cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosome Painting Reveals Asynaptic Full Alignment of Homologs and HIM-8–Dependent Remodeling of X Chromosome Territories during Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis

During early meiotic prophase, a nucleus-wide reorganization leads to sorting of chromosomes into homologous pairs and to establishing associations between homologous chromosomes along their entire lengths. Here, we investigate global features of chromosome organization during this process, using a chromosome painting method in whole-mount Caenorhabditis elegans gonads that enables visualization of whole chromosomes along their entire lengths in the context of preserved 3D nuclear architecture. First, we show that neither spatial proximity of premeiotic chromosome territories nor chromosome-specific timing is a major factor driving homolog pairing. Second, we show that synaptonemal complex-independent associations can support full lengthwise juxtaposition of homologous chromosomes. Third, we reveal a prominent elongation of chromosome territories during meiotic prophase that initiates prior to homolog association and alignment. Mutant analysis indicates that chromosome movement mediated by association of chromosome pairing centers (PCs) with mobile patches of the nuclear envelope (NE)–spanning SUN-1/ZYG-12 protein complexes is not the primary driver of territory elongation. Moreover, we identify new roles for the X chromosome PC (X-PC) and X-PC binding protein HIM-8 in promoting elongation of X chromosome territories, separable from their role(s) in mediating local stabilization of pairing and association of X chromosomes with mobile SUN-1/ZYG-12 patches. Further, we present evidence that HIM-8 functions both at and outside of PCs to mediate chromosome territory elongation. These and other data support a model in which synapsis-independent elongation of chromosome territories, driven by PC binding proteins, enables lengthwise juxtaposition of chromosomes, thereby facilitating assessment of their suitability as potential pairing partners.
Intraarterial urokinase increases skeletal muscle viability after acute ischemia

Abstract Administration of intraarterial fibrinolytic agents has been recommended after balloon catheter thrombectomy to reduce retained thrombus and to improve the patency of collateral vasculature. However, the potential for improvement in the viability of skeletal muscle after ischemia as a result of this therapy has not been evaluated. We investigated the effect of intraarterial urokinase (UK) on the salvage of ischemic skeletal muscle in a bilateral, in vivo, isolated gracilis muscle model. In six anesthetized dogs each gracilis muscle was subjected to 5 hours of ischemia by temporary occlusion of the gracilis artery. Before reperfusion, the experimental muscle received an intraarterial infusion of UK (30,000 units) whereas the control muscle received saline solution. Each muscle was then reperfused for 90 minutes. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining demonstrated infarction of 20.2% ± 8.1% in control muscles compared with 8.6% ± 6.2% in UK-infused muscles ( p p
Institutionalizing critical peace education in public schools: A case for comprehensive implementation

Drawing from critical theories in education, this article empirically examines the role that public schools can play as conduits for critical peace education, particularly for young people who have been historically marginalized from school. Based on two years of ethnographic data collection at a public high school in New York City, I explore how students make meaning of their educational experiences at a school that emphasizes democratic principles and a commitment to peace and social justice. The data suggest that students value the intentional participatory spaces and the thematic, inquiry-based curriculum in the school. Not only do these unique structures re-socialize them academically, but they also encourage democratic participation, reflection, critical consciousness, and a commitment to broader social change. This comprehensive approach, in turn, presumably gives students a platform from which to think about the world differently and imagine new alternatives for the future. As a result, the articl...
Ritual as performance in small-scale societies

AbstractAlthough archaeological study of ritual as performance has garnered increasing attention in recent years, such research has primarily focused on large-scale, complex societies and, therefore, on the relation of performance to politics and power. In contrast, this paper explores archaeological assessment of public performance within small-scale societies, considering especially the significance of specific practices to social integration, identity, and historicity. This analysis is informed by emerging interdisciplinary theory on ritual, dramatization, and performance, and draws on archaeological evidence of cyclic communal mourning rites in coastal southern California that reveal aspects of performance including item manufacture, burning, pigmentation, sequential fragmentation, and structured deposition in ‘persistent places’.
Emotional episodes in the everyday lives of people with schizophrenia: The role of intrinsic motivation and negative symptoms

Abstract Research on emotional experience has indicated that subjects with schizophrenia experience less positive, and more negative emotional experience than non-psychiatric subjects in natural settings. Differences in the experience of emotion may result from differences in experiences such that everyday activities may evoke emotions. The purpose of this study was to identify if everyday experience of competence and autonomy were related to positive and negative emotion. Adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were recruited from day treatment programs (N = 45). Data were collected using experience-sampling methods. A number of subjects failed to meet data adequacy (N = 13) but did not differ from retained subjects (N = 32) in symptoms or cognition. Positive and negative emotion models were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling Everyday activities were characterized by those reported as easily accomplished and requiring at most moderate talents. Positive emotional experiences were stronger than negative emotional experiences. The majority of variance in positive and negative emotion existed between persons. Negative symptoms were significantly related to positive emotion, but not negative emotion. The perception that motivation for activity was external to subjects (e.g. wished they were doing something else) was related to decreased positive emotion and enhanced negative emotion. Activities that required more exertion for activities was related to enhanced positive emotion, whereas activities that subjects reported they wanted to do was associated with reduced negative emotion. The implications of this study are that everyday experiences of people with schizophrenia do affect emotional experience and that management of experience to enhance positive emotion may have therapeutic benefits.
SpotWeb: Detecting Framework Hotspots and Coldspots via Mining Open Source Code on the Web

Software developers often face challenges in reusing open source frameworks due to several factors such as the framework complexity and lack of proper documentation. In this paper, we propose a code-search-engine-based approach that detects hotspots in a given framework by mining code examples gathered from open source repositories available on the Web; these hotspots are API classes and methods that are frequently reused. Hotspots can serve as starting points for developers in understanding and reusing the given framework. Our approach also detects coldspots, which are API classes and methods that are rarely used. Coldspots serve as caveats for developers as there can be difficulties in finding relevant code examples and are generally less exercised compared to hotspots. We developed a tool, called SpotWeb, for frameworks or libraries written in Java and used our tool to detect hotspots and coldspots of eight widely used open source frameworks. We show the utility of our detected hotspots by comparing these hotspots with the API classes reused by a real application and compare our results with the results of a previous related approach.
Apelin is necessary for the maintenance of insulin sensitivity

The recently discovered peptide apelin is known to be involved in the maintenance of insulin sensitivity. However, questions persist regarding its precise role in the chronic setting. Fasting gluco...
Classification of Interstate Wars

One of the recent lessons suggested by the scientific study of war is that different wars have different causes. Related to this lesson is the belief that war is multicausal and that there are different paths to war. Both these claims imply the need to create a typology of war and set the domain of various explanations of war. This article constructs a scientific typology and classifies all interstate wars from 1816 through 1997. Wars are classified along three dimensions—their size, the issues that give rise to them, and the behavior of states before the war. The classification portrays what are the similarities and dissimilarities in the underlying causes of each type of war. The analysis demonstrates that a clear typology of wars (mutually exclusive and logically exhaustive) can be created and is empirically informative.
Diamond thin-film recessed gate field-effect transistors fabricated by electron cyclotron resonance plasma etching

A new technique for etching boron-doped homoepitaxial diamond films was used to fabricate mesa-isolated recessed gate field-effect transistors that operate at temperatures up to 350 degrees C. The upper temperature range is limited by the gate leakage current. The room-temperature hole concentration and mobility of the diamond film active layer were 1.2*10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3/ and 280 cm/sup 2//V-s, respectively. The maximum transconductance was 87 mu S/mm at 200 degrees C. >
Quasi-Darwinian Selection in Marketing Relationships:

Abstract This article introduces quasi-Darwinian selection as a new explanatory paradigm for marketing relationships. In this paradigm, established relationships are viewed as survivors of a selection process whose parameters are the conduct of the partners, dependencies between the partners, and external adversities in the markets. Selection has the effect of culling certain combinations of these parameters, such as attempts at unilateral control when the partner is not dependent. The effect of selection is to carve out patterns that appear as associations between parameters, for example, between unilateral control and dependence. Traditionally, such associations have been interpreted as causal effects of one parameter on the other. This study shows that quasi-Darwinian selection may sometimes be the more correct explanation of an observed association. The guiding principle can be summarized by the motto “selection creates association.” As an explanatory paradigm, selection may rival causation. The quasi...
Serine racemase: activation by glutamate neurotransmission via glutamate receptor interacting protein and mediation of neuronal migration.

Serine racemase (SR), localized to astrocytic glia that ensheathe synapses, converts l-serine to d-serine, an endogenous ligand of the NMDA receptor. We report the activation of SR by glutamate neurotransmission involving α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptors via glutamate receptor interacting protein (GRIP) and the physiologic regulation of cerebellar granule cell migration by SR. GRIP physiologically binds SR, augmenting SR activity and d-serine release. GRIP infection of neonatal mouse cerebellum in vivo enhances granule cell migration. Selective degradation of d-serine by d-amino acid oxidase and pharmacologic inhibition of SR impede migration, whereas d-serine activates the process. Thus, in neuronal migration, glutamate stimulates Bergmann glia to form and release d-serine, which, together with glutamate, activates NMDA receptors on granule neurons, chemokinetically enhancing migration.
Skeletons from the treecode closet

Abstract We consider treecodes ( N -body programs which use a tree data structure) from the standpoint of their worst-case behavior. That is, we derive upper bounds on the largest possible errors that are introduced into a calculation by use of various multipole acceptability criteria (MAC). We find that the conventional Barnes-Hut MAC can introduce potentially unbounded errors unless θ 3 , and that this behavior while rare, is demonstrable in astrophysically reasonable examples. We consider two other MACs closely related to the BH MAC. While they do not admit the same unbounded errors, they nevertheless require extraordinary amounts of CPU time to guarantee modest levels of accuracy. We derive new error bounds based on some additional, easily computed moments of the mass distribution. These error bounds form the basis for four new MACs which can be used to limit the absolute or relative error introduced by each multipole evaluation, or, with the introduction of some additional data structures, the absolute or rms error in the final acceleration of each particle. Using the Sum Squares MAC to analytically place a 1% bound on the rms error in a series of test models, we find that it significantly outperforms the θ = 0.65 BH MAC in terms of both accuracy (mean, rms, and maximum error) and performance (floating point operation count).
Short and long term, in vitro and in vivo correlations of cellular and tissue responses to mesoporous silicon nanovectors.

The characterization of nanomaterials and their influence and interactions on the biology of cells and tissues are still partially unknown. Multistage nanovectors based on mesoporous silicon have been extensively studied for drug delivery, thermal heating and improved diagnostic imaging. Here we analyzed the short and long-term changes occurring in human cells upon the internalization of mesoporous silicon nanovectors (MSV). Using qualitative and quantitative techniques as well as in vitro and in vivo biochemical, cellular and functional assays, we demonstrated that MSV did not cause any significant acute or chronic effects on cells and tissues. We analyzed in vitro cell toxicity and viability, the maintenance of cell phase cycling, and the architecture upon the internalization of MSV. In addition, we evaluated if MSV produced any pro-inflammatory response and studied its biocompatibility in vivo. We followed the biodistribution of MSV using longitudinal in vivo imaging and assessed organ accumulation using quantitative elemental and fluorescent techniques. Finally, a thorough pathological analysis of collected tissues demonstrated a mild transient systemic response in the liver that dissipated upon clearance of particles. In conclusion, with this study we propose that future endeavors aimed at understanding the toxicology of naked drug carriers should be designed to address their impact using in vitro and in vivo short and long-term evaluations of systemic response.
Re)Introducing communication competence to the health professions.

Despite the central role that communication skills play in contemporary accounts of effective health care delivery in general, and the communication of medical error specifically, there is no common or consensual core in the health professions regarding the nature of such skills. This lack of consensus reflects, in part, the tendency for disciplines to reinvent concepts and measures without first situating such development in disciplines with more cognate specialization in such concepts. In this essay, an integrative model of communication competence is introduced, along with its theoretical background and rationale. Communication competence is defined as an impression of appropriateness and effectiveness, which is functionally related to individual motivation, knowledge, skills, and contextual facilitators and constraints. Within this conceptualization, error disclosure contexts are utilized to illustrate the heuristic value of the theory, and implications for assessment are suggested.
Phasing at high resolution using Ta6Br12 cluster.

The Ta6Br\textstyle _{12}^{2+} cluster compound is known to be a powerful reagent for derivatization of crystals of large macromolecules at low resolution. The cluster is a regular octahedron of six Ta atoms with 12 bridging Br atoms at the edges of the octahedron. The cluster is compact, of approximately spherical shape, with a radius of about 6 A. Both tantalum and bromine display a significant anomalous diffraction signal at their absorption edges at 1.25 and 0.92 A, respectively. At resolutions lower than 5 A the tantalum cluster behaves as a super-atom and provides very large isomorphous and anomalous signals, which significantly diminish at about 4 A. However, beyond 3 A the individual Ta atoms can be resolved and the phasing power of the cluster increases again. The Ta6Br\textstyle _{12}^{2+} cluster has been used for phasing four different proteins at high resolution. Ta6Br\textstyle _{12}^{2+} appeared to be a mild derivatization reagent and, despite partial incorporation, led to a successful solution of crystal structures by the single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) approach.
Bilateral Adie’s Tonic Pupil and Hyperopic Shift in Idiopathic Sclerochoroidal Calcification

Sclerochoroidal calcification is a rare but recognised ophthalmic manifestation seen mostly in elderly Caucasian individuals. The lesions, often bilateral, appear as yellow-white irregular subretinal lesions usually found along the mid-peripheral fundus. Though typically asymptomatic, sclerochoroidal calcification has rarely been associated with parafoveal involvement, choroidal neovascularisation, and serous detachment of the calcifications. Visual involvement is typically minimal, and neovascularisation is often visually insignificant. We present a rare case of sclerochoroidal calcification in a 64-year-old Caucasian female who presented with painless progressive bilateral vision loss and a hyperoptic shift with subsequent development of bilateral sequential Adie’s tonic pupil. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such report in the English language literature.
Third-Party Consent and Computer Searches: The Law and Its Problems

This essay addresses the current state of the law with respect to third-party consent searches of computer systems, paying particular attention to the home computer. Courts at both the state and federal level have grappled with the application of traditional Fourth Amendment principles to this emerging technology with mixed results. One factor that courts have failed to weigh properly is the existence of password protection. This essay will explain how various courts have addressed these issues, as well as offer suggestions for improvement in the law.
MUSE: a wafer-scale systolic DSP

MUSE (Matrix Update Systolic Experiment) is a special-purpose digital signal processor being implemented using restructurable VLSI. It will consist of 5 million working transistors on a single wafer-scale integrated circuit. MUSE is a wafer-scale systolic array designed to operate at the continuous rate of 285 million rotations per second. It will enable space-based radar systems to perform real-time adaptive nulling on up to 63 jammers with nulls of 50 dB. The rotator cell has been fabricated in 2 mu m CMOS; a small testbed for 4 PEs has been built and operates at specification. Design for the wafer-scale interconnect is in progress. MUSE is a 1.7 Billion Real Operations per Second system which fits on a single 4" by 4" silicon substrate. >
Hierarchical microgrid paradigm for integration of distributed energy resources

This paper describes an approach to hierarchical integration of DC and AC microgrids containing distributed energy resources (DERs) into the existing electric power distribution infrastructure. Power electronic interfaces and controls permit the aggregated units at each level to represent themselves to a higher level as a single self-controlled entity (DC or AC, load or generator). At the top level of the hierarchy, the collection of all distributed energy resources within the microgrid appears to the utility grid as indistinguishable from many other currently legitimate customer sites. Maintaining this profile relies on the flexibility of advanced power electronics that control the interfaces among distributed energy resource units, DC links, AC links, and the surrounding power system. A decoupled control framework is then proposed for the hierarchical microgrid. Operational requirements and behavioral functions of the control systems are described in the paper. A case study demonstrates the operation of the microgrid paradigm.
The advanced practice nurse's role regarding women's delay in seeking treatment with myocardial infarction.

Purpose To synthesize nursing literature on reasons women delay in seeking treatment for signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), to hypothesize upon the primary reason(s) for this delay, and to propose advanced practice nurse (APN) interventions to reduce this delay. Data Sources Utilizing Stetler's Model of Research Utilization, all reports published in nursing journals within the last 10 years specifically examining prehospital delay related to gender factors were analyzed. Conclusions Women, especially those in advanced age, delay longer before seeking treatment for signs and symptoms of AMI. Effective treatment is time dependent; mortality and morbidity rise with increased prehospital delay. The reasons identified in the literature for this delay included severity, specificity, atypical presentation of symptoms, differences in event perception according to gender roles, and the interpretation and attribution of symptoms. Implications for Practice Identifying and teaching women at highest risk for delay, dispelling internal and external gender bias, increasing one's perception of patient vulnerability to AMI, and developing one's awareness of atypical presentations are the major factors that are likely to impact APN practice and consequently reduce prehospital delays for women at risk.
Acoustic response of cartilage during laser-mediated stress relaxation

In this study, laser reshaping of porcine septal cartilage was performed using an Nd:YAG laser (/spl lambda/=1.32 /spl mu/m), while changes in acoustic waves were observed, in an attempt to develop technique to monitor the reshaping process. Concurrent measurements of strain (during tensile compression and tension, as well as flexure), temperature, and a 5-MHz ultrasonic signal were recorded during laser irradiation (/spl lambda/=1.32 /spl mu/m, 4 W, 13 s). The sample was set up in a water bath to enhance acoustic coupling. From the ultrasonic signal, both time of flight (TOF) and signal amplitude as reflected from the back wall of the cartilage were extracted and correlated with temperature and strain measurements. The onset of stress relaxation of the cartilage generally occurred between 50/spl deg/C and 60/spl deg/C. While TOF measurements indicated a generally constant increase in the speed of sound of the cartilage during the irradiation period, the amplitude of the reflected acoustic signal correlated directly with the stress relaxation of the cartilage. At the point of stress relaxation, the amplitude of the acoustic signal consistently attenuated to roughly 50% of its original magnitude.
DC bus ripple minimization in cascaded H-bridge multilevel converters under staircase modulation

Cascade connected H bridge multilevel converters are becoming an attractive topology for very high power applications. Due the single phase loading of the individual bridges, the DC link capacitors required in these converters are faced with a heavy stress. The problem is particularly acute with stair-case type modulation strategies. This paper presents an approach for equalizing the power drawn from each H bridge within less than one cycle period with the aim of reducing capacitor sizing. The presented approach is based on rearranging the switching strategies focusing on the redundancies in synthesizing output voltage of H bridge multilevel converters. The proposed approach also holds nearly the same degree of freedom in selecting conduction angles and attains similar levels of harmonic performance as with conventional switching angle selection approaches. The analysis presented in this paper is also confirmed by simulation.
Technical Feasibility and Relative Productivity of Alternate NASA Robotic Missions to a Lunar Dark Crater

Two concepts for large-scale, complex, robotic missions to search for frozen water at the lunar south pole are systematically analyzed to determine their relative productivity and investment requirements. A concurrent design team, a technology-assessment tool, and a sensitivity model are integrated to search a large, complex trade space. Performance goals for a broad portfolio of missions comprising NASA's lunar exploration program are optimized subject to budget, workforce, and other nontechnical constraints. Explicit distinction is made between enabling and enhancing technologies. Uncertainties and dependencies are included within the optimization framework. Given the constraints used in this analysis, the study determines that the longer mission [using a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)] would return 14 times the value of the shorter mission (using a methanol-oxygen fuel cell) for roughly a 17% increase in cost, and would be enabled with the recommended temporal technology portfolio. To assess the robustness of the investment recommendations, other potential fuel-cell chemistries are evaluated along with potential improvements in rover speed and autonomy, and a reduced activity profile. Results indicate that a lithium-oxygen fuel cell would enable the highest level of productivity among the three fuel cells studied, though not as high as that permitted by an RTG. For the shorter duration mission concepts, it was found that productivity could be enhanced by reducing the number of activities from the baseline 15 to 4, thereby permitting time for each activity to be more fully accomplished.
Genetic predisposition to external apical root resorption

External apical root resorption (EARR) can be an undesirable sequela of orthodontic treatment. Previous studies have suggested that EARR has a substantial genetic component. Linkage and association were examined between polymorphisms of the interleukin IL-1 (IL-1A and IL-1B) genes and EARR in 35 white American families. Buccal swab cells were collected for DNA isolation and analysis. The EARR in the maxillary central incisors, the mandibular central incisors, and the mesial and distal roots of the mandibular first molar were analyzed separately and together by using both linkage and association methods of analysis. Highly significant (P =.0003) evidence of linkage disequilibrium of IL-1B polymorphism with the clinical manifestation of EARR was obtained. The analysis indicates that the IL-1B polymorphism accounts for 15% of the total variation of maxillary incisor EARR. Persons homozygous for the IL-1B allele 1 have a 5.6 fold (95% CI 1.9-21.2) increased risk of EARR greater than 2 mm as compared with those who are not homozygous for the IL-1 beta allele 1. Data indicate that allele 1 at the IL-1B gene, known to decrease the production of IL-1 cytokine in vivo, significantly increases the risk of EARR. These findings are consistent with an interpretation of EARR as a complex condition influenced by many factors, with the IL-1B gene contributing an important predisposition to this common problem. Defining genetic contributions to EARR is an important factor in understanding the contribution of environmental factors, such as habits and therapeutic biomechanics.
Imaging of Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema

Imaging of the retinal complications of diabetes mellitus is rapidly changing from the emergence of new technology such as optical coherence tomography. In particular, the characterization of diabetic macular edema is much easier for the clinician and there are new, more sensitive clinical research end points. However, our understanding of structure-functional relationships remains suboptimal and the classification of macular edema by optical coherence tomography continues to evolve. The classification of diabetic retinopathy severity continues to rely upon fundus photography, although the transition from film to digital photography presents both challenges and advantages.
Comparison of Parent and Teacher Perceptions of Essential Website Features and Elementary Teacher Website Use: Implications for Teacher Communication Practice

AbstractWithin the United States, there has been a call for timely, effective, and targeted communication between home and school environments to increase student achievement and engage parents (Project Tomorrow, 2011a). Although teachers can use websites as a means of communication to connect with parents online (Dunn, 2011; Janicki & Chandler-Olcott, 2012), current teacher practice in this area remains unclear. This study employed feature analysis to compare elementary teacher websites from a national report examining technology-using teachers (Ottenbreit-Leftwich et al., 2012) to the website features desired by elementary teachers and parents in the U.S. (Unal, 2008). The results indicate that only eight of 19 essential website features desired by both parents and teachers were commonly present, a possible reflection of the various ways that elementary teachers disseminate information online. Based on the information teachers need to communicate, four separate categories are proposed to assist elementa...
A Review of the Physical Oceanography of Fram Strait

Fram Strait is the broad and deep gap (width, 450 km; sill depth, 2700 m) separating Greenland and Spitsbergen. There is an exchange through it of cold, fresh Arctic waters and warm, saline Atlantic waters. Narrow coastal boundary currents on either side flowing in opposite directions are important elements of the exchange. Mesoscale eddies are abundant in this region but their part in transport through the strait is uncertain. This appears to be primarily a convective circulation driven by density differences between the Arctic Ocean and Greenland Sea with wind forcing playing a minor part. It is possible that atmospheric pressure gradients and tidal rectification also contribute to the exchange although their importance has not yet been demonstrated. There has been considerable success in describing the ice exchange with numerical models which incorporate a restricted ocean model. Laboratory experiments provide an alternative method which has proved useful in giving insight in to the relative roles of boundary currents and eddies in transport through wide straits.
A unified approach to data and meta-data modification for data/knowledge bases

Abstract A unified approach to the modification of the spectrum of information facts in a data/knowledge base is proposed. Derived data update, conceptual schema evolution, and exception handling are indeed different policies to resolve database inconsistency due to update. We propose a unified update approach that utilizes and balances the above three update policies to handle updates at both data and conceptual schema (meta-data) levels. An experimental prototype embodies the unified update algorithm; this prototype supports a two-level database model (a higher level object model and a lower level triplet representation), unified update algorithm, update heuristics, and an end-user interface. Several examples are described to demonstrate the prototype as well as the techniques underlying it.
Pediatric Emergency Department Study of Cardiac Risk in the Novel Patient (PED SCReeN).

Objective We compare pediatric cardiac risk classification and management recommendations between emergency physicians (EPs) and pediatric cardiologists (PCs) in children with a suspected new cardiac disorder. Methods We prospectively compared the work-up, assessment, classification, and disposition of patients aged 0 to 21 years presenting to the emergency department with a potential cardiac etiology in whom an electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed. The criterion standard was a blinded assessment by the PC-electrophysiologist after review of the history, physical examination, ancillary tests, and ECG. Results In 508 subjects, the median age was 15 years (interquartile range, 11-17 years), with a slight female predominance (281, 55.3%). The most common reasons for obtaining an ECG were: chest pain (158, 31.1%) and syncope, presyncope, or possible seizure (146, 28.7%). The most common auxiliary study was a chest radiograph (432, 85% of subjects). A total of 617 electrocardiographic diagnoses were made by EPs and 984 diagnoses by PCs. Sensitivities and specificities varied by discrete class, but disposition decisions were concordant (home or admission). The EPs were highly accurate for the need for emergent cardiology involvement (area under the curve, 0.89). Conclusions The EPs and PCs agreed on the evaluation and disposition of children at either low risk or high risk for an acute cardiac presentation in the emergency department. There was considerable variation in management recommendations in the intermediate risk children needing cardiology outpatient follow-up. We recommend the development and implementation of focused training modules on emergency pediatric cardiology and increased communication with pediatric cardiology to improve patient safety and resource utilization.
Seasonal and topographic patterns of forest floor CO2 efflux from an upland oak forest

Forest floor CO(2) efflux (FF(cer)) is an important component of global carbon budgets, but the spatial variability of forest floor respiration within a forest type is not well documented. Measurements of FF(cer) were initiated in mid-March of 1991 and continued at biweekly to monthly intervals until mid-November. Observations were made at 45 sites along topographic gradients of the Walker Branch Watershed, Tennessee including northeast and southwest facing slopes, valley-bottoms, and exposed ridge-top locations. The FF(cer) measurements were made with a portable gas-exchange system, and all observations were accompanied by soil temperature and soil water content measurements. As expected, FF(cer) exhibited a distinct seasonal trend following patterns of soil temperature, but soil water content and the volume percent of the soil's coarse fraction were also correlated with observed rates. Over the entire measurement period, FF(cer) ranged from a typical minimum of 0.8 micro mol m(-2) s(-1) to an average maximum near 5.7 micro mol m(-2) s(-1). No significant differences in FF(cer) were observed among the ridge-top and slope positions, but FF(cer) in the valley-bottom locations was lower on several occasions. An empirical model of FF(cer) based on these observations is suggested for application to whole-stand estimates of forest carbon sequestration.
Time-lapse movie chamber for virus and long-term tissue culture experiments.

SummaryA modified time-lapse movie chamber used in connection with coverslip cultures in regular culture containers is particularly suited for long-term culture experiments for work with infectious agents.
Ethyl chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) effects in juvenile‐onset diabetes mellitus

Ethyl-α (p-chlorophenoxy)isobutyrate (Atromid-S or CPIB) was administered for three months to 18 patients with diabetes mellitus of juvenile onset. The intensity of the diabetes, ;udging by serial fasting blood sugar levels, glucose tolerance tests, 24 hour urine glucose excretion, and tests of fractional urine specimens for sugar and acetone did not change significantly. The drug did not produce a hypolipidemic effect but pretherapy values for serum lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were almost always within the normal range. Several nonsustained increases in cephalin flocculation and one instance of prothrombin time prolongation were observed. Other hepatic function indices remained unchanged. A slight increase in serum total CO2, and a slight decrease in serum inorganic phosphorus were not statistically significant. Serum uric acid did decrease: the differences between pretherapy and therapy values were statistically significant. No other parameters of blood, serum, body fluids, hepatic, thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary function were discernibly affected.
Purification of α-L-rhamnosidase from the Solid-state Fermentation Product of Aspergillus niger and Its Application in Enzymatic Production of Prunin

In this study, α-L-rhamnosidase was purified from the product of solid-state fermentation of pomelo peel powder by Aspergillus niger and used to convert naringin to prunin. α-L-rhamnosidase was isolated and purified by precipitation using ammonium sulfate at concentrations ranging from 40% to 80%, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme was found to be a monomer with molecular weight of approximately 160 k Da and contained two polypeptides linked by a disulfide bond. The larger polypeptide had a molecular weight of 130 k Da. Naringin was hydrolyzed to prunin using this enzyme, and the optimal temperature and p H, Km, and Vmax were 50 ℃~60 ℃, 4.0~5.0, 0.24 μmol/m L, and 312.5 U/m L, respectively. The optimal hydrolysis time was 60~90 min and a conversion rate above 98% was achieved. The content of Prunin was accounted for more than 95% in the final product, while that of the byproduct naringenin was less than 5%. The approach of using α-L-rhamnosidase purified from Aspergillus niger solid-state fermentation products to prepare prunin shows advantages such as good thermostability, strong substrate affinity, high conversion rate, and fewer by-products, thus providing an important basis for the enzymatic production of prunin.
The analysis on Hepatitis B vaccine immunization about children born in 2003-2006 in Gansu province

Objective:To study the immunization effect in children who had vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine in Gansu province.Methods: HBsAg and anti-HBs in blood sample were tested using ELISA reagents among 1442 children born in 2003-2006.Results: Among the children,the prevalence of HBsAg is 1.04%,and the positive of anti-HBs is 86.62%.Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccination has achieved significant results,but also need to increase the vaccine dose and standard operating,and other measures to ensure the effective anti-HBs.
Neurotransmitter Receptor Analysis in Transgenic Mouse Models

One of the characteristic findings in human Huntington's disease (HD) is the alteration of neurotransmitter receptors. To a remarkable degree, transgenic HD mouse models recapitulate neurotransmitter receptor alterations. Neurotransmitter receptors can be assessed at the protein level by using receptor-binding autoradiography. One can also measure levels of receptor messenger RNA with in situ hybridization (ISH), employing either oligonucleotide or ribonucleotide probes. Both of these techniques-receptor-binding autoradiography and in situ hybridization-yield quantitative and regionally specific information regarding neurotransmitter receptors. We describe techniques for performing receptor-binding autoradiography and two types of in situ hybridization using oligonucleotide and ribonucleotide probes. With receptor binding and ISH, one can obtain quantitative region-specific assessments of neurotransmitter receptor alteration, a key pathologic event in HD pathogenesis.
Chemotherapy of Thyroid Cancer: General Principles

Chemotherapy has been used as a single-modality treatment or as part of combined-modality therapy in metastatic or locally advanced thyroid cancer when other conventional treatments (e.g., surgery and radiation therapy) have failed. Recent developments in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer have allowed for more targeted investigations, but cytotoxic chemotherapy remains an important part of the armamentarium, particularly for anaplastic and relatively undifferentiated thyroid cancers. Numerous reports on the use of chemotherapy in a variety of thyroid cancers have been published, but only a few controlled clinical trials compare the efficacy of different drug regimens. We outline both conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents and novel targeted agents below.
Minimum Uncertainty JPDA Filters and Coalescence Avoidance for Multiple Object Tracking

Two variations of the joint probabilistic data association filter (JPDAF) are derived and simulated in various cases in this paper. First, an analytic solution for an optimal gain that minimizes posterior estimate uncertainty is derived, referred to as the minimum uncertainty JPDAF (M-JPDAF). Second, the coalescence-avoiding JPDAF (C-JPDAF) is derived, which removes coalescence by minimizing a weighted sum of the posterior uncertainty and a measure of similarity between estimated probability densities. Both novel algorithms are tested in much further depth than any prior work to show how the algorithms perform in various scenarios. In particular, the M-JPDAF more accurately tracks objects than the conventional JPDAF in all simulated cases. When coalescence degrades the estimates at too great of a level, and the C-JPDAF is often superior at removing coalescence when its parameters are properly tuned.
Abstract 94: High Sucrose Intake-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Inflammation and Fibrosis in hte Pancreas: Role of Trpv1

Excessive consumption of sugar may serve as a primary and independent factor for increased morbidity of diabetes. We test the hypothesis that the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels play a protective role against sugar-induced pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammatory cell infiltration, and tissue fibrosis. Wild-type (WT, C57BL/6) or gene-targeted TRPV1-null mutant (TRPV1 -/- ) mice were fed a normal (CON) or high sucrose diet for 22-23 weeks. TRPV1 ablation impaired glucose tolerance and suppressed glucose-induced insulin release when fed a CON diet (p -/- compared to WT mice (p -/- mice only (p -/- mice only (p -/- mice only (p
Chemische Bindung – Elemente streben Edelgaskonfiguration an

Edelgase, die erst gegen Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts entdeckt wurden, galten lange Zeit als vollig unreaktiv (inert). Edelgase gehen so gut wie keine chemischen Verbindungen ein. Nur die schweren Edelgase Krypton, Xenon und Radon reagieren mit dem extrem reaktiven Fluor. Da chemische Reaktionen in der Sphare der Valenzelektronen erfolgen, lohnt es sich, die Elektronenkonfiguration der Edelgase genauer zu betrachten.
Factors associated with sustained use of improved solid fuel cookstoves: A case study from Kenya

Abstract Improved solid fuel cookstoves have been a focus of development efforts to address health and environmental problems caused by traditional cooking practices in Kenya. However, a review of Kenya's experience in promoting improved solid fuel cookstoves shows that the focus has been on (increasing) production and dissemination of improved cookstoves, overlooking the fact that some of the disseminated cookstoves are used less regularly or even abandoned. This study examines factors that influence the usage rate of improved solid fuel cookstoves, drawing on a survey of cookstove users conducted in Kenya through a project implemented by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The results show that sustained use of improved solid fuel cookstoves over time is significantly predicted by awareness creation activities and reputation of the new cookstoves among community members. These insights suggest that cookstove-disseminating organisations should pay attention to these two factors to ensure sustained use of improved solid fuel cookstoves in Kenya and perhaps other developing countries.
Effects of communication latency and availability on synthetic inertia

This paper proposes a method of enabling photovoltaic (PV) power plants to participate in primary frequency response by providing synthetic inertia (SI). This variation, referred to as communication enabled synthetic inertia (CE-SI), utilizes communication capabilities to provide global system frequency information to PV plants to emulate the inertial response of synchronous generators. The performance of CE-SI is analyzed with respect to the challenges associated with communication, such as latency and availability. Results indicate improvements in frequency response over SI using local frequency measurements when communication latency is sufficiently small.
Fighting for Equity and Community in an Urban Research University

The equity lens evaluates institutional barriers that prevent students of color from gaining access to resources for college success (Bensimon, 2005). The first-generation college students at the University of Southern California are 16% of the total student body and students of color comprise two-thirds of this population. Since 2008, how to support first generation college students of color in their academic achievement and college success once in college has expanded the discussion beyond access. By evaluating institutional structures through the equity lens, the response has been to create intentional academic and social programs for first generation college students of color that bridge the academic and student services divide. Through descriptions of actual programs and stories from students affected by these programs, this essay will discuss innovative approaches to serving first-generation students of color at predominantly white universities.
What Majority-minority Society? A Critical Analysis of the Census Bureau’s Projections of America’s Demographic Future:

On the basis of demographic projections by the U.S. Census Bureau, many Americans believe that their society will transition soon to a majority-minority one. The author analyzes the latest version ...
Feral Horse Distribution, Habitat use and Population Dynamics in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Description of the ecological niche feral horses fill in Theodore Roosevelt National Park requires information on reproductive rates, home range size, individual and band affinity to home ranges, food and shelter requirements and seasonal diets. Therefore, the identification of individual animals and their social groups or bands was the initial objective of this study.
Quine on the Norms of Naturalized Epistemology

My central goal in this paper is to interpret what Quine says in his Kant lectures about the norms of epistemology and the doctrinal and conceptual tasks of epistemology—the tasks, respectively, of constructing good theories and of clarifying meanings—in light of what he says about these topics in several of his earlier and later works. I argue that despite one puzzling passage in the Kant lectures that misleadingly suggests otherwise, the norms of Quine’s epistemology are exclusively doctrinal, not conceptual.