cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Science standards: value the teachers.

A. I. Leshner et al. 's Editorial “Seeking science standards” (28 May, p. [1075][1]) provides a good plan for developing consistent K–12 science standards. I would like to add that increased teacher salaries must be considered. The United States needs to do a much better job in attracting the best U.S. college students into K–12 teaching careers. Improved salaries will yield increased respect for K–12 teachers. South Korea, often ranked in the top tier of K–12 science achievement, has a starting teacher salary equal to 141% of the country's per capita GDP ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). The United States, ranked much lower, has a starting teacher salary that is only 81% of the U.S. per capita GDP ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). Any improvement in science education will have to include valuing teachers more highly. The Editorial also notes that scientists must be more involved in improving U.S. science education, but this is easier said than done. Until federal research grants require recipients to be more involved in education and until U.S. universities give credit toward tenure and promotion for such activities, the culture will not change. 1. [↵][4]1. J. Roy , “Compared to other countries, U.S. flunks in teacher pay,” Economic Policy Institute, 2 April 2008. 2. [↵][5][www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html][6], International comparison of math, reading, and science skills among 15 year-olds, charts compiled with The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 2003 database. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1192334 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [6]: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html
Perceived Psychological Separation of Older Adolescents and Young Adults from Their Parents: A Comparison of Divorced versus Intact Families.

One hundred sixty adolescents and young adults from divorced and intact families completed a packet of questionnaires and inventories including the Personal Data Sheet, Student Adjustment to College Questionnaire, Goal Instability and Superiority Scales, The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales-Revised, and The Attributional Style Questionnaire to address the impact of divorce on the process of adolescent psychological separation from their parents. Results indicated that adolescents from the Divorced Group were just as adjusted to college life as their Intact counterparts and more separated from their families than the Intact Group, as was expected.
Nitrogen‐Isotope Ratios of Nitrate in Ground Water Under Fertilized Fields, Long Island, New York

Ground-water samples from two heavily fertilized sites in Suffolk County, New York, were collected through the 1978 growing season and analyzed for nitrate-N concentrations and nitrogen-isotope ratios. Six wells were at a potato farm; six were on a golf course. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 15N/14N ratios (δ15N values) of fertilizer are increased during transit from land surface to ground water to an extent which would preclude use of this ratio to distinguish agricultural from animal sources of nitrate in ground water. Ground water at both sites contained a greater proportion of 15N than the fertilizers being applied. At the potato farm, the average δ15N value of the fertilizers was 0.2%0; the average δ15N value of the ground-water nitrate was 6.2 %0. At the golf course, the average δ15N value of the fertilizers was -5.9%0, and that of ground-water nitrate was 6.5%0. The higher δ15N values of ground-water nitrate are probably caused by isotopic fractionation during the volatile loss of ammonia from nitrogen applied in reduced forms (NH+4 and organic-N). The δ15N values of most ground-water samples from both areas were less than 10%0, the upper limit of the range characteristic of agricultural sources of nitrate; these sources include both fertilizer nitrate and nitrate derived from increased mineralization of soil nitrogen through cultivation. Previous studies have shown that the S15N values of nitrate derived from human or animal waste generally exceed 10%0. The nitrogen-isotope ratios of fertilizer-derived nitrate were not altered to an extent that would make them indistinguishable from animal-waste-derived nitrates in ground water.
Light-induced proteolysis of myosin heavy chain by Rose Bengal-conjugated antibody complexes

The specific light-induced, non-enzymatic digestion of chicken skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain by xanthene dye-conjugated antibodies is reported. The xanthene dye Rose Bengal was conjugated to either a mouse monoclonal anti-myosin primary specific antibody or to goat anti-mouse IgG secondary antibodies. Under our experimental conditions, visible light induced the non-enzymatic breakdown of myosin heavy chains when chicken skeletal muscle myosin either directly formed a complex with Rose Bengal-conjugated anti-myosin antibodies or indirectly formed a complex with anti-myosin antibody-Rose Bengal-conjugated secondary antibodies. The rate of the photochemical reaction depended on irradiation time and temperature. Although SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analyses showed that fragments migrating below the myosin heavy chain polypeptide predominated, these analyses also showed higher molecular mass polypeptides were generated.
Passage through fluctuating geometrical bottlenecks. The general Gaussian fluctuating case

Abstract Rate processes controlled by passage through fluctuating geometrical bottlenecks are studied using a path integral formalism. When the fluctuations of the bottlenecks relax exponentially, we recover Zwanzig's previous results obtained using a diffusion equation approach. For the case where the bottleneck relaxes according to a stretched exponential (Kohlrausch—Williams—Watts) law (we use its Fourier transform which is approximately a Cole—Davidson law), one still obtains exponential kinetics at long times with an effective rate constant. This rate coefficient is inversely proportional to a fractional power of viscosity. As in the exponential case, the survival probability follows a non-exponential behaviour for short times.
FDG-PET imaging in lung cancer: how sensitive is it for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma?

While characterization of lung lesions and staging of lung cancer with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is an established clinical procedure, a lower diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET for diagnosis and staging of so-called bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has been reported. Therefore, the accuracy of PET for diagnosing and staging of BAC was investigated. We studied 41 patients eventually found to have adenocarcinoma with a bronchioloalveolar growth pattern who were referred for characterization or staging of lung lesions with whole-body FDG-PET between January 1998 and March 2001: there were 11 males (27%) and 30 females (73%), with a mean age of 66.0±10.9 (range =44–84 years). Patients were imaged using ECAT EXACT or HR+ systems. All patients had non-attenuation-corrected scans, while transmission data for attenuation correction were also available for 12 patients (29%). PET correctly identified BAC in 41 of the 46 (89%) lesions and 39 of the 41 patients (95%). By pathology, 25 patients (61%) were found to have unifocal or nodular lesions; this pattern was correctly identified by PET in 20 patients (80%) and by CT in 18 (72%). PET correctly identified 7 (44%) of 16 patients (39%) who had multicentric or diffuse BAC, and CT identified 11 (69%). Of the 35 patients whose lymph node status was verified pathologically, PET was correct in 27 (77%) and CT in 24 (69%). PET missed 67% of the rare tumors that had a pure BAC pattern with no invasive component. It is concluded that the diagnostic performance of whole-body FDG-PET is similar in most patients with lesions with a BAC pattern and in other non-small cell lung cancer types. PET is less accurate in patients with rare BAC tumors that have no invasive component.
Face Your Fears: A Proven Plan to Beat Anxiety, Panic, Phobias, and Obsessions

David Tolin, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2012, 293 pp., ISBN: 978-1-118-01673-2 (cloth) Face Your Fears: A Proven Plan to Beat Anxiety, Panic, Phobias, and Obsessions, written by D.F. Tolin (201...
Inflammatory biomarkers in severe asthma.

Purpose of review Severe asthma remains a condition in search of deeper understanding and of newer effective therapies. Risk factors for developing severe asthma, phenotyping of disease, characterizing the inflammatory response and understanding of poor therapeutic responses to corticosteroids are important areas of research. The development of biomarkers for phenotypic diagnosis and prognostic reasons is important. Recent findings Severe asthma has been defined as asthma that does not respond adequately to asthma medications, particularly corticosteroids, with continuing loss of control of asthma and future risk of exacerbations and side effects from corticosteroid therapy. This is a heterogeneous condition and cluster analyses have yielded phenotypes on the basis of age of onset of disease, sex, lung function, atopy and questionnaire data. Use of sputum eosinophil counts has further defined a group with persistent eosinophilic inflammation despite corticosteroid therapy, and a noneosinophilic group with uncontrolled asthma. Summary Use of a single biomarker provides value in phenotyping and in predicting response to treatment but many more biomarkers such as those derived from -omic approaches remain to be used in the analysis. A systems biology approach to finding novel biomarkers is the way forward to stratify severe asthma so that appropriate and distinct therapies can be selected for each subtype.
The Angle-Scanned Interferometer

Angle-scanned interferometers are a class of ac interferometers in which the optical path difference is varied as a function of time by varying the incidence angle. The resulting interferogram has the properties of a hologram of a point source and may be used to determine the input energy wavelength and incidence angle. A new category of interferometer type is suggested, beam symmetry, which determines the output fringe pattern behavior as a function of input angle. An interference circle diagram is presented as an aid to understanding the characteristic response of symmetrical interferometers and angle-scanned interferometers. A number of angle-scanned interferometer examples are described in terms of the interference circle diagram.
Simulating the effects of stream network topology on the spread of introgressive hybridization across fish populations

Introgressive hybridization with introduced species is threatening the genetic integrity of many native fish populations worldwide. To date, several studies have indicated a direct relationship between rates of hybridization (H) within a sub-population of native fish and the stream distance (D) separating that sub-population from the closest source of introduced non-native genes. However, the relationship between D and H is rarely quantified, and the effect of the spatial arrangement of stream bifurcations and sub-populations (i.e., the network topology) is typically ignored. For this study, we developed and applied a novel individual-based simulation model to compare the spread of non-native genes across three stream networks with differing network topologies: linear, trellis, and dendritic. The model we used simulates mating, survival, and the movements of each fish in the network, where the likelihood of a fish to move between two sub-populations is a function of both D and the number of bifurcations between the two sub-populations. To monitor the spatiotemporal spread of hybridization, the model keeps track of the genetic composition and the breeding location of each fish present in the network over time. Simulation results agree with past field studies that suggest that D is a strong predictor of H. However, our simulations further suggest that the nature and the strength of the H vs. D relationship are likely to be a function of the stream network topology. Specifically, in our simulations, network bifurcations act as permeable barriers to the spread of non-native genes across a network while the strength of the H vs. D relationship is inversely proportional to the complexity of the spatial arrangement of bifurcations and sub-populations. Our study shows that considering network topology could yield a better understanding of observed patterns of hybridization across stream systems, and thus may help inform effective strategies for the management of native fish populations threatened by introgression.
Preparation and antinutritional characteristics of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) protein concentrates

Protein concentrates and starches were prepared by a wet extraction process from five dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars. The protein contents ranged from 69.7–76.4%. Concentrates prepared from dehulled beans under similar conditions had higher protein contents (80.6–87.9%). Each additional washing of the concentrates with distilled water increased their protein content. However, the protein recovery progressively decreased. The yield of starch ranged from 48.0–51.1% of the starting material. The solubility of bean proteins was minimal at pH 4.0, and under alkaline conditions, it was influenced by the tannin contents of the concentrates. Protein concentrates had lower trypsin, chymotrypsin, and amylase inhibitory activities as well as lower phytic acid and tannin contents compared to whole bean flours.
Alkaline protease from Aspergillus oryzae: esterase activity.

Abstract Kinetic data are presented for the hydrolysis of N-substituted amino acid esters by aspergillopeptidase B, an alkaline protease from Aspergillus oryzae. The rate of hydrolysis was followed with a pH-stat at pH 8.5, 25°C and ionic strength 0.1. The overall susceptibility of N-acetyl amino acid esters to hydrolysis decreases in the order of Phe, Tyr > Trp > Met > Leu > Lys > His ⪢ Val, Gly. The N-benzoyl derivatives of His, Lys and Arg methyl esters are approximately thirty times more reactive than the corresponding acetyl derivates. Amino acid esters with free α-amino groups are unable to serve as substrates. These data clearly suggest that before an amino acid ester can serve as a substrate for the alkaline protease of A. oryzae (a) the α-amino group must be blocked and (b) an aromatic group is required either in the amino acid side chain or as the N-terminal blocking group. It further suggests that the binding of substrate to the enzyme active site probably takes place through hydrophobic binding. The hydrolysis of N- benzoyl- l -arginine ethyl ester by aspergillopeptidase B showed a sigmoid pH-velocity profile which could be fitted with a calculated titration curve for a single group with a pK′ of 6.42 at 20°C and 6.02 at 35°C, giving a ΔHi of 9.1 kcal per mole at 0°C. These data suggest that the enzyme may require a non-protonated imidazole group for activity.
Approximate roots of n th-order polynomials

Two theorems are introduced that relate to the approximation of minimum magnitude real and complex conjugate roots of n th-order polynomials. These approximations are given in terms of all the coefficients of the polynomial. Tables of the accuracy of the approximations to the minimum magnitude real and complex conjugate roots are presented. Also presented, is an example of an application to a linear control system.
Investigation of diazepam by pulsed rotation voltammetry

Diazepam was investigated in aqueous buffer media using pulsed rotation voltammetry. The dependence of half-wave potentials on pH indicated a two proton involvement in a two electron transfer reduction in the pH range 3–10. Diazepam at micromolar concentration levels may be determined by measurement of the limiting difference current.
Computer use in the psychology laboratory: a survey.

Abstract A survey was conducted to quantify computer use in psychology as well as to evaluate the need for specialized conferences in this area. The questionnaire was mailed to 402 probable computer users in psychology and allied sciences. A 60% response rate was achieved. Respondent access and use of mini computer, remote terminal, and large batch processing systems is presented and discussed in terms of equipment use, programming language use, and specialty area of primary application. The data indicate that the majority of the respondents most frequently use mini computer systems, despite the common availability of both terminal and large batch processing systems. Most respondents do some programming of their own, frequently using languages other than FORTRAN or BASIC for mini computer applications. Equipment, language and specialty area all vary with type of system.
Copulation duration and sperm competition in white-faced dragonflies ( Leucorrhinia intacta ; Odonata: Libellulidae)

In many odonates, females mate with more than one male while laying a single clutch of eggs. We studied paternity of eggs laid by remated females of Leucorrhinia intacta, a small libellulid dragonfly, at a pond near Syracuse, NY, USA. The probability of a female remating is a function of male density on the pond. The length of copulations differs considerably among males active on the study pond at the same time. Much of this variation was correlated with differences in mating tactics of the males; copulations by males that stayed on their territories during copulation were shorter than those by other males (Fig. 2). Eggs collected from females mated to irradiated, sterile males and to free-living, fertile males indicated that the average paternity expectation was higher for long than for short copulations, and that the variance in paternity expectation was lower for long than for short copulations. Some possible causes of the high variation in paternity at low copulation durations and possible reasons for differences in copulation duration between male mating tactics are discussed.
Blastomycosis of the lumbar spine: Case report and review of the literature, with emphasis on diagnostic laboratory tools and management

We report on the conservative and surgical management of a patient with blastomycosis of the lumbar spine, causing severe and crippling deformity. The diagnosis was made through biopsy. Curative removal, reconstruction and realignment of the spine were achieved. Imaging modalities were highlighted, with a detailed discussion of the histology and conservative and surgical management. We emphasize the importance of early, aggressive treatment of blastomycosis to prevent deformity and disability, and to enable identification of the best management of a destructive lesion with deformity. This case demonstrates that empirical treatment should not be used in cases of unusual sinus and abscess locations. Specific diagnosis and early treatment are indicated to prevent dreadful complications and spinal deformity resulting from blastomycosis. Aggressive antifungal therapy can cure the disease but does not control complications related to deformity. The latter can only be addressed by surgical reconstruction. We review the literature of surgical treatment, focusing on abscess drainage, bone fusion and posterior instrumentation in the absence of addressing the deformity component.
Why collaborate? The differing reasons for secondary school educators' establishment of school-community partnerships

This article clarifies the reasons underlying educators’ cultivation of community involvement in their schools and highlights the role that social capital plays and the benefits of partnering. In this qualitative case study, documents, observations, and 25 interviews with head teachers, teachers, and community partners at 2 Ontario secondary schools were analysed for themes within and across sites. The educators partnered to meet the needs of their students and programs that could not be addressed in the school. Partnering provided material, financial, and social support. The principals obtained district resources unavailable to other schools, and the schools’ reputations within the communities were raised. Descriptive findings aim to assist educators and researchers to better understand liaising and to facilitate the effective establishment of school-community partnerships.
Struggles in Urban Space: Street Vendors in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez

The author compares the hierarchical variety of businesses that struggle over downtown urban space with the official agencies that regulate that space in two sister cities on the U.S.-Mexico border. For each city, the conflict is analyzed, as is the diversity of businesses and their public presentations. The analysis reveals how political machinery and public discourse affect the outcomes of conflicts. After engagement in the political process, El Paso vendors face drastic increases in business costs, and Juirez vendors perpetuate a short-term standoff with the conservative opposition government.
EMT and Dissemination Precede Pancreatic Tumor Formation

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-associated death but has been difficult to study because it involves a series of rare, stochastic events. To capture these events, we developed a sensitive method to tag and track pancreatic epithelial cells in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Tagged cells invaded and entered the bloodstream unexpectedly early, before frank malignancy could be detected by rigorous histologic analysis; this behavior was widely associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Circulating pancreatic cells maintained a mesenchymal phenotype, exhibited stem cell properties, and seeded the liver. EMT and invasiveness were most abundant at inflammatory foci, and induction of pancreatitis increased the number of circulating pancreatic cells. Conversely, treatment with the immunosuppressive agent dexamethasone abolished dissemination. These results provide insight into the earliest events of cellular invasion in situ and suggest that inflammation enhances cancer progression in part by facilitating EMT and entry into the circulation.
Fragrance material review on β-methoxy-benzeneethanol.

Abstract A toxicologic and dermatologic review of β-methoxy-benzeneethanol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. β-methoxy-benzeneethanol is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohols and is a primary alcohol. The AAAs are a structurally diverse class of fragrance ingredients that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl alcohols covalently bonded to an aryl (Ar) group, which may be either a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring. The common structural element for the AAA fragrance ingredients is an alcohol group -C-(R1)(R2)OH and generically the AAA fragrances can be represented as an Ar-C-(R1)(R2)OH or Ar–Alkyl-C-(R1)(R2)OH group. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for β-methoxy-benzeneethanol were evaluated then summarized and includes physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, skin sensitization, phototoxicity, and photoallergy data. A safety assessment of the entire Aryl Alkyl Alcohols will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al., 2012 for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all Aryl Alkyl Alcohols in fragrances. Belsito, D., Bickers, D., Bruze, M., Calow, P., Dagli, M., Fryer, A.D., Greim, H., Hanifin, J.H., Miyachi, Y., Saurat, J.H., Sipes, I.G., 2012. A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of aryl alkyl alcohols when used as fragrance ingredients.
Use of Eye Movement Monitoring to Examine Item and Relational Memory in Schizophrenia

Background Patients with schizophrenia may be impaired at remembering interitem and item-context relationships (relational memory), even when memory for items is intact. Here, we applied the novel approach of using eye movements to assess integrity of item and relational memory in schizophrenia. This method does not rely on introspection and may be more readily translated to animal models than traditional behavioral methods. Methods Sixteen healthy control subjects and 16 patients were administered a scene memory task while eye movements were monitored. During testing, participants indicated whether the scenes were unchanged, contained a new item (item manipulation), had a change in item location (relational manipulation), or were new. It was predicted that memory would be disproportionately impaired when relational changes were made. Results Results confirmed that tasks were equally difficult and showed that patients were impaired identifying all scene types. These behavioral impairments were associated with more severe disorganization and negative symptoms. Eye movement results were more specific. Both groups looked disproportionately at critical regions of repeated versus novel scenes—an effect of scene repetition. However, in contrast with predictions, patients showed equivalent eye-movement-based memory impairment whether changes were relational or item-based. Conclusions This is the first experiment to demonstrate that eye movements can be used to investigate item and relational memory in schizophrenia. The eye movement procedure was well tolerated and was more specific than behavioral measures with respect to memory impairment. Results suggest that eye movements may be of use in clinical trials and translational studies employing animal models.
Privacy, information technology, and health care

W e are well into the digital information age. Digital communications and information resources affect almost every aspect of our lives— business, finance, education, government, and entertainment. Clinical medicine is highly information intensive, but it is one of the few areas of our society where computer access to information has had only limited success in selected areas such as billing and scheduling, laboratory result reporting, and diagnostic instrument systems (such as radiology and cardiology). The move to widely accepted electronic patient records (EPRs) is accelerating, however, and is inevitable because of many pressures. Among those pressures are the desire to improve health care through timely access to information and decision-support aids; the need for simultaneous access to records by doctors, nurses, and administrators in modern, integrated provider and referral systems; meeting the needs of highly mobile patients; the push toward improved cost effectiveness based on analyses of outcomes and utilization information; the need for better support of clinical research; and the growing use of telemedicine and telecare [5]. We are, of course, motivated by the great benefits to patient care and medicine that can derive from this effort. But almost daily we hear about network computer break-ins—often close to home—arousing vivid fears [4]. By putting our personal medical records online, might we be increasing the risk of exposing highly private and sensitive information to outsiders? In this article we take a systems view of privacy and information security in health care. We will put the nature of the most urgent threats to patient information privacy in perspective, the new threats that almost certainly will arise because of the technologies of digital information,
Gonococcal Abscess of the Obturator Internal Muscle: Use of New Diagnostic Tools May Eliminate the Need for Surgical Intervention

Obturator internal muscle (OIM) abscess or pyomyositis, a poorly recognized intrapelvic infection, is characterized by limping, pain in the hip with limited movement, and the sciatic type of radiating leg pain. With the use of advanced diagnostic tools such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and radionuclide scans, several cases of OIM abscess have been diagnosed; these cases have recently been reported in the English-language literature. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant organism isolated from OIM abscesses. Gonococcal abscess involving the OIM has not been reported. We describe a case of gonococcal OIM abscess in an adolescent female whose condition was successfully diagnosed and managed with the use of CT-guided needle aspiration and antibiotic therapy. We review the English-language literature regarding the use of newly developed tools in the diagnosis of OIM abscess.
Parathyroid mRNA directs the synthesis of pre-proparathyroid hormone and proparathyroid hormone in the Krebs ascites cell-free system.

Abstract Translation in a cell-free extract of Krebs II ascites cells of a mRNA fraction prepared from bovine parathyroid glands results in the synthesis of two radioactive products that appear identical to pre-proparathyroid hormone (Pre-ProPTH) (M.W. ∼ 14,000), the suspected earliest biosynthetic precursor of parathyroid hormone (PTH) (M.W. 9,500), and to proparathyroid hormone (ProPTH) (M.W. 10,200), the immediate biosynthetic precursor of PTH. The two products of synthesis in the ascites extract co-electrophoresed on both urea-acetate and urea-SDS acrylamide gels with Pre-ProPTH obtained from cell-free translation of parathyroid RNA in extracts of wheat-germ and with ProPTH isolated from parathyroid slices. Both products were precipitated with an antiserum to PTH. Partial analysis of the amino acid sequence of [35S]methionine-labeled Pre-ProPTH synthesized by the ascites extract indicates that a substantial fraction of the product is lacking the two N-terminal methionines present in the Pre-ProPTH synthesized by the wheat-germ system. The results indicate that, ( i ), unlike the wheat-germ, ascites extracts contain enzymes that remove the initiator methionine from Pre-ProPTH and convert Pre-ProPTH into ProPTH (no ProPTH was observed in the wheat-germ system) and ( ii ) the cleavage processes appear to occur in association with synthesis, inasmuch as neither removal of NH2-terminal methionine nor formation of ProPTH was observed upon incubation of Pre-ProPTH isolated from either the wheat-germ system or from the ascites system when put back into the ascites system.
Comparative Clinical Assessment of Corneal Sensation with a New Aesthesiometer

A new version of an aesthesiometer offers particular advantages such as portability without risk of damage to the filament, easy filament replacement, and an expanded stimulus range. We compared the performance of this new instrument to that of the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer in a clinical setting on herpetic patients. Using both instruments, we obtained paired measurements on the normal and diseased corneas from five test loci placed over the corneal surface. Statistical analysis of the normalized data showed that the data obtained by the new instrument were similar to those of the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer.
Biotransformation of the cardiovascular toxin, allylamine, by rat and human cardiovascular tissue

Cardiovascular tissue has long been regarded as metabolically inert relative to other tissues, especially with regard to biotransforming xenobiotics or hazardous environmental chemicals to ultimate toxins or mutagens. Myocardium, vascular smooth muscle and endothelium, however, possess a variety of enzyme systems which synthesize or metabolize endogenous substances [8, 11] and could, theoretically, metabolize exogenous chemicals. Allylamine (3-aminopropene) is an industrial amine which affords the opportunity to test the concept that cardiovascular tissue may metabolize exogenous chemicals. In several experimental species, allylamine causes severe myocardial necrosis and fibrosis [3] accompanied by vascular smooth muscle cell hyperplasia resulting in coronary artery and aortic lesions that morphologically mimic the atherosclerotic process [4, 9, 10]. We hypothesized that allylamine is biotransformed to acrolein (allyl aldehyde) by an unknown cardiovascular deaminating enzyme, perhaps some form of amine oxidase.
Concentric Coiled Tubing Technology Revolutionizes Logging Sub-Hydrostatic, Single-Completion Wells

Single-completion, sub-hydrostatic wells were a challenge for production logging runs because two strings of tubing and dual wellhead would be required, necessitating workover rig operations. However, for smaller cased holes such as 7- or 4 ½-in. casings, running a dual completion string is typically too complex or impossible. When operators had to determine water-entry points in fields with high water cuts, well intervention costs could become prohibitive to contemplate. Hence, logging sub-hydrostatic wells to determine water entry points was restricted to a limited number of wells of a particular construction. These wells had to be dual-completion wells or 9 5/8-in. cased wells, able to accommodate dual-string completions. One string would be used for running the logging tool via coiled tubing or wireline, and the other would be used for artificial lift and produce the well while logging. Instead, a conventional concentric coiled tubing (CCT) string can be transformed into a specialty CCT by adding an encapsulated single-conductor wire inside. The string can then be run with a modified vacuum bottomhole assembly and a logging tool to achieve production analysis and logging simultaneously. Combining these two proven technologies into one solution is an economical way to produce the wells via the CCT and its vacuum BHA while logging the well in one run. It has economic benefits to operators by eliminating the high cost associated with installing dual completions and dual wellheads. It also enables logging in 7- and 4 ½-in. cased holes that were not accessible for production logging using prior technologies. This paper will describe the revolutionary technology and case histories along with lessons learned. It will also describe in particular the applications of the technology for high-producing water wells.
Use and limitations of thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of peripheral arterial ischemia: results of a multi-institutional questionnaire.

Abstract In an attempt to assess the efficacy of thrombolytic infusions for arterial ischemia, a questionnaire was distributed to 142 vascular surgeons. Data from 45 respondents who had experience with thrombolytic infusion in 623 patients were reviewed. A successful outcome was obtained in 313 of 623 patients (50.2%). Morbidity was significant, with hemorrhage requiring transfusion or operation in 125 cases (20.1%) and major amputation in 103 cases (16.5%). There were nine strokes associated with thrombolytic infusion (1.4%), six of which were fatal. Sixteen deaths were associated with thrombolytic therapy, for a mortality rate of 2.5% (16 of 623 patients). Analysis of results by grouping centers according to numbers of lytic infusions failed to show significant correlation with center experience. Furthermore, morbidity and mortality were seen in centers with both limited and extensive experience with thrombolytic infusion. The initial enthusiasm for thrombolytic infusion to treat arterial ischemia is not substantiated by our data. Carefully controlled prospective trials are needed before this method can be offered as an alternative to arterial reconstruction. (J VASC SURG 1987;6:45-50.)
Rehabilitation of deglutition problems in patients with head and neck cancer.

Patients who have undergone major resections for cancer in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx may experience varying degrees of swallowing difficulty. Such difficulty may result from (1) actual loss or alteration of structure; (2) loss or disturbance of motility and sphincteric function; (3) incoordination of peristaltic and sphincteric functions; (4) loss of motor or sensory nerve supply, or both; and (5) scar formation, fibrosis, fistula formation, or persisting edema in the upper alimentary tract. In addition, other factors such as pain and xerostomia may influence the swallowing function. Psychologic and emotional problems specifically consequent to the swallowing disability are not uncommon. The rehabilitation of swallowing disability is a major challenge in head and neck oncology. Clinical insight and a rational basis for the rehabilitation and management of swallowing impairment may be obtained from (1) an understanding of the mechanism of normal swallowing, (2) an understanding of the clinical correlation of the dysphagia with the nature and extent of surgical resection, and (3) direct observation of the adaptive and compensatory mechanisms developed by patients.
Group testing for block transform image compression

This paper introduces a new image coder based on several different block transforms and on group testing. It extends the Group Testing for Wavelets algorithm by replacing the discrete wavelet transform with the discrete cosine transform, and orthogonal and biorthogonal lapped transforms. In particular, we compare the performance of group testing on different block transforms, and show that on the standard Barbara image, the rate-distortion performance of the group testing on lapped biorthogonal transforms is significantly better than previous zerotree techniques based on the wavelet transform.
Regulation of ciliary neurotrophic factor expression in myelin-related Schwann cells in vivo

Adult rat sciatic nerve is known to express high levels of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) mRNA and protein. Here we examine the cellular localization of CNTF protein and mRNA in peripheral nerve and the regulation of CNTF expression by peripheral axons. In intact nerve, CNTF immunoreactivity is found predominantly in the cytoplasm of myelin-related Schwann cells. After axotomy, CNTF immunoreactivity and mRNA levels fall dramatically and do not recover unless axons regenerate. This behavior is similar to the pattern of myelin gene expression in these nerves. We conclude that the expression of CNTF in Schwann cells depends on axon-Schwann cell interactions.
Scalable Intrusion Detection with Recurrent Neural Networks

The ever-growing use of the Internet comes with a surging escalation of communication and data access. Most existing intrusion detection systems have assumed the one-size-fits-all solution model. Such IDS is not as economically sustainable for all organizations. Furthermore, studies have found that Recurrent Neural Network out-performs Feed-forward Neural Network, and Elman Network. This paper, therefore, proposes a scalable application-based model for detecting attacks in a communication network using recurrent neural network architecture. Its suitability for online real-time applications and its ability to self-adjust to changes in its input environment cannot be over-emphasized.
Uncovering antibody incidence structures

Abstract In a first order abstract immunogenetic system solutions to the problem of finding basic recognition factors such as antibodies or cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and basic recognized factors such as genes or gene products is given by a factorization M = ϕ 1 × G × ϕ 2 , where M is a reaction relation (matrix) and ϕ 1 labels individuals with genes, G relates genes to antibodies, and ϕ 2 labels reagents with antibodies. For a given M the problem of determining in general whether for a given n such a factorization exists with n antibodies or genes in G is NP-complete if no information other than M is available. In this paper we consider the problem of obtaining the factorization of M into ϕ 1 × G by ϕ 2 when information on effector cell combinations or reagents is given. When enough information is given it is shown that ϕ 1 × G and ϕ 2 are essentially uniquely determined, and an algorithm to obtain them in polynomial time is given. We also relate the computations necessary to uncover an antibody to its behavior in reaction tests. Based on this theory, a best possible solution is also given in cases where not enough information is available to obtain the unique solution.
Religious outbidding in Chechnya

An underexplored dynamic in the study of the conflict in Chechnya is the role of religion within Chechen society and the ideological competition that ensued between the radical Salafi insurgents and the Sufi establishment. Ahmad Kadyrov, the former grand mufti and ruler of Chechnya, played a key role in the conflict when he turned against the insurgency in part due to his concern over the pervasiveness of Salafism in the republic. His son and the current ruler, Ramzan Kadyrov, has re-Islamized Chechnya – albeit in a direction he sees fit. Religion is an important source of contention in the conflict, thus it would be beneficial for scholarship to examine more closely Ramzan Kadyrov's Sufi alternative to radical Salafism. This paper seeks to examine the competition that took place between these two ideologies and factions. First, an overview of the relevant concepts will be discussed. Then a brief history of religion and conflict in the region, followed by an examination of the effects that the collapse of...
GPI anchoring facilitates propagation and spread of misfolded Sup35 aggregates in mammalian cells

Prion diseases differ from other amyloid-associated protein misfolding diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's) because they are naturally transmitted between individuals and involve spread of protein aggregation between tissues. Factors underlying these features of prion diseases are poorly understood. Of all protein misfolding disorders, only prion diseases involve the misfolding of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein. To test whether GPI anchoring can modulate the propagation and spread of protein aggregates, a GPI-anchored version of the amyloidogenic yeast protein Sup35NM (Sup35GPI) was expressed in neuronal cells. Treatment of cells with Sup35NM fibrils induced the GPI anchor-dependent formation of self-propagating, detergent-insoluble, protease-resistant, prion-like aggregates of Sup35GPI. Live-cell imaging showed intercellular spread of Sup35GPI aggregation to involve contact between aggregate-positive and aggregate-negative cells and transfer of Sup35GPI from aggregate-positive cells. These data demonstrate GPI anchoring facilitates the propagation and spread of protein aggregation and thus may enhance the transmissibility and pathogenesis of prion diseases relative to other protein misfolding diseases.
The Intrinsic Affinity between E2 and the Cys Domain of E1 in Ubiquitin-like Modifications

Ubiquitin-like modifications, which are carried out by similar biochemical mechanisms, regulate nearly every aspect of cellular function. Despite the recent advancements in characterizing their enzymology, our knowledge about the dynamic processes of these modifications is still fragmentary. In this study, we have uncovered an intrinsic affinity between the SUMO E2 and the Cys domain of SUMO E1. NMR studies in combination with paramagnetic spin labeling demonstrate that this interaction is mediated by previously unknown interfaces on both E1 and E2 and places the two catalytic Cys residues of the two enzymes in close proximity. Site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatic assays indicate that the interaction is fundamentally important for the transfer of SUMO from E1 to E2. Results from this study suggest that the interaction between E2 and the Cys domain of E1 participates in guiding the E2's translocation to E1's enzymatic active site in ubiquitin-like modifications.
Expression of human lysosomal β-hexosaminidase in yeast vacuoles

Abstract The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was tested as a recipient for functional expression of a mammalian lysosomal enzyme. The β chain of human β-hexosaminidase formed active dimeric enzyme, HexB, in transformants. HexB activity was localized to the vacuole, the yeast counterpart to the lysosome. A simple in situ enzyme assay was developed, which could be useful in expressing other lysosomal cDNAs.
Pex4Fun: a web-based environment for educational gaming via automated test generation

Pex4Fun (http://www.pex4fun.com/) is a web-based educational gaming environment for teaching and learning programming and software engineering. Pex4Fun can be used to teach and learn programming and software engineering at many levels, from high school all the way through graduate courses. With Pex4Fun, a student edits code in any browser - with Intellisense - and Pex4Fun executes it and analyzes it in the cloud. Pex4Fun connects teachers, curriculum authors, and students in a unique social experience, tracking and streaming progress updates in real time. In particular, Pex4Fun finds interesting and unexpected input values (with Pex, an advanced test-generation tool) that help students understand what their code is actually doing. The real fun starts with coding duels where a student writes code to implement a teacher's secret specification (in the form of sample-solution code not visible to the student). Pex4Fun finds any discrepancies in behavior between the student's code and the secret specification. Such discrepancies are given as feedback to the student to guide how to fix the student's code to match the behavior of the secret specification. This tool demonstration shows how Pex4Fun can be used in teaching and learning, such as solving coding duels, exploring course materials in feature courses, creating and teaching a course, creating and publishing coding duels, and learning advanced topics behind Pex4Fun.
Accelerated Block-coordinate Relaxation for Regularized Optimization

We discuss minimization of a smooth function to which is added a separable regularization function that induces structure in the solution. A block-coordinate relaxation approach with proximal linearized subproblems yields convergence to critical points, while identification of the optimal manifold (under a nondegeneracy condition) allows acceleration techniques to be applied on a reduced space. The work is motivated by experience with an algorithm for regularized logistic regression, and computational results for the algorithm on problems of this type are presented.
Model recognition and validation for an off-road vehicle electrohydraulic steering controller

Automated steering control is essential for an autonomous off-road vehicle. Many off-road vehicles use an electrohydraulic (E/H) actuator to implement the steering control. This paper reports the design and validation of an electrohydraulic steering controller through a combination of system identification, model simulation, and field tests. A kinematic model of the steering linkage geometry provided the gain between the hydraulic actuator and the front wheels. The system model was used to close the steering control loop based on the feedback signal from the hydraulic steering actuator rather than from the front wheels. Test results were used to identify the non-linear and dynamic characteristics of the original electrohydraulic steering system. The system identification model was used to develop a preliminary controller, which was simulated under Matlab before beginning full-scale vehicle testing. The simulation and vehicle test results indicated that the steering controller developed was capable of efficiently handling the non-linearity and dynamic asymmetry of the electrohydraulic steering system.