cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fragments from the Origins of the Solar System and our Interstellar Locale (FOSSIL): A Cometary, Asteroidal, and Interstellar Dust Mission Concept

Deciphering the composition of interstellar, cometary, and asteroidal dust offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the origin and evolution of our solar system. The goal of the Fragments from the Origins of the Solar System and our Interstellar Locale (FOSSIL) mission is to confirm or disprove expectations that comets deliver fragments of pristine material, that is the most carbon rich and least aqueously altered matter from the early stages of solar system formation, as opposed to asteroidal matter that is heat-treated, carbon-poor, and aqueously altered. The FOSSIL mission concept is designed to unambiguously identify, and comprehensively explore the makeup of interstellar dust particles (ISD) flowing through our solar system today, delivering matter closest to the original solid building blocks of our solar system. The FOSSIL mission concept would comprehensively survey the compositional diversity of a broad range of bodies in our solar system and beyond, returning a powerful set of measurements to test the genetic relationships between the main reservoirs of primitive materials left over from planet formation. FOSSIL would be placed in an Earth-trailing orbit, carrying four state-of-the-art Dust Telescopes (DT) pointed anti-sunward to measure impacting dust particles' mass, composition, charge, and velocity vector. This approach connects decades of ground-based radar measurements of the speeds and directions of meteors from various sources, lacking compositional information, with decades of laboratory work on meteorites' compositions, similarly lacking dynamical information that would reveal their sources. Each DT consists of a Dust Trajectory Sensor (DTS) and an impact ionization reflectron-type time-of-flight (TOF) Composition Analyzer (CA). The DT has strong heritage from instruments already flown and in development: the Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) onboard Cassini, the Lunar Dust Experiment (LDEX) onboard the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission, and the Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) instrument for the Europa Clipper mission. FOSSIL is a low-risk mission concept that would survey the composition of the solar system's primitive material at a cost far lower than sending probes to a representative sample of small bodies. FOSSIL would go beyond the in situ measurements from Giotto, Ulysses, Stardust, Rosetta, and Cassini, to enable a breakthrough in understanding how the fine dust from comets, asteroids, and interstellar space evolves in our solar system's largest visible structure, the Zodiacal Cloud.
Evaluating the Relationship between Ceramic Wall Thickness and Heating Effectiveness, Fuel Efficiency, and Thermal Shock Resistance

In 1983, David Braun proposed that a shift from thicker- to thinner-walled cooking vessels in the midwestern United States was triggered by an increased dietary reliance on starchy grains (Braun 19...
Which types of giving are associated with reduced mortality risk among older adults

Abstract This study examined how different giving behaviors and prosocial traits earlier in life were related to later mortality risk among older adults, using the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study that has followed a randomly selected sample of U.S. high school graduates since 1957. Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to examine the unadjusted and adjusted associations between the giving-related variables at baseline and survival time during follow-up, controlling for a number of covariates (N = =3544). Giving behaviors included giving money to known others, charitable donations, giving support to friends, volunteering, and non-spousal caregiving. Prosocial traits were measured by how caring and friendly/warm the participants were in a typical week. Time-giving behaviors (i.e. caregiving, volunteering, giving support) and prosocial traits were associated with a lower mortality risk in older adults, but giving money was not. This study extends the literature by simultaneously examining a broad range of giving manifestations, which may help researchers to understand reasons for any differences in health benefits among different forms of giving. The results demonstrate that there is more than one prosocial path to longevity in later life and suggest more thoughtful and committed ways to engage in giving.
Colorectal cancer prevention by a CLEAR principles-based colonoscopy protocol: an observational study.

Background and Aims Colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention by colonoscopy has been lower than expected. We studied CRC prevention outcomes of a colonoscopy protocol based on Clean the colon, Look Everywhere, and complete Abnormality Removal (CLEAR) principles. Methods This observational follow-up study studied patients provided screening colonoscopy at a free-standing private ambulatory surgery center in South Carolina by 80 endoscopists from October 2001 to December 2014, followed through December 2015. The colonoscopy protocol, optimized for polyp clearance, featured in-person bowel preparation instructions reinforced by phone, polyp search and removal throughout insertion and gradual withdrawal with circumferential tip movements, and a team approach using all personnel present to maximize polyp detection, patient safety, and clear-margin polypectomy including requesting repeat inspection or additional tissue removal. Outcome measures were postscreening lifetime CRC risk relative to Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-18 and interval cancer rate (postcolonoscopy CRCs among cancer-free patients at screening). Results Of 25,862 patients (mean age, 58.1 years; 52% black; 205,522 person-years of observation), 159 had CRC at screening and 67 patients developed interval CRC. The interval CRC rate was 3.34 per 10,000 person-years of observation, 5.79 and 2.24 among patients with and without adenomas, respectively. The rate was similar among older patients (mean age 68.5 years at screening) and with prolonged follow-up. Postscreening lifetime CRC risk was 1.6% (bootstrap 95% confidence interval, 1.3%-1.8%) versus 4.7% in SEER-18, 67% lower. Subgroups with mean screening ages of 50 and 68.5 years showed risk reductions of 80% and 72%, respectively. The adverse event rate was less than usually reported rates: perforation 2.6 per 10,000, bleeding with hospitalization 2.4 per 10,000, and no deaths. Conclusions A colonoscopy protocol optimized for polyp clearance prevented 67% of CRC compared with a SEER-18 population given ongoing population screening.
Cross-architecture prediction based scheduling for energy efficient execution on single-ISA heterogeneous chip-multiprocessors

In recent years, single-ISA heterogeneous chip multiprocessors (CMP) consisting of big high-performance cores and small power-saving cores on the same die have been proposed for the exploration of high energy-efficiency. On such heterogeneous platforms, an appropriate runtime scheduling policy lies at the heart of program executions to benefit from the processor heterogeneity. To date, most prior works addressing this problem concentrate on the performance enhancement; however, they lack detailed justification of the runtime energy consumption and do not result in the most energy-efficient execution all the time. In this work, we pay attention to reducing the energy consumption for workloads running on heterogeneous CMPs and propose a scheduling algorithm based on dynamic execution behaviors to exploit better energy-efficiency. Our strategy is capable of significantly reducing the energy consumption while delivering comparable performance to a recently proposed heterogeneous scheduler (MLP-ratio), thus improving the energy-efficiency impressively.
Reinventing responsible innovation

As we enter the third decade of the twenty-first century, ensuring that science, technology, development, and innovation are pursued responsibly will remain as challenging as before and undoubtedly...
Chapter 1 – Basic Concepts

This introductory chapter provides basic knowledge necessary for the estimation of chemical fate and transport in the environment. A brief overview of organic and inorganic chemistry, a comparison of chemical equilibrium versus kinetics, and analytical chemistry methods are presented. Advection, turbulent and molecular diffusion, mechanical dispersion, and control volumes are defined. A table of properties of common environmental chemicals is provided. Finally, a brief introduction to error in measurements of environmental quantities is given.
The Final Touch

While Shelby’s vision of spinning out a company was closer than it ever had been, Shelby was not going to be a part of it. Barely a month after my failed trip to Ottawa to see Gregory Hansen, Shelby resigned from his position as President of MCNC and retired.
Physical model investigation of mid-scale mangrove effects on flow hydrodynamics and pressures and loads in the built environment

Abstract Large (km-scale) mangrove forests can provide protection to shorelines and near-coast structures during extreme coastal flood events, including tsunamis and tropical cyclones. However, little is known about the effects of mangroves with a modest cross-shore thickness (~10–50 m), on flow hydrodynamics and resulting inland pressures and forces on near-coast structures. We constructed a 1:16 geometric-scale physical model of a Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) fringe with modest cross-shore thickness to measure the effects of a mangrove forest's cross-shore thickness on wave attenuation and subsequent load reduction on near-coast structures, idealized during experiments with an array of cubes. Three configurations, one baseline with zero mangroves and two with mangrove cross-shore thicknesses corresponding to prototype-scale forest widths of 8.2 m and 19.0 m, were considered in front of an array of idealized slab-on-grade residential buildings. Transient wave conditions with varying incident parameters (wave amplitude, wave representative time scale, water level/mangrove emergence, and presence of a background current) were considered. Water surface elevations, water velocities, cross-shore forces, and pressures measured near and against the building array indicate that mangroves affected inland flow hydrodynamics and forces. The presence of mangroves was associated with elevated water levels and reduced peak velocities between the mangroves and inland structures. Increasing the mangrove cross-shore thickness reduced the cross-shore force on a structure by 11%–65% compared to the baseline case without mangroves. The force reduction by the mangrove configurations varied with incident wave representative time scale; waves with longer representative time scales required larger cross-shore thicknesses to provide similar force reductions to those observed for shorter waves. Further investigation into a wider range of mangrove cross-shore thicknesses, trunk densities, and wave conditions is needed to inform engineering performance of natural and nature-based features for resilient coastal design.
The New Normal in Caring for Childrenin the Dental Office

The Coronavirus has thrown everyone for a loop. Families and children, people of all ages, and businesses have had to scramble...
Cabotegravir-Rilpivirine: The First Complete Long-Acting Injectable Regimen for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection.

Objective:To review the efficacy and safety of cabotegravir (CAB) with rilpivirine (RPV) in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.Data Sources:A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google S...
Survivability-Aware Design and Optimization of Distributed Supply Chain Networks in the Post COVID-19 Era

Abstract Pandemic-induced lockdowns, restrictions on commercial activities, and natural disasters can disrupt a supply chain for prolonged time periods. These disruptions signi_cantly impact the consumer demands, which in turn a_ect the capacity and pro_tability of a supply chain network. Economic survivability is the ability to maintain a net positive economic worth, or at least keeping it above a certain threshold, in the presence of sudden and prolonged disruptions that drastically reduce the product demands, prices, resource availability or others. We address the economic survivability of geographically distributed interconnected networks under demand disruptions. We formulate and incorporate the necessary conditions for ensuring economic survivability in supply chain design. The overall problem is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP). Increasing the economic survivability in general also increases the return-on-investment (ROI) and profitability. However, for multi-regional, distributed and interdependent supply chains, a more balanced distribution of investment portfolio is important to improve the local survivability of each region, but it comes at the expense of overall or global profitability. We also observe that the economic survivability is negatively impacted by over-designing a supply chain to meet excess demands (typically from spot markets). Decision-makers should balance the trade-offs between survivability and excess demand satisfaction by thoroughly assessing the probability of positive and negative demand uctuations.
Dynamics of Soil Aggregation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the factors and mechanisms governing the formation and destruction of water-stable soil aggregates. The formation and degradation of water-stable aggregates comprise a complex interrelationship of physical, biological, and chemical reactions. Agronomic systems exert pronounced effects on aggregation, but the interpretation of the controlling mechanisms in any system is complicated, by the diversity of factors, through which the effects are manifested. Aggregation, within the surface horizons of many soils, is predominantly a function of the microbiological production and decomposition of soil-binding materials. In the presence of a suitable energy source, diverse fungi, streptomycetes, and bacteria bind soil particles into water-stable aggregates. Cultivation improves aggregation when the soil moisture content falls, within a certain range, and when the soil is worked with a suitable implement. In addition to influencing the biotic and cultivation aspects of aggregation, climate-dependent environmental variables, such as moisture and temperature, play a direct role in the formation and destruction of soil aggregates.
Growth of the visual system in the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni: Accommodation

We have both measured directly and computed the amplitude of accommodation as a function of fish size to discover how the accommodative process changes during growth in the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni. We found that accommodation is achieved by lens movement in the pupillary plane along the naso-temporal axis. Accommodative lens movement is thereby directed toward a region of retinal specialization characterized by higher density of all cell types (except rods) in H. burtoni. When relaxed, the temporal retina is focused for near vision and active accommodation through lens movement adjusts the focus in the temporal retina for far vision. As the animal grows, the near and far focus points change appropriately for the fish size.
Expert Opinion in Reliability

Expert opinion can be a useful source of information for assessing reliability, provided it is obtained in a manner that minimizes common sources of bias and ambiguity. The term for obtaining expert opinion in this manner is elicitation. In reliability assessment, elicitation is most often directed at two distinct elements of expert opinion: expert judgment about the value of a specific quantity or probability of interest, or expert knowledge about the dependency structure of a system. Keywords: expert opinion; expert judgment; expert knowledge; elicitation; bias; model structure
Access Plus Security

Abstract By 2004, the 4500 + disc collection in the newly remodeled Suyematsu Music Library at Minnesota State University, Mankato, had outgrown its accession-number identification system. The authors discuss reasons for selecting ANSCR (Alpha-Numeric System for Classification of Recordings)and describe steps in the conversion procedure. A workflow, designed for one graduate student and undergraduate assistants, included installation of each CD in a Checkpoint Security case. At the conclusion of the project, the CD collection was more easily accessible, more secure, and student workers had the satisfaction of having contributed to a meaningful task.
Securing health care rights for survivors: Developing an evidence base to inform policy

Analysis of current literature on landmine/explosive remnants of war casualties in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam reveals flaws in recording systems. An integrated course of action should aid mine action and public health communities in preventing incidents and providing care to survivors.
MMT extremely metal-poor galaxy survey. I. An efficient technique for identifying metal-poor galaxies

We demonstrate a successful strategy for identifying extremely metal-poor galaxies. Our preliminary survey of 24 candidates contains 10 metal-poor galaxies of which 4 have , some of the lowest-metallicity blue compact galaxies known to date. Interestingly, our sample of metal-poor galaxies have systematically lower metallicity for their luminosity than comparable samples of blue compact galaxies, dwarf irregulars, and normal star-forming galaxies. Our metal-poor galaxies share very similar properties, however, with the host galaxies of nearby long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), including similar metallicity, stellar ages, and star formation rates. We use Hβ to measure the number of OB stars present in our galaxies and estimate a core-collapse supernova rate of ~10−3 yr−1. A larger sample of metal-poor galaxies may provide new clues about the environment where GRBs form and may provide a list of potential GRB hosts.
No Child Left Behind and the Insomnia Plague

n n 1974, Ronald Reagan called the United States a "shining city on a hill." A decade later, Mario Cuomo responded by speaking to us about another city that was not on a shining hill. His "Tale of Two Cities" speech, delivered at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, was not only moving but also haunting. In this other city he spoke about, children sleep in cars, live in dysfunctional families, and run on sensuous little streets where yellow smoke rises and reeks. In this other city, children are left behind. Yet our federal government requires schools alone to fix the effects of poverty and deprivation. Although such a task is well beyond schools' abilities (Rothstein 2004), our government requires that schools be labeled, if they fail to accomplish this task. Consequently, misperceptions that schools have squandered great and vast resources go unchallenged. However, it is our government that has failed. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) promises equality to all children and claims historic increases in funding. Secretary Rod Paige tells us that there has been a 36 percent increase in federal money since 2001 (Paige 2004). Yet the true effect of this seemingly large increase has been to increase total education spending less than 1 percent (Mathis 2004). Those in government do not remember the shabby embarrassment caused by the federal share decrease from 9.2 percent to 7.3 percent from 1981-2000 (NCES 2003). Moreover, federal projections for 2006 show total education funding going down by 3 percent (Committee for Education Funding 2004). They do not account for the fact that poor American cities have 23 percent less wealth available for schools (Education Trust 2001). They do not recall the increasing disparity between rich and poor that now leaves the United States fighting with Russia and Mexico for last place among developed countries (UNICEF 2002). In short, the federal government has not provided the resources to match their promises. But such mean and meager visions did not always so characterize our nation.
The Oregon Death with Dignity Act: The Right to Live or the Right to Die?.

Two hundred six individuals were surveyed concerning their views about the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which allows for physician-assisted suicide under certain conditions. Results indicated extensive heterogeneity and strong opinions concerning the act. Implications are discussed.
Presentation of carcinoma in a patient with a previous operation for Hirschsprung's disease

Abstract The usual complications after a definitive pull-through procedure for Hirschsprung's disease include stricture formation, enterocolitis, bowel obstruction, and, occasionally, wound infection. The authors report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma arising 32 years later at a stricture site from a previous pull-through procedure. J Pediatr Surg 36:E5. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Hodgtkin's Diseas: Pathology and Pathogenisiss

(1981). Hodgtkin's Diseas: Pathology and Pathogenisiss. CRC Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 109-131.
Intracellular calcium increases with hyperactivation in intact, moving hamster sperm and oscillates with the flagellar beat cycle.

Abstract At some time before fertilization, mammalian sperm undergo a change in movement pattern, termed hyperactivation. There is evidence that hyperactivation offers an advantage to sperm for detaching from the oviductal mucosa, for penetrating viscoelastic substances in the oviduct, and for penetrating the zona pellucida. Hyperactivation is known to require extracellular calcium, but little else is known about the mechanisms by which calcium affects sperm movement. The calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye indo-1 was used to follow intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) in individual moving sperm. Sperm were loaded with 10 microM of the acetoxymethyl ester form of the dye and then rinsed. The dye was excited at 340 nm by using a filtered xenon stroboscope, and images at the 405-nm and 490-nm excitation maxima were simultaneously digitized at 30 per sec for 2.1 sec. [Ca2+]i was significantly higher in the acrosomal and postacrosomal regions of the head and in the flagellar midpiece (the principal piece could not be measured) in hyperactivated than in nonhyperactivated sperm (P < 0.0001). [Ca2+]i oscillations were detected in the proximal half of the midpiece that were identical in frequency to the flagellar-beat-cycle frequency in 12 of 17 hyperactivated sperm (median, 3.5 Hz). Rapid [Ca2+]i oscillations were also detected in the acrosomal and postacrosomal regions, as well as in the distal midpiece. Oscillations were not eliminated by dampening the flagellar bending with methyl cellulose. The [Ca2+]i oscillations detected in sperm are significantly more rapid than oscillations detected in other cell types.
A higher degree of methylation of the HPV 16 E6 gene is associated with a lower likelihood of being diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

BACKGROUND: Although HPV 16 is the most common HPV genotype associated with cancerous lesions of the cervix, only a fraction of HPV 16 infected women are diagnosed with precancerous lesions of the cervix. Therefore, molecular changes in HPV 16, rather than infections per se, may serve as better screening or diagnostic biomarkers. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether methylation status of specific regions of the HPV E6 gene promoter and enhancer is independently associated with the likelihood of being diagnosed with higher grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+). METHODS: The study included 75 HPV 16-positive women diagnosed with CIN 2+ or ≤CIN 1. Pyrosequencing technology was applied to quantify methylation at 6 cytosine guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites of the HPV 16 E6 promoter and enhancer. CIN 2+ (yes/no) was the dependent variable in logistic regression models that specified the degree of methylation of the CpG sites of the HPV 16 E6 gene as the primary independent predictors. All models were adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, known risk factors for cervical cancer, and circulating concentrations of “cancer-protective” micronutrients. RESULTS: The odds of being diagnosed with CIN 2+ were 79% lower when the degree of methylation of the HPV 16 enhancer and promoter sites was ≥9.5% (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.79; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggested that CpG methylation is independently involved in the biology of HPV 16 as well as in the development of higher grades of CIN. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Microporous membrane formation via thermally-induced phase separation. IV. Effect of isotactic polypropylene crystallization kinetics on membrane structure

Abstract Non-nucleated and nucleated isotactic polypropylene microporous membranes have been prepared via thermally-induced solid—liquid phase separation of polymer-diluent mixtures. Three linear alkanes and mineral oil were used as the diluents and adipic acid was used as the nucleating agent. The membranes were formed under isothermal and non-isothermal crystallizing conditions. Membrane structures as determined by scanning electron microscope depended on polymer concentration, cooling rate, and the addition of nucleating agent.
Antiferromagnetic conductivity mode in the modified Heusler alloy UNiSn.

We report reflectivity measurements on UNiSn and ThNiSn compounds in the frequency range 10--700 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ at temperatures 10--300 K, and 10--45 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ at room temperature. The results are consistent with the observed semiconductor-to-metal transition in the UNiSn system below the 43-K N\'eel temperature, and with the semiconducting behavior of the ThNiSn compound. A single phonon line was observed in the ThNiSn system at all temperatures, whereas two lines, at 157 and 175 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, in UNiSn split into four lines below the N\'eel temperature. At the lowest temperatures, the conductivity of UNiSn shows a mode at 18 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ which is attributed to the antiferromagnetic transition.
Dominant Slowly Progressive Macular Dystrophy

Twenty-three members of one white family were studied for a new form of dominant slowly progressive macular dystrophy in which visual acuity remained good until the seventh decade. Ten patients had positive signs of this entity. Eight patients had possible early forms. Five had no signs. Several patients had visual acuity fluctuations, documented by their ophthalmologists who saw associated pigment epithelial alterations in some cases. Obvious macular changes included perifoveal pigment epithelial atrophy, posterior pole flecks, and fundus lesions resembling an atrophic form of senile macular degeneration. We suggest a possible hereditary predisposition to senile macular degeneration in our patients.
The quenching of anthracene triplets by ground-state anthracene

Abstract The first-order decay constant, k dt , of anthracene triplets, 3 A*, in benzene depends linearly on ground-state anthracene, 1 A, concentration: k dt = k dt o + k sq [ 1 A], where k dt o = 49 ± 12 s −1 and k sq = (3.19 ± 0.10) × 10 5 M −1 s −1 at 23°C. The actual involvement of 1 A in the quenching process is unequivocally established by varying [ 1 A] in situ through a sequence of partial photodimerization steps. The temperature dependence of k sq being normal, k sq = 3.89 × 10 8 exp (−4.19/ RT ), while not precluding it, does not require formation of triplet anthracene excimer. Less extensive but similar results are reported with cyclohexane and ethanol as solvents.
Biodegradation of mono-hydroxylated PCBs by Burkholderia xenovorans.

Three hydroxylated derivatives of PCBs, 2′-hydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl (2′-OH-4-CB), 3′-hydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl (3′-OH-4-CB), and 4′-hydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl (4′-OH-4-CB), were transformed by the PCB degrader, Burkholderia xenovorans. When the bacterium was growing on biphenyl (biphenyl pathway-inducing conditions), all three hydroxylated isomers were transformed. However, only 2′-OH-4-CB was transformed by the bacterium growing on succinate (conditions non-inductive of the biphenyl pathway). Gene expression analyses showed a strong induction of key genes of the biphenyl pathway (bph) when cells were grown on biphenyl, which is consistent with the transformation of the three isomers by biphenyl-grown cells. When cells were grown on succinate, only exposure to 2′-OH-4-CB resulted in expression of biphenyl pathway genes, which suggests that this isomer was capable of inducing the biphenyl pathway. These results provide the first evidence that bacteria are able to metabolize PCB derivatives hydroxylated on the non-chlorinated ring.
Lexical cohesion in multilingual conversation

Many studies have shown intersentential codeswitching to be related to conversational structure. In this paper, I argue that insertion can be explained in these terms as well. Drawing on Halliday's...
Posttranslational protein modifications, apoptosis, and the bypass of tolerance to autoantigens.

The role of apoptosis or programmed cell death in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases hab been an active area of research, and advances in the field were reviewed in a recent issue of Arthritis & Rlieurrintisrn (I). Defect5 in the regulation of apoptosis have been observed in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic tissues derived from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a dibcase characterized by immune abnormalities that allow the production of antinuclear antibodies directed against self antigens, particularly RNP complexes (23). In this review, we discuss the role of cell death in the generation of autoantibodies in patients with SLE and scleroderma, and wc present a unifying hypothesis to explain how defective apoptosis or ineffectivc clearance of apoptotic cells and modified autoantigens might contribute to the bypass of tolerance that is required for autoantibody formation.
The comparative effects of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and its metabolites, 3-chloro-1,2-propaneoxide (epichlorohydrin), 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (alphachlorohydrin), and oxalic acid, on the urogenital system of male rats.

Abstract Reported similarities in the acute toxic effects of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 3-chloro-1,2-propaneoxide (epichlorohydrin, ECH), 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (alphachlorohydrin, ACH), and oxalic acid (OA) have been suggested as presumptive evidence that the metabolism of DBCP to OA, via ECH and ACH, is the cause of the resulting injuries to the kidney and, perhaps, to the epididymis and testis. To test this hypothesis, the comparative toxicities of these four chemicals were studied in male rats after single subcutaneous (sc) injections of maximally tolerated (nonlethal) doses. Kidney, testicular, and liver functions were monitored, and the occurrences of morphological changes in these and several other organs were evaluated 24 hr, 3, 8, 25, and 75 days post-treatment. DBCP caused renal dysfunction (alterations in urine composition and reduced glomerular filtration rate) and marked necrosis of the proximal tubular epithelium in the outer medulla of the kidney. ACH and OA also elicited renal dysfunction, but ACH produced only a mild swelling of the proximal tubular epithelium in the renal cortex and OA produced a focal necrosis anatomically associated with crystal deposition. ECH caused a swelling of the proximal tubular epithelium in the renal cortex, but not frank kidney dysfunction. DBCP also caused a reversible vacuolization of the tubular epithelium in the caput epididymis, progressive testicular atrophy, and a reduction of cauda epididymal sperm concentration. ACH and ECH produced similar effects, as well as epididymal sperm granulomas, spermatocoeles, and an increase in the number of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. OA failed to produce discernible epididymal or testicular lesions at any time during the study. The development of similar lesions in the epididymis and testis following DBCP, ECH, or ACH treatments is consistent with the theory of metabolism of these chemicals to a common causative gonadotoxic agent. Oxalic acid (OA), however, would not appear to be the common gonadal toxicant. Differences in the effects, both morphological and functional, of DBCP, ECH, ACH, and OA on the kidney, moreover, indicate that DBCP nephropathy is not mediated through metabolism to OA and suggest, as well, that it differs causally from that induced by ECH or ACH. Therefore, the metabolism of DBCP to ECH or ACH, and of ECH or ACH to OA, is insufficient to explain totally the toxic effects of these agents on the urogenital system in male rats.
Book Review: Muslim Devotional Art in India

YOUSUF SAEED, Muslim Devotional Art in India, New Delhi: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2012, pp. 209.
Reconciling the theory and practice schism in educational administration through practitioner‐developed theories in practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the international debate over the university as the service provider for school administrator preparation programs from the United States perspective.Design/methodology/approach – The author's approach is that of using historical analysis in developing a conceptual position: the author argues that the university professoriate in the United States now has little choice but to heal the historic rift between theory and practice if it wants to survive this current ideological era characterized by accountability for public schools to improve student outcomes and by the competitive marketplace.Findings – The author's analysis consists of four separate explications. He first explains the genesis of the schism between theory and practice endemic to all professional schools: 19th century Positivism and early 20th century Technical Rationality. Second, he points out that the university, which traditionally protected education administration programs from const...
Simplified Numerical Models for Complex Air Supply Diffusers

Correct description of the flow and thermal information for an air supply diffuser is important for reliably predicting room air distribution by using computational fluid dynamics. Simplified methods that can be used to describe flow and thermal information from eight commonly used diffusers were developed in this study. The investigation used the box and momentum methods. The corresponding experimental data on airflow and temperature distributions from an environmental chamber have been used to validate the numerical methods. The box method with an appropriate box size is satisfactory for most of the diffusers. The momentum method performs well for five diffusers. Because the momentum method is simpler than the box method, the momentum method should be used whenever it is applicable.
Antigen-binding cells in central and peripheral lymphoid tissues of the rabbit.

Abstract The rosette assay was used to study antigen-binding activity by cells in lymphoid tissues of rabbits immunized with sheep red blood cells and in unimmunized controls. Percentages of rosette-forming cells (RFC) observed were compared with those of cells which secreted antibody (plaque-forming cells, PFC) and cells which both bound antigen and secreted antibody. Rosette-forming cells and PFC were shown to be two distinct reactive cell populations. Thus, in the spleen less than 1% of RFC also formed plaques. Immediately following antigen stimulation, the number of RFC in the bone marrow decreased to below detectable limits. After an initial rise, the number of RFC in the appendix declined similarly. In contrast, RFC levels in the spleen rose steadily from the time of immunization. These patterns suggest that bone marrow and appendix may function as a reservoir of antigen-binding cells which are released to other sites following antigenic stimulation. Rosette-forming cells were rarely observed in the thymus. Rosette-inhibition studies using antisera specific for bone marrow-derived cells (anti-B) and thymus-derived cells (anti-T) revealed a markedly greater proportion of T-RFC in the appendix than in the spleen.
Ross's antinomy and modal arguments for God's existence

In his book Philosophical Theology, James Ross offers a modal argument for the existence of God which leads to an antinomy.1 This antinomy and the problems derived from it exhibit the impossibility of successfully completing a modal argument for God's existence. Other philosophers have proposed versions of the modal argument for God's existence, but none have shown as keen an understanding of the argument or have developed it as thoroughly as Ross has.2 Ross's version of the argument is the strongest version of the argument and so if his argument is not successful, none will be and that his is not successful and could never be successful will be established in this paper. The argument in question is presented by Ross on pages 131-132 of Philosophical Theology and is essentially the following:
Using eye tracking to investigate important cues for representative creature motion

We present an experiment designed to reveal some of the key features necessary for conveying creature motion. Humans can reliably identify animals shown in minimal form using Point Light Display (PLD) representations, but it is unclear what information they use when doing so. The ultimate goal for this research is to find recognizable traits that may be communicated to the viewer through motion, such as size and attitude and then to use that information to develop a new way of creating and managing animation and animation controls. The aim of this study was to investigate whether viewers use similar visual information when asked to identify or describe animal motion PLDs and full representations. Participants were shown 20 videos of 10 animals, first as PLD and then in full resolution. After each video, participants were asked to select descriptive traits and to identify the animal represented. Species identification results were better than chance for six of the 10 animals when shown PLD. Results from the eye tracking show that participants' gaze was consistently drawn to similar regions when viewing the PLD as the full representation.
Laparoscopic renal surgery after spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the role of laparoscopic management in patients following spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage from a renal tumor.Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review revealed 4 patients with spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage treated at our institution in the last 2 years. After conservative management elsewhere patients were referred for definitive therapy. Patient characteristics and tumor size were examined and correlated with ease of surgical dissection and surgical outcome. No patient had any history of trauma. Computerized tomography was used to identify the initial extent of hemorrhage in all patients.Results: All patients underwent successful laparoscopic exploration without the need for open conversion. Three patients underwent radical nephrectomy and 1 underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Renal hemorrhage extending outside of the renal capsule was associated with significantly more adhesions than renal hemorrhage confined to the renal capsule. Mean patie...
Improving transportation projects using laser scanning

This paper describes a case study investigating the use of laser scanning to acquire design and construction data. It is intended for both industry practitioners and academics who are interested in this relatively new technology. Included is a brief description of the technology, discussion of the case study, lessons learned, and results. Projects in the case study included an intersection, highway, pair of bridges, new pavement, bridge beams, a stockpile, and a borrow pit so that different perspectives (elevation, smoothness, camber, and volume) of the application were tested. The study proved that laser scanning is ideally suited for measuring the volume of soil and rock, determining road surface elevations and bridge beam camber, and assisting in the creation of as-built drawings in a three-dimensional environment. It was discovered that this technique can be used quite effectively for safer and more accurate construction measurement. Time requirements, cost comparisons to photogrammetry, and limitations are also discussed.
Diffusion effects in the preparation of impregnated catalysts

Abstract The distribution of metal within silver-alumina catalysts was studied using autoradiography. When the solute in the impregnating solution was strongly adsorbed on a high-surface-area support, the distributions agreed with predictions from the transient diffusion equations. For low-surface-area supports, mass transfer during drying gave irregular distributions. Theory and results are also given for distribution of metal resulting from fast reaction of a dissolved salt and a reducing agent within the support particle.
Would Different Routine Precordial Electrode Positions Be More Useful? Answer: Not Likely

There are reasons to wonder if the current precordial electrode positions are the best ones to study the electrical forces of the heart. Theoretically, more horizontal electrode positions and several superior and inferior electrode positions that are perpendicular to the horizontally placed electrode positions should make a superior lead system. A study was designed to determine if that was true. The result of the study indicated that such a system did not solve all of the problems that were posed by the current system. Although the new system was easier to use, the findings did not justify a change from the presently used system of precordial electrode placement.
Accurate energy levels for neutral platinum

High-resolution spectra of a platinum hollow-cathode lamp were obtained from 215 to 3100 nm with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. More than 320 Pt i lines were measured and used to derive accurate energy levels for 30 even and 52 odd levels. Ritz wavelength standards for Pt i in the vacuum ultraviolet were calculated.
A method allowing intracellular and extracellular single-unit recordings from brain slices in the grease-gap chamber

The grease-gap chamber makes it possible to perfuse two parts of a brain slice separately. Hence, it lies between bath application and iontophoresis or pressure ejection in terms of the size of the region that receives controlled drug dosing. Modifications of a commercially available chamber are described which have permitted the first extracellular and intracellular single-unit recordings to be taken from brain slices in a grease-gap preparation. In addition, we describe the electrical resistance of the gap as a measure of the integrity of the barrier and a simple method for monitoring this resistance continuously. The resistance monitor is particularly useful during low flow rate conditions that improve mechanical stability. These techniques extend the grease-gap method to electrophysiological studies of single cells in slices.
Successful treatment of mucous membrane pemphigoid with tacrolimus

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a heterogeneous group of autoimmune, chronic inflammatory ubepithelial vesiculobullous disorders, predominantly affects the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and eyes of the elderly population. Oral manifestations of pemphigoid include desquamative gingivitis, ulcers, erythematous patches, erosions, vesicles and bullae located on the attached gingiva, palate, buccal mucosa, labial mucosa, and tongue. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical features and a biopsy stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and also direct and indirect immunofluorescence. Topical and systemic corticosteroids are the most commonly used medications for managing pemphigoid. Recently, topical tacrolimus has been successfully used in the treatment of ocular and skin pemphigoid. In this report we present a patient with longterm recalcitrant MMP that did not respond to conventional treatment but as treated successfully with tacrolimus ointment.
A plan for worldwide protection against asteroid impacts

Abstract Compelling evidence of a catastrophic asteroid impact on Earth 65 million years ago has given rise to international discussions on the likelihood, consequences and prevention of future impacts. An example plan, based on international cooperation and for discussion purposes only, is presented outlining an approach to study the problems of asteroid detection, laboratory experimentation, and defence.
Obesity and dental caries in children aged 2-6 years in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.

Objective: This study assessed the associations between obesity and dental caries in young children participating in a national survey. Methods: Participants included 1,507 children aged 2-6 years who received dental examinations and had at least 10 primary teeth in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002. Decayed/filled teeth (dft) counts of primary dentition were obtained, and weight and height were measured. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) was calculated, and participants were categorized using age- and gender-specific criteria as underweight ( 85th and 5 dft. When caries experience was compared across BMI categories stratified by age and race characteristics, statistically significant association between caries and obesity was found only for 60- <72-month age group. In the comparison between children with normal and at-risk BMI only, significant associations were also found in the Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black strata. In multivariable logistic regression models to predict caries experience, family income and age were statistically significant predictors for severe early childhood caries only. Conclusions: There appears to be no significant association between childhood obesity and caries experience after controlling for age, race, and poverty/income ratio. However, further studies are needed to better understand this relationship.
Conversion of kinetic energy to internal energy in the 2-pentanone molecular ion at threshold in low-energy collisions with helium target atoms

Abstract Values of the threshold kinetic energy for formation of m/z 58 and m/z 43 from 2-pentanone molecular ion after collisional activation (CA) with He were studied in a hybrid tandem quadrupole system. These values indicate that the fraction of kinetic energy converted to internal energy and available for fragmentation is 0.14–0.25. Onset of conversion to internal energy through an electronically excited state was observed at 2.0 eV. Uses of He and heavier gases as collision gases in low-energy CA are projected to differ, He being used to screen classes of compounds and heavier gases to provide more complete structural information for ions.
Matsya: A Cultural Game of Flow and Balance

Matsya is a group project developed by seven students over two terms in a course on game design at Drexel University. Inspired by the Hindu Flood Myth, all art assets were developed to reflect design styles found in Indian culture. Intended to be played on iPad and to evoke a sense of balance and flow, the player must spin rings of water to help a fisherman catch fish and survive, while making sure not to overfish in the process. One of the primary intentions of the game's design is to introduce the player to aspects of a culture under-represented in Western games.
Adolescents Are Young Adults, Not Immature Brains

When G. Stanley Hall (1904) wrote the first book on adolescence at the turn of the 20th century, he was describing a new cultural phenomenon that had emerged in the United States and other industri...