cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Compassionate Utilitarian: Reconciling the Competing Moral Values Behind Efforts to Regulate Cannabis Use

Arguments about whether or not to legalize and regulate the sale, possession, and use of cannabis for recreation can be framed as ethical debates. Typically, for example, an argument based on the four principles of biomedical ethics might note that this policy debate pits individual autonomy rights against the harms associated with increasing social acceptance of using cannabis. But these debates tend to rapidly devolve to arguments about data; what exactly are the benefits and harms associated with legalization? This makes it seem that people on either side of the legalization debate are mostly concerned about tangible benefits and harms associated with legalization. Yet, I argue, the legalization debate is actually a variation of long-running debates about harm reduction strategies in public health, which are about deeper concerns that won’t be resolved with more data. An alternative strategy for more productive ethical discussion is proposed.
The role of interleukin-1 in energy balance

During infection, inflammation, or trauma, many phagocytic cells release interleukin-l, a protein responsible for initiating dozens of physiologic, metabolic and immunologic actions. Many of these have profound effects on energy balance. Fever, particularly during the “chill phase”, results in an increase in energy expenditure. The degradation of muscle protein and of bone, coupled with the synthesis of acute-phase proteins and the proliferation of lymphocytes, fibroblasts and other cells, would result in further increases in metabolism. The loss of food appetite would decrease energy input; the increase in lethargy (perhaps caused by headache and myalgia) and in sleep would decrease loss of energy. It is probable that these changes in energy balance represent a coordinated response of the organism to mobilize its host defense and immune responses. The concomitant decrease in appetite, coupled with headache, myalgia and increased sleep would decrease the amount of time spent foraging for food or engaging in other activity this would have the added benefit of decreasing the likelihood of predation when the host is particularly vulnerable.
Passive Microwave Remote Sensing for Land Applications

Land applications, in particular soil moisture retrieval, have been ham- pered by the lack of low frequency passive microwave observations and the coarse spatial resolution of existing sensors. The next decade could see several improved operational and exploratory missions using new technologies as well as innovative disaggregation and data fusion approaches that could lead the way to an order of magnitude improvement in spatial resolution.
Socrates, the Athenian

The speech Socrates gives in the Crito, in the voice of the Laws of Athens, although it claims that an Athenian citizen owes absolute obedience to its laws, does not articulate Socrates’ full and considered judgment about his moral obligation to act in accordance with Athenian law. Rather, the speech articulates Socrates’ conception of his legal obligation, an obligation that is, in the broader context of the argument in the Crito,, carefully subordinated to his broader moral obligations. Thus, the otherwise curious feature of Socrates speaking as the Laws of Athens is explained. The Laws are made to describe their understanding of a citizen’s commitment, an understanding that Socrates endorses as such in speaking for them. Nevertheless, just as any other commitment or agreement in Socrates’ view, this one should only be kept as long as doing so does not require doing injustice, a principle enunciated immediately before the speech of the Laws. Since this is not a situation in which Socrates is ordered to do anything unjust, he is bound to obey.
Manganese Decreases Glutamate Uptake in Cultured Astrocytes

Recent data have shown an accumulation of manganese in the basal ganglia in patients with chronic hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Astrocytes and ammonia are critically involved in the pathogenesis of HE, and we have recently demonstrated that ammonia decreases glutamate uptake in cultured astrocytes. Since failure by astrocytes to take up glutamate may represent an important pathogenetic mechanism in HE, we, therefore, examined the effect of manganese on glutamate transport in these cells. Treatment of cultured astrocytes with 100 microM manganese for 2 days resulted in a 54% decrease in the uptake of D-aspartate, a nonmetabolizable analogue of glutamate. Kinetic analysis revealed a 28% decline in Vmax, with no change in the K(m). Treatment of cultures with 5 mM NH4 Cl inhibited D-aspartate uptake by 21%, and a combination of 5 mM NH4Cl with 100 microM manganese produced an additive effect on uptake inhibition. These results suggest a pathogenetic role for manganese in HE, possibly involving glutamate transport.
Some Remarks on Complex Crowns of Riemannian Symmetric Spaces

We discuss several results and problems in which complex geometric constructions appear in the geometry of real pseudo Riemannian symmetric spaces in connection with analysis on such spaces.
Biologic and Psychosocial Determinants in the Etiology of Alcoholism

General systems theory provides a conceptual framework for clarifying the multifactorial etiology and consequences of alcoholism. Existing in a common space—time continuum, a system is comprised of units with measurable relationships. In living systems, particles, atoms, and molecules, for example, are subsystems of the larger entities of cells, organs, and organisms of which they are comprised. The individual, his family, the community, and society also constitute systems that influence the individual’s functioning and behavior.
Emigration: Consequences for Social Structure in the Sending Population

Social science interest in emigration has traditionally focused on the flow of emigrants into immigrant-receiving societies and their subsequent integration. Recent approaches to emigration recognize the importance of return flows of information, financial resources, and emigrants themselves. These return flows are increasingly important given the development and expansion of international communication and transportation networks. This article addresses the consequences in sending populations of both emigrant outflows as well as the return flows that emigration generates. The consequences are divided into three broad groupings: demographic, economic, and social. Emigration affects long-run population size in the sending population through the loss of the emigrant's descendants, high rates of nonmarriage due to sex imbalance, and the disruption of marital fertility among temporary labor emigrants. The economic consequences of emigration stem primarily from the loss of workers in sending country labor markets, and the flow of remittances. The social consequences of emigration include changes in women's roles (when temporary labor emigration is selective of men), family instability, and the diffusion of new ideas, behaviors, and life-styles.
Professionalism in medicine: definitions and considerations for teaching

(2007). Professionalism in Medicine: Definitions and Considerations for Teaching. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 13-16.
Early versus late initiation of renal replacement therapy in patients with acute kidney injury: a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

Aims of the study The optimal timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation in acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a matter of debate. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to better estimate the effects of early initiation of RRT compared with late initiation of RRT among patients with AKI and in patients at risk for AKI. Methods A Medline literature research was conducted in PubMed for RCTs in adult patients with AKI that compared different RRT initiation strategies (early vs late). The meta-analysis outcomes were in-hospital or ≤60 day mortality, and renal recovery. Results Nine trials meeting inclusion criteria and four trials investigating preventive dialysis in patients at risk for AKI were identified. Early initiation of RRT was not associated with reduced in-hospital or 60-day mortality: risk ratio (RR) 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-1.16, p = 0.46, I2 = 49%). When only the four trials that offered RRT within 6 to 12 hours of eligibility were included in the analysis, the results were similar (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.82-1.06) without significant heterogeneity. The percentage of patients among survivors who recovered enough kidney function to be off dialysis was similar with early compared with late RRT: RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.06, p = 0.16. Early initiation of RRT was associated with higher incidence of catheter-related infections: RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.03-3.21, p = 0.04. No survival benefit was identified in patients undergoing preventive dialysis: RR 0.85 (95% CI 0.52-1.41, p = 0.54). Conclusions Early RRT in patients with AKI (or at risk for AKI) does not appear to provide a significant reduction in mortality rates compared with late RRT. The data did not suggest any apparent impact on renal recovery with early dialysis.
Reliability of Measures of N1 Peak Amplitude of the Compound Action Potential in Younger and Older Adults.

Purpose Human auditory nerve (AN) activity estimated from the amplitude of the first prominent negative peak (N1) of the compound action potential (CAP) is typically quantified using either a peak-...
A Versatile Controller Concept for Mobile Gaming

Popular games for smartphones and tablets focus on touchscreen-based interaction. Here we describe a speculative research exploration motivated by the desire to enable traditional gaming experiences on mobile devices by incorporating tactile input controls. The design and ergonomics of our prototype accessory concept were informed by anecdotal feedback from a variety of gamers.
Can microtubule motors use every available track

Flagellar assembly and function depend on cargo traveling via motors on microtubule doublets. Bertiaux, Mallet et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201805030) find that only a subset of available doublets are used for this transport in trypanosomes, leading to questions about how and why this is achieved.
Image Content Identification from CNNs with Sparse Sampling

Object detection and classification is a key function for many systems in which input images are examined to find objects and determine their classification and position. Current deep learning networks using CNN perform well when the network is adequately defined in terms of hyper-parameters, and there are sufficient training examples of each of the classification types. We define an approach for extracting sufficient sample data from an image without requiring full frame data set. We demonstrate that sample sparsity with guided object definition can reduce overall sample data requirements while maintaining object classification accuracy.
The Planet of the Apes: The Fable of the Hundredth Monkey in Anti-Nuclear Discourse.

This essay examines a fable current in the discourse of the nuclear freeze movement in the 1980's, that of the “Hundredth Monkey,” and shows through the analysis that Aristotle's classification of ...
Comparison of halogen with proton transfer. Symmetric and asymmetric systems

Abstract The transfer of the halogen atom X within (A..X..A)+ systems was calculated for A = NH3, OH2, and CH3, and where X = Cl, Br, and I. These potentials are similar to those computed for equivalent proton transfers. Each contains a single symmetric well for short R(A..A) distances. As R is stretched a second minimum appears, separated from the first by a transfer barrier E† which climbs quickly as R is elongated. The central X prefers association with the N in asymmetric systems (H3NX..OH2)+, but a second (H3N..XOH2)+ minimum, albeit less stable than the first, can appear if R(N.. O) is stretched.
Expertise in University Teaching & the Implications for Teaching Effectiveness, Evaluation & Training

Universities face the challenge of how to teach students more complex thinking and problem-solving skills than were widely needed in the past, and how to teach these to a much larger and more diver...
Discontinuation of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Abstract Objective To assess the patterns of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ACE-I/ARB) discontinuation in the setting of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in real-world clinical practice. Patients and Methods We identified incident ACE-I/ARB users with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m2 and without end-stage renal disease in the Geisinger Health System between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015. We investigated the associations of CKD stage, hospitalizations with and without acute kidney injury (AKI), serum potassium, bicarbonate level, thiazide, and loop diuretic use with ACE-I/ARB discontinuation. Results Among the 53,912 ACE-I/ARB users, the mean age was 59.9 years, and 50.6% were female. More than half of users discontinued ACE-I/ARB within 5 years of therapy initiation. The risk of ACE-I/ARB discontinuation increased with more advanced CKD stage. For example, patients who initiated ACE-I/ARB with CKD stage G4 (eGFR: 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m2) were 2.09-fold (95% CI, 1.87-2.34) more likely to discontinue therapy than those with eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Potassium level greater than 5.3 mEq/L, systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mm Hg, bicarbonate level Conclusion In a real-world cohort, discontinuation of ACE-I/ARB was common, particularly in patients with lower eGFR. Hyperkalemia, hypotension, low bicarbonate level, and hospitalization (AKI-related, in particular) were associated with a higher risk of ACE-I/ARB discontinuation. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the risk–benefit balance of discontinuing ACE-I/ARB in the setting of CKD progression.
Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch and Criminal Justice: Noteworthy Opinions

Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch authored many significant opinions concerning criminal justice during her distinguished career on the Former Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals. This article summarizes the most noteworthy opinions.
Title VII Liability vs. Employee Confidentiality: Should an Employer Be Liable for Failure to Act on a Sexual Harassment Claim When the Failure is Based on Harassee's Request for Confidentiality?

What happens when an employee wishes to report a sexual harassment claim but wants the employer to keep it confidential? Thankfully, the court sided with the employer.
Earnin’ Your Raising: An Autoethnographic Remembrance of Mother–Daughter Stories and Reflections on Parenting:

Mothers of daughters approaching adolescence often find themselves navigating the complexities of encouraging independence while maintaining open, healthy communication. Grappling with this dynamic...
Conclusion: Climate Change and the Future of Humanity

“Climate Change and the Future of Humanity” concludes the book by putting modern energy (volts or E) at the heart of a story about human liberation. Like E, we too can experience a shape-shifting, transgressive “morphological freedom.” Energy can blast us off from humanism to transhumanism. The chapter imagines a conversation between the orthodox and heterodox voices. At issue is whether we are progressing or running faster and faster to stay in the same place. The chapter ends with brief remarks about the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.
Symptom-related patient-provider communication among women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women being treated for breast cancer discussed their symptoms during the week prior to a clinic visit. Method Women reported the severity of 11 symptoms (0–10 scale) daily using an automated patient-reported outcomes system. Clinic visits were audio recorded, and symptom discussions were coded. Moderate to severe symptoms reported in the week prior to the visit were compared to the symptoms discussed at the visit. Results Twenty-six clinic visits of 10 women (mean age, 51.6 years; half had advanced disease) were recorded. In the week prior to their visits, participants provided 183 reports of moderate to severe symptoms. Reported symptoms were discussed at 49.5% of visits, with 36% of discussions initiated by patients. These discussions were more likely to include assessment and normalizing and were less focused on intensifying symptom management. Symptom discussions were more likely with younger women and the time spent discussing symptoms decreased over subsequent visits for all women. Conclusions Women who are symptomatic during treatment are not systematically queried about their symptoms, nor are women effectively reporting their symptoms. Attention should be directed at eliciting symptoms from older women; symptoms should be discussed throughout the duration of chemotherapy.
Ultrafast physical sputtering of GaN by electrosprayed nanodroplet beams

Abstract GaN is a wide-bandgap semiconductor used for light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, UV detectors, power electronics, and microelectromechanic devices. Etching is a key step in the fabrication of these devices, but it is difficult and slow due to the chemical stability and the strong interatomic bonds that make GaN a superior material over the industry-standard Si. Reactive ion etching by high density plasmas, with a maximum etching rate of 1300 nm/min, is the process of choice for GaN. This letter presents a novel and faster etching method based on the bombardment by electrosprayed nanodroplets. The energetic impact of these projectiles ejects atoms by physical sputtering and, under the non-optimized beams conditions employed in our research, demonstrates etching rates on GaN as high as 1745 nm/min and sputtering yields in excess of 25 atoms per projectile’s molecule.
Optimality and Efficiency in Auctions Design: A Survey

Efficiency and optimality are the two primary and generally conflicting goals in any auction design: the former focuses on the social welfare of the whole seller–bidder system, whereas the latter emphasizes revenue-maximizing on the seller side. In this chapter, we review the auctions design problem based on these two aspects in various information structures and circumstances. The most recent results are collected and analyzed. This chapter tends to complement the survey, Auction Theory: A Guide to the Literature, by Klemperer [58] in 1999. The main objective of this chapter is to provide a thorough survey on the current auctions design literature and to synthesize the developed theories underlying traditional auctions with the new elements and phenomena from the emerging and rapidly growing areas, such as
Optimal power allocation for relay assisted F/TDMA ad hoc networks

In this paper, we study the power allocation problem at the relay nodes for two-hop F/TDMA networks with multiple sources and destinations. Considering the sum capacity as the performance metric, we solve the problem of optimally allocating the total power of each relay node between the transmissions it is assisting. We consider regenerative decode-and-forward (RDF), nonregenerative decode-and-forward (NDF), amplify-and-forward (AF) and compress-and-forward (CF) at the relay nodes. We observe that the optimum power allocation for the RDF and NDF cases are modified water-filling solutions. In RDF, the optimum power allocation considers both the direct links of the users and the relay to destination links, whereas the optimal power allocation for the NDF relaying considers only the relay to destination links. We also observe that relay nodes employing AF or CF may provide higher sum capacities than relay nodes employing DF techniques when sufficient power is available at the relay nodes. Motivated by the optimum power allocation identified for each case, we provide insights to relay selection strategies for relay assisted F/TDMA networks.
Markets, Democracy and Economic Justice in the Age of Postmodernism : Fictions, "Factions", or Frictions?

This paper starts with an initial gesture accepting the validity of many of the criticisms of modernity by some leading postmodern thinkers.From this initial position, it then evalutess the postmodernist positions themselves with regards to democracy and justice by paying careful attention to the arguments of these leading postmodernists Following this procedure, Lyotard's characterization of the discourse on morality and justice as phrase-regimes can be shown to lead to an ethical impasse. His appeal to the Kantian sublime, in this context, would seem to be a category mistake. The aesthetic category of sublime does not fit the requirements of moral judgments even in Kantian terms. Epistemologically, the postmodern dilemma arises from a correct critique of metaphysics and transcendentalism. However, the critique is partial and negative. It is partial in the sense that it does not take the challenge of Kant to develop normativity seriously enough to explore alternatives as Hegel did. It, therefore, pursues entirely the negative critical path leading to thoroughgoing skepticism and nihilism.Derrida's belated attempts to rescue philosophy from a linguistic nihilism may succeed. But it still falls far short of offering a positive account of normativity. This paper offere as an alternative to natural law and transcendental norms an approach based on Hegel's explorations in dialectics. Following this alternative offers a way of exploring democracy and economic justice. A concrete set of institutions consistent with the development of self-determination can be seen as necessary for the idea of economic justice to have meaning. In the spheres of production, distribution, exchange, law and contracts among others, the development of appropriate economic and political institutions allowing this inter-subjective idea of freedom to unfold becomes the thematic development of economic justice.At the microlevel, by carefully considering poststructuralist psychoanalytical theory of Lacan and others a dynamically oriented approach to the question of the subject becomes possible. Pre-Freudian thinkers such as Hegel or Marx did not see the formation of the individual in all its deeply problematic aspects.A continuum of subjectivity ending with the fully liberated individual offers various possible levels of moral agency. In an economically and socially unjust setting radical analytic and social interventions will be necessary for these possibilities to materialize.
Thoughts on a Larch/ML and a New Application for LP

We describe a preliminary design for a Larch interface language for the programming language ML. [Since this design covers only a subset of Standard ML, we will refer to our interface language as Larch/ML rather than Larch/SML.] ML''s support for higher-order functions suggests a need to go beyond the first-order logical foundations of Larch languages. We also propose a new application, "specification matching", for the Larch Prover, which could benefit from extending LP to handle full first-order logic. This paper describes on-going work and suggests a number of open problems related to Larch/ML and to LP as used for specification matching. We assume rudimentary knowledge of Larch, its languages and two-tiered approach.
Is cross-national and comparative research on the criminal justice system useful?

Comparative and cross-national research on the criminal justice system is burgeoning. Case studies of institutions and systems in individual countries are proliferating, as are theoretical and quan...
Finding improved simulated annealing schedules with genetic programming

Many combinatorial problems are too difficult to be solved optimally, and hence heuristics are used to obtain "good" solutions in "reasonable" time. A heuristic that has been successfully applied to a variety of problems is simulated annealing. However, the performance of simulated annealing strongly depends on the appropriate choice of a key parameter, the annealing schedule. Usually, researchers experiment with a number of manually created annealing schedules and then choose the one that performs best for their algorithms. This work applies genetic programming to replace this manual search. For a given problem, we search for an optimal annealing schedule. We demonstrate the potential of this new approach by optimizing the annealing schedule for one of the hardest combinatorial optimization problem, the quadratic assignment problem. We introduce a new algorithm for solving the quadratic assignment problem that performs extremely well, and we outline properties of good annealing schedules. >
Neurovascular Coupling in the Rat Somatosensory Cortex: A Non-Invasive Diffuse Optical Imaging and Electroencephalography Study

In this work we investigated the relationship between electrical and hemodynamic responses relating to neuronal activation. To this aim diffuse optical imaging and electroencephalography were recorded simultaneously and noninvasively on rats during parametric forepaw stimulation.
Determination of the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in llamas.

Objective— To determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane (ISO) in llamas. Study Design— Prospective study. Animals— Eight adult neutered male llamas (9 ± 1 years [x± SD], 177 ± 29 kg). Methods— Anesthesia was induced and maintained in otherwise unmedicated llamas with a mixture of ISO in oxygen administered through a standard small-animal, semi-closed circle system using an out-of-circle, agent-specific vaporizer. The time from mask placement to intubation was recorded. Inspired and end-tidal (ET) ISO was sampled continuously. At each anesthetic concentration, a constant ET ISO was maintained for at least 20 minutes before application of a noxious electrical stimulus (50 volts, 5 Hz, 10 ms for up to 1 minute). A positive or negative response to the stimulus was recorded, and ET ISO then increased (if positive response) or decreased (if negative response) by 10% to 20%. Individual MAC was the average of multiple determinations. Body temperature was maintained at 37 ± 1°C. Selected cardiopulmonary variables (heart rate [HR], respiratory rate [RR], arterial blood pressure [ABP]) and ET ISO were recorded at hourly intervals from first ISO. Arterial blood was collected for pH, PCO2, PO2 analysis and measurement of packed cell volume (PCV) and total protein (TP) at 2 hour intervals. Following MAC determination, the anesthetic was discontinued and llamas were allowed to recover. Duration and quality of recovery were noted. Results— The time from start of induction by mask to completion of intubation took 19.1 ± 4.8 minutes. The MAC of ISO corrected to one atmosphere at sea level (barometric pressure 760 mm Hg) in these llamas was 1.05 ± 0.17%. Mean ABP increased from 70 ± 26 mm Hg at the end of the first hour of anesthesia to 102 ± 7 mm Hg measured at the end of the sixth hour of anesthesia. ET ISO decreased from 2.06 ± 0.10% to 1.27 ± 0.07% over the same time period, but MAC did not change with time. The duration from first ISO to discontinuation of ISO averaged 6.19 ± 0.9 hours. Animals were able to support their heads in a sternal posture at 23 ± 10 minutes, and stood 62 ± 26 minutes following discontinuation of the anesthetic. Conclusion— The MAC for ISO is similar to, but slightly lower than, values reported for other species. Clinical Relevance— Knowledge of MAC may facilitate appropriate clinical use and provide the basis for future investigation of ISO in llamas.
Hydration of abyssal tephra glasses

Abstract Explosive volcanic eruptions frequently transport large amounts of silica-rich tephra glass to the deep sea. Some studies of the geochemistry of distal volcanoes are based on the assumption that no chemical exchange has taken place between the glass and adjacent pore water. Most models for silicate glass and liquids suggest that water must travel through the glass as a dissociated molecule, and hence any increase in water content must be accompanied by exchange of other ions to maintain charge balance. Studies of newly erupted tephra glass indicate low water contents of 0.3 to 1.0 wt%. Analysis of tephra glass from piston cores and Deep Sea Drilling Project cores reveal that water uptake is initially rapid, increasing to 4 wt% in 100 000 y. Any additional water uptake takes place very slowly over the next several million years. Abyssal tephra glasses with water contents over 6 wt% are extremely rare. While the oldest glasses show solution pits and etching features, the glass composition as determined by electron-probe microanalyzer does not show any indication of chemical exchange. Traverses across individual shards fail to show any major-element heterogenity or indication of diffusion gradients.
A homological criterion for reducibility of analytic spaces, with application to characterizing the theta divisor of a product of two general principally polarized abelian varieties

A closed subset of pure codimension one in an analytic space, consisting entirely of local normal crossings double points, is called an ordinary rank two double locus. We give a topologically computable upper bound on the number of connected components of an ordinary rank two double locus in a given space. This leads to criteria for global reducibility of spaces. The first is that a simply connected space with a non empty ordinary rank two double locus is always reducible. A finer criterion implies that a principally polarized abelian variety A is isomorphic to a product of two positive dimensional principally polarized abelian varieties, each with smooth theta divisor, if and only if the theta divisor of A contains a non empty ordinary rank two double locus. Analogous reducibility results apply to certain complete intersection varieties, and to divisors on such varieties.
DNA-degradation Products from Mammalian Cells Irradiated with Ultra-violet Light

SummaryChinese hamster cells begin to die and degrade their DNA within 6 to 8 hours after 140 erg/mm2 and 700 erg/mm2 of u.v. light. Cell lysis releases macromolecular double-strand DNA and DNA degradative enzymes into the medium. Extracellular DNA degradation leads to an accumulation of thymidine and thymine in the medium. Intracellular degradation also occurs, and the acid-soluble fraction of the cells contains polynucleotides, phosphorylated derivatives of thymidine and thymine. Specific excision of thymine dimers in an acid-soluble form does not occur, and the contribution of DNA repair mechanisms to the observed degradation products is probably insignificant. No detectable amounts of DNA-degradation products (i.e. less than 0·05 per cent of total cellular DNA) were used for post-irradiation DNA synthesis.
Transplanting cloned cells into therapeutic promise

Therapeutic cloning promises to provide genetically matched replacement tissue, but non-self mitochondrial proteins derived from the recipient oocyte could render cloned tissue immunogenic. A new study examines this issue.
Schizophrenia: a bag of dilemmas.

Abstract This paper is concerned with the efficacy of genetic counseling with respect to schizophrenia. Evidence for the genetic basis of schizophrenia is reviewed, as are data demonstrating increases in the marital and reproductive rates of schizophrenic patients. The dilemmas of genetic counseling are discussed, and a strategy for early identification of individuals with a predisposition to schizophrenia is described.
Mapping Structural Damage of the Optic Disk to Visual Field Defect in Glaucoma

Purpose To evaluate the relation between the location of focal visual field defects and optic disk damage in eyes with glaucoma by short-wavelength automated perimetry and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Methods In 14 patients (14 eyes) with open-angle glaucoma, focal optic disk damage, and focal visual field loss, we obtained visual fields with short-wavelength automated perimetry. The short-wavelength automated perimetry visual field was divided into 21 zones, representing retinal nerve fiber layer arcuate bundles. Test points were compared with a normative database. The optic disk was assessed with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Optic disk measurements were calculated in 10-degree sectors and compared with a normative database using a new measure, the rim area ratio, which adjusts for individual differences in disk size. Results The mean number (±SD) of damaged visual field zones was 3.9 (±1.9), and the mean number of damaged rim sectors was 5.0 (±2.9). Focal defects on the optic disk and on short-wavelength automated perimetry were topographically related with specific damaged visual field zones corresponding to specific damaged rim sectors. Conclusions In patients with open-angle glaucoma with focal optic disk damage and focal visual field loss, defects in optic disk and short-wavelength automated perimetry are topographically related. The rim area ratio can be used to identify focal optic nerve defects.
Contribution of throughflows to the ecological interpretation of integral network utility

Abstract Ecosystems can be abstracted into models consisting of compartments containing matter or energy, transactional flows of matter or energy between compartments, inputs into the system, and outputs from the system. Although direct transactions are measurable in the field, indirect transactions have been demonstrated to have dominant effects. Integral network utility (U) is a summation of all direct and indirect net transactions in a network presented in matrix format and developed as a feature of Network Environ Analysis (NEA). While U can provide qualitative information about ecological interactions between compartments, the nonzero-sum nature of indirect net transactions has made ecological interpretation of quantitative network utility challenging. Here we aimed to examine U for nine 2- or 3-compartment ecosystem models from a throughflow perspective. For each model, we assigned inputs, outputs, and flows algebraically using flow components traceable across the model, developed corresponding flow (F) and throughflow (T) matrices based on these values, and used symbolic Matlab to calculate the net adjacent flow intensity matrix (D) and U. Substituting algebraic combinations of flow components with corresponding throughflow values allowed us to reduce elements of U to throughflows to the maximum extent possible. Models with only simple input environs were fully throughflow reducible, while models with more complex input environs exhibited one to three nonreducible elements in U. Throughflow reducibility was sufficient, but not necessary, for topological determination of ecological relations of a model, as described by sign(U). Parametrically determined elements of sign(U), along with the specific flow components influencing the sign of that element, could be readily identified based on quantitative consideration of nonreducible flow components. We provide an example showing that considering throughflow as a centrality measure can allow the identification of a quantitative basis for network synergism. By allowing identification of specific subsets of transactional flows relating to ecosystem complexity and qualitative differences between human-designed systems in the conventional industrial model and evolved ecological systems, the throughflow perspective of U opens avenues for designing more sustainable human systems.
Sensitive and specific quantitative detection of rotavirus a by one-step real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay without antecedent double-stranded-RNA denaturation

ABSTRACT A real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay using the recombinant thermostable Thermus thermophilus (rTth) enzyme was developed to detect and quantify rotavirus A (RVA). By using rTth polymerase, significant improvement was achieved over the existing real-time RT-PCR assays, which require denaturation of the RVA double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) prior to assay setup. Using a dsRNA transcript for segment 7, which encodes the assay target NSP3 gene, the limit of detection for the improved assay was calculated to be approximately 1 genome copy per reaction. The NSP3 qRT-PCR assay was validated using a panel of 1,906 stool samples, 23 reference RVA strains, and 14 nontarget enteric virus samples. The assay detected a diverse number of RVA genotypes and did not detect other enteric viruses, demonstrating analytical sensitivity and specificity for RVA in testing stool samples. A XenoRNA internal process control was introduced and detected in a multiplexed qRT-PCR format. Because it does not require an antecedent dsRNA denaturation step, this assay reduces the possibility of sample cross-contamination and requires less hands-on time than other published qRT-PCR protocols for RVA detection.
One Dimensional Experimental Setup to Study the Heating of Nanoparticle Laden Systems

Intensive efforts have been put into the use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the enhancement of hyperthermia using laser in recent years since the groundbreaking work of Hirsh et al.(1) using gold nanoshells (GNS). Both in vitro (2), and in vivo (3) studies show promising results. For example, GNS, a special kind of GNP, are being manufactured and are in clinical trials (Nanospectra Bioscience, Inc). While the data is compelling, unfortunately the fundamentals of GNP heating are not entirely understood. For example, there are large discrepancies in the experimentally measured photothermal efficiency of GNPs (4, 5). Furthermore, lumped models of GNP heating in solution, by using small volume of GNP solution (4, 5), or stirring the solution (6), neglecting the variation of heat absorption throughout a system require improvement. In reality, the GNPs will attenuate the laser beam as it passes through the GNP host medium. GNPs at different locations will absorb different amount of laser energy and hence have different heat generation.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Constitutive relations for nuclear reactor core materials

Abstract A strain rate dependent constitutive equation is proposed which is capable of describing inelastic deformation behavior of anisotropic metals, such as Zircaloys, under complex loading conditions. The salient features of the constitutive equations are that they describe history dependent inelastic deformation behavior of anisotropic metals under three-dimensional stress states in the presence of fast neutron flux. It is shown that the general form of the constitutive relations is consistent with experimental observations made under both unirradiated and irradiated conditions. The utility of the model is demonstrated by examining the analytical results obtained for a segment of tubing undergoing different loading histories in a reactor.
Doing the Right Things and Doing Them Right: A Strategic Approach to Marketing the Accounting Firm

ABSTRACT Increasing numbers of CPAs in the marketplace, relaxed advertising and marketing restrictions, and the emergence of non-CPA businesses providing accounting services have created a competitive landscape unknown to previous generations of accountants. In this competitive environment the accounting firm has found it must actively seek new clients to maintain or expand revenues. Many accounting firms have turned to marketing to cope with this situation. However, there appears to be a misconception in the accounting profession that marketing is simply promotion. This article addresses that misconception and presents a framework for developing a strategic marketing plan for the accounting practice.
Observer feedback for uncertain systems

In this study feedback design procedures are developed for linear multivariable systems with uncertain parameters and inaccessible states. An observer is used in the feedback loop. The basic design parameters are the observer gain matrix and the state-estimate feed-back matrix. Two models of uncertainty are considered. One is a "deterministic" model where the parameters are assumed to vary within specified bounds. The other is a "random" model where the parameters are assumed to have white noise random variations. The prime design objective is to reduce as much as possible an integral-quadratic performance measure. In the random case the expected value of the integral-quadratic form is used for minimization while in the deterministic case an upper bound on the integral-quadratic is used. Gradients are used to compute the "optimal" design parameters. The required gradients are computed from the solution of Lyapunov equations.
Psychiatric Comorbidity and Medical Illness

Abstract A substantial amount of evidence is available that indicates comorbid psychiatric disorders are frequently unrecognized and untreated in medical illness. Furthermore, often times medical illnesses are not examined as possible contributors to the psychiatric condition. Anxiety, depression, and psychosis are all common psychiatric manifestations witnessed as comorbid states in primary health care. It is vital to the overall outcome and well-being of patients that comorbid states be identified and treated to improve quality of life, increase rates of compliance, improve psychosocial functioning, and decrease the total costs of treating the disease state. The following article emphasizes the importance of recognizing psychiatric comorbidity with medical illness and how these comorbid states are often overlooked. A number of disease states are reviewed that have been studied and shown to have improved outcomes and decreased mortality rates when both the psychiatric conditions and medical illness are treated.
Effects of ship's roll on the quality of precision CTD data

Abstract Analyses of raw precision CTD data indicate apparent temperature and conductivity structure resulting from varying drop rates related to ship's roll. The perturbations are proportional to vertical gradients and probably result from either of two mechanisms, heating of the water near the probes by the instrument arriving from shallower (warmer) water, or by entrained wake overtaking decelerating probes. Accurate fine structure data probably cannot be recovered from cast data and the best solution is to eliminate the effects of platform motion through some sort of feed-back control on the winch.
Are neurovegetative symptoms stable in relapsing or recurrent atypical depressive episodes

Few data exist that assess the presence of reversed and positive neurovegetative symptoms through successive depressive episodes. To assess the stability of depressive symptoms across episodes, we studied 74 outpatients with atypical unipolar major depression, diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, before response to fluoxetine treatment and again after relapse on either fluoxetine or placebo. Patients were assessed at baseline with the Atypical Depression Diagnosis Scale and at baseline and during follow-up with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Thirty-two (43%) of responders had a relapse or recurrence, 21 (66%) of whom had a predominance of reversed of positive neurovegetative symptoms at baseline. Nine of 10 (90%) patients with reversed symptoms at baseline had the same symptoms when they relapsed; seven of 11 (64%) of those with positive symptoms at baseline had positive symptoms again (kappa 0.557). Overall, five of 21 (24%) had changes in their disturbances in sleep, appetite, or weight when they relapsed. This study supports the relative stability of neurovegetative symptoms in atypical depression across episodes.
A quality improvement assessment of multiple, concurrent flow cytometry analyses at a tertiary care center

Summary Introduction The utility of flow cytometry (FC) in diagnosis and staging of hematologic malignancy is controversial. Often, multiple specimens from the same patient are processed concurrently for FC analyses, alongside tissue for histomorphologic diagnosis. Methods To assess the diagnostic utility of multiple, concurrent FC analyses, a 10-year retrospective review of cases with ≥2 concurrent specimens (from the same patient) submitted for FC was conducted. Light microscopic (LM) diagnoses were compared to FC findings, and the contribution of FC results to final diagnoses was examined. Results Of 4058 specimens (predominantly lymph nodes, bone marrows, and oropharyngeal tissues) submitted for FC analyses, 129 (3.2%) represented cases with multiple (average: 2.19) concurrent FC analyses. All were accompanied by tissues and/or aspirates for LM examination. In 115 (89.1%) cases, multiple FC analyses were performed prior to morphologic examination. In 87.0% of those cases, ≥1 FC result(s) aligned with LM findings. In 15 (13.0%) cases where FC results differed from morphologic diagnoses, 86.7% (13/15) failed to detect an abnormal cell population by FC in the presence of a hematologic malignancy by LM. In one case (0.9%), FC detected a lymphoma, without morphologic evidence by LM. Conclusions Overall, multipart FC failed to demonstrate a significant contribution in initial diagnoses of hematologic malignancies compared with analysis of a single specimen.
Carbon nanotube films for room temperature hydrogen sensing

Thin, uniform, single-walled carbon nanotube films, made by a simple filtration process, subsequently coated with palladium, are shown to be promising detectors of hydrogen. The films detected hydrogen with relative responses of 20% at 100 ppm and 40% at 500 ppm concentrations. Most of the initial film conductance was recovered within 30 s by exposing the samples to air. This quick and easy recoverability make the Pd-coated nanotubes suitable for practical applications in room temperature hydrogen sensing while consuming only ~0.25 mW power. The film fabrication process provides highly reproducible control over the film thickness; an important ingredient for commercial production. In the course of this research strong evidence was obtained indicating that sputter deposition of metal onto the nanotubes, even under very low power, short exposure time conditions, does damage to the nanotubes.
Excitations from a filled Landau level in the two-dimensional electron gas

We consider an interacting two-dimensional electron system, with a uniform positive background, in a strong perpendicular magnetic field at zero temperature, under conditions where an integral number of Landau levels are filled and the Coulomb energy $\frac{{e}^{2}}{\ensuremath{\epsilon}{l}_{0}}$ is smaller than the cyclotron energy $\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{c}$. The elementary neutral excitations may be described alternatively as magnetoplasma modes, or as magnetic excitons---i.e., a bound state of a hole in a filled Landau level and one electron in an otherwise empty level---and they are characterized by a conserved wave vector $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}$. The dispersion relations may be calculated exactly, to first order in $\frac{\frac{({e}^{2}}{\ensuremath{\epsilon}{l}_{0})}}{\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{c}}$, for the lowest magnetoplasmon band, which comes in to the cyclotron frequency at $k=0$. We also calculate the spin-wave dispersion relations for the case where one spin state of a Landau level is completely occupied, and we discuss qualitatively the exciton spectrum for a partially filled Landau level, under the conditions of the fractional quantized Hall effect.