cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hybrid approach based on parallel coordinates and star plot

Multivariate data visualization has to accommodate all dimensions/variables of a given dataset in the same display so that the data items can be rendered with respect to these variables. We propose a hybrid approach based on the combination of the standard parallel coordinates and star plot techniques by implementing a focus + context scheme. The focus area displays the parallel coordinates plot of the data with respect to few selected dimensions by mapping them as vertical parallel axes sufficiently wide to provide a clear view of the variables and data. The context area then maps the rest of the variables as tightly packed radial axes forming one or two partial star plots. We design multiple layouts of combining the parallel and star axes. Each layout maintains the data continuity between the focus and context displays. Our tests show that the proposed hybrid axes plot can manage a large number of variables (even exceeding one hundred) to support effective visualization of ultra-high dimensional datasets.
Resection of Cervical Juxtacortical Chondroma and Circumferential Spinal Stabilization for Kyphotic Deformity

Chondromas are rare, benign tumors composed of cartilaginous tissue that mainly affect the metaphases of long tubular bones. Juxtacortical (periosteal) chondromas arise from the surface of periosteum and rarely affect the cervical spine. We present a patient with a spinal juxtacortical chondroma causing spinal cord compression and a cervical deformity treated with surgical resection and circumferential spinal fixation and stabilization. A 55-year-old female with past medical history of Crohn's disease with years of neck pain, balance issues, and left upper extremity radicular symptoms. Cervical spine x-rays show kyphosis with an apex at C5, degenerative changes of the endplates and facet joints, and grade 2 anterolisthesis C4 on C5 with no abnormal motion with flexion/extension. MRI showed a left sided C5-6 extramedullary mass measuring 11 x 11 x 15 mm causing spinal cord compression and neural foraminal narrowing. Her pain is worsening and refractory to physical therapy, gabapentin and methocarbamol. A C4-5 & C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, C4-5 & C5-6 laminectomy for tumor resection, and C4-5 & C5-6 posterior fusion with instrumentation was performed. The tumor was completely removed in piecemeal fashion. Microscopic findings showed bland well differentiated cartilaginous neoplasm consistent with juxtacortical chondroma. Postoperative X-rays show partial reduction of C4-5 anterolisthesis and partial reversal of cervical kyphosis. The patient's radicular pain resolved and neck pain improved postoperatively but she still has some left sided neck pain and hand dysesthesias that are controlled with oral medication one year following surgery. Cervical chondromas are rare, benign cartilaginous tumors that may present with spinal cord or nerve root compression. They are more complex when they present in patients with co-existing spinal deformities. Maximal safe resection followed by spinal re-alignment and fixation without adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation is recommended in most cases. Close follow-up is recommended to monitor for recurrence.
Modular epitope binding predicts influenza quasispecies dominance and vaccine effectiveness: Application to 2018/19 season.

Abstract The modular binding sites on the influenza A(H3N2) hemagglutinin protein are under significant pressure to acquire mutations in order to evade human antibody recognition. Analysis of these hemagglutinin epitopes in the strains circulating during 2017/18 and early 2018/19 identified the emergence of a new antigenic cluster that has grown from 4% of circulating strains to 11%. We regressed our module-based antigenic distance, pepitope, with A(H3N2) vaccine effectiveness from recent studies conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (r2 = 0.92), and we used this to estimate that the 2018/19 vaccines will protect against most circulating A(H3N2) strains. The pEpitope model is useful for A(H3N2) influenza vaccine virus selection and development, and it has the potential to aid national or regional regulatory authorities in making geographically localized decisions.
The Dual Scales of Sexual Orientation

AbstractPrevious measures of sexual orientation ignore the possibility that attraction to men and attraction to women vary independently. In two studies, we test the structure and validity of the n...
Phase II Study of Biweekly Dose-Intense Paclitaxel Plus Gemcitabine (GEM/TAX) in Patients with Recurrent Locoregional or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

ABSTRACT Background Patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a poor prognosis, limited treatment options, and median survival of 6 to 9 months. Paclitaxel (TAX) and gemcitabine (GEM) have both shown activity in HNSCC. The optimal combination, dosing, and scheduling of both drugs is, however, unknown. Thus, we investigated the efficacy and safety of biweekly dose-intense GEM/TAX in patients with recurrent locoregional or metastatic HNSCC. Methods An open-label, single-institution, single-arm, phase II study was conducted for patients (pts) who were previously treated with no more than two cytotoxic regimens. The pts received paclitaxel (150 mg/m2IV) and gemcitabine (3000 mg/m2 IV) on day 1 and 15. The treatments were repeated every 28 days (one cycle), until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was response rate. RECIST-defined response was evaluated every 2 cycles (8 wks) and toxicities were evaluated after each cycle (4 wks). Results Fifty-five pts were enrolled into the trial (M: F 42:13, median age (range): 56 years (23-84), performance status 0-2, 48 pts had previous radiation therapy and 39 had previous surgery), 41 of whom were response evaluable. Of these 41 patients, two pts (4.8%) achieved complete response (CR) and 17 (41.4%) demonstrated a partial response (PR). Thus, the overall response rate was 46%. Thirteen pts (31.7%) had stable disease (SD), resulting in tumor control in 32 of 41 pts (78% with CR, PR or SD), whereas 9 pts (21.1%) had disease progression (PD). Among those pts who achieved objective response or stable disease, the median response duration was 5 months and median time to progression was 4 months. Median overall survival (OS) was 15 months. Myelosuppression was the most common adverse event. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and anemia were observed in 5 (12%) and 11 (26%) pts, respectively. Eight (19%) pts developed grade 3 infection. None of these pts, however, had febrile neutropenia and there were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusions The combination of biweekly dose intense GEM/TAX was tolerable and active regimen in patients with recurrent locoregional or metastatic HNSCC. Our findings warrant further investigation in a larger patient population. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Subventricular zone adult mouse neural stem cells and human glioblastoma stem cells require insulin receptor for self-renewal

Summary The insulin receptor (IR) is an evolutionarily conserved signaling protein that regulates development and cellular metabolism. IR signaling regulates neurogenesis in Drosophila; however, a specific role for the IR in maintaining adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in mammals has not been investigated. We show that conditionally deleting the IR reduces adult NSCs of the subventricular zone by ∼70% accompanied by a corresponding increase in progenitors. IR deletion produced hyposmia due to aberrant olfactory bulb neurogenesis. Interestingly, hippocampal neurogenesis was not perturbed nor were hippocampal dependent behaviors. Highly aggressive proneural and mesenchymal glioblastomas (GBMs) had high IR/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway gene expression, and isolated glioma stem cells had an aberrantly high ratio of IR:IGF1R receptors. Moreover, IR knockdown inhibited proneural and mesenchymal GBM tumorsphere growth. Altogether, these data demonstrate that the IR is essential for a subset of normal NSCs as well as for brain tumor cancer stem cell self-renewal.
Control of Plasma Rotation by Controlling the Content of Highly Collisional Ions in Strongly Rotating Tokamak Plasmas with Unbalanced Neutral Beam Injection

AbstractThe control of plasma rotation in a tokamak by controlling the impurity content is investigated. A neoclassical theory for momentum transport by collisional ions in a tokamak plasma with strong neutral beam injection and strong rotation is developed. A consistently ordered hierarchy of approximations to the kinetic equation are derived and solved to obtain expressions for particle flows, the radial electric field, poloidal asymmetries in density and potential, and the radial flux of toroidal angular momentum and the associated torque that acts to damp toroidal rotation. Upon decomposing the first-order distribution function into gyroangle-dependent and gyroangle-averaged components, neoclassical gyroviscosity is recovered from the former, and a new “rotational” viscosity of a collisional origin is recovered from the latter. The same viscosity coefficient and functional form are obtained for both types of viscosity.
Keynote Speaker: Alessandro Vespignani

Alessandro Vespignani research activity is focused on the study of "techno-social" systems, where infrastructures composed of different technological layers are interoperating within the social component that drives their use and development. In this context we aim at understanding how the very same elements assembled in large number can give rise - according to the various forces and elements at play - to different macroscopic and dynamical behaviors, opening the path to quantitative computational approaches and forecasting power. The main research lines pursued at the moment are: Develop analytical and computational models for the co-evolution and interdependence of large-scale social, technological and biological networks. Modeling contagion processes in structured populations. Developing predictive computational tools for the analysis of the spatial spread of emerging diseases. Analyze the dynamics and evolution of information and social networks. Model the adaptive behavior of social systems. Prof. Vespignani is a joint appointment between the College of Science, the College of Computer and Information Science, and the Bouve College of Health Sciences.
Data First – Tax Next: How Fiji’s Technology Can Improve New Zealand’s ‘Netflix Tax’ (Part 4)

This is the fourth paper examining the recent amendments to the New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST); amendments that are collectively known as the Netflix Tax. These papers assess the effectiveness of the Netflix provisions, and how they could be enhanced if New Zealand adopted the technology and vision of Fiji’s VAT Monitoring System (VMS). The Netflix provisions were effective, July 1, 2017. This final paper considers: (a) the treatment of domestic agents when they are used by remote service providers to facilitate sales to New Zealand customers; (b) how New Zealand intends to respond to resident consumers who supply false information to remote service providers in an effort to induce those providers into improperly zero-rate transactions, and thereby defeat the GST; and (c) the treatment of dual status taxpayers, New Zealand residents whose status allows them to enter into contracts with remote service providers either as individual consumers or as business taxpayers. As before, the primary contrast is the difference between New Zealand’s traditional (statute and regulation) approach to VAT reform, and the technology-intensive approach of Fiji. Both jurisdictions are struggling to deal with the modern economy, but they approach this challenge very differently. These papers come down on the side of Fiji and technology. In the end they observe that what Fiji understands is that code, computer code, is a very effective, cost-efficient, and self-enforcing form of regulation. There is something important to learn about the way that Fiji utilizes “code” in its tax reform. New Zealand’s residence-based GST has visible difficulties trying to regulate the remote services market with the standard approaches to tax reform. New Zealand works well with the data that it has from residential sources, but it simply does not have what it needs to do the job when the supplies are remote. It needs data in real-time, because the consumption is happening in real-time. In some instances, New Zealand has drafted reasonably complex rules to secure more information. But it is clear that something more, something different, something slightly more radical, and very real-time is needed to come to grips with managing compliance in this field.
Association of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) with high thermogenesis with worse survival and unfavorable tumor microenvironment (TME).

e12546Background: Norepinephrine released during cold stress by housing 4T1 TNBC mice at 22°C increases tumor growth with a pro-tumorigenic TME [lower CD8+ T-cells, higher myeloid derived suppresso...
Dynamic signature of electronically nonadiabatic coupling in sodium hydride: a rigorous test for the symmetric quasi-classical model applied to realistic, ab initio electronic states.

Sodium hydride (NaH) in the gas phase presents a seemingly simple electronic structure making it a potentially tractable system for the detailed investigation of nonadiabatic molecular dynamics from both computational and experimental standpoints. The single vibrational degree of freedom, as well as the strong nonadiabatic coupling that arises from the excited electronic states taking on considerable ionic character, provides a realistic chemical system to test the accuracy of quasi-classical methods to model population dynamics where the results are directly comparable against quantum mechanical benchmarks. Using a simulated pump-probe experiment, this work presents computational predictions of population transfer through the avoided crossings of NaH via symmetric quasi-classical Meyer-Miller (SQC/MM), Ehrenfest, and exact quantum dynamics on realistic, ab initio potential energy surfaces. The main driving force for population transfer arises from a sharply localized avoided crossing between the C and D singlet sigma potential energy surfaces which causes most of the population to transfer between t=15 and t=30 fs depending on the initially excited vibronic wavepacket. While quantum mechanical effects are expected due to the reduced mass of NaH, predictions of the population dynamics from both the SQC/MM and Ehrenfest models perform remarkably well against the quantum dynamics benchmark. Additionally, an analysis of the vibronic structure in the nonadiabatically coupled regime and predicted transient absorption signatures are presented using a variational eigensolver methodology. The prospects for complementary experimental measurements are also assessed.
Osteoblastic Swedish mutant APP expedites brain deficits by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-driven senescence

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often have osteoporosis or osteopenia. However, their direct link and relationship remain largely unclear. Previous studies have detected osteoporotic deficits in young adult Tg2576 and TgAPPsweOCN mice, which express APPswe (Swedish mutant) ubiquitously and selectively in osteoblast (OB)-lineage cells. This raises the question, whether osteoblastic APPswe contributes to AD development. Here, we provide evidence that TgAPPsweOCN mice also exhibit AD-relevant brain pathologies and behavior phenotypes. Some brain pathologies include age-dependent and regional-selective increases in glial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are accompanied by behavioral phenotypes such as anxiety, depression, and altered learning and memory. Further cellular studies suggest that APPswe, but not APPwt or APPlon (London mutant), in OB-lineage cells induces endoplasmic reticulum-stress driven senescence, driving systemic and cortex inflammation as well as behavioral changes in 6-month-old TgAPPsweOCN mice. These results therefore reveal an unrecognized function of osteoblastic APPswe to brain axis in AD development.
Surface characterization of Ti and Ti (6 percent, Al-4 percent, V) metal powders and interaction with primer solutions

The interaction of Ti and Ti 6-4 powders with water and primer solutions was investigated experimentally by measuring the heats of immersion. Similar comparative studies were made on anatase and rutile TiO2 powders. The surface oxide layers of Ti and Ti 6-4 cracked on heating in vacuum between 300 and 400 C as evidenced by high heats of immersion in both water and primer solutions. Polyimide and polyphenylquinoxaline interacted preferentially, compared with the solvents with both metal powders after outgassing at room temperature. The heats of immersion of Ti 6-4 in water, solvents, and primer solutions increased significantly after pretreatment of the powder by an alkaline etch and a phosphate-fluoride process. The TiO2 powders were not satisfactory models for the surface oxide layer on either Ti or Ti 6-4 powder.
Responses of Triticale and Wheat to Hypoxia

The responses of triticale (cv. Florico) and wheat (cvs. Bayles and Savannah) to hypoxia were evaluated by growing plants in nutrient solutions flushed with air (aerated control), or a mixture of 5% O2 and 95% N2 (hypoxia). Hypoxia for 21 d reduced the number of crown roots for Bayles and Florico, while the number of crown roots of Savannah was increased. Seminal and crown root lengths were reduced significantly for all genotypes. Hypoxia reduced lateral root length significantly for Bayles and Savannah, but not for Florico. Reduction in root dry weight after 21 d of hypoxia was less for Florico than Bayles and Savannah. Shoot growth was inhibited by hypoxia, to a less extent for Florico and Savannah than Bayles. Hypoxia stimulated formation of aerenchyma in crown roots, to a greater extent for Savannah and Florico than for Bayles. Stomatal conductance was reduced for Bayles, but not for Florico and Savannah.
Oxidation of flash reduced iron particles in various gas mixtures under the conditions of a novel flash ironmaking process

A novel flash ironmaking process that directly reduces iron oxide concentrate particles by gas is under development. The goal of this work was to study the possibility of reoxidation of iron particles in various gas mixtures. As the product iron cools down in the lower part of the flash reactor, conditions may become favorable for reoxidation because of equilibrium and high reactivity of iron particles. The effects of temperature (823 – 973 K) and H2O partial pressure (40 – 100 pct., Ptotal = 86.1 kPa) on the reoxidation rate were examined. The pressure dependence was first order with respect to water vapor, and the activation energy was 146 kJ/mol. A complete rate equation that adequately represents the experimental data was developed. For oxidation in O2-N2 mixtures, the effects of temperature (673 – 873 K) and O2 partial pressure (5–21 pct., Ptotal = 86.1 kPa) were determined. Reoxidation in pure CO2 was also investigated at 873 – 1073 K for comparison.
Molecular nature of R-factor deoxyribonucleic acid isolated from Salmonella typhimurium minicells.

In earlier reports it was shown that a variety of extrachromosomal elements harbored in the Escherichia coli minicell producer segregate into the minicells. We show in this report that the fi + R factor R-100-1 (derepressed derivative of R-100) similarly segregates into minicells produced by a Salmonella typhimurium strain. Four distinct classes of covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid molecules are found in minicells derived from the R + Salmonella minicell producer. The sum of the average molecular weights or contour lengths of the circular molecules in two of the classes is equal to the average molecular weight or contour length of those in a third class. The data suggest that R-100-1 dissociates into resistance determinants (i.e., genes that specify the molecules that confer resistance) and the resistance transfer factor (i.e., genes responsible for the transferability of the R factor to a recipient). In contrast, only one molecular species is found in minicells derived from the R + (R-100-1) Escherichia coli minicell producer. The fourth size class consists of small covalently closed circles (minicircles), which were originally found in the R − Salmonella minicell producer and are shown in this report to be enhanced in number in R + Salmonella minicells. Images
Applying Habitat Equivalency Analysis for Coral Reef Damage Assessment and Restoration

Quantifying economic damages and restoration measures for injuries to coral reefs has been a difficult task. In the U.S., habitat equivalency analysis (HEA) has emerged as a novel tool that combines biological and economic information to identify replacement habitats of an appropriate scale to substitute for the interim losses resulting from coral reef injuries. This article provides a review of the basic principles underlying HEA and a discussion of important considerations in applying HEA. These considerations include: how to describe coral reef functions and related human uses, recovery rates of coral reef organisms at injured sites with natural and active restoration, selection of replacement habitats and growth rates of organisms in these habitats, and the role of time and discount rates in the analysis. While HEA offers many advantages, specific decisions made in the application process can have a dramatic effect on the scale and cost of restoration and replacement habitat decisions. Management agencies and the scientific community need to be involved in developing standards for quantifying coral reef functions and recovery rates and the role of replacement projects in restoration planning.
Flexibility and Accountability in Public Education

This article examines what has become the dominant paradigm in education law and policy at both the state and federal level. The paradigm rests on the seductively simple idea that schools should be given greater flexibility in exchange for greater accountability for results. Although quite popular, this paradigm remains largely abstract and unexamined. This article begins by explaining the rise of the flexibility-for-accountability paradigm, which is largely a story of the modern standards movement and the modern school choice movement. After describing the current approach to balancing the two principles, it then explores alternative approaches to both accountability and flexibility, largely in an effort to demonstrate that these principles or concepts are remarkably complicated and capacious. There are, for example, numerous actors who could be held accountable and a number of different bases on which to hold them accountable, and there are a number of ways in which schools, teachers, administrators, parents, and students could be given flexibility or autonomy. Education law and policy currently advance some forms of accountability and flexibility, but not others, and the article suggests that the current balance is not optimal. The last part of the article considers whether there might be a coherent and principled way to think about how best to combine these two partially compatible and partially competing goals.
Can Israeli Status Quo Model Help the Post-February 28 Turkey Solve its Problem?

As a result of the February 28, 1997, incident, Islamist parties have been ostracized and excluded from governmental politics. This has caused serious legitimacy, participation and representation crises in the Turkish polity. This study examines whether the Justice and Development Party’s (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi-AKP) landslide victory in the Nov. 2002 elections has put an end to the Feb. 28 Process. It also suggests that further liberalization of the Turkish regime will be possible only if the religious and secular parties come together and agree on the rules for future engagement. Thus, with reference to President Inonu’s July 12 Declaration and the Israeli status quo model of 1947, this essay attempts to sketch out these rules of engagement.
‘I am part of every decision’: client perceptions of engagement within a supportive housing child welfare programme

The majority of children in the child welfare system enter because of neglect and come from poor families with high rent burden, substandard housing and risk for homelessness. In this paper, we describe a model programme for families with dual vulnerability in housing and child welfare. Clients presented with a variety of parenting, substance use and/or mental health issues. The Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) programme prioritizes prompt family access to housing and related supports and operates from an intensive, family-centred casework that promotes client engagement as a mechanism for change. We used a mixed methods approach that included the administration of Alpert and Britner's Parent Engagement Measure (quantitative) and open-ended interviews (qualitative) with 41 parents involved in the child welfare system. Results indicate high levels of client engagement, with convergence across the formal measure and interview themes. SHF promoted client engagement through the swift provision of tangible resources, as well as caseworker resourcefulness and responsiveness. The Parent Engagement Measure performed well psychometrically. We compare findings with prior research and discuss implications, limitations and future directions.
Digest: Greene v. Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District

Facts The Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) proposed that a new storm drainage fee be imposed on property owners in an area with a history of chronic flooding.3 The proposal called for a fee amount per property owner based on the size and type of parcel owned.4 The Marin County Board of Supervisors accepted the proposal, adopted written protest procedures, scheduled a public hearing on the fee, and directed mailing of notices to affected property owners—all pursuant to Article XIIID, section 6, of the California Constitution.5 No majority protest was presented at the public hearing, and the Board scheduled a special election on the fee to be held solely by mailed ballot.6 The ballot mailed to the affected property owners consisted of instructions on one side, the ballot on the other, and contained the name and address of the property owner, the exact amount of the fee to be imposed, and a designated space for a signature.7 Returned ballots were received and placed unopened in a “lock
Social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, sexism, and prejudice toward women in the workforce.

This study examined how social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) were related to two different forms of prejudice against working women: employment skepticism and traditional role preference. Three hundred forty-nine American adults completed measures of SDO, RWA, employment skepticism, traditional role preference, hostile sexism, and benevolent sexism. Multiple regression analyses revealed that SDO accounted for significant variability in both employment skepticism and traditional role preference, and that RWA accounted for significant variability in traditional role preference. Mediational analyses suggested that hostile sexism attenuated the relationship between SDO and employment skepticism, and benevolent sexism attenuated the relationship between RWA and traditional role preference. Results are discussed with respect to different forms of prejudice against working women and how each one might be rooted in different ideological preferences.
A project in algorithms based on a primary historical source about catalan numbers

We discuss a project based on an original source from 1838 by Gabriel Lame, which was used to teach dynamic programming in an Algorithms and Data Structures course for junior level computer science students. The project was developed as part of a group effort at New Mexico State University on using original historical sources in teaching. The project is based on an excerpt from a letter of Monsieur Lame to Monsieur Liouville on the question: Given a convex polygon, in how many ways can one partition it into triangles by means of diagonals? A variety of tasks in the project, which includes reading, writing, proving statements by mathematical induction, deriving formulas, writing computer programs and analyzing and comparing them for efficiency, help students to develop verbal, analytical and discrete mathematics skills necessary for computer science. We also discuss student reactions to the project and to learning from historical sources.
Human haemodynamic frequency harmonics regulate the inflammatory phenotype of vascular endothelial cells

Haemodynamic variations are inherent to blood vessel geometries (such as bifurcations) and correlate with regional development of inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, the complex frequency spectrum characteristics from these haemodynamics have never been exploited to test whether frequency variations are critical determinants of endothelial inflammatory phenotype. Here we utilize an experimental Fourier transform analysis to systematically manipulate individual frequency harmonics from human carotid shear stress waveforms applied in vitro to human endothelial cells. The frequency spectrum, specifically the 0 th and 1st harmonics, is a significant regulator of inflammation, including NF-κB activity and downstream inflammatory phenotype. Further, a harmonic-based regression-model predicts eccentric NF-κB activity observed in the human internal carotid artery. Finally, short interfering RNA-knockdown of the mechanosensor PECAM-1 reverses frequency-dependent regulation of NF-κB activity. Thus, PECAM-1 may have a critical role in the endothelium's exquisite sensitivity to complex shear stress frequency harmonics and provide a mechanism for the focal development of vascular inflammation.
In Vitro Inactivation of Pulmonary Surfactant Replacement Preparations by Serum Albumin

Inactivation of the surface activity of pulmonary surfactant by serum proteins is an important part of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. The ability of serum proteins to diminish the surface activity of surfactant preparations used to treat respiratory distress syndrome has not been fully described. The sensitivity of clinically useful pulmonary replacement preparations beractant (Survanta) and colfosceril palmitate, cetyl alcohol, and tyloxapol (Exosurf) to albumin inactivation was examined in vitro by the Wilhelmy plate technique. At a final lipid concentration of 0.1 mg/mL and in the absence of albumin, both Survanta and Exosurf exhibited equilibrium surface tensions in the range of 35 dynes/cm. In the presence of albumin, range of 35 dynes/cm. In the presence of albumin, the surface tension of Survanta was markedly higher. Maximal response of Survanta to albumin was observed at about 1 mg/mL protein concentration. When the lipid concentration was raised to 0.3 mg/mL, the presence of albumin had little effect. With Exosurf, the presence of albumin resulted in only minor elevations of surface tension, even at an albumin concentration 10-fold greater than that used in the experiments with Survanta. These results indicate that at lipid concentrations of 0.1 mg/mL and less, the surface activity of the bovine purified lung surfactant Survanta is more sensitive to the presence of albumin than is the synthetic preparation Exosurf.
Least Sum of Euclidean Regression Residuals: Estimation of Effect Size

A universal measure of the magnitude of effect size is introduced for Euclidean-based regression analyses of experimental designs. The measure is based on the ratio of the sums of Euclidean residuals obtained under the alternative and null hypotheses.
Effects of body size and body mass on the swimming performance of preschool children

This research examined the relationship between body size and mass and the performance of 3- to 6-year-old children (n=117) on two categories of swimming tasks: Locomotion: Front and Locomotion: Back. The major hypothesis was that body size and mass measurements would be good predictors of children's swimming performance. The function of age/gender also was examined. Stepwise multiple regression was used to select the best predictors of swimming performance after controlling for amount of aquatic training and child's apprehensiveness about water. Body weight was the best predictor of children's swimming performance on each category of tasks (p<0.01). It accounted for at least 16% of performance variation when entered alone, and it accounted for 5% given age. Age was of little importance after body size and mass were taken into account. The major conclusion was that future research should incorporate more complex research designs to account for the network of influencing factors.
A study of the time-resolved fluorescence spectrum and red edge effect of ANF in a room-temperature ionic liquid.

In a recent article,1 we have analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations the steady-state red edge effect (REE) observed by Samanta and co-workers2,3 when the fluorescent probe 2-amino-7-nitrofluorene (ANF) is photoexcited at different wavelengths in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM+]) hexafluorophosphate ([PF6-]). In this letter, we predict the time- and wavelength-dependent emission spectra of ANF in the same ionic solvent. From the analysis of our simulated data, we are able to derive an approximate time scale for reorganization of the solvent around the solute probe. The effect that slow varying local liquid environments have on the overall time-dependent signal is also discussed.
Antianginal and myocardial metabolic properties of verapamil in coronary artery disease

To determine the metabolic cost of administering an experimental calcium antagonist, verapamil, to patients with coronary artery disease, 12 such patients were studied at rest and during stress with atrial pacing before and after intravenous treatment with verapamil (bolus dose of 0.1 mg/kg body weight, followed by infusion at 0.005 mg/kg per min). The mean (±standard deviation) aortic pressure at rest (98 ± 22 mg Hg), coronary sinus blood flow (88 ± 17 ml/min) and myocardial oxygen consumption (10.7 ± 2.4 ml O2/min) decreased to 88 ± 20 mm Hg (p < 0.0004), 77 ± 14 ml/min (p < 0.03) and 8.8 ± 2.5 ml O2/min (p < 0.01), respectively, after administration of verapamil. With atrial pacing, these values were 105 ± 25 mm Hg, 151 ± 50 ml/min and 18.5 ± 6.4 ml O2/min, respectively, before infusion of verapamil, and then decreased to 87 ± 14 mm Hg (p < 0.006), 107 ± 31 ml/min (p < 0.0002) and 13.3 ± 4.4 ml O2/min (p < 0.001) during infusion. Angina occurred in all patients with atrial pacing before verapamil (threshold to pain: 93 ± 67 seconds). After verapamil, the threshold to pain in six patients increased to 191 ± 183 seconds; and no pain was experienced by the remaining six (p < 0.0005). Before administration of verapamil lactate extraction decreased from 24 ± 9 to 10 ± 11 percent (p < 0.0002) during atrial pacing, and 9 (75 percent) of the 12 patients exhibited electrocardiographic S-T segment depressions. After administration of verapamil lactate extraction normalized to 22 ± 9 percent during atrial pacing, and the electrocardiogram reverted to baseline in all but one patient. These findings indicate that verapamil decreases left ventricular myocardial metabolic demands, and concomitantly greatly increases the threshold to angina.
Healthy for Life: A Randomized Trial Examining Physical Activity Outcomes and Psychosocial Mediators

Background Researchers theorize that interventions increase physical activity by influencing key theory-based mediators (e.g., behavioral processes). However, few studies have been adequately powered to examine the importance of mediators.
High-mobility group 1 protein inhibits helicase catalyzed displacement of cisplatin-damaged DNA

We have determined the effect of HMG-1 bound to cisplatin-damaged DNA on the activities of calf helicase E. DNase I protection analysis demonstrated HMG-1 bound a cisplatin-damaged 24 base oligonucleotide annealed to M13mp18. Exonuclease digestion experiments revealed that greater than 90% of the DNA substrates contained a single site specific cisplatin adduct and, maximally, 65% of the substrates were bound by HMG-1. Helicase E catalyzed displacement of the cisplatin-damaged DNA oligonucleotide was inhibited by HMG-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Time course experiments revealed a decreased rate of displacement in reactions containing HMG-1. The maximum inhibition observed was 55% and taking into account that only 65% of the substrates had HMG-1 bound, approximately 85% inhibition was observed on platinated DNA substrates containing HMG-1. Inhibition of helicase activity was proportional to the amount of substrate bound by HMG-1 based on the displacement and exonuclease assays at varying HMG-1 concentrations. The ability of helicase E to displace an undamaged DNA oligonucleotide from a cisplatin-damaged DNA template was also inhibited by HMG-1. Interestingly, HMG-1 had no effect on the rate of DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by helicase E on the same DNA substrate. The inhibition of helicase activity by HMG-1 binding cisplatin-damaged DNA further supports a role for HMG-1 inhibiting DNA repair which may contribute to cellular sensitivity to cisplatin.
THE CHACOAN COURT KIVA

AbstractThere is great interest in the development and expansion of the great houses of the Chaco culture as a sui generis phenomenon. The study of the internal space of the great houses has lagged behind: rectangualar and circular rooms are distinguished, but with little consideration of additional details and of the integration of architectural components. The lack of detailed studies is owed in part to the costs of excavation (time, money, and social conflicts) and in a change of focus to detailed studies of artifacts. In this essay I support our understanding the functioning of the great houses of the Chaco culture by means of a study of a key architectural element, kivas (ceremonial rooms) in courtyards. The essay provides a new definition of couryard kivas and examines the role of such kivas in the great houses and communities of the Chaco culture. It is important to examine the large Chaco-style kivas, and the essay is based on a large number of such kivas in order to illuminate their characteristi...
Prevalence of anal incontinence among mothers of multiples and analysis of risk factors.

Abstract Objective The object of this study was to determine the prevalence of anal incontinence among women with previous multiple pregnancy and childbirth and assess risk factors. Study design A 77-item questionnaire was administered to 769 mothers of multiples. Statistical analyses included χ2, Student t test, and logistic regression. Results Seven hundred thirty-three (95.3%) women completed the survey, 94% of them white, with a median age of 37 years. Fecal incontinence affected 10% (6.3% arose during pregnancy, 40.6% after delivery, 53.1% unrelated to childbirth). Although delivery by cesarean section only was associated with lower prevalence in univariate analysis (5.8% vs 11%, P = .02), age was the only significant covariate in multivariate regression (P = .0001). Flatal incontinence affected 25.2% (21.2% during pregnancy, 30.3% after delivery, 48.5% unrelated), increasing with age (P = .0001). Soiling affected 10%, increasing with age (P = .0001). Conclusion Mothers of multiples reported substantial rates of fecal (10%) and flatal (25.2%) incontinence. Advancing age was the major risk factor. Delivery by cesarean section only was not significantly protective, although elective (before labor) cesarean deliveries were not separately assessed.
Outpatient Laparoscopic Repair of a Morgagni Hernia

Introduction. Morgagni hernia results from a rare congenital defect in the anterior diaphragm and can have symptomatic and/or asymptomatic presentation of abdominal viscera in the thorax. This is a case report of a Morgagni hernia repair done laparoscopically in the outpatient setting. Patient and technique. The patient was a 43-year-old man who had an evaluation for upper respiratory symptoms and was found to have a Morgagni hernia on subsequent workup. He underwent laparoscopic primary suture repair of the defect under general anesthesia and was discharged the same day without complications. He has not had a recurrence of his hernia in over a year of follow-up. Discussion. Laparoscopic repair of this patient’s Morgagni hernia could be safely performed in an outpatient setting with excellent outcome. This may be a feasible management option in future cases in a similar patient population.
Global analysis of parallel analog networks with retarded feedback.

We analyze the retrieval dynamics of analog ``neural'' networks with clocked sigmoid elements and multiple signal delays. Proving a conjecture by Marcus and Westervelt, we show that for delay-independent symmetric coupling strengths, the only attractors are fixed points and periodic limit cycles. The same result applies to a larger class of asymmetric networks that may be utilized to store temporal associations with a cyclic structure. We discuss implications for various learning schemes in the space-time domain.
Natural course of iron delocalization and lipid peroxidation during the first eight hours following a 15-minute cardiac arrest in dogs

Lipid peroxidation is thought to be a major contributing factor in neurological injury following cardiac arrest. Because iron availability is a prerequisite for lipid peroxidation, this experiment was designed to examine the natural time course of iron release, lipid peroxidation, and cerebral polyunsaturated fatty acid content following a 15-minute cardiac arrest in dogs. Large mongrel dogs were anesthetized with ketamine and halothane and divided into three groups of five each. In two groups, cardiac arrest was induced with KCl. After 15 minutes of cardiac arrest, the dogs were resuscitated by five minutes of internal cardiac massage, epinephrine, bicarbonate, and internal defibrillation. All ten dogs were resuscitated and supported by a standard intensive care, protocol until tissue harvest. A 3-g portion of parietal cerebral cortex was obtained from the nonischemic dogs (n = 5), or at two hours (n = 5), or eight hours (n = 5) after resuscitation. Total tissue iron was measured by an atomic emission spectrometer; low molecular weight species (LMWS) iron by the o-phenanthroline test on an ultrafiltered sample; and lipid peroxidation by both the thiobarbituric acid test (TBARS) and determination of the tissue content of lipid double bonds, calculated by first fractionating the lipids by gas-liquid chromatography and then measuring the double bonds in each fraction by spectrometry and summing the results. Univariate ANOVA demonstrated all variables except total tissue iron to have significance at P
Metal/dielectric transmission interference filters with low reflectance. 2. Experimental results

The successful fabrication of metal/dielectric multilayer filters requires not only accurate control of the individual layer thicknesses, but also a good knowledge of the optical constants of the materials used in the filters. In the case of metal films, it is also essential to know whether any transition layers are formed at the interfaces and, if so, how their thicknesses and optical constants depend on the deposition conditions. An automatic, real-time process control, magnetron sputtering deposition system was modified to permit the manufacture of metal/dielectric filters using optical monitoring techniques. To illustrate the performance of this system, two bandpass filters, a short-wavelength pass filter, and a neutral density filter were produced, all having a low reflectance for light incident on one side. The metal layers used in these filters consisted of either Ni or Ag. The Ag films could be protected from the O2 plasma using thin Ni or Si films. Good agreement was obtained between the calculated and measured spectral transmittance and reflectance curves.
Hepatocellular regeneration : key to thioacetamide autoprotection

Abstract: Low doses of thioacetamide stimulate cell division and tissue repair in the liver. The objective of this study was to develop an autoprotection model for thioacetamide and investigate if a low dose of thioacetamide (50 mg/kg orally) protects against lethality of a subsequently administered lethal dose (400 mg/kg orally) of the same compound. The extent of cell division was investigated to test if autoprotection results from augmented tissue repair and recovery from injury rather than decreased injury itself. After a single administration of the protective dose of thioacetamide, hepatocellular nuclear DNA synthesis as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation into hepatocellular nuclear DNA peaked at 36 hr indicating maximum level of S-phase stimulation. Pretreatment with the antimitotic colchicine abolished autoprotection and this was associated with a significantly decreased 3H-thymidine incorporation. Preadministration of the protective dose of thioacetamide did not result in an altered infliction of injury from the subsequently administered lethal dose. Colchicine intervention in the autoprotected group resulted in injury that followed a pattern similar to the group that received the high dose alone, ultimately resulting in animal death. These findings suggest that cell division stimulated by the protective low dose of thioacetamide is the critical mechanism in thioacetamide autoprotection.
Global governance and the politics of culture: campaigns against female circumcision in East Africa

International organizations, national governments, and civil society organizations have condemned female genital cutting (FGC). In doing so, campaigners and policy-makers often describe female excision as backward, barbaric, and a problem of African culture. What does widespread international condemnation of FGC as a so-called traditional practice mean for campaigns against excision ‘on the ground?’ Drawing on critical global governance scholarship, this article argues that pervasive understandings of female excision as a problem of African culture obscure the far-reaching politics of campaigns against genital cutting. Focusing on efforts to criminalize female circumcision and educational projects in Tanzania and Kenya, I illustrate ways in which campaigns against female circumcision are dynamic sites of conflict characterized by politicized negotiations and resistance. I argue that initiatives that view FGC as a cultural problem in narrow terms may have unanticipated consequences when campaigns inscribe ...
Optimal Rescheduling of Power for System Reliability

This paper presents a computational procedurer for the on-line optimal rescheduling of power generation. Rescheduling is used to correct an unreliable system operating state and bring a potentially dangerous condition into a secure operating state. Sensitivity parameters are the basis of the model, and linear programming formulation is developed to solve the optimal rescheduling problem. The constraints on the variables are naturally included in this practical method. A small power-network illustrates the application of the method.
A Model for Progressive Mentoring in Science and Engineering Education and Research.

Mentoring is useful in career development for the sciences and professions due to the cultures, skill sets, and experience-based learning in these fields. A framework for mentoring based on observations and data gathered as part of an international research and education project is presented. Students with multiple levels of experience and background were placed with researchers resulting in an effective progressive mentoring structure. The article focuses on students’ and mentors’ experiences. The model is discussed in terms of the Zone of Proximal Development of Vygotsky.