cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-term stability of aggression, peer rejection, and depressive symptoms in middle childhood.

This study investigated the short-term stability of teacher-rated aggression, peer-rated rejection, and peer-rated depressive symptoms in 478 elementary school children from 25 classrooms (first to third grades) in two geographical areas. Children who presented specific combinations of aggression, rejection, and depressive symptoms were tracked to determine the stability of these combinations from the beginning (Time 1) to the end (Time 2) of the school year. In addition, aggression, rejection, and depressive symptoms were treated as risk factors, and children were classified as displaying zero, one, two, or three risk factors at Times 1 and 2. Of the three risk factors, aggression appeared to be the most stable. Three-quarters of children who presented aggression at Time 1 (either alone or in combination with the other risk factors) were found to continue to have elevated levels of aggression at Time 2. Although specific combinations of aggression, rejection, and depressive symptoms were not very stable over time, the number of risk factors a child displayed at Time 1 was a good predictor of the number of risk factors the child displayed at Time 2. Stability of risk factors was comparable as a function of child gender and ethnicity.
Temperature dependence of large-scale water-retention curves: a case study

A local-scale model for temperature-dependence of water-retention curves may be applicable to large scales. Consideration of this temperature dependence is important for modeling unsaturated flow and transport in the subsurface in numerous cases. Although significant progress has been made in understanding and modeling this temperature effect, almost all the previous studies have been limited to small scales (on the order of several centimeters). Numerical experiments were used to investigate the possibility of extending a local-scale model for the temperature-dependence of water retention curves to large scales (on the order of meters). Temperature effects on large-scale hydraulic properties are of interest in many practical applications. Numerical experiment results indicate that the local-scale model can indeed be applicable to large-scale problems for special porous media with high air entry values. A typical porous medium of this kind is the porous tuff matrix in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed geologic disposal site for national high-level nuclear wastes. Whether this finding can approximately hold for general cases needs to be investigated in future studies.
Ephedra-free is not danger-free.

We strongly support Sidney M. Wolfe's assertion (“Ephedra—scientific evidence versus money/politics,” Policy Forum, 18 April, p. [437][1]) that the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements should be banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As Wolfe noted, many companies have
Ordinal independence in nonlinear utility theory

Individual behavior under uncertainty is characterized using a new axiom, ordinal independence, which is a weakened form of the von Neumann-Morgenstern independence axiom It states that if two distributions share a tail in common, then this tail can be modified without altering the individual's preference between these distributions. Preference is determined by the tail on which the distributions differ. This axiom implies an appealing and simple functional form for a numerical representation of preferences. It generalizes the form of anticipated utility, and it explains some well-known forms of behavior, such as the Friedman-Savage paradox, that anticipated utility cannot.
Production and Temporary Suppression of Memory Cells during Tolerance Induction in T Cells

WHEN confronted with protein or cellular antigens, T cells synthesize DNA and multiply1–3. Subsequent to and dependent upon a T cell response, other cells (B cells) go on to make antibody4–7. The role the T cell mitosis plays in this process is unknown.
Circumstellar interaction and a pulsar nebula in the supernova 1986j

It is shown here that the circumstellar interaction model for radio supernovae provides an adequate fit to the existing data on supernova SN1986j. The model implies a time of explosion of about January 1983 and provides a guide for the future evolution of the radio source. A shell-like source structure is expected. The model, together with VLBI observations of the radio source, implies a shock velocity of about 10,000 km/s and a presupernova mass loss rate of about 0.0001 solar mass/yr for a wind velocity of 10 km/s. The time behavior of the optical flux and its high luminosity suggest that a central pulsar nebula is the energy source. The required properties are comparable to those expected in the early phases of the Crab nebula.
Structure of stage-1 and stage-2 MC12 GICs

Abstract The crystal structure and defect structure of several metal-dichloride GICs are investigated using single crystal x-ray precession, four-circle diffractometry, and transmission electron microscopy. The intercalate layers are found to be translationally incommensurate with the carbon layers. However there is orientational alignment of the intercalate and carbon layers. Further, the intercalate incompletely covers the carbon layer. For the stage-1 compounds we have determined the three-dimensional space group for both the intercalate and the graphite lattices. In several cases we have obtained excellent agreement between the observed and calculated diffracted intensities. The transmission electron microscopy results show that the intercalate layers have the morphology of a porous network. This result contradicts earlier suggestions that the intercalate layers have the morphology of isolated islands. For the stage-2 compounds the three-dimensional correlations of the intercalate are strongly attenuated. However, the carbon layers do maintain a significant degree of three-dimensional correlation.
Self-modeling as an effective intervention for students with serious emotional disturbance: Are we modifying children's memories?

The intent of this article is to consider similarities between the research on the alteration of memory, and that on the modification of behavior through viewing edited self-modeling videotapes that depict exemplary behavior. A considerable number of studies unequivocally show that memory can be altered through several mechanisms, including visual techniques. However, there is limited research indicating that alteration of memory results in valued and adaptive behavioral change. This article explores a tenable explanation for the research finding that self-modeling is an effective intervention for students with behavior disorders. It was hypothesized that when participants view a change in their behavior, their memories and self-beliefs subsequently change to be in concert with that shown on the edited videotape. Perhaps as the individuals repeatedly view the videotapes, they alter their memory of engagement in past maladaptive behavior, with an adaptive memory of exemplary behavior. Further, they may come to believe that they were always capable of exhibiting such behavior. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Study Of The Potential For Digital Radiographic Data Acquisition For Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

While the quantitative nature of digital fluroscopic and digital radiographic imaging would seem to make possible many radiotherapeutic applications, significant problems must first be solved. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential benefits of digital imaging in radiation therapy, identify what problems must be solved to attain these benefits, and attempt to make some assessment as to the relative merits of developing such technologies. Among the potential benefits are ability to do contrast-subtraction studies for tumor and/or normal structure localization and portal placement, digital simulation of portal placement and treatment delivery, spatial localization and digitization of inhomogeneity boundaries, spatial localization and digitization of brachytherapy sources, and quantitative inhomogeneity acquisition for dosimetry calculations. Significant problems which must be solved include image receptor size limitations, image acquisition geometry related spatial distortion, three dimensional region calculation from limited views, and physical interpretation of digital image grey levels. Maximal benefits of digital imaging in radiation oncology is likely to be obtained by the development of large area image receptors for use in therapy simulators with direct data link to a combined image-analysis/treatment planning computer.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Integrity in object-oriented database systems

This paper develops a model of integrity for object-oriented database management systems. The integrity system is layered over an extended object-oriented data model. The resulting model is shown to handle common state integrity constraints, including domain, key, and structural constraints. This model can enforce value-based functional dependencies from the relational model, both within an object and across object classes. A new relationship structural constraint, reference relationship, is presented which generalizes 1:1, 1:N, and N:M constraints in addition to total versus partial participation.
Economic analysis of a combined heat and power molten carbonate fuel cell system

Fuel cells can be attractive for use as stationary combined heat and power (CHP) systems. Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) power plants are prime candidates for the utilization of fossil based fuels to generate high efficiency ultra clean power. However, fuel cells are considerably more expensive than comparable conventional technologies and therefore a careful analysis of the economics must be taken. This work presents analysis on the feasibility of installing both a FuelCell Energy DFC® 1500MA and 300MA system for use at Adams Thermal Systems, a manufacturing facility in the U.S. Midwest. The paper examined thoroughly the economics driving the appropriateness of this measure. In addition, a parametric study was conducted to determine scenarios including variation in electric and natural gas rates along with reduced installation costs.
Environmental lead and children: the Omaha study

Blood lead (Pb B) was determined in 1232 samples from 831 children in Omaha and correlated with air lead (Pb A) concentrations of 0.02–1.69 μg/m 3 from 1971 to 1977. A bivariate equation for ages 6–18 yr based on these data predicts on increase in Pb B of 1.4 μg/dl as Pb A increases from 1 to 2 μg/m3. Pb B increases 7 μg/dl as the mean values for soil and house dust Pb increase from 100 to 750 μg/g. Multiple regression analysis shows that the combined effects of air, soil, and house dust Pb account for 21% of the variance of Pb B, with a high intercorrelation of all 3 variables. Since the variance of repeat sampling in individuals accounted for 38% of the total variance of Pb B, approximately 40% is unexplained and requires measurement of Pb from dietary and other sources.
THE TARSO-PRETARSAL CHORDOTONAL ORGAN AS AN ELEMENT IN COCKROACH WALKING

Many types of sense organs have been demonstrated to show repetitive discharges during walking that could provide informational cues about leg movements and other parameters of locomotion. We have recorded activities of receptors of the distal (tarsal) segments of the cockroach hindleg in restrained and freely moving animals while they were videotaped. These recordings show peaks of activities at the onset and termination of the stance phase. We have morphologically and physiologically identified a joint angle receptor, the tarso-pretarsal chordotonal organ, that contributes to the discharges seen late in stance, prior to the onset of leg flexion in swing. This sense organ encodes the angle and rate of change of the most distal leg joint and specifically discharges when the claws are disengaged from the substrate. Applied displacements of the claws in restrained preparations elicit reflex activation of the tibial flexor muscle and a crossed extensor reflex in the opposite hindleg. These reflexes could function to insure that leg flexion in swing does not occur until the claws are disengaged and to enhance support by the opposite hindleg. Thus, the regular discharges of the chordotonal organ could assure efficient and coordinated muscle contractions and movements during normal, unperturbed walking.
Prominence of Direct Entorhinal–CA1 Pathway Activation in Sensorimotor and Cognitive Tasks Revealed by 2-DG Functional Mapping in Nonhuman Primate

The trisynaptic pathway from entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus has long been regarded as the major route of information transfer underlying memory consolidation. Most physiological studies of this pathway involve recording from hippocampal slices. We have used both single- and double-label 2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic methods to image the pattern of activation in the hippocampal formation of 14 rhesus monkeys performing cognitive tasks, varying in content (spatial or nonspatial), process (working memory or associative memory), and mode of response (oculomotor or manual). These studies revealed a highly differentiated pattern of metabolic activation throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the hippocampal formation that was common to all behavioral conditions examined. This pattern consisted of intense activation of the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of CA1 and the subiculum, contrasting with barely detectable activity in CA3 and modest activation in the dentate gyrus, which did not include its molecular layer. These findings indicate a remarkable invariance in hippocampal activation under conditions of varied content, varied process, and varied mode of response and an heretofore-unappreciated preferential engagement of the direct rather than the trisynaptic pathway during performance of a wide range of behavioral tasks.
Spontaneous termination of reentry after one cycle or short nonsustained runs : role of oscillations and excess dispersion of refractoriness

This study describes factors that contribute to spontaneous termination of reentry lasting one to 10 cycles after induction by a single premature stimulus. Reentry was studied in vitro in rings of canine atrial tissue from around the tricuspid valve orifice. Activation was recorded from a circular array of 10 extracellular bipolar electrodes equally spaced around the ring. In some experiments, transmembrane or monophasic action potential recordings were made near critical sites. Termination of reentry within one cycle after induction was recorded 110 times in 11 of 35 experiments. Important factors contributing to termination were 1) an obligatory reversal of the activation sequence that resulted in a long coupling interval in the critical region beyond the site of unidirectional block after the premature stimulus and 2) much longer refractory periods limited to this critical region, which facilitated unidirectional block but contributed to termination when this region was first activated with a short coupling interval at the end of the first reentrant cycle. Termination of nonsustained reentry lasting longer than one cycle resulted from oscillations of conduction and refractoriness initiated by the abrupt shortening of cycle length after initiation of reentry. Oscillations of conduction resulted from interval-dependent conduction of reentrant impulses that encountered partially refractory tissue. For reentry to become sustained, the oscillations after induction of reentry must dampen. Thus, damped cycle length oscillations after induction may identify clinical tachycardias caused by reentry with a partially excitable gap.
The Tourism Demonstration Effect in the Caribbean

According to academic critics, the benefits of Caribbean tourism are severely vitiated by the socioeconomic dysfunctions associated with the tourism demonstration effect-the rapid local assimilation of expensive North American consumption patterns stimulated by the presence of relatively large numbers of tourists. This notion, however, lacks empirical validation. This study examines the simple relationship between tourism intensity and local spending patterns using a small cross-section of nine countries. The findings indicate that tourism may influence host consumption behavior, but that tourism's impact is considerably weaker than and not easily distinguished from the more encompassing influences associated with societal modernization. The repeated claims of tourism's alleged demonstration effects must be viewed with caution and a research agenda, suggested here, would more carefully measure demonstration and help disentangle tourism's impact from nontourist influences.
The origin of "System B" of Babylonian astronomy.

Our understanding of the Babylonian mathematical astronomy of the Seleucid-Parthian period progressed in several rather distinct steps. In its first phase, forever associated with the names of Epping, Kugler, and Schaumberger, the main efforts were concentrated on clarifying the astronomical meaning of the computational devices and the terminology, a truly pioneering work of decipherment and interpretation. Building upon these results my own efforts were directed toward a uniform mathematical classification of the textual material and its systematic arrangement in a corpus, at least so far as the strictly mathematical-astronomical texts were concerned. During the last decade these studies have entered a new phase which one may perhaps characterize as the “historical” phase in which one endeavors to penetrate into the Babylonian way of constructing a methodology, the results of which are now comparatively clear before us. Perhaps the most important result in this line of research is the demonstration by A. Aaboe1 that the computational rules for ephemerides of the “System A” type can be derived from very simple assumptions concerning the distribution of the events under consideration on the ecliptic. It is the purpose of this paper to show that exactly the same methodological idea leads also to the rules of “System B”. In the past I repeatedly had occasion to point out that the commonly accepted evolutionary sequence from A to B is by no means securely established. Obviously the existence of a common methodological basis makes a chronological distinction between the two systems still more difficult.
Copyright and creativity

In his new book, Free Culture (Penguin Press, 2004), Larry Lessig of Stanford Law School presents an excellent explanation of copyright law's effect on creativity - and of large corporations' effect on copyright law. Free Culture covers the history of copyright and its expansion from books to music, pictures, and videos, as well as its extension from 28 to 95 years. The book is remarkable because, unlike the vast majority of flaming on both sides of the downloading controversy, it presents both a factual argument and proposed solutions.
OVERCONFIDENCE IN CASE-STUDY JUDGMENTS.

It is a common phenomenon of clinical practice that as a psychologist accumulates casestudy material about another human being, he comes to think that he knows that person pretty well. Consequently, sooner or later in the information-gathering process, the psychologist becomes confident enough to make diagnostic conclusions, describe the client's main dynamics, and perhaps even venture to predict his future behavior. Though the psychologist's conclusions may remain tentative, his increase in confidence from the time of first approaching the case to the time of writing his report is usually very marked. This study investigated whether that increase in confidence is justified by a corresponding increase in accuracy of conclusions. Though the psychologist's confidence in his conclusions has often been mentioned as an important subject of scientific inquiry (Meehl, 1957), it has only rarely been studied intensively. Furthermore, when it has been studied, rather surprising findings have often resulted. For instance, Goldberg (1959) and Oskamp (1962) have shown that the diagnostic confidence of experienced psychologists is less than that of less experienced persons. The same studies and many others have also shown that professional psychologists are no better interpersonal judges, and sometimes are worse 1 Revision of a paper presented at the Western Psychological Association annual meeting, April 18, 1964. Thanks are due to Stanley Lunde for his help in constructing the case-study test. ones, than are untrained individuals (Taft, 1955).
Stability analysis of laser cavities with self-lensing

Measurements and calculations of lensing effects from nonlinear refraction in active and passive elements are presented. It is shown that saturable absorption is the dominant contribution to lensing. The theory is applied to a femtosecond-ring-laser cavity, for which the beam parameters are calculated as a function of intensity. We observe that stable femtosecond pulses are obtained only for a cavity configuration that is insensitive to self-lensing.
Design, implementation, and experiences of the OMEGA end-point architecture

The OMEGA architecture provides end-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees for distributed applications. QoS parameters are translated between application and network requirements by the QoS broker, thus integrating media and network QoS management into a single entity. Admission control uses a schedulability test derived from application requirements. A novel task priority and precedence-based scheme is used to represent complex application requirements and ensure correct feasible schedules. A prototype of OMEGA has been implemented using workstations connected by a 155 Mb/s dedicated ATM local-area network (LAN). To simplify implementation, we assumed networked multimedia application with periodic media streams, specifically a master/slave telerobotics application. This application employs media with highly diverse QoS requirements (e.g., interarrival times, loss rate, and bandwidth) and therefore provides a good platform for testing how closely one can achieve QoS guarantees with workstation hosts and cell-switching. Experience with this implementation has helped to identify new challenges to extending these techniques to a larger domain of applications and systems, and suggests promising new research questions.
Weed resistance development and management in herbicide-tolerant crops: experiences from the USA

The evolution of weeds in USA agroecosystems predates herbicide tolerant (HT) crops by several decades. However, given the unprecedented adoption of genetically engineered (GE) HT crops, particularly in maize, cotton and soybean and the concomitant use of glyphosate, the evolution of glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes of agronomic important weeds now represents a significant threat to the sustainability of the GE HT trait and the herbicide. Notably, GR biotypes of horseweed (Conyza canadensis), common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus), Palmer pigweed (Amaranthus palmeri), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) have increased dramatically in frequency in conjunction with the adoption of crop production systems based on GE HT crops. Furthermore, other shifts in weed communities have been observed. It must be emphasized that the GE HT crops did not directly cause these weed shifts. The industry was responsible initially for these changes in weed communities given their initial positions that the glyphosate-resistant weed problems were unlikely to evolve and the recommendations to use glyphosate exclusively for weed management. However, decisions by growers to use glyphosate must be factored in as imparting selection pressure on the weed communities resulting in weed management problems, particularly when university recommendations strongly suggested not to use glyphosate in this manner. The key is now to provide growers with sufficient information to convince them to adopt integrated weed management programs and utilize best management practices. Given the presumed and real benefits of convenience and simplicity of the GE HT crop production systems; this will be a difficult task.
Obesity and Acute Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical inflammatory syndrome ­associated with severe acute hypoxemic respiratory with a case fatality of 30–40%. Although counterintuitive, several studies now suggest that the survival of obese and extremely obese critically ill patients with ALI (as well as obese critically ill patients in general) is equal to or better than their lean critically ill counterparts. The mechanisms underlying these findings are not yet clear but may be related to obesity-associated alterations of the host inflammatory response or to decreased susceptibility to ventilator-induced lung injury in these patients. Despite possible survival benefits afforded by obesity in ALI, studies do suggest that obese patients may have longer durations of ventilation and ICU stays. This information is important for clinicians to consider when discussing prognosis and expectations with critically ill patients and their families.
Reversing Globalization: Trade Policy Consequences of World War I

How did World War I reverse decades of apparently irresistible economic globalization? Why, in particular, did World War I produce a worldwide surge in international trade protection? Three mechanisms are investigated: (1) The War diverted production and international trade in a way that strengthened protectionist coalitions of industries relative to free-trading coalitions. (2) The War reduced financial interdependence and altered exchange rates in a manner that advantaged protectionist coalitions. (3) The War altered military alliances and rivalries such that stronger national interests in trade protection developed. These mechanisms are examined for the five largest trading economies — Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. There is evidence of all three mechanisms operating. The first — involving war-induced diversion of production and international trade — appears to have had the largest and most consistent impact.
Dual-trajectory Approach for Simultaneous Cyst Fenestration and Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for Treatment of a Complex Third Ventricular Arachnoid Cyst.

Objectives: We present a case of a multiloculated third ventricular arachnoid cyst to describe a novel technique for definitive management of these lesions via direct endoscopic fenestration and CSF diversion utilizing separate trajectories that offers superior visualization and avoids forniceal injury. Methods and Results: We present a case of a 33-year-old woman with progressive headache and worsened vision, a known history of a multiloculated third-ventricular arachnoid cyst, and imaging findings consistent with cyst expansion and worsened obstructive hydrocephalus. We then describe the dual-trajectory approach for simultaneous cyst fenestration and endoscopic third ventriculostomy that ultimately resulted in successful treatment of her cyst and hydrocephalus. Conclusions: Dual-trajectory endoscopic approach utilizing double burr holes should be considered when addressing lesions of the third ventricle causing obstructive hydrocephalus.
Stability of WC Nanoparticles for NOx Reduction

WC nanoparticles where synthesized using various Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) methods such as reactive sputtering and Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). In both the methods the metal flux obtained is condensed in the presence of He gas. The structural properties of the samples where investigated using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The feasibility of using nano-WC as an alternative catalyst for Pt is determined. A comparative study on two sample of WC, as-prepared and carburized W, was done. The samples were used to check for the reduction of NO x in a simple reactor. The carburized W shows activity at temperatures around 400°C whereas the as-prepared WC shows activity towards NO x reduction at a slightly higher temperature. The stability of both the sample was studied by performing the same experiment at a fixed temperature for an extended period of time. XPS and XRD confirm the formation of oxide phase after de-NO x experiments.
Time-dependent model of creep on the Hayward fault from joint inversion of 18 years of InSAR and surface creep data

[1] Spatial and temporal variations of aseismic fault creep influence the size and timing of large earthquakes along partially coupled faults. To solve for a time-dependent model of creep on the Hayward fault, we invert 18 years of surface deformation data (1992–2010), obtained by interferometric processing of 52 and 50 SAR images acquired by the ERS1/2 and Envisat satellites, respectively, and surface creep data obtained at 19 alinement and 4 creepmeter stations. For multi-temporal analysis of the SAR data we developed a method for identifying stable pixels using wavelet multi-resolution analysis. We also implement a variety of wavelet-based filters for reducing the effects of environmental artifacts. Using a reweighted least squares approach, we inverted the interferometric data to generate a time series of surface deformation over the San Francisco Bay Area with a precision of better than a few millimeters. To jointly invert the InSAR displacement time series and the surface creep data for a time-dependent model of fault creep, we use a robust inversion approach combined with a Kalman filter. The time-dependent model constrains a zone of high slip deficit that may represent the locked rupture asperity of past and future M≈7 earthquakes. We identify several additional temporal variations in creep rate along the Hayward fault, the most important one being a zone of accelerating slip just northwest of the major locked zone. We estimate that a slip-rate deficit equivalent to Mw 6.3–6.8 has accumulated on the fault, since the last event in 1868.
Effects of Premature Parental Death on Subjective Life Expectancy, Death Anxiety, and Health Behavior:

Subjective life expectancy, death anxiety, and health behavior were assessed in 36 college students with at least one parent who died prematurely (age 55 or younger) due to illness (PD group) and in thirty-six matched participants with both parents alive (PA group). Participants who lost a parent prematurely estimated that their own life spans would be shorter than those of other people in their age-cohort. They also predicted a shorter life span for themselves than did the matched participants. In both groups, participants' Cognitive and Affective Subjective Life Expectancy differed significantly from each other. In the PA group, individuals' projection of their life span when based on “personal feelings” was significantly higher than when they based their estimate on “everything that is objectively true” about them. In the PD group, the opposite relationship was observed between these two variables, and the difference was magnified for the subgroup of PD participants who indicated that they believed the...
Synthesis and evaluation of [18F]exendin (9–39) as a potential biomarker to measure pancreatic β-cell mass

Abstract Introduction Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is released in response to food intake and plays an important role in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. Exendin (9–39), a potent glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor antagonist, has been labeled with In-111 for SPECT imaging. We report here the first radiosynthesis of [ 18 F]exendin (9–39) ([ 18 F]Ex(9–39)) and an evaluation of its potential as a biomarker for in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of pancreatic β-cell mass (BCM) in rats. Methods F-18 label was introduced by conjugation of [ 18 F]4-fluorobenzaldehyde with an Ex(9–39) derivative containing a 6-hydrazinonicotinyl group on the ɛ-amine of Lys27. Positron emission tomography imaging was carried out in Sprague–Dawley rats (five control and five streptozotocin-induced diabetic) and BioBreeding diabetes-prone rats (three at 7 weeks and three at 12 weeks) using the high-resolution research tomograph (HRRT) after 0.187±0.084 mCi [ 18 F]Ex(9–39) administration. Time–activity curves were obtained from pancreas, liver and kidney. Pancreases were assayed for insulin content after the imaging study. Results Site-specifically labeled [ 18 F]Ex(9–39) was purified on a G15 open column with radiochemical and chemical purities >98%. Positron emission tomography imaging showed pancreatic standardized uptake value (SUV) peaked at 10 min and plateaued by 50 min to the end of scan (240 min). No correlations of pancreatic SUV with postmortem measures of insulin content were seen. Conclusions [ 18 F]Ex(9–39) was successfully prepared and used for PET imaging for the first time to measure pancreatic BCM. The results suggest that derivatization of the Lys27 residue might reduce binding affinity, as evidenced by the absence of specific binding. Exendin analogues radiolabeled at other sites may elucidate the active site required for binding.
The exchange of radioactive cations by somatic and cardiac muscles of the crayfish

Abstract 1. 1. Intracellular concentrations of Na + , K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were measured in a somatic muscle and in the heart of the crayfish. The uptake and the efflux of Na 24 , K 42 , Ca 45 and of Sr 89 were also measured. 2. 2. The initial influx rates of the ions from van Harreveld's solution into resting somatic muscle (in μEq/g cell water/hr) are: K + = 25; Na + = 56; Ca 2+ = 38. Similar figures were obtained for the heart muscle. 3. 3. The calculated permeability constants (× 10 8 cm/sec) are: P K = 64; P Na = 30 P Ca = 10; P Sr = 1·5. 4. 4. The stimulation of the muscle fiber leads to an additional Ca 2+ influx of about 2·8 pEq/cm 2 fiber surface. The additional Ca 2+ uptake is sufficient to account for the change in potential on the membrane. 5. 5. When muscles were immersed in Sr 2+ solutions, no additional Sr 89 uptake was found with stimulation. However, there is a high resting Sr 89 uptake and the muscle in Sr 2+ has a long refractory period, so a reasonable increase in Sr 89 uptake would not be detectable. 6. 6. The results are discussed in relation to the divalent cation mechanism for generating action potentials and to the part played by Ca 2+ in triggering contraction.
REMNANT CHOLESTEROL AND RESIDUAL RISK AFTER ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Cholesterol contained within triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles is believed to be atherogenic. It can be calculated as remnant cholesterol = total cholesterol – [HDL-C + LDL-C]. We examined the relationship between remnant cholesterol and residual risk after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Bubble flow simulations with the lattice Boltzmann method

In an e!ort to establish benchmarks for the application of the lattice Boltzmann method to bubbly #ow simulations, we compute bubbles in periodic boxes as a function of the EoK tvoK s and Morton numbers and compare the results with established empirical correlations. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Gas}liquid bubble column reactors and gas}liquid} solid reactors are widely encountered in industrial prac- tice. The performance and scale-up of these reactors are strongly in#uenced by their hydrodynamics. Over the last three decades, two-#uid continuum models have emerged as a useful framework to capture the gross hydrodynamic features of bubbly #ow of gas}liquid mix- tures. These continuum models average over the details of #ow at the level of the individual bubbles; however, these details a!ect the overall behavior through phase interaction terms and e!ective stress tensors appearing in the "nal model equations. Deducing closure relations for these terms and assessing their individual in#uence on the macroscopic #ow behavior constitute, therefore, problems of fundamental and practical importance. Microscopic simulations of the #ow behavior of assem- blies of bubbles provide a means of arriving at such closures. We have been exploring the use of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) as a technique to probe the #ow characteristics of bubble assemblies. The paper is organized as follows: we begin by brie#y summarizing the theory and particular LBM implemen- tation we use in Section 2; results for single bubbles shapes and dynamics are presented and compared with a semi-empirical correlation of experimental data in Section 3.
STRUCTURAL CHARGE SITE INFLUENCE ON THE INTERLAYER HYDRATION OF EXPANDABLE THREE-SHEET CLAY MINERALS

Previous investigations have demonstrated the influences of interlayer cation composition, relative humidity, temperature, and magnitude of interlayer surface charge on the interlayer hydration of montmorillonites and vermiculites. It has been suggested that the sites of layer charge deficiencies may also have an influence upon the amount of hydration that can take place in the interlayers of expandable clay minerals. If the interlayer cation-to-layer bonds are considered as ideally electrostatic, the magnitude of the forces resisting expansion may be expressed as a form of Coulomb's law. If this effect is significant, expandable structures in which the charge-deficiency sites are predominantly in the tetrahedral sheet should have less pronounced swelling properties than should structures possessing charge deficiencies located primarily in the octahedral sheet. Three samples that differed in location of layer charge sites were selected for study. An important selection criterion was a non-correlation between tetrahedral charge sites and high surface-charge density, and between octahedral charge sites and low surface-charge density. The effects of differences in interlayer cation composition were eliminated by saturating portions of each sample with the same cations. Equilibrium (001) d values at controlled constant humidities were used as a measure of the relative degree of interlayer hydration. Although no correlation could be made between the degree of interlayer hydration and total surface-charge density, the investigation does not eliminate total surface-charge density as being significant to the swelling properties of three-sheet clay-mineral structures. The results do indicate a correlation between more intense expandability and predominance of charge deficiencies in the octa- hedral sheet. Conversely, less intense swelling behavior is associated with predominantly tetrahedral charge deficiencies.
Confirmation of protective antigen functionality in an electrospun, nanofibrous membrane

The use of Bacillus anthracis as a bioterrorist agent, in 2001, resulted in the death of 5 individuals. The pathogenicity of anthrax is due to the proteolytic effects of one of its components: the enzyme lethal factor (LF). LF's substrate is located within the cytosol of cells and its cleavage results in a silencing of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine signaling pathway. The entry of LF into the cytosol is facilitated by a binding protein: protective antigen (PA). Proposed here is a nanofibrous membrane, containing encapsulated PA, that can function as a transdermal anthrax vaccine. This membrane is produced using the voltage-intensive process of electrospinning. To confirm retention of protein biological activity throughout the process, Mono Mac 6 cells, a human monocytic cell line, were treated with electrospun PA after being activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and dosed with LF. A down regulation of IL-6 production, determined through an ELISA, was used as an indicator for PA function. Functionality of electrospun PA was confirmed and the amount of functioning PA deposited on a 4 mm × 4 mm silicon wafer substrate was quantified using the dose-dependent response between PA present and IL-6 down regulated.
All-terrain vehicle-related nonfatal injuries among young riders in the United States, 2001-2010.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the numbers and rates of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)–related nonfatal injuries among riders aged ≤15 years treated in hospital emergency departments (EDs) in the United States during 2001–2010. METHODS: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program data for 2001–2010 were analyzed. Numbers and rates of injuries were examined by age group, gender, primary body part injured, diagnosis, and hospital admission status. RESULTS: During 2001–2010, an estimated 361 161 ATV riders aged ≤15 years were treated in EDs for ATV-related injuries. The injury rate peaked at 67 per 100 000 children in 2004 and then declined to 42 per 100 000 children by 2010. The annualized injury rate for boys was double that of girls (73 vs 37 per 100 000). Children aged 11 to 15 years accounted for two-thirds of all ED visits and hospitalizations. Fractures accounted for 28% of ED visits and 45% of hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for the decline in ATV-related injuries among young riders are not well understood but might be related to the economic recession of the mid-2000s and decreased sales of new ATVs. Although many states have regulations governing children’s use of ATVs, their effectiveness in reducing injuries is unclear. Broader use of known effective safety measures, including prohibiting children aged ≤15 years from riding adult-sized ATVs, always wearing a helmet while riding, not riding on paved roads, and not riding as or carrying a passenger could additionally reduce ATV-related injuries among children. Last, more research to better understand ATV crash dynamics might lead to safer designs for ATVs. * Abbreviations: ATV — : all-terrain vehicle CI — : confidence interval CPSC — : Consumer Product Safety Commission ED — : emergency department GAO — : Government Accountability Office NEISS-AIP — : National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program
Optimal learning of transition probabilities in the two-agent newsvendor problem

We examine a newsvendor problem with two agents: a requesting agent that observes private demand information, and an oversight agent that must determine how to allocate resources upon receiving a bid from the requesting agent. Because the two agents have different cost structures, the requesting agent tends to bid higher than the amount that is actually needed. As a result, the allocating agent needs to adaptively learn how to interpret the bids and estimate the requesting agent's biases. Learning must occur as quickly as possible, because each suboptimal resource allocation incurs an economic cost. We present a mathematical model that casts the problem as a Markov decision process with unknown transition probabilities. We then perform a simulation study comparing four different techniques for optimal learning of transition probabilities. The best technique is shown to be a knowledge gradient algorithm, based on a one-period look-ahead approach.
Interference with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: colonization of epithelial cells under hydrodynamic conditions

Introduction: Microbial interactions are considered to be important for bacterial colonization. Interactions that inhibit colonization of pathogens could possibly be used as a new treatment approach for periodontitis. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis on soft surfaces in vitro, taking into account the hydrodynamic forces continuously present in vivo. Methods: Cultured epithelial cells were precolonized with Streptococcus sanguinis KTH-4, Streptococcus cristatus CC5A, Streptococcus salivarius TOVE and Streptococcus mitis BMS before Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans colonization. Experiments were performed in a modified Robbins-device-type flow cell. Bacterial colonization and the number of epithelial cells were evaluated by microbial culturing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The streptococci were able to inhibit A. actinomycetemcomitans colonization on soft tissue surfaces under flow conditions. Statistically significant differences were found between streptococcal pretreatments and the controls, with the most pronounced effect caused by S. sanguinis. Conclusion: These data confirm the possibility of applying beneficial bacteria in periodontal treatment.
Developing a uniform reporting system for preventable adverse drug events

Abstract The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Practitioners' Reporting Network utilized nearly three decades of experience to design and develop a nationwide, anonymous, Internet-accessible service for hospitals to report and benchmark medication errors (also known as “preventable adverse drug events”). As nationwide experiential reporting enters the 21st century, the features of MedMARx™ will provide facilities with the unprecedented ability to conduct daily continuous quality improvement that encompasses medication error risk analysis and prevention based on the experiences of other facilities. Data elements were developed based on review by expert panels and USP's experience with the Medication Errors Reporting Program. The success of this model could indicate its usefulness in other practice settings and for broader applications in health care.
Kevin Associates, AutoZone, and Intangible Holding Companies: The Need for Combined Unitary Reporting in Louisiana

The author writes that recent Louisiana court decisions show that the state needs to adopt combined reporting. The Department of Revenue has the power to adopt regulations requiring combined reporting, the author says, but it would be better if the legislature adopted combined reporting by statute.
Progression in Neuronal Processing for Saccadic Eye Movements From Parietal Cortex Area LIP to Superior Colliculus

Neurons in both the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) of the monkey parietal cortex and the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus (SC) are activated well in advance of the initiation of saccadic eye movements. To determine whether there is a progression in the covert processing for saccades from area LIP to SC, we systematically compared the discharge properties of LIP output neurons identified by antidromic activation with those of SC neurons collected from the same monkeys. First, we compared activity patterns during a delayed saccade task and found that LIP and SC neurons showed an extensive overlap in their responses to visual stimuli and in their sustained activity during the delay period. The saccade activity of LIP neurons was, however, remarkably weaker than that of SC neurons and never occurred without any preceding delay activity. Second, we assessed the dependence of LIP and SC activity on the presence of a visual stimulus by contrasting their activity in delayed saccade trials in which the presentation of the visual stimulus was either sustained (visual trials) or brief (memory trials). Both the delay and the presaccadic activity levels of the LIP neuronal sample significantly depended on the sustained presence of the visual stimulus, whereas those of the SC neuronal sample did not. Third, we examined how the LIP and SC delay activity relates to the future production of a saccade using a delayed GO/NOGO saccade task, in which a change in color of the fixation stimulus instructed the monkey either to make a saccade to a peripheral visual stimulus or to withhold its response and maintain fixation. The average delay activity of both LIP and SC neuronal samples significantly increased by the advance instruction to make a saccade, but LIP neurons were significantly less dependent on the response instruction than SC neurons, and only a minority of LIP neurons was significantly modulated. Thus despite some overlap in their discharge properties, the neurons in the SC intermediate layers showed a greater independence from sustained visual stimulation and a tighter relationship to the production of an impending saccade than the LIP neurons supplying inputs to the SC. Rather than representing the transmission of one processing stage in parietal cortex area LIP to a subsequent processing stage in SC, the differences in neuronal activity that we observed suggest instead a progressive evolution in the neuronal processing for saccades.