cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association between experiences of exclusionary discipline and justice system contact: A systematic review

Abstract The term “school-to-prison pipeline” is regularly used by policymakers and researchers alike to describe school-level policies pushing students from schools into the juvenile and adult justice systems. Though the term is widely used, its interpretation and specified components vary across disciplines. Research assessing the pipeline's existence paints a complex picture, leading to questions about the existence of a non-spurious association between exclusionary discipline and justice system contact. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess existing empirical evidence evaluating the association between experiences of exclusionary discipline and subsequent justice system involvement. This review is limited to studies using multivariate, inferential statistical techniques. A total of seven studies met specified qualifications and are included in the review. All studies found a significant association between experiences of exclusionary discipline and subsequent justice system contact, with odds ratios ranging from 1.72 to 5.17. Further research is needed to extend understanding of how this association differs according to age at first experience of exclusionary discipline and frequency of discipline. Additionally, future research should explore possible mediating and moderating factors influencing the relationship between exclusionary discipline and justice system contact.
Autonomous moral education is Socratic moral education: The Import of repeated activity in moral education out of evil and into virtue

Kant’s commitment to autonomy raises difficult questions about the very possibility of Kantian moral education, since appeal to external pedagogical guidance threatens to be in contradiction with a...
A Comparison of Methods for Automatic Term Extraction for Domain Analysis

Fourteen word frequency metrics were tested to evaluate their effectiveness in identifying vocabulary in a domain. Fifteen domain-engineering projects were examined to measure how closely the vocabularies selected by the fourteen word frequency metrics were to the vocabularies produced by domain engineers. Stemming and stopword removal were also evaluated to measure their impact on selecting proper vocabulary terms. The results of the experiment show that stemming and stopword removal do improve performance and that term frequency is a valuable contributor to performance. Most word frequency metrics gave similar results. A few of the metrics did poorly compared to the others.
Earthquake Loss Estimation for India Based on Macroeconomic Indicators

Preliminary results from the 2001 India census indicate that the population is now 1,027,015,247 [1], making India the second most populous country in the world [2]. The United Nations projects that by the year 2050, India will be the most populated country in the world with over 1.5 billion people [2]. India has also experienced some of the most devastating earthquakes ever recorded. Examples of earthquakes within the last 100 years and numbers of fatalities and damage are listed in Table 1 [3]. To reduce deaths and economic loss from earthquakes in India, it is important to understand where areas of high population density and high seismic hazard intersect.
Some Properties of Isolated Endothelial Cells in Culture

Though large vessel endothelium has been studied extensively in vitro as an isolated cell type, microvascular endothelium has been studied in vitro on only a very limited basis, usually as whole microvessel isolates (1–5). This is due mainly to the difficulty of isolating and maintaining pure microvascular endothelium, though some attempts have been made (4,6–8). In a recent study (9) we isolated microvessels from mouse cerebrum and described a culture procedure for obtaining endothelial and smooth muscle cells in primary culture. We also have data on the establishment of an endothelial cell line, designated ME-2, derived from similar microvessel explants (10). This report describes, in greater detail, some of the properties or characteristics of the ME-2 endothelial cell line.
The Development Potential of New Energy Resources: A Spatial-Economic Analysis of Coalbed Methane

The issues enveloping the development of new and experimental energy resources are interdisciplinary in scope. Such considerations as supply, demand, price, production cost, substitutability, investment recovery, availability of technology and public-environmental acceptability are exemplary of the myriad of concerns influencing the timing and development potential of novel resources. This chapter examines the potential for coalbed methane gas development in the Warrior Coal Field for the state of Alabama. A data base which identifies geographical areas containing the highest densities of logical coal gas users wilt help evaluate the desirability of coalbed methane as a developable energy resource. In a similar way, the development potential of other new and experimental energy resources may be evaluated.
Kant and Hegel on Practical Reason

For Kant it was the fate of human reason to fall into contradiction when it attempted to transcend the limits of empirico-scientific knowledge as formulated in the first Critique. These limits are the epistemic consequences following from the application of the model of mechanistic materialism to the objects of human experience. Under this paradigmatically but ahistorically restricted conception of experience, nature appears as a uniform causal chain of externally related events. Freedom of thought and decision transcend this mechanistic system generating therein a dialectic of reason in the form of an antinomy of freedom and necessity. For Kant this contradiction is a permanent feature of human reason conceived as a set of formal categories imposed on an “originally foreign” given content. Professor Smith has described how this notion of an “originally foreign” given is central to Hegel’s theoretical objections to Kant and lies therefore at the core of the controversy between them on the actuality of reason. In this paper I shall try to add to the discussion of the controversy from the practical side where the question is the actuality of reason in moral and social practice. Before discussing Hegel’s dialectical “resolution” of the problem, I shall sketch just enough of the Kantian background to be able to demonstrate the way in which Hegel is responding to the antinomies of bourgeois thought which the Kantian critique develops in systematic form.
The Relationship Between Pain-Related Psychological Factors and Postoperative Opioid Use After Ambulatory Hand Surgery.

Purpose Pain-related psychological factors, including pain catastrophizing and dispositional mindfulness , have been shown to influence patient pain levels and outcomes after orthopedic surgery. Less is known about the relationship between these factors and postoperative opioid use after hand surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between preoperative pain catastrophizing and mindfulness and postoperative opioid use in patients undergoing ambulatory hand surgery. Methods Patients undergoing ambulatory hand surgery at our institution between May 2017 and January 2018 were prospectively enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial. Patients completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) before surgery. Patients completed a pain medication diary for 2 weeks after surgery and were contacted on postoperative days 3, 8, and 15 to review their medication usage and pain levels. Analyses were performed to evaluate the association between PCS, MAAS scores, and postoperative opioid use, average patient reported pain levels, and refill rates. Results A total of 85 patients were included in the analysis. Higher PCS scores (representing more pain catastrophizing) were associated with increased number of opioid pills consumed, higher average pain levels during the first postoperative week, and higher refill rates. Higher MAAS scores (representing more mindfulness) were associated with lower average week-1 pain levels but not significantly associated with opioid use or refill rates. Conclusions Patients demonstrating higher PCSs before surgery used more opioids after surgery after a range of ambulatory hand surgeries. In the setting of the opioid epidemic, hand surgeons should be aware of pain-related psychological factors that can influence postoperative opioid use. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Genetic predictors of survival in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration.

Objective To determine autosomal dominant genetic predictors of survival in individuals with behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD). Methods A retrospective chart review of 174 cases with a clinical phenotype of bvFTD but no associated elementary neurologic features was performed, with diagnosis either autopsy-confirmed (n = 57) or supported by CSF evidence of non-Alzheimer pathology (n = 117). Genetic analysis of the 3 most common genes with pathogenic autosomal dominant mutations associated with frontotemporal degeneration was performed in all patients, which identified cases with C9orf72 expansion (n = 28), progranulin (GRN) mutation (n = 12), and microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mutation (n = 10). Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to test for associations between survival and mutation status, sex, age at symptom onset, and education. Results Across all patients with bvFTD, the presence of a disease-associated pathogenic mutation was associated with shortened survival (hazard ratio [HR] 2.164, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.391, 3.368). In separate models, a GRN mutation (HR 2.423, 95% CI 1.237, 4.744), MAPT mutation (HR 8.056, 95% CI 2.938, 22.092), and C9orf72 expansion (HR 1.832, 95% CI 1.034, 3.244) were each individually associated with shorter survival relative to sporadic bvFTD. A mutation on the MAPT gene results in an earlier age at onset than a C9orf72 expansion or mutation on the GRN gene (p = 0.016). Conclusions Our findings suggest that autosomal dominantly inherited mutations, modulated by age at symptom onset, associate with shorter survival among patients with bvFTD. We suggest that clinical trials and clinical management should consider mutation status and age at onset when evaluating disease progression.
Generalized Discoid Lupus Erythematosus as the Presenting Sign of Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

A 46-year-old woman with a 30 pack-year smoking history presented with a worsening eruption on the left cheek that failed to improve with metronidazole gel. The cutaneous eruption spread to most of her face and did not respond to a brief tapering course of prednisone. During the initial evaluation at our institution, approximately 6 weeks after the onset of the cutaneous eruption, the patient had erythematous, crusted plaques on her face and scalp (Figure 1A); they were also present on the V-area of the anterior aspect of the neck and upper region of the chest, the shoulders, and the arms, with isolated lesions on the trunk and legs. Her oral mucosa had erythematous erosions on the hard palate and gingivae. A review of systems revealed pain and burning of her skin lesions, but no muscle weakness or other systemic clinical manifestations. The differential diagnosis included autoimmune connective tissue disease, pemphigus foliaceous, sarcoidosis, lichen planus, phototoxic drug eruption, and eczema herpeticum.
Spectres insistants: Primary and Secondary Hauntings in Kamel Daoud’s Meursault, contre-enquête

In a complex return to Albert Camus’s L’Etranger, Kamel Daoud’s Meursault, contre-enquete (2013) explores the ghosts of Algeria’s colonial past. By making the fate of Meursault’s murdered victim th...
Effects of familial intervention combined with immune standardized treatment in children with allergic rhinitis

Objective To explore the influence of familial intervention combined with immune standardized treatment on the effect of immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis. Methods A total of 236 cases of children with allergic rhinitis undergoing immunotherapy in Zhengzhou Children's Hospital from March 2015 to October 2016 were selected by convenience sampling method, and divided into control group and intervention group by random number table method, with 118 cases in each group. In the control group, immune standardized treatment were applied. On the basis of the control group, the intervention group adopted familial intervention. The treatment compliance and effects were compared between the two groups. Results Among the 236 children, there were 140 cases who had completed the initial stage and maintaining stage of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for 1 year, and the compliance was 59.32%. The treatment compliance of the intervention group was 76.27%, while that of the control group was 42.73%, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=28.095, P<0.01) . The effective rate of the control group was 61.02%, while that of the intervention group was 74.58%, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.169, P<0.05) . Conclusions The implementation of familial nursing intervention on the basis of immune standardized therapy can effectively improve the curative effect of the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis, prevent complications, and improve patients' treatment compliance, which are important on the occurrence and development of the disease. Key words: Child; Medication adherence; Allergic rhinitis; Family nursing intervention; Immunotherapy
California, USA: “The California Way”: The Golden State’s Promise to Empower Principals and De-emphasize Testing

This chapter describes an ambitious reform by the most populous state in the U.S.; a reform that has the potential to be a pivotal point in the nation’s school accountability movement. For the past 30 years, the U.S. has been hyper-focused on standardized testing, and all major school reforms introduced since the 1980s have utilize test scores as the primary measure of success--or failure. Initiated in 2013 and foreshadowing a similar but less ambitious national reform, “The California Way” attempts to de-emphasize testing as well as place more power and responsibility on local authorities, specifically school principals. A discussion of the political/ideological background for the reform attempts to underline the importance of its continuance and its potential impact on school reform across the U.S. The California Way and its components are examined regarding their efficacy in meeting their goals as, despite their good intentions and the reform’s great promise, these aims and the entire reform itself may prove to be too complex for effective implementation. Finally, the chapter examines possible adjustments to the role of the school leader as a result of the reform, specifically in the school leader’s ability to enact necessary change as state policies dictate.
The power of empathetic and collaborative leadership

This paper provides background on the concepts of empathetic and collaborative leadership. Select areas in which empathetic and collaborative leadership can advance research libraries to become more effective, fair, and equitable environments will be examined. These include, but are not limited to, organizational structure, diversity and inclusion efforts, recruitment, orientation, fundraising, internal meetings, professional meetings, and effective stakeholder interaction
Repeatability and Validity of MNREAD Test in Children With Vision Impairment.

Purpose To evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity of the MNREAD test for use in children with vision impairment (VI) and to compare their performance on the test to that of normally sighted children. Methods Children with VI (n = 62) and without VI (n = 40) were administered the MNREAD test and the Basic Reading Inventory (BRI) on two study visits, 1 to 3 weeks apart. The maximum reading rate, critical print size, and reading acuity were determined for the MNREAD test, and test-retest reliability was evaluated. The reading rate for the MNREAD test was compared to the BRI results. Results Strong correlations between visits were found for all MNREAD parameters (0.68-0.99). Older, but not younger, children with VI read significantly more slowly on both the MNREAD and the BRI than children with normal vision (P < 0.05). Reading rates between the two tests were strongly correlated (r = 0.88). For the MNREAD test, the reading rate increased 4.4 words per minute (wpm) per year for VI and 10.6 wpm/y for those with normal vision. For the BRI, the reading rate increased by 5.9 wpm/y for VI and 9.7 wpm/y for those with normal vision. Poorer visual acuity was associated with slower reading rates on the MNREAD test but not on the BRI, as the MNREAD relies largely on visual factors but the BRI also relies on linguistic and grammar skills. Conclusions The MNREAD test are reliable and valid for use in children with vision impairment. Translational Relevance The MNREAD test can be utilized by clinicians, as they are a quick, easy-to-administer method for evaluating reading vision in children with VI.
Assessing interannual variability in nitrogen sourcing and retention through hybrid Bayesian watershed modeling

Abstract. Excessive nutrient loading is a major cause of water quality problems worldwide, often leading to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in lakes and coastal systems. Efficient nutrient management requires that loading sources are accurately quantified. However, loading rates from various urban and rural non-point sources remain highly uncertain especially with respect to climatological variation. Furthermore, loading models calibrated using statistical techniques (i.e., hybrid models) often have limited capacity to differentiate export rates among various source types, given the noisiness and paucity of observational data common to many locations. To address these issues, we leverage data for two North Carolina Piedmont river basins collected over three decades (1982–2017) using a mechanistically parsimonious watershed loading and transport model calibrated within a Bayesian hierarchical framework. We explore temporal drivers of loading by incorporating annual changes in precipitation, land use, livestock, and point sources within the model formulation. Also, different representations of urban development are compared based on how they constrain model uncertainties. Results show that urban lands built before 1980 are the largest source of nutrients, exporting over twice as much nitrogen per hectare than agricultural and post-1980 urban lands. In addition, pre-1980 urban lands are the most hydrologically constant source of nutrients, while agricultural lands show the most variation among high- and low-flow years. Finally, undeveloped lands export an order of magnitude ( ∼7 – 13× ) less nitrogen than built environments.
Strategies to Identify Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Minimally Manipulated Human Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Lack Consensus

Background:There is a need to identify and quantify mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in human bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) source tissues, but current methods to do so were established i...
Women and AIDS in Developing Countries

Increasing numbers of women worldwide are being infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In the last year alone, 1 1/2 million women around the world were infected, and the number of HIV-positive women is expected to increase in coming years [World Health Organization (WHO), 1994a]. The WHO projects that by the year 2000,13 million women will have been infected with HIV, and 4 million will have died of AIDS, since the pandemic began (WHO, 1993a). Until recently, women were “missing persons in the AIDS epidemic” (Rosser, 1991, p. 231), partly because of the initial definition of AIDS as a gay male disease and partly because of a tendency to focus on women as “vectors” of transmission, with emphasis on their roles as mothers or commercial sex workers (de Bruyn, 1992; Carovano, 1991; Hankins & Handley, 1992; Nichols, 1990; Preble, 1990). As the incidence of HIV has increased among women from all segments of the population in all parts of the world, attention has finally turned to understanding the factors that put women at risk and working to decrease the number being infected.
Ultrasonographic Technique, Appearance, and Diagnostic Accuracy for Common Shoulder Sports Injuries: A Narrative Review.

» Ultrasonography (US) is valued for its availability, tolerability, low cost, and utility in real-time dynamic evaluation. Its use in diagnosing upper-extremity shoulder injury has expanded, but several features require definition before more widespread adoption can be realized. » In particular, the evaluation of rotator cuff tears (RCTs) with US has been extensively studied, and authors generally agree that US is comparable with magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of full-thickness RCTs, whereas partial-thickness RCTs are more difficult to accurately identify with US. Dynamic evaluation is particularly useful for pathologies such as subacromial impingement and glenohumeral instability. » US has shown particular usefulness for the assessment of athletes, where there is additional motivation to delay more invasive techniques. US has demonstrated promising results as a diagnostic modality for common shoulder injuries in athletes, and it is an important imaging tool that complements a thorough history and physical examination.
High frequency of potential phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor drug interactions in males with HIV infection and erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the prevalence of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE-5) mediated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in males with HIV infection receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and identify factors associated with PDE-5-mediated DDIs. METHODS Male US Military HIV Natural History Study participants diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) and having a PDE-5 inhibitor and potentially-interacting ART co-dispensed within 30 days were included. DDIs were defined according to criteria found in published guidelines and drug information resources. The primary outcome of interest was overall PDE-5 inhibitor-mediated DDI prevalence and episode duration. A secondary logistic regression analysis was performed on those with and without DDIs to identify factors associated with initial DDI episode. RESULTS A total of 235 male participants with ED met inclusion criteria. The majority were White (50.6%) or African American (40.4%). Median age at medication co-dispensing (45 years), duration of HIV infection (14 years), and duration of ED (1 year) did not differ between the two groups (p>0.05 for all). PDE-5 inhibitors included sildenafil (n = 124), vardenafil (n = 99), and tadalafil (n = 14). ART regimens included RTV-boosted protease inhibitors (PIs) atazanavir (n = 83) or darunavir (n = 34), and COBI-boosted elvitegravir (n = 43). Potential DDIs occurred in 181 (77.0%) participants, of whom 122 (67.4%) had multiple DDI episodes. The median DDI duration was 8 (IQR 1-12) months. In multivariate analyses, non-statistically significant higher odds of DDIs were observed with RTV-boosted PIs or PI-based ART (OR 2.13, 95% CI 0.85-5.37) and in those with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (OR 1.74, 95% CI 0.83-3.64). CONCLUSIONS PDE-5-mediated DDIs were observed in the majority of males with HIV infection on RTV- or COBI-boosted ART in our cohort. This study highlights the importance of assessing for DDIs among individuals on ART, especially those on boosted regimens.
Absolute Poverty Measures for the Developing World, 1981-2004

The authors report new estimates of measures of absolute poverty for the developing world over 1981-2004. A clear trend decline in the percentage of people who are absolutely poor is evident, although with uneven progress across regions. They find more mixed success in reducing the total number of poor. Indeed, the developing world outside China has seen little or no sustained progress in reducing the number of poor, with rising poverty counts in some regions, notably Sub-Saharan Africa. There are encouraging signs of progress in reducing the incidence of poverty in all regions after 2000, although it is too early to say if this is a new trend.
Fluorescent Probes and Mass Spectrometry-Based Methods to Quantify Thiols in Biological Systems

Fluorescent probes and mass spectrometry are the two most popular and complementary methods to quantify thiols in biological systems. In this review, we focus on the widely used and commercially available methods to detect and quantify thiols in living cells and the general approaches applied in mass spectrometry-based thiol quantification. We hope this review can serve as a general guide for redox biologists who are interested in thiol species.
Diabetes mellitus correlates with increased biological age as indicated by clinical biomarkers

Chronological age (CA) is determined by time of birth, whereas biological age (BA) is based on changes on a cellular level and strongly correlates with morbidity, mortality, and longevity. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) associates with increased morbidity and mortality; thus, we hypothesized that BA would be increased and calculated it from biomarkers collected at routine clinical visits. Deidentified data was obtained from three cohorts of patients (20–80 years old)—T2D, type 1 diabetes (T1D), and prediabetes—and compared to gender- and age-matched non-diabetics. Eight clinical biomarkers that correlated with CA in people without diabetes were used to calculate BA using the Klemera and Doubal method 1 (KDM1) and multiple linear regression (MLR). The phenotypic age (PhAge) formula was used with its predetermined biomarkers. BA of people with T2D was, on average, 12.02 years higher than people without diabetes (p < 0.0001), while BA in T1D was 16.32 years higher (p < 0.0001). Results were corroborated using MLR and PhAge. The biomarkers with the strongest correlation to increased BA in T2D using KDM were A1c (R2 = 0.23, p < 0.0001) and systolic blood pressure (R2 = 0.21, p < 0.0001). BMI had a positive correlation to BA in non-diabetes subjects but disappeared in those with diabetes. Mortality data using the ACCORD trial was used to validate our results and showed a significant correlation between higher BA and decreased survival. In conclusion, BA is increased in people with diabetes, irrespective of pathophysiology, and to a lesser extent in prediabetes.
Bringing the Animal QTLdb and CorrDB into the future: meeting new challenges and providing updated services.

The Animal QTLdb (https://www.animalgenome.org/QTLdb) and CorrDB (https://www.animalgenome.org/CorrDB) are unique resources for livestock animal genetics and genomics research which have been used extensively by the international livestock genome research community. This is largely due to the active development of the databases over the years to keep up with the rapid advancement of genome sciences. The ongoing development has ensured that these databases provide researchers not only with continually updated data but also with new web tools to disseminate the data. Through our continued efforts, the databases have evolved from the original Pig QTLdb for cross-experiment QTL data comparisons to an Animal QTLdb hosting 220 401 QTL, SNP association and eQTL data linking phenotype to genotype for 2210 traits. In addition, there are 23 552 correlations for 866 traits and 4273 heritability data on 1069 traits in CorrDB. All these data were curated from 3157 publications that cover seven livestock species. Along with the continued data curation, new species, additional genome builds, and new functions and features have been built into the databases as well. Standardized procedures to support data mapping on multiple species/genome builds and the ability to browse data based on linked ontology terms are highlights of the recent developments.
Status of World Literature on Dairy Goats, Introductory Remarks, ,

Abstract In response to wide interest in the United States and around the globe, a world literature search has been initiated with this symposium. A representative selection of some 240 publications on goat management from various countries is included with this introduction. They are intended to aid efforts of the first National Research Council Committee on nutrient requirements of goats, projects of the Agency for International Development and United States Cooperative Extension, and research workers with dairy, meat, and Angora goats.
A teacher-focused approach to prevent and reduce students' aggressive behavior: The GREAT Teacher Program

The purpose of this article is to describe the GREAT (Guiding Responsibility and Expectations for Adolescents for Today and Tomorrow) Teacher Program, a prevention program for middle school teachers to deter students' aggressive behavior. It was developed on the basis of an ecologic understanding of aggression and on specific constructs of Social Cognitive Theory. The goals of the program were (1) to increase teacher awareness of different types of aggression, risk factors, role of the classroom teacher, and influence of the school climate on the child's behavior; (2) to develop strategies that will prevent aggression; (3) to improve teacher management skills to reduce power struggles and aggression; and (4) to enhance skills to assist students who are the targets of aggression. To accomplish these goals, teachers participated in a 12-hour workshop and 10 support group sessions. Training, manuals, and supervision were provided to maintain program integrity and to assure the quality of implementation.
Should the Behavior of Top Management Matter

Recent events, such as the Enron, Worldcom, and Global Crossing debacles, have brought to the forefront the issue of corporate and organizational wrongdoing and the involvement of top management in it. To date, the law's response to the knowing or reckless involvement of top management in corporate wrongdoing has been primarily two-fold. First, it increases the sanction imposed on top management. Second, it increases the sanction imposed on the corporation (i.e., the shareholders). This paper examines the second response. The second response can be examined in multiple ways depending on the analytical perspective being utilized. In this paper I consider the question from three perspectives. First, whether our current law can be justified under a deterrence-based approach to corporate criminal liability. This is the bulk of the paper as that has been where much of the literature in the corporate crime area has developed. Second, whether our current law can be justified under an expressive approach to corporate criminal liability. Third, whether our current law might reflect an attempt to place most of the risk of liability on the corporation, which is generally a better risk bearer than top management. My conclusions are that our current law is difficult to justify under any of these approaches and that it is likely imposing costs on society. This suggests that our current law is in need of reform.
Differentiation of the interstitial cell line in hydrozoan planulae

Repopulation of epithelial (colchicine-treated) planular tissue by interstitial cells, nematoblasts/nematocytes, and ganglionic cells was examined via grafting. Seventy-two-hour epithelial planular head pieces were grafted to 72-hour control labelled planular tail pieces, left in contact for 24 h, separated, and the head pieces were analyzed for interstitial cells and their derivatives. The reciprocal experiment of grafting 72-hour epithelial planular tails to 72-hour control labelled planular heads was also done and the tail pieces were examined. Repopulated planular head pieces contained interstitial cells, ganglionic cells and a reforming neural plexus but few nematoblasts/nematocytes. Reconstituted planular tail pieces contained interstitial cells and nematoblasts/nematocytes but no ganglionic cells. Results possibly suggest that the migrating interstitial cell population of 72-hour planulae is rich in committed precursors.
The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in cases associated with fetomaternal disease

Abstract The efficacy of correlating the L/S ratio in the amniotic fluid with fetal lung maturity has been substantiated in normal pregnancies. In gestations complicated by fetomaternal diseases, however, the assay is less reliable. This study involves 555 pregnancies in which there was a significant maternal, fetal, or placental disorder. The L/S ratio was related to fetal respiratory maturity as measured by Dubowitz criteria and the occurrence of RDS. The results show that pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension, diabetes (Class D, E, F), significant cardiovascular disease, severe hemoglobinopathies, various congenital anomalies, chronic placental insufficiency, and prolonged ruptured membranes accelerated the L/S ratio. Conversely, mild diabetes (Class B, C), intrinsic renal disease, hepatitis, collagen disease, hydrops fetalis, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis were associated with a delay in the L/S ratio. A significant increase in erroneous responses was noted in these patients when the L/S ratio was correlated to infant maturity and to the incidence of RDS. Possible mechanisms for these findings are discussed.
Modification of the lecithin-sphingomyelin assay for fetal development.

Abstract Modifications in the lecithin/sphingomyelin assay have been introduced which provide for a rapid, sensitive, reproducible, and economical procedure for the determination of fetal maturity. This procedure can be carried out easily by individuals with a minimal amount of training and equipment. The method as modified has been shown to be accurate in the assessment of fetal maturity in the 100 normal pregnancies studied. This test is recommended before delivery, particularly in complicated cases, to predict the risk of pulmonary immaturity.
Generating goal-oriented test cases

The paper describes an AI planner assisted approach to generate test cases for system testing based on high level test objectives. Test generation is based on an extended UML model of the system under test and a mapping of high level test objectives into initial and goal conditions of the planner. We illustrate the use of this approach on a series of high level test objectives one might apply to a robot controlled tape silo.
Silicic acid leakage from the Southern Ocean: A possible explanation for glacial atmospheric pCO2

[1] Using a simple box model, we investigate the effects of a reduced Si:N uptake ratio by Antarctic phytoplankton on the marine silica cycle and atmospheric pCO2. Recent incubation experiments demonstrate such a phenomenon in diatoms when iron is added [Hutchins and Bruland, 1998; Takeda, 1998; Franck et al., 2000]. The Southern Ocean may have supported diatoms with reduced Si:N uptake ratios compared to today during the dustier glacial times [Petit et al., 1999]. A similar reduction in the uptake ratio may be realized with an increased production of nondiatom phytoplankton such as Phaeocystis. Our model shows that reduced Si:N export ratios in the Southern Ocean create excess silicic acid, which may then be leaked out to lower latitudes. Any significant consumption of the excess silicic acid by diatoms that leads to an enhancement in their growth at the expense of coccolithophorids diminishes CaCO3 production and therefore diminishes the carbonate pump. In our box model the combination of a reduced carbonate pump and an open system carbonate compensation draw down steady state atmospheric CO2 from the interglacial 277 to 230–242 ppm, depending on where the excess silicic acid is consumed. By comparison, the atmospheric pCO2 sensitivity of general circulation models to carbonate pump forcing is ∼3.5–fold greater, which, combined with carbonate compensation, can account for peak glacial atmospheric pCO2. We discuss the importance of the initial rain ratio of CaCO3 to organic carbon on atmospheric pCO2 and relevant sedimentary records that support and constrain this “silicic acid leakage” scenario.
Dominant negative retinoid X receptor beta inhibits retinoic acid-responsive gene regulation in embryonal carcinoma cells.

Abstract Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) heterodimerize with multiple nuclear hormone receptors and are thought to exert pleiotropic functions. To address the role of RXRs in retinoic acid- (RA) mediated gene regulation, we designed a dominant negative RXR beta. This mutated receptor, termed DBD-, lacked the DNA binding domain but retained the ability to dimerize with partner receptors, resulting in formation of nonfunctional dimers. DBD- was transfected into P19 murine embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, in which reporters containing the RA-responsive elements (RAREs) were activated by RA through the activity of endogenous RXR-RA receptor (RAR) heterodimers. We found that DBD- had a dominant negative activity on the RARE reporter activity in these cells. P19 clones stably expressing DBD- were established; these clones also failed to activate RARE-driven reporters in response to RA. Further, these cells were defective in RA-induced mRNA expression of Hox-1.3 and RAR beta, as well as in RA-induced down-regulation of Oct3 mRNA. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that RA treatment of control P19 cells induces RARE-binding activity, of which RXR beta is a major component. However, the RA-induced binding activity was greatly reduced in cells expressing DBD-. By genomic footprinting, we show that RA treatment induces in vivo occupancy of the RARE in the endogenous RAR beta gene in control P19 cells but that this occupancy is not observed with the DBD- cells. These data provide evidence that the dominant negative activity of DBD- is caused by the lack of receptor binding to target DNA. Finally, we show that in F9 EC cells expression of DBD- leads to inhibition of the growth arrest that accompanies RA-induced differentiation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that RXR beta and partner receptors play a central role in RA-mediated gene regulation and in the control of growth and differentiation in EC cells.
Low-Grade Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Involving the Kidney: Report of 3 Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract Low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue involving the kidney is rare. We report a series of 3 cases. The first case occurred in an 83-year-old woman who presented with back pain. The second case was a 53-year-old man with a history of sarcoidosis who was found, in the course of evaluation of sarcoidosis, to have a right renal mass. The third case occurred in a 72-year-old man who had a history of periorbital mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and had been treated with surgery and radiation 1 year prior to this presentation. Histologically, all 3 patients showed infiltrate of uniform small-to-medium–sized lymphocytes with irregular nuclear contours and abundant cytoplasm resembling centrocytes or monocytoid lymphoid cells. The first patient received chemotherapy without complications. The second patient underwent a partial nephrectomy and was asymptomatic at the subsequent follow-up. The third patient developed a pulmonary embolism following nephrectomy, and further ...
Compiler Controlled Speculation for Power Aware ILP Extraction in Dataflow Architectures

Traditional predicated execution uses two techniques: top predication --- in which only the head of the dependence chain is predicated, and bottom predication --- in which only the tail of the dependence chain is predicated. Top predication prevents speculative execution, thus delivering minimum performance at minimum energy cost, while bottom predication allows full speculation of the dependence chain, resulting in maximum performance at maximum energy cost. In this paper, we propose a novel power-aware ILP extraction technique, denoted the `elastic-block' , that combines these two extremes, exposing superior energy vs. performance trade-offs. Each instruction in the elastic-block is explicitly guarded by two predicates: the speculative , and the final . Instruction's final predicate is generated using traditional if-conversion technique, while the speculative predicate has its default value statically assigned by the compiler, enabling it to make power-performance trade-offs in the code. Several energy saving code optimizations are proposed for the elastic-block structure.
Measurement Analysis of the Influence of Subway Station Construction to the Adjacent Building and Ground Surface Deformation

According to the tracing monitoring results of surface settlement and deformation of method of PBA in large-span tunnel used in the construction of the of Shenyang subway station, the analysis shows the ground surface settlement characteristics and laws influenced by the process of tunnel excavation influence. The result shows that the influence to formation of soil disturbance is large, the step sequences influence the deformation of the surface subsidence obvious are the small pilot drift excavation and the buckle arch of the first lining, accounting for about 70% of the final settlement, while the other is smaller, therefore the key of the project is to control the ground surface settlement of the small pilot drift excavation and the buckle arch of the first lining. Analysis also shows that, the effect of grouting consolidation in the upper strata in the arch crown and surrounding rock foundation of buildings before the construction to reduce the surface subsidence and building deformation is obvious.
Designing Carbon Crystals for Nanotechnology Applications

Recent discovery of graphite polyhedral crystals, having shapes of faceted needles, rods, rings, barrels, and double-tipped pyramids with 7-fold, 9-fold, or more complex morphological symmetry, suggests the possibility of growing complex crystal shapes on nanoscale and microscale. Appropriate crystal design may result in more diverse and better controlled morphologies grown “to size” from the material that best suits the application.
A comparison between backscattering coefficients using Gaussian and non-Gaussian surface statistics

This communication provides a comparison between the backscattering coefficients computed using Gaussian versus non-Gaussian surface statistics. The computations are performed for a class of surface height distributions and surface correlation functions. Results indicate that the coherent component of the scattering coefficient is strongly dependent upon the surface height distribution. The noncoherent component also depends on the surface height distribution and the surface root mean square (rms) slope when the rms surface height is large relative to the incident wavelength. On the other hand, when the surface rms height is moderate or small, the noncoherent component is sensitive mainly to the surface height correlation function.
Designing emissive conjugated polymers with small optical gaps: A step towards organic polymeric infrared lasers

We show that chemical modification of the trans-polyacetylene structure that involves substitution of the backbone hydrogen atoms with conjugated side groups leads to reduction of the backbone bond alternation as well as screening of the effective Coulomb interaction. Consequently, the optical gap of the substituted material is smaller than the parent polyene with the same backbone length, and the excited state ordering is conducive to efficient photoluminescence. In the ideal long chain limit, the design of organic polymeric infrared lasers thereby becomes possible.
Learning to Teach: Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Pathways

This study examined the differential effectiveness of three pathways to an elementary teaching credential across a large public university system. The study compared traditional campus-based, intern, and online credential programs across a 22-campus system using ratings of program preparation by 12,590 graduates after their first year of teaching and by 3,781 principals who supervise them. Although no significant differences were found among principals' ratings of the teachers' preparation, teachers saw large differences with a statistically and clinically significant advantage for the online pathway. Features of the online pathway included a spiraling curriculum, candidates taught in cohorts across all coursework, fieldwork embedded in coursework, and extra mentoring available in addition to the usual university and district supervision.
Rectal strictures in Crohn's disease and coexisting perirectal complications

Background: The significance of the presence of rectal strictures in Crohn's disease has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to examine patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease associated with rectal strictures and to describe co-existing manifestations of perianal disease (abscesses, fistulae, or skin tags) and strictures located elsewhere in the colon or small intestine. Methods: A cohort of 70 Crohn's disease patients with rectal strictures were compared with controls without rectal strictures matched for age, gender, and duration of disease. Analysis was done to better elucidate the association of rectal strictures with location of disease and other perirectal complications. Results: The average age of both groups of our Crohn's disease patients was 54 years and the average duration of disease since diagnosis was 315 months for the patients and 314 months for the controls. 54% of patients were women and 46% were men. 61.4% of the study population had Crohn's colitis, whereas the remaining 38.6% of patients had ileo-colonic involvement. In contrast, the majority of the control population had ileo-colonic involvement (74.3%). Perirectal fistulae were present in 61% of patients with rectal strictures versus 34.3% of controls (p value = 0.001). Perirectal abscesses were present in 50% of rectal stricture patients vs. 17.1% of controls (p value < 0.001). Anal skin tags were observed in 23% of study patients vs. 15.7% of controls (p value = 0.275). 37% of patients with rectal strictures also had strictures more proximal in the colon as compared to 54% of controls (p value = 0.07). Only 10% of the study population had small bowel strictures vs. 55.7% of the controls (p value < 0.001). Conclusions: This observational study of Crohn's disease patients suggests that the majority of patients with rectal strictures have colonic involvement and increased perianal fistulae and abscesses. Only a minority of patients was observed to have ileal or ileo-colonic disease, perianal skin tags, or strictures elsewhere. A future study will examine whether the severity of stricturing disease can tell us anything about the disease distribution, prognosis, or response to treatment. Patients with rectal strictures and associated perirectal disease may represent a specific phenotypic presentation of Crohn's disease that warrants further study and correlation with serological markers so as to better aid this subgroup of patients. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007)
Posttraumatic growth among children and adolescents: a systematic review

Stress and trauma research has traditionally focused on negative sequelae of adversity. Recently, research has begun to focus on positive outcomes, specifically posttraumatic growth (PTG) - "positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with trauma" - which emphasizes the transformative potential of one's experiences with highly stressful events and circumstances. The positive changes of PTG are generally thought to occur in five domains: new possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. The study of PTG has, for the most part, been centered on adults, and not until very recently has there been sufficient research on PTG among children and adolescents to justify a review. The current systematic review of the literature on PTG among children and adolescents included 25 studies that tested associations between PTG and conceptually-relevant variables found to be associated with PTG in adults and hypothesized to play similar roles in young people, including environmental characteristics, distress responses, social processes, psychological processes, positive outcomes, and demographic variables. Links were made between a theoretical model of PTG among youth and findings of the current review. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.