cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Evolution of Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase Proteins in the Early History of Life

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) consist of several families of functionally conserved proteins essential for translation and protein synthesis. Like nearly all components of the translation machinery, most aaRS families are universally distributed across cellular life, being inherited from the time of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA). However, unlike the rest of the translation machinery, aaRS have undergone numerous ancient horizontal gene transfers, with several independent events detected between domains, and some possibly involving lineages diverging before the time of LUCA. These transfers reveal the complexity of molecular evolution at this early time, and the chimeric nature of genomes within cells that gave rise to the major domains. Additionally, given the role of these protein families in defining the amino acids used for protein synthesis, sequence reconstruction of their pre-LUCA ancestors can reveal the evolutionary processes at work in the origin of the genetic code. In particular, sequence reconstructions of the paralog ancestors of isoleucyl- and valyl- RS provide strong empirical evidence that at least for this divergence, the genetic code did not co-evolve with the aaRSs; rather, both amino acids were already part of the genetic code before their cognate aaRSs diverged from their common ancestor. The implications of this observation for the early evolution of RNA-directed protein biosynthesis are discussed.
A retrospective on the requirements for γδ T‐cell development

Since the discovery of gammadelta T cells two decades ago, considerable effort has been made to understand their developmental program, their antigen specificity, and their contribution to the immune response. In this review, we focus on what is known about gammadelta T-cell development and on the advances that have been made in determining which genes are required. In addition, we compare the genetic requirements for alphabeta and gammadelta T-cell development with the hope of gaining a better picture of the signaling pathways that govern the development of gammadelta lineage cells.
A NOVEL APPROACH FOR SHORT-TERM LOAD FORECASTING USING SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINES

A support vector machine (SVM) modeling approach for short-term load forecasting is proposed. The SVM learning scheme is applied to the power load data, forcing the network to learn the inherent internal temporal property of power load sequence. We also study the performance when other related input variables such as temperature and humidity are considered. The performance of our proposed SVM modeling approach has been tested and compared with feed-forward neural network and cosine radial basis function neural network approaches. Numerical results show that the SVM approach yields better generalization capability and lower prediction error compared to those neural network approaches.
Modeled and observed intra-ring δ18O cycles within late Holocene Bristlecone Pine tree samples

Abstract The oxygen isotope ratio of alpha-cellulose produced by Bristlecone Pine trees from the White Mountains of California was measured for three different 10-year tree-ring sections at near-weekly resolution to investigate how the growing season climate cycle influences the annual to inter-annual isotopic variability of whole-ring samples. We selected sections of wood that grew under periods of generally reduced (155–172 BC) and increased (AD 1106–1122; AD 1827–1834) growth to assess whether or not the environmental parameters that are responsible for ring-width variability, including water availability, also influence the intra-annual cellulosic isotope variability. Each annual ring is characterized by a parabolic function of intraseasonal δ 18 O change that reflects humidity and temperature-dependent fractionations of H 2 18 O utilized by the tree during the growth period. Subtle shifts in the shape and amplitude of the seasonal δ 18 O cycle are attributed to changing growing season length but the differences are not large enough to bias a whole-ring isotopic value. We model the isotope fractionations based on growing season climate variables and tree physiology and find that the measured δ 18 O is in close agreement with the model-predicted values. The model retains no information on previous winter conditions and thus confirms that these trees draw upon an isotopically homogenized water source. The intraseasonal δ 18 O cycle arises entirely from fractionations due to summer season temperature and humidity. A persistent issue with dendroclimatic reconstructions is addressing seasonal biases in the record, we find that in this environment where growth and precipitation are separated by many months we are able to capture distinct information on both seasons by coupling average annual values with information on sub-seasonal variability.
Brightness discrimination learning in caimans.

The caiman has several attributes which make it suitable for use by the comparative psychologist. It is readily available at a moderate cost and is a rather hardy animal which can be maintained in good health for prolonged periods. Crocodilians are of interest from a neurological standpoint because they possess a rudimentary neocortex, and the caiman forebrain is readily accessible during at least some surgical procedures. Williams (1967a, 1967b) has shown that this animal tends to rely upon spatial rather than brightness cues during maze learning and that it learns a spatial discrimination problem as quickly as a confounded problem with both spatial and brightness cues available and relevant. This last finding is somewhat surprising from the standpoint of most theorists (e.g., Restle, 1757). Even more surprising, however, is the fact that there appeared to be a tremendous amount of negative transfer from a confounded task to a visual task even though the positive visual cue remained unchanged (pilot work mentioned briefly in Williams, 1967b). AS a result of this finding, the present study was conducted to determine whether prior training on a confounded task would indeed reinforce the natural tendency to attend primarily to spatial cues and, thus, retard learning of a visual discrimination. A second question is whether caimans will learn a confounded discrimination problem more quickly than a strictly visual discrimination. However, prior experimentation certainly suggests that this second hypothesis will be confirmed. METHOD Subjects Twelve juvenile spectacled caimans served as Ss.l They were purchased commercially and were 16 to 17 in. long. They were housed in a 6- )( 3-ft. tank with a slanted, partially submerged bottom and were identified by varicolored neckbands.
A hybrid model for weekday replacements with infant mortality failures

Abstract A hybrid availability model of a repairable system with infant mortality failures is proposed. The hybrid model can efficiently represent different types of state transitions by the use of a hierarchy of models: (1) a time-discretized component submodel, which provides a piecewise-linear failure rate during an operating interval; (2) a phased-mission model, which transforms the state probability vector according to repair activity; and (3) a combinatorial model, which is used to predict the number of working units among a collection of identical components. The modeling approach is illustrated by predicting the expected number of working components for a multiple-component system where replacement components are ordered at the end of business hours each weekday end. Replacement occurs on the next weekday morning.
Towards Variable Fidelity Optimization with Hardware in the Loop for Flapping Flight

This paper presents a method for optimization of real hardware with reduced need to access the hardware. It does so with a variable fidelity modeling approach. The models used are a high fidelity hardware model and a low fidelity physics based model. These models are invoked strategically to minimize the number of calls to the hardware. With this lower cost, designers can more fully explore design spaces that would otherwise be too expensive to explore using traditional design of experiments on hardware-in-the-loop systems. We show that the presented method identifies an optimal design more efficiently than a BoxBehnken DOE based optimization. Results are presented based on physical hardware tests with a cantilever beam in bending and a Butterworth filter. These examples provide a step toward use of the presented method on a flapping mechanism.
The phenotypic heterogenicity of bullous ichthyosis—a case report of three family members

Summary We present a family with an inherited disorder of cornification. The clinical features are much less severe and developed much later in life than is usual in bullous ichthyosis. Skin biopsy demonstrated epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, a feature typical of bullous ichthyosis. The family is reported both to highlight the wide interfamilial variation that may occur in this condition and the value of histology in classifying this form of ichthyosis.
Synthesis and characterization of atomically thin graphite films on a silicon carbide substrate

Abstract This paper reports the synthesis and detailed characterization of graphite thin films produced by thermal decomposition of the (0 0 0 1) face of a 6H–SiC wafer, demonstrating the successful growth of single crystalline films down to approximately one graphene layer. The growth and characterization were carried out in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. The growth process and sample quality were monitored by low-energy electron diffraction, and the thickness of the sample was determined by core level X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows constant energy map patterns, which are very sharp and fully momentum-resolved, but nonetheless not resolution limited. We discuss the implications of this observation in connection with scanning electron microscopy data, as well as with previous studies.
Arsenic-induced cancer cell phenotype in human breast epithelia is estrogen receptor-independent but involves aromatase activation

Accumulating data suggest arsenic may be an endocrine disruptor and tentatively linked to breast cancer by some studies. Therefore, we tested the effects of chronic inorganic arsenic exposure on the normal estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast epithelial cell line, MCF-10A. Cells were chronically exposed to a low-level arsenite (500 nM) for up to 24 weeks. Markers of cancer cell phenotype and the expression of critical genes relevant to breast cancer or stem cells (SCs) were examined. After 24 weeks, chronic arsenic-exposed breast epithelial (CABE) cells showed increases in secreted MMP activity, colony formation, invasion, and proliferation rate, indicating an acquired cancer cell phenotype. These CABE cells presented with basal-like breast cancer characteristics, including ER-α, HER-2, and progesterone receptor negativity, and overexpression of K5 and p63. Putative CD44+/CD24−/low breast SCs were increased to 80 % over control in CABE cells. CABE cells also formed multilayer cell mounds, indicative of loss of contact inhibition. These mounds showed high levels of K5 and p63, indicating the potential presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition occurred during arsenic exposure. Overexpression of aromatase, a key rate-limiting enzyme in estrogen synthesis, occurred with arsenic starting early on in exposure. Levels of 17β-estradiol increased in CABE cells and their conditioned medium. The aromatase inhibitor letrozole abolished arsenic-induced increases in 17β-estradiol production and reversed cancer cell phenotype. Thus, chronic arsenic exposure drives human breast epithelia into a cancer cell phenotype with an apparent overabundance of putative CSCs. Arsenic appears to transform breast epithelia through overexpression of aromatase, thereby activating oncogenic processes independent of ER.
Terris, Gray, and Dunlap respond.

A reply to the comment on the investigation of Ruderman-kittel interac in SmRhB and ErRhB is presented. (AIP)
Applying evolutionary terminology auditing to the Gene Ontology

Evolutionary Terminology Auditing (ETA) is a novel way to assess the quality of terminologies using reality as benchmark. The key idea is that terms added to each new version of a terminology reflect unjustified absences and terms that are deleted unjustified presences in previous versions of the terminology. The method requires that terminology authors not only keep track of changes in successive versions, but also motivate the changes introduced. In this paper, we report on how our method has been applied to the Gene Ontology (GO), a collection of three structured, controlled vocabularies for use in annotating genes, gene products and sequences. We demonstrate that even where the basic requirements for its application are only partially satisfied, the approach can still yield results which are useful for quantifying and forecasting the evolution of a terminology's quality over time.
Handling qualities assessment of the effects of tail boom strakes on the Bell 412 helicopter

Abstract Flight tests were recently conducted at the National Research Council of Canada Flight Research Laboratory on the Bell 412 helicopter to evaluate the effects of the Boundary Layer Research tailboom strakes on aircraft handling qualities and control margins. Handling qualities were assessed using a selection of the standard hover/low speed manoeuvres from ADS-33, while control margins were examined by collecting trim position data at various low airspeeds and relative wind azimuths. The results indicated that the strakes offer a 0.5 to 1.0 Cooper–Harper handling qualities rating improvement for most manoeuvres, particularly with the stability augmentation system turned off. The strakes also improved the pedal margins resulting in the pilot using less left pedal when flying at low speed and reduced pedal activity at the critical relative wind azimuth.
A revised generic classification of the Galericini (Insectivora, Mammalia) with some remarks on their palaeobiogeography and phylogeny

Abstract A generic revision of the Galericini is proposed. The genus Parasorex von Meyer , 1865 is revalidated. Tetracus Aymard , 1850 is included in Galerix Pomel , 1848. The stratigraphic ranges and palaeogeographic dispersal of the Galericini is given. The phylogenetic relationships of the genera are discussed. The evolution of Parasorex and Schizogalerix in the Middle Miocene is interpreted as an adaptation to a more herbivorous diet.
On the algebra of interactive fuzzy numbers: the continuous case

Abstract In [1] we discussed default methods, involving an approximate joint distribution or the extension principle, to calculated M + N , M N , and evaluate M ⩽ N , M = N , etc. for positively and negatively associated discrete fuzzy numbers M and N . This paper continues that research where now M and N are continuous fuzzy numbers. We also discuss default procedures for extended max and min.
Ocean productivity: A personal perspective since the first Liege Colloquium

Abstract I briefly review the changing dominant research agenda in ocean productivity over the time since the first Liege Colloquium, 44 years ago, and coincidentally, about when I started in oceanography. I then consider two lingering issues, the depth of the ocean's productive layer and the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon. These two topics are united through respiration, the former concerning autotrophic respiration, and the latter heterotrophic respiration.
Transmission and attenuation of vibration in orb spider webs

Abstract Numerous observations indicate that orb spiders react to web-borne vibrations during prey capture, courtship and the rearing of young, but there have been very few analyses of the physics of spider webs undergoing vibration. Using measured or estimated physical properties for spiders and webs from previous literature, we have developed equations that model the response of web-spider systems to signals at various frequencies. Our results indicate that resonance phenomena do not affect signal transmission in most orb webs in the frequency range of sound produced by the wingbeats of most flying insects (about 50–1000 Hz). Above 1000 Hz, individual strands in a web could resonate, but attenuation should prevent significant transmission, at least for transverse vibrations. For signals with frequencies below about 30 Hz, resonant vibrations of the spider or other massive objects within the web could affect transmission significantly.
Regulation of the l-arabinose transport operons in Escherichia coli☆

l-Arabinose is transported into Escherichia coli via two independent transport systems, a system possessing relatively low affinity for arabinose, the araE system, and a system of higher affinity for arabinose, the araFG system. In the work reported here we demonstrate that insertion of the Mu-lac bacteriophage isolated by Casadaban & Cohen (1979) permits a reliable measurement of the expression of these two operons. Using appropriate Mu-lac insertion strains we found that both of the arabinose transport operons can be induced approximately 150-fold by the presence of arabinose, and that induction of both transport operons requires CRP (cyclic AMP receptor protein), but that their catabolite sensitivities differ from one another. In addition, we show that the araC+ allele is dominant to the Cc allele in the control of the transport operons, just as is found in the araBAD operon.
Pediatric Cervical Spine Injury Evaluation After Blunt Trauma: A Clinical Decision Analysis

Study objective Although many adult algorithms for evaluating cervical spine injury use computed tomography (CT) as the initial screening modality, this may not be appropriate in low-risk children, considering radiation risks. We determine the optimal initial evaluation strategy for cervical spine injury in pediatric blunt trauma. Methods We constructed a decision analysis tree for a hypothetical population of patients younger than 19 years with blunt trauma, using 3 strategies: clinical stratification, screening radiographs followed by focused CT if the radiograph result was positive, and CT. For the model inputs, we used the current literature to determine the probabilities of cervical spine injury and estimate the long-term risks of malignancy after CT, as well as test characteristics of radiographic imaging. We used published utilities and conducted 1- and 2-way sensitivity analyses to determine the optimal strategy for evaluation of pediatric cervical spine injury. Results In our model of a population with blunt trauma, the expected value of a clinical stratification strategy was the highest of the 3 strategies, making it the overall preferred management. One-way sensitivity analysis of several contributing factors revealed that the only independent factor that altered the dominant strategy was the sensitivity of clinical clearance criteria, lowering the threshold at which screening-radiograph strategy is optimal. Within the patient population considered as having non-negligible risk by clinical stratification and thus requiring imaging, the preferred imaging modality was screening radiograph/focused CT. The probability of cervical spine injury above which CT became the preferred strategy was 24.9%. Conclusion The model highlights that clinical clearance and screening radiographs in a hypothetical trauma pediatric population are preferred strategies, whereas CT scanning is rarely the initial optimal evaluation.
Bearings-only target localization for an acoustical unattended ground sensor network

This paper extends our development of acoustical bearings-only target localization for the case of multiple moving targets. The resulting techniques can be used to locate and track targets traveling through a network of acoustical sensor arrays. Each array computes and transmits multiple direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimates to a central processor, which employs the target localization technique. In previous work, we developed ML techniques that may or may not account for the fact that a bearing measurement points to the location of a moving target at a retarded time. By inserting a simple bearings association computation in the ML methods, we define quasi-ML techniques that can estimate the location and velocity of multiple targets using multiple bearing estimates per a sensor array.
The effect of 24c-site (A) cation substitution on the tetragonal–cubic phase transition in Li7−xLa3−xAxZr2O12 garnet-based ceramic electrolyte

Abstract The garnet-type ceramic electrolyte of nominal composition Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 can exist in the tetragonal and cubic form. This article investigates the tetragonal to cubic phase transition based on super-valent cation substitution on the 24c site typically occupied by La (3+) in the garnet structure. Ce (4+) was selected as the super-valent cation represented as x in Li 7− x La 3− x Ce x Zr 2 O 12 . The doping study showed that cubic LLZO was stabilized for Ce ≥ 0.2. These data agree with most literature reports suggesting that the creation of Li vacancies, while maintaining oxygen stoichiometry, is necessary to stabilize cubic LLZO. Moreover, this work suggests a critical Li vacancy concentration (0.12–0.4 mol per mole of Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 ) is necessary to stabilize cubic LLZO. While the addition of Ce stabilized cubic LLZO, the total ionic conductivity (0.014 mS cm −1 ) was considerably lower compared to Al and Ta doped LLZO (0.4–0.9 mS cm −1 , respectively). The lower conductivity is likely due to CeO 2 precipitation at grain boundaries.
Management of Intraepithelial Conjunctival Tumors and Squamous Cell Carcinomas

We compared the effects of excision, extensive freezing with a liquid nitrogen spray, and combined therapy with excision and superficial freezing with a liquid nitrogen probe on intraepithelial conjunctival tumors. After follow-up periods of at least 36 months, excision and extensive freezing produced recurrence rates similar to those previously reported (two of six lesions treated with excision alone recurred and three of nine treated with extensive freezing recurred), but excision combined with superficial freezing produced a recurrence rate of only 8% (two of 23 lesions recurred), almost three times better than any previously reported. Both lesions recurred in patients who had undergone previous therapy.
The Colonial Spanish-American City: Urban Life in the Age of Atlantic Capitalism

Acknowledgments Introduction A Note about the Terms "Town Council," "Stores," and "Shops" Chapter 1. The Colonial City by Definition and Origin Chapter 2. The Pre-Columbian City Chapter 3. The Colonial City Ordained and Structured Chapter 4. The Administration of the Colonial City Chapter 5. The City Visualized Chapter 6. The Urban Economy Chapter 7. Urban Society Chapter 8. Caste and Class in the Urban Context Chapter 9. The Urban Family Chapter 10. The Urban Dialogue Chapter 11. Conclusion: The Paradox Epilogue Appendix. A Comparison of Key Elements in the Ordenanzas of 1573 and in Vitruvius Notes Glossary Selected Bibliography Index
Looking Back to the Future

Summary This article reviews the American and British library literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to see what librarians of this period expected libraries and librarianship to be like in the mid to late twentieth century. They expected librarians would be involved in a variety of services and outreach activities such as teaching children in the schools. These writers also anticipated a publishing glut with more books being printed than any library could acquire. Budgets, consequently, were expected to be tight. Though no one foresaw the computer, most expected technology to have an increasingly important role. Improvements in mechanical devices also meant a unified national catalog might be realized. This would be but the harbinger of other cooperative activities such as inter-library reference and lending. Writers also expected libraries would be imposing edifices. Finally, many forecast that librarians would become professionals.
Toward Accountability in Educational Research

This paper describes the nature of research activity in the College of Education at the University of Minnesota, a college that has ranked high on several studies of research productivity (Higgins, 1968; Walberg, 1971). But the reasons for examining the research activity are much broader. This information was needed by the Office of Educational Research, Planning and Development to provide a basis for college research planning, to help stimulate further research among faculty members, and to provide accountability evidence to funding agencies, central administration, and state legislators of the success of the college in meeting this aspect of its mission. The specific questions of the study were four: Who is doing what kind of research? What proportion of total effort is devoted to research? What is the cost and who supports educational research? Finally, what are the identifiable outcomes of the research effort? To pursue these four questions, a set of items was developed as part of a larger faculty activities survey conducted during the 1970-71 academic year. 1 All faculty members (N= 206) were asked to complete a questionnaire, and a 93% response rate was achieved.
Making the Case for a Positive Approach to Improving Organizational Performance in Higher Education Institutions: The Community College Abundance Model

Increasingly hostile and turbulent environments have rendered top-down, problem-focused management structures inadequate for competing in the ever-changing postsecondary knowledge industry. The community college abundance model (CCAM), a strengths-based approach to performance enhancement in community colleges, is presented as a viable alternative. The CCAM draws on positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship, and positive organizational behavior.
Faith and the Founding: The Influence of Religion on the Politics of James Madison

A 22-year-old James Madison, on a jaunt through his native Vir ginia, visited a jail that held half a dozen Baptist preachers, arrested simply for publishing their religious views. It was a common scene in the Virginia of Madison's youth. State officials, under the sway of the established Anglican Church, tolerated the violent persecution of relig ious dissenters. Baptists were being driven out of one county and jailed in another. The bookish Madison bristled with indignation. "That dia bolical Hell conceived principle of persecution rages among some," he wrote his college friend William Bradford, "and to their infamy the Clergy can furnish their Quota of Imps for such business." He closed the letter with a lament: "So I leave you to pity me and pray for Liberty of Conscience to revive among us."1 Though well known to Madison biographers, the above tale gets little attention from students of the American Founding. As a political theorist, architect of the U.S. Constitution, and America's fourth presi dent, Madison has earned intense scrutiny. Nevertheless, numerous scholars have overlooked the importance of faith to his political philos ophy. In his award-winning The Creation of the American Republic, Gordon Wood devotes generous space to Madison's views of persons and property, factions and federalism. Yet hardly a word on religion. Jack Rakove's James Madison allows virtually no place for religious be
Dual‐opposite injection capillary electrophoresis for the determination of anionic and cationic homologous surfactants in a single run

An electrophoretic method for the simultaneous separation and determination of cationic and anionic surfactants based on double electrokinetic injection from the two ends of the capillary is proposed here. Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) with methanol as solvent was used to reduce the electroosmotic flow so that under these conditions the analytes migrate toward the corresponding electrode. The optimization step was the key to solve the problems associated with surfactants analysis (namely, adsorption on the capillary wall, micelle formation, and those issues related to the separation of homologous compounds). Good results were obtained with the proposed method both for the analysis of both spiked and natural samples, thus demonstrating the applicability of the proposed method for routine analysis. Finally, a comparison between the proposed method and two methods for independent analysis of cationic and anionic surfactants was made. The results showed that the precision (between 1.90 and 4.10% for repeatability and 7.43 and 8.98% for within-laboratory reproducibility, both expressed as relative standard deviation) and sensitivity (limits of detection and quantification between 0.52 and 1.88 microg/mL and between 1.73 and 6.20 microg/mL, respectively) are not affected by the CE mode. The resolution was similar to or better than that of the comparison methods and the analysis time was considerably shortened as both types of compounds were determined in a single run in only 9 min.
Mass Extinctions Caused by Large Bolide Impacts

Evidence indicates that the collisions of Earth and a large piece of Solar System debris such as a meteoroid, asteroid or comet caused the great extinctions of 65 million years ago, leading to the transition from the age of the dinosaurs to the age of the mammals.
Multicultural Education for The Dominant Culture Toward the Development of a Multicultural Sense of Self

This article synthesizes the literature in social and multicultural education and classic work in social psychology to examine philosophical, theoretical, and practical issues related to multicultu...
Oscillator strengths and radiative transition rates for Kα lines in gold X-ray spectra: 1s–2p transitions

This work was partially supported by a Large Interdisciplinary Grant award from the Ohio State University. The computational work was carried out on the Cray X1 and Itanium 4 cluster at the Ohio Supercomputer Center in Columbus Ohio. C. Sur acknowledges Dr. Rajat Chaudhuri for helpful discussions and developing codes for relativistic coupled cluster calculations.
Secondary Data Analysis as an Efficient and Effective Approach to Nursing Research

Meeting the expectation for scholarly productivity can be challenging for nursing faculty, especially in the absence of grant or other funding. Secondary data analysis is one strategy to address this challenge. The use of existing data to test new hypotheses or answer new research questions has several advantages. It typically takes less time and resources, is low risk to participants, and allows access to large data sets and longitudinal data. Despite these advantages, limitations do exist, including a lack of knowledge of the existence of rich data sets and how to obtain and evaluate the contents, insufficient or outdated data, and lack of funds to hire staff to assist with the work. Exemplars of secondary data analysis using public government and private data sets are presented along with the skills needed to conduct this type of analysis. Secondary data analysis is an efficient and effective approach to conducting nursing research.
With experience comes wisdom? Difficulties learning from and using adviser acquisition experience

Firms making acquisitions often employ investment banks for their experience. Using theories of organizational learning, we explore the nature of that experience and its use for acquiring firms. We...
Bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil formulations

Cefuroxime axetil tablets have proved effective for the treatment of a variety of community-acquired infections. A suspension formulation has been developed for use in children. Two studies have been conducted to determine if the cefuroxime axetil formulations are bioequivalent. In the initial randomized, two-period crossover study, 24 healthy men received 250-mg doses of suspension and tablet formulations of cefuroxime axetil every 12 h after eating for seven doses. Each treatment period was separated by 4 days. Comparisons of serum and urine pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that the suspension and tablet formulations of cefuroxime axetil are not bioequivalent. Following the initial bioequivalency study, 0.1 % sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was added to the suspension to assure the homogeneity of the granules during the manufacturing process. In the subsequent randomized, three-period crossover study, 24 healthy men received single 250-mg doses of three cefuroxime axetil formulations: suspension without SLS, suspension with SLS, and tablet. Again each treatment period was separated by 4 days. Pharmacokinetic analyses demonstrated that while the suspension with SLS and suspension without SLS are bioequivalent, bioequivalence between the suspension with SLS and the tablet was not observed. Thus, the addition of the SLS surfactant to the suspension did not alter the bioavailability of the formulation.
Anaphylaxis in emergency department patients 50 or 65 years or older.

Background Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction commonly managed in the emergency department (ED). Data describing patients 50 or 65 years or older with anaphylaxis are limited. Objective To describe the presentation and management of patients with anaphylaxis who were 50 or 65 years or older and to compare these findings with those of younger patients. Methods A consecutive cohort study of patients presenting to an ED with approximately 80,000 visits per year was conducted. Patients who met diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis from April 2008 to June 2010 were included. Data were collected on suspected causes, signs and symptoms, management, ED disposition, and follow-up. Results The study included 220 patients. Food was the most common suspected cause of anaphylaxis for patients younger than 50 (42.2%) or 65 years (38.5%) but was much less common in patients 50 (14.8%, P P = .01). Cardiovascular symptoms were more likely to occur in older patients (≥50 years old, 55.6% vs 30.1%, P P = .002). Patients 50 or 65 years or older were less likely to be dismissed home directly from the ED (≥50 years old, 35.2% vs 56.6%, P = .006; ≥65 years old, 32.1% vs 54.2%, P = .03) and were less likely to be prescribed self-injectable epinephrine (≥50 years old, 40.7% vs 63.3%, P = .004; ≥65 years old, 32.1% vs 61.5%, P = .003). Conclusions In ED patients presenting with anaphylaxis, age of 50 or 65 years or older is associated with a decreased likelihood of food-induced anaphylaxis, increased likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular symptoms, decreased dismissal to home directly from the ED, and decreased prescriptions for self-injectable epinephrine.
Patient care in multidisciplinary cancer clinics: does attention to psychosocial needs predict patient satisfaction?

Satisfaction with treatment is an important early indicator of medical outcome for cancer patients. This study examined patient satisfaction with treatment-planning and follow-up appointments among 58 recently diagnosed ENT and GI cancer patients seen at a multidisciplinary cancer clinic. Patients reported which medical specialties they saw, whether adjuvant treatment was planned, and whether they had a chance to discuss their feelings about the diagnosis. Patients also rated the attention paid by staff to several psychosocial issues considered relevant to cancer. These included how the patient was coping, support services available, and the issue of common emotional reactions to cancer. Patients then rated their overall satisfaction with their clinic visits. Overall satisfaction was predicted by younger age, female gender, and greater attention to how patients were coping with their illness. Having a chance to discuss one's feelings about the diagnosis, and staff attention to other psychosocial issues, also predicted patient satisfaction. The relationship of these psychosocial issues to patient satisfaction did not vary by gender. Results suggest that patient satisfaction may be enhanced when hospital staff attend to and provide for the psychosocial needs engendered by a diagnosis of cancer. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An analytical approximation for high-temperature autoignition times of higher alkanes

It is shown that, above about 1000 K, ignition delay times for propane and all higher alkanes, as well as for a number of other fuels, can be calculated well by employing rate parameters of only three types of elementary steps, namely C{sub m}H{sub n} + HO{sub 2} {yields} C{sub m}H{sub n-1} + H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O{sub 2} + M{yields}2OH + M and 2HO{sub 2} {yields} H{sub 2}O{sub 2} + O{sub 2}, only the first of which is fuel specific, the other two clearly being common to all fuels. The prediction of this remarkably simple result relies on a steady-state approximation for HO{sub 2}, as well as steady states for more active radicals during induction. The resulting approximation to the chemistry exhibits a slow, finite-rate buildup of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and removal of fuel during the induction period. The criterion employed for termination of the induction period is the complete depletion of the original fuel subject to the approximations introduced. Numerical comparisons of the ignition-time formula with the experiments show that the predictions work well not only for higher alkanes but also for propene and JP-10. The analytical approximation thus produces reasonable results for a wide range of fuels.more » (author)« less
Individualizing life expectancy estimates for older adults using the gompertz law of human mortality

Background Guidelines recommend incorporating life expectancy (LE) into clinical decision-making for preventive interventions such as cancer screening. Previous research focused on mortality risk (e.g. 28% at 4 years) which is more difficult to interpret than LE (e.g. 7.3 years) for both patients and clinicians. Our objective was to utilize the Gompertz Law of Human Mortality which states that mortality risk doubles in a fixed time interval to transform the Lee mortality index into a LE calculator. Methods We examined community-dwelling older adults age 50 and over enrolled in the nationally representative 1998 wave of the Health and Retirement Study or HRS (response rate 81%), dividing study respondents into development (n = 11701) and validation (n = 8009) cohorts. In the development cohort, we fit proportional hazards Gompertz survival functions for each of the risk groups defined by the Lee mortality index. We validated our LE estimates by comparing our predicted LE with observed survival in the HRS validation cohort and an external validation cohort from the 2004 wave of the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing or ELSA (n = 7042). Results The ELSA cohort had a lower 8-year mortality risk (14%) compared to our HRS development (23%) and validation cohorts (25%). Our model had good discrimination in the validation cohorts (Harrell’s c 0.78 in HRS and 0.80 in the ELSA). Our predicted LE’s were similar to observed survival in the HRS validation cohort without evidence of miscalibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow, p = 0.2 at 8 years). However, our predicted LE’s were longer than observed survival in the ELSA cohort with evidence of miscalibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow, p<0.001 at 8 years) reflecting the lower mortality rate in ELSA. Conclusion We transformed a previously validated mortality index into a LE calculator that incorporated patient-level risk factors. Our LE calculator may help clinicians determine which preventive interventions are most appropriate for older US adults.
The Effect of Having Classmates with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and the Protective Nature of Peer Gender.

ABSTRACTThe authors explored how classroom gender composition moderated the relationship between having classmates with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and peers’ academic achievement in both kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. Given the behavioral and social-cognitive styles of girls, it was hypothesized that classrooms with a higher percentage of girls would moderate (or reduce) the academic consequences associated with exposure to children with EBD. To address this hypothesis, this study relied on applying quasi-experimental methods to a nationally representative data set (i.e., Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten Class) of U.S. elementary school students. Consistent with prior research, the findings revealed that exposure to a classmate with EBD resulted in lower reading and mathematics scores for classmates. However, classrooms with a higher percentage of girls were found to protect other students’ academic achievement when in the presence of an EBD classmate. The findings prese...
226Ra/Ba ratios for dating Holocene biogenic carbonates in the Southern Ocean: preliminary evidence from Antarctic coastal mollusc shells

Abstract Marine bivalve molluscs ( Adamussium colbecki ) were collected alive from the Antarctic coastal zone to determine whether the 226 Ra/Ba ratios in their shells reflect those of ambient seawater and can be used for dating ( t 1/2 226 Ra=1600 years) Holocene fossils from the Southern Ocean. Similarities between the radium, barium and calcium concentrations in acid-treated (0.039 dpm g −1 , 2.15 μg g −1 , and 355 mg g −1 ) and mechanically treated (0.041 dpm g −1 , 2.07 μg g −1 and 361 mg g −1 ) shells indicate that these divalent cations were lattice-bound and not adsorbed between the unit cells of the Adamussium calcite. In addition, 226 Ra/Ba ratios in Southern Ocean seawater (0.0168 dpm μg −1 ) were conserved in Adamussium shells (0.0181 to 0.0198 dpm μg −1 ) despite the discrimination factors [DF Ca element =(element/Ca) sample /(element/Ca) seawater ] of 0.244 to 0.252 for Ra and 0.214 to 0.226 for Ba. Together, these preliminary data suggest that it should be viable to develop a 226 Ra/Ba chronometer which complements and is independent of 14 C/ 12 C for dating calcareous fossils from the Antarctic marine ecosystem up to several thousand years old.
Development of a simplified relationship between uniaxial creep, stress relaxation, and constant strain-rate results for viscoelastic polymeric materials

This publication introduces a new mathematical model to describe a definitive relationship between constant strain-rate, creep, and stress-relaxation analysis for viscoelastic polymeric compounds. This new concept is especially significant since it adequately describes all the important characteristics of both creep and stress relaxation in the same model. In particular, all three phases of creep (i.e., primary, secondary, and tertiary) can be described adequately using this model. This new model for polymeric materials also indicates that yielding for constant strain-rate measurements and the inception of tertiary creep appear to be directly related and may, in fact, be manifestations of the same phenomena. The initial buildup of stress followed by the drop off in stress as a function of time for stress relaxation is also adequately described. This new formulation approach also offers a reasonably simple process in which to shift from a constant strain-rate configuration to a creep calculation or stress-relaxation configuration without changing formulation considerations. Most importantly, this model can be used to make a transition from one of these stress-configuration modes to another without stress or strain discontinuities. It is hoped that this analysis approach will open new doors for the design of plastic products for both short-term and long-term applications. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 527–540, 2001
Preventing assaults by nursing home residents: nursing assistants' knowledge and confidence--a pilot study.

Objective To describe the frequency and context of assaults against nursing assistants (NAs) from residents and to describe NAs' beliefs about their violence prevention knowledge and self-efficacy to prevent assaults from residents. Design Survey. Setting Six nursing homes. Participants A total of 138 nursing assistants. Measurements NAs completed two investigator-developed surveys, the Demographic and Employment Questionnaire and the Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Survey. The Demographic and Employment Questionnaire included questions about race, gender, age, and education, current and previous employment, number of residents usually assigned, frequency of assaults, and training on workplace violence. On the Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Survey, the participants used a five-point Likert scale to rate their knowledge and confidence in recognizing and preventing assaults from residents. Results Assaults against nursing assistants from residents in nursing homes were common; 59% stated they were assaulted at least once a week and 16% stated they were assaulted daily. Fifty-one percent stated that they had been injured in their lifetime from an assault from a resident, and 38% of those injured received medical attention for an injury. On the Likert items, nursing assistants reported that they believed they had the most knowledge (mean = 3.76) and confidence (mean 3.81) in their ability to recognize when a resident is agitated or becoming aggressive. In comparison, NAs rated lower their knowledge (mean = 3.45) and confidence in their ability (3.50) to keep residents from becoming agitated or aggressive (mean 3.50). NAs rated lowest their knowledge (3.42) and confidence (mean = 3.47) in their ability to decrease residents' agitation and aggressiveness once they become agitated or aggressive. Conclusions These findings provide useful information that supports the need for violence prevention education and for developing violence prevention programs in nursing homes.
A cost-based heuristic for group technology configuration†

Group technology is a management philosophy capable of jointly simplifying management control and improving productivity. This paper proposes a heuristic approach to the economic determination of machine groups and their corresponding component families for group technology. The procedure considers costs of work-in-process and cycle inventory, intra-group material handling, set-up, variable processing and fixed machine costs. The three stage procedure initially reorders part types based on routing similarity. An attempt is then made to combine adjacent part types to reduce machine requirements. Finally groups are combined where economic benefits of utilization offset those of set-up, work-in-process and material handling. Examples illustrating the procedure and potential savings are included.
Six Assessments of the Same Places: Comparing Views of Urban Design

How might an urban environment be evaluated visually? What different stories might be told when using different assessment techniques? Since the 1960s, researchers and others have developed a rich array of design evaluation approaches. This paper uses six different tools to measure three transit station area environments. Some focus mainly on visual issues such as colour, complexity and dominance. Others are more concerned with urban design features and qualities related to how people use environments. Together they provide a rich vocabulary for describing and assessing various design types and strategies such as transit-oriented development.