cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alignment of roles of near-peer mentors for medical students underrepresented in medicine with medical education competencies: a qualitative study

Medical student learning experiences should facilitate progressive development of competencies required for practice. Medical school training opportunities have traditionally focused on acquiring medical knowledge and patient care competencies while affording less opportunity to receive feedback on practice-based improvement and system-based practice competencies. The Prematriculation program at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth Campus (UM MSD) utilized near-peer mentors to support the transition of students underrepresented in medicine, including American Indian/ Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and those from rural backgrounds, into medical school. The purpose of this study is to better define the role of near-peer mentors and explore the alignment of near-peer mentorship with the ACGME core competencies. An important component of the Prematriculation program, designed to prepare incoming under-represented students for medical school, was the inclusion of near-peer mentors. The six near-peer mentors participated in semi-structured interviews or focus groups within 1 year of serving as a near-peer mentor. Themes emerged from open-coding of the transcripts. The near-peer mentors drew on their own experiences to transmit information that supported the socialization of the matriculating students into medical school. Direct benefits to the mentors included solidifying their own understanding of medical knowledge and execution of procedural skills. Mentors provided examples of benefits related to their own development of interpersonal communication and professionalism skills. Operating in the context of the program provided opportunities to engage mentors in practice-based improvement and system-based practice. Serving as a near-peer mentor offers significant benefits to medical students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. By taking on the peer mentoring leadership role, students progressed toward the competencies required of an effective physician. Given the importance of acquiring these competencies, it is worth considering how near-peer mentoring can be applied more broadly across the medical school curriculum.
Describing the role of the hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist in health information technology.

PurposeTo describe the role of hematology/oncology clinical pharmacists in health information technology as well as their perceptions of the impact of technology expansion on patient care.MethodsA ...
Urticaria, Angioedema, and Anaphylaxis

Urticaria and, to a lesser extent, angioedema are common occurrences in the pediatric population. There are multiple causes of acute and chronic urticaria and angioedema. Most causes are benign, although they can be worrisome for patients and their parents. An allergist should evaluate acute urticaria and/or angioedema if there are concerns of an external cause, such as foods or medications. Chronic urticaria and angioedema can severely affect quality of life and should be managed aggressively with antihistamines and immunomodulators if poorly controlled. Chronic symptoms are unlikely to be due to an external cause. Anaphylaxis is a more serious allergic condition characterized by a systemic reaction involving at least 2 organ systems. Anaphylaxis should be initially managed with intramuscular epinephrine. Patients who experience anaphylaxis should be evaluated by an allergist for possible causes; if found, avoidance of the inciting antigen is the best management. All patients should also be given an epinephrine autoinjector and an action plan. Foods are a common cause of anaphylaxis in the pediatric population. New evidence suggests that the introduction of highly allergic foods is safe in infancy and should not be delayed. In addition, the early introduction of foods such as peanuts may help prevent the development of food allergies.
Clear and present danger standard 100th anniversary: Examining Donald J. Trump’s “presidential” rhetoric as a clear and present danger

For the past 100 years, the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47, from 1919 has stood as a landmark case due to the Court’s creation of a “Clear and Present Dan...
Molecular conformations and dynamics of nucleotide repeats associated with neurodegenerative diseases: double helices and CAG hairpin loops.

Abstract Pathogenic DNA secondary structures have been identified as a common and causative factor for expansion in trinucleotide, hexanucleotide, and other simple sequence repeats. These expansions underlie about fifty neurological and neuromuscular disorders known as “anticipation diseases”. Cell toxicity and death have been linked to the pathogenic conformations and functional changes of the RNA transcripts, of DNA itself and, when trinucleotides are present in exons, of the translated proteins. We review some of our results for the conformations and dynamics of pathogenic structures for both RNA and DNA, which include mismatched homoduplexes formed by trinucleotide repeats CAG and GAC; CCG and CGG; CTG(CUG) and GTC(GUC); the dynamics of DNA CAG hairpins; mismatched homoduplexes formed by hexanucleotide repeats (GGGGCC) and (GGCCCC); and G-quadruplexes formed by (GGGGCC) and (GGGCCT). We also discuss the dynamics of strand slippage in DNA hairpins formed by CAG repeats as observed with single-molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer. This review focuses on the rich behavior exhibited by the mismatches associated with these simple sequence repeat noncanonical structures.
Solutions of Problems: State Equations of Electrical Circuits

In this chapter, the problems of the first chapter are fully solved, in detail, step-by-step, and with different methods.
Efficient automatic scheduling of imaging and vision pipelines for the GPU

We present a new algorithm to quickly generate high-performance GPU implementations of complex imaging and vision pipelines, directly from high-level Halide algorithm code. It is fully automatic, requiring no schedule templates or hand-optimized kernels. We address the scalability challenge of extending search-based automatic scheduling to map large real-world programs to the deep hierarchies of memory and parallelism on GPU architectures in reasonable compile time. We achieve this using (1) a two-phase search algorithm that first ‘freezes’ decisions for the lowest cost sections of a program, allowing relatively more time to be spent on the important stages, (2) a hierarchical sampling strategy that groups schedules based on their structural similarity, then samples representatives to be evaluated, allowing us to explore a large space with few samples, and (3) memoization of repeated partial schedules, amortizing their cost over all their occurrences. We guide the process with an efficient cost model combining machine learning, program analysis, and GPU architecture knowledge. We evaluate our method’s performance on a diverse suite of real-world imaging and vision pipelines. Our scalability optimizations lead to average compile time speedups of 49x (up to 530x). We find schedules that are on average 1.7x faster than existing automatic solutions (up to 5x), and competitive with what the best human experts were able to achieve in an active effort to beat our automatic results.
Novel Community Detection and Ranking Approaches for Social Network Analysis

Enterprises are collecting, procuring, storing, and processing increasing quantities of Big Data. This facilitates the detection of new insights that are capable of driving more efficient and effective operations. This provides management with the ability to steer the business proactively. Identifying the crucial nodes, related communities in a network can help in target marketing. Such analyses utilize the concepts of the shortest path, closeness centrality, and clustering coefficient. In this research, we proposed a novel community detection algorithm based on local centrality and node closeness. Exploratory analysis such as the graphical representation of data, to depict an interconnected collection of entities, among people, groups, or products is performed. We also performed network analysis (community detection and ranking algorithms) to analyze the relationships among the entities. The proposed algorithms are applied to multiple datasets to identify the hidden patterns. Among the benchmark datasets, the algorithms were implemented on the American College Football, Dolphin Community, Les Miserables, and Karate Club datasets. We were able to predict the next matches, the most popular member of the club, and their relevant connections with high accuracy as compared to the ground truths. Besides, these algorithms encompass all the features and predict the importance of the community leader, which is a key differentiating factor for the proposed algorithms. Modularity is used as the metric to compare the effectiveness of the proposed methods with state-of-the-art frameworks. The proposed community detection and community ranking algorithms performed well on scale-free networks. We can also identify the hidden patterns of friendships on social media and frequent itemsets purchased together using ranking and community detection methodologies which can help in improving recommendation systems.
Baseline Low-Normal Systolic Blood Pressure May Be Associated with Poorer Mortality Outcomes among Persons with a History of Stroke (P03.153)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and all-cause and vascular mortality after stroke. BACKGROUND: Two recent post-hoc analyses of secondary stroke prevention trials indicated that contrary to widespread notions, low-normal SBP may not be linked to fewer recurrent vascular events among individuals with recent stroke; rather, SBP may have a J-shaped association with outcomes. DESIGN/METHODS: Among adults (≥20 years) with self-reported stroke who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1998 -2004, baseline SBP (mean of ≤3 standardized measurements taken during a single encounter) were categorized as low-normal ( RESULTS: Of 455 subjects, 19% had low-normal, 31% had normal, and 50% had high SBP. Several characteristics were comparable across groups, but age, frequency of hypertension, diabetes, and use of antihypertensive drugs rose from the low-normal to the high SBP group. Furthermore, those with high SBP were more likely female and Black. In unadjusted analyses, there were no significant differences in mortality between SBP groups. In multivariable analyses, compared to the normal SBP group, the low-normal and high groups had similar all-cause mortality and vascular mortality. However, the low-normal group had worse all-cause (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.19-3.34, p=0.03) and vascular (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.76-2.60, p CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals with self-reported stroke, baseline SBP in the low-normal vs. high range is associated with higher mortality. These results support recent studies suggesting that very low SBP among patients with stroke may not necessarily be more beneficial. Disclosure: Dr. Towfighi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Markovic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ovbiagele has nothing to disclose.
Interpretation of the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities: Acting on Evidence

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with the interpretation of the Woodcock–Johnson III tests of cognitive abilities. The Woodcock–Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities represents the culmination of nearly four decades of systematic psychometric test development. The WJ III COG was developed to provide reliable and valid measures of a number of important cognitive abilities for individuals ranging from preschool-age children to persons in late adulthood. When the accumulated evidence for the validity of the WJ III COG is evaluated within the context of the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing , it is clear that the WJ III COG has “raised the bar” with regard to state-of-the-art assessment of human cognitive abilities. Because test validation is considered an ongoing process, further research by the test authors and by independent researchers should reveal additional valid uses and interpretations of the battery and, most likely, uses and interpretations that should not be undertaken because little or no validity evidence supports them. Psychologists, educators, and other assessment specialists should continue to seek evidence supporting their interpretations and, when possible, act upon that evidence. Finally, this chapter provides the basis on which these professionals may accomplish these goals.
Modeling the emergence of syllabic structure

Abstract Most computational models that have addressed the development of consonant–vowel syllable systems have assumed a preexisting tendency to produce syllabically structured utterances. For instance, the COSMO model assumes a consistent base of jaw movement upon which finer-grained articulatory patterns are learned, motivated by MacNeilage and Davis's frame-then-content theory (FCT). While research operating under this assumption has provided much useful information on infant speech development, it does not address the gradual transition from non-syllabic to syllabic sounds that occurs during the first seven months of human infancy. It is important to consider the role that learning plays in this very significant transition. This paper discusses two computational models that address how infants may learn to produce syllabic utterances. Future work should develop agent-based models of sound production that show how syllabicity itself can emerge in a population of agents.
Studies on the Binding of Iron to Transferrin and Conalbumin

Abstract Electrophoretic studies of the binding of iron to transferrin indicate that the stability constants of the two binding sites are approximately equal. The iron in each site also acts independently in relaxing the protons of the solvent water. It appears likely, then, that the binding sites are equivalent and independent. Similar results have been obtained for conalbumin, corroborating the evidence that the two proteins have similar structure.
International migrations: some comparisons and lessons for the European Union

The revival of international migration in the last fifteen years has spurred economists to more systematically study their determinants and consequences. This contribution expands the existing literature in two directions. First we focus on the European Union as a whole and compare it to the US and other countries with net immigration (Canada, Australia and Switzerland). In so doing we establish some important facts about their capacity to attract migrant, and to foster internal migration across countries. Second, we analyze more systematically the causes and consequences of international migration of workers with different educational levels. We use a recent data set based on census information on natives and foreign born in 28 OECD countries for the year 2000. Four important facts emerge: 1) The European Union, far from acting like an integrated labor market (such as the US), exhibits low levels of cross-country internal mobility (for all skill levels) even compared to other OECD countries. 2) The European Union lags far behind the US and other immigration countries (Canada, Australia, Switzerland) in its ability to attract immigrants from outside (for all skills levels). 3) While typical immigration economies attract international migrants whose schooling achievements are complementary to those of natives, thus increasing wages for a majority of their natives, the EU attracts immigrants whose education levels mirror those of its natives and may depress wage for a majority of them. 4) Within the EU, Great Britain is the most similar to the immigration economies in terms of its ability to attract skilled migrants and in the composition of immigrants across schooling groups.
Segmentation and detection at IBM: hybrid statistical models and two-tiered clustering

IBM's story segmentation uses a combination of decision tree and maximum entropy models. They take a variety of lexical, prosodic, semantic, and structural features as their inputs. Both types of models are source-specific, and we substantially lower Cseg by combining them. IBM's topic detection system introduces a minimal hierarchy into the clustering: each cluster is comprised of one or more microclusters. We investigate the importance of merging microclusters together, and propose a merging strategy which improves our performance.
Evaluation of the interfractional biological effective dose (BED) variation in MammoSite high dose rate brachytherapy.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the interfractional biological effective dose (BED) variation in MammoSite high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Dose distributions of 19 patients who received 34 Gy in 10 fractions were evalu­ated. A method was employed to account for nonuniform dose distribution in the BED calculation. Furthermore, a range of α/β values was utilized for specific clinical end points: fibrosis, telangiectasia, erythema, desquamation and breast carcinoma. Two scenarios were simulated to calculate the BED value using: i) the same dose distribution of fraction 1 over fractions 2-10 (constant case, CC), and ii) the actual delivered dose distribution for each fraction 1-10 (interfractiondose variation case, IVC). Although the average BED difference (IVC - CC) was < 0.7 Gy for all clinical endpoints, the range of difference for fibrosis and telangiectasia reached -11% to +3% and -9% to +9% for one of the patients, respectively. By disregarding high inhomogeneity in HDR brachytherapy, the conventional BED calculation tends to overestimate the BED for fibrosis by 16% on average, while it underestimates the BED for erythema (7.6%) and desquamation (10.2%). In conclusion, the BED calculation accounting for the nonuniform dose distribution provides a more clinically relevant description of the clinical delivered dose. Though the average BED difference was clinically insignificant, the maximum difference of BED for late effects can differ by a single fractional dose (10%) for a specific patient due to the interfraction dose variation in MammoSite treatment.
USE OF COHERENCE AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE FUNCTIONS TO LOCATE AND DEFINE VIBRATION NOISE SOURCES IN ROLLING TIRES

The procedure for measuring and analyzing in-service tire vibration and sound data is described. Signal analysis techniques are applied to obtain tire vibration spectral histories, vibration-to-sound coherence, and vibration frequency response functions. Evaluation of the coherence function demonstrates the existence of a statistical relationship between tire vibration and sound. Vibration spectral histories display the decay of energy in the tire structure. Use is made of the frequency response function to determine the relative levels of vibration in the tread and sidewall regions. These results define the vibration noise source location and size. /HSRI/
Comparative squamation of the lateral line canal pores in sharks

The current study collected the first quantitative data on lateral line pore squamation patterns in sharks and assessed whether divergent squamation patterns are similar to experimental models that cause reduction in boundary layer turbulence. In addition, the hypothesis that divergent orientation angles are exclusively found in fast-swimming shark species was tested. The posterior lateral line and supraorbital lateral line pore squamation of the fast-swimming pelagic shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus and the slow-swimming epi-benthic spiny dogfish shark Squalus acanthias was examined. Pore scale morphology and pore coverage were qualitatively analysed and compared. In addition, pore squamation orientation patterns were quantified for four regions along the posterior lateral line and compared for both species. Isurus oxyrinchus possessed consistent pore scale coverage among sampled regions and had a divergent squamation pattern with multiple scale rows directed dorsally and ventrally away from the anterior margin of the pore with an average divergent angle of 13° for the first row of scales. Squalus acanthias possessed variable amounts of scale coverage among the sampled regions and had a divergent squamation pattern with multiple scale rows directed ventrally away from the anterior margin of the pore with an average angle of 19° for the first row of scales. Overall, the squamation pattern measured in I. oxyrinchus fell within the parameters used in the fluid flow analysis, which suggests that this pattern may reduce boundary layer turbulence and affect lateral line sensitivity. The exclusively ventral oriented scale pattern seen in S. acanthias possessed a high degree of divergence but the pattern did not match that of the fluid flow models. Given current knowledge, it is unclear how this would affect boundary layer flow. By studying the relationship between squamation patterns and the lateral line, new insights are provided into sensory biology that warrant future investigation due to the implications for the ecology, morphology and sensory evolution of sharks.
The past and present uses of bamboo in Jamaica

Bamboos are useful to people wherever they grow, and in Jamaica,Bambusa vulgaris is no exception. Introduced in the 18th century, this bamboo is now well established, and has been put to a wide variety of uses from early on. This paper documents the past and present uses of bamboo in Jamaica.
The Role of Calcium in the Reactivation of Reduced Taka-amylase

Abstract Aspergillus oryzae α-amylase (Taka-amylase A) is a protein which contains four disulfide bonds, one free sulfhydryl group, and 1 essential atom of calcium per molecule. Full reduction in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate and 8 m urea results in complete loss of enzymic activity. If Ca++ is present, reoxidation at pH 8.6 leads to full recovery of activity with a parallel decrease of free sulfhydryl groups to about one per molecule of protein. However, reoxidation in the absence of Ca++ leads to an inactive protein which contains about three sulfhydryl groups per molecule. Upon the addition of Ca++, this partially reoxidized product is fully reactivated, and the number of sulfhydryl groups again falls to about one per molecule. Reoxidation of unfolded Taka-amylase in the presence of dehydroascorbic acid also leads to rapid decrease in the number of free sulfhydryl groups to about one per molecule. The resulting material is inactive, but the addition of Ca++ results in almost complete restoration of activity. The disulfide bond-containing peptides formed during the reoxidation of reduced Taka-amylase under these various conditions have been located on two-dimensional tryptic peptide maps and on diagonal performic acid-treated peptic peptide patterns. Partially reoxidized, Ca++-free amylase forms three normally paired disulfide bonds, and the addition of Ca++ results in the appearance of the fourth disulfide bond. Dehydroascorbic acid causes all four normally paired disulfide bonds to form, and subsequent activation with Ca++ does not appear to involve disulfide interchange. The Ca++-induced formation of the one remaining disulfide bond in partially reoxidized Taka-amylase is accompanied by time-dependent changes in protein conformation, as detected by ultraviolet difference, solvent perturbation, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The development of a difference spectrum at 286 mµ following the addition of Ca++ closely parallels the recovery of enzymic activity and the loss of the two excess sulfhydryl groups. In addition, the decrease in the number of solvent-accessible chromophores and the loss of the tyrosine fluorescence peak indicate that Ca++ causes conformational transitions involving major portions of the molecule. We conclude that under normal conditions Ca++ is required for full reoxidation and proper folding of reoxidized Taka-amylase, but that Ca++ does not play a role in directing normal pairing of half-cystine residues.
Catheter-Based Coronary Angiography

The primary goal of catheter-based coronary angiography is the identification, localization, and assessment of stenotic lesions present within the coronary arteries that will enable us to determine the pathophysiologic significance of the obstructive lesions in question regarding ischemia vs. nonischemia.
Black Holes at Future Colliders and Beyond - a Review

As was suggested about a year ago, one of the most dramatic consequences of low-scale (∼ 1 TeV) quantum gravity is copious production of mini black holes at future accelerators and in ultra-high-energy cosmic ray collisions. Hawking radiation of these black holes is constrained mainly to our (3+1)-dimensional world and results in rich phenomenology. With the original idea having been cited over a hundred times since its appearance, we review the current status of astrophysical observations of black holes and selected topics in the mini black hole phenomenology, such as production rates at colliders and in cosmic rays, Hawking radiation as a sensitive probe of the dimensionality of extra space, as well as an exciting possibility of finding new physics in the decays of black holes.
Self-affine fractal sets, II: Length and surface dimensions

For a self-similar curve, one is able to estimate the fractal dimension by “walking a divider. It is shown that -for self-affine curves, this procedure yields a local and a global value, both doubly anomalous. Other problems raised by length and area measurement -for fractals are investigated.
Multi-view learning in the presence of view disagreement

Traditional multi-view learning approaches suffer in the presence of view disagreement, i.e., when samples in each view do not belong to the same class due to view corruption, occlusion or other noise processes. In this paper we present a multi-view learning approach that uses a conditional entropy criterion to detect view disagreement. Once detected, samples with view disagreement are filtered and standard multi-view learning methods can be successfully applied to the remaining samples. Experimental evaluation on synthetic and audio-visual databases demonstrates that the detection and filtering of view disagreement considerably increases the performance of traditional multi-view learning approaches.
Capnography during cardiac resuscitation: a clue on mechanisms and a guide to interventions.

Measurement of the end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO2) during cardiac arrest has been shown to reflect the blood flow being generated by external means and to prognosticate outcome. In the present issue of Critical Care, Grmec and colleagues compared the initial and subsequent PETCO2 in patients who had cardiac arrest precipitated by either asphyxia or ventricular arrhythmia. A much higher PETCO2 was found immediately after intubation in instances of asphyxial arrest. Yet, after 1 min of closed-chest resuscitation, both groups had essentially the same PETCO2, with higher levels in patients who eventually regained spontaneous circulation. The Grmec and colleagues' study serves to remind us that capnography can be used during cardiac resuscitation to assess the mechanism of arrest and to help optimize the forward blood flow generated by external means.
The discursive spaces of global politics

Abstract Beginning with a description of the Bhopal disaster, when a leak at the Union Carbide company killed thousands, this essay turns to the issue of the politics of discursive practices. The discussion focuses at first on a genealogy of environmental discourses— ranging from conservation to sustainability and then proceeds to a treatment of the way various dimensions of political economy constitute events of ethnic exclusion. The essay ends with a juxtaposition of traditional ethics and a politics of aesthetics.
The Race Gap in Support Group Participation by Breast Cancer Survivors Real or Artifact

Addressing methodological weaknesses of previous research, this study assesses whether African American women are, in fact, less likely to participate in breast cancer support groups than are White women. Of the breast cancer survivors, 958 (26% African Americans, 73% Caucasian) completed interviews concerning demographic characteristics, other support networks, effects of illness on home and spiritual life, and support group participation. Contrary to previous research, no race difference was found in support group participation. This research suggests more effort needs to be paid to sampling techniques and other methodological factors to adequately reflect the experiences and needs of breast cancer survivors, specifically African American women.
Sa1512 Evaluation of a Flexible Multiperforated Plastic Stent in Biliary Diseases: An Initial Single Center Experience

and 10/2009. Demographics data, co-morbid conditions, antibiotic use, Cannulation method (contrast vs. contrast use), ERCP maneuvers (stenting, sphincterotomy, dilatation, balloon sweeping), ERCP findings (dominant stricture, choledocholithiasis, history of sphincterotomy) and 30 DAY post ERCP complications were obtained. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the risk factors that predicts these complications. Results: 185 procedures for 75 pts with PSC (58 M, 17 F). 7 endoscopists were included making this study one of the largest endoscopic PSC studies to address post ERCP complications. Mean age of pts was 50.1 years. 35% of the procedures were performed in pts with ulcerative colitis, 5% in pts with Crohn’s disease, 4% with cirrhosis and 2% with autoimmune hepatitis. None of the above was predictive for post ERCP complications. Prior maneuvers including prior sphincterotomy and stent placement was encountered in 41% and 44% respectively. Cannulation was achieved using dye-free guidewire cannulation in 76% and contrast in 24% of the cases. Choledocholithiasis was found in 19%, cholangitis in 4%, dominant stricture in 27%. were encountered. Sphincterotomy was performed in 41% of the cases, biliary dilatation was performed in 20%, balloon sweeping was done in 26% and stent was placed in 38% of the cases. Prophylactic antibiotics were used in 77% of the cases. 30 day post-ERCP complications included post-ERCP pancreatitis 5%, ascending cholangitis 1%, cholecystitis 0.5%, stent occlusion 0.5%, stent migration 0.5%, bile leak 0.5% and bowel perforation 0.5%. In Multivariate analysis, endoscopist (p 0.01), dilation during procedure (p 0.02), sphincterotomy during procedure (p 0.03), cirrhosis (p 0.05), Crohn’s disease (p 0.001), and autoimmune hepatitis (p 0.001) significantly predicted a complication post-ERCP. Gender, stenting during procedure, presence of a dominant stricture, and cholangitis were not predictive for post-ERCP complications. Conclusion: In this largest retrospective study for post ERCP complications in PSC, a variety of factors predicted complications. Factors included co-morbid conditions (cirrhosis, Crohn’s disease, and autoimmune disease); the endoscopist (rates of complications varied among the endoscopist with some having few and some having many complications); and maneuvers during ERCP including dilation and sphincterotomy.
The diffusion limit of transport equations derived from velocity-jump processes

In this paper we study the diffusion approximation to a transport equation that describes the motion of individuals whose velocity changes are governed by a Poisson process. We show that under an appropriate scaling of space and time the asymptotic behavior of solutions of such equations can be approximated by the solution of a diffusion equation obtained via a regular perturbation expansion. In general the resulting diffusion tensor is anisotropic, and we give necessary and sufficient conditions under which it is isotropic. We also give a method to construct approximations of arbitrary high order for large times. In a second paper (Part II) we use this approach to systematically derive the limiting equation under a variety of external biases imposed on the motion. Depending on the strength of the bias, it may lead to an anisotropic diffusion equation, to a drift term in the flux, or to both. Our analysis generalizes and simplifies previous derivations that lead to the classical Patlak--Keller--Segel--Alt...
The solution structure of ZNF593 from Homo sapiens reveals a zinc finger in a predominately unstructured protein

Here, we report the solution structure of ZNF593, a protein identified in a functional study as a negative modulator of the DNA-binding activity of the Oct-2 transcription factor. ZNF593 contains a classic C2H2 zinc finger domain flanked by about 40 disordered residues on each terminus. Although the protein contains a high degree of intrinsic disorder, the structure of the zinc finger domain was resolved by NMR spectroscopy without a need for N- or C-terminal truncations. The tertiary structure of the zinc finger domain is composed of a β-hairpin that positions the cysteine side chains for zinc coordination, followed by an atypical kinked α-helix containing the two histidine side chain ligands. The structural topology of ZNF593 is similar to a fragment of the double-stranded RNA-binding protein Zfa and the C-terminal zinc finger of MBP-1, a human enhancer binding protein. The structure presented here will provide a guide for future functional studies of how ZNF593 negatively modulates the DNA-binding activity of Oct-2, a POU domain-containing transcription factor. Our work illustrates the unique capacity of NMR spectroscopy for structural analysis of folded domains in a predominantly disordered protein.
Monte carlo analysis of electron transport in small semiconductor devices including band-structure and space-charge effects

The physics of electron transport in Si and GaAs is investigated with use of a Monte Carlo technique which improves the "state-of-the-art" treatment of high-energy carrier dynamics. (1) The semiconductor is modeled beyond the effective-mass approximation by using the band structure obtained from empirical-pseudopotential calculations. (2) The electron-phonon, electron-impurity, and electron-electron scattering rates are computed in a way consistent with the full band structure of the solid, thus accounting for density-of-states and matrix-element effects more accurately than previous transport formulations. (3) The long-range carrier-carrier interaction and space-charge effects are included by coupling the Monte Carlo simulation to a self-consistent two-dimensional Poisson solution updated at a frequency large enough to resolve the plasma oscillations in highly doped regions. The technique is employed to study experimental submicrometer Si field-effect transistors with channel lengths as small as 60 nm operating at 77 and 300 K. Velocity overshoot and highly nonlocal, off-equilibrium phenomena are investigated together with the role of electron-electron interaction in these ultrasmall structures. In the systems considered, the inclusion of the full band structure has the effect of reducing the amount of velocity overshoot via electron transfer to upper conduction valleys, particularly at large biases and low temperatures. The reasonableness of the physical picture is supported by the close agreement of the results of the simulation to available experimental data.
Perceptions of Racism and Depressive Symptoms in African American Adolescents: The Role of Perceived Academic and Social Control

Experiences with racism are a common occurrence for African American youth and may result in negative self perceptions relevant for the experience of depressive symptoms. This study examined the longitudinal association between perceptions of racism and depressive symptoms, and whether perceived academic or social control mediated this association, in a community epidemiologically-defined sample of urban African American adolescents (N = 500; 46.4% female). Structural equation modeling revealed that experiences with racism were associated with low perceived academic control, which in turn was associated with increased depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that experiences with racism can have long lasting effects for African American youth’s depressive symptoms, and highlight the detrimental effects of experiences with racism for perceptions of control in the academic domain. Implications for intervention are discussed.
Sky demonstration of potential for ground-layer adaptive optics correction

ABSTRACT Observations have been made at the Steward Observatory 1.55 m telescope of a four-star asterism in the constellation Serpens Cauda, using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. The stars are all within a 2 arcminute field, and range in apparent brightness from m v of 9.4 to 10.6. The instrument placed a 5 × 5 array of square subapertures across the pupil of the telescope, and had sufficient field of view to allow wavefront data to be recorded from all four stars simultaneously. Snapshots at 1/30 s exposure time were recorded, with no temporal coherence between exposures. We have reconstructed the first 20 Zernike modes from the slope data for each star. In a preliminary analysis, we show that the wavefront aberration in each star can be roughly halved by subtracting the average of the wavefronts from the other three stars. The averages represent estimates of the aberration introduced by the lowest few hundred meters of the atmosphere, so the result provides an early indication of the potential for image sharpening by compensation of boundary layer turbulence. Keywords: Wavefront sensors, adaptive optics, ground layer adaptive optics
Reflections on the research process: emancipatory research or emancipatory zeal?

As a teacher educator the author believed that she could guide, organized by an emancipatory research stance, a particular group of pre‐service teachers in critically reflecting upon and interrogating pre/mis‐conceptions about their future teaching in relation to media representations of education. She believed that as a result of their interactions this group of pre‐service teachers would learn to challenge the varied layers and multiple interpretations that media representations of education engender. However, looking back through the data, questions concerning her role in the emancipatory process arise: did she somehow force her critical stance upon this group of pre‐service teachers or did she allow them the space to negotiate with these images in relation to their group discussions? In this paper, she reflects on her emancipatory research practice within the context of working with this particular group of pre‐service teachers.
Some effects of retrofit additives on automotive oil performance in sliding concentrated contact lubrication tests

Abstract Effects of doping crankcase lubricants with retrofit (supplementary) oil additives have been assessed in both a modified load capacity (microsample step loading seizure (SLS)) test in the four-ball wear machine and in pin-on-disc tests. Both tests confirm that, although increasing extreme pressure protection levels, organolead-based additive products completely inhibit the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate antiwear activity of commercially formulated oils. Direct friction coefficient monitoring in extended tests has also shown that friction increases signalling failure in the microsample SLS testing of various lubricants can be due to different lubricant behavioural transitions. Comparison of lubricant friction and wear behaviour of both doped and undoped oil in extended microsample SLS tests with that in pin-on-disc tests has provided a basis for interpretation of the former test results in terms of IRG lubrication failure transition diagrams.
MEASUREMENTS OF THE SCAVENGING OF SULFATE AND NITRATE IN CLOUDS

Mise en evidence de la production de sulfate dans l'eau du nuage. Mise en evidence du lavage de nitrate, soit que les nitrates servent de noyaux de condensation, soit que HNO 3 soit absorbe par les gouttes des nuages
A study by electron microscopy of the formation of new surface by Chaos chaos.

Abstract The cell surface of the ameba Chaos chaos was “coated” with Alcian Blue by exposure of the cells to dilute dye solutions at 5 °C. At this temperature the amebae are immobilized. Formation of new surface was studied after rinsing the specimens and removing them to a fresh drop of medium at room temperature. Direct observations of amebae indicated that complete turnover of surface occurred in about 35 min but that the resultant new surface was probably not as convoluted as the original. Rate of formation of surface when amebae were recycled through the dye treatment was much slower. As previously reported, electron micrographs of fixed specimens showed that in dye-treated cells the surface filaments seen in untreated cells were replaced by dense clumps occurring at irregular intervals. New surface possessed all the layers of surface found in untreated cells. In sections including recently formed surface, the plasmalemma was smooth and few vesicles were seen in the underlying cytoplasm. In some sections clumps of old surface were found with surface filaments passing through them. More typically, a series of transitional profiles between typical filaments and typical clumps could be seen. Frequency counts of the clumps on photomicrographs before and after new surface formation provided no evidence for the hypothesis that there may be slippage between surface coat and underlying plasmalemma. In the cytoplasm of the uroid of amebae 15 min after return to room temperature, extensive areas of convoluted membranes bearing typical dense clumps were found. It is concluded that under the present conditions there is rapid and extensive formation of new surface which possesses all the morphological layers of the original surface. A mechanism involving interpolation of ground cytoplasm into the new surface appears to account better for the findings than one involving fusions of vesicles with the surface.
Central Venous Catbeterization: A Comprehensive Review, Part II

In Part I of this article, the indications and contraindica tions of central venous catheterization were reviewed, and the antecubital, external jugular, and femoral vein routes discussed. In Part II, the internal jugular and sub clavian vein routes for central venous catheterization are reviewed, and an overview of catheter maintenance and infection control presented. The internal jugular vein and subclavian vein are the two most useful sites for central venous access. There is greater experience with the subclavian vein, and it is largely because of a perceived high complication rate associated with this approach that the internal jugular vein was cultivated as an access route in adults. The debate remains as to which route is preferable. In reality, each method has advantages in a given clinical situation.
Plasma Ascorbic Acid Concentration Following Ascorbic Acid Loading in Chicks

Three trials were conducted to determine the changes in plasma ascorbic acid (AA) associated with varying levels and duration of supplemental AA. In Trial 1, supplemental AA was provided in the drinking water at 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 micrograms/ml (ppm). Plasma AA concentrations were significantly elevated in chicks receiving 250 ppm AA or greater. In Trial 2, plasma AA concentrations increased significantly within 4 hr of supplementation in chicks receiving 1000 ppm AA. Statistically, maximum AA values occurred some 8 hr following the initiation of supplementation. Removal of the supplemented water resulted in rapid declines in plasma AA in Trial 3. Plasma AA values significantly higher than controls were maintained 16 hr after the removal of the supplemental water. Values returned to those of controls within 20 hr.
Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Hexachlorobenzene in Spruce Needles of Eastern Alaska

The concentrations of phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in spruce needles at 36 sites in eastern Alaska during early spring. Concentrations of each polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) varied by an order of magnitude. Samples taken from near the city of Fairbanks had higher concentrations than samples taken from more rural areas. Anthropogenic activities near Fairbanks are most likely a source of PAHs. Variation in the concentration ratios of isomeric PAHs indicates the relative importance of combustion and petrogenic sources. The relative combustion contribution is largest in coastal samples and smallest near Fairbanks. In contrast, the concentration of HCB varied by only a factor of 2. Lipid content of needles and distance from the coast were the major factors correlated with the concentration of HCB.
Backward specification of prior in bayesian inference as an inverse problem

Specification of prior distribution is one of the most important methodological as well practical problems in Bayesian inference. Although a number of approaches have been proposed, none of them is completely satisfactory from both theoretical and practical points of view. We propose a new method to infer prior distribution from a priori information which may be available from observations. The method consists of specifying a predictive distribution of the value of interest and then working backwards towards the prior distribution on the parameters. The method requires the solution of the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind, which can be effectively approximated using Tikhonov regularization. Numerical examples for two cases of Bayesian inference are presented.
A comparison of two group-process techniques

The use of a Delphi survey and Nominal Group Technique (NGT) meeting to identify objectives for research are compared with respect to: the number of ideas generated; the quantity of information produced; costs; and participants' satisfaction with the processes and process outcomes.
A multi‐dimensional approach for fractionating proteins using charged membranes

In an effort to increase selectivity among proteins with crossflow ultrafiltration, we offer and demonstrate a comprehensive approach to fractionate proteins of similar molecular weight and relatively close pI values. This multidimensional approach involves optimizing membrane charge type and density together with operating conditions such as precise control of pH, ionic strength, and transmembrane pressure for reduced membrane fouling. Each filtration experiment was performed in cross-flow configuration for ∼20 min, allowing fast screening for optimal separation as determined by maximum selectivity, Ψ, and purity, P. Using our comprehensive approach for fractionating mixtures RNase A-lysozyme and BSA-hemoglobin, we obtained values of Ψ = 9.1, P = 95.7%, and Ψ = 6.5, P = 62.1%, respectively.