cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
All-weather long-wavelength infrared free space optical communications

Long-wavelength infrared radiation possesses superior transmission through common atmospheric problems such as fog, clouds, and smoke than the shorter wavelength laser sources in use today. Recent improvements in LWIR laser and modulator design makes possible reliable optical replacements for radio and microwave communications links in many applications. This paper describes components and techniques developed for high-speed, full-duplex all-weather infrared communications systems.
Nanofabrication: best of both worlds.

Fabricating nanostructures on a substrate often requires a choice between pattern complexity and narrow wire widths. By combining lithographic patterning with electrochemical templating, complex patterns over large areas with critical dimensions well below 100 nm become possible.
Needs Assessment: Construction Management Doctoral Programs in the United States

Construction education programs are maturing, with the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) reporting in 2001 that 31 (55.4%) of 56 ACCE accredited programs offer a master's degree. In 2005, ASC reported that 19 of these master's degrees have the wowrd “construction” in the degree title. While construction management programs are interdisciplinary in their content—drawing on engineering, architecture, technology, and business—they are a unique discipline. During the 2004–2005 school year, 100% of the ASC advertisements for open construction education faculty positions required or preferred the candidate to have a doctoral degree. Many of the open positions go unfilled because the demand for faculty members to teach in construction education programs exceeds the available supply. Interviews with construction education department heads and a survey completed by faculty teaching in ACCE accredited post-secondary construction education programs clearly indicate that Construction Management doctoral progra...
Educating the Minds of Caring Hearts: Comparing the Views of Practitioners and Educators on the Importance of Social Entrepreneurship Competencies

The demand for social entrepreneurship education has grown substantially, resulting in increased course offerings in universities globally. Despite the growing interest in this domain, little is kn...
Phosphoglucomutase Isozymes of Red Cells in Mus musculus: Additional Polymorphism at PGM-1 Compared by Two Electrophoretic Systems

Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) of red cells was examined in 15 inbred strains of mice, using two different starch gel electrophoretic buffer systems. Two new alleles, Pgm-1 c and Pgm-1 d, were discovered at the Pgm-1 locus. Pgm-1 c was first identified in strain C3H/HeNWe and Pgm-1 d in 129/ReWl. No variation was observed at the Pgm-2 locus.
Positron Emission Tomography‐Computerized Tomography in the Management of Head and Neck Cancer

Summary PET/CT plays an important role in the evaluation and follow up of patients with various head and neck neoplasms. The role of PET/CT in the management of a wide variety of head and neck cancers varies based on the TNM tumour stage. Futhermore, because there is a large overlap between tumour and physiologic FDG uptake, interpretation of malignancies in the head and neck on PET/CT can be confusing/unclear. Thus, it is essential to have knowledge of the patient's prior history, including relevant surgical procedures as well as prior chemo and radiation treatment for proper interpretation of head and neck malignancies. This article examines how FDG PET/CT is utilized in squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharyax and larynx.
The Effect of Prolonged Bottle Feeding on Cow's Milk Intake and Iron Stores at 18 Months of Age

Thirty-four toddlers were studied in a prospective, convenience sample comparison at their 18-month health supervision visit to examine the effect of prolonged (i.e., to 18 months of age) bottle feeding on both the daily volume of cow's milk intake and the toddler's iron stores (serum ferritin concentrations.) Seventeen toddlers had been weaned from the bottle by approximately 1 year of age, and 17 toddlers who remained on the bottle at 18 months of age were the compared group. The toddlers who remained on the bottle had significantly greater (P<0.001) cow's milk intake (mean 26.3 oz vs 16.1 oz). The mean ferritin concentrations were lower in the persistent bottle group (17.3 μg/L vs 23.4 μg/L), but not significantly so. Questioning parents about their toddlers' continued bottle use at 18 months can provide a marker for potentially excessive cow's milk intake.
CFD Comparison of Steady and Unsteady Flow Through a Human Nasal Passage

Understanding of the transnasal pressure and flow behavior during normal breathing conditions has been a subject of much discussion and research. In particular we are interested in testing the hypothesis of quasi-steady flow as well as the role of turbulence on nasal flow dynamics.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The Imperfect Gas

The partition function of the classical imperfect gas is approximated by means of a generalized cell model in which the number of particles in a cell is taken as the statistical variable. The limiting free energy per particle exhibits critical phenomena, and, for temperatures less than the critical temperature, the $p\ensuremath{-}v$ isotherm is a nonanalytic function of $v$ consisting of three pieces. These properties depend only on the interparticle potential energy having the general features usually assigned to it. However, the condensation pressure is not constant, and, for temperatures sufficiently low, the isotherm shows thermodynamic instability. The model allows the calculation of the limiting free energy per particle for all values of the temperature and specific volume.
High-pressure Liquid Chromatographic Assay for Hydralazine in Human Plasma

A specific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for hydralazine in human plasma was developed. Plasma hydralazine is reacted with 10 microliter of p-anisaldehyde for 7 min at room temperature to form hydralazine p-anisaldehyde hydrazone. This derivative is extracted into ethyl acetate, and the solvent is removed by evaporation. The residue is reconstituted in 100 microliter of methanol, and 90 microliter is injected onto a reversed-phase column. The mobile phase is 32% acetonitrile in 0.75 M acetate buffer, pH 3.4, at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. The retention time of hydralazine p-anisaldehyde hydrazone is 6.5 min. The average coefficient of variation over 10-200 ng/ml is 5.5%, and the sensitivity limit is 5 ng/ml. Under the assay conditions, hydralazine pyruvic acid hydrazone, a known plasma metabolite of hydralazine, yields less than 0.1% hydralazine. Detectable plasma hydralazine levels of 5-20 ng/ml were found 10-30 min after a 0.5-mg/kg oral dose of hydralazine hydrochloride was given to a male volunteer.
61 Particulate air pollution and lung cancer

Abstract PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between particulate air pollution and lung cancer in a retrospective study in Connecticut, Utah and southern Idaho. METHODS: We collected detailed residence histories from 1,474 pathologically confirmed lung cancer cases and 1,811 population controls selected with randomized recruitment. Analysis was limited to the 3,073 participants who lived only in Connecticut, Utah and Idaho during the period 5–20 years before lung cancer diagnosis for cases or interview for controls. Using geographical information system technology to interpolate total suspended particle (TSP) exposure from fixed-site monitoring data, we assigned a TSP exposure level to each residence and averaged individual exposures over the 15-year period from 5 to 20 years before the diagnosis/interview. Odds ratios (OR) associated with average TSP were estimated with logistic regression after adjusting for age, gender and decade-specific pack-years of cigarette smoking and taking into account selection probabilities used in randomized recruitment. RESULTS: The OR for a 10 μg/m 3 increase in TSP was 2.4 (95% CI = 2.0, 3.0) in Connecticut and 1.3 (95% CI = 1.1, 1.5) in Utah and Idaho. ORs were similar for smokers and nonsmokers. The OR associated with the top tertile for TSP and heavy smoking compared with nonsmokers in the lowest tertile was 57.4 (95% CI = 26.7, 123.4) in Connecticut and 75.7 (95% CI = 37.6, 152.5) in Utah/Idaho. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to higher levels of TSP may increase the risk for lung cancer. The higher observed OR in Connecticut despite lower average TSP exposures may be due to differences in the physical and chemical composition of TSP between Connecticut and Utah/Idaho, or to differences in the extent of exposure misclassification between those two regions. Alternatively, these differences might be an accurate reflection of the shape of the dose-response curve and our use of a measure of relative rather than absolute risk.
REDOR dephasing by multiple spins in the presence of molecular motion.

Abstract Closed-form, numerical algorithms are presented for calculating REDOR dephasing for three general cases: (i) collections of isolatedI–Sspin pairs; (ii) manySspins coupled to anIspin; and (iii) anI–Sspin pair in relative motion. For the case when more than oneSspin is dipolar coupled to anIspin, the calculation assumes that theS–Shomonuclear interaction does not affect REDOR dephasing. Full numerical simulations show that this assumption is true if theS-spin lineshapes are inhomogeneously broadened, theS-spin chemical shifts are far from rotational resonance, and a version of REDOR is used which minimizes the number ofS-spin π pulses. For the rapidly rotating –CF3group of poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate), the formalisms of (ii) and (iii) are combined to calculate the dephasing. The experimentally measured dephasing matches theory when the wiggling motion of the –OCH2CF3moiety of the polymer is taken into account.
Detection and Treatment of Elevated Blood Lipids and Other Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Youtha

The early lesions of atherosclerosis in youth are strongly related to antemortem levels of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride to ponderal index and to blood pressure. The major apolipoproteins of LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), apoB and apoA1 respectively, and levels of Lp(a) lipoprotein are often abnormal in children born in a family with premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Other risk factors for CAD include obesity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, positive family history of CAD, and physical inactivity. Children from families with premature CAD, dyslipidemia, or hypertension, and/or two other risk factors should have a lipoprotein profile determined. Treatment begins with a diet low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, combined with treatment of overnutrition and obesity, if necessary, and regular habits of aerobic physical activity. Children with inherited disorders of LDL metabolism may require the addition of lipid-lowering therapy. The early detection and treatment of youth at risk for premature CAD offer the greatest promise to decrease morbidity and mortality.
The Proteasome: Not Just Degrading Anymore

The proteasome is a large multiprotein complex that has a critical role in the degradation of ubiquitylated proteins. A fascinating paper in this issue of Cell (Lee et al., 2005) now reveals that the proteasome recruits the SAGA histone acetyltransferase complex to a target promoter during gene activation. This finding adds to the growing body of evidence indicating that the proteasome has nonproteolytic functions.
Students helping students in residence: how suite it is...

The Computing Advisor Program at the University of Virginia started in September 1997. From the beginning, first-year students have been hired into the program as Computing Advisors (CAs) in their respective residence halls in order to assist their peers with computing problems. Interested students submit applications during the early spring after they gain acceptance into the University of Virginia, and are interviewed while here for mandatory Summer Orientation in July. The program has enjoyed great success and has been enhanced over the past two years to include Upper Class and Senior Computing Advisors.The goals of the program are to provide computing help to students in their residence halls, to act as the liaison between a student with a computing problem and the Help Desk, and to reduce the need for extended Help Desk hours on nights and weekends.In 2000 the program was expanded to include two Senior Computing Advisors. These advisors were chosen from alumni of the first-year program. With demonstrated leadership skills and an ability to solve basic computing problems, the Senior CAs give guidance to their first-year colleagues as well as perform specific administrative tasks. In the fall of 2001, there are plans to expand the program by piloting two Upper Class CAs in residence halls, extending this service to the far-reaching areas of grounds.
Genomic organization and classification of the bovine WC1 genes and expression by peripheral blood gamma delta T cells.

WC1 co-receptors are group B scavenger receptor cysteine-rich molecules that are found exclusively on γδT cells and are thought to be encoded by a multi-gene family. Previous studies have shown γδT cells that respond to a particular stimulus have unique WC1 molecules expressed. Prior to the onset of the studies described here only one full-length WC1 nucleotide sequence was publicly available, though three WC1 molecules had been distinguished based on monoclonal antibody reactivity. Furthermore, the number of WC1 genes found in the bovine genome and their sequences had not yet been resolved. By annotating the bovine genome Btau_3.1 assembly, here we show the existence of 13 members in the WC1 gene family and their organization within two loci on chromosome 5 including three distinct exon-intron gene structures one of which coded for a potentially more primitive and smaller WC1 molecule that is similar to the swine WC1 gene. We also provide cDNA evidence as verification for many of the annotated sequences and show transcripts for isoforms derived by alternative splicing. It is possible that WC1 diversity contributes to functional differences that have been observed between γδT cell populations. The studies described here demonstrate that WC1 molecules are encoded by a large, multi-gene family whose transcripts undergo extensive alternative splicing. Similar to other non-rearranging immunoreceptors, it is likely that the WC1 gene repertoire underwent expansion in order to keep pace with rapidly changing ligands.
P58IPK, a Plant Ortholog of Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase PKR Inhibitor, Functions in Viral Pathogenesis

Abstract P58 IPK is a cellular inhibitor of the mammalian double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR). Here we provide evidence for the existence of its homolog in plants and its role in viral infection at the organism level. Viral infection of P58 IPK -silenced Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis knockouts leads to host death. This host cell death is associated with phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF-2α). Loss of P58 IPK leads to reduced virus titer, suggesting that wild-type P58 IPK protein plays an important role in viral pathogenesis. Although our complementation results using mammalian P58 IPK suggest conservation of the P58 IPK pathway in plants and animals, its biological significance seems to be different in these two systems. In animals, P58 IPK is recruited by the influenza virus to limit PKR-mediated innate antiviral response. In plants, P58 IPK is required by viruses for virulence and therefore functions as a susceptibility factor.
MicroRNA-30c inhibits human breast tumour chemotherapy resistance by regulating TWF1 and IL-11

Chemotherapy resistance frequently drives tumour progression. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly characterized. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition has been shown to correlate with therapy resistance, but the functional link and signalling pathways remain to be elucidated. Here we report that microRNA-30c, a human breast tumour prognostic marker, has a pivotal role in chemoresistance by a direct targeting of the actin-binding protein twinfilin 1, which promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. An interleukin-6 family member, interleukin-11 is identified as a secondary target of twinfilin 1 in the microRNA-30c signalling pathway. Expression of microRNA-30c inversely correlates with interleukin-11 expression in primary breast tumours and low interleukin-11 correlates with relapse-free survival in breast cancer patients. Our study demonstrates that microRNA-30c is transcriptionally regulated by GATA3 in breast tumours. Identification of a novel microRNA-mediated pathway that regulates chemoresistance in breast cancer will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Validity and Reliability of Self Report Measures of Physical Activity: An Information-Processing Perspective

Abstract The published data on the reliability of self report measures of physical activity most commonly used in the cardiovascular disease epidemiology literature revealed high test-retest reliability coefficients for two of the measures, and modest to nonexistent intertest correlations. Validity coefficients were low to modest. The published data on the accuracy of the self report measures, however, revealed memory decay, memory of rare events alone, and lack of motivation in memory recall. An information processing model, composed of encoding, storage, and retrieval processes is proposed to understand the memory of physical activity, and to identify necessary skills for accurate self report identified at each step in the process. Questions requiring further research to specify this model and, in turn, improve accuracy of recall, are raised.
Physical adsorption behavior of molecular solids

Abstract The physical adsorption of nitrogen at 77°K and 90°K is reported for the molecular solids ammonia, methanol, carbon dioxide, benzene, iodine, and bromine. The adsorption isotherms are similar to those previously observed with ice powder and the entire set of molecular solids appears to constitute a group of nonpolar, low-energy adsorbents. Whereas dispersion interaction calculations cannot be made with sufficient accuracy event to predict variations within the group, the converse is suggested to be true. This is that heats of adsorption found experimentally set a limit of about 1800 cal/mole for the dispersion interaction of nitrogen with substrates in general. The corollary conclusion is that the more common refractory or broken-bond adsorbents, which as a group show higher heats of adsorption, do so because of additional types of interactions. Included in this group would be the metals, their oxides, and the various carbon blacks.
A study of the trans influence in some rhodium(I) complexes using infrared spectroscopy

Abstract The trans influence of a series of nitrogenous bases has been investigated by monitoring the infrared stretching frequency of carbon monoxide in complexes of the type trans-[Rh(CO){(C6H5)3P}2L]PF6 where L is pyridine, 4-acetylpyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, 3,4-dimethylpyridine, 4-cyanopyridine, 4-benzoylpyridine, 3-chloropyridine, 4-hydroxypyridine, imidazole, benzimidazole, 2-ethylbenzimidazole, and 2-metylbenzimidazole. A straight line plot is obtained when the pKa values of the pyridines (except 4-hydroxypyridine) are plotted versus the CO stretching frequency of their complexes. The hydroxypyridine and imidazole ligands do not give data that fit the linear plot. These bases are the only ones of the group studied whose conjugate acids have two sites of deprotonation that are strongly correlated through resonance. This feature is discussed as a possible reason that the pKa values are not good measures of the sigma donor capabilities of those ligands toward the metal.
Acute Traumatic Hemothorax

Abstract Over the past 5 years, 107 patients have been evaluated for acute traumatic hemothorax at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Immediate tube thoracostomy was performed on 90 patients for evacuation of blood and air. Only 2 patients died. Thoracotomy was performed as part of the initial therapy in 9 patients. Thoracotomy for continued hemorrhage from a pulmonary parenchymal injury was required in 3 patients from the entire group. Thoracentesis or observation was the initial therapy for limited hemothorax in 8 stable patients. Three of these patients subsequently required tube thoracostomy 2 to 23 days following injury due to expanding effusions, and 1 patient required multiple thoracotomies for sepsis, fibrothorax, and empyema. These observations indicate that early evacuation of blood by means of a tube thoracostomy is essential to minimize morbidity in acute traumatic hemothorax. If continuing hemorrhage after tube thoracostomy occurs, there is a higher association of injury to additional vital structures.
Interactions of a platinum-modified perylene derivative with the human telomeric G-quadruplex.

The interactions of a newly synthesized platinum-modified perylene derivative, compound 7 ([{Pt(dien)}2(μ-4-S,S′)](NO3)4 (dien = diethylenetriamine, 4 = N,N′-bis(1-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-dimethylthiourea)-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimide), with the human telomeric repeat were studied using various model oligo(deoxy)ribonucleotides to mimic the polymorphic nature of the telomeric G-quadruplex. UV/visible spectroscopy, CD spectropolarimetry, electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) were used to demonstrate that compound 7 selectively recognizes the antiparallel form of the unimolecular telomeric G-quadruplex formed by the sequence d(TTAGGG)4 (dG-24), to which it binds with a 2:1 stoichiometry and nanomolar affinity. Compared with telomeric DNA, the first binding event of compound 7 in titrations with the RNA quadruplex formed by r(UUAGGG)4 (rG-24) is 1 order of magnitude weaker. Compound 7 does not induce the antiparallel G-quadruplex RNA, which invariably ...
Coherent Raman resonance from electron spin coherence in GaAs quantum wells

We report the experimental demonstration of coherent Raman resonance from electron spin coherence in $\mathrm{GaAs}$ quantum wells. Coherent Raman resonance, which is a precursor for electromagnetically induced transparency, appears in the differential transmission response from localized excitons in an external magnetic field applied in Voigt geometry. The spectral domain spin study reveals that the optical processes involved differ from those in the transient domain, leading to distinct polarization and intensity dependences.
Absolute Binding Energies of Lithium Ions to Short Chain Alcohols, CnH2n+2O,n= 1-4, Determined by Threshold Collision-Induced Dissociation

Collision-induced dissociation of Li+(ROH) with xenon is studied using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. ROH includes the following eight short chain alcohols: methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-butanol, and 2-methyl-2-propanol. In all cases, the primary product is endothermic loss of the neutral alcohol, with minor products that include those formed by ligand exchange, alkene and water loss, and C−C bond cleavage. The cross-section thresholds are interpreted to yield 0, 298, and 373 K bond energies for Li+−ROH after accounting for the effects of multiple ion−molecule collisions, internal energy of the reactant ions, and dissociation lifetimes. The experimental bond energies determined here show a fairly constant deviation from previous experimental measurements (as obtained by equilibrium studies in an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer). This discrepancy is discussed in some detail because it affects the absolute Li+ affinity scale used extensively in t...
Realtime in-ocean submerged collision avoidance via biomimetic electrostatic imaging

This paper explores a technique to exploit Biomimetic Electrostatic Imaging (BEI) for the purposes of short-range high-speed detection and tracking of submerged obstacles based on their conductivity deviation from the background ocean environment. BEI uses conductivity and Coulomb's law rather than electromagnetic or acoustic (SONAR) principles to provide more rapid imaging at substantially reduced output powers making the technique perfect for Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUV) seeking to align for docking, avoid obstacles while traversing, perform relative station keeping (formation management), or track/follow a target object. It is demonstrated to work in real-time against the type of short-range targets that pose a collision threat.
Membranous Lupus Nephritis in a Renal Allograft: Response to Mycophenolate Mofetil Therapy

Membranous lupus nephritis in a renal allograft is considered rare. A 43-year-old man with quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) received a HLA identical transplant from his sister and 4 years later developed persistent nephrotic range proteinuria and morphological features most compatible with membranous lupus nephritis on biopsy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists, although successful in reducing proteinuria, were associated on three occasions with acute allograft dysfunction. Sustained reduction of proteinuria and stable graft function were achieved using mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). MMF is emerging as a new therapy for primary renal disease in SLE. This is the first report of successful treatment of membranous lupus nephritis in an allograft using MMF. We review all cases of transplant-associated membranous lupus nephritis in the English literature.
Novel states in Taylor-Couette flow subjected to a Coriolis force

We present experimental results for Taylor-Couette flow subjected to a Coriolis force. We used an apparatus consisting of two concentric cylinders with the inner one rotating, and with a radius ratio near 0.75. It was mounted with its axis horizontal on a table which rotated with angular velocityΩ about a vertical axis. For sufficiently lowΩ, the first bifurcation upon increasing the inner-cylinder rotation rate ω was to tilted vortices. With further increase in ω this bifurcation was followed by a secondary one to time-periodic tilted vortices. The two bifurcation lines met at higherΩ. The initial bifurcation then became one to tilted traveling vortices. For even larger values ofΩ, the flow immediately above the initial transition was disordered, and for sufficiently largeΩ the initial bifurcation was to a featureless turbulent state. We studied these transitions with three different outer cylinders. Two had symmetric spatial ramps terminating both ends of a straight section to reduce the effect of the rigid, nonrotating ends, and one had no ramps. The transition to featureless turbulence in the apparatus with ramps became hysteretic over a range ofΩ.
Evidence for a dual mechanism in the anesthetic action of an opioid peptide.

Loss of righting reflex (LRR) produced by various concentrations of the leucine-enkephalin analog BW831c (TYR.D-ALA.GLY.PHE.D-LEU.NHEt.HCI) was determined in amphibia at 1 atm and 120 atm of helium. EC50 for LRR was 22.1 +/- 1.6 microM and 44 +/- 6.9 microM, respectively. The octanol/water partition coefficient (P) was 26 +/- 3.6, suggesting that this peptide is sufficiently lipid soluble for a classic Meyer-Overton type of anesthetic action. The ratio (EC50 at 120 atm)/(EC50 at 1 atm) for the peptide (2.0 +/- 0.31) was essentially the same as that for the long-chain alcohol, octanol (1.8 +/- 0.08), and similar to those reported for phenobarbital and the gaseous anesthetics. Thus, peptide-induced LRR was reversible by pressure. Peptide-induced LRR also was completely reversible by naloxone, whereas octanol-induced LRR was unaffected by up to 100 microM naloxone. These findings are consistent with a dual mechanism of anesthetic action for this peptide: one, an opiate receptor-specific mechanism, reversible with the specific opiate antagonist, naloxone; the other, a nonspecific mechanism, related to lipid solubility and reversible with the application of the physical agent, pressure.
The Perceived Contribution of Foreign Language to High Priority Educational Goals.

A recent study involving a representative sample of New Jersey secondary school districts was designed to determine the broad educational goals which are considered to be of highest priority and the degree to which foreign language course objectives are perceived as contributing to their attainment. The perceived contribution of foreign language was compared with that of math, science, and social studies. The perceptions represented the views of language teachers and school administrators. Results indicated that although administrators viewed the overall contribution of foreign language objectives as less than that of other subject areas, the contribution to certain individual goals was, in fact, greater. Foreign language was found to be a key contributor to the attainment of a general education and to the development of pride, self-understanding, and positive attitudes toward learning. Furthermore, foreign language was thought to be a major component in the development of cultural awareness and understanding.
Fas- or FasL-deficient mice display an increased sensitivity to nitrobenzene-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis

Abstract We have previously reported that the Fas/Apo-1/CD95-mediated apoptosis-inducing signaling system participates in the initiation of toxicant-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. The contribution of Fas-mediated signaling is especially evident in the initiation of germ cell apoptosis after mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP)-induced Sertoli cell injury. In previous work, we demonstrated that the incidence of germ cell apoptosis after MEHP exposure is significantly reduced in B6.SMNC3H-Fasgld,gld (gld) mice that express a dysfunctional form of the FasL protein (the associated ligand that activates Fas). This has led to the hypothesis that activation of the Fas-mediated signaling pathway is a common mechanism for the initiation of germ cell apoptosis after toxicant-induced Sertoli cell injury. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the sensitivity of testicular germ cells of wild-type, gld- and Fas-deficient CBA/KlJms-Tnfrsf6lpr-cg(lpr-cg) (lprcg) mice to undergo apoptosis after exposure to the Sertoli cell toxicant nitrobenzene (NB). Adult, 8-week-old gld mice treated with a single oral dose of NB (800 mg/kg) were observed to have a higher apoptotic index (AI; 66.1±1.3) 24 h after exposure as compared with the wild-type C57BL/6 (C57) mice (50.4±1.8). Similarly, 8-week-old lprcg mice treated with NB displayed a higher AI 24 h after exposure (45.1±4.6) as compared with the wild-type CBA/KlJms (CBA) mice (32.1±3.8). Interestingly, exposure of both peri-pubertal 4-week-old C57 and gld mice showed a similar increase in the incidence of germ cell apoptosis after NB (600 mg/kg) exposure. Taken together, these findings indicate that Fas-mediated signaling is not required for NB-induced germ cell apoptosis and imply that a dysfunctional Fas signaling system sensitizes adult mice to NB-induced germ cell elimination.
Adaptively biased sequential importance sampling for rare events in reaction networks with comparison to exact solutions from finite buffer dCME method

Critical events that occur rarely in biological processes are of great importance, but are challenging to study using Monte Carlo simulation. By introducing biases to reaction selection and reaction rates, weighted stochastic simulation algorithms based on importance sampling allow rare events to be sampled more effectively. However, existing methods do not address the important issue of barrier crossing, which often arises from multistable networks and systems with complex probability landscape. In addition, the proliferation of parameters and the associated computing cost pose significant problems. Here we introduce a general theoretical framework for obtaining optimized biases in sampling individual reactions for estimating probabilities of rare events. We further describe a practical algorithm called adaptively biased sequential importance sampling (ABSIS) method for efficient probability estimation. By adopting a look-ahead strategy and by enumerating short paths from the current state, we estimate the reaction-specific and state-specific forward and backward moving probabilities of the system, which are then used to bias reaction selections. The ABSIS algorithm can automatically detect barrier-crossing regions, and can adjust bias adaptively at different steps of the sampling process, with bias determined by the outcome of exhaustively generated short paths. In addition, there are only two bias parameters to be determined, regardless of the number of the reactions and the complexity of the network. We have applied the ABSIS method to four biochemical networks: the birth-death process, the reversible isomerization, the bistable Schlogl model, and the enzymatic futile cycle model. For comparison, we have also applied the finite buffer discrete chemical master equation (dCME) method recently developed to obtain exact numerical solutions of the underlying discrete chemical master equations of these problems. This allows us to assess sampling results objectively by comparing simulation results with true answers. Overall, ABSIS can accurately and efficiently estimate rare event probabilities for all examples, often with smaller variance than other importance sampling algorithms. The ABSIS method is general and can be applied to study rare events of other stochastic networks with complex probability landscape.
Memetic algorithms, domain knowledge, and financial investing

How might domain knowledge constrain a genetic algorithm and systematically impact the algorithm’s traversal of the search space? In particular, in this paper the hypothesis is advanced that a semantic tree of financial knowledge can be used to influence the results of a genetic algorithm for financial investing problems. An algorithm is described, called the “Memetic Algorithm for Domain Knowledge”, and is instantiated in a software system. In mutation experiments, this system chooses financial ratios to use as inputs to a neural logic network which classifies stocks as likely to increase or decrease in value. The mutation is guided by a semantic tree of financial ratios. In crossover experiments, this system solves a portfolio optimization problem in which components of an individual represent weights on stocks; knowledge in the form of a semantic tree of industries determines the order in which components are sorted in individuals. Both synthetic data and real-world data are used. The experimental results show that knowledge can be used to reach higher fitness individuals more quickly. More interestingly, the results show how conceptual distance in the human knowledge can correspond to distance between evolutionary individuals and their fitness. In other words, knowledge might be dynamically used to at times increase the step size in a search algorithm or at times to decrease the step size. These results shed light on the role of knowledge in evolutionary computation and are part of the larger body of work to delineate how domain knowledge might usefully constrain the genetic algorithm.
Isochromosome 12p and polysomy 12 in primary central nervous system germ cell tumors: frequency and association with clinicopathologic features

Germ cell tumors arising within the central nervous system are rare neoplasms that typically occur along midline structures in children and young adults. Although isochromosome 12p is established as a frequent chromosomal abnormality in testicular germ cell tumors, studies examining isochromosome 12p in primary central nervous system germ cell tumors are limited. Herein, we studied 24 primary central nervous system germ cell tumors from 23 patients using fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine the frequency of isochromosome 12p in these neoplasms. Of the 24 primary central nervous system germ cell tumors, fluorescence in situ hybridization detected isochromosome 12p in 6 (25%) tumors, whereas 11 (46%) tumors showed polysomy (multiple copies) of chromosome 12. One case with isochromosome 12p also showed increased 12p independent of isochromosome 12p formation. The remaining 7 tumors yielded a normal result by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Clinical follow-up of this patient cohort indicated 8 patients (32%) developed a recurrence, although no association was demonstrated between the presence or absence of chromosomal 12 abnormalities and tumor relapse. We confirm that isochromosome 12p is less frequent in primary central nervous system germ cell tumors relative to testicular germ cell tumors, and although our numbers are limited, the presence or absence of isochromosome 12p does not appear to impact tumor recurrence. Similarly, although polysomy 12 was identified in nearly half of our central nervous system germ cell tumors, no prognostic significance was attributed to this abnormality. These results suggest that fluorescence in situ hybridization studies for isochromosome 12p or polysomy 12 may have limited use in the evaluation of these rare neoplasms.
RetCam Imaging for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening

Purpose: Indirect ophthalmoscopy is the gold standard for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. Screening for ROP with digital imaging has been proposed as a possible alternative. Our goal was to evaluate the longitudinal clinical outcomes of employing digital imaging to detect high-risk ROP. Methods: Serial RetCam imaging and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed on 43 premature infants. A masked reader evaluated the images and made management recommendations that were compared with indirect ophthalmoscopy results. Successful screening was determined by correctly identifying progression to prethreshold or threshold disease with referral for indirect ophthalmoscopy. Unsuccessful screening was determined by failure to identify prethreshold or threshold disease, inaccurately detecting prethreshold or threshold disease, or inability to evaluate for ROP. Results: No cases of prethreshold or threshold disease were missed by the reader. The reader overestimated prethreshold or threshold disease in 5% of cases. Initial screening in 21% of cases could not be evaluated for ROP secondary to poor image quality. Digital photography had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97.5% in detecting prethreshold and threshold ROP. Positive-predictive value of digital photography was 67% and negative-predictive value was 100%. Conclusions: Screening and management of ROP using RetCam imaging did not fail to detect prethreshold or threshold disease when images could be obtained. Ophthalmologic examinations were needed in 20% of cases that did not reach threshold or prethreshold disease because of poor image quality or overestimation of ROP. RetCam screening may safely reduce the overall number of indirect ophthalmologic examinations required.
Effects of oral chromium supplementation on the glucose tolerance of elderly human subjects

Abstract The possible role of Cr deficiency in the impairment of glucose tolerance in elderly subjects has been studied. Chromium supplements, 150 μg. daily, were given to 10 apparently healthy inmates of an old-age home, whose oral glucose tolerance tests (G.T.T.'s) were abnormal. Mean GTT became normal in 4 subjects (“Cr responders”) but remained abnormal in the other 6 subjects (“Cr non-responders”) during Cr administration. The beneficial effect of Cr in the “Cr responders” did not result from an increased release of insulin, since plasma ILA and immuno-reactive insulin levels were normal and rose normally after the glucose load both before and during Cr supplementation. Serum Cr concentration was found to rise significantly after the glucose load in old and young subjects but to a lower level in the elderly “Cr non-responders”, suggesting that an adequate rise in serum Cr might be necessary for normality of the G.T.T. The data support the possibility that Cr deficiency may lead to the impairment of the GTT in some elderly subjects.
Evaluating Decentralized Basic Science Medical Education: A Model

The Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho Program in Decentralized Medical Education began in 1971. Since that time, more than 400 students have participated in the University Phase of the program. This article presents a modelfor evaluating the basic science portion of the program in which the first year of medical school is taught at sites remote from the medical center in Seattle, Washington. The article describes a methodology for assessing student performance and student and faculty satisfaction with the program. The results indicate (1) that students at remote sites are indistinguishable from those students who study at the University of Washington School of Medicine and (2) that they choose primary care pathways and residencies at a greater rate than their classmates at the School of Medicine.
Supersonic near-wake afterbody boattailing effects on axisymmetric bodies

An experimental investigation of the near-wake flowfield downstream of a conical boattailed afterbody in supersonic flow is presented. The afterbody investigated is typical of those for conventional boattailed missiles and projectiles in unpowered flight. Flow visualization, mean static pressure measurements, and three-component laser Doppler velocimeter data have been obtained throughout the near wake of the body. The effects of afterbody boattailing on the physics of the near-wake flow are determined by comparing the present data with similar data obtained on a cylindrical afterbody. Results indicate that a net afterbody drag reduction of 21 % is achieved with the current boattailed afterbody for a freestream Mach number of 2.46. The shear-layer growth rate, and therefore mass entrainment from the recirculation region behind the base, is shown to be significantly reduced by afterbody boattailing due to the reduction in turbulence levels throughout the near wake as compared to the cylindrical afterbody.
Tissue specificity of chromosomal rearrangements in ataxia-telangiectasia.

Cytogenetic studies of lymphocytes and fibroblasts from individuals with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) demonstrate spontaneous chromosomal breakage. In the AT lymphocytes, this damage results in a high frequency of balanced rearrangements involving chromosome bands 7p14, 7q35, 14q12, and 14q32. The T-cell receptor α, β, and γ chain gene complexes and the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene complex, all of which may be functional in lymphocytes, have been localized to these bands. To assess the relationship between genes at these breakpoints and the entirety of the AT phenotype, we undertook a detailed cytogenetic analysis of fibroblasts and lymphocytes from seven AT homozygotes. Our findings indicate that the rearrangements present in the lymphocytes are not commonly observed in the fibroblasts, despite the increased instability of chromosomes from these cells relative to lymphocytes. Furthermore, the changes in the fibroblasts are neither consistent within nor between patients, suggesting that chromosome rearrangement occurs more randomly in this tissue. Therefore, differential site-specific damage in separate tissues may generate the distinct features of the disease in those tissues and may account for the pleiotrophic effects of the AT gene.
Performance of the GLAS laser transmitter

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), launched in January 2003, is a laser altimeter and lidar for the Earth Observing System's (EOS) ICESat mission. The laser transmitter requirements, design and qualification test results and in-flight performance for this space-based remote sensing instrument is summarized and presented.
Radioactive tagging of hookworm larvae (Necator americanus) with P32.

Abstract Larvae of Necator americanus were successfully tagged with P32 by cultivation of the larvae through the free-living stages in the presence of the isotope. The degree of absorption of P32 by the larvae was influenced by the strength of P32 in the cultures, the addition of bacteria previously activated, and by the nature of the medium for larval or bacterial cultivation.
Adoption and Safe Families Act state statutes regarding parents with mental illnesses: A review and targeted intervention.

TOPIC This paper describes an intervention targeting states that list a parental mental illness/disability as an "aggravated circumstance" under the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA), resulting in reasonable efforts not required to reunify a family. PURPOSE This paper delineates the results from our review of ASFA state statutes, the development of a model ASFA statute, and strategies to educate legislators and the public about the impact of discrimination that parents with mental illnesses encounter because of ASFA legislation with the intent of modifying state ASFA legislation. SOURCES USED The following sources were used for this educational initiative: a literature review and a review of ASFA state statutes. CONCLUSIONS Adoption of the model ASFA state statute is simply a first step in an effort to end the discrimination that parents with psychiatric disabilities face; additional efforts are also noted.
Developing a workable infection control policy for the dental laboratory.

Abstract An enforced infection control policy in a laboratory will reduce occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens and other infectious diseases and protect the dental laboratory personnel from exposure to infective disease. An outline of a workable laboratory infection control policy based on “Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens” requirements is presented.
How To Analyze an Article

In clinical research investigators generalize from study samples to populations, and in evidence-based medicine practitioners apply population-level evidence to individual patients. The validity of these processes is assessed through critical appraisal of published articles. Critical appraisal is therefore a core component of evidence-based medicine (EBM). The purpose of critical appraisal is not one of criticizing for criticism's sake. Instead, it is an exercise in assigning a value to an article. A checklist approach to article appraisal is outlined, and common pitfalls of analysis are highlighted. Relevant questions are posed for each section of an article (introduction, methods, results, discussion). The approach is applicable to most clinical surgical research articles, even those of a nonrandomized nature. Issues specific to evidence-based surgical practice, in contrast to evidence-based medicine, are introduced.
Spin-spin asymmetries in large transverse momentum Higgs-boson production.

We examine the spin dependence of standard model Higgs boson production at large transverse momentum via the processes $\mathrm{gg}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}g{H}^{0}$, $\mathrm{qg}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}q{H}^{0}$, and $q\overline{q}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}g{H}^{0}$. The partonic level spin-spin asymmetries (${\stackrel{^}{a}}_{\mathrm{LL}}$) for these processes are large at Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) and Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies.
Gains in distance walking in a 3-month follow-up poststroke: what changes?

Statement of Problem. Distance walking remains compromised for many adults poststroke. The purpose of this study was to examine if the amelioration of strokerelated neuromuscular impairments, improved cardiovascular fitness, or better balance contributed to gains in distance walking. Method of Study. The authors gathered baseline data of 92 adults at an average of 75 days poststroke and again 3 months later. Participants performed a bicycle ergometry stress test, a 6-min walk, and a Fugl-Meyer assessment for motor control, strength, and balance testing. The gain in walk distance was modeled using multiple regression with the variables of gains in peak VO2 lower limb control, plantar flexion strength, and balance. Separate analyses were done for poor performers, that is, participants who walked less than the median distance (213 m) at baseline and good performers, that is, participants who walked more than 213 m. Results. For poor performers, the gain in balance was the only significant predictor of the ga...