cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Routine Pathology Analysis of Adult Circumcision Tissue Identify Penile Cancer

Objective To assess the utility of foreskin pathology analysis, we evaluated the outcomes and the costs of this practice in patients for whom penile cancer was not suspected. Adult circumcision specimens are routinely sent for pathologic analysis even when penile cancer is not suspected, increasing costs with little benefit. Materials and Methods All adult patients who underwent circumcision between January 2000 and August 2013 at a single institution were evaluated by retrospective chart review. Cases of suspected penile cancer (n = 6) were excluded. We identified cases where foreskin specimens were sent for pathologic analysis and reviewed pathology reports. Our Department of Pathology estimated the cost for evaluation of specimens at $311 per case. Results A total of 147 circumcisions were performed in patients with no suspicious findings. Pathologic analysis was obtained in 69% (101 of 147) of the cases. Inflammation (58%) was the most common finding. One unsuspected instance of squamous cell carcinoma (Tis) was identified in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (1 of 147 = 0.7%). The overall cost of pathologic analysis in this study was $31,411. Conclusion In individuals without predisposing immunodeficiency and where cancer was not suspected, we found that pathologic analysis of circumcision specimens identified no additional malignancies. Our data suggest that in this normal risk population, pathologic analysis may not be required. Additionally, forgoing pathology on foreskin specimens in lower risk cases may reduce costs to the health care system.
Clinical significance of calcification of the fibrous skeleton of the heart and aortosclerosis in community dwelling elderly. The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).

Background Mitral annular calcification (MAC), aortic annular calcification (AAC), and aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) are associated with aging, and MAC and AVS are markers of advanced atherosclerosis. No studies have examined the prevalence and the clinical relevance of all 3 forms of calcification in a single free-living elderly population. Methods We used 2-dimensional echocardiography to evaluate MAC, AAC, AVS and all 3 combined in 3929 participants, mean age 76 ± 5 years, 60% women, in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective community-based observational study designed to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and outcomes in elderly persons. Results Mitral annular calcification was found in 1640 (42 %) subjects, AAC in 1710 (44 %), AVS in 2114 (54 %), and all 3 combined in 662 (17 %). The participants with these findings were older than those without them, and those with MAC had worse cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and functional profile than those with AAC and AVS. Age-, sex-, and race-adjusted logistic regression analysis found a significant association between the 3 calcification categories and CVD, the strongest being between the combined group with congestive heart failure (odds ratio 2.04, 95% CI 1.34-3.09). In highly adjusted models, only MAC was associated with CVD, and the strength of association was related to the severity of MAC. Conclusions In free-living elderly, MAC, AAC, and AVS are highly prevalent and are associated with CVD. Mitral annular calcification in particular has strong association with CVD, and with an adverse biomedical profile.
Looking like a criminal: stereotypical black facial features promote face source memory error

The present studies tested whether African American face type (stereotypical or nonstereotypical) facilitated stereotype-consistent categorization, and whether that categorization influenced memory accuracy and errors. Previous studies have shown that stereotypically Black features are associated with crime and violence (e.g., Blair, Judd, & Chapleau Psychological Science 15:674–679, 2004; Blair, Judd, & Fallman Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 87:763–778, 2004; Blair, Judd, Sadler, & Jenkins Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 83:5–252002); here, we extended this finding to investigate whether there is a bias toward remembering and recategorizing stereotypical faces as criminals. Using category labels, consistent (or inconsistent) with race-based expectations, we tested whether face recognition and recategorization were driven by the similarity between a target’s facial features and a stereotyped category (i.e., stereotypical Black faces associated with crime/violence). The results revealed that stereotypical faces were associated more often with a stereotype-consistent label (Study 1), were remembered and correctly recategorized as criminals (Studies 2–4), and were miscategorized as criminals when memory failed. These effects occurred regardless of race or gender. Together, these findings suggest that face types have strong category associations that can promote stereotype-motivated recognition errors. Implications for eyewitness accuracy are discussed.
Ethnic disparities in adolescent body mass index in the United States: the role of parental socioeconomic status and economic contextual factors.

This paper examined the importance of household and economic contextual factors as determinants of ethnic disparities in adolescent body mass index (BMI). Individual-level data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 for the years 1997 through 2000 were combined with economic contextual data on food prices, outlet density and median household income. The Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition method was used to examine the factors that could help explain ethnic disparities in BMI. Ethnic differences in household demographic, parental socioeconomic status (SES), and economic contextual factors explained the majority of the male black–white (63%), male Hispanic–white (78%) and female Hispanic–white (62%) BMI gaps but less than one-half of the female black–white BMI gap (44%). We found that adding the economic contextual factors increased the explained portion of the ethnic BMI gap for both female and male adolescents: the economic contextual factors explained 28% and 38% of the black–white and Hispanic–white BMI gaps for males and 13% and 8% of the black–white and Hispanic–white BMI gaps for females, respectively. Parental SES was more important in explaining the Hispanic–white BMI gap than the black–white BMI gap for both genders, whereas neighborhood economic contextual factors were more important in explaining the male BMI gap than the female BMI gap for both black–white and Hispanic–white ethnic disparities. A significantly large portion of the ethnic BMI gap, however, remained unexplained between black and white female adolescents.
The binding of actinomycin D and adriamycin to supercoiled DNA, single-stranded DNA and polynucleotides

Abstract The effect of actinomycin D and adriamycin on synthetic polynucleotides, single-stranded viral DNA and supercoiled DNA has been studied employing the fluorescent probe, terbium. Marked displacement of the probe was observed when any deoxyribose-containing polynucleotide was pretreated with either drug. With supercoiled DNA, an unwinding of the supercoil was observed at very low drug concentrations (at approx. 1:500 molar ratio of drug:DNA) prior to the displacement of the terbium. This unwinding was visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis at molar ratios of approx. 1:200. The effect was more apparent and occurred at lower drug:DNA ratios with actinomycin D than with adriamycin. Unlike cis -dichlorodiammine platinum(II), actinomycin D did not protect pBR322 DNA from cleavage at its Bam HI site. The hydrolysis of Φχ174 DNA by a series of G-C-specific restriction nucleases (including Hha I, Hpa II and Hae III) was also not affected by prior treatment of the DNA with actinomycin D.
The live well collaborative: a new model for universities and companies to work together to meet the needs of 50+ consumers.

AbstractA new opportunity has emerged for universities and corporations to align in response to the global trend of countries with significant percentages of their population over the age of 50. This trend is driven by the dramatic increase in the birth rate starting in 1945 after World War II and ending in 1965 (a population commonly referred to in the United States as “baby boomers”). As they reach retirement, this age cohort has a unique expectation of a continued high quality of life in spite of the emerging health challenges they face. The boomer’s lifestyle expectation has tremendous impact on the design of new products and services in every sector of the economy. To achieve effective translational research (from laboratory to marketable products), universities and companies must integrate the qualitative innovation processes used by design fields like industrial design into the quantitative research techniques embraced by medicine and engineering. The University of Cincinnati is one of the few univ...
Optical detection of electron paramagnetic resonance in room-temperature electron-irradiated ZnO

The dominant defect observed in the photoluminescence (PL) of room-temperature electron-irradiated ZnO by optical detection of electron paramagnetic resonance (ODEPR) is determined to be the positively charged oxygen vacancy $({V}_{\mathrm{O}}^{+})$. Its spectrum, labeled L3, was previously observed in a $4.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in situ irradiation study [Yu. V. Gorelkinskii and G. D. Watkins, Phys. Rev. B 69, 115212 (2004)], but it was thought there not to be stable at room temperature and was not identified. Here it is found to be stable to $400\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$, where it disappears. It is observed as a competing process (negative signal) to the dominant PL band produced by the irradiation at $\ensuremath{\sim}700\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$, but is positive in a weaker band at $\ensuremath{\sim}600\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. Models are presented for its electrical level position in the gap to explain the results. Two other ODEPR signals are also detected, one of which is tentatively identified as also associated with the oxygen vacancy.
Hippocampal AMPA Receptor Gating Controlled by Both TARP and Cornichon Proteins

Summary Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) and cornichon proteins (CNIH-2/3) independently modulate AMPA receptor trafficking and gating. However, the potential for interactions of these subunits within an AMPA receptor complex is unknown. Here, we find that TARPs γ-4, γ-7, and γ-8, but not γ-2, γ-3, or γ-5, cause AMPA receptors to "resensitize" upon continued glutamate application. With γ-8, resensitization occurs with all GluA subunit combinations; however, γ-8-containing hippocampal neurons do not display resensitization. In recombinant systems, CNIH-2 abrogates γ-8-mediated resensitization and modifies AMPA receptor pharmacology and gating to match that of hippocampal neurons. In hippocampus, γ-8 and CNIH-2 associate in postsynaptic densities and CNIH-2 protein levels are markedly diminished in γ-8 knockout mice. Manipulating neuronal CNIH-2 levels modulates the electrophysiological properties of extrasynaptic and synaptic γ-8-containing AMPA receptors. Thus, γ-8 and CNIH-2 functionally interact with common hippocampal AMPA receptor complexes to modulate synergistically kinetics and pharmacology.
Locus of control, choice, and satisfaction with an assigned task

Abstract P. E. Spector's (1982 , Psychological Bulletin , 91 , 482–497) hypothesis that under conditions of freedom of choice persons characterized by an internal locus of control will experience greater satisfaction with an undesirable task than persons characterized by an external locus of control is considered in light of distinctions between perceived control and perceived choice. Perceived choice is proposed as an intervening variable implicit in Spector's argument. This reasoning was tested with 46 male and female college student participants in a 2 (Choice) × 2 (Locus of Control) factorial design experiment. An interaction of Choice × Locus of Control on task satisfaction was obtained such that internals tended to be more satisfied when given a choice while externals experienced greater satisfaction when not given a choice. The implications of this result for Spector' hypothesis and for the manner in which undesirable work is assigned are discussed.
Comparison of techniques to measure pulmonary capillary filtration coefficients in dogs.

The pulmonary capillary filtration coefficient (Kf) was estimated with two different techniques in the same preparation. The lower left lobes of nine halothane-anesthetized dogs were continuously weighed while the perfusion pressures were controlled. In one technique (weight transient technique) we increased the arterial (Pa) and venous (Pv) pressures in previously isogravimetric lobes and estimated the initial rate of capillary filtration from the rate of weight gain. The initial rate of weight gain was then divided by the calculated change in capillary pressure (Pc = (Pa + Pv)2) to calculate Kf. For the second Kf determination, Pa and Pv were increased to edema-producing levels and the rate of weight gain was determined at two or three elevated pressures (constant weight gain technique). Kf was calculated as the change in the rate of weight gain divided by the change in Pc. Although the weight transient Kf (0.047 ± 0.005 g/min · mm Hg) was significantly higher than the continuous weight gain Kf of 0.038 ± 0.004 (P < 0.05, paired data), the two Kf's were close. These data indicate that in experiments performed in this way, these two independent techniques yield similar values of Kf.
A 10-year review of primary fallopian tube cancer at a community hospital: a high association of synchronous and metachronous cancers.

Primary fallopian tube carcinomas (PFTC) are rare gynecological tumors infrequently diagnosed prior to operative intervention. A retrospective review was performed to characterize the distribution and clinicopathologic significance of these tumors. Identification of PFTC was achieved through a review of the tumor registry and medical record ICD-9 codes at a community teaching hospital. A total of 1.5% of all gynecological cancers were PFTC. Most patients were presumed to have ovarian cancer. Ultrasound had the highest sensitivity (82%) for preoperative diagnosis. Surgical exploration was needed for definitive diagnosis in all patients. Optimal debulking was predictive of survival and of a negative second-look laparotomy (P
Melt spinning of high‐impact polystyrene: Rubber morphology variations, orientation development, and mechanical properties

Studies of melt-spun, high-impact polystyrene filaments indicate that rubber globules are fragmented to smaller sizes with increasing drawdown ratio and spinline stress. The melt-spun fibers are highly birefringent and obey the same relationship between birefringence and stress as pure polystyrene despite the presence of the rubber globules. These results are interpreted in terms of the stress distribution across the filament cross section. Room temperature tensil force–elongation curves were obtained on the filaments, and mechanical property phenomena were interpreted in terms of the above morphology changes and orientation of polystyrene chains.
Pathways for the degradation of organic photovoltaic P3HT:PCBM based devices

Abstract We report on studies of device degradation in organic photovoltaic devices based on blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Since delamination, oxidation, and chemical interactions at the metal electrode/organic interface have long been posited as degradation pathways in organic electronic devices, we first investigated the stability of a variety of electrodes for devices stored in an inert, dark environment. Second, a set of experiments was designed to separate the effects at the metal/organic interface from the degradation of the active layer or the hole extraction interface. To do this, Ca/Al electrodes were deposited to complete half of a substrate's devices, and samples were left both under constant illumination and 10% illumination (10% duty cycle of 1 sun illumination) in a glovebox environment. After more than 200 h of measurement, additional electrodes were deposited and device performance of each set was compared. Third, to assess the degree of degradation caused by photo-induced processes, device stability in an inert atmosphere under constant illumination, and 10% illumination conditions was also investigated. Last, various degradation mitigation strategies in air under constant illumination were explored. The results showed that the active layer itself is not inherently unstable on the timescales studied here. Choosing the appropriate electrode (Ca/Al) reduced interfacial degradation, storing the active layer in an inert, dark environment did not cause significant degradation, and storing the active layer under constant illumination caused only a limited reduction in performance. Our results indicate that the metal/organic interface can be a significant source of degradation in the devices, and we discuss approaches that could reduce this instability.
SCREENING OFFSPRING OF EARLY HEART ATTACK VICTIMS FOR HYPER-LIPIDEMIA

The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly prior to age 60 years, has increased greatly in the U.S. in the past 3 decades. Evidence suggests a relationship between 1) genetics and CHD, and 2) elevated serum cholesterol (chol) or triglyceride (trigl) levels and CHD. Clearly an effective screening program might make possible early prophylactic therapy. Seventy families were screened for hyperlipidemia in which a parent proband had an MI prior to age 50 years. Thirty-six of 54 probands (67%) still living had elevated trigl (43%) or chol (11%) or both (13%). Forty-nine control children with no family history of early CHD had a mean chol ± 2 SD of 155 ± 54 and a mean trigl ± 2 SD of 85 ± 46. One hundred and eleven children from the 70 families were ≤ 20 years old and 12% had high chol (>2 SD of normal), 10% high trigl, and 4% high chol and trigl (26% abnormal lipids). Eight other children had normal lipid values and elevated lipoprotein levels (>2 SD above normal), for a total of 33% of offspring ≤ age 20 showing abnormalities. Fifty-two offspring were >20 years old and 21% had high trigl, 4% high chol, and 2% high chol and trigl. This study shows a 26 to 33% return rate from screening offspring of early heart attack victims for hyperlipidemia and it is recommended that this now become a routine medical practice.
Linear observers design and implementation

In this paper we show how to implement full- and reduced-order observers using the software packages for computer aided control system design MATLAB and SIMULINK. As a matter of fact, we show how to implement a linear system and its observer, represented by their state space forms, using the SIMULINK state space blocks. We discuss how to choose the observer(s) initial conditions and how to setup the observer gain(s). The presentation is done at the level of undergraduate students who have completed a basic undergraduate class in control systems and have knowledge of the state space linear system representation. Having full understanding of the observer implementation(s), students and engineers will feel confident to use these observers and observer based controllers in numerous engineering and scientific applications.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Magnetic Rigid Disks and Sliders and Its Applications to Tribology

Surface topography measurements of magnetic rigid disks and a slider are made using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a conventional noncontact optical profiler (NOP). The lateral resolution for the surface topographs spans the range of 1 μm down to 2 nm. Topography measurements are used to predict summit statistics and the real area of contact statistics. We find that contact statistics predictions are a strong function of the lateral resolution of the roughness measurement tool. As the magnetic slider comes into contact with the disk surface, the nanoasperities (detected by AFM) plastically deform instantly and subsequently the load is supported by the elastic deformation of microasperities (detected by NOP). AFM also allows the measurements of lubricant-thickness distributions on smooth surfaces. Examples for magnetic disks are presented.
Thermal-shock damage of refractories for application in slagging coal gasifiers

Several commercial high-Cr2O3 refractories (containing 60 to 90 wt pet Cr2O3) with potential for application in slagging gasifiers were evaluated for thermal-shock resistance by means of water-quench tests. The results show that the high-Cr2O3 refractories are considerably more susceptible to thermal-shock damage than the commercially available 90 pet Al2O3-10 pet Cr2O3 refractories. High-Al2O3 refractories, however, may undergo catastrophic corrosion under slagging conditions. The calculated R ⁗ and Rst values for the test refractories indicate that R⁗ provides a good measure of thermal-shock-damage resistance of the refractories; Rst, on the other hand, did not show any systematic correlation, probably owing to the limited amount of data currently available.
Permeability of the human erythrocyte to glycerol in 1 and 2 m solutions at 0 or 20 °C☆

Abstract There are increasing numbers of exceptions to a central tenet in cryobiology that low-molecular-weight protective solutes such as glycerol must permeate cells in high concentration in order to protect them from freezing injury. To test this supposition, it is necessary to determine the amount of solute that has permeated a cell prior to freezing. The amount in human red cells was estimated from the flux equation ds dt = P γ A [(activity external solute) — (activity internal solute)]. Solving the equation required knowledge of Pγ the permeability constant for the solute. Estimates of Pγ for glycerol were made in two ways: (i) by measuring the time to 50% hemolysis of human red cells suspended in 1 or 2 m solutions of glycerol that were hypotonic with respect to NaCl, and (ii) by measuring the time required for red cells in 1 or 2 m solutions of glycerol in isotonic saline-buffer to undergo osmotic shock upon tenfold dilution with isotonic saline-buffer. The measurements were made at 0 and 20 °C. The values of Pγ were about 2.5 × 10−4 cm/min at 20 °C and about 0.9 × 10−4 cm/min at 0 °C. The difference corresponds to an activation energy of 7.2 kcal/mole. These values of Pγ are 100 to 600 times higher than those for glycerol permeation in the bovine erythrocyte. The values of P were relatively unaffected by whether calculations were based on classical or irreversible thermodynamics and by the choice of concentration units in the flux equations. Calculations of the kinetics of glycerol entry using these P values showed that the concentration of intracellular glycerol reaches 90% of equilibrium in 1.2 min at 0 °C and in 0.6 min at 20 °C. The osmolal ratio of intracellular glycerol to intracellular nonpermeating solutes reaches 90% of equilibrium in 7 min at 0 °C and in 3.2 min at 20 °C.
The Potential of Anti-IgE in Food Allergy Therapy

Food allergy is an inappropriate immune response to certain food components. With its increasing prevalence over the past two decades, and potentially fatal consequences, food allergy has become a formidable public health issue. There is currently no effective therapy to treat food allergy. Patients are compelled to resort to strict avoidance of allergenic foods, and they must have quick access to emergency care in the event of accidental exposure. Clearly, there is an urgent need for treatment options. Allergen-specific and allergen-nonspecific therapeutic measures are being actively explored through ongoing research. The data thus far have identified the promise of oral immunotherapy (OIT) among allergen-specific and anti-IgE administration among allergen-nonspecific treatment modes. Indeed, results from three recent trials employing anti-IgE as an adjunctive therapy with OIT have indicated an outstanding potential to safely and rapidly desensitize patients with severe food allergies. The existing data set, however, is severely limited and is derived from diverse study designs that, in turn, have individual shortcomings. Readouts from current and proposed multicenter clinical trials following a well-designed uniform treatment protocol will be highly valuable for carrying out comparative analysis and to draw concrete inferences that will pave the way for approved food allergy therapy.
Electron Beam Fixation of a Flame Retardant Applied Without Water by Coating Methods Fabric Properties and Bilateral Distribution of the Flame Retardant in the Cotton Fibers

Low wet pickup and high solids finishing techniques can produce fabric with the resin distributed in a variety of ways. depending on the method used. Liquid Fyrol 76®, applied to cotton fabric by a number of different procedures, and polymerized at room temperature with electron beam, gave resin distribution that varied from quite nonuniform at low application pressures to complete uniformity at high pressures, even to the point of lumen and fiber penetration. Small amounts of water (as low as 7% above regain) before application effected a uniform distribution even at low pressure.
Integrative biclustering of heterogeneous datasets using a Bayesian nonparametric model with application to chemogenomics

Motivation The identification of protein function and the prediction of ligand-target interaction is an active research field that is facilitated by means of categorizing ligands and proteins into biologically sensible groups. Because of the pharmacological fact that related drugs can bind to receptors without obvious sequence or structural similarity, it is appropriate to categorize proteins based not only on their sequence or structures but also on the chemical structure and the phenotypic side-effect of their ligands. In chemogenomic studies where the complete set of ligands for a protein is not known a priori, integrating the de novo detection of interacting ligand and protein groups into the categorization process can guide the process towards more biologically sensible solutions.
Physical Health Impairment and Depression Among Older Adults

Factors were examined that contribute to depression among older adults, aged 60 to 75 years. A convenience sample of 80 older adults living independently in the community was used. There were no differences found between participants with high or low physical impairment for demographic characteristics. Significant differences were found between the two groups for mastery, social resources and depression. Mastery, social resources and economic resources were significant predictors of depression. The findings support the empirical and theoretical links between stressful life events, specifically physical health impairment, and depression.
Simplified Theory of Space-Charge-Limited Currents in an Insulator with Traps

An ohmic contact between a metal and an insulator facilitates the injection of electrons into the insulator. Subsequent flow of the electrons is space-charge limited. In real insulators the trapping of electrons in localized states in the forbidden gap profoundly influences the current flow. The interesting features of the current density-voltage ($J\ensuremath{-}V$) characteristic are confined within a "triangle" in the $logJ\ensuremath{-}logV$ plane bounded by three limiting curves: Ohm's law, Child's law for solids ($J\ensuremath{\propto}{V}^{2}$) and a traps-filled-limit curve which has a voltage threshold and an enormously steep current rise. Simple inequalities relating the true field at the anode to the ohmic field facilitate qualitative discussion of the $J\ensuremath{-}V$ characteristic. Exact solutions have been obtained for an insulator with a single, discrete trap level in a simplified theory which idealizes the ohmic contact and neglects the diffusive contribution to the current. The discrete trap level produces the same type of nonlinearity discovered by Smith and Rose and attributed by them to traps distributed in energy.
EXPLANATIONS OF SOCIAL PHENOMENA : COMPETING AND COMPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS

: Situations that social scientists and others explain by using concepts like “custom” and “norm” often tend to be situations in which many other kinds of explanations (for example, biological, psychological, economic, historical) seem plausible as well. Do these other explanations compete with the custom or norm explanations, or do they complement them? We need to consider this question carefully and not just assume that various accounts are all permissible at different levels of analysis. In this article I describe two families of noncompeting accounts: (1) explanations of different (but similarly described) facts, and (2) accounts that seem to differ but are really different parts or versions of the same underlying explanation. I argue that while many types of apparent competitors don't really compete with norms, there are usually some that do. These competing accounts will usually undermine the norm account.
Microbiology of acute and chronic sinusitis in children

To determine the bacteriologic cause of acute sinusitis, a sample of sinus secretions must be obtained from one of the paranasal sinuses without contamination by normal respiratory or oral flora that colonize mucosal surfaces. When maxillary sinus aspiration is performed on children who have signs and symptoms of acute sinusitis, bacteria are recovered in high density from 70%. In patients with acute, subacute, or chronic sinusitis who are generally well except for persistent respiratory symptoms, of nasal discharge or cough or both, the usual bacterial isolates are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, an Moraxella catarrhalis. In contrast, anaerobic organisms and staphylococci should be suspected in patients who have very long-standing symptoms or in those whose symptoms are so severe or complicated that sinus surgery is undertaken.
Teaching repetition as a communicative and cognitive tool: evidence from a Spanish conversation class

The development of conversational abilities in the second language depends upon the appropriation of both cognitive and communicative skills, in addition to overall linguistic improvement. In terms of needed skills, speaking is often considered at the expense of listening, which has long been thought of as a passive exercise. However, listening and speaking must be developed together as active discursive practice, that is, in the same way in which they are used in conversation. The focus of the present project is to investigate whether or not students can be taught to use a specific linguistic tool, a feature of private speech known as repetition, as a cognitive and communicative resource in order to facilitate their interactions with other learners. Analysis of students’ production in several different classroom tasks suggests that learners are able to use repetition for a number of communicative and cognitive functions, in response to instruction and extended practice.
Discovery of Optically Pumped Far-infrared Laser Emissions from Formic Acid and its Isotopologues

An optically pumped molecular laser system with a transverse excitation scheme has been used to generate far-infrared radiation. Over 100 laser emissions with wavelengths up to 1.03 mm have been detected with this system using formic acid and several of its isotopologues. This includes ten new laser lines which are reported with their operating pressure, power, polarization with respect to the CO2 pump laser, and wavelength measured to an uncertainty of ± 0.5 μm.
Analysis of the coding activity and stability of messenger RNA in Drosophila oocytes

Abstract The coding activity of the messenger RNA in the ooplasm of late stage 14 (S14) oocytes of Drosophila melanogaster was analyzed by labeling the oocytes in vitro with [35S]methionine and examining the labeled products by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorography. This analysis was done both with newly formed S14 oocytes from rapidly laying females and with S14 oocytes stored for about 10 days in females that were prevented from laying. Comparison of the fluorographs showed that the proteins labeled in the newly formed oocytes were also labeled in the stored oocytes. Thus, the coding activity of S14 oocyte messenger RNA appears to remain stable during prolonged storage in utero. The oocyte proteins synthesized during oogenesis and incorporated into S14 oocytes were labeled in vivo by injecting [35S]methionine into newly eclosed females, and the S14 oocytes were removed 2 days later for gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Comparison of the fluorographs produced by the in vivo and in vitro labeling procedures showed that most of the oocyte proteins labeled in vivo were also labeled in vitro. The S14 oocytes, therefore, appear to contain messenger RNA for most of the oocyte proteins synthesized during oogenesis. There were also several additional proteins detected only in the fluorographs of the in vivo labeled oocytes; the most prominent of these were identified by immunoprecipitation tests as vitellogenin proteins of yolk granules, which are known to be synthesized outside the oocyte, in fat bodies. The occurrence of stable S14 oocyte messenger RNA for most of the oocyte proteins suggests that the synthesis of those proteins during oogenesis occurs in the developing oocytes, specified by a stable population of oocyte messenger RNA.
Impact Analysis of Excitation System Reactive Current Compensation on the Stability of Sichuan Power Grid

Heffron-Philips model including excitation reactive current compensation (RCC) is set up, impact analysis of RCC on the stability of power system is carried out by theoretical analysis and time domain simulation. Analysis results show that positive RCC increases damping torque while reduces synchronous torque; negative compensation increases synchronizing torque while reduces damping torque, and this phenomenon is more obvious in heavy load. Combined with the actual situation in Sichuan power grid, the role of negative RCC to increase transient stability and provide dynamic reactive power for emergency HVDC power support is analyzed, also negative RCC's influence on the damping characteristics in Sichuan power grid is evaluated.
Instructional leadership as a proactive administrative process

First, it is necessary to guard against the simplistic and automatic use of the term instructional leadership as a way to encourage the type of change required to make schools more effective places. Improving schools calls for hard work on the part of an entire community-students, parents, teachers, and administrators. A mere change in language does nothing to guarantee greater effectiveness and productivity. Second, the recent emphases on the importance of instructional leadership have tended to make it appear as if this ingredient is some type of singular outcome in itself. Instead, instructional leadership needs to be conceived of as an ongoing process that takes place around schools (Lipham, 1981). In this article, I focus on some of the characteristics of instructional leadership as a form of proactive administrative behavior. This perspective
Long-term outcome and quality of life after modified pubovaginal sling for intrinsic sphincteric deficiency

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the long-term outcome of the modified pubovaginal sling (MPVS) procedure and its impact on our patients’ quality of life (QOL). Methods. We mailed an outcome questionnaire to 112 female patients who underwent the MPVS procedure for complicated type III stress urinary incontinence (SUI), intrinsic sphincteric deficiency. Eighty-two responses (73.2%) were obtained, with a mean follow-up of 3.4 years (range 0.5 to 8). Forty-four of them have had a follow-up for more than 3 years. Results. Of the patients who responded, 86.3% were satisfied, and 78% of the patients reported significant improvement; 49.3% were dry all the time, 21.9% were occasionally wet, 17.9% were wet with moderate activity, and 10.9% were wet all the time. Social activity improved in 74% of the patients, and sexual activity improved in 39%. No significant difference was noted in continence and satisfaction or QOL. Reviewing the charts of our failures (15 patients, 19.2%) revealed that all of them had urge incontinence with or without SUI. Conclusions. The questionnaire results revealed a high satisfaction rate and a significant improvement in the QOL of patients with complicated SUI who underwent MPVS. The patients remained satisfied over a long follow-up period. Failures are mostly associated with urge incontinence and severe irritative symptoms.
Numerical solutions in three dimensional elastostatics

Abstract A numerical solution capability is developed for the solution of problems in three dimensional elastostatics. The solution method utilizes singular integral equations which can be solved numerically for the unknown surface tractions and displacements for the fully mixed boundary value problem. The method is independent of the surface shape and data specification and has been fully automated. Some sample problems are solved to verify the formulation. In addition the method has been used to investigate a significant problem with stress singularities.
CRIMINALITY, PROSECUTORIAL SCREENING, AND UNCERTAINTY: TOWARD A THEORY OF DISCRETIONARY DECISION MAKING IN FELONY CASE PROCESSINGS

This research contributes to a further understanding of the process of criminalization by examining case information that affects prosecuting attorneys' decision to continue felony prosecution following grand jury indictment. It is suggested that prosecuting attorneys, like other decision makers in organizations engaged in people-processing activities, are confronted with uncertainty emerging from an inability to unilaterally exercise control over all actors involved in the transformation process. By relying on a self-imposed decision criteria of prosecutorial merit defined as the likelihood of obtaining a jury trial conviction, prosecutors attempt to impose a “bounded rationality” on the exercise of discretion in screening decision making. This rationality is one that is sensitive to concerns for effective management of victims and witnesses. It is argued that information relevant to victim/witness credibility and/or cooperation in prosecution is brought to bear in deciding prosecutorial strategies of case processing. Therefore, it is hypothesized that, controlling for legal and extralegal variables, case information that decreases uncertainty concerning victim/witness management will increase the probability of continued prosecution. Support is found for this uncertainty avoidance thesis. In addition, the data indicate that prosecuting attorneys are less likely to continue prosecution of cases involving female defendants and are more likely to continue prosecution of defendants whose bail outcome includes financial conditions for release.
THE STATUS OF STUDENT OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT AT NASULGC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS

A survey was conducted of the member institutions of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) to determine the status of outcomes asessment on their campuses, as well as the usefulness of the NASULGC “Statement of Principles on Outcomes Assessment.” In general it was found that, while many purported to be involved in undergraduate student outcomes assessment, most had only recently begun efforts in this area and could not point to changes that had occurred as a result. Most found the “Statement of Principles” useful, however. Several observations are offered regarding the responses to the survey.
Africa and its nuclear renaissance

Against the background of power shortages, higher prices for oil and gas and the creeping effects of climate change, the nuclear power renaissance has become a global catch phrase. Several African nations are seriously considering the nuclear power option and making exploratory steps toward this objective. The rising expectations for nuclear power are also driven by abundant uranium resources in Africa. A weak industrial infrastructure, the lack of skilled labour, interstate conflicts, social and ethnic strife, insurgencies, corruption and crime does not create, however, an environment in some African countries that is conducive to the safe and secure implementation of nuclear power generation policies. The long and daunting road toward this objective would require African governments to go beyond the traditional framework of a technical programme and apply considerable efforts toward ameliorating the problems that plague their states and private sectors.
Reliability of Visual Analog and Verbal Descriptor Scales for "Objective" Measurement of Temporomandibular Disorder Pain

Eight dentists viewed standardized videotapes showing palpations of the temporomandibular joint and muscles of mastication and recorded their judgments concerning the amount of pain the patient was experiencing. Judgments were recorded using a four-point verbal descriptor scale (VDS) ("none", "mild", "moderate", "severe" pain) or a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) anchored with the terms "no pain" and "worst pain possible". Test/re-test reliability over a one-week period and interjudge reliabilities were calculated for each scale; reliabilities of the two scales were directly compared based on the statistical equivalence of weighted kappa and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Neither scale showed satisfactory reliability. Median test/re-test reliabilities were k = 0.590 for the VDS and r = 0.822 for the VAS. Interjudge reliabilities averaged k = 0.394 for the VDS and r = 0.735 for the VAS. Direct comparison of reliabilities for the two scales showed no clear advantage for either scale. The marginal reliabilities of these scales, when used by dentists to quantify the patient's pain, suggest that neither scale should be regarded as an "objective" pain measure.
Effect of hypertonicity and colchicine on intramembranous particle aggregation in toad urinary bladder.

Colchicine, an agent which disrupts microtubules, inhibits the vasopressin (VP)-induced increase in water permeability as well as intramembranous particle (IMP) aggregation in the luminal plasma membrane of granular cells of toad urinary bladder. However, the hydroosmotic response induced by serosal hypertonicity is not affected by colchicine. The present investigation was initiated to establish whether serosal hypertonicity is associated with IMP aggregation and whether the aggregation, if present, is altered by colchicine. The experimental half of paired hemibladders from the toad, Bufo marinus, treated with 0.1 mM colchicine for 4 h prior to exposure to serosal mannitol (240 mM) demonstrated no significant difference in osmotic water How (Jv) (1.03 × 0.18 vs. 1.13 ± 0.22μl · min−1 · cm−2; p>0.20) when compared with control hemibladders. Similarly, comparison of control and colchicine-treated bladders revealed no difference in the number of IMP aggregation sites per area of membrane (17.8 ± 2.0 vs. 24.7 ± 3.5/100μm; p>0.10), the relative area of membrane occupied by these sites (0.30 ± 0.06 vs. 0.39 ± 0.07%; p>0.10) or the mean size of the aggregates (17.0 ± 1.4 vs. 15.8 ± 1.0 × 103 μm2; p > 0.20). These results indicate that in toad bladder the increase in Jv induced by serosal hypertonicity is associated with IMP aggregation. Secondly, an intact microtubule system is not required to induce the hydroosmotic or the aggregation responses. If, as has been proposed, the cellular actions of VP and serosal hypertonicity share a common pathway to bring about an increase in osmotic water permeability and cause IMP aggregation in the luminal membrane of the granular cell, the present results suggest that the pathway begins at a step subsequent not only to the generation of cAMP, but also beyond the involvement of the microtubule system.
The discrimination of various cystine sulfoxides.

L-Cysteinsaure-L-cysteinylester und symmetrischesL-Cystindisulfoxyd wurden als zwei isomere Oxydationsprodukte des Cystins isoliert und durch IR-Spektrum und verschiedenes Verhalten bei der elektrolytischen Reduktion charakterisiert. Mit Hilfe gleichmassiger mechanischer Titration wurden die pH-Bestandigkeitsbereiche und das kritische pH beginnender Hydrolyse als abrupte Wendung in der Titrationskurve automatisch registriert.
Vibrationally excited molecules from the reaction of H atoms and chemisorbed H atoms on a metal surface

Abstract The vibrational excitation of H 2 produced in the reaction between gas-phase and chemisorbed H atoms on a tungsten surface is studied by use of classical trajectory procedures. In small and intermediate-impact parameter ( b ) collisions, the reaction probability P ( b ) is large, and a major fraction of the available energy goes into vibrational excitation of H 2 . Gas atoms approaching the surface with b close to the H 2 bond distance are particularly efficient in H 2 formation. In large, b collisions, both P ( b ) and vibrational excitation are inefficient. Such a decrease in P ( b ) and vibrational excitation with increasing b produces a population inversion. The reaction dynamics and distribution of reaction times are discussed in detail.
Thermal tolerance to whole body hyperthermia

Thermal tolerance, that is, a reduced sensitivity to a succeeding heat treatment, has been noted in vitro and following local hyperthermia in normal tissues and malignant tumors. However, information is sparse concerning thermal tolerance following systemic hyperthermia, thereby limiting our ability to design optimally fractionated systemic hyperthermia treatment protocols. A technique for reproducibly inducing systemic hyperthermia in the rat is described, and the survival curve for rats exposed at 42.5 degrees C for periods of up to 75 minutes is presented. Using this system, increased survival of rats to systemic hyperthermia at 42.5 degrees C was demonstrated 30 hours after an initial sublethal conditioning exposure (41.8 degrees C for 1 hour). The LD50 (the time of exposure lethal to 50% of the rats) at 42.5 degrees C was increased by a factor of approximately 2 in the animals exposed to the sublethal conditioning. This increase in LD50 demonstrates the development of thermal tolerance to killing by whole body hyperthermia.
Race, age and serious psychological distress in the USA

Racial minority status in the USA has been found as a risk factor of psychological distress. Serious psychological distress can lead to high personal and healthcare costs across different disease categories, life experiences and age cohort. This study aims to examine the interaction effect of race and age on psychological distress among non-Hispanic White, Asian, Black and Latino adults. This study uses data from a random sample of 43,672 adults aged 18 and older living in California, collected by the California Health Interview Survey in 2009. Younger Black respondents had the greatest prevalence of psychological distress, while the elderly White respondents had the lowest. Middle-aged Asian respondents reported a significantly smaller prevalence of psychological distress than middle-aged White respondents. Elderly Asian and Latino respondents were more likely to experience serious psychological distress than elderly White and Black respondents. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of se...