cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teacher Perceptions of the Classroom Behaviors of Nominated Handicapped and Nonhandicapped Students in China

Research in nations that do not use elaborate labeling systems may be particularly appropriate for studying teacher perceptions of difficult-to-teach students. This study investigated Chinese teachers' perceptions of the classroom behavior of students nominated as learning disabled (NLD), educable mentally retarded (NEMR), average (NA), and gifted (NG) based on the salient defining features commonly used in America to designate labeling categories. Behavioral ratings were obtained for a random sample of 196 nominated students from 27 teachers in two cities. Results indicated that NLD and NEMR students were rated significantly less favorably than NA and NG students; NLD students were rated significantly higher on verbal intelligence, creativity, and curiosity, and as more extroverted than NEMR students. Discriminant analysis yielded 72.19% agreement between original nominations and the classification based on the ratings. The results are compared to published findings of studies conducted in the United States.
Control of flower size

Flowers exhibit amazing morphological diversity in many traits, including their size. In addition to interspecific flower size differences, many species maintain significant variation in flower size within and among populations. Flower size variation can contribute to reproductive isolation of species and thus has clear evolutionary consequences. In this review we integrate information on flower size variation from both evolutionary and developmental biology perspectives. We examine the role of flower size in the context of mating system evolution. In addition, we describe what is currently known about the genetic basis of flower size based on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in several different plant species and molecular genetic studies in model plants, primarily Arabidopsis thaliana. Work in Arabidopsis suggests that many independent pathways regulate floral organ growth via effects on cell proliferation and/or cell expansion.
SNAP: a web-based tool for identification and annotation of proxy SNPs using HapMap

Summary: The interpretation of genome-wide association results is confounded by linkage disequilibrium between nearby alleles. We have developed a flexible bioinformatics query tool for singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify and to annotate nearby SNPs in linkage disequilibrium (proxies) based on HapMap. By offering functionality to generate graphical plots for these data, the SNAP server will facilitate interpretation and comparison of genomewide association study results, and the design of fine-mapping experiments (by delineating genomic regions harboring associated variants and their proxies). Availability: SNAP server is available at http://www.broad.mit.edu/
Topological approaches to adaptive spectrum modeling

The authors present initial investigations into a novel approach for adaptive parametric spectrum modeling that is based on numerical continuation methods derived from homotopy theory, a branch of algebraic topology. This initial investigation focuses on homotopies applied to system identification using the linear finite-impulse-response filter structure, to illustrate the transition from homotopy theory to the adaptive filtering of time series. Homotopy-based continuation methods are globally convergent numerical procedures from which robust adaptive infinite-impulse-response algorithms may eventually be derived. Homotopy theory is reviewed, and the theoretical justification for its application to the adaptive filtering of time series is presented. The practical problems associated with the development of homotopy-based adaptive algorithms are discussed in detail. >
Anytime, Dynamic Planning in High-dimensional Search Spaces

We present a sampling-based path planning and replanning algorithm that produces anytime solutions. Our algorithm tunes the quality of its result based on available search time by generating a series of solutions, each guaranteed to be better than the previous ones by a user-defined improvement bound. When updated information regarding the underlying search space is received, the algorithm efficiently repairs its previous solution. The result is an approach that provides low-cost solutions to high-dimensional search problems involving partially-known or dynamic environments. We discuss theoretical properties of the algorithm, provide experimental results on a simulated multirobot planning scenario, and present an implementation on a team of outdoor mobile robots
Radiofrequency cauterization with biopsy introducer needle.

PURPOSE: The principal risks of needle biopsy are hemorrhage and implantation of tumor cells in the needle tract. This study compared hemorrhage after liver and kidney biopsy with and without radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the needle tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsies of liver and kidney were performed in swine through introducer needles modified to allow RF ablation with the distal 2 cm of the needle. After each biopsy, randomization determined whether the site was to undergo RF ablation during withdrawal of the introducer needle. Temperature was measured with a thermistor stylet near the needle tip, with a target temperature of 70°C–100°C with RF ablation. Blood loss was measured as grams of blood absorbed in gauze at the puncture site for 2 minutes after needle withdrawal. Selected specimens were cut for gross examination. RESULTS: RF ablation reduced bleeding compared with absence of RF ablation in liver and kidney (P < .01), with mean blood loss reduced 63% and 97%, respectively. Mean amounts of blood loss (SD) in the liver in the RF and no-RF groups were 2.03 g 4.03 (CI, 0.53–3.54 g) and 5.50 g 5.58 (CI, 3.33–7.66 g), respectively. Mean amounts of blood loss in the kidney in the RF and no-RF groups were 0.26 g 0.32 (CI, 0.01 to 0.53 g) and 8.79 g 7.72 (CI, 2.34 –15.24 g), respectively. With RF ablation, thermal coagulation of the tissue surrounding the needle tract was observed.
An eight-gene molecular phylogeny of the Kickxellomycotina, including the first phylogenetic placement of Asellariales

Kickxellomycotina is a recently described subphylum encompassing four zygomycete orders (Asellariales, Dimargaritales, Harpellales, Kickxellales). These fungi are united by the formation of disciform septal pores containing lenticular plugs. Morphological diversification and life history evolution has made the relationships within and among the four orders difficult to resolve on those grounds alone. Here we infer the phylogeny of the Kickxellomycotina based on an eight-gene supermatrix including both ribosomal rDNA (18S, 28S, 5.8S) and protein sequences (MCM7, TSR1, RPB1, RPB2, β-tubulin). The results of this study demonstrate that Kickxellomycotina is monophyletic and related to members of the Zoopagomycotina. Eight unique clades are distinguished in the Kickxellomycotina, including the four defined orders (Asellariales, Dimargaritales, Harpellales, Kickxellales) as well as four genera previously placed within two of these orders (Barbatospora, Orphella, Ramicandelaber, Spiromyces). Dimargaritales and Ramicandelaber are the earliest diverging members of the subphylum, although the relationship between these taxa remains uncertain. The remaining six clades form a monophyletic group, with Barbatospora diverging first. The next split divides the remaining members of the subphylum into two subclades: (i) Asellariales and Harpellales and (ii) Kickxellales, Orphella and Spiromyces. Estimation of ancestral states for four potentially informative morphological and ecological characters reveals that arthropod endosymbiosis might have been an important factor in the early evolution of the Kickxellomycotina.
Comparison of spectral estimators for characterizing fractionated atrial electrograms

Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) acquired during atrial fibrillation (AF) are commonly assessed using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), but this can lead to inaccuracy. In this study, spectral estimators derived by averaging the autocorrelation function at lags were compared to the DFT. Bipolar CFAE of at least 16 s duration were obtained from pulmonary vein ostia and left atrial free wall sites (9 paroxysmal and 10 persistent AF patients). Power spectra were computed using the DFT and three other methods: 1. a novel spectral estimator based on signal averaging (NSE), 2. the NSE with harmonic removal (NSH), and 3. the autocorrelation function average at lags (AFA). Three spectral parameters were calculated: 1. the largest fundamental spectral peak, known as the dominant frequency (DF), 2. the DF amplitude (DA), and 3. the mean spectral profile (MP), which quantifies noise floor level. For each spectral estimator and parameter, the significance of the difference between paroxysmal and persistent AF was determined. For all estimators, mean DA and mean DF values were higher in persistent AF, while the mean MP value was higher in paroxysmal AF. The differences in means between paroxysmals and persistents were highly significant for 3/3 NSE and NSH measurements and for 2/3 DFT and AFA measurements (p<0.001). For all estimators, the standard deviation in DA and MP values were higher in persistent AF, while the standard deviation in DF value was higher in paroxysmal AF. Differences in standard deviations between paroxysmals and persistents were highly significant in 2/3 NSE and NSH measurements, in 1/3 AFA measurements, and in 0/3 DFT measurements. Measurements made from all four spectral estimators were in agreement as to whether the means and standard deviations in three spectral parameters were greater in CFAEs acquired from paroxysmal or in persistent AF patients. Since the measurements were consistent, use of two or more of these estimators for power spectral analysis can be assistive to evaluate CFAE more objectively and accurately, which may lead to improved clinical outcome. Since the most significant differences overall were achieved using the NSE and NSH estimators, parameters measured from their spectra will likely be the most useful for detecting and discerning electrophysiologic differences in the AF substrate based upon frequency analysis of CFAE.
Effects of water additions on the passivity of iron in dimethoxyethane solutions

The effects of trace water additions on the passive behavior of iron in an otherwise anhydrous dimethoxyethane/0.5 M LiAsF6 solution have been studied by electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. The results indicate that the passivity observed in the anhydrous solvent is maintained when small (less than 2000 ppm) concentrations of water are present as a contaminant. Passive current densities increase slightly, but water does not cause any catastrophic interference with the various passivation mechanisms. Water, when present at these levels, actually helps to extend the passive range of iron by several hundred millivolts in this system. This behavior is the result of a complex interplay between iron dissolution and solvent electropolymerization at increasingly anodic potentials. Water is believed to be the component responsible for the localized acidification of areas of active dissolution, which then results in optimal conditions for polymer film formation. This behavior is peculiar to the system of iron in dimethoxyethane/LiAsF6.
Parametric excitation as the means of energy transfer in quantal systems with reference to carcinogenesis and bioenergetics

Publisher Summary This chapter examines parametric excitation as the means of energy transfer in quantal systems with reference to carcinogenesis and bioenergetics. When quantal systems are expressed in a four-parameter form, the local potential defining a quantal system results in a singularity in topological mapping that is known as a Riemann–Hugoniot catastrophe with the equation of state, that is, Weber's equation. On the other hand, by the application of the same form of analysis, the local potential for two interacting systems is a mapping singularity known as a butterfly catastrophe with the equation of state, that is, Mathieu's equation. The main result obtained by this analysis is that if the radial quantum number of the first system is twice that of the second, then the parametric excitation of the second system occurs because of the availability of a less entropic configuration for the total joined system, compared with the two systems considered separately. In the light of this observation, carcinogenic potency may be an example of parametric excitation.
Making Clinical Supervision a Reality: Steps Toward Implementation

Although clinical supervision is not widely accepted or used, it can be effectively implemented. Supervisors can modify the five stages of clinical supervision to meet time constraints and, more important, to meet the needs of teachers.
Spectroscopic Perturbations: Homogeneous and Heterogeneous

A spectroscopic perturbation is a local disruption of the expected “textbook” pattern of energy levels and transition intensities. It results when degeneracy accidentally occurs between two or more “pure” same-J, same-parity states, which are capable of interacting with each other via some usually harmless term in the effective Hamiltonian. Perturbations between same-\(\Omega \) states are called homogeneous (because the interaction matrix element is independent of J) and those where \(\Delta \Omega = 1\) are called heterogeneous (because the interaction matrix element is proportional to J) [1, 2].
A design tool for computations in large grain real-time data flow architectures

A design tool for performance prediction in homogeneous, multicomputer dataflow architectures operating in real time is discussed. Algorithms are restricted to the class of large-grain, decision-free algorithms. Major applications are expected to be real-time implementation of control and signal processing algorithms, where performance is required to be highly predictable. The mapping of such algorithms onto the specified class of dataflow architectures is realized by a marked graph model called the algorithm to architecture mapping model (ATAMM). Performance measures which determine computing speed and throughput capacity are defined, and the lower bounds for these performance measures are stated. Computing resource needs are determined for predictable periodic execution of algorithms. A software design tool is presented to aid the designer in predicting performance and resource requirements. >
Back-End-of-Line and Micro-C4 Thermal Resistance Contributions to 3-D Stack Packages

The objective of this paper is to understand and quantify the additional thermal resistance of 3-D stacked packages due to the back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers and die-to-die interconnects, specifically micro-C4s. Of particular interest were the impacts of through silicon vias (TSVs), interfacial thermal resistances between BEOL material layers, and mechanical strain. The study revealed that the TSVs could be effective in reducing overall thermal resistance given an adequately small pitch, alignment with micro-C4s, and penetration through the BEOL layers. A review of theoretical and experimental studies by others revealed vastly different results for the interfacial thermal resistance between material layers, such as in BEOL layers. Theoretical studies suggested 1-2 orders of magnitude lower thermal resistance than experiments. Analysis of the mechanical strain suggested a difficult to quantify but negligibly small impact on the thermal resistance of BEOL layers.
Rapid emplacement of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province as a net sink for CO2

article i nfo Article history: Recent evidence from the ~201.5 Ma Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) in the Newark rift basin demon- strates that this Large Igneous Province produced a transient doubling of atmospheric pCO2, followed by a falloff to pre-eruptive concentrations over ~300 kyr. This paper confirms the short-term findings from the Newark basin, andteststhemillion-yeareffectsoftheCAMPvolcanismonEarlyJurassicpCO2fromstratainthecorollaryHartford basin of Eastern North America (ENA) also using the pedogenic carbonate paleobarometer. We find pCO2levels for pre-CAMP background of 2000±700 ppm (at S(z)=3000±1000 ppm), increasing to ~5000±1700 ppm imme- diately above the first lava flow unit, consistent with observations from the Newark. The longer post-extrusive Portland Formation of the Hartford basin records a fourth pulse of pCO2 to ~4500±1200 ppm, about 240 kyr after the last lava recorded in the ENA section. We interpret this fourth increase as due to a major episode of vol- canism, and revise the main CAMP duration to 840±60 kyr. The Portland also records a post-eruptive decrease in pCO2 reaching pre-eruptive background concentrations of ~2000 ppm in only ~300 kyr, and continuing to levels below pre-CAMP background over the subsequent 1.5 Myr following the final episode of eruptions. Geochemical modeling (using modified COPSE code) demonstrates that the rapidity of the pCO2 decreases, and fall to concen- trations below background can be accounted for by a 1.5-fold amplification of the continental silicate weathering response due to the presence of the CAMP basalts themselves. These results demonstrate that a continental flood basalt capable of producing a short-term perturbation of the carbon system may actually have an overall net- cooling effect on global climates due to a long-term net-decrease in pCO2 to below pre-eruptive levels, as previous models have suggested followed the emplacement of the Deccan Traps.
Absence of sodA Increases the Levels of Oxidation of Key Metabolic Determinants of Borrelia burgdorferi.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, alters its gene expression in response to environmental signals unique to its tick vector or vertebrate hosts. B. burgdorferi carries one superoxide dismutase gene (sodA) capable of controlling intracellular superoxide levels. Previously, sodA was shown to be essential for infection of B. burgdorferi in the C3H/HeN model of Lyme disease. We employed two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and immunoblot analysis with antibodies specific to carbonylated proteins to identify targets that were differentially oxidized in the soluble fractions of the sodA mutant compared to its isogenic parental control strain following treatment with an endogenous superoxide generator, methyl viologen (MV, paraquat). HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of oxidized proteins revealed that several proteins of the glycolytic pathway (BB0057, BB0020, BB0348) exhibited increased carbonylation in the sodA mutant treated with MV. Levels of ATP and NAD/NADH were reduced in the sodA mutant compared with the parental strain following treatment with MV and could be attributed to increased levels of oxidation of proteins of the glycolytic pathway. In addition, a chaperone, HtpG (BB0560), and outer surface protein A (OspA, BBA15) were also observed to be oxidized in the sodA mutant. Immunoblot analysis revealed reduced levels of Outer surface protein C (OspC), Decorin binding protein A (DbpA), fibronectin binding protein (BBK32), RpoS and BosR in the sodA mutant compared to the control strains. Viable sodA mutant spirochetes could not be recovered from both gp91/phox−⁄− and iNOS deficient mice while borrelial DNA was detected in multiple tissues samples from infected mice at significantly lower levels compared to the parental strain. Taken together, these observations indicate that the increased oxidation of select borrelial determinants and reduced levels of critical pathogenesis-associated lipoproteins contribute to the in vivo deficit of the sodA mutant in the mouse model of Lyme disease. This study, utilizing the sodA mutant, has provided insights into adaptive capabilities critical for survival of B. burgdorferi in its hosts.
Making the Most of the Daphnia Heart Rate Lab: Optimizing the Use of Ethanol, Nicotine & Caffeine

ABSTRACT Students commonly test the effects of chemical agents on the heart rate of the crustacean Daphnia magna, but the procedure has never been optimized. We determined the effects of three concentrations of ethanol, nicotine, and caffeine and of a control solution on heart rate in Daphnia. Ethanol at 5% and 10% (v/v) reduced mean heart rate to ∼50% and ∼20% of its initial value, respectively. Recovery was rapid after removing 5% ethanol, but recovery from 10% ethanol took 20–30 minutes. Nicotine at 100 µM reversibly increased mean heart rate by ∼20%. Higher concentrations produced varied and sometimes irreversible effects. Caffeine at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 2% (w/v) had no convincing effect on heart rate. Of the three agents tested, nicotine's peculiar effects make it the least useful in an educational setting. Caffeine could be used to emphasize the need for blind observers because it does not increase heart rate in Daphnia. If students find that it does, their bias is revealed. Ethanol produces unambiguous...
‘In this country, you suffer a lot’: Undocumented Mexican immigrant experiences:

Facing poverty and an inability to support their families through work on small farms or in waged labor, Mexican workers have crossed the border in large numbers seeking work in the US. This study explores the experiences of Mexican workers who immigrated without authorization to find work in a US suburban community in construction and the service industry. Ethnographic fieldwork and semi-structured interviews reveal the relationship of macro-level policy choices in compelling impoverished, marginalized people to immigrate despite the real dangers of crossing the Mexican/US border.
Seasonal changes in body weight and condition, and pregnancy and lambing rates of sheep on endophyte-infected tall fescue in the south-eastern United States

The objective of these studies was to evaluate the seasonal maintenance of body weight (BW) and condition, signs of fescue toxicosis, and reproductive performance of straightbred and cross-bred hair sheep grazing tall fescue or bermudagrass forage. Breeds examined were St. Croix (SC), Romanov (ROM) and cross-bred ewes. BW was measured in the summer (1998–2000) and the fall (1999) on ewes grazing bermudagrass overseeded with ryegrass (BER) or tall fescue (FES) forage. Body condition score (BCS) and serum prolactin concentrations were determined in the summer (1999, 2000) and fall (1999). Pregnancy and lambing rates of a summer and fall (1999) breeding season and pregnancy rates of the spring (2000) breeding season were recorded. BW and BCS reflected seasonal differences related to the forage availability of BER and FES, seasonal variations in toxins of FES forage and breed differences. At all times, serum prolactin concentrations were reduced in ewes grazing FES pastures (P<0.01), with the exception of the summer of 1999, where cross-bred yearling ewes maintained on FES exhibited an increase in prolactin level compared to those grazing on BER forage (forage×breed; P<0.05). Pregnancy and lambing rates were similar for forage treatments, with the exception of a reduction in reproductive rate in yearling cross-bred ewes maintained on FES in summer (1999; P<0.05). Birth and weaning weights of lambs were similar for suckling ewes maintained on BER and FES forage. These experiments demonstrated that, in contrast to cattle, BCS of SC, ROM and cross-bred ewes can be maintained in an acceptable range with either BER or FES forage. Pregnancy rate may be reduced in yearling, but not the older ewes maintained on FES forage. Birth weights and growth of lambs of mature ewes were similar for the forage treatments. It is recommended that breeding of yearling ewes occur on pastures free of endophyte-infected tall fescue.
Vagal Activity During Physiological Sexual Arousal in Women With and Without Sexual Dysfunction

Recently, heart rate variability (HRV) level has been found to be a risk factor for female sexual dysfunction. Low HRV was a significant predictor of female sexual arousal dysfunction and overall sexual dysfunction. Building upon this finding, the present study examined whether differences in vagal activity between sexually functional and sexually dysfunctional women may be driving the association between low HRV and female sexual dysfunction. Specifically, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was assessed before, during, and after physiological sexual arousal in 84 women, aged 18 to 47, to examine potential differences in vagal activity between sexually functional and sexually dysfunctional women. Significant differences in vagal activity between these two groups were observed (p =.02). These findings provide additional specificity to the recently established relationship between HRV and female sexual function while also proposing a mechanism to target during treatments for sexual dysfunction.
Anxiety and growth disturbance: is there a connection? A review of biological studies in social phobia.

Current knowledge of the neurobiology of social anxiety and social phobia is reviewed within the framework of chemical models of anxiety. Preliminary evidence for noradrenergic, serotonergic, and adenosinergic systems in the neurobiology of social phobia is presented and discussed within the context of medical model versus continuum theories of anxiety. The clinical and theoretical implications of a hypothesized linkage between anxiety disorders and hypothalamic-growth hormone dysfunction are presented
Depression and Self-Presentation

The present paper examines the role of self-presentational processes in depression. More specifically, I argue that the depressed individual’s self-doubt and shaky self-confidence may lead him or her to adopt a protective self-presentation style across a variety of interaction settings. The particular manifestation of that style may vary depending upon particular social contextual variables; however, the underlying motive is likely to be avoidance of future performance demands and potential further losses in esteem. Indeed, I will suggest that the depressive may accept or even engender short-term disapproval in an attempt to terminate or withdraw from current and avoid future performance obligations. Research relevant to its self-presentational formulation of depression is presented.
Urinary Pyridinium Cross-Links: A Noninvasive Diagnostic Test for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type VI

To the Editor: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI is an autosomal recessive disorder of connective tissue caused by mutations in the gene for collagen lysyl hydroxylase. This enzyme hydroxylates lysyl residues on newly synthesized intracellular collagen peptides, and its impairment results in a low hydroxylysine content in mature collagen1,2. Diagnosis has required a large skin-biopsy specimen to demonstrate reduced amounts of hydroxylysine in skin collagen and defective lysyl hydroxylase in cultured skin fibroblasts. Here, we report that measurement of the urinary excretion of pyridinium cross-links serves as a simple, noninvasive diagnostic test for this disorder. After extracellular secretion, specific . . .
Do Excited Silicon–Oxygen Double Bonds Emit Light?

Oxidation of the surface of well-passivated silicon nanocrystals introduces defects which dramatically affect the optical properties of the material. One such defect is the silicon–oxygen double bond, which has been implicated as the source of the unusual particle-size-independent S-band photoluminescence of oxidized silicon nanocrystals. Herein, we investigate the photodynamics of this defect by application of a first-principles nonadiabatic molecular dynamics approach to a cluster model containing a silicon–oxygen double bond. Upon excitation, pyramidalization occurs about the double-bonded silicon atom, leading to a conical intersection between the ground and first excited state. This conical intersection facilitates nonradiative decay, resulting in the internal conversion of 7% of the excited population in the first picosecond after excitation. Extrapolation to longer times suggests that nonradiative decay via conical intersection proceeds faster than the microsecond photoluminescence lifetime of sili...
Toxicologic Effect of Two Crotoxyphos Formulations on Pigs

Crotoxyphos in 1 of 2 formulations was sprayed on pigs 3 times weekly at 1% concentrations. Dermal lesions, cholinesterase activity depression, or both, resulted from these treatments.
Adaptation to Metabolic Alkalosis by the Turtle Urinary Bladder

AbstractWe studied the mechanism of adaptation to metabolic alkalosis by the turtle urinary bladder in vitro. Turtles were made alkalotic by administration of oral NaHCO3. Bladders removed from alkalotic turtles had an increased rate of HCO3- secretion in vitro as compared with that of control. H+ secretion, however, was not different, indicating that metabolic alkalosis selectively increases HCO3- secretion. Fluorescence microscopy was used to quantify the carbonic anhydrase cells. The total number of carbonic anhydrase cells was determined by mucosal staining of the bladder with 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate. The number of HCO3--secreting cells (β cells) was quantified by mucosal staining with NBD-taurine and the number of H+-secreting cells (α cells) was calculated from the difference between the two. Metabolic alkalosis significantly increased the total number of 6-carboxyfluorescein positive cells and NBD-taurine-positive cells. The increase in the number of 6-carboxyfluorescein positive cells was t...
Is Hydronephrosis on Ultrasound Predictive of Ureterolithiasis in Patients with Renal Colic

Purpose: Renal ultrasound accurately identifies hydronephrosis but it is less sensitive than computerized tomography for the detection of ureterolithiasis. We investigated whether the presence of hydronephrosis on ultrasound was associated with a ureteral stone in patients who underwent both ultrasound and computerized tomography during the evaluation of acute renal colic.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients from 3 institutions who were evaluated for acute renal colic by both ultrasound and computerized tomography between 2012 and 2015. Patients were included in analysis if ultrasound and computerized tomography were performed on the same day. The presence of ureterolithiasis, stone location and hydronephrosis was reviewed and compared between imaging modalities.Results: Ureteral stones were present in 85 of 144 patients. Ultrasound identified hydronephrosis in 89.8% of patients and a ureteral stone in 25.9%. Computerized tomography identified hydronephrosis in 91.8% ...
Cut Elimination In Situ

We present methods for removing top-level cuts from a sequent calculus or Tait-style proof without significantly increasing the space used for storing the proof. For propositional logic, this requires converting a proof from tree-like to dag-like form, but at most doubles the number of lines in the proof. For first-order logic, the proof size can grow exponentially, but the proof has a succinct description and is polynomial time uniform. We use direct, global constructions that give polynomial time methods for removing all top-level cuts from proofs. By exploiting prenex representations, this extends to removing all cuts, with final proof size near-optimally bounded superexponentially in the alternation of quantifiers in cut formulas.
Combination of calcium disodium cdelate and trace clements misture for treatment of 108 casesof lead intoxication

Objective To explore the therapeutic efficacy of combination of calcium disodium chelate,trace tlements misture and calcium gluconate for the treatment of chronic plumbism.Methods Minidose calcium disodium chelate (1.0 g·d~ -1 ),calcium gluconate and trace tlements misture (containing zinc sulfate,cupri sulfas,kalium hypermanganicum and ammonium iron citrate) were performed in adjuvant of supporting treatment of lead intoxication.Results All of patients were cured treatment of 1～3 course (every course of treatment was 6～7 days),none complexation syndrome occurred.Conclusion Combination of the minidose calcium disodium cdelate,calcium gluconate and trace tlements misture can relief symptom early,shorten the course of disease and avoid side effect.
Genitourinary Aspects of Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis

Genitourinary involvement is common in disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Urologic evaluation should include careful examination, cultures and radiograms. The radiographic features of renal coccidioidomycosis parallel those of renal tuberculosis, with feathery, moth-eaten calices, infundibular constriction and caliceal ballooning, and eventual calcification of granulomas. Coccidioidal epididymitis may be chronic, with long asymptomatic intervals. A patient with a 15-year interval between episodes of right and left coccidioidal epipidymitis is described. Complement fixation titers should be used to determine the activity of genitourinary coccidioidomycosis. In 3 of 12 patients dissemination of coccidioidomycosis occurred during treatment with immunosuppressive medications. Renal transplant patients should be evaluated for active coccidioidomycosis prior to transplantation.
Some Recollections About Walter and His Work

My first encounter with Walter’s work was as a graduate student at University of Illinois in the early 1960’s, while taking David Pines’s course in advanced solid state physics. There we learned about the effects of the conduction electrons in a metal on the phonon spectrum, and in particular about the features in the spectrum that can be caused by the sharpness of the Fermi surface1 that were dubbed “Kohn anomalies” by their experimental discoverers2 a couple years later. We also learned about Walter’s work with Sy Vosko on the effect of impurity induced oscillations in the electron density on the Knight shift in nuclear magnetic resonance.3 All this came back into focus a couple of years ago when I introduced Walter at a joint physics-chemistry colloquium at Rutgers, where I mentioned that Walter’s work had already been available at the textbook level during my graduate school days around forty years earlier. Walter immediately expressed skepticism that these contributions could have reached textbooks so fast, so I later felt bound to check on my memory. Yes, Walter, it really had happened. My course textbook4 in David Pines’s course, published in the year of your fortieth birthday, discusses both of the above topics. In addition, Charlie Slichter’s book,5 which was used as the textbook for the magnetic resonance course taught at Illinois at the time, discusses your work in that area.
Sclerostin measurement in human disease: Validity and current limitations ☆

Sclerostin a potent regulator of bone formation, is an antagonist of the Wnt-signaling pathway. The advent of assays to measure circulating sclerostin has enabled research to be performed with the aim to understand the potential role of circulating sclerostin as a pathophysiological marker in a variety of clinical settings. At this time, however, assays to measure circulating sclerostin are still relatively new and have not demonstrated consistent internal agreement in addition to which there are differences between serum and plasma levels. Nevertheless, measurement of sclerostin in the circulation has the potential to reflect the dynamics of bone formation with particular reference to situations in which osteocytes, the major source of circulating sclerostin, may be perturbed. Because of technical uncertainties regarding sclerostin assays that are currently available, circulating sclerostin measurements should be interpreted cautiously with attention to reference ranges for each assay and whether or not the measurement is made in serum or plasma.
Improving security requirements adequacy

Organizations rely on security experts to improve the security of their systems. These professionals use background knowledge and experience to align known threats and vulnerabilities before selecting mitigation options. The substantial depth of expertise in any one area (e.g., databases, networks, operating systems) precludes the possibility that an expert would have complete knowledge about all threats and vulnerabilities. To begin addressing this problem of fragmented knowledge, we investigate the challenge of developing a security requirements rule base that mimics multi-human expert reasoning to enable new decision-support systems. In this paper, we show how to collect relevant information from cyber security experts to enable the generation of: (1) interval type-2 fuzzy sets that capture intra- and inter-expert uncertainty around vulnerability levels; and (2) fuzzy logic rules driving the decision-making process within the requirements analysis. The proposed method relies on comparative ratings of security requirements in the context of concrete vignettes, providing a novel, interdisciplinary approach to knowledge generation for fuzzy logic systems. The paper presents an initial evaluation of the proposed approach through 52 scenarios with 13 experts to compare their assessments to those of the fuzzy logic decision support system. The results show that the system provides reliable assessments to the security analysts, in particular, generating more conservative assessments in 19% of the test scenarios compared to the experts' ratings.
Efficient and Extensible Quasi-Explicit Modular Nonlinear Multiscale Battery Model: GH-MSMD

Complex physics and long computation time hinder the adoption of computer aided engineering models in the design of large-format battery cells and systems. A modular, efficient battery simulation model—the multiscale multidomain (MSMD) model—was previously introduced to aid the scale-up of Li-ion material & electrode designs to complete cell and pack designs, capturing electrochemical interplay with 3-D electronic current pathways and thermal response. This paper enhances the computational efficiency of the MSMD model using a separation of time-scales principle to decompose model field variables. The decomposition provides a quasi-explicit linkage between the multiple length-scale domains and thus reduces time-consuming nested iteration when solving model equations across multiple domains. In addition to particle-, electrode- and cell-length scales treated in the previous work, the present formulation extends to bus bar- and multi-cell module-length scales. Example simulations are provided for several variants of GH electrode-domain models.
Bleeding ectopic duodenal varix: use of a new microvascular plug (MVP) device along with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS).

Ectopic varices (ECV) occur along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract outside the common variceal sites and represent 2%–5% of all GI variceal bleeds with mortality rates up to 40%. Management is challenging because of inaccessibility and increased risk of rebleeding. We report what is to our knowledge the first clinical use of a new microvascular plug (MVP) with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) for a bleeding duodenal varix (DV). A 68-year-old man presented with melena. Endoscopy demonstrated a grade II varix in the second part of the duodenum with red wale sign. TIPSS was performed and portogram revealed a single DV. Poststent placement venogram revealed a persistent varix and hence a 5–7 mm MVP was deployed. Subsequent imaging showed cessation of blood through the DV. The patient had no further bleeding. TIPSS with embolisation is an effective treatment for ECV. This MVP offers advantages due to its size and compatibility and can be redeployed in case of suboptimal placement.
Dragon architect: open design problems for guided learning in a creative computational thinking sandbox game

Educational games have a potentially significant role to play in the increasing efforts to expand access to computer science education. Computational thinking is an area of particular interest, including the development of problem-solving strategies like divide and conquer. Existing games designed to teach computational thinking generally consist of either open-ended exploration with little direct guidance or a linear series of puzzles with lots of direct guidance, but little exploration. Educational research indicates that the most effective approach may be a hybrid of these two structures. We present Dragon Architect, an educational computational thinking game, and use it as context for a discussion of key open problems in the design of games to teach computational thinking. These problems include how to directly teach computational thinking strategies, how to achieve a balance between exploration and direct guidance, and how to incorporate engaging social features. We also discuss several important design challenges we have encountered during the design of Dragon Architect. We contend the problems we describe are relevant to anyone making educational games or systems that need to teach complex concepts and skills.
Design strategies for metamaterial quadrature power dividers in CP antennas: Are two CRLH-loaded lines necessary?

Integrating composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines into quadrature power dividers (QPDs) has demonstrated potential for enhanced bandwidth in circularly-polarized antenna applications. Despite the excitement about CRLH, optimal design strategies remain ambiguous, and previous work proposed varied embodiments of CRLH integrations but do not direct designers towards optimal designs strategies for QPDs. This paper investigates the necessity to integrate CRLH in both output paths of QPDs versus one output path. Our analysis reveals that there is no advantage from a dispersion perspective. Both analytical models and simulations agree with this conclusion, encouraging future users of this concept to employ a single CRLH line approach.
NIPBL+/- haploinsufficiency reveals a constellation of transcriptome disruptions in the pluripotent and cardiac states.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a complex disorder with multiple structural and developmental defects caused by mutations in structural and regulatory proteins involved in the cohesin complex. NIPBL, a cohesin regulatory protein, has been identified as a critical protein responsible for the orchestration of transcriptomic regulatory networks necessary for embryonic development. Mutations in NIPBL are responsible for the majority of cases of CdLS. Through RNA-sequencing of human induced pluripotent stem cells and in vitro-derived cardiomyocytes, we identified hundreds of mRNAs, pseudogenes, and non-coding RNAs with altered expression in NIPBL+/− patient-derived cells. We demonstrate that NIPBL haploinsufficiency leads to upregulation of gene sets identified in functions related to nucleosome, chromatin assembly, RNA modification and downregulation of Wnt signaling, cholesterol biosynthesis and vesicular transport in iPSC and cardiomyocytes. Mutations in NIPBL result in the dysregulation of many genes responsible for normal heart development likely resulting in the variety of structural cardiac defects observed in the CdLS population.
Interpretation of genomic sequencing: variants should be considered uncertain until proven guilty.

Interpretation of genomic sequencing: variants should be considered uncertain until proven guilty
Towards Universal Broadband: Understanding The Impact Of Policy Initiatives On Broadband Diffusion And Affordability

A new digital divide is emerging both within and between nations that is due to inequalities in broadband Internet access. Most previous research has focused on the broadband divide in developed countries and the role of several factors in bridging this divide, including competition specifically to provide broadband service. There seems to be very little research, however, that provides comprehensive explanations for the global broadband digital divide and, in particular, the impact of national public policy initiatives that seek to increase the availability and affordability of broadband service. Our research examines the broadband digital divide by analyzing the impact of national policies in the form of strategic planning, regulation and investment on the International Telecommunications Union’s broadband diffusion and broadband affordability indicators in more than 110 countries. Our multiple regression analysis shows that when controlling for measures of economic, political, social and educational development, there is greater broadband diffusion in countries that encourage competition in their broader telecommunications sector and make a higher shared financial investment in information and communication technologies. Of these two variables, only competition in the telecommunications sector within a country helps make broadband more affordable to its citizens.
The Sea Lamprey

The earliest vertebrate class, Cyclostomata, consists of two orders: Petromyzontia and Myxinoidia. Lampreys belong to the first and slime eels and hagfish to the second. These may be called the most primitive fish—if the term “fish” is used to denote any poikilothermic aquatic craniate vertebrate. Almost all are parasitic. Lampreys are jawless and have mouths that consist of a large suctorial funnel with many homey teeth capable of rasping through the skin and scales of their hosts. Their bodies are long snakelike cylinders with smooth, slimy skin and both median and tail fins. They have seven pairs of gill slits well posterior to the mouth. The skeleton is completely cartilaginous. Adult lampreys seek clean fresh water in which to reproduce. The female clears a shallow nest from the stream bottom and attaches herself upstream. The male then attaches to the female. Fertilization is external, and the numerous small eggs sink to the bottom and are covered with silt and sand. The parents die after spawning. The eggs hatch a few weeks later, and the young pass through a hermaphroditic larval stage that may last for years. Characteristically, lampreys are euryhaline and thus able to migrate between salt water and fresh water. Recently, many have become landlocked, particularly in Lake Erie, and have destroyed many prized eatable lake fish by their parasitic attacks.
Structured Singular Value: µ

The linear fractional transformation (LFT) is a common framework suitable for robust stability analysis using arguments based on the small gain theorem. An LFT is an interconnection of operators arranged in a feedback configuration. These operators may be constant matrices, time-domain state-space systems, or frequency-varying transfer functions. Consider a linear operator \( P \in {C^{\left( {{o_1} + {o_2}} \right) \times \left({{i_1}+ {i_2}}\right)}} \) which is partitioned into four elements. $$ p = \left[ {\frac{{{p_{11}}{p_{12}}}}{{{p_{21}}{p_{22}}}}} \right] $$ (3.1)
Autonomous wheelchair navigation in unmapped indoor environments

Recent developments in robot automation have fostered the development of many assistive devices to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Notable among these devices are autonomous wheelchairs, which are capable of navigating to given destinations while avoiding obstacles. However, the method of destination selection and navigation in unmapped indoor environments remains a challenge for these autonomous wheelchairs. In this work, a novel approach to selecting a destination for an autonomous wheelchair in an unmapped indoor environment using a camera, ranging LIDAR, and computer vision is presented. The system scans the environment at startup and compiles a list of possible destinations for a user to easily make an selection. The proposed system was tested in a simulated shopping mall environment where destinations included various stores. The computer vision system was tested with images of store-fronts at various distances and angles. Ten trials were conducted to test the navigation system with destinations at close-range, mid-range, and long-range. The system successfully navigated to the destination in 100% of the trials for close-range destinations and 90% of the trials for mid-range and long-range destinations. Based on these results, we conclude the proposed design is a promising means of destination selection for autonomous wheelchairs in unmapped indoor environments for individuals with severe disabilities.