cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expectations for oocyte fertilization and embryo cleavage after whole sperm versus sperm head intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Objective To compare oocyte fertilization and embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with a whole sperm vs. a sperm head. Design Retrospective study. Setting Hospital-based IVF practice. Patient(s) Fifty-three women undergoing 54 IVF–embryo transfer plus ICSI procedures between January 1999 and June 2002. Intervention(s) None. Main outcome measure(s) Oocyte fertilization, zygote cleavage, and embryo stage after 72 hours of culture. Result(s) A significantly higher fertilization rate was observed using whole sperm (72.2%) than when using sperm heads (56.4%). Zygote cleavage rates for whole sperm vs. sperm head ICSI were 96.4% and 92.7%, respectively. Embryo cell stage after 72 hours of culture for whole sperm vs. sperm head ICSI was 6.5 ± 2.1 cells and 5.6 ± 1.8 cells, respectively. Embryo grade at this same time point was not different (2.3 ± 1.0 and 2.5 ± 0.9, respectively). Conclusion(s) The ICSI using whole sperm produces superior fertilization rates compared to ICSI using sperm heads, but once oocytes were fertilized, zygote cleavage rates were not different between the two sperm sources. Oocytes injected with a whole sperm produced embryos of higher cell stage but equivalent quality compared to oocytes injected with sperm heads. Therefore, having only sperm heads for use in ICSI should not be a deterrent to using this procedure.
Quantum two-state dynamics driven by stationary non-Markovian discrete noise: Exact results

Abstract We consider the problem of stochastic averaging of a quantum two-state dynamics driven by non-Markovian, discrete noises of the continuous time random walk type (multistate renewal processes). The emphasis is put on the proper averaging over the stationary noise realizations corresponding, e.g., to a stationary environment. A two-state non-Markovian process with an arbitrary non-exponential distribution of residence times (RTDs) in its states with a finite mean residence time provides a paradigm. For the case of a two-state quantum relaxation caused by such a classical stochastic field we obtain the explicit exact, analytical expression for the averaged Laplace-transformed relaxation dynamics. In the limit of Markovian noise (implying an exponential RTD), all previously known results are recovered. We exemplify new more general results for the case of non-Markovian noise with a biexponential RTD. The averaged, real-time relaxation dynamics is obtained in this case by numerically exact solving of a resulting algebraic polynomial problem. Moreover, the case of manifest non-Markovian noise with an infinite range of temporal autocorrelation (which in principle is not accessible to any kind of perturbative treatment) is studied, both analytically (asymptotic long-time dynamics) and numerically (by a precise numerical inversion of the Laplace-transformed averaged quantum relaxation).
Human adrenomedullin combined with human adrenomedullin binding protein-1 is protective in gut ischemia and reperfusion injury in the rat

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that co-administration of rat adrenomedullin (AM) and human AM binding protein-1 (AMBP-1) has various beneficial effects following adverse circulatory conditions. In order to reduce rat proteins to elicit possible immune responses in humans, we determined the effect of human AM combined with human AMBP-1 after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Intestinal ischemia was induced in the rat by occluding the superior mesenteric artery for 90 min. At 60 min after the beginning of reperfusion, human AM/AMBP-1 at 3 different dosages was administered intravenously over 30 min. At 240 min after the treatment, blood and tissue samples were harvested and measured for pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α and IL-6), myeloperoxidase activities in the gut and lungs, and cleaved caspase-3 expression in the lungs, as well as serum levels of hepatic enzymes and lactate. In additional groups of animals, a 10-day survival study was conducted. Results showed that administration of human AM/AMBP-1 reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, attenuated organ injury, and improved the survival rate in a seemingly dose–response fashion. Co-administration of the highest dose of human AM/AMBP-1 in this study had the optimal therapeutic effect in the rat model of intestinal I/R.
Contesting orientations: measure construction and the prediction of sportspersonship.

Abstract Objective This three-study investigation was undertaken to develop, validate, and test the Contesting Orientations Scale (COS), a new measure designed to assess individuals' tendencies to use contest-is-partnership and contest-is-war conceptual metaphors (i.e., contesting orientations) when competing (Shields & Bredemeier, 2009, 2011a). Design The research design was correlational. Following preliminary item creation and expert review, survey based studies were conducted to develop theoretically-based, psychometrically sound scales measuring contesting orientations. Method In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on a preliminary 39-item COS administered to a sample of high school athletes (N = 233). Study 2 used EFA to evaluate a revised 23- item COS with a second sample of high school athletes (N = 92) resulting in a final reduction of the measure to twelve items. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was then conducted on this 12-item COS, which proved an excellent fit to the data. A new sample of college athletes (N = 238) allowed Study 3 to (a) further examine the factorial validity of the COS, including gender invariance testing, (b) assess the concurrent validity of the COS via its correlations with goal orientations, empathy, moral identity, and moral disengagement; and, (c) assess the COS's incremental predictive utility for investigations of sportspersonship. Results and conclusion Results from the sequence of studies demonstrate that the 12-item, two-scale COS has good psychometric properties as assessed through EFA and CFA, good concurrent validity, and adds significantly to existing measures in the prediction of sportspersonship.
When Aging Begins: A Lifespan Developmental Approach

By attempting to answer the question, "when does aging begin?" we can develop new theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the lifespan development. General criteria for such an approach are outlined and a specific theory offered for consideration. The habituation process has been studied effectively in infancy and early childhood. The subsequent course of habituation from later childhood through old age is suggested. A number of potentials and problems inherent in this theoretical approach are briefly discussed, as well as its possible relationship to psychodynamic defensive strategies intended to reduce anxiety.
Observations on reactions of uranium compounds

The reaction of U3O8, uranium carbide, and uranium boride, each respectively, with the metals Fe, Ni, Cr and Nb were investigated with thermoanalytical techniques and X-ray analysis. The air oxidation of uranium carbide and boride as well as the interaction between UO2, U3O8 and Cr2O3 was briefly examined. It was found that all the above metals reduce U3O8 rapidly well below 1000°C. No interaction between uranium carbide and said metals was observed. Only Ni was found to react with uranium boride with the formation of an unidentified phase. The mechanisms of U3O8 reduction and uranium carbide and boride oxidation are discussed in light of the data. New phases resulting from interaction of Cr2O3 with U3O8 and the oxidation of uranium boride are reported.
Explanatory lifelike avatars: performing user-centered tasks in 3D learning environments

Because of their multimodal communicative abilities and strong visual presence, animated pedagogical agents offer significant promise for 3D learning environments. We describe a new class of animated pedagogical agents, explanatory lifelike avatars, which can perform user-designed tasks in rich 3D worlds. By generating task networks to perform student-designed tasks, an avatar task planner constructs and interprets action specifications that it then interprets within the geometries of the 3D environment to generate navigational, manipulative, and verbal behaviors. Filmed by a narrative camera planner in the 3D world, the avatars perform students’ tasks and accompanies them with running verbal explanations in realtime. The explanatory lifelike avatar framework has been implemented in a full-scale avatar for the CPU CITY learning environment, a 3D learning environment for the domain of computer architecture and systems for novices. To investigate the effectiveness of this approach, a novel four-way comparative usability study was conducted with an “agentless” world, a disembodied narrator, a mute lifelike avatar, and a fullscale explanatory avatar. Results of the study suggest that explanatory lifelike avatars hold much promise for learning environments.
Functionalized viral nanoparticles as ultrasensitive reporters in lateral-flow assays

Two types of viral nanoparticles were functionalized with target-specific antibodies and multiple copies of an enzymatic reporter (horseradish peroxidase). The particles were successfully integrated into an immunochromatographic assay detecting MS2 bacteriophage, a model for viral pathogens. The sensitivity of the assay was greatly superior to conventional gold nanoparticle lateral flow assays, and results could easily be evaluated, even without advanced lab instruments.
Tolerance to effects of morphine without cross tolerance to effects of clonidine on schedule-controlled behavior of pigeons.

Schedule-controlled responding was maintained under a multiple fixed-interval, fixed-ratio schedule in pigeons. Dose-related decreases in response rates were produced by clonidine (0.001–0.1 mg/kg) and morphine (0.3–5.6 mg/kg). Chronic administration of morphine produced (1) tolerance to effects of morphine, as evidenced by a decrease in potency of morphine and (2) sensitivity to opioid antagonists, as evidenced by an increase in potency of naloxone. Dose-effect curves for clonidine were not appreciably altered by chronic morphine administration.
Novel Deconvolution Method for Linear Pharmacokinetic Systems with Polyexponential Impulse Response

A novel least-squares deconvolution method for estimating the rate and the extent of drug input into the systemic circulation is presented. The method is based on a polyexponential approximation of the impulse response and a polynomial approximation of the input rate. The method, which is readily implemented on a computer using any multiple linear regression program with a zero-intercept option, is compared to two other deconvolution methods using simulated data with various degrees of random noise added. It appears to have several significant advantages. The method is applied to plasma pentobarbital level data from oral and intravenous administration. The assumptions and limitations of deconvolution methods for analyzing drug input into the blood are discussed.
Secure techniques and methods for authenticating visually impaired mobile phone users

A series of new types of frauds and threats have emerged with the increased popularity of smartphones. Studies show that smartphone users are three times more likely to become the victims of identity fraud. Though researchers have developed many well known methods for user authentication in smartphone, little has been done focusing on visually impaired mobile device users. Commonly used username-password based authentication is not suitable for such users as it is cumbersome and highly susceptible to eavesdropping. In this paper, we have proposed a comprehensive algorithmic model for detecting different physical activities, such as walking, by analyzing the accelerometer sensor data from smartphones. Our proposed scheme proves that each person's gait pattern is unique and can be used as a bio-metric data for authentication. The new tool promises to provide a feasible solution for authentication, especially for visually impaired smartphone users, free from aural and visual eavesdropping.
Injury and violence prevention policy: Celebrating our successes, protecting our future

Policy strategies for injury and violence prevention influence systems development, organizational change, social norms, and individual behavior to improve the health and safety of a population. Injury and violence prevention professionals should consider how their issues resonate with various audiences, including policy makers, the public, and other decision makers. As the cost of healthcare continues to rise and greater demands are placed on the healthcare system, the use of public health policy becomes increasingly critical to protect the public's health and prevent injury and violence and its related morbidities and disabilities (Degutis, 2011). This article highlights some impactful policy successes from the field, allows us to reflect on the Injury Center's 20th anniversary, and describes steps to address injuries and violence into the future. The purpose of this paper is to discuss policy as a public health strategy and the critical role it plays in injury and violence prevention.
Communication, cognition, and emotion

(1993). Communication, cognition, and emotion. Communication Monographs: Vol. 60, Into the New Century, pp. 3-9.
Core−Shell Diamond as a Support for Solid-Phase Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

We report the formation of core−shell diamond particles for solid-phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) made by layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition. Their synthesis begins with the amine functionalization of microdiamond by its immersion in an aqueous solution of a primary amine-containing polymer (polyallylamine (PAAm)). The amine-terminated microdiamond is then immersed in an aqueous suspension of nanodiamond, which leads to adsorption of the nanodiamond. Alternating (self-limiting) immersions in the solutions of the amine-containing polymer and the suspension of nanodiamond are continued until the desired number of nanodiamond layers is formed around the microdiamond. Finally, the core−shell particles are cross-linked with 1,2,5,6-diepoxycyclooctane or reacted with 1,2-epoxyoctadecane. Layer-by-layer deposition of PAAm and nanodiamond is also studied on planar Si/SiO2 surfaces, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Rutherford backscattering spect...
Vitamins and photoaging: Do scientific data support their use?

With the rise of the cosmeceutical industry, numerous formulations have surfaced with claims of reducing the clinical manifestations of photoaging. Many of these products capitalize on the positive connection the public makes with vitamins, especially with respect to their antioxidant capabilities. An impressive amount of basic science and clinical research has been conducted in both an attempt to discover novel strategies for preventing detrimental sun damage and to validate the addition of vitamins to skin care products. As dermatologists, it will be essential to provide our patients with substantiated counseling regarding the efficacy of commercial assertions. In this review, we will systematically examine the evidence supporting the use of vitamins in oral and topical formulations and provide a brief summary of the pathogenesis of photoaging. Limitations of this study include that there may be unpublished data or additional studies that may have been overlooked in our comprehensive review of this topic.
Liquid Cooled Cold Plates for Industrial High-Power Electronic Devices—Thermal Design and Manufacturing Considerations

Electronics cooling research has been largely focused on high heat flux removal from computer chips in the recent years. However, the equally important field of high-power electronic devices has been experiencing a major paradigm shift from air cooling to liquid cooling over the last decade. For example, multiple 250-W insulated-gate bipolar transistors used in a power drive for a 7000-HP motor used in pumping or in locomotive traction devices would not be sufficiently cooled with air-cooling techniques. Another example is a “hockey puck” SCR of 63 mm diameter used to drive an electric motor that could dissipate over 1500 W and is difficult to cool with air because of the shape of the device. Other devices include radio-frequency generators, industrial battery chargers, printing press thermal and humidity control equipment, traction devices, mining devices, crude oil extraction equipment, magnetic resonance imaging, and railroad engines. This article classifies the cold plates into four types: formed tube...
Thermochemistry of inorganic sulfur compounds VII. Standard molar enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K, high-temperature enthalpy increments, and other thermodynamic properties to 1100 K of titanium disulfide, TiS2

Abstract Fluorine combustion calorimetry has been used to determine the standard molar enthalpy of formation of TiS2, ΔfHmo(TiS2, cr, 298.15 K), to be −(410.3±2.4) kJ·mol−1. Enthalpy increments relative to 298.15 K and other thermodynamic properties are reported for TiS2 up to 1100 K. On the basis of this research and other experimental values from the literature, ΔfHmo(TiS3, cr, 298.15 K) and ΔfHmo(Ti2S3, cr, 298.15 K) are calculated to be −(419±3) kJ·mol−1 and −(618±12) kJ·mol−1, respectively. The present results are used in a discussion of the intercalation reaction of Li with TiS2 and the stability in a moist atmosphere of several metal sulfides.
Effects of Centrally-Acting Drugs on Human Motor and Psychomotor Performance

The dose-effect and duration of action of several stimulants and tranquilizers were determined using motor and psychomotor performance tests with humans. Three doses of each of the following drugs were employed: placebo, caffeine, d-amphetamine, phenmetrazine, methyl phenidyl acetate, phenobarbital, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, and oxanamide. Phenmetrazine and methyl phenidyl acetate were also studied with additional tests designed to measure fatigue. Deanol and placebo groups were tested weekly for 8 weeks of daily administration crossing treatments at 4 weeks. The tranquilizers did not affect performance as measured by the tests employed, while all stimulants produced some improvements in all tests. Phenmetrazine and methyl phenidyl acetate were the most promising central stimulants tested. These were found to mitigate fatigue by elevation of the initial performance level and by decreasing the time-related decrement. The action of deanol was equivocal with some indication of an interaction between the drug and subject interest.
Selective synergy of immunoglobulin enhancer elements in B-cell development: a characteristic of kappa light chain enhancers, but not heavy chain enhancers

Abstract We have examined the interactions of the enhancers of the kappa immunoglobulin light chain gene as well as the interactions of the intron, mu, and 3' alpha enhancers of the heavy chain locus in mouse. We have observed that each of the kappa enhancers is very weak in comparison with the heavy chain intron enhancer. The mouse heavy chain 3' alpha enhancer is relatively weak as well. However, two kappa enhancers together synergistically activate transcription of a luciferase reporter gene to a level that is roughly equivalent to the heavy chain mu enhancer. Additionally, dimerization of either kappa enhancer results in synergistic increases in transcription. This property of synergism appears to be confined to the enhancers of the kappa locus, as addition of the 3' alpha E to mu E containing constructs increases transcription only modestly, and neither heavy chain enhancer synergizes when dimerized. We have gone on to characterize some of the minimal requirements for synergism between the kappa enhancers and find that the KB and E2 sites are required, but not the E3 site. The implications of these results for the coordinate regulation of the heavy and light chain transcription are discussed.
c-Fos induction in mesotelencephalic dopamine pathway projection targets and dorsal striatum following oral intake of sugars and fats in rats

Overconsumption of nutrients high in fats and sugars can lead to obesity. Previous studies indicate that sugar or fat consumption activate individual brain sites using Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI). Sugars and fats also elicit conditioned flavor preferences (CFP) that are differentially mediated by flavor-flavor (orosensory: f/f) and flavor-nutrient (post-ingestive: f/n) processes. Dopamine (DA) signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the amygdala (AMY) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc), has been implicated in acquisition and expression of fat- and sugar-CFP. The present study examined the effects of acute consumption of fat (corn oil: f/f and f/n), glucose (f/f and f/n), fructose, (f/f only), saccharin, xanthan gum or water upon simultaneous FLI activation of DA mesotelencephalic nuclei (ventral tegmental area (VTA)) and projections (infralimbic and prelimbic mPFC, basolateral and central-cortico-medial AMY, core and shell of NAc as well as the dorsal striatum). Consumption of corn oil solutions, isocaloric to glucose and fructose, significantly increased FLI in all sites except for the NAc shell. Glucose intake significantly increased FLI in both AMY areas, dorsal striatum and NAc core, but not in either mPFC area, VTA or Nac shell. Correspondingly, fructose intake significantly increased FLI in the both AMY areas, the infralimbic mPFC and dorsal striatum, but not the prelimbic mPFC, VTA or either NAc area. Saccharin and xanthan gum intake failed to activate FLI relative to water. When significant FLI activation occurred, highly positive relationships were observed among sites, supporting the idea of activation of a distributed brain network mediating sugar and fat intake.
Barriers to energy migration in mixed-ligand zinc(II) complexes

Spectroscopic investigations of Zn(4-Cl-PhS)2(dmphen) (4-Cl-PhS = anion of 4-chlorobenzenethiol; dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in the p21/N and p21/C crystal phases and in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) are reported. The results demonstrate the existence of an intramolecular barrier to energy migration between 3ππ* and ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer levels.
Every dream has its price: Personal failure and the American dream in wall street and the firm

This essay utilizes Wall Street and The Firm to further Fishers (1973) rhetorical work on the American Dream by explicating how the Dream communicates and rationalizes an inegalitarian class system. The rhetoric of these films urges people to accept and valorize working‐class morality, but in concentrating on greed the movies ignore the inegalitarian social structures that make social mobility an impossibility for most Americans. The films communicate an understanding of social order that rationalizes the social limits placed on the working class while simultaneously supporting the myth of abounding success opportunities for all Americans.
Evaluating the parameters of a MSY control rule for the Bristol Bay, Alaska, stock of red king crabs

A maximum sustainable yield (MSY) control rule, which defines the level of overfishing, and determines the control rule parameters based on an age-, sex-, and size-structured assessment for Bristol Bay red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus) is developed. Fx% (F corresponding to x% spawning potential ratio) is used as a proxy for FMSY and a minimum spawning-stock biomass (to open the fishery) for incorporation into the MSY control rule. The performance of the selected MSY control rule and the associated target control rule is evaluated using stochastic simulations. F50% is a reasonable proxy for FMSY when effective spawning biomass is used as the stock biomass in the stock-recruitment relationship. This method with appropriate modifications might be used for determining biological reference points and developing control rules for any crustacean stock with discrete growth, complex reproductive dynamics, and single sex exploitation.
We Are Who We Teach: How Teaching Experienced Managers Fractures Our Scholarship

Author(s): Pearce, JL | Abstract: It is argued that teaching is more important to shared understanding of management and organizations than scholars acknowledge. Teaching has been ignored in discussions of scholars' intellectual enterprise, in part, because of a practicality that violates Romantic Era ideals of intellectuals as otherworldly and pure. Yet teachers in conversation with their students have always been central to how students learn and develop their ideas. In the case of management professors, who they teach (students with management experience), the institutional context in which they teach them (tuition-dependent and rankings-focused university business schools), and the publishing industry (increasingly focused on lower-division books for teenagers) are as much causes of the fractured visage of management scholarship as are any actions of the field's elites. Implications for action include more open conversations about how MBA teaching influences our intellectual work and the development of coherent books for experienced adult students. © 2007 Sage Publications.
Fighting while Parasitized: Can Nematode Infections Affect the Outcome of Staged Combat in Beetles?

The effects of non-lethal parasites may be felt most strongly when hosts engage in intense, energy-demanding behaviors. One such behavior is fighting with conspecifics, which is common among territorial animals, including many beetle species. We examined the effects of parasites on the fighting ability of a saproxylic beetle, the horned passalus (Odontotaenius disjunctus, Family: Passalidae), which is host to a non-lethal nematode, Chondronema passali. We pitted pairs of randomly-chosen (but equally-weighted) beetles against each other in a small arena and determined the winner and aggression level of fights. Then we examined beetles for the presence, and severity of nematode infections. There was a non-significant tendency (p = 0.065) for the frequency of wins, losses and draws to differ between beetles with and without C. passali; non-parasitized individuals (n = 104) won 47% of their fights while those with the parasite (n = 88) won 34%, a 13% difference in wins. The number of nematodes in a beetle affected the outcome of fights between infected and uninfected individuals in an unexpected fashion: fighting ability was lowest in beetles with the lowest (p = 0.033), not highest (p = 0.266), nematode burdens. Within-fight aggression was highest when both beetles were uninfected and lowest when both were infected (p = 0.034). Collectively, these results suggest the nematode parasite, C. passali, is associated with a modest reduction in fighting ability in horned passalus beetles, consistent with the idea that parasitized beetles have lower energy available for fighting. This study adds to a small but growing body of evidence showing how parasites negatively influence fighting behavior in animals.
Optical imaging of protease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

at room temperature the product was purified on a G25 column. The Cy5.5 density for both agents was approximately 8 per dextran T70. Male BALB-c mice (10 mg/kg ketamine, 1 mg/kg acepromizin IP) were imaged in the SAMI imaging system (Advanced Research Technologies). Cy5.5-DTPAdextran or Cy5.5-DTPA-galactosyl-dextran was administered (24 nmole/kg dextran) via a tail vein injection. The animals were positioned supine and a 2D scanning area covering the heart and liver was selected, using a topviewing digital receiver. Excitation and emission spots were raster scanned (22.7 watts) for 30 mins (25 sec/ scan) in 2 mm steps. ROIs, drawn around the heart and liver, were used to generate time-intensity curves representing fluorescence intensity as a function of time.
Grouping Pavement Condition Variables for Performance Modeling Using Self-Organizing Maps

This paper demonstrates the use of artificial intelligence neural networks self-organizing maps for the grouping of pavement condition variables in developing pavement performance models to evaluate pavement conditions on the basis of pavement distresses. The adaptive neural network provides an approach for identifying the most important variable in performance modeling.
AXIAL DISPERSION EFFECTS ON GAS PURIFICATION PSA PERIODIC STEADY STATE

Abstract The counter current flow (CCF) analogy of Suzuki {1985} for short cycle time, isothermal two step PSA of a dilute, single component in an inert carrier is extended to include the contribution of axial dispersion. For a linear isotherm an exact solution is derived. With a non-linear isotherm an approximation is used and the calculated periodic steady state profiles compare well with those from numerical simulations based on orthogonal collocation. The approximation also compares favorably with experimental PSA data in the literature for strongly non-linear isotherms and appears to be valid for PSA whenever the basic assumptions of the CCF model apply. For low Peclet numbers, a significant difference exists between the concentration at the bed inlet predicted from the Fickian model and the feed concentration.
The Canoe Rocks: Alaska's Tlingit and the Euramerican Frontier, 1800-1912

The Canoe Rocks is a historical analysis of the EuroAmerican impact on Alaska's Tlingit people. With its extensive documentation, the book will assist diverse scholars. After introducing Russia's early efforts to establish a profitable settlement in Alaska's southeastern archipelago, the author reviews the concurrent British commercial encroachments.
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis With Orbital Involvement

Purpose To review three cases of Langerhans cell histiocytosis with orbital involvement that represent a significantly excessive incidence of this rare disease in one community. Current diagnostic criteria and therapeutic modalities related to Langerhans cell histiocytosis are reviewed. Methods Case reports. We present clinical, radiologic, histopathologic, and epidemiologic information on three patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Results All three children, born within 18 months of one another, manifested rapidly progressive unilateral proptosis at age 2 years. By computed tomography, all had moderately enhancing lesions with involvement of the sphenoid bone and lateral orbit as well as the temporal lobe of the brain. All patients were treated with a combination of vincristine and prednisone, with variable resolution of their lesions. The occurrence of three cases in children born in Nogales, Arizona/Mexico, suggests an incidence rate of 40 per million, which is approximately 26 times the expected rate ( P = .0001). Conclusions The extraordinarily high incidence and the concentration of cases in both time and space of this cluster implies that Langerhans cell histiocytosis may be a sentinel disease for unusual environmental exposures.
Enlargement of small, asymptomatic, unruptured intracranial aneurysms in patients with no history of subarachnoid hemorrhage: the different factors related to the growth of single and multiple aneurysms.

Object This study was performed to investigate the risk factors related to the growth of small, asymptomatic, unruptured aneurysms in patients with no history of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods Between January 2005 and December 2010, a total of 508 patients in whom unruptured intracranial aneurysms were diagnosed at the University of California, Los Angeles medical center did not receive treatment to prevent rupture. Of these, 235 patients with no history of SAH who had asymptomatic, small, unruptured aneurysms (< 7 mm) were monitored with 3D CT angiography images. Follow-up images of the lesions were used to measure aneurysm size changes. Patient medical history, family history of SAH, aneurysm size, and location were studied to find the risk factors associated with small aneurysm growth. Results A total of 319 small aneurysms were included, with follow-up durations of 29.2 ± 20.6 months. Forty-two aneurysms increased in size during the follow-up; 5 aneurysms grew to become ≥ 7 mm within 38.2 ± 18...
Multiparameter families of difference approximations for the first initial boundary value problem for the heat equation in an arbitrary region

A symbolic technique is developed to automatically generate consistent multiparameter families of difference approximations to the heat equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions in arbitrary regions. A stencil of non-uniform step size, conformable along the spatial axes via spatial displacement parameters, is devised to handle the problem of irregular boundaries. Using this stencil as a basic building block, multiparameter families of difference schemes applicable without modification both in the interior and along the boundaries of arbitrary regions, are algorithmically generated. The technique is demonstrated in detail for the one-and two-dimensional heat operator. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of these families are given in terms of their parameters. All existing six-and ten-point two-level schemes for the one-and two-dimensional cases are shown to form subclasses of these families.
Modeling As(V) removal by a iron oxide impregnated activated carbon using the surface complexation approach

The objective of this research was to model As(V) removal onto a iron oxide impregnated activated carbon (FeAC) using the surface complexation model (SCM) approach. As(V) removal by FeAC was due to the impregnated Fe oxide, not the base carbon material and was a strong function of pH. The two-monoprotic site-triple layer model adequately described As(V) removal using 2 fitting parameters compared with the 3 parameters needed for the diprotic site model. This, along with a better representation of the recognized As(V) removal mechanism (ligand exchange with −OH) as well as the acid–base behavior makes the two-monoprotic approach the better model for As(V) removal by the impregnated iron oxide although the diprotic model was able to describe the pH dependent removal of As(V). Both models were also able to predict As(V) removal at different adsorbent/adsorbate ratios using KAs determined from a single FeAC adsorption experiment. Thus, fewer adsorption experiments are required in order to model As(V) removal in equilibrium and column systems. The results described in this work will be used as a foundation in developing a dynamic model to predict As(V) adsorption in a fixed-bed adsorber.
Functional leukocyte administration in protection against experimental neonatal infection.

Summary: Studies have shown that human neonates who develop group B streptococcal sepsis usually lack opsonic antibody (Ab) to their infecting strain and that these neonates may also have unpaired polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function. The present study was designed to determine the efficacy of administration of PMNs or opsonic Ab-containing serum in protecting against group B streptococcal infection in a newborn rat model. After intraperitoneal (IP) injection of ±5 ± 105 streptococci, animals received separate IP injections of saline, serum lacking opsonic antibody (Ab negative), Ab positive serum or washed adult human PMNs (2 ± 106). The mortality rate in 55 neonatal rats infected with group B streptococci who received saline or Ab negative serum was 91%. In contrast, 40 animals who received adult human PMNs at the time of inoculation had a survival rate of 50% (P ≤0.001). Human serum containing opsonic antibody also provided significant protection against mortality in this model (survival rate 51%, P ≤0.001). Leukocytes from normal term neonates, stressed neonates, or ones pretreated with cytochalasin B offered less protection than did functional adult human cell (P ≤0.001). Speculation: This study provides evidence for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) dysfunction as another risk factor in group B streptococcal disease and suggests that fully functional PMNs are required for protection. Furthermore, this model involving the administration of human PMNs to an animal appears to have the potential for the in viw evaluation of PMN function in neonates and other compromised hosts.
Trends and disparities in education between specialties in thyroid and parathyroid surgery: An analysis of 55,402 NSQIP patients.

Purpose To determine practice patterns/outcomes and educational opportunities in endocrine surgery by resident involvement in general surgery (GS) and otolaryngology (ENT). Methods We queried the American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for thyroid/parathyroid operations. Resident involvement was categorized by postgraduate year (PGY) and specialty. Results Of 38,257 thyroid patients, attendings alone performed 28% in GS versus 65% in ENT, and of 17,145 parathyroid patients, 22.1% vs 66.5%. Of GS cases done with housestaff, the percentages with junior residents (PGY1–3), senior residents (PGY4,5), and fellows were 42%, 50%, and 7%, respectively, whereas for ENT operations, the percentages were 35%, 46%, and 16%. For parathyroidectomies, the percentages were 41.1%/46.8%/12.1% vs 38.7%/45.9%/15.5%. Operative time was less for GS (115 minutes) versus ENT (123 minutes). Time in the operating room increased with increasing PGY in ENT, but not in GS. Case complexity and outcomes were similar. Duration of hospital stay was greater in ENT. Conclusion No differences exist in case complexity between specialties. More thyroid/parathyroid operations are performed with residents in GS; junior residents in GS perform a large percentage of these cases (∼40%), indicating early exposure to endocrine surgery and balanced experience between resident levels with minimal effect of fellows. Although junior residents receive exposure in ENT, a greater proportion is performed by fellows. Outcomes were similar by resident level, except operative time, which was greater for ENT at all levels. Ultimately, equal outcomes but lesser operating times and durations of hospital stay are seen with GS residents than their ENT counterparts.
Effects of solution pH on adsorption of chlorophenols by cross‐linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP XL) polymers

Widely used as insecticides, fungicides, and disinfectants and regarded as having relatively high toxicities, chlorophenols are a group of organic contaminants whose solubility and sorptive properties on different substrates vary greatly with solution pH. In this study, the feasibility and applicability of using cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP XL) polymers to adsorb and remove chlorophenols from water under different pH conditions were investigated. The adsorption of chlorophenols on PVP XL was instantaneous and followed a linear sorption isotherm under the tested concentrations from 0.05 to 10 mg L–1, suggesting a partitioning mechanism. The chlorophenol adsorption increased as the degree of chlorination, thus the octanol–water partitioning coefficient, increased. A decrease in contaminant distribution coefficients with an increase in solution pH suggested that the deprotonated species had a weaker affinity for PVP XL surfaces than their protonated counterparts. The free energy of adsorption of 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (TeCP) on PVP XL was negative, suggesting a spontaneous adsorption. The negative enthalpy values of TeCP adsorption on PVP XL indicated an exothermic process. The results from this study show that PVP XL could be a viable alternative for the adsorption of chlorinated phenols in aqueous media as a remediation tool. The instantaneous adsorption will make PVP XL a possible choice for ultra filtration to remove chlorophenols from water. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2011
Communication, ideation and contraceptive use in Burkina Faso: an application of the propensity score matching method.

Objective The study aim was to assess the effects of a multi-component communication campaign that promoted contraceptive use in Burkina Faso. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2001 involving 1421 women of reproductive age from Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. Participants during the 2001 survey were randomly selected from 54 enumeration areas that were covered during the 1999 Demographic and Health Survey. The propensity score matching (PSM) technique was the analytical method used to assess the effects of the campaign. Results More than three-quarters of the respondents reported exposure to at least one example of campaign material. Compared with no exposure, high campaign exposure is associated with an adjusted increase of 21.8 percentage points in the proportion of women currently using modern contraceptive methods. Similarly, low exposure is associated with a 7.3 percentage point increase over no exposure. The campaign is also associated with increased knowledge about contraceptives and more favourable attitudes towards family planning. Conclusions The multiple-component nature of the campaign makes it easy for many members of the target audience to hear consistent messages from a variety of sources. This is a key element responsible for the documented effectiveness of the campaign. Despite its limitations, the PSM technique is a straightforward method that should be used more often to assess the effects of communication programmes.
Women's place in the beat movement: bonnie bremser frazer's troia: mexican memoirs

Abstract This article examines Bonnie Bremser Frazer, a little-known Beat author, and her account of a year spent in Mexico with her husband, poet Ray Bremser, and their infant daughter, Rachel. Pressured by Ray to become the family “breadwinner,” Frazer became a prostitute while struggling to fulfill her obligations as mother and wife. Frazer's fictionalized autobiography, Troia: Mexican Memoirs, has the momentum, heightened consciousness, and attentiveness to detail of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, on which it was modeled, but it explores specifically female experiences. The article seeks to place Frazer's experiences and writing in their post World War II historical context, before well-developed late 20th-century critiques of established gender roles, and to understand Frazer's self-revelatory effort to transform the multiple contradictions impinging on her life into a literary text. The conclusion suggests the multiple implications of Frazer's text for later generations of women readers, particularly contemporary college students.
Excited state proton transfer in reverse micelles.

The aqueous phase of water/AOT reversed micelles having varying diameters was probed by a single free diffusing proton that was released form a hydrophilic photoacid molecule (2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonate). The fluorescence decay signals were reconstructed through the geminate recombination algorithm, accounting for the reversible nature of the proton-transfer reactions at the surface of the excited molecule and at the water/detergent interface. The radial diffusion of the proton inside the aqueous phase was calculated accounting for both the entropy of dilution and the total electrostatic energy of the ion pair, consisting of the pair-energy and self-energy of the ions. The analysis implied that micellar surface must be modeled with atomic resolution, assuming that the sulfono residue protrudes above the water/hydrocarbon interface by ∼2 A. The analysis of the fluorescence decay curves implies that the molecule is located in a solvent with physical−chemical properties very similar to bulk water, except for...
The spatial organization of Descemet's membrane-associated type IV collagen in the avian cornea

The organization of type IV collagen in the unconventional basement membrane of the corneal endothelium (Descemet's membrane) was investigated in developing chicken embryos using anti-collagen mAbs. Both immunofluorescence histochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy were performed. In mature embryos (greater than 15 d of development), the type IV collagen of Descemet's membrane was present as an array of discrete aggregates of amorphous material at the interface between Descemet's membrane and the posterior corneal stroma. Immunoreactivity for type IV collagen was also observed in the posterior corneal stroma as irregular plaques of material with a morphology similar to that of the Descemet's membrane-associated aggregates. This arrangement of Descemet's membrane-associated type IV collagen developed from a subendothelial mat of type IV collagen-containing material. This mat, in which type IV collagen-specific immunoreactivity was always discontinuous, first appeared at the time a confluent endothelium was established, well before the onset of Descemet's membrane formation. Immunoelectron microscopy of mature corneas revealed that the characteristic nodal matrix of Descemet's membrane itself was unreactive for type IV collagen, but was penetrated at intervals by projections of type IV collagen-containing material. These projections frequently appeared to contact cell processes from the underlying corneal endothelium. This spatial arrangement of type IV collagen suggests that it serves to suture the corneal endothelium/Descemet's membrane to the dense interfacial matrix of the posterior stroma.
Bursicon-expressing neurons undergo apoptosis after adult ecdysis in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Neuropeptides are important regulators of diverse processes during development. The insect neuropeptide bursicon, a 30 kDa heterodimer, controls the hardening of the new cuticle after the shedding of the old one (ecdysis) and the inflation and maturation of adult wings. Given this specific functional role, its expression should only be required transiently because adult insects no longer undergo ecdysis. Here we report the transient expression of bursicon in the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that transcription of the bursicon monomers, burs and pburs, steadily increases through the larval stages, peaks in the black pupa stage, and decreases to below detectable levels by 8 h after adult ecdysis (eclosion). Immunohistochemistry on the adult nervous system showed that bursicon is co-expressed with crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) in specific neurons of the abdominal ganglia, but that labeling intensity wanes by 14 h post-eclosion. Finally, detection of disintegrating DNA by TUNEL labeling demonstrated that the bursicon expressing neurons successively undergo apoptosis following eclosion. Taken altogether, these data describe A. gambiae as another holometabolous insect in which bursicon ceases to be produced in adults, and in which the bursicon expressing neurons are removed from the ventral nerve cord.
The Question of who Participates in Bereavement Research and the Bereavement Risk Index

Widowed spouses who either participated or refused to participate in a longitudinal bereavement study were compared using the Bereavement Risk Index (BRI). Also investigated were the psychometric characteristics of the BRI. The total BRI had poor internal consistency (α = .50). A principle components analysis yielded one factor with adequate reliability (α = .74), composed of five items associated with stress and coping. Correlations of BRI scores and selected items with measures of depression and stress at three and six months postmortem suggest that they may be more predictive of immediate than of longer-term bereavement adjustment. On the BRI, refusers scored significantly higher than participants on only two items, suggesting that they exercised less control over their emotionality at the time of their loss, and that they were less likely to be working outside their homes. Refusers were also significantly older than participants. Findings were viewed as suggesting little substantive difference between...