cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic kinetics of the oxidation of chalcopyrite particles under isothermal and nonisothermal conditions

The overall kinetics of oxidation of chalcopyrite in the absence of heat- and mass-transfer effects were studied for temperatures up to 1150 K. Experiments were conducted using a nonisothermal technique. Below 873 K, the pore-blocking model was applicable with an activation energy of 71 kJ/mol in the temperature range 754 to 873 K and 215 kJ/mol below 754 K. Above 873 K, the rate of sulfur vaporization dominates the kinetics of oxidation in the initial stage. The oxidation of the decomposition product above 873 K is described by power-law kinetics. The kinetics of sulfur vaporization were found to follow the power-law kinetics with an activation energy of 208 kJ/mol. The results indicate that the oxidation rate is first order with respect to oxygen concentration and inversely proportional to the square of the particle size over the entire range of temperatures studied. Predominance area diagrams were constructed at various temperatures and used in conjunction with X-ray analyses of partially oxidized samples to determine the intermediate phases formed during the reaction. This analysis also provides a justification for the kinetic models used.
Understanding human diversity

The first edition of a massive catalogue of human genetic variation is now complete. The long-term task is to translate these data into an understanding of the effects of that variation on human health.
Effect of oxygen on bleomycin-induced lung damage.

Mortality and lung damage resulting from bleomycin-oxygen interaction were studied in mice. No animals died in the control group given saline and breathing 21% to 50% oxygen. Mortality following injection of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg bleomycin, respectively, increased from 0% and 6% following exposure to 21% oxygen, to 20% and 33% after 30% oxygen, and to 47% and 66% after 50% oxygen. Pulmonary pathology also became progressively more severe at the higher oxygen concentrations as measured by pulmonary hydroxyproline content and a visually scored index of cellular pathology.
High-yield expression and purification of p18 form of Bax as an MBP-fusion protein

Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, which is present in the cytosol of various types of cells in full-length form (p21 Bax). During apoptosis, the N-terminal truncated version of Bax (p18 Bax) is often formed via cleavage of the p21 Bax by the calcium-dependent enzyme, calpain. p18 Bax is a membrane protein found primarily in the mitochondrial fraction of apoptotic cells. Although noticeable amounts of p18 Bax appear relatively late in apoptosis, it may still play a role in the apoptotic cascade. The role of p18 Bax in the apoptotic cascade, particularly, in the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria has not been studied. The goal of this study was to produce reasonable amounts of p18 Bax and study its effect on isolated mitochondria. The expression and purification of membrane proteins such as p18 Bax represents a substantial challenge due to insolubility. We report here that the apoptotic form of Bax, p18 Bax, is highly soluble in the absence of detergents upon fusion with maltose-binding protein (MBP). We describe a scheme for expression and simple metal-affinity based purification of MBP-p18Bax. The MBP-p18Bax triggers the release of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria in a concentration-dependent, Bcl-2-sensitive manner. The MBP tag of the MBP-p18Bax can be cleaved off with 3C protease to produce pure p18 Bax, although the solubility of p18 Bax becomes very limited. The highly soluble, MBP-fused form of p18 Bax provides a convenient tool to study this apoptotic form of Bax protein.
Space-time processing with photorefractive volume holography

Photorefractive volume holography for processing ultrashort optical pulses carrying spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal optical information is introduced. These new holographic methods can process 4-dimensional information that in addition to the 3 spatial coordinates also include the temporal evolution of optical signals on nanosecond to femtosecond scale. Photorefractive volume holographic materials provide the medium necessary for recording and reconstruction in real-time. Applications of direct time domain and spectral domain holography for image processing, temporal matched filtering, optical pulse shaping, 3-D optical storage, and optical interconnects are discussed. Furthermore, the combined space-time holographic processing that allows the conversion between spatial and temporal optical information carrying channels is introduced. This method is used to demonstrate experimentally parallel-to-serial and serial-to-parallel data conversion for 1-D images and image-format data transmission. This holographic processor provides the advantages of self- referenced signal transmission and self-compensation for optical dispersion induced by the holographic materials, communication channel, as well as other optical components. Finally, future research directions for optical information processing with complex spatio-temporal signals are identified and discussed.
REACTIONS OF RABBITS TO INTRACUTANEOUS INJECTIONS OF PNEUMOCOCCI AND THEIR PRODUCTS : III. REACTIONS AT THE SITE OF INJECTION.

1. Following repeated intracutaneous injections of heat-killed pneumococci rabbits acquire an increased skin reactivity. 2. The increased skin reactivity reaches a maximum after 4 to 6 injections have been made, after which it becomes greatly diminished. 3. The relationship of increased skin reactivity to active resistance to infection by Pneumococcus, and to the presence of species-specific antibodies in the blood, is still obscure. 4. The increased skin reactivity is not transferable by serum from a highly reactive to a normal rabbit. 5. After regression of the reaction to the first injection of Pneumococcus into the skin, there frequently follows a recrudescence, or exacerbation, of the reaction. 6. The increased skin reactivity and secondary reactions are incited alike by all types and all forms of Pneumococcus.
Effect of topology and molecular occupancy on self-diffusion in lattice models of zeolites—Monte-Carlo simulations

The dependence of hopping diffusion on lattice topology and occupancy by the diffusing molecules is studied using Monte-Carlo simulations. For poorly connected lattices, such as ZSM-5/silicalite, the self-diffusivity deviates strongly from the linear mean-field result, especially at high occupancies. A time-correlation formalism is derived to predict these deviations which are proportional to the accumulated correlation between the displacement at some time and the first attempted hop. Renormalized deviations depend on lattice topology, but not on occupancy, so that the curves for various occupancies can be collapsed on to a single curve which can be well approximated by a stretched exponential. The results show that a mean-field theory with correlated time steps should work adequately for well-connected lattices, but poor performance is predicted for such poorly connected lattices as ZSM-5.
Freeze fracture study of mast cell secretion

Abstract Within seconds after exposure of rat peritoneal mast cells to polymyxin B, bulges appear on the surface of the cells. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy reveals that each bulge overlies a mast cell granule. In contrast to the even distribution of intramembranous particles in the plasma membrane of unstimulated cells, the intramembranous particles in the stimulated cells are unevenly distributed in the membrane of the bulges with large patches of membrane lacking intramembranous particles. The membranes over the most prominent bulges are entirely free of intramembranous particles, and in some instances there is an increased concentration of intramembranous particles at the margins of the bulges. Perigranule membranes exhibit the same changes in distribution of intramembranous particles. Electron microscopy of thin sections of rapidly fixed, stimulated mast cells shows a peculiar structure of the membrane overlying some bulges; instead of the pentalaminar membranes previously demonstrated, the membrane at these sites of presumptive fusion of perigranule and plasma membrane assumes the form of a single dense lamina with a fine fuzzy coating on either side. It seems possible that membrane fusion and subsequent pore formation proceed in the stimulated mast cell through a stage of flight of intramembranous particles and molecular rearrangement of the other membrane components.
A biologic Velcro patch.

Mutated COL7A1 causes epidermolysis bullosa. Genetically corrected, patient-specific stem cells secreted nonmutant type VII collagen and generated stratified epithelium in a mouse model.
Plasmapheresis in a patient with hepatic failure awaitingliver transplantation

ACUTE HEPATIC FAILURE with severe hepatic necrosis carries an overall mortality of 72%; mortality increases to 85% to 95% in patients who are in stage 4 comaJ ,2 Conventional therapy has been limited to supportive care in an a t tempt to allow for spontaneous hepatocellular regeneration. With the development of orthotopic liver transplantation, a "cure" for fulminant hepatitis is now possible. However, liver transplantation is often precluded by rapid clinical deterioration, difficulty in transferring patients in unstable condition to transplant centers, and the difficulty in locating livers matched for blood type and patient size. Although plasmapheresis lessens the severity of hepatic encephalopathy and results in transient clinical improvement, it does not alter the long-term prognosis in patients with fulminant hepatic failure 3-~' and is not routinely used in their treatment. We report a patient with fulminant hepatic failure and stage 3 hepatic coma whose condition was stabilized by use of supportive care and plasmapheresis until liver transplantation could be performed. We believe that in our patient plasmapheresis was an essential adjunct to conventional therapy that ultimately resulted in successful liver transplantation.
Pediatric retropharyngeal abscesses: a national perspective

Summary Objectives To determine the resource utilization and national variation in the management of pediatric retropharyngeal abscesses. Methods The Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) 2003 was analyzed. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 478.24 was the inclusion criteria. Results One thousand three hundred and twenty-one admissions with retropharyngeal abscess were sampled from the KID in 2003; there were no deaths. The mean age of patients was 5.1 years (S.D. 4.4 years); 63% were male. Of all admissions, 563 (43%) patients underwent surgical drainage of their infection; surgical patients had longer length of stays and total charges than patients managed medically. The average state spending per admission varied from $5126 (Utah) to $27,776 (California). There was seasonal variation in admissions with the highest percentage of admissions occurring in March (10.7%) and lowest in August (3.8%). Indicators of increased resource utilization included age (older patients), increased length of stay, non-elective admission, discharge quarter, and number of other diagnoses on record. There is a statistically significant decrease in the length of stay and total charges in patients admitted in the Midwest compared to other regions of the country. Conclusions This study demonstrates national demographics and normative data on a commonly treated pediatric disease process, retropharyngeal space infections. The average demographic of such a patient is a 5-year-old male from an urban location admitted in a non-elective fashion via the emergency department. The mean total charges were $16,377; 90% of admissions had total charges less than $28,511. Patients who underwent surgical procedures had mean total charges of $22,013. There exists significant national variation in resource utilization for this commonly treated disease process.
Polyadenylation of maternal and newly-synthesized RNA during starfish oocyte maturation

Abstract Poly(A)-containing RNA molecules have been characterized during 1-methyladenine (1-MeAd)-induced meiosis in Asterias forbesi oocytes by the formation of ribonuclease-resistant complexes with [ 3 H]poly(U). The cytoplasm of primary oocytes arrested in late prophase I contains about 0.33 ng poly(A) per μg RNA whereas the poly(A) content rises to about 1.59 ng/μg RNA after the completion of meiosis. Polyadenylation begins shortly after 1-MeAd addition and continues during and for about 60 min after the completion of meiosis. The characteristics of poly(A) containing RNA molecules and their poly(A) sequences were compared in late prophase I oocytes and ootids. In both developmental stages poly(A) sequences can be detected in the cytoplasm in association with heterodisperse RNA of similar size distribution. Ootids contain a higher proportion of poly(A) in their ribosomal fraction than oocytes. Ootid poly(A) segments are also larger and more heterogeneous than those of oocytes. The accumulation of larger poly(A) segments during meiosis is sensitive to actinomycin D. The inability of ethidium bromide to markedly suppress polyadenylation and the lack of a substantial increase in poly(A)-containing RNA in the mitochondrial fraction suggests that mitochondrial transcripts are not extensively employed as primers. It is concluded that metabolic activation of starfish oocytes is accompanied by the polyadenylation of newly-transcribed RNA rather than the extensive elongation of 3′ terminus of preexisting RNA.
Distemper and multiple sclerosis in Sitka, Alaska.

The annual incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Sitka, Alaska, was determined in the period 1949–1979, spanning a severe 1965 epidemic of canine distemper in the dog population. Three patients were identified, and each had the onset of MS in 1969 or 1970. This time cluster of MS is significant (p < 0.01) and was predicted by the hypothesis that MS may be linked to canine distemper virus.
The Democratization Process and Structural Adjustment in Africa

Africa’s problems are myriad and complex. However, most scholars of Africa agree that one particular issue that continues to bedevil African countries is how to establish democratic nation-states with institutions that promote economic development, consolidate political harmony and stability, and avoid conflicts through enfranchisement. Many parts of Africa have thus far failed to develop democratic institutions and modes of conducting public affairs. As a result, Africa has been strife-torn for most of the post-colonial era. Rwanda, for example, was the scene of the world’s biggest genocidal massacre in half a century. The Liberian conflict has been going on for over twelve years and affected its neighbors and an entire region. Africa has the largest share of conflicts in the world today. Specifically,
The sacrificial role of easily oxidizable sites in the protection of DNA from damage

It has been suggested that DNA contains sacrificial nucleobase sequences that protect sensitive regions of the genome from oxidative damage. Oxidation of DNA by loss of an electron generates a radical cation that can migrate long distances by hopping. The radical cation can be trapped irreversibly at certain sites (GG steps) by reaction with H2O or O2 leading to the formation of lesions (oxidative damage). A series of DNA oligomers that contain regularly spaced GG steps and an 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG), which serves as a proxy for possibly sacrificial protective low oxidation potential sites, was prepared and analyzed. We find that in certain special sequences of DNA nucleobases that 8-oxoG protects remote GG steps from oxidative damage but that this is not a general phenomenon extending to normal mixed sequence DNA. This is a consequence of the change in the relative rate of charge hopping compared with trapping of the radical cation. When hopping is relatively slow, 8-oxoG exerts no protective effect. Thus, it seems unlikely that low oxidation potential sequences play a meaningful part in protecting mixed sequence DNA from damage.
Hereditary Hemochromatosis: Genetics, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Management

Recent findings have led to major advances in our understanding of genetics and pathophysiology of hereditary hemochromatosis. Many crucial genes and molecules have come to light, and the complex interrelationships between them are being studied. However, several questions still remain unanswered. Availability of genotyping has changed the approach to diagnosis, and serum markers hold promise for prognostication. However, the effectiveness of population screening continues to be an area of controversy. Finally, there is a promise of development of newer therapeutic modalities based on our understanding of the mechanism of iron absorption. In this review, we describe the current state of understanding in the clinical features, pathophysiology and treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis.
Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis associated with subcutaneous immunoglobulin injection and oral contraceptive use

Although patients of cerebral sinus thrombosis after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been previously reported; reports of cerebral venous thrombosis secondary to subcutaneous injection of immunoglobulin (SIG) in conjunction with oral contraceptives are nonexistent in the current literature. We describe here a patient of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis occurring after the combination of SIG and oral contraceptive use. Furthermore, we shall explore proper clinical precautions for someone who receives IG therapy, especially in conjunction with the use of oral contraceptives.
Effect of Rearing Temperature on Mortality, Second-generation Emergence, and Size of Adult in Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Immature alfalfa leafcutting bees, Megachile rotundata (F.), were reared from the egg or early larval stage to the adult stage at one of four temperature regimes (16, 24, 29, 29/16°C [12 h:12 h]) to assess influence of temperature on 1) pre- and postoverwintering mortality, 2) incidence of diapause, and 3) size of adult. Preoverwintering mortality was significantly greater at 16°C than at all other treatments, and more males than females died under lower rearing temperatures. Rearing temperature had no effect on incidence of diapausing bees for the first 2 weeks of the study. During week 3, the 29°C treatment significantly decreased the number of diapausing bees compared with other treatments. Rearing temperatures affected size of emergent adults: adults of both sexes were significantly smaller when reared at 16°C than at other temperatures; females were also smaller when reared at 24 than at 29°C or 29/16°C. Rearing M. rotundata immatures at temperatures of ≤24°C is ineffective in increasing the number of diapausing bees and has the additional detrimental effects of increasing preoverwintering mortality (particularly of females) and of reducing size of adults.
Cardioplegia Delivery by Transcutaneous Pigtail Catheter in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Operations

For cardioplegia delivery and removing air from the aorta in minimally invasive mitral valve operations, we would like to propose a cost-effective pigtail method. The 8F pigtail punctures the aorta, delivers cardioplegia, and stays in place for removing air from the aorta. We then slide its tip out of the aorta as an accessory drain. With more than 100 successes, we are using it in every case and would like to share it with peer surgeons.
Modeling of Coastal Inundation, Storm Surge, and Relative Sea-Level Rise at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Li, H.; Lin, L., and Burks-Copes, K.A., 2013. Modeling of coastal inundation, storm surge, and relative sea-level rise at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A. The potential risk and effects of storm-surge damage caused by the combination of hurricane-force waves, tides, and relative sea-level-rise (RSLR) scenarios were examined at the U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia. A hydrodynamic and sediment transport modeling system validated with measured water levels from Hurricane Isabel was used to simulate two synthesized storms representing 50-year and 100-year return-period hurricanes, a northeaster, and five future RSLR scenarios to evaluate the combined impacts of inundation on this military installation in the lower Chesapeake Bay. The naval base topography and nearshore water body of Hampton Roads were included in the coastal modeling system (CMS), a suite of surge, circulation, wave, sediment transport, and morphology evolution models. The modeling domain was a rectangular area c...
The interaction of nitric oxide and superoxide in the human fetal-placental vasculature

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the interaction of nitric oxide and superoxide anion on the vasculature of the isolated perfused human placental cotyledon. STUDY DESIGN : Isolated placental cotyledons were preconstricted with the thromboxane mimetic U46619, and fetal perfusion pressure was used as an index of response. The interaction of nitric oxide and O 2 − was studied by three protocols: (1) with endogenous nitric oxide, (2) with addition of exogenous nitric oxide, and (3) with inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine. O 2 − was generated by infusion of purine-xanthine oxidase. Statistical significance of response to treatment was determined by paired t test. RESULTS: Infusion of xanthine oxidase with purine in the presence of endogenous nitric oxide resulted in vasodilation ( p p CONCLUSION: We conclude that, rather than superoxide inactivating nitric oxide, interaction of the two radicals generates in the placental vasculature a vasodilator, which may be peroxynitrite.
Interactive Offline Tracking for Color Objects

In this paper, we present an interactive offline tracking system for generic color objects. The system achieves 60- 100 fps on a 320 times 240 video. The user can therefore easily refine the tracking result in an interactive way. To fully exploit user input and reduce user interaction, the tracking problem is addressed in a global optimization framework. The optimization is efficiently performed through three steps. First, from user's input we train a fast object detector that locates candidate objects in the video based on proposed features called boosted color bin. Second, we exploit the temporal coherence to generate multiple object trajectories based on a global best-first strategy. Last, an optimal object path is found by dynamic programming.
A two‐station stochastic inventory model with exact methods of computing optimal policies

A method is presented for calculating optimal inventory levels in a two-station transactions reporting inventory system. The criterion of optimality is the minimization of expected cost. The computational properties of the model are stressed and the solution method is precise. It is shown that when the model represents a central warehouse which supplies several retail outlets, stocks carried at the central location affect the capacity of the system to handle orders. Stocks carried at the retail level affect only the size of the retail order backlog.
Quantitative assessment of in-stent dimensions: a comparison of 64 and 16 detector multislice computed tomography to intravascular ultrasound.

Objectives: To determine the utility of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) technology to evaluate coronary stent luminal diameter. Background: Stent metal induced “blooming” artifact makes quantitative coronary angiography by MSCT difficult. There is a paucity of data on the efficacy of using 64 and 16 detector MSCT in evaluating coronary stents. Methods: We evaluated four commercially available bare metal and polymer coated drug eluting stents using 64 and 16 detector MSCT for the following: (1) Strut density in Hounsfield's Units (Hu) using a 2 mm MIP; (2) In-stent luminal diameter (ISLD) measured by MSCT compared to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Results: Increased strut thickness did not correlate with greater strut density as measured in Hu (R2 = 0.05, P = 0.29). The ISLD by 16 MSCT vs. IVUS is: Vision 1.63 ± 0.58 mm vs. 2.8 ± 0.0; Cypher 1.80 ± 0.00 vs. 2.9 ± 0.0; Taxus 1.87 ± 0.58 vs. 2.9 ± 0.0; Liberte 1.80 ± 0.10 vs. 3.0 ± 0.1 (P < 0.01). ISLD determined by 64 MSCT vs. IVUS is: Vision 1.73 ± 0.06 mm vs. 2.8 ± 0.0; Cypher 1.87 ± 0.12 vs. 2.9 ± 0.0; Taxus 1.77 ± 0.06 vs. 2.9 ± 0.0; Liberte 1.80 ± 0.10 vs. 3.0 ± 0.1 (P < 0.01). Conclusions: When compared to IVUS measurements, MSCT results in a significant, underestimation of ISLD. This consistent underestimation (even with 64 MSCT) limits the applicability of CT angiography to quantify in-stent restenosis. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cryosurgery cure rate of actinic keratoses

Cryosurgery is a commonly used modality for treatment of benign and malignant lesions in dermatology. Although cryosurgery has been used for treatment of actinic keratoses, to our knowledge there have been no published reports on actual cure rates. This article presents a cryosurgical technic for treatment of actinic keratoses and the cure rates of 1,018 lesions with a follow-up of at least 1 year.
Ultra sensitive laser interferometers and their application to problems of geophysical interest

A 30 m laser strainmeter is currently being operated in an unworked gold mine near Boulder, Colorado. The strainmeter consists of an evacuated Fabry-Perot interferometer illuminated by a 3.39 pm He-Ne laser. A second 3.39 pm laser is stabilized by means of saturated absorption in methane and its wavelength serves as the reference length for the system. We shall describe the instrument in some detail and present the latest results in our investigation of the Earth tides and the Earth normal modes.
Teaching Web development technologies in CS/IS curricula

The advent of the World Wide Web changes the way we do things. It also greatly changes how computer software are built. While this profound evolution of software development has caused many in the software industry to change their way of developing software, it has not caused many in the academics to change their way of teaching computing. This paper describes a course that teaches web development technologies. The contents of the course, the experience gained, and related educational resources are presented.
Earlier age at diagnosis: Another dimension in cancer disparity?

Abstract Background: The age at diagnosis is of vital consideration for maximizing the benefits of screening recommendations, prevention initiatives, and treatment strategies. The current study compared the age at diagnosis in African Americans (AA) and whites for the 12 most frequently occurring cancers from 1996 to 2002. Using three criteria, this study determined whether cancers in most anatomic sites were more likely to occur at an earlier age in AA than in whites in the United States. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program was used to collect publicly accessible cancer data from 1996 through 2002 for AA and whites. Frequency, population size, and median age at diagnosis were collected for each of the 12 most commonly occurring cancers. These included: prostate, breast, lung, colon, urinary bladder, corpus uteri, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ovary, kidney, leukemia, oral cavity and pancreas. Poisson and logistic regression were used to investigate the possible association between race/ethnicity and an earlier age at cancer diagnosis. Results: In general, AA had an earlier age at diagnosis for invasive cancer compared with whites. According to the median age at diagnosis, all 12 frequently occurring cancers from 1996 to 2002 were diagnosed significantly earlier in AA than in whites. Eight of the 12 cancers reached an arbitrary rate of ≥3 cases per 100,000 persons at a significantly younger age in AA than in whites. However, the relative risk of a cancer diagnosis for persons 5–45 years of age was significantly greater for only 3 of the 12 cancers in AA. Conclusion: Cancers in general have an earlier age at diagnosis in AA than in whites. Earlier age at diagnosis may be another indicator of disparity since cancers that arise at a younger age tend to be more aggressive and frequently result in a less favorable outcome.
Minimizing unnecessary parenteral nutrition after appendectomy in children.

Abstract Background Consensus guidelines have indicated that postoperative parenteral nutrition (PN) might provide benefit when patients are expected to be nil per os (NPO) ≥7 d and when PN is administered ≥5 d. We hypothesized that most children receiving PN after appendectomy do not satisfy these criteria. Methods The medical records of the patients who had undergone appendectomy for perforated appendicitis from 2006–2011 were analyzed, and the proportion meeting the criteria for beneficial PN was determined. The clinical parameters independently associated with the criteria for beneficial PN (PN therapy ≥5 d, ileus ≥5 d, NPO ≥7 d) were identified using multiple regression analysis. Results A total of 1612 patients were treated for appendicitis. Of these, 587 met the inclusion criteria (age P P = 0.047). Preoperative symptoms for ≥3 d, imaging showing a discrete abscess or bowel obstruction, and operative findings of diffuse peritonitis predicted ileus of ≥5 d and NPO of ≥7 d ( P Conclusions Fewer than one-half of patients receiving PN in the present cohort met the consensus-based guidelines for postoperative PN. The preoperative symptom duration, preoperative imaging findings demonstrating abscess and/or bowel obstruction, and intraoperative findings of diffuse peritonitis might predict prolonged ileus and longer recovery periods for children undergoing surgery for perforated appendicitis.
Cronbach, Lee J. (1916–2001)

Lee J. Cronbach (1916–2001) had a long and distinguished career as an educational psychologist. He made major contributions to psychological testing, including coefficient alpha, generalizability theory, and construct validity theory; to evaluation, including a focus on program improvement, an emphasis on the role played by context and politics, and the strengths and limitations of randomized trials; and to instruction, most notably in the search for aptitude-treatment interactions and designing particular learning environments to match learners' characteristics. Keywords: aptitude-treatment interaction in instruction; coefficient alpha; educational psychology; program evaluation; psychometric testing; selection and assessment; validity theory
Experimental Fort Bragg fever (pretibial fever) in chimpanzees.

SummaryInoculation of Fort Bragg fever virus into chimpanzees resulted in a mild infection. This appeared to be characterized by a short febrile period with viremia and by the appearance of neutralizing antibodies in the serum a few weeks after the infection.
A specific force deficit exists in skeletal muscle after partial denervation.

Skeletal muscle demonstrates a specific force deficit after repair of injured peripheral nerves, microneurovascular muscle transfer, and normal aging. Because atrophy cannot account for deficits in specific force, other, unknown, mechanisms are responsible for the resulting muscle contractile dysfunction under these circumstances. We tested the hypothesis that a subpopulation of denervated fibers is partially or completely responsible for the specific force deficit after partial denervation of the rat extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL). Adult Fisher rats underwent either sham exposure or partial transection of 80% of the cross-sectional area of the left deep peroneal nerve. After a 2-week recovery period, maximum isometric force (F(0)) was measured in situ and maximum specific force (sF(0)) was calculated for EDL from both control (n = 8) and partial denervation (n = 7) groups. Innervated fiber cross-sectional area (CSA(inn)) was measured directly from whole EDL cross sections after immunohistochemical labeling for neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a marker of muscle fiber denervation. A corrected specific force value (sF(0-inn)) was calculated by normalizing F(0) to CSA(inn). Partial skeletal muscle denervation resulted in significant reductions in muscle mass, F(0), and sF(0). The percentage of muscle fibers expressing NCAM in the extrajunctional sarcolemma increased from 1.0 +/- 0.8% in control to 49 +/- 15% in partially denervated EDL muscles. A 62.7% deficit in EDL specific force was observed after partial denervation. Denervated muscle fibers accounted for 59.3% of this deficit, but sF(0-inn) still differed significantly between control and partially denervated muscles, with a 25.5% difference between groups. In partially denervated muscles, the specific force deficit is partially but not fully explained by a subpopulation of noncontractile, denervated fibers.
Direction finding in the presence of colored noise

ABSTRACT A procedure for estimating of the number and direction of arrival of uncorrelated plane waves in thepresence of an unknown colored background noise using a uniform linear array is developed under theassumption that the response of the array to the noise has a rational power spectrum. The number and direction of arrival of the plane waves are estimated by rooting a polynomial which is formed fromelements of the vectors spanning the null -space of a Hankel matrix whose entries are the spatial correlation sequence of the sensor outputs. A method for separating the roots of the polynomial that aredue to the plane waves from those that are due to the noise is presented. 1. INTRODUCTION The problem of estimating the number and direction of arrival of uncorrelated plane waves in the presence of an unknown colored noise has not received much attention in the literature1-7. Here wedevelop a new method for solving this problem. We assume that the response of the array to the unknown background colored noise has a 1 -D spatial power spectrum that is rational or can be closelyapproximated by a rational one. We then form a Hankel matrix with a sequence derived from the spatialcorrelation lags corresponding to the observations gathered by the array. Next, we compute the roots ofa suitably defined polynomial formed from the elements of the vectors spanning the null space of theHankel matrix.We show that the number of complex conjugate pairs of roots of this polynomial that lieon the unit circle is equal to the number of impinging plane waves. Furthermore, the absolute value ofthe argument of any of the roots in such pairs is proportional to the sine of an angle of arrival.When estimated rather than exact spatial correlation lags are used, the roots of the polynomial that
GENUS OF SEX OR THE SEXING OF JINS

In recent decades, Iran has witnessed radical transformations concerning the conceptualization of and procedural standards for changing sex. Psychologists, medical and legal practitioners, law enforcement officials, and scholars of fiqh have debated the advisability (in debates among health and legal professionals) or the permissibility (among scholars of fiqh) of sex-change. This article asks what historical transformations of the concept of jins/genus have informed the debates and enabled the contemporary dominant concepts and practices that shape them. How has jins come to mean sex and how does this matter? The article first maps out the historical genealogy of these reconfigurations. What were some of the 19th- and pre-19th-century concepts that could be considered disparate precedents to this cluster around sex/jins? It then reviews some of the late-19th- and 20th-century reshaping of biomedical knowledge and marital practices that have contributed to the contemporary meanings of jins.
Calibration for peripheral attenuation in intensity images

An image taken from a typical camera loses its intensity and contrast around the periphery due to optical attenuation. A model is derived to characterize this effect quantitatively. This model is derived for a commonly used thick lens using the sine condition, and thus, is more general than those from the Gauss geometrical optics. Based on this model, the authors developed an algorithm to calibrate the periphery attenuation. Some experimental results are presented. >
Where Have All the Theories Gone? Teaching Theory in Introductory Courses in International Relations

According to the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) Project, international relations faculty devote a great deal of time in their undergraduate introductory courses to the study or application of the major theories and paradigms of the discipline. Taking all of the twenty countries in the survey into account, faculty spend 24% of their course time on realism, 22% on liberalism, 13% on constructivism, 7% on feminism, and 11% on Marxism. This total of 76% indicates that the understanding of international relations theory is deemed an extremely important component of introductory courses by faculty. Ironically, these percentages do not exactly reflect the faculty members’ approaches to the study of international relations where 22% described constructivism as their primary approach, followed by realism at 16%, liberalism at 15%, Marxism at 4%, and feminism at 2%. Considering how much time professors indicate they spend on each theory as both teachers and scholars, do introductory international relations textbooks mirror this percentage? Ultimately, we seek to determine, through the use of content analysis, the extent of how international relations theory is presented in textbooks and make recommendations on how to improve the presentation and pedagogical methods of teaching international relations theory.
Tunneling Effects and Electrical Conductivity of CNT Polymer Composites

A three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube (CNT) network computational model was developed to investigate the electrical conductivity and current flow in polymer composites with randomly dispersed CNTs. A search algorithm was developed to determine conductive paths for 3D CNT arrangements and to account for electron tunneling effects. Tunneled currents were obtained as a function of tunneling distance and matrix material. Several possible CNT conductive paths were obtained and finite-element representative volume elements (RVEs) were then used to predict current densities in different CNT arrangements. The predictions indicate that random CNT arrangements can be optimized for current transport.
Where Turnout Matters: The Consequences of Uneven Turnout in City Politics

There is a widespread concern that imbalances in voter turnout across race and class have led to biased outcomes in American democracy. Yet empirical tests have generally found that the unrepresentative nature of the electorate has little effect on who wins and loses elections. We challenge this finding by arguing that existing research minimizes the chances of finding bias because it focuses largely on national elections where turnout is relatively high and where minority groups are generally too small a percentage of the population to sway elections. By focusing on city elections we find that lower turnout leads to substantial reductions in the representation of Latinos and Asian Americans on city councils and in the mayor’s office. For African Americans district elections and off-cycle local elections are more important barriers to representation. At its core democracy rests on the vote. The vote is the primary tool for citizens to control their government. Through the vote citizens communicate information about their interests, preferences, and needs and make important decisions about who to elect to office. Nevertheless, most Americans do not vote when given the opportunity. At best roughly half of eligible voters vote in national contests. At worst, fewer than 10% of adults vote in local elections (Bridges 1997; Hajnal, Lewis, and Louch 2002). Even more importantly, those who do turn out to vote look very different from those who do not. Study after study of American elections has found that individuals with ample resources vote much more regularly than those with few resources—the poor, racial, and ethnic minorities and the less educated (Rosenstone and Hansen 1993; Verba and Nie 1972; Verba, Schlozman, and Brady 1995). The skewed nature of the vote raises real concerns about how well the interests of different groups are served in democracy. As Key noted decades ago, “The blunt truth is that politicians and officials are under no compulsion to pay much heed to classes and groups of citizens that do not vote” (1949, 99). The fear is that individuals and groups who do not participate in the voting process will be overlooked and their concerns ignored (Bennet and Resnick 1990; Martin 2003;
Studies on the interrelationships of the adrenal cortex and renal ammonia excretion by the rat.

It has been demonstrated recently that the renal capacity of the adrenalectomized animal to secrete ammonium and hydrogen ions is deficient under normal conditions and under conditions of moderate to severe acid stress (Sartorius et al., 1952). Failure to salvage adequately fixed base from the tubular urine in exchange for hydrogen or ammonium ions, results not only in increased loss of base but in a disturbance of body acid base balance. These facts probably account for the chronic acidosis and the poor tolerance to acid stress commonly exhibited by animals with adrenal insufficiency. The present study was undertaken (a) to determine the capacity of normal and adrenalectomized animals to excrete ammonia and titratable acid when acutely subjected to mild and severe acid stress, (b) to assess the effects of desoxycorticosterone acetate and adrenal cortical extract on ammonia and titratable acid excretion by the adrenalectomized and normal rat,
Synthesis and Relaxometric Studies of a Dendrimer‐Based pH‐Responsive MRI Contrast Agent

The design of effective pH responsive MRI contrast agents is a key goal in the development of new diagnostic methods for conditions such as kidney disease and cancer. A key factor determining the effectiveness of an agent is the difference between the relaxivity of the "on" state compared to that of the "off" state. In this paper, we demonstrate that it is possible to improve the pH-responsive action of a low molecular weight agent by conjugating it to a macromolecular construct. The synthesis of a bifunctional pH responsive agent is reported. As part of that synthetic pathway we examine the Ing-Manske reaction, identifying an undesirable by-product and establishing effective conditions for promoting a clean and effective reaction. Reaction of the bifunctional pH responsive agent with a G5-PAMAM dendrimer yielded a product with an average of 96 chelates per dendrimer. The relaxivity of the dendrimer conjugate rises from 10.8 mM(-1) s(-1) (pH 9) to 24.0 mM(-1) s(-1) (pH 6) per Gd(3+) ion. This more than doubles the relaxivity pH response, Deltar(1), of our agent from just 51 % for the original low molecular weight chelate to 122 % for the dendrimer.
Computer-aided process design using Food Operations Oriented Design System Block Library

The comparison of design alternatives is a common design task for food process engineers. Foods Operations Oriented Design System Block Library (FOODS-LIB©) in conjunction with its economic analysis program (ECONANAL) can be used in this capacity. To demonstrate how FOODS-LIB can be used in a time efficient manner to perform analysis of design alternatives, a case study was conducted in which five alternative processes to manufacture whole milk powder were compared. The design goal was to minimize steam use and maximize 10 yr net present worth.
Effects of disorder on the thermoelectric power and electrical conductivity of TTT 2 I 3

(Tetrathiatetracene)2(iodide )3 is a quasi-one-dimensional organic metal consisting of segregated stacks of (TTT) cation radicals and polyiodide chains. we report the results of a study of the thermoelectric power and electrical conductivity measurements on single crystals of TTT2I3 in which the degree of disorder is varied. Effects of disorder on the phase transition and low temperature conductivity are discussed.
A continuous-time Bayesian network reliability modeling, and analysis framework

We present a continuous-time Bayesian network (CTBN) framework for dynamic systems reliability modeling and analysis. Dynamic systems exhibit complex behaviors and interactions between their components; where not only the combination of failure events matters, but so does the sequence ordering of the failures. Similar to dynamic fault trees, the CTBN framework defines a set of 'basic' BN constructs that capture well-defined system components' behaviors and interactions. Combining, in a structured way, the various 'basic' Bayesian network constructs enables the user to construct, in a modular and hierarchical fashion, the system model. Within the CTBN framework, one can perform various analyses, including reliability, sensitivity, and uncertainty analyses. All the analyses allow the user to obtain closed-form solutions.
Nocturnal movements and habitat selection of mesopredators encountering bobwhite nests

Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) represent a valuable resource for upland game-bird hunters and the rural economies they support; however, bobwhite populations are declining across the United States. As ground-nesting birds, bobwhites are highly susceptible to mammalian predation during the breeding season. We placed global positioning collars on 6 coyotes (Canis latrans), 4 bobcats (Lynx rufus), and 11 raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Texas, USA, during the nesting season of bobwhites (April–August of 2009–2011) to assess their habitat selection and use, as well as determine the relative frequency with which they may encounter bobwhite nests. Overall, nightly encounter rate of predators with known bobwhite nest sites was low. Coyotes encountered nest sites 3 times more frequently than male raccoons and 7 times more frequently than bobcats. Female raccoons did not come within 50 m of any nest locations. The higher encounter rate of coyotes with bobwhite nest sites was associated with the similarity of habitat preference of coyotes and bobwhites for grasslands and grass–shrub habitats and the wide-ranging nocturnal paths of coyotes. Bobcats and raccoons had shorter nightly paths and mainly used habitats providing a greater degree of cover than is typically suitable for nesting bobwhites. Male raccoons were more mobile than females and made greater use of the grass–shrub habitat, and thus were more likely to encounter quail nests. Despite having lower individual encounter rates with bobwhite nest sites than did coyotes, male raccoons remain important predators of quail nests because they have the behavioral ability to attain greater population densities than those of the more territorial coyotes and bobcats. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Plant Immunity to Insect Herbivores

Herbivorous insects use diverse feeding strategies to obtain nutrients from their host plants. Rather than acting as passive victims in these interactions, plants respond to herbivory with the production of toxins and defensive proteins that target physiological processes in the insect. Herbivore-challenged plants also emit volatiles that attract insect predators and bolster resistance to future threats. This highly dynamic form of immunity is initiated by the recognition of insect oral secretions and signals from injured plant cells. These initial cues are transmitted within the plant by signal transduction pathways that include calcium ion fluxes, phosphorylation cascades, and, in particular, the jasmonate pathway, which plays a central and conserved role in promoting resistance to a broad spectrum of insects. A detailed understanding of plant immunity to arthropod herbivores will provide new insights into basic mechanisms of chemical communication and plant-animal coevolution and may also facilitate new approaches to crop protection and improvement.