cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prismatic Scanning Method for Improving Visual Acuity in Patients with Low Vision

Frequently, patients with macular lesions and others who are visually handicapped do not receive adequate low vision care by ophthalmologists if a routine trial of low vision aids has no gratifying results. This paper describes for the first time a technique in which functional vision was achieved with the aid of prismatic scanning in patients for whom the usual low vision aids had proved ineffectual. The procedure in which prisms are used to achieve functional vision in patients with macular lesions in uncomplicated, inexpensive, and rapid; indeed, it can be used by an ophthalmologist in routine office practice with existing equipment.
A history of pediatric specialties: the development of pediatric cardiology.

Pediatric cardiology, as a discipline, arose from early descriptive studies of congenital cardiac defects. The development of the stethoscope allowed some clinical diagnoses to be made during life. Cardiology as a medical specialty was limited, mainly, to internists. When Robert Gross ligated a patent ductus in 1938, pediatric cardiology, as a discipline, was born. Physiologic studies, angiography, and the development of extracorporeal circulation allowed congenital cardiac lesions previously considered a curiosity to be diagnosed and treated successfully. The few pediatricians who were interested in cardiology taught themselves, and soon pediatric cardiology training programs developed. By 1961, pediatric cardiology became the first subspecialty board in pediatrics. The past 60 y has brought enormous progress. Cardiac ultrasound, color-flow Doppler, and magnetic resonance imaging have made diagnostic cardiac catheterization almost unnecessary. Instead, interventional cardiac catheterization rapidly developed and is already able to replace surgery in the treatment of a number of cardiac defects. The first 50 y of cardiology has been focused on patient care, education, and clinical research, but the last 10 y has added exciting, basic research discoveries, which are elucidating the cause of cardiac defects with hope for prevention in the future. As a discipline, pediatric cardiology has always required a team—pathologists, physiologists, cardiologists, surgeons, intensivists, interventionists, and anesthesiologists—all playing an important role in the treatment of children with cardiac problems. Today the geneticists, molecular biologists, and other basic scientists are joining the team to ensure an exciting future for pediatric cardiology and the children yet to be born.
Persistent aeolian activity at Endeavour crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars; new observations from orbit and the surface

Abstract Aeolian-driven bedform activity is now known to occur in many regions of Mars, based on surface and orbital observation of contemporary martian ripple and dune mobility events. Many of these sites have only been monitored with sufficient resolution data for the last few Mars years, when the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) began acquiring images of Mars. One exception is the well-monitored Endeavour crater in Meridiani Planum, which was one of the first known sites of unambiguous dune activity (migration and deflation). However, those early detections used lower resolution images over longer temporal baselines (versus the HIRISE data now available), leaving some measurements poorly constrained. New orbital and surface observations of Endeavour show multiple spatial (cm, m, km) and temporal (seasons, Mars year) scales of aeolian-driven surface change, which confirms earlier reports. Dome dunes in the eastern portion of the crater persistently deflate, disseminating dark sand across lighter-toned regolith and/or eroded bright dust, and likely contribute to the crater interior’s episodic decreases in orbital albedo measurements. Other dome dunes are detected with the highest migration rates (4–12 m per Mars year) and volumetric sand fluxes reported yet for Mars. Estimated dune construction times or “turnover times” here and elsewhere on Mars are significantly shorter than martian obliquity cycles, implying that it is not necessary to invoke paleoclimate wind regimes to explain current dune morphologies. Located on the crater rim, the Opportunity rover detected evidence for near- and far-field aeolian-driven activity, with observations of spherules/sand movement in the rover workspace, bedform albedo alteration, and dust-lifting events. Observations of intracrater dunes show periodic shifting dark streaks that significantly constrain local wind regimes (directionality and seasonality). Constraints on wind directions from surface and orbital images show that aeolian bedforms can be extremely active in bi-, and possibly tri-, modal wind regimes, and during periods without major dust storms.
Awareness and Intake of Folic Acid for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects Among Lebanese Women of Childbearing Age

Since the early 1990s, international recommendations have promoted folic acid supplementation during the periconception period as an effective way of preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the adoption of this recommendation remains insufficient. To assess the awareness and actual intake of folic acid among married Lebanese women aged 18-45 years, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 women selected from all five administrative districts in Lebanon, using a multistage cluster sampling procedure. An anonymous questionnaire was completed which covered measures of knowledge and use of folate supplements, as well as demographic, socioeconomic and obstetrical factors. Sixty percent of surveyed women (60%; n = 360) had heard about folic acid. Doctors were the most frequent source of information (61.1%) but only 24.7% of women have been told of the correct period during which folic acid supplementation was useful. Overall, only 6.2% had taken folic acid tablets during the adequate period. Younger age, higher education level and stability/sufficiency of income appeared to be significant predictors of awareness among Lebanese women. Actual folic acid intake was significantly associated with younger age, higher number of pregnancies, planning the last pregnancy and having had that last one after 1990. In Lebanon, the level of folic acid awareness and adequate intake remain relatively low. Several approaches should be used to promote folic acid intake including awareness campaigns, and routine counseling by primary health care physicians on folic acid during preconception visits.
Phase 2 study of carboplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma after progression on bevacizumab therapy.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of carboplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab among recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) patients after prior progression on bevacizumab therapy in a phase 2, open-label, single-arm trial was evaluated. METHODS: Eligible patients received carboplatin (area under the plasma curve [AUC] 4 mg/ml-min) on day 1, whereas bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) and irinotecan (340 mg/m2 for patients on CYP3A enzyme-inducing anti-epileptics [EIAEDs] and 125 mg/m2 for patients not on EIAEDs) were administered on days 1 and 14 of every 28-day cycle. Patients were evaluated after each of the first 2 cycles and then after every other cycle. Treatment continued until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity, noncompliance, or voluntary withdrawal. The primary end point was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS-6), and secondary end points included safety and median overall survival (OS). RESULTS: All patients had progression on at least 1 prior bevacizumab regimen and 56% enrolled after either second or third overall progression. The median OS was 5.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.0-7.0 months) and PFS-6 rate was 16% (95% CI, 5.0%-32.5%). The most common grade 3 or 4 events were hematologic and occurred in 29% of cycles. Nine patients (38%) required dose modification. There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Carboplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab was associated with modest activity and adequate safety among recurrent GBM patients who progressed on bevacizumab previously. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Dynamical behavior for population genetics models of differential and difference equations with nonmonotone fitnesses

This paper studies the dynamical behavior of classical 2-dimensional models of continuously and discretely reproducing diploid populations with two alleles at one locus. The phase variables are allele frequency and population density. The genotype fitnesses are not assumed to be monotonically decreasing functions of density. Hence the mean fitness curve is more complicated than in the monotonic case. If genotype fitnesses are only density dependent, results concerning equilibrium stability are obtained similar to those for the monotonic case, and periodic solutions are precluded in the differential equation model. An example with one-hump genotype fitnesses is presented and analyzed.
A comparative study of diffusion tensor field transformations

Diffusion imaging provides the ability to study white matter connectivity and integrity noninvasively. Diffusion weighted imaging contains orientation information that must be appropriately reoriented when applying spatial transforms to the resulting imaging data. Alexander et al. have introduced two methods to resolve the reorientation problem. In the first method, the rotation matrix is computed from the transform and the tensors are reoriented. The second method called as the preservation of principal direction (PPD) method, takes into account the deformation and rotation components to estimate the rotation matrix. These methods cannot be directly used for higher order diffusion models (e.g. Q-ball). We have introduced a novel technique called gradient rotation where the rotation is directly applied to the diffusion sensitizing gradients providing a voxel by voxel estimate of the diffusion gradients instead of a volume of by volume estimate. A PPD equivalent gradient rotation can be computed using principal component analysis (PCA). Four subjects were spatially normalized to a template subject using a multistage registration sequence that includes nonlinear diffeomorphic demons registration. Comparative results of all four methods have been shown. It can be observed that all the methods work closely to each other, PPD (original and gradient equivalent) being slightly better than rigid rotation, based on the fact that it includes the shear and scale component. Results also demonstrate that the multistage registration is a viable method for spatial normalization of diffusion models.
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil Rainfall

Abstract Reanlysis of the 121 years of annual rainfall data at Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, given in a note by Markham (1974) does not support the conclusion of periodicities or quasi-periodicities in the data. The hypotheses that the data consists of statistically independent observations cannot be rejected at the 10% level based on tests of serial correlation, estimated spectrum and cumulative periodogram.
A note on the static behavior of simply supported laminated piezoelectric cylinders

An exact three-dimensional solution of the equations of linear piezoelectricity is given for the static response of a finite laminated piezoelectric cylinder with its ends simply supported. The equilibrium equations and the conservation of charge equation are constructed in cylindrical coordinates. The three displacement components and the electrostatic potential are expressed in terms of Fourier series in the axial and circumferential directions, leading to a coupled system of four ordinary differential equations in the radial coordinate. The Frobenious method is used to obtain the elastic and electric fields for each layer of the laminate, which are a function of eight constants. Enforcing the boundary and continuity conditions across each interface yields the required number of equations to solve for these constants. Several examples are presented to study the fundamental behavior of these solids.
Final-state interactions in multiphoton-ionization theory

In the final state of a multiphoton-ionization process the ejected electron may interact simultaneously with the external laser field and with the residual atomic system. A procedure for calculating transition probabilities for such processes is described which incorporates the effects of resonances in the final continuum states of the atom. By using standard methods of scattering theory, it is shown how these resonant states may be separated out leaving a "background" amplitude which is a smooth function of the energy, and which therefore lends itself more readily to numerical evaluation. Such an evaluation may be based on the generalized Lippmann-Schwinger integral equation presented here. The constraint imposed by unitarity on the background amplitude is derived, and it is pointed out how approximations may be set up which satisfy unitarity automatically. A simplified model is described in order to illustrate this and other features of the theory and to make contact with some earlier work on this subject. Finally, a low-frequency approximation is developed in which final-state interaction effects are accounted for in a relatively simple analytical form.
Pampang Culture Village and International Tourism in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo

Pampang, a village inhabited by Kenyah Dayaks, an indigenous people of Indonesian Borneo, was recently declared the first "culture village" in the province of East Kalimantan. This study traces the development of "Pampang Culture Village" and examines the incipient effects of tourism on the lives and livelihoods of local people. Even as the village's cultivation as a tourist destination has begun to garner benefits for residents, their role in the enterprise remains ambiguous. Left unresolved, this confusion could contribute to fissures within the community. Another disturbing side effect is the creation of a new arena for competition among native subgroups. Competition for tourists may have negative consequences for whether indigenous peoples can forge and maintain a common identity for themselves in an era of rapid social transformation.
ImageElves: Rapid and Reliable System Updates in the Cloud

Virtualization has significantly reduced the cost of creating a new virtual machine and cheap storage allows VMs to be turned down when unused. This has led to a rapid proliferation of virtual machine images, both active and dormant, in the data center. System management technologies have not been able to keep pace with this growth and the management cost of keeping all virtual machines images, active as well as dormant, updated is significant. In this work, we present ImageElves, a system to rapidly, reliably and automatically propagate updates (e.g., patches, software installs, compliance checks) in a data center. ImageElves analyses all target images and creates reliable image patches using a very small number of online updates. Traditionally, updates are applied by taking the application offline, applying updates, and then restoring the application, a process that is unreliable and has an unpredictable downtime. With ImageElves, we propose a two phase process. In the first phase, images are analyzed to create an update signature and update manifest. In the second phase, downtime is taken and the manifest is applied offline on virtual images in a parallel, reliable and automated manner. This has two main advantages, (i) spontaneously apply updates to already dormant VMs, and (ii) all updates following this process are guaranteed to work reliably leading to reduced and predictable downtimes. ImageElves uses three key ideas: (i) a novel per-update profiling mechanism to divide VMs into equivalence classes, (ii) a background logging mechanism to convert updates on live instances into patches for dormant images, and (iii) a cross-difference mechanism to filter system-specific or random information (e.g., host name, IP address), while creating equivalence classes. We evaluated the ability of ImageElves to speed up mix of popular system management activities and observed upto 80% smaller update times for active instances and upto 90% reduction in update time for dormant instances.
Phase I trial of ATRA-IV and Depakote in patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies.

Retinoic acid derivatives have shown their greatest benefit in acute promyelocytic leukemia, but have also demonstrated pre-clinical anti-cancer effects in some solid tumors. Histone deacetylase inhibitors, by up-regulating gene expression, are able to limit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. The combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid has been previously studied in hematologic malignancies. We conducted a phase I two-step dose escalation trial of the liposomal ATRA analog ATRA-IV and divalproex sodium (Depakote
Changes in Alveolar‐Arterial Oxygen Tension Difference (A‐aDo2) during Variations in Alveolar Ventilation

The alveolar-arterial PO2 difference (A—aDO2) was determined at various levels of alveolar ventilation in anesthetized, tracheotomized dogs, ventilated with room air by means of a volume cycled respirator; the ventilation being changed by varying the tidal volume, keeping the respiratory rate constant.—A decrease in ventilation was accompanied by a marked decrese in A—aDO2, and vice versa: At PaCO2≤30 mm Hg (mean 25.5 mm Hg) A—aDO2 was 28.3 mm Hg (range 18—42 mm Hg), at PaCO2 31–50 mm Hg (mean 41.5 mm Hg) A—aDO2 was 19.3 mm Hg (range 13—30 mm Hg); at PaCO2≥51 mm Hg (mean 60.5 mm Hg).A—aDO2 was 9.7 mm Hg (range 5—14 mm Hg).—Assuming an arterio-venous difference in hemoglobin O2 saturation of 20% and 40%, respectively, the A—aDO2 for the 3 PCO2 intervals were calculated as venous admixture, being 7.1, 10.4 and 23.0%, and 3.7, 5.5 and 13.0%, respectively.—This indicates that reduction of the alveolar ventilation is accompanied by increasing disturbances of the alveolar-arterial gas exchange,—of the nature uneven distribution of ventilation and perfusion, and/or venous admixture.The inverse relationship between the extent of the disturbances of alveolar-arterial gas exchange and A—aDO2 in these studies show that A—aDO2 should only be used for the evaluation of changes in the alveolar-arterial gas exchange when the alveolar ventilation remains unchanged.
Prevalence and consequences of positive blood alcohol levels among patients injured at work.

Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize positive blood alcohol among patients injured at work, and to compare the severity of injury and outcome of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) positive and negative patients. Settings and Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a Level 1 academic trauma center. Patients injured at work between 01/01/07 and 01/01/12 and admitted with positive (BAC+) vs negative (BAC-) blood alcohol were compared using bivariate analysis. Results: Out of 823, 319 subjects were tested for BAC (38.8%), of whom 37 were BAC+ (mean 0.151 g/dL, range 0.015-0.371 g/dL). Age (41 years), sex (97.2% men), race, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality were similar between groups. Nearly half of BAC+ cases were farming injuries (18, 48.6%): Eight involved livestock, five involved all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), three involved heavy equipment, one fell, and one had a firearm injury. Eight (21.6%) were construction site injuries involving falls from a roof or scaffolding, five (13.5%) were semi-truck collisions, four (10.8%) involved falls from a vehicle in various settings, and two (5.4%) were crush injuries at an oilfield. BAC+ subjects were less likely to be injured in construction sites and oilfields, including vehicle-related falls (2.3 vs 33.9%, P < 0.0001). Over half of BAC+ (n = 20, 54%) subjects were alcohol dependent; three (8.1%) also tested positive for cocaine on admission. No BAC+ subjects were admitted to rehabilitation compared to 33 (11.7%) of BAC- subjects. Workers' compensation covered a significantly smaller proportion of BAC+ patients (16.2 vs 61.0%, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Alcohol use in the workplace is more prevalent than commonly suspected, especially in farming and other less regulated industries. BAC+ is associated with less insurance coverage, which probably affects resources available for post-discharge rehabilitation and hospital reimbursement.
Treatment process in the therapeutic community: Associations with retention and outcomes among adolescent residential clients

This study examined associations of a new multidimensional measure of therapeutic community (TC) treatment process, the Dimensions of Change Instrument (DCI), with treatment retention (n = 397) and posttreatment outcomes (n = 207) among adolescent residential clients. Adolescents who increased during the first 30 days in treatment on three of the eight DCI factors (Positive Self-Attitude and Commitment to Abstinence; Problem Recognition; Social Network) were more likely to stay in treatment for 90 days or more. Although change in DCI factor scores was not directly predictive of posttreatment outcomes, staying in treatment for 90 days or more increased the likelihood of attending 12-step meetings and having a 12-step sponsor after leaving treatment. Several demographic and pretreatment characteristics also predicted retention, posttreatment outcomes, or both. Much remains to be learned about how the TC treatment process produces positive outcomes for adolescents; however, results from this study highlight components of the treatment process that may be particularly important for practitioners to consider and monitor in their clients.
A new look at mumps encephalitis: inclusion bodies and cytopathic effects.

Recent studies by Johnson and Johnson have provided new insights into encephalitis complicating mumps and the pathogenicity of mumps virus for the developing brain. Upon inoculation into suckling hamsters mumps virus induces a destructive ependymitis which, upon healing, leads to an obstructive hydrocephalus. Even neuroadapted strains of the agent, however, have been described as non-neurocytopathic, despite the ability to replicate widely in neurons. Typical cytoplasmic inclusions are induced in tissue culture cells, but inclusions have never been recognized in neural tissues, despite the prominence of specific granular immunofluorescence in ependyma and neurons. We have carried out studies in suckling hamsters using a neuropathic strain of virus and employing fixation and staining methods proven superior for neurovirologic studies to resolve these discrepancies. Widespread cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in neurons, ependyma, and choroid plexus. These inclusions had the same distribution as antigen demonstrated by immunofluorescence and of virus aggregates revealed by electron microscopy, but were fewer and less widespread. Associated cytopathic effects were most prominent in ependyma, but were also present in neurons, particularly in the hippocampus.
Headache in Sports

Sports- and exercise-related headaches are not unusual. Despite their frequent occurrence in this context, there are little epidemiologic data concerning sports-related headache. The recent attention of concussive injuries and associated post-traumatic headache has renewed interest in the study of those headaches occurring after head trauma; however, any primary headache type can also occur in the setting of contact and/or collision sports. The nonspecific nature of headaches provides unique challenges to clinicians encountering this complaint. It is, therefore, imperative that physicians treating athletes are able to distinguish the various headache types and presentations often seen in this population.
WATER RELATIONS AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF PROSOPIS GLANDULOSA VAR. TORREYANA IN A SIMULATED PHREATOPHYTIC ENVIRONMENT

Recent studies of Prosopis glandulosa have demonstrated a unique system of a deeply rooted species with significant water stress tolerance. Several growth and developmental characteristics have been correlated with water stress and nitrogen availability during field studies. Here we present a lab experiment in which a phreatophytic regime is simulated and the availability of nitrogen and water are varied. Increased ground water salinity caused lower plant water potentials and greater osmotic adjustment without significant increases in leaf Na+ concentrations. Leaf conductance was higher in the higher salinity treatments. Low water potential was also associated with reduced leaf size, reduced leaf area per plant and increased root to shoot ratio. Specific leaf weight and the transpiration ratio were unaffected by the low water potentials induced by increased salinity. Increasing nitrogen availability caused increased growth rates but did not influence water use efficiency. Net assimilation rates increased with increasing nitrogen availability but relative growth rates were more dependent on overall plant size than treatment conditions. The responses of P. glandulosa to the simulated phreatophytic environment were
r-Selected Traits in an Invasive Population

I compared life-history traits and self-fertilization rates in greenhouse culture of native Spartina alterniflora with an invasive population from a low-density Pacific estuary to see whether plants in the novel r-selective regime exhibit early reproduction, greater self-compatibility and high reproductive effort putting individuals at greater risk of death. Plants were grown from seed collected from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America and a population introduced approximately 100 years ago to Willapa Bay, Washington, USA that has expanded to cover over ca. 6000 hectares. Pacific marshes have almost no native emergent vascular plants in the intertidal habitat, offering a virtually empty niche for invasive S. alterniflora. The low-density plants at the leading edge of this rapidly expanding population suffer a severe Allee effect of greatly reduced fecundity, caused by pollen limitation, compared to high-density areas. I found 99% of the invasive plants initiated reproduction in the first year of this study, while only 52% of the native range plants did so in the first year, followed by 34% in the second and 14% of native plants had not initiated reproduction after three years. The invasive plants had more than twice the reproductive effort of the native plants. Plants with the highest reproductive effort in the first year of growth died regardless of coastal site of origin, although nearly all of those that died over two years were invasive Pacific plants (27%). The invaders set two times the seed as the natives under forced selfing, suggesting greater self-compatibility or reproductive effort. These results suggest either a founding and bottleneck event and/or the invasive population has evolved from the long-lived, predominantly self-incompatible, K-selected state of the probable invasive propagules originating in dense, competitive native marshes.
An organizational behavior model of students' evaluation of instruction

The present study develops and tests an organizational behavior model of students' evaluation of instruction outlining the causal relationships among levels of instruction, feedback, goal-setting, student's accomplishment, and student's instructional evaluation.
Corneal pharmacokinetics of topically applied azithromycin and clarithromycin

Purpose To determine corneal levels of topically administered azithromycin and clarithromycin in a rabbit model. Design Experimental animal study. Methods Corneas of New Zealand albino rabbits were treated with topical azithromycin (2 mg/ml or 4 mg/ml) or clarithromycin (10 mg/ml). Topical azithromycin was prepared from an intravenous solution and topical clarithromycin from a suspension for oral use. All rabbits received one drop every 2 hours on the right eye. Groups of rabbits were treated for the following intervals: 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours (four rabbits for each combination of time point, drug, and dose). Corneal tissue was removed 1 hour after the last application. To investigate stability of tissue azithromycin levels, an additional group of four rabbits was treated for 24 hours, but corneal tissue was not removed until 24 hours later. Samples were homogenized, and drug concentrations were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and bioactivity assay. Results Corneal concentrations of azithromycin increased with drug dosage and duration of application. Rabbits treated with azithromycin tolerated the drug well without signs of irritation. Clarithromycin was undetectable in corneal tissue by HPLC and bioactivity assay for all rabbits. Some rabbits treated with clarithromycin had signs of ocular surface irritation. Conclusion Measurable concentrations of azithromycin are achieved in corneal tissue after topical application in a rabbit model, and the drug is well tolerated. Azithromycin may be a useful antibiotic for the topical treatment of human corneal infections, but clarithromycin, in currently available formulations, may not be effective because of poor tissue penetration.
Cardiopulmonary responses of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) to acute hypercapnia and hypoxia

Abstract While breathing air, burrowing owls had heart rates and blood gases similar to those of other birds, but had lower blood pressures and higher plasma bicarbonate concentrations. Heart rate, blood pressure, and bicarbonate levels of burrowing owls did not change significantly with inspired CO 2 . However, owls inhaling gases with a P I CO 2 > 20 Torr had significantly elevated PaCO 2 and PaO 2 and were acidotic. Plasma bicarbonate concentration of burrowing owls declined significantly at P, O 2 2 and PaCO 2 declined during hypoxia and birds became alkalotic. The normal in vivo buffer line of burrowing owls represents a buffering capacity (31.5 mMol/l/pH unit) exceeding that of most birds, except divers. The cardiopulmonary responses of burrowing owls to hypercapnia and hypoxia are like those of non-burrow dwellers.
New quantitative methods for measuring plasmid loss rates reveal unexpected stability.

Plasmid loss rate measurements are standard in microbiology and key to understanding plasmid stabilization mechanisms. The conventional assays eliminate selection for plasmids at the beginning of the experiment and screen for the appearance of plasmid-free cells over long-term population growth. However, it has been long appreciated in plasmid biology that the growth rate differential between plasmid-free and plasmid-containing cells at some point overshadows the effect of primary loss events, such that the assays can greatly over-estimate inherent loss rates. The standard solutions to this problem are to either consider the very early phase of loss where the fraction of plasmid-free cells increases linearly, or to measure the growth rate difference either by following the population for longer time or by measuring growth rates separately. Here we mathematically show that in all these cases, seemingly small experimental errors in the growth rate estimates can overshadow the estimates of the loss rates. For many plasmids, loss rates may thus be much lower than previously thought, and for some plasmids, the estimated loss rate may have nothing to do with actual loss rates. We further modify two independent experimental methods to separate inherent losses from growth differences and apply them to the same plasmids. First we use a high-throughput microscopy-based approach to screen for plasmid-free cells at extremely short time scales--tens of minutes rather than tens of generations--and apply it to a par⁻ version of mini-R1. Second we modify a counterselection-based plasmid loss assay inspired by the Luria-Delbruck fluctuation test that completely separates losses from growth, and apply it to various R1 and pSC101 derivatives. Concordant results from the two assays suggest that plasmids are lost at a lower frequency than previously believed. In fact, for par⁻ mini-R1 the observed loss rate of about 10⁻³ per cell and generation seems to be so low as to be inconsistent with what we know about the R1 stabilization mechanisms, suggesting these well characterized plasmids may have some additional and so far unknown stabilization mechanisms, for example improving copy number control or partitioning at cell division.
Design and pharmacology of peptoids and peptide-peptoid hybrids based on the melanocortin agonists core tetrapeptide sequence

Abstract A series of N -substituted glycine oligomers (peptoids) and peptide–peptoid hybrids were synthesized based on the Ac-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH 2 tetrapeptide template. The compounds were pharmacologically characterized at the mouse melanocortin receptors (MC1R, MC3R–MC5R) for agonist activity.
Word Processing and WWW Projects in a College Japanese Language Class.

ABSTRACT This paper describes four computer-assisted Japanese language and culture projects using word processing and the World Wide Web (WWW) conducted in a college-level third-year Japanese class, and reports the impact of the projects as assessed by student pre- and post-questionnaires reflective comments from students, and instructor's reflective observation notes. Fourteen students provided their feedback on the four projects that they had engaged in: (1) journal writing; (2) creating a personal home page; (3) a Japanese culture project using the WWW; and (4) a collaborative class fiction using a discussion forum on the WWW. The projects were successful in that students enjoyed word processing, creating Web pages, and collaboratively creating a fiction all in the Japanese language. Students also felt that these projects benefited the overall development of their Japanese language skills, understanding of Japanese culture, and computer skills. They also felt that word processing made writing in Japanese easy. Observations found that students' motivation increased. There was also a significant decrease in students' anxiety toward using computers. Areas of difficulties included kanji recognition in word processing and in reading Web pages and mastering technical skills. This paper offers suggestions tor conducting similar computer projects in foreign language classrooms.
Properties determining choice of mother wavelet

Properties of wavelets with finite as well as infinite support are summarised to facilitate mother wavelet selection in a chosen application. The quantitative guidelines will reduce dependence on trial-and-error schemes resorted to for selection and underscore the importance of such selection in any application of interest. In wavelet-based image sequence superresolution, studied during the last four years, use of a B-spline mother wavelet is justified.
Effects of ascorbic and citric acid on beef lumbar vertebrae marrow colour.

Abstract Citric acid was evaluated as a way of improving ascorbic acid’s ability to stabilize beef lumbar vertebrae colour in high-oxygen packaging (MAP; 80% O 2 /20% CO 2 ). Vertebrae were treated with citric acid (1%, 3%, or 10%), ascorbic acid (1%, 3%, or 10%), or a combination of both. Citric acid demonstrated no positive effects ( P > 0.05), compared with ascorbic acid, which inhibited ( P ∗ ; P P P > 0.05) on vertebrae colour.
Rules and connections in human language

Abstract Recently ‘connectionist’ or ‘parallel distributed processing’ (PDP) approaches to brain modelling have attracted an enormous amount of attention. These models are said to be faithful to neurophysiological and to behavioral data in a way that previous approaches based on symbolic computation were not. A PDP simulation by Rumelhart and McClelland of children's acquisition of the past tense in English has been one of the most famous demonstrations of the advantages of the connectionist approach. In a recent special issue of the journal Cognition devoted to Connectionism and Symbol Systems, Steven Pinker and Alan Prince examine this model and the relevant data in great detail, finding severe limitations in the ability of current PDP models to explain human language and cognition. The key points of their analysis are summarised in the following article.
Apolipoprotein B messenger RNA editing: An update

Apolipoprotein (apo) B mRNA editing consists of a C-->U conversion of the first base of the codon CAA encoding glutamine 2153 in apoB mRNA to UAA, a stop codon. The cDNA for an apoB mRNA editing protein was recently cloned in rat and human. The human protein contains 236 amino acid residues and exists as a homodimer. The editing protein edits apoB mRNA in vitro only in the presence of tissue complementation factors. There is a leucine-rich motif spanning residues 173-210 of the protein which may be involved in homodimer formation and/or interaction with complementation factors. The requirements for these factors support the existence of an editosome involved in apoB mRNA editing.
Determination of spin-label orientation within the myosin head

Abstract Current methods of analyzing EPR spectra of spin-labeled muscle fibers allow the determination of spin-label orientation within the fiber, rather than the orientation of the myosin head itself. In order to describe the orientational distribution of spin labeled myosin heads within the muscle fibers, the orientation of the spin label within the myosin head must be known. The iodoacetamide label orientation in the myosin head was determined to be (16.8 degrees, 28.3 degrees, 4.2 degrees) or (16.6 degrees, 72.0 degrees, 4.3 degrees). These Eulerian angles were obtained from the analysis of EPR spectra of fibers decorated with labeled myosin heads in the absence of ATP, with the assumption that the head's tilt angle is 40 degrees, as observed in a recent EM study [Pollard, T., Bhandari, D., Maupin, P., Wachsstock, D., Weeds, A. & Zot, H. (1993) Biophys. J. 64, 454-471]. Knowledge of spin-label orientation will allow for quantitative determination of myosin head orientation in the various states of the contractile cycle.
SURFACE AREA FORMATION IN DRY FGD SORBENTS

Abstract Dry flue gas desulfurization (DFGD) technologies are being developed which require sorbents with high specific surface areas capable of large sulfur dioxide uptake. Specifically, novel methods of controlling S02 in a fiuidized bed absorber are being studied which will have the capability of isothermal operation at optimum temperature for S02 uptake with alkaline sorbents. This paper reports on a study of surface area development with respect to time for three sorbent materials (pure calcium carbonate, dolomitic limestone and pressure hydrated dolomitic limestone) undergoing thermal decomposition in the temperature range of 600-850°C (1100-1550°F). Two of these sorbents (calcium carbonate and dolomitic limestone) confirm observations made by others of a lag time between recrystalization of the product from the reactant and the development of the maximum surface area. A model is presented which predicts the surface area development by accounting for the surface area generated by thermal decompositi...
Redesign of a statewide teaching certificate program for pharmacy residents.

Objectives. To identify and assess changes made to the Indiana Pharmacy Resident Teaching Certificate program over 10 years to adapt to the growing number and changing needs of pharmacy educators i...
Laser Polarization Spectroscopy

AbstractPolarization spectroscopy makes use of the polarization dependence of the nonlinear interaction between twolaser beams in a gaseous medium. The laser- induced optical anisotropy is calculated using a rate equationapproach, and the effect of this anisotropy on a polarized probe beam is derived. The method is useful forDoppler -free spectroscopy, for similification of molecular spectra, and for relaxation studies. A comparisonwith other Doppler -free saturation spectroscopy methods shows an advantage in signal -to -noise for polarization spectroscopy. Recent high resolution experiments with hydrogen, molecular sodium, and nitrogen dioxide are presented. IntroductionLaser polarization spectroscopy) uses polarized light to selectively label and detect a group of atoms ormolecules in a gas. Molecules can be oriented by optical pumping with polarized laser light. These orientedatoms can be sensitively detected through their depolarizing effect on a probe laser beam. This ability toprobe a selected group of molecules has proved useful for high resolution Doppler -free spectroscopy (the zerovelocity molecules are observed) and for simplification of complex molecular absorption spectra (a specificrotational -vibrational ground state is probed). In this paper, the basic theory for polarization spectroscopywill be reviewed with emphasis on parameters of concern to the experimentalist such as lineshapes and signal
The Outward Bound Final Expedition: Exploring the Effect of Instructor Positioning on the Student Experience

There is a need to investigate specific components and their influence on participant outcomes within Wilderness Experience Programs (Ewert & McAvoy, 2000; McKenzie, 2000; Schuman, Paisley, Sibthorp, & Gookin, 2009). This study examines one component of the Outward Bound wilderness program â€“ the Final Expedition. The Final Expedition is a student-led portion of the wilderness expedition. Recent research has shown the Final Expedition to be one of the most memorable and significant course components from post-course surveys at Outward Bound Singapore (Gassner, Kahlid, & Russell, 2006), the National Outdoor Leadership School (Sibthorp, Paisley, Gookin & Furman, 2008) and Montreat College's Discovery Wilderness Expedition (Daniel, 2003). There is also agreement among many scholars that instructors have a significant influence on successful participant experiences in wilderness programs (Ewert & McAvoy, 2000; Hattie, Marsh, Neill & Richards, 1997; Kalisch, 1999; McKenzie, 2000). The role of the instructor(s) in the individual and group process remains one of the most important variables in the Wilderness Experience Program (Hattie et al., 1997; Kalisch, 1999). The success of the program rests largely in the hands of the instructors who are in direct contact with the students in the wilderness. Their ability to effectively provide skill training, group facilitation, individual support and adaptive programming greatly affects the participant's experience (Kalisch, 1999).
Simulation of irradiation-induced creep in nickel

Abstract An experimental technique has been developed to simulate neutron irradiation-induced creep by charged particle bombardment. The experimental apparatus permits on-line computer monitoring of experimental parameters while temperature, stress, and flux are maintained at the desired levels. A typical result obtained with a 0.38 mm (0.015 in.) thick, high-purity nickel specimen bombarded with 22 MeV deuterons at 224°C (435°F) and at a stress of 345 MPa (50.12 ksi) is presented. The result demonstrates that charged particle irradiation can successfully be used to simulate irradiation-induced creep reproducibly in materials whose thickness is typical of nuclear fuel cladding.
Regulation of apoptotic and growth inhibitory activities of C/EBPα in different cell lines

C/EBPalpha is expressed in many tissues and inhibits cell growth. In this paper, we have examined mechanisms which regulate activities of C/EBPalpha in cell lines derived from different tissues. We found that C/EBPalpha possesses strong pro-apoptotic activity in NIH3T3 cells, while this activity is not detected in 3T3-L1, Hep3B2 and HEK293 cells. Micro-array data show that C/EBPalpha activates many genes of apoptosis signaling in NIH3T3 cells. One of these genes, ARL6IP5, is a direct target of C/EBPalpha and is a key mediator of the apoptosis. Using C/EBPalpha mutants which do not cause cell death; we have found that C/EBPalpha does not arrest proliferation of NIH3T3 cells. The lack of growth arrest in NIH3T3 cells correlates with the inhibition of p16INK4 and with low levels of cyclin D3. The limited growth inhibitory activity of C/EBPalpha is also observed in Hep3B2 cells which express low levels of cyclin D3. Elevation of cyclin D3 restores growth inhibitory activity of C/EBPalpha in NIH3T3 and in Hep3B2 cells. These data show that apoptotic and growth inhibitory activities of C/EBPalpha are differentially regulated in different cells and that cooperation of cyclin D3 and C/EBPalpha is required for the inhibition of proliferation.
Cardiac effects of burn injury complicated by aspiration pneumonia-induced sepsis

Early fluid resuscitation, antimicrobials, early excision, and grafting have improved survival in the early postburn period; however, a significant incidence of pneumonia-related sepsis occurs afte...
A Probabilistic Model of Social Choice: Comment'

1. In a recent paper Intriligator [9] examines an " average rule " for selecting a lottery on the alternatives in a social choice context in which each of m individuals (i = 1, ..., m) has a choice-probability vector (q,1, ..., qin) on the alternatives A1, ..., A. with qij > 0 for each (i, j) and Yjqij = 1 for each i. The number qij " is the probability that individual i would choose alternative Ai if he could act alone in deciding among the alternatives ". The general class of social choice rules considered in [9] consists of those rules which assign a " social probability vector" to each m-tuple of individual probability vectors. Within
Flow and cooperative learning in civic game play

Flow theory offers an individualistic explanation of media enjoyment, while cooperative learning theory posits a social explanation for enhanced learning in groups. This classroom-based experimental study examines whether game players can experience both conditions and the influence of each on several types of civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions. We find that high quality cooperative learning contributed to acquiring civic knowledge and skills. In contrast, flow was more influential for developing dispositions to empathy and interest in learning more about the game topics. Thus, we conclude that players can experience flow while engaged in cooperative learning, but that these two conditions may support different kinds of civic learning.
Insight into spontaneous recurrent calcium waves in a 3-D cardiac cell based on analysis of a 1-D deterministic model

Calcium dynamics in a cardiac cell are described by a system of 3-D non-linear stochastic partial differential equations. To obtain solutions that have biophysical properties, it is necessary to explore the model parameter space. To decrease the complexity of the parameter search, we reduce the 3-D stochastic model to a 1-D deterministic model. The reduction of the problem from 3-D to 1-D is done through an asymptotic approximation after non-dimensionalization and based on rational biophysical assumptions of the 3-D domain; the stochastic to deterministic transformation is based on the regular property of the 3-D solution. The result of the model reduction proves very effective in reducing the time required to get qualitative as well as quantitative information about parameter regions in the 3-D stochastic model including calcium dynamics (sparks, wave propagation, and recovery) observed in cardiac cells.