cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond First Encounters with Analytics: Questions, Techniques and Challenges in Instructors’ Sensemaking

Despite growing implementation of teacher-facing analytics in higher education, relatively little is known about the detailed processes through which instructors make sense of analytics in their teaching practices beyond their initial encounters with tools. This study unpacked the sensemaking process of thirteen instructors with analytic experience, using interviews that included walkthroughs of their analytics use. Qualitative inductive analysis was used to identify themes related to (1) the questions they asked of the analytics, (2) the techniques they used to interpret them, and (3) the challenges they encountered. Findings indicated that instructors went beyond a general curiosity to develop three types of questions of the analytics (goal-oriented, problem-oriented, and instruction modification questions). Instructors also used specific techniques to read and explain data by (a) developing expectations about the answers the analytics would provide, and (b) making comparisons to reveal student diversity, identify effects of instructional revision and diagnose issues. The study found instructors faced an initial learning curve when seeking and making use of relevant information, but also continued to revisit these challenges when they were not able to develop a routine of analytics use. These findings both contribute to a conceptual understanding of instructor analytic sensemaking and have practical implications for its systematic support.
Survey to assess variability in management of myasthenic crisis among neurologists (4103)

Objective: Determine physician practices regarding management of and recovery from myasthenic crisis. Background: In discussing the management of myasthenic crisis with neuromuscular experts and clinicians, we noticed large variability in treatment choices. The 2016 consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis provides only general recommendations regarding use of acute therapies [intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), plasma exchange (PLEX)] and immunosuppressant use in patients with impending/manifest crisis. Literature regarding management of myasthenic crisis and recovery from it is also modest. We therefore wanted to explore clinician’s experience and approach to the in-hospital management of myasthenic crisis and subsequent treatment during the recovery period. Design/Methods: An online questionnaire was created using Google Forms and was piloted at the Annual University of California, Irvine Neuromuscular Colloquium. Subsequent modifications were made to the questionnaire based on the responses and feedback received. The revised questionnaire will be administered through the Rick’s Real Neuromuscular Friends online forum which includes over 2,000 members. Results: Our preliminary survey revealed interesting results regarding treatment choices for myasthenic crisis. 21/22 respondents were fellowship-trained neurologists with the majority practicing at academic neuromuscular centers. Choice of initial in-hospital treatment for myasthenic crisis varied widely between IVIg or PLEX alone, or in combination with high dose steroids. Similarly, approach to pyridostigmine, prednisone and non-steroidal immunosuppressant dose adjustments was diverse. Majority respondents chose to continue IVIg or PLEX for at least several weeks following myasthenic crisis. Interestingly, nearly half of respondents had considered use of eculizumab for the acute management of crisis or following hospitalization for such. Conclusions: Our survey indicates that there is considerable variability in the acute treatment of myasthenic crisis, and escalated therapy continues into the post-discharge recovery period. We intend to collate data from a much larger community of clinicians and have this available for presentation at the annual meeting. Disclosure: Dr. Manering has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kak Korb has nothing to disclose. Yes - Speaking: CSL Behring Scientific Advisory boards in the past year: MT Pharma, Alexion, Genzyme/Sanofi, Sarepta, ArgenyxDr. Mozaffar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Habib has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Alexion and Argenx. Dr. Habib has received research support from Ra, Alexion, Acceleron, Catalyst, Immunovant, and UCB.
The impact of race, comorbid conditions and obesity on survival endpoints in women with high grade endometrial carcinoma.

Abstract Objective To estimate overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival among high grade endometrial carcinoma cases and to determine factors impacting survival for non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women. Methods We identified high grade endometrial carcinoma cases among non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women from ongoing institutional studies, and determined eligibility through medical record and pathologic review. We estimated effects of demographic and clinical variables on survival outcomes using Kaplan Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards modelling. Results Non-Hispanic Black women with BMI Conclusions BMI and race interact and modify the association with high grade endometrial carcinoma survival. Other potentially modifiable factors, such as reducing comorbidities and increasing access to GCT will potentially improve survival after diagnosis of high grade endometrial carcinomas. A better understanding of the molecular drivers of these high grade carcinomas may lead to targeted therapies that reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these aggressive tumors.
A Photoacoustic Sensing Probe Based on Silicon Acoustic Delay Lines

In this paper, we report new photoacoustic sensing (PAS) probe design based on silicon acoustic delay lines (SADLs). It consists of an optical fiber for light delivery and two SADLs for detecting/relaying the generated PA signals to an outside receiving transducer. Ultrasound testing shows that acoustic signals can be transmitted along the SADLs with low loss up to 17~20 MHz. To improve the PA excitation efficiency, a beveled tip is formed at the distal end of the optical fiber to align the optical illumination region with the acoustic detection zone of the SADLs. New polymer micro linkers fabricated with high-resolution 3-D printing are used to maintain the mechanical stability and acoustic isolation within the probe assembly. For demonstration, a prototype SADL-PAS probe was designed and fabricated. Its PA sensing performance (e.g., sensitivity, linearity, and depth resolution) is characterized. Testing results show that the SADL-PAS probe provides superior sensitivity with considerable high-frequency improvement. Ex-vivo tests in the chicken breast are conducted to demonstrate the PA target detection in biological tissues.
Sleep Endoscopy Findings in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Small Tonsils.

OBJECTIVE Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in children is treated primarily with adenotonsillectomy (AT). When clinical exam demonstrates small tonsils, the success of AT in resolving OSA is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of Drug induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) for children with OSA and small tonsils (Brodsky scale 1+) and to identify what obstructive trends exist in this subset of patients and to determine the utility of DISE-directed surgical intervention in patients with small tonsils. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who underwent DISE at a tertiary care center over a 2-year period. Inclusion criteria were 1+ tonsils and a positive sleep study. Data collected included DISE findings, BMI, comorbid conditions, and pre-op PSG data. RESULTS Forty children were included with a mean age of 5.0 years (range 8 months-16 years). Mean preoperative AHI was 5.46 and mean oxygen saturation nadir was 87.1%. The most common contributor to airway obstruction was the adenoid (29 patients, 72.5%), followed by the tongue base or lingual tonsil (21 patients, 52.5%). The palatine tonsils (10 patients, 25.0%), epiglottis (10.0%), or obstruction intrinsic to the larynx (10.0%) were significantly less frequently identified as contributors to OSA when compared to the adenoid (P < .001). The majority of patients had multilevel obstruction (25 patients, 62.5%). Adenoidectomy (27 patients, 67.5%) was the most commonly performed procedure, followed by tonsillectomy (10 patients, 25.0%, P < .001) and tongue base surgery (9 patient 22.5%, P < .001). CONCLUSION In this group, small palatine tonsils were infrequently identified as a contributor to airway obstruction and tonsillectomy was avoided in most cases. This study illustrates the utility of DISE as a tool to personalize the surgical management of pediatric patients with OSA and small tonsils on physical exam.
Structural Violence Trap: Disparity in Homicide, Chronic Disease Death, and Social Factors across San Francisco Neighborhoods.

The publisher regrets that this article has been temporarily removed due to a production error and is no reflection on the content of the article. The publisher regrets the inconvenience.
Heterogeneous Systems for Modeling Dynamic Worlds

The design of general problem solvers and general purpose representations has been a driving force in the field of artificial intelligence since its inception (see for example [26, 1, 24, 29]). While there are valid concerns about generality, an equally important issue is efficiency of inference. Special purpose representations are known to be good at that and have been used widely in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. We propose the use of heterogeneous systems for modeling dynamic worlds. A heterogeneous system is one that employs several kinds of representations. In particular, we are interested in systems that use sentential and diagrammatic languages in parallel. Diagrams are common place in communicating information and for problem solving (see newspapers, reports, and papers and books written on planning, qualitative reasoning, etc. [27, 8]. By combining special purpose diagrammatic representations with general purpose sentential representations we hope to get the best of both worlds, generality and efficiency.
Histopathological and Clinical Criteria for Analyzing Transplanted Human Dopamine Cells in Parkinson's Disease

There are new opportunities to address specifically the advancement of human cell transplantation for Parkinson’s disease (PD) using in vivo and post-mortem biomarkers for substantia nigra (SN) dopamine (DA) neurons and validated clinical measures. Such neurohistological and functional tools facilitate post hoc comparative analyses of post-mortem tissue from patients who received cell transplantation procedures and findings may correlate with clinical data. Although positron emission tomography (PET) studies provide a valuable tool to assess graft survival and viability, interpretation is complicated because Fluoro-L-DOPA (F-DOPA) provides a mixed estimation of DA terminal density, storage capacity, and aromatic amine decarboxylase activity (see Chapter 7). Post hoc analyses are required to establish the effects (both therapeutic and adverse) of transplants on which optimized designs are discussed in this chapter. The varying clinical outcomes of cell transplantation in PD patients have been extensively documented, and may depend on methodological differences between clinical transplantation teams (Table 9.1.), as well as selection of recipient patients (see Chapters 5,6 and 8). A critical question that remains to be addressed is the correlation between clinical benefit and graft biology: DA cell survival, DA cell subtype, location and integration are factors likely to determine the functional outcome for each patient. However, the relative contribution of these factors is largely unknown, partly due to the
Transit Vehicle Curving Behavior in a Tight Turn with and without a Restraining Rail

Prediction of the forces that occur between wheel and rail during the negotiation of sharp curves has been the subject of special interest because of the large forces that can be generated in this situation. As a result of the discrepancy between theoretical and experimental results, the two-point contact situation was modeled. Comparisons were made between the predictions from the two-point contact method and the experimental curving performance of a transit vehicle over curves in the range 2/spl deg/ to 7.5/spl deg/. The paper deals with the application of the two-point contact method to the situation of a transit vehicle on a very tight turn (150 ft radius or 38.2/spl deg/). Two different rail configurations were considered; with and without a restraining rail.
Effective Community Participation in Coastal Development, by Mathbor, G. M.

Recent coastal disasters, including the Indian Ocean tsunami that struck South Asian coastal communities in December 2004, Hurricane Katrina that struck the Gulf Coast of the United States in Augus...
Presence and Persistence of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Bovine Skin

Gailiunas, Peter (Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory, Greenport, N. Y.), and George E. Cottral. Presence and persistence of foot-and-mouth disease virus in bovine skin. J. Bacteriol. 91:2333–2338. 1966.—This study established that the seven known antigenic types of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have consistent affinity to all areas of bovine skin, even though gross cutaneous lesions usually are found only in the pedal area. Considerable amounts of FMDV were present in skin of 13 different body areas, irrespective of the presence of hair. All skin specimens from the trunk of 50 experimentally infected steers, necropsied from 12 hr to 7 days postinoculation (DPI), contained FMDV in the dermal and epidermal tissues. In skins of some steers, FMDV persisted for as long as 5 days after cessation of viremia. The highest average virus titer, 103.6 plaque-forming units (PFU) per g of skin, was found at 2 DPI. Some areas of the trunk and extremities had titers of approximately 105.0 PFU per g of skin. Characteristic gross lesions were not observed in sampling areas. The present observations have epizootiological importance for hides offered in international trade, because FMDV localized intracutaneously is more difficult to inactivate than virus adhering to hide surfaces.
The Case for Affirmative Action in Higher Education.

Affirmative action is under attack, and the author responds, explaining affirmative action's historical principles and purposes, dispelling its myths, and discussing why it must remain a part of higher education.
Quality parametres of emmer wheat landraces

Emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccum SCHUEBL, is an old variety of cereals which has been traditionally grown in aride areas. Nowdays, it is mainly grown in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria and in the Czech republic. This article deals with a study of quality parametres and selected economic parametres of 6 varieties coming from the genetic resources of emmer wheat. High crude protein content in grain was proved during the trials. Nevertheless, such a characteristic is not suitable for the classical bakery processing (production of leavened products). Low figure of the harvest index is supposed to be the most problematic economic character. However, emmer wheat is a suitable variety for organic farming system. Growing of emmer wheat contributes to an extension of the agrobiodiversity in the countryside and to the suistainable development of a region.
The Impact of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway on DNA Repair Mechanisms in Human Cancer

Defined cellular mechanisms have evolved that recognize and repair DNA to protect the integrity of its structure and sequence when encountering assaults from endogenous and exogenous sources. There are five major DNA repair pathways: mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, direct repair, base excision repair and DNA double strand break repair (including non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination repair). Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is a feature of many cancer types. The Hh pathway has been documented to be indispensable for epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and metastasis, cancer stemness, and chemoresistance. The functional transcription activators of the Hh pathway include the GLI proteins. Inhibition of the activity of GLI can interfere with almost all DNA repair types in human cancer, indicating that Hh/GLI functions may play an important role in enabling tumor cells to survive lethal types of DNA damage induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, Hh signaling presents an important therapeutic target to overcome DNA repair-enabled multi-drug resistance and consequently increase chemotherapeutic response in the treatment of cancer.
A Novel Device to Quantify the Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Nanofibers

Mechanical deformation of cell-seeded electrospun matrices plays an important role in cell signaling. However, electrospun biomaterials have inherently complex geometries due to the random deposition of fibers during the electrospinning process. This confounds attempts at quantifying strains exerted on adherent cells during electrospun matrix deformation. We have developed a novel mechanical test platform that allows deposition and tensile testing of electrospun fibers in a highly parallel arrangement to simplify mechanical analysis of the fibers alone and with adherent cells. The device is capable of optically recording fiber strain in a cell culture environment. Here we report on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of highly parallel electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) fibers. Force-strain data derived from this device will drive the development of cellular mechanotransduction studies as well as the customization of electrospun matrices for specific engineered tissue applications.
Multiscale habitat selection by Ruffed Grouse at low population densities.

Abstract. Theory suggests habitats should be chosen according to their relative evolutionary benefits and costs. It has been hypothesized that aspen (Populus spp.) forests provide optimal habitat for Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus). We used the low phase of a grouse population's cycle to assess the prediction that grouse should occupy aspen and avoid other forest types at low population density because of the presumptive fitness benefits of aspen. On the basis of our observations, we predict how the Ruffed Grouse population will increase in different forest types during the next cycle. In conifer (Pinus spp., Abies balsamea, Picea spp.)-dominated and mixed aspen—conifer landscapes, grouse densities were highest where forest types were evenly distributed. Within these landscapes, male Ruffed Grouse selected young aspen stands that were large and round or square. Although Ruffed Grouse selected young aspen stands strongly, contrary to prediction, they also used other forest types even when young aspen stand...
Polycrystalline thin-film solar cells – A review

Abstract This paper reviews recent progress in polycrystalline thin-film solar cell research and development. Results from both small area cells and larger area modules/submodules are discussed. Emphasis is given to results from deposition techniques with potential for fabrication of large-area cells of the type CdS/CdTe and CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2. Small area high-efficiency cell results are discussed in terms of manufacturability issues for large-area cells. A discussion of recent successes in electrodeposition of high-quality absorbing layers of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 is given. Hybrid approaches involving final adjustment of local and overall stoichiometries using post-deposition vacuum evaporation of selected substituent elements and thermal anneals are also discussed.
The point-touch technique for botulinum toxin injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia: quality of life assessment.

Background Botulinum toxin injection under electromyographic guidance is the 'gold standard' for adductor spasmodic dysphonia treatment. The point-touch technique, an alternative injection method which relies on anatomical landmarks, is cheaper, quicker and more accessible, but has not yet gained widespread acceptance due to concerns about patient satisfaction. Objective To assess swallowing and voice-related quality of life following point-touch botulinum toxin injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia patients. Setting Stanford University Voice and Swallowing Center. Design Prospective case series (evidence level four). Methods Consecutive adductor spasmodic dysphonia patients with a stable botulinum toxin dose-response relationship were recruited prospectively. The Eating Assessment Tool and Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaires were completed pre-treatment and at 10 and 30 per cent completion of the injection cycle, respectively. Results Thirty-seven patients completed follow up. The mean total botulinum toxin dose was 0.88 units. Pre-treatment Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire results reflected the burden of disease. Post-treatment Eating Assessment Tool and Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire results were collected at 2.53 and 7.84 weeks, respectively; the former showed an increase in dysphagia, albeit statistically insignificant, while the latter showed significantly improved scores (both domain and total). Conclusion The point-touch technique is a viable alternative for botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia.
Minority and Sex Distribution Profiles of Poultry Graduate Students and Staffs in Land-Grant Universities

Abstract A survey of Land-Grant Universities was conducted to determine the current sex and minority profiles of poultry oriented graduate students and their academic staffs. Of the 50 institutions contacted, 49 responded. At the time of this survey (Fall, 1974) there were 20 Departments of Poultry Science. Only 3 of the Departments of Animal Science indicated no programs in poultry science. The responses noted the presence of 338 students pursuing some form of a post graduate study. The percentages were: 82%, male; 18%, female; 97.3%, Caucasian; 1.5%, Negro; 0%, American Indian and Spanish American; and 1.2%, Oriental. Ph.D. programs accounted for 43.2% of the total; the M.S., 55% and the M.Agr. and Post-Bac., 1.8%. There were 112 men and 13 women in the foreign category with 60% studying for the Ph.D. For the academic staffs a total of 374 individuals were noted in the area of poultry science. The breakdown was: 98.1%, male; 1.9%, female; 98.4%, Caucasian; 0%, Negro; .3%, American Indian; .5%, Spanish American and .8%, Oriental. There were 11 foreign nationals noted, 2 of whom were women. A breakdown by rank showed 44.7%, Professors; 24.1%, Associate Professors; 17.1%, Assistant Professors; 2.1%, Instructors and 12% other academic classifications.
Structure and periodicities of cross-bridges in relaxation, in rigor, and during contractions initiated by photolysis of caged Ca2+

Ultra-rapid freezing and electron microscopy were used to directly observe structural details of frog muscle fibers in rigor, in relaxation, and during force development initiated by laser photolysis of DM-nitrophen (a caged Ca2+). Longitudinal sections from relaxed fibers show helical tracks of the myosin heads on the surface of the thick filaments. Fibers frozen at approximately 13, approximately 34, and approximately 220 ms after activation from the relaxed state by photorelease of Ca2+ all show surprisingly similar cross-bridge dispositions. In sections along the 1,1 lattice plane of activated fibers, individual cross-bridge densities have a wide range of shapes and angles, perpendicular to the fiber axis or pointing toward or away from the Z line. This highly variable distribution is established very early during development of contraction. Cross-bridge density across the interfilament space is more uniform than in rigor, wherein the cross-bridges are more dense near the thin filaments. Optical diffraction (OD) patterns and computed power density spectra of the electron micrographs were used to analyze periodicities of structures within the overlap regions of the sarcomeres. Most aspects of these patterns are consistent with time resolved x-ray diffraction data from the corresponding states of intact muscle, but some features are different, presumably reflecting different origins of contrast between the two methods and possible alterations in the structure of the electron microscopy samples during processing. In relaxed fibers, OD patterns show strong meridional spots and layer lines up to the sixth order of the 43-nm myosin repeat, indicating preservation and resolution of periodic structures smaller than 10 nm. In rigor, layer lines at 18, 24, and 36 nm indicate cross-bridge attachment along the thin filament helix. After activation by photorelease of Ca2+, the 14.3-nm meridional spot is present, but the second-order meridional spot (22 nm) disappears. The myosin 43-nm layer line becomes less intense, and higher orders of 43-nm layer lines disappear. A 36-nm layer line is apparent by 13 ms and becomes progressively stronger while moving laterally away from the meridian of the pattern at later times, indicating cross-bridges labeling the actin helix at decreasing radius.
Relationships between identifiability and input selection

This paper points out a relationship between identifiability and input selection for multiparameter systems. Two examples are given to illustrate this relationship.
Comments on article "Applying mode-of-action and pharmacokinetic considerations in contemporary cancer risk assessments: an example with trichloroethylene" by Clewell and Andersen.

In their 2004 article, Clewell and Andersen provide their perspective on the application of mode-of-action (MOA) and pharmacokinetic considerations in contemporary cancer risk assessment using trichloroethylene (TCE) as a case example. TCE is a complex chemical toxicologically, with multiple metabolites, multiple sites of observed toxicity, and multiple potential MOAs. As scientists who are responsible for revising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's draft risk assessment of TCE, we welcome input of the quality to which the Agency is held accountable. However, in our view, Clewell and Andersen do not present a sufficiently current, complete, accurate, and transparent review of the pertinent scientific literature. In particular, their article would need to incorporate substantial recently published scientific information, better support its conclusions about MOA and choice of linear or nonlinear dose-response extrapolation, and increase its transparency as to quantitative analyses in order to make a...
Controlled Fab-arm exchange for the generation of stable bispecific IgG1

Labrijn et al. describe the generation of bispecific antibodies through controlled Fab-arm exchange, involving separate expression of two parental IgG1s containing single matching point mutations, followed by recombination of the 'half molecules'. The generation of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) with natural IgG architecture in a practical and efficient manner has been a longstanding challenge. Here we describe controlled Fab-arm exchange (cFAE), which is an easy-to-use method to generate bispecific IgG1 (bsIgG1). The protocol involves the following: (i) separate expression of two parental IgG1s containing single matching point mutations in the CH3 domain; (ii) mixing of parental IgG1s under permissive redox conditions in vitro to enable recombination of half-molecules; (iii) removal of the reductant to allow reoxidation of interchain disulfide bonds; and (iv) analysis of exchange efficiency and final product using chromatography-based or mass spectrometry (MS)–based methods. The protocol generates bsAbs with regular IgG architecture, characteristics and quality attributes both at bench scale (micrograms to milligrams) and at a mini-bioreactor scale (milligrams to grams) that is designed to model large-scale manufacturing (kilograms). Starting from good-quality purified proteins, exchange efficiencies of ≥95% can routinely be obtained within 2–3 d (including quality control).
Avian and mammalian mitochondrial ammonia-detoxifying systems in tortoise liver

Liver mitochondria from the desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii and the Texas tortoise G. berlandieri contain glutamine synthetase, the enzyme used by birds and higher reptiles to detoxify ammonia generated intramitochondrially during amino acid catabolism. Tortoise mitochondria also contain carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I and ornithine transcarbamylase, the enzymes used by mammals for this purpose. Since chelonid reptiles have changed little since their divergence from the stem reptiles, this finding suggests that both systems were present in the latter before the emergence of the ruling reptile, avian, and mammalian lines of descent.
Correspondence of cyanophycin granules with structured granules in Anabaena cylindrica

Granules isolated from the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica and composed of copolymers of arginine and aspartic acid have the electron microscopic aspects of structured granules and the solubility and certain of the staining properties of cyanophycin granules. Material which accumulates at the poles of heterocysts may have a similar composition.
AGENDA SETTING AT THE STATE LEVEL: THE NEUTRALIZATION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL POLITICS IN VIRGINIA'S LAND USE INITIATIVE

How an issue reaches the agenda is determined in part by which of several types of policy are involved, and each policy type is in turn distinguished by particular patterns of participation. This case study of Virginia's land use initiative tests both Cobb and Elder's theory of agenda setting in general, and Wilson's theory of the particular pattern of entrepreneurial politics within regulatory policy agenda setting. The results suggest the need for modification of Wilson's theory, which did not predict that both sides of the issue would engage in entrepreneurial behavior, thus neutralizing the expected pattern of entrepreneurial politics.
Radiation polymerization dosimetry.

Abstract A high energy radiation dosimeter based on the radiation polymerization of a liquid is suggested. The proposed dosimeter has been used to obtain data in investigation of factors affecting the conversion of a liquid to a gel or solid by the use of X-ray and gamma rays. The proposed dosimeter utilizes a gelatin capsule as the container for the dosimetric liquid. It is very cheap to produce, may be discarded after use, and may be read without auxiliary equipment by untrained personnel. Data obtained with this instrument indicate that for intensities between 500 and 2500 r/min, the dose required for gelation is independent of dose rate. The data indicate that the gelation dose depends to some extent on the energy of the radiation and that gelation resulting from an intense dose of short duration is complete within 30 min after the dose is delivered. The particular dosimetric substance is stable over a long period in darkness and its response to radiation is not markedly dependent on temperature, although temperature effects have not been investigated over wide ranges.
Gene polymorphisms of stress hormone and cytokine receptors associate with immunomodulatory profile and psychological measurement.

Abstract Objective We sought to identify whether stable single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of various endocrine and immune molecules could be used as biomarkers associated with specific immune alterations and chronic stress measures in normal humans. Methods A total of 207 volunteer participants answered stress questionnaire and gave peripheral blood cells for identification of SNPs in genes coding for glucocorticoid receptor (GR), beta 2 adrenergic receptor (B2AR), interferon-gamma receptors (IFNGR1, IFNGR2), and interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R). Immunoregulatory profiles were measured by flow cytometry and genotyping assays were performed by allelic discrimination real-time PCR. Results Several significant differences were revealed in associations between stress marker and immune indicators based on SNP categories. For instance, Th1 levels of the minor alleles of GR TthIIII (AA) and IFNGR2 Q64R (Arg/Arg) groups were positively associated with chronic stress (PSS) ( p = 0.024 and 0.005, respectively) compared with wild type (WT) and negatively associated with PSS in the heterozygous genotypes of GR BclI and IL4R Ile50Val ( p = 0.040 and p = 0.052, respectively). Treg levels of the minor alleles of BclI (GG) and IFNGR1 T-56C (CC) groups were positively associated with PSS ( p = 0.045 and p = 0.010, respectively) and negatively associated in the minor allele (Val/Val) of IL4R Ile50Va and the heterozygous genotype of IL4R Q576R ( p = 0.041 and p = 0.017, respectively) compared to WT. Conclusion The data support the notion that gene polymorphisms from various components of the psychoneuroendocrine-immune network may be useful as biomarkers to categorize individual stress-associated immune responses.
Environmental stress, competition and dominance of Crassostrea virginica near Beaufort, North Carolina, USA

Observations and experiments were made at 2 intertidal areas near Beaufort, North Carolina, USA from May 1977 to July 1978 to determine why the oyster Crassostrea virginica dominated the community in areas protected from wave action but not in areas directly exposed to waves. Barnacles, oysters, the green alga Enteromorpha sp. and the mussel Brachiodontes exustus were the main occupiers of primary space at the mid and low intertidal levels of exposed areas. The intertidal community at the protected site consisted of a mid intertidal occupied by the barnacles Balanus amphitrite and Chthamalus fragilis, and the oyster C. virginica, and a low intertidal dominated by C. virginica. The exposed area was highly variable with high colonization and mortality for all species producing large seasonal changes in structure. The protected site remained constant throughout the year; there was no evidence of further colonization of either barnacles or oysters and mortality was very low. Recolonization experiments, selective removal of species, and growth and survival data demonstrated that C. virginica does not become dominant at exposed locations because (1) the constant wave shock at the ocean site reduces growth and increases mortality of young and adult oysters and (2) oysters are outcompeted by the mussel B. exustus. The monopolization of space by C. virginica at protected sites contrasts with studies north of Cape Hatteras where the abundance of predators produces a more diverse and heterogeneous community. Predation was unimportant in Beaufort because predators were absent at the exposed areas and the oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea was restricted to the subtidal zone at the protected site. This absence of predators indicates a higher level of environmental stress near Beaufort compared to areas farther north.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of rat Clara cell 10,000 Mr protein.

Single crystals of Clara cell 10,000 Mr protein have been grown by vapour diffusion in the presence of ammonium sulphate. The space group is P4132 or P4332 with unit cell dimension a = 156.9 A. Crystals diffract to about 3.8 A resolution.
Extend your journey: considering signal strength and fluctuation in location-based applications

Reducing the communication energy is essential to facilitate the growth of emerging mobile applications. In this paper, we introduce signal strength into location-based applications to reduce the energy consumption of mobile devices for data reception. First, we model the problem of data fetch scheduling, with the objective of minimizing the energy required to fetch location-based information without impacting the application's semantics adversely. To solve the fundamental problem, we propose a dynamic-programming algorithm and prove its optimality in terms of energy savings. Then, we perform postoptimal analysis to explore the tolerance of the algorithm to signal strength fluctuations. Finally, based on the algorithm, we consider implementation issues. We have also developed a virtual tour system integrated with existing Web applications to validate the practicability of the proposed concept. The results of experiments conducted based on real-world case studies are very encouraging and demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm toward signal strength fluctuations .
PPARγ and the control of adipogenesis

We recently cloned PPAR gamma as a factor that binds to an enhancer which has specificity for adipose cells. When expressed ectopically, PPAR gamma converts fibroblasts into bona fide preadipose cells. Upon application of activators or PPAR gamma ligands, these cells differentiate into fat cells. Most recently, we have been trying to understand the nature of natural ligands that activate PPAR gamma and the protein domains that control adipogenesis. With regards to ligands, we have shown that an unusual prostanoid, 15-deoxy delta 12,14PG J2, can bind to PPAR gamma and activate it. A second transcription factor that is induced early in differentiation, ADD1/SREBP1, appears to promote the formation of PPAR gamma ligands. Transfection of this molecule, a member of the bHLH family, causes the secretion of molecules that can serve as ligands for PPAR gamma. This ligand-like activity is specific for the gamma isoform of PPAR. Current studies are attempting to identify these potentially novel ligands. With regard to structure-function of PPAR gamma, we first analyzed the adipogenic activity of the three isoforms of PPAR: alpha, gamma and delta. Using appropriate activators of each it is clear that PPAR gamma has the most adipogenic action. PPAR alpha can be adipogenic with high levels of the strongest activators and PPAR delta does not stimulate fat cell differentiation. To identify the domain(s) of PPAR gamma responsible for differentiation, chimeras between PPAR gamma and PPAR delta were created and transfected into fibroblasts. This has allowed the isolation of relatively small regions of this molecule that are responsible for differentiation.
Clinicopathological correlations in corticobasal degeneration

Objective To characterize cognitive and behavioral features, physical findings and brain atrophy patterns in pathology-proven corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) with known histopathology.
On the physics of droughts. II. Analysis and simulation of the interaction of atmospheric and hydrologic processes during droughts

Abstract In this study a simple general circulation model (GCM) is developed to investigate the interaction of atmospheric and hydrologic processes during droughts. Only the vertically and latitudinally averaged mean temperature and mean water vapor content over the strip of Earth between 30 and 50°N latitudes are considered as atmospheric state variables; only two hydrologic state variables, the water storage (through the water balance equation) and ground temperature, are considered for describing the behavior of the hydrologic system. The ocean temperature is specified as a function of season only. The coupling between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface occurs through exchanges of thermal energy (radiation, sensible and latent heat fluxes) and of water (evapotranspiration and rain), which are parameterized functions of the four state variables of the atmospheric-hydrologic interactive system. Using this GCM, the mechanism leading to drought conditions is investigated. It is shown to be a non-linear positive feedback mechanism in the sense that it feeds on itself. Imposing a temperature wave over a geographical region (western USA in this study) for a short period of the order of few months induces geophysical conditions in that region which tend to reduce the hydrologic water storage for a period of time of the order of years (called ‘drought growth period’). These conditions consist initially of increased cloudiness over the region, which reduces the net radiative flux of energy available at the surface. This in turn reduces the evapotranspiration which is needed to achieve condensation conditions in the atmosphere. Consequently, a reduction in rainfall occurs. After the end of the drought growth period, the hydrologic system recovers the water storage mainly owing to decreased evapotranspiration (related to reduced water storage) while rainfall resumes its normal levels. The time duration necessary to return to the climatological average conditions of water storage (called ‘drought recovery period’) is proportional to the peak drought severity during the growth period.
Fitting the Means to the Ends: One School’s Experience with Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Curriculum Evaluation During Curriculum Change1

Curriculum evaluation plays an important role in substantive curriculum change. The experience of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) with evaluation processes developed for the new Integrated Medical Curriculum (IMC) illustrates how evaluation methods may be chosen to match the goals of the curriculum evaluation process. Quantitative data such as ratings of courses or scores on external exams are useful for comparing courses or assessing whether standards have been met. Qualitative data such as students’ comments about aspects of courses are useful for eliciting explanations of observed phenomena and describing relationships between curriculum features and outcomes. The curriculum evaluation process designed for the IMC used both types of evaluation methods in a complementary fashion. Quantitative and qualitative methods have been used for formative evaluation of the new IMC courses. They are now being incorporated into processes to judge the IMC against its goals and objectives.
Interferometric studies of a molecular machine

An adaptation of holographic interferometry to microscopic systems is described. The adaptation is suitable for studying motion even at the molecular level. The interferograms are fringeless, and they are presented in a form that discriminates against bulk translation, while mapping local displacements directly. The mapping is inherently insensitive to inhomogeneities in the illumination beam. Statistical interrogation of the maps is therefore unusually free of propagated error; and the effect of reconstruction noise, whose explicit calculation is given, is made transparent. The methods are illustrated by analyzing the motion of force-generating molecules of muscle. It is shown that their movements are correlated to a high degree.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Enhancing team knowledge: instruction vs. experience

Information technology projects are growing in complexity and require teams to solve problems and develop solutions. With current undergraduate, computer science and information systems curricula, students graduate with technical skills, but lack team project experiences. We have identified and developed team knowledge modules that are being taught to students in an effort to increase awareness of team process fundamentals and build the foundation of an effective team player. In this paper we present the challenges that we face with team projects and then discuss team knowledge modules that are being taught to incoming freshmen to engage students in a curriculum that requires team projects in each course. We conclude with our assessment results and show comparisons of student team knowledge by instruction and experience.
Experimental Studies of Stage Separation in a Mach 2.5 Free Stream

This paper presents results from an experimental study of stage separation focusing on shock-shear interactions in the wake of bluff bodies in supersonic flow. In this study, a ramp is used to simulate the lower stage of a separating missile or rocket. The tests consisted of studying the influence of stage separation distance on these shock-shear interactions in a supersonic wind tunnel. The results show to what extent this interaction in the vicinity of the lower stage becomes weaker with increasing separation distance. In addition, the effect of the plume from the rocket nozzle was simulated using mostly helium, which was injected at Mach 1 from a tangential slot injector in the backward facing step, which represents the upper stage, into a Mach 2.5 free stream. This supersonic shear layer study provides important insight essential to understanding the flow field in the region between the separating stages.
Music and the Play of Power in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia

Music and the Play of Power in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Laudan Nooshin Farnham, Surrey, UK, Ashgate Publishing, 2009 xiii + 320 pp., index, ISBN 978-0-7546-3457-7 (£65.00 har...
The relationship between the rate of rise of isometric tension and motor unit recruitment in a human forearm muscle

The recruitment properties of single motor units from the human extensor indicis muscle were investigated during voluntary isometric contractions of different rate of rise but equal amplitude. Both the electrical and the contractile events associated with recruitment were analyzed. The threshold force of recruitment (measured as the total muscle force at firing onset) decreased with increasing rate of rise of isometric tension. This was consistently found for all units. Differences between low and high threshold units indicating a preferential tonic or phasic mode of activation were not observed. The contractile events associated with recruitment were analyzed analoguously to the electrical events. For this purpose, muscle force was measured at the time of the first twitch as it was measured at the time of the first spike. This separate measurement of the electrical and mechanical recruitment of a unit is necessary, because during a change of muscle force, force is different at firing onset and during the subsequent twitch contraction. Muscle tension at the time of the peak of the first twitch contraction was calculated from measurements of the twitch contraction time of the single motor units. In contrast to firing onset, the peak of the first twitch of a motor unit occurs at approximately the same muscle tension no matter how fast the contraction is performed. This is the consequence of the result that the average decrease of the threshold force of recruitment at successively faster contraction has the same value as the corresponding increase of total muscle force during the mean contraction time of the motor units. On the basis of this precise matching between these two changes, the mechanical recruitment of motor units occurs at approximately the same force level irrespective of the rate of rise of tension.
Leukemogenesis induced by wild type and STI571-resistant BCR/ABL is potently suppressed by C/EBPα.

Chronic phase–to–blast crisis transition in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is associated with differentiation arrest and down-regulation of C/EBPα, a transcription factor essential for granulocyte differentiation. Patients with CML in blast crisis (CML-BC) became rapidly resistant to therapy with the breakpoint cluster region–Abelson murine leukemia (BCR/ABL) kinase inhibitor imatinib (STI571) because of mutations in the kinase domain that interfere with drug binding. We show here that the restoration of C/EBPα activity in STI571-sensitive or -resistant 32D-BCR/ABL cells induced granulocyte differentiation, inhibited proliferation in vitro and in mice, and suppressed leukemogenesis. Moreover, activation of C/EBPα eradicated leukemia in 4 of 10 and in 6 of 7 mice injected with STI571-sensitive or -resistant 32D-BCR/ABL cells, respectively. Differentiation induction and proliferation inhibition were required for optimal suppression of leukemogenesis, as indicated by the effects of p42 C/EBPα, which were more potent than those of K298E C/EBPα, a mutant defective in DNA binding and transcription activation that failed to induce granulocyte differentiation. Activation of C/EBPα in blast cells from 4 patients with CML-BC, including one resistant to STI571 and BMS-354825 and carrying the T315I Abl kinase domain mutation, also induced granulocyte differentiation. Thus, these data indicate that C/EBPα has potent antileukemia effects even in cells resistant to ATP-binding competitive tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and they portend the development of anti-leukemia therapies that rely on C/EBPα activation.