cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What does the time constant of the pulmonary circulation tell us about the progression of right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary arterial hypertension

AbstractCompliance (C) and resistance (R) maintain a unique, inverse relationship in the pulmonary circulation, resulting in a constant characteristic time that has been observed in healthy subjects as well as patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, little is known about the dependence of right ventricular (RV) function on the coupled changes in R and C in the context of this inverse relationship. We hypothesized three simple dependencies of RV ejection fraction (RVEF) on R and C. The first model (linear-R) assumes a linear RVEF-R relation; the second (linear-C) assumes a linear RVEF-C relation; and the third one combines the former two in a mixed linear model. We found that the linear-R model and the mixed linear model are in good agreement with clinical evidence. A conclusive validation of these models will require more clinical data. Longitudinal data in particular are needed to identify the time course of ventricular-vascular impairment in PAH. Simple models like the ones we pres...
INTERESTING SPATIO-TEMPORAL REGION DISCOVERY COMPUTATIONS over GPU and MAPREDUCE PLATFORMS

Discovery of interesting paths and regions in spatio-temporal data sets is important to many fields such as the earth and atmospheric sciences, GIS, public safety and public health both as a goal and as a preliminary step in a larger series of computations. This discovery is usually an exhaustive procedure that quickly becomes extremely time consuming to perform using traditional paradigms and hardware and given the rapidly growing sizes of today’s data sets is quickly outpacing the speed at which computational capacity is growing. In our previous work (Prasad et al., 2013a) we achieved a 50 times speedup over sequential using a single GPU. We were able to achieve near linear speedup over this result on interesting path discovery by using Apache Hadoop to distribute the workload across multiple GPU nodes. Leveraging the parallel architecture of GPUs we were able to drastically reduce the computation time of a 3-dimensional spatio-temporal interest region search on a single tile of normalized difference vegetative index for Saudi Arabia. We were further able to see an almost linear speedup in compute performance by distributing this workload across several GPUs with a simple MapReduce model. This increases the speed of processing 10 fold over the comparable sequential while simultaneously increasing the amount of data being processed by 384 fold. This allowed us to process the entirety of the selected data set instead of a constrained window.
Neuropathology Considerations: Clinical and SEMG/Biofeedback Applications

SEMG investigation protocols are described within the neurological framework. A neuro- anatomic pathway is utilized including muscular disease, neuromuscular junction conditions, peripheral neuropathy, radiculopahy, myleopathy, brainstem disorders, cerebellar disorders, subcortical and cortical disease. SEMG findings within the clinical presentation of those pathologies are aimed at improving the diagnostic process and serve to focus the SEMG neuromuscular reeducation (biofeedback) component of the overall treatment plan.
Dude, ask the experts!: Android resource access permission recommendation with RecDroid

With the exponential growth of smartphone apps, it is prohibitive for apps market places, such as Google App Store for example, to thoroughly verify if an app is legitimate or malicious. As a result, mobile users are left to decide for themselves whether an app is safe to use. Even worse, recent studies have shown that most apps in markets request to collect data irrelevant to the main functions of the apps, which could cause leaking of private information or inefficient use of mobile resources. To assist users to make a right decision as for whether a permission request should be accepted, we propose RecDroid. RecDroid is a crowdsourcing recommendation framework that collects apps' permission requests and users' permission responses, from which a ranking algorithm is used to evaluate the expertise level of users and a voting algorithm is used to compute an appropriate response to the permission request (accept or reject). To bootstrap the recommendation system, RecDroid relies on a small set of seed expert users that could make reliable recommendations for a small set of application. Our evaluation results show that RecDroid can provide high accuracy and satisfying coverage with careful selection of parameters. The results also show that a small coverage from seed experts is sufficient for RecDroid to cover the majority of the app requests.
Repeated stimulation of dopamine D2-like receptors: reduced responsiveness of nigrostriatal and mesoaccumbens dopamine neurons to quinpirole.

Extracellular recording techniques were used to study antidromically activated nigrostriatal (NSDA) and mesoaccumbens (MADA) dopamine neurons in chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats. Repeated 14-day i.p. treatment with the dopamine D2-like receptor agonists, quinpirole (2 mg/kg/day) or EMD 23448 (2.6 mg/kg/day), resulted in a significant decrease in the average potency and efficacy of i.v. quinpirole (cumulative doses administered on day 15) to inhibit the spontaneous activity of NSDA neurons relative to vehicle controls. Repeated 14-day quinpirole treatment caused a significantly greater decrease in the sensitivity of MADA neurons to i.v. quinpirole challenges than NSDA neurons. When the effects on NSDA neurons were examined after a shorter treatment period, the decrease in the average potency and efficacy of i.v. quinpirole appeared to occur after only 2 days of i.p. quinpirole treatment (2 mg/kg/day). Iontophoretic studies, however, indicated that the average dopamine sensitivity of somatodendritic dopamine autoreceptors on MADA neurons, but not NSDA neurons, was significantly lower relative to controls after 14-day quinpirole treatment (2 mg/kg/day). These results suggest that this quinpirole treatment regimen can differentially affect the average sensitivity of somatodendritic dopamine autoreceptors on MADA and NSDA neurons. The somatodendritic autoreceptors on MADA neurons appear to be more sensitive to the effects of repeated 14-day quinpirole treatment than those on NSDA neurons.
Entity authentication and key distribution

We provide the first formal treatment of entity authentication and authenticated key distribution appropriate to the distributed environment. Addressed in detail are the problems of mutual authentication and authenticated key exchange for the symmetric, two-party setting. For each we present a definition, protocol, and proof that the protocol meets its goal, assuming only the existence of a pseudorandom function.
Tonpilz transducers designed using single crystal piezoelectrics

New single crystal piezoelectrics were investigated as improved transducer materials. Single crystals take advantage of crystallographic engineering to produce high piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling coefficients. Single crystal lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN) was substituted for the piezoelectric ceramic section of a tonpilz transducer design, in order to reduce length and improve bandwidth and output power. Predictions and measurements of transmit performances were made for purposes of comparison to a PZT-8 design. ATILA finite element modeling was used to predict vibration modes, coupling coefficient, head displacement, transmit voltage response, and stress levels in the transducer. Tonpilz elements were then fabricated, tested and analyzed. The performance of the single crystal device was shown to provide the same or improved response over the PZT-8 transducer at a reduced transducer length.
Recent Evidence on Improved Inventory Control: A quarterly Model of the US Economy for the period 1959-2001

This Paper aimed to re-test the hypothesis whether the improved inventory control affects the inventory investment or not. This paper used Bechter and Stanley (1992) model. The contribution of this letter has two dimensions; first, this paper extends the time horizon by using a quarterly data of the U.S. economy for the period 1959-2001. Also, it modifies Bechter and Stanley model under certain assumption and use the adjusted model to re-exam the hypothesis. The results of the paper support the idea that improved inventory control has a significant impact on the behavior of inventory investment. In addition, it shows that the improvement vary from one sector to another. Further, the paper showed that the speed of adjustment will be faster if the firms ignore holding inventories as a buffer stock.
INCORPORATING SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE IN A SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT

Software engineering capstone projects give students experience in developing a software product throughout the software life cycle. Projects such as these give students practical experience in applying concepts they have learned in their software engineering and computer science classes. This paper presents a software engineering capstone project conducted by students at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The work of the students is documented in this paper. Unlike previous capstone projects conducted at this university, however, this one uses methods commonly found in agile development and is an adaptive maintenance development effort. To cite this document: Â Ira Weissberger, Abrar Qureshi, Assad Chowhan, Ethan Collins, and Dakota Gallimore , "Incorporating software maintenance in a senior capstone project", International Journal of Cyber Society and Education, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 31-38, 2015. Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/ijcse.1238
Making Sense of HUSK: Practice Implications for Social Change Initiatives

As an exemplar of bottom-up progressive social experimentation, HUSK provides opportunities to examine how innovative practice is supported and challenged in bureaucratic settings. In this analysis the author uses a sensemaking lens to identify critical issues and questions for those seeking to promote progressive change initiative in social welfare systems. Findings identify essential organizational and managerial supports needed to support service user voice and participation and reinforce the importance of reflexivity in practice and research.
A randomized algorithm to schedule real-time task graphs to satisfy a multicriteria objective function

The objective of previous scheduling algorithms for real-time applications is to execute real-time tasks in a timely fashion. But these algorithms do not consider other performance metrics such as system reliability and inter-task communication. These factors may degrade any additional performance gained by using cluster computing. In this paper, we develop an approach to schedule real-time task graphs that need to satisfy multicriteria simultaneously. We propose an objective function that guides the scheduling process to satisfy given real-time constraints, to maximize reliability and to minimize inter-communication costs. We use two different searching techniques, a heuristic search technique and a random search technique, that use the objective function. We simulate both techniques to study and compare their merits. Results show that the random search technique achieves better performance.
Fullerene C/sub 60/-doped liquid crystalline fiber and fiber array for nanosecond all-optical switching and limiting applications

Summary form only given. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of Fullerene C/sub 60/-doped liquid crystal cored optical fibers and arrays capable of high resolution image transmission are investigated. These devices are capable of optical limiting and protection against nanosecond frequency agile lasers.
Directing gene expression to gustducin-positive taste receptor cells.

We have demonstrated that an 8.4 kb segment (GUS8.4) from the upstream region of the mouse α-gustducin gene acts as a fully functional promoter to target lacZ transgene expression to the gustducin-positive subset of taste receptor cells (TRCs). The GUS8.4 promoter drove TRC expression of the β-galactosidase marker at high levels and in a developmentally appropriate pattern. The gustducin minimal 1.4 kb promoter (GUS1.4) by itself was insufficient to specify TRC expression. We also identified an upstream enhancer from the distal portion of the murine gustducin gene that, in combination with the minimal promoter, specified TRC expression of transgenes. Expression of the lacZ transgene from the GUS8.4 promoter and of endogenous gustducin was coordinately lost after nerve section and simultaneously recovered after reinnervation, confirming the functionality of this promoter. Transgenic expression of rat α-gustducin restored responsiveness of gustducin null mice to both bitter and sweet compounds, demonstrating the utility of the gustducin promoter.
The Evaluation of a Complex Computer-Based Flight Procedures Trainer

Skills such as flying holding patterns are taught in planes or simulators. An alternative method is to use computer-assisted instruction (CAI) which emphasizes training requirements rather than physical fidelity. Such a program was written and evaluated. Traditional ground school methods were compared with the CAI method. All subjects completed a training sequence in a ground trainer. Those taught by computer performed better and attained criterion quicker with significantly fewer critical errors. Results indicate that CAI offers an effective alternate to the costly trainers currently in use.
Fluoroscopy-assisted epidural catheter placement: an exploratory analysis of 303 pre-operative epidurograms

Background Epidural catheters that are placed for post-operative analgesia have a significant failure rate in the first 24 hours. Beginning in 2011, we have used fluoroscopic guidance to place all non-obstetrical epidural catheters. In this retrospective analysis, we hypothesized that the characteristics of dye distribution on an epidurogram obtained immediately after catheter placement would predict clinical catheter function after surgery. Methods The epidurograms and medical records of 303 consecutive patients who had epidural catheters placed for post-operative analgesia were reviewed. We extracted data on epidural dye distribution on the epidurograms and compared these results to the clinical function of the epidural catheters assessed on post-operative day 1 (POD1). Results The three-dimensional pattern of epidural dye distribution (cephalad–caudad, right–left, anterior–posterior) had significant correlations with clinical function of an epidural catheter after surgery. Increased cephalad–caudad and anterior dye spread both correlated with decreased epidural solution infusion rates on POD1, whereas right- or left-sided dye distribution correlated with unilateral sensory deficits. A higher catheter placement on the neuraxis correlated with lower pain scores after thoracic surgery. Conclusions An epidurogram obtained immediately after epidural catheter placement may have clinical utility for predicting clinical function of the catheter after surgery.
The Effects of Comorbid Traumatic Brain Injury on Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (P3.025)

Background: Although there is an epidemiological association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), no studies have investigated potential different phenotypes in PD patients with previous TBI. In theory, TBI may cause a more severe phenotype with more non-motor symptoms or less classical motor features. Objective: Determine whether documentation of different motor and non-motor symptom profiles are more frequently present in PD patients with or without prior TBI, and whether evaluation by a movement disorders specialist improves this documentation. Methods/Design: This is a retrospective case-control study of charts of veterans with PD ICD-9 codes at one VA hospital between 2011-2013. Only 9/431 (2.1[percnt]) of subjects had chart documentation of TBI and met Queen Square Brain Bank criteria for probable PD. Chart reviews on 43 veterans surveyed presence or absence of motor and non-motor PD symptoms. Chi-square and t-test were used to compare cases and controls. Results Average age was 75. The incidence of documented non-motor symptoms and subcategories was no different between TBI and non-TBI groups. There was a borderline significant difference (p=0.06) between motor symptoms, with the TBI group having more documented motor symptoms. The number of documented non-motor symptoms was higher in patients seen by a movement disorder specialist, as compared to other physicians (p=0.0009), including symptoms considered important for clinical quality measures (e.g. sleep, hallucinations). Conclusions: TBI was infrequently noted in our Veteran cohort. Documentation supports possibly more motor symptoms in veterans with TBI and PD, but non-motor symptoms occur at a similar rate to those without TBI. Differences in phenotype may ultimately serve as a basis for understanding the link between TBI and PD pathophysiology. Examination by a movement disorder specialist makes evaluation of critical non-motor symptoms much more likely. Disclosure: Dr. Stachnik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barton has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neurosciences, Allergan, Merz, Lundbeck, Merck-Serrano, Impax Pharmaceuticals, and Parkinson9s Disease Foundation.
Nonlinear response of stream ecosystem structure to low-level phosphorus enrichment

Summary Anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) create environmental conditions that alter biological organisation and ecosystem functioning in fresh waters. We studied 38 wadeable streams spanning a N and P gradient to contrast responses of algal and fish assemblages to nutrient enrichment. Surface water total P (TP) and total N (TN) concentrations represented a wide range (TP: 7–2380 μg L−1; TN: 127–15 860 μg L−1) and were correlated across our study sites. Total P explained significantly more variance in periphyton carbon (C)-to-nutrient (C : P, C : N) and N : P ratios than TN. Abrupt, nonlinear declines in these ratios were observed between 20 and 50 μg L−1 TP and 500–1000 μg L−1 TN; beyond these values, ratios exhibited minimal additional decline. Algae assemblage structure was strongly linked to surface water TP, TN and catchment-scale nutrient sources (wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges and % pasture cover). In particular, there were synchronous declines in frequency and cell densities of many alga species associated with TP concentrations >21 μg L−1 (90% CI of 18–48 μg L−1) as well as simultaneous increases in tolerant species associated with increasing enrichment. Fish assemblage structure was most strongly associated with % pasture, WWTP discharges and fine sediment cover, yet also showed significant but weaker correlations with surface water and periphyton nutrient variables. However, two benthic fish species, Etheostoma spectabile and Campostoma anomalum, significantly declined with TP >28 μg L−1 (90% CI, 24–56 μg L−1) and 34 μg L−1 (90% CI, 21–56 μg L−1), respectively. Conversely, the tolerant minnow Cyprinella lutrensis and invasive carp Cyprinus carpio increased nonlinearly with increasing surface water TP. Our results provide new insights into interpretation and analysis of assemblage-level responses to nutrient enrichment. Our findings indicate that a numerical criterion for surface water TP of c. 20 μg L−1 would be needed to maintain natural algae assemblages and at least two specialist fishes within our study region. Proliferation of weedy alga species and increased abundance of invasive fishes are also likely when surface water concentrations exceed these thresholds. While many streams likely exceed these thresholds, managers should consider potential low-level enrichment effects when developing criteria for ecosystems to protect existing nutrient-limited streams.
Miscellaneous headache syndromes in children and adolescents

This article reviews headache syndromes that are uncommon and not discussed in previous articles in this issue. Cluster, temporal-mandibular joint dysfunction, occipital neuralgia, and indomethacin responsive headache, as well as several other syndromes, are discussed. Proper identification of these disorders often leads to specific treatment, resulting in dramatic relief of discomfort and pain.
The probability of treatment induced drug resistance.

We propose a discrete time branching process to model the appearance of drug resistance under treatment. Under our assumptions at every discrete time a pathogen may die with probability 1−p or divide in two with probability p. Each newborn pathogen is drug resistant with probability μ. We start with N drug sensitive pathogens and with no drug resistant pathogens. We declare the treatment successful if all pathogens are eradicated before drug resistance appears. The model predicts that success is possible only if p<1/2. Even in this case the probability of success decreases exponentially with the parameter m=μN. In particular, even with a very potent drug (i.e. p very small) drug resistance is likely if m is large.
Electrochemical oxidation of several oxocarbon salts in N,N-dimethylformamide

Abstract The oxocarbon salts of croconic acid and its dicyanomethylene derivatives have been shown to undergo two consecutive reversible one-electron transfers in N,N-dimethylformamide to produce stable radical anions and the neutral croconates. Disproportion equilibrium constants were found to be quite small for all the crononate radical anions investigated. Following chemical reactions accompanied the second oxidation process of dicyanomethylene-substituted crononates. Substituent effects were shown to be ring position-independent and are discussed with respect to the unique resonance structure of the crononates.
Ephaptic transmission in hemifacial spasm: a single-fiber EMG study

In two patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS), single-fiber EMG recordings in facial muscles demonstrated low jitter in the late responses produced by stimulation of peripheral branches to other facial muscles. Surgical decompression of the facial nerve in one patient was followed by clinical improvement and disappearance of the abnormal late responses. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that there is ephaptic transmission among peripheral branches of the facial nerve at the site of compression in HFS.
Interhemispheric transmission of information: Measurement in normal man

A reaction-time experiment assessed the time taken for information to pass from one cerebral hemisphere to the other in man. The experiment yielded a value on the order of 10 msec, consistent with available electrophysiological findings. The results also suggest that the reaction-time paradigm can be used to assay cerebral dominance for speech.
Quinolinate differentiates between forebrain and cerebellar NMDA receptors.

Abstract The potency of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), ibotenate, L-glutamate and quinolinate for inhibiting [ 3 H]L-glutamate binding to rat brain NMDA receptors was determined by quantitative autoradiography. In contrast to NMDA, ibotenate and L-glutamate, quinolinate more potently displaced binding in forebrain regions than in the cerebellum. Of all drug-region combinations, only quinolinate affinity in the cerebellum was best described by a two-affinity component model (K i = 24 and 275 μ M; 45% high affinity). The cerebellum appears to contain a unique quinolinate-insensitive NMDA receptor subtype.
Transport of polarized ions through a tandem-superconducting-linac heavy-ion accelerator☆

Abstract Mechanisms for the loss of polarization of beams of nuclear spin polarized 6,7 Li accelerated by the FSU tandem Van de Graaff superconducting linac heavy-ion accelerator are considered. The linac uses superconducting solenoids for radial focusing. Estimates and detailed calculations show that for most experiments the depolarization due to the conventional beam line is negligible, while, provided account is taken of the precession produced by the solenoids, the depolarization due to the linac is negligible for 6 Li 3+ and small for 7 Li 3+ . An experiment was carried out to investigate the depolarization of a vector polarized 6 Li 3+ beam due to acceleration by the linac. No loss of polarization was observed.
Evolution and the Human Mind: Modularity, Language and Meta‐Cognition

Evolution and the Human Mind: Modularity, Language and Meta-Cognition. Peter Carruthers and Andrew Chamberlain. eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. 331 pp.
Nacrt buduće javne politike prema starima u Sjedinjenim Državama: prošlost kao proslov

Autorica u ovom radu nudi, prije svega, pregled razvoja politike prema starima u SAD-u, od zacetaka do najnovijih inicijativa. Poseban je naglasak na politickom i zakonodavnom kontekstu u kojem se razvijala politika prema starima. U radu se jasno nastoji pokazati kako povijesno naslijeđe i danas utjece na izbor određenih politickih mjera prema starima. Također, autorica pokazuje kako je eticki i vrijednosni sustav bio povezan sa specificnim politickim reagiranjima na potrebe starijih osoba. Osim toga, u radu se ekstenzivno raspravlja o modelu dugotrajne skrbi za stare, koji se trenutno nalazi u sredistu pažnje americke javnosti. Kriticki se razmatra citav niz mjera i programa s humanog i financijskog stajalista, kao i sa stajalista pojedinih interesnih grupa. Na kraju, autorica analizira i ocjenjuje najnovije prijedloge Clintonove administracije te raspravlja o buducim pravcima razvoja politike prema starima. Ona zakljucuje da vecina Amerikanaca podupire model dugotrajne skrbi te je spremna placati posebne poreze u tu svrhu. Ona misli da ce buduci razvoj dugotrajne skrbi biti obilježen nastojanjima da se usluge pružaju u domovima starih osoba i njihovim lokalnim zajednicama (radi poticanja nezavisnosti u svakodnevnom životu). No, i buduca politika prema starima, smatra autorica, kretat ce se u rasponu od ekspanzionistickog do redukcionistickog pristupa.
Geriatric care management for low-income seniors: a randomized controlled trial.

ContextLow-income seniors frequently have multiple chronic medical conditions for which they often fail to receive the recommended standard of care.ObjectivesTo test the effectiveness of a geriatric care management model on improving the quality of care for low-income seniors in primary care.Design, Setting, and PatientsControlled clinical trial of 951 adults 65 years or older with an annual income less than 200% of the federal poverty level, whose primary care physicians were randomized from January 2002 through August 2004 to participate in the intervention (474 patients) or usual care (477 patients) in community-based health centers.InterventionPatients received 2 years of home-based care management by a nurse practitioner and social worker who collaborated with the primary care physician and a geriatrics interdisciplinary team and were guided by 12 care protocols for common geriatric conditions.Main Outcome MeasuresThe Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36) scales and summary measures; instrumental and basic activities of daily living (ADLs); and emergency department (ED) visits not resulting in hospitalization and hospitalizations.ResultsIntention-to-treat analysis revealed significant improvements for intervention patients compared with usual care at 24 months in 4 of 8 SF-36 scales: general health (0.2 vs −2.3, P = .045), vitality (2.6 vs −2.6, P < .001), social functioning (3.0 vs −2.3, P = .008), and mental health (3.6 vs −0.3, P = .001); and in the Mental Component Summary (2.1 vs −0.3, P < .001). No group differences were found for ADLs or death. The cumulative 2-year ED visit rate per 1000 was lower in the intervention group (1445 [n = 474] vs 1748 [n = 477], P = .03) but hospital admission rates per 1000 were not significantly different between groups (700 [n = 474] vs 740 [n = 477], P = .66). In a predefined group at high risk of hospitalization (comprising 112 intervention and 114 usual-care patients), ED visit and hospital admission rates were lower for intervention patients in the second year (848 [n = 106] vs 1314 [n = 105]; P = .03 and 396 [n = 106] vs 705 [n = 105]; P = .03, respectively).ConclusionsIntegrated and home-based geriatric care management resulted in improved quality of care and reduced acute care utilization among a high-risk group. Improvements in health-related quality of life were mixed and physical function outcomes did not differ between groups. Future studies are needed to determine whether more specific targeting will improve the program's effectiveness and whether reductions in acute care utilization will offset program costs.Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00182962
The Emergence of Vowels in an Infant

Recordings of vocal production of an infant (age 16–64 weeks) were subjected to perceptual and acoustic analysis. Sounds resembling the vowel sounds of English were identified, and formant frequenc...
Information technology: Human impacts and national policies

Educational discussions about computers invariably focus upon how to teach computing (literacy) and how to use computers in teaching. Unfortunately, this leaves both teacher and student with the erroneous impression that the computer is the proper focal point for study and that it is a value-free tool. This paper examines the human impacts — cultural and social — of information technology and the computer. Computers affect our language, our thoughts, our self-image, our values, and our world-view. They challenge our ethics, our organizations, the meaning and role of work, and the role of information and information systems in our welfare. Examination of some of these impacts leads to identification of the following educational issues: education for change, education for an information society, and education in an information society. It then becomes clear that national policies are required to support and encourage changes in teacher education and retraining to provide: role models for integrative thinking and lifelong learning; emphasis on values, value clarification, and ethical behavior; and the knowledge to use information utilities. National policy is also required to prevent a few large purchasers from defining the educational software to be available to all purchasers, and to maintain education as the universal (without regard to ability to pay) human service it must remain. Information utilities remain largely unregulated in the United States and will have significant bearing upon the costs of all human services, especially education. National policy is required to provide assurance, to each of us, of equal access to the educational process and the best that it has to offer.
Lectins fromGriffonia simplicifolia seeds

The physical-chemical and carbohydrate binding specificity ofGriffonia simplicifolia I (GS I) isolectins, one of the 4 lectins isolated fromGriffonia simplicifolia seeds, are described.
Social Behavior and Breeding System of the Desert Mule Deer

Desert mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus crooki ) were observed in Big Bend National Park, Texas, during rut to determine their breeding system and to describe and quantify social behavior. The deer were gregarious throughout the study; group sizes ranged from one to 24, with a mean of 5.2. Male-male acts such as head-toss, rub-urination, antler thrash-forehead rub, and chase were performed in dominance and agonistic interactions, most frequently by the larger antler classes, and were closely associated with rut. Sparring was inversely associated with rut, and was most frequent in the smaller antler classes. Among female-female acts, the strike and flail were inversely associated with rut. Tending bonds were formed between individual bucks and estrous does. No attempt by bucks to herd or defend groups of does was seen; rather, the dominant buck in any group tended a doe until mating or until displacement by a more dominant buck. Frequency of heterosexual behavior was positively correlated with antler classes and increased among larger classes at an accelerating rate. Heterosexual behavior by males of lesser dominance was not tolerated.
Ion Acceleration at Shocks in Interplanetary Space - a Brief Review of Recent Observations

The mechanism by which ions are accelerated near the Earth’s bow shock and near shocks propagating outward from the Sun in response to solar activity appears to be essentially the same. For both types of shock the solar wind thermal distribution acts as a seed population. Leaked magnetospheric ions and resident flare ions are additional seed populations for the bow shock and outward propagating shocks respectively. The acceleration of solar wind ions at these shocks begins with either the reflection of ions off the shock or leakage of shocked plasma back through the shock. Interaction with a disruption wave field self-generated by these backstreaming ions is responsible for the remainder of the acceleration at the bow shock. Both the disruption wave field and the ambient interplanetary wave field play important roles in accelerating ions at outward propagating shocks, but on different time scales. The geometry of the shock and the duration of field line connection to the shock play decisive roles in determining what is observed.
Being known as a problem solver

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to show the importance of being known as a problem solver.Design/methodology/approach – The article lists questions for determining the extent to which one may consider themselves a tenacious problem solver and then discusses each as a valid indicator and how to position oneself as a problem solver relative to that question.Findings – If you assume that every problem has a perfect solution and work towards finding that solution you will be actively engaged in continuous improvement.Originality/value – The article is a valuable tool for reviewing whether you and/or your staff are working toward continuously improvement or just maintaining the status quo.
The effects of transverse shear on the delamination of edge-notch flexure and 3-point bend geometries

A general approach to develop complete and rigorous analytical expressions for the energy-release rates and phase angles for delamination of isotropic beam-like geometries is summarized. The analysis allows the effects of transverse shear to be correctly incorporated within the resulting expressions. The approach requires four effective crack-tip loads to be determined from the applied loads: a moment, an axial force, a double transverse shear force and a single transverse shear force. Each of these effective loads provides an energy-release rate and an associated phase angle; expressions for these quantities can be found in the literature. These fundamental expressions can be combined algebraically to generate analytical expressions for the total energy-release rate and phase angle for any geometry and loading configuration of interest. The approach is illustrated by general analyses of edge-notched flexure (ENF), end-loaded split (ELS) and 3-point bending specimens. In particular, it is shown that the equation for the energy-release rate for the ENF geometry reduces to a very simple form that has previously been proposed from numerical studies, when the geometry is perfectly anti-symmetrical.
Was Oddity Conspicuous in Prey Selection Experiments

Dr Mueller writes: DR KAUFMAN'S analysis is naive and ignores information given in several of my publications and papers I have presented at meetings, at some of which I believe he was in the audience. My first report clearly indicates that I was aware of the ambiguity of Pielowski's2 results which can be interpreted as the prey being conspicuous relative to the flock rather than evidence for selection for oddity. All of my experiments have been designed to segregate the effects of conspicuousness. My ten mice were on pedestals 10 cm square on an arc of a circle 2 m in radius3. The hawk was perched at the centre of the circle and 85 cm above the level of the pedestals. The pedestals were affixed to a board 122×244 cm, painted the same colour as the pedestals and those constituting the substrate. Measurements for four photographs taken with the camera at the hawk's perch showed that, on the average, the ten mice covered 1.6% of the substrate as viewed by the hawk. The mean distance between mice was 2.9 times their average width. I submit that the mice formed an inconsequential portion of the substrate and that Kaufman's Fig 1 is a simplistic and misleading portrayal of my experimental design.
Controlled Comparison of Tetracycline and Furazolidone in Cholera

A controlled comparison of furazolidone and tetracycline in the treatment of cholera indicates that, in either dosage used, furazolidone reduced total stool volume by 50% and duration of diarrhoea by 40%. These results are comparable to those achieved with tetracycline, which was given in presently recommended dosage. Both furazolidone and tetracycline significantly reduced the rate of stool output within 18 to 24 hours of starting antibiotic treatment. Furazolidone was significantly less effective than tetracycline in rapidly and consistently terminating vibrio excretion. One convalescent carrier of cholera vibrios was identified among control patients; none was identified among patients treated with either tetracycline or furazolidone. All Vibrio cholerae strains tested were sensitive to tetracycline and furazolidone, but larger concentrations of the latter were required to achieve inhibition of growth. It is concluded that tetracycline remains the antibiotic of choice in cholera but that furazolidone would be a useful adjunct to cholera therapy when tetracycline is unobtainable or if strains of V. cholerae with clinically significant resistance to tetracycline should be encountered.
Interactions of virulent and avirulent Legionella pneumophila with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Isogenic virulent/avirulent variants of Legionella pneumophila (Lp) were examined in vitro for their effect on PMN function as determined by measurement of peak chemiluminescence and superoxide anion production. When exposed to virulent/avirulent strains of Lp, PMN function was less than that seen following exposure to E. coli, the reduction of the oxidative burst being more pronounced with virulent Lp strains in both assays. To determine whether differences in reduced PMN function correlate with differences in complement component C3 binding by virulent and avirulent Lp, four pairs of organisms were incubated in normal human serum and examined by quantitative immunofluorescence. All strains of Lp bound less C3 than E. coli, although each to different degrees. Avirulent isogenic strains bound more C3 than their virulent counterparts with one exception. Depressed PMN function following exposure to Lp may be due to reduced C3 binding, although other virulence-associated factors may be involved.
Sucrose Co-administration Reduces the Toxic Effect of Lectin on Gut Permeability and Intestinal Bacterial Colonization

Legume lectins can have toxic effects when consumed without adequate cooking, occasionally leading to an acute gastroenteritis. Lectins are sugar binging proteins and may use this property to execute their toxic effects; these toxic effects may be secondary to increased gut bacteria and intestinal permeability. However, whether or not sucrose rescues these toxic effects by decreasing gut bacterial concentration and intestinal permeability is unknown. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that sucrose may reduce toxic effects of legume lectins by protecting barrier function, bacterial overgrowth and bacterial translocation. Twenty-four rats were randomized to an ad libitum diet of either standard rat chow, a chow containing 26% crude red kidney beans or a chow containing 26% crude red kidney beans supplemented with 1 mM sucrose in drinking water for 24 h. After 12-h fast, rats were gavaged with sugar probes; breath gas and urine were collected for 5 h. Intestine and liver tissues were then collected. Mucosa-associated total bacterial count were measured by targeting the 16s rRNA gene. Four groups of in vitro Caco-2 cell lines were treated with PBS, 200 μg/ml phytohemagglutinin (PHA), 1 mM sucrose and both 200 μg/ml PHA and 1 mM sucrose, respectively, and trans-epithelial resistance was measured. Rats fed crude red kidney beans for 24 h showed significant weight loss when compared to controls (P < 0.05), as well as increased intestinal permeability (P < 0.05), increased bacterial load (P < 0.05) and increased bacterial translocation to the liver (P < 0.05). Sucrose rescues the drop in trans-epithelial resistance due to PHA in CaCO2-cells (P < 0.05). Sucrose reduced crude red kidney beans induced increase in intestinal permeability, bacterial load and translocation. Since red kidney beans are an important source of dietary protein in the world, their potential toxicity when inadequately cooked may be rescued by a suitable complementary diet.
Health Insurance and Chronic Conditions in Low-Income Urban Whites

Little is known about how health insurance contributes to the prevalence of chronic disease in the overlooked population of low-income urban whites. This study uses cross-sectional data on 491 low-income urban non-elderly non-Hispanic whites from the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities—Southwest Baltimore (EHDIC-SWB) study to examine the relationship between insurance status and chronic conditions (defined as participant report of ever being told by a doctor they had hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, anxiety or depression, asthma or emphysema, or cancer). In this sample, 45.8 % were uninsured, 28.3 % were publicly insured, and 25.9 % had private insurance. Insured participants had similar odds of having any chronic condition (odds ratios (OR) 1.06; 95 % confidence intervals (CI) 0.70–1.62) compared to uninsured participants. However, those who had public insurance had a higher odds of reporting any chronic condition compared to the privately insured (OR 2.29; 95 % CI 1.21–4.35). In low-income urban areas, the health of whites is not often considered. However, this is a significant population whose reported prevalence of chronic conditions has implications for the Medicaid expansion and the implementation of health insurance exchanges.
A new surface antigen (PC.2) expressed exclusively on plasma cells

Somatic cell hybridization of NS.1 nonsecretor myeloma cells with spleen cells of (DBA/2 × C57BL/6)F1 mice immunized against the myeloma MOPC 70A of BALB/c mice led to the establishment of five hybridoma clones which continuously secrete anti-MOPC 70A cytotoxic antibodies. The respective antigen detected by each of the five monoclonal antibodies is expressed both on plasmacytomas and on antibody-secreting cells as the only normal cell type. The tissue distribution of this new antigen is different from that reported for the alloantigen PC.1, and we have therefore designated it as PC.2. On the basis of immune elimination of direct and indirect plaque-forming cells, all mouse strains tested express PC.2 determinants, identifying PC.2 essentially as an autoantigen. Conventional anti-PC.1 alloantiserum contains antibodies to the PC.2 determinant, and these antibodies are distinguishable from the anti-PC.1 antibodies proper by the fact that only the latter are absorbed by liver cells. Monoclonal anti-PC.2 antibodies are not directed against MuLV-(murine leukemia virus) —associated antigens as over 20 ecotropic, several MCF (mink colony forming) recombinant, and xenotropic viruses failed to react in immunofluorescence assays.
Pituitary-Ovarian Axis Responsivity to Prolonged Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Infusion in Normal and Hyperprolactinemic Women*

The integrity of the pituitary-ovarian axis was investigated in seven women with elevated PRL levels and amenorrhea and in four women with normoprolactinemic amenorrhea by infusinggonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (1μg/min) for 8 h. LH, FSH, and estradiol measurements were obtained serially. The hormonal responses were compared to those observed in five age-matched women with normal menstrual function during days 4–6 of their cycles. The LHresponse was biphasic in all of the women with a normal readily releasable pool (0–1 h). However, the second phase of LHsecretion (1–8 h) was diminished by 30% [hyperprolactinemic women,12,332 ± 1,060 (SE) mIU/ml·7 h,vs. control, 18,051 ± 1,958; P < 0.05] in six of the seven hyperprolactinemic women. The LH responsesin the women with normoprolactinemic amenorrhea were similar to those in control women. Both the pattern and amount of FSH secreted were comparable in all subjects. In the three groups,basalestradiol levels had increased significantly by 6 h and were the...
Social support and condom use among female sex workers in China.

While the relationship between social support and psychological well-being has been well established, limited studies have explored how social support might affect condom use among female sex workers (FSWs). Using cross-sectional data from 1,022 FSWs in Guangxi, China, we examined how different forms of support from diverse sources may influence condom use among FSWs. Friends, coworkers, and stable partners were FSWs’ main sources of social support. Social support from diverse sources differently impacts FSWs’ condom use. Policymakers need to consider the complicated profile of social support received by FSWs and create supportive environment for FSWs to protect themselves from HIV risks.
Lack of effect of parathyroid hormone on hepatic glucose metabolism in the dog

It has been suggested that raised levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) may induce glucose intolerance and impair insulin action in primary as well as secondary hyperparathyroidism. Furthermore, PTH is known to stimulate glycogenolysis in isolated hepatocytes and renal cortical cells. We administered a bolus of bovine 1:84 PTH to 8 awake dogs, and measured hepatic glucose production by the primed-constant 3H-3-Glucose infusion technique for 2 hr. PTH injection had no effect on fasting plasma glucose concentration or hepatic glucose production. Plasma insulin and glucagon, serum ionized and total calcium, and serum phosphate did not show any significant change following PTH administration. Synthetic bovine 1:34 PTH, administered to another 3 dogs using the same experimental protocol, also failed to affect any of the measured parameters. To investigate the possible synergism between PTH and other glycoactive hormones, we infused glucagon (3 ng/min · kg, 5 dogs) or epinephrine (0.1 ng/min · kg, 6 dogs) with or without 1:84 PTH in matched experiments. Glucagon alone caused a 22% rise (p < 0.01) in plasma glucose concentration and a 27% rise (p < 0.05) in hepatic glucose production; epinephrine alone induced a 54% rise (p < 0.01) in plasma glucose and a 39% increase (p < 0.01) in glucose production. When PTH injection was combined with glucagon or epinephrine infusion, no further stimulation of hepatic glucose production was observed. In another 6 awake dogs with portal and hepatic venous and arterial catheters, the hepatic response to PTH was determined both by measuring net hepatic glucose balance (hepatic plasma flow times transhepatic glucose concentration difference) and by tracer methodology. While the two techniques showed excellent agreement, both failed to show any effect of PTH. Four dogs in this group received 1:84 PTH obtained from commercial source. In all the other studies here reported, 1:84 PTH prepared in our laboratory was used. Both preparations caused a marked rise in phosphate excretion in dogs, and had the same potency as standard synthetic bovine 1:34 PTH in stimulating c-AMP generation by isolated renal tubular membranes. We conclude that the acute administration of PTH does not stimulate hepatic glucose production in the dog.