cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Professional Guidelines for Social Media Use: A Starting Point

The American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards' guidelines for online medical professionalism apply existing norms of communication and confidentiality to new settings but will need to be modified in light of technological advances and unanswered questions.
Rationale for Partial Nephrectomy, Current Practice Patterns

The incidence of renal cortical tumors (RCTs) has progressively risen over the last 30 years, believed to be largely attributable to the increasing use of abdominal imaging for unrelated conditions. Currently over two-thirds of newly diagnosed renal masses are <4 cm, so-called small renal masses (SRMs). Because there is no curative medical therapy, and because the natural history of these masses is not well understood, the primary treatment of SRMs has historically been prompt surgical excision. While curative extirpative surgery was traditionally accomplished by radical nephrectomy (RN), advances in surgical technique, as well as the recognition of the potentially deleterious renal functional and cardiovascular effects that may occur following surgically induced nephron loss prompted an interest in utilizing nephron-sparing techniques, particularly partial nephrectomy (PN). Prospective and retrospective studies have demonstrated that PN carries a lower risk of long-term renal dysfunction, and have demonstrated oncologic outcomes equivalent to RN. As such, elective PN is considered the preferred treatment for patients requiring intervention for cT1a and select cT1b renal masses. There is, however, some disagreement between prospective and retrospective data with regard to the overall survival benefits conferred by partial nephrectomy, leading some to question whether the increased mortality rates and cardiovascular disease attributable to decreased renal function from systemic and intrinsic renal diseases is truly applicable to decreased renal function purely from the surgical loss of nephrons. These considerations have led some to suggest that the pendulum in favor of PN “at all costs” may have swung too far and are reflected in the most recent AUA Guidelines for the Renal Masses and Localized Renal Cancer.
Anticipating employment location patterns in economic regions: modeling complex dynamics

Complex social-ecological systems—such as cities and regions—change in time whether or not we intervene through plans and policies. This is due in part to the numerous individual and organizational actors who make self-interested, unilateral decisions. Public decision makers are expected to act in the public interest and are accountable to constituents. They need the ability to explore alternatives, select ones that are likely to benefit the public, and avoid or mitigate negative outcomes. Predicting processes and outcomes in the context of complex systems is risky, however, and mistakes can be costly. Switching from prediction of specific future states to anticipation of possible ranges of futures may help contend with the uncertainties inherent in these systems. We propose here a dynamic network model for generating ranges of possible futures for employment location in an economic region. The model can be used to anticipate employment location effects of various policies. First, using historical (2002–2015) number and location of jobs in two rather different metropolitan areas, we calibrate the model for each and validate it against actual data. Having found that the model performs well, we show how policy makers can use it to ask what-if questions regarding proposed policies to either attract businesses to specific locations or discourage them from locating in parts of the region.
Animal Rights and the Duty to Harm: When to be a Harm Causing Deontologist

An adequate theory of rights ought to forbid the harming of animals (human or nonhuman) to promote trivial interests of humans, as is often done in the animal-user industries. But what should the rights view say about situations in which harming some animals is necessary to prevent intolerable injustices to other animals? I develop an account of respectful treatment on which, under certain conditions, it’s justified to intentionally harm some individuals to prevent serious harm to others. This can be compatible with recognizing the inherent value of the ones who are harmed. My theory has important implications for contemporary moral issues in nonhuman animal ethics, such as the development of cultured meat and animal research.
An Optimization-and-Simulation Framework for Redesigning University Campus Bus System with Social Distancing.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to significant challenges for schools, workplaces and communities to return to operations during the pandemic, while policymakers need to balance between individuals' safety and operational efficiency. In this paper, we present a mixed-integer programming model for redesigning routes and bus schedules for the University of Michigan (UM)'s campus bus system, to prepare for students' return in the 2020 Fall semester. To ensure less than 15-minute travel time for all routes and to enforce social distancing among passengers, we propose a hub-and-spoke design and utilize real data of student activities to identify hub locations and reduce the number of bus stops used in the new routes. The new bus routes, although using only 50% or even fewer seats in each bus, can still satisfy peak-hour demand in regular semesters at UM. We sample a variety of scenarios that cover variations of peak demand, social-distancing requirements, broken-down buses or no-shows of drivers, to demonstrate the system resiliency of the new routes and schedules via simulation. Our approach can be generalized to redesign public transit systems with social distancing requirement during the pandemic, to reduce passengers' infection risk.
Genre Change in the Online Context: Responding to Negative Online Reviews and Redefining an Effective Genre Construct on Amazon.Com:

This study examines 50 business responses to negative reviews on Amazon.com in order to identify common genre moves for responding to negative online reviews. To complement the genre analysis and a...
The Growing Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Workforce: A Solution for the Aging Population Living With Dementia.

Abstract Redesigning the healthcare workforce to meet the needs of the growing population of persons living with dementia (PLWD), most of whom reside in the community and receive care from primary care providers, is a national priority. Yet, the shortage of adequately trained providers is raising concerns that the primary care system is not equipped to care for PLWD. The growing nurse practitioner (NP) workforce could bridge this gap. In this review, the authors synthesized the existing evidence from fourteen studies on the utilization of NPs to care for PLWD in primary care. Although the authors found that most NPs were engaged in co-management roles, emerging evidence suggests that NPs also serve as primary care providers for PLWD. Findings describe the impact of NP care on the health system, PLWD, and caregiver outcomes. The authors conclude that the optimal utilization of NPs can increase the capacity of delivering dementia-capable primary care.
Barriers to nutrition therapy in the critically ill patient with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created challenges for intensivists, as high ventilatory demands and prolonged hypermetabolism make it difficult to sustain nutrition status. The purpose of this survey was to determine current practices in nutrition therapy and identify barriers to its delivery. METHODS: A survey about delivering nutrition therapy to critically ill patients with COVID-19 was sent to clinicians at academic and community hospitals from September to December 2020. RESULTS: Of 440 who viewed the survey, 199 (45%) completed the questionnaire. Respondents were composed of 30%, physicians and 70% registered dietitians, with 51% representing community programs, 43% academic institutions, and 6% Veterans Affairs centers. Half (49%) had protocols for managing critically ill patients with COVID-19, and 21% had a protocol for nutrition therapy. Although most respondents (83%) attempted to feed by the intragastric route, only 9% indicated that energy/protein needs were met. The biggest barriers to delivery of enteral nutrition (EN) involved the patients unpredictable clinical course and fear of aspiration given the lack of respiratory reserve. Intensivists were reluctant to add supplemental parenteral nutrition (PN) because of perceived lack of benefit. CONCLUSION: The survey results would suggest that strategies for nutrition therapy based on the intragastric infusion of EN are unsuccessful in meeting the energy/protein needs of critically ill patients with COVID-19. It is likely these barriers exist in providing nutrition to non-Covid-19 critically ill patients. Intensivists need protocols that optimally deliver intragastric EN, consider early postpyloric infusion, and address adding supplemental PN in a deteriorating nutrition status.
Generalized polarization transformations with metasurfaces

Metasurfaces are arrays of sub-wavelength spaced nanostructures, which can be designed to control the many degrees-of-freedom of light on an unprecedented scale. In this work, we design meta-gratings where the diffraction orders can perform general, arbitrarily specified, polarization transformation without any reliance on conventional polarization components, such as waveplates and polarizers. We use matrix Fourier optics to design our devices and introduce a novel approach for their optimization. We implement the designs using form-birefringent metasurfaces and quantify their behavior – retardance and diattenuation. Our work is of importance in applications, such as polarization abberation correction in imaging systems, and in experiments requiring novel and compact polarization detection and control.
Public‐private partnerships in the fight against crime: An emerging frontier in corporate social responsibility

Purpose – The paper's aim is to demonstrate how organizations related to public security and safety can more effectively partner with private sector companies under the rubric of corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of actual cases of collaboration between such bodies and the private sector informs a suggested engagement approach.Findings – A structured approach of engagement to the private sector for CSR support is possible if public safety entities understand how to effectively involve private sector organizations in their work. This includes clear tangible asks with demonstrable returns and an eye to understanding what effective CSR encompasses from an outcome perspective but also from the perspective of what drives the private sector to engage in CSR.Practical implications – The paper lays out a point‐by‐point engagement strategy which could increase public‐private partnerships in the public safety arena.Social implications – This paper is a clear indication ...
Income Distribution as a Determinant of Comparative Advantage

This paper shows that a country's income distribution drives its comparative advantage when sectors in the economy face differential access to external finance. Economies with better income distributions in the first or second order stochastic sense will exhibit a comparative advantage toward goods produced in sectors facing more severe financial imperfections. This paper also analyzes the dynamics of wealth distribution to show that an economy is likely to pass through different phases of trade patterns in its development process.
Antinociceptive effects of imidazoline I2 receptor agonists in the formalin test in rats (658.2)

Pain is a significant global public health problem and currently available analgesics are not adequate to meet the clinical needs, leaving a big population with undertreated pain. The imidazoline I...
Failure of the stem-condyle junction of a modular femoral stem in revision total knee arthroplasty: a report of five cases.

We report 5 cases of failure of the stem condyle junction of a modular femoral stem in revision total knee arthroplasy.
Responses to Bakhtin’s “Dialogic Origins and Dialogic Pedagogy of Grammar: Stylistics as Part of Russian Language Instruction in Secondary Schools” Further Responses and a Tentative Conclusion

The three authors writing on Bakhtin’s essay, “Dialogic Origin and Dialogic Pedagogy of Grammar”—Farmer, Halasek, and Williams—respond to one another, and Bazerman provides a summative comment in the paragraphs that follow. The responses explore further some of Bakhtin’s thoughts concerning rhetoric and its relation to stylistics and his use of the concept of hero as a grammatical category. The discussion of Bakhtin leads to more general questions of the relation between spontaneous utterance and situationality and the implications for the possibility of a systematic grammar of style. Nonetheless, the commentators agree on Bakhtin’s explicit pedagogy and the interanimation of everyday speech with literary examples. The editor’s final comment notes a tension that informs all these responses, that is, between explicit teaching, on one hand, and avoiding formulaic writing, on the other. Bakhtin’s changing view of the relation of dialectics and dialogue is discussed as well.
Mid-Cretaceous Black Shales: A Result of Excessive Fertility or Global Anoxia?: ABSTRACT

In Holocene marine environments, organic carbon accumulation rates are high in areas of high productivity, rapid deposition, and in anoxic basins. Heavy metal accumulation rates are high in areas of high bulk sedimentation (resulting from the large detrital component), in areas of high fertility (heavy metal enrichment in organic tissue), and in areas of hydrothermal activity. The various environments can be characterized by the relations between their bulk sedimentation rates, amounts and types of organic carbon in the sediment, organic carbon accumulation rates, primary productivity, preservation factors (fraction of organic carbon fixed in the photic zone that becomes buried in the sediment), and accumulation rates of heavy metals (such as Cu, Ni, Zn). Differences in t ese relations exist, in particular, between areas where sapropel deposition is due to high supply (i.e., high fertility in localized upwelling areas) and where it is due to anoxic deep waters (such as in the Black Sea). Application of an improved calcareous nannofossil biochronology to compute accumulation rates in various DSDP sections show that the mid-Cretaceous black shales are characterized by substantially higher accumulation rates of heavy metals relative to organic carbon than is observed in Holocene upwelling settings. The implied widespread deep-water anoxia suggests high organic carbon preservation factors and correspondingly low primary productivity for large parts of the mid-Cretaceous oceans. End_of_Article - Last_Page 552------------
A cervical spine model to predict injury scenarios and clinical instability

A complete and detailed three-dimensional finite element model of the human cervical spine (C1–C7), including soft and hard tissues, was created using a digitized geometric measurement tool. The model was validated against existing experimental studies in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. The aims of this study were to use the model to simulate the mechanisms of injury scenarios, such as diving and football accidents, and to correlate the external and internal responses of the spinal components to disc herniation and clinical instability. It was determined that a shear-generated flexion moment of about 10 Nm or a compression-flexion load of 450 N would generate significant stresses and strains in the discs, together with sufficient posterior-anterior displacement and rotational angulation of the vertebrae, to place the mid and lower cervical spine at risk of clinical instability or disc herniation. The results revealed that the location of the maximum stresses in the discs could not...
A multistep model for paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines.

Despite extensive previous investigation, the events occurring between paclitaxel-induced mitotic arrest and the subsequent onset of apoptosis remain incompletely understood. In the present study, the sequential morphological and biochemical changes that occur after paclitaxel treatment were examined in MDA-MB-468 (p53 mutant) and MCF-7 (p53 wild-type) breast cancer cells. Flow cytometry indicated that paclitaxel induces tetraploidy that persists until the onset of apoptosis in both cell lines. Light and electron microscopy indicated that the cells transiently arrest in mitosis and then enter a multinucleated interphase state characterized by the absence of punctate staining for CENP-F, a G(2) marker, but the presence of cyclin E, a G(1) cyclin, and p21(waf1/cip1), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Despite high p21(waf1/cip1) levels, paclitaxel-treated cells incorporated thymidine into DNA. Aphidicolin inhibited this DNA synthesis but not the subsequent onset of apoptosis. Conversely, the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-val-ala-asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone inhibited apoptosis and enhanced the number of multinucleated cells but did not facilitate generation of octaploid cells. These results are consistent with a multistep model in which breast cancer cells exposed to paclitaxel undergo an aberrant mitotic exit; proceed through a tetraploid, multinucleated G(1) state; initiate an aphidicolin-suppressible process of DNA repair; and subsequently undergo apoptosis.
Variation of enhancement of photosynthesis with conditions of algal growth.

The Emerson effect was observed as an enhancement of photosynthesis in long-wavelength red light when beams of shorter wavelength were added. Two light beams of wavelengths 650 and 694 mµ, respectively, when presented together, gave a photosynthetic rate higher than the sum of the rates obtained separately. The amount of enhancement of photosynthesis depends upon the growth conditions of algal cells, and specifically on their phosphate metabolism.
Do plant–plant signals mediate herbivory consistently in multiple taxa and ecological contexts?

Abstract It is becoming increasingly accepted that plant–plant signals can affect plant defense against herbivores. In a few taxa, both the mechanisms of plant–plant signaling and the ecological consequences are well described. However, the current adaptive explanations for plant–plant signaling rely heavily on many ecological contingencies, such as the behavior of herbivores and genetic structure of plant neighborhoods, making it unclear how frequently plant–plant signaling is important across the plant kingdom. Moreover, these same ecological contingencies mean that it may be beneficial for a plant to release a publicly available cue to coordinate its (or its neighbor's) defenses following herbivory in some cases, but it may be disadvantageous in others. In this paper, we focus on recent studies that expand the taxonomic breadth of plant–plant signaling about herbivores that bring classic plant–plant signaling systems into a broader ecological context, and those that find either no consequence or counte...
Influence of saccharin on Polycose, sucrose, and glucose intake and preference in rats.

The effect of adding 0.125% saccharin to 3% or 32% solutions of Polycose, sucrose and glucose on the fluid intake and preference of adult female rats was examined. In Experiment 1, the rats consumed more of a 3% Polycose + 0.125% saccharin solution (P+s) than of either a 3% Polycose or 0.125% saccharin solution; similar results were obtained with sucrose + saccharin (S+s) and glucose + saccharin (G+s) solutions. The polydipsic effects of the P+s, S+s, and G+s solutions were comparable (225 to 278 ml/day). Adding saccharin to 32% Polycose, sucrose, or glucose solutions did not increase solution intake. In two-solution preference tests, though, the rats preferred the 32% Polycose + saccharin and 32% glucose + saccharin solutions to 32% Polycose and 32% glucose solutions, respectively. Saccharin did not reliably affect the preference for the 32% sucrose solution. In Experiment 2, the preference for 3% carbohydrate solutions was assessed using two-solution tests. The rats preferred 3% sucrose to 3% Polycose or 3% glucose; they also preferred 3% Polycose to 3% glucose. When saccharin was added to the solutions, the rats displayed equal preferences for the S+s and P+s solutions, and for the P+s and G+s solutions but they strongly preferred the S+s to the G+s solution. Recent findings suggest that polysaccharides such as Polycose taste qualitatively different from sucrose and saccharin to rats, i.e., have a “nonsweet” taste. The present results indicate that rats are very attracted to solutions that have a mixed taste, i.e., sweet and polysaccharide taste (P+s) as well as to solutions that have a sweet taste (S+s). Glucose appears to have both a sweet and polysaccharide taste to rats, but it is probably the sweetness of a glucose + saccharin solution that makes it so palatable to rats.
Partial purification and characterization of somatomedin from sheep serum.

A rapid, high yield preparative technique for the isolation of sheep somatomedin is reported. Purification of biologically active somatomedin from the 60% ammonium sulfate precipitate of sheep serum was accomplished using three gentle fractionation steps. Biological activity during purification was monitored using the rat adipocyte nonsuppressible insulin-like activity (NSILA) assay. A stepwise pH elution (pH 2.85, 3.5, 4.5, and 6.0) from SPSephadex resulted in the elimination of more than 99% of the serum proteins and a 500-fold enhancement of biological activity. The active fraction eluted at pH 6.0 and was further fractionated on Sephadex G-50 (fine) chromatography at pH 2.85. This resulted in about a 10,000-fold enhancement of activity over serum activity. The most active fractions from Sephadex chromatography were further separated on reverse phase HPLC in 04% trifluoroacetic acid using a linear gradient of 24-60% acetonitrile. The biological activity of the final preparation was enhanced 61,000- to ...
Academic performance in reading a text as related to course grades : student performance when studying is impossible

The discrepancy model of Stock, Winston, Behrens, and Harper-Marinick (1989) is based on the effects of student expectation of how well they should do, feedback about actual performance, and subsequent student behavior to keep the discrepancy within acceptable bounds. Students can, for example, study to improve their grades if the grades fall below the acceptable level. However, there is another way to explain student performance that does not involve the student’s studying or working to achieve better. This perspective says that much academic achievement may be due to how good or poor the student is, and that this can be shown by testing the student in a situation in which no studying is possible. This was done with 68 students who read texts as part of the study and were then tested on what they had read. Their final course grades were compared with their performance on the test of text reading, and it was found that students who made As tended to recall over 70% of the text, whereas students who made Bs, Ds, Fs, or Ws (withdrew from the course) recalled less than 70% of the text. Since study of the text material was impossible, the results suggest that the scores on the text reading test were due to some general ability factor, and not always controlled by feedback, discrepancy, studying, or the like.
In vitro effects of chlordecone (Kepone) on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450

Abstract The interaction of chlordecone (decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd]-pentalene-2-one, Kepone) with hepatic microsomal cytochrome P -450 was studied. Chlordecone binds to cytochrome P -450 to produce a Type I spectral change the magnitude of which is dependent upon the chemical pretreatment of the animal. In kinetic studies of chlordecone was found to be a competitive inhibitor of aminopyrine N -demethylase and p -nitroanisole O -demethylase and a noncompetitive inhibitor of aniline p -hydroxylase.
Single-operator EUS-guided cholangiopancreatography for difficult pancreaticobiliary access (with video).

Background When conventional ERCP methods fail because of periampullary or ductal obstruction, EUS-guided cholangiopancreatography (EUS-CP) may aid in pancreaticobiliary access. Objective To report our experience when using single-operator EUS-CP. Setting An academic tertiary-referral center. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing EUS-CP were prospectively identified. These patients had undergone failed attempt(s) at therapeutic ERCP. A data sheet was used to record indications, reasons for failed ERCP, EUS-CP visualization of the duct of interest, transpapillary or transenteric intervention, clinical follow-up, and complications. Main Outcome Measurements Technical success was decompression of the duct of interest. Clinical success was resolution of jaundice or a ≥50% reduction in pain or narcotics, as applicable. Results Between February 2003 and June 2007, EUS-CP was attempted in 20 patients (11 men, 9 women; mean [SD] age 58 ± 14.9 years). Indications included jaundice (n = 8), biliary stones (n = 3), chronic pancreatitis (n = 6), acute pancreatitis (n = 2), and papillary stenosis (n = 1). Reasons for failed ERCP included periampullary mass (n = 8), intradiverticular papillae (n = 4), and pancreatic duct (PD) stricture (n = 7) or stone (n = 1). Technical success was achieved in 18 of 20 patients (90%). Biliary decompression was obtained in 11 of 12 patients (92%) (7 transpapillary and 4 transenteric-transcholedochal). Pancreatic decompression was obtained in 7 of 8 patients (88%) (3 transpapillary, 4 transgastric). On follow-up, clinical improvement was noted in 15 of 20 patients (70%). For treatment of pain associated with chronic pancreatitis, pain scores decreased by a mean of 1.75 ( P = .18). Complications (in 2 of 20 [10%]) included perforation (n = 1) and respiratory failure (n = 1). Limitations A single-center nonrandomized observational study with a small patient population. Conclusions At our academic referral center, single-operator EUS-CP provided decompression of obstructed ducts and may be performed after a failed attempt at conventional ERCP during the same endoscopic session.
Design of a new instrument for cold neutron prompt gamma-ray activation analysis at NIST

A new instrument for cold neutron prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (CNPGAA) is being designed and constructed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The new instrument is expected to have lower gamma-ray and neutron background and better detection limits for most elements than the current cold neutron PGAA instrument. Other advantages over the current facility will include the ability to analyze larger samples and greater overall measurement capability due to the addition of scanning stages, cryostats, and sample changers.
Mechanisms for Lagged Atmospheric Response to ENSO SST Forcing

The mechanism and sensitivity of the lagged response of tropical tropospheric temperature to El Nino– Southern Oscillation (ENSO) SST forcing are examined using the Quasi-Equilibrium Tropical Circulation Model (QTCM) coupled to a slab mixed layer ocean model, along with a simple analytical model. It is found that the lag and amplitude of tropospheric temperature response depend on mixed layer depth (MLD), ENSO SST forcing period, areal fraction of the mixed layer ocean, and the strength of Tropics to midlatitude transports. The phase lag is not a monotonic function of mixed layer depth. It maximizes at moderate MLD and, thus, is not very sensitive to MLD in the realistic range. The phase lag asymptotes to values determined by free-atmospheric time scales, between 1 and 2 months, for small or large values of MLD. The amplitude of the tropospheric temperature response decreases with increasing MLD. The phase lag and amplitude of tropospheric temperature both increase as a specified ENSO SST forcing period increases and they appear to be rather insensitive to the seasonal cycle of SST. On the other hand, the phase lag and amplitude of mixed layer ocean SST change monotonically with MLD and ENSO forcing period, with a deeper mixed layer producing longer lag and smaller amplitude of SST anomalies. Longer ENSO SST forcing periods correspond to longer lag and larger amplitude of mixed layer ocean SST anomalies. While the ENSO region convective heating (precipitation) anomalies are closely tied to SST anomalies, the tropical mean precipitation seems best viewed as a complex by-product of the response rather than as a driver. One useful parameter determining the lag of tropospheric temperature to ENSO SST is the freedecay time scale of the coupled system. This parameter combines the effects of surface flux exchanges, heat loss at the top of the atmosphere and from the Tropics to midlatitudes, and finite ocean heat capacity. It is indicative of the extent to which the lagged response of tropical tropospheric temperature to ENSO SST is a coupled phenomenon. Overall, the contribution of coupling to SST outside the ENSO region substantially increases the amplitude and lag of the tropospheric temperature response to ENSO.
An investigation of human palmar skin friction and the effects of materials, pinch force and moisture

A study was conducted to determine the friction characteristics for various materials against human palmar skin. Seven materials were tested using two pinch-force levels under both moist and dry conditions. Using a two-fingered pinch grip, subjects held a specially designed dynamometer covered with one of the test materials. They maintained a constant pinch force as load force was increased at a constant rate until the dynamometer slipped from their fingers. The load force at the slip point was then used to determine the coefficient of friction from Amonton's Law. The effects of subject, material, moisture, pinch force and the material-moisture and pinch force-moisture interactions were all significant. The coefficient of friction decreased with increased levels of pinch force for every material-moisture combination. The coefficient of friction for porous materials showed a significant increase when moisture was present. This information may be applicable in tool handle and work station surface design.
Nonlinear Dynamics of an Electrically Driven Impact Microactuator

We study the dynamics of an electrostatically driven impact microactuator. Impact between moving elements of the microactuator is modeled using the coefficient of restitution. Friction between the microactuator and its supporting substrate is modeled using the Amonton–Coulomb law. We consider the bifurcations under changes in the driving voltage and frequency. Grazing bifurcations introduce discontinuous transitions between different motions. It is also found that impacts dramatically change the characteristics of the frequency-response curve. Finally, we discuss the evolution of incomplete chatter to complete chatter, that is, sticking.
The susceptibility of Ostertagia and Cooperia to morantel tartrate after extended exposure to the morantel sustained release bolus

Abstract The effect of continued use of the morantel sustained release bolus on the susceptibility of Ostertagia and Cooperia to morantel tartrate was investigated under laboratory and field conditions. The efficacy (ED 90 ) of morantel tartrate against a laboratory strain of Ostertagia was determined by dose response titration in controlled experiments before and after five passages through calves in the presence of boluses modified to release morantel on a continuous basis at rates determined to be sublethal to Ostertagia . There was no significant difference between initial susceptibility (ED 90 2.7mg/kg) and final susceptibility (ED 90 3.3mg/kg). In a field study, the morantel sustained release bolus was administered at turnout to a group of 10 cattle that grazed pasture which had been grazed by bolus treated cattle for the previous three seasons. An equal group of nontreated cattle grazed an adjacent identical pasture which had been grazed by nonmedicated control cattle for the previous three seasons. Tracer calves as well as principal cattle grazing the treated and control pastures were housed for three weeks following which half of the cattle from each pasture were treated orally with 2.5 mg/kg morantel tartrate. Efficacy comparisons of worm counts between morantel treated and nontreated animals and from the tracer calves grazing treated and control pastures demonstrated that the efficacy of morantel against the population of Ostertagia exposed to the bolus was equal to the efficacy against the unexposed population. Under the conditions of these studies the susceptibility of Ostertagia to morantel was not altered by the repeated application of the morantel sustained release bolus in four successive seasons.
Diagnostic Challenges Defining Heart Failure When Using Echocardiograms

morbidities to explain variability in costs was quite small, correlating only with total and follow-up cost. There are several limitations to the use of administrative databases for this type of analysis.5,6 Comorbidity was assessed only by ICD-9 codes. The structure of this study does ensure that co-morbidity is not confused with complications, a known problem with administrative databases. Nonetheless, there is potential for misclassification. To ensure a full year of potential costs, it was necessary to exclude patients who did not remain eligible for a full year, including those who died. There was no measure of heart failure severity, and systolic heart failure could not be distinguished from diastolic failure. Personal expenses were also not included. Although the Pharmetrics database permits detailed assessment of various patient level costs, payments may be criticized as a source of cost information in that they represent transfer of money rather than utilization of resources. Although there is some truth to this, payments are tied to resource utilization. This study also included all costs, not just those related to heart failure. The multivariate models may also suffer from confounding by unmeasured variables, which may explain some of the apparent influence of co-morbidity on cost. Although having strengths and limitations, the Pharmetrics database does offer a large, fairly representative population of patients with heart failure in the general community.
Thermoacoustic streaming on a sphere

The fundamental problem of thermoacoustic streaming on a rigid sphere in a strong standing acoustic field has been treated analytically. The sphere radius (a) is taken to be large compared with the displacement amplitude (A) of fluid oscillations, and yet small on the scale of the radian wavelength (λ/2π) of the sound field. Only the high frequency limit is considered here, for which the Stokes oscillatory boundary layer thickness (δv) is much smaller than the sphere radius (a), and the streaming effects in the boundary layer are most pronounced. It is found that the phased interaction of the first–order harmonic quantities in the boundary layer is capable of introducing a second–order time–averaged temperature distribution, in addition to the well–known second–order time–averaged fluid motion. The associated steady temperature gradients cause localized heating and cooling variations over the surface of the sphere, whose net result is always a mean heating of the sphere. The role of little–known second–order thermodynamic moduli is pointed out, which, however, do not contribute to this phenomenon for the case of an ideal gas host fluid. Results for this time–averaged thermal effect are presented and discussed with reference to a possible novel application to the acoustic heating of small particles using ultrasonic frequencies for which heat fluxes of O (1) kW m–2 can be achieved.
C1 lateral mass fixation: a comparison of constructs.

OBJECTIVE We review our experience and technique for C1 lateral mass screw fixation. We compare the results of 3 different constructs incorporating C1 lateral mass screws: occipitocervical (OC) constructs, C1-C2 constructs, and C1 to mid/low cervical constructs. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of 42 consecutive patients who underwent C1 lateral mass fixation by 2 of the authors (PVM and DC). The patient population consisted of 24 men and 18 women with a mean age of 64 years. Twenty-two patients had C1-C2 constructs. Twelve patients had constructs that started at C1 and extended to the mid/low cervical spine (one extended to T1). Eight patients underwent OC fusions incorporating C1 screws (2 of which were OC-thoracic constructs). All constructs were combined either with a C2 pars screw (38 patients), C2 translaminar screw (1 patient), or C3 lateral mass screw (3 patients). No C2 pedicle screws were used. Fusion was assessed using flexion-extension x-rays in all patients and computed tomographic scans in selected cases. Clinical outcomes were assessed with preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale neck pain scores and Nurick grading. The nuances of the surgical technique are reviewed, and a surgical video is included. RESULTS Two patients (5%) were lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up for the remaining patients was 2 years. During the follow-up period, there were 4 deaths (none of which were related to the surgery). For patients with follow-up, the visual analog scale neck pain score improved a mean of 3 points after surgery (P < .001). For patients with myelopathy, the Nurick score improved by a mean of 1 grade after surgery (P < .001). The postoperative complication rate was 12%. The complication rate was 38% in OC constructs, 17% in C1 to mid/low cervical constructs, and 0% for C1-C2 construct cases. Patients with OC constructs had the statistically highest rate of complications (P < .001). Patients with C1 to mid/low cervical constructs had more complications than those with C1-C2 constructs (P < .001). Of the 42 cases, there were 3 pseudoarthroses (1 in an OC case, 1 in a C1 to midcervical construct, and 1 in a C1-C2 construct). OC constructs had the highest risk of pseudoarthrosis (13%) (P < .001). CONCLUSION Patients treated with C1 lateral mass fixation constructs have a high fusion rate, reduced neck pain, and improved neurologic function. Constructs using C1 lateral mass screws do not need to incorporate C2 pedicle screws. Constructs incorporating C1 lateral mass screws are effective when combined with C2 pars screws, C2 translaminar screws, and C3 lateral mass screws. Constructs using C1 screws are associated with a higher complication rate and a higher pseudoarthrosis rate if extended cranially to the occiput or if extended caudally below C2.
Meetings that changed the world: Asilomar 1975: DNA modification secured

The California meeting set standards allowing geneticists to push research to its limits without endangering public health. Organizer Paul Berg asks if another such meeting could resolve today's controversies.
Clarifications and extensions to tactical waypoint graph algorithms for video games

This paper explores pathfinding in a video game environment using a waypoint graph, a common way of representing locations in the environment. I take algorithms created by Lars Liden on finding strategic positions for agents within a waypoint graph and extend these algorithms. I demonstrate how the extended algorithms are able to effectively calculate tactical ambush positions and pinch points for any number of agents. The extended algorithms are also able to work in an environment where the agent does not have complete knowledge of the waypoint graph.
Maternal Ethanol Consumption and Fetal Development in the Rat: A Comparison of Ethanol Exposure Techniques

Comparison of the polydipsia and liquid diet procedures for ethanol exposure were used in female rats, either before and/or during gestation. Autopsy of the fetuses on day 20 of gestation found a significant weight reduction in the polydipsia-exposed animals that could be attributed to ethanol. No such effect was found in the liquid diet-exposed animals. The data are discussed in relation to the human fetal alcohol syndrome.
Detectable ,-glucuronidase activity in transgenic cranberry is affected by endogenous inhibitors and plant development.

Extracts of cranberry, rich in flavonols and proanthocyanins, inactivated β-glucuronidase (GUS) in assays using either purified bacterial GUS or preparations of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) or transgenic cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) expressing the gusA gene. Histochemical GUS assays produced random and generally unpredictable staining. The addition of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) during the preparation of transgenic cranberry leaf extracts increased the detectable GUS activity in fluorogenic assays more than 200-fold. Detectable GUS activity varied among transclones and also within a transclone depending on the developmental and physiological state of the tissue, as well as the growth environment. Use of PVPP altered the relative ranking of plants based on their total transgenic enzyme activity and resulted in different conclusions as to the effects of genotype or growth environment on transgene expression.
Macedonia and the Kosovo conflict

(1998). Macedonia and the Kosovo conflict. The International Spectator: Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 41-48.
Customers, clients, and users or guests?

This paper discusses with the customer services and how to treat the customers like guests. As engineers we are expected to meet both the technical and business expectations of our customers and clients. These customers range from the actual external users of our products and services to the internal organizational customers within our company who depend on us bring our ideas into reality. Also, we can't forget to include our suppliers, contractors, and professional organizations that are also a special type of customer to us.
Temperature dependence of solid-liquid scalar interactions in aqueous char suspensions by nonstationary DNP at low magnetic field

Abstract The temperature dependence of DNP enhancements in aqueous suspensions of hardwood chars by nonstationary DNP at low magnetic field has been investigated. With increasing temperature, the sign of the water proton DNP enhancement changed from negative to positive, indicating a change in the relative contributions from exchange (scalar) and dipole-dipole nuclear-electron coupling. A cross-over temperature was found at which the contributions of the dipole-dipole and exchange interactions canceled each other and the DNP effect disappeared. A model of molecular migration at the solid-liquid interface is constructed to account for these observations. Correlation of experimental and theoretical results has been achieved through consideration of the proton-electron spin dipole-dipole interaction and chemical exchange of solvent molecules. The increase with temperature in the contribution of the contact interaction to proton relaxation is a result mainly of a decrease in the lifetime τ h of water in the short-lived hydrated complex at the hardwood char interface. The enthalpy of activation E h = 13.5 kcal/mol for surface exchange diffusion as well as the lifetime of water molecules on the surface τ h (300K) = 1.9 × 10 −4 s and hyperfine scalar constant a = 5.3 × 10 −3 MHz are estimated. The results are characteristic of weak short-lived chemisorption bonds at the solid-liquid interface.
New random sampling operator for vision

A new robust operator is presented which is based on minimizing the probability that a fit to the data could have occurred at random. Through theoretical and experimental analysis we have shown that it is able to find accurate fits and approximately the correct number of inliers to the fit even when fewer than 50% of the points in an image region belong to any one surface.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The personality profile of a cyberbully: examining the Dark Triad

The present study examined the relationships between the Dark Triad personality traits and self-reported cyberbullying behaviors. College students (N = 227) completed a questionnaire and reported on their trait Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism, and the degree to which they cyberbullied (i.e., both visual and text based bullying) others in the past year. Correlations revealed that all three Dark Triad traits were related positively with cyberbullying. However, multiple regression analysis revealed that of the three Dark Triad traits, psychopathy emerged as the unique predictor of cyberbullying. These findings reinforce extant research suggesting that personality traits are important predictors of computer-mediated behavior.
Proposal for the biologically active conformation of opiates and enkephalin

Abstract A model for the opiate receptor has been defined by using a computer-based molecular display and x-ray crystallographic input data. The model can explain the stereochemical fashion in which the morphine, morphinan, and oripavine classes of compounds interact with the receptor. The minimal structural unit of the enkephalins demonstrated to be pharmacologically active. Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe, was also fitted to this model by using a systematic search of conformational space.
Environmental study of firefighters.

A study of firefighter exposures was undertaken at the request of the U.S. Fire Administration. This work was part of a larger study which included field evaluation of the performance of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) worn by firefighters during structural firefighting. Measurements were made for a variety of contaminants including CO, CO2, benzene, HCN, HCl, H2SO4, HF, acrolein, CH4, formaldehyde and PNAs. Many of the analyses were performed by collection of bag samples followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using a field mobile spectrometer. Measurements were also made using solid sorbent tubes and direct-reading meters. Sampling was done both during the knockdown and during overhaul phases of structural firefighting. Also, in order to estimate exposures including those when the SCBAs were worn, measurements were made both inside and outside the SCBA facepiece. Carbon monoxide was the most common contaminant found during knockdown, and about 10% of the samples were greater than 1500 ppm. Formaldehyde, acrolein, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, sulphuric acid and hydrogen fluoride all exceeded their respective short-term exposure limits (STEL) on some occasions. Approximately 50% of the knockdown samples for acrolein exceeded the STEL. During overhaul, when masks were usually not worn, many of the contaminants found during knockdown were detected, but typically at much lower concentrations. Inside-mask sampling data suggest that exposure to low concentrations of a variety of compounds is occurring but this is believed to be principally the result of early mask removal or of non-use during knockdown rather than of leakage. The three basic sampling approaches (bag sampling, sorbent tubes and direct-reading meters) proved in this study to be complementary and served to maximize our ability to detect and quantify a wide range of combustion products.