cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simple electrophoretic method for the determination of superhelix density of closed circular DNAs and for observation of their superhelix density heterogeneity

Abstract A simple method for directly determining the superhelix density of closed circular DNAs by ethidium bromide titration using agarose gel electrophoresis in tubes containing increasing concentrations of the dye has been developed. Since the positively charged dye migrates toward the cathode in a direction opposite to that of the DNA, ethidium bromide need not be present in the buffer chambers if electrophoresis is stopped before the dye boundary meets the DNA band. In this way, a constant concentration of ethidium bromide is present throughout the path of the DNA band. Consequently, by avoiding the presence of dye in the buffer chambers, many gels containing different concentrations of ethidium bromide can be run at the same time in a conventional gel-tube electrophoresis apparatus. A dye titration can be performed in less than a day by using this method. At several dye concentrations, the closed circular DNA is resolved into distinct bands which probably reflect intrinsic heterogeneity in superhelical density.
Musical Entrepreneurship in 15th-Century Europe

early Renaissance. We lack letters, testimonials, autobiographical statements-any of the usual apparatus that informs us of the personalities and professional aspirations of musicians of later periods. But at least, thanks to the preservation of archives throughout Western Europe, and the diligence of generations of archival historians, it is possible to compile the curricula vitae of many Renaissance musicians, often in precise detail. We rarely ask how or why a musician came to appear on the roster of this court or that chapel, merely observing that he was there from this date, to that. What is frequently forgotten in this exercise is the informing mind that shaped the career path: the musician himself, and none other. The 15th-century musician, like musicians of every age, was a complicated package made up of talent, training, and professional aspiration. How he shaped the hand he had been dealt was entirely up to his own ambitions, skill at career management and self-promotion, and ability to make the necessary professional connections. Although working for employers, he was his own entrepreneur, with a set of highly developed skills and talent as the commodities on offer. In this essay I shall discuss three contrasting models of career entrepreneurship, as employed more or less successfully by four musicians of the 15th century: Jean Cordier, Jean Puyllois, Jacob Obrecht, and Josquin des Prez. While scrutinizing the details of their strategies and decisionmaking, I hope also to provide a glimpse-so rare for 15th-century musicians-of the personalities lurking behind these musical entrepreneurs. Every curriculum vitae includes a section devoted
High-pressure synthesis of the Sr2CuO3+δ superconductor obsevation of an increase in Tc from 70 K to 94 K with heat treatment

Abstract The high-c ceramic superconductor Sr2CuO3+δ was synthesized at high oxygen pressure (5.7 GPa) and stabilized in the tetragonal-layered structure. Details are reported for the synthesis conditions and the superconducting properties. The as-prepared material had an onset Tc at 70 K which could be increased to 94 K by heat treatment in N2 at 310°C for 1 h or at 240°C for 12 h. Data are reported for the effect of post-synthesis heat treatment on superconducting properties, lattice parameters and weight-loss characteristics. A weight loss was detected above 310°C which correlated with a deterioration in superconducting properties. The material was found to be non-superconducting when heat treated at 450°C, even though the structure remained in the tetragonal structure. Conversion to the orthorhombic low-pressure state occurred at a higher temperature, and was complete by 760°C. The results are discussed in terms of a possible oxygen-doping mechanism for the bimetallic superconductor Sr2CuO3+δ.
CLC‐K channels: if the drug fits, use it

Not long ago, physiologists and biophysicists only half‐jokingly referred to chloride channels as ‘the dark side’. However, in scarcely more than 15 years, molecular and structural tools, in conjunction with increasingly sophisticated physiological techniques, have established chloride channels as interesting subjects in their own right. We now appreciate that chloride channels have key roles in cell‐volume regulation, the stabilization of membrane potential, vesicular acidification and epithelial transport. Furthermore, when things go wrong with chloride channels, physiological chaos ensues. Such disease states offer opportunities to learn about the fundamental properties of these channels, which might lead to the development of better tools, to improved understanding and, ultimately, to possible therapies, as Picollo and colleagues show in this issue of EMBO reports (Picollo et al , 2004). The CLC family of voltage‐gated chloride channels provides several examples of the problems of chloride‐channel dysfunction (Jentsch et al , 2002). Both dominant and recessive forms of congenital myotonia are linked to mutations in the gene encoding CLC‐1, which is the skeletal muscle chloride channel that normally functions in repolarization. CLC‐5 is abundant in the kidney and mutations in this channel underlie Dent's disease, which is characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, renal calcifications and kidney stones. Mouse knockouts of Clcnk1 , which encodes CLC‐k1, have diabetes insipidus and dilute urine. Closely related to this channel are human CLC‐Ka and ‐Kb, and mutations in the latter are linked to a form of Bartter's syndrome (Simon et al , 1997). The classical form of this disease …
Comparison of cerebral artery blood flow measurements with gated cine and ungated phase-contrast techniques.

Cine phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequences have been used to measure blood flow in a variety of vessels. Because the cine PC sequence is time-consuming, this prospective study was undertaken to compare it with an ungated PC technique for measuring average blood flow in individual cerebral arteries to potentially achieve substantial time savings. The following cerebral arteries were studied in 10 healthy volunteers: carotid, basilar, middle cerebral, anterior cerebral, and posterior cerebral. Imaging planes were placed perpendicular to the vessel of interest, and velocity encoding, ranging from 40 to 250 cm/sec, was matched to individual arteries. Good correlation between cine and ungated PC blood flow measurements was obtained for both high- and low-flow vessels, with an overall correlation coefficient of .978. The ungated PC sequence, because of its short imaging time, allows measurement of the blood volume flow rate in the circle of Willis in approximately 20 minutes, a clinically acceptable time.
Kinetics of transesterification of soybean oil

Transesterification of soybean oil with methanol was investigated. Three stepwise and reversible reactions are believed to occur. The effect of variations in mixing intensity (Reynolds number=3,100 to 12,400) and temperature (30 to 70°C) on the rate of reaction were studied while the molar ratio of alcohol to triglycerol (6:1) and the concentration of catalyst (0.20 wt% based on soybean oil) were held constant. The variations in mixing intensity appear to effect the reaction parallel to the variations in temperature. A reaction mechanism consisting of an initial mass transfer-controlled region followed by a kinetically controlled region is proposed. The experimental data for the latter region appear to be a good fit into a second-order kinetic mechanism. The reaction rate constants and the activation energies were determined for all the forward and reverse reactions.
Anomalous Phase Separation Kinetics Observed in a Micelle Solution

We report a real-time, two-dimensional light scattering study of the evolution of structure in a two-component nonionic micelle system undergoing phase separation. We find that the structure of the domains is qualitatively similar to that observed in binary fluid systems, with some anomalies observed. However, compared to the Lifshitz-Slyozov prediction for simple binary fluids, the domain growth is unexpectedly slow. In fact, the growth kinetics can be empirically described as a stretched exponential approach to a pinned domain size. This anomalous behavior may be due to the ability of the spherical micelles to reorganize into more complex structures.
Segmentation and the coseismic behavior of Basin and Range normal faults: examples from east-central Idaho and southwestern Montana, U.S.A.

Abstract The range-front normal faults of the Lost River and Lemhi Ranges, and the Beaverhead and Tendoy Mountains in east-central Idaho and southwestern Montana have well-preserved fault scarps on Quaternary deposits along much of their lengths. Fault-scarp morphology, the age of deposits displaced by the faults, and the morphology of the range fronts provide a basis for dividing the faults into segments that are typically 20–25 km long. The Lost River, Lemhi and Beaverhead fault zones are 141–151 km long, and each has six segments. The 60-km-long Red Rock fault (the range-front fault of the Tendoy Mountains) has two central segments that have been active in late Quaternary time; these two segments span the central 27 km of the fault. We recognize four characteristics that help to identify segment boundaries: (1) major en echelon offsets or pronounced gaps in the continuity of fault scarps; (2) distinct, persistent, along-strike changes in fault-scarp morphology that indicate different ages of faulting; (3) major salients in the range front; and (4) transverse bedrock ridges where the cumulative throw is low compared to other places along the fault zone. Only features whose size is measured on the scale of kilometers are regarded as significant enough to represent a segment boundary that could inhibit or halt a propagating rupture. The ability to identify segments of faults that are likely to behave as independent structural entities will improve seismic-hazard assessment. However, one should not assume that the barriers at segment boundaries will completely stop all propagating ruptures. The topographic expression of mountain ranges is evidence that, at times during their history, all barriers fail. Some barriers apparently create ‘leaky’ segment boundaries that impede propagating ruptures but do not completely prevent faulting on adjacent segments.
FEL center user diagnostics and control

Abstract In the past year, the Stanford Picosecond FEL Center has produced more than two thousand hours of beam time dedicated to user experiments. To assure reliable beam delivery and to maximize productivity of our users we have developed a sophisticated system of diagnostics and control. An integrated display is now available in all experimental areas which provides continuously updated measurements of beam spectrum, micropulse duration, power, position, and pointing — all of which may be saved to document beam conditions during an experiment. The beam is actively wavelength and amplitude stabilized to better than 0.01% and 2%, respectively. Direct wavelength control is available to users in every experimental area, allowing changes of wavelength as large as a few percent. Larger wavelength shifts, and adjustments in macropulse or micropulse width or timing, are readily available with operator assistance.
Herpes simplex virus infections of the central nervous system. Encephalitis and neonatal herpes.

Herpes simplex virus infections of the central nervous system are associated with significant morbidity in spite of efficacious antiviral therapy. Herpes simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1), causes focal neurologic findings that are characteristic of temporal lobe localization. Herpes simplex encephalitis occurs in a biphasic age distribution with one-third of the cases less than 20 and the majority of remaining cases over 50. The diagnostic test of choice is the detection of HSV DNA by PCR in the cerebrospinal fluid. Acyclovir is the treatment of choice and is administered for 14–21 days intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 8 h. Neonatal HSV infections are more frequently caused by HSV-2 than HSV-1, although the number of cases of the latter is increasing. Infection is most frequently acquired intrapartum by contact with infected maternal genital secretions. Approximately 50 % of all newborns with neonatal infection will have central nervous system involvement. Importantly, HSV-2 infections of the central nervous system in neonates have a poorer outcome than those attributable to HSV-1. Therapy of neonatal infection is achieved with high-dose acyclovir that is administered at 20 mg/kg/every 8 h for 14–21 days. Six months of oral acyclovir post-intravenous treatment has resulted in an improved neurologic outcome for children with central nervous system infection. Likely, in the future, combination antiviral approaches will be employed for both adult and pediatric disease in order to improve neurologic outcome.
Head tremor in essential tremor: "Yes-yes", "no-no", or "round and round"?

Introduction Essential tremor (ET) is a common yet frequently misdiagnosed movement disorder. One contributing factor may be the dearth of studies that focus on the nuances of clinical phenomenology. A clinical feature that has received relatively little attention is head tremor. Indeed, there is no consensus regarding the predominant direction of head tremor in ET, and no study has examined the clinical correlates of directionality.
Revisiting African Agriculture: Institutional Change and Productivity Growth

Africa is largely agrarian, and the performance of agriculture shapes the performance of its economies. It has long been argued that economic development in Africa is strongly conditioned by politics. Recent changes in Africa’s political systems enables us to test this argument and, by extension, broader claims about the impact of political institutions on economic development. Building on a recent analysis of total factor productivity growth in African agriculture, we find that the introduction of competitive presidential elections in the last decades of the twentieth century appears to have altered political incentives, resulting in policy reforms that have enhanced the performance of farmers.
Resolution of Chronic Parvovirus B19-Induced Anemia, by Use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, in a Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

We present what is, to our knowledge, the second case report of a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and transfusion-dependent anemia caused by persistent infection with parvovirus B19. The patient's anemia was successfully treated, and she demonstrated serologic evidence of eradication of parvovirus after having received effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection.
An equation-free computational approach for extracting population-level behavior from individual-based models of biological dispersal

Abstract The movement of many organisms can be described as a random walk at either or both the individual and population level. The rules for this random walk are based on complex biological processes and it may be difficult to develop a tractable, quantitatively-accurate, individual-level model. However, important problems in areas ranging from ecology to medicine involve large collections of individuals, and a further intellectual challenge is to model population-level behavior based on a detailed individual-level model. Because of the large number of interacting individuals and because the individual-level model is complex, classical direct Monte Carlo simulations can be very slow, and often of little practical use. In this case, an equation-free approach [I.G. Kevrekidis, C.W. Gear, J.M. Hyman, P. Kevrekidis, O. Runborg, K. Theodoropoulos, Equation-free, coarse-grained multiscale computation: enabling microscopic simulators to perform system-level analysis, Commun. Math. Sci. 1 (4) (2003) 715–762] may provide effective methods for the analysis and simulation of individual-based models. In this paper we analyze equation-free coarse projective integration. For analytical purposes, we start with known partial differential equations describing biological random walks and we study the projective integration of these equations. In particular, we illustrate how to accelerate explicit numerical methods for solving these equations. Then we present illustrative kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of these random walks and show that a decrease in computational time by as much as a factor of a thousand can be obtained by exploiting the ideas developed by analysis of the closed form PDEs. The illustrative biological example here is chemotaxis, but it could be any random walker that biases its movement in response to environmental cues.
Web-based Tutorials and Traditional Face-to-Face Lectures: A Comparative Analysis of Student Performance

The authors present the results of a study conducted at a historically Black institution that compares student performance using Web-based tutorials to that of the traditional face-to-face lectures. A casual-comparative design was chosen for this study to examine the effects of instructional delivery on student performance in a business communications course with specific emphasis on the grammar and mechanics unit of study. The study spanned 4 years, beginning fall 2008 through spring 2012. Participants included 375 declared business majors who were self-enrolled in various sections of the Business Communications course during the study. The results of this study mirrored those of previous works reporting that Web-based tutorials are as effective as traditional face-to-face lecturing with regard to student performance.
Assessing the Risk of Persistent Drought Using Climate Model Simulations and Paleoclimate Data

Projected changes in global rainfall patterns will likely alter water supplies and ecosystems in semiarid regions during the coming century. Instrumental and paleoclimate data indicate that natural hydroclimate fluctuations tend to be more energetic at low (multidecadal to multicentury) than at high (interannual) frequencies. State-of-the-art global climate models do not capture this characteristic of hydroclimate variability, suggesting that the models underestimate the risk of future persistent droughts. Methods are developed here for assessing the risk of such events in the coming century using climate model projections as well as observational (paleoclimate) information. Where instrumental and paleoclimate data are reliable, these methods may provide a more complete view of prolonged drought risk. In the U.S. Southwest, for instance, state-of-the-art climate model projections suggest the risk of a decade-scale megadrought in the coming century is less than 50%; the analysis hereinsuggests that the risk is at least 80%, and may be higherthan 90% in certain areas. The likelihood of longer-lived events (.35yr) is between 20% and 50%, and the risk of an unprecedented 50-yr megadrought is nonnegligible under the most severe warming scenario (5%‐10%). These findings are important to consider as adaptation and mitigation strategies are developed to cope with regional impacts of climate change, where population growth is high and multidecadal megadrought—worse thananythingseenduringthelast2000years—wouldposeunprecedentedchallengestowaterresourcesinthe region.
Nitric oxide modulates TGF-beta-directive signals to suppress Foxp3+ regulatory T cell differentiation and potentiate Th1 development.

TGF-β can induce Foxp3+ inducible regulatory T cells (Treg) and also synergize with IL-6 and IL-4 to induce Th17 and Th9 cells. We now report that NO modulates TGF-β activity away from Treg but toward the Th1 lineage. NO potentiated Th1 differentiation in the presence of TGF-β in both IL-12–independent and –dependent fashions by augmenting IFN-γ–activated STAT-1 and T-bet. Differentiation into Treg, Th1, and Th17 lineages could be modulated by NO competing with other cofactors, such as IL-6 and retinoic acid. NO antagonized IL-6 to block TGF-β–directed Th17 differentiation, and together with IL-6, NO suppressed Treg development induced by TGF-β and retinoic acid. Furthermore, we show that physiologically produced NO from TNF and inducible NO synthase-producing dendritic cells can contribute to Th1 development predominating over Treg development through a synergistic activity induced when these cells cocluster with conventional dendritic cells presenting Ag to naive Th cells. This illustrates that NO is another cofactor allowing TGF-β to participate in development of multiple Th lineages and suggests a new mechanism by which NO, which is associated with protection against intracellular pathogens, might maintain effective Th1 immunity.
Challenges for Home Health Care Providers: A Needs Assessment

Home health care provides substantial benefits over traditional, hospital-based health care, such as supporting older adults' independence and quality of life, as well as being more cost effective. This aspect of the health care industry could be enhanced through increased technological supports. When providing health care in a home setting, caregivers are faced with many challenges that impede their ability to perform their jobs. Technological interventions have the potential to alleviate many of these challenges. However, to achieve this potential, new technologies must be created to meet the needs of home health care providers. To date, these providers' specific and most critical needs are not thoroughly understood. This understanding can be gained by conducting a detailed needs assessment that captures the common challenges and difficulties that home health care providers encounter. We conducted a needs assessment comprising three phases: 1) an extensive literature review; 2) subject matter expert interviews; and 3) structured interviews with home health care providers. We identified several significant sources of frustration and difficulty faced by providers including: medical device usage; patient education; family involvement; provider isolation; and barriers to communication. This analysis provides an understanding of the challenges confronting home health care providers that can provide guidance for interventions. Future home health care technology can be developed to specifically target these workers' most urgent needs and allow them to perform their jobs with greater ease.
Obscene/indecent programming: Regulation of ambiguity

The “topless radio”; phenomenon was briefly widespread— and controversy about such formats continues to appear. This article reviews two important FCC decisions, Sonderling (WGLD‐FM), and Pacifica (WBAI‐FM), to discern and describe FCC policy trends and attempts to define just what obscenity and indecency is and what standards for broadcasting should exist. Dr. Feldman is on the speech faculty at Denison University (Ohio), while Dr. Tickton teaches mass communication and speech at, respectively, Norfolk State College and Old Dominion University, both in Virginia.
Prehospital on-site triaging.

Objective. To estimate the proportion of patients transported by emergency medical services (EMS) who do not need immediate emergency medical care. Secondary objectives were: 1) to evaluate the ability of paramedics to determine which patients need immediate ambulance transport, and 2) to evaluate on-scene patient characteristics that may aid in developing an EMS transport protocol. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study design was utilized to estimate the percentage of low-risk patients eligible for non-ambulance transport among 277 patients transported to an emergency department via ambulance. The EMS personnel prospectively rated each patient as to need for immediate ambulance transport. Physician raters, using predefined criteria, determined eligibility for non-ambulance transport. Results. There were 116 patients (59.2%, 95% CI = 53.4%–65.0%) who were not in need of immediate emergency medical care. Comparison of the EMS personnel's rating with the criterion-standard need for emergency treatmen...
Magnetic Fields of Square-Loop Thin Films of Oblate Spheroidal Geometry

Thin films of Ni-Fe alloy may be prepared to be anisotropic and exhibit square-loop M-H characteristics. In films that are single-domained with flux changes involving only rotation of intrinsic magnetization controlled by cross-magnetization fields, very fast switching action can be obtained for storage and logic functions. Problems of coupling to the flux changes and interaction in an array of such films require study of the magnetic-field distribution. In the treatment given, a circular, single-domain, thin film is represented by a very flat oblate spheroid. The field distribution outside the spheroid is found by assuming that the magnetic properties are characterized by an intrinsic magnetization M constant in magnitude, but varies in direction depending on field and energy considerations. Calculation of the field distribution is given for a typical film with diameter to thickness ratio of 105. From the regions over which field changes are most significant, conclusions are drawn as to the proper size of sensing loops and spacing to avoid interaction during switching in film arrays.
Time estimation in relation to gait tempo.

This study investigated the effect of accelerated and decelerated rates of walking on judgment of a 40-sec. interval in 52 healthy male Ss. The production method of time estimation was used. Analys...
Worksop: installing costar

This workshop provides an overview of techniques that facilitate installing COSTAR, (Computer Stored Ambulatory Record) medical information system. It is expected that the participants are or soon will be responsible for installing COSTAR, and that they are already familiar with the functional characteristics of the system. A list of references will be provided to the participants.
Issues on movie allocation in distributed video-on-demand systems

We study the allocation of movies in a distributed video-on-demand system that provides movies at will to users from a number of video servers scattered geographically. Each user is associated to one of the servers (the local server), but can still watch transparently any movie located at any server. In our study, we take into consideration the user demand for the movies, the storage limitation of the video servers, and the communication cost experienced (to the service provider) for movies located remotely with respect to the users watching them. Our objective is to find how many copies of the movies should one make and where to place them so the communication cost is minimized.
A Second-Order Hidden Markov Model for Part-of-Speech Tagging

This paper describes an extension to the hidden Markov model for part-of-speech tagging using second-order approximations for both contextual and lexical probabilities. This model increases the accuracy of the tagger to state of the art levels. These approximations make use of more contextual information than standard statistical systems. New methods of smoothing the estimated probabilities are also introduced to address the sparse data problem.
Usefulness of segmented trueFISP cardiac pulse sequence in evaluation of congenital and acquired adult cardiac abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to compare ultrashort TR, segmented trueFISP (fast imaging with steady-state precession) cine MR imaging with segmented FLASH (fast low-angle shot) cine MR imaging for the detection and characterization of congenital and acquired adult cardiac abnormalities.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Twenty-five patients with known or clinically suspected cardiac abnormalities were imaged on a 1.5-T scanner. Valve plane movies were obtained in patients with suspected valve morphology or function abnormalities or whose horizontal long-axis images showed jets. For each patient, three radiologists independently compared corresponding matched cine FLASH and trueFISP movies for image quality in evaluating anatomy and function of the great vessels and heart. Image quality was rated on a five-point scale, and data were analyzed using both a Wilcoxon's signed rank test and a repeated-measures analysis of variance.RESULTS. Image quality ratings of trueFISP and FLASH showed a statistically signifi...
Extended Hildebrand Solubility Approach: Methylxanthines in Mixed Solvents

The solubility profiles of theobromine, theophylline, and caffeine at 25 degrees were examined in binary solvent systems including dioxane-formamide, water-polyethylene glycol 400, and glycerin-propylene glycol. Theobromine solubility was studied in dioxane-water mixtures, a solvent system that was investigated earlier for the solubility of theophylline and caffeine. Solubilities were calculated in these polar systems by a regression method, based on an extension of the Hildebrand-Scatchard equation of regular solution theory. A linear relationship between the mixed solvent solubility parameter, and dielectric constant, epsilon, was introduced earlier and was confirmed in the present study. In addition, it was observed that a regression of log (activity coefficient) on epsilon in a second or higher degree polynomial provides reasonable solubility values for the methylxanthines in mixed solvents. A direct regression of molal or mole fraction (but not molar) solubility against delta 1, epsilon, or against volume percent of one or the other solvent in a binary solvent mixture provided a suitable measure of solubility for these crystalline drugs in mixed polar solvents. The drug's solubility parameter as determined from peak solubility in mixed polar solvents varied somewhat, depending on the specific solvent system employed. It is suggested that a drug may exhibit one (or more) solubility parameters in nonpolar solutions and multiple solubility parameters in polar systems. The extended solubility approach serves for the back-calculation of solubilities in mixed solvent systems, even though the solubility parameter of the solute may vary from one solvent system to the next.
A concept space approach to addressing the vocabulary problem in scientific information retrieval: an experiment on the worm community system

This research presents an algorithmic approach to addressing the vocabulary problem in scientific information retrieval and information sharing, using the molecular biology domain as an example. We first present a literature review of cognitive stud!es related to the vcrcabulaw problem and vocabulary-based search aids (thesauri) and then discuss technques for building robust and domain-specific thesauri to assist in cross-domain scientific information retrieval. Using a variation of the automatic thesaurus generation techniques, which we refer to as the concept space approach, we racentiy conducted an experiment in the molecular biology domain in whch we created a C. eksgans worm thesaurus of 7,657 worm-specific terms and a Drosophila fty thesaurus of 15,626 terms. About 30% of these terms overtappad, which created vocabulary paths from one subject domain to the other. Based on a cognitive study of term association involving four biologists, we found that a large percentage (59.6-85.6”A ) of the terms suggested by the subjects were identified in the conjoined fly-worm thesaurus. However, we found only a small parentage (6.4-18.1 %) of the associations suggested by the subjects in the thesaurus. In a follow-up document retrieval study involving eight fly biologists, an actual worm database (Worm Community System), and the conjoined flywonn thesaurus, subjects were able to find more relevant documents (an increase from about 9 documents to 20) and to improve the document recall level (from 32.41 to 65.28% ) when using the thesaurus, although the precision level did not improve significantly. Implications of adopting the concept space approach for addressing the vocabulary
No Work Like Rework: Issues In The Design Of A Math Test Sign-Up Application

This paper introduces a test sign-up application developed for a math department at a university. The requirements, design, and final software product are presented, along with one very important unexpected problem that arose after completion of the work - the system to be implemented and maintained by the client was not compatible with the platform supported by the client. In spite of the ensuing frustration and challenges, the end result was a success in many ways. In addition, it was a great educational experience for both the students and faculty involved in this project.
THE SYMBIOTIC WATER MITE UNIONICOLA FORMOSA (ACARI: UNIONICOLIDAE) INGESTS MUCUS AND TISSUE OF ITS MOLLUSCAN HOST

Unionicola formosa is a symbiotic water mite that passes most of its life cycle in the mantle cavity of freshwater mussels. Although mites of this genus are often referred to as parasitic, little is known about their nutritional biology. A few species reportedly pierce the gill of a host mussel and ingest tissue or hemolymph. The present study was undertaken to identify possible sources of nutrition for U. formosa. To determine if mites ingested particulate matter in the mucous strand produced by a mussel during feeding, mussels with resident mites were exposed to a suspension of fluorescent microspheres. There was no evidence that U. formosa ingested the beads. Histochemical staining did, however, indicate a mucous material present in the midgut of the mites. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic assays revealed a high molecular weight component, consistent with a mucopolysaccharide, present both in the mussel gill and the mites. Results from western blots and an immunoaffinity bindin...
A reference curve and space-time series analysis of the regional population dynamics of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann)

D.f. presente une dynamique de population complexe necessitant un modele avec plusieurs niveaux d'organisation. Une serie de donnees representatives ont ete collectees dans ce but, pendant 18 annees consecutives et converties en une serie de valeurs spatiales pour 24 zones subregionales des Etats-Unis
Toxicity of DDT, carbaryl, and azinphosmethyl to gamma-radiated pink bollworm moths.

Larvae of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) from a wild culture were reared on a wheat-germ diet and held under constant temperature, humidity, and photoperiod during the development period. Pupae were treated with 10,000 R of gamma radiation during a 2-hour exposure. Adults which emerged from irradiated and control pupae were treated topically with either DDT, carbonyl, or azinphosmethyl. When compared with control, moths from irradiated pupae showed a statistically significant increase in mortality from azinphosmethyl, a slight but nonsignificant decrease in mortality from carbaryl, and no difference in mortality from DDT. The increased toxicity of azinphosmethyl may possibly be due to a decreased production of the detoxifying enzymes.
Evaluating Low Concept Maturity Mission Elements and Architectures for a Venus Flagship Mission

NASA’s Planetary Science Division recently commissioned a Science and Technology Definition Team to design a potential Venus Flagship mission. The team developed a list of various mission elements that could serve as parts of an overall mission architecture, including orbiters, balloons at various altitudes, and landed platforms of varying number and lifetime. In order to determine the mission architecture that provided the best science within the desired cost range, teams of scientists developed priorities for the science investigations previously detailed by the Venus Exploration Assessment Group (VEXAG). By categorizing the suitability of mission elements to achieve the science investigations, it was possible to construct a Science Figure of Merit (FOM) that could be used to rate the mission elements in terms of their overall science capability. Working in parallel, a team of technologists and engineers identified the technologies needed for the different mission elements, as well as their technology readiness. A Technology FOM was then created reflecting the criticality of a specific technology as well as its technology readiness level. When the Science and Technology FOMs were combined with a rapid costing approach previous developed, it became possible to rapidly evaluate not only individual mission elements, but also their combinations into various mission architectures, accelerating the convergence on a flagship mission architecture that provided the best science within the flagship mission budget, as well as reducing reliance on unproven technology..
Localization of lactic acid dehydrogenase activity in serum fractions.

Summary1. Using the method of Wroblewski and LaDue the LDH activity in serum has been localized to 3 electrophoretic regions. In 6 control subjects approximately 48% of the LDH activity in serum was present in the α2-globulin, 33% between the α1-globulin and albumin and 19% in the β-globulin. 2. Three peaks corresponding approximately to those found in serum were observed in the hemolysate from human red cells. In the 2 cases of myocardial infarction in which the total LDH activity was increased the α1 activity peak was differentially raised while in 3 cases of leukemia, although the total activity was increased in only one instance, the percentage of the total LDH activity in the α2 peak was uniformly increased. 3. The results obtained suggest that an examination of the LDH activity in the different serum fractions may provide a more sensitive index of alterations of LDH activity than examination of the total serum concentration of the enzyme. 4. The distinguishing chemical and physical properties of the...
Problematizing Post-Race Ideology

In the previous chapter, the objectification of women in Nonhuman Animal rights spaces was argued to be ineffectual and theoretically counterintuitive. This chapter will extend this critique and address the perpetuation of race and ethnicity bias in social movement mobilization. A rational approach will necessitate a serious acknowledgment of racialized differences and discrimination. Harper (2010a) notes that Nonhuman Animal rights advocacy generally operates according to post-race ideology (the notion that race is no longer a significant variable), which likely reflects the white majority of its membership. This chapter will extend her critique and build a case for a race-sensitive vegan abolitionism. A rational approach to Nonhuman Animal liberation must be cognizant of continuing racial inequality to achieve effectiveness and theoretical consistency.
Analysis of Gender Differences of Dimethylacetamide Caused Liver and Kidney Damage on People with Occupational Exposure

[Objective] To investigate whether gender difference exist in dimethylacetamide caused liver and kidney damage on people with occupational exposure. [Methods]On-site inspection was performed to determine the concentration of dimethylacetamide. Totally 119 men and 96 women were examined to determine the number of people with liver and kidney damage. χ2 test was adopted for statistical analysis by using SPSS 11.0 software package.[Results]On-site inspection found that exposure concentration of dimethylacetamide in 18 test points (positions) exceeded national health standards, excessive points (positions) number accounted for 85.7%; physical examination showed that the liver dysfunction rate of male and female with occupational exposure was 19.33% and 1.04%, respectively; the renal dysfunction rate was 8.4% and 36.46%, respectively. The difference of liver and kidney damage between genders was significant (P0.01).[Conclusion]Dimethylacetamide mainly causes liver damage on male and kidney damage on female.
Bibliometric analysis of academic papers published in 1998-2008 by Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention

In order to provide the evidence for decision-making in scientific research management of Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention,further promote its scientific research team construction,and increase its scientific research level and competence,the distribution of publication years,journals and authors of academic papers published in 1998-2008 by the Center,as well as their coverage in SCI,were statistically analyzed by bibliometry.
THE EFFICACY OF AN EIGHT-WEEK CORE STABILIZATION PROGRAM ON CORE MUSCLE FUNCTION AND ENDURANCE: A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Background Body armor is credited with increased survival rates in soldiers but the additional axial load may negatively impact the biomechanics of the spine resulting in low back pain. Multiple studies have found that lumbar stabilization programs are superior to generalized programs for patients with chronic low back pain. It is not known if such programs produce objective changes in trunk muscle function with wear of body armor.
Wills and Survival

This Article examines the rule of lapse in wills law, discusses how efforts to reform the damage it does has led to the doctrine of anti-lapse, and advocates an alternative approach. In contrast to the requirement of survivorship of beneficiaries in wills law, I argue that testators do not have in mind survival when their wills make no such indication. I propose that we allow the provisions of a beneficiary’s probated will to control the disposition of a bequest where the beneficiary has predeceased the testator by one year or less. This rule would carry out the probable intentions of the "wills-minded" testator and is preferable to the predominant anti-lapse approach that typically favors a narrow set of the testator’s heirs.
Changes in Therapeutic Intensity Level Following Airway Pressure Release Ventilation in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Purpose:Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) utilizes high levels of airway pressure coupled with brief expiratory release to facilitate open lung ventilation. The aim of our study was to eva...
What Do Students Bring to School

In this chapter, I describe the context and overall trajectory for the studies, including my own trajectory as a teacher, learner, and scholar. Following an excerpt from Ms. Smith’s first-grade classroom, which provides an introductory example to what student knowledge links are, the guiding metaphor for the studies, Mind as Rhizome , is introduced. Characteristics of the rhizome include that it is dynamic, continually growing in dimension, has heterogeneous features in which there is potential for infinite connection among those features, is not necessarily hierarchically organized, but is a continuous interconnected system that cannot be ruptured, has no inside or outside, yet has multiple entrances. This metaphor it set in contrast to the Mind as Computer metaphor.
Buprenorphine physician supply: Relationship with state-level prescription opioid mortality

Abstract Background Buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder but the supply of buprenorphine physicians is currently inadequate to address the nation’s prescription opioid crisis. Perception of need due to rising opioid overdose rates is one possible reason for physicians to adopt buprenorphine. This study examined associations between rates of growth in buprenorphine physicians and prescription opioid overdose mortality rates in US states. Methods The total buprenorphine physician supply and number of physicians approved to treat 100 patients (per 100,000 population) were measured from June 2013 to January 2016. States were divided into two groups: those with rates of prescription opioid overdose mortality in 2013 at or above the median (>5.5 deaths per 100,000 population) and those with rates below the median. State-level growth curves were estimated using mixed-effects regression to compare rates of growth between high and low overdose states. Results The total supply and the supply of 100-patient buprenorphine physicians grew significantly (total supply from 7.7 to 9.9 per 100,000 population, p Conclusions The magnitude of the US prescription opioid crisis, as measured by the rate of prescription opioid overdose mortality, is associated with growth in the number of buprenorphine physicians. Because this observational design cannot establish causality, further research is needed to elucidate the factors influencing physicians’ decisions to begin prescribing buprenorphine.
Optical and chemical discoveries recognized for impact on biology and psychiatry.

Karl Deisseroth was awarded the 2017 quadrennial 4 million euro Else Kroner Fresenius Prize today for the “discoveries of optogenetics and of hydrogel‐tissue chemistry, and for developing circuit‐level insight into depression”. In this opinion, he was invited to discuss the impact of optogenetics and hydrogel‐tissue chemistry [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10] on understanding the structure and function of the brain in health and disease.
Chemo- and Enantioselective Intramolecular Silver-Catalyzed Aziridinations.

Asymmetric nitrene transfer reactions are a powerful tool for the preparation of enantioenriched amine building blocks. Herein, we report chemo- and enantioselective silver-catalyzed aminations that transform di- and trisubstituted homoallylic carbamates into [4.1.0]-carbamate-tethered aziridines in good yields and ee up to 92%. The effects of the substrate, silver counteranion, ligand, solvent and temperature on both chemoselectivity and ee were explored to complement the scope of traditional metal-catalyzed nitrene transfer reactions. Stereochemical models were proposed to rationalize the observed absolute stereochemistry of the aziridines, which undergo nucleophilic ring-opening to yield enantioenriched amines with no erosion in stereochemical integrity.
Estimates of biologic variation in specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations in cats without clinical or ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatitis.

Background Serum concentrations of feline-specific pancreatic lipase are commonly used for diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis in cats, but little is known regarding biologic variation of this analyte. Objectives The purpose of the study was to determine biologic variation, index of individuality, and reference change values (RCV) for specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations (Spec fPL) in apparently healthy cats. Methods Four blood samples were collected prospectively from 12 apparently healthy cats at 2-week intervals. The Spec fPL was measured in all serum samples by a reference laboratory. Results Intra-individual variation for Spec fPL was 33.5% (95% CI 27.1-43.8%); inter-individual variation was 99.9% (69.2-169.9%) and analytic variation was 7.3% (6.1-9.2%). Reciprocal index of individuality for Spec fPL was 2.9 (2.5-3.8), the 2-sided RCV was 95.1% (77.0-123.9%). Conclusions Due to high individuality, use of a population-based RI for Spec fPL may fail to detect clinically significant elevations in individual cats. The use of subject-based RIs for Spec fPL may have greater sensitivity for the detection of a change in pancreatic physiology in cats; however, this would require serial assessment of apparently healthy cats.