cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase reduces motoneuron death due to spinal root avulsion

Our previous studies have shown that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) can be induced in motoneurons after spinal root avulsion lesion and the lesion-induced NOS is coincident with the death of the injured neurons. The present study examined whether the death of injured motoneurons can be prevented by inhibition of NOS. Nitroarginine, a specific inhibitor of NOS, was injected into adult rats which underwent spinal root avulsion. At a dose of 50 mg/kg/day, nitroarginine significantly inhibited the activity of lesion-induced NOS and significantly reduced the death of motoneurons due to spinal root avulsion. Results of the present study indicate that NO, produced by lesion-induced NOS, may be involved in and responsible for the neuronal death after traumatic injury.
Optimizing preventive service of software products

The implementer of a large, complex software system cannot make it completely defect free, so he must normally provide fixes for defects found after the code is put into service. A system user may do preventive service by installing these fixes before the defects cause him problems. Preventive service can benefit both the software developer and the software user to the extent that it reduces the number of operational problems caused by software errors, but it requires the expenditure of the resources required to prepare, disseminate, and install fixes; and it can be the cause of additional software problems caused by design errors introduced into the code by fixes. The benefit from removing a given defect depends on how many problems it would otherwise cause. Benefits may be estimated by modeling problem occurrence as a random process in execution time governed by a distribution of characteristic rates. It is found that most of the benefit to be realized by preventive service comes from removing a relatively small number of high-rate defects that are found early in the service life of the code. For the typical user corrective service would seem preferable to preventive service as a way of dealing with most defects found after code has had some hundreds of months of usage.
The effect of cognitive demands and perceived quality of work life on human performance in manufacturing environments.

Abstract The main objective of this study was to test the research question that human performance in manufacturing environments depends on the cognitive demands of the operator and the perceived quality of work life attributes. The second research question was that this relationship is related to the operator's specific task and time exposure. Two manufacturing companies, with a combined population of seventy-four (74) multi-skilled, cross-trained workers who fabricated and assembled mechanical and electrical equipment, participated in an eight month, four-wave pseudopanel study. Structural equation modeling and invariance analysis techniques were conducted on the data collected during cognitive task analysis and the administration of questionnaires. Human performance was indicated to be a causal result of the combined, and uncorrelated, effect of cognitive demands and quality of work attributes experienced by workers. This causal relationship was found to be dependent on the context of, but not necessarily the time exposed to, the particular task the operator was involved with. Relevance to industry An implication of this study is that an human operator's perceived quality of work life attributes may be effectively paired with the cognitive demand associated with a particular manufacturing task in order to optimize the operator's human performance.
The Floating Ability of Women

(1937). The Floating Ability of Women. Research Quarterly. American Physical Education Association: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 19-27.
Leaching of Retorted Oil Shale: Assessing the Toxicity to Colorado Squawfish, Fathead Minnows, and Two Food-Chain Organisms

Abstract Development of a large shale-oil industry in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming would result in disposal of large volumes of retorted shale. Water percolating through these wastes could leach toxicants into surface waters of the upper Colorado River system. Leachate from field lysimeters containing shale that had gone through the Paraho retorting process 6 years before had high concentrations of K, Li, Mg, Mo, Na, SO 4, and NO 3. Total concentrations of organics in leachate were low; nitrogen-containing aromatic hydrocarbons approximated background concentrations. In 96-h exposures, undiluted leachate was not toxic to fathead minnows Pimephales promelas or Colorado squawfish Ptychocheilus lucius, and was only slightly toxic to the mayfly Hexagenia bilineata and to Daphnia magna. In 30-d exposures to different concentrations of the leachate, a concentration of 6:94 (percent leachate:percent dilution water) caused reduced growth of fathead minnows and reduced survival of mayflies. The highest test concent...
Sesquiterpene lactones from Calea leptocephala

Abstract Chemical analysis of Calea megacephala yielded two new sesquiterpene lactones. The new compounds represent a heliangolide, desacylisovalerylheliangine, and the ternifolin derivative 8β-methacryloyloxyternifolin. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.
Filaments of the Ure2p prion protein have a cross-β core structure

Abstract Formation of filaments by the Ure2 protein constitutes the molecular mechanism of the [URE3] prion in yeast. According to the “amyloid backbone” model, the N-terminal asparagine-rich domains of Ure2p polymerize to form an amyloid core fibril that is surrounded by C-terminal domains in their native conformation. Protease resistance and Congo Red binding as well as β-sheet content detected by spectroscopy—all markers for amyloid—have supported this model, as has the close resemblance between 40 A N-domain fibrils and the fibrillar core of intact Ure2p filaments visualized by cryo-electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Here, we present electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction data from filaments of Ure2p, of N-domains alone, of fragments thereof, and of an N-domain-containing fusion protein that demonstrate in each case the 4.7 A reflection that is typical for cross-β structure and highly indicative of amyloid. This reflection was observed for specimens prepared by air-drying with and without sucrose embedding. To confirm that the corresponding structure is not an artifact of air-drying, the reflection was also demonstrated for specimens preserved in vitreous ice. Local area electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction from partially aligned specimens showed that the 4.7 A reflection is meridional and therefore the underlying structure is cross-β.
Care, Community, and Context in a Teacher Education Classroom.

(1998). Care, community, and context in a teacher education classroom. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 37, Preparing Teachers for Cultural Diversity, pp. 105-113.
The marginalization of astrology among Dutch astronomers in the first half of the 17th century

In the first half of the 17th century, Dutch astronomers rapidly abandoned the practice of astrology. By the second half of the century, no trace of it was left in Dutch academic discourse. This ab...
Self-rotation number using the turning angle

Abstract The self-rotation number, as defined by Peckham, is the rotation rate of the image of a point about itself. Here we use the notion of “turning angle” to give a simplified algorithm to compute the self-rotation number for maps that “avoid an angle”. We show that the orientation preserving Henon map does avoid an angle. Moreover, the self-rotation number for orbits of the Henon map can be computed once and for all at the anti-integrable limit by a simple algorithm depending upon the symbol sequence for the orbit.
Should Medicare Reimburse Providers for Weight Loss Interventions

This issue of the American Psychologist (April 2007) includes two reviews of the literature on the effects of behavioral programs to reduce body weight. One review (T. Mann et al., 2007) concentrates on dietary interventions and finds little evidence that diets are of benefit. The second review (L. H. Powell, J. E. Calvin III, & J. E. Calvin Jr., 2007) concentrates on multicomponent interventions and reports some significant achievements of behavioral interventions. Although the reviews come to different conclusions about the value of supporting weight loss interventions, there appears to be agreement that diet alone results in little or no long-term benefit. Evidence-based multicomponent behavioral interventions or interventions that combine behavioral with medical or surgical treatments may offer better chances of long-term weight control. Evidence-based studies are needed to inform policy on provider reimbursement for weight loss programs.
"Shaping" of frequency discrimination performance using only intrinsic reinforcement.

This experiment compared two modes of practice at a difficult frequency discrimination, i.e., one in which the frequency difference was initially correctly discriminated only 65% of the trials in a two-alternative forced-choice task. One group of Ss (N = 13) was assigned to a progressive-practice group, in which the frequency difference to be discriminated was progressivley changed from a large, easy, difference to the difficult, small, difference. The other group of Ss (N = 13) received the same amount of practice as the first, but all at the difficult discrimination. Only the progressive-practice group improved their discrimination performance. Since no feedback was given, the effect of progressive practice is interpreted as "shaping" Ss' attentional response by virtue of the information provided by the successively more difficult discriminations. This "shaping" process is potentially available as a learning mechanism for other fine discriminations.
The impact of a college counseling program on economically disadvantaged gifted students and their subsequent college adjustment

The impact of a college and career counseling program on economically disadvantaged gifted students and their subsequent college adjustment was assessed. Fifty‐five students from public high schools in a major urban school district in the midwest were compared to a group of economically advantaged students who participated in a special summer program for high school students at a private midwestern university. Results indicate that both before and after the program, the groups were similar with respect to the basis for their college choices, motivation to attend college, and career readiness. The economically disadvantaged students changed their plans to finance college as a result of the program and expected college to be significantly more lonely. A three‐year follow‐up revealed that economically disadvantaged gifted students were more likely to enroll at in‐state colleges, to experience college as significantly more boring, dull, and snobbish, and to have more difficulty adjusting socially and forming ...
Surface diffusion in monolayers

Abstract The exact solution of the surface diffusion equation, which includes both the effects of adsorption and desorption and the diffusion in the bulk, has been obtained and compared to the predictions of a simplified model first proposed by Sakata and Berg. For values of the physical parameters in the range of interest, the simplified model is shown to lead to acceptable predictions. Experimental techniques appropriate for the measurement of the surface diffusion coefficient have been developed and the surface diffusion coefficient for stearic acid on water has been measured. It is found to be no larger than the magnitude of the bulk diffusion coefficient and probably somewhat smaller. Attempts to repeat these same measurements for myristic acid failed because of the rapid rate of evaporation of this substance from a monolayer at an air-water interface.
Integrating remote invocation and distributed shared state

Summary form only given. Most distributed applications require, at least conceptually, some sort of shared state: information that is nonstatic but mostly read, and needed at more than one site. At the same time, RPC-based systems such as Sun RPC, Java RMl, CORBA, and .NET have become the de facto standards by which distributed applications communicate. As a result, shared state tends to be implemented either through the redundant transmission of deep-copy RPC parameters or through ad-hoc, application-specific caching and coherence protocols. The former option can waste large amounts of bandwidth; the latter significantly complicates program design and maintenance. To overcome these problems, we propose a distributed middleware system that works seamlessly with RPC-based systems, providing them with a global, persistent store that can be accessed using ordinary reads and writes. Relaxed coherence models and aggressive protocol optimizations reduce the bandwidth required to maintain shared state. Integrated support for transactions allows a chain of RPC calls to update shared state atomically. We focus on the implementation challenges involved in combining RPC with shared state and transactions. In particular, we describe a transaction metadata table that allows processes inside a transaction to share data invisible to other processes and to exchange data modifications efficiently. Using microbenchmarks and a large-scale datamining application, we demonstrate how the integration of RPC, transactions, and shared state facilitates the rapid development of robust, maintainable code.
TOWARD ANALYSIS‐AIDED MEDIATION OF OCEAN DISPOSAL SITE‐SELECTION CONTROVERSIES: AN APPLICATION OF JUDGMENT ANALYSIS

The field of judgment and decisionmaking research provides a theoretical framework and analytical tools that may be valuable in facilitating the resolution of environmental conflict through mediation. This paper provides an overview of the concepts, tools and findings of this research area, and illustrates how they might be used to build a lvbrieffl for aiding the mediation of a controversy regarding sludge disposal in the New York Bight.
Intra-articular entrapment of the medial collateral ligament: radiographic and MRI findings.

Displacement of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) into the medial knee joint is an extremely rare finding associated with MCL tears, and is easily diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging. A case of intra-articular interposition of the MCL during a severe knee injury is presented. A radiolucent ”fat stripe” sign and adjacent skin dimpling on radiographs may be relatively specific indicators of this injury.
Statistical analysis of word-initial /k/ and /t/ produced by normal and phonologically disordered children

The acoustic characteristics of voiceless velar and alveolar stop consonants were investigated for normally articulating and phonologically disordered children using spectral moments. All the disordered children were perceived to produce /t/ for /k/, with /k/ being absent from their phonetic inventories. Approximately 82% of the normally articulating children's consonants were classified correctly by discriminant function analysis, on the basis of the mean (first moment), skewness (third moment) and kurtosis (fourth moment) derived from the first 40 ms of the VOT interval. When the discriminant function developed for the normally articulating children was applied to the speech of the phonologically disordered group of children, no distinction was made between the velar and alveolar stops. Application of the model to the speech of individual children in the disordered group revealed that one child produced distinct markings to the velar-alveolar contrast. Variability measures of target /t/ and /k/ utteranc...
A Strength Model of Probability Judgments for Tournaments

Abstract Fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) assigned probability judgments to the outcomes of upcoming NBA games, and rated the strength of each team involved. The probability judgments obtained from these “expert” subjects exhibited high intersubject agreement and also corresponded closely to the eventual game outcomes. A simple model that associates a single strength value with each team accurately accounted for the probability judgments and their relationship to the ratings of team strength. The results show that, in this domain at least, probability judgments can be derived from direct assessments of strength which make no reference to chance or uncertainty.
Regulated organ market: reality versus rhetoric.

While a market in human organs has many broader ramifications (i.e., not only for organ sellers, but also for their families and communities, as well as for altruistic donation, medical profession,...
Altered reactivity of resistance vasculature contributes to hypertension in elastin insufficiency.

Elastin (Eln) insufficiency in mice and humans is associated with hypertension and altered structure and mechanical properties of large arteries. However, it is not known to what extent functional ...
Perfectionism and Mindfulness: Effectiveness of a Bibliotherapy Intervention

This study examined the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based bibliotherapy intervention to reduce perfectionism and associated distress. Sixty-three individuals were randomly assigned to the intervention or wait-list control group. The intervention group completed measures of perfectionism, perceived stress, affect, and mindfulness before receiving and reading the self-help book over the course of 6 weeks and then completing the measures again. They also completed the measures 6 weeks following the conclusion of the intervention. The wait-list control group completed the same measures 6 weeks apart. Compared to the wait-list control group, the intervention group made greater gains over time on measures of perfectionism and perceived stress. Both groups evidenced decreased negative affect. Among the intervention group, all gains were maintained at follow-up, along with additional decreases in negative affect. The intervention evidenced fidelity to its theoretical approach via increases in levels of mindfulness across time. Results have implications for future investigations of mindfulness-based self-help interventions and the treatment of perfectionism and associated distress via mindfulness approaches.
Sequence of Hashes Compression in Data De-duplication

Data de-duplication is a simple compression method, popular in storage archival and backup that consists in partitioning large data objects (files) into smaller parts (named chunks), and replacing the chunks for the purpose of communication or storage by their ID, generally a cryptographic hash like SHA-1 of the chunk data [A. Muthitacharoen et al., 2001], [D.R. Bobbarjung et al., 2006]. The compression ratio achieved by de-duplication can be improved by (1) increasing the likelihood of matching the new chunks against the dictionary (archived) chunks and/or (2) compressing the list of hashes (indexes, of 20 bytes each). Using smaller chunk sizes increases the chance of matching but many more hashes will be generated. The chunks repository is a hash table where each entry stores the SHA-1 value of the chunk and the chunk data. In addition, with each newly created entry we store a chronological pointer linking it with the next new entry. When the hashes produced by the chunker follow the chronological pointers we encode them as a sequence of hashes by specifying the first hash in the sequence and the length of the sequence or when the same hash is generated repeatedly we encode it as a run of hashes by specifying its value and the number of repeated occurrences. The usefulness of the chronological pointers is derived from the insight that when archiving successive versions of a file or set of files, large contiguous areas remain unchanged between these versions and the chronological pointers are predictors of this contiguity. If the contiguity is broken there is a small loss in the hash sequence compression.
Materialism and Idealism in Organizational Research

Organization theory needs a framework that can elucidate the technological, economic, political and symbolic forces that are at work in and on organizations. Much organizational research can be seen as materialist, by virtue of its granting primary causal efficacy to technical—economic forces, or idealist by virtue of privileging political—symbolic forces. The conflict between materialism and ideal ism has often been inflated and/or obscured by conceptual strategies of specializa tion, eclecticism and reductionism. A metatheoretical approach to materialism and idealism is presented that clarifies the fundamental nature of the approaches and distinguishes areas of possible reconciliation from areas of irreducible conflict.
The role of denitrification in nitrogen removal and carbon mineralization in Mid-Atlantic Bight sediments

Benthic chambers were used to measure in situ fluxes of dissolved gases (N2 ,O 2, and N2O) and inorganic nutrients (NO3 ,N H 4 , and PO4� ) in continental shelf sediments of the Mid-Atlantic Bight during spring through autumn (May– November). Denitrification was determined by the rate of increase in N2 relative to Ar, measured using membrane-inlet mass spectrometry. Although sediments were a source of recycled (mineralized) inorganic nitrogen (primarily as NH4 ) and phosphorus, they only supplied E1% of total nitrogen required by water column primary production. Overall, sediments were a net sink for total nitrogen due to denitrification. On average denitrification removed 1.7 mmol N m � 2 d � 1 and was related to sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), suggesting that nitrogen regenerated from organic matter in the sediment and subsequently nitrified was an important nitrate source for benthic denitrifying bacteria. Coupled nitrification–denitrification was estimated to support 91–100% of total denitrification in LEO-15 sediments. Denitrification in these sediments was an important pathway for carbon mineralization, on average accounting for 13% of total mineralization (2–62%). Denitrification was not related to the organic content of the sediment suggesting that quality of organic matter, rather than simply quantity, was important in controlling denitrification in continental shelf sediments. Denitrification, SOC, and nutrient fluxes showed no strong seasonal patterns. The pattern of N2O flux was related to bottom water N2O concentration. Nitrous oxide supersaturation during the summer resulted in flux into sediments, whereas near equilibrium N2O concentrations during the spring and autumn resulted in flux out of sediments. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Fate of the mammalian cranial neural crest during tooth and mandibular morphogenesis

Neural crest cells are multipotential stem cells that contribute extensively to vertebrate development and give rise to various cell and tissue types. Determination of the fate of mammalian neural crest has been inhibited by the lack of appropriate markers. Here, we make use of a two-component genetic system for indelibly marking the progeny of the cranial neural crest during tooth and mandible development. In the first mouse line, Cre recombinase is expressed under the control of the Wnt1 promoter as a transgene. Significantly, Wnt1 transgene expression is limited to the migrating neural crest cells that are derived from the dorsal CNS. The second mouse line, the ROSA26 conditional reporter (R26R), serves as a substrate for the Cre-mediated recombination. Using this two-component genetic system, we have systematically followed the migration and differentiation of the cranial neural crest (CNC) cells from E9.5 to 6 weeks after birth. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that CNC cells contribute to the formation of condensed dental mesenchyme, dental papilla, odontoblasts, dentine matrix, pulp, cementum, periodontal ligaments, chondrocytes in Meckel's cartilage, mandible, the articulating disc of temporomandibular joint and branchial arch nerve ganglia. More importantly, there is a dynamic distribution of CNC- and non-CNC-derived cells during tooth and mandibular morphogenesis. These results are a first step towards a comprehensive understanding of neural crest cell migration and differentiation during mammalian craniofacial development. Furthermore, this transgenic model also provides a new tool for cell lineage analysis and genetic manipulation of neural-crest-derived components in normal and abnormal embryogenesis.
The making of a career: Joseph Toynbee's first steps in otology.

Joseph Toynbee (1815–1866) is considered one of the fathers of modern otology. He spent his whole life in London, studying and describing the anatomy and pathology of the main diseases of the ear. This paper presents some of the motivations behind Toynbee's decision to specialise in otology, by examining several of his letters published under the signature ‘J. T.’ in The Lancet between 1838 and 1839. Frustrated by the weakened state of aural surgery in Britain, and by the popularity of several ‘quacks aurists’ (including John Harrison Curtis, William Wright and Alexander Turnbull), Toynbee insisted that the study of the ear needed to distance itself from quackery and rebuild itself upon a scientific foundation. This paper evaluates several exchanges between Toynbee and Curtis, Wright and Turnbull.
A Novel Intronic cis Element, ISE/ISS-3, Regulates Rat Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 Splicing through Activation of an Upstream Exon and Repression of a Downstream Exon Containing a Noncanonical Branch Point Sequence

Mutually exclusive splicing of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) exons IIIb and IIIc yields two receptor isoforms, FGFR2-IIIb and -IIIc, with distinctly different ligand binding properties. Several RNA cis elements in the intron (intron 8) separating these exons have been described that are required for splicing regulation. Using a heterologous splicing reporter, we have identified a new regulatory element in this intron that confers cell-type-specific inclusion of an unrelated exon that mirrors its ability to promote cell-type-specific inclusion of exon IIIb. This element promoted inclusion of exon IIIb while at the same time silencing exon IIIc inclusion in cells expressing FGFR2-IIIb; hence, we have termed this element ISE/ISS-3 (for "intronic splicing enhancer-intronic splicing silencer 3"). Silencing of exon IIIc splicing by ISE/ISS-3 was shown to require a branch point sequence (BPS) using G as the primary branch nucleotide. Replacing a consensus BPS with A as the primary branch nucleotide resulted in constitutive splicing of exon IIIc. Our results suggest that the branch point sequence constitutes an important component that can contribute to the efficiency of exon definition of alternatively spliced cassette exons. Noncanonical branch points may thus facilitate cell-type-specific silencing of regulated exons by flanking cis elements.
Fundamental biochemical and immunological aspects of prostatic acid phosphatase

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) was purified from human malignant prostate tissue by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by sequential chromatographies of ion exchange, affinity column, and gel filtration. PAP has a molecular weight of 100,000 and consists of two subunits of 50,000. Owing, in part, to sialic acid contents in the molecule, PAP has multiple isoelectric points (pIs) at 4.2-5.5. In 0.2 M citrate, PAP has the highest affinity (Km 9.2 x 10(-5) M) in hydrolyzing alpha-naphthyl phosphate among the phosphomonoesters. Tartrate and heat at 37 degrees C for 2 hours almost completely inhibit PAP enzymic activity. By immunoprecipitate technique, anti-PAP heteroantiserum exhibited a distinct immunologic characteristics. Further, PAP possessed different antibody-binding site from enzyme hydrolytic site.
Variation in Habrobracon juglandis ovariole number: I. Ovariole number increase induced by extended cold shock of fourth-instar larvae

Variation from zero to five ovarioles in the braconid wasp, Habrobracon juglandis , is reported for dissections of females from laboratory stocks. Four ovarioles (two per ovary) is the standard phenotype for the species. Storage of fourth-instar larvae in a refrigerator resulted in a large proportion of females with an increased number of ovarioles (5–11). A 1- to 2-week cold exposure during the period of ovarian differentiation is required for the maximum effect.
Field-Based Internship Models for Alternative Certification of Science and Mathematics Teachers: Views of Interns, Mentors, and University Educators

In response to shortages of science and mathematics teachers in the U.S., many states have promoted alternative routes to certification in which individuals with non-education undergraduate degrees can become certificated in shorter timeframes than in traditional programs. One consideration in designing alternative programs is how to arrange field-based internships that help provide transformative pathways to non-traditional students in becoming a teacher. The purpose of this study was to understand the views of interns, their mentor teachers, and university personnel who participated in one alternative certification program regarding the best structures for field experiences. Through an analysis of artifacts collected in a meeting where we discussed the pros and cons of five different intership models as well as interviews with individuals in each stakeholder group, we were able to understand the various viewpoints. We found that, although perspectives were consistent within each group, they differed across the three groups. These differences were grounded in the personal needs and experiences of each group. Although our findings point to no “perfect” internship model to support the transformation of alternative certification students into teachers, they have implications for the design and enactment of field-based internships in such programs.
Expert opinion is often hot air: It is not the air; it is the clinical evidence.

From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif. Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Aug 31, 2015; accepted for publication Aug 31, 2015; available ahead of print Sept 29, 2015. Address for reprints: Richard J. Shemin, MD, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 100 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 730, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (E-mail: Rshemin@ mednet.ucla.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2015;150:1045-6 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2015 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.08.112
Burns in children.

After closure of the burn wound with skin grafts, the burned child has successfully completed the first phase of recovery from his burn. His rehabilitation into his former environment, however, requires the cooperative effort of multiple disciplines throughout the remaining portion of his postburn course.
Applications of resins for extracting organic components from water

The discussion of the applications is prefaced by very brief descriptions of: 1) the resin characteristics, 2) the extraction device, 3) some efficiency tests, and 4) the general methodology. Recent developments of simple and inexpensive procedures for the monitoring of selected contaminants of concern are stressed. Examples are given of the contamination of water by PVC tubes and of the measurements of pesticides, amines, halocarbons, and model compounds in water. Practical comparisons of the resin sorption method to carbon sorption and solvent extraction procedures are presented and recently developed mini-samplers are discussed.
A Rank Order of Eateries: A Chicago Stochastic Model*

.... The hands of men took hold and tugged And the breaths of men went into the junk And the junk stood up into skyscrapers and asked Who am I? Am I a city?Carl Sandburg-“The Windy City”Robert Merriam, picking up where his father left off, once indicated that it would take 50 years for an aroused citizenry to root out corruption in Chicago. It has taken at least that long to upgrade Chicago's restaurants. Several decades ago, top gourmet societies labelled Chicago a “gastronomic wasteland.” Among the many old cliches and modern prejudices that the Windy City is constantly seeking to outlive is the quality of its restaurants. New Yorkers, of course, will not let old myths die. Gail Green, New York Magazine galloping gourmet, recently went away from Chicago dubbing its restaurants the “Big Potato” — homely and solid, mealy and bland. Chicago epicureans responded by a whirlwind tour of the Gotham Town's “Best and Most Delectable,” writing devastating critiques of New York's much overrated eating places. If one can transcend these diatribes and gastronomic polemics, you will find Chicago to be as good a dining town as there is in the U.S.A. — variety, service, and prices.
[Poster] Augmented reality binoculars on the move

In this paper, we expand our previous work on augmented reality (AR) binoculars to support wider range of user motion — up to thousand square meters compared to only a few square meters as before. We present our latest improvements and additions to our pose estimation pipeline and demonstrate stable registration of objects on the real world scenery while the binoculars are undergoing significant amount of parallax-inducing translation.
CT and MRI of the Pelvis for Anorectal Disease

Cross-sectional imaging of the pelvis with CT and MRI plays an important role in the clinical evaluation of patients with anorectal disease. The value of these technologies in the evaluation of and surgical planning for patients with anorectal disease continues to grow as the imaging technologies continue to improve. This paper introduces the techniques and terminology needed to understand these images and the anatomy that can be seen. The MRI evaluation of rectal adenocarcinoma and anal cancer is reviewed including T-staging and assessment of nodal disease. The appearances of less common rectal neoplasms are also briefly reviewed. The imaging of anorectal inflammatory and infectious diseases including abscess and fistulous disease is discussed. Finally, the imaging of postoperative complications including the evaluation of ileal pouches is reviewed.
Disciplinary Literacies and Learning to Read for Understanding: A Conceptual Framework for Disciplinary Literacy.

This article presents a framework and methodology for designing learning goals targeted at what students need to know and be able to do in order to attain high levels of literacy and achievement in three disciplinary areas—literature, science, and history. For each discipline, a team of researchers, teachers, and specialists in that discipline engaged in conceptual meta-analysis of theory and research on the reading, reasoning, and inquiry practices exhibited by disciplinary experts as contrasted with novices. Each team identified discipline-specific clusters of types of knowledge. Across teams, the clusters for each discipline were grouped into 5 higher order categories of core constructs: (a) epistemology; (b) inquiry practices/strategies of reasoning; (c) overarching concepts, themes, and frameworks; (d) forms of information representation/types of texts; and (e) discourse and language structures. The substance of the clusters gave rise to discipline-specific goals and tasks involved in reading across ...
Study on Theoretical Framework of Incentive Synergy in Knowledge Alliance Based on Grounded Theory

Incentive synergy in knowledge alliance is an incentive problem of researching knowledge alliance based on synergetice,and has become a new focus.Through applying the grounded theory,it systematically studies the theoretical framework.The result shows that the three core categories which can promote knowledge agents cooperation and improve overall performance are formulating mechanism,synergy process and effect.It also extracts the relevant measurements and enriches the related theories and research methods in the field.
Induction of apoptosis in murine and human neuroblastoma cell lines by the enediyne natural product neocarzinostatin

Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is a naturally occurring enediyne antitumor agent that produces single- and double-strand breaks in cellular DNA. We have previously shown that treatment of human (SK-N-SH) and murine (NB41A3) neuroblastoma cells with NCS results in cell death for a subpopulation within the culture. The remaining cells undergo mitotic arrest with morphological differentiation along glial lines. Further investigation of cell death induced by this agent demonstrates that within 24 hr after a single one hr exposure to submicromolar concentrations of NCS, susceptible cells of both lines decrease in size, round up, detach from the culture surface and fragment in the overlying medium. This cytotoxicity is attenuated by the addition of cycloheximide (in NB41A3 cells) or aurintricarboxylic acid (in NB41A3 and SK-N-SH cells). Fluorescence and electron microscopic examination of the nonadherent cells reveals the chromatin condensation and fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis. Examination of the time course of DNA cleavage reveals that despite the presence of alkaline elution-detectable DNA cleavage, oligonucleosomal-sized DNA fragments are not demonstrable by gel electrophoresis immediately after a 1-hr incubation with the drug (1.6-10,000 nM). However, by 6 hr after treatment, DNA ladders are in evidence at all concentrations of NCS. These results suggest that the oligonucleosomal cleavage of DNA seen after NCS treatment is associated with apoptosis, rather than being the direct result of the strand-cleaving effects of the drug itself.
Renal Replacement Therapy in Diabetic Nephropathy

The case of a patient with diabetes mellitus and renal failure is presented and discussed. This case represents the very successful course of a diabetic patient who received peritoneal dialysis for 14 years. Not all patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from diabetic nephropathy are this fortunate. The success and complications of dialytic modalities are discussed by a nephrologist and nurse dialysis coordinator. Renal transplantation, the preferred treatment for most diabetic ESRD patients, is discussed by a nurse transplant coordinator. Simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation, with its potential benefits in the future is discussed by an experienced transplant surgeon. In addition, the psychosocial issues of renal failure, dialysis, and transplantation in the diabetic patient are addressed by clinical social workers. Lastly, the very important issue of foot care and treatment, and prevention of vascular-related morbidity is discussed by a practicing podiatrist. With such a multidisciplinary approach, medical and psychosocial outcomes can be optimized for diabetic patients with renal failure.
Comparative life-cycle impact assessment of concrete manufacturing in Singapore

For countries like Singapore that is highly dependent on imported goods, it is essential to consider the consequences of consumption of imported cement and other concrete constituents for a fair carbon trading at global and regional levels. Recently, as a result of reduction in trade barriers and costs of materials and fuels, Singapore does not have much incentive in reducing environmental impacts of these imported goods. However, Singapore has set high environmental targets nationally to reduce impacts from building and construction. In addition to its national efforts, Singapore also needs to take action in trade-related consequences of importing energy-intensive products like cement and aggregates to Singapore. The purpose of this study is to quantify and suggest alternatives for reducing the embodied energy and life-cycle impacts of concrete consumption in Singapore on the basis of current trading volumes of these materials from Singapore’s importers. A detailed life-cycle assessment of concrete manufacturing in Singapore is performed to suggest possible ways to reduce the environmental impacts from importing cement and aggregates from Singapore’s trade partners based on an earlier life-cycle inventory developed for Singapore and its neighboring countries. Life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) impact characterization factors are based on a midpoint-oriented and hierarchist approach as defined by ReCiPe method. Following the LCIA, a scenario analysis is conducted to select the best combination of cement and aggregate importers of Singapore based on their environmental performance. Results from the scenario analysis show that overall impacts can be reduced by importing the materials from a nearer source with efficient production technologies and greener fuel mixes. About 10–34 % reduction is estimated in embodied energy, acidification, eutrophication, global warming potential, smog, and health impacts by importing from a closer and technologically greener source. Despite the limitations due to data and modeling uncertainties, this study constitutes a baseline/benchmark for addressing the current cement and aggregate markets and associated environmental impacts of concrete consumption in Singapore based on historical import quantities of cement and aggregates from neighboring countries of Singapore. In the near future, policy-related action would be influential in achieving Singapore’s national and global environmental targets in buildings and construction sector. Incorporation of an LCA approach into Green Mark Scheme (GMS) by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is recommended for Singapore to comply both with its national goals and with its new climate action plan to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Relationship Between Working Conditions and Ergonomic/Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Manufacturing Facility

My research investigates the relationship between working conditions and musculoskeletal disorders in an assembly facility. I believe that the physical and psychosocial aspects of work have a significant influence on the individual worker’s health and well-being. The work organization at which I evaluated the employee’s health and well-being was at a large manufacturing assembly facility. This research is based upon the Balance Theory Model of Smith and Carayon-Sainfort [1, 2]. The overall aim of this research is to improve the long term health and well-being of worker’s in a manufacturing assembly facility. The overall purpose of this research is to try to identify the stressful working condition and attempt to control it. By trying to control the various musculoskeletal disorders in the work environment, you should also attempt to reduce or eliminate the level of stress, and to try to reduce or eliminate the level of strain.
Heaps over graphs

The main combinatorial framework we will use in this book to study minuscule representations is that of heaps. A heap is a certain function from a partially ordered set to the set of vertices of a graph. We will often think of the heap as the Hasse diagram of the underlying poset, where the elements of the poset are labelled by vertices of the graph. For most purposes in this book, thinking of heaps pictorially as labelled partially ordered sets (as in Figure 2.7 below) will be adequate. However, for later applications, we will need concepts such as those of subheaps and quotient heaps, and it is unwieldy to describe these in terms of pictures. For such applications, it turns out to be concise and natural to define heaps in terms of categories, and in Section 2.1, we introduce the category of heaps and explain the connection between finite heaps and commutation monoids. A reader not comfortable with categories may skip most of Chapter 2 at a first reading, except Section 2.2, which introduces the key notion of “full heap”. For the applications in this book, the most important kind of heap is those for which the associated graph is a Dynkin diagram, particularly one of finite or affine type. Dynkin diagrams are certain graphs that may have multiple and directed edges. The information in a Dynkin diagram may also be captured using amatrix with integer entries, called the generalized Cartan matrix of a Dynkin diagram.
The Clinical Implications of Inconsistently Methylated Results from Glioblastoma MGMT Testing by Replicate Methylation-Specific PCR

The methylation status of the promoter of the O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase gene (MGMT) is an established prognostic and predictive biomarker of glioblastoma (GBM). At the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, MGMT testing is performed by methylation-specific PCR with multiple replicates, leading to three types of reportable results: methylated, unmethylated, and inconsistently methylated. An inconsistently methylated result is reported when a methylated peak is seen in some but not all of the PCR replicates from a single DNA sample. To better understand the clinical implications of these results, we performed a retrospective review of all MGMT testing at our laboratory over a 5-year period, and correlated test results with outcome and specimen-quality data. This review yielded several novel findings. First, inconsistent MGMT methylation on replicate methylation-specific PCR is not uncommon, composes 12% (58/465) of our GBM results. Second, inconsistently methylated GBM cases are associated with relatively poor overall survival (more similar to unmethylated than to methylated cases). Third and interestingly, there appears to be a dose–response relationship between patient survival and the extent of methylation in inconsistently methylated GBMs. Finally, our analyses of specimen-quality data suggest that a combination of technical factors (eg, small samples) and tumor biology may explain inconsistent MGMT results on replicate methylation-specific PCR testing.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

This chapter covers the objective of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and focuses on FATCA reporting: (i) by US taxpayers about certain foreign financial accounts and offshore assets, (ii) by foreign financial institutions about financial accounts held by US taxpayers or foreign entities in which US taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest. Intergovernmental agreements, documentation and due diligence, and reporting and withholding are also covered.
Comparing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Prevention Programs between Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes and Non-Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes

OBJECTIVE The impact of healthcare system integration on infection prevention programs is unknown. Using catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention as an example, we hypothesize that US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing homes have a more robust infection prevention infrastructure due to integration and centralization compared with non-VA nursing homes. SETTING VA and non-VA nursing homes participating in the AHRQ Safety Program for Long-Term Care collaborative. METHODS Nursing homes provided baseline information about their infection prevention programs to assess strengths and gaps related to CAUTI prevention via a needs assessment questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 353 of 494 nursing homes from 41 states (71%; 47 VA and 306 non-VA facilities) responded. VA nursing homes reported more hours per week devoted to infection prevention-related activities (31 vs 12 hours; P<.001) and were more likely to have committees that reviewed healthcare-associated infections. Compared with non-VA facilities, a higher percentage of VA nursing homes reported tracking CAUTI rates (94% vs 66%; P<.001), sharing CAUTI data with leadership (94% vs 70%; P=.014) and with nursing personnel (85% vs 56%, P=.003). However, fewer VA nursing homes reported having policies for appropriate catheter use (64% vs 81%; P=.004) and catheter insertion (83% vs 94%; P=.004). CONCLUSIONS Among nursing homes participating in an AHRQ-funded collaborative, VA and non-VA nursing homes differed in their approach to CAUTI prevention. Best practices from both settings should be applied universally to create an optimal infection prevention program within emerging integrated healthcare systems. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:287-293.