cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Value of Home Education Including Physical Education

There is a false notion that public school can educate great students. Facing diversity of studentsâ€™ potential, different timing of growth pattern and varieties of home preparation of students to be a assiduous learner it is serious challenging task. Schools offer a general education to all with some attention to the diversity of students. It is home education, dealing with concentration habits during learning process, valuing educational process and respecting the rules of group learning that are influential in acquiring most from the educational opportunities. School is not able to go against the home culture and re-educate students to behave as a concern and diligent learner if these habits are not emphasized or supported at home. Public education in US is ranked between 18 to 22 in the world (according to different sources). Comparing with the world, American schools as the whole rank first for school structures, are number one for allocation of school budget, the emphasis and requirements of teacher education is number one. America expenditure per student exceed the top ten of the world combined. It is the lack of home education of learning demeanor and respecting the learning process that causes the inferiority. Physical education faces the same general dilemma at school having a very diverse group of students within variety of growth stages, potentials, sizes and capabilities based on their previous experiences. Decent general physical education at school can only offer a limited advancement. It is the responsibilities of parents to learn about the specifics of healthy growth and suitable skill development for their unique child. It is their parental task to act responsibly for the healthy growth of their child concerning: bone density and health, muscular strength, size and endurance, heart development to endure the stress of activities and function well, the range of motion of joints and finally their weight management. All the above detailed items of children healthy growth present requirement for suitable activities to the development of skill learning. Suitably of activities matching the specification of childâ€™s growth is crucial to their development. Expecting school with so many diverse population attend single childâ€™s needs and direct the program to address them is an undue expectation. Home education make a difference in academic progress and proper physical growth and development of children. Being healthy and living healthy is a behavioral development to address potentials that can only be learned at home and may be strengthened at school, not the other way around.
Nonthrombotic Pulmonary Embolism From Inorganic Particulate Matter and Foreign Bodies

Nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE) is a complete or partial occlusion of the pulmonary vasculature by various organic and inorganic materials. These materials include organic particulate matter (PM) such as adipocytes, tumor cells, bacteria, fungi, or gas and inorganic PM. Although NTPE due to organic PM has been extensively reported in the medical literature, there are no comprehensive reviews of inorganic material embolizing to the lungs. The purpose of this article is to examine the current literature describing NTPE resulting from inorganic PM and foreign bodies. Cases of NTPE are uncommon and often difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis is challenging due to its varied presentation, clinical features, and unusual radiologic features. In contrast to the "classic" pulmonary thromboembolism, the pathophysiologic effects of embolism by PM are not only mechanical but also a consequence of the nature of the offending material. NTPE caused by these substances can be relatively innocuous, life-threatening, or lead to chronic pulmonary disease, if left undetected. We hope that the heightened sense of awareness of this entity may allow earlier diagnosis and recognition of its complications.
The Social Construction of Ability and Disability II. Optimal and At-Risk Lessons in a Bilingual Special Education Classroom

Bilingual students' language and literacy skills were compared across three classroom events in a special day classroom for students with language learning disabilities. Events ranged from the teacher-structured, formal class openings to the informal, peer-structured sociodramatic play. Results showed that certain contextual features were associated with enhanced student performance, whereas others were associated with communicative breakdowns and problems with literacy tasks. This ethnographic study, in conjunction with other naturalistic research on bilingual special education classrooms, undergirds the Optimal Learning Environment (OLE) Project by identifying effective instructional contexts for bilingual students identified as having language learning disabilities.
Mining and characterization of microsatellites from a genome of Venturia carpophila

A total of 4021 microsatellites were mined from a genome of Venturia carpophila, and 192 were selected to screen 39 isolates of the fungus collected from peach and nectarine in the southeastern USA. Of the 192 selected, 32 primers consistently and reliably produced polymorphic amplicons. Subsequently, the genotyping data from these 32 primers were used for preliminary analysis of the genetic diversity among the 39 isolates. The number of alleles identified ranged from 2 to 9, and the polymorphic information content from 0.097 to 0.792. Over all isolates, Shannon’s information index was 0.914, indicating genetic diversity. Stoddart and Taylor’s index of diversity and Simpson’s index also indicated high diversity (32.4 and 0.969, respectively). Evenness within the sample was high (0.955), but there was strong evidence for haploid linkage disequilibrium (3.799, P = 0.001). Observations on diversity were supported by analysis of genetic distance, which showed little affinity for clustering based on isolate source population, location, or host. The microsatellites developed in this study should be useful in future research of the population genetic structure and dynamics of V. carpophila and evaluating the risks posed by the ability of the pathogen to adapt on peach and possibly other stone fruit hosts in the USA and elsewhere in the world.
NUCLEAR FISSION POWER PLANTS THE STATE OF THE ART

ABSTRACT Since the discovery of nuclear fission by Hahn and Strassman in 1938, great strides have led to its utilization in first, unfortunately, destructive uses, then in peaceful uses for meeting the increasing demand for abundant and reliable electric power. The time span between discovery and utilization has been dizzyingly short when compared with other technologies. As with all complex technologies, the first generation of power plants needs improvements in design, construction, and operation. Because of the pace of development and the still lingering destructive specter, public acceptance problems have arisen. During the recent past, nothing much that is really new has emerged in fission. Engineers have, rightly so, concentrated on improving the design, safety, and operation of proven systems, such as, the pressurized-water, boiling-water, and gas-cooled thermal reactors, and in building demonstration plants of the known but yet unproven fast breeder reactor. This, then, is the state of the art in nuclear fission. This paper begins with historical and introductory remarks. It then describes the above reactor types and existing examples. Other types that received some attention but are now largely ignored, such as, the fluid-fueled and organic-cooled reactors, are mentioned only in the introduction. Special reactors not part of the energy picture, such as, training and production reactors, are not covered. In my view, the fast breeder reactor, when fully developed, will be the primary, and probably inevitable, energy source during much of the next century. The paper terminates with a discussion of the vexing problem, in the public view, of the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel.
Frequency and pattern of urinary complaints among pregnant women.

The objective was to determine the frequency pattern of presentation and causative agents of lower urinary tract symptoms in pregnant females. Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Fatima Memorial Hospital Lahore from January 2003 to May 2003. One thousand consecutive pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics of Fatima Memorial Hospital were included in the study. Women with renal pathology postrenal transplant and those on immunosuppressive agents were excluded. All women underwent complete examination of urine. Those who had one or more urinary complaints had culture and sensitivity test of urine. Other variables studied were the symptomatology. Out of one thousand pregnant women 426 (42.6%) complained of one or more urinary symptoms. Diurnal and nocturnal frequency was the most commonly encountered symptom (87.32%) followed by irritative symptoms and voiding difficulties. Complete urine examination of symptomatic patients revealed < 5 pus cells /HPF (high power field) in 322 cases and 6-20 pus cell/HPF in the remaining 104 cases. The urine culture of the symptomatic patients (426 cases) showed growth in only 37 cases (8.69%). Escherichia (E.) coli was the commonest organism (89.1%) followed by Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (8.1%) and candidiasis (2.7%). Lower urinary tract symptoms are frequently present in pregnant women which can be due to both pregnancy-induced changes on urinary system as well as urinary infection. It is important to differentiate between the two because former requires only reassurance whereas the latter needs antibiotic treatment. (authors)
Defenses in School Age Children: Children's Versus Parents' Report

We tested a questionnaire assessing defenses in school age children and compared the results with their mothers' reports of the same. Thirty-four children (56% male, mean age 8.5) completed the Response Evaluation Measure for Youth (REM-Y) twice over three weeks. Simultaneously, mothers completed the parent version of this measure (REM-P) about their children. In these questionnaires, factor 1 defenses (less adaptive; broken down into intrapersonal and interpersonal defenses) are assessed separately from factor 2, or more adaptive, defenses. Only lower level, interpersonal defenses, such as acting out, were recognized by mothers in their children. The children's intrapersonal defenses, along with factor 2 reactions, were reported less by mothers than by children.
Physical Properties of Hydrocarbons and Petrochemicals

A brief description of the most common hydrocarbons and chemicals used in the process industries is provided, starting from the simplest to the more complex. Additionally, several tables are provided that identify the molecular compositions and typical fire hazards (flash points, flammability limits, autoignition temperatures) of these common materials. The specific fire hazard terms are explained in further detail for better understanding of the risks involved with processing and handling of the materials. An autoignition temperature approximation method is also provided for use where a mixture of material may be present. Physical properties that may influence the severity of an incident from these materials are mentioned and described, which includes vapor density, vapor pressure, and specific gravity.
[OA090] A Study on the consistency of treatment planning and delivery for endometrial cancer treatments with multi-lumen cylinders for high dose rate brachytherapy

Purpose To develop a method to evaluate the cumulative dose when using Multi Lumen Cylinder (MLC) applicator in vaginal cuff brachytherapy. Methods A retrospective analysis of 25 patients treated in 2017 with the MLC applicator 3 cm diameter, were considered for this study. All patients received 5 fractions with 5 Gy each delivered twice a week and prescribed to the applicator’s surface for2/3 of the vaginal length. The CT scans of these patients, taken for treatment plan were separately imported into the treatment planning system and paired with the initial CT scan after completing the contouring. Two sets of CT images were fused at a time together with respective to the applicator, using mutual registration. Dosimetric evaluations were performed. The maximum doses received by the rectum wall, bladder wall, bowels and PTV on were analyzed and traced over the five fractions to determine the total dose distribution over the entire prescribed treatment. Results No contour of any of the OAR was exactly similar when the CT images were fused each other. Depending on the depth of the insertion the PTV varied minimal. Each plan was performed independently and cumulated 2 at a time until all 5 fractions were added to the initial fraction. There is a difference between the doses received by the OARs between treatments and between the points of maximum dose. The maximum dose varied between 15% and 25% in rectum wall and bladder neck. The minimum dose varied between 3% and 6% in rectum wall and bladder neck. The average dose varied between 10% and 22% in rectum and bladder. The cumulative treatment does do not indicate a total maximum dose exceeding the tolerances for the rectum and bladder. Conclusion The variations in volumes of the PTVs and isodoses are minor, indicating that the desired area receives the entire prescribed treatment. Rectum wall will not exceed 85% of the prescribed cumulative dose and the bladder neck will not exceed 75% of the prescribed dose.
Laboratory Results, Epidemiologic Features, and Outcome Analyses of Microbial Keratitis: A 15-Year Review From St. Louis

Purpose To evaluate the laboratory results and prognostic factors of poor clinical outcomes in microbial keratitis cases over 15 years at Saint Louis University. Design Retrospective cohort and trend study. Methods Microbiological and clinical information from culture-positive cases seen at Saint Louis University from 1999 to 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Statistical analyses were used to determine microbiological and antibiotic susceptibility trends. Prognostic factors of poor clinical outcome from the literature were used to create multivariate regression models to describe our cohort. Results Gram-positive organisms predominated (48%), followed by gram-negative organisms (34%) and fungi (16%). The most commonly isolated organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21%). Oxacillin-resistant rates of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were 45% and 43%, respectively. Only the proportion of Pseudomonas changed significantly over time (P = .02). The only antibiotic found to lose efficacy over time was gentamicin for gram-positive organisms (P = .005). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that major complications were associated with large ulcers (P Conclusions In the St Louis area, oxacillin-resistant organisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and fungi are commonly recovered from microbial keratitis cases with a disproportionally high incidence. Hence, empiric antibiotic choice should reflect these trends. Special care needs to be taken for patients with large ulcers and fungal infections, as well as elderly patients with comorbid ophthalmic conditions, as these patients have worse clinical outcomes.
The facilitator’s communicative actions to construct meetings in a semi-informal educational context

Abstract The study examines how interactivity is constructed in the course of multi-person interaction in a semi-informal educational context. The audio-recordings of seven meetings of a female discussion club in Belarus and their transcripts serve as interactional data. The club was organized with a goal of providing a platform for females to engage in intellectual discussions in an informal setting. The study takes the communication design approach and uses discourse analysis. The analysis of the audio recordings and the transcripts is guided by the following question: how the participants’ use of linguistic and interactional resources contributes to the construction of a meeting. The particular attention is paid to the facilitator’s communicative actions to shape interaction and their local context.
A Computational System for Violin: Synthesis and Dissolution in Windowless

This article provides an overview of a real-time, hybrid computational system for the violin, Windowless. The system uses a custom sensor glove, the alto.glove, to track the violinist’s movements a...
Limb Salvage Does Not Predict Functional Limb Outcome after Revascularization for Traumatic Acute Limb Ischemia.

Background Traumatic vascular injury leading to acute limb ischemia (ALI) is an uncommon problem with a potential for high morbidity. We describe a contemporary series of patients with traumatic ALI managed primarily by vascular surgeons at a tertiary referral center and review factors associated with limb salvage and functional limb outcomes. Methods We conducted a single institution, retrospective review of all patients requiring revascularization for upper extremity (UE) and lower extremity (LE) ALI secondary to trauma from 2013 to 2016. Demographic data, transfer timing, injury severity score (ISS), Rutherford classification (RC), preoperative imaging, level of occlusion, procedural information, fasciotomy characteristics, and discharge disposition were reviewed. Outcome measures included limb salvage and functional limb outcomes. Results We identified 68 patients with traumatic ALI requiring revascularization. The majority of patients had moderate ISS scores, were RC 2a or 2b on presentation (65%), were transferred from another institution (53%), and underwent preoperative imaging (62%) with expeditious time to operation (median 4.5 hr). The most common location of vascular injury for UE was axillary-brachial (88%) and for LE was femoral-popliteal (69%). Open vascular procedures dominated the treatment strategy, and the median number of operations was 3. Fasciotomy was performed in 25% of UE and 58% of LE injuries. Shunts were utilized in only 2 patients. Overall LS was 94% for UE and 78% for LE. The median length of stay (LOS) was 11 days, with 25% of patients discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Follow-up was obtained for 59% of patients. For UE injuries, 57% of patients had no or minimal functional deficits, while 33% had major functional deficits and 10% underwent amputation. For LE injuries, 68% of patients had no or minimal functional deficits, while 6% had major functional deficits, and 26% had undergone amputation. Rutherford class and the number of operations performed were independent predictors of amputation and functional limb at follow-up in our logistic regression model (P Conclusions Revascularization for traumatic ALI yields high limb salvage rates in patients with RC 1 and 2 ischemia and patients with UE injuries. However, limb salvage does not necessarily equate to good functional outcomes. This signifies the complex nature of injuries in this patient population, especially when multiple operations are required.
Abstract P173: The Impact of Asleep Blood Pressure on the Prevalence of Masked Hypertension by Race/ethnicity: Analysis of Pooled Population- and Community-based Studies

Introduction: Masked hypertension is defined as having hypertensive blood pressure (BP) outside of the office setting among adults with non-hypertensive BP when measured in the office. Some guideli...
Thoughts on Morphology and Cultural Evolution

Biological and cultural evolution are separate factors in determining the structure of language and languages. Cultural evolution allows us to understand properties of morphological systems that are often considered to be outliers without resorting to analytical sleights of hand. The inflectional systems of Dene-Yeniseian and Afro-Asiatic languages are notable for the persistence of their complex and unusual systems of verbal inflection. Both systems can be traced back several millennia over many languages covering a large geographical area. Both exhibit the telltale marks of cultural evolution: they are complex; they are not well designed; they are conservative; and they change incrementally, based on what is there. Almost all Afro-Asiatic languages share an unusual homophony of second and third person singular prefix and two agreement patterns, one containing both prefixes and suffixes and the other exclusively suffixing, serving quite distinct functions across the family. Dene-Yenisean languages (and especially the geographically far-flung members of the Na-Dene branch) are very conservative morphologically and share a templatic pattern of verb prefixes with numerous slots, followed by a verb stem with at most one suffix position. The recently discovered relation between the Yeniseian and Na-Dene families rests largely on this shared verbal morphology. The persistence of these two peculiar systems of verbal morphology can easily be understood as normal cultural evolution and defies other forms of explanation.
Probabilistic Hurricane Wind-Induced Loss Model for Risk Assessment on a Regional Scale

AbstractHurricane hazard is one of the major causes of the loss of life and property. It has recently led to enormous economic losses and social disruption, specifically in coastal regions. Monetar...
Infantile and congenital hemangiomas

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign tumors of infancy. They typically appear after birth and undergo a period of rapid growth, followed by a gradual period of involution. Although the majority of IHs do not requirement treatment, oral propranolol is the first-line therapy for lesions that are at risk for life-threatening complications, functional impairment, ulceration, or permanent disfigurement. Rarely, IHs can be associated with structural anomalies. Congenital hemangiomas (CHs) are a distinct clinical entity, caused by a point mutation in GNAQ or GNA11. These lesions are typically present at birth and display a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. CHs can be distinguished from IHs by their unique histologic and radiographic features. Given the high-flow vascularity of CHs, surgical excision may be indicated due to the high risk of bleeding.
Illustrating Best Practices in Optimizing Social Media Strategy for a Campaign Targeting Military Mental Health Stigma

Military service members endorse stigma as a barrier to seeking psychological health care. In working to overcome this barrier, social media campaigns have shown positive effects. The current study illustrates efforts by the Department of Defense to optimize its social media strategy to promote help-seeking behavior and decrease stigma. Real Warriors Campaign staff conducted a performance and content analysis on the 50 Facebook and Twitter posts from the previous year that had the highest and lowest number of likes, shares, and comments (200 total posts). This analysis informed social media optimization, including decreasing content frequency, calls to action, increasing responses, and tailoring content with compelling videos and images designed for mobile devices. Interaction with the campaign was measured during two timeframes: (1) comparing the first 3 months of the optimized strategy to the prior 3 months and (2) a year-to-year comparison of the same calendar months in consecutive years. Results showed overall decreases in impressions, likes, and comment engagement but increases in key behaviors such as sharing content, visiting the website, and conversions to help-seeking behavior. These gains were shown despite decreasing the overall number of social media posts as part of the new strategy. There was a significant shift in interaction with the updated social media content, in line with industry trends. Optimizing outreach campaigns using iterative feedback can prioritize media elements that resonate and grab the attention of target audience members, ultimately driving behavior change with regard to military stigma and help seeking.
Brief Report: Test-Retest Reliability of Cognitive, Affective, and Spontaneous Theory of Mind Tasks Among School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The present study evaluates the test–retest reliability of six theory of mind (ToM) tasks that measured cognitive, affective, and spontaneous ToM in 7 to 11 year-old children with autism spectrum disorder. Our results revealed considerable variation in test–retest reliability depending on the type of ToM task, which ranged from poor to good with the majority of the measures exhibiting moderate reliability. Results inform which common measures of cognitive ToM should be selected versus avoided in future intervention work, suggest our measure of spontaneous ToM should be used more widely in intervention and ToM research more broadly, and indicate more work is needed to develop reliable measures of affective ToM. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.
Comrade Kerensky: The Revolution against the Monarchy and the Formation of the Cult of the “Leader of the People” (March-June 1917)

This book is neither a biography nor a historical narrative, but a study of how the cult of Kerensky emerged in the political and cultural context of the period from after the February Revolution u...
Hospital Surge Preparedness and Response Index

The Hospital Surge Preparedness and Response Index is an all-hazards template developed by a group of emergency management and disaster medicine experts from the United States. The objective of the Hospital Surge Preparedness and Response Index is to improve planning by linking action items to institutional triggers across the surge capacity continuum. This responder tool is a non-exhaustive, high-level template: administrators should tailor these elements to their individual institutional protocols and constraints for optimal efficiency. The Hospital Surge Preparedness and Response Index can be used to provide administrators with a snapshot of their facility's current service capacity in order to promote efficiency and situational awareness both internally and among regional partners.
Lipid Mobilizing Peptide in Hog Pituitary and Human Urine

In recent years several investigators have reported lipid mobilizing activity for low molecular weight peptides prepared from pituitary, plasma and urine of animals and humans. Seifter, Boeder and their coworkers (1956, 1957) isolated their material (LM) from horse plasma and posterior pituitary of hogs. Together with Zarafonetis (1957, 1958) they found such activity in the plasma of humans during pregnancy, surgical stress and disease. Chalmers, Kekwick and Pawan (1958, 1960) isolated a peptide with LM action from the urine of fasting humans. Lelek et al. (1961) and Kadas and Nagy (1965) prepared LM from posterior pituitary, blood and urine of humans. Rudman et al. (1960, 1961) prepared a lipid mobilizing euglobulin from anterior pituitary from which they were able to detach a dialyzable peptide with LM action.
Interaction Characteristics and Options

Thus far we have mainly considered design factors. After the HCI designer knows the target user (Chapter 3), what that user wants to do with a computer (Chapter 4), and the relevant capabilities of the (selected or prospective) target computer (Chapter 5), he/she must consider the characteristics of the binary human-computer relation that was discussed in Chapter 2. That is, the designer needs to understand the ways in which the user and the computer might interact.
Toxoplasmosis in children.

Five proven cases of toxoplasmosis in infants and nine cases in which the clinical and laboratory evidence strongly suggested this diagnosis in infants and children are presented. We have pointed out that only one or two of the cardinal manifestations may be evident in a patient in whom the diagnosis has been established by the finding of the typical pathologic lesions and the organism. This was the case in two of the patients reported, both of whom had internal hydrocephalus but did not have either cerebral calcification or chorioretinitis. The presence of internal hydrocephalus particularly with spinal fluid changes such as elevated protein and pleocytosis should suggest to the clinician the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. When the classical triad or tetrad of symptoms and signs of the disease is present and the neutralization test is positive, the diagnosis probably should be made since isolation of the organism from the patient is so difficult at the present time. Jaundice can be the presenting complaint in a patient with congenital toxoplasmosis.
“Family planning and population programs” a book review article

El volumen Planeamiento Familiar y Programas de Poblacion es un libro indispensable tanto para demografos como para otras personas interesadas en el control de poblacion. Tiene sus limitaciones dodo su caracter heterogeneo, su falta de autocritica, el no tratar sobre la validez y confiabilidad de las encuestas de conocimientos, attitudes y practicas (KAP), su injustificado tono optimista, y su fracaso al no explorar y considerar alternativas para las presunciones y premisas sobre las cuales se basan los actuates programas de planeamiento familiar. Es sin embargo un importante hito que resume las contribuciones de las ciencias sociales y biomedicas al campo de la demografia. Summary The volume Family Planning and Population Programs is an indispensable book to demographers as well as to others concerned with population control. It is not without limitations because of its heterogeneous character, its lack of self-criticism, its failure to deal with the reliability and validity of KAP surveys, its unwarranted optimistic aura, and its failure to explore and consider alternatives to the basic assumptions and premises on which present family planning programs are based. It is, nevertheless, a landmark in its summarization of the contribution of the social and biomedical sciences to demographic engineering.
Cleavage and Gastrulation in Drosophila Embryos

The cytoskeleton guides early embryogenesis in Drosophila, which is characterized by a series of rapid synchronous syncytial nuclear divisions that occur in the absence of cytokinesis. Following these divisions, individual cells are produced in a process called cellularization, and these cells are rearranged during the process of gastrulation to produce an embryo composed of three primordial tissue layers. Keywords: Drosophila; centrosome; insect development; cytoskeleton; embryo
Maxwell's equations

In order to discuss the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a plasma, the equations developed in the previous chapter must be combined with Maxwell’s equations. These involve not only the time-varying electromagnetic field of the wave but also the current density J and the charge density p created by the wave in the plasma.
Patchiness in the Distribution of Planktonic Heterotrophic Bacteria in Lakes

By using conventional dilution plating procedures, the heterotrophic planktonic bacteria in Lake Washington were found to be distributed in small-scale ( 1 m in horizontal distance) patches. Recommendations are made on sampling and enumeration procedures to minimize the effect of patchiness on obtaining an accurate estimate of bacterial numbers.
Advanced library characterization for high-performance ASIC

Texas Instruments ASIC Division (TI) has developed a highly accurate and flexible statistical characterization technique using equations to predict delay performance. A 21-term polynomial equation is described which accurately predicts individual cell delays as a nonlinear function of supply voltage, temperature, process variation, input slew time (rise and fall time), and output loading. The accuracy and flexibility of this technique is contrasted with traditional, less sophisticated methods. >
Agar-Gel Precipitin-Inhibition Technique for C-Reactive Protein Determinations: III. Quantitation of C-Reactive Protein in Serum Specimens

A quantitative C-reactive protein serological procedure has been developed. By use of this method, which is performed in agar-gel plates, from 2 to 654 μg of C-reactive protein per ml of titrated human serum can be detected. The method is based on the inhibition of a specific C-reactive protein antigen-antibody precipitate formed in agar-gel by the minimal reactive dilutions of each reagent in 48 hr. It is simple, sensitive, and readily reproducible.
Bilateral intraocular malignant neuroectodermal tumors in a telescope goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Abstract A 5-year-old male telescope goldfish (Carassius auratus) developed buphthalmia of the left eye. An enucleation was performed and a diagnosis of a neuroectodermal tumor was made on histological examination. Although the fish initially recovered, it was killed 49 days postsurgery due to a severe decline in its condition. On histological evaluation of postmortem tissue samples, it was determined that the fish also had a neuroectodermal tumor of the right eye with local invasion of the brain. On immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells were positive for S-100. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first published case of naturally occurring bilateral intraocular neuroectodermal tumors in a fish.
An efficient approach to identify and integrate demand-side management on electric utility generation planning

The electric utility planning environment has changed dramatically over the last few years. Utilities now need to include a wider variety of resources to meet the demand growth and increasing technical, economic, and environmental constraints. As a result, demand-side management (DSM) is widely implemented as part of the generation planning process. Since DSM programs have immediate benefits with respect to system reliability and financial performance, it is necessary that probabilistic production costing and reliability analysis be performed for the available DSM options. An efficient approach is presented which utilizes the eigenvector method (EVM) and a new load duration curve (LDC) model for the analysis. The EVM technique, based on expert opinions and mathematical analyses, estimates DSM impacts on future electricity demand. These impacts are than properly reflected in the load duration pattern and integrated into the supply-side planning process by using the new LDC model. A case study involving selected peak reduction programs in a medium-sized US electric utility is presented to show how DSM load impacts can be evaluated with the proposed approach.
Reflections on Partner Violence 20 Years of Research and Beyond

The authors reflect on past research and technology as well as their hopes for future innovations within the field of intimate partner violence. They review work that has contributed to current conceptual definitions of partner violence, particularly those that have shaped the field's broadened perspective. They discuss technological and measurement innovations that have contributed to more accurate assessments of violence prevalence. The authors believe that via these technologies, the true extent of violence within the home has been made known. In conclusion, the authors argue that to reduce violence between partners, there is an overwhelming need for future researchers to build on past data, develop improved theories, and apply those ideas to prevention and intervention techniques and programs. Furthermore, they believe that it is imperative for current and future programs to be extensively evaluated and tested for their effectiveness.
Adaption of Synechococcus sp. IU 625 to growth in the presence of mercuric chloride

Resistance to heavy metals is important for the survival of bacteria in contaminated environments. In this study, we show that the unicellular cyanobacterial species Synechococcus sp. IU 625 adapts to growth in the presence of mercuric chloride, recovering from pigmentation and morphological defects. Cells accumulate mercury within 2 h of growth and by 3 days, the total mercury concentration is significantly reduced, with all remaining mercury associated with the cells. This suggests that Synechococcus sp. IU 625 can convert mercury to a volatile form.
SU‐FF‐I‐31: An Improved Method for Susceptibility Correction of MR Spectroscopic Images

Purpose: Multivoxel spectroscopic imaging usually requires a correction for magnetic field differences between voxels. The correction enables a narrower frequency range for integration to produce the metabolic image, increasing the signal to noise ratio of the image. One method employs a single reference peak common to spectra in all voxels, such as n‐acetylaspartate, NAA. This works well in all but tumor cases where NAA is not present. A manual search must be done to find and correct the spectra in those voxels by referring to the creatine or choline peaks. This is rather tedious so a method of using multiple reference peaks was developed. If the pattern of the reference peaks is recognized, it can be used to correct for the magnetic field, automatically. Method and Materials: Data was acquired with the sequence from the NIH on 1.5T and 3T magnets from GE Healthcare. The sequence includes water saturation and outer volume suppression and allows for 4 slices to be acquired with a 32×32 matrix yielding a voxel size of 0.9 cc. The analysis was performed on Eigentool software with spectroscopy analysis code CSX. The reference peaks are defined by with a window and a maximum. The pattern of space between the reference peaks is compared to that of peaks larger than a second threshold. The pattern is allowed to shift up to one quarter of the span between the reference peaks. Results: The technique increases the speed of the analysis by decreasing the number of voxels that need to be checked manually from 100 or more to just the perimeter, perhaps 25, where the outer volume suppression may have missed some fat. Conclusion: Improving the analysis of MRSI can improve patient care by speeding up the time to report the results to the referring physician.
Atriopeptin distribution in the developing rat heart.

The embryonic distribution of atriopeptin (atrial natriuretic factor) in the Sprague-Dawley rat heart was mapped by immunoperoxidase staining of embryonic and neonatal hearts using rabbit antiserum to atriopeptigen purified from adult rat atrium. During the period of cardiac septation (days 14 and 16), immune serum reacted strongly with myocardial cytoplasmic granules in two sites: the inner cell layer along the cephalic curvature of the atria and the trabeculae of the incompletely divided ventricles. The youngest hearts studied (gestational day 11) displayed only nonspecific diffuse peroxidase reactivity within blood cells, indistinguishable from control sections incubated with normal rabbit serum. One week following birth, intense antiatriopeptin reactivity was widely distributed through both atria. In addition, immunoreactive cytoplasmic granules were found at several sites in the ventricular myocardium. Along the fiber tracts of the concentric layers of the ventricahar walls and interventricular septum, scattered granular foci were seen between nuclei of contiguous elongated myocytes. Positive staining was also seen within the papillary muscles and trabeculae carnae, regions shown by Alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff base staining of sister sections to be relatively rich in glycogen. These patterns of antibody reactivity suggest the coupling of early atriopeptin secretory activity with developing cardiac function.
Metaphase arrest of Chinese hamster cells with rotenone

Abstract Rotenone, commonly used as a fish poison or as an inhibitor of DPN dependent mitochondrial respiration, has been found to cause metaphase arrest in cultured Chinese hamster cells. The blockage of cells in metaphase is immediate at all concentrations of rotenone tested. A mode of action is presented, based on the preferential binding of rotenone to the mitotic spindle at metaphase.
Educational Ideas and School Practice: A Response to Kieran Egan and Maxine Greene

(1984). Educational Ideas and School Practice: A Response to Kieran Egan and Maxine Greene. Curriculum Inquiry: Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 319-326.
Selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry: Parameters affecting quantitative determination

Instrumental parameters and possible correction procedures for hydrogen-transfer phenomena are studied, with emphasis on the improvement of quantitative measurements in selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry. The intensity ratio of the m/z 387 and 386 ions, derived from cholesterol, are measured by an HP-5995 mass spectrometer using different parameters, including calibration peak width, mass filter window size and ion monitoring dwell time. The intrinsic ratio of these two ions is calculated with a correction procedure accounting for the [MH]+ and [M2H]+ hydrogen-transfer phenomena.
"To ear is human, to frogive is divine": Bob Capranica's legacy to auditory neuroethology.

Bob Capranica was a towering figure in the field of auditory neuroethology. Among his many contributions are the exploitation of the anuran auditory system as a general vertebrate model for studying communication, the introduction of a signal processing approach for quantifying sender–receiver dynamics, and the concept of the matched filter for efficient neural processing of complex vocal signals. In this paper, meant to honor Bob on his election to Fellow of the International Society for Neuroethology, I provide a description and analysis of some of his most important research, and I highlight how the concepts and data he contributed still inspire neuroethology today.
Complement C3 Deficiency: Human, Animal, and Experimental Models

The third complement component (C3) is a multifunctional glycoprotein that interacts with numerous serum proteins, cell surface receptors, and membrane-associated regulatory proteins. Deficiencies of C3 have been reported in several human kindred of different ethnic backgrounds and from different geographic regions. In addition, inherited C3 deficiency has been discovered in certain strains of guinea pigs, dogs, and rabbits, and has been experimentally induced in animals by injections of cobra venom factor. Studies of the C3-deficient humans and animals have demonstrated the important roles performed by C3 in the immune response, opsonization and phagocytosis of pathogens, and immune complex solubilization. Current knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of complement C3 deficiency indicates that C3 deficiency is caused by numerous molecular genetic mutations that include splicing defects, a partial gene deletion, and a critical amino acid substitution. With the advent of gene ablation technology, C3-deficient murine models can now be established, making it possible to examine the role that C3 plays in the molecular pathogenesis of many different diseases.
Passive Water−Lipid Peptide Translocators with Conformational Switches: From Single-Molecule Probe to Cellular Assay

Peptide design for unassisted passive water/lipid translocation remains a challenge, notwithstanding its importance for drug delivery. We introduce a design paradigm based on conformational switches operating as passive translocation vehicles. The interfacial behavior of the molecular prototype, probed in single-molecule AFM experiments, reveals a near-barrierless translocation. The associated free-energy agrees with mesoscopic measurements, and the in vitro behavior is quantitatively reproduced in cellular assays. The prototypes herald the advent of novel nano-biomaterials for passive translocation.
The metric of visual space.

The geometric properties of visual space in the horizontal plane were measured by four different procedures. Five observers were asked to judge distances, angles, and areas defined by pairs and triplets of stakes, using magnitude estimation, category estimation, mapping, and perceptual matching. All judgments took place outdoors in a broad, open field under full-cue conditions. Stimuli oriented in depth were judged to be half as large as the same stimuli oriented in the frontal plane. Angles facing either directly toward or directly away from the observer were seen as approximately twice as large as those seen on their sides. Four mathematical models for visual space are examined. Both the hyperbolic model of Luneburg (1947) and the spherical model of Reid (1764/1813) fail, each for different reasons. Two other models, however, produce a reasonably complete description of visual space. In the first model, visual space is an affine-transformed version of a Euclidean physical space. In the second model, distances are viewed as vectors that can be broken down into in-depth and frontal components relative to the observer. The in-depth component of this vector is contracted by a constant amount in visual space.
Processing and properties of syntactic foams reinforced with carbon nanotubes

This article presents synthesis and mechanical characterization of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced syntactic foams. Following a dispersion approach (comprising ultrasonic, calendering, and vacuum centrifugal mixing), single- and multi-walled functionalized CNTs (FCNTs) were incorporated into two foam composites containing various commercially available microballoon grades (S38HS, S60HS, and H50 from 3M). The FCNT-reinforced composites were tested for compressive strength and apparent shear strength before and after hot/wet conditioning. The results showed that the FCNT-reinforced composites' mechanical properties depended on the vacuum pressure used during processing. Compared with pristine and commercially available syntactic foam (EC-3500 from 3M), the FCNT-reinforced composites processed at high vacuum (0.2 kPa) showed significant increase in compressive strength and apparent shear strength before and after hot/wet conditioning. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase of about 22°C in glass transition temperature for composites processed at high vacuum with 0.5 wt % FCNT and 45 wt % S38HS–5 wt % S60HS microballoons. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated water absorption and lower decomposition temperature for the FCNT-reinforced composite mixed at atmospheric pressure, whereas no significant change was observed for the compound processed at high vacuum. Fracture analysis showed matrix failure for the composite processed at high vacuum and microballoon crushing for the composite mixed at atmospheric pressure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
The frequency of cricopharyngeal dysfunction on videofluoroscopic swallowing studies in patients with dysphagia.

Abstract Purpose: Dysphagia associated with cricopharyngeal dysfunction (CPD) is of particular interest to the otolaryngologist because it may respond to cricopharyngeal myotomy. There is a wide variation in the reported incidence of cricopharyngeal dysfunction in patients with dysphagia. This can be attributed to the different populations being studied, the lack of uniform criteria for diagnosis, and to different techniques used to evaluate patients. We have reviewed videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VSS) conducted on 443 consecutive patients with complaints of dysphagia to identify the incidence of cricopharyngeal dysfunction. Patients and Methods: The patient population consists of 443 veterans with complaints of dysphagia who were evaluated by videofluoroscopic swallowing studies at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, East Orange, NJ, between November 1988 and March 1993. Results: Cricopharyngeal dysfunction was diagnosed radiologically as the appearance of a shelf in the posterior column of barium at the level of the cricoid cartilage. It was identified in 10 of 177 (5.7%) patients with neurological disorders, in 7 of 142 (4.9%) patients with head and neck or esophageal tumors, and in 11 of 124 (8.9%) patients with other medical problems. Conclusion: These results do not support the notion that cricopharyngeal dysfunction is an important factor in a significant proportion of patients with dysphagia. It is recognized that videofluoroscopy may not always detect cricopharyngeal dysfunction and that better criteria for identifying this entity are needed.