cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solar rotation as determined from OSO-4 EUV spectroheliograms.

Spectroheliograms obtained in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lines and the Lyman continuum are used to determine the rotation rate of the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona. A cross-correlation analysis of the observations indicates the presence of differential rotation through the chromosphere and transition region. The rotation rate does not vary with height. The average sidereal rotation rate is given by ω (deg day−1) = 13.46 - 2.99 sin2B where B is the solar latitude. This rate agrees with spectroscopic determinations of the photospheric rotation rate, but is slower by ∼ 1 deg day−1) = 13.46 - 2.99 sin2 than rates determined from the apparent motion of photospheric magnetic fields and from the brightest points of active regions observed in the EUV. The corona does not clearly show differential rotation as do the chromosphere and transition region.
Toward an examination of the rhetoric of ancient India

While rhetoric is often thought of in terms of Western history, ancient Indian literature is rich with contributions to the development of its own kind of rhetorical theory. Many of these ideas pre‐date Aristotle by as much as 500 years, and in their own way serve an integral and necessary role in the development of India. This paper draws together some observations about the function, scope, and style of rhetoric in ancient India.
Modeling the effects of sequential rearing on the potential production of controlled environment fish-culture systems

The production potential of an aquaculture system can be achieved only if the feed carrying capacity (kilograms per day) of the system is maintained at the maximum acceptable rate throughout the rearing period. Continuous production of fish through successive stocking and harvesting provides a higher mean feeding rate than conventional batch culture methods. Algorithms were developed to optimize sequential fish production given the feed carrying capacity of the system, rearing period (RP), length of fish at stocking (Lt = 0, growth rate (ΔL), feed conversion (FC), and mortality rate (Z). Algorithm use indicates that production per rearing period increases at a diminishing rate with the number (n) of stocking-harvesting intervals. For example, using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), where RP = 270 d, Lt = 0 = 7·6 cm; ΔL = 0·0.086 cm/d, FC = 1·8, and Z = 0·0, the increase in production over than predicted with the batch method (n = 1) for selected values of n was as follows: 44% (n = 2), 65% (n = 3), 87% (n = 5), 98% (n = 7), 104% (n = 9), and 110% (n = 12). Improvements in production with n > 1 diminish with a greater Lt = 0 or Z, buth increase with RP or ΔL. Sequential rearing can substantially reduce the water flow required to achieve a chosen production goal.
Excretion of iron in response to deferoxamine in sickle cell anemia

Iron chelation with deferoxamine was studied in ten patients with sickle cell anemia who had received 2 to 37 liters of red blood cells. Urinary excretion of iron in response to 1.5 gm of deferoxamine administered intravenously ranged from 5.9 to 28.7 mg/24 hours and was closely related to the amount of iron acquired from transfusions. Administration of ascorbic acid did not improve deferoxamine-induced excretion of iron. Urinary excretion of iron in response to 0.75 gm of DFO intramuscularly was 4.7 to 6.9 mg/24 hours in three patients who had received 15 to 37 liters of red cells. The data indicate that measurement of DFO-induced excretion of iron is of value in detecting increased iron stores in children with sickle cell anemia who have received repeated transfusions and that chelation therapy will retard the accumulation of iron.
Smoke Dispersion from Multiple Fire Plumes

The effects of multiple fire plumes in a stably stratified atmosphere with a uniform wind are investigated. A parabolized approximation of the steady-state Navier-Stokes equations obtained by replacing the windward velocity component with the ambient wind speed is the basis of the model. Lagrangian particles are used to visualize the flow, account for atmospheric fluctuations, and determine the smoke concentration field. Multiple-plume interactions can push particulate up to altitudes exceeding that of an equivalent single plume. A parametric study based on separation and heat release rates is performed for two plumes. The most dramatic increases in plume rise and spread are found for in-line plumes, parallel to the wind direction. Multiple-plume interactions can yield nonuniformities in the smoke concentration field that differ substantially from that predicted by Gaussian models.
The trouble with pediatricians.

Rarely, as far as I can discern, do the pediatric departments of the six medical schools in Chicago come together to address an issue in health care. There are certainly many issues available: pediatric AIDS, infant mortality, prematurity, access to care, health care finances, funding pediatric education, and probably others. But the Chicago area pediatric department chairmen have come together to deal with violence. In announcing their alliance against violence the chairmen have firmly established their desire to make the children of Chicago safe in their environments. Development of this alliance, its goals, and its eventual products, are relevant to injury prevention advocates, practitioners, and researchers everywhere. Why violence? When I began to work in the area of injury prevention, the hot topics were motor vehicle and other unintentional injuries. We fought the child safety seat and seat belt battles. We reported on product injuries, falls from windows, tricycles, bicycles and child seats on bicycles, pedestrians, tap water burns, and much more. Relatively little attention was paid to intentional injury or violence except for child abuse. Since the mid-1980s violent injuries have garnered more attention, I think not because unintentional injuries have become less important—they remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality—but because we have come to recognize that violent injury is also a major cause of death and disability in childhood. We are surrounded by images of violence, both real and fictional. Violent injury is expensive in both monetary and social terms, and it is seemingly so preventable. Why is this alliance coming together in Chicago? Violent injury is not unique to Chicago, or even to the United States. But Chicago is near the heartland geographically, socially, and politically. There are six medical schools in Chicago and there are even more hospitals with pediatric programs. If you want …
Oxyntic mucosa pseudopolyps: A presentation of atrophic autoimmune gastritis

Gastric polyps are often present in the setting of atrophic gastritis. Although the majority of these polyps are nonneoplastic, such as hyperplastic polyps, neoplastic polyps may be present. We discuss nine cases that illustrate an additional nonneoplastic cause of polyps in atrophic gastritis. Specifically, preserved islands of relatively normal oxyntic mucosa in a background of gastric atrophy may appear polypoid endoscopically. The patients (seven women, two men, mean age 64 years) presented with nonspecific abdominal or reflux symptoms (n = 8) and diarrhea (n = 1). Five of five patients tested were confirmed to have hypergastrinemia, and three of three patients tested had antiparietal cell antibodies. Biopsies from the gastric body or fundus of our nine patients showed fragments of atrophic mucosa and separate fragments of preserved oxyntic mucosa. Based upon the histologic characteristics of the atrophic fundic and relatively normal antral biopsies, the gastric atrophy appeared to be of autoimmune-type. The relatively preserved oxyntic glands showed parietal cell hypertrophy and focal mild chronic inflammation. The number of polyps observed endoscopically ranged from less than five to multiple/diffuse. Three patients had persistent nodularities in their stomachs for 1, 3, and 7 years of their follow-up. Our study shows that some patients with atrophic gastritis, autoimmune-type, may present with gastric polyps/nodules that represent relatively preserved oxyntic mucosa. This presentation may be more common than is presently recognized because biopsies of the polyps alone will not show histologic features of atrophic gastritis or reveal the etiology of the polyp itself. Although a limited number of previous studies have suggested this type of polypoid presentation may represent "early" atrophic gastritis, its persistence in three of our patients argues against this hypothesis.
Planet B-Girl: Community Building and Feminism in Hip-Hop

Hip-hop originated as an artistic form of protest among disenfranchised African Americans and is now a global vehicle of communication. A core of devotees known as b-boys and b-girls have dedicated themselves to using hip-hop as a political vehicle toward a better future. B-girls help build the networks of support upon which hip-hop artists rely. However, despite its challenge to racial and economic hegemonies, much of hip-hop culture excludes women. How do b-girls use hip-hop to mobilize for a socially just future under such conditions? This article suggests that women who become aware of their marginalized status within hip-hip use its capacity for creating political messages and generating audience responses to call attention to the gendering of hip-hop spaces. In demanding a right to participate, women create a “Planet B-Girl” for women to sustain themselves as independent artists and use hip-hop's representation of itself as a voice of the street to mobilize people who are not recognized as participa...
Measurement of permanent gases by a flame emission gas chromatographic detector

Abstract The flame emission gas chromatographic detector when used in the negative mode is sensitive to permanent gases, such as O2, N2, CO2, Ar, N2O, and He. The sample gases are introduced into the hydrogen carrier gas which feeds a Beckman total-consumption aspirator-burner. The flame background emission of the OH bands is then monitored using a monochromator-photomultiplier-amplifier-electrometer-recorder system. The analytical curves of response vs. amount introduced are linear over four decades, and the limits of detection are about 10−6 grams per second for the gases listed above.
Effects of a single outlier on arma identification

Fox (1972), Box and Tiao (1975), and Abraham and Box (1979) have proposed methods for detecting outliers in time series whose ARMA form is known (or identified). We show that the existence of a single aberrant observation, innovation, or intervention causes an ARMA model to be misidentified using unadjusted autocorrelation (acf) and partial autocorrelation estimates. The magnitude, location, type of outlier, and in some cases the ARMA's parameters, affect the identification outcome. We use variance inflation, signal-to-noise ratios, and acf critical values to determine an ARMA model's susceptibility to misidentifi-cation. Numerical and simulation examples suggest how to iteratively use the outlier detection methods in practice.
Wind power forecasting: Comparing two statistical signal processing algorithms

Wind power forecasting (WPF) has turned into a substantial tool for limiting the negative impact of wind power intermittency on power system. In this paper, we study and compare two different WPF algorithms: classical autoregressive model (AR), as a base case method, and kernel density estimation (KDE) with minimum mean square error estimator (MMSE). Using the data history of a wind farm in Colorado, these two algorithms are implemented in MATLAB and used to produce 24 hours ahead predictions of wind power time series of the said wind farm. The results obtained from the two methods are then compared from various perspectives (precision, applicability, etc.). The comparisons show that although AR-based wind power prediction has slightly less error than KDE, AR-based prediction does not produce probability density function (PDF) of wind speed/power, while KDE does. PDF of wind speed/power is an important parameter for estimating the required reserve allocation in economic dispatch studies.
Imaging Techniques and Neuropsychological Testing in Dementia with Severe White Matter Changes

Multi-infarct dementia (MID), as originally described by Hachinski [21] is thought to be the consequence of repeated, clinically apparent cerebrovascular infarctions. The Hachinski Ischemic Scale [21] is used to separate vascular from nonvascular dementias, according to this operational definition. Not all cerebral infarctions are clinically apparent, however. Recent reports suggest that 11%–30% of all cerebral infarctions are asymptomatic [8,37]. Moreover, the concept of cerebrovascular dementia has evolved to include patients with subcortical arteriosclerotic dementias (SAD) where clinical stroke is inapparent [9,35]. Patients with SAD form a subgroup of slowly progressive dementing illnesses which differ pathophysiological from the dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) and MID groups, by virtue of having predominantly small vessel cerebrovascular disease and central white matter demyelination [33,35]. The cognitive deficits, however, bear no unique characteristics that reliably distinguish them from DAT or MID [7,9,33,35,36].
Extraosseous IL-6 transgenic mouse plasmacytoma sometimes lacks Myc-activating chromosomal translocation.

The cellular oncogene MYC and plasma cell growth, differentiation, and survival factor IL-6 play critical roles in the natural history of human plasma cell neoplasms such as multiple myeloma (MM). Myc and IL-6 also are at the center of neoplastic plasma cell transformation in BALB/c mice that carry a human IL-6 transgene and, therefore, predictably develop plasmacytomas (PCTs). We showed previously that, much like advanced MM or human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs), in which MYC is frequently deregulated in cis because of complex cytogenetic aberrations juxtaposing MYC to immunoglobulin enhancers, IL-6 transgenic PCTs commonly deregulate Myc in cis by chromosomal translocation, predominantly T(12;15)(Igh–Myc). In this article, we show that, analogous to primary MM in which MYC is mostly deregulated in trans by signaling pathways converging at the MYC promoter, IL-6 transgenic PCTs sometimes develop in the absence of Myc translocations, thus activating Myc in trans. We present cytogenetic and molecular evidence on two IL-6 transgenic PCTs that contained overexpressed Myc protein but lacked T(12;15)(Igh–Myc) and two related Myc–-deregulating translocations that juxtapose Myc to immunoglobulin light-chain instead of heavy-chain enhancers: T(6;15)(Igκ–Pvt1) and T(15;16)(Pvt1–Igλ). We conclude that Myc translocations are not strictly required for IL-6-driven PCT development in mice. IL-6 transgenic PCTs may provide a valuable model system for elucidating both trans and cis mechanisms of Myc deregulation of great relevance for MYC deregulation in human MM. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Robust motion estimation using complex principal components

This paper presents a novel motion estimator, termed the principal component displacement estimator (PCDE), which takes advantage of the signal separation capabilities of principal component analysis (PCA) to reject source signals representing decorrelation and noise. PCDE requires the computation of only a single principal component and operates on complex data, yielding computational speed in MATLAB on the same order or better than the commonly used Loupas algorithm. Synthetic ultrasound data were simulated to assess the performance of PCDE over a wide range of conditions. PCDE was also applied to experimental elastography data with reductions in the standard deviation of displacement estimates as large as 67% over other methods.
The Role of Interpretative Tour Guiding in Sustainable Destination Management A Comparison between Guided and Nonguided Tourists

Sustainable tourism is lauded for simultaneously benefitting local residents, tourists, and the environment. Environmental interpretation is considered a vehicle for sustainable tourism as it minimizes the adverse environmental and social impacts of tourism by creating pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of interpretative tour guiding by comparing guided and nonguided tourists’ attitudes and behaviors. Data were collected from 230 visitors at the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal, using self-administered questionnaires. Results showed that the effectiveness of interpretation varies in relation to a number of ecological and sociocultural attitudes and behaviors. The positive change in attitude and behavior indicated that interpretation can be an effective and desirable tool in sustainable tourism. The conditions when interpretation cannot produce desirable outcomes and the theoretical and managerial implications of study findings are also dis...
A topical azithromycin preparation for the treatment of acne vulgaris and rosacea.

BACKGROUND: Erythromycin is a common therapy for acne and rosacea. A newer macrolide, azithromycin, offers superior tissue distribution and cellular concentration and is an effective oral anti‐acne agent. Topical formulations such as erythromycin have been a major clinical therapy for acne. To date, no topical solution of azithromycin is available for the treatment of acne.OBJECTIVE: To prepare a stable topical 2% azithromycin formulation that could be used in an acne clinical trial to determine the efficacy of topical azithromycin in treating subjects with acne vulgaris and acne rosacea.METHODS: The study was divided into two phases. In phase I, azithromycin was prepared over a range of ethanol/water concentrations to determine solubility. The stability of a 2% azithromycin in 60% ethanol/water preparation was assessed by high‐pressure liquid chromatography. The temperature, light, and pH dependence of the stability was also assessed. In phase II, a single center, randomized, double‐blind, treatment‐cont...
Detecting break in oil price series using the Box-Tiao method

This paper presents an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average procedure which allows one to test a time series for a structural break at an unknown point in time. It is a variation of the Box-Tiao method designed to test for a structural break due to an intervention at a known time. Applying the procedure to the crude oil market, we were able to statistically show the existence of a structural break in the oil price series and to pinpoint the month during which it took place, January 1986. The results also underscore the need for testing the stability of models estimated using oil price data covering both sides of the structural break and may assist those who study the political events of the period.
Species diversity and community structure in neotropical fruit‐feeding butterflies

To test the veracity of previous studies and illuminate major community patterns from an intact community, a guild of nymphalid butterflies was sampled at monthly intervals for five consecutive years by trapping in the canopy and understorey of five contiguous forest plots in the same rainforest. Significant numbers of species belonged to either the canopy or understorey fauna, confirming fundamental vertical stratification, and showing that sampling in one vertical position is a poor estimator of diversity. Significant monthly variation showed that intermittent or short-term sampling would underestimate diversity, and significant variation among years and areas showed that diversity was strongly influenced by sampling year. Even when the underlying communities were the same, temporal interactions strongly affected species diversity in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. An unprecedented seasonal inversion of species richness and abundance was detected between the canopy and understorey that occurred at the onset of all rainy seasons. This investigation suggests that long-term studies evaluating spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity among many sites may be required for a better understanding of tropical communities and how best to conserve them.
A randomized comparison of continuous combined transdermal delivery of estradiol-norethindrone acetate and estradiol alone for menopause

Abstract Objective: To determine whether a continuous estradiol-norethindrone acetate transdermal delivery system reduces incidence of endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal women more than transdermal estradiol (E2) alone. Methods: Six hundred twenty-five postmenopausal women were assigned randomly to one of four treatments, transdermal E2 50 μg/day, or transdermal E2-norethindrone acetate with 50 μg E2 and 140, 250, or 400 μg/day of norethindrone acetate. Follow-up visits to collect information on safety and efficacy were scheduled at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initiation of treatment. Endometrial biopsy for histologic evaluation was done at baseline and upon exit from the study (completion or withdrawal). Endometrial histology was evaluated by two independent gynecologic pathologists. In the event of a disparate reading, a third gynecologic pathologist evaluated the tissue using predetermined criteria. Results: Endometrial hyperplasia was found in 37.9% (39 of 103) in the E2 alone group versus 0.8% (one of 123), 1% (one of 98), and 1.1% (one of 89) in the E2-norethindrone acetate 50-140, 50-250, and 50-400 groups, respectively (P Conclusion: Continuous transdermal delivery of E2 combined with norethindrone acetate effectively prevented endometrial hyperplasia in healthy postmenopausal women. Continuous combined transdermal delivery systems provide increased dosing flexibility and might improve convenience and compliance with hormone replacement therapy.
Ion‐permeable membrane for on‐chip preconcentration and separation of cancer marker proteins

Cancer marker proteins have been electrophoretically concentrated and then separated in a microfluidic device. On-chip preconcentration was achieved using an ion-permeable membrane, consisting of acrylamide, N,N’-methylene-bisacrylamide and 2-(acrylamido)-2-methylpropanesulfonate. This negatively charged membrane was photopolymerized in the microdevice near the injection intersection. Anionic proteins were excluded from the porous membrane based on both size and charge, which concentrated target components in the injection intersection prior to separation by microchip capillary electrophoresis (µ-CE). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used in initial characterization of the system and showed a 40-fold enrichment in the µ-CE peak with 4 min of preconcentration. Adjustment of buffer pH enabled baseline resolution of two cancer biomarkers, α-fetoprotein (AFP) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), while fine control over preconcentration time limited peak broadening. Our optimized preconcentration and µ-CE approach was applied to AFP and HSP90, where enrichment factors of >10-fold were achieved with just 1 min of preconcentration. Overall, the process was simple and rapid, providing a useful tool for improving detection in microscale systems.
Effectiveness of a Home Program of Ischemic Pressure Followed by Sustained Stretch for Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points

Background and Purpose. Myofascial trigger points (TPs) are found among patients who have neck and upper back pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a home program of ischemic pressure followed by sustained stretching for the treatment of myofascial TPs. Subjects. Forty adults (17 male, 23 female), aged 23 to 58 years (X=30.6, SD=9.3), with one or more TPs in the neck or upper back participated in this study. Methods. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups receiving a 5-day home program of either ischemic pressure followed by general sustained stretching of the neck and upper back musculature or a control treatment of active range of motion. Measurements were obtained before the subjects received the home program instruction and on the third day after they discontinued treatment. Trigger point sensitivity was measured with a pressure algometer as pressure pain threshold (PPT). Average pain intensity for a 24-hour period was scored on a visual analog scale (VAS). Subjects also reported the percentage of time in pain over a 24-hour period. A multivariate analysis of covariance, with the pretests as the covariates, was performed and followed by 3 analyses of covariance, 1 for each variable. Results. Differences were found between the treatment and control groups for VAS scores and PPT. No difference was found between the groups for percentage of time in pain. Conclusion and Discussion. A home program, consisting of ischemic pressure and sustained stretching, was shown to be effective in reducing TP sensitivity and pain intensity in individuals with neck and upper back pain. The results of this study indicate that clinicians can treat myofascial TPs through monitoring of a home program of ischemic pressure and stretching.
CLINICAL REVIEW 21 The Efficacy and Safety of Growth Hormone for Animal Agriculture

Public understanding, perception, and acceptance are important for the benefits of biotechnology to be realized. Based upon sound scientific evidence, GH does not appear to pose any risk to the consumer. More than 1000 papers have been published about bGH and pGH, and the principal lines of evidence supporting the position that they are safe are reviewed herein. Recently, an independent committee appointed by The National Institutes of Health examined the available data and concluded that "The evidence clearly indicates that the overall composition and nutritional quality of milk and meat from bGH-treated cows is equal to that from untreated cows". Similarly, the FDA has concluded that the use of bGH presents no increased health risk to consumers. In addition, there is compelling evidence to indicate that GH poses no increased health risk to the target animal. Thus, GH treatment of farm animals is not only an effective technology for increasing productive efficiency but one that poses no increased health risk for either the consumer or the target animal.
Math Growth Trajectories of Students With Disabilities: Disability Category, Gender, Racial, and Socioeconomic Status Differences From Ages 7 to 17

This study examined math growth trajectories by disability category, gender, race, and socioeconomic status using a nationally representative sample of students ages 7 to 17. The students represented 11 federal disability categories. Compared with the national norming sample, students in all 11 disability categories had lower math achievement levels and slower growth in elementary school. In secondary school, however, the math growth rate slowed down and was similar for all students. Among students with disabilities, those with speech or visual impairments had the highest math achievement, and those with multiple disabilities or intellectual disability had the lowest. Relative to students with learning disabilities on calculation, growth rates for students with autism were significantly slower and those for students with speech impairments decelerated significantly faster. For students with disabilities, gender, White–Black, and socioeconomic status math achievement gaps were significant and stable over t...
The Practice: Class Action Cacophony at the Supreme Court

Commentary and analysis of the Supreme Court’s February and March 2013, decisions in three major class action appeals: Amgen Inc. v. Connecticut Retirement Plan and Trust Funds (February 27, 2103); Standard Fire Ins. Co. v. Knowles (March 19, 2013), and Comcast Corp. v. Behrends (March 27, 2013). The article surveys the Court’s liberal and conservative divide on class certification issues, giving some support to both the plaintiff and defense sides of the class action docket. In Amgen, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg, a divided Court again saved the fraud on the market presumption for certification of securities class actions. On the other hand, in Comcast, in an opinion authored by Justice Scalia, an equally divided Court found fatal to class certification the failure of proof of classwide damages for a Rule 23(b)(3) damage action. The Comcast decision, coupled with a concurrence by Justice Alito, suggests that there may be at least four votes for the Court to consider the original fraud on the market presumption announced in the landmark case, Basic v. Levinson.Although embodying different outcomes, the Amgen and Comcast decisions both embrace the same litany of core class certification principles. However, the Court in neither case has clarified or illuminated further the debate over the extent to which trial courts may properly assess the underlying merits of class claims as part of the certification process. Instead, the Court in both cases deflected the merits conversation into the Rule 23 predominance requirement.Finally, in Standard Fire Ins. Co. v. Knowles, in an opinion by Justice Breyer, a unanimous Court agreed that a class representative could not stipulate to less than the $5 million damage threshold in order to evade removal under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005. A class representative could bind himself, but had no power or authority to bind absent class members.
Legalizing Merger to Monopoly and Higher Prices: The Canadian Competition Tribunal Gets It Wrong

This article analyzes the Canadian Superior Propane decision, apparently the first merger decision in world history to consider explicitly what to do when a merger was predicted to lead to both higher consumer prices and to net efficiencies. The article advocates analyzing the merger under a "price to consumers" or "consumer welfare" standard, rather than a total efficiency standard, and advocates that the enforcers and the courts block such mergers.
Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue

Sam Harris is a philosopher and neuroscientist from the United States. His publications include The End of Faith (2004), Letter to a Christian Nation (2006), and Free Will (2012). Maajid Nawaz was ...
The Impact of Resident Involvement in Elective Posterior Cervical Fusion.

Study Design.Retrospective study of prospectively collected dataObjective.The aim of this study was to assess the impact of resident surgeon involvement on patient outcomes following posterior cervical fusion (PCF) surgery.Summary of Background Data.Recently, there has been a significant uptrend in
Nucleophilic selectivity ratios of model and clinical alkylating agents by 4-(4'-nitrobenzyl)pyridine competition.

An aqueous acetone 4-(4'-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) assay for alkylating activity was used at neutral pH to reproduce the Swain-Scott-Ogston reactivity sequence of nucleophile n constants, based on bimolecular competition between NBP and added nucleophiles for alkylation by nitrogen mustards, methanesulfonate esters, methyl iodide, epichlorohydrin, or 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). Nucleophile concentration-dependent decreases in the 540-nm NBP product(s) permitted determination of the second-order rate constant ratio, kx / knbp , for alkylation of the competing nucleophile/NBP. The slope, s *, of several log( kx / knbp ) values versus n constants closely paralleled literature Swain-Scott s constants and could be derived from the value for thiosulfate competition, 1og( kss2oo3 / knbp ). Alkylating activity, defined by the maximal 540-nm absorbance found for reactions up to 1 hr, was clearly related to an alkylating agent’s nucleophilic sensitivity [ s, s *, or log( kss2oo3 / knbp ) value]. Values of log( kSS2oo3 / knbp ) corresponding to s constants 0.78-1.39 for clinical alkylating agents increased in the order 1-chloroethyl-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea ∼ streptozotocin < 1,4-bis(methanesulfonoxy)butane ∼ BCNU < 1,1',l ''-phosphinothioylidynetrisaziridine ∼ methyl-bis(2-chloroethyl)amine < 4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine. NBP competition methods for determination of nucleophilic selectivity ratios should be highly useful for rapid identification of protective nucleophile-clinical alkylating agent combinations, and for classification of alkylating agent biological mechanism of action according to recent interpretations of alkylating agent kinetic behavior. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am most grateful to Drs. Charles Heidelberger and George Olah for encouragement and helpful advice, and to Dr. Michael Colvin for his stimulating review of the manuscript. I am indebted to Margaret Soh for her patient typing.
Physiological Basis of High Yield and Corresponding Cultivation Techniques of Cured-Panicle Japonica Hybrid Rice

The physiological basis of cured-panicle japonica hybrid rice was analyzed.The results showed that the cured-panicle japonica hybrid rice cultivars had the characteristics of high yield,large yield increasing potential,large photosynthetic leaf area,long leaf functional period,strong stress resistance,wide adaptability,etc.The corresponding cultivation techniques of cured-panicle japonica hybrid rice cultivars were as follows: early sowing and transplanting,cultivating strong seedlings,establishing ideal population structure,reasonable fertilizer application;scientific water management,controlling disease,pest and weed timely.
Laboratory Instrumentation: An Exploration of the Impact of Instrumentation on Student Learning

Academic programs generally work to make their laboratory curriculum both as instrumentation rich and up to date as possible. However, little is known about the relationship between the use of instrumentation in the curriculum and student learning. As part of our department’s ongoing assessment efforts, a project was designed to probe this relationship. Two aspects of the laboratory curriculum, explicitly tied to instrumentation, were the focus: technical competence with instrumentation and the ability of students to use instrumentation to solve chemical problems. Student survey responses and their scores on a practicum task were used to explore the relationship between instrument use and these outcomes. Results suggest that hands-on use of instruments matters. While emphasis on instrumentation in the lecture appears to increase perceived familiarity, more direct use in the laboratory translates into more technical knowledge. However, more exposure to instruments in the laboratory does not necessarily res...
Regulation of PDGF-beta receptor-operated Ca2+ channels by phospholipase C-gamma 1 in glomerular mesangial cells

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced Ca2+ signaling mechanisms were examined in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells. PDGF-BB stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C ...
Media Review: Mindful Leadership: A Guide for the Health of Care Professions

Sara Horton-Deutsch reviews Mindful Leadership: A Guide for the Health of Care Professions, by Christopher Johns.
B0 magnetic field homogeneity and shimming for in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The homogenization of B0 conditions is necessary for every magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) investigation. Its direct consequence is narrow spectral lines, on which reliable separation and quantification of biochemicals, and thus experimentally obtainable metabolic information, fundamentally relies. Besides spectral linewidth, unwanted B0 inhomogeneity also impairs other aspects of the MRS experiment, such as water suppression and editing efficiency, that rely on exact frequency definition. Therefore, experimental B0 homogenization, called B0 shimming, is mandatory for meaningful MRS, and high-level B0 shimming is arguably one of the most important ingredients for successful MRS investigations. In this review, we describe the relevance of B0 homogeneity for in vivo MRS and summarize common concepts and specific solutions for its experimental optimization.
Effects of Tuli, Senepol, Brahman, Angus, and Polled Hereford Sire Breeds on Birth and Weaning Traits of Offspring1

Progeny (n = 861) of tropically adapted breeds [Tuli (TU), Senepol (SE), and Brahman (BR)] and temperate breeds [Angus (AN) and Polled Hereford (HP)] were evaluated for birth and weaning traits in each of 5 yr. Multiparous crossbred cows representing three genetic types [British (Bt), ½BR½Bt, and ¾Bt¼BR] were mated to AN, HP, TU, SE, and BR sires, with the exception that BR sires were not mated to ½BR½Bt cows. Calving season was January through early March. Following calving, cows were provided bermudagrass hay and bahiagrass hay and had limited access to rye and ryegrass pastures. Cow and calf pairs grazed bermudagrass and bahiagrass pastures as available until weaning without access to creep feed. Male calves were castrated at birth and were not implanted. Data included birth weight, cannon bone length at birth, weaning weight, weaning hip height, ADG from birth to weaning (ADGBW), ADG from birth to April (ADGBA), ADG from April to weaning (ADGAW), and weight per day of age (WDA). Data were analyzed by PROC Mixed using a model that included calf genetic type, calf sex, calf birth day of year, and calf genetic type × calf sex interaction. Random effects were cow age, birth year, and sire and dam of calf. Calf genetic type and calf sex were significant sources of variation for all characteristics. Linear contrasts revealed that BR-sired calves were heavier at birth, had longer cannon bones at birth, and were taller at weaning (P<0.01). Tuli- and SE-sired calves were similar to AN- and HP-sired calves for birth weight, cannon bone length at birth, and weaning hip height. Angus-, HP-, and BR-sired calves were heavier at weaning compared with TU-sired calves, and SE-sired calves were intermediate for weaning weight (P<0.01). In conclusion, the TU-sired calves were smaller at birth and at weaning when compared with BR-sired calves. The TU- and SE-sired calves appear to offer more moderate size and growth rate through weaning than do the BR-sired calves.
The evolution of poetic inquiry, practice, education, and evaluation in poetry therapy

ABSTRACTNicholas Mazza, the founding and continuing editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy (JPT) reflects on the development of the Journal as a major contributor to the scholarly base of poetry therapy. Noting the Journal’s international and interdisciplinary contributions as well as it being indexed and abstracted in major databases, the editor affirms the importance of professional/academic dialogue. In building on the past and looking to the future of JPT, the readership is reminded of the importance of mixed methods of research, practice reports, theory development, creativity, and the convergence of literary and human service perspectives.
Analysis and loss comparison of megahertz high voltage isolated DC/DC converters utilizing integrated SiC MOSFET module

Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFETs are being increasingly utilized in medium and high power electronics converters (>1 kW) because of the significantly lower switching and conduction losses when compared with conventional power switches such as the Si IGBT. SiC MOSFET based converters operating at high frequency can achieve high efficiency and high power density at the same time. Minimum switching loss can be achieved in the SiC MOSFET with carefully designed gate driving condition and DC link layout, such as the integrated SiC MOSFET module discussed in this paper. Multi-megahertz switching frequency could be realized by the proposed SiC MOSFET module with proper soft switching topology. This paper analyzes three isolated DC/DC converters, namely the asymmetrical half bridge converter, phase shift full bridge converter, and LLC resonant converter. The loss model of the SiC MOSFET is developed and utilized in the analysis. Comparisons are carried out from the device loss and soft switching requirement point of view. The LLC resonant converter is deemed more suitable for multi-megahertz application. A 4.5 kW 1.2 MHz LLC resonant converter prototype is developed and it demonstrates a peak efficiency of 97% at 4 kW.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Promotes Lymphocyte Survival Via a Mitochondrial Pathway Mediated by GSK-3 Beta.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma is a nuclear hormone receptor involved in maintaining glucose and fatty acid homeostasis. Besides its metabolic functions, the receptor has also been implicated in tumorigenesis. Ligands of PPAR gamma induce apoptosis in several types of tumor cells including lymphomas, leading to the proposal that these ligands may be used as anti-cancer agents. However, apoptosis induction requires high doses of ligands, suggesting the effect may not be receptor-dependent. Previously, we reported that PPAR gamma is expressed in human primary T cell lymphoma tissues and activation of PPAR gamma with low doses of ligands protects lymphoma cells from serum starvation-induced apoptosis. The prosurvival effect of PPAR gamma is linked to its actions on mitochondria. In serum-deprived cells, PPAR gamma attenuates the decline in ATP, reduces mitochondrial hyperpolarization and limits the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in favor of cell survival (Yang et al, Am J Pathol, 170, 722–32, 2007). In the current study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which PPAR gamma maintains mitochondria homeostasis. We demonstrated that PPAR gamma modulates the activities of two key components of Wnt signaling pathway, Fzd4 and GSK-3 beta. The receptor up-regulates the mRNA expression of Fzd4, a cell surface receptor of Wnt, through a conserved PPAR-response element (PPRE) in the promoter region of the Fzd4 gene. Moreover, PPAR gamma suppresses the activation of GSK-3 beta, a downstream inhibitory serine/threonine kinase, by maintaining its phosphorylation at serine 9 and decreasing its association with mitochondria. Downregulation of GSK-3 beta activity results in maintenance of mitochondrial membrance potential and suppression of ROS production in growth factor-deprived cells. Our studies revealed a novel interaction between PPAR gamma and Wnt signaling in lymphocyte survival. Since Wnt signaling plays an important role in tumorigenesis, our studies highlight the need for further investigation into the role of PPAR gamma in cancer prior to widespread use of its agonists as anticancer therapeutics.
A model of pedestrian delay at unsignalized intersections in urban networks

Delay is an important performance measure for pedestrian crossings considering their interactions with other road users. This study provides an improved analytical model to mathematically estimate pedestrian delay using renewal theory, which considers driver yielding and vehicle platooning. A generalized model is first provided to accommodate different traffic flow and driver behavior assumptions. Then the proposed model is developed on the basis of a mixture of free traffic and platooned traffic with consideration of driver yielding behaviors to better replicate field conditions in an urban setting. A second application using the HCM 2010 assumptions is also derived to compare it to the HCM 2010 model. Lastly, field data were collected and used for validation from two locations: Gainesville, FL and Washington, D.C. A simulation via MATLAB is performed to evaluate the model results for a variety of cases. The comparisons to the field data as well as the simulation confirm the applicability and accuracy of the proposed model. It is also found that the current HCM 2010 model overestimates the pedestrian delay compared with field data.
Minimally invasive dual iliac screw, dual rod fixation in a rare case of pathological sacral fracture from a paraganglionoma: a technique description

The management of lumbosacral neoplastic disease can be demanding, often requiring complex reconstruction. In the context of extensive sacral involvement, the risk of iliac screw breakage is greater. Few studies advocate the use of dual iliac screw techniques to reduce implant failure. In this report, the authors have described the first case of percutaneous dual iliac screw, dual rod insertion as part of a minimally invasive spinopelvic stabilization in a patient with a sacral fracture from a paraganglionoma. The patient underwent percutaneous L-2 to ilium fixation. A dual iliac screw, dual rod construct was used for stabilizing the left lumbopelvic junction. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic, with radiographs showing no signs of instrumentation failure. Minimally invasive dual iliac screw, dual rod fixation is a viable option in cases in which additional stability is required due to extensive neoplastic disease or active individuals have increased functional demands. Short-term results in this report are encouraging; however, more research is warranted to establish the procedure's long-term safety.
Toward an Ethnoarchaeomalacology of Achatina in East Africa

Land snail shell is a material commonly identified in the Late Holocene archaeological record of eastern Africa. Typically, archaeologists designate land snail shell as a natural occurrence or as debris produced from human subsistence. Ethnographic observations in lowland northeastern Tanzania show that contemporary communities employ the soft parts and shells of land snails, particularly Achatina fulica , for a range of everyday and special purposes. The array of land snail uses by mixed subsistence farmers and agropastoralists in the area documents the significance of A. fulica and other robust land snail species. Present uses of land snails observed in Tanzania offer a set of analogies that, when critically applied, can enrich archaeologists’ interpretations of land snail debris in antiquity.
Exertional Tolerance Assessments After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Abstract Objective To review the literature to identify and summarize strategies for evaluating responses to physical exertion after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) for clinical and research purposes. Data Sources PubMed and EBSCOhost through December 31, 2016. Study Selection Two independent reviewers selected studies based on the following criteria: (1) inclusion of participants with mTBI/concussion, (2) use of a measurement of physiological or psychosomatic response to exertion, (3) a repeatable description of the exertion protocol was provided, (4) a sample of at least 10 participants with a mean age between 8 and 65 years, and (5) the article was in English. The search process yielded 2685 articles, of which 14 studies met the eligibility requirements. Data Extraction A quality assessment using a checklist was conducted for each study by 2 independent study team members and verified by a third team member. Data were extracted by one team member and verified by a second team member. Data Synthesis A qualitative synthesis of the studies revealed that most protocols used a treadmill or cycle ergometer as the exercise modality. Protocol methods varied across studies including differences in initial intensity determination, progression parameters, and exertion duration. Common outcome measures were self-reported symptoms, heart rate, and blood pressure. Conclusions The strongest evidence indicates that exertional assessments can provide important insight about mTBI recovery and should be administered using symptoms as a guide. Additional studies are needed to verify optimal modes and protocols for post-mTBI exertional assessments.