cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The endoscopic modified lothrop procedure: Review of single institution experience and long-term outcomes.

Background Endoscopic Modified Lothrop Procedure (EMLP) has become a fundamental practice in rhinology. Improvements in symptom burden, ostial patency, morbidity, and costs have surpassed that of an open approach to the frontal sinus. Long-term efficacy has not been well established. Objective This study details the long-term outcomes of EMLP and risk factors for subsequent surgical revision at a single institution. Methods This study utilized a retrospective review of patients who underwent EMLP from September 2006 to February 2017 by a single surgeon at an academic tertiary referral center. Patient demographics, indications, symptom burden, and endoscopic assessment of frontal ostium patency were analyzed for their effect on surgical outcome. Risk factors for failures were identified. Results Seventy-six consecutive patients with an average age of 58.1 years met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent EMLP for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS, 59%), neoplasm (26%), and mucoceles (15%). The average number of standard endoscopic sinus surgeries prior to EMLP was 2.9. The mean follow-up of the cohort was 34.8 months, at the end of which, EMLP was successful in 78% of all patients, requiring no further surgery. Ninety percent of patients reported significant clinical improvement at the most recent follow-up. Subgroup analysis of CRS patients revealed an equally high success rate but a higher likelihood of ostial closure. Recurrent disease necessitated revision endoscopic surgery in 17 patients, the majority of whom suffered CRS. Only tissue eosinophilia was identified to significantly increase the risk of revision surgery. Conclusions The majority of the patients who undergo EMLP achieve sustained patency of the frontal sinus outflow tract and adequate symptom improvement. Prominent tissue eosinophilia identifies patients at risk of requiring additional frontal sinus surgery. Level of Evidence 4.
Use of trunk muscle training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation to reduce pain and disability in an older adult with chronic low back pain: A case report

Among older adults, low back pain (LBP) is common, costly, and disabling. Trunk muscle training (TMT) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) have both been found to be effective in reducin...
Mössbauer-Effect Isomer Shifts

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Mossbauer spectroscopy is the discovery of the isomer shift.1 The measurement of the isomer shift provides unique information regarding the nature of the chemical bond, not easily available from other microscopic techniques. It would be no exaggeration to say that the isomer shift measurements have provided a new depth in the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the chemical structure of condensed systems.
Deep Cerebellar Stimulation to Treat Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxias (S18.004)

Objective: The objective of these studies was to determine whether deep cerebellar stimulation may be a viable treatment option for degenerative cerebellar ataxias. Background: Degenerative cerebellar ataxias affect as many as 1 in 5,000 people worldwide, leading to motor symptoms including incoordination, tremor, and falls. Despite more than twenty years since the first ataxia-causing genes were found, treatment strategies are limited. Most ataxia forms share the loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells, a major source of input to the deep cerebellar nuclei. Thus, we have worked to develop an electrical stimulation-based therapeutic approach based in the dorsal dentate nucleus, the major motor output from the cerebellum, to treat the motor symptoms of ataxias. Design/Methods: We tested this therapeutic strategy in the Wistar Furth shaker rat model of X-linked degenerative cerebellar ataxia, which first presents with a full-body cerebellar tremor, eventually progressing to a shaking ataxia, with frequent falling. We developed methodology to directly quantify each symptom in an operator-independent manner, enabling easy validation of symptom relief and comparison of stimulation parameters. We bilaterally, chronically implanted a cohort of shaker rats with stimulating electrodes to test the hypothesis that electrical stimulation of the dorsal dentate nucleus can reduce motor symptoms, and we have quantified each symptom in comparison to wild type rats. Results: We tracked the motor performance of shaker and wild type rats from 7 weeks, prior to symptom onset, to 35 weeks, at which point Purkinje cells are almost totally lost and symptoms have stopped progressing, quantifying symptom progression in comparison to unaffected animals. We tested a number of stimulation parameters in both young (~15 week) and aged (~30 week) affected animals. We found that 30 Hz electrical significantly reduced symptoms present at each time point. Conclusions: Deep cerebellar stimulation may provide a novel method for treating the motor symptoms of degenerative cerebellar ataxias. Study Supported by: NIH R21 NS104799-01 National Ataxia Foundation Postdoc Fellowship University of Utah Neuroscience Initiative Collaborative Pilot Project Award Disclosure: Dr. Anderson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pulst has nothing to disclose.
Changes in Physical Health After Supported Housing: Results from the Collaborative Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness

The permanent supported housing model is known to improve housing outcomes, but there has been sparse research on the effects of supported housing on physical health. Various organizations including the National Academy of Sciences have called for research in this area. This observational multi-site outcome study examined changes in physical health among chronically homeless adults participating in a comprehensive supported housing program and the associations between changes in physical health, housing status, and trust in primary care providers. Data are presented from an observational outcome study analyzed with mixed linear modeling and regression analyses. A total of 756 chronically homeless adults across 11 sites were assessed every 3 months for 1 year. The Collaborative Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness provided adults who were chronically homeless with permanent housing and supportive primary healthcare and mental health services. Days housed, physical health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measured by the Short Form-12 health survey, number of medical conditions, number of treated medical conditions, and number of preventive medical procedures received. Participants showed reduced number of medical problems and receipt of more preventive procedures over time, but there was no statistically significant change in physical HRQOL. Changes in housing were not significantly associated with changes in any physical health outcomes. Over time, participants’ trust in primary care providers was positively associated with increased numbers of reported medical problems and preventive procedures received but not with physical HRQOL. Entry into supported housing with linked primary care services was not associated with improvements in physical HRQOL. Improvement in other medical outcome measures was not specifically associated with improved housing status.
Care Transitions in the Psychiatric Hospital: Focus on Older Adults.

Abstract Patients undergoing a care transition are vulnerable to duplication of services, conflicting care recommendations, and errors in medication reconciliation. Older adults may be more vulnerable to care transitions given their relatively higher medical burden, cognitive impairment, and frequent polypharmacy. In this Treatment in Geriatric Mental Health: Research in Action article, we first present the results of a quality improvement study examining the frequency of care transitions to and from the medical hospital among patients admitted to a university-affiliated psychiatric hospital. Among a sample of 50 geriatric adults and 50 nongeriatric adults admitted to the psychiatric hospital, we tallied the number of care transitions to and from the medical hospital. We found that the geriatric cohort was significantly more likely to experience this type of care transition (p = 0.012, Fisher's exact test) compared to the nongeriatric cohort. In the second part of this article, we use a clinical vignette to illustrate the types of medical errors that can occur as a vulnerable and frail older adult moves between acute psychiatric and medical settings. Finally, we list provider-level and systems-level evidence-based recommendations for how care of the patient in the vignette could be improved. The quality improvement study and clinical vignette demonstrate how older adults are at greater risk for care transitions to and from the acute medical setting during psychiatric hospitalization, and that creative solutions are required to improve outcomes.
Sleep problems are associated with academic performance in a national sample of collegiate athletes

AbstractObjective: Examine associations between a range of sleep problems and academic performance in a national sample of collegiate athletes. Participants: Data were obtained from the National Co...
Coagulopathy reversal in intracerebral haemorrhage

As intracerebral hemorrahge becomes more frequent as a result of an aging population with greater comorbidities, rapid identification and reversal of precipitators becomes increasingly paramount. The aformentioned population will ever more likely be on some form of anticoagulant therapy. Understanding the mechanisms of these agents and means by which to reverse them early on is critical in managing the acute intracerebral hemorrhage.
RIGHT ATRIAL APPENDAGE THROMBUS AS A RESULT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLAITON

The presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are risk factors for atrial thrombi. The prevalence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi is as high as 11-18%. Presence of LAA thrombi is a risk factor for stroke. Right atrial appendage (RAA) thrombi are much less common, reported
Different protein metabolic strategies for growth during food-induced physiological plasticity

Food-induced morphological plasticity, a type of developmental plasticity, is a well-documented phenomenon in larvae of the echinoid echinoderm, Dendraster excentricus. A recent study in our lab has shown that this morphological plasticity is associated with significant physiological plasticity for growth. The goal of the current study was to measure several aspects of protein metabolism in larvae growing at different rates to understand the mechanistic basis for this physiological growth plasticity. Larvae of D. excentricus were fed rations of 1,000 (low-fed) or 10,000 (high-fed) algal cells mL-1. Primary measurements of protein growth, algal ingestion, aerobic metabolism, alanine transport and protein synthesis were used to model growth and protein metabolism. Relative protein growth rates were 6.0 and 12.2 % day-1 for low- and high-fed larvae, respectively. The energetic cost of protein synthesis was similar between both treatments at 4.91 J (mg protein synthesized)-1. Larvae in both treatments used about 50% of their metabolic energy production to fuel protein synthesis. Mass-specific rates of protein synthesis were also similar. The most important difference between low- and high-fed larvae were mass-specific rates of protein degradation. Low-fed larvae had relatively low rates of degradation early in development that increased with larval age, surpassing high-fed degradation rates at 20 days post-fertilization. Changes in protein depositional efficiency during development were similar to those of larval growth efficiency, indicating that differences in protein metabolism are largely responsible for whole-organism growth plasticity. Mass-specific alanine transport rates were about 2-times higher in low-fed larvae, demonstrating that the longer arms of low-fed larvae may be a mechanism for acquiring more dissolved nutrients from their environment. In total, these results provide an explanation for the differences in growth efficiency between low- and high-fed larvae and demonstrate the importance of protein degradation pathways in establishing these growth differences. These observations, together with previous studies measuring morphological and physiological plastic responses, allow for a more integrated understanding of developmental plasticity in echinoid larvae.
Keyhole Superior Interhemispheric Transfalcine Approach for Tuberculum Sellae Meningioma: Technical Nuances and Visual Outcomes.

Background Tuberculum sellae meningiomas are challenging tumors often compressing the optic apparatus and involving the optic canals. Traditional approaches provide wide exposure, but optic canal access can remain difficult. Endonasal approaches offer a less invasive option that allows access to the medial optic canals, but larger tumors can still be challenging along with a higher risk of postoperative spinal fluid leak. We present the use of a keyhole superior interhemispheric approach for tuberculum sellae meningioma resection. Methods Five patients with tuberculum sellae meningioma who underwent a keyhole superior interhemispheric approach were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative tumor volumes, visual outcomes, extent of resection, pathologic grading, perioperative complications, recurrence rates, operative times, and hospital length of stays were analyzed. Results The average age of the patients was 68.6 ± 7.7 years old (range 57–78). Average tumor volume was 8 ± 1.8 cm3. All patients had a gross total resection. Three out of 5 patients had World Health Organization grade 1 meningioma, and the other 2 had World Health Organization grade 2 meningioma. There were no recurrences over an average follow-up of 18.6 months (range 1–44). On preoperative visual assessment, 9 out of 10 eyes (90%) had a deficit. Postoperative visual assessment found 9 out of 9 eyes with preoperative deficits had improvement (100%). There were no perioperative or postoperative complications. Conclusions The keyhole superior interhemispheric approach provides a transcranial alternative that allows excellent exposure of the vasculature and both optic canals, resulting in good extents of resection and recovery of vision.
TCCI: taming co-channel interference for wireless lans

Co-channel interference is a fundamental issue in wireless local area networks (WLANs). Although many results have been developed to handle co-channel interference for concurrent transmission, most of them require network-wide fine-grained synchronization and data sharing among access points (APs). Such luxuries, however, are not affordable in many WLANs due to their hardware limitation and data privacy concern. In this paper, we present TCCI, a co-channel interference management scheme to enable concurrent transmission in WLANs. TCCI requires neither network-wide fine-grained synchronization nor inter-network data sharing, and therefore is amenable to real-world implementation. The enabler of TCCI is a new detection and beamforming method for an AP, which is capable of taming unknown interference by leveraging its multiple antennas. We have built a prototype of TCCI on a wireless testbed and demonstrated its compatibility with commercial Atheros 802.11 devices. Our experimental results show that TCCI allows co-located APs to serve their users simultaneously and achieves up to 113% throughput gain compared to existing interference-avoidance protocol.
Inverse Learning: A Data-driven Framework to Infer Optimizations Models

We consider the problem of inferring optimal solutions and unknown parameters of a partially-known constrained problem using a set of past decisions. We assume that the constraints of the original optimization problem are known while optimal decisions and the objective are to be inferred. In such situations, the quality of the optimal solution is evaluated in relation to the existing observations and the known parameters of the constrained problem. A method previously used in such settings is inverse optimization. This method can be used to infer the utility functions of a decision-maker and to find optimal solutions based on these inferred parameters indirectly. However, little effort has been made to generalize the inverse optimization methodology to data-driven settings to address the quality of the inferred optimal solutions. In this work, we present a data-driven inverse linear optimization framework (Inverse Learning) that aims to infer the optimal solution to an optimization problem directly based on the observed data and the existing known parameters of the problem. We validate our model on a dataset in the diet recommendation problem setting to find personalized diets for prediabetic patients with hypertension. Our results show that our model obtains optimal personalized daily food intakes that preserve the original data trends while providing a range of options to patients and providers. The results show that our proposed model is able to both capture optimal solutions with minimal perturbation from the given observations and, at the same time, achieve the inherent objectives of the original problem. We show an inherent trade-off in the quality of the inferred solutions with different metrics and provide insights into how a range of optimal solutions can be inferred in constrained environments.
The effect of animal-assisted therapy on nursing student anxiety: A randomized control study.

Abstract Background and objective Nursing student stress has a major impact on academic performance and testing anxiety is one prominent source. This study evaluated the influence of dogs in decreasing student anxiety at a nursing program prior to a medication dosage calculation exam. Method This study uses a convenience sample randomly assigned to a control and intervention group with a pre-pre, pre, post and post-post-test using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The intervention group experienced a therapy dog intervention prior to the medication dosage calculation exam. Results Using a repeated measures one-way MANOVA, there was a statistically significance difference between intervention and control groups Wilk’s ∧ = 0.761, F(8, 79) = 3.103, p Conclusion A brief interaction with therapy dogs prior to a medication calculation exam decreased anxiety in a convenience sample of nursing students. This study adds empirical knowledge to the field of animal-assisted therapy and nursing student anxiety-coping methods.
The expert opinion

Shekhar Chandra is an EducationTech entrepreneur who has over a decade of entrepreneurial experience and leadership excellence. He is on a mission to help every student to excel at his/her studies ...
Updated Evaluation of Cholesterol's Influence on Membrane Oxygen Permeability.

There is a surprising gap in knowledge regarding the mechanism of oxygen (O2) diffusional delivery at the level of tissues and cells. Yet, the effectiveness of tumor radiotherapy, the success of tissue engineering, and healthy metabolism all require ample intracellular oxygen. Tissue-level diffusion takes place in a complex and crowded macromolecular environment. Cholesterol-rich cellular membranes have been thought to reduce oxygen flux. Here, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to update prior estimates of bilayer permeability and related parameters for 1-palmitoyl,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) and POPC/cholesterol bilayers, using a modified O2 model with improved membrane–water partitioning behavior. This work estimates an oxygen permeability coefficient of 15 ± 1 cm/s for POPC and 11.5 ± 0.4 cm/s for POPC/cholesterol (1:1 molecular ratio) at 37 °C. The permeability of POPC is found to be ~1/3 that of a water layer of similar thickness, and the permeability of POPC/cholesterol is estimated to be 20–30% below that of POPC. Void pathway visualization and free energy data support channeling of oxygen toward the center of cholesterol-incorporating membranes, while partition coefficient data suggest reduced membrane solubility of oxygen due to cholesterol. Further study is needed to understand whether diffusion pathway changes due to cholesterol and other molecular compositional factors influence oxygen availability within tissue.
Philo of Alexandria on the Obligations of Wealth

The views of Philo of Alexandria on wealth have been a source of controversy between those who argue that Philo was at times critical of wealth and those who contend that these criticisms were not ...
Missense mutations in the PAX6 gene in aniridia.

PURPOSE. Aniridia is caused by a mutation of the PAX6%ene. Haploinsufficiency of the gene product is thought to result in the aniridia phenotype, because most mutations thus far detected have been large deletions encompassing the entire gene and nonsense, frameshift, or splice errors that result in premature translational termination on one of the alleles. Only two missense mutations have been detected in aniridia pedigrees, each of which occurs in its paired domain or homeodomain. In this study, four novel missense mutations were found in three aniridia pedigrees. METHODS. Polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing of the PAX6 gene were performed using genomic DNA of three aniridia pedigrees and more than 100 healthy control subjects. RESULTS. Three mutations occurred in the N-terminal subdomain of the paired domain, namely N17S, I29V, and R44Q, the first two of which were detected on the same allele of one patient. The other mutation (Q178H) was in the linking portion of the paired domain and homeodomain. CONCLUSIONS. These missense mutations give rise to haploinsufficiency by another route, because the missense mutations presented here resulted in an aniridia phenotype indistinguishable from that caused by a heterozygous deletion of the entire PAX6 gene. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998; 39:2524-2528)
Human Evolution: Overview

The fossil evidence for human evolution can be traced from close to 4.5 Ma to the present. The new term for modern humans and the human clade is ‘hominin’, which replaces the older name ‘hominid’. Keywords: australopithecines; homo; neanderthals; africa; human origins
A Review of “Presidential Term Limits in American History: Power, Principles & Politics”

In a well-researched and exhaustive study of presidential term limits, Michael J. Korzi sheds new light on an area of the presidency that has all too often been overlooked. Presidential Term Limits...
Fiberglass-Epoxy in a Conical Superconducting Field Magnet Support

A conical fiberglass-epoxy field magnet support was designed for use in a 2.2-MW (3000-hp) superconducting motor. The cone design was based upon cryogenic static mechanical property data published by Toth et al. [l] for a type 1581 S-glass/E-787 epoxy resin composite. The cone tested in this program, however, was fabricated with type 1581 S-glass cloth in an epoxy resin system known as NASA Resin 2. To check the material properties against design criteria, flat panels of composites of the glass cloth were tested with both types of resin. All tests were run to failure in tension, compression, and shear at 350, 295, 76, and 4 K. The parameters measured were moduli, strengths, failure strains, and Poisson’s ratios. Another objective was the measurement of the cone’s axial spring constant at 295 and 76 K as a function of axial compressive force up to 89 kN (20,000 lb). Because the component EMPOL 1040 in the NASA Resin 2 formulation is known to decrease the composite strength above room temperature, the cone was also tested at 350 K.
Recharge and source‐water insights from the Galapagos Islands using noble gases and stable isotopes

[1] Through a combined noble gas and stable isotope study carried out in the Galapagos Islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, we demonstrate the utility of atmospheric noble gases in identifying recharge areas and timing of recharge in fractured, basaltic systems. Timing of recharge obtained through noble gas temperatures (NGTs) for all samples is corroborated by stable isotopes. Except for one sample, combined NGTs and stable isotope analyses point to recharge during the hot season for all low-altitude ( 420 m above sea level) are recharged during both the “garua” and hot seasons. Preservation of seasonality independently recorded by NGTs and stable isotopes is further reinforced by estimated young water ages. Samples located at high-altitude display systematic deviations of dissolved noble gases from expected air saturated water values and lead to inconsistent recharge altitudes and temperatures using standard NGT models. Existing degassing models are unable to account for the observed noble gas pattern for most samples. We explore various mechanisms to assess their potential at reproducing the observed noble gas signature. In particular, the potential impact of fog droplets during the cooler “garua” season on dissolved noble gas concentrations in groundwater and the effect of mixing high-altitude (≥1500 m) rainwater with low-altitude (∼400 m) fog droplets is explored. This mixing hypothesis is capable of explaining Ne and Xe concentrations for most high-altitude samples.
The Cervical Spine

Figure 2.1 illustrates the surface anatomy of the cervical spine (C-spine). The C-spine consists of seven vertebrae (C1–C7) and supports the weight of the head (approximately 14 lb). The first two vertebrae are called the axis and atlas, respectively, and do not have a disc between them but are closely bound together by a complex of ligaments. The C1 (atlas) “ring” rotates around the odontoid or “peg” of C2 (axis), allowing for almost 50 % of total cervical rotation. The spinal canal is housed within the cervical vertebrae and is widest between the C1 and C3 levels (A-P diameter 16–30 mm) and narrows as it progresses caudally (14–23 mm). When the neck is fully extended, this canal can narrow an additional 2–3 mm.
The effects of impurities on the performance of silicon solar cells

The major factors that determine the tolerable concentrations of impurities in silicon feedstock for solar cells used in power generation are discussed in this report. It is concluded that a solar-grade silicon can be defined only for a specific manufacturing process. It is also concluded that it is the electrical effects, efficiency and resistivity, that are dominant in determining tolerable concentrations of impurities in the silicon feedstock. Crystal growth effects may become important when faster growth rates and larger crystal diameters are developed and used.
Laryngeal chondrosarcoma: A population-based analysis

Objectives/Hypothesis Laryngeal chondrosarcoma (LC) is a rare entity, reportedly comprising less than 1% of all laryngeal tumors. Consequently, the incidence and survival of patients with this slow-growing tumor has been difficult to study. Our objective was to evaluate incidence, organized by patient demographics, as well as long-term survival trends of this malignancy using a population-based database. Study Design Retrospective analysis of the United States National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry. Methods The SEER database was searched for patients diagnosed with LC between 1973 and 2010. Data analyzed included patient demographics, incidence, treatment modality, and survival. Results One-hundred and forty-three cases were identified, representing 0.2% of all laryngeal tumors. Median age at diagnosis was 61.7 years. Men and women constituted 76.2% and 23.8% of patients, respectively. Tumors were locally invasive with 37.7% T4 disease and infrequent regional and distant metastases. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year disease-specific survival for LC was 96.5%, 88.6%, and 84.8%, respectively, compared to 88.3%, 68.2%, and 59.3%, respectively for patients with all other laryngeal tumors (P values < 0.01). Relative survival was 94.9% at 1 year, 88.5% at 5 years, and 88.4% at 10 years. Conclusions This analysis represents the largest LC study sample to date, allowing for evaluation of incidence and long-term survival. LC occurs infrequently, is locally invasive, but only rarely metastasizes. Prognosis for LC is significantly better than for other laryngeal malignancies. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:1877–1881, 2014
Tumors of Female Offspring of Mice Exposed Prenatally to Diethylstilbestrol

Strain CD-1 female mice exposed prenatally to diethylstilbestrol (DES) (CAS: 56-53-1; alpha,alpha'-diethyl-4,4'-stilbenediol) were mated to unexposed males. Female offspring of these matings were raised to the stage of terminal illness. They were never exposed to DES and so have been referred to as "DES-lineage mice." Ten uterine adenocarcinomas and 5 ovarian cystadenocarcinomas were found in 40 DES-lineage mice. These findings were significantly different from the absence of such tumors in 24 "vehicle-lineage" mice whose mothers had received injections only of oil and alcohol. The types of tumors that commonly occur spontaneously in the CD-1 strain appeared with comparable frequency in the 2 groups of mice. The DES-lineage mice did not show the increased frequency of adenomyosis and squamous metaplasia of the uterus, nor the reduced frequency of corpora lutea seen in mice exposed prenatally to DES.
Effect of Spatial and Temporal Variability of Antecedent Moisture Content on Model-Generated Runoff from an Arid Watershed

The objectives of the research are to determine the importance and impact of spatial and temporal variation of soil hydraulic properties on calculated runoff volumes. The study also addresses the importance of storm frequency and its relationship to rainfall/runoff processes and spatial variation of soil hydraulic properties. A pedotransfer function, based on soil physical properties, was developed to predict the variation of antecedent moisture content (AMC) with increasing time between storm events. The effective hydraulic conductivity (Keff) was evaluated at a value of half the calculated saturated hydraulic conductivity. The AMC was varied for three different scenarios on 7 individual soil surfaces located within a 228 km 2 (88 mi 2 ) arid watershed in the Mojave Desert. The modeling software packages used for the study were Rosetta, HYDRUS-1D, and FLO-2D. All data were geospatially rectified on the watershed (using ArcGIS) to account for the spatial variation of the soil parameters. Temporal variation of water content on each soil surface was evaluated using atmospheric demand and the soil properties over a 5-day period. The results show that the spatial variability of Ks and AMC have considerable effect on predicted flowrates due to varied precipitation and varied soil water content, which for the upper watershed were shown to increase as storm frequency decreases (i.e., return interval increases). As the drying time increases from 1 to 5 days, the calculated runoff reduces 46 percent (at the upper watershed) for the 100-year models. The model shows that the floodwave from upstream does progress to the outfall for the 500-year event; however, the majority of run-on and runoff infiltrates on the lower portion of the watershed for the 100-year and higher frequency events.
Is Huntington's a Glutamine Storage Disease?:

Huntington's disease is a neurological disorder caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the protein huntingtin. Several other neurological diseases also result from the expansion of polyglutamine regions in different proteins. Despite intense efforts, no definitive biochemical or physiological role for huntingtin has been described, nor has a function been assigned to the polyglutamine region in unaffected individuals. This article presents the hypothesis that polyglutamine expansions within huntingtin and other polyglutamine proteins provide a function in and of themselves. Incorporating multiple glutamine residues into a protein during synthesis, and releasing them during protein turnover, may represent a means of minimizing interruptions in brain levels of glutamine and glutamate during periods of malnutrition. The number and variety of different proteins containing polyglutamine expansions can be interpreted as a series of evolutionary "experiments" toward a nontoxic form for glutamine storage.
A model for phasic and tonic repetitively firing neuronal encoders.

A model for neuronal encoders is presented. Its mathematical description consists of two coupled first order, non-linear differential equations giving the time course of the membrane potential and of a leak function under conditions of continuous drive. The leak function is given by the ratio of the transmembrane conductance to the effective encoder capacitance and is closely tied to the Hodgkin-Huxley results on the behavior of gK and gNa. Since neuronal impulse encoding does not in general proceed in a space clamped region, the values of membrane potential and “leak” entering the differential equations are those at the trigger zone. The effects of electrotonic spread are then incorporated in the leak function. A particularly simple two parameter form of the model is explicitly written. By changing the value of one of the parameters the properties of the model change from that of exhibiting all features of rapid adaptation to those of tonic repetitive firing. Predictions of the model are discussed, as is the relationship between properties of the model and features of voltage clamp data.
Length Approximations for Independently Generated Ideals

Abstract We study ideals primary to the maximal ideal of a commutative Noetherian local ring. When such an ideal is generated by elements which are independent in the sense of C. Lech, we prove a lower bound on the length of the quotient ring in terms of the orders of the generators. As a corollary we obtain a substantial partial result on Lech's conjecture on the multiplicities of a flat couple of local rings.
Replication of herpesvirus DNA VI. Virions containing either isomer of pseudorabies virus DNA are infectious

Pseudorabies virus DNA exists in two isomeric forms in which the short unique sequence is present in two orientations with respect to the long unique sequence. The viral DNA present in the virions of 21 individual plaques was analyzed. In all cases, equimolar amounts of the two isomeric forms of the DNA were present, indicating that isomerization of the DNA is a rapid process which is complete by the time a small plaque (<2 mm) has developed. Virions containing either isomeric form of the DNA adsorb equally well to cells and either isomeric form of the DNA has the same likelihood of becoming associated with the cell nucleus and to form circles (or concatemers) before initiation of DNA synthesis. The two isomeric forms of viral DNA are also equally represented in the genomes that mature first from concatemeric replicating DNA in cells infected at low multiplicities (0.01 PFU/cell). Furthermore, during the first round of DNA replication in cells infected at low multiplicity, equimolar amounts of the two isomeric forms of the DNA replicate. Since, in this experiment, each cell was infected with a maximum of one viral particle per cell, we conclude that virions containing either isomeric form of the DNA can initiate infection. Previous data (J. M. DeMarchi, T. Ben-Porat, and A. S. Kaplan, 1979, Virology 97,457–463) have indicated that each cell, in which infection is initiated, is able to produce a plaque. We therefore conclude that virions containing either isomeric form of the DNA are infectious.
Pathogenic microRNA’s in myeloid malignancies

Recent studies have significantly improved our understanding of the role microRNAs (miRNAs) play in regulating normal hematopoiesis. miRNAs are critical for maintaining hematopoietic stem cell function and the development of mature progeny. Thus, perhaps it is not surprising that miRNAs serve as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in hematologic malignancies arising from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, such as the myeloid disorders. A number of studies have extensively documented the widespread dysregulation of miRNA expression in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), inspiring numerous explorations of the functional role of miRNAs in myeloid leukemogenesis. While these investigations have confirmed that a large number of miRNAs exhibit altered expression in AML, only a small fraction has been confirmed as functional mediators of AML development or maintenance. Herein, we summarize the miRNAs for which strong experimental evidence supports their functional roles in AML pathogenesis. We also discuss the implications of these studies on the development of miRNA-directed therapies in AML.
Mechanisms of cyclin-dependent kinase regulation: structures of Cdks, their cyclin activators, and Cip and INK4 inhibitors.

The cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) have a central role in coordinating the eukaryotic cell division cycle, and also serve to integrate diverse growth-regulatory signals. Cdks are controlled through several different processes involving the binding of activating cyclin subunits, of inhibitory Cip or INK4 subunits, and phosphorylation. Crystallographic studies of Cdks in four different complexes, reviewed here, have revealed the mechanisms by which these regulatory processes control the Cdk switches. All of these mechanisms involve conformational changes in and around the catalytic cleft of the kinase, indicating that Cdks have evolved an intrinsic conformational flexibility. This flexibility is central to their ability to switch states in response to a diverse range of growth-regulatory signals.
Submicroscopic study on the cortical granules in the rabbit ovum.

Round to oval cortical granules 0.08 to 0.2 μ in diameter were observed in the ovum of the rabbit immediately before ovulation. If fertilization did not occur, the number of these granules appeared to increase. Although occasional granules were observed within the vitellus of the ovum, they appeared in larger numbers in the cortex, where they formed a row beneath the vitelline membrane.
A MODEL OF MAXIMAL CP VIOLATION

A model of weak interaction is introduced which shows maximal CP violation. The model contains an octet (or nonet) of intermediate vector meson fields with a strong tri-linear self-coupling. First order terms are forbidden, while second order terms give CP=1, third order terms CP=−1 effects. The smallness of CP-violating effects is thus easily explained.
Resilience in urban socioecological systems: residential water management as a driver of biodiversity

Cities are unique ecosystems where human social-economic-cultural activities prominently shape the landscape, influencing the distribution and abundance of other species, and consequent patterns of biodiversity. The long-term sustainability of cities is of increasing concern as they continue to grow, straining infrastructure and pushing against natural resources constraints. A key resource is water, esp. in the more rapidly urbanizing arid regions. Understanding water management is thus critical for a deeper theoretical understanding of urban ecosystems and for effective urban policy. Landscaping and irrigation at any urban residence is a product of local geophysical/ecological conditions, homeowners’ cultural preferences, socioeconomic status, neighborhood dynamics, zoning laws, and city/state/federal regulations. Since landscape structure and water availability are key determinants of habitat for other species, urban biodiversity is strongly driven by the outcome of interactions between these variables. Yet the relative importance of ecological variables vs human socioeconomic variables in driving urban biodiversity remains poorly understood. Here we analyze data from the Fresno Bird Count, a citizen science project in California’s Central Valley, to show that spatial variation in bird diversity is best explained by a multivariate model including significant negative correlations with % building and grass cover, and positive correlations with interactions between irrigation intensity, median family income, and grass height. We discuss implications of our findings for urban water management policies in general, and for Fresno’s planned switch to metering water use in 2013. Ecological theory, conservation, and urban policy all benefit if we recognize cities as coupled socioecological systems.
Galois groups of second and third order linear differential equations

Abstract Using the representation theory of groups, we are able to give simple necessary and sufficient conditions regarding the structure of the Galois groups of second and third order linear differential equations. These allow us to give simple necessary and sufficient conditions for a second order linear differential equation to have liouvillian solutions and for a third order linear differential equation to have liouvillian solutions or be solvable in terms of second order equations. In many cases these conditions also allow us to determine the group.
Using Quality Circles to Enhance Student Involvement and Course Quality in a Large Undergraduate Food Science and Human Nutrition Course

ABSTRACT: Large undergraduate classes are a challenge to manage, to engage, and to assess, yet such formidable classes can flourish when student participation is facilitated. One method of generating authentic student involvement is implementation of quality circles by means of a Student Feedback Committee (SFC), which is a volunteer problem-solving and decision-making group that communicates student-generated input to the teaching team for the purpose of improving the course content, structure, and environment in the present and redesigning it for the future. Our objective was to implement a SFC in a large introductory Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN 101) course to enhance student involvement and course quality. Overall, the SFC provided a continuous and dynamic feedback mechanism for the teaching team, a beneficial experience for the SFC members, and an opportunity for class members to confidentially share their input to enhance the quality of the course throughout the semester. This article includes a brief introduction of the use of quality circles in higher education classrooms, as well as our methods of implementation and assessment after using the SFC for 3 semesters (Spring 2003, Fall 2003, and Spring 2004).
Design and implementation of hybrid multicore simulators

Hybrid multicore architecture consisting of tightly-integrated very long instruction word (VLIW) and superscalar processors can potentially take advantage of the heterogeneity of different cores to attain better performance. However, to implement or simulate a hybrid multicore processor is a challenging task due to the interactions of tightly integrated cores with different architectures/microarchitectures. In this paper, we design and implement two hybrid multicore architecture simulators for multi-program and multicore (MPMC) paradigm and single-program and multicore (SPMC) respectively. Based on these simulators, we provide preliminary results to evaluate the performance of the hybrid multicore processor for both multi-threaded and single-threaded programs.
Electrons in Liquid Helium

In this short review, we summarize experimental and theoretical studies of the properties of electrons in liquid helium. Electrons can be introduced into liquid helium by means of a radioactive source, by field-emission from a sharp tip, or by photoemission from the wall of a container. An electron entering helium loses kinetic energy by ionization and excitation of helium atoms (provided its energy is high enough) and by the production of elementary excitations of the liquid (rotons and phonons). After the electron has lost its kinetic energy it forces open a cavity in the liquid and becomes trapped in this cavity. This trapping occurs because the energy of the ‘‘bubble’’ state is lower than the energy that the electron would have if it were moving through uniform bulk liquid. We discuss the detailed calculation of the energy of these electron bubbles in the next section. There are several reasons the study of these electron bubbles is of interest. The electron bubble is a unique system with no analogue. The bubbles form nanostructures of well defined geometry (almost perfectly spherical below 1 K). These nanostructures have the property that, unlike other quantum dots, when the electron is excited to a higher energy state there is a large change in the bubble size and shape. Thus it is interesting to study what happens when light is absorbed by an electron bubble. When the velocity of the bubble through the liquid exceeds a critical value, quantized vortices are produced, and the bubble can become trapped on a vortex.
Oscillatory Behavior of Ultrasonic Attenuation in Superconducting Nb-Zr Alloys

The attenuntion of ultrasonlc compressional waves at frequencies of 5 to 30 Mc is studied in superconducting Nb and Nb --Zr alloys. Large fluctuations are observed in the attenuation as the temperature is varied from 1 to 4.5 deg K. It is concluded that these fluctuations are characteristic of the superconducting state, since application of the critical magnetic field destroys the structure observed; that the fluctuations are probably related to pressure and/or charge- density modulations; that the attenuntion is strongly frequency-dependent; and that the attenuation is independent of the sound-wave amplitude at small strains in the frequency range studied. The mechanism underlying the attenuation fluctuations is studied, in terms of the filamentary theory of hard superconductors. (T.F.H.)
Becoming Reflective Professionals: An Exploration of Preservice Teacher's Struggles as They Translate Language and Literacy Theory into Practice

Abstract Becoming a reflective practitioner has much in common with the process of becoming “real” as the Skin Horse explained it to the Rabbit in the children's story, The Velveteen Rabbit. Just as becoming “real” takes time, and happens after a toy has lost its hair and become shabby, so becoming a truly reflective teacher involves time, experience and, inevitably, a bit of wear around the edges (Brubacher, Case & Reagan, 1994, p.25).
Strategies for the development of nanocrystalline materials through devitrification

The crystallization of metallic glass through devitrification reactions can yield ultrafine nanocrystalline product structures. The recent discovery of Al-rich glasses containing85 at.% Al and a combination of transition and rare earth element additions has yielded microstructures of Al nanocrystals in an amorphous matrix with nanocrystal volume fractions approaching 20% and excellent mechanical properties. Similar behavior is reported for Fe-based alloy glass systems such as Fe-Nb-B, and Fe-Si-B. This characteristic microstructure is synthesized by a primary crystallization reaction that yields a density of > 1020 m−3 nanocrystals and limited growth. The systematic control of the nanocrystal development can be addressed by strategies based on thermodynamic and kinetic factors. The first issue is the initial glass formation which may be approached on the basis of the Egami size factor criteria. However, this must be applied to the amorphous phase that coexists with the nanocrystals following primary crystallization based on metastable phase boundaries. The growth control limitation has been identified to arise from diffusion field impingement. This control is enhanced for compositions that yield the highest initial particle densities for a given nanocrystal volume fraction. For example, the addition of transition elements to the Al-based glasses initially enhances the range of glass-forming conditions as the solute level increases, but excess levels diminish the driving force for fcc nanocrystal formation while increasing the driving force for intermetallic formation. The kinetic strategies also indicate processing directions to promote and retain a high density of nanocrystal dispersions including the possible utilization of sequential intermetallic crystallization reactions to modify the nanocrystal-amorphous matrix stability. The alloying strategies to promote and retain a high density of nanocrystal dispersions are quite general and may be applied to any system exhibiting primary nanocrystal formation through devitrification, including the Fe-based FINEMET alloys.