cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 63-Year-Old Woman with a History of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection Who Was Seronegative and Treated with Convalescent Plasma

BACKGROUND This is a case report of an immunocompromised patient with a history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and persistent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection who was seronegative and successfully treated with convalescent plasma. CASE REPORT A 63-year-old woman with a past medical history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in remission while on maintenance therapy with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, obinutuzumab, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via nasopharyngeal reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing over 12 weeks and persistently tested seronegative for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using SARS-CoV-2 IgG chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay technology. During this time, the patient experienced waxing and waning of symptoms, which included fever, myalgia, and non-productive cough, but never acquired severe respiratory distress. She was admitted to our hospital on illness day 88, and her symptoms resolved after the administration of convalescent plasma. CONCLUSIONS As the understanding of the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, we can currently only speculate about the occurrence of chronic infection vs. reinfection. The protective role of antibodies and their longevity against SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. Since humoral immunity has an integral role in SARS-CoV-2 infection, various phase 3 vaccine trials are underway. In the context of this pandemic, the present case demonstrates the challenges in our understanding of testing and treating immunocompromised patients.
Anything can happen in the Zone: Library and Departmental Change Driven by Migration to a Cloud-based Library Management System

Butler University Libraries had already made progressive changes in public services areas, but Technical Services remained unchanged and bound to legacy practices from decades past. For us, the best catalyst for change was a system migration to a cloud-based type of management system. This system migration was tied to organizational restructuring and a new strategic plan, each of which intertwined with the details of the migration project and was underpinned by thoughtful analysis of how to help employees through change. Details of the migration are discussed in relation to how they inspired departmental and organizational change through updated technology.
Acute musculoskeletal infection in children: diagnostic difficulties and when to operate

Abstract Paediatric septic arthritis, osteomyelitis and pyomyositis are infrequent diagnoses in general orthopaedic practice. However, when they present they require early diagnosis and expeditious treatment to prevent sepsis and long-term morbidity. This is challenging as the early stages of each disease can closely mimic more common and often less significant pathologies. Here we aim to address the diagnostic challenges encountered in paediatric acute musculoskeletal infection and identify when urgent surgical intervention is required. In particular we cover which key symptoms and signs should be identified in the initial clinical assessment and how blood tests and imaging can help guide diagnosis, including the use of clinical predictive algorithms. We also discuss theories regarding disease pathogenesis and how different causative organisms can lead to a wide variety of clinical presentations. Finally we present up-to-date clinical evidence regarding treatment, whether this be via surgery or antibiotics alone.
On-Chip Laser-Power Delivery System for Dielectric Laser Accelerators

Beyond conventional rf accelerators, dielectric laser accelerators (DLAs) are an emerging technology to generate high-energy electron beams at very short length scales, with numerous applications in medicine, manufacturing, and basic science. Current setups use a free-space laser beam to drive the accelerator, but an on-chip optical power-delivery system would give the precise control needed to dramatically scale up device length, for higher total energies. The authors investigate the challenges, constraints, and avenues for on-chip optical coupling, and verify that it is a promising route for moving DLAs from proof-of-principle to application.
Alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism as measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET in patients with persistent postconcussion syndrome.

Background Many patients who have traumatic brain injury experience a wide range of psychiatric and neurological symptoms (including impairment in functional status, cognition, and mood), and if persistent are referred to as persistent postconcussion syndrome (PCS). To our knowledge, this is the first study to broadly evaluate metabolic dysregulation in a heterogenous patient population meeting the criteria for PCS. Methods A total of 64 PCS patients and 37 healthy controls underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET (18F-FDG-PET) scanning, and 70 brain structures (including left and right structures where appropriate) were analyzed in each subject. Results Compared to the brains of healthy controls, those of PCS patients demonstrated 15 hypermetabolic and 23 hypometabolic regions. Metabolic changes in the brains of PCS patients were subsequently correlated with various indices of symptom severity, mood, and physical/cognitive function. Among PCS patients, increased metabolism in the right cingulate gyrus correlated with the severity of postconcussion symptoms. Conversely, increased metabolism in the left temporal lobe was associated with both improved mood and measures of adaptability/rehabilitation. Furthermore, increased metabolism in the bilateral orbitofrontal regions correlated with improved working memory. Conclusions Overall, these findings suggest a complex pattern of cerebral metabolism in PCS patients, with a mixture of hypometabolic and hypermetabolic regions that correlate with various symptoms, highlighting both potential pathological and compensatory mechanisms in PCS. The findings also suggest that FDG PET is useful for providing neurophysiological information in the evaluation of patients with PCS and may help guide future targeted therapies.
Circular economy in the construction industry: An overview of United States stakeholders’ awareness, major challenges, and enablers

Abstract Increasing environmental concerns and resource scarcity risks have drawn attention to a Circular Economic (CE) model during the last decade. Nevertheless, literature related to the state of practice of CE in the built environment in the United States (U.S.) is still limited. In this context, this study investigates U.S. architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry stakeholders’ awareness of CE. The investigation also covers major barriers for the implementation of strategies aligned to the CE model, and enabling factors for a transition from a linear economic model to a CE model in the construction industry in the U.S. A mixed-methods approach was deployed through a combination of online survey and interviews with AEC industry stakeholders from different regions of the U.S. Results revealed that some strategies are widely disseminated (i.e., open-loop recycling, selective demolition, and prefabrication), whereas others are hardly adopted (i.e., design for disassembly, design in layers, closed-loop recycling). Additionally, findings indicate budget and upfront costs, project schedule and timeline, lack of awareness and regulations, and current business models as major barriers for the implementation of strategies aligned to a CE model. Furthermore, four enabling factors for a transition to a CE model in the construction industry were identified (i.e., education and cultural change, data availability, policies and incentives, and novel voluntary stewardships). Notably, contributions of this study include fostering a much needed debate around circular construction and its challenges, and expanding the limited existing body of knowledge.
Innovative Research on the Relationship between Minimum Wage and Employment in the United States — A Case Study about the Fast Food Industry in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

This paper is based on the research of ‘Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania’, written by David Card and Alan B. Krueger. [1] This paper uses new ideas and methods to do some further explore. Based on the existing problem of the original research, this paper supplements them and gives some possible improvement suggestions. The main purpose of this study is to use the new model fitting the original collected data, and explore whether the increase of minimum wage will affect the employment situation of workers in the industry, then compare them with the original conclusion. This paper uses twice A / B-tests, which are comparing the restaurants in New Jersey itself for the first time, and comparing the restaurants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the second time. Five models would be used for each comparison, which are multiple regression, propensity score matching, permutation test, instrumental variable and Differences-in-Differences. Finally, this paper will compare the conclusion of this study with the conclusion of the original research, and supplement the incomplete part of the original research.
Vaccine completion and infectious diseases screening in a cohort of adult refugees following resettlement in the U.S.: 2013-2015.

Background Refugees are frequently not immune to vaccine-preventable infections. Adherence to consensus guidelines on vaccination and infectious diseases screening among refugees resettling in the U.S. is unknown. We sought to determine rates of vaccine completion and infectious diseases screening in refugees following resettlement. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of refugees resettling in a region in the U.S. using medical data from June 2013-April 2015. We determined the proportion of vaccine-eligible refugees vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis A/B, tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), and human papillomavirus (HPV) following resettlement. We also determined the proportion of refugees who completed HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) screening. Results One hundred and eleven subjects were included, primarily from Iraq (53%), Afghanistan (19%), and Eritrea (11%). Of the 84 subjects who were vaccine-eligible, 78 (93%) initiated and 42 (50%) completed vaccinations within one year of resettlement. Odds of completing vaccination were higher for men (OR: 2.38; 95%CI:1.02-5.71) and for subjects with English proficiency (OR: 3.70; 95%CI:1.04-17.49). Of the 78 subjects (70%) completing HIV screening, two (3%) were diagnosed with HIV. Nearly all subjects completed screening for HCV, and one had active infection. Conclusion While most refugees initiate vaccinations, only 50% completed vaccinations and 70% completed HIV screening within 1 year of resettlement. There is a need to emphasize vaccine completion and HIV screening in refugee patients following resettlement.
Redistributing Central Target Dose Hot Spots for Hypofractionated Radiosurgery of Large Brain Tumors: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

Objective: The present proof-of-principle study investigated radiobiological effects of redistributing central target dose hot spots across different treatment fractions during hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (HSRS) of large intracranial tumors.
Sensory-Motor and Affective-Fatigue Factors are Associated with Symbol Digit Performance in Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES The oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has become the standard for the brief screening of cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). It has been shown to be sensitive to sensory-motor factors involving rudimentary oral motor speed and visual acuity, as well as multiple sclerosis (MS) affective-fatigue factors including depression, fatigue, and anxiety. The present study was designed to provide a greater understanding of these noncognitive factors that might contribute to the oral SDMT by examining all these variables in the same sample. METHODS We examined 50 PwMS and 49 healthy controls (HCs). All participants were administered the oral SDMT, two sensory-motor tasks (visual acuity and oral motor speed), and three affective-fatigue measures (depression, fatigue, and anxiety). RESULTS Partially consistent with hypotheses, we found that sensory-motor skills, but not affective-fatigue factors, accounted for some of the group differences between the MS and HC groups on the oral SDMT, reducing the MS/HC group variance predicted from 10% to 4%. Also, PwMS with below average sensory-motor abilities had oral SDMT scores that were lower than PwMS with intact sensory-motor skills (p < .05). Finally, 71% of PwMS in the below-average sensory-motor group were impaired on the oral SDMT compared with 14% of the intact group (p = .006). CONCLUSIONS When the oral SDMT is used as the sole screening tool for cognitive impairment in MS, clinicians should know that limitations in visual acuity and rudimentary oral motor speed should be considered as possibly being associated with performance on it in MS.
A Satellite Survey of El-Markha Plain and Beyond: Searching for Additional Potential Pharaonic Forts

Discoveries from the past 15 years along the Red Sea in Sinai and Egypt have shown just how much remains to be found in an area previously overlooked by many Egyptologists. The excavations and findings at an Old Kingdom fort at Ras Budran and an anchorage and associated complex of sites at Wadi al-Jarf emphasize that there may be additional features to locate. By applying Google Earth Pro to this search, which contains imagery at a resolution of 50 cm, a series of potential additional fort sites have emerged for future assessment. In Sinai and Egypt, however, rapid urban and rural development has made such searches urgent, before these sites are affected by new construction. In the Sinai, which is currently off bounds to most archaeological work, Google Earth Pro provides the best possible tool for conducting surveys prior to the restoration of security and resumption of survey and excavation in this region. DOI:10.2458/azu_jaei_v07i1_parcak
Selective and nonselective stimulation of central cholinergic and dopaminergic development in vitro by nerve growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin and the insulin-like growth factors I and II

To study the selectivity of neurotrophic actions in the brain, we analyzed the actions of several known growth factors on septal cholinergic, pontine cholinergic, and mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in culture. Similar to nerve growth factor (NGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulated choline acetyltransferase activity in septal cultures. In contrast to NGF, bFGF also enhanced dopamine uptake in mesencephalic cultures and stimulated cell proliferation in all 3 culture types. Insulin and the insulin-like growth factors I and II stimulated transmitter-specific differentiation and cell proliferation in all culture types. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) produced a small increase in dopamine uptake by mesencephalic cells and stimulated cell proliferation in all culture types. In septal cultures, bFGF was most effective when given at early culture times, NGF at later times. The stimulatory actions of bFGF and insulin did not require the presence of glial cells and were not mediated by NGF. In mesencephalic cultures, the stimulation of dopamine uptake by bFGF and EGF was dependent on glial proliferation. The results suggest different degrees of selectivity of the neurotrophic molecules. NGF and, very similarly, bFGF seem to influence septal cholinergic neurons directly and rather selectively, whereas the neurotrophic actions of insulin and the insulin-like growth factors appear to be more general.
Ibn Hazm’s Literalism: A Critique of Islamic Legal Theory (I)

Ibn H azm’s insistence that the Qur’ a n and Sunna be interpreted literally has frequently lead modern scholars to conclude that he is a conservative or dogmatic thinker. In fact, he is neither. Ibn H azm’s Z a hirism emphasizes the limited scope of Islamic law and attempts to curtail the claims made by Muslim jurists to speak on behalf of God’s law. This method leads him to support rationalism, individualism, and anti-clericalism. Ibn H azm argues in favor of these principles consistently in his works on Islamic legal theory, including the text al-Nubdha al-k a f i ya f i u s u l a h k a m al-d i n , which is translated here. This approach promises to undermine the whole madhhab system, which explains the negative response it received from the religious establishment. In place of the madhhab system, Ibn H azm seeks to assert the individual responsibility of each Muslim to obey God’s law as it is clearly revealed in the sacred texts of Islam.
Quality, Reliability and Stress Testing

A tutorial introduction to the field of accelerated stress testing for integrated circuits is presented. The definition of the terms quality and reliability as used in industry is followed by an introduction to the theoretical basis of accelerated stress testing. The modifications of the basic equations to determine acceleration factors for several different stress factors (temperature, current and voltage) are given. The requirements of test equipment in the areas of high temperature materials and voltage and current forcing accuracy considerations are presented.
Focus on Teacher Education: Pooh's Corner: Teaching Educational Psychology at the Intersection of Children's Literature and Technology

Formerly an online publication, Focus on Teacher Education will now appear as a column in Childhood Education. One article will be featured three times a year. Your submissions are invited and we t...
Porcine natriuretic peptide type B (pNPPB) maintains mouse oocyte meiotic arrest via natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) in cumulus cells.

SUMMARY In mouse ovarian follicles, the oocyte is maintained in meiotic prophase arrest by natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) acting via its cognate receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2). As there is a marked species difference in the receptor selectivity of the natriuretic peptide family, this study examined the functional effect of other natriuretic peptides, type A (NPPA) and type B (NPPB), acting via NPR2 on mouse-oocyte meiotic arrest. The results by quantitative, reverse-transcriptase PCR showed that Npr2 was the predominant natriuretic peptide receptor transcript, and that Npr1 and Npr3 mRNA levels were negligible in cumulus cells isolated from equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG)-primed, immature female mice. While NPPA and NPPB from human and rat had no effect on oocyte maturation, porcine NPPB (pNPPB) maintained oocyte meiotic arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, pNPPB-mediated meiotic arrest and cGMP production could be completely blocked by the NPR2 inhibitor sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Neither the NPR1 antagonist anantin or Npr1 knockout had an effect on pNPPB-mediated meiotic arrest. Thus, pNPPB can functionally maintain mouse-oocyte meiotic arrest by the receptor NPR2 of cumulus cells. These findings demonstrate that pNPPB may be used as a probe to identify the essential amino acid sequences for activation of NPR2. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: ???–???, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Struggle for Gender Equality in the Northern District of Ohio

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, like many of its sister courts, was reluctantly drawn into the national debate over sex equality in the 1970s. The court’s response mirrored the greater social response, initially showing a hostility to claims of gender discrimination that was slowly displaced by recognition and endorsement of sex equality rights. Three of the district’s cases on women’s rights ended in the U.S. Supreme Court and helped navigate this shift toward gender equality. These cases are the focus of this book chapter written for a book collecting the "greatest hits" of Northern District court. The chapter provides the backstory, including oral narratives and original archival research, for the cases on mandatory maternity leave, LaFleur v. Cleveland School Board; informed consent abortion restrictions, Akron Center for Reproductive Health v. City of Akron; and minor abortion laws, Ohio v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health.These three cases from Ohio together offer a snapshot of the larger societal change for women’s rights. The nascent women’s movement in the courts proceeded initially along dual fronts of employment and abortion. The Northern District cases show the tensions and commonalities between these approaches and exemplify the development of broad-scale gender litigation acrossthe nation.
Explaining house voting on the North American Free Trade Agreement

This paper analyzes representatives'; voting patterns on NAFTA. The public choice model posits that representatives vote to redistribute wealth to constituents. Evidence presented here indicates that the Heckscher–Ohlin model is appropriate to represent the redistributional effects of NAFTA. Using a three-factor variant of the Heckscher–Ohlin model, evidence is presented indicating that representatives voted to redistribute wealth to their geographical and electoral constituents. The ability of geographically concentrated interests and of special interests to influence representatives' votes helps to explain the weak party allegiance demonstrated on the NAFTA vote.
Reweaving the tapestry: integrating database and messaging systems in the wake of new middleware technologies

Modern business applications involve a lot of distributed data processing and inter-site communication, for which they rely on middleware products. These products provide the data access and communication framework for the business applications. Integrated messaging seeks to integrate messaging operations into the database, so as to provide a single API for data processing and messaging. Client applications will be much easier to write, because all the logic of sending and receiving messages is within the database. System configuration, application deployment, and message warehousing are simplified, because we don’t have to manage and fine-tune multiple products. Integrating messaging into a database also provides features like backup, restore, transactionality & recoverability to messages. In this paper, we’ll look at some aspects of messaging systems, and the challenges involved in integrating messaging such as message delivery semantics, transaction management and impact on query processing.
Controlling for Kin: Ghosts in the Postmodern Family

This Article illustrates a paradox in the regulation of families. On the one hand, jurisprudence sanctions biological connection to promote liberty and the private production of value and culture, including the protection of the freedom of non-normative parents to parent. At the same time, however, this regulation serves as a restrictive paradigm for family composition, rigidly adhering to a biologically-evocative two parent maximum that fails to reflect the intricacies of private ordering or political constructions of biological connection. The legal and social disruption of these connections exposes their structural and subjective materiality to individual and group identity and challenges conventional notions of the two-parent family that continue to dominate postmodern family doctrine and theory. The Article deploys the gendered and racial history and development of adoption law and the lived experience of adoption’s constituents to illustrate the perils and promise of the new postmodern families. Although this critique commends the new regulatory schemes for legitimating lesbian and gay family formation, assisted reproduction, and stepparent-child relationships, it problematizes the exclusive bionormativity of this regulation and suggests that the law should recognize and even legitimate the porousness of these new families. The article proposes a unique and perhaps controversial approach to kinship that pushes against current regulatory trends that privilege social relations at the expense of biological connections.
Three essays on entrepreneurial entry, serial entrepreneurship, and labor turnover

OF THE DISSERTATION THREE ESSAYS ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTRY, SERIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND LABOR TURNOVER
Testbed for development of a DSP-based signal processing subsystem for an earth-orbiting radar scatterometer

A testbed for evaluation of general-purpose digital signal processors in earth-orbiting radar scatterometers is discussed. Because general purpose DSP represents a departure from previous radar signal processing techniques used on scatterometers, there was a need to demonstrate key elements of the system to verify feasibility for potential future scatterometer instruments. Construction of the testbed also facilitated identification of an appropriate software development environment and the skills mix necessary to perform the work. A testbed was constructed with three Astrium MCMDSPs, based on the Temic TSC 21020 general purpose DSP. Commercial data conversion hardware and high-speed serial communication hardware was interfaced to the MCMDSPs to allow demonstration of the key interfaces between subsystem elements: DSP program loading, synchronization and communication between multiple DSPs, interface to the scatterometer radio frequency subsystem, commanding, and science data delivery to the instrument data handling subsystem. A baseline set of requirements for the radar signal processing subsystem was established. From these requirements, signal processing algorithms such as digital filters and FFTs were developed using a combination of standard library functions and custom software. A software framework was developed to coordinate execution of the periodic signal acquisition and processing routines with asynchronous commanding and timekeeping functions. Emphasis was placed on developing modular software that would be applicable to a number of potential future instruments. Performance of the DSP subsystem was evaluated in terms of measured vs. theoretical execution speed, timing accuracy, power consumption, and computational accuracy.
Effects of Buffers on Aspartate Aminotransferase Activity and Association of the Enzyme with Pyridoxal Phosphate

Using purified enzymes of human origin and patients’ sera, we examined factors influencing the in vitro association of pyridoxal phosphate with aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1). The rate of association was markedly retarded by phosphate buffer in comparison with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or six other buffers. Pyridoxal phosphate at an incubation concentration of 130 µmol/liter reactivated the entire apoenzyme portion of an apoenzyme/holoenzyme mixture within 5 min in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; in contrast, less than 20% was associated during 15 min in phosphate. Activity measured in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-buffer without exogenous pyridoxal phosphate was 4% greater than that in phosphate and was slightly increased by increasing the pH of the assay mixture from 7.5 to 8.0. Aspartate in the incubation medium did not retard the stimulation in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer. While the magnitude of stimulation varied greatly among sera, a consistent mean stimulation of 30% for groups of sera with normal activities was found when asparate at 125 mmol/liter, 2-oxoglutarate at 6.7 mmol/liter and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at 90 mmol/liter were used, an increase over the 16% with phosphate buffer [ Clin. Chem. 19, 92 (1973)]. Absorbance spectra suggest pyridoxal phosphate exists as the Schiff base of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or aspartate, or both, under conditions of assay incubation (without addition of 2-oxoglutarate). Nonenzymatic catalysis of the reaction by pyridoxal phosphate alone or a formation of a protein/pyridoxal phosphate adduct was discounted with use of D-asparate substrates
Afterripening Pattern during Cold Stratification of Achenes of Ten Perennial Asteraceae from Eastern North America, and Evolutionary Implication

At 0- to 12-week intervals, imbibed achenes of ten perennial Asteraceae from eastern North America were removed from 5°C (cold stratification) and tested for germination over a range of daily thermoperiods. The objective was to determine changes in the temperature requirements for germination as achenes came out of dormancy (after-ripened). In Eupatorium fistulosum, Helenium autumnale, Kuhnia eupatorioides, Mikania scandens, Ratibida pinnata, Solidago altissima and Verbesina alternifolia, the minimum temperature for germination decreased during afterripening (Type 2 response), and in Aster divaricatus, Echinacea simulata and E. tennesseensis the minimum and maximum temperatures decreased and increased, respectively (Type 3 response). The majority of the 32 species of Asteraceae whose afterripening pattern has been investigated have a Type 2 response, and the family is one of many in eastern North America with species that have Type 2. We hypothesize that the ancestors giving rise to species with Type 2 were species with (1) nondormant seeds that required high temperatures for germination, or (2) dormant seeds that afterripened during warm (dry) winters and germinated only at high temperatures.
Effects of timber harvesting on low elevation populations of southern Appalachian salamanders

Abstract We examined the effects of timber harvesting on southern Appalachian salamander communities in a managed watershed in Pisgah National Forest, western North Carolina, USA. Salamander abundance and species richness were lowest in very young stands and highest in stands more than 120 years old. Comparisons of recent clearcuts less than 5 years old with mature stands more than 80 years old suggest that terrestrial salamanders are completely eliminated or reduced to very low numbers when mature forests are clear cut. Comparisons of stand age categories further suggest that salamander abundance in local communities slowly increases for a century or more after stands are intensively harvested. We roughly estimate that logging during the last century by both the private and public sector has resulted in 1 70% decline in salamander numbers within the study area as a whole. Implementation of an ecosystem-management strategy which reverses the current trend of having landscapes dominated by early and mid-successional forests would help restore depleted populations to levels where salamanders better fulfill their ecological roles as forest-floor insectivores. Other management techniques that would benefit salamanders include leaving buffers along headwater streams, and using harvesting techniques which assure that the basic structure and function of forests remain intact following timbering operations.
Detection of HBsAg in Coagulation Factor IX Concentrates

HBsAg was detected in two commercial clotting factor concentrates: Proplex (Hyland) and Konyne (Cutter). HBsAg was positive by RIA in samples of Proplex but not Konyne. Immune-electron microscopy, however, demonstrated clumped small spheres of HBsAg in both preparations, and lamellar-type strands were seen in several preparations.
Effect of an Automated Training Presentation on Pre-service Behavior Analysts’ Implementation of Trial-based Functional Analysis

The trial-based functional analysis (FA) is a useful alternative to the traditional FA in contexts in which it is challenging to establish environmental control for extended periods of time. Previous researchers have demonstrated that others can be trained to conduct trial-based FAs with high procedural fidelity by providing a didactic presentation, small group instruction, and then a performance evaluation. However, one barrier to replicating this training sequence is that didactic presentations are not standardized and presentations can vary considerably across different groups of trainers or researchers. We designed an automated didactic presentation with video models embedded throughout for trainers and researchers to use when training others to conduct trial-based FAs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of this presentation on participant fidelity to trial-based FA procedures. Results demonstrate improved fidelity following the presentation. However, the presentation alone was insufficient to establish consistently high levels of fidelity across all conditions for all participants. Thus, additional training components are required when teaching others to conduct trial-based FAs.
Analyses of glycosaminoglycans by gas-liquid chromatography and the nature of hexuronic acids in heparin.

Abstract Glycosaminoglycans in microgram quantities were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Analyses were made of the total and individual hexuronic acids and hexosamines. Glycosaminoglycans were hydrolyzed with formic acid (90%) at 100° for 20 hr in nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting uronic acids and/or lactones were trimethylsilylated (TMS), and the TMS derivatives were analyzed by GLC on an Apiezon column at 190°. Glucuronic and iduronic acids each showed two peaks on the chromatograms. The areas of the peaks were found proportional to the concentration of the sugar. Uronic acids in several polysaccharides were determined by this method using α-methyl- d -glucoside as an internal standard, and the results were found in good agreement with theoretical values. The method, however, was not found suitable for quantitative analysis of total uronic acids in heparin and heparan sulfates due to incomplete hydrolysis of these polysaccharides even after 40 hr. The nature of uronic acids in heparin was investigated by making use of GLC. Peaks corresponding to the retention times of iduronic acid and/or lactones were observed in the chromatograms of heparin after hydrolysis with formic acid. Effluent fractions from GLC column corresponding to peaks on the chromatograms of hydrolyzed heparin were collected and the identity of these fractions with xylose, iduronic acid, and glucuronic acid was established through their infrared spectra. Although there are limitations in determining the total amount of hexuronic acids in heparin and heparan sulfate by the methods described, these techniques are very useful in resolution of ratios of the different hexuronic acids and detection of trace quantities not heretofore possible.
A review of research on content-based foreign/second language education in US K-12 contexts

This review of the extant research literature focuses on research about content-based language instruction (CBI) programmes in K-12 foreign/second language education in the USA. The review emphasises studies on one-way language immersion (OWI) and two-way language immersion (TWI) programmes, which are school-based and subject matter-driven. OWI primarily targets majority-language students and TWI a combined student population of minority- and majority-language learners. Reference to the few studies on non-immersion CBI programmes in the USA is also included. This article presents a review of the research in relationship to four broad themes: student outcomes, classroom language use and development, the hidden curriculum, and teacher preparation and practice. The research review is followed by a discussion of the research methodologies and theoretical frameworks used in these studies and concluding sections that set suggestions for paths for future inquiry in four areas: student diversity, the role of Engl...
Strategies for Follow-Up and Treatment Services in State Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Programs

This report describes strategies used to provide diagnostic follow-up and treatment services to low-income women screened through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Miconazole in the Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

Intravenous miconazole can produce responses in patients with various manifestations of coccidioidal disease, even if they have failed to respond to amphotericin B. In 4 large series of 33, 33, 46 and 31 courses of miconazole for skin and soft tissue, chronic pulmonary, meningeal and skeletal coccidioidomycosis, response rates of 40, 72, 31 and 32%, respectively, were achieved; 60, 75, 78 and 56%, respectively, of those responding subsequently relapsed at the site(s) of earlier involvement. This suggests that the therapeutic effect of the relatively brief courses used (mean, 1 to 3 months) is fungistatic in vivo. Common side effects of intravenous miconazole include phlebitis, pruritus, anaemia, thrombocytosis, hyponatraemia, nausea, hyperlipidaemia, vomiting, central nervous system effects, and rashes. The place of miconazole relative to amphotericin B and ketoconazole has not been determined, and requires further comparative studies. Information on the results of different regimens, particularly longer courses, would also be of interest.
Knuth's iterated powers

From time to time the sizes of things outrun convenient description in terms of the commonplace mathematical notations of the day. In the Sand Reckoner (Y$.+LT~u) Archimedes took some pains to describe in words a number Y which exceeded the number of grains of sand needed to fill a conceptual model of the universe which was popular in his day. Along these same lines, Knuth [4] recently wrote an expository paper describing occurrences of huge numbers in combinatorial theory and suggesting a convenient notation for such numbers. In fact let
An eigenstrain formulation for the prediction of elastic moduli of defective fiber networks

Abstract A method for predicting the elastic moduli of a regular network populated by a large number of randomly located defects is presented. The prediction is based exclusively on the stiffness of individual fibers and the location of defects. The method requires a preliminary calibration step in which the eigenstrains associated with “elementary defects” of the regular network are fully characterized. Each type of defect is represented by a superposition of singular point sources in 2D elastostatics producing a field identical to the eigenstrain of the respective defect. The amplitude of the point sources is determined by probing the eigenstrain with a series of path independent integrals. This “spectral decomposition” represents the generalization that allows applying methods developed to account for crack–crack interaction in fracture mechanics to situations in which the interacting sources have eigenstrains obtained by the superposition of multiple types of singularities. Once the representation of each elementary defect is determined, any distribution of defects in the network can be mapped into a distribution of point sources in an equivalent continuum. This allows inferring the elastic behavior of a defective network of any distribution and concentration of defects. The method discussed here provides an efficient way to treat the non-affine deformation of defective regular fiber networks.
The Subjectivity Inherent in Objective Measures of Well-Being

Claims abound that GDP accounting ignores social and ecological problems and misrepresents social well-being. While GDP growth continues to be a policy priority in most countries, it is at best one objective among many in achieving humanity’s “ultimate purpose.” Yet revisions to the income accounts and alternative well-being indicators are also problematic, since they reinforce the illusion that social and ecological impacts on well-being are objectively measurable. Future policy must not only be informed to a greater extent by qualitative and multi-dimensional assessments, but must recognize that any rank-ordering of society’s ultimate ends cannot but be subjective.
Thermal Stress Failure of Porcelain Bonded to a Palladium-Silver Alloy

Cracking or rupturing, due to thermal stress, of porcelain bonded to a palladium-silver alloy indicated that porcelain-metal thermal compatibility was dependent on: the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of the porcelain and metal; the geometry and dimensions of the samples; and the porcelain-metal thickness ratio. A spherical configuration was more sensitive to thermal expansion coefficient differences than was a disc configuration. A higher incidence of cracking resulted from an increase in both specimen size and porcelain-metal thickness ratio.
The HDAC inhibitors trichostatin A and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid exhibit multiple modalities of benefit for the vascular pathobiology of sickle transgenic mice

The vascular pathobiology of sickle cell anemia involves inflammation, coagulation, vascular stasis, reperfusion injury, iron-based oxidative biochemistry, deficient nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and red cell sickling. These disparate pathobiologies intersect and overlap, so it is probable that multimodality therapy will be necessary for this disease. We have, therefore, tested a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), for efficacy in reducing endothelial activation. We found that pulmonary vascular endothelial VCAM-1 and tissue factor (TF) expression (both are indicators of endothelial activation) are powerfully and significantly inhibited by TSA. This is seen both with pretreatment before the inducing stress of hypoxia/reoxygenation (NY1DD sickle transgenic mouse), and upon longer-term therapy after endothelial activation has already occurred (hBERK1 sickle mouse at ambient air). In addition, TSA prevented vascular stasis in sickle mice, it exhibited activity as an iron chelator, and it induced expression of the antisickling hemoglobin, hemoglobin F. Notably, the TSA analog SAHA (suberoylanilide hydroxaminc acid) that is already approved for human clinical use exhibits the same spectrum of biologic effects as TSA. We suggest that SAHA possibly could provide true, multimodality, salubrious effects for prevention and treatment of the chronic vasculopathy of sickle cell anemia.
Alkylating agents as leukemogens in multiple myeloma.

Five patients in the Kansas City leukemia surveillance program had a history of multiple myeloma prior to the onset of their acute leukemia. If one applies the Kansas City age/sex-specific leukemia rates to an estimated population with multiple myeloma living in the study area during the 7-year collection period, only 0.17 patients would be expected to develop acute leukemia. The five patients presented in this paper represent a significant increase in the observed over the expected incidence. Twenty-six patients have now been reported who developed acute leukemia during treatment for multiple myeloma, and each had received an alkylating agent. These drugs may be direct leukemogens and the risk involved in their use must be recognized.
In vitro transcription of Myxococcus xanthus genes with RNA polymerase containing σA, the major sigma factor in growing cells

Myxococcus xanthus is a Gram-negative bacterium that undergoes multicellular development upon starvation. We have developed a simple and rapid procedure for partial purification of RNA polymerase from growing M. xanthus cells, using heparin–agarose and DNA–cellulose chromatographies. In addition to core subunits, the enzyme contains one fairly abundant polypeptide of approximately 105 kDa. We have shown by Western blot analysis and protein sequencing that the 105-kDa polypeptide is σA, the product of the M. xanthus sigA gene. Partially purified σA RNA polymerase, or holoenzyme reconstituted from σA and core RNA polymerase, transcribed in vitro the vegA and aphII genes that are known to be expressed in growing M. xanthus cells. Reconstituted σA RNA polymerase produced vegA mRNA in vitro with the same 5′ end as vegA mRNA produced in vivo, demonstrating that initiation of transcription was accurate in vitro. These results provide biochemical evidence that σA is the major vegetative sigma factor of M. xanthus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of in vitro transcription of M. xanthus chromosomal genes, providing a foundation for further biochemical analysis of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in a microbe that relies extensively on cell–cell interactions.
Identification of a pleiotropic locus on chromosome 7q for a composite left ventricular wall thickness factor and body mass index: the HyperGEN Study

Background Left ventricular (LV) mass and wall thickness are closely associated with measures of body size and blood pressure and also correlated with systolic and diastolic function, suggesting a contribution of common physiologic mechanisms, including pleiotropic genes, to their covariation.
Transition to kindergarten: Family experiences and involvement

The transition to kindergarten is an important developmental milestone for young children, their families, and teachers. Preparing students for successful kindergarten transition has been identified as a national priority, yet the degree to which parents are involved in kindergarten preparation is rarely considered. This study investigated the family experiences and involvement in kindergarten transition in 132 families whose children had completed early education programs and were beginning kindergarten. Results suggest that the majority of families wanted more involvement in the transition to kindergarten planning and wanted information about kindergarten readiness, including academic and behavioral expectations. The top concerns expressed by families were attending a new school and difficulties with following directions or other behavior problems. Families with fewer financial resources reported less involvement in transition activities than families with more resources. Implications for early childhood education are discussed, in light of the growing emphasis on parent involvement and kindergarten readiness.
Electron‐impact ionization of interstellar hydrogen and helium at interplanetary shocks

We investigate the ionization of interstellar hydrogen and helium due to electron impact by shock-heated electrons. Taking the electron distributions measured at four interplanetary shocks at 1 AU, we show that the electrons in the downstream region of strong shocks can ionize interstellar atoms at rates matching or exceeding the nominal photoionization or charge-exchange rates. We suggest that this process may explain some puzzling observations of interstellar pickup ions by the Ulysses spacecraft.
Psychological associations with shopping: A moderator variable perspective

This article takes a moderator variable perspective on the relationships between two psychological variables: shopper decision-making styles from the consumer behavior literature and the concept of time perceptions as developed in the psychological literature, and shopping behavior, defined as shopping frequency and time spent shopping. Two hypotheses about potential types of moderation are examined to determine if time perceptions moderate relationships between shopper styles and shopping behavior. The finding show that time perceptions operate as a pure moderator for shopping frequency but as a quasimoderator for time spent shopping. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Two Cases, One Good Therapist

In my view, the most important similarity between Betty and Lawrence is that they had the same therapist, not that they had similar problems (Hamburg, 2006). This view raises several issues. First, are there any aspects of what Dr. Hamburg does that might be problematic for a less experienced and talented therapist. The one thing that clearly falls in this category is his use of the videotape metaphor for discovering memories during hypnotic age regression. This metaphor has created difficulties in the past and might best be avoided. Second, Dr. Hamburg seems to rely more on personally invented procedures and clinical lore than on manualized, evidence-based techniques. In this paper, the evidence base for evidence-based procedures is examined in terms of what we know about effect sizes from research on clinical hypnosis. I suggest that the evidence base for most evidence-based procedures is, at best, weak. Third, I speculate briefly about the effects of training clinical psychology graduate students in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) by having them serve as therapists in randomized control trials (RCTs). In contrast to my previously stated (relatively positive) views (Karlin, 2002), I suggest that such training may not aid them in becoming thoughtful, creative, flexible therapists like Dr. Hamburg.