cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The State of Readiness of Initial Level Preservice Middle Grades Science and Mathematics Teachers and Its Implications on Teacher Education Programs.

The purpose of this study was to document through interview and videotaped data the current state of readiness of 10 preservice middle grade teachers, regarding their ability to plan, implement, and reflect on an integrated mathematics and science lesson. The results showed that only one student was successful in implementing a lesson that compared favorably to national standards. This student's lesson plan contained minimal pedagogical considerations and consisted primarily of notes emphasizing fine detail of distinction about the content of the lesson using her own examples. The lesson plan and post-lesson-plan interview data of the remaining students indicated an adherence to algorithmic learning, rote memorization, and procedural knowledge. There were numerous content errors in the plans, and these students orally described a lack of self-confidence in their ability to teach this lesson successfully. The most successful student demonstrated her competence in meeting standards of pedagogical content knowledge and was most successful in analyzing her own teaching. The results showed that most subjects of this study needed extensive training in content and pedagogy and in synthesizing these in a way consistent with modern learning theory.
LOVE AT FIRST SEX: LATINA GIRLS' MEANINGS OF VIRGINITY LOSS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Drawing upon interviews with second-generation Latina youth, this article extends knowledge on young women's sexual lives by examining how Latina girls construct their sexual subjectivity within the context of their first sex experiences. In their narratives, girls identified two types of relationships as appropriate for virginity loss—those defined by love and those characterized by a mutual sentiment of caring. Their perceptions of these relationships not only informed how Latina girls made sense of their first sex experiences but also entailed critical consequences for their ability to negotiate curiosity and safe sex with partners at this point in their sexual biography. The focus on the first sex experiences of Latina youth provides insight into their notions of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual ideologies and how they use these ideas to socially construct their sexual identities.
γ′ coarsening in high volume fraction nickel-base alloys

The coarsening behavior of the gamma-prime precipitate has been examined in high volume fraction nickel-base alloys aged at elevated temperatures for times of up to 5000 h. Although the cube rate law was observed during coarsening, none of the presently available coarsening theories showed complete agreement with the experimental particle size distributions (PSDs). These discrepancies were thought to be due to elastic coherency strains which were not considered by the available models. Increasing the Mo content significantly influenced the PSDs and decreased the coarsening rate of the gamma-prime cubes, as a result of increasing the magnitude of the lattice mismatch. After extended aging times, the gamma-prime cubes underwent massive coalescence into plates at a rate which was much faster than the cuboidal coarsening rate. Once the gamma-prime plates were formed, further coarsening was not observed, and this stabilization of the microstructure was attributed to the development of dislocation networks at the gamma-gamma-prime interfaces.
Effect of sulphur on coal liquefaction in the presence of dispersed iron or molybdenum catalysts

Abstract The effects of dispersed catalysts on coal liquefaction under hydrogen pressure were studied using small autoclaves. The catalysts were generated in situ by addition of elemental sulphur plus an oil-soluble carboxylic salt of either iron or molybdenum. Finely divided catalysts of relatively high activity were generated by this method. Residues isolated after liquefaction with added iron carboxylate and sulphur contained pyrrhotite, which is proposed to be the catalytically active species. The prime role of sulphur is to form pyrrhotite in combination with the iron. Addition of sulphur alone did not increase conversion. This method of catalyst preparation seems useful for further scientific study of the relationship between sulphur, metal sulphide catalysts and liquefaction activity.
Cardiovascular and mortality risk prediction and stratification using urinary albumin excretion in older adults ages 68-102: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Abstract Background Elevated urinary albumin excretion (UAE) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. We tested the hypothesis that elevated UAE improves cardiovascular risk stratification in an elderly cohort aged 68–102 years. Methods We evaluated UAE in 3112 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study who attended the 1996–1997 examination and had median follow up of 5.4 years. Elevated UAE was defined as urinary albumin to creatinine ratio ≥30 μg/mg. Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were defined as urinary albumin to creatinine ratio 30–300 μg/mg and >300 μg/mg, respectively. Outcomes included CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death) and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risk of outcomes associated with elevated UAE. Results The prevalence of elevated UAE was 14.3%, 17.1% and 26.9% in those aged 68–74, 75–84 and 85–102 years, respectively. CVD incidence and all-cause mortality were doubled (7.2% and 8.1% per year) in those with microalbuminuria and tripled (11.1% and 12.3% per year) in those with macroalbuminuria compared to those with normal UAE (3.3% and 3.8% per year). The increased CVD and mortality risks were observed in all age groups after adjustment for conventional risk factors. The adjusted population attributable risk percent of CVD and all-cause mortality for elevated UAE was 11% and 12%, respectively. When participants were cross-classified by UAE and Framingham Risk Score categories, the 5-year cumulative incidence of coronary heart disease among participants with elevated UAE and a 5-year predicted risk of 5–10% was 20%, substantially higher than 6.3% in those with UAE Conclusion Elevated UAE was associated with an increased risk of CVD and all-cause mortality in all age groups from 68 to 102 years. Combining elevated UAE with the Framingham risk scores may improve risk stratification for CVD in the elderly.
Reconstructing the articulation of Early Germanic *r

The seemingly contradictory influences of r on neighboring sounds in the early Germanic languages have fueled controversy over r’s articulation in Proto-Germanic and later dialects. In this paper, we examine a number of these early Germanic sound changes and compare their effects to those observed in recent phonetic studies of the coarticulation of different types of r on adjacent vowels. We conclude that an apical trill and a central approximant r are phonetically the most likely conditioners of the earliest Germanic sound changes, while later changes can be accounted for by rhotics which were phonetically related to these earlier articulations.
Flexible Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in 68 Cats (2001–2006)

Background:Bronchoscopy is an important tool for identifying an underlying etiology for respiratory disease in cats. However, the procedure is challenging, because feline airways are small and prone to bronchoconstriction. Hypothesis:Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are appropriate and safe diagnostic procedures in the cat. Animals:Sixty-eight cats. Methods:Flexible bronchoscopy was performed in all cats with the cats under propofol infusion with jet ventilation. The procedures were reviewed for BAL volumes instilled and recovered and for the number and type of complications with the use of 3 flexible endoscopes < 5.0-mm outer diameter. The BAL procedure was compared among scopes by using a one-way analysis of variance. Complication rates were compared by using chi-square analysis. Significance was set at P < .05. Results:Clinical diagnoses included inflammatory airway disease in 46 of 68 cats, pneumonia in 10 of 68, neoplastic disease in 8 of 68, and other conditions in 4 of 68 cats. Mean lavage volumes instilled for the 3 scopes were 2.62–5.05 mL/kg (range, 0.77–9.38 mL/kg). Mean percent fluid recovered for the 3 scopes was 51–73%, (range, 0–140%). BAL cell counts were adequate for cytologic assessment (> 300 cells/μL) in 61 of 64 cats (97%), and in 107 of 120 samples (89%) collected. Complications occurred in 38% of procedures; however, these were mild in 24% of cats; 6% of cats died or were euthanized after the procedure. Complications were not associated with fluid volume instilled or recovered, and could not be related to the underlying disease process. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Flexible bronchoscopy with BAL was well tolerated in most cats examined.
A repertoire of Yoruba hand and face gestures

Gesture is part of the linguistic capital of every culture. Members learn from birth those gestures operative in their culture and community. Once learned, the use of gestures becomes so routinized that it appears as the natural and logical way to meaningfully communicate. This paper documents, illustrates, and describes some of the hand and facial gestures in use among Yoruba people of Nigeria. Accompanying the descriptions are the interpretations of the identified quotable gestures within the socio-cultural context of their usage. Further, the paper highlights the ‘face of earnest’ because of the cross-cultural miscommunication that it generates.
The ABCs of Keeping On Track to Graduation: Research Findings from Baltimore

This study of graduation outcomes in Baltimore uses multivariate analysis of longitudinal student cohort data to examine the impact of factors identified in previous research as early warning indicators of a dropout outcome. Student cohort files were constructed from longitudinal administrative data (following all first-time 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 9th graders forward in time until their on-time graduation year and 1 year past). Sequentially estimated logistic regression hierarchical linear modeling models indicated the strongest predictors of graduation were 9th-grade attendance and course failure, although gender was still significant. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between the 4 categories of college enrollment outcomes (enrollment in a 4-year college, enrollment in a 2-year college, graduation with no college enrollment, and nongraduation) and student-level predictor variables, including grade point average (GPA) and 8th-grade test scores. Results suggest ...
Two Years Later: A Qualitative Assessment of Youth Well-Being and the Role of Aftercare in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment

This study evaluated youth well-being 24-months after the conclusion of outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) treatment and explored how youth transition to a variety of post-treatment settings. OBH treatment involves integrating clinical treatment approaches with wilderness expeditions that average over 50 days. Transition from OBH treatment often requires that youth and family utilize aftercare services, which are typically: (a) outpatient services, which are comprised of individualized, group or family therapy, or (b) residential services, which are comprised of residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and others. The results suggest that 80% of parents and 95% of youths perceived OBH treatment as effective, the majority of clients were doing well in school, and family communication had improved. Aftercare was utilized by 85% of the youths and was perceived as a crucial component in facilitating the transition from an intensive wilderness experience to family, peer and school environments. Results also indicated that many continued to use alcohol and/or drugs to varying degrees, had legal problems, and still had issues forming friendships with peers. OBH treatment was perceived as being a necessary and effective step in helping youths address, and eventually overcome, emotional and psychological issues that were driving destructive behavior prior to OBH treatment.
“Best Practices” Research: A Methodological Guide for the Perplexed

Like many applied fields, public administration has a long-running love affair with the idea of "best practices" research. Although occasional reviews and critical examinations of approaches to best practices research have appeared in the literature (Overman and Boyd 1994), very little critical examination and reflection have been devoted to core methodological issues surrounding such work. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, we critically examine the underlying assumptions associated with "best practices research" in order to distill an appropriate set of rules to frame research designs for best practice studies. Second, we review several statistical approaches that provide a rigorous empirical basis for identification of "best practices" in public organizations-methods for modeling extreme behavior (i.e., iteratively weighted least squares and quantile regression) and measuring relative technical efficiency (data envelopment analysis [DEA]).
Large-Scale Forcing of the Agulhas Variability: The Seasonal Cycle

In this article the authors examine the kinematics and dynamics of the seasonal cycle in the western Indian Ocean in an eddy-permitting global simulation [Parallel Ocean Circulation Model, model run 4C (POCM-4C)]. Seasonal changes of the transport of the Agulhas Current are linked to the large-scale circulation in the tropical region. According to the model, the Agulhas Current transport has a seasonal variation with a maximum at the transition between the austral winter and the austral spring and a minimum between the austral summer and the austral autumn. Regional and basin-scale mass balances indicate that although the mean flow of the Agulhas Current has a substantial contribution from the Indonesian Throughflow, there appears to be no dynamical linkage between the seasonal oscillations of these two currents. Instead, evidence was found that the seasonal cycle of the western Indian Ocean is the result of the oscillation of barotropic modes forced directly by the wind.
Effect of prior sternotomy on mortality and morbidity after heart transplantation

A retrospective analysis to evaluate the impact of prior sternotomy on the outcome of cardiac transplantation was undertaken. Some 165 patients who received primary heart transplantation were classified into three groups. There were 102 patients in group 1 (no prior sternotomy), 47 in group 2 (one prior sternotomy), and 16 in group 3 (more than one prior sternotomy). The three groups were demographically similar. Coronary artery bypass was the indication for prior sternotomy in 77% of patients in group 2 and in 94% in group 3. Mortality within 30 days post-transplant was significantly different among the three groups (group 1, 7.8%; group 2, 8.5%; group 3, 31%; P = 0.0148). The 1-year actuarial survival was also significantly lower in group 3 (52%) compared with groups 1 (83%) and 2 (81%) (P = 0.0311). Multivariate analysis identified more than one prior sternotomy and pulmonary hypertension as risk factors for death within 30 days post-transplant. Patients who had prior sternotomy also had a higher incidence of coagulopathy (group 1, 17%; group 2, 49%; group 3, 38%; P = 0.0002), and re-exploration due to excessive bleeding (group 1, 5%; group 2, 11%; group 3, 25%; P = 0.0225). Requirement for blood products for transfusion was also higher in groups 2 and 3. There was no significant difference among the three groups in the incidence of early infections (50% versus 53% versus 44%), renal failure (6% versus 11% versus 19%), or allograft rejection in patients who survived the first 30 days (95% versus 86% versus 82%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Undrained bloody pericardial effusion in the early postoperative period after coronary bypass surgery: A prospective blood pool study

To assess the clinical importance of hemopericardium after cardiac surgery, serial blood pool scintigrams were performed in 13 random patients throughout the initial hours after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Scintigraphic measurements of pericardial fluid accumulation and left ventricular ejection fraction were made. Hemodynamics, cardiac, output, and chest tube drainage were monitored; and symptoms of postpericardiotomy syndrome were recorded for a mean of 7.4 months after surgery. Seven of the 13 patients had no scintigraphic evidence of bloody pericardial effusion. Six patients had scintigraphic evidence of bloody pericardial effusion; three of these effusions were small, localized posteriorly, and evident throughout the study. In two other patients large collections of fluid (over 100 ml) developed. In one of these patients increased mediastinal drainage required reoperation. The other patient remained stable although mediastinal drainage decreased. The sixth patient showed a moderate effusion (95 ml) that decreased without evident effusion or drainage when the last image was taken. Two patients (one with evidence of a postoperative bloody effusion), had symptoms of postpericardiotomy syndrome in the follow-up period. This study reports the generally benign occurrence of bloody postoperative mediastinal effusions, the frequent accumulation of substantial amounts of undrained sanguineous fluid, and the lack of connection between the presence and or amount of pericardial blood and the postpericardiotomy syndrome. The importance of these scintigraphic findings can be interpreted only with knowledge of associated mediastinal drainage.
Phosphorylation is a regulatory mechanism in apolipoprotein B mRNA editing.

The editing of apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA is under tissue-specific, developmental and metabolic regulation. We found that multiple protein kinase inhibitors or activators increased apoB mRNA editing up to 2.5-fold in Caco-2 cells and 3–8-fold in McA7777 and FAO rat cells respectively. The phosphorylation-agent-induced modulation is independent of the apolipoprotein B editing catalytic subunit 1 (APOBEC-1) and of apoB mRNA expression levels, indicating the involvement of a protein modification, such as phosphorylation, regulating the cellular editing of apoB mRNA. Transient expression of protein kinase C-θ more than doubled apoB mRNA editing in FAO cells. Chronic exposure to ethanol, a treatment known to increase the expression of protein kinases and to change protein phosphorylation status, increased apoB mRNA editing in FAO cells up to 2.5-fold without increasing the mRNA abundance of APOBEC-1. The elimination of potential phosphorylation sites 47 and 72 of human APOBEC-1 decreased its activity to approx. one-eighth of control levels by a Ser 47 → Ala mutation, but more than doubled the activity by a Ser 72 → Ala mutation. The activity modulation was reversed by a Ser → Asp mutation at sites 47 and 72, which introduced a phosphorylation-like carbonic acid group. Both human APOBEC-1 dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphase and the Ser 47,72 -to-alanine double mutant protein demonstrated a shifted isoelectric focusing pattern compared with the wild type, indicating phosphorylation at these sites. Taken together, these results suggest that phosphorylation might be an important mechanism in the regulation of apoB mRNA editing.
In search of the neurobiological substrates for social playfulness in mammalian brains

Play behavior is a fundamental and intrinsic neurobehavioral process in the mammalian brain. Using rough-and-tumble play in the juvenile rat as a model system to study mammalian playfulness, some of the relevant neurobiological substrates for this behavior have been identified, and in this review this progress. A primary-process executive circuit for play in the rat that includes thalamic intralaminar nuclei, frontal cortex and striatum can be gleaned from these data. Other neural areas that may interact with this putative circuit include amygdala, ventral hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray (PAG), and deep tectum, as well as ascending dopamine systems which participate in all types of seeking urges. At the neurochemical level, considerable evidence points to specific cholinergic and dopaminergic controls, but also endogenous opioids and cannabinoids as having a positive modulatory influence over playfulness, with all neuropeptides known to have aversive effects to reduce play. Monoamines such as norepinephrine and serotonin certainly modulate play, but they influence all psychobehavioral systems, suggesting non-specific effects. We proceed to discuss how increased insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of play can inform our understanding of normal and abnormal childhood development.
A shallow-cavity UHF crossed-slot antenna

The shallow-cavity crossed-slot antenna is a UHF radiator designed primarily for use on a high-speed aircraft operating as the airborne terminal in a satellite-to-air communications link. The requirements, design analysis, and performance characteristics are described. The antenna's shallow profile makes it attractive either as a paste-on- or flush-mounted-type radiator. Near-hemispherical radiation coverage is provided.
A Lattice-Boltzmann Method for Partially Saturated Computational Cells

The lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method is applied to complex, moving geometries in which computational cells are partially filled with fluid. The LB algorithm is modified to include a term that depends on the percentage of the cell saturated with fluid. The method is useful for modeling suspended obstacles that do not conform to the grid. Another application is to simulations of flow through reconstructed media that are not easily segmented into solid and liquid regions. A detailed comparison is made with FIDAP simulation results for the flow about a periodic line of cylinders in a channel at a non-zero Reynolds number. Two cases are examined. In the first simulation, the cylinders are given a constant velocity along the axis of the channel, and the steady solution is acquired. The transient behavior of the system is then studied by giving the cylinders an oscillatory velocity. For both steady and oscillatory flows, the method provides excellent agreement with FIDAP simulation results, even at locations close ...
Contested Factors for Sustainability: Construction and Management of Household On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems

AbstractOn-site sanitation systems experience a high failure rate with resulting environmental and public health implications. In the United States alone, the EPA estimates that 10% of the 26 million homes served by on-site systems have failed. If this failure rate is extrapolated to the 8% of the global population that the UN estimates have gained access to sanitation between 1990 and 2008, an additional 5 million failed systems have been constructed. To address issues like this, development theory currently emphasizes a blend of hardware (e.g., infrastructure, technology) and software (e.g., knowledge, institutions, education) in an effort to achieve sustainable development. However, there is a lack of both theory that addresses this interaction and a definition of sustainable infrastructure. To begin to address this gap, an initial set of 40 factors that may contribute to sustainable on-site sanitation systems was identified from a literature review including the Web of Science, the Engineering Village...
Aggressive (Epithelioid) Osteoblastoma Arising in Soft Tissue

Aggressive (epithelioid) osteoblastoma arising in soft tissue has never been described. It is important to differentiate this benign osteoblastoma, a potentially locally aggressive tumor, from extraskeletal osteosarcoma. This report describes an aggressive (epithelioid) osteoblastoma arising in a focus of heterotopic ossification in the axilla of a 21-year-old man.
An investigation of heparinase immobilization

A systematic investigation of the parameters that affect the efficiency of immobilizing heparinase onto cyanogen bromide activated crosslinked 8% agarose beads was conducted. Two experimental measures, the “fraction bound” and the “fraction retained,” were used to monitor the coupling efficiency. The fraction bound is the portion of the total initial enzyme that is bound to the agarose gel. The fraction retained is the fraction of bound enzyme that is active. The product of the two measures indicates the coupling efficiency. The activity of the immobilized heparinase was measured under conditions free of both internal and external mass transfer limitations, and thus, the fraction retained represents the true immobilized enzyme activity.
Direct digitization of optical images using a photostimulable phosphor system.

The authors describe a method for directly digitizing optical images with a photostimulable phosphor (PSP) system. A PSP plate is initially charged with an exposure to a uniform x‐ray field, and is then exposed to an optical image which discharges the plate in relation to the amount of incident light. Two applications were investigated: a contact‐print technique for digitizing film radiographs, and a projection technique for digitizing transparent objects such as histology slides. Spatial uniformity was found to be adequate, and linearity of optical density response was excellent from 0.0–2.9 o.d. after look‐up table correction. Spatial frequency response was degraded with the optical technique relative to the x‐ray imagingproperties of the plates, but was restorable by Fourier filtering. Image noise following spatial enhancement was satisfactory at intermediate to high optical densities using a high‐resolution PSP plate, but was somewhat degraded at low densities.
Rapid LC-MS Drug Metabolite Profiling Using Microsomal Enzyme Bioreactors in a Parallel Processing Format

Silica nanoparticle bioreactors featuring thin films of enzymes and polyions were utilized in a novel high-throughput 96-well plate format for drug metabolism profiling. The utility of the approach was illustrated by investigating the metabolism of the drugs diclofenac (DCF), troglitazone (TGZ), and raloxifene, for which we observed known metabolic oxidation and bioconjugation pathways and turnover rates. A broad range of enzymes was included by utilizing human liver (HLM), rat liver (RLM) and bicistronic human-cyt P450 3A4 (bicis.-3A4) microsomes as enzyme sources. This parallel approach significantly shortens sample preparation steps compared to an earlier manual processing with nanoparticle bioreactors, allowing a range of significant enzyme reactions to be processed simultaneously. Enzyme turnover rates using the microsomal bioreactors were 2−3 fold larger compared to using conventional microsomal dispersions, most likely because of better accessibility of the enzymes. Ketoconazole (KET) and quinidine...
Vital Infrastructures of Trash in Dakar

n Dakar, Senegal, an army of people is responsible for ensuring that the city remains clean and, by extension, healthy, pure, and modern. A complicated network of paid municipal trash collectors, community- b ased volunteers, below- t he- r adar pickers and recyclers, and household members, espe- cially women, ensures the steady, orderly disposal of the city's waste, converts discard into use and value, and vigilantly wards off the ever- p resent threat that the city might drown in its own detritus. This army constitutes the vital infrastructure of the city's solid waste management system. 1 Its bodies serve as the backbone of the system, articulated with the steel plates of the trash trucks and animated by moral archi- tectures of faith. It is a profoundly intimate system, binding people to one another through their refuse and fastening people to the inner workings of the machines that their jobs require. Trash collection matters in Dakar because, more than other forms of infrastructure, it is primarily composed of laboring bodies. Indeed, the labor of garbage management in Dakar has been a critical focus of political contestation over the last three decades. This period has seen countless institutional reorganizations in the city's municipal trash collection system, an explosion of informal recycling and disposal practices, frequent and prolonged garbage strikes, and widespread concerted acts of public dumping. This messy political landscape offers new insight into debates surrounding infrastructure and urban citizenship. It reveals that social and bodily technologies must be included as key elements within a wider gamut of technics constituting urban infrastructure. Infrastructures' vitality is literally fleshed out through the living parts of labor and community in infrastructural systems. Trash matters for another reason. Its dirty associations of filth govern its management and its socio - political power. The material itself and the process of its elimination are enmeshed in the wider constel- lation of meaning surrounding trash as waste and the connections between cleaning and purification. The intimate vitality and vibrant materiality of trash infrastructure renders the discard process — a nd its disruption — politically salient.
Using USRDS generated hospitalization tables to compare local dialysis patient hospitalization rates to national rates

Hospitalization tables of the U.S. Renal Data System allow description of national hospitalization rates among incident and prevalent dialysis patients in five-year age groups. These rates are further stratified by sex, race, and four primary disease categories. Based on these tables derived from the data on over 250,000 incident and prevalent patients during 1991 to 1993, a methodology is described that allows comparison of local (for example, dialysis facility) or regional "first admission" rates among incident and prevalent dialysis patients to the national rates. A standardized hospitalization ratio is introduced to facilitate such comparisons, and methods for assessing statistical significance are discussed. Since this methodology allows adjustment for age, race, sex, and primary disease, it can serve as useful tool for dialysis research. It can also be used at the dialysis facility level, alone or in conjunction with the standardized mortality ratio, to facilitate local quality assurance.
Vaginal paravaginal repair: One-year outcomes

Abstract Objective: This study was carried out to determine the efficacy and safety of the vaginal approach to paravaginal repair of symptomatic paravaginal defect cystocele. Methods: This study is an observational case series of 100 consecutive women, referred from December 1996 to August 2000, with symptomatic grade II to IV paravaginal defect cystocele. Preoperative and postoperative pelvic evaluations were performed with the Baden-Walker halfway system. The same surgeon performed all repairs. Fourteen patients had prior anterior repairs, and 530 concomitant procedures were performed. The vaginal approach consisted of a thorough entry from the vesicovaginal space under the inferior pubic ramus into the retropubic space, widely exposing the area of the arcus tendineus. A repair was done bilaterally in 95 patients and unilaterally in 5. Between 1 and 6 Gore-tex CV-0 sutures (W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc, Elkton, Md) were placed widely around the arcus tendineus on either side and fixed to appropriate locations on the bladder fascia and anterior vaginal walls. Tying these sutures resulted in dramatic elevation of the lateral superior sulci. Patients were followed up for 1 to 36 months, with a mean of 10.6 months. Criteria for objective cure were defined as the lateral sulci of the anterior vaginal walls being at grade 0 and firmly apposed to the lateral pelvic sidewalls. Results: Of the 100 patients, 34 had grade II, 54 had grade III, and 12 had grade IV paravaginal defect cystocele. Patients were followed up postoperatively for 1 to 36 months: 84 for more than 6 weeks and 55 for 1 year or longer. Our objective cure rate was 98%. Two asymptomatic patients had a unilateral grade I or a bilateral grade II paravaginal defect cystocele. A recurrent midline cystocele occurred in 22 patients between 3 and 11 months after the operation. Twenty-one patients were asymptomatic and one was symptomatic. Twenty-one patients had grade I-II cystocele and one had grade III cystocele. There were 3 major intraoperative hemorrhagic complications; one of the operations was converted to an anterior colporrhaphy. There were a total of 21 major and 14 minor inpatient complications. Twenty-five subsequent complications included various urinary symptoms in 14 patients, long-term lower extremity neuropathy in 2, bloody discharge from intravaginal sutures in 3, absent coital sensation in 1, and recurrent pelvic organ prolapse in 5, all of which included grade III enterocele between 3 and 25 months. Conclusions: The vaginal approach to the correction of paravaginal defect cystocele is highly effective in our population at a mean of 11 months after the operation. Frequent complications do occur but are largely manageable. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:1360–7.)
Typical absence epilepsy presenting prior to age of 3 years: an uncommon form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

Abstract Purpose An attempt to allocate patients with the clinical features and electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities of typical absence epilepsy presenting before the age of 3 years, similar to childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) and delineate the clinical manifestations, EEG abnormalities, therapy and outcome of such an epileptic disorder by conducting a nationwide survey. Results Overall, eight infants, six males and two females, abided by the inclusion criteria of typical absence epilepsy: They were born after an unremarkable pregnancy and labor presenting at the age of 12–34 months (mean: 19.6 months) with frequent absences time-linked with an EEG demonstrating generalized occasionally irregular epileptiform discharges of 3–4 Hz spike/wave and normal background activity along with an electrographic photosensitive response in one patient. Neurological examination was intact in all infants. All eight infants were initially treated with valproic acid, of whom seven immediately responded and one had increase in frequency and duration of absences completely aborted with treatment of lamotrigine. Three relapsed after termination of therapy of whom two again presented with recurrent absences and another one with generalized tonic–clonic seizures and as such these children had virtually transformed into a later form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) during childhood. All eight patients are seizure-free, seven still on therapy; seven children within a follow-up period of 2–7 years and the most recently diagnosed infant for 6 months. Cognitive skills were found normal in all children within the low normal range in three children with short attention and concentration spans. Conclusion The data presented here delineate a very rare form of idiopathic benign generalized epilepsy presenting with typical absences before age of 3 years and a favorable outcome, similar to childhood and JAE, recognized as distinct IGE syndromes by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification.
Treatment of fish processing waste using the downflow stationary fixed film (DSFF) reactor

The DSFF reactor has been shown to be capable of treating a wide variety of wastes. In this study, a high protein fish processing waste was treated at several influent concentrations. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of up to 90% were achieved at loading rates in excess of 10 kg COD/m3/day.
Dyschromias in Renal Disease

Cutaneous manifestations of end-stage renal disease, particularly altered skin pigmentation, are well documented in the literature. Most patients with chronic kidney disease are affected by at least one dermatological condition, which impacts patient morbidity and quality of life. In this chapter we review a diverse group of cutaneous entities seen in patients with chronic renal disease and discuss those that may present with various dyschromias. Recognition of pigmentary alterations and their relationship to skin conditions in the setting of kidney disease is imperative for early diagnosis and management of the underlying process causing the pigmentary alteration. Pigmentary alterations due to primary processes as well as manifestations of secondary processes are presented. The pathogenesis, salient clinical features, and skin-directed treatment of each condition are reviewed.
Overhead analysis of a dynamic load balancing library for cluster computing

This paper investigates the overhead of a dynamic load balancing library for large irregular data-parallel scientific applications on general-purpose clusters. The library is based on an integrated approach combining the advantages of novel dynamic loop scheduling strategies as data migration policies with the advances in resource management and task migration capabilities offered by a recently developed parallel runtime system. The paper focuses on the contribution of the runtime system software layer to the total overhead of the library. Experiments to compare the performance of two applications using the library, the N-body simulations and the profiling of a quadrature routine, with the performance of the same applications using an MPI-only implementation of the dynamic scheduling techniques indicate only a slight decrease in performance due to the overhead of the runtime system software layer. The results validate the suitability of the runtime system as an implementation platform for dynamic load balancing schemes, and underscore the significance of using the integrated approach, as well as the benefits of using the library especially in cluster applications characterized by irregular and unpredictable behavior.
Statins and Aspirin for Chemoprevention in Barrett's Esophagus: Results of a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Data suggest that aspirin, statins, or a combination of the two drugs may lower the progression of Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, aspirin is associated with potential complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke, and statins are associated with myopathy. We developed a simulation disease model to study the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of aspirin and statin chemoprevention against esophageal adenocarcinoma. A decision analytic Markov model was constructed to compare four strategies for Barrett's esophagus management; all regimens included standard endoscopic surveillance regimens: (i) endoscopic surveillance alone, (ii) aspirin therapy, (iii) statin therapy, and (iv) combination therapy of aspirin and statin. Endpoints evaluated were life expectancy, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER). Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the impact of model input uncertainty on results. Assuming an annual progression rate of 0.33% per year from Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma, aspirin therapy was more effective and cost less than (dominated) endoscopic surveillance alone. When combination therapy was compared with aspirin therapy, the ICER was $158,000/QALY, which was above our willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY. Statin therapy was dominated by combination therapy. When higher annual cancer progression rates were assumed in the model (0.5% per year), combination therapy was cost-effective compared with aspirin therapy, producing an ICER of $96,000/QALY. In conclusion, aspirin chemoprevention was both more effective and cost less than endoscopic surveillance alone. Combination therapy using both aspirin and statin is expensive but could be cost-effective in patients at higher risk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Predicting and adapting satellite channels with weather-induced impairments

Efficiency improvements using predictive and adaptive methods over satellite channels with weather-induced impairments are presented. Scintillation and rain attenuation are the two dominant factors for signal fading over satellite-Earth paths at operating frequencies over 10 GHz. We develop statistical and spectral analyses of these processes, and obtain simple linear predictors for received signal attenuation using autoregressive (AR) models. For adaptation, we propose changing signal transmission power, modulation symbol size, and/or code rate as the state of the channel changes. In particular, we introduce a continuous power control and discrete rate control strategy. Quantitative analyses of power consumption and channel capacity indicate that there can be a substantial gain in performance with such adaptive schemes.
Female Prairie Deer Mice Prefer Conspecific Flesh Over Contraspecific Flesh

Hungry adult female deer mice were presented with freshly asphyxiated conspecifics and house mice. The deer mice showed a reliable preference for the conspecific flesh during the first 2 hr of testing, but this preference was attenuated during the following 20 hr of testing. Previous research has shown that male deer mice prefer contraspecific flesh. The preference of female deer mice for conspecific flesh is attributed to their tendency to be more aggressive toward living conspecifics than are male deer mice and their tendency to avoid living contraspecifics more than do male deer mice.
A Nongenomic Mechanism for Progesterone-mediated Immunosuppression: Inhibition of K+ Channels, Ca2+ Signaling, and Gene Expression in T Lymphocytes

The mechanism by which progesterone causes localized suppression of the immune response during pregnancy has remained elusive. Using human T lymphocytes and T cell lines, we show that progesterone, at concentrations found in the placenta, rapidly and reversibly blocks voltage-gated and calcium-activated K+ channels (KV and KCa, respectively), resulting in depolarization of the membrane potential. As a result, Ca2+ signaling and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT)-driven gene expression are inhibited. Progesterone acts distally to the initial steps of T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signal transduction, since it blocks sustained Ca2+ signals after thapsigargin stimulation, as well as oscillatory Ca2+ signals, but not the Ca2+ transient after TCR stimulation. K+ channel blockade by progesterone is specific; other steroid hormones had little or no effect, although the progesterone antagonist RU 486 also blocked KV and KCa channels. Progesterone effectively blocked a broad spectrum of K+ channels, reducing both Kv1.3 and charybdotoxin-resistant components of KV current and KCa current in T cells, as well as blocking several cloned KV channels expressed in cell lines. Progesterone had little or no effect on a cloned voltage-gated Na+ channel, an inward rectifier K+ channel, or on lymphocyte Ca2+ and Cl- channels. We propose that direct inhibition of K+ channels in T cells by progesterone contributes to progesterone-induced immunosuppression.
Jury nullification: The impact of judicial instructions, arguments, and challenges on jury decision making.

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of nullification information to the jury from two sources, judge's instructions and lawyers' arguments, on juries' verdicts and decision making in three criminal cases. In addition, the research tested the impact of challenges to nullification information on trial outcomes. The results, gathered from 144 six-person juries, indicated that when juries are in receipt of nullification information from the judge or defense attorney they are more likely to acquit a sympathetic defendant and judge a dangerous defendant more harshly than when such information is not present or when challenges are made to nullification arguments. Analysis of the juries' decisionmaking processes suggested that nullification information may alter the way in which juries perceive and use the trial evidence. In those trials in which a nullification defense was successful, juries used the outcome of the case, as well as the intent of the defendant, to evaluate the worth and weight of the evidence. Pronullification conditions devalued the currency of the evidence and permitted juries to utilize nonevidentiary factors in deciding the cases used in this study.
Lack of CXCR3 Delays the Development of Hepatic Inflammation but Does Not Impair Resistance to Leishmania donovani

CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) ligands CXCL9 and CXCL10 are produced at high levels in mice and humans infected with Leishmania donovani, but their contribution to host resistance against L. donovani is not clear. Here, using CXCR3 -/- mice, we demonstrate that, although CXCR3 regulates early immune cell trafficking and hepatic inflammation during L. donovani infection, it is not essential for immunity against L. donovani, unlike L. major. CXCR3 -/- C57BL/6 mice show a delayed onset of hepatic inflammation and granuloma formation after L. donovani infection. However, they mount an efficient T helper cell type 1 response, recruit T cells to the liver, and control parasite growth as efficiently as do CXCR3 +/+ C57BL/6 mice.
Domestic politics and the escalation of commercial rivalr: Explaining the War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739–48

The study of international rivalry is a thriving research program in international relations, but it focuses primarily on strategic rivalries and generally neglects both commercial rivalries and the impact of domestic politics. We examine commercial rivalry and the causal paths through which it can escalate to war. After identifying alternative theoretical explanations, we focus on the Anglo-Spanish rivalry of the 1730s and the processes through which it escalated to the War of Jenkins' Ear (1739-48). We examine both balance of power and dyadic trade rivalry explanations, and then give special attention to domestic politics in Britain. We argue that the commercial rivalry was a necessary but not sufficient condition for the war of 1739. The Walpole ministry was opposed to war, and the rivalry would not have escalated in the absence of domestic pressures from mercantile interests, a xenophobic public, a politically opportunistic parliamentary opposition, and a divided cabinet.