cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tuberculous meningitis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Mycobacterial infection has been recognized as a complication in patients with malignancy. Tuberculous (TB) meningitis has not been reported in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); it may have been overlooked or confused with the underlying malignancy or meningitis caused by other microorganisms. We describe the occurrence of culture-proven TB meningitis in 2 NPC patients. The time lag between the diagnosis of NPC and the occurrence of TB meningitis was 4 years in 1 patient and 6 years in the other. In both patients, the diagnosis of TB meningitis was delayed; they were initially treated for bacterial meningitis. Subsequent antituberculous chemotherapy was successful in 1 patient but failed in the other. Recognition of the infection is important for early diagnosis and proper treatment of this potentially fatal condition in patients with NPC.
Outcome of insulin-treated diabetics receiving epinephrine during cardiac arrest☆

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of epinephrine in insulin-treated diabetics (DM) compared with nondiabetic (ND) controls during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A retrospective analysis from a multicenter study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest included 62 DM and 1,151 ND. Outcome parameters included return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), blood pressure (BP), emergency department admissions (EDA), hospital admissions (HA), and hospital discharge (DC). In DM treated with standard-dose epinephrine (SDE), there were trends toward improved ROSC, BP, EDA, and HA compared with ND. DC was not different. With high-dose epinephrine (HDE) these outcomes were not different. Comparison of the outcomes of DM given SDE versus those given HDE were not different. However, none of the DM given HDE (n = 24) were discharged from the hospital. These results suggest that DM may have improved resuscitation rates with SDE and may be adversely affected with HDE. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Bortezomib-Induced Sweet's Syndrome Confirmed by Rechallenge

Sweet's syndrome, also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is characterized predominantly by fever, elevated neutrophil count, and erythematous skin lesions composed of plaques and nodules that appear on upper extremities, face, or neck. The incidence of Sweet's syndrome in the general population is unknown due to the rarity of the condition and potential lack of reporting. Bortezomib, an antineoplastic agent that is the standard of care in patients with multiple myeloma, has been reported to be associated with Sweet's syndrome. We describe a 69-year-old man who developed Sweet's syndrome during his initial course (after cycle 4) of bortezomib for treatment of multiple myeloma; he again experienced Sweet's syndrome 3.5 years later when rechallenged with bortezomib (after cycle 5) for treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma. The patient's signs, symptoms, and biopsy results were identical during both presentations of Sweet's syndrome. In both instances, the syndrome spontaneously resolved without incident and without supportive treatment with corticosteroids or antihistamines. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient who developed Sweet's syndrome during an initial course of treatment with bortezomib and after rechallenge with bortezomib for relapsed disease. As proteasome inhibitors continue to be a mainstay of therapy for both treatment and salvage therapy for multiple myeloma, this case demonstrates that rechallenge with bortezomib is an option for patients who develop Sweet's syndrome.
Error-resilient wavelet tree coding for robust image transmission

In this paper, a scheme for robust image coding and transmission over noisy channels is presented. First, the spatial-orientation trees in wavelet domain are independently encoded using the algorithm of set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT). We generate multiple bitstreams in order to limit the error propagation. Because the self-similarity across subbands is preserved in each wavelet tree, a high coding efficiency is also obtained. However, when these bitstreams with variable length are transmitted sequentially, error impact may still be propagated across the boundaries between two consecutive bitstreams and may cause catastrophic decoding. Therefore, we apply error resilient entropy coding (EREC) to reorganize these bitstreams into fixed length slots so that synchronization of the start of each bitstream is automatically achieved at the receiver. This is particularly useful for the progressive data where bits located at the beginning of bitstream are always more important than those at the end. Finally, to further alleviate the impact of errors in the beginning of the bitstreams, parity bits are added and exploited by an error concealment technique conducted only in the lowest frequency subband. Experimental results demonstrate an excellent error resilient performance of the proposed scheme.
The Spirit and Democracy: Base Communities, Protestantism, and Democratization in Latin America*

Evaluation de l'impact des communautes ecclesiales de base latino-americaines (CEBs) et du protestantisme sur la consolidation de la democratie en Amerique latine avec une attention particuliere portee sur leur role dans la transformation de la culture politique dominante du corporatisme moniste. A court terme, les CEBs representent une force significative pouvant renforcer la democratie a la difference du protestantisme latino-americain. A long terme les CEBs peuvent rencontrer des freins au renforcement democratique alors que le protestantisme peut emerger comme force significative pour favoriser la democratisation
Optical Refraction and Fermat’s Principle at a Point*

The law of refraction of light rays is derived from Fermat’s principle by means of the Weierstrass-Erdmann corner condition of the calculus of variations. In such a derivation the optical path need only be considered at the point of refraction, and the refraction principle follows from a differential equation rather than from an integral equation or geometric construction for a finite length of path. Likewise, the corner condition taken with Fermat’s principle is a differential equation which requires that an optical path be straight at all points where the velocity is unchanged.
The changing character of strikes involving permanent striker replacements, 1935–1990

Using NLRB cases reporting hiring of striker replacements, I provide a longitudinal analysis of 165 strikes from 1935–1990. Strikes since 1981 most closely resembled strikes occurring from 1938–1947: They lasted longer and involved more strikers and more replacements than strikes in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Interestingly, NLRB disposition of employer unfair labor practice charges remained fairly constant throughout the 55 years analyzed and overwhelmingly favored unions. Although my findings are preliminary, they suggest that more empirical analysis of replacement strikes is warranted. I also suggest how some existing strike models can be readily adapted to explain replacement strike phenomena.
Some theoretical aspects of the electron transporter used in nuclear beta-ray spectroscopy

Abstract The theory of electron transport in a solenoidal field spectrometer is discussed. The pertinent details of the calculation of the transmission of electrons from a source of finite size and given angular distribution through a system of baffles and apertures symmetrically disposed about the transporter axis to a detector are developed. Results from a Monte Carlo code are given and compare well with experiment. The problem of calculating the response of the detector to incident electrons is discussed and results obtained by use of a utility code available at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are presented. Overall, the combined transmission and detector response can be calculated with a good degree of reliability with the possible exception of the higher energies ( ⪆ 2 MeV ), where the detector response calculations can be inaccurate.
Temperature independence of the angle-resolved X-ray photoemission spectra of gold and platinum valence bands☆

Angle-resolved valence-band x-ray photoemission spectra were taken along the [111] and [100] directions of gold single crystals and along the [100] direction of a platinum single crystal at room temperature (293K) and on a probe cooled nearly to liquid nitrogen temperature (77K). No change was detected on cooling the samples, in contrast to expectations based on a simple direct-transition model. A simple 'matrix-element' model appears to predict spectra well even at low temperatures, perhaps because the complexity of the high-energy final-state bands permits sampling effectively throughout the zone.
The "proper" binormal model: parametric receiver operating characteristic curve estimation with degenerate data.

Rationale and Objectives. The authors assessed the use of a “proper” binormal model and a new algorithm for maximum-likelihood estimation of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves from degenerate data. Methods. The proper binormal ROC model uses as its decision variable a monotonic transformation of the likelihood ratio that is associated with a pair of normal distributions, thereby ensuring fitted ROC curves with monotonic slope but maintaining a relationship with the conventional hinormal model. A computer program entitled PROPROC was used to fit proper ROC curves to data obtained from computer-simulated and real observer studies. Results. ROC indexes such as total area were estimated with proproc and compared with the corresponding values obtained from the conventional procedures. Conclusion. The proper binormal ROC model overcomes the problem of degeneracy in ROC curve fitting, proproc is highly robust and yields ROC estimates with less bias and greater precision than those obtained with the conventional binormal model.
Auditory topography and temporal response dynamics of canary caudal telencephalon

To map the encoding of auditory cues in songbirds, multiunit electrophysiological responses to pure tone stimuli (250–5000 Hz) were recorded at 373 sites throughout the avian analogue of the mammalian auditory cortex in the caudal telencephalon of awake, restrained canaries. We found that a dorso-ventral tonotopic gradient from low to high frequency stimuli extends from the rostral field L2 to caudal-most caudo-medial nidopallium (NCM), similar to the frequency-dependent patterns of ZENK gene expression in canary NCM and to electrophysiological responses in other songbird species. However, response characteristics differ across the region. In field L2, responses are vigorous, phasic, and do not habituate to repeated presentations of the same stimulus. In an important subset of field L2 sites, tuning width narrows over the course of the response, which then terminates rapidly at stimulus offset. These properties are associated with inhibition at many nonpreferred frequencies and poststimulus inhibition at responsive frequencies. In contrast, NCM sites habituate to repeated sine waves, have wider tuning and lower amplitude responses, and rarely show inhibitory effects. Tuning curves in NCM are also flatter than those of field L2, and are often multipeaked. In addition, tuning width increases as the response unfolds and poststimulus excitation is often sustained in NCM. In sum, specific parts of the canary caudo-medial telencephalon differ in their response properties, suggesting differential roles in auditory processing. NCM properties, in particular, may allow for response integration across multiple spectrally varying stimulus elements, such as those that occur during birdsong. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Fourier series and elliptic functions

Non-linear second-order differential equations whose solutions are the elliptic functions sn(t, k), cn(t, k) and dn(t, k) are investigated. Using Mathematica, high precision numerical solutions are generated. From these data, Fourier coefficients are determined yielding approximate formulas for these non-elementary functions that are correct to at least 11 decimal places. These formulas have the advantage over numerically generated data that they are computationally efficient over the entire real line. This approach is seen as further justification for the early introduction of Fourier series in the undergraduate curriculum, for by doing so, models previously considered hard or advanced, whose solution involves elliptic functions, can be solved and plotted as easily as those models whose solutions involve merely trigonometric or other elementary functions.
The effect of a serotonin uptake inhibitor (Lilly 110140) on the sercretion of prolactin in the rat.

Abstract Serotonin reuptake inhibitor 3-(p-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-N-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine (Lilly 110140) in a dose of 10 mg/kg i.p. had no effect on the resting levels of serum prolactin in normal male rats. However, pretreatment of the animals with this drug strongly potentiated the prolactin releasing effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan as well as the prolactin release induced by ether stress and blood withdrawal. These results indicate that a central serotoninergic mechanism is involved in the stress-induced prolactin release in the rat.
Erythrocyte enzymes and glycolytic intermediates of high‐ and low‐glutathione sheep1

Summary Levels of 18 different enzymes and 16 glycolytic intermediates and nucleotides were measured in the erythrocytes of high-glutathione and low-glutathione type sheep; they were found to be similar in the two groups. Glutathione peroxidase activity was, however, significantly higher in the erythrocytes of high-glutathione than in low-glutathione sheep. Our results indicated no apparent differences in most of the biochemical and/or physiological characteristics of the erythrocytes of sheep with different glutathione types.
MLL gene rearrangements in infant leukemia vary with age at diagnosis and selected demographic factors: A Children’s Oncology Group (COG) study

Background Infant leukemias have a high frequency of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements.
Non-LTE radiation transport in moderate-density plasmas

We present results from non-LTE line radiation transport calculations for high-temperature, optically thick plasmas with densities ∼10 16 -10 20 ions/cm 3 . The calculations are based on an escape probability radiative transport model in which the atomic rate equations are solved self-consistently with the radiation field. Steady-state ionization and excitation populations are determined by detailed balancing of atomic processes, with photoexcitation effects included. Atomic data are computed using a combination of Hartree-Fock, semiclassical impact-parameter, and distorted-wave calculations. Our results indicate that the reabsorption of line radiation significantly alters the level populations and reduces the radiation flux from several types of fusion-related plasmas. We also compare our results with those obtained from multigroup radiation diffusion calculations, and discuss the ramifications of our results for ICF target chamber plasmas.
Winning strategies for small manufacturers

Who's the lowest cost steel‐plate producer in America? Is it one of the big American steel producers, such as U.S. Steel? No, the lowest prices are offered by Lukens, Inc., a small manufacturer in Pennsylvania.
The stress-sensitivity of quartz in tectonites

Petrofabric investigation of five crossbedded quartzites shows an essentially isotropic fabric in three cases, and preferred orientation together with parallel texture in the remaining two. Crossbedding is undistorted in all five. Recrystallization by solution and re-deposition could satisfactorily explain the three isotropic fabrics. Low-magnitude shear of short duration, coupled with extremely sensitive response of quartz to deformation, is the preferred explanation for the quartzites showing preferred orientation.
They Might Be Giants: A Review of Small Presses and Little Magazines

AbstractMichael Brown goes for broke and contacts literary royalty, the co-publisher of Glimmer Train Stories. Talking to Susan Burmeister-Brown, Michael learns that little magazines are rarely little. Often, they are as big as the hearts that pour into them.
Internal combustion engine sampling probes: An experimental study of sample-gas origins and flow disturbances

Abstract Flow disturbances associated with the physical presence and sink action of two types of engine-cylinder-gas sampling probes were investigated in a steady-flow rig. Flow visualization and comparisons of concentration profiles obtained with an isokinetic probe and the two engine-type probes showed that the major flow disturbance was the creation of a flow around the probe tip. This flow is directed along the leading edge of the probe, parallel to the probe axis, and in the direction of the sampling orifice such that the apparent origin of a sample is some distance, ξ0, behind the actual location of the sampling orfice. The influences of seven sampling parameters on ξ0 were determined. Probe diameter, sampling rate, probe angle with respect to the free stream, and probe insertion length all had a significant effect on the magnitude of ξ0. The shape of the probe tip and the orifice location eccentricity had a lesser effect, while probe Reynolds number only weakly affected the ratio ξ 0 D . The probe diameter, D, also affected the measured concentration by altering the diffusion processes. When sampling in low velocity streams, an intermittent sampling probe produces less concentration profile smearing than a steady-flow probe because the sampled gas composition is not averaged over as large an area. A criterion based on a quasi-steady sampling model is given for determining engine conditions and sampling parameters under which intermittent sampling produces essentially the same probe displacement and concentration measurements as obtained for steady flow.
Criminal justice policy and the psychology of peacemaking

Psychology which once was a primary influence on the development of criminal justice policy has, in recent decades, lost much of its ability to inform how laws and policies are made that concern punishment and social control. The reason for psychology's loss of inluence can be traced to the war on crime political rhetoric adopted by politicians and criminal justice administrators. This paper argues that an emerging peacemaking perspective in the criminal justice system allows the discipline of psychology to once again inform the discourse on criminal justice policy. Issues such as drug abuse, gun control, and capital punishment are appropriate subjects for a psychological perspective in the national debate on criminal justice policy.
Modeling subtype-selective agonists binding with alpha4beta2 and alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: effects of local binding and long-range electrostatic interactions.

The subtype-selective binding of 14 representative agonists with α4β2 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has been studied by performing homology modeling, molecular docking, geometry optimizations, and microscopic and phenomenological binding free energy calculations. All of the computational results demonstrate that the subtype selectivity of the agonists binding with α4β2 and α7 nAChRs is affected by both local binding and long-range electrostatic interactions between the receptors and the protonated structures of the agonists. The effects of the long-range electrostatic interactions are mainly due to the distinct difference in the net charge of the ligand-binding domain between the two nAChR subtypes. For the α4β2-selective agonists examined, the microscopic binding modes with the α4β2 nAChR are very similar to the corresponding modes with the α7 nAChR, and therefore, the subtype selectivity of these agonists binding with α4β2 and α7 nAChRs is dominated by the long-range electrostatic in...
Political Development and Political Decay

Among the laws that rule human societies,” de Tocqueville said, “there is one which seems to be more precise and clear than all others. If men are to remain civilized or to become so, the art of associating together must grow and improve in the same ratio in which the equality of conditions is increased.”1 In much of the world today, equality of political participation is growing much more rapidly than is the “art of associating together.” The rates of mobilization and participation are high; the rates of organization and institutionalization are low. De Tocqueville's precondition for civilized society is in danger, if it is not already undermined. In these societies, the conflict between mobilization and institutionalization is the crux of politics. Yet in the fast-growing literature on the politics of the developing areas, political institutionalization usually receives scant treatment. Writers on political development emphasize the processes of modernization and the closely related phenomena of social mobilization and increasing political participation. A balanced view of the politics of contemporary Asia, Africa, and Latin America requires more attention to the “art of associating together” and the growth of political institutions. For this purpose, it is useful to distinguish political development from modernization and to identify political development with the institutionalization of political organizations and procedures. Rapid increases in mobilization and participation, the principal political aspects of modernization, undermine political institutions. Rapid modernization, in brief, produces not political development, but political decay.
Response of an implantable MOSFET dosimeter to 192Ir HDR radiation.

New in vivodosimetry methods would be useful for clinical HDR brachytherapy. An implantable MOSFETDose Verification System® designed by Sicel Technologies, Inc. was examined for use with Ir 192 HDR applications. This investigation demonstrated that varying the dose rate from 22 to 84 cGy ∕ min did not change detector response. The detectors exhibited a higher sensitivity to Ir 192 energies than Co 60 energies. A nonlinear accumulated dose effect was characterized by three third-order polynomials fit to data from detectors placed at three different distances from the source. The detectors were found to have minimal rotational angular dependence. A strong longitudinal angular dependence was found when the detector’s copper coil and electronics assembly were aligned between the MOSFETs and incident radiation. This orientation showed a 16% decrease in response relative to other orientations tested.
Targeting Apicomplexan Atg8 for Rational Drug Design

Apicomplexan pathogens present significant health and economic burdens globally. Species of Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, result in more than half a million deaths annually, with the primary victims being children under the age of five. Other organisms in this phylum present a threat to immunocompromised individuals (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp.) or to the productivity of the livestock industry (e.g., Eimeria spp., Neospora caninum). Autophagy is the process by which cells recycle intracellular material by encapsulating them in a double membrane bound vesicle, the autophagosome, which then fuses with the lysosome. The autophagy pathway has been shown to be essential to parasite survival in both Plasmodium and Toxoplasma. Autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8), which is required for the formation of the autophagosomal membrane, is a ubiquitin-like protein whose conjugation pathway is conserved in Apicomplexa. Within Apicomplexans, Atg8 has a conserved loop region not present in human homologues. In Plasmodium falciparum, this loop was shown to be essential to the interaction between Atg8 and its E2 conjugating enzyme, Atg3, and may represent a viable pan-Apicomplexan drug target. We are pursuing this possibility using x-ray crystallography, SPR, and virtual library screening to identify small compound drug leads which can then be chemically diversified and optimized. Having solved the structure of PfAtg8, we performed two screens against this protein: a screen of the MMV Malaria box of compounds and a virtual library screen. We pursued hits from both screens and tested them via SPR against five pairs of Atg3 and Atg8 homologues: Plasmodium falciparum, Homo sapiens, Cryptosporidium parvum, Eimeria tenella, and Neospora caninum. We have now also obtained protein crystals for the Atg8 homologues in E. tenella, C. parvum, and N. caninum, which will facilitate future virtual library screens against these specific proteins.
The Last Stand of the Barrens Topminnow

Tucked away on the Highland Rim physiographic province in middle Tennessee is the Barrens Plateau region, home to one of the state's most floristically diverse natural areas. This region is fairly ...
Stability analysis of a stochastic logistic model

We provide asymptotic analysis of equilibrium states of a stochastic logistic population model for a single species. The model is based on a stochastic differential equation with a nonlinear diffusion term. Both Ito and Stratonovic interpretations are considered. We obtain sufficient conditions for stability by means of the Liapunov second method. We also present results of a numerical simulation for the considered stochastic logistic model.
School Counselors Perspectives of the Barriers and Facilitators Associated with their Involvement in the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

Abstract Background: Childhood obesity has become a public health priority in the U.S. and is linked to a number of significant comorbidities including asthma, sleep apnea and depression. In addition, there is an increase in social isolation and peer victimization. Purpose: the purpose of this study was to explore Professional School Counselors (PSC) perceptions of the role they play in childhood obesity. Specifically, some of the barriers and facilitators that influence PSCs' participation in the fight against childhood obesity were examined. Methods: An electronic survey was completed by 1088 (eight percent response rate) practicing K-12 school counselors nationwide. Results: About two-thirds of the professional school counselors in this study reported that working with students who present with obesity-related issues was part of their role and function. Another 81.3% stated that among three major barriers, lack of time was the most significant factor that prevented PSCs from working with students with ...
Thin carbon foil resistance to differential pressure

Abstract Thin carbon foils are used in different environments for various purposes. For example, they are used in vacuum technology to create a barrier between two volumes, in space plasma instrumentation to detect the crossing of a particle passing through them, or as a stripper of electrons for high energy particles. In the case of a change of pressure on either side of the foil, the pressure differential creates mechanical stresses to the foil that can lead to irreversible damage. Few experiments have characterized the survivability of carbon foils as a function of pressure. In this study, we show measurements of the resistance to pressure of carbon foils (CF) up to partial rupture. The focus is on ultra-thin carbon foils (e.g., 0.5–1.0 μg/cm2) that are typically used in space plasma instrumentation. However, our results can be used in other areas of experimental physics. Our results show that the finer the pitch of the supporting grid, the more pressure resistant the foil is, indicating that the CF support grid is perhaps more important in the design trade than the foil thickness. For example, we find that nominal 1.0 μg/cm2 foils mounted on 13.1 lpmm (333 lines per inch) nickel grids can hold a remarkable static pressure of ∼9 kPa (∼1.3 psi) with almost no damage.
Modeling the Cost-Effectiveness of a Smoking-Cessation Program in a Community Pharmacy Practice

To describe some of the costs of providing a smoking-cessation program in a community pharmacy practice, and to model the program's cost-effectiveness compared with that of a self-directed quit attempt. Design and Setting. Data used were based primarily on results from a pharmacist-directed smoking-cessation program in a community pharmacy chain practice that achieved continuous abstinence for at least 1 year in 25% of patients. Baseline assumptions were formulated from a MEDLINE literature review and were varied in the sensitivity analysis. Overall costs were based on program costs and retail cost of the selected cessation method (cold turkey, nicotine patch, nicotine gum, or bupropion). Patients. Forty-eight patients, more than two thirds of whom were women, aged 21-70 years, who had tried at least once to quit smoking. Measurements and Main Results. Incremental cost-effectiveness was measured in terms of cost/successful quit attempt based on the payer's perspective. Cost/life-year saved and cost/quality-adjusted life-year saved also were calculated for the societal perspective. Incremental cost for an additional patient to quit smoking using the pharmacist-directed program alternatives versus a self-directed quit attempt was $236 for the cold turkey method, $936 for nicotine patch, $1232 for nicotine gum, and $1150 for bupropion. Depending on the smoker's age at the time of cessation, the incremental discounted cost-effectiveness was $720-1418/life-year saved. Conclusion. This analysis demonstrates that a pharmacist-directed cessation program is a cost-effective alternative to a self-directed quit attempt with respect to payers and society. Additional analyses conducted in community pharmacy practice are necessary to corroborate our results.
Using the Method of Referred Derivatives to simulate the dynamics of systems in vapour-liquid equilibrium:

Two-phase systems in vapour-liquid equilibrium are common features of chemical and power plant and have the characteristic that the vapour and liquid temperatures equalise very quickly compared with the response speed of the rest of the plant. It is normal for the control modeller to assume the equalisation process is instantaneous, which leads to a set of nonlinear simultaneous equations, making such systems candidates for the Method of Referred Derivatives. The paper describes how this technique provides a framework for calculating directly the evaporation or condensation rates needed to keep the two phases in equilibrium. The mass and temperature derivatives may then be found and integrated numerically in a straightforward time-marching manner to trace the transient behaviour of the system. The paper considers both single component and multicomponent boiling and condensing, and, in an appendix, offers advice on suitable forms of thermodynamic functions for use with the method.
Anisotropic excitations of magnetostatic modes in thin film disks

Abstract The in-plane angular dependence of magnetostatic mode excitations in thin single crystal Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 (YIG) disks epitaxially grown on Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 (GGG) substrates has been investigated at X-band. We find that the angular dependence of the higher order modes differs from the angular dependence of the main line. This is in agreement with calculations of magnetostatic modes in a magnetic anistropic thin disk.
Mathematics Performance of Students With and Without Disabilities Under Accommodated Conditions Using Resource Guides and Calculators on High Stakes Tests

This study examines the effects of two test administration accommodations on the mathematics performance of students within the context of a large-scale statewide assessment. The two test administration accommodations were resource guides and calculators. A stratified random sample of schools was selected to represent the demographic characteristics of the state. The sample included both students with and without disabilities. Schools were randomly assigned to one of three possible administration conditions: resource guides, calculators, or standard administration. A repeated-measures design (pretest and posttest) was used to examine the effects of the accommodations. Students in the participating schools took the operational version of the statewide assessment in grades 3 and 6 in the spring of 2005, and then were retested in grades 4 (N = 947) and 7 (N = 997) with the same form of the test under one of the three administration conditions in the spring of 2006. The results of this study suggest that the ...
Hermeneutics, transcendental philosophy and social science

It has frequently been argued that there must be a necessary and important difference between the methods of the natural and social sciences, or that an empirical method in social science must be supplemented by or is inferior to an interpretative method. Often these claims have been supported by arguments using premises derived from the early Heidegger or the late Wittgenstein. These arguments, in turn, tend either to be transcendental in form or to follow a hermeneutic argument strategy. This paper argues that neither of these types of argument, based on Heideggerian or Wittgensteinian premises, can be used successfully to show an important or essential difference between natural and social science. It does this by examining arguments proposed by Peter Winch and Hubert Dreyfus, showing how they are fallacious and misconstrue the import of the premises upon which they are based, and generalizing these objections to the transcendental and hermeneutic styles of argument in this field as such. The paper con...
Job Satisfaction: I/O Psychology and Organizational Behavior Management Perspectives

Perspectives on job satisfaction and its relations with job performance among members of the Industrial/Organizational Psychology (IOP) and Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) cultures are identified and compared. Comparisons include vantage points of each culture on the roles of theory and data regarding the definitions of behavior, job performance, job satisfaction, and the potential causal relations among them. Literature reviewed suggests the IOP culture has validated technologies that some members of the OBM culture recognize as useful for purposes of assessing what members of the OBM culture call Social Validity (SV). Given similarities among values of the two cultures, reflected in their mutual concern for assessing Organizational Responsibility and SV, the author proffers the following recommendation: Members of the OBM culture should not eschew the IOP culture's practices that might contribute to OBM practitioners' ability to effectively establish the SV of their interventions, particularly ...
A scanning electron microscope study of the effects of various agents on instrumented periodontally involved root surfaces

This study evaluated the effects of chemical and biologic agents on periodontally diseased root surfaces which had been scaled or root planed. The proximal surfaces of 25 teeth were scaled to remove all visible calculus, and the proximal surfaces of another 25 teeth were vigorously root planed to remove all cementum and to achieve a hard, smooth, glass-like surface. Five scaled and five root planed specimens were randomly selected for light microscopic examination to determine the amount of cementum removed. Cementum remained on all scaled surfaces but root planing had removed most of the more coronal cementum. Each of the 40 remaining teeth (20 scaled and 20 root planed) was longitudinally sectioned to obtain an experimental and control specimen. Four scaled and four root planed sections were randomly selected as experimental specimens for a test of each of the following five agents: (1) saturated citric acid for three minutes; (2) 15% EDTA for 5 minutes; (3) sodium hypochlorite for 5 minutes, followed by a 30-second application of 5% citric acid; (4) sodium hypochlorite alone for 5 minutes; and (5) 2% sodium deoxycholate (NAD) for 1 minute, followed by a 1-minute rinse in distilled water, and then a 1-minute application of 5% Cohn's fraction IV1. The control for each experimental specimen was treated with saline. All samples were prepared for SEM and examined at 3,000 X. Areas of particular interest were also examined at 12,000 X. The chemical treatments exposed only individual collagen fibers or irregular fiber bundles on the scaled surfaces. Saturated citric acid, EDTA, and sodium hypochlorite with citric acid neutralization removed debris and exposed openings in the root surfaces. Sodium hypochlorite alone and NaD/Cohn's fraction IV1 were less effective in removing surface debris and had an effect similar to that seen in the saline controls. Application to root planed specimens of saturated citric acid, EDTA, and sodium hypochlorite followed by 30 seconds of citric acid neutralization resulted in surfaces virtually free of debris and with numerous collagen fibers exposed on the surface. EDTA appeared to cause a morphologic change in the collagen fibers. Sodium hypochlorite alone, sodium deoxycholate followed by Cohn's fraction IV1, and physiologic saline were relatively ineffective in surface debridement.
Treating myeloma cast nephropathy without treating myeloma

Cast nephropathy is the result of coprecipitation of immunoglobulin free light chains (FLCs) with Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP). It is a hallmark of multiple myeloma that has significant consequences. Treatment strategies in the past focused on reduction of serum FLC by control of the myeloma. In this issue, Ying et al. report on their successful synthesis of a cyclized competitor peptide that blocks the binding of FLC to THP. In animal studies, this cyclized peptide was capable of reducing cast formation and kidney injury, representing a novel treatment strategy for cast nephropathy that does not depend on the responsiveness of the myeloma to chemotherapy.
In situ assembly using a continuous chaotic advection blending process of electrically conducting networks in carbon black-thermoplastic extrusions

An industrially relevant continuous flow blending process has been developed that controllably forms in the melt various structured distributions of carbon black particles to impart uniform or directional conductivities to extrusions such as film, sheet, or tubing. A range of electrical properties was selectable on line via process parameter specification. Process control also made possible production of extrusions with graduated or periodic properties such that functional materials and devices can be extracted from extrusions. The process was enabled by chaotic advection, a recent sub-field of fluid mechanics, and was previously demonstrated in part for particulate additives with batch devices. Unlike conventional mixing where the focus is on attaining uniform particle dispersions, chaotic advection inherently promoted structure formation in melts at increasingly smaller length scales such that percolation thresholds can be reduced. Because conducting conditions are attained at low solid additive loadings, a reverse percolation effect was also induced via controlled structure breakdown. Progressive structure formation is related to electrical properties and processing conditions. Methods are applicable to other melt-processable materials and additives.
Differential physical, rheological, and biological properties of rapid in situ gelable hydrogels composed of oxidized alginate and gelatin derived from marine or porcine sources

Marine derived gelatin is not known to associate with any communicable diseases to mammals and could be a reasonable substitute for gelatin derived from either bovine or porcine sources. The low melting point of marine gelatin (8°C) also offers greater formulation flexibility than mammalian derived gelatins. However, the sub-optimal physical properties of marine gelatin generally limit the interest to further develop it for biomedical applications. This study aimed at investigating the feasibility of using oxidized alginate (Oalg) as a high activity macromolecular crosslinker of marine gelatin to formulate in situ gelable hydrogels with the goal of enhancing the latter’s physical properties. The performance of Oalg/marine gelatin hydrogel was compared to Oalg/porcine gelatin hydrogel; in general, the physicomechanical properties of both hydrogels were comparable, with the hydrogels containing porcine gelatin exhibiting moderately higher mechanical strengths with shorter gelation times, smaller size pores, and higher swelling ratios. On the contrary, the biological performances of the two hydrogels were significantly difference. Cells cultured in the marine gelatin derived hydrogel grew significantly faster, with greater than 60% more cells by 7 days and they exhibited more spread-out conformations as compared those cultured in the porcine derived hydrogel. Production of ECM by cells cultured in the Oalg/marine gelatin hydrogel was up to 2.4 times greater than that of in the Oalg/porcine gelatin hydrogel. The biodegradation rate of the hydrogel formulated from marine gelatin was greater than its counterpart prepared from porcine gelatin. These differences have important implications in the biomedical applications of the two hydrogels.
Inactivation of bee venom phospholipase A2 by a sesquiterpene furanoic acid marine natural product

Abstract A sesquiterpene furanoic acid (SFA) marine natural product isolated from soft corals of the genus Sinularia (Bowden et al., Aust J Chem36: 371–376, 1983) was found to inactivate bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2, EC 3.1.1.4) in vitro. In this study, we characterized the kinetics of inactivation of bvPLA2 by this compound. The apparent IC50 value was 0.5 μm, and the inactivation of bvPLA2 was time dependent. The drug-enzyme binding appeared to be of a non-competitive, high-affinity nature that was irreversible by aqueous dialysis. The inactivation was prevented by the simultaneous addition of excess lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) during the initial binding step, suggesting that modification of the enzyme by SFA occurs at or near the substrate binding site. Activation of bvPLA2 was observed with lysoPC addition at concentrations equimolar to bvPLA2 and higher. Saturation of activation occurred at concentrations greater than 10 μM lysoPC, and preincubation of bvPLA2 with 100 μM lysoPC did not inhibit the enzyme. Analysis of the post-incubation mixture of SFA-inhibited enzyme in the presence of lysoPC revealed the presence of unaltered enzyme exhibiting typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The significance of these observations is discussed in light of the recent discussion by Ortiz on the manoalide binding site on bvPLA2 (Ortiz et al., J Med Chem36: 1866–1879, 1993).
Transient Multidimensional Analysis of Nonconventional Heat Pipes With Uniform and Nonuniform Heat Distributions

A numerical analysis of transient heat pipe performance including nonconventional heat pipes with nonuniform heat distributions is presented. A body-fitted grid system was applied to a three-dimensional wall and wick model, which was coupled with a transient compressible quasi-one-dimensional vapor flow model. The numerical results were first compared with experimental data from cylindrical heat pipes with good agreement. Numerical calculations were then made for a leading edge heat pipe with localized high heat fluxes. Performance characteristics different from conventional heat pipes are illustrated and some operating limits concerning heat pipe design are discussed.
The Regional Uptake of Chloroquine in the Rat Brain

Abstract The uptake of ip administered chloroquine diphosphate, 14 mg/ml/kg, into dissected regions of the rat brain with and without pyrogen pretreatment was investigated. A consistent pattern of uptake, not significantly altered by pyrogen pretreatment, was found. The highest concentration of chloroquine 1 hr after administration was found in the hypothalamus (1.278±0.114 μg/g; Mean ± SE), whereas the cortex (0.147±0.006 μg/g) had the lowest concentration. The corpus striatum (0.62±0.029 μg/g) had a smaller uptake than the hippocampus (0.693±0.011 μg/g), the cerebellum (0.676±0.055 μg/g), and the midbrain (0.644±0.053 μg/g). The difference of the uptake pattern from known catecholamine distribution in the rat brain leads to the conclusion that whereas no specific affinity of chloroquine for the catecholamine-rich regions have been proven, other unknown factors ensure a consistent pattern of chloroquine uptake. The implications of these findings in relation to the transient extrapyramidal disorders associated with the 4-aminoquinolines in some malarial patients, and the aberrant melanin pigmentation associated with the chronic use of chloroquine for some autoimmune diseases, are discussed.
Tuning the orchestra: Selective gene regulation and orange fruit quality

Orange fruit quality is highly dependent on time-specific expression of developmental genes in peel tissues, especially those controlling physical structure and synthesis of pigments and aromatic secondary metabolites. Using a custom microarray platform, we examined expression of 366 genes of interest in peel pericarp and endocarp during three developmental stages of Washington Navel orange fruit (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). We examined in detail 28 of these genes that showed strong differential expression over time and across tissues. Genes putatively associated with metabolism of flavonoids, carotenoids, aroma compounds, and ascorbic acid were differentially expressed over time in specific tissues, while genes likely associated with disease resistance, photosynthesis, stress responses, and cell wall synthesis were differentially expressed over both tissue and time. Most highly differentially expressed transcripts within peel likely function to modify the cell wall architecture during growth and to develop color and aroma.
A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF IMAGE INTERPRETATION METHODS

Image interpretation methods, procedures for relating image pattern to ground conditions, are essential to our use of remote sensing imagery. These methods can be analyzed in respect to the role of ancillary information in the image interpretation process. In general, those procedures that are comparatively independent of ancillary information can be applied in varied geographic settings. Because almost all interpretation procedures depend to some extent upon ancillary information, a detailed and integrated knowledge of the cultural and physical landscape is a prerequisite for both manual and automated interpretation procedures.
A Sox2 BAC Transgenic Approach for Targeting Adult Neural Stem Cells

The transcription factor gene Sox2 is expressed in embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells and previous evidence suggests that it is also expressed in adult neural stem cells. To target Sox2-expressing neural stem/progenitor cells in a temporal manner, we generated a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse line, in which an inducible form of Cre, CreER™, is expressed under Sox2 regulatory elements. Inducible Cre activity in these mice was characterized using floxed reporters. During development, the Sox2-CreER transgenic mice show inducible Cre activity specifically in CNS stem/progenitor cells, making them a useful tool to regulate the expression of floxed genes temporally in embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells. In the adult, we examined the cell-specific expression of Sox2 and performed long-term lineage tracing. Four months after the transient induction of Cre activity, recombined GFAP+ stem-like cells and DCX+ neuroblasts were still abundant in the neurogenic regions including the subventricular zone (SVZ), rostral migratory stream (RMS), and subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus. These results provide definitive in vivo evidence that Sox2 is expressed in neural stem cells (NSC) in both the SVZ and SGZ that are capable of self-renewal and long-term neurogenesis. Therefore, Sox2-CreER mice should be useful in targeting floxed genes in adult neural stem cells.