cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The State-Charity Disparity Under the 2017 Tax Law

Since December 2017, several states have enacted laws granting state tax credits for charitable contributions that go toward public education or public health. One purpose of these laws is to allow individuals to claim federal charitable contribution deductions for payments that simultaneously serve to reduce those individuals’ state tax liabilities and to support programs that state governments would otherwise fund. The strategy adopted by these states — if effective — would mitigate the impact of the $10,000 cap on individual state and local tax deductions imposed by the December 2017 tax law. The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) have proposed, but not yet finalized, regulations aimed at shutting down that strategy. The ongoing debate regarding state charitable credit programs and the proposed Treasury regulations raise a number of interesting legal questions — some of which may be addressed at subsequent stages of the rulemaking process, others of which will likely be resolved by litigation. Rather than trying to answer any of those questions, this Essay — an edited transcript of remarks at the Washington University Journal of Law & Policy-Missouri Department of Revenue 2018 Symposium on State & Local Taxation — focuses instead on a separate, though related, question, a question that is implicated by the charitable credit debate but that will linger long after any litigation is resolved. That is: Why should federal tax law allow more favorable treatment to charitable contributions than to state and local tax payments? What are the essential differences between non-governmental charities and sub-national governments, or between contributions and tax payments, that justify this lack of parity? Ultimately, this Essay concludes that there is little justification for allowing a virtually unlimited charitable contribution deduction while capping the deduction for SALT. That conclusion gives rise to a critique of the December 2017 tax law, but also to a critique of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s tax plan, which would have capped the rate at which state and local tax payments could be deducted without applying the same cap to charitable contributions. The Essay ends with reflections on the long-term implications of the state charitable credit programs for tax policy and politics.
High Pesticide Exposure Events and Olfactory Impairment among U.S. Farmers.

Background: Olfactory impairment (OI) is common among older adults and independently predicts all-cause mortality and the risk of several major neurodegenerative diseases. Pesticide exposure may im...
ON THE CONVERGENCE OF SOLUTIONS OF LIÉNARD'S EQUATION WITH A FORCING TERM

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses convergence of solutions of Lienard's equation with a forcing term. It focuses on a second order ordinary differential equation. The chapter presents a criterion that can be easily applied to concrete equations. It can also be applied to certain classes of such equations. It presents an equation that has a periodic solution ϕ(t) and focuses on the criteria for global asymptotic stability of ϕ(t). The chapter explains how as assumption of periodicity can be replaced by that of almost periodicity.
Diamond Scattering Detectors for Compton Telescopes

We present our work to demonstrate the suitability of artificial single-crystal diamond detectors (SCDDs) for use as the scattering medium in Compton telescopes for medium-energy gamma-ray astronomy. SCDDs offer the possibility of position and energy resolution comparable to those of silicon solid-state detectors (SSDs), combined with efficiency and timing resolution so-far only achievable using fast scintillators. It has been shown that SCDDs fabricated using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) show good energy resolution (~7 keV FWHM), comparable to SSDs, with much faster time response (~ns rise time) due to higher electron/hole mobilities. They are also temperature- and light-insensitive, and radiation hard. In addition, diamond is lowZ, composed entirely of carbon, but relatively high-density (3.5 g cm-3) compared to silicon or organic scintillator. SCDDs are therefore an intriguing possibility for a new Compton scattering element: if patterned with ~mm-sized readout electrodes and combined with a calorimeter composed of fast inorganic scintillator, such as CeBr 3 , read out by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), SCDDs will enable a compact and efficient Compton telescope using time-of-flight (ToF) discrimination to achieve low background. Such an instrument offers the exciting potential for unprecedented sensitivity, especially at energies < 1-2 MeV, on a small-scale mission utilizing recently available SmallSat buses (payload mass < 100 kg). We present the status of our laboratory development effort to design, fabricate, and test a small prototype Compton telescope.
Review of chemical demonstrations, volume 5: a handbook for teachers of chemistry

B the vivid use of color in Chemical Demonstrations, Volume 5: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry, what catches your eye right off the bat is to whom this volume is dedicated: Ron Perkins and Oliver Sacks. If you are not just obtaining this volume to complete the set, that dedication should answer the question of whether you need Volume 5’s collection of demonstrations to support your presentation of concepts of color, light, vision, and perception. The extensive introductory chapter of Volume 5 is a must for anyone who wants to know the science behind color and light as interpreted by humans. But I purchased this volume for the demos: 54 demonstrations and 83 different procedures. The first component that caught my attention was the essay “Shining Light, Shedding Light” (p xiii) by one of my favorites, Nobellaureate Roald Hoffmann, in which he offers his take on fireflies and quantum. Another attention-grabber for me was the section “Displaying Small Phenomena to a Large Audience” (p xxxiii) highlighting two demos that have been in my repertoire for 15 years: Briggs−Rauscher (Demonstration 7.1), and oxidation of luminol (Demonstration 2.4).
Filarial Genomics: Gene Discovery and Gene Expression

A project to study the genome of the lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi was initiated in 1995. This project has been funded by the World Health Organization and the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) with the ultimate objective of identifying new vaccine candidates and drug targets for filariasis. Because fewer than 60 Brugia genes had been cloned by the end of 1994, it was determined that the first goal of the project would be the identification of thousands of new genes. These genes have been identified by randomly selecting clones for DNA sequence analysis (ESTs) from cDNA libraries that have been constructed from all life cycle stages of B. malayi. To date, over 22,000 Brugia ESTs have been entered into the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s dbEST database and about 8000 new genes have been identified (estimated to be about 40% of the complete set of B. malayi genes). In addition to new gene discovery, the 22,000 ESTs can be used to identify genes that are most highly expressed at each stage of development. Such analyses can provide insights into the biology of the organism and can suggest new molecules for study as drug targets and vaccine candidates.
Utility of salivary gland biopsy in diagnosing Sjogren's syndrome in a POTS patient population

Abstract Purpose POTS patients undergo labial salivary gland biopsies (LSGB) for histologic confirmation of Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Predictive features of positive results are unknown. Methods 161 POTS patients underwent LSGB. Their charts were reviewed for antibody and diagnostic testing results. Results Only 11% (17/161) of POTS patients were SS positive. There were more positive ANA antibodies in those with positive LSGB (65% v 28%, p = .0026). Positive skin nerve biopsy for small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was associated with positive LSGB (p = .046). Conclusion A positive ANA and skin biopsy for SFN are two helpful features in selecting POTS patients for LSGB.
T Cell Receptor Is Required for Differentiation, but Not Maintenance, of Intestinal CD4+ Intraepithelial Lymphocytes.

Summary The gut epithelium is populated by intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), a heterogeneous T cell population with cytotoxic and regulatory properties, which can be acquired at the epithelial layer. However, the role of T cell receptor (TCR) in this process remains unclear. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed distinct clonal expansions between cell states, with CD4+CD8αα+ IELs being one of the least diverse populations. Conditional deletion of TCR on differentiating CD4+ T cells or of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II on intestinal epithelial cells prevented CD4+CD8αα+ IEL differentiation. However, TCR ablation on differentiated CD4+CD8αα+ IELs or long-term cognate antigen withdraw did not affect their maintenance. TCR re-engagement of antigen-specific CD4+CD8αα+ IELs by Listeria monocytogenes did not alter their state but correlated with reduced bacterial invasion. Thus, local antigen recognition is an essential signal for differentiation of CD4+ T cells at the epithelium, yet differentiated IELs are able to preserve an effector program in the absence of TCR signaling.
Classification of Mild Cognitive Impairment by Fusing Neuroimaging and Gene Expression Data: Classification of Mild Cognitive Impairment by Fusing Neuroimaging and Gene Expression Data

As reversing the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is impossible, the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is considered as the precursor of AD, has become a more tractable goal. Because both brain structural and functional alterations have been observed in MCI patients, many multimodal fusion approaches have been proposed to classify MCI from normal controls (NC) in clinical studies. Given the complex relationships between brain structure and function, deep learning based models can be helpful in revealing potential non-linear relationships buried in multimodal neuroimaging data. Meanwhile, RNA expression microarray profile can be a complementary feature in brain diseases analysis from another aspect, that is, the knowledge from molecular biology and genetics may benefit the classification of AD/MCI patients. To incorporate both imaging and molecular biomarkers, we propose a new deep fusion model: by integrating a cross-model deep network working on multi-modal brain image data and a fully-connected neural network working on gene expression data, a parameter representing the ratio of imaging and genetic features can be learned automatically during the classification process. Using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset, this method achieves an overall 82.3% accuracy, by fusing brain structural and functional connectivity as well as gene expression intensity information.
Glanzmann's thrombasthenia during pregnancy complicated by large subchorionic hematoma managed with antifibrinolytics, human leukocyte antigen-matched platelet transfusion, and primary cesarean delivery: a case report

Abstract A 29-year-old primipara with Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia presented for prenatal care at 8 weeks. Pregnancy remained uncomplicated until 22 weeks when a subchorionic hematoma (SCH), measuring 5.8 × 4.1 × 6.7 cm, was diagnosed and managed outpatient. At 28 weeks, the SCH was significantly expanding to 11 × 13 × 3.7 cm (∼30% of the placental surface). The patient was admitted for antepartum surveillance and steroids. Fetal and maternal status were reassuring. At 36 weeks, there was active extravasation from the SCH, prompting interdisciplinary discussion with NICU, blood bank, pharmacy, anesthesia, hematology, and the patient regarding her options. Immediate delivery risked platelet sensitization due to the unavailable HLA-matched platelets. She opted for medical management with aminocaproic acid. At 37 weeks, she underwent a scheduled cesarean. HLA-matched platelets and additional aminocaproic acid were administered preoperatively. Intrapartum hemorrhage of 1200cc was controlled with uterotonics in addition to the above measures. Antifibrinolytics were continued. The infant had an uncomplicated postpartum course. Patient had symptomatic anemia on postoperative day 1 prompting red blood cell transfusion. Discharge was delayed until postoperative day 6 to further monitor her bleeding; oral antifibrinolytics were continued for two weeks. This case adds to the growing use of adjuvant medications, including antifibrinolytics, such as aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid, to reduce the reliance on platelet transfusion. This is critical for maintaining response to platelet transfusions and to minimize risk of fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia in current and subsequent pregnancies among women with lifelong bleeding disorders.
Maternal-filial transfer structures in endosperm: A nexus of nutritional dynamics and seed development.

Abstract Although the ultimate purpose of a seed is the successful establishment of the next generation, seed development involves more than embryo growth. In angiosperms, seed development requires the intimate coordination of three distinct entities — maternal tissue and two offspring, embryo and embryo-nourishing endosperm. Although seeds are cornerstones of many terrestrial ecosystems and human diets, we are only beginning to understand the interactions among seed tissues and the molecular processes and genes that determine them. Recent studies of gene expression and function in distantly related angiosperms, combined with over 100 years of embryological research, have repeatedly highlighted the endosperm associated with maternal-filial boundaries as a central point in seed developmental dynamics. In this review, we highlight evidence that links this zone with nutritional dynamics, developmental signaling, and imprinted gene expression. We suggest that the underappreciated diversity of this specialized endosperm across angiosperms deserves further study from developmental, molecular, and genetic perspectives.
Urban-rural differences for health promotion in faith-based organizations

Background : Rural faith-based organizations (FBO) serve an important social, cultural and political role in their communities, but compared to their urban counterparts, less is known about their ability to deliver health and wellness activities (HWA). This study’s purpose was to examine differences in factors related to HWA between urban and rural FBOs. Methods: A convenience sample of faith-leaders (N = 824) completed an online survey assessing faith leader demographics (age, sex, education, body mass index, race), FBO demographics (denomination, location), types of HWA, and barriers to HWA. Results: Respondents were primarily White (93%), male (72%), middle aged (53.2 + 12.1 yrs), with Methodist (42.5%) or Lutheran (20.2%) affiliations. Compared to urban faith leaders (n=599), rural faith leaders (n=225) reported lower physical activity levels and higher rates of overweight ( p’s <0.05). Compared to urban FBOs, rural FBOs were more likely to report offering no HWA (χ 2 =3.00, df =1, p =0.04), and rural FBOs offered fewer HWA (3.73±2.89) than urban FBOs (4.98±3.25; t =4.92, df =781, p <0.001). Urban FBOs offered more educational health classes, health fairs, health screenings, and physical activity/sports groups compared with rural FBOs ( p s<0.05). Rural FBOs were more likely to report a lack of congregational interest and lack of lay leadership as barriers to HWA, whereas urban FBOs indicated that other FBO activities conflicted with HWA ( p s<0.05). Conclusions: This study revealed important differences in factors related to HWA in urban and rural areas. This study provides public health professionals with insight regarding implementation of HWA in rural and urban FBOs.
The Other Side of the Podium: Student Perspectives on Learning Integration

Student perspectives on the transmission of integration in integrative programs were examined through a qualitative study. Participants in the study were 595 graduate and undergraduate students (305 women and 247 men) drawn from four Evangelical Christian institutions of higher education. Participants provided written data in response to three open-ended questions, inquiring about the exemplary and helpful aspects of their educational experiences with respect to integration. Post-hoc content analyses informed by grounded theory analytic processes were used to analyze the data, resulting in two overarching themes: Facilitating Integration, and Concepts of Integration, which respectively address how students learn integration, and how students conceptualize integration. The implications for the conceptualization of integration and for the pedagogy of facilitating integration are explored.
Primary mycotic aneurysm.

Due to the nonspecific clinical findings and poor prognosis, early recognition is mandatory in mycotic aneurysms. After rupture, they are almost always fatal. The difficulty and importance on early diagnosis of primary mycotic aneurysm prompts the presentation of a case of mycotic aneurysm of the abdominaly aorta.
Newton's method for steady and unsteady reacting flows

This paper describes the application of Newton's method to low Mach number steady and unsteady laminar diffusion flames, which are characterized by low flow speed and highly variable density. The newly-emerged vorticity-velocity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations is used for both steady and unsteady compressible flows to avoid staggered mesh discretization. The nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations are discretized using finite difference method, and a second-order backward Euler scheme is applied for the time derivatives. Central difference is used for diffusion terms to achieve better accuracy, and a monotonicity-preserving upwind difference is used for convective ones. We use an unequal-sized single grid mesh for unsteady flow and a three level multi-grid method for steady flow. The coupled nonlinear system is solved via the damped Newton's method for both steady and unsteady flows. The Newton Jacobian matrix is formed numerically, and the resulting linear system is ill-conditioned and is solved by the iterative solver Bi-CGSTAB with a Gauss-Seidel preconditioner.
Management of minor salivary gland carcinomas.

Abstract Purpose : To assess the role of radiotherapy alone or in combination with surgery in the treatment of patients with malignant minor salivary gland carcinomas. Methods and Materials : Between October 1964 and November 1992, 95 patients with minor salivary gland carcinomas of the head and neck received radiotherapy with curative intent. Eighty-seven patients were previously untreated, and 8 were treated for postsurgical recurrence. Fifty-one patients were treated with radiotherapy alone, and 44 were treated by surgical resection plus radiotherapy. Patients were staged according to the 1983 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging criteria for squamous cell carcinomas. Results : The 20-year actuarial rate of local control was 57% with no significant difference according to histologic type. When tumor stage was taken into consideration, there were no significant differences in local control according to tumor site. The 12-year actuarial probability of distant metastases was 40% (19% as the only site of failure). In multivariate analyses, local control was significantly affected only by tumor stage and treatment type (combined therapy better than radiotherapy alone); tumor stage was a significant predictor of cause-specific survival and freedom from relapse. Freedom-from-relapse rates were higher for patients who received combined treatment (p = 0.068). Conclusions : Treatment of minor salivary gland carcinomas is usually by combined surgery and radiotherapy, but there are situations where surgery alone or radiotherapy alone may be used. The ability to control these tumors with radiotherapy alone is not widely recognized. In the present series, the tumor was locally controlled in 20 patients with previously untreated primary lesions after radiotherapy alone (2.5 to 21 years) and in 4 other patients who were treated by radiotherapy alone for postsurgical recurrent tumor (3.5 to 14 years after radiotherapy). Contrary to the widely held belief that local recurrence after radiotherapy eventually develops in all patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, local control has been maintained in 13 patients after radiotherapy alone; 5 of the 13 patients have been observed for 10 to 17 years.
ROLE OF ANISOTROPIC AND/OR LAYERED PERMEABELITY IN HYDROTHERMAL CONVECTION

The spatial variation and degree of anisotropy of the permeability field (k) is an important parameter affecting the dynamics of convective fluid flow in saturated geologic media. We report results from time-dependent, two-dimensional numerical simulations, with constant fluid properties, for k fields that are anisotropic, layered or both. Streamlines and isotherms are given for domains with permeable and impermeable tops for Ra (100–300), kz/kx (0.33–40) and for a system with two isotropic layers of equal height, kt/kb (0.1–10). The kinetic energy (KE) and Nusselt number (Nu) monotonically decrease as kz/kx increases at constant Rayleigh number, defined with respect to kz. In two-layer systems, KE increases linearly and Nu increases asymptotically as kt/kb increases at constant Rayleigh number, defined with respect to kb. For otherwise identical cases, KE and Nu are greater for permeable top than impermeable top boundary conditions. Time to steady-state is inversely proportional to KE1/2. Results are also presented for k Fields that are both anisotropic and layered as an analog to oceanic crust permeability.
Fashion Seen as Something Imitative and Foreign

Philosophers have recently begun to write about fashion in dress. They acknowledge that philosophy traditionally ignored the subject altogether or else disparaged fashion. They do not observe that those past philosophers who slighted fashion characterized it as mass imitativeness; but in fact that one-sided characterization is what permitted commentators to overlook innovativeness in fashion. Indeed the figure of the foreigner that recurs in philosophical remarks about fashion only makes sense given a reading of fashion as imitative uniformity. The foreigner becomes a deus ex machina accounting for the newness in fashion that the imitative model renders otherwise inexplicable.
Spaceborne observations of the lidar ratio of marine aerosols

Abstract. Retrievals of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) satellite sensor require the assumption of the extinction-to-backscatter ratio, also known as the lidar ratio. This paper evaluates a new method to calculate the lidar ratio of marine aerosols using two independent sources: the AOD from the Synergized Optical Depth of Aerosols (SODA) project and the integrated attenuated backscatter from CALIOP. With this method, the particulate lidar ratio can be derived for individual CALIOP retrievals in single aerosol layer, cloud-free columns over the ocean. Global analyses are carried out using CALIOP level 2, 5 km marine aerosol layer products and the collocated SODA nighttime data from December 2007 to November 2010. The global mean lidar ratio for marine aerosols was found to be 26 sr, roughly 30% higher than the current value prescribed by the CALIOP standard retrieval algorithm. Data analysis also showed considerable spatiotemporal variability in the calculated lidar ratio over the remote oceans. The calculated marine aerosol lidar ratio is found to vary with the mean ocean surface wind speed (U10). An increase in U10 reduces the mean lidar ratio for marine regions from 32 ± 17 sr (for 0 15 m s−1). Such changes in the lidar ratio are expected to have a corresponding effect on the marine AOD from CALIOP. The outcomes of this study are relevant for future improvements of the SODA and CALIOP operational product and could lead to more accurate retrievals of marine AOD.
Changes in body image and other psychological factors after intestinal bypass surgery for massive obesity

A group of massively obese persons (predominantly women) was evaluated 6 months prior to intestinal bypass surgery and again while in the hospital awaiting surgery. A second follow-up group of massively obese persons was evaluated on the same measures in-hospital prior to surgery and then assessed periodically over the subsequent 1-year period. The 6-months-before-surgery group showed a general decline in concern with physical symptoms, anxiety, and social introversion at the in-hospital evaluation. The surgery follow-up group exhibited an increasing improvement, as weight loss progressed, in body image, feelings of physical and sexual attractiveness, and evaluation of one's personality. An improvement in mood also was seen. Body size estimation showed a realistic adjustment with weight loss. Both groups scored higher than average on a measure of the addictive personality. Follow-up of the nonresponders indicated that a substantial proportion of those persons had psychological or severe physical problems subsequent to surgery.
Depression in a Long‐Term Care Facility: Clinical Features and Discordance Between Nursing Assessment and Patient Interviews

OBJECTIVE: Nurses commonly observe more depression than is diagnosed and treated in nursing homes. Accordingly, we aimed to describe the clinical features of untreated nursing home residents whom nurses identify as depressed and to compare nurse ratings of depressed nursing home residents with ratings from direct interviews and patient self-reports. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey followed by semi-structured diagnostic interviews of depressed patients and their nurses. SETTING: A large academic, multi-level, long-term care facility. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-seven patients aged 74–99 (mean age 88.4) whom nurses identified as having daily symptoms of depression. Subjects had Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores >10 (mean score 21.2), were not acutely or terminally ill, and were able to participate in an interview. MEASUREMENTS: DSM-III-R mood diagnoses and separate ratings of interviews with nurses and patients using the Cornell Scale for Depression. RESULTS: Nurses observed daily symptoms of depression in 110 of 495 (22%) long-term care residents on units not reserved for advanced dementia. Of these 110 patients, 58 (53%) were not receiving antidepressants. Of 37 patients eligible for interviews, nine met criteria for major depression, 20 met criteria for another non-major depression diagnosis, and eight did not have a diagnosable mood disorder. Cornell scale ratings derived exclusively from interviews of nurses were similar across the three diagnostic groups (12.5, 9.9, and 9.5, respectively; P = .31; mean 10.5), whereas Cornell scale ratings from patient interviews differed among groups (15.9, 6.9, and 4.1, respectively; P < .001; mean 8.4). Correlation between nurse Cornell ratings and patient Cornell ratings was poor (r = .27), especially for patients with non-major forms of depression (r = -.20). MMSE and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS-G) scores were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses frequently observed symptoms of depression in a long-term care setting, and many symptomatic patients were not being treated with antidepressants. In these patients, nurse-derived symptom ratings did not vary across DSM-III-R diagnostic categories and correlated poorly with ratings from direct patient interviews. These findings suggest that nurse caregivers may contribute important diagnostic information about non-major depression and raise questions about the application of standard diagnostic categories to late-life depression in the nursing home.
Trabecular bone adaptation to loading in a rabbit model is not magnitude-dependent

Although mechanical loading is known to influence trabecular bone adaptation, the role of specific loading parameters requires further investigation. Previous studies demonstrated that the number of loading cycles and loading duration modulate the adaptive response of trabecular bone in a rabbit model of applied loading. In the current study, we investigated the influence of load magnitude on the adaptive response of trabecular bone using the rabbit model. Cyclic compressive loads, producing peak pressures of either 0.5 or 1.0 MPa, were applied daily (5 days/week) at 1 Hz and 50 cycles/day for 4 weeks post-operatively to the trabecular bone on the lateral side of the distal right femur, while the left side served as an nonloaded control. The adaptive response was characterized by microcomputed tomography and histomorphometry. Bone volume fraction, bone mineral content, tissue mineral density, and mineral apposition rate (MAR) increased in loaded limbs compared to the contralateral control limbs. No load magnitude dependent difference was observed, which may reflect the critical role of loading compared to the operated, nonloaded contralateral limb. The increased MAR suggests that loading stimulated new bone formation rather than just maintaining bone volume. The absence of a dose-dependent response of trabecular bone observed in this study suggests that a range of load magnitudes should be examined for biophysical therapies aimed at augmenting current treatments to enhance long-term fixation of orthopedic devices.
The Impact of a Health Methods Class on Pre-service Teachers' Self-Efficacy and Intent to Teach Health

Background Elementary schoolteachers are an important vehicle for teaching students health skills that will carry them through life and reduce their future risk of disease linked to health behaviors. Purpose To determine whether university classroom instruction resulted in increased self-efficacy and intent to teach a skill-based health curriculum for elementary pre-service teachers seeking certification. Methods A quasi-experimental design examined pre-service teachers' self-efficacy, outcome expectations, outcome value, and intent to teach health skills and content in pre-service teachers seeking certification who participated in a teaching methods class compared to controls who did not. Results A significant interaction between groups over time was found for self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and intent to teach. Furthermore, pre-service teachers exposed to the course were more likely to express an intent to teach skill-based health education and outcome values were higher postintervention. Discussio...
Binding of SPAAT, the 44‐residue C‐terminal peptide of α1‐antitrypsin, to proteins of the extracellular matrix

SPAAT (short piece of alpha 1-antitrypsin [AAT]), the 44-residue C-terminal peptide of AAT, was originally isolated from human placenta [Niemann et al. (1992): Matrix 12:233-241]. It was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of serine proteases [Niemann et al. (in press): Biochem Biophys Acta]. The binding of SPAAT to one or more proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) was initially suggested on the basis of its recovery from tissue residues following a series of extractions designed to remove easily solubilized proteins [Niemann et al. (1992): Matrix 12:233-241]. Our binding studies with the model ECMs, Matrigel and Amgel, suggested that SPAAT might be bound by a specific collagen type as well as one or more non-collagenous ECM proteins. Individual ECM components were screened for their ability to bind SPAAT. When the four commonly occurring fiber-forming collagens (types I, II, III, and V) were evaluated, type III was found to be preferred. In addition, although SPAAT bound to preformed type III collagen fibers in a concentration dependent fashion, it did not bind to type III collagen molecules undergoing fibril formation. This is consistent with a physiological mode of interaction between SPAAT and type III collagen in vivo. Of the non-collagenous ECM macromolecules (laminin-1, fibronectin, entactin, and heparan sulfate) tested, laminin-1 was preferred. The binding of radiolabelled SPAAT to type III collagen and laminin-1 was competitively inhibited by unlabelled SPAAT as well as an unrelated protein, human serum albumin (HSA), to establish binding specificity. The kinetics of the release of the bound radiolabelled SPAAT were also examined to substantiate the non-covalent and reversible nature of this association. These results support the view that susceptible proteins of the ECM may actually be coated with SPAAT in vivo, possibly affording protection against inappropriate protease digestion.
Laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy in advanced cervical carcinoma: the Taiwan experience. II

Objectives To present the Taiwanese experience of para-aortic lymphadenectomy by laparoscopy in the pretreatment surgical staging of advanced cervical cancer and evaluate the benefits of these procedures. Design Patients were prospectively evaluated for different treatment modalities and the results were analysed. Setting The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Center. Subjects 43 consecutive, eligible patients with advanced cervical cancer, operated upon and followed up for at least 20 months, were included in this study. Interventions Right- and left-sided para-aortic lymphadenectomies by laparoscopy were performed. Two groups of patients were delineated, for different treatment modalities. Patients with negative para-aortic lymph nodes were treated with whole-pelvic irradiation only; patients with proven para-aortic lymph node metastasis in surgical staging were treated concurrently with chemotherapy. Main outcome measures The 2-year survival rates for patients with metastasis (receiving concurrent chemotherapy) and without metastasis (receiving irradiation only). Results On average, 10.8 lymph nodes were retrieved from both sides of the aorta. The operating time for the procedure ranged from 53 to 138 min, with an average of 93.5 min. After a median follow up of 36.8 months, the progression-free interval for all patients was 6–55 months (median 26 months). The 2-year survival rates for patients with metastasis and without metastasis were 68% and 85.5%, respectively. Conclusions Laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy was an efficient and feasible surgical staging procedure for the pretreatment evaluation of advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix, and made possible a better choice of treatment modality by the clinician.
Effects of nitrite toxicity on soil bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

Abstract Isolates of a soil Pseudoimonas , as well as other soil bacteria, showed a different sensitivity towards NO − 2 when grown under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The tolerance to NO − 2 was increased in the presence of O 2 : for instance, a concentration of 200parts 10 6 of NO − 2 -N proved to be toxic to a Pseudomonas sp. under anaerobic conditions, whereas over 400 parts 10 6 were needed aerobically to suppress its growth completely. The addition of NO − 3 as an electron acceptor for anaerobic respiration did not overcome the inhibitive effect of NO − 3 . The pH range, at which NO − 2 was utilized anaerobically, was narrowed with increasing NO − 2 concentration (pH 6.8–8.8 at 70 parts 10 6 of NO − 2 -N and 7.4–8.5 and 140 parts 10 6 of NO − 2 -N). Tolerance to nitrite varied considerably among the bacteria tested. Each species was able to overcome the inhibitory effect of NO − 2 up to a certain concentration, while the length of the lag phase was related to NO − 2 concentration.
Movement-based checkpointing and logging for recovery in mobile computing systems

In this paper, we present an efficient failure recovery scheme for mobile applications based on movement-based checkpointing and logging. Current approaches take checkpoints periodically without regard to the mobility rate of the user. Our movement-based checkpointing scheme takes a checkpoint only after a threshold of mobility handoffs has been exceeded. The optimal threshold is governed by the failure rate, log arrival rate, and the mobility rate of the application and the mobile host. This allows the tuning of the checkpointing rate on a per application and per mobile host basis. We identify the optimal movement threshold which will minimize the recovery cost per failure as a function of the mobile node's mobility rate, failure rate and log arrival rate. We also calculate the recoverability, i.e., the probability that the recovery can be done by a specified recovery time, and discuss the applicability of the approach.
Adaptive step size selection for optimization via the ski rental problem

Optimization has been used extensively throughout signal processing in applications including sensor networks and sparsity based compressive sensing. One of the key challenges when implementing iterative optimization algorithms is to choose an appropriate step size for fast algorithms. We pose the problem of choosing step sizes as solving a ski rental problem, a popular class of problems from the computer science literature. This results in a novel algorithm for adaptive step size selection that is agnostic to the choice of the optimization algorithm. Our numerical results show the advantages of using adaptivity for step size selection.
ADDISON'S DISEASE IN THE NEGRO

INTRODUCTION ADDISON'S disease apparently occurs infrequently in the Negro. Since Scheult's (1)original description in 1907, only 27 case reports have appeared in the literature. The clinical diagnosis may be difficult, as pigmentary changes are often inconspicuous. Furthermore, there is question as to whether the incidence of this disease may actually be less in the Negro than in the Caucasian (2). In this report, are presented 4 cases of Addison's disease in the Negro in which the diagnosis was made clinically. Striking changes in pigmentation which occurred in 2 patients made them of unusual interest. One patient demonstrated the effect of slowly progressive adrenal insufficiency on pre-existing hypertension. The latter patient tolerated well a surgical procedure of moderate severity with the aid of Lipo-adrenal Cortex Extract and cortisone. CASE REPORTS Case 1. B. H., a 39-year-old Negress, was admitted for the first time to Barnes Hospital on August 8, 1948, with the complaints of weakness, a 27-poun...
Senescent WI-38 fibroblasts overexpress LPC-1, a putative transmembrane shock protein.

Abstract We have recently reported the isolation of cDNAs for a number of genes that are differentially expressed between nonproliferating early (young) and late (senescent) population doubling level (PDL) WI-38 human, fetal lung-derived, fibroblast-like cells. We now demonstrate that one of these isolates, LPC-1 (Late PDL cDNA-1), derives from an approximately 2.9-kb mRNA species that is expressed at a two- to fivefold higher level in serum-starved, confluent, senescent versus similarly treated young WI-38 cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this cDNA confirms its identity with that of a cDNA encoding a marker (p63) for the rough endoplasmic recticulum and a related swine hepatic cardiogenic shock protein. We show that LPC-1 expression in early PDL WI-38 cells is strictly cell cycle-regulated and its expression peaks 9–12 h after serum stimulation of G 0 cultures. The steady state levels of LPC-1 transcript in early PDL cells preceeding and following its peak expression are low, reflecting basal levels seen in G 0 upon removal of serum. Late PDL cells, however, seem to have lost this tight cell cycle regulation seen in early PDL cells and inappropriately express high levels of the transcript after serum stimulation. Specific antiserum detects a protein of approximately 63 kDa by Western analysis and elicits intense cytoplasmic staining of senescent fibroblasts by immunohistochemistry. Related genomic sequences are found in all mammalian species examined as well as in the chicken. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that senescent WI-38 cells exhibit a state of growth arrest fundamentally distinct from that of quiescent (G 0 ) young cells.
A composite likelihood approach to semivariogram estimation

This article proposes the use of estimating functions based on composite likelihood for the estimation of isotropic as well as geometrically anisotropic semivariogram parameters. The composite likelihood approach is objective, eliminating the specification of distance lags and lag tolerances associated with the commonly used moment estimator. Extensions to the geometric anisotropy case include a parameterized transformed distance function, which eliminates the subjective estimation of the parameters of geometric anisotropy. The composite likelihood approach requires no matrix inversions and the estimators are shown to be consistent in a fashion similar to maximum likelihood and restricted maximum likelihood but without reliance on strong distributional assumptions. Predictions based on composite likelihood estimates performed very well using isotropic and geometric anisotropic simulated data and compared favorably to predictions based on the traditional approach in the isotropic case. Comparisons were also made using data collected on iron-ore measurements where previous analyses determined a geometric anisotropic semivariogram model to be appropriate.
Dissection of the Torso signal transduction pathway in Drosophila.

Cell fate choice at the anterior and posterior embryonic termini of the Drosophila embryo requires the activation of a signal transduction pathway regulated by the receptor tyrosine kinase Torso. When Torso, which is uniformly distributed in the egg cell membrane, becomes activated locally at the termini, it triggers a phosphorylation cascade that culminates with localized expression of the transcription factors, tailless and huckebein. Expression of tailless and huckebein in turn determines terminal cell fates. Several genes have been characterized which encode proteins that are involved in Torso signaling: the adaptor protein Drk, the GTP-binding protein Ras1, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Son of sevenless, and the kinases D-Raf and D-Mek. Genetic and molecular evidence supports a model in which these proteins lie in the same biochemical pathway. When activated by its ligand the membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinase Torso initiates a signal transduction pathway mediated by Drk, Sos, and Ras1, which in turn activates a phosphorylation cascade mediated by the kinases D-Raf and D-Mek, which ultimately control the localized expression of the transcription factors tailless and huckebein. Recently, we found that D-Raf can be partially activated by Torso in the absence of Ras1, a finding supported by the phenotype of embryos lacking either Drk or Sos activity, as well as by the phenotype of a D-raf mutation that abolishes binding of Ras1 to D-Raf. These findings indicate that full D-Raf activation requires input not only from Ras1 but also from an as yet uncharacterized Ras1-independent pathway. In addition to these molecules we have characterized the putative protein tyrosine phosphatase Corkscrew as a positive transducer downstream of Torso. © 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Venous Admixture to Radial Artery Blood Samples during Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The possibility that venous blood could be withdrawn through a radial artery cannula when venous pressure is high was examined in 30 patients during cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery bypass operation. Progressive desaturation of radial artery blood occurred when venous pressure was equal to arterial pressure. Desaturation not only increased with duration of venous obstruction but also occurred immediately if the arterial tree was emptied after occlusion. We believe that these observations result from the transcapillary aspiration of deep venous blood and may produce a potential source of error in measuring arterial oxygen tension during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac tamponade, and profound right heart failure, as well as cardiopulmonary bypass.
Patient-specific predictions of outcome after gonadotropin ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination

Objective To use patient-specific and cycle-specific characteristics to predict clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion rates after gonadotropin ovulation induction (OI)/IUI. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Academic fertility center. Patient(s) A total of 1,438 women who underwent 3,375 gonadotropin OI/IUI cycles. Intervention(s) Individual and cycle-specific characteristics were evaluated to determine predictors of the rates of clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion. Logistic regression using individual parameters was used to create predictive models. Main Outcome Measure(s) Clinical pregnancy (CPR), multiple pregnancy (MPR), and spontaneous abortion rates (SABR). Result(s) Multiple predictors were identified for CPR, MPR, and SABR. The presence of at least two follicles ≥13 mm at ovulation trigger significantly increased CPR (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45, 1.18–1.78) and MPR (OR, 95% CI=5.17, 2.16–12.41). An E 2 level >400 pg/mL significantly increased MPR (OR, 95% CI=9.54, 2.31–39.42). Logistic regression models were developed for individualized predictions of outcome. Conclusion(s) Regression analysis reveals the patient and cycle-specific characteristics that are significant predictors of CPR, MPR, and SABR after OI/IUI. Logistic models using significant or nearly significant predictors for CPR, MPR, and SABR offer improved predictive power relative to simpler models, and allow for the development of a risk calculator for personalized patient counseling.
Isotope effect in the resistivity of scandium hydride

Abstract The temperature dependent resistivities of ScH 2 and ScD 2 differ by an Einstein term with θ E = 1600 K and θ E /√2, respectively.
Excitonic coupling in GaAs/GaAlAs quantum wells in an electric field.

Observation d'un couplage entre etats excite et fondamental des excitons a partir des spectres d'excitation de la photoluminescence a basse temperature
Observation of frequency specific discharges at the unit level in conditioned cats.

Abstract Adult cats with one movable microelectrode implanted in the brain were trained to perform differentiated behaviours for food reward in response to flicker conditioned stimuli. During the intertrial periods, when no stimuli were presented, it was observed that a small number of cells (10%) displayed a synchronous pattern sharply tuned to the frequency of the absent stimuli. Spectral analysis showed that this pattern was restricted to the frequencies of the conditioned stimuli. Statistical arguments, based on the power spectral analysis, are presented that rule out the possibility of an accidental correspondence between the conditioning frequencies and naturally occurring brain rhythms. Thus, some cells of the mammalian CNS are capable of an accurate representation of external periodic events; such cells might be useful tracers of the conditioning process at the neural level.
Waveguide integrated microstrip patch array feed source for a reflector antenna at THz frequency

To meet the high gain requirement, a 2×2 a microstrip patch antenna array is designed and used as a feed source to illuminate a symmetric parabolic reflector antenna at 300 GHz. The effect of the substrate and conductor material properties on the performance of the microstrip array antenna is discussed. Resulting reflector antenna performance is discussed using this feed. Another application of this array is to excite dielectric lens antennas for high gain. These high gain antennas can find application in future THz communications.