cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Five preference-based indexes in cataract and heart failure patients were not equally responsive to change

Abstract Objective To compare the responsiveness to clinical change of five widely used preference-based health-related quality-of-life indexes in two longitudinal cohorts. Study Design and Setting Five generic instruments were simultaneously administered to 376 adults undergoing cataract surgery and 160 adults in heart failure management programs. Patients were assessed at baseline and reevaluated after 1 and 6 months. The measures were the Short Form (SF)-6D (based on responses scored from SF-36v2), Self-Administered Quality of Well-being Scale (QWB-SA), the EuroQol-5D developed by the EuroQol Group, the Health Utilities Indexes Mark 2 (HUI2) and Mark 3 (HUI3). Cataract patients completed the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25, and heart failure patients completed the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Responsiveness was estimated by the standardized response mean. Results For cataract patients, mean changes between baseline and 1-month follow-up for the generic indices ranged from 0.00 (SF-6D) to 0.052 (HUI3) and were statistically significant for all indexes except the SF-6D. For heart failure patients, only the SF-6D showed significant change from baseline to 1 month, whereas only the QWB-SA change was significant between 1 and 6 months. Conclusions Preference-based methods for measuring health outcomes are not equally responsive to change.
Postnatal development of some membrane-bound enzymes of rat liver and kidney

1. The development of rat liver acyl-CoA:sn-glycerol-3-phosphate-O-acyl-transferase (EC 2.3.1.15) is characterized by an increase and decrease in activity during the neonatal period, followed by a second increase and decrease during the late weaning period. Kidney acyltransferase exhibits a similar peak in activity during the neonatal period before increasing to adult levels of activity during the late weaning period. 2. Nucleosidediphosphatase activity increases rapidly during the neonatal period and thereafter gradually rises to adult levels in both liver and kidney. The latency of the enzyme increases rapidly after birth and thereafter shows little change with age. The enzyme appears to be more latent in the liver than in the kidney at all ages studied. 3. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase of liver has a single steep maximum and minimum in activity during the neonatal period, before increasing again to adult levels during the late weaning period. The enzyme in kidney shows a similar developmental pattern but at much lower levels of specific activity. 4. sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase activity was significantly higher in rough than in smooth membranes throughout the neonatal period of rapid smooth membrane proliferation. This distribution of enzyme activity is unlike that reported by others in phenobarbital-induced smooth membrane proliferation and suggests a major role for rough membranes in phospholipid synthesis during the neonatal period. 5. The qualitative similarity in development in rough and smooth microsomal subfractions for each of these enzymes is in distinct contrast with results previously reported for glucose-6-phosphatase.
Shape, Intensity and Pressure Broadening of the 2.53-Millimetre Wave-Length Oxygen Absorption Line

Shape, Intensity and Pressure Broadening of the 2.53-Millimetre Wave-Length Oxygen Absorption Line
Fatty Acid Changes in Liver Fractions of Pigeons After Lethal-Dose Radiation and Therapy

Abstract INTRODUCTION IN A previous study (Chung et al., 1966) delayed heterologous bone marrow and thymus transplantation resulted in decreased stearic acid content and increased palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acid content in liver tissues of pigeons. Irradiation has been known to decrease palmitic acid and to decrease polyunsaturated fatty acids (Hansen et al., 1965; Notario et al., 1965). To further explain these fatty acid changes we attempted to study the fatty acid changes in the liver lipid fractions of pigeons after lethal-dose radiation and delayed heterologous bone marrow, thymus, and spleen transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Non-inbred sexually mature pigeons, 6–10 months of age, and descendants from the White King colony were purchased commercially. Each bird was exposed to 2,500 rads total-body roentgen irradiation with a cobalt-60 radiation source at the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Medical Center. Dose response curves were established previously (Shaw and Vermund, 1961) and showed that . . .
Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling for prenatal genetic testing: A decision analysis

We used decision analysis to examine the strategies of amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and no prenatal testing for a pregnant woman who would be 35 years of age at the expected date of delivery. Probabilities were obtained from the obstetric and genetic literature, and utilities from previously published standard reference gambles and from responses of obstetric residents and students recorded on a linear rating scale. The expected utility of amniocentesis exceeded that of chorionic villus sampling by 0.1 utility units, and of no prenatal testing by 0.12 utility units. The decision was insensitive to clinically plausible values for the probabilities of spontaneous abortion after amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, the probabilities of abnormal and indeterminate chorionic villus sampling results, the probability of an abnormal amniocentesis result after an indeterminate chorionic villus sampling, the sensitivities and specificities of amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, and the probabilities of significant maternal morbidity after first- and second-trimester therapeutic abortion. Chorionic villus sampling was preferred to amniocentesis when the utility of a first-trimester therapeutic abortion exceeded that of a second-trimester abortion by 23.2 utility units, or when the anxiety "cost" of awaiting second-trimester amniocentesis results exceeded 0.1 utility unit. We conclude that over a range of assumptions concerning the probabilities involved in the prenatal testing decision, amniocentesis was preferred to chorionic villus sampling. However, for a decision maker for whom a second-trimester therapeutic abortion would be significantly less acceptable than a first-trimester procedure, or for whom the anxiety of awaiting second-trimester chromosomal diagnosis might be an important consideration, chorionic villus sampling could become the procedure of choice.
Comparative analysis of total knee arthroplasty in two health care delivery systems.

Abstract A prospective, concurrent comparison of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty in two different health care delivery systems was carried out. All patients had osteoarthritis, and received treatment between September 1983 and September 1987 under the supervision of a single staff physician. There were 26 total knee arthroplasties performed at the University Hospital (UH) and 22 performed at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The average patient age at the UH was 73 years (range, 58–87 years). The corresponding average age at the VAMC was 67 years (range, 56–78 years). Statistically significant differences between the two health care delivery systems were noted in preoperative length of hospital stay ( P P P P = .05). Our university health care delivery system has both short- and long-term patient benefits as compared to the VAMC studied.
Endoskopische intraluminale Valvuloplastik – Eine Therapie der Zukunft für die gastrooesophageale Refluxkrankheit

Eine neue endoskopische, intraluminale Valvuloplastik wird beschrieben. Es handelt sich hierbei um einen einfachen, ambulant durchfuhrbaren Antirefluxeingriff, der bei Patienten mit fruhen Stadien der gastrooesophagealen Refluxkrankheit eine Alternative zur lebenslangen medikamentosen Dauertherapie bieten konnte. Die Technik des Eingriffs, die Effektivitat und erste Langzeitergebnisse im Tierversuch an Pavianen werden dargestellt.
Rapid acquisition of preference in concurrent schedules: Effects of d-amphetamine on sensitivity to reinforcement amount

Abstract In the present study, effects of d -amphetamine on sensitivity to reinforcement amount under concurrent schedules were examined using a rapid-acquisition procedure. Four pigeons key pecked under single concurrent variable-interval 30-s schedules of grain presentation. Two different reinforcer-amount ratios (7:1 and 1:7) changed across sessions according to a 31-step pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS). After at least four times through the PRBS, response ratios generally tracked the session-to-session changes in amount ratios; estimates of sensitivity ranged from 0.26 to 0.31 across the four pigeons. Effects of a range of doses of d -amphetamine (0.3–5.6 mg/kg) then were determined. For 3 of 4 pigeons, at least one dose, which did not dramatically alter overall response output or bias, decreased sensitivity to reinforcement amount. These results suggest that reducing sensitivity of responding to reinforcement amount may be one behavioral mechanism of stimulants, which may have implications for interpreting drug effects on self-control.
In memorial: T.M. Graber, D.D.S., M.S.D., Ph.D. May 27, 1917–June 26, 2007

“If a man is as tall as the his deeds, he was a giant among men”Dr. T.M. Graber, World Famous Orthodontist, Researcher, Dead at 90. Dr. T.M. Graber, a world famous orthodontist, researcher, and den...
A needs assessment survey for an innovative health-care business course for graduate doctors

Introduction Over the course of medical education, physicians are expected to acquire extensive knowledge of clinical medicine, and to develop competence in business skills indispensable to contemporary medicine. Despite this consensus few colleges have aligned their curricula. Less than a third of physician-leaders feel prepared for their duties. Physicians frequently assume leadership positions, 'accidentally' or 'coincidental' without formal training. To be effective leaders, physicians need specific training. Methods University Of Zimbabwe College Of Health Sciences (UZCHS) is implementing education improvements through Novel Education Clinical Trainees and Researchers program (NECTAR) funded by PEPFAR's Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI). During program reviews, a business skills gap was identified6. A questionnaire survey was conducted in May 2013 to qualify this assertion as well as appraise the skills gaps for guided remediation. Results Out of 119 registrars 26% responded. Of the 32, 99% were 40years or younger and 61% were male. They had practiced for at least five years: public sector (73%) and private (27%), before enrolling for specialization. 26 (84%) reported preforming management duties regularly. All participants believed that business skills were important, with 93% rating 'important and very important'. Findings confirmed earlier assertions with 55–90% reporting either none or only basic understanding of human resources, conflict resolution and financial management, among others. Every participant selected multiple skills they wished to acquire, with (83%) selecting at least five. Preferred instructional methods were practicums, hand-outs and online tutorials. They listed improved practice efficiency, leadership, cost control and patient care as anticipated benefits. Conclusions and recommendations Registrars delineated their business skills gaps precisely. They aspire to narrow gaps through training, using instructional methods that are compatible with their busy routines. The UZCHS can make an informed choice to introduce business skills training to registrars whose needs are now known. Other medical colleges can benefit from similar endeavours in the interim.
Predictors of motor tasks essential for daily activities among persons with heart failure.

Abstract Background To engage in daily activities, persons must be able to perform basic motor tasks, such as walking around the house, climbing up stairs, standing up from the sofa, and so forth. For patients with heart failure (HF), activity intolerance, symptoms of HF, muscle strength, and balance contribute to the “ability” to perform daily activities. Many patients with HF reported that they are able to perform motor tasks, but they modify how they do the tasks. The purpose of the study was to identify factors that predict modification in motor tasks essential to daily activities. Methods and Results Forty-eight men and 54 women aged more than 18 years (mean 59.6 years) were recruited from an outpatient HF clinic. By using hierarchic multiple regression, 90% of the variance in modifications in motor tasks (Late Life Function and Disability Instrument–Function component) was explained, and significant predictors were dyspnea with motor tasks (β = 0.87), age (β = 0.12), and gender (β = 0.11). Older women had significantly greater modifications in these tasks than men. Conclusion Modifications of motor tasks may provide information on those at high risk of developing disability and assist clinicians to identify interventions to improve dyspnea and prevent or reverse decline.
Angle Instability Detection in Power Systems With High-Wind Penetration Using Synchrophasor Measurements

The alternating current machines in a power system have the ability to remain synchronized following a severe disturbance such as loss of generations, line switching, or fault. This is described as power system transient stability. During system transients, the machines will accelerate or decelerate because of the mismatch between electrical torque and mechanical torque. Their power angles will travel and finally settle down to a new equilibrium, if the system has enough stored energy to absorb the disturbance, and rest the system at another steady state. In case of system instability, some machines will have aperiodic angular separation from the rest of the system and finally lose synchronization. Therefore, the power system transient stability is also called angle stability. The total system inertia is an essential force to rest the system transient. The inertias stored in all rotating masses that are connected to a power system, such as synchronous generators and induction motors, typically respond to disturbances voluntarily, without any control actions; however, several types of renewable generation, particularly those with power electronic interfaces, have an inertial response governed by a control function. To ensure bulk power system stability, there is a need to estimate the equivalent inertia available from a renewable generation plant. An equivalent voluntary inertia constant analogous to that of conventional rotating machines can be used to provide a readily understandable metric, such as the angle instabilities detections, because one of the most difficult obstacles for angle instability detection is the knowledge of the real-time generator inertias. This paper explores a method that utilizes synchrophasor measurements to estimate the equivalent inertia of a power source such as synchronous generators or wind turbine generators. This paper also investigates the angle instability detection method for a system with high wind power penetration using the synchrophasor measurements.
Interventional endoscopic ultrasound-guided cholangiography: long-term experience of an emerging alternative to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with stenting is the procedure of choice for biliary decompression in patients with obstructive jaundice. In cases where biliary access cannot be achieved, interventional endoscopic ultrasound-guided cholangiography (IEUC) has become an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report on 5 years of experience in patients who underwent IEUC after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Endoscopic ultrasound-guided access to the targeted biliary duct was attempted with one of two approaches: transgastric-transhepatic (intrahepatic) or transenteric-transcholedochal (extrahepatic). A stent was then advanced over the wire and into the biliary tree. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients underwent IEUC: 35 had biliary obstruction due to malignancy and 14 had a benign etiology. The overall success rate of IEUC was 84 % (41 / 49), with an overall complication rate of 16 %. Of the 35 patients who underwent the intrahepatic approach, 23 had a stent placed across the major papilla, one had a stent placed intraductally in the common bile duct, and three patients underwent placement of a gastrohepatic stent. Resolution of obstruction was achieved in 29 patients, with a success rate of 83 %. In all, 14 patients underwent an extrahepatic approach. In 8 / 14 (57 %), stent placement across the major papilla was achieved. A transenteric stent was placed in four patients. Biliary decompression was achieved in 12 / 14 cases (86 %). Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the intrahepatic approach achieved success in 29 of 40 cases (73 %), and the extrahepatic approach was successful in seven of nine cases (78 %). There were no procedure-related deaths. CONCLUSION: IEUC offers a feasible alternative to PTC in patients with obstructive jaundice in whom ERC has failed.
Investigation into the impact of tone reproduction on the perceived image quality of fine art reproductions

A project, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, evaluating current practices in fine art image reproduction, determining the image quality generally achievable, and establishing a suggested framework for art image interchange was recently completed. (Information regarding the Mellon project and related work may be found at www.artimaging.rit.edu.) To determine the image quality currently being achieved, experimentation was conducted in which a set of objective targets and pieces of artwork in various media were imaged by participating museums and other cultural heritage institutions. Prints and images for display made from the delivered image files at the Rochester Institute of Technology were used as stimuli in psychometric testing in which observers were asked to evaluate the prints as reproductions of the original artwork and as stand alone images. The results indicated that there were limited differences between assessments made with and without the original present for printed reproductions. For displayed images, the differences were more significant with lower contrast images being ranked lower and higher contrast images generally ranked higher when the original was not present. This was true for experiments conducted both in a dimly lit laboratory as well as via the web, indicating that more than viewing conditions were driving this shift.
Perturbations of multidimensional shifts of finite type

In this paper, we study perturbations of multidimensional shifts of finite type. Specifically, for any Z d shift of finite type X with d > 1 and any finite pattern w in the language of X, we denote by Xw the set of elements of X not containing w. For strongly irreducible X and patterns w with shape a d-dimensional cube, we obtain upper and lower bounds on h top (X) − h top (Xw) dependent on the size of w. This extends a result of Lind for d = 1. We also apply our methods to an undecidability question in Z d symbolic dynamics.
Pulsed field gel electrophoresis: Studies of DNA migration made with the programmable, autonomously-controlled electrode electrophoresis system

We have studied the migration of DNA in pulsed field agarose gels under a variety of electrophoresis conditions. We have made use of an instrument which can generate electric fields of any orientation, magnitude, or duration to compare different separation techniques for DNA molecules of from 1 to several thousand kilobase pairs. We discuss the capabilities of the system and present results of gel runs in which electrophoresis conditions were changed individually or in combination. The mobility of DNA in pulsed field gels is shown to reflect a number of interdependent physical parameters.
Response of Thyroidectomized Rats to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone.

ConclusionsThe adrenal hypertrophy of normal and thyroidectomized rats has been shown to be directly proportional to the amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone administered. There was no evidence that the presence of the thyroid gland was necessary for the adrenal cortical hypertrophy produced by adrenocorticotropic preparations when given immediately after thyroidectomy. The administration of desiccated thyroid to normal rats did not augment the adrenal hypertrophy caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone. Further work will be necessary to determine whether or not a certain minimal amount of a thyroid principle is necessary in the production of adrenal hypertrophy.
Effects of encoding and retrieval contexts on recall

On a single study trial, each target word was accompanied by a cue word to which it was preexperimentally weakly or strongly associated. On the test, subjects were presented with a different set of words (retrieval cues), to which the target words were also preexperimentally weakly or strongly associated, or with no retrieval cues at all and were asked to recall as many of the encoding cue words as possible. Recall was better for those given no retrieval cues than for those who received either the strong or weak cues at retrieval. However, neither the strength of the encoding cues nor of the retrieval cues affected the amount recalled.
On the E - H mode transition in RF inductive discharges

In inductively coupled radio frequency (RF) plasmas a mode transition between a low-power mode with dominant capacitive coupling (E-mode) and a high-power mode with dominant inductive coupling (H-mode) has been frequently reported in the literature. We investigate this transition, which results in an increase of the light emission by up to two orders of magnitude. Furthermore we observe a hysteresis of this mode transition. Two major aspects of the transition are addressed in this paper. First we propose an explanation for the discontinuous character of the mode transition. The analysis is based on a simple, electrodynamic model of the inductive discharge. This analysis shows that a certain minimum maintenance RF coil current is required for the operation of an inductive discharge and that the skin effect of the RF field is essential for stable discharge operation. This point is supported by experimental observations. In the second part of the paper we present a simple, self-consistent analytic description of the discharge, which enables us to calculate the minimum maintenance RF coil current. The theoretical results are found to be in reasonable agreement with the measured minimum maintenance coil currents.
Expanding Microfinance in Brazil : Credit Utilization and Performance of Small Firms

Abstract We take advantage of the natural experiment generated by the exogenous change in government policy towards microcredit to evaluate the impact of the increased supply of microcredit on the utilisation of credit by micro-entrepreneurs. Based on micro-entrepreneurs' survey and administrative data from a microcredit programme in Brazil, we show that: the increased supply of microcredit raised formal credit utilisation and this does not crowd out the use of informal credit sources; formal credit taking improves business performance; and returns are larger for women- than for men-owned firms, but males employ significantly more workers after taking formal credit than females.
Active sites in graphene and the mechanism of CO2 formation in carbon oxidation

Over the past decade we have witnessed a steady rise in contributions of computational quantum chemistry to the understanding of reactivity of carbon materials. Several litmus tests must be applied to this evolving body of work before it can be viewed with a sufficient degree of confidence. The results of a crucial test are presented here: formulation of thermodynamically and kinetically plausible paths for CO(2) formation in the deceivingly simple reaction C + (1 - y/2)O(2) = (1 - y)CO(2) + yCO. A mechanism is proposed that clarifies the nature of atoms responsible for adsorption and reaction of molecular oxygen on the surface of sp(2)-hybridized carbons, both flat and curved, and is also consistent with the postulate that the (re)active sites are carbene- and carbyne-type carbon atoms at graphene edges. Using density functional theory and representative two-dimensional graphene clusters, a direct and an indirect route to CO(2) formation were identified as both necessary and sufficient to account for key experimental observations. The former involves single-site O(2) adsorption on carbene-type zigzag edges. The latter includes the presence of mobile epoxide-type oxygen on the basal plane and its insertion into an edge hexagon, analogous to the conversion of benzene oxide to oxepin; such "unzipping" of graphene and CO(2) desorption is favored at oxygen-saturated edges, thus accounting for the well-documented phenomenon of induced heterogeneity of carbon reactive sites.
Missing inflection in second language French: accidental infinitives and other verbal deficits:

This article re-examines the morphology/functional category debate in the light of empirical data drawn from the author’s longitudinal study of two intermediate learners of French as a second language (L2). It argues that inflectional deficits -which appear both as nonfinite verbs and as other morphological errors in the interlanguage data -support neither a codependence of syntax and morphology (Eubank, 1993/94) nor a gradual structure-building of L2 functional categories (Vainikka and Young-Scholten, 1998a, 1998b). The French data rather indicate that deficiencies in morphological mapping, not defective syntax (functional categories), are the cause of L2 failed inflection (Schwartz and Sprouse, 1996; Lardiere, 1998). The data also support the claim that L2 morpholexical characteristics - the most prone to cross-linguistic variation - are more difficult to master than syntactic differences (Herschensohn, 2000). The first section reviews the theoretical issues, discussing the morphology/functional categor...
Cheating: reflections on a moral dilemma

Abstract This essay tells my story of using the moral orientations of justice and care to help me think about an incident of cheating in a seminar I taught. My story takes as a starting point the idea that teaching is a relational activity and that morality fundamentally concerns relations among people. These moral orientations gave me options to think about exploring, with my students, what it means to make moral choices in our everyday life. This narrative is about my own moral choice‐making in this dilemma and it reveals how using these psychological constructs helped me in my reflective practice of teaching. It also reveals the conflicts I faced in attempting to solve this dilemma and the questions and conflicts which still remain.
DERIVATIVES FOR THE STABLE AND UNSTABLE MANIFOLDS OF A Cr Diffeomorphism ofR2

We illustrate how to form the Taylor polynomial for a stable or unstable manifold when considered as a curve in the plane. Our method does not use power series or assume that the manifold is analytic as is done in the method of Poincare. Instead we use simple calculus to obtain closed form expressions for the Taylor coefficients.
Changes in Quadriceps and Hamstring Cocontraction Following Landing Instruction in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Study Design Pretest/posttest controlled laboratory study. Objectives To determine changes in the neuromuscular activation of the quadriceps and hamstrings following instructions aimed at improving knee flexion during a single-limb landing task in persons who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Background Clinicians advise patients who have undergone ACLR to increase knee flexion during landing tasks to improve impact attenuation. Another long-standing construct underlying such instruction involves increasing cocontraction of the hamstrings with the quadriceps to limit anterior shear of the tibia on the femur. The current study examined whether cocontraction of the knee musculature changes following instruction to increase knee flexion during landing. Methods Thirty-four physically active subjects with unilateral ACLR participated in a 1-time testing session. The kinetics and kinematics of single-leg landing on the surgical limb were analyzed before and after instruction to in...
Progress in testing exo-planet signal extraction on the TPF-I Planet Detection Testbed

The TPF Interferometer (TPF-I) concept is being studied at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the TPF-I Planet Detection Testbed has been developed to simulate the detection process for an earthlike planet orbiting a star within about 15 pc. The testbed combines four beams of infrared light simulating the operation of a dual chopped Bracewell interferometer observing a star and a faint planet. This paper describes the results obtained this year including nulling of the starlight on four input beams at contrast ratios up to 250,000 to 1, and detection of faint planet signals at contrast ratios with the star of 2 million to 1.
Osteometric scoring of adult residual rickets skeletal plasticity in two archaeological populations from southeastern England: Relationship to sunshine and calcium deficits and demographic stress

An osteometric scoring technique is developed for the quantification of rickets deformational effects persisting in the healed adult skeleton. Termed RR-15 scoring (for residual rickets estimate, based on 15 main diagnostic osteometric traits), the method is first validated for sunshine deficit, and is then tested in a comparison of three climatically distinct archaeological populations from southeastern England. Two well-dated cemetery series were sampled: the Saint Bride's Church columbarium collection (SBC) from London at the time of the Industrial Revolution, for which the sex, age, and calender year at death of each individual are known; and the early Anglo-Saxons from Abingdon, near Oxford (AAS). Estimates of insolation in the past were developed indirectly by reference to δ18O mass spectrometer analyses of dated layers of the Greenland ice sheet. In SBC and AAS, the RR-15 score varies primarily as a direct function of computed sunshine deficit, but is also incremented by deficits of bioavailable calcium in their reconstructed diets, and by demographic stress in AAS, the inferred result of a high birth rate. The amounts of interglobular dentine present in the permanent first and third molar crowns of SBC and AAS have been shown to correlate similarly with sunshine and calcium deficits. The relatively high RR-15 score obtained in a small sample of northwestern European neanderthals lends quantitative support to the bioenvironmental hypothesis that sunshine-deficit rickets accounts for much of their paranormal gross morphology.
Evolution of web site design: implications for medical education on the internet

Since its inception, the world wide web (WWW) has possessed the potential for becoming a 'watershed' medium for conveying complex, structured information across vast temporal and geographical barriers. In 1995, the MedWorld project (http:(/)/medworld.stanford.edu) was created at the Stanford University School of Medicine in an effort to innovate and explore the design process of creating WWW applications specifically for medical education. Until recently, the evolution of WWW applications has been mainly driven by technological advances in client-server technology, enabling or translating traditional modes of collaborative medical education (e.g. voice, presence, print, motion) into WWW devices and applications. Many of these applications, while technologically advanced, lack focused development of interface and interactivity design, which may enhance learning experiences. WWW applications which incorporate design innovation in parity with advances in client-server technology have been termed, 'third generation' web sites and have the potential to improve the quality of WWW applications designed for medical education. This work describes how the MedWorld project has created a 'third generation' WWW application by utilizing innovation in information, interface and interactivity design to create innovative WWW technology for the medical education arena.
‘Kingdom Come’: Representing Mormonism through a geopolitical frame

Abstract This paper extends the reach of ‘popular geopolitics’ by exploring the geopolitical frame that American popular/news magazines use to portray a major religion in the United States: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the most prominent body known as Mormonism). It asserts that magazines often represent this type of Mormonism as a geopolitical entity, and sometimes even as a geopolitical threat. Prior to the early twentieth century, these portrayals were hegemonic, given the national government's distrust of Mormonism. But echoes of an earlier and more virulent geopolitical discourse have persisted, long after the federal government made its peace with Mormonism. This paper defines and analyzes twentieth-century magazines' geopolitical discourse on Mormonism, particularly in relation to Mormon spatiality. In doing so, it puts forward concepts of geopolitical optic and logic in order to more effectively distinguish between variations in geopolitical language.
Want Your Paper Published Faster? Read on…

After nearly 5 years and 24 issues, the editor offers some tips to authors seeking the fastest route to seeing their work in print.
Water quality in catfish ponds subjected to high stocking density selective harvesting production practice

Abstract Nine 0·1-ha earthen ponds were stocked with 12500, 25000, and 37500 channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) fingerlings/ha in three replicates. Ponds were fed daily with a commercial feed at a rate up to 3% of the fish weight determined by sampling. They were periodically harvested to remove marketable fish weighing more than 0·25 kg. The harvested fish were replaced by fingerlings. Water quality of all ponds was monitored weekly by analyzing chemical parameters including nitrite-N, nitrate-N, total ammonia-N (TAN), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus, chloride, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total and dissolved solids. Concentrations of nitrite-N, nitrate-N, TAN, and total phosphorus were not significantly different among stocking densities at any given time but were significantly different over time. The values of TKN and COD were significantly affected by treatments as well as time. The amounts of total solids were significantly higher for the highest stocking density treatment but the dissolved solids concentrations did not change significantly with stocking density or time. Ranges for chemical parameters were 7·0 to 8·4 for pH, 0·4 to 2·7 mg/litre for NH 3 N, 1·3 to 28·5 μg/litre for NO 2 N, 10·6 to 771·9 μg/litre for NO 3 N, 2·2 to 85·5 mg/litre for TKN, 28·2 to 150·0 mg/litre for COD, and 0·05 to 0·6 mg/litre for total phosphorus. The amount of total solids ranged from 105 to 262 mg/litre. The feed-to-weight-gain ratios were 1·66, 1·64, and 1·82 for high, medium, and low density treatments respectively.
Beware of the Evidence!: A Cautionary Note

Evidenced-based publications are the ‘‘premier’’ publications that are being read and referred to for valid research information. In this context, it is essential that the reader understands how evidence-based clinical research is conducted. The reader should be aware of research design methodologies, understand the difference between clinical significance and statistical significance, and appreciate the difference between associations and causality. Having this knowledge will allow the cultivation of critical appraisal skills which ultimately benefit the discerning reader of evidence-based studies, enabling them to critically examine the publication in order to determine the validity of the study’s research design, and conclusions. Knowledge seekers should never blindly accept the conclusions of evidence-based study just because it was published in a peer reviewed journal, by reputable authors from a respected university. Last year an American Broadcasting Association (ABC) headline took the Dental community by surprise. The headline: ‘‘Early Dental X-rays Linked to Brain Tumors’’ [1]. This ABC report summarized a publication authored by a group of MDs and PhDs from Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, published in the journal of cancer [2]. The article concluded that exposure to traditional dental X-ray investigation over the years may lead to an increase risk of developing meningioma. A critical review of this publication discovered several flaws in study’s methodologies and the conclusions were questioned. An example of one such flawed interpretation was the statement that there was a statistically significant increase in the risk of developing meningioma in patients receiving bitewing X-rays and panoramic X-rays. On the other hand, there was no significant risk of developing meningioma detected in patients receiving full-mouth dental X-rays. Does this make sense? The astute reader would have realized that bitewing X-rays are included in the full mouth series as well, so why are patients at higher risk of developing meningioma in the group that got bitewing X-rays when compared to the full mouth X-ray group. The full report is available from the American Dental Association [3]. Therefore, proficiency in critical review is an essential skill every practitioner who reads journal articles to improve his/her knowledge to better serve his/her patients. The blind acceptance of an author’s conclusions without examination of the methodology, analysis and interpretations should be a matter of the pass; as cited even the most reputable authors and journals are susceptible to mistakes at times. S. Quek (&) Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ, USA e-mail: queksa@sdm.rutgers.edu
Classroom-level curriculum development: EFL teachers as curriculum-developers, curriculum-makers and curriculum-transmitters

Abstract This qualitative study aimed to explore teacher curriculum approaches and the strategies attached to each approach because they influence the taught curriculum, teacher development and student learning. The study was therefore grounded in teacher curriculum development, curriculum implementation, teacher development, student cognitive and affective change and constructivism. To address this study's qualitative and exploratory purposes, it made use of the qualitative paradigm at the levels of ontology (multiple curriculum realities), epistemology (interaction with rather than detachment from respondents) and methodology (using idiographic methodology and instruments). In line with the qualitative paradigm, it used qualitative case-study (method), general interviews, pre/post-lesson interviews, group interviews and participant observation (data collection methods) in addition to grounded theory (data analysis approach) to meet the research purposes. Working with English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers and mixed-nationality college students, the study reached a teacher curriculum approach classification comprising curriculum-transmission, curriculum-development and curriculum-making. It recommended alternatives for teacher, student and curriculum development, curriculum implementation and teacher training.
Assay of Collagenase Activity by a Rapid, Sensitive, and Specific Method

Abstract A new method for the assay of collagenase activity has been developed, whereby the collagen cleavage products, after initial collagenase digestion, are degraded further by a mixture of trypsin and α-chymotrypsin. The degradation products are soluble in TCA and can be conveniently separated from the remaining uncleaved collagen substrate by rapid filtration. The enzyme assay is shown to be reproducible and sensitive, and it lends itself to a convenient and rapid determination of collagenase activity in relatively large numbers of samples. The applicability of this method is demonstrated by the detection of increased collagenase activity in skin fibroblast cultures derived from a patient with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
Dehydroepiandrosterone upregulates neural androgen receptor level and transcriptional activity

The mechanism of action of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neuroactive neurosteroid synthesized in the brains of humans and other mammals, has not been fully characterized in the adult brain. Although well known for modulatory effects on GABA(A), NMDA, and sigma(1) receptors, studies in both CNS and peripheral target cells suggest that DHEA also may exert genomic effects via the androgen receptor (AR). The current study tested the hypothesis that DHEA was capable of producing androgenic effects in the CNS by assaying its ability to induce three characteristic effects of an androgenic compound. These included the ability to upregulate neural AR protein level in mouse brain and immortalized GT1-7 hypothalamic cells, the capacity to induce transcriptional activity through AR in CV-1 cells transfected with an MMTV-ARE-CAT reporter, and competition for recombinant AR binding in a radioligand binding assay. The results showed that DHEA treatment significantly augmented AR both in vivo and in vitro, and that this effect was not blocked by trilostane (TRIL), a known 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) inhibitor. DHEA also promoted AR-mediated CAT reporter expression and competed with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for binding to recombinant AR in a cell-free system. These data indicate that DHEA possesses intrinsic androgenic activity that is potentially independent of metabolic conversion to other androgens, and that it can affect gene function through the AR. In combination with its modulation of neurotransmitter receptors at the cell membrane level, the findings suggest that the mechanism of action of DHEA in the brain can involve a "crosstalk" cellular signaling system that involves both nongenomic and genomic components.
A multivariate linear regression model for predicting children's blood lead levels based on soil lead levels: A study at four superfund sites.

For the purpose of examining the association between blood lead levels and household-specific soil lead levels, we used a multivariate linear regression model to find a slope factor relating soil lead levels to blood lead levels. We used previously collected data from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR's) multisite lead and cadmium study. The data included the blood lead measurements (0.5 to 40.2 microg/dL) of 1015 children aged 6-71 months, and corresponding household-specific environmental samples. The environmental samples included lead in soil (18.1-9980 mg/kg), house dust (5.2-71,000 mg/kg), interior paint (0-16.5 mg/cm2), and tap water (0.3-103 microg/L). After adjusting for income, education of the parents, presence of a smoker in the household, sex, and dust lead, and using a double log transformation, we found a slope factor of 0.1388 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.09-0.19 for the dose-response relationship between the natural log of the soil lead level and the natural log of the blood lead level. The predicted blood lead level corresponding to a soil lead level of 500 mg/kg was 5.99 microg/kg with a 95% prediction interval of 2. 08-17.29. Predicted values and their corresponding prediction intervals varied by covariate level. The model shows that increased soil lead level is associated with elevated blood leads in children, but that predictions based on this regression model are subject to high levels of uncertainty and variability.
A prospective observational study of 5-, 7-, and 10-day antibiotic treatment for acute otitis media

OBJECTIVE: To compare 5-, 7- and 10-day duration of antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media (AOM) in children.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective nonrandomized 1-year evaluation of 3 treatment durations for AOM in a private pediatric setting. Outcomes assessed at 14 ± 4 days after start of therapy with clinical response categorized as cure, improvement, or failure.RESULTS: A total of 2172 children were studied; 46.4% were ≤2-years-old. Antibiotics used were amoxicillin (61.9% of patients), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (11.7%), cephalosporins (14.2%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (5.2%), and macrolides/azalides (4.8%). No overall difference in outcome was observed comparing the 5-day (n = 707), 7-day (n = 423), or 10-day (n = 1042) treatments, including children ≤2-years-old. However, in the subset who had an episode of AOM in the preceding month, outcome differed; 5-day treatment was followed by more frequent failure than 10-day treatment (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, variables identified ...
Association between Down syndrome and mortality in young children with critical illness: a propensity-matched analysis.

Aim To evaluate the outcomes among critically ill young children with Down syndrome using propensity score matching from a national database. Methods Patients in the age group from one day through 24 months admitted to an intensive care unit during their hospital stay at a Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS)-participating hospital (2004–2013) were included. Results Of the 293 697 patients who qualified for inclusion, 12 282 (4%) were classified in the Down syndrome group. Using propensity score matching, 10 477 patients with Down syndrome were matched one to one to patients without Down syndrome. Prior to matching, the mortality was significantly lower among the patients with Down syndrome (with vs. without Down syndrome, odds ratio (OR), 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–0.79; p < 0.001). After matching, the mortality was similar in both groups (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.87–1.07; p = 0.51). The mortality risk increased among the Down syndrome patients with increasing hospital length of stay (LOS). Conclusion In this large, contemporary cohort, Down syndrome did not confer a significantly higher mortality risk among children with critical illness. However, children with Down syndrome followed a time-dependent, differential mortality risk with increased risk noted in relation to increasing hospital LOS.
Why biodiversity is important to the functioning of real‐world ecosystems

Controlled experiments have substantially advanced our understanding of the links between changing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) in recent years. However, controversy continues regarding the relevance of BEF experiments to the complex ecosystems and large spatial and temporal scales of interest in conservation and management. Here, I address some of the persistent criticisms regarding experimental BEF research and argue that these have been overstated. Contrary to some suggestions, many putative artifacts attributed to experiments render their conclusions about BEF links stronger, rather than weaker. Like other broad ecological concepts, BEF focuses on general patterns, rather than looking at species-level, applied conservation problems. Nevertheless, insights from BEF experiments conducted to date are likely to underestimate, rather than overestimate, the importance of biodiversity to ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services in the real world. These experiments suggest...