cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Optical Transmission of Actively Pumped Yb- Doped Fiber Amplifiers

Fibers doped with Yb3+ serve as optical amplification elements in many high-power amplification systems, and there is an interest in significantly extending the capabilities of rare-earth doped fiber amplifiers to space-based systems. We investigate the effects of gamma-radiation-induced photodarkening on the performance of such fibers, both for passive as well as active configurations. With an emphasis on low total ionizing doses, passive irradiations were found to show increased absorption across the visible and IR spectrum. Furthermore, continuous-pumping of an Yb3+ -doped fiber amplifier in a gamma radiation environment was found to exhibit significantly greater degradation than a similar intermittently-pumped irradiated amplifier for low total ionizing doses of under 10 krad(Si) [100 Gy(Si)]. We discuss the implications of the data which provide insight into energy-transfer mechanisms in the fibers and the relationship of gamma-radiation-induced photodarkening and pump-radiation-induced photodarkening associated with the observed fiber degradation.
Hepatic vascular malignancies in children are associated with increased rates of surgical resection and improved overall survival compared with adults

Background Hepatic vascular malignancies (HVMs) are rare malignancies, with no standardized treatment regimens. The most common HVMs, angiosarcoma and malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), are often grouped together in the literature complicating our ability to achieve reliable survival data and treatment strategies. Objective To compare the disease characteristics of HVMs, with a subanalysis on pediatric patients. Methods The 2016 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with HVMs using international classification of diseases-oncology-3 (ICD-O-3) codes yielding 699 patients. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, and log-rank analyses were performed. Results We found 478 patients (68%) with angiosarcoma and 221 (32%) with EHE. The median (Q1, Q3) age for angiosarcoma patients was 65 years (56, 75) versus 54 years (37, 65) in EHE patients (P Conclusion In the largest study of HVMs to date, we found angiosarcoma has significantly worse overall survival than EHE. Pediatric patients appear to have improved survival and higher rates of resection. Larger studies of HVMs are needed to clearly differentiate tumor types, standardize care, and improve survivorship.
The HABAC Model for Smart Home IoT and Comparison to EGRBAC

In the near future IoT will be part of every home turning our houses into smart houses, in which we have multiple users with complex social relationships between them using the same smart devices. This requires sophisticated access control specification and enforcement models. Recently, several access control models have been developed or adapted for IoT in general, with a few specifically designed for the smart home IoT domain. The majority of these models are built on role-based access control (RBAC) or attribute-based access control (ABAC) models which have had considerable traction in traditional non-IoT domains. In this paper, we introduce the smart home IoT attribute-based access control model (HABAC). HABAC is a dynamic and fine-grained model that is developed specifically to meet smart home IoT challenges. Currently it is not precisely clear what are the pros and cons of ABAC over RBAC in general, and in smart home IoT in particular. To this end we provide an analysis of HABAC relative to the previously published EGRBAC (extended generalized role based access control) model for smart home IoT. We compare the theoretical expressive power of these models by providing algorithms for converting an HABAC specification to EGRBAC and vice versa, and discuss the insights for practical deployment of these models resulting from these constructions. We conclude that a hybrid model combining ABAC and RBAC features may be the most suitable for smart home IoT, and likely more generally.
SGXPecial: Specializing SGX Interfaces against Code Reuse Attacks

Intel SGX is a hardware-based trusted execution technology that partitions an application into trusted and untrusted parts. The trusted part, known as an enclave, executes within an encrypted memory environment, preventing the host application and the OS from being able to access its memory. The enclave, however, has the ability to access the host's memory. When considering malicious code running in an enclave, the strong memory isolation and encryption properties offered may aid the stealthiness of malware, since malware detection tools cannot inspect the enclave. The enclave and the host communicate over bi-directional interfaces that the Intel SGX SDK generates. In this work, we present SGXPecial, a best-effort interface specialization tool that statically analyzes both the host and the enclave to generate interfaces tailored only to their needs. SGXPecial is implemented as an extension to the Edger8r tool of the SGX SDK, and performs API specialization at build time. In particular, SGXPecial performs function, argument, and type-based specialization to restrict the valid control flows across the host-to-enclave boundary. We evaluate SGXPecial's security impact by testing it on SGX SDK sample applications and four open-source SGX applications. SGXPecial effectively prevents five proof-of-concept code reuse attacks in all tested applications.
An Organic Polymer with a Bifunctional Electrocatalytic Activity in Oxygen Reactions

Thin films of polymer from 3,4-ethylenedithiathiophene (EDTT) were synthesized using oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD). The synthesized materials were electrochemically active and revealed bifunctional electrocatalytic activities, catalyzing oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, with the onset potentials of 0.87 V and 1.72 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the carbon atoms, adjacent to the heteroatom in the thiophene ring, are the catalytic sites. We applied a thin-film of PEDTT onto a gas diffusion layer fabric to create an air-cathode for integration into the architecture of rechargeable zinc-air batteries.
Boeing-Bombardier Trade Dispute: Développements Récents Et Une Indication De L'Importance Croissante Des Accords Régionaux? (Boeing-Bombardier Trade Dispute: Recent Developments and an Indication of the Growing Importance of Regional Agreements?)

French Abstract: Le 26 janvier 2018, une victoire - et tres imprevue - a ete accordee a Bombardier par la US Trade Commission - contre Boeing Co. La decision ne permet pas seulement a Bombardier de vendre ses plus recents avions a US Airlines sans imposer de tarifs eleves, mais a egalement d'autres repercussions en termes de stimulation potentielle de l'economie americaine - ainsi que son importance pour les economies et les gouvernements canadiens et britanniques. Le premier ministre britannique a remarque et salue la decision comme "une bonne nouvelle pour l'industrie britannique". Cet article vise non seulement a contribuer a la litterature sur le sujet, mais aussi a souligner comment les recents developpements mondiaux tels que le Brexit et les elections anticipees au Royaume-Uni ont modifie les relations commerciales, mais aussi les repercussions plus generales des accords regionaux et de leur croissance. popularite dans differentes juridictions. English Abstract: On the 26th January 2018, a victory – and very much unanticipated one, was given to Bombardier by the U.S Trade Commission – against Boeing Co. The ruling does not only permit newest jets to be sold by Bombardier to U.S Airlines without heavy tariffs, but also has other repercussions in terms of its potential boost to the US economy – as well as its importance to the Canadian and British economies and governments. The British Prime Minister is said to have remarked and welcomed the decision as one which “is good news for the British industry”. This article aims, amongst other objectives, not only to contribute to the literature on the topic in accentuating how recent global developments such as Brexit and snap elections in the United Kingdom have altered trade relationships, but also highlight broader repercussions of regional agreements and their growing popularity in different jurisdictions.
Imagining a Better Classroom: Infographics to Build Learning Communities

Innovative new teaching techniques continue to grow, but a solid grounding in the basic elements of good teaching pedagogy and clear communication is also needed. The foundation of a classroom should be a learning community in which students and instructors alike share a safe space to learn new content, engage in activities to practice with course materials and build skills, and to evaluate progress towards course learning goals. There are some instructors who were not formally trained to teach in higher education and may use the materials that were handed down to them, but not truly know how to develop their own course from the beginning. In this article, we reimagine building a better classroom through the use of infographics. The benefit of infographics is that a picture allows the instructor to interpret the image and adjust for their teaching style and the context of the course. Key elements of good teaching include course alignment, class planning, clear communication with students and collaboration between the instructor and students. Moreover, Covid-19 has heightened awareness of the need for instructors to consider the individual student and ensure that they are set up for success in the context of the class and being a student more generally. We showcase a set of six infographics to demonstrate the use of this medium to develop a successful and enjoyable course and discuss the ways in which the infographics can guide development of an evidence-based teaching approach.
Undervaccination with hepatitis B vaccine: missed opportunities or choice?

Abstract Background: An estimated 1 million to 1.25 million people in the United States are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and are at substantially increased risk of developing chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunization with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) is the most effective means of preventing HBV infection and its consequences. Methods: To identify and describe children who had not completed the three-dose HepB series, we analyzed data from the 1999 National Immunization Survey (NIS). Among the 2648 children aged 19 to 35 months who did not complete the HepB series, we examined the relationship between the number of doses of HepB received and the number of vaccination visits made, receipt of the birth dose of HepB, age at the time of first vaccination visit (excluding that for the birth dose of HepB), and completion of the 4:3:1:3 series (four doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, three doses of poliovirus vaccine, one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine [Hib]). Results: Overall, 11.8% of the children who were included in the 1999 NIS did not complete the HepB series. Among these series-incomplete children, most (79.8%; 95% CI, 77.4%–82.2%) did not receive the birth dose of HepB, and most (80.2%; 95% CI, 77.6%–82.8%) had three or more vaccination visits. Most of the series-incomplete children (87.3%; 95% CI, 85.1%–89.5%) who had three or more vaccination visits received one or two doses of HepB. Among series-incomplete children with at least three vaccination visits, those who did not receive any HepB were more likely to have completed the 4:3:1:3 series (67.1%; 95% CI, 58.8%–75.4%) than those who received at least one dose of HepB (52.7%; 95% CI, 49.0%–56.4%). Conclusions: Children who did not complete the HepB series fell into three distinct groups: children who made at least three vaccination visits but did not begin the HepB series ( n =326); children who made three or more vaccination visits and received one or two doses of HepB ( n =1835); and children who made fewer than three vaccination visits ( n =487). Different intervention strategies are needed to have an impact on each of these groups, including understanding why parents and providers may not be receptive to HepB, decreasing missed opportunities to administer HepB, and implementing tracking systems such as registries to identify and contact children who are due or overdue for vaccinations.
Qualitative Consumer Research Methods

A number of techniques can be used to probe consumer responses to new products in addition to the traditional mode of inquiry using questionnaires and large statistical samples. Exploratory research methods often use small numbers of participants but allow for greater interaction and deeper probing of attitudes and opinions (Chambers and Smith, 1991). As a class of methods, they are referred to as qualitative techniques to distinguish them from quantitative survey work that stresses statistical treatment of numerical data and representative projectable sampling. This chapter reviews the principles and application of qualitative research methods. Very little experimentation has been conducted on this form of consumer research from the perspective of sensory evaluation. For this reason, the chapter is written as a summary of the authors’ experience, drawing heavily from the overviews of the area by Casey and Krueger (1994), Krueger (1994), Chambers and Smith (1991), Stewart and Shamdasani (1990), and Goldman and McDonald (1987).
Insensitivity of the tryptophan-load test to marginal vitamin B-6 intake in rats.

The tryptophan-load test for vitamin B-6 nutritional status was administered to adult female Long-Evans rats fed graded levels of pyridoxine hydrochloride (PN.HCl) in two experiments, and its sensitivity to marginal vitamin B-6 intake was evaluated. In Experiment 1, rats were 4-h meal-fed an AIN-76A (20% casein) diet devoid of PN.HCl for 3 wk, then repleted (n = 12) for 6 wk with 4-h pair-fed meals of either 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 or 7.0 (control) mg PN.HCl/kg diet. In Experiment 2, rats (n = 16) were pair-fed for 10 wk either 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 or 7.0 (control) mg PN.HCl/kg diet, with 24-h access to food. Vitamin B-6 nutritional status was assessed at the end of each experiment. Except in rats fed 0 mg PN.HCl/kg diet, mean body weights were not significantly different among diet groups of either experiment. Plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal and total vitamin B-6 concentrations, determined by HPLC, were very sensitive to gradations in dietary PN.HCl concentrations (P less than 0.05). Red blood cell endogenous and PLP-stimulated alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activity did not statistically differentiate all levels of dietary vitamin B-6, although the calculated activity coefficient for each enzyme (stimulated/endogenous activity) did. Urinary xanthurenic acid excretion following a tryptophan load [24.5 mumol (5 mg) L-tryptophan/100 g body weight, injected intraperitoneally] was significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated compared with controls only in the group fed 0 mg PN/HCl/kg diet. At the tryptophan dose used here, the tryptophan-load test was not useful in detecting marginal vitamin B-6 intake in rats.
Inelastic Column Theories and an Analysis of Experimental Observations

The inelastic column buckling theories as usually presented are found to be rather confusing. Many experimental results still cannot be explained satisfactorily by the theories as they stand. I t appears to be pertinent, therefore, to define the inelastic buckling problem once more from a more rigorous mathematical point of view and to give a more rigorous mathematical treatment of the problem. The effect of assuming a constant tangent modulus on the buckling load in the tangent modulus formula is discussed, and many anomalies of column behavior in the inelastic region are explained. In making such a study, it is important to emphasize the difference between an ideal column and an actual column and the difference between the buckling load and the ultimate load. Southwell's method for analyzing column tests, which was originally proposed for the case of elastic buckling, is now shown to be valid for inelastic buckling. I t is also shown that , in applying the method, instead of analyzing load and deflection measurements, simultaneous load and strain readings can be used. Thus, it is easier to measure the strain more accurately.
Discrimination and Diplomacy: Recovering the Fuller National Stake in 1960s Civil Rights Reform

The conventional understanding of the history behind the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 leaves out an important issue: the role of foreign relations. Legal scholarship on the basis for federal legislative power to regulate civil rights often focuses on the question of whether the Commerce Power was an appropriate basis for civil rights legislation. Congress turned to the Commerce Power because its earlier attempt to regulate race discrimination by private actors under the enabling clauses of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments was struck down by the Supreme Court. Concerned about that precedent, in the 1960s the Kennedy Administration and members of Congress saw the Commerce Clause as a promising source of congressional regulatory power. Evidence about the impact of race discrimination on interstate commerce was brought before the Senate Commerce Committee, and legislators debated whether the bill was really about commerce, or really about a moral issue, before passing the bill. This story leaves out an important issue, for a key Kennedy Administration witness before the Committee was Secretary of State Dean Rusk whose focus was neither commerce nor morality, but foreign affairs. The nation had a crucial stake in civil rights reform, Rusk argued, because race discrimination hampered U.S. relations with other nations during the crucial period of the Cold War. There was widespread international media coverage of brutal resistance to the civil rights movement, undermining U.S. prestige around the world, with hampered U.S. Cold War leadership. Rusk urged Congress to pass the civil rights bill to safeguard the nation’s standing in the world, and he suggested that foreign relations concerns supported a broad reading of Congressional power. In essence, national security required a recalibration of federalism. This history can inform contemporary debates about the scope of Congressional power. In recent years, Congress’ regulatory power under the civil rights enabling clauses has been constricted, and Congress’ Commerce Power remains uncertain. Recovering the fuller national stake underlying the Civil Rights Act of 1964 can help us with the question of the proper scope of national authority over civil rights today.
Retailing in India: Assessing the Investment Climate

Using micro data on retail stores in India, the paper highlights key features of the business climate important to the retailers.
FLEETING MONOPARESIS AND AORTIC ARCH ATHEROMA

A 72-year-old female with a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with alternating numbness, tingling sensations and weakness of both upper extremities with left shoulder pain. Each episode of these symptoms lasted about thirty minutes and reoccurred three times on either side of her upper limbs at about 2 hourly intervals. She had no associated headache, blurry vision, slurred speech or diplopia. Six years prior to presentation, she underwent a successful repair of an unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Significant findings include; blood pressure of 177/74-mm Hg and a radial pulse rate of 78 beats per minute, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of 21, creatinine, and abnormal lipid profile. Head CT was negative. Chest x-ray showed calcification and tortuosity of the thoracic aorta. A trans-thoracic echo was negative for vegetation while trans-esophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed a tortuous thoracic aorta and an ulcerative plaque with an overlying four-cm irregular mobile thrombus in the aortic arch and several small mobile clots. The patient treated with aspirin, heparin and placed on warfarin for one year at target I.N.R of 2.0-3.0. She was symptom free at one-year follow-up. Key words: Aortic arch, atheroma, fleeting monoparesis (Annals Af Med: 2002 1(1): 41-43)
Io-accelerated electrons and ions

Earth-based measurements of the Io-modulation effect on Jovian decametric radio noise emission (Bigg, 1964) and the recently announced observation of intense Sodium-D optical emissions from the vicinity of Io (Brown, 1974) as well as various results from the Pioneer 10 Jupiter flyby (see Science,1974) indicate that the Jovian moon Io (and possibly Europa and Ganymede) play an active role in the Jovian magnetosphere.
Mental Disorders, Computational Models of

Mental disorders frequently disrupt cognition. Computational models are mathematical representations of cognitive or neural processes. These models have been applied to simulate cognitive deficits, to relate cognitive deficits to disturbances of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, and to make predictions of the effects of brain disturbance on cognitive function. Keywords: computational models; neural networks; mental disorders; schizophrenia; Alzheimer disease
Can Wet Roof Insulation Be Dried Out

Nondestructive techniques are being widely used to locate wet insulation in compact roofing systems. Now that wet insulation can be found, breather vents and so called ''breathable'' membranes are being promoted to dry out wet insulation, thereby recovering its thermal effectiveness. Exposure tests in New Hampshire indicate that the above venting methods are all rather ineffective in drying sealed specimens of perlite and fibrous glass roof insulation. It would take many decades to dry specimens at the rates measured over the past two years. Cross-ventilation within the insulation increased the rate of drying. For perlite insulation, the faster rate would still result in a drying time measured in decades. For fibrous glass insulation, the drying time was reduced to 13 years. The authors have succeeded in drying fibrous glass insulation in a roof by removing the water with a vacuum cleaner. In a series of tests with a total duration of 134 h, about 0.42 m/sup 3/ (110 gal) of water was removed from a 17-m/sup 2/ (180-ft/sup 2/) area of 38-mm (1.5-in.)-thick insulation. Before the water was removed the insulation had only 21 percent of its dry insulating ability; afterward it had 83 percent.
The acceptance of mobile teledermoscopy by primary care nurse practitioners in the state of Arizona.

University of Arizona Cancer Center Support Grant [NIH/NCI 5P30 CA023074-36]; University of Arizona Skin Cancer Institute
A 12-Wk Egg Intervention Increases Serum Zeaxanthin and Macular Pigment Optical Density in Women

Two carotenoids found in egg yolk, lutein and zeaxanthin, accumulate in the macular retina where they may reduce photostress. Increases in serum lutein and zeaxanthin were observed in previous egg interventions, but no study measured macular carotenoids. The objective of this project was to determine whether increased consumption of eggs would increase retinal lutein and zeaxanthin, or macular pigment. Twenty-four females, between 24 and 59 y, were assigned to a pill treatment (PILL) or 1 of 2 egg treatments for 12 wk. Individuals in the PILL treatment consumed 1 sugar-filled capsule/d. Individuals in the egg treatments consumed 6 eggs/wk, containing either 331 microg (EGG 1) or 964 microg (EGG 2) of lutein and zeaxanthin/yolk. Serum cholesterol, serum carotenoids, and macular pigment OD (MPOD) were measured at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 wk of intervention. Serum cholesterol concentrations did not change in either egg treatment group, but total cholesterol (P = 0.04) and triglycerides (P = 0.02) increased in the PILL group. Serum zeaxanthin, but not serum lutein, increased in both the EGG 1 (P = 0.04) and EGG 2 (P = 0.01) groups. Likewise, MPOD increased in both the EGG 1 (P = 0.001) and EGG 2 (P = 0.049) groups. Although the aggregate concentration of carotenoid in 1 egg yolk may be modest relative to other sources, such as spinach, their bioavailability to the retina appears to be high. Increasing egg consumption to 6 eggs/wk may be an effective method to increase MPOD.
Clinical utility of antifungal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Historically the anti-infective dose and dosing interval chosen in clinical trials have been based on an arbitrary goal of maintaining drug levels in serum above the minimum inhibitory concentration of infecting pathogens for most if not all of the dosing interval. Subsequent United States Food and Drug Administration approval of a dosing regimen is then based on clinical success in treatment trials. Over the past decade, the emergence of drug resistance has limited the clinical utility of an increasing number of antimicrobial agents. However, early in drug development clinical trials do not often define the impact of infection with these less susceptible pathogens. The field of pharmacodynamics provides analysis tools that can help predict the likelihood of treatment success with various antimicrobial treatment regimens against susceptible and resistant pathogens. RECENT FINDINGS In-vitro and animal model studies have begun to define the pharmacodynamic characteristics of a variety of antifungal compounds. In-vivo studies have demonstrated that the pharmacodynamic target associated with efficacy is similar among antifungal drugs within the same class and have shown the importance of considering protein. Analysis of clinical trial data suggests that the pharmacodynamic target identified in animal model studies is predictive of outcomes in humans. SUMMARY Antifungal pharmacodynamics can be used to understand the relationship between drug dosing, in-vitro susceptibility and treatment efficacy. Consideration of these relationships can be used to optimize dosing regimens with current antifungal agents, to develop susceptibility breakpoint guidelines, and in the design of dosing regimens for drugs in early development.
Synthesis of Polyamides Containing Tyrosine-Leucine Linkages

Polyamides derived from the tyrosine-leucine (Tyr-Leu) peptide bond were prepared using monomers synthesized via the diphenyl phosphoryl azide (DPPA) coupling method. Spacers of varying chain lengths and functionalities were incorporated between the Tyr-Leu dipeptide. The spacers reported here include poly(oxypropylenediamine) (Jeffamine), and dodecanediamine. The Jeffamine-containing polymers, synthesized by polycondensation with sebacoyl chloride in DMF and chloroform, were found to have an M w /M n of 47,600/26,700 and 32,000/23,700, respectively. The polymers derived from the dodecanediamine spacer and sebacoyl chloride gave a polymer with M w /M n of 47,000/26,000 as determined by GPC analysis. In another experiment, poly(β-alanyltyrosylleucyl-β-alanine), a previously synthesized polyamide with M w /M n of 16,500/5,700, was subjected to enzymatic degradation targeting the Tyr-Leu dipeptide of naturally occurring L-amino acids. The proteases thermolysin, subtilisin, chymotrypsin, and aspergillopeptidase A were used. The total organic carbon (TOC) analysis method was used to determine the extent of degradation. The polymer was found to degrade with the thermolysin protease under appropriate buffer and temperature conditions.
Nonlinear Filtering of Stochastic Navier-Stokes Equation with Itô-Lévy Noise

In this article, we study the existence and uniqueness of the strong pathwise solution of stochastic Navier-Stokes equation with Ito-Levy noise. Nonlinear filtering problem is formulated for the recursive estimation of conditional expectation of the flow field given back measurements of sensor output data. The corresponding Fujisaki-Kallianpur-Kunita and Zakai equations describing the time evolution of the nonlinear filter are derived. Existence and uniqueness of measure-valued solutions are proven for these filtering equations.
The relationship between single-channel and whole-cell conductance in the T-type Ca2+ channel CaV3.1.

In T-type Ca2+ channels, macroscopic IBa is usually smaller than ICa, but at high Ca2+ and Ba2+, single-channel conductance (γ) is equal. We investigated γ as a function of divalent concentration and compared it to macroscopic currents using CaV3.1 channels studied under similar experimental conditions (TEAo and Ki). Single-channel current-voltage relationships were nonlinear in a way similar to macroscopic open-channel I/Vs, so divalent γ was underestimated at depolarized voltages. To estimate divalent γ, concentration dependence, iDiv, was measured at voltages <−50 mV. Data were well described by Langmuir isotherms with γmax(Ca2+) of 9.5 ± 0.4 pS and γmax(Ba2+) of 10.3 ± 0.5 pS. Apparent KM was lower for Ca2+ (2.3 ± 0.7 mM) than for Ba2+ (7.9 ± 1.3 mM). A subconductance state with an amplitude 70% that of the main state was observed, the relative occupancy of which increased with increasing Ca2+. As predicted by γ, macroscopic GmaxCa was larger than GmaxBa at 5 mM (GmaxCa2+/Ba:2+1.43 ± 0.14) and similar at 60 mM (GmaxCa2+/Ba:2+1.10 ± 0.02). However, over the range of activation, ICa was larger than IBa under both conditions. This was a consequence of the fact that Vrev was more negative for IBa than for ICa, so that the driving force determining IBa was smaller than that determining ICa over the range of potentials in standard current-voltage relationships.
Can native annual forbs reduce Bromus tectorum biomass and indirectly facilitate establishment of a native perennial grass

Abstract Restoration is challenging in systems invaded by competitive, disturbance oriented plants, but greater success may be achieved by mimicking natural successional processes and including disturbance-oriented natives in a seed mix. We asked whether seven native annual forbs from the Great Basin Desert, USA, were capable of reducing biomass of the invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum , and if competition between forbs and B. tectorum could indirectly promote establishment of the native perennial grass Elymus multisetus . Some annual forbs were highly competitive with B. tectorum . For example, in a field experiment, Amsinckia tessellata reduced B. tectorum biomass by 97%, and Amsinckia intermedia , A. tessellata , and Descurainia pinnata reduced seed output between 79 and 87%. Adding native forbs to interacting B. tectorum and E. multisetus increased E. multisetus seedling growth rates in the greenhouse, but had no significant positive effects in the field. Strong suppressive effects of native forbs on B. tectorum might lead to indirect enhancement of perennial native species in subsequent years. While native colonizing species are often themselves considered “weedy”, they may be able to serve a transitory role in community recovery, allowing restoration in invaded systems to progress towards more desirable vegetation.
Physiological significance of the pineal during adaptation to shifts in photoperiod

Running activity was continuously recorded for about one year from individual adult female S1 rats under controlled conditions. Characteristics of this activity were compared in matched pinealectomized, sham-operated, and unoperated siblings during and following 4 separate 12-hr shifts in photoperiod (ΔΦ = 12) with standard conditions = LD 12:12 (110–470:5–20). Time for entrainment was about 8 days in all groups but during the phase shifting of the animals' circadian running activity, that of the pinealectomized animals differed in shifting initially more quickly in starting time and activity midpoint, in having less increase post ΔΦ in activity phase length (α) and amount of activity (A), and in having a different distribution of activity per transient cycle. These results suggest that the mammalian pineal may be more closely related to general central homeostatic mechanisms than to specific service in transducing photoperiod information to peripheral response systems. However, the probable relevance of these results to the interpretation of variable and photodependent or environmentally dependent physiologic effects of pinealectomy is pointed out.
Quality of life in patients with choroidal melanoma: A pilot study

Purpose To assess the internal consistency of a short, widely-used health-related quality of life instrument in patients with choroidal melanoma, its appropriateness for use in a large clinical trial in patients with that disease, and the feasibility of various methods of instrument administration. Methods The SF-36 was administered to 31 choroidal melanoma patients identified from two ocular oncology practices. Fifteen patients were interviewed by telephone, 4 were interviewed in person at the clinic, and 12 patients completed the instrument themselves while at the clinic. Results Twenty-three patients had already been treated for choroidal melanoma; 20 patients were treated with some form of radiation. The remaining 8 patients had not yet been treated. Metastasis had not been diagnosed in any of the patients. Patient age ranged from 37 to 85 years with a median of 59 years; 55% of the patients were female. The in-person and telephone interviews performed better than self-administered interviews in terms...
Correlation and expression of p53, HER-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and e-cadherin in a high-risk breast-cancer population.

Many genetic traits common to aggressive breast carcinoma have been identified; yet little is known about the interrelationships of such traits during tumor development, especially in women prone to aggressive cancer. This study examined the expression of four biological markers associated with poor prognosis at each stage of breast cancer progression in primary tumors from women of lower economic status and assessed the relationship between these markers. Archived primary breast tumors from 77 patients were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis for expression of human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER-2), p53, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and e-cadherin, and the relationships between the expressions of these molecules were studied. Twenty-two (29%) patients had advanced (stage III or IV) disease. HER-2, VEGF, e-cadherin, and p53 signal were positive for 31 (40%), 58 (75%), 63 (82%), and 37 (48%) of patients, respectively. Among the markers tested, only p53 exhibited a significant association between expression and stage of the disease (P = 0.012). Expression of e-cadherin was positively associated with HER-2 overexpression (P = 0.004), and high levels of HER-2 occurred with strongly positive e-cadherin tumors. Marginally significant positive associations were observed between HER-2 and p53 signal (P = 0.06), and between disease stage and e-cadherin expression (P = 0.08). The significant tendency toward expression of e-cadherin in conjunction with HER-2 overexpression in breast cancer is a novel finding. The association of p53 with more advanced stages of cancer emphasizes it as a key participant in metastatic processes in breast cancer.
System analysis and process redesign for quality improvement of sepsis resuscitation

Severe sepsis and septic shock are serious medical emergencies that require timely treatment. The Sepsis Resuscitation Bundle was implemented to frame the resuscitation time within 6 h of onset. Missing this goal has a major impact on treatment outcomes and cost. This study demonstrates the potential of applying a systems engineering approach to improve resuscitation compliance. Root cause analysis, an industrial engineering tool, was used to analyse the existing process and identify sources of delay. Simulation modelling was performed to study event dynamics and propose alternatives. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the proposed alternatives. Results showed that improvements could be achieved by adopting major event adjustments. Applying these adjustments is projected to increase compliance from 50% to 71% and reduce average patient cycle time by 32%, improving the quality of sepsis and septic shock resuscitation in the ICU.
Spins in 23Na from 25Mg(d, α)

Abstract The 25 Mg(d, α) 23 Na reaction has been investigated at bombarding energies of 12.07,11.82 and 11.57 MeV. Angular distributions are approximately symmetric about 90° and for states of known J π angle-integrated cross sections σ averaged over bombarding energy, are roughly proportional to 2J + 1: σ /(2J + 1) = 25±4 μ b . Measured cross sections for other states, up to E x = 7.9 MeV, have been used to place limits on J .
Tonic Immobility Responses of White Leghorn Hens Affected by Induction Techniques and Genetic Stock Differences

Abstract Tonic immobility (TI) was induced in about 70% of White Leghorn hens caught and immediately restrained in the dorsal position for a single 15 sec period. Temporary confinement of hens housed in floor pens in single-bird cages prior to restraint reduced initial induction of TI to 46%. Eye closure during TI occurred in ≤15% of hens and vocalization, jumping up, or both on termination was present about 80% of the time. Induction of TI on first restraint was greater when less support was provided for the hen's body. Latency until first gross leg and head movement after TI induction decreased with increased time required for catching of hens in floor pens, but righting time (until hens stood up) was unaffected. Correlations among the three latency measures revealed the following: between leg and head movement, r .41 to .71 (P Genetic differences were detected consistently by latency to first gross head movement and by righting time only. Strains selected for part-year egg mass showed more prompt head movement than did unselected controls. Random genetic drift between strains selected alike apparently was responsible for differences in righting time. Although strains within selection schemes differed, crosses between strains did not differ from the mean of the parental strains, providing evidence that genetic variance for righting time tends to be more additive than nonadditive.
use of AVHHR imagery for large-scale forest inventories

Abstract Satellite-based remote-sensing observations provide a continuous source of data useful for evaluating forest vegetation over large areas. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) series of polar-orbiting environmental satellites is well suited for large-scale studies, providing worldwide coverage daily in five spectral bands with a spatial resolution of 1.1 km. Research is being conducted by the Forest Inventory and Analysis unit of the Southern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, on the use of AVHRR data for forest-inventory applications. Digital image data from the AVHRR sensor were used in an unsupervised clustering procedure to produce generalized land-cover classifications of three states in the southern United States. Statewide estimates of forest area were generated for Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and were compared with recent forest-survey estimates. All AVHRR-based estimates were within 5% of the ground-based forest-survey estimates, and the estimate for Louisiana was within 1%. A more detailed analysis of Louisiana revealed a very high correlation between AVHRR and forest-survey estimates at the parish (county) level. Though not appropriate for detailed forest cover-type mapping, the frequent repeat cycle, large area coverage, spectral characteristics, and relatively low cost of AVHRR data make it attractive as a potential component of a forest inventory-update model, especially when combined with higher-resolution imagery such as from Landsat. This type of data could also be useful for developing countries, which do not yet have a complete inventory of their forest resources, and for monitoring tropical deforestation.
Beyond Romantic Ecocriticism: Toward Urbanatural Roosting; William Wordsworth and the Ecology of Authorship: The Roots of Environmentalism in Nineteenth-Century Culture

A recent item in the Los Angeles Times announced a proposed name change to a local freeway that connects the central artery of Interstate 405 to the sprawling “multi-use” community of Playa Vista. ...
Relative influence of city structure on canopy photosynthesis

No analytical models seem to exist which are capable of investigating the relative effects of the physical urban landscape on the rates of leaf net photosynthesis in canopies. This paper deals with the results of the combination of two deterministic models: a multi-layered canopy leaf energy budget-photosynthesis model CANOPY and a complex, analytical street canyon energy budget model URBAN 3. Both models were validated previously. A range of three widely contrasting plant photosynthesis response systems (C3 and C4 plants) were chosen as well as were different latitudes, seasons, and urban morphologies. The results indicated both reductions and increases of relative photosynthesis and an almost linear correlation between relative sunlit area and relative net photosynthesis.
Intraoperative ultrasonography of the pancreas in children.

In children, lesions of the pancreas often are small, and precise localization is required for optimal surgical management. We have used newer-generation real-time ultrasonography of the pancreas intraoperatively in seven children. Five of these children had hypoglycemia, hyperin-sulinemia, and insulimomas; one had a persistent small pancreatic pseudocyst with a disrupted secondary duct, and one had familial pancreatitis with a remarkably enlarged duct and a stone. Two of the five with adenomas had multiple endoctine neoplasia syndrome I (MEN I syndrome); in them, ultrasonography localized several adenomas preoperatively and several additional adenomas intraoperatively. This allowed a 90% pancreatectomy with enucleation of smak adenomas in the remaining head. One child had a nonpalpable insulinoma deep in the head of the pancreas; intraoperative ultrasonography localized the lesion and permitted successful enucleation. Another child with a small pseudocyst and a disrupted secondary pancreatic duct ultimately required surgical drainage; intraoperative ultrasonography of the inflammatory mass immediately localized the small pseudocyst and thus decreased the operative time. The child with familial pancreatitis appeared to require a surgical drainage procedure; however, intraoperative ultrasonography demonstrated that the stone had passed spontaneously just prior to operation and the duct size had returned to normal, eliminating the neod for the drainage procedure at that time.
Continuous infusion of cholecystokinin and meal pattern in the rat.

Abstract Purified natural cholecystokinin (CCK-33) was infused continuously for two days at a rate of 5.9 μg/hr in two rats trained to bar-press for food (Noyes pellet 45 mg) on a fixed ratio of five bar presses to obtain one pellet. The animals also received control surgery and were tested in the operant chamber for two days, one prior to and the other following the CCK-33 treatment. CCK-33 suppressed the number of meals, the total amount of food eaten, and the total duration of time spent eating. However, the size of each meal and the rate of intake were not affected. The CCK effect did not interact with the light-dark phases of diurnal cycle. It appears that a major effect of continuous systemic elevation of CCK-33 is to reduce food intake by prolonging the satiety period rather than by decreasing the individual meal size.
Pure insulin nanoparticle agglomerates for pulmonary delivery.

Diabetes is a set of diseases characterized by defects in insulin utilization, either through autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells (Type I) or insulin resistance (Type II). Treatment options can include regular injections of insulin, which can be painful and inconvenient, often leading to low patient compliance. To overcome this problem, novel formulations of insulin are being investigated, such as inhaled aerosols. Sufficient deposition of powder in the peripheral lung to maximize systemic absorption requires precise control over particle size and density, with particles between 1 and 5 μm in aerodynamic diameter being within the respirable range. Insulin nanoparticles were produced by titrating insulin dissolved at low pH up to the pI of the native protein, and were then further processed into microparticles using solvent displacement. Particle size, crystallinity, dissolution properties, structural stability, and bulk powder density were characterized. We have demonstrated that pure drug insulin microparticles can be produced from nanosuspensions with minimal processing steps without excipients, and with suitable properties for deposition in the peripheral lung.
Detection of layup errors in prepreg laminates using shear ultrasonic waves

The highly anisotropic elastic properties of the plies in a composite laminate manufactured from unidirectional prepregs interact strongly with the polarization direction of shear ultrasonic waves propagating through its thickness. The received signals in a 'crossed polarizer' transmission configuration are particularly sensitive to ply orientation and layup sequence in a laminate. Such measurements can therefore serve as an NDE tool for detecting layup errors. For example, it was shown experimentally recently that the sensitivity for detecting the presence of misoriented plies is better than one ply out of a 48-ply laminate of graphite epoxy. A physical model based on the decomposition and recombination of the shear polarization vector has been constructed and used in the interpretation and prediction of test results. Since errors should be detected early in the manufacturing process, this work also addresses the inspection of 'green' composite laminates using electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT). Preliminary results for ply error detection obtained with EMAT probes are described.
Dacron Patch Infection after Carotid Endarterectomy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Patch angioplasty of the carotid artery after endarterectomy is a widely utilized technique with potential benefits of perioperative and long-term stroke risk reduction as well as a decreased incidence of recurrent stenosis. One of the complications of using a synthetic material as a patch is the development of prosthetic patch infection. We present a case report of a patient who was treated at our institution with such a complication and review the literature on this rare occurrence. The risk factors, workup, diagnosis, and treatment of prosthetic patch infection are reviewed. Despite the serious nature of this problem, surgical treatment is associated with minimal morbidity and an acceptable postoperative mortality and stroke rate.
The potential oncogenic activity of influenza A virus in lungs of mice.

Summary Adult male CD1 mice were inoculated with chicken egg-propagated influenza type A/PR8/34 virus. Fully developed pulmonary pneumonia was found 7 d after the infection. In addition to the pneumatic condition, pronounced thickening of the bronchiolar epithelium denoting hyperplastic and dysplastic transformation of the epithelial cells were also observed. By 11 d of the experiment, extensive papillomatous proliferation of the bronchiolar epithelial cells could be demonstrated. Furthermore, invasive growth of these epithelial cells through the basement membrane and muscularis layer into the alveolar tissues were evident. Such invasive transgression of transformed epithelial cells strongly suggested malignant growth of these cells. Detailed histopathological survey of all the virus-infected lungs revealed tumorous nodule formations in over 80% of the specimens examined. Our present investigation not only confirmed previous claims that cellular transformations (hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia) can be induced with influenza type A virus but also for the first time successfully demonstrated invasive growth and tumorous formation in lungs of infected animals. Our study further reaffirms the oncogenic potential of influenza type A virus.