cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing a model of school learning: Direct and indirect effects on academic achievement☆

Abstract Continued concern about the quality of American education highlights the need for a better understanding of the influences on school learning. Theories of school learning are consistent in pointing to the importance of variables such as ability, time (in particular, homework), quality of instruction, motivation, and academic coursework in their influence on learning. However, most investigators have not included all these variables simultaneously in investigations of school learning, and few have focused on indirect as well as direct effects. The purpose of the present paper was to determine the extent of the direct and indirect influence of each of these variables on academic achievement. Path analysis was conducted with data from the High School and Beyond study to examine the effects of these variables on the academic achievement of high school seniors. Results suggest that both ability and academic coursework have strong direct effects on achievement; motivation and quality of instruction were found to have meaningful indirect or total effects on achievement, but negligible direct effects. Surprisingly, homework had inconsistent direct effects. The results offer support for these variables as important influences on school learning, a finding which further supports their inclusion in prominent theories of school learning.
Nature and source of appendical secretion.

Summary1. Large volumes of fluid produced by vermiform appendix of the rabbit, result from a cellular process requiring oxygen utilization. 2. Suppression of lymphoid elements of the appendical wall produces no significant decrease in secretory volume or pressure. 3. Stimulation of mucous cells is not associated with augmented secretion. 4. Destruction of surface epithelium reduces but does not abolish secretion. It would appear that secretion stems primarily from epithelial elements overlying papillae in crypts.
Partial-differential-equation-constrained amplitude-based shape detection in inverse acoustic scattering

In this article we discuss a formal framework for casting the inverse problem of detecting the location and shape of an insonified scatterer embedded within a two-dimensional homogeneous acoustic host, in terms of a partial-differential-equation-constrained optimization approach. We seek to satisfy the ensuing Karush–Kuhn–Tucker first-order optimality conditions using boundary integral equations. The treatment of evolving boundary shapes, which arise naturally during the search for the true shape, resides on the use of total derivatives, borrowing from recent work by Bonnet and Guzina [1–4] in elastodynamics. We consider incomplete information collected at stations sparsely spaced at the assumed obstacle’s backscattered region. To improve on the ability of the optimizer to arrive at the global optimum we: (a) favor an amplitude-based misfit functional; and (b) iterate over both the frequency- and wave-direction spaces through a sequence of problems. We report numerical results for sound-hard objects with shapes ranging from circles, to penny- and kite-shaped, including obstacles with arbitrarily shaped non-convex boundaries.
International Standard ISO/IEC 12207 Software Life Cycle Processes

In June 1989, the JTC1 initiated the development of an International Standard, ISO/IEC 12207 [1], on software life cycle processes to fill a critical need. Since the "cottage" industry era of the late 1970's, software has been establishing itself as an integral part of many scientific and business disciplines. However, environments for developing and managing software have been proliferating for lack of a uniform framework for managing and engineering software. The International Standard fills that critical need by establishing a common framework that can be used by software practitioners to manage and engineer software. Besides, such a uniform framework would promote international trade in software products and services.
Status in the World System and Ethnic Mobilization

Many countries seem to be confronting challenges from ethnic movements. This study extends arguments from existing theories to consider an explanation of ethnic mobilization at the world system level. The analysis uses structural equation models to compare data on ethnic mobilization in 130 countries from 1965 to 1990. The authors examine hypotheses concerning the impact of peripheral status and integration into the world system on the magnitude of ethnic violence and nonviolence. Results provide evidence that peripheral countries with more ties to international governmental organizations have significantly lower levels of ethnic violence than peripheral countries without these ties. Moreover, peripheral countries with more memberships in international organizations experience a significantly higher magnitude of ethnic nonviolent protest. Finally, we present some speculative results regarding the impact of income inequality on the magnitude of ethnic violence.
On The Significance Of The Phase Transfer Function

In the application of transfer function theory to the process of image formation, one must necessarily be concerned with complex functions. Even in the case of noncoherent image formation (the formation of the image of a noncoherent object), where the object, the image, and the spread function are all purely real, the Fourier transforms of these functions are generally complex. Only in the rather exceptional case where both the object and the spread function are real and even does the situation reduce to one involving only real functions.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pharmacotherapy for cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Down syndrome

Ts65Dn mice, a model for Down syndrome, have excessive inhibition in the dentate gyrus, a condition that could compromise synaptic plasticity and mnemonic processing. We show that chronic systemic treatment of these mice with GABAA antagonists at non-epileptic doses causes a persistent post-drug recovery of cognition and long-term potentiation. These results suggest that over-inhibition contributes to intellectual disabilities associated with Down syndrome and that GABAA antagonists may be useful therapeutic agents for this disorder.
A Case Study on Collaboration: Sharing the Responsibility of Economic Development in Juniata Valley, Pennsylvania

In an attempt to better understand the need and importance of the community college's role in economic development, this article takes a closer look at how collaboration in the Juniata Valley of Pennsylvania between Industrial Development Corporations (IDCs) of Mifflin and Juniata counties, career and technical centers, and other agencies is focused on working together to establish a community college that would have an economic impact in Juniata and Mifflin Counties, Pennsylvania. Collaboration is a popular buzzword. Although it is often used to describe any time groups of people get together for a purpose beyond usual duties or interests, this case study suggests that established and committed relationships among key players in the region's economy is required in order to sustain a collaboration that is focused on creating a community college.
Site-Based Management Versus Systems-Based Thinking The Impact of Data-Driven Accountability and Reform

This case was written to help prepare building-level and central office administrators who are expected to effectively lead schools and systems in an often tumultuous world of educational accountability and reform. The intent of this case study is to allow educators to examine the impact data management has on the types of thinking required when leading school systems, particularly in larger school districts. Educators studying this case should examine the strengths and weaknesses of site-based management as well as systems-based thinking—specifically how both can play a role in how schools and school systems are led in the age of accountability and reform.
NEW TAXA OF TRANSVERSELY-TOOTHED LIZARDS (SQUAMATA: SCINCOMORPHA) AND NEW INFORMATION ON THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF “TEIIDS”

Abstract New material of polyglyphanodontine lizards from the Late Cretaceous has been found in various localities in western North America. Several transversely oriented teeth representing a new species of Dicothodon were recovered from the Turonian of southern Utah. These specimens necessitate reassignment of Polyglyphanodon bajaensis to Dicothodon (Polyglyphanodon) bajaensis. From the Campanian of Utah, additional teeth and jaw fragments referable to Manangysaurus saueri have been recovered and this species is reassigned here to Peneteius (Manangysaurus) saueri. Also, an isolated tooth referable to Peneteius has been recovered from the Campanian of southern Texas. The results of a phylogenetic analysis support a monophyletic grouping of the transversely-toothed taxa with Bicuspidon as the sister taxon of Polyglyphanodontini new taxon, which is comprised of Polyglyphanodon, Dicothodon, and Peneteius. The phylogenetic analysis also places “teiid” lizards from the Cretaceous of Asia and North America in a...
EFFECT OF FUEL BLENDS ON POLLUTANT EMISSIONS IN FLAMES

ABSTRACT Fuel blending represents a promising approach for reducing both NOx and particulate emissions from flames. This paper reports a fundamental investigation on the effects of blending hydrogen with different fuels (methane and n-heptane) on the structure and emission characteristics of counterflow nonpremixed and partially premixed flames (PPF). The emission behavior is characterized in terms of the concentrations and emission indices of various pollutant species as a function of hydrogen content in the blend. Results indicate that hydrogen blending has a much more favorable effect on emissions in heptane flames than in methane flames. With hydrogen addition in methane/hydrogen blends, the emission index of C2H2 (which is an important soot precursor) is reduced, CO remains unchanged, and NO increases slightly. In heptane/hydrogen blends, however, emission indices of all three species (NO, C2H2, and CO) decrease significantly with hydrogen addition. The behavior is attributed to two factors. First, f...
Assessing the clinical utility of measuring Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in tissues and sera of melanoma patients

Background Different Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs) have been investigated as potential biomarkers in several types of tumors. In this study, we examined both IGFBP-3 and -4 levels in tissues and sera of melanoma patients representing different stages of melanoma progression.
Single procedure efficacy of isolating all versus arrhythmogenic pulmonary veins on long-term control of atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized study.

Background Current atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation involves isolation of all pulmonary veins (PVs) with or without additional linear lesions. However, whether such extensive ablation is necessary is unclear. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of different ablation strategies on long-term AF control. Methods We prospectively randomized patients to undergo isolation of all versus arrhythmogenic PVs (identified by standardized stimulation protocol). PV isolation was guided by circular mapping catheter. The endpoint was entry/exit block persisting for ≥20 minutes. Patients were evaluated at three clinic visits (at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year) and multiple transtelephonic monitoring periods. Antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued at 6 weeks. Primary study endpoint was long-term AF control (freedom or >90% reduction in AF burden off or on previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drugs at 1year after a single ablation procedure). Results Over a 20-month period, 105 patients (76 men and 29 women, age 57 ± 9 years; paroxysmal AF=77) were randomized, and 103 patients completed 1-year follow-up (51 patients in all-PV arm, 52 patients in arrhythmogenic PV arm). The primary endpoint was achieved in 75 (73%) patients and was similar in patients randomized to all-PV arm versus arrhythmogenic PV arm [38 (75%) patients vs 37 (71%) patients, respectively; odds ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval 0.50, 2.83, P = .70]. Secondary study endpoints, including freedom from AF off antiarrhythmic drugs, total procedure/fluoroscopy times, and occurrence of serious adverse events, were not different between the two groups. Conclusion In a randomized comparison, isolation of arrhythmogenic veins was as efficacious as empiric isolation of all veins in achieving long-term AF control.
A Soil-Quality Index and Its Relationship to Efficiency and Productivity Growth Measures: Two Decompositions

This article reconciles two notions of soil-quality indexes with the economic concepts of technical efficiency and productivity growth. An example uses data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's experimental fields in Maryland and data envelopment analysis techniques to estimate a soil-quality index consistent with the notion of technical efficiency. Common regression techniques shed additional light on the role of individual soil-quality properties in a very restricted linear approximation of the estimated soil-quality index.
Experience with Pedagogical Patterns in Introductory Java Course

The purpose of this paper is to share our experience with a pedagogical pattern – spiral model in teaching diverse concepts (structural, object-oriented, visual) of an introductory Computer Science (CS) course in Java. Some other patterns are also used: “early bird, test tool, grade it again Sam”. At the beginning, the paper clarifies some colloquial or conventional characteristics that distinguish CS programming courses particularly for Liberal Arts. Following this, it reviews in general terms the selected pedagogical patterns used for teaching computer science courses and programming. Finally, the paper recommends the spiral method of Java topics that are covered in an introductory programming course and reports on the teaching experiences during four semesters.
Pulsed 35 GHz gyrotron with overmoded applicator for sintering ceramic compacts

Summary form only given, as follows. The use of high frequency microwaves for processing ceramic materials is currently under investigation at NRL. This paper will discuss an overmoded microwave furnace based on a 35 GHz pulsed gyrotron which is being used for experiments on microwave sintering of small (/spl sim/1 cm diameter) compacts of fine grain and ultra-fine grain ceramics such as alumina. Unlike most microwave furnaces which utilize cw 2.45 GHz microwave sources, the present millimeter wave system operates at relatively high peak power (30-100 kW) and low duty factor (<1%) to produce average powers up to 200 W. The TE/sub 01/ mode gyrotron operates at 70 kV and currents up to 10 A with an electronic efficiency of about 20%. It is driven by a hard-tube, variable pulse length (1-10 /spl mu/s) modulator at repetition rates up to 1 kHz. The gyrotron output power is transported via pressurized K/sub a/-Band waveguide to an overmoded resonator containing the workpiece. In initial experiments, the resonator consists of a 17 cm section of WR-284 waveguide. The WR-284 waveguide section is terminated at one end by a step transition to the K/sub a/-Band waveguide, and at the other end by a copper screen backed by a hollow plastic water-filled window. The copper screen/water window serves as a low-loss viewing port for a two-color pyrometer. The compact is placed in an insulating, low-loss fiberboard casket. This system is being used to assess the advantages of using 35 GHz microwave heating to densify ceramic compacts. In preliminary operation the system has heated high purity, nanocrystalline alumina compacts to /spl sim/1300/spl deg/C with an input power of 160 W without the need for hybrid heating techniques. The application of the system to controlled sintering experiments will be described and factors impacting compact heating uniformity and power coupling efficiency will be discussed.
Environmental Concerns and Diet in Singapore

Many factors affect how people perceive the world and their environment, and how such perceptions affect lifestyle decisions, yet the relationship between personal perceptions about environmental hazards and diet is rarely examined. In this study, environmental concerns on a local and global scale were examined, along with dietary patterns, to determine if there were associations and age-related differences. The hypothesis that concerns about water pollution might be reflected in choices about seafood consumption was examined. Many aspects of dietary choices varied significantly by age, including (1) younger people ate more "fast food" than others, (2) subjects aged 22-32 yr ate more meals in restaurants than older or younger people, (3) older individuals drank more tea than younger subjects, while younger people drank more soda than older people, and (4) there were few significant differences in total fish and shellfish meals, although young people ate more meals of other types of meat. Individuals who rated their health the best reported significantly fewer seafood meals than others. People who listed pollution as the major environmental problem did not consume seafood less often than others. While pollution was listed as the most important environmental problem globally, people distinguished between air and water pollution only for Singapore. Although Singapore, with its rapidly expanding economy, has reason to be concerned about both water and air pollution, only 14% of those listing pollution as the main Singapore environmental problem mentioned "water pollution." Singapore has been able to take measures to reduce water pollution from internal sources. Respondents considered air pollution a greater problem, perhaps reflecting recent haze disasters from deliberately set forest fires in Indonesia, which are beyond the direct control of Singapore or Singaporeans.
Religion and Violence: Coming to Terms with Terms

One spring morning in 2007, as Virginia Tech University students were setting off to class, fellow student Seung - Hui Cho began a shooting spree that, before turning his gun on himself, claimed 32 lives. Efforts to interpret the massacre, the shooter ’ s motives, and the trauma ’ s aftermath were freighted with resonances and attributions that most would call religious. The story is lucidly analyzed by Grace Kao, then a religious studies professor at Virginia Tech, whose poignant account affi rms that we cannot gain meaningful understanding of this violence by ignoring the facets that are tinged – if not saturated – with “ religion ” (Kao, forthcoming ). Numerous pundits presumed Cho ’ s outbreak was motivated by Islam, in spite of his Christian upbringing and the Christian allusions that littered his manifestos. Similar assumptions were made in 2002 when the public learned that the Washington DC Beltway sniper was a member of the Nation of Islam. Born John Allen Williams, he changed his last name to Muhammad one month after the attacks of September 11, 2001. For many, Cho and Muhammad were perpetrators of “ religious violence. ” It mattered little that they were both mentally ill. Kao shows, however, that the religious symbols that haunted Cho ’ s “ testimonials ” were fragmented within a highly disturbed psyche. Cho ’ s irrationality undermined – rather than validated – the claim that his violence was religiously motivated or framed. Neither he nor Muhammad bore the markings of American abolitionist John Brown, or Osama bin Laden, or others who make perspicuous religious arguments to justify their perverse violence. The study of religion and violence enables us to scrutinize such expectations about religion ’ s causal relation to violence. But that is hardly the whole story, for various forms of religion were intimately bound up in the efforts to fi meaning in the Virginia Tech killings. A few religious groups prophesied that Cho ’ s actions were divine retribution for America ’ s sins. More representatively, the community and nation collectively expressed sorrow through the consolation of various religious traditions and prominent modes of public religion. At the convocation ceremony a few weeks after the shooting, religion was on full display:
Abstract IA18: A genomics approach to discover small-molecule perturbagens of cancer cells

Aberrantly activated transcription factors and/or transcriptional programs play a critical role in the development of most cancers. In some cancers, the oncogenic transcription factors have been well characterized and result from either the ectopic activity of native transcription factors or from a chromosomal translocations driving overexpression or producing a mutant transcription factor. In other cases, the direct causative event of the aberrant transcriptional signature is unknown. Given their central role in cancer development, directly targeting transcription factors should be a propitious anti-tumor strategy. However, with the exception of the nuclear hormone receptor family of transcription factors, transcription factor oncoproteins have been largely refractory to conventional drug discovery approaches. While there have been advances in our ability to assess gene expression changes on a global scale, almost all existing approaches (e.g., microarrays, next generation sequencing) cannot be applied to large-scale screening endeavors due to cost and throughput limitations. Alternatively, the use of reporter systems and phenotypic endpoints (e.g., viability) has been challenged by false-positives. Recognizing these shortcomings, we developed an assay approach that allows interrogation of complex gene expression signatures in high-throughput format. Gene Expression-based High-throughput Screening (GE-HTS) allows for the assessment of expression of hundreds of endogenous genes in 384-well format, overcoming some of the challenges that are inherent in conventional target- and phenotype-based screening. We have used GE-HTS in small-molecule library screening endeavors to identify compounds that induce differentiation signatures in different cancer types in the absence of a known target, as well as alter the transcriptional activity of aberrant, oncogenic transcription factors. These compounds have served as leads for clinical trial development as well as tool compounds to further dissect biological mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. Citation Format: Kimberly Stegmaier. A genomics approach to discover small-molecule perturbagens of cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chemical Systems Biology: Assembling and Interrogating Computational Models of the Cancer Cell by Chemical Perturbations; 2012 Jun 27-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(13 Suppl):Abstract nr IA18.
Morphology, Physiology, and Virulence of Some Mutants of Candida albicans.

Five mutagens were used to induce mutants of Candida albicans. Ultraviolet light, N-nitroso-N′-methyl-N-nitrosoguanidine, and N-nitroso-N-methylurethane were effective mutagens which induced stable auxotrophs. N-nitroso-N-methylurethane produced the largest number and variety of mutants. Nitrous acid and hydroxylamine were ineffective as mutagens although they killed C. albicans. All mutagenic agents employed induced colonial variants, especially small colony forms. The morphology, physiology, and virulence of one methionine and two adenine auxotrophs was compared to that of the prototroph. The auxotrophs exhibited yeast-like morphology in complex media and had sugar fermentation patterns typical of C. albicans, and all were agglutinated by C. albicans antiserum. Chlamydospore production was absent in the nonpigmented adenine mutant, and the chlamydospores produced by the methionine auxotroph were distorted. Germ tubes were formed in human serum by the auxotrophs and prototroph. Virulence for mice was retained by all auxotrophs but generally at a reduced level. The methionine auxotroph, only slightly less virulent than the prototroph, was more virulent than a pigmented adenine mutant and a practically avirulent nonpigmented adenine auxotroph.
The impact of legislatively imposed practice guidelines on cesarean section rates: the Florida experience.

Florida legislation implemented in the fall of 1992, unique in the nation, mandated that practice guidelines regarding cesarean section deliveries be disseminated to obstetric physicians. The law also required that peer review boards at hospitals be established to review ce sarean deliveries and that the exact dates of implemen tation of the guidelines be reported to a state agency. To determine the impact of the legislation, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 366,246 total live births oc curring in Florida hospitals during 1992 and 1993, be fore and after formal hospital certification of the implementation of the guidelines. Changes in primary and repeat cesarean rates were analyzed for 108 inde pendent groups of births, controlling for the mother's age, race, payment source, and the timing of the imple mentation of the guidelines at hospitals. The guideline certification program did not accelerate the consistent but gradual downward trend in cesarean births which had already been evident in the th...
Accelerated seedling emergence in interspecific competitive neighbourhoods

Seed dormancy models suggest that evaluation of environmental conditions should influence the decision to germinate and that waiting for more favourable conditions may increase potential fitness. However, because rapid emergence is often positively correlated with performance and survival, an alternative strategy to accelerate the rate of emergence may increase the potential for site pre-emption. This response is more likely to be found in seasonal environments with greater potential for rapid resource depletion in which early emergence may confer a competitive advantage. The experiments reported here found more rapid emergence in a perennial grass species when it was planted in potentially highly competitive interspecific neighbourhoods. This response suggests an inherent ability in seeds of this species to sense and respond to the competitive nature of the immediate neighbourhood.
Protracted Pressor Response to Angiotensin After Bilateral Nephrectomy in Rats

The pressor response of nephrectomized rats to an injection of renin is marked by a prolonged stable plateau. A similar, prolonged response to angiotensin has been demonstrated and the following aspects of this pressor effect were evaluated. 1. The protracted response was shown not to be due to a persistence of angiotensin in the blood of nephrectomized animals. There are several indications from unrelated studies that angiotensin is destroyed rapidly. Cross-circulation experiments indicate that during the protracted pressor phase blood levels of constrictor materials have fallen to undetectably low levels. 2. No evidence could be obtained to indicate that the neurogenic buffer system is involved in the development of the protracted response. Ganglionic blockade was ineffective in preventing its development. 3. The hemodynamic basis for the response must be a persistent increase in total peripheral resistance (TPR) since there is no increase in cardiac output (CO) in response to the angiotensin infusion. ...
Effects of Thorium Doping in (U, Th)Pt3, and (U, Th)Be13

Two properties1,2 of heavy fermion systems are particularly intriguing: the unusual superconducting states, and the sensitivity to impurity doping. Strong evidence3 now exists for an anisotropic superconducting order parameter which vanishes at certain regions of the Fermi surface in UBe13 and UPt3. For (U1−xThx)Be13 a non-monotonic depression of the superconducting transition temperature Tc is observed4 and a second phase transition is found5 at Tc2 in the superconducting state for 0.026 ≤ x ≤ 0.038. Ultrasonic attenuation experiments6 suggest that a form of weak itinerant antiferromagnetism (AFM) characterizes this second phase. Its nature is important because a second superconducting phase would be strong evidence for unconventional superconductivity.
Can a Violent Husband Violate Human Rights

Books under review in this essay: Are Women Human? And Other International Dialogues, by Catharine A. MacKinnon. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006. 419 pp. $35.00 hardc...
Initial exploration of machine learning to predict customer demand in an energy market simulation

The PowerTAC competition focuses on trading activities in energy markets. One of the important subtasks of designing an effective agent for this scenario is to predict the energy use and generation of the customer agents in the marketplace. These predictions can inform pricing and tariff design questions, as well as decisions to balance power use and generation over time. Similar prediction problems are also important in real world energy markets. Here we present some initial experiments applying machine learning to predict future customer energy usage patterns in the PowerTAC simulation.
Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: novel MR imaging findings

To describe novel MR imaging features, and clinical characteristics of soft tissue angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) at presentation, local recurrence, and metastases. We described the MRI findings of six cases of histologically proven AFH. Pathologic findings, clinical presentation, and outcome were reviewed. Lesions were primarily cystic. At initial presentation, tumors were surrounded by low signal intensity fibrous pseudocapsule. High signal intensity consistent with the lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate was seen in T2-weighted and post-contrast images as a rim over the hypointense pseudocapsule (double rim sign). High signal intensity infiltrating tumoral cords extended into adjacent tissues, through pseudocapsular defects on T2-weighted and post-contrast images. The cystic component and tumor cell nodularity were demonstrated at post-contrast images. Clinically, lesions were often thought to be benign, underwent marginal resection, developed local recurrence, and one developed second recurrence consisting of metastases. Recurrent tumors appeared as multiple masses, misinterpreted as post-surgical changes. An intramuscular recurrence demonstrated double rim and infiltrating margin. A predominantly well-circumscribed, primarily cystic mass with double-rim and marginal infiltration on MRI suggests the possibility of AFH, in particular in child or young adult. Inclusion of these novel observations in AFH differential diagnosis may have a significant impact on treatment and prevention of recurrence.
Comparison of the Milwaukee Neurotic Trait Screening Scale with the Symptom Check List.

Summary.--Responses from 45 volunteers to the Milwaukee Neurotic Trait Scale (NT) and to the Hopkins Symptom Check List (SCL-90R) were compared. The NT scale was significantly correlated with the subscales of the SCL-90R. Second, agreement for high, middle, and low scores was found between the NT Scale and the SCL-90R Global Severity Index and Positive Symptom Total. These limited findings, based on a small sample of students, are promising and warrant replication with different and larger groups of adults. Epidemiologic understanding of psychosocial factors in disease depends in part upon using questionnaires sensitive to emotional distress that can be administered to large populations. The Neurotic Trait Screening Scale (NT-20), a set of 20 items originally designed to measure neuroticism, has been applied to patients in the Milwaukee Cardiovascular Disease Registry, a large population at risk for cardiovascular disease. Alchough this scale appears to have face validity as a screening instrument for a general medical population, its relationship to established measures of emotional distress has nor been established. The primary use of the NT-20 items has been in an epidemiologic investigation of health behavior in Alameda County, California, in which these items were combined with other items to measure mental well-being (1). In this study the NT-20 is compared to Derogatis' symptom check list, SCL-90R, an inventory of self-reported symptoms which has been used with various general psychiatric and rned~cal populations (2). The SCL-90R was chosen because it is a multidimensional measure of psychological symptom patterns and psychopathologic starus that has undergone extensive comparison and validation with ocher measures. A group of medical student volunteers was available to take both questionnaires as part of a large study. Although the available students were not patients, it was felt that an agreement of responses on the NT-20 scale and scales of the SCL-90R would be a prudent first step in establishing validity. If a positive relationship in this limited project was obtained, more extensive study of the NT-20 could be justified. METHOD
The relationship between ventricular fluid pressure and body position in normal subjects and subjects with shunts: A telemetric study

Using a chronically implanted telemetric pressure sensor, we have determined the quantitative relationship between changes in body position and ventricular fluid pressure in normal subjects and subjects with shunts. The method allows accurate, reliable measurement of negative as well as positive pressures. We describe the derangement of postural intraventricular pressure regulation caused by placement of a shunt, as well as the influence of various shunt systems and the antisiphon device on this problem. Ventriculoatrial, ventriculoperitoneal, and ventriculopleural shunts all caused similar severely abnormal postural intracranial pressure relationships. The antisiphon device was generally effective in restoring normal pressures in patients in the upright position. We discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the mechanisms of postural intracranial pressure regulation in patients without hydrocephalus.
The Expanding Role of Marketing in the 1970s

What forces are bringing about changes in marketing? What are the likely effects of these changes? A synthesis of the changes in store for marketing in the 1970s is provided in this capstone articl...
Choosing Assessment Instruments for Anxiety Practice and Outcome Research With School-Aged Youth

Using effect size results from our meta-analysis for the treatment of anxiety in school-aged youth, the practical and technical aspects of five commonly used anxiety instruments were analyzed, and effect size estimates compared to indicate the best choices for use in anxiety outcome research.
Eventual Effect of Global Fund Malaria Project in Xiangzhou District of Xiangyang City,2012

Objective To evaluate the implementation effect of Global Fund Malaria Project on eliminating malaria.Methods According to the "Evaluation Scheme of Global Fund Malaria in Hubei Province ",project activity information from July 2010 to June 2012 was collected and analyzed with descriptive method.Results Totally 77 cases were reported in Xiangyang district in 2009,with an incident rate of 0.76/104.From July 2011 to June 2012,4 malaria cases were reported,with a rate of 0.04/104,which dropped an extent of 94.81% compared with 2009.The malaria cases confirmed in the laboratory increased by 71.43%;malaria cases tested in laboratory increased by 67.26%;indoor residual spraying rate and the case investigation rate increased by 70.13%;awareness rate of malaria among residents and students of primary and middle schools increased by 20.12% and 26.34% respectively.Conclusion After 2 years implement,the project played an effective role in decreasing the malaria.
Geographic density and proximity of vape shops to colleges in the USA

Background Vape shops have been spreading rapidly in the USA since 2008, catering to the fast-growing market for electronic cigarettes. Little is known about the geographic density and proximity of vape shops near colleges. Methods Names and addresses of vape shops were collected from 3 online directories: Yelp.com, Yellowpages.com and Guidetovaping.com. We identified the prevalence of US-based vape shops and their density and proximity to colleges using a geographic information system. General linear model and negative binomial regression were performed to examine the factors associated with proximity and density of vape shops near colleges. Results We identified 9945 vape shops in the USA as of December 2015, a nearly threefold increase from 2013. Among the 2755 colleges included in this study, 66.5% had at least 1 vape shop within a 3-mile radius. The median proximity of the nearest vape shop to each college/university was 1.8 miles. Proximity increased by student population, private as compared to public institutions, and location (city vs rural). Within a 1-mile radius, colleges with smoke-free campus policies had a lower density of vape shops (RR=0.6, p=0.002) than those without smoke-free campus policies. Private institutions had a higher density of vape shops (RR=7.8, p Conclusions Vape shops are more likely to be located near private institutions and colleges in cities as opposed to rural areas. Smoke-free and e-cigarette-free campus policies have had significant effects in reducing the density of vape shops but have not reduced the proximity of vape shops to colleges. Regulations on the sale and advertisement of e-cigarettes to youth and young adults are critically needed.
The New England Rental Market

This policy brief investigates one element of the Center’s 2006 Working Paper: The Lack of Affordable Housing in New England: How Big a Problem? Why Is It Growing? What Are We Doing About It? Although rental housing in New England is expensive relative to the rest of the nation, the region’s incomes are high enough that this housing is affordable to most New Englanders. This is in stark contrast owner-occupied housing, which is often unaffordable to the region’s residents. This is primarily because rents in New England have not risen as rapidly as house prices over the past decade.
Impact of maladaptive behavior on school function in Down syndrome

Abstract Background/aims Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at an increased risk for certain maladaptive behaviors. This study characterized maladaptive behavior in school-aged children with DS and examined the extent to which maladaptive behaviors are associated with school function. Methods and procedures Participants were 24 students with DS [mean nonverbal mental age (NVMA) = 43.83 months; mean chronological age (CA) = 77.58 months] who completed the Leiter Scales of Performance- Revised (Leiter-R; Roid & Miller, 1997). Their teachers completed the Behavior Assessment Scales for Children Version 2 (Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004), and the School Function Assessment (Coster et al., 1998), measures of maladaptive and adaptive behavior as observed in the school setting. Results Findings reveal a maladaptive behavior profile of elevated areas including Aggression, Attention Problems, and Somatization. When examining the association between maladaptive behavior and school function, multivariate regression results indicated a significant association between Aggression and Compliance, and Attention Problems and Task Completion. Conclusions and implications Results underscore the importance of developing training for educators regarding the potential impact of maladaptive behavior on school function for students with Down syndrome.
Clinical Applications of Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Pharmacogenomics

Elucidation of the entire human genomic sequence is one of the greatest achievements of science. Understanding the functional role of 30,000 human genes and more than 2 million polymorphisms was possible through a multidisciplinary approach using micro-arrays and bioinformatics. Polymorphisms, variations in DNA sequences, occur in 1% of the population, and a vast majority of them are single nucleotide polymorphisms. Genotype analysis has identified genes important in thrombosis, cardiac defects, and risk of cardiac disease. Many of the genes show a significant correlation with polymorphisms and the incidence of coronary artery disease and heart failure. In this chapter, the application of current state-of-the-art genomic analysis to a variety of these disorders is reviewed.
Auditing as a Signal in Small Business Lending

This paper models the borrowing decision of a small firm seeking a bank loan when it can optionally hire, at a cost, an independent external auditor to convey its risk characteristics to lenders. The analysis shows that a necessary condition for a potential borrower to prefer having an audit to not having an audit is that the borrower’s debt to equity ratio must be above a certain minimum cut-off value. For observed audit cost functions, this cut-off debt-equity ratio is higher for smaller initial size firms. Such firms will forego an audit even if they are of low risk, and potentially face loan denial and higher interest rate. Additionally, the cutoff debt-equity ratio is an increasing function of audit cost. Hence smaller audit costs may allow more high quality small firms to reveal their types to the banks, thus leading to a more partially separating equilibrium. The model suggests a number of interesting empirical questions for further study.
Nanomechanics of carbon nanotubes

This review focusses on introducing the mechanics in carbon nanotubes (CNT), and the major applications of CNT and its composites in biomedicine. It emphasizes the nanomechanics of these materials by reviewing the widely followed experimental methods, theoretical models, simulations, classification, segregation and applications the aforementioned materials. First, several mechanical properties contributing to the classification of the CNT, for various biomedicine applications, are discussed in detail to provide a cursory glance at the uses of CNT. The mechanics of CNT discussed in this paper include: elasticity, stress, tension, compression, nano-scale mechanics. In addition to these basic properties, a brief introduction about nanoscale composites is given. Second, a brief review on some of the major applications of CNT in biomedicine including drug delivery, therapeutics, diagnostics and regenerative medicine is given.
Chemical fixation to arrest phospholipid signaling for chemical cytometry

Abstract Chemical cytometry is a powerful tool for measuring biological processes such as enzymatic signaling at the single cell level. Among these technologies, single-cell capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has emerged as a powerful tool to assay a wide range of cellular metabolites. However, analysis of dynamic processes within cells remains challenging as signaling pathways are rapidly altered in response to changes in the cellular environment, including cell manipulation and storage. To address these limitations, we describe a method for chemical fixation of cells to stop the cellular reactions to preserve the integrity of key signaling molecules or reporters within the cell and to enable the cell to act as a storage reservoir for the reporter and its metabolites prior to assay by single-cell CZE. Fluorescent phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate reporters were loaded into cells and the cells were chemically fixed and stored prior to analysis. The reporter and its metabolites were electrophoretically separated by single-cell CZE. Chemical fixation parameters such as fixative, fixation time, storage solution, storage duration, and extraction solution were optimized. When cells were loaded with a fluorescent C6- or C16-PIP 2 followed by glutaraldehyde fixation and immediate analysis, 24 ± 2% and 139 ± 12% of the lipid was recoverable, respectively, when compared to an unfixed control. Storage of the cells for 24 h yielded recoverable lipid of 61 ± 3% (C6-PIP 2 ) and 55 ± 5% (C16-PIP 2 ) when compared to cells analyzed immediately after fixation. The metabolites observed with and without fixation were identical. Measurement of phospholipase C activity in single leukemic cells in response to an agonist demonstrated the capability of chemical fixation coupled to single-cell CZE to yield an accurate snapshot of cellular reactions with the probe. This methodology enables cell assay with the reporter to be separated in space and time from reporter metabolite quantification while preserving assay integrity.
Delivery Room Management of a Neonate with Inspiratory Stridor

In this video, the neonatology team placed an oral airway to relieve the neonate’s respiratory distress associated with inspiratory stridor. Which of the following intervention/s could also be helpful to relieve these symptoms? Note: More than 1 option might be correct. Video. Click here to view the video. Reproduced with permission of Akshaya Vachharajani, MD, FAAP, and The Saigh Foundation Pediatric Simulation Center, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. Copyright 2017. Stridor represents obstructed flow within the airway that can be heard during the inspiratory phase, expiratory phase, or both phases. The neonate in this video has inspiratory stridor. Stridor during inspiration suggests an extrathoracic or upper airway obstruction. The causes of upper airway obstruction in a neonate include tongue displaced posteriorly (as occurs with Pierre-Robin sequence), anomalies of the larynx (such as laryngomalacia, laryngeal hemangioma, and vocal cord edema), and vocal cord palsy. The 2 most common causes of inspiratory stridor in a neonate are laryngomalacia and vocal cord palsy. A laryngeal cyst is …
The Meaningful Use Regulations in Information Technology: What Do They Mean for Quality Improvement in Hospitals?

If provider organizations are serious about improving quality and efficiency, they must advance their electronic health record capabilities far beyond just meeting the U.S. federal regulations.
Hybrid polymorphic logic gate using 6 terminal magnetic domain wall motion device

Polymorphic gates are capable of adapting to multiple functionalities depending on the application and need. In this paper, we propose a hybrid spin-CMOS polymorphic logic gate based on a novel 6 terminal composite magnetic domain wall motion device structure. As far as we know, we are the first to present a single polymorphic gate that is able to perform a full set of 2-input Boolean logic functions (i.e. AND/NAND, OR/NOR, NOT, XOR/XNOR) by configuring the applied keys. The SPICE device-circuit co-simulation indicates that a full adder design using our proposed polymorphic logic gate shows 45.74% power reduction compared with traditional CMOS full adder design. Moreover, it can be a promising hardware security primitive by implementing logic locking and polymorphic transformation to protect Integrated Circuit (IC) against counterfeiting and reverse engineering. To summarize, our proposed design simultaneously provides non-volatility, low power consumption, compactness and polymorphism to logic circuits, which opens a new paradigm for future power efficient and secured computing.
HIRAD Brightness Temperature Image Geolocation Validation

The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed to provide wide-swath hurricane surface wind speed and rain rate imagery for scientific research. This letter presents a geometric evaluation of the brightness temperature (Tb) images produced by HIRAD for high-contrast land/water targets. Methodologies used to validate geolocation accuracy and spatial resolution are discussed, and results are presented to provide quantitative pixel geolocation accuracy and the effective image spatial resolution of the Tb image.