cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality of Patient Education Sections on Otitis Media Across Different Website Platforms

Objective:To determine the quality, content, and readability of patient education materials pertaining to otitis media across several popular online platforms focused on otolaryngology and pediatri...
Lay Beliefs About Interaction Quality: An Expertise Perspective on Individual Differences in Interpersonal Emotion Ability.

Social interactions have long been a source of lay beliefs about the ways in which psychological constructs operate. Some of the most enduring psychological constructs to become common lay beliefs originated from research focused on social-emotional processes. "Emotional intelligence" and "social intelligence" are now mainstream notions, stemming from their appealing nature and depiction in popular media. However, empirical attempts at quantifying the quality of social interactions have not been nearly as successful as measures of individual differences such as social skills, theory of mind, or social/emotional intelligence. The subjective, lay ratings of the quality of interactions by naive observers are nonetheless consistent both within and between observers. The goal of this paper is to describe recent empirical work surrounding lay beliefs about social interaction quality and ways in which those beliefs can be quantified. We will then argue that these lay impressions formed about the quality of an interaction, perhaps via affect induction, are consistent with an expertise framework. Affect induction, beginning in infancy and occurring over time, creates instances in memory that accumulate and are ultimately measurable as social-emotional expertise (SEE). The ways in which our lay beliefs about social interaction quality fit the definition of expertise, or the automatic, holistic processing of relevant stimuli, will be discussed. We will then describe the promise of future work in this area, with a focus on a) continued delineation of the thoughts, behaviors, and timing of behaviors that lead to high-quality social interactions; and b) the viability of expertise as the conceptual model for individual differences in social-emotional ability.
Development of a Novel Targeted Ultrasound Microbubble for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Health Sciences: 1st Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Persistent abnormalities in Rolandic thalamocortical white matter circuits in childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

OBJECTIVE Childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (CECTS) is a common, focal, transient, developmental epilepsy syndrome characterized by unilateral or bilateral, independent epileptiform spikes in the Rolandic regions of unknown etiology. Given that CECTS presents during a period of dramatic white matter maturation and thatspikes in CECTS are activated during non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, we hypothesized that children with CECTS would have aberrant development of white matter connectivity between the thalamus and the Rolandic cortex. We further tested whether Rolandic thalamocortical structural connectivity correlates with spike rate during non-REM sleep. METHODS Twenty-three children with CECTS (age = 8-15 years) and 19 controls (age = 7-15 years) underwent 3-T structural and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and 72-electrode electroencephalographic recordings. Thalamocortical structural connectivity to Rolandic and non-Rolandic cortices was quantified using probabilistic tractography. Developmental changes in connectivity were compared between groups using bootstrap analyses. Longitudinal analysis was performed in four subjects with 1-year follow-up data. Spike rate was quantified during non-REM sleep using manual and automated techniques and compared to Rolandic connectivity using regression analyses. RESULTS Children with CECTS had aberrant development of thalamocortical connectivity to the Rolandic cortex compared to controls (P = .01), where the expected increase in connectivity with age was not observed in CECTS. There was no difference in the development of thalamocortical connectivity to non-Rolandic regions between CECTS subjects and controls (P = .19). Subjects with CECTS observed longitudinally had reductions in thalamocortical connectivity to the Rolandic cortex over time. No definite relationship was found between Rolandic connectivity and non-REM spike rate (P > .05). SIGNIFICANCE These data provide evidence that abnormal maturation of thalamocortical white matter circuits to the Rolandic cortex is a feature of CECTS. Our data further suggest that the abnormalities in these tracts do not recover, but are increasingly dysmature over time, implicating a permanent but potentially compensatory process contributing to disease resolution.
Can You Picture It? Curricular Imagination for the Transformative Art of Theological Education

This forum presents the written text (with added introduction) of remarks given at the installation of Mai-Anh Le Tran as academic dean at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Naming the “colonial design” (Jennings) buttressing contemporary theological education, Tran wonders how the cultivation of educational imagination might invigorate a vibrant and vital place-based curriculum for theological discovery and formation that does not anesthetize, but rather awakens our full, unfinished selves for sense-filled meaning-making and “utopian social dreaming” for the transformative art of religious leadership in changing and challenging times.
Antimicrobial laser-activated sealants for combating surgical site infections

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) occur in 2–5% of patients undergoing surgery in the US alone, impacting 300 000–500 000 lives each year, and presenting up to 11 times greater risk of death compared to patients without SSIs. The most common cause of SSI is Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is the most common pathogen in community hospitals. Current clinical devices used for approximating incisions and traumatic lacerations include sutures, adhesives, tapes, or staples with or without antimicrobial incorporation. However, current closure technologies may not provide adequate protection against infection, are susceptible to wound dehiscence, and can result in delayed biomechanical recoveries. Laser-activated tissue repair is a sutureless technique in which chromophore-loaded sealants convert laser light energy to heat in order to induce rapid tissue sealing. Here, we describe the generation and evaluation of laser-activated sealant (LASE) biomaterials, in which, indocyanine green (ICG), an FDA-approved dye, was embedded in a silk fibroin matrix and cast into films as wound sealants. Silk-ICG films were subjected to different near-infrared (NIR) laser powers to identify temperatures optimal for laser sealing of soft tissues. A mathematical model was developed in order to determine the photothermal conversion efficiency of LASEs following laser irradiation. NIR laser activation of silk-ICG LASEs increased the recovery of skin biomechanical strength compared to sutured skin in full-thickness incisional wounds in immunocompetent mice, and live animal imaging indicated persistence of silk-ICG LASEs over several days. LASEs loaded with the antibiotic vancomycin demonstrated higher efficacies for combating MRSA infections in a mouse model of surgical site infection compared to antibacterial sutures. Our results demonstrate that LASEs can be loaded with antimicrobial drugs and may serve as new multifunctional biomaterials for rapid tissue sealing, repair and surgical site protection following surgery.
Motion-corrected cardiac MRI limits anesthesia exposure and healthcare costs in children

Purpose: The benefits of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the pediatric population must be continually balanced with the risk and cost of sedation, particularly in children with cardiac disease. Current CMR imaging methods allow free-breathing, averaged imaging, however significant motion artifacts, poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and lengthy scan times limit their use. Many pediatric CMR programs opt for breath-held CMR imaging using general anesthesia. The advent of new free-breathing CMR imaging techniques leveraging single-shot, motion-corrected (MOCO) sequences offer a significant opportunity to limit sedation exposure while …
U.S. Concrete, Inc.

Theresa Alvarez is about to become president of the company her father started, Cordoba Materials, which had initially focused on production and sales within the concrete and aggregates industry, and had grown into a major regional player, with 22 plants and $105 million in annual revenue. One aspect critical to Alvarez's transition is an agreement between her and her father on what her long-term vision for growing Cordoba Materials would be. Would it grow through acquisition or organically? How would it finance its growth? As preparation for these conversations, both Alvarez and her father agreed that an evaluation of the "state of the industry" would be in order—that is, a review of what approaches other successful players in the industry were taking to grow their businesses. Alvarez is particularly interested in one business that stands out for its similarities to Cordoba Materials: U.S. Concrete, Inc. (U.S. Concrete). She is intrigued by two varied signals she received from her initial research. On one hand, she admires the rapid vertical expansion of the company's business and the new technology it is applying to its concrete production. Should she follow a similar strategy and search for smaller companies to buy in the region? Or should she be concerned about Cordoba Materials itself being a U.S. Concrete takeover target? This case explores the U.S. concrete and aggregates industry generally and U.S. Concrete's performance specifically, including stock prices, competitor comparisons, certification programs available in the concrete and aggregates field, balance and income statements, and more. Excerpt UVA-C-2431 Dec. 18, 2019 U.S. Concrete, Inc. Our business strategies are (1) market focus, including growing our markets through acquisitions, (2) vertically integrate through aggregates, (3) do what we know, and (4) focus on growing profits. —William J. Sandbrook, U.S. Concrete chairman and CEO (2018) Theresa Alvarez would have some bold decisions to make. She would soon become president of Cordoba Materials, based in Norton, Oklahoma. Her father had built and managed the company since its formation in 1989. He was set to retire by the end of 2020. Cordoba Materials initially focused on production and sales of aggregates, gradually building a ready-mixed business that specialized in serving small businesses. It was now a significant regional player, with 22 plants and $ 105 million in annual revenue. . . .
Lost in Translation: Linguistic Hurdles Facing U.S. Language-Minority Students of Color Pursuing International Higher Education

As our world becomes increasingly globalized in social, economic, and political contexts, U.S. students choose to study abroad to develop their international communication skills, cross-cultural competencies, and second or third languages (NAFSA, 2017). However, an under-researched element of the international education enrollment process is how readable and translated international admissions instructions are, especially for language minority students whose first language is not English, comprising over 92 million people living in the U.S. (Dillinger, 2017). Examining the international student websites of the top 100 Quacquarelli Symonds World Universities outside of the U.S., this study finds average international application instructions are written above the 15th-grade reading level, with 99% of institutions providing English-language content and only 5% providing Spanish-language content, even though 40 million people living in U.S. speak Spanish as a first-language. Furthermore, only 1% of international websites provide web-embedded language translation technologies. These findings suggest a globalized linguistic English-centrism that may hinder students from minoritized U.S. language populations attempting to pursue an international degree. Implications for policymakers, practitioners, and future research are addressed.
Patient Perceptions of FDA Approval: Gaps in Education or Variation in Values?

Objective To assess perceptions and opinions about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process for disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods People living with MS were invited to complete a web-based survey of their perceptions of the FDA role and process for approval of MS medications. The survey asked about the role of the FDA, factors involved in the approval process, which voices should represent those with MS in deliberations about drug approval, and the level of comfort with uncertain safety of newly approved therapies. Results Three thousand thirty-three respondents met inclusion criteria for data analysis. Most respondents seemed to understand the role of the FDA, although only half understood a fundamental FDA role: balancing the risks and benefits when considering drug approval. Significant differences were observed in many areas between those who have and have not tried DMTs. Comfort with uncertainty was associated with several factors relating to side effects and benefits believed important for the FDA to consider. Most respondents reported that people who participated in the medication9s clinical trial were particularly able to represent people living with MS. Conclusion Perceptions regarding the FDA and views of who should represent people living with MS varied between those who have and have not tried DMT. There is variability in personal values that should be recognized and taken into account when considering regulatory responsibilities. Interventions are needed to address educational gaps regarding the mission and trustworthiness of the FDA as an oversight body.
Improving the Efficiency of Clinical Trial Recruitment Using an Ensemble Machine Learning to Assist With Eligibility Screening.

Objective Efficiently identifying eligible patients is a crucial first step for a successful clinical trial. The objective of this study was to test whether an approach using electronic health record (EHR) data and an ensemble machine learning algorithm incorporating billing codes and data from clinical notes processed by natural language processing (NLP) can improve the efficiency of eligibility screening. Methods We studied patients screened for a clinical trial of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with one or more International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code for RA and age greater than 35 years, from a tertiary care center and a community hospital. The following three groups of EHR features were considered for the algorithm: 1) structured features, 2) the counts of NLP concepts from notes, 3) health care utilization. All features were linked to dates. We applied random forest and logistic regression with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalty against the following two standard approaches: 1) one or more RA ICD code and no ICD codes related to exclusion criteria (ScreenRAICD1 +EX ) and 2) two or more RA ICD codes (ScreenRAICD2 ). To test the portability, we trained the algorithm at one institution and tested it at the other. Results In total, 3359 patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and 642 patients at Faulkner Hospital (FH) were studied, with 461 (13.7%) eligible patients at BWH and 84 (13.4%) at FH. The application of the algorithm reduced ineligible patients from chart review by 40.5% at the tertiary care center and by 57.0% at the community hospital. In contrast, ScreenRAICD2 reduced patients for chart review by 2.7% to 11.3%; ScreenRAICD1+EX reduced patients for chart review by 63% to 65% but excluded 22% to 27% of eligible patients. Conclusion The ensemble machine learning algorithm incorporating billing codes and NLP data increased the efficiency of eligibility screening by reducing the number of patients requiring chart review while not excluding eligible patients. Moreover, this approach can be trained at one institution and applied at another for multicenter clinical trials.
Reducing falls in the outpatient oncology clinics.

262Background: Patients with cancer are at particularly high risk for falls and unfortunately may suffer worse outcomes with falls. Patients with cancer are at increased risk for fractures due to b...
L-Arginine Nutrition and Metabolism in Ruminants.

L-Arginine (Arg) plays a central role in the nitrogen metabolism (e.g., syntheses of protein, nitric oxide, polyamines, and creatine), blood flow, nutrient utilization, and health of ruminants. This amino acid is produced by ruminal bacteria and is also synthesized from L-glutamine, L-glutamate, and L-proline via the formation of L-citrulline (Cit) in the enterocytes of young and adult ruminants. In pre-weaning ruminants, most of the Cit formed de novo by the enterocytes is used locally for Arg production. In post-weaning ruminants, the small intestine-derived Cit is converted into Arg primarily in the kidneys and, to a lesser extent, in endothelial cells, macrophages, and other cell types. Under normal feeding conditions, Arg synthesis contributes 65% and 68% of total Arg requirements for nonpregnant and late pregnany ewes fed a diet with ~12% crude protein, respectively, whereas creatine production requires 40% and 36% of Arg utilized by nonpregnant and late pregnant ewes, respectively. Arg has not traditionally been considered a limiting nutrient in diets for post-weaning, gestating, or lactating ruminants because it has been assumed that these animals can synthesize sufficient Arg to meet their nutritional and physiological needs. This lack of a full understanding of Arg nutrition and metabolism has contributed to suboptimal efficiencies for milk production, reproductive performance, and growth in ruminants. There is now considerable evidence that dietary supplementation with rumen-protected Arg (e.g., 0.25-0.5% of dietary dry matter) can improve all these production indices without adverse effects on metabolism or health. Because extracellular Cit is not degraded by microbes in the rumen due to the lack of uptake, Cit can be used without any encapsulation as an effective dietary source for the synthesis of Arg in ruminants, including dairy and beef cows, as well as sheep and goats. Thus, an adequate amount of supplemental rumen-protected Arg or unencapsulated Cit is necessary to support maximum survival, growth, lactation, reproductive performance, and feed efficiency, as well as optimum health and well-being in all ruminants.
Personality and Psychotherapy: Treating the Whole Person

Introduction. Domain 1: Traits. Domain 2: Characteristic Adaptations: Personal Strivings and Defenses. Domain 3: Narrative Identity: Life Stories and Self-defining Memories. Relational Dynamics. Foundations and Principles of a Person-based Psychology and Psychotherapy. Case Study of a Person-based Therapy. Appendix A. Contact Information for Obtaining Instruments Referred to in This Volume. Appendix B. The Historical Roots of a Person-Based Psychology.
Gout, Beasts, and Other Metaphorical Punishments in ap 11.226-231

The reference to retributive gout in 11.229 serves as a semiotic hinge between two sets of interdependent poems in what may be a coherent Ammianic sequence ( AP 11.226-231). Ammianos’ approval of gout as a just punishment in 11.229 establishes themes of retribution and somatic torment that are elaborated in 11.230-231, riddling epigrams that express the hope that their target will endure repeated execution on the cross (11.230) and then in the arena (11.231). The torturous executions hoped for in 11.230-231 are further contextualized by analogous references to mythic and fabulistic punishments in an adjacent set of poems by the same author (11.226-228). When these epigrams are considered in light of the retributive nature and metaphorical implications of gout, their wit and substance can be better appreciated.
SOFT FASCIA CONCEPT FOR 1979 MUSTANG/CAPRI DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING CONSIDERATIONS

A number of design and manufacturing requirements were considered in the development and application of a large, complex, RIM (reaction injection molding) produced soft fascia for the 1979 Mustang and Capri front ends. The design and manufacturing process had to be closely coordinated to achieve the fit, functional and appearance objectives of this highly styled one piece soft part. The successful application of the 1979 Mustang and Capri soft flexible fascia demonstrates that the design and manufacturing capabilities exist and that the fascia concept will be a viable product/design consideration for future applications.
Hardware Evolution of Closed-Loop Controller Designs

Poster presentation will outline on-going efforts at NASA, MSFC to employ various Evolvable Hardware experimental platforms in the evolution of digital and analog circuitry for application to automatic control. Included will be information concerning the application of commercially available hardware and software along with the use of the JPL developed FPTA2 integrated circuit and supporting JPL developed software. Results to date will be presented.
A novel image encryption method to reduce decryption execution time in cloud

Parallel computing on cloud infrastructure had gained tremendous attention and popularity in recent years. In this paper, we propose a new technique to encrypt an image for secure image transmission and parallel decryption using cloud resources. The encoding of the image is done using the FFT conjugate complex property and private random phase key value shared between sender and receiver. First, using FFT complex conjugate property, we construct a two dimensional matrix consisting of real and imaginary portion of the image. Second, we encrypt the complex conjugate matrix using private random phase key value shared between sender and receiver. Detailed simulations have been carried out to test the encryption algorithm. Furthermore, we use cloud resources for the development of an efficient parallel image encryption and decryption algorithm. Significant speedup was achieved using different image size and number of cloud servers.
Hybrid invariance and stability of a feedback linearizing controller for powered prostheses

The development of powered lower-limb prostheses has the potential to significantly improve amputees' quality of life. By applying advanced control schemes, such as hybrid zero dynamics (HZD), to prostheses, more intelligent prostheses could be designed. Originally developed to control bipedal robots, HZD-based control specifies the motion of the actuated degrees of freedom using output functions to be zeroed, and the required torques are calculated using feedback linearization. Previous work showed that an HZD-like prosthesis controller can successfully control the stance period of gait. This paper shows that an HZD-based prosthesis controller can be used for the entire gait cycle and that feedback linearization can be performed using only information measured with on-board sensors. An analytic metric for orbital stability of a two-step periodic gait is developed. The results are illustrated in simulation.
Stable Operation of a 0.46 THz Continuous Wave Gyrotron Oscillator

In summary, computer-controlled stable operation of a 0.46 THz CW gyrotron oscillator has successfully been demonstrated for 24 hours yielding great power stability, which is a major advance in proving the unique capability of gyrotrons for many kinds of applications requiring a few watts of CW power, such as imaging and medical therapy at submillimeter wavelength. Especially, this technology should provide DNP/NMR and EPR spectroscopy research with a new opportunity of great signal enhancement to much higher order than the one previously possible. Characterization of the mode contents and noise in the output beam are under way. All the technical challenges and control parameters are presented in detail
Tu Quoque Arguments and the Siginificance of Hypocrisy

Though textbook tu quoque arguments are fallacies of relevance, many versions of arguments from hypocrisy are indirectly relevant to the issue. Some arguments from hypocrisy are challenges to the authority of a speaker on the basis of either her sincerity or competency regarding the issue. Other arguments from hypocrisy purport to be evidence of the impracticability of the opponent's proposals. Further, some versions of hypocrisy charges from impracticability are open to a counter that I will term tu quoque judo.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION IN OKLAHOMA: A PATCHWORK GREEN

Environmental regulation in Oklahoma can be down right confusing. On its own terms, environmental regulation is complicated -often involving intricate technical, scientific, economic, political, and legal issues.These complexities are compounded in Oklahoma by the current system of governmental regulation. At least ten state agencies in Oklahoma have jurisdictional authority over environmental matters (OS 27 A, § 2-1-102(14)). While some have broad regulatory jurisdiction, others have a finely focused environmental jurisdiction. Certainly, each has its own slice of the environmental pie. Adding to the complexity is the web of statutes, regulations, standards, and requirements that governs activities in Oklahoma to protect the environment. For the most part, each state environmental agency hasits own governing statute under which it promulgates regulations and procedures. Many employ separate and distinct permitting, licensing, and certification processes. Each has a distinct enforcement authority and philosophy. If the agencies and commissions of the federal government such as the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are thrown in, getting your arms around environmental regulation gets even tougher. Include tribal governments, counties and municipalities, and one's eyes may roll to the back of the head. Like Oklahoma itself, the current environmental regulatory scheme in Oklahoma is a patchwork. The purpose of this article is to briefly sketch this patchwork for the reader by discussing the various state agencies exercising environmental regulatory authority in the State of Oklahoma, their respective jurisdictions, and the processes of rulemaking, permitting, and enforcement that play such an integral role in the work they each perform.
A tirania e o terror da dádiva: a violência sacrificial e o dom da vida

Desde sua origem, a cirurgia de transplantacao se apresentou como um problema complicado nas relacoes de dadiva. A linguagem do transplante e saturada da retorica do altruismo, da partilha, do presente, do salvar vidas e do sacrificio. Hoje, o surgimento de novos “imperativos morais” a favor da doacao entre vivos, tanto as altruistas e quanto as comerciais, possui uma terrivel beleza escondendo um terrivel dever, o dever de compartilhar partes do corpo re-imaginadas como divisiveis (meio figado) e como dispensaveis (rins e pulmoes sobressalentes). A autora revisita esse tema, por meio da justaposicao de vinhetas etnograficas, tiradas de seu projeto Organs Watch . Ela retoma o mal-estar original, o arrepio etico, em se mergulhar rapidamente nos corpos de potenciais doadores de tecido e de orgaos, vivos, mortos e com morte cerebral. Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE
Complex Interactions of the Protein l-Isoaspartyl Methyltransferase and Calmodulin Revealed with the Yeast Two-hybrid System

The widely distributed protein-L-isoaspartyl, D-aspartyl carboxylmethyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.77) is hypothesized to play a role in the repair or metabolism of deamidated and isomerized proteins that are spontaneously generated during the aging of proteins in cells. The yeast two-hybrid system was used to identify proteins that potentially interact with the methyltransferase in a cellular processing pathway. Two cDNAs, both encoding calmodulin, were isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library using the human methyltransferase as the bait. Enzymatic assays with purified components revealed a complex set of interactions between the methyltransferase and calmodulin. Calmodulin weakly stimulated protein carboxylmethyltransferase activity in vitro at concentrations of the two proteins reflecting their representation in mammalian brain. Calmodulin stimulation of methyltransferase was observed in both the presence and absence of calcium, although the effect was greater in the presence of calcium. Native calmodulin was not a substrate for the carboxylmethyltransferase, but deamidated variants of calmodulin act as substrates for the methyltransferase, with calculated Km values of 3.6 and 8.6 microM for calcium-liganded and unliganded calmodulin, respectively. Both the effector and substrate interactions of calmodulin with the protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase likely contributed to the positive results obtained with the two-hybrid system.
Mixed lymphocyte reactions in serum-free medium.

Abstract Tissue culture medium supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA), rather than human serum, was found capable of supporting the proliferation of cryopreserved human lymphocytes to allogeneic cells in a one-way mixed lympthocyte culture. Although total tritiated thymidine uptake was lower in BSA supplemented cultures than in serum supplemented cultures, stimulation indices were equivalent. Using 0.5% (w/v) BSA, peak tritiated thymidine uptake was observed on day 5 using 2 × 10 5 responders and 4 × 10 5 stimulators per microtitre well. Calf skin gelatin was also found capable of substituting for serum, but gave lower levels of proliferation. Use of BSA offers distinct advantages for investigating the proliferative responses of human lymphocytes in serum-free media.
Formation of part families to design cells with alternative routing considerations

Abstract A heuristic algorithm for the formation of part families to design cells with consideration to alternative routing of parts is presented. Most of the existing algorithms in cellular manufacturing systems utilize fixed routings for parts. Consideration of alternative routings in the design of cells is important for improving operational aspects of cellular manufacturing systems. An example problem solved is included in the paper.
An investigation on the dynamic response of polymeric, metallic, and biomaterial foams

Abstract Mechanical characterization of foams at varying strain rates is indispensable for the selection of foam as core material for the proficient sandwich structure design at dynamic loading application. Both servo-hydraulically controlled Material Testing System (MTS) and Instron machines are generally considered for quasi-static testing at strain rates on the order of 10 −3 s −1 . Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) with steel bars is typically utilized for characterizing metallic foams at high strain rates, however modified SHPB with polycarbonate or soft martial bars are used for characterizing polymeric and biomaterial foams at high strain rates on the order of 10 3 s −1 for impedance match between the foam specimens and bars. This paper reviews the effect of strain rate of loading, density, environmental temperature, and microstructure on compressive strength and energy absorption capacity of various closed-cell polymeric, metallic, and biomaterial foams. Compressive strength and energy absorption capacity increase with the increase in both strain rate of loading and density of foams, but decrease with the increase in surrounding temperature. Foams of same density can have different strength and can absorb unequal amount of energy at the same strain rate of loading due to the variation of microstructure.
Renal artery streching and renovascular hypertension experimental studies.

Renovascular hypertension was produced in rabbits by displacing one kidney to the iliac fossa in order to produce traction on the renal artery. Hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus was seen in the kidney where the renal artery was streched, whereas no JGA hyperplasia was witnessed in the untouched kidney of rabbits. Whether traction on the renal artery is the sole or a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of fibrous dysplasia of the arterial wall remains a moot point.
Hawaiian basalt and Icelandic rhyolite: Indicators of differentiation and partial melting

In spite of the voluminous basaltic volcanism on the island of Hawaii, rhyolite is not produced. Iceland, on the other hand, exhibits common rhyolitic volcanism amounting to some 10–12% of its surface rocks. This contrast is investigated using the fundamental igneous processes exhibited by sheet-like Hawaiian lava lakes and Shonkin Sag laccolith in Montana. Highly differentiated, residual melts normally reside within inwardly advancing solidification fronts and are generally inaccessible to eruptive processes. Only when a large initial phenocryst population is present, from which a thick basal cumulate can rapidly form, is it possible to supply highly differentiated melt into the active (i.e., eruptable) portion of the magma chamber. Although there is protracted control of differentiation at Hawaii by settling of olivine, further differentiation occurs within the solidification fronts. Only by repeated transport and holding is it possible to differentiate beyond the critical composition of the leading edge of the solidification front (∼ 7% MgO and 51.5% SiO2). Crystal size distributions (CSDs) for Hawaii and Shonkin Sag are used to demonstrate the inferred physical and chemical processes of solidification, including the kinetics of crystallization.
The effects of cannabidiol or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on phencyclidine-induced activity in mice

Abstract Phencyclidine (PCP) is a veterinary compound which acts as a psychotomimetic in man. This study examined the effects of δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on PCP-induced activity in mice and followed the disappearance of PCP from whole mouse homogenates after PCP pretreatment. Male albino mice were injected with vehicle alone, 20 mg/kg CBD or 20 mg/kg THC followed by 25 mg/kg PCP. Total activity was measured over a 2-h period. Both CBD and THC significantly attenuated the PCP-induced activity. In the disappearance study, mice were injected with 20 mg/kg CBD followed by 25 mg/kg PCP and their body tissues were homogenized at intervals ranging from 0–160 min. The resulting disappearance curve was compared with that generated from PCP administered alone. Results showed a half-life for PCP of 46 min when administered alone and 66 min when administered after CBD pretreatment.
Conflict and Housework: Does Country Context Matter?

In this article, I analyse housework conflict cross-nationally using a unique multi-level data set that pairs the 2004 European Social Survey data for respondents in 25 nations with societal measures of gender equality. At the individual-level, I test two theoretical approaches to subjective housework conflict: the distributive justice and relative resources perspectives. The results support both of these theories for men and women. At the country-level, I test the relationship between housework conflict and two country-level measures: societal gender equality and rates of full-time female labor force participation. For men and women in countries with high rates of full-time female labour force participation, the relationship between housework conflict and gender equality is negative. For men and women in countries with limited access to the labour force, the relationship between housework conflict and gender equality is positive. These results suggest a dynamic relationship between country context and individual negotiations over housework. © The Author 2009.
Biotic Assemblages and Ecological Controls on Reefs and Banks of the Northwest Gulf of Mexico

This paper summarizes the results of investigations of the ecology of reefs and banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Nearshore surface waters are turbid out to approximately the 10 m isobath. A turbid nepheloid layer up to 20 m in thickness exists beyond this depth. Seasonal temperature and salinity variability is high in nearshore waters. At the shelf edge, the temperature to 50 m depth remains above 19°C. Topographic prominences are common in the region. Most are surface expressions of the diapirism of underlying salt domes derived from deeply buried Jurassic salt deposits. Biotic zonation on the banks is primarily depth related. Zones of major reef-building include the Diploria- Montastrea-Porites Zone (15–36 m), the Madracis Zone (28–46 m), the Stephanocoenia-Millepora Zone (36–52 m), and the Algal-Sponge Zone (45–98 m). A zone of minor reefbuilding on some banks is the Millepora Zone (18–52 m). An Antipatharian Transitional Zone exists from 56 to over 100 m on some banks. The Nepheloid Zone near the base of the banks is a zone of no reef-building. Not all zones are present on all banks. The community structure and depths of these zones depend on and are modified by the regional current regime, depth of the bank crests, substrate characteristics, winter temperature minima, river influences, and the relative depth and thickness of the nepheloid layer. Nearshore communities are warm temperate in nature, though tropical organisms are occasionally abundant. Progressing offshore, the benthos becomes increasingly tropical. The northerly location and isolated nature of the Flower Gardens have lead to reduced community diversity ( e.g. , only 18 of the 55 Western Atlantic hermatypic coral species exist), but not reduced abundances or growth rates of the species present. Assemblages on other banks exist below the tolerance limits of thriving tropical reefs due to their frequent immersion in turbid water, excessive crest depths, or lower minimum winter temperatures.
Respiratory movements alter the generation of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 in isolated rat lungs: the influence of arachidonic acid-pathway inhibitors on the ratio between pulmonary prostacyclin and thromboxane A2.

Abstract The influence of hyperventilation on the spontaneous generation of prostacyclin and thromboxane A 2 by isolated rat lungs was studied. Both prostacyclin and thromboxane A 2 , as measured by RIA of their stable end-products, 6-oxo-PGF 1α and TXB 2 respectively, were continuously released into the perfusate. However, the concentration of prostacyclin in the perfusate was higher than thromboxane A 2 . Under normal ventilation at a rate 40–50 breaths/min, the ratio between these two compounds was 5:1. Increasing the rate of respiration to 100 breaths/min preferentially stimulated the release of prostacyclin. During hyperventilation, the ratio between 6-oxo-PGF 1α and TXB 2 was 12:1. Aspirin and indomethacin suppressed both basal and hyperventilation-stimulated release of prostacyclin and thromboxane A 2 . Hydroperoxy-fatty acids and tranylcypromine inhibited only the release of prostacyclin but did not affect the generation of thromboxane A 2 . Our findings confirm that the lung generates prostacyclin predominantly, and provide direct evidence that respiratory movements are involved in generation of pulmonary prostacyclin and thromboxane A 2 .
Hierarchical spatial modeling for estimation of population size

Estimation of population size has traditionally been viewed from a finite population sampling perspective. Typically, the objective is to obtain an estimate of the total population count of individuals within some region. Often, some stratification scheme is used to estimate counts on subregions, whereby the total count is obtained by aggregation with weights, say, proportional to the areas of the subregions. We offer an alternative to the finite population sampling approach for estimating population size. The method does not require that the subregions on which counts are available form a complete partition of the region of interest. In fact, we envision counts coming from areal units that are small relative to the entire study region and that the total area sampled is a very small proportion of the total study area. In extrapolating to the entire region, we might benefit from assuming that there is spatial structure to the counts. We implement this by modeling the intensity surface as a realization from a spatially correlated random process. In the case of multiple population or species counts, we use the linear model of coregionalization to specify a multivariate process which provides associated intensity surfaces hence association between counts within and across areal units. We illustrate the method of population size estimation with simulated data and with tree counts from a Southwestern pinyon-juniper woodland data set.
On characterizing the production possibility set for the CCR ratio model in DEA

Abstract This work makes two contributions. The first is to establish the relation between the production possibility set in the CCR ratio model and a polyhedral cone. The relation is based on a one-to-one correspondence between elements from a well-defined subset of the generators which are extreme rays of the cone and the extreme-efficient DMUs of the production possibility set. The second contribution is to demonstrate that the reduced set of extreme-efficient DMUs is sufficient to perform DEA analysis on a complete data set. Therefore, the polyhedral cone proposed here may be used to obtain the extreme-efficient DMUs a priori in a CCR ratio problem and using this set all other DMUs can be subsequently scored. This two-stage approach to DEA offers several potential advantages. One is that a body of work on finding extreme rays of finitely generated cones becomes directly relevant to DEA analysis. Other advantages include working with smaller linear programs, not having to check for 'weak* efficiency fr...
Importance of Pb and Cu Particulate Species for Corrosion Control

This paper examines the important, and oftentimes dominant, role of particles in lead and copper corrosion by-product release from stagnant pipes. For copper pipes, orthophosphate generally reduced soluble copper levels compared to pipes with no inhibitor but had little effect on particulate copper, while pipes dosed with polyphosphate generally had higher levels of particulate copper, probably due to the formation of a less durable copper-phosphate solid. For lead, the vast majority of lead by-products were particulate, and particulate release in low pH and low alkalinity waters was associated with hydrocerrusite scales. Orthophosphate and polyphosphate tended to decrease particulate lead species, possibly due to the formation of a lead-phosphate solid. For both lead and copper pipes, zinc orthophosphate did not show any significant advantages compared to orthophosphate alone, generally due to the increased release of particulate lead or copper species which may be associated with a zinc-phosphate precipitate. Finally, the occurrence of particulate and colloidal species, especially lead, was confirmed by utility tap water sampling.
Data drives success: Defining a metric for developmental studies

This chapter discusses indices and other measures to gauge student success in developmental education programs.
Homoleptic phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with charge transporting groups: a theoretical study

Phosphorescent iridium complexes of (2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine serve as effective phosphors for white and blue electrophosphorescent organic light emitting devices. Charge transport and emissive properties of these organometallic phosphors can be tuned for organic light emitting device (OLED) applications by chemical functionalisation. Charge transporting functionality can also be introduced to enhance charge transport without changing the emission colour. The ground-state and low-lying excited electronic states in substituted cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes are studied using density functional theory techniques. A theoretical study of structure property relationship of substituted cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes was carried out. Based on this work, we have put forward design rules for emitters with enhanced charge transport properties.
Feline Corneal Disease

The cornea is naturally transparent. Anything that interferes with the cornea's stromal architecture, contributes to blood vessel migration, increases corneal pigmentation, or predisposes to corneal edema, disrupts the corneas transparency and indicates corneal disease. The color, location, and shape and pattern of a corneal lesion can help in determining the underlying cause for the disease. Corneal disease is typically divided into congenital or acquired disorders. Congenital disorders, such as corneal dermoids are rare in cats, whereas acquired corneal disease associated with nonulcerative or ulcerative keratitis is common. Primary ocular disease, such as tear film instability, adenexal disease (medial canthal entropion, lagophthalmus, eyelid agenesis), and herpes keratitis are associated with the majority of acquired corneal disease in cats. Proliferative/eosinophilic keratitis, acute bullous keratopathy, and Florida keratopathy are common feline nonulcerative disorders. Nonprogressive ulcerative disease in cats, such as chronic corneal epithelial defects and corneal sequestration are more common than progressive corneal ulcerations.
Bulk properties of two-phase disordered media. IV. Mechanical properties of suspensions of penetrable spheres at nondilute concentrations

We derive rigorous upper and lower bounds on the bulk and shear moduli of suspensions of spheres of variable penetrability distributed throughout a matrix (or fluid), for all possible phase property values, through second order in the sphere volume fraction φ2. The bounds, at the very least, capture the salient qualitative features that come into play when particles overlap, and, in some instances, are shown to be quantitatively very sharp. Among other results, we use these bounds to obtain good estimates of the bulk and expansion viscosities of an incompressible fluid containing spherical air bubbles and thus extend the corresponding results of Taylor in which pair interactions were neglected.
Continuation of mortality reduction after the end of randomized therapy in clinical trials of lipid-lowering therapy.

Background Long-term follow-up of clinical trials with lipid-lowering medications has suggested a continuation of event reduction after study completion. Objective To evaluate the persistence of the benefit of lipid-lowering therapy in decreasing mortality after the end of clinical trials, when all patients were advised to take the same open-label lipid-lowering therapy. Methods Through searches of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, the Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov until June 2010 we identified randomized clinical trials of lipid-lowering agents with a second report describing results after the end of the trial. Results Among the 459 trials reviewed, only 8 including 44,255 patients and 8144 deaths qualified for the meta-anlaysis. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were lower in the active intervention group during the first phase (0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.93; P = .0006 and 0.72, 95% CI 0.63–0.82, P P = .0001). The lower mortality among those initially randomized to active therapy persisted during the second phase (odds ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.84–0.97, P = .0035, and 0.82 95% CI 0.73–0.93, P = .0014), when patients in both randomized groups received active therapy in the same proportions (5 ± 2% for both groups). Numerous sensitivity analyses support the conclusions of the paper. Conclusion The decrease in mortality with lipid-lowering therapy in clinical trials persists after discontinuation of randomized therapy when patients in the treatment and placebo groups receive active therapy.
Visual suppression of one eye's view with dichoptic stimulation

When the two eyes receive different stimulation (which can occur with artificial viewing devices), binocular single vision gives way to alternating periods of monocular suppression ; this outcome is termed binocular rivalry. This paper summarizes the conditions triggering rivalry and its accompanying visual consequences, with emphasis on aspects of visual processing that remain functional during monocular suppression.