cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Technical Success, Efficacy, and Safety of Portomesenteric Venous Intervention following Nontransplant Hepatobiliary or Pancreatic Surgery.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate technical success, efficacy and safety of portomesenteric venous (PMV) intervention for PMV stenosis or occlusion following nontransplant hepatobiliary or pancreatic (HPB) surgery. Materials and Methods A retrospective review identified 42 patients (mean age 60 y) with PMV stenosis (n = 33; 79%) or occlusion (n = 9; 21%) who underwent attempted PMV intervention following HPB surgery between June 1, 2011, and April 1, 2018. Main outcomes were technical success, primary patency rates, and complications. Technical success was compared by venous pathology and primary PMV patency based on anticoagulation status after the procedure using Fisher exact test. Rates of primary patency by stent group were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Results Technical success was 91% (n = 38/42) and significantly higher in patients with stenosis (n = 33/33; 100%) vs occlusion (n = 5/9; 56%) (P = .001). Primary presenting symptom resolved in 28 (87%) patients, including 6 (100%) patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. At mean imaging follow-up of 8.6 months ± 8.8, primary stent patency was 76%. There was no significant difference in primary stent patency based on anticoagulation status after the procedure (P = .48). There were 2 (4.8%) periprocedural complications. Conclusions Portomesenteric venoplasty and stent placement following nontransplant HPB surgery is safe with a high rate of technical success if performed before chronic occlusion.
Service design simulation using fine grained agents

Service design deals with methods to organize people, organizations, infrastructure, communication and resources such that macro outcome parameters of the service are achieved while also ensuring excellent individual customer experience. Services are complex, dynamic processes engaging service deliverer and customer over several interactions over multiple touchpoints. Thus designing a service well requires an understanding of the impact of the dynamics of service delivery on service outcome parameters and customer experiences. We discuss a fine-grained agent based simulation approach to service design which will allow services to be simulated in-silico. Fine-grained agent models allow us to understand the macro effect of a service design and the persona level user experiences over multiple customer touchpoints. To model the user experience we use a need based behavior model, influenced by advances in Maslow’s need based hierarchy. We demonstrate these ideas on an example from the air travel domain.
Route-Aware Handover Enhancement for Drones in Cellular Networks

The support of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, in cellular networks has become very important to enable a wide range of new applications for the next generation wireless systems. However, the cellular networks have been traditionally designed to serve terrestrial users, and thus are encountering many challenges to support drone wireless communication. Particularly, drones experience increased interference and channel fluctuation and consequently suffer more frequent handover, higher handover failure rate and ping-pong rate while in motion. In this paper, we propose enhanced mobility management for drones by exploiting their pre-configured flight path information. Our route-aware handover algorithm will instruct the base station to trigger the handover procedure to minimize handover failure and reduce unnecessary handover. We further provide a practical implementation where the network can make online decisions under realistic modeling assumptions. Based on 3GPP-compliant handover evaluation methodology, we demonstrate that our algorithm can effectively reduce the number of handover and handover failure by upto 32A- and 24A-, respectively, compared to the existing approach. This significantly reduces handover signalling overhead and service interruption time. The simulation results also show that our algorithm can completely eliminate ping-pong effect in certain cases.
Double Electron–Electron Resonance Shows That the Substrate but Not the Inhibitors Causes Disorder in the F/G Loop of CYP119 in Solution

CYP119, a bacterial thermophilic protein from the cytochrome P450 superfamily, has previously been observed in three different conformations with different inhibitors bound using X-ray crystallography. The significance of these states in solution and in the function of the enzyme is not well-known. Double electron-electron resonance (DEER) was used to measure distances and distance distributions between spin-labels for populated conformational states in solution. DEER spectroscopy and molecular dynamics for the ligand-free enzyme suggest that the G helix is in a slightly different conformation than seen previously by crystallography, with the F/G loop in a slightly open conformation. Inhibitor-bound samples showed that this conformation remains as the predominant form, but partial conversion is indicated to a more closed conformation of the F/G loop. However, when the enzyme binds to lauric acid, the proposed substrate, it induces the conversion to a state that is characterized by increased disorder. We propose that similar to recent results with soluble CYP3A4, binding of the inhibitor to CYP119 is accompanied by only small changes in the enzyme structure, but substrate binding results in greater heterogeneity in the structure of the F/G loop region.
Functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex in Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most prevalent injuries in the military with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounting for approximately 70–80 % of all TBI. TBI has been associated with diffuse and focal brain changes to structures and networks underlying cognitive-emotional processing. Although the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a critical role in emotion regulation and executive function and is susceptible to mTBI, studies focusing on ACC resting state functional connectivity (rs-fc) in Veterans are limited. Methods Veterans with mTBI (n = 49) and with no history of TBI (n = 25), ages 20–54 completed clinical assessments and an 8-minute resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) on a 3 T Siemens scanner. Imaging results were analyzed with left and right ACC as seed regions using SPM8. Regression analyses were performed with time since injury. Results Seed-based analysis showed increased connectivity of the left and right ACC with brain regions including middle and posterior cingulate regions, preceneus, and occipital regions in the mTBI compared to the non-TBI group. Conclusions The rs-fMRI results indicate hyperconnectivity in Veterans with mTBI. These results are consistent with previous studies of recently concussed athletes showing ACC hyperconnectivity. Enhanced top-down control of attention networks necessary to compensate for the microstructural damage following mTBI may explain ACC hyperconnectivity post-mTBI.
Psychosocial outcomes of a pilot study of work-tailored cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for adults with serious mental illness.

Objective Many people with serious mental illness (SMI) continue to struggle with work functioning despite the receipt of supported employment (SE) services. In response, adjunctive interventions to SE have begun to be developed. One such approach, the cognitive behavioral therapy for work success (CBTw) intervention, targets cognitive and behavioral barriers to competitive work success in adults with SMI. Using a pre-post design, this pilot study examined the psychosocial outcomes of the CBTw program in 52 adults with SMI receiving SE. Method Recovery attitudes, work-related self-efficacy, self-esteem, and symptom domains (depression, anxiety, psychosis) were measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Paired samples t-tests examined changes in outcomes over time. Results At posttreatment, participants had significant improvements in recovery attitudes, self-esteem, depressive, and negative symptoms. Other psychosocial outcomes did not significantly change. Conclusions This pilot work demonstrates CBTw is a promising intervention to improve recovery and wellness in SMI.
Computer Designed PRC2 Inhibitor, EBdCas9, Reveals Functional TATA boxes in Distal Promoter Regions

The critical process in development, bifurcation of cellular fates, requires epigenetic H3K27me3 marks propagated by PRC2 complex. However, the precise chromatin loci of functional H3K27me3 marks are not yet known. Here we identify critical PRC2 functional sites at a single nucleosome resolution. We fused a computationally designed protein, EED binder (EB) that competes with EZH2 and thereby disrupts PRC2 function, to dCas9 (EBdCas9) to direct PRC2 inhibition at a precise locus using gRNA. We targeted EBdCas9 to 4 different genes (TBX18, p16, CDX2 and GATA3) and observed epigenetic remodeling at a single nucleosome resolution resulting in gene activation. Remarkably, while traditional TATA box is located 30bp upstream of TSS, we identified a functional TATA box, >500bp of TSS, normally repressed by PRC2 complex. Deletion of this TATA box eliminates EBdCas9 dependent TBP recruitment and transcriptional activation. Targeting EBdCas9 to CDX2 and GATA3 results in trophoblast trans-differentiation. EBdCas9 technology is broadly applicable for epigenetic regulation at a single locus to control gene expression.
Rethinking Biological Invasions as a Metacommunity Problem

Perhaps more than any other ecological discipline, invasion biology has married the practices of basic science and the application of that science. The conceptual frameworks of population regulation, metapopulations, supply-side ecology, and community assembly have all to some degree informed the regulation, management, and prevention of biological invasions. Invasion biology needs to continue to adopt emerging frameworks and paradigms to progress as both a basic and applied science. This need is urgent as the biological invasion problem continues to worsen. The development of metacommunity theory in the last two decades represents a paradigm-shifting approach to community ecology that emphasizes the multi-scale nature of community assembly and biodiversity regulation. Work on metacommunities has demonstrated that even relatively simple processes at local scales are often heavily influenced by regional-scale processes driven primarily by the dispersal of organisms. Often the influence of dispersal interacts with, or even swamps, the influence of local-scale drivers like environmental conditions and species interactions. An emphasis on dispersal and a focus on multi-scale processes enable metacommunity theory to contribute strongly to the advancement of invasion biology. Propagule pressure of invaders has been identified as one of the most important drivers facilitating invasion, so the metacommunity concept, designed to address how dispersal-driven dynamics affect community structure, can directly address many of the central questions of invasion biology. Here we revisit many of the important concepts and paradigms of biological invasions—propagule pressure, biotic resistance, enemy release, functional traits, neonative species, human-assisted transport—and view those concepts through the lens of metacommunity theory. In doing so, we accomplish several goals. First, we show that work on metacommunities has generated multiple predictions, models, and the tools that can be directly applied to invasion scenarios. Among these predictions is that invasibility of a community should decrease with both local controls on community assembly, and the dispersal rates of native species. Second, we demonstrate that framing biological invasions in metacommunity terms actually unifies several seemingly disparate concepts central to invasion biology. Finally, we recommend several courses of action for the control and management of invasive species that emerge from applying the concepts of metacommunity theory.
A Comparative Study of Cycloidal Reluctance Machine and Switched Reluctance Machine

A variable reluctance electric machine with a two-degree of freedom rotor motion characterized by rotation around the center of the rotor and orbiting around the center of the stator is studied. One motivation for adopting such rotor motion would be to allow torque generation through both the radial and tangential components of the electromagnetic forces created in the airgap, as opposed to common rotary machines in which torque is a byproduct of only the tangential component of the airgap electromagnetic forces. Furthermore, the rotor motion provides a built-in gearing action similar to that of a cycloidal drive, which allows natural torque multiplication and the tight integration of the electromagnetic and mechanical systems. The two-degree of freedom rotor motion also results in a counter-intuitive inertia characteristic of this machine concept which is elaborated in this paper for the first time. Due to the reluctance nature of the torque, and because of the distinctive rotor motion profile which resembles the motion of a cycloid, the studied machine is called a cycloidal reluctance (CR) electric machine (CRM). In this paper, the principle of operation of the CRM is explained, and its performance is compared to a counterpart switched reluctance machine (SRM). A prototype is built, and the theoretical torque calculations are validated by experimental measurements.
Multi-disciplinary design optimization of composite structures: A review

Abstract A systematic multi-disciplinary design approach to the optimum tailoring of composite materials is a challenging design optimization problem. It involves the tailoring of composite material properties as per the design requirements. While designing any component, typical cost or weight reduction involves the use of optimization together with corresponding analysis. Depending upon various performance requirements, different types of analyses become the design drivers. Often in practice, such design drivers are dealt with separately, allowing the design to iterate until all the constraints are satisfied. However, these all-design drivers act as separate black box units with very tight interfaces, which could lead to quite inefficient designs. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) establishes a link between numerous parameters concerning various disciplines. The main objective of this study is to review the different MDO frameworks applied to the design optimization of composite materials and structures by various researchers and to compare their capabilities and constraints.
A kinematic analysis of world-class crawl stroke swimmers

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze, by kinematic techniques, selected movements of the trunk and upper extremity as displayed by world-class crawl stroke swimmers engaged in competition. A principal task was the ascertainment of instantaneous angular velocity and acceleration characteristics of the underwater stroke. Joint action and stroke technique were described relative to these kinematic parameters which are derivatives of displacement data obtained through cinematographic techniques.
Optical performance monitoring based on linear optical sampling

Wave interference is a well-known physical phenomenon to perform phase-to-intensity conversion. By the interference of two optical waves, the relative phase difference between the waves becomes apparent in the resulting intensity—that is, the phase of a test optical source can be obtained by beating with a reference optical source, a process known as coherent detection, homodyning, or heterodyning. Coherent photodetection is the basis of linear optical sampling (LOS): characterization of the temporal electric field of an optical source is obtained by interference with a local oscillator and photodetection. The local oscillator can be a quasimonochromatic source, in which case the interference must be measured with fast photodetectors. The local oscillator can also be a short optical pulse providing the necessary temporal resolution, in which case the interference can be resolved with slower photodetectors. Diagnostics based on this principle are advantageous since they can in principle provide a high-resolution temporal representation of the electric field of a test source. Coherent homodyne detection can be used as a high-resolution temporal diagnostic for optical sources. This capability is unique and advantageous for optical performance monitoring. Valuable assessment of the performance of telecommunication systems and devices is obtained with statistical measurements of the electric field of the optical signals. Because the technology of optical telecommunications is constantly evolving, diagnostics are evolving accordingly. Since coherent detection has seen increased interest over the past few years for optical transmission, diagnostics providing relevant information on the intensity and phase of optical signals naturally fit into this evolution.
DATATOP: A decade of neuroprotective inquiry

In 1987, the DATATOP clinical trial was initiated to examine the benefits of deprenyl (selegiline) and α-tocopherol in slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). After 14 ± 6 (mean ± SD) months of controlled observation, deprenyl 10 mg/day was found to significantly delay the time until enough disability developed to warrant the initiation of levodopa therapy. This effect was largely sustained during the overall 8.2 years of observation, including open-label deprenyl treatment and a second treatment randomization to continue deprenyl or switch to placebo. There were no accompanying benefits of deprenyl in postponing levodopa-related adverse effects or extending life. α-Tocopherol produced no benefits. The 2.1% per year mortality rate of the DATATOP cohort was remarkably low, about the same as an age-matched population without PD. Neuroprotective therapy remains an elusive goal for the experimental therapeutics of PD. Advances in understanding pathogenesis, a robust pipeline of rational treatments, and the advent of valid and reliable biologic markers hold promise in the coming decade for developing and achieving neuroprotective therapies for PD.
Design and simulation of self-repairing DNA lattices

Self-repair is essential to all living systems, providing the ability to remain functional in spite of gradual damage. In the context of self-assembly of self-repairing synthetic biomolecular systems, recently Winfree developed a method for transforming a set of DNA tiles into its self-healing counterpart at the cost of increasing the lattice area by a factor of 25. The overall focus of this paper, however, is to develop compact designs for self-repairing tiling assemblies with reasonable constraints on crystal growth. Specifically, we use a special class of DNA tiling designs called reversible tiling which when carefully designed can provide inherent self-repairing capabilities to patterned DNA lattices. We further note that we can transform any irreversible computational DNA tile set to its reversible counterpart and hence improve the self-repairability of the computational lattice. But doing the transform with an optimal number of tiles, is still an open question.
Yield evaluation of WSI parallel systems

The authors propose a methodology for estimating the yield of WSI (wafer scale integration) parallel systems efficiently and accurately by taking advantage of the fact that most of the parallel systems have recursive structures by nature. This methodology evaluates yield by means of a recursive approach without enumerating all fixable states. It is often possible to derive the yield of WSI parallel systems (with recursive structures) of any size. Using this approach, the authors evaluate the exact yield of a fault-tolerant modular binary tree and the yield bounds of a reconfigurable cube-connected cycle structure. >
A preliminary study of the Extreme Ultraviolet spectroheliograms from Skylab

Some of the first observations obtained with the Naval Research Laboratory's Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph (S082A) during the first Skylab mission are presented and compared with magnetograms and other ground-based data. The instrument is a slitless objective-type grating spectrograph covering 170–630 A and described in Solar Phys. 27, 251 (1972). Chromospheric network, loop prominences, active regions, a flare, limb brightening, XUV bright points, and ‘coronal holes’ are among the phenomena shown and discussed.
A circularly apertured dielectric loaded plural mode sectoral horn-an efficient feed for reflector antennas

A sectoral horn suited for a class of reflector (parabolic cylinder) antenna is presented. This horn exhibits low cross-polarization and sidelobe levels similar to corrugated conical horns, but at higher gain or aperture efficiency. The proposed horn is a dielectric loaded plural mode sectoral horn, with a cylindrical aperture. In the development of this horn, the technique of multimode operation for greater directivity at reduced sidelobe and cross-polarization is combined with the technique of dielectric loading for aperture efficiency enhancement on the walls of a circularly apertured sectoral horn with inherently reduced sidelobes as compared to rectangular apertured sectoral horn. The geometry of the plural mode dielectric loaded sectoral horn with a cylindrical aperture is shown. Experimental results of a plural mode H-plane sectoral horn with a cylindrical aperture designed for use in a Cassegrain antenna system for optimum aperture and pattern control in the Ku-band frequencies are presented. >
Solid State Transformer (SST) as an energy router: Economic dispatch based energy routing strategy

The Solid State Transformer (SST) is a revolutionary technology being developed by the authors. It has a tremendous number of features, which include power management, fault management and energy management. Its autonomous and distributed power management capability enables large-scale integration of distributed energy resources (DER) into the power grid. Specifically, it supports AC or DC connected Energy Cells: a combination of DERs, energy storage devices and loads. The SST can achieve real-time power flow regulation via the Energy Cell, therefore forming the foundation of its capability to become a real-time Energy Router. This paper introduces an economic based energy routing strategy that utilizes energy storage to reduce consumption of grid power. Predictive photovoltaic and load forecasting are used to optimize charging and discharging of energy storage. This rule-based algorithm is implemented and demonstrated in a SST enabled 380 V DC Energy Cell.
Bile acids induce eosinophil degranulation by two different mechanisms

Eosinophil infiltration and activation occur in the vicinity of the bile ducts in immune cholangiopathies. When cholangiocytes are injured, bile acids may cross the damaged biliary epithelia and affect periductal immune cells. Although immunomodulatory actions of bile acids have been well explored, their effects on eosinophils have never been examined. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that bile acids directly activate eosinophils and induce their effector functions. We found that a hydrophobic bile acid, taurine-con- jugated chenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), induces eosinophil degranulation in vitro via 2 different mechanisms depending on its concentration. Degranulation induced by 100 to 500 micromol/L TCDCA was an active and regulated release because it was completely abolished by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein), by a microfilament inhibitor (cytochalasin B), and by incubation at 4 degrees C. Furthermore, eosinophils stimulated with 10 to 250 micromol/L TCDCA vigorously produced superoxide and interleukin-8 (IL-8). In contrast, at higher concentrations (e.g., > or = 1,000 micromol/L), TCDCA induced granule protein release without concomitant superoxide production and IL-8 production. Further genistein and cytochalasin B failed to inhibit eosinophil degranulation induced by 2,500 micromol/L TCDCA, suggesting that TCDCA at this concentration induced passive degranulation via cytolysis. The analyses of cell morphology and functional viability also supported the presence of 2 mechanisms for TCDCA-induced eosinophil degranulation. Taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid, a hydrophilic bile acid, similarly activated human eosinophils at relatively low concentrations, although the potency was always lower compared with that of TCDCA. In conclusion, we have shown that bile acids are capable of directly activating eosinophils.
A Green element method for fourth order ordinary differential equations

Transformed two-point boundary value problems (BVPs) for the fourth order ordinary differential equations with a positive coefficient multiplying at least one of derivative terms are solved with the Green element method. The given problem is transformed into two-coupled second order BVPs amenable to suitable boundary conditions. The integral equations that arise by applying the singular integral theory are solved in the discretized problem domain with linear interpolation in space. The solutions for the two component equations are then combined to obtain a complete solution for the whole fourth order BVP. The effects of different types of loadings, excitations and boundary conditions are considered, and in each case, the results are found to illustrate the Green element method and demonstrate its advantages.
Aroma, color, and texture of ground beef patties treated with fumaric and lactic acids

Ground beef patties without acid or with added fumaric (FA) or lactic acids (LA) at 1, 3, and 5% concentrations were vacuum-packaged and stored for 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days at 4C or tested without storage (0 days). The FA or LA treatments caused small sour aroma increases. Spoiled aroma was lowest for samples with 1% FA at 10 or 14 days or 1% LA at 10 days of storage. Initially, 3 or 5% FA and FA samples had fading. Lightness scores of 1 % FA or LA did not differ from the control initially or for up to 14 days of storage. Shear force values for 1 and 3% FA treatments were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the control. The 5 % FA patties required significantly less shear force when compared with controls at 0, 1, 5, 7, and 10 days of storage.
The novel nicotinic receptor antagonist N,N′-dodecane-1,12-diyl-bis-3-picolinium dibromide decreases nicotine-induced dopamine metabolism in rat nucleus accumbens

The current study examined the effect of the novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, N,N′-dodecane-1,12-diyl-bis-3-picolinium dibromide (bPiDDB), on nicotine-induced dopamine metabolism in rat nucleus accumbens, striatum and medial prefrontal cortex. Acute nicotine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) produced an increase in the content of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in nucleus accumbens, but not in striatum or medial prefrontal cortex. Pretreatment with bPiDDB (1 or 3 mg/kg, s.c.) dose-dependently inhibited the nicotine-induced increase in DOPAC content in nucleus accumbens. These results indicate that bPiDDB inhibits the nicotine-induced increase in DOPAC in reward-relevant brain region targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Wide local excision for Buschke-Löwenstein tumor or circumferential carcinoma in situ

This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients with Buschke-Lowenstein tumor or circumferential anal carcinoma in situ who underwent wide local excision with flap or skin graft coverage of the wound. A retrospective review was conducted of all patients operated at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center during a 6-year period. Outcome measures included postoperative complications, functional results, recurrence rate, and re-intervention rate. Of 152 patients operated for dysplastic anal lesions or tumors, 10 (7%) underwent wide local excision for Buschke-Lowenstein tumor or circumferential anal carcinoma in situ [men 70%, mean age 36 years]. Median duration of symptoms was 5 years. Eighty percent of patients had prior operations and 50% were positive for the human immunodeficiency virus. Mean size of the lesion was 41 cm2. Microscopic margin positivity was noted in 60%. Wound was closed with house advancement flap in majority of patients. Only one patient had fecal diversion. Median length of stay was 2 days. Postoperative complications were noted in 50% of patients. Rate of transient postoperative incontinence was 30%. Recurrent disease was noted in 3 patients with the human immunodeficiency virus [median follow-up: 18 months]. All recurrences were treated with local fulguration or medication. Wide local excision with flap or skin graft coverage is an option for patients with Buschke-Lowenstein tumor or circumferential anal carcinoma in situ. Close postoperative surveillance is advised due to the risk of recurrent disease, especially in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus.
Observer variation and the performance accuracy gained by averaging ratings of abnormality.

Six radiologists used continuous scales to rate 529 chest-film cases for likelihood of five different types of abnormalities (interstitial disease, nodule, pneumothorax, alveolar infiltrate, and rib fracture) in each of six replicated readings, yielding 36 separate ratings of each case for the five abnormalities. Separate data analyses of all cases and subsets of the difficult/subtle cases for each abnormality estimated the relative gains in accuracy (linear-scaled area below the ROC curve) obtained by averaging the case-ratings across (a) six independent replications by each reader (25% gain), (b) six different readers within each replication (34% gain), or (c) all 36 readings (48% gain). Although accuracy differed among both readers and abnormalities, ROC curves for the median ratings showed similar relative gains in accuracy, somewhat greater than those predicted from the measured rating correlations. A model for variance components in the observer’s latent decision variable could predict these gains from measured correlations in the single ratings of cases. Depending on whether the model’s estimates were based on realized accuracy gains or on rating correlations, about 48% or 39% of each reader’s total decision variance (summed variance for positive and negative cases) consisted of random (within-reader) error that was uncorrelated between replications, another 10% or 14% came from idiosyncratic responses to individual cases, and about 43% or 47% was systematic variation that all readers found in the sampled cases.
Content and Contexts: neglected elements in studies of student teaching as an occasion for learning to teach

Abstract This paper argues that studies of student teaching as an occasion for learning to teach have mistakenly ignored the role of program content and contexts in the socialization of prospective teachers. A typology for distinguishing among the curricula of student teaching programs in studies of student teacher socialization is proposed based on Zeichner's (1983) paradigms of teacher education and Lanier's (1984) description of alternative conceptions of the teacher's role. Illustrations are also provided of how knowledge about the various contexts of student teaching can be incorporated into studies of student teacher socialization. It is concluded that we will only begin to understand more about the role of student teaching in teacher development when we begin to take more of the substance and ecological reality of student teaching into account in research studies.
Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci by the Vitek 2 System

The accurate performance of the Vitek 2 GP67 card for detecting methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) is not known. We prospectively determined the ability of the Vitek 2 GP67 card to accurately detect methicillin-resistant CoNS, with mecA PCR results used as the gold standard for a 4-month period in 2012. Included in the study were 240 consecutively collected nonduplicate CoNS isolates. Cefoxitin susceptibility by disk diffusion testing was determined for all isolates. We found that the three tested systems, Vitek 2 oxacillin and cefoxitin testing and cefoxitin disk susceptibility testing, lacked specificity and, in some cases, sensitivity for detecting methicillin resistance. The Vitek 2 oxacillin and cefoxitin tests had very major error rates of 4% and 8%, respectively, and major error rates of 38% and 26%, respectively. Disk cefoxitin testing gave the best performance, with very major and major error rates of 2% and 24%, respectively. The test performances were species dependent, with the greatest errors found for Staphylococcus saprophyticus. While the 2014 CLSI guidelines recommend reporting isolates that test resistant by the oxacillin MIC or cefoxitin disk test as oxacillin resistant, following such guidelines produces erroneous results, depending on the test method and bacterial species tested. Vitek 2 cefoxitin testing is not an adequate substitute for cefoxitin disk testing. For critical-source isolates, mecA PCR, rather than Vitek 2 or cefoxitin disk testing, is required for optimal antimicrobial therapy.
IN VITRO BIOASSAY FOR HYPERTREHALOSEMIC HORMONE-DEPENDENT TREHALOSE BIOSYNTHESIS BY FAT BODY FROM ADULT BLABERUS DISCOIDALIS COCKROACHES

An in vitro bioassay suitable for routine use to investigate hypertrehalosemic hormone (HTH)-dependent trehalose biosynthesis was developed for the cockroach fat body. Blaberus discoidalis fat bodies were isolated and divided so that eight matched pieces from a single tissue could be compared for multiple control and experimental treatments. Optimum incubation conditions and the properties of HTH-dependent trehalose synthesis were determined. Dose-response studies determined an EC50 of 0.044 nM HTH for male fat body and 0.16 nM HTH for female tissue. HTH increased trehalose production by male fat body 3-fold compared to only a 67% maximum increase by the female tissue, and only the male tissue was used in subsequent studies. Fat body required only 5-min exposure to HTH for maximum trehalose production for 1 h. Trehalose synthesis was inhibited by ≥ 15 mM trehalose in the incubation medium. The fat body showed a developmental increase in trehalose synthesis in vitro that was reflected by hemolymph trehalose in vivo. Basal and HTH-related trehalose synthesis were low between days 0 and 10, increased 3-fold by day 20, and were high thereafter. These studies have established baseline data for future investigations to identify the signal transduction mechanisms involved in HTH regulation of fat body metabolism. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rhabdomyolysis and Satin Therapy: Relevance to the Elderly

A recent debate has emerged as to the risk-benefit ratio of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins). This debate has centered on the withdrawal of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor cerivastatin (Baycol). Its withdrawal was prompted by an unacceptably high rate of rhabdomyolysis associated with its use. The development of rhabdomyolysis in cerivastatin-treated patients surprised few, since myotoxicity is a class effect with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. What has sprung from the cerivastatin experience, though, is the concept of "guilt by association"; thus, other members of this class are now viewed in a similarly negative light. Such misgivings are understandable, but to a degree may be ill-advised, since differences exist in the risk and therefore the rate of rhabdomyolysis occurrence among the various HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. In this regard, pravastatin and fluvastatin are least likely to provoke muscle cell damage, which, at least in part, relates to their not being metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 pathway. When muscle damage does occur with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, it is commonly the result of drug-drug interactions rather than a specific adverse response to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor monotherapy. Such drug-drug interactions inevitably result in higher plasma concentrations of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and thereby an increased risk of myotoxicity. A growing consensus supports an expanded use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in elderly patients. Polypharmacy and altered drug metabolism both put the elderly patient at increased risk of myotoxicity when drugs in the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class are administered. Physicians must take many factors into account when selecting a member of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class, particularly as relates to their use in the multiply medicated elderly patient.
Shell variation in Helicodonta obvoluta (O. F. Müller, 1774 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helicidae s. lato)

ABSTRACT: Biometrical analysis of the material of 668 adult shells of Helicidonta obvoluta (Mull.) from Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary showed a high inter-population variation. Similarity analysis revealed two clusters of populations: one from the centre of the range, another inhabiting its fringes. Snails from the Abruzzi Mts (Central Apennines) had shells similar to those from the central populations, though the area is located on the southern fringe of the distribution range.
Electrophysiology of neural units in goldfish optic tectum

Abstract Axons of retinal ganglion cells showed responses not previously emphasized: (a) many tonic units discharged oscillations, 2–12 spikes per burst, interburst intervals 20–300 msec; (b) phasic units showed concentric or flanking ON and OFF fields, response frequency depended on balance of retinal excitation and inhibition; (c) directional sensitivity was maximal for retinal stimuli moving in naso-temporal direction; (d) in anterior tectum deep afferent layer (DAL) provides for deep electrical sink, fibers of DAL have small fields, mostly in front of fish; (e) color-opponent units are prevalent in the superficial terminal layers, color is spatially and temporally represented. Tectal cell responses were distinguished by large visual fields, spontaneity, multiple spikes and long latencies to optic nerve stimulation, failure to follow above 60 per sec, plasticity of response. Tectal neurons of three classes included (a) cells of one type in upper layers were inhibited in ongoing activity by visual input, receptive fields exceeded 100°, were often oblong, responses did not habituate; (b) cells of second type were excited by visual stimuli, became unresponsive (habituated) or responsive only to stimuli in different position or direction (newness cells); lability precluded field mapping and dishabituation was produced by change in background, extraneous stimulation, and spontaneous firing; (c) pyriform cells in periventricular layer were abundant, difficult to isolate electrically, discharged spontaneously in bursts at intervals of several seconds and responded to visual input by interruption of firing. Some tectal cells responded to non-visual stimuli as well.
An assessment of the argumentativeness scale for social desirability bias

An investigation of the relationship between the argumentativeness scale and judgments of its social desirability was conducted. Past research indicating that higher argumentativeness scores are associated with males and those with argumentation training is supported. However, when the variance in argumentativeness that can be attributed to social desirability is removed, the difference between the sexes diminishes. Following an item‐by‐item analysis of sex differences in social desirability, it is concluded that sex differences on the argumentativeness scale may be attributable in part to social desirability bias. Future research exploring the relationship of the scale with social desirability is advocated, and implications for the use of the scale are discussed.
T-Matrix Approach to Electron Distribution in Crystals

The wave functions for valence or conduction electrons are given in the form proposed by Phillips and Kleinmran. The wave equation for the smooth part of the electron wave functions is rewritten as an integral eiluation that is solved by using the t-matrix formalism. The smooth part of the wave function is then given by a plane wave plus waves arising from electron scattering by the effective potential of the crystal which might contain point imperfections. Approximate expressions for the wave functions, density andd energy of the valence electroms and the self-consistent crystal potential are given. Numerical results obtained for the Fourier coefficients of the valence electron charge density in diamond exhibit covalent bonding anrd are in good agreement with experimental results. (auth)
Maintaining Diagnostic Knowledge-Based Systems: A Control-Theoretic Approach

Diagnostic knowledge-based systems are used in a variety of application domains to support classification decisions. The effectiveness of such systems often decreases as the application environment or user preferences change over time. Hence, frequent adjustments to the system knowledge by a human expert become necessary. We study the problem of determining the optimal amount of effort that should be exerted to maintain the system over a planning horizon (finite or infinite). Using the receiver operating characteristic curve to derive a measure for system performance, we maximize system value by balancing system benefits with maintenance costs. The problem is cast as an optimal control model in which the goal is to choose the timing and extent of maintenance that must be expended to maximize system value. We find that the optimal solution usually possesses a steady-state component. The maintenance problem is also solved as a discrete, impulse control problem, as well as one where maintenance effort has a nonlinear impact on system performance.
Risks of Coronary Heart Disease in Women: Current Understanding and Evolving Concepts

The population of older individuals in the United States is growing rapidly. Because women generally live longer than men and make up the majority of this aging population, the elucidation of health issues related to older women is important. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability for women and claims the lives of more women than the next 14 causes combined. The majority of these deaths are due to atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, with nearly 250,000 women dying of myocardial infarction each year. There is evidence that women with suspected or established cardiovascular disease have not benefited fully from recent advances in the detection and management of coronary heart disease. Regardless of the mechanism and extent of the effect that sex differences have on approaches to cardiovascular disease, women appear to benefit from proven efficacious therapies, and the longer-term outcomes associated with these treatments are positive. The data regarding women and coronary heart disease are rapidly evolving and sometimes conflicting. The intent of this article is to summarize the most current understanding of coronary heart disease risks in women, highlighting the impact of prevention, and to discuss the latest novel findings that may become important in our armamentarium for prevention of coronary heart disease.
A new graph characteristic and its application to numerical computability

Many traditional numerical algorithms include a step on which we check whether a given real number a is equal to 0. This checking is easy for rational numbers, but for constructive real numbers, whether a number is 0 or not is an algorithmically undecidable problem. It is therefore desirable to re-formulate the existing algorithms with as few such comparisons as possible. We describe a new graph characteristic; this characteristic describes how the number of comparisons in an algorithm can be reduced.
A note on Kalman filtering for the seasonal moving average model

In recent years, the Kalman filter has been used extensively to compute the exact likelihood of autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time series models. See, for example, Akaike (1978), Gardner, Harvey & Phillips (1980), Jones (1980) and Harvey & Pierse (1984). Using the Cholesky factorization, Ansley (1979) gave an alternative computationally efficient algorithm for computing the likelihood of an ARMA model when there are no missing observations. In particular, he showed how to obtain substantial computational savings for the seasonal moving average model by using the Cholesky factorization. By applying his Theorem 4-1, we can obtain similar savings for an algorithm based on the Kalman filter. An extension of the result to a seasonal ARMA model is also given. We consider the zero mean seasonal moving average model
Sex differences in late behavioral response to subcutaneous formalin injection in mice.

We investigated sex- or gender-dependent differences in nociception using the formalin test in mice. In addition to typical biphasic responses, a new, late phase (Phase 3) was observed. A local anesthetic QX-314 injected at the end of Phase 2 blocked Phase 3. Phase 3 in female mice was significantly greater than that in male mice regardless the stage of the estrus cycle.
Determination of sensible heat flux over sparse canopy using thermal infrared data

Surface temperatures, Ts, were estimated for a natural vegetative surface in Owens Valley, California, with infrared thermometric observations collected from an aircraft. The region is quite arid and is composed primarily of bushes (∼30%) and bare soil (∼70%). Application of the bulk transfer equation for the estimation of sensible heat, H, gave unsatisfactory values when compared to Bowen ratio and eddy correlation methods over a particular site. This was attributed to the inability with existing data to properly evaluate the resistance to heat transfer, rah. To obtain appropriate rah-values the added resistance to heat transfer, kB−1, was allowed to vary although there is both theoretical and experimental evidence that kB−1 for vegetative surfaces can be treated as constant. The present data indicate that for partial canopy cover under arid conditions kB−1 may be a function of Ts measured radiometrically. The equation determining kB−1 was simplified and tested over another arid site with good results; however, this had a limited data set (i.e., 6 data points). The dimensionless kB−1 equation is simplified for use over full canopy cover and is shown to give satisfactory estimates of H over a fully-grown wheat crop.
Concomitant Graves' Disease and Primary Hyperparathyroidism Influence of Hyperthyroidism on Serum Calcium and Parathyroid Hormone

Two patients with coexistent Graves' disease and primary hyperparathyroidism were studied during medical treatment of their hyperthyroidism. Serum free calcium level was initially quite elevated (1.61 and 1.71 mM, normal 1.12 to 1.28 mM), but immunoreactive parathyroid hormone values were only slightly increased. The immunoreactive parathyroid hormone values of 153 and 173 nleq/ml (normal less than 150 nleq/ml) were far lower than expected in hyperparathyroid patients with a similar degree of hypercalcemia. As the patients became euthyroid during thionamide treatment, calcium values decreased to 1.39 and 1.61 mM, respectively, and parathyroid hormone increased to values clearly suggestive of hyperparathyroidism (454 and 229 nleq/ml, respectively). Parathyroidectomy and subtotal thyroidectomy cured both the hyperparathyroidism and the thyrotoxicosis in each case. These observations suggest that thyroid hormone had potentiated the osteoclastic effects of parathyroid hormone and that the resulting exacerbation of hypercalcemia had produced a relative suppression of hormone secretion by the abnormal parathyroid tissue.