cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integration of IT into the school curricula: perceptions of kindergarden to highschool (K-12) teachers

Computer use in schools is still low compared to use in other sectors of the economy. Recent surveys have found that even in schools on the leading edge in computer use, slightly less than half (42%) of the teachers use computers for instruction. This pilot study investigates the perceptions of K-12 teachers with respect to the integration of computers into the school curricula. The study is important given the recent efforts by federal, state and local governments to stimulate the use of computers in schools. A total of 1280 teachers from a South Western USA school district participated in the survey. Preliminary analyses show that causes of non-integration of computers in the school curricula are not solely determined by individual or software characteristics but the result of interaction between individual, software, and school environment characteristics. The findings confirm interactionist theories of resistance of change.
NONRESPONSE IN SURVEY RESEARCH AS A FUNCTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TIME OF RESPONSE

THERE IS a general presumption in survey research that those responding to a survey instru ment differ from nonrespondents on variables such as sex, intelligence and personality. The matter, however, appears to be the subject of little investi gation. Bennett and Hill (1) reported in a study of college graduates no personality differences between groups of respondents and nonrespondents in the psy chological characteristics as measured by the Cali fornia Personality Inventory. They did find, how ever, that the nonrespondent earned a lower grade point average while in college. Thistlethwaite and Wheeler (3) reported that high aptitude students tended to respond more frequently than low aptitude students, women responded more frequently than men, and like Bennett and Hill (1) they found that those with lower grade-point aver ages were less likely to respond. Ringo (2) has al so reported that nonrespondents earned lower grade point averages than respondents.
Mode split and the value of travel time

THE MODAL SPLIT PROBLEM IS CHARACTERIZED AS A PERFECT SUBSTITUTE MODEL OF CONSUMER CHOICE. IT IS SHOWN THAT, IN THE DISCRETE CHOICE CASE, A BROAD RANGE OF INDETERMINACY EXISTS UNLESS A VALUE OF TIME FUNCTION IS ASSUMED OR ESTIMATED. SEVERAL ALTERNATIVE ESTIMATION PROCEDURES FOR MODE SPLIT AND THE VALUE OF TIME ARE SUMMARIZED. FOR TWO CASES THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE FITTED MODEL, THE VALUE OF TIME, AND TRAVELER BENEFITS ARE INDICATED. /AUTHOR/
Preparation and detection of reconstructed plan-view surfaces

It is shown that ion-beam thinning and cleaning of bulk single-crystal samples coupled with annealing can produce surfaces suitable for conventional plan-view imaging including HREM. The key elements are to ensure the absolute cleanliness of the sample preparation system, care in choosing proper ion beam energies, and choosing the appropriate annealing conditions so as to minimize coarsening by bulk diffusion. The presence of surface reconstructions can be readily detected in off-zone diffraction patterns and in on-zone two-beam bright- and dark-field images.
Experimental Characterization of Damage Processes in Aluminum AA2024-O

Much of the damage mechanics literature has focused on void growth due to tensile hydrostatic stress. To clarify the effect of combined shear stress and hydrostatic stress on the development of damage, specimens of various geometries were employed in an experimental program to cover a wide range of triaxiality and shear stress. Digital image correlation (DIC) is utilized to measure the fracture strain of the 2D specimens. Experiments are paired with simulations utilizing J 2 plasticity theory to complement the experiments and relate the fracture strain with combined hydrostatic and shear stresses. The results display accelerated damage for cases dominated by shear at low triaxiality. Crystal plasticity simulations were carried out using boundary conditions based on the DIC displacement field. These simulations indicate that tensile hydrostatic stress develops due to grain-to-grain interaction.
Comparison of llama fiber obtained from two production regions of Argentina

Abstract The Puna is an arid region running along the Andes mountains, more than 3600 m above sea level. Overgrazing has severely degraded much of this ecosystem, and this has dramatically reduced agricultural production and resulted in poverty for human inhabitants. Llamas are native to the Puna and are well suited to live there. Their grazing habits and digestive system make efficient use of native forages, and their padded feet keep soil disturbance to a minimum, thereby reducing erosion. Uncontrolled llama breeding over the last 500 years has degraded the quality of the fiber they produce, so today it is generally of low quality. Analysis of llama fibers obtained from two production regions of Argentina showed that some llamas possess sufficiently fine mean fiber diameters (less than 23 μm if guard hairs are excluded) to allow their fleeces to be sold at a premium. A higher price would make llamas more attractive to raise than the goats and sheep commonly found in the Puna today. Switching to llama production would increase grower income and sustainability of agriculture in the region.
Evidence for a learning bias against saltatory phonological alternations

This study provides new experimental evidence that people learn phonological alternations in a biased way. Adult participants were exposed to alternations between phonetically dissimilar sounds (i.e., those differing in both voicing and manner, such as [p] and [v]). After learning these alternations, participants assumed, without evidence in the input, that more similar sounds (e.g., [b] and [v]) also alternated (Exp. 1). Even when provided with explicit evidence that dissimilar sounds (e.g., [p] and [v]) alternated but similar sounds ([b] and [v]) did not, participants tended to make errors in assuming that the similar sounds also alternated (Exp. 2). By comparison, a control group of participants found it easier to learn the opposite pattern, where similar sounds alternated but dissimilar sounds did not. The results are taken as evidence that learners have a soft bias, considering alternations between perceptually similar sounds to be more likely.
Neonatal orchitis mimicking cystic dysplasia of the testis.

Neonatal orchitis is an extremely rare disease, usually related to a congenital genitourinary anomaly. We present a 36 weeks’ gestation infant who presented at 3 days old with a firm and enlarged right testicle. Testicular US revealed a heterogeneous right testicle with numerous cystic spaces as well as decreased testicular blood flow. The clinical concerns included testicular tumor and cystic dysplasia of the testis because of concurrent renal dysplasia. The scrotal/testicular area was without tenderness or overlying erythema. Radical inguinal orchiectomy revealed diffuse gram-negative orchitis.
UHF avalanche diode oscillator providing 400 watts peak power and 75 percent efficiency

High-efficiency high-peak power at UHF frequencies has been generated using commercial rectifier diodes operating as avalanche oscillators in simple tuned circuits. Peak power outputs are as high as 400 watts with as much as 75 percent efficiency. Oscillators have been operated in both coaxial and microstrip circuits using single and multiple-paralleled diode arrangements, and are mechanically tunable over a 10 to 15 percent frequency bandwidth.
Utilization of Biofuel Coproducts as Performance Enhancers in Asphalt Binder

Oxidation is the primary cause of long-term aging in asphalt pavements. As a pavement oxidizes, it stiffens and can eventually crack. The use of an antioxidant as a performance enhancer in an asphalt binder could delay aging and thus increase the life of an asphalt pavement. Lignin is a highly available, well-studied antioxidant. A wet-mill ethanol plant produces several coproducts, some containing lignin. The use of coproducts from ethanol production could benefit asphalt pavements while also providing more value to the coproducts. Four lignin-containing coproducts were combined with four asphalt binders in varying amounts to discover the optimum amount of coproduct that would provide the greatest benefit to the asphalt binders. The asphalt-coproduct blends were evaluated according to Superpave® specifications and performance graded on a continuous scale. The data indicate a stiffening effect of the binder caused by the addition of coproduct—the more coproduct added, the greater the stiffening. Binder st...
Variations in the management of acute myocardial infarction. Importance of clinical measures of disease severity

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which resource use for patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction varies with clinical status, and to see if an observed difference in resource use between two states can be explained by clinically detailed risk adjustment.
Characterization of Chemically Prepared PZT Thin Films

We have systematically varied processing parameters to fabricate PZT 53/47 thin films. Polycrystalline PZT thin films were fabricated by spin depositing Pt coated SiO{sub 2}/Si substrates with alkoxide solutions. Our study focused on two process parameters: (1) heating rate and (2) excess Pb additions. We used rapid thermal processing techniques to vary heating rates from 3{degree}C/min to 8400{degree}C/min. Films were characterized with the following excess Pb additions: 0, 3, 5, and 10 mol %. For all process variations, films with greater perovskite content had better ferroelectric properties. Our best films were fabricated using the following process parameters: an excess Pb addition of 5 mol %, a heating rate of 8400{degree}C/min and annealing conditions of 700{degree}C for 1 min. Films fabricated using these process conditions had a remanent polarization of 0.27 C/m{sup 2} and a coercive field of 3.4 MV/m. 12 refs., 4 figs.
R67, the other dihydrofolate reductase: rational design of an alternate active site configuration.

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) bears no sequence or structural homologies with chromosomal DHFRs. The gene for this enzyme produces subunits that are 78 amino acids long, which assemble into a homotetramer possessing 222 symmetry. More recently, a tandem array of four gene copies linked in-frame was constructed, which produces a monomer containing 312 amino acids named Quad3. Asymmetric mutations in Quad3 have also been constructed to probe the role of Q67 and K32 residues in catalysis. This present study mixes and matches mutations to determine if the Q67H mutation, which tightens binding approximately 100-fold to both dihydrofolate (DHF) and NADPH, can help rescue the K32M mutation. While the latter mutation weakens DHF binding over 60-fold, it concurrently increases kcat by a factor of 5. Two Q67H mutations were added to gene copies 1 and 4 in conjunction with the K32M mutation in gene copies 1 and 3. Addition of these Q67H mutations tightens binding 40-fold, and the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km(D...
Modeling of laser knife-edge and pinhole experiments

We describe simulations of experiments invovling laser illumination of a metallic knife edge in the Optical Sciences Laboratory (OSL) at LLNL, and pinhole closure in the Beamlet experiment at LLNL. The plasma evolution is modeled via LASNEX. In OSL, the calculated phases of a probe beam are found to exhibit the same behavior as in experiment but to be consistently larger. The motion of a given phase contour tends to decelerate at high intensities. At fixed intensity, the speed decreases with atomic mass. We then calculate the plasma associated with 4-leaf pinholes on the Beamlet transport spatial filter. We employ a new propagation code to follow a realistic input beam through the entire spatial filter, including the plasmas. The detailed behavior of the output wavefronts is obtained. We show how closure depends on the orientation and material of the pinholes blades. As observed in experiment, a diamond orientation is preferable to a square orientation, and tantalum performs better than stainless steel.
Predicting acute renal failure after coronary bypass surgery: cross-validation of two risk-stratification algorithms.

Predicting acute renal failure after coronary bypass surgery: Cross-validation of two risk-stratification algorithms. Background Acute renal failure (ARF) requiring dialysis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) occurs in 1 to 5% of patients and is independently associated with postoperative mortality, even after case-mix adjustment. A risk-stratification algorithm that could reliably identify patients at increased risk of ARF could help improve outcomes. Methods To assess the validity and generalizability of a previously published preoperative renal risk-stratification algorithm, we analyzed data from the Quality Measurement and Management Initiative (QMMI) 1 patient cohort. The QMMI includes all adult patients ( N = 9498) who underwent CABG at 1 of 12 academic tertiary care hospitals from August 1993 to October 1995. ARF requiring dialysis was the outcome of interest. Cross-validation of a recursive partitioning algorithm developed from the VA Continuous Improvement in Cardiac Surgery Program (CICSP) was performed on the QMMI. An additive severity score derived from logistic regression was also cross-validated on the QMMI.1A list of the members of the Academic Medical Center Consortium QMMI Working Group appears in the Appendix. Results The CICSP recursive partitioning algorithm discriminated well (ARF vs. no ARF) in QMMI patients, even though the QMMI cohort was more diverse. Rates of ARF were similar among risk subgroups in the CICSP tree, as was the overall ranking of subgroups by risk. Using logistic regression, independent predictors of ARF in the QMMI cohort were similar to those found in the CICSP. The CICSP additive severity score performed well in the QMMI cohort, successfully stratifying patients into low-, medium-, high-, and very high-risk groups. Conclusions The CICSP preoperative renal-risk algorithms are valid and generalizable across diverse populations.
The behavior of the effective gravitational constants for broken SU(5)

In a broken SU(5) GUT at scales much below the superheavy mass, heavy fields decouple. The light fields obey an effective field theory obtained by integrating away the heavy fields. The gravitational couplings are also affected by this integration. The effective gravitational couplings are found, and their space-time and scale dependence are investigated.
Residues of acephate, amitraz, chlorpyrifos and formetanate hydrochloride on and in fruits after low‐volume applications to orange trees

Acephate, amitraz, chlorpyrifos and formetanate hydrochloride were applied to orange trees. Test plots were treated at the maximum dose rates currently permitted in California in order to determine the consequent residues on and in the fruits. Applications were made with a low-volume airblast sprayer and used 0.94 klitres of spray per hectare. Fruit samples were collected at or near the legally prescribed California fruit-harvest waiting intervals. All residues were below the US tolerances for whole fruit. Analytical procedures for the gas chromatographic analysis of intact amitraz and formetanate and of 2,4-xylidine residues, without the necessity for derivative formation, are presented.
Polyurethane/clay nanocomposites foams: processing, structure and properties

Polyurethane (PU)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were synthesized with organically modified layered silicates (organoclays) by in situ polymerization and foams were prepared by a batch process. Clay dispersion of polyurethane nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The morphology and properties of PU nanocomposites and foams greatly depend on the functional groups of the organic modifiers, synthesis procedure, and molecular weight of polyols because of the chemical reactions and physical interactions involved. Silicate layers of organoclay can be exfoliated in the PU matrix by adding hydroxyl and organotin functional groups on the clay surface. The presence of clay results in an increase in cell density and a reduction of cell size compared to pure PU foam. In the polyurethane with high molecular weight polyol, a 6 8C increase in Tg, 650% increase in reduced compressive strength, and 780% increase in reduced modulus were observed with the addition of 5% organically treated clays. Opposite effects were observed in PU nanocomposite foams with highly crosslinked structure. The interference of the H-bond in the presence of clay is probably the reason. q 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Expected-outcome: a general model of static evaluation

The expected-outcome model, in which the proper evaluation of a game-tree node is the expected value of the game's outcome given random play from that node on, is proposed. Expected outcome is considered in its ideal form, where it is shown to be a powerful heuristic. The ability of a simple random sampler that estimates expected outcome to outduel a standard Othello evaluator is demonstrated. The sampler is combined with a linear regression procedure to produce efficient expected-outcome estimators. Overall, the expected-outcome model of two-player games is shown to be precise, accurate, easily estimable, efficiently calculable, and domain-independent. >
Multiple groESL operons are not key targets of RpoH1 and RpoH2 in Sinorhizobium meliloti.

Among the rhizobia that establish nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of host plants, many contain multiple copies of genes encoding the sigma factor RpoH and the chaperone GroEL/GroES. In Sinorhizobium meliloti there are two rpoH genes, four groESL operons, and one groEL gene. rpoH1 mutants are defective for growth at high temperature and form ineffective nodules, rpoH1 rpoH2 double mutants are unable to form nodules, and groESL1 mutants form ineffective nodules. To explore the roles of RpoH1 and RpoH2, we identified mutants that suppress both the growth and nodulation defects. These mutants do not suppress the nitrogen fixation defect. This implies that the functions of RpoH1 during growth and RpoH1/RpoH2 during the initiation of symbiosis are similar but that there is a different function of RpoH1 needed later during symbiosis. We showed that, unlike in Escherichia coli, overexpression of groESL is not sufficient to bypass any of the RpoH defects. Under free-living conditions, we determined that RpoH2 does not control expression of the groE genes, and RpoH1 only controls expression of groESL5. Finally, we completed the series of groE mutants by constructing groESL3 and groEL4 mutants and demonstrated that they do not display symbiotic defects. Therefore, the only groESL operon required by itself for symbiosis is groESL1. Taken together, these results suggest that GroEL/ GroES production alone cannot explain the requirements for RpoH1 and RpoH2 in S. meliloti and that there must be other crucial targets. Sinorhizobium meliloti can be found as a free-living bacterium residing in the soil or as a nitrogen-fixing symbiont residing in nodules on the roots of leguminous host plants, such as alfalfa. The S. meliloti genome contains 14 genes for sigma factors (14), which are subunits of RNA polymerase that direct transcription initiation by recognizing promoters. Two of these genes, rpoH1 and rpoH2, encode members of the RpoH family of secondary sigma factors. RpoH ( 32 ) was originally identified in Escherichia coli as a sigma factor that responds to heat shock. In response to a sudden increase in temperature or other stresses, the levels of RpoH rise transiently, inducing transcription of a subset of genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs include chaperones involved in protein folding,
Multi-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle video stabilization

This paper presents an efficient multiresolution video stabilization algorithm based on the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) algorithm. The algorithm utilizes the Haar wavelet transformation of registered images, reducing the memory consumption while maintaining accuracy of the feature points, which we will quantitatively contrast in the paper.
Study of Growth Processes in Ferroelectric Films and Layered Heterostructures via in Situ, Real-Time Ion Beam Analysis

Ferroelectric films can display a wide range of dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, electrostrictive, and pyroelectric properties. The potential utilization of these properties in a new generation of devices has motivated intensive studies on the synthesis, characterization, and determination of processing-microstructure-property relationships of ferroelectric thin films during the last five years. In addition, there has been an increased drive for integrating ferroelectric film-based heterostructures with different substrate materials to demonstrate devices which exploit the dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, electrostrictive, and pyroelectric properties of these materials. For example, the high dielectric permittivities of perovskite-type materials can be advantageously used in dynamic random access memories (DRAM),1-3 while the large values of switchable remanent polarization of ferroelectric materials are suitable for non-volatile ferroelectric random access memories (NVFRAM).1-3
Electrophysiology of morphologically identified mossy cells of the dentate hilus recorded in guinea pig hippocampal slices

A specific population of cells located in the hilus of the hippocampal fascia dentata was studied in guinea pig hippocampal slices using standard intracellular recording techniques. Twenty-one such cells were characterized using electrophysiological techniques and were identified morphologically as mossy cells following intracellular injection of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow. These cells had a resting membrane potential (mean, -64.6 mV), action potential amplitude (mean, 78.6 mV), action potential duration (mean, 2.2 msec), and time constant (mean, 24.2 msec) similar to those of hippocampal pyramidal cells of area CA3. Rectification seen in their I-V curves, and their ability to fire action potentials in accommodating trains or bursts in response to injected current pulses, were also similar to those of area CA3 pyramidal cells. However, these cells could be distinguished from area CA3 pyramidal cells by their higher input resistance (mean, 97.4 M omega) and higher level of spontaneous activity. The synaptic responses of mossy cells were also different from those of CA3 pyramidal cells. First, mossy cells responded to low levels of stimulation in all areas of the hippocampal slice that were tested, even areas as remote as area CA1. Second, the responses of mossy cells to stimulation consisted primarily of EPSPs. Hyperpolarizing IPSP-like events followed EPSPs in some cells, but the hyperpolarizations were small and monophasic, even after the cell was depolarized with current injection. This response contrasts with the smaller EPSP and the prominent, biphasic IPSP elicited by afferent stimulation of area CA3 pyramidal cells. The physiological and morphological characteristics of these cells suggest that they could play an important role in the integration of electrical activity in the hippocampus.
Asthmalike biphasic airway responses in Brown Norway rats sensitized by dermal exposure to dry trimellitic anhydride powder

Abstract Background Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) can induce specific IgE and occupational asthma. The significance of dermal exposure to TMA in immunologic sensitization and on subsequent airway responses is not clearly known. An animal model displaying both an early-phase airway response (EAR) and a late-phase airway response (LAR) after sensitization and subsequent inhalation challenge to a low-molecular-weight chemical has not been previously reported. Objective The present study investigated EAR and LAR after TMA inhalation challenge in Brown Norway rats sensitized by skin exposure to TMA dry powder. Methods Twenty milligrams of dry TMA powder was applied to the skin of each clipped rat's dorsum on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 and occluded overnight with surgical tape. Rats were challenged for 10 minutes with 0.2 to 40 mg/m 3 of TMA aerosol after day 35. Enhanced pause (an index of airway resistance) was recorded overnight in a whole-body plethysmography system. Specific IgE and pulmonary eosinophilia were also measured. Results Concentration-dependent responses to TMA were observed: provocation with 0.2 mg/m 3 produced no response; 1 mg/m 3 induced only EAR; and 5 mg/m 3 and 40 mg/m 3 induced both EAR and LAR. Specific IgE was positive; airway eosinophilic inflammation was observed. Conclusion TMA powder applied to the skin can lead to both immunologic sensitization and subsequent dose-dependent biphasic airway responses after TMA aerosol challenge.
Risk Factors and Predictors of Severity Score and Complications of Pediatric Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Purpose: We retrospectively analyzed our institutional incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis, identified risk factors, and examined associations of risk factors with disease severity and genitourinary complication rates.Materials and Methods: We reviewed charts of all consecutive pediatric patients treated from 1986 to 2010. We analyzed demographics, underlying diagnosis and treatment data to assess risk factors for hemorrhagic cystitis. We also correlated disease severity scores with clinical predisposing factors, and performed univariate and multivariate analyses to examine associations between risk factors and outcomes.Results: Hemorrhagic cystitis was observed in 97 of 6,119 children (1.6%), most of whom (75%) had severity scores of II or III. Mean ± SD age was 12.2 ± 6.3 years for patients with hemorrhagic cystitis and 10.5 ± 7 years for patients without hemorrhagic cystitis (p = 0.017). On univariate analysis increased risk of hemorrhagic cystitis was significantly associated with age greater than 5 yea...
Pharmacokinetics, antifungal activity and clinical efficacy of anidulafungin in the treatment of fungal infections.

Importance of the field: Anidulafungin is one of three available intravenous echinocandins that plays an important role in the treatment of serious fungal infections. Currently, anidulafungin is approved for the treatment of esophageal candidiasis, candidemia and other invasive Candida infections including intra-abdominal abscesses and peritonitis.Areas covered in this review: This paper covers a comprehensive review of anidulafungin.What the reader will gain: The reader will be provided the most recent data available regarding the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, in vitro activity and clinical utility of anidulafungin for the treatment of serious fungal infections.Take home message: Echinocandin antifungals, such as anidulafungin, are now considered first line for the treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis, particularly in critically ill patients or those who have previously received azole therapy. Anidulafungin has potent in vitro activity against Candida and Aspergillus species, predictable ph...
Reflections on the Cost Consequences of the New Gene Technology for Health Policy

This article presents a preliminary and necessarily tentative and subjective assessment of the impact of new gene technology on health care costs. In the short term, diagnosis and treatment of genetic disease are likely to increase costs. Treatment with nongene therapy will continue to be far less expensive than gene therapy where it is available. Research developments to monitor as indicators of forthcoming cost reductions in genetic therapy are set forth. Some forms of genetic screening may soon reduce health care costs, and an example is provided. Genetically engineered pharmaceuticals are described and their impact on costs reviewed. Conditions under which they are likely to reduce health care costs are indicated.
Constraining Galactic pγ Interactions with Cosmic Ray Electron and Positron Spectra

High energy protons produced by various sources of cosmic rays, e.g., supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts, participate in pγ and pp interactions. Although pp interactions may be the dominant mechanism in our Galaxy, it is unclear how important pγ process is. We show that the upper bound on the fraction of total number of protons participating in pγ interactions inside all Galactic astrophysical sources of cosmic rays is 10%.
Modeling and analysis of interactions in virtual enterprises

Advances in computer networking technology and open system standards are making the creation and management of virtual enterprises feasible. A virtual enterprise is a temporary consortium of autonomous, diverse, and possibly geographically dispersed organizations that pool their resources to meet short-term objectives and exploit fast-changing market trends. For a virtual enterprise to succeed, its business processes must be automated, and its startup costs must be minimized. We describe a formal framework for modeling and reasoning about interactions in a virtual enterprise. Such a framework will form the basis for tools that provide automated support for creation and operation of virtual enterprises.
Cytochrome P450 119 Compounds I Formed by Chemical Oxidation and Photooxidation Are the Same Species

Compound I from cytochrome P450 119 prepared by the photooxidation method involving peroxynitrite oxidation of the resting enzyme to Compound II followed by photooxidation to Compound I was compared to Compound I generated by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) oxidation of the resting enzyme. The two methods gave the same UV/Visible spectra, the same products from oxidations of lauric acid and palmitic acid and their (ω-2,ω-2,ω-3,ω-3)-tetradeuterated analogues, and the same kinetics for oxidations of lauric acid and caprylic acid. The experimental identities between the transients produced by the two methods leave no doubt that the same Compound I species is formed by the two methods.
Aortic Graft Infection Due to Pasteurella haemolytica and Group C β-Hemolytic Streptococcus

Although infection is a rare complication of aortic bypass grafting, we treated a 50-year-old patient who developed aortic graft infection due to Pasteurella haemolytica and group C beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The source of the infection could not be verified; however, after removal of the infected graft and administration of a 6-week course of intravenous ampicillin, he recovered fully. We discuss the etiology and pathogenesis of this rare infection.
Men's and Women's Talk in Same-Gender and Mixed-Gender Dyads: Power or Polemic?':

One hundred and eight university students (54 men and 54 women) were recorded in 108, eight-minute, problem-solving interactions under two dyadic conditions: (a) same-gender, and (b) mixed-gender. Interactants were coded during each minute for: (a) amount of Talk, (b) Mean Length Utterance (MLU) and (c) Rate. MANOVA results for Talk indicated that men in mixedgender dyads talked more than did men and women in same-gender dyads, and they in turn talked more than women in mixed-gender dyads. For MLU, men consistently spoke in longer utterances, regardless of gender of their partner. No Rate differences were found involving gender. Additionally, when there was a control for interactant gender, individuals who talked more and in longer utterances were rated by their partners as higher in Dynamism, an operationalisation of power. Finally, multiple regression analyses indicated that the Talk and MLU differences found were more predictable on the basis of gender than Androgyny, Empathy or Social Desirability. Th...
Incident Diabetes and Mobility Limitations: Reducing Bias Through Risk-set Matching

Diabetes was estimated to account for $176B in annual medical costs and an additional $69B in lost productivity in the United States in 2012 (1). Population aging, increased age-specific diabetes incidence, and improved survival among people with diabetes are projected to cause the prevalence of diabetes in the United States among adults to increase from about 12% in 2010 (2) to between 21% and 33% by 2050 (3). If the strong cross-sectional association between diabetes and disability (4) persists in the future, that projected prevalence of diabetes implies a massive burden of disability and medical costs on individuals, businesses, and government. The cross-sectional associations between diabetes and physical functioning outcomes—the subject of most prior studies (4)—reflect causal pathways that can run in both directions: diabetes can cause mobility limitations and disability (5), but mobility limitations among non-diabetic individuals can cause reductions in physical activity and other lifestyle changes that raise the risk of developing diabetes (6). The latter pathway is a type of reverse causality that biases prevalence-based estimates of the association between diabetes and mobility limitations. Using incident, rather than prevalent, diabetes as the exposure of interest would reduce the strength of reverse causal pathways that plague previous studies of this topic. This article will using risk-set matching, a type of propensity score matching, to estimate the relationship between incident diabetes and subsequent mobility limitations, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The inability of prevalence-based estimates to identify the time-ordering of covariates can also create bias due to confounding. In prevalence-based studies, including longitudinal studies of the association between baseline diabetes prevalence and subsequent functional limitations (7,8), the values of common control variables such as body mass index (BMI), income, and comorbidities could actually have resulted from, rather than contributed to, the person’s diabetes status (9–12). In estimating the association between prevalent diabetes and functional limitations, the investigator can either leave these covariates out of the model, raising the likelihood of confounding, or include them, running the risk of conditioning on a mediator. This study will provide a more accurate estimate of the relation between diabetes and functional limitation by controlling for factors known to precede diabetes diagnosis, including time-varying characteristics that change between baseline and diagnosis, and not for behaviors or conditions that follow it. Propensity score methods are often preferred for reducing bias due to confounding (13,14), and risk-set matching in particular is a preferred method for controlling for time-varying covariates when the exposure is time-varying (14). A propensity-score based assessment has not been applied in the study of the relationship between incident diabetes and mobility limitations.
Non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder: The relationship between intravesical pressure and the external sphincter electromyogram

We retrospectively reviewed the urodynamic studies of 14 patients: 3 males and 11 females, previously diagnosed clinically and urodynamically as having non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder. The mean age of the patients was 10 years (range 4–24 years). We identified 3 urodynamic features in this patient population that are distinct from those seen in patients with true detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia: (1) quieting of the external sphincter electromyogram (EMG) immediately prior to the onset of a detrusor contraction, (2) quieting of the EMG during the upslope of a detrusor contraction, and (3) augmented EMG activity during the downslope of the detrusor contraction. Although both involve incoordinate bladder and pelvic floor/external sphincter activity, a simple cystometrogram with EMG may allow reliable differentiation between true detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia and non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder.
Iconic Images and Jade Textile Tools for Neolithic and Bronze Age China's Silk Industry

AbstractChina's Neolithic cultures were the originators of silk thread production. I propose that this development is represented by a ubiquitous iconic image, the silkworm-silk moth life cycle motif, commonly called a taotie or “monster mask.” Silkworms are also portrayed in small Neolithic jade carvings. Subsequent Shang bronzes show that the “life cycle motif” had evolved. Increasingly abstract, decorative patterns, derived from intricate silk textiles, were often combined in this period with new images depicting silkworm egg and larvae motifs. These images are indicative of advances in sericulture and silk textile production. By the end of the Shang, China's textile industry had a new iconic image: the Chinese Dragon, a chimera that I propose is a composite of the silkworm, silk moth, coiled Hongshan forms, and Shang tiger images. The silk textile industry was of such great importance, I contend that tools from its operations have survived in many jade artifacts. Because their original purpose has not...
A case series and immunophenotypic analysis of CK20−/CK7+ primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin

Background: The diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) can be rather challenging; therefore, the immunohistochemical profile is important in confirming the microscopic diagnosis. Characteristic of the neuroendocrine and epithelial differentiation of MCC, antibodies to cytokeratin (CK) 20, CK7, epithelial membrane antigen, and neuron-specific enolase among others, are used in confirming the diagnosis. As reported in the literature, the majority of MCC express CK20 and are CK7 negative. Herein, we present a case series of seven patients with CK20−/CK7+ primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Methods: All cases of MCC with specific CK20−/CK7+ staining on file at a large Veterans’ hospital and tertiary referral dermatopathology service were reviewed. All seven cases were analyzed for clinical, pathologic and immunophenotypic attributes. All specimens were submitted for immunohistochemical staining and interpreted by a single dermatopathologist. Results: All the cases showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining for CK7 and positive staining for synaptophysin. CK20 and thyroid transcription factor-1 staining was negative. Conclusions: Herein we have presented a hitherto unreported group of patients with CK20−/CK7+ primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. The purpose of this case series is to describe a new immunophenotypic variant of MCC, while further expanding the differential diagnosis of tumors included in the subset of neoplasms showing CK20−/CK7+ staining.
Lapatinib and obatoclax kill breast cancer cells through reactive oxygen species-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Previous studies showed that lapatinib and obatoclax interact in a greater-than-additive fashion to cause cell death and do so through a toxic form of autophagy. The present studies sought to extend our analyses. Lapatinib and obatoclax killed multiple tumor cell types, and cells lacking phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) function were relatively resistant to drug combination lethality; expression of PTEN in PTEN-null breast cancer cells restored drug sensitivity. Coadministration of lapatinib with obatoclax elicited autophagic cell death that was attributable to the actions of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Wild-type cells but not mitochondria-deficient rho-zero cells were radiosensitized by lapatinib and obatoclax treatment. Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) by the drug combination was enhanced by radiation, and signaling by p38 MAPK and JNK1/2 promoted cell killing. In immunohistochemical analyses, the autophagosome protein p62 was determined to be associated with protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1, as well as with binding immunoglobulin protein/78-kDa glucose-regulated protein, in drug combination-treated cells. Knockdown of PERK suppressed drug-induced autophagy and protected tumor cells from the drug combination. Knockdown of PERK suppressed the reduction in Mcl-1 expression after drug combination exposure, and overexpression of Mcl-1 protected cells. Our data indicate that mitochondrial function plays an essential role in cell killing by lapatinib and obatoclax, as well as radiosensitization by this drug combination.
Potential Vorticity Diagnostics of Hurricane Movement. Part II: Tropical Storm Ana (1991) and Hurricane Andrew (1992)

Abstract The validity of balance dynamics in the Tropics allows an exploration of the dynamics of hurricanes using the potential vorticity (PV) framework. Part I demonstrated the use of PV diagnostics in understanding the hurricane steering flow and also the interaction between the cyclone and its environment. To obtain a broader understanding of this PV methodology, two other observational case studies are performed (Tropical Storm Ana of 1991 and Hurricane Andrew of 1992) emphasizing the same methods of analysis. The results are consistent with a previous finding that the hurricane advection flow, defined by inverting the entire PV distribution excluding the storm's own positive anomaly, is a good approximation to real cyclone movement, even though the original data cannot capture the actual hurricane strength. This study confirms that upper-level PV anomalies can play an important role in the motion of the storm. But their quantitative effect on the cyclone's motion depends strongly on the relative loc...
VARIATIONS IN CALCIUM USE BY BIRDS DURING THE BREEDING SEASON

Abstract During the breeding season birds need increased amounts of dietary calcium during egg laying and nestling rearing. Passerines acquire calcium shortly before and during laying and do not store calcium for egg formation. Many passerines need to eat extraneous calcium in the form of snail shells or calcareous grit to acquire the element. However, very little is known about variation in the dependency of birds on extraneous calcium, and where this calcium is acquired. Using reports from volunteers who provided extraneous calcium sources at feeder sites across North America we documented that (1) the use of extraneous calcium varied during the breeding season; (2) the location in which species preferentially took the calcium varied with typical feeding location, aside from swallows which, somewhat surprisingly, favored calcium offered on the ground; (3) Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) did not visit calcium sites more often than other blackbirds; (4) calcium use varied among species with thrushe...
Management of Malunions and Nonunions in Patients with Multiple Injuries

The multiply injured patient with concurrent skeletal fracture presents an intricate problem for the orthopedic traumatologist because of the challenges of fracture treatment coupled with the interaction of multiple tenuous organ systems. In focusing the attention towards the musculoskeletal injury, the orthopedic traumatologist must first recognize the key factors comprising the damage to the local musculoskeletal environment that may potentiate systemic organ failure in a critically ill patient. However more difficult decisions need to be rendered initially to prevent musculoskeletal complications such as malunion and nonunion that manifest later in the subacute phase of trauma, which may have a less clear benefit acutely to the systemic health of the patient.
Molecular dynamics of SWNT/epoxy nanocomposites

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to compute thermal and mechanical properties of cured epoxy resins reinforced with pristine and covalently functionalized carbon nanotubes. A DGEBA-DDS epoxy network was built using the ’dendrimer’ growth approach where 75% of available epoxy sites were cross-linked. The epoxy model is verified through comparisons to experiments, and simulations are performed on nanotube reinforced cross-linked epoxy matrix using the CVFF force field in LAMMPS. Full elastic stiffness matrices and linear coefficient of thermal expansion vectors are obtained for the nanocomposites. Large increases in stiffness and large decreases in thermal expansion were seen along the direction of the nanotube for both nanocomposite systems when compared to neat epoxy. The direction transverse to nanotube saw a 40% increase in stiffness due to covalent functionalization over neat epoxy at 1 K whereas the pristine nanotube system only saw a 7% increase due to van der Waal effects. The functionalized SWNT/epoxy nanocomposite showed an additional 42% decrease in thermal expansion along the nanotube direction when compared to the pristine SWNT/epoxy nanocomposite.
Phosphonothioate Hydrolysis Turnover by Cp2MoCl2 and Silver Nanoparticles

The metallocene bis(cyclopentadienyl)molybdenum(IV) dichloride (Cp2MoCl2; Cp = η5-C5H5) is the first organometallic compound to promote the hydrolysis of phosphonothioates with selective P–S scission in a stoichiometric fashion. This report shows that silver nanoparticles capped with borohydride ions promote turnover in this hydrolytic process, as indicated by 31P NMR studies on the reaction of O,S-diethyl phenylphosphonothioate (DEPP) with Cp2MoCl2 (pH 7). This is the first example of the joint use of nanoparticles and molybdenum metallocenes to promote phosphonothioate hydrolysis. Initial results indicate the turnover may be due to free Ag+(aq) ions present in the solution that arise either from the slow dissolution of the nanoparticles or from interactions with the Ag nanoparticle surface.
Size of aerosol droplets impinging on mosquitoes as determined with a scanning electron microscope.

A procedure was developed whereby aerosol droplets of soybean oil (used to simulate undiluted insecticide) that impinged on Aedes taeniorhynchus Wiedemann were observed and photographed with a scanning electron microscope. Few droplets occurred on mosquitoes exposed outdoors, but mosquitoes exposed in wooden chambers had droplets on all sections of their body surface. Highest concentrations were on the wings and antennae. On mosquito wings, droplets ranging in size from two to 16 microns impinged with more efficiency than smaller or larger droplets. All droplets of soybean oil on mosquitoes exposed outdoors measured one to eight microns.
Cultivation of influenza virus in the chorio-allantoic membrane of deembryonated eggs.

SummaryA method is described in which the chorioallantoic membrane of the egg in situ is used for the cultivation of influenza virus. The sensitivity of the method is demonstrated and various possibilities for its application are discussed.