cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BarStart Contracts Lecture

This is a bar review lecture prepared for Cooley Law School's BarStart course. It covers Contract Law and is annotated to identify those areas tested on the essay portion of the Michigan bar examination over the last ten years.
Comparison of the performance of center-based clustering algorithms

Center-based clustering algorithms like K-means, and EM are one of the most popular classes of clustering algorithms in use today. The author developed another variation in this family - K-Harmonic Means (KHM). It has been demonstrated using a small number of "benchmark" datasets that KHM is more robust than K-means and EM. In this paper, we compare their performance statistically. We run K-means, K-Harmonic Means and EM on each of 3600 pairs of (dataset, initialization) to compare the statistical average and variation of the performance of these algorithms. The results are that, for low dimensional datasets, KHM performs consistently better than KM, and KM performs consistently better than EM over a large variation of clustered-ness of the datasets and a large variation of initializations. Some of the reasons that contributed to this difference are explained.
Time-Space Noncommutativity And Symmetries For A Massive Relativistic Particle

We show the existence of a time-space noncommutativity (NC) for the physical system of a massive relativistic particle by exploiting the underlying symmetry properties of this system. The space-space NC is eliminated by the consideration of the exact symmetry properties and their consistency with the equations of motion for the above system. The symmetry corresponding to the noncommutative geometry turns out to be the special case of the gauge symmetry such that the mass parameter of the above system becomes noncommutative with the space and time variables. The possible deformations of the gauge algebra between the spacetime variables and the angular momenta are discussed in detail. These modifications owe their origin to the NC of the mass parameter with the space and time variables. The cohomological origin for the above NC is addressed in the language of the off-shell nilpotent Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) symmetry transformations.
Bacterial Infections of the Upper Respiratory Tract

1 Introduction 2 Anatomy 3 Defense Mechanisms 4 Pathogenesis 5 Bacterial Virulence Mechanisms 6 Normal Flora 7 General Considerations: Collection, Transport, and Processing of Specimens for Bacteriologic Examination 8 Infections of the Oral Cavity 9 Paranasal Sinuses and Associated Airways 10 Ear 11 Abscesses Adjacent to and Originating from the Oral Cavity Keywords: bacterial infections of upper respiratory tract; defense mechanisms; bacterial virulence mechanisms; hospital microbiology laboratories and aerobic and anaerobic cultures; oral cavity infections; acute bacterial epiglottitis-inflammation and edema of epiglottis and life-threatening airway obstruction; paranasal sinuses and associated airways; otitis media and acute mastoiditis
SQL ST : a spatio-temporal data model and query language

In this paper, we propose a query language and data model for spatio-temporal information, including objects of time-changing geometry. Our objective is to minimize the extensions required in SQL, or other relational languages, to support spatio-temporal queries. We build on the model proposed by Worboys where each state of a spatial object is captured as a snapshot of time; then, we use a directed-triangulation model to represent spatial data, and a point-based model to represent time at the conceptual level. Spatio-temporal reasoning and queries can be fully expressed with no new constructs, but user-defined aggregates, such as area and inside for spatial relationships, duration and contain for temporal ones, and moving distance for spatio-temporal ones. We also consider the implementation problem under the assumption that, for performance reasons, the representation at the physical level can be totally different from the conceptual one. Thus, alternative physical representations and mappings between conceptual and physical representations are discussed.
Dream of tomorrows' broadband multimedia pipeline

It is very easy to forget how far last mile transport technology has come along; we get used to new things very quickly. Just yesterday we were all dialing in on 14.4 kbps modems and today do not seem too impressed with standard DSL or cable modem rates. We are always hungry for more bandwidth as computer power grows, and the new best thing coming seems to be BPON. The paper reflects on some of the most popular last mile technologies from the past all the way to the future; it also reflects the idea of never abandoning the older technologies as they have molded the new ones. The paper first gives a short overview of older services like DDS, ISDN and dialup. It then reflects today's transport, various versions of DSL and, finally, looks into the future of last mile transport, xPON.
English fluency of the US immigrants: Assimilation effects, cohort variations, and periodical changes

Using 1% Public-Use Microdata Samples (PUMSs) of the 1980, 1990, and 2000 census and the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS), this study evaluates three simultaneous longitudinal trends in immigrants’ English fluency: the assimilation process, variations across arrival cohorts, and periodical changes. The key findings include that the declining initial English fluency among new immigrants reported in a previous study based on 1980 and 1990 data (Carliner, 2000) was reversed in the 1990s and 2000s. Immigrants who arrived during the 2000s have the highest level of English fluency at the year of entry among all cohorts. Immigrants are assimilating. However, changes in social and linguistic environment in the US during the past two decades have suppressed the advancement of immigrants. The decline in the average English attainment from the 1980s to the 1990s reported in a previous study (Pitkin and Myers, 2011) was found to extend to the 2000s. Using new census data, this study updated the current knowledge on immigrants’ English fluency by revealing a never documented upward trend among recent immigrants and suppressive period effects from 1990 to 2010.
Near Exit Plane Effects Caused by Primary and Primary-Plus-Secondary Tabs

Triangular-shaped tabs, attached to the separation lip of a nozzle, have been shown to provide substantial increases in the convective transport-mixing in a jet's near field. Detailed information is reported on the basic features of such tab flows made available by 1) the large-scale tab and 2) the finely resolved pressure/velocity measurements. Secondary tabs were placed next to, and pointed away from, the primary tab; the motivation was to enhance the outward directed flow from the jet's core region. The strong mixing enhancement, provided by these optimally oriented (pitch angle = 40 deg) secondary tabs, is detailed
A Practical Look at the Chemistry and Biology of Hydrogen Sulfide

Significance: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is garnering increasing interest as a biologically relevant signaling molecule. The effects of H2S have now been observed in virtually every organ system and numerous physiological processes. Recent Advances: These studies have not only opened a new field of “gasotransmitter” biology, they have also led to the development of synthetic H2S “donating” compounds with the potential to be parlayed into a variety of therapeutic applications. Critical Issues: Often lost in the exuberance of this new field is a critical examination or understanding of practical aspects of H2S chemistry and biology. This is especially notable in the areas of handling and measuring H2S, evaluating biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, and separating physiological from pharmacological responses. Future Directions: This brief review describes some of the pitfalls in H2S chemistry and biology that can lead or have already led to misleading or erroneous conclusions. The intent is to allow individuals entering or already in this burgeoning field to critically analyze the literature and to assist them in the design of future experiments. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 17, 32–44.
Monitoring early tumor response to drug therapy with diffuse optical tomography

Although anti-angiogenic agents have shown promise as cancer therapeutics, their efficacy varies between tumor types and individual patients. Providing patient-specific metrics through rapid noninvasive imaging can help tailor drug treatment by optimizing dosages, timing of drug cycles, and duration of therapy-thereby reducing toxicity and cost and improving patient outcome. Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a noninvasive three-dimensional imaging modality that has been shown to capture physiologic changes in tumors through visualization of oxygenated, deoxygenated, and total hemoglobin concentrations, using non-ionizing radiation with near-infrared light. We employed a small animal model to ascertain if tumor response to bevacizumab (BV), an anti-angiogenic agent that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), could be detected at early time points using DOT. We detected a significant decrease in total hemoglobin levels as soon as one day after BV treatment in responder xenograft tumors (SK-NEP-1), but not in SK-NEP-1 control tumors or in non-responder control or BV-treated NGP tumors. These results are confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging T2 relaxometry and lectin perfusion studies. Noninvasive DOT imaging may allow for earlier and more effective control of anti-angiogenic therapy.
Evaluating Arctic sea ice predictions

Climate models predict that as Earth's climate warms, summer Arctic sea ice cover will be more variable in coming years until the ocean eventually becomes ice free in the summer. Predictions of ice extent at weekly to seasonal time scales would be valuable for coastal communities, for those who need marine access, and for resource extraction. However, such predictions tend to be poor in years when sea ice extent is unusually high or low relative to its long-term downward trend, according to a new study by Stroeve et al.
Immunodetection after complete destaining of Coomassie blue-stained proteins on immobilon-PVDF

A technique that simplifies the localization of an immunodetectable protein in relation to the other electrophoresed proteins is described. Proteins are transblotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane and visualized by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250, and a photograph of the protein pattern is taken. The Coomassie blue-stained PVDF membrane is then completely destained using a 25% acetic acid/50% methanol solution that allows subsequent immunostaining on the same membrane. The technique uses common laboratory reagents, is rapid, and has been shown to be applicable for a variety of proteins using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and a variety of transblots.
Microstructural phenomena associated with micrometeoroid impact craters in aluminum and stainless steel

We explore the metallurgical and materials implications for hypervelocity impact crater formation in some representative materials exposed in space in low-Earth orbit. Radial cracks associated with small size (<0.2 mm) craters in anodized aluminum alloy illustrate the importance of impacting particle flux and size distributions. Novel sectioning and etching of selected craters in stainless steel bolt heads has illustrated the potential for detailed characterization of cracking, phase changes, and extreme deformation proximate to the crater wall while thin sections through the crater and selectively ion-milled to electron transparency have illustrated shock pressure effects on microstructures below the crater for the first time. The use of optical, acoustic, and electron microscopy is illustrated in the characterization of hypervelocity impact crater-related microstructures and these observations point to the essential role to be played by imaging techniques in understanding the environmental effects of space in low-Earth orbit on the behavior of materials and space structures.
Trade Policy and the Effects of Climate Forecasts on Agricultural Markets

damental to modeling the effects of a climate forecast on agricultural markets is the direct agronomic impacts of climate on commodity production, but also important are the endogenous responses of growers, traders, and others. This paper examines market responses to climate information in a simple framework that highlights the most important issues while abstracting from most complications. We emphasize how trade policy affects commodity market responses and the value of climate information.
Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Real-Time Ultra-Wide Band See-Through-Wall Imaging Radar System

The technology of ultra wideband (UWB) spectrum is in a real expansion. One of the most promising applications is the See-Through-Wall (STW) imaging radar system for civilian and military use. The STW is based on the transmission and reception of UWB pulses in the time domain using synthetic aperture radar (SAR). A low-cost standalone real-time UWB STW radar system with customized and off-the-shelf components has been developed. The developed system is an affordable practical platform for, not only STW application, but also related UWB applications such as precise indoor localization. This paper is concerned with the implementation of this real-time STW system, and especially addresses the design of an efficient high-performance UWB data acquisition subsystem based on FPGSs.
Defining Managed Care and Its Application to Individuals with Disabilities

Managed health care was originally targeted toward healthy populations, but recently, managed care has moved into less traditional markets, including managing health care for individuals with disabilities. An understanding of managed care concepts and their application to individuals with disabilities is important, as these models are applied to this population. The purpose of this article is to define managed care from the perspective of each stakeholder and describe how managed care is currently affecting community services and outpatient care for individuals with disabilities. Broad definitions of managed care and the roles and considerations for the various stakeholders in managed care are presented. Various types of managed care models are discussed. Trends in the application of managed care to individuals with disabilities are also presented.
Childcare quality and preschoolers' math development

This study examined the associations between four types of childcare quality (i.e. teacher–child closeness, frequency of math-related activities, and teacher education and experience) and preschoolers' residualised gain in math over the course of six months. Additionally, potential interactions between teacher–child closeness and other indicators of childcare quality were examined. Findings indicated that teacher–child closeness was positively associated with math gains, and the main effect was moderated by teacher experience: the association between teacher–child closeness and gains in math was weaker for children with more experienced teachers. Findings also showed that the frequency of math activities related to shapes and patterns were positively related to gains in math, while none of the other frequencies of math-related activities were significant. Lastly, teacher's experience was negatively associated with early math development. Policy implications were discussed.
The annual cycle of Flehmen in black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)

Flehmen is a stereotyped response of ungulates and other mammals to urine. In black-tailed deer, Flehmen occurs typically in males (rarely in females), and its frequency shows an annual cycle. Flehmen in response to female urine was most frequent in November, and to male urine in January. The response minimum to both types of urine occurred in May. Fifty-five to 100% of initial responses to female urine resulted in Flehmen. The deer responded more often to female urine, and the difference between the responses to female and male urine increased from May to November. A male's own urine released Flehmen more often than did urine of other males. The response intensity varied with the spatial orientation of the male to the urinating female, and responses were usually limited to distances of 15 m or less.
Critical taper wedge mechanics of fold-and-thrust belts on Venus: Initial results from Magellan

Examples of fold-and-thrust belts from a variety of tectonic settings on Venus are introduced. Predictions for the mechanics of fold-and-thrust belts on Venus are examined on the basis of wedge theory, rock mechanics data, and currently known conditions on Venus. The theoretical predictions are then compared with new Magellan data.
Taking the Measure of Diversity: Comparative Alternatives to the Model-Animal Paradigm in Cortical Neuroscience

Cortical neuroscience is founded on studies of a very few model organisms, mainly rats, cats, and macaque monkeys. The concentration of effort on such a few species would be defensible if cortical organization were basically uniform across mammals, as is commonly believed. Although there is little reason to doubt that some features of cortical organization are indeed widespread among mammals, phyletic variation in cortical organization is far more extensive than has generally been appreciated or acknowledged. Rats, for example, differ from other mammals in the genetics and chemistry of their cortical neurons, in connectivity and areal organization, and in the functions of specific cortical regions. Likewise, macaque monkeys, although widely used as models of the human visual system, lack a number of features found in human visual cortex. Given the variability of cortical organization, how should neuroscientists approach the study of nonhuman species, and what can we reasonably expect to learn from them? First, by examining a wider range of species than are currently employed, and by using modern techniques of phyletic analysis, neuroscientists can more rigorously identify those features of cortical organization that are, in fact, widely shared among mammals or among particular mammalian subgroups. Second, by taking account of variations, neuroscientists can abstract more reliable and general principles of structure-function relationships in the nervous system. Finally, freed from the doctrine of basic uniformity, neuroscientists can pursue the study of human cortical specializations, and so advance our understanding of what distinguishes humans as a biological species.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae

Abstract Selected clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae were tested for their susceptibility to seven antibiotics by a microtiter broth dilution and an agar diffusion method. Eleven of 40 strains tested were resistant to ampicillin, the drug of choice, by both methods. All the strains tested were susceptible to chloramphenicol, and all but one were susceptible to tetracycline. Of the other four antibiotics tested, the ranges of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were: 0.5 to 4 μg of gentamicin per ml, 0.5 to 4 μg of erythromycin per ml, and 2 to 16 μg of clindamycin per ml. MICs of ampicillin for both the susceptible and resistant strains were markedly affected by inoculum concentration. The ampicillin MICs of the resistant strains were also affected by the time of incubation.
A Note on the Solution of a Stochastic Partial Differential Equation

Abstract A physical model is described which justifies the appearance of a stochastic term in the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations. In this model, a linear oppositional control term accrues as well. The resulting stochastic partial differential equation is shown to have a unique stationary solution.
Drivers and modulators in the central auditory pathways.

The classic view of auditory information flow depicts a simple serial route from the periphery through tonotopically-organized nuclei in the brainstem, midbrain and thalamus, ascending eventually to the neocortex. Yet, complicating this picture are numerous parallel ascending and descending pathways, whose roles in auditory processing are poorly defined. To address this ambiguity, we have identified several anatomical and physiological properties that distinguish the auditory glutamatergic pathways into two groups that we have termed “drivers” and “modulators”. Driver pathways are associated with information-bearing pathways, while modulator pathways modify these principal information streams. These properties illuminate the potential roles of some previously ill-defined auditory pathways, and may be extended further to categorize either unknown or mischaracterized pathways throughout the auditory system.
Variations in Postoperative Complications According to Race, Ethnicity, and Sex in Older Adults

Objectives: To explore differences in the incidence of postoperative complications between three racial and ethnic groups (white, black, Hispanic) before and after taking into account potentially confounding patient and hospital characteristics. Design: Cross-sectional study using 2006 to 2007 administrative discharge data from hospitals in four states (CA, PA, NJ, FL) linked to American Hospital Association Annual Survey data and data from the U.S. Census. Risk-adjusted logistic regression models were used in the analyses. Setting: Six hundred U.S. adult nonfederal acute care hospitals. Participants: Individuals aged 65 and older undergoing general, orthopedic, or vascular surgery (N = 587,314; 86% white, 6% black, 8% Hispanic). Measurements: Thirteen frequent postoperative complications. Results: When considered without controls, black patients had significantly greater odds than white patients of developing 12 of the 13 complications, by factors (ORs) ranging from 1.09 to 2.69. Hispanic patients had significantly greater odds than white patients in nine of the 13 complications (ORs = 1.11�1.82) and significantly lower odds than white patients on two of the other four (ORs both = 0.84). The fully adjusted models that accounted for hospital and especially patient characteristics substantially diminished the number of complications for which black and Hispanic patients had significantly greater odds than white patients. Many of the significant differences between black, Hispanic, and white patients that persisted after controls were different for men and women. Conclusion: Older black and Hispanic individuals have greater odds than white individuals of developing a vast majority of postoperative complications. Procedure type and health status largely explained differences in postoperative complication risk, which are frequently conditional on sex.
Slow dark deactivation of Arabidopsis chloroplast ATP synthase caused by a mutation in a nonplastidic SAC domain protein

Coupling factor slow recovery (cfs) is a recessive mutant of Arabidopsis with anomalous ATP synthase activation/deactivation characteristics as well as a distinct growth phenotype. The most significant feature of this mutant is that the dark-adapted deactivation of ATP synthase is a very slow relative to the wild type, indicating interference with ATP synthase regulation. Physical mapping of the mutation delimited it to a region in a pair of bacterial artificial chromosome clones. Examination of T-DNA insertion lines of all 34 putative genes located in this region identified two homozygous T-DNA insertion lines of the same gene, At3g59770, possessing phenotypes indistinguishable from the cfs mutant. At3g59770 had been previously identified as suppressor of actin 9 (SAC9), a protein with a SAC domain, a protein–protein interaction module containing two conserved tryptophans known as a WW domain, and an ATP/GTP-binding site motif A. Sequence analysis of cfs revealed a point mutation of G to A resulting in an amino acid substitution from tryptophan to STOP, thereby coding a truncated protein. Real-time-PCR amplification of the gene specific fragments showed that the T-DNA mutants did not have full-length transcripts whereas the cfs mutant transcribed a full-length mutated transcript. Further investigation of SAC9 RNA expression levels in different tissues of wild-type plants by RT-PCR revealed the highest expression in leaves. SAC 9 dysfunction interferes with ATP synthase deactivation, possibly by an alteration in phosphoinositide signaling inducing a stress mimicry response.
Nanoplasmon coupled intracellular optical resonance excitation for ultrasensitive 3D fluorescence cell imaging

We have created an enhanced cell-imaging platform for 3D confocal fluorescence cell imaging where fluorescence sensitivity is amplified for more than 100 folds especially for cell membrane and cytoplasm. The observed unprecedented three-dimensional fluorescence intensity enhancement on the entire cell microstructure including cell membrane 10 μm above the substrate surface is attributed to a novel far field enhancement mechanism, nanoplasmon coupled optical resonance excitation (CORE) mechanism which permits enhanced surface plasmon on the substrate being evanescently coupled to Whispering Gallery mode optical resonance inside the spheroidal cell membrane microcavity. Theoretical model of the hypothesis is explained using coupled mode theory. In addition, preliminary result has been provided for the observation of early stage of transfection in a cancer cell.
Compression behavior of ultra-high modulus carbon/epoxy composites using ASTM D6641 and SACMA SRM 1R-94:

The compression modulus and compression strength of a proprietary ultra-high modulus carbon/epoxy composite are experimentally determined using SACMA SRM 1R-94 and ASTM D6641 for laminates with sta...
Online feedback-directed optimization of Java

This paper describes the implementation of an online feedback-directed optimization system. The system is fully automatic; it requires no prior (offline) profiling run. It uses a previously developed low-overhead instrumentation sampling framework to collect control flow graph edge profiles. This profile information is used to drive several traditional optimizations, as well as a novel algorithm for performing feedback-directed control flow graph node splitting. We empirically evaluate this system and demonstrate improvements in peak performance of up to 17% while keeping overhead low, with no individual execution being degraded by more than 2% because of instrumentation.
Gynecologic history of women with inflammatory bowel disease

Objective To describe the gynecologic history of women with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Questionnaires were sent to the 1000 women age 20-60 who had been hospitalized for inflammatory bowel disease at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation during 1989–1993. There were 692 responses, and those from 662 women who had undergone surgery for inflammatory bowel disease were analyzed. Of the 117 women who had undergone hysterectomy, 85 responded to follow-up questionnaires. Results Three hundred sixty women had Crohn disease, 251 had ulcerative colitis, and 51 had inflammatory bowel disease of indeterminate or unknown type. Menstrual abnormalities were reported by 58%. Symptomatic vaginal discharge, reported by 40%, was more likely to occur in those with Crohn disease than with ulcerative colitis (odds ratio [OR] 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47–2.99; P P = .01), but pain with penetration (55% overall) did not differ statistically by type of inflammatory bowel disease. Half of the women reported the loss of pleasure or desire for sex. Ovarian cysts had been diagnosed in 39% of women and resulted in surgical treatment in 57% of these. One hundred seventeen women (18%) had undergone hysterectomy, 52 (44% of total) at age 35 or younger. Conclusion Gynecologic conditions are common in women with inflammatory bowel disease, including menstrual abnormalities, vaginal discharge, infertility, and gynecologic surgery. All physicians providing care for women with inflammatory bowel disease should be familiar with the frequency and nature of concurrent gynecologic conditions.
Weaving Social Media Into a Business Proposal Project

Given that students are enthusiastic about social media or even have expertise in some social media tools, the author decided to design a class project in her Writing for Careers (Business Communic...
Climate models in palaeoclimatic reconstruction

Abstract A survey of global climate modelling is presented. Various numerical modelling approaches — diagnostic, vertical column, zonally averaged and global circulation — are outlined, with emphasis on their applicability to particular types of problems and their limitations. Palaeoclimatic data avalable for model input and verification are compared with data required as model input and model-generated results, respectively.
Cell Adhesion Molecule Distribution Relative to Neutrophil Surface Topography Assessed by TIRFM

The positioning of adhesion molecules relative to the microtopography of the cell surface has a significant influence on the molecule's availability to form adhesive contacts. Measurements of the ratio of fluorescence intensity per unit area in epi-fluorescence images versus total internal reflection fluorescence images provides a means to assess the relative accessibility for bond formation of different fluorescently labeled molecules in cells pressed against a flat substrate. Measurements of the four principal adhesion molecules on human neutrophils reveal that L-selectin has the highest ratio of total internal reflection fluorescence/epi intensity, and that P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and the integrins αLβ2 (LFA-1) and αMβ2 (Mac-1) have ratios similar to each other but lower than for L-selectin. All of the ratios increased with increasing impingement, indicating an alteration of surface topography with increasing surface compression. These results are consistent with model predictions for molecules concentrated near the tips of microvilli in the case of L-selectin, and sequestered away from the microvillus tips in the case of LFA-1, Mac-1, and PSGL-1. The results confirm differences among adhesion molecules in their surface distribution and reveal how the availability of specific adhesion molecules is altered by mechanical compression of the surface in live cells.
The management of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children between 18 months and 4 years old

Abstract Purpose: Success with nasolacrimal duct probing has been shown to be inversely correlated with age. Consequently, several authors have suggested that the older child with a previously untreated nasolacrimal duct obstruction should undergo silicone intubation or a balloon catheterization as the primary surgical procedure because older children are more likely to have complicated obstructions that will not respond to simple probing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that older children with uncomplicated nasolacrimal duct obstruction can be successfully managed with simple probing. Methods: A 14-year prospective study was conducted of consecutive patients older than age 18 months with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. All were treated (subject to certain exclusion criteria) with a simple nasolacrimal duct probing. Careful attention was paid to the type of obstruction encountered at surgery. Outcome evaluation included a standard ophthalmologic examination plus a dye disappearance test at 6 weeks after surgery. A follow-up examination or telephone interview was conducted 1 year after surgery. Results: Of 378 children undergoing nasolacrimal duct probing, 23 met the inclusion criteria of being older than age 18 months (18 to 48 months). Seventy percent of the 23 children had a good outcome from the probing procedure. When analyzed by the type of obstruction, 12 of the 12 children (100%) with a simple membrane at the valve of Hasner had a good outcome. This contrasted with a success rate of 4 of 11 children (36%) who had complicated obstructions ( p Conclusion: A simple probing of the nasolacrimal duct has an excellent success rate in children up to 4 years old if an uncomplicated obstruction is found at the valve of Hasner.
Light-induced proton uptake by photosynthetic reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26. I. Protonation of the one-electron states D+QA−, DQA−, D+QAQB−, and DQAQB−☆

Abstract The proton uptake associated with the light-induced transfer of an electron to the acceptor quinones Q A and Q B was investigated in reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26. The proton uptake was found to be pH dependent with maximum values of approx. 0.5 H + /e − at pH 9 for DQ A − and approx. 0.8 H + /e − at pH 10 for DQ A Q B − . The quinones are not protonated directly. The observed proton uptake is due to shifts in the p K values of amino acid residues that interact with the quinones. The pH-dependences of the proton uptake were fitted with a phenomenological model in which the protons are taken up by four amino acid residues. The deduced p K shifts associated with the reductions of the quinones ranged from 0.4 to 0.8 for Q A and from 0.4 to 1.3 for Q B . The proton uptake by D + Q A − and D + Q A Q B − was less than that by DQ A − and DQ A Q B − , respectively, indicating a release of protons associated with the formation of D + . To calculate the pH-dependence of the redox midpoint potentials of Q A ( E m(Q A ) ) and Q B ( E m(Q B ) ) from the proton uptake, we used a thermodynamic (model-independent) relation. E m(Q A ) decreased approx. 20 mV/pH at 6.0 E (Q B ) decreased approx. 20 mV/pH at 6.0 9.0. The pH dependence of E m(Q A ) in isolated reaction centers is significantly weaker than that determined from redox titrations of Q A in chromatophores of Rb sphaeroides (see for example Prince, R.C. and Dutton, P.L. (1976) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 172, 329–334). The pH-dependence of the free energy between Q A − Q B and Q A Q B − obtained from the difference of E m(Q A ) and E m(Q B ) is in good agreement with that determined from the measurement of electron-transfer kinetics in isolated RCs from Rb. sphaeroides (Kleinfeld, D., Okamura, M.Y., and Feher, G. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 766, 126–140). The stronger average interaction of the protons with Q B − provides the driving force for the forward electron transfer. A simplified model was used to calculate the p K shifts from the electrostatic energy between Q A − or Q B − and the charges of the protonatable amino acid residues whose positions were obtained from the three-dimensional structure (Allen, J.P., Feher, G., Yeates, T.O., Komiya, H. and Rees, D.C. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 6162–6166).
A comparison of optical and aerodynamic sizes—II. An improved method for the sizing of deliquescent aerosols to estimate pulmonary deposition

Abstract The utility and resolution of size measurements of deliquescent aerosols made for the purpose of estimating pulmonary deposition can be improved by humidifying the sample prior to sizing by either aerodynamic or optical instruments. This is due to two effects: inhaled deliquescent aerosols become droplets, and the optical and aerodynamic properties of the spherical and homogeneous droplets are more uniform than those of dry particles. These effects are demonstrated with a monodisperse NaCl aerosol.
Unusual malignant glioneuronal tumors of the cerebrum of adults: a clinicopathologic study of three cases

Malignant glioneuronal tumors of the brain are rare and poorly characterized. Herein, we report the clinicopathologic features of three examples with unusual morphologies including both glial and neuronal differentiation. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were reviewed in all cases. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Transmission electron microscopy (EM) was performed on both formalin-fixed (n = 1) and paraffin embedded tissue (n = 2). The immunogold technique for localization of GFAP was also performed. Two patients were male and one was female, age 66, 84, and 34 years, respectively. Radiologic studies demonstrated hyperdensity on CT (n = 3), multicentricity (n = 2), and a cortical based solid component with a cystic extension into underlying white matter (n = 2). At surgery, all three tumors were superficial and relatively circumscribed. Histologically, they were composed of large epithelioid cells (n = 3), spindle cells (n = 1), and poorly differentiated smaller cells with high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratios (n = 1). Brisk mitotic activity and coagulative non-palisading necrosis were present in all cases. The tumors were immunopositive for GFAP (n = 3), S-100 (n = 3), synaptophysin (n = 3), chromogranin (n = 3), Neu-N (n = 2), and neurofilament protein (n = 2). Stains for EMA were negative. EM demonstrated convincing neurosecretory granules in one case, some in filament-containing cells immunogold labeled for GFAP. Two patients expired 3–5 weeks after surgery. True malignant neoplasms with glial and neuronal differentiation do occur in the central nervous system of adults and may pursue a highly aggressive course. The use of minimal diagnostic criteria, e.g., immunoreactivity for a single antigen like neurofilament protein, may not be sufficient and should be discouraged.
Diversity in Individual↔Context Relations as the Basis for Positive Development Across the Life Span: A Developmental Systems Perspective for Theory, Research, and Application (The 2004 Society for the Study of Human Development Presidential Address)

Contemporary, cutting-edge scholarship in human developmental science is framed by developmental systems theories emphasizing that the basic process in development involves mutually influential relations between the individually distinct person and his or her diverse, multilevel context; stressing that relative plasticity in development derives from such individual↔context relations; and providing optimism about the possibility that applications of developmental science may promote positive development. These ideas underscore the substantive importance of human diversity, seen both as the potential for systematic intraindividual change across life (plasticity) and as interindividual differences in intraindividual change, and stand in contrast to views about diversity as either unimportant, error, or reflecting deficits in development. I discuss these differing conceptions of human diversity and of their distinct implications for the methodological and ethical conduct of science and of applications to prog...
Characterization of Changes in F-actin during Maturation of Starfish Oocytes

Major morphological and mechanical changes occur in the starfish oocyte during maturation. Measurements made by quantitative fluorescence microscopy of fixed specimens stained with saturating levels of rhodamine-phalloidin demonstrated that changes in the level of F-actin in intact oocytes, in the endoplasm, and in the cortex may contribute to these changes. The level of F-actin increased transiently after exposure of oocytes to the maturation inducing hormone, 1-methyladenine (1-MA). This increase correlated with the formation of spikes on the cell surface. The level of F-actin decreased at the time of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), which may account for the decrease in stiffness that occurs at this time. No increase in the level of F-actin was observed during formation of polar bodies, suggesting the existence of a secondary mechanism affecting oocyte stiffness. The changes in the amount of F-actin during oocyte maturation were largest in the cortex. The data also suggested that there are two distinct populations of cortical actin that are regulated both spatially and temporally; these are the F-actin in spikes and nonspike cortical F-actin. Changes in either or both of these populations of cortical actin were induced independently of GVBD by short exposures to 1-MA, induction of maturation with dithiothreitol, and pretreatment of immature oocytes with forskolin before adding 1-MA. Stabilization of F-actin by microinjection of phalloidin had no effect on GVBD. These results suggest that polymerization and depolymerization of actin during maturation are responsible for morphological and mechanical changes in the oocyte. In addition, the data suggest that the regulation of actin polymerization and depolymerization can be dissociated from GVBD.
Kinetic properties of the membrane-bound human liver mitochondrial protoporphyrinogen oxidase☆

Abstract We studied the kinetic properties of the membrane-bound human liver mitochondrial protoporphyrinogen oxidase. The activity was monitored by direct recording of protoporphyrin fluorescence appearance in the incubation medium without extraction or dilution. The human liver enzyme shows some different catalytic properties than the rat enzyme since its optimum pH was found at 7.2. We also measured the optimum pH on partially purified protoporphyrinogen oxidase from solubilized human mitochondrial membranes. Like the rat enzyme, the human enzyme had a molecular weight of ∼-32,000 as determined by gel filtration, but its optimum pH was the same as that of the membrane-bound enzyme. The apparent K m for protoporphyrinogen IX of the membrane-bound enzyme was a function of the pH; K m = 0.16 μ m at pH 7.2, 0.33 μ m at pH 8.0, and 0.55 μ m at pH 8.5. Moreover, there was inhibition by excess protoporphyrinogen IX ( K I = 5 μ m at pH 7.2). The human enzyme was able to catalyze the oxidation of mesoporphyrinogen IX to mesoporphyrin IX. In this case, the Lineweaver-Burk plot of the data showed a biphasic curve with two different apparent K m 's for mesoporphyrinogen IX of 0.5 μ m ( V max = 2.40 nmol h −1 mg −1 ) and 4 μ m ( V max = 5.7 nmol h −1 mg −1 ). Human liver protoporphyrinogen oxidase was sensitive to inhibition by some metalloporphyrins such as Mn- and Co-protoporphyrin, and to a lesser degree by Cd-, Ni- and Fe-protoporphyrin (heme). Cu-, Mg-, Sn-, and Zn-protoporphyrins were not inhibitors of the activity. A detailed study of the inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase by cobalt-protoporphyrin shows a noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition with respect to protoporphyrinogen IX ( K I app = 0.8 μ m).
PSAT Component Scores as a Predictor of Success on AP Exam Performance for Diverse Students.

While studies have shown the positive effect of the Advanced Placement (AP) program on college readiness, there are still barriers preventing minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) students who possess high academic potential from participating in the opportunity that AP courses offer. One tool that could help identify students for participation in AP courses is their Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) results. Results from multiple regression analyses suggest that portions of the PSAT are significant predictors of AP test performance above and beyond student ethnicity and/or SES.
The Use of Phosphirenes as Conjugating Spacers in Polythiophene Chains

A series of thienyl-substituted phosphirene P−W(CO)5 complexes were synthesized by reaction of the transient terminal phosphinidene complex [Ph−P−W(CO)5] with the appropriate thienyl-substituted al...
The effect of n-p tensor interactions in3HΛ on Λ-p scattering parameters

Recent analyses of Λ-p scattering data are used to deduce ranges and depths for the Λ-nucleon triplet interaction. Variational calculations incorporating this information are then performed for the hypertriton with Hamiltonians which contain tensor components in the neutron-proton potentials. From the results of these variational calculations, properties of the singlet Λ-nucleon interaction are deduced. It is found that the inclusion of a tensor component in the neutron-proton interaction leads to differences of the order of 15% in the scattering lengths and 10% in the effective ranges when compared to equivalent calculations which do not include such tensor components.
The effect of acid pH on the probability of growth of proteolytic strains of Clostridium botulinum

Abstract In low-acid foods, where the pH is not sufficiently acidic to prevent growth of Clostridium botulinum , sub-optimal pH may nevertheless contribute to preservative systems based on combinations of inhibitory factors. The effect of pH in the range 4.5–7.0 on the probability, P , of growth of single vegetative bacteria of proteolytic strains of C. botulinum at 30°C has been determined by comparison of the most probable number (MPN) count of the bacteria in nutrient medium adjusted to the required pH with HCl, and in the basal medium at pH 6.8–7.0. The medium was maintained in strictly anaerobic conditions at a redox potential equivalent to lower than −300 mV at pH 7. At pH values between 5.0 and 7.0 log 10 P for growth of strain ZK3 (type A) in 3 days was between 0 and −1. Between pH 4.6 and pH 4.9 growth was delayed and incubation for up to 14 days was required; log 10 P decreased sharply with decrease in pH to a value of −5.6 or lower at pH 4.60 for growth within 14 days. For an inoculum containing a mixture of 4 additional type A strains and 5 type B strains log 10 P for growth within 14 days at pH 4.66 was −5.6. A mathematical model was developed that related the effect of acid pH and incubation time to the probability of growth of strain ZK3 in the above conditions.
Stability of gadolinium complexes in vitro and in vivo.

Gd(III) toxicity is such that, for in vivo use, the ion must be incorporated into stable, ionically bound complexes with organic chelating agents. Although metal-chelate-based contrast agents have been demonstrated safe in phase I-III studies, their potential toxicities must be considered, particularly in the development of new contrast media. The potential for adverse effects is thought to arise from in vivo dissociation into constituent metal ion and ligand. Release of Gd(III) from ligand may also be facilitated by endogenous metals [e.g., Zn(II)] that compete with Gd(III) for ligand-binding sites. In vivo complex stability toward dissociation depends on several closely balanced characteristics of the metal and ligand that maintain metal-chelate integrity during residence in the body. Among design strategies explored to minimize the potential for in vivo Gd(III) release are the use of ligands that: form Gd(III) complexes with high thermodynamic stabilities; have binding selectivity for Gd(III) over endogenous metal ions; incorporate rigid cyclic structures and form Gd(III) complexes with greater kinetic stabilities than their open-chain homologs; or incorporate slight excess ligand to "scavenge" loosely bound or free endogenous metal ions that might otherwise compete with Gd(III) for ligand binding.
ABNORMAL PHOSPHORUS RETENTION PATTERN FOLLOWING INDUCED HYPERCALCEMIA IN IMMOBILIZED SUBJECTS

Calcium tolerance test was performed on 45 patients. Unusual responses suggesting parathyroid abnormality were found in seven immobilized subjects due to paralytic poliomyelitis. In 33 partially immobilized subjects due to rheumatoid arthritis, the response was found to be between that of normal subjects and of poliomyelitic subjects. The value of “Parathyroid Index” for the evaluation of parathroid function was discussed.
Heat Transfer Correlations for Thermally Developing Flow in Rectangular Micro-Channels Subject to Four-Sided and Three-Sided H1 Boundary Conditions

In this study, heat transfer to laminar hydrodynamically fully developed flow in the thermally developing region of rectangular micro-channels is analyzed for four-wall and three-wall circumferentially uniform temperature and axially uniform heat flux (H1) boundary conditions. The temperature and wall heat flux distributions are solved numerically and used to calculate the local average Nusselt number. Based on the numerical results, new correlations capable of predicting heat transfer in the thermally developing region continuously into the fully developed region are developed. The correlations are compared with other correlations and available experimental data, and show good agreement.© 2010 ASME