cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy balance relationship in collision between ship and moored collision-prevention system

In order to study the energy balance relationship in the collision between the ship and the moored collision-prevention system,the kinetic energy and power of the moored collision-prevention system collided by the ship were calculated by using the kinetic energy theorem and the equation of chain force solution.The kinetic energy of the ship and the power produced by frictional force and chain force were mainly considered.Numerical values were compared with the test results.The result shows that the sum power produced by frictional force and chain force is close to the kinetic energy of the ship,which can be considered as the basic condition in the primary design of the collision-prevention system.
Analysis of gestational interval

The last menstrual period (LMP) date is a benchmark for duration of each pregnancy for lack of any readily available alternative. The derived interval, wrongly referred to as “weeks of gestation,” is assessed critically with respect to its dependability in terms of over 2,000 live births for which the LMP onset was currently recorded in a study of menstrual history. The derived gestational interval is statistically defined by a smooth probability curve ranging from 225 to 312 days when each extreme percentile of cases is ignored. Seventy per cent of all live births occur within 280 ± 10 days. Evidence available from isolated coitus data and other sources indicates that short gestational intervals are partly ascribable to rhythmic cyclic vaginal bleedings not distinguishable by the patient from normal menstrual flows. It is clear also that unrecognized abortions preceding a durable pregnancy without an intervening menstruation must contribute to long gestational intervals. Women generally report to obstetricians with well-informed and dependable information concerning the LMP date.
Anxiety and its Impact on Osteoarthritis Pain: An Update

Anxiety is a very common psychological syndrome occurring in the adult population either as a trait or specific condition, and/or in response to a variety of situations, especially adverse health conditions. This narrative review examines the extent to which anxiety may preside among adults with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, regardless of site, and its linkage to the pain experience. Drawn from the English language peer reviewed work over the last 35 years, articles that focused on the topic of anxiety among cases with osteoarthritis were examined. Although very limited in quantity, these data showed, a sizable proportion of adults with osteoarthritis may present with comorbid anxiety problems, as well as excess anxiety in response to their situation. In most cases, those with any form of anxiety experience more pain, and have less optimal outcomes than those without anxiety. It is concluded that more attention to this correlate in the research and clinical realm will enable a more favorable outlook for the osteoarthritic patient, regardless of joint site, or disease duration.
The use of oxygen prescription wristbands significantly improves patient safety on an acute respiratory ward

Background: Medical oxygen is a drug, which without an individual prescription and with inappropriate provision carries a potentially fatal risk. British Thoracic Society (BTS) national annual audit confirms that oxygen therapy (OT) prescription and its consequent monitoring in secondary care is insufficient. Aims and objectives: This study investigates effectiveness of patient wristbands on consistency of oxygen prescription, saturation (SpO 2 ) monitoring, nursing documentation and accuracy of OT provision on an acute respiratory ward. Methods: On an acute respiratory ward, patients at risk of type 2 respiratory failure were asked to wear a brightly coloured wristband during their hospital stay. Following BTS guidance and audit, OT prescription rates, percent of nursing signatures, observation rates and actual SpO 2 vs target SpO 2 were audited once, both pre and 3 months post wristbands introduction. Results: OT prescription (60% to 64%) and observation (97% to 100%) rates remained largely unaffected. Nursing signatures on OT prescriptions increased from 25% to 75%. Accuracy of target oxygen saturation ranges improved from 67% to 100%. Conclusions: These preliminary results show that the use of patient wristbands during an acute inpatient stay can improve nursing signatures for OT prescriptions and increase accuracy of target SpO 2 . This demonstrates that once prescribed, wristbands can be an effective visual cue to prompt nursing staff both on medication rounds and in taking routine patient observations, thereby improving patient safety. Further long term data analysis and broader hospital utilisation is required to increase the reliability and validity of this intervention.
Computer aided analysis of prostate histopathology images to support a refined Gleason grading system.

The Gleason grading system used to render prostate cancer diagnosis has recently been updated to allow more accurate grade stratification and higher prognostic discrimination when compared to the traditional grading system. In spite of progress made in trying to standardize the grading process, there still remains approximately a 30% grading discrepancy between the score rendered by general pathologists and those provided by experts while reviewing needle biopsies for Gleason pattern 3 and 4, which accounts for more than 70% of daily prostate tis- sue slides at most institutions. We propose a new computational imaging method for Gleason pattern 3 and 4 classification, which better matches the newly established prostate cancer grading system. The computer- aided analysis method includes two phases. First, the boundary of each glandular region is automatically segmented using a deep convolutional neural network. Second, color, shape and texture features are extracted from superpixels corresponding to the outer and inner glandular regions and are subsequently forwarded to a random forest classifier to give a gradient score between 3 and 4 for each delineated glandular region. The F1 score for glandular segmentation is 0.8460 and the classification accuracy is 0.83±0.03.
TAFRO syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

TAFRO syndrome is a rare clinicopathologic variant of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease characterized by Thrombocytopenia, Ascites (anasarca), myeloFibrosis, Renal dysfunction, and Organomegaly. Here, we report a case of TAFRO syndrome in an HIV-negative young Caucasian male who presented with fever, normocytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal insufficiency. The serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was elevated. Chest and abdominal CT revealed bilateral pleural effusion, ascites, splenomegaly, and multiple mildly enlarged lymph nodes. An excisional biopsy of inguinal lymph node showed a few atrophic follicles and expansion of interfollicular areas by marked vascular proliferation and polytypic plasmacytosis. HHV-8 was negative. Subsequent bone marrow biopsy was normocellular with moderately increased megakaryocytes and occasional megakaryocytic emperipolesis. His signs and symptoms improved after treatment with methylprednisolone and tocilizumab (anti-IL-6 receptor antibody). Our study confirms the distinctive nature of this syndrome, which should allow for better recognition and appropriate therapy.
V-Neck Technique: A Novel Improvement to the Infra-Pubic Placement of an Inflatable Penile Implant.

Abstract Background Infra-pubic placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) has a well-known configuration deformity from contralateral tubing that crosses the corporal bodies, resulting in tubing visibility and irritation under the penile skin. Aim To present a novel step to eliminate this tubing crossover deformity. Methods The V-neck technique was applied to five patients, two of whom underwent suprapubic fat pad excision with simultaneous infra-pubic IPP placement and three patients who underwent only infra-pubic IPP placement. The technique added an additional 1 minute of procedure time. The reservoir was placed on one (ipsilateral) side into the space of Retzius. Outcomes Primary outcome measurements were esthetic appeal at follow-up, immediate postoperative complications, and difficulty of implementation of the technique. Results The technique included the following steps. (i) The standard infra-pubic approach, as popularized by Perito (J Sex Med 2008;5:27–30), was used to place the reservoir and cylinders. The ipsilateral and contralateral cylinders and the reservoir were clamped and unconnected. (ii) Finger dissection was used to create a sub-phallic window and a U-shaped aortic clamp was used to pass the contralateral tubing. (iii) After passing the green tubing through the window, all connections were performed in the usual fashion. Tubing crossover was eliminated, as was passage of the right and left cylinder tubes down their respective gutters. Postoperative follow-up at 2 weeks showed no visible tubing. Clinical Implications This simple maneuver could help prevent the discomfort of tubing crossover deformity commonly seen after infra-pubic placement of an IPP. Strengths and Limitations This unique maneuver can be applied to all infra-pubically placed IPPs. Limitations include the small patient population and short follow-up. Whether this maneuver will make revision surgery more difficult is unclear. Conclusion This technique is a novel step to infra-pubic IPP placement that adds minimal operative time and could eliminate visible tubing. Shah BB, Baumgarten AS, Morgan K, et al. V-Neck Technique: A Novel Improvement to the Infra-Pubic Placement of an Inflatable Penile Implant. J Sex Med 2017;14:870–875.
Verified perceptron convergence theorem

Frank Rosenblatt invented the perceptron algorithm in 1957 as part of an early attempt to build ``brain models'', artificial neural networks. In this paper, we apply tools from symbolic logic such as dependent type theory as implemented in Coq to build, and prove convergence of, one-layer perceptrons (specifically, we show that our Coq implementation converges to a binary classifier when trained on linearly separable datasets). Our perceptron and proof are extensible, which we demonstrate by adapting our convergence proof to the averaged perceptron, a common variant of the basic perceptron algorithm. We perform experiments to evaluate the performance of our Coq perceptron vs. an arbitrary-precision C++ implementation and against a hybrid implementation in which separators learned in C++ are certified in Coq. We find that by carefully optimizing the extraction of our Coq perceptron, we can meet -- and occasionally exceed -- the performance of the arbitrary-precision C++ implementation. Our hybrid Coq certifier demonstrates an architecture for building high-assurance machine-learning systems that reuse existing codebases.
Developing Practical/Analytical Skills through Mindful Classroom Simulations for “Doing” Leadership

This article shows how certain practical/analytical skills are developed for “doing” leadership (Alvesson & Spicer, 2011) through what I call mindful classroom simulations in two upper-level social...
Carotid Artery Stenting

Stroke is the third most common cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Management of identifiable risk factors and careful selection of patients for revascularization of extracranial carotid artery stenosis constitute the current approach toward reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with stroke. The controversy over proper management of carotid stenosis prompted several randomized controlled multi-institutional trials during the past 2 decades. They have provided statistically reliable results that form the basis of current management recommendations. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA), performed with a low peri-procedural complication rate, is the only form of mechanical cerebral revascularization for which level 1 evidence of clinical effectiveness in preventing stroke has been reported (Barnett et al. 1998; Executive Committee for the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study 1995).
Microbial antigen encounter during a preweaning interval is critical for tolerance to gut bacteria

We have a mutually beneficial relationship with the trillions of microorganisms inhabiting our gastrointestinal tract. However, maintaining this relationship requires recognizing these organisms as affable and restraining inflammatory responses to these organisms when encountered in hostile settings. How and when the immune system develops tolerance to our gut microbial members is not well understood. We identify a specific preweaning interval in which gut microbial antigens are encountered by the immune system to induce antigen-specific tolerance to gut bacteria. For some bacterial taxa, physiologic encounters with the immune system are restricted to this interval, despite abundance of these taxa in the gut lumen at later times outside this interval. Antigen-specific tolerance to gut bacteria induced during this preweaning interval is stable and maintained even if these taxa are encountered later in life in an inflammatory setting. However, inhibiting microbial antigen encounter during this interval or extending these encounters beyond the normal interval results in a failure to induce tolerance and robust antigen-specific effector responses to gut bacteria upon reencounter in an inflammatory setting. Thus, we have identified a defined preweaning interval critical for developing tolerance to gut bacteria and maintaining the mutually beneficial relationship with our gut microbiota.
Pragmatically Applied Cervical and Thoracic Nonthrust Manipulation Versus Thrust Manipulation for Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

Study Design Randomized clinical trial. Background The comparative effectiveness between nonthrust manipulation (NTM) and thrust manipulation (TM) for mechanical neck pain has been investigated, with inconsistent results. Objective To compare the clinical effectiveness of concordant cervical and thoracic NTM and TM for patients with mechanical neck pain. Methods The Neck Disability Index (NDI) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), numeric pain-rating scale (NPRS), deep cervical flexion endurance (DCF), global rating of change (GROC), number of visits, and duration of care. The covariate was clinical equipoise for intervention. Outcomes were collected at baseline, visit 2, and discharge. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either NTM or TM directed at the cervical and thoracic spines. Techniques and dosages were selected pragmatically and applied to the most symptomatic level. Two-way mixed-model analyses of covariance were used to assess clinical outcomes at 3 time points. Analyses of covariance were used to assess between-group differences for the GROC, number of visits, and duration of care at discharge. Results One hundred three patients were included in the analyses (NTM, n = 55 and TM, n = 48). The between-group analyses revealed no differences in outcomes on the NDI (P = .67), PSFS (P = .26), NPRS (P = .25), DCF (P = .98), GROC (P = .77), number of visits (P = .21), and duration of care (P = .61) for patients with mechanical neck pain who received either NTM or TM. Conclusion NTM and TM produce equivalent outcomes for patients with mechanical neck pain. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02619500). Level of Evidence Therapy, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(3):137-145. Epub 6 Feb 2018. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7738.
Aboutness and Quantifying Into Intensional Contexts: A Pragmatic Topic/Comment Analysis of Propositional Attitude Statements

It is not rare to find students of language interested in the many ways in which speakers talk about Fred or about the weather, assert of Fred or of the weather that he is fat or that it is fine. Many philosophers, logicians, and linguists share an interest in what words or phrases designate or describe, and what speakers refer to, mention, and say things about. But it is also notable that the Grammarian and the Philosopher, especially the Metaphysician, have looked at intentionality in different ways. In this lecture I sketch the ways that the Philosophers Nelson Goodman and W.V.O Quine and by contrast the Grammarians have analyzed and used the notion of Aboutness, in Quine’s case in his famous argument against Quantifying Into intensional sentences. Goodman’s and Quine’s analyses are motivated by different intellectual goals from the Linguists’. By contrast Linguists have the notion of Topic Noun Phrase. I shall argue that the Linguists’ notion of Topic Noun Phrase offers clarification and an intellectual advance over Goodman’s and Quine’s notions, especially in the treatment of propositional attitude sentences.
Spatial Weighted Outlier Detection.

Spatial outliers are the spatial objects with distinct features from their surrounding neighbors. Detection of spatial outliers helps reveal valuable information from large spatial data sets. In many real applications, spatial objects can not be simply abstracted as isolated points. They have different boundary, size, volume, and location. These spatial properties affect the impact of a spatial object on its neighbors and should be taken into consideration. In this paper, we propose two spatial outlier detection methods which integrate the impact of spatial properties to the outlierness measurement. Experimental results on a real data set demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Flint’s Toxic Narratives: Tales of Uplift and Athletes Who Resist Them:

This article considers the narratives of sports-based uplift, which have followed in the wake of Flint, Michigan’s lead-poisoned water crisis. It provides context for the sports culture of Flint, t...
Claiming Crimea: a history of Catherine the Great’s Southern empire

Kelly O’Neill’s meticulously researched and skilfully constructed account of Russia’s first annexation of Crimea is an invaluable contribution to the history of the Tsarist colonial project. O’Neil...
A Critical Assessment of Skills and Knowledge for Entry-Level Marketing Jobs: A Delphi Study: An Abstract

Despite widespread attempts to compile lists of employability skills and competencies, there has not been a clear consensus on which soft skills, in particular, are most critical for employability. This is not unexpected given that each field of study has its own interpretation of epistemology and goal outcomes. Given that the importance of technical and soft skills may differ by specific context, the goal of this study is to identify the skill set that marketing undergraduates need for employability and to develop into a successful professional.
Don't ban fake news

As tempting as it sounds, Singapore's initiative to curb online misinformation sets a dangerous precedent, says Donna Lu
Asynchronous Stream Computing for Low Power IoT

Asynchronous circuits have many advantages over their synchronous counterparts in terms of robustness to parameter variations, wide supply voltage ranges, and potentially low power by not needing a clock, yet their promise has not been translated yet into commercial success due to several issues related to design methodologies and the need for handshake signals. Stochastic computing is another processing paradigm that has shown promises of low power and extremely compact circuits but has yet to become a commercial success mainly because of the need for a fast clock to generate the random streams. The Asynchronous Stream Processing circuits described in this paper combine the best features of asynchronous circuits (lack of clock, robustness) with the best features of stochastic computing (processing on streams) to enable extremely compact and low power IoT sensing nodes that can finally fulfill the promise of smart dust, another concept that was ahead of its time and yet to achieve commercial success.
Chondrichthyans from the Lower Clayton Limestone Unit of the Midway Group (Paleocene) near Malvern, Arkansas, USA, with comments on the K/Pg boundary

The Lower Clayton Limestone Unit (LCLU) of the Midway Group (Paleocene) near Malvern, Arkansas, USA contains an assemblage of chondrichthyans recently exposed by excavation for highway stabilization. Chondrichthyan teeth in this assemblage belong to at least 12 taxa including: Ginglymostoma subafricanum, Carcharias cf. whitei, Carcharias sp., Odontaspis winkleri, Palaeohypotodus rutori, Palaeogaleus vincenti, Dasyatis cf. hexagonalis, Dasyatis sp., Hypolophites sp., Myliobatis sp., Rhinoptera sp., and an indeterminate chimaerid. Locally, these chondrichthyans occur within a stratigraphic section directly above the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary that also contains chondrichthyans. This occurrence is uncommon in the global fossil record and provides an opportunity to (1) assess chondrichthyan diversity across the K/Pg boundary in the Malvern region and Gulf Coastal Plain of southwestern Arkansas and (2) evaluate the timing of marginal to shallow marine chondrichthyan faunal turnover and extinction at a proximal location ≈ 1500 km from the Chicxulub, Mexico, K/Pg impact site. Observed patterns within this K/Pg stratigraphic section indicate that changes in chondrichthyan assemblages are primarily the result of sea-level cyclicity and habitat losses that occurred across several million years.
Primary care perspectives on implementation of clinical trial recruitment

Introduction Poor clinical trial (CT) recruitment is a significant barrier to translating basic science discoveries into medical practice. Improving support for primary care provider (PCP) referral of patients to CTs may be an important part of the solution. However, implementing CT referral support in primary care is not only technically challenging, but also presents challenges at the person and organization levels. Methods The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize provider and clinical supervisor attitudes and perceptions regarding CT research, recruitment, and referrals in primary care and (2) to identify perceived workflow strategies and facilitators relevant to designing a technology-supported primary care CT referral program. Focus groups were conducted with PCPs, directors, and supervisors. Results Analysis indicated widespread support for the intrinsic scientific value of CTs, while at the same time deep concerns regarding protecting patient well-being, perceived loss of control when patients participate in trials, concern about the impact of point-of-care referrals on clinic workflow, the need for standard processes, and the need for CT information that enables referring providers to quickly confirm that the burdens are justified by the benefits at both patient and provider levels. PCP suggestions pertinent to implementing a CT referral decision support system are reported. Conclusion The results from this work contribute to developing an implementation approach to support increased referral of patients to CTs.
Levels of Description in Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics

The motivation for this talk is the belief that in any study of the philosophy of science a necessary prerequisite is that the input data, which is science itself, should be correct. In statistical mechanics particularly, precision is an elusive goal. It is safe to say that a major portion of the nontrivial results in statistical mechanics has been derived from inconsistent formulations. Now, as we know, all conclusions follow logically from inconsistent postulates. This is indeed observed in practice. Fortunately there is a natural filter which shields from publication the most whimsical, outlandish, and flagrantly incorrect conclusions. But occasionally such a result is enshrined as a paradox, and then heroic efforts are required to dislodge it.
Real world theory, complacency, and aspiration

Just how realistic about human nature and real possibilities must a theory of justice, or a moral theory, more generally, be? Lines have been drawn, with some (e.g. John Rawls) holding that idealizing away from reality is indispensable and others maintaining that utopian thinking is not just useless but irrelevant. In Utopophobia David Estlund defends the value of utopian theory. At his most modest, Estlund claims that it is a legitimate approach, not ruled out of court by anti-idealists on entirely inadequate grounds—merely “by assumption or definition” as he puts it (hence the “phobia” charge). Yet he also argues against what we call real world theory, which takes account of human imperfection and feasible options. It invites complacency and undermines aspiration, he argues, and he accepts Rawls’ claim that it will of necessity be unsystematic, thanks to its realism. We accept that the utopian approach is neither useless nor irrelevant. Yet we press hard against the charges against real world theory, maintaining that, properly understood, it invites neither complacency nor aspiration and can perfectly well offer a systematic and principled account of normative concepts, including justice specifically.
Resilience effects on student performance and well-being: the role of self-efficacy, self-set goals, and anxiety

Universities prepare students to become contributing members to the workplace and to society. However, with rising tuition costs and other increasing time and resource demands, students face substa...
Reducing Time and Patient Radiation of Computed Tomography-guided Thoracic Needle Biopsies With Single-rotation Axial Acquisitions: An Alternative to "CT Fluoroscopy".

PURPOSE To investigate the effect on procedure time and patient radiation indices of replacing helical acquisitions for needle guidance during thoracic needle biopsy (TNB) with intermittent single-rotation axial acquisitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective intervention study included 215 consecutive TNBs performed by a single operator from 2014 to 2018. Characteristics of patients, lesions, and procedures were compared between TNBs guided only by helical acquisitions initiated in the control room (helical group, n=141) and TNBs guided in part by intermittent single-rotation axial computed tomography controlled by foot pedal (single-rotation group, n=74). Procedure time and patient radiation indices were primary outcomes, complications, and radiologist radiation dose were secondary outcomes. RESULTS Patient, lesion, and procedural characteristics did not differ between helical and single-rotation groups. Use of single-rotation axial acquisitions decreased procedure time by 10.5 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.2-12.8 min) or 27% (95% CI: 22%-32%; P<0.001). Patient dose in cumulative volume computed tomography dose index decreased by 23% (95% CI: 12%-33%) or 8 mGy (95% CI: 4.3-31.6 mGy; P=0.01). Dose-length product decreased by 50% (95% CI: 40%-60%) or 270 mGy cm (95% CI: 195-345 mGy cm; P<0.001). No operator radiation exposure was detected. Rate of diagnostic result, pneumothorax, hemoptysis, and hemorrhage did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS Replacing helical acquisitions with intermittent single-rotation axial acquisitions significantly decreases TNB procedure time and patient radiation indices without adversely affecting diagnostic rate, procedural complications, or operator radiation dose.
New Observing Strategies Testbed (NOS-T) Architecture: Evaluating Dynamic Response to Emergent Events

The New Observing Strategies Testbed prototypes and evaluates new information systems technology for distributed space missions. This paper discusses the rationale and design of an event-driven architecture to integrate and orchestrate component system models. An example application case based on the FireSat mission describes environment, spacecraft, ground station, and adjudication applications orchestrated by a testbed manager. Test run results quantify key performance measures like the latency between fire ignition and detection to evaluate observing system strategies.
Litigating Education: The Quest To End Inequitable Funding in Pennsylvania

In 2015, the Washington Post published an article that drew attention to something many Pennsylvanians were already acutely aware of: the quality of the commonwealth’s schools varies drastically from district to district. One main reason for wide funding disparities between the districts is the heavy reliance upon local property tax revenues to fund public schools. A current lawsuit, William Penn School District v. Pennsylvania Department of Education, is challenging the legislative scheme that apportions state funding to public schools in Pennsylvania. This Note will explain why education funding lawsuits throughout the commonwealth’s history have thus far not been successful in achieving more equitable access to education for Pennsylvania’s students. This Note suggests that, as a starting point, Pennsylvania must recognize education as a fundamental right. The legislature must also make a change in the way the state’s schools are funded, and it should not wait on the courts to force them into action. Other solutions will necessitate additional funding to be directed to the neediest populations and districts. Perhaps this is easier said than done, but the time to make effective changes has long since arrived.
Energy planning and development in Malaysian Borneo: Assessing the benefits of distributed technologies versus large scale energy mega-projects

A contentious debate is taking place over plans for a series of mega-dams under development in Malaysian Borneo. There is little quantitative analysis of the energy options or cost and benefit trade-offs in the public discussion or the literature. To fill this gap we developed a model of the proposed energy system and alternative scenarios using the commercial energy market software PLEXOS. We prepared a 15 year long-term capacity energy expansion model for the state of Sarawak which includes existing generation, resource and operability constraints, direct and indirect costs. We explore a range of demand growth and policy assumptions and model the resulting generation mixes and economic trade-offs. Our central finding is that a diversified generation mix including solar and biomass waste resources can meet future demand at lower cost than additional dam construction.
Characterization of the growth of murine fibroblasts that express human insulin receptors: I. The effect of insulin in the absence of other growth factors

The effect of insulin on the growth of murine fibroblasts transfected with an expression vector containing human insulin receptor cDNA (NIH 3T3/HIR) and the parental cells (NIH/3T3) was characterized. Insulin in the absence of other mitogens increased the rate of incorporation of thymidine into NIH 3T3/HIR cells with a half-maximal response occurring at an insulin concentration of 35 ng/ml and a maximal response that was equivalent to that elicited by 10% fetal calf serum. The thymidine incorporation rate was increased by 12 h, was maximal at approximately 16 h, and returned to basal rates at 24 h after the addition of insulin. Insulin induced a maximum of 65% of cells to incorporate thymidine. The increased DNA synthesis was accompanied by net growth. Addition of insulin to the NIH 3T3/HIR cells resulted in increased DNA content with a half-maximal response occurring at approximately 30 ng/ml insulin and a maximal response equivalent to that elicited by serum. An increase in cell number detected after the addition of insulin to the NIH 3T3/HIR suggests that the cells had progressed through mitosis. Insulin did not increase the rate of thymidine incorporation, DNA content, or number of the parental NIH 3T3 cells. These data show that insulin, in the absence of a second mitogen, is able to induce NIH 3T3/HIR fibroblasts to traverse the cell cycle.
Specific Absence of the α1 Subunit of the Dihydropyridine Receptor in Mice with Muscular Dysgenesis

Muscular dysgenesis is a lethal mutation in mice that results in a complete absence of skeletal muscle contraction due to the failure of depolarization of the transverse tubular membrane to trigger calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In order to determine whether the defect in muscular dysgenesis leads to a specific loss of one of the components of excitation-contraction coupling or to a generalized loss of all components of excitation-contraction coupling, we have analyzed skeletal muscle from control and dysgenic mice for the sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubular proteins which are believe to function in excitation-contraction coupling. We report that the proteins involved in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium transport, storage, and release [Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, calsequestrin, and calcium release channel) are present in dysgenic muscle. Also present in dysgenic muscle is the 175/150-kDa glycoprotein subunit (α2) of the dihydropyridine receptor. However, the 170-kDa dihydropyridine binding subunit (α1) of the dihydropyridine receptor is absent in dysgenic muscle. These results suggest that the specific absence of the α1 subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor is responsible for the defects in muscular dysgenesis and that the α1 subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor is essential for excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.
Conserved polar loop region of Escherichia coli subunit c of the F1F0 H+-ATPase. Glutamine 42 is not absolutely essential, but substitutions alter binding and coupling of F1 to F0.

Abstract The uncE114 mutation (Gln42----Glu) in subunit c of the Escherichia coli H+ ATP synthetase causes uncoupling of proton translocation from ATP hydrolysis (Mosher, M. E., White, L. K., Hermolin, J., and Fillingame, R. H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 4807-4814). In the background of strain ER, the mutation led to dissociation of F1 from the membrane. Ten revertants to the uncE114 mutation were isolated, and the uncE gene was cloned and sequenced. Six of the revertants were intragenic and had substitutions of glycine, alanine, or valine for the mutant glutamate residue at position 42. The intragenic, revertant uncE genes were incorporated into an otherwise wild type chromosome of strain ER. Membrane vesicles prepared from each of the revertants showed a restoration of F1 binding to F0. The Val42 revertant differed from the other two revertants in that the ATPase activity of F1 was inhibited when membrane bound. This was shown by the stimulation of ATPase activity when F1 was released from the membrane. The Gly42 and Ala42 revertants demonstrated membrane ATPase activity that was resistant to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide treatment. Resistance was shown to be due to the increased dissociation of F1 from the membrane under ATPase assay conditions. The Ala42 revertant showed a significant reduction in ATP-dependent quenching of quinacrine fluorescence that was attributed to less efficient coupling of ATP hydrolysis to H+ translocation, whereas the other revertants showed responses very near to that of wild type. Minor changes in the F1-F0 interaction in all three revertants were indicated by an increase in H+ leakiness, as judged by reduced NADH-dependent quenching of quinacrine fluorescence. The minor defects in the revertants support the idea that residue 42 is involved in the binding and coupling of F1 to F0 but also show that the conserved glutamine (or asparagine) is not absolutely necessary in this function.
Picoliter droplet manipulation based on a novel continuous opto-electrowetting mechanism

We report on a novel continuous opto-electrowetting (COEW) mechanism which enables surface wetting property to be modified locally by an optical beam with a spatial resolution of a few micrometers. It is based on the opto-electrowetting mechanism we reported previously, but without using any pixilated electrodes. The COEW is particularly attractive for manipulating picoliter droplets. We have experimentally demonstrated the trapping and moving of 10 and 50 picoliter droplets. The experimental results agree very well with our theoretical modeling. The COEW device consists of four featureless layers of thin films and does not require any photolithographic process. Disposal COEW devices can be mass-produced at very low cost.
Interaction of People and Pets in the Family Setting

Abstract The study of pets in families is an important scientific dimension, with a substantial body of research literature. This article presents a framework and theoretical basis for understanding human relationships with pets, using a life course perspective. Pets play an important role at each stage of the life-course. Research indicates that pets offer companionship, assist persons with disabilities, facilitate therapy, and play an important role in the bereavement process. Implications for Family Life Educators and a consideration for the inclusion of pets in the substance areas of teaching curriculums are presented.
Spontaneous chylothorax in Noonan's syndrome

An 11-year-old boy with Noonan syndrome presented with shortness of breath secondary to a large spontaneous chylothorax. He was subsequently shown to have pulmonary lymphangiectasia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Dietary management of the chylothorax has successfully relieved his symptoms, although significant effusion persists.
Can an evidence-based fall prevention program be translated for use in culturally diverse communities?

Older adult falls are a significant public health problem, but one that is amenable to preventive interventions. Despite the progress made in identifying risk factors, developing efficacious health-related interventions, and promoting evidencebased programs in the community, much work remains before these strategies are broadly available and effectively used to reduce fall-related injuries. As Newton and ScottFindlay have pointed out, the translation of basic scientific knowledge into clinical studies, and the transformation of clinical studies into improvements in health services and public health practices, remain major obstacles to widespread adoption. Donaldson and Finch have shown the feasibility of applying implementation science to sports injury prevention, and Li et al. demonstrated how an exercise and balance program (Tai Ji Quan) can successfully be translated into a community program and implemented in either community or clinical settings. Equally important was the fact that Li and his colleagues showed that program fidelity and adherence to their intervention was maintained, at least over the short term, to prevent older adult falls. Manson et al. showed positive results in taking a Tai Ji Quan program to low-income older adults, concluding that “non-(Tai Ji Quan) culturally related ethnic groups did not experience a barrier to participation in an older low-socioeconomic population sample”. However, the sample consisted of only 56 participants who were recruited into a 16-week program, and no attempt was made to translate the findings to the wider multi-ethnic community through the use of existing stakeholders. The article Implementing an evidence-based Tai Ji Quan program in a multicultural setting: A pilot dissemination project by Fink and Houston in this special issue of Journal of Sport and Health Science extends these findings and takes the next step. Specifically, the authors demonstrate that it is possible to scale up an effective health-related fall prevention program in a community of older adults with differing cultural backgrounds, provided that the intervention meets three criteria:
A sequential predictor retraining algorithm and its application to market prediction

In many applications, there are a large number of predictors, designed manually or trained automatically, to predict the same outcome. Much research has been devoted to the design of algorithms that can effectively select/combine these predictors to generate a more accurate ensemble predictor. The collaborative training algorithms from attribute distributed learning provide batch-processing solutions for scenarios in which the individual predictors are heterogeneous, taking different inputs and employing different models. However, in some applications, for example financial market prediction, it is desirable to use an online approach. In this paper, an innovative online algorithm is proposed, stemming from the collaborative training algorithms developed for attribute distributed learning. It sequentially takes new observations, simultaneously adjusting the way that the individual predictors are combined, and provides feedback to the individual predictors for them to be retrained in order to achieve a better ensemble predictor in real time. The efficacy of this new algorithm is demonstrated by extensive simulations on both artificial and real data, and particularly for financial market data. A trading strategy constructed from the ensemble predictor shows strong performance when applied to financial market prediction.
Synthesis of 5S-(1-Oxoalkyl and Aryl)-2-pyrrolidinone Derivatives1

Abstract N-Benzyl pyroglutamate esters react with aryllithium reagents and methyllithium to give moderate to good yields of 5-(1-oxoaryl) or 5-(1-oxoalkyl)-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives. The reaction proceeds without racemization, but is accompanied by formation of 5-(1-hydroxy-1-alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives. This reaction gives very poor yields of ketone products with most other alkyl organolithium reagents such as n-butyllithium. Grignard reagents react to give primarily the alcohol.
Training on a Virtual Reality Laparoscopic Simulator Improves Performance of an Unfamiliar Live Laparoscopic Procedure

Purpose: Virtual reality simulators provide a safe and efficient means of acquiring laparoscopic skills. We evaluated whether training on a virtual reality laparoscopic cholecystectomy simulator (Lap Mentor™) improves the performance of a live, unrelated laparoscopic urological procedure.Materials and Methods: A total of 32 medical students with no previous laparoscopic experience were oriented to the Lap Mentor, and then performed virtual reality laparoscopic cholecystectomy which was assessed by 2 experienced laparoscopists using the previously validated Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scoring. Subjects were randomized to group 1, in which participants completed 6, 30-minute virtual reality training sessions within 3 weeks, or group 2, in which participants received no training. All participants then performed live laparoscopic nephrectomy in a porcine model and performance was evaluated using Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills by 2 experts blinded to training status...
Development of ceramic and ceramic composite devices for maxillofacial applications

Ceramic and ceramic composite materials and devices were developed for specific maxillofacial applications. These applications included: (1) Replacement of hard tissue voids in low stress areas with a phosphate-bonded alumina-foamed ceramic and a calcium aluminate-bonded alumina foam; (2) development of porous ceramic-coated metallic devices for stabilization of mandibles with avulsed segments; (3) development of implantable ceramic tooth roots onto which more or less conventional crowns may be mounted. Efforts to date have been rewarding. Using the rhesus monkey for all experimental implant work, incorporation of porous ceramic foam prostheses to eliminate maxillary defects has been accomplished. Also, we have succeeded in stabilizing the mandible where segments of from 3 to 8 mm were removed. Bridging of the gap with new bone occurred within 6 weeks resulting in a total regeneration of the resected area with restoration of normal mandibular function. Finally, implantable tooth roots were developed. Three different surface treatment techniques have been used on a basic high-density alumina core. The first is a high-density matt finish which can only permit a fibrous tissue attachment or bony approximation but no ingrowth. The second is a porous alumina coating intended to permit bone ingrowth. The third is a rough surface consisting of particles of alumina sintered to the surface to maximize the bone/ceramic interface shear strength potential. Implantations of both anterior and posterior tooth roots with all three surface configurations have been successful for periods of up to six months.
Minocycline-induced scleral pigmentation.

Abstract Purpose: Minocycline is a commonly used drug in the management of acne and rosacea. Four individual cases of oral minocycline-induced scleral pigmentation are reported in the dermatologic literature. This is the first report in the ophthalmic literature and will add three new cases of probable minocycline-induced scleral pigmentation. Materials and Methods: Data on minocycline from the spontaneous reporting systems of the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects, Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, and Lederle Laboratories were reviewed as to minocycline-related scleral pigmentation. Photographs, published cases, discussions with the examining ophthalmologists, and the personal observation of one patient (case 1) are the basis of the authors' conclusions. Results: Seven cases of probable oral minocycline-induced scleral pigmentation are presented. These changes may or may not be associated with minocycline-induced pigmentary changes in other tissues, such as the skin, teeth, fingernails, bone, thyroid, or mucosa. The characteristic scleral pattern is a blue-gray 3-to 5-mm band starting at the limbus, which usually is enhanced in the palpebral aperture, possibly due to the photosensitizing properties of the drug. Conclusions: Oral minocycline can cause scleral pigmentation. This pigmentation may resolve within years, or it may be permanent.
Corpora Cardiaca‐Allata Complex of the Larvae of the Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella. An Ultrastructural Study in Relation to Diapause

Raina, A. K., Borg, T. K. 1980. Corpora cardiaca-allata complex of the larvae of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella. An ultrastructural study in relation to diapause. (Department of Entomology, North Dakota State University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, U.S.A.) — Acta zool. (Stockh.) 61(2): 65–77. The corpora cardiaca (CC) and corpora allata (CA) of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella, were studied at the ultrastructural level during induction maintenance, and termination of larval diapause. The CC is composed of 5–6 intrinsic secretory (IS) cells, glial cells, and axons that carry electron dense (ED) and electron lucent (EL) granules from the brain. The IS cells produce ED granules with an average diameter of 110 ± 26 nm. During diapause, the axons with ED granules showed large accumulations of neurosecretory granules, but the axons with the EL granules contained lesser amounts. The CA is made up of approximately 25 large cells and axons that pass through the CC from the brain. Most of the axons take up a peripheral position. A characteristic feature of CA cells during diapause was the presence of stacks of convoluted tubules of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) that may be associated with juvenile hormone synthesis. The IS cells of the CC appeared to be inactive during diapause.
Interaction and learning in mathematics classroom situations

An analysis of one ten minute episode in which three seven year-old students engage in collaborative small group activity is presented to explore the relationship between individual learning and group development. Particular attention is given to the establishment of a taken-as-shared basis for mathematical activity and to the attainment of intersubjectivity. From a perspective which treats communication as a process of active interpretation and mutual adaptation, learning as it occurs in the course of social interaction is characterized as a circular, self-referential sequence of events rather than a linear cause-effect chain. In addition, the relationship between individual learning and group development is such that the students can be said to have participated in the establishment of the situations in which they learned.