cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Examination of a Proposed Treatment-Based Classification System for Patients Receiving Physical Therapy Interventions for Neck Pain

Background and Purpose Neck pain frequently is managed by physical therapists. The development of classification methods for matching interventions to subgroups of patients may improve clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe a proposed classification system for patients with neck pain by examining data for consecutive patients receiving physical therapy interventions. Subjects and Methods Standardized methods for collecting baseline and intervention data were used for all patients receiving physical therapy interventions for neck pain over 1 year. Outcome variables were the Neck Disability Index (NDI), numeric pain rating, and number of visits. Treatment was provided at the discretion of the physical therapist. After the completion of treatment, each patient was classified by use of baseline variables. The interventions received by the patient were categorized as being matched or not matched to the classification. Outcomes for patients who received matched interventions were compared with those for patients who received nonmatched interventions. The interrater reliability of the classification algorithm was examined with a subset of 50 patients. Results A total of 274 patients were included in this study (74% women; age [X±SD]=44.4±16.0 years). The most common classification was centralization (34.7%); next were exercise and conditioning (32.8%) and mobility (17.5%). The interrater reliability for classification decisions was high (kappa=.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.87–1.0). A total of 113 patients (41.2%) received interventions matched to the classification. Receiving matched interventions was associated with greater improvements in the NDI (mean difference=5.6 points, 95% CI=2.6–8.6) and in pain ratings (mean difference=0.74 point, 95% CI=0.21–1.3) than receiving nonmatched interventions. Discussion and Conclusion The development of classification methods for patients with neck pain may improve the outcomes of physical therapy intervention. This study was done to examine a previously proposed classification system for patients receiving physical therapy interventions for neck pain. Receiving interventions matched to the classification system was associated with better outcomes than receiving nonmatched interventions. Although the design of this study prohibited drawing conclusions about the effectiveness of the system, the results suggest that further research on the system may be warranted.
Reliability Models for Stress Sequence Loading

In reliability analysis, the models used to aggregate the effect of time-varying stresses are generally invariant to the order of stress application, or stress sequence. A model is referred to as being insensitive to the stress sequence if the application of stress z_1 for t_1 units of time followed by stress z_2 for t_2 units of time is equivalent to applying stress z_2 for t_2 units of time followed by stress z_1 for t_1 units of time in terms of the estimated reliability at the end of the test. The use of such insensitive models may lead to inaccurate reliability estimation when units are subject to stress sequencing. This paper proposes new classes of reliability models that have the ability to account for the stress sequence effect based on Exponential and Weibull models. This effect has been extensively investigated in the analysis of fatigue testing, and models from this area are first reviewed. The optimal design of a test plan for the estimation of the parameters of reliability models subject to stress sequence is examined under type I censoring. General guidelines for conducting the test are also discussed.
Role of social theory in reintroduction planning: A case study of the Arabian oryx in Oman

Abstract Given the inconsistent history of successful reintroductions, and the likelihood that the use of reintroductions as a management tool will increase, the need for an accepted conceptual model for reintroduction planning seems apparent. This paper proposes the use of social theory for reintroduction planning. The social theory presented by Firey in Man, Mind, and Land: A Theory of Resource Use (1960) offers an appropriate conceptual framework relevant to reintroductions. Application of this theory to an existing reintroduction project demonstrates its usefulness. It is suggested that use of this theory in the planning stages of reintroductions may help to improve reintroduction success rates.
Enhancing systems‐thinking skills with modelling

Systems thinking is an essential cognitive skill that enables individuals to develop an integrative understanding of a given subject at the conceptual and systemic level. Yet, systems thinking is not usually an innate skill. Helping students develop systems-thinking skills warrants attention from educators. This paper describes a study examining the effects of utilising systems modelling as a cognitive tool in enhancing a group of graduate students' systems-thinking skills. A significant improvement was observed in the systems-thinking practises of the students. A theoretical rationale for enhancing systems-thinking skills with modelling and the results of the study will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Safety and efficacy of misoprostol orally and vaginally: a randomized trial.

Abstract Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy accompanying oral and vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening. Methods: One thousand four women with medical or obstetric indications for labor induction and unripe cervices were randomly assigned to receive oral or vaginal misoprostol. Initial doses of 200 μg oral and 50 μg vaginal misoprostol were increased to 300 μg oral and 100 μg vaginal after two doses, to a maximum of six doses. Misoprostol was given every 6 hours in both groups. We anticipated that 11% of women treated vaginally would require intervention during the ripening process. Intervention was defined as interruption of the ripening process before labor or Bishop score of 7 or a lack of response to six misoprostol doses. Results: Five hundred three subjects were assigned to oral and 501 to vaginal administration. Oral misoprostol was associated with significantly higher frequencies of intervention (67 [13.3%] versus 42 [8.4%], P = .01), tachysystole (114 [23.6%] versus 85 [17.6%], P = .02), and hyperstimulation (90 [18.6%] versus 66 [13.7%], P = .04). There were no significant differences in cesarean rates (147 [29.2%] versus 120 [24.0%], P = .06), mean number of misoprostol doses used (1.5 versus 1.6, P = .18), or hours from drug administration to delivery (24.5 versus 25.4, P = .77) between the oral and vaginal groups, respectively. The numbers of deliveries between the groups within 24 hours was different (271 [56%] versus 290 [60%], P = .02), oral and vaginal, respectively. No adverse neonatal outcomes were noted. Conclusion: Oral misoprostol has similar efficacy as vaginal misoprostol but is associated with a higher frequency of excessive uterine contractility and intervention.
The Right Ventricular Function After Left Ventricular Assist Device (RVF-LVAD) study: rationale and preliminary results

Aims Despite improved outcomes and lower right ventricular failure (RVF) rates with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), RVF still occurs in 20-40% of LVAD recipients and leads to worse clinical and patient-centred outcomes and higher utilization of healthcare resources. Preoperative quantification of RV function with echocardiography has only recently been considered for RVF prediction, and RV mechanics have not been prospectively evaluated. Methods and results In this single-centre prospective cohort study, we plan to enroll a total of 120 LVAD candidates to evaluate standard and mechanics-based echocardiographic measures of RV function, obtained within 7 days of planned LVAD surgery, for prediction of (i) RVF within 90 days; (ii) quality of life (QoL) at 90 days; and (iii) RV function recovery at 90 days post-LVAD. Our primary hypothesis is that an RV echocardiographic score will predict RVF with clinically relevant discrimination ( C >0.85) and positive and negative predictive values (>80%). Our secondary hypothesis is that the RV score will predict QoL and RV recovery by 90 days. We expect that RV mechanics will provide incremental prognostic information for these outcomes. The preliminary results of an interim analysis are encouraging. Conclusion The results of this study may help improve LVAD outcomes and reduce resource utilization by facilitating shared decision-making and selection for LVAD implantation, provide insights into RV function recovery, and potentially inform reassessment of LVAD timing in patients at high risk for RVF.
Surgical Pearl: The use of endarterectomy scissors in dermatologic surgery

S urgical scissors are a necessary component of the surgical tray. It is optimal to maintain one plane of cutting or dissection when excising a lesion or undermining tissue. This is particularly important when removing a melanoma, large lesion, or Mohs micrographic surgery layer. Traditionally iris, gradle, and Stevens tenotomy scissors have been the preferred instruments for cutaneous surgery in small shallow areas. These instruments accommodate more delicate anatomic areas well. Many dermatologic surgeons use Metzenbaum or Mayo scissors when undermining larger, deeper defects and cutting thicker, more resilient skin (such as that on the scalp, back, or extremities). These scissors have a longer shank and tips than the aforementioned instruments and are more efficient in cutting and manipulating deeper tissue and larger lesions. In certain situations, however, their long tips may feel clumsy and provide less precise cutting and undermining. When used to cut the subcutaneous tissue, these scissors tend to catch a nodule of fat deep in the defect instead of maintaining a level, even cutting surface through the fat.
No loss in the In vivo efficacy of ischemic preconditioning in middle-aged and old rabbits

Abstract OBJECTIVES We tested the hypothesis that cardioprotection with ischemic preconditioning (PC) is lost in the aging, or senescent, heart. BACKGROUND Although infarct size reduction with PC has been documented in virtually all models, a purported exception to this paradigm is the aging heart, the population in which cardioprotection is most relevant. However, no previous studies have assessed the concept of an age-associated loss in the efficacy of PC in an in vivo model of acute myocardial infarction in which definitive hallmarks of cardiovascular aging were demonstrated and a reduction of infarct size, the “gold standard” of PC, served as the primary end point. METHODS Using the in vivo rabbit model, three cohorts of animals were studied: adult (4 to 6 months old), middle-aged (∼2 years old) and old (∼4 years old) rabbits. Within each cohort we assessed: 1) infarct size (measured by tetrazolium staining and expressed as percent myocardium at risk) in control and PC groups; and 2) morphologic and functional hallmarks of cardiovascular aging (progressive myocyte hypertrophy, increased myocardial fibrosis and attenuated responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation). RESULTS In adult animals, infarct size was significantly smaller in the PC group than in the control group (29 ± 4% vs. 57 ± 2%; p CONCLUSIONS These data provide the first in vivo evidence that infarct size reduction with PC is not precluded by increased cardiovascular age, per se.
Effect of Growth Conditions on the Reliability of Ultrathin MOS Gate Oxides

In this work we demonstrate that in MOS devices the reliability of ultrathin (< 100A) gate oxide is a strong function of growth conditions, such as, temperature and the growth rate. In addition, for constant current gate injection the degradation of SiO2 is enhanced as the thickness is reduced. We attribute this to physical stress in SiO2 resulting from the growth process. The degradation is always more for those growth conditions which result in higher physical stress in SiO2. Higher temperatures and slower oxidation rates allow stress relaxation through viscous flow and hence result in SiO2 of better reliability. We also found that for constant current stressing, the interface damage is more at the collecting electrode than at the injecting electrode. ΔDit (stress induced interface state generation) can be reduced after a high temperature Ar post anneal after the gate oxide growth.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and its derivatives are efficient singlet oxygen quenchers and potential fungal antioxidants.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, 1) and its derivatives: pyridoxal (2), pyridoxal 5-phosphate (3) and pyridoxamine (4) are important natural compounds involved in numerous biological functions. Pyridoxine appears to play a role in the resistance of the filamentous fungus Cercospora nicotianae to its own abundantly produced strong photosensitizer of singlet molecular oxygen (
Assessment of the Java-DSP (J-DSP) on-line laboratory software

This paper presents assessment results of the Java-DSP (J-DSP) on-line laboratory. J-DSP software has been developed from the ground up at Arizona State University (ASU) to support the computer lab portion of the senior-level DSP course EEE407. The software enables on-line interactive DSP laboratories. Along with the software, we have developed several J-DSP laboratory exercises that have been posted on the Internet. Assessment of the EEE 407 labs was carried both on the Web and as part of the instructor and class evaluation. The Web-based assessments have been organized into: general software assessments, general laboratory assessments, concept-specific lab-by-lab assessments, and differential pre/post assessment for each lab. Statistical and qualitative evaluations have been compiled for all the J-DSP laboratories and are described in the rest of the paper.
An improved detector scheme for nondestructive reverse bias safe operating area test systems

An enhanced second-breakdown detector for a nondestructive reverse bias safe operating area test system has been developed. The detector corrects the previously reported deficiencies in the original detector. In addition, the enhancements to the detector can detect a new second-breakdown waveform that had not previously been identified. >
Last-Touch Correlated Data Streaming

Recent research advocates address-correlating predictors to identify cache block addresses for prefetch. Unfortunately, address-correlating predictors require correlation data storage proportional in size to a program's active memory footprint. As a result, current proposals for this class of predictor are either limited in coverage due to constrained on-chip storage requirements or limited in prediction lookahead due to long off-chip correlation data lookup. In this paper, we propose last-touch correlated data streaming (LT-cords), a practical address-correlating predictor. The key idea of LT-cords is to record correlation data off chip in the order they will be used and stream them into a practically-sized on-chip table shortly before they are needed, thereby obviating the need for scalable on-chip tables and enabling low-latency lookup. We use cycle-accurate simulation of an 8-way out-of-order superscalar processor to show that: (1) LT-cords with 214KB of on-chip storage can achieve the same coverage as a last-touch predictor with unlimited storage, without sacrificing predictor lookahead, and (2) LT-cords improves performance by 60% on average and 385% at best in the benchmarks studied
Geographic Gossip: Efficient Averaging for Sensor Networks

Gossip algorithms for distributed computation are attractive due to their simplicity, distributed nature, and robustness in noisy and uncertain environments. However, using standard gossip algorithms can lead to a significant waste of energy by repeatedly recirculating redundant information. For realistic sensor network model topologies like grids and random geometric graphs, the inefficiency of gossip schemes is related to the slow mixing times of random walks on the communication graph. We propose and analyze an alternative gossiping scheme that exploits geographic information. By utilizing geographic routing combined with a simple resampling method, we demonstrate substantial gains over previously proposed gossip protocols. For regular graphs such as the ring or grid, our algorithm improves standard gossip by factors of n and radicn, respectively. For the more challenging case of random geometric graphs, our algorithm computes the true average to accuracy e using O((n1.5radiclogn) logisin-1) radio transmissions, which yields a radicn/ log n factor improvement over standard gossip algorithms. We illustrate these theoretical results with experimental comparisons between our algorithm and standard methods as applied to various classes of random fields.
Shear forces from flow are responsible for a distinct statistical signature of adherent microbubbles in large vessels.

Real-time ultrasound-based targeted molecular imaging in large blood vessels holds promise for early detection and diagnosis of stroke risk by identifying early markers for atherosclerosis prior to plaque formation. Singular spectrum-based targeted molecular (SiSTM) imaging is a recently proposed method that uses changes in statistical dimensionality—quantified by a normalized singular spectrum area (NSSA)—to image receptor-ligand–bound adherent microbubbles. However, the precise physical mechanism responsible for the distinct statistical signature was previously unknown. In this study, in vitro flow phantom experiments were performed to elucidate the physical mechanism in large blood vessel environments. In the absence of flow, an increase in the NSSA of adherent microbubbles with respect to tissue was not observed with increased microbubble concentration or pulse length (p . .23; n 5 5) but was observed with increased flow rate (p , .01; n 5 10). When observing the dynamics of the adherent microbubble statistics, a good correlation was observed between the NSSA and the derivative of image intensity (R 2 . .97). In addition, a monotonic relationship between the NSSA and decorrelation was demonstrated. These findings confirm the hypothesis that the statistical signature of adherent microbubbles is derived from frame-to-frame decorrelation, which is induced by flow shear forces.
A History of the Treatment of Aspergillosis

Although Aspergillus species have been appreciated for many years, treatment of aspergillosis, particularly the invasive forms of disease, is a very recent story. In their collection of studies on antimycotic therapy in 1955, at the time of introduction of nystatin, Sternberg and Newcomer (1955) did not include any comments on aspergillosis. Similarly, in a 1962 symposium edited by Dalldorf (1962), in the first years of the amphotericin B era, the only study referable to aspergillosis was an animal treatment study. In their 1963 text on medical Mycology, Emmons et al. (1964) devoted one short paragraph to therapy in aspergillosis. Of this, the brief summary was “Therapy in aspergillosis has included vaccines and iodides. Neither type of therapy has been consistently successful,” and “Amphotericin B has given encouraging results but needs further trials”. This was published several years after the introduction of amphotericin B for treatment of coccidiodomycosis, and indicates that aspergillosis did not receive a great deal of attention, perhaps in part because it was a relatively obscure disease at the time.
Efficacy of Peer Networks to Increase Social Connections Among High School Students With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Although peer interaction takes on increased salience during adolescence, such social connections remain elusive for many high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This social isolation can be particularly prevalent within unstructured school contexts. In this study, we examined the effects of a lunchtime peer network intervention on the social engagement and peer interactions of four adolescent students with ASD. Upon introduction of the peer networks, we observed substantial increases in the percentage of intervals containing peer interactions and social engagement across all participants. Further, students with ASD, peer partners, and school personnel all considered the intervention to be acceptable and feasible. We offer recommendations for research and practice aimed at enhancing the efficacy and social validity of peer-mediated interventions at the secondary school level.
Thermodynamics of Enzyme Folding and Activity: Theory and Experiment

The thermodynamic cycle--perturbation method is a new theoretical approach for predicting how alterations in molecular structure will change the thermodynamics of any of a large number of possible molecular processes (1–7). The structural alteration might for example be a single-site mutation in a protein or a chemical modification of a drug molecule. The process of interest might be the folding of a protein, the binding of a ligand to a receptor, the association of a repressor protein to an operator region of DNA, etc.; and the thermodynamic quantity to be predicted might be a relative free energy of folding or binding, an entropy or enthalpy of activation, or any other quantity.
Multistage Mass Spectrometry of Phospholipids using Collision-Induced Dissociation (CID) and Metastable Atom-Activated Dissociation (MAD).

We herein demonstrate an approach to gas phase ion manipulation that provides MS3-level CID spectra of phospholipid radical cations that are almost independent of the original charging adduct ions. In the MS2 He-MAD spectra of the protonated, sodiated and potassiated adducts of POPC, the different adducts induce different primary fragmentation pathways and provide significantly different spectra, as is commonly observed by other activation methods. In separate experiments, the even-electron adduct ions ([M+H]+, [M+Na]+, [M+K]+) of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) were first converted to radical cations [POPC]+• by using helium metastable atom-activated dissociation (He-MAD) to eject the charging adduct ions, then exposed to low-energy collision induced dissociation (CID) to induce extensive fragmentation along the acyl chains. Such charge-remote fragmentation is generally inaccessible through low-energy CID of the even-electron precursor ions. The combination of He-MAD and CID provides radical-induced spectra that show very major similarities and only minor differences, and therefore overcomes major differences in chemistry that are otherwise observed by the original adducting species. Collisional activation of even-electron [POPC+H]+ required higher CID amplitudes than odd-electron [POPC]+• to effect fragmentation-as expected-and the latter provided fragments within the acyl chains that were influenced by the double bond position.
ACTION OF MARINE BORERS AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST ATTACK

A major concern to engineers engaged in the design of timber harbor structures is protection against marine borers. These pests can severely damage these structures in a relatively short time. Attack is concentrated on submerged timbers in the area between the mudline and the water surface. The intensity of attack is dependent on a number of environmental conditions. The most destructive and widely distributed borers are the Teredinidae and the Limnoria. Some forms of borers exist in all oceans. This paper describes the manner in which the borers destroy timber. It summarizes information gathered by various investigators on the conditions which have bearing on the presence of borers and the factors governing rate of destruction. Several methods of protecting timber structures from infestation are described and the costs compared.
Pharmacists Improving Health at the Worksite

The current US health care system is focused on treating the medical determinants of health. However, research shows that approximately 80% of the variance in a population’s health is determined by the nonmedical determinants of health. The care, health outcomes, and cost of an individual or population may be improved if the focus of the health care system were modified to place a greater emphasis on the non-determinants of health. Employee health has been identified as an area that may be able to improve individual health and the health of the community. Reviewed in this article are the outcomes of a pharmacist-run employee health program that focuses on the nondeterminants of health to improve the care, health outcomes, and costs of health care for one employer.
Cicatrizing Conjunctivitis in a Patient Diagnosed With Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms/Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome but With Features of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Purpose Severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs (SCARs) such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms/drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS/DIHS) serve as one of the main reasons for inpatient ophthalmic consultation. Although it is well-recognized that SJS/TEN is associated with severe ocular mucosal inflammation and cicatrizing, potentially blinding, sequelae, this association has not been described in relation to other SCARs. We present a patient fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for probable DRESS/DIHS but not for SJS/TEN, yet exhibiting the severe ocular surface involvement characteristic of SJS/TEN. Methods Case report. Results A 64-year-old man presented with bilateral pseudomembranous conjunctivitis and conjunctival denudation (sloughing) in the setting of a maculopapular rash, fever, liver dysfunction, and hematologic abnormalities 1 month after initiating several medications. A skin biopsy was not consistent with SJS/TEN. The patient was diagnosed with probable DRESS/DIHS and treated with high-dose systemic corticosteroids. The ocular surface inflammation was addressed with intensive topical corticosteroid ointment. The pseudomembranes resolved over a 6-week period, but the patient exhibited residual conjunctival scarring of all palpebral surfaces. Conclusions The development of severe ocular surface mucosal inflammation and denudation with cicatrizing sequelae in a patient carrying a diagnosis of DRESS/DIHS has diagnostic and therapeutic implications for the ophthalmologist. Careful ophthalmic assessment is indicated in any SCAR patient with ophthalmic symptoms, regardless of formal diagnosis. Furthermore, the early therapeutic interventions recently recommended in SJS/TEN to limit the ophthalmic cicatricial sequelae, such as systemic or topical corticosteroids, may be indicated.
Clinical role of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

The activity of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for increasing leukocyte production and enhancing mature neutrophil function has been clearly demonstrated in phase I clinical trials in patients with a variety of hematologic and malignant diseases. The focus of current studies includes determination of optimal administration schedules and its use in combination with myelosuppressive chemotherapy, radiation therapy or antimicrobial agents. The utility of GM- CSF as a stimulant of host defense against infections and tumors is also under study.
The identification and characterization of a novel human differentiation-inhibiting protein that selectively blocks erythroid differentiation

We have isolated a novel inhibitor of erythropoietic differentiation from the plasma of a patient suffering from idiopathic pure red cell aplasia. This differentiation-inhibiting protein (DIP) specifically blocked the differentiation of human burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU- E), but not colony-forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) cells. DIP also blocked the maturation of murine BFU-E cells, but not CFU-E or CFU- granulocyte-macrophage cells, and it inhibited the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation of Friend murine erythroleukemia cells (FLC) at levels between 10(-10) and 10(-12) mol/L. DIP activity was not detectable in the plasma of normal, healthy subjects. Unlike other known inhibitors of hematopoiesis, DIP appears to directly inhibit erythropoietic differentiation, because it did not affect the proliferation of untreated FLC and it effectively blocked FLC hemoglobinization without affecting the ability of the blocked cells to proliferate. DIP blocked FLC differentiation only when added to the culture medium within 1 hour of inducing the cells with DMSO, suggesting that the protein inhibited an early, but critical, DMSO- induced cellular process. DIP appears to be at least partially responsible for the patient9s anemia, and its unique activity suggests a role in the early development of some erythroleukemias.
Does similarity breed cooperation

Roberts and Sherratt argue that if agents with identical tags are allowed a choice of behaviour, then tag similarity can no longer be a reliable guide to behaviour and so similarity does not breed cooperation. Although they are correct in noting that in our model1 an agent will always donate when it meets another with an identical tag, we do not believe that their basic claim is correct.
EVIDENCE FOR SPECIFICITY AND MEMORY IN THE INSECT INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE

Insects, like other invertebrates, rely solely on their innate immune response to fight invading microbes. Typically, innate immunity is characterized as lacking memory and specificity. However, experimental evidence suggests that the insect immune response does not respond identically to repeat challenges and can exhibit a high degree of specificity. After a priming dose of bacteria, some insects exhibit a prolonged activation of the immune response that nonspecifically protects against subsequent challenges. In some cases, microbial challenge of mothers results in the production of more resistant offspring. In addition to these two examples of insect memory lacking specificity, transplantation and bacterial priming experiments have demonstrated both specificity and memory in the insect innate immune response. Here we review the current literature and discuss potential mechanisms underlying specific memory in insect immunity.
The Early Years of Franco Modigliani

Some people achieve greatness for just a brilliant idea or two. Franco Modigliani is almost unique in that he had many big ideas, and his ideas spanned decades. His work encompassed many collaborations, and many sub disciplines. He was also legendary in his academic generosity. His legendary eclecticism is a product of his life and of his good fortune.
The Soviet Scientific-Technical Revolution: Education of Cadres

Mikhail Gorbachev recently boasted that the population of the USSR is the best-educated group in the world (Pravda, July 29,1986). In terms of formal criteria, this may well be true. The Soviet education system has achieved FORMAL levels of certification beyond those of America, Europe or Japan. Half of the engineers in the world work in the Soviet Union. Yet the return on this massive investment in education has been a severe disappointment to Soviet leaders. The Economist recently pointed out that the Soviet population endures “the lowest standard of living ever imposed on a people as genuinely well-educated as they” (The Economist, July 26, 1986, p. 10).
Women's Housework: New Tests of Time and Money

The author uses variation by the day of week—comparing weekdays to weekends—to reconsider three main explanations for variation in women's housework time. The author predicts that though evidence of gender deviance neutralization (GDN) should be evident across the days of the week, evidence of time constraints and absolute earnings should be most apparent on weekdays. The author tests these hypotheses with the largest sample to date (American Time Use Survey 2003–2012) and careful consideration of the functional form between resources/constraints and housework time. The author finds that all three measures of resources/constraints—relative earnings, absolute earnings, and employment hours—perform as poor predictors of women's housework on weekends. Weekends are when women, regardless of employment status, do gender, but not in the way hypothesized by GDN. On weekdays, women's own employment hours and earnings have negative, but diminishing, effects on their housework time. GDN is not supported.
Modified optimal power flow on storage devices and wind power integrated system

The intermittent wind power will impact system operation cost, and voltage profile as well. Voltage profile can be enhanced by implementing energy storage system. Thus the optimal operation of storage devices under wind energy system is of great interest. In this paper, the uncertainty of wind power is tackled by scenario-based approach, and then the optimization problem becomes deterministic under each scenario. Since the problem is highly non-linear and non-convex, a novel heuristic method, artificial bee colony (ABC), is utilized to handle the problem. The objective is to minimize the total fuel cost while enhancing the voltage profile. Modified IEEE-30 bus is used to test the validity and effectiveness of the method.
Poor Outcomes of Gastric Cancer Surgery After Admission Through the Emergency Department.

Background Outcomes after nonelective surgery for gastric cancer (GC) are poorly defined. Our objective was to compare outcomes of patients undergoing nonelective GC surgery after admission through the emergency department (EDSx) with patients receiving elective surgery or surgery after planned admission (non-EDSx) nationally.
Research-Based Practices for Teaching Reading in Elementary Classrooms: An Exploration of the Instructional Practices of Former Elementary Education Students

Abstract This study explored the instructional reading practices of four elementary teachers, who obtained their Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and have been employed in public elementary schools for nearly three years. The individuals were the researcherâ€™s former university students, and had previously experienced classroom literacy instruction in the use of research-based instructional practices within a constructivist framework for teaching reading in a university methods course and practicum. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, this study explored how these teachersâ€™ knowledge about the use of research-based instructional practices, orÂ best practices , for teaching reading to children influenced their classroom instruction, as well as what conditions contributed to or inhibited their use. Through interviews and classroom observations of the four teachers, data were analyzed to describe the factors and dynamics that influenced these teachersâ€™ choices for reading instruction. In particular, this study explored whether or not these teachers were implementing the research-based practices for teaching reading that were a large part of their university training in their teacher preparation program, and what may have helped or hindered them from doing so. The classroom teachers described their beliefs regarding how reading should be taught, what influenced these beliefs, how they taught reading, the support or lack of support from their administrators, the pressure they felt from district and state-mandated assessments of their students, and their sense of self-confidence as teachers. This study includes recommendations for teacher education coursework in the area of reading instruction, and also discusses suggestions for further research. Â The recognition and discussion of effective reading instruction and the significance of using research-based practices for teaching reading and writing continue to emerge in scholarly circles as topics of great concern in the educational arena today. There have been many debates about teachersâ€™ practices and the need to be certain that all children are learning. The question ofÂ howÂ they teach reading as well asÂ what Â they teach has created pressure for teachers as they strive for answers to help resolve their studentsâ€™ reading difficulties (Allington, 2002). In addition, legislative efforts and policies that inevitably affects teachersâ€™ practices by mandating that school districts find instructional practices to improve reading skills, remain at the forefront of educational debate among policy makers in the United States (U.S.) today. This has been, and continues to be, the focus of concern for policy makers, teacher educators, administrators, teachers, and parents. This is not a new concern or focus for the U.S; rather, it has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of formal education in this country.
Identification of Platelet Releasate Proteins that Bind to Mastoparan, a Peptide that Inhibits Shear-Induced TGF-β1 Activation,

Abstract 3271 Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a disulfide-bonded, 25 kD homodimeric protein produced by most cell types, including platelets, that functions as a cytokine in many physiologic and pathologic processes. Platelets contain 40–100 times more TGF-β1 than other cells and release it as an inactive large latent complex (LLC) comprised of TGF-β1 non-covalently associated with its latency-associated peptide (LAP), which is, in turn, disulfide-bonded to latent TGF-β binding protein 1 (LTBP-1). Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1), proteases, and reactive oxygen species have all been shown to activate TGF-β1 in vitro and a role for integrins in vivo has been inferred from studies of transgenic mice. Recently, we discovered that shear force can activate latent TGF-β1 released from platelets in vitro and that thiol-disulfide exchange contributes to shear-dependent TGF-β1 activation. A number of thiol isomerase enzymes that can catalyze thiol-disulfide exchange have been identified in platelets, including protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), ERp5, ERp57, ERp72, ERp44, ERp29, and TMX3. As shear-induced activation of TGF-β1 is partially thiol-dependent, we investigated if thiol isomerases can affect this process. Mastoparan is a non-thiol-containing wasp venom peptide known to inhibit the chaperone activity of PDI, ERp5, and perhaps other thiol isomerases. We recently showed that mastoparan, (INLKALAALAKKIL), inhibits stirring-induced TGF-β1 activation by more than 90% (100 μM; n=3, p=0.03), whereas no inhibition was observed with an inactive mastoparan-like control peptide (INLKAKAALAKKLL) at 100 μM (n=3, p=0.66). To identify the proteins that bind to mastoparan, either directly or indirectly, platelet releasates were chromatographed on a mastoparan affinity column prepared from N-hydroxysuccinimide Sepharose. Two control columns were employed: 1. unconjugated Sepharose, and 2. Sepharose conjugated with the mastoparan-like control peptide. Elution of bound proteins was achieved by increasing the NaCl concentration. Proteins identified by mass spectrometry as specifically binding to the mastoparan peptide column included LTBP-1, TGF-β1 precursor, clusterin, coagulation Factor V, multimerin-1, 14-3-3 protein zeta/delta, and α-actinin 4. These results were confirmed by immunoblotting. Furthermore, the thiol isomerases PDI, ERp5, ERp57, and ERp72 were all found to bind specifically to mastoparan as confirmed by immunoblotting. We conclude that mastoparan affinity chromatography identified a number of proteins in platelet releasates that may contribute to shear-induced TGF-β1 activation. Disclosures: Coller:Centocor/Accumetrics/Rockefeller University:.
Measuring physical activity with hip accelerometry among U.S. older adults: How many days are enough?

INTRODUCTION Accelerometers are increasingly used in research. Four to 7 days of monitoring is preferred to estimate average activity but may be burdensome for older adults. We aimed to investigate: 1) 7-day accelerometry protocol adherence, 2) demographic predictors of adherence, 3) day of the week effect, and 4) average activity calculated from 7 versus fewer days among older adults. METHODS We used the 2003-2006 older adult hip accelerometry data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sample. We determined proportions with 1-7 valid (10-20 hours) wear days and identified wear day correlates using ordinal logistic regression. We determined the day of week effect on 5 accelerometry measures (counts per minute, CPM; % sedentary behavior; % light-lifestyle activity; % moderate-vigorous activity, MVPA; total activity counts) using multivariate linear regression and compared averages estimated over 2 or 3 versus 7 days using correlations, linear regression, and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS Among 2,208 participants aged 65+, 85% of participants had ≥2 and 44% had 7 valid wear days. Increasing age (p = 0.01) and non-white race (p < 0.001) were associated with fewer days. Daily CPM, % MVPA, and total daily activity counts were similar Monday through Saturday, but significantly lower on Sundays (p < 0.001). Daily % sedentary behavior and % light-lifestyle activity were significantly different on Saturdays (p = 0.04-0.045) and Sundays (p < 0.001) compared to weekdays. Among participants with 7 valid days, 2 or 3 day averages were highly correlated with 7 day averages for all 5 accelerometry measures (2 versus 7 days: r = 0.90-0.93, 3 versus 7 days: r = 0.94-0.96). CONCLUSIONS Protocols of 2-3 days, adjusting for Sundays (average CPM, % moderate-vigorous activity, and average total daily activity counts) or weekends (% sedentary behavior and % light-lifestyle activity), give reliable estimates of older adult activity.
Wittgenstein and the Death of Philosophy

Those of us who were in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s classes during his last years at Cambridge had no doubt how lucky we were, or how unique our experience was. To be present in his sparsely furnished attic room at Trinity College was to watch a deeply reflective man judge his own ideas by critical standards more stringent than any we knew existed; and no serious minded student could shirk the task of figuring out what demands Wittgenstein was imposing on himself. He was no less impressive when “at leisure” — though to use that phrase of Ludwig Wittgenstein sounds almost frivolous — e.g., on the regular visits he paid G. E. Moore and his wife Dorothy in their house on Chesterton Road. (In 1946–47, I lived in the converted garage at the bottom of their garden.) Then the richness of his cultural background and the intensity of his concern — above all, with music — shone out in conversations which, in many ways, deserved to be recorded almost as much as his lectures.
Process optimization for antioxidant enriched sorghum flour and apple pomace based extrudates using liquid CO2 assisted extrusion

Abstract Extrusion as a thermal process renders nutritional and bioactive compounds losses in final extruded products. To overcome this issue, in the present study, blend of corn flour and hydrodynamic cavitated sorghum flour, apple pomace was extruded in the presence of CO 2 to retain total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in extrudates. CO 2 extruded products had 12% and 7% more total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, respectively as compared with control extrudates at optimum conditions of 30% apple pomace ratio, 25 g/100 g feed moisture, 97 °C temperature and 100 rpm screw speed. Though expansion ratio decreased after CO 2 extrusion, 59% less hardness and 70% more crispness were observed in CO 2 extrudates compared with control extrudates. Low water absorption index and higher water solubility index were observed in CO 2 extrudates, however extrusion with CO 2 decreased in-vitro starch digestibility and total dietary fiber by 3% and 4%, respectively. The color (L*, a*, b*) results proved that the Maillard's reaction rates decreased when CO 2 was injected during extrusion process. The high inclusion of apple pomace using CO 2 injection produced extrudates with improved antioxidant, textural and functional properties below 100 °C extrusion temperature.
How does solvation in the cell affect protein folding and binding

The cellular environment is highly diverse and capable of rapid changes in solute composition and concentrations. Decades of protein studies have highlighted their sensitivity to solute environment, yet these studies were rarely performed in situ. Recently, new techniques capable of monitoring proteins in their natural context within a live cell have emerged. A recurring theme of these investigations is the importance of the often-neglected cellular solvation environment to protein function. An emerging consensus is that protein processes in the cell are affected by a combination of steric and non-steric interactions with this solution. Here we explain how protein surface area and volume changes control these two interaction types, and give recent examples that highlight how even mild environmental changes can alter cellular processes.
UFace: Your Universal Password That No One Can See

Abstract Due to the ease of use, face authentication could be a promising way to replace hard-to-remember passwords to access web services. However, to make face authentication suitable for web services, there are still several critical security and privacy challenges unaddressed. First, the existing authentication servers typically collect the plaintext of users' facial images in order to conduct authentication. If the servers are compromised, the attackers would obtain the users' facial images and can easily impersonate the users in any other applications that use face authentication. Second, it is also hard to prevent attackers from using facial images published in social network sites to impersonate the true user. In this paper, we conquered these two issues by proposing a novel secure face authentication system, called UFace. UFace uses special close-up facial images (which cannot be found online) for authentication. To further ensure the confidentiality of these close-up images, UFace guarantees that these images are only stored at user side and the servers have not any plaintext of these images. The face authentication is conducted securely with two collaborative authentication servers. UFace was implemented through both an Android application and multiple server side programs which were then evaluated in a real setting. The experimental results demonstrate that the UFace system can accurately authenticate users within a few seconds.
A Developmental View of the Psychological Consequences of Maltreatment

Central to all patterns of maltreatment is insensitivity to the emotional needs of the child. Such insensitivity by caregivers early in the child's life has been shown to have long-term effects on ...
The effect of tra mutations on the synthesis of the F-pilin membrane polypeptide

We had previously demonstrated that several F specific polypeptide bands could be detected in the membranes of Flac, but not F- strains of Escherichia coli K 12, (Moore et al. 1981). One of these polypeptides co-migrated with F-pilin protein on polyacrylamide gels. We have now analyzed 35[S]methionine labelled membrane preparations from a series of strains containing Flac tra mutant plasmids. The F-pilin polypeptide was absent from preparations of strains containing all traA mutants tested, confirming the importance of the traA gene in F-pilin biosynthesis. A polypeptide which migrated in the F-pilin position was still present, however, in membranes prepared from Flac strains carrying mutations in traL, traE, traK, traB, traV, traW, traC, traU, traF, traH or traG despite the inability of these mutants to elaborate F-pili filaments. Thus, all of these gene products may be concerned with F-pilus assembly and outgrowth rather than biosynthesis of the F-pilin subunit. The polar mutation tra-4 did, however, prevent the appearance of pilin polypeptide, indicating that at least one unidentified gene in the region between traE and traG must also be required in F-pilin biosynthesis.
In Vitro Plant Transformation Systems Using Liposomes and Bacterial Co-Cultivation

The development of efficient methods for introducing nucleic acids into plant cells is critical to the successful application of molecular genetic approaches to plant systems. Two methods have been developed for this purpose: 1) liposome-mediated delivery and 2) in vitro transformation of protoplasts by co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells.