cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Student Response to Quantitative Aspects of Instruction in an Introductory Geology Course

Because most universities and colleges require all students to take a laboratory science course, many geology classes are composed of large sections of nonscience majors. Pedagogic strategies based on small classes of highly motivated students are not effective in this application. It is particularly difficult to convey to these students the quantitative and discovery aspects of science and to demonstrate the importance of a basic knowledge of science and its methods to them as nonscientists. Student responses to quantitative initiatives taken in a large, introductory class of nonscience majors at Baylor University indicate that an overwhelming number of such students can be convinced of the importance of geological processes to their lives and that a majority of them can be interested in the application of elementary mathematics to the earth sciences if the application has a profound result with which they can identify. Hands-on, discovery-type, field exercises in which small laboratory sections acquire, process, and interpret geophysical data are effective in generating interest in the scientific process. Introductory courses that explore a relatively narrow breadth of material in some depth offer opportunities for discovery-based learning not available to the typical introductory survey course, which usually covers a wide breadth of material in very little depth.
Canine Epistemology and the Unfettered Imagination: The Maker’s Knowledge Argument in Cervantes’ El coloquio de los perros

Among the twelve stories that comprise Cervantes’ Novelas ejemplares, El coloquio de los perros is the one that can be most fundamentally linked to issues of epistemology, as it presents a variety of unstable narrative frames that compel the reader to transcend the gap between the real and the imaginary. This analysis focuses on the intersection of two concepts that seem to hold together the epistemic instability evidenced in the Coloquio: scepticism and the imagination. I argue that Cervantes uses multiple narrative frames to assert human creativity and to highlight the unique power of the creator to know his creation, hence invoking the sceptical principal of the maker’s knowledge argument.
The Asian Clam Corbicula fluminea as a Pollution Sentinel Species

The New River Basin (NRB) of Tennessee has many rare endemic aquatic communities. One such community is that of freshwater mussels, which are experiencing a precipitous population decline due to the fouling and pollution of their freshwater systems. Silos containing live individuals of the nonnative Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) were placed in several localities in streams of the NRB that receive mine drainage. This drainage is commonly associated with elevated conductivity typical of pollution that may impair native mussel health. This study of five impacted streams within the NRB, and a control stream of similar ecology, uses a stepwise multiple regression analysis to test this association. After accounting for factors such as temperature, results confirm that growth rates of these sentinel clams are significantly related to conductivity, and that these clams may be useful bioindicators of stream habitat quality for native mussels.
Localizing Peacebuilding: The Arizona Market and the Evolution of U.S. Military Peacebuilding Priorities in Bosnia

ABSTRACTThis article examines peacebuilding localization, in particular how encounters with local contexts and actors shape external peacebuilders' priorities and practices. My vehicle for explorin...
An Automated High-Temperature Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus for Measuring Apparent Thermal Conductivity of Insulations Between 300 and 750 K

An automated guarded-hot-plate apparatus was designed and built to meet the requirements of ASTM standard test method C 177 for measuring the thermal transmission properties of thermal insulation. The apparatus is controlled by a scientific desktop computer. Measurements with this apparatus can be performed at temperatures from 300 to 750 K in environments of different gases at pressures ranging from atmospheric pressure to roughing-pump vacuum. A novel design for a thermocouple device is used; this device more accurately senses the average temperature over the surface of each heater plate. An improved algorithm for the control sequence provides more stable heater powers and specimen temperatures. Initially the algorithm brings the system rapidly to a temperature setpoint with minimal overshoot. It also permits highly sensitive control of the plate temperatures in later phases of the measurement sequence when thermal stability of the specimen boundaries is very important in measuring the thermal conductivity with high precision. Overall uncertainties of thermal conductivities at atmospheric pressure are 2% at 300 K and 3% at 750 K.
Consumer Protection Regulation and the Cost of Equity: Evidence from Data Breach Disclosure Laws

We exploit state-level variation in data breach disclosure laws to study whether shareholders benefit from consumer protection regulation. While the intended purpose of these laws is consumer protection, we argue that the laws can help reduce shareholder risk through both a real effects channel (i.e., encouraging firms to prioritize cybersecurity) and a capital markets channel (i.e., serving as a commitment to disclose). Consistent with these arguments, we find an on-average decrease in shareholder risk, proxied by cost of equity, after the staggered passage of these laws. We also find the effect is stronger for firms that did not prioritize cybersecurity before the laws and for firms with ex ante worse information environments. Finally, after passage of these laws, firms are more likely to have an IT security officer and increase IT investments. Our collective evidence suggests that consumer protection regulation, in the form mandated disclosure to other stakeholders, benefits shareholders.
Lymphatic metastases have more diverse roots than distant metastases

Both lymphatic and distant metastases arise through cancer cell migration and colonization of ectopic sites. Nonetheless, the two metastasis types are associated with significantly different clinical outcomes, suggesting that distinct biological mechanisms may drive their formation. Here we show fundamental differences in the seeding patterns of lymphatic and distant metastases. Analyzing the reconstructed phylogenies of human colorectal cancers, we find that distant metastases typically are monophyletic, originating from one common ancestor. Lymphatic metastases, in contrast, are almost exclusively polyphyletic and can be seeded from many primary tumor regions. We develop a rigorous mathematical framework for quantifying the phylogenetic diversity of metastases while accounting for differential lesion sampling among patients. Our results indicate that a smaller fraction of primary tumor cells gives rise to distant metastases than lymphatic metastases. Thus, the two metastasis types exhibit profoundly distinct phylogenetic traits, indicating that different evolutionary mechanisms may drive their formation and influence their clinical behavior.
Copyright and the Digital Economy: Is It Necessary to Adopt Fair Use?

This paper reviews recent recommendations for and against the introduction of an open-ended fair use exception for the digital age in the EU, the UK, Ireland and Australia. Law Commissions in Ireland and Australia both recommended introducing an open-ended fair use exception, as well or instead of the list of limited fair dealing exceptions, while reviews of the law in the UK and EU have not recommended such sweeping changes. The paper argues that while the “fair use” exception has many advantages for the digital age, a major legislative overhaul of copyright law is unnecessary to adapt a copyright regime to the digital realm. Balancing technological innovation and content creation depends less on the distinctions between the fair use and fair dealing exemptions and more on ensuring that the law, through both legislation and judicial interpretation, in fact acts to promote the main purpose of copyright law, the benefit of the public. This can be achieved through a focus on fairness and the harmonization of exceptions to be found in the Berne three step test.
Statistical Insights Regarding Fully Softened Shear Strength

The fully softened shear strength (FSS) concept is a practical approximation of the mobilized drained shear strength of first-time slides in stiff-fissured clays. There has been a recent increase in interest in measurement and estimation of FSS secant friction angle (FSS-ϕ′sec) to develop correlations for preliminary design and cost approximation. However, such correlations do not help in understanding the cause and effect relationship between soil properties and FSS-ϕ′sec. In this study, a laboratory database containing FSS-ϕ′sec values (output) and soil properties (inputs) of several overconsolidated clays is used to develop a predictive model for FSS-ϕ′sec (output or response). The goal is to detect which inputs from the whole parameter space dominate the response while creating an accurate prediction tool to provide statistical insights regarding the FSS-ϕ′sec. The proposed methodology is used to assess and quantify the relationships among variables, estimate testing device effects on FSS-ϕ′sec, and analyze the danger of extrapolation due to model constraints. The applicability of the predicted FSS-ϕ′sec is also evaluated and compared. Recommendations regarding the studied prediction tools for slope stability design in stiff-fissured clays are provided.
Heartbeat: empowering patients with digital home management

Patients have access to low-cost devices that can monitor heart rate continuously, record an electrocardiogram, quantitate daily physical activity and measure blood oxygen saturation as well as body weight and home blood pressure measurements In this issue of Heart, Rahimi and colleagues1 report a clinical trial of 202 high-risk patients with heart failure (HF) randomised to home self-monitoring of weight and blood pressure versus additional centralised specialist feedback to the patient about self-management and to the patient’s primary provider about recommended blood tests and medical therapy AVR, aortic valve replacement;ETT, exercise treadmill test;LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction;MDT, multidisciplinary team;PASP, pulmonary artery systolic pressure;sAVR, surgical aortic valve replacement;TAVI, transcatheter aortic valve implantation;TTE, transthoracic echocardiogram Please also join me in congratulating the winner and finalists for the Heart Best Research Paper Award 2020 (table 2) 9Table 2 Heart best research paper award winner and finalists 2020 Winner Ralph Kwame Akyea, Joe Kai, Nadeem Qureshi, Barbara Iyen, Stephen F Weng Suboptimal cholesterol response to initiation of statins and future risk of cardiovascular disease Heart Jul 2019, 105 (13) 975–981;DOI: 10 1136/heartjnl-2018-314253 Finalists Weijian Huang, Lan Su, Shengjie Wu, Lei Xu, Fangyi Xiao, Xiaohong Zhou, Guangyun Mao, Pugazhendhi Vijayaraman, Kenneth A Ellenbogen Long-term outcomes of His bundle pacing in patients with heart failure with left bundle branch block Heart Jan 2019, 105 (2) 137–143;DOI: 10 1136/heartjnl-2018-313415 Ralph Maddison, Jonathan Charles Rawstorn, Ralph A H Stewart, Jocelyne Benatar, Robyn Whittaker, Anna Rolleston, Yannan Jiang, Lan Gao, Marj Moodie, Ian Warren, Andrew Meads, Nicholas Gant Effects and costs of real-time cardiac telerehabilitation: randomised controlled non-inferiority trial Heart Jan 2019, 105 (2) 122–129;DOI: 10 1136/heartjnl-2018-313189 Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors
Do industrial N95 respirators meet the requirements to be used in healthcare? - A possible solution to respirator shortages during the next pandemic.

Abstract Shortages of surgical N95 respirators (surgical N95 FFRs) can occur during a pandemic. To understand if industrial N95 FFRs have FDA required fluid penetration resistance and flammability, five NIOSH approved N95 models were evaluated using the ASTM F1862 method and flammability using the 16 CFR 1610 method, respectively. Three models passed both fluid penetration resistance and flammability indicating that some N95 models on the market can be used as surgical N95 FFRs during a pandemic.
Weight gain in children after adenotonsillectomy: undesirable weight gain or catch-up growth?

Abstract Objective/background Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are consequential conditions with significant overlap in the pediatric population. Early studies documented catch-up growth in underweight children after adenotonsillectomy, but more recent studies suggested that normal and even overweight children may experience excess weight gain after adenotonsillectomy. We performed a secondary analysis of Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT) data to test whether there was an effect of early adenotonsillectomy on undesirable weight gain, defined as an increase in body mass index (BMI) Z score in an already overweight or obese child or a change from baseline normal or underweight to a follow up BMI Z score classified as overweight. Patients/methods We included 398 children with moderate OSA and complete anthropomorphic data randomized to adenotonsillectomy versus watchful waiting with supportive care. Pearson's χ2 and independent t tests were used to compare demographic, activity, sleep and anthropomorphic characteristics between children who did and did not experience undesirable weight gain over seven months. Logistic regression was used to test for an association between adenotonsillectomy and undesirable weight gain, both unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, Black race, average parent-reported weekly activity level, mother's body mass index, average nightly sleep duration and either baseline or follow up AHI (in separate models). Results Forty three percent (n = 172) experienced undesirable weight gain. A similar percentage of children in both arms experienced undesirable weight gain (45% adenotonsillectomy vs 41% watchful waiting). Neither unadjusted nor adjusted regression analysis demonstrated a significant effect of adenotonsillectomy on undesirable weight gain. Conclusion Adenotonsillectomy may not be an independent risk factor for undesirable weight gain in children.
Examining correlates of feeding practices among parents of preschoolers.

Background: Parent feeding practices play a critical role in children’s eating behaviors. Limited research has explored child-level correlates of parent feeding practices. Aim: To identify correlat...
Ultrasonic Evaluation of Textures in Metal-Matrix Composites

The combination of a ductile metal and a high strength reinforcement leads to a metal-matrix composite which has desirable mechanical properties of high strength and toughness. These properties are usually governed by the properties of each phase, in addition to the shape, orientation and the volume fraction of the reinforcing phase. Since many of these composite properties are characteristic of the bulk, ultrasonics have been shown to provide promising NDE-methods for the characterization of metal-matrix composites ([1]). In general the desired isotropic mechanical behaviour of these composites is difficult to achieve. During manufacturing textures are developed by deformation processes and heat treatments, generating considerable anisotropy in the material’s properties. This affects the elastic as well as the plastic behaviour. Additionally the presence of textures influences the ultrasound velocity, which is also affected by stress. Therefore stress-analysis in NDE is restricted to untextured components or those with known texture influence. In this work measurements of ultrasonic velocities are used to determine the texture of metal-matrix composites and the influence of the reinforcing phase on the texture.
THE KRAMERS PROBLEM REVISITED: A MINIMAL PATH APPROXIMATION TO THE LANGEVIN EQUATION

Applying the minimal path approximation to the Langevin equation, we revisit the well-known Kramers problem, noise-activated escape of a particle out of a meta-stable well and present a new technique to evaluate the activation rate. This new technique is valid for low to intermediate friction and is accurate for low temperatures. For low friction, analytical solution is derived. For intermediate friction, numerical results are obtained with minimal computational effort and the numerical effort required does not increase going for lower temperature.
Studies of isolated perfused rat livers—I: Effect of arginine and glutamate on ammonia metabolism in normal, fatty, and precancerous livers

Abstract Arginine or arginine-glutamate was shown to assist isolated perfused normal rat livers and experimentally produced pathological livers in detoxifying administered ammonia. This detoxification was reflected both in removal of ammonia from the perfusate and in the stimulation of urea production. In general, fatty livers and azo dye-fed livers were not as efficient as normal livers in producing urea from ammonium salts, amino acids, or combinations of these supplements placed in the blood perfusate. Glutamate when added to the perfusate of fatty livers did not elevate urea as in normal and precancerous livers.
Economics and fertility: Changing family structure among Chamorros on the island of Guam

This study explains the fertility transition among Guam's people from natural high to controlled low fertility over several generations. Descriptive statistics from US Census data from 1901–1990 illustrate that Guam experienced a demographic transition beginning before World War II. Descriptive statistics comparing Guam with the analyses of the original value of children (VOC) studies demonstrate that Chamorros are similar to other Americans in valuing children for the social–psychological satisfactions they provide. However, Chamorros continue to emphasize child-rearing values of discipline and respect, a characteristic found only among Filipinos in the original VOC countries. This social structural change in the composition of Guam families is the result of changing economic conditions and the subsequent changes in the social–psychological VOC to Guam families, as the island has undergone modernization and development. The changes in the social–psychological values of children are social transformations...
Formation of Through Silicon Vias for Silicon Interposer in Wafer Level by Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching

This paper reports a novel wet chemical etching method, referred to as uniform metal-assisted chemical etching (MaCE), for uniform hole formation in fabrication of through silicon vias (TSVs) on silicon (Si) interposer in wafer level. In MaCE, a layer of Au as catalyst is deposited on the photolithography-patterned Si surface. Uniform holes are formed by simply immersing the Au-loaded Si into a hydrofluoric acid-hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution. In a typical experiment, $\sim 1$ million holes are formed after MaCE for 4 h at room temperature over a 4-in Si wafer with a diameter of 28 $\mu \text{m}$ , a depth of 162 $\mu \text{m}$ , a pitch size of 80 $\mu \text{m}$ , and a sidewall roughness below 50 nm. The holes show high geometric uniformity in wafer level, with their depth in the range 159–164 $\mu \text{m}$ , the diameter in 27.1– $29.7 ~\mu \text{m}$ , and high verticality. Simultaneous etching of two wafers in the same batch is also demonstrated. The TSV etched by MaCE show compatibility with SiO2 deposition by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and copper filling by electroplating. The reported method provides an approach for manufacturing TSV on Si interposer with simple operation, high geometric uniformity, high throughput, and low cost.
Information Preferences and Practices among People Living with HIV/AIDS: Results from a Nationwide Survey

Objectives: This study was designed to reach many segments of the diverse HIV/AIDS community and broaden understanding of how information can better assist people living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: Data were collected through a self-administered mail survey distributed nationwide at clinics, drug treatment centers, and other AIDS service organizations. Results: The 662 respondents preferred getting information from people—including health professionals, family, and friends—and considered people the most trustworthy, useful, understandable, and available information sources. Forty-three percent selected doctors as their most preferred source. The Internet was not rated highly overall but was preferred by those with more education or living in metropolitan areas. Seventy-two percent said they actively search for HIV/AIDS-related information, and 80% said they give advice or tell others where to get such information. However, 71% agreed that it is easy to feel overwhelmed by information, and 31% agreed that not seeking information can be beneficial. Conclusions: Overall, information seeking is an important activity for this sample of people living with HIV/AIDS. Many sources are widely available to them but, together, can be overwhelming. They rely on health professionals far more than print or media sources and receive encouragement and support from family and friends.
Assessing the Need for Faculty Development in Women's Health among Internal Medicine and Family Practice Teaching Faculty

Women's health education is an emerging interdisciplinary field that has recently received national attention. The American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Academy of Family Practice recently have published competencies in women's health for their residents, with increased attention to gynecological and mental health issues. Increasing women's health in the curricula of internal medicine (IM) and family practice (FP) residents will certainly require faculty development among IM and FP teaching faculty. We report a multiinstitution needs assessment among IM and FP teaching faculty for continuing medical education (CME) in multidisciplinary women's health topics. The survey (n = 100) asked whether faculty desired CME in 30 women's health topics. It also requested rates of referral to specialists for breast and menstrual problems and performance of tests commonly carried out in the care of women (e.g., endometrial biopsy, colposcopy, skin biopsy, and sigmoidoscopy) as measures of possible need fo...
Structural isomorphism of pictorial graphs

Two structural descriptions for the representation and recognition of pictorial graphs are presented. The structural descriptions consist of the connectivity description and the vertex type connectivity description, which are invariant under graph isomorphism. Each pictorial graph can be uniquely specified by its structural descriptions such that it can be described and distinguished from the other pictorial graphs. Recognition of pictorial graphs is accomplished by matching the structural descriptions of the object pictorial graph with those of model pictorial graphs. Some examples illustrating the application of structural descriptions to pictorial graph recognition are presented. >
Selection for and outcome of liver transplantation in alcoholic liver disease

Abstract It has been proposed that evaluation of alcoholic patients for liver transplantation should comprise a multidisciplinary program including medical, surgical, and psychiatric assessment. This article presents the outcome in 99 alcoholic persons evaluated from 1985 through 1989. Alcoholism was defined as alcohol dependence or abuse according to the DSM-III-R. Forty-five patients (43%) were considered suitable candidates and underwent transplantation. Actuarial survival in this group was 78% and 73% at 12 and 24 months, respectively, and did not differ from that observed in nonalcoholic recipients. Return to alcohol use after transplantation has been documented in 5 persons, 2 of whom have had episodes of uncontrolled drinking. Of 54 patients not selected for transplantation, 17 were considered too well and suitable for alternative therapy. Actuarial survival was 93% at 12 and 18 months but declined to 59% at 24 months. Nineteen patients were medically unsuitable and had very poor survival; survival was 35% at 3 months and 0% at 12 months. Seventeen patients were not selected on psychiatric grounds. Actuarial survival in this group (65% at 12 months, 43% at 18 months) was significantly less than that in alcoholics with transplants ( P
Counting of Beta and Gamma Emitters Used in Clinical Radioimmunoassays and Competitive-Binding Assays by Liquid Scintillation Counters

Although liquid scintillation (LS) counters were originally designed to count low-energy beta emitting isotopes, they can also be used to count gamma emitters used in radioimmunoassay. This is made possible by placing the gamma emitter inside a "Microfuge" tube suspended from a LS vial cap into a scintillator fluid containing an electron density increaser. Efficiencies of 71% are obtained for 125I by this method, comparable to that obtained with Nal (TI) crystal gamma counters. Efficiencies for other clinically important isotopes used in radioimmunoassay—131I, 57Co, 60Co, 51Cr, 59Fe—by the Microfuge method are 15-19%; therefore, for these isotopes a LS "Mini-Vial" method is suggested, in which smaller volumes may be used. The dual capability of LS counters to count both beta and gamma emitters extends its usefulness in the clinical laboratory.
Multiple cell interactions are required for fate specification during male spicule development in Caenorhabditis elegans

The B blast cell divides postembryonically in C. elegans males to produce 47 progeny that include all of the cells of the copulatory spicules. During the early development of the B lineage, the anterior daughter of B, B.a, generates eight cells. These cells migrate to form four pairs of cells that flank the developing cloaca (ventral, dorsal, and two identical lateral pairs). For each pair, the more anterior cell produces a distinct lineage ('anterior fate') from the posterior cell ('posterior fate'). For the ventral and dorsal pairs, either cell can migrate to the anterior position and produce the anterior lineage, and the other cell migrates posterior and produces the posterior lineage (Sulston and Horvitz, 1977, Dev. Biol. 56, 110–156). The migration is variable, although the resultant fate pattern is invariant. In the two lateral pairs, both the migration and fate pattern are invariant. Using a laser microbeam to selectively ablate neighboring cells we have found that the cells of the lateral pair also respond to positional cues. For all four pairs other male-specific blast cells provide extracellular cues. In general, F and U promote anterior fates, Y promotes some posterior fates, and the B.a progeny promote posterior fates. Several of these cues are redundant. By ablating combinations of cells we have deduced how these signals may act in concert to specify the fates of the B.a progeny. We propose that fate specification in these pairs depends on three general classes of extracellular cues: positional cues, modulators of positional cues, and lateral signals. The B lineage thus provides an opportunity to study with single cell resolution the integration of multiple intercellular signals.
L-prime spectrum of a ring

We obtain some new results concerning the fuzzy prime spectrum, such as results about irreducibility and generic points. We show how our results can be applied to the solution of fuzzy intersection equations. We extend the known results to those involving a completely distributive lattice rather than the closed interval [0,1]. In so doing, we open the door to the examination of intersection equations on a lattice rather than the closed interval [0,1].
Thermal damage parameters from laser coagulation experiments

Estimating effective thermal damage process coefficients for the first order model of damage processes is not difficult when the temperature is held constant for a substantial period. Laser coagulation experiments, however, are of short duration and, because of non uniform beam profiles, exhibit important heat transfer effects: the thermal histories are transient by nature. We obtain the activation energy, E, and collision frequency factor, A, directly from the transient history at the boundary of the zones of white coagulation and red hemorrhagic coagulation in liver in the rat, as identified in histologic studies. The estimates are obtained by testing a large number of coefficients and determining the "best fit" from a cost function. Useful values may obtained from a single experiment if the transient history used has a very high confidence level N i.e. a few excellent curves are preferable to single curves at a large number of durations of exposure.
Ion/molecule reactions of arsenic and phosphorus cluster ions: ionization potentials and novel reaction pathways

Abstract : Ionization potentials (IP's) for arsenic and phosphorus clusters (Asn, n = 1-5; Pn, n = 1-4) have been determined by gas phase charge transfer reactions. Arsenic and phosphorus cluster ions were generated by pulsed CO2 laser desorption from GaAs and InP substrates, mass selected, thermalized, and allowed to react with compounds of known ionization potential in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The IP's for As3 and As5, previously unreported, as well as more accurate IP values for several of the other clusters, have been determined. Products and rate coefficients for some interesting reactions of the cluster ions with the charge transfer agents are also reported. Keywords: Arsenic clusters, Phosphorus clusters, Ionization potentials, Charge transfer reactions, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.
A privacy-aware framework for participatory sensing

With the abundance and ubiquity of mobile devices, a new class of applications is emerging, called participatory sensing (PS), where people can contribute data (e.g., images, video) collected by their mobile devices to central data servers. However, privacy concerns are becoming a major impediment in the success of many participatory sensing systems. While several privacy preserving techniques exist in the context of conventional location-based services, they are not directly applicable to the PS systems because of the extra information that the PS systems can collect from their participants. In this paper, we formally define the problem of privacy in PS systems and identify its unique challenges assuming an un-trusted central data server model. We propose PiRi, a privacy-aware framework for PS systems, which enables participation of the users without compromising their privacy. Our extensive experiments verify the efficiency of our approach.
Genre experimentation and contemporary dance in Jeanne et le garçon formidable

Scholars have shown the importance of popular music and songs in French cinema, but have given less attention to the role that dance plays in contemporary French musicals. Over a dozen recent French musical films include a good deal of genre experimentation. A few of these films stand out in their choice of danse contemporaine over the more traditional musical genre dance styles of jazz, ballet, partnered social dancing or, more recently, hip hop. In particular, Jeanne et le garcon formidable (Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, 1998) reconciles cinephilic links to established musical cycles – predominantly those within the classical Hollywood model and the French musicals of Jacques Demy – with a more experimental stylistic incorporation of contemporary dance forms.
Intraspecific structure within three caviar‐producing sturgeons (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. stellatus, and Huso huso) based on mitochondrial DNA analysis

Summary A survey of three mitochondrial DNA regions (control region, NADH5, cytochrome b) and comprehensive sequencing of the control region (631–646 bps) was conducted to examine whether subspecies and geographic populations within three species of Eurasian sturgeons, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. stellatus, and Huso huso, are genetically distinct. Neither subspecies nor populations exhibited diagnostic distinction or reciprocal monophyly in any gene region examined. For the control region, molecular variance analyses (amova) indicate that most of the variance is because of differences among haplotypes within subspecies (H. huso: 99.6%; A. stellatus: 95.0%; A. gueldenstaedtii: 81.0%) and populations (A. gueldenstaedtii: 76.1%). Significant pairwise F-values were found for all pairwise comparisons except for Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea A. gueldenstaedtii and Caspian Sea and Black Sea A. stellatus and H. huso. Only weak genetic differentiation is apparent between select subspecies and populations, reflective of biogeographic and management history. High genetic diversity within A. gueldenstaedtii suggests the possibility of additional population structure. Future research and management projects should consider these results.
Contaminated Collateral and Lender Liability: CERCLA and the New Age Banker

Enacted in December of 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or the Act) authorizes the federal government to clean up inactive hazardous waste sites that threaten human health or the environment (42 U.S.C. 9601-9675, 1982 and Supp. V 1987). CERCLA, also known as "Superfund," provides a fund for cleanup of contaminated sites when no other parties are able to conduct the cleanup. This enormous reserve of money is replenished from federal funds, taxes on certain chemicals and petroleum, litigation settlements with responsible parties, and recovery of fines. CERCLA empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) to recover the cleanup costs from those parties responsible for the contamination, if they can be identified, with little or no costs to the American taxpayer. Because of the need for reauthorization, and calls for legislative clarification of what has been cited as poorly drafted legislation. (United States v. Northeastern Pharmaceutical & Chemical Co., 579 F. Supp. 823, 839, W.D. Mo. 1984). CERCLA was amended in October of 1986 by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, also known as SARA (Pub. L. No. 99-499, 100 Stat. 1613-1782, 1986; codified throughout 42 U.S.C. Sections 9601-75, 1982 & Supp. V 1987). However, these amendments have proved to be inadequate because of inconsistent judicial interpretation and implementation of the Act's stringent provisions regarding lender liability for contaminated collateral. As a result, lenders who are unsure of what constitutes risk-free lending activities under CERCLA are again raising the call for further legislative reform. What follows is a general overview of CERCLA provisions pertinent to lender liability, a review of several case law holdings which have added to lender confusion and heightened liability concerns, and a discussion of actions taken by lenders to avoid being cited under the Act for cleaning up contaminated properties.
Jagged2: A Serrate-like Gene Expressed during Rat Embryogenesis

DSL (Delta, Serrate, Lag-2) ligands activate Notch signaling and thereby regulate the differentiation of many different cell types during development. We have isolated a novel Serrate-like gene, Jagged2, whose amino acid sequence and expression pattern during rat embryogenesis suggest that it functions as a ligand for Notch. In contrast to previously described DSL ligands for Notch, Jagged2 is not widely expressed in the developing central nervous system. However, Jagged2 and Notch1 are coexpressed in the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), suggesting a role for this ligand-receptor pair in limb development. Furthermore, unlike Jagged1, Jagged2 is coexpressed with Notch in the developing thymus, where it may induce Notch signaling to direct T-cell fate. Our data are consistent with the idea that the diversity of cell types regulated by Notch signaling is a consequence of activation of unique Notch isoforms by different DSL ligands.
A Look at Agenda-setting: past, present and future

Ten US presidential elections ago in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the agenda of issues that a small group of undecided voters regarded as the most important ones of the day was compared with the ne...
Survival, lifetime production, and profitability of Normande × Holstein, Montbéliarde × Holstein, and Scandinavian Red × Holstein crossbreds versus pure Holsteins.

Pure Holstein (HO) cows (n=416) were compared with Normande (NO) × HO (n=251), Montbeliarde (MO) × HO (n=503), and Scandinavian Red (SR) × HO (n=321) crossbred cows for survival, lifetime production, and profitability in 6 commercial herds in California. The SR crossbred cows were sired by both Swedish Red and Norwegian Red bulls. Cows calved from June 2002 to January 2009. For analysis of survival to subsequent calvings, lifetime production, and profitability, data were restricted to 3 of 6 herds because they had at least 20 cows in each of the breed groups. All cows had the opportunity to calve at least 4 times. Best prediction, which is used by USDA for national genetic evaluations in the United States, was used to determine lifetime production to 4 yr (1,461 d) in the herd after first calving from test-day observations. Production and survival were estimated after 4 yr to calculate lifetime profit. A profit function was defined to include revenues and expenses for milk, fat, protein, and other solids production; somatic cell count; reproduction; feed intake; calf value; salvage value; dead cow disposal; and fixed cost. The NO × HO (1.2%), MO × HO (2.0%), and SR × HO cows (1.6%) had significantly fewer deaths than did pure HO cows (5.3%) during the first 305 d of first lactation. All crossbred groups had significantly more cows that calved a second, third, and fourth time, and had mean survival that was 300 to 400 d longer than did pure HO cows. The NO × HO, MO × HO, and SR × HO cows had significantly higher lifetime fat plus protein production than did pure HO cows up to 1,461 d after first calving. For profitability (ignoring possible differences in health costs), NO × HO cows had 26% greater projected lifetime profit per cow, but 6.7% less profit per cow-day, than did pure HO cows. On the other hand, MO × HO and SR × HO cows had 50 to 44%, respectively, more projected lifetime profit per cow and 5.3 to 3.6%, respectively, more projected profit per cow-day than did pure HO cows.
26B. Effect of Gua Sha and Physical Therapy on Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire Scores in a Patient With Chronic Cervicalgia

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Mental Health, Alleviating Pain Background and Purpose: Current musculoskeletal interventions for neck pain that do not address a person's fear avoidance beliefs about work and physical activity may have poor long-term outcomes. Research indicates a strong correlation between a person's score on the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and risk of chronic neck and back pain. Gua sha, a traditional Chinese medical intervention that uses repeated instrument-assisted brush stroking, may have a positive effect on connective tissue dysfunction and fear avoidance beliefs. The psychogenic benefits of gua sha may be secondary to the expression of petechiae, which in traditional Chinese medicine is associated with sha stasis. Raising sha may improve Qi circulation and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. The purpose of this case is to describe the combined interventions of physical therapy and gua sha to assist a patient in resolving her symptoms of chronic cervcialgia. Case Description: The patient was a 56-year-old female with chronic cervical neck pain that was exacerbated with prolonged sitting in front of a computer, a requirement for her job. She presented to physical therapy after 3 years of chronic cervicalgia and several therapeutic interventions that did not provide any lasting relief. Her initial scores on the FABQ indicated high fear avoidance beliefs in relation to work and physical activity. Intervention/Outcome: Patient received 2 weeks of physical therapy with minimal improvements in symptoms. Following 2 treatments of gua sha in conjunction with physical therapy, the patient had significant improvements in FABQ, Neck Disability Index, AROM, and pain scores. At 3-month follow-up, the patient was able to work full-time with minimal to no pain. Discussion: These preliminary findings may suggest that gua sha in conjunction with physical therapy may benefit a patient on physical and psychological levels.
Palladium 103 plaque radiotherapy for uveal melanoma. Clinical experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of palladium 103 ( 103 Pd) ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy on patients with uveal melanoma. Background: Radioactive 103 Pd seeds have become available for plaque brachytherapy, and computer-aided simulations have compared the intraocular dose distribution of 103 Pd versus iodine 125 ( 125 I) plaques in patients with uveal melanoma. The use of the lower-energy radionuclide 103 Pd increased the radiation to the tumors and decreases irradiation of most normal ocular structures. Methods: The authors have begun a phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the effect of 103 Pd ophthalmic plaque radiotherapy on intraocular tumors. Uveal melanoma was diagnosed, and the patients were found to be negative for metastatic disease. All patients were given one 103 Pd radioactive plaque treatment, and six patients also were given adjuvant microwave hyperthermia. Results: Palladium 103 ophthalmic plaque radiotherapy was used to treat 23 patients with uveal melanoma. Patients were followed for up to 27 months (mean, 13.5 months). One eye was enucleated for progressive tumor enlargement (4 months after treatment). One patient died (of metastatic melanoma). Eight patients have lost greater than two lines of visual acuity, one has gained more than two lines. Fifteen patients (65%) were within two lines or had better than their preoperative visual acuity. Relating to the effect of treatment on visual acuity, 15 (65%) tumors were located equal to or less than 2 mm from the fovea. Conclusion: Palladium 103 ophthalmic plaque radiotherapy was noted to control the growth of uveal melanomas. Compared with other forms of plaque radiotherapy at this follow-up interval, the authors have noted no new complications, no difference in local control, and/or changes in tumor response to treatment. More long-term followup will be required to demonstrate differences between 125 I and 103 Pd ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy.
Hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis: present and future therapy including LDL-apheresis.

Atherosclerosis-induced coronary heart disease remains the major cause of death and disability in industrialized countries. Hypercholesterolemia is recognized as a causative factor in the development of atherosclerosis. While the lowering of cholesterol levels as a treatment goal has met with general agreement and acceptance, the preferred methods for doing so are still open to conjecture. This literature review discusses various factors in the hypercho-lesierolemia-atherosclerosis link and surveys a variety of treatment protocols including diet modification, drug therapy, surgical intervention, and plasmapheresis. Evidence is accumulating to prove that the ideal hypercholes-terolemia therapy is one that reduces LDL levels while maintaining or increasing HDL levels. Because LDL-apheresis has this potential, this paper also reviews the various LDL-apheresis methods, including immunoadsorp-tion, chemical affinity,' and double-membrane filtration.
Adolescent acceptance of pain: confirmatory factor analysis and further validation of the chronic pain acceptance questionnaire, adolescent version.

Abstract Preliminary reports suggest that acceptance of pain is an important construct when assessing and treating adolescents with chronic pain. Although the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, Adolescent version (CPAQ-A) appears to be a promising tool, it has been evaluated in only 1 study. The current results present a confirmatory analysis of the CPAQ-A and validity data collected independently from the developers of the scale. A sample of 109 adolescents with chronic pain completed the CPAQ-A, as well as measures of pain characteristics, functional impairment, depression, anxiety, and pain self-efficacy. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicate the previously reported 2-factor solution provides a good fit to the data, and has acceptable internal consistency. The CPAQ-A correlated strongly with disability, depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy. It correlated only moderately with pain intensity and was not correlated with pain frequency or duration of pain. When entered last into a hierarchical regression model predicting disability, acceptance accounted for more variance than pain intensity, depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy. Results supported the internal consistency and validity of the CPAQ-A as a measure of pain acceptance in this sample of adolescents with chronic pain. Use of the CPAQ-A may provide valuable insight into the manner in which adolescents adapt to chronic pain and can guide acceptance-based treatment. Perspective This article strengthens the psychometric support for a measure of chronic pain acceptance in adolescents. Acceptance-based treatment has been shown to reduce disability in preliminary research targeting adolescents with chronic pain; the CPAQ-A may be useful for assessing the degree to which acceptance-based approaches may be indicated for a given patient.
The relation between caste ratios and division of labor in the ant genus Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Ten species of Pheidole, representing as many species groups from various localities in North and South America, Asia, and Africa, were analyzed to probe for possible relationships between caste ratios and division of labor. Minor workers are behaviorally almost uniform among the species, but major workers vary in repertory from 4 to 19 behavioral acts (Table 1, Fig. 2). The major repertory size increases significantly across the species with the percentage of majors in the worker force (Fig. 3). This trend is consistent with the basic prediction of ergonomic optimization models under an assumption of colony-level selection. There is also a trend toward reduction of behavioral repertory with increase of size in the major relative to the minor, a second relation expected from theory, but the data are not sufficient to reach statistical significance. When the minor:major ratio was lowered to below 1:1 (from the usual 3:1 to 20:1, according to species), in three widely different species (guilelmimuelleri, megacephala, pubiventris), the repertory size increased by 1.4–4.5X and the rate of activity by 15–30X (Table 1, Figs. 4–6). The change occurred within 1 h of the ratio change and was reversed in comparably short time when the original ratio was restored. This abrupt and important shift in behavior permitted the major workers to serve as an emergency stand-by caste, available to be summoned to a nearly full repertory when the minor worker caste was depleted. The majors also restored 75% or more of the missing minor workers' activity rate under laboratory conditions. Their transformation allowed continued oviposition by the queen and the rearing of larvae to the adult stage. In line with these findings, a distinction is made between programmed “elasticity” in the repertory of individual workers and castes and the “resiliency” of the colony as a whole, which depends upon the pattern of caste-specific elasticity.