cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative methods of diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Objective: In an attempt to find more efficacious alternatives for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus, we evaluated whether (1) there is a glucose loading test value above which all glucose tolerance test results are positive, (2) omission of the third-hour plasma glucose measurement of the glucose tolerance test alters the sensitivity of the test, and (3) the presence of a fasting plasma glucose concentration ≥105 mg/dL suffices as a diagnostic standard after an abnormal glucose loading test result. Study Design: The charts of 512 patients who underwent 3-hour glucose tolerance tests at our institution between January 1995 and December 1996 were reviewed. Only subjects for whom the glucose loading test yielded plasma glucose levels ≥140 mg/dL were selected. The positive predictive value of a glucose loading test result ≥185 mg/dL was calculated. Results of glucose tolerance tests of subjects with elevated fasting plasma glucose concentrations were then evaluated to determine the positive predictive value for gestational diabetes mellitus of an elevated fasting plasma glucose concentration. Results: Among the subjects who underwent glucose tolerance tests, 22% (114/512) met positive test criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus. The positive predictive value for a glucose loading test result ≥185 mg/dL was 57% (25/44), whereas a glucose loading test result >199 mg/dL showed a positive predictive value of 69% (4/13). Omission of the third-hour glucose tolerance test value yielded a sensitivity of 87% (99/114). Among the 24 women with fasting plasma glucose concentrations ≥105 mg/dL, 96% had positive glucose tolerance test results. An elevated fasting plasma glucose concentration was highly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus necessitating insulin therapy (65%). Conclusion: An elevated glucose loading test result was associated with but not highly predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus. Omission of the 3-hour glucose tolerance test measurement resulted in failure to diagnose 13% of gestational diabetes mellitus cases. A fasting plasma glucose concentration ≥105 mg/dL was highly predictive of an abnormal glucose tolerance test result among patients with an elevated glucose loading test value. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1158-61.)
Blue-green algal virus N-1: physical properties and disassembly into structural parts.

Abstract The structure of N-1, a virus infecting the filamentous, nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga Nostoc muscorem , has been further characterized. The edge-to-edge distance of the N-1 head is 614 ± 28 A; the length of the tail is 1000 ± 62 A. Flexible beaded fibers are attached to the N-1 neck. Optical diffraction of extended and contracted sheaths suggests that a rearrangement of protein subunits occurs upon contraction. The molecular weight of the viral DNA calculated from the sedimentation coefficient is 44 ± 3 × 10 6 . Based upon the contour length of N-1 DNA molecules, the molecular weight is 41.8 ± 3.6 × 10 6 . A survey has been made of the effects of a number of protein denaturing agents (urea and guanidine hydrochloride, anionic and cationic detergents, extremes of pH, and ultraviolet irradiation) upon the native viral morphology. For each agent tested, the first observable effect was to trigger a shortening (probably contraction) of the tail sheath. The most resistant viral substructure was the contracted sheath. From these investigations a hierarchy of increasing resistance to chemical degradation could be arranged: capsid, tail core, tail sheath.
A comparison of selected empirical methods for assessing the structure of responses to test items.

Selected methods of empirically assessing the structure of tests with dichotomous items were compared. The methods included both exploratory and confirmatory procedures from two different families, those based on parametric models and nonparametric methods based on conditional item covariances. The analysis conditions considered were typical of large-scale assessments, for example, the tests were composed of a relatively large number of items, and it was assumed that a relatively large sample size would be available for analysis. Comparisons of the methods were conducted for real data from a 62-item test of reading ability and for computer-generated data for multiple unidimensional and multidimensional cases. For the most part, all methods performed reasonably well over a relatively wide range of conditions. The several exceptions to this outcome occurred when the test data departed appreciably from the assumptions or inherent limitations associated with a method, for example, when guessing was present bu...
Anaesthetic implications of LEOPARD syndrome

Summary LEOPARD syndrome is a neuroectodermal disorder presumed to result from an abnormality in neural crest cells. The acronym ‘LEOPARD’ is derived from the clinical features which include multiple lentigines, electrocardiographic abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormal genitalia, retarded growth, and deafness. Given the multisystem nature of the disease process, several issues may affect the perioperative care of these patients. Of primary importance are associated conditions of the cardiovascular system including congenital heart disease, conduction disturbances, and progressive hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The authors present a 4-year old boy who presented for anaesthetic care for repair of a ventricular septal defect and pulmonary valvotomy for congenital pulmonary stenosis. The potential perioperative implications of LEOPARD syndrome are discussed.
I-Xe and 40Ar-39Ar analyses of silicate from the Eagle Station pallasite and the anomalous iron meteorite Enon

Abstract Silicate from two unusual iron-rich meteorites were analyzed by the I-Xe and 40Ar-39Ar techniques, Enon, an anomalous iron meteorite with chondritic silicate, shows no loss of radiogenic 40Ar at low temperature, and gives a plateau age of 4.59 ± 0.03 Ga. Although the Xe data fail to define an I-Xe correlation (possibly due to a very low iodine content), the inferred Pu U ratio is more than 2σ above the chondritic value, and the Pu abundance derived from the concentration of Pu-fission Xe is 6 times greater than the abundance inferred for Cl meteorites. These findings for Enon, coupled with data for IAB iron meteorites, suggest that presence of chondritic silicate in an iron-rich meteorite is diagnostic of an old radiometric age with little subsequent thermal disturbance. The Eagle Station pallasite, the most 16O-rich meteorite known, gives a complex 40Ar-39Ar age pattern which suggests a recent (≲0.85 Ga) severe thermal disturbance. The absence of excess 129Xe, and the low trapped Ar and Xe contents, are consistent with this interpretation. The similarity between 40Ar-39Ar data for Eagle Station and for the olivine-rich meteorite Chassigny lends credence to the previous suggestion of a connection between Chassigny and pallasites, in the sense that similar processes operating at similar times on different parent bodies may have been involved in the formation of olivine in both types of meteorites.
Chemical and Serological Comparison of Two Antigen Extracts of Thermoactinomyces candidus

Summary: Immunologically reactive fractions were isolated from two antigen extracts of Thermoactinomyces candidus (Thermoactinomyces pyridine extract-TPE and double dialysis antigen-DDA). Activity was demonstrated using immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis against rabbit antisera to T. candidus spores. Chemical analysis of DDA revealed 11 to 16 bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis including five glycoprotein bands. TPE contained 8 to 11 protein bands with 3 glycoprotein components. Both antigens showed variation in sequential preparations. Zusammenfassung: Aus 2 Antigenextrakten von Thermoactinomyces candidus (Thermoactinomyces-Pyridin-Extrakt [TPE] und Doppeldialyse-Antigen [DDA]) wur-den die immunologisch reaktiven Fraktionen isoliert. Mittels Immunelektrophorese und zweidimensionaler Immunelektrophorese wurde ihre Aktivitat gegen T.-candidus-Sporen-Antiserum vom Kaninchen nachgewiesen. Die chemische Analyse von DDA ergab bei der Polyacrylamid-Gel-Elektrophorese 11 bis 16 Streifen (Bande) einschliefi-lich 5 Glukoprotein-Streifen. TPE enthielt 8–11 Proteinstreifen mit 3 Glukoprotein-Komponenten. Beide Antigene zeigten bei Sequenzversuchen mit neuen Praparationen Variationserscheinungen.
Synthesis and characterization of [{2,4,6-(CH3O)3C6H2}3PO]FeCl3: A four-coordinate phosphine oxide adduct of FeCl3

Abstract The 1 : 1 reaction between anhydrous ferric chloride and tris(2,4,6-tri-methoxyphenyl)phosphine (TMPP) in benzene produces a reactive complex, 1, with the empirical formula FeCl3(TMPP). This compound undergoes a facile reaction with molecular oxygen at room temperature and 1 atm to give a dark green intermediate and a final orange product, FeCl3[OP{C6H2(OMe)3}3] (3). Crystal data for 3: P 1 , a = 12.23(1), b = 14.06(1), c = 13.13(1) A, α = 110.78(7), β = 109.89(8), γ = 72.58(8)°, V = 1648(3) A3, Z = 2, dcalc = 1.432 g cm−3, μ(Mo-Kα) = 7.976 cm−1, R = 0.068, Rw = 0.078 for 374 parameters and 1606 data with Fo2 > 3σ(Fo)2. The structure consists of a tetrahedrally coordinated iron(III) centre ligated by three chlorides and one phosphine oxide ligand. This is the first example of a four-coordinate phosphine oxide complex of FeCl3 and one of only several known examples of a neutral tetrahedral iron(III) complex. The synthesis and properties of 3 are presented and discussed.
The use of eye movement dysfunctions in exploring the genetic transmission of schizophrenia

Eye movement dysfunctions have been found in a large number of schizophrenic patients and in about half of their first-degree relatives. The distribution of these traits within the families of schizophrenic patients suggests a model of genetic transmission that fits an autosomal dominant model, which we have called the “genetic latent trait model.” The model, with seven parameters, was fitted to a U.S. population and the model was cross-validated on an independent Norwegian sample. Although the model does not invalidate other, more conventional solutions to the puzzle of schizophrenic transmission, such as multifactorial transmission, the latent trait model does more easily permit linkage studies and therefore will allow refutation or support from the use of molecular genetics techniques.
Review of the ALCTS “serials management: Shaping a changing environment” conference

gain an understanding of the components of the serials industry and how they can or cannot work together; learn from others’ experiences and share their own on how to handle serials management issues, develop management strategies for: l analyzing both the current situation and anticipated trends; l making users aware of the effects of serial publications on their libraries; l identifying and strengthening coalitions for dealing with serials and collection management situations; and l working effectively with publishers, vendors, and local constituencies.
Fungus infections of the hair and nails.

Abstract Fungus infections of the hair may be divided clinically into three categories, based on the type of infecting organism: (1) trichomycosis caused by Corynebacterium tenuis, (2) piedra caused by Piedra hortai and Trichosporon beigelii, and (3) ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) caused by dermatophytes of the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. Fungus infections of the nails, tinea unguium, or onychomycosis, appear clinically identical regardless of the fungus etiology, which may be one of several species of Trichophyton, Epidermophyton floccosum, and very rarely, Microsporum canis.
Veneers and Underlayments: Critical Moments and Situational Redefinition

Surface agreements about the social definition of a situation, or what Erving Goffman calls veneers of consensus, are necessary for social interaction to be coherent. But why and when do social definitions change? In this article the author examines critical moments as points at which change may potentially take place. The author suggests that change is possible when a breach has occurred — an event, action, statement which is inconsistent with the current social definition. However, change depends on whether individuals ignore the breach, oppose it, or legitimize it. The author introduces the notion of an underlayment: the attitudes, that is, the beliefs, knowledge, preferences, and normative commitments individuals have about a particular social situation. He argues that whether a particular veneer of consensus will change in the face of a breach is determined, in part, by the underlayment that supports that veneer.
Factors governing the surface enrichment of fly ash in volatile trace species

Abstract Fly ash produced in high-temperature coal combustion has a bimodal size distribution with most of the mass occurring in the size range 1 to 20 Am diameter. Most of the ash surface area is provided by submicron particles (d - 0.03 μm) even though these constitute only of the order of 1% of the total mass. Both kinds of particles are coated with a surface deposit of volatile trace elements such as As, Sb, and S. The distribution of these species between the different size modes of the ash is influenced by the amount of submicron particulate produced during combustion. The amounts of trace species deposited on the larger particles are greatly in excess of those expected from either direct vapor condensation or a two-step process of condensation on the submicron particles followed by the scavenging of these fine particles by their larger counterparts. The data are explicable in terms of a chemically controlled surface deposition model.
Implications of Research on Children's Learning for Standards and Assessment: A Proposed Learning Progression for Matter and the Atomic-Molecular Theory.

The purpose of this article is to suggest ways of using research on children's reasoning and learning to elaborate on existing national standards and to improve large-scale and classroom assessments. The authors suggest that learning progressions—descriptions of successively more sophisticated ways of reasoning within a content domain based on research syntheses and conceptual analyses—can be useful tools for using research on children's learning to improve assessments. Such learning progressions should be organized around central concepts and principles of a discipline (i.e., its big ideas) and show how those big ideas are elaborated, interrelated, and transformed with instruction. They should also specify how those big ideas are enacted in specific practices that allow students to use them in meaningful ways, enactments the authors describe as learning performances. Learning progressions thus can provide a basis for ongoing dialogue between science learning researchers and measurement specialists, leadi...
Prey or predator? Body size of an approaching animal affects decisions to attack or escape

An animal must assess an approaching heterospecific to determine whether it is prey or predator. Because prey tend to be smaller than their predators, foraging responses decrease and escape responses are predicted to increase over a range of approacher size. Sufficiently, small approachers may be readily identified as prey and large ones as predators. However, more time and closer approach may be required to assess approachers of intermediate size, leading to predictions that predator/prey evaluations may differ among individuals, that attacks on the approacher begin from shorter distances than for smaller approachers and that escape begins at shorter distance than for larger approachers. In a field experiment, we dragged tethered model orthopterans of 3 sizes toward 2 lizard species that differ in body size. As model size increased, lizards were more likely to flee and had longer flight initiation distance. As model size decreased, lizards were more likely to advance toward and bite models and began advances from longer distances. At the intermediate model size, some individuals fled and others attacked intermediate models. Sceloporus jarrovii, the larger species, was more likely to attack and less likely to flee than S. virgatus at intermediate model size. The prediction of optimal escape theory that flight initiation distance increases with predator size due to greater risk was verified. Our evidence indicates that as approacher size increases, successive transitions occur between rapid assessment of the approacher as prey, uncertainty requiring closer inspection, and rapid identification of a potential predator. Key words: body size, escape behavior, flight initiation distance, foraging behavior, Squamata. [Behav Ecol]
Crystallization of poly(aryl ether ketone) polymers as revealed by time domain dielectric spectroscopy

Abstract Time domain dielectric methods have been used to compare the dynamics of the α relaxation of poly(aryl ether ketone) polymers. The real time variation of the macroscopic dielectric decay functions with crystallization time has been interpreted assuming an increase in the intermolecular cooperativity of the α relaxation as the polymer chains are obliged to move between crystalline regions.
Purification and characterization of fibrolase isoforms from venom of individual southern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix Contortrix) snakes.

Abstract Fibrolase, a zinc metalloproteinase possessing direct-acting fibrinolytic activity, has been previously purified from southern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortix) snake venom. We recently reported that a pool of southern copperhead venom from different geographical locations possesses two isoforms of fibrolase (fib1 and fib2) [ Loayza , S. L. et al. (1994) J. Chromat. B, in press]. We now report that venom from individual southern copperhead snakes contains the two isoforms which can be separated by a three-step high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure consisting of hydrophobic interaction chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and weak cation exchange chromatography. Utilizing mass spectrometry we determined that fib1 has a molecular mass of 22,879 atomic mass units (amu) compared to 22,753 amu for fib2. These results support earlier observations during amino acid sequence analysis that a truncated version of the enzyme is produced which is missing the amino-terminal amino acid ( ec 50 values (concentration of enzyme required to degrade 50% of fibrin in a micro-fibrin plate assay) are 6.4 (±1.0) μM and 5.2 (±0.8) μM for fib 1 and fib2, respectively. Therefore, loss of the amino-terminal amino acid does not appear to influence enzymatic activity. We conclude that the two isoforms of fibrolase arise from variations in the molecular processing of the enzyme by the snake venom gland rather than being caused by the pooling of southern copperhead venoms from different geographical locations.
Short-Wave Diathermy Pretreatment and Inflammatory Myokine Response After High-Intensity Eccentric Exercise

Context: Various modalities have been used to pretreat skeletal muscle to attenuate inflammation. Objective: To determine the effects of short-wave diathermy (SWD) preheating treatment on inflammation and stress markers after eccentric exercise. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: University laboratory setting. Patients or Other Participants: Fifteen male (age = 22 ± 4.9 years, height = 179.75 ± 9.56 cm, mass = 82.22 ± 12.67 kg) college-aged students. Intervention(s): Seven participants were selected randomly to receive 40 minutes of SWD heat treatment (HT), and 8 participants served as the control (CON) group and rested without SWD. Both groups completed 7 sets of 10 repetitions of a high-intensity eccentric exercise protocol (EEP) at 120% of the 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) leg extension. Main Outcome Measure(s): We biopsied muscles on days 1, 3 (24 hours post-EEP), and 4 (48 hours post-EEP) and collected blood samples on days 1, 2 (4 hours post-EEP), 3, and 4. We determined 1-RM on day 2 (24 h...
Stability/Instability of Cognitive Strategies Across Tasks Determine Whether Stress Will Affect Judgmental Processes'

Previous research indicates that individuals employ various cognitive heuristics and decision modes in making decisions and judgmental tasks that do not follow an expected value model. It further indicates that several cognitive faculties are affected by stress. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to examine whether individual differences exist in the use of cognitive heuristics and risk-assessment decision modes; second, to examine whether stress would affect the use of these cognitive strategies. Three versions of a questionnaire measuring the representativeness and availability heuristics, and risk-seeking and risk-aversion decision modes were administered to three different groups of subjects. Consistent individual differences were only observed in the subscales measuring risk-seeking and risk-aversion modes, but not in the use of the heuristics. In a different group of subjects, exposure to noise and task overload stress increased the use of the representativeness heuristic, but did not alter the use of risk-seeking and risk-aversion decision modes. These results indicate that the existence of individual differences in cognitive strategies may determine, in part, whether stress will modify judgmental processes.
Exchange rate movements and policy coordination in Latin America

This study investigates some of the common features of the exchange rate dynamics as an indicator of monetary policy coordination in selected Latin American countries—Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. The empirical results indicate that these countries have long term common trends and do share short term common cycles in their exchange rates. While the results demonstrate a comovement in trend components, all seven countries do not exhibit synchronous comovement in cyclical components. In this direction, we find two groups—a group of five countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) that demonstrate a strong comovement and a group of two countries (Argentine and Venezuela) that show just an opposite movement than that of the former group. Our results do not suggest any qualitative differences in the trajectory of common trend and common cycles when considering for different sub-periods. Taking both trend and cyclical behaviors into account our analysis does support for monetary policy coordination between Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico and Peru. Relinquishing exchange rate independence might be costly for Argentina and Venezuela.
Little Chief Granite Porphyry: Feldspar Crystallization History

The Little Chief Granite originated as an almost completely liquid magma with a water content of at least 3 wt %. The initial crystallizing phases were oscillatorilly zoned calcic plagioclase (An 45–65 ), magnetite, and rare augite. Upward movement and decrease of load pressure caused resorption of the calcic plagioclase followed by crystallization of intermediate plagioclase (An 31–44 ), hornblende, biotite, magnetite, and ilmenite as the magma stabilized at depth. After less than 5% crystallization, the magma again moved upward to form a laccolithic magma chamber whose roof was near a depth of 4 km. This magma chamber was zoned from a core with bulk compositions near 68 wt % SiO 2 at temperatures near 750 °C outward to a margin with bulk compositions near 77 wt % SiO 2 and temperatures near 700 °C, in a load pressure range of 1.2 to 1.7 kb. Crystallization of sanidine, sodic plagioclase (An 17–23 ), hornblende, biotite, magnetite, sphene, and ilmenite occurred from a melt that was water rich but probably not water saturated. In the core of the magma chamber, sanidine crystallized briefly and was then rimmed by oligoclase, whereas in the outer parts sanidine and oligoclase continued to coexist. After the magma was 30% to 50% crystallized, extensive assimilation of dolomitic wall rocks produced a contaminated, diopside-bearing marginal phase of the magma. Sufficient CO 2 vapor was generated that P fiuid > P load , causing extensive fracturing of the roof rocks, allowing a major dike swarm to be emplaced along the fractures, and initiating ascent of the magma. The over-pressure was recorded throughout the stock by single or paired macro-oscillations on the outer edges of the plagioclase phenocrysts. The magma moved upward and finally stabilized in the presently observed stock, which existed in a load pressure range of 0.3 to 0.9 kb and probably locally vented to the ground surface. During upward movement, sanidine was extensively replaced by sodic oligoclase (An 10–15 ) through a complex mechanism that included metastable patch perthite ex-solution. The groundmass feldspar composition varied as a function of depth in the magma chamber and apparently crystallized metastably under subsolidus “pressure quench” conditions at temperatures near 650 °C.
Mineralogy of soils from two continental-scale transects across the United States and Canada and its relation to soil geochemistry and climate

Abstract Quantitative mineralogy correlates with major-, minor- and trace-element chemistry for 387 samples of A-horizon and deeper soils collected from east–west and north–south transects across the USA and Canada, where the deeper soils were collected beneath the A-horizon samples. Concentrations of the major elements correlate with specific mineral phases. Minor- and trace-element concentrations correlate with the same phases as the major elements with which they share similar geochemical behavior. Concentrations of quartz and feldspar correlate with precipitation trends east of the Rocky Mountains, and are independent of the underlying rock type and age, indicating that the weathering of soils in this region may have reached a steady-state mineralogy. Other trends in mineralogy relate to physiographic province. The combination of quantitative mineralogy and chemical analysis yields a much richer portrait of soils than can be gained from chemistry alone, because the origins of chemical trends and the chemical availability of specific elements are related to mineralogy.
Frequency- and Wave-Vector-Dependent Dielectric Function for Ge, GaAs, and ZnSe

The frequency- and wave-vector-dependent dielectric function for Ge, GaAs, and ZnSe is calculated from the electronic band structures obtained by the empirical-pseudopotential method. The results show the effect of increasing ionicity on the dielectric function. The results also yield the plasmon dispersion relation $\ensuremath{\omega}(q)$ for the three semiconductors. The frequency- and wave-vector-dependent Penn dielectric function is calculated and compared with the results for Ge.
Electronic Serials 101: What I Wished I’d Known before I Got in over My Head

This 2008 American Library Association Preconference was sponsored by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) Continuing Resources Section Education Committee and was m...
Open access: taking full advantage of the content.

This Journal and the Public Library of Science (PLoS) at large are standard bearers of the full potential offered through open access publication, but what of you, the reader? For most of you, open access may imply free access to read the journals, but nothing more. There is a far greater potential, but, up to now, little to point to that highlights its tangible benefits. We would argue that, as yet, the full promise of open access has not been realized. There are few persistent applications that collectively use the full on-line corpus, which for the biosciences at least is maintained in PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/). In short, there are no “killer apps.” Since this readership, beyond any other, would seem to have the ability to change this situation at least in the biosciences, we are issuing a call to action.
A systems model of privacy

Abstract A systems model of privacy is proposed and evaluated with regard to a young adult segment of the population. The context and process of acquiring privacy is of particular interest. Two hundred and forty-three young adults responded to an open and non-directive question asking them to describe an occasion when they required privacy. A subsequent questionnaire established SES variables and the average frequency and duration of privacy experiences. There was strong support for the principle of system maintenance as a factor in requiring privacy. Results showed that 81.9% of the 243 young adults in the study sought privacy when they were distressed. Of those who were able to obtain privacy 80.9% gave subjective reports of ‘feeling better’. No significant differences were found with regard to socio-economic or racial variables. Significant sex differences were found. Males and females differed in the reasons they required privacy, how they went about getting it and how successful they were in obtaining it.
Homogenous Industries and Auditor Specialization: An Indication of Production Economies

In this study, we examine the association between industry homogeneity and auditor specialization. We find a significant association between our proxies for industry homogeneity (change in industry‐member operating expenses) and auditor specialization (auditor concentration and auditor focus) after controlling for extent of industry regulation, litigiousness, growth, client‐industry concentration, and the number of industry members. The positive relation between our specialist proxies and industry homogeneity indicates that auditors seek additional firms to audit in industries in which members have similar operations. This suggests that auditor specialization provides a cost‐based competitive advantage because the cost of developing expertise is spread over more clients. Thus, in contrast to recent criticisms of auditor concentration, specialization results in more efficient audits.
Non-linear vibrations of three-layer beams with viscoelastic cores, II: Experiment

Experimental results are presented for large amplitude, forced motion of damped, three-layer beams. The beams are constructed with a viscoelastic material constrained between stiff, elastic, outer layers. The sandwich beam is axially restrained; therefore large amplitude displacements cause non-linear response. When the beam is forced at one-half of the lateral vibration resonant frequency, superharmonic response occurs. The experiment is briefly described and frequency response characteristics, spatial shapes and a measure of superharmonic response are presented. The results are compared with predictions from a previously developed theory.
The Senior Festival: A Pathway to Professional Excellence in Teacher Education.

Abstract This article describes the Senior Festival and its benefits for students and the education program. For Senior Festival, first semester seniors in the School of Education display and explain their projects to faculty and education majors. In preparing their projects, the seniors use intensive collaboration, which is a crucial teaching skill, contributing to habits of lifelong learning. Further, the senior methods courses require extensive synthesis of information; the Festival provides an opportunity for the students to celebrate the results of this synthesis in a meaningful, tangible way. Such celebration improves school culture, increases achievement, and serves as a rite of passage for seniors, from student to teacher. Senior Festival is a valuable component of the education program.
Gene Therapy With Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Protects Conscious Rabbits Against Myocardial Infarction

Background—Extracellular superoxide dismutase (Ec-SOD) may protect the heart against myocardial infarction (MI) because of its extended half-life and capacity to bind heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cellular surfaces. Accordingly, we used direct gene transfer to increase systemic levels of Ec-SOD and determined whether this gene therapy could protect against MI. Methods and Results—The cDNA for human Ec-SOD was incorporated into a replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad5/CMV/Ec-SOD). Injection of this virus produced a high level of Ec-SOD in the liver, which was redistributed to the heart and other organs by injection of heparin. Untreated rabbits (group I) underwent a 30-minute coronary occlusion and 3 days of reperfusion. For comparison, preconditioned rabbits (group II) underwent a sequence of six 4-minute-occlusion/4-minute-reperfusion cycles 24 hours before the 30-minute occlusion. Control-treated rabbits (group III) were injected intravenously with Ad5/CMV/nls-LacZ, and gene-therapy rabbits (group IV)...
Mixed epithelial and stromal tumour of the kidney: imaging features.

OBJECTIVE To describe the features on ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of mixed epithelial and stromal tumours of the kidney. PATIENTS AND METHODS Five women with renal mixed epithelial and stromal tumours (mean age 55.6 years, range 49-59) who had preoperative imaging were retrospectively analysed. Three ultrasonograms, five contrast-enhanced CT scans, and one contrast-enhanced MRI examination were available for review. Specific imaging features analysed included lesion size, location, enhancement and cystic composition. The presence of calcification, septation, nodularity and a capsule were also evaluated. RESULTS All mixed epithelial and stromal tumours appeared as well-marginated, multi-septate cystic masses with a nodular component. All lesions were classified as Bosniak category III (three) or IV (two). The presence of calcification (four) or a capsule (three) was variable. Two tumours invaginated into the renal pelvis with no invasion. CONCLUSION Mixed epithelial and stromal tumours of the kidney have a diverse radiographic appearance, indistinguishable from multilocular cystic nephroma and cystic renal cell carcinoma.
Comparison of effectiveness of wood decay fungi maintained by annual subculture on agar and stored in sterile water for 18 years

Fourteen isolates of basidiomycete decay fungi (12 species) were maintained for 18 years on agar slants transferred annually and alsostored as mycelium-agar cores under cold sterile water without s...
Medical outcomes study short form 36: testing and cross-validating a second-order factorial structure for health system employees.

OBJECTIVE: To test the factorial validity of the SF-36. DATA SOURCE: Sample data collected in 1995 and 1996 using telephone interviews with health system employees as part of a study of health status. METHODS OF ANALYSIS: Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques were used to evaluate the data. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The results of this study suggest that (1) Mental Health and Physical Health are not independent; (b) Mental Health cross-loads onto Physical Health; (c) general health loads onto Mental Health instead of Physical Health; (d) many of the error terms are correlated; (e) the physical function subscale is not reliable across the samples or the "age" or "education" subgroups; and (f) the mental health subscale path from Mental Health is not reliable across some subgroups. This hierarchical factor pattern was replicated across both samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the second-order factorial structure of the SF-36. Adding the covariance path between the variables Physical Health and Mental Health improved model fit. Two paths from the second-order latent variables to the first-order latent variables differ from the original hypothesized structure of the SF-36. Health perception was influenced by Mental Health rather than Physical Health, and mental health was influenced by both Mental Health and Physical Health. This cross-loading suggests that the perception of Physical Health greatly affects mental health. Scale instabilities in the SF-36 across subgroups suggest that a comparison of mean scores or summary scores is inappropriate. Data interpretation can be improved if multigroups structural equation modeling is used.
Wideband HF noise and interference modeling

Previously proposed noise and interference models are briefly reviewed, and the limitations of these models are discussed. A simple one-parameter model of noise and interference over wideband HF channels is then presented. An expression for the APD (amplitude probability distribution) of the model is derived. The underlying assumptions of the proposed model are discussed, and a simple model of spectral occupancy in the form of an APD is derived and compared with measured data. Finally, remaining questions concerning the implications of the model for time statistics and the dynamics of noise and interference are raised, and current progress toward answering these questions is presented. >
Outcomes of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia beyond first-line therapy

The therapeutic landscape of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) has truly been revolutionized with the advent of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. First-line therapy with the TKI imatinib has produced high rates of remissions among treatment-naive patients, as well as patients previously treated with interferon. However, imatinib resistance and intolerance remain significant clinical challenges. Dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib are more recently developed TKIs that have been shown to be very effective as second- or later-line treatment for CML after imatinib failure. Dasatinib and nilotinib are also approved for use in newly diagnosed patients with CP-CML, and produce faster responses when compared with first-line imatinib. Resistance or intolerance can occur with any of the currently available TKIs, necessitating a change to an alternative TKI or consideration of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Treatment options and outcomes for patients whose first-line therapy has failed are reviewed in depth in this article.
Robust supplier set selection for changing product architectures

In today's era of dynamic customer demands and rapidly evolving technologies, there is a need for manufacturers to understand the implications of continually changing product architectures on their supply chain. This study proposes a methodology based on Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO) for robust supplier selection to effectively cater to varying product architectures at minimum total acquisition costs. Taguchi's quality loss concept is used to evaluate how well the individual components/subassemblies supplied by the suppliers cost-effectively meet the customer needs over a given planning horizon. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using an example of a cell phone product family.
A broad-band uniplanar branch-line coupler using a coupled rectangular slotline ring

A uniplanar branch-line coupler has been developed that provides substantially improved broadband amplitude and phase characteristics when compared to conventional microstrip branch-line couplers. Experimental results show that the new coupler has over 20-dB isolation over a bandwidth of more than 40% centered at 3 GHz with +or-1-dB power dividing balance. >
Microtubules, but not actin filaments, drive daughter cell budding and cell division in Toxoplasma gondii.

We have used drugs to examine the role(s) of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in the intracellular growth and replication of the intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. By using a 5 minute infection period and adding the drugs shortly after entry we can treat parasites at the start of intracellular development and 6–8 hours prior to the onset of daughter cell budding. Using this approach we found, somewhat surprisingly, that reagents that perturb the actin cytoskeleton in different ways (cytochalasin D, latrunculin A and jasplakinolide) had little effect on parasite replication although they had the expected effects on the host cells. These actin inhibitors did, however, disrupt the orderly turnover of the mother cell organelles leading to the formation of a large residual body at the posterior end of each pair of budding parasites. Treating established parasite cultures with the actin inhibitors blocked ionophore-induced egression of tachyzoites from the host cells, demonstrating that intracellular parasites were susceptible to the effects of these inhibitors. In contrast, the anti-microtubule drugs oryzalin and taxol, and to a much lesser extent nocodazole, which affect microtubule dynamics in different ways, blocked parasite replication by disrupting the normal assembly of the apical conoid and the microtubule inner membrane complex (IMC) in the budding daughter parasites. Centrosome replication and assembly of intranuclear spindles, however, occurred normally. Thus, daughter cell budding per se is dependent primarily on the parasite microtubule system and does not require a dynamic actin cytoskeleton, although disruption of actin dynamics causes problems in the turnover of parasite organelles.
Fire tests of building interior covering systems

On the basis of the results observed in this study, it is concluded that it would be advantageous to base fire safety ratings on the results of tests conducted on coverings applied to both combustible and noncombustible substrates.
Characterization of the in vivo antiplatelet activity of the antihypertensive agent losartan.

Objective:The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential in vivo antiplatelet and thromboprotective properties of the antihypertensive drug losartan in mice.Methods:Aggregometry studies were performed on platelets obtained from mice administered losartan for 5 days, via tail vein to examine the ex vivo effects (dose dependence) of this agent and to select an appropriate dose for the in vivo studies. Next, the tail bleeding time test and the time for occlusion in a carotid artery injury thrombosis model (ferric chloride) were also performed to assess the in vivo effects of losartan treatment.Results:These data indicate that the antihypertensive agent losartan exerts dose-dependent inhibition of the thromboxane receptor-mediated (U46619/agonist)-induced platelet aggregation (ex vivo), whereas it produced no detectable effects on aggregation triggered by adenosine diphosphate or the thrombin receptor activating peptide 4. Findings from the in vivo analysis revealed that tail bleeding time of losar...
Third wave mission: Cultural, missiological, and theological dimensions

Short-term mission, parish “twinning” (parish-to-parish relationships), and similar new forms of mission have come to be known as “third wave mission” in Roman Catholic circles. Third wave refers here to the mission that has been made possible by the third wave of globalization since the 15th century. This article explores the cultural contexts that shape this kind of mission, the impact this has on a more general understanding of mission, and what biblical and theological foundations might be sought to support it.
Practical end-to-end web content integrity

Widespread growth of open wireless hotspots has made it easy to carry out man-in-the-middle attacks and impersonate web sites. Although HTTPS can be used to prevent such attacks, its universal adoption is hindered by its performance cost and its inability to leverage caching at intermediate servers (such as CDN servers and caching proxies) while maintaining end-to-end security. To complement HTTPS, we revive an old idea from SHTTP, a protocol that offers end-to-end web integrity without confidentiality. We name the protocol HTTPi and give it an efficient design that is easy to deploy for today's web. In particular, we tackle several previously-unidentified challenges, such as supporting progressive page loading on the client's browser, handling mixed content, and defining access control policies among HTTP, HTTPi, and HTTPS content from the same domain. Our prototyping and evaluation experience show that HTTPi incurs negligible performance overhead over HTTP, can leverage existing web infrastructure such as CDNs or caching proxies without any modifications to them, and can make many of the mixed-content problems in existing HTTPS web sites easily go away. Based on this experience, we advocate browser and web server vendors to adopt HTTPi.
Patterns of Resource Utilization and Mental Health Symptoms Among Women Exposed to Multiple Types of Victimization A Latent Class Analysis

Although the value of resources aimed to support women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) is clear, few studies have investigated how exposure to multiple types of victimization influences women's resource utilization. We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to a sample of 412 women who used IPV in their current relationships to test whether women's resource utilization is associated with different patterns of victimization, including current IPV victimization, past IPV victimization, and childhood victimization. Three classes of women were identified: the Low Cumulative IPV class (n = 121) included women with a low prevalence of past IPV victimization and low severity of current IPV victimization; The High Past/ Low Current IPV class (n = 258) included women with a high prevalence of
The use of U-statistics for testing normality against nonsymmetric alternatives

SUMMARY We propose a class of tests for normality and investigate a subclass of these tests for testing against nonsymmetric alternatives. Attention is devoted to a convenient linear combination of the order statistics divided by the sample standard deviation and to a second statistic. The null distribution of the first statistic is for most purposes satisfactorily approximated by a normal distribution if the sample size is 20 or greater, and the same is true of the second statistic for sample sizes of 50 or greater. Monte Carlo critical points are also provided. A Monte Carlo power study shows that the two statistics have good power properties relative to the sample skewness coefficient.
Fabrication of micropatterns on channel sidewalls using strain-recovery property of a shape-memory polymer

In this work we have demonstrated a new approach to generate micropatterns on the sidewalls of polystyrene (PS) microchannels. The PS used is a thermal shape-memory polymer (SMP). The sidewall patterns were produced based on the strain-recovery phenomenon of a PS film, which results in the formation of high-aspect-ratio microstructures. Using this method, we have fabricated 50 × 50 µm2 square dots and 100-µm-wide, 500-µm-wide straight lines and 150-µm-wide serpentine lines on the sidewalls of PS channels.
Coexistence in host-pathogen systems

Lanchier and Neuhauser have initiated the study of host‐symbiont systems but have concentrated on the case in which the birth rates for unassociated hosts are equal. Here we allow the birth rates to be different and identify cases in which a host with a specialist pathogen can coexist with a second species. Our calculations suggest that it is possible for two hosts with specialist pathogens to coexist but it is not possible for a host with a specialist mutualist to coexist with a second species. Published by Elsevier B.V. MSC: primary 60K35
Association Between Second-Generation Antipsychotics and Changes in Body Mass Index in Adolescents

Abstract Purpose To assess the association of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) with changes in body mass index (BMI) among adolescents compared with a matched untreated comparison group. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an electronic medical record database between January 2004 and July 2009. Adolescents (12–19 years old), newly initiated on SGAs formed the exposure group and untreated adolescents formed the comparison group matched (3:1) to the antipsychotic group based on age, gender, and month of index SGA. Both the exposure and comparison groups were followed for slightly more than a year (395 days). Baseline and follow-up BMI were evaluated for both groups and percentage change from baseline BMI to follow-up BMI was calculated. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to assess the impact of SGAs on percent change in follow-up BMI from baseline controlling for demographic characteristics, baseline medications, comorbidities, and other covariates. Results The mean percentage increase in follow-up BMI from baseline for antipsychotic group was significantly higher than the comparison group ( p Conclusion This study further validates a growing concern of increased BMI in adolescents on SGA therapy.