cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning in Distributed Low-Stakes Teams

Active learning is important in computer science education, where students often don't have enough opportunities for social learning and development of soft skills. Flipped classrooms can provide social interaction through approaches such as lightweight teams [23], where students collaborate during class in low-stakes peer learning. These teams scaffold positive interdependence [17] by removing high-stakes assignments that heavily impact student's grades. Given the proliferation of online courses, and MOOCs in particular, it is important to consider whether successful face-to-face pedagogical strategies can be reappropriated for distributed, online contexts. Specifically, we are interested in whether a low-stakes model could provide similar learning benefits when team members collaborate remotely. This paper presents results from a study that analyzed the efficacy of low-stakes distributed teams. We examined whether low-stakes teams that communicate through Google Hangouts can provide educational benefits, in terms of both engagement and learning outcomes, compared to students who are learning via video in a co-located setting or individually. Results suggest that co-located teams have the highest learning gains, but there are no significant differences between distributed teams and individual work. We discuss implications of these results for practice and future research.
Modulation of M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor subtypes following repeated organophosphate exposure in rats

Repeated exposure to organophosphates has been shown to cause a decrease in muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. The present study measured the modulation of M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat brain areas during and following a 2-week daily exposure to the organophosphate disulfoton. The radioligands [3H]telenzepine and [3H]AFDX 384 were utilized to label M1 and M2 receptors, respectively. The study found comparable down-regulation in both [3H]telenzepine- and [3H]AFDX 384-labeled receptors in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum during exposure. Recovery of M2 subtype was slower than recovery of M1, especially in the hippocampus. The results suggest that M1 and M2 receptor subtypes may be similarly regulated in response to subchronic exposure to organophosphates, but that recovery of receptor subtypes to control levels may be governed by distinct factors.
Early Breast Cancer in the Older Woman

Care of the older woman with early breast cancer is of particular importance to both the oncologist and geriatrician because of both the prevalence of the disease in this population as well as the subtleties necessary in individualizing treatment decisions. In general, older women are able to tolerate many of the same modalities of treatment for early breast cancer as younger women, but special consideration must be given to future life expectancy, comorbidities, and other elements that might be identified using a CGA. Both short-term and long-term side effects of cancer therapies can be clinically important in the older woman, and appropriate screening and support for these toxicities are necessary.
Ghrelin does not predict adaptive hyperphagia in patients with short bowel syndrome.

Background: Adaptive hyperphagia is associated with reduced dependence on parenteral nutrition in patients with short bowel syndrome, but mechanisms have not been described. Ghrelin (GHR) has orexigenic effects, whereas peptide YY (PYY) reduces intake. GHR also acts as a hormone to control body fat stores. The authors evaluated whether GHR or PYY was related to caloric intake or absorption in patients with short bowel syndrome and whether GHR was associated with body mass index. Methods: Patients were admitted twice for nutrient balance. Height and body weight were obtained using standardized protocols. Energy intake >40 kcal/kg/day was defined as adaptive hyperphagia. Fasting plasma PYY and GHR were assayed in duplicate with Linco enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: The median age of the 7 study participants was 62 (range, 45-66) years, time with short bowel syndrome was 6.6 (range, 2-29) years, and body mass index was 21.2 kg/m2 (range, 19-27.7). Five patients had adaptive hyperphagia. Neit...
Bioavailability of niacin from feed ingredients commonly used in feeds for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

Abstract A catfish bioassay for available niacin was developed using liver NAD levels as the response measure. Triplicate groups of fingerling channel catfish were fed 7 different feed ingredients as the sole source of dietary niacin in a basal casein–gelatin diet for 8 weeks. Three other experimental diets containing known amounts of supplemental niacin (6, 9 and 12 mg/kg diet, respectively) were also fed to triplicate groups of fish to establish the levels of NAD in the liver after 8 weeks. A standard linear regression equation of available niacin in diet ( y in mg/kg) as a function of liver NAD concentration ( x in μ mol/g) was derived and used to determine the amount of available niacin in the feed ingredients. Menhaden fish meal (MFM), meat and bone/blood meal (MBM), wheat middlings (WML), cooked corn (CCO), uncooked corn (UCO), cottonseed meal (CSM) and soybean meal (SBM) contained 105.3, 50.5, 153.3, 21.9, 12.8, 22.5 and 20.3 mg/kg of available niacin, respectively. When compared to the total niacin content of each feed ingredient, niacin in animal tissue (MFM, MBM) was totally available to channel catfish. Availability of niacin in cereals and cereal byproducts, WML, CCO and UCO, was about 60, 44 and 28%, respectively. Niacin availability in the two oilseeds, CSM and SBM, was found to be 58 and 57%, respectively. Niacin availability from corn was increased by about 57% when the corn was extrusion-cooked. It was concluded that supplementation of niacin may not be needed or can be lowered in typical commercial catfish feeds because of the relatively high amount of available niacin found in the feed ingredients.
Allocation without locking

In a programming environment with both concurrency and automatic garbage collection, the allocation and initialization of a new record is a sensitive matter: if it is interrupted half-way through, the allocating process may be in a state that the garbage collector cannot understand. In particular, the collector will not know which words of the new record have been initialized and which are meaningless (and unsafe to traverse). For this reason, parallel implementations usually use a locking or semaphore mechanism to ensure that allocation is an atomic operation. The locking significantly adds to the cost of allocation. This paper shows how allocation can run extremely quickly even in a multi-thread environment: open-coded, without locking.
Developing the cryomacroscope for cryopreservation applications

This study concerns the development of a new device prototype to address the unmet need for visualization of physical effects associated with large-scale cryopreservation — the preservation of tissues at very low temperatures. An early prototype of this device has been presented in 2005, and was termed the cryomacroscope. The goal in the current study is to develop an advanced-stage prototype of the cryomacroscope, with the following design objectives: (1) to visualize and record the process of cryopreservation in situ, (2) to design the device as an add-on unit for commercially available controlled-rate freezers, (3) to enable scanning of large samples, (4) to enable identification of physical effects such as ice formation and fracturing, and (5) to integrate data into a single movie, including time, temperature, and camera position. Results of this study demonstrate glass formation, crystallization, and fracture formation during a typical cryopreservation protocol.
VLIW compilation techniques in a superscalar environment

We describe techniques for converting the intermediate code representation of a given program, as generated by a modern compiler, to another representation which produces the same run-time results, but can run faster on a superscalar machine. The algorithms, based on novel parallelization techniques for Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) architectures, find and place together independently executable operations that may be far apart in the original code. i.e., they may be separated by many conditional branches or belong to different iterations of a loop. As a result, the functional units in the superscalar are presented with more work that can proceed in parallel, thus achieving higher performance than the approach of using hardware instruction dispatch techniques alone.While general scheduling techniques improve performance by removing idle pipeline cycles, to further improve performance on a superscalar with only a few functional units requires a reduction in the pathlength. We have designed a set of new algorithms for reducing pathlength and removing stalls due to branches, namely speculative load-store motion out of loops, unspeculation, limited combining, basic block expansion, and prolog tailoring. These algorithms were implemented in a prototype version of the IBM RS/6000 xlc compiler and have shown significant improvement in SPEC integer benchmarks on the IBM POWER machines.Also, we describe a new technique to obtain profiling information with low overhead, and some applications of profiling directed feedback, including scheduling heuristics, code reordering and branch reversal.
Superconducting power transformers — A feasibility study

Increased efficiency is the main benefit of superconductivity. Some power is needed to operate the refrigerator but it is extremely small. Reduction in transformer size is also important. Other advantages include an improvement in power factor, extended life, and automatic limiting of short circuits.
The interaction of parallel and sequential workloads on a network of workstations

This paper examines the plausibility of using a network of workstations (NOW) for a mixture of parallel and sequential jobs. Through simulations, our study examines issues that arise when combining these two workloads on a single platform. Starting from a dedicated NOW just for parallel programs, we incrementally relax uniprogramming restrictions until we have a multi-programmed, multi-user NOW for both interactive sequential users and parallel programs. We show that a number of issues associated with the distributed NOW environment (e.g., daemon activity, coscheduling skew) can have a small but noticeable effect on parallel program performance. We also find that efficient migration to idle workstations is necessary to maintain acceptable parallel application performance. Furthermore, we present a methodology for deriving an optimal delay time for recruiting idle machines for use by parallel programs; this recruitment threshold was just 3 minutes for the research cluster we measured. Finally, we quantify the effects of the additional parallel load upon interactive users by keeping track of the potential number of user delays in our simulations. When we limit the maximum number of delays per user, we can still maintain acceptable parallel program performance. In summary, we find that for our workloads a 2:1 rule applies: a NOW cluster of approximately 60 machines can sustain a 32-node parallel workload in addition to the sequential load placed upon it by interactive users.
Concentration of Selected Priority Organic Contaminants in Fish Maintained on Formulated Diets in Lake Ontario Waters

Abstract Fish were grown in Lake Ontario water under conditions simulating commercial aquaculture and then analyzed for 10 priority organic contaminants. Black bullheads (Ameiurus melas) were grown in cages placed in a bay of Lake Ontario. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were grown in terrestrial raceways served with Lake Ontario water. Yearlings were reared on a commercial ration in these systems, which partially isolated them from the contaminant-laden food web and bottom sediments, to an average weight of 93 g for black bullheads (range, 31–220 g) and 213 g (29–558 g) for rainbow trout. Concentrations of contaminants in skinless fillets of both rainbow trout cultivated 6 months and black bullheads cultured 3.5 months in Lake Ontario waters were nondetectable or less than one-sixth the “action levels” defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Contaminant levels in rainbow trout were consistently less than concentrations observed in black bullheads. Of the 10 priority contaminants surveyed, 7...
A theoretical study of the silicon—carbon double bond

CNDO/2 calculations have been carried out on H2SiCH2 (I), F2SiCH2 (II), H2SiCF2 (III), and F2SiCF2 (IV). Geometries, charge densities, bond orders, and d-orbital effects have been examined. The reactivity of the silicon—carbon double bond has been discussed and calculations assuming electrostatic interactions have been performed. The stability of the silicon—carbon double bond has been discussed in terms of the above mentioned calculations.
Non-hodgkin's lymphoma limited to the adrenal gland with adrenal insufficiency

Abstract An 81-year-old man presented with bilateral adrenal masses found pathologically to be a large cell, non-follicular center, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His clinical course was remarkable for the lack of macroscopic extra-adrenal tumor and for adrenal insufficiency in response to stress and cosyntropin stimulation. This is believed to be the first reported case of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma limited to the adrenal glands with associated adrenal insufficiency.
Androgen insensitivity and liability to drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms.

Abstract Background Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a disorder of sex development characterized by variable defects in virilization of individuals with 46,XY karyotype. It is caused by mutations in the X chromosome androgen receptor gene, which, depending on their specific location, result in complete or partial peripheral androgen resistance. Objective This case report highlights a possible increased liability of patients with AIS to drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Case Summary A 28-year-old patient with partial AIS was admitted to the hospital beause of paranoid ideation. At puberty onset, she had undergone bilateral orchiectomy; estrogen replacement therapy was prescribed but stopped 2 months later against medical advice. During her hospitalization, severe EPS manifested following initiation of risperidone 2 mg/d. She was later switched to sertindole 12 mg/d with a satisfactory response and no motor side effects. Conclusions Patients with AIS may have an increased susceptibility to drug-induced EPS, which may be caused by striatal dysfunction that is possibly associated with resistance to androgens during critical periods of early brain differentiation or direct effects of androgen receptor gene mutations on nigrostriatal function and development. Clinicians should cautiously treat psychosis in patients with AIS, preferably with antipsychotic compounds that have a low risk of EPS.
13.1: Invited Paper: Electrochromic Display: Full‐color Technology, Flexible, Roll‐to‐roll Processing etc.

The novel device that single electrochromic material with photonic crystal structures appears red, green and blue by inducing different potentials was invented by us. Further, we also fabricate flexible electrochromic device in A3 size by using roll-to-roll laminating package process.
Effect of Top Electrode Thickness on the Performance of Microwave Acoustic Transducers

The effect of placing evaporated electrodes on the surface of thin-film microwave acoustic transducers is studied. In particular, it is found that the top electrode produces frequencies of infinite conversion loss (poles) within the usual operating passband of the transducer. The theory of thin-film microwave acoustic transducers is reviewed and utilized to find an analytic solution for the pole frequencies versus thickness of the top electrode. Theoretics results for Au, Ag, and Al top electrodes deposited on thin films of CdS and ZnO are presented. Experimental results for (Au/CdS), (Ag/ZnO), and (A1/ZnO) transducers are obtained by means of a novel swept-frequency pulse-echo method of measuring conversion loss. The theoretical and experimental results are found to agree within five percent. The relative advantages of transducers with the (Au/ZnO) and (A1/ZnO) configurations are compared, and designs for octave bandwidth operation are given for center frequencies ranging from 1.5 to 10 GHz.
Sealability of ultrashort-pulse laser and manually generated full-thickness clear corneal incisions

Purpose To compare the sealability and geometry of full-thickness clear corneal incisions (CCIs) created manually or with an ultrashort-pulse laser. Setting Lensar, Inc., Orlando, Florida, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Ex vivo human donor globes were randomly assigned to groups for the manual or laser-generated full-thickness CCIs. Standard 3-plane manual or laser incisions were made in 22 globes. Incision geometry was measured using an optical coherence tomographer. Sealability was assessed by inflating globes to physiologic intraocular pressure (IOP) and pressing a mechanical plunger into the globe to deform the globe and increase IOP until leakage was detected using the Seidel test. The test of sealability at lowered IOP was performed similarly; the anterior chamber was monitored for signs of ingress of a povidone–iodine 10% solution placed externally. Results The mean IOP elevation at which leakage occurred was higher for the laser than for manually generated full-thickness CCIs, indicating that the mean sealability was better for the laser. However, t tests showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean IOP elevation at which full-thickness incision leakage occurred between manual and laser full-thickness CCIs. Thus, the sealability of the manual and laser full-thickness CCIs were equivalent for the incision geometry tested. The laser full-thickness CCIs were statistically closer to target geometry and showed less variability than the manual full-thickness CCIs. Conclusions The sealability of laser and manual full-thickness CCIs were statistically equivalent. The laser full-thickness CCIs were more consistent in geometry and closer to the target incision geometry. Financial Disclosure Dr. Teuma is an employee of Lensar, Inc. Dr. Bott is a Lensar, Inc. consultant and has a financial interest in the company. Dr. Edelhauser is a member of Lensar, Inc.'s Scientific Advisory Board and has a financial interest in the company.
“Is There a Gun in the Home?” Assessing the Risks of Gun Ownership in Older Adults

An important ethical and safety concern that geriatricians, primary care providers, and home health professionals need to address is gun ownership by elderly adults. Those aged 65 and older now have the highest rate of gun ownership in America, and they also have a high prevalence of depression and suicide. Dementia can add additional layers of risk. Even older gun owners who are otherwise intellectually intact may benefit from information about gun safety with the increasing numbers of children being cared for by grandparents. Health professionals should ask patients, "Is there a gun in the home?" in the clinic and during home visits. Healthcare professionals must have knowledge and skills to address safe gun ownership in elderly adults. The 5 L's (Locked, Loaded, Little children, feeling Low, Learned owner) will assist professionals in addressing all aspects of safe ownership. Language: en
Measurement of thymine dimers in DNA by thin-layer chromatography.

Abstract An adaption of two-dimensional chromatography to thin-layer cellulose is described for the separation of thymine monomers from dimers. A number of specific advantages over paper chromatography are discussed.
Neoplastic vs. traumatic spinal cord injury: an inpatient rehabilitation comparison.

Objective: To compare demographics, injury characteristics, and functional outcomes of patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression with those with traumatic spinal cord injuries. Design: A prospective 5-yr comparison was undertaken comparing 34 patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression with 159 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. Results: Patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression were significantly older, more often female, and unemployed than patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. Neoplastic spinal cord compression presented more often with paraplegia involving the thoracic spine, and injuries were more often incomplete compared with traumatic spinal cord injury. Patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression had a significantly shorter rehabilitation length of stay compared with those with traumatic spinal cord injury. The neoplastic group had significantly lower FIM change scores. Both groups had similar FIM efficiencies and discharge to home rates. Conclusions: Patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression have different demographic and injury characteristics but can achieve comparable rates of functional gains as their traumatic spinal cord injury counterparts. Although patients with traumatic injuries achieve greater functional improvement, patients with neoplasms have a shorter rehabilitation length of stay and comparable FIM efficiencies and home discharge rates.
In-situ measurements of cobalt segregation in CsCdCl3

Abstract A novel method is reported for studying dopant segregation by continuous monitoring of the dopant concentration in the liquid phase. The cobalt concentration in Co-doped CsCdCl 3 melts was determined by measuring the absorption of a He-Ne laser beam and the distribution coefficient was calculated from a series of measurements during crystal growth by directional solidification.
Vitamin D Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Macrophages through the Induction of Autophagy

Low vitamin D levels in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) infected persons are associated with more rapid disease progression and increased risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We have previously shown that 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25D3), the active form of vitamin D, inhibits HIV replication in human macrophages through the induction of autophagy. In this study, we report that physiological concentrations of 1,25D3 induce the production of the human cathelicidin microbial peptide (CAMP) and autophagic flux in HIV and M. tuberculosis co-infected human macrophages which inhibits mycobacterial growth and the replication of HIV. Using RNA interference for Beclin-1 and the autophagy-related 5 homologue, combined with the chemical inhibitors of autophagic flux, bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of autophagosome-lysosome fusion and subsequent acidification, and SID 26681509 an inhibitor of the lysosome hydrolase cathepsin L, we show that the 1,25D3-mediated inhibition of HIV replication and mycobacterial growth during single infection or dual infection is dependent not only upon the induction of autophagy, but also through phagosomal maturation. Moreover, through the use of RNA interference for CAMP, we demonstrate that cathelicidin is essential for the 1,25D3 induced autophagic flux and inhibition of HIV replication and mycobacterial growth. The present findings provide a biological explanation for the benefits and importance of vitamin D sufficiency in HIV and M. tuberculosis-infected persons, and provide new insights into novel approaches to prevent and treat HIV infection and related opportunistic infections.
Design, combinatorial chemical synthesis and in vitro characterization of novel urea based gelatinase inhibitors.

Abstract A novel series of hydroxamate/urea-based inhibitors of gelatinases has been discovered via solid-phase combinatorial chemistry. SAR of P1′, P2′, and P3′ has been exploited and structures different from traditional succinate-based MMP inhibitors have been found.
A survey “APL thinking”

During the APL86 conference in Manchester, England, we conducted a questionnaire survey of some aspects of "APL Thinking." We feel that the findings are as useful now as then, so to provide feedback to the APL community, we summarize the results here.The purpose of the survey was to understand how people think while programming in APL. Our ultimate aim is to improve the learning, teaching, and dissemination of APL.Respondents were specifically asked to concentrate on the thinking processes involved in APL programming, rather than on applications, language design and enhancements, or environment and implementation issues. (See the sample form on page 8 for a facsimile of the questionnaire.)
Aid Dependence and the Quality of Governance: Cross-Country Empirical Tests

Aid dependence can potentially undermine the quality of governance and public sector institutions by weakening accountability, encouraging rent-seeking and corruption, fomenting conflict over control of aid funds, siphoning off scarce talent from the bureaucracy, and alleviating pressures to reform inefficient policies and institutions. Analyses of cross-country data in this paper provide evidence that higher aid levels erode the quality of governance, as measured by indices of bureaucratic quality, corruption, and the rule of law. These findings support the need for donors to develop less costly and less intrusive ways of disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge on public sector reform in developing countries.
Measurement of Aerodynamic Breakup of Non-Newtonian Drops by Digital In-Line Holography

Aerodynamic fragmentation of bulk liquid into small droplets is an essential spray process that occurs in a variety of combustion systems. The aerodynamic breakup of non-Newtonian fluids, such as aerospace propellants, bio-fuels, fire-fighting liquids, thermal barrier coatings, water-gel explosives, paints, etc, is involved in many important applications. Non-Newtonian fluids differ from Newtonian fluids in that they do not exhibit a linear shear stress-strain rate relationship. They are employed when the liquid is desirable to have a low viscosity during spray formation (high strain rate) and a higher viscosity when on a target (low strain rate). This useful rheological behavior leads to a significantly different breakup mechanism of non-Newtonian fluids compared to that of Newtonian liquids. Unfortunately, there are limited experimental studies on the aerodynamic breakup of non-Newtonian drops. This is probably due to the difficulty in measuring fragments of complex morphologies. Digital in-line holography (DIH) provides simultaneous measurements of the particle size and position with unique access to three-dimensional (3D) information. Previous applications have demonstrated its applicability to arbitrary-shape particles, capability of extracting 3D morphologies, and effectiveness in characterizing the aerodynamic breakup of Newtonian drops. In the present study, the aerodynamic breakup of non-Newtonian drops is characterized using DIH. The measured characteristics including breakup morphologies, fragment/droplet size distribution and velocity distributions, demonstrate the effectiveness of DIH as a diagnostic tool for non-Newtonian fluids.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Asymptotic data rates of limited-rank transmissions in wireless networks with interferers at correlated locations

The mutual information on a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) link between a transmitter-receiver pair in a wireless network with co-channel interferers at correlated spatial positions is analyzed when the number of receiver antennas is large and the rank of transmit covariance matrices are finite. Asymptotic expressions for the mutual information are derived as a function of the rank of the transmit covariance matrices, number of receiver antennas, density of transmitters, and path-loss exponent. The results are applied to hard-core networks and the uplink of massive MIMO cellular networks. For the latter model, an approximation to the cumulative-distribution-function of a randomly located link in a given cell is provided. The results provide insight into achievable data rates in MIMO networks with users at correlated spatial positions.
Establishment and overwintering of Tetrastichus gallerucae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an egg parasitoid of the elm leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in northern California.

Tetrastichus gallerucae (Fonscolmbe), an egg parasitoid of the elm leaf beetle, Xanthogaleruca luteola (Muller), apparently has failed to become established at most sites in 15 northern California counties where it was introduced from 1974 to 1989. Established T. gallerucae populations are low or undetectable until late in the season. Poor establishment is due to poor survival during the host-free period, and the life stage and habitat of T. gallerucae overwintering is unknown. Degree-day modeling indicates that adults, and at some locations immatures, can survive the host-free period in a state of quiescence. However, laboratory and field studies reveal that few parasitoids possess the longevity to overwinter successfully. The T. gallerucae strains introduced to date in northern California appear to lack the temperature adaptations necessary to survive the host-free period in sufficient numbers to provide early-season biological control of elm leaf beetle.
The Endangered Clinical Teacher Scholar: Will this Eliminate Discovery from the Dental School Environment?

Each year, dental schools struggle to do more with less-a reality that is confounded by dental faculty shortages and retention issues reported over the past 15 years. In today's academic environment, faculty shortages suggest that the resulting smaller faculty population will be tasked with more responsibilities than those who had the benefit of working with a full complement of colleagues. Fewer clinical faculty will likely participate in scholarly activity-in some instances, negatively affecting their chances for promotion and tenure, and ultimately lessening their own job security and feeling of accomplishment and self-worth in the academic environment. New faculty are in need of a formal program endorsed by their administration-one which places them with colleagues experienced in scholarly activity. This program, to include a definitive reward structure for mentors, would likely foster the retention and promotion of faculty and encourage the development of future leaders of dental education. Without a definitive plan, the clinical scholar will become an endangered species, and the research innovations and discovery of our profession will fall short in addressing the needs of the public's oral and systemic health.
Beliefs Matter: Cultural Beliefs and the Use of Cervical Cancer-Screening Tests

In this article we examine the influence of cultural beliefs on behavior or, more specifically, beliefs about cervical cancer risk factors and the use of Pap exams. Individual Latinas' (Hispanic women) holding of beliefs similar to Latinas' generally (cultural consonance) did not significantly influence their use of Pap exams. Rather, structural factors such as medical insurance, age, marital status, education, and language acculturation explained Latinas' use of this medical service. However, when Latinas held beliefs similar to those of Anglo women, then they were significantly more likely to have had a Pap exam within the past two years. Latinas whose beliefs were closer to those of physicians were significantly less likely to have had the exam recently. Arriving at these findings involved both ethnographic interviews and survey research. That these beliefs proved to be significant influences on behavior suggests not only the important ways that beliefs matter but that ethnographic methods for examining those beliefs also matter.
The reinforcing property of ethanol in the rhesus monkey - II. Some variables related to the maintenance of intravenous ethanol-reinforced responding

Rhesus monkeys received intravenous injections of ethanol during daily sessions contingent on their presses on an available lever. Under the standard conditions, when each response on the lever during a 3-h period each day resulted in an i.v. injection of 0.1 g/kg ethanol, the monkeys made between 30 and 50 responses/session and developed blood ethanol levels of approximately 400 mg%. Under this and other conditions of response-contingent delivery of ethanol, a negatively accelerated pattern of self-injection within sessions was demonstrated. Variations in the dose per injection (0.05–0.2 g/kg/injection) resulted in changes in the rate of lever-pressing; the number of self-injections was inversely related to dose. Ethanol intake increased only slightly with increased dose per injection. Noncontingent administration of various doses of i.v. ethanol immediately prior to a daily session decreased the number of responses; the total amount of ethanol administered (contingent plus noncontingent), however, remained constant over a pretreatment dose range of 1 to 3 g/kg. When access time to ethanol was increased from 3 to 6 h/day, the total amount of ethanol taken increased slightly. However, the blood ethanol levels at the end of a 6-h session closely approximated those obtained following 3-h sessions, indicating that during the last 3–4 h of the 6-h sessions, the rate of ethanol intake closely matched the rate of ethanol elimination.
On the helical structure of polytetrafluoroethylene

The molecular parameters of polytetrafluoroethylene were determined from x-ray diffraction data (Bunn and Howells) as CC = 1.54 A., CF = 1.36 A., ∠CCC = 114°36′, ∠FCF = 108°30′; each angle of internal rotation around each CC bond is 16°28′ from the trans position. Calculation of the angle of internal rotation for the most stable configuration of the polymer chain was carried out based on the steric and electrostatic interactions. The minimum position of the potential energy seems to be subject chiefly to the steric interaction. The effect of the electrostatic interaction on the minimum position was rather small as compared with the steric interaction. The calculated angle of internal rotation and the fiber period are, respectively, 19° and 16.78 A., which are in very good agreement with the experimental values 16°28′ and 16.8 A.
Dental implant site preservation and development

The reconstruction of the deficient alveolar ridge has been initiated, the surgeon has a variety of can be a daunting task for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, especially in the esthetic zone of the anterior maxilla. Three-dimensional deficiencies of hard and soft tissue may result from trauma, infections, congenital deformities, periodontal disease, or prolonged edentulism. Today, three-dimensional reconstructive techniques are available to meet the high esthetic demands that patients place on the surgical and restorative team. These techniques are possible because of advancements in surgical and restorative technology, improvements with implant surfaces, and biocompatibility of synthetic augmentation materials. With the availability of improved techniques and better quality augmentation materials, the most difficult aspect of treatment planning is the selection of the appropriate surgical technique and augmentation material to treat specific clinical situations in providing patients with the most successful and optimal results, thus meeting their high expectations. The surgeon must be cognizant of the need to maintain ridge form, proficient at ridge augmentation procedures, and sufficiently aware of the requirements for generating appropriate soft tissue contours surrounding the implant restoration. Once treatment
A SNAPSHOT OF SCJA MEMBERS: An Analysis of Paper Presentations at the 1998-2003 SCJA Annual Meetings

This paper contains an analysis of papers scheduled for presentation at the annual meetings of the Southern Criminal Justice Association during a six-year period (1998–2003). The goal is to discover which research topics are most popular and which are least popular in order to develop a clearer picture of what the SCJA is, what its members value, what they stand for, and what they think is important.
Indexing spatially sensitive distance measures using multi-resolution lower bounds

Comparison of images requires a distance metric that is sensitive to the spatial location of objects and features. Such sensitive distance measures can, however, be computationally infeasible due to the high dimensionality of feature spaces coupled with the need to model the spatial structure of the images. We present a novel multi-resolution approach to indexing spatially sensitive distance measures. We derive practical lower bounds for the earth mover’s distance (EMD). Multiple levels of lower bounds, one for each resolution of the index structure, are incorporated into algorithms for answering range queries and k-NN queries, both by sequential scan and using an M-tree index structure. Experiments show that using the lower bounds reduces the running time of similarity queries by a factor of up to 36 compared to a sequential scan without lower bounds. Computing separately for each dimension of the feature vector yields a speedup of ~14. By combining the two techniques, similarity queries can be answered more than 500 times faster.
Getting and Keeping Nora on Board: A Novice Elementary ESOL Student Teacher's Practices for Lesson Engagement.

Abstract This study describes how a novice ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) student teacher successfully navigates an instructional path in a one-on-one tutoring session with a second grade student. We document the student teacher's strategies to both engage and disengage her student, who alternately resists and cooperates throughout the lesson. In particular, we demonstrate, through conversation analysis, how the student teacher fine-tunes her moment-by-moment decision-making in order to maintain forward momentum through a series of transitions by negotiating with her student, avoiding power struggles, and incorporating student interests while at the same time keeping her teaching objectives in mind. The findings illuminate the complexities involved in implementing a seemingly mundane task such as transitioning in teaching. The various resources for managing resistance can contribute to detailing teacher education in important ways. We conclude by addressing the methodological advantages of combining conversation analysis and ethnographic insights in examining educational interaction.
Using Evidence and Process Improvement Strategies to Enhance Healthcare Outcomes for the Critically Ill: A Pilot Project

• BACKGROUND Although the value of evidence-based practice may seem obvious, the process needed to produce more effective delivery of evidence-based healthcare is not obvious. Furthermore, the continuing escalation of healthcare costs fuels the desire of providers and consumers to undertake only those treatments that have benefit. One way to effect necessary changes in healthcare organizations is through focused, interdisciplinary, collaborative projects related to evidence-based practice. • OBJECTIVES To reduce rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related bloodstream infection in patients in the medical intensive care unit of a large, urban tertiary referral hospital in the Southwest. • METHODS The theory of planned behavior served as the basis for providing staff members with research-based, easily controllable strategies that “fit” with the usual methods of care delivery. Implementation of the strategies and data collection were accomplished through routine rounds on patients and regular reporting of objective information. • RESULTS During a 15-month period, use of the selected strategies resulted in a 54% reduction in ventilatorassociated pneumonia, a 78% reduction in catheter-related bloodstream infections, and a 18% reduction in mean length of stay in the unit. Use of a multidisciplinary, environmentally tailored approach to concerns about patients’ care resulted in estimated cost savings of $1.0 million to $2.3 million. • CONCLUSIONS Early, consistent communication about the project’s rationale, expected behavior, and outcomes enhanced the manageability and effectiveness of this change in an adult intensive care unit. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2006;15:549-555)
Seasonal bacterial production in a dimictic lake as measured by increases in cell numbers and thymidine incorporation.

Rates of primary and bacterial production in Little Crooked Lake were calculated from the rates of incorporation of H14CO3− and [methyl-3H]thymidine, respectively. Growth rates of bacteria in diluted natural samples were determined for epilimnetic and metalimnetic bacterial populations during the summers of 1982 and 1983. Exponential growth was observed in these diluted samples, with increases in cell numbers of 30 to 250%. No lag was observed in bacterial growth in 14 of 16 experiments. Correlation of bacterial growth rates to corresponding rates of thymidine incorporation by natural samples produced a conversion factor of 2.2 × 1018 cells produced per mole of thymidine incorporated. The mass of the average bacterial cell in the lake was 1.40 × 10−14 ± 0.05 × 10−14 g of C cell−1. Doubling times of natural bacteria calculated from thymidine incorporation rates and in situ cell numbers ranged from 0.35 to 12.00 days (median, 1.50 days). Bacterial production amounted to 66.7 g of C m−2 from April through September, accounting for 29.4% of total (primary plus bacterial) production during this period. The vertical and seasonal distribution of bacterial production in Little Crooked Lake was strongly influenced by the distribution of primary production. From April through September 1983, the depth of maximum bacterial production rates in the water column was related to the depth of high rates of primary production. On a seasonal basis, primary production increased steadily from May through September, and bacterial production increased from May through August and then decreased in September.
Risk factors associated with early- versus late-onset implantable cardioverter-defibrillator infections

The infection rates of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators systems (ICDs) are higher than that of permanent pacemaker. Risk factors associated with ICD infection have not been characterized and are the subject of the current investigation. All patients who had an ICD implanted at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 1991 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Each case of ICD infection was matched with two non-infected controls. Cases of ICD infection were further stratified by early- (≤6 months) versus late-onset (>6 months) infection. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify significant risk factors for ICD infection. Sixty-eight patients with ICD infection and 136 matched controls met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-five cases presented with early-onset infection and 33 had late-onset device infection. Staphylococcal species were the most common pathogens in both groups of patients. Patients with early-onset infection were more likely to present with generator pocket infection (p = 0.02). Patients with multiple comorbid conditions (high Charlson index) tended to have longer hospital stay during implantation admission (p = 0.009). In a multivariable logistic regression model, the presence of epicardial leads (odds ratio (OR) = 9.7, p = 0.03) and postoperative complications at the generator pocket (OR = 27.2, p < 0.001) were significant risk factors for early-onset ICD infection, whereas longer duration of hospitalization at the time of implantation (2 days versus 1 day: OR = 33.1, p < 0.001; ≥3 days versus 1 day: OR = 49.0, p < 0.001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 9.8, p = 0.02) were associated with late-onset infections. Our study findings suggest that risk factors associated with early- and late-onset ICD infection are different. While circumstances that may increase the chances of pocket contamination in the perioperative period are more likely to be associated with early-onset ICD infection, overall poor health of the host may increase the likelihood of late-onset ICD infection. These factors should be considered when developing strategies to minimize risk of device infection.
Effect of temperature on the phase equilibrium of aqueous two‐phase polymer systems

We report experimental data showing the effect of temperature on polymer partitioning in the dextran (DEX500)-polyethylene glycol (PEG8000)-water system. Increasing temperature increases the concentration of PEG in the top phase and decreases the concentration of DEX in the bottom phase. A solution thermodynamic model based on local compositions with temperature-dependent parameters correlates the experimental data well, and an efficient Gibbs-free energy minimization algorithm for phase equilibrium calculations is described. The partial molar enthalpies and entropies of each of the solutes, calculated with the model, are negative and decrease in magnitude as temperature increases.
QT interval variability and spontaneous ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT) II patients

Objectives This study aimed to determine whether increased QT interval variability is associated with an increased risk for ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), documented by interrogation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), in patients enrolled in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT) II. Background Unstable repolarization has been proposed as a risk factor for re-entrant arrhythmias, but confirmatory data from clinical trials are lacking. Methods The QT variability was assessed in 10-min, resting high-resolution electrocardiogram recordings at study entry using a semiautomated algorithm that measured beat-to-beat QT duration in 817 MADIT II patients. The incidence of VT/VF requiring device therapy was determined by ICD interrogation. Results Median normalized QT variability (QTVN) was 0.179 and 0.125, respectively, in patients with VT/VF versus those without VT/VF (p = 0.001); QTVI (QTVN adjusted for heart rate variance) also was significantly (p Conclusions In postinfarction patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction, increased QT variability, a marker of repolarization lability, is associated with an increased risk for VT/VF.
Change in dense forest habitat for endangered wildlife species in Costa Rica from 1940 to 1977

Habitat availability is a key factor in biological extinctions. Existence and loss of dense forest habitat for 27 endangered wildlife species in Costa Rica is quantified and analyzed using vegetation maps, density estimates and insular ecology theory. From 1940 to 1977 species suffered an average 35% destruction of dense forest habitat. A number of species including: Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Panthera onca, Harpia harpyja and Ara ambigua will probably go extinct in Costa Rica within the next century due to lack of sufficiently large dense forest habitat areas for survival. The importance of protecting large areas of dense forest habitat for conserving genetically “viable” wildlife populations is emphasized and key areas are identified for each species. In addition species are ranked as to degree of endangerment using biological parameters.