cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Updated and Expanded Nationwide Study of Business Communication Courses

This nationwide study of business communication instructors examined course delivery, course outlook, topics and depth of coverage, social media and technology coverage, diversity coverage, critica...
When Chemical Bonding is Perceived Simple and Interesting: The Design and Development of a Learning Object

The concept of chemical bonding is abstract and perceived as difficult. While it is a fundamental concept required to comprehend other chemistry topics, the learning outcomes are not always attained. Addressing this issue, our challenge was to create a learning intervention regarding a common, fundamental chemistry concept for students in a variety of undergraduate chemistry courses. We envisioned a learning product that invites students’ interest yet is challenging. This design case discusses the process, the literature that informs our design decisions, and strategies incorporated into the design of a learning object entitled Making Molecules: Dot Structures and Ionic Compounds to mitigate the learning issue. Discussion on the context of the project, design and development strategies, evaluation, and project reflection is presented as well.
Correlations between the solubility and surface characteristics of milk protein concentrate powder particles.

ABSTRACT The solubility of high-protein milk protein concentrate (MPC) may decrease significantly during storage, particularly at relatively high temperatures and humidity. The objective of this study was to seek correlations between the solubility loss of MPC during storage and various surface characteristics determined on the basis of simultaneous nanoscale topographical imaging and nanomechanical mapping of MPC particle surfaces using atomic force microscopy. A control MPC and a calcium-depleted MPC were stored at 45°C and 66% relative humidity for up to 60 d. The solubility of the control MPC was 56% at the beginning of the storage and gradually decreased to 10% at the end of the 60-d storage. The calcium-depleted MPC exhibited more rapid decreases from almost 100% at the beginning of the storage to 18% after storage for 45 d, after which we observed no significant difference in solubility between the control and calcium-depleted MPC. Averaged or root mean squared roughness values calculated using topographical images were found to have no correlation with the solubility. Deformation, Derjaguin-Muller-Toropov modulus, and adhesion images revealed the presence of individual casein micelles and larger clusters of aggregated casein micelles at MPC particle surfaces, whereas we observed no correlation between the solubility and averaged values of these nanomechanical properties. Furthermore, Derjaguin-Muller-Toropov modulus and adhesion images showed that the peripheral edges of individual casein micelles and their clusters had significantly higher values of the corresponding nanomechanical properties than other regions in the images, indicating the occurrence of the fusion of casein micelles. The surface area coverage or the percent area of the fused regions in an image revealed significant negative linear correlations with the solubility for both the control and calcium-depleted MPC. The present results support the hypothesis that the fusion of casein micelles at MPC powder particle surfaces is a causative factor for the solubility loss of MPC during storage and in turn suggest that the solubility loss may be alleviated by inhibiting the formation of a crust or skin on powder particle surfaces.
CASE STUDIES OF REAL-TIME PROCESSING IN ROBOTICS*

Examples are used to illustrate how robotics is computationally demanding, particularly with respect to time constraints within which the computation must complete. The examples are picked both from control algorithms for robots and from sensor data interpretation for robotics. The linear algebra problems involved are indicated.
Search Theory and the Tender Offer Auction

Shareholders want corporate managers to maximize share values, but the managers have discretion over a range of business outcomes. This discretion exists because the costs to shareholders of observing manager behavior often exceed the gains and because contracts conditioning manager rewards only on corporate outcomes cannot ensure that share values will be maximized.' Markets for corporate control and for managerial services may create incentives for managers better to satisfy shareholder preferences. Managers who do not could be displaced by takeovers, which are possible because shares of companies that are run suboptimally sell below "true" values (Manne). Also,
An efficient enumeration algorithm for canonical form underspecified semantic representations

We give polynomial-time algorithms for satisfiability and enumeration of underspecified semantic representations in a canonical form. This canonical form brings several underspecification formalisms together into a uniform framework (Manshadi et al., 2008), so the algorithms can be applied to any underspecified representation that can be converted to this form. In particular, our algorithm can be applied to Canonical Form Minimal Recursion Semantics (CF-MRS). An efficient satisfiability and enumeration algorithm has been found for a subset of MRS (Niehren and Thater, 2003). This subset, however, is not broad enough to cover all the meaningful MRS structures occurring in practice. CF-MRS, on the other hand, provably covers all MRS structures generated by the MRS semantic composition process.
Gastritis, Enteritis, and Colitis in Horses

The gastrointestinal system of horses is affected by a large variety of inflammatory infectious and noninfectious conditions. The most prevalent form of gastritis is associated with ulceration of the pars esophagea. Although the diagnostic techniques for alimentary diseases of horses have improved significantly over the past few years, difficulties still exist in establishing the causes of a significant number of enteric diseases in this species. This problem is compounded by several agents of enteric disease also being found in the intestine of clinically normal horses, which questions the validity of the mere detection of these agents in the intestine.
Bronchiolitis and recurrent wheezing.

To the Editor.— I continue to see patients in late adolescence with serious social and psychological problems that had been treated successfully with Ritalin. The medication was stopped at age 12 years because "the condition goes away at that age." Attention deficit disorder may indeed spontaneously remit at any age. Such remissions are unpredictable. Many patients continue with their problems long into adult life. If a child had problems related to attention deficit disorder of sufficient degree to warrant the use of medication, such medication should be continued as long as it exerts an obviously beneficial effect.
Injectable dexamethasone sodium phosphate administered orally? A pharmacokinetic analysis of a common emergency department practice.

BACKGROUND: The injectable formulation of dexamethasone has been administered orally, for the treatment of pediatric asthma and croup. The practice is followed in emergency departments around the country, but pharmacokinetic data supporting this practice are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the relative bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone sodium phosphate for injection (DSPI) administered orally compared to dexamethasone oral concentrate (DOC) in healthy adults. METHODS: This was an open label, crossover study of 11 healthy adults 18 to 45 years of age. All subjects received 8 mg of dexamethasone oral concentrate initially. After a 1-week wash-out period, subjects received 8 mg of DSPI administered orally. Dexamethasone levels were measured by liquid chromatography in tandem mass spectrometry. Cmax and area under the curve (AUC (0-t) and AUC (0-∞)) were calculated and compared between groups using the paired t test. RESULTS: The mean ± SD AUC(0-t) for dexamethasone oral concentr...
Simulation of a cognitive algorithm for a distributed robotic sensing network

This paper presents simulation and analysis of a collective of autonomous unmanned ground-based vehicles navigating a building searching for increasing smoke concentrations. The vehicles communicate smoke concentrations to each other to determine the location of the highest concentration value. The data generated front the robots' sensors is used to activate a semantic network to generate data for further cognitive operations. Statistical analysis is employed on the data to identify schema and themes, which enable the robots to convey a story of their experiences, thus emulating human episodic memory.
Incretins and risk of neoplasia

An association exists but causality has not yet been proved Incretin based treatment for type 2 diabetes improves hyperglycaemia without causing weight gain and is increasingly being used worldwide. Concerns have been raised about long term safety, as reported by Cohen,1 especially the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancers—both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumours. Although concerns about adverse effects of incretin on the pancreas initially focused on acute pancreatitis, recent observational studies suggest an increased risk of subclinical pancreatic inflammation and pancreatic cancer.2 3 One study reported that pancreatic cancer was more common in patients with diabetes who used exenatide or sitagliptin than those who used other antihyperglycaemics.2 Similar concerns were raised by the drug commission of the German Medical Association in patients receiving exenatide.3 These concerns were reinforced by data from the Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system, which suggested an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in patients treated with incretins.4 Although cause for concern, these observational studies do not prove causality. Several epidemiological and mechanistic questions need to be considered when interpreting these …
Intake and food sources of macronutrients among older Hispanic adults: association with ethnicity, acculturation, and length of residence in the United States.

Abstract Objective To describe the food intake and food sources of macronutrients in diets of older Hispanic adults in the Northeastern United States and to explore relationships between acculturation, years in the United States, and macronutrient intake. Design Cross-sectional study using a representative sample of older Hispanic adults and a comparison group of non-Hispanic whites. Subjects/setting Hispanic (n=711) and non-Hispanic white (n=226) persons, aged 60 years and older, residing in Massachusetts. Statistical analysis Macronutrient intakes, collected by 24-hour dietary recall, were compared across ethnic groups by means of the general linear models procedure (with Bonferroni adjustments). Associations between macronutrient intake and predictor variables were tested with Pearson correlations and linear regression. The contribution of foods to total intake of macronutrients was determined by use of a rank procedure. Results Hispanic elderly subjects consumed significantly less saturated fat and simple sugars and more complex carbohydrates than did non-Hispanic whites. Hispanics residing in the United States for a longer time tended to have macronutrient profiles more similar to those of the non-Hispanic whites. Rice for Hispanic and bread for non-Hispanics were the major contributors of energy. More acculturated Hispanic elders consumed fewer ethnic foods and more foods related to the non-Hispanic-white eating patterns than those less acculturated. Applications/conclusions Efforts to promote better diets among Hispanic elders need to emphasize maintenance or adoption of healthful dietary patterns based on ethnic and modern foods that will satisfy their biological, emotional, and social needs. Dietitians and other dietetics practitioners can use the information presented here in studying nutrition-related chronic diseases, in public health planning, and in nutrition education and promotion efforts directed to ethnic-specific, elderly Hispanic groups. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:665-673.
Ungoverned space: Global security and the geopolitics of broken windows

Abstract Contemporary geopolitical narratives have shifted from a Cold War focus on security attained through effective spatial containment to an emphasis on security won through effective spatial administration. Weak, disorderly, and ungoverned spaces are often scripted as insecure and dangerous, requiring sovereign intervention and harsh discipline as a corrective action. These narratives and practices increasingly borrow from the domestic arena, and serve to blur former binaries such as internal/external and policing and war. This paper investigates the domestic “broken windows policing” language of ungoverned, disorderly space in New York City, and traces its movement and subsequent usage in the occupation of Iraq. The use of language such as broken windows and zero tolerance serves to legitimate state practices, but is also effective as a shaping force for newly articulated positions and subjects. It is argued that broken windows policing, as an imaginative geopolitical scripting of the perils of chaotic and ungoverned space, helps to produce new forms of governance through security. Further, this disciplining process facilitates the formation and entrenchment of neoliberal practices and subjectivities by rendering spaces and populations ‘insecure’ and in need of repositioning—hence opening them up to powerful market forces and technologies of the self such as privatization, entrepreneurialism, and responsibilization.
Medical malpractice involving colon and rectal disease: a 20-year review of United States civil court litigation.

To determine objectively the causes of malpractice litigation involving colon and rectal disease, a retrospective review was undertaken of all cases tried in the U.S. federal and state civil court system over a 21-year period from 1971 through 1991. Ninety-eight malpractice cases were identified from a computerized legal data base, involving 103 allegations of negligence. Allegations fell into five major categories: 1) failure to timely diagnose disease, principally colorectal cancer and appendicitis (n=44/ 103; 43 percent); 2) iatrogenic colon injury (n=25/ 103; 24 percent); 3) iatrogenic medical complications during diagnosis or treatment (n=16/103; 15 percent); 4) sphincter injury with fecal incontinence, resulting from anorectal surgery or midline episiotomy (n=10/ 103; 10 percent); and 5) lack of informed consent, especially regarding extent of procedures or risk of endoscopy (n=8/103; 8 percent). These data may aid in design of risk prevention strategies related to the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal disease.
Independent pair approximation for attractive bose condensates

A bosonic analog of the independent pair approximation is developed in the context of a zero-temperature assembly with a positive s-wave scattering length, but attractive interparticle interactions. By preferentially scattering any pair back into the condensate, we account for the effect that all other particles have on the two-body state inside the medium. Instead of the energy of a pair, the poles of the resulting T matrix now give the chemical potential of the system. One pole reveals a collapsing many-body ground state whereas the other gives a complex valued chemical potential, where the imaginary part quantifies the decay rate of the condensate. Both solutions are in close agreement with those obtained in a variational calculation.
Logic and functional programming: Fresh concepts in computer processing are revolutionizing modeling needs

Early models of computation and the development of imperative languages are reviewed briefly as a background for understanding the evolution of nonimperative languages. Prolog and SASL are examined. Machine architectures that require nonimperative languages are discussed.
The effect of industrial composition variations on the transformation behavior of ultralow-carbon steels

The transformation behavior and microstructural evolution of two alloys representing the extreme rich and lean compositional variations expected for production quantities of an ultralow-carbon (ULC) steel have been characterized. Dilatometry, optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and microhardness measurements were used to identify the microstructures produced at various cooling rates and to develop continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams for these ULC steels. It was demonstrated that the compositional variations expected from production heats made with current fabrication practices cause extensive variations in the transformation behavior, microstructure, and microhardness (as well as other mechanical properties) of these steels.
Nematode Parasites of the Douglas-Fir Beetle in Idaho and Utah

During 1958–62, 738 adult Douglas-fir beetles, Dendroctonus pseudotstlgae Hopkins, from Idaho and Utah were examined for nematodes. Ectoparasitic species found were primarily Mikoletzkya sp. but included some Ektaphelenchus obtusus Massey and Aphelenchoides sp. In order of their abundance, endoparasites were: Contortylenchus reversus (Thorne) Ruhm, Parasitaphelenchus sp. (both in the body cavity) and Parasitorhabditis obtusa (Fuchs) Dougherty (in the midgut). In 1965, Sphaerulariopsis dendroctoni (Massey) Nickle was found in the beetle for, the first time. About 93% of the beetles were infested with at least one species of nematode. Rates of parasitism varied little by sex of beetles; greater differences occurred between localities, between standing and felled trees, and with maturity of beetles.
Gender Bias in Compensation Structures: A Case Study of Its Historical Basis and Persistence

Analysis of the California State Civil Service indicates that the salary structure established in the 1930s explicitly lowered salaries for female-dominated job titles simply because these jobs were filled by women. Moreover, this wage structure continues to influence current wages, even while controlling for the wages paid by similar establishments. The stability of the wage structure results from the state's policy of maintaining the relative salary structure, despite conflicting market wages. As a result of maintaining this wage structure, female-dominated jobs have been underpaid between $202-$990 million in the period from 1973 to 1986.
Tumor-targeting peptide-PNA-peptide chimeras for imaging overexpressed oncogene mRNAs.

We have optimized a method involving continuous solid phase synthesis of chelator-peptide-PNA-peptide probes in order to noninvasively image oncogene mRNAs overexpressed in tumors. The PNA (peptide nucleic acid) probes carry cyclized peptide ligand analogs specific for receptors overexpressed on malignant breast or colorectal cancer cells, and chelators to bind radioactive metal ions, or a fluorophore. In vivo scintigraphic imaging of MCF7 xenografts in immunocompromised mice indicated that CCND1 and MYC [99mTc]chelator-PNA-D(CSKC) probes concentrated in MCF7 cells up to 7 times more than the corresponding mismatch controls.
Hydrogen isotope fractionation between OH-bearing minerals and water

Hydrogen isotope fractionation factors between hydroxyl-bearing minerals and water were determined at temperatures ranging between 400 and 850°C. The hydrogen isotope exchange rates for the mineral-water pairs examined were very slow. In most cases it was necessary to use an interpolation method for the determination of the hydrogen isotope equilibrium fractionation factor, α_e. For the temperature range of 450–850°C the hydrogen isotope fractionation factors for the mica-water and amphibole-water systems are simply expressed as a function of temperature and the molar fractions of the six-fold coordinated cations in the crystal, regardless of mineral species, as follows: 10^3 In α_(e(mineral-water)) = − 22.4 (10^6T^(−2)) + 28.2 + (2X_(Al) − 4X_(Mg) − 68X_(Fe)), where X is the molar fraction of the cations. As the equation indicates, for any specific composition of the OH-bearing minerals, the change of α_e with temperature, over the temperature range investigated, is the same for all minerals studied. Thus for any specified values of X_(Al), X_(Mg), and X_(Fe) for these minerals, the relationship between α_e and T is 10^3 In α_e = αT^(−2) + k. Consequently, hydrogen isotope fractionation among coexisting minerals is temperature independent and cannot be used as a hydrogen isotope geothermometer. Some exceptions to the above general observations exist for minerals such as boehmite and kaolinite. In these minerals hydrogen bonding modifies the equilibrium hydrogen isotopic fractionation between mineral and water.
A supervised learning approach for routing optimizations in wireless sensor networks

Routing in sensor networks maintains information on neighbor states and potentially many other factors in order to make informed decisions. Challenges arise both in (a) performing accurate and adaptive information discovery and (b) processing/analyzing the gathered data to extract useful features and correlations. In this paper, we explore using supervised learning techniques to address such challenges in wireless sensor networks. Machine learning has been very effective in discovering relations between attributes and extracting knowledge and patterns using a large corpus of samples.As a case study, we use link quality prediction to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. For this purpose, we present MetricMap,a link-quality aware collection protocol atop MintRoute that derives link quality information using knowledge acquired from a training phase. Our approach allows MetricMap to maintain efficient routing in situations where traditional approaches fail. Evaluation on a 30-node sensor network testbed shows that MetricMap can achieve up to 300% improvement on data delivery rate in a high data-rate application, with no negative impact on other performance metrics, such as data latency. Our approach is based on real-world measurement and provides a new perspective to routing optimizations in wireless sensor networks.
Helicobacter pylori in Liquid Culture: Evaluation of Growth Rates and Ultrastructure

This study investigated the growth of Helicobacter (H.) pylori in Brucella broth supplemented with either IsoVitaleX (1% vol/vol), hemin (.01% wt.vol), agar (0.3% wt/vol), or blood agar blocks (1.5% wt/vol agar). IsoVitaleX was found to significantly shorten the lag phase, while hemin inhibited the growth within the first 24 hours but later acted as a growth stimulant. There was a tendency toward stronger growth when blood agar blocks were added to the medium. Subsequent electron microscopic evaluation revealed that cells of H. pylori were attached to blood agar block surfaces. In contrast, the supplementation of Brucella broth with agar did not significantly increase the cell density. When H. pylori was grown in the presence of IsoVitaleX, strongly stainable electron-dense bodies (140-200 nm) were seen in the cytoplasms. Incubation of cultures on rotary shakers at 10 rpm significantly enhanced growth. The addition of glycerol (15% vol/vol) or fetal bovine serum (15% vol/vol) showed good ultrastructural preservation of bacteria with undamaged cell walls and cytoplasmic membranes, and cytoplasms were ribosome-dense. Cell counts revealed that cultures stored in glycerol or fetal bovine serum had a significantly lower loss in viability when compared with cultures stored without cryopreservatives. Unprotected cells of H. pylori showed on electron micrographs, clumping, cell lysis, and flagellar damage. Finally, the survival rates of H. pylori after multiple thawing from storage at -80 degrees C were best in Brucella broth/glycerol, Brucella broth/fetal bovine serum, and Brucella broth without cryopreservative (in descending order).
A logit model for the modulation transfer function of screen-film systems.

An empirically derived logit function is proposed to describe the modulation transfer function of x‐ray screen–film systems. Simple and exact weighted linear regressionanalyses are performed to characterize the function and to describe the data within experimental accuracy. Calculations comparing the proposed function and the complementary error function (probit) representations of the modulation transfer function are given and discussed.
A note on optimal doubly-chained trees

This note concerns the recent paper by Hu [2] dealing with doubly-chained trees of the type introduced by Sussenguth [9]. In the second part of the paper, Hu deals with the problem of constructing an optimum weighted doubly-chained tree, under the standard assumption that no key is allowed to prefix another, as found, for example, in Patt [6]. He states that for the weights and elements of Figure 1, the optimum doubly-chained tree with all nodes reachable in less than five steps is the one shown in Figure 2. This tree is obtained from the optimal binary tree constructed in Hu and Tan [3], using the technique found in Knuth [5]. But the doubly-chained tree constructed by this method comes from an artificially restricted class of doubly-chained trees, and is thus not optimal in the sense usually defined in the literature [6-9] and described below. This fact is recognized by Hu [1], but was not explicitly stated in the paper in question.
Thiol-ene “click” networks from amphiphilic fluoropolymers: full synthesis and characterization of a benchmark anti-biofouling surface

The synthesis of heterogeneous, amphiphilic crosslinked networks from photo-initiated thiol-ene chemistry and full characterization of the physicochemical, anti-biofouling, mechanical, and thermal properties of this system are reported. Although interest in coatings that present heterogeneous surface features is increasing, anti-biofouling performance is typically compared to homogeneous biocidal- or non-toxic polydimethylsiloxane-based paints, for the advancement of commercial and novel systems, which leaves a need for a benchmark to compare highly complex, heterogeneous composites with similar complexities. This system has been generated and rigorously analyzed to understand how microscopic and nanoscopic disorder, resistance to protein adsorption and surface mechanical properties can be fine-tuned and optimized through oligomer selection, blend ratios and process conditions. Solution-state studies of individual and blended constituents probed the relative fluorescence intensities based on concentration and neighboring species that were used to identify microscopic disorder on the surface. Incubation of a fluorescently labelled protein on the benchmark surface showed 42% and 72% less adsorption than on model surfaces that largely expressed a single component. The extent of reaction and the identification of unconsumed functionalities were found through infrared spectroscopy. The benchmark surface had a Young's modulus of approximately 0.5 GPa, 7 to 35 times higher than model surfaces, with 50 times the variation in modulus. Nanoscale surface adhesion force variation and bulk wettability and bulk thermal stability are also reported. This study provides an extensive list of metrics to be used for the development of complex, heterogeneous, anti-biofouling coatings, appropriate to both surface optimization and mechanical tunability, for implementation in real-world applications.
Biosynthese von Naturstoffzuckern und enzymatische Glycodiversifizierung

Viele biologisch aktive niedermolekulare Naturstoffe, die von Mikroorganismen produziert werden, leiten ihre Aktivitaten von Zuckersubstituenten ab. Eine Veranderung der Struktur dieser Zucker kann starke Auswirkungen auf die biologischen Eigenschaften der Stammverbindungen haben. Diese Erkenntnis hat zu Bestrebungen gefuhrt, die Zuckerreste dieser Naturstoffe mithilfe des Zuckerbiosyntheseapparats zu derivatisieren. Hierfur mussen die jeweiligen Biosynthesewege und die Mechanismen der Schlusselenzyme im Detail bekannt sein. In der Biochemie beginnt man allmahlich, die Biosyntheseprinzipien, die dem Aufbau vieler glycosylierter Naturstoffe zugrunde liegen, zu verstehen, und man konnte einen Satz von Enzymaktivitaten ausmachen, die fur die Synthese der vielfaltigen in der Natur beobachteten Zuckerstrukturen zustandig sind. Bemerkenswerterweise zeigen viele dieser Zuckerbiosyntheseenzyme ebenso wie Glycosyltransferasen eine relaxierte Substratspezifitat. Die Promiskuitat dieser Enzyme fuhrte zu Bestrebungen, die Zuckerstrukturen zu modifizieren und die Glycosylierungsmuster von Naturstoffen durch Planung der Stoffwechselwege oder durch enzymatische Glycodiversifizierung zu verandern. In der praktischen biomedizinischen Forschung werden diese Studien zur Entwicklung neuer Glycosylierungsmittel fuhren und bei Sekundarmetaboliten neue Glycoformen mit nutzlichen biologischen Aktivitaten hervorbringen.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON RESPIRATION : V. THE EFFECT OF ETHER ON THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE BY ANIMALS.

1. The experiments on frog tadpoles show that with 0.15, 0.37, and 0.55 per cent ether solutions there is a decrease in CO2 output. The effect is reversible. With these concentrations the breathing movements and body movements remained normal during the experiment. In 3.65 and 7.3 per cent ether there is a decrease of respiration followed by an increase which in turn is followed by a decrease. The increase may reach about three times the normal rate. The increase in the CO2 output is accompanied by the peeling of the skin. The effect is irreversible. 2. Experiments on an aquatic insect, Dineutes assimilis Aube, show that in 7.3 per cent ether there is a decrease followed by an increase which in turn is followed by a decrease. There is no apparent disintegration of structures in the organism accompanying the increase. The effect is irreversible. 3. The experiments on frog eggs with 7.3 per cent ether show a result similar to that found in aquatic insects. 4. Experiments on Fundulus embryos show that with 0.73 per cent ether there is a reversible decrease in the rate of CO2 production. In 3.65 per cent ether there is a temporary decrease followed by an increase, after which the rate begins to fall off. In 7.3 per cent ether there is an immediate increase amounting to 307 per cent which is followed by a decrease. The increase in the 3.65 and 7.3 per cent ether is accompanied by irreversible changes leading to death. The decrease found in 0.73 per cent ether is not sufficient to cause narcosis, as is shown by experiments on which the same decrease is produced by lowering the temperature. 5. These experiments show that narcosis is not due to asphyxia. The action of anesthetics is due to some other cause than the effect on respiration. There is a difference between the animals studied and the plants described in this series of articles, since in animals the increase in the CO2 output is accompanied by irreversible changes leading to death, while this is not necessarily the case in plants. The reversible (narcotic) action of ether on the animals studied was accompanied by a decrease in the carbon dioxide output; in plants this is not ordinarily the case. These facts are of considerable interest, but their interpretation must be left to future investigation.
Fanconi anemia: A paradigm of discovering molecular pathways from patients

We are delighted to bring you this special edition on Fanconi anemia (FA), a rare disease that is characterized by bone marrow failure and a predisposition to cancer. Since FA is caused by an inherited defect in a genome maintenance pathway, it is particularly fitting for Mutation Research to sponsor this edition. As the title of this special edition indicates, FA is a classic example of a puzzling human disease that stimulates basic research, which leads to the discovery of a novel pathway for responding to cellular stress. This is a testimony to the power of clinical observation and the profound impact of scientific enquiry. We are therefore particularly delighted to include as authors in this special edition clinicians who treat FA patients and basic scientists who use various model organisms to do elegant genetic and interventional experiments to dissect the molecular basis of FA. This exemplifies how synergy between scientists with diverse talents can lead to exponential gains. There has been an explosive growth in knowledge over the last decade that has identified numerous FA genes, generated insight into the molecular function of the proteins encoded by FA genes, and led to an understanding of how these proteins are organized into a pathway that responds to replication-blocking lesions. As a result, the field is poised to provide improved therapeutic options for FA patients and novel strategies for treating cancer in the general population.
How gastroenterologists inform patients of results after lower endoscopy

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about how gastroenterologists communicate endoscopic findings and biopsy results to their patients. We sought to determine the factors that may influence this behavior. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was developed and mailed to the 80 members of the Delaware Valley Society for GI Endoscopy. Information was obtained on the demographic characteristics and responses to six case vignettes prepared to examine communication patterns. We determined possible influences of conscious sedation and the benignity or severity of findings on communication practices. RESULTS: Sixty-one surveys (76%) were completed and analyzed. Endoscopists immediately inform patients of normal results. For abnormal results, 92% would immediately inform nonsedated patients versus 79% that would inform sedated patients (p 2 cm (p < 0.01). In contrast, when presented with a frank malignancy, 94% would inform the patient. Eighty-four percent of endoscopists would telephone results of a benign pathology report, but only 34% would telephone report a dysplastic lesion (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the response rate and various demographic parameters such as physician age, type of, or length of time in practice. CONCLUSIONS: Gastroenterologists usually report normal findings immediately, but are less likely to do so after use of sedation or encountering abnormal findings. Most of those surveyed would use the telephone to communicate abnormal findings.
Waste Management: The Cleaning of America

The history of solid waste collection and disposal is traced from the 19th Century, when public health was the major factor, to modern programs. Once regarded as a nuisance, solid wastes are now looked upon as the third pollutant and an ecological hazard because they are so closely interrelated with air and water pollution. Solid wastes were recognized as a national problem that was not responding to current treatment in 1965 with the passage of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. This Act focused on disposal, however, and is weak in the area of collection and its failure to mandate a regulatory authority. Efforts to correct these weaknesses led to the Resource Recovery Act of 1970, which shifted the emphasis from disposal to recycling, conversion to energy, and hazardous waste storage. The Office of Solid Waste was created in 1970, but federal and state interest and involvement in street cleaning and sanitation has been inconsistent. New technologies, such as in-house garbage grinders and compacters have not resolved the basic political and economic problems of collection and treatment or of the wasteful packaging and overconsumption habits of Americans and the associated litter epidemic. 49 references. (DCK)
Correlation of molecular mechanics and NMR data: Conformation and configuration of the Meerwein lactones

A method for relating averaged NMR parameters with point-by-point geometries for MM2 calculations is given for mobile molecules, e.g. δ-lactones. This method permits the identification of cis/trans geometry in cases where a complete set of isomers is not available. 2-Oxa-3r,4c,5t-triphenylcyclohexanone is prepared by condensation of 1,2-diphenylethanone with 3-phenylpropenal. The initially formed formed biscarbonyl adduct undergoes an internal Cannizzaro reaction forming a hydroxy ester, which lactonizes during work-up. The stereochemistry of the hydride transfer in the Cannizzaro reaction is consistent with the Felkin rule for asymmetric induction. The configurations of this and related lactones were studied through observation of NMR coupling constants, reductions to hemiacetals and molecular mechanics calculations. The most stable conformations are found to be a boat form for the parent lactone and a half-chair form for two isomers. The half-chair and boat forms lie near in energy for all isomers. The calculation techniques outlined illustrate that it is incorrect to consider only chair and boat forms; many intermediate conformations exist. Difficulties with previous IR methods of analysis are discussed.
Recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against CD18 (rhuMAb CD18) in traumatic hemorrhagic shock: results of a phase II clinical trial. Traumatic Shock Group.

Background: Activated neutrophils have been shown to play a pivotal role in resuscitation injury after traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Blocking the adhesion of neutrophils with a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against CD18 (rhuMAb CD18) may reduce resuscitation injury but increase the risk of infection. This was a dose-finding phase II study to determine safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical outcome parameters for additional studies. Methods: This was a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized (3:1), double-blind phase II trial enrolling 116 blunt and penetrating trauma patients from 14 trauma centers over a 9-month period. Patients with hypotension (blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg) from hemorrhagic shock were given a single intravenous dose of rhuMAb CD18 or placebo. The three doses tested were 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg. The drug was administered within 4 hours of the hypotensive episode and no later than 6 hours from time of injury. Exclusion criteria included head injury resulting in Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 8 or a history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the trauma center. An independent Drug Safety and Monitoring Review Board periodically reviewed unblinded data for safety issues and to give approval for dose escalation. Results: Minor and major infection rates in rhuMAb CD18 groups were comparable to placebo. There was no evidence of antibody formation against rhuMAb CD18. Linear PK was observed within the dose range studied. Duration of neutrophil binding was dose-dependent, with 2 mg/kg resulting in greater than 90% neutrophil CD18 receptor saturation for approximately 48 hours. The mortality was 6.7% (2 of 30) in the placebo group, 4.8% (1 of 21) in the 0.5-mg/kg group, 8.5% (4 of 47) in the 1-mg/kg group, and 0% (0 of 18) in the 2-mg/kg group. The study was not powered for efficacy, and none of the efficacy variables demonstrated statistical significance. Favorable trends were seen in the 2-mg/kg group as compared with placebo in median intensive care unit length of stay (5 vs. 9 days) and median time on ventilator (34 vs. 72 hours). Conclusions: A single 2-mg/kg dose of rhuMAb CD18 maintains greater than 90% saturation of neutrophil CD18 receptors for approximately 48 hours in patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock undergoing resuscitation. There was no trend toward increased infection. A larger trial is needed to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of rhuMAb CD18, perhaps using more reliable endpoints.
Novel europium and osmium complexes for pure red light emitting diode applications

Pure and efficient red light-emitting diodes based on novel europium (Eu) and osmium (Os) complexes were demonstrated. The Eu complex, with dendron substituted diketone ligands, exhibits high photoluminescence efficiency of 45%. When a copolymer containing carbazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole groups was used as the host, narrow electroluminescence at 617 nm was achieved, with a 'full width at half maximum of 4 nm and a maximum external quantum efficiency (η) of 0.80%, The Os complex shows pure red emission peaking at 650 nm. The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates (x, y) are (0.65, 0.33). Maximum η and brightness achieved were 0.82% and 590 cd/m 2 , respectively.
Effects of Motivations and Gender on Adolescents' Self-Disclosure in Online Chatting

This study investigated the effect of motivations for online chatting and gender factors in self-disclosure in adolescents' online chatting. Participants were 260 high school students (128 female, 132 male) who participated in online chatting. The results revealed that self-disclosure in online chatting differed by motivation, but gender was not a significant variable for explaining self-disclosure.
Statistical Robustness Study for Kinetic Models

Kinetic models are nonlinear systems that depict the dependence between process variables and components or products where the process variables are usually assumed to be fixed. This is under the assumption that the process variables that govern the outputs are fully controllable. However, process variables are not always fully controllable and are more often hard-to-control during normal operation on a full-scale chemical production plant. This Article outlines the methodology of statistical robustness studies for kinetic models. Such an application is apparently new in engineering design and analysis. We illustrate the use of computer experiments and evaluate different response models and designs for determining optimum conditions, which are robust against the variability in the hard-to-control variables. The methodology is demonstrated with two examples, the main one being the ethoxylation of ethylene glycol in an inter cooled pipe reactor. The practical value of statistical robustness studies is that it quantifies the convoluted effect of model uncertainty and model input deviation.
Block-oriented modeling of superstructure optimization problems

Abstract We present a novel software framework for modeling large-scale engineered systems as mathematical optimization problems. A key motivating feature in such systems is their hierarchical, highly structured topology. Existing mathematical optimization modeling environments do not facilitate the natural expression and manipulation of hierarchically structured systems. Rather, the modeler is forced to “flatten” the system description, hiding structure that may be exploited by solvers, and obfuscating the system that the modeling environment is attempting to represent. To correct this deficiency, we propose a Python-based “block-oriented” modeling approach for representing the discrete components within the system. Our approach is an extension of the Pyomo library for specifying mathematical optimization problems. Through the use of a modeling components library, the block-oriented approach facilitates a clean separation of system superstructure from the details of individual components. This approach also naturally lends itself to expressing design and operational decisions as disjunctive expressions over the component blocks. By expressing a mathematical optimization problem in a block-oriented manner, inherent structure (e.g., multiple scenarios) is preserved for potential exploitation by solvers. In particular, we show that block-structured mathematical optimization problems can be straightforwardly manipulated by decomposition-based multi-scenario algorithmic strategies, specifically in the context of the PySP stochastic programming library. We illustrate our block-oriented modeling approach using a case study drawn from the electricity grid operations domain: unit commitment with transmission switching and N − 1 reliability constraints. Finally, we demonstrate that the overhead associated with block-oriented modeling only minimally increases model instantiation times, and need not adversely impact solver behavior.
Hazard evaluation of diisononyl phthalate and diisodecyl phthalate in a Japanese medaka multigenerational assay

Reproductive and developmental effects of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) were evaluated in a Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) multigeneration protocol. Each phthalate was administered via fish flake diets at a concentration of 20 microg/g (1 microg/g fish/day). Two controls were included, untreated and acetone carrier. The F(0) and F(1) generation adults were reared to sexual maturation and the test was ended prior to sexual maturation of the F(2) generation. Biochemical, individual, and population parameters were evaluated: testosterone metabolism, 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) activity, survival, development, growth, gonadal-somatic index, histopathology, sex ratio, and fecundity. Male fish showed a two-fold induction of several testosterone metabolites in the DINP-treated group compared to the untreated control but not the acetone control. In a similar manner, in female fish only the DIDP-treated group expressed greater testosterone hydroxylase activity. There were neither sex- nor treatment-related differences in the results from the EROD assay. A statistically significant transient delay in red blood cell pigmentation was observed. The male-to-female ratio was consistent across treatments and the phenotypic and histological gender classifications were in agreement. Egg production was not significantly different among treatment groups. Neither phthalate elicited an effect on reproduction or development at various levels of biological organization.
Use of the internal friction technique to measure rates of grain boundary sliding

Abstract Since boundaries are usually non-planar (the bamboo structure is an exception), sliding at boundaries must be accompanied by an accommodation process. Small amounts of total sliding (~100 A or strains ~10 −4 ) can be accommodated by elastic strains in the neighboring grains; this sliding is recoverable and hence the sliding strain is “anelastic”. The relaxation time associated with the elastically accommodated sliding can be measured by the internal friction technique. This relaxation time has been calculated when inclusions of size “p” are present in the boundaries of a polycrystal of grain size “ d ” where p ≪ d . It is assumed that sliding across the inclusions is accommodated by boundary diffusion of vacancies, whereas the total overall sliding is determined by the elastic deformation of the grains. Results from the internal friction measurements in polycrystalline copper (with SiO 2 or GeO 2 inclusions) are shown to be in agreement with the theoretical relaxation times.
Spectroscopic detection of cancer using NIR imaging and hyperspectral microscopy

We explore NIR autofluorescence and polarized light scattering imaging in combination with hyperspectral microscopy to detect and image various types of cancer . Fresh surgical human specimens are used and images are compared to histopathology
Labor composition and long-run employment in a minimum-wage economy

This article examines the long-run consequences of minimum wage regulation within the framework of a two-labor-sector growth model, where a minimum real wage is effective only in the “unskilled” labor sector. The assumption of heterogeneous labor makes possible a stable steady-state growth equilibrium. Conditions for the stability and existence of steady-state equilibrium are presented. A significant implication of the model is that selective immigration policies that encourage the influx of skilled workers would have the long-run effect of increasing the employment rate of unskilled labor, even in cases where the two labor sectors are nearly perfect substitutes.