cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Demineralized dentin, hydroxylapatite and dentin chips as apical plugs.

Abstract Demineralized dentin, hydroxylapatite, or dentin chips were condensed into the apical 2 mm of canals with perforated apexes in 36 anterior teeth of 8 adult cynomolgus monkeys. The coronal sections of the canals were then obturated with gutta percha and Grossman's sealer. Twelve additional canals with perforated apexes were obturated 2 mm short of their radiographic apexes and served as controls. The amount of hard tissue formation and the degree of inflammation were evaluated after 3 and after 6 months. No differences were noted between the various materials after 3 months. However, after 6 months the samples with apical plugs of hydroxylapatite had more hard tissue formation and less inflammation than the others.
Beginning School Age and Academic Achievement.

One hundred and seventeen students who began kindergarten in 1978-79 were studied to determine effects of beginning school age and gender on later school achievement and retention in grade. No significant differences among the three age groups were found at kindergarten, 2nd, or 4th grade. Differences in achievement between boys and girls were noted. Results are similar to those of other recent studies and suggest that parents and teachers may be unduly cautious when delaying the entry of children to school on the basis of chronological age considerations. Local district studies are recommended.
Degradative ring opening of pyrido and pyrazino 3-benzenesulfonyloxyuracils and their conversion to condensed pyrazolones and triazolones†

Ring opening, followed by an immediate Lossen rearrangement, of 3-benzenesulfonyloxypyrido[3,2-d, 3,4-d and 4,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)diones with sodium methoxide in methanol furnished good yields of the methyl esters of 3-[2-(methoxycarbonyl)hydrazino]-2-, 3-[2-(methoxycarbonylhydrazino]-4- and 4-[2-(methoxycarbonyl)hydrazino]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acids, respectively. These hydrazino esters were cyclized to the corresponding pyridopyrazolones. However, the reaction of 3-benzenesulfonyloxypyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)dione with sodium methoxide produced 8-methoxycarbonyl-s-triazolo[4,5-a]pyridin-3(2H)one. In similar fashion, sodium methoxide converted 3-benzenesulfonyloxylumazine to 8-methoxycarbonyl-s-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazin-3(2H)one.
A practical guide for colour-vision examination: report of the standardization committee of the international research group on colour-vision deficiencies

There are different types and degrees of colour deficiency and some types of defect occur more frequently than others. Several different techniques are used for examining colour vision and many different tests are available commercially. Clinical tests have three aims: to screen for colour deficiency, to diagnose or classify the type of defect and to grade the severity of the defect. Individual tests do not fulfil all three aims and a test battery is recommended for any detailed colour-vision examination or for giving occupational advice. This paper provides information about congenital and acquired colour-vision defects and lists the principal colour-vision tests. Standardized test methods and viewing conditions are described. The efficiency of each test, for screening, diagnosis and grading is indicated and appropriate test batteries are recommended for different testing requirements.
Ideal Type Theory: Max Weber's Concept and Some of Its Derivations*

(1965). Ideal Type Theory: Max Weber's Concept and Some of Its Derivations. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 268-280.
Interacting depolarizable adatoms on a triangular lattice a model for alkali metal adsorption on fcc (111) and hcp (0001) surfaces

Abstract We investigate the phase diagram of adsorbed dipoles on a triangular lattice by means of Monte Carlo simulation. Our model incorporates depolarization and multiplicity of binding sites, effects thought to be important for describing the adsorption of alkali metal atoms on metal surfaces. We successfully reproduce several important features of alkali-metal absorption systems including: the characteristic saturation in the work function decrease with coverage and the condensation behavior resulting from depolarization. We consider the T = 0 behavior for the general case and present the full condensation phase diagram for one set of parameters.
Atmospheric teleconnection patterns associated with wheat stripe rust disease in North China

Previous work has shown that long-term (>40 years) time series of wheat stripe rust disease from North China contain a signal related to the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). However, no cause-and-effect relationships or direct links between SOI and disease have been established. Because mid-latitude teleconnection patterns form important links between global atmospheric variations and regional weather anomalies, such as the Southern Oscillation, studies of such patterns could result in a better physical and biological interpretation for the SOI-disease association observed previously. We used cross-spectral analyses to determine if and on which time scales severity of stripe rust in five regions of North China between 1952 and 1990 was associated with fluctuations in four Northern Hemisphere teleconnection patterns. These included the Pacific/North American, the Western Atlantic, the Western Pacific, and the Eurasian patterns. The analysis showed consistent and significant (P≤0.10) coherence relationships between the Western Atlantic (WA) pattern and stripe rust severity at a periodicity of 3.00 years. The phase relationships showed that, at the 3.00-year periodicity, the WA series and the disease series were out of phase by about half a period in all five regions. This phase difference indicated that peaks in the WA series, which are associated with below-normal winter temperatures over much of China, coincided with troughs in the disease series (i.e. low disease severity), presumably because of the negative effect of low winter temperatures on survival of the stripe rust pathogen. The analysis further showed that the WA series and the SOI series were highly significantly (P≤0.01) coherent at a periodicity of 4.33 years, which could explain the association between SOI and stripe rust severity reported previously.
Promoting Excellence in Two-Year College Chemistry Education

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Society Committee on Education (SOCED) Task Force on Two-Year College Activities has been charged with promoting excellence through dissemination of the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs, developing a framework for recognizing high standards and effective practices, and engaging the two-year college community. At the 187th Two-Year College Chemistry Consortium conference in San Francisco, members of the task force facilitated an interactive session on the need to strive for excellence, how to identify excellence, and ways in which excellence can be demonstrated. The task force is seeking further input from the chemistry community.
Electronic Specific Heat of Dilute Alloys: Fe(Ti), Fe(V), Fe(Cr), Fe(Mn), Fe(Co), Fe(Ni), Fe(Al), Fe(Si), Fe(Mo), Fe(W), and Ag(Au)

A method of measuring simultaneously the low-temperature specific heat of three samples, typically one pure-metal sample and two alloys with 1 and 2% solute, is described. The procedure is used to determine the variation of the electronic-specific-heat coefficient $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ (the coefficient of the term linear in temperature) with concentration $c$ for various solutes (Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Mo, and W) in Fe and for Au in Ag. The simultaneous calorimetry gives an increase in relative accuracy sufficient to enable determination of variations of $(\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\gamma}})\frac{d\ensuremath{\gamma}}{\mathrm{dc}}$ to within \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10% for dilute alloys of Fe. For Ag(Au) alloys the variation of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ with concentration is less than can be detected in these experiments. A linear decrease of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ with increasing $c$ is found for six of the iron-based alloy systems. For these the values of $(\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\gamma}})\frac{d\ensuremath{\gamma}}{\mathrm{dc}}$ are: Fe(Ti), -1.0; Fe(V), -2.2; Fe(Cr), -2.0; Fe(Mo), -0.8; Fe(W), -2.4; and Fe(Co), -0.6. A nonlinear increase of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ with $c$ is found for the remaining. The average values of $(\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\gamma}})\frac{d\ensuremath{\gamma}}{\mathrm{dc}}$ are: Fe(Al), +1.2; Fe(Si), +0.6; Fe(Mn), +2.0; and Fe(Ni), +2.6. From experiments on two-phase alloys of Fe-${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$Nb, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ for ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$Nb is estimated to be between 9 and 10 mJ/${\mathrm{deg}}^{2}$ mole. There appears to be a correlation of $(\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\gamma}})\frac{d\ensuremath{\gamma}}{\mathrm{dc}}$ with certain aspects of Fe-alloy phase diagrams, namely, the variations of Curie temperature and the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transformation temperature with concentration of solute.
Investigation of Stoichiometry of T4 Bacteriophage Helicase Loader Protein (gp59)

The T4 bacteriophage helicase loader (gp59) is one of the main eight proteins that play an active role in the replisome. gp59 is a small protein (26 kDa) that exists as a monomer in solution and in the crystal. It binds preferentially to forked DNA and interacts directly with the T4 helicase (gp41), single-stranded DNA-binding protein (gp32), and polymerase (gp43). However, the stoichiometry and structure of the functional form are not very well understood. There is experimental evidence for a hexameric structure for the helicase (gp41) and the primase (gp61), inferring that the gp59 structure might also be hexameric. Various experimental approaches, including gel shift, fluorescence anisotropy, light scattering, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, have not provided a clearer understanding of the stoichiometry. In this study, we employed single-molecule photobleaching (smPB) experiments to elucidate the stoichiometry of gp59 on a forked DNA and to investigate its interaction with other proteins forming the primosome complex. smPB studies were performed with Alexa 555-labeled gp59 proteins and a forked DNA substrate. Co-localization experiments were performed using Cy5-labeled forked DNA and Alexa 555-labeled gp59 in the presence and absence of gp32 and gp41 proteins. A systematic study of smPB experiments and subsequent data analysis using a simple model indicated that gp59 on the forked DNA forms a hexamer. In addition, the presence of gp32 and gp41 proteins increases the stability of the gp59 complex, emphasizing their functional role in T4 DNA replication machinery.
Effect of ethanol on calcium regulation in rat fetal hypothalamic cells in culture.

The effects of acute exposure to ethanol on calcium regulation in primary cultures of rat fetal hypothalamic cells was studied with the use of the calcium indicator fura-2 and digital imaging techniques. We found that ethanol caused cytoplasmic calcium to increase in a dose-dependent and reversible manner, and these increases could be observed at pharmacologically relevant doses (34 mM). At 170 mM ethanol 65% of 1059 cells examined responded to ethanol with an increase in cytoplasmic calcium. Removing bath calcium eliminated the ethanol-induced calcium response in most cells (76% of 427 cells). In most cells exposure to thapsigargin (20 nM) had no significant effect on the ethanol-induced calcium increase (87% of 67 cells examined). The ethanol-induced calcium increase was reduced by 79±5% (n=110 cells) by the P/Q-type calcium channel blocker ω-agatoxin-TK (20 nM), by 51±10% (n=115 cells) by the N-type calcium channel blocker ω-conotoxin-GVIA (100 nM), and by 26±3% (n=90 cells) by the T-type calcium channel blocker flunarizine (1 μM). The L-type calcium channel blocker nifedipine (1 μM) had complex actions, sometimes inhibiting and sometimes increasing the calcium response. These results demonstrate that ethanol can directly modulate cytoplasmic calcium levels in hypothalamic cells mostly by a pathway that involves extracellular calcium and voltage-dependent calcium channels, and that this response may participate in the biological effects of acute ethanol exposure.
387 PHARMACOKINETICS OF NETILMICIN IN NEWBORN INFANTS

Netilmicin, a recently released aminoglycoside is used in neonates as an alternative to gentamicin or tobramycin for treatment of suspected or proven sepsis. We studied netilmicin kinetics in 8 premature infants (4 M, 4 F) with an average gestation age of 31.3 weeks (range 28–33), a postnatal age of 3 days, and birth weight of 770-1640 grams. Patients were receiving netilmicin, 2.5 mg/kg/IV over 0.33 hours every 12 hours for presumed or proven sepsis. Patient who weighed 770 grams was placed on q 18° dosing schedule. At steady-state, blood samples were obtained at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours after starting the infusion and analyzed by TDxR method. Peak and trough serum concentrations of netilmicin ranged 6.7-12.6 (9.7±2.4) mcg/ml and 2.2–3.7 (2.81±.5) mcg/ml, respectively. Seven of eight patients had trough serum concentration ≥ 2 mcg/ml. Total body clearance of netilmicin ranged from 0.37 to 0.95 (.72±.21) ml/min/kg. Apparent volume of distribution ranged from 0.33 to 0.82 (.52±.18) L/kg and elimination half-life from 4.6 to 11.5 (8.3±2.7) hours. Netilmicin clearance appeared to increase and half-life tended to decrease with increasing body weight. A 2- to 3-fold variation in the kinetic parameters and the frequent occurrence of trough serum concentrations > 2 mcg/ml indicates the need for close monitoring of netilmicin therapy in newborn infants.
Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia

NOMI remains a challenging clinical entity that demands a heightened index of suspicion and an aggressive diagnostic and treatment strategy in order to avoid the untoward sequela of short bowel syndrome and to achieve survival. Early arteriographic diagnosis and prompt institution of vasodilator therapy have proven successful in reducing the high (70% to 90%) mortality rate observed through the 1980s to 50% to 55% during the last decade. Continued investigations into the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying splanchnic vasospasm and intestinal IR injury will, it is hoped, add more alternate and effective therapies to the current armamentarium.
Stochastic models of severe weather watches and warnings

To alert the public to the possibility of severe weather, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues severe weather watches and warnings. The NWS calculates three warning performance measures: probability of detection, false alarm rate, and average lead time. The NWS does not calculate watch performance measures. Community emergency managers use the NWS performance measures to design watch and warning response plans, but the performance measures do not provide information needed for rational decision making under uncertainty. Two stochastic models are formulated that quantify uncertainty in severe weather alarms: a one-stage alarm for those who respond to warnings, and a two-stage alarm for those who respond to watches and warnings. The models identify all possible sequences of watches, warnings, and events and characterize the sequences in terms of chains of transition probabilities and distribution functions of the watch and warning durations, lead times, areas, and the time to warning from a watch.
Comparison of optical coherence tomography findings in a patient with central retinal artery occlusion in one eye and end-stage glaucoma in the fellow eye

This case describes a patient with chronic central retinal artery occlusion in one eye and end-stage traumatic glaucoma in the fellow eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macula of the chronic phase of central retinal artery occlusion of the right eye indicated loss of the normal foveal depression, extensive inner retinal atrophy, and marked retinal thinning. In contrast, scans of the left eye with end-stage glaucoma demonstrated an intact foveal depression and limited retinal thinning. The pattern of macular OCT findings in this patient illustrates distinguishing features between chronic central retinal artery occlusion and chronic optic neuropathy due to end-stage glaucoma.
THE ANODIC DISSOLUTION OF MILD STEEL IN SOLUTIONS CONTAINING BOTH CL(‐) AND NO3(‐) IONS

Abstract The electrochemical machining of mild steel in Cl − /NO 3 − mixed electrolytes is slow and produces an extremely rough and ragged appearance. From steady-state polarization, film stripping and current efficiency measurements made on mild steel anodes in these mixed solutions, it was concluded that Cl − ions produce only localized dissolution of the passive anode film formed on steel anodes in the presence of NO 3 − ions. For this reason, a severe cratering of the surface results. The mechanism of film dissolution in the presence of Cl − ion is much different than in the presence of ClO 3 − ion.
Weights and covers of chamber systems

The notion of weight algebra for a group geometry is developed for flag-transitive subgroups and their quotients, as a technique for establishing the existence of weight vectors in modular representations. This extends the applicability of earlier results, in particular results for the full group of a spherical building. The method adapts for at least some of the sporadic geometries provided by finite quotients of infinite affine buildings.
Verbal deficiencies in abstract thinking in early reading retardation.

In previous research in the authors' laboratory, language deficiencies in coding temporal sequences were found to be associated with reading retardation at fourth grade. In the present study, similar difficulties were found among first grade retarded readers. These deficiencies could not be attributed to perceptual difficulties.
A mutation Leu1029 to His in Heliothis virescens F. hscp sodium channel gene associated with a nerve-insensitivity mechanism of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides.

Two mutations in the Heliothis virescens F. sodium channel gene hscp are associated with pyrethroid resistance in field populations. These are valine421 to methionine (V421M) in domain I transmembrane segment S6 (IS6) and leucine 1029 to histidine (L1029H) in IIS6. L1029H was found to be common in 1995 Louisiana field collections. In order to test whether the L1029H mutation is associated with a nerve-insensitivity resistance mechanism, we designed a simplified genetic crossing and tested progenies with bioassay and electrophysiology. Individuals with the L1029H mutation displayed greater resistance to the knockdown effect of permethrin in subsequent mass-selection and family-selection experiments. Reduced sensitivity to pyrethroid was found in extracellular recordings of neuromuscular junctions and in whole-cell patch-clamp assays of dissociated single cells from the central nerverous system of the individuals carrying the L1029H mutation.
The consultative merits of praise-ignore versus praise- reprimand instruction

Abstract The present study compared the effects of two behavior management strategies on three types of student behaviors (appropriate, off-task, and disruptive). One strategy involved the teacher's verbally praising appropriate behaviors while concomitantly ignoring disruptive behaviors. The other strategy involved verbally praising appropriate behaviors while concomitantly issuing soft reprimands for disruptive behaviors. Six junior high school students in two general science classes were selected for the study on the basis of their frequent disruptive behavior. College-trained observers recorded target student and teacher behaviors daily. A multiple baseline design with reversals was usedto ascertain the effectiveness of the treatments. The results showed that both the praise-ignore combination and the praise-soft reprimand combination were substantially superior to baseline conditions. However, more rapid and slightly greater improvement was achieved under the praise-soft reprimand combination than under the praise-ignore combination. In contrast, improvement in behavior diminished less rapidly in the reversals following the praise-ignore phases than in the reversals following the praise-soft reprimand phases.
Tetracycline in tumors

Abstract Tumors induced in hamsters were examined at various times following single intraperitoneal tetracycline injections. The distribution of tetracycline fluorescence in the tumor was found to vary with time in such a way as to permit the resolution of two distinct patterns, transitory and permanent. The permanent pattern appears to be closely linked to those areas containing calcium phosphate. The transitory pattern is exhibited between 1 and 4 hours following injection, after which it is rapidly obliterated.
On the Interaction of Radiation and Two Electrons

The quantum theory of radiation describes the effect of retardation in the interaction of two electrons by the mutual emission and absorption of light quanta. A study has been made of a process involving the interaction of two electrons and any number of quanta. It was noted that the number of terms involving virtual quanta needed to describe the retardation in the usual first-order approximation of perturbation theory depends on the number of real quanta involved in the process under consideration. It was shown that, nevertheless, the resulting expression obtained by summing over all the intermediate states involving virtual quanta is of the same form for any process. M\o{}ller's formulas for the retarded interaction of two electrons with no light quanta and with one light quantum emitted are special cases of our equation.
4C 41.17: A Radio Galaxy at a Redshift of 3.8

Observations, comprising radio imaging at three frequencies, optical broadband and narrow-band imaging, optical spectroscopy, and K-band IR imaging, of a distant radio source, 4C 41.17, are presented. It is shown that 4C 41.17 is associated with an extended source of optical and IR emission at a redshift of 3.8. The morphological similarities between the radio source and the ionized gas and optical/IR continua suggest that the radio source is interacting vigorously with the galaxy. Various mechanisms for producing the optical/IR emission in 4C 41.17 are considered. It is concluded that a large fraction of the spectral energy distribution is from stars, and that the star formation induced by the radio source is the likely mechanism to account for the radio/optical alignment.
Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia in children

Background Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) is very rare in the pediatric age group. Because of its rarity and its coexistence with more serious injuries, the diagnosis is often missed or delayed.
Exstrophy of urinary bladder

Abstract This patient, a seventy-year-old white man with exstrophy of the urinary bladder associated with adenocarcinoma, was one of the eldest in a series of 57 cases reported thus far. Intravenous urogram demonstrated nonfunction of the right kidney and hydronephrosis of the left kidney. Total cystectomy was performed as a palliative measure together with a left cutaneous ureterostomy.
Oral hygiene and cardiometabolic disease risk in the survey of the health of Wisconsin.

Objectives Poor oral health is an increasingly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but little is known about the association between toothbrushing or flossing and cardiometabolic disease risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which an oral hygiene index was associated with CVD and T2D risk scores among disease-free adults in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin. Methods All variables were measured in 2008–2010 in this cross-sectional design. Based on toothbrushing and flossing frequency, an oral hygiene index (poor, fair, good, excellent) was created as the primary predictor variable. The outcomes, CVD and T2D risk score, were based on previous estimates from large cohort studies. There were 712 and 296 individuals with complete data available for linear regression analyses in the CVD and T2D samples, respectively. Results After covariate adjustment, the final model indicated that participants in the excellent (β ± SE = −0.019 ± 0.008, P = 0.020) oral hygiene category had a significantly lower CVD risk score as compared to participants in the poor oral hygiene category. Sensitivity analyses indicated that both toothbrushing and flossing were independently associated with CVD risk score, and various modifiable risk factors. Oral hygiene was not significantly associated with T2D risk score. Conclusions Regular toothbrushing and flossing are associated with a more favorable CVD risk profile, but more experimental research is needed in this area to precisely determine the effects of various oral self-care maintenance behaviors on the control of individual cardiometabolic risk factors. These findings may inform future joint medical–dental initiatives designed to close gaps in the primary prevention of oral and systemic diseases.
Examples of Use of Standard Data Products of Nasa-Erts, Skylab, and Aircraft Programs in Study of Wyoming Surface Resources: ABSTRACT

Cloud-free imagery of the State of Wyoming is available from the NASA programs; ERTS (complete coverage at 560 mi), Skylab (50% ± coverage at 265 mi), and aircraft (60% ± coverage at altitudes ranging from 15,000 to 60,000 ft). Standard data products available to the public include images or photographs of scenes recorded in different bands of the spectrum and in infrared and color. Many potential users (for example, consultants, small companies, and independent geologists) are limited to visual methods of analyses of these products. Wyoming studies have employed these standard data products for a variety of geologic and economic applications: regional geologic mapping for updating and correcting existing maps and as an educational tool; illustrations of the val e of seasonal images in geologic mapping; specialized mapping of such features as sand dunes, playa lakes, lineaments, glacial features, regional facies changes, and their possible economic value; and multilevel sensing as an aid in mineral exploration. Cooperative studies between botanists, plant scientists, and geologists for the preparation of maps of surface resources can be used by planners and for environmental impact studies. These maps are especially useful in areas, such as the Powder River basin of Wyoming, facing critical environmental problems that will result from the development of energy resources. The various studies illustrate that certain user requirements can be met satisfactorily with ERTS and Skylab alone, but that others require higher cost (to the user) aircraft and ground data or special data-enhancement techniques. Perhaps the key point, however, is that the NASA system has given us both complete and sequential regional coverage at a critical time in our effort to assess the effects of resource development. End_of_Article - Last_Page 908------------
Off-lattice Monte Carlo simulation of the thermal conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotube-polymer composites with inter-carbon nanotube contact

A computational model is developed to study the thermal conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)–polymer composites. An off-lattice Monte Carlo simulation was used to model the effects of interfacial resistance at the SWNT-polymer interface and at the SWNT-SWNT contact on the heat flow for different orientations of SWNTs dispersed in the polymers. A primary focus is the non-isotropic heat conduction in aligned-SWNT polymeric composites that are of interest for various heat conduction applications such as microelectronic heat sinks, and also because this geometry constitutes a representative volume element (RVE) of CNT-reinforced polymer matrices in hybrid advanced composites under development. The simulation is an extension of a previous model for heat transfer in nanocomposites in that it now considers SWNT-SWNT contact. The simulation results of the developed model are compared with those of the previous model. The effects of SWNT orientation, SWNT-SWNT contact, weight fraction and thermal boundary resistance on the effective conductivity of composites are quantified. The present model is a useful tool for the prediction of the thermal conductivity within a wide range of volume fractions of the SWNTs, including the case when SWNTs are in contact with each other.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Cystic nephroma of childhood: A case report and review of the literature

Cystic nephroma of childhood is a rare renal tumor. It is generally considered as a benign end of the spectrum with cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma and nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor). Most of the cases are unilateral and sporadic. However, bilateral and familial cases have also been reported. The clinical presentation is usually as an asymptomatic abdominal mass. It is almost impossible to differentiate cystic nephroma from cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma or other cystic renal tumor on radiological studies. The final diagnosis depends on the histopathologic examination. We present a case of an 8-month-old female baby with a left renal tumor. The patient accepted left total nephrectomy after physical examinations and radiological studies. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of variable-sized cysts separated by fibrous septa without blastemal elements. A diagnosis of cystic nephroma was made.
Numerical filters for discrimination against tidal periodicities

Tidal contributions to a sea-level record can be reduced by a large factor by taking special weighted averages of hourly values. In the residual record it is possible to recognize changes of as little as a few millimeters taking place in a few days. The method might be useful in other geophysical problems.
Effectiveness of physical therapy for the management of chronic spine disorders : A propensity score approach

Background and Purpose. Evidence on the effectiveness of physical therapy for the management of chronic spine disorders is limited. The purpose of this study was to use a large current database, the National Spine Network database, to assess the effectiveness of physical therapy in the management of chronic spine disorders. Subjects. The participants were people who had spine problems lasting 3 months or longer and who were seen for an initial visit and a follow-up visit (N=4,479) at 1 of 17 US spine centers. Methods. A propensity score approach was used to create a matched sample of participants who received physical therapy (intervention group) and participants who did not receive physical therapy (control group). The 2 groups were similar with regard to more than 50 baseline characteristics. Outcomes were assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results. Both the intervention and control groups improved between the initial and the follow-up visits on ODI scores and on SF-36 physical function, role physical, and bodily pain scores. Although the amount of improvement in the outcome measures was significantly greater for the intervention group than for the control group, the differences were small (3–5 points). When the subgroup of participants who had the greatest propensity for receiving physical therapy was examined, differences in the amount of improvement between the intervention and control groups were larger (5–13 points). Discussion and Conclusion. Physical therapy was effective in the management of chronic spine disorders in participants with the greatest propensity for receiving physical therapy. When the entire sample was considered, differences in the amount of improvement between the intervention and control groups were not clinically relevant. [Freburger JK, Carey TS, Holmes GM. Effectiveness of physical therapy for the management of chronic spine disorders: a propensity score approach.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: Improved Survival of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Patients in the Protease Inhibitor Era

To examine factors affecting survival after diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), we analyzed data from an observational cohort study, the Adult and Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease project. We identified 415 patients diagnosed with PML during 1990-1997. The median survival time after diagnosis was 1 month. By use of an extended proportional hazards, multivariate regression model, risk factors associated with decreased survival time included CD4 count /=0.20 x 10(9) cells/L, whereas factors associated with increased survival time were prescription of antiretroviral medication that contained a protease inhibitor (RR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.4) and prescription of other antiretroviral medication (RR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.8) compared with no antiretroviral prescription. We conclude that protease inhibitor use (in combination antiretroviral therapy) is likely to favorably affect survival time after diagnosis of PML.
Dual AC-input power system architectures

Power systems for data-processing and communication equipment used in mission-critical applications that require high system availability must be implemented with fault-tolerant architectures. Generally, these fault-tolerant power architectures require that the power supplies built into data-processing/communication equipment are capable of operating from two different AC power sources. In this paper, a number of dual AC-input power system architectures are proposed and evaluated on a relative basis with respect to power density and cost.
C-reactive-protein-associated increase in myocardial infarct size after ischemia/reperfusion.

C-Reactive protein (CRP), a marker for acute inflammation, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. The mechanism underlying this association is uncertain. An acute inflammatory response was induced in rabbits by subcutaneous injection of croton oil (CO) 1 to 3 days before 30 min of regional myocardial ischemia/180 min of reperfusion. CO treatment increased plasma CRP from below the limit of detection to 2.5 ± 0.5 mg/dl and was associated with an increase in infarct size expressed as percentage of risk region [32 ± 6% vehicle controls ( n = 7) to 47 ± 9% CO-treated rabbits ( n = 7; P P n = 5/group), indicating the involvement of complement. In these rabbits, infarct size was 22 ± 2% ( P n = 7; infarct size 33 ± 3%; CRP, 2.3 ± 0.3 mg/dl; P N -acetylheparin ( n = 7; infarct size 23 ± 4%; CRP, 3.1 ± 0.5 mg/dl; P
Sol–Gel Kinetics Followed by Cylindrical Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy

This paper describes a unique solution infrared technique, a cylindrical attenuated total reflectance cell, to monitor in situ kinetics of the sol-gel process, especially at short times after mixing. The sol-gel kinetics of acidic ethanol : TEOS : Al(III) solutions have been followed as a function of temperature and aluminum concentration. The hydrolysis rate and the condensation rate increase with temperature and Al/Si ratio. The Al(III) hydrolysis and concomitant increase in acidity increase the reaction rate. By controlling the initial pH, it is seen that a higher Al(III) concentration itself increases the reaction rate. The properties of a sol-gel glass depend upon the kinetics, which are controlled by the processing conditions, including cation content.
Film Portrayals of Foreign Correspondents

This study combines content analysis and a close reading of movies to assess the portrayal of foreign correspondents in films during two periods: the golden age of foreign correspondence (the 1930s to World War II) and the years after the Vietnam War. The analysis revealed that movies generally depict foreign correspondents as heroes, but their status changes over time, and so do the circumstances in which they work. The differences during the two periods track changes for real foreign correspondents. In the golden age, silver screen correspondents were happy elites at ease with themselves even when stepping out of journalistic roles, unlike the latter period, when they were angst-ridden and questioned their responsibilities.
A comparison of four recent GDSS experiments

The author briefly discusses how GDSS (group decision support systems) have been dealt with in some of the literature to date, arguing that GDSSs are sometimes considered as a single class of systems. He compares four recent GDSS experiments, each conducted at a different university using a different system, to illustrate the differences that exist between design philosophies. The results suggested that GDSSs should not be thought of as a single class of systems. The comparison also illustrates that GDSS researchers are often not investigating the same problem, even though their research is nominally about GDSS, so that they should use caution when they make generalizations about their findings. >
Radiation-pressure-driven micro-mechanical oscillator

We demonstrate for the first time, self generation of mechanical vibrations at RF frequencies stimulated directly by the radiation pressure of circulating photons within optical micro-cavities.
Workflows for performance evaluation and tuning

We report our experiences with using high-throughput techniques to run large sets of performance experiments on collections of grid accessible parallel computer systems for the purpose of deploying optimally compiled and configured scientific applications. In these environments, the set of variable parameters (compiler, link, and runtime flags; application and library options; partition size) can be very large, so running the performance ensembles is labor intensive, tedious, and prone to errors. Automating this process improves productivity, reduces barriers to deploying and maintaining multi-platform codes, and facilitates the tracking of application and system performance over time. We describe the design and implementation of our system for running performance ensembles and we use two case studies as the basis for evaluating the long term potential for this approach. The architecture of a prototype benchmarking system is presented along with results on the efficacy of the workflow approach.
THE COMPARATIVE ANDROGENIC POTENCY OF TESTOSTERONE, METHYL TESTOSTERONE AND TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ADMINISTERED IN PELLET FORM

THE PROLONGED ACTIVITY and exceptional efficiency of testosterone and its derivativesare striking when administered in pellet form in laboratory (i, 2) and clinical (3, 4) experiments. All the preparations used appeared extremely potent, which suggests that the previously observeddifferences in androgenic strength may not be present. The mode of administration of the specific sex steroid compounds is known to influence greatly their androgenic action. Injected subcutaneously in oil solution testosterone propionate is by far the most potent, methyl testos-terone is somewhat less active, and testosterone is the weakest (5–8). Percutaneously administered, testosterone in certain concentrations is more potent than testosterone propionate (9). There have been no detailed comparative studies of these substances when administered as pellets, and, as will be indicated, it is suggested that the slow uniform absorption from pellets changes the hitherto accepted ratios of activity.
A new parametrization of the rain drop size distribution

This paper revisits the problem of finding a parametric form for the rain drop size distribution (DSD) which (1) is an appropriate model for tropical rainfall, and (2) involves statistically independent parameters. Using TOGA/COARE data, the authors derive a parametrization which meets these criteria. This new parametrization is an improvement on the one that was derived by Z. S. Haddad et al. (1996) using TRMM ground truth data from Darwin, Australia. The new COARE data allows the authors to verify that the spatial variability of the two "shape" parameters is relatively small, thus confirming that this parametrization should be particularly useful for remote sensing applications. They also derive new DSD-based radar-reflectivity-rain-rate power laws, whose coefficients are directly related to the shape parameters of the DSD. Perhaps most important, since the coefficients are independent of the rain-rate itself, and vary little spatially, the relations are ideally suited for rain retrieval algorithms. It should also prove straightforward to extend this method to the problems of estimating cloud hydrometeors from remote-sensing measurements.
Extending the Framework of Generativity Theory Through Research: A Qualitative Study

Purpose of the study: Based on ethnographic interviews, we discuss three ideas we believe will expand knowledge of older informants ’ thoughts about and representations of generativity. We adapt the notion of “dividuality” as developed in cultural anthropology to reframe ideas on generativity. The term dividuality refers to a condition of interpersonal or intergenerational connectedness, as distinct from individuality. We also extend previous definitions of generativity by identifying both objects of generative action and temporal and relational frameworks for generative action. Design: W e define 4 foci of generativity (people, groups, things, and activities) and 4 spheres of generativity (historical, familial, individual, and relational) based in American culture and with which older informants could easily identify. The approach outlined here also discusses a form of generativity oriented to the past in which relationships with persons in senior generations form a kind of generative action since they are involved in caring for the origins of the self and hence of future generative acts. These 3 elements of a new framework will allow researchers to pose critical questions about generativity among older adults. Such questions include (a) How is the self, as culturally constituted, involved in generative action? and (b) What are the types of generativity within the context of American culture and how are they spoken about? Each of the above points is directly addressed in the data we present below. Methods: W e defined these domains through extended ethnographic interviews with 200 older women. Results and implications: The ar ticle addresses some new ways of thinking about generativity as a construct, which may be useful in understanding the cultural personhood of older Americans.
Reciprocal signaling between heterotrimeric G proteins and the p21-stimulated protein kinase.

p21-activated protein kinase (PAK)-1 phosphorylated Gαz, a member of the Gαi family that is found in the brain, platelets, and adrenal medulla. Phosphorylation approached 1 mol of phosphate/mol of Gαz in vitro. In transfected cells, Gαz was phosphorylated both by wild-type PAK1 when stimulated by the GTP-binding protein Rac1 and by constitutively active PAK1 mutants. In vitro, phosphorylation occurred only at Ser16, one of two Ser residues that are the major substrate sites for protein kinase C (PKC). PAK1 did not phosphorylate other Gα subunits (i1, i2, i3, o, s, or q). PAK1-phosphorylated Gαz was resistant both to RGSZ1, a Gz-selective GTPase-activating protein (GAP), and to RGS4, a relatively nonselective GAP for the Gi and Gqfamilies of G proteins. Phosphorylation of Ser27 by PKC did not alter sensitivity to either GAP. The previously described inhibition of Gz GAPs by PKC is therefore mediated by phosphorylation of Ser16. Phosphorylation of either Ser16 by PAK1 or Ser27 by PKC decreased the affinity of Gαz for Gβγ; phosphorylation of both residues by PKC caused no further effect. PAK1 thus regulates Gαz function by attenuating the inhibitory effects of both GAPs and Gβγ. In this context, the kinase activity of PAK1 toward several protein substrates was directly inhibited by Gβγ, suggesting that PAK1 acts as a Gβγ-regulated effector protein. This inhibition of mammalian PAK1 by Gβγ contrasts with the stimulation of the PAK homolog Ste20p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the Gβγ homolog Ste4p/Ste18p.
Prediction based fast codebook search algorithm for AVQ speech coding

The paper outlines the development of the architecture of a fast codebook search algorithm for adaptive vector quantization (AVQ) speech coding. Because the algorithm is input vector independent, it is predictive in nature. Simulations showed that the proposed new algorithm could produce intelligible speech much faster than the original AVQ algorithm as well as allow for a decreased bit-rate. However, the algorithm showed strongly undesirable amplitude dependencies. >
The Globalization of a Ceremonial Tree: The Case of Cacao (THEOBROMA CACAO) among the Mopan Maya1

The uses, perceptions, and economic significance of cacao have radically changed in the past 25 years among the Mopan Maya in southern Belize. Cacao was once perceived as a ceremonial crop with little cash value. Over the past 25 years though, cacao has become the most important cash crop grown by the Mopan Maya. The Mopan Maya grow organic cacao that has allowed them to tap into a specialized, high-end chocolate market. However, the emergence of cacao as an important cash crop has altered traditional uses and created conflicts in villages where increasing acreage of reservation lands are planted with cacao, thereby assigning a commercial value to previously communal lands.
Why are we watching funny videos in our pedagogy course? Deconstructing humorous videos to foster social activism in educators

For critical educators working towards social justice and activism, it is imperative to promote a thoughtful and purposeful examination of the privileges that spring from institutionalised practices, and the ways belief systems may deny the normalcy of views or experiences of others. By employing critical discourse analysis and framing funny videos as part of larger, cultural “mirror” that reflects widely-held values and beliefs within local, institutional and societal domains, this paper identifies specific humorous videos and lines of inquiry that have supported educators in recognising their own complicity in promoting a narrow definition of normativity, along varying and intersecting planes, including white privilege, the privilege of being a heritage speaker of English, privileged gendered behaviours, heteronormativity, and the myth of meritocracy, among others. By using online humorous video clips as a springboard for reflection and discussion, this paper describes an illumination of the ways humorous media may have been given a “free pass” and allowed it to remain un-interrogated, even though it may be quietly and insidiously perpetuating damaging perspectives. Deconstructing these layered messages embedded in humorous video clips can be useful in helping (future) educators understand their own positionality and the ways these insights may positively impact their instructional practices in ways that promote equity and work against oppressive institutional practices.