cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reactions of lattice dislocations with grain boundaries in Mg: Implications on the micro scale from atomic-scale calculations

Abstract The reactions of lattice glide dislocations with grain boundaries play a crucial role in the plastic deformation of polycrystalline materials. Recent studies on the atomic structures of [ 1 2 ¯ 1 0 ] symmetrical tilt grain boundaries (STGBs) in Mg and Ti showed that they can be classified into six sets of STGBs, each set sharing similar defect structures. Taking advantage of this and using molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the relationships between dislocation–STGB interactions. We show that the outcome of the reactions can be correlated with certain characteristics of the STGBs and classified into three types: (1) for STGBs with low misorientation angles, { 1 ¯ 0 1 2 } twins nucleate via the dissociation of grain boundary dislocations (GBDs), (2) for STGBs with twin orientations (twin boundaries, TB), lattice dislocations dissociate into twinning dislocations (TDs) enabling the TBs to migrate, and (3) for STGBs that deviate from twin orientations, lattice dislocations dissociate into TDs plus residual defects. In the last case (3), the STGB can also migrate via the glide of the TDs and climb of the intrinsic GBDs. However, compared to case (2), boundary migration is difficult because the intrinsic GBDs impede the motion of the TDs. These correlations will significantly benefit the development of multi-scale materials modeling tools.
Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in 2011, a Western perspective

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has become the standard of care for removal of large flat and sessile neoplastic lesions of the GI tract. Recently, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was introduced in Japan as an alternative technique, which allows en bloc resection of large lesions. The applications of EMR and ESD are expanding and many Western endoscopists are adopting these techniques. Paris classification and Kudo pit pattern classification allows prediction of the depth of invasion of early neoplastic lesions and thus, avoids resection of lesions invading the deep submucosa which have higher rates of lymphatic spread. ESD of early stomach cancer is the standard of care in Japan. Recent published reports from Western countries showed comparable results for ESD of early gastric cancers to those done in Japan. Recently, EMR combined with ablation has been used frequently in Western countries for treatment of high-grade dysplasia in early adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Although ESD of early neoplastic lesions of the esophagus is technically difficult, few promising reports were published proving the feasibility of this technique in the West. ESD has been shown to achieve higher en bloc resection and lower rates of tumour recurrence in removal of lateral spreading colonic polyps. A hybrid technique of circumferential submucosal incision followed by en bloc EMR has been used for removal of large colonic lesions in some Western endoscopy centres. In Western countries, training for ESD is challenging given the lack of training in the relatively easier early gastric cancer lesions. Animal model training combined with observing experts in ESD could be an alternative for Western endoscopists. Inspite of obstacles, ESD applications are continuing to grow in Western countries.
The modulus of the amorphous component in polyethylenes

Various approaches to representing the modulus of a semicrystalline polymer as a composite crystal-amorphous material are applied to the extensive data of Illers on the shear modulus of linear and branched polyethylenes as a function of crystallinity and temperature. It is found that the modulus of linear polyethylene is fit very well over the range of 47-96 percent crystallinity from − 180 to 100°C by the Tsai-Halpin equation with a single value of the contiguity factor, ζ, and crystallinityindependent phase moduli. A value of ζ ≃ 1(near lower bound behavior) is found. In branched polyethylene the behavior below the β relaxation (T < Tβ) is similar to linear polyethylene, but above Tβ, the behavior indicates that the amorphous modulus is crystallinity dependent. The amorphous component modulus as a function of temperature for linear polyethylene extracted from the fitting process is discussed in terms of various interpretations of the relaxations (α, β, γ) in polyethylene.
Effects of bile acids on expression of the human apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter gene

Abstract Using a luciferase reporter assay in both LMH cells and Caco2 cells we found that certain bile acids including unconjugated deoxycholic and others transactivated the ileal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) at concentrations ranging from 20 to 300 μM. Confirming this effect, addition of deoxycholic acid to fresh human ileal biopsies caused an approximate 40% increase in endogenous ASBT mRNA production. Promoter deletion analysis indicated the effect of bile acids was mediated by a response element located in the downstream half of the 5′-UTR, a region known to contain a retinoic acid (RXR/RAR) response element and an activated protein-1 (AP-1) response element. Site-directed mutagenesis of the RAR/RXR response element actually enhanced response to deoxycholic acid. Site-directed mutagenesis of the downstream AP-1 response element reduced activation by deoxycholic acid while deletion of this response element completely eliminated this response. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor inhibitor, AG1478, completely eliminated the response to bile acid while the mitogen-activated protein extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade (MEK) inhibitor, U0126, partially inhibited the response to bile acid. These studies demonstrate that certain bile acids stimulate ASBT gene expression acting on the down-stream AP-1 response element via the EGF receptor and MEK cascade.
Recreation Nonparticipation as Choice Behavior Rather Than Statistical Outcome

In recreation demand models nonparticipation is usually estimated as the probability mass on zero demand given a positive level of expected demand and a discrete distribution of demand outcomes. Researchers have attempted to improve predictions of nonparticipation by modifying the parameters of the demand distribution. This study departs from previous approaches by explicitly incorporating nonparticipation into the behavioral model. The choice to participate is described by a distribution of preferences combined with a choke price on individual demands to distinguish participants from nonparticipants. The model is found to accurately predict nonparticipation and the size of the user group. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.
THE EFFECT OF MARKET CONDITIONS AND RISK CLASSIFICATIONS ON MARKET MODEL PARAMETERS

This article reports the results of tests used to detect shifts in market model parameters during bull and bear market conditions. The evidence indicates that the parameters exhibit nonstationarity during market advances and market declines for certain predetermined stock groups. Specifically, the parameters of stocks in high-risk and low-risk classifications behave as if they are affected by the alternating forces of bull and bear markets.
Quality control and quality assessment of data from surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) time-of flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS).

Background Proteomic profiling of complex biological mixtures by the ProteinChip technology of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most promising approaches in toxicological, biological, and clinic research. The reliable identification of protein expression patterns and associated protein biomarkers that differentiate disease from health or that distinguish different stages of a disease depends on developing methods for assessing the quality of SELDI-TOF mass spectra. The use of SELDI data for biomarker identification requires application of rigorous procedures to detect and discard low quality spectra prior to data analysis.
αB-crystallin/sHSP protects cytochrome c and mitochondrial function against oxidative stress in lens and retinal cells.

Background αB-crystallin/sHSP protects cells against oxidative stress damage. Here, we mechanistically examined its ability to preserve mitochondrial function in lens and retinal cells and protect cytochrome c under oxidative stress conditions.
Evaluating the flexibility of a reflex action mortality predictor to determine bycatch mortality rates: A case study of Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) bycaught in Alaska bottom trawls

Abstract To quantify total fishing mortality it is necessary to incorporate mortality rates attributed to bycatch, including animals that are discarded and that interact with the gear without being caught. The Reflex Action Mortality Predictor (RAMP) approach has been increasingly used to determine bycatch mortality rates in fisheries. This methodology creates a RAMP that relates reflex impairment to probability of mortality. As the RAMP approach becomes more prevalent it becomes important to evaluate the efficacy of its application. We evaluated the flexibility of this methodology by creating a RAMP for Tanner crab ( Chionoecetes bairdi ) discarded from the groundfish bottom trawl fishery in the Gulf of Alaska and comparing it to a previously established RAMP for unobserved Tanner crab bycatch (encountered gear and remained on the seafloor) from the bottom trawl fishery in the Bering Sea. The two RAMPs and the overall mortality rates calculated using these predictors were comparable. However, we detected significant differences between RAMPs. While probabilities of mortality were similar between the two studies for crab with all or no reflexes missing, discarded crab with intermediate reflex impairment had lower mortality probabilities than those from the unobserved-bycatch study. Our results indicate that a RAMP may produce more accurate mortality estimates when applied to animals experiencing similar stressors as those evaluated to create the RAMP, through similar methodology.
[14C]acetate incorporation into the carotenoids of Chromatium

Abstract The synthesis of 14C-carotenoids from [14C]acetate was studied in log phase cultures of Chromatium. The order of increasing specific activity was found to be lycopene, lycoxanthin, lycophyll, P481, spirilloxanthin which closely parallels the addition of hydroxyl or methoxyl groups to the C040 skeleton. The specific activity data support the conclusion that the carotenoids P481 and OH-P481 are synthesized from the hydroxylated derivatives of lycopene.
PROP (6-n-Propylthiouracil) Supertasters and the Saltiness of NaCla

Taste blindness to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and its chemical relative 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) was discovered in the 1930s. Family studies showed that those who could not taste PTC/PROP (nontasters) carried two recessive alleles. In recent years, we have classified tasters into two groups: medium (PROP is moderately bitter) and supertasters (PROP is intensely bitter). With our classification, approximately 25% of Americans are nontasters, 50%, medium tasters, and 25%, supertasters. Studies showed that supertasters form a cohesive group. Anatomical studies showed that supertasters have the most fungiform papillae. Psychophysical studies showed that supertasters perceive the most intense bitterness and sweetness from a variety of compounds, the most intense burn from oral irritants, and the most intense tactile sensations from viscous solutions. Oral burn and touch are presumably perceived to be the most intense to supertasters because taste buds in fungiform papillae are innervated by the trigeminal nerve (pain, touch) as well as the chorda tympani nerve (taste). The psychophysical scaling method used was magnitude matching with NaCl as the control modality. With this method, subjects rated the intensities of a series of NaCl and PROP solutions. The assumption that the taste of NaCl did not vary with PROP status allowed comparisons of the bitterness of PROP across subjects. Early magnitude matching studies, using sound as the control, had suggested that this assumption was reasonable. However, recent studies challenged that conclusion. Larger samples with more diverse populations, using sound as the control, showed that the taste of NaCl varied with PROP bitterness; supertasters perceived the strongest taste and nontasters, the weakest. Thus our earlier conclusions were conservative because differences between nontasters, medium tasters, and supertasters were concealed by using NaCl as a standard. Using magnitude matching with sound as the standard, or using the Green scale, which employs intensity labels, we found that the differences between PROP groups are larger. Note that the association between PROP status and salt taste is interesting in itself, since variability in salt taste may have important nutritional consequences.
Literature from the Heart

Cart and Jenkins’ study examines three and a half decades of young adult literature with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning themes and characters, demonstrating how this literature has evolved from stereotypical treatments to complex and affirmative representations featuring frank discussions of sexuality and gender identity.
Directed educational training improves coding and billing skills for residents.

Abstract Objectives To determine if coding and billing acumen improves after a single directed educational training session. Study design Case–control series. Methods Fourteen otolaryngology practitioners including trainees each completed two clinical scenarios before and after a directed educational session covering basic skills and common mistakes in otolaryngology billing and coding. Ten practitioners had never coded before; while, four regularly billed and coded in a clinical setting. Results Individuals with no previous billing experience had a mean score of 54% (median 55%) before the educational session which was significantly lower than that of the experienced billers who averaged 82% (median 83%, p = 0.002). After the educational billing and coding session, the inexperienced billers mean score improved to 62% (median, 67%) which was still statistically lower than that of the experienced billers who averaged 76% (median 75%, p = 0.039). The inexperienced billers demonstrated a significant improvement in their total score after the intervention ( P = 0.019); however, the change observed in experienced billers before and after the educational intervention was not significant ( P = 0.469). Conclusions Billing and coding skill was improved after a single directed education session. Residents, who are not responsible for regular billing and coding, were found to have the greatest improvement in skill. However, providers who regularly bill and code had no significant improvement after this session. These data suggest that a single 90 min billing and coding education session is effective in preparing those with limited experience to competently bill and code.
The raphe neuronal system and serotonergic effects of LSD

Earlier work from this laboratory had shown that LSD caused significant increases in rat brain serotonin (5-HT). The increase was later localized to a subsynaptosomal fraction consisting largely of synaptic vesicles. However, the source of the increase and the mechanism by which LSD caused the enhanced 5-HT binding or retention had not been elucidated. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the serotonergic effects of LSD following destruction of raphe nuclei with radiofrequency lesions. When LSD was given to animals with large midbrain raphe lesions, it caused significant increases in forebrain of cortical 5-HT up to 48 hr, or 7 days post-lesion, respectively. It was concluded that an intact cell body is not necessary for the expression of the LSD-mediated increases in 5-HT occurring in the nerve-ending. The possible mechanisms by which LSD could act directly at the nerve-ending are discussed.
Field Evaluation of Sensitivity and Specificity of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for Detection of Nucleospora salmonis in Rainbow Trout

Abstract We determined the sensitivity and specificity of a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of the microsporidian parasite Nucleospora salmonis in kidney tissue of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Kidney tissues were sampled on three dates from 162 juvenile rainbow trout obtained from a California State fish hatchery where the organism was endemic. Kidney tissues were used to prepare imprints stained with May–Grunwald Giemsa and for extraction of genomic DNA for a nested PCR test for N. salmonis. Positive PCR results for N. salmonis were obtained from 1 of 100, 2 of 32, and 27 of 30 kidneys collected on the first, second, and third sample dates, respectively. Kidney tissues from 3 of 27 trout in the third sample that tested positively by PCR also had microscopic evidence of parasites in stained kidney imprints. No parasites were detected in the remaining 159 kidney samples examined microscopically. Sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay were estimated by using maximum likeliho...
OH ground-state energy transfer investigated using picosecond two-color resonant four-wave-mixing spectroscopy

Picosecond two-color resonant four-wave-mixing spectroscopy was demonstrated as a powerful technique for investigation of collisional relaxation of population and molecular anisotropy in the electronic ground state of the hydroxyl radical in an atmospheric-pressure flame.
Devolution and Innovation: The Adoption of State Environmental Policy Innovations by Administrative Agencies

Do states act as laboratories for reform? Are state administrative agencies likely to adopt policy innovations? This study analyzes the adoption of environmental policy innovations by state administrative agencies in the area of hazardous waste regulation. Four explanations are developed to explain the factors that affect innovation adoption: the severity of the problem, the importance of institutional factors, the role played by interest groups, and contextual factors. Institutional factors, such as state wealth and administrative professionalism, are important determinants of innovation adoption. State agencies are also likely to adopt innovations to deal with problems created by hazardous waste contamination. In addition, state environmental managers are not directly influenced by interest groups, and the inclusion of all stakeholders is likely to lead to greater support for new policy initiatives. Implications for practitioners are drawn based on the study's findings.
Handling blunt flaws in a fitness-for-service assessment of pipeline weld quality

The authors describe how blunt flaws such as porosity, slag and arc burns account for the majority of remedial welding of pipeline girth welds when radiography is used as a workmanship criterion.
EFFECT OF GLUCOCORTICOIDS IN VIVO AND IN VITRO ON NET GLUCOSE UPTAKE AND AMINO ACID INCORPORATION BY RAT-THYMUS CELLS.

Abstract 1. 1. The general hypothesis that glucocorticoids may act on certain extrahepatic tissues via a direct, rapid inhibition of glucose utilization, has been tested using incubated suspensions of rat-thymus cells. 2. 2. It has been found that net glucose uptake by cells obtained from rats injected 2 h previously with cortisol (approx. 1 mg per 100 g rat wt.) is significantly lower than that of control cells. 3. 3. Cortisol in vitro, at concentrations down to 10−7M, significantly decreases net glucose uptake by such cell preparations during the first hour of incubation, and at 10−6M (the only concentration tested) decreases the incorporation of leucine into protein during the second hour. Deoxycorticosterone is less active than cortisol with respect to inhibition of both glucose uptake and amino acid incorporation. 4. 4. These findings are taken to show that a direct, rapid physiological action of glucocorticoids is to decrease glucose uptake by thymus tissue. 5. 5. From the results of incubations with various concentrations of glucose, it appears that the inhibition of amino acid incorporation produced by cortisol is not simply a consequence of decreased availability of glucose to the cell.
Colorectal neoplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

PURPOSE: Most patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis also have ulcerative colitis. It has been suggested that in the presence of primary sclerosing cholangitis the risk of colorectal dysplasia and carcinoma is greater than in patients with ulcerative colitis alone. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we evaluated the possibility of colorectal cancer or dysplasia in 35 consecutive patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis seen at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1979 and 1991. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 35 patients (37 percent) with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis had colorectal neoplasia (5 with adenocarcinoma and 8 with dysplasia). In the 27 patients undergoing colonoscopic biopsy surveillance, the cumulative incidence at 28 years of colorectal cancer was 18.5 percent and for colorectal dysplasia it was 29.6 percent. The high incidence of colorectal cancer was less than the rate of colorectal cancer in patients with extensive colitis of childhood onset without primary sclerosing cholangitis (35 percent), but the rate of colorectal cancer and dysplasia (48.1 percent) is similar to the highest rates of cancer noted in the comparison group. Because patients had subtle, quiescent colitis, a short time from diagnosis of ulcerative colitis to diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia was noted (mean, 12.2±9 years; less than 8 years in 5/13 (38.5 percent) patients). CONCLUSION: Ulcerative colitis patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis appear to have a high frequency of colorectal cancer but a rate lower than expected in patients with extensive quiescent ulcerative colitis of childhood onset alone. However, exact conclusions are complicated by the high incidence of colorectal dysplasia found, which portends malignant transformation. Because of the subtle nature of colitis, the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is often delayed, and surveillance programs should start as soon as ulcerative colitis is diagnosed.
The posteruptive evolution of a coronal dimming

We discuss the posteruptive evolution of a "coronal dimming" based on observations of the EUV corona from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory and the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE). This discussion highlights the roles played by magnetoconvection-driven magnetic reconnection and the global magnetic environment of the plasma in the "filling" and apparent motion of the region following the eruption of a coronal mass ejection (CME). A crucial element in our understanding of the dimming region's evolution is developed by monitoring the disappearance and reappearance of bright TRACE "moss" around the active region that gives rise to the CME. We interpret the change in the TRACE moss as a proxy of the changing coronal magnetic field topology behind the CME front. We infer that the change in the global magnetic topology also results in a shift of the energy balance in the process responsible for the production of the moss emission while the coronal magnetic topology evolves from closed to open and back to closed again because, following the eruption, the moss reforms around the active region in almost exactly its pre-event configuration. As a result of the moss's evolution, combining our discussion with recent spectroscopic results of an equatorial coronal hole, we suggest that the interchangeable use of the term "transient coronal hole" to describe a coronal dimming is more than just a simple coincidence.
Monoclonal antibodies specific for rat relaxin. V. Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies throughout the second half of pregnancy disrupts development of the mammary apparatus and, hence, lactational performance in rats.

There were two related objectives to this study. The first was to determine the influence of relaxin on development of the mammary apparatus (nipples and glands) during the second half of pregnancy. The second was to determine whether the relaxin-dependent development of the mammary apparatus was required for normal postpartum lactational performance. Both objectives were accomplished by neutralizing endogenous relaxin throughout the second half of pregnancy with a monoclonal antibody specific for rat relaxin (MCAl). MCAl was administered iv to rats daily from days 12–22 of pregnancy. On day 22 the morphology of the mammary apparatus of MCAl-treated rats differed from that of controls; nipples were dramatically smaller, collagen fibers had significantly greater mean density and consistency, and elastin fibers had greater mean density, length, and interdigitation. In addition, the mean number of alveoli surrounding lactiferous ducts was significantly smaller in MCAl-treated rats than in controls. There wer...
Range performance modeling for staring focal plane array infrared detectors

The generally accepted models for imaging and range performance modeling of thermal imagers have not been able to properly model under-sampled systems, i.e. staring focal plane arrays (FPAs). The ruling STANAGs 4349 and 4350 on measurement and modeling of Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference (MRTD), by definition only deal with properly sampled systems and thus cannot address performance beyond the Nyquist frequency. This includes the FLIR92 model which is based on the models defined in STANAG 4350. Range performance modeling, defined through STANAG 4347, is based on MRTD and thus likewise limits performance to below Nyquist frequencies. Practical experience has long shown that this limitation is not valid and development of new modeling techniques to address these problems has been performed e.g. in Germany, the TRM3 model, and in the US, with the NVTherm model. TRM3 addresses the under-sampled systems by introducing a concept of Minimum Temperature Difference Perceived (MTDP) which replaces MRTD for frequencies beyond Nyquist. NVTherm instead introduces a modified MRTD function through the concept of MTF squeeze. Typically, range performance predictions from NVTherm will increase ranges by some 15% over Nyquist resolution based predictions, and TRM3 based predictions exceed Nyquist ranges by up to 30%. A study is done to compare modeling results from these two models with laboratory measurements (MRTD) on QWIP long wave staring FPA based thermal imagers and finally relate these to empirical data from range performance field trials against actual targets.
School Quality, Residential Choice, and the U.S. Housing Bubble

Using data from the American Housing Survey (years 2001–2009), we find that purchase prices for homes selected primarily to access self-identified “good schools” rose (relative to homes selected for other reasons) during the key U.S. housing bubble period, compared with the periods before and after the bubble. We observe a similar pattern in homebuyers' mortgage-to-income ratios. Various regression specifications and propensity score matching techniques show that these trends persist conditional on a range of household, demographic, and economic controls. Our results suggest that the strong, bubble-era pursuit of good schools may have played a role in the housing bubble's expansion.
A Stochastic Analysis of Hard Disk Drives

We provide a stochastic analysis of hard disk performance, including a closed form solution for the average access time of a memory request. The model we use covers a wide range of types and applications of disks, and in particular it captures modern innovations like zone bit recording. The derivation is based on an analytical technique we call “shuffling”, which greatly simplifies the analysis relative to previous work and provides a simple, easy-to-use formula for the average access time. Our analysis can predict performance of single disks for a wide range of disk types and workloads. Furthermore, it can predict the performance benefits of several optimizations, including short stroking and mirroring, which are common in disk arrays.
Observation of beating between blue and green light

Abstract We have observed beating between the blue (488 nm) and the green (514.5 nm) lines of an argon ion laser by use of a fourth order interference technique. The method involves the use of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with photoelectric coincidence detection. The observed (approximately) 30 fs period of the beat note is far shorter than the time resolution of the detectors.
Evidence that stakes don’t matter for evidence

Some philosophers have recently defended anti-intellectualism with respect to knowledge and evidence. In this paper, I assess anti-intellectualism about evidence, which claims a relation between one's evidence and the practical benefits or costs of being right or wrong about the propositions supported by that evidence. Proponents of anti-intellectualism generally regard their view as not at all obvious, but nonetheless strongly supported by appeal to our intuitive judgments about whether particular epistemic properties are instantiated in hypothetical cases. Anti-Intellectualism is thus taken by its proponents to be a surprising truth. I show that, though peoples’ explicit judgments about the general issue of whether or not non-epistemic factors make an epistemic difference are often in line with anti-intellectualism, their judgments about whether particular epistemic properties are instantiated in hypothetical cases do not display a pattern that would clearly support anti-intellectualism about evidence. ...
Small-scale vertical flammability testing for fabrics

Abstract Many small-scale vertical flammability tests have been designed to assess ‘self-extinguishment’ of fabrics after exposure to a small flame, where self-extinguishment refers to the cessation of flaming or glowing of the specimen upon removal of the ignition source. The specimens are held vertically in a U-shaped metal frame and ignited at the bottom. The criteria chosen for these tests are char length, afterflame, afterglow, and melt drip. These tests were first promulgated in the 1930s for use on flame-retardant cellulosics and wools. The applicability of the test to char-forming as well as thermoplastic fabrics will be discussed.
Legal Conventionalism in the U.S. Constitutional Law of Privacy

Drawing on themes important in moral and political philosophy, much of the scholarship on the constitutional law of privacy in the United States distinguishes between privacy understood as a person's control over information and privacy understood as a person's ability to make autonomous decisions. For example, Katz v. United States (1967) established the framework for analyzing whether police activity constituted a “search” subject to the Fourth Amendment's requirement that the police either obtain a warrant before conducting a search or otherwise act reasonably. The defendant was a professional gambler who knew enough about police techniques to use a public telephone to make his business calls. Police agents attached a listening device to the outside of the phone booth, and sought to use the recordings against the defendant. The Supreme Court agreed with the defendant that the Fourth Amendment had been violated. Justice John Marshall Harlan's influential concurring opinion asserted that a person's privacy, in the sense of control over information, depended on two factors: “that a person have exhibited an actual (subjective) expectation of privacy and, second, that the expectation be one that society is prepared to recognize as ‘reasonable.’” Fourth Amendment cases like Katz involve informational control; they define the circumstances under which the government may acquire information from or about a person without first obtaining the person's agreement. In contrast, cases like Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which barred the state from making it a criminal offense to use contraceptives, and Roe v. Wade (1973), which restricted the state's power to prohibit or regulate abortions, used the language of privacy rights to protect a much broader interest in autonomous decision-making. Seeing these cases and related ones through lenseees provided by moral and political philosophy, scholars have attempted to describe what a morally sound constitutional law of privacy would be, and the broadest sense, dworkinian. That is, they seek to provide an account of privacy with two characteristics: it is broadly consistent with the relevant constitutional decisions, and it is the most morally attractive account possible that satisfies the requirement of consistency with the decisions.
Rectal diazepam in pediatric status epilepticus

Status epilepticus is a neurologic emergency with an 8% to 12% mortality. Rapid ablation of seizure activity is imperative. Although intravenous administration of diazepam is the preferred immediate treatment, vascular access is often difficult to achieve. Rectal administration of diazepam is easily accomplished during status epilepticus. Five cases in which diazepam administered in the rectal lumen stopped seizure activity are reported. Rectal diazepam appears to be safe and efficacious. It should be considered as an alternate to intravenous therapy when immediate vascular access is delayed. Rectal diazepam may have great benefit in the prehospital setting.
A novel C-terminal HSP90 inhibitor KU135 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in melanoma cells

Abstract Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is differentially expressed in tumor cells including melanoma and involved in proper folding, stabilization and regulation of cellular proteins. We investigated a novobiocin-derived Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitor, KU135, for anti-proliferative effects in melanoma cells. The results indicate that KU135 reduced cell viability and cell proliferation in melanoma cells and IC50 values for A735(DRO), M14(NPA), B16F10 and SKMEL28 cells were 0.82, 0.92, 1.33 and 1.30 μM respectively. KU135 induced a more potent anti-proliferative effect in most melanoma cells versus N-terminal Hsp90 inhibitor 17AAG. KU135 induced apoptosis in melanoma cells, as indicated by annexin V/PI staining, reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial cytochrome C release and caspase 3 activation. KU135 reduced levels of Hsp90 client proteins Akt, BRAF, RAF-1, cyclin B and cdc25. Additionally, levels of Hsp90 and Hsp70 did not increase, while the levels of phosphorylated HSF1 levels decreased. KU135 induced strong G2/M cell cycle arrest, associated with decreased expression of cdc25c, cyclin B and increased phosphorylation of cdc25c. These finding show that KU135 reduced cell survival, proliferation, and induces apoptosis in melanoma cells. We suggest that KU135 may be a potential candidate for cancer therapy against melanoma.
Effects of applying Safe2O poultry wash to broiler wings on shelf life, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonads, Staphylococcus species, and psychrotrophic bacteria levels after three, seven, and ten days of storage.

Bacterial contamination of raw processed poultry continues to be of concern to consumers as well as regulatory and health officials. For many years wings were considered a low-value product; therefore, shelf life of wingswas not a major concern. Due to changes in consumer attitudes and increases in the fast-food market, wings are now a valuable commodity. Because wings have a shorter shelf life than most other raw poultry products, acceptable intervention to decrease the population of associated spoilage organisms and human enteropathogens are needed. Safe 2 O Poultry Wash was evaluated as a postchill treatment to reduce microbial contamination and increase shelf life. Ninety-six carcasses were obtained from a local processor prior to final wash. On arrival at the research facility all carcasses were inoculated with 1 mL of a culture with 10 3 cfu/mL Listeria monocytogenes. After a 30-min attachment time, carcasses were subjected to a 4-s in-out final wash, hung for 3 min, and chilled in ice-water for 45 min. After the chilling, wings were removed by hand with a knife, pooled together, and subjected to a hand spray (4 mL/wing) with deionized water or Safe 2 O Poultry Wash. Two wings were then placed in each of 96 ziplock type storage bags, and wings were held at 5 ′ 1°C for 3, 7, 10, and 14 d. On the day of sample, weep was decanted, and 100 mL of Butterfield's phosphate buffer was added to each bag. Three sets of wings were shaken by hand for 1 min, and total aerobes, Pseudomonads, Staphylococcus sp., psychrotrophic bacteria, and L. monocytogenes in the rinsates were enumerated. By using 7 log 1 0 recovery of total aerobes from rinsates as a spoilage baseline, all wings were spoiled by d 10, but the wings treated with water were approaching spoilage counts on d 7, (log 1 0 6.8), whereas only log 1 0 5.5 bacteria were recovered from the wings sprayed with Safe 2 O Poultry Wash. Fewer Pseudomonads, Staphylcoccus sp., L. monocytogenes, and psychrotrophic bacteria were recovered from wings treated with Safe 2 O Poultry Wash and stored for 10 d. Log 1 0 counts for the organisms were Pseudomonas sp., 8.2 and 6.9; Staphylcoccus sp., 5.5 and 4.9; L. monocytogenes, 5.2 and 4.6; and psychrotrophs, 8.2 and 6.9 for the water and Safe 2 O Poultry Wash treatments, respectively. Use of the Safe 2 O Poultry Wash as a postchill treatment on wings could increase the shelf life of wings by up to 3 d.
A free electron laser experiment on "angular steering"

A paper by Jerby (1990) has discussed a number of mechanisms whereby FEL radiation may be directed electronically into different radiation patterns. We have devised an experiment (1992) to test this concept using the Columbia microwave FEL, which amplifies radiation at 24 GHz to a level >
Tracheostomy After Major Vascular Surgery

Objectives: Major vascular surgery such as aortic aneurysm repair may be associated with prolonged in-patient hospitalization. Certain patients undergo a tracheostomy to aid in weaning from mechanical ventilation or for secretion management. The authors hypothesized that tracheostomy after aortic reconstruction for aneurysmal disease was associated with poor outcomes. Design: A retrospective, observational study. Setting: Vascular surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary referral hospital. Participants: Eighty-one patients who underwent a tracheostomy after open thoracoabdominal or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair between 1993 and 2002. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Of 1,940 patients who underwent aneurysm repair, 81 (4.2%) had a tracheostomy during their index hospitalization. Of those patients, 40.7% did not survive to hospital discharge. Postoperative sepsis was associated with an increased mortality (relative risk 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-4.90). Many developed postoperative renal failure and were more likely to die in the hospital (relative risk 1.53, 95% CI 1.00-2.33). The preoperative diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was not associated with increased mortality (relative risk 0.471, 95% CI 0.23-0.96). Thirty-two (39.5%) patients were transferred from the ICU to a chronic ventilator dependency unit (CVDU). Conclusions: Tracheostomy in patients after aortic reconstruction for aneurysmal disease is associated with a high incidence of in-hospital mortality. Patients who survive to ICU discharge are likely to be transferred to a CVDU for further respiratory management. The preoperative diagnosis of COPD is associated with improved survival, whereas postoperative sepsis is associated with an increased mortality. These observations should be considered when counseling patients and their families regarding tracheostomy after aortic surgery.
Globalization of the world economy: potential benefits and costs and a net assessment

Globalisation is a powerfully real aspect of the new world system, and it represents one of the most inﬂuential forces in determining the future course of the planet. It has many dimensions: economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, security and others. The focus here will be on the concept of globalisation as applied to the world economy. Of course, this concept is interpreted differently by different people. Partly as a result of these different interpretations, there are very different reactions to globalisation, some see it as a danger to the world economic system while others see it as a means of advancing the world economy.
Establishment of early instar Heliothis zea on soybeans

Early instar Heliothis zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) established on all stages of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) tested when larvae were confined to plants, although establishment decreased after podset stage and as seeds matured. In tests where larvae were allowed to disperse freely on plants, establishment also decreased as maturity increased, but was much lower in each stage than when confined to plants. Neonate larvae settled more quickly on terminals and expanding trifoliates than on mature trifoliates based on initiation of feeding and movement away from initial sites of placement. The ability of neonate larvae placed a short distance from soybean plants to reach a host was affected by high soil and ambient temperature. The results of these experiments suggest that larval host establishment and spin-down behavior play a major role in the late instar population distribution among soybean fields and that maturity of the host strongly influences that behavior.
The enkephalin response in human tooth pulp to orthodontic force.

Abstract Public perception is that dentistry and pain go hand in hand; thus, pain and pain control are important considerations to the profession. Recent studies have attempted to discover the precise metabolic events involved in neural transmission of nociceptive information. One focus has been the study of peptidergic pathways, which purportedly inhibit the firing of pain-conducting fibers. The research described in this article defined the existence of one enkephalin, methionine enkephalin (ME), in an extract of human tooth pulp tissue and the effect of orthodontic force on that ME concentration. One set of patients who had premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes served as controls. Another set, also diagnosed for premolar extractions, had a coil spring attached between the left and right maxillary premolars to supply an orthodontic force for a period of time prior to extraction. High-performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay, radioreceptor assay, and mass spectrometry were used in a series of experiments to isolate, identify, and quantify ME in the pulp tissues. Principal results were as follows: (1) for the first time ME was detected in human tooth pulp, (2) orthodontic force caused a significant decrease in ME concentrations in the group of experimental teeth compared with controls, and (3) ME levels of the first spring-attached tooth that was removed from each patient had a statistically significant inverse log-linear relationship to the amount of applied force. These data indicate that orthodontic force mobilizes at least one neuropeptidergic pathway in the human tooth pulp.
High-resolution analysis of c-fos chromatin accessibility using a novel DNase I-PCR assay

In our previous study, c-fos chromatin accessibility was assayed using DNase I digestion and Southern blot analysis. This low-resolution mapping of c-fos chromatin accessibility demonstrated that serum stimulation of the c-fos enhancer induces a reversible increase in c-fos DNase I sensitivity and suggested that a 5' to 3' gradient of DNase I sensitivity may form downstream from the c-fos enhancer. To confirm the existence of a 5' to 3' gradient of accessibility, we have recently developed a high-resolution polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for DNase I sensitivity. Using this novel DNase I assay, we have reliably detected position- and time-dependent gradients of chromatin accessibility around the c-fos enhancer. These data confirm our earlier results and further support the hypothesis that the changes in c-fos chromatin accessibility originate near the 5' enhancer. As a technique for future examinations of gene structure, our data demonstrate the value of the DNase I-PCR assay for rapidly preparing comprehensive and high-resolution maps of chromatin accessibility for any sequenced genomic region.
Employment and educational outcomes in early intervention programmes for early psychosis: a systematic review

Aims. Young adults with early psychosis want to pursue normal roles – education and employment. This paper summarises the empirical literature on the effectiveness of early intervention programmes for employment and education outcomes. Methods. We conducted a systematic review of employment/education outcomes for early intervention programmes, distinguishing three programme types: (1) those providing supported employment, (2) those providing unspecified vocational services and (3) those without vocational services. We summarised findings for 28 studies. Results. Eleven studies evaluated early intervention programmes providing supported employment. In eight studies that reported employment outcomes separately from education outcomes, the employment rate during follow-up for supported employment patients was 49%, compared with 29% for patients receiving usual services. The two groups did not differ on enrolment in education. In four controlled studies, meta-analysis showed that the employment rate for supported employment participants was significantly higher than for control participants, odds ratio = 3.66 [1.93–6.93], p < 0.0001. Five studies (four descriptive and one quasi-experimental) of early intervention programmes evaluating unspecified vocational services were inconclusive. Twelve studies of early intervention programmes without vocational services were methodologically heterogeneous, using diverse methods for evaluating vocational/educational outcomes and precluding a satisfactory meta-analytic synthesis. Among studies with comparison groups, 7 of 11 (64%) reported significant vocational/education outcomes favouring early intervention over usual services. Conclusions. In early intervention programmes, supported employment moderately increases employment rates but not rates of enrolment in education. These improvements are in addition to the modest effects early programmes alone have on vocational/educational outcomes compared with usual services.
Exact results for ionization of a model atom

Summary form only given.We investigate some fundamental aspects of the process underlying electron production via atomic ionization by external fields. Using a combination of exact analytic and controlled numerical methods we obtain in Costin et al., (2000) rigorous qualitative and quantitative results for a model atom having one bound state with energy hbar/spl omega//sub 0/. In particular we prove that this system will be fully ionized by a time periodic field r/spl eta/(t) of arbitrary frequency /spl omega/ and arbitrary strength r for almost all shapes of /spl eta/(t). (There are however exceptional /spl eta/(t) for which full ionization fails). In the case of a harmonic /spl eta/(t)=sin(/spl omega/t) the survival probability of the bound state for small r is given by e/sup -1/, for times of order /spl Gamma//sup -1,/ with /spl Gamma//spl sim/r/sup 2n/, where n is the minimum number of "photons" required for ionization (with large modification at resonances). For late times the survival probability is oscillatory with an envelope that decays like t/sup -3/. The onset of the power law, replacing the exponential regime, occurs earlier when r is large. This can lead to a decrease in ionization rates when the strength of the ionizing field is increased and corresponds to what is called stabilization, a phenomenon which has been observed experimentally. These and other comparisons with analytical works and experiments indicate that the main features of the, ionization behavior we obtain are in fact quite universal. These include the large dynamic Stark shifts for strong fields and above ionization threshold peaks, with period hbar/spl omega/, in the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons.