cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoreactive anatase consolidation characterized by FTIR spectroscopy

Titania (anatase) thin films were consolidated and hardened via UV irradiation when acidic precursor sols were diluted with 1-, 2-, and 3-carbon aliphatic alcohols. Titania sols were adjusted to pH values of 1.4, 2.3, or 3.1 and subsequently diluted with various mole fractions (XROH) of alcohol prior to film deposition. Re-esterification of the titania film surface was confirmed by transmission FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopic characterization. In the dark (absence of UV), proton-catalyzed oxidation of the alkoxide functional groups produced a unique monodentate formic acid ligand. This further oxidized to bidentate bicarbonate and carbonate complexes. Given an equivalent fluence of UV light (20 J cm-2, 254 nm), films became harder with increased proton concentration and XROH. UV light promoted formic acid and carbonate/bicarbonate removal by photocatalytic oxidation. The rate of loss of formic acid/bicarbonate species following UV irradiation increased with increasing proton concentration....
NMR spectral data for ester prodrugs of ganciclovir

A series of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine mono- and diesters, 2a–i, 3a–d and 4a–d, were synthesized as potential prodrugs of ganciclovir and both 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were assigned to these esters based on spectral comparison with compounds of similar structure. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probe Segregation and Tg Determination of a Supported Ultra-Thin Polystyrene Film Studied by X-ray and Neutron Reflectivity, and SIMS

Selective deuteration combined with X-ray and neutron reflectivity has been used to determine the extent of probe segregation to an interface in ultra-thin polymer films as a function of the number of thermal cycles. The extent of probe segregation to the interface was also investigated using Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS). Significant probe segregation was not evident in these studies. X-ray reflectivity has also been employed to measure the coefficient of thermal expansion of ultra-thin polystyrene films supported on quartz. The glass transition temperature determined with this method is equivalent to that measured for bulk polystyrene films.
Centering on Central Mechanisms in the Development and Maintenance of Chronic Widespread Muscle Pain

Objectives: The objectives of this review are to characterize the development and maintenance of chronic widespread muscle pain and to investigate the role of central mechanisms in the hyperalgesia in an animal model of chronic muscle pain.Findings: Two intramuscular injections of acidic saline, five days apart, result in bilateral mechanical hyperalgesia without peripheral tissue damage. The hyperalgesia only develops after the second intramuscular acid injection suggesting differences in neuronal responses between the first and second injection. In parallel to the bilateral hyperalgesia, there are bilateral increases in the spinal cord for the phosphorylation of the transcription factor, cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein [CREB], and ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons show an expansion of their receptive fields to include the contralateral hindlimb after the second injection. Supraspinally, blockade of neurotransmission in the rostral ventromedial medulla during the second intramuscular acid inj...
A Framework for Optimizing Nonlinear Collusion Attacks on Fingerprinting Systems

This paper develops a mathematical analysis of the performance of order statistic collusion attacks on Gaussian fingerprinting systems. The attacks considered include the popular memoryless averaging and median attacks as special cases. In this model, the colluders create a noise-free forgery by applying an order statistic mapping to each sample of their individual copies, and next they add a Gaussian noise sequence to form the final forgery. The choice of the mapping may be time-dependent and/or random. The performance of a strategy is evaluated in terms of the resulting probability of error of a correlation focused detector, and in terms of the mean-squared distortion between host and forgery. We prove the surprising fact that all the nonlinear attacks considered result in the same detection performance. Moreover, the linear averaging attack outperforms the other ones in the sense of minimizing mean-squared distortion.
Survey of anal sphincter dysfunction using anal manometry in patients with fecal incontinence: a possible guide to therapy.

Background Despite the surge of new medical and surgical approaches to treat fecal incontinence, the types of sphincter abnormalities in patients with incontinence have not been well characterized. We aimed to categorize anal sphincter dysfunction using anorectal manometry in patients with fecal incontinence as a potential guide for improved treatment. Methods A retrospective review of 162 consecutive patients with fecal incontinence referred for anorectal manometry was performed. Resting anal pressure and maximal squeeze pressure were considered as measures of internal anal sphincter and external anal sphincter function respectively. Results Mean age of the patients was 63 years (13-89); females (81.5%) and males (18.5%). 74% of the patients had sphincter dysfunction on anorectal manometry. Internal anal sphincter dysfunction was present in 62% patients vs. external anal sphincter dysfunction present in 44% patients. 80% females had abnormal manometry vs. 44% in males (P<0.0001). Internal anal sphincter dysfunction was present in 68% females vs. 37% in males (P=0.0026). Conclusions Overall, abnormal anorectal manometry studies revealed that internal anal sphincter dysfunction is the most common finding, alone or in combination with external anal sphincter dysfunction. We suggest that anorectal manometry may be important to delineate anal sphincter function prior to using newer therapeutic mechanical devices. Future studies using pharmacological agents to increase internal anal sphincter tone may be of clinical importance. Finally, the classification of fecal incontinence based on the type of sphincter dysfunction may be an improved guide in the selection of newer agents in treating fecal incontinence. Keywords Fecal incontinence, anorectal manometry, internal anal sphincter Ann Gastroenterol 2015; 28 (4): 469-474
Response to Letter by Tourmousoglou et al

Response: In the response to our article entitled “Off-pump surgery is associated with reduced occurrence of stroke and other morbidity as compared with traditional coronary artery bypass grafting,” Dr Tourmousoglou and colleagues mention important issues concerning the applicability/generalizibility of the randomized clinical trials of less invasive surgery. I would add that learning curve/surgical skill and inability to mask patients and surgeons are 2 important methodological issues that can potentially limit the generalizibility of the results found in this evidence synthesis and surgical evidence in general. Surgeons cut and sew heart chambers and coronary vessels. It is not a surprise that surgical skill is a critical contributor to good outcomes. There is a long learning curve to achieve excellence in off-pump coronary bypass surgery (CABG), and it has a great impact on the outcomes of this procedure. It is therefore understandable that trials of this new way of operating are hotly debated. But there is a good solution to this problem when conducting clinical trials: consider embarking on a clinical trial of less invasive surgery only after mastering this procedure. …
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry

The theory and instrumentation for Fourier transform infrared spectrometry are discussed. These instruments measure infrared spectra of the same quality as spectra measured on grating spectrometers in about one thousandth of the time. Their sensitivity advantage for spectra measured in equal times is between a factor of 10 and 100. Commercial spectrometers are now available from nine vendors in North America. Important areas of chemistry include atmospheric monitoring, surface chemistry, and on-line identification of chromatographically separated materials. Many new biochemical and biomedical applications are also becoming apparent, including investigations of phase transitions in lipids and studies of the biocompatibility of implant polymers.
Effects of Surface Discontinuities on Convective Heat Transfer in Hypersonic Flow

This paper presents a survey of recent experimental data, prediction methods, and correlations for the effects of surface discontinuities on Convective heat transfer. The types of surface discontinuities include steps, cavities, gaps, and protuberances. Emphasis is placed on the hypersonic flow regime, including both laminar and turbulent boundary-layer conditions. In addition to the survey aspects of the paper, an assessment of critical technology needs in this field is presented, stressing the need for experimental data and prediction methods that include the effects of ablated shapes and small ratios of discontinuity height to boundary-layer thickness ratio. Nomenclature
Field Test and Finite-Element Model of a Skewed Railroad Truss Bridge

The skew angle affects the geometry and design of a bridge in many ways. For example, skew angles greater than 20° will affect the bending moment and the shear force in an exterior beam. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center performed a full-scale load test on a skewed railroad steel truss bridge at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in July, 2007. The superstructure of the bridge was instrumented with 42 reusable strain transducers to accurately measure the structure’s response to a 260 kip train engine. Analyses were carried out to determine the effect of the skew angle in that response. A three-dimensional finite-element model (FEM) was developed from the data collected during the load test. The measured internal axial forces compared satisfactorily with the results from the FEM analysis. After the calibration of the model, the results indicated that the skew angle decreased the internal axial forces by approximately 16%, which was comparable to current design practice.
Reduction of Plasma Immunoreactive Somatomedin C during Fasting in Humans

We have assessed the effect of fasting for 10 days on plasma concentrations of immunoreactive somatomedin C and urinary urea excretion in seven obese male volunteers. From a mean prefast value of 0.83 U/ml, plasma somatomedin C fell to 0.21 U/ml after 10 days of fasting. A prompt increase was observed with refeeding. The change in somatomedin C during fasting showed a highly significant correlation with the change in urinary urea nitrogen excretion (r = 0.74; P < 0.001). It also was shown that inhibitors which interfere with quantitation in somatomedin bioassays are not observed in the RIA for somatomedin C. The results of this study suggest that measurement of plasma somatomedin C provides a sensitive indicator of nitrogen loss and may be useful in monitoring the changes in protein metabolism that occur during alterations in nutritional status.
Effects of a Family History of Alcoholism on Autonomic, Neuroendocrine, and Subjective Reactions to Alcohol

The authors evaluated two groups of young nonalcoholic men with (n = 14) and without (n = 25) a family history of alcoholism (FH+ and FH−) in a single laboratory session. During the session, subjects drank either an alcoholic (0.5 ml/kg) or a nonalcoholic beverage. Neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, electrodermal, and self-report data were collected at multiple time points before and after beverage consumption. The data analysis revealed time-related changes in plasma cortisol, finger temperature, skin conductance level, and several of the self-report measures. Beverage-related changes were seen in finger temperature, plasma glucose, and self-reported fatigue. The only dependent measure to discriminate FH+ and FH− groups was plasma cortisol, which exhibited a more rapid decline over time in the FH+ group. me FH+/FH− group difference in plasma cortisol was neither enhanced nor reduced by alcohol.
Load frequency control of an inter-connected system with DC tie-lines and AC-DC parallel tie-lines

The authors examine the effect of DC tie-lines and AC-DC parallel tie-lines in a multi-area interconnected system consisting of hydro and thermal generation units provided with conventional integral controllers. Separate studies were made for each case and results are compared with a pure AC tie-line multi-area system. A conventional integral controller is used for all the studies demonstrated. The DC tie lines and AC-DC parallel tie-lines in an inter-connected power system give much better dynamic performance by bringing all the desired system variables to steady-state faster than in the existing AC tie-line inter-connected systems and quite smoothly. Eigenvalue analysis supports the results. >
Paleoecology of the Akk a ș da g ˘ i hipparion s (Mammalia, Equidae), late Miocene of Turke y

Akka ș dag ˘ i is an abundant and diverse Turolian mammalian locality from Central Anatolia. Our paper reports the findings of our investigation of the paleoenvironment using an ecomorphological approach on the metapodials of hipparionine horses from Akka ș dag ˘ i. First, a detailed description of the underlying theoretical model is given, and a habitat score is described. Then the model developed here and initially applied to the Bovidae is applied t o Akka ș dag ˘ i and other hipparion localities of Turolian and Vallesian age. Our results confirm the presence of four species of hipparionines in Akka ș dag ˘ i. The morphology of the metapodials suggests habitat diversity towards the open end of the spectrum. Forested conditions are ruled out.
Regional cerebrovascular and metabolic effects of hyperventilation after severe traumatic brain injury

Object. Recently, concern has been raised that hyperventilation following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) could lead to cerebral ischemia. In acute ischemic stroke, in which the baseline metabolic rate is normal, reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) below a threshold of 18 to 20 ml/100 g/min is associated with energy failure. In severe TBI, however, the metabolic rate of cerebral oxygen (CMRO2) is low. The authors previously reported that moderate hyperventilation lowered global hemispheric CBF to 25 ml/100 g/min but did not alter CMRO2. In the present study they sought to determine if hyperventilation lowers CBF below the ischemic threshold of 18 to 20 ml/100 g/min in any brain region and if those reductions cause energy failure (defined as a fall in CMRO2). Methods. Two groups of patients were studied. The moderate hyperventilation group (nine patients) underwent hyperventilation to PaCO2 of 30 ± 2 mm Hg early after TBI, regardless of intracranial pressure (ICP). The severe hyperventilation group ...
Steady-state evaporation characteristics of hydrocarbon fuel drops

The influence of ambient pressure and temperature on the evaporation rates of fuel drops is examined analytically. A numerical procedure for calculating steady-state values of drop-surface temperature and evaporation constant is described. The method is used to determine the droplet evaporation characteristics of nheptane, aviation gasoline, JP 4, JP 5, and diesel oil (DF 2) in quiescent atmospheres. Good agreement is demonstrated between calculated values of evaporation constant and corresponding published experimental results. It is shown that the pressure dependence of evaporation rates is stronger at high pressures than at low pressures. For high ambient temperatures the pressure dependence is positive; for low ambient temperatures it is negative.
Perceived Third‐Person Effects and Consumer Attitudes on Prevetting and Banning DTC Advertising

This study examined consumer attitudes toward two potential direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising regulatory options—prior approval of DTC ads and a total ban—and how those attitudes are influenced by perceived DTC ad effects and receiver-specific characteristics within the context of the third-person effect framework. Results suggest that (1) consumers support the prevetting of DTC ads, but not the banning of DTC ads, (2) their support for prior approval is unaffected by demographic, predispositional, and ad-effect perceptual differences, but (3) their support for a ban is associated with age, attitude toward DTC advertising, and perceptions of negative effects on self and others.
Algorithmic ADC for use in ASIC design

An algorithmic analog to digital converter is described which combines a fast conversion time of less than 300 ns with a small circuit area of 0.8 mm/sup 2/. The circuit operates from a+5 V power supply and is ideally suited for use as a general purpose cell in analogue and mixed signal ASIC design. The ADC operates in current mode and an accurate current sensing technique allows the comparators to operate very quickly even in the presence of small signal differences. The current mode approach has the advantage of small signal voltage swings, low node capacitance and therefore fast operation. The resolution of the converter is 8-bits as this will satisfy the requirements of many applications including digital mobile radio and disk drive servo control chips. Results are presented for a prototype chip fabricated on a 2- mu m BiCMOS process. >
The impact of evidence‐based decision making in transfusion practice and potential impact on litigation

Transfusion practices throughout the world have developed mostly empirically since the late 1940s, with little or no published studies to validate them. In the past 20 years, possibly fuelled in part by increasing numbers of lawsuits related to transfusion medicine, there has been a concerted effort to improve the evidence base, such as through prospective, well-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCT) and by consensus conferences. These efforts have resulted in a number of peer-reviewed publications that are elucidating the scientific basis for use of red blood cells (RBC) and other blood components. The term ‘evidence-based medicine’ or ‘EBM’ was coined by Guyatt in 1991 [1], introduced widely in 1992 [2] and defined broadly in 1996 by Sackett et al. [3] as ‘the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research’. A more recent updated definition has recognized that the goal of providing EBM includes patient needs and is restated as the ‘integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values’[4]. Since the recognition of this principle, the focus of every medical specialty, including transfusion medicine, has been to discern from the huge number of articles published each year, which are the ‘best practices’ that are supported by scientific data [5–8]. Despite the widespread endorsement of the concept of EBM and its incorporation into medical education [9,10], advocates and sceptics continue to express contrary positions regarding its value [11–16]. Resistance to ‘cook-book’ medicine persists. In the background of this drive towards EBM during the past 20 years, there have been relatively few instances in which the legal systems of various countries have experienced actual litigations related to transfusion harm, so the utility of EBM in cases related to transfusion practices has not yet been determined. However, the courts have had a chance to view EBM in other medical situations. The status of EBM in litigation in general will be discussed later in this article.
Effects of gravity modulation on convection in a horizontal annulus

Convection in the annulus between two horizontal coaxial cylinders resulting from gravity modulation in a microgravity environment is investigated for the first time. The three-dimensional transient equations of fluid motion and heat transfer are solved to study the unsteady flow structures in a large-gap annulus. The gravity fluctuations are shown to induce recirculating flows that reverse direction of rotation in response to the gravitational reversals. Except for a short period of time following flow reversal, at low modulation frequencies the centers of rotation of these flows are below and above the horizontal angular plane when the acceleration acts in the upward and downward directions, respectively, whereas at high frequencies they are above and below this plane. The effects of gravity modulation on development of secondary flows that arise in narrow- and moderate-gap annuli owing to thermal instability are also investigated. It is found that supercritical transverse rolls repeatedly form, dissipate, and re-form in the upper and lower regions of a narrow-gap annulus as a result of the fluctuating gravity field. At the same frequency, the supercritical rolls in a moderate-gap annulus are much slower to develop between flow reversals. The results show that gravity modulation has a stabilizing effect on the secondary flows compared to the case of a constant gravity force, and this effect diminishes with reduction in either frequency or annulus radius ratio R. The effects of frequency on heat transfer in large-, moderate-, and narrow-gap annuli are also studied. It is found that the time-averaged Nusselt number approaches that of pure conduction at high frequencies and increases toward that for terrestrial natural convection as frequency is reduced. As R is decreased, the increase in time-averaged Nusselt number brought about by reducing frequency becomes a smaller percentage of the value for terrestrial natural convection. The results for large-, moderate-, and narrow-gap annuli subjected to gravity modulation under microgravity are compared to results for steady natural convection under terrestrial conditions to clarify differences in flow behavior. The present work provides the first description of convection in a cylindrical annulus under microgravity, and practical information on the influence of gravity fluctuations on heat transfer in a space environment. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Focal but reversible diastolic sheet dysfunction reflects regional calcium mishandling in dystrophic mdx mouse hearts

Cardiac dysfunction is a primary cause of patient mortality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, potentially related to elevated cytosolic calcium. However, the regional versus global functional consequ...
Interest Rate Variations For Automobile Loans In Large Cities

his study presents empirical data on finance charges for automobile loans in 10 large cities. The data were gathered from automobile dealers, commercial banks, credit unions, and savings and loan associations by personally shopping for a new car loan. In addition to institution and city comparisons some information is provided on consumer credit pricing policies. Consumer installment credit receives a great deal of attention from the Federal Reserve System and it plays an important role in the Consumer Price Index. The literature contains considerable material about the volume of consumer credit and the direction that interest rates appear to be heading. However, few empirical data have been published about finance rates for consumer loans. The purpose of this study was to gather price data on consumer installment credit. Specifically it sought to make an estimation of interest rate variations for automobile loans in large cities. Secondary purposes were to ascertain if some classes of lenders offered lower cost loans than others, and to see if the variations found were common to a number of cities. The study found that there were rate variations for automobile loans within every type of lender in every city. Credit unions quoted significantly lower rates than the other firms. There was not any pattern of rates common to the various cities. Some interesting data about financial institution pricing policies were found.
Microlaparoscopy and a GnRH agonist: a combined minimally invasive approach for the diagnosis and treatment of occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa associated with endometriosis.

Objective To evaluate whether occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa associated with endometriosis can be diagnosed by microlaparoscopy and managed with medical therapy using leuprolide acetate. Methods This was a prospective, nonrandomized study conducted at a university hospital and a private community hospital. It included women with occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa associated with endometriosis. Diagnosis of salpingitis isthmica nodosa was made via microlaparoscopy with chromotubation. Patients with occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa were treated with leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg administered monthly for 6 months. Results Tubal patency in occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa following medical therapy with leuprolide acetate was evaluated. Thirteen of 16 (81.3%) women with bilateral salpingitis isthmica nodosa achieved patency of both fallopian tubes following treatment with leuprolide acetate; 3 of 16 (18.8%) developed patency in one of the fallopian tubes. All 5 women with unilateral SIN demonstrated bilateral patency following medical therapy. Conclusion Diagnosis of occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa can be made by microlaparoscopy. These preliminary results suggest that medical therapy with leuprolide acetate may be the first-line treatment modality for women with occlusive salpingitis isthmica nodosa associated with endometriosis, possibly avoiding a more invasive surgical procedure.
Volatile oil and the U.S. economy

Abstract Volatile oil prices have been an interesting topic for both market participants and policy makers. While several studies have attempted to test the interaction between oil price shocks and the economy, there is limited research evaluating the impact of oil price volatility on the U.S. economy. This study attempts to provide a relatively complete picture through testing for the interactions between oil prices, macroeconomic variables and other shock variables commonly used in the literature. In addition, we show that Brent oil prices contain more information in predicting macroeconomic variables than the West Texas Intermediate oil prices. Econometric methods utilized here help evaluate the interactions from the short-run, long-run and volatility transmission perspectives. Our results show that not only oil prices significantly impact the U.S. economy, but the volatility of those prices also spillover to a significant portion of the macroeconomic variables.
Effect of intracellular acidification on colonic NaCl absorption

CO2 stimulates Na+ and Cl- absorption in rat distal colon. This is most likely due to intracellular generation of H+ and HCO3- and stimulation of apical Na(+)-H+ and Cl(-)-HCO3- exchangers. We examined whether intracellular acidification by means other than CO2 would also stimulate Na+ absorption. Stripped segments of distal colon from male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied under short-circuit conditions in Ussing chambers. Identically prepared tissues were used for intracellular pH (pHi) measurements with the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. When the Ringer PCO2 was increased from 20 to 34 mmHg, pHi decreased from 7.50 +/- 0.04 to 7.35 +/- 0.04 and net Na absorption increased from 2.4 +/- 0.7 to 3.7 +/- 0.7 mu eq.cm-2 x h-1. A similar degree of intracellular acidification was obtained with 2.6 microM nigericin, but no stimulation of Na+ absorption was seen. When Ringer-HCO3- concentration was reduced from 39 to 11 mM at constant PCO2 = 35 mmHg, pHi decreased from 7.55 +/- 0.02 to 7.11 +/- 0.02 with no effect on net Na+ absorption. A similar reduction in pHi in a CO2-HCO3(-)-free, N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered Ringer also did not stimulate Na+ absorption. Methazolamide had no effect on steady-state pHi at any given PCO2 but caused marked reductions in net Na+ absorption (9.6 +/- 2.4 to 5.2 +/- 1.2 mu eq.cm-2 x h-1 at PCO2 = 70 mmHg). We conclude that Na+ absorption in rat distal colon is not stimulated by intracellular acidification per se but rather has an absolute requirement for CO2 and carbonic anhydrase activity.
A Retrospective Study of Clinical Effects of Powdered Caffeine Exposures Reported to Three US Poison Control Centers

Anhydrous caffeine, often sold on the Internet as a powdered caffeine product, is sold as “pure caffeine” to be used as an additive to beverages and has also been used as an ingredient in energy supplement products. This is a retrospective multiple-poison center chart review of calls regarding powdered caffeine to poison centers covering Oregon, Alaska, Guam, Washington, and Utah between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015. There were 40 calls to three poison centers over 30 months for powdered caffeine exposure. The majority of patients were over age 19 (52.5 %; 21/40) and male (70 %; 28/40). Sixty percent (24/40) of the patients were symptomatic but only 10 % (4/40) required admission; 52.5 % (21/40) of the patient calls were for inadvertent overdose of powdered caffeine; one patient overdosed in a self-harm attempt. Powdered caffeine calls to three poison centers during a 30-month study period were rare, and severe caffeine toxicity due to exposure was found in few patients. The majority of symptoms were reported after an inadvertent powdered caffeine overdose. An analysis of calls to three poison centers for powdered caffeine found that exposures were uncommon, but did result in toxicity, and highlighted that the lack of clear dosing instructions on product packaging may place patients at risk of inadvertent overdose.
Longitudinal Qualitative Research

An emerging body of work has begun to reveal the empirical and theoretical successes of longitudinal qualitative research. The techniques open a window through which to see how others experience and make meaning of lives over time. Longitudinal qualitative research is amenable to studying a broad spectrum of settings and situations that characterize contemporary social life. Careful design enables such techniques to capture the conditions and processes of inter-cohort and intra-cohort variation. What is more, the methods are vital to identifying and characterizing trajectories, turning points, and interpretive stances that cover both short and long periods of time. Longitudinal qualitative methods thus push a frontier of knowledge about socially-rooted differences in development and aging. While robust in its descriptive and explanatory power, longitudinal qualitative research remains underdeveloped as a methodological tradition, and is therefore in need of codification. Using examples from the author’s own work on careers as well as other studies ranging across families, illness, education, and crime, the present work discusses the parameters that guide the use of qualitative methods in longitudinal research. Three sets of issues are discussed: issues of design (including the origination of research, number and frequency of study episodes, and protocol format); issues of execution (including subject attrition and retention, respondent reaction, and research ethics); and issues of analysis (including iterative and summative modes of data interrogation).
Determination of sodium in biological materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

A formalized method for determining sodium in biological materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis is presented. The method includes common procedures from the numerous options available to this historically nonformalized analytical technique. The number of procedural options is restricted to minimize the method's complexity, yet the method is still applicable to a variety of neutron activation facilities. High accuracy and precision are achieved by placing bounds on allowed uncertainty at critical stages of the analysis. Analytical results from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration laboratory and 4 other laboratories demonstrate the method's performance.
Case Article---Embedding a Sustainability Module Into Quantitative Business Courses

Business schools face pressure to incorporate sustainability and ethics into curricula, not only by offering single-themed classes but also by including these topics in existing classes. We embed a stand-alone module, sustainability and supply chain management, into two quantitative courses, the graduate core operations class and an undergraduate concentration class in management science. We develop this module to provide students the background and tools to analyze energy usage and resultant greenhouse gas GHG emissions for a product or process. Students research a supply chain, use carbon auditing software, and make recommendations for improvement. To answer the research question of whether students perceive the module as useful and objective we perform an exploratory survey N = 76. We find that students are engaged and consider delivery as unbiased. In short, this module adds value to the learning experience and can be integrated into classes without extensive instructor preparation. Readers may freely download all supporting materials for use in their own courses. More generally, our approach could prove useful in developing modules on other sustainability subtopics to place into quantitative courses, so as to support the relationship between analytical and qualitative approaches to decision making, especially when those decisions involve ethical or environmental issues. Case Teaching Note: Interested Instructors please see the Instructor Materials page for access to the restricted materials. To maintain the integrity and usefulness of cases published in ITE, unapproved distribution of the case teaching notes and other restricted materials to any other party is prohibited.
Diet modulates Th-1 and Th-2 cytokine production in the peripheral blood of lupus-prone mice.

Calorie restriction or fish oil extends life span. To investigate the potential mechanism(s) involved, young (4-month) and old (9-month) NZB × NZW(F1) mice were fed 5% (w/w) corn oil (CA) or fish oil (FA) ad libitum or 40% restricted (CR and FR, respectively). Peripheral blood T-lymphocytes were analyzed for Th-1 (IL-2, IFN-γrpar; and Th-2 (IL-5, IL-10) production. CR and FA partially blunted while FR completely abolished the decline in aged CD4+ T lymphocytes. In contrast, both CR and FR abolished the decline in CD8+ T lymphocytes with age, while FA had no effect. In aged mice, both CR and FR blunted the increase in Th-1 (IL-2, IFN-γrpar; cytokine production, while FA was only partially effective. Only FR completely blunted the age-related increase in Th-2 (IL-5, IL-10) cytokine production. These data suggest that FR delays the onset of autoimmune kidney disease by suppressing both Th-1 and Th-2 cytokine production.
PARALELISMO Y PARÁFRASIS EN LA TEXTULIZACIÓN INFANTIL ORAL

Este trabajo esta encuadrado en la investigacion que vengo realizando para mi Tesis Doctoral, con la orientacion de la Dra. Pereira de Castro. El tema es la Parafrasis en Adquisicion del Lenguaje, considerado este fenomeno, el de la adquisicion, desde la perspectiva interaccionista sostenida por Pereira de Castro, M.Fausta, De Lemos Claudia y otros investigadores brasilenos. Mis estudios acerca de la parafrasis tomaron como punto de partida la concepcion enunciativa sostenida por Fuchs (1994), en cuanto a pensar las relaciones de parafrasis entre enunciados como un tipo de relacion dialectica entre lo mismo y lo diferente, mas alla de los limites de la frase. En el campo de la Adquisicion del Lenguaje, el fenomeno parafrastico se muestra en los textos orales surgidos en las interacciones adulto nino, donde los significantes de uno vuelven a aparecer en los de su interlocutor, marcados por las diferencias. Es decir que las parafrasis manifiestan la actividad interpretativa de ambos y la captura del sujeto por el lenguaje, constituyendose a veces como enunciados que muestran a un hablante erratico en su discurso, otras, guiando su texto. En ambos casos, la parafrasis produce “efectos de sentido” y entre esos efectos podemos reconocer el de la argumentacion,”...como contraponto a deriva que ela se insere em um determinado arrajno textual-discursivo, garantindo sentido e unidade...” Pereira de Castro, M.F., 2002)
Ekonomia kosztów transakcyjnych: naturalne etapy rozwoju

The research program on which I and others have been working has been variously described as the “economics of governance,” the “economics of organization,” and “transaction cost economics.” As discussed in Section 1, governance is the overarching concept and transaction cost economics is the means by which to breathe operational content into governance and organization. The specific issue that drew me into this research project was the puzzle posed by Ronald Coase in 1937: What efficiency factors determine when a firm produces a good or service to its own needs rather than outsource? As described in Section 2, my 1971 paper on “The Vertical Integration of Production” made headway with this issue and invited follow-on research that would eventually come to be referred to as transaction cost economics. The rudiments of transaction cost economics are set out in Section 3. Puzzles and challenges that arose and would require “pushing the logic of efficient governance to completion” are examined brief ly in Section 4. Concluding remarks follow.
Technical Note: Volume Transport Equations in Combined Sverdrup-Stommel-Munk Dynamics without Level of no Motion

Abstract. The cornerstone theories of ocean dynamics proposed by Sverdrup (1947), Stommel (1948), and Munk (1950) are based on the assumption of level of no motion. Such an assumption is the same as the assumption of no meridional geostrophic transport. Ever since Sverdrup (1947) however, verification of the accuracy of the Sverdrup balance theory is based on the comparison of the Sverdrup meridional transport with the meridional transport calculated directly from the geostrophic currents based on hydrographic data. To overcome the mismatch between theory (no meridional geostrophic transport in Sverdrup transport) and verification (comparison of Sverdrup transport to meridional geostrophic transport), extended Sverdrup-Stommel-Munk transport equations are derived in this note with replacing the level of no motion by the ocean bathymetry and in consequence one forcing function (surface wind stress) in the classical transport equations (with level of no motion assumption) is replaced by five forcing functions: density, surface wind stress, bottom meridional current, bottom stresses due to vertical and horizontal viscosities. The first two forcing functions (density and surface wind stress) are more than an order of magnitude stronger than the other three forcing functions using the world ocean bathymetry, climatological annual mean hydrographic and surface wind stress data. The extended Sverdrup volume transport streamfunctions under wind forcing, density forcing, and combined wind and density forcing are presented.
Analysis of Workforce Skills in High School Graduates: Self Report of High School Seniors in Northwest Ohio

Analysis of workforce competencies at the conclusion of high school graduation are discussed in this paper. Researchers sampled over 875 graduating seniors from 16 high schools within six counties throughout Northwestern Ohio. Results highlight future career and educational goals of these young people and a self-report of skills based on the SCANS competencies and basic foundation skills. When evaluating Foundation Skills of Personal Qualities, Basic Skills, and Thinking Skills, students indicated highest ratings in Personal Qualities and overall lowest ratings in Basic Skills. A series of five Workforce Competencies were also evaluated, including Using Resources, Using Information, Using Technology, Interpersonal Skills, and Working in Systems. Highest ratings for Competencies were reported in Interpersonal Skills and lowest in Using Resources.
Identification and Expression Analysis of the Complete Family of Zebrafish pkd Genes.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) proteins are trans-membrane proteins that have crucial roles in many aspects of vertebrate development and physiology, including the development of many organs as well as left-right patterning and taste. They can be divided into structurally-distinct PKD1-like and PKD2-like proteins and usually one PKD1-like protein forms a heteromeric polycystin complex with a PKD2-like protein. For example, PKD1 forms a complex with PKD2 and mutations in either of these proteins cause Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), which is the most frequent potentially-lethal single-gene disorder in humans. Here we identify the complete family of pkd genes in zebrafish and other teleosts. We describe the genomic locations and sequences of all seven genes: pkd1, pkd1b, pkd1l1, pkd1l2a, pkd1l2b, pkd2 and pkd2l1. pkd1l2a/pkd1l2b are likely to be ohnologs of pkd1l2, preserved from the whole genome duplication that occurred at the base of the teleosts. However, in contrast to mammals and cartilaginous and holostei fish, teleosts lack pkd2l2 and pkdrej genes, suggesting that these have been lost in the teleost lineage. In addition, teleost, and holostei fish have only a partial pkd1l3 sequence, suggesting that this gene may be in the process of being lost in the ray-finned fish lineage. We also provide the first comprehensive description of the expression of zebrafish pkd genes during development. In most structures we detect expression of one pkd1-like gene and one pkd2-like gene, consistent with these genes encoding a heteromeric protein complex. For example, we found that pkd2 and pkd1l1 are expressed in kupffer’s vesicle and pkd1 and pkd2 are expressed in the developing pronephros. In the spinal cord, we show that pkd1l2a and pkd2l1 are co-expressed in KA cells. We also identify potential co-expression of pkd1b and pkd2 in the floor-plate. Interestingly, and in contrast to mouse, we observe expression of all seven pkd genes in regions that may correspond to taste receptors. Taken together, these results provide a crucial catalogue of pkd genes in an important model system for elucidating cell and developmental processes and modeling human diseases and the most comprehensive analysis of embryonic pkd gene expression in any vertebrate.
Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema in Hispanic Women: A Phenomenological Study:

Introduction: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), a long-term side effect of treatment, can occur at any point in time. With the extensive physical and psychological effects of BCRL, few studies have focused on the lived experience. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experience of Hispanic women dealing with BCRL, particularly women of Mexican descent or origin. Method: Using interpretive phenomenology, 13 Hispanic women with BCRL, 42 to 80 years, were individually interviewed. Data analysis was conducted using interpretive reading of field notes, journal entries, and transcribed interviews. Results: Three central themes emerged from the findings, "sense of loss," "resignation to the new self," and "not knowing." Further subthemes highlight the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of living with BCRL. Discussion: Cultural awareness of the impact BCRL has on activities of daily living of Hispanic women should be part of a holistic plan of nursing care when caring for this population.
Revisiting Coronary Artery Calcium and Incident Dementia.

Dementia, defined as a progressive cognitive decline interfering with daily activities and independence,1 is perhaps the most feared of the diseases we associate with aging. Fifteen percent of people over age 70 years are afflicted, with annual costs of ≤$215 billion in the United States.2 Substantial resources have been martialed to understand the pathophysiology of dementia toward prevention and a cure. See Article by Fujiyoshi et al It is increasingly recognized that the 2 most common subtypes of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, have substantial histopathologic overlap. Several synergistic pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed.3,4 One hypothesis is that amyloid-β deposition, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, damages the cerebral vasculature; cerebral vascular disease in turn leads to decreased clearance of amyloid-β. Coronary artery calcium (CAC), arguably the best-studied measure of subclinical atherosclerosis that is quantifiable on computed tomography, has proven to be a powerful predictor of long-term risk for incident cardiovascular events and death.5–7 CAC serves as a surrogate for atherosclerotic burden in other vascular beds, including the cerebral arteries, and, thus, can be used as a tool to probe the link between vascular disease and dementia. The best cross-sectional evidence for a link comes from the AGES (Age, Gene, Environment Susceptibility)–Reykjavik Study. In AGES-Reykjavik study, 4250 Icelanders underwent neurocognitive testing, CAC computed tomography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. The AGES-Reykjavik investigators found a dose-dependent association between CAC and dementia, with a suggestion that this relationship was mediated by differences in cognitive performance, as well as brain lesions and volumes, as assessed on magnetic resonance imaging, suggesting a possible mechanism of action.8 AGES-Reykjavik was a cross-sectional study, meaning that all evaluations were …
Blacktino Queer Performance

This edited collection produces a much-needed critical conversation that activates ‘blacktino’ as a category of inquiry and mobilizes performance to work through the entanglements of queerness as i...
Effects of soil metals on pollen germination, fruit production, and seeds per fruit differ between a Ni hyperaccumulator and a congeneric nonaccumulator

Developmentally distinct soil formations (e.g., serpentine vs. non-serpentine soils) can vary markedly in chemical composition, including elements known to alter plant reproduction. Here we evaluate the effects of soil Ca and Ni on pollen germination and fruit and seed production for two species: Streptanthus polygaloides, a serpentine endemic and Ni hyperaccumulator, and S. tortuosus, a non-endemic, non-Ni-accumulating, serpentine-tolerant species. In a factorial experiment, we grew each species in soils that were amended to have high or low concentrations of Ca and Ni. We then performed hand pollinations and measured pollen germination, fruit production, and seeds per fruit. While Ca soil supplementation did not affect reproduction for either species, soil Ni had a strong influence, which varied by species. For S. tortuosus, the high Ni recipient treatment resulted in reduced pollen germination and fruit/seed production. For S. polygaloides, recipient effects were detected, but in the opposite direction of S. tortuosus: high Ni recipient treatment had a neutral (or slightly positive) effect on S. polygaloides pollen germination and fruit/seed production. Soil chemistry can greatly influence plant reproduction by altering pollen-pistil interactions, and may determine patterns of plant species abundance and distribution on novel soils by directly affecting pollen germination and subsequent reproductive success.
Wideband Kerr-comb near visible spectrum in coupling-engineered thin Silicon nitride resonators

We present wideband Kerr-comb generation from 650 nm to 1200 nm in a thin silicon-nitride (SiN) platform enabled by enhanced power transfer through the dispersive wave using a dispersion-engineered over-etched SiN waveguide and a coupled-resonator structure.
Improving pediatricians’ knowledge and skills in suicide prevention: Opportunities for social work:

Primary care physicians are key gatekeepers for detecting suicidal intent. However, research indicates training gaps for these providers. Standardized screening for suicide risk in primary care can...