cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of an immunoprotective protein complex of Anaplasma marginale by cloning and expression of the gene coding for polypeptide Am105L.

Immunization with an Anaplasma marginale surface protein complex containing two polypeptides (Am105U and Am105L), each having a molecular weight of 105,000, protected cattle against challenge with virulent organisms. These polypeptides were immunoprecipitated together from detergent extracts of A. marginale by a neutralizing monoclonal antibody. After surface radioiodination of intact parasites, both Am105U and Am105L contained the radiolabel. To define the structural and antigenic relationships between Am105U and Am105L and to determine individual efficacies as protective immunogens, we cloned and expressed A. marginale DNA in Escherichia coli. We identified recombinant bacteria which expressed a novel protein of 105,000 molecular weight as a major cellular component. The recombinant protein was structurally and antigenically homologous to Am105L. There were multiple, partially homologous copies of the cloned DNA sequence in the rickettsial genome. Images
State-Frequency Analyses for Urban Flood Control Reservoirs

A methodology for determining reservoir stage-frequency relations is described that includes the following three component parts: (1) adjusting several-decade long historical sequences of daily streamflows for the effects of urbanization; (2) simulating reservoir system operations; and (3) performing a frequency analysis of the resulting series of maximum annual water surface elevations. Analyses are presented for the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs, which are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flooding along Buffalo Bayou in Houston. Extensive urbanization occurring throughout the floodplain and watershed during the past 50 years includes development adjacent to reservoir lands upstream of the dams. Operating policies, including both allowable release rates and timing of gate operations, are demonstrated to significantly affect reservoir stage-frequency relations. The effects of different operating practices are shown to become more pronounced with increased urbanization.
MICROFIBRILLAR ARRANGEMENT IN DEVELOPING FIBERS OF ASPARAGUS

IN THE RECENT burgeoning of electron-optical studies of cell-wall growth, many different concepts of the manner of growth have been presentedoften for the same type of cell of the same organ in the same plant. As is frequent in light microscopy, one main problem in interpretation is that microscopic study of fine detail must be made on a dried, non-living preparation. Also involved is the fact that the cell walls are often torn and comminuted to such an extent that both their origin and their orientation are obscured. Frequently, their outer and internal surfaces may not be readily distinguishable from each other. If one adds the condition that generally the wall must be treated with various reagents, frequently at boiling temperatures, to remove proteins, pectins, hemicelluloses, and cytoplasmic "debris," the deviation from the natural state must be considerable.
Transition probabilities in Pr(II) and the solar praseodymium abundance.

Abstract We have measured branching ratios for all of the known transitions from five levels in Pr+. We use the known mean lifetime of four of these levels to compute transition probabilities for 40 transitions. Five of our stronger lines are seen in the sun. We use the equivalent widths of Moore et al. and the solar model parameters of Righini and Rigutti to compute the photospheric Pr abundance: log (NPr/NH) + 12 = 0.66 ± 0.15. This value is a factor of ten lower than the most recent photospheric abundance measurement of Grevesse and Blanquet. The difference arises in part from the new transition probabilities, in part from the equivalent widths. We justify our use of widths from Moore et al. by comparing them with widths measured on the Preliminary Kitt Peak Solar Atlas.
Niobian rutile in an Apollo 14 KREEP fragment.

Niobian rutile was found in a KREEP lithic fragment of basaltic texture. The niobian rutile contains 85.3% TiO2, 7.1% Nb2O5, 2.65% Cr2O3, 0.70% ZrO2, 0.61% SiO2, 0.82% Al2O3 0.61% FeO, 0.52% CaO, 0.22% V2O3 in addition to minor amounts of MnO, MgO, and CeO2. Rare-earth elements were not detected, in contrast with lunar niobian rutile of Marvin (1971). Coexisting minerals in the KREEP fragment are major amounts of plagioclase and orthopyroxene, and minor amounts of olivine, ilmenite, augite, barian K-feldspar, whitlockite, troilite, Ni-Fe, zirkelite, and chromite.
Analysis of Ureteral Stent Compression Force and its Role in Malignant Obstruction

Purpose: Extrinsic ureteral obstruction can be a challenging entity for the urologist since half of the ureteral stents placed for malignant obstruction fail. We evaluated the resistance to radial compression of various stents.Materials and Methods: Silhouette® 4.6Fr, 6Fr and 8Fr, Sof-Curl™ Tecoflex® 6Fr, Resonance® 6Fr, Polaris™ Ultra 6Fr and 7Fr, and Percuflex® 6Fr and 8Fr stents were tested. The force needed to compress the stent to 50% of its original external diameter was measured at 3 locations along the stent length, including proximal, middle and distal. Statistical analysis was performed.Results: Statistically greater force was required to compress the Resonance and Silhouette stents compared to all others tested. These results were maintained at all 3 locations along the stent. Only the Polaris 6Fr stent differed in resistance to compression along the stent length.Conclusions: The significantly higher forces required to compress the Resonance and Silhouette stents may translate into improved suc...
Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Microvascular and Conduit Artery Function in Hypertensive Subjects

Background Alterations in microvascular and conduit artery function contribute to target organ damage in hypertension. We investigated the association of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors with microvascular and conduit artery function in hypertensive subjects. Methods Participants included 504 hypertensives (aged 62.1 ± 9.8 years, 42% men) from the community, without history of symptomatic CV disease. Brachial artery ultrasound was performed to measure forearm blood flow (FBF) at rest and during reactive hyperemia (markers of microvascular function) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery (a marker of conduit artery endothelial function). The association of conventional and novel (homocysteine, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and lipoprotein a CV risk factors with microvascular function and FMD was tested in multivariable regression models. Results Variables independently associated with higher resting FBF were male sex, higher body mass index (BMI), smoking, and lower HDL-cholesterol; variables associated with lower hyperemic FBF included greater age, female sex, and diabetes. Higher plasma homocysteine was associated with lower hyperemic FBF in obese subjects (P for log homocysteine × BMI interaction = .0008). Variables independently associated with lower FMD were greater age, sex gender, history of smoking, and not using statins. Higher homocysteine was associated with lower FMD in subjects with higher systolic blood pressure (P for interaction = .0004). Hyperemic flow velocity was independently associated with FMD (P = .0006), but its inclusion as a covariate did not influence the association of CV risk factors with FMD. Conclusions In asymptomatic subjects with essential hypertension, select CV risk factors were associated with microvascular and conduit artery function. Furthermore, the association of CV risk factors with conduit artery function appeared to be independent of downstream microvascular function.
Biomimetic Synthesis of Pd Nanocatalysts for the Stille Coupling Reaction

Here we report on the biomimetic synthesis of Pd nanoparticles for use as models of green catalytic systems. The nanomaterials are synthesized using peptides isolated via phage-display techniques that are specific to Pd surfaces. Using this synthetic strategy, peptide-functionalized Pd nanoparticles of 1.9 +/- 0.3 nm in diameter are produced, which are soluble and stable in aqueous solutions. Once characterized, these biobased materials were then used as catalysts to drive the formation of C-C bonds using the Stille coupling reaction. Under the conditions of an aqueous solvent at room temperature, quantitative product yields were achieved within 24.0 h employing catalyst loadings of > or = 0.005 mol % of Pd. Additionally, high TOF values of 3207 +/- 269 mol product x (mol Pd x h)(-1) have been determined for these materials. The catalytic reactivity was then examined over a set of substrates with substitutions for both functional group and halide substituents, demonstrating that the peptide-based Pd nanoparticles are reactive toward a variety of functionalities. Taken together, these bioinspired materials represent unique model systems for catalytic studies to elucidate ecologically friendly reactive species and conditions.
Using behavioral experiments in the treatment of cardiophobia: A case study

A 20-year-old female who met DSM-IV criteria for both hypochondriasis and panic disorder (PD) reported intense anxiety-provoking daily chest pain, several panic attacks per month, and firmly believed she was suffering from coronary artery disease. More than 100 emergency room (ER) visits, numerous negative medical tests, reassurance, psychotropic medication, and inpatient psychiatric treatment had failed to improve her condition. In the first 13 sessions, treatment focused on reducing cardiophobic disease fear, chest pain, and avoidance behavior. Behavioral experiments were used to develop alternative symptom explanations and teach the patient to reassure herself. After a patient-initiated treatment suspension, a relapse occurred, with a fear of suffocation and uncontrollable panic becoming the patient's new major concern. The successful treatment of her cardiac disease fear and conviction had not much improved her fear of noncardiac bodily sensations. After an additional 13 sessions focusing on reducing her noncardiac panic symptoms, all measures of panic, illness behavior, and depression were in the normal or near-normal range. Cardiophobia-related treatment gains were maintained as evidenced by the absence of heart-focused anxiety, disease conviction, ER visits, and doctor phone calls. Occasional panic attacks and chest pain no longer worried the patient. Positive changes were maintained at 8- and 14-month follow-up. We discuss the relation between cardiophobia and panic disorder and suggest several specific treatment steps to ensure changes occur in both problem areas.
Structure of the Ni{110}−p(2 × 1)−OH surface from time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry

Abstract The structure of the Ni{110}−p(2 × 1)−OH surface resulting from exposure of the O2 pre-dosed Ni(110)−p(3 × 1)−O surface to H2O vapor at ∼350 K has been investigated by time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS). Variations in the scattered neon and recoiled hydrogen, oxygen, and nickel neutral plus ion fluxes are monitored as a function of 4 keV Ne+ or Ar+ beam incidence angle and crystal azimuthal angle. Analysis of shadowing effects in these scattering and recoiling events, with calibrated shadow cones, is used in the structure determination. The results show that the reaction between H2O and pre-adsorbed O removes the Ni substrate (3 × 1) reconstruction induced by O2, producing an unreconstructed (1 × 1) Ni substrate. The resulting OH overlayer is arranged in a (2 × 1) rectangular lattice of length 3.52 A along 〈001〉 and 4.98 A along 〈110〉 corresponding to a 0.5 ML coverage. Hydroxyl is bonded to Ni through the O atom whose site is more than 1.1 A above the surface. The OH bond is inclined 45° ± 4° from the surface normal and aligned along the 〈001〉 azimuth. The short bridge site along the 〈1 1 0〉 Ni rows is proposed as the OH adsorption site.
Myocardial neutrophil sequestration during reperfusion of the transplanted rabbit heart.

Abstract Background: Neutrophils are major participants in myocardial reperfusion injury, but the relationship between ischemic time and the extent of the neutrophil sequestration in heart transplantation has not yet been systematically studied. This study was designed to determine whether increased ischemic time would cause greater neutrophil sequestration during reperfusion of the globally ischemic heart. Methods Rabbit hearts were arrested with cardioplegia, explanted, and subjected to either 1 or 4 hours of global ischemia at 4°C before being heterotopically transplanted into a recipient rabbit's abdomen for reperfusion. Each heart was reperfused for either 4, 8, or 12 hours. Between 3 and 7 hearts were studied (average = 5.8) for each combination of ischemic and reperfusion time (total = 35). A myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay was used to qualify neutrophil content. Results MPO activity (U/g wet weight) was not significantly different at 4, 8, and 12 hours of reperfusion (0.33 ± 0.05, 0.20 ± 0.04, 0.26 ± 0.04: p = 0.13), but was significantly increased at 4 hours compared to 1 hour ischemia (0.34 ± 0.04 vs 0.19 ± 0.03: p = 0.006). Interaction between ischemic and reperfusion times was not significant ( p = 0.12). MPO activity was below the measurable threshold in 5 freshly excised control hearts. Conclusions These results suggest that acute reperfusion injury will be more severe in the hearts subjected to 4 hours ischemia and indicate the need to consider neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury when addressing cardioprotective interventions for cardiac preservation and reperfusion after transplantation. Neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury of the rabbit myocardium after heterotopical transplantation is more severe in hearts subjected to 4 hours of ischemia vs 1 hour of ischemia prior to transplantation.
Modifying Clinical Trial Designs to Test Treatments for Clinical Significance in Individual Patients

The aim of this article was to design clinical trials that test treatments for clinical significance in individual patients. In a repeated measures design a scalar summary statistic describes the clinical course of each individual. To provide satisfactory reliability for each patient’s clinical course to be the unit of analysis, a study of measurement reliability prior to the trial forms the basis of the plan of assessment using outcome measures. The null hypothesis is rejected if statistically significant differences in patient courses arise among the treatment arms. Using criteria of clinical and statistical significance, the investigator evaluates each individual patient’s outcome: first for response to the treatment; second to assign a probability for occurrence of the patient’s outcome under treatment and placebo conditions. This method of analysis provides the practitioner with a model evidence based in a clinical trial to evaluate treatment effects in patient care. The method of analysis develops a probabilistic model that identifies individuals as responders or non-responders to a treatment condition. The modified clinical trial design refines and makes more specific the current clinical trial confirmation that a treatment is effective with a model that identifies patients as responding and non-responding to the treatments in the trial and provides a probability of occurrence for each patient outcome. These methods offer a practical modification of clinical trial design. With modification, clinical trials evidence individual patient responses to treatments in the trial. The clinical trial model for judging individual patient responses provides the physician with an evidence base for judging individual patient responses to treatment with improved reliability compared with current practices. The clinical care advantages from the design changes in clinical trials are readily apparent in Alzheimer’s therapy where large error variances in measurements preclude accurate assessments of treatment response for most patients. The suggested modifications to clinical trial design and analysis apply in other disease categories because of improved reliability in clinical assessments and the clinical trial evidence base for evaluating individual patient responses to treatment.
Difference in hydrophobic and hydrophilic multilayered systems

Abstract Functional clothing, sportswear and military uniforms, are mainly made of polyester or cotton fabrics for dealing with sweat absorption and heat transfer produced by the human body. The human body typically wears two or three garments, such as innerwear, T-shirt, and jacket, thus comprising a multilayered system. Garments’ responses to heat transfer and vapor flow differ depending on whether their physical structures are hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Hence, this study analyzes differences in heat transfer and vapor flow, induced by the human body covered with multilayered garment systems, consisting of three polyester or cotton layers. In particular, it verifies three differences in the heat transfer and relative humidity, amount of relative humidity, and response time of thermal equilibrium in multilayered systems by using a new measurement system, “H&M evaluation device”. Resultant data provide precise information regarding several differences in hydrophilic and hydrophobic multilayered fabric systems.
A simple color filter as an aid in evaluating the superficial venous pattern.

In a number of skin diseases the relationship of the underlying vascular network is important but often difficult to determine by direct inspection. Infra-red photographs (1, 2), are of value, but often are unavailable to the examining physician. As a readily available substitute we have used the fluoroscopist's dark adapter goggle as a color filter in the examination of dermatoses where the vascular network may play a contributing role.
Complete surfaces of at most quadratic area growth

In this article, we study complete surfaces with finite topological type and has at most quadratic area growth. In particular, we show that if the curvature of such a surface does not change sign, then it must be of finite total curvature.
Operative management of refractory neuropathic inguinodynia by a laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach.

RESULTS There were no intraoperative complications. All patients had histologic confirmation of neurectomy and clinical confirmation with dermatomal mapping. Mean numeric pain scores were significantly decreased (baseline score, 7.8) on postoperative days 1 (score, 2.9; P < .001), 7 (score, 2.2; P < .001), 30 (score, 1.7; P < .001), and 90 (score, 1.9; P < .001). Narcotic dependence decreased and activity level increased. Five patients reported transient hypersensitivity consistent with deafferentation. All had numbness in the distribution of neurectomy without complaint. Four had residual meshoma pain, with 2 undergoing subsequent reoperation to remove mesh. Orchialgia was not improved. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This represents the largest series of laparoscopic retroperitoneal triple neurectomies for treatment of inguinodynia. The rate of successful intervention was better than reported for standard triple neurectomy and open extended triple neurectomy. The procedure allows access proximal to all potential sites of peripheral neuropathy and overcomes many of the limitations of open triple neurectomy. In the absence of recurrence or meshoma, it is the preferred technique for definitive management of chronic inguinal neuralgia.
The endometrial echo revisited: Have we created a monster?

Transvaginal ultrasound has been explored as an inexpensive, noninvasive, convenient way to indirectly visualize the endometrial cavity. For more than a decade numerous studies have indicated that a thin, distinct, well-visualized echo (
ACM SRC poster: gem: a formal dynamic environment for HPC pedagogy

Computing is undergoing a dramatic shift from sequential to parallel processing. With this shift comes new challenges: how to debug code with multiple processes and threads, and how to effectively teach these programming concepts. Traditional testing tools are ineffective and inefficient when it comes to detecting deep seated logical bugs in parallel code, and often lack a GUI in popular IDE's. No support exists for teaching actual courses based on these tools either. In previous work, my research group provided an MPI testing tool called ISP and integrated it into Eclipse's PTP via the GEM plug-in. I expand on these with enhanced graphical interactions, interception of threaded behavior, and providing a tool for HPC Pedagogy.
Suppression of anger and subsequent pain intensity and behavior among chronic low back pain patients: the role of symptom-specific physiological reactivity

Suppression of anger may be linked to heightened pain report and pain behavior during a subsequent painful event among chronic low back patients, but it is not clear whether these effects are partly accounted for by increased physiological reactivity during suppression. Chronic low back pain patients (N = 58) were assigned to Suppression or No Suppression conditions for a “cooperative” computer maze task during which a confederate harassed them. During baseline and maze task, patients’ lower paraspinal and trapezius muscle tension, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. After the maze task, patients underwent a structured pain behavior task (behaviors were videotaped and coded). Results showed that: (a) Suppression condition patients revealed greater lower paraspinal muscle tension and systolic blood pressure (SBP) increases during maze task than No Suppression patients (previously published results showed that Suppression condition patients exhibited more pain behaviors than No Suppression patients); (b) residualized lower paraspinal and SBP change scores were related significantly to pain behaviors; (c) both lower paraspinal and SBP reactivity significantly mediated the relationship between Condition and frequency of pain behaviors. Results suggest that suppression-induced lower paraspinal muscle tension and SBP increases may link the actual suppression of anger during provocation to signs of clinically relevant pain among chronic low back pain patients.
Acute toxicity of postoperative IMRT and chemotherapy for endometrial cancer.

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the acute toxicity of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with and without chemotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.
Accessory breast on the posterior thigh of a man

An elderly man with a mass that clinically resembles the normal female breast on the posterior portion of his left thigh is presented. We believe this is an unusual case of accessory breast tissue occurring in a location remote from the embryonic mammary line.
Amnesia for remote events following electroconvulsive therapy.

Psychiatric patients undergoing a series of electroconvulsive therapy (E.C.T.) treatments for depressive illness were given a test of remote memory for public events, covering the years 1940–1969. Patients tested 40–80 min after their first treatment did nearly as well on this test as did a control group of medical inpatients. Patients tested 40–80 min after their fifth treatment were markedly impaired across nearly the entire time period sampled by the test. Patients were not impaired on the verbal portion of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The results suggest that the amnesic effects of E.C.T. can extend to remote memory, as well as to recent memory.
Influence of several sulfhydryl reagents on yeast metabolism.

Abstract At high concentrations, p -chloromercuribenzoic acid stimulated endogenous O 2 uptake and anaerobic CO 2 production of yeast. The reagent exerted only an inhibitory action on exogenous glucose metabolism of yeast, both aerobic and anaerobic. Mercuribenzoate and diethylstilbestrol displayed synergistic action on the respiratory metabolism of yeast.
Breakfast at Spiro's: Dramaturgy and Dominance

An approach is presented here for analyzing the relationship between cultural and social action in bureaucracy. Symbols and power are shown as the primary variables of sociocultural study, where symbolic forms and techniques are manipulated by asymmetrical groups in the articulation of basic interests. Through their interrelationship the organizational conditions of production are reproduced or transformed. Social drama is the processual unit through which power relations, symbolic action, and their interaction are played out, and through which social structure is made evident. This perspective is applied to data from an ethnographic study of an advertising agency.
Repair of nasal defects using collagen gels containing insulin-like growth factor 1

Objective: Facial osseous defects are a common and challenging problem for the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Current methods of repair including synthetic grafts, cadaveric material, and autologous tissue have drawbacks of foreign body reactions, infectious agent transmission, and the morbidity of a second surgical site. In the effort to develop an ideal technique for osseous reconstruction, a critical-size facial defect has previously been developed in the Sprague-Dawley rat. This model exhibits less than 10% healing by surface area over 6 months. A novel approach to osseous reconstruction is attempted using this model with type I collagen gel augmented with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Study Design : Randomized controlled trial using a rodent model. Methods: Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a surgical procedure to produce a critical-size nasal defect by removing the nasal bones with a cutting burr. Six animals were repaired with 300 μg of type I collagen gel. Six animals were repaired with 300 μg of type I collagen gel augmented with 3.0 μg of IGF-1. Thirty days later, the animals were examined after necropsy. Precise planimetry, radiodensitometric analysis, and histologic sectioning were performed. Results: All animals had complete coverage of this defect with a thin layer of bone. Radiodensitometric analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant (P <.037) increase in bone density in the collagen plus IGF-1 group compared with that of collagen only. In addition, histologic evaluation revealed increased bone density and thickness in the IGF-1 group. Conclusion: Type I collagen gel augmented with IGF-1 results in a significant increase in healing of a nasal critical-size defect in a rodent model.
Physically informed assertions for cyber physical systems development and debugging

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), widely used in pervasive computing, integrate computation in the cyber world with control of physical processes. Developing CPS is challenging because interactions between physical and cyber components are complex and often unpredictable. Traditional debugging techniques can detect bugs in the cyber world, but bugs introduced from physical components and induced by limitations in the software interface to physical hardware are still difficult to detect. My research will capture the state of art and the state of the practice in verification and validation of CPS. Based on this, I will design middleware that combines models of the physical world with programming-language based assertions to help developers to design, develop, and debug robust CPS applications with ease.
Characterization of the anchoring morphology and mineral content of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments of the knee.

The manner in which ligament connects to bone remains an area of interest for researchers, bioengineers, and clinicians. Stable fixation of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft has been shown to be paramount to preventing excess anterior tibial translation and to restoring the normal kinematics of the knee joint. In this study, the surface area of attachment and the mineral characteristics of the ACL and medial collateral ligament (MCL) attachment sites were characterized to determine the factors that contributed to ligament attachment strength. Findings from this study indicated that the area of attachment of the ACL's insertion was significantly greater than the ligament's origin (95.8 mm2 ± 21.5 vs. 73.2 mm2 ± 16.2, P = 0.009). Additionally, the ACL was measured to have a greater surface area of attachment when compared with the MCL (84.5 mm2 ± 18.8 vs. 58.2 mm2 ± 23.8, P = 0.005); although, the MCL was observed to have a greater region of calcified fibrocartilage (CFC) than the ACL (533.0 μm ± 116.9 vs. 195.5 μm ± 36.6, P = 0.0003). No significant correlation was observed between the ligament's area of attachment and the thickness of the CFC region. Measurements of ash percent suggested that the boundary region, between the CFC and host bone, possessed the least mineral content for the three regions of interest. These data suggest that ligament attachment strength can be attributed to several factors, including the ligament's area of attachment, regional thickness, and mineral content of the CFC. Anat Rec,, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
1576 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FETAL HEART RATE MONITORING(FHR) AND CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE-BB (CK-BB)

Significant elevations in CK-BB (>20) correlate well with moderate degrees of perinatal asphyxia and are particularly valuable in assessing the degree of associated brain damage. FHR has been utilized in the obstetrical community to predict antenatal fetal hypoxia. We prospectively evaluated FHR in 34 intrapartum patients and measured cord blood CK-BB at time of delivery. A scoring system (0-8) for FHR was devised as follows:
Perceptions of Missouri secondary and area vocational school computer teachers toward trends of computer hardware and software technologies by year 1995 (abstract)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference between the perceptions of secondary school and area vocational school computer teachers regarding the trends and advancement of computer hardware and software technologies.Data for this study were collected by questionnaire. A total of 135 (63%) questionnaires from computer teachers in secondary schools and 60 (75%) questionnaires from computer teachers in vocational schools were used in the study.The null hypothesis was tested at the .05 level of significance. A significant difference among the perceptions of secondary school computer teachers and area vocational school computer teachers was found. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected.The conclusions reached were: (1) less than one-tenth of the secondary school and one-tenth of the area vocational school computer teachers hold computer science degrees; (2) on an average, there are 12.6 computers available in the secondary schools and 28.9 computers available in the area vocational schools; (3) BASIC language is being taught in three-fourths of secondary and vocational schools; and (4) secondary and vocational computer teachers anticipate that Missouri will require computer literacy courses as a part of secondary school graduation requirements and that computer teachers will be required to obtain program specific teaching certificates.
Digitizing & providing access to contextual cultural materials: the liner notes digitization project

This paper describes a digitization project focused on developing a metadata modeling schema for album liner notes.
Adding domain-specific and general purpose language features to Java with the Java language extender

The Java Language Extender is a compiler-generator tool that allows programmers to create new domain-adapted languages by importing a set of domain-specific language extensions into an extensible specification of Java 1.4. Language extensions define the syntax, semantic analysis, and optimizations of new language constructs. Java and the language extensions are specified as attribute grammar fragments written in Silver, an attribute grammar language supporting forwarding and higher-order attributes. Programmers need no implementation-level knowledge of the language extensions and the Silver tools automatically compose the programmer-selected extensions and the Java host language specification. We demonstrate several language extensions. One embeds the SQL database query language into Java and statically checks for syntax and type errors in SQL queries. Other extensions for the domain of computational geometry provide transformations that simplify the writing of efficient and robust geometric algorithms. General purpose extensions include Java 1.5 features such as the for-each loop and auto-boxing and unboxing and features from Pizza such as pattern matching.
Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment: understanding through test and simulation

Optical problems which arose during final integration and testing of the DIRBE instrument in the closed flight dewar before launch are discussed. Simulation based on the optical breadboard and engineering unit components showed that these problems (stray light signals) originated outside the instrument in the dewar dome lid. Excellent performance of the instrument confirmed this fact.
Risk of malignancy in first-degree relatives of patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND. Approximately 5–10% of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) patients report a family history of the disease. In some families, mutations of tumor suppressor genes have been elucidated, but for most the causative gene remains unidentified. Counseling the families of PC patients regarding their risk of cancer remains problematic because little information is available. METHODS. The authors analyzed family history questionnaires completed by 426 unselected, sequential Mayo Clinic patients with PC. The prevalence of malignancy reported among 3355 of their first-degree relatives was compared with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Project (SEER) 9 (2000) registry. Age-adjusted and gender-adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were generated. RESULTS. Greater than 130,000 person-years at risk for cancer among the firstdegree relatives were analyzed. The risk of PC was found to be increased among the first-degree relatives of patients with PC (SIR of 1.88; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.27–2.68), as was the risk of liver carcinoma (SIR of 2.70; 95% CI, 1.51– 4.46). Lymphoma (SIR of 0.28; 95% CI, 0.12– 0.55), bladder carcinoma (SIR of 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31– 0.89), breast carcinoma (SIR of 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57– 0.92), lung carcinoma (SIR of 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47– 0.80), and prostate carcinoma (SIR of 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54 – 0.92) were found to be underrepresented. When the proband was age 60 years, the risk of PC to first-degree relatives was found to be increased further (SIR of 2.86; 95% CI, 1.15–5.89). In this subgroup, no other malignancies were found to be significantly increased, although the risks of melanoma (SIR of 1.73; 95% CI, 0.70 –3.57), ovarian carcinoma (SIR of 2.20; 95% CI, 0.72–5.12), and colon carcinoma (SIR of 1.37; 95% CI, 0.80 –2.19) were suggestive. CONCLUSIONS. There was a nearly twofold increased risk of PC in the first-degree relatives of PC probands. This risk was found to increase nearly threefold when patients were diagnosed before age 60 years. At the current time, in the absence of a pedigree suggestive of known familial cancer syndromes, the current study results do not support targeted screening for other malignancies in the first-degree relatives of patients with sporadic PC. Cancer 2005;104:388 –94. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Sexual risk behaviors and HIV risk among Americans aged 50 years or older: a review.

Although HIV-related sexual risk behaviors have been studied extensively in adolescents and young adults, there is limited information about these behaviors among older Americans, which make up a growing segment of the US population and an understudied population. This review of the literature dealing with sexual behaviors that increase the risk of becoming HIV-infected found a low prevalence of condom use among older adults, even when not in a long-term relationship with a single partner. A seminal study by Schick et al published in 2010 reported that the prevalence of condom use at last intercourse was highest among those aged 50–59 years (24.3%; 95% confidence interval, 15.6–35.8) and declined with age, with a 17.1% prevalence among those aged 60–69 years (17.1%; 95% confidence interval, 7.3–34.2). Studies have shown that older Americans may underestimate their risk of becoming HIV-infected. Substance use also increases the risk for sexual risk behaviors, and studies have indicated that the prevalence of substance use among older adults has increased in the past decade. As is the case with younger adults, the prevalence of HIV infections is elevated among ethnic minorities, drug users (eg, injection drug users), and men who have sex with men. When infected, older adults are likely to be diagnosed with HIV-related medical disorders later in the course of illness compared with their younger counterparts. Physicians are less likely to discuss sexual risk behaviors with older adults and to test them for HIV compared with younger adults. Thus, it is important to educate clinicians about sexual risk behaviors in the older age group and to design preventive interventions specifically designed for older adults.
Diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies of the anus and rectum.

This conclusion is inescapable: In general, atresia of the rectum is more poorly handled than any other congenital anomaly of the newborn. A properly functioning rectum is an unappreciated gift of greatest price. The child who is so unfortunate as to be born with an imperforate anus may be saved a lifetime of misery and social seclusion by the surgeon who with skill, diligence and judgment performs the first operation on the malformed rectum.Dr. Willis Potls.
Adsorption and catalytic destruction of trichloroethylene in hydrophobic zeolites

Several chromium exchanged ZSM-5 zeolites of varyingSiO2/Al2O3 ratio were prepared and investigated ambient (23°C) adsorption and subsequent oxidative destruction (250–400°C) of gaseous trichloroethylene (TCE, Cl2C=CHCl) in a humid air stream. With an increase in theSiO2/Al2O3 ratio from 30 to 120, the TCE saturation capacity of these dual-function sorbent/catalyst (S/C) media was found to increase from 6.0 to 10.1 wt% in a humid air stream. This phenomenon was attributed to an increase in hydrophobicity coupled with reduced steric hindrance and site competition for the adsorption of TCE molecules in the competitive adsorption of TCE and water. Ambient TCE adsorption experiments carried out in dry air showed the same trend, which was attributed to increasing organophilicity of the S/C media with an increase in the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. In order to gain knowledge of physisorption sites for TCE molecules in the ZSM-5 structure, temperature-programmed desorption over a temperature range of 30–300°C and in-situ FT-IR studies at ambient conditions were also carried out. These studies revealed that in all zeolites (except for Cr-ZSM-5 withSiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 120) TCE interacted with terminal silanol (SiOH) and AlOH groups. At temperatures ≥ 300°C (with the exception of Cr-ZSM-5 withSiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 120), allS/C media showed >95% TCE destruction efficiency. Based on its high adsorption capacity and high activity for oxidative destruction of TCE, it is concluded that the Cr-ZSM-5S/C medium with aSiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 80 gives preferred performance both as a sorbent and a catalyst.
A small-molecule inhibitor of deubiquitinating enzyme USP14 inhibits Dengue virus replication

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a key player in maintaining cellular protein homeostasis and is associated with various human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases. Viruses from several families reprogram the UPS to make the cellular environment conducive to viral replication, and inhibition of the UPS interferes with viral propagation. Here we show that IU1, a small-molecule inhibitor of the proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme USP14, inhibits replication of several flaviviruses. IU1 has been shown to enhance proteasome activity, an effect that may underlie its influence on flavivirus propagation. Inhibition of dengue virus replication was more pronounced than other flaviviruses used in the study. These results open new targets for therapeutic intervention against viruses from multiple families.
Effects of molten salt synthesis (MSS) parameters on the morphology of Sr3Ti2O7 and SrTiO3 seed crystals

A two-step molten salt synthesis process was utilized to fabricate Sr3Ti2O7 and SrTiO3. High aspect ratio SrTiO3 seed crystals were developed by optimizing processing conditions such as temperature, salt-to-oxide ratio, and flux type in a systematic fashion. Sr3Ti2O7 seeds were synthesized at temperatures ranging from 1050–1350°C, using salt-to-oxide ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, and various salt types, including NaCl, KCl, and a 1:1 combination of NaCl and KCl. Sr3Ti2O7 seeds synthesized at 1250°C with a 1:1 salt-to-oxide ratio in 100% NaCl salt resulted in a majority of higher aspect ratio platelets and elongated platelets as opposed to lower aspect ratio cubic-like and tetragonal-like morphologies. The seeds were 10–40 μm in length with aspect ratios of highly elongated platelets as high as 25:1. A second MSS step was used to synthesize SrTiO3 seeds of the proper composition by TiO2 addition to the Sr3Ti2O7 seeds and heat treatment at 1100°C. These studies showed that highly anisotropic SrTiO3 seeds could be produced at 1250°C using a 1:1 salt-to-oxide ratio in 100% NaCl flux. XRD studies of the resulting SrTiO3 seeds revealed that the increase in aspect ratio for these particular seeds also resulted in the enhancement of (200) peaks, which are of major interest for texturing of PMN-PT.
Constrained Parameters in a Model for Categorical Data

Religious participation, a trichotomous response in the form of a two-item Guttman scale, is affected linearly by sex and by marital status, but the effect of color is nonlinear Techniques illustrated in the paper allow the analy st to impose simultaneously the two linear constraints and a nonlinear contrast of extreme response categories versus the middle one to represent the color effect. Such techniques should prove useful as analysts consider the possibilities of specifying structural models for categorical data
On the dynamic polarizability of atoms

The positive frequency dependent polarizability of atoms α(ω) is discussed in terms of the particle-hole polarization propagator. It is considered in the simplest approximation defined by the Bethe-Salpeter equation which includes a subset of particle-hole interactions to all orders in the Coulomb potential. Its solution is used to show that when the polarizability is formulated in terms of an effective dipole matrix element of the atomic sub-shells, the interaction kernel is symmetric and hence makes the central quantity in the formulation, the polarization function, hermitian.
Immunocytological comparison of native and wound periderm maturation in potato tuber

The maturation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber native periderm and wound periderm, which develops to replace the native periderm when it is damaged, are agriculturally important processes that are poorly understood. While both types of periderm form from a phellogen layer that serves as a lateral meristem, there has been little research done on comparing the biochemical processes and steps involved in the maturation of the two types of periderm. Here, we use immunological techniques to compare some of the cell wall changes during wound and native periderm maturation. Consistent with our recent work on native periderm, we demonstrate that toluidine blue O is also useful for distinguishing between suberized and non-suberized cells in wound periderm. More importantly, we use the immunological probes JIM5 and JIM7 to show that there is no increase in either un-esterified or esterified homogalacturonan pectin epitopes in phellogen walls accompanying wound periderm maturation. In contrast, as we previously described, native periderm maturation and resistance to excoriation (skinning) is accompanied by an increase in relatively un-esterified and esterified homogalacturonan pectin epitopes in the walls of phellogen cells. These results demonstrate that the biochemical processes responsible for maturation and resistance to excoriation differ between native and wound periderm. This dissimilarity between wound and native periderm maturation demonstrates the potential limitations in applying the wound periderm model to research on native periderm.
The NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) as a resource in supporting observatory operations

IRSA's scaleable and extensible architecture is inherited by new missions and data providers, and thus offers substantial cost savings to missions. It has built archives for the W.M. Keck Observatory & the Spitzer Space Telescope Legacy teams, among others. It provided archiving and databases support for 2MASS, when active, and will provide corresponding support for the forthcoming WISE mission. IRSA acts as a resource to projects and missions by advising on product design and providing tools for validating data products.
Simplification of the ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay by the use of protein A fromStaphylococcus aureus

Three methods of separating antibody-bound ligand from free ligand were compared for an ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay. Ecdysteroid antibody concentration and ligand specific radioactivity were adjusted to measure 2 ranges of ecdysone concentrations (0.01–2.0 ng and 0.25–32.0 ng). In comparison with the tradiotional separating agent, ammonium sulfate, neither protein A nor polyethylene glycol altered sensitivity or specificity of the radioimmunoassays. The protein A immunoglobulin precipitation method is quick and simple, making it a preferred alternative protocol for terminating ecdysteroid radioimmunoassays.
Visitor behavior in the National Zoo's reptile house

Visitor behavior was evaluated in the National Zoo's reptile house. Nearly 600 visitors were tracked; time spent in the house and time spent looking at exhibits were noted. These parameters were investigated by sex, age, and type of visitor grouping. The most looked-at exhibits were determined. For 573 visitors, the mean time in the reptile house was 14.7 minutes. Only about 8 minutes was spent looking at exhibits, and this time was strikingly similar for age, sex, and group type. Time spent looking at exhibits was negatively correlated with visitor density. Amphibians and lizards were looked at for less time than snakes and turtles. Crocodilians were looked at longer than the other taxonomic groups, while larger animals in all groups were looked at longer than smaller ones. This study and other similar studies imply that the public does not respond to exhibits with the expected interest and enthusiasm. It is hoped that with a better understanding of the public through research, zoo staff can improve visitor interest in the exhibits.
Superior radiation tolerant materials: Amorphous silicon oxycarbide

Abstract We studied the radiation tolerance of amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) alloys by combining ion irradiation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The amorphous SiOC alloys thin films were grown via co-sputtering from SiO2 and SiC (amorphous phase) targets either on a surface oxidized Si (100) substrate or on a sodium chloride substrate. By controlling the sputtering rate of each target, SiOC alloys with different compositions (1:2, 1:1, 2:1 ratios) were obtained. These alloys were irradiated by 100 keV He+ ions at both room temperature and 600 °C with damage levels ranging from 1 to 20 displacements per atom (dpa). TEM characterization shows no sign of crystallization, void formation or segregation in all irradiated samples. Our findings suggest that SiOC alloys are a class of promising radiation-tolerant materials.