cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial production and consumption of hydrocarbons in the global ocean.

Seeps, spills and other oil pollution introduce hydrocarbons into the ocean. Marine cyanobacteria also produce hydrocarbons from fatty acids, but little is known about the size and turnover of this cyanobacterial hydrocarbon cycle. We report that cyanobacteria in an oligotrophic gyre mainly produce n-pentadecane and that microbial hydrocarbon production exhibits stratification and diel cycling in the sunlit surface ocean. Using chemical and isotopic tracing we find that pentadecane production mainly occurs in the lower euphotic zone. Using a multifaceted approach, we estimate that the global flux of cyanobacteria-produced pentadecane exceeds total oil input in the ocean by 100- to 500-fold. We show that rapid pentadecane consumption sustains a population of pentadecane-degrading bacteria, and possibly archaea. Our findings characterize a microbial hydrocarbon cycle in the open ocean that dwarfs oil input. We hypothesize that cyanobacterial hydrocarbon production selectively primes the ocean’s microbiome with long-chain alkanes whereas degradation of other petroleum hydrocarbons is controlled by factors including proximity to petroleum seepage. Cyanobacteria are shown to produce alkanes that sustain communities of pentadecane-degrading bacteria, and possibly archaea, as part of an alkane cycle in the ocean.
Investigating creativity-directed tasks in middle school mathematics curricula

Abstract Developing students’ creative thinking abilities while learning mathematics has been recently emphasized by many scholars, with many nations including creative thinking in mathematics as one of their overarching curriculum goals. The first purpose of the present study is to develop a framework to identify what type of mathematical tasks promote the mathematical creativity of students. The second purpose is to analyze to what degree the most commonly used three middle school curricula (i.e., Eureka, The Go Math!, and CPM) in the U.S. include creativity-directed tasks in their textbooks using this framework. Analyzing 1,500 mathematical tasks in each curriculum revealed that different curricula emphasize different dimensions of the creativity-directed tasks categories (i.e., open-ended tasks, problem-posing, connections, extensions, visualizations, and communication) presented in the framework. The result also revealed that open-ended problems are more common in the 6th grade textbooks than 7th and 8th grade textbooks regardless of the three selected middle school mathematics curricula. The implication of this study is to guide teachers with the strength and weakness of textbooks in terms of their inclusiveness of creativity-directed tasks to inform their teaching. Additionally, it is critical for curriculum developers to pay particular attention in including tasks that supporting each category and subcategory proportionately across the three years of middle school rather than emphasizing a few of them in one grade and almost completely ignoring them in previous or later years.
Rydberg atom spectrum analyzer from zero to 20 GHz

The electromagnetic spectrum is limited. As demand increases, our capabilities will be dictated by the sensitivity and agility of RF transmitters, receivers, and networks. For this reason, quantum RF sensors and networks are the key to controlling the spectrum in the tomorrow's competitive landscape. Here, we present a Rydberg-atom based quantum spectrum analyzer that operates continuously from zero to 20 GHz, with sensitivity and instantaneous bandwidth that rivals high-end conventional spectrum analyzers. The spectrum analyzer uses room-temperature Rydberg atoms coupled to an RF waveguide, and input signals are amplified using an off-resonant atomic heterodyne technique. We measure weak ambient signals inside the laboratory including AM/FM radio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The quantum spectrum analyzer is characterized by unique capabilities that will allow it, in the near future, to surpass foundational limitations of traditional RF receivers and analyzers.
Recent Trends in Medicaid Spending and Use of Drugs With US Food and Drug Administration Accelerated Approval

Importance State Medicaid programs have reported concerns about rising drug prices and spending, particularly regarding drugs entering the market through the accelerated approval program under the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The accelerated approval program enables the FDA to approve drugs on the basis of unverified surrogate end points, meaning that clinical benefits for these products are uncertain at the time of approval. However, state Medicaid programs are legally required to cover these drugs. Little is known about the set of products with accelerated approval over time, their use among Medicaid beneficiaries, or the magnitude of their financial influence on state Medicaid programs. Objective To identify the number and class of drugs approved through the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway and analyze state Medicaid programs’ use and spending on these drugs from 2015 through 2019. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional study, biannual FDA reports were used to identify products granted accelerated approval and their associated indications approved between December 1992 and December 2020. State Medicaid Drug Utilization Data files available for 1992 through 2019 were used to estimate national totals for spending and use of outpatient drugs. Main Outcomes and Measures National Medicaid use and gross and net spending on drugs with accelerated approval from 2015 through 2019. Results Since the inception of the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway in 1992 through 2020, 216 product-indication pairs granted accelerated approval were identified, comprising 149 unique products. The composition of drugs approved through the pathway has changed over time, with 28 of 30 (93.3%) product-indication pairs receiving accelerated approval in 2020 being indicated for cancer. Relative to all outpatient prescription drugs paid for by Medicaid, products with accelerated approval ranged from 0.2% to 0.4% of use (1.3-2.4 million prescriptions annually). Despite their infrequent use, drugs with accelerated approval represented a minimum annual net spending on all drugs covered by Medicaid of 6.4% ($2.2 billion of $34.6 billion) in 2015 and a maximum of 9.1% ($2.5 billion of $27.6 billion) in 2018. Estimated annual gross spending on drugs with accelerated approval ranged from $4.2 billion to $4.9 billion over 2015 through 2019, and estimated net spending from $2.2 billion to $2.6 billion. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of 216 drugs granted accelerated approval, state spending on drugs approved through the FDA’s growing accelerated approval program represented an outsized amount of spending relative to use. Because drugs with accelerated approval have come to market on the basis of trials using surrogate end points, considerable amounts of this spending may have been attributable to products with unproven clinical benefits.
Encoding and Exploring Latent Design Space of Optimal Material Structures via a VAE-LSTM Model

Abstract Variational autoencoders (VAE) are machine learning models that can extract low dimensional representations of data from datasets of high complexity and volume. Importantly, they can be used for generative purposes to reconstruct complex data, such as images, from a low dimensional encoding of only a few variables. Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks are well suited to learning logical trajectory relationships within datasets. Using these two models in concert, we develop a VAE-LSTM approach to learn a classic mechanical materials design problem. Here, we focus on the compliance optimization of cantilever design, using a VAE to encode cantilever structures into a 2D latent space and a LSTM to learn trajectories in that latent space corresponding to the optimization process. Ultimately, we are able to clearly visualize the space of cantilever design, generate new design with extremely low density beyond the original dataset, and obtain optimal cantilever structures inspired by nature. We also demonstrate how the resulting designs can be manufactured using 3D printing, offering a rapid pathway from concept to prototype. The method we developed here can be generalized to other image-based datasets encapsulating changes from multiple factors. The ability offered by our approach to interpret complex behavior, via representations in simplified space, has great potential for application in the intelligent design and manufacturing of materials structure problems.
General Considerations Concerning Safety in Biomedical Research Laboratories

Publisher Summary The safe operation of a laboratory that focuses on biomedical research is difficult. No single source of information can provide all the information and guidance necessary to develop an adequate safety program/plan to protect laboratory personnel from various hazards. Most countries and provinces have regulations related to safety precautions that may need to be followed by laboratories. This chapter draws attention to general considerations concerning safety approaches in biomedical research laboratories in the United States. The operation of biomedical research laboratories requires attention to many complex issues that depend on the goals and activities of each specific laboratory. All laboratories should consider issues in physical, electrical, and fire safety. Safety can be maintained with the careful evaluation of all safety incidents and modification of the safety plan to prevent similar incidents. Regulations specify approaches necessary to protect employees from blood-borne pathogens, general laboratory chemicals, and specific chemicals such as formaldehyde. All employees need to work in order to maintain a safe working environment. This requires establishing a safety infrastructure, developing and monitoring of an effective safety plan, and imparting information about safety hazards associated with special types of laboratory work: biohazards, chemical hazards, and radiation hazards.
Expansion cloud chamber measurements of the gas phase self- initiated thermal polymerization of styrene

The precision Wilson expansion cloud chamber [I] at the GCCPR has been used to detect polymers formed in the vapor phase by the thermal self-initiation of styrene. This expansion chamber has a large volume that is uniform in temperature and vapor content. Polymerization in the vapor phase involves initiation, propagation by addition of monomers and diffusion and loss to the walls but not chain transfer or termination (as is found in the liquid). The polymers that are formed are detected by expanding the chamber to a supersaturation sufficient to nucleate the polymer (cluster) yet not start homogeneous nucleation. This type of detection allows one to detect, for example, I to 1000 polymers/cm 3 in a vapor of 5 x 1017 monomers/cm 3. Previous work on styrene was done in a diffusion chamber by El-Shall, Bahta, Rabeony and Reiss [2]. Initial measurements were made with pure styrene vapor in an argon carrier gas. It was difficult to prevent the liquid styrene from polymerizing in this case and subsequently oxygen was added to the carrier gas to enhance the action of the inhibitor in the liquid. Figure I shows data for pure styrene vapor at 15 C. This preliminary data may show some influence from polymerization of the liquid. Rabeony and Reiss [3] have modeled the case where polymers form in a gas and diffuse to the walls of a closed cylinder. They predict that the number of drops/cm 3 in the vapor, N, can be calculated from the expression: N(I,D,K,J*) = I • F where I is the initiation rate and F is a factor that can be calculated from a lengthy expression where D is the diffusion constant, K the propagation constant and J the critical cluster size. Figure 2 shows the factor, F, as a function of the critical cluster size for various values of K. Using the theory of Reiss, Rabeony, El-Shall and Bahta [4], one can calcuate the critical cluster size as a function of supersaturation in styrene. When the results of this calcuation are applied to the data in Fig. I, one finds the slope as shown in Fig. 2.
End Restraint Effects on Undrained Static Triaxial Strength of Sand

Although many studies have been made on the effect of end restraint in triaxial testing of soils, no data were available pertaining to static undrained tests on saturated sands. Therefore, a series of tests were conducted using triaxial specimens with regular and frictionless ends. The results showed that for a medium dense sand there was a significant (up to 20%) increase in static undrained strength with frictionless ends as compared with tests using regular ends. The effect is significantly greater than observed for other studies pertaining to drained tests on sands and undrained tests on clays. The strong effect in this case was shown to be related to the difference in volume change/pore pressure change tendencies between tests with regular and frictionless ends as measured by the critical confining pressure. The study was undertaken as a prelude to a similar companion study on the influence of end restraint in undrained cyclic tests on saturated sand.
Utilization of hepatitis C antibody-positive livers: genotype dominance is virally determined

Because of the unrelenting donor shortage, utilization of all potential liver donors is essential. However, when utilizing marginal donors it is critical to precisely characterize the risks, inform recipients of those risks, and allocate these higher risk organs to appropriate candidates. Towards this goal, we need to determine the safety and potential consequences, if any, of utilizing hepatitis C (HCV) antibody-positive donors in HCV infected recipients. To further characterize HCV antibody-positive donors, we analyzed prospectively collected serum samples from HCV antibody-positive donors transplanted into HCV RNA-positive recipients from 5/1993 to 10/2008 for HCV viral load (Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas Taqman HCV Assay) and genotype (Siemens Versant 2.0 LiPA HCV 5’ UTR/Core Assay). Seventeen of 32 (53%) HCV antibodypositive donors were RNA negative. Fifteen patients received an HCV RNA-positive donor and nine donor–recipient pairs had different genotypes or subtypes for analysis. When genotype 1 competed with a non-1 genotype, it was found in 5/6 recipients. In 2/3 cases of mismatched genotype 1 subtypes, genotype 1a dominated. Kaplan–Meier analysis of patient and graft survival and fibrosis progression did not reveal differences between patients who received an HCV antibody-positive donor that was viremic or aviremic. In conclusion, approximately half of HCV antibody-positive donors were aviremic. Viral dominance in viremic donor–recipient pairs seems virally determined.
Clinical and immunologic study of a direct agglutination test for pregnancy (mechanisms of interference including prozoning and circulating macroglobulins).

Abstract A clinical and immunologic evaluation of a direct agglutination test for pregnancy ∗ ∗DAP test, Wampole Labs., Stamford, Connecticut. was performed on sera from 303 pregnancies, and a correctly positive result was obtained in 96 per cent. Prozoning accounted for 3 of the 4 false negative test results as well as for many of the weaker but correct positive results and was related to sampling during the periods of peak human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) production (fiftieth to ninetieth day). A parallel control study of 200 sera from nonpregnant women yielded 7 (3.5 per cent) false positive and 9 (4.5 per cent) inconclusive test results. Three hundred and thirty-nine sera from a selected group of patients with immunologic disorders gave 19.2 per cent (55/339) inconclusive and 7.3 per cent (25/339) false positive results. There were indications that many of the inconclusive test results were due to circulating macroglobulins. A recently added control reagent detected these proteins in many cases.
Comparison of sustained attention assessed by auditory and visual psychomotor vigilance tasks prior to and during sleep deprivation

To date, no detailed examination of the pattern of change in reaction time performance for different sensory modalities has been conducted across the circadian cycle during sleep deprivation. Therefore, we compared sustained auditory and visual attention performance during 40 h of sleep deprivation assessing multiple metrics of auditory and visual psychomotor vigilance tasks (PVT). Forty healthy participants (14 women) aged 30.8 +/- 8.6 years were studied. Subjects were scheduled for an approximately 8 h sleep schedule at home prior to three-six laboratory baseline days with an 8 h sleep schedule followed by 40 h sleep deprivation. Visual and auditory PVTs were 10 min in duration, and were administered every 2 h during sleep deprivation. Data were analysed with mixed-model anova. Sleep deprivation and circadian phase increased response time, lapses, anticipations, standard deviation of response times and time on task decrements for visual and auditory PVTs. In general, auditory vigilance was faster and less variable than visual vigilance, with larger differences between auditory and visual PVT during sleep deprivation versus baseline. Failures to respond to stimuli within 10 s were four times more likely to occur to visual versus auditory stimuli. Our findings highlight that lapses during sleep deprivation are more than just long responses due to eye closure or visual distraction. Furthermore, our findings imply that the general pattern of change in attention during sleep deprivation (e.g. circadian variation, response slowing, lapsing and anticipations, time on task decrements and state instability) is similar among sensory-motor behavioral response modalities. Language: en
A Study of Students’ Readiness to Learn Calculus

The Calculus Concept Readiness (CCR) instrument assesses foundational understandings and reasoning abilities that have been documented to be essential for learning calculus. The CCR Taxonomy describes the understandings and reasoning abilities assessed by CCR. The CCR is a 25-item multiple-choice instrument that can be used as a placement test for entry into calculus and to assess the effectiveness of precalculus level instruction. Results from administering the CCR to first semester calculus students at the beginning of the semester revealed severe weaknesses in students’ foundational knowledge and reasoning abilities for learning calculus. Correlating CCR results with course grades revealed that students with higher CCR scores are better prepared to succeed in beginning calculus. The CCR data further identified specific ways of thinking and concepts for which precalculus instruction could be improved to influence student learning and preparation for calculus.
Pairwise coupled hybrid vanadium dioxide-MOSFET (HVFET) oscillators for non-boolean associative computing

Information processing applications related to associative computing like image / pattern recognition consume excessive computational resources in the Boolean processing framework. This motivates the exploration of a non-Boolean computing approach for such applications. In this work, we demonstrate, (i) novel hybrid set of pair-wise coupled oscillators comprising of vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) metal-insulator-transition (MIT) system integrated with MOSFET; (ii) degree of synchronization between oscillators based on input analog voltage difference; (iii) implementation of hardware platform for fast and efficient evaluation of Lk fractional distance norm (k<1); (iv) improved quality of image processing and ∼20X lower power consumption of the coupled oscillators over a CMOS accelerator.
Nanostructure-biomolecule interactions: implications for tissue regeneration and nanomedicine.

Great strides are being made worldwide in our ability to synthesize and assemble nanoscale building blocks to create advanced materials with novel properties and functionalities. The novel properties of nanostructures are derived from their confined sizes and their very large surface-to-volume ratios. Nanostructured surfaces have also been shown to elicit more favorable and selective biomolecule and cellular responses than surfaces at coarser length scales. In the case of nanoscale ceramics and osteoblasts, for example, the benefit results from protein (vitronectin) unfolding at the nanostructured surface. These nanoscale attributes are enabling a variety of nanostructures to form the bases for a new field—nanomedicine. A fundamental issue in much of nanomedicine, and especially tissue regeneration, is to understand and to eventually control nanostructure–biomolecule interactions. To elucidate the fundamental bases for changes of protein conformation and function on nanostructured surfaces, and hence sele...
Real-time electrical impedance detection of cellular activities of oral cancer cells

In this study, the electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system was used to study the cellular activities of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells in a real-time and label-free manner. Various cellular activities, including cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and drug-induced apoptosis and inhibition of apoptosis, were monitored. A linear relationship was found between the impedance-based cell index and the cell number in the range of 3500 to 35,000 cells/well. Anti-cancer drug-cisplatin-induced OSCC cell apoptosis at the minimal concentration of 5 microM after 20 h of treatment and followed a linear dose-dependent manner in the concentration range from 10 microM to 25 microM. The inhibition of cisplatin-induced apoptosis by the carcinogen, nicotine, at concentrations from 0.1 microM to 10 microM was monitored. The most significant inhibitory effect of nicotine on cisplatin-induced apoptosis was observed at concentrations of 0.5-1 microM. The results obtained with impedance method correlated well with microscopic imaging analysis of cellular morphology and cell viability analysis. This study demonstrated that the impedance-based method can provide real-time information about the cellular activity of viable cells and detect drug-induced cellular activities much earlier than commonly used cell-based image analysis. This impedance-based method has the potential to provide a useful analytical approach for cancer research.
Chronic disease self-management program in the workplace: opportunities for health improvement.

Disease management is becoming increasingly important in workplace health promotion given the aging workforce, rising chronic disease prevalence, and needs to maintain a productive and competitive American workforce. Despite the widespread availability of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), and its known health-related benefits, program adoption remains low in workplace settings. The primary purpose of this study is to compare personal and delivery characteristics of adults who attended CDSMP in the workplace relative to other settings (e.g., senior centers, healthcare organizations, residential facilities). This study also contrasts characteristics of CDSMP workplace participants to those of the greater United States workforce and provides recommendations for translating CDSMP for use in workplace settings. Data were analyzed from 25,664 adults collected during a national dissemination of CDSMP. Only states and territories that conducted workshops in workplace settings were included in analyses (n = 13 states and Puerto Rico). Chi-squared tests and t-tests were used to compare CDSMP participant characteristics by delivery site type. CDSMP workplace participant characteristics were then compared to reports from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 25,664 CDSMP participants in this study, 1.7% (n = 435) participated in workshops hosted in worksite settings. Compared to CDSMP participants in non-workplace settings, workplace setting participants were significantly younger and had fewer chronic conditions. Differences were also observed based on chronic disease types. On average, CDSMP workshops in workplace settings had smaller class sizes and workplace setting participants attended more workshop sessions. CDSMP participants in workplace settings were substantially older and a larger proportion were female than the general United States workforce. Findings indicate opportunities to translate CDSMP for use in the workplace to reach new target audiences.
Do Asthmatics Benefit from House Dust Mite Allergen Avoidance Strategies?: Results of a Systematic Review of the Literature |[diams]| 22

We conducted a systematic review to determine if asthmatics who are sensitive to house dust mites (HDM) benefit from HDM allergen avoidance strategies. Using MEDLINE, a review of bibliographies, and references supplied by international experts in entomology and pediatric allergy, we identified 764 titles of English language articles, published between January, 1966 and July, 1997, which possibly included information about allergen avoidance strategies for HDM. Two investigators (MC, PE) independently reviewed the full bibliographic citation of each of the 764 candidate articles and identified 112 articles for further review. The full text of each of the 112 articles was read by two independent reviewers (MC, JZ) to identify randomized controlled trials which met the following criteria: presence of original data, intervention duration longer than eight weeks, washout period of at least four weeks for crossover trials, and a history of asthma with objective evidence of HDM sensitivity in the study population. Differences between the reviewers were resolved by consensus (MC, JZ, PE). 18 articles met the above inclusion criteria and included one or a combination of the following interventions: chemical control measures (13 articles), impermeable covers (9), aggressive cleaning (8), and/or humidity reduction (2). Studies also varied in their exclusion of study patients (i.e. severity of asthma, pet ownership, and/or tobacco exposure), as well as selection of outcome measurements, such as HDM allergen levels (12), HDM counts (5), house dust weight (3), subjective symptom scores (9), medication use (6), physician's assessment (1), lung function tests (12) and histamine/methacholine challenge tests (10). The 18 accepted articles differed in their conclusions regarding the benefit of HDM allergen avoidance measures. We conclude that the heterogeneity of interventions, exclusion criteria, and outcome measures prevents combining data among studies to calculate overall summary measures of intervention effectiveness. Furthermore, the studies suggesting a clinical benefit are qualitatively different from negative studies, since they tend to have more explicit protocols to monitor patient compliance, and tend to exclude patients on chronic steroids, patients with recent hospitalizations, and patients who own pets.
Free-electron lasers - Present status and future prospects

Free-electron lasers as scientific instruments are reviewed. The present status and future prospects are delineated with attention drawn to the size, complexity, availability, and performance capability of this new tool.
Elucidating Hydrodynamic Force Regulation of Von Willebrand Factor in Hemostasis

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that plays a pivotal role in hemostasis - it serves as a ligand for platelet adhesion and aggregation forming a hemostatic plug. The hemostatic potential of VWF is regulated by hydrodynamic forces arising in the circulation. Hydrodynamic shear at sites of bleeding activate the binding of VWF to platelet receptor GpIb. Hydrodynamic forces in blood flow also attenuated thrombosis promoting ultralarge VWF by activating cleavage in the VWF A2 domain by the metalloprotease ADAMTS13. Here, we investigated how mechanical forces, which occur in the circulation, regulate the structural conformation and function of VWF at the molecular level using a combination single-molecule manipulation and computational modeling. We created various hydrodynamic flows to mimic a wide range of blood flow conditions, while directly visualizing the conformational dynamics of single VWF molecules. First, we developed a assay that uses a microfluidic device with a cross-slot geometry to study VWF under elongational flow and developed a custom “shear wheel” microscope to study VWF under shear flow. These techniques will enable us to understand how hydrodynamic forces in the bloodstream act on VWF to cause quaternary unfolding, and how this in turn regulates adhesive activity. Second, we developed a kinetic model of force-induced enzymatic cleavage of A2 by ADAMTS13. Our simulations, using parameters from single-molecule force experiments, predict the known healthy size distribution of VWF. We also found that calcium ions protects health-sized VWF from cleavage, and that A2 mutations related to the heritable bleeding disorder von Willebrand disease (VWD) shift hemostatic potential by destabilizing the domain structure under force. These newly developed experimental techniques and findings will lead to a better understanding of bleeding disorders and help progress the therapeutic development of VWD.
Concurrent Validity of the WPPSI with Mexican-American Preschool Children

The concurrent validity of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) was investigated in a sample of 39 Mexican-American preschool children from low socioeconomic status background. The measure against which concurrent validity was assessed was the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA). The correlations of each of the three WPPSI IQ scores with each of the five MSCA Scale scores that were typically in the .60s and .80s indicated some specific support for the concurrent validity of the WPPSI for Mexican-American preschool children. In light of the paucity of psychometric research of the WPPSI with Mexican-American children, further investigations are recommended.
EFFECTS OF SIGNALLING AND FEEDBACK ON THE COMPREHENSION OF RECONSTRUCTED TEXT

Sammary.-64 college students reconstructed two scrambled 26-sentence passages, one based primarily on semantic content and the other on episodic content. Assistance was provided in the form of feedback and three signalling sentences. There were statistically significant main effects favoring the semantic passage for recall and for concordance with the original order. There were no effects for signalling. However, a qualitative analysis of sentence clustering suggested that feedback and signalling were differentially more effective for the semantic passage. This paper is one of a series of experiments concerned with the synthesis of meaning from text in an instructional context. Specifically, scrambled passages are reconstructed with feedback, and comprehension is assessed by approximation of the reconstructed text to the original sentence sequence (concordance) as well as by various retrieval measures. Our research has not dealt with the mechanics of processing discourse but with the instructional problems associated with feedback and processing discourse. Traditionally, these areas have not been related in any systematic manner. The extraction of meaning from language has concerned scholars in various disciplines (Britton & Black, 1985; Just & Carpenter, 1987; van Dijk & Kintsch, 1983). Textual properties investigated include content and structure (Thorndyke, 1977) and referential coherence (Kincsch, 1974). We have chosen to investigate sentence order because text reconstruction from randomly ordered sentences is a process and so amenable to instructional influences. The instructional assistance provided is feedback, which is generally considered an effective instructional adjunct under most circumstances (Langer? 1983). The feedback provided in the research was used to confirm sentence placement during reconstruction. The focus of the research lies in both the importance of sentence order as well as the effectiveness of feedback. Sequential order of constituents is a fundamental property of any language. Words in sentences must be ordered syntactically to prevent misunderstanding. The constraints of sequence are much looser at the level of sentences in paragraphs or in passages, but we have presumed that there are optimal sentence sequences for any text and that comprehension and retrieval will be better for this than for alternative sequences (Langer, Keenan, & Medosch-Schonbeck,
Humeral head replacement for four-part fractures and fracture-dislocations

Abstract Prosthetic replacement for acute four-part displaced fractures of the proximal humerus is recommended over other forms of treatment. Fixation of the tuberosities through the rotator cuff attachments avoids potential dehiscence from repairs using the soft osteoporotic tuberosities. Cable supplementation secures tuberosities to the shaft, thereby allowing earlier, safe motion to prevent the stiffness that can accompany these difficult fractures.
Xerostomia secondary to Sjögren's syndrome in the elderly: recognition and management.

Xerostomia is a common symptom in the elderly population. Studies have suggested that the underlying cause of approximately 40% of xerostomia in the elderly is Sjogren's syndrome. Although it is highly prevalent among middle-aged individuals, elderly patients account for up to 20% of Sjogren's syndrome cases. Sjogren's syndrome is a multisystem exocrinopathy characterised by dry mouth and dry eyes with wide-ranging extraglandular involvement. The exocrine manifestations of Sjogren's syndrome affect the mouth, eyes, nose, ears, skin, vagina and the entire respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The nonexocrine involvement may include the joints, thyroid gland, liver, kidneys and the musculoskeletal, vascular and central nervous systems. Currently, the mechanism(s) of development and progression of Sjogren's syndrome is/are not clear. Inflammation and lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands is a classical feature of Sjogren's syndrome. During the progression of the disease, the acinar cells of the exocrine glands are replaced by fibrosis, rendering the glands nonfunctional. Sjogren's syndrome remains one of the most underdiagnosed conditions, particularly in the elderly population, because the cardinal sicca symptoms, which are the hallmark of the disease, are frequently attributed to aging and/or medications, which consequently delays the diagnosis. This delay in diagnosis imposes significant physical, psychological and economic burdens on elderly patients. The diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome requires evaluation of both the exocrine and nonexocrine components of the disease. Management of Sjogren's syndrome requires collaboration by the primary-care physician, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist and dentist. This article reviews current understanding of the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of Sjogren's syndrome with special emphasis on the oral component of the disease.
Not All Suburbs Are the Same: The Role of Character in Shaping Growth and Development in Three Chicago Suburbs

Although American suburbs are commonly understood as the result of growth machine efforts or are grouped in categories like edge cities or inner-ring suburbs, these approaches obscure the unique characters of individual suburbs. This study examines four consequential “character moments” in three Chicago suburbs, Naperville, West Chicago, and Wheaton, where the suburb’s character was open to public debate. These moments show character over time is critical for understanding suburbs, character moments are rare but often consequential, not all moments involve particular development projects and some may be prompted by perceived threats, and suburban character is more dynamic than typically posited.
The Functional Rôle of Finger Touch and Damper-Pedalling in the Appreciation of Pianoforte Music

Resume Le fait que les differences dans l'usage de la pedale forte du piano sont ordinairement apercues comme differences dans le doigter est montre par les resultats obtenus d'une etude ou il s'agit du jugement de 8 etudiants universitaires mǎles connaissant la musique et 8 qui ne la connaissaient pas. On a demande a ces sujets de comparer et de rapporter la nature de toutes les differences notees quand on a joue deux fois successivement la composition de Victor Herbert intitulee “Donne-moi encore un baiser” au moyen d'un piano mechanique Duo-Art. On l'a jouee d'abord comme indiquee. Ensuite on a elimine les effets de la pedale forte tandis que tous les autres effets ont ete les měmes. Quinze des 16 sujets ont declare que la variation du doigter a produit les grandes differences d'interpretation, bien que l'on n'eut pas change le mechanisme du piano controlant le doigter. Aucun sujet n'a parle de la pedale jusqu'a ce qu'on la lui ait fait remarquer. Ils ont considere d'autres facteurs comme causes de var...
Visualization of Latent Fingerprint Corrosion of Metallic Surfaces

Chemical reactions between latent fingerprints and a variety of metal surfaces are investigated by heating the metal up to temperatures of approximately 600 degrees C after deposition of the fingerprint. Ionic salts present in the fingerprint residue corrode the metal surface to produce an image of the fingerprint that is both durable and resistant to cleaning of the metal. The degree of fingerprint enhancement appears independent of the elapsed time between deposition and heating but is very dependent on both the composition of the metal and the level of salt secretion by the fingerprint donor. Results are presented that show practical applications for the enhancement to fingerprints deposited in arson crime scenes, contaminated by spray painting, or deposited on brass cartridge cases prior to discharge. The corrosion of the metal surface is further exploited by the demonstration of a novel technique for fingerprint enhancement based on the electrostatic charging of the metal and then the preferential adherence of a metallic powder to the corroded part of the metal surface.
Control of linear smart structural systems using neural networks

In recent studies, neural network based controllers for vibration suppression of smart structures have been reported. Many of these controller have been successfully implemented in simulation as well as using PC based data acquisition hardware. These studies have shown that in addition to conventional controller design methodologies, neural networks offer an effective basis for design and implementation of controllers. With the introduction of the Electronically Trainable Analog Neural Network (ETANN) chip i80170NX by Intel and a digital neural network chip Ni1000 by Nestor Corp., hardware implementation of neural network based controllers has been made possible. These neural network chips have also found applications in other areas such as signal processing and character recognition. In this paper, the capabilities of the ETANN based robust controllers for smart structural systems have been investigated. Robust controllers like the Liner Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and Linear Quadratic Gaussian with Loop Transfer Recovery (LQG/LTR) are implemented on a cantilevered plate system using the ETANN chip. Specially shaped PVDF film is used as sensors and PZTs as actuators. The LQG/LTR controller is implemented in two neural network configurations for dynamical systems suggested by Narendra and Parathasarathy. Analog hardware components used in the interface between the ETANN chip and the actuators/sensors on the smart structure test article have been developed. Practical considerations and limitations of the fully analog implementation of the controllers which are not considered in simulations have been discussed in the paper. Practical consideration in training the analog neural network chip for optimal performance has also been described. Experimental results of the closed loop performance of the smart structural system are presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The ratio of striatal D1 to muscarinic receptors changes in aging rats housed in an enriched environment

The enriched environment (EC) causes morphological plasticity in striatal cells that express D1 and D2 receptors. We used radioligand binding assays to examine whether EC produces plasticity in striatal receptor density and receptor density ratios. After 30 days of EC, 2-year-old rats had a higher ratio of D1 to muscarinic receptors in striatum relative to singly housed rats. Assays also showed trends for a greater ratio of D1 to cannabinoid receptors and a greater density of D1 receptors in striatum after EC. D2 receptor density was unaffected by the EC condition.
Novel rearragements of 7-oxanorbornene systems

Abstract Treatment of the tricyclic 7-oxanorbornene systems with electrophiles (I+, Br+) leads to skeletal rearrangement.
Light scattering properties of naked singularities

The astrophysical implications of the light scattering and capture cross sections of a Curzon naked singularity are discussed. It is found that a Curzon naked singularity possesses a neatly circular capture cross section for photons of approximately the same size as that of a Schwarzschild black hole of equal mass. This suggests that a black hole and a naked singularity can produce similar astrophysical effects.
Creating a ‘Virtual Expert’ Presence in the Hospital Library

ABSTRACT As the number of users physically entering libraries decreases, the need to engage users remotely becomes increasingly paramount. This column discusses free or inexpensive tools that hospital librarians can use to create a ‘virtual expert’ presence for their library users. Some of the types of tools highlighted include instant messaging, screen capturing, screen casting (video capturing), online tutorial creation, and free places to host tutorials. Using these tools, the hospital librarian can be available when and where users need help.
Diagnosis and management of parathyroid cancer

Parathyroid cancer is rare, but often fatal, as preoperative identification of malignancy against the backdrop of benign parathyroid disease is challenging. Advanced genetic, laboratory and imaging techniques can help to identify parathyroid cancer. In patients with clinically suspected parathyroid cancer, malignancy of any individual lesion is established by three criteria: demonstration of metastasis, specific ultrasonographic features, and a ratio >1 for the results of third-generation:second-generation parathyroid hormone assays. Positive findings for all three criteria dictate an oncological surgical approach, as appropriate radical surgery can achieve a cure. Mutation screening pinpoints associated conditions and asymptomatic carriers. Molecular profiling of tumour cells can identify high-risk features, such as differential expression of specific micro-RNAs and proteins, and germ line mutations in CDC73, but is unsuitable for preoperative assessment owing to the potential risks associated with biopsy. A validated, histopathology-based prognostic classification can identify patients in need of close follow-up and adjuvant therapy, and should prove valuable to stratify clinical trial cohorts: low-risk patients rarely die from parathyroid cancer, even on long-term follow-up, whereas 5-year mortality in high-risk patients is around 50%. This insight has improved the approach to parathyroid cancer by enabling risk-adapted surgery and follow-up.
A newborn with complete heart block and structural cardiac defects.

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS A 3,200-g girl was born to a 37-year-old human immunodeficiency virus–negative woman at 36 weeks’ gestation. The pregnancy was complicated by maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus (requiring insulin therapy during pregnancy) and by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome.1 The baby was delivered by emergency cesarean section for maternal preeclampsia. Apgar scores were 8 at 1 minute of life and 9 at 5 minutes of life. Complex congenital heart disease had been diagnosed in utero by fetal ultrasound. The infant was promptly administered prostaglandin E2 shortly after birth and then was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit. A chest radiograph (Fig 1) revealed a boot-shaped heart secondary to right ventricular hypertrophy and an abnormal main pulmonary artery segment. Also notable is the absence of a thymic shadow. Echocardiography revealed complete atrioventricular heart block, pulmonary atresia, and an unbalanced atrioventricular canal. Laboratory evaluation revealed a white blood cell count of 15,700/ L (reference range, 5,000–20,000/ L), a hemoglobin level of 17.3 g/dL (reference range, 13.5–20.5 g/dL), a platelet count of 151,000/ L (reference range, 140,000– 440,000/ L), an absolute lymphocyte count of 1,300/ L (reference range, 2,000–17,000/ L), and an absolute neutrophil count of 12,500/ L (reference range, 1,000–9,500/ L). Serum electrolyte values were normal except for a total calcium level of 7.5 mg/dL (reference range, 8.8–10.0 mg/ dL) and an ionized calcium level of 0.83 mmol/ L (reference range, 1.03–1.23 mmol/ L). The infant began peripheral hyperalimentation and underwent a Blalock-Taussig shunt and placement of an epicardial pacing system. Unifocalization of the pulmonary artery, a surgical technique to connect all pulmonary segments to convergent central pulmonary arteries, was performed on day 4 of life. It was confirmed at surgery that the thymus was absent. The infant began to have increasing calcium requirements, and at 1 week of age she was diagnosed as having hypoparathyroidism, with a parathyroid hormone level of 1 pg/mL (reference range,12–72 pg/mL).
Hepatic cryoablation-induced multisystem injury: Bioluminescent detection of NF-κB activation in a transgenic mouse model

Hepatic injury from cryoablation has been associated with multisystem injury, including adult respiratory distress syndrome, renal insufficiency, and coagulopathy; but the responsible mechanisms have not been well defined. In the present study we investigated the role of the transcription factor NF-kB in the multiorgan inflammatory response to hepatic cryoablation utilizing a novel in vivo system for determining NF-kB activity. Using transgenic mice expressing photinus luciferase under the control of the 5′ HIV-LTR (an NF-KB-dependent promoter), we measured luciferase activity in the liver, lungs, and kidneys as a marker for NF-kB activity. Luciferase production was determined by in vivo bioluminescence and by luciferase assays of tissue homogenates. After measurement of basal luciferase activity, mice were treated with 35% hepatic cryoablation or sham laparotomy and injected with luciferin (0.75 mg/mouse). Photon emission from the liver, lungs, and kidneys was measured at multiple time points. Hepatic cryoablation induced a significant increase in photon emission by the liver, lungs, and kidneys, which correlated with markedly increased luciferase activity measured from each organ after death. Lung lavage 4 hours after cryoablation showed neutrophilic lung inflammation with increased MIP-2 levels compared with sham surgery. These findings demonstrate that 35% hepatic cryoablation is associated with NF-kB activation in the remnant liver and multiple distant sites, and may be causally related to the multisystem injury that is seen after direct liver injury.
Experimental observation of exploding electron bubbles

Since free electrons form small voids in liquid helium they are expected to be preferred sites for nucleating macroscopic bubbles when the liquid is exposed to sufficiently large negative pressures. We have performed a series of cavitation experiments using focussed ultrasound where free electrons were introduced into the liquid by a radioactive source. The electron bubbles are found to explode at negative pressures significantly lower than those required for homogeneous nucleation. We present measurements of the thresholds for cavitation at electrons in the temperature range 1–4.5 K. Reasonable agreement with a simple model for the stability limit of the electron bubble is obtained.