cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A multidisciplinary engineering capstone design course: A case study for design-based approach:

The presented work describes the development of an engineering capstone course with multidisciplinary design projects and students’ teams. The course is offered for senior-level engineering student...
ECHO Autism: Integrating Maintenance of Certification with Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Improves Developmental Screening.

Objective Recent estimates indicate that most pediatricians do not consistently meet the American Academy of Pediatrics developmental screening guidelines, contributing to the delay of vital evaluations and interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our objective was to evaluate the utility of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Quality Improvement (QI) training designed to improve developmental screening rates in underserved, rural primary care practices. Trainings on best screening practices were disseminated to primary care providers (PCPs) through Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Autism, a virtual learning network. Method Across 2 cohorts, 24 PCPs were enrolled in MOC Part 4 training modules delivered through the ECHO Autism QI Learning Network. Throughout the 12 months of enrollment, PCPs reported information on general and ASD-specific developmental screenings conducted at 18- and 24-month well-child visits. A 1-year follow-up was conducted to assess the maintenance of screening rates. Results Baseline rates for general and ASD-specific developmental screenings were 53.3% and 68.3%, respectively. By the end of the 12-month learning module, screening rates increased significantly for general development (88.6%) and ASD-specific screenings (99.0%). At the 1-year follow-up, the rate for general developmental screening was 96.7% and for ASD-specific screening was 97.1%. Conclusion Maintenance of Certification Part 4 training delivered through the ECHO Autism QI Learning Network was found to be incentivizing and highly effective in shaping and maintaining PCP developmental screening practices. Improved screening rates show promise in decreasing time to critical developmental evaluations, interventions, and resources. Our methodology is likely transferable to other ECHO communities and may facilitate expedient implementation of best practice standards in primary care.
Revisiting Sustained Phonation Time of /s/, /z/, and /a/.

Summary Purpose Research studies of maximum phonation time, have questioned its validity and value as a tool to assess laryngeal competence. This study proposes a fresh look at phonation time, from a different perspective. The interrelationships of the durations between semiocclusion vs. open vocal tract (/s/-/z/ vs. /a/) and voiced vs voiceless (/z/-/a/ vs. /s/) sound are examined to determine whether this approach might provide additional clinical insight into the respiratory phonatory efficiency of patients. Methods Comfortable sustained phonation time of /s/, /z/ and /a/ was collected as part of the voice evaluation of patients referred by laryngologists for voice therapy. Inclusionary criteria: male and female subjects 19 years of age or older. Exclusionary criteria: autoimmune disorders, malignancies, major pulmonary/respiratory disorders. Results A total of 218 patients (150 females and 68 males) mean age of 53.6 met all the criteria. Means, standard deviations and t test were conducted to determine whether significant differences existed. t test results indicate significance between s/z P = 0.002 and z/a P = 0.004 for females but only slight significance in s/a P = 0.03 for males. Close analysis of individual results observed four (4) different conditions or effects of fricative/semiocclusion and voicing: the close durations of the /s/ and /z/ relative to the /a/; the /z/ and /a/ are close in duration relative to the /s/; the spread of more than 5 seconds between /s/, /z/ and /a/ relative to the others; and similar duration of /s/, /z/, and /a/. Conclusion Significant differences exist in the durations of comfortable phonation time of sustained /s/ and /z/ and /a/ thought to be related to effects of semiocclusion, fricative consonants, and voicing. Phonation time should be seen not only in terms of duration, but the interplay of the phonemic qualities of the sounds as they relate of laryngeal efficiency.
Preventing Relationship Abuse Among College Students: A Controlled Trial of the Skills for Healthy Adult Relationships (SHARe) Program:

Intimate partner violence (IPV), which includes emotional, physical, and sexual violence in casual/dating and committed relationships, occurs at disproportionately high rates among college students. Prevention in college-age years is developmentally crucial, as college is associated with IPV risk. Relationship skills training has shown preliminary efficacy in decreasing IPV among college students. This article presents data from a controlled trial of Skills for Healthy Adult Relationships (SHARe), a weekly eight-session (12-hr) group program for college students, which aims to prevent interpersonal conflict and IPV through enhancing positive communication, reducing negative communication, promoting positive relationship attitudes, and strengthening ability to self-regulate in interpersonal contexts. Sixty-two college students (54.8% female) were allocated to the SHARe group or a wait-list control by randomizing to condition and then reassigning some individuals to control based on schedule availability to attend groups. Participants completed self-report measures of positive and negative communication, interpersonal confidence, and perpetration of physical, emotional, psychological, injurious, and sexual violence at baseline, post-group, and at a 3-month follow-up. At baseline, participants reported low levels of recent severe IPV perpetration, but controls reported higher levels of emotional abuse. Analyses controlled for baseline IPV. SHARe participants reported significantly higher confidence in their ability to manage conflicts at post-intervention and significantly lower psychological aggression at the follow-up compared with wait-listed controls. At the 3-month follow-up, self-reported perpetration of psychological abuse was 1.5 times higher for wait-list controls versus SHARe participants. The findings indicate that SHARe can help college students improve their interpersonal skills and develop healthy, non-abusive relationships.
Preparing preservice teachers to use block-based coding in scientific modeling lessons

Scientific modeling and coding are critical skills to be integrated into K-12 instruction. Research has shown that preservice teachers are often ill-prepared for teaching scientific modeling, and lack opportunities to learn coding within teacher education programs. The present study reports the implementation of an instructional module and online system, called Coding in Scientific Modeling Lessons (CS-ModeL), which was designed to scaffold preservice science teachers’ learning to code simulations and design scientific modeling lessons that feature simulation coding. In this study, we examined preservice teachers’ epistemic discourse during simulation coding, perceptions of coding for future teaching, and coding-enhanced scientific modeling lessons. This was a qualitative single case study that involved six participants enrolled in a science teacher education course. Participants worked in pairs during scientific modeling activities, and each pair was considered an embedded unit within the single case. Data sources included transcripts of screen recordings captured during simulation coding, transcripts of individual semi-structured interviews, and lessons in which participants used simulation coding as part of scientific modeling activities. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. Findings revealed that participants’ epistemic discourse led to correction of science misconceptions. However, lack of debugging and conflict argumentation skills detracted from their epistemic discourse quality. Participants perceived coding as a beneficial skill for K-12 students though they voiced concerns about teaching with coding unassisted. Participants failed to design truly interdisciplinary and authentic scientific modeling activities including simulation coding. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Canonical features of human antibodies recognizing the influenza hemagglutinin trimer interface

Broadly reactive antibodies targeting the influenza A hemagglutinin (HA) head domain are thought to be rare and to require extensive somatic mutations or unusual structural features to achieve breadth against divergent HA subtypes. Here we describe common genetic and structural features of diverse human antibodies from several individuals recognizing the trimer interface (TI) of the influenza HA head, a recently identified site of vulnerability1-3. We examined the sequence of TI-reactive antibodies, determined crystal structures for TI antibody-antigen complexes, and analyzed the contact residues of the antibodies on HA to discover common genetic and structural features of TI antibodies. Our data reveal that many TI antibodies are encoded by a light chain variable gene segment incorporating a shared somatic mutation. In addition, these antibodies have a shared acidic residue in the heavy chain despite originating from diverse heavy chain variable gene segments. These studies show that the TI region of influenza HA is a major antigenic site with conserved structural features that are recognized by a common human B cell public clonotype. The canonical nature of this antibody-antigen interaction suggests that the TI epitope might serve as an important new target for structure-based vaccine design.
Corporeal Sounding: Listening to Bomba Dance, Listening to puertorriqueñxs

Afro-Puerto Rican bomba, the island’s oldest extant genre of drum, dance, and song, is a fundamentally sonic practice. Unique in the tight relation between the execution of movements and the simultaneous sounding of the lead drum, bomba dance enacts a challenge to the Western focus on the visual spectacle of dancing and draws attention to what Ashon Crawley calls the “choreosonic,” or the inextricable linking of movement and sound. Bomba dance attends to creating rhythmic variation through specific movement choices strategically placed within and simultaneously producing the sonic framework of drumming and dancing. As such, it requires a listening that ultimately structures a relationality that interrupts the colonial, white supremacist and heteropatriarchal logic that contains Puerto Rican bodies. Through a close reading of different bomba dancings, this article examines how the dancer’s sounded movements claim, not space itself, but a relation to space and place, pulling bodies into the social and unravelling temporal boundedness. It argues that bomba’s growing popularity on the island and in the diaspora is a measure of its capacity for “listening to flesh,” “listening to flesh speak,” underscoring how this particularly addresses and is attuned to a subaltern, racialized, and femme-identified flesh. As such, bomba is an important case study examining the intersections between sound studies and performance studies, blurring clear distinctions between listening to and doing sound.
Toward intra-operative 4-dimensional soft tissue perfusion imaging using a standard x-ray system with no gantry rotation: a proof of concept

Many interventional procedures aim at changing soft tissue perfusion or blood flow. One problem at present is that soft tissue perfusion and its changes cannot be assessed in an interventional suite because cone-beam computed tomography is too slow (it takes 4–10 s per volume scan). In order to address the problem, we propose a novel method called IPEN for Intra-operative 4-dimensional soft tissue PErfusion using a standard x-ray system with No gantry rotation. In this simulation study, we provide a proof-of-concept that the core ideas work.
Growth and defense inform large sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) mortality in a fire‐excluded forest of the central Sierra Nevada

Large sugar pine mortality was associated with recent growth and defense measures. Many old-growth pine forests across the western United States have encountered widespread and concerning increases in tree mortality attributed to increased competition and reduced vigor associated with prolonged fire exclusion that can make trees more vulnerable to bark beetles. We investigated the importance of growth and resin duct defense on recent mortality of large sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) in a fire-excluded, mixed-conifer forest of the Sierra Nevada, in California, USA. Growth and defense were measured from tree rings for 33 pairs of live and dead sugar pine. The 10-year trend in basal area increment prior to sampling declined by 1.78 cm2 year− 1 in sugar pine that died and increased by 0.34 cm2 year− 1 in paired live sugar pine. The 10-year trend in resin duct total area showed declines of 0.0154 mm2 year− 1 in trees that died and increases of 0.0068 mm2 year− 1 in trees that survived. The most informative models of large sugar pine mortality included measures of both growth and defense. The top model included the trends of basal area increment and resin duct total area 10 years before mortality, and growth variability 5 years before mortality. In general, trends and variability in growth and defense over shorter time windows (< 10 years) were more informative than average measures or longer time windows. The results from our study suggest treatments that result in neutral to positive trends in allocation to growth and defense may contribute to conditions that reduce probability of mortality in the future.
The Power of a Good Story: How Narrative Techniques Can Make Transactional Documents More Persuasive

While at first glance transactional documents may seem simply like expository texts that aim to educate the audience, transactional documents are complex, multi-faceted documents. They seek to guide, inform, and influence the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of the transacting parties and third-party decision makers. In crafting transactional documents, drafters have two primary goals: to facilitate performance by the transacting parties as intended and, if necessary, to encourage third-party decision makers to interpret the document as intended. In essence, these dual goals relate directly to the persuasive nature of transactional documents. By conceptualizing transactional documents as persuasive documents, drafters can draw upon narrative-based techniques to better achieve the dual goals of transactional documents. Current scholarship on narrative techniques within the field of applied legal storytelling has largely ignored transactional drafting despite the fact that the majority of lawyers engage in transactional work. This article follows our previous publications on how transactional lawyers can more effectively draft transactional documents by incorporating narrative techniques. Our critical examination in this article of the persuasive nature of transactional documents and how narrative techniques can be used to leverage that persuasiveness will advance this discipline as well as legal writing and the practice of law more generally. A good story is compelling and a powerful means of persuading its audience to respond as the author intended. Like a good story, a transactional document can be drafted to be a powerful and persuasive document that both facilitates performance by the transacting parties and encourages third-party decision makers to interpret the document as intended.
RXMesh: a GPU mesh data structure

We propose a new static high-performance mesh data structure for triangle surface meshes on the GPU. Our data structure is carefully designed for parallel execution while capturing mesh locality and confining data access, as much as possible, within the GPU's fast "shared memory." We achieve this by subdividing the mesh into patches and representing these patches compactly using a matrix-based representation. Our patching technique is decorated with ribbons, thin mesh strips around patches that eliminate the need to communicate between different computation thread blocks, resulting in consistent high throughput. We call our data structure RXMesh: Ribbon-matriX Mesh. We hide the complexity of our data structure behind a flexible but powerful programming model that helps deliver high performance by inducing load balance even in highly irregular input meshes. We show the efficacy of our programming model on common geometry processing applications---mesh smoothing and filtering, geodesic distance, and vertex normal computation. For evaluation, we benchmark our data structure against well-optimized GPU and (single and multi-core) CPU data structures and show significant speedups.
High Larval Concentrations and Onshore Transport of Barnacle Cyprids Associated With Thermal Stratification

To better understand the hydrodynamic and hydrographic conditions experienced by larvae in the nearshore (within 1km of shore), and the role that larval behavior plays in mediating shoreward transport to adult benthic habitats, we examined the vertical distribution and concentration of barnacle cyprids in a shallow, nearshore region in southern California, USA. We collected high-resolution physical measurements of currents and temperature at 3 stations (8m, 5m and 4m depths), and high-frequency measurements of barnacle larvae at a 4m deep station ~300 m from shore. Larvae were sampled from distinct 1m depth intervals between the surface and the bottom (0-1m, 1-2m, 2-3m, 3m-bottom), each hour for overnight periods that ranged between 13 to 24-hours in five cruises during the summers of 2017 and 2018. Barnacle cyprids of Chthamalus fissus predominated in all samples. Thermal stratification decreased closer to shore, but when the nearshore-most station remained stratified (Δ°C m-1 ≥ 0.1), C. fissus cyprid concentrations were high to extremely abundant (exceeding 200 and 4000 individuals m-3, respectively). There were significant positive correlations between thermal stratification and the log-transformed C. fissus concentration at cruise-to-cruise scales, and between stratification and vertical variability in the high-frequency cross-shore currents at 2-day scales. Additionally, estimated larval transport was relatively high and shoreward when nearshore thermal stratification was greatest. Significant, albeit small, diel differences in cyprid distributions were also observed, with the proportion of cyprids increasing near the surface at night, and concentrations greater during the day than at night. Collectively, these results suggest that thermal stratification increases larval supply to the nearshore, and may enhance onshore larval transport to augment chances of successful settlement and recruitment to the intertidal adult habitat.
The Influence of an Enriched Environment in Enhancing Recognition Memory in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Environmental enrichment is used to increase social and physical stimulation for animals in captivity which can lead to enhanced cognition. Fundamental to the positive effect enrichment has on the brain is that it provides opportunities for captive animals to recognize and discriminate between different stimuli in the environment. In the wild, being able to discriminate between novel or familiar stimuli has implications for survival, for example finding food, hiding from predators, or even choosing a mate. The novel object recognition (NOR) test is a cognitive task that is used extensively in the rodent literature to assess object recognition and memory, where the amount of time an animal spends exploring a novel versus familiar object is quantified. Enrichment has been shown to enhance object recognition in rodents. More recently, the use of the NOR test has been applied to another animal model, zebrafish (Danio rerio), however, the effects of enrichment have not yet been explored. In the current study we looked at the effects of enrichment on object recognition in zebrafish using the NOR test. Adult zebrafish were housed in either enriched conditions (gravel substrate, plastic plants, shelter, heater and a filter) or plain conditions (heater and filter only) for 6 months before behavioral NOR tests were conducted. Enriched fish showed a preference for a novel object over a familiar one at a distance but did not show a preference during close inspection. Control fish did not show a preference at either distance. Our results suggest that enrichment can enhance zebrafish ability to discriminate between novel and familiar objects, but distance from the object may be an important factor. Future research is needed to determine whether any enhancements in object recognition are a result of an increase in sensory stimulation from being reared with enrichment, or whether it is due to a reduction in stress reactivity.
Surgical management in pediatric neuroblastoma diagnosis and treatment: a 20-year, single-center experience.

BACKGROUND The currently utilized International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) staging system developed in 2009 uses image-defined risk factors as a measure of surgical risk, separating resectable neuroblastoma from those best preceded by chemotherapy. The previous International Neuroblastoma Staging System was based primarily on surgical findings. We hypothesized there would be a change to the role of the surgeon in neuroblastoma treatment in the more recent decade. METHODS This is a single center 20-year retrospective analysis of 104 patients with International Classification of Diseases-9 and -10 codes for neuroblastoma. Patient demographics, tumor site, cancer treatment modality, survival, biopsy technique, surgical intervention, and pathology staging were collected. Data was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test. RESULTS There was a decrease in open surgeries for extra-adrenal neuroblastomas in the later decade (77%, 31%, P = 0.01). There was a narrowing of the time interval to surgery in the later cohort, likely as a result of uniformity in surgical timing on treatment protocols relying on INRG staging. CONCLUSIONS Our findings mirror changes in practice patterns globally. We found an increase in minimally invasive approaches but did not find a difference in the role of the surgeon under the INRG staging system.
The impact of looping of fourth grade students on their reading achievement

OF THE DISSERTATION THE IMPACT OF LOOPING OF FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS ON THEIR READING ACHIEVEMENT by Mary Jo Almeida Florida International University, 2004 Miami, Florida Professor Lynne D. Miller, Major Professor This study examines the effects of looping (staying with the same teacher for two grade levels) on the reading achievement of fourth graders within a large, urban, multicultural school. Looping was expected to have a positive effect on reading achievement and reading qualities. Additional benefits, such as its effect on anxiety levels and self-concept were also assumed to accrue from looping. A causal-comparative design was employed. Four existing classrooms consisting of eighty-one fourth grade students comprised the treatment and comparison groups. The two "looping" treatment groups consisted of students who had the same teacher for their third and fourth grade school years. The remaining two classes comprised the comparison groups. Preand post-tests for reading achievement total scores and subscores for main idea and comparisons were obtained using the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Assessments were also obtained from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, modified to reflect reading, and the SelfPerception Profile for Children. The difference in preand post-test FCAT scores were analyzed via a four group simple ANOVA to examine the effects of the looping model on
Dietary Advice on Q

Eating dramatically fewer calories increases the longevity of a variety of animals, but no one yet knows whether diet quality also affects aging. In their Perspective, Tatar and Rand discuss the new finding that worms fed a diet lacking coenzyme Q, which is important in mitochondrial electron transport, live longer (Larsen and Clarke). They debate whether a reduction in coenzyme Q results in the production of fewer oxygen free radicals during electron transport.
Topical application of RTA 408 lotion activates Nrf2 in human skin and is well-tolerated by healthy human volunteers

Background: Topical application of the synthetic triterpenoid RTA 408 to rodents elicits a potent dermal cytoprotective phenotype through activation of the transcription factor Nrf2. Therefore, studies were conducted to investigate if such cytoprotective properties translate to human dermal cells, and a topical lotion formulation was developed and evaluated clinically. Methods: In vitro, RTA 408 (3–1000 nM) was incubated with primary human keratinocytes for 16 h. Ex vivo, RTA 408 (0.03, 0.3, or 3 %) was applied to healthy human skin explants twice daily for 3 days. A Phase 1 healthy volunteer clinical study with RTA 408 Lotion (NCT02029716) consisted of 3 sequential parts. In Part A, RTA 408 Lotion (0.5 %, 1 %, and 3 %) and lotion vehicle were applied to individual 4-cm 2 sites twice daily for 14 days. In Parts B and C, separate groups of subjects had 3 % RTA 408 Lotion applied twice daily to a 100-cm 2 site for 14 days or a 500-cm 2 site for 28 days. Results: RTA 408 was well-tolerated in both in vitro and ex vivo settings up to the highest concentrations tested. Further, RTA 408 significantly and dose-dependently induced a variety of Nrf2 target genes. Clinically, RTA 408 Lotion was also well-tolerated up to the highest concentration, largest surface area, and longest duration tested. Moreover, significant increases in expression of the prototypical Nrf2 targe tg ene NQO1 were observed in skin biopsies, suggesting robust activation of the pharmacological target. Conclusions: Overall, these data suggest RTA 408 Lotion is well-tolerated, activates Nrf2 in human skin, and appears suitable for continued clinical development.
Model checking discrete-time Piecewise Affine systems: Application to gene networks

In this paper, we focus on discrete-time continuous-space Piecewise Affine (PWA) systems, and study properties of their trajectories expressed as temporal and logical statements over polyhedral regions. Specifically, given a PWA system and a Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) formula over linear predicates in its state variables, we attempt to find the largest region of initial states from which all trajectories of the system satisfy the formula. Our method is based on a classical algorithm for the iterative computation of simulation quotients augmented with model checking. We show that the determinism inherent in the problem and the particular linear structure of the invariants and of the dynamics can be exploited in a computationally attractive algorithm. We illustrate the application of our method to the computation of basins of attraction for the two equilibria of a PWA model of a two-gene network.
Polypeptides containing adenine and uracil residues

Amino acids containing uracil, adenine and imidazole residues were prepared and polymerized by reacting with phosgene in ethylene carbonate. The polymers did not have a simple polypeptidic structure but were soluble in aqueous dimethylformamide and interacted with complementary polynucleotides. Alternative polymerization of amino acids by N,N′-carbonyldiimidazole in aqueous neutral buffers proceeded with very low conversion but pure polypeptides resulted from the reaction. The following amino acids were prepared: β-adenin-9-yl-α-alanine (1a), N-methyl-β-(adenin-9-yl)-α-alanine (1b), β-(uracil-1-yl)-α-alanine, (2a), N-methyl-β-(uracil-1-yl)-α-alanine (2b), β-(5,6-trimethyleneuracil-1-yl)-α-alanine (3), and β-(imidazol-1-yl)-α-alanine.
Triage in the Aftermath of Mass‐Casualty Incidents

Mass-casualty incidents, such as plane crashes and terrorist attacks, take place rarely but when they happen they may result in a massive number of casualties with severe injuries requiring immediate medical attention. In the aftermath of such an event, medical resources are typically overwhelmed by the sudden jump in demand and hence they need to be rationed in some way to minimize the number of deaths and permanent injuries. This rationing process that determines the priorities according to which patients are given access to the limited resources is called triage. This chapter provides a review of the operations research literature on patient triage and prioritization decisions in the aftermath of mass-casualty incidents. In the literature, there are two lines of research that take two different approaches to the problem but with similar conclusions. The most important conclusion is that mass-casualty triage systems should take into account the number of casualties and the capacity of resources to save the maximum number of lives possible. Furthermore, an effective rule that categorizes the patients based on their service requirements, chances of survival, and patterns of health deterioration is essential for the success of the emergency response effort. Keywords: triage; mass casualty; heuristics; stochastic scheduling; linear programming
Water Solubility Characteristics of Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Gels Prepared by Freezing/Thawing Processes

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a water soluble polymer whose water solubility depends on its degree of hydrolysis, molecular weight, and tendency to hydrogen bond in aqueous solutions. PVA exhibits both upper and lower critical solubility temperatures and can be readily solubilized in water. For long-term dimensional stability, a new method involving freezing and thawing of aqueous PVA solutions was used to prepare insoluble PVA gels held together by physical crosslinks formed predominantly by crystallites. Solutions containing 15% PVA were frozen at −20 °C for, 1, 8, and 18 hours and thawed at room temperature for 30 minutes to 6 hours. These cycles were repeated for up to 10 times. The ensuing gels were analyzed by equilibrium swelling studies. Each cycle led to further crystallization of PVA leading to stable gels. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to analyze the gel morphology. Degrees of crystallinity varied from 4 to 16% on a swollen basis. Upon exposure to swelling temperatures of up to 37 °C, the crystallites of these gels remained remarkably stable for a period of several weeks. However at 60 °C relatively fast crystal melting occurred. The dissolution process was followed using complexation with boric acid.
Studies of nutritional safety of some heavy metals in mice.

Heavy metals have been proposed as nutrient markers to allow the accurate determination of the time of passage, nutrient intake, or apparent utilization of multiple nutrients. In order to evaluate possible toxic effects of scandium, chromium, lanthanum, samarium, europium, dysprosium, terbium, thulium, and ytterbium oxides, and barium sulfate upon growth, general development, reproduction, and lactation, mice were fed different levels of these compounds for three generations. The amount of elements fed were 0,110, 100, and 1000 times the use amount. The use amounts were (in ppm2.) : Sc, 0.12; Cr, 0.02; La.0.40;; Sm. 0.80; Eu, 0.036:TB, 1.20; Dy, 1.20; Tm. 0.08; Tb, 0.12; and Ba, 0.008. The use amount was one-fifth of the concentration required for activation analysis. Mortality and morbidity were negligible. No consistent growth rate changes were observed; however, different groups showed different growth rates during different generations. The number of mice born showed no significant differences amoung treatment groups. Survival, growth rate, hematology, morphological development, maturation, reproduction, and lactational performance were comparable in mice fed the different levels of 10 heavy metal oxides to those mice fed the basal diet.
Behavioral sexual risk-reduction counseling in primary care to prevent sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

This updated systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) summarized data from 31 trials that addressed the efficacy of sexual risk-reduction counseling to prevent sexuall...
Controlled Filament Non-Local Discharge (CFND) for Laser Pumping

A pulsed CFND is described for low E/N discharge pumping of lasers. Micro-protrusions on the cathode produce highly non-equilibrium beam-like electron filaments in the discharge, providing a discharge E/N ~10-16Vcm2for lasers like ElectricOIL.
MICROCAVITIES IN PHOTONIC CRYSTALS : MODE SYMMETRY, TUNABILITY, AND COUPLING EFFICIENCY

We investigate the properties of resonant modes which arise from the introduction of local defects in two-dimensional (2D) and 3D photonic crystals. We show that the properties of these modes can be controlled by simply changing the nature and size of the defects. We compute the frequency, polarization, symmetry, and field distribution of the resonant modes by solving Maxwell's equations in the frequency domain. The dynamic behavior of the modes is determined by using a finite-difference time-domain method which allows us to compute the coupling efficiency and the losses in the microcavity. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Does the Prolift system cause dyspareunia

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the de novo dyspareunia rate with the Prolift procedure. Study Design All Prolift cases performed between August 2005 and August 2007 were evaluated. The rate of de novo dyspareunia was calculated by chart review. Type and degree of dyspareunia were assessed by self-administered questionnaire. Demographics, use of hormone therapy, failure rate, and willingness to have the surgery again were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results The rate of de novo dyspareunia was 16.7%. Over 75% of patients with de novo dyspareunia described the pain as mild or moderate. Most described dyspareunia with insertion. Eighty-three percent of respondents with de novo dyspareunia would have the procedure done again. Conclusion The Prolift is associated with a 17% de novo dyspareunia rate. Despite this, most would have the surgery done again.
Photoinduced Elimination of H2 from [Mo(η5-C5H5)2H2]. Generation of Molybdenocene.

Abstract Ultraviolet irradiation of deaerated solutions of [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 H 2 ] results in elimination of H 2 and generation of [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 ]. The transient molybdenocene can be trapped with substrates such as CO, C 2 H 2 , and PR 3 to yield stable adducts, but in the absence of substrate, oligomerization to the previously described [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 ] x occurs.
Transient rocket-engine gas flow in soil

As a result of an examination of the behavior of soils subjected to rocket and jet exhaust gases. it was concluded that the gas pressure in the pores of the soil played an important part in the process of soil removal which occurred. Consequently, a numerical study of axially symmetric isothermal nonlinear gas flow ill a porous medium was undertaken. The paper presents the results and interpretations of the calculations for the particular boundary pressure conditions developed by a Surveyor spacecraft vernier engine mounted 12 in, above a granular material.
An anti-predator chemical defense of the marine pulmonate gastropod Trimusculus reticulatus (Sowerby)

Anti-predator defenses of the marine pulmonate gastropod Trimusculus reticulatus (Sowerby) were studied in the laboratory. By repeatedly presenting the seastars Pisaster ochraceus (Brandt) and P. giganteus (Stimpson) with one Trimusculus reticulatus and an individual of some species of prosobranch limpet, it was shown that seastars tended to avoid eating T. reticulatus (P < 0.001). When attacked, T. reticulatus secretes a milky-white mucus. After this mucus was spread on the shells of prosobranch limpets, those limpets were eaten by Pisaster significantly less often than clean limpets of the same species (P < 0.001). This defensive mucus contains a compound which temporarily stuns the tube feet of an attacking seastar. Seastars suffered no lasting effects from repeated exposure to this defensive mucus, and those which ate Trimusculus reticulatus showed no ill effects. Feeding preference experiments with the crab Pachygrapsus crassipes (Randall) indicated that the mucous defense of Trimusculus reticulatus is not effective against this predator.
Fatigue testing of selected suspension manual wheelchairs using ANSI/RESNA standards

Abstract Kwarciak AM, Cooper RA, Ammer WA, Fitzgerald SG, Boninger ML, Cooper R. Fatigue testing of selected suspension manual wheelchairs using ANSI/RESNA standards. Objectives To evaluate the durability and value of 3 common suspension manual wheelchairs and to compare the results with those of previously tested lightweight and ultra-lightweight folding-frame wheelchairs. Design Standardized fatigue testing and cost analysis of 3 suspension manual wheelchairs from 3 different manufacturers. Setting A rehabilitation engineering center. Specimens Nine suspension manual wheelchairs. Interventions Wheelchairs were fitted with a standardized wheelchair test dummy and tested on a series of fatigue tests, consistent with those developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Main outcome measures Fatigue life (measured as the number of equivalent cycles completed) and value (equivalent cycles divided by cost) were compared among all wheelchairs. Results Analysis of variance revealed significant differences ( P ≤.05) in the number of equivalent cycles among the suspension wheelchairs tested. When compared with previously tested ultra-lightweight and lightweight wheelchairs, the suspension wheelchairs failed to show significant improvements; however, significant improvements were found between individual suspension and lightweight wheelchairs. Conclusions We found little evidence to suggest that suspension manual wheelchairs provide advantages in terms of durability or value over standard lightweight and ultra-lightweight folding-frame wheelchairs.
Uranophane dissolution and growth in CaCl2–SiO2(aq) test solutions

Abstract The dissolution and growth of uranophane [Ca(UO 2 ) 2 (SiO 3 OH) 2 ·5H 2 O] have been examined in Ca- and Si-rich test solutions at low temperatures (20.5 ± 2.0 °C) and near-neutral pH (∼6.0). Uranium-bearing experimental solutions undersaturated and supersaturated with uranophane were prepared in matrices of ∼10 −2 M CaCl 2 and ∼10 −3 M SiO 2 (aq). The experimental solutions were reacted with synthetic uranophane and analyzed periodically over 10 weeks. Interpretation of the aqueous solution data permitted extraction of a solubility constant for the uranophane dissolution reaction ( log K sp o = 11.01 ± 0.09 ) and standard state Gibbs free energy of formation for uranophane ( Δ G f o = - 6196.1 ± 0.5 kJ mol −1 ).
Epichloë spp. associated with grasses: new insights on life cycles, dissemination and evolution.

Epichloespecies with their asexual states are specialized fungi associated with cool-season grasses. They grow endophytically in tissues of aerial parts of host plants to form systemic and mostly asymptomatic associations. Their life cycles may involve vertical transmission through host seeds and/or horizontal transmission from one plant to other plants of the same species through fungal propagules. Vertical transmission has been well studied, but comparatively little research has been done on horizontal dissemination. The goal of this review is to provide new insights on modes of dissemination of systemic grass endophytes. The review addresses recent progress in research on (i) the process of growth of Epichloeendophytes in the host plant tissues, (ii) the types and development of reproductive structures of the endophyte, (iii) the role of the reproductive structures in endophyte dissemination and host plant infection processes and (iv) some ecological and evolutionary implications of their modes of dissemination. Research in the Epichloegrass endophytes has accelerated in the past 25 y and has demonstrated the enormous complexity in endophyte-grass symbioses. There still remain large gaps in our understanding of the role and functions of these fungi in agricultural systems and understand- ing the functions, ecology and evolution of these endophytes in natural grass populations.
DEVELOPMENT OF VALIDATED INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE MEDICAL STUDENT LEARNING IN CLINICAL UROLOGY: A STEP TOWARD EVIDENCE BASED EDUCATION

ABSTRACT Purpose: To date published efforts to assess and improve medical student learning in urology have been limited due to the lack of an assessment tool with which to measure student learning. We report the development of a validated measure of medical student learning in urology. Materials and Methods: Four core topics in clinical urology were selected as the focus of the test development, namely prostate cancer, screening with prostate specific antigen, benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction. Detailed curricula and multiple choice questions were created for each topic. Content validity of the curriculum and 28 item examination was established by a panel of 2 urologists and 2 medical physicians. Instrument reliability was determined by administering the test on line to third-year surgery students. Test construct validity was established through its administration to 19 urology residents and attending physicians. Results: Reliability of the 28-item test instrument was measured by Cronbach’s α at 0.76 and its 1-week test-retest reliability was 0.72. All urology experts performed well on the test. Mean urological expert scores were significantly higher than mean student post-test scores (24.9 ± 2.1 vs 17.8 ± 3.8, 2-tailed t test p Conclusions: This study documents the development of a validated measure of medical student learning in urology. This validated instrument has the potential to improve educational quality control at medical schools and facilitate the development of effective, evidence based teaching methods.
THE EFFECTS OF PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS AND AGE ON ELDERS' LONGEVITY

Using data from the linked National Health Interview Survey National Death Index (NHIS‐NDI), a new and unique data set, we examine the interaction of age and self‐rated health as a predictor of overall and cause‐specific mortality. Proponents of wear and tear theories argue that as the body ages, it begins to degenerate, leaving the aged in poor health and vulnerable to their ultimate mortality. We find that although the majority of the elderly rate their health as good or better, low levels of education and income contribute to poor perceived health, and the effect of age on mortality varies by level of perceived health. While the oldest old who report the poorest health experience greater risks of mortality, elders who report good health experience much lower risks. As a larger share of our population survives into old age, it is important to emphasize preventive health care policy, as well as strong economic and health care safety nets, not only to promote health but also to lengthen life.
Responses of porcine epicardial venules to neurohumoral substances

Objective: The coronary microvenous system may be determinant of ventricular distensibility and of resistance to coronary flow under conditions of arteriolar dilatation. Because responses of venules have not been well defined, in vitro responses of porcine venules and arterioles to neurohumoral substances were examined. Methods: Porcine subepicardial venules (125-250 μm in diameter) and arterioles (100-200 μm in diameter) were studied in a pressurised no flow state with video microscopical imaging and electronic dimension analysis. After precontraction of vessels with the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619, agents were applied extraluminally. Results: Responses of precontracted venules to sodium nitroprusside, adenosine, and adenosine 5' diphosphate (ADP) were comparable with those of similarly sized arterioles. By contrast, precontracted venules responded minimally to noradrenaline, whereas arterioles were dilated potently by this agent. Precontracted arterioles were dilated minimally by serotonin and were contracted slightly by acetylcholine, whereas venules dilated in response to either serotonin or acetylcholine. Serotonin and acetylcholine both produced greater contraction in non-precontracted arterioles than in non-precontracted venules. Responses of venules to most substances were minimally affected by changes in oxygen tension except when this was very low. Relaxation of venules by ADP, serotonin, and acetylcholine were all inhibited to varying degrees by indomethacin, methylene blue, and NG-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Both methylene blue and L-NMMA produced minimal but significant contraction of non-precontracted venules, indicating a small amount of basal release of endothelium derived relaxing factor. Conclusion: Responses of coronary venules to acetylcholine, serotonin, and noradrenaline are opposite or of a significantly different magnitude when compared with the respective arteriolar responses. Relaxation of venules to ADP, serotonin, and acetylcholine is likely mediated at least in part by the release of endothelium derived relaxing factor and prostaglandins. Cardiovascular Research 1993; 27 :1326-1332
Stabilization of Monodomain Polarization in Ultrathin PbTiO3 Films

Using in situ high-resolution synchrotron x-ray scattering, the Curie temperature TC has been determined for ultrathin c-axis epitaxial PbTiO3 films on conducting substrates (SrRuO3 on SrTiO3), with surfaces exposed to a controlled vapor environment. The suppression of TC was relatively small, even for the thinnest film (1.2 nm). We observe that 180 degrees stripe domains do not form, indicating that the depolarizing field is compensated by free charge at both interfaces. This is confirmed by ab initio calculations that find polar ground states in the presence of ionic adsorbates.
Dynamics of coronal hole regions

The hydrodynamic properties of a steadily expanding corona are explored for situations in which departures from spherically symmetric outflow are large, in the sense that the geometrical cross section of a given flow tube increases outward from the Sun faster than r 2 in some regions. Assuming polytropic flow, it is shown that in certain cases the flow may contain more than one critical point. We derive the criterion for determining which of these critical points is actually crossed by the transonic solution which begins at the Sun and extends continuously outward. Next, we apply the theory to geometries which exhibit rapid spreading of the flow tubes in the inner corona, followed by more-or-less radial divergence at large distances. This is believed to be the type of geometry found in coronal hole regions. The results show that, if this initial divergence is sufficiently large, the outflow becomes supersonic at a critical point encountered low in the corona in the region of high divergence, and it remains supersonic at all greater heights in the corona. This feature strongly suggests that coronal hole regions differ from other open-field regions of the corona in that they are in a ‘fast’, low density expansion state over much of their extent. Such a dynamical configuration makes it possible to reconcile the low values of electron density observed in coronal holes with the large particle fluxes in the associated high speed streams seen in the solar wind.
A selective spatial deficit in monkeys after transection of the fornix.

Abstract The present study attempted to contrast the performance of monkeys on spatial and object reversal tasks following section of the fornix. An effort was also made to assess the effects of ablations of the entorhinal area. The effects of either fornix section or entorhinal area damage mirror the effects of hippocampal lesions in that monkeys are impaired on the spatial but not on the object reversal task. In addition, individual animals with direct or indirect hippocampal damage showed a subtle but recurring facilitation of performance on the object reversal task.