cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The catalytic group-I introns of the psbA gene of chlamydomonas reinhardtii : core structures, ORFs and evolutionary implications.

The sequences and predicted secondary structures of the four catalytic group-I introns in the psbA gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Cr.psbA-1-Cr.psbA-4, have been determined. Cr.psbA-1 and Cr.psbA-4 are subgroup-IA1 introns and have similar secondary structures, except at the 3' end where Cr.psbA-1 contains a large inverted-repeat domain. Cr.psbA-4 is closely related to intron 1 of the Chlamydomonas moewusii psbA gene, with which it shares the same location, high nucleotide identity in the core, and an identically placed ORF that shows 58% amino-acid identity. Cr.psbA-2 is a subgroup-IA3 intron, and shows similarities to the Chlamydomonas eugametos rRNA intron, Ce.LSU-1. Cr.psbA-3 is a subgroup-IA2 intron, and is remarkably similar to the T4 phage intron, sunY. Interestingly, a degenerate version of Cr.psbA-3 is located in the intergenic region between the chloroplast petA and petD genes. All four introns contain ORFs, which potentially code for basic proteins of 11-38 kDa. The ORFs in introns 2 and 3 contain variants of the GIY-YIG motif; however, the Cr.psbA-2 ORF is free-standing, whereas the Cr.psbA-3 ORF is contiguous and in-frame with the upstream exon. The Cr.psbA-4 ORF contains an H-N-H motif, and possibly a GIY-YIG motif. These data indicate that the C. reinhardtiipsbA introns have multiple origins, and illustrate some of the evolutionary DNA dynamics associated with group-I introns in Chlamydomonas.
The Spheromak as AN Axisymmetric Spherical Dynamo:. Clarification of AN Old Ambiguity

An elementary result in magnetostatics clarifies a fundamental ambiguity in the theory of the Spheromak (which is a compact toroidal plasma without the external poloidal windings of a Tokamak). A free Spheromak (without an external equilibrium field) is shown to possess intrinsic rotational self-forces that amplify its toroidal current, and hence its poloidal magnetic field. This result explains the experimentally observed increase of toroidal current in free compact toroidal plasmas. The possibility of an axisymmetric spherical dynamo that generates its own dipole-like self-field is mentioned.
Management of twin pregnancy: The vaginal route is still safe

To investigate the effect of method of delivery on the outcome of twin pregnancies, we reviewed all deliveries at our institution over the 10 years from 1976 to 1985. Two hundred six pairs were delivered, with a mean gestational age of 34 weeks (range 20 to 43 weeks) and a mean weight of 2116 gm (range 220 to 3800 gm). The mean gestational age at diagnosis of the twin pregnancy was 23 weeks. Nineteen (4.6%) infants were stillborn, and 36 (8.7%) died in the neonatal period. Cesarean section was used to deliver both twins in 66 cases. The method of delivery for the remaining 142 cases was vaginal-vertex, 85 (61%), vaginal-breech, 40 (29%), cesarean section, 13 (9%), and version and extraction, 2 (1%). The four most common indications for cesarean section for both twins were previous cesarean section, breech presentation, abnormal labor, and fetal distress. The indications for the 13 cesarean sections after vaginal delivery of twin A were fetal distress, cord prolapse, high presenting part, and footling breech. The impact of the method of delivery was investigated by comparing outcome variables between twin pairs. No significant differences were noted for perinatal mortality, need for resuscitation, duration of newborn hospital stay, and trauma. There were significant differences in the 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores in the vaginal delivery group. These differences were clinically minor, tending toward mild acidemia, and were unaffected by route or method of delivery.
Compact Bow-Tie Quasi-Self-Complementary Antenna for UWB Applications

In this letter, a bow-tie quasi-self-complementary antenna (QSCA) for ultrawideband (UWB) applications is presented and discussed. By a coplanar waveguide (CPW)-like matching technique, the proposed antenna provides a broad VSWR <; 2:1 impedance bandwidth from 3.04 to 11.47 GHz. This feature is in favor of covering the required bandwidth from 3.1 to 10.6-GHz UWB operations. Additionally, the compact size (10 × 35 mm2) of the antenna is favorable for integration with wireless communication devices on restricted radio-frequency elements space.
Integrated physiological units in plants

Abstract Plants, like animals, have traditionally been viewed by ecologists and evolutionary biologists as fully integrated organisms capable of sharing energy, nutrient and water resources throughout their bodies. Recent studies, however, indicate that many plants may be more realistically considered to be assemblages of semiautonomous integrated physiological units (IPUs) 1 , consisting of physiological 2 as well as morphological subunits 3 . The existence of IPUs may have important implications for the study of herbivore, frugivore and pollinator interactions with plants, as well as for studies of patterns of resource distribution that require understanding of the environmental regulation of plant development.
Different rescattering trajectories related to different total electron momenta in nonsequential double ionization

We extend earlier work on two-electron photo-ionization to analyze electron momentum. We provide theoretical evidence distinguishing two categories of e-e trajectory associated with the correlation that develops when an “outer” electron returns to the nucleus in the presence of a high-intensity optical-wavelength laser field. We use the method of back-analysis to connect these two categories of trajectory with NSDI events having either nearly zero (Z) or substantially non-zero (NZ) total electron momentum.
A simple nanoelectrospray arrangement with controllable flowrate for mass analysis of submicroliter protein samples

A simple arrangement for nanoelectrospray ionization using a conventional syringe pump connected to a pulled unmodified capillary has been evaluated. This arrangement avoids several disadvantages associated with metal-coated nanoelectrospray emitters. The relatively large orifice (∼9 μm) at the pulled capillary tip reduces sample clogging and the use of the pump minimizes spray disruption due to gas bubbles. Subattomole detection limit was achieved with nanomolar protein sample solutions at 5–10 nL/min flowrates using an LCQ mass spectrometer. Submicroliter samples can be loaded from the tip orifice and stored inside the capillary to virtually eliminate any dead volume, and then be electrosprayed for extended periods at well-controlled flowrates.
Power consumption of parallel spread spectrum correlator architectures

Parallel correlation in direct-sequence spread spectrum system allows faster and more reliable coarse acquisition. However, the power consumed becomes significant especially for receivers that employ a large number of parallel correlators. In this paper, the power efficiency of various parallel correlator architectures is explored assuming base band sampled signals of two samples per chip. Active correlators placed in parallel that use both two's complement and sign-magnitude accumulators are first presented. Functionally equivalent M-parallel passive correlators are then studied. In this approach, the base band sampled signals are passed through a tapped delay-line. Each tap is then multiplied by a stationary reference pseudonoise code and summed using a binary tree network. The passive correlators are generality more power efficient compared to both types of active correlators, especially for large M values. Further reduction in power consumption is possible by splitting the tapped delay-line into even and odd delays and summing using two smaller binary tree adders. This proposed architecture consumes significantly less power compared to all other architectures. The power dissipation of M-parallel correlator architectures are evaluated for M=8, 16, 32 using TSMC 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS technology at 3.3 V supply voltage.
Über die Synthese einiger tert. aromatischer Phosphine und Arsine sowie ihre Oxydation zu Radikalen

Es wird uber die Darstellung einer Reihe von Phosphinen und Arsinen mit aromatischen Resten, die in der 4- bzw. 4′-Stellung Methoxy- und Dimethylaminogruppen tragen, und deren Oxydation zu Radikalen berichtet. Das ESR-Spektrum des Tris-[p-dimethylaminophenyl]-phosphenium-Radikals wird diskutiert.
High temperature zirconia oxygen sensor with sealed metal/metal oxide internal reference

Abstract Potentiometric internal reference oxygen sensors are created by embedding a metal/metal oxide mixture within a yttria-stabilized zirconia oxygen-conducting ceramic superstructure. Three metal/metal oxide systems based on Pd, Ni, and Ru are examined. A static internal reference oxygen pressure is produced inside the reference chamber of the sensor at the target application temperature. The metal/metal oxide-containing reference chamber is sealed within the stabilized zirconia ceramic superstructure by a high pressure (3–6 MPa) and high temperature (1200–1300 °C) bonding method that initiates grain boundary sliding between the ceramic components. The bonding method creates ceramic joints that are pore-free and indistinguishable from the bulk ceramic. The Pd/PdO-based oxygen sensor presented in this study is capable of long-term operation and resistant to the strains of thermal cycling. The current temperature limit of the device is limited at 800 °C. As the sensor does not require reference gas plumbing there is flexibility in placement of sensors in a combustion stream. Furthermore, the sensor assembly process readily lends itself to miniaturization.
Erythema exudativum multiforme withophthalmia and stomatitis

Summary The clinical features of two cases of erythema exudativum multiforme in children are described. In both instances, the skin and mucous membranes were involved. There was multiform exanthem, stomatitis, ophthalmia, and constitutional reaction. One case was recurrent. Observations are recorded on the histopathology of biopsy material and on certain findings based on animal inoculation.
Induction of the allantoin degradative enzymes by allophanic acid, the last intermediate of the pathway.

Abstract Saccharomyces cerevisiae can utilize allantoin as a sole nitrogen source by degrading it in five steps to ammonia, “CO2”, and glyoxylate. We have previously shown that allophanic acid is the inducer of the urea carboxylase: allophanate hydrolase multienzyme complex. Since these enzymes catalyse the last two steps of allantoin degradation, experiments were performed to determine if allophanate was also the inducer of any other enzymes in the pathway. Our data demonstrate that allophanate induces synthesis of at least five of the seven purine degradative enzymes.
The use of partial-wave representations in the planning of scattering measurements. Application to 330 MeV np scattering

Abstract The use of partial-wave representations of existing scattering data in the planning of future measurements is described. A procedure is described for determining those measurements which are within the realm of experimental feasability and which will produce the best definition of the scattering matrix. The procedure is then applied to 330 MeV np scattering where the presently quite uncertain phase parameters are made more precise by various hypothetical measurements.
Geometric transitions and D-term SUSY breaking

We propose a new way of using geometric transitions to study metastable vacua in string theory and certain confining gauge theories. The gauge theories in question are N=2 supersymmetric theories deformed to N=1 by superpotential terms. We first geometrically engineer supersymmetry-breaking vacua by wrapping D5 branes on rigid 2-cycles in noncompact Calabi-Yau geometries, such that the central charges of the branes are misaligned. In a limit of slightly misaligned charges, this has a gauge theory description, where supersymmetry is broken by Fayet-Iliopoulos D-terms. Geometric transitions relate these configurations to dual Calabi-Yaus with fluxes, where H_RR, H_NS and dJ are all nonvanishing. We argue that the dual geometry can be effectively used to study the resulting non-supersymmetric, confining vacua
Burr Formation in Drilling Miniature Holes

Abstract The exit burrs in the drilling of precision miniature holes of diameters less than 1 mm are of interest. The burrs from these processes can be difficult to remove. This paper describes the results of a study on the burr formation in drilling miniature holes. Most existing studies focus on holes in the 3 mm to 12 mm size range. This data is not transferable to smaller diameter holes. We report here on the study of burr height, thickness and geometry observed in the drilling of 0.91 mm diameter through holes in stainless steel 304L. The sensitivity of feed, speed and drill wear as well as the exit surface geometry (i.e. for intersecting holes) was determined. A proposal for using the drilling burr data as part of a process planning methodology for burr control is presented.
Response priming effects in a digit naming task as a function of target-noise separation

Oral naming latencies were measured for visually displayed digits that were flanked by either compatible (identical) or incompatible (different) noise digits. When target-noise spatial separation was “narrow” (1.1-deg visual angle), substantially longer latencies were observed for incompatible target-noise combinations than for compatible combinations, and this effect was greatest when the onset of the noise preceded the target by 150 msec. When target-noise spatial separation was increased to 3.3 deg, noise-compatibility effects were substantially attenuated when the noise preceded the target by 100 msec or less, but the effects reappeared with longer SOA values and reached a maximum when the noise preceded the target by 250 msec. This three-way interaction of spatial separation, SOA, and noise compatibility offers support for the continuous flow conception of visual information processing described by Eriksen and Schultz (1979).
Femoral and obturator neuropathy secondary to retroperitoneal hemorrhage: the value of the CT scan.

Abstract A man developed signs of femoral and obturator neuropathy due to spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage while taking anticoagulant drugs for suspected thrombophlebitis. The hemorrhage was demonstrated by CT scan. CT scans should be used in all patients developing signs of peripheral nerve entrapment during anticoagulant therapy.
InAs/GaInSb strained layer superlattice as an infrared detector material: an overview

The investigation of the InAs / Ga 1-x In x Sb strained layer superlattice (SLS) has been largely motivated by the promise of overcoming limitations of current mature high-performance infrared detectors, such as those using HgCdTe and extrinsic silicon. It also offers fundamentally superior performance over other newly emerging III-V bandgap-engineered materials such as QWIPs. The inherent properties of the InAs/GaInSb SLS have identified it as an attractive alternative for niche VLWIR applications requiring high performance under low backgrounds at operating temperatures > 40K. If this material system proves to meet the stringent demands of VLWIR applications, it will most certainly play a significant role as an alternative material for photovoltaic focal plane arrays operating in the LWIR and MWIR regimes as well, This paper is an overview of SLS technology development, and focuses on critical development needs as seen trom the perspective of the infrared detector industry.
Strengthening the Conceptualization of Early Childhood Professional Development Initiatives and Evaluations

The articles presented together in this special issue of Early Education and Development take two key steps for extending the knowledge base on early childhood professional development. Following a...
Control performance assessment and diagnosis for semiconductor processes

In this work we briefly review the current status of control performance assessment (CPA) and control performance diagnosis (CPD) in semiconductor processes, and present an integrated CPA/CPD framework for semiconductor processes. By identifying the model-plant mismatch and process disturbance dynamics explicitly, CPA and CPD can be performed simultaneously in the proposed framework. Two performance indices and an on-line implementation scheme are introduced, and the performance of the proposed CPA/CPD methods is demonstrated using two simulation studies.
DNA supercoiling, DNA hairpins and single-stranded DNA binding proteins in bacteriophage N4 transcription regulation

Transcription of the 72kbp linear double-stranded genome of coliphage N4 is regulated through the sequential utilization of three different DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. A virion-encapsulated, phage-coded RNA polymerase, injected into the host with the viral genome, is responsible for the synthesis of early viral transcripts. Virion RNA polymerase recognizes both a small DNA hairpin and specific sequences on the template strand; promoter recognition on double-stranded DNA requires supercoiled template and E. coli single-stranded DNA binding protein (EcoSSB). A second phage-coded transcriptional machinery synthesizes viral middle transcripts. Finally, the viral single-stranded DNA binding protein allows the E. coli RNA polymerase σ 70 -holoenzyme) to utilize viral late promoters efficiently. Recent evidence about the formation and existence of unusually stable DNA hairpins at virion RNA polymerase promoters, the involvement of these DNA hairpins in N4 virion RNA polymerase-promoter recognition, as well as the novel role of ssDNA binding proteins as transcriptional activators is reviewed.
The Mind Prepared: Hypnosis in Surgery

In 1846, a Scottish surgeon named James Esdaile reported 80% surgical anesthesia using hypnosis as the sole anesthetic for amputations in India. His work caused sufficient stir that when ether anesthesia was demonstrated in what is now called the Ether Dome at the Massachusetts General Hospital on October 16 of that same year, a surgeon strode to the front of the amphitheater and said, “Gentlemen, this is no humbug,” to distinguish his surgical team’s demonstration from Esdaile’s report. It has taken us a century and a half to rediscover the fact that the mind has something to do with pain and can be a powerful tool in controlling it: the strain in pain lies mainly in the brain. In this issue of the Journal, Montgomery et al. ( 1 ) report the results of a randomized trial conducted among 200 patients who underwent excisional breast biopsy or lumpectomy for breast cancer. Patients were assigned to either routine anesthesia plus nondirective empathic listening (the control condition) or a very brief 15-minute presurgery hypnosis session. The hypnosis, which the authors describe in very cursory fashion, consisted of “a relaxationbased induction (including imagery for muscle relaxation), suggestions for pleasant visual imagery, suggestions to experience relaxation and peace, specifi c symptom-focused suggestions (i.e., to experience reduced pain, nausea, and fatigue), a deepening procedure, and instructions for how patients could use hypnosis on their own following the intervention session.” This brief hypnotic preparation was suffi cient to produce a statistically signifi cant reduction in the use of propofol and lidocaine; yet despite this, patients in the intervention group reported less pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset than did patients in the control group. Doing good also meant doing well, in that the use of hypnosis
Application of thermodynamic and detailed chemical kinetic modeling to understanding combustion product generation in enclosure fires

Experiments in idealized two-layer fire environments have demonstrated that concentrations of carbon monoxide and other gaseous combustion products can be correlated in terms of the global equivalence ratio. In this paper the results of detailed chemical kinetic modeling and equilibrium calculations are used to gain insight into the chemical stability of the gases observed within the upper layers of such fires. It is demonstrated that the production of upper-layer gases is kinetically controlled and that for rich conditions concentrations of the upper-layer gas components are far from those expected for thermodynamic equilibrium at the layer temperatures. Criteria are provided for determining whether or not the correlations can be employed to predict the generation of combustion products in enclosure fires.
Epinephrine converts long‐term potentiation from transient to durable form in awake rats

Neuroendocrine responses to an emotional or arousing experience modulate memory for the event. Extensive evidence suggests that epinephrine plays an important role in the regulation of memory formation by emotions and arousal. Some forms of synaptic plasticity are similarly responsive to modulation by stress and arousal. The present experiment examined the effects of epinephrine on induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) in awake rats. Rats were prepared with bilaterally implanted electrodes for recording evoked field potentials in dentate granule cells following perforant pathway stimulation. LTP was induced with high-frequency stimulation parameters that resulted in modest early potentiation of the EPSP that decayed within 20 min. Epinephrine enhanced the magnitude of early LTP induction and also extended the durability of LTP from minutes to at least several days. Epinephrine did not alter baseline responses or modulate pre-LTP input-output curves. The enhancement of LTP by epinephrine was dose-dependent, following an inverted-U dose-response curve similar to that seen in memory enhancement experiments, suggesting considerable convergence of epinephrine modulation of memory and LTP. In extending substantially the maintenance of LTP after induction, the present finding offer potential means to study the neurobiology of rapid forgetting seen in aged rodents and other animals and the neurobiology of the impaired forgetting seen in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Clinical Assessment of Child and Adolescent Personality and Behavior

Basic Issues.- Historical Trends.- Measurement Issues.- Classification and Developmental Psychopathology.- Standards and Fairness.- Planning the Evaluation and Rapport Building.- Assessment Methods.- Self-Report Inventories.- Parent and Teacher Rating Scales.- Behavioral Observations.- Peer-Referenced Assessment.- Projective Techniques.- Structured Diagnostic Interviews.- Assessing Family Context.- History Taking.- Adaptive Behavior Scales.- Advanced Topics.- Integrating and Interpreting Assessment Information.- Report Writing.- Assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Disruptive Behavior Disorders.- Assessment of Depression and Anxiety.- Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
A Multiparadigmatic Approach to Religion in Social Work Education

The attention given to faith-based human services in the past decade has created interest in pedagogical models of the ethical integration of spirituality, religion and social work practice. Following a discussion of philosophical, theoretical, and theological perspectives, this paper explores different sociological paradigms of knowledge and practice that may be of value when seeking to utilize spiritual and religious content into social work education. The implications of this article relate to educational settings that seek to incorporate content on religion and spirituality in social work education as well as to social work practice in religious organizations.
Preschool children at social risk: Chronicity and timing of maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior problems at school and at home

The current study investigated the relationship between previous, recent, or chronic maternal depressive symptoms and subtypes of child behavior problems rated by teachers and mothers among 64 low-income children aged 4–6 years. Sixty-nine percent of mothers with high depressive symptom levels at the preschool assessment had also reported high symptom levels during the child's infancy. Children whose mothers reported depressive symptoms at both ages exhibited significantly elevated rates of hostile behavior problems in the classroom and at home compared to children of never-depressed mothers. Children of mothers who were previously but not currently depressed showed significantly more anxious and withdrawn behavior at school and at home, while children of recently depressed mothers were more hyperactive and demanding. Child cognitive scores and father absence were also related to behavior problems, but these variables did not mediate the independent effects of chronicity and timing of maternal depressive symptoms on the types of child symptoms displayed.
An inverse modeling approach for stress estimation in mitral valve anterior leaflet valvuloplasty for in-vivo valvular biomaterial assessment

Estimation of regional tissue stresses in the functioning heart valve remains an important goal in our understanding of normal valve function and in developing novel engineered tissue strategies for valvular repair and replacement. Methods to accurately estimate regional tissue stresses are thus needed for this purpose, and in particular to develop accurate, statistically informed means to validate computational models of valve function. Moreover, there exists no currently accepted method to evaluate engineered heart valve tissues and replacement heart valve biomaterials undergoing valvular stresses in blood contact. While we have utilized mitral valve anterior leaflet valvuloplasty as an experimental approach to address this limitation, robust computational techniques to estimate implant stresses are required. In the present study, we developed a novel numerical analysis approach for estimation of the in-vivo stresses of the central region of the mitral valve anterior leaflet (MVAL) delimited by a sonocrystal transducer array. The in-vivo material properties of the MVAL were simulated using an inverse FE modeling approach based on three pseudo-hyperelastic constitutive models: the neo-Hookean, exponential-type isotropic, and full collagen-fiber mapped transversely isotropic models. A series of numerical replications with varying structural configurations were developed by incorporating measured statistical variations in MVAL local preferred fiber directions and fiber splay. These model replications were then used to investigate how known variations in the valve tissue microstructure influence the estimated ROI stresses and its variation at each time point during a cardiac cycle. Simulations were also able to include estimates of the variation in tissue stresses for an individual specimen dataset over the cardiac cycle. Of the three material models, the transversely anisotropic model produced the most accurate results, with ROI averaged stresses at the fully-loaded state of 432.6±46.5 kPa and 241.4±40.5 kPa in the radial and circumferential directions, respectively. We conclude that the present approach can provide robust instantaneous mean and variation estimates of tissue stresses of the central regions of the MVAL.
Cytosine arabinoside kills postmitotic neurons in a fashion resembling trophic factor deprivation: evidence that a deoxycytidine-dependent process may be required for nerve growth factor signal transduction

Cytosine arabinoside (AraC) is a pyrimidine antimetabolite that kills proliferating cells by inhibiting DNA synthesis. In this paper we report that AraC kills postmitotic rat sympathetic neurons in a fashion similar to the neuronal death that follows nerve growth factor (NGF) deprivation. Postmitotic rat sympathetic neurons were cultured for 1 week in the presence of NGF and then treated with AraC, still in the presence of NGF. AraC killed neurons after 4 d with an EC50 of 50 microns. The morphological and temporal characteristics of neuronal death that began around 3 d after addition of AraC were indistinguishable from those observed beginning 24 hr after NGF deprivation. Death caused by AraC was prevented by the same agents that prevent the death of NGF-deprived neurons, which included inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, a cAMP analog, and depolarizing concentrations of KCl. In contrast, neuronal death caused by ultraviolet irradiation, ricin toxin, and a variety of other toxic insults did not share these morphological, biochemical, or temporal characteristics. Other antimitotic drugs, including adenine arabinoside, thymine arabinoside, fluorodeoxyuridine, hydroxyurea, and aphidicolin, did not kill neurons. AraC caused neurons to behave as if deprived of NGF by interfering with deoxycytidine (dC) metabolism distinct from DNA biosynthesis. dC entirely prevented the neurotoxicity of AraC, even when present at a concentration 1000-fold less than that of AraC. Other deoxynucleosides, and cytidine, did not prevent AraC neurotoxicity. dC could not, however, substitute for NGF and thus is unlikely to be a direct mediator of NGF action. It is hypothesized that dC may participate in a pathway, distinct from DNA synthesis, that is necessary for neurons to respond to exogenous trophic factors.
Imaging of Renovascular Disease

A variety of different imaging techniques have been used for the diagnosis of renal vascular diseases. The wide range of renal vascular diseases include congenital renal artery and vein variations, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), renal artery stenosis, renal vein thrombosis, vasculitis, and traumatic injuries, such as dissection and vascular pedicle injury. In this article, we discuss the role of invasive and noninvasive imaging in each of these abnormalities and their typical features. Because renal artery stenosis is an important vascular abnormality encountered in clinical practice, imaging of this entity will be emphasized.
Professional Identity Development Through Service Learning A Qualitative Study of First-Year Medical Students Volunteering at a Medical Specialty Camp

Objective. To describe the experience of medical students volunteering at a camp for children with a variety of medical conditions. Methods. Rising second-year medical students who had served as counselors for 1 week at a medical specialty camp were invited to participate. We conducted a 2-part qualitative study using on-site focus groups and follow-up individual interviews. Results. Nine medical students participated. Students described their experience as motivating and career reinforcing. It helped them “move beyond the textbook” and deepened their commitment to serving future patients with compassion. One theme that emerged was the idea that their camp experience fostered the development of their professional identities. Conclusions. A 1-week, immersive community service experience at a medical specialty camp played a role in influencing the early formative professional identities of rising second-year medical students. Medical schools could use camps as a promising community service-learning experien...
Apoptosis in decidual tissue regression and reorganization.

During blastocyst implantation, cellular degeneration of decidual tissue spreads from the antimesometrial region to the mesometrial region to accommodate the developing conceptus. To identify the mechanism of decidual regression and its tissue localization, decidual formation was induced in either intact pseudopregnant rats or ovariectomized rats treated with steroids. Antimesometrial and mesometrial cells were separated by elutriation and cultured for 48 h before DNA analysis. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was observed in antimesometrial cells, whereas DNA fragmentation was less marked in mesometrial cells. To determine whether a similar pattern of apoptosis occurred during decidual development in vivo, decidua tissues from antimesometrial and mesometrial regions were obtained on days 8-14. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was first detected on day 10 in the antimesometrial region, with fragmentation in the mesometrial region delayed by at least 24 h. DNA fragmentation increased in both tissues with time, b...
Adaptive Testing: The Evolution of a Good Idea

The psychometric requirements for adaptive testing are reviewed and the historical antecedents are considered. An analysis of these two factors reveals the importance of the concept of the item/person interaction. Future areas for advancement of adaptive testing are discussed.
Stories, big and small: Toward a synthesis

Michael Bamberg’s article “Who am I? Narration and its contribution to self and identity” is an important attempt to locate the fashioning of self and identity in those sorts of local, relational, ...
Computation of the 2-D system frequency response

A technique for the computation of the magnitude and phase of 2-D systems is presented. This technique is based on the extension of the 1-D algorithm described by R.A. Richards and C.T. Mullis (1987). The algorithm does not require any complex arithmetic and can be programmed more efficiently than the conventional method, using a personal computer with the necessary hardware to perform floating-point arithmetic operations. >
A duration analysis of congressional widows’ careers

The extensive congressional politics literature on House member retirement has yet to consider an important and unique subgroup of members – congressional widows. Using a semi-parametric Cox Model, this paper examines the duration of widows’ careers in the United States House of Representatives. Of particular concern are the relationships between years in office and age, education, region, prior political experience, committee positions, career ceilings, majority/minority status, and majority party size. We find that age, region, and majority party size are most relevant to understanding lengths of widows’ careers. In doing so, we contribute to the literature on political widows, gender in politics, as well as more general scholarship centered on congressional careers.
Measurement of Individual Hydrometeor Absorption Cross Sections Utilizing Microwave Cavity Perturbation Techniques

A technique for measurement of individual hydrometeor absorption cross sections is presented. Cross sections are inferred by inserting the hydrometeor into a high Q resonant cavity and measuring the Q perturbation. Tests were conducted in a 10.64 GHz, TM(010) cavity. Absorption cross sections were measured at room temperature for 0.5 to 2.0 mm water drops, and were found to agree with the Rayleigh theory. Cross sections were also measured as a function of temperature, and from these the dielectric loss term lm(-K) was inferred for supercooled water down to -17 C.
An Analysis of the Split Hopkinson Bar Technique for Strain-Rate-Dependent Material Behavior

Abstract : The validity of the split Hopkinson bar technique for determining dynamic material behavior is examined for speciment materials which exhibit strain-rate dependent mechanical behavior. The torsional mode of deformation is chosen as more closely representing a one-dimensional state of stress. The details of the propagation and reflection of stress waves within the specimen are studied using a numerical procedure based on the method of characteristics. Reconsitituted stress- strain curves calculated from the conventional analysis of the split Hopkinson bar experiment are compared with actual material behavior for a number of simulated experiments involving variations in input stress, gage length, material behavior, and static stress-strain curves including statically prestressed materials. The validity of the experimental technique is discussed and limitations on its use are delinaeated. (Author-PL)
Combined Pressure Control/High Frequency Ventilation in Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Sickle Cell Anemia

Acute chest syndrome complicating sickle cell anemia may progress to adult respiratory distress syndrome despite appropriate therapy. Extra-alveolar air leaks may complicate the care of these patients as conventional mechanical ventilation becomes increasingly difficult. We successfully treated a child with sickle cell anemia, acute chest syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and severe extra-alveolar air leaks using a new combined mode ventilatory approach: pressure control with high-frequency ventilation.
Sonographic Detection and Clinical Importance of Growth Restriction in Pregnancies With Gastroschisis.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to estimate the utility of sonography to detect small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates in pregnancies with gastroschisis and to evaluate neonatal outcomes according to birth weight percentile. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies with fetal gastroschisis delivered at our hospital between August 1997 and December 2012. Diagnosis of growth restriction was based on estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile using the nomogram of Hadlock et al (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985; 151:333-337), evaluated at 4-week intervals throughout gestation and compared with subsequent birth weight, to evaluate the accuracy of sonography to detect and exclude SGA neonates. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were evaluated according to birth weight percentile. RESULTS There were 111 births with gastroschisis (6 per 10,000), and one-third (n = 37) had birth weight below the 10th percentile. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of sonography for an SGA neonate both approached 90% by 32 weeks and were approximately 95% thereafter. Detection increased with advancing gestational age (P = .02). The birth weight percentile was not associated with preterm birth, infection, bowel complications requiring surgery, duration of hospitalization, or perinatal mortality. Delayed closure of the gastroschisis defect was more frequent with birth weights at or below the 3rd percentile (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Sonography reliably identified SGA neonates with gastroschisis in our series, and its utility improved with advancing gestation. Apart from delayed closure of the defect, a low birth weight percentile was not associated with an increased risk of morbidity or mortality in the immediate neonatal period.
A fully discrete adjoint method for optimization of flow problems on deforming domains with time-periodicity constraints

Abstract A variety of shooting methods for computing fully discrete time-periodic solutions of partial differential equations, including Newton–Krylov and optimization-based methods, are discussed and used to determine the periodic, compressible, viscous flow around a 2D flapping airfoil. The Newton–Krylov method uses matrix-free GMRES to solve the linear systems of equations that arise in the nonlinear iterations, with matrix-vector products computed via the linearized sensitivity evolution equations. The adjoint method is used to compute gradients for the gradient-based optimization shooting methods. The Newton–Krylov method is shown to exhibit superior convergence to the optimal solution for these fluid problems, and fully leverages quality starting data. The central contribution of this work is the derivation of the adjoint equations and the corresponding adjoint method for fully discrete, time-periodically constrained partial differential equations. These adjoint equations constitute a linear, two-point boundary value problem that is provably solvable. The periodic adjoint method is used to compute gradients of quantities of interest along the manifold of time-periodic solutions of the discrete partial differential equation, which is verified against a second-order finite difference approximation. These gradients are then used in a gradient-based optimization framework to determine the energetically optimal flapping motion of a 2D airfoil in compressible, viscous flow over a single cycle, such that the time-averaged thrust is identically zero. In less than 20 optimization iterations, the flapping energy was reduced nearly an order of magnitude and the thrust constraint satisfied to 5 digits of accuracy.
Association of plasma parathyroid hormone with metabolic syndrome and risk for cardiovascular disease.

Abstract Objective To review the current literature investigating the association of plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods We conducted a search of PubMed and Medline database using the terms hyperparathyroidism, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyper-glycemia, and CVD. We reviewed relevant studies from 2004 to 2012. Results The current literature assessing the association of plasma PTH levels with metabolic syndrome and CVD is inconsistent; however, positive associations among hyperparathyroidism, metabolic syndrome, and CVD were found in a majority of the studies. The differences in the study populations may partly explain the mixed results. Conclusion In the general population, a high serum PTH level predisposes patients to CVD mortality. Further research is needed to determine the role of PTH in the etiology of metabolic syndrome and CVD. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:712-717)
Concise Syntheses of bis-Strychnos Alkaloids (−)-Sungucine, (−)-Isosungucine, and (−)-Strychnogucine B from (−)-Strychnine

The first chemical syntheses of complex, bis-Strychnos alkaloids (-)-sungucine (1), (-)-isosungucine (2), and (-)-strychnogucine B (3) from (-)-strychnine (4) is reported. Key steps included (1) the Polonovski-Potier activation of strychnine N-oxide; (2) a biomimetic Mannich coupling to forge the signature C23-C5' bond that joins two monoterpene indole monomers; and (3) a sequential HBr/NaBH3 CN-mediated reduction to fashion the ethylidene moieties in 1-3. DFT calculations were employed to rationalize the regiochemical course of reactions involving strychnine congeners.
Salado: The View from Point of Pines

ABSTRACTA discussion of the pottery from the Point of Pines area is presented. The Salado and White Mountain wares are also briefly discussed. Finally, the relationship between the Salado pottery and the Point of Pines sequence is summarized.
Reward and Decision Encoding in Basal Ganglia: Insights From Optogenetics and Viral Tracing Studies in Rodents

Abstract For the past several decades, electrophysiologists have taught us much about how the brain works by recording from neurons [1] , [2] . In most cases, however, we have not known what types of neuron we were recording from, or what those neurons were connected to in the rest of the brain. To truly understand a circuit, we need to record from neurons with knowledge of their cell type and patterns of connectivity. Furthermore, the ability to manipulate the activity of specific neural types provides an important means to test hypotheses of circuit function. With the advent of optogenetics, molecular techniques, and more sophisticated tracing protocols, we have finally begun to take these steps. Here we highlight advances in the physiology, function, and circuit mechanism of decision-making, focusing especially on the involvement of dopamine and its major recipient area, the striatum.
Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Teachers of Singing and Voice Students

Summary Objectives Singers and voice teachers are exposed to a range of noise levels during a normal working day. This study aimed to assess the hearing thresholds in a large sample of generally healthy professional voice teachers and voice students to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in this population. Study Design A cross-sectional study was carried out. Methods Voice teachers and vocal students had the option to volunteer for a hearing screening of six standard frequencies in a quiet room with the Shoebox audiometer (Clearwater Clinical Limited) and to fill out a brief survey. Data were analyzed for the prevalence and severity of hearing loss in teachers and students based on several parameters assessed in the surveys. All data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp.) and SPSS Statistics Software (IBM Corp.). Results A total of 158 participants were included: 58 self-identified as voice teachers, 106 as voice students, and 6 as both. The 6 participants who identified as both, were included in both categories for statistical purposes. Of the 158 participants, 36 had some level of hearing loss: 51.7% of voice teachers had hearing loss, and 7.5% of voice students had hearing loss. Several parameters of noise exposure were found to positively correlate with hearing loss and tinnitus ( P P Conclusions Hearing loss in a cohort of voice teachers appears to be more prevalent and severe than previously thought. There is a significant association between years teaching and hearing loss. Raising awareness in this population may prompt teachers and students to adopt strategies to protect their hearing.
Inflammatory effusion of the temporomandibular joint with intracranial extension into the middle fossa: Case report and literature review

Abstract Herein we report an unusual case of a 60-year-old female with headache and jaw pain found to have a peripherally enhancing subtemporal lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. The patient underwent craniotomy for resection of this extradural lesion. Pathology confirmed the lesion as benign cyst components. There were no complications during surgery and the patient remained neurologically intact. The subject's headaches resolved with marginally improved jaw pain. Follow-up imaging at two years after surgery showed no lesion or recurrence of effusion. The final diagnosis was an inflammatory effusion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that resulted in intracranial extension by erosion through the skull base. Surgical resection via temporal craniotomy proved to be a safe and effective means of diagnosis and treatment with good long-term results.
Estimates of Screening Benefit: The Randomized Trials of Breast Cancer Screening

Abstract The benefits of mammography screening have been studied in nine randomized controlled trials comparing women randomized to screening or nonscreening groups. Randomized controlled trials are regarded as the strongest study design to determine effectiveness because they are less susceptible to bias than other study designs. The trials began between 1965 and 1991, and involved over 600,000 women in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Sweden. The trials varied in their recruitment of women, the number of women enrolled, and randomization. Major limitations include comparability of screening and nonscreening groups, clinical relevance to current populations and practice, and whether the effects of screening in trials differ from the general population. Results indicate reduced breast cancer mortality with screening that varies by age. Results for ages 40–49 and 50–59 years are of borderline statistical significance and vary by how cases were accrued in trials; estimates for age 70–74 years are limited by the small number of trial participants. All-cause mortality was not reduced with screening, while advanced breast cancer was reduced for women age 50 and older, but not younger women.
Reflected Backward SDEs

In this chapter we introduce (one-dimensional) reflected BSDEs, motivated by American option pricing. We shall establish its well-posedness, a priori estimates, as well as its connection with PDEs.
Robert Oppenheim, Kyongju Things: Assembling Places.

The title, Kyongju Things, Assembling Places, signals two subjects of interest for EASTS: conflicts over the legacies of the ancient capital of Silla versus development (especially the routing of t...
Who Cyber-Attacked Ken Zeran, and Why?

In 1995, Ken Zeran was the victim of a vicious and anonymous online impersonation attack on America Online (AOL). The Fourth Circuit held that 47 USC 230 precluded Zeran's lawsuit against AOL -- a ruling that has emerged as one of the most important Internet Law rulings of all time. By mining Ken Zeran's deposition transcription, this essay explores one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in Internet law: who attacked Ken Zeran, and why?