cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The American Board Style Practice In-Training Examination as a Predictor of Performance on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination

Background The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE), is an annual 250 question, multiple-choice test that assesses residents’ surgical knowledge in preparation for board examinations. At our program, we developed a Surgical Council on Resident Education-based American Board Style Practice In-Training Examination: The ABSPITE. The 40-question examination was designed to help with test preparation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ABSPITE’s predictive value on ABSITE performance. Methods From 2013 to 2016, the ABSPITE was administered to residents at our program. Performances (N = 134) were graded based on a standardized scale to determine resident percent and percentile performance, then compared to average ABSITE performance. Results Combined analysis showed a statistically significant positive correlation between average ABSITE and ABSPITE percentages and percentiles. This held true when categorical and preliminary residents were compared. When stratified by resident PGY level, the same results were seen for PGY 1 and PGY 2 residents but correlations failed to reach statistical significance for higher resident training levels. Conclusions The practice ABSPITE examination strongly correlates with ABSITE performance among junior residents at our program, and may be a valuable tool to predict ABSITE performance and guide review efforts.
Recruiting, engaging, and educating social work leaders: an innovative curricular model

AbstractGraduate social work student interest in administration or management studies has been low in comparison to their interest in clinical practice. Recruiting graduate students to administration or management specializations in social work education remains a challenge for social work programs. Recognizing the need to attract and prepare MSW students for administration, various curriculum models have been proposed. This study presents a unique model that was designed specifically for social work students who wanted to become competent clinical practitioners, yet were also interested in macropractice. By marketing to, and recruiting, graduate students who have a passion for the dual (macro and micro) focus of social work, the administration specialization in this large, US-based urban graduate social work program has been able to attract over 120 additional students each year, comprising nearly 24% of the graduating class. This qualitative study examined students’ rationale for selecting this speciali...
Recreation Leadership. By H. Dan Corbin. 3rd edition

(1972). Recreation Leadership. By H. Dan Corbin. 3rd edition. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 158-159.
Gibbs Ensemble Techniques

Phase transitions of real and model complex fluids are of significant scientific and technological interest. From a modeling point of view, it is often of considerable interest to predict, as accurately as possible, the phase behavior of a simplified system containing the essential interactions of interest. Computer simulations are a natural choice for this purpose, as they allow complete freedom in specification of the potential model. However, the prediction of the order and precise location of phase transitions from simulations is not a simple matter. Phase transitions are collective phenomena that occur over time and length scales that are not directly accessible by molecular dynamics or simple constant-volume Monte Carlo simulations. A range of specialized techniques developed in order to calculate the free energy and determine the behavior of systems at the vicinity of critical points are covered in the chapters by Binder and Frenkel. Many of these methods are relatively expensive from a computational point of view, requiring simulations for a series of state points or for a range of system sizes.
A Critical Pedagogy for STEM Education

This chapter was first published in JASTE 2.1 2010 as a review of recent work in neo-liberalism and science education as they relate to critical social analysis. At the time I took the position that under neo-liberalism, education in general and science, technology, engineering and math in education in particular press the energies of teachers toward the production of workers, the everyday tools for the expansion of empires, a police state and war machine. A radical departure from the stricture of academic journal writing I wrote the paper to reflect my critical voice as I consider alternative pedagogies for the development of STEM education. A fusion of narrative inquiry, critical social theory and free writing, this chapter provides an update and revision of the original paper.
The Privacy Interests of Floridians and the Effect of Conformity Under Florida Constitution Article 1, Section 12

Florida, like all states, has a state constitution. Also, as with all states, Florida's Constitution contains a provision protecting citizens from overly intrusive government searches and seizures. The language of article I, section 12 of the state constitution was amended, effective in 1983, to require Florida courts to interpret section 12 in "conformity" with United States Supreme Court interpretations of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This article considers the impact of the conformity requirement of article I, section 12, focusing especially on the trend in the Florida Supreme Court since the mid-1990s. The primary concern here is to assess how the conformity requirement has affected the privacy interests of Floridians. This inquiry has, as its larger backdrop, the existence of the "new judicial federalism" in states around the country. The "new judicial federalism" trend emerged in the 1970s after the end of the Warren era in the U.S. Supreme Court. The trend has spread among the states and "by the late 1990s... has become an established feature of American Federalism." The trend continues at the turn of the millennium and frequently involves search and seizure cases. Florida courts are apparently constrained by the conformity language of article 1, section 12, from participating in the "new judicial federalism" trend when deciding search and seizure cases. Thus, Floridians might wonder just how the conformity requirement actually has affected their privacy interests over recent years. This article demonstrates that there is both "bad news" and "good news" for those privacy interests. Since the mid-1990s, especially, Florida "conformity law" has come of age through interpretation by the Florida Supreme Court. On balance, the effect of that process has been to enhance constitutional protections for the search and seizure privacy interests of Floridians -- despite the apparent constraining effect of the conformity language of article I, section 12.After the Introduction in Part I, Part II, briefly describes some background useful to an understanding of how the Florida Supreme Court's conformity jurisprudence matured to the status that it occupies today. Then, Part III describes one particular respect in which the conformity requirement has undeniably impaired privacy interests of Floridians. Part IV examines the larger respect in which the Florida Supreme Court has embraced a view of conformity that is solicitous of Floridians' privacy interests. It continues by describing the development of that trend toward protectionism in the Florida Supreme Court. The resulting conclusion in Part V is that, even for search and seizure law, Florida is more of a participant in the "new judicial federalism" than would have seemed likely under the conformity mandate. The article observes that, on balance, Florida's conformity jurisprudence provides a surprising amount of protection for Floridians' search and seizure privacy interests, albeit at the enhanced risk of occasional clashes with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Characterizing Perceptions Around the Patient-Oncologist Relationship: a Qualitative Focus Group Analysis

The purpose of the current study was to characterize the experiences of cancer patients and their caregiver/family members around their relationship with their oncologist, health care team, and the hospital environment. Participants were recruited from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Participant sociodemographic factors were assessed. Focus groups were moderated and recorded by two members of the research team using a semi-structured interview format. The audio recordings were transcribed and uploaded to NViVO 11 for analyses. Four focus groups were conducted with 25 participants. The mean age of participants was 58.4 years (SD = 15.1, range 26.0–76.0). Participants who were identified as patients (84%) reported different malignancy types including breast (56%), gynecologic (16%), skin (6%) oral (6%), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (6%). Three major themes that emerged around the patient-oncologist relationship, include (1) choosing a physician and health care location, (2) relationship with the physician, health care team, and hospital environment; and (3) patient engagement and decision-making. Subthemes highlighted the importance of the flexible communication behaviors and trustworthiness of the oncologist, and the impact of other health care team members. Patients also reported the desire to be engaged in making treatment-related decisions and to include the caregiver/spouse in all stages of cancer care. Understanding the experience of cancer patients in a relationship with their oncologist in the context of the health care team and health care environment will be an important area of future research to provide optimal, tailored patient-centered cancer care.
Before Hospice: Symptom Burden, Dementia, and Social Participation in the Last Year of Life

Abstract Background: Little is known about clinical symptom burden, dementia, and social isolation in the last year of life among older adults. Objective: To describe and contrast the type and seve...
Rigid Motion of an Ellipsoidal Body

In contrast to the two-dimensional context, there are relatively few exact solutions for inviscid flows about three-dimensional bodies. However, there is one quite general class of problems for which analytical solution is possible: the irrotational flow about an ellipsoidal body. This might seem quite a limited set of results. But it is useful to note that the extremes of this family include infinitely thin ellipses and slender rods, both of which have meaningful roles. The flat elliptical shapes, in particular, provide the rare opportunity for analytical access to a sharp edge of a three-dimensional body.
Willingness to seek professional mental health service in three ethnic groups of Asian Americans

The study explored factors associated with willingness to seek professional mental health service in three ethnic groups of Asian Americans (Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino). Mental health needs ...
Safety and Effectiveness of an Automated Microneedling Device in Improving the Signs of Aging Skin

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an automated microneedling device (Exceed, Amiea Med, MT.DERM GmbH, Berlin, Germany) when used for the rejuvenation of facial skin, as well as to generate data for an FDA 510K submission for the device. Study design: This was an open-label, single-center study. Participants: Forty-eight subjects aged 35 to 75 years with signs of facial skin aging were recruited. After consenting and satisfying inclusion criteria, each subject underwent four microneedling sessions 30 days apart. Subjects were assessed at baseline and at 30, 60, 90, and 150 days after the first treatment. Measurements: Wrinkles were assessed using the Lemperle Grading Scale. Skin laxity and texture were assessed using a modified Alexiades-Armenakas Grading Scale. Digital fringe projection technology (PRIMOS) was used to determine skin topography of the periorbital and mesolabial areas. Results: Mean improvements in global wrinkle score (mean of nine facial area grades), skin laxity, and skin texture at Day 150, compared to baseline were 1.23 (99% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11, 1.34), 1.09 (99% CI: 0.93, 1.26), and 1.54 (99% CI: 1.33, 1.75), respectively. Statistically significant mean improvements in these three measures were also observed at Day 90. Improvements in wrinkle grading and skin texture were confirmed by the PRIMOS profilometry. The treatment was well tolerated with minimal pain, discomfort, and downtime. Side effects were minor and easily managed. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that four microneedling treatments of facial skin, spaced four weeks apart, significantly improve lines, wrinkles, skin laxity and skin texture, 90 and 150 days after the first treatment. The treatment was well tolerated with minimal pain, discomfort, and downtime. Side effects were minor and easily managed compared to other invasive technologies, such as laser ablation and radiofrequency.
Physicochemical Investigation into Major League Baseballs in the Era of Unprecedented Rise in Home Runs

A major attraction of baseball is the home run. Throughout baseball’s history, some seasonal increases in home run numbers have been tied to external influences, such as lowering the pitching mound...
Hidden Carcinoma: Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Lymphoepithelioma-Like Cholangiocarcinoma:

Lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a rare variant of cholangiocarcinoma that is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus. The intimate relationship between the malignant epithe...
The combination of IMO-2055, a synthetic agonist of toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9), and the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib tosylate demonstrate enhanced antitumor activity in a human non-small cell lung cancer xenograft model

4771 IMO-2055 is a synthetic agonist of TLR9 developed through extensive structure-activity studies at Idera Pharmaceuticals. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that IMO-2055 induces Th1-type innate and adaptive immune responses. IMO-2055 has also shown potent antitumor activity in a number of tumor models in preclinical studies alone and in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we tested IMO-2055 alone and in combination with sorafenib in the H460 human NSCLC xenograft model. Peritumoral injection of IMO-2055 administered three times weekly resulted in 56.8% growth inhibition, and oral administration of sorafenib resulted in 61.9% growth inhibition, compared to PBS control group on day 14. The combination of IMO-2055 and sorafenib lead to increased antitumor effects with 67.9% tumor growth inhibition on day 14. A synergistic interaction trend for the drug combination occurred at day 24 with the IMO-2055/sorafenib combination mean tumor weight of 716 mg compared to the single agent mean tumor weights of IMO-2055, 1360 mg and sorafenib, 1326 mg (P
Cultural and macroeconomic determinants of cash holdings management

This study examines patterns in cash management, particularly cash holdings speed of adjustment (CH‐SOA), across 48 countries. I find that managerial cultural characteristics and country‐level macroeconomic factors influence the persistence of cash reserve levels, deviation from target, and the speed with which firms in different countries adjust their cash holdings. The findings support the idea that agency costs as well as market frictions influence CH‐SOA and other aspects of cash management. The findings are robust to the inclusion of a wide range of firm‐level characteristics, country‐level corporate‐governance variables, and an alternative cultural index.
Voxelized Atomic Structure Potentials: Predicting Atomic Forces with the Accuracy of Quantum Mechanics Using Convolutional Neural Networks.

This paper introduces Voxelized Atomic Structure (VASt) potentials as a machine learning (ML) framework for developing interatomic potentials. The VASt framework utilizes a voxelized representation of the atomic structure directly as the input to a convolutional neural network (CNN). This allows for high fidelity representations of highly complex and diverse spatial arrangements of the atomic environments of interest. The CNN implicitly establishes the low-dimensional features needed to correlate each atomic neighborhood to its net atomic force. The selection of the salient features of the atomic structure (i.e., feature engineering) in the VASt framework is implicit, comprehensive, automated, scalable, and highly efficient. The calibrated convolutional layers learn the complex spatial relationships and multibody interactions that govern the physics of atomic systems with remarkable fidelity. We show that VASt potentials predict highly accurate forces on two phases of silicon carbide and the thermal conductivity of silicon over a range of isotropic strain.
Challenges and Decision Making for the Classification of Two Complex Periodontal Cases.

FOCUSED CLINICAL QUESTION What are the fundamental debates and questions related to the newly developed two-vector system for classification of periodontal diseases that have emerged as to how to accurately assign, stage, and grade periodontitis cases? The aim of the present manuscript is to demonstrate the essential thought processes that are needed in utilizing the new periodontitis classification system to diagnose two gray zone cases. SUMMARY Clinical case 1 includes an 83-year-old male diagnosed with periodontitis and classified as Stage III Generalized Grade B periodontitis, while clinical case 2, a 73-year-old male was classified as presenting Stage IV Generalized Grade B periodontitis. Although clinical and radiographic evaluations revealed similarities between the cases, the thought process that includes clinical judgment is described to guide a more accurate diagnosis following the guidelines of the new classification system. CONCLUSION The two cases demonstrated here offer an opportunity for clinicians to recognize the essential role of sound clinical judgment in certain cases when applying the new periodontal disease classification system and also clarify questions emerging from implementing this classification system.
PAC-Bayesian learning with asymmetric cost

PAC-Bayes generalization bounds offer a theoretical foundation for learning classifiers with low generalization error and predicting their performance on unseen data. Current formulations implicitly assume that the relative cost of misclassifying a positive or negative example is reflected by the class skew in the training dataset. We present a learning approach based on minimizing an asymmetric generalization bound that enables PAC-Bayesian model selection under a class-specific performance constraint.
Effects of TRPC6 Inactivation on Glomerulosclerosis and Renal Fibrosis in Aging Rats

Canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) channels have been implicated in familial and acquired forms of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in patients and animal models, as well as in renal fibrosis following ureteral obstruction in mice. Aging also evokes declines in renal function owing to effects on almost every renal compartment in humans and rodents. Here, we have examined the role of TRPC6 in driving inflammation and fibrosis during aging in Sprague-Dawley rats. This was assessed in rats with non-functional TRPC6 channels owing to CRISPR-Cas9 deletion of a portion of the ankyrin repeat domain required for the assembly of functional TRPC6 channels (Trpc6del/del rats). Wild-type littermates (Trpc6wt/wt rats) were used as controls. Animals were evaluated at 2 months and 12 months of age. There was no sign of kidney disease at 2 months of age, regardless of genotype. However, by 12 months of age, all rats examined showed declines in renal function associated with albuminuria, azotemia and increased urine excretion of β2-microglobulin, a marker for proximal tubule pathology. These changes were equally severe in Trpc6wt/wt and Trpc6del/del rats. We also observed age-related increases in renal cortical expression of markers of fibrosis (α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin) and inflammation (NLRP3 and pro-IL-1β), and there was no detectable protective effect of TRPC6 inactivation. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis assessed from histology also appeared equally severe in Trpc6wt/wt and Trpc6del/del rats. By contrast, glomerular pathology, blindly scored from histological sections, suggested a significant protective effect of TRPC6 inactivation, but only within the glomerular compartment.
Transforming Pakistan: Ways Out of Instability

Introduction 1. The Nature of Pakistan and its Internal Challenges 2. Pakistan after 9/11: Where did it stand? 3. Internal Conflicts: Pakistan's Tribal Belt Afghanistan Baluchistan 4. Pakistan's other neighbours Conclusion: How to handle Pakistan
Endokrine Funktion des Pankreas und Regulation des Kohlenhydratstoffwechsels

Die Langerhansschen Inseln des Pankreas sezernieren das Polypeptidhormon Glucagon und das Proteinhormon Insulin; beiden kommt eine wichtige Aufgabe in der Regulation des Intermediarstoffwechsels zu. Glucagon erhoht den Blutzuckerspiegel durch Stimulierung der Glykogenolyse in der Leber; es spielt wahrscheinlich eine Rolle bei der Aufrechterhaltung des Blutglucosespiegels beim Hungern. Klinische Syndrome durch Glucagon-Uberschus oder -Mangel sind beim Menschen nicht beschrieben. Insulin senkt den Blutzuckerspiegel und erleichtert den Eintritt von Glucose in die Muskelzelle und viele andere Gewebe. Insulinuber-schus verursacht Hypoglykaemie, die zu Convulsionen und Koma fuhren kann. Absoluter oder relativer Insulinmangel ist die Ursache des Diabetes mellitus, einer komplexen und schweren Krankheit, die unbehandelt zum Tod fuhren kann. Bei erhohtem Blutzuckerspiegel wird die Insulinsekretion gesteigert und die Glucagonsekretion verringert, bzw. umgekehrt. Auf diese Weise halten die Hormone des endokrinen Pankreasanteils einen konstanten Blutzuckerspiegel und den Einstrom von Glucose in die Zellen aufrecht. Andere Hormone spielen auch eine bedeutende Rolle in der Regulation des Kohlenhydratstoffwechsels.
Phagosomes Acquire Nascent and Recycling Class II MHC Molecules but Primarily Use Nascent Molecules in Phagocytic Antigen Processing

Phagosomes contain class II MHC (MHC-II) and form peptide:MHC-II complexes, but the source of phagosomal MHC-II molecules is uncertain. Phagosomes may acquire nascent MHC-II or preexisting, recycling MHC-II that may be internalized from the plasma membrane. Brefeldin A (BFA) was used to deplete nascent MHC-II in murine macrophages to determine the relative contributions of nascent and recycling MHC-II molecules to phagocytic Ag processing. In addition, biotinylation of cell-surface proteins was used to assess the transport of MHC-II from the cell surface to phagosomes. BFA inhibited macrophage processing of latex bead-conjugated Ag for presentation to T cells, suggesting that nascent MHC-II molecules are important in phagocytic Ag processing. Furthermore, detection of specific peptide:MHC-II complexes in isolated phagosomes confirmed that BFA decreased formation of peptide:MHC-II complexes within phagosomes. Both flow organellometry and Western blot analysis of purified phagosomes showed that about two-thirds of phagosomal MHC-II was nascent (depleted by 3 h prior treatment with BFA) and primarily derived from intracellular sites. About one-third of phagosomal MHC-II was preexisting and primarily derived from the plasma membrane. BFA had little effect on phagosomal H2-DM or the degradation of bead-associated Ag. Thus, inhibition of phagocytic Ag processing by BFA correlated with depletion of nascent MHC-II in phagosomes and occurred despite the persistent delivery of plasma membrane-derived recycling MHC-II molecules and other Ag-processing components to phagosomes. These observations suggest that phagosomal Ag processing depends primarily on nascent MHC-II molecules delivered from intracellular sites, e.g., endocytic compartments.
Spectral imaging of microvascular function in a renal cell carcinoma after treatment with a vascular disrupting agent

Tumors are highly metabolically active and thus require ample oxygen and nutrients to proliferate. Neovasculature generated by angiogenesis is required for tumors to grow beyond a size of about 1-2mm. Functional tumor vasculature also provides an access point for development of distant metastases. Due to the importance of the microvasculature for tumor growth, proliferation, and metastasis, the microvasculature has emerged as a therapeutic target for treatment of solid tumors. We employed spectral imaging in a rodent window chamber model to observe and measure the oxygen transport function of tumor microvasculature in a human renal cell carcinoma after treatment with a fast acting vascular disrupting agent. Human Caki-1 cells were grown in a dorsal skin-fold window chamber in athymic nude mice. Spectral imaging was used to measure hemoglobin saturation immediately before, immediately after and also at 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 hours after administration of the tubulin binding agent OXi4503. Up to 4 hours after treatment, tumor microvasculature was disrupted from the tumor core towards the periphery as seen in deoxygenation as well as structural changes of the vasculature. Reoxygenation and neovascularization commenced from the periphery towards the core from 6 - 48 hours after treatment. The timing of the effects of vascular disrupting agents can influence scheduling of repeat treatments and combinatorial treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Spectral imaging can potentially provide this information in certain laboratory models from endogenous signals with microvessel resolution.
Production and Maternal Report of 16- and 18-Month-Olds' Vocabulary in Low- and Middle-Income Families

Purpose To compare maternal report of children’s vocabularies on the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories Words and Gestures form (CDI:WG; Fenson et al., 1993) with spontaneous productio...
Dieting and Nutrition Patterns of College Females: Implications for College Health Educators

Abstract Dieting among college females has been documented, and the national preoccupation with weight and body image continues to concern college health educators. A questionnaire was used to investigate the dieting frequency and nutritional patterns of 215 college females in allied health and health science at a large urban university. Nutritional intake was assessed by the Block Health and Habits History Questionnaire, and body mass index was calculated for each person using self-report height and weight. Seventy-three percent of the total sample reported having dieted at least one time; however, 61% were classified as being at a normal weight. Further, nutritional analysis results indicated the individuals dieting are following recommended nutritional guidelines. Nutrition and dieting recommendations are offered to clinicians and health educators working with college females to promote healthful eating and prevent unnecessary dieting.
Regional differences in diffusive conductance/perfusion ratio in the shell of the hen's egg.

Abstract Are both gas exchange and gas tensions uniform in different regions of the developing hen's egg? To answer this question we measured the O 2 uptake and CO 2 production of the whole egg, and at the same time the O 2 and CO 2 tensions of the air cell. The gas exchange ratio (R) of the whole egg differed from R calculated from air cell P O 2 and P CO 2 values, in agreement with the findings of Visschedijk [Br. Poultry Sci. 9: 173–184 (1968)], who measured gas exchange separately over both the air cell region and the remainder of the egg. We constructed a diffusive shell conductance/perfusion (G/Q) line on the O 2 -CO 2 diagram from a blood nomogram for the chick embryo in late development [Olszowka et al. , Fed. Proc. 46: 512 (1987)], and used this to analyze our results. The G/Q ratio for the area of shell over the air cell differs from that for the remainder of the egg. Our analysis permits us to calculate, for each area, the regional shell conductance, blood flow, and O 2 and CO 2 tensions in the gas spaces between the shell and the chorioallantoic capillaries.
A View of Global Governance From an "Invisible Man"

Invisible Governance: International Secretariats in Global Politics. By John Mathiason. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press, 2007. 288 pp., $24.95 (ISBN: 978-1-56549-220-2). In Invisible Governance: International Secretariats in Global Politics, John Mathiason details the often overlooked role played by the secretariats of international organizations—the important but often “invisible” public servants of the global community. Having served in the UN Secretariat from 1971 to 1996, Mathiason is well placed to address his concern about the limited number of insider accounts of the secretariat in action. However, Invisible Governance is not a discussion of Mathiason's personal experiences, like Brian Urquhart's (1987) A Life in Peace and War . Rather, Invisible Governance is an effort to address the lack of attention to international secretariats by international relations scholars generally. Mathiason laments the lack of attention to public administration in the international organization literature (although he cites Barnett and Finnemore 2004 as one of the exceptions), and he seeks to fill that void. Moreover, he takes international relations theory in general to task, arguing that “Much of the dominant international-relations theory lacks a place for international secretariats, and observers who are conditioned by that theory will not find them important” (p. 6). Mathiason concludes that “a return to the functionalist approach is probably the best way to explain what secretariats do” (p. 18), and he uses this argument as the rationale for organizing the majority of Invisible Governance around a discussion of five functions. These functions—regime creation, mobilization of information, norm enforcement, direct service provision, and internal management—are outlined in the opening chapter (pp. 18–23), and the engagement of the secretariat in these functions is detailed in chapters 4 through 11. Although the structure of Invisible Governance thus reflects a functionalist approach, the exact theoretical basis for and implications of this approach are tenuous. Mathiason claims that realism and functionalism are “essentially [the] two competing theoretical trends that constitute alternative views of the nature of international …
Problem-posing: a tool for curriculum renewal

Posing problems to students for discussion can be an effective tool for curriculum renewal, especially in difficult teaching circumstances. This article reports on EFL curriculum renewal in African secondary schools, where teachers identified student interests, posed problems for discussion, and used the language generated by the discussions to develop language learning activities. We describe the steps in developing problemposing lessons, and address some of the issues faced by teachers who adopt this approach. In resource-poor educational environments, problemposing can be a first step in making an EFL curriculum more responsive to student interests and needs. It generates discourse-level communication in the classroom which can be exploited to develop a pedagogically sound sequence of presentations of linguistic structures and vocabulary.
Self-assembled NiO nano-wires on epitaxial Ni films

ABSTRACT In-situ annealed epitaxial (001) Ni films MBE grown on MgO substrates exhibit a missing-row (2x1) surface reconstruction due to oxygen adsorption. Thus, the resulting nano-patterning of the surface consists of self-assembled NiO nano-wires. Correlated RHEED, STM, XTEM, PNR and MOKE studies indicate that there is intermixing of the Ni film and the substrate with NiO formation at the interface between film and substrate and also on the surface of the films. This leads to the presence of an additional uniaxial magnetic anisotropy superimposed to the expected 4-fold magneto-crystalline anisotropy as determined with longitudinal MOKE. Keywords: self-assembled, nano-wires, NiO, magnetic anisotropy. 1. INTRODUCTION While quasi-two-dimensional (2D) magnetic thin films and multi-layers have generated tremendous excitement with new scientific discoveries and technology breakthroughs in the past several years, there has also been growing interest in the growth and magnetic properties of laterally confined magnetic structures.
Forgotten fathers: An exploratory study of mothers' report of drug and alcohol problems among fathers of urban newborns

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the relationship between fathers' substance use and maternal and paternal background characteristics, infant outcome measures, and fathers' frequency of caregiving at 6 months postpartum in a cohort of cocaine-exposed and unexposed infants. Methods: Secondary analysis was completed on data collected through interviews and medical records obtained from 252 mothers participating in an ongoing longitudinal study of cocaine-exposed and unexposed mothers and infants. Results: By maternal report, 22% of the mothers reported that the father of the baby had a history of a drug and/or alcohol problem. Mothers who were classified as heavier cocaine users were 1.6 times more likely than lighter cocaine users and 2.6 times more likely than nonusers to report that the father of the baby had a history of a drug and/or alcohol problem. There was a significant relationship between the father's reported history of a drug and/or alcohol problem and the mother's history of mental and physical abuse during pregnancy; P=.03, P=.001, respectively). Fathers with a history of a drug and/or alcohol problem were more likely to have been in jail (P=.001) and to be unemployed at the time of delivery (P=.04) than fathers without a history of a drug and/or alcohol problem. On bivariate analysis, newborns of fathers with a history by mother's report of a drug or alcohol problem had significantly lower mean birthweights (3003 vs. 3213 g, P=.005) and lengths (47.5 vs. 48.6 cm, P=.01) than newborns of fathers with no such history. However after control for mothers' prenatal use of cocaine, marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol and for infant gender and gestational age, the differences were not statistically significant (P=.15 for both measurements). Head circumference did not differ significantly between groups in either bivariate or multivariate analyses. Fathers with a reported history of drug and/or alcohol problems were more likely to care for the baby at least once a week than fathers without such a history of a drug and/or alcohol problem at 6 months postpartum. Conclusions: Childhood cognitive and behavioral outcomes currently attributed to maternal substance abuse may also reflect the genetic, teratogenic, and social influence of fathers. Within an urban, at-risk population, it is important to inquire about the father's participation in the day-to-day life of the infant and to address the father's as well as the mother's possible need for substance abuse treatment and support in parenting.
Correspondence of aggressive behavior classifications among young adults using the Impulsive Premeditated Aggression Scale and the Reactive Proactive Questionnaire

Abstract The two most studied bimodal classifications of aggressive behavior are impulsive/premeditated and reactive/proactive aggression. Despite differences in the conceptualization of these classifications and the primary use of each in different developmental phases, the two classifications are often used interchangeably. The purpose of the current study was to determine the correspondence of the two classification schemes in a sample of young adults ( N = 250) using two validated measures: the Reactive Proactive Questionnaire ( Raine et al., 2006 ) and the Impulsive Premeditated Aggression Scale ( Stanford et al., 2003 ). Convergent and discriminant validity of the scales was partially supported. Clusters derived from each scale corresponded for 38% of the cases. When the scales were used together, six subtype categories were identified, such that low, impulsive, and premeditated components were found for reactive and proactive aggressors. The six categories differed significantly on measures of aggression, anger, and hostility. Thus, the measures, and potentially the classifications, complemented but did not correspond to each other. These results suggest that the two classification systems may not be equivalent and should not be used interchangeably.
The economics of daily dialysis.

Research suggests that daily hemodialysis improves clinical outcomes and patient quality of life when compared with conventional hemodialysis; however, little is known about its economic impact. In this article, we review the literature on the costs of daily hemodialysis (n = 170). We also present updated results from an economic model we constructed that compares 1-year treatment costs for short daily in-center, short daily at-home, nocturnal, and conventional hemodialysis. Clinical parameters for the model were drawn from our review of the clinical literature. Resource use during daily hemodialysis was modeled after the experience of 2 ongoing programs in the United States, a short daily program in California (n = 26) and a nocturnal program in Virginia (n = 13). Reports from the literature and our economic model suggest daily hemodialysis might provide better outcomes and savings when compared with conventional hemodialysis. However, larger, longer controlled studies are needed to see if daily dialysis fulfills these promises. We discuss several issues researchers should keep in mind in designing future studies about the economics of daily dialysis.
N-Benzyl-3-sulfonamidopyrrolidines as novel inhibitors of cell division in E. coli.

Abstract A new small molecule inhibitor of bacterial cell division has been discovered using a high-throughput screen in Escherichia coli . Although the lead screening hit ( 534F6 ) exhibited modest inhibition of the GTPase activity of FtsZ (20 ± 5% at 100 μM of compound), a primary target for bacterial cell division inhibitors, several analogs caused potent bacterial growth inhibition with negligible antagonism of FtsZ GTPase activity. A library of analogs has been prepared and several alkyne-tagged photoaffinity probes have been synthesized for use in experiments to elucidate the primary target of this compound.
Age-related toxicity to lactate, glutamate, and β-amyloid in cultured adult neurons

Abstract The age-related susceptibility of the brain to neurodegenerative disease may be inherent in the susceptibility of individual neurons to various stressors. Neurons were isolated from embryonic, young- and old-aged rat hippocampus, cultured in serum-free medium and exposed to lactic acid, glutamate or β-amyloid. Yields of isolated adult cells were 1 million cells/hippocampus, 12,000 cells/mg tissue, independent of age. For lactic acidosis, there was a non-significant 10% increment in killing of neuron-like cells from old rats compared to young. For glutamate, there was a 5–10% increment in killing of neuron-like cells from old rats compared to young rats and embryonic neurons. For cells exposed to the toxic fragment of β-amyloid, Aβ (25–35), toxicity was age, dose and time-dependent. Maximum toxicity in cells treated for 1 day with 25 μM Aβ (25–35) was 16%, 24%, and 33% for embryonic, young and old cells. Similar results were found for Aβ (1–40) ( ld 50 = 2 μM). These results suggest that aging imparts to individual cells an increased susceptibility to toxic substances relevant to neurodegenerative diseases.
Experimental and Computational Studies of the Kinetics of the Reaction of Atomic Hydrogen with Methanethiol

The overall rate constant for H + CH3SH has been studied over 296–1007 K in an Ar bath gas using the laser flash photolysis method at 193 nm. H atoms were generated from CH3SH and in some cases NH3. They were detected via time-resolved resonance fluorescence. The results are summarized as k = (3.45 ± 0.19) × 10–11 cm3 molecule–1 s–1 exp(−6.92 ± 0.16 kJ mol–1/RT) where the errors in the Arrhenius parameters are the statistical uncertainties at the 2σ level. Overall error limits of ±9% for k are proposed. In the overlapping temperature range there is very good agreement with the resonance fluorescence measurements of Wine et al. Ab initio data and transition state theory yield moderate accord with the total rate constant, but not with prior mass spectrometry measurements of the main product channels leading to CH3S + H2 and CH3 + H2S by Amano et al.
Topical timolol maleate might adversely affect serum lipoproteins

Conflicting observations have been reported about the effects of topically administered timolol maleate on serum lipoproteins. We therefore considered this issue in a series of eight glaucoma patients receiving timolol maleate. Cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in plasma and in low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), both before and following three months of treatment. Following the treatment, the mean atherogenic index was increased from 2.72 to 3.38 (p=0.012). This suggests that the atherogenic index should be determined before and during timolol maleate treatment in high-risk cardiovascular patients.
Broad Reach or Biased Source? Decomposing the Hostile Media Effect

This experiment examined theoretical questions surrounding the hostile media effect-the tendency of partisans on a controversial issue to see news coverage of that issue as biased in favor of the other side. Using opposing groups of partisans in the debate over genetically modified- organisms, we tested the influence of source (journalist vs. college student) and reach (mass media vs. classroom composition) on perceptions of bias. The data revealed effects for both factors. Earlier research supported several processing mechanisms underlying the hostile media effect, but using stringent tests, we found evidence only for a categorization bias.
Cross-correlation analysis of dispersive spectrum splitting techniques for photovoltaic systems

There has been a significant interest in spectrum splitting techniques to increase the overall efficiency of photovoltaic solar energy systems. In spectrum splitting, an optical system is used to spectrally separate the incident sunlight. Although systems with different methods and geometries have been proposed, they can generally be classified as either dispersive or nondispersive. Nondispersive systems are based on reflective spectral filters that have minimum optical losses due to dispersion. Dispersive systems use optical elements that spatially separate light as a function of wavelength. This class of spectrum system typically operates in transmission and is shown to have an inherent optical loss. The dispersive effects of transmission type filters are evaluated using a cross-correlation analysis. The results of the analysis are then used to evaluate different spectrum splitting geometries and to determine parameters that minimize their dispersion losses and optimize optical designs.
The bioavailability of vitamin B6 : recent findings

Further clarification of the bioavailability of dietary vitamin B6 requires better analytical data concerning the forms of vitamin B6 in foods as well as the overall composition of foods. The application of radioisotopic and stable-isotopic studies such as those described will provide useful information concerning the inherent bioavailability of the various vitamin B6 compounds. Additional studies should then address the influence of other dietary components on the utilization of the vitamin B6 compounds, using intrinsic and extrinsic enrichment techniques. Care must be taken in interpretation of the results of animal bioassays in the determination of the bioavailability of vitamin B6 in complex diets.
Aldose reductase functions as a detoxification system for lipid peroxidation products in vasculitis

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis preferentially affecting large and medium-sized arteries. Inflammatory infiltrates in the arterial wall induce luminal occlusion with subsequent ischemia and degradation of the elastic membranes, allowing aneurysm formation. To identify pathways relevant to the disease process, differential display-PCR was used. The enzyme aldose reductase (AR), which is implicated in the regulation of tissue osmolarity, was found to be upregulated in the arteritic lesions. Upregulated AR expression was limited to areas of tissue destruction in inflamed arteries, where it was detected in T cells, macrophages, and smooth muscle cells. The production of AR was highly correlated with the presence of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a toxic aldehyde and downstream product of lipid peroxidation. In vitro exposure of mononuclear cells to HNE was sufficient to induce AR production. The in vivo relationship of AR and HNE was explored by treating human GCA temporal artery-severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse chimeras with the AR inhibitors Sorbinil and Zopolrestat. Inhibition of AR increased HNE adducts twofold and the number of apoptotic cells in the arterial wall threefold. These data demonstrate that AR has a tissue-protective function by preventing damage from lipid peroxidation. We propose that AR is an oxidative defense mechanism able to neutralize the toxic effects of lipid peroxidation and has a role in limiting the arterial wall injury mediated by reactive oxygen species.
Dynamic allosteric control of noncovalent DNA catalysis reactions

Allosteric modulation of catalysis kinetics is prevalent in proteins and has been rationally designed for ribozymes. Here, we present an allosteric DNA molecule that, in its active configuration, catalyzes a noncovalent DNA reaction. The catalytic activity is designed to be modulated by the relative concentrations of two DNA regulator molecules, one an inhibitor and the other an activator. Dynamic control of the catalysis rate is experimentally demonstrated via three cycles of up and down regulation by a factor of over 10. Unlike previous works, both the allosteric receptor and catalytic core are designed, rather than evolved. This allows flexibility in the sequence design and modularity in synthetic network construction.
The Interpretation of X-Ray Diffraction Patterns of a Fluid at Various Densities

It is shown that existing calculations for the intensity of x-rays diffracted by a fluid at various densities can be applied only over a small range of densities, and it is pointed out that this is due to the distribution of atoms about any one atom chosen for the calculation. The distribution is discussed qualitatively for gases and liquids, and a reasonable approximation to the true distribution is assumed. From this a set of intensity vs. angle curves are drawn for several densities. These curves are compared with Stewart's experimental curves for ether at various densities.
Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of Process Writing

The purpose of this survey was to describe how 112 K–6 Utah teachers perceived process writing. Teachers reported valuing all aspects of writing more than using them. In general, they valued responding to student needs, daily writing, and process writing, and reported incorporating them in their classes. Conversely, they did not value commercial writing programs, dictation, or technology, and reported seldom using them. Older teachers valued and used spelling and English language conventions more than younger teachers. Teachers with more years of teaching experience reported emphasizing mechanics of writing more frequently than those with fewer. Surveyed teachers rated themselves as slightly above-average writers. Teachers' greatest reported influences were experiences with professional development, mentors, and college/high school courses. University methods courses were rated very low.