cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of high-fidelity simulation as a training tool in transoral robotic surgery

Objectives/Hypothesis To develop and evaluate a high-fidelity training simulator for transoral robotic posterior hemiglossectomy. Study Design Prospective observational study. Methods We constructed a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) simulator using porcine tongue in a modified airway mannequin. Twenty-nine surgeons performed transoral robotic posterior hemiglossectomy on the simulator. The 20 resident subjects completed six trials each, and the five fellows and four attending surgeons completed two trials each. In addition to instrument vibrations, surgical video was recorded for each trial and was blindly rated using the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skill (GEARS), a validated instrument for assessing robotic surgical skill. Results Attending surgeons were faster (P = .004) and demonstrated greater technical skill than fellows or residents (P < .001). Resident completion time generally decreased over the study, becoming significantly faster by the fifth trial (P = .02). A similar trend was seen in resident GEARS scores, which generally increased and were significantly improved by the fourth trial (P = .008). Instrument vibrations were not significantly different between subject groups. Finally, subjects highly rated the realism and training value of the TORS simulator (mean 4.4 and 4.7 out of 5, respectively). Conclusions The reported findings support using the described simulator as a training tool for TORS. Residents significantly improved in speed and technical skill over the course of six trials but did not achieve the performance levels of attending surgeons. These results demonstrate that high-fidelity simulation is a valuable tool for training novice surgeons in transoral robotic surgery. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2017
An Experimental Investigation of a Mnemonic System in Recall

The present study was an attempt to test the effectiveness of using a mnemonic system in the learning of several serial verbal lists. Examination of the results indicated that: (a) groups given instructions in use of a mnemonic system performed at a level superior to that of groups having equivalent rote practice using their own methods, (b) the uninstructed group exhibited a well-defined classical serial position effect, whereas the mnemonics groups exhibited a reduction or distortion of the effect, (c) groups having printed peg lists available during training and testing performed no better than those groups which did not have the printed pegs available, and (d) the mnemonics groups performed at a superior level when the lists were of homogeneous content while the untrained groups performed at a superior level when the list contained random words, indicating a single hook might be used to learn several lists if the lists can be easily discriminated. The findings suggest that a mnemonic system might act as a type of coding procedure.
Role of proppant distribution on the evolution of hydraulic fracture conductivity

Abstract The residual opening of fluid-driven fractures is conditioned by proppant distribution and has a significant impact on fracture conductivity - a key parameter to determine fluid production rate and well performance. A 2D model follows the evolution of the residual aperture profile and conductivity of fractures partially/fully filled with proppant packs. The model accommodates the mechanical response of proppant packs in response to closure of arbitrarily rough fractures and the evolution of proppant embedment. The numerical model is validated against existing models and an analytic solution. Proppant may accumulate in a bank at the fracture base during slick water fracturing, and as hydraulic pressure is released, an arched zone forms at the top of the proppant bank as a result of partial closure of the overlaying unpropped fracture. The width and height of the arched zone decreases as the fluid pressure declines, and is further reduced where low concentrations of proppant fill the fracture or where the formation is highly compressible. This high-conductivity arch represents a preferential flow channel and significantly influences the distribution of fluid transport and overall fracture transmissivity. However, elevated compacting stresses and evolving proppant embedment at the top of the settled proppant bed reduce the aperture and diminish the effectiveness of this highly-conductive zone, with time. Two-dimensional analyses are performed on the fractures created by channel fracturing, showing that the open channels formed between proppant pillars dramatically improve fracture transmissivity if they are maintained throughout the lifetime of the fracture. However, for a fixed proppant pillar height, a large proppant pillar spacing results in the premature closure of the flow channels, while a small spacing narrows the existing channels. Such a model provides a rational means to design optimal distribution of the proppant pillars using deformation moduli of the host to control pillar deformation and flexural spans of the fracture wall.
Novel Therapies for Sleep Apnea—The Implants Have Arrived!

Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy has been the standard treatment of choice for sleep disordered breathing, with 29-83% of patients being noncompliant. With the advent of newly Food and Drug Adminisatration (FDA)-approved implantable stimulators for treating sleep disordered breathing in a fraction of noncompliant PAP therapy patients, the landscape of sleep medicine and sleep technology is changing to narrow the gap between compliant and non-compliant patients. The remedē® System for treating central sleep apnea and the Inspire® upper airway stimulation (UAS) therapy for treating obstructive sleep apnea are providing new tools for sleep physicians, elevating sleep technologists' expertise, and paving the way for personalized medicine.
Environmental Chemistry of Silver in Soils: Current and Historic Perspective

Abstract Silver, Ag, is a metallic element that has been valued for its use in currency, jewelry, photoprocessing, electronics, and in the medical field. In the past decade, there have been many advances in the field of nanotechnology, including the use of silver and other metal nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles are currently one of the most common metal nanoparticles found in consumer products. Because of the strong bactericidal properties of Ag(I) and Ag nanoparticles, their unpredictable fate of silver in soil–water environments has become a serious concern. Regulatory agencies now face difficulties revising/developing proper risk assessment methods to protect agroecosystems and human health. This chapter focuses on historical data of Ag interactions in soil environments, including geochemical occurrence, sorption/desorption processes, and mineral dissolution. Where research is sparse, a review of soft and borderline metal (e.g., Cd(II), Hg(II), Tl(I), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pb(II)) soil interactions is included, as analogs to Ag(I) reactivity. In addition, newer data focusing on emerging Ag nanoparticle technology and its activity in soil environments are included.
Why Do Children Talk

Obviously school-age children do not acquire speech and language in a vacuum but rather in the context of the total communicative situation. This situation involves: (1) the children, their friends, classmates, parents, and teachers; (2) the inherent functions of the communicative act including intent; (3) the interests and knowledge of the participants; and (4) the setting. This paper is concerned primarily with the various functions of the communicative act.
Effects of instream processes, discharge, and land cover on nitrogen export from southern Appalachian Mountain catchments

U.S. Forest ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA)United States Forest Service; National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation (NSF) [DEB0823293]
An analysis of self-reported suicide attempts and ideation in a national sample of incarcerated individuals convicted of sexual crimes

Suicide is the leading cause of preventable death in US jails and prisons, with rates three to nine times higher than those of the general population. Although suicide in correctional settings has ...
Quantum Unsharpness, Potentiality, and Reality

Paul Busch argued that the positive operator (valued) measure, a generalization of the standard quantum observable, enables a consistent notion of unsharp reality based on a quantifiable degree of reality whereby systems can possess generalized properties jointly, whereas related sharp properties cannot be so possessed (Busch and Jaeger in Found Phys 40:1341, 2010). Here, the work leading up to the formalization of this notion to which he made great contributions is reviewed and explicated in relation to Heisenberg’s notions of potentiality and actuality. The notion of unsharp reality is then extended further by the introduction of a distinction between actual and actualizable elements of reality based on these mathematical innovations.
Taking Stock of Initiatives to Improve Learning Quality in American Higher Education Through Assessment

Learning outcomes assessment is a consequential issue in U.S. higher education. Driven by calls for accountability from accreditation agencies, federal and state actors, and other stakeholders, and criticism about the value of higher education, there is currently heightened interest in the attainment of learning outcomes along with the use of this evidence by colleges and universities to improve student learning. This chapter traces the establishment of learning outcomes assessment in U.S. higher education, describes the more influential and enduring initiatives, elaborates their role and impact on learning outcomes assessment, and then discusses six issues that represent the unfinished agenda of student learning outcomes assessment. Although significant progress has been made over the last 3 decades to develop research-based and actionable approaches to learning outcomes assessment, and by all accounts, more assessment activity is occurring, challenges remain. Current approaches have yet to fully realize an integrated, systemic process for learning outcome assessment that engages educators in periodic, purposeful evaluation of student learning that can be used to demonstrate both what students know and can do and expose shortcomings in the learning experience that deserve to be addressed.
Quaternion Data Fusion

A numerical method for solving a class of constrained minimization problems encountered in quaternion data fusion is presented. The quaternion constraints are handled by the method of Lagrange multipliers. The number of the stationary points of the minimization problem is finite and all of them are found by solving via homotopy continuation a system of polynomial equations. The global minimizer is the stationary point that minimizes the loss function of the minimization problem. A numerical example of two-quaternion data fusion is given to illustrate the viability of the method as a global minimization method for quaternion data fusion.
Normal Saline solutions cause endothelial dysfunction through loss of membrane integrity, ATP release, and inflammatory responses mediated by P2X7R/p38 MAPK/MK2 signaling pathways

Resuscitation with 0.9% Normal Saline (NS), a non-buffered acidic solution, leads to increased morbidity and mortality in the critically ill. The goal of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms of endothelial injury after exposure to NS. The hypothesis of this investigation is that exposure of endothelium to NS would lead to loss of cell membrane integrity, resulting in release of ATP, activation of the purinergic receptor (P2X7R), and subsequent activation of stress activated signaling pathways and inflammation. Human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVEC) incubated in NS, but not buffered electrolyte solution (Plasma-Lyte, PL), exhibited abnormal morphology and increased release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and decreased transendothelial resistance (TEER), suggesting loss of membrane integrity. Incubation of intact rat aorta (RA) or human saphenous vein in NS but not PL led to impaired endothelial-dependent relaxation which was ameliorated by apyrase (hydrolyzes ATP) or SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor). Exposure of HSVEC to NS but not PL led to activation of p38 MAPK and its downstream substrate, MAPKAP kinase 2 (MK2). Treatment of HSVEC with exogenous ATP led to interleukin 1β (IL-1β) release and increased vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) expression. Treatment of RA with IL-1β led to impaired endothelial relaxation. IL-1β treatment of HSVEC led to increases in p38 MAPK and MK2 phosphorylation, and increased levels of arginase II. Incubation of porcine saphenous vein (PSV) in PL with pH adjusted to 6.0 or less also led to impaired endothelial function, suggesting that the acidic nature of NS is what contributes to endothelial dysfunction. Volume overload resuscitation in a porcine model after hemorrhage with NS, but not PL, led to acidosis and impaired endothelial function. These data suggest that endothelial dysfunction caused by exposure to acidic, non-buffered NS is associated with loss of membrane integrity, release of ATP, and is modulated by P2X7R-mediated inflammatory responses.
An Organizational Performance Study Of AACSB International Member Business Schools

Organizations are thought to adopt or evolve to an organizational strategy that will improve organizational effectiveness. Familiar strategies in the business world include a production strategy, low cost strategy, and market orientation strategy. In the world of higher education however organizational strategies may take a different form such as a research strategy, student centered strategy, or a national/international focus. This manuscript reports the results of a national survey examining the levels of reported customer and market orientation toward students and explores their impact on organizational performance. The organizations researched are AACSB-International member business schools. The respondents to the survey are academic vice-presidents of colleges and universities holding membership in AACSB, the premier business school accreditation organization. The academic vice-presidents were chosen as they are thought to hold the management position that can primarily affect the organizational strategy of the academic organizations under their purview. This includes, but is not limited to AACSB member business schools. We use a reworded Narver and Slater (1990) “market orientation” scale and the Jaworski and Kohli’s (1993) “overall performance” scale for use in the current research. 116 vice-presidents whose schools are members of AACSB responded to the survey. The manuscript details the data collection and analysis processes, the statistical findings, along with implications and a call for additional subject matter research.
Heteroscedastic Gaussian Process Regression on the Alkenone over Sea Surface Temperatures

To restore the historical sea surface temperatures (SSTs) better, it is important to construct a good calibration model for the associated proxies. In this paper, we introduce a new model for alkenone (${\rm{U}}_{37}^{\rm{K}'}$) based on the heteroscedastic Gaussian process (GP) regression method. Our nonparametric approach not only deals with the variable pattern of noises over SSTs but also contains a Bayesian method of classifying potential outliers.
Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution Analysis of Small Interference RNA for Silencing Tissue Transglutaminase-2 in Celiac Disease After Oral Administration in Mice Using Gelatin-Based Multicompartmental Delivery Systems.

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) therapy has tremendous potential in treating diseases that are characterized by overexpression of genes. However, the biggest challenge to utilize the therapy is...
Thalamic Retrieval of Opioid Memories.

Opioids are commonly used as analgesics for severe pain, but their addictive potential has sparked a misuse epidemic. In this issue of Neuron, Keyes et al. (2020) examine the contributions of distinct paraventricular thalamus (PVT) outputs to contextual opioid memories. They identify a PVT→NAc→LH circuit essential for recall of opioid experiences.
Data-informed guideposts for decision making in enhanced conversational recast treatment

Background To maximize treatment efficiency, it would be useful to determine how long to continue a treatment approach before concluding that it is not effective for a particular client, whether and when generalization of treatment is likely to occur, and at what point to end treatment once a child is approaching mastery. Method We analyzed aggregate data from 117 preschoolers with developmental language disorder from a decade of treatment studies on Enhanced Conversational Recast therapy to determine whether the timing of treatment response impacts its overall effectiveness and whether certain levels of accuracy during treatment enable 100% accurate generalization after treatment ends. Results We found that children who take longer than 10 days to answer one item correctly during treatment are unlikely to ever respond to the treatment approach. Generalization accuracy closely followed treatment accuracy, suggesting the two are tightly linked for this treatment method. We did not find evidence that attaining a certain level of accuracy below 100% during treatment enabled children to generalize with 100% accuracy after treatment ended. Conclusions Clinicians using Enhanced Conversational Recast treatment can use these markers to help make evidence-based decisions in their practice regarding how long to continue treatment. Importantly, these data suggest that stopping treatment before a child has attained 100% accuracy (for at least three sessions) does not ensure that a child will ever reach 100% accuracy on their own.
The Divergent Roles of Symptom and Performance Validity in the Assessment of ADHD.

Objective:This study examined concordance between symptom and performance validity among clinically-referred patients undergoing neuropsychological evaluation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Di...
Risk-related decision making evokes distinct brain activation patterns in reward evaluation regions in substance use naïve versus non-naïve adolescents

ABSTRACT Identifying brain and behavioral precursors to substance use (SU) may guide interventions that delay initiation in youth at risk for SU disorders (SUD). Heightened reward-sensitivity and risk-taking may confer risk for SUD. In a longitudinal, prospective study, we characterized behavioral and neural profiles associated with reward-sensitivity and risk-taking in substance-naive adolescents, examining whether they differed as a function of SU initiation at 18- and 36-months follow-up. Adolescents (N=70; 11.1-14.0 years) completed a reward-related decision-making task (Wheel of Fortune (WOF)) while undergoing functional MRI. Measures of reward sensitivity (Behavioral Inhibition System-Behavioral Approach System; BIS-BAS), impulsive decision-making (delay discounting task), and SUD risk (Drug Use Screening Inventory, Revised (DUSI-R)) were collected at baseline. Baseline metrics were compared for youth who did (SI; n=27) and did not (SN; n=43) initiate SU at follow-up. While groups displayed similar discounting and risk taking behavior, SI youth showed more variable patterns of activation in left insular cortex during high-risk selections, and left anterior cingulate cortex in response to rewarded outcomes. SI participants scored higher on the DUSI-R and BAS subscales. Results suggest differences in brain regions critical in the development and experience of SUDs may precede SU and serve as a biomarker for SUD risk.
Population genetics of estuary and reservoir populations of Harris mud crabs, Rhithropanopeus harrisii, in Texas and Oklahoma

Rhithropanopeus harrisii are small, estuarine crabs native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. They have become an invasive species, establishing populations on the west coast of the United States, Europe, Panama, and Japan. Reproducing populations are also established in freshwater reservoirs in Texas and on the Texas/Oklahoma border. In order to compare levels of genetic diversity within introduced reservoir populations with those of native estuary populations and to determine possible source populations and routes of colonization among Texas reservoir populations, we obtained mitochondrial DNA sequences from reservoirs and several estuaries along the Texas and Louisiana coast. Overall, genetic diversity within reservoirs was lower than within estuaries; however, some reservoirs exhibited relatively high levels of genetic diversity indicating that they were founded by numerous individuals or individuals from divergent source populations. In contrast, two genetically divergent reservoir populations had greatly reduced genetic diversity suggestive of extreme founder effects. All estuary and reservoir haplotypes formed a monophyletic group separate from Atlantic coast haplotypes, thus colonization of Texas reservoirs occurred from the Gulf Coast as expected based on geographic proximity. There was minimal DNA sequence divergence among Gulf Coast and reservoir haplotypes and a lack of phylogeographic structure among estuary populations. However, there was significant population divergence among some estuaries based on haplotype frequencies. Genetic differences among estuaries were subtle in most cases, preventing identification of source populations using mitochondrial DNA sequences.
Enhanced interlayer interactions in Ni-doped MoS 2 , and structural and electronic signatures of doping site

The crystal structure of ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ with strong covalent bonds in plane and weak van der Waals interactions out of plane gives rise to interesting properties for applications such as solid lubrication, optoelectronics, and catalysis, which can be enhanced by transition-metal doping. However, the mechanisms for improvement and even the structure of the doped material can be unclear, which we address with theoretical calculations. Building on our previous work on Ni doping of the bulk 2H phase, now we compare to polytypes (1H monolayer and 3R bulk), to determine favorable sites for Ni and the doping effect on structure, electronic properties, and the layer dissociation energy. The most favorable intercalation or adatom sites are tetrahedral intercalation for 3R (like 2H) and Mo atop for 1H. The relative energies indicate a possibility of phase change from 2H to 3R with substitution of Mo or S. We find structural and electronic properties that can be used to identify the doping sites, including metallic behavior in Mo-substituted 3R and 2H, and in-gap states for Mo- and S-substituted 1H, which could have interesting optoelectronic applications. We observe a large enhancement in the interlayer interactions of Ni-doped ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$, opposite to the effect of other transition metals. For lubrication applications, this increased layer dissociation energy could be the mechanism of low wear. Our systematic study shows the effect of doping concentration and we extrapolate to the low-doping limit. This work gives insight into the previously unclear structure of Ni-doped ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ and how it can be detected experimentally, the relation of energy and structures of doped monolayers and bulk systems, the electronic properties under doping, and the effect of doping on interlayer interactions.
The Return of the Left in Nicaragua: Citizen Power Councils, Pro-Poor Social Services and Regime Consolidation

For the first time since the fall of the Sandinistas’ socialist regime in 1990, the FSLN’s long-time leader, Daniel Ortega, reassumed the presidency in January 2007. Ortega’s main strategy for both social service delivery and regime consolidation is the newly created Citizen Power Councils or CPC. Each neighborhood and municipality throughout the country elects sixteen CPC members to identify beneficiaries of government social programs and employment, to disseminate government information and to communicate local needs directly to President Ortega. Although participation in the CPC is officially open to all Nicaraguans, critics claim that membership is heavily partisan in practice and serves to centralize Ortega’s power by circumventing other levels of government and by creating clientelistic linkages between the President and the people. What explains sub-national variation in who participates and how they participate in the CPC? In other words, why is the CPC viewed as legitimate and influential in some municipalities and not in others? Moreover, what are the consequences of the CPC for Leftist regime consolidation? Based on ethnographic, interview and archival data collected over ten months of dissertation fieldwork this paper analyzes the experiences of CPC members, government beneficiaries and political opponents within and across three politically distinct municipalities. I find that legacies of bipartisan conflict and cooperation best explain whether members of the opposition are excluded from the CPC. In most localities, the opposition and moderate Sandinistas are either excluded or choose not to participate. Moreover, in Right Strongholds, the mayor poses a formidable obstacle to the CPC agenda. These findings suggest that more attention be paid to local politics in the study of populism, electoral-authoritarianism and the New Left in Latin America. Even though a populist leader may control all other levels of government, local politics can provide a powerful barrier to the consolidation of electoral-authoritarian regimes.
Activity of ketoconazole after taxane‐based chemotherapy in castration‐resistant prostate cancer

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of the androgen-synthesis inhibitor ketoconazole as a secondary hormonal therapy in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) previously treated with chemotherapy, as persistent androgens appear to play a role in the development and maintenance of CRPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified 34 patients with CRPC who were treated with ketoconazole as a secondary hormonal therapy after paclitaxel- or docetaxel-based chemotherapy for CRPC. They were treated with ketoconazole 200–400 mg three times daily with or without hydrocortisone. Patients with previous use of ketoconazole were excluded. Half the patients had received estramustine as part of their chemotherapy regimen. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a decline of ≥50% in their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. PSA progression was defined by the PSA Working Group 1 Criteria. RESULTS Eight of the 32 evaluable patients (25%) had a PSA decline of ≥50%. The median time to progression (TTP) was 3 months (95% confidence interval, 1.2–5.4). A history of previous response to taxane-based chemotherapy was not associated with the response to ketoconazole. However, previous use of oestrogens for CRPC was significantly associated with a shorter TTP on ketoconazole (1.5 vs 10.2 months; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Ketoconazole has moderate activity as secondary hormonal therapy in patients with CRPC previously treated with taxane-based chemotherapy, although the TTP was short. Previous treatment with oestrogenic therapy is associated with a shorter TTP.
Presumptions and the Distribution of Argumentative Burdens in Acts of Proposing and Accusing

This paper joins the voices warning against hasty transference of legal concepts of presumption to other kinds of argumentation, especially to deliberation about future acts and policies. Comparison of the pragmatics which respectively constitute the illocutionary acts of accusing and proposing reveals important differences in the ways presumptions prompt accusers and proposers to undertake probative responsibilities and, also, points to corresponding differences in their probative duties. This comparison has theoretically important implication regarding the norms governing persuasive argumentation. The paper is based on a broadly Gricean account of speech acts.
A Multiple Scanning Strategy for Entropy Based Discretization

We present results of experiments performed on 14 data sets with numerical attributes using a novel technique of discretization called multiple scanning. Multiple scanning is based on scanning all attributes of the data set many times, during each scan the best cut-points are found for all attributes. Results of our experiments show that multiple scanning enhances successfully, in terms of the error rate, an ordinary discretization technique based on conditional entropy.
Method for Evaluating Germicidal Ultraviolet Inactivation of Biocontaminated Surfaces

Safety issues related to work-site conditions often deal with potential worker exposure to infectious airborne microorganisms due to their dissemination in indoor air and contamination of surfaces. Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) radiation is used in health-care settings and other occupational environments for microbial inactivation. In this study, a new methodology for determining the efficiency of GUV microbial inactivation of surfaces was developed and evaluated. The method utilizes identical chambers in which test microorganisms are irradiated on agar surfaces at different humidity and irradiation intensity levels. The effects of GUV intensity and exposure time on microbial inactivation were examined for Micrococcus luteus and Serratia marcescens. It was found that at low humidity levels (20–25%) both organisms can be inactivated with at least 95% efficiency if the GUV intensity exceeds 50 μW/cm2 for at least 3-5 min (corresponding to a dose of ~ 10 mJ/cm2). The radiation dose needed for effective inacti...
Switchback: Profile-Driven Recomputation for Reverse Mode

Many reverse mode codes created by Automatic Differentiation (AD) tools use too much storage. To help mitigate the storage requirement, AD users resort to a technique called recomputation. Acceptable performance, however, requires judicious use of the recomputation technique. This work describes our approach to constructing good recomputation for Adifor 3.0-generated reverse mode codes by using a standard execution time profiler.
Chronic arthritis in children and adolescents in two Indian health service user populations.

Background High prevalence rates for rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthopathies, and systemic lupus erythematosus have been described in American Indian and Alaskan Native adults. The impact of these diseases on American Indian children has not been investigated.
Tactical Decisions for Changeable Cuttlefish Camouflage: Visual Cues for Choosing Masquerade Are Relevant from a Greater Distance than Visual Cues Used for Background Matching

Cuttlefish use multiple camouflage tactics to evade their predators. Two common tactics are background matching (resembling the background to hinder detection) and masquerade (resembling an uninteresting or inanimate object to impede detection or recognition). We investigated how the distance and orientation of visual stimuli affected the choice of these two camouflage tactics. In the current experi- ments, cuttlefish were presented with three visual cues: 2D horizontal floor, 2D vertical wall, and 3D object. Each was placed at several distances: directly beneath (in a circle whose diameter was one body length (BL); at zero BL ((0BL); i.e., directly beside, but not beneath the cuttlefish); at 1BL; and at 2BL. Cuttlefish continued to respond to 3D visual cues from a greater distance than to a horizontal or vertical stimulus. It appears that background matching is chosen when visual cues are relevant only in the immediate benthic surroundings. How- ever, for masquerade, objects located multiple body lengths away remained relevant for choice of camouflage.
Teaching Law And Educating Lawyers: Closing The Gap Through Multidisciplinary Experiential Learning

Interdisciplinary legal education found its roots nearly a century ago, but recently there has been a renewed trend both in the literature and in practice to increase interdisciplinary opportunities in clinical and scholarly activities. In the classroom, proponents have argued that interdisciplinary education is essential to understanding the cultural and social contexts in which legal conflicts arise. Additionally, scholars praise the interdisciplinary model – in both teaching and practice – for its tendency to generate a higher level of thinking from those considering problems from diverse viewpoints. The use of interdisciplinary models also promotes mutual respect between professionals from different disciplines, a working knowledge of the domain of another discipline, enhanced communication through learning both the mechanisms and vocabulary of other professions, and increased understanding another discipline’s “rules, beliefs, and ethical principles.” Finally, creating an interdisciplinary framework can enhance the efficacy of the lawyer’s problem solving efforts through providing a means by which goals, strategies, and unique insights of different “helping professions” can be united in pursuit of a common purpose. The value that interdisciplinary approaches offer is often sharply countered by the challenges it creates. The most common challenges are those created by perceived or actual role boundaries within individual professions and the process of professional socialization that occurs during traditional legal training. Although this first criticism is challenging, it is not impossible to overcome. The second barrier to productive interdisciplinary work is also mutable, and reversing a socialization process that disfavors interdisciplinary experiences should therefore be a primary focus of legal educators. This paper proposes that interdisciplinary advocacy for children involved in the child welfare system provides an intense experiential learning process, which engages students in a mutually dependent relationship with students from other disciplines and promotes long-term appreciation and facility for interdisciplinary work. It describes this experience in the context of one such clinic, providing a model for the development of future interdisciplinary endeavors.
Collaborative animation productions using original music in a unique teaching environment

The Department of Digital Media at the University of Central Florida has developed a unique Visual Language Track that offers a select group of students the opportunity to learn skills needed for a career in computer animation. The Junior Year focuses on the design aspects of story telling, such as traditional animation, art direction and story-boarding followed by intense workshops applying those principles while learning all the steps of the computer animation production process. Senior Year students work together as members of the class cohort on a narrative digital animation production through a highly integrated structure of courses. This affords each student the opportunity to learn and contribute to every artistic and technical step in the computer animation production process.
Developmentally controlled and tissue-specific expression of unrearranged VH gene segments

It is generally accepted that unrearranged immunoglobulin VH gene segments are not expressed and that assembly of a complete heavy chain gene is required to activate a previously silent VH promoter. We report that unrearranged VH gene segments are indeed expressed at a high level, but only in a developmentally controlled and tissue-specific manner. Unrearranged VH expression is limited to the very early stages of the B-lymphocyte differentiation pathway, and it is most prominent in cells undergoing VH to DJH rearrangement. Germ-line VH expression is independent of the heavy chain enhancer, may be controlled by 5' sequence elements, and is repressible by LPS. In contrast to earlier interpretations, our results demonstrate that the lack of unrearranged VH segment expression in mature, Ig-secreting cells is due to the inactivation of a previously active locus. These findings may provide insight into the mechanisms that control ordered rearrangement and allelic exclusion.
Two forms of transforming growth factor-β distinguished by multipotential haematopoietic progenitor cells

Type-β transforming growth factors (TGF-βs) are polypeptides that act hormonally to control proliferation and differentiation of many cell types1,2. Two distinct homodimeric TGF-β polypeptides, TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 have been identified which show ˜70% amino-acid sequence similarity3,4. Despite their structural differences, TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 are equally potent at inhibiting epithelial cell proliferation and adipogenic differentiation3. The recent immunohistochemical localization of high levels of TGF-β in the bone marrow and haematopoietic progenitors of the fetal liver5 has raised the possibility that TGF-βs might be involved in the regulation of haematopoiesis. Here we show that TGF-β1, but not TGF-β2, is a potent inhibitor of haematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation. TGF-β1 inhibited colony formation by murine factor-dependent haematopoietic progenitor cells in response to interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), as well as colony formation by marrow progenitor cells responding to CSF-1 (M-CSF). The progenitor cell lines examined were ˜100-fold more sensitive to TGF-β1 than TGF-β2, and displayed type-I TGF-β receptors with affinity ˜20-fold higher for TGF-β1 than TGF-β2. These results identify TGF-β1 as a novel regulator of haematopoiesis that acts through type-I TGF-β receptors to modulate proliferation of progenitor cells in response to haematopoietic growth factors.
Malignant melanoma of the eyelid. A report of eight cases and a review of the literature.

Background: Because of the relatively rare occurrence of malignant melanoma (MM) of the eyelid, prognostic factors in relation to survival in these patients have not been established. Objective: Our purpose was to examine prognostic indicators in relation to survival in patients with MM of the eyelid. Methods: All patients seen at UCLA Medical Center with MM of the eyelid as well as all cases reported in the literature were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The data obtained from 47 total cases seen at UCLA Medical Center revealed a significant disadvantage in 5-year survival for those patients with MM involving the lid margins in comparison to those without lid margin involvement. Conclusion: Our review suggests that melanoma involving the eyelid margin and conjunctiva has a worse prognosis than melanomas of the eyelid that do not involve the conjunctiva. We can make no predictions in regard to the benefits of narrow versus wide surgical margins in the treatment of these patients.
Evaluation of the respiratory elimination kinetics of selenate and Se-methylselenocysteine after oral administration in lambs

Sheep can be acutely poisoned by selenium (Se) accumulating forages which often contain selenate or Se-methylselenocysteine as their predominant forms. Excess Se can be eliminated via respiration. Sheep were given a single oral dose of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 mg Se/kg BW as sodium selenate and Se-methylselenocysteine or 6 mg Se/kg BW as sodium selenite or selenomethionine. Expired air samples were collected and analyzed for Se. The Se concentration of the expired air reflected a dose-dependent increase at individual time points for both Se-methylselenocysteine and sodium selenate, however, Se content was greater and eliminated more rapidly from sheep receiving Se-methylselenocysteine. The mean Se concentration in respired air from sheep administered 6 mg Se/kg BW of different selenocompounds was greatest in sheep dosed Se-methylselenocysteine > selenomethionine > sodium selenate > sodium selenite. The Se concentration in respired air of acutely poisoned sheep is significantly different for different chemical forms of Se.
He Who Laughs First: The Importance of Humor to Young Children.

Research in the field of humor has expanded considerably in the last fifteen years, helping us to better understand the origins and development of children's humor. Although researchers agree that more remains to be done to understand the developmental process thoroughly, studies have shown that humor interacts with other developmental processes as an important part of early growth. This article reviews the theoretical views currently receiving some acceptance, discusses the interaction of humor with other developmental areas, and suggests ways in which the research can be applied in the early childhood classroom.
On the conformation of substituted cyclopentanones. Rotatory dispersion and spectral data of some steroidal alpha-halocyclopentanones.

Die optische Rotationsdispersion sowie das Infrarotund Ultraviolett-Absorptionsspektrum von mehrerenα-Bromderivaten der 16-Keto- und 17-Ketosteroide wurde gemessen. Die Schlussfolgerungen aus Rotationsdispersion und Infrarotanalyse stimmen gut uberein, es scheint jedoch, dass die Verschiebungen im Ultraviolett zur Bestimmung der Orientierung eines Halogenatoms inα-Bromocyclopentanonen nicht in allen Fallen gebraucht werden konnen.
Mars on $300K a Day : The Mars Exploration Program

Abstract The Mars Exploration Program is pioneering a series of “better, faster, cheaper” missions to Mars over at least the next 10 years, and possibly well into the 21st century. The overall cost of the program is somewhat over $100M per year, including launch vehicles and operations, for two launches every 26 months. (This works out to about $300K per day.) A programmatic strategy has been developed involving selection of a science theme for the program, a long-term industrial partnership for spacecraft development, continuous infusion of new technology, and integration of the individual projects into an overall program so that synergy between projects can be maximized. A number of process improvements have been made in procurement, concurrent engineering, rapid prototyping, and integrated payload selection, among others.
Simplified theory for composite thin-walled beams

The theory presented here is suitable for either open-section or closed-section beams of any shape, laminate stacking sequence, and boundary conditions. Under more general assumptions than those of Vlasov, the equilibrium equations consist of seven ordinary differential equations. Further, these seven equations were reduced to four coopled ordinary differential equations
Differences in absorption and emission properties of conalbumin and metal‐saturated conalbumin

The stabilities of conalbumin and transition metal-conalbumin complexes toward denaturants were studied by UV absorption and emission spectroscopy. The difference spectra of conalbumin and metal-conalbumins in buffer, pH 8.0 vs. the same species in buffered 8 M urea were similar in shape with maxima at 286- and 292-mμ and a negative absorption near 260-mμ. The Δe292 for colored Fe-, Cr-, Cu-, and Mn-conalbumins was 5 × 103 less than that for conalbumin and colorless Co-, Zn-, Cd-, Ni-, and Mn-conalbumins, indicating that two tryptophanyl residues were bound to or protected by metal ions in the former but not the latter cases. The F350 of conalbumin was quenched up to 65% on formation of the colored complexes, but not on formation of colorless complexes. The F350 of conalbumin was strongly quenched by increasing temperature (0 to 70°) or pH (5 to 12.5), whereas that of Fe+3-conalbumin was essentially independent of these variables. These results indicate the presence of tryptophanyl residues, in addition to the known tyrosyl and histidyl residues, in conalbumin-metal binding sites, and suggest that charge-transfer interactions between these tryptophanyl residues and the bound metals is probably responsible, at least in part, for color formation, as well as for the marked increase in stability of these colored complexes.
Autonomy and the Normativity Question: Framing Considerations

Abstract An initial interest in the question of whether one can autonomously choose to be non-autonomous has developed into the broader question of whether there are any normative commitments that necessarily attend being autonomous. This paper argues that reflection on this issue has been systematically hampered by a failure to realize that the normativity question does not delineate a single line of inquiry, but rather several different such lines; and that these differences depend on how certain key concepts embedded in the question are understood. The paper concludes by noting several lines of future research suggested by the present work.
The advantage of brief fMRI acquisition runs for multi-voxel pattern detection across runs.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies are broken up into runs (or ‘sessions’), frequently selected to be long to minimize across-run signal variations. For investigations that use multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA), however, employing many short runs might improve a classifier's ability to generalize across irrelevant pattern variations and detect condition-related activity patterns. We directly tested this hypothesis by scanning participants with both long and short runs and comparing MVPA performance using data from each set of runs. Every run included presentations of faces, places, man-made objects and fruit in a blocked 1-back design. MVPA performance significantly improved from using a large number of short runs, compared to several long runs, in across-run classifications with identical amounts of data. Superior classification was found across variations in the classifier employed, feature selection procedure and region of interest. Performance improvements also extended to an information brain mapping ‘searchlight’ procedure. These results suggest that investigators looking to maximize the detection of subtle multi-voxel patterns across runs might consider employing short fMRI runs.
The Japanese‐American Internment: Perceptions of Moral Community, Fairness, and Redress

This paper examines the issues of moral community, fairness, and redress with reference to the Japanese-American internment of World War II. Perspectives on these issues are presented for three different groups of individuals affected by the internment: the Caucasian Americans who supported the internment, the Nisei, or second-generation Japanese Americans who were interned, and their children, the Sansei generation. Finally, a comparison across the perspectives of the three groups is given.
Insulin-like growth factor-I and genetic effects on indexes of protein degradation in response to feed deprivation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study determined the effect of genetic variation, feed deprivation, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on weight loss, plasma IGF-I and growth hormone, and indexes of protein degradation...
The time factor in Mandarin language learning: the four-week intensive versus the regular high school semester

This study compared two groups of high school students in their learning of a third-year Mandarin level 3 class under two conditions: an intensive four-week (85.5 hours) summer program and a 22-week (88 hours) regular semester program. Students in both conditions had been classmates through four semesters of Mandarin instruction and had similar Mandarin oral proficiency at the end of the second year (SOPI (Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview) pre-test). The SOPI post-test administered at the end of both programs showed no differences for students in either condition on Mandarin oral comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar usage; however, students in the distributed learning condition were significantly better on oral fluency than students in the intensive learning condition. Overall, however, findings support the conclusion that an intensive foreign language-learning program can be as effective as a traditional semester-long language class.