cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partial purification of a morphological transforming factor from pig brain.

Abstract A protein that changes one type of embryonic rat brain cell in culture from a primitive morphology to one resembling mature glial cell has been purified 400-fold from pig brain. The procedure includes differential centrifugation, ethanol treatment, trypsin digestion and column chromatography with Sephadex G-200 and Sepharose 4B. Although not completely homogeneous, the protein is biologically active at a concentration of 1 · 10 −8 M. It has a molecular weight of 350 000 and is heat labile. It is inactivated by the extremes of pH and by 8 M urea. The isoionic point is lower than neutrality. The activity is resistant to DNAase, RNAase, periodate and trypsin, but is susceptible to pronase digestion.
Quantification of amphetamine in urine: solid-phase extraction, polymeric-reagent derivatization and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract The concentration of amphetamine was determined in urine using solid-phase extraction, polymeric-reagent derivatization, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. To remove a majority of acidic and neutral compounds in urine, a solid-phase extraction was first performed on a sample spiked with the internal standard, 1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine. Because amphetamine has a relatively low molar absorptivity, the base was derivatized with a polymeric 1-hydroxybenzotriazole reagent containing a 3,5-dinitrobenzoate active ester. The limit of detection is 14 ng/ml, and the limit of quantification is 47 ng/ml. The calibration curve is linear from 0.01 to 4.0 μg/ml. The pooled relative standard deviation is ± 5.5% for eight urine samples measured in duplicate. The average relative error (bias) is + 2.2% when compared to gas chromatography—mass spectrometry.
Direct numerical simulation of turbulent Taylor–Couette flow

We investigate the dynamical and statistical features of turbulent Taylor–Couette flow (for a radius ratio 0.5) through three-dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS) at Reynolds numbers ranging from 1000 to 8000. We show that in three-dimensional space the Gortler vortices are randomly distributed in banded regions on the wall, concentrating at the outflow boundaries of Taylor vortex cells, which spread over the entirecylinder surface with increasing Reynolds number. Gortler vortices cause streaky structures that form herringbone-like patterns near the wall. For the Reynolds numbers studied here, the average axial spacing of the streaks is approximately 100 viscous wall units, and the average tilting angle ranges from 16° to 20°. Simulationresults have been compared to the experimental data in the literature, and the flow dynamics and statistics are discussed in detail.
Comparison of fast- and slow-feeding rate schedules to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis

NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS is a serious disorder of the newborn infant that rarely occurs before the institution of oral feedings. '-3 Various feeding practices have been shown to be important in the pathogenesis of the disease. Low-birth-weight infants fed a hyperosmolar, 650 mOsm/1, elemental formula have an increased incidence of NEC when compared to low-birth-weight infants fed a cow milk formula. 4 It has also been suggested that cow milk feedings themselves or the exclusion of breast milk from the diet of small newborn infants may be predisposing factors? The quantity of feedings in the first weeks of life may also be important, and Krouskop and associates ~ have associated the development of NEC with early institution of oral feedings. In another retrospective study, however, there were no differences between the volume of formula offered NEC patients at the time symptoms developed and infants of similar size and age who did not develop NEC. 1 Conflicting opinions therefore exist regarding the relationship of oral feeding to the development of NEC; there have been no randomized, prospective, clinical trials dealing with this issue. The purposes of this paper are to report the relationship of different feeding practices in the Intermountain Newborn Intensive Care Center to the incidence of NEC, and the results of a prospective controlled investigation comparing two different feeding schedules in low-birth-weight infants.
Communicating College Learning Through Noncourse Matching: An Approach to Writing the Prior Learning Assessment Essay

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) brings students into active and reflective engagement with significant life experiences at the nexus of academic and nonacademic cultures. When done successfully, PL...
Verification of the performance accuracy of a real-time skin-dose tracking system for interventional fluoroscopic procedures

A tracking system has been developed to provide real-time feedback of skin dose and dose rate during interventional fluoroscopic procedures. The dose tracking system (DTS) calculates the radiation dose rate to the patient's skin using the exposure technique parameters and exposure geometry obtained from the x-ray imaging system digital network (Toshiba Infinix) and presents the cumulative results in a color mapping on a 3D graphic of the patient. We performed a number of tests to verify the accuracy of the dose representation of this system. These tests included comparison of system-calculated dose-rate values with ionization-chamber (6 cc PTW) measured values with change in kVp, beam filter, field size, source-to-skin distance and beam angulation. To simulate a cardiac catheterization procedure, the ionization chamber was also placed at various positions on an Alderson Rando torso phantom and the dose agreement compared for a range of projection angles with the heart at isocenter. To assess the accuracy of the dose distribution representation, Gafchromic film (XR-RV3, ISP) was exposed with the beam at different locations. The DTS and film distributions were compared and excellent visual agreement was obtained within the cm-sized surface elements used for the patient graphic. The dose (rate) values agreed within about 10% for the range of variables tested. Correction factors could be applied to obtain even closer agreement since the variable values are known in real-time. The DTS provides skin-dose values and dose mapping with sufficient accuracy for use in monitoring diagnostic and interventional x-ray procedures.
A survey of password mechanisms: Weaknesses and potential improvements. Part 2

While research continues on more sophisticated methods of authentication, password mechanisms remain the predominant method of identifying computer system users. In this paper, the goals of authentication are reviewed, and the strengths and vulnerabilities of password mechanisms are discussed. The 4.3 Berkeley Software Distribution (4.3BSD) version of UNIX is used as a case study throughout the paper. Several recommendations are presented for the improvement of password mechanisms. In particular, a simple extension of the UNIX password system is described that permits the use of pass-phrases.
Evaluation of Choroidal Neovascularization With Indocyanine Green Angiography in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Subjects Undergoing Intravitreal Bevacizumab Therapy

Purpose To report the clinical implications of interval changes in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) size measured by indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients undergoing intravitreal bevacizumab therapy. Design Retrospective, consecutive chart review. Methods The charts of neovascular AMD patients who underwent intravitreal bevacizumab therapy using a treat-and-extend dosing schedule were reviewed. ICG angiographic CNV surface areas were measured at baseline, 2 months, 6 months, and 12 months in each subject. The primary outcome was change in CNV size. Secondary outcomes included the correlation of change in CNV surface area with change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), change in central macular thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the number of injections delivered over the 12-month study interval. Results A total of 123 subjects were included in the analysis. The baseline CNV size was 1.9 mm 2 ± 2.5 mm 2 . CNV size was 1.66 mm 2 ± 2.11 mm 2 at 2 months, 1.60 mm 2 ± 2.23 mm 2 at 6 months, and 1.50 mm 2 ± 2.12 mm 2 at 12 months. The change in CNV size from baseline was not statistically significant at any of the follow-up intervals. A decrease in CNV size of 33% or more at 2 months was associated with a significant decrease in CNV size at 12 months ( P = .0096), complete resolution of CNV at 12 months ( P = .0013), and a decrease in the number of injections delivered over the study interval ( P = .0165). Complete resolution of CNV at 12 months occurred in 7.3% of subjects. Subjects that had complete resolution of CNV at 12 months were significantly more likely to gain 3 more lines of BCVA at the end of the study interval ( P = .0131). No significant correlation was found between CNV size and change in central macular thickness on OCT. Conclusions Our study suggests that change in CNV size on ICG angiography may help the clinician predict the clinical course of neovascular AMD subjects undergoing intravitreal bevacizumab therapy using a treat-and-extend dosing schedule.
Observation of narrow-band charge-density-wave noise in Ta S 3

We report the observation of narrow-band noise in the linear-chain compound Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{3}$. The noise frequency is proportional to the charge-density-wave (CDW) current, providing direct evidence for CDW motion in Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{3}$.
Modeling and Simulation of PEM Fuel Cell Generator as a Micro Grid

This paper describes an integrated model for a Photon Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell generator including the power conditioning devices that can be used as a micro grid. The main focus here is the development of a detailed model of the fuel cell, power conditioning devices and a Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) with no major assumptions. To this end nonlinear models for PEM fuel cell generator, power conditioning devices and controllers are designed and built in Matlab® and Simulink® and the integrated designs are validated. Then several case studies are performed to operate the proposed integrated model as a micro-grid. Overall vision is to validate this model with real-life system and generate smart controller for the micro-grid that could be implemented in real-time as a Distributed Generator (DG).
4-Hydroxycoumarin/2-hydroxychromone tautomerism: Infrared spectra of 2-13c and 3-D labeled 4-hydroxycoumarin and its anion

Bands with primarily v (C=O) and v (C=O) character in the spectra of 4-hydroxycoumarin and its anion were identified by isotopic substitution with either 13C or deuterium. Two bands of each type were found for spectra of 4-hydroxycoumarin in solution in chloroform, dioxane, or dimethylsulfoxide, with v (C=O) at 1704–1733 cm−1 and ∼ 1567 cm−1. Two bands, at 1618 and 1559 cm−1, are associated with v (C=C) in the spectrum of crystalline 4-hydroxycoumarin monohydrate, but only a single v (C=O) band at ∼ 1655 cm−1 was observed. Anhydrous 4-hydroxycoumarin has v (C=O) bands at ∼ 1700 cm−1 and a shoulder at ∼ 1670 cm−1. The strong band at 1660 cm−1 in the spectrum of 4-hydroxycommarin anion in dimethylsulfoxide solution is due to a delocalized v (O = C = O) vibration, whereas the band at 1555 cm−1 has partial v (C=C) character and involves C(3) but not C(2), supporting a fully delocalized char structure for the anion. No evidence for the existence of the 2-hydroxychromone tautomer was found, except in the case of anhydrous 4-hydroxycoumarin in the solid state.
Depletion of aortic free and ester cholesterol by dietary means in rhesus monkeys with fatty streaks

Abstract This report presents findings concerning free and esterified cholesterol and specific fatty acids esterified to cholesterol in aortas of rhesus monkeys fed an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks followed by regression regimen for 32 and 64 weeks. Mean aortic total cholesterol of monkeys fed an atherogenic diet was more than twice that of the animals on a control diet. Esterified cholesterol showed a fourfold elevation while increase in free cholesterol was less than twofold. Free cholesterol and esterified cholesterol in the aorta of animals decreased by about 30% and 70 respectively after 32 weeks on the regression diet. Very little additional changes occurred in the animals on the regression regimen for 64 weeks. In fatty acids esterified to cholesterol, the largest proportional increase was in stearic (18:0) and oleic (18:1) acids and the least proportional increase was in linoleic (18:2) and arachidonic (20:4) acids after 12 weeks on the atherogenic diet. As a result of feeding the regression diet for a period of 32 weeks an overall depletion of about 85% was observed from the levels in animals fed only an atherogenic diet. Cholesteryl stearate and oleate returned to near baseline levels with a reduction of about 90% from levels observed after feeding the atherogenic diet.
Immunological tolerance in chickens hatching from eggs injected with cell-associated herpesvirus of Turkey (HVT)

Cell-associated herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) was inoculated in ovo at various stages of incubation. Chickens hatching from these eggs were tested for anti-HVT antibodies by several serologic procedures including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect immunofluorescence assays, and western blot. Viremic chickens that remained free of detectable antibodies were considered tolerant to HVT. Chickens exposed to HVT at embryonation day 14 or earlier had 6-33% incidence of tolerance. Tolerant chickens developed persistent HVT viremia. A preliminary challenge experiment provided circumstantial evidence that tolerant to HVT may be associated with reduced resistance to virulent Marek's disease virus. Tolerance to HVT did not influence the ability of the chickens to produce antibodies against an extraneous antigen or respond to a T cell mitogen.
The impact of teachers' unions on educational outcomes: What we know and what we need to learn

Abstract In this paper we consider more than three decades of research on teachers' unions in the United States. We focus on unions' role as potential rent-seekers in the K-12 educational landscape, and specifically how teachers' unions impact district and student outcomes. We review important methodological improvements in the identification of union impacts and the measurement of contract restrictiveness that characterize a number of recent studies. We generally find that the preponderance of empirical evidence suggests that teacher unionization and union strength are associated with increases in district expenditures and teacher salaries, particularly salaries for experienced teachers. The evidence for union-related differences in student outcomes is mixed, but suggestive of insignificant or modestly negative union effects. Taken together, these patterns are consistent with a rent-seeking hypothesis. We conclude by discussing other important union activities, most notably in the political arena, and by noting that recent changes in state laws pertaining to teachers and teacher unions may provide context for new directions in scholarship.
Kinetics of ammonia oxidation by a marine nitrifying bacterium: Methane as a substrate analogue.

In pure culture, the marine ammonia oxidizer,Nitrosococcus oceanus, exhibits normal Michaelis Menten kinetics with respect to its primary substrate, ammonia.N. oceanus also exhibits a kinetic response to methane. In the absence of methane, oxidation of ammonia is first order with respect to ammonia concentration under atmospheric oxygen concentrations at seawater pH. In the presence of methane, ammonia oxidation is inhibited, and the amount of inhibition is related to the relative concentrations of methane and ammonia. Using semicontinuous batch cultures as a source of organisms for short-term kinetic experiments, I investigated the relationship between ammonia and methane oxidation inN. oceanus by varying the absolute and relative concentration of both substrates. Methane appeared to act as a substrate analogue, and its effect on ammonia oxidation was modeled as a permutation of competitive inhibition involving a cooperative enzyme system. Methane was oxidized byN. oceanus, even in the absence of measurable ammonia oxidation, but the process was inhibited at increasing methane concentrations. Of the two product pools analyzed, an average of 37% of methane oxidized was detected in particulate (cell) material and the remainder was detected in14CO2. The contribution of methane to total carbon assimilation varied with the ratio [CH4]/[NH3] and may be significant under substrate concentrations typical of a dilute aquatic environment.
High-Order Mixture Homogenization of Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Abstract : An asymptotic mixture theory of fiber-reinforced composites with periodic microstructure is presented for rate-independent inelastic responses, such as elastoplastic deformation. Key elements are the modeling capability of simulation critical interaction across material interfaces and the inclusion of the kinetic energy of microdisplacement. The construction of the proposed mixture model, which is deterministic, instead of phenomenological, is accomplished by resorting to a variational approach. The principle of virtual work is used for total quantities to derive mixture equations of motion and boundary conditions, while Reissner's mixed variational principle (1984, 1986), applied to the incremental boundary value problem yields consistent mixture constitutive relations. In order to assess the model accuracy, numerical experiments were conducted for static and dynamic loads. The prediction of the model in the time domain was obtained by an explicit finite element code. DYNA2D is used to furnish numerically exact data for the problems by discretizing the details of the microstructure. On the other hand, the model capability of predicting effective tangent moduli was tested by comparing results with NIKE2D. In all cases, good agreement was observed between the predicted and exact data for plastic, as well as, elastic responses. Keywords: Fiber reinforced composites; Mixture theory; Structural properties. (kt)
The Polarization Factor in X-Ray Reflection

The polarization factor for the reflection of polarized x-ray radiation. An x-ray beam consisting of a multiplicity of superposed polarized radiations with non-coincident planes of polarization will exhibit the same scattering distribution in a plane normal to the beam as will a beam consisting of two plane polarized components, suitably intense, whose planes of polarization are mutually perpendicular. The customary polarization factor $\frac{1}{2}(1+{cos}^{2}2\ensuremath{\theta})$ does not apply to reflection of polarized radiation and should be replaced by $\frac{{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\alpha}+P{cos}^{2}\ensuremath{\alpha}+(P{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\alpha}+{cos}^{2}\ensuremath{\alpha}){cos}^{2}2\ensuremath{\theta}}{1+P}$ In this quantity $P$ is the primary polarization ratio and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is an angle defining the orientation of the tube with respect to the plane of reflection. For the orientation most often employed the new polarization factor reduces to $\frac{(P+{cos}^{2}2\ensuremath{\theta})}{(1+P)}$. Radiation from a tube so oriented that $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} will be reflected with the same intensity as an equally intense unpolarized radiation, the polarization factor assuming the familiar form $\frac{1}{2}(1+{cos}^{2}2\ensuremath{\theta})$. This orientation is recommended for future investigations, since it necessitates no knowledge of the primary polarization. A new method for measuring the polarization of homogeneous x-rays is presented.
Errors by macaques performing trial-unique delayed matching-to-sample: A function of memory per se or of distinguishing between the subsequent choices?

In trial-unique delayed matching-to-sample the animal must (1) remember the item given as the sample, and (2) subsequently distinguish it from a second item to make a match. With rather short delays, even very well trained monkeys continue to make errors on this task. The question is whether these errors arise as a consequence of poor memory per se, or whether inadequate memory makes the sample difficult to distinguish from the alternative. This question was examined using pairs of items presented on multiple occasions. The role of sample was systematically interchanged between the items forming a pair. Errors were found to be well correlated between trials in which the same item served as sample, but essentially uncorrelated when those trials were compared with trials having the other item as the sample. For example, if A and B were paired items, results of trials in which A was selected as the sample were well correlated with other trials using A as the sample (run on other days); however, trials using A as the sample were uncorrelated with trials using B as the sample, even though the comparison pair (A and B presented together) was identical. These results suggest that the monkeys’ errors are not dependent on the distinguishability of the comparison pair, despite a “faded” memory on which to base the distinction.
Amino acid levels in hydrazine-treated rats

Abstract Tyrosine-loaded rats, injected with hydrazine, showed a marked elevation of plasma and brain tyrosine levels above that of a comparable tyrosine-loaded control group. An additional control group receiving only hydrazine had plasma and brain tyrosine levels greater than the tyrosine-loaded controls. The subsequent measurement of total α-amino nitrogen levels demonstrated that hydrazine injections, with or without tyrosine loading, resulted in approximately a 3-fold increase in plasma α-amino nitrogen levels when measured 3 hours after treatment. Eighteen hours after hydrazine injection plasma, brain, and liver α-amino acid levels were still above control values. Such findings are consistent with the known in vitro inhibition of amino acid metabolism by hydrazine, due to binding of the coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate.
Colitis in HLA-B27/β2 Microglobulin Transgenic Rats

Rats of susceptible genetic backgrounds expressing high copy numbers of the transgene encoding HLA-B27 and human beta 2 mu develop chronic colitis complicated in the advanced stage by adenomatous polyps progressing to adenocarcinoma. Unique features of this model include a spectrum of extraintestinal manifestations resembling to some extent human spondyloarthropathy, with peripheral and axial joint, dermatologic and male genital inflammation. Inflammation is T lymphocyte mediated, although surprisingly CD4+ cells are more active in transferring disease than CD8+ cells, which would be expected to be preferentially activated by Class I MHC peptides. Inflammation is dependent on a nonlymphoid bone marrow-derived cell, expressing high copy numbers of B27, probably APCs. In vitro function of transgenic dendritic cells is deficient, and in vivo competition for peptide binding in the antigen binding site of B27 attenuates arthritis. Normal bacteria are required for disease expression, with B. vulgatus preferentially able to induce colitis, whereas other bacteria such as E. coli stimulate no inflammatory response. Inflammation and resulted complications are modulated by non-MHC genes and are amenable to treatment by bone marrow transplant from normal donors. These results support the hypothesis that gastrointestinal and systemic inflammation in B27 transgenic rats is the result of loss of tolerance to enteric bacteria, as a consequence of defective APC (? dendritic cells) function. Whether disease is the result of selective MHC binding of enteric antigens uniquely capable of inducing disease, lack of appropriate induction of a CD8+ suppressor cell population, or skewed cytokine (IL-12, IL-18) secretion by APCs remains to be determined.
An early-accept modification to the test plans of military standard 781C

Abstract : Military Standard 781C, 'Reliability Design Qualification and Production Acceptance Tests: Exponential Distribution' covers the requirements for reliability qualification tests (pre-production) and reliability acceptance tests (production) for equipment that experiences a distribution of times-to-failure that is exponential. These requirements include: test conditions, procedures, and various fixed-length and sequential test plans with respective accept/reject criteria. This paper is concerned only with the statistical test plans and the selection and use of these plans. (Author)
The Use of Undergraduate Project Courses for Teaching Image and Signal Processing Techniques at Purdue University

This paper describes our approaches to introduce service learning and research concepts from image and signal processing into the undergraduate ECE curriculum at Purdue University. In particular, we describe two project courses we have developed: one is in the context of the Purdue Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program and the other is a new course known as Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP). We will describe three projects: EPICS TCHA, EPICS C-SPAN, and VIP Multimedia. These projects provide students, from first-year students to seniors, with the opportunities to integrate real-world solutions and fundamental materials covered in the classroom.
The capacity of associative memory by using r-order shifting rules

The second-order Hopfield associative memory has storage capacity of order O(n/log n), if the stored vectors and probe vector are subject to uniform distributions. Unfortunately, this is not always the case practically. We prove that the capacity drops to order of zero when stored vectors and probe vector have nonuniform distributions. Therefore, it is necessary to use the "shifting" method in the modified Hopfield model to improve the storage capacity, where "shifting" means subtracting means from vectors. The influence of probability distribution on capacity is expressed. >
Information retrieval methods for automatic speech recognition

In this paper, we use information retrieval (IR) techniques to improve a speech recognition (ASR) system. The potential benefits include improved speed, accuracy, and scalability. Where conventional HMM-based speech recognition systems decode words directly, our IR-based system first decodes subword units. These are then mapped to a target word by the IR system. In this decoupled system, the IR serves as a lightweight, data-driven pronunciation model. Our proposed method is evaluated in the Windows Live Search for Mobile (WLS4M) task, and our best system has 12% fewer errors than a comparable HMM classifier. We show that even using an inexpensive IR weighting scheme (TF-IDF) yields a 3% relative error rate reduction while maintaining all of the advantages of the IR approach.
Anesthesia for nonobstetric surgery in the pregnant patient

Each year over 75,000 pregnant women in the United States undergo nonobstetric surgery. The operations include those directly related to pregnancy, such as cerclage, those indirectly related to pregnancy, such as ovarian cystectomy, and those unrelated to gestation, such as appendectomy. When a pregnant woman presents for surgery, it is a stressful event for everyone involved. Issues about the surgical problem itself often seem secondary to maternal (and physician) concerns about the effect of surgery and anesthesia on the developing fetus, or the potential to trigger preterm labor. This article reviews the physiologic and anatomic changes that affect anesthetic care during pregnancy. The author also reviews the effects of anesthetic drugs and perioperative events on the fetus and on the pregnancy outcome. The relatively small number of published series are reviewed as well as the controversial recommendations regarding fetal and maternal monitoring during surgery.
A Workload-Aware Adaptive Hybrid Flash Translation Layer with an Efficient Caching Strategy

In this paper, we propose a Convertible Flash Translation Layer (CFTL) for NAND flash-based storage systems. CFTL is a novel hybrid flash translation layer adaptive to workloads so that it can dynamically switch its mapping scheme to either a page level mapping or a block level mapping scheme to fully exploit the benefits of them. Moreover, we propose an efficient caching strategy to further improve the CFTL performance. Consequently, both the convertible feature and the caching strategy empower CFTL to achieve good read performance as well as good write performance. Our experimental evaluation with various realistic workloads demonstrates that CFTL outweighs other FTL schemes. In particular, our new caching strategy remarkably improves cache hit ratios, by an average of 245%, and exhibits much higher hit ratios especially for randomly read intensive workloads.
Solitary fibrous tumor: A study of cytologic features of six cases diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a spindle-cell neoplasm most often presenting as a pleural-based tumor but increasingly recognized in other locations. Few reports have described the cytologic features of SFTs. Six cases of SFT diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (3 pleura, 2 retroperitoneum, and 1 orbit) were identified in the Mayo Clinic files. The smears (Papanicolaou-stained) and corresponding histologic specimens were reviewed. Immunohistochemical staining for CD34 was performed in all cases. The cytologic findings were similar in all cases. The tumor cells were oval to polygonal, with cellularity ranging from scant to moderate. The background contained irregular ropy fragments of collagen and a few inflammatory cells. Most cells were dispersed singly, but all cases contained irregular, loose aggregates of cells enmeshed in a collagenous matrix. The nuclei were uniformly bland, with evenly distributed, finely granular chromatin. All cases were immunoreactive for CD34. SFT has distinctive cytologic features that allow diagnosis in cytologic specimens with the help of appropriate immunocytochemical stains on accompanying tissue biopsy specimens. Distinctive cytologic findings predictive of clinical behavior were not identified.
Effects of Radiation and Hydrogen on the Fracture Resistance of Borosilicate Glasses

In this study, short bar fracture toughness samples were used to determine the effects of radiation and hydrogen on the resistance to fracture of vitreous silica and four commercial borosilicate glasses. The results showed that neither exposure to 10{sup 10} rads of {gamma}-radiation nor saturation to a room-temperature-equivalent exposure of 408 atm of hydrogen had an effect on fracture resistance. Nevertheless, when samples were saturated with hydrogen and then exposed to radiation, resistance to fracture increased significantly in some of the glasses. The increase in the resistance to fracture correlated directly with the increase in concentration of hydroxyl and hydride groups created by exposure to explain and hydrogen. The concentration of these groups differs with glass composition and accounts for the difference in behavior between the types of glass studied.
La representación teatral del trabajo de duelo en El cuarto del recuerdo de Mario Cura y en Señora, esposa, niña y joven desde lejos de Marcelo Bertuccio

In this article, I examine the ways in which two plays dramatize the ongoing processes experienced by the families of the desaparecidos when they try to come to terms with the political violence in the recent past in Argentina. In particular, I compare the different dramatic techniques employed by Mario Cura in El cuarto del recuerdo (1995) and Marcelo Bertuccio in Senora, esposa, nina y joven desde lejos (1999) as a means to reflect on the theatrical representations of the task of mourning carried out by those individuals who have been affected by the dictatorship. The essay is informed by Dominick LaCapra's work on how societies cope with a traumatic past, and Elizabeth Jelin's work on the politics of memory in the Southern Cone.
Information, artifacts, and noise in dQ/dt − Q recession analysis

The plotting of the time rate of change in discharge dQ/dt versus discharge Q has become a widely used tool for analyzing recession data since Brutseart and Nieber [Water Resour Res 13 (1977) 637–643] proposed the method. Typically the time increment Dt over which the recession slope dQ/dt is approximated is held constant. It is shown here this that leads to upper and lower envelopes in graphs of log(� dQ/dt) versus log(Q) that have been observed in previous studies but are artifacts. The use of constant time increments also limits accurate representation of the recession relationship to the portion of the hydrograph for which the chosen time increment is appropriate. Where dQ/dt varies by orders of magnitude during recession, this may exclude much of the hydrograph from analysis. In response, a new method is proposed in which Dt for each observation in time is properly scaled to the observed drop in discharge DQ. It is shown, with examples, how the new method can succeed in exposing the underlying relationship between dQ/dt and Q where the standard method fails. � 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
EFFECT OF MOYAMOYA DISEASE ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING IN ADULTS

OBJECTIVE: Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive occlusion of vessels comprising the circle of Willis, resulting in formation of collaterals that have a cloudy appearance on angiography. Neuropsychological research on the cognitive effects of the disorder in adults has been limited in scope and generalizability; only a few case studies have been published. The current study was intended to more comprehensively document the nature of cognitive impairment in moyamoya disease by assessing a large number of adult cases with a neuropsychological assessment test battery. METHODS: Thirty-six adult patients with neurodiagnostically confirmed moyamoya disease were given presurgical neuropsychological assessments. RESULTS: Mean group performances were within normal limits for all measures assessed. The highest rate of impairment was for measures of executive functioning. The lowest rates occurred with memory and perception measures. Cognitive impairment was present in 11 (31%) of the patients; it was judged to be moderate to severe in four patients (11%). Five patients reported a mild level of depression, and two patients reported a moderate level. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that moyamoya disease diagnosed in adults can impair cognition but that the effect is not as severe as in pediatric cases. Executive functioning is most affected. Memory and, to a large extent, intellect are spared. The current pattern of results suggests brain region-behavior correlations that deserve further study.
Nesting Ecology of the Yellow-Breasted Crake (Porzana flaviventer) in Puerto Rico

Abstract. The Yellow-breasted Crake (Porzana flaviventer) is a poorly-known Neotropical rail found in densely vegetated freshwater wetlands; a single nest record exists for Puerto Rico. In May 2001, the crake was detected in managed impoundments of the Humacao Nature Reserve, located in southeastern Puerto Rico. Yellow-breasted Crakes were regularly observed during monthly surveys of the impoundments with as many as nine individuals detected during an April 2002 survey. Systematic nest searches during 2001–2002 located fifteen nests in approximately 13 ha of newly created wetlands. The nests were more common in Eleocharis mutata, Cyperus ligularis, and Paspalum vaginatum. Nests had an average clutch size of 3.7 (±0.31) eggs and brood size of 2.7 (±0.5) chicks; hatching success was 65% and nesting success 40%. Six nests were depredated. The nesting activity of Yellow-breasted Crake at the Humacao Nature Reserve suggests wetland management in abandoned sugarcane areas of coastal Puerto Rico may benefit wate...
Mining gold standards from ivory towers: Quality of care in academic medical centers

The focus of this year’s American College of Cardiology Bethesda Conference is the future of academic medical centers and their divisions of cardiology.The topic chosen provides evidence of concern for the academic center’s declining prestige. Some of that prestige had been derived from the undisputed presumption that academic medical centers were the strongholds of quality in clinical care.Today, health care consumers and payers demand evidence rather than presumption of quality. In the absence of such evidence, patient care will continue to shift toward community hospitals, which are often more convenient and less expensive than academic medical centers, or toward for-profit hospitals, which many believe to be more efficient. So the study in this issue by Nohria et al,1 examining process indicators for the treatment of patients hospitalized with heart failure, presents refreshing evidence of the high quality of care practiced within academic centers. For academic centers to capitalize on this potentially differentiating feature, they must document their quality, build upon strengths, and improve in areas of weakness. The authors conclude that the 7 university hospitals surveyed performed “fairly well”with regard to assessing ejection fraction, prescribing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors at discharge, and education concerning diet, exercise, and medication compliance. In contrast, there were “opportunities for improvement” in the areas of ACE inhibitor dosing and patient education in relation to daily weights and smoking cessation. Although the study did not directly compare performance of the academic centers with other hospitals, the results regarding ACE inhibitor prescription are considerably better than has been reported across the health care spectrum. For example, in a recent report of the Cardiovascular Health Study,2 a population-based prospective cohort analysis, only approximately 50% of patients with heart failure and a low ejection fraction were receiving an ACE inhibitor.
Curricular Integration and Measurement of Cultural Competency Development in a Group of Physical Therapy Students

Abstract Introduction and Background The link between cultural competence and effective physical therapy encounters is established. Physical therapist educational programs face the challenge of fostering the cultural competence of students in effective and meaningful ways within the curriculum. They also face the challenge of measuring the development of cultural competency to establish efficacy in the curriculum. One program measured the development of cultural competency in its students using the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence Among Healthcare Professionals-Student Version (IAPCC-SV) before and after the program’s various educational opportunities immersed throughout the curriculum that could serve to increase cultural competency. In the three-year curriculum, the students participated in both mandatory and voluntary experiential learning opportunities. Required didactic presentations and activities were integrated throughout the curriculum and designed to enhance cultural competency. Voluntary experiences included providing service and/or leadership to a student-run pro bono clinic. The program was interested in whether cultural competency increased after these experiences and whether leadership opportunities or additional hours of voluntary service beyond the class median caused increases that exceeded the minimal detectable change (MDC) reported in the literature. Methods All students completed the IAPCC-SV at the beginning of their Doctor of Physical Therapy education and again at the end of their final year of didactic curriculum. Results For the class of 2011, a Wilcoxon signed ranks test noted a significant increase in IAPCC-SV scores from pre-test (56.51 +/- 4.82) to post-test (64.16 +/- 6.19) in the Class of 2011, p  .001. For the class of 2012, a Wilcoxon signed ranks test noted a significant increase in IAPCC-SV scores from pre-test (58.87 +/- 5.67) to post-test (64.13 +/- 5.47) in the Class of 2012, p  .001. Sixteen students from the class of 2011 and 13 from the class of 2012 exceeded the 8.57-point MDC of the IAPCC-SV. Discussion and Conclusion Exposure to a variety of cross-cultural encounters throughout a physical therapy curriculum significantly increases self-rating of cultural competency in these graduate students. Students who take advantage of volunteer leadership roles in extensive cross-cultural encounters may be more likely to achieve an increase that exceeds the MDC on the IAPCC-SV. These results are particularly interesting given that the students themselves were ethnically homogeneous and did not experience cultural diversity within the constituents that made up their class or faculty.
Robust regional eigenvalue assignment by dynamic state-feedback control for nonlinear continuous-time systems

This paper uses the concept of D-stability to place the eigenvalues of the linear component of both the controller and observer within separate circular regions in order to design a robust dynamic feedback controller using linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques to accommodate Lipschitz type nonlinearities for continuous-time systems. Given a feasible result for both the controller and observer design, the regions will be separated in such a way that the state estimation error goes to zero much faster than the state while guaranteeing stability. This design technique is extended to incorporate the H2-norm property. The method is applied to two nonlinear systems to illustrate the design procedure.
Investigation on Health Status and Health Knowledge-Attitude-Practice of Staff in an Institution of Shunyi District of Beijing

[Objective] To understand the lifestyle and operation mode of institution staff, find out the health hazard factors, analyze the health demands of respondents, put forward the intervention measures, and improve their health awareness and health behavior forming rate.[Methods]The health status and health Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) of staff in this institution were investigated and analyzed with questionnaire, literatures and mathematical statistics.[Results]28.6% of respondents are overweight and 8.2% are obese. The male smoking rate is 39.5%. 31.6% of men drink alcohol regularly. 31.6% lack exercise. The most prominent problem in the diet is excessive intake of sodium salt and cooking oil, do not eat breakfast, eat salted vegetable and fried foods frequently, inadequate intake of vegetables and fruits, etc. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes is higher than the national average level, but lower than the average level in Beijing.[Conclusion]Based on the health status of staff, it is necessary to carry out health promotion programs, help the staff to arrange the work rhythm, adjust life pattern, especially rational diet, exercise adequately and improve the environmental conditions.
A Phase Ib Study of BEZ235, a Dual Inhibitor of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), in Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Lessons learned Our results highlight additional toxicities of dual PI3K/mTOR inhibition in the clinical setting that were unforeseen from preclinical models.Because of toxicity and lack of efficacy, BEZ235 should not be further developed in the current formulation for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Background Allosteric inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) are approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Preclinical models have suggested that dual inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mTOR kinase may establish superior anticancer effect. We aimed to establish safety for BEZ235, a potent inhibitor of both PI3K and mTOR, in advanced RCC. Methods Patients with advanced RCC who had previously failed standard therapy received escalating doses of BEZ235 in sachet formulation twice daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoints were to identify the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and to determine the recommended dose for the phase II study. Results The study was terminated early because of high incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) across all dose levels tested. Ten patients were treated with BEZ235-six with clear cell and four with non-clear cell subtypes. Five of these patients suffered DLTs: 2 of 2 patients in the original 400 mg b.i.d. cohort, 1 of 6 in the 200 mg b.i.d. cohort, and 2 of 2 in the 300 mg b.i.d. Cohort DLTs included fatigue, rash, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, mucositis, anorexia, and dysgeusia. Five patients were evaluable for response: Two had stable disease as best response, and three had progressive disease. Conclusion BEZ235 twice daily resulted in significant toxicity without objective responses; further development of this compound will not be pursued in this disease.
FUNCTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES

This chapter discusses the geometrical interpretation of functions of two variables. It primarily presents treatment of three-dimensional geometry to attach geometrical significance to some of the concepts described in this chapter. It has been reported that partial differentiation proves useful to study the behavior of a function of several variables when all but one of the variables are held constant. The chapter discusses what happens to the volume when the pressure is held constant and the temperature allowed to vary. It presents a formula for the increment Δf, where f be a function of the two independent variables x and y, produced by the increments Δx and Δy of the independent variables. The chapter describes a means by which the derivative of the function of the single independent variable can be calculated without the necessity of replacing x and y by the corresponding functions of t. This results in a direct extension of the chain rule.
Sellar Wegener Granulomatosis Masquerading as Cabergoline-Resistant Prolactinoma

Background Pituitary manifestation of Wegener granulomatosis (WG) is extremely rare. When there is pituitary involvement, the granulomatous inflammatory lesions involving the pituitary gland may appear several months to years after the primary diagnosis. Case Description We present a case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and elevated serum prolactin levels. Imaging demonstrated a sellar lesion with characteristics of a pituitary macroadenoma. Treatment with cabergoline was initiated, but the tumor continued to grow during a 6-month period. Subsequent surgical exploration revealed a chronic inflammatory lesion; the patient subsequently was diagnosed with WG based on laboratory evaluation and further systemic manifestations. She had a favorable clinical and radiologic response with immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids and rituximab. Conclusions This case appears to be the first reported of a patient with unknown WG in whom the diagnosis was established after she presented with a sellar lesion mimicking a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma on initial presentation requiring surgical resection. The only endocrine abnormality discovered was moderate hyperprolactinemia. Sellar lesions with only moderate elevations in serum prolactin, particularly those that are refractory to medical management with a dopamine agonist, should prompt further investigation to confirm the diagnosis. WG should be part of the differential diagnosis of inflammatory lesions in the sella, the identification of which can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of this systemic disease for optimal outcome.
Percolation Properties of Triangles With Variable Aspect Ratios

Percolation is the study of random networks and their nature of connectivity. An exponential relationship between the percolation threshold and the aspect ratio of a shape is observed within this paper. Matlab simulations and a novel experimental method are utilized to determine the percolation threshold across a conductive sheet as triangles of variable aspect ratios are cut with a Universal Laser System X2-600 100 Watt CO2 laser. Resistance is measured as a voltage of 100mV is applied across the conductive sheet of aluminum coated Mylar film. This data is then analyzed to yield the percolation threshold relating to a triangle with a specified aspect ratio. We establish an equilateral triangle to have an aspect ratio of one.