cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Review of Anesthetic Effects on Renal Function: Potential Organ Protection.

Background Renal protection is a critical concept for anesthesiologists, nephrologists, and urologists, since anesthesia and renal function are highly interconnected and can potentially interfere with one another. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of anesthetic drugs and their effects on renal function remains fundamental to the success of renal surgeries, especially transplant procedures. Some experimental studies have shown that some anesthetics provide protection against renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury, but there is limited clinical evidence. Summary The effects of anesthetic drugs on renal failure are particularly important in the context of kidney transplantation, since the conditions of preservation following removal profoundly influence the recovery of organ function. Currently, preservation procedures are typically based on the usage of a cold-storage solution. Some anesthetic drugs induce anti-inflammatory, anti-necrotic, and anti-apoptotic effects. A more thorough understanding of anesthetic effects on renal function can present a novel approach for developing organ-protective strategies. The aim of this review is to discuss the effects of different anesthetic drugs on renal function, with particular focus on IR injury. Many studies have demonstrated the organ-protective effects of some anesthetic drugs, specifically propofol, which indicate the potential of some anesthetics to introduce novel organ protective targets. This is not surprising, since lipid emulsions are major components of propofol, which accumulating data show provide organ protective effects against IR injury. Key Messages: Thorough understanding of the interaction between anesthetic drugs and renal function remains fundamental to the delivery of safe perioperative care and to optimizing outcomes after renal surgeries, particularly transplant procedures. Anesthetics can be repurposed for organ protection with more information about their effects, especially during transplant procedures. Here, we review the effects of different anesthetic drugs - specifically those that contain lipids in their structure, with special reference to IR injury.
Risky Business: The Circuits that Impact Stress-Induced Decision-Making

How does stress promote risky decision-making? Friedman et al. find that stress disrupts inhibition of striatal circuits by prefrontal cortex, rendering animals insensitive to potential losses. This may help explain how stress contributes to substance abuse and how it can disinhibit automatic behaviors, such as tics in Tourette syndrome.
Ribosomal incorporation of backbone modified amino acids via an editing-deficient aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase

The ability to incorporate non-canonical amino acids (ncAA) using translation offers researchers the ability to extend the functionality of proteins and peptides for many applications including synthetic biology, biophysical and structural studies, and discovery of novel ligands. Here we describe the high promiscuity of an editing-deficient valine-tRNA synthetase (ValRS T222P). Using this enzyme, we demonstrate ribosomal translation of 11 ncAAs including those with novel side chains, α,α-disubstitutions, and cyclic β-amino acids.
Initial experience with a novel resection and plication (RAP) method for acid reflux: a pilot study.

Background and study aims Current endoscopic therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are limited by technical complexity, and/or cost. We sought to evaluate the success of a novel resection and plication (RAP) anti-reflux procedure. Patients and methods RAP was performed on 10 patients with GERD refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. RAP consists of semi-circumferential mucosectomy along with full-thickness plication of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and cardia. We assessed the technical success and safety as well as followed GERD-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) scores and medication usage. Results All patients underwent RAP without adverse events and were discharged on the same day. Only half of the patients required general anesthesia. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 24 months (median 9 months) and all patients had a significant improvement in their GERD-HRQL scores (P Conclusions The RAP method has potential as an effective anti-reflux option. Its main advantages include a short procedure time, simple approach using readily available equipment, and possible avoidance of general anesthesia.
Maximum a posteriori probability estimates for quantum tomography

Using a Bayesian methodology, we introduce the maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) estimator for quantum state and process tomography. We show that the maximum likelihood, the hedged maximum likelihood, and the maximum likelihood-maximum entropy estimator, and estimators of this general type, can be viewed as special cases of the MAP estimator. The MAP, like the Bayes mean estimator, includes prior knowledge. For cases of interest to tomography MAP can take advantage of convex optimization tools, making it numerically tractable. We show how the MAP and other Bayesian quantum state estimators can be corrected for noise produced if the quantum state passes through a noisy quantum channel prior to measurement. Numerical simulations on a single qubit indicate that, on average, including these corrections significantly improves the estimate even when the measurement data are modestly large.
Detection of Group A Streptococcal Antigen by Coagglutination and Latex Agglutination

The original method for the serological grouping of streptococci was developed by Lancefield [21] and involved hot-acid extraction of group-specific antigen followed by precipitin testing with group-specific antisera in capillary tubes. Over the years, this method has been modified by the use of several different extraction procedures, including hot-formamide extraction [16], autoclaving [28], nitrous acid extraction [12], Streptomyces albus lytic enzyme extraction [24], and pronase B extraction [9]. In addition to the classical method of serogrouping by precipitation, fluorescent-antibody techniques have also been developed [26]. While accurate and reliable, all of these methods are relatively laborious, time consuming, and require well-trained laboratory personnel.
Development of the Father-Infant Relationship

Until recently, our theories and empirical studies of infant social development largely ignored the father. The father’s role with young infants was considered to be mainly indirect, supporting the mother, who was biologically adapted to be the infant’s caregiver. This chapter will review recent studies that suggest that the father’s role with young infants is far less biologically constrained than once thought. In what way biologically based sex differences constrain the social interactions of fathers with their infants must await future research, but such constraints now seem far more subtle than once believed. Wide variability in the behavior and roles of the two parents challenges many of the stereotypes of the father as incompetent or uninvolved with the infant and leaves ample opportunity for wide variations in the way parents and their infants relate to each other.
Finding Significant Effects for Unreplicated Fractional Factorials Using the n Smallest Contrasts

Pooling nonsignificant effects to estimate the experimental error variance is considered unsatisfactory because it leads to an underestimation of the variance. Hence, the t statistic based on this variance estimate is inflated and should be used with ca..
Teacher mathematical knowledge, instructional quality, and student outcomes: a multilevel quantile mediation analysis

In this study, we replicate and extend prior work that investigates the extent to which content-specific and non-content-specific measures of instruction mediate the relationships between teacher k...
Effects of new technology on the current manufacturing process of yogurt-to increase the overall marketability of yogurt

Abstract Yogurt is one of the oldest fermented dairy products worldwide. It is commonly made by fermenting domesticated bovine's milk using a 1:1 ratio of lactic acid producing bacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and/or acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus under a controlled temperature and environmental conditions. For improving the marketability quality of yogurt, an ideal yogurt should have better flavor and texture as well as being manufactured in a reducing cost through better application of transit. A number of studies have focused on the effect of the starter culture, fermentation process, probiotics, prebiotics and transportation, in the overall quality, flavor, sensory, and texture of the yogurt. This review generally stresses upon the different difficulties and advantages being faced while manufacturing yogurt, health benefits of yogurt, innovations in transportation technology, how the presence of prebiotics are impacting the dairy industry, and the yogurt as a whole.
It Is Not Optimism When You Know You Are Right: CEO Optimism and Self-Attribution

Existing literature uses option-holding patterns to identify CEOs as permanently overconfident oroptimistic and finds such biases associated with investment and financing decisions damaging toshareholder interests. This study finds that a significant part of CEOs’ optimistic behavior is a rational reaction to short-term conditions rather than, as previous scholarship posits, a permanent bias. While previous literature has focused exclusively on long-term CEO bias, this study examines the causes of annual variation in CEO optimism and finds support for the self-attribution hypothesis. This study proposes that CEO optimism which is not the result of self-attribution is justified by short-term conditions rather than caused by CEO bias. This has practical applications: allowing investors to identify biased CEOs and helping CEOs to recognize their own personal biases.
Decision Making on Behalf of Children: Understanding the Role of the Harm Principle

Thirty years ago, Buchanan and Brock distinguished between guidance principles and interference principles in the setting of surrogate decision making on behalf of children and incompetent adult patients. They suggested that the best interest standard could serve as a guidance principle, but was insufficient as an interference principle. In this issue of The Journal of Clinical Ethics, Ross argues that the best interest standard can serve as neither a guidance or interference principle for decision making on behalf of children, but that her model of constrained parental autonomy can serve as both. I will argue that Buchanan and Brock were correct that a single model or standard cannot serve as both a guidance and interference principle in pediatrics and that the best interest standard is a sufficient guidance principle. The harm principle fulfills the conditions necessary for an interference principle, at least insofar as deciding when state intervention to interfere with parental decision making is justified.
A New Model of Genetic Variation and Evolution Evaluates Relative Impacts of Background Selections and Selective Sweeps

Intra-population genetic variation and interspecies divergence in chromosome regions can be considerably affected by different local recombination rates. There are two models: (i) the selective sweeps that reduces the genetic diversity at linked sites and elevates the divergence rate; and (ii) the background selection that reduces the genetic diversity at linked sites and divergence rate. An intriguing question, yet highly controversial, is which one is dominant. In this paper, I develop a framework of generalize background selection, formulated by a diffusion model with two killing functions: the one associated with (negative) background selection is the rate to stop a fixation process of a mutation randomly, and the other associated with positive background selection (selective sweep) is the rate to stop a loss process of a mutation randomly. A simple relationship between the level of reduced diversity and the rate of divergence is derived, depending on the strength of generalized background selection (G) and the proportion of positive background selection (β). We analyzed the interspecies divergence and intra-population diversity in low-recombination regions of three organisms (fruitfly, soybean and human). Strikingly, all datasets demonstrated the dominance of (negative) background selection, and the positive background selection (selective sweeps) only has a small contribution (β~10%). However, our analysis rejects the notion of β=0, namely, a complete negative background selection is unlikely. These findings may shed some lights on the long-term debates around Neutral Theory.
Oxyamination of Unactivated Alkenes with Electron-Rich Amines and Acids via a Catalytic Triiodide Intermediate

An aerobic catalytic oxidation process is described for the olefin oxyamination using acids and primary amines as the sources of O and N. Our mechanistic findings point to the formation of triiodide as a critical catalytic intermediate to account for the tolerance of electron-rich nucleophiles. This dual iodide and copper catalytic system is suitable for a formal [5+1] annulation process to access valuable lactam structures and highlighted by the synthesis of the pharmaceutical Zamifenacin.
Characterizing the frequency of non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) on the human X chromosome (Xq28) using digital inverted PCR

Little is currently known about the rates at which non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) occurs. However, most current research suggests that NAHR is rare. Previous work by Small, et al (1998), examined an inversion polymorphism on the long arm of the X-chromosome, involving two genes (FLNA and EMD), and determined the frequency of the two gene arrangements in a group of European individuals. Here we quantify the rate at which the causal NAHR, in inverted repeats flanking the FLNA and EMD genes, occurs in meiosis using digital PCR of sperm samples, with male cheek cells as controls. NAHR was documented in all samples, including the cheek cell samples at a mean recombination rate of 1.8%, indicating that NAHR occurs much more frequently than initially believed, and appears to be occurring in mitosis. The increase in NAHR frequency in spermatogenesis is not significant leaving in question NAHR occurrence in meiosis. This study reveals a more accurate way to quantitate NAHR, serving as an important first step in better understanding various NAHR-associated diseases.
Short and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis on Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Abstract Background Many individuals use cannabis to manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid system represents a viable target for treating these symptoms. Method Data from 404 medical cannabis users who self-identified as having PTSD were obtained from Strainprint®, a medical cannabis app that patients use to track changes in symptoms as a function of different strains and doses of cannabis across time. This sample collectively used the app 11,797 times over 31 months to track PTSD-related symptoms (intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, irritability, and/or anxiety) immediately before and after inhaling cannabis. Latent change score models were used to examine changes in symptom severity and predictors of these changes (gender, dose, cannabis constituents, time). Multilevel models were used to explore long-term consequences of repeatedly using cannabis to manage these symptoms. Results All symptoms were reduced by more than 50% immediately after cannabis use. Time predicted larger decreases in intrusions and irritability, with later cannabis use sessions predicting greater symptom relief than earlier sessions. Higher doses of cannabis predicted larger reductions in intrusions and anxiety, and dose used to treat anxiety increased over time. Baseline severity of all symptoms remained constant across time. Limitations The sample was self-selected, self-identified as having PTSD, and there was no placebo control group. Conclusions Cannabis provides temporary relief from PTSD-related symptoms. However, it may not be an effective long-term remedy as baseline symptoms were maintained over time and dose used for anxiety increased over time, which is indicative of development of tolerance.
Evaluation of MTAP immunohistochemistry loss of expression in ovarian serous borderline tumors as a potential marker for prognosis and progression

Abstract Introduction Serous borderline tumors (SBT) are the most common subtype of ovarian borderline tumors with excellent clinical course. However, they can recur or progress to low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC) in a small proportion of the cases. Beside BRAF and KRAS mutations, copy number alterations (CNA), particularly loss of chromosome 9p21 locus which results in deletion of genes CDKN2A and MTAP, have been suggested to be involved in disease progression. MTAP immunohistochemistry recently has been introduced for mesothelioma as a reliable surrogate marker for the homozygous deletion of chromosome 9p21 locus. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to evaluate the MTAP loss of expression in serous borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinomas to identify if it can be used as a marker for prognosis and progression. Method Eighty-four total cases of ovarian serous lesions, including 21 cases of serous cystadenomas, 21 cases of serous borderline tumors, 12 cases of low-grade serous carcinomas and 30 cases of high-grade serous carcinomas were selected. MTAP immunohistochemistry was performed on the representative blocks and cytoplasmic staining was used for interpretation. The cases were labeled as positive (retained) if MTAP showed cytoplasmic granular staining and negative (loss of expression) if negative cytoplasmic staining was observed in the presence of positive internal control. Result Ten of 21 cases of serous borderline tumors showed loss of MTAP expression (48%). Among those, 7 cases were bilateral, 2 cases had micropapillary features, one case had supraclavicular and cervical lymph node involvement by serous borderline tumor and 2 cases had progression to low-grade serous carcinoma, including one of micropapillary tumors. Also 8 out of 12 cases of LGSCs showed MTAP loss of expression (66%). Only 4 of 30 cases of high-grade serous carcinomas (13%) and none of the serous cystadenoma cases showed loss of expression of MTAP. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first description of MTAP immunohistochemistry in serous borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinomas. Our study was limited due to small sample size. However, it showed an association between MTAP loss of expression and adverse clinical behavior in ovarian serous borderline tumors. This supports the role for further investigations in larger series to evaluate the role of MTAP stain as a prognostic marker in these neoplasms.
Testing behavioral interventions designed to improve on-time SNAP recertification

We report results from a series of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) run between January 2019 and February 2020 testing behavioral interventions designed to increase the likelihood that SNAP recipients recertify on-time in Hennepin County, the most populous county in Minnesota. Given the different levels of governance and the abundance of qualifying rules and processes that low-income households must negotiate to obtain and retain SNAP food assistance benefits, many households may fail to recertify for SNAP. Administrative burden includes the difficulties created by having to learn deadlines and which forms constitute the proper paperwork necessary to recertify. In our main intervention, we test a three-armed study (n=23,756), comparing the efficacy of the Hennepin County SNAP recertification auto-dialer communication, a behaviorally-informed text message, and a third arm with both the Hennepin county autodialer and our text message, against a control group that did not receive any reminder at the beginning of the recertification month but did receive other standard written communications. Results from this trial show that the autodialer is not an effective reminder. However, the interventions with text messages are effective in improving recertification rates around five percent (p<0.01) over no additional message and around two percentage points (p<0.05) over the Hennepin County autodialer message currently being used. Text messaging appears to be particularly effective for SNAP recipients under the age of 60 with low to moderate levels of education.
REAL TIME TEMPORALITIES AND MORE-THAN-HUMAN ECOLOGIES OF DETROIT’SPROJECT GREEN LIGHT

On January 1st 2016, 8 gas stations in the Detroit metro area began streaming from surveillance cameras to the Detroit Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center—the auspicious start of Detroit’s Project Green Light (PGL). Presently, cameras are located in over 680 sites around the city. The surveillance initiative’s rapid expansion has been met with significant pushback from the community regarding its quiet incorporation of automated face recognition technologies. As activists have argued, the use of a technology with a significantly higher error rate for people of color to surveil a population that is over 80% nonwhite risks reproducing and exacerbating existing racial biases within the criminal justice system (Detroit Community Technology Project, 2019). Many of the concerns that community members have raised, including the possibility of algorithmic misidentification and the influence of PGL cameras on residents’ use of public space, speak to the question of what human and nonhuman agencies and relationalities exist in PGL spaces and their impact on the residents and landscape of Detroit. In this paper, I focus on the discursive flexibility of the term real time in PGL to diagram the web of human and nonhuman relations within the space. I trace three narratives of real time mapping the human and nonhuman temporalities they reference. Informed by a theoretical framework of Digital Studies, Critical Race Studies, and Indigenous Studies, I explore the racial justice possibilities of theorizing resistance inclusive of more-than-human perspectives and ethics.
Outcomes of Current-Generation Transfemoral Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to gain momentum with current-generation balloon-expandable (BE) Edwards SAPIEN 3 (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) and self-expandable (SE) Medtronic Evolut valves (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). Safety and efficacy of each device has been studied independently but head-to-head comparisons remain limited. Methods The institutional database was used to identify patients undergoing TAVR with BE and SE systems through transfemoral access between 2015 and 2018. Patients with an alternative access were excluded. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare baseline risk-adjusted 30-day Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 variables and midterm outcomes, including survival, stroke, and readmission rates. Results A total of 294 BE (52.2%) and 269 SE (47.8%) valves were implanted. BE cohort was predominantly male (59.9% vs 33.1%, P Conclusions Midterm outcomes of both valve types were comparable despite a higher risk of short-term stroke for the SE cohort. Select patients may benefit from one valve type over another based on clinical and anatomic risk factors.
Comparison of electro-thermal performance of advanced cooling techniques for electric vehicle motors

Abstract Permanent magnet synchronous motors are commonly used in the powertrain of electric vehicles because of their high power and torque densities. Attempts to increase power and torque densities beyond the state-of-the-art often suffer from thermal limitations of the adopted winding-wire insulation class. In this paper, overall effectiveness of four different cooling technologies, namely conventional stator jacket cooling, embedded circular and rectangular cooling channel within stator core, and direct winding heat exchanger have been studied numerically. By realizing temperature dependent magnetic and material properties, winding and core losses, a two-way coupling algorithm has been utilized to study the detailed electro-magnetic and thermal performance of BMW i3 motor with aforementioned cooling techniques. The numerical results illustrate that the direct winding heat exchanger approach provides better electro-thermal performance in comparison to the other cooling techniques analyzed. On the contrary, embedded rectangular and circular channel in stator core adversely affect the electro-magnetic performance and overall efficiency of the motor, despite their superior thermal performance compared to the jacket cooling.
Performance and economics of backgrounding yearling beef steers on smooth bromegrass pastures

ABSTRACT Objective This experiment was conducted to evaluate performance (using 5 yr of data reported here, and the additional 5 yr of results previously) and economic return (10 yr) of steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures over 10 consecutive years to determine profitability and pasture longevity under 3 management strategies. Materials and Methods Treatments consisted of cattle (n = 450; 45/yr) grazing smooth bromegrass pastures (n = 9/yr) fertilized with 90 kg of N/ha (FERT), unfertilized pastures stocked with cattle that received distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) daily at 0.6% of BW (SUPP), and unfertilized pastures stocked with cattle that received no supplement (control, CON). A randomized complete block design was used each year with 3 treatments present in each of 3 pasture blocks and treatments maintained in the same areas for all 10 yr. Results and Discussion Cattle supplemented daily with DGS had greater ADG (1.19 kg/d; P Implications and Applications Fluctuating market conditions and changes of input costs affect the overall profitability of treatments and relative differences. In this scenario, holding all prices constant except DGS, price of DGS would have to increase by 20% (increase of $43.29/908 kg) in order for applying N fertilizer to pastures (FERT) or increasing stocking rate (CON) to be more profitable than supplementing cattle with distillers grains (SUPP).
Analysis-Design-Justification (ADJ): A Framework to Develop Problem-Solving Skills

We propose a new practice for the instruction of problem-solving skills: the Analysis-Design-Justification (ADJ) framework. The ADJ framework consists of learning outcomes which represent problem-solving skills, a type of problems to assess those outcomes, and a three-step process for problem-solving. Problems are open-ended and ill-defined, like those in the real world. Although there are several approaches to instructing problem-solving, ADJ supports a course environment with four specific requirements: established syllabi (ADJ may be added to a class already covering many topics), scale (ADJ can handle large classes), modality (ADJ can be performed synchronously and asynchronously), and heterogeneity (ADJ helps to provide scaffolding for diverse student populations). This framework takes inspiration from Polya’s problem-solving process and uses the theoretical foundations underlying Problem-based Learning (PBL). The ADJ framework was enacted in the fall 2019 section of a Software Engineering (SE) class on operating-systems at Arizona State University (ASU). In the class, students were introduced to the ADJ framework through a series of group activities, and then asked to solve three ADJ problem sets. Students responded positively to use of the ADJ framework as both an instructional tool for class material, and to mature their problem-solving skills. However, some students had issues carrying out the ADJ process due to its focus on justification as opposed to constructing designs.
Social Media Debate Position 2: A Problematic Environment- Against the Use of Social Media for Credible Information

This paper seeks to argue against the use of social media as an information resource and, in particular, that social media should not presently be considered a credible source of information for in...
PPARα and PPARγ effectively protect against HIV‐induced inflammatory responses in brain endothelial cells

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors which down-regulate inflammatory signaling pathways. Therefore, we hypothesized that alterations of PPAR functions can contribute to human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-induced dysfunction of brain endothelial cells. Indeed, treatment with HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein decreased PPAR transactivation in brain endothelial cells. We next stably over-expressed PPARalpha and PPARgamma in a newly developed cell line of human brain endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3 cells). Tat-induced up-regulation of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, CCL2, and E-selectin were markedly attenuated in hCMEC/D3 over-expressing PPARalpha or PPARgamma. These results were confirmed in CCL2 and E-selectin promoter activity studies. Similar protective effects were observed in hCMEC/D3 after activation of PPARgamma by exogenous PPAR agonists (dPGJ(2) and rosiglitazone). PPAR over-expression also prevented Tat-induced binding activity and transactivation of nuclear factor-kappaB. Importantly, increased PPAR activity attenuated induction of IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, CCL2, and E-selectin in hCMEC/D3 cells co-cultured with HIV-1-infected Jurkat cells. The protective effects of PPAR over-expression were reversed by the antagonists of PPARalpha (MK886) or PPARgamma (GW9662). The present data suggest that targeting PPAR signaling may provide a novel therapeutic approach to attenuate HIV-1-induced local inflammatory responses in brain endothelial cells.
Folklore in New World Black Fiction: Writing and the Oral Traditional Aesthetics

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Chiji Akoma Year: 2007 Pages: 176 Publisher: The Ohio State University Press ISBN: 978-0-8142-1071-0 (hard cover). Prices: $36.95 USD(hard cover).
Minimal Feedback During Tutorial Dialogue

We analyzed unexpected student responses to a natural language (NL) ITS to determine if improved feedback could be beneficial. Our analysis of a corpus of ITS-student dialogues suggests that unexpected responses represent learning opportunities. We outline our plans for testing feedback appropriate to subclassifications of these responses.
A Requirements Analysis for Information Systems to Support Decision Making in a Managed Care Environment

Next-generation informationsystems for managed care environments must meet new standardsin the following areas: user interface, external interfaces,data storage and retrieval, and data analysis. Further, the requirementsthat will serve as the blue print for their construction mustbe grounded in new ways of looking at the process of patientcare.
The Revenue Impacts of Cross-border Sales and Tourism: Wine and Liquor Taxation

As tax rates have risen through time, voter dislike of increased taxation has strengthened, leaving some states in a budget crunch. If policy-makers are to keep pace with the growing demand for public services, they must find ways to export tax burdens outside of the district. Taking advantage of cross-border shopping and tourism are two such ways to export tax burdens. This paper attempts to measure the revenue impacts of cross-border shopping and tourist purchases of wine and liquor in West Virginia. I find that cross-border shopping and tourism exert significant impacts on tax revenues from wine and liquor sales.
The effects of classwide peer tutoring on correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance by physical education majors

Previous research conducted on the effectiveness of basic life support skills courses has reported that participants typically do not achieve correct performance of life support skills. We used a multiple baseline design across subjects to assess the effects of a classwide peer tutoring intervention on the correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills of ten physical education majors. The classwide peer tutoring intervention consisted of (a) a checklist, (b) a prompting procedure, and (c) immediate feedback on performance. Procedural fidelity measures were taken on the correct implementation of the basic life supports skill course and on the implementation of the classwide peer tutoring intervention. Results indicated that students achieved and maintained 100% correct performance during the classwide per tuition condition. These results challenge the current polices of the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association who have reduced course performance criteria because participants were not achieving an adequate standard of performance.
The association between major depressive disorder and obesity in US adolescents: results from the 2001–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity was assessed in 4,150 US adolescents aged 12–19 years from the 2001–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weight and height were measured by health professionals and MDD was based on a structured diagnostic interview. The prevalence of MDD in the past year among US adolescents was 3.2% and 16.8% of US adolescents were obese. After adjustment for sex, age, race/ethnicity and poverty, MDD was not significantly associated with obesity among adolescents overall (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.9–2.9), but an increased odds of obesity was observed among males (adjOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1–7.1) and non-Hispanic blacks (adjOR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.1–8.3) with MDD. Future research on strategies that might reduce the risk of obesity in males and non-Hispanic black adolescents with MDD may be warranted.
Rat vocalizations to shock: With and without a CS; in darkness and in light

Two experiments were performed to explore the effect of illumination on rat vocalizations to shock and to repeat a previous experiment in which the presence of a CS signif­ icantly reduced squealing to shock. The first experiment replicated the suppressive effect of a CS on vocalizations and indicated the effect may be obtained using onset or offset of illumination as the CS. Reduced squealing due to illumination alone was found in Experiment I using an independent group design but not found in Experiment II using a repeated mea­ sures design. A marked increase in vocalizations over trials was observed in both experiments. Badia, Suter, & Lewis (1966) reported an experiment in which one group of rats received signaled shock (CS­ UCS) and another group received the shock(UCS) alone. The dependent variable for both groups was the number of vocalizations elicited during a 2 sec UCS presenta­ tion. These investigators found the UCS elicited more vocalizations when presented alone than when it was preceded by a CS. This UCR diminution was predicted from the theo­ retical statements of Perkins (1955). Perkins argues that conditioned responses which occur following CS­ UCS pairings prepare the organism for the UCS. This preparation either maximizes the reinforcing proper­ ties of appetitive stimulation or minimizes the aversive­ ness of noxious stimuli. The latter effect was the one predicted and confirmed. Unconditioned response magnitude has also been studied by other investigators. Kimble & Ost (1961) re­ port observing gradually decreasing eyeblink UCRs during a classical conditioning experiment. Kimmel & Pennypacker (1962) found the amount of diminution in the unconditioned GSR to relate to number of past CS­ UCS pairings. Interpretations of these findings has been in terms of Pavlov's (1927) concept of inhibition of delay (Kimmel, 1966). In light of the limited information about the situation used in the Badia et al experiment, an interpretation without reference to the signaling properties of the CS appears tenable. The CS in the Badia et al study was an illumination increase resulting from the onset of a 6 W lamp. Since a delayed conditioning procedure was used for the CS-UCS group, the possibility exists that illu­ mination alone may have suppressed vocalizing inde­ pendent of other properties the CS may have had. The present experiments were designed to test this possibility and to replicate the earlier experiment. Experiment 1 Method. The Ss were 24 naive Sprague-Dawleyalbino
Efficient thermo-mechanical model for solidification processes

A new, computationally efficient algorithm has been implemented to solve for thermal stresses, strains, and displacements in realistic solidification processes which involve highly nonlinear constitutive relations. A general form of the transient heat equation including latent-heat from phase transformations such as solidification and other temperature-dependent properties is solved numerically for the temperature field history. The resulting thermal stresses are solved by integrating the highly nonlinear thermo-elastic-viscoplastic constitutive equations using a two-level method. First, an estimate of the stress and inelastic strain is obtained at each local integration point by implicit integration followed by a bounded Newton–Raphson (NR) iteration of the constitutive law. Then, the global finite element equations describing the boundary value problem are solved using full NR iteration. The procedure has been implemented into the commercial package Abaqus (Abaqus Standard Users Manuals, v6.4, Abaqus Inc., 2004) using a user-defined subroutine (UMAT) to integrate the constitutive equations at the local level. Two special treatments for treating the liquid/mushy zone with a fixed grid approach are presented and compared. The model is validated both with a semi-analytical solution from Weiner and Boley (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 1963; 11:145–154) as well as with an in-house finite element code CON2D (Metal. Mater. Trans. B 2004; 35B(6):1151–1172; Continuous Casting Consortium Website. http://ccc.me.uiuc.edu [30 October 2005]; Ph.D. Thesis, University of Illinois, 1993; Proceedings of the 76th Steelmaking Conference, ISS, vol. 76, 1993) specialized in thermo-mechanical modelling of continuous casting. Both finite element codes are then applied to simulate temperature and stress development of a slice through the solidifying steel shell in a continuous casting mold under realistic operating conditions including a stress state of generalized plane strain and with actual temperature-dependent properties. Other local integration methods as well as the explicit initial strain method used in CON2D for solving this problem are also briefly reviewed and compared. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reassessment of the surface activity of ferrocenyldimethylammonium surfactants

Abstract The paper reports an investigation of the surface behavior of N , N -dimethylferrocenylmethylundecyl ammonium bromide, Br − Fc(CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 , where Fc is ferrocene, by employing a simple molecular thermodynamic model and by comparing the predictions of the model to experimental measurements. Whereas a past study (Colloids Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspect 94 (1995) 243) has reported that chemical oxidation (using AgNO 3 ) of Fc(CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 to Fc + (CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 (where Fc + is the ferrocenium cation) leads to small ( −1 ) changes in the surface tension of its aqueous solutions at 25 °C, the molecular thermodynamic model reported here leads to predictions of changes in surface tension at 25 °C that are larger than the past experimental study. In order to reconcile the predictions of our model and the past experiments, we performed new measurements of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of Fc(CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 and Fc + (CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 , where the oxidized surfactant was prepared electrochemically and all measurements were performed at 40 °C (above the measured Krafft temperature of 37 °C). We find the new measurements to be in good agreement with the molecular thermodynamic model (∼15 mN m −1 changes in surface tension upon oxidation of Fc(CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 to Fc + (CH 2 )N + (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 ). The results of our model and experimental measurements also support our proposition that electrostatic interactions between the cationic groups of these surfactants dominate the surface behavior of these surfactants.
Maillard Polymers Derived from D-Glucose-1 and -6-14C, Glycine-1 and -2-14C, and C-1-, and Methyl-14C Methionine

Abstract Maillard polymers were prepared from D-glucose-1 and -6-14C, glycine-1 and -2-14C, as well as C-1 and methyl-14C methionine, and the activities of the isolated polymers measured as a function of time. In both cases, C-1 of the amino acids were incorporated at the lowest levels, with D-glucose carbon atoms at the highest levels. The data support the conclusions that carbon dioxide, produced during the Maillard reaction, arises from C-1 of the amino acids, but also suggests that other carbons of the amino acids may contribute as well.
Retroflex Versus Bunched in Treatment for Rhotic Misarticulation: Evidence From Ultrasound Biofeedback Intervention

Purpose To document the efficacy of ultrasound biofeedback treatment for misarticulation of the North American English rhotic in children. Because of limited progress in the first cohort, a series ...
Hydrocarbon Prospectivity And Classification of Extensional Basins

Based on studies of 125 basins, the authors subdivide extensional basins into four classes: (1) core complex (e.g., Betic basin), (2) organic collapse (Newark basin), (3) narrow rift (Gulf of Suez), and (4) wide rift (Viking Graben). The hydrocarbon potential of core complex and orogenic collapse basins generally is poor, while that of narrow- and wide-rift basins can be fair to excellent. Narrow-rift and wide-rift basins are more hydrocarbon prone because multiphase extension and thermal subsidence improve source, reservoir, and trap potential and lead to favorable maturation-migration histories. A generalized pattern of evolution leads from basins formed on overthickened crust (>45 km, core complex and orogenic collapse basins) to those formed on normal thickness crust. Core complex and orogenic collapse basins that are generated by simple shear commonly owe their internal geometry and low-angle fault dips to structures formed during compression or duplication of continental crust. Extension on low-angle faults occurs within 50 m.y. of the last compressional event and is attributed to isostatic and gravitational instabilities. Either these early faults are reactivated, or new faults supersede and over-print existing structures. Narrow- and wide-rift basins develop on crust 50 m.y. any previous crustal thickening. High-angle normal faults are prevalent in narrow- and wide-rift basins.« less
Exploring the Genotype/Phenotype Landscape of Self-Assembling Modules in RNA

GNRA tetraloops (N for base, R for purine) in tertiary interaction with distant helices or receptors are among the most widespread self-assembling modules identified in functional RNAs in nature. A remarkable example is the GAAA/11nt receptor motif, which displays a strong binding affinity and selectivity for its cognate tetraloop. However, in vitro evolution has yielded novel receptors with binding affinities and selectivity for GNRA tetraloops similar to that of the GAAA/11nt receptor, raising the question why only a limited subset of these interactions occurs in nature. It has been proposed that the natural evolution of GNRA receptors may incur a selection pressure to favor sequences that display a high degree of mutational robustness, meaning that single point mutations to their sequence do not significantly alter their self-assembly function. To this end, we have performed a comprehensive mutational analysis of the 11nt motif and two artificial receptors isolated by in vitro selection and shown to recognize their cognate tetraloops with binding affinity comparable to that of the GAAA-11nt interaction. Using a tectoRNA system, a comprehensive genetic/phenotypic landscape was derived for each of these interactions by screening their variants for the ability to bind GNRA tetraloops. The results indicate that both natural and artificial receptors maintain good binding affinity for their cognate tetraloop (GAAA-11nt; GUAA-R5.58; R1-GGAA) upon single point mutation. However, the artificial receptor R5.58 displays a capacity to change its phenotype in terms of its affinity and selectivity toward a particular GNRA tetraloop, which may indicate a greater degree of plasticity and evolvability through single point mutation. Artificially selected receptors may once have occurred in nature, as evolutionary intermediates on the way to optimal solutions, like the 11nt motif. Further experiments are planned to validate this hypothesis.
The effects of bile salts on the radioimmunoassay of hormonal peptides

The effect of bile salts on RIAs of secretin, glucagon, insulin, and gastrin have been studied. Increasing concentrations of the sodium salts of taurocholic, glycochenodeoxycholic, taurochenodeoxycholic, glycocholic, and taurodeoxycholic acids progressively inhibit the binding of /sup 125/I-secretin to specific antibody, resulting in significant lowering of the B/F ratio at concentrations as low as 0.04 mM and almost complete inhibition at concentrations above 2.4 mM. The nonspecific inhibition by taurodeoxycholate results in a B/F vs concentration curve resembling a secretin standard curve.The binding of /sup 125/I-secretin to charcoal is also inhibited by increasing concentrations of bile salts, although this effect is less marked than their effects on the immune reaction. The binding of /sup 125/I-glucagon, /sup 125/I-insulin, and /sup 125/I-gastrin to specific antisera is also inhibited by sodium taurocholate. Insulin binding is least affected. However, gastrin binding is inhibited by sodium taurocholate at a concentration as low as 0.2 mM. The binding of /sup 125/I-insulin and /sup 125/I-gastrin to charcoal is also inhibited by sodium taurocholate. Thus bile salts interfere in the RIA of hormonal peptides by inhibiting both the immune reaction and the binding of labeled antigen to charcoal. These nonspecific effects must therefore be considered in RIA of bodymore » fluids containing high concentrations of bile salts. Treatment of plasma samples with anionic-binding resins can eliminate interference caused by high bile salt concentrations. However, these resins will also remove anionic hormonal peptides such as gastrin.« less
Oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of limestones and dolomites, bikini and eniwetok atolls.

Aragonitic, unconsolidated sediments from the borings on the Eniwetok and Bikini atolls are isotopically identical with unaltered skeletal fragments, whereas the recrystallized limestones exhibit isotopic variations resulting from alteration in meteoric waters during periods of emergence. Dolomites and associated calcites are enriched in O18, perhaps because of interaction with hypersaline brines.