cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lymphadenectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer and Upper Tract Urothelial Cell Carcinoma

There are currently no reported randomized trials that characterize the staging or therapeutic benefit of performing a lymph node dissection in either bladder cancer or upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Several unanswered questions remain in this domain focused on the indications and patient selection for pelvic lymph node dissection, extent of dissection, its impact on outcome, and potential risks. However, the results of observational studies suggest that the burden of metastasis is high in both diseases when muscle invasive and performing a lymphadenectomy can provide prognostic information and yield therapeutic benefit.
A searchable database of medical education objectives – creating a comparable gold standard

Medical school curricula strives to teach as much material as can be retained in a limited amount of time. A common “gold standard” resource used building curricula are medical objectives suggested by national societies. Unfortunately these objectives suffer from several functional limitations such as limited accessibility to society members, non-searchable formats (such as nested tables or pdf images), and inability to compare and search across societal objectives for redundancy or gaps. The shift towards integrated curriculums in medical school also highlights the need to access suggested content across classical discipline categories. We have codified recommendations from national societies in the United States for medical school objectives in a common tabular format and developed an open access database which can be searched across disciplines and societies. A front end website that allows for searching objectives by keyword while filtering on society or discipline was created. The objectives returned from the initial search can be subsearched by a second term. There is a large range in the format, age, breadth, quantity, and quality of objectives from different societies. Some unique disciplines have overlapping suggested content though most of the content does seem “binnable” by discipline. The choice of metadata for objectives from each given society was also very inconsistent. A free and searchable database of medical content to deliver during medical school has been developed with over 13,000 objectives from 18 societies and 22 disciplines at http://data.medobjectives.marian.edu/ . The normalization of the different disciplines’ objectives into a common database allows a platform to standardize objectives moving forward. Future work could include adding user accounts to access the database, submission of new objectives, voting up and down suggested objectives, and adding “answers” mapped to objectives. Keyword tagging could allow import of content (e.g. PowerPoints) and outputting of suggested objectives, which would also allow comparison of curriculum across medical schools.
On the Effect of Sidewalls in Cellular Convection

Much progress in understanding the stability of continuous systems has come from intensive investigation of the prototype situations of an infinite layer of fluid heated from below (Benard problem) and of fluid contained between concentric infinite rotating cylinders (Taylor problem) (see the survey by Segel [1]). Implicit in these investigations of unbounded regions of fluid is the assumption that the results are meaningful for sufficiently broad convecting layers or sufficiently long rotating cylinder apparatuses. The present paper reports on work which begins the tasks of verifying this assumption and estimating the effects of bounding walls. The approach is to introduce slow spatial modulation of the solutions derived from the nonlinear stability theory of the unbounded region. Although illustrated on the Benard problem, it should be clear that the analysis is of general applicability. The reader should consult the paper by Newell in this volume for a report on closely related work and should refer to a paper of the author [2] for a number of details of the basic analysis which are omitted here.
Adversarial and Uncertain Reasoning for Adaptive Cyber Defense: Building the Scientific Foundation

Today’s cyber defenses are largely static. They are governed by slow deliberative processes involving testing, security patch deployment, and human-in-the-loop monitoring. As a result, adversaries can systematically probe target networks, pre-plan their attacks, and ultimately persist for long times inside compromised networks and hosts. A new class of technologies, called Adaptive Cyber Defense (ACD), is being developed that presents adversaries with optimally changing attack surfaces and system configurations, forcing adversaries to continually re-assess and re-plan their cyber operations. Although these approaches (e.g., moving target defense, dynamic diversity, and bio-inspired defense) are promising, they assume stationary and stochastic, but non-adversarial, environments. To realize the full potential, we need to build the scientific foundations so that system resiliency and robustness in adversarial settings can be rigorously defined, quantified, measured, and extrapolated in a rigorous and reliable manner.
Cabinet Coalition Formation: A Game-Theoretic Analysis

The use of N-person game theory solution concepts to predict cabinet coalitions in European parliaments has been fairly limited. This is because most concepts predict only the alternatives in the solution space and not the coalitions which achieve these alternatives. In order to make coalition predictions, additional ad-hoc assumptions are necessary. The Competitive Solution attaches a coalition structure to each alternative in the solution space. It is thus extremely applicable to this problem.
Pharmacological Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction After Radical Prostatectomy

The potential for potency after radical retropubic prostatectomy has improved considerably since the anatomical description of the neurovascular bundles to the penis and a technique whereby these nerves may be spared from injury. However, impotence remains an unavoidable complication in some patients. It is in such patients that we have chosen to evaluate the technique of intracavernosal injection of a papaverine/phentolamine mixture to obtain erections. After classical radical prostatectomy potency was restored by the injection technique in 12 of 14 patients (85 per cent). Three patients who failed to attain erections initially had successful results with larger doses. Two patients who failed to achieve erections had the lowest penile brachial index values and 1 in whom priapism developed had the highest value, indicating that this may be a useful technique to determine the initial dosage of the injection.
Transcending Boundaries: The Emergence of Conservation Networks

Over the past century, public land management has unfolded as a saga of tensions and challenges at the delicate interface of people and place. Many of these challenges test the endurance of our governing institutions. An institutional discovery process is unfolding with the emergence of new forms of governance – the rules and processes by which formal and informal groups of people make decisions regarding matters in which they have intersecting responsibilities and interests. Networks, collaboration, shared stewardship, and partnerships characterize these new forms of governance. These emergent collaborative endeavors are creating new bundles of ownership rights through easements, contracts, compacts, and cooperative agreements. Lying as a backdrop to the emergence of these new forms of governance are four policy and decision making puzzles. These include information challenges, incentive challenges, accountability challenges, and coordination challenges. Examining examples of network governance illuminate how they address these four decision making challenges and their implications for law, policy, and management skills.
Predicting onset of complications from diabetes: a graph based approach

Diabetes is a significant health concern with more than 30 million Americans living with diabetes. Onset of diabetes increases the risk for various complications, including kidney disease, myocardial infractions, heart failure, stroke, retinopathy, and liver disease. In this paper, we study and predict the onset of these complications using a network-based approach by identifying fast and slow progressors. That is, given a patient’s diagnosis of diabetes, we predict the likelihood of developing one or more of the possible complications, and which patients will develop complications quickly. This combination of "if a complication will be developed” with ”how fast it will be developed” can aid the physician in developing better diabetes management program for a given patient.
Effects of Keyboard Background on Mobile Text Entry

This paper presents results of a comparative study that investigated the effects of different types of keyboard backgrounds (themes) on actual and perceived text entry performance, in terms of speed and accuracy. Two color and two image backgrounds were compared with the default Google Android keyboard. Results revealed that keyboard background does not affect actual performance, however has a significant effect on perceived performance. Most participants felt that image backgrounds, regardless of whether they were pre or self-selected, affected their speed and accuracy. This suggests that it may be possible to enhance one's text entry experience simply by designing an effective keyboard theme. This paper concludes with reflections on how these findings could benefit text entry researchers and keyboard developers.
Customization Modes for the Harris MK-3 Authenticated Encryption Algorithm

MK-3 is a new proprietary authenticated encryption algorithm based on the duplex sponge construction. To provide security autonomy capability, such that different users can have sovereign variants of the encryption algorithm, MK-3 is designed to be customizable. Two levels of customization are supported, Factory Customization and Field Customization. Customization is done by modifying functions and function parameters in the algorithm to yield differing cipher functions while preserving the algorithm's security. This paper describes the MK-3 algorithm's customization options and discusses results of testing designed to verify security autonomy among the customized variants.
“Plange, Castella misera”: meaning and mourning at the royal abbey of Las Huelgas de Burgos in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries

Royal burial sites, besides functioning as resting places for rulers, offer repositories of emotions associated with royal death. One such site was the abbey of Las Huelgas de Burgos, founded in 11...
Additive manufactured graphene composite Sierpinski gasket tetrahedral antenna for wideband multi-frequency applications

Abstract Here we report a pre-fractal antenna design based on the Sierpinski tetrahedron that has been developed with additive manufacturing. The Sierpinski tetrahedron-based antenna was simulated with finite element method (FEM) modeling and experimentally tested to highlight its potential for wideband communications. The Sierpinski tetrahedron-based antennas were fabricated by two methods, the first involves printing the antenna out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), followed by spin casting a coating of an ABS solution containing graphene flakes produced through electrochemical exfoliation, the second method involves 3D printing the antenna from graphene-impregnated polylactic acid (PLA) filament directly without any coating. Both fabrication methods yield a conductive medium to enable receiving EM signals in the low GHz frequency range with measured input return losses higher than 35 dB at resonance. These antennas incorporate the advantages of 3D printing which allows for rapid prototyping and the development of devices with complex geometries. Due to these manufacturing advantages, self-similar antennas like the Sierpinski tetrahedron can be realized which provide increased gain and multi-band performance.
Oncolytic Viruses for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma

There is an unmet need for additional treatments for metastatic melanoma, besides anti-PD1 antibodies which are FDA approved for adjuvant therapy for stage III or resected stage IV melanoma. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is the first and only FDA-approved oncolytic virus for the treatment of melanoma. New viral vectors including coxsackieviruses, HF-10, adenovirus, reovirus, echovirus, and newcastle disease virus are currently under active development and investigation with varying degrees of efficacy in targeting melanoma. The use of T-VEC as a neoadjuvant therapy is emerging, but more data is needed at this point. T-VEC has also shown promise for use in combination therapy with ipilimumab, as T-VEC plus ipilimumab has a significantly higher objective response compared to ipilimumab alone. Data comparing T-VEC in combination with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors is awaited, and a phase III trial is underway. It is likely that oncolytic viruses will have long-term application in the treatment of melanoma and that T-VEC in particular will continue to have a role in the treatment of patients with readily accessible cutaneous lesions both for local control and synergistic induction of antitumor immunity as part of combination therapies.
Understanding and Inferring Units in Spreadsheets

Numbers in spreadsheets often have units: metres, grams, dollars, etc. Spreadsheet cells typically cannot carry unit information, and even where they can, users may not be motivated to provide it. However, unit information is extremely valuable: it allows us to detect and prevent an entire class of spreadsheet errors, such as accidentally adding values of different units. What if we could infer the unit of any value in a spreadsheet, with little or no work from the user?We present a novel method for predicting units and dimensions in spreadsheets, the first such method that combines logical constraint solving and probabilistic unit labelling. Our approach identifies and formalises the critical cells in spreadsheets that bound the user cost of unit annotation. Separately, we apply machine learning to infer probabilistic unit labels from cell text. To contextualise the accuracy of our system, we discuss the attention investment trade-off for unit inference.
Vineyard site impact on the elemental composition of Pinot noir wines.

Abstract Elemental composition was used to characterize and differentiate 14 wines made from the identical clone of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot noir (clone 667). The vineyards span distances which range from several hundred meters to 1540 km and their elevations vary from near sea level to nearly 500 m. Twenty-seven elements were observed above the limit of quantitation by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) in the wines from at least half of the 14 sites. Concentrations of several elements, including Mo, Er, Na, Li, Cs and Pb, varied by 10-fold across the 14 wines. Multiple factor analysis (MFA) of elemental composition with juice chemistry and site characterization show associations consistent with expectations, such as high Ca with high clay content. These results demonstrate that even when grapevine clone and winemaking protocol are controlled, composition differences in wines produced from sites are mediated by diverse soil and microclimate conditions.
Community Health Needs Predict Population Health Partnerships Among U.S. Children’s Hospitals:

Cross-sector collaboration is critical to improving population health, but data on partnership activities by children's hospitals are limited, and there is a need to identify service delivery gaps for families. The aim of this study is to use public community benefit reports for all children's hospitals in the United States to assess the extent to which children's hospitals partner with external organizations to address five key health needs: health care access, chronic disease, social needs, mental health, and substance abuse. Strategies that involved partnering with community organizations were most common in addressing social needs and substance abuse. When adjusted for institutional and community characteristics hospitals in a multilevel regression model, hospitals had higher odds of partnering to address chronic illness and social needs. To encourage hospital engagement with complex social and behavioral health needs and promote health equity, support should be provided to help hospitals establish local population health networks.
GHRS and ORFEUS-II Observations of the Highly Ionized Interstellar Medium Toward ESO141-055

We present Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph and ORFEUS-II measurements of Si IV, CIV, N V, and O VI absorption in the interstellar medium of the Galactic disk and halo toward the nucleus of the Seyfert galaxy ESO141-055. The high ionization absorption is strong, with line strengths consistent with the spectral signature expected for hot (log T = 5-6) collisionally ionized gas in either a ``Galactic fountain'' or an inhomogeneous medium containing a mixture of conductive interfaces and turbulent mixing layers. The total O VI column density of log N ~ 15 suggests that the scale height of O VI is large (>3 kpc) in this direction. Comparison of the high ion column densities with measurements for other sight lines indicates that the highly ionized gas distribution is patchy. The amount of O VI perpendicular to the Galactic plane varies by at least a factor of ~4 among the complete halo sight lines thus far studied. In addition to the high ion absorption, lines of low ionization species are also present in the spectra. With the possible exception of Ar I, which may have a lower than expected abundance resulting from partial photoionization of gas along the sight line, the absorption strengths are typical of those expected for the warm, neutral interstellar medium. The sight line intercepts a cold molecular cloud with log N(H2) ~ 19. The cloud has an identifiable counterpart in IRAS 100-micron emission maps of this region of the sky. We detect a Ly-alpha absorber associated with ESO141-055 at z = 0.03492. This study presents an enticing glimpse into the interstellar and intergalactic absorption patterns that will be observed at high spectral resolution by the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer.
Gene flow influences the genomic architecture of local adaptation in six riverine fish species

Understanding how gene flow influences adaptive divergence is important for predicting adaptive responses. Theoretical studies suggest that when gene flow is high, clustering of adaptive genes in fewer genomic regions would protect adaptive alleles from among-population recombination and thus be selected for, but few studies have tested this hypothesis with empirical data. Here, we used RADseq to generate genomic data for six fish species with contrasting life histories from six reaches of the Upper Mississippi River System, USA. We then conducted genome scans for genomic islands of divergence to examine the distribution of adaptive loci and investigated whether these loci were found in inversions. We found that gene flow varied among species, and adaptive loci were clustered more tightly in species with higher gene flow. For example, the two species with the highest overall FST (0.03 - 0.07) and therefore lowest gene flow showed little evidence of clusters of adaptive loci, with adaptive loci spread uniformly across the genome. In contrast, nearly all adaptive loci in the species with the lowest FST (0.0004) were found in a single large putative inversion. Two other species with intermediate gene flow (FST ~ 0.004) also showed clustered genomic architectures, with most islands of divergence clustered on a few chromosomes. These results provide important empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that increasingly clustered architectures of local adaptation are associated with high gene flow. Our study utilized a unique system with species spanning a large gradient of life histories to highlight the importance of gene flow in shaping adaptive divergence.
An integrative measure of cognitive performance, but not individual task performance, is linked to male reproductive output in budgerigars.

Cognitive abilities such as learning and memory are key for survival and reproduction. Individuals with high cognitive abilities may be more successful at attracting mates and producing offspring. However, empirical tests of and evidence supporting this hypothesis remain scarce. We measured cognitive performance of male budgerigars in four tasks: problem solving, detour reaching, seed discrimination, and spatial memory. We then tested female choice for male cognition at three stages of the mating choice process: social pairing, extra-pair mating, and continued reproductive investment with a social mate. We also measured female reproductive output. We used an integrative measure of male cognitive performance that encapsulates performance across all tasks, the ‘composite cognitive score’ by summing performance on the four tasks. In the first stage, females did not choose their social mates based on any of the measures of male cognitive performance. In the second stage, however, males with higher composite cognitive scores sired and raised more offspring. In the third stage, females increased their reproductive investment after the first breeding attempt when paired with males with higher detour-reaching scores. These results suggest that female reproductive decisions may shape overall male cognitive performance.
Ciguatoxin in Hawai'i: Fisheries forecasting using geospatial and environmental analyses for the invasive Cephalopholis argus (Epinephelidae)

Invasive species can precede far-reaching environmental and economic consequences. In the Hawai'ian Archipelago Cephalopholis argus (family Serranidae) is an established invasive species, now recognized as the dominant local reef predator, negatively impacting the native ecosystem and local fishery. In this region, no official C. argus fishery exists, due to its association with Ciguatera seafood poisoning (CP); a severe intoxication in humans occurring after eating (primarily) fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). Pre-harvest prediction of CP is currently not possible; partly due to the ubiquitous nature of the microalgae producing CTXs and the diverse bioaccumulation pathways of the toxins. This study investigated the perceived risk of CP in two geographically discrete regions (Leeward and Windward) around the main island of Hawai'i, guided by local fishers. C. argus was collected and investigated for CTXs using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) CTX testing protocol (in vitro neuroblastoma N2a-assay and LC-MS/MS). Overall, 76% of fish (87/113) exceeded the FDA guidance value for CTX1B (0.01 ng g-1 tissue equivalents); determined by the N2a-assay. Maximum CTX levels were ≅2× higher at the Leeward vs Windward location and, respectively, 95% (64/67) and 54% (25/46) of fish were positive for CTX-like activity. Fisher persons and environmental understandings, regarding the existence of a geographic predictor (Leeward vs Windward) for harvest, were found to be (mostly) accurate as CTXs were detected in both locations and the local designation of C. argus as a risk for CP was confirmed. This study provides additional evidence that supports the previous conclusions that this species is a severe CP risk in the coastal food web of Hawai'i, and that ocean exposure (wave power) may be a prominent factor influencing the CTX content in fish within a hyperendemic region for CP.
Transcriptomic evidence for microbial sulfur cycling in the eastern tropical North Pacific oxygen minimum zone.

Microbial communities play central roles in ocean biogeochemical cycles, and are particularly important in in oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). However, the key carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (S) cycling processes catalyzed by OMZ microbial communities are poorly constrained spatially, temporally, and with regard to the different microbial groups involved. Here we sample across dissolved oxygen gradients in the oceans’ largest OMZ by volume—the eastern tropical North Pacific ocean, or ETNP—and quantify 16S rRNA and functional gene transcripts to detect and constrain the activity of different S-cycling groups. Based on gene expression profiles, putative dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrA) genes are actively expressed within the ETNP OMZ. dsrA expression was limited almost entirely to samples with elevated nitrite concentrations, consistent with previous observations in the eastern tropical South Pacific (ETSP) OMZ. dsrA and ‘reverse’ dissimilatory sulfite reductase (rdsrA) genes are related and the associated enzymes are known to operate in either direction, reducing or oxidizing different S compounds. We found that rdsrA genes and soxB genes were expressed in the same samples, suggestive of active S cycling in the ETNP OMZ. These data provide potential thresholds for S cycling in OMZs that closely mimic recent predictions, and indicate that S cycling may be broadly relevant in OMZs.
The Molecular Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Nerve Agents

Abstract Chemical warfare nerve agents continue to be a threat to both military personnel and civilian populations. Organophosphorus nerve agents irreversibly inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, resulting in accumulation of high levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) at muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. This accumulation of ACh induces clinical symptoms including myosis, difficulty in breathing, convulsions, seizures, and can result in death. Current medical countermeasures for treating nerve agent intoxication increase survival if administered rapidly after exposure but may not fully prevent brain injury. The downstream neurological damage induced by nerve agent exposure is not well characterized. Researchers are now utilizing molecular approaches to understand the molecular pathways involved in nerve agent-induced brain injury, with the goal of developing treatment strategies that are effective when administered after the onset of seizures and secondary responses that lead to nerve agent-induced brain injury.
Biological Stratification of Human Neuroblastoma by Complex “B” Pathway Ganglioside Expression

Ganglioside metabolism has been linked to the clinical and biological behavior of human neuroblastoma. This study investigated the importance of differences in complex “b” ganglioside (GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b; designated CbG) expression in this tumor. Gangliosides of 74 neuroblastomas were analyzed by high-performance TLC. Associations of CbG expression with known prognostic markers and with event-free survival (EFS) were evaluated. Higher CbG expression characterized nonprogressive versus progressive tumors (median 41% versus 18% of total gangliosides; P = 0.001) and completely accounted for the observed higher overall “b” pathway ganglioside expression (median 81% versus 68%; P = 0.003). In contrast, expression of the structurally simpler “b” pathway gangliosides (GD2 and GD3) did not differ (median 31% versus 35%; P = 0.4). Absolute CbG content differed even more (median 93 versus 29 nmol/g among nonprogressive versus progressive tumors; P = 0.02) and was most striking in the case of GQ1b content (8-fold higher in nonprogressive tumors). High CbG (≥35% of total gangliosides) expression was strongly predictive of a favorable outcome in: ( a ) the entire study population (90% versus 60% EFS at 25 months; P = 0.001); and ( b ) among patients assigned a low-risk status by a either single genetic or biochemical tumor marker (MYCN, DNA, NSE, or ferritin), or by both unamplified MYCN and aneuploid DNA (22–28% difference in EFS at 25 months). These data suggest that high tumor CbG content may substratify “good prognosis” neuroblastoma patients, identifying patients at very low risk of relapse or death, and that the biological roles of CbG in neuroblastoma will be of importance to define.
Reviewing the professionalization of software engineering: can small colleges remain viable?

The issue of the increasing professionalization of Software Engineering is a contemporary one. Recently various jurisdictions have enacted legislation providing for Professional Engineer (PE) licenses for software engineers. There are current and recently settled lawsuits over the use of the term "software engineer." Heavyweight organizations in the software engineering domain struggle to codify a Software Engineering Body of Knowledge, prestigious universities have begun offering Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Software Engineering, and the academic accrediting bodies which govern various aspects of computing sciences are coming to terms with the longstanding accrediting body of engineering programs.Still, it is not at all universally agreed that licensure of professional software engineers is a desirable idea. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has come out resoundingly opposed to PE licensure for software engineers.Should licensure of professional Software Engineers become the norm, it is reasonable to expect that most licensing bodies will require those taking the Professional Engineer exam to have a degree in the field from an accredited academic institution. Should this come to pass, can small colleges and universities realistically hope to offer degrees for candidates for a PE license? Will undergraduate Software Engineering degree programs become the exclusive domain of larger schools with substantial engineering programs?This paper takes an early look at these topics and tries to scope out directions small colleges might take now to position themselves well in the future.
Utility of Electrolyte-Free Water Clearance in the Analysis and Treatment of the Dysnatremias

Understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of hyponatremia is a challenge for medical students and experts alike. Although hyponatremia has a wide range of causes, the pathogenesis of hyponatremia is largely characterized by disorders of urinary dilution. In evaluating the renal mechanisms responsible for the pathophysiology of hyponatremia, an analysis of free water clearance (FWC) and electrolyte-free water clearance (EFWC) is often utilized to quantify the renal diluting defect in this disorder. In this article, the utility of free water clearance (FWC) and electrolyte-free water clearance (EFWC) in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to hyponatremia is discussed.
Occupational radiation dose associated with Rb-82 myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography imaging.

Background We determined staff radiation dose during rest and stress rubidium 82 myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.
AN ERROR IN ERROR ANALYSIS

Presently, a number of proponents of an error analysis approach to the investigation of 2nd language learning argue that contrastive analysis (CA) apriori is inadequate as an account of target language learning problems. They claim that the only tenable version of CA is an aposteriori approach, i.e. CA in just those areas that have been proven by error analysis to be difficulties in production. This claim is disputed in a study involving the acquisition of English relative clauses by speakers of Persian, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. The aposteriori approach obscured the fact that the Chinese and Japanese learners have more difficulty with relative clauses and therefore avoid them, a fact predicted by the apriori approach.
On the diffusion of inconsistencies in linear regression

Abstract We present a general result relating inconsistencies in estimating coefficients of correctly measured regressors to inconsistencies in estimating coefficients of incorrectly measured regressors. The result is reinterpreted to apply in simultaneous equation models.
The Rhetorical Work of Multimedia Production Practices: It's More than Just Technical Skill

Abstract Calls for multimodal communication are being heard with increasing frequency in composition and professional communication. Oftentimes, however, teaching multimedia production is viewed by those outside of the field as simply a matter of imparting technical skill rather than facilitating development of diverse and significant literacies. A closer look at these practices reveals how the complex choices made during production regarding audience, content, technology, and media can dramatically affect the final text and its reception by users. Rather than viewing multimodal production work as just technical skill, I argue that it requires careful attention to both traditional and technological rhetorical considerations. Better understanding these varied rhetorical practices specific to new media supports us in helping students to appreciate the constraints and possibilities of composing and offers support for the value of our work with multimedia to colleagues in other areas of English studies.
Strategies for improving influenza immunization rates among hard-to-reach populations

Whereas considerable attention has been devoted to achieving high levels of influenza immunization, the importance of this issue is magnified by concern over pandemic influenza. Most recommendations for vaccine administration address high risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases, but coverage for hard-to-reach (HTR) populations has had less attention. HTR populations include minorities but also include other primarily urban groups such as undocumented immigrants, substance users, the homeless, and homebound elderly. Obstacles to the provision of immunization to HTR populations are present at the patient, provider, and structural levels. Strategies at the individual level for increasing immunization coverage include community-based educational campaigns to improve attitudes and increase motivation for receiving vaccine; at the provider level, education of providers to encourage immunizations, improving patient–provider interactions, broadening the provider base to include additional nurses and pharmacists, and adoption of standing orders for immunization administration; and at the structural level, promoting wider availability of and access to vaccine. The planning process for an influenza pandemic should include community engagement and extension of strategies beyond traditional providers to involve community-based organizations addressing HTR populations.
Visualization of material stiffness in geomechanics analysis

This paper presents novel visualization techniques to simplify representation of the fourth-order material stiffness tensor as a set of three-dimensional geometric objects. Stiffness visualization aids in understanding the complex stiffness characteristics of highly non-linear constitutive models including modelled material anisotropy and loading path dependent stiffness variation. Stiffness visualization is relevant for understanding the relationship of material stiffness to global behaviour in the analysis of a boundary value problem. The spherical pulse stiffness visualization method, developed in the acoustics field, is extended to visualize stiffness of geomaterials using three three-dimensional objects. This method is limited to relatively simple constitutive models with symmetric stiffness matrices insensitive to loading magnitude and direction. A strain dependent stiffness visualization method is developed that allows the examination of material stiffness for a range of loading directions and is suitable for highly non-linear and path dependent material models. The proposed stiffness visualization can be represented as 3-D, 2-D and 1-D objects. The visualization technique is used to represent material stiffness and its evolution during simulated soil laboratory tests and deep excavation construction. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxicological and pharmacological evaluation of halogenated choline ethers.

O-Ethylcholine (ethylcholine ether, EtCh), O-(2-chloroethyl)choline (ClEtCh), O-(2-bromoethyl)choline (BrEtCh), O(2-iodoethyl)choline (IEtCh), and O-(2-hydroxyethyl)choline (OHEtCh) were synthesized, and their toxicological and pharmacological activities were studied. The toxicities of these agents in male Swiss mice decrease in the following order: IEtCh > BrEtCh ⋍ ClEtCh > EtCh ⪢ OHEtCh. The animals died within 3 min of iv injection of the lethal dose, exhibiting a dramatic decrease in respiratory rate. Peripheral toxic signs, salivation, lacrimation, urination, and defecation, were abolished by atropine. Atropine partially protected mice against the lethality of EtCh as was evident from the increase in its LD50 by about 68% after atropine treatment. It completely inhibited respiratory depression caused by EtCh. Hexamethonium or d-tubocurarine did not alter the LD50 of these ethers. The respiratory depression caused by choline ethers other than EtCh at LD50 doses was significantly lowered by atropine pretreatment but was not abolished completely. The results suggest that these ethers produce the toxic effects by other mechanisms besides stimulating the muscarinic receptors, which are mainly involved in the maintenance of respiration. The effects of the choline ethers on the muscarinic and nicotinic receptors of the guinea pig longitudinal ileal muscle (GPI) were also studied to understand the relationship of the cholinergic system to the toxicity of these ethers. Their ED50s (μm) to cause contraction of GPI in the presence of hexamethonium (37 μm) have the following order (muscarinic activities): acetylcholine (ACh) (0.3) 1 μM) blocked the contractions caused by all compounds. The steric volume occupied by the O-alkyl groups of the ethers is larger than the acetyl group of ACh, and the electron density around ether-oxygen is influenced by various substituents. Therefore, the charge and/or steric factors are limiting the muscarinic potencies of these choline ethers.
Out-of-focus effects on particle image visibility and correlation in microscopic particle image velocimetry

In microscopic particle image velocimetry (μPIV) the entire volume of a flowfield is illuminated, resulting in all of the particles in the field of view contributing to the image, either by forming discrete particle images or contributing to a background glow. The theory of PIV is expanded to encompass this situation. Equations are derived for a particle image intensity function that yields image diameter and intensity as a function of distance from the object plane, as well as an equation for a new quantity, termed particle visibility. The effect of changing experimental parameters is discussed. Next, the contribution of out-of-focus particles to the correlation function is addressed. A weighting function that can be used to calculate either velocity measurement bias or the distance from the object plane beyond which particles no longer significantly contribute to the correlation function is derived. A new experimental parameter, the depth of correlation, is then introduced, and its dependence on experimental parameters is discussed.
Clinical and Hemodynamic Findings Following Replacement of the Mitral Valve with a Beall Valve Prosthesis (Dacron Velour-Covered Teflon-Disc Valve)

The first 21 survivors of mitral valve replacement with a Beall valve prosthesis were evaluated clinically and hemodynamically five months after surgery. Significant clinical improvement was noted in 18 of 21 patients. When compared with preoperative data, a significant improvement occurred in pulmonary artery and left atrial pressures, cardiac index, pulmonary vascular resistance, and in the mitral valve gradient. However, the majority of the patients still had mildly elevated left atrial and pulmonary artery pressures secondary to a mean resting prosthetic gradient of 7 mm Hg. Right heart pacing and exercise significantly increased the gradient and left atrial and pulmonary artery pressures. A remarkable freedom from thromboembolic complications was noted in this series of patients.
FORMATION AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF A POLYMERIC LA(H2SALEN) COMPLEX

Lanthanide nitrate reacted with H2salen at room temperature in MeOH/CH2Cl2 affording a novel polymeric chain complex, [La(H2salen)(NO3)3(MeOH)2]n. The complex displayed an unusual coordination pattern where the imine nitrogen atoms of the H2salen molecule were not coordinated. Instead, the two phenolic oxygen atoms, which were often believed to be uncoordinated in previous studies, were found to coordinate respectively to two La atoms.
Political Decisions and Britain’s Chemical Warfare Challenge in World War I: Descend to Atrocities?

The Germans introduced poison gas to the world at the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium on 22 April 1915, and Britain responded with outrage. 1 The enemy had started a form of warfare that the Army...
Lower Limits on the Masses of Quasi-stellar Objects

THERE are several independent methods for estimating lower limits to the masses of QSOs based on various assumptions. For example, if the QSO is at a cosmological distance then its luminosity is known. If it is also assumed that the QSO's luminosity has remained approximately the same over its estimated lifetime (∼105–106 yr), then a lower limit on its mass may be obtained by equating the total energy radiated to mc2.
Bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy after lumbar spine surgery

Abstract Purpose To report a case of bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) in a healthy young patient after lumbar spine surgery which was initially diagnosed as functional visual loss. Design Observational case report. Participant A 33-year-old woman who experienced visual loss in the immediate postoperative period after a lumbar spine fusion. Testing Serial visual field testing and fundus examinations, ERG. Results Bilateral PION was confirmed 2 months postoperatively with the development of bilateral optic disc pallor and a normal ERG. Conclusion Young patients without vascular risk factors may develop bilateral PION after otherwise uncomplicated lumbar spine surgery. In subjects complaining of visual loss in the postoperative period who have a normal fundus and normal neuroimaging, a diagnosis of PION should be suspected, and close follow-up is warranted.
Characterization of triplet probes on filamentous actin

We have used steady-state measurements of polarized emission to determine the orientation of a xanthene probe covalently attached to cys374 in F-actin oriented by flow. The probe orientation was described in terms of the angular disorder of the filament axis about the laboratory vertical ((Theta) ) and the angle between the emission dipole and the long filament axis ((phi) ). Measurements of the prompt fluorescence from erythrosin indicated that (Theta) equals 16+/- 1 degree(s) and (phi) equals 42.1+/- 0.2 degree(s) at 20 degree(s)C while similar analyses of the delayed fluorescence gave (Theta) equals 6.4+/- 0.1 degree(s) and (Phi) equals 48.9+/- 0.1 degree(s). The probe dipole orientation ((Phi) ) was not affected by the binding of the fungal toxin phalloidin, the thin filament regulatory protein tropomyosin, or isolated myosin heads (S1) with or without nucleotide, indicating that changes in the filament anisotropy due to interaction with these ligands reflect changes in filament rotational motion. Although the angular disorder of the filaments ((Theta) ) was not influenced by ligand binding on the prompt fluorescence time scale ((tau) f is approximately 0.2 ns), it was modulated on the delayed fluorescence time scale ((tau) p is approximately 275 microsecond(s) ); the latter changes appeared to correlate with isotropic measurements of filament dynamics that indicated that phalloidin, tropomyosin, or S1 binding increased the rigidity of F-actin.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Factors associated with timing of first outpatient visit after newborn hospital discharge.

Abstract Objective To determine factors associated with newborns having their first outpatient visit (FOV) beyond 3 days after postpartum hospital discharge. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis of all newborns born at a large urban university hospital during a 1-year period, discharged home within 96 hours of birth, and with an outpatient visit with an affiliated provider within 60 days after discharge. Results Of 3282 newborns, 1440 (44%) had their FOV beyond 3 days after discharge. Newborns born to first-time mothers, breast-feeding, at high risk for hyperbilirubinemia, or with a pathological diagnosis were significantly ( P Conclusions Physician decisions regarding timing of outpatient visit after newborn discharge may take into account newborn medical and social characteristics, but certain patient, provider, and practice features associated with this timing may represent unrecognized barriers to care.
Chronic alcohol exposure alters transcription broadly in a key integrative brain nucleus for homeostasis: the nucleus tractus solitarius

Chronic exposure to alcohol modifies physiological processes in the brain, and the severe symptoms resulting from sudden removal of alcohol from the diet indicate that these modifications are funct...
STRENGTH TRAINING FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The potential benefits of youth strength training extend beyond an increase in muscular strength and may include favorable changes in selected health- and fitness-related measures. If appropriate training guidelines are followed, regular participation in a youth strength-training program has the potential to increase bone mineral density, improve motor performance skills, enhance sports performance, and better prepare our young athletes for the demands of practice and competition. Despite earlier concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of youth strength training, current public health objectives now aim to increase the number of boys and girls age 6 and older who regularly participate in physical activities that enhance and maintain muscular fitness. Parents, teachers, coaches, and healthcare providers should realize that youth strength training is a specialized method of conditioning that can offer enormous benefit but at the same time can result in serious injury if established guidelines are not followed. With qualified instruction, competent supervision, and an appropriate progression of the volume and intensity of training, children and adolescents cannot only learn advanced strength training exercises but can feel good about their performances, and have fun. Additional clinical trails involving children and adolescents are needed to further explore the acute and chronic effects of strength training on a variety of anatomical, physiological, and psychological parameters.
Alteration of cytosolic calcium levels in PC12 cells by potassium cyanide

Abstract The effect of KCN on cytosolic Ca 2+ levels was measured in PC12 cells using Quin II AM , a fluorometric calcium indicator. The resting cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration, 115.0±4.9 n m , increased gradually and steadily over a 30-min time period following addition of 10 −4 , 10 −3 , or 10 −2 m KCN to the cells. After 15 min, 10 −3 and 10 −2 m KCN produced a three- and sixfold increase in the cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration, respectively. In K + -depolarized cells, KCN induced a more rapid rise of intracellular calcium than in cells treated with KCN or KCl alone. KCN and/or K + -induced accumulation of cytosolic Ca 2+ was blocked when the cells were pretreated with 10 −5 m diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker). These results demonstrate in a cell model that cyanide induces an accumulation of cytosolic Ca 2+ and this additional cytosolic Ca 2+ load appears to originate primarily from the extracellular compartment. This study supports previous reports implicating calcium as an intracellular mediator of cyanide toxicity.
Wear of Fluorapatite Single Crystals : II. Frictional Behavior

The frictional behavior of natural fluorapatite single crystals under sliding was evaluated. Strain rate did not influence the coefficient of friction. Low and high regimes of friction were related to the amount of penetration; higher values of friction were associated with deeper penetration.