodes were managed with supportive, endoscopic or endovascular management. Bleeding was more common with continuous versus pulsatile VADs (21% vs. 4%, p Conclusion GI bleeding is common in VAD patients. When the bleed is localized to the duodenum or stomach, empiric embolization of the GDA or left gastric artery may be of benefit in obtaining hemostasis. If the bleed is localized with angiography, targeted embolization can be performed. In this fragile population, appropriate management is critical to minimize interventions and prevent further recurrence. A management algorithm involving IR could be of great benefit to these patients.
Alterations in Brain Sensitivity and Barbiturate Metabolism Unrelated to Aggression in Socially Deprived Mice

Male and female mice deprived of social interactions showed increased resistance to hexobarbital narcosis. However, only the isolated males developed aggressiveness. The more rapid disappearance of hexobarbital from the whole body of isolated mice and the higher drug concentration at awakening in these animals indicate enhanced hepatic degradation with a concomitant increase in CNS excitability. Development of aggressiveness in isolated male mice did not correlate temporally with the reduced response to hexobarbital. These data suggest that alterations in barbiturate sensitivity and development of aggressiveness following social deprivation have different biological bases.
Multiple scattering formalism for a molecular Dirac equation

Abstract The multiple scattering formalism for the determination of the bound electronic states of a molecular system is relativistically generalized. Molecular four-spinors are determined from a molecular Dirac equation. The Green's function is evaluated in the representation of the free spherical solutions of the Dirac equation. The resulting secular equation is very similar to the non-relativistic one. The Green's function matrix elements are simply related to the non-relativistic ones. The scattering matrix elements, describing scattering off a spherical potential, are expressed in terms of the relativistic radial solutions in the potential.
A Guide to Internet Resources in Sustainable Development

Use of the Internet as an information-gathering tool continues to grow. Among many Internet attributes, three stand out: it is vast, it continues to change, and it continues to grow. Thus, finding information on a topic can have high transaction costs in terms of time and effort. We have tried to solve this problem by compiling a guide to resources available on a topic. The purpose of this guide is to help researchers, practitioners, and others find information about sustainable development, broadly defined, on the Internet. We provide a general description of the Internet and a categorized list of electronic information sites. We have also developed an online, Internet version of this guide, which contains links to each World Wide Web site we list. We provide the addresses for the sites in this paper. In accessing and using this information, be cognizant that, like any other tool, the Internet has advantages and limitations, which we address in the paper.
Tiling with notched cubes

Abstract Golomb (J. Combin. Theory 1 (1966) 280–296) showed that any polyomino which tiles a rectangle also tiles a larger copy of itself. Although there is no compelling reason to expect the converse to be true, no counterexamples are known. In three dimensions, the analogous result is that any polycube that tiles a box also tiles a larger copy of itself. In this note, we exhibit a polycube (a ‘notched cube’) that tiles a larger copy of itself, but does not tile any box, and obtain several related results about tiling with this figure. We also obtain analogous results in all dimensions d ⩾3.
Is combined treatment with fenofibrate and ezetimibe safe and efficacious in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia

Is combined treatment with fenofibrate and ezetimibe safe and efficacious in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia?
Antecedent Predictors of Children's Initiation of Sipping/Tasting Alcohol

BACKGROUND: Sipping or tasting alcohol is one of the earliest alcohol-use behaviors in which young children engage, yet there is relatively little research on this behavior. Previous cross-sectional analyses determined that child sipping or tasting is associated with the child's attitude toward sipping and with a family environment supportive of alcohol use, but not with variables reflecting psychosocial proneness for problem behavior as formulated in Problem Behavior Theory (Jessor and Jessor, Problem Behavior and Psychosocial Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth, 1977, Academic Press, New York). This study extended these analyses longitudinally to identify antecedent predictors of the childhood initiation of sipping or tasting alcohol in a multiwave study. METHODS: A sample of 452 children (238 girls) aged 8 or 10 and their families was drawn from Allegheny County, PA, using targeted-age directory sampling and random digit dialing procedures. Children were interviewed using computer-assisted interviews. Antecedent variables collected at baseline (Wave 1) were examined as predictors of the initiation of sipping/tasting alcohol in childhood (before age 12) among Wave 1 abstainers (n = 286). RESULTS: Ninety-four children initiated sipping/tasting alcohol in a nonreligious context between baseline and turning age 12. Initiation of sipping/tasting did not generally relate to baseline variables reflecting psychosocial proneness for problem behavior. Instead, as found in the previous cross-sectional analyses, the variables most predictive of initiating sipping/tasting were perceived parents' approval for child sipping, parents' reported approval for child sipping, parents' current drinking status, and children's attitudes toward sipping/tasting alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: These longitudinal analyses replicate the earlier cross-sectional results. Young children's sipping/tasting of alcohol reflects parental modeling of drinking and parental approval of child sipping and does not represent a precocious manifestation of a psychosocial proneness to engage in problem behavior. Language: en
Investigation of the structural determinants of the intrinsic fluorescence emission of the trp repressor using single tryptophan mutants

The fluorescence decay properties of wild-type trp repressor (TR) have been characterized by carrying out a multi-emission wavelength study of the frequency response profiles. The decay is best analyzed in terms of a single exponential decay near 0.5 ns and a distribution of lifetimes centered near 3–4 ns. By comparing the recovered decay associated spectra and lifetime values with the structure of the repressor, tentative assignments of the two decay components recovered from the analysis to the two tryptophan residues, W19 and W99, of the protein have been made. These assignments consist of linking the short, red emitting component to emission from W99 and most of the longer bluer emitting lifetime distribution to emission from W19. Next, single tryptophan mutants of the repressor in which one of each of the tryptophan residues was substituted by phenylalanine were used to confirm the preliminary assignments, inasmuch as the 0.5-ns component is clearly due to emission from tryptophan 99, and much of the decay responsible for the recovered distribution emanates from tryptophan 19. The data demonstrate, however, that the decay of the wild-type protein is not completely resolvable due both to the large number of components in the wild-type emission (at least five) as well as to the fact that three of the five lifetime components are very close in value. The fluorescence decay of the wild-type decay is well described as a combination of the components found in each of the mutants. However, whereas the linear combination analysis of the 15 data sets (5 from the wild-type and each mutant) yields a good fit for the components recovered previously for the two mutants, the amplitudes of these components in the wild-type are not recovered in the expected ratios. Because of the dominance of the blue shifted emission in the wild-type protein, it is most likely that subtle structural differences in the wild-type as compared with the mutants, rather than energy transfer from tryptophan 19 to 99, are responsible for this failure of the linear combination hypothesis.
Distributed shear of subglacial till due to Coulomb slip

In most models of the flow of glaciers on till beds, it has been assumed that till behaves as a viscoplastic fluid, despite contradictory evidence from laboratory studies. In accord with this assumption, displacement profiles measured in subglacial till have been fitted with viscoplastic models by estimating the stress distribution. Here we present a model that illustrates how observed displacement profiles can result from till deformation resisted solely by Coulomb friction. Motion in the till bed is assumed to be driven by brief departures from static equilibrium caused by fluctuations in effective normal stress. These fluctuations result from chains of particles that support intergranular forces that are higher than average and that form and fail at various depths in the bed during shearing. Newton's second law is used to calculate displacements along slip planes and the depth to which deformation extends in the bed. Consequent displacement profiles are convex upward, similar to those measured by Boulton and colleagues at Breidamerkur-jokull, Iceland. The model results, when considered together with the long-term and widespread empirical support for Coulomb models in soils engineering, indicate that efforts to fit viscoplastic flow models to till displacement profiles may be misguided.
A critical view of dialectical inquiry as a tool in strategic planning

Despite weak empirical support for its effectiveness, the dialectical inquiry system (DIS) has been recommended to improve the strategic decision-making process. This study compares the effectiveness of the DIS to alternative techniques. Thirty-two organizational planners from the United Way of America were randomly assigned to a DIS and three other planning conditions. All planners submitted a planning report for a common case situation. Results suggest that, in general, the quality of the reports from planners in the DIS condition was inferior to the quality of reports submitted by subjects in the other conditions. For example, reports submitted by planners in a devil's advocate condition were judged to reflect a significantly more appropriate degree of risk than reports submitted by DIS planners. These results suggest that further investigation of the DIS is necessary before the validity of the technique is assumed.
INFLUENCE OF INVESTMENTS AND DUPLICATING PROCEDURES ON THE ACCURACY OF PARTIAL DENTURE CASTINGS.

Abstract The total compensating expansion of several partial denture casting investments was determined by a new method that allowed the casting of a partial denture framework on the specimen being evaluated. The accuracy of the resulting casting was then compared to the total compensating expansion of the investment used to make the casting. The effects of changing duplicating materials, soaking refractory casts in water, applying the paint-on layer and outer layer of investment on casting accuracy were determined. Also, the compressive strength at the casting temperature of several investments was determined in an effort to correlate the strength of investments with the accuracy of casting.
Analysis of Greedy Solutions for a Replacement Part Sequencing Problem

This paper considers the problem of sequencing the installation of replacement parts for the repeated repair of a machine consisting of two working parts. A finite inventory of spares is initially available for each type of part. Each spare has a known deterministic field life, and spares of each type may have different field lives. The inventories are eventually depleted since no replacement or repairs of parts occur. The primary objective is to obtain a sequencing policy which minimizes the total number of installations replacements. This problem is a special case of many opportunistic replacement problems and is called a “build” problem. The motivation for this work is based on the maintenance of modular gas turbine aircraft engines used by domestic airlines and the U.S. Air Force. We show this build problem is NP-hard which indicates the necessity of efficient heuristic solution procedures. This paper considers several “greedy” type algorithms based on grouping parts according to exact matching of field lives. Then, a generalization is presented which allows approximate matches. The focus of the analysis is to obtain tight worst case bounds on the number of replacements obtained by each of the greedy algorithms.