cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful production of sterile pyrogen-free electrolyte solution by ultrafiltration

Sterile pyrogen-free solutions in large quantity are required for medical procedures such as peritoneal dialysis (50 to 100 liters/treatment given i.p.) and hemofiltration, a new potentially useful process of convective blood cleansing (40 to 70 liters/treatment given i.v.). These solutions contribute significantly to the overall cost of these procedures. In an effort to reduce this cost, the following method of solution production was developed and tested.
ELECTRONIC RADIAL ULTRASOUND ENDOSCOPE

Examination with a radial echoendoscope is an important part of endoscopic ultrasonography. Mechanical radial systems have been used since the initiation of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) but a new generation of electronic array radial echoendoscopes offers some potential advantages. The lack of moving parts should improve the reliability and durability of the echoendoscope and with the electronic array, Doppler functions are possible. To date, however, no studies have conuincingly shown that the images are of superior quality or that diagnosis is improved with the electronic array systems versus the mechanical sector scanning echoendoscopes.
Nonunilinear Descent and Descent Groups1

FOR many years, interest in social structure has been directed towards unilinear systems, while bilateral structures have been allowed to remain an unstudied residual category for everything that is not unilinear. Some writers (e.g. Fortes 1953:33) have stressed the universality of certain bilateral features, while others (e.g. Radcliffe Brown 1935:302) have considered the absence of a unilinear principle of some kind to be unusual or rare. Even the most cursory glance at the now voluminous literature on societies with bilateral structures reveals the great variation among them and suggests the need, not only for a better understanding of what these variations are, but also of what structural principles are being varied. Murdock (1949:56-58), Pehrson (1954), and Spoehr (1950:3) have stressed the need for studies of bilateral social structure, and in his study of the Konkama Lapps, Pehrson (1957) set forth and defined the concept of "bilateralism." Also aware of the inadequacies in the current bilateral concept, Freeman (1955:7) has offered the term "utrolateral filiation" to describe some features of Iban social structure. Others have run into special problems in describing and classifying societies where the ordinary bilateral-unilinear distinctions are either inappropriate or inadequate. Most notable of these have been Boas (1920) with the Kwakiutl, Firth (1929:98) with the Maori, Gifford (1929:2933) with the Tongans, Mcllwraith (1948 1:117-162) with the Bella Coola, Gluckman (1951:71-76) with the Lozi, and Goodenough (1955:73-75) with the Gilbertese. The plan of this paper is first to survey a number of selected examples of what Goodenough (1955: 72) has called nonunilinear descent groups, and then to compare these with the well-known unilinear types and with variations in the so-called kindred type of structure. In comparing these systems, however, one does not get far before it also becomes clear that a new look at the concept of descent itself, as well as the related concepts of inheritance and succession, might be rewarding. The purpose of this paper is not just to set up a series of types or to study bilaterality as a special type, but to offer at least tentatively three structural features which seem to operate in all systems, and which in their various combinations produce the rich variety of kin groupings we find described. Let us look briefly at the concept of descent. This has been variously defined, depending upon the interests of the investigator and the unit of analysis with which he starts. The most common American usage seems to begin with the existence of a kin group; descent is then defined as the manner in which persons affiliate with this group by birth (see Murdock 1949:15). A similar
Detecting salient regions in static images

Computational visual attention systems, which aim at detecting salient regions in images, have been the subject of research for more than two decades. In this paper, we propose a novel approach (SEC) to detect salient regions in static images. This method is composed of two modules: segmentation-based entropy computation to determine the information content of clusters and local color contrast computation to enhance the saliency. DBSCAN is used first to segment the image. Then, the entropies of the resulting segments are computed. Spatial information of each segment size and cohesion is employed to adjust the entropy in terms of distinctiveness. Color contrast between adjacent segments is then computed and combined with spatial information to determine the most salient regions within the input image. We conducted two types of experiments, and compared visually and quantitatively with existing methods.
Holding Their Own: The Noncanonical Roles of Smad Proteins

The identification of Smads as protein transcription factors in 1995 led to elucidation of the canonical transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. In the years that have followed, nuances of the pathway have been realized, and the once-simple scheme of ligand to receptor to activated transcription factor is now understood to be highly regulated at each step and riddled with crosstalk from other pathways. The Smads are also recognized as important players outside of canonical TGF-β–dependent signaling and are responsible for regulating diverse cellular processes. New evidence suggests that Smad7 plays an integral role in maintaining cell-cell adhesion through direct regulation of β-catenin. Receptor-activated Smads regulate the processing of a subset of microRNAs, particularly miR-21 . The number of reports demonstrating the interactions of Smads with proteins outside of canonical TGF-β signaling is increasing, although the functional relevance of these interactions is not known. Investigating these interactions will likely yield more evidence that Smads serve important and diverse purposes beyond their original reported function as signal transducers in the TGF-β pathway.
Consonant mutation and reduplication in Seereer-Siin*

Among the many types of non-concatentative morphemes are auto- segments or floating features which, in order to be realised phonologically, must attach to a root node in the stem. Akinlabi (1996) terms this process FEATURAL AFFIXATION . Featural affixes are of particular interest for models of reduplication, which make varying predictions as to whether or not they will be copied. In segmental models such as that of Marantz (1982), where nothing other than the underlying segmental base of the melody is copied, we would not expect the featural affix to be ‘transferred’ (Clements 1985a, Myers & Carleton 1996) between base and reduplicant.In models where the entire base is copied, such as that of Steriade (1988), featural transfer depends on the particular conception of the grammar. Within serial models of the grammar featural transfer depends crucially on the ordering of word-formation rules and phonological rules, while in a non-serial model like Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993) featural transfer depends on the rank ordering of relevant constraints. The goal of this paper is to contribute to an understanding of featural affixation and featural transfer by presenting a constraint-based account of consonant mutation in Seereer-Siin, an Atlantic (Niger-Congo) language related to Fula, and by focusing specifically on the interaction of consonant mutation and reduplication. In the analysis presented here I consider mutation to be the result of featural affixation to the root node of a stem-initial consonant.
Analysis of a Two-Hop Centralized Packet Radio Network--Part I: Slotted ALOHA

The design of packet radio systems involves a large number of design variables that interact in a very complex fashion. As this design problem in its general form is quite complex, a viable approach is to analyze some simple but typical configurations in an attempt to understand the behavior of these systems. In this paper, a two-hop centralized configuration is considered in which traffic originates at terminals, is destined to a central station, and requires for its transport the relaying of packets by store-and-forward repeaters. The through-put-delay performance is derived, and its dependence on such key system variables as the network topology, the transmission protocol, and the repeaters' storage capacities, is given. In this part, devices are assumed to be utilizing the slotted ALOHA access mode. Carrier sense multiple access is treated in Part II of this series [1].
Monte Carlo simulation of the hall effect in degenerate GaAs

Abstract This paper describes a simulation of the Hall effect in GaAs using a single particle Monte Carlo method. The Pauli exclusion principle and Fermi-Dirac statistics are included in the simulation so that the calculations are extended to the case of transport in degenerate materials with electron concentrations up to 1019 cm−3. Hall mobility and drift mobility for electrons in the low-field ohmic transport regime are calculated from the Monte Carlo results and compared with available typical experimental data. These results demonstrate the importance of including electron-electron interactions in Monte Carlo simulations for GaAs with carrier concentrations above 1017 cm−3. They also suggest the need for an evaluation of current models for ionized impurity scattering applied to degenerate materials and an examination of the role of energy band structure details in Monte Carlos simulations in degenerate materials.
Forecasting tourism revisited

Abstract This article examines the accuracy and efficiency of forecasting techniques by applying time series regression to forecasting visitor arrivals. Past studies have shown that simpler time series techniques perform as well or better than complex forecasting models. An assessment of visitor forecasts developed at regional, destination and individual market levels suggests that time series regression performs well in producing annual forecasts of visitors which can also serve as a baseline for evaluating the net returns from applying more complex techniques. Tourism managers should appreciate the usefulness of simpler formal methods in developing forecasts of visitors.
Consensus from Controversy: Cambridge's Biosafety Ordinance and the Anchoring of the Biotech Industry

ABSTRACT This paper provides an interpretative history of the early genesis of biotechnology in Cambridge and attempts to reconcile how the 1976 adoption of the most restrictive biosafety ordinance in the US created an unexpected business friendly environment that subsequently anchored the industry. The regulation was motivated by community concerns about the environmental effects of recombinant DNA and ignited a lively debate, characterized by an open process with activities to inform and involve citizens in decision-making.
The effect of Atlantic sea surface temperature dipole mode on hurricanes: Implications for the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season

[1] Results from this study indicate that the dipole mode of tropical Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies is correlated with the overall activity of hurricanes as well as with the annual hurricane landfall frequency along the southeast coast of the United States. The tropical Atlantic SST dipole mode could affect hurricanes in at least three ways: 1) modulating the weather in West Saharan Africa; 2) influencing the local SST and hence the atmosphere-ocean environment in the hurricane main development region; 3) coupling with the tropical and subtropical atmospheric circulation that controls the steering of hurricanes. The warm tropical North Atlantic and cool tropical South Atlantic waters are likely one of the main causes for Florida's hurricane havoc in 2004.
Low skew multimode ribbon fibres for parallel optical communication

Interchannel skew in graded index multimode fibre-optic ribbon can be reduced by forming each channel from fibre sequentially cut from the same pull. A 1.25 ps/m maximum variation in optical pulse delay has been measured across a 102 m long 12 fibre ribbon. These improvements extend the applications of multimode ribbon fibre to include low cost synchronous parallel transmission at 622 Mbyte/s over distances greater than 1 km.
Assessing the appropriateness of coronary revascularization: the University of Maryland Revascularization Appropriateness Score (RAS) and its comparison to RAND expert panel ratings and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines with regard to assigned appropriateness rating and ability to predict outcome.

Background:Significant regional variation in procedural frequencies has led to the development of the RAND and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines; however, they may be difficult to apply in clinical practice. The University of Maryland Revascularization Appropriateness Score (RAS) was created to address the need for a simplified point scoring system. Hypothesis:The study was undertaken to compare revascularization appropriateness ratings yielded by the RAND Expert Panel Ratings, ACC/AHA guidelines, and the University of Maryland RAS. Methods:We applied these three revascularization appropriateness scoring systems to 153 catheterization laboratory patients with a variety of cardiac diagnoses and treatments. For each patient, appropriateness scores assigned by each of the three systems were compared with each other and with the actual treatment delivered. Concordance of care with appropriateness score was then correlated with outcome. Results:There were significant differences among all three scoring systems in their ratings and in the concordance of treatment with appropriateness rating. When treatment provided was concordant with RAND rating, there was a lower occurrence of subsequent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the composite end point of either CABG or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and the composite end point of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or revascularization. When treatment was concordant with the ACC/AHA guidelines, there was lower occurrence of all-cause mortality, PTCA, the composite end point of either CABG or PTCA, and the composite end point of death, MI, or revascularization. When treatment provided was concordant with the RAS, there was lower occurrence of cardiac death, all-cause death, CABG, the composite end point of either CABG or PTCA, and the composite end point of death, MI, or revascularization. Conclusions:The RAS is a simple scoring system to assess revascularization appropriateness. When the RAND, ACC/AHA, and RAS systems are compared in a catheterization laboratory population, they rate the same patient differently and vary in their correlation of appropriateness rating with outcome.
Eye movement desensitization of public-speaking anxiety : a partial dismantling

Forty college students suffering from public speaking anxiety and having experienced a specific traumatic speech-related event were exposed to either a standard EMD protocol with eye movements; a moving audio stimulus in place of the eye movements; a protocol with eyes resting on the hands in place of the eye movement, or a no-treatment control condition. The results revealed that EMD is comparable in limited effectiveness to the other procedures and that the eye movements are not a crucial component of the treatment with this population.
Science communications: publishing a scientific paper.

Publications are the lifeblood of academic science. They are essential to the scientific community as records of research completed, building blocks for new research, and templates for new ways of thinking. Publications are also essential for individual job security. Frequently they are considered a gauge of productivity that is taken under heavy consideration for hiring, promotion, and funding decisions. Consequently, completed research is of little value unless preserved in publication. Yet publishing can be a challenging prospect, particularly in the face of abundant competition. Here, five panelists, John Fallon, Ph.D., Min Han, Ph.D., Janet Rossant, Ph.D., Cliff Tabin, Ph.D., and Yoshiko Takahashi, Ph.D., offer their advice on manuscript preparation and negotiating the publishing process. Developmental Dynamics 239:723–726, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Docking, Not Fusion, as the Rate-Limiting Step in a SNARE-Driven Vesicle Fusion Assay

In vitro vesicle fusion assays that monitor lipid mixing between t-SNARE and v-SNARE vesicles in bulk solution exhibit remarkably slow fusion on the nonphysiological timescale of tens of minutes to several hours. Here, single-vesicle, fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assays cleanly separate docking and fusion steps for individual vesicle pairs containing full-length SNAREs. Docking is extremely inefficient and is the rate-limiting step. Of importance, the docking and fusion kinetics are comparable in the two assays (one with v-SNARE vesicles tethered to a surface and the other with v-SNARE vesicles free in solution). Addition of the VC peptide synaptobrevin-2 (syb(57–92)) increases the docking efficiency by a factor of ∼30, but docking remains rate-limiting. In the presence of VC peptide, the fusion step occurs on a timescale of ∼10 s. In previous experiments involving bulk fusion assays in which the addition of synaptotagmin/Ca2+, Munc-18, or complexin accelerated the observed lipid-mixing rate, the enhancement may have arisen from the docking step rather than the fusion step.
Improving optical measurement uncertainty with combined multitool metrology using a Bayesian approach

Recently, there has been significant research investigating new optical technologies for dimensional metrology of features 22 nm in critical dimension and smaller. When modeling optical measurements, a library of curves is assembled through the simulation of a multidimensional parameter space. A nonlinear regression routine described in this paper is then used to identify an optimum set of parameters that yields the closest experiment-to-theory agreement. However, parametric correlation, measurement noise, and model inaccuracy all lead to measurement uncertainty in the fitting process for optical critical dimension measurements. To improve the optical measurements, other techniques such as atomic force microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy can also be used to provide supplemental a priori information. In this paper, a Bayesian statistical approach is proposed to allow the combination of different measurement techniques that are based on different physical measurements. The effect of this hybrid metrology approach will be shown to reduce the uncertainties of the parameter estimators.
Routing without flow control

We present the first dynamic hot-potato routing algorithm that does not require any form of explicit flow control: a node may inject a message into the network (n × n mesh) whenever a link is free. In the worst case, a node may have to wait an expected O(n) time before it has a free link. If destinations are chosen uniformly at random, this algorithm guarantees delivery in an expected O(n) time steps. Both measures are optimal up to a constant factor.
Magnetically controlled sensor swarms

Abstract Suspensions of fluorescent chemical sensors containing magnetic components were assembled into groups or “swarms” of sensors using magnetic tweezers. The tweezers control the size and position of the swarm magnetically, without direct mechanical contact. In addition, the tweezers can reversibly assemble the particles within a swarm into chains and control the orientations of these chains. These sensing swarms represent a novel sensor architecture that lies between that of a mechanically rigid fiber sensor and that of an unguided suspension of sensor nanoparticles. The larger number of particles within a swarm makes the swarm brighter, impart more force and enable a higher terminal velocity than possible for individual particles or dilute suspensions. Magnetic pH sensitive particles were produced by precipitating iron oxide inside hollow organically modified silica particles, and subsequently swelling the shell with a hydrophobic pH sensitive dye. Swarms of these pH sensors were magnetically guided through a pH gradient in a capillary while measuring their fluorescence spectral emission. This new class of tools shows promise for chemical sensing while providing a means to simultaneously modulate fluorescence intensity, apply mechanical forces, produce singlet oxygen and measure chemical and physical properties of fluids and surfaces.
Predicted ATP-binding cassette systems in the phytopathogenic mollicute Spiroplasma kunkelii

Spiroplasma kunkelii is a cell wall-free, helical, and motile mycoplasma-like organism that causes corn stunt disease in maize. The bacterium has a compact genome with a gene set approaching the minimal complement necessary for cellular life and pathogenesis. A set of 21 ATP-binding cassette (ABC) domains was identified during the annotation of a draft S. kunkelii genome sequence. These 21 ABC domains are present in 18 predicted proteins, and are components of 16 functional systems, which account for 5% of the protein coding capacity of the S. kunkelii genome. Of the 16 systems, 11 are membrane-bound transporters, and two are cytosolic systems involved in DNA repair and the oxidative stress response; the genes for the remaining three hypothetical systems harbor nonsense and/or frameshift mutations, so their functional status is doubtful. Assembly of the 11 multicomponent transporters, and comparisons with other known systems permitted functional predictions for the S. kunkelii ABC transporter systems. These transporters convey a wide variety of substrates, and are critical for nutrient uptake, multidrug resistance, and perhaps virulence. Our findings provide a framework for functional characterization of the ABC systems in S. kunkelii.
In vivo inhibition of adenosine deaminase by 2'-deoxycoformycin in mouse blood and leukemia L1210 cells

Abstract Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in mouse whole blood, washed erythrocytes and L1210 cells were 0.48, 0.93 and 4.76 units/ml respectively. Methods were developed to determine the second-order association rate constant ( k 1 ) of a tight-binding ADA inhibitor, deoxycoformycin (DCF), and ADA in mouse blood and L1210 cells in vivo . After i.v. injection of DCF, the inhibition of the enzyme was of a monophasic pseudo-first-order nature in blood and biphasic (with an initial lag of 3–5 min) in L1210 cells. In contrast, i.p. injection of DCF produced the opposite pattern, monophasic in L1210 cells and biphasic in blood. The apparent k 1 values determined from the linear portions of these curves were compared with the k 1 values obtained in vitro . The mean k 1 values in vivo were: 4.2 × 10 4 and 1.4 × 10 4 M −1 sec −1 in blood after i.v. and i.p. injections, respectively, and 2.6 × 10 3 and 2.2 × 10 4 M −1 sec −1 in L1210 cells after i.v. and i.p. injections respectively. The k 1 values with either whole blood or L1210 in vitro (3.1 × 10 4 and 5.5 × 10 3 M −1 sec −1 , respectively) were of the same order of magnitude as those obtained with these tissues in vivo . In contrast, the k 1 values were about 150 to 1400-fold higher when either blood hemolysates (4.8 x 10 −6 M −1 sec −1 ) or homogenized L1210 cells (7.5 x 10 6 −1 sec −1 ) were used. The 150 to 1400-fold higher k 1 values for blood hemolysates and homogenized L1210 cells than for intact cell samples (whole blood or whole L1210 ascitic fluid) suggest that the cell membrane plays a role in the interaction of DCF and ADA in these cell lines. The similarity of the rates of association of DCF and ADA in vivo and in vitro for mouse blood and ascites L1210 cells suggests that data obtained in vitro may be used to estimate the k 1 values in in vivo conditions.
Brokerage Firm Analysts: How Good are the Forecasts?

This article reexamines the relationship between analysts’ forecast accuracy and brokerage firm affiliation. The lowest individual forecast is found to be more accurate than either the mean of all contemporaneous forecasts or the mean of all contemporaneous forecasts by large brokerage firms, and large brokerage firm analysts are more accurate only when their forecasts are lower than those of small brokerage firms. The lower the small brokerage firm forecasts relative to large brokerage firm forecasts, the more forecast accuracy can be improved by incorporating small brokerage firm forecasts. The conclusion is that an analyst9s expected forecast accuracy is more closely related to whether that analyst9s forecast is lower or higher than other analysts’ forecasts than to the analyst9s brokerage firm affiliation.
Food deprivation dissociates pancreatic glucagon's effects on satiety and hepatic glucose production at dark onset

Abstract We compared the effects of different durations of pretest food deprivation on pancreatic glucagon's (PG) satiating and glycogenolytic actions in order to test the hypothesis that stimulation of hepatic glucose production causes PG's satiety effect. Rats were maintained on a 12:12 LD cycle (lights off: 1015) and deprived of food 45 min or 8, 12, 18, or 24 hr before intraperitoneal injection of 400 μg/kg PG. Testing began at 1015, the beginning of the dark phase. Food intake was not inhibited after 45 min of pretest food deprivation (30 min change, 2.5±4.0 %, p ), but was inhibited after 8 or more hr food deprivation. The largest inhibitory effect, 16.2±3.8 %, p , occurred after 8 hr food deprivation. In separate experiments, rats were food deprived 45 min or 8 hr, similarly injected, and killed 10 min after refeeding for blood and liver samples. Hepatic glycogen content at meal onset was higher in rats deprived 45 min than in rats deprived 8 hr ( 3.2±0.3 vs. 1.7±0.3 % liver weight, p ), and PG injection produced a higher level of hepatic vein blood glucose in the less deprived rats ( 196±5 vs. 168±12 mg/dl, p ). Thus, in rats tested at the beginning of the dark phase of the LD cycle after 45 min or 8 hr food deprivation, there is an inverse relation between PG's potencies to inhibit food intake and to stimulate hepatic glucose production. We conclude that PG's glycogenolytic effect does not account for its effects on meals in 0–8 hr food deprived rats tested at the beginning of the dark phase of the circadian cycle.
Fleet Transport for Roadway Maintenance Equipment: Perspectives Nationally and from Texas

Policy, practice, and procedure are addressed relative to the transport of heavy-duty roadway construction and maintenance equipment by department of transportation maintenance personnel. Findings are from a 2-year study sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which focused on a review of TxDOT's existing and future off-road equipment and transport requirements and an assessment of the agency's current knowledge base and practices in transporting off-road equipment. Statewide focus is made in the context of nationwide perspectives on equipment transport. Procedures and practices vary between states, with certain challenges common to all. Relative to equipment, the need exists for newer, better trailers; more lowboy-type trailers; and better trucks. Equipment transport policy is minimal to nonexistent in many states, and transport practices and procedures are sometimes unworkable. Inadequate trailer preventive maintenance, less-than-effective purchasing practices, and poor-quality trai...
Variability of Dynamin and Clathrin Dynamics in Clathrin Mediated Endocytosis

Clathrin mediated endocytosis (CME) is a pathway which internalizes receptors from the cell surface. The scission of clathrin coated vesicles from the plasma membrane requires dynamin. However, there are multiple models of dynamin mechanism without a consensus on the exact nature of its role. Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy allows the visualization of fluorescently tagged proteins during individual endocytic events. TIRF provides better sensitivity than other techniques, however the analysis of this data remains challenging due to several factors including a low signal-to-noise ratio and an abundance of clathrin on the membrane. To overcome this problem, it is common to impose rules on the data and group intensity traces from individual clathrin spots, aligning them to a common event. We have examined the basis of these criteria, and in the experiments presented here we employed a very broad selection criteria. Using TIRF we imaged dynamin and clathrin in Cos7 cells, and characterized many individual vesicles. We observe a variety of dynamic behaviors at the cell membrane, including major differences in the time of loss of clathrin and dynamin fluorescence in individual traces. We found that grouping and aligning to a common event masked relevant differences and dynamics of the molecules with respect to each other. The time differences between clathrin and dynamin leaving the plasma membrane are not tightly correlated; these different behaviors could represent different sub-populations of membrane events, or heterogeneity within a single class of event. Our data indicates that another marker for endocytic events must be used. This will be especially important in the search for the mechanism of dynamin, to ensure that conclusions drawn from in vivo imaging studies pertain to a genuine biological action.
“A Triumph in Modern Philanthropy”: Age Criteria in Labor Management at the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1875–1930

Labor policies based on age have been variously explained as benevolent, maliciously anti-union, rational, or prejudicial. Nineteenth-century devices to stabilize the work force set the stage for the Pennsylvania Railroad's 1900 program of age limits, mandatory retirement, and pensions, but its immediate cause was the conviction that the seniority system already in place seriously reduced the efficiency of older workers. As the following article shows, this economic calculation remained appealing to some executives in the twentieth century, even as the actual costs of pensions became painfully apparent. For others, the old fear of workers' unrest reappeared as a justification for ignoring the impending crisis of the 1930s.
Reliability and validity of the modified preverbal, early verbal pediatric pain scale in emergency department pediatric patients.

Abstract Introduction Research has demonstrated that children are at particular risk for oligoanalgesia due to assessment difficulties when they are unable to self-report. We sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Modified Preverbal, Early Verbal Pediatric Pain Scale (M-PEPPS) when used in an emergency department pediatric population. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a prospective, observational study of pain in emergency patients to evaluate the M-PEPPS tool. Data from 118 pediatric patients was subjected to item analysis, reliability analysis, and common factor analysis. Results Item difficulties suggest that the items capture the range of pain states from mild to severe. Corrected item-total correlations indicate that the instrument discriminates between various levels of pain. Common factor analysis yielded a single, unrotated common factor solution providing evidence that the M-PEPPS measures the single construct of pain. Cronbach's alpha for the scale (0.954) suggests excellent reliability. Conclusions Findings indicate that the M-PEPPS instrument is reliable when used by emergency nurses to measure pediatric pain. The single-factor common factor solution provides support for the scale as measuring the single construct of pain. Additional research is necessary to establish the degree of change in score required for a clinically meaningful reduction in pain to be present.
Continuity in Adolescent Career Preparation and Its Effects on Adjustment.

Abstract Career preparation represents a major developmental task of adolescence, which has not received sufficient attention in empirical research on career development. Thus, this study was designed to examine the structure, continuity, and change in adolescent career preparation and its relationships with adjustment. The data were collected from a diverse sample of 389 adolescents on four occasions beginning in Grade 11 in high school and ending 6 months after high school graduation. Using Structural Equations modeling, a four-wave, developmental model of adolescent career preparation indicated by career decidedness, planning, and confidence was shown to fit the empirical data very well. Career preparation was characterized by continuity and a consistent pattern of positive concurrent and prospective associations with various indicators of adjustment. The results of the study provide empirical support for the theoretical propositions about the adaptive role of adolescent career preparation, particularly in terms of its contribution to psychological well-being and social integration.
Synthesis of 1-carboxy-N,N,N-tri-[methyl-14C] methanaminium chloride (betaine [methyl-14C]hydrochloride)

SUMMARY Methyl bromoacetate was reacted with trimethyla~nine-[~‘C] dissolved in methanol, forming the methyl ester of [I4C] labeled betaine hydrobromide. The methyl ester was hydrolyzed in an alkaline medium to (carboxymethy1)trimethylammonium hydroxide inner salt, and then transformed into the hydrochloride by treatment with an equivalent amount of hydrochloric acid, yielding high purity material with a specific activity of 19.2 pCi/mmol and overall yield of 81.7%.
Gender Differences in the Link Between Excessive Drinking and Domain-Specific Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated gender differences in the relationship between excessive drinking and two cognitive domains among older adults. METHOD: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, 3,888 females and 2,350 males were analyzed separately. Multivariate regression was used to analyze the association between excessive drinking and fluid intelligence score. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between excessive drinking and crystallized intelligence. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that compared to non-excessive drinking, excessive drinking did not have a significant impact on fluid intelligence for either women or men, but it had a significantly negative association with a high crystallized intelligence score for women. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that the relationship between excessive drinking and cognition varies with gender when crystallized intelligence is measured. Clinicians and service providers should consider gender differences when developing strategies for the prevention and treatment of alcohol-related cognitive decline among older adults. Language: en
Easy Methods for Three-Dimensional Data

[This abstract is based on the author's abstract.] It is rare to find simple, easy-to-use, nonlinear equations for rectangular surfaces and cubical spaces. These are needed by engineers for purposes like modeling the distribution of environmental po..
Differential spot-size focus servo

We describe performance of a differential spot-size (wax-wane) focus servo. Crosstalk from the tracks are analyzed in the single detector and differential focus circuits. Magnitude of the crosstalk is reduced by a factor of three in the differential circuit. A false focus-error signal (FES) is present when the spot crosses sector marks at an angle.
Characterization and classification of isozyme and morphological variation in a diverse collection of garlic clones

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has a long history of obligate vegetative propagation. In this study, isozyme and morphological characters were analyzed for 110 diverse clones of garlic and the proposed progenitor species, A. longicuspis. The clones displayed 17 different electrophoretic phenotypes, which were associated with morphological traits. An isozyme-based phenetic tree was contructed to explain the possible relationships of various garlic clones and A. longicuspis. The lack of unique isozyme and morphological characters of A. longicuspis suggests an artificial species separation.
Evidence supporting zinc as an important antioxidant for skin

Antioxidants play a critical role in keeping skin healthy. The antioxidant benefits of vitamin C and E are well known, but the importance of the trace mineral, zinc, has been overlooked. This article reviews the evidence supporting zinc's antioxidant role in protecting against free radical-induced oxidative damage. Zinc protects against UV radiation, enhances wound healing, contributes to immune and neuropsychiatric functions, and decreases the relative risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. All body tissues contain zinc; in skin, it is five to six times more concentrated in the epidermis than the dermis. Zinc is required for the normal growth, development and function of mammals. It is an essential element of more than 200 metalloenzymes, including the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase, and affects their conformity, stability, and activity. Zinc also is important for the proper functioning of the immune system, and for glandular, reproductive and cell health. Abundant evidence demonstrates the antioxidant role of zinc. Topical zinc, in the form of divalent zinc ions, has been reported to provide antioxidant photoprotection for skin. Two antioxidant mechanisms have been proposed for zinc: zinc ions may replace redox active molecules, such as iron and copper, at critical sites in cell membranes and proteins; alternatively, zinc ions may induce the synthesis of metallothionein, sulfhydryl-rich proteins that protect against free radicals. No matter how they work, topical zinc ions may provide an important and helpful antioxidant defense for skin.
Prediction of help-seeking with the MMPI: the problem of base rates.

The usefulness of combined elevation of the Depression and Psychasthenia scales of the MMPI as a predictor of psychological help-seeking was investigated for two classes at a small liberal arts college for men. Counseling service use rates during the 4 years of college for all students who scored at or above T = 60 on both MMPI scales (N = 83) were compared with rates for all other students (N = 269). Students in the high Depression-Psychasthenia group were significantly more likely to seek counseling during their freshman years than were other students (p less than .05). Among counselees the high MMPI group also made significantly more visits to the service (p less than .05). Application of a Bayesian rule disclosed that the MMPI measure would have improved decision accuracy only with respect to the prediction that a student would come in for counseling at some time during college. In this population, the MMPI measure is both a valid and a useful predictor.
Optimization of extrinsic TFT mobility on 550mm×650mm large glass

Abstract For large area liquid-crystal-displays (LCDs), hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film transistors (TFTs) with large current drive are required. We have maximized the extrinsic TFT mobility on 550 mm×650 mm large area glass substrates by optimization of n + a-Si plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) conditions to minimize the TFT contact resistance. The contact resistance is measured using test element group (TEG) TFTs with different channel lengths. The resistance of contacts between source/drain electrode and a-Si layer affects the extrinsic mobility.
Spontaneous recovery after extinction of a conditioned taste aversion

Four experiments examined whether or not spontaneous recovery could occur after extinction in the conditioned taste-aversion paradigm. After three extinction trials, spontaneous recovery was obtained over an 18-day retention interval (Experiments 1, 2, and 3). The effect was not due to changes in the unconditioned preference for saccharin over the retention interval (Experiment 2) or to an increase in a nonextinguished aversion over time, as indicated by tests with both the original, nonextinguished aversion (Experiment 1) and with a weaker one (Experiment 3). Spontaneous recovery was not obtained when extinction was overtrained (eight trials) and a 49-day retention interval was used (Experiment 4). However, saccharin intake at asymptote reached the level of baseline water intake, and not the highly preferred level shown by never-conditioned controls. Results of all four experiments suggest that extinction does not return an averted taste to the status of an unconditioned one.
Synthesis, Transient Absorption, and Transient Resonance Raman Spectroscopy of Novel Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes: [5,15-Bis[(4'-nitrophenyl)ethynyl]-10,20- diphenylporphinato]copper(II) and [5-[[4'-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl]-15-[(4''-nitrophenyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphinato]copper(II).

We report the synthesis, transient absorption, FT Raman, resonance Raman, time-resolved resonance Raman, and transient resonance Raman spectra of pseudo-D 2 h symmetric [5,15-bis[(4‘-nitrophenyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphinato]copper(II) (I) and electronically asymmetric [5-[4‘-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl]-15-[(4‘‘-nitrophenyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphinato]copper(II) (II), which bears both electron-releasing and electron-withdrawing groups conjugated directly to the porphyrin periphery. The spectroscopic results suggest extensive electronic communication between the 5- and 15-arylethynyl groups and the porphyrin core. Relative to the parent compound, (tetraphenylporphinato)copper(II) (CuTPP), the arylethynyl substituents increase the lifetime of the excited trip-multiplet states. CuTPP, as well as compounds I and II, however, shows similar solvent-dependent dynamics: the trip-multiplet lifetimes are longer in a noncoordinating solvent such as benzene than in a coordinating solvent such as THF. Th...
Photonic bandgap microcavities and waveguides

In this paper, we describe the use of photonic crystals in functional nonlinear optical devices, such as lasers, modulators, add/drop filters, polarizers and detectors.
Use of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to improve active surveillance for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a university-affiliated medical center

BACKGROUND: Failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) is a procedure that helps to identify each vulnerable step of a process to determine how these vulnerabilities affect the desired outcome. An FMEA ranks and prioritizes the possible causes of failures and facilitates the development of prevention strategies. As a result of a root cause analysis, our hospital's patient safety committee selected “Early Identification and Timely Isolation of Patients with MRSA” for FMEA. OBJECTIVES: To use FMEA to identify potential failures in the process of admission screening of high-risk patients thus delaying early identification and timely isolation of patients colonized or infected with MRSA. METHODS: Using the hospital's MRSA policy, a multidisciplinary team met to review the admission screening process of patients through all hospital admission sites: pre-admission testing (PAT) for same-day surgical patients, emergency department (ED), and admitting department. High-risk patients, as determined by a positive response to a screening questionnaire, have an automatic “screening alert” message printed on the nursing station printer of the receiving unit. The screening alert results in the entry of an order for a nares culture to rule out MRSA. Upon receiving a positive screening culture result, the patient is placed on contact precautions. RESULTS: The three highest-scoring potential failure modes identified were 1) staff compliance with standard precautions pending positive culture results; 2) delay in screening of patients admitted via the ED; and 3) no reliable process for communication of high-risk or positive MRSA history status by PAT staff to a surgeon, operating room, or infection control (IC) department. Additional potential failure modes included: ED physician-dependent orders for private rooms for isolation patients; delays in obtaining screening cultures for ED holding unit patients; unreliable and inconsistent communication between AD, nursing staff of admitting units, and IC staff; and a 2- to 3-day lag time from culture collection to results availability. CONCLUSIONS: The FMEA process was extremely useful for understanding and analyzing the complex process of screening high-risk admissions for multidrug-resistant pathogens. The process facilitated communication among the various departments that resulted in the identification of creative and sustainable solutions.
A Comparison of Linear with Nonlinear Viscoelastic Solutions for Shear Stress Concentration in Double Lap Joints

Abstract The correspondence principle based on the Maxwell model and a nonlinear viscoelastic solution involving an iterative scheme are used to describe the time dependent variation of the adhesive maximum shear stress in adhesively bonded double lap joints. The results indicate that if the correspondence principle is applied, the use of Maxwell chain is necessary to approximate the continuous change in the relaxation time and to coincide with the results calculated using the nonlinear viscoelastic theory.
Optical waveguide dosimetry for gamma-radiation in the dose range 10-1 − 104 Gy

Abstract Two types of liquid-core optical waveguide (OWG) dosimeters are commercially available for dosimetry in the irradiation of foods and other products. “Opti-chromic” type FWT-70-40M has a useful range of about 10-10 4 Gy and type FWT-70–83M about 10 2 −10 4 Gy. ¶ Within the limits of random uncertainty of the reading of the absorbed dose (±5%, 1σ), the response to γ-radiation is independent of dose rate over the range 10 -1 −10 4 Gy/h, when measured at the peak of the spectrum [absorption band maximum (600 nm wavelength)]. The response curve is linear with dose up to ≈10 3 Gy, but is non-linear at higher doses, where the readings are made away from the absorption peak (656nm). Both dosimeter types when measured at 600 nm are temperature dependent over the temperatures ranges of -40 to 60°C during irradiation. The dosimeters cannot be used when exposed to temperatures > 60°C because of bubble formation and loss of light propagation. At doses 3 Gy (at600 nm), the dosimeters are stable (in terms of dose readings) for several months following irradiation, but at doses ≈ 10 4 kGy (at 656 nm), they show a gradual absorbance increase (error in dose interpretation), over post-irradiation storage periods longer than 1 month. A special, sensitive OWG dosimeter (50-cm coil), designed for doses down to 10 -1 Gy, shows a linear response up to at least 15 Gy, a temperature dependence of response only at temperatures below ≈ 20°C, and no dose-rate dependence.
Surgical Outcome in 87 Patients With Zenker's Diverticulum

Surgical treatment of Zenker's diverticulum is controversial because many different procedures exist. We retrospectively reviewed 87 consecutive patients surgically treated for Zenker's diverticulum at a tertiary care institution from 1976 through 1993. Four surgical procedures were performed: cricopharyngeal myotomy alone (n = 16), excision (hand-sewn) plus myotomy (n = 51), excision (stapler) plus myotomy (n = 11), and diverticulopexy plus myotomy (n = 9). There were three surgical mortalities (3.5%) and a complication rate of 24%. Eighty patients (92%) were available for follow up. Sixty-eight patients (78%) reported excellent relief of symptoms, 10 (13%) reported improvement with occasional symptoms, and two (3%) described persistent dysphagia. No statistical difference in complication rate was found among surgical groups (P = 0.15). Myotomy alone patients had worse outcomes (P = 0.04) compared with the other surgical groups. Median follow-up was 7.5 months.