cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to working group on tropospheric ozone, Health Effects Institute environmental epidemiology planning project.

The working group on tropospheric ozone of the Health Effects Institute has evaluated the need for epidemiologic studies on the health effects of ozone (O3) exposure. This paper summarizes current ...
Temperature-programmed desorption of NO adsorbed on Mn2O3 and Mn3O4

Abstract When heated to 873 K, large amounts of H 2 O along with lesser amounts of CO 2 and O 2 desorbed from single-phase samples of Mn 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 to form O vacancies and create coordinatively unsaturated (CUS) cations. Exposure of these surfaces to NO at 300 K produced a certain amount of N 2 O, but no other detectable gas-phase products, with more formation over Mn 2 O 3 (0.72 × 10 18 molecule N 2 O/m 2 ) than that over Mn 3 O 4 (0.10 × 10 18 molecule N 2 O/m 2 ). Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) spectra with Mn 2 O 3 after this exposure gave three principal NO peaks at 390 (α), 470 (β) and 650 K (γ), while only one O 2 peak occurred at 650 K concomitant with the γ NO peak. A weak N 2 peak at 650 K was also observed. This O 2 peak was not obtained with Mn 3 O 4 . The total amount of NO desorbed from either surface was typically 1.6 × 10 18 − 2.0 × 10 18 molecule/m 2 and the NO/O 2 ratio of the concomitant γ NO and O 2 peaks was routinely near unity. Based on these results and earlier studies, the 650 K peak appears to be the decomposition of surface nitrate groups whereas the α and β NO peaks are assigned to dinitrosyl and mononitrosyl species, respectively, on CUS sites. The nitrate groups do not seem to be involved in the catalytic cycle for NO decomposition above 773 K, whereas the latter two species may well be. A reaction intermediate containing two NO molecules is postulated, and three proposed models provide rate expressions which fit the data well, with the model invoking the decomposition of an (NO) 2 species on a CUS single site giving the best fit.
The future of futurists what matters and what works

Although futures studies has often achieved its highest profile when making gloomy predictions, its most important function is to provide a basis for action now which will lead towards desirable futures. Technological revolutions and the emergence of a post-Newtonian worldview have led to the prospect of both danger and opportunity for humankind. Despite gloomy prognoses, this combination can be creative, as the author demonstrates by presenting examples of successful global schemes, and outlining the factors common to such success.
Direct Abstraction of Surface-Bound Hydrogen on Ni(111) by Free Methyl Radicals

Methane (CH3D) is formed directly by abstraction by methyl radicals of adsorbed D on a Ni(111) surface. This reaction occurs at a surface temperature of 120 K and in the presence of open metal binding sites. A direct reaction by unaccommodated methyl radicals is involved, since accommodated methyl radicals on Ni(111) react only above 200 K. Modeling efforts show that the cross section for accommodation of methyl radicals to open metal sites is approximately five times larger than that for D abstraction.
Sphedgehog is expressed by pigment cell precursors during early gastrulation in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

We have sequenced the Sphedgehog (Sphh) gene from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Sphh transcripts are detected first at the mesenchyme blastula stage, and they accumulate throughout early embryogenesis. The Sphh protein is produced by precursor pigment cells during early and midgastrulation. NiCl2 inhibits pigment cell differentiation in sea urchins. Here, we show that, in S. purpuratus, nickel affects a process(es) between 17 and 24 hr of development, corresponding to the time period when Sphh mRNA is first detected. However, nickel treatment does not alter the early expression of Sphh. Developmental Dynamics 231:370–378, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients With Diabetes and Normal Troponin-I Levels Are at Risk for Early and Late Death: Identification of a new high-risk acute coronary syndrome population

Clinicians use a variety of methods (1,2) to risk stratify patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). Based on elevated risk, patients are often triaged to an aggressive strategy, including early angiography (3,4) and upstream use of intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (5–7). The current American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Unstable Angina and Non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction do not recognize diabetes as a high-risk ACS indicator. Therefore, we sought to clarify the relative risk of diabetes in early and late death in suspected ACS patients. In this study, a prospective registry of consecutive ACS patients with and without diabetes ( n = 864) was used. ACS was diagnosed as either myocardial infarction (8) or unstable angina (9) using standard definitions. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were excluded. All potential unstable angina patients who had a diagnostic angiographic, nuclear, or echocardiographic stress test that excluded obstructive coronary disease or who had an additional diagnostic study confirming an alternative explanation for presentation were excluded. Diabetes was defined by reported history or new antidiabetic therapy initiated during …
Global design methods for raptor codes using binary and higher-order modulations

We develop accurate and robust one-dimensional EXIT chart methods to design raptor codes with binary and higher-order modulations on AWGN channels over any desired range of SNRs. We formulate the check-node degree distribution optimization as a linear program that optimizes a suitable objective function of the desired operating points. The throughput curves predicted by the analysis are easily compared across different pre-code rates and pre-code error-correcting capabilities. For higher-order modulations we employ BICM on standard Gray-mapped constellations. We further enhance the optimization by applying separate check-node degree distributions to the mapped MSBs and LSBs. Simulated throughput curves using the designed codes for QPSK and 16-QAM modulations on the AWGN channel show marked improvement over previously reported raptor code designs.
Safety of small molecules in combination with interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C virus.

Importance of the field: HCV is a leading cause of liver disease in the US, where ∼ 3.4 million people are chronically infected. The standard of care (SOC) of pegylated IFN and ribavirin combination therapy has limited efficacy with ∼ 50% sustained viral response, and is associated with a considerable adverse event profile in many patients. New drugs that directly target the virus are in development, and promise more effective therapies for chronic HCV infection.Areas covered in this review: Patient sub-classes with poor prognosis with SOC are identified, as are their associated adverse event profiles. Novel drugs, known as specifically targeted antiviral therapy for HCV (STAT-C), are currently being evaluated in clinical trials in multidrug combinations. Emerging safety signals and strategies to identify and prevent viral resistance to STAT-C drugs are also addressed.What the reader will gain: How the multidrug combinations are being developed and tested, what their relative strengths and weakness are, a...
Comparison of Bulk-Oxide Trap Models: Lumped Versus Distributed Circuit

Lumped- and distributed-circuit models for bulk-oxide traps are compared in terms of their fitting of p and n-type InGaAs MOS dispersion data. It is shown that the lumped-circuit model produces a distinct curvature in the capacitance versus log (frequency) plot-inconsistent with MOS data. Distributed-circuit model is able to fit both capacitance and conductance dispersions with a single, uniform oxide trap density, but the lumped-circuit model cannot. It is also shown that Hasegawa and Sawada's lumped-circuit model with an exponentially decaying distribution of border traps deviates even farther from the dispersion data.
Effect of oestrogen on myofibre size and myosin expression in growing rats.

This study examined the effect of oestrogen deprivation and replacement on plantaris muscle size and myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform composition in rats during a period of physiological growth. Seven-week-old female Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to one of the three treatment groups: (1) control animals (Sham); (2) ovariectomized animals without oestrogen replacement (OVX/CO); and (3) ovariectomized animals with 17β-oestradiol replacement (OVX/E2). OVX/CO and OVX/E2 animals were pair-fed with Sham animals to rule out the potentially confounding effects of differences in food intake and weight gain. Rats were killed 4 weeks after surgery and the plantaris muscle was removed for analysis. Ovariectomy had no effect on muscle fibre size, but reduced the relative amount of type IIx MHC. This was reversed with oestrogen replacement, suggesting that the reduction in type IIx MHC expression was an oestrogen-mediated effect. Oestrogen replacement reduced type IIb MHC expression and fast muscle fibre size. Changes in fast fibre size and type IIb MHC expression were not seen with ovariectomy, indicating that these changes were not simply due to the presence of oestrogen in the ovariectomized, oestrogen-replaced animals. These results suggest that another ovarian hormone may counteract the effect of oestrogen on fast fibre size and type IIb MHC expression in intact animals.
Multiple metastases to the pancreas from primary maxillary osteosarcoma: diagnosis with EUS-guided FNA.

Primary pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States among both genders. 1 Metastases to the pancreas are less common. Osteosarcoma is a relatively uncommon malignancy, and metastases to the pancreas are even more rare. 2 To our knowledge, there are no cases that were diagnosed by EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA). We report a case of osteosarcoma metastatic to the pancreas diagnosed with EUS-FNA with positive on-site pathology evaluation.
Atomic-volume variations of α-Pu alloyed with Al, Ga, and Am from first-principles theory

First-principles methods are employed to calculate the ground-state atomic densities (or volumes) of α-Pu alloyed with Al, Ga, and Am. Three configurations for the alloying atom are considered. (i) It is located at the most open and energetically most favorably site. (ii) It is located at the least open site. (iii) It is randomly distributed within the α-Pu matrix. When alloyed with Al or Ga, α-Pu behaves similarly, it expands considerably for configurations (ii) and (iii), while for (i) only small changes of the density occur. Interestingly, for Am, the alloying effects are quite different from that of Al and Ga. Small expansion is noted for the ordered configurations (i) and (ii), whereas for the disordered (iii), only insignificant changes of the density take place. The bonding character is thus differently influenced in Pu by the addition of Al and Ga on one hand and Am on the other. This is consistent with the view that Al and Ga stabilize the δ over the α phase in Pu by a different mechanism than Am, as has been discussed in recent publications.
Are better-off households more unequal or less unequal?

In many parts of the world, resources within a household are apparently not distributed according to need. Using a model of intrahousehold bargaining, this paper first tries to answer the question: As households become better off, does intrahousehold inequality increase or decrease? It finds that under certain conditions intrahousehold inequality first increases and then decreases. The debate on intrahousehold inequality is entwined with policy questions about the efficacy of targeting individual disadvantaged members of a household, as opposed to poor households in general. The paper found that an intrahousehold bargaining view tends to support targeting to disadvantaged members of the household, because of bargaining power effects. The bargaining framework also gives support for the concern that some observers have expressed about the impact of structural adjustment on intra-household inequality. When cash crops are predominantly under male control and food crops are primarily a female preserve, improving the relative price of cash crops can worsen intrahousehold inequality.
Obesity and central obesity in elderly people in Latin America and the Caribbean—Are we fat?

Purpose The objective of this work is to estimate and to compare the anthropometric measures with particular attention to those related to obesity and central obesity in elderly individuals in six countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Methods Data come from SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento en America Latina y el Caribe Proyecto) which is a multicenter survey that investigates the health and well being of noninstitutionalized population of older people in principal urban areas of Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico and Uruguay. Information was collected through personal interviews using a structured questionnaire, followed by physical examination to measure anthropometric characteristics. Statistical software program STATA version 8.0 SE was utilized for the analyses. Age and gender specific means and standard deviations were computed and compared across sites. Analysis of variance was performed. For multiple comparison tests, Bonferroni tests were used. Linear regression analysis was used to examine age trends. Results Levels of obesity are so high in this region that women in these countries are usually fatter than their counterparts in the United States. Elders from Uruguay have the highest obesity rate followed by those from Chile and Mexico. Elderly men and women from Cuba have the lowest average weight and the lowest prevalence of obesity. In terms of central obesity, Brazilians, Chileans and Mexicans have highest values of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, which implies that elderly in these countries are at higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Men are taller than women and heavier as well (Barbados is an exception), but average body mass index is higher among women (p Conclusion Current levels of obesity among elderly require changes in lifestyle, diets, and increase in physical activity, but in many cases professional help is necessary to reduce body weight.
Nanoindentation and incipient plasticity

This paper presents a large-scale atomic resolution simulation of nanoindentation into a thin aluminum film using the recently introduced quasicontinuum method. The purpose of the simulation is to study the initial stages of plastic deformation under the action of an indenter. Two different crystallographic orientations of the film and two different indenter geometries (a rectangular prism and a cylinder) are studied. We obtain both macroscopic load versus indentation depth curves, as well as microscopic quantities, such as the Peierls stress and density of geometrically necessary dislocations beneath the indenter. In addition, we obtain detailed information regarding the atomistic mechanisms responsible for the macroscopic curves. A strong dependence on geometry and orientation is observed. Two different microscopic mechanisms are observed to accommodate the applied loading: (i) nucleation and subsequent propagation into the bulk of edge dislocation dipoles and (ii) deformation twinning.
The Continuum of Conscientiousness: The Antagonistic Interests among Obsessive and Antisocial Personalities

The five factor trait of conscientiousness is a supertrait, denoting on one hand a pattern of excessive labor, rigidity, orderliness and compulsivity, and on the other hand a pattern of strict rectitude, scrupulosity, dutifulness and morality. In both respects the obsessive-compulsive personality is conscientious; indeed, it has been labeled a disorder of extreme conscientiousness (Widiger et al., 2009). Antisocial personality disorder, in the present paper, is described as occupying the opposite end of the conscientiousness continuum. The antisocial is impulsive rather than compulsive, illicit rather than licit, and furtive rather than forthright.After clinically comparing the obsessive and antisocial personalities, the present paper invokes evolutionary theory to explain their resultant behavioral, ideological, political and demographic differences.
Dynamic scan clock control in BIST circuits

We dynamically monitor per cycle scan activity to speed up the scan clock for low activity cycles without exceeding the specified peak power budget. The activity monitor is implemented as on-chip hardware. Two models, one for test sets with peak activity factor of 1 and the other for test sets with peak activity factor lower than 1, have been proposed. In test sets with peak activity factors of 1, the test time reduction accomplished depends upon an average activity factor of α in . For low α in , about 50% test time reduction is analytically shown. With moderate activity, α in = 0.5, simulated test data gives about 25% test time reduction for ITC02 benchmarks. BIST with dynamic clock showed about 19% test time reduction for the largest ISCAS89 circuits in which the hardware activity monitor and scan clock control required about 2–3% hardware overhead. In test sets with peak activity factors lower than 1, the test time reduction depends on an input activity factor of α in and an output activity factor of α out . For low α in and high α out , a test time reduction of about 50% is analytically shown.
Temporal behavior of stimulated Kerr scattering in a CS 2 liquid-core hollow-fiber system

The temporal behavior of the stimulated Kerr scattering (SKS) from a 1.5-m-long CS2 liquid-core hollow-fiber system is studied by using nanosecond and subpicosecond pump-laser pulses. In both situations the duration of the SKS pulses is much shorter than that of the corresponding pump pulses. With ~20-ns pump pulses, the pulse width of a SKS component that is located within a narrow (~1.1 nm) spectral interval and is generated by the second- or third-order stimulated Raman scattering can be shorter than 2–3 ns. In order to measure the temporal behavior of SKS obtained with ultrashort (0.5 ps) pump pulses, a Michelson-interferometer-grating device is used. The pulse duration of the SKS component within a narrow (~1.2 nm) spectral interval is approximately 260–270 fs with ~0.5-ps pump pulses. Our experimental results are qualitatively consistent with the theoretical consideration of the SKS processes.
The Carolinian Context of John Locke’s Theory of Slavery

The debate over Locke’s theory of slavery has focused on his involvement with the Royal African Company and other institutions of African slavery, as well as his rhetorical use of slavery in opposi...
Oxidation of ethanol vapors in a spiral bioreactor

A fixed film spiral bioreactor containing immobilized activated sludge microorganisms has been used to degrade ethanol vapors. The effect of air flow rate, and ethanol feed concentration on elimination capacity has been investigated. Air flow rate is varied in the range from 2.34 to 40.0 dm 3 min -1 . Ethanol feed concentration is varied in the range from 600 to 7000 ppmv. In the concentration range studied, the elimination capacity increased proportionately with an increase in feed concentration. However, the elimination capacity decreased significantly at flow rates greater than 20 dm 3 min -1 owing to insufficient residence time. The maximum elimination capacity observed was 185 g ethanol h -1 m -3 of reactor volume. Critical ethanol loading, defined as the maximum loading to achieve greater than 99% elimination at various residence times have been determined. These data are extremely useful in designing bioreactors for large scale applications.
RTI in a Middle School: Findings and Practical Implications of a Tier 2 Reading Comprehension Study:

Response to intervention (RTI) has received consider- able attention from both researchers and practitioners as a school- wide model for service delivery. However, research is limited on RTI applications in middle and high schools. The purpose of this article is to describe the outcomes of an experimental examination of a secondary (Tier 2) literacy intervention for at-risk fifth- and sixth-grade students in an urban middle school assigned to one of three conditions: Story Structure (SS), Typical Practice delivered by reading specialists (TP), and Sustained Silent Reading (SSR). Reisults indicated a statistically significant difference between the mean posttest cloze scores of the SSR group and both the SS and TP con- ditions. Study findings support the growing body of research indi- cating that at-risk students need intensive and explicit instruction in addition to opportunities to practice reading.
An intracranial lesion discovered in a patient with recurrent conjunctival melanoma: a case report

Conjunctival melanoma is an uncommon tumor of the ocular surface, representing only 1.6% of all non-cutaneous melanomas. 1 Overall metastasis rates range from 14-27%, with 10-40% of which arising in the central nervous system (CNS). 1,2 CNS involvement has shown to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, with a median survival of between 2 and 10 months. 2 Therefore, it is critical to follow these patients closely throughout their lifetime to monitor for disease recurrence. We present a unique case of a 65 year-old woman with a well-documented history of recurrent conjunctival melanoma after multiple excisions. Routine follow up imaging revealed a new intracranial lesion, which presented an interesting diagnostic challenge.
Substituent effects in surface-initiated ATRP of substituted styrenes

Surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of substituted styrenes leads to rapid synthesis of uniform and thick substituted polystyrene brushes (>100 nm in 1 hour) from gold surface. High growth rates were observed for styrenes substituted with electron withdrawing groups in meta/para positions. The effects seen in surface and solution polymerizations are similar for styrenes with electron withdrawing groups, and for electron donors in ortho and para positions. However, electron donors at meta sites have surprisingly fast growth rates, which may be due to steric inhibition of termination. The overall surface polymerization rates for substituted styrenes was analyzed and found to follow the Hammett relation with ρ = 0.51. The ratio of kp to kt, is as an indicator of the likelihood that a reaction will reach high degrees of polymerization before termination.
Sustainable Techniques for Public School in Florida: Application of the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)

Floods are among the most common natural hazards in Florida. They are threatening the safety and economic welfare of Floridians. Every year Florida spends millions of dollar to mitigate direct flood damages. Amongst the effective solutions to these flood damages is the control of urban drainage in school buildings and nearby grounds to conserve and preserve natural resources and to promote sustainable thinking.This paper discusses how public schools in Florida can benefit from sustainable techniques by applying the sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) to school designs. The article also illustrates how Florida can use school sites as double functions to provide an active educational environment and to manage storm water runoff at the same time. Construction costs estimation for sustainable techniques is calculated based on data available for the year 2011 and compared with the conventional construction methods for schools.The result indicates a high initial cost that can easily be offset by considering the cost of conventional drainage structure, conserved storm water, flooding impact, storm water sewage disposal, and other measures.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Physics of Low Dimensions: Summary

More than 100 scientists gathered in the city of Oaxaca to discuss the present status of low-dimensional physics. Many came from foggy and influenza-stricken Europe, coughing and sneezing, but the blue skies and mild breeze in Oaxaca pesuaded all these ailments to disappear very quickly. The flowering trees, the beautiful hotel Victoria, the Mexican hospitality, and the meeting with old friends soon returned everybody to a good humor and created a unique atmosphere at the conference.
Unstable Oscillations and Wave Propagation in Flagella

Flagella are active, beam-like, sub-cellular organelles that use wavelike oscillations to propel the cell. The mechanisms underlying the coordinated beating of flagella remain incompletely understood despite the fundamental importance of these organelles. The axoneme (the cytoskeletal structure of flagella) consists of microtubule doublets connected by passive and active elements. The motor protein dynein is known to drive active bending, but dynein activity must be regulated to generate oscillatory, propulsive waveforms. Mathematical models of flagella motion generate quantitative predictions that can be analyzed to test hypotheses concerning dynein regulation. Here we investigate the emergence of unstable modes in a mathematical model of flagella motion with feedback from inter-doublet separation (the “geometric clutch” or GC model). The unstable modes predicted by the model may be used to critically evaluate the underlying hypothesis. The least stable mode of the GC model exhibits switching at the base and robust base-to-tip propagation.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Thermal and Reliability Demonstration of a Large Die on a Low CTE Chip Scale Package

In organic packages, large die and large laminate body sizes are susceptible to CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch driven warpage, stresses and strains, which can result in C4 white bumps, micro Ball Grid Array (BGA) interconnection issues, and package thermal reliability concerns. Low CTE carriers minimize these concerns and allow increased chip join yields and improved package reliability. Modeling and characterization of warpage, chip and micro BGA integrity and electrical characterization of a low CTE, Chip Scale Package (CSP) were described in an earlier paper. In this paper we report the progress on the next phase - thermal and chip package interaction (CPI) evaluation of a single chip CSP designed for use with Multi-Chip Modules (MCM). Assembly, characterization, thermal performance and reliability stress results of these low CTE CSP Single Chip Modules (SCMs) are described. Measured warpage values are compared with thermo-mechanical modeling results. Demonstration of a dual CSP design...
LETTERS & DISCUSSION: Salaries of Principals

IN December 1961, an article appeared in TECHNICAL EDUCATION entitled “The New Burnham Technical Scales”. This discussion of the then new scales included the statement:
Needle in a haystack: the new world of diagnostics for micro-organisms

Infectious disease diagnostics from tissue specimens has relied upon either the presence of a tissue reaction specific to an infection type or morphological identification of an organism for the last century or more. Molecular diagnostics (the detection of RNA or DNA) from a micro-organism in a sample offers the promise of ultra-sensitive testing for patient care but requires careful selection and use for each patient. Examples of successful approaches include confirmation of species of mycobacteria in AFB-positive case using consensus primers and sequencing, confirmation of species of fungi in sections showing fungal forms using consensus primers and sequencing, and organism specific confirmatory PCR on suspicious lesions. Similarly, clinical laboratory panels for GI pathogens and respiratory pathogens are growing in popularity for rapid screening and accurate diagnosis across a range of organisms. As with cancer diagnostics, one of the next phases of microorganism detection will be for the expression profile or pattern of specific genes which not only identify the organism but provide information on drug resistance, behavior, prognosis, and treatment. A discussion of how these technologies work in basic science are moving into the forefront of patient care will be presented with examples.
Rhodococcus equi—An Increasingly Recognized Opportunistic Pathogen: Report of 12 Cases and Review of 65 Cases in the Literature

Rhodococcus equi, a gram-positive, weakly acid-fast coccobacillus, initially isolated from horses, is becoming increasingly recognized as an important pathogen for immunosuppressed human hosts since the first human case was reported in 1967. A review of the English medical literature yielded 53 cases. During the last 11 years, the microbiology laboratories of the authors isolated the organism from 12 patients. Of the total 65 cases, 60 occurred in immunosuppressed patients with HIV infection, malignant neoplasms, or chronic immunosuppressive therapy. The lung is the most common primary site of infection. Typically, the lesion is densely infiltrated by histiocytes with multiple microabscesses. Intracellular gram-positive coccobacilli are easily demonstrated. R equi grows well on routine non-selective media at 35 degrees C. Previously, many cases may have been missed because the organism resembles oropharyngeal commensal diphtheroids. Clinical information with gram and Kinyoun strains on fresh isolates is helpful in recognizing the possibility of R equi infection.
Intermittent Hydronephrosis: The Occult Ureteropelvic Obstruction

Occult ureteropelvic obstruction was found in 3 children and 7 adults with painful intermittent obstruction of urographically normal or nearly normal upper urinary tracts. These patients constituted 3.4 per cent of those who underwent pyeloplasty during a 10-year period. The occult obstruction was demonstrated dramatically by infusion excretory urography with furosemide stimulation in all 10 patients. The urographic lateralization was of even more value in 4 patients whose renal pelves were equally generous bilaterally and in 8 whose pain also was reproduced as a result of massive diuresis, which is characteristic of this technique alone. The manifestations and various other techniques for accurate diagnosis of this frequently elusive condition are discussed.
Single-shot phase-sensitive autocorrelator for the ultraviolet

The recent development of high-intensity ultraviolet laser systems has created a need for autocorrelation methods that can be used to characterize the temporal and phase structure of the laser pulse. Characterizing the chirp of the laser pulse is of importance for pulse compression experiments, but single-shot phase-sensitive autocorrelators to date have relied on frequency-doubling in nonlinear crystals, and consequently their range of operation has been restricted to >420 nm.
Science and the Enlightenment: The Character of the Enlightenment

In 1759 the French mathematician Jean Lerond d'Alembert (1717—83) described a revolution that he saw taking place in natural philosophy: Our century is called … the century of philosophy par excellence. … The discovery and application of a new method of philosophizing, the kind of enthusiasm which accompanies discoveries, a certain exaltation of ideas which the spectacle of the universe produces in us — all these causes have brought about a lively fermentation of minds, spreading through nature in all directions like a river which has burst its dams. This revolution came to be called the Scientific Revolution, a cultural event associated with great names like those of Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), Rene Descartes (1596–1650), and Isaac Newton (1642–1727). D'Alembert obviously believed that it was a revolution still in progress in 1759 and one that was continually accelerating. Natural philosophy could never be put back in its former course. As d'Alembert observed, “Once the foundations of a revolution have been laid down it is almost always the succeeding generation which completes that revolution.” The seventeenth century had begun the revolution; the eighteenth century would complete it. The expression “Scientific Revolution” had been coined by mathematicians like d'Alembert, and it was mathematics that appeared to them as the greatest revolutionizing force. In 1700, Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757), “perpetual secretary” of the Paris Academy of Sciences, first talked about an”almost complete revolution in geometry” that had begun with the analytic geometry of Descartes.
Degrees of Separation: Latino Students’ Transitions to a Texas HBCU

A successful transition to college is the foundation for future academic success, and this process is particularly important for a quickly growing Latino population. This qualitative study explored the transitional experiences of eight Latino students who enrolled in a historically Black university in Texas. Focusing specifically on their separation process, the findings reveal varying degrees of academic, social, cultural, and relational separation. Recommendations for practice and areas of future research are offered.
Love beyond the White Lines: Using the Genius of the Harlem Renaissance to Reignite the Once-Forbidden Love between African Americans and Tennis

My curriculum brings the Harlem Renaissance to life on the tennis court. Foremost in my mind is the need to nurture a collective consciousness that will foster confidence and competence in my students by expanding awareness of the prior successes of African Americans in tennis, linking these to achievements in Black history and culture, and helping them learn from the experiences of contemporary star athletes. In this place, only greatness is celebrated, and it is my fondest wish that only greatness will be inspired. I feel successful if I’m able to get my students to relax and let it flow, literally allowing the ancestors to provide the motivation and confidence to achieve. My highest ambition is to instill in every student not only the knowledge that tennis is now, has always been, and will always be an integral part of African American culture but also the confidence each one needs to discover the greatness that lies within.
Paradoxical septic emboli secondary to pacemaker endocarditis: transvenous lead extraction with distal embolization protection.

A 69-year-old woman with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and sick sinus syndrome with a dual-chamber pacemaker was admitted to our institution with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. She exhibited nonspecific neurological complaints, and head CT demonstrated multiple cerebral lesions consistent with septic emboli. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a 3-cm vegetation on the right atrial pacemaker lead (Figure 1A, Video I in the Data Supplement). There was no evidence of aortic or mitral valve endocarditis; however, a patent foramen ovale with intermittent right-to-left shunting was identified (Figure 1B and 1C, Video II in the Data Supplement). Surgical removal was considered; however, the potential for hemorrhagic conversion of recent embolic strokes from high-dose heparin needed during cardiopulmonary bypass was prohibitive. Transvenous lead extraction was used and, to protect …
Conceptualizing Global, Economic, Social-cultural, and Ethical Frames as an Evaluative Technique or Rubric

The paper discusses an evaluative technique or rubr ic for judging students’ responses to and observations on issues of computing. The paper discus ses the frames of globalization, economics, social-cultural, and ethical as dimensions structur ing the observations as well as the rubric.
Hateful Hills and Joyful Dread: Emotive “Filler Words” in the Old English Metrical Psalms

ABSTRACTThe poet-translator of the Old English Metrical Psalms is widely censured for (among other things) his allegedly mechanical use of filler-words to complete the metre in his lines. This article argues for a more positive purpose for many of these additions, especially those drawn from the semantic field of emotion. Additions to the poet's Latin source can function to reinforce for his Anglo-Saxon audience the theological sense of the psalms he translates, to add a degree of exegesis, and even (at times) to create a moment of poetic intensity. Such possibilities do not entirely acquit the poet of the charge of pedestrian verse production, but they do suggest that he has not always been given enough credit for his achievements. Within the context of his general approach to translation—which is sometimes thoughtful and always orthodox—this poet’s deployment of so-called filler words may frequently be defended as apt and occasionally as successful in its ambition.
The impact of lifetime PTSD on the seven-year course and clinical characteristics of OCD

Research has suggested that the co-occurrence of PTSD in individuals with OCD is associated with more severe symptoms and less responsivity to empirically supported treatment as compared to individuals with OCD and no history of PTSD. However, much of this work has been limited by non-empirical case report design, cross-sectional and retrospective analyses, or small sample sizes. The current study extended this research by comparing the clinical characteristics of individuals with OCD with and without a lifetime PTSD diagnosis in a large, naturalistic, longitudinal sample over the course of seven years. At baseline, individuals with comorbid lifetime PTSD reported significantly more severe symptoms of OCD (including symptom levels and insight), lower quality of life, and higher rates of comorbid lifetime mood and substance use disorders than participants without lifetime PTSD. Further, individuals with comorbid OCD and lifetime PTSD reported significantly more severe OCD symptoms over the course of seven years than those without lifetime PTSD. These results are largely consistent with the existing literature and support the need to consider PTSD symptoms in the assessment and treatment of OCD.
Label-free monitoring of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid

This paper reports for the first time the monitoring of two types of promising biomarkers, beta-amyloid (Aβ42) and total tau (T-tau), in both buffer and cerebrospinal fluid from pooled Human donors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) using label-free optical nanosensors. Experiments found that as low as ∼15.6 pg/ml of Aβ42 in buffer can be readily detected by the sensor with very good specificity. Aβ42 spiked in commercially available cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been detected successfully. Based on our measurements, the purchased CSF itself contains Aβ42, whose concentration is estimated to be about 400 pg/ml by our measurements. We also have demonstrated the detection of a mixture of Aβ42 and T-tau in CSF successfully, indicating the feasibility of the optical nanosensors to detect these biomarkers in clinic samples.
A systematic review comparing neurodevelopmental outcome in term infants with hypoxic and vascular brain injury with and without seizures.

There is increasing evidence that neonatal seizures in term neonates with stroke, asphyxia or brain haemorrhage might be associated with adverse neurodevelopment and development of epilepsy. The extent of this association is not known. The objective of this study was to assess the possible impact of neonatal seizures on these outcomes and if possible calculate a relative risk. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed (study period January 2000–June 2015). PubMed, Medline and Embase were searched for cohort studies evaluating neurodevelopmental outcome at the age of at least 18 months or development of epilepsy in surviving term neonates with or without neonatal seizures. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed and data extractions were performed in a standardized manner by independent reviewers. Pooled Relative Risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals for adverse outcome were calculated if possible. Out of 1443 eligible studies 48 were selected for full text reading leaving 9 cohort studies for the final analyses (4 studies on stroke, 4 on perinatal asphyxia and one on cerebral hemorrhage). For all cases with stroke or asphyxia combined the pooled risk ratio (RR) for adverse outcome when suffering neonatal seizures was 7.42 (3.84–14.34); for neonates with perinatal asphyxia: 8.41 (4.07–17.39) and for neonates with stroke: 4.95 (1.07–23.0). The pooled RR for development of late onset epilepsy could only be determined for infants suffering from stroke: 1.48 (0.82–2.68). Results were biased and evidence sparse. The presence of neonatal seizures in term newborns with vascular or hypoxic brain injury may have an impact on or be a predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome. The biased available data yield insufficient evidence about the true size of this association.
Cleavage and activation of human prothrombin by Echis carinatus venom.

Abstract The cleavage of human prothrombin by partially purified Echis carinatus venom (ECV) was investigated in the present report. Incubation of prothrombin with ECV resulted in the rapid cleavage of prothrombin to alpha-thrombin, with the release of fragment-1 and fragment-2. When dansyl arginine-N-(3-ethyl-1,5-pentanediyl) amide (DAPA), a very effective inhibitor of thrombin, was included in the ECV-prothrombin solution, meizothrombin was rapidly formed. Only small amounts of meizothrombin-1 could be detected. Prolonged incubation (23 h) in the presence of DAPA, however, resulted in nearly quantitative conversion of meizothrombin to meizothrombin-1 and fragment-1. Kinetic studies strongly suggested that the conversion of meizothrombin to meizothrombin-1 was due to ECV and not meizothrombin autolysis. In addition, EDTA, which inhibits ECV, blocked the cleavage of meizothrombin. Amino terminal sequence analysis indicated that ECV cleaves human prothrombin at two sites; Gly158-Ser159 and Arg322-Ile323. The former site differs from the site of autolytic cleavage of meizothrombin which occurs at Arg155-Ser156. In contrast to reports in the literature, the results of the present study indicate that the release of fragment-1 does not precede activation of human prothrombin by ECV.
Rat Liver and Lung Express Serum Amyloid A Related mRNAs

A vast number of systemic and metabolic changes occur in response to injury or infection. Among these events (the acute phase response) is the rise in concentration of a large number of plasma proteins of hepatic origin termed the acute phase proteins.1 Serum amyloid A is a family of acute phase proteins2,3 of unknown function and are apolipoproteins of HDL.4,5 In reactive amyloidosis amyloid A protein (AA) is the major protein constituent of the amyloid fibrils and amino terminal fragment of the plasma serum amyloid A protein.6,7,8 Not all SAA proteins are amyloidogenic though, since in the mouse there are three transcibed SAA genes (SAA1, SAA2, and SAA3) but only SAA2 is the precursor to murine AA protein.11
Functional uncoupling of the mitral annulus and left ventricle with mitral regurgitation and dopamine.

BACKGROUND: The mitral annulus and left ventricle are generally thought to be functionally coupled, in the sense that increases in left ventricular (LV) size, as seen in ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR), or decreases in LV size, as seen with inotropic stimulation, are thought to increase or decrease annular dimensions in similar manner. The study aim was to elucidate the functional relationship between the mitral annulus and left ventricle during acute MR and inotrope-induced MR reduction. METHODS: Radiopaque markers were implanted on the left ventricle and mitral annulus of five adult sheep. A suture was placed on the central scallop of the posterior mitral leaflet and exteriorized through the atrial-ventricular groove. Open-chest animals were studied at baseline (CTRL), at seconds after pulling on the suture to create moderate-severe 'pure' MR (PULL), and after titration of dopamine until the MR grade was maximally reduced (PULL+DOPA). This process was repeated two to three times for each animal. RESULTS: The MR grade was increased with PULL (from 0.5 +/- 0.01 to 3.4 +/- 0.4, p < 0.01) and decreased after PULL+DOPA (from 3.4 +/- 0.4 to 1.5 +/- 0.9, p < 0.001). PULL resulted in an increase in mitral annular (MA) area, predominantly by an increase in the muscular mitral annulus. PULL+DOPA caused a decrease in MA area, but the LV volume and dimensions were not altered with either PULL or PULL+DOPA. CONCLUSION: The acute geometric response to 'pure' MR and inotrope-induced MR reduction was limited to the mitral annulus. Surprisingly, the LV volume and dimensions did not change with acute MR or with inotrope-induced MR reduction. This suggests that, under these two conditions in an ovine model, the mitral annulus and left ventricle are functionally uncoupled.
Messenger RNA dependent synthesis of a protein containing relaxin related sequences.

Serum relaxin levels in pregnant rats, sows, and guinea pigs are very low during most of gestation (Sherwood et al. 1975); mean relaxin concentrations in the sow range between 0.1 and 2.0 ng/ml throughout the first 100 days of pregnancy. During this period small electron dense cytoplasmic granules begin to appear in luteal cells. This granule population continued to increase in late gestation, reaching a maximum several days before parturition. About 24–48 hours before delivery a rapid disintegration of the cytoplasmic granules occurs. Serum levels of relaxin rise rapidly and then drop precipitously during parturition and lactation (Belt et al.3 1971). Studies in rat ovarian homogenates also suggest a steady, gradual rise in relaxin production throughout pregnancy (Sherwood and Crnekovic, 1979). The stimuli for the initial production of the hormone, the factors controlling its secretion and storage during pregnancy, and the reasons for its explosive release at term remain obscure. Relaxin has traditionally been assigned to the class of pregnancy-related hormones, but at least one study suggests that in humans the protein is also present in non-pregnant sera (Bryant-Greenwood et al.3 1977).
Somatic Mutation in Pediatric Neurological Diseases.

Genetic variation contributes significantly to brain function and dysfunction, and studying the genetic factors responsible for neurological phenotypes is tremendously valuable for understanding brain development, physiology, and pathophysiology, as well as for advancements in disease diagnostics and therapeutics. Many genetic determinants of neurobiology are inherited from parents through the germline and are present in all cells of an individual, but others, known as somatic or mosaic mutations, may be acquired post-conception and are therefore present in only a subset of an individual’s cells. While the relationship between somatic mutation and cancer is clear, recent studies have also established a role for somatic mutations in several non-malignant neurological diseases of childhood, including cerebral cortical malformations and epilepsy disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and other neuropsychiatric diseases.