cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delayed Retinal Breaks and Detachments after Acute Posterior Vitreous Detachment.

Purpose To determine the incidence and timing of delayed retinal breaks and retinal detachments (RDs) after acute posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and associated risk factors. Design Retrospective case-control study. Participants Acute PVD eyes treated between October 2015 and August 2018 at a single academic retina practice. Methods Eyes with a PVD diagnosis and history of extended ophthalmoscopic examination on presentation were identified using diagnostic billing codes. The number of eyes with a history of laser retinopexy, cryotherapy for retinal tear, or RD repair was determined using procedural billing codes, and the duration between initial and treatment visits was measured. Records of eyes with a delayed retinal break or RD and of a reference group comprising the first 100 presenting eyes with no initial or delayed retinal break or RD were reviewed to determine and compare the presence of select risk factors on initial examination. Main Outcome Measures Development of a delayed retinal break or RD. Results Of 7999 eyes with acute PVD, 1280 (16.0%) showed a retinal break and 499 (6.2%) showed an RD on presentation. Delayed retinal breaks and RDs were found in 209 (2.6%) and 80 (1.0%) eyes, respectively. Of delayed breaks, 116 (55.5%) were found in 6 weeks or less and 93 (44.5%) were found more than 6 weeks after presentation. Of delayed RDs, 26 (32.5%) were found in 6 weeks or less and 54 (67.5%) were found more than 6 weeks after presentation. Compared with the reference group, vitreous hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 2.53 [P 6 weeks; odds ratio, 3.58; P Conclusions Clinically significant rates of newly detected retinal breaks and RDs may occur after acute PVD, suggesting that repeat examination may be prudent in these patients.
ABC transporters control ATP release through cholesterol-dependent volume-regulated anion channel activity

Purinergic signaling by extracellular ATP regulates a variety of cellular events and is implicated in both normal physiology and pathophysiology. Several molecules have been associated with the release of ATP and other small molecules, but their precise contributions have been difficult to assess because of their complexity and heterogeneity. Here, we report on the results of a gain-of-function screen for modulators of hypotonicity-induced ATP release using HEK-293 cells and murine cerebellar granule neurons, along with bioluminescence, calcium FLIPR, and short hairpin RNA–based gene-silencing assays. This screen utilized the most extensive genome-wide ORF collection to date, covering 90% of human, nonredundant, protein-encoding genes. We identified two ABCG1 (ABC subfamily G member 1) variants, which regulate cellular cholesterol, as modulators of hypotonicity-induced ATP release. We found that cholesterol levels control volume-regulated anion channel–dependent ATP release. These findings reveal novel mechanisms for the regulation of ATP release and volume-regulated anion channel activity and provide critical links among cellular status, cholesterol, and purinergic signaling.
Dietary contributions to increased background lead, mercury, and cadmium in 9-11 Year old children: Accounting for racial differences.

Abstract Background Initial interest in the adverse consequences of exposure to lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) focused on relatively high exposures through environmental or occupational sources; however, recent evidence suggests even low-level background exposure to non-essential metals might be detrimental, particularly for children's health and development. One potentially important source of increased background levels of non-essential toxic metals is diet. Objectives We considered whether differences in diet are associated with levels of non-essential metals in blood and whether racial differences in metals are mediated by dietary differences. Methods We assessed blood levels of Pb, Hg, and Cd in a sample of 9–11 year-old children (N = 295) comprised of 42% European Americans (EAs), 58% African American (AAs), and 47% female. Diet was assessed using 24-h dietary recalls during phone interviews administered to parents on two consecutive days (Friday and Saturday). The Healthy Eating Index-2105 (HEI-2015) was calculated to assess diet quality. Results The current study identified significant dietary sources of non-essential metal exposure – namely total fruit for Pb, total protein for Hg, and greens and beans for Cd. Moreover, AAs were found to have significantly higher blood levels of Pb and Hg than EAs and these racial differences were significantly mediated by these dietary differences. Discussion This study is one of very few to consider total diet in children and exposure to the non-essential metals Pb, Hg, and Cd, and the first to demonstrate that racial differences in increased background blood levels of non-essential toxic metals can be accounted for by racial differences in diet. Given regional differences in food consumption patterns and specific farm and store sources for the foods, the generalizability of the current findings has yet to be determined; however, commonly consumed foods appear to be a significant source of low-level non-essential metals.
Variation of Short-circuit Current in the Power System With Large-scale Wind Power Centralized Access

The short-circuit current problem is a key issue in the operation control and rational planning of large power grids. With the centralized accsee of large-scale wind farms, the power planning and operation departments are focus on the short-circuit current contributed by wind power. Doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), the most widely used wind turbine currently, is selected for research in this paper. The short-circuit characteristics of DFIG are analyzed, and a practical model for short-circuit current calculation with multiple wind farms in an actual power grid is constructed. The proposed practical calculation model can simplify the modeling process, and ensure the calculation accuracy. Applying the model, the variation of the short circuit current on the access point is simulated under different access forms and installed capacities. Finally, the contribution of large-scale wind power to the short-circuit current of the regional bus (110kV and above) is given. The result can provide practical reference for the power sectors.
Automated cell division classification in early mouse and human embryos using convolutional neural networks

During in vitro fertilization (IVF), the timing of cell divisions in early human embryos is a key predictor of embryo viability. Recent developments in time-lapse microscopy (TLM) have allowed us to observe cell divisions in much greater detail than previously possible. However, it is a time-consuming process that relies on a highly trained staff and subjective observations. We describe an automated method based on a convolutional neural network to detect and classify cell divisions from original (unprocessed) TLM images. Here, we used two embryo TLM image datasets to evaluate our method: a public dataset with mouse embryos up to the 4-cell stage and a private dataset with human embryos up to the 8-cell stage. Compared to embryologists’ annotations, our results were almost 100% accurate for the mouse embryo images and accurate within five frames in 93.9% of cell stage transitions for the human embryos. Our approach can be used to improve the consistency and quality of the existing annotations or as part of a platform for fully automated embryo assessment. The code is available at http://github.com/JonasEMalmsten/CellDivision .
Resettable Encoded Vector Clock for Causality Analysis With an Application to Dynamic Race Detection

Causality tracking among events is a fundamental challenge in distributed environments. Much previous work on this subject has focused on designing an efficient and scalable protocol to represent logical time. Several implementations of logical clocks have been proposed, most recently the Encoded Vector Clock (EVC), a protocol to encode Vector Clocks (VC) in scalar numbers through the use of prime numbers, to improve performance and scalability. We propose and formalize the concept of Resettable Encoded Vector Clock (REVC), a new logical clock implementation, which builds on the EVC to tackle its very high growth rate issue. We show how our REVC can be applied in both shared memory systems and message passing systems to achieve a consistent logical clock. We show, through practical examples, the advantage of REVC’s growth rate with respect to EVC’s growth rate. Finally, we show a practical application of the REVC to the dynamic race detection problem in multi-threaded environments. We compare our tool to the currently existing VC-based tool $\text{DJIT}^+$ DJIT + to show how the REVC can help in achieving higher performance with respect to the Vector Clock.
Evidence and Faith: Philosophy and Religion since the Seventeenth Century

1. The sovereignty of the good in seventeenth-century philosophy of religion 2. Cartesian philosophy of religion 3. The ascendancy of laws of evidence in early modern philosophy of religion 4. Humean philosophy of religion 5. Kantian philosophy of religion 6. Religion and the philosophical gods and giants 7. Continental and feminist philosophy of religion 8. Five major moves 9. Religions, evidence and legitimacy.
A pharmacologically-based approach to high dose methotrexate administration to investigate nephrotoxicity and acute kidney injury biomarkers in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed osteosarcoma

High dose methotrexate (HDMTX) acute kidney injury (AKI) results in prolonged hospitalization and treatment delays. Using a pharmacologically-based approach, HDMTX was administered with standard combination therapy to patients with osteosarcoma; nephrotoxicity was assessed. Patients were randomized by cycle to 4 h or 12 h HDMTX (12 g/m2) infusions administered with hydration, alkalization and leucovorin rescue. Urinalysis, AKI biomarkers, and estimated glomerular filtration rate using serum creatinine or cystatin C (GFRCr or GFRcysC) were obtained. Serum and urine methotrexate concentrations [MTX] were measured. Patients (n = 12), median (range) age 12.4 (5.7–19.2) years were enrolled; 73 MTX infusions were analyzed. Median (95% Confidence Interval) serum and urine [MTX] were 1309 (1190, 1400) µM and 16.4 (14.7, 19.4) mM at the end of 4 h infusion and 557 (493, 586) µM and 11.1 (9.9, 21.1) mM at the end of 12 h infusion. Time to serum [MTX] 95%. Reducing peak serum and urine MTX concentration by prolonging the infusion duration did not alter risk of acute kidney injury. GFRcysC was decreased at the end of therapy. Proteinuria and elevations in AKI biomarkers indicate that direct tubular damage contributes to HDMTX nephrotoxicity. NCT01848457.
Flame characteristics of propane-air-carbon dioxide blends at elevated temperatures and pressures

Abstract Propane (C3H8) is being considered as an alternative refrigerant, besides being used as an alternative fuel, because of its low Global Warming Potential and zero Ozone Depletion Potential. Using blends of C3H8 with CO2 as refrigerants, diminishes the fire safety concerns in case of accidental leak of this flammable substance in refrigeration applications. This paper reports on the effects of CO2 on laminar burning speed and flame instability of C3H8/air blends at elevated temperatures and pressures. The flame structures were investigated in a Schlieren system. The laminar burning speeds of C3H8/CO2/air mixtures were measured in a spherical chamber and were fitted by a power-law mathematical correlation. The one-dimensional flame code from Cantera with kinetic model was also used to predict laminar burning speed. The high-speed photography showed that CO2 inhibits the flame instability because of its hydrodynamic and diffusional-thermal effects. Results showed that the laminar burning speed decreased with increasing CO2 mole fraction in the mixtures and that CO2 promotes the flame stability. The high temperature C3H8 oxidation was governed by the reaction of H + O 2 = O + OH . The effects of CO2 on laminar burning speed were mainly determined by the reaction of CO 2 + H = CO + OH and the high energy capacity (specific heat) of CO2.
Activation of Keratinocyte Gq-linked G-Protein Coupled Receptors Regulates Degeneration of Cutaneous Nerves

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, affecting 25% of diabetic patients. DPN is characterized by small-fiber degeneration, which can progress to complete loss of cutaneous innervation and is accompanied by neuropathic pain. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying degeneration of cutaneous nerves in PDN remains a major challenge to finding effective and disease-modifying therapy. Keratinocytes are closely juxtaposed to cutaneous nerve terminals potentially enabling communication between keratinocytes and cutaneous afferents. Our aim is to identify mechanisms by which keratinocytes communicate with cutaneous afferents and how this signaling regulates axonal degeneration underlying neuropathic pain in PDN. In this study, we utilized a chemogenetic approach using DREADD receptors, synthetic receptors based on the structure of human muscarinic receptors that can be activated by the synthetic ligands clozapine and clozapine N-oxide (CNO). We genetically expressed stimulatory DREADD (hM3Dq) into K14 basal keratinocytes (K-14) in mice as a tool for mimicking the activation of Gq-linked G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in K14-expressing basal keratinocytes. Histological characterization of the skin from mice expressing hM3Dq in K-14 positive cells revealed a clear thickening of the epidermis (as shown by H&E staining) due to K-14 expressing cell hyperproliferation (as shown by BrdU incorporation). Additionally, we observed reduced innervation of the epidermis (as shown by PGP9.5 staining), indicating that activation of K-14 Gq-linked GPCRs drives nerve fibers degeneration in the epidermis. Furthermore, transcriptional profiling of activated K-14 from the skin of K14-hM3Dq mice revealed downregulation of genes involved in neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth, including Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), artemin, a member of the Glial Cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) ligand family, and Semaphorin 3D. Our results suggest that basal keratinocyte Gq-linked GPCRs could represent highly “druggable” and easily accessible targets for the development of therapeutics that by reversing axonal degeneration of cutaneous nerves in a pathological conditions such as PDN and could ameliorate the associated neuropathic pain. RO1-Supplement 610-5210100-60054666, RO1-610-5210100-60057550, P&F award-610-5202000-60056119.
Execution of Shares in Ghana

Execution is generally the process of enforcement of a judgment or order of a competent Court by a party in whose favor such judgment or order was made. As part of the process of Execution, an officer of the Court, in the case of Ghana the Registrar or Bailiff acting under the rules, takes possession of a property of a losing party to a legal action or suit, sells it and uses the proceeds in satisfaction of the judgment or order. In Ghana, shares in a body corporate are amenable to processes of execution. Shares constitute an interest of a shareholder in a company measured by a sum of money, for the purpose of liability in the first place, and secondly consisting of a series of mutual covenants entered into by all shareholders. This Article focuses on the execution of shares in Ghana by recounting the process involved. The paper goes further to consider as a matter of importance the legal effect of an execution of shares amidst a supposed restriction on the transfer-ability of shares contained in the constitution of a Company as made allowable by the Companies Act of Ghana. This Article applies an analytical and descriptive approach in order to sift out the road-map for execution of shares in a lawful manner as contained in the laws of Ghana as well as considering the legal effect of same with the view to making recommendations where necessary.
Vestibular Drop Attacks and Meniere's Disease as Results of Otolithic Membrane Damage -- A Numerical Model

BACKGROUND: Meniere's Disease (MD) is a condition of the inner ear with symptoms affecting both vestibular and hearing functions. Some patients with MD experience vestibular drop attacks (VDAs), which are violent falls caused by spurious vestibular signals from the utricle and/or saccule. Recent surgical work has shown that patients who experience VDAs also show distrupted utricular otolithic membranes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine if otolithic membrane damage alone is sufficient to induce spurious vestibular signals, thus potentially eliciting VDAs and the vestibular dysfunction seen in patients with MD. METHODS: We use a previously developed numerical model to describe the nonlinear dynamics of an array of active, elastically coupled hair cells. We then reduce the coupling strength of a selected region of the membrane to model the effects of tissue damage. RESULTS: As we reduce the coupling strength, we observe large and abrupt spikes in hair bundle position. As bundle displacements from the equilibrium position have been shown to lead to depolarization of the hair-cell soma and hence trigger neural activity, this spontaneous activity could elicit false detection of a vestibular signal. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this numerical model suggest that otolithic membrane damage alone may be sufficient to induce VDAs and the vestibular dysfunction seen in patients with MD. Future experimental work is needed to confirm these results in vitro.
Accuracy of Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures of Physician-Authors Publishing in High-Impact U.S. Medical Journals: A Comparison of the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine

Objective: To assess the accuracy of self-reported financial conflict-of-interest (COI) disclosures in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) within the requisite disclosure period prior to article submission. Design: Cross-sectional investigation. Data Sources: Original clinical-trial research articles published in NEJM (n = 206) or JAMA (n = 188) from January 1 to December 31, 2017; self-reported COI disclosure forms submitted to NEJM or JAMA with the authors published articles; Open Payments website (from database inception; latest search: August 2019). Main outcome measures: Financial data reported to Open Payments from 2014 to 2016 (time period that included all subjects requisite disclosure windows) were compared to self-reported disclosure forms submitted to the journals. Payments were defined as those not associated with a research study or formal research funding. Payment types were categorized as disclosed, undisclosed, indeterminate, or unrelated. Results: Thirty-one articles from NEJM and 31 articles from JAMA met inclusion criteria. The physician-authors (n = 118) received a combined total of $7.48 million. Of the 106 authors (89.8%) who received payments, 86 (81.1%) received undisclosed payments. The top 23 most highly compensated received $6.32 million, of which $3.00 million (47.6%) was undisclosed. Disclosure rates were the equivalent between the top 23 and the entire sample. Conclusions: High payment amounts, as well as high proportions of undisclosed financial compensation, regardless of amount received, comprised potential COIs for two influential US medical journals. Further research is needed to explain why such high proportions of general payments were undisclosed and whether journals that rely on self-reported COI disclosure need to reconsider their policies.
Scholarly Learning as Vocation: A Study of Community and Broad Access Liberal Arts College Faculty

In this study we extended Neumann’s scholarly learning theory (2009) and Hansen’s theory on vocation (1994, 1995) to explore the scholarly learning of faculty members employed at institutional types not typically recognized for faculty work beyond teaching. Through interviews with 22 participants, we studied the content of and reasons for faculty engagement in scholarly learning. Our analysis found that the content of participants’ scholarly learning focused on expanding and constructing disciplinary knowledge whereas their reasons connected to a sense of obligation and personal fulfillment. Such findings confirmed Neumann’s suggestion that administrators should conceptualize the academic profession as a learning enterprise.
Improving Quality of Care and Life in Nursing Homes

For nursing home residents, quality of life is largely determined by the quality of the care they receive. Unfortunately, that quality is all too often inadequate. Current regulatory systems have failed in their efforts to assure high-quality care. Policy could vitally improve institutional quality of care in three ways: (1) increase efforts to derive a valid and reliable quality of care index that incorporates resident outcomes; (2) change the emphasis of resident care inspections; and (3) expand outside involvement. These elements are all essential and interdependent. They offer a myriad of creative opportunities for researchers, practitioners, and volunteers to make major contributions toward improving the quality of care, and, ultimately of life, for nursing home patients.
Geosmithia morbida, thousand cankers disease of black walnut pathogen, was found for the first time in southwestern Ohio.

Thousand cankers disease of walnut is a recently described disease caused by a newly described phytopathogenic fungus, Geosmithia morbida. G. morbida is now established in the Ohio landscape and ha...
Silylene‐Acetylene Polymers as Precursors to SiC Fibers

Results are presented on the synthesis and characterization of SiC-based fibers and bulk ceramics from silylene-acetylene polymers, (R,R-prime-SiCC)n, where R and R-prime are alkyl or aryl pendant groups. It was found that polymers with large cyclic pendant groups could be easily melt spun into continuous uniform 10-micron-diam fibers. Short sections of these fibers could be UV-crosslinked and pyrolyzed to ceramic fibers. Polymers with small or linear pendant groups were not melt-spinnable but were found to produce chars with better oxidative stability than did polymers with large cyclic pendant groups.
Eliminating the Abattoir Pen Lairages to Decrease the Prevalence of Salmonella in Cull Sows

The study objective, to determine the role of abattoir antemortem pens in preharvest Salmonella enterica contamination, was conducted over 4 sampling periods, February-April 2002. A total of 40 sows were selected for each period at the same collection point and transported to the abattoir. Twenty (20) were unloaded and sent directly to harvest and 20 held in antemortem pen for 2 h before harvest. Samples collected included ileocecal and subiliac lymph nodes, cecal and transverse colon contents, pre-rinse carcass sponge swabs for the right and left carcass sections and chopped meat blocks composited from these carcasses. The percentage of positive samples (all tissues) and cecal content from sows held in the antemortem pens (59%, 55 %, respectively) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to direct delivered (44%, 39 % respectively). This study demonstrates that normal antemortem holding practices contributed to increased Salmonella enterica contamination of the digestive tract.
Macrophage regulation of mitogen-induced blastogenesis: II. Mechanism of inhibition

The addition of normal or immunomodulator-activated peritoneal macrophages has been shown to inhibit the in vitro mitogen-induced blastogenic responses of both T-and B-lymphocytes. Serial determinations of the number of viable cells per culture indicated that neither activated nor normal peritoneal macrophages were cytotoxic for lymphocytes in culture. The presence of blast cells could not be demonstrated in cultures incubated with macrophages, suggesting that macrophages acted by inhibiting blast formation rather than by selectively killing blast cells. Supernatant materials from 24-hr peritoneal exudate cell cultures had relatively little effect on blastogenesis compared to a comparable number of viable cells. However, supernatant materials from cocultures of peritoneal exudate cells and normal spleen cells significantly inhibited blastogenesis in LPS-stimulated cultures but not in PHA-stimulated cultures. Inhibition of blastogenesis by macrophages was an early event and inhibition could be demonstrated when macrophages were present for only the first 24 hr of culture. Pretreatment of macrophages with enzymes prior to addition to cultures of spleen cells resulted in a decrease of inhibition of blastogenesis suggesting that some surface molecule on the macrophage was required for inhibition.
Sex effect on polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish: a synthesis.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulate in fish primarily via food intake, and therefore, PCBs serve as a chemical tracer for food consumption. Sex differences in PCB concentrations of fish have been attributed to the following three mechanisms: (i) females losing a substantial portion of their PCB body burden during spawning and consequently their PCB concentration is considerably reduced immediately after spawning; (ii) sex differences in habitat utilization leading to sex differences in the PCB concentrations of the prey; and (iii) sex differences in gross growth efficiency, which is defined as growth divided by the amount of food consumption needed to achieve that growth. Based on my analyses and synthesis, mechanisms (i) and (ii) operate in relatively few fish populations, but can lead to mature males having PCB concentrations two to three times higher than mature female PCB concentrations. In contrast, mechanism (iii) operates in all fish populations, but typically, mechanism (iii) results in relatively modest sex differences, with mature males only between 15 and 35% higher in PCB concentration than mature females. In summary, the study of sex differences in PCB concentrations of fish has led to insights into fish behaviour and fish physiology.
The course and outcome of pregnancy in women with nondystrophic myotonias

Introduction Nondystrophic myotonias (NDM) are muscle channelopathies characterized by clinical and electrical myotonia. Little is known about pregnancy in NDM. The aim of this work was to assess pregnancy outcomes in women with NDM. Methods In this investigation, we utilized a cross-sectional approach and obtained questionnaire data and medical record review information. Pregnancy outcomes were compared with U.S. national data. Results Twenty-five women completed the study. There were 63 pregnancies with 53 live births, 8 miscarriages, 4 terminations, and 1 stillbirth. The infertility rate was 28% (above the U.S. average). Fetal distress was reported in 11.7% (U.S. average 3.6%) of the patients. NDM symptoms worsened in 62% of pregnancies. In those who worsened, symptoms usually resolved completely (66%) or partially (32%) after delivery in 2 days to 12 months, the majority (76%) within 3 months. Conclusions Most pregnancy outcomes were favorable. NDM worsened in nearly two-thirds of pregnancies, but usually improved shortly after delivery. Incidences of infertility and fetal distress were higher than overall U.S. rates. Muscle Nerve 52: 1013–1015, 2015
Use of Medication Reminders in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often have difficulties adhering to their medical treatment plans. We determined the characteristics of patients with RA who used reminders and the association between reminders and adherence. A total of 201 patients with RA were asked the frequency of reminders use such as pill containers, calendars, or diaries. Patients completed self-reported adherence questionnaires, and their disease activity and functional ability were measured. Sixty-eight patients (34 %) reported using a reminder. Factors associated with reminder use were older age (yes-mean age 54 vs no-mean age 49, p = 0.004), race (Whites—54 % vs Blacks—30 % vs Hispanics—26 %, p = 0.003), and sex (males—50 % vs females 28 %, p = 0.005). Working patients were less likely to use reminders (employed—21 % vs unemployed—43 %, p = 0.006). Use of calendars was associated with adherence while away from home (ρ = 0.16, p = 0.03), when busy (ρ = 0.16, p = 0.03), and use of any reminder was associated with adherence when running out of pills (ρ = 0.15, p = 0.04). The use of calendar reminders was associated with fewer tender joints (ρ = −0.17, p = 0.02). Few patients with RA used reminders, and whites, males and patients of increasing age were most likely to use reminders. Our findings show that reminders can assist patients with RA in taking medications, particularly when they are most prone to forgetting, such as when they are away from home or busy. Providers should encourage using reminders as a low-cost aid to enhance adherence.
Elevation and Subsidence

FOR several months past articles and letters have appeared in NATURE on the subject of subsidence and elevation of the earth's crust by addition and removal of weight. In this connection also much has been said in regard to the history of the idea. I wish therefore to draw attention to the fact that in 1859 I read a paper before the American Association for the Advancement of Science on the subject of the “Formation of Continents and Ocean Basins,” in which, after giving the views of Herschell and Airy, I bring out this idea very prominently, and illustrate it by many diagrams. An abstract of this paper, by Sterry Hunt, was publi hed in the Canadian Naturalist, vol. iv., 1859, p. 293, and reference to it will be found in the “Royal Society Catalogue,” vol. iii. p. 919.
Nogo-66 Receptor Prevents Raphespinal and Rubrospinal Axon Regeneration and Limits Functional Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury

Axon regeneration after injury to the adult mammalian CNS is limited in part by three inhibitory proteins in CNS myelin: Nogo-A, MAG, and OMgp. All three of these proteins bind to a Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) to inhibit axonal outgrowth in vitro. To explore the necessity of NgR for responses to myelin inhibitors and for restriction of axonal growth in the adult CNS, we generated ngr(-/-) mice. Mice lacking NgR are viable but display hypoactivity and motor impairment. DRG neurons lacking NgR do not bind Nogo-66, and their growth cones are not collapsed by Nogo-66. Recovery of motor function after dorsal hemisection or complete transection of the spinal cord is improved in the ngr(-/-) mice. While corticospinal fibers do not regenerate in mice lacking NgR, regeneration of some raphespinal and rubrospinal fibers does occur. Thus, NgR is partially responsible for limiting the regeneration of certain fiber systems in the adult CNS.
Teacher Adjustment to Technology: Overcoming Cultural Mindsets

Historically, educational environments have been strongholds of incorporating new technologies into their classrooms. Over the years, classroom technology has become more complex and sophisticated ...
Comparative analysis of neurulation: First impressions do not count

The central nervous system of vertebrate embryos originates from the neural tube (NT), a simple epithelium surrounding a central lumen. The mechanisms underlying the shaping of the NT, a process otherwise known as neurulation, have been the focus of numerous studies, using a variety of model systems. Yet, it remains unclear to what extent neurulation is conserved across vertebrates. This review provides a comparison between modes of neurulation, with a focus on cellular mechanisms. An emerging concept is that cell behaviors reveal similarities between modes of neurulation that cannot be predicted from morphological comparisons.
A simple algorithm for designing group sequential clinical trials.

Summary. This article describes a simple algorithm for calculating probabilities associated with group sequential trials. This allows the choice of boundaries that may not be among those implemented in available software.
Effects of teacher assistance teams on special education referrals in elementary schools.

School-based problem-solving teams recently have received much attention as a possible support for children who are at risk for school failure and for over-referral to special education. However, no controlled studies of the effects of such teams on numbers of referrals for special education or for proportion of appropriate referrals for special education have been conducted. The lack of adequate research concerning school-based problem-solving teams, coupled with the widespread promotion of their use, suggests that further study of such teams is important. In this study, we investigated the effect of one team model, Teacher Assistance Teams, on special education referrals in elementary schools of a large urban district. To address limitations of previous research, schools with such teams were compared with those without across several years of implementation. Analysis yielded a significant decrease in referrals in both groups of schools but no significant differences between groups. These findings may be...
An investigation of the co-evolutionary relationships between onchobothriid tapeworms and their elasmobranch hosts.

There is general consensus that the living elasmobranchs comprise a monophyletic taxon. There is evidence that, among tetraphyllidean tapeworms, the approximately 201 hooked species (Onchobothriidae) may also comprise a monophyletic group. Determinations of host specificity are contingent upon correct specific identifications. Since 1960, over 200 new elasmobranch species and over 100 new onchobothriid species have been described. Some confidence can be placed in host and parasite identifications of recent studies, but specific identifications provided in older literature in many cases are suspect. There is some consensus among published works on the phylogenetic relationships among elasmobranchs. Phylogenetic relationships among onchobothriids remain largely unresolved. Elasmobranchs have been poorly sampled for onchobothriids; records exist for approximately 20% of the 911 species and approximately 44% of the 170 elasmobranch genera. Onchobothriids are remarkably host specific, exhibiting essentially oioxenous specificity for their definitive hosts. Multiple onchobothriid species commonly parasitise the same host species; in some cases these are congeners, in other cases these are members of two different onchobothriid genera. There is substantial incongruence between available host and parasite phylogenies. For example, Acanthobothrium is by far the most ubiquitous onchobothriid genus, parasitising almost all orders of elasmobranchs known to host onchobothriids, yet, there is no evidence of major clades of Acanthobothrium corresponding to postulated major subgroupings of elasmobranchs (e.g. Galea and Squalea or sharks and rays). Potamotrygonocestus appears to be among the most basal onchobothriid groups, yet it parasitises one of the most derived elasmobranch groups (the freshwater stingray genus Potamotrygon). It appears that congeners parasitising the same host species are not necessarily each other's closest relatives. At this point the preliminary and limited available data suggest that, at least in this system, strict host specificity is not necessarily indicative of strict co-evolution. This study was extremely limited by the lack of available robust phylogenies for onchobothriids and elasmobranchs.
Mechanism of fracture in glassy polymers. I. Fracture surfaces in polymethyl methacrylate

The interference colors on poly(methyl methacrylate) fracture surfaces have been shown to arise from a layer of craze material. The order of interference can be determined in various ways for most areas on the fracture surface and craze layer thicknesses determined. Layer thickness is a function of fracture velocity; at zero velocity where the Griffith criterion may be applied with the least error an average surface layer thickness of 6800 A. is calculated. The plastic work of this amount of craze formation corresponds to 13–20% of the nominal Griffith energy.
Spectrophotometric determination of cerium with sulphanilic acid

In the presence of other rare earths, cerium(IV) can be determined spectrophotometrically by its reaction with sulphanilic acid with which it produces a red colour. Solutions containing 28-210 ppm of cerium absorb at 495 mmicro according to Beer's law. Other rare earths, except neodymium, and many common ions do not interfere. Strong oxidising agents and neodymium in greater than fifty times the concentration of cerium interfere with this method. The precision depends on the control of pH and time. Cerium alloys have been analysed by this method and the results are compared with those obtained by another spectrophotometric method.
A planned dietary in the treatment of addison’s disease with desoxycorticosterone acetate

Six diets containing calculated amounts of sodium have been detailed, and their usefulness in the management of patients with Addison’s disease described. Menus have been appended for convenience in giving these diets in liquid, soft, and solid forms.
Improving surgical antibiotic prophylaxis timing at a small community hospital

INTRODUCTION: In November 2003, a six sigma quality improvement team was initiated to improve surgical prophylactic antibiotic timing from the yearly rate of 71% at this 138-bed community hospital located in southwestern Illinois and a member of a broader healthcare system. METHODS: From January 2003 to August 2004, data were prospectively collected for hip and knee arthroplasty, colon resection, and hysterectomy (n = 393). Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) definitions were used for antibiotic on-time delivery ( RESULTS: Prior to the IVP process, 199/277 (72%) cases received antibiotics on time, 50 (19%) were early (>60 minutes before incision), 19 (7%) were after the incision, and 9 (3%) were not given. After IVP, 98/116 (84%) received on-time antibiotics, 10 (9%) were early, 5 (4%) were late, and 3 (3%) were not given, results which were significantly better (p = 0.009). Before the IVP process, the mean time of antibiotic delivery was 33 minutes preoperatively (SD = 120 minutes); after IVP the mean was 22 minutes (SD = 67 minutes). Knee and hip arthoplasty patients were 2.7 times more likely (CI = 1.4–5.1) than other surgical patients to receive antibiotics on time prior to IVP. After IVP, there was no difference in timeliness between the surgical procedures. The IVP process was identified when evaluating the data of the surgeons with timely delivery. Since automatic substitution began in June 2004, on-time delivery has been 48/53 (90%) (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The six sigma team improved the timeliness of prophylactic antibiotics at the hospital. IVP on induction with automatic substitution were successful interventions. Current evaluation of each untimely case helps identify process failures. Continued efforts are needed to achieve 100% compliance.
Measuring syntactic complexity in L2 pragmatic production: Investigating relationships among pragmatics, grammar, and proficiency

Abstract The study examines relationships among pragmatics, grammar, and proficiency by comparing the syntactic complexity of ESL learners' written pragmatic production across two independent criterion measures: proficiency and pragmatic performance. Participants were 40 ESL learners who completed pragmatic assessment tasks. Pragmatic competence was assessed by three trained raters using task-dependent analytical rating criteria. Syntactic complexity was assessed using three measures: (a) global complexity from mean length of T-unit, (b) phrasal-level complexity from mean length of clause, and (c) subordination complexity from mean number of clauses per T-unit. The results showed that learners did not possess concomitant written pragmatic competence according to their proficiency levels. The global complexity measure was general enough to differentiate levels in both proficiency and pragmatic performance, compared to phrasal-level and subordination complexity. Yet, the magnitudes of the three complexity measures differences between pragmatic performance levels were more noticeable, compared to those between proficiency levels. Except for phrasal-level complexity, learners' pragmatic performances were more highly correlated with syntactic complexity of their pragmatic production than their proficiency levels. Pragmatically advanced learners produced longer utterances, more complex subclausal structures at the phrasal level, and more subordination, suggesting the crucial roles played by syntactically complex structures in expressing pragmatic functions.
Involvement of the central noradrenergic system in opioid modulation of luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion in the pig.

The role of norepinephrine (NE) in the progesterone (P)-dependent endogenous opioid peptide (EOP) suppression of LH and prolactin (PRL) secretion in the pig was studied. Fifteen ovariectomized gilts treated with P (0.85 mg/kg b.w. i.m.) twice daily for 10 days were assigned, 5 gilts each, to the following treatment groups: 1) control, 2) AIMAX (N-methyl-N1[1-methyl-2-propenyl]1,2 hydrazinedicarbothioamide), and 3) anti-GnRH serum. On day 4 of P treatment, AIMAX (125 mg per 1.8 kg feed/day), previously shown to be an NE synthesis inhibitor, was fed daily for 7 days to group 2. On the last day of P treatment, group 3 gilts received an i.v. injection of anti-GnRH serum at 0800 h while Group 1 animals received an i.v. injection of serum collected from hypophysectomized gilts. Jugular blood samples were collected every 15 min for 9 h starting at 1000 h. All gilts received two injections of naloxone (NAL; 1 mg/kg b.w., i.v.) at 1400 h and 1600 h and an injection of a GnRH analogue (D-[Ala6-desGly-NH10]-ethylamide; 5 micrograms/pig, i.v.) at 1800 h. Pretreatment serum LH concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in AIMAX-treated gilts (0.19 +/- 0.09 ng/ml) than in controls (0.53 +/- 0.09 ng/ml), but were similar to those in GnRH antiserum-treated gilts (0.32 +/- 0.09 ng/ml). NAL increased (p < 0.001) serum LH concentrations in control animals and averaged 1.6 +/- 0.2 ng/ml the first h. AIMAX and anti-GnRH serum blocked the NAL-induced LH secretion. Serum PRL concentrations averaged 6.0 +/- 0.1 ng/ml for all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Shrimp Antimicrobial Testing. I. In Vitro Susceptibility of Thirteen Gram‐Negative Bacteria to Twelve Antimicrobials

Abstract Standard minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) studies were conducted in vitro on eleven prospective antimicrobials and one reference antimicrobial. The compounds were tested against a standardized battery of 13 gram-negative bacterial isolates associated with shrimp disease. Two additional bacterial organisms not associated with shrimp, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were also tested as system controls. The compounds tested were chloramphenicol (reference), enrofloxacin, erythromycin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline, paromomycin, four experimental fluoroquinolines (PD124816, PD127391, PD131628, PD132133), Romet-30®, and Sarafin®. All compounds, with the possible exception of paromomycin, had significantly better overall MIC ranges than did chloramphenicol.
Breaking the Silence on Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a major public health problem in the United States. In this commentary, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services address current challenges and opportuniti...
On the mechanism of the chromate reduction by glutathione: ESR evidence for the glutathionyl radical and an isolable Cr(V) intermediate

With a view of elucidating the role of glutathione (GSH) in the biochemical pathways of the chromate-exposure related carcinogenesis, we carried out electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic investigations of the chromate-GSH redox reactions. The ESR measurements, employing spin-traps, provide evidence for the involvement of the glutathione (GS) radical, as well as an isolable Cr(V)-glutathione intermediate. These results indicate a new mechanism for the reduction of chromate by GSH in in vitro cellular environment and help understand the (unexpected) increase in Cr(VI)-induced DNA strand breaks at elevated GSH levels.
Middle school choreography class: two parallel but different worlds

This research explored how middle school students construct meaning from their dance‐making experiences in comparison to the meaning attached to these experiences by an outside observer, the researcher. An interpretive methodology was used to study two nine‐week‐long dance classes taught at a private K‐12 school. Eleven students enrolled in the dance classes consented to participate in this study. The same dance teacher was the instructor for both classes. Observations were recorded throughout the duration of the dance classes. The students also answered the same questions in the form of two questionnaires concerning their feelings about making a dance. In addition, the teacher’s lesson plans were examined as they related to the choreographic process. Two themes emerged from this study. The first one dealt with involvement in the dance‐making process, and the second one was based on student communications. The meanings attached to each theme differed, however, with respect to the observations of the resea...
Evaluation of the Human Subject's Ability to Differentiate Intensity of Forces Applied to the Maxillary Central Incisors

Minimal detectable differences between two centered forces applied to maxillary central incisors were determined for 50 subjects. The forces involved were 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 gm; most accurate subjective discrimination was between the 50- and 500-gm centered forces. Incisally and labially directed forces yielded nearly identical results.
Brain-Regulated Metabolic Suppression during Hibernation: A Neuroprotective Mechanism for Perinatal Hypoxia–Ischemia

Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the perinatal period is a major cause of chronic disability and acute mortality in newborns. Despite numerous therapeutic strategies that reduce hypoxia-ischemia-induced damage in different experimental animal models, most of them have failed to translate to clinical therapies. This challenge calls for an urgent need to explore novel approaches to develop effective therapies for the clinical management of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia brain injury. This review focuses on studies that investigate neuroprotective related events during mammalian hibernation, characterized by dramatic reductions in several parameters including body temperature, oxygen consumption and heart rate, such that it is difficult to tell if the hibernating animal is dead or alive. The first part of this article reviews the mechanisms of metabolic suppression related events during hibernation. In the second part, hypoxic-ischemic events in the perinatal brain are discussed, and in turn, contrasted with brains experiencing metabolic suppression during mammalian hibernation. In the last part of this article, the diverse neuroprotective adaptations of hibernators and the mechanisms that might be involved in mammalian hibernation, and how they could in turn, contribute to neurprotection during perinatal hypoxia-ischemia related injuries are discussed. This article appraises the novel idea that knowledge of the central mechanisms involved in the regulatory metabolic suppression, during which; hibernators switch themselves off without dissolving their brains could represent brain neuroprotective strategy for the clinical management of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia brain injuries in newborns.