cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring Teachers' Use of Technology in Classrooms of Bilingual Students.

Es articulo presenta los resultados de una investigacion sobre las percepciones que tienen los docentes frente a la contribucion de la tecnologia en el aprendizaje de estudiantes bilingues. Las preguntas de investigacion pretenden conocer la apreciacion de los docentes sobre el uso de material digital disenado por ellos mismos, el impacto que estos generan en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes y los factores situacionales que limitan el uso de la tecnologia. Los datos obtenidos a traves de los grupos focales y las encuestas aplicadas a los participantes revelan que los docentes perciben que el uso adecuado de la tecnologia permite a los estudiantes bilingues ampliar el acceso al lenguaje academico. Los resultados sugieren que los directores de las escuelas controlan el uso de la tecnologia.
Stimulant therapy in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and concomitant long QT syndrome: A safe combination?

Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is prevalent in about 11% of children in the United States. As such, ADHD is expected to be present in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS), a rare, potentially lethal but highly treatable cardiac channelopathy. ADHD-directed stimulant therapy is relatively contraindicated in patients with LQTS because of concern for LQTS-triggered events. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ADHD-directed treatment, outcome, and frequency of LQTS-triggered events in patients with LQTS and concomitant ADHD. Methods A retrospective electronic medical record review of 357 pediatric patients with LQTS evaluated between 1999 and 2014 was performed to determine the prevalence of concomitant ADHD and the incidence of LQTS-triggered events in patients with LQTS, with or without concomitant ADHD. Results Overall, 28 patients (8%) were diagnosed with LQTS concomitant ADHD. There were no phenotypic differences between patients with LQTS and ADHD, and LQTS alone. ADHD-directed stimulant therapy was stopped or advised against in 19 patients (68%) at the time of first evaluation or after diagnosis. None of the 15 stimulant-treated patients experienced LQTS-triggered events in a combined 56 person-years of treatment. Perhaps paradoxically, there was a statistically lower LQTS-triggered event rate in the stimulant-treated ADHD group compared to the LQTS alone cohort. Conclusion Among patients with mild- to moderate-risk LQTS, we found a prevalence of ADHD similar to that in the general population, which can be treated effectively and safely with stimulant therapy. Physicians should find reassurance in the low adverse event rate and should weigh the potential effects of suboptimal treatment of ADHD with the theoretical proarrhythmic risk from stimulant medications.
Cloning and characterization of the Bacteroides fragilis metalloprotease toxin gene

Strains of Bacteroides fragilis that produce a ca. 20-kDa heat-labile protein toxin (termed B. fragilis toxin [BFT]) have been associated with diarrheal disease of animals and humans. BFT alters the morphology of intestinal epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo and stimulates secretion in ligated intestinal segments of rats, rabbits, and lambs. Previous genetic and biochemical data indicated that BFT was a metalloprotease which hydrolyzed G (monomeric) actin, gelatin, and azocoll in vitro. In this paper, the cloning and sequencing of the entire B. fragilis toxin gene (bft) from enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (ETBF) 86-5443-2-2 is reported. The bft gene from this ETBF strain consists of one open reading frame of 1,191 nucleotides encoding a predicted 397-residue holotoxin with a calculated molecular weight of 44,493. Comparison of the predicted BFT protein sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified BFT indicates that BFT is most probably synthesized by ETBF strains as a preproprotein. These data predict that BFT is processed to yield a biologically active toxin of 186 residues with a molecular mass of 20.7 kDa which is secreted into the culture supernatant. Analysis of the holotoxin sequence predicts a 20-residue amphipathic region at the carboxy terminus of BFT. Thus, in addition to the metalloprotease activity of BFT, the prediction of an amphipathic domain suggests that oligomerization of BFT may permit membrane insertion of the toxin with creation of a transmembrane pore. Comparison of the sequences available for the bft genes from ETBF 86-5443-2-2 and VPI 13784 revealed two regions of reduced homology. Hybridization of oligonucleotide probes specific for each bft to toxigenic B.fragilis strains revealed that 51 and 49% of toxigenic strains contained the 86-5433-2-2 and VPI 13784 bft genes, respectively. No toxigenic strain hybridized with both probes. We propose that these two subtypes of bft be termed bft-1 (VPI 13784) and bft-2 (86-5433-2-2).
Survival potential of first instars of the codling moth in laboratory experiments.

Mean survival times of starved first instars of the codling moth Laspeyresia pomonella (L.), varied with temperature and relative humidity in controlled laboratory experiments. As temperature increased and relative humidity decreased, average survival times declined. Larvae were tested at 44 combinations of temperature (4°–45°C) and relative humidity (15–100% RH), and results were used to construct a 3-dimensional figure relating these parameters with survival. Maximum survival time was over 300 h for larvae in water-saturated air at 4°C, and neonates survived less than 1 h at 45°C. The proportion of first instars penetrating apples was reduced when larvae were starved for various lengths of time at 100% RH and 4 temperatures (4°, 10°, 20°, and 30°C). Starvation at higher temperatures more severely affected successful fruit penetration.
Decisions Informed by Computing Entities (DICE) to improve prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging: the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) Study

Arithmatic computational modeling permits improved prognostic detection via a combinatorial or independent method.
Specificity and Dosimetry of Toxicologic Responses

Abstract Toxicology has two goals. The first is to identify and characterize the adverse effects that can be produced in biological systems by exposure to chemicals and the second is to use this information to predict the type and severity of responses in other species and exposure situations. The tools that the toxicologist uses to detect and describe the adverse effects of chemical exposure include the traditional acute, subchronic, and chronic studies in animals plus a variety of special studies designed to demonstrate specific organ damage, reproductive and teratogenic effects, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and other responses. These are often supplemented with studies of the kinetics and the mechanism of action and more recently with studies designed to elucidate the molecular basis for cancer and other effects. These studies together with the information on exposure provide the basis for subsequent toxicologic predictions. Although general effects such as weight loss and mortality are included in toxicity protocols, most of the toxicology tests are related to specific end-organ toxicity or to mechanism or behavioral studies. We do not have animal protocols to study individually the subjective symptoms described for multiple chemical sensitivity, such as depression, fatigue, headache, and memory loss, and our tests lack sufficient specificity to evaluate a syndrome which is composed primarily of such symptoms. Since all chemicals can produce adverse effects under some conditions of exposure, toxicologic predictions are most useful when they specify both the type of adverse effect anticipated and the dose required to produce the effect. Multiple chemical sensitivity does not appear to consistently involve specific chemicals or specific adverse effects and the effects observed are reported to lack evidence of a threshold and to occur at extremely low levels. It is difficult to include these parameters in any reasonable toxicologic prediction relating cause and response in multiple chemical sensitivity or similar conditions.
Wave curves with the presence of an umbilic point and an umbilic line for plane waves in isotropic elastic solids

Abstract Wave curves with the presence of an isolated umbilic point have been widely studied but very little has been done for wave curves with the presence of an umbilic line. In this paper we present wave curves with the presence of an isolated umbilic point and an umbilic line. This arises when one considers plane waves in a special class of third-order hyperelastic materials. It could also arise in other physical problems if the definition of the potential function presented in the paper is modified. An interesting and unexpected result is that the simple wave curves are similar, i.e., the curves are obtained by enlarging or diminishing one typical curve. This is not expected for general third-order materials. Another interesting result is the existence of curved inflection lines. With the curved inflection lines, the wave speed along a wave curve can have one maximum and one minimum. This results in a more complicated composite wave solution for the Goursat-Riemann problem and the Riemann problem.
Split vector systems for ultra-targeted gene delivery: a contrivance to achieve ethical assurance of somatic gene therapy in vivo.

Abstract Tightly controlled spatial localisation of therapeutic gene delivery is essential to maximize the benefits of somatic gene therapy in vivo and to reduce its undesired effects on the ‘bystander' cell populations, most importantly germline cells. Indeed, complete ethical assurance of somatic gene therapy can only be achieved with ultra-targeted gene delivery, which excludes the risk of inadvertent germline gene transfer. Thus, it is desired to supplement existing strategies of physical focusing and biological (cell-specific) targeting of gene delivery with an additional principle for the rigid control over spread of gene transfer within the body. In this paper I advance the concept of ‘combinatorial' targeting of therapeutic gene transfer in vivo . I hypothesize that it is possible to engineer complex gene delivery vector systems consisting of several components, each one of them capable of independent spread within the human body but incapable of independent facilitation of gene transfer. As the gene delivery augmented by such split vector systems would be reliant on the simultaneous availability of all the vector system components at a predetermined body site, it is envisaged that higher order reaction kinetics required for the assembly of the functional gene transfer configuration would sharpen spatial localisation of gene transfer via curtailing the blurring effect of the vector spread within the body. A particular implementation of such split vector system could be obtained through supplementing a viral therapeutic gene vector with a separate auxiliary vector carrying a non-integrative and non-replicative form of a gene (e.g., mRNA) coding for a cellular receptor of the therapeutic vector component. Gene-transfer-enabling components of the vector system, which would be delivered separately from the vector component loaded with the therapeutic gene cargo, could also be cell-membrane-insertion-proficient receptors, elements of artificial transmembrane channels capable of nucleic acid transfer or, perhaps, factors modifying existing cellular transmembrane channels (e.g., gap-junctional hemichannels) to serve as conduits for gene entry. In general, there are four possibilities for gene transfer in vivo using a split vector system: (1) simultaneous delivery of a mixture of the vector components to the same body site; (2) sequential delivery of the vector components to the same body site; (3) simultaneous delivery of the vector components to separate body sites; (4) sequential delivery of the vector components to separate body sites. It is hoped that, once experimentally confirmed, the combinatorial principle for tight control over localisation of gene transfer could be the critical element in attaining complete assurance of gene non-delivery to germline cells in somatic gene therapy in vivo .
The Role of Culture in Knowledge Management: A Case Study of Two Global Firms

Knowledge management (KM) approaches have been broadly considered to entail either a focus on organizing communities or a focus on the process of knowledge creation, sharing, and distribution. While these two approaches are not mutually exclusive and organizations may adopt aspects of both, the two approaches entail different challenges. Some organizational cultures might be more receptive to the community approach, whereas others may be more receptive to the process approach. Although culture has been cited widely as a challenge in knowledge management initiatives, and although many studies have considered the implications of organizational culture on knowledge sharing, few empirical studies address the influence of culture on the approach taken to knowledge management. Using a case study approach to compare and contrast the cultures and knowledge management approaches of two organizations, the study suggests ways in which organizational culture influences knowledge management initiatives as well as the evolution of knowledge management in organizations. Whereas in one organization, the KM effort became little more than an information repository, in the second organization, the KM effort evolved into a highly collaborative system fostering the formation of electronic communities.
Modeling measurement errors when estimating snow water equivalent

Recently the National Weather Service has developed a geostatistical model to generate areal estimates of snow water equivalent (the water content of snowpack) in various river basins throughout the Western USA. The areal snow water equivalent estimates are used to update the hydrologic simulation models used to produce extended streamflow forecasts in the USA. Currently, when the snow water equivalent estimates are obtained, it is assumed that the ground-based and airborne data used in the spatial model are measured without error. In this research, we illustrate how to modify the spatial prediction model to account for measurement errors in the observed airborne and ground-based snow data, derive the expressions necessary to model the measurement errors, and illustrate the modeling techniques on data collected in the Upper Colorado River basin.
Imperfectly Mobile Households and Durable Local Public Goods: Does the Capitalization Mechanism Work?

Abstract A complication in the decision making of local governments is that a community's residents may move before the future benefits associated with current tax and expenditure policies are fully realized. It has been argued that the capitalization of these benefits into current property values can induce local governments to behave efficiently. This paper drops two assumptions behind the capitalization hypothesis: perfect labor mobility and the absence of uncertainty about the future benefits. It is shown that these benefits may be overcapitalized or undercapitalized, depending on a critical aspect of the uncertainty. Consequently, there is underinvestment in some projects, but overinvestment in others.
Some tests of the anticipatory mediated generalization model of acquired sample equivalence in pigeons’ many-to-one matching

Transfer-of-control tests typically show the development of acquired equivalence between samples occasioning the same comparison choice in pigeons’ many-to-one matching-to-sample. Specifically, when some of those samples are later explicitly trained to occasion new comparison choices, the remaining samples immediately exert control over the new choices as well. In the present experiments, we examined whether or not this transfer effect depends on the order in which the various sample-comparison relations in training are learned. One group of pigeons initially acquired 0-delay many-to-one matching with four samples and two comparisons, followed by 0-delay matching with two of those samples and two new comparisons. Another group of pigeons learned the two-sample matching task first, followed by many-to-one matching. When subsequently tested for their ability to match the remaining samples from many-to-one matching to the comparisons used in the two-sample task, both groups showed comparable levels of transfer. These findings challenge the view that common anticipatory processes ostensibly arising from the samples in many-to-one matching are necessary mediators for the subsequent transfer effects indicative of acquired sample equivalence.
Intact Pattern Transfer of Conductive Exfoliated Graphite Nanoplatelet Composite Films to Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Platforms

Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) has become a ubiquitous process for creating functional ultrathin films. Introduced by Decher, the simple deposition of two oppositely charged polyions can be performed on many types of surfaces giving them new functionality based on the type of polyelectrolytes utilized. Incorporating new functional materials such as nanoparticles, proteins, or medicine (therapeutic chemicals) to alter film properties has lead to changes in mechanical, surface wetting, antireflective, and luminescent properties and resulted in applications as biosensors or in drug delivery. Exfoliated graphite has been incorporated into PEM and other polymer composite films for its unique mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, which are comparable to carbon nanotubes. Multilayer graphite, large stacks of sp hybridized graphene sheets bound together by weak van der Waals interactions, is an ideal starting material because it is inexpensive and available in large quantities. To take advantage of these properties, oxidized graphite has been incorporated into PEM. Oxidized graphite is created by the acid treatment of graphite, which exfoliates the multilayered graphene sheets into platelets of only a few graphene layers thick, creates a negative charge so that they are stable in aqueous solutions, and renders the graphite nonconductive. LBL assembly with a positively charged polyelectrolyte allows for the formation of PEM. To make conductive films, the oxidized graphite must be reduced back to graphite, which is not cost-effective and can change the film morphology. To our knowledge no one has performed LBL assembly using exfoliated graphite that was not oxidized. Mass production of these films for electronic devices requires a patterned film on the substrate surface. Patterning a single layer of graphite does not result in a large enough surface coverage to surpass the
Pond Production and Fatty Acid Profiles of the Fillets of Channel Catfish Reared on Diets with Different Protein Sources

Abstract Three protein sources were evaluated as supplements to grow-out feeds for mixed-sized channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus stocked at 16,750 fish/ha in 0.04-ha earthen ponds. Three practical diets were tested: (1) meat, bone, and blood meal (MBM), (2) fish meal containing menhaden Brevoortia spp., and (3) soybean meal and wheat (lysine added). The fish were fed to satiation once daily for 133 d. For total fish harvested, dietary protein did not affect the weight gain, hepatosomatic index, percent survival, harvest yield, protein efficiency ratio, percentage of intraperitoneal fat, or dress-out percentage. Feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio were significantly higher in fish fed the MBM diet. This diet also produced a significantly lower percentage of lipids in the fillets. Significant differences were shown for fatty acids found in the fillets of large fish and small fish fed all diets. A size-related significant difference was found for the total saturated fatty acids, where values for...
Cyclic AMP-generating systems in cell-free preparations from guinea pig cerebral cortex: loss of adenosine and amine responsiveness due to low levels of endogenous adenosine.

The accumulations of radioactive cyclic AMP elicited by adenosine, norepinephrine, and histamine in adenine-labeled vesicular entities of a particulate fraction from guinea pig cerebral cortex are greatly reduced as a result of prolonged preincubation. The presence of adenosine deaminase during preincubations largely prevents the loss of adenosine, norepinephrine and histamine responses. Adenosine deaminase was inactivated by deoxycoformycin prior to stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by adenosine or amines. If adenosine deaminase is not inactivated, responses to norepinephrine are not significant and histamine responses are reduced by 50%. Adenosine deaminase cannot restore responsiveness of the cyclic AMP-generating systems. It is proposed that, in participate fractions of guinea pig cerebral cortex, low levels of adenosine cause a slow loss of receptors and/or of coupling of receptors to cyclic AMP-generating systems.
HIGH TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT FOR AFTERRIPENING IN SEEDS OF WINTER ANNUALS

Summary Temperature requirements for afterripening were investigated in seeds of the winter annuals, Stellaria media, Valerianella umbilicata and Phacelia purshii. Seeds were incubated during the summer dormancy period at nine temperature regimes on wet and alternately wetted and dried sand. Low temperatures (5, 10, 15, 15/6 and 20/10°C) inhibited and high temperatures (20, 25, 30/15 and 35/20°C) promoted afterripening of the seeds. Temperatures (5 and 10°C) which promote afterripening in species with a chilling requirement (e.g., summer annuals) almost completely prevented afterripening of the three winter annuals. Thus, although dormancy is an adaptation of winter annuals to their hot, dry summer habitat, the summer temperatures are required for afterripening of the seeds.
Role of slow delayed rectifying potassium current in dynamics of repolarization and electrical memory in swine ventricles

Dynamics of repolarization, quantified as restitution and electrical memory, impact conduction stability. Relatively less is known about role of slow delayed rectifying potassium current, I(Ks), in dynamics of repolarization and memory compared to the rapidly activating current I(Kr). Trans-membrane potentials were recorded from right ventricular tissues from pigs during reduction (chromanol 293B) and increases in I(Ks) (mefenamic acid). A novel pacing protocol was used to explicitly control diastolic intervals to quantify memory. Restitution hysteresis, a consequence of memory, increased after chromanol 293B (loop thickness and area increased 27 and 38 %) and decreased after mefenamic acid (52 and 53 %). Standard and dynamic restitutions showed an increase in average slope after chromanol 293B and a decrease after mefenamic acid. Increase in slope and memory are hypothesized to have opposite effects on electrical stability; therefore, these results suggest that reduction and enhancement of I(Ks) likely also have offsetting components that affect stability.
Metaanalysis of the prevalence of intrauterine fetal death in gastroschisis.

Objective The objective of this study was to review the medical literature that has reported the risk for intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) in pregnancies with gastroschisis. Study Design We systematically searched the literature to identify all published studies of IUFD and gastroschisis through June 2011 that were archived in MEDLINE, PubMed, or referenced in published manuscripts. The MESH terms gastroschisis or abdominal wall defect were used. Results Fifty-four articles were included in the metaanalysis. There were 3276 pregnancies in the study and a pooled prevalence of IUFD of 4.48 per 100. Those articles that included gestational age of IUFD had a pooled prevalence of IUFD of 1.28 per 100 births at ≥36 weeks' gestation. The prevalence did not appear to increase at >35 weeks' gestation. Conclusion The overall incidence of IUFD in gastroschisis is much lower than previously reported. The largest risk of IUFD occurs before routine and elective early delivery would be acceptable. Risk for IUFD should not be the primary indication for routine elective preterm delivery in pregnancies that are affected by gastroschisis.
Eat Now or Later: Self-Control as an Overlapping Cognitive Mechanism of Depression and Obesity

While overlapping neurobiological mechanisms are known, relatively little is known about how “self-control” and cognitive affective processing of rewards may also influence the bi-directional risk between obesity and depression. The objective of this study was to identify the extent to which “self-control,” measured using a delay discounting task is co-related to BMI and Depression diagnostic thresholds. A within-subjects counterbalanced design was used in which 92 participants (Mean±SD: BMI = 27.9±3.5, HAMD = 14.7±7.7) completed a series of clinical diagnostic, survey, and demographic questionnaires in a behavioral health laboratory setting. For the delay discounting task, participants chose between one large delayed reward and one successively smaller immediate reward for four food types (dessert, fried food, fruit, and vegetable). Results showed that delay discounting scores were predictive of BMI and depression with lower delay discounting scores associated with higher BMI and HAMD for the dessert (HAMD scores (β = -.197, p = .013), BMI (β = -.239, p < .001)) and fried food (HAMD scores (β = -.328, p = .001), BMI (β = -.166, p = .027)). Clinical significance was further evident when HAMD and BMI scores were converted to diagnostic thresholds. Only depression and/or atypical depressive symptoms were related to delay discounting scores with the fruit and vegetable. Thus, reduced cognitive affective self-control for impulsive food choices—particularly for “comfort foods” high in fat and sugar—appears to be a shared cognitive mechanism for both conditions perhaps contributing to the high prevalence of co-morbid mood disorders and weight gain.
Cavity enhanced resonant absorption with application for laser cooling

Using an optical cavity, we demonstrate enhanced pump light absorption for laser cooling of solids. A Fabry-Perot cavity containing Yb:ZBLAN glass shows enhancement of resonant absorption by a factor of 11 compared to the double-pass configuration. This corresponds to 85% absorption of the incident laser power.
Characterization of the secondary electron-transfer pathway intermediates of photosystem II containing low-potential cytochrome b559

β-carotene (Car) and chlorophyll (Chl) function as secondary electron donors in photosystem II (PS II) under conditions, such as low temperature, when electron donation from the O2-evolving complex is inhibited. In prior studies of the formation and decay of Car•+ and Chl•+ species at low temperatures, cytochrome b 559 (Cyt b 559 ) was chemically oxidized prior to freezing the sample. In this study, the photochemical formation of Car•+ and Chl•+ is characterized at low temperature in O2-evolving Synechocystis PS II treated with ascorbate to reduce most of the Cyt b 559 . Not all of the Cyt b 559 is reduced by ascorbate; the remainder of the PS II reaction centers, containing oxidized low-potential Cyt b 559 , give rise to Car•+ and Chl•+ species after illumination at low temperature that are characterized by near-IR spectroscopy. These data are compared to the measurements on ferricyanide-treated O2-evolving Synechocystis PS II in which the Car•+ and Chl•+ species are generated in PS II centers containing mostly high- and intermediate-potential Cyt b 559 . Spectral differences observed in the ascorbate-reduced PS II samples include decreased intensity of the Chl•+ and Car•+ absorbance peaks, shifts in the Car•+ absorbance maxima, and lack of formation of a 750 nm species that is assigned to a Car neutral radical. These results suggest that different spectral forms of Car are oxidized in PS II samples containing different redox forms of Cyt b 559 , which implies that different secondary electron donors are favored depending on the redox form of Cyt b 559 in PS II.
Some findings on the network performance of broadband hosts

With the rapid growth in the popularity of and the research interest in peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, an interesting question is what the quality of network connectivity between peers in the "real world" is and what implications this has for applications. In this paper, we describe an effort called PeerMetric to directly measure P2P network performance from the vantage point of broadband-connected residential hosts. Our measurements indicate significant asymmetry in bandwidth, with median downstream and upstream available bandwidths of 900 Kbps and 212 Kbps, respectively. We argue that the availability of last-hop bandwidth is more important than the traditional consideration of locality for overlay multicast over broadband hosts. We also consider the peer selection problem and find that a simple delay-vector based approach is effective for finding proximate peers in terms of latency. However, P2P latency turns out to be a poor predictor of P2P TCP throughput, which may be the metric of interest for applications such as file sharing.
Effects of x-irradiation, nitrogen mustard, fasting, cortisone and adrenalectomy on transaminase activity in the rat.

Abstract The enhanced transaminase activities in rat liver resulting from x-irradiation, nitrogen mustard, and starvation, and in intestine resulting from starvation are probably secondary to the influence of hormonal outflow of the adrenal cortex. Cortisone resulted in increased, and adrenalectomy in decreased activities of these enzymes. The depressed transaminase activity in intestine following x-irradiation and nitrogen mustard was correlated with the concomitant destruction of the mucosal cells. The glutamic-alanine enzyme was far more sensitive to stress than the glutamic-aspartic enzyme. The relation between irradiation and adrenal stimulation was stressed.
A note on the phase transition in cerium magnesium nitrate

Abstract Evidence and arguments are presented for the support of the hypothesis that cerium magnesium nitrate undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at low temperatures.
Understanding the vertebrate immune system: insights from the reptilian perspective

Reptiles are ectothermic amniotes, providing the key link between ectothermic anamniotic fishes and amphibians, and endothermic amniotic birds and mammals. A greater understanding of reptilian immunity will provide important insights into the evolutionary history of vertebrate immunity as well as the growing field of eco-immunology. Like mammals, reptile immunity is complex and involves innate, cell-mediated and humoral compartments but, overall, there is considerably less known about immune function in reptiles. We review the current literature on each branch of the reptilian immune system, placing this information in context to other vertebrates. Further, we identify key areas that are prime for research as well as areas that are lagging because of lack of reagents in non-model systems.
Modified clearing method to show sieve tubes in minor veins of leaves.

Leaf samples of Glycine max and numerous other dicotyledonous species were cleared by a common, well established procedure modified by using more concentrated (10% w/v) aqueous NaOH, and by leaving samples in NaOH for 2-4 weeks and in chloral hydrate for 3 days, all at mom temperature. A single dye, chlorazol black E (1g/100 ml absolute ethanol), is used to stain for 3-6 min. Samples are mounted with the lower epidermis upward. Sieve tubes in favorable material can be seen in minor veins and vein endings.
Sequential Reliability Assurance in Finite Lots

Efficient sequential stopping rules are developed which assure fixed length lower confidence limits on lot reliability when inspection is of the rectifying type. Several models of production processes are defined and analyzed: 1. A nonparametric model 2. Parametric models 3. Parametric models with prior distributions.
Treatment outcome in a chronic pain rehabilitation program.

Abstract One hundred patients were selected who had completed an outpatient rehabilitation program designed to teach competent coping with chronic pain. Data at follow-up periods averaging 21 months posttreatment indicated statistically significant decreases in subjective pain intensity and increases in activities of daily living with substantial reductions in use of medications for pain. Changes from pretreatment to follow-up were not significantly different among groups of patients with pending, current, or not disability. Eight of 19 unemployed persons who had pending disability claims had returned to work at follow-up. It was concluded that considerable changes in function can occur with realtivelyl brief outpatient pain rehabilitaiton and that pending or current disability is not necessarily an indication of likely teatment failure.
Effect of β-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade on Blood Flow to Collateral-Dependent Myocardium During Exercise

Background β-Adrenergic receptors have been identified in isolated coronary collateral blood vessels, but their functional significance in the intact heart has not been demonstrated. Methods and Results We measured myocardial blood flow with radioactive microspheres in normal and collateral-dependent myocardium in eight dogs trained to run on a treadmill before and after β-adrenergic blockade with propranolol, 200 μg/kg, a dose that effectively inhibited the increase in coronary blood flow produced by selective β1- and β2-adrenergic agonists. Collateral vessel growth was stimulated with 2-minute intermittent occlusions of the left anterior descending artery followed by permanent occlusion. During control exercise, blood flow in the collateral zone was 38±5% less than in the normal zone. At identical levels of exercise, with heart rate maintained constant by atrial pacing, propranolol decreased mean blood flow in the collateralized myocardium from 1.93±0.17 to 1.50±0.14 mL · min−1 · g−1 (P<.01), while incr...
Cortisol response to diazepam: its relationship to age, dose, duration of treatment, and presence of generalized anxiety disorder

Objective Acute diazepam administration has been shown to decrease plasma cortisol levels consistent with decreased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, especially in individuals experiencing stress. However, the effects of chronic diazepam treatment on cortisol have been less studied, and the relationship to age, anxiety, duration of treatment, and dose are not well understood.
A short and stereospecific synthesis of (±)-α-lycorane

Abstract (±)-α-Lycorane (4) has been synthesized stereospecifically in five steps from commercially available 3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenylacetonitrile (7). The key step involves an intramolecular unstabilized iminium ylide-olefin [3+2] cyclo addition reaction 6 → 9.
Acoustic neuroma: Primary arising in the vestibule

As more information on acoustic tumors is accumulated, it is apparent that the lesions may have several sites of origin. A case of an acoustic tumor arising primarily in the vestibule is presented. This case, which has been followed for seven years, supports the proposed theory that the tumor may develop from the nerves to either the saccule or the utricle.
An experimental investigation of catalytic oxidation of propane using temperature controlled Pt, Pd, SnO2, and 90% SnO2–10% Pt catalysts

A stagnation-point flow reactor was used to study the catalytic activity of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), tin dioxide (SnO2), and 90% SnO2–10% Pt (by mass) to premixed propane and air reactants at atmospheric pressure. The Pt and Pd catalysts served as the baseline by which to compare catalyst performance. The stagnation surface temperature was controlled to maintain constant temperatures using an electric heater in order to eliminate heat transfer effects on catalyst performance. The activity of each catalyst was evaluated for catalyst stagnation surface temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 800 °C. Three fuel–air equivalence-ratio conditions were studied (ϕ = 0.67, 1.0 and 1.5). The CO2, CO, O2, and C3H8 in the exhaust gases were measured to quantify the activity of each catalyst. The effect of heat released by surface reaction was quantified by the heater power required to stabilize the stagnation plane at the prescribed temperature. The catalysts, excluding 100% SnO2, exhibited comparable trends with respect to propane oxidation as a function of stagnation-plane temperature. While 100% SnO2 showed no catalytic activity at any conditions, the 90% SnO2–10% Pt catalyst showed significant activity to propane oxidation. The lowest catalyst activation temperature of the experiments (Tsurface = 250 °C) was observed for the 90% SnO2–10% Pt catalyst for ϕ = 1.5. The results demonstrate potential of Pt/SnO2 as a fuel oxidation catalyst.
Histamine reduces GPIbα-mediated adhesion of platelets to TNF-α-activated vascular endothelium

Histamine and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are critical mediators of acute and chronic inflammation that are generated by mast cells and macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions or systemically during allergic attacks. Both of them induce activation of vascular endothelium and thus may play a role in thrombosis. Here we studied the interplay between histamine and TNF-α in glycoprotein (GP) Ibα-mediated platelet adhesion to cultured human vascular endothelial cells under static and shear flow conditions. The stimulation of endothelial cells with histamine or TNF-α increased the number of adherent or slow rolling GP Ibα-coated microbeads or washed human platelets. However, the application of histamine to endothelium pre-activated by TNF-α inhibited GP Ibα-mediated platelet adhesion. These effects were found to be associated with changes in the concentration of ultra large von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) strings anchored to endothelium. The results of this study indicate that histamine released during mast cell degranulation may cause or inhibit thrombosis, depending on whether it acts on resting endothelial cells or on cells pre-activated by other inflammatory stimuli.
Kinetics of two-step methanol synthesis in the slurry phase

Abstract The carbonylation of methanol using potassium methoxide catalyst and hydrogenolysis of methyl formate using a copper-chromite catalyst (39% Cu; 37% Cr and 3% Mn) were studied in the temperature ranges of 60–110°C and 100–140°C and pressure ranges of 25–65 and 30–60 bar respectively in a mechanically agitated reactor. Kinetic rate expressions are presented for both reactions. The carbonylation reaction was found to be rapid and limited by equilibrium at the conditions studied. The apparent activation energy for the carbonylation was found to be 67.7 ± 1.5 kJ/mol. CO 2 reacts with the potassium methoxide catalyst and stops the reaction. The hydrogenolysis reaction was found to be slow at the studied conditions with an apparent activation energy of 69.8 ± 2.0 kJ/mol. CO inhibited the hydrogenolysis reaction over the copper-chromite catalyst used. CO 2 poisoned the copper-chromite catalyst. A Langmuir-Hinshelwood type rate model was used to fit the experimental data. A brief discussion of the feasibility of the two-step methanol synthesis in a single stage reactor is given. The data would be useful for evaluating the possibility of synthesizing methanol from H 2 and CO using these reactions either in two separate reactors or concurrently in one reactor.
1049 REACTOGENICITY AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF PERTUSSIS VACCINE COMPONENTS

A trial was designed to determine the antigen and adjuvant composition for pertussis vaccine which would produce the least reactogenicity and the best antibody response (ABR). DPT preparations containing fluid (F) or whole cell (W) pertussis antigen and either alum (U) or AlPO4 (P) adjuvant were compared. Serologic data were collected on 42 patients; reactogenicity was assessed following 263 doses. Although whole cell antigen produced a greater ABR it also resulted in increased febrile responses. Fever tended to be greater with increasing number of immunizations. After the third dose local reactions were most frequent with the presently used vaccine (WP). This group also used Tylenol significantly more. Based on these data consideration should be given to a new formulation for the pertussis component of DPT.
Liquid Chromatography in Pharmaceutical Analysis II: Determination of a Reserpine–Chlorothiazide Mixture

Abstract Operating conditions are described for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of a reserpine–chlorothiazide mixture in two steps by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Each compound was chromatographed on an octadecyl column using a 55:45 mixture (pH 5.6) of absolute methanol–aqueous 0.5% ammonium chloride at a flow rate of 2.0 ml/min (2000 psig). Each determination can be achieved in approximately 60 min with an accuracy of 3–5%.
A conjecture of Shapley and Shubik on competitive outcomes in the cores of NTU market games

It is shown that for every NTUmarket game, there is amarket thatrepresents the game whosecompetitive payoff vectors completely fill up theinner core of the game. It is also shown that for every NTU market game and for any point in its inner core, there is a market that represents the game and further has the given inner core point as itsunique competitive payoff vector. These results prove a conjecture of Shapley and Shubik.Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C71, D51.
Rectosigmoid carcinoma occurring after ureterosigmoidostomy

Reported are two patients with adenocarcinoma of the large bowel following ureterosigmoidostomy by 40 and 53 years. The interval of 53 years is the longest yet recorded in the literature. Long-term surveillance with endoscopy and urine cytology is advocated.
Ethanol administration rapidly reverses α4 GABAA receptor subunit upregulation following steroid exposure

Abstract Both short-term (48 h) exposure to the neuroactive steroid 3α,5α[β]-THP and its withdrawal increase expression of the benzodiazepine (BDZ)-insensitive GABA A receptor (GABAR) α4 subunit in hippocampus. This increase in α4 subunit expression was associated with a relative insensitivity of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells to modulation of GABA-gated current by the BDZ lorazepam (LZM), assessed using whole cell patch clamp techniques. Chronic ethanol is also known to regulate expression of the α4 subunit. Thus, in the present study we investigated the capacity of ethanol, administered in low doses across a 2 h period (0.5 g/kg, i.p., 3×), to suppress α4 expression produced by 48 h exposure to 3α,5 β-THP in adult female rats. We show here that 2 h ethanol administration reverses the increase in α4 expression normally observed following 48 h steroid treatment. This effect was correlated with a recovery of responses recorded from CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells to the GABA-modulatory effects of LZM. Similar effects of ethanol in suppressing α4 expression and restoring LZM responsiveness were seen following steroid withdrawal when α4 expression is normally increased. These results suggest that increases in expression of the α4 subunit produced by steroid exposure or withdrawal are altered by other GABA-modulatory drugs, such as ethanol.
Discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy leads to cryptococcal meningitis/choroiditis in an AIDS patient.

Abstract Background Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic pathogen that can manifest in immunocompromised patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Prevention of cryptococcosis and other opportunistic diseases is an objective in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The goal of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is to reduce the viral loads and enhance CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients. These 2 mechanisms keep HIV-infected patients healthier and enhance their immune systems, thus reducing and often preventing opportunistic infections such as ocular cryptococcal infections. Discontinuation of HAART can lead to ocular opportunistic infections such as cryptococcal choroiditis. Case report Presented here is a case of a patient who was treated successfully with HAART of stavudine (D4T), abacavir (Ziagen), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase). His last CD4 count before HAART was discontinued was 131 cells/mm3, and viral load was less than 50 copies/mL. He discontinued his HAART regimen for 2 years and presented to the emergency room with complaints of a severe headache with neck pain, lightheadedness, nausea, disorientation, and unsteady gait. Lumbar puncture results showed cryptococcal infection, and the patient was admitted for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis with amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine. Cryptococcal choroiditis was diagnosed after treatment of the meningitis. After resolution, his resultant visual acuities were 10/350 in the right eye and 10/600 in the left eye. He is on a maintenance dose of antifungal therapy and has been reinitiated on HAART of abacavir/zidovudine/lamivudine (Trizivir) and lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra). Conclusion This case exemplifies the importance of HAART in the prevention of opportunistic infections, cryptococcal meningitis/choroiditis in particular. Eye care professionals can play a role in encouraging patients to comply with their HAART regimens.
Exploring the Relationship Between Organizational Virtuousness and Culture in Continuing Higher Education

Abstract In recent years, positive organizational behavior and scholarship has emerged as a new lens for organizational analysis. The construct of organizational virtuousness, a part of positive organizational scholarship, has been examined in for-profit entities and was found to be positively linked with organizational outcomes. This case study sought to determine if organizational virtuousness was a useful construct for continuing higher education units and also to examine any relationships between organizational culture and organizational virtuousness. A quantitative case study of two university continuing education units indicates that organizational virtuousness is a useful construct for continuing education organizational analysis and is also related to organizational culture. Implications for continuing education leaders are included as well as suggestions for fostering organizational virtuousness in their organizations.
Structural changes and the forecasting of quarterly accounting earnings in the utility industry

Abstract This paper presents a statistical procedure to identify effects of three potential structural changes on accounting earnings – temporary, short-run, and long-run. The procedure is applied to quarterly accounting earnings of 39 utility companies. Structural changes are found to be commonplace. Statistical forecasting models that explicitly incorporate structural change effects are found to generate more accurate forecasts than other statistical models in the literature. Although no statistical model significantly dominates Value Line, a firm-specific model with structural change adjustment forecasts as well as Value Line. Moreover, all statistical models examined have significant marginal forecasting power to complement Value Line forecasts.