cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parental incarceration and youth tobacco product use: Implications for prevention and the e-cigarette epidemic.

Abstract Purpose Youth smokers have high rates of adverse childhood experiences, and particularly parental incarceration (PI). In Minnesota, 16% of youth have experienced PI, but 55% of daily smokers report PI. However, no research has examined how PI relates to a range of tobacco products, which is critical considering the current e-cigarette epidemic. There is also limited research on protective factors for tobacco use among youth with PI. Methods Data came from 2016 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 111,091); 85% of Minnesota schools participated. We assessed 30-day use of cigarettes, non-cigarette combustible products, smokeless products, e-cigarettes, and dual/poly use. Using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions, we compared use across current, previous, and no PI experience. We also tested how protective factors related to tobacco use. Results Youth with current PI experience used all products with higher frequency compared to youth with previous and no PI experience. Use prevalence among youth with current PI were 26.0% (95% CI = 24.1, 27.8) for e-cigarettes, 20.8% (95% CI = 19.1, 22.5) for dual/poly use, 17.8% (95% CI = 16.2, 19.5) for cigarettes, 17.4% (95% CI = 15.8, 19.0) for combustible non-cigarettes, and 9.9% (95% CI = 8.6, 11.2) for smokeless products. Nearly all protective factors were significantly and negatively related to use of all products, regardless of PI experience. Conclusions Youth with PI experience are at high risk for using multiple tobacco products. These disparities were most pronounced for e-cigarettes, demonstrating the e-cigarette epidemic is disproportionately occurring among youth with current and previous PI experience. All examined protective factors buffer risks for this population of youth.
Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Poly-(Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribose) Polymerase 1 Expression in Breast Cancer: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

This nonrandomized clinical trial tested [18F]FluorThanatrace as a method for measuring regional poly–(adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase 1 expression in breast cancer and as a potential functional biomarker for breast cancer poly–(adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase inhibitor response.
Lipids and progressive renal failure

Experimental evidence suggests that lipids may modulate progressive renal injury. The inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase have demonstrated beneficial effects in different models of progressive renal failure. Recent experimental data suggests that these agents also may have glomerular protective effects independent of reduction in circulating lipids. Monocyte infiltration, mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion have been shown to be early events in the process of glomerulosclerosis that can be lessened by HMG-CoA reductase inhibition. In vitro, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been shown to inhibit mesangial cell proliferation, as well as the production of chemokines involved in macrophage biology. These effects appear to be related to a reduction in cell production of cholesterol precursors, the so-called nonsterol isoprenoids. The isoprenoids are an important class of lipids necessary for isoprenylation of proteins such Ras, which are involved in cell signaling for various growth-promoting cytokines. We have also shown that interference with this signaling pathway results in marked reduction in the activation of nuclear transcription factors. Thus, it would appear that the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have the potential of modifying mesangial cell biology independent of any lipid-lowering effect. Clinically, a number of studies have shown that increased lipids are associated with an accelerated rate of progression of renal disease. Indeed, these lipid abnormalities are evident in the diabetic patient at the onset of microalbuminuria. In diabetic and nondiabetic patients, preliminary studies have suggested that interventions with these agents may have salutary effects on the progression of renal disease. Recently, experimental and clinical studies have also suggested that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may also reduce the severity of chronic vascular rejection.
Improved radiosynthesis of 123I-MAPi, an auger theranostic agent.

Purpose: 123I-MAPi, a novel PARP1-targeted Auger radiotherapeutic has shown promising results in pre-clinical glioma model. Currently, 123I-MAPi is synthesized using multistep synthesis that result...
The role of Enterococcus faecalis during co-infection with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in avian colibacillosis

Enterococcus spp. (ENT) are frequently co-isolated with avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) from poultry with colibacillosis, a leading cause of flock mortality. Although largely overlooked, ENT may pl...
Systematic construction of gapped nonliquid states

This paper use 2+1D topological orders, or domain walls between 3+1D topological orders, to construct the microscopic cellular structure of a 3+1D gapped non-liquid state by glueing those 2+1D topological orders, or domain walls, together. The author further shows that this construction could produce gapped non-liquid states with fractal-like excitations.
The Perspective of Elderly Residents on an Intergenerational Service-Learning Project

With our growing aging population, intergenerational service-learning has been on the rise in recent decades. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the effects of a brief, mutually c...
Assessment of Visibility from Aerosol Number Concentration

In this paper we describe a method to quantify visibility distance based on aerosol number concentration in the size spectrum 5nm to 2.5μm (PM2.5). This method allows complete automation of visibility assessments in weather observations.
Two Types of NP/NP Analysis

Despite their differences, the NP/S, Relational/S and S/S Analyses face a number of problems which they share in common These problems arise from the following claim, which is made in all three analyses: If a sentence containing conjoined noun phrases is logically equivalent to a corresponding sentence containing conjoined clauses, then the original sentence is represented at LF by a structure containing sentential conjunction. For example, in all three analyses, the sentence John and Maly are asleep will receive a logical form essentially like John is asleep and Mary is asleep.
Stability Analysis of Cut Slopes in Ohio, USA: A Quantitative Approach

Orientation of discontinuities, in relation to slope face, is the primary factor influencing stability of most rock slopes. Kinematic analysis is the frequently used method for evaluating potential modes of failure due to unfavorably oriented discontinuities. The analysis is performed using stereonets. The procedure requires identifying discontinuity cluster sets and assigning representative values for each cluster set. A major problem with stereonet-based approach is that it does not take into account the variability in orientations of varying discontinuities. This study proposes a quantitative approach that uses all discontinuity data, not just the representative values indicated by discontinuity clusters. Discontinuity orientation data from 12 cut slopes along Ohio’s highways. DipAnalyst 2.0 software was used to demonstrate the application of the proposed approach. The results from the quantitative approach were compared with those from the stereonet-based kinematic analysis. Similar to the quantitative kinematic analysis, factor of safety values (against plane and wedge failures) for all discontinuities and their possible intersection lines were also calculated using DipAnalyst 2.0 software.
Amyloid‐β in Alzheimer's disease: the horse or the cart? Pathogenic or protective?

While the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unclear, amyloid-beta plaques remain major lesions in the brain of individuals with AD. Likewise, amyloid-beta is one of the best-studied proteins relating to the pathogenesis of AD. Indeed, the pathological diagnosis of AD tends to be congruous with the quantity of amyloid-beta. However, it is important to recognize that pathological diagnosis merely represents the association of a pattern of pathological changes with a clinical phenotype. Therefore, it should be acknowledged that, although amyloid-beta detection and semiquantification have some diagnostic utility, the simple presence of amyloid plaques, as with proteinaceous accumulations in essentially all neurodegenerative diseases, does not presume aetiology. Thus, in this review, we discuss the role of amyloid-beta in the pathogenesis of AD and provide an alternative view to the widely accepted dogma.
Application of Six Sigma tools to product line business plan development

Six Sigma tools and methodologies have been embraced by many large and successful corporations such as Honeywell International to reduce variation and improve the effectiveness with which they conduct their day to day business activities. While the heritage of these tools lies in manufacturing, companies such as Honeywell International have extended these concepts to product development and growth into new businesses areas. As a Six Sigma Black Belt certification candidate, the author has chosen to apply these tools to an emerging avionics product line to develop a sound business development strategy. Elements of this strategy will include the business plan itself, product line road maps, competitive analysis, and research and development recommendations. This paper will focus on the application of those tools to the business development process and the lessons learned in that process. The specifics of the business plan itself will not be discussed due to their proprietary nature. Where illustration is necessary, the author provides hypothetical examples to highlight the application of a particular tool or methodology. The author's goal is to provide the reader with an understanding of the value of Six Sigma tools with respect to new business development.
Deactivation of soybean agglutinin by enzyme hydrolysis and identification of active peptides from soy proteins

A series of experiments was conducted to eliminate the hemagglutination activity of the anti-nutritional factor, soybean agglutinin (SBA). Deglycosylation decreased activity of SBA by 21%, but not as much as denaturation by heat or denaturing reagents (47-77% residual activity). Single enzymes, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin and Endoproteinase Glu-C, did not hydrolyze native SBA, but hydrolyzed heator organic solute-denatured SBA. Even after hydrolysis, activity of SBA still was not fully eliminated (44-62% residual activity). Combinations of enzymes with thermolysin fully deactivated heator organic solute-, such as guanidine hydrochloride and urea, treated SBA. Pepsin and pancreatin hydrolysis fully deactivated native SBA. Tea polyphenols, metal ions, and chelating agents were also tested, and they showed no significant effect in SBA activity. N-acetyl-galactosamine-agrose beads specifically removed SBA from protein mixture, but not fully and the activity was not fully eliminated. In conclusion, SBA needs to be denatured first for enzyme hydrolysis and multiple enzymes are needed to fully deactivate SBA. 1 Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, IA 2 Corresponding author, 2312 Food Science Building, Ames, Iowa, 50011, tongwang@iastate.edu, 515-294-5448
The Empathic Civilization : The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis

Contents Introduction 1. The Hidden Paradox of Human History I. Homo Empathicus 2. The New View of Human Nature 3. A Sentient Interpretation of Biological Evolution 4. Becoming Human 5. Rethinking the Meaning of the Human Journey II. Empathy and Civilization 6. The Ancient Theological Brain and Patriarchal Economy 7. Cosmopolitan Rome and the Rise of Urban Christianity 8. The Soft Industrial Revolution of the Late Medieval Era and the Birth of Humanism 9. Ideological Thinking in a Modern Market Economy 10. Psychological Consciousness in a Postmodern Existential World III. The Age of Empathy 11. The Climb to Global Peak Empathy 12. The Planetary Entropic Abyss 13. The Emerging Era of Distributed Capitalism 14. The Theatrical Self in an Improvisational Society 15. Biosphere Consciousness in a Climax Economy Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
Rice, Timothy, ed. (2011). Ethnomusicological Encounters with Music and Musicians: Essays in Honor of Robert Garfias

With Ethnomusicological Encounters with Music and Musicians: Essays in Honor of Robert Garfias, editor Timothy Rice has brought together an impressive array of scholarly perspectives on ethnomusico...
Information security considerations for protecting NASA mission operations centers (MOCs)

In NASA space flight missions, the Mission Operations Center (MOC) is often considered “the center of the (ground segment) universe,” at least by those involved with ground system operations. It is at and through the MOC that spacecraft is commanded and controlled, and science data acquired. This critical element of the ground system must be protected to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information and information systems supporting mission operations. This paper identifies and highlights key information security aspects affecting MOCs that should be taken into consideration when reviewing and/or implementing protecting measures in and around MOCs. It stresses the need for compliance with information security regulation and mandates, and the need for the reduction of IT security risks that can potentially have a negative impact to the mission if not addressed. This compilation of key security aspects was derived from numerous observations, findings, and issues discovered by IT security audits the authors have conducted on NASA mission operations centers in the past few years. It is not a recipe on how to secure MOCs, but rather an insight into key areas that must be secured to strengthen the MOC, and enable mission assurance. Most concepts and recommendations in the paper can be applied to non-NASA organizations as well. Finally, the paper emphasizes the importance of integrating information security into the MOC development life cycle as configuration, risk and other management processes are tailored to support the delicate environment in which mission operations take place.
Concentration by evaporation and the prebiotic synthesis of cytosine.

The efficient prebiotic synthesis of cytosine from urea andcyanoacetaldehyde (CA) has recently been claimed to be invalidon the basis of possible side reactions of the starting materials and the inapplicability of prebiotic syntheses usingdrying beach conditions. We therefore have investigated the synthesis of cytosine and uracil from urea and cyanoacetaldehydeat 100 °C under dry-down conditions, and in solution at 4 °C and -20 °C. We find that cytosine isproduced from the low temperature experiments more efficientlythan calculated from the Arrhenius extrapolation from highertemperatures, i.e., 60-120 °C. In addition, we findthat CA dimer is as efficient as the monomer in cytosine synthesis. We also studied whether evaporating very dilutesolutions of nonvolatile organic compounds will concentrateaccording to theory. Solutions as dilute as 10-4 M concentrate from pure water approximately according to theory.Similar solutions in 0.5 M NaCl have less than theoreticalconcentrations due to absorption, but concentrations neardryness were very high.
Balanced aspect ratio trees revisited

Spatial databases support a variety of geometric queries on point data such as range searches, nearest neighbor searches, etc. Balanced Aspect Ratio (BAR) trees are hierarchical space decomposition structures that are general-purpose and space-efficient, and, in addition, enjoy a worst case performance poly-logarithmic in the number of points for approximate queries. They maintain limits on their depth, as well as on the aspect ratio (intuitively, how skinny the regions can be). BAR trees were initially developed for 2 dimensional spaces and a fixed set of partitioning planes, and then extended to d dimensional spaces and more general partitioning planes. Here we revisit 2 dimensional spaces and show that, for any given set of 3 partitioning planes, it is not only possible to construct such trees, it is also possible to derive a simple closed-form upper bound on the aspect ratio. This bound, and the resulting algorithm, are much simpler than what is known for general BAR trees. We call the resulting BAR trees Parameterized BAR trees and empirically evaluate them for different partitioning planes. Our experiments show that our theoretical bound converges to the empirically obtained values in the lower ranges, and also make a case for using evenly oriented partitioning planes.
Iso-Power-Efficiency: An Approach to Scaling Application Codes with a Power Budget

We propose a new model for scaling applications with increasing power budget, which we call the iso-powerefficiency function. We show that viewing scaling in this way has advantages over the previously proposed is efficiency function that assumes all processors run at maximum power. Our experimental results show that over provisioning can result in better scaling under a power budget.
Ticlopidine and clopidogrel: Antithrombotic agents that block ADP-mediated platelet activation

Ticlopidine and clopidogrel are orally active antiplatelet agents that block ADP-mediated platelet activation. The proaggregatory effects of other platelet agonists are also attenuated by administration of ticlopidine or clopidogrel; however, this generalized inhibition of platelet activation may arise from interference with the synergy between platelet-derived ADP and other proaggregatory agents. Ticlopidine and clopidogrel do not display antiplatelet activity when added to blood or purified platelets; hence, biotransformation of these agents appears to be a prerequisite for inhibition of platelet activation. The purported active derivatives have not been identified. A variety of preclinical and clinical investigations have demonstrated that ticlopidine and clopidogrel are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of platelet-dependent thrombotic disorders.
The Reliability and Validity of Measures of Gait Variability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Brach JS, Perera S, Studenski S, Newman AB. The reliability and validity of measures of gait variability in community-dwelling older adults. Objective To examine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of variability of gait characteristics. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Research laboratory. Participants Older adults (N=558) from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Gait characteristics were measured using a 4-m computerized walkway. SD determined from the steps recorded were used as the measures of variability. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to examine test-retest reliability of a 4-m walk and two 4-m walks. To establish concurrent validity, the measures of gait variability were compared across levels of health, functional status, and physical activity using independent t tests and analysis of variances. Results Gait variability measures from the two 4-m walks demonstrated greater test-retest reliability than those from the single 4-m walk (ICC=.22–.48 and ICC=.40–.63, respectively). Greater step length and stance time variability were associated with poorer health, functional status and physical activity ( P Conclusions Gait variability calculated from a limited number of steps has fair to good test-retest reliability and concurrent validity. Reliability of gait variability calculated from a greater number of steps should be assessed to determine if the consistency can be improved.
Answer-Processing and Error Correction in Foreign Language CAI.

Abstract The way the student's response is handled is of central importance to the development of high quality CAI in foreign languages. Five categories of answer-processing for drill programs are described: non-evaluation, right-wrong evaluation, pattern markup, error anticipation, and parsing. Each strategy is explained in terms of its operation, its advantages and disadvantages, its ease of use for authoring courseware, and its capability to support individualized instruction.
Expression of angiogenic factors in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with revascularization of human synovium engrafted into SCID mice.

Objective Although increased vascularity was noted in early histopathologic studies of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) synovium, the available data on angiogenesis in JRA are very limited. The main purposes of this study were to assess expression of the key angiogenic factors in JRA synovium, and to evaluate a SCID mouse model of JRA as an approach to study in vivo regulation of the expression of these factors in JRA. Methods RNase protection assay was used to assess the expression of the key angiogenic factors in fresh JRA synovium and in JRA synovial tissue fragments that had been minced and then implanted into SCID mice. Vascularity of the samples was assessed by immunohistochemical staining for von Willebrand factor. Synovial specimens obtained from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or other noninflammatory arthropathies were used as controls. Results Detectable levels of messenger RNA for vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin 1 and their respective receptors, as well as endoglin and thrombin receptors, were present in all JRA tissue specimens studied. The levels of expression of these factors in JRA tissues were significantly higher than those in tissues obtained from patients with OA or other noninflammatory arthropathies. Furthermore, increased expression of the key angiogenic factors in the fresh JRA tissues correlated with the exuberant revascularization of JRA minced tissue fragments implanted into SCID mice. This was in sharp contrast to the poor revascularization of implanted OA tissues. Conclusion JRA synovium is characterized by high angiogenic activity. SCID mouse–human JRA synovium chimeras may provide a good approach to study the in vivo regulation of angiogenesis in JRA.
Estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy reduces glucocorticoid-induced bone loss.

This is a retrospective study of 15 postmenopausal or amenorrheic women aged 34–78 years who had taken prednisone for 6–108 months and were followed for 1 year while continuing to take doses of 5–15 mg/day. A total of 8 patients were treated with 0.6256 mg Premarin daily for 25 days and 5 mg/day of medroxyprogesterone on days 15–25 (ERT, group 2); 7 were followed without ERT (group 1). A group of 17 women, matched for age, were randomly selected from our computerized data base to serve as a control group (group 3), and 10 women of similar age who were taking ERT only (group 4) were selected to compare the response to ERT to that of group 2. Bone density (BD) was measured in the lumbar spine baseline and at 1 year using dual-photon or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Spine density did not change significantly during the year of observation in group 1. Although BD decreased in 5 of 7 patients, the change was not significant (-0.034 ± 0.018 g/cm2, p = 0.10). In group 2 BD increased significantly, with 7 of 8 patients showing an increase (0.037 ± 0.011 g/cm2, p = 0.008). BD did not change significantly in the control group (0.013 ± 0.008 g/cm2, p = 0.16). Loss of bone from the spine was significantly greater in group 1 than in controls (p = 0.02), but changes in group 2 were similar to those in the control group (p = 0.66). Changes in BD in group 2 were similar to those in group 4; that is, the response to ERT of patients taking prednisone was comparable to that of women taking ERT only. The change in spine density correlated with the cumulative dose of prednisone taken during the year of observation in the group not taking ERT (r = 0.759, p = 0.05) but not in the group taking ERT (r = 0.134, p = 0.73). This suggests that ERT protects against bone loss for at least 1 year throughout the dosage range studied. We concluded that ERT prevents vertebral bone loss for at least 1 year in the majority of women taking prednisone chronically in doses of 5–15 mg/day.
Cellular aspects of the resistance of chickens to Eimeria tenella infections.

SYNOPSIS. Sporozoites of Eimeria tenella were injected into the peritoneal cavity of normal chickens and chickens immunized against E. tenella. In some experiments normal scrum and serum from resistant chickens were injected prior to the injection of sporozoites. After 15 or 30 minute periods of intraperitoneal incubation, exudates were harvested and the occurrence of intracellular sporozoites was determined. Only macrophages and degranulated granulocytes were observed to contain sporozoites. There was no significant difference between the number of macrophages obtained from normal chickens (normal macrophages) which contained sporozoites and the number of macrophages obtained from immune chickens (immune macrophages) which contained sporozoites. Significantly fewer immune macrophages treated with immune serum contained sporozoites than untreated normal or immune cells, normal macrophages treated with either serum, or immune macrophages treated with normal scrum. Sporozoites in untreated normal macrophages did not appear to be harmed by the intracellular environment, based on structural observations. The majority of sporozoites in macrophages from all other groups were difficult to distinguish within the cytoplasm and were visibly distorted. It is hypothesized that the presence of fewer infected macrophages in exudates of immune chickens and serum-treated normal chickens was caused by an enhanced ability of these cells to destroy the parasite. Similar observations were noted in the case of sporozoites within degranulated granulocytes of experimental groups. The lack of understanding of the degranulation phenomenon makes it difficult to interpret these findings.
Impact of Aging on Antigen Presentation Cell Function of Dendritic Cells

Older people exhibit increased mortality to infections and cancer as compared to younger people, indicating that aging impairs immunity. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key for bridging the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system by priming antigen specific T cells. Discerning how aging impacts DC function to initiate adaptive immune responses is of great biomedical importance as this could lead to the development of novel therapeutics to enhance immunity with aging. This review details reports indicating that aging impairs the antigen presenting function of DCs but highlights other studies indicating preserved DC function with aging. How aging impacts antigen presentation by DCs is complex and without a clear unifying biological underpinning.
Organ-specific regulation of innate immunity

Immune responses to microbial challenge in various tissues are not the same. Organ-specific immune responses are adapted to maintain organ physiology.
21 st century workflow: A proposal

Digital pathology is rapidly developing, but early systems have been slow to gain traction outside of niche applications such as: Second-opinion telepathology, immunostain interpretation, and intraoperative telepathology. Pathologists have not yet developed a well-articulated plan for effectively utilizing digital imaging technology in their work. This paper outlines a proposal that is intended to begin meaningful progress toward achieving helpful computer-assisted pathology sign-out systems, such as pathologists' computer-assisted diagnosis (pCAD). pCAD is presented as a hypothetical intelligent computer system that would integrate advanced image analysis and better utilization of existing digital pathology data from lab information systems. A detailed example of automated digital pathology is presented, as an automated breast cancer lymph node sign-out. This proposal provides stakeholders with a conceptual framework that can be used to facilitate development work, communication, and identification of new automation strategies.
A laser beam quality definition based on induced temperature rise: erratum

An erratum is presented to correct an error in an equation used to determine laser beam quality from power-in-the-bucket curves.
Exoatmospheric Interceptor Pulse Motor Optimization with Discrete Bias Removal

Nomenclature t = time, s tg = time-to-go to the intercept, s tgmc = time-to-go to the intercept at the midcourse stage motor burnout (second pulse), s tgmc min = minimum allowable time-to-go to the intercept at the midcourse stage motor burnout (second pulse), s tmission = the total  ight time to the intercept, s tp1bo =  ight time at burnout of  rst pulse, s trm =  ight time at which the track bias is removed, s t2 = burn time of the second pulse, s VMR1 = average speed remaining to the intercept after midcourse stage  rst pulse burnout, m/s ZEMBIAS = total zero effort miss value at current time due to the target track bias, m ZEM31 = total zero effort miss value at midcourse stage  rst pulse burnout, m ZEM ¤ = zero effort miss value at midcourse stage  rst pulse burnout due to all sources other than the track bias, m D V2PUL = divert velocity of second pulse allowed for lateral maneuver, m/s r 2 HE = variance of the total interceptor attitude navigation and control error, rad2 r 2 VTGT = variance of the target velocity measurement error, (m/s)
The rhetorical criticism of visual elements: An alternative to Foss's Schema

(2001). The rhetorical criticism of visual elements: An alternative to Foss's Schema. Southern Communication Journal: Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 19-32.
Sound Pressure Correlates of the Second Heart Sound: An Intracardiac Sound Study

The sound pressure correlates of the second heart sound were studied in 22 patients during diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Simultaneous right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures were recorded with equisensitive catheter-tip micromanometers together with the external phonocardiogram and ECG. In 12 patients having normal pulmonary vascular resistance (group 1), pulmonic closure sound was coincident with the incisura of the pulmonary artery pressure curve which in turn was separated from the right ventricular pressure trace by an interval denoted hangout. The duration of this interval varied (33-89 msec), was independent of pulmonary artery pressure or resistance and was felt to be primarily a reflection of the capacitance of the pulmonary vascular tree. The absolute value of this interval during inspiration was very similar to the splitting interval and, when subtracted from the Q-P 2 interval, the remaining interval (QRV) was almost identical to the Q-A 2 interval, indicating that the actual duration of right and left ventricular systole is nearly equal. Awareness of the existence of the hangout interval and its hemodynamic determinants offers a reasonable mechanism to explain the audible expiratory splitting of the second heart sound found in patients with idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery following atrial septal defect repair and in one additional patient studied with mild valvular pulmonic stenosis. In nine patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance approaching systemic levels (group 2), the absolute value of the hangout interval was markedly reduced (15-28 msec) consistent with the decrease in capacitance of the pulmonary vascular bed and the increased pulmonary vascular resistance known to occur in pulmonary hypertension. In those patients where the duration of right and left ventricular systole were nearly equal, narrow splitting of the second heart sound was present. In those patients where selective prolongation of right ventricular systole occurred, the narrow hangout interval persisted, but the splitting interval was prolonged proportionate to the increased duration of right ventricular systole.
The Politics of Biased Information

The effects of any important political decision are always to some degree uncertain. This uncertainty may be ameliorated by the collection of policy-relevant information. Predictably, if such information is biased, then political decisions based on that information will be biased as well. This paper explores the converse of this statement: if the policymaker is biased, will the information provided to him or her also be biased? It is shown in this paper that, in equilibrium, information provided to a sufficiently biased policymaker will inherit the policymaker's bias. Accordingly, the provision of biased policy-relevant information is not evidence of an attempt to produce biased policy decisions. The implications of the theory are examined within the context of modern administrative policymaking within the United States Federal Government.
Conversion from nonprofit to for-profit legal status: Why does it happen and should anyone care?

The conversion of a nonprofit firm to the for-profit form is commercialism carried to an extreme. Conversion is increasingly common, most notably in health care. We seek to advance understanding of why nonprofit conversions occur and what public policy should be toward them. A transfer of control—the essence of a conversion—over nonprofit assets can be accomplished in various ways. Thus, it would be a public policy mistake to focus narrowly on formal legal conversions or outright sales. We explore the possible motives for conversion, and speculate about the reasons for the flurry of conversion activity in hospitals and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). We conclude that there are three central public policy questions raised by conversions: (1) under what circumstances is conversion appropriate—when does it represent an efficient reallocation of resources and when only a redistribution of wealth?; (2) how should the nonprofit's assets be valued?; and (3) what should happen to the financial assets that remain after a conversion?
Accessible NMR experiments studying the hydrodynamics of 15N-enriched ubiquitin at low fields

We have recently developed and implemented two experiments in biomolecular NMR for an undergraduate-level biophysical chemistry laboratory with commercially available 15N-enriched human ubiquitin. These experiments take advantage of 15N direct detection of the NMR signal. The first experiment develops skills in acquiring and interpreting one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR data of an aqueous protein sample (D. Rovnyak, L. E. Thompson (2005) An accessible two-dimensional solution nuclear magnetic resonance experiment on human ubiquitin, Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 33, 117–122). In the second experiment, discussed here, students examine the overall dynamics of a protein in solution. Students measure spin relaxation times T1 and T2 and use these data to estimate a rotational correlation time, τc, and the diameter of ubiquitin using the Stokes-Einstein relation. This is a fast and simple experiment, requiring about 1 h of instrument time, and a valuable opportunity to provide a hands-on experience in studying macromolecular size and dynamics. This experiment is conducted in synchrony with lecture material on hydrodynamics and sedimentation.
Effect of Additives on the Acid Dissolution Rates of Calcium and Magnesium Carbonates

A rotating-disk instrument was used to measure the dissolution rates of both calcite and dolomite rock samples in HCl solutions. The results of more than 60 experiments are reported in this paper. The effect of common acidizing additives on the rock dissolution rate is measured for different acids containing quaternary amines, polymer, surfactant, mutual solvent, iron-chelating additive, and dissolved iron. Measurements are made at 23 and 50°C for calcite and dolomite marble samples. Marble samples from Turkey, Greece, and Italy were analyzed to find suitable reference materials. Marble composed of 100% calcite (calcite marble) as well as 91% dolomite (dolomite marble) was used and compared very well with previously published results. Results of rock dissolution rates with common acidizing additives showed significant differences. • 1.5 vol% cationic acrylamide copolymer decreased the calcite and dolomite dissolution rates significantly. At 1,000 rpm, the calcite dissolution rate with 1.5 vol% polymer and 0.1 M (0.36 wt%) HCl had a value that was 11.4% of the value measured with 0.1 M of HCl alone. • Polymer changed the acid/rock reaction from mass-transferlimited to surface-reaction-limited with both calcite and dolomite. This surface effect is possibly caused by polymer adsorption. • 10 vol% mutual solvent increased the acid dissolution rate by 9% for calcite and by up to 29% for dolomite. • 5000 mg/L iron (III) resulted in surface deposition of iron (III) hydroxide for both calcite and dolomite. At low rotational speeds, this surface layer had an inhibiting effect on the dissolution rate. • 2 vol% corrosion inhibitor decreased the calcite dissolution rate by approximately 9%. • Citric acid at 12 g/L decreased the calcite dissolution rate by an average of 9%, possibly because of the formation of calcium citrate at the surface. • 0.2 vol% nonionic surfactant had no significant effect on the acid dissolution rate of calcite.
Alpha, an Infectious Macronuclear Symbiont of Paramecium aurelia

SYNOPSIS. A spiral, rod- or crescent-shaped symbiont here designated alpha, is present in the macronucleus of killer stock 562, syngen 2 of Paramecium aurelia. This stock has a cytoplasmic symbiont, kappa, as well as alpha. Lines were obtained which had only alpha, others which had only kappa, and some which had neither. It was possible to purify and separate both kinds of symbiont from homogenates of stock 562 using an ECTEOLA column. The killing action of this stock is due to kappa, not alpha. Observations on the structure of alpha with the electron microscope indicate that alpha, like the cytoplasmic symbionts in this species, is a bacterium. Alpha is never seen in the micronucleus, is rarely found in the cytoplasm, but abounds in the macronucleus. If paramecia are allowed to grow slowly after autogamy, alpha passes from the old macronuclear fragments, infects the new macronucleus, and all animals retain alpha. In exautogamous paramecia growing at maximum fission rate, however, alpha often does not infect the new macronucleus and is lost from many lines when the old macronuclear fragments disappear. In mixed cultures containing alpha-bearing and alphafree paramecia, it has been found that alpha readily invades the macronucleus of paramecia of susceptible stocks. Homogenates of alpha-bearing cultures are also infective. Infection is highly specific, occurring in only 6 of the 44 stocks of P. aurelia in which infection was attempted, and these 6 are all syngen 2. It is suggested that the short rod or crescent form of alpha is the reproductive form, while the elongated spiral form is probably the invasive motile form.
On Optimal Defuzzification and Learning Algorithms: Theory and Applications

In this paper, the issue of optimal defuzzification which is advocated in the Optimality Principle of Defuzzification (Song and Leland (1996)) is addressed. It was shown that defuzzification can be treated as a mapping from a high dimensional space to the real line. When system performance indices are considered, the defuzzification mapping which optimizes the performance indices for the given fuzzy sets is known as the optimal defuzzification mapping. Thus, finding this optimal defuzzification mapping becomes the essence of defuzzification. The problem with this idea, however, is that the space formed by all possible continuous defuzzification mappings is so large to search that the only recourse is an approximation to the optimal defuzzification mapping. With this, learning algorithms can be devised to find the optimal parameters of defuzzifiers with fixed structures. The proposed method is rigorously examined and compared with some well-known defuzzification methods. To overcome the resultant enormous computational load problem with this algorithm, the concept of defuzzification filter is additionally proposed. An application of the method to the power system stabilization problem is presented.
Systematic review of voice therapy for functional voice disorders: Positive results from a conservative review

Abstracted from: Ruotsalainen, J., Sellman, J., Lehto, L., & Verbeek J. (2008). Systematic review of the treatment of dysphonia and prevention of voice disorders. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 138, 557–565. Source of funding: The Finnish Ministry for Social Affairs and Health & the Dutch Pension Fund Loyalis.
Phospholipid-binding Sites of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN): EXPLORING THE MECHANISM OF PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 4,5-BISPHOSPHATE ACTIVATION *

The lipid phosphatase activity of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is enhanced by the presence of its biological product, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2). This enhancement is suggested to occur via the product binding to the N-terminal region of the protein. PTEN effects on short-chain phosphoinositide (31)P linewidths and on the full field dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate (measured by high resolution field cycling (31)P NMR using spin-labeled protein) are combined with enzyme kinetics with the same short-chain phospholipids to characterize where PI(4,5)P2 binds on the protein. The results are used to model a discrete site for a PI(4,5)P2 molecule close to, but distinct from, the active site of PTEN. This PI(4,5)P2 site uses Arg-47 and Lys-13 as phosphate ligands, explaining why PTEN R47G and K13E can no longer be activated by that phosphoinositide. Placing a PI(4,5)P2 near the substrate site allows for proper orientation of the enzyme on interfaces and should facilitate processive catalysis.
Discrete event modeling of heterogeneous human operator team in classification task

This paper presents a Discrete Event System (DES) model of human operators in a classification task. Two classes of operators, novices and experts, are defined based on the operators' levels of expertise in classification. The operator's behavior is characterized by a task model, which describes how a task is serviced, and a mental model, which predicts the operator's mental arousal (a function of the operator's workload). A supervisory controller ensures that the operator's mental arousal be in a “good” state. An experiment to validate the task model is discussed and a preliminary interface for model validation and analysis is presented.
Axonal branches of the same cerebellar neurons terminate bilaterally in the thalamus

The efferent projections of the deep cerebellar nuclei which terminate bilaterally in the thalamus were investigated in the rat by means of the retrograde fluorescent double-labeling technique. After injection of True Blue or Fast Blue in the thalamus on one side and Nuclear Yellow on the other, the deep cerebellar nuclei on both sides contained many cells single-labeled from the contralateral thalamic injection and some cells double-labeled from both thalamic injections. Double-labeled cells were more numerous in the caudal part of the medial nucleus than in the other cerebellar nuclei. The present results indicate that some cerebellar cells give origin to bilateral thalamic projections by means of axon collaterals.
Perceptual and behavioural channel conflict: are they related?

This paper examines relationships between perceptions and behaviours of channel members in an industry embroiled in conflict. We scrutinize these relationships from the perspective of the retailers. We utilize realistic perceptual and behavioural constructs which are meaningful to retailers. Our results suggest that the relationships between perceptions and behaviours may be bi-directional. We review the pertinent literature on conflict and suggest directions for future research.
ATROPINE AND MICTURITION RESPONSES BY RATS WITH INTACT AND PARTIALLY INNERVATED BLADDER

1 Micturition responses by a group of 17 rats wee recorded during a water diuresis. During a 2 h period, uniform volumes of urine were passes at regular intervals; the mean of the voiding responses by each animal was consistent from one water loading period to another. Residual urine volumes were physiologically insignificant. 2 Atropine treatment did not compromise seriously micturition by water-loaded rats. Treated animals micturated more frequently; the mean volume was 68% of control. The residual urine volume was equal to that of controls. 3 Several week after the surgical removal of half the motor innervation of the bladder, there was no significant effect on micturition. Mean voiding volumes were not different from those of controls; residual urine volumes were the same as before denervation. 4 After half the innervation of the bladder had been destroyed. The effect of atropine on micturition was enhanced. Volumes passes were 50% of control; large residual volumes remained when micturition was over. Only in this group could bladder distension be found. 5 It is concluded that functional responses of the rat urinary bladder are not only resistant to atropine but also to the sizeable reduction in the number of neuroeffector units in the bladder itself. The functional reserve of the rat bladder musculature is remarkably high when assessed by its ability to empty adequately.
Police bureaucracies, their incentives, and the war on drugs

After 1984 local law enforcement agences in the U.S. substantially increased arrests for drug offenses relative to arrests for property and violent crimes. This paper explores why this reallocation of police resources occurred, focusing on alternative “public interest” and bureaucratic self interest explanations. The Comprehensive Crime Act of 1984 is shown to have altered the incentives of police agencies by allowing them to keep the proceeds of assets forfeited as a result of drug enforcement activities. Empirical evidence is presented which shows that police agencies can increase their discretionary budgets through the asset forfeiture process.
Restrahlen reflection in HgTe

Abstract We have observed the restrahlen reflection at λ = 85 μ . By fitting the experimental points with a classical Lorentz oscillator, it is found that the fundamental lattice absorption frequency ν 0 = 3.45 × 10 12 , the optical dielectric constant ϵ 0 = 14 and the effective charge q ∗ = 0.6 e .
Understanding India's Representation of North-South Climate Politics

This paper examines India's role in perpetuating North-South imaginaries in global climate politics. A Global South perspective on climate politics is premised on the differential contribution of developed and developing countries towards climate change, differential adaptive capacities, and the overriding need of developing countries to focus on poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Meanwhile, the North-South binary has been extensively critiqued in the literature for the heterogeneity of each category, narrowing gaps between North and South, and the state-centrism implicit in such a categorization. Based on the understanding that the reproduction of the North-South frame in climate discourses is inherently political, I examine the politics behind their reproduction, rather than focus on the validity of these categories. Based on fieldwork in Delhi and Copenhagen, my paper provides insight into the spatial politics of climate policy negotiations. The categories North and South, developed and d...
Vertical distribution of soil mites (Acari) in conventional and no-tillage agricultural systems.

Soil mite abundance was measured at four depths (0–5, 6.5–11.5, 13–18, and 19.5–24.5 cm) in agricultural plots under no-tillage or conventional tillage in Clarke County, Georgia, USA. The vertical distribution of mites was not significantly different between the two tillage systems: Most mites were found in the top 0–5 cm zone. This was the zone where greater moisture content occurred, and (in other studies) was the zone of maximum root biomass and microbial activity. Among mite suborders, only the Prostigmata were found in any abundance below 5 cm. Mite populations declined dramatically on occasions when the soil moisture exceeded field capacity, but did not appear to migrate vertically.