cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teacher Views on Computational Thinking as a Pathway to Computer Science

Recent years have seen increased focus on integrating Computational Thinking (CT) across subject areas in lieu of treating it as a standalone subject. Over the course of two years, we focused on teacher development in a large city school system via summer workshops that brought in-service and pre-service teachers together to co-create integrated CT lessons. In this experience report, we will describe the workshop design and share the perspectives of the participating K-5 teachers. One particular area of focus of the workshop was integrating 'plugged' or technology-based computing examples for the teachers. Further, we engaged the teachers with a discussion of the role of CT in promoting equity for students and demonstrated ways in which student cultural experiences could be activated through creative computing. Specific outcomes of the work included increased confidence and value in CT vocabulary usage, ideas to infuse existing curriculum with CT ideas, and teacher belief that CT could be used as a "gateway" for learning CS. We make recommendations for future efforts to include CT in pre-service teacher preparation.
Water Uptake and Optical Properties of Mixed Organic-Inorganic Particles

Atmospheric aerosol particles are frequently internal mixtures of inorganic and organic species, both of which can contribute to aerosol water uptake and determine the particles’ ability to scatter...
Personalized medicine for GnRH antagonist protocol in in vitro fertilization procedure using modeling and optimal control

Abstract Infertility is an inability of those of reproductive age to become or remain pregnant within five years of exposure to pregnancy WHO . Since its inception in 1978, In vitro fertilization (IVF) has become the most resorted protocol for treating infertility. This article is focused on the first stage of IVF namely, superovulation. Superovulation is the drug-induced ovarian stimulation process to facilitate multiple ovulations per menstrual cycle. Thus, successful superovulation is the foundation for a successful IVF cycle. Despite the existence of general guidelines for dosage prescription, patient customized dosage protocols do not exist, and complications, such as overstimulation, do occur. To solve the limitations of the existing empirical system, a mathematical algorithm is developed to provide a customized model of superovulation owing to the size distribution of eggs (follicles/ oocytes) obtained per cycle as a function of the chemical interactions of the drugs used and the patient conditions during the cycle, to serve as a baseline for forecasting the outcome. A personalized medicine approach was previously presented based on mathematical modeling and optimal control for the agonist Long Lupron protocol of IVF(Nisal et al., 2020). This article is an extension of that work and describes the theory, modeling, and optimal control strategy to improve outcomes of IVF treatment for the antagonist Ganirelix (GnRH) protocol used in clinical practice. The validation of the procedure is performed using clinical data from the patients previously undergone IVF cycles. The data was available for 13 patients and customized patient-specific model parameters were obtained from the data. The model was used to predict follicle size distribution for all 13 patients for the remaining days of the cycle. It was found that the personalized models showed a strong fit with the clinically observed follicle size distribution (FSD). Then, the optimal control method was used for each individual patient to predict optimized drug dosage protocols using the customized patient specific parameters. The validity of modeling and optimization approach is corroborated by the results and show the efficacy of the optimized drug dosage protocols for each patient.
Isolated Epileptiform Discharges in Nonepileptic Psychiatric Patients

Although the existing EEG literature is replete with reports of abnormalities in association with neuropsychiatric disorders, only a few generalizations can be made between particular EEG patterns and disorders. The strong (and relatively straight forward) correlation between EEG abnormalities and epilepsy has overshadowed the more complex relationship between EEG abnormalities and psychiatric disorders. Moreover, the prevailing concept of “not treating the EEG” led to further de-emphasizing such EEG deviations. A well-established fact is that the incidence of EEG abnormalities; both slow wave abnormalities and epileptiform discharges (EDs) are higher in psychiatric populations as compared to control groups (Shelley et al. 2008).
The binding of dexamethasone and triamcinolone acetonide to glucocorticoid receptors in rat skeletal muscle.

Abstract Specific binding of the synthetic glucocorticoids [1,2,4-3H]dexamethasone (9α-fluoro-11β,17α,21-trihydroxy-16α-methyl-1,4-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione) and [1,2,4-3H]triamcinolone acetonide (9α-fluoro-11β,16α,17α,21-tetrahydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione-16,17-acetonide) by the cytoplasmic fraction of rat gastrocnemius muscle was studied. The cytosol binding reaction displayed stereospecificity and high affinity of binding. Biologically active glucocorticoids, administered to adrenalectomized rats or present during the in vitro binding reaction markedly depressed the binding of [3H]dexamethasone and [3H]triamcinolone acetonide. The biologically inactive stereoisomer, epicortisol, had no effect on the binding of the labeled hormones. The binding component displayed high affinity for [3H]dexamethasone and [3H]triamcinolone acetonide (Kd = 1.9 and 1.2 x 10-8 m, respectively). The number of binding sites was limited (0.1 pmoles per mg of cytosol protein), and Scatchard analysis suggests that only a single class of binding sites exists for both [3H]dexamethasone and [3H]triamcinolone acetonide. Competition studies indicated that the two glucocorticoids interact with the same binding site. The binding macromolecule appears to be a protein since binding is prevented by nagarse treatment and is dependent on the integrity of —SH groups. The glucocorticoid-protein complexes were characterized on 5 to 20 % sucrose gradients. Both complexes sedimented at ∼ 4 S in 0.3 m KCl, but only the [3H]triamcinolone acetonide-receptor complex sedimented at 7 S in the absence of salt. Since the specific binding component has the properties of a physiological glucocorticoid receptor, a direct effect of these hormones on skeletal muscle is suggested.
Growth of with input level: Influence of f2/f1

Abstract The present investigation examined the effect of ƒ 2 /ƒ 1 where ƒ 1 and ƒ 2 are the frequencies of a two-tone input, ƒ 2 > ƒ 1 difference tone level ( L(2ƒ 1 − ƒ 2 ) ) to input level ( L 1 = L 2 , where L 1 and L 2 ( L(ƒ 2 − ƒ 1 ) ) and the cubic difference tone level ( L(2ƒ 1 − ƒ 2 ) ) to input level ( L 2 = L 2 , where L 1 and L 2 ) represent the levels of the tones at ƒ 1 and ƒ 2 , respectively ). Two normal-hearing young adults served as subjects. An adaptive 2AFC nonsimultaneous gap-masking paradigm was utilized to obtain estimates of distortion product magnitude. Parameters of the two-tone input were: ƒ 1 = 1550 Hz ;ƒ 2 /ƒ 1 = 1.08 and 1.41; and L 1 = L 2 = 35 to 85 dB SL . Results revealed that slopes for the functions relating L(ƒ 2 − ƒ 2 ) and L(2ƒ 1 − ƒ 2 ) to L 1 = L 2 were approximately 1.0 dB/dB for ƒ 2 /ƒ 1 = 1.08 ƒ 2 /ƒ 1 = 1.41 however, a slope of 2.0 dB/dB was observed for L ( f 2 − f 1 ) while a slope of 3.0 dB/dB was obtained for L(2ƒ 1 − ƒ 2 ) . It is suggested that some combination of nonlinearities is needed to account for these data.
Latin America: Underdevelopment or Revolution. Essays on the Development of Underdevelopment and the Immediate Enemy

In his second book, Andre Gunder Frank expands on the theme presented in his influential study Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America. It is the colonial structure of world capitalism, in his view, which produced and maintains the underdevelopment characteristic of Latin America and the rest of the Third World. This colonial structure penetrates everywhere in Latin America, forming and transforming all its features in obedience to its own imperatives and thereby imposing upon the region those characteristic features of poverty and backwardness which are not primarily the remnants of an ancient "feudal" past but the direct products of capitalism. This development of underdevelopment will persist, Frank argues, until the people of Latin America free themselves from world capitalism by means of revolution.
Interactions between small polaronic particles in solids

ABSTRACT When a light particle in a solid composed of relatively heavy atoms is associated with substantial displacements of the equilibrium positions of the atoms immediately surrounding it, the composite entity may be regarded as being small-polaronic. Many instances of self-trapping of electronic charge carriers, excitons and light atoms such as hydrogen are known. A significant contribution to the interaction between such particles results from interference between their atomic displacement patterns. As a result oppositely charged small polarons may experience an intermediate-range repulsion , while both like-signed and neutral entities may have a tendency to cluster. These effects can be very important. As examples, the recombination kinetics of electron and hole small polarons and the ordering of defect atoms are discussed.
Wingless signaling in Drosophila eye development

The secreted morphogen Wingless (Wg) has a variety of functions throughout Drosophila eye development, controlling tissue specification, growth, and patterning. Wg plays a critical role in subdividing the eye imaginal disc into separate primordia that will give rise to the adult retina and the surrounding head capsule. During larval development, wg is expressed in the anterior lateral margins of the eye disc, regions that will give rise to head cuticle; Wg signaling promotes the head fate and prevents these marginal regions from initiating ectopic photoreceptor differentiation. Expression of wg at the dorsal margin is earlier and stronger than at the ventral margin, allowing Wg to contribute to specifying the dorsal domain of the eye disc. Finally, during the pupal stages, wg expression surrounds the entire eye and a concentric gradient of Wg establishes several distinct peripheral retinal cell fates. This chapter reviews these aspects of Wg function and describes how to generate clones of cells mutant for genes encoding components of the Wg signaling pathway in the eye disc and examine their effects on photoreceptor differentiation by immunohistochemistry.
Perceived Norms and Social Values to Capture School Culture in Elementary and Middle School.

Abstract The current study was designed to gain insights into shifting school culture by examining perceived peer group norms and social values across elementary and middle school grades. Perceived norms were assessed by asking participants (N = 605) to estimate how many grade mates were academically engaged, disengaged, and antisocial. To capture social values, peer nominations were used to assess “coolness” associated with these behaviors. Perceived norms became gradually more negative from fall to spring and across grades four to eight. Whereas academic engagement was socially valued in elementary school, negative social and academic behaviors were valued in middle school. Additionally, improved social status was associated with increased academic engagement in fifth grade, disengagement in seventh and eighth grades, and antisocial behavior in sixth grade. The findings suggest that differences between elementary and middle school cultural norms and values may shed light on negative behavior changes associated with the transition to middle school.
Automatic documentation generation via source code summarization of method context

A documentation generator is a programming tool that creates documentation for software by analyzing the statements and comments in the software's source code. While many of these tools are manual, in that they require specially-formatted metadata written by programmers, new research has made inroads towards automatic generation of documentation. These approaches work by stitching together keywords from the source code into readable natural language sentences. These approaches have been shown to be effective, but carry a key limitation: the generated documents do not explain the source code's context. They can describe the behavior of a Java method, but not why the method exists or what role it plays in the software. In this paper, we propose a technique that includes this context by analyzing how the Java methods are invoked. In a user study, we found that programmers benefit from our generated documentation because it includes context information.
Evaluation and Disposition of Medicaid-Insured Children and Adolescents With Suicide Attempts

Abstract Objective Guidelines and quality of care measures for the evaluation of adolescent suicidal behavior recommend prompt mental health evaluation, hospitalization of high-risk youth, and specific follow-up plans—all of which may be influenced by sociodemographic factors. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with variations in the evaluation of youth with suicidal behavior. Methods We conducted a large cohort study of youth, aged 7 to 18, enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid from 1995 to 2006, who filled prescriptions for antidepressants and who presented for evaluation of injuries that were determined to be suicidal on the basis of external cause-of-injury codes (E codes) and ICD-9-CM codes and review of individual medical records. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed to assess the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and documentation of mental health evaluation, hospitalization, and discharge instructions. Results Of 929 episodes of suicidal behavior evaluated in an acute setting, rural-residing youth were less likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55–0.95) and more likely to be medically hospitalized only (AOR 1.92; 95% CI 1.39–2.65). Female subjects were less likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital (AOR 0.55; 95% CI 0.41–0.74) and more likely to be discharged home (AOR 1.44; 95% CI 1.01–2.04). Only 40% of those discharged to home had documentation of discharge instructions with both follow-up provider and date. Conclusions In this statewide cohort of youth with suicidal behavior, there were significant differences in disposition associated with sociodemographic characteristics.
Comparison of dislocation densities of primary and secondary recrystallization grains of Si-Fe

Abstract Single crystals of Si-Fe ( 3 1 4 per cent Si) were cold-rolled and annealed to obtain both primary and secondary recrystallization structures. The dislocation densities of the primary and secondary recrystallization grains were measured by an etch-pit method, which also disclosed considerable variation in etchpit density among the primaries and in many instances within individual primaries. The average dislocation densities were 2 × 107 lines/cm2 for primaries and 2 × 106 lines/cm2 for secondaries, which indicates that primaries on the average are less perfect than secondaries. The effects of the observed difference in dislocation density on the driving force for growth in the initial and also in the later stages of secondary recrystallization were considered. Calculations indicate a critical size for growth of a grain in deviating orientation which is substantially above the average size of primaries. The difference in dislocation density contributes approximately 8 per cent to the driving force of a large secondary in the Si-Fe studied.
Comparing diary and retrospective reports of pain and activity restriction in children and adolescents with chronic pain conditions.

Objective The current study investigated the daily relationship between pain, activity restriction, and depression in children and adolescents with chronic pain, and compared participants' responses on diary and retrospective assessment measures. Method Data collection included the administration of diary and retrospective measures of pain, activity restriction, and depression to 93 children with recurrent headache, juvenile chronic arthritis, and sickle cell disease. The study used hierarchical linear modeling to examine the relationship between daily pain and activity restriction, and analyses compared participants' responses on diary and retrospective assessment measures. Results Using diary measures, daily pain intensity was related to children's levels of activity restriction. Diary completion was predicted by age and diary-type, with younger children and children using electronic diaries demonstrating higher compliance. Pain intensity was significantly higher on retrospective compared with diary measures, demonstrating inflation in retrospective reports of pain. No significant differences between measures of activity restriction emerged. Discussion These preliminary results suggest that although retrospective reports of activity restriction may be an acceptable alternative to daily diary assessment for children with chronic pain, retrospective measures of pain intensity may show inflated pain levels. To provide support for the findings, longitudinal research comparing responses to diary versus retrospective measures is recommended.
Elementary Science: Left Behind?

(2005). Elementary Science: Left Behind? Journal of Science Teacher Education: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 185-187.
A population-based study of acute care revisits following tonsillectomy.

Objectives To describe the clinical spectrum and frequency of acute care revisits after tonsillectomy in a population-based sample from a single state in the US. Study design We used California state discharge databases from 2009 to 2011 to retrospectively identify retrospectively routine tonsillectomy discharges in residents Results Records were available for 35 085 index tonsillectomies, most of which were performed at hospital-owned ambulatory and inpatient facilities. There were 4944 associated revisits: 3761 (75.9%) treat-and-release emergency room visits, 816 (17.1%) inpatient admissions, and 367 (7.0%) ambulatory surgery visits. Most revisits (3225 [67.7%]) were unrelated to bleeding; these typically occurred early (mode, day 2) and were commonly associated with diagnosis codes indicating pain, nausea/vomiting, or dehydration. Crude all-cause revisit and readmission rates were 10.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Adjusted all-cause revisit rates (range, 8.6%-24.5%) were lowest in young children, increased in adolescents, and peaked in young adults. Adjusted bleeding-related revisit rates increased abruptly in adolescents and reached 13.9% in males (6.8% in females, P Conclusions Acute care revisits after tonsillectomy performed at predominately hospital-owned facilities in California are common and strongly age-related. Most revisits are early treat-and-release outpatient encounters, and these are usually associated with potentially preventable problems such as pain, nausea and vomiting, and dehydration.
Purification of tumor‐specific antigens. An overview of the relevance to human colon carcinoma

Methods which dissociate intramolecular noncovalent bonds have been used to prepare soluble derivatives of cell-surface antigens. Applications of these techniques to human colon carcinoma are underway. Continuous tissue-culture strains derived from primary lesions were developed and shown to be composed of malignant epithelial elements. Parallel data on the preparation and activity of soluble materials in a murine model methylcholanthrene system reveal that although cultured cells are a satisfactory source for antigen extraction, they are poor targets of the immune response. The development of methods to quantitate the biologic activity of colon-specific, soluble materials may provide indicator systems to define the antigenic determinants, to permit purification, and to serve as assays of the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Effects of white lupine in diets of growing turkeys.

Abstract In Experiment 1, dehulling white lupine (WL) improved growth and feed efficiency of male Large White turkey poults fed 40% WL during 4 to 21 days of age. In Experiment 2, WL was included proportionally with soybean meal in corn-soy diets of female turkeys from 0 to 17 wk of age. Soybean meal:WL ratios (S:WL) were 1:0 (control), 2:1, 1:1, and .6:1. At 17 wk of age hens on S:WL diets of 2:1 had body weights that were similar to those of birds fed the corn-soy control diets. Growth of hens fed S:WL diets of .6:1 was depressed (P
A New Cause For Biliobronchial Fistule

An unusual complication of artificial pneumoperitoneum is presented. Extensive review of the literature relative to biliobronehial fistulae has not revealed a similar case. The unusual nature of the etiology involved in this patient is stressed since it appeared to result from atraumatic transdiaphragmatic therapeutic pneumoperitoneum.
Development of austenite free ADI (austempered ductile cast iron)

Abstract The primary goal of this investigation was to create austempered ductile cast iron (ADI) with a fully ferritic microstructure without compromising its mechanical properties. This was achieved by applying a novel heat treatment process. This process consists of austempering and subsequent isothermal tempering below the inter critical ( A 1 ) temperature of ductile cast iron. Ductile cast iron samples were initially austenitized at 927 °C (1700 °F) for 2 h and then austempered at three different temperatures 260 °C (500 °F), 316 °C (600 °F) and 385 °C (725 °F) and finally isothermally tempered at 484 °C (900 °F) for 2 h. This resulted in a fully ferritic microstructure. The effect of this tempering on the physical and mechanical properties of the material was examined and compared with conventionally processed ADI. Tests results show that when ADI is austempered at 260 °C (500 °F) and subsequently tempered at 484 °C (900 °F) it has significantly better mechanical properties than the samples initially austempered at other two temperatures (i.e. 316 °C (600 °F) and 385 °C (725 °F)).
Mass conservation and chemical kinetics

A method for obtaining all mass conservation conditions implied by a given mechanism; these conditions can be used to simplify integration of the rate equations and to derive the stoichiometric relations.
Identification and quantitation of tetrapeptide deamidation products by mass spectrometry.

Abstract A method to quantify asparagine (Asn), aspartate (Asp) and isoaspartate (isoAsp) residues in small peptides by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) was developed. Discrimination of isoAsp from Asp residues was accomplished by selective derivatization of isoAsp residues in acetic anhydride, D 2 O and pyridine. Deuteration occurred at any carbon adjacent to a free α-carboxyl group, through a transient oxazalone intermediate, allowing the isoAsp side chain and the C-terminus to incorporate deuterium. Thus, isoAsp-containing peptides incorporate one more deuterium than peptides with Asp and two more than Asn peptides. FAB CID-MS spectra of the Asn tetrapeptide, Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr, were used to confirm the position of deuteration to the C-terminal residue. FAB and FAB CID-MS spectra demonstrated that the 1 amu shift in mass was not caused by derivatization induced deamidation of the Asn residue. FAB-MS spectra of deuterated peptide standards and mixtures containing deamidation products were obtained over the molecular ion region and deconvoluted using non-deuterated control spectra. Deuterium incorporation values for the Asn, Asp and iosAsp containing peptide standards were 80% mono-deuterated peptide, 95% mono-deuterated peptide and 63% di-deuterated peptide, respectively. IsoAsp to Asp ratios in an unknown mixture were obtained by a least-squares minimization of the difference between the unknown deuterated mixture and the isotopic envelopes from the deuterated standards. The mixture was found to contain 85% isoAsp peptide by FAB-MS, which agreed well with 81% isoAsp peptide when assayed by reversed-phase LC.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Performance Trades for Mars Pinpoint Landing

Landing site selection is a compromise between safety concerns associated with the site’s terrain and scientific interest. Therefore, technologies enabling pinpoint landing performance (sub-100-m accuracies) on the surface of Mars are of interest to increase the number of accessible sites for in situ research, as well as allow placement of vehicles nearby prepositioned assets. A survey of the performance of guidance, navigation, and control technologies that could allow pinpoint landing to occur at Mars was performed. This assessment has shown that negligible propellant mass fraction benefits are seen for reducing the three-sigma position dispersion at the end of the hypersonic guidance phase (parachute deployment) below approximately 3 km. Four different propulsive terminal descent guidancealgorithms were examined. Of these four, a near propellant-optimal analytic guidance law showed promisefortheconceptualdesignofpinpointlandingvehicles.Theexistenceofapropellantoptimumwithregardto theinitiationtimeofthepropulsiveterminaldescentwasshowntoexistforvarious flightconditions.Subsonicguided parachutes were shown to provide marginal performance benefits, due to the timeline associated with descent through the thin Mars atmosphere. This investigation also demonstrates that navigation is a limiting technology for Mars pinpoint landing, with landed performance being largely driven by navigation sensor and map tie accuracy.
Isolevuglandin-protein adducts in humans: products of free radical-induced lipid oxidation through the isoprostane pathway.

Abstract A family of extremely reactive electrophiles, isolevuglandins (isoLGs), is generated in vivo by free radical-induced lipid oxidation and rearrangement of endoperoxide intermediates of the isoprostane pathway. Protein adducts of two different oxidized lipids, isoLGE 2 and iso[4]LGE 2 , and the corresponding autoantibodies are present in human blood. Western blot analysis of a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel detects several immunoreactive plasma proteins. Only a minor fraction of the isoLG–protein modifications is associated with low density lipoprotein since mean levels were decreased only 20–22% by immunoprecipitation of apolipoprotein B (apoB). Mean levels of both isoLGE 2 and iso[4]LGE 2 –protein adducts in plasma from patients with atherosclerosis (AS) ( n =16) or end-stage renal disease (RD) ( n =8) are about twice those in healthy individuals ( n =25). These elevated levels are not related to variations in age, total cholesterol or apoB. A linear correlation ( r =0.79) between plasma isoLGE 2 and iso[4]LGE 2 –protein adduct levels in all 49 individuals is consistent with a common free radical-induced mechanism for the production of both oxidized lipids in vivo. The correlation is even stronger ( r =0.86) for patients with AS or RD. That isoLG–protein adduct levels are more strongly correlated with disease than are total cholesterol or apoB suggests an independent defect that results in an abnormally high level of oxidative injury associated with AS and RD.
Impaired neurovascular repair in subjects with diabetes following experimental intracutaneous axotomy

Diabetic complications and vascular disease are closely intertwined. Diabetes mellitus is a well-established risk factor for both large and small vessel vascular changes, and conversely other vascular risk factors confer increased risk for diabetic complications such as peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. Furthermore, axons and blood vessels share molecular signals for purposes of navigation, regeneration and terminal arborizations. We examined blood vessel, Schwann cell and axonal regeneration using validated axotomy models to study and compare patterns and the relationship of regeneration among these different structures. Ten subjects with diabetes mellitus complicated by neuropathy and 10 healthy controls underwent 3 mm distal thigh punch skin biopsies to create an intracutaneous excision axotomy followed by a concentric 4-mm overlapping biopsy at different time points. Serial sections were immunostained against a pan-axonal marker (PGP9.5), an axonal regenerative marker (GAP43), Schwann cells (p75) and blood vessels (CD31) to visualize regenerating structures in the dermis and epidermis. The regenerative and collateral axonal sprouting rates, blood vessel growth rate and Schwann cell density were quantified using established stereology techniques. Subjects also underwent a chemical 'axotomy' through the topical application of capsaicin, and regenerative sprouting was assessed by the return of intraepidermal nerve fibre density through regenerative regrowth. In the healed 3 mm biopsy sites, collateral and dermal regenerative axonal sprouts grew into the central denervated area in a stereotypic pattern with collateral sprouts growing along the dermal-epidermal junction while regenerative dermal axons, blood vessels and Schwann cells grew from their transected proximal stumps into the deep dermis. Vessel growth preceded axon and Schwann cell migration into the denervated region, perhaps acting as scaffolding for axon and Schwann cell growth. In control subjects, Schwann cell growth was more robust and extended into the superficial dermis, while among subjects with diabetes mellitus, Schwann tubes appeared atrophic and were limited to the mid-dermis. Rates of collateral (P=0.0001), dermal axonal regenerative sprouting (P=0.02), Schwann cell migration (P<0.05) and blood vessel growth (P=0.002) were slower among subjects with diabetes mellitus compared with control subjects. Regenerative deficits are a common theme in diabetes mellitus and may underlie the development of neuropathy. We observed that blood vessel growth recapitulated the pattern seen in ontogeny and preceded regenerating nerve fibres, suggesting that enhancement of blood vessel growth might facilitate axonal regeneration. These models are useful tools for the efficient investigation of neurotrophic and regenerative drugs, and also to explore factors that may differentially affect axonal regeneration.
A new, removable, sliding noose for adjustable-suture strabismus surgery

We describe a new removable sliding polyglactin 910 suture noose for postoperative suture adjustment following extraocular muscle surgery. No excess suture material remains after adjustment has been completed, helping to reduce discomfort, inflammation, and scarring. We have used this noose with the cul-de-sac conjunctival incision in approximately 360 patients over a period of 18 months. This report details how to fashion, use, and remove the noose.
Chain elongation and desaturation of palmitic acid in liver microsomes of rats subjected to hyperbaric exposure.

SummaryThe enzyme activities associated with chain elongation and desaturation of fatty acid in hepatic microsomes from rats held at 1 ATA of air, 1 ATA of He-O2, and 20 ATA of He-O2 were studied. It was found that both the microsomal chain elongation and desaturation of fatty acids were depressed in rats held at 1 ATA of He-O2 as compared to animals held at 1 ATA of air. When animals were exposed to an environment of 20 ATA of He-O2, the chain elongation of fatty acid was about the same as for rats held at 1 ATA of air and was two times greater than for the rats held at 1 ATA of He-O2. The desaturase activity was depressed as compared to the two groups of control animals held at 1 ATA of air and 1 ATA of He-O2.
Consolidation and self‐bonding in poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)

The effects of processing variables (time, temperature, and pressure) on the strength development during self-bonding of amorphous PEEK films were studied using a modified single lap-shear test. It was shown that the self-bonding strength developed isothermally at different bonding temperatures exhibits a linear response with the bonding time raised to the 1/4 power in agreement with Wool's theory. DSC measurement of the crystallinity produced at different bonding conditions demonstrated that even though PEEK specimens contain the same amount of crystallinity, the resultant self-bonding strength is sensitively dependent on bonding history. C-mode scanning acoustic microscopy (C-SAM) was applied to define the effect of the processing variables on wetting of the bonding area during the bonding process. It was shown that, above a threshold pressure (< 17 psi), the degree of wetting depends weakly on time, but not on temperature. SEM analysis revealed that amorphous PEEK films are self-bonded by crystalline growth after diffusion and entanglement of the polymer chains across the interface. The crystalline growth rate across the interface is much higher at higher temperatures, leading to a higher self-bonding strength. The shear fracture surface observations also support the above result. The PEEK specimens showing the higher self-bonding strengths exhibit much denser striations and deeper dimplelike ductile patterns in the fracture surface, arising from much more crystalline growth across the interface. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Structural Studies of Caveolins-The Caveolae Scaffolding Membrane Protein

Caveolae are omega-shaped, small invaginations of the cellular membrane that are especially abundant in endothelium, adipose and muscle tissue. The structural integrity of caveolae is believed to be maintained by caveolins. Aside from the structural functions, caveolins are also involved in several important physiological functions, such as cellular signaling, transport and cholesterol metabolism. Numerous diseases such as bacterial or viral infections, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are also directly linked to caveolins. In our study, recombinant hCAV1 was successfully expressed in E. coli and purified in milligram amounts. SDS-PAGE results indicate that the protein is pure and the molecular weight is around 20 kDa. Mass spectroscopy and N-terminal sequencing further confirm the hCAV1 identity and indicate that the N-terminal methionine is cleaved during expression. Purified recombinant hCAV1 is successfully reconstituted into cholesterol-containing membranes. 5 nm Ni-NTA-Nanogold is used to characterize the distribution of hCAV1 in the membrane by electron miroscopy. Very large clusters of hCav1 oligomers and smaller clusters that specifically disrupted the liposome membrane were observed. Smaller hCav1 clusters produced ex-vaginations of the liposome membranes that strikingly resembled the in vivo rosetta-like caveolae structures observed in adipocyte cells. A uniformly [13C,15N]-labeled hCav1 membrane sample has been prepared and studied using solid-state NMR. Resonances with about 1 ppm linewidth were observed in a standard double-quantum filtered 13C-13C spectrum where the 13C natural abundance lipid signal was absent. In the case of alanine, these include resonances from residues both within and outside of the hCav1 membrane domain, suggesting that the entire protein is well folded in our sample. Interestingly, we observe that all threonine CA/CB resonances (overlapping around 67 ppm in F2 and 130 ppm in F1) correspond to β-sheet like conformations.
Estrogen effects on the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic system in the female rat brain

Estrogen effects on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), monoamine oxidase types A and B (MAO), and dopamine (DA) in microdissected regions of the hypothalamus, preoptic area and substantia nigra (SNR) of the female rat brain were investigated. Ovariectomized (OVX) young adult female rats were implanted with single silastic capsules containing 100% estradiol valerate (EV). Control rats received empty silastic capsules. Two weeks following capsule insertion, EV decreased TH activity and DA concentration in the arcuate nucleus (AN) while no significant changes in TH activity or DA concentration were observed in the SNR, ventromedial nucleus (VMN), suprachiasmatic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, medial preoptic nucleus, or the periventricular preoptic nucleus. Although estrogen suppressed TH and DA in the AN, 2 weeks following removal of the estrogen containing capsules, TH activity and DA concentration were restored to control (OVX) levels. Suppression of MAO activity occurred in both the AN and the VMN of rats implanted with EV capsules and returned to OVX levels following the removal of the estradiol load. These results revealed that estrogen effects on TH and MAO activities and DA concentration in the midbrain are region specific and reversible; and that among the dopaminergic systems studied, estrogen effects on TH and DA are confined to the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic system (TIDAS). Furthermore, these results support our hypothesis that estrogen is a key regulator of DA function in the TIDAS via effects on TH. The importance of these findings to the control of gonadotropin secretion and reproductive cyclicity is discussed.
Combined liver-kidney transplantation in a child with primary hyperoxaluria.

A 3.5-year-old boy presented with end-stage renal disease and bilateral nephrocalcinosis. Renal biopsy demonstrated marked parenchymal calcium oxalate deposition and a diagnosis of primary hyperoxaluria (PH) was made. Following 2 years of hemodialysis he received two renal allografts which were lost at 7 and 11 months, respectively, due to biopsy-proven recurrent oxalosis. Combined liver-kidney transplantation was then performed, after which renal and hepatic function initially stabilized. The patient died on the 28th postoperative day, of in fectious complications and progressive respiratory insufficiency. However, comparisons between the patterns of urinary oxalate excretion noted after the isolated renal and liver-kidney transplants indicated that, following the latter, successful biochemical correction of the enzyme defect responsible for type 1 PH had occurred.
Role of Interleukin-13 in Asthma

Interleukin-13 is a pleiotropic TH2 cytokine that has been shown to be central to the pathogenesis of asthma. Some of the most prominent of the effects of IL-13 include increases in goblet cell differentiation, activation of fibroblasts, elevation of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and switching of B cell antibody production from IgM to IgE. The relevances of these effects to asthma have been carefully studied in both animal models and more recently in human studies. As the role of IL-13 in asthma has become more defined, a number of potential biomarkers for TH2 airway inflammation, and hence IL-13 activity, have been identified, including blood and sputum eosinophils, total serum IgE, proteins derived from the bronchial epithelium (e.g., serum periostin), and exhaled nitric oxide. Most importantly, many of these markers for TH2 inflammation are strong predictors for positive responses to inhaled corticosteroid treatment. These biomarkers may also be useful in identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from specific IL-13 antagonism, as was demonstrated in a recent clinical trial of anti-IL-13 antibody therapy (lebrikizumab) in patients with poorly controlled asthma despite using inhaled corticosteroids. In that study, significant improvements in FEV1 were observed in patients with elevations of serum periostin but not in patients with normal periostin levels. These data indicate that IL-13 antagonists may fulfill an important unmet need in patients with poorly controlled asthma and biologic evidence of persistent IL-13 activity.
In defense of species

Abstract In this paper, I address the charge that the category species should be abandoned in biological work. The widespread appeal to species in scientific discourse provides a presumption in favor of the category’s usefulness, but a defeasible presumption. Widely acknowledged troubles attend species : these troubles might render the concept unusable by showing that ‘species’ is equivocal or meaningless or in some similar way fatally flawed. Further, there might be better alternatives to species . I argue that the presumption in favor of species is not defeated on these scores. Troubles attending species , which arise on account of contextual variation attending the use of ‘species’, do not indicate that the concept is unusable. And alternatives to the use of ‘species’, which have been proposed in connection with rank-free systematics and in connection with conservation efforts, fail to provide a proper replacement for species .
Strength of cerclage fixation systems: a biomechanical study

This study examined the load to failure ratio and stiffness of eight different cerclage techniques commonly used in the clinical management of fractures. For a single-loop cerclage, titanium cable was the strongest, while stainless steel wire secured with a commercial tightener was the weakest (P < 0.05). When a single-loop configuration is necessary (i.e. trochanteric attachment) a cable system is superior to cerclage wiring. A double-wrap of either cable or wire was considerably stronger than any single-wrap cerclage technique and stronger than two cerclage wires (P < 0.05).
Factors affecting young's modulus — Porosity relation of hydrated portland cement compacts

Abstract Two series of compacts are studied, one d-dried before and one after compaction. Measurements of absolute density, helium flow characteristics and Young's modulus indicate that high pressures can force the layers of d-dried material closer together, giving a Young's modulus double that displayed when no interlayer water is present and identical to that when spaces are occupied by water molecules. Water can re-enter between the layers, however, and on redrying Young's modulus is reduced by 50 per cent to the normal value for the d-dried material. The interlayer water must be regarded as part of the solid.
General Intelligence and Wages

Unsatisfactory discussion of the subject by economists, 690. — The Binet tests of general intelligence, 691. — Applications in educational psychology, 692. — Application to relation between intelligence and earnings, 694. — Large possibilities of the method, 697. — Need of separating tests of intelligence from those testing environment and schooling, 698. — Vocational guidance, 701. — Conclusion, 703.
Genetic structure of natural populations of California red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) using multiple genetic markers

Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI) sequence, nuclear microsatellites, and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to evaluate connectivity among nine red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) populations sampled between August 1998 and November 2003 along approximately 1,300 km of California coastline from Crescent City (41°46′N, 124°12′W) to San Miguel Island (34°02′N, 120°22′W). COI sequences and microsatellite genotypes did not show significant genetic divergence among nine sampled populations. A subset of five populations spanning the geographic range of the study was scored for 163 polymorphic AFLP markers. Of these, 41 loci showed significant divergence (P < 0.001) among populations. Still, no AFLP markers were diagnostic for any of the study populations, and assignment tests did not consistently assign individuals to the correct population. Although the AFLP data are the first to suggest there is significant genetic differentiation among California red abalone populations, the discordance between the different genetic markers needs further study before unambiguous conclusions can be drawn with respect to connectivity among the populations.
Effect of Vitamin E Deficiency on Uptake of Amino-acid and Incorporation in Isolated Rabbit Diaphragm

ONE of the most striking effects of vitamin E deficiency is the acute muscular wasting seen in young rabbits raised on a tocopherol-free diet. Although this nutritional muscular dystrophy has been known for more than thirty years, its mechanism remains obscure. If impaired muscle protein synthesis were the cause of the wasting, one should expect that vitamin E-deficient animals would incorporate less of a given dose of amino-acid labelled with carbon-14 into muscle proteins when compared with vitamin E-supplemented animals. Surprisingly, Dinning et al.1 have found that dystrophic muscle incorporated more glycine-l-14C.
Space-time characterization of soil moisture from passive microwave remotely sensed imagery and ancillary data

Abstract The statistical structure of soil moisture fields was examined using large-scale images (40×250 km) obtained during the Southern Great Plains 1997 (SGP'97) hydrology experiment. In particular, empirical scaling analysis was conducted to investigate the linkages between the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture, and landscape characteristics including terrain, soils, and vegetation. The results show that the soil moisture fields exhibit multiscaling and multifractal behavior varying with the scales of observation and hydrometeorological forcing. A break in statistical symmetry (multiscaling behavior) was identified, which separates the spatial and temporal evolution of the statistical structure of soil moisture fields for wavelengths below and above 10 km, the α- and β-scale ranges, respectively. Specifically, the multiscaling behavior is consistent with the scaling behavior of soil hydraulic properties as described by soil texture parameters such as sand and clay content. The multifractal behavior is associated with the temporal evolution of drying and wetting regimes, reflecting the nonlinear character of soil moisture dynamics. Finally, Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis was conducted to explain the relationship between the spatial structure of estimated soil moisture and that of ancillary data including topography, soil texture, and vegetation cover. Topography appears to dominate the spatial structure of soil moisture only during and immediately after rainfall. In interstorm periods, the spatial evolution of soil moisture is closely associated with the spatial variability of soil hydraulic properties when the soil is above field capacity, while vegetation dominates the evolution of soil moisture fields through evapotranspiration as the landscape dries down.
Encouraging good passwords

This paper describes an assignment to non-computer science majors aimed at improving students' password selection and management practices. The study analyzes student passwords based on an anonymous questionnaire. Results indicate the majority of students either had changed or plan to change their passwords following the assignment to meet good password guidelines. The analysis revealed three guidelines that were not being followed that need additional emphasis when presenting good password guidelines: not using personal information in passwords, frequently changing to a new password, and using a mix of lower and upper case letters, numbers and special characters.
Predication in Conceptual Realism

Conceptual realism begins with a conceptualist theory of the nexus of predication in our speech and mental acts, a theory that explains the unity of those acts in terms of their referential and predicable aspects. This theory also contains as an integral part an intensional realism based on predicate nominalization and a reflexive abstraction in which the intensional contents of our concepts are “object”-ified, and by which an analysis of predication with intensional verbs can be given. Through a second nominalization of the common names that are part of conceptual realism’s theory of reference (via quantifier phrases), the theory also accounts for both plural reference and predication and mass noun reference and predication. Finally, a separate nexus of predication based on natural kinds and the natural properties and relations nomologically related to those natural kinds, is also an integral part of the framework of conceptual realism.