cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Christopher Marlowe’s Lightborne and the Chester Mystery Cycle

While scholars have noted the influence of the medieval mystery cycles on the plays of Christopher Marlowe for some time, few have explored Edward II’s fictional assassin Lightborne in relation to the Chester Mystery Cycle. This essay analyzes the depiction of the Cycle’s demon Lightborne to suggest connections between the fallen angel’s role as divine punisher and the depiction of Marlowe’s fictitious murderer. A close comparison of the Chester Cycle’s Lightborne to the Marlovian murderer suggests not only the demonic characteristics of Marlowe’s Lightborne, but also reveals how the playwright subverts his audience’s understanding of divine providence.
Teacher Working Conditions, Teacher Commitment, and Charter Schools

BackgroundThe charter school movement relies on teachers as critical components. Teacher commitment is an important aspect of teachers’ lives, because it is an internal force for teachers to grow a...
Optimal heterogeneous search and rescue asset location modeling for expected spatiotemporal demands using historic event data

The United States Coast Guard is charged with coordinating all search and rescue missions in maritime regions within the United States’ purview. Given the size of the Pacific Ocean and limited avai...
Complete resolution of calciphylaxis in a renal transplant patient with Calcifediol.

Presentation: A 62-year-old woman with a Living Donor Kidney transplant in 2008 complicated with chronic kidney disease III, lupus nephritis, hypothyroidism (but no history of diabetes) presented with painful, bilateral, medial calf ischaemic ulcerations (figure 1), which on punch biopsy revealed calciphylaxis (figure 2). Her weight was 66.3 kg, height 1.6 m and body mass index of 25.9 kg/m2. She was on hydroxychloroquine, mycophenolate and prednisone for lupus/transplant and levothyroxine 125 mcg daily for hypothyroidism. Her baseline intact parathyroid harmone (iPTH), calcium, …
Doubling of median overall survival in a nationwide cohort of veterans with stage III non-small cell lung cancer in the durvalumab era.

8546Background: The standard of care for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by durvalumab maintenance based on outcomes...
Monitoring the cleanliness of reusable surgical instruments in central sterile supply department by adenosine triphosphate method.

Background Cleaning is very important in reusable surgical instruments (RSI) reprocessing. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) method is widely used for cleanliness assessing while few studies focused on using this method on RSIs. Objective To assess the effectiveness of ATP Bioluminescence Assay for monitoring the cleanliness of RSIs. Methods The study conducted in three central sterile supply departments (CSSD) from 2015 to 2020, surgical scissors, haemostatic forceps, and other non-lumen instruments after cleaning were sampled. Each instrument was swabbed in a uniform manner on the surface including hinged joints and teeth, the amount of ATP (amol) was calculated. Results A total of 871 RSIs after cleaning were tested, the mean ATP lg (amol) was 2.829 ± 0.539 and the qualified rate was 80.57%. Washer-disinfector cleaning was more efficiency than manual cleaning, the mean ATP lg (amol) were 2.776 ± 0.513 and 2.948 ± 0.575, respectively; the qualified rates were 84.97% and 70.59%, respectively. The qualified rate was decreased with the time of instruments after cleaning exploring to environment increased (P trend = 0.044). Conclusion ATP level are stable and repeatable for continuous monitoring the cleanliness of RSIs, it is a rapid and viable method for assessing the cleanliness of RSIs. Washer-disinfector cleaning is recommended and cleaned instruments should go on packing for sterilization in time. Highlights - ATP method is viable for assessing the cleanliness of reusable surgical instruments in CSSDs.- Reusable surgical instruments suggested washer-disinfector cleaning and should go on packing for sterilization in time.
Conjunctival Melanocytic Lesions.

CONTEXT.— Conjunctival melanocytic lesions consist of a variety of neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions. These include benign processes such as primary intraepithelial hypermelanosis and melanocytic hyperplasia, secondary forms of intraepithelial hypermelanosis and melanocytic hyperplasia, melanocytic nevi, melanocytic proliferations with malignant potential, and melanoma. OBJECTIVE.— To provide a concise yet comprehensive resource regarding the histopathologic diagnosis of conjunctival melanocytic lesions. We aim to detail and clarify the numerous classification schemes that exist for junctional melanocytic proliferations of the conjunctiva (known as primary acquired melanosis or PAM; also termed conjunctival melanocytic intraepithelial neoplasia or C-MIN). Although not uniformly adopted, C-MIN is classified by using a numeric system based on a defined set of criteria. A less complex scheme (conjunctival melanocytic intraepithelial lesion or CMIL) has recently been proposed by the World Health Organization. Additionally, we aim to update the reader regarding molecular features and prognostic indicators. DATA SOURCES.— Peer-reviewed literature and archived cases for illustration. CONCLUSIONS.— Accurate histologic classification is essential, as PAM/C-MIN/CMILs that have a significant potential to progress to invasive melanoma may be clinically indistinguishable from low-risk lesions. Conjunctival melanoma (CM) more closely resembles cutaneous melanoma in terms of its pathogenesis and molecular features, compared to melanoma arising at other mucosal sites or to uveal melanoma. Depth of invasion and ulceration status, among other factors, have emerged as important prognostic indicators in CM. Sentinel lymph node biopsy may provide further prognostic information. Lastly, integration of pathologic and clinical findings is essential at this anatomically sensitive location to determine appropriate clinical management.
Examining the use of computer simulations to promote learning of electrochemistry among college students

When computer simulations are popular in helping students understand chemistry in today's classrooms, it is important to realize how instructional use of computer simulations affects students' understanding of science. This dissertation centers around the impact of the use of computer simulations on college students' learning. Chapter 1 generally addresses the background and the significance of the research topics. Chapter 2 reviews the literature from research that studied the factors that affect the use of computer simulations in helping students learn science. Learners were found to understand science theories better with descriptions and explanations presented in both verbal and visual formats than in verbal format alone. An individual's prior knowledge and learning strategies have also been found to have an impact on her/his response to computer simulations and therefore affect the potential value of computer simulations. Chapter 3 reveals the impact of the use of computer simulations on students' understanding of electrochemistry principles. The results confirm findings in earlier studies that college students seemed to be able to build mental models of chemical reactions from formula and equations with or without the help of computer simulations. The study in Chapter 3 indicates that it is likely that the design of the learning activities rather than the use of technology actually had an impact on students learning. Chapter 4 provides insights into how the use of simulations affected the communication between group members and how individuals with different levels of prior knowledge responded to computer programs and interacted with peers. Although prior knowledge was not found to interact with the use of computer simulations in affecting students' understanding, the findings in Chapter 4 show that prior knowledge seemed to affect the ways that students solved problems and the ways they interacted with the computer simulations. Taken together, these three studies in this dissertation suggest continuing research needs to be done in identifying and resolving issues when individual differences are considered. In addition, it is important that the design of learning activities be given a higher level of priority than the use of instructional technology when employing computer simulations in the classrooms.
SU‐E‐T‐575: Novel Quality Assurance Procedure for the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform Using Commercial OSLDs

Purpose: To support radiobiological research with the Xstrahl small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) by developing a simple and effective method using commercially available optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) that ensures dose output consistency. Methods: The SARRP output is calibrated according to the vendor standards and TG-61 protocol utilizing an ADCL calibrated ion chamber and electrometer at 2 cm depth of solid water. A cross calibration is performed by replacing the ion chamber with five OSLDs at the 2 cm depth. The OSLDs are irradiated to 500 cGy with 220 keV at 13 mA (78s delivery time) with a copper filter for an uncollimated 17×17 cm{sup 2} aperture. Instead of the absolute dose, the total amount of raw counts are collected from the OSLD reader and used for analysis. This constancy procedure was performed two more times over the course of three weeks with two OLSDs for validity. Results: The average reading for all OSLDs is 494939 with a 1-sigma standard deviation of the 5.8%. With an acceptable dose output range of ±10%, the OSLD readings have a counts range of [445445, 544433]. Conclusion: This method of using nanoDot™ OSLDs to perform output constancy checks for the SARRP ensures themore » output of the device is within 10% from the time of calibration and is convenient as well as time efficient. Because this, the frequency of output checks can be increased, which can improve the output stability for research with this device. The output trend of the SARRP will continue to be monitored in the future to establish a timeline for constancy checks and recalibration.« less
Teaching for transfer through engineering design

This document outlines a qualitative study with the aim of fostering the transfer of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) content while working through engineering design problems. Teaching for transfer offers a vehicle to foster the transfer of STEM content through the abstraction of knowledge in each individual discipline. Many theoretical approaches to explaining knowledge transfer are rooted in a belief that knowledge becomes generalizable through its abstraction. This study used a case study design. Student participants in this study were engaged in pre-engineering design-based activities and ranged from freshman to seniors. This study also took place in a low-income school district that has a high minority population. This group of students allowed for a unique lens, which looked at underrepresented groups and their experience with engineering design. Data were collected through the use of a design log. Student work was aligned with teaching for transfer lessons to identify whether the instruction was fostering the transfer of STEM content. Preliminary findings indicate that when students are overtly made aware of STEM content connections they understand how each discipline can work together to solve a real world problem. Findings such as these have broad applications for curriculum development in the future. If teachers have the tools to teach for transfer and train students how to transfer knowledge they will be better equipped to solve more complex engineering design problems as they get older.
Complexity of propositional proofs

The underlying question of propositional proof complexity is amazingly simple: when interesting propositional tautologies possess efficient (which usually means short) proofs in a given propositional proof system? This theory is extremely well connected to very different disciplines like computational complexity, theoretical cryptography, automated theorem proving, mathematical logic, algebra and geometry. And, given its mixed origins, methods and concepts employed in the area are also very diverse.
The invention of ‘terrorism’ in Somalia: paradigms and policy in US foreign relations

The article first traces events in Somalia since 9/11: the rise of the Islamic Courts, the Ethiopian occupation, the recalibration of the interim government and the al-Shabaab insurgency. A second layer of analysis brings into focus three fluctuations in the external perception of the Somali crisis: (i) a post-Cold War narrative of ‘state-building’; (ii) the post-9/11 ‘war on terror’; and (iii) a reloaded vision of ‘state-building-as-counterterrorism’. Such models inform US policy, yet their roots lie in an Anglo-Saxon intellectual edifice, detached from the Somali context. Nomothetic fallacies over US political agency encourage paradigms to linger long after the facts have failed them — a disjuncture brought to light most visibly during the second term of the Bush administration. In this period, the unrealities of the ‘war on terror’ were refracted instrumentally by local actors in the Horn of Africa, creating a web of distorting friend-enemy distinctions. While the Obama administration is less devoted t...
Are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and β-blockers making an impact on the epidemiology of heart failure?

With the advent of the 21st century, heart failure has emerged as a major component of the massive public health problem of cardiovascular disease. Currently over 5 million Americans suffer from the syndrome of heart failure with significant direct treatment costs estimated to be in excess of $22 billion per year. Unfortunately, assuming present demographic and medical trends continue, these bleak statistics are expected to worsen substantially over the next two decades. Epidemiologic studies have furthered our mechanistic understanding of heart failure pathophysiology by demonstrating that many patients with this syndrome have preserved systolic function by standard indices. In a positive turn, major advances have occurred in the treatment of heart failure based on the development of clinically effective pharmacologic antagonists of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems. These agents are capable of substantially reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure. However, the importance of enhanced physician and public awareness of heart failure remains critical in the future.
Studies on the specificity of a lipase system fromGeotrichum candidum

The lipase system fromGeotrichum candidum preferentially hydrolyzed oleic acid, regardless of position, from the four possible racemic triglycerides containing oleate and palmitate. The rate of hydrolysis of these glycerides was most rapid when the substrate contained two moles of oleate. This acid was also preferentially released from a series of triglycerides containing oleate and two moles of a saturated fatty acid. The chain length of the latter did not alter the specificity for oleate.Equimolar quantities of oleic and linoleic acids were released when triolein and trilinolein (equimolar mixture) were hydrolyzed by this lipase. No differentiation between oleate and palmitoleate was observed when racemic glyceryl 1-palmitoleate-2,3-dioleate was the substrate. However, only 7.2 M%cis-vaccenic acid was released from glyceryl 1-cis-vaccenate-2,3-dioleate and 5.4 M% petroselinic acid from glyceryl 1-palmitoleate-2,3-dipetroselinate. It therefore appears that the enzyme may be specific forcis-9-unsaturation as well as forcis-9,cis-12-unsaturation. When specificity was assumed, the fatty acid compositions of the diglycerides obtained from digestions withG. candidum were close to theoretical.
Financial Innovation and Portfolio Risks

I illustrate the effect of financial innovation on portfolio risks by using an example with risk-sharing needs and belief disagreements. I consider two types of innovation: product innovation, formalized as an expansion of new financial assets; and process innovation, formalized as a reduction in transaction costs. When belief disagreements are large, both types of innovation increase portfolio risks. Moreover, endogenous financial innovation is directed towards speculative assets that increase portfolio risks.
‘It’s all up to you’: how welfare-to-work educational programs construct workforce success

This article discusses how two welfare education programs construct workforce success. Discourse about success in these programs falls into two basic camps: an individual-based selfmotivation perspective and an external, structural, socioeconomic perspective. Although the individualistic perspective adhered to by the programs came into conflict with structural problems faced by students, the programs ultimately chose to uphold a perspective that reinforces the American myth of success that has been prevalent in the United States since the 17th century.
A community-based evaluation of sudden death associated with therapeutic levels of methadone.

Abstract Background Published case reports have associated the therapeutic use of methadone with the occasional occurrence of sudden cardiac death. Because of the established utility of this drug and with the eventual goal of enhancing safety of use, we performed a community-based study to evaluate this association. Methods During a 4-year period, we prospectively evaluated all patients who consecutively had sudden cardiac death and underwent investigation by the medical examiner in the metropolitan area of Portland, Ore. Case subjects of interest were those with a therapeutic blood level of methadone ( Results A total of 22 sudden cardiac death cases with therapeutic levels of methadone (mean 0.48±0.22 mg/L; range 0.1-0.9 mg/L) were identified (mean age 37.0±10 years, 68% were male) and compared with 106 consecutive sudden cardiac death cases without evidence of methadone (mean age 42±13 years, 69% were male). The most common indication for methadone use was pain control (n=12, 55%). Among cases receiving methadone therapy, sudden death-associated cardiac abnormalities were identified in only 23% (n=5), with no clear cause of sudden cardiac death in the remaining 77% (n=17). Among cases with no methadone, sudden death-associated cardiac abnormalities were identified in 60% (n=64, P =.002). Conclusion The significantly lower prevalence of cardiac disease in the case group implicates methadone, even at therapeutic levels, as a likely cause of sudden death. These findings point toward an association between methadone and occurrence of sudden death in the community. Clinical safeguards and further prospective studies specifically designed to enhance safety of methadone use are warranted.
Uniqueness of the standard electroweak gauge model

Abstract It is proved that the standard SU(2) × U(1) electroweak gauge model is unique against any extension if the effective low-energy neutral-current interaction is to be precisely of the form (4G F / 2 ) (j μ (3) − sin 2 θ W j μ em ) 2 naturally.
Coronary and Hemodynamic Effects of Temporary Acute Aortic Insufficiency in Intact Anesthetized Dogs

In ten dogs with chronically implanted electromagnetic flowmeter probes, phasic aortic and circumflex coronary artery blood flows were measured before, during, and after 15-120 seconds of aortic insufficiency. The dogs were studied in the intact anesthetized state with a cardiac catheter device that produced graded amounts of temporary aortic insufficiency with 18-68% aortic regurgitation. With the onset of aortic insufficiency, there was an immediate increase in pulse pressure with retrograde aortic diastolic blood flow. During the very first cardiac cycle that demonstrated aortic insufficiency, there was a reduction in diastolic coronary blood flow with an increase in systolic coronary blood flow. Mean coronary blood flow fell very low during the first five to ten cardiac cycles. As severe aortic insufficiency continued, systolic coronary blood flow increased, diastolic coronary blood flow remained low or negative, and mean coronary blood flow returned to the normal range. Before the onset of aortic insufficiency, the ratio of diastolic coronary blood flow to systolic coronary blood flow averaged 2.2; after 2 minutes of aortic insufficiency the ratio of diastolic coronary blood flow to systolic coronary blood flow was 0.15. The amount of reduction in diastolic coronary blood flow was related to the amount of aortic regurgitation. Left ventricular work averaged 3.7 kg m/min before and 8.2 kg m/min after 2 minutes of aortic insufficiency with an average of 63% aortic regurgitation; mean coronary blood flow increased from an average of 51 ml/min before to 60 ml/min after 2 minutes of aortic insufficiency. When aortic insufficiency was terminated, coronary blood flow increased to an average of 123 ml/min.
The advantages of using rigid polyaza-clefts for hydrogen-bonding molecular recognition

Abstract Hydrogen bonding is an important driving force for molecular recognition. Herein, the advantages of developing rigid polyaza-clefts for hydrogen-bond-driven molecular recognition are discussed.
The use of contrast for automated pulmonary nodule detection in low-dose computed tomography

A methodology for automated detection of pulmonary nodules in low-dose computed tomography(CT)images is investigated. The methodology in question consists of (i) identifying some connected set of pixels in the CTimage as a potential site for a nodule (this set of pixels is referred to as the target); (ii) specifying a further small set of pixels which are believed to be in the healthy tissue surrounding the target (this set of pixels is referred to as the background); and (iii) evaluating a function that is calculated based on the CT values in the target and in the background. The value of this function is indicative of the “noduleness” of the target; hence such a function is referred to as a detector. We present a large family of such detectors; two widely used detectors included in this family are contrast and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR). We show that for automated nodule detection contrast appears to be the detector of choice from this family (and, in particular, that contrast proves to be a detector superior to SNR for a variety of situations). Such claims are validated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) study on simulated low-dose CTdata sets (representative of thoracic cross sections with nodules) and with reconstruction algorithms appropriately optimized for the purpose of automated nodule detection.
A highly accurate and stable explicit finite difference solution to the convection‐dispersion equation with varying velocity and dispersion coefficients

Based on the implicit form of the finite difference analogue to the convection-dispersion equation of variable velocity and dispersion coefficients, a highly accurate and stable explicit finite difference scheme has been developed by extending the von Rosenberg linear scheme to the varying cases. This variable velocity and dispersion coefficient scheme has been tested for the entire range of (2D/vΔ x) between zero and unity, the region where no completely satisfactory numerical method has been previously available. No oscillations or numerical dispersion were observed in any of the solutions.
Effects of altering fermentation parameters on glycerol and bioethanol production from cane molasses

Current bioethanol production processes do not produce more than approximately 13 g 1 -1 glycerol at a purity of 11% total solids in the fermented mash. Such quantities are not sufficiently high for economic exploitation unless very-large-capacity plants are involved. It was envisaged that the ratio of glycerol to bioethanol could be altered in favour of glycerol by adjusting such fermentation parameters as osmotic pressure (water activity), pH, temperature and yeast cell inoculum. At 39.9° brix, pH 8.7, 38 °C, 90.7 atm and 120 × 10 6 yeast cells ml -1 , glycerol formation in fermented mash increased to 56 g l -1 at a purity of 14% total solids. The potential for high glycerol production, hence higher revenue, has been demonstrated. Adoption of this technology could have a significant positive economic impact on existing or new biomass-to-ethanol plants. Le glycerol peut etre un co-produit de la conversion des sucres en ethanol par Saccharomyces cerevisiae mais les quantites produites dans les conditions normales de fermentation sont insuffisantes pour une exploitation. Cette etude a pour but de determiner la temperature, le pH et l'osmolalite appropries pour modifier la balance de l'ethanol et du glycerol produits, en faveur du glycerol dans la fermentation de melasse de canne avec des souches selectionnees de S. cerevisiae. L'addition de plateaux de filtration (pour eliminer les solides en suspension) augmente l'osmolarite du melange fermentescible tandis que l'ajustement des parametres de fermentation produit plus de stress pour activer les voies de biosynthese du glycerol chez la levure.
A formidable task: Population analysis predicts a deficit of 2000 cardiothoracic surgeons by 2030

Objective To estimate the cardiovascular workforce needed by 2030 to meet the needs of our population and to quantify its costs. Our field is changing. The volume of surgery and the nature of the surgery are changing. The nation's population grew from 227,000,000 to 282,000,000 between 1980 and 2000, and by 2030 the population is estimated to be 364,000,000. At the same time, the applications for fellowship in our specialty are decreasing at an alarming rate. The American Board of Thoracic Surgery has certified 4500 cardiothoracic surgeons since 1975, but only 1300 in the last 10 years. The US Department of Health and Human Services predicts only 3620 full-time cardiothoracic surgeons in 2020. Will we have enough cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons? Methods Retrospective examination of the pertinent literature and with a modified Richard Cooper's economic trend analysis, a population algorithm with a ratio of physicians to population of 1.42 per 100,000. Each thoracic surgeon is predicted to practice 30 years from Board certification to retirement. The Balanced Budget Act will not be revised; therefore, we will certify 100 graduates from our programs per year. The assumed salaries will be $50,000 with benefits of 30% and $15,000 of additional Direct Medical Education costs. Results The population in 2030 will be 364,000,000 with 5169 cardiothoracic surgeons needed at that time. Unfortunately, there will be approximately only 3200 cardiothoracic surgeons in practice with a shortage of approximately 2000. To maintain our current status per 100,000 population from 2011 to 2030, we will have to train 4000 residents. The total person years would be approximately 28,000. The cost for this is more than $2,000,000,000. The annual cost for this training prorated over 20 years would be more than $110,000,000. Conclusion We must train approximately 4000 surgeons, an extra 100 per year, in our specialty to meet the needs of the population by 2030. That will cost approximately $2,250,000,000. To do this, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 must be revised to permit more residents to be trained in the United States.
Activity of germ-cell mutagens and nonmutagens in the rat spermatocyte UDS assay.

The ability of 13 chemicals of known germ-cell mutagenicity to induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in rat spermatocytes was examined. At selected times following i.p. injection of test compounds, spermatocytes were isolated from Fischer 344 rats by enzymatic digestion of the seminiferous tubules and cultured for 24 h in the presence of [3H]thymidine. 7 compounds, methyl methanesulfonate, triethylene-melamine, cyclophosphamide, methylnitrosourea, ethynitrosourea, procarbazine, and dibromochloropropane produced positive UDS responses in spermatocytes. These chemicals are also positive for specific locus mutations, heritable translocations, or dominant lethal mutations when administered to male rodents. Mitomycin C, which produces DNA interstrand crosslinks and induces heritable mutations and translocations in male germ cells, failed to stimulate UDS in rat spermatocytes. Germ-cell nonmutagens N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, dimethylnitrosamine, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, and ethylene dibromide were negative in the rat spermatocyte UDS assay. Correlation of these results with those of other assays for heritable mutations in germ cells indicates that the in vivo/in vitro spermatocyte DNA repair assay is useful in predicting the mutagenic potential of chemicals in male germ cells.
Editorial: Ecological Change in Olive Agroecosystems

During October 24–26, 2008, a very significant event in sustainable agriculture took place in Jaen, Andalucia, Spain. An organization known as ECOLIVA held its VII International Conference on Ecolo...
Early enteral fat supplement and fish oil increases fat absorption in the premature infant with an enterostomy.

Objective To test the hypothesis that in the premature infant with an enterostomy, early enteral supplementation with Microlipid (fat supplement) and fish oil increases enteral fat absorption and decreases the requirement for Intralipid (intravenous fat emulsion). Study design Premature infants ( Results The interval from initial postoperative feeding to bowel reanastomosis varied from 2 to 10 weeks. The treatment group received more dietary fat and less intravenous fat emulsion and had higher enteral fat absorption, less fecal liquid, and drier feces than the control group. These effects were greater among infants with a high ostomy compared with those with a low ostomy. Enteral fat intake was significantly correlated with fat absorption. Conclusion Early enteral fat supplement and fish oil increases fat absorption and decreases the requirement for intravenous fat emulsion. This approach could be used to promote bowel adaptation and reduce the use of intravenous fat emulsion in the premature infant with an enterostomy.
Heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation of methylene blue using CdS-carbon nanotube/TiO2 under visible light

Heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation using CdS/multi-walled carbon nanotube-TiO2 (CdS/MWCNT-TiO2) under visible light relied on combination of the photocatalytic, photo-Fenton and photo-sensitizing oxidation. The photo-Fenton reactions resulted in much faster and higher removal of methylene blue and total organic carbon than the dark Fenton oxidation and the photocatalytic degradation alone at the selected conditions. The optimum molar ratio of [methylene blue]:[H2O2]:[Fe3+] (1:12:3.4) in the photo-Fenton oxidation indicated cost-effectiveness of the process. The scavenging tests of the hydroxyl radicals and the valence holes suggested that the hydroxyl radical-driven oxidation was the major step among the multiple reactions in the photo-Fenton oxidation.
An Extended Emissive Source Simulation Model

A model has been developed for predicting the radiant image of an extended emissive source. The image produced depends on the angular resolution and image size specifications, on the relative positions of the source and the observation system, and on the wavelength or waveband. Several source sizes are provided. The sources in current use represent fires. The radiative transfer equation is used to calculate path radiance based on emission from hot aerosols and gases. Attenuation within the source and between the source and the observation point are taken into account. An averaging technique is used to simulate intensity averaging which occurs when the source size is small compared with the field of view. The first version of the model, which treated only aerosol emission and attenuation, has been incorporated into a program to produce images on a VAX-DeAnza system.
Using digital imaging to assess spectral solar-optical properties of complex fenestration materials: A new approach in video―goniophotometry

A large variety of angularly selective fenestration systems have been developed in the past two decades and show great potential in improving visual comfort while reducing energy consumption, especially when combined with spectrally selective properties. Such systems include light-redirecting glazing, shading, film coatings, reflectors and others. To assess the potential of these systems accurately and reliably, one needs to be able to predict in detail how they modify the energy, direction and spectral make-up of solar radiation. For this assessment, spectral (wavelength-dependent) Bidirectional Transmission or Reflection Distribution Functions are used, usually referred to as BTDFs or BRDFs, or more generally BSDFs for Scattering Functions.
Crazy Sepal: A New Floral Sepallata-like Mutant in the Wild Potato Solanum microdontum Bitter

The major economic impact of features of reproduction inSolanum and its close relatives make basic study of the genetics and physiology of flowering important in this genus. A qualitative floral-development mutant in the wild potatoSolanum microdontum Bitter (PI 473166) was discovered that is ostensibly normal in all respects except that repeated (indeterminate) whorls of strap-like sepals replace petals, pistil, and anthers, thus called “crazy sepal”=cs1. This mutant appears to be similar tosepallata mutants in Arabidopsis. Mutant clones vary in the development of sepals (ranging from small and light colored to larger, dark, and leaf-like) and the determinance of whorls. Crossing studies support single-locus recessive inheritance. This mutant may be a useful tool for the study of floral genetics inSolanum, potential pleiotropic physiological effects on tuberization, and other features of the potato crop. It would be a good marker for the study of rare genetic events since individuals reverting to flowering would be very easily detected among thousands of their mutant sibs. Transgene escape is of concern in potato, especially in Latin America where compatible wild species often grow in proximity to the crop. The absolute sterility of this mutant could be applied to this and similar practical breeding problems.
Echocardiographic diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy: Correlation with ECG and necropsy findings in 248 patients

Measurements of right ventricular wall thickness (RVWT) by echocardiography and at necropsy correlated well (r = 0.83) in 36 patients. Echocardiography had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 95% in diagnosing right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) at necropsy; electrocardiography (ECG) had a sensitivity of 31% and a specificity of 85% in diagnosing RVH. An additional 212 patients were studied by echocardiography and ECG. Based on echocardiographic criteria of RVH (RVWT Greater Than or Equal To 5 mm), 134 of 212 patients had RVH, and 78 were without RVH: the ECG had a sensitivity of 27% and a specificity of 88% for diagnosing RVH when correlated with the echocardiographic criteria. The mean diastolic RVWT was 6.0 +/- 1.4 mm in 134 RVH patients and 3.4 +/- 0.8 mm in 78 no-RVH patients (P Less Than 0.05). Diagnosis of RVH was difficult by ECG in 73 patients due to conduction defects or old myocardial infarction; the RVWT measurements were useful in evaluating RVH in these patients. We conclude that echocardiographic measurements of RVWT are useful in the diagnosis of RVH and are more sensitive than the ECG criteria in adults.
FIRST RESULTS FROM THE ISING MONTE CARLO PROCESSOR

Abstract The first physics results are presented from a Monte Carlo study of the 3D Ising model using a specially built processor constructed at UCSB. In particular, we find as preliminary results that the critical temperature is given by sc = 0.221650±0.000005, the “violation to hyperscaling” exponent ω ∗ ≤0.002 , and the leading magnetic and thermal eigenvalues are Yh = 2.480±0.005, Yt = 1.59±0.05.
Likelihood of Emergency Contraception Use Among African-American Women at Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes

Nearly a half million infants in the United States are born preterm or with low birth weight each year. Providing women who have had a prior adverse birth outcome with access to family planning can help reduce the incidence of subsequent high-risk pregnancies and adverse outcomes. One effective option to prevent unintended pregnancy for women with a prior adverse birth outcome who either do not use contraception consistently or whose contraception fails is emergency contraception (EC). The purpose of our study was to understand willingness to use EC among African-American women who recently had an adverse birth outcome. The Healthy Births Healthy Communities (HBHC) Interconceptional Care Project (ICCP) targeted high-risk African-American women from two low-income Chicago neighborhoods who recently had an adverse birth outcome. The aim of HBHC ICCP was to improve participants' future birth outcomes by providing medical and social services and helping women to clarify their reproductive life goals. Information about participants' pregnancy intentions and willingness to use EC was measured in an interview shortly after enrollment into the study. Over 90% of the 131 women in our study either did not want to become pregnant or did not know if they wanted to become pregnant within the next 2 years. These women had 4.4 times higher odds of reporting willingness to use EC as compared to women who reported a desire to become pregnant within the next 2 years (75.6 vs. 50.0%, respectively; AOR: 4.4; 95% CI 1.1, 17.6). EC is an essential part of the reproductive toolkit for women at high risk of adverse birth outcomes who are not intending pregnancy, along with reproductive life planning and use of effective contraception.
Shifts in perceptual differentiation and defense mechanisms in alcoholics

The Group Embedded Figures Test and the Defense Mechanism Inventory were administered to 50 alcoholics approximately 10 days after admission and again after about 6 weeks of treatment. The posttreatment scores on the embedded figures test were significantly higher, more field independent, than initial scores. Ss also had significantly higher scores on the defense of turning against an object and lower scores on reversal when compared to pretreatment scores on the defense inventory. The changes in defensive style were not related to the initial level of or changes in perceptual differentiation.
Using medical students to enhance curricular integration of cross-cultural content.

We hypothesized that an interested medical student group would be helpful in reviewing tutorial cases and giving relevant feedback on the curricular integration of cross-cultural content using case triggers in a preclinical gastrointestinal pathophysiology course. Self-selected student leaders ( n = 9) reviewed pre-existing problem-based learning tutorial cases ( n = 3) with cross-cultural triggers, and provided narrative feedback to course faculty. The cases were modified and used for the entire class in the following 2 years. Participating course students' comments and teaching faculty feedback were also noted. Outcomes were a change in case content, student global evaluations of the course, and self-reported faculty comfort with teaching the cases. All three tutorial cases were reviewed by a separate group of 2–3 students. Major and minor revisions were made to each case based on the student feedback. These cases were used in 2007 and 2008 and were the major change to the course during that time. Overall course evaluation scores improved significantly from 2006 to 2008 ( p = 0.000). Tutors ( n = 22 in 2007; n = 23 in 2008) expressed relief during tutor meetings that students had reviewed the cases. A general framework for eliciting student feedback on problem-based cases was developed. Student feedback, consisting of self-selected students' case reviews and solicited course and tutor comments, added value to a curricular reform to improve the integration of cross-cultural content into a problem-based learning curriculum. Our study underscores the fundamental link between teachers and students as partners in curricular development.
Hyperhomocysteinemia: a risk factor for central retinal vein occlusion.

Abstract PURPOSE: Previous studies have documented that elevated plasma homocysteine level is a risk factor for vascular disease. This study was performed to determine whether hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for central retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: In a case-control study, data from 74 patients with documented central retinal vein occlusion were reassessed. Control subjects consisted of individuals referred to the same clinic for assessment of a nonretinal vascular disease. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a total plasma homocysteine level above the 95th percentile in the control group. RESULTS: The mean total plasma homocysteine level was 11.58 ± 4.67 μmol/l (range, 5–26 μmol/l) for cases, and 9.49 ± 2.65 μmol/l (range, 5–20 μmol/l) for control subjects. Of the 74 patients with a central retinal vein occlusion, 16 (21.6%) had total plasma homocysteine levels above the 95th percentile in the control group (odds ratio, 6.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.81–23.50; P = .003). Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in five (55%) of the nine individuals with bilateral disease, nine (30%) of the 30 patients with ischemic occlusions, and 45 (31%) of the 83 eyes with severe visual loss. CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for central retinal vein occlusion and may suggest a poor prognosis in patients with central retinal vein occlusion.
Cocaine: on-line analysis of an accumbens amine neural basis for psychomotor behavior.

Dose-response studies on subcutaneous cocaine were done to ascertain its effects in nucleus accumbens in dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal circuitry in the behaving rat with in vivo voltammetry. Simultaneously, and at each dose of cocaine, unconditioned psychomotor stimulant behavior induced by cocaine was studied in terms of multiple concurrent measures of spontaneous behavior and by activity patterns of locomotion. Time course studies showed that the neurochemical effects of cocaine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg SC) significantly (p<0.001) increased accumbens synaptic concentrations of dopamine (DA) and concurrently and significantly (p<0.0001) decreased accumbens synaptic concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) in a dose response manner. Simulataneous behavioral time course studies showed that cocaine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg SC) significantly (p<0.0001) increased ambulations (locomotor activity), fine movements (stereotypic movements of sniffing and grooming) and rearing behavior, while significantly decreasing agoraphobic behavior, as measured by a statistically significant increase in central ambulations (p<0.0001). The high dose of cocaine (40 mg/kg SC) significantly increased fine movements over those produced by the lower doses of cocaine (p<0.0002). One import of the findings is that the DA and 5-HT biogenic amine response occurs in a behavioral paradigm of psychomotor stimulation, which is a known measure of reinforcement. Another is that the biogenic amines DA and 5-HT are affected by cocaine in this reinforcement paradigm with exactly opposite directionality. Finally, acute cocaine administration is shown to produce a dose response inhibition of agoraphobia (fear),w hich is highly correlated (ϱ=.983, p<0.01) with the opposing effects of cocaine on the accumbens biogenic amines, DA and 5-HT.
Determination of β‐Carotene Stereoisomers by Spectrophotometric Analysis

A method for determining the amount of β-carotene stereoisomers using spectrophotometric analysis was developed. Water-soluble β-carotene was dissolved in pH 6.0 buffer and heated. The stereoisomers formed were separated by column chromatography and quantified using spectrophotometric analysis. The %DB/D11 value (absorbance of the cis-peak divided by the absorbance at the maximum wavelength) determined for the β-carotene solutions was found to be linearly correlated to the isomer composition (r = 0.971).
Photocatalytic Reduction of Nitroorganics over Illuminated Titanium Dioxide: Electron Transfer between Excited-State TiO2 and Nitroaromatics

The present study investigates the steady-state photocatalytic reduction of methyl viologen and a suite of monosubstituted nitrobenzenes. Reduction was carried out in deoxygenated, illuminated aqueous slurries of titanium dioxide (Degussa P25) in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor, 2-propanol. Langmuir−Hinshelwood plots were obtained for the reduction of each compound and found to be linear, with an average correlation of 0.98 and with a standard deviation on the correlations of 0.02. The concentration independent rates for nitroaromatic reduction obtained from these plots were normalized against the rate of methyl viologen reduction, and the ratio was used to solve for the rate constant of nitroaromatic reduction, assuming a bimolecular model. The assumptions behind this procedure were tested by the use of the Marcus expression. Using the reorganization energy for the reaction as the fitting variable, it was possible to fit the measured rates to the predicted rates with a reorganization energy ...
Alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding in the Dahl rat model of hypertension

Dahl sensitive rats on a high salt diet (DSH group) developed significant elevations in blood pressure (BP). Sensitive rats maintained on a low salt diet (DSL group) and Dahl resistant rats on a high or low salt diet (DRH and DRL groups, respectively) remained normotensive. The DSH and DRH groups displayed a lower density of alpha 2-adrenoceptors (as measured with [3H]-clonidine) in the cerebral cortex than normotensive DSL and DRL groups. In contrast, the density of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the medulla was significantly lower in the DSH group than the DSL group, but significantly higher in the DRH group compared to the DRL group. The density of alpha 1-adrenoceptors (as measured with [3H]-WB4101) in the hypothalamus was lower in the DSH group than the DSL group but greater in the DRH group than the DRL group. The results suggest that the sensitive and resistant lines can be distinguished by the density of alpha 1- adrenoceptors in the hypothalamus and medulla, respectively. The interactive effects of dietary NaCl and susceptibility to hypertension on adrenoceptors lend further support to the hypothesis that the genetic predisposition to hypertension is associated with a disruption in central adrenergic activity.
Effects of bombesin and gastrin-releasing peptide on human bronchial epithelial cells from a series of donors: individual variation and modulation by bombesin analogs

Human pulmonary neuroendocrine cells produce a variety of hormones, including mammalian bombesin (BN) or gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia and increased release of BN-like peptides occur in several diseases of the airways, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Growth stimulation of human bronchial epithelial cells by BN, as measured in a colony-forming assay, has been reported previously (Willey et al.:Exp. Cell Res. 153:245-248, 1984). In a follow-up to this report, we examined the response of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells to BN or GRP in a similar system, using cells derived from 13 human tissue donors. A stimulatory response (increased colony-forming efficiency) was found in cultures from 8 donors, including 3 with COPD. Statistical significance was found for the data from 5 of these 8 donors. The other 5 donors, 1 normal and 4 lung cancer patients, showed inhibition of colony formation by BN or GRP. Statistical significance was found for 3 of these donors. The ability of BN analogs to modulate BN stimulation was examined in cells from a donor with COPD. [psi Leu13,Leu14] BN(1-14), a BN antagonist, blocked the stimulation induced by BN. [D-Cpa6,psi Leu13,Phe14] BN(6-14), a mixed agonist-antagonist, showed partial agonist activity in HBE cells. [D-Phe1,Leu8,9] Litorin, an agonist, also showed agonist activity in a colony-forming assay with cells from these donors. These results indicate that responsiveness to BN/GRP may vary widely in the human population. Responsiveness may be heightened in disease states involving a proliferation of neuroendocrine cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)