cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond Needle Sharing: Meta-Analyses of Social Context Risk Behaviors of Injection Drug Users Attending Needle Exchange Programs

This study gathered data from U.S. and international needle exchange programs (NEPs). Of particular interest were outcome measures of dependent variables related to behaviors within social contexts of injection drug users (IDUs), an area not well understood. Thirty-one studies, with a total of 86 separate measures of 36 dependent variables were included. Because combining all results into a single meta-analysis would be inappropriate, dependent variables were placed into five categories for five separate meta-analyses: risky contexts, injection frequency, sharing drug paraphernalia, drug preparation, and syringe use. NEP attendance was inversely related to declines in all categorical behaviors except for "risky context." NEP attenders are slightly more likely to be in a risky circumstance when injecting drugs than non-attenders. While injection frequency declined only slightly among NEP attenders, that result may be interpreted as a positive outcome, given the often-stated criticism that providing clean needles encourages increased drug use. NEP use was weakly associated with a decrease in the sharing of drug paraphernalia. Clean needles alone do not appear to be sufficient motivation to motivate major changes in contextual risk behaviors analyzed herein. Research is needed to assess the impact of interpersonal IDU relationships with other stakeholders (clinic employees, van drivers, medical personnel, nutritionists, sexual partners, etc.) on IDU drug-using behaviors at many levels.
Following the Thread: Industry Cluster Theory, the New England Cotton Textiles Industry, and Implications for Future Supply Chain Research

The purpose of this paper is to introduce supply chain management researchers to industry cluster theory within the context of supply chain management decisions. Industry cluster theory emphasizes the explicit and implicit benefits that accrue to various economic players due to geographic proximity. As such, it provides a contrasting view to the current pressure on supply chains to seek out the “best” partners, regardless of location. We review the theory behind industry clusters, and illustrate it using the example of the New England cotton textile industry. Incorporating these concepts into future research has the potential to improve our understanding of how decisions regarding supply chain location and sourcing decisions are currently made, and what role location-based benefits should play in these decisions.
Novel nanosystems enabling near IR multimodal imaging

Narrow and symmetric emission spectrum, continuous excitation spectrum, high quantum yields and resistance to photobleaching are outstanding advantages semiconductor nanoparticles exhibit ideally compared to conventional fluorescent dyes. However, it is still a challenge to replace existing organic fluorophores and develop a tool for imaging and site-specific drug delivery. In this presentation, we demonstrate the chemistry and spectroscopy of homogeneously alloyed nanocrystals and nanocrystal-doped protein microspheres, emitting the IR and near-infra red as tools for bio-imaging, and drug delivery, respectively. In addition, nanoparticles are studied as energy donors to photosensitizer phthalocyanine dyes, which have proven potential for photodynamic therapy.
Plundered kitchens and empty wombs: fear of infertility in the Cameroonian grassfields.

In Bangangte, a Bamileke kingdom in the Grassfields of Cameroon, local understandings of reproductive illness contrast with standard demographic indicators of high fertility in this region. Bangangte are preoccupied with threats to reproductive health. This article explores the culinary metaphors of building kitchens, choosing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, and slow and skillful cooking in Bangangte notions of procreation and infertility. The violent imagery of plundered kitchens, cannibalistic witchcraft, and theft permeates Bangangte women's accounts of infertility and child loss. The analysis suggests that infertility anxiety in Bangangte reflects women's feelings of vulnerability in the context of rural female poverty and the gender-specific consequences of political change in Cameroon.
FMS Implementation Procedure: A Case Study

Abstract Many manufacturing organizations are looking to Flexible'Manufacturing System technology for improvements in process flexibility. Faced with the need to produce, in less time, more customized products of highest quality and lowest cost, process flexibility is a growing concern of m a n y manufacturing organizations. In this paper, an eight step procedure for the proper installation of an FMS is presented. The purpose of the paper is to provide companies with a systematic approach for the installation of such manufacturing technologies as FMS. Handled by the Department and Implementation Department
Evidence of Xist RNA-independent initiation of mouse imprinted X-chromosome inactivation

XX female mammals undergo transcriptional silencing of most genes on one of their two X chromosomes to equalize X-linked gene dosage with XY males in a process referred to as X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). XCI is an example of epigenetic regulation. Once enacted in individual cells of the early female embryo, XCI is stably transmitted such that most descendant cells maintain silencing of that X chromosome. In eutherian mammals, XCI is thought to be triggered by the expression of the non-coding Xist RNA from the future inactive X chromosome (Xi); Xist RNA in turn is proposed to recruit protein complexes that bring about heterochromatinization of the Xi. Here we test whether imprinted XCI, which results in preferential inactivation of the paternal X chromosome (Xp), occurs in mouse embryos inheriting an Xp lacking Xist. We find that silencing of Xp-linked genes can initiate in the absence of paternal Xist; Xist is, however, required to stabilize silencing along the Xp. Xp-linked gene silencing associated with mouse imprinted XCI, therefore, can initiate in the embryo independently of Xist RNA.
From retinal waves to activity-dependent retinogeniculate map development.

A neural model is described of how spontaneous retinal waves are formed in infant mammals, and how these waves organize activity-dependent development of a topographic map in the lateral geniculate nucleus, with connections from each eye segregated into separate anatomical layers. The model simulates the spontaneous behavior of starburst amacrine cells and retinal ganglion cells during the production of retinal waves during the first few weeks of mammalian postnatal development. It proposes how excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms within individual cells, such as Ca2+-activated K+ channels, and cAMP currents and signaling cascades, can modulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of waves, notably by controlling the after-hyperpolarization currents of starburst amacrine cells. Given the critical role of the geniculate map in the development of visual cortex, these results provide a foundation for analyzing the temporal dynamics whereby the visual cortex itself develops.
MASUV-1: A Miniature Underwater Vehicle With Multidirectional Thrust Vectoring for Safe Animal Interactions

In this paper, we present the design and proof of concept of a streamlined, low-cost, and smooth-hulled underwater vehicle, miniature animal safe underwater vehicle (MASUV-1), utilizing an entirely enclosed propulsion and steering system. This allows for safely operating MASUV-1 in the vicinity of marine mammals, and thus, facilitates animal behavior research as well as coping with traditional engineering and scientific missions in marine mammal populated environments. The vehicle utilizes an ad hoc designed multidirectional thrust-vectoring system for steering, based on multiple servo motors and pushrods. Tests of the vehicle in a stillwater environment show high maneuverability at speeds comparable with similar torpedo-type class underwater vehicles.
Expressions of the prefertilization polar axis in sea urchin eggs.

Abstract The distribution of pigment granules in eggs of three species of sea urchins is described with reference to developmental stage and an egg's animal-vegetal axis of organization. Polarity in unfertilized sea urchin eggs has been a debated subject; present evidence demonstrates that the animal-vegetal axis is established before fertilization. The pigment pattern in some batches of Paracentrotus eggs exhibiting the celebrated “pigment band,” originally described by Theodor Boveri, is revised and is interpreted as a comparatively precocious expression of the underlying egg polarity. “Unbanded” Paracentrotus eggs and eggs of Arbacia lixula and Arbacia punctulata can be induced to exhibit the same pigment pattern by artificial activation. The induced pigment pattern aligns with an axis defined by polar bodies and the jelly canal, which are two external markers of the animal pole which are only rarely seen. It is therefore concluded that all of these eggs possess an animal-vegetal axis before fertilization even though it usually remains unexpressed until later developmental stages. Polarized changes in pigmentation are consistent with the following general mechanism: A change is triggered in the cortex of the vegetal pole; the change is programmed for a time which corresponds to the fourth mitotic division, even though mitosis itself is not involved; activation at fertilization initiates the “clock” in most cases, although in “banded” Paracentrotus eggs the “clock” is apparently started before ovulation; only the vegetal hemisphere's pigment is affected by the change. The nature of the underlying axis which defines animal and vegetal poles is discussed. Aspects of the axis have been tentatively traced back to the primary oocyte stage, but its fundamental nature remains unknown.
Variations in Expected Affect in Young and Middle-Aged Adults

Abstract Expected positive and negative affects were measured in three samples of college students and in three samples of middle-aged adults. For each of the samples, negative affect decreased with age. The pattern of the effect was the same for the three samples and for the Expected Balance Scale (Staats, 1987, 1989) and the PANAS (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). The higher negative affect in college students, in comparison to that in their middle-aged friends or parents, is contrary to popular stereotypes. This specific and differential decrease in negative affect is not consistent with theories proposing only a general decrement in emotionality with increasing age. An explanation in terms of stress appraisal, coping, and management is suggested.
Oesophageal and gastric pH profiles in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's oesophagus treated with proton pump inhibitors.

Summary Background : Acid plays a significant role in the development of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms and tissue damage. It is generally assumed that acid suppressive therapy with proton pump inhibitors improves or eliminates symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease by normalizing intra-oesophageal pH. However, the degree of acid suppression induced by proton pump inhibitor therapy in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and/or Barrett's oesophagus has not been adequately studied. Aim : To assess the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors in normalizing intra-oesophageal and intra-gastric pH in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease with and without Barrett's oesophagus who have been rendered symptom-free by acid-suppressive therapy. Methods : Patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's oesophagus were prospectively evaluated by dual sensor 24-h pH monitoring while receiving proton pump inhibitor therapy for complete control of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Analyses and comparisons of intra-oesophageal and intra-gastric pH profiles on therapy were then made. Results : One hundred and ten patients, 98 men and 12 women, with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (n = 62) and/or Barrett's oesophagus (n = 48), were studied. All tolerated proton pump inhibitors well and were asymptomatic at the time of the study. Thirty-six (58%) patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and 24 (50%) patients with Barrett's oesophagus (P = 0.4) normalized their intra-oesophageal pH profiles on proton pump inhibitors. Compared with patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, patients with Barrett's oesophagus were more likely to have higher degree of pathologic acid reflux despite proton pump inhibitor therapy (DeMeester score 50.5 ± 8.2 vs. 31.4 ± 4.6, P = 0.03) and exhibited less intra-gastric acid suppression (% total pH<4.0: 53.9 ± 2.7 vs. 39.9 ± 2.6, P =0.0004), particularly supine (% pH<4.0: 62.1 ± 3.4 vs. 44.8 ± 3.4, P =0.0006). Conclusions : Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients with or without Barrett's oesophagus continue to exhibit pathologic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and low intra-gastric pH despite proton pump inhibitor therapy that accomplishes complete reflux symptom control. Further, intra-oesophageal and intra-gastric pH control is significantly more difficult to achieve in patients with Barrett's oesophagus. These findings may have significant therapeutic implications.
A rabbit model of peripheral compartment syndrome with associated rhabdomyolysis and a regenerative medicine approach for treatment.

Peripheral compartment syndrome (PCS) has a complex etiology, with limited treatment options and high patient morbidity. Animal models of PCS have been hampered by differences in cross-species anat...
INCONSISTANCY IN THE ESTIMATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE |[lpar]|GA|[rpar]| OF THE VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT |[lpar]|VLBW|[rpar]| INFANT

Top of pageAbstract Many authorities believe that neurological maturation occurs at an unalterable rate. Gould et al have suggested, however, that intrauterine factors may accelerate neurological maturation. Others have suggested that eyelids which are still sealed are a reliable time marker for 26 weeks GA or less. Four infants whose eyes were sealed at birth had greatly disparate estimates of their GA by the 3 most commonly used dating methods: maternal history (Hx), physical examination (P.E.), and neurological examination by modification of the method of Dubowitz (MOD. DUB.). In the surviving infants the eyes opened between 10 and 24 days after birth. Interpretation of these findings is difficult. The following possible explanations, alone or in combination, are offered: 1)Hx may be inaccurate; 2) either the P.E. or the MOD. DUB. employed in assessment of GA in the VLBW infant, or both, may need revision; 3) intrauterine factors may differentially alter the maturation rate of various systems; or 4) eyelid reopening may not be an unalterable time marker. Completely accurate knowledge of the date of conception would be most helpful in resolving this dilemma.
Identifying ecological sustainability assessment factors for ecotourism and trophy hunting operations on private rangeland in Namibia.

Trophy hunting and ecotourism are important forms of sustainable utilisation in the human-impacted, working landscapes outside of formal parks and reserves. Research on the sustainability of such tourism operations, however, has focused on the financial viability of tourism operators, rather than environmental effects. This paper examines the sustainability strength of wildlife utilisation on private rangelands in Namibia in terms of ecological impact. Using grounded theory, 43 members of commercial conservancies were surveyed to identify themes in the practice and perception of sustainable utilisation. While basic tourism was infrequent, trophy hunting was a common source of revenue from wildlife. Three emergent themes from the data included differences in tourist versus hunting operations; attitudes and perceptions of the administration of conservation efforts; and the co-management of livestock and wildlife, especially farm economics and game-proof fencing. Overall, increases in the proportion of incom...
Immunofluorescent Study of Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi Infection.

SummaryGuinea pigs were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Five different strains were used and crossimmunity was evident between these strains. Serum from convalescent guinea pigs conjugated with fluorescein could be used as a stain for both the blood trypanosoma form and the tissue leishmanial form. Antibodies against the forms could also be identified using the indirect technique.
On the Feasibility of Passive Optical Separation of Scatter and Fluorescence

The use of "flat" focusing devices, such as Fresnel lenses and holographic optical elements, for the passive optical separation of fluorescence and scattered light is evaluated theoretically and experimentally. Although "flat" lenses do not focus incident light isochronically, and should therefore have different spatial focusing characteristics for very short pulses (scattered light) and pseudo-continuous-wave signals (fluorescence), the optical quality of the flat lenses tested is insufficient to achieve such discrimination. Additionally, if the coherence length of the fluorescence is less than the difference in optical pathlength from extreme positions on the flat lens, fluorescence cannot be considered to be a pseudo-cw signal; this limitation constrains the potential applications of such instrumentation.
The Dangerous “Pragmatism” of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Since its “rebranding” from a terrorist group narrowly focused on the violent overthrow of the Algerian government into the regional affiliate of al-Qaeda, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), has seen a significant transformation not just in its geographical space but also in its operational and strategic emphasis. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), as the organization now denominates itself, has proven to be remarkably pragmatic, shifting away from those areas in North Africa where it had come under tremendous pressure from the largely successful counterinsurgency efforts and amnesties of recent to the vast, poorly governed spaces of the Sahel where it has found safe haven. In the process, AQIM has shown itself willing to partner with drug traffickers, smugglers, and other criminal elements as well as dissident factions like the Polisario Front in order to gain the resources required to continue the pursuit of its radical agenda over an increasingly broader geopolitical and social sp...
Automated detection of mammographic masses: preliminary assessment of an information-theoretic CAD scheme for reduction of false positives

ABSTRACT The purpose of this work was to evaluate an information-theoretic computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme forimproving the specificity of mass detection in screening mammograms. The study was based on images from theLumisys set of the Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM). Initially, the craniocaudal views of 49DDSM mammograms were analyzed using an automated detection algorithm developed to prescreen mammograms.The prescreening algorithm followed a morphological concentric layer analysis and resulted in 319 false positivedetections at 92% sensitivity. These 319 suspicious yet normal regions were extracted for further analysis with ourinformation-theoretic CAD scheme. Our scheme follows a knowledge-based decision strategy. The strategy relies oninformation theoretic principles for similarity assessment between a query case and a knowledge databank of cases withknown ground truth. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine how well the CADscheme can discriminate the false positive regions from 681 true masses. The overall ROC area index of theinformation-theoretic CAD system was 0.75±0.02. At 97%, 95%, and 90% sensitivity, the system eliminated safely20%, 30%, and 42% of the previously identified false positives respectively. Thus, information-theoretic CAD analysiscan yield a significant reduction in false-positive detections while maintaining reasonable sensitivity.Keywords: computer-aided diagnosis, mammography, mass detection, mutual information.
Educational virtual clusters for on-demand MPI/Hadoop/Condor in FutureGrid

FutureGrid provides unique capabilities that enable researchers to deploy customized environments for their experiments in grid and cloud computing, and educators to deploy customized virtual private clusters for hands-on activities. A key enabling technology for this is virtualization and the provisioning of Infrastructure-asa-Service (IaaS) through cloud computing middleware. This extended abstract describes educational virtual appliances that are automatically self-configured to enable on-demand deployment of three popular distributed/cloud computing stacks (Condor, MPI, and Hadoop) within and/or across FutureGrid sites.
The retardation of drop breakup in high‐velocity airstreams by polymeric modifiers

Investigations are being conducted on the factors involved in the breakup of Newtonian and non-Newtonian (viscoelastic) liquids in high velocity airstreams. Viscoelastic solutions are formed by the addition of small amounts of polymeric modifiers to the test liquid. The mechanism of breakup is shown to be significantly different between the thickened and unthickened solutions. It was found that Newtonian liquid drops are broken into very fine particles by a breakup mechanism which begins with a stripping of the liquid from the surface of the drop. On the other hand, drops of non-Newtonian liquids break up by formation of ligaments rather than by surface stripping and are broken into much larger particles. An increase in viscosity by a factor of 25 in the Newtonian liquids showed no significant change in the breakup mechanism.
Pash 3.0: A versatile software package for read mapping and integrative analysis of genomic and epigenomic variation using massively parallel DNA sequencing

Massively parallel sequencing readouts of epigenomic assays are enabling integrative genome-wide analyses of genomic and epigenomic variation. Pash 3.0 performs sequence comparison and read mapping and can be employed as a module within diverse configurable analysis pipelines, including ChIP-Seq and methylome mapping by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Pash 3.0 generally matches the accuracy and speed of niche programs for fast mapping of short reads, and exceeds their performance on longer reads generated by a new generation of massively parallel sequencing technologies. By exploiting longer read lengths, Pash 3.0 maps reads onto the large fraction of genomic DNA that contains repetitive elements and polymorphic sites, including indel polymorphisms. We demonstrate the versatility of Pash 3.0 by analyzing the interaction between CpG methylation, CpG SNPs, and imprinting based on publicly available whole-genome shotgun bisulfite sequencing data. Pash 3.0 makes use of gapped k-mer alignment, a non-seed based comparison method, which is implemented using multi-positional hash tables. This allows Pash 3.0 to run on diverse hardware platforms, including individual computers with standard RAM capacity, multi-core hardware architectures and large clusters.
Absorption cell for the infrared spectroscopy of heated gas

A Pfund-type absorption cell that exhibits extreme stability at high temperature has been constructed for use with high-resolution Fourier spectroscopy. The cell is currently used to measure the absorption spectra of CO(2) and H(2)O gas samples heated to 1300 K. The advantages of the Pfund cell are described with respect to that of the White cell for use in Fourier spectroscopy.
Coordination copolymerization of three carboxylate linkers into a pillared layer framework

Incorporation of three distinct linkers with identical functionality in a coordination copolymer is accomplished in materials designated UMCM-10, -11, and -12. Uniaxial lattice expansion, achieved in these highly porous and non-interpenetrated materials, is utilized in size-selective guest incorporation.
The phenotypic effects of small, distal Xq deletions

The effects of small, distal Xq deletions (Xq26→ qter) have been reviewed in light of three cases of our own and five from the literature. The symptoms caused by such deletions range from apparently none through irregular menstruation to secondary amenorrhea (or premature menopause) to primary amenorrhea. That the abnormal chromosome has any effects when it is inactivated may best be explained by one or by a combination of the following hypotheses. (1) the Xq — chromosome might exert an effect during development when cells in which it is active compete with cells in which it is inactivated, assuming that the inactivation of the two X chromosomes is originally random. (2) a more probable hypothesis is that there is a position effect when a break has occurred in the critical region Xq13→q27 which apparently must be intact in both X chromosomes to allow normal development of the ovaries. (3) this position effect might, in turn, affect the oocytes (and thus the ovary) after the inactive X chromosome is reactivated before meiosis or the deletion as such might have a direct effect on the ovaries.
The effect of prenatal caffeine exposure on the enamel surface of the first molars of newborn rats

Timed-pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups at day 7 of gestation. A caffeine tablet was implanted subcutaneously in the experimental group and a placebo tablet in the control group. The third group was used as surrogate dams. At birth, eight randomly selected pups born either to the experimental or control dams were placed with surrogate dams that had produced pups on the same day; these were then used in either the experimental or the control group, and so the surrogate dams raised pups that came from either the experimental or control group. At day 22 after birth, the pups were killed, and their first and second maxillary and mandibular molars were removed. They were then placed in a specially designed chamber and exposed to an acid solution. The outflowing acid solution was collected every 20 min and up to 80 min. Then the calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium contents of each fraction were measured. The enamel surfaces of untreated and acid-treated first molars of the caffeine and control groups were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Untreated teeth were powdered and separated into enamel and dentine. Pure enamel samples were examined with a Gandolfi X-ray powder camera to measure the crystallite size. At 20-, 40- and 60-min intervals, calcium and phosphorus contents of the first molars of the caffeine group were significantly higher than those of the control. The enamel surface of the untreated and acid-treated first molars of the caffeine group had significantly different scanning microscopic appearances from those of the non-caffeine untreated and acid-treated control groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Unsupervised learning of nonlinear dependencies in natural images

Capturing dependencies in images in an unsupervised manner is important for many image-processing applications and for understanding the structure of natural image signals. Data generative linear models such as principal component analysis and independent component analysis (ICA) have shown to capture low-level features such as oriented edges in images. However, those models only capture linear dependency structures because of its linear model constraints and therefore its modeling capability is limited. We propose a new method for capturing nonlinear dependencies in images of natural scenes. This method is an extension of the linear ICA method and builds on a hierarchical representation. The model makes use of lower-level linear ICA representation and a subsequent mixture of Laplacian distribution for learning the nonlinear dependencies in an image. The model parameters are learned via the expectation maximization algorithm, and it can accurately capture variance correlation and other high-order structures in a simple and consistent manner. We visualize the learned variance correlation structure and demonstrate applications to automatic image segmentation and image denoising. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 15, 34–47, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20036
Post-translational acquisition of ligand binding- and tyrosine kinase-domain function by the epidermal growth factor and insulin receptors.

AbstractThe epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulin receptor undergo slow post-translational modification by which they acquire hormone binding and tyrosine kinase (EGFR) function. The half-time for acquisition of EGF or insulin binding activity is 30-40 min and of tyrosine kinase activity (EGFR), is 10-15 min. Tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked oligosaccharide addition, blocks acquisition of both EGF and insulin binding activity. With EGFR, activation precedes acquisition of resistance to endoglucos-aminidase H (t1/2 75 min), a medial Golgi event. Treatment of active high mannose receptor with endo H generates fully active aglyco-receptor; thus, core oligosaccharide addition is a prerequisite for activation, but not for EGF binding per se. EGFR is activated in and translocated from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) slowly (t1/2 75 min). Since translocation rate equals the rate for acquisition of endo H resistance, transit from the ER is rate limiting for EGFR maturation. Tunicamycin inhibits ...
Determination of binding affinity of metal cofactor to the active site of methionine aminopeptidase based on quantitation of functional enzyme.

Abstract Determination of metal affinity to the active site of metalloenzymes constitutes an integral part in the understanding of enzyme catalysis and regulation. Nonlinear curve fitting of metal titration curves using the multiple independent binding sites (MIBS) model was adapted to determine KD values based on functional enzyme concentrations. This approach provides a more accurate evaluation of KD compared with existing methods that are based on total protein concentrations. We applied this concept to methionine aminopeptidase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and showed that it is a monometalated enzyme with a KD of 0.13 μM for Co2+.
Linking Social-Problem Models to Needs-Assessment Methodology in the Teaching of Evaluation

This article examines how the sociological concept of “claimsmaking,” as exemplified in the social-problems literature, is reflected in the needs assessment strategies employed by evaluators. Strategies for addressing this link when teaching evaluation are discussed.
Diminished sympathetic responsiveness in nephrectomized rats: role of the renin angiotensin system

Experiments were conducted in pithed Wistar rats to assess the effects of nephrectomy on the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system to sympathetic neurohumoral stimuli. Blood pressure and heart rate increases produced in response to stimulation of the spinal sympathetic outflow and to norepinephrine were compared in nephrectomized (NXR) and sham operated animals (SOR). Both the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) increases to nerve stimulation were markedly attenuated in the NXR, however, only the reduction in BP responses could be attributed to the absence of a functional renin angiotensin system. Infusion of angiotensin II (10 ng/kg/min) in NXR enhanced the neurally mediated increments in BP to the extent that the responses were not different from SOR. Angiotensin II administration also enhanced BP responses in SOR but to a lesser extent than in NXR. HR responses were not altered by angiotensin in NXR or SOR. Blockade of the renin angiotensin system in SOR with the converting enzyme inhibitor c...
Integrated-circuit digital logic families IIߞTTL devices

TTL devices offer the distinct advantages of many complex functions, compatibility with DTL, and adaptability to many designs, including some highly complex ones. Because of their wide availability in the market, they are extremely attractive from an applications and price standpoint. This second part of a three-part article describes their use in medium- and high-speed circuits and also covers Schottky TTL devices.
Cellulose pyrolysis and quantum chemistry

Cellulose is the major constituent of most plants of interest as renewable sources of energy and is the most extensively studied form of biomass or biomass constituent. Predicting the mass loss and product yields when cellulose is subjected to increased temperature represents a fundamental problem in the thermal release of biomass energy. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no internally consistent model of cellulose pyrolysis that can organize the varied experimental data now available or provide a guide for additional experiments. Here, we present a model of direct cellulose pyrolysis using a multistage decay scheme that we first presented in the IJQC in 1984. This decay scheme can, with the help of an inverse method of assigning reaction rates, provide a reasonable account of the direct fast pyrolysis yield measurements. The model is suggestive of dissociation states of d-glucose (C6H10O5), the fundamental cellulose monomer. The model raises the question as to whether quantum chemistry could now provide the dissociation energies for the principal breakup modes of glucose into C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 compounds. These calculations would help in achieving a more fundamental description of volatile generation from cellulose pyrolysis and could serve as a guide for treating hemicellulose and lignin, the other major biomass constituents. Such advances could lead to the development of a predictive science of biomass pyrolysis that would facilitate the design of liquifiers and gasifiers based upon renewable feedstocks. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 66: 219–227, 1998
Bray—Liebhafsky Oscillations

A system describing an oscillating chemical reaction (known as a Bray—Liebhafsky oscillating reaction) is considered. It is shown that large amplitude oscillations arise through a homoclinic bifurcation and vanish through a subcritical Hopf bifurcation. An approximate locus of points corresponding to the homoclinic orbit in a parameter space is calculated using a variation of the Bogdanov—Takens—Carr method. A special feature of the problem is related to the fact that nonlinear terms in the equations contain square and cubic roots of expressions depending on the unknowns. For a particular model considered it is possible to obtain most of the results analytically.
Regional and interspecies differences in brain progesterone metabolism.

Metabolites of [3H]progesterone were studied in slices prepared from different brain regions of male rat, mouse, and monkey. The major metabolites were 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5α-DHP) and 3α,5α-tetrahydroprogesterone (3α,5α-THP) in rat brain slices, 5α-DHP and 20α- dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP) in mouse brain slices, and 20α-DHP in monkey brain slices. In rat olfactory bulb slices, 5α-DHP represented 25.2 ± 3.3% of total radioactivity and 3α,5α-THP 17.5 ± 2.8%, whereas in rat medulla oblongata slices, 5α-DHP was 31.3 ± 3.5% and 3α,5α- THP 5.4 ± 1.5% of total radioactivity. In slices from other rat brain regions, both metabolites represented 12–20% of total radioactivity.-The highest metabolite content in mouse brain was also detected in olfactory bulb slices, where 5α-DHP represented 16.6 ± 4.6% and 20α-DHP 9.5 ± 2.3% of total radioactivity. In cortical and corpus callosum slices of monkey brain, 26.8 ± 4.4% and 2.4 ± 0.5% of total radioactivity, respectively, were converted to 20α-DHP, and less than 3% of total radioactivity could be attributed to any of the other metabolites detected. The 3α,α-THP content in both rat and monkey brain was below 1 nM, but increased in rat brain to 6.7 ± 2.5 nM after electroshock. Endogenous 3α,5α-THP might play an important role in the regulation of rat behavior through the modulation of GABA action on the GABAA receptor. The significant interspecies differences in the brain progesterone metabolism should be considered in evaluating the functional role of neurosteroids in various species.
An Inconsistency of the Method of Maximum Likelihood

An example was given by Neyman and Scott [2] to show that there are situations where the method of maximum likelihood leads to inconsistent estimators. In their example considered, the observations were supposed to be drawn from an infinite sequence of distinct populations involving an infinite sequence of nuisance parameters.
Expression of acute phase proteins by bone marrow stromal cells

The current work examines the expression of acute phase genes in a murine-derived bone marrow stromal cell model (BMS2) which exhibits adipocyte and osteoblast characteristics and supports lymphopo...
Consideration of sexual dimorphism, age, and asymmetry in quantitative measurements of muscle insertion sites

Variation in entheses has been attributed to repetitive mechanical stress, but age, sex, and genetics may also affect entheses. In this study, the insertion areas of the pronator teres, biceps brachii, deltoid, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, teres minor and subscapularis were measured. The skeletal sample included 137 American Blacks and Whites from the Terry and Hamann-Todd Human (20th century) collections and 238 skeletons from Hawikuh, New Mexico (1300–1680 AD); Indian Knoll, Kentucky (3300–2000 BC); Hardin Village, Kentucky (1500–1620 AD); Kushkokwim River, Alaska (protohistoric); and Mummy Cave, Alaska (protohistoric). There was no significant sexual dimorphism at Hawikuh, moderate levels for Indian Knoll and Hardin Village (12.8–15.2%), and high levels for Kushkokwim River and Mummy Cave (22.6–32.8%). All significant differences in these levels occurred between Alaskan and non-Alaskan populations. These findings suggest that cultural or genetic adaptations to climatic differences explain some of the variation in sexual dimorphism of the insertion areas. Lateral asymmetry in insertion areas show reduced levels of right-sided dominance when compared to maximum humeral length. Correlations between the frequency of longer right humeri and the frequency of handedness found in modern populations may be a by-product of developmental processes. The increased symmetry for muscle insertions indicates a closer correspondence to the true pattern of mechanical stress since many tasks involve both limbs. Males and females had smaller insertion areas in their 20s than in their 30s and 40s, but the difference was only significant for males. The greater differences between younger and older males when compared to females can be explained by the delayed physical maturation of males. There were no significant differences in humeral measurements with age. These results suggest that activity-related studies not rely solely on epiphyseal fusion of the long bones to estimate physical maturity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biodegradable fibrous scaffolds with diverse properties by electrospinning candidates from a combinatorial macromer library

Abstract The properties of electrospun fibrous scaffolds, including degradation, mechanics and cellular interactions, are important for their use in tissue engineering applications. Although some diversity has been obtained previously in fibrous scaffolds, optimization of scaffold properties relies on iterative techniques in both polymer synthesis and processing. Here, we electrospun candidates from a combinatorial library of biodegradable and photopolymerizable poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs) to show that the diversity in properties found in this library is retained when processed into fibrous scaffolds. Specifically, three PBAE macromers were electrospun into scaffolds and possessed similar initial mechanical properties, but exhibited mass loss ranging from rapid (complete degradation within ∼2 weeks) to moderate (complete degradation within ∼3 months) to slow (only partial degradation after 3 months). These trends in mechanics and degradation mimicked what was previously observed in the bulk polymers. Although cellular adhesion was dependent on the polymer composition in films, adhesion to scaffolds that were electrospun with gelatin was similar on all formulations and controls. To further illustrate the diverse properties that are attainable in these systems, the fastest and slowest degrading polymers were electrospun together into one scaffold, but as distinct fiber populations. This dual-polymer scaffold exhibited behavior in mass loss and mechanics with time that fell between the single-polymer scaffolds. In general, this work indicates that combinatorial libraries may be an important source of information and specific polymer compositions for the fabrication of electrospun fibrous scaffolds with tunable properties.
Development of a fetal risk assessment score for the prediction of neonatal outcome in the growth-restricted fetus

Objective: To develop and analyze a fetal risk assessment score (FRAS) that incorporates fetal arterial and venous blood flow studies (BFS), amniotic fluid volume, the non-stress test (NST) and an estimated fetal weight to improve the ability of antenatal testing to identify fetuses at risk for poor perinatal outcome and compare it to the Biophysical Profile (BPP). Study design: The Perinatal data base of the author’s institution was searched for all patients with singleton gestation with the diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction, and who had both a biophysical profile (BPP) and fetal BFS (umbilical and middle cerebral artery, ductus venosus) within 4 days of delivery. Fetuses with major congenital abnormalities, chromosomal anomalies, or who delivered less than 25 weeks gestation were excluded. A FRAS score was developed by assigning numerical points for increasing abnormal arterial and venous BFS, and one point each for a non-reactive NST, oligohydramnios or if the fetus was small for gestational...
Immunity and Immunopathology in the Tuberculous Granuloma

Granulomas, organized aggregates of immune cells, are a defining feature of tuberculosis (TB). Granuloma formation is implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory disorders. However, the tuberculous granuloma has been assigned the role of a host protective structure which "walls-off" mycobacteria. Work conducted over the past decade has provided a more nuanced view of its role in pathogenesis. On the one hand, pathogenic mycobacteria accelerate and exploit granuloma formation for their expansion and dissemination by manipulating host immune responses to turn leukocyte recruitment and cell death pathways in their favor. On the other hand, granuloma macrophages can preserve granuloma integrity by exerting a microbicidal immune response, thus preventing an even more rampant expansion of infection in the extracellular milieu. Even this host-beneficial immune response required to maintain the bacteria intracellular must be tempered, as an overly vigorous immune response can also cause granuloma breakdown, thereby directly supporting bacterial growth extracellularly. This review will discuss how mycobacteria manipulate inflammatory responses to drive granuloma formation and will consider the roles of the granuloma in pathogenesis and protective immunity, drawing from clinical studies of TB in humans and from animal models--rodents, zebrafish, and nonhuman primates. A deeper understanding of TB pathogenesis and immunity in the granuloma could suggest therapeutic approaches to abrogate the host-detrimental aspects of granuloma formation to convert it into the host-beneficial structure that it has been thought to be for nearly a century.
A Proposed Model of the Effects of Organizational Citizenship Behavior on Sustained Information Technology Innovations

Electronic business (e-business) presents several new opportunities and challenges to business organizations through the expansion and enhancements of their markets. However, competing in global electronic markets (e-markets) has forced organizations to continually invest in information technology (IT). Although IT can provide a competitive advantage, its edge is only temporary and lost as competitors adopt it. Therefore, success in e-business might be linked to an organization’s ability to continually innovate IT applications, especially those that leverage and exploit its information and knowledge. To effectively innovate, though, the organization must foster good citizenship among its people and direct their activities toward building its knowledge. This paper proposes that sustained IT innovation results from organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and absorptive capacity, and absorptive capacity mediates the effects of OCB on IT innovation.
X-ray Analysis of Multilayer Structures

A new technique of obtaining layer thickness and internal strains in multilayer structures and quantum wells from the rocking curve data is described and analytically proved. This method consists of Fourier transform of the experimental intensity profile multiplied by the wave vector deviation squared. It is shown that peaks of the Fourier transform correspond to distances between boundaries in the specimen. The (400) reflection curves of a quantum well in InP/InAs and a superlattice structure made up of latticematched GaAs/Ga 0.49 In 0.51 P layers were measured with 8 KeV radiation at beamnline X-18A, National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The results of above procedure were used to reduce a number of degrees of freedom in a computer simulation of reflecting curves. It is shown that it is possible to extract layer thicknesses with the accuracy of about 15 A for thick layers to as low as 1 A for superlattices. Interplanar distances can be obtained with an accuracy of 0.0001 A.
Stipulative Definition and Logical Truth

Let us turn to our third idea of truth by convention, inspired by the occasional practice of novel stipulative definition within more or less natural languages.
Histoire Imparfaite: Gilote et Johane and the Counterfactual Lessons of Harley 2253

AbstractCounterfactualist approaches to the past (e.g., “What if Germany had won WWII?”) are common, if commonly derided, in various subdisciplines of history, and increasingly prevalent in popular film and narrative fiction. Literary criticism, however, has only begun to consider the phenomenon (and medieval studies not at all), despite counterfactual history’s potential for opening up the textual past in new ways. This essay risks the censure of “responsible” historians by asking what implications the interwoven topics of genre prescription, gender ideology, and historical contingency may have for the practice of counterfactual literary history in a specifically medieval context. My case study, drawn from the trilingual miscellany Harley 2253 (c.1330–40), is a scandalously obscure Anglo-Norman bourde (jest, tale) known as Gilote et Johane: a fast-moving, genre-bending hybrid in which two young women debate sexual mores, take lovers, outwit fathers, shout down clergy, advise passing wives, preach their a...
Perceived Role Responsibilities of Physical Therapists and Adapted Physical Educators in the Public School Setting

Right to Education legislation has brought physical therapists and adapted physical educators together in the public school setting to serve the child with special needs. Investigation of the role responsibilities of these professionals would facilitate not only communication between the groups, but also understanding of their functions by other school personnel and administrators. We analyzed questionnaires returned by 79 physical therapists and 30 adapted physical educators to determine areas of uniqueness or similarity in 18 identified role responsibilities performed by these two groups. Each subject rated the appropriateness of each role to physical therapists and to adapted physical educators. On 10 of the 18 items, a statistically significant interaction indicated disagreement with regard to the relative contributions of the two professions. On the other 8 items, the two groups agreed that the role responsibility tends to belong to one profession or agreed that either profession could assume the responsibility. These data should provide information to help further delineate the role definitions for each of these professionals. In addition, the most efficient use of available resources may be used to meet the educational needs of these children.