cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An electronic apparatus to measure the retinal-neural fading phenomena.

Summary.-Fading and regeneration of visual stimuli is a phenomenon which occurs under the condition of redundant visual stimulation in the human eye. By totally encompassing a subject's visual field with large sheets of colored cardboard, which provided an undifferentiated ground, it was found that the color spontaneously disappeared and reappeared. This evidence suggested that the cycle is a fundamental aspect of the visual process. The Retinal-Neural Fading Phenomena Device was developed using light-emitting diodes (LED) as the stimulus source. This allowed the quantitative measurement of the rate of fade and degree of satiation the eye undergoes under a redundant presentation equivalent to stabilized images. The rate and degree of satiation to redundant stimulation appears to correlate highly with a subject's reading efficiency. The data suggested that rapid and deep satiation was the favored outcome if one is to be free from reading or perceptual disorders. This leads to the speculation that rapid fade of afterimages of previously read symbols is required to prepare the visual system for new material. Conversely, the inabiliry to suppress afterimages may be a physiological factor in the "dyslexic syndrome." Interest in developing a measurement device ( RNFP-device) for the retinalneural fading phenomena originated from evaluating data by Pritchard ( 1971) which utilized stabilized images. Pritchard attached a target directly to the eye via contact lenses and performed a number of experiments with the resulting images on the retina. After a short period of exposure, the stabilized image begins to fade suddenly and after 3 to G sec. it may disappear altogether. Pritchard found that the simple straight line is apparently the basic unit of perception, and it is typically the whole line that fades independently or in association with others. These findings suggested to J. L. Albee that the printed alphabet of the English language would be highly susceptible to fading characteristics and thus offer a possible explanation of reversals of many letters such as b and d which are common elements in the dyslexic child syndrome. Albee (1976) hypothesized that an individual's reading disorder may be due to the fact that the image does not fade at a rate which enables the person to obtain a second image free of afterimage distortion left by the first image. This would suggest an ineffectual suppression system. Such suppression of the first seen image would seem to be necessary for a rational pattern of visual functioning ( Kennard, et d., 1970) .
Does upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) render the stomach more susceptible to damage

Nitric oxide from constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS) augments gastric mucosal blood flow and is important in mucosal defense. However, the function of the inducible isoform of NOS (iNOS) in the gastric mucosa remains to be fully elucidated. This study was done to examine the role of iNOS in gastric mucosal blood flow and gastric injury following endotoxemia. Conscious rats were given intraperitoneal saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 or 20 mg/kg). Five hours later, rats were anesthetized, a laparotomy made, gastric fluid aspirated, and 3 ml of 20% ethanol introduced into the forestomach. Rats were sacrificed 10 min later for assessment of macroscopic injury (mm2) to the gastric mucosa. Other rats did not receive 20% ethanol, but instead, gastric mucosal blood flow was determined with laser Doppler, followed by sacrifice and removal of stomachs for determination of gastric mucosal iNOS immunoreactivity (Western immunoblot). Lipopolysaccharide dose dependently increased gastric injury, decreased gastric mucosal blood flow, and increased gastric mucosal iNOS immunoreactivity compared to rats receiving saline. In additional experiments and using a similar protocol, intraperitoneal administration of aminoguanidine (45 mg/kg), an iNOS inhibitor, reversed lipopolysaccharide-induced gastric injury and restored gastric mucosal blood flow to baseline, whereas the nonselective NOS inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (5 mg/kg) did not. Taken together, these data suggest that upregulation of iNOS is in part responsible for the detrimental effects of LPS on the gastric mucosa, possibly from a reduction in gastric mucosal blood flow.
Gender-based differences in attitudes toward computers

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the attitudes of secondary school students towards computers. Approximately 1750 ninth and twelfth grade students from five different school districts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, participated in the survey. A significant sex difference in attitudes towards computers was observed. Although both males and females alike were aware of the value and benefits of computers in daily life, girls showed less interest in learning about and using computers. Male and female differences were mostly realized with respect to self-confidence in using computers. Girls reported fear of using computers and feeling helpless around computers. Nevertheless females strongly showed that women have equal competencies in computer use. The results also revealed a strong relationship between students' computer attitudes and their perception of their parents' attitude toward computers. The statistical analysis supported the hypothesis that the differences in attitude (interest, confidence and stereotyping) about computers among girls and boys are significant and reflect gender-role socialization.
Predicting Bed Scour on the Continental Shelf during Hurricane Andrew

A numerical sedimentation model, TRANS98, has been used to simulate storm sedimentation on Ship Shoal, a drowned barrier island on the Louisiana continental shelf. The model predicts that maximum sediment resuspension and transport occurs over a few tens of kilometers during the storm peak. Sediment transport is dominated by suspended load rather than bed load. The total resuspension and erosion depth is more than 0.02 m over Ship Shoal. A method of estimating the error in the computed wave-current shear stress is presented. The predicted shear stress during the storm peak is underpredicted by 9%. The error estimate increases to more than 16% overprediction after the eye made landfall. The error estimates suggest that the model-predicted sediment resuspension and potential transport patterns are reasonable.
Population dynamics of deer

Abstract We modelled a population of white-tailed deer and determined the optimal harvesting patterns. Since the deer naturallay fall into three distinct groups—fawns, does, and bucks—we used a three-dimensional system of difference equations to model the sizes of the three groups at yearly intervals. We include arbitrary harvesting terms in each equation which were to be chosen in order to maximize the total value of the harvest over a long period of time. We assumed that the mortality rates of each group were proportional to their sizes. The total yearly food supply remained constant. We used actual data to estimate realistic ranges on the parameters in the model. We defined the value function of the harvest as a weighted sum of the harvested deer and the live deer. We then used an iterative linear programming method to optimize this value function in order to determine an optimal harvesting pattern over a period of twenty years. Under normal conditions, we found that it is best to harvest mostly bucks, some does, and no fawns. We discovered that a “buck law”—a law which prohibits hunting anything but bucks—is not an optimal way of harvesting the deer. We examined the results for different values of the mortality parameters and found them to be the same. Therefore, our solution appears to be stable with respect to environmental conditions.
Spinning our way to Mars

Presents a collection of slides covering the following topics: human space flight, centrifuge, artificial gravity, and Mars exploration.
Negotiating Authority by Designing Individualized Grading Contracts

This qualitative study examined how authority was negotiated in an undergraduate teacher education course in which I, as the teacher of the course, involved students in establishing their obligations for the semester by designing individualized grading contracts. The findings suggest that seeking mutually satisfactory agreement, finding several solutions to the problems being negotiated, compromising based on principle rather than pressure, and deriving legitimacy from mutually recognized sources represent potential frameworks for negotiating authority in teacher education. Through modeling congruence with my personal, pedagogical, and professional beliefs, I helped reframe our underlying focus for the semester, reconfigure the intellectual atmosphere of the class, and reconstruct our working relationship, thereby accomplishing a reasonable and realistic level of change in our approach to grades while fostering a pedagogy of teacher education consistent with democratic aims. Such knowledge is important fo...
Nocturnal Sleep Recording with Cassette EEG in Chronic Headaches

SYNOPSIS Many headache patients complain of poor sleep, and sleep disturbance has been shown to play a role in chronic pain. We recorded nocturnal sleep with a 4-channel cassette EEG monitoring device in 10 common migraine patients, 10 individuals with muscle contraction (tension) headache, and 10 chronic tension-vascular headache sufferers. Migraine patients had essentially normal sleep, although rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and REM latency were increased. Patients with tension headache had reduced sleep time and sleep efficiency, decreased sleep latency but frequent awakenings, increased nocturnal movements, and marked reduction in slow wave sleep, without change in REM sleep or latency. Mixed-element headaches with both tension and vascular features were associated with reduced sleep, increased awakening, diminished slow wave sleep, and REM sleep that was decreased in amount and reduced in latency. The findings suggest that patients with intermittent migraine may have minimal sleep disturbance, while chronic headache may be worsened by chronically poor sleep. Muscle contraction headache may be associated with frequent awakenings and decreased slow wave sleep similar to the sleep changes of fibrositis, while chronic tension-vascular headache may have a depressive substrate. Four-channel sleep recording may miss contributory sleep apnea, but nonetheless cassette EEG may facilitate outpatient evaluation of refractory headaches.
What my genome told me--and what it didn't.

Well, it turns out I'm not descended from Genghis Khan. I'm sure that's as surprising to you as it is to me. I mean, according to what we hear from people who use genomics to track human migrations, a huge percentage of the human race is actually descended from Genghis Khan. But not me.
Hydration characteristics of monocalcium aluminate at a low water/solid ratio

Abstract The hydration characteristics of calcium monoaluminate were studied using an effective water/aluminate ratio of 0.15 at 20° or 80°C, from a few minutes of two months. The material hydrated at 80°C shows a large shrinkage while at the lower temperature a continuous expansion occurs. The product at 80°C shows a much higher strength than that hydrated at 20°C. The main initial hydration products are 2Ca0, Al 2 0 3 , 8H 2 0 and alumina gel. Microcracks are developed in the products hydrated at 20°C while at the higher temperature a very compact mass results. The data indicate that it is possible to obtain a durable high alumina cement by using a low water/cement ratio and hydrating at higher temperatures, and under these conditions C 3 AH 3 C 3 AH 6 bond is favoured.
Teacher discourse, peer relations, significant disability: unraveling one friendship story

Mainstream research in the education of students with significant disabilities, which seeks to improve the ways these students can participate successfully in general education settings, has established the importance of teachers and classroom contexts in mediating relations between students with significant disabilities and their peers in the classroom. However, there is still a gap in the literature regarding the ways in which teacher practice, particularly teacher discourse, shapes the identities of these students. Drawing on the data from a study that examined the participation of students with significant disabilities in inclusive settings, this paper presents a case study of the relations between Harry, a first‐grade student with significant disabilities, and a peer student, Andrea. The paper weaves several theoretical frameworks – disability studies, narrative theory, and sociocultural theory – to offer an interpretation that directs attention to the forms of teacher mediation available to peer stu...
Is the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation model valid for estimating the operative risk of patients considered for percutaneous aortic valve replacement

Objective The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation has been used to define a particularly high-risk group of patients for aortic valve replacement in whom alternative procedures, such as stent-mounted percutaneous valve procedures, may be appropriate. Our objective was to assess the validity of this risk assessment at a large-volume, tertiary cardiac surgical center. Methods From January 1, 2000, to December 30, 2006, a total of 1177 patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement at the Mayo Clinic. Patient and operative demographics were recorded in a prospective database. Early mortality (≤30 days) was obtained. Additive and logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluations were calculated for each patient. Results The mean patient age was 68.0 years (±14.7 years) at the time of surgery, and 36.8% were female. Variables used in the calculation of the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation included chronic lung disease (15% of our cohort), extracardiac arteriopathy (13.8%), neurologic dysfunction (0.2%), previous cardiac surgery (23.2%), renal failure (6.5%), active endocarditis (3.1%), recent myocardial infarction (1.1%), unstable angina (0.1%), and severe pulmonary hypertension (6.5%). The ejection fraction was severely reduced (≤30%) in 4.9% of patients and moderately reduced (≤50%) in 12.7% of patients. One percent of patients were in a critical state, and operation was performed urgently in 3.4% of patients. Although mean mortality estimates were 6.9% ± 3.4% (additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) and 10.9% ± 12.7% (logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation), actual overall operative mortality in our patients was 2.5%. Additive and logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluations overestimated operative mortality in low, intermediate, and high-risk subgroups by up to 17.8%. Conclusions The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation should not be used to determine the operability of patients for isolated aortic valve replacement. Elevated European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluations alone do not appropriately define a population for use of a percutaneous aortic valve.
What is professional attire today? A conjoint analysis of personal presentation attributes

Abstract Personal presentation attributes have long been understood to affect perceptions of competence and capabilities. To that end, this study investigates seven attributes associated with favorable interview presentation, including overall physical attractiveness, neatness and grooming, clothing color, conservative versus trendy attire, professional versus casual attire, and body modification (including tattoos and piercings). Participants ( n = 108), including students, faculty, and hospitality industry professionals, sorted an orthogonal array of 16 full-color, laminated cards that contained photos so that respondents could see levels of clothing color, clothing conservativeness, and degree of professional attire. The remaining attributes and their corresponding levels were shown on respective analog indicators. The conjoint analysis results indicate that grooming and professional attire are the most important attributes in shaping favorable perceptions. Furthermore, faculty perceived conservative clothing to be better while students and industry professionals indicated that trendy clothing creates a more favorable presentation on the part of a job candidate.
Playing Violent Video and Computer Games and Adolescent Self‐Concept

Adolescents are primary consumers of video and computer games, and the games they prefer are often violent. Related research suggests that exposure to media violence may affect attitudes and behavior. Self-concept is a key indicator of core attitudes and coping abilities, particularly in adolescents. This study documents current adolescent electronic game-playing habits, and explores associations among preference for violent games, frequency and location of play, and self-concept. Multivariate analyses identify marked gender differences in game-playing habits and in scores on the Harter Self-perception Profile for Adolescents. For girls, more time playing video or computer games is associated with lower Harter scores on six subscales, including self-esteem.
A study of the role of alkali metal salts as char gasification catalysts by Knudsen cell mass spectrometry

Abstract Knudsen cell mass spectrometry has been used to determine the gaseous species in thermodynamic equilibrium with admixtures of carbon and alkali metal salts. Both halides and carbonates were used as additives. In addition to measurements of equilibrium vapor pressures, the effect of added steam or carbon dioxide on the composition of the Knudsen cell effusate was examined. With the carbonates, the equilibrium pressure of the alkali metal over the solid phase is at least twice that of the decomposition pressure of the pure salt, but orders of magnitude below that appropriate to the carbothermic reduction of the carbonate. By way of contrast, the alkali halide-carbon admixtures exhibit no free metal vapor up to 1000 K, a temperature in the range employed for gasification. Apparently, the carbonates react with the carbon to form a stable phase with alkali metal activity substantially below unity. Inferences on the composition of such a phase and its role in promoting the carbon gasification rate are discussed.
Toward a social conflict evolution model: Examining the adverse power of conflictual social interaction in online learning

This case study examined an authentic online learning phenomenon where social conflict, including harsh critique and negative tone, weaved throughout peer-moderated online discussions in an online class. Opening coding and content analysis were performed on 1306 message units and course artifacts. The results revealed that a model of social conflict evolution, that is, social conflict within the learning community evolved through five general phases including cultural initiation, social harmonization cycle, escalation of conflict, intervention and stabilization, and adjourning. The results also suggested strong relationships between social and learning interactions during these five phases of social conflict development. This study has theoretical and practical implications for designing and managing learning activities in online classes.
The effects of reverse monocular deprivation in monkeys I. Psychophysical experiments

Monkeys had one eye closed at about 30 days of age for 14, 30, 60, or 90 days, then opened, and the fellow eye closed for another 120 days. The animals then had at least 10 months of binocular visual experience before behavioral training and testing were begun. All subjects were used in a series of psychophysical investigations during the next two years. The results of the behavioral studies indicated that the initially deprived eyes (IDE) of the two monkeys that were subjected to initial deprivation periods of 14 or 30 days recovered normal or nearnormal spatial contrast sensitivity. In contrast, the two animals which underwent longer periods of initial deprivation showed incomplete recovery, especially for high spatial frequency stimuli. All of the monkeys exhibited a reduction in spatial contrast sensitivity for their reverse deprived eyes (RDE); the earlier the onset of the reverse-deprivation procedures (i.e., the, shorter the initial period of deprivation), the greater the deficit in the RDE's spatial contrast sensitivity. Measurements of temporal contrast sensitivity showed that all of the subjects' IDEs had normal or near-normal sensitivity levels. However, the reverse-deprivation procedures initiated at 90 days of age or earlier produced a frequency dependent reduction in the RDE's temporal modulation sensitivity. The measures of increment-threshold spectral sensitivity revealed that only the RDE of the monkey that had the shortest initial deprivation period had an abnormal spectral sensitivity function. The results demonstrate that many of the severe behavioral deficits produced by early monocular form deprivation can be recovered via reverse deprivation procedures. However, depending upon the length of the initial deprivation period and the age at which the reversal procedure is initiated, the second deprivation period can also adversely affect the functional capacity of the RDE.
Effects of voluntary alcohol intake on risk preference and behavioral flexibility during rat adolescence.

Alcohol use is common in adolescence, with a large portion of intake occurring during episodes of binging. This pattern of alcohol consumption coincides with a critical period for neurocognitive development and may impact decision-making and reward processing. Prior studies have demonstrated alterations in adult decision-making following adolescent usage, but it remains to be seen if these alterations exist in adolescence, or are latent until adulthood. Here, using a translational model of voluntary binge alcohol consumption in adolescents, we assess the impact of alcohol intake on risk preference and behavioral flexibility during adolescence. During adolescence (postnatal day 30–50), rats were given 1-hour access to either a 10% alcohol gelatin mixture (EtOH) or a calorie equivalent gelatin (Control) at the onset of the dark cycle. EtOH consuming rats were classified as either High or Low consumers based on intake levels. Adolescent rats underwent behavioral testing once a day, with one group performing a risk preference task, and a second group performing a reversal-learning task during the 20-day period of gelatin access. EtOH-High rats showed increases in risk preference compared to Control rats, but not EtOH-Low animals. However, adolescent rats did a poor job of matching their behavior to optimize outcomes, suggesting that adolescents may adopt a response bias. In addition, adolescent ethanol exposure did not affect the animals' ability to flexibly adapt behavior to changing reward contingencies during reversal learning. These data support the view that adolescent alcohol consumption can have short-term detrimental effects on risk-taking when examined during adolescence, which does not seem to be attributable to an inability to flexibly encode reward contingencies on behavioral responses.
On the solution of the time-dependent convection-diffusion equation by the finite element method

Abstract A Petrov-Galerkin finite element method is presented for the time-dependent convection-diffusion equation. The scheme is based on bilinear time-space trial and quadratic in time-linear in space test functions, the latter being nonconforming. Second order in time and third order in space accuracy is obtained, and the schemes are free of numerical diffusion and disperson effects. Numerical results are presented which show excellent approximation properties.
The electroencephalogram in ACTH and cortisone treated patients.

Abstract 1. 1. In 40 courses of therapy (of 37 patients treated with ACTH or cortisone) EEGs were evaluated before and during treatment. 2. 2. The EEG was unchanged in 19 or 47.5 per cent and showed questionable improvement in nine or 22.5 per cent, for a total of 70 per cent. 3. 3. The EEG showed marked or definite improvement during treatment, in 7 of 12 patients in this series who had abnormal control electroencephalograms. Thus, 32.4 per cent of the patients had abnormal pre-treatment records and 58.7 per cent of these showed definite improvement. 4. 4. EEG abnormalities progressed or developed in only four of 37 patients, and in one, the abnormal changes were attributed to the progression of the disease process, and not the effect of the hormone. 5. 5. There was no specific EEG correlation with electrolyte changes and mental changes during the treatment. 6. 6. The occurrence of abnormal EEGs in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematousus and periarteritis nodosa is noted.
Effect of low-dose cortisol therapy on epinephrine excretion in man.

ABSTRACT Eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were studied before and after 3 months of treatment with 20 mg of cortisol per day. A significant decrease in the urinary excretions of epinephrine and catecholamines in response to insulin hypoglycemia was seen after therapy. Adrenal cortical function was suppressed by the exogenous cortisol as measured by 8:00 AM plasma cortisol and by cortisol response to hypoglycemia. These data support the concept that in man, as in animals, full activity of phenylethanolamine N methyl transferase requires high levels of corticosteroids bathing the adrenal medulla. Suppression of endogenous corticosteroid production decreases the activity of this epinephrine forming enzyme and thereby results in a decrease in epinephrine production and excretion.
Seismic response of secondary systems

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review and assessment of the state-of-the-art in the area of research on seismic response of secondary systems (structural and non-structural), which are anchored or attached to primary structural systems. Included are an appraisal of current engineering practice and design, an update of recent advances, and a discussion of possible future research direction.
Potential Vorticity, Easterly Waves, and Eastern Pacific Tropical Cyclogenesis

Abstract A significant sign reversal in the meridional potential vorticity gradient was found during the summer of 1991 on the 310-K isentropic surface (near 700 mb) over the Caribbean Sea. The Charney–Stern necessary condition for instability of the mean flow is met in this region. It is speculated that the sign reversal permits either invigoration of African waves or actual generation of easterly waves in the Caribbean. During the same season, a correlation existed between the strength of the negative potential vorticity gradient in the Caribbean and subsequent cyclogenesis in the eastern Pacific. The meridional PV gradient, convective heating measured by outgoing longwave radiation data, and eastern Pacific cyclogenesis all varied on the timescale of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). It is hypothesized that upstream wave growth in the dynamically unstable region provides the connection between the MJO (or any other convective forcing) and the associated enhanced downstream tropical cyclogenesis.
Radioiodination of adenovirus-associated virus external structural proteins.

Abstract The three structural polypeptides of adenovirus-associated virus type 3 (AAV-3) were examined to determine their orientation in the viral capsid. Sepharose-bound lactoperoxidase was used to label both dense-band and major-band AAV-3 virions. All three capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, and VP3) were found to be radioiodinated by solid-state lactoperoxidase in both dense-band and major-band virus particles. These findings indicate that the three polypeptides possess sequences that are externally oriented in the virion and that, therefore, no one of the three polypeptides can be considered an exclusively internal core protein.
Self-Consistent Model of Magnetospheric Ring Current and Propagating Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves: Waves in Multi-Ion Magnetosphere

The further development of a self-consistent theoretical model of interacting ring current ions and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves (Khazanov et al., 2003) is presented In order to adequately take into account wave propagation and refraction in a multi-ion magnetosphere, we explicitly include the ray tracing equations in our previous self-consistent model and use the general form of the wave kinetic equation. This is a major new feature of the present model and, to the best of our knowledge, the ray tracing equations for the first time are explicitly employed on a global magnetospheric scale in order to self-consistently simulate the spatial, temporal, and spectral evolution of the ring current and of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves To demonstrate the effects of EMIC wave propagation and refraction on the wave energy distribution and evolution, we simulate the May 1998 storm. The main findings of our simulation can be summarized as follows. First, owing to the density gradient at the plasmapause, the net wave refraction is suppressed, and He+-mode grows preferably at the plasmapause. This result is in total agreement with previous ray tracing studies and is very clearly found in presented B field spectrograms. Second, comparison of global wave distributions with the results from another ring current model (Kozyra et al., 1997) reveals that this new model provides more intense and more highly plasmapause-organized wave distributions during the May 1998 storm period Finally, it is found that He(+)-mode energy distributions are not Gaussian distributions and most important that wave energy can occupy not only the region of generation, i.e., the region of small wave normal angles, but all wave normal angles, including those to near 90 . The latter is extremely crucial for energy transfer to thermal plasmaspheric electrons by resonant Landau damping and subsequent downward heat transport and excitation of stable auroral red arcs.
249 Constitutive Interleukin-10 Expression Predicts the Risk for BPD in Prematurely Born Infants

Compared to full term, both the cellular ability to synthesize, and the content of IL-10 is decreased in the lungs of preterm infants. In this study, we determined the constitutive and LPS-induced synthesis of IL-10 by lung-derived cells from preterm and term infants and determined whether either of the two measurements is related to gestational age and incidence of BPD.
Purging the Frontier from our Mind: Crafting a New Fisheries Policy

American fishery policy is imprisoned by mental models that defeat coherence concerning the formulation of promising management futures. The idea of the frontier is at the core of current policy incoherence. Images—and specious accounts—of: (1) unowned fish; (2) IFQs/ITQs as property rights; (3) private ownership as necessary and sufficient for individuals (called owners) to suddenly become far-sighted stewards of nature; and (4) rights-based fisheries combine to defeat innovative thought about how to extricate ourselves from deep conceptual confusion. Until we purge the frontier—with its associated images—from our mind it will be difficult to undertake ecosystem management. More seriously, it will be impossible to rectify existing governance and management arrangements that are responsible for the degraded state of America’s fisheries.
Involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in peroxynitrite-mediated arachidonic acid release in vascular smooth muscle cells

Eicosanoid production is reduced when the nitric oxide (NO·) pathway is inhibited or when the inducible NO synthase gene is deleted, indicating that the NO· and arachidonic acid pathways are linked...
Mat formation and unstable flows of highly filled suspensions in capillaries and continuous processors

Suspensions, which are filled at loading levels approaching their maximum packing fractions, present special processing challenges. The flow and deformation behavior of such highly filled suspensions are dominated by strong slip effects. Furthermore, during pressure driven flows of these suspensions, the polymer matrix can filter out, giving rise to demixing and unstable flows. In this study, the capillary flow and extrusion of highly filled suspensions of ammonium sulfate and other salt fillers in a poly(butadiene acrylonitrile acrylic acid), PBAN matrix were investigated. The experimentally observed instabilities were elucidated in conjunction with a proposed mechanism, involving slip and filtration rates. This mechanism suggested greater affinity to unstable flows with relatively lower matrix shear viscosity, greater particle size of the filler, and greater convergence ratio; all of which were experimentally verified.
Creation and evolution of the hospice staff support group: Lessons from four long-term groups

The author summarizes the experiences of four long-term hospice staff support groups in which he served as facilitator. From these experiences he identifies what seem to be the key elements in the success or failure of a hospice staff support group, including its membership, the group contract, and the facilitator's leadership style. He outlines three developmental stages of the long-term staff support group: trust-building, individual support and team-focus. He suggests that the team focused group is ideally suited to deal with crucial staff and agency sources of worker stress.
Decreasing malathion application time for lice treatment reduces transdermal absorption.

Abstract Objective: Head lice are the most common parasitic infestation in the United States requiring topical treatment with pediculicides. Ovide ® , the 0.5% malathion formulation used in treatment of head lice requires placement on dry hair for 8–12 h. Malathion, however, is effective at killing lice and nits in 10 min. Our concern of over exposing children to malathion has led us to examine whether significantly more malathion will penetrate transdermally when applied for the recommended 8 h than for a shorter but apparently equally effective period. Methods: In vitro absorption studies were performed across haired rat skin and human abdominal skin to determine whether reducing malathion application time decreased skin absorption. Results: A 0.5 h exposure caused 0.36 ± 0.14% of the donor malathion to penetrate through human skin after 24 h and 2.1 ± 0.6% remained in the skin after washing with shampoo. After 8 h of topical applications penetration was approximately three-fold greater (1.02 ± 0.41) and 3.4 ± 0.5% remained in the skin ( p p Conclusions: Significantly less malathion penetrated from Ovide ® after 0.5 h versus the suggested 8 h application, without decreasing the product's efficacy. Further clinical studies in children are warranted to confirm the efficacy of this shortened application time.
Selectivity effects of a new aluminum species in strongly dealuminated USY containing FCC catalysts

We have hydrothermally prepared and characterized a catalytically active tetrahedral aluminum species in faujasite distinct from the normal framework aluminum. The new tetrahedral species is formed after a severe steam dealummation at 830°C and is characterized by a27A1 MASNMR shift of about 53 ppm compared to the 60 ppm shift observed for framework tetrahedral aluminum. DRIFTS experiments show that the 53 ppm species is associated with a Lewis rather than a protonic site. This species is associated with strong acidity and poor cracking selectivity compared to a conventional dealuminated faujasite at the same unit cell size. This site is very active and makes large amounts of gas and coke with poor gasoline selectivity compared to typical commercial FCC catalysts. After an appropriate sequence of hydrothermal dealumination and controlled pH washing steps, the 53 ppm species is the only species observed by NMR.
C19-steroid 5β-reductase and 3- and 17-oxidoreductases of adult male hamster kidney☆☆☆

Abstract Male hamster kidney cytosol exhibited strong 5β-reductase activity. Incubation of cytosol with [4- 14 C]-testosterone at pH 6.7 yielded 5β-DHT with minor quantities of 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol and 5β-androstane-3β,17β-diol. Incubation with [4- 14 C]-androstendione yielded 5β-androstanedione and smaller quantities of testosterone, 5β-DHT, 3α-hydroxy-5β-androstan-17-one, 3β-hydroxy-5β-androstan-17-one and 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol. The two major metabolites were progressively increased with increase in the concentration of the respective substrates but the other metabolites showed very little change. The metabolism of the respective substrates was progressively decreased with changes in pH of the incubation mixture from 6.0–7.5 accompanied by a parallel decrease in the formation of the respective major metabolites. NADPH was much more effective than NADH as coenzyme. The microsomes exhibited a trace of 5β-reductase activity only with NADPH and androstenedione. The kidney homogenate at pH 10.1 effectively converted [4- 14 C]-testosterone to [4- 14 C]-androstenedione. The dehydrogenase activity was present in the cytosol and microsomes. NAD + was more effective than NADP + in the cytosol and the reverse was indicated for the microsomes. Spectrophotometric assay revealed not only NADP + -linked Hβ-dehydrogenase activity but also a lower 3α-dehydrogenase activity but no detectable 3β- or 17α-dehydrogenase activity. NAD + -linked activity was not explored because of the interference by the very high endogenous NAD + -reduetase activity.
Web Site Design: Building a Cognitive Framework

Usability is rapidly becoming recognized as a crucial element in Web design. Usability addresses the question: How easy is a system for visitors to learn, to use and to remember? Usability impacts the quality of the userâ€™s experience. How, then, does an organization contemplating an online presence choose design elements and a composition that facilitate usability thus encouraging visitors to enter a Web site as well as become repeat visitors? Cognitive psychology offers one perspective that may provide some guidance for site design based upon how individuals process information. The research presented in this paper addresses the question: What factors, if used in site design, will encourage surfers to enter a Web site? Through the development of the Web Site Preference Framework, the authors provide evidence that by making a Web site conducive to information processing preferences, Web pages can be designed that will facilitate viewers entering the site.
Angela: A Child-Woman

A life study is presented of a twelve year old girl from a poor urban community whose mother has been sent to prison. The study examines the changes in the child's reactions to and relationship with her mother during the two years her mother is incarcerated. Using the child's own words, one is able to trace the themes of abandonment, loss, care, anger, intense love, ambivalence, and the difficulty of loving oneself and feeling proud of one's accomplishments when one's mother is in prison. The study raises the fundamental questions of what is happening to the children of women prisoners, and what are the rights of these children who must find new and temporary homes and deal with a new set of issues with their schools and fellow students. For not only is the mother stigmatized in these instances, but the child is as well.
Elevated carbon dioxide and ozone have weak, idiosyncratic effects on herbivorous forest insect abundance, species richness, and community composition

Elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide and tropospheric ozone pose important threats to the abundance, diversity, and composition of forest arthropod communities. In turn, modification of arthropod communities may alter forest health, productivity, and ecosystem services. We studied the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO2 (eCO2) and elevated O3 (eO3) on the abundance, species richness, and community composition of herbivorous arthropods in stands of trembling aspen and paper birch at the Aspen Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) site in northern Wisconsin, USA. We conducted timed, visual surveys of canopy arthropods during each of the summers of 2005, 2006, and 2007. We examined 26 983 arthropods on aspen and 8344 arthropods on birch across the fumigation treatments. Elevated CO2 and eO3 had species-specific and temporally variable (i.e. idiosyncratic) effects on aspen and birch arthropod abundance and species richness. Weak, idiosyncratic effects of eCO2 and eO3 on herbivorous arthropod abundance and species richness did not significantly alter aspen arthropod community composition but occasionally altered birch insect community composition. Few interactive effects of CO2 and O3 were observed. Growing evidence suggests that the effects of eCO2 and eO3 on communities of insects are difficult to predict because responses are generally weak and species- and time-specific. Although studies to date suggest that impacts of future atmospheres on insect community metrics are likely to be minimal, the possibility remains that effects on particularly important or susceptible species may cascade to alter trophic interactions and, ultimately, ecosystem processes.
Porous phosphorescent coordination polymers for oxygen sensing.

Phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium tris(2-phenylpyridine) derivatives were designed and incorporated into coordination polymers as tricarboxylate bridging ligands. Three different crystalline coordination polymers were synthesized using a solvothermal technique and were characterized using a variety of methods, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, TGA, IR spectroscopy, gas adsorption measurements, and luminescence measurements. The coordination polymer built from Ir[3-(2-pyridyl)benzoate]3, 1, was found to be highly porous with a nitrogen BET surface area of 764 m2/g, whereas the coordination polymers built from Ir[4-(2-pyridyl)benzoate]3, 2 and 3, were nonporous. The 3MLCT phosphorescence of each of the three coordination polymers was quenched in the presence of O2. However, only 1 showed quick and reversible luminescence quenching by oxygen, whereas 2 and 3 exhibited gradual and irreversible luminescence quenching by oxygen. The high permanent porosity of 1 allows for rapid diffusion of ...
Aminergic Innervation of the Cranial and Caudal Neurosecretory Systems in the Teleost Gillichthys mirabilis

Numerous fluorescent varicosities surround most of the caudal neurosecretory neurons and also regularly occur among pars intermedia cells of the adenohypophysis in the teleost, Gillichthys mirabilis. The color of the varicosities, as well as their responses to pharmacological treatments, is diagnostic of catecholaminergic neurons and processes. No fluorescence characteristic of monamines is found in the rostral pars distalis, in the proximal pars distalis or in the cells of the nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT), although fluorescent varicosities are found within the ventral hypothalamus in the vicinity of the NLT. Bilateral clusters of fluorescent cell bodies are located in the ventral hypothalamus (posterior to the NLT); some of these cells border the neurohypophysis. Fluorescent tracts from these cell clusters extend to a pair of elongate nuclei of nonfluorescent neurons which are surrounded by fluorescent varicosities. Alteration of osmotic conditions did not effect the fluorescence, except for the caudal neurosecretory cells of fish exposed to fresh water for long periods. Adrenergic nervous input thus seems to be an important component of both the cranial and caudal neurosecretory systems.
Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery for the management of incidentally-identified brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer

Initial staging workup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has led to increased identification of incidental brain metastases in patients who otherwise have minimal or no neurologic symptoms. We present our experience treating these metastases with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone and compare outcomes to those of patients with brain metastases treated with other strategies. We queried our neuro-oncology and radiation oncology databases for patients with incidentally-identified NSCLC brain metastases treated with upfront SRS alone between 1997 and 2006. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate outcomes in these patients. We found 26 patients with incidentally-identified NSCLC brain metastases (KPS 90–100) treated with SRS alone within 60 days of diagnosis of the metastases. These patients underwent SRS at a median 15 days from diagnosis to an average of 1.6 lesions (range: 1–7), with a mean lesion volume of 1.86 cm3. The median prescription was 24 Gy delivered to the median 53% isodose line. The median survival for these patients was 8.2 months (mean 12.3 months) from diagnosis of brain metastases. Local CNS progression occurred in 2 patients (7.7%, mean 229.7 days). Survival was not statistically different from similar patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) (P = 0.98), WBRT + Surgery (P = 0.07) or WBRT + SRS (P = 0.62). Patients with incidentally-identified NSCLC brain metastases treated with SRS alone may achieve a survival rate comparable to patients managed with other standard therapeutic modalities. Our findings suggest that SRS alone may be a viable therapeutic option for patients with incidentally-discovered NSCLC brain metastases.
Mechanical Property Characterization of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Wood-Polypropylene Composite Panels Manufactured Using a Double Belt Pressing Technology

AbstractA novel manufacturing process for wood-polypropylene composite (WPC) panels reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets was implemented using a double belt pressing technology. FRP sheets were placed on both sides of the WPC agglomerates during fabrication, which resulted in increased productivity and reduced thermal stresses compared with secondary bonding processes. Significant improvements in the mechanical properties of the FRP reinforced sheet panels were found during flexural and tensile tests on the coupon level. Even with addition of only one layer of FRP reinforcement on both sides of a WPC panel, the flexural modulus and strength increased by a factor of 2.6 and 3.8, respectively. Furthermore, the flexural and tensile properties of the WPC material considered in this study were found to be superior compared with the properties of an extruded WPC material. The changes in the flexural modulus of the FRP reinforced WPC panels with respect to the number of FRP layers were predicted...
Safety and efficacy of intravenous contrast imaging in pediatric echocardiography.

This study was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of intravenous contrast echocardiography in children attending a tertiary cardiac center. This was a prospective study to evaluate the use of Optison contrast agent in children with severely limited transthoracic echocardiographic windows. Twenty children (median age, 15 years; range, 9–18) underwent fundamental imaging (FI), harmonic imaging (HI), and HI with intravenous contrast (Optison FS-069). Endocardial border delineation was determined based on a visual qualitative scoring system (0, none: 4, excellent). Endocardial border definition was significantly improved in all patients using contrast echocardiography (FI vs Optison, p < 0.001 for each). Improved border definition was most dramatic in the apical and left ventricular (LV) free wall regions. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measurable in 20 patients (100%) using contrast compared to 11 (55%) with FI or HI (p < 0.05). The echocardiographic diagnosis was correctly delineated in 1 patient with a severely dyskinetic LV segment only with use of intravenous contrast and HI. No patients suffered adverse hemodynamic effects, changes in taste, or flushing episodes. Three patients experienced transient headaches. Intravenous contrast echocardiography offers an additional tool in evaluating children with very poor transthoracic echocardiographic windows. Such a strategy increases diagnostic accuracy and allows accurate LVEF determination. Adverse hemodynamic effects related to intravenous contrast are exceedingly rare.