cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prediction of outcome after anti-cancer immune stimulation by thermochemotherapy in a rat breast cancer model

2089 BACKGROUND: Whole-body fever-range thermal therapy (FR-WB-TT), when optimally scheduled with chemotherapy, enhances the anti-cancer activity of many chemotherapy drugs. In the clinically relevant MTLn3 rat mammary adenocarcinoma model, oxaliplatin (Ox) given at sub-maximally tolerated doses 24h before FR-WB-TT reproducibly results in a 50% cure rate. Cured rats are immune to re-challenge with the same tumor. After initial growth inhibition tumors regrow in all rats, but starting around 10-12 days post-treatment partially responding and ultimately cured rats begin to regress both their primary tumors and lymph node metastases. Acute response during the first 4-5 days, however, is not predictive of long term outcome. Are there early markers of response to predict cure? Can additional treatment turn non-responders into responders? To begin answering these questions, we investigated the proliferative and activation responses of CD8+ T-cells to Ox + FR-WB-TT thermochemotherapy. METHODS: Female Fischer 344 rats bearing an orthotopically implanted syngeneic MTLn3 tumor were treated with Ox (10 mg/kg i.v.) 24 h before FR-WB-TT (40°C for 6 h). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), Ficoll-separated from whole blood, and labeled with carboxyfluorescein succinylester (CSFE) were examined by flow cytometry for cell proliferation 6 and 10 days after Ox treatment. Separated lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro with MTLn3 breast or syngeneic 9L glioma brain tumor cells and CD25 expression was examined after 2 days of restimulation. Anti-tumor effect was assessed by comparing tumor volume in treated and control animals. RESULTS: 50% of treated animals were cured and lived a normal life-span. The other 50% either partially responded or had no response at all. Cured animals were immune to re-challenge with MTLn3 cells but not to 9L glioma cells. CD8+ cell counts, determined by a bead counting method directly from whole blood, were significantly higher for the eventual responder animals on days 6 and 10 after treatment. Partial responders had CD8+ cell counts intermediate between non-responders and cured animals. Rats that later rejected their tumors showed a loss of CFSE label compared to non-responding rats with later tumor progression. There was 56% CFSE loss in the eventual responders compared to 34% CFSE loss in rats that did not reject tumor. Percent CD25 activation after in vitro stimulation was also higher in cured animals than in non-responders or partial responders. CONCLUSIONS: CD8+ cell proliferation (increased numbers of CD8+ cells) and functional activation (CD25 expression) may be predictive of curative therapy early after treatment. Further work is ongoing to improve assays of CD8+ T-cell quantity and function, and to understand the mechanisms of immune stimulation of chemotherapy by thermal therapy with a view to curative intervention for non-responders.
Elevated fibrin D-dimer fragment in sickle cell anemia: evidence for activation of coagulation during the steady state as well as in painful crisis.

The fibrin D -dimer degradation fragment is produced by plasmin degradation of cross-linked fibrin. Elevated plasma D -dimer levels indicate increased plasmin degra
Trichinosis of the myocardium

Abstract A rapidly fatal case of trichinosis, with myocardial involvement, which was mistaken for acute rheumatic fever, is reported. Trichinae were present in sections of skeletal and cardiac muscle and were recovered from formalin-fixed skeletal muscle, but not from fixed myocardium by digestion.
A Physics-Based Framework for Segmentation, Shape and Motion Estimation

This paper summarizes our research efforts towards the development of a physics-based modeling framework that addresses the difficult problems of segmentation, shape and motion estimation in a uniform way. The framework is based on the sophisticated integration of mathematical techniques from geometry, physics and mechanics, with special emphasis on the design of algorithms with close to real-time performance. We demonstrate the usefulness of this framework in experiments involving image and range data, as well as in biomedical applications.
Flexible, wide-area storage for distributed systems with WheelFS

WheelFS is a wide-area distributed storage system intended to help multi-site applications share data and gain fault tolerance. WheelFS takes the form of a distributed file system with a familiar POSIX interface. Its design allows applications to adjust the tradeoff between prompt visibility of updates from other sites and the ability for sites to operate independently despite failures and long delays. WheelFS allows these adjustments via semantic cues, which provide application control over consistency, failure handling, and file and replica placement. WheelFS is implemented as a user-level file system and is deployed on PlanetLab and Emulab. Three applications (a distributed Web cache, an email service and large file distribution) demonstrate that WheelFS's file system interface simplifies construction of distributed applications by allowing reuse of existing software. These applications would perform poorly with the strict semantics implied by a traditional file system interface, but by providing cues to WheelFS they are able to achieve good performance. Measurements show that applications built on WheelFS deliver comparable performance to services such as CoralCDN and BitTorrent that use specialized wide-area storage systems.
Swarm: a log-structured storage system for Linux

Swarm [3] is a storage system for Linux that provides scalable, reliable, and cost-effective data storage. At its lowest level, Swarm implements a log-structured interface to a cluster of storage devices. Above the log, Swarm provides an infrastructure that allows high-level abstractions and functionality to be implemented easily and efficiently. This paper describes the design and implementation of Swarm, paying particular attention to the Swarm infrastructure and how it has been used to construct two storage systems: Sting, a log-structured file system for Linux, and ext2fs/Swarm, a Swarm-based version of the Linux ext2 file system that runs unmodified above ablock device compatibility layer. The paper concludes with a discussion of our experiences using Linux as a platform for research.
Thermal Conductivity of the Earth's Deepest Mantle

Thermal transport properties in the lowest mantle are estimated, due to experimental limitations. The lattice component of thermal diffusivity (D) is constrained through measurements of dense phases made using the laser-flash technique, which is accurate (± 2%) and unaffected by spurious radiative transfer. Thermal diffusivity is constant once a critical temperature (Tsat )o f ∼ 1100 to 1500 K is exceeded. The saturated mean free path (λsat, computed from Dsat and sound velocities) nearly equals the primitive lattice parameter . This relationship provides temperature independent values of D and klat for the lower mantle. Pressure derivatives are predicted by the damped harmonic oscillator model. An effective thermal conductivity, krad(T ), due to diffusion of heat by photons is estimated from optical spectra of perovskite at 298 K. To represent the internally heated, grainy mantle, our formulation accounts for grain-size (d) dependences of emissivity and physical scattering, and for interface reflections. An approximate analytical solution is derived which indicates that krad depends nearly linearly on T in the lower mantle. For perovskite (and probably post-perovskite), krad has a maximum at X ∼ 0.05 Fe/(Mg + Fe) for d ∼ 1 mm. At X ∼ 0.1, krad is maximized at d ∼ 3 mm. Our approximation overestimates krad at large X and d. For low spin Fe, krad is low due to grain-size effects, and reaches a maximum at high Fe content. Plumes are expected to form under destabilizing conditions of low thermal conductivity and negative ∂k/∂T . The latter condition is unlikely in the deep mantle, but the following physical properties lower krad: large grains or very, very small grains, low Fe contents for low spin Fe, or high Fe contents for high spin Fe. High degrees of solid solution reduce klat. If localized Fe enrichment of the deepest mantle by core material occurs this could create plumes which would carry some core material upwards, thereby enriching the lower mantle in Fe with respect to the upper mantle, and leading to a gravitationally stable, chemically stratified mantle.
Effects of endogenous and exogenous catecholamines on LPS-induced neutrophil trafficking and activation

Endotoxemia produces elevations in catecholamine levels in the pulmonary and systemic circulation as well as rapid increases in neutrophil number and proinflammatory cytokine expression in the lung...
On optimal Bayesian classification and risk estimation under multiple classes

A recently proposed optimal Bayesian classification paradigm addresses optimal error rate analysis for small-sample discrimination, including optimal classifiers, optimal error estimators, and error estimation analysis tools with respect to the probability of misclassification under binary classes. Here, we address multi-class problems and optimal expected risk with respect to a given risk function, which are common settings in bioinformatics. We present Bayesian risk estimators (BRE) under arbitrary classifiers, the mean-square error (MSE) of arbitrary risk estimators under arbitrary classifiers, and optimal Bayesian risk classifiers (OBRC). We provide analytic expressions for these tools under several discrete and Gaussian models and present a new methodology to approximate the BRE and MSE when analytic expressions are not available. Of particular note, we present analytic forms for the MSE under Gaussian models with homoscedastic covariances, which are new even in binary classification.
Bacteremia Caused by Kerstersia gyiorum

ABSTRACT Kerstersia spp. are an unusual cause of human infections. We report the first known case of bacteremia and sepsis due to Kerstersia gyiorum, in a patient with chronic lower-extremity ulcers, and we review the literature on this uncommon pathogen.
Long-term urinary continence rates after simple sling incision for relief of urinary retention following fascia lata pubovaginal slings.

ABSTRACT Purpose: We examined long-term urinary continence rates in patients after midline simple sling incision for urinary retention following suburethral fascia lata slings. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was completed of 13 women undergoing a simple sling incision for catheter dependent obstruction after suburethral sling surgery more than 4 years previously. Urinary continence was evaluated by use of the Groutz-Blaivas anti-incontinence surgery response score. The scores were statistically compared as binary categories at mean 111-day and 60.8-month followup. Results: A total of 13 women underwent a simple sling incision for catheter dependent urinary retention after sling surgery, and 11 patients (mean age 73.4 years) were available for long-term followup (60.8 months). The simple sling incision procedure was completed an average of 65 days (range 36 to 235) after original sling placement. Mean post-void residual urine volume at least 1 month after sling surgery was 289 ml (range 75 to 500). At a mean followup of 60.8 months, no patient required catheterization. Of 11 patients 5 wore no pads. There was no statistical difference in leakage episodes per day (p=1.0), pads per day (p=0.3), or patient perceived condition (p=0.3) during long-term followup. The mean Groutz-Blaivas score did not change statistically during the 5-year followup period (p=0.6). Conclusions: Midline simple sling incision provides relief of catheter dependent obstruction following fascia lata sling surgery while preserving urinary continence in the majority of patients during a 5-year followup period.
Globalization, Culture, and Neighborhood Change Reinventing the Lower East Side of New York

Globalization of the production, distribution, and consumption of culture has affected the identity of locale or neighborhood. In many instances, local cultural forms, such as music and art, are ap...
Vibrational anharmonicity in the cyanogen halides; a preliminary study using the Anderson potential function

Abstract The force constants in the general quartic valence force field of the cyanogen halides, FCN, ClCN, BrCN and ICN, have been estimated using a simplifying model proposed by Anderson. The parameters of the model were adjusted by least squares to fit the available experimental data from the microwave and infrared spectra and the parameters so obtained were then used to calculate the force constants and, from these, the vibrational energies and rotational constants. The Fermi resonance coupling the states |v1, v2, l2,v3〉 and |v1 −1, v2 + 2, l2, v3〉 was taken into account and the dependence of the Fermi-resonance matrix element on the rotational quantum number, J, was also included in the analysis. We expect the results of these calculations to be useful in the further interpretation of the spectra of these molecules.
Interaction of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) in human T cells activated by murine antigens

We used a mixed leucocyte culture between human T cells and irradiated murine splenocytes which allowed us to distinguish between cytokine production from the responder and stimulator cells by the use of species-specific assays for mRNA up-regulation. Using this model of T cell activation by antigen, we studied the effects of human antigen-presenting cell-derived cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha on the activation of human T cell subsets. We show in this system that exogenously added IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha induces IL-2 receptor (R) up-regulation and IL-2 production, and proliferation by both CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The addition of IL-1 beta induces IL-6 mRNA, and anti-IL-1 antibodies or an IL-1R antagonist protein completely suppresses IL-6 and TNF-alpha supported proliferation. Similarly, addition of IL-6 or TNF-alpha induces up-regulation of IL-1 beta mRNA. However, anti-IL-6 and anti-IL-6R antibodies only partially block proliferation supported by IL-1 beta. These findings suggest that IL-6 and TNF-alpha will induce IL-2R up-regulation/IL-2 secretion via the induction of IL-1 beta production.
Social Services Utilization by Families of Infants Discharged from a Neonatal Intensice Care Unit

Improvements in neonatal intensive care have resulted in increased rates of survival for high risk newborns. Many of the families of high risk infants need supportive services, yet research is sparse on follow-up services used by families with a high risk infant and the relative importance of the perinatal social worker in gaining access to these services. A predictive model of social services utilization is analyzed for 156 families interviewed after, their infants were discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit. 'Contact with the perinatal social worker, mother's age, receipt of income supports, and health status of the infant were found to positively predict utilization.
Association between Travel Times and Food Procurement Practices among Female Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participants in Eastern North Carolina.

Abstract Objective To examine associations between self-reported vehicular travel behaviors, perceived stress, food procurement practices, and body mass index among female Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Analysis The authors used correlation and regression analyses to examine cross-sectional associations between travel time and distance, perceived stress, food procurement practices (grocery shopping frequency, fast-food consumption, home meal consumption), and body mass index among female SNAP participants aged 20-65 years (n = 215) in eastern North Carolina. Results There were positive associations ( P r = 0.18 for average miles traveled), grocery shopping frequency ( r = 0.16 for average miles traveled), and fast-food consumption ( r = 0.19 for average miles traveled, r = 0.29 for average minutes traveled). Conclusions and Implications SNAP education materials should focus on healthful interactions with the food environment, even when participants must travel long distances.
The origin of 20th century discoveries transforming clinical gastroenterology

"It is no longer necessary today to write that scientific medicine is also the best foundation for medical practice... Scientific methods have been everywhere introduced into practice...Therapeutic doctrine has become biological and thereby experimental science."
Radiographic anatomy of the foot and ankle—part 4: the metatarsals.

Background: The normal radiographic anatomy of the foot and ankle, aside from my previous work, has been addressed only superficially or sparingly in the medical literature. This project correlates the detailed radiographic anatomy of the entire adult foot and ankle (two-dimensional) to osteology (three-dimensional). Methods: Each bone's position was determined after meticulous examination and correlation to an articulated skeleton relative to the image receptor and direction of the x-ray beam, with correlation to the radiograph for confirmation. Results: Images of each foot and distal leg bone (“front” and “back” perspectives) are presented alongside a corresponding radiographic image for comparison. The normal gross and radiographic anatomy is correlated and described for each radiographic positioning technique. Conclusions: Foundational knowledge is provided that future researchers can use as a baseline (“normal”) and that students and practitioners can use for comparison when interpreting radiographs ...
Computer analysis of talk‐silence patterns in triads

Research on talk‐silence patterns has been hampered by the laborious procedures required for data collection and analysis. This paper provides computer‐assisted techniques for analyzing talk‐silence behaviors that are applicable to groups larger than two. A data‐based study on triads is provided to demonstrate the practical utility of the approach. Subjects with differing levels of communication apprehension were assigned to mixed‐sex triads for a conversation. Each person's voice was tape‐recorded on separate channels. The channels were simultaneously sampled four times per second to determine if a vocalization was occurring. Results demonstrate that high‐apprehensives talked less, less often, and were interrupted less often than low‐apprehensives. Implications for the analysis of talk‐silence behaviors; are discussed.
Partial saturation of rat liver Cd-binding proteins by Cd2+ in vivo.

Liver Cd-binding proteins (Cd-BP) were isolated from rats chronically treated with109Cd-labeled CdCl2 for ten days. Fractions purified using Sephadex G-75 and DEAE-Sephadex were characterized and found to be similar to those isolated by other investigators. Cd-binding was not saturated in any of the preparations and significant amounts of Cu and Zn were also found bound to the proteins. The percentage of saturation for Cd-BP1, and Cd-BP2 was independently determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and spectroscopy at 254 nm. These results indicate that the fraction of binding sites unoccupied by Cd on Cd-BP approaches 20%in vivo.
Preschool screening: Relations among audiometric and developmental measures

Abstract We report the relationship between measures of hearing and emerging developmental processes, especially language acquisition, in two samples ( N = 144, N = 147) of preschool (3–5 years of age) children. Children participating in the study attended one of four urban day-care centers and were screened for developmental delays as one component of an outreach program sponsored by a local community health center. Children were assigned pass/fail (P/F) status on a locally developed preschool screening instrument, measuring cognitive, linguistic, and social-behavioral development. Students also were assigned pass/fail status on two measures of hearing, pure tone audiometry, and impedance testing. Log-linear modeling of relations among developmental subtests and hearing for both samples suggested that delayed language acquistion was related to the presence of mild hearing loss for all ages in the sample. Classification with respect to language (P/F) was associated in turn with levels (P/F) of cognitive and social development. Consideration of socioeconomic status (SES) in a pooled sample suggested moderation of the interaction between levels of social development and language acquisition by SES.
4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase.

Abstract 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) is an Fe(II)-dependent, non-heme oxygenase that catalyzes the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisate. This reaction involves decarboxylation, substituent migration and aromatic oxygenation in a single catalytic cycle. HPPD is a member of the α-keto acid dependent oxygenases that typically require an α-keto acid (almost exclusively α-ketoglutarate) and molecular oxygen to either oxygenate or oxidize a third molecule. As an exception in this class of enzymes HPPD has only two substrates, does not use α-ketoglutarate, and incorporates both atoms of dioxygen into the aromatic product, homogentisate. The tertiary structure of the enzyme would suggest that its mechanism converged with that of other α-keto acid enzymes from an extradiol dioxygenase progenitor. The transformation catalyzed by HPPD has both agricultural and therapeutic significance. HPPD catalyzes the second step in the pathway for the catabolism of tyrosine, that is common to essentially all aerobic forms of life. In plants this pathway has an anabolic branch from homogentisate that forms essential isoprenoid redox cofactors such as plastoquinone and tocopherol. Naturally occurring multi-ketone molecules act as allelopathic agents by inhibiting HPPD and preventing the production of homogentisate and hence required redox cofactors. This has been the basis for the development of a range of very effective herbicides that are currently used commercially. In humans, deficiencies of specific enzymes of the tyrosine catabolism pathway give rise to a number of severe metabolic disorders. Interestingly, HPPD inhibitor/herbicide molecules act also as therapeutic agents for a number of debilitating and lethal inborn defects in tyrosine catabolism by preventing the accumulation of toxic metabolites.
Real-time boronization in PBX-M using erosion of solid boronized targets

Abstract Thirty one real-time boronizations were applied to PBX-M using the plasma erosion of solid target probes. More than 17 g of boron were deposited in PBX-M using this technique. The probes were positioned at the edge plasma to optimize vaporization and minimize spallation. Auger depth profile analysis of poloidal and toroidal deposition sample coupon arrays indicate that boron was transported by the plasma around the torus and deep into the divertors. During discharges with continuous real-time boronization, low- Z and high- Z impurities decreased rapidly as plasma surfaces were covered during the first 20–30 discharges. After boronization, a short-term improvement in plasma conditions persisted prior to significant boron erosion from plasma surfaces, and a longer term, but less significant improvement persisted as boron farther from the edge continued gettering. Real-time solid target boronization has been found to be very effective for accelerating conditioning to new regimes and maintaining high performance plasma conditions.
Learn to Earn

The key to economic prosperity is turning innovation into profits. A growing number of countries in the developing world are showing how this can be done. Their societies are benefitting as a result.
The Impact of Skin Damage Due to Cutaneous Lupus on Quality of Life

Background It has already been shown that patients with more severe CLE activity have a poorer quality of life (QoL). Racial and ethnic disparities have been reported in disease activity and outcomes in SLE, but similar information is not available in CLE.
Adult cranberry beverage consumers have healthier macronutrient intakes and measures of body composition compared to non-consumers: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2008.

Flavonoids, present in high levels in cranberries, are potent bioactives known for their health-promoting benefits, but cranberry beverages (CB) are not typically recommended as part of a healthy diet. We examine the association between CB consumption with macronutrient intake and weight status. Data for US adults (≥19 years, n = 10,891) were taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Survey 2005–2008. Total CB consumption was measured over two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Linear and logistic regression models adjusting for important covariates were used to examine predicted differences between CB consumers and non-consumers on macronutrient and anthropometric outcomes. Results are weighted to be nationally representative. CB consumers (n = 581) were older (>50 year) non-Hispanic black females. They consumed an average 221 mL (7.5 oz) CB per day. In fully adjusted models CB consumers (vs. non-consumers) had higher carbohydrates and total sugars and lower percent energy from protein and total fat (all p < 0.001), but no difference in total energy. A significantly higher proportion of CB consumers were predicted to be normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2; p = 0.001) and had to have lower waist circumferences (p = 0.001). Although there was not a significant trend across level of CB intake, low and middle level CB consumers compared to non-consumers were more likely to be normal weight (p < 0.001) and less likely to be overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, p < 0.001). Despite having slightly higher daily macronutrient intakes, CB consumers have more desirable anthropometric measures compared to non-consumers.
Fuzzy logic controller design for spacecraft proximity operations

Abstract A Genetic Algorithms (GAs) based method is presented in this paper for concurrent design of rule sets and membership functions for a fuzzy logic controllers to be used in spacecraft proximity operations. The heuristic nature of fuzzy logic makes GAs a natural candidate for logic design in which both rule sets and membership functions are optimized simultaneously. The employment of GAs natural genetic operations provides a means to search in a complex system space that is difficult to described mathematically. A one-dimensional controller for spacecraft proximity operations is implemented for examination in detail. The expension of the algorithm for a 6 DOP controller is discussed.
Effect of etched sidewall tilt on the reflection loss of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or III-V etched facet reflector

The effect of etching’s verticality on the reflection loss of strongly-guiding SOI or weakly-guiding III-V etched facet reflector (EFR ) is studied. High tolerance on tilt makes SOI EFR much more resilient to etching deviation.
Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes Of The Dromedary Camel

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a genetic region involved in many aspects of immune responses, including the processing and presentation of antigenic peptides to T cells. The MHC, which spans approximately 4 million base pairs, is gene dense and contains many duplicated, highly polymorphic genes, particularly those encoding the MHC class I and class II molecules. Evidence for increased fitness of MHC heterozygotes over homozygotes has been observed in several species; this has usually been associated with resistance to infectious diseases. Studies of the MHC of many mammalian species have established a general plan for the genomic organization of this region, but they have also identified differences that are important to our understanding of the evolution and function of the MHC and its role in immune defense. As examples, the MHC region in some species is characterized by Copy Number Variants between haplotypes, while in certain species the level of polymorphism is limited. Given the cultu...
An in vitro comparison of 5 techniques for impressing dowel space preparations.

Purpose This in vitro study compared 5 different dowel space impression techniques using polyvinyl siloxane impression material to determine which method produced fewer voids in the dowel space impression. Materials and Methods Five techniques were used to make impressions of a prepared dowel space in a simulated endodontically treated tooth. Technique I used a 25-gauge anesthetic needle to act as a vent at the apex of the preparation to reduce voids produced during the expression of light body impression material. The anesthetic needle was removed after the impression material was injected, and an impression post was then inserted to the depth of the preparation. Twenty impressions made using this technique were compared with other techniques that used the vent without a post, no vent with a post, no vent without a post, and a lentulo spiral with a post (Techniques II through V, respectively). The percentage of impressions with voids from each group was compared to determine which technique consistently produced a void-free impression of the complete preparation length. If voids were observed in the impression, the specimen was considered inadequate. Results The percents of void-free impressions using Techniques I through V were 100%, 70%, 40%, 60%, and 20%, respectively. Conclusions Using a 25-gauge needle as a vent while expressing impression material into the dowel space followed by placing the impression post consistently produced void-free dowel space impressions.
A memorable patient.

The few of us who examined 2 years of correspondence before Mr. J.'s arrival at Massachusetts General Hospital were even more interested in meeting the man than in validating the exotic diagnosis w...
Oxygen consumption in normal and trypan blue-treated chick embryos†

A teratogenic dose of trypan blue (1% dissolved in saline) was injected into the yolk sac of 48-hour chick embryos. Twelve hours later the embryo preparations (embryo plus area opaca) were isolated and placed in Warburg vessels in a protein-free culture medium containing glucose and a buffered saline. Oxygen consumption was measured in these dye-treated preparations and in two classes of controls, unopened and saline-injected. Qo2 (μl O2 consumed/mg dry wt/hr) in trypan blue-treated preparations was significantly higher than in either class of controls. This is apparently a result of two combined effects of the dye on the tissues studied: (1) a true increase in oxygen consumption; and (2) a decrease in dry weight. These results show that the teratogenic effects of trypan blue can be detected at the biochemical level within 12 hours of treatment. It is suggested that trypan blue acts as an uncoupling agent on the tissues of the early chick embryo.
Enhancing the laser power by stacking multiple dye-doped chiral polymer films.

We demonstrate a method for enhancing the laser efficiency by stacking multiple dye-doped chiral polymer films. No laser emission was observed from a single 8 µm film. By stacking two films together, the laser efficiency is dramatically enhanced. Further increasing the number of stacked films, the output laser power is further increased. It is also observed that the output laser power in the forward direction is almost the same as that in the backward for the two- and three-layered films. However, in the six-layered film the output laser power is much stronger in the backward direction than the forward one. This is due to the absorption of the laser dyes and the distributed feedback in the chiral polymer films.
Academic Procrastinators and Their Self-Regulation

Previous procrastination research has provided considerable support for procrastination as a failure of self-regulation. However, procrastination has rarely been examined in relation to models of self-regulated learning. The purpose of this study was to understand the motives and reasons for academic procrastination from a self-regulated learning perspective. The current study employed a mixed-methods design in which participants completed several survey instruments of academic procrastination, self-regulation, and academic motivation and participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated that academic procrastination was related to poor self-regulatory skills and defensive behaviors including self-handica- pping strategies. Only limited support for students’ demonstration of procrastination as an adaptive beha- vior (or, active procrastination) was also indicated. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
The Accountablity Challenge

This case decribes a large urban school district that faces the usual challenges found in these districts such as poverty, deteriorating school facilities, school integration, bussing, and student academic performance in the state's high stakes accountability program. The former superintendent, who did not particularly like the state's accountibility program, abruptly resigned after two years in the position when the district's test results were received. As a result, the school district is scheduled to be placed on warning status by the state. The school board is left with a public relations problem, a staff morale problem, the problem of nine low performing schools, and the challege to immediately select an interim superintendent. However, the central focus of the case is educational accountability as measured by student performance on the state's high stakes testing program.
Interactive electromagnetic scattering from two air bubbles in water

Numerical results are presented to show the interactive electromagnetic scattering from two air bubbles in water. The results are derived using the translational addition theorem originally employed by W. Trinks to solve the two sphere scattering problem, as well as a recursive definition of the translational addition theorem coefficients developed by J. H. Bruning and Y. T. Lo who also summarize simplifications to the theorem developed by later researchers. The computer program calculates the forward scattering extinction coefficients and the elements of the Mueller transformation matrix. Besides extinction calculations, side scattering resonance predictions are made. The interactive resonance phenomena for the two spherical scatterers show an approach to modeling the transition between single scatterer to bulk scatterer behavior.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A reappraisal of total pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer: Results from U.S. veterans affairs hospitals, 1987–1991

background: After enthusiasm for total pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma peaked in the 1970s, a failure to improve outcomes in the 1980s led to fewer reports of this procedure. methods: We retrieved records from 252 Whipple and 47 total pancreatectomies for pancreatic cancer performed at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals from 1987 to 1991. results: Thirty-day mortality was 8% with both procedures. There was no significant difference in morbidity at 30 days (Whipple 36%, total pancreatectomy 39%). The mean survival after total pancreatectomy was 526 days compared to 376 days following Whipple ( P = 0.03). Staging information was retrieved from tumor registrars for 117 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 21 of whom underwent total pancreatectomy and 96 the Whipple procedure. In patients with stage I and stage II localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma, mean survival was 772 days in 11 patients after total pancreatectomy, and 446 days in 55 patients after Whipple resection ( P = 0.057). conclusion: The type of resection did not affect the mean survival of patients with stage III (nodal metastases) or stage IV (distant metastases) cancer.
Learning a detection map for a network of unattended ground sensors.

We have developed algorithms to automatically learn a detection map of a deployed sensor field for a virtual presence and extended defense (VPED) system without apriori knowledge of the local terrain. The VPED system is an unattended network of sensor pods, with each pod containing acoustic and seismic sensors. Each pod has the ability to detect and classify moving targets at a limited range. By using a network of pods we can form a virtual perimeter with each pod responsible for a certain section of the perimeter. The site's geography and soil conditions can affect the detection performance of the pods. Thus, a network in the field may not have the same performance as a network designed in the lab. To solve this problem we automatically estimate a network's detection performance as it is being installed at a site by a mobile deployment unit (MDU). The MDU will wear a GPS unit, so the system not only knows when it can detect the MDU, but also the MDU's location. In this paper, we demonstrate how to handle anisotropic sensor-configurations, geography, and soil conditions.
The impact of religiosity on suicidal ideation among youth in central Mexico.

Although over 100 years of research has been dedicated to understanding the connection between religiosity and suicide, many questions still remain. This is especially true among adolescent populations in countries outside the US. In 2008, over 700 students attending eight alternative high school centers in central Mexico completed a health survey designed to provide a comprehensive overview of their physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. This article reports on the findings of a secondary analysis study of those data and focuses on the protective influence of religiosity on suicidal ideation. The findings of this study are discussed in light of the network theory’s assertion that there is a belonging aspect to religion, and also to the idea that in religiously homogeneous communities of Mexico, religion can have a protective effect on the suicidal ideation of its members.
Developing Dispositions for Teaching: Teacher Education Programs as Moral Communities of Practice

Dispositions for teaching have become a key issue in teacher education reform. Relatively little attention, however, has been devoted to studying how dispositions for teaching develop. This article argues that acquiring appropriate professional dispositions for teaching is a socio-cultural process that benefits from both formal and informal modeling and assisted performance. It takes place in and among peers and more experienced colleagues / instructors in teacher education programs, which serve as moral communities of practice. The article presents a conceptual analysis of this challenge, identifies implications, dilemmas, and potential initiatives for teacher education programs, and proposes avenues for further research.
Thermodynamics of the liquidus and the solidus of binary alloys

Abstract 1. (1) For alloys completely miscible in the liquid and the solid state, formulae are derived in order to calculate from the phase diagram the difference in the excess integral molar free energies of the solid and the liquid phase, which is essentially equal to the strain energy due to the difference in size of the constituent atoms. 2. (2) The width of the gap between the liquidus and the solidus in the system Ag-Au is calculated to be 1.3°at NAu = 0.5 in contrast to an experimental value of 10°. The divergence between the calculated and the observed value is due to incomplete attainment of equilibrium during thermal analysis. 3. (3) Formulae for the liquidus and the solidus in the vicinity of a minimum are derived and applied to the system Au-Cu.
A Classification for Biomedical Research Reports

Biomedical research uses a wide range of designs applied to problems in laboratory, clinical, and population settings. Whatever the nature of the study, a few key features--such as the admission rule, the method of allocating subjects to treatments, and the use of controls--largely determine the strength of scientific inferences. We used these and other features to classify the 332 Original Articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine during 1978-1979. This classification directs attention to critical aspects of study design and performance and can help in the choice of suitable research approaches and protocols. It emphasizes the critical role of the investigators' intent in performing and analyzing a study, and it alerts readers to important aspects of interpretation. We recommend that authors always report enough detail about their work for readers to apply this or a similar classification. Omission of such detail may limit the interpretation of a research study because a study that cannot be classified has probably been incompletely reported.
Magnetosphere dynamics with artificial plasma clouds

Addition of cold plasma to the magnetosphere outside the plasmasphere can enhance both ion and electron electromagnetic cyclotron (EMC) instabilities. To turn on the ion EMC mode, one needs a cold plasma ion which is not too heavy; in many respects, lithium is ideal. Calculations have been made of total ion-EMC amplification on a single pass through a lithium cloud; these show that as much as 40–80 dB gain can be achieved on a synchronous-orbit field line. The most important effects of adding lithium are to reduce the minimum anisotropy requirement considerably, and to broaden the unstable domain in k-space. The dynamics of the cold lithium cloud have been studied in detail; on a time scale of a few hours, the cloud behaves as an incompressible fluid in the presence of electric convection fields, and should not become so seriously distorted that the total amplification given above is substantially degraded. Some remarks are made about the effects of added cold plasma on the Post-Rosenbluth electrostatic mode; for the most part, growth rates are reduced with addition of cold plasma.
Serratia marcescens osteomyelitis in an infant.

A full term infant who developed osteomyelitis of the hands and feet due to Serratia marcescens is reported. The immunological functions of the patient appeared normal. The osteomyelitis responded to a 3 month course of treatment with gentamycin sulfate.
James Webb Space Telescope - L2 Communications for Science Data Processing

JWST is the first NASA mission at the second Lagrange point (L2) to identify the need for data rates higher than 10 megabits per second (Mbps). JWST will produce approximately 235 Gigabits of science data every day that will be downlinked to the Deep Space Network (DSN). To get the data rates desired required moving away from X-band frequencies to Ka-band frequencies. To accomplish this transition, the DSN is upgrading its infrastructure. This new range of frequencies are becoming the new standard for high data rate science missions at L2. With the new frequency range, the issues of alternatives antenna deployment, off nominal scenarios, NASA implementation of the Ka-band 26 GHz, and navigation requirements will be discussed in this paper. JWST is also using Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) standard process for reliable file transfer using CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP). For JWST the use of the CFDP protocol provides level zero processing at the DSN site. This paper will address NASA implementations of Ground Stations in support of Ka-band 26 GHz and lesson learned from implementing a file base (CFDP) protocol operational system.
Trace analysis for platinum in glasses by neutron activation

Abstract Trace amounts of platinum were determined in eight glasses. These glasses had been prepared under special conditions, and information on both the surface and interior platinum was desired. Previous microscopic examination of the glass samples had identified platinum on the surface of at least four of the samples. The platinum was analyzed by means of the nuclear reaction The 199Au product has a 3.15-day T 1 2 and Eγ of 158 and 208 keV. Samples were irradiated in the NBSR for 2 h at 1.3·1013 n cm-2 sec-1. After irradiation, the glasses were etched with aqua regia for the determination of surface platinum, and then dissolved in hydrofluoric and perchloric acids for the determination of interior platinum. The radioactive 199Au was separated from the matrix by spontaneous deposition on metallic zinc. Experimental sensitivities of 0.04 μg of platinum were obtained.
Visions of My Youth: Representations of the Childhood of Medieval Visionaries

This article is based on visionary narratives and vitae of twenty-seven female and thirteen male visionaries from Britain and Europe, from the late eleventh to the early fifteenth century. Across this chronological and geographical span, the differences between the childhood representations of male and female visionaries are shaped by prevailing beliefs about the nature of men and women. Male visionaries rarely include reminiscence of their childhood in their narratives, while women offer childhood memories relatively consistently. For male visionaries, childhood seems irrelevant in terms of their adult spirituality. For women, childhood reminiscences reaffirmed their association with the purity of virgin childhood.
Studying teacher selection of resources in an ultra-large scale interactive system: Does metadata guide the way?

Ultra-large-scale interactive systems on the Internet have begun to change how teachers prepare for instruction, particularly in regards to resource selection. Consequently, it is important to look at how teachers are currently selecting resources beyond content or keyword search. We conducted a two-part observational study of an existing popular system called TeachersPayTeachers hypothesizing that 'evaluative metadata' (i.e. comments, ratings, and popularity measures) would drive selection of resources. The first part examined patterns in tens of thousands of sales overall, and the second part focused on patterns of sales in one focal topic that could be expert coded. We find that there are significant gaps in available metadata, that some aspects of metadata are closely associated with sales, and that metadata are weak correlates of expert-determined quality. We conclude by making suggestions for additional research and suggesting how ultra-large scale-interactive systems such as TeachersPayTeachers could be used to improve teacher education.
Variation aware guard -banding for SOC static timing analysis

The conventional approach to static timing analysis (STA) is to apply a constant guard-band against parameter variation. This can lead to costly and inefficient design. In this paper, we show that the guard-band can be reduced through statistical methods applied using an industry standard STA tool while preserving pessimism to ensure design quality and yield.