cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exodontics: Extraction of Teeth in the Dog and Cat

Dental disease can have a profound effect on the comfort and well-being of pets. Oral disease can be difficult to detect. Patients often hide their discomfort. The identification and treatment or removal of diseased teeth are the responsibility of the veterinarian. When diseased teeth cannot be saved by specialized care, extraction of teeth is necessary. Proper extraction of teeth in dogs and cats can be challenging and frustrating, but with review of the oral anatomy, proper instrumentation, and gentle tissue-handling techniques, this can be a rewarding part of clinical practice.
Does estradiol mediate leptin’s effects on adiposity and body weight?

The role of estradiol in mediating leptin’s effects on body weight was assessed in ovariectomized (OVX) mice before and after the onset of obesity. Ovariectomy did not alter leptin levels before th...
System identification using neural networks

A recent result by S.R. Chu et al. (1989) shows the use of a Hopfield neural network to identify the A and B matrices of a linear system using state measurements. The authors extend this result to the identification of the complete (A, B, C, D) description using output measurements. They develop a convenient state-space representation for the identification, and describe how the identification problem can be mapped onto the Hopfield network. A computer simulation to illustrate the technique is presented. >
Reconnecting the classroom: E-learning pedagogy in US public high schools

Giventhat most of the educational use of the Internet by American high school students occurs outside the school day, and outside the direction of teachers, this article reviews e-learning pedagogy and implementation in schools, with a view to enhancing learning both inside and outside the classroom. Key concepts such as active learning, metacognition and transfer of learning, may be promoted by e-learning applications that emphasise active engagement, social learning, continuous feedback and real world applications. This paper also explores some implementation issues including teacher training, content and application standardisation, cheating among students, and software filters and surveillance. Recommendations are made about informing and training educators as the first step in promoting classroom re-connection with outside school use of the Internet by students.
A novel curcumin-based vaginal cream Vacurin selectively eliminates apposed human cervical cancer cells.

Abstract Objective Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In the U.S. strategies via screening and vaccination prevent HPV-associated cervical neoplasms, but consume immense healthcare costs. The spice component curcumin has potent anticancer and antiviral properties, which have been difficult to harness as a treatment, due to its poor systemic bioavailability. This project tests the possibility of developing a curcumin-based therapy for cervical cancer. Methods Using four HPV(+) cervical cancer cell lines and normal fibroblasts we first tested the selectivity and potency of curcumin in eliminating HPV(+) cells. Subsequently, we developed a curcumin-based cervical cream and tested its efficacy in eliminating apposed HPV(+) cells and also its possible side effects on the vaginal epithelium of healthy mice. Results Curcumin selectively eliminates a variety of HPV(+) cervical cancer cells (HeLa, ME-180, SiHa, and SW756), suppresses the transforming antigen E6, dramatically inhibits the expression of the pro-cancer protein epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and concomitantly induces p53. Additionally, Vacurin, a uniform colloidal solution of curcumin in a clinically used amphipathic vaginal cream, eliminates apposed HeLa cells while suppressing the expression of EGFR. In mice, daily intravaginal application of Vacurin for three weeks produced no change in body weight and when the mice were sacrificed, the vaginal tract epithelium showed no Vacurin-evoked adverse effects. Conclusion We have developed a curcumin-based vaginal cream, which effectively eradicates HPV(+) cancer cells and does not affect non-cancerous tissue. Our preclinical data support a novel approach for the treatment of cervical HPV infection.
Robotic Colorectal Surgery—Teaching and Skill Acquisition

As robotic technology becomes more commonplace, the demand for structured training programs in robotic surgery will increase. Every new technology has its learning curve and robotic surgery is no exception. The ideal training program in robotic surgery should progress from laboratory exercises to a mentored clinical experience in patients. This review presents the reported experience on teaching robotic surgery, suggests protocols for training colorectal surgeons as well as elaborates on the tools to objectively measure technical proficiency.
The necessity of adrenalectomy at the time of radical nephrectomy: a systematic review.

Purpose: We describe the literature base pertaining to adrenalectomy at radical nephrectomy and present a pragmatic approach based on primary tumor and disease characteristics.Materials and Methods: Literature searches were performed via the National Center for Biotechnology Information databases using various keywords. Articles that pertained to the concomitant use of adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy were surveyed.Results: The incidence of solitary, synchronous, ipsilateral adrenal involvement, ie that which is potentially curable with ipsilateral adrenalectomy along with nephrectomy, is much lower than previously thought at 1% to 5%. Evidence to date supports increased size and T stage, multifocality, upper pole location and venous thrombosis as risk factors for adrenal involvement. Cross-sectional imaging is now accurate at demonstrating the absence of adrenal involvement but still carries a significant risk of false-positives. The morbidity of adrenalectomy is minimal except in those patients wi...
Facebook Fallout: The Emotional Response to Being Unfriended on Facebook

Social networking sites allow users to form, maintain and dissolve relationships on the network. This investigation examines the factors that predict the emotional response a Facebook user may experience when they are unfriended. Facebook users who valued the peak of the relationship more highly were more negatively affected by the unfriending. Facebook users who displayed high levels of network vigilance were more negatively affected when unfriended. Users who discussed the unfriending with others after the relationship dissolved were less negatively affected by the dissolution. Facebook users who discussed the difficulty in the relationship prior to the friendship dissolution were less negatively affected by the dissolution. Common emotional responses to being unfriended include surprise, bothered, amusement and sadness, in this order by level of agreement.
Developing a Scale of Perception of Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports (SPSAYS)

A scale was developed to measure perceptions of sexual abuse in youth sports by assessing (a) the perceived prevalence of sexual abuse committed by pedophilic youth sport coaches, (b) the perceived likelihood that a coach is a pedophile, (c) perceptions on how youth sport organizations should manage the risk of pedophilia, and (d) media influence on participant perception. Two studies were conducted for (a) the formulation of the conceptual framework, (b) the development of preliminary items, (c) an exploratory factor analysis, and (d) a confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The first data set (n = 223) was used for exploratory factor analysis, and four factors (i.e., Management, Prevalence, Influence, and Likelihood) with 15 items emerged. With an independent sample (n = 209), confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted and found strong support for the scale's psychometric properties, including, convergent validity, predictive validity, and relia...
The occurrence of blood-filled cysts on the cardiac valves in infancy*

Summary Small, blood-filled cysts occur not infrequently on the leaflets of the cardiac valves in the neonatal period. The best explanation for their origin is that they are cystic dilatations at the ends of endothelial-lined canals in the substance of the valves.
Comparison of p63 and p73 expression in benign and malignant salivary gland lesions.

Background. The p63 and p73 genes are members of the p53 family and play an important role in stem cell identity and cellular differentiation and are expressed in basal and myoepithelial cells. In this study, we examined the expression of p63 and p73 in 50 various benign salivary gland lesions and 45 malignant salivary gland tumors. Methods. The 95 salivary gland tumors were selected from the archives of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Sectioned formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue cut at 3 μm was immunostained with antibodies that recognize all isozymes of p63 and p73 and evaluated with respect to percentage of positive cells and localization. Results. In benign lesions, p63 and p73 nuclear reactivity was seen in 46 (92%) of 50 and 47 (94%) of 50 cases, respectively. In malignant tumors, p63 and p73 were seen in 34 (76%) of 45 and 40 (89%) of 45 cases, respectively. A significant difference between p63 and p73 positivity was only seen in adenoid cystic carcinomas (p = .006). Also, p73 was found in tumors with minimal basal/myoepithelial differentiation. Conclusions. Hence, p63 and p73 expression is retained in both benign and malignant salivary gland tumors with basaloid or myoepithelial differentiation. Hence, p63 seems to be a more specific marker of myoepithelial differentiation than p73. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: XXX–XXX, 2005
Textile marketing: a status report

This exploratory study investigated the status of textile marketing in the United States by (a) examining the textile industry's use of effective marketing techniques, and (b) identifying common problems and needed improvements in textile marketing. The procedure followed these steps: (a) effective marketing techniques were identified, (b) interviews were conducted with nine textile executives and four individuals representing the United States textile industry at large, and (c) the respondents' statements about textile marketing practices were analysed for evidence of effective marketing techniques, common textile marketing problems and needed inprovements in textile marketing. The results indicated that only five of the thirteen respondents described textile firms that were using effective marketing techniques, but some textile firms were using effective marketing techniques and this should be an incentive for other textile firms. Several common problems and needed improvements in textile marketing were also identified. Because of the small sample size, the open-ended questions, and the subjective analysis of the respondents' statements, this study must be regarded as exploratory. However, representative statements from the respondents are presented and these statements are informative about textile marketing practices.
YAC transgenes: bigger is probably better.

A number of recent articles have reported the successful generation of transgenic mouse lines carrying large fragments of DNA contained in yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) (1-5). The ability to transfer such large segments of DNA provides a number of opportunities, including the analysis of the function of large genes or gene clusters in their natural DNA configuration, the study of the influence of normally remote control elements on gene expression, and the analysis of long-range effects of regulatory elements such as those involved in X chromosome inactivation and imprinting. Other applications of YAC transgenes include the study of large DNA fragments for their ability to complement or rescue the loss of function associated with genetic defects in mice, and thereby confirm the identity or nature of genes isolated by positional cloning (reviewed in
Prevention of panic disorder.

The goal of this study was to empirically test a prevention program for panic disorder. Participants who had experienced at least 1 panic attack in the last 12 months and at least moderate anxiety sensitivity, but did not meet criteria for panic disorder, were randomly assigned to either a 1-day prevention workshop group or a wait-list control group. Participants were followed for 6 months. Relative to the wait-list control, workshop participants were less likely to develop panic disorder and reported significantly more improvement in panic attacks and avoidance of social situations. Satisfaction with the workshop predicted outcome 6 months later. These findings suggest that prevention may be a viable option for panic disorder, and one that warrants further development.
Latitudinal variation in size structure of the west coast purple sea urchin: A correlation with headlands1

Size structure of the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus was sampled from central California to central Oregon (36°– 45°N). Size frequency and inferred recruitment events are correlated with major topographic features. Capes and headlands—predictable sites of upwelling and locations of cold water plumes— show size frequencies indicative of low recruitment rates. Sites without predictable upwelling or regions that are between headlands have size frequencies that indicate substantial annual recruitment.
Nonlinear optimul slew of a flexible spacecraft

Some of the future flexible space systems will require maneuvering through large angles followed by a quick settling time upon arrival at the target. It is desired to minimize the control energy as well as structural excitations. These slewing maneuvers are nonlinear motion by nature. Current work, however, has been concentrated on a linear and single axis model for open loop implementation. New algorithms have been obtained[1] to generate optimal control laws to account for nonlinear and cross-axis coupling effects for closed-loop implementation. Practical implications of these algorithms were demonstrated through slewing a nonlinear flexible spacecraft consisting of a rigid central body with two flexible appendages. A two level approach is presented for attitude control of large (nonlinear) slewing with superimposed small (linear) flexible vibration modes: an optimal control law is first designed for the nominal rigid body mode, and an LQG feedback law is then designed along the nominal trajectory, to dampen the vibrations. The controller is then verified via simulations of a nonlinear evaluation model including six flexible modes.
The Performance of a Matched Subspace Detector That Uses Subspaces Estimated From Finite, Noisy, Training Data

We analyze the performance of a matched subspace detector (MSD) where the test signal vector is assumed to reside in an unknown, low-rank k subspace that must be estimated from finite, noisy, signal-bearing training data. Under both a stochastic and deterministic model for the test vector, subspace estimation errors due to limited training data degrade the performance of the standard plug-in detector, relative to that of an oracle detector. To avoid some of this performance loss, we utilize and extend recent results from random matrix theory (RMT) that precisely quantify the quality of the subspace estimate as a function of the eigen-SNR, dimensionality of the system, and the number of training samples. We exploit this knowledge of the subspace estimation accuracy to derive from first-principles a new RMT detector and to characterize the associated ROC performance curves of the RMT and plug-in detectors. Using more than the a critical number of informative components, which depends on the training sample size and eigen-SNR parameters of training data, will result in a performance loss that our analysis quantifies in the large system limit. We validate our asymptotic predictions with simulations on moderately sized systems.
Comparisons of some tests for validation of stochastic simulation models

Properties of proposed parametric and nonparametric tests for the problem of validating stochastic simulation models are discussed. Asymptotic efficiencies for various types of alternatives are developed for some of the tests. Numerical procedures along with simulation methods are used to evaluate the adequacy of normal approximations to the null distributions of the statistics and the small-sample power of the tests.
Beyond Assessing and onto Managing Risk for Levees

Flooding risks when levee systems fail or are overwhelmed are significant: more than 1,500 people died and tens of billions of dollars in property damage occurred in the New Orleans area from Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of this storm, a substantial effort was undertaken to quantitatively assess the risk of major flooding from future hurricane storm surges in New Orleans. The objective of this paper is to prompt and frame planning for the next steps in managing risk. What level of risk are we trying to achieve? How best can we achieve it?
A framework for synthetic stego

We present a technique for hiding information in stochastic settings via data-synthesizing schemes based on transform-expand-sample (Tes) processes. The technique is applicable whenever data generated by an application or process is sufficiently complex to exhibit random but structured behavior (such as in collective data transforms), and data trajectories have viable alternatives that are unverifiable or simply hard to verify. In such cases, a synthesizing procedure generates novel data that either actually replaces, or is generated instead of, application or process data. When information can be hidden in such data at levels higher than typical levels of noise, message-neutralizing attacks will fail; and if synthetic data, stego data and application/process data cannot be distinguished, secure stego transmissions can be launched. An information-theoretic model shows that such hiding techniques are arbitrarily secure. We present some experimental results.
Internal architecture, permeability structure, and hydrologic significance of contrasting fault-zone types

The Sand Hill fault is a steeply dipping, large-displacement normal fault that cuts poorly lithified Tertiary sediments of the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico, United States. The fault zone does not contain macroscopic fractures; the basic structural element is the deformation band. The fault core is composed of foliated clay flanked by structurally and lithologically heterogeneous mixed zones, in turn flanked by damage zones. Structures present within these fault-zone architectural elements are different from those in brittle faults formed in lithified sedimentary and crystalline rocks that do contain fractures. These differences are reflected in the permeability structure of the Sand Hill fault. Equivalent permeability calculations indicate that large-displacement faults in poorly lithified sediments have little potential to act as vertical-flow conduits and have a much greater effect on horizontal flow than faults with fractures.
Effects of polymorphism and crystallite size on dipole reorientation in poly(vinylidene fluoride) and its random copolymers

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(VDF-co-hexafluoropropylene) [P(VDF−HFP)] films having different polymorphisms and crystallite sizes but a similar crystal orientation (i.e., c-axes parallel to the film surface) were prepared by different film processing methods. Effects of polymorphism and crystallite size on the dipole reorientation behavior and electric energy storage/release were studied by electric displacement−electric field (D−E) loop measurements. Experimental results suggested that coupling interactions among ferroelectric domains, which could be adjusted by different polymorphisms and/or crystallite sizes, determined dipole reorientation/switching behaviors. Note that the ferroelectric domain coupling is realized via induced compensation polarizations from the media (either amorphous or crystalline PVDF) between aligned ferroelectric domains. A high β rather than α/δ content and a large crystallite size facilitated the coupling interactions among ferroelectric domains, and thus dipoles i...
Improving the therapeutic ratio of craniospinal irradiation in medulloblastoma

Abstract Radiation therapy delivered to the entire cerebrospinal axis is indicated for a number of pediatric brain tumors, especially medulloblastoma. Improved radiotherapy techniques have changed the near fatal prognosis for children with medulloblastoma to a 50%, 5-year survival. Nevertheless, the treatment results in substantial acute toxicity, and many survivors have serious sequelae. Further improvement in survival with optimal surgery and radiotherapy is not expected unless chemotherapy is added. Refinements in radiotherapy technique, however, can improve the therapeutic ratio of the treatment by lowering its side effects. In the last year children who required craniospinal irradiation at M. D. Anderson Hospital were treated with 6 MV photons to the brain and primary tumor and with 15–17 MeV electrons to the spinal canal. The elective dose to the whole brain was 30 Gy in 17 fractions and 30 Gy in 20 fractions to the spine. The primary tumor received an additional 20–25 Gy. An electron-beam dose distribution was drawn on a computerized tomography (CT) reconstructed sagittal plane. The electron energy was selected so that the 90% isodose line was at least 3 mm anterior to the cord after correction for bone heterogeneity. The treatment was well tolerated in the first five patients. It is projected that the current technique will cause fewer late effects and improve the tolerance to chemotherapy.
Exploring regions of interest with cluster analysis (EROICA) using a spectral peak statistic for selecting and testing the significance of fMRI activation time-series

Much relevant information about activations and artifacts in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dataset can be obtained from an exploratory cluster analysis. In contrast to testing the significance of the measured experimental effect for a given model, unsupervised pattern recognition techniques, such as fuzzy clustering, often find unexpected behavior in addition to expected activations, allowing the exploitation of this element of surprise. The many artifact clusters often discovered might aid the experimenter in deciding whether the dataset is usable, whether some additional preprocessing step is required, or whether the one used has introduced spurious effects. However, clustering alone does not complete the analysis because the membership values that are generated are not indicative of the level of statistical significance with respect to the cluster activation patterns (centroids). This is of particular importance for fMRI datasets for which most time-series are ''noise'', with no activation patterns. We propose that an initial partition step should precede the clustering step. Only time-series that meet a certain statistical criterion (using a scaled version of Fisher's g-order statistic) are selected for clustering; this typically represents <5% of the whole brain region. The purpose of clustering is to generate a set of cluster centers that are the possible activation patterns; these are used in forming a linear model of all the time-series. The model parameter is tested for significance in both the time and frequency domains. We present a novel method of conducting these tests, which limits the number of false positives. We call the three-step process of initial partition, clustering and the two-domain significance test as exploring regions of interest with cluster analysis (EROICA).
Detection of metabolites in rabbit brain by 13C NMR spectroscopy following administration of [1-13C]glucose.

1H-decoupled 13C NMR spectra (20.2 MHz) of the living rabbit brain were collected with a surface coil following the intravenous infusion of [1-13C]glucose. Within 15 min of infusion, the α and β anomers of glucose were detected and, shortly thereafter, the carbon atoms at positions C4, C3, and C2 of glutamate and(or) glutamine. After reductions of inspired oxygen from 30 to 5%, lactate C3 was detected. The intensity of the lactate resonance rose progressively during hypoxia and later fell during recovery with oxygen. The 13C fractional isotopic enrichment of arterial blood glucose was measured by 1H NMR providing information on the rate and extent of blood glucose labeling. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Semiparametric bayesian analysis of matched case-control studies with missing exposure

This article considers Bayesian analysis of matched case-control problems when one of the covariates is partially missing. Within the likelihood context, the standard approach to this problem is to posit a fully parametric model among the controls for the partially missing covariate as a function of the covariates in the model and the variables making up the strata. Sometimes the strata effects are ignored at this stage. Our approach differs not only in that it is Bayesian, but, far more importantly, in the manner in which it treats the strata effects. We assume a Dirichlet process prior with a normal base measure for the stratum effects and estimate all of the parameters in a Bayesian framework. Three matched case-control examples and a simulation study are considered to illustrate our methods and the computing scheme.
On Estimating Variances of Robust Estimators When the Errors are Asymmetric

Abstract We investigate the effects of asymmetry on estimates of variance of robust estimates in location and regression problems, thus showing that heavy skewness of errors can bias seriously the common variance estimates for location and intercept. This is a problem that can be corrected by jackknifing for location, but is more intractable for the intercept in regression. The slope parameters in linear regression seem not to be so seriously subject to this bias if the sample size is large compared with the number of parameters.
Learning-aided predictor integration for system performance prediction

The integration of multiple predictors promises higher prediction accuracy than the accuracy that can be obtained with a single predictor. The challenge is how to select the best predictor at any given moment. Traditionally, multiple predictors are run in parallel and the one that generates the best result is selected for prediction. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for predictor integration based on the learning of historical predictions. Compared with the traditional approach, it does not require running all the predictors simultaneously. Instead, it uses classification algorithms such as k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) and Bayesian classification and dimension reduction technique such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to forecast the best predictor for the workload under study based on the learning of historical predictions. Then only the forecasted best predictor is run for prediction. Our experimental results show that it achieved 20.18% higher best predictor forecasting accuracy than the cumulative MSE based predictor selection approach used in the popular Network Weather Service system. In addition, it outperformed the observed most accurate single predictor in the pool for 44.23% of the performance traces.
On power series and their real parts

Soit la serie de puissance S=∑ n=0 ∞ C n Z n , C n ∈C, z∈C et soit U=∑ n=0 ∞ Re(CnZ n ). Si la serie U converge au point z 0 , z 0 ¬=0, alors U converge absolument en chaque point interieur z du segment [−z 0 ,z 0 ] qui joint les points −z 0 et z 0 . Si U converge absolument en z 0 alors U converge absolument en tout point de [−z 0 ,z 0 ]
The Black Political Tradition in New York: A Conjunction of Political Cultures.

The migration of Afro-Americans from the American South to Northern cities during and after World War I is a familiar tale. The other major African migrant stream of early provenance and significant political resonance has been the English-speaking West Indian from the Commonwealth Caribbean and Virgin Islands. Ira Reid's The Negro Immigrant is probably still the best known scholarly appraisal of this group. Some of the major results of these migrations, for instance, the Harlem Renaissance and the multifaceted phenomena of urbanization, are now very familiar. This article explores different ground. It is an account of three areas of the constantly evolving New York Black political tradition of the twentieth century and of the West Indian role, fundamental or adaptive, in their evolution. We shall examine the strange phenomena of street journalism which for a time graduated into larger tasks than reportage and chronicling, the assimilation of West Indian migrant women to the political standards of their Afro-American sisters, and a necessarily limited account of the growth of a political sense of community in Black New York.
Optical Measurements of Soot Formation in Premixed Flames

Abstract The growth of soot particles in rich premixed flames was measured using the diffusion broadening particle-sizing technique. This dynamic-light-scattering technique reduces the dependence of size measurements on particle complex index of refraction which is a problem with most light-scattering size measurements. Size measurements were made in fuel-rich premixed methaneoxygen flat flames with fuel-oxidizer ratios ranging from 2.2to 2.9 times sloichiometric values,and in propane-oxygen flames at an equivalence ratio of 2.6. Particles as small as 23nm in diameter were observed 5 mm above the burner surface (within about a millimeter of the flame front), growing t0 60-120nm (depending on the equivalence ratio) 14mm above Ihe burner. Measurements of the intensity of scattered light were used in conjunction with the size measurements to determine the soot number density in the methane-oxygen flames, which was found to be decreasing with height above the burner at positions 5 mm above the burner and high...
Do foreign banks increase competition? Evidence from emerging Asian and Latin American banking markets

In this paper we examine the impact of foreign bank penetration on the competitive structure of domestic banking sectors in host emerging economies. We focus our analysis on Asia and Latin America during the period 1997–2008. Using bank-level panel data to identify foreign banks and to estimate measures of banking competition, we are able to provide robust empirical evidence that an increase in foreign bank penetration enhances competition in these host countries’ banking sectors. We find that this positive foreign bank penetration and banking competition link is associated with a spillover effect from foreign banks to their domestic counterparts. This spillover effect becomes stronger when more efficient and less risky foreign banks enter into less concentrated host country markets. We also find that the spillover effect is greater when foreign banks enter in the form of ‘de novo penetration’ than through mergers or acquisitions of domestic banks (‘M&A penetration’).
Women and AIDS: An analysis of media misrepresentations

A close reading of popular discourses on women and the AIDS epidemic reveals the ways in which such depictions produce and reiterate power-laden notions of normative sexuality. Prostitutes, one frequently depicted 'kind' of woman, are presented as indiscriminate, polluting to men and categorically different from 'normal' women. Other women depicted in AIDS discourses are almost always HIV-positive mothers or pregnant women; these women are usually only of concern insofar as they may infect their babies. The themes of self-control, self-discipline and personal responsibility may also stigmatize women. Such discourses suggest that those who have AIDS are responsible for their own illness. They also deflect attention away from the socioeconomic contexts that may make it more difficult for some to avoid infection, away from the connections between poverty, illness and disempowerment, and away from systematic inequalities that characterize U.S. society.
Long-term pegylated liposomal doxorubicin use and oromaxillary squamous cell carcinoma in endometrial cancer.

A case of primary buccal squamous cell carcinoma arising in a patient with uterine papillary serous carcinoma after long-term pegylated liposomal doxorubicin treatment is presented.
Receipt of help acquiring life skills and predictors of help receipt among current and former foster youth

Abstract US law has long recognized the need to help prepare foster youth for the transition to adulthood and states receive funds specifically intended to provide their foster youth with independent living services. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to whether foster youth in fact receive the services states are supposed to provide using federal funds. This study uses data from the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth to describe the kinds of help foster youth receive in making the transition to adulthood and the factors associated with help receipt. Study findings call for a redoubling of efforts to provide foster youth with the assistance called for in federal law, provide support for the extension of foster care through age 21 in the interest of ensuring that such assistance is provided, highlight the need to involve foster parents more actively in providing youth with life skills training, and call into question whether current efforts to assist foster youth in acquiring independent living skills are well targeted.
Appropriate Uses of Intelligence Tests with Gifted Children.

This article suggests that intelligence testing effectively serves the purpose for which it was created and that it can yield a wealth of valuable information about a gifted child. Many of the criticisms of intelligence testing are based on unrealistic expectations that the tests can accomplish what they were never intended to do. The authors suggest that there are certainly characteristics other than intelligence that need to be nurtured and that researchers and educators will need to develop standardized measures of those abilities and programs to match those talents. Acknowledging that other measures are needed does not invalidate those measures currently used.
Medical Home Access Among American Indian and Alaska Native Children in 7 States: National Survey of Children’s Health

To describe the prevalence of medical home among American Indian and Alaska Native children (AIAN) compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) children and identify areas for improvement in the provision of care within a medical home. Prevalence of medical home, defined as family-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, culturally effective care, including a personal doctor or nurse and usual care location, was estimated using 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health data. Analyses included 1–17 year-olds in states reporting AIAN race as a distinct category (Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, n = 9,764). Associations between medical home and demographic (child’s age, household education and income, and state) and health-related [child’s insurance status, special health care need status, and past year Indian Health Service (IHS) utilization] characteristics were assessed among AIAN children. Overall, the prevalence of medical home was 27 % lower among AIAN children (42.6, 95 % CI = 34.4–50.8) than NHW children (58.3, 95 % CI = 56.2–60.4). Child’s age (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.7, 95 % CI = 1.3–5.6) was significantly associated with medical home. IHS utilization was associated with medical home among AIAN children with private insurance (aOR = 0.2, 95 % CI = 0.1–0.4), but not among uninsured or publicly insured children. Care coordination and family-centered care were noted areas for improvement among AIAN children. Less than half of AIAN children had a medical home. Future studies should further examine the intersection between insurance and IHS to determine if enhanced coordination is needed for this population, which is often served by multiple federally-funded health-related programs.
Adsorption characteristics of a cationic porphyrin on nanoclay at various pH.

Abstract Natural and synthetic porphyrin derivatives offer a range of applications including enzymatic catalysis, photosensitizers for light harvesting and chemical reactions, and molecular electronics. They exhibit unique optical spectra dominated by the presence of Soret and Q-band structures whose position and shape offer a straightforward method to characterize porphyrins in various surroundings. In many applications it is often beneficial to have porphyrins adsorbed onto a solid matrix. Applications of porphyrin–clay complexes extend to numerous biological applications including pharmaceutical drug delivery, cosmetics, and agricultural applications and thus a full understanding of porphyrin–clay surface interactions are essential. Here we investigated the adsorption behavior of meso-tetra(4-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium) porphine (TMAP) onto sodium containing, natural montmorillonite clay (Cloisite Na+) in characteristic biological buffers over a range of pHs (∼2–9). Spectroscopic analyses show a linear absorption response at acidic and basic pHs but a slight deviation at intermediate pHs. Absorption spectra for TMAP on clay showed distinct red shifts of the Soret and Q-bands compared to free TMAP for all buffer conditions indicating core π-electron delocalization into the substituent rings. At intermediate pHs, a gradual transition between protonated/deprotonated states were seen, presumably due to higher H+ concentration at the surface than in bulk. Results indicate TMAP adsorption to clay occurs in a monolayer fashion at low/high pH while slightly acidic/neutral pH possibly rearrange on the surface and/or form aggregates. AFM images of clay saturated with TMAP are reported and show single isolated clay sheets without aggregation, similar to clay without TMAP.
Absorption of iron protein-calorie deficient rats and immediate effects of re-feeding an adequate protein diet

Five-week-old rats fed 0.5% protein diet for at least 6 weeks, as well as the progeny of female rats fed either 18 or 5% protein diet during pregnancy and lactation, were studied for iron absorption. In the former, iron retention varied from 2.8 to 4.7% of the ingested dose. Raising the dietary protein level fed these malnourished rats to 18% produced prompt and marked enhancement of iron retention which varied with duration of re-feeding with adequate protein. Compared with the progeny of adequately fed mothers, the offspring of malnourished dams demonstrated prominent reduction in iron absorption at weaning. Re-feeding with high-protein diet elicited prompt increase in body weight with concomitant enhancement of the proportion of ingested iron retained.
PREVENTION OF NOSOCOMIAL TRANSMISSION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

The recent resurgence of TB together with the ongoing HIV epidemic has resulted in a larger number of infectious TB patients being admitted to US health care facilities. These patients have become a source for both nosocomial (patient-to-patient) and occupational (patient-to-health care worker) M. tuberculosis transmission. Infectious MDR-TB patients serve as even greater potential infectious sources because they often remain AFB smear and culture positive for months to years. The keys to the prevention of nosocomial and occupational transmission of M. tuberculosis is conducting a risk assessment for each area of the facility and instituting appropriate control measures, having a high index of suspicion by clinicians for infectious TB in those who present with consistent signs and symptoms, rapid triage of such patients to isolation areas and their appropriate clinical work-up, and the institution of effective antituberculous therapy. Infection control personnel should ensure that infectious TB patients are isolated in appropriate isolation rooms (i.e., negative pressure, greater than or equal to 6 ACH, and direct external exhaust of the room air). Health care workers with infectious TB patient contact should be instructed in the epidemiology of M. tuberculosis transmission, the role of respirators in protecting the health care worker from airborne inoculation, and the importance of periodic health care worker TST. The nosocomial TB outbreaks in the 1980s and 1990s document that M. tuberculosis can be transmitted to both patients and health care workers in US health care facilities when appropriate infection control measures are not fully implemented. Follow-up studies at some of these institutions, however, document that when infection control measures similar to the 1990 or 1994 CDC TB Guidelines are fully implemented, M. tuberculosis transmission to both patients and health care workers can be reduced or eliminated. Protection of both patients and health care workers from M. tuberculosis infection is dependent on an understanding and full implementation of the 1994 CDC TB Guidelines.
Measurement of deformations in SnAgCu solder interconnects under in situ thermal loading

Abstract Optical microscopy was used to discern the different grain orientations and grain boundaries on the polished cross-sections of near-eutectic lead-free board-level SnAgCu (SAC) solder interconnects. Strain distributions with submicron accuracy of the deformations on the cross-sections of the solder interconnects were measured when the package was subjected to thermal loading from room temperature to 100 °C. The results were correlated with the locations of different grains, grain boundaries and larger primary intermetallics. It revealed anisotropic nature of deformations in different grains of the SAC solder, which is similar to the thermomechanical behavior of pure Sn. The strain distribution in a solder interconnect varied significantly in different grain orientations. The primary intermetallics (Ag 3 Sn plates) also behaved very differently from the surrounding Sn matrix under the thermal loading. The demonstrated strain localization along the grain boundaries and bigger primary intermetallics provides a clue for the path of fatigue crack growth that leads to a failure because of anisotropic thermomechanical response of SAC solder during thermal cycling.
Rare manifestations of Churg–Strauss syndrome: coronary artery vasospasm, temporal artery vasculitis, and reversible monocular blindness—a case report

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare illness with clinical findings characterized by asthma, eosinophilia, and vasculitis affecting medium and small-sized arteries and veins in a variety of organs. Involvement of the temporal arteries by non-giant cell eosinophilic vasculitis in CSS is quite rare and has only been published as isolated case reports or small patient series. Myocardial infarction due to coronary artery vasospasm is an unusual manifestation of CSS. We describe a case of a 39-year-old woman who had two myocardial infarctions due to severe coronary artery vasospasm and was diagnosed with CSS based on a temporal artery biopsy. During the course of her treatment, she also had another rare manifestation of CSS, monocular blindness reversible with immunosuppressive therapy.
Ultrahigh-Vacuum Measurement of the Optical Properties of Copper*

An ultrahigh-vacuum system has been designed and built in which metallic films may be evaporated and their optical properties measured in situ. This system has been used in the formation of copper films and the study of their aging histories. A control sample formed and held at 10−5 Torr displayed a relatively constant value for the dielectric constant with time. Samples held at 10−8 Torr showed a sharp decrease in this parameter during the first 5 h after evaporation.
Review of the Genus Umbelligerus Deitz with Description of Two New Species from Panama and Key to Adults (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Abstract. A review of the genus Umbelligerus is presented with description of two new species from Panama. Descriptions and illustrations of all five known species: U. peruviensis Deitz, U. furcillatus Sakakibara, U. woldai Sakakibara, U. stockwelli Flynn, n. sp., and U. convergens Flynn, n. sp. are presented with key to adults.
Residue Ile89 in human plasma membrane monoamine transporter influences its organic cation transport activity and sensitivity to inhibition by dilazep.

Abstract Plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) is a polyspecific organic cation transporter belonging to the equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) family. Despite its distinct substrate specificity from the classic nucleoside transporters ENT1 and 2, PMAT appears to share similar protein architecture with ENT1/2 and retains low affinity binding to classic ENT inhibitors such as nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) and the coronary vasodilators dilazep and dipyridamole. Here we investigated the role of residue Ile89, a position known to be important for ENT interaction with dilazep, dipyridamole, and nucleoside substrates, in PMAT transport function and its interaction with classic ENT inhibitors using Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells stably expressing human PMAT. Substitution of Ile89 in PMAT with Met, the counterpart residue in ENT1, resulted in normal plasma membrane localization and protein expression. Transport kinetic analysis revealed that I89M mutant had a 2.7-fold reduction in maximal transport velocity (Vmax) with no significant change in apparent binding affinity (Km) towards the prototype PMAT substrate 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), suggesting that I89 is an important determinant for the catalytic activity of PMAT. Dose-dependent inhibition studies further showed that the I89M mutation significantly increased PMAT's sensitivity to dilazep by 2.5-fold without affecting its sensitivity to dipyridamole and NBMPR. Located at the extracellular end of transmembrane domain 1 of PMAT, I89 may occupy an important position close to the substrate permeation pathway and may be involved in direct interaction with the vasodilator dilazep.
Generalizability Theory as Evidence of Concerns about Fairness in Large-Scale ESL Writing Assessments.

Using generalizability theory, this study examined both the rating variability and reliability of English as a second language (ESL) students' writing in two provincial examinations in Canada. This article discusses expected and unexpected similarities and differences related to rating variability and reliability between the two testing programs. As expected, there was more desired but less unwanted variation in ESL and native-English-speaking (NES) students' writing scores in Province B than in Province A. But unexpectedly, the results demonstrated systematic differences between ESL and NES students in terms of rating variability. Further, there were lower reliabilities in ESL students' scores in comparison to NES students' scores. These findings raise potential concerns about the fairness of large-scale ESL writing assessments.
Managing data-movement for effective shared-memory parallelization of out-of-core sparse solvers

Direct methods for solving sparse linear systems are robust and typically exhibit good performance, but often require large amounts of memory due to fill-in. Many industrial applications use out-of-core techniques to mitigate this problem. However, parallelizing sparse out-of-core solvers poses some unique challenges because accessing secondary storage introduces serialization and I/O overhead. We analyze the data-movement costs and memory versus parallelism trade-offs in a shared-memory parallel out-of-core linear solver for sparse symmetric systems. We propose an algorithm that uses a novel memory management scheme and adaptive task parallelism to reduce the data-movement costs. We present experiments to show that our solver is faster than existing out-of-core sparse solvers on a single core, and is more scalable than the only other known shared-memory parallel out-of-core solver. This work is also directly applicable at the node level in a distributed-memory parallel scenario.
Synthesis of 5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-substituted aryl-3-hydrazino-carbonylmethylthio-4H-1,2,4-triazoles as possible antiinflammatory agents

A series of 5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-substituted aryl-3-hydrazinocarbonylmethylthio-4H-1,2,4-triazoles were synthesized and evaluated for their antiprotolytic and antiinflammatory activities.