cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medications for Chronic Conditions and Periodontal Disease

This study aims to review the current literature and consider the use of medication in the medical literature and medication in the treatment of periodontal inflammation. Review articles and non-human studies were avoided. Pain-killers and antibiotics were not covered. Modified tetracycline was, however, included. Non-surgical periodontal therapy remains standard of care procedure in the management of periodontal inflammation. There is a large volume of publications with findings from adjunct treatment of periodontitis using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also including aspirin. In recent years (2015–2018), there are with the exception of in vitro and animal studies. There are currently few human studies assessing the safety and efficacy of such medication to treat periodontal inflammation alone. In contrast, the medical literature has a large volume of such studies to control inflammatory processes. Foremost, studies primarily on cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis have contributed information on the use of statins, bisphosphonates, cytokine inhibitors, and prednisone in the management of inflammation. Several of these studies have also identified that patients on such medication may benefit from reduced clinical evidence of periodontal inflammation. Due to side effects from many anti-inflammatory medications sole treatment of periodontal inflammation has yet to be considered. Diet rich in flavonoids may also provide potential benefits in the control of periodontal inflammation. There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest anti-inflammatory treatment of periodontal inflammation. There are in vitro and non-human studies suggesting that some anti-inflammatory drugs may be effective in reducing the extent of periodontal inflammation. It should be recognized that patients under medical care may receive added dental benefits as the result of anti-inflammatory treatment of another systemic disease.
The Living Force: An Ecological Reading of How the Force Regards Its Adherents

Drawing on the new canon, this article explores the ecological nature of the Force to evaluate the abilities and actions of its most visible adherents, the Jedi and the Sith. Through particular att...
A Gaussian mixture model representation of endmember variability for spectral unmixing

Endmember variability complicates the problem of spectral unmixing. This variability is typically represented by probability distributions or spectral libraries. The present work describes a new distributional representation based on Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs). The most common form in this setting is the Normal Compositional Model (NCM), wherein the endmembers for each pixel are modeled as samples drawn from unimodal Gaussians. In reality, however, the distribution of spectra from a material may be multi-modal. We first show that a linear combination of GMM random variables is also a GMM. This allows us to probabilistically formulate hyperspectral pixel likelihoods as combinations of independent endmember random variables. Then, after adding a reasonable smoothness and sparsity prior on the abundances, we obtain a standard Bayesian maximum a posteriori (MAP) problem for abundance and endmember parameter estimation. A generalized expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is used to minimize the MAP objective function. We tested the GMM approach on two real datasets, and showcased its efficacy for modeling endmember variability by comparing it to current popular methods.
Shaping a city: Ithaca, New York, a developer’s perspective, by Mack Travis: Ithaca, NY, Cornell University Press, 2018

This 300-page book is an excellent historical perspective of downtown Ithaca’s revitalization efforts since 1971 through the eyes of an active local developer and civic leader. Travis focuses on pu...
High-Scalability Enhanced Gate Drivers for SiC MOSFET Modules With Transient Immunity Beyond 100 V/ns

Silicon-carbide (SiC) transistors with growing readiness for the power converter market have raised an emerging need for high-performance gate driver (GD) units to maximize their remarkable characteristics. In particular, the GD units for the SiC devices that experience extremely fast commutations at the medium-voltage level require powerful driving capability, effective short-circuit (SC) protection, and superb common-mode transient immunity. Thereby, this article presents a systematic enhanced GD (eGD) solution that incorporates three scalable features compatible with almost all the SiC mosfet modules. First, a BJT-based multicell current booster is proposed to attain balanced high driving current, low losses, gate-loop inductance less than 1 nH, and great cross-talk immunity. Second, a nonintrusive Rogowski switch-current sensor with high bandwidth and fair accuracy is developed, capable of detecting SC fault in 86 ns and softly turning off 5 kA SC current in 1 $\mu$ s. Third, two noise-free isolation architectures are proposed to mitigate common-mode noise-admittance by more than 100 dB. Fundamentals, analytical designs, experimental validations, and scalability discussions of the three techniques are elaborated, respectively. Finally, a 6-kV, 84-A, and 102-V/ns continuous pump-back test is demonstrated, for the first time, to verify the eGD's excellent performance.
Facilitation of a multisite student topic discussion series using web-based conferencing technology.

Abstract Introduction While technology's use and impact in the classroom setting is well-documented in literature, use during experiential education is less defined. Our objectives were to assess the change in clinical knowledge and application skills following a multisite topic discussion (TD) series using web-based conferencing technology during ambulatory care advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) and to assess student perceptions of learning through use of this modality. Methods A multisite TD series was created using web-based conferencing technology for students assigned to a clinical faculty member's ambulatory care APPE. Five topic discussions were conducted during each five-week rotation block covering disease states integral to ambulatory care practice. Pre- and post-assessments were administered to assess student learning and a survey was administered to assess student perceptions of learning. Results A total of 151 students were invited to participate in the study with 114 (75.5%) included in the final analysis. Overall student performance improved significantly from 53.3 ± 12.7% on the pre-assessment to 65.8 ± 14.3% on the post-assessment, with student performance on the post-assessment improving significantly in all topic areas. Students perceived that the TD series enhanced their learning and ability to apply clinical information while creating an online learning community. Conclusions The addition of a multisite TD series using web-based conferencing technology successfully enhanced student knowledge. Student perceptions of this new web-based learning community were positive overall, despite some technological limitations. The results of this study support the use of web-based conferencing technology to enhance student learning during APPEs.
OUTCOMES FOLLOWING URGENT/EMERGENT TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: INSIGHTS FROM THE STS/ACC TVT REGISTRY

Data on urgent/emergent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as a rescue therapy for decompensated severe aortic stenosis (AS) are limited. The STS/ACC TVT Registry linked with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims was used to identify patients who underwent urgent/emergent vs
THE CIRCADIAN OSCILLATION: AN INTEGRAL AND UNDISSOCIABLE PROPERTY OF EUKARYOTIC GENE-ACTION SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary One is tempted to identify the high frequency ticks of the short-period biochemical oscillations emphasized at this colloquium with the escapements for low-frequency circadian clocks. However, theoretical considerations and experimental observations of the macromolecular properties of circadian systems persuade to reject such a view. It is accepted as self-evident the cell's reliance upon its own molecular milieu for energetic and material inputs, but it is believed that concomitant high frequency oscillations are not closely related to circadian phenomena. Thus, in terms of temporality, the circadian outputs of a cell might be regarded as being nearly as independent of the characteristic periods of its high frequency molecular oscillators as the timekeeping capacity of a mechanical clock equipped with a pendulum escapement is relatively independent of its energy source. The problem remains of how and for what reason one should obtain an overall period of approximately 24 hours from whatever mechanism.
Comparison of DNA Extracted from Pediatric Saliva, Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Site-Specific Biofilm Samples

(1) Introduction: Due to the non-invasive nature of saliva, many methods have been used to isolate and collect DNA from saliva samples for microbial screening. Many oral microbes also inhabit the oral biofilm, which may represent significantly different microbial constituents that may contribute to oral health and disease, including caries and periodontal disorders. Moreover, the biofilm may vary within the same patient at different sites. Few studies have evaluated the comparison between DNA isolated from saliva and DNA from site-specific biofilm, with virtually no studies addressing this analysis among pediatric patients. (2) Methods: An existing repository of paper point derived biofilm, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and unstimulated saliva samples previously collected from pediatric patients (n = 47) was identified. DNA was isolated from biofilm sites (tongue, upper buccal molar, mandibular lingual incisor), and GCF and saliva were used for quantitative DNA comparison using a phenol:chloroform extraction. A quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed using the NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer using absorbance readings at A230 nm, A260 nm and A280 nm. (3) Results: These data demonstrated the successful isolation of DNA from all of the patient samples, with the highest concentrations observed among unstimulated saliva (4264.1 ng/μL) and the lowest derived from GCF (1771.5 ng/μL). No differences were observed between males and females or minorities and non-minority patients. In addition, comparison of the overall concentrations of DNA obtained from adult samples was slightly higher than, but not significantly different from, the concentrations obtained from pediatric samples (p = 0.2827). A real-time quantitative qPCR screening revealed that all of the samples evaluated harbored bacterial and human DNA of sufficient quantity and quality for a molecular screening greater than the limit of detection (ΔRn = 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Many methods are currently available to provide the sampling and screening of saliva and specific sites within the oral cavity, but the validation and comparison of simple and low-cost methods, that include paper point sampling and unstimulated saliva collection, may suggest these methods and protocols provide sufficient DNA quality and quantity for molecular screening and other comparison applications. In addition, although heterogeneity will be a constant and consistent feature between patient samples, standardized methods that provide similar and consistent DNA from various oral sites may provide needed consistency for screening and molecular analysis.
Survivorship Care Plans: Reaching a Benchmark and Striving to Achieve Intent.

PURPOSE:Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been endorsed by major oncologic organizations despite challenges in implementation and unclear patient-specific benefits. In January 2020, the Commissio...
Interview 2 Peter V. Marsden

Peter V. Marsden is the Edith and Benjamin Geisinger Professor of Sociology at Harvard University. He received his B.A. in sociology and history at Dartmouth College in 1973 and his M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Chicago in 1975 and 1979 respectively.
Integrated outcrop and subsurface geomodeling of the Turonian Wall Creek Member of the Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA

Abstract Inter-well heterogeneities influencing fluid migration in deltaic reservoirs are controlled by lateral lithofacies changes and vertical complexities such as low permeability thin-beds (i.e. mudstones). Subsurface tools cannot adequately predict the spatial and stratigraphic organization of these architectural elements, nor their influence on effective reservoir properties and connectivity. Our outcrop-based geomodeling study of the Turonian Wall Creek Member of the Frontier Formation in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA, integrates subsurface production and flow simulation data to quantify the impact of multi-scale stratigraphic heterogeneity on analogous reservoir behavior and horizontal well design. The upscaled representation of thin-bed complexity in our 500 m × 715 m x 15 m geomodel is derived through flow simulation of internally nested, facies specific, centimeter-scale models (basic depositional element models or BDEMs). These BDEMs are populated with quantitative data of mudstone thin-bed geometries directly derived from digital outcrop measurements and measurements in the field, and aided by subsurface (core) petrophysical properties. Reservoir simulations are performed using various landing zone and completion configurations, and under both single-phase and multi-phase flow conditions history matched to subsurface production data. Results from our workflow demonstrate that, in heterolithic settings, the permeability of mudstone thin-beds impart the most significant impacts toward upscaled reservoir behavior, and deliver unique Kv/Kh flow anisotropies dependent on the governing depositional environment. Thin, laterally continuous and planar mudstone beds in the wave-and river-dominated distal delta front setting have the greatest negative effect on Kv and a minimal impact on Kh, promoting laterally continuous and vertically baffled flow units. Conversely, the more curvilinear and intersecting architectures of mudstone beds in the tidal dune facies maintain better vertical connectivity but decreased Kh compared to the wave-influenced facies. Reservoir flow is only sensitive to changes in engineering design (landing zone, well orientation, completion size) where thin-beds act as complete barriers rather than baffles to flow. Layer cake subsurface models failing to account for high-resolution stratigraphic architectures are likely to overestimate reservoir production where thin-beds act as barriers capable of appreciable reservoir compartmentalization, which in our models is more characteristic of the distal delta front setting. Synthesized results of this study are immediately applicable toward development planning in similar tight sandstone reservoirs.
Outcomes in Retinal Vein Occlusions Presenting with Poor Visual Acuity Treated with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy: Prognosis and Predictive Factors.

Purpose To present visual acuity and OCT outcomes in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) treated with anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents demonstrating poor initial visual acuity. We aimed to identify relevant factors that may portend differential outcomes in this important patient population. Design Retrospective chart review. Participants Fifty-two patients with recent RVO treated with anti-VEGF therapy and demonstrating habitual corrected visual acuity of worse than 20/320 before any ocular therapy, with at least 6 months of follow-up. Methods Visual acuity, spectral-domain (SD) OCT findings, injection details, and the development of neovascular sequelae or need for adjunct therapies were recorded for consecutive visits after meeting vision criteria (maximum of 16 visits). In the central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) cohort, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of outcomes, and the incidence of sequelae was studied with survival analysis. Main Outcome Measures Change in approximate Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score at 6 and 12 months. Results The CRVO patients (n = 39) gained a median of 20 letters relative to baseline at both 6 and 12 months and showed a change in central subfield thickness (CST) of –504.1 μm and –552.3 μm, respectively. Branch RVO and hemiretinal vein occlusion patients (n = 13) gained a median of +45 and +57.5 letters at 6 and 12 months, respectively, and showed reductions of 299.6 μm and 355.2 μm of CST on SD OCT. For CRVO patients, more time from symptom onset to first injection predicted less optimistic letter gains in unadjusted and adjusted models (P Conclusions Patients with RVO demonstrating poor initial visual acuity showed visual and anatomic benefit with anti-VEGF therapy, most often observed shortly after initiation of treatment. In CRVO patients, even minor delays between symptom onset and first injection led to less optimistic vision gains and were associated with higher incidence of negative sequelae.
A Year like No Other: A Call to Curb the Infodemic and Depoliticize a Pandemic Crisis

The year 2020 will go down in the U.S. history as a year with a pandemic raging amidst an unanticipated racial justice movement overlain by an extraordinarily tumultuous presidential election. As t...
Scalable Reduction of Large Datasets to Interesting Subsets

With a huge amount of RDF data available on the web, the ability to find and access relevant information is crucial. Traditional approaches to storing, querying, and reasoning fall short when faced with web-scale data. We present a system that combines the computational power of large clusters for enabling largescale reasoning and data access with an efficient data structure for storing and querying the accessed data on a traditional personal computer or other resource-constrained device. We present results of using this system to load the 2009 Billion Triples Challenge dataset, materialize RDFS inferences, extract an “interesting” subset of the data using a large cluster, and further analyze the extracted data using a personal computer, all in the order of tens of minutes.
Kidney Disease Symptoms before and after Kidney Transplantation.

Background and objectives Patients with kidney failure report a high symptom burden, which likely increases while on dialysis due to physical and mental stressors and decreases after kidney transplantation due to restoration of kidney function. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We leveraged a two-center prospective study of 1298 kidney transplant candidates and 521 recipients (May 2014 to March 2020). Symptom scores (0–100) at evaluation and admission for transplantation were calculated using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form Survey, where lower scores represent greater burden, and burden was categorized as very high: 0.0–71.0; high: 71.1–81.0; medium: 81.1–91.0; and low: 91.1–100.0. We estimated adjusted waitlist mortality risk (competing risks regression), change in symptoms between evaluation and transplantation (n=190), and post-transplantation symptom score trajectories (mixed effects models). Results At evaluation, candidates reported being moderately to extremely bothered by fatigue (32%), xeroderma (27%), muscle soreness (26%), and pruritus (25%); 16% reported high and 21% reported very high symptom burden. Candidates with very high symptom burden were at greater waitlist mortality risk (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 2.62). By transplantation, 34% experienced an increased symptom burden, whereas 42% remained unchanged. The estimated overall symptom score was 82.3 points at transplantation and 90.6 points at 3 months (10% improvement); the score increased 2.75 points per month (95% confidence interval, 2.38 to 3.13) from 0 to 3 months, and plateaued (−0.06 points per month; 95% confidence interval, −0.30 to 0.18) from 3 to 12 months post-transplantation. There were early (first 3 months) improvements in nine of 11 symptoms; pruritus (23% improvement) and fatigue (21% improvement) had the greatest improvements. Conclusions Among candidates, very high symptom burden was associated with waitlist mortality, but for those surviving and undergoing kidney transplantation, symptoms improved.
Salmonella Current Concepts

Salmonella induces a wide spectrum of disease in cattle ranging from inapparent subclinical infections to acute fulminant bacteremia, endotoxemia, and death. The variable manifestations of disease reflect the virulence of different Salmonella serotypes and the influence of challenge dose and host immunity. Many salmonella infections reflect opportunistic infections of compromised hosts. Strategies to prevent and manage salmonella outbreaks should emphasize minimizing pathogen exposure and maximizing host immunity.
Propagation of radar rainfall uncertainties into urban pluvial flood modeling during the North American monsoon

Pluvial flooding in urban regions is a natural hazard that has been rarely investigated. Here, we evaluate the utility of three radar (Stage IV, MRMS, and GCMRMS) quantitative precipitation estimat...
Maximizing Credibility and Accountability in Qualitative Data Collection and Data Analysis: A Social Work Research Case Example

L'A. s'efforce de montrer l'utilite de donnees qualitatives dans le cadre du travail social. Il estime que cette methode permet de maximiser la fiabilite des donnees ainsi obtenues. Il affirme qu'elle permet d'eclairer et de comparer le discours des individus interroges. Cette approche devrait etre prise en compte par les travailleurs sociaux et permettre d'offrir un certain nombre d'analyses empiriques necessaires au developpement de la discipline
A note on the evidence on alternative models of thebanking firm: A cross section study of commercial loan rates

In this paper, the determinants of commercial loan rates are analyzed using cross sectionevidence drawn from a survey of commercial bank lending. The objective is to obtain evidence in order to evaluate whether commercial loan rate behavior is consistent with the implications of three alternative theories of banking behavior and therefore provide evidence about the validity of these theories. In general, the cross section evidence leads to the conclusion that both imperfect competition and risk aversion in a portfolio context are important elements in understanding the pattern of commercial loan rates.
ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUEL USE MODEL: MODEL THEORY AND DESIGN AND USER'S GUIDE

The Alternative Motor Fuel Use Model (AMFU) is a tool for the analysis and prediction of motor fuel use by highway vehicles. The model advances the art of vehicle stock modeling by including a representation of the choice of motor fuel for flexible and dual fuel vehicles. Part one of the report is a User's Guide to the operation of the model. Part two describes the model's structure and the theory of vehicle stock modeling of energy use on which it is based. The model is designed for IBM PC, PC/XT, PC/AT, PS/2, and compatibles. It is written in compiled BASIC and data input is via automated, menu driven spreadsheets. From within the spreadsheets users can define the dimensions of a forecast, as well as the types of vehicle technologies and the fuels they use. The AMFU Model can be run for one or many vehicle types (e.g., automobiles, light trucks, heavy trucks) simultaneously. The effort required to create the data tables required for a model run is substantial. 28 refs., 3 figs., 15 tabs.
Isolated mammalian metaphase chromosomes. I. General characteristics of nucleic acids and proteins

Abstract The metaphase chromosomes of tissue culture cells derived from four different mammalian species have been isolated in relatively large quantities at neutral pH and essentially free of nuclei and microscopically visible cytoplasmic debris. Some characteristics of the nucleic acids and proteins associated with these chromosome preparations are given below. The average chemical composition of the HeLa chromosome preparations is 16% DNA, 12% RNA and 72%, protein. Similar chemical compositions are reported for the chromosomes from Syrian and Chinese hamster cells and mouse L-cells. The DNA and RNA associated with the HeLa chromosomes have G + C contents of 41 and 63%, respectively. The DNA from the isolated metaphase chromosomes of the four cell types studied here exhibits the same density and very similar band profiles in CsCl density-gradient centrifugation as DNA extracted directly from the interphase nuclei of the respective cells. The satellite band of mouse L-cell DNA is present in chromosomal DNA in the same proportion as in DNA from interphase nuclei. More than 80% of the RNA associated with the HeLa chromosome preparations is 28 s and 16 s in the proportion of 2:1. At least 50% of the chromosomal protein is acid-soluble and shows an acrylamide gel electropherogram similar to that of acid-soluble proteins extracted from the nuclei of the respective cells.
General Stress Transcription Factor ςB and Sporulation Transcription Factor ςH Each Contribute to Survival of Bacillus subtilis under Extreme Growth Conditions

The general stress response of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis is controlled by the ςB transcription factor. Here we show that loss of ςB reduces stationary-phase viability 10-fold in either alkaline or acidic media and reduces cell yield in media containing ethanol. We further show that loss of the developmental transcription factor ςH also has a marked effect on stationary-phase viability under these conditions and that this effect is independent from the simple loss of sporulation ability.
Investment Risk and the Tax Benefit of Deferred Compensation

Deferred compensation is thought to generate significant tax savings compared to current compensation in certain circumstances. The standard model used to support this conclusion does not consider investment risk and therefore overstates the tax benefit of deferred compensation significantly. This paper describes three alternative, risk-neutral approaches to measuring the tax benefit of deferred compensation. Each of these approaches avoids misclassifying increases in expected value attributable to increases in investment risk as a tax preference.
Behavior of Modern Metallic Fuel in TREAT Transient Overpower Tests

Results and analyses of margin to cladding failure and prefailure axial expansion of metallic fuel are reported for Transient Reactor Test Facility in-pile transient overpower tests M2 through M7. ...
Investigating the Aerodynamic Effects of Flexible Membrane Wings

Numerous experiments have been performed on flexible membrane wings in the wind tunnel. These wings undergo significant shape deformation when submitted to aerodynamic loads. While the shape deformation is beneficial for gust suppression and load alleviation, the actual aerodynamic mechanics are not well understood. The aim of this paper is to explore the loads associated with flexible wings as a method to verify the use of computational methods used to develop micro air vehicles and improve general understanding. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in the wind-tunnel, pioneered by University of Florida, will capture the shape of the wing while under aerodynamic loads in the wind-tunnel as a sting balance records the lift and drag forces. The 3D model from the DIC can then be used to fabricate a mold using a CNC-machine and an experimentally-rigid wing can be fabricated. The same wind tunnel test will be repeated with the rigid wing to determine if the two wings are identical in aerodynamic performance for a given flight condition.
Temporal control of differentiation in the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract A mutant strain of Dictyostelium discoideum which develops at less than half the normal rate has been isolated and biochemically characterized. The kinetics of accumulation of four developmentally controlled enzymes have been measured in this strain as well as in the wild-type parental strain and a previously isolated mutant strain which proceeds through morphogenesis in about two-thirds the normal time. The results indicate that the sequence of biochemical differentiations is rigidly ordered and coordinated with the stages in cytodifferentiation. It is also clear that the absolute timing of the developmental program is subject to genetic control. The biochemical basis for integration of specific differentiations is discussed.
DNA distortion and specificity in a sequence-specific endonuclease.

Five new structures of the Q138F HincII enzyme bound to a total of three different DNA sequences and three different metal ions (Ca{sup 2+}, Mg{sup 2+}, and Mn{sup 2+}) are presented. While previous structures were produced from soaking Ca{sup 2+} into pre-formed Q138F HincII/DNA crystals, the new structures are derived from cocrystallization with Ca{sup 2+}, Mg{sup 2+}, or Mn{sup 2+}. The Mn{sup 2+} bound structure provides the first view of a product complex of Q138F HincII with cleaved DNA. Binding studies and a crystal structure show how Ca{sup 2+} allows trapping of a Q138F HincII complex with noncognate DNA in a catalytically incompetent conformation. Many Q138F HincII/DNA structures show asymmetry, despite the binding of a symmetric substrate by a symmetric enzyme. The various complexes are fit into a model describing the different conformations of the DNA bound enzyme, and show how DNA conformational energetics determine DNA cleavage rates by the Q138F HincII enzyme.
On interrelationships of the sciences and technology as expressed by a categorized list of journals and modified by a classification system

The interrelationships of the branches of the sciences and technology are analyzed by means of linkages derived from the listing of journals under more than one subject category in the list “Source Journals Arranged by Category” from the Science Citation Index®–1970. These subject categories are then grouped together on the basis of the Dewey Decimal Classification in order that the broader fields of science and technology might also be analyzed. Both the nature and the strength of the linkages are considered. It is concluded that both intuitively and in comparison with a previous paper on the subject in which the data was derived by means of citation analysis the findings are of sufficient validity and interest to warrant further investigation using a more precisely constructed subject category listing. Implications are seen for collection development and for collection organization and classification in libraries and other information centers concerned with the subject areas of science and technology.
Assessment of potential toxicity of Compound 1080 from livestock protection collars to canines and scavenging birds

Abstract The potential toxicity of Compound 1080 from livestock protection collars (LPCs) to canines and scavenger birds was studied. Dogs and magpies were allowed to scavenge on lamb parts contaminated by 1080 solution (10 mg active ingredient/ml H 2 O) from LPCs. Toxic potential was amplified by confining test animals with lamb heads and necks tainted by up to 60 ml of solution. Two of five dogs died, but none of 25 magpies were affected. One of three dogs that survived ingested residue, 0·008 mg/kg, from lamb flesh. One of two dogs that died also ingested residue, 0·002 mg/kg, from lamb flesh; the other ate contaminated wool. Dogs showed no muscle residue. Though exposure is unlikely, dogs eating contaminated wool probably would die, but those ingesting only flesh would not, because muscle residues are low; magpies appeared to be unaffected by either type of exposure. Our high scavenger survival in severe conditions was attributed to selective feeding on exposed flesh that contained low toxic residue. LPCs, when used as required to help manage coyote predation, present small risk to canines and little or no risk to avian scavengers.
Corporate real estate financing methods: A statistical study of corporations’ choices

This study examines the financing methods used by corporations to acquire real estate for their operations. It also examines the opinion of managers about the factors that they consider in choosing financing methods. The data were provided by a survey questionnaire that was sent to members of the International Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives. It was found that companies rely on internal financing (operating cash flows) and external financing such as long‐term leasing, joint ventures, property mortgages and sale/leaseback arrangements. The top‐ranked methods of finance include operating cash flows, property mortgages, leasing and sales/leasebacks. Use of real estate investment trusts, collateralised mortgage obligations and mortgage‐backed securities were the lowest‐ranked forms of financing. Managers tend to look at tax advantages of debt and availability of cash flows in deciding which financing methods to use, rather than theoretical corporate finance factors such as bankruptcy cost. There were significant differences in opinion by industry and by company size regarding the use of cash flows and the impact of debt financing on common stock prices.
A birthday holiday problem

A company hires employees without regard to their birth dates, and then gives all employees a holiday on the birthday anniversary of each employee. What is the number of employees that shoul be hired to obtain the maximum number of man-days during the year? It is shown that, for a year with g days, g >1, the number of employees to be hired should be either g −1 or g .
Metal piercing through the tongue and localized loss of attachment: a case report.

The piercing of intraoral structures to accommodate different types of jewelry has increased in popularity in the last few years. The association of an intraoral piercing with localized periodontitis is not well documented in the literature. A 22-year-old male presented to our clinic with a tongue stud placed through the mid-dorsum of his tongue. The inferior sphere was coated with plaque and calculus. Teeth #24 and #25 exhibited 6 mm interproximal probing depth and recession, horizontal radiographic bone loss, and tissue indentations consistent with the shape of the inferior ball of the tongue stud directly on the lingual surfaces of both teeth. The treatment consisted of an adult prophylaxis, flap curettage of the mandibular anterior region, oral hygiene instructions, and removal of the tongue stud. At our follow-up visit, the patient’s oral hygiene had improved, he has removed the jewelry, and the attachment loss appears to have stabilized. J Periodontol 2001;72:831-833.
Piaget: Implications for teaching

(1980). Piaget: Implications for teaching. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 19, Teaching Methods: Learning Applications, pp. 93-97.
The virtual oscillator as a guide to physics students lost in Plato's cave

Physics students might find it useful to study how elementary models have been deployed fruitfully in many different areas of research. The simple harmonic oscillator offers many excellent illustrations. The paper describes some of its uses in radiation theory from Planck's vibrator to Heisenberg's matrix mechanics. These uses suggest a few observations on the epistemological status of mechanical models and virtual constructions that students confused by the discontinuity between classical and quantum physics may find helpful. The work and opinions of Woldemar Voigt, a German theorist of the second magnitude who devoted considerable energy to oscillators and their epistemology, receive particular attention.
Comparison of Juvenile Alewife Growth and Movement in a Large and a Small Watershed

Abstract The freshwater behaviors of juvenile alewives Alosa pseudoharengus and the variables affecting their survival to recruitment are relatively unknown, even though recruitment to marine populations is critical to sustaining and restoring populations. Fish were collected in fall 2009 from a large watershed (the Hudson River, New York; N = 10) and a small watershed (the Peconic River, New York; N = 14), otolith chemistry was used to associate the fish to groups, and growth rates were compared both within and between rivers. Otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca were measured along growth transects, and significant changes in these values were determined. In many instances, changes in these values are associated with changes in daily otolith growth increments. More variation was observed in the Ba:Ca ratios and daily growth rates of Hudson River alewives, possibly because they had more available nursery habitats. While there was variation in otolith chemistry and daily growth within Peconic River fish, fewer otolith...
Iterative Convex Quadratic Approximation for Global Optimization in Protein Docking

An algorithm for finding an approximate global minimum of a funnel shaped function with many local minima is described. It is applied to compute the minimum energy docking position of a ligand with respect to a protein molecule. The method is based on the iterative use of a convex, general quadratic approximation that underestimates a set of local minima, where the error in the approximation is minimized in the L1 norm. The quadratic approximation is used to generate a reduced domain, which is assumed to contain the global minimum of the funnel shaped function. Additional local minima are computed in this reduced domain, and an improved approximation is computed. This process is iterated until a convergence tolerance is satisfied. The algorithm has been applied to find the global minimum of the energy function generated by the Docking Mesh Evaluator program. Results for three different protein docking examples are presented. Each of these energy functions has thousands of local minima. Convergence of the algorithm to an approximate global minimum is shown for all three examples.
Lead levels and ischemic heart disease in a prospective study of middle-aged and elderly men: the VA Normative Aging Study.

BackgroundLead exposure has been associated with higher blood pressure, hypertension, electrocardiogram abnormalities, and increased mortality from circulatory causes.ObjectiveWe assessed the assoc...
Developing country efficiency assessment by means of a comprehensive model based on data envelopment analysis

This paper introduces a comprehensive model aimed to assess the relative efficiency of developing countries. The model is based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) and considers only outputs as performance measures. The millennium development goals (MDGs), an initiative originated by the United Nations, are considered to define 13 performance measures that are used to evaluate the efficiency of 54 developing countries around the world. Inefficient countries are ranked by their inefficiency scores and efficient developing countries are ranked based on their super-efficiency scores, both of which are derived from the DEA model. Target performance measures are defined for the inefficient countries to provide insight to policy makers and the like.
Side onset influences motor impairments in Parkinson disease

In right-handers, the left hemisphere has greater ipsilateral control of the upper extremities than the right hemisphere. This asymmetry is not as profound among left-handers. We sought to determine whether Parkinson disease (PD) maintains this pattern of ipsilateral control and affects motor impairment. Using right- and left-hand sub-scores from the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), we calculated a lateralized impairment score to compare ipsilateral influence among four groups: right-handed-right-sided onset (RH-RSO), right-handed-left-sided onset (RH-LSO), left-handed-right-sided onset (LH-RSO), and left-handed-left-sided onset (LH-LSO). We hypothesized that right-handed patients with RSO (left hemisphere dysfunction) would have lower scores, hence more deficits in both hands, than the other groups. Among right-handers, the RSO patients (left dominant hemisphere dysfunction) had a significantly lower mean lateralized impairment score than LSO patients (micro = 2.09 versus micro = 4.06; p < 0.001). Further, RHRSO also had lower scores than both the LHLSO (micro = 4.52, p < 0.05) and LHRSO (micro = 4.27, p < 0.05) groups. The symmetry of impairments indicates deficits in both hands and supports more ipsilateral involvement of the affected left hemisphere in RH-RSO patients. Therefore, we suggest that PD does retain an asymmetric ipsilateral influence. The low numbers of left-handed subjects and the significant percentage of left-handers with a dominant left hemisphere prevented a clear interpretation of our findings in left-handed subjects.
ESI-MS compatible permanent coating of glass surfaces using poly(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkoxysilanes for capillary zone electrophoretic protein separations.

Thin poly(ethylene glycol) silane (PEG-silane) coatings formed from N-(triethoxysilyl propyl)-O-poly(ethylene oxide) urethane with different chain lengths of poly(ethylene glycol) (MW 750 and 4000−5000) are used to modify glass microfluidic channels and fused-silica capillaries for electrophoretic separations of proteins. These coatings combine three important properties, which make them favorable for proteomic analyses including reduction of protein adsorption, compatibility with mass spectrometry due to their stability, and the ability to control the magnitude of electroosmotic flow (EOF). The coatings have been successfully used in microfluidic chips and fused-silica capillaries for separation of protein sample mixtures under low EOF conditions. The long-chain and mixed PEG-silane coatings suppress electroosmotic flow by more than 90%, whereas the short-chain PEG silane suppresses EOF by 65−75% at pH values of 3−9. The long-chain and mixed PEG-silane coatings are suitable for low EOF applications or fo...
Techniques for Odor Measurement: Olfactometric vs. Sniffing

SUMMARY Two techniques of odor testing, olfactometrie vs. sniffing, were compared with propionic acid used for the test odor. The olfactometer was more rapid and reliable as a technique for odor testing. Subjects appeared more sensitive by the sniff-method, hut there were discrepancies in the data. The vapor phase above solutions of propionic acid in mineral oil was studied with propionic acid-l-C14. Evidence is presented for the existence of non ideal solutions. The significance of these data is discussed in terms of present techniques for odor testing, and their implications for future olfactory investigation.
Effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on survival of patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Abstract Controlled and uncontrolled hemodynamic and clinical studies have noted that the long-term treatment of patients with chronic heart failure with phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, such as amrinone, milrinone, enoximone and imazodan, may accelerate progression of the underlying disease and provoke serious ventricular arrhythmias. However, in an experimental model of chronic progressive left ventricular dysfunction, milrinone has been reported to reduce mortality to a degree comparable to that seen with the converting-enzyme inhibitors. These discordant observations suggest that either the deleterious hemodynamic and electrophysiologic effects of the PDE inhibitors are not translated into an adverse effect on mortality, or the animal model used to evaluate the effects of milrinone cannot be used to investigate the action of these drugs in human heart failure. Unfortunately, no trial has prospectively evaluated the effect of PDE inhibition on the survival of patients with heart failure. To address this need, the Prospective Randomized Milrinone Survival Evaluation (PROMISE Trial) has been launched in 75 to 90 clinical research centers in the United States and Canada. This study will enroll 750 patients with severe (class IV) heart failure, who have symptoms refractory to conventional therapy with digitalis, diuretics, converting-enzyme inhibitors and direct-acting vasodilators. Patients will be randomly assigned to additional treatment with either oral milrinone or placebo, and followed until death or to the conclusion of the study. The primary end point will be all-cause mortality, but the effect of milrinone on functional capacity will also be evaluated. The results of the study should define the place of PDE inhibitors in the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Comparisons of the acute effects of cholinesterase inhibitors using a neurobehavioral screening battery in rats

Abstract The clinical signs of intoxication produced by cholinesterase inhibitors, many of which are used as pesticides, are considered important information for regulatory purposes. We conducted acute studies of cholinesterase inhibitors to compare their effects as determined by a functional observational battery (FOB) and motor activity. The acute effects of two carbamates (carbaryl, aldicarb) and five organophosphates (OP) (chlorpyrifos, diazinon, parathion, fenthion, and diisopropyl fluorophosphate, or DFP) were evaluated on the day of dosing at the time of peak effect, at 1 and 3 days, and 1 week after dosing (oral gavage, in corn oil). A high dose was selected that produced clear cholinergic signs, and lower doses were chosen to produce a range of effects. Generally all cholinesterase inhibitors produced autonomic signs of cholinergic overstimulation (salivation, lacrimation, and miosis), hypothermia, mild tremors and mouthsmacking (chewing motions), lowered motor activity, decreased tail-pinch response, and altered neuromuscular function (gait changes and increased foot splay). The measures generally found to be most sensitive on the day of dosing were body temperature, motor activity, gait, and the presence of mouth-smacking and fine tremors. However, no single measure was the most sensitive across all compounds; for example, the lowest dose of fenthion decreased motor activity by 86% but did not alter the tail-pinch response, whereas the lowest dose of parathion did not lower activity but did decrease the tail-pinch response. For some measures, differences in the slopes of the dose-response curves were evident. Many effects were still observed at 24 h, but recovery was apparent for all compounds. Interestingly, residual effects at 72 h were obtained with the carbamates (carbaryl, aldicarb) as well as with the OP fenthion, but not with the other compounds. Thus, the overall clinical picture of toxicity was similar for these cholinesterase inhibitors, but compound-specific differences emerged in terms of the individual measures, dose-response, and time course.
Systems for Care of Hypertension in the United States

Control of hypertension in recent clinical trials varies from 48% to 65%. However, in community care of hypertension in the United States, estimates of control of hypertension are far lower. The United States has no single system of care; however, several care systems can be identified for comparison, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, managed care organizations, and the Indian Health Service. This review compares control of hypertension in certain centers in these systems with that achieved in clinical trials and in the community at large. Certain components of care systems are assessed for their contribution to the control of hypertension. The author concludes that for community control of hypertension to approach that achieved in clinical trials, the use of physician extenders, together with reduced or minimal cost of medication, improved education of providers with feedback, and computerization of management systems will be needed. In addition, specific interventions targeted to medically underserved groups will be required.