cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rethinking disability: the social model of disability and chronic disease

Disability is commonly viewed as a problem that exists in a person’s body and requires medical treatment. The social model of disability, by contrast, distinguishes between impairment and disability, identifying the latter as a disadvantage that stems from a lack of fit between a body and its social environment. This paper describes the social model of disability and then considers how it might deal with chronic disease or impairment and why medical professionals should learn about disability perspectives to improve their practice.
Additional evidence for the short form of the Universality-Diversity Scale

The short form of the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale (M-GUDS-S) was evaluated for its factor structure and association with measures relevant to work settings. A three-factor model yielded a superior fit to a single factor. Further, the M-GUDS-S correlated with measures of teamwork aptitude, teamwork interest, and the Big Five personality factors. The solid factor structure combined with the scope of the instrument supports its use in a broader context.
Chemical composition of soil solution

Soil solutions were obtained by a liquid displacement technique and their principal ionic constituents were determined. Increases in ionic concentration of the soil solution were observed over a period of 53 days and were due almost entirely to calcium. magnesium and nitrate ions. These increases are assumed to be caused by nitrification.
THE HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TERMS OF TRADE

A PREVIOUS article in this Review2 considered analyses of the terms of trade with special reference to their use of short-period and longperiod concepts. It was suggested that the historian's problem in respect of the terms of trade-the problem of accounting for actual movements in the terms of trade for a particular country over particular periods of time-required for its satisfactory solution a combining of various theoretical approaches. Further, it was judged likely, in the nature of the shortand long-period factors relevant to movements of the terms of trade, that a satisfactory analysis could proceed, essentially as a by-product, only from an investigation of a wide range of forces determining the growth and fluctuation of a national or regional economy in the context of the worldtrading area. The purpose of the present article is to outline and to illustrate one such eclectic approach to the historical analysis of the terms of trade. Illustrations will be drawn mainly from British economic history since I 790. In no sense, however, does this article constitute a systematic treatment of the British terms of trade. Throughout this article the terms of trade will be considered under its most common definition; namely, as the relation between export and import prices for a given country. Thus, an improvement or deterioration in the terms of trade will not carry with it any automatic connotation of gain or loss. The measurement of gain and loss through changes in the terms of trade, can, of course, only be conducted in real terms. This article does not consider, for example, the problems of formally measuring, in Viner's vocabulary, the single factoral or double factoral terms of trade.3 The sort of historical analysis outlined for relative price movements would, however, constitute also a useful foundation for interpreting measurements of such real relationships; for, in order to judge the significance of price changes, movements in productivity must be established.
Strain-specific detection of introduced Beauveria bassiana in agricultural fields by use of sequence-characterized amplified region markers.

Abstract Field studies on the efficacy and persistence of an introduced strain of Beauveria bassiana for insect control require detection assays to differentiate the non-native strain from indigenous populations. In this study we developed strain-specific molecular markers based on polymerase chain reaction amplification of sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCAR) in combination with dilution plating on semi-selective medium to detect and estimate density of propagules of a commercial strain of B. bassiana (strain GHA) in field samples. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, unique fragments that distinguished GHA from other strains of B. bassiana were obtained. Three amplicons, OPA-14 0.44 , OPA-15 0.44 , and OPB-9 0.67 , generated with RAPD primers were cloned and sequenced and used as bases for designing SCAR primers OPA14 F/R 445 , OPA15 F/R 441 , and OPB9 F/R 677 , respectively. All three SCAR primers were highly sensitive, capable of detecting 100 pg B. bassiana GHA genomic DNA, and thus could be used to detect varying levels of the fungus in the field.
Uveitis in children.

PURPOSE: To summarize the prevalence and patterns of uveitis in children. METHODS: Pertinent articles were reviewed. RESULTS: Children constitute 5-10% of the patients with uveitis seen at tertiary referral centers, and girls appear to develop uveitis slightly more frequently than boys. Among all children with intraocular inflammation, anterior uveitis accounts for 30-40%, posterior uveitis accounts for 40-50%, intermediate uveitis accounts for 10-20%, and diffuse uveitis accounts for 5-10%. The most common cause of anterior uveitis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), whereas the most frequent type of posterior uveitis is toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Most cases of intermediate and diffuse uveitis are bilateral, chronic, and idiopathic. The most common causes of vision loss in children with uveitis are cataract, band keratopathy, glaucoma, and cystoid macular edema. Up to one-third of the children with uveitis are left with severely impaired vision as a result of these complications. CONCLUSIONS: Uve...
Prosodic control in severe dysarthria: preserved ability to mark the question-statement contrast.

Speakers with severe dysarthria are known to have reduced range in prosody. Consistent control within that range, however, has largely been ignored. In earlier investigations speakers with severe d...
The effect of solid wall interaction on an amorphous polyethylene thin film, using a Monte Carlo simulation on a high coordination lattice

Abstract A Monte Carlo simulation on a high coordination lattice employing the RIS scheme for short-range interaction and a Lennard–Jones potential for long-range interaction was carried out on C 120 polyethylene thin film adsorbed at an impenetrable solid wall as well as free-standing films at 443 and 343 K, respectively. The interaction between the solid wall and polymer chains was given by a step-like function whose well depth is ϵ . Three ϵ values, −6.0, −2.0, and 0.0 kJ/mol, were tested in order to study the influence of the solid wall on the static and dynamic properties of the film. Significant density increase near the solid wall with the strongest interaction was observed, giving rise to the contraction of film thickness, which is in accordance with experimental observation. The presence of the solid wall reduces the interfacial width relative to the free-standing film and the extent of the reduction shows a tendency to grow with the strength of the interaction and lowering temperature. The population of chain end groups is significantly depressed near the attractive solid wall. The chain mobility as a whole in the normal direction toward the film surface is retarded near the free surface and the solid wall, while the bead mobility is dependent on the nature of interactions.
Adrenal medullary stimulation induced by angiotensin I, angiotensin II, and analogues.

A structure-activity relationship study was attempted to determine the structural specificity of the no. 8 amino acid residue of [1-asp,5-ileu]-angiotensin II for adrenal medullary stimulation. Isolated cat adrenal glands were perfused retrograde at a flow rate of 1 ml/min with phosphate-buffered Locke's solution at 23 to 25 C. Continuous catecholamine analysis was performed using an automated trihydroxyindole procedure. All drugs were administered either by single injection (0.05 to 0.1 ml) or by perfusion. Angiotensin analogues studied were: [8-(OMe)tyr]-angiotensin II; [8-tyr]-angiotensin II; [8-ala]-angiotensin II; [5-ileu,8-(3-amino-4-phenylbutyric acid)]-angiotensin II (referred to as [8-APB]-angiotensin II); [5-ileu,8-(DL-3-amino-3'-phenylisobutyric acid)]-angiotensin II (referred to as [8-APIB]-angiotensin II); [1-asp(NH2),5-val]-angiotensin II; [1-asp,5-ileu]-angiotensin I; tetradecapeptide. Three peptides (angiotensin II, [8-tyr]-angiotensin II, and [8-ala]-angiotensin II) were studied in vivo for stimulation of adrenal catecholamine secretion. For maximum pressor activity, angiotensin must be an octapeptide with an aromatic amino acid and free COOH group in the no. 8 position. None of these three are structural requirements in adrenal chromaffin tissue. There was cross-tachyphylaxis between angiotensin II and all the analogues studied except two ([8-APB]- and [8-APIB]-angiotensin II). In vitro studies with 10-leu-C14-angiotensin I and angiotensin II antibody indicated that angiotensin I has a marked, direct stimulatory effect on the adrenal medulla. Adrenal medullary catecholamine secretion induced by angiotensin I and II was greatly potentiated by DMAE perfusions. Responses to nicotine were blocked by DMAE and bradykinin-induced catecholamine release was unchanged. The cross-tachyphylaxis and DMAE studies suggest that several of the analogues and angiotensin II are interacting with a common adrenal medullary receptor.
Texas Instruments' short-term `Idea¿ programs and its long-shot `Wild Hare¿ programs stimulate the company's innovators

People make innovations. But one has to create an environment in which people will be stimulated to innovate. And what few of us realize is that one can actually plan and organize systems to spur innovation.
Stereoselective synthesis of the disaccharide unit of incednine.

A stereoselective synthesis of a fully protected version of the disaccharide unit (2) of incednine (1) is described. The synthesis of 2 proceeds in 4.7% overall yield from commercially available al...
Believing in Employment Discrimination: The Case of Forrest Mims, Scientific American, and Title VII Protection

This article reviews the law regarding Title VII employment discrimination protection from religious discrimination. The issues surrounding the principal legal protection in this regard are explored in the context of a recent controversial case in which an author, Forrest Mims, was not hired as a regular contributor forScientific American magazine, ostensibly because of his belief in the theory of creation over the theory of evolution. The definition of what constitutes a protected religious belief or practice is seen to have expanded over time. However, a belief in creationism is not necessarily seen as being tantamount to a religious belief under present legal interpretation of Title VII. The implications of this finding for future needed Title VII revision are discussed.
Mixing of tt-bar bound states with the Z boson.

We take seriously the possibility that tt-bar bound states are within several GeV/c/sup 2/ of the Z-boson mass and make a careful study of this possible near degeneracy using the mass-mixing formalism. Most of the decay width of vector states below the open-top threshold comes from mixing with the Z. In the idealized situation where there is no coupling of the unmixed tt-bar state to e/sup +/e/sup -/ and ff-bar, the amplitude for e/sup +/e/sup -/..-->..ff-bar has an exact zero at the unmixed mass. Correspondingly, in the physical situation of nonzero couplings, the cross section for e/sup +/e/sup -/..-->..ff-bar exhibits deep minima. We investigate as well the effects of complex mixing matrix elements above the open-top threshold, and calculate longitudinal polarization and forward-backward asymmetries, where there are large enhancements near tt-bar resonance masses.
Comparisons of in situ and long path measurements of NO2 in urban plumes

[1] Measurements of NO2 were taken at Cornelia Fort Airpark in Nashville, TN, during the 1999 Southern Oxidant Study using three different techniques: photolysis to NO followed by chemiluminescence (PCL), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), and differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). This was an informal comparison of these techniques conducted during the 1999 Southern Oxidant Study. The PCL and LIF instruments were connected to a common manifold that sampled at the top of a 10-m-walkup tower. The DOAS instrument sampled over a 1.37-km-long light path with end points at 2 and 35 m above ground. The range of NO2 mixing ratios measured was 0.75 ppbv to over 60 ppbv and the median value was nearly 3 ppbv. While preliminary data analysis showed overall agreement between the LIF and PCL instruments to within 1% (least squares slope = 0.99; r2 = 0.98), subsequent analysis revealed a discontinuous shift of about 12% in the PCL data, which was confirmed by comparison to the DOAS data. A leak in the PCL inlet system was the likely cause. After adjustment of the affected PCL data, a comparison of all the coincident measurements showed high correlation (r2 > 0.99) and overall agreement to within 5%. Analysis of the ratios of PCL NO2 to LIF NO2 showed that greater than 90% of individual data points agree to within the total combined instrumental uncertainties. However, the comparison over short time periods is more precise than the average over the campaign. We attribute this to the need for improved PCL instrument data reduction procedures. The two in situ instruments were also operated side by side a year later in Houston, TX, with similar results.
A classification of 4-connected graphs

Having observed Tutte's classification of 3-connected graphs as those attainable from wheels by line addition and point splitting and Hedetniemi's classification of 2-connected graphs as those obtainable from K2 by line addition, subdivision and point addition, one hopes to find operations which classify n-connected graphs as those obtainable from, for example, Kn+1. In this paper I give several generalizations of the above operations and use Halin's theorem to obtain two variations of Tutte's theorem as well as a classification of 4-connected graphs.
Cylindrical TE/sub 011/ /TM/sub 111/ Mode Control by Cavity Shaping

An appropriate modification of the shape of a cylindrical filter cavity has been used to separate the degenerate TM/sub 111/ (doublet) modes while at the same time providing a slight increase in the already high unloaded Q of the desired TE/sub 011/ mode. Experimental results of mode frequencies and unloaded Q's are tabulated for a family of shaped cavities. Two low-loss filters utilizing these cavities are discussed. The general correspondence between modes of spherical, cylindrical and rectangular cavities and waveguides is described in order to place the performance of intermediate shapes in perspective.
Investigations into the chemistry of thermodynamically unstable species. The direct polymerization of vinyl alcohol, the enolic tautomer of acetaldehyde

Vinyl alcohol was generated through the hydrolysis of ketene methyl vinyl acetal I. In general, we have observed that room temperature addition of 0.9 mol equiv of I to a 1% (v/v) D[sub 2]O solution in acetone-d[sub 6], made such that the concentration of the overall solution is 10[sup [minus]4]M in DCl, yields 90% O-D vinyl alcohol which tautomerizes to acetaldehyde only very slowly at ambient temperature (k[sub t] [approx] 10[sup [minus]6] M/s, vide infra). The remaining 10% of I is converted into vinyl acetate, a side product in the hydrolysis, as well as to a small amount of acetaldehyde from tautomerization. Spectroscopic data for the vinyl alcohol were identical to previously reported data. Our observations suggest that the key to generating persistent vinyl alcohol solutions is to drive the system toward an anhydrous state through use of nearly stoichiometric amounts of water in the rapid hydrolysis step. By taking advantage of stabilizing electron donor-acceptor interactions, the free radical copolymerization of O-D vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride proved successful. The polymerization was determined to be first order in both maleic anhydride and vinyl alcohol. Since the rate of polymerization is far greater than that of tautomerization under the conditions (ca.more » 30 times faster at [minus]10[degree]C), there is no significant increase in acetaldehyde concentration during polymerization. 20 refs., 1 fig.« less
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Vascular Permeability Factor Augments Nitric Oxide Release From Quiescent Rabbit and Human Vascular Endothelium

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor (VPF) is an endothelial cell (EC) mitogen. This feature is considered central to the documented role of VEGF/VPF in promoting angiogenesis. More recent evidence suggests that VEGF/VPF may also serve a “maintenance” function, modulating various aspects of EC biology. In the present study, we sought to determine the extent to which VEGF/VPF may stimulate the release of NO from normal ECs. Methods and Results VEGF/VPF produced a dose-dependent rise in NO concentration ([NO]) from vascular segments of rabbit thoracic aorta, pulmonary artery, and inferior vena cava. In comparison to stimulation with acetylcholine, the onset of increased [NO] after administration of VEGF/VPF was slower, reaching a maximum value after 8 minutes. Preincubation of the aortic segments with l-arginine raised by twofold both baseline [NO] and [NO] stimulated by addition of 2.5 μg/mL VEGF/VPF. Removal of CaCl 2 from the Krebs solution, disruption of the endothelium, and administration of N G -monomethyl-l-arginine abrogated the stimulatory effect of 10 μg/mL VEGF/VPF. Similar findings were documented with an NO-specific polarographic electrode to measure NO released from cultured human umbilical vein ECs. Conclusions VEGF/VPF stimulates production of NO from rabbit and human ECs. This finding (1) constitutes inferential evidence for the presence of functional VEGF/VPF receptors on quiescent endothelium of the adult rabbit as well as human ECs and (2) supports the notion that putative maintenance functions of VEGF/VPF may include regulation of baseline synthesis and/or release of EC NO.
Modularity: Implications for Imitation, Innovation, and Sustained Advantage

Modular design practices provide a lens on the link among product architecture, imitation, and the dynamic capabilities that sustain long-term performance. Looking at closed product systems, we propose that simplified links between design and performance outcomes in modular environments facilitate imitation. The same reduction in complexity drives development of dynamic capabilities. These take the form of more rapid and reliable search processes for incremental and radical innovations. The scope and timing of a firm's modular strategy influence the development of these capabilities, which are critical to sustainable modular performance advantages.
“Saints Don’t Cry”: Exploring Messages Surrounding Depression and Mental Health Treatment as Expressed by African-American Pentecostal Preachers

A qualitative analysis was completed on sermons from ten African-American preachers of the Pentecostal faith to determine if and how they discussed depressive symptoms, based on the statements they made in the pulpit about depression, sadness, and grief. Messages surrounding views about mental health treatment were also explored. Findings illustrate that African-American Pentecostal preachers in the study preached sermons suggesting that long term depression is a weakness, and promoted the notion that “saints don’t cry”. Also, their sermons were dispassionate about psychotropic medication use and the use of psychiatrists. Implications for mental health practice with African-American preachers and parishioners are discussed.
Hypergraph sequences as a tool for saturation of ultrapowers

Let T₁, T₂ be countable first-order theories, Mi ⊨ Ti, and &#119967; any regular ultrafilter on λ ≥ ℵ₀. A longstanding open problem of Keisler asks when T₂ is more complex than T₁, as measured by the fact that for any such λ, &#119967;, if the ultrapower (M₂)λ/&#119967; realizes all types over sets of size ≤ λ, then so must the ultrapower (M₁)λ/&#119967;. In this paper, building on the author's prior work [12] [13] [14], we show that the relative complexity of first-order theories in Keisler's sense is reflected in the relative graph-theoretic complexity of sequences of hypergraphs associated to formulas of the theory. After reviewing prior work on Keisler's order, we present the new construction in the context of ultrapowers, give various applications to the open question of the unstable classification, and investigate the interaction between theories and regularizing sets. We show that there is a minimum unstable theory, a minimum TP₂ theory, and that maximality is implied by the density of certain graph edges (between components arising from Szemeredi-regular decompositions) remaining bounded away from 0,1. We also introduce and discuss flexible ultrafilters, a relevant class of regular ultrafilters which reflect the sensitivity of certain unstable (non low) theories to the sizes of regularizing sets, and prove that any ultrafilter which saturates the minimal TP₂ theory is flexible.
Pitfalls of prenatal diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OH def) congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Hormonal measurements and HLA genotyping, of amniotic fluid at midgestation correctly predicted the postnatal dx of CAH in 26 of 29 fetuses at risk for CAH. Of these 26, 6 were predicted to have classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OH def) based on elevated amniotic fluid 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P) and Δ4-androstenedione (A). These 6 fetuses and their index cases were ultimately proven to have salt-wasting classical 21-OH def. Of 3 HLA typed, genotype was identical to the index case. Normal amniotic fluid 17-P and A in the remaining 20 predicted fetuses unaffected with classical CAH, and these patients have been clinically asymptomatic to date or biochemically proven not to be affected with classical or nonclassical CAH. Of the 20 fetuses, 6 were HLA genotyped and predicted to be homozygous unaffected or heterozygous. However, in 3 of the 29 fetuses, prenatal diagnosis was incorrect. In one, the fetus was predicted to have CAH based on HLA identity to the index case. However, amniotic fluid 17-P and A were normal and the fetus was normal. The index case of this family did not have CAH but was a normal child. Thus, amniotic fluid hormone levels accurately predicted a normal fetus while HLA genotyping was not relevant in prenatal dx because the index case was unaffected. The second fetus was predicted to be a carrier on the basis of HLA genotyping and normal amniotic fluid 17-P and A. However, during infancy the female infant was shown to have nonclassical CAH and to be HLA identical to the index case. The index case in this family, presumed to have classical CAH, was later diagnosed to have nonclassical CAH. Thus, in nonclassical CAH, hormonal measurement of 17-P and A is not useful in prenatal dx; only correct HLA genotyping of the fetus is valuable. In the third case, the fetus was predicted to be a heterozygote by HLA genotyping and to be unaffected by hormonal measurement. Postnatally, at age 2 7/12 yrs, the male child was shown to have non-salt-losing classical CAH and was shown to be HLA identical to his brother (index case) who also has non-salt-losing CAH. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that in salt-losing classical CAH, prenatal dx of the homozygous affected fetus is reliable by the measurement of amniotic fluid 17-P and A. In nonclassical or non-salt-losing classical CAH, amniotic fluid 17-P and A are in the normal range, thus prenatal dx is not possible by hormonal evaluation. Both hormonal and HLA studies of fetal amniotic fluid, as well as correct dx of the specific form of 21-OH def and HLA studies of the index case, are essential in diagnosing the specific form of 21-OH def CAH in the fetus.
Passing on the Passion for the Profession

For many years, statisticians have had difficulties interesting students in statistics and subsequently recruiting them into the profession. Over the years, statisticians have pointed out roadblocks to recruiting, offered suggestions for improving recruiting, and commented in general about the attractiveness of statistics to “outsiders.” Here we review the statistical literature to identify obstacles to and strategies for recruiting students of statistics. Furthermore, from a more general body of literature, we identify recruiting strategies that may be suitable for statistics. We organize the obstacles and detours around them into a recruiting map and suggest the types of statistician suited for traveling the roads. In addition, we provide tips for generating and evaluating recruiting strategies.
No exacerbation of perihematomal edema with intraventricular tissue plasminogen activator in patients with spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage.

In severe spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), intraventricular (IVR) administration of tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) clears blood from the ventricles more rapidly than with external ventricular drainage (EVD) alone. However, experimental studies suggest tPA may be neurotoxic in compromised brain tissue and may exacerbate perihematomal edema. We used computerized volumetrics to assess change in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), IVH, ventricular, and perihematomal edema (PHE) volumes at 2–4 (T1) and 5–9 (T2) days following diagnostic CT scans (T0) of 24 patients (12 tPA-treated; 12 controls) with IVH requiring EVD. Controls from a hospital registry were matched by IVH and ICH volume to tPA-treated patients who came from a multicenter trial involving 52 patients with IVH. There were no significant differences between matched pairs in admission ICH and IVH volumes. IVR tPA resulted in more rapid clearance of IVH as determined by T2–T0 decrease in median IVH volume (tPA: −18.7 cc, iqr 14.9; control:−6.9 cc, iqr 6.4; P = 0.002). Median ratios of PHE to ICH volume were not significantly different in control versus tPA-treated patients at T1 and T2 [control:tPA = 0.55:0.56 (T1); P = 0.84 and 0.81:0.71 (T2); P = 1.00]. Total ventricular volume was significantly larger in the control group at T2 (mean: 57.57 ± 10.32 vs. tPA: 24.80 ± 2.67 cc; P = 0.01). Bacterial ventriculitis was more frequent in the control group (5 vs. 1 episodes; P = 0.06) as was shunt dependence (4 vs. 0 cases; P = 0.03). For case matched large IVH with small ICH volume, IVR tPA enhances lysis of intraventricular blood clots and has no significant impact on PHE.
Role of ICOS pathway in autoimmune and alloimmune responses in NOD mice

Islet allografts are subject to alloimmune and autoimmune destruction when transplanted into autoimmune prone animals or humans. The ICOS-B7h pathway plays a role in alloimmune responses, but its function in autoimmunity against islet cells is controversial. We investigated the role of ICOS signaling in autoimmune and alloimmune responses in NOD mice. ICOS blockade prevents development of spontaneous disease in pre-diabetic NOD mice. Furthermore, while ICOS blockade prolongs graft survival in a fully mismatched non-autoimmune islet allograft model in C57BL/6 recipients, it has no beneficial effect in reversing diabetes in models of islet transplantation in NOD mice involving autoimmunity alone or both allo- and autoimmunity. Interestingly, ICOS blockade is effective in prolonging heart allograft (not subject to tissue-specific autoimmunity) survival in NOD mice. We conclude that in islet transplantation and autoimmune diabetes, ICOS blockade can be effective in inhibiting alloimmunity and preventing autoimmunity but is ineffective in inhibiting recurrence of autoimmunity.
Collimator design for a dedicated molecular breast imaging-guided biopsy system: proof-of-concept.

Purpose: Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a dedicated nuclear medicine breast imaging modality that employs dual-head cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) gamma cameras to functionally detect breast cancer. MBI has been shown to detect breast cancers otherwise occult on mammography and ultrasound. Currently, a MBI-guided biopsy system does not exist to biopsy such lesions. Our objective was to consider the utility of a novel conical slant-hole (CSH) collimator for rapid (<1 min) and accurate monitoring of lesion position to serve as part of a MBI-guided biopsy system. Methods: An initial CSH collimator design was derived from the dimensions of a parallel-hole collimator optimized for MBI performed with dual-head CZT gamma cameras. The parameters of the CSH collimator included the collimator height, cone slant angle, thickness of septa and cones of the collimator, and the annular areas exposed at the base of the cones. These parameters were varied within the geometric constraints of the MBI system to create several potential CSH collimator designs. The CSH collimator designs were evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations. The model included a breast compressed to a thickness of 6 cm with a 1-cm diameter lesion located 3 cm from the collimator face. The number of particles simulatedmore » was chosen to represent the count density of a low-dose, screening MBI study acquired with the parallel-hole collimator for 10 min after a {approx}150 MBq (4 mCi) injection of Tc-99m sestamibi. The same number of particles was used for the CSH collimator simulations. In the resulting simulated images, the count sensitivity, spatial resolution, and accuracy of the lesion depth determined from the lesion profile width were evaluated. Results: The CSH collimator design with default parameters derived from the optimal parallel-hole collimator provided 1-min images with error in the lesion depth estimation of 1.1 {+-} 0.7 mm and over 21 times the lesion count sensitivity relative to 1-min images acquired with the current parallel-hole collimator. Sensitivity was increased via more vertical cone slant angles, larger annular areas, thinner cone walls, shorter cone heights, and thinner radiating septa. Full width at half maximum trended in the opposite direction as sensitivity for all parameters. There was less error in the depth estimates for less vertical slant angles, smaller annular areas, thinner cone walls, cone heights near 1 cm, and generally thinner radiating septa. Conclusions: A Monte Carlo model was used to demonstrate the feasibility of a CSH collimator design for rapid biopsy application in molecular breast imaging. Specifically, lesion depth of a 1-cm diameter lesion positioned in the center of a typical breast can be estimated with error of less than 2 mm using circumferential count profiles of images acquired in 1 min.« less
Using the microcomputer for assisting in teacher decision‐making

It has been suggested that good teacher decision-making is the most basic skill in effecting positive student outcome (Glass, 1983; Heller, 1983; Hersch & Walker, 1983; Hofmeister, 1984). Numerous instructional decisions are made by classroom teachers. Most instructional decisions, however, are made by default; that is, by not recognizing that a decision can be made or by not being aware of possible alternatives. The usual default decision involves continuation of a practice whether or not it is the most appropriate procedure for the situation (Farr & Brown, 1971). The need for improving the decision-making process of special education teachers cannot be overstated. Sound decisions affect every facet of teaching the special needs student, from assessment and placement to the evaluation of student learning. Jackson (1968) categorized teacher decisions along a continuum including a) preactive, b) interactive, and c) postactive decisions. Even though these three types of decisions have been termed "basic teaching skills" (Shavelson, 1973), few teacher training programs have included instruction in decision-making in their curricula. Two reasons can be cited for this. First, instructing teachers in preactive, interactive, and postactive decision-making is extremely timeconsuming from a training standpoint. Second, even after teachers have been formally trained in decision-making, they often don't have the time that is necessary to apply these skills in a classroom setting (Bennett, 1982). The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that, through the use
Regulated Interactions between Dynamin and the Actin-Binding Protein Cortactin Modulate Cell Shape

The dynamin family of large GTPases has been implicated in the formation of nascent vesicles in both the endocytic and secretory pathways. It is believed that dynamin interacts with a variety of cellular proteins to constrict membranes. The actin cytoskeleton has also been implicated in altering membrane shape and form during cell migration, endocytosis, and secretion and has been postulated to work synergistically with dynamin and coat proteins in several of these important processes. We have observed that the cytoplasmic distribution of dynamin changes dramatically in fibroblasts that have been stimulated to undergo migration with a motagen/hormone. In quiescent cells, dynamin 2 (Dyn 2) associates predominantly with clathrin-coated vesicles at the plasma membrane and the Golgi apparatus. Upon treatment with PDGF to induce cell migration, dynamin becomes markedly associated with membrane ruffles and lamellipodia. Biochemical and morphological studies using antibodies and GFP-tagged dynamin demonstrate an interaction with cortactin. Cortactin is an actin-binding protein that contains a well defined SH3 domain. Using a variety of biochemical methods we demonstrate that the cortactin–SH3 domain associates with the proline-rich domain (PRD) of dynamin. Functional studies that express wild-type and mutant forms of dynamin and/or cortactin in living cells support these in vitro observations and demonstrate that an increased expression of cortactin leads to a significant recruitment of endogenous or expressed dynamin into the cell ruffle. Further, expression of a cortactin protein lacking the interactive SH3 domain (CortΔSH3) significantly reduces dynamin localization to the ruffle. Accordingly, transfected cells expressing Dyn 2 lacking the PRD (Dyn 2(aa)ΔPRD) sequester little of this protein to the cortactin-rich ruffle. Interestingly, these mutant cells are viable, but display dramatic alterations in morphology. This change in shape appears to be due, in part, to a striking increase in the number of actin stress fibers. These findings provide the first demonstration that dynamin can interact with the actin cytoskeleton to regulate actin reorganization and subsequently cell shape.
Rectus femoris and vastus intermedius fiber excursions predicted by three-dimensional muscle models.

Abstract Computer models of the musculoskeletal system frequently represent the force–length behavior of muscle with a lumped-parameter model. Lumped-parameter models use simple geometric shapes to characterize the arrangement of muscle fibers and tendon; this may inaccurately represent changes in fiber length and the resulting force–length behavior, especially for muscles with complex architecture. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the complex features of the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius architectures affect the fiber changes in length (“fiber excursions”). We created three-dimensional finite-element models of the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius muscles based on magnetic resonance (MR) images, and compared the fiber excursions predicted by the finite-element models with fiber excursions predicted by lumped-parameter models of these muscles. The finite-element models predicted rectus femoris fiber excursions (over a 100° range of knee flexion) that varied from 55% to 70% of the excursion of the muscle–tendon unit and vastus intermedius fiber excursions that varied from 55% to 98% of the excursion muscle–tendon unit. In contrast, the lumped-parameter model of the rectus femoris predicted fiber excursions that were 86% of the excursion of the muscle–tendon unit and vastus intermedius fiber excursions that were 97% of the excursion of the muscle–tendon unit. These results suggest that fiber excursions of many fibers are overestimated in lumped-parameter models of these muscles. These new representations of muscle architecture can improve the accuracy of computer simulations of movement and provide insight into muscle design.
Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis of Incisional Herniorrhaphy Following Renal Transplantation

Hypothesis Repair of incisional hernias in renal transplant recipients is compromised because of immunosuppressive therapy. Design Retrospective review. Setting University tertiary care institution. Patients Forty-two recipients of renal transplants or combined renal-pancreas transplants who underwent incisional herniorrhaphy were included in our study. Intervention Incisional herniorrhaphy. Main Outcome Measures Postoperative complications and recurrence of incisional hernia. Results Forty-two patients (mean age, 49.6 years) underwent incisional herniorrhaphy (mean area, 99.9 cm2) following renal transplantation (26 cadaveric donor renal, 12 combined renal-pancreas, and 4 living related donor renal) from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2005. Using various techniques, hernia repairs were performed on average 36.4 months following transplantation. Diabetes mellitus was a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease (16 patients), followed by polycystic kidney disease (6 patients), focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (3 patients), hypertension (2 patients), Alport syndrome (2 patients), and IgA nephropathy (2 patients), with 11 patients having lupus or glomerulonephritis. Four patients developed cellulitis, 2 patients required mesh removal, and 1 patient was admitted for abscess drainage and intravenous antibiotics. Fourteen patients had recurrence of incisional hernias, with 3 patients experiencing 2 recurrences and 1 patient experiencing 4 recurrences. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the largest series of incisional herniorrhaphies performed among patients following renal transplantation. Although smoking history, the presence of diabetes, and immunosuppressive therapy were not associated with the initial development of an incisional hernia, they were associated with complications. Component separation performed by transplant and plastic and reconstructive surgeons should be considered in the setting of recurrent hernias and large defects.
Approximation algorithms for clustering problems

Clustering is a ubiquitous problem that arises in many applications in different fields such as data mining, image processing, machine learning, and bioinformatics. Clustering problems have been extensively studied as optimization problems with various objective functions in the Operations Research and Computer Science literature. We focus on a class of objective functions more commonly referred to as facility location problems. These problems arise in a wide range of applications such as, plant or warehouse location problems, cache placement problems, and network design problems where the costs obey economies of scale. In the simplest of these problems, the uncapacitated facility location (UFL) problem, we want to open facilities at some subset of a given set of locations and assign each client in a given set D to an open facility so as to minimize the sum of the facility opening costs and client assignment costs. This a very well-studied problem; however it fails to address many of the requirements of real applications. In this thesis we consider various problems that build upon UFL and capture additional issues that arise in applications such as, uncertainties in the data, clients with different service needs, and facilities with interconnectivity requirements. By focusing initially on facility location problems in these new models, we develop new algorithmic techniques that will find application in a wide range of settings. We consider a widely used paradigm in stochastic programming to model settings where the underlying data, for example, the locations or demands of the clients, may be uncertain: the 2-stage with recourse model that involves making some initial decisions, observing additional information, and then augmenting the initial decisions, if necessary, by taking recourse actions. We present a randomized polynomial time algorithm that solves a large class of 2-stage stochastic linear programs (LPs) to near-optimality with high probability. We exploit this tool to devise the first approximation algorithms for various 2-stage discrete stochastic problems such as the stochastic versions of the set cover, vertex cover, and facility location problems, when the underlying random data is only given as a “black box” and no restrictions are placed on the cost structure. We introduce the facility location with service installation costs problem to model applications involving clients with different service requirements. if the service requested by it has been installed at the facility (incurring a service installation cost). The connected facility location problem captures settings where the open facilities want to communicate with each other or with a central authority; we model this by requiring that the open facilities be interconnected by a Steiner tree. We give intuitive and efficient algorithms for both these problems. We use these algorithms to obtain approximation algorithms for the κ-median variants of these problems, where in addition to all of the constraints of the problem, a bound of κ is imposed on the number of facilities that may be opened.
Development of an equilibrium headspace gas chromatographic method for the measurement of noncovalent association and partitioning of n-alkylbenzenes at infinite dilution in fulvic acid pseudophase.

Abstract Fulvic acid (FA), the most important water soluble fraction of humic substances in nature, is known to form aggregate pseudophase and complexes with organic and inorganic species. Here, we report a novel equilibrium headspace gas chromatography (eHSGC) and a two-step reaction model to measure n -alkylbenzene–FA association constant ( K 11 ) and n -alkylbenzene–pseudophase FA n association constant ( K n 1 ) without solute concentration and response factor. The K 11 and K n 1 values were 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those for sodium dodecylsulfate. Changes in peak area were used to calculate the critical FA-aggregation concentration (cfc), mole fraction based partition coefficients ( K x ), activity coefficients of solute inside the aggregate pseudophase ( γ m ∞ ), and transfer free energies of alkyl CH 2 at infinite dilution. The cfc was found to be 10 ± 0.5 μM. The K x values are of the order of 10 7 in the FA-aggregate pseudophase. The data shows that benzene has the lowest (0.0002) and n -butylbenzene has the highest (0.01) γ m ∞ values, which are seven orders of magnitude smaller than γ w ∞ in water. The transfer free energy of association of a CH 2 group, −155 cal/mol, compared to that of benzene, −9722 cal/mol, indicates that the FA-aggregate pseudophase is more polarizable benzene-like and less n -alkane aliphatic-like.
Origins of the journal of verbal learning and verbal behavior

The founding of the Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior is described as the culmination of the activities of the Committee on Linguistics and Psychology of the Social Science Research Council, the Office of Naval Research, and the Group for the Study of Verbal Behavior during the period from about 1950 to 1962.
Effect of Electrohydraulic Discharge on the Flotation Deinking Efficiency

Discharging a high-energy spark underwater creates a shock wave that dissipates through an acoustic field. The hydroxyl radicals created by the field are able to mildly oxidize the surfaces of ink and toner particles suspended in water, thereby decreasing their ζ potential. This decrease inhibits the tendency of the particles to reattach to fiber, which is negatively charged. Pilot studies showed that sparking a slurry of recycled newspaper and magazine furnish decreased residual ink on fiber by 21%, increased brightness by 1%, and reduced fiber loss by 1% when the treated furnish was subsequently subjected to flotation deinking. No benefit was realized if the furnish was sparked during deinking, possibly because the shock wave changes the bubble-size distribution.
Surface-plasmon resonance spectrometry and characterization of absorbing liquids

The effect of absorption of the sample medium on the surface-plasmon resonance (SPR) characteristics is analyzed by approximate analytical and exact numerical models. We show that absorption leads to specific changes in the value of reflectivity near the SPR angle and that these can be used for absorbance detection. The strongest absorption-induced change in reflectivity occurs at two values of metal film thickness (28 and 55 nm for a gold film and lambda = 632.8 nm). Using a sample solution of Rhodamine 700 in ethanol, we measured the characteristic changes in the SPR angle and in reflectivity over the wavelength interval encompassing the strong absorption band at 610-680 nm. The possibility of the simultaneous determination of the refractive index and absorption from SPR measurements is demonstrated and has the potential for substance-specific detection.
Telephone behavioural intervention delivered by nurses combined with home blood pressure monitoring improves long-term hypertensive management compared with usual care

Commentary on: HB Bosworth, MK Olsen, JM Grubber, et al.. Two self-management interventions to improve hypertension control: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med2009;151:687–95.
Measuring the effect of overgrazing in the Sonoran Desert

Long term overgrazing in Mexico has caused a sharp discontinuity in vegetative cover along the international border in the semi-arid Sonoran Desert. The United States side, protected from overgrazing by the Taylor Act since 1934, exhibits longer, more plentiful grasses and less bare soil than adjoining Mexican lands. Satellite- and ground-based datasets were used in a multi-scale examination of the differential radiative and reflective characteristics of the two regimes. The more exposed Mexican landscape dries more rapidly than the United States following summer convective precipitation. After about three days, depletion of soil moisture evokes a period of higher surface and air temperatures in Mexico. Good correspondence was found between remote and in situ measures of surface temperature and biomass.
Using fuzzy set theory and scale-free network properties to relate MEDLINE terms

Automated construction and annotation of biological networks is becoming increasingly important in bioinformatics as the amount of biological data increases. At the center of this are metrics required for relating biological entities such as genes, diseases, signaling molecules and chemical compounds. Co-occurrence of terms within abstracts is widely used to establish tentative relationships because it is easy to use, implement, understand, and is reasonably accurate. However, it is also very imprecise – the cutoffs for how many co-occurrences of terms are necessary to establish a relationship is arbitrary and the nature of the relationship is generic. Since the frequency of co-occurrence for terms usually follows a scale-free distribution, this property can be exploited to define degree of membership in fuzzy sets. Beginning with a set of co-occurrences for any biomedical term (or its synonyms), relations are defined by the overlap of sets, normalizing by the area under the curve that the two sets share. The ability of this method to rank the relative specificity of biological relationships is tested by comparing cumulative term co-occurrences within 7.5 million MEDLINE abstracts with focused summaries of gene function and disease association within LocusLink. On average, the fuzzy set ranking (FSR) was in the top 0.6% of all potential associations, showing a good correlation between domain overlap and the biological association between two terms.