cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new way of thinking about computational thinking

Computational Thinking has emerged as an enduring metaphor in teaching and thinking about Computer Science since Jeanette Wing brought the term to our attention in a 2006 CACM article. Computational thinking involves abstraction, but a definition that is too abstract does not help in explaining computational thinking to someone who doesn't already have an intuitive idea of what it is:
Papillary lung adenocarcinoma with psammomatous calcifications.

Abstract We present the case of a 71 y/o man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who presented with 3 weeks of cough, phlegm, fever, and failed outpatient antibiotic therapy for pneumonia. CT of the chest showed unilateral interstitial changes and bronchoscopic biopsies demonstrated primary lung papillary adenocarcinoma and extensive concentric psammomatous calcifications.
Beyond Knowledge Ventriloquism and Echo Chambers: Raising the Quality of the Debate in Teacher Education

Background/ContextFor over two decades, there has been a steady call for deregulating U.S. teacher education, closing down allegedly poor quality college and university programs, and creating great...
3D-Printable PP/SEBS Thermoplastic Elastomeric Blends: Preparation and Properties.

Currently, material extrusion 3D printing (ME3DP) based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) is considered a highly adaptable and efficient additive manufacturing technique to develop components with complex geometries using computer-aided design. While the 3D printing process for a number of thermoplastic materials using FDM technology has been well demonstrated, there still exists a significant challenge to develop new polymeric materials compatible with ME3DP. The present work reports the development of ME3DP compatible thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) materials from polypropylene (PP) and styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers using a straightforward blending approach, which enables the creation of tailorable materials. Properties of the 3D printed TPEs were compared with traditional injection molded samples. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the 3D printed sample were lower than the injection molded samples. However, no significant differences could be found in the melt rheological properties at higher frequency ranges or in the dynamic mechanical behavior. The phase morphologies of the 3D printed and injection molded TPEs were correlated with their respective properties. Reinforcing carbon black was used to increase the mechanical performance of the 3D printed TPE, and the balancing of thermoplastic elastomeric and mechanical properties were achieved at a lower carbon black loading. The preferential location of carbon black in the blend phases was theoretically predicted from wetting parameters. This study was made in order to get an insight to the relationship between morphology and properties of the ME3DP compatible PP/SEBS blends.
Prognostic value of serum tumor marker (STM) rate of decline during high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and peripheral-blood stem-cell transplant (PBSCT) for relapsed germ-cell tumors (rGCT).

e16044Background: Rate of STM decline is prognostic in patients (pts) with metastatic GCT receiving first-line chemotherapy. We investigated the prognostic value of STM decline in pts with rGCT tre...
Selective Defluoroallylation of Trifluoromethylarenes.

We report a fluoride-initiated coupling reaction between trifluoromethylarenes and allylsilanes to access allylated α,α-difluorobenzylic compounds. This method’s utility is demonstrated through a 30 mmol scale reaction, a sequential allylation/derivatization protocol and multiple examples of site-selective trifluoromethylarene allylation. Initial mechanistic studies suggest a base-induced single electron transfer pathway is responsible for the high efficiency and selectivity of this novel C–F substitution process.
An assessment of sense of belonging in higher education among student service members/veterans.

The health, well-being, and integration of student service members/veterans (SSM/Vs) into higher education has become a growing focal point for college health practitioners and researchers. Methods...
Optimal Combinations of Utility Level Renewable Generators for a Net Zero Energy Microgrid Considering Different Utility Charge Rates

High initial investment and the intermittent nature of resources are major challenges for large scale renewable generation. The size of photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) farms in the microgrid needs optimized to avoid curtailment and to efficiently meet the demand of a power system. Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) may also be used to improve flexibility. This paper explores the optimal sizing for PV and wind generators, as well as a BESS at the utility level for a large grid-connected net zero energy (NZE) hybrid microgrid considering characteristics such as initial investment, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), operating costs, net present cost (NPC), and renewable fraction. Multi-objective formal optimizations were formulated as single objective problems with constraints and solved using the HOMER Pro computational engine. Ten optimizations with different utility charge rates are performed using actual data for the load profile, weather, and utility buy-back rates of Glasgow, KY. Simulation results demonstrated that various utility charge rates result in different optimal sizes for the solar PV and the WT farms, as well as for the BESS capacity.
Hearing the Present, Remembering the Past: “Aural History” from Charlie Haden and John Zorn

The representation of the past in “postmodern” musical works is often seen as a rejection of coherent historical narratives. Works featuring a mixture of styles (“polystylism”), “borrowed” sounds (...
Pan Americanism Above Ground: Bolívar in the United States

On the first floor of the Organization of American States (OAS) Building in Washington, D.C., just beyond the interior courtyard famous for the hybrid rubber and fig tree planted by William Howard Taft in 1910, symbolizing the intertwining of “south and north,” the Peace Tree, as it is known, and through the newly named Marcus Garvey Hall of Culture, sits the Simon Bolivar Room. This large room where the 34-member states conduct the business of the organization is bracketed by two miniature equestrian statues of Bolivar, the one at its main entrance from Garvey Hall, the other opposite, at its patio entrance from the OAS gardens. Inside, a portrait of Bolivar, the only object on the wall facing the raised table of the OAS chair and OAS president, watches over delegates at their respective seats, half of them with the portrait to their left, the other half to their right.
Chapter 53 – Eye

The Eye chapter of the 3rd edition of Haschek and Rousseaux’s Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology brings a comprehensive description of pathological processes affecting the ocular tissues in the most commonly used laboratory animals and their correlations with human diseases of interest in toxicology. Also presented are detailed descriptions of the structure and function of the different ocular tissues, the most advanced techniques applied in the toxicological evaluation of the eye, useful animal models of human disease, and known mechanisms of ocular toxicity. The introductory sections of the chapter also feature such essential topics as ocular embryology, an overview of clinical ophthalmic evaluation, and eye-specific techniques of tissue processing.
Doctors are seen as Godlike: Moral typecasting in medicine.

Abstract Objective Doctors are generally thought of as very intelligent and capable. This perception has upsides—doctors are afforded respect and esteem—but it may also have downsides, such as neglecting the mental and physical health of physicians. Two studies examine how Americans “typecast” doctors as Godlike “thinkers” who help others, rather than as vulnerable “feelers” who might themselves need help. Method and results Study 1 examines how a representative sample of Americans (N = 681) view the mental capacities of doctors compared to other targets (including patients, other workers, and God). Result show that people see physicians as highly capable of the thinking-related capacities of thinking, remembering, self-control, and planning (equal to that of God), but less capable of the feeling-related capacities of experiencing fear, pain, embarrassment, and hunger. Study 2 (N = 451) examines whether physician typecasting impacts other domains. People believe that, relative to the average working professional, physicians are better able to ignore physical and mental health issues, and physician job performance is less impacted by bodily and emotional limitations. Discussion We discuss implications for medical practice, especially the growing epidemic of physician burnout.
Tempering Expectations: A Qualitative Study of Prosecutorial Reform:

Objectives:We investigate path dependence and barriers to the acceptance and implementation of reform-minded prosecution, which focuses on reducing unnecessary incarceration, promoting fairness, en...
La prensa política de mujeres en el Cono Sur 1900-1950

Este articulo presenta un analisis comparado de la prensa politica de mujeres en los paises del Cono Sur (Argentina, Uruguay y Chile) entre 1900 y 1950. El contexto son los cambios modernizadores que posibilitan nuevas subjetividades que se tradujeron en discursos feministas. Se define feminismo para el Cono Sur en la primera mitad del siglo XX, se definen cuatro tipos de prensa politica de y para mujeres. El analisis se realiza considerando un marco teorico del espacio publico y la teoria feminista. Se plantea que la prensa politica de y para mujeres permitio la articulacion de grupos con objetivos politicos particulares y expreso una diversidad de discursos feministas. Ademas, fue la manifestacion de nuevas practicas culturales que transgredian las concepciones tradicionales sobre lo femenino. La prensa entrego las mismas posibilidades para que las mujeres la asumieran como un medio de expresion, encuentro y consolidacion de las nuevas figuras femeninas que representaban.
The effect of institutional constraints on the success of universal service policies: A comparison between Latin America and the World

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of universal service programs. The statistical results, which compare the world with Latin America, indicate that universal service funds have not led to increases in the number of fixed telephone lines but they show a positive relationship with the number of public phones. Of the institutional variables that were included, the presence of the regulator as well as its number of employees has a positive relationship with the payphone infrastructure. Overall the research suggests that these programs have positive effects for universal access and governments are encouraged to continue them.
Impact of firm performance expectations on CEO turnover and replacement decisions

Abstract Our analysis suggests that boards focus on deviation from expected performance, rather than performance alone, in making the CEO turnover decision, especially when there is agreement (less dispersion) among analysts about the firm's earnings forecast or there are a large number of analysts following the firm. In addition, our results suggest that boards are more likely to appoint a CEO that will change firm policies and strategies (i.e., an outsider) when forecasted 5-year EPS growth is low and there is greater uncertainty (more dispersion) among analysts about the firm's long-term forecasts.
Applying Property Pricing Models to Estimate a Foreclosure Discount in the Hotel Real Estate Sector

This study investigates the magnitude of the foreclosure sale discount in the hotel sector. The foreclosure sales discount is captured using three different models: hedonic, hybrid, and repeat sale...
Private Landowner Attitudes Concerning Public Access for Outdoor Recreation: Cultural and Political Factors in the United States

Abstract In this article issues concerning national commonalities and regional differences in the United States regarding private land and outdoor recreation are reviewed. Based on the particular cultural and political backgrounds of each region, it is hypothesized that landowners will exhibit degrees of differences in their attitudes regarding public access to private land. Data is from the latest decennial survey, the National Private Landowners Survey (NPLOS 1995-96), as well as from per capita state and local government spending on recreation, provided from the 1992 Census of Government. There is a discussion of the philosophical views on land in the United States, with some specifics for each region. It was found that there is a positive relationship between allowing public access to private land and the regional, state, and local spending on parks and recreation. The historical cultural differences between regions also seem to be of some importance, though not conclusive. Implications for marketing ...
A delay-aware and secure data forwarding scheme for urban sensing networks

People-centric urban sensing is envisioned as a novel urban sensing paradigm. Communication delay and security are two important design issues in urban sensing network. To address these two issues concurrently, we propose a novel DElay-Aware secuRe (DEAR) forwarding scheme by combining secret sharing and two-phase message forward. In DEAR scheme, the collected data is first split into pieces. Each piece is being relayed to the application data server through a randomly selected delivery node. The combination of secret sharing scheme and two-phase message forward ensures confidentiality of the collected data and anonymity of the participating users. It also makes it infeasible for the application data server to estimate the source node identity. Moreover, DEAR provides redundancy in message forwarding to achieve high message delivery ratio. This design makes the trade-off between security and communication delay adjustable based on selection of the (k, n) scheme.
The role of ion cyclotron motion at Ganymede: Magnetic field morphology and magnetospheric dynamics

magnetosphere. The multi-fluid model was validated by Paty and Winglee [2004] demonstrating good correlation to magnetometer observations from the G28 flyby. When using the same incident conditions Paty and Winglee [2004] found that regions of energetic particle flux at Ganymede’s ionosphere in the model occurred at the same location as aurora observed on Ganymede’s upstream facing side [Feldman et al., 2000]. The model used in this investigation differs from Paty and Winglee [2004] in two ways which are detailed in the ‘Methods’ section. First, the numerical algorithm was updated, and most importantly, a higher resolution grid system was implemented which improved the correlation between magnetometer data
An Expert System Framework for the Preliminary Design of Process Flowsheets

Process design is a complex and ill-defined activity whose structure has largely been unexplored. An information processing analysis of process design suggests two distinct problem spaces called Design Conception and Design Refinement. Within each, several generically defined design tasks that transform design inputs into desired products can be identified. Integration of the tasks gives rise to a supervisory framework that has the necessary functionality for carrying out the information processing in process design. The framework has been illustrated in the paper using an industrial standard design problem for producing ethanol using molasses and bio-reactions. Using the framework as a basis, an architecture for a design expert system is developed.
Rangewide molecular structuring in the Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens)

The Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens) is endemic to the Bonneville Basin and the upper Snake River drainage in western North America, and is thought to hybridize with the federally endangered June sucker (Chasmistes liorus mictus) in Utah Lake (Bonneville Basin). Here we describe the discovery of a major subdivision in Utah suckers (4.5% mitochondrial sequence divergence) between the ancient Snake River drainage and the Bonneville Basin. This boundary has not previously been recognized in Utah suckers based on morphologic variation, but has been recently described in two endemic cyprinids in the region. Populations in valleys east of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah clustered with the Snake River populations, suggesting that these valleys may have had an ancient hydrologic connection to the Snake River. We also found evidence of population isolation within the Bonneville Basin, corresponding to two Pleistocene sub-basins of the ancient Lake Bonneville. In contrast, we found no molecular evidence for deep divergence between Utah suckers and June suckers in Utah Lake or for a history of hybridization between divergent lineages in that population, although we recognize that demographic events may have obscured this signal. These findings suggest that the morphological differences between Utah and June suckers in Utah Lake may be the result of strong, and relatively recent, ecological selection. In summary, morphological and molecular characters seem to vary along different axes in different portions of the range of this taxon, providing an interesting system for studying the contributions of neutral and adaptive variation to species diversity.
The infrared detectors for the wide field camera 3 on HST

ABSTRACT We present the performance of the IR detectors developed for the WFC3 project. These are HgCdTe 1K × 1K devices with cutoff wavelength at 1.7µ m and 150K operating temperature. The two selected flight parts, FPA#64 (prime) and FPA#59 (spare) show quantum efficiency higher than 80% at =1.6 µ m and greater than 40% at >1.1 µ m, readout noise of ~25 e - rms with double correlated sampling, and mean dark current of ~0.04 e/s/pix at 150K. We also report the results obtained at NASA GSFC/DCL on these and ot her similar devices in what concerns the QE long-term stability, intra-pixel response, and dark current variation following illumination or reset. 1. INTRODUCTION The Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) is the last imager built for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). It is intended to replace the WFPC2, extending the wide-field imaging capabilities of the HST. It is based on two optical channels covering with diffraction limited performance the entire wavelength range between 2000A and 1.72 µ m (see Kimble et al., 2004 for an updated report on the status and performance of the instrument). Following the cancellation of the next servicing mission to the HST, WFC3 is now consider ed for installation by an unmanned robotic spacecraft. The infrared channel of WFC3 spans between 0.8µ m and 1.72 µ m. The minimum of background emission at the focal plane of the HST falls within this range ( ~1.6 µ m), at the intersection between the zodiacal scattering and the thermal emission of the warm (~300K, Robberto et al. 2000) HST optical assembly. An IR detector with responsivity peaking in this spectral region, i.e. with long wavelength cutoff at ~1.7 µ m, can be operated at relatively high temperatures (~150K) while keeping the dark current at an acceptably low level, due to the relatively large band-gap. Since temperatures ~150K can be achieved and maintained indefinitely by thermoelectric coolers, unlike disposable cryogenic fluids like LN
Predicting the effectiveness of keyword queries on databases

Keyword query interfaces (KQIs) for databases provide easy access to data, but often suffer from low ranking quality, i.e. low precision and/or recall, as shown in recent benchmarks. It would be useful to be able to identify queries that are likely to have low ranking quality to improve the user satisfaction. For instance, the system may suggest to the user alternative queries for such hard queries. In this paper, we analyze the characteristics of hard queries and propose a novel framework to measure the degree of difficulty for a keyword query over a database, considering both the structure and the content of the database and the query results. We evaluate our query difficulty prediction model against two relevance judgment benchmarks for keyword search on databases, INEX and SemSearch. Our study shows that our model predicts the hard queries with high accuracy. Further, our prediction algorithms incur minimal time overhead.
Interpolative Adaptive Vector Quantization

Adaptive vector quantization with interpolation has been applied to the problem of edge degradation. An activity index A has been devised and used to classify the image into active and non-active regions according to the level of local detail. The non-active blocks were encoded by sampling and decoded by interpolation. Each active block was split into four smaller blocks which were coded by vector quantization. The number of samples extracted from each non-active block equals the size of the small blocks. So, each non-active block can be quantized with the same codebook. Thus, only one codebook was required. This greatly reduces the encoding and decoding computational effort. Computer simulation experiments have been carried out with an image of 256x256 pixels, 8 bit quantization and of medium detail level. The rate distortion curves obtained have shown that the adaptive interpolative encoding scheme outperforms alternative non-adaptive coding methods. Moreever, the edge information in the reconstructed image is well preserved . This was achieved at coding bit rates in the range of 0.8 to 1.0 bits per pixel.
Neuroplasticity and Brain Imaging Research: Implications for Rehabilitation

Advanced brain imaging technologies have been used recently to investigate neuroplasticity in relation to recovery and treatment of neurologic injury and disease. The contributors to this supplement present data and synthesize the extant literature on the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, optical imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation to study remodeling of cortical representation of motor and cognitive abilities after stroke and other etiologies of neurologic impairment. In general, the collective findings of these studies support use-dependent neuroplasticity as a mechanism of recovery and response to training. Brain imaging findings support the role of training effects on increased activation of brain regions ipsilateral to unilateral vascular lesions in facilitating recovery from stroke. The articles in this supplement also report the potential therapeutic application of stimulation techniques to enhance reorganization of function.
Recursion in the paragraph as a unit of discourse development

This paper investigates recursion in the paragraph, discussing it in the context of grammatical hierarchy and illustrating it by the use of natural texts. The paragraph is considered to be a struct...
Estimates of the infection rates for poliomyelitis virus in the years preceding the poliomyelitis epidemics of 1916 in New York and 1945 on Mauritius.

Data concerning numerous severe epidemics of poliomyelitis were surveyed for information useful in estimating the size of the immune component of the population by age groups of 1 year. The New York epidemic of 1916 and the Mauritius epidemic of 1945 were chosen as the most suitable for this purpose. It is shown that there was a regularly progressive decline in attack rates for successively older age groups from 2 to 8 years in New York. The attack rate in 8-year-olds was less than 10 % as large as that in 2-year-olds. It is noted that a difference of this magnitude could be accounted for by immunizing infections amounting to 30 % per year for 6 years. A similar analysis of age specific attack rates during the Mauritius epidemic shows progressive declines of 28, 60, 50 and 53 % for the successive age groups 5–9. An average annual infection rate of 45 % over a 4 year period could account for the ten-fold difference in infection rates between 5-year-olds and 9-year-olds. An immunizing infection rate of 30 % a year would lead to a pattern of immunity in which the seven youngest age groups had a total susceptible component of 30 % at the beginning of a ‘ poliomyelitis season’. Twenty per cent would remain susceptible at the end of the season when spread of virus terminated. An annual immunizing infection rate of 45 % would bring about a situation in which 21 % of the five youngest age groups were susceptible at the start of a period of viral prevalence and 12 % at the end. Alternatively, one could consider that on Mauritius there may have been a continuous prevalence of virus in a population in which approximately 15 % of the five youngest age groups were susceptible at any time. It is suggested that the essentially similar attack rates among children 3–5 years old on Mauritius may have reflected a 3-year period during which homotypic virus was not prevalent, in contrast to its great prevalence during the years prior to that time. A more detailed discussion and analysis of additional data concerning age-specific attack rates in poliomyelitis will be found in the thesis submitted by Dr Sample to the University of Washington School of Medicine entitled, ‘Some observations on statistical and theoretical epidemiology of infectious diseases, principally poliomyelitis’, in 1955. This is obtainable by Inter-library Loan from the Health Sciences Library, University of Washington, Seattle. We wish to express our sincere thanks to Dr Blair M. Bennett and Dr William E. Reynolds of the University of Washington for their advice on the statistical and epidemiologic aspects of this study.
High-throughput selection of transmembrane sequences that enhance receptor tyrosine kinase activation

Dimerization is a critical requirement for the activation of the intracellular kinase domains of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The single transmembrane (TM) helices of RTKs contribute to dimerization, but the details are not well understood. Work with TM helices in various model systems has revealed a small number of specific dimerization sequence motifs, and it has been suggested that RTK dimerization is modulated by such motifs. Yet questions remain about the universality of these sequence motifs for RTK dimerization and about how TM domain dimerization in model systems relates to RTK activation in mammalian membranes. To investigate these questions, we designed a 3888-member combinatorial peptide library based on the TM domain of Neu (ErbB2) as a model RTK. The library contains many closely related, Neu-like sequences, including thousands of sequences with known dimerization motifs. We used an SDS-PAGE-based screen to select peptides that dimerize better than the native Neu sequence, and we assayed the activation of chimeric Neu receptors in mammalian cells with TM sequences selected in the screen. Despite the very high abundance of known dimerization motifs in the library, only a very few dimerizing sequences were identified by SDS-PAGE. About half of those sequences activated the Neu kinase significantly more than did the wild-type TM sequence. This work furthers our knowledge about the requirements for membrane protein interactions and the requirements for RTK activation in cells.
The use of recombinant activated coagulation factor VII for spine surgery.

This article focuses on our current understanding of the role of activated coagulation factor VII (FVIIa) in coagulation, the current evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa), and thoughts regarding the use of rFVIIa in spine surgery. rFVIIa is approved in many countries (including the European Union and the USA) for patients with hemophilia and inhibitors (antibodies) to coagulation factors VIII or IX. High circulating concentrations of FVIIa, achieved by exogenous administration, initiate hemostasis by combining with tissue factor at the site of injury, producing thrombin, activating platelets and coagulation factors II, IX and X, thus providing for the full thrombin burst that is essential for hemostasis. This “bypass” therapy has led some clinicians to use rFVIIa “off-label” for disorders of hemostasis other than hemophilia. Based on clinical experience, case reports and limited information from clinical trials, rFVIIa may be efficacious in states of decreased concentration of coagulation factors, thrombocytopenia, and at least some states of altered platelet function. The former two can occur intra-operatively during spinal surgery as a consequence of substantial blood loss and normal consumption. Preliminary reports have indicated that rFVIIa does not increase the perioperative incidence of thromboembolic events. However, full reports from large clinical trials regarding the efficacy and safety of rFVIIa in settings other than hemophilia have yet to appear in peer-reviewed publications. Until adequate data demonstrating safety and efficacy are fully reported, it would seem appropriate to reserve the use of rFVIIa in spinal surgery to those instances where conventional therapy cannot provide adequate hemostasis, and “rescue” therapy is required.
SCPP Gene Evolution and the Dental Mineralization Continuum

Many genes critical to vertebrate skeletal mineralization are members of the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) gene family, which has evolved by gene duplication from a single ancestral gene. In humans, mutations in some of these SCPP genes have been associated with various diseases related to dentin or enamel hypoplasia. Recently, systematic searches for SCPP genes of various species have allowed us to investigate the history of phylogenetically variable dental tissues as a whole. One important conclusion is that not all disease-associated SCPP genes are present in tetrapods, and teleost fish probably have none, even in toothed species, having acquired their complement of SCPP genes through an independent duplication history. Here, we review comparative analyses of mineralized dental tissues, with particular emphasis on the use of SCPPs, within and between tetrapods and teleosts. Current knowledge suggests a close relationship among bone, dentin, teleost fish enameloid (enamel-like hard tissue), and tetrapod enamel. These tissues thus form a mineralized-tissue continuum. Contemporary dental tissues have evolved from an ancestral continuum through lineage-specific modifications.
Flow visualization of mixed convection in large baffled rectangular chambers with and without internal heat sources

Abstract The effects of mixed convection on the flow structure of large baffled chambers with and without internal heat sources have been studied. The two-dimensional numerical formulation involved solving the incompressible time-dependent laminar Navier-Stokes equations assuming a Boussinesq fluid with Pr =0.7 . Quantitative velocity data from a flow visualization study using 2 μm Silahydrocarbon aerosol droplets were compared to the numerical solutions with good agreement. However, the end effects in the third dimension did have a significant effect on the development of the flow structure.
Perinatal Onset Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency

Defects in mevalonate kinase, a critical rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol and isoprene metabolism, have been associated with 2 clinical phenotypes: mevalonic aciduria, which presents in infancy or early childhood with growth failure, dysmorphic features, and neurologic disease; and hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever syndrome, which usually presents outside the neonatal period as an autoinflammatory periodic fever syndrome. This report describes a kindred with 2 siblings affected by severe mevalonate kinase deficiency (mevalonic aciduria) with perinatal onset. Dysmorphic and central nervous system abnormalities, anemia, and cholestasis were prominent features in 1 sibling. Both cases were fatal, 1 in the immediate neonatal period and 1 in utero. The small number of cases of mevalonate kinase deficiency presenting in the perinatal period have typically been severely affected, with signs and symptoms of a severe multisystem disorder. Predominant features of perinatal onset mevalonate kinase deficiency include intrauterine growth restriction, cerebral ventriculomegaly, dysmorphic features, skeletal abnormalities, dyserythropoietic anemia with extramedullary erythropoiesis, thrombocytopenia, cholestatic liver disease, persistent diarrhea, renal failure, recurrent sepsis-like episodes, and failure to thrive. Clinical findings may mimic severe intrauterine viral infection, a chromosomal abnormality, or an acute sepsis syndrome, potentially contributing to delays in diagnosis of this rare condition. Perinatal onset mevalonate kinase deficiency is associated with a very poor prognosis, with death in utero or in early infancy. Detailed autopsy findings in mevalonate kinase deficiency have rarely been reported.
Oral bovine serum concentrate improves cryptosporidial enteritis in calves.

Cryptosporidium parvum produces a prolonged watery diarrhea unresponsive to conventional antimicrobials. Because of reported efficacy of antibody-based immunotherapy, we studied the effect of inexpensive, commercially available oral bovine serum concentrate (BSC) in experimental cryptosporidiosis. Twenty-four calves were treated with 57 g/d BSC (n = 12) or soy protein (n = 12) added to their standard whey protein-based milk replacer (227 g/2 L twice daily). Of the 24, 9 were also treated with l-glutamine (GLN), 8 g/L (50 mM) in the milk (5 calves in the BSC group and 4 in the soy group). Animals were inoculated with 108 cryptosporidium oocysts per os on d 8 of life and received oral rehydration on d 12–14. Eight uninfected controls were treated with BSC or soy protein. Fecal and urine volume and urinary Cr-EDTA excretion were measured. Animals were killed on d 18 of life. Cryptosporidiosis induced severe watery diarrhea lasting >9 d and produced a 25% increase in intestinal permeability, a 33% decrease in villous surface area, and a 40% reduction in mucosal lactase specific activity. Glutamine treatment had no effect on the diarrhea or any of the intestinal tests; and therefore pooled data were used to compare the 12 calves treated with BSC with the 12 treated with soy. In animals receiving BSC, peak diarrheal volume and intestinal permeability were reduced 33%, fewer oocysts were shed, intestinal crypts were significantly deeper, and villous surface area returned to normal by 9 d after infection (all p ≤ 0.05). BSC should be studied as a treatment for human cryptosporidiosis.
Thermal Stability and Isomerization of Lycopene in Tomato Oleoresins from Different Varieties

ABSTRACT: Lycopene, a tomato carotenoid, has been associated with the inhibition of certain chronic diseases including prostate cancer. Tomato oleoresin is a lipid-rich material resulting from successive solvent extraction of the tomato fruit. Thermal stability and isomerization of lycopene in oleoresins prepared from 3 different tomato varieties, Roma, High Lycopene, and Tangerine, and tomato peel waste, were studied at 25 °C, 50 °C, 75 °C, and 100 °C in the dark. Thermally degraded lycopene compounds and isomers of lycopene were analyzed by a combination of C30 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatograph with a photodiode array detector, UV-visible spectrometer, or mass spectrometer. Effects of antioxidants on lycopene were also studied at 50 °C. As the storage temperature increased from 25 °C to 100 °C, the degradation of total lycopene in oleoresin from all samples increased significantly (P <0.05). Lycopene at 25 °C and 50 °C may degrade mainly through oxidation without isomerization. Isomerization of lycopene in tomato oleoresins increased at 75 °C and 100 °C. Tetra-cis lycopene in Tangerine tomato varieties followed different degradation and isomerization pathways compared with all-trans lycopene in other tomato varieties. Addition of α-tocopherol or butylated hydroxytoluene slowed the rate of degradation of lycopene in oleoresin.
Planetary science: Intermediate impact factors.

No statistical documentation of objects of a certain size that enter Earth's atmosphere has hitherto been available. Analysis of data from US government satellites has bridged the gap.
Auditory sensitivity and the frequency selectivity of auditory filters in the Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis

Chickadees produce elaborate vocalizations, but their basic auditory capabilities remain unexplored. We used auditory brainstem responses to tone bursts to assess the auditory sensitivity of Carolina chickadees at frequencies from 0.5 to 8 kHz and the percentage of frequency selectivity (quality) of auditory filters at frequencies from 2 to 4 kHz. The high-frequency limit of sensitive hearing was relatively high in chickadees compared to other songbirds tested using the same method, while the low-frequency limit was similar among species. These results support a previously noted correlation across songbirds between the high-frequency limit of sensitive hearing and the maximum frequency of vocalizations. The frequency selectivity of auditory filters in chickadees increased with increasing frequency. Frequency selectivity was intermediate compared to other species at 2 and 3 kHz, and relatively high at 4 kHz. This pattern suggests that frequency selectivity is generally greatest within the frequency range of long-range communication signals, and maximum frequency selectivity may be greater in woodland species than in open habitat species. Greater frequency selectivity may have evolved for greater frequency resolution of vocal signals, which are relatively tonal in woodland species, or for better signal detection in noise. Finally, males had greater auditory sensitivity than females, whereas females had greater frequency selectivity than males. Greater frequency selectivity may enhance perception of the frequency difference
Global changes in mineral transporters in tetraploid switchgrasses (Panicum virgatum L.)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L) is perennial, C4 grass with great potential as a biofuel crop. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that control mineral uptake, distribution and remobilization will benefit sustainable production. Nutrients are mobilized from aerial portions to below-ground crowns and rhizomes as a natural accompaniment to above-ground senescence post seed-set. Mineral uptake and remobilization is dependent on transporters, however, little if any information is available about the specific transporters that are needed and how their relative expression changes over a growing season. Using well-defined classes of mineral transporters, we identified 520 genes belonging to 40 different transporter classes in the tetraploid switchgrass genome. Expression patterns were determined for many of these genes using publically available transcriptomic datasets obtained from both greenhouse and field grown plants. Certain transporters showed strong temporal patterns of expression in distinct developmental stages of the plant. Gene-expression was verified for selected transporters using qRT-PCR. By and large these analyses confirmed the developmental stage-specific expression of these genes. Mineral analyses indicated that K, Fe, Mg, Co and As had a similar pattern of accumulation with apparent limited remobilization at the end of the growing season. These initial analyses will serve as a foundation for more detailed examination of the nutrient biology of switchgrass.
Sense-Making of Accounting Data as a Technique of Organizational Diagnosis

Planning is a process of inquiry. Inquiry can be enhanced if different views-of-the-world are used to inform each other. In an exploratory field study, a sense-making exercise was used in the initial, goal definition stage of planning. Its use is antithetical because sense-making denies that management action is based on preconceived goals or objectives. Instead, sense-making assumes management action is a continuous, equivocal stream of experience that can only be understood or made sense of when it is viewed in retrospect. Accounting reports were prepared to describe a fictitious, but plausible future scenario for an organization. A number of alternative future directions that the organization could have followed-different kinds of organization it could have become-were used as a basis for creating the accounting reports. The management group then imagined themselves even further out into the future, looking back over the accounting data. They tried to understand what they had done during this period, why they had done it, and how they felt about having done it. The impact of this exercise on the managers' cognitive and emotional experience and their commitment to use the method in other decisions suggest that sense-making can enhance the group process of inquiry during the initial stages of planning.
The urological care and outcome of pregnancy after urinary tract reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE To assess the obstetric and urological outcomes during and after pregnancy following urinary tract reconstruction, as pregnancies after such surgery can have a significant effect on the function of the reconstructed urinary tract, and the reconstruction can significantly affect the delivery of the fetus. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the obstetric and urological history of 11 patients (12 pregnancies; 10 singletons and one twin) with previous urinary reconstruction, delivered between 1989 and 2003. Antepartum and postpartum urological function and obstetric outcomes were investigated. RESULTS All the patients had some difficulty with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) during pregnancy, and four needed continuous indwelling catheters. During pregnancy 10 women had several bladder infections and all received antibiotic suppression. There were eight Caesarean sections, two vaginal deliveries and one combined delivery. Six Caesareans were elective and three were emergent. The use of CIC returned to normal in all patients after delivery. CONCLUSIONS Women with a urinary reconstruction can have successful pregnancies. The complexity of the surgery and the concern for possible emergency Caesarean section resulted in most patients having an elective Caesarean delivery before term. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended and patients may require indwelling dwelling catheters while pregnant but normal CIC can be resumed after delivery.
Effect of therapeutic dose of indomethacin on the cerebral circulation of newborn pigs

The effects of treatment with 0.2 mg/kg of indomethacin on the cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen consumption of hypotensive, unanesthetized, newborn pigs were investigated. Hypotension was induced by hemorrhage (30 ml/kg) which reduced mean arterial pressure from 60 to 34 mm Hg. The decline in cerebral vascular resistance that occurred with hemorrhage allowed blood flow to all brain regions and cerebral oxygen consumption to continue unchanged. Treatment with 0.2 mg of indomethacin decreased plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha markedly and caused a modest increase in cerebral vascular resistance from 0.75 +/- 0.07 to 0.85 +/- 0.02 mm Hg X 100 g X min/ml at 40 min posttreatment. As a result, blood flow throughout the brain fell about 20%. Similarly, cerebral oxygen consumption declined from 2.88 +/- 0.13 to 2.03 +/- 0.21 ml O2/100 g X min following treatment of hypotensive piglets with 0.2 mg/kg of indomethacin. However, all piglets were conscious 40 min after treatment. We conclude that, although 0.2 mg/kg of indomethacin affects cerebral hemodynamics of hypotensive piglets, the effects are very modest in comparison to large increases in cerebral vascular resistance, decreases in cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption, and coma that follow treatment of hypotensive piglets with 5 mg/kg of indomethacin.
Carbon nanotubes: A simple approach to superlattices

An array of quantum dots can be created inside a carbon nanotube simply by placing it on a crystalline metal substrate.
SC-01RalA IN BIOLOGY AND THERAPY OF MPNST IN CORRELATION TO CANCER STEM CELLS.

For the last 20 years, cellular biologists have been focusing on the role of Ras signaling pathway in neurofibromatosis 1(NF1) and its lethal derivation, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). While our team has worked on the influence of Ras pathway on responsiveness of MPNST cells to therapy, we introduced a novel cell signaling pathway down-stream of Ras, i.e. Ral pathway, as an important regulator of the biological features of MPNST with potentials for being targeted for treatment of this malignancy. We have also showed that RalA is overactivated in the cancer stem cell (CSC) fraction of MPNST tumors establishing this pathway to harbor potentials for targeting MPNST CSCs. In summary our preliminary data shed light on following facts: 1- RalA signaling pathway is overactivated in differentiated MPNST cells and human tissues. 2- RalA overactivation is a characteristic of MPNST cancer stem cells. 3- RalA inhibition hinders the malignant phenotype of MPNST cells. 4- Disruption of RalA signaling results in loss of viability and invasion of MPNST cells. In this presentation, we further evaluate the mechanism of RalA overactivation and in-vivo potentials of its inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for MPNST.
Production of superheavy elements

We propose a discovery experiment for production and identification of isotopes of unobserved elements up to element 119. We predict decay properties of nuclear systems that might be obtained in this experiment and discuss posibilities of identification of new elements on the basis of the calculated properties. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
The political landscape of adult education: From the personal to political and back again

This chapter examines selected issues from previous chapters to create a picture of the political landscape of adult education. Strategies for negotiating the landscape of adult education are suggested and discussed.