cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The X-ray emission of M81 and its nucleus

X-ray observations of M81 made with the Einstein satellite are analyzed, and the results are reported. Eight bright sources other than the nucleus were detected, with luminosities in excess of about 2 x 10 to the 38th ergs/s. These are probably young, massive, accreting binary systems. A comparison of M81 with the morphologically similar galaxy M31 shows that the former is overluminous in both the radio continuum and the X-ray emission and to a lesser extent the far-infared emission, relative to the optical luminosity. This points to a difference in the star-formation histories of the two galaxies. The individual X-ray sources detected in M81 are all more luminous than the most luminous sources of M31. The nuclear source in M81 has a very soft and absorbed X-ray spectrum which cannot be explained by either inverse Compton radiation of the compact nuclear radio source or by an extension of the radio synchrotron emission.
Three-Dimensional Transient Interlaminar Thermal Stresses in Angle-Ply Composites

The transient temperature field and transient interlaminar thermal stresses of the laminate are obtained by solving the heat conduction equation and by a zeroth-order perturbation analysis of the equilibrium equations, respectively. Numerical results for a four-layer angle-ply laminate have shown that the interlaminar normal stress near the free edge is significantly higher than that in the interior region and it increases rapidly with the fiber volume fraction
How gender and socioeconomic status affect reading and mathematics achievement

Abstract The correlation between gender or socioeconomic status and student achievement might be the result of differences in learning efficiency on the one hand, or the result of differences in the allocations of instructional resources on the other. This study presents a model of learning that distinguishes between these two effects. Panel data from the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study were used to estimate gender and socioeconomic status effects on reading and mathematics achievement for a sample of second and fifth graders. Gender effects showed boys learning significantly more in mathematics, given their instructional time, while girls learned more in reading. Instructional time allocations were generally not significantly related to gender. In most cases differences in socioeconomic status did not affect learning efficiency. In fifth grade mathematics there was evidence of teachers basing time allocations on student social class tending to reinforce class-related achievement differences.
Thermal properties of a reaction hot pressed Mo≤5Si3C≤1 ceramic

Abstract Mo ≤5 Si 3 C ≤1 was produced via reaction hot pressing. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed c -axis crystallographic orientation in the hot pressing direction. The orientation, combined with the inherent thermal expansion anisotropy of the structure, led to preferential microcracking and an overall anisotropic thermal expansion in hot pressed ceramics. Thermal conductivity was calculated for temperatures ranging from −120 to 500 °C from measured heat capacity and thermal diffusivity. Over that range, thermal conductivity increased from ∼9.5 to ∼21.5 W/m K. Electrical resistivity measurements allowed the separation of electrical and phononic contributions and revealed that the thermal conductivity of Mo ≤5 Si 3 C ≤1 was dominated by electron transport.
China's Role in Central Asia: Security Implications for Russia and the United States

Central Asia, the collective Central Asian states that were a part of the former Soviet Union, is a land not well known to many peoples of the West, or East for that matter. A land of mystery perhaps, but it is also a land of strategic importance for both the West and the East. Situated between Europe and the Far East Asia, the states there have been invaded, conquered, and occupied by several different empires over the centuries. This article addresses Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, their strategic importance, their relationship with China, and the strategic implications of that relationship for Russia and the United States. There is a potential for either wide conflict or cooperation among the three great powers in this region. So far, the pivot appears to be China. Driven by its demand for energy, among other things, China has staked a claim in the three Central Asian states that border it.
Novelty in Sameness

Novelty and sameness can conceal each other. Regardless of how things might appear in hindsight, we risk missing the mark if we indiscriminately insist on seeing new proposals and emerging movements simply as reincarnations of old advice, whether to justify or refute them.
Strange bedfellows: explaining the popularity of business majors at self‐proclaimed liberal arts colleges in the USA

This study examines the relationship between the most popular major field of degrees awarded by baccalaureate colleges in the USA and the organisational language used to identify themselves as liberal arts institutions. Informed by competing theoretical frameworks (neoinstitutional theory and strategic adaptation), two primary research questions guide this research. First, how often will business be the most popular major at baccalaureate colleges whose public rhetoric proclaims a commitment to a liberal arts and sciences education? Second, what environmental and organisational characteristics predict the popularity of business majors at these institutions? The results reveal a decoupled (inconsistent) relationship between the popularity of the business major (at 55% of the institutions) and the liberal arts identity that is a foremost component of these colleges' public self‐presentations. Multivariate analysis indicates that technical, market‐based forces predict decoupling, but the promotion of liberal...
Detection of quantum noise.

Noise that can be attributed to vacuum fluctuations, usually referred to as quantum noise, is examined. It is shown that vacuum fluctuations of a single uncoupled mode do not constitute noise, in the sense of a random process, but the superposition of the fluctuations of a large number of modes does constitute, formally, noise. The effect of vacuum fluctuations of the free-space radiation field on a harmonic oscillator, a nondegenerate parametric amplifier, and a degenerate parametric amplifier, all driven by a prescribed sinusoidal field, is compared with the effect of classical noise. It is found that the coordinates of all systems respond in a formally similar manner to both vacuum fluctuations and classical noise. However, the resonance fluorescence spectrum\char22{}the evidence of ``detection''\char22{}is completely different for the two kinds of noise. The spectrum of the harmonic oscillator does not exhibit noise in response to vacuum fluctuations, but does so in response to classical noise. The spectra of the two types of parametric amplifiers do exhibit noise in response to vacuum fluctuations, but this noise differs from that in the classical case. An explanation for the difference is offered, based on the fact that the quantum fluctuations cannot do work, but can noise-modulate power from an outside source, which, for the parametric amplifiers, is the pump. In the analysis of noise from the degenerate parametric amplifier, it is shown that squeezed noise, viewed as an oscillation of the dispersion with a sufficiently low minimum, is generated in the same manner in the case of classical noise as in the case of quantum noise, and is due to phase conjugation.
Ethical and moral considerations in the management of the unwed pregnant minor

Five problem areas in the management of the unwed pregnant minor are discussed in the context of a case presentation. These areas include the rights of the individual minor herself, the rights of her infant, the rights of her parents or parent, the rights of society, and the rights of the unborn fetus. The importance of helping the minor and her parents arrive at a resolution for themselves is evident. In the event of incompetence, a recommendation is made for the formation of an advisory group. Guidelines for the tasks confronting this advisory group are offered.
Fabrication of a custom guide table with a light-polymerized provisional material.

VOLUME 86 NUMBER 4 A custom guide table offers several significant clinical and laboratory advantages. This rigid 3-dimensional record can precisely communicate to the laboratory technician the anterior guidance required for a particular clinical situation. Such information is especially helpful when restorations are planned that will change the length and/or functional contour of the anterior teeth. In those situations, anterior guidance can be established through the use of a diagnostic wax-up and provisional restorations. Another significant laboratory advantage of the custom table is that it helps minimize abrasion of the mounted casts. Various methods of fabricating guide tables have been described.1-5 Traditionally, an autopolymerizing acrylic resin such as Duralay (Reliance Dental Mfg Co, Worth, Ill.) has been used in this process; more recently, light-polymerized materials such as Triad (Dentsply, York, Pa.) have been used.6 This article presents a technique that uses a light-polymerized provisional material to fabricate a custom guide table.
Thermoresponsive and biodegradable hydrogels for sustained release of nerve growth factor to stimulate neurite outgrowth

Summary:A series ofthermoresponsive and biodegradable hydrogels were developed for sustained release of nerve growth factor (NGF) for ultimate goal of treating neurological disorders. These hydrogels were composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) as a thermoresponsive unit, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) as a hydrolytically degradable and hydrophobic unit, and dextran as an enzymatically degradable and hydrophilic unit. NGF was loaded into these hydrogels in aqueous solution with various loading efficiencies depending on the compositions of hydrogels. In-vitro release study showed that the release of NGF from these hydrogels could last foratleast 15days. NGF released from the hydrogels was able to stimulate neurite growth from PC12 cells.
The Brain and the Meaning of Life

The Brain and the Meaning of Life Paul Thagard Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press, 2010 xi + 274 pp., ISBN 9780691142722, US$29.95, £20.95 (hardback); ISBN 9781400834617, US$29.95, £20.95 (e...
The classification and diagnostic criteria of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is the prototype of immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases grouped under the term spondyloarthritis (SpA). An early diagnosis has now become increasingly important because effective therapies are available and anti-TNF drugs are even more effective if used in early stages of the disease. In ankylosing spondylitis, the 1984 modified New York criteria have been used widely in clinical studies and daily practice but are not applicable in early disease when the characteristic radiographic signs of sacroiliitis are not visible but active sacroiliitis is readily detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thus there has been a need for new classification or diagnostic criteria to identify inflammatory spondyloarthritis at early stage of the disease. This led to the concept of axial SpA to include the entire spectrum of patients with axial disease both, with and without radiographic damage. New classification criteria for the wider group of SpA have been proposed by ASAS (Assessment of Spondylo Arthritis International Society); and the patients are sub-grouped into (1) a predominantly axial disease, termed axial SpA including AS and non-radiographic axial SpA; (2) peripheral SpA. The clinical course and disease process of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis remains unclear. However the development of the SpA criteria by ASAS particularly for axial SpA, is an important step for early diagnosis and better management of these patients.
SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF INFECTION WITH HUMAN INFLUENZA VIRUS IN SWINE

Antibodies capable of neutralizing human influenza virus were present in the sera of old swine on two New Jersey institution farms, but absent from the sera of young swine on the same farms. The old animals had lived through the winter of 1936-37 in which outbreaks of upper respiratory tract disease were prevalent among the human inmates of the two institutions, while the young swine studied were born long after these outbreaks. It is believed that the swine whose sera neutralized human influenza virus had undergone an unrecognized human influenza virus infection acquired from man. The possible bearing of these observations upon the theory that swine influenza was originally of human origin is discussed.
Ionospheric radio propagation models and predictions--A mini-review

The ionosphere affects radio waves that are propagated within and through it. The magnitude of the effects depends upon the structure of the ionosphere and the frequency of the radio wave. Ionospheric models have been developed over the years to aid in predicting the impact of the ionosphere on ionospheric-dependent telecommunication systems. The status of ionospheric modeling and prediction efforts that are geared toward radio wave propagation system assessment is reviewed.
Direct real-time observation of E- and P-selectin-mediated rolling on cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen immobilized on Western blots.

Human memory T cells associated with cutaneous inflammatory responses are characterized by their expression of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated Ag (CLA), a carbohydrate determinant differentially expressed on P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1). Although expression of the CLA epitope on PSGL-1 (CLA + PSGL-1) by memory T cells is associated with acquisition of E-selectin ligand activity, it is not known whether CLA + PSGL-1, itself, is a ligand for E-selectin on human T cells or whether other glycoproteins, with or without CLA modification, support E-selectin-dependent rolling in shear flow. To address this issue, we developed a method for real-time analysis of functional adhesive interactions between selectin-bearing cells in shear flow with leukocyte ligands resolved by SDS-PAGE and immobilized on standard Western blots. The results of these studies provide direct evidence that CLA + PSGL-1 is a functional ligand for both E- and P-selectin, confirm that the P-selectin ligand activity of PSGL-1 is independent of CLA modification, and identify a distinct, non-PSGL-1 E-selectin ligand on CLA-positive human memory T cells.
Inference-based constraint satisfaction supports explanation

Constraint satisfaction problems are typically solved using search, augmented by general purpose consistency inference methods. This paper proposes a paradigm shift in which inference is used as the primary problem solving method, and attention is focused on special purpose, domain specific inference methods. While we expect this approach to have computational advantages, we emphasize here the advantages of a solution method that is more congenial to human thought processes. Specifically we use inference-based constraint satisfaction to support explanations of the problem solving behavior that are considerably more meaningful than a trace of a search process would be. Logic puzzles are used as a case study. Inference-based constraint satisfaction proves surprisingly powerful and easily extensible in this domain. Problems drawn from commercial logic puzzle booklets are used for evaluation. Explanations are produced that compare well with the explanations provided by these booklets.
A MICROSPECTROPHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF RED CELL NUCLEI DURING PYKNOSIS

1. A microspectrophotometric apparatus was used to measure nuclear absorption in fixed and stained human bone marrow smears. 2. The validity of the measurements was established. 3. The total and polymerized desoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) of erythroblast nuclei were measured in relative units, and a gradual loss of DNA from the red cell nucleus during maturation was noted. 4. The loss in DNA is comparable quantitatively to that occurring during pathological pyknosis in sarcoma cells. 5. The continual loss of nuclear material during erythropoiesis supports the conception that the nucleus disappears by intracellular dissolution, not by extrusion in the intact form.
Gendered experiences of computing graduate programs

This investigation of gendered experiences in computer science and computer engineering (CSE) doctoral programs uses survey data from a nationwide stratified random sample. Analyses of data from 41 departments show that women CSE doctoral students have less confidence than men students that they can achieve their educational goals. Moreover, women's confidence is significantly affected by their comfort asking questions in class, which is in turn affected by faculty beliefs about the relationship between diversity and student quality. Program rank also has a negative effect on confidence, but affects men and women similarly.
DESIGNING INTELLIGENT KNOWLEDGE: EPISTEMOLOGICAL FAITH AND THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF SCIENCE

In this essay, Clayton Pierce examines the epistemological standpoints of Intelligent Design (ID) and evolutionary science education, focusing specifically on the pedagogical question of how ID and modern science-based education fail to promote democratic relations in how students learn, think, and associate with science and technology in society. Pierce explores the debate in education between ID and traditional science education that centers on the epistemological assumptions embodied in the modern scientific model. Turning to Bruno Latour’s recent work in the field of science studies, Pierce develops his argument that both expressions of knowledge fail to deliver an adequate theoretical and practical democratic framework for teaching and learning about knowledge systems and technologies in their social, political, and cultural environments.
Computer-Based Design of Novel Protein Structures

Over the past 10 years there has been tremendous success in the area of computational protein design. Protein design software has been used to stabilize proteins, solubilize membrane proteins, design intermolecular interactions, and design new protein structures. A key motivation for these studies is that they test our understanding of protein energetics and structure. De novo design of novel structures is a particularly rigorous test because the protein backbone must be designed in addition to the amino acid side chains. A priori it is not guaranteed that the target backbone is even designable. To address this issue, researchers have developed a variety of methods for generating protein-like scaffolds and for optimizing the protein backbone in conjunction with the amino acid sequence. These protocols have been used to design proteins from scratch and to explore sequence space for naturally occurring protein folds.
Josephson Junction Arrays: Puzzles and Prospects

Among the best studied many oscillator systems in recent years are Josephson junction arrays. This paper summarizes some theoretical progress likely to be especially useful in the quest to design practical electromagnetic sources at very high frequencies. Outstanding puzzles and future theoretical directions are also described. The central problem is one which is pervasive in the general study of nonlinear oscillators: under what conditions will the various elements oscillate with the same frequency and phase?
Estimation of suspended sediment concentration in water using integrated surface reflectance

Abstract The reflectance spectra of suspended sediments derived from a silty soil were analyzed in an effort to measure suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in surface waters. Twenty levels of SSC (50 to 1000 mg/l) were created in a large tank filled with 7510 liters of clear water. Reflectance measurements were made using a high resolution spectroradiometer. The spectroradiometer data were integrated into the band widths of Landsat‐TM. The simulated TM bands were then used to develop regression models for estimating SSC. We found that the spectroradiometer data, integrated into the band width of Landsat‐TM 4, when used in second‐order regression models, is the best estimator of SSC.
Defining the law: (Mis)using the dictionary to decide cases:

Legislatures enact laws and the courts interpret them. Under the doctrine of legislative supremacy, a judge is not free to ignore or modify a statutory provision in order to substitute a rule that seems to him to be better reasoned; thus where the language of a statute is clear and unambiguous, interpretation is unnecessary and it must be enforced according to its terms. Nevertheless, gaps and ambiguities can arise and, in such cases, courts apply interpretive rules, or 'canons of construction', to resolve these ambiguities. One frequently invoked rule requires that words that are not defined by a statute be given their ordinary meaning by the interpreting court. In recent years, the United States Supreme Court has increasingly relied upon dictionary definitions in applying this rule. The Court's use of dictionaries as authority for its interpretations incorporates the assumption that the dictionary is the best source for ascertaining the meaning of statutory texts. This article challenges that assumption on linguistic grounds. I argue that the focus on definitions skews the interpretation of statutory language by isolating words from their semantic context. By comparing two cases in which the Court used dictionary definitions to a third case in which the definition used by the Court was contained in the statute itself, I demonstrate that the ordinary meaning of legal terms cannot be determined by dictionary definitions.
Analysis of Free Edge Stresses in Composite Laminates Using Higher Order Theories

This paper presents the determination of the interlaminar stresses close to the free edges of general cross-ply composite laminates based on higher order equivalent single-layer theory (HESL). The laminates with finite dimensions were subjected to a bending moment, an axial force, and/or a torque for investigation. Full three-dimensional stresses in the interior and the boundary-layer regions were determined. The computed results were compared with those obtained from Reddy’s layerwise theory. It was found that HESL theory predicts precisely the interlaminar stresses near the free edges of laminates. Besides, high efficiency in terms of computational time is obtainable when HESL theory is used as compared with layerwise theory. Finally, various numerical results were presented for the cross-ply laminates. Also design guidelines were proposed to minimize the edge-effect problems in composite laminates.
Public nutrition in complex emergencies

Public nutrition is a broad-based, problem-solving approach to addressing malnutrition in complex emergencies that combines analysis of nutritional risk and vulnerability with action-oriented strategies, including policies, programmes, and capacity development. This paper focuses on six broad areas: nutritional assessment, distribution of a general food ration, prevention and treatment of moderate malnutrition, treatment of severe malnutrition in children and adults, prevention and treatment of micronutrient deficiency diseases, and nutritional support for at-risk groups, including infants, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people, and people living with HIV. Learning and documenting good practice from previous emergencies, the promotion of good practice in current emergencies, and adherence to international standards and guidelines have contributed to establishing the field of public nutrition. However, many practical challenges reduce the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in complex emergencies, and important research and programmatic questions remain.
Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse Narrative Analyses of Types, Experiences, and Processes of Remembering

The study explored types of memory for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in a clinical sample of 30 women and identified factors that led some women (n = 24) to report recovered memories. Questionnaires produced three types of memory: always (n = 6), recovered (n = 14), both (n = 10); however, analysis of narrative data also revealed the use of language that could not be categorized into discrete types. Recovered memories were linked to three categories of experience (cumulative reactions, atypical reactions, and atypical experiences). Subcategories identified specific contexts associated with those experiences. Findings suggest that further research is needed on the phenomenology of memory experiences using language derived from CSA survivors and a better understanding of the long-term process of interpretations of key experiences that result in reports of recovered memories.
Teacher Inquiry and English Learners: The Tensions of Inquiry, Direct Instruction, and Learning.

This article explores the tensions surrounding teaching linguistically diverse students that are illuminated during a teacher inquiry group that has an explicit focus on working with English learners (ELs). The discussion is focused on the tensions teachers encounter when trying to make sense of the complexity of working with large numbers of ELs and the tensions the facilitator encounters in facilitating such a group. These data suggest teacher inquiry can play a role in both surfacing constructive tensions and ultimately supporting teachers in teaching linguistically diverse students.
Mitigating Multipath Fading through Channel Hopping in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless communication between a pair of nodes can suffer from self interference arising from multipath propagation re&#64258;ecting off obstacles in the environment. In the event of a deep fade, caused by destructive interference, no signal power is seen at the receiver, and so communication fails. Multipath fading can be overcome by shifting the location of one node, or by switching the communication carrier frequency. The effects of such actions can be characterized by the coherence length (L) and coherence bandwidth (B), respectively, given as the amount of shift necessary to transition from a deep fade to a region of average signal strength. Experimental results for a representative 2.4GHz wireless link indicate L = 5.5cm and B can vary from 5MHz at long ranges up to 15MHz for short links. For wireless sensor networks (WSNs), typically operating under the IEEE802.15.4 standard, multipath effects are therefore best handled by a channel hopping scheme in which successive communication attempts are widely spread across available carrier frequencies.
Effect of surface active agents on drug release from polylactic acid-hydrocortisone microcapsules.

AbstractPolylactic acid microcapsules containing randomly distributed hydrocortisone particles were prepared. The rate of release of hydrocortisone from the microcapsules in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer was found to be largely increased by the presence of polysorbate 80, cetylpyridinium chloride, or aerosol OT in the dissolution medium. The surfactant effect was attributed to the ability of the surface active agent to improve solvent penetration into the microcapsules by lowering the surface tension at the solid-liquid interface. The effect of the cationic surfactant, cetylpyridinium chloride on the rate of drug release is similar in magnitude to that of the nonionic surfactant, polysorbate 80. In these systems, the rate of drug release from the microcapsules was found to be linearly related to the surface tension of the dissolution medium in the range of 40–60 dyn/cm (x 10−3 N/m). In the same surface tension range, the effect of aerosol OT on rate increase was found to be much less than those of the cationic ...
Theoretical Model for Self-Synchronous Locking of Optical Coherence by Single-detector Electronic-Frequency Tagging

The first theory for a novel coherent beam combination architectures that completely eliminate the separate reference beam are presented. These architectures greatly simplify the phase locking system without compromising phase locking performance.
An Existential "Learning Theory" and the Integration of T-Group Research

The article proposes a cyclic, existential learning theory. Each learner, with his particular cognitive map, sense of identity, and level of self-esteem, takes the risk of investing some of his experienced competence in relation to an "Other"; the response by that "Other" will move toward synergy or conflict; the learner will then modify his expectations. The theory is used to integrate findings from three studies which have evaluated learning in T Groups and is seen to have potential for understanding the conditions of change in larger social systems.
Solid state amorphization reactions in deformed Ni-Zr multilayered composites

The mechanisms of metallic glass formation and competing crystallization processes in mechanically-deformed Ni-Zr multilayered composites have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction. Our investigation of the heat of formation of amorphous NixZr1−x alloys shows a large negative heat of mixing (on the order of 30 kJ/mole) for compositions near Zr55Ni45 with a compositional dependence qualitatively similar to that predicted by mean field theory. We find that the products of solid state reactions in composites of Ni and Zr can be better understood in terms of the equilibrium phase diagram and the thermal stability of liquid quenched metallic glasses. We have determined the composition of the growing amorphous phase at the Zr interface in these Ni-Zr diffusion couples to be 55 ± 4% Zr. We investigated the kinetics of solid state reactions competing with the solid state amorphization reaction and found the value of the activation energy of the initial crystallization and growth of the growing amorphous phase to be 2.0 ± 0.1 eV, establishing an upper limit on the thermal stability of the growing amorphous phase.
Refining LaSalle's invariance principle

This work deals with the problem of locating the omega-limit set of a bounded solution of a given autonomous vector field on a Riemannian manifold. The derived results extend LaSalle's invariance principle in such a way that the newly obtained conditions provide in certain situations a more refined statement about the location of the omega-limit set when the invariance principle is inconclusive. The derived conditions are for example useful for gradient-type vector fields and cascaded systems.
AC SEPARATION OF PARTICLES BY BIASED BROWNIAN MOTION IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL SIEVE

We propose a technique for separation of particles based on a nonlinear coupling between an applied force and the induced transverse drift in a two-dimensional system with broken reflection symmetry transverse to the force. Further, if the system has reflection symmetry parallel to the force, the drift velocity is independent of the sign of the force. Thus, an ac force causes a net drift only in the transverse direction, allowing for efficient separation even in a very small system. In an appropriately constructed device, particles with diffusion coefficients below and above a threshold move in opposite directions, allowing for continuous separation of significant amounts of molecules.
Medical Records Management—Steps Toward a Paperless Environment

Like many surgical specialists, urologists in private practice are faced with a quandary about the least expensive, but most effective, method of managing the flow of medical records in their patient care activities. Pressures continue to build from various forces toward a rapid and seamless exchange of patient health information between myriad health care stakeholders. Entities that pay for health care demand more and more data to justify shrinking reimbursements. The spiraling litigiousness of a more educated, more demanding society increases the need for accurate and thorough documentation of health care procedures. Enhanced patient mobility demands that individual private health information must follow patients anywhere in the world. All these forces drive practitioners toward improvements in handling their patients’ medical records, but no help is in sight to offset the expenses associated with a conversion from a record-keeping process that evolved in a closed system to one that allows interchanges between health care providers, not just in the local provider community but anywhere patients may find themselves in need of health care.
The structural properties of spinach leaf glyoxylic acid reductase.

Abstract A homogeneous form of spinach leaf glyoxylic acid reductase has been isolated from commercial crystalline preparations. The enzyme catalyzes the reduction of hydroxypyruvate as well as glyoxylate and has a molecular weight of 97,500 ± 5,000. It is composed of two equal-sized subunits which are dissociated by exposure to 6.0 m guanidine hydrochloride-0.1 m mercaptoethanol, 8.0 m urea-0.1 m mercaptoethanol, or iodoacetate. Analytical disc gel analyses, amino-terminal end group analyses, and peptide mapping indicate that the polypeptide chains of each subunit are similar in their primary structure. The subunits can reassociate to yield the native enzyme and a nearly inactive tetramer. Several additional forms of the enzyme have been shown and characterized. Two of these have the same molecular weight as the above enzyme and a similar amino acid composition; another exhibits a lower molecular weight (83,000 ± 5,000) and a different amino acid content. They can be distinguished from this enzyme by their isoelectric points, stabilities, specific activities, and spectra, yet are also composed of two equal-sized subunits with similar properties of dissociation and reassociation. The lower molecular weight protein is presumed to be a degraded form of the spinach enzyme.
Conscientious refusal in family medicine residency training.

Background and objectives Conscientious refusal among physicians to provide medical care is known to exist. The prevalence of conscientious refusal in residents and behaviors surrounding moral objections is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of moral objections among family medicine residents and faculty members and to identify beliefs and actions surrounding conscientious refusal. Methods A Web-based survey was e-mailed to residents and faculty in six family medicine residency programs. Those respondents identifying a moral objection were asked about their beliefs and practices regarding disclosure and referral. Results A total of 154 physicians responded (44.9% response rate).The majority reported a moral objection to at least one procedure with abortion for gender selection eliciting the largest number of moral objections (79.2%). Of the 14 procedures identified, at least four respondents (2.6%) reported an objection. The majority believed that a physician with a moral objection has a duty to disclose his or her objection to colleagues, but the majority had not done so. Resident and faculty physicians were generally felt to have the same right to refuse. Fifty-five percent of all respondents reported having participated in morally objectionable care based on medical futility. Conclusions This study is the first to demonstrate the prevalence of moral objection to legally available medical procedures among family medicine residents and faculty. The survey responses demonstrate that conscientious objection exists and that there is support for physicians exercising moral objection in clinical practice, provided they engage in appropriate patient education and referral.
Consultation with the Specialist: Eye Prophylaxis in the Newborn Infant

Routine eye prophylaxis for newborn infants against gonococcal ophthalmia is a standard procedure in perinatal centers around the world. Gonococcal ophthalmia is a purulent eye disease that has its usual onset between the second and fifth days of life. Prior to the introduction of routine eye prophylaxis, it was a common cause of blindness in infancy. The use of 1% silver nitrate drops as prophylaxis against gonococcal ophthalmia soon after birth has reduced its incidence in the United States to less than 0.03% of infants. The success of 1% silver nitrate prophylaxis depends somewhat on the use of proper technique. Each eyelid is wiped gently with sterile cotton prior to administration of the agent. Two drops of the solution are introduced into each conjunctival sac and not rinsed out; rinsing has been shown to reduce effectiveness. Because of the successful introduction of silver nitrate prophylaxis, Neisseria gonorrheae is no longer the most common infectious cause of conjunctivitis in newborn infants. Although silver nitrate prophylaxis is a highly effective preventive measure, it has its drawbacks—primarily in the form of chemical conjunctivitis. Chemical conjunctivitis is a nonpurulent inflammation of the eye, with 1) swelling and a watery discharge occurring within several hours of instilling 1% silver nitrate, 2) a maximum inflammatory response around 48 hours, and 3) clearing by the fourth day in the absence of secondary infection.
SU‐G‐TeP2‐05: Development of a Thimble Calorimeter for Absorbed Dose to Water Characterized in MV Photons

Purpose: To develop a thimble sized polystyrene calorimeter for use from kV to MV photons, as a primary reference standard for applications from diagnostic CT imaging to therapy beam dose determination. Methods: A polystyrene calorimeter about 1.5 cm diameter embedded with small thermistors was characterized in a 6 MV photon beam from a clinical accelerator at 5 nominal dose rates from 0.8 to 4 Gy/min. Irradiations were delivered with beam on/off cycles first at 60 s and then at 20 s. Two sets of phantom conditions were evaluated: 1) in a 30 cm diameter polyethylene cylinder, and 2) in 10 cm depth of a 30 cm water phantom. The temperature waveforms were recorded and analyzed for temperature rise, arriving at a dose to polystyrene. This value is compared with the result of measurements under identical conditions using an ionization chamber calibrated for absorbed dose to water. Monte Carlo simulations were performed on the measurement systems to estimate such a ratio. Results: The ratio of the dose determined by the calorimeter to the dose reported by the ionization chamber was aggregated from all 5 dose rates. The 60 s results show a much elevated response in both phantoms compared to their respective expected results based on simulation. This deviation was reduced when the on/off cycles were shortened to 20 s. This behavior was possibly due to the heat conduction effects in the small calorimeter body. Finite element modeling is being conducted to simulate this effect. Conclusion: A small solid plastic calorimeter offers the convenience of a portable absorbed dose standard based on direct measurement of energy deposition, but comes at the expense of heat transfer complications which need to be characterized. This work offers preliminary evidence of the behavior and quantitative assessment of the issues to be resolved in future investigations.
Documentation and characterization of the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian) Calvin and Winn carbonate shelves and shelf margins, onshore northcentral Gulf of Mexico

The Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic section in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) comprises several well-documented carbonate systems that have prominent shelf-margin buildups, including the Berriasian Knowles Limestone ramp and shelf system, Barremian Sligo Formation shelf system, Aptian Pearsall Formation ramp system, and Albian Glen Rose, Edwards, and Stuart City Formations shelf systems. Two lesser known but large-scale Lower Cretaceous Valanginian carbonate shelf to shelf-margin systems are documented in this investigation using core, wireline-log, and regional 2D seismic data. The platform-margin succession of the older Calvin section comprises a shelf-margin buildup (back reef, reef, and fore reef facies) that may be as thick as 2000 ft (610 m). The seaward margin of the shelf, as displayed by seismic data, suggests shelf-to-basin relief of as much as 1000 ft (305 m) and margin-to-lagoon relief of 200 to 500 ft (60 to 140 m) (relief estimates are not decompacted). Major reef-building organisms are Lithocodium, stromatoporoids, and corals. The Winn limestone is younger than the Calvin limestone, and at the shelf margin, it may have been 600 to 800 ft (180 to 245 m) thick. It is composed of organisms similar to those of the Calvin reef complex. Considering the vertical position of the Calvin platform, succeeding the major bypass of Calvin lowstand siliciclastic sands, the platform probably records a transgression, which is consistent with its highly aggradational depositional style. The Winn shelf margin was initiated landward of the Calvin shelf margin and did not prograde as far seaward as the Calvin shelf margin. The recognition of these two Lower Cretaceous carbonate systems is important because they further detail the stratigraphic history and architecture of this deeply buried, lowermost Lower Cretaceous section in the GOM. These formations are also potential deep-gas, tight-carbonate (low-porosity) plays.
Doing tasks with multiple mini-robots

We are interested in building robots that are simple and have limited computing power yet are capable of surviving in an unstructured environment while achieving their assigned task. We have shown that even with limited computing small robots can learn how to achieve their task, provided that the task is not extremely difficult and the learning algorithm is capable of fast learning.
Management of a facial partial thickness chemical burn in a dog caused by bleach

Objective To describe the management and successful outcome of a late-recognition partial thickness bleach burn to the face and corneas of a dog. Case Summary A 1-year-old male neutered Fox Terrier mix breed dog was evaluated for sloughing facial epithelium 5 days after coming into contact with an 8.25% household bleach cleaning solution. Severe erythema, edema, and crusting were noted around the muzzle and margins of both eyes, with moderate to severe alopecia in these areas. A partially detached, partial thickness eschar was present on the muzzle, while a firmly attached eschar was present in the region of both frontal sinuses. These injuries were consistent with a focal, superficial, and partial thickness chemical burn. Multiple ocular abnormalities, the most concerning of which was corneal ulceration, were also present. The patient's wounds were managed conservatively with limited surgical debridement of the affected epithelium 11 and 22 days after the initial exposure. Topical ocular medications, corneal debridement, and a superficial keratectomy were also used. All lesions resolved completely by 84 days postexposure, with no residual effects on the patient's quality of life. New Information Chemical burns caused by contact with alkaline agents such as bleach (sodium hypochlorite) result in extensive necrosis of the skin and underlying structures. This is the first report of management alkaline facial burns in a dog. If inadequate or delayed hydrotherapy following exposure has resulted in superficial partial thickness burns, conservative management can be successful when traditional treatments, especially bandaging, are not feasible.
Improvements in cell block processing: The Cell-Gel method

BACKGROUND The ability to produce adequate cell blocks profoundly impacts the diagnostic usefulness of cytology specimens. Cell blocks are routinely processed from fine-needle aspiration specimens or concentrated fluid samples. Obtaining directed passes for the sole purpose of producing a cell block is common practice, particularly when the cytopathologist anticipates the need for ancillary immunocytochemical stains and/or molecular studies. METHODS The authors developed an effective and inexpensive process for producing cell blocks that consistently yields abundant cellular material, which they have termed the Cell-Gel method. This method can be simplified into 3 main steps: 1) preparing the sample; 2) constructing the cell block; and 3) processing the cell block. Highlights of the protocol include using a hemolytic fixative for sample preparation and disposable base molds for cell block construction. RESULTS The cell block failure rate in the current study decreased from 18% with the HistoGel Tube method (January 2014-December 2014) to 6% with the Cell-Gel method (January 2015-December 2016). The authors evaluated 110 cell blocks processed with the HistoGel Tube method and 110 cell blocks processed with the Cell-Gel method, for a total evaluation of 220 cell blocks. CONCLUSIONS The authors have developed an effective and inexpensive protocol for producing cell blocks that consistently yields abundant cellular material. The Cell-Gel method uses a hemolytic fixative and disposable base molds to produce adequate cell blocks. When the method was implemented, the cell block failure rate of the study laboratory decreased by approximately 67%. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:267–276. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
A Phenomenology of Home: Jean Améry on Homesickness

As the contemporary nation state order continues to produce genocide and destruction, and thereby refugees, and as the national and international landscape continues to see the existence of refugees as a political problem, Jean Amery’s 1966 essay “How Much Home Does a Person Need?” takes on a curious urgency. I say ‘curious’ because his own conclusions about the essay’s aims and accomplishments appear uncertain and oftentimes unclear (note how Amery himself surprisingly suggests that his remarks will have “little general validity” – a statement that will need to be properly situated). My aim in what follows, then, is twofold. First, I intend to make clear the rich, suggestive, but perhaps underdeveloped phenomenological assumptions involved in this essay. Second, I want to show — but, unfortunately, only show —how these assumptions and Amery’s analysis points to a problem at the heart of contemporary conceptions of statehood, one which demands significantly more discussion.
MELD score and AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) predict long-term survival in patients with a small hepatocellular carcinoma following non-transplant therapies: a pilot study.

AIM Liver transplantation (LT) is the most effective treatment for long-term survival from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, insufficient donors limit therapy. We sought to identify characteristics that predicted long-term survival after non-transplant therapies in patients with small HCC. METHODS In a database of 1,050 HCC patients, we identified those with single HCC ≤ 3.0 cm, who underwent hepatic resection (HR, n = 16), radiofrequency ablation (RFA, n = 55), or LT (n = 23) with 5-years follow-up. Survival and odds-ratios for survival (OS) after HR/RFA were calculated for MELD score, platelet count, creatinine, albumin, AST/Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), INR, and bilirubin. RESULTS LT patients had 3 and 5-year OS of 82.6% and 73.9% compared to HR/RFA patients with 3 and 5-year OS of 40.8% and 33.8%. The strongest predictors of survival after HR/RFA were MELD < 10 (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.85-10.58) and APRI ≤ 0.5 (OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.63-11.08). HR/RFA patients with both MELD < 10 and APRI ≤ 0.5 had 3- and 5-year OS of 77.3% and 72.7%. CONCLUSION Patients with MELD < 10 and APRI ≤ 0.5 who undergo HR/RFA have survival approaching LT. Perhaps patients who meet these criteria can safely undergo non-transplant therapy and donor livers can be allocated to patients with a greater need.