cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of surgically implanted metallic bullet fragments on the intervertebral disc using a canine model

Abstract PURPOSE To characterize the gross, histologic, and systemic changes caused by implantation of metal fragments commonly used in commercial bullets into the intervertebral disc. BACKGROUND CONTEXT Long-term complications of retained bullet fragments in the spine have been documented in the literature; however, the impact of different metal projectiles on the intervertebral disc has not been described. This study was performed to assess the local effects of the metallic bullet fragments on the intervertebral disc and their systemic effects regarding metal ion concentrations in serum and solid organs. STUDY DESIGN Animal Model Study. METHODS Funding for this project was provided by the Cervical Spine Research Society in the amount of $10,000. Copper, lead, and aluminum alloys from commercially available bullets were surgically implanted into sequential intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine of six canines. Kirschner wire implantation and a sham operation were performed as controls. Radiographs were performed to confirm the location of the bullets. Animals were sacrificed at 4, 6, and 9 months postimplantation. Whole blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, kidney tissue, and liver tissue samples were analyzed for copper and lead concentrations. Histologic and gross samples were examined at the time of sacrifice. RESULTS Significant tissue reactions were noted in the discs exposed to copper and lead. Copper resulted in significantly more severe disc degeneration than either the lead or aluminum alloy. In the short interval follow-up of this study, no statistically significant trend was observed in whole blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue levels. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the canine intervertebral disc is differentially susceptible to metallic fragments depending on the composition. Trends were noted for increasing levels of lead and copper in liver tissue samples although statistical significance could not be reached due to short time interval and small sample size. The metallic composition of retained fragments can be a determining factor in deciding on surgical intervention.
Control and Safety of Autonomous Vehicles with Learning-Enabled Components

Real-world autonomous systems, such as autonomous vehicles, often operate in uncertain and partially observable environments. In such scenarios, designing a controller that achieves the desired behavior on the system is a challenging problem. The proven efficacy of learning-based control schemes strongly motivates their application to autonomous vehicles. However, guaranteeing correct operation of learning-based schemes during and after the learning process is currently an unresolved issue, which is of vital importance in safety-critical systems such as autonomous vehicles. Hamilton-Jacobi (HJ) reachability analysis is an important formal verification method for guaranteeing performance and safety properties of dynamical systems; it has been applied to many small-scale systems in the past decade. Its advantages include compatibility with general nonlinear system dynamics, formal treatment of bounded disturbances, and the availability of well-developed numerical tools.
Review of NIDA for Teens

Teenagers are faced with the task of navigating a world of peer pressure surrounding drug and alcohol use, and an internet filled with more information than any human could process in a lifetime. T...
Superfluous Amylase/Lipase Testing at a University-Affiliated Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Review.

Background: The combination of amylase and lipase tests for diagnosing acute pancreatitis is not better than a lipase test alone; however, both tests are commonly ordered simultaneously. Further, although no data indicate usefulness of monitoring changes in elevated amylase and lipase levels, the tests are often ordered multiple times during the same clinical encounter. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all amylase and lipase tests performed at a university-affiliated teaching hospital during a 6-month period. We considered amylase and lipase results diagnostic if they were >3 times the upper limit of normal and borderline if they were ≤3 times the upper limit of normal. During a single clinical encounter, we considered amylase tests superfluous if ordered simultaneously with lipase tests or repeated after diagnostic results, questionably superfluous if repeated alone, and nonsuperfluous otherwise. Lipase tests were considered superfluous if repeated after diagnostic results, questionably superfluous if repeated after nondiagnostic results, and nonsuperfluous otherwise. Results: In this study, 3,502 patients had 8,801 tests (4,926 lipase, 3,875 amylase), 4% of which were diagnostic and 10% borderline. Of the 8,801 tests, 45% were superfluous and 9% were questionably superfluous. Nonsuperfluous testing was less frequent (P Conclusion: Superfluous amylase/lipase testing in one teaching hospital is substantial, suggesting significant potential for reducing healthcare costs without compromising the quality of care when evaluating patients for acute pancreatitis.
Accessing Latent Connectome of Mild Cognitive Impairment via Discriminant Structure Learning

For decades, many potential measures have been proposed and examined in terms of their predicting capability for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The development of non-invasive markers from multiple imaging modalities including MRI (Tl-wighted), diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI are of great interest. However, most of previous studies focused on classification, prediction or identification of statistical differences among different groups (Normal controls, MCI/AD) and clinical stages (longitudinal studies). It is still largely unknown whether there exists a way to quantitatively model the entire progression process of the disorder. Here we introduced a novel supervised discriminant structure learning method to explore latent structures of both structural and functional connectome of MCI patients. Our result shows that a latent structure reflecting the entire progression process of MCI can be learned from both structural and functional connectome. When considering more connectome features, the learned structure using functional data tend to display more heterogeneous patterns.
A review of mand frame training procedures for individuals with autism

This review included a systematic search and analysis of studies targeting teaching mand frames to individuals with autism. Articles were selected through a search of databases limited to English l...
A Multiscale and Comparative Model for Receptor Binding of 2019 Novel Coronavirus and the Implication of its Life Cycle in Host Cells

The respiratory syndrome caused by a new type of coronavirus has been emerging from China and caused more than 1000 death globally since December 2019. This new virus, called 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) uses the same receptor called Angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to attack humans as the coronavirus that caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) seventeen years ago. Both viruses recognize ACE2 through the spike proteins (S-protein) on their surfaces. It was found that the S-protein from the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) bind stronger to ACE2 than 2019-nCoV. However, function of a bio-system is often under kinetic, rather than thermodynamic, control. To address this issue, we constructed a structural model for complex formed between ACE2 and the S-protein from 2019-nCoV, so that the rate of their association can be estimated and compared with the binding of S-protein from SARS-CoV by a multiscale simulation method. Our simulation results suggest that the association of new virus to the receptor is slower than SARS, which is consistent with the experimental data obtained very recently. We further integrated this difference of association rate between virus and receptor into a mathematical model which describes the life cycle of virus in host cells and its interplay with the innate immune system. Interestingly, we found that the slower association between virus and receptor can result in longer incubation period, while still maintaining a relatively higher level of viral concentration in human body. Our computational study therefore provides, from the molecular level, one possible explanation that the new disease by far spread much faster than SARS.
Correlation of Medical College Admission Test Scores and Self-assessment Materials with the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Performance.

Purpose Candidates' performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 examination had been correlated with the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). However, in 2015, a new MCAT format was released and its correlation with Step 1 remains to be fully analyzed. Preparation for Step 1 typically involves purchasing and perusing practice tests from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and UWorld; however, their predictive value to performance on Step 1 remains to be ascertained, especially with the release of five new NBME practice tests. Additionally, there is a need for accurately predicting Step 1 scores to self-evaluate study progress and reduce student anxiety. Rationale Program directors rank USMLE Step 1 scores as the number one criterion in selecting interviewees for residency. Step 1 scores are more important than Step 2 scores, Dean’s letter, or other letters of recommendation in determining the overall ranking of a candidate after interviews. Hypotheses The authors hypothesized that the new MCAT scores correlated positively with Step 1 scores and that the new NBME practice tests were more predictive of performance on Step 1 as compared to old NBME tests. Methods Linear regression analysis followed by either analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Student's t-tests were used to analyze 399 responses. Data obtained was used to update an existing Step 1 score predictor, which was then validated. Results A positive correlation between the MCAT (average score: 510.1 ± 6.3) and Step 1 scores (average score: 246.1 ± 14.2) was observed. While new NBME practice tests were more predictive of Step 1 scores than old NBME tests, UWorld test scores were the most predictive. Students who practiced with the new NBME practice tests scored significantly higher than students who did not use them. However, students using any of the UWorld practice tests did significantly better than students who practiced using only NBME practice tests but not UWorld practice tests. Ironically, NBME16,the second-most correlativetest to Step 1 performance, is no longer available for purchase. Overall, taking six or more practice tests significantly enhanced Step 1 scores; the optimal number of tests was found to be between six and nine. The predicted score by an updated Step 1 score predictor was within 3.8 points or 1.6% of the actual Step 1 score. Conclusions We believe this study will aid in the selection and purchase of appropriate self-assessment tests as preparatory material for the USMLE Step 1 examination. It will also introduce them to an existing Step 1 score predictor that will help determine their readiness for Step 1.
Structural, Thermodynamic and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate Binding Properties of Phafin2

Phafin2 is a phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P)-binding protein involved in the regulation of endosomal cargo trafficking and in the lysosomal induction of autophagy. Binding of Phafin2 to PtdIns(3)P is mediated by both its PH and FYVE domains. However, the structural basis for understanding how Phafin2 promotes signaling at endomembrane compartments is unknown. Here, we show that the human recombinant Phafin2 is a moderately elongated monomer of ∼28 kDa. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis indicates that Phafin2 exhibits an α/β structure and predicts ∼40% of random coil content in the protein. Heteronuclear NMR data indicates that a unique conformation of Phafin2 is present in solution and that dispersion of resonances suggests that the protein exhibit random coil regions, in agreement with CD data. Dynamic light scattering studies show that Phafin2 is relatively stable, displaying a melting temperature of 35°C. The folding-unfolding curves, obtained by the use of urea- and guanidine hydrochloride-mediated denaturation, indicate that Phafin2 undergoes a two-state native to denatured transition. Analysis of these transitions shows that the free energy change for urea- and guanidine hydrochloride-induced Phafin2 denaturation in water is ∼4 kcal mol−1. Using SPR analysis, we show that PtdIns(3)P binding to Phafin2 occurs with moderate affinity. Preliminary data shows that Phafin2 promotes membrane tethering and tubulation in vitro in a PtdIns(3)P-dependent manner, suggesting that the protein plays a role in inducing membrane curvature changes, a pre-requisite to trigger autophagy. Taken together, these studies represent a platform for establishing the structural basis of Phafin2 membrane interactions and the role of its two potentially redundant PtdIns(3)P-binding domains in endomembrane compartments.
A Tailored Motivational Messages Library for a Mobile Health Sleep Behavior Change Support System to Promote Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Use Among Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Development, Content Validation, and Testing

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite the reported benefits of CPAP therapy in treating OSA, its effectiveness is reduced by less-than-optimal adherence or use. Up to 50% of patients who accept CPAP therapy fail to adhere to it. As a lack of commitment to CPAP therapy is one of the most significant factors that hinder OSA treatment effectiveness, patient motivation and education are critical to help alleviate the problem of poor CPAP adherence or use. Objective: This study aims to support the development of mobile health interventions or information systems solutions to promote CPAP adherence and use among patients with OSA through development, content validation, and testing of tailored motivational messages. Methods: In phase 1, an initial library of 60 messages was developed to promote CPAP use among patients with OSA. In phase 2, draft messages were evaluated for content validation testing for relevance and clarity by research and clinical experts. In phase 3, patients with OSA (N=24) were recruited through a Qualtrics panel to rate the perceived persuasiveness of the messages in terms of threat and efficacy perceptions, as per their computed extended parallel process model (EPPM) response states. The average score of the ratings was calculated for each message. The messages were sorted according to their average (from highest to lowest) to select the best 12 messages for each tailored set based on the potential responses from the EPPM. Results: In phase 1, 60 messages were developed based on the existing literature and a review of existing materials. In phase 2, the enumerated content validity of the messages was established through the use of the content validity index for items. A total of 57 messages were found to have acceptable content relevance and clarity. In phase 3, patients with OSA perceived the final library of 48 messages to be persuasive. Conclusions: After the process of content validation and testing, the final library of messages met the criteria for clarity, relevance, and perceived persuasiveness. This study emphasizes the importance of developing and validating the content of motivational messages, grounded in EPPM theory, across the 4 possible response states in terms of high or low efficacy and threat perceptions.
Energy Density and Temperature Calibration for FEOL Nanosecond Laser Annealing

Nanosecond (NLA) laser annealing is under consideration for inclusion into mainstream CMOS technology. Lack of suitable ultra-high speed pyrometery and the complexity of determining surface temperature of patterned, nanostructured wafers poses unique challenges in tool monitoring and process setup. This work sets a methodology of calibrating the incident energy density (ED) at the wafer plane and the surface temperature for blanket and pattern wafers. The melting of undoped crystalline silicon (c-Si) at 141°C and that of the transistor channel were used as reference points for blanket and patterned wafers, respectively. Laser-induced epitaxial re-growth of amorphized layers and pockets and the melting of the pFET SiGe source/drain (S/D) were used to show consistency between the calibrated incident ED and predicted surface temperature. This methodology allows for reliable annealing process setup and adequate periodic tool monitoring and matching.
Study of spectral moments in semileptonic decays of the b hadron with the DELPHI detector at LEP

The measurement of the moments of hadronic mass spectrum and of lepton energy spectrum based on a sample of semileptonic decays of the b hadron selected from $Z^0 \to b \bar b$ events recorded with the DELPHI detector at LEP, are presented. These results are interpreted in terms of constraints on the quark masses and on the b-quark kinetic energy value.
Influence of Brand Loyalty on Purchase Intention towards Soft Drink Industry

The Soft Drink Industry has high competition. Therefore it is not surprising that these providers have been enforced in challenging circumstances to focus on their customers instead of their Brand Loyalty. Consequentlythe purpose of this study is to evaluate the Brand Loyalty that influencing on Purchase Intention in relation to selective Soft Drink Manufactures. To accomplish the aim of this research, the data were collected from convenience sample of 100 customers in Colombo District. The respondents provided the data by means of a close-ended questionnaire. This study empirically examines the significant relationship between Brand Loyalty (BL) as the independent variable and Purchase Intention (PI) as the dependent variable. While both the variables individually have high level attributes, the Pearson’s correlation analysis explores a positively significant linear relationship (0.807) between BL and PI. Further analysis of regression model with intercept indicates that needs additional suitable variables to predict unexplained variation of 36% of the PI.
Predictors of an academic career among fellowship-trained spinal neurosurgeons.

OBJECTIVE Although fellowship training is becoming increasingly common in neurosurgery, it is unclear which factors predict an academic career trajectory among spinal neurosurgeons. In this study, the authors sought to identify predictors associated with academic career placement among fellowship-trained neurological spinal surgeons. METHODS Demographic data and bibliometric information on neurosurgeons who completed a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education between 1983 and 2019 were gathered, and those who completed a spine fellowship were identified. Employment was denoted as academic if the hospital where a neurosurgeon worked was affiliated with a neurosurgical residency program; all other positions were denoted as nonacademic. A logistic regression model was used for multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 376 fellowship-trained spinal neurosurgeons were identified, of whom 140 (37.2%) held academic positions. The top 5 programs that graduated the most fellows in the cohort were Cleveland Clinic, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Miami, Barrow Neurological Institute, and Northwestern University. On multivariate analysis, increased protected research time during residency (OR 1.03, p = 0.044), a higher h-index during residency (OR 1.12, p < 0.001), completing more than one clinical fellowship (OR 2.16, p = 0.024), and attending any of the top 5 programs that graduated the most fellows (OR 2.01, p = 0.0069) were independently associated with an academic career trajectory. CONCLUSIONS Increased protected research time during residency, a higher h-index during residency, completing more than one clinical fellowship, and attending one of the 5 programs graduating the most fellowship-trained neurosurgical spinal surgeons independently predicted an academic career. These results may be useful in identifying and advising trainees interested in academic spine neurosurgery.
Consumer Choice and Corporate Bankruptcy

Using an incentivized randomized experiment, we estimate the causal effect of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on consumer demand for the bankrupt firm's products. Knowledge of Hertz's Chapter 11 bankruptcy reduces consumers' willingness-to-pay for Hertz by 35%. We show evidence that consumers fear both (i) a liquidation preventing future relationships with a firm and (ii) a decline in quality while a firm reorganizes. Estimating a structural model of consumer demand, we quantify the large negative impact of Hertz's bankruptcy on Hertz's market share and consumer welfare. We find that educating consumers about Chapter 11 can improve consumer welfare.
Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose To retrospectively review the clinical characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. Methods Laboratory-proven HSV-2 blepharokeratoconjunctivitis cases were reviewed between 1995 and 2021. Results 10 of 725 (1.4%) patients had HSV-2 infection. Data was available for 9 patients. Associated conditions included neonatal herpes (1/9, 11%), severe atopy (1/9, 11%), genital herpes (2/9, 22%), and systemic immune disorders (2/9, 22%). The most common presenting finding was pain and blurred vision (55.5%). Two patients (22%) had dendritic lesions and one patient (11%) had reduced corneal sensation. Complete resolution was reported in four patients (44.5%). Recurrence was noted in four patients (44.5%) despite antiviral prophylaxis. Corneal complications included scarring and neovascularization. The visual acuity at the last follow-up was 20/40 or worse in four patients (44.5%). Conclusions HSV-2 is an uncommon cause of keratitis. Dendrites and loss of corneal sensation were uncommon. Recurrence was noted despite antiviral prophylaxis.
Prospect Theory Portfolios

This chapter describes the general nature of portfolio choice when investors' preferences are governed by prospect theory. These portfolios tend to be undiversified because of the nature of the indifference map depicted along with narrow framing into mental accounts. Lack of diversification essentially stems from four features in prospect theory: convex utility in the domain of losses, narrow framing (mental accounts), nonlinear weighting functions, and the kink at the origin of the utility (value) function. Among the four features just mentioned, the chapter emphasizes the first two, convex utility in the domain of losses and narrow framing into mental accounts. The shapes of the weighting functions impact portfolio selection in respect to distortions for extreme events (in cumulative prospect theory) or small probabilities (in original prospect theory). The impact of the probability weighting function is the same as that of investor error. In the case of error, the investor misjudges the probability density function. In the case of behavioral weighting, the investor applies a nonlinear operator to the probabilities he perceives.
Secondary metabolism and microbial physiology.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the biochemical similarities and differences between primary and secondary metabolism. The known secondary metabolites are divided into three categories according to the perceived source of the carbon from which their skeletons are derived. These include metabolites derived from acetate, metabolites derived from amino acids, and metabolites derived from components of sugar metabolism. Divisions of secondary metabolites into groups according to the origin of their skeletal carbon atom have many advantages. It allows an impression to be gained of the commitment various taxa have to the use of acetate, amino acids, and sugars as a fuel for secondary metabolism. The chapter concludes that primary metabolism and secondary metabolism are co-extensive. Both processes draw carbon from the same sources and, in many cases, use the same chemical compounds to build that carbon into end products. In several aspects, secondary metabolism is more biochemically sophisticated than primary metabolism. In the areas of polyketide and terpene biosynthesis, there is an inherent biochemical complexity present in secondary metabolism, which is absent from primary metabolism. Problems of considerable logistical involvement arise in secondary metabolism and have been solved satisfactorily.
Helping behavior and altruism: an empirical and conceptual overview

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of motivational, cognitive, and situational factors that influence helping behavior and altruism. The emotional experience of arousal as well as the overall level of arousal appears to be a critical determinant of prosocial behavior. There are several different types of emotion that can mediate intervention. The strong feelings of upset associated with high levels of psychophysiological activity motivates helping in emergency situations. Several empirical contradictions and the precise interrelationships in the cognition–affect–helping sequence are identified in the chapter. The chapter focuses on the arousal—the cost-reward model. Arousal is the process through which bystanders are mobilized for action that could lead to intervention and helping. The model may also be valuable for encouraging the orderly theoretical development of inquiry and for suggesting new research, new ideas, and new regions for study. Various conditions produce different emotions and levels of arousal and differentially influence the relative impact of costs and rewards; this suggests that there may be different types of helping situations and different types of motivations.
Probabilistic fault diagnosis using adaptive probing

Past research on probing-based network monitoring provides solutions based on preplanned probing which is computationally expensive, is less accurate, and involves a large management traffic. Unlike preplanned probing, adaptive probing proposes to select probes in an interactive manner sending more probes to diagnose the observed problem areas and less probes in the healthy areas, thereby significantly reducing the number of probes required. Another limitation of most of the work proposed in the past is that it assumes a deterministic dependency information between the probes and the network components. Such an assumption can not be made when complete and accurate network information might not be available. Hence, there is a need to develop network monitoring algorithms that can localize failures in the network even in the presence of uncertainty in the inferred dependencies between probes and network components. In this paper, we propose a fault diagnosis tool with following novel features: (1) We present an adaptive probing based solution for fault diagnosis which is cost-effective, failure resistant, more accurate, and involves less management traffic as compared to the preplanned probing approach. (2) We address the issues that arise with the presence of a non-deterministic environment and present probing algorithms that consider the involved uncertainties in the collected network information.
Data acquisition instrumentation for the study of tidal flat and estuarine physics

Tides, wind-driven currents, and wind waves all contribute to the complex morphologies of estuaries and embayments, and exert in particular a controlling influence on the morphology of tidal flats. A new research tool (STAR: sediment transport autonomous recorder) has been designed primarily to study the dynamics of tidal flats and estuarine circulation/sediment transport. The new, low-profile instrument can simultaneously measure wave height and direction, mean water velocity and direction, and turbidity. The low-power, battery-operated data acquisition system can provide the synoptic view necessary to explore the interaction between currents and waves in shallow water, and how this interaction influences the erosion and deposition of sediment. An historically reliable sensor suite has been chosen and integrated with a generic subsea data logger with few modifications. The high quality sensor suite includes: the Marsh-McBirney electromagnetic flow sensor, Paroscientific Digiquartz pressure sensor. And the D&A Instruments OBS turbidity sensor. Though developed in part for tidal flat sedimentation studies, the instrument suite can be adapted quite simply for boundary layer measurements from shallow estuaries out to the continental shelf edge. Standardization of sensors and integration of sophisticated data acquisition techniques with standardized and extensive software permits scientists and engineers who are not specialists in boundary layer physics, turbulence, or sediment transport to make the measurements required in support of their related research.
Altered Diaphorase Activity in Optochin-resistant Pneumococci

Methylene blue (MB) reductase activities of washed cell suspensions and of cell-free extracts prepared from optochin-resistant mutant pneumococci were two times greater than and four to eight times more resistant to optochin inhibition than those of similar preparations from the optochin-sensitive parent strains. With whole cells, optochin hydrochloride was approximately four times more potent than quinine hydrochloride in inhibiting MB reductase activity. However, with cell-free extracts, both drugs had similar inhibitory activities. Glucose uptake was not affected by optochin hydrochloride, and both optochin-sensitive and optochin-resistant pneumococci had similar glucose uptake patterns. Diaphorase activities of cell-free extracts prepared from optochin-resistant pneumococci were two times greater than and four to eight times more resistant to optochin inhibition than those of cell-free extracts prepared from the optochin-sensitive parent strains. Flavin concentrations of cell-free extracts prepared from optochin-sensitive and optochin-resistant strains were similar.
Moving Students from Hearing and Forgetting to Doing and Understanding: A Manual for Assessment in Law School

Completing a first final examination is something of a rite of passage for first-year law students. Too often, however, these final exams mark the first and only assessment a student receives during a semester- or year-long course. There are significant costs associated with not assessing our students more frequently, and wasted potential is chief among them. Consider the student who dutifully attends every class, carefully reads every case, and responds thoughtfully on the rare occasions when she is called upon in class. Despite her best efforts, this student may end up with a transcript covered with Cs if she never has the opportunity to practice the new skills she is expected to master. While a low grade may be an accurate reflection of a student’s abilities, it may also indicate a student who has received inadequate corrective feedback.While assessing students throughout the academic year is no easy task, the benefits are real and worth the outlay of time. Early-semester assessments that target foundational concepts allow teachers to identify and assist struggling students more quickly and with a greater likelihood of success. Assessments conducted throughout the semester provide the teacher with feedback regarding the progress of the entire class, thus allowing for alterations to the method and pace of instruction. In addition, students who receive feedback through formative assessments are more likely to thrive in law school and work harder in order to meet faculty expectations. I have written this article for those who want to assess their students more frequently, but are concerned that they do not have the time needed to create, administer, and review meaningful exercises. First, the document provides background information on the topic of student assessment and addresses the weak pedagogical underpinnings of the dominant form of assessment in law schools – the end of the term summative assessment. The article also explores how student assessment is only one aspect of an iterative process that includes the creation of teaching goals, feedback to the student, and feedback to the teacher. Finally, the article provides examples of various assessment techniques that are appropriate for even large law school classes. In the end, teachers will discover that a modest outlay of time is all that is needed in order to assess students more frequently. In return, the teacher reaps the benefits of a class that is engaged and more clearly understands the lessons being taught.
L’attrait pour les médecines complémentaires et alternatives en cancérologie : une réalité que les médecins ne peuvent ni ignorer, ni réfuter

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is very frequent in cancer patients. The reasons of this attraction are very complex. Cultural context, psychological and functional status of the patients (anxiety, depression, more physical symptoms) emerge as significative predictors. Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, lack of holism (inadequate information regarding diet, nutrition, exercise and ignorance of social and spiritual dimensions) are important motivations for turning to CAM. To optimise the patient-physician relationship and to avoid a propensity to ineproved treatments, accurate and adequate communication is necessary.
Applying HWCVD to particle coatings and modeling the deposition mechanism

A specific HWCVD variant known as initiated chemical vapor deposition or iCVD has been successfully implemented in the encapsulation of fine particles with polymers. Without using a liquid medium, iCVD enabled the coating of fine particles down to the nanoscale without particle agglomeration. More significantly, iCVD was demonstrated as a versatile surface design methodology in achieving the requisite surface properties by either directly depositing the polymer with the required functionality or through subsequent binding of the functionality on a pre-deposited reactive polymer. The ability to adapt iCVD to an increasingly wider array of substrates and polymer chemistries was aided by understanding iCVD reaction kinetics through mechanistic modeling.
Daminozide inhibits ethylene production in apple fruit by blocking the conversion of methionine to aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)

At harvest, fruit from apple trees sprayed with daminozide (+daminozide) had lower levels of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and produced significantly lower amounts of ethylene than untreated (−daminozide) fruit. Flesh discs from the fruit of +daminozide and −daminozide trees were fed precursors of ethylene to determine how daminozide inhibits ethylene production. ACC was metabolized to ethylene regardless of treatment. Methionine (MET), however, was only converted to ethylene by −daminozide fruit, and only after the fruit had been maintained at 4 °C for 5 months. +Daminozide fruit failed to convert MET to ethylene at harvest, as well as after cold storage. When daminozide was added to the incubation media of flesh discs it did not inhibit ethylene production or the conversion of ACC to ethylene. The addition of daminozide did, however, inhibit the metabolism of exogenous MET to ethylene. Aminooxyacetate acid (AOA) blocked both the endogenous production of ethylene and that from MET feeds. Daminozide inhibits ethylene production by preventing the conversion of MET to ACC, but it does not appear to act as a simple competitive inhibitor of ACC synthase activity.
Lipid modifications of G proteins: alpha subunits are palmitoylated.

Abstract A small number of membrane-associated proteins are reversibly and covalently modified with palmitic acid. Palmitoylation of G-protein alpha and beta subunits was assessed by metabolic labeling of subunits expressed in simian COS cells or insect Sf9 cells. The fatty acid was incorporated into all of the alpha subunits examined (alpha s, alpha o, alpha i1, alpha i2, alpha i3, alpha z, and alpha q), including those that are also myristoylated (alpha o, alpha i, and alpha z). Palmitate was released by treatment with base, suggesting attachment to the protein through a thioester or ester bond. Limited tryptic digestion of activated alpha o and alpha s resulted in release of the amino-terminal portions of the proteins and radioactive palmitate. These data are consistent with palmitoylation of the proteins near their amino termini, most likely on Cys-3. Reversible acylation of G-protein alpha subunits may provide an additional mechanism for regulation of signal transduction.
Hepatitis C in human immunodeficiency virus‐coinfected patients: Increased variability in the hypervariable envelope coding domain

Abstract Patients coinfected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were studied with regard to nucleotide sequence variability in the E2/NS1 first hypervariable region of the HCV genome. The nucleotide variability within individual patients was compared to patients infected only with HCV. The proportion of predicted synonymous and nonsynonymous amino acid changes, and the relationship to putative high-antigenicity sites, were evaluated in the hypervariable envelope domain. Ninety-one clones from 10 patients with HCV/HIV coinfection were sequenced, following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the hypervariable region. The control HCV group included 53 clones from 7 patients. Sequence analysis encompassed the region coding for amino acids 384 to 414. Consensus sequences from each patient were used as the internal standard for nonsynonymous amino acid codon variability. Cumulative proportional comparison at each amino acid site revealed increased variability in HCV RNA from patients with HCV/HIV coinfection versus HCV alone (P l0 percent clonal variation at these sites. Jameson-Wolf plots were used to predict putative high-antigenicity domains. Nonsynonymous clonal variation resulted in alteration of putative antigenic sites within the hypervariable region. All clones had at least one high-probability site. Clones with unique predicted antigenic domains were observed more frequently in HIV/HCV coinfected patients, and, independent of viral titer, were consistent with increased sequence variability. These data suggest an accumulation of envelope variants in the HCV/HIV coinfected patients, which could be related to ineffective viral clearance, and may help explain prior reports of interferon (IFN) resistance in this patient group. (Hepatology 1996 Apr;23(4):688-94)
Behavioral coping strategies in a cichlid fish: the role of social status and acute stress response in direct and displaced aggression

The African cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni, has a complex social system with a sophisticated social hierarchy that offers unique opportunities to understand how social rank and its physiological substrates relate to behavioral strategies. In A. burtoni, a small fraction of the males are dominant (T, territorial), as distinguished by being large, brightly colored, reproductively active, and aggressively defending territories. In contrast, the majority of males are non-dominant (NT, non-territorial), being smaller, drably colored, sexually immature, and typically schooling with females. The social system is regulated by aggressive interactions between males and behavioral responses to aggression can be direct or displaced with respect to the animal that acts. To determine whether direct and displaced behaviors are differentially exhibited by T and NT males, individuals were shown a video presentation of a dominant male displaying aggressively. Analysis of aggressive acts toward the video display and displaced activity toward a tank mate revealed that T males exhibited more direct behavior (toward the video display), while NT males engaged in more displaced behavior (toward tank mates). Because similar experiments with primates suggest that shifts in behavioral strategies are linked to changes in the stress response (as measured by circulating cortisol levels), we measured cortisol levels of T and NT males following exposure to the aggressive stimulus. Although in some animals subordinate males are reported to have higher cortisol levels, here we show that in A. burtoni the endocrine response to specific situations can vary considerably even among animals of the same status. Interestingly, NT males with intermediate cortisol levels showed more directed behavior while NT males with both high and low cortisol levels showed more displaced. This suggests an optimal physiological stress response in NT males that predisposes them to challenge aggressors perhaps making it more likely for them to ascend in status.
Note on cubic interactions in pp-wave light cone string field theory

We study the string modes in pp-wave light-cone string field theory. First, we clarify the discrepancy between the Neumann coefficients for the supergravity vertex and the zero mode of the full string one. We also repeat our previous manipulation of the prefactor for the string modes and find that the prefactor reduces to the energy difference of the cos modes minus that of the sin modes. Finally, we discuss impurity number nonpreserving three-string processes.
Evaluation of Protective Ensemble Thermal Characteristics Through Sweating Hot Plate, Sweating Thermal Manikin, and Human Tests

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive capability of fabric Total Heat Loss (THL) values on thermal stress that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ensemble wearers may encounter while performing work. A series of three tests, consisting of the Sweating Hot Plate (SHP) test on two sample fabrics and the Sweating Thermal Manikin (STM) and human performance tests on two single-layer encapsulating ensembles (fabric/ensemble A = low THL and B = high THL), was conducted to compare THL values between SHP and STM methods along with human thermophysiological responses to wearing the ensembles. In human testing, ten male subjects performed a treadmill exercise at 4.8 km and 3% incline for 60 min in two environmental conditions (mild = 22°C, 50% relative humidity (RH) and hot/humid = 35°C, 65% RH). The thermal and evaporative resistances were significantly higher on a fabric level as measured in the SHP test than on the ensemble level as measured in the STM test. Consequently the THL values were a...
On the computation of the gap metric for LTV systems

Abstract In this paper, we consider the robust stabilization problem for linear discrete time-varying (LTV) systems using the gap metric. In particular, we show that the time-varying (TV) directed gap reduces to an operator with a TV Hankel plus Toeplitz structure. Computation of the norm of such an operator can be carried out using an iterative scheme involving a TV Hankel operator defined on a space of Hilbert–Schmidt causal operators. The “infimization” in the TV directed gap formula is shown to be, in fact, a minimum by using duality theory. The latter holds as well in the time-invariant case.
Detrimental psychological outcomes associated with pubertal timing in adolescent boys

Though often discussed as a discrete event, puberty comprises one segment of a larger developmental continuum and is notable for rapid transformation across a multitude of domains. While an earlier timing of puberty relative to peers stands as one of the most well-replicated antecedents of adolescent difficulties for girls, findings have been less consistent for boys’ development. The current review synthesizes the research on pubertal timing and psychosocial development in adolescent boys. Results are evaluated in the context of three theoretical perspectives by which precocious development is believed to affect the emergence of adverse outcomes: biological, psychosocial and selection.
A comparison of the effects of frontal cortical and thalamic lesions on measures of spatial learning and memory in the rat

Two experiments were conducted to compare the effects of radiofrequency lesions of thalamus and frontal cortex on three measures of spatial learning and memory: delayed non-matching to sample (DNMTS), radial arm maze with imposed delays, and serial reversal learning. Thalamic lesions were aimed at the lateral internal medullary lamina (L-IML) and cortical lesions at the projection areas of the mediodorsal nucleus along the medial wall (MW) and dorsal to the rhinal sulcus (RS) in frontal cortex. In Experiment 1 rats were trained on DNMTS prior to surgery. After recovery, rats with MW lesions showed persistent deficits on DNMTS that were significantly greater than for RS lesions. The deficits observed in MW lesioned animals were comparable to the effects of L-IML lesions on this task that have been described in previous studies. In Experiment 2 animals were trained to perform the radial arm maze task prior to treatment. After recovery, animals with L-IML lesions were impaired on the radial arm maze and on subsequent acquisition of the serial reversal task. Rats with RS and MW lesions showed transient impairments on the radial arm maze task, but otherwise performed as well as controls on both these tasks.
The influence of nutritional change on polyribosomes of the liver.

1. This study is concerned with the possible mechanism accounting for the shift of polyribosomes in the liver of animals under two different nutritional alterations: (1) young rats force-fed for 3 days a complete or threonine-devoid diet and (2) mice tube-fed one feeding of a complete amino acid mixture after 48 or 16 h fasting. Under both experimental conditions there occurs in the liver a shift toward heavier polyribosomes with a concomitant decrease in monomers. 2. Our findings based on pulse (2 and 3 h) labeling of 32Pi or [14C]orotate into messenger RNA (mRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) indicate that in rats fed the threonine-devoid diet the labeled mRNA has a heavier sedimentation velocity and therefore a higher molecular weight than in the controls. However, this newly labeled mRNA in the experimental animals has a heterogeneous distribution among the total hepatic polysomes, but not in the controls where there is a homogeneous distribution. 3. Our studies with fasted mice killed shortly after one feeding of a complete amino acid mixture indicate that a rapid shift of polyribosomes occurs which is independent of newly synthesized RNA as demonstrated by prior treatment with actinomycin. Based on calculations derived from enhanced in vitro amino acid incorporation into hepatic protein, this shift of polyribosome pattern is thought to be probably due to closer spacing of ribosomes on mRNA. However, the possibility that this may be due to the availability of preexisting stable mRNA must still be considered.
Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum: Folktales are for Everyone!

Sharing folktales with young children offers an array of opportunities. These stories have universal appeal, abate fears, support divergent thinking, and connect generations. Eleven newest renditions of classic tales are reviewed and recommended.
Flexible Learning Environments: Leveraging the Affordances of Flexible Delivery and Flexible Learning

The purpose of this article is to explore the key features of flexible learning environments (FLEs). Key principles associated with FLEs are explained. Underlying tenets and support mechanisms necessary for the implementation of FLEs are described. Similarities and differences in traditional learning and FLEs are explored. Finally, strategies and techniques for becoming a successful learner and facilitator in FLEs are presented.