cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Problem Solving for the Junior High School.

Since 70% of 100 million is 70 million, 70% of 200 million is 140 million. The answer is about 140 million square miles. To the teacher, the process is straight forward and indeed obvious, but many students may feel otherwise. The greatest single help we can give our students on numerical estimation is to do it often ourselves while we teach to show both how useful and how easy it is. But there is another aspect of estimation that is equally important visual estimation. All too many students do not understand percent because they do not "see" percent. For example, do your students have a visual feeling for 70%? Could they shade in approximately 70% of a rectangular map with blue to represent water?
Could I be pregnant? A study of online adolescent pregnancy forums for social support

Research on adolescent parenthood has found one of the most critical predictors of offspring’s well-being is social support; however, scholars have also found that expectant adolescents sometimes experience a lack of support from their face-to-face networks. Very little research has examined how adolescent parents might make up for this discrepancy by utilizing mediated social networks; therefore, this study aims to fill a gap in the literature by examining how adolescent parents and expectant adolescents utilize online networks for support. One hundred and fifty messages from two online forums of adolescent pregnancy Web sites were content analyzed to examine the type of social support solicited by individual members. Additionally, 150 pairs of messages were examined to determine whether other community members provided the type of support solicited in the original posts. Guided by the optimal matching model, findings revealed informational and emotional support were sought most frequently across the two forums, with few users soliciting esteem, network, and tangible support. A further examination of the responses provided to support seekers revealed these online communities’ members most frequently matched the type of support initially solicited, followed by situations where they provided more support than asked for. Out of all five support types, those original posts that solicited informational or tangible support were most likely to have responses that provided the support type that was requested and even though posters did not necessarily ask for it, community members often provided emotional and esteem support in their responses.
Effective School Practices in Title I Schools Exceeding Educational Expectations (E3)

A research study was designed and conducted to identify effective school characteristics and strategies of high-performing, high-poverty schools. Four High-Performing Reward schools in South Texas ...
Heightened risk of cardiac events following percutaneous coronary intervention for cocaine-associated myocardial infarction

Introduction Several works have suggested heightened risk for cardiac events in cocaine users following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Such studies have generally been performed in small, poorly defined samples and have not utilised optimal control groups. We aimed to define the short-term risk for death or recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) when PCI was performed for myocardial infarction in subjects presenting with urine toxicology positive for cocaine in relation to subjects testing negative for cocaine use. Material and methods Our institutional electronic health record (EHR) was queried for all subjects with urine toxicology performed for cocaine exposure within 5 days before or after having elevated troponin-T assay between 1/1/08 and 12/31/13. Query results were cross-referenced with our institutional cardiology database to identify the sample who had PCI on the same admission as the cocaine test. Subsequent readmission for MI was assessed from the EHR, and deaths were identified from the National Death Index. Results PCI had been performed in 380 subjects who tested negative for cocaine and 44 subjects who tested positive. In the cocaine-positive group, incidences of death or MI at 30 days and 1 year were 18% and 23%, respectively. Those who tested positive for cocaine had increased odds (odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-5.1, p = 0.04) for death or MI at 30 days post PCI, after adjustment for age, sex, prior MI, and comorbidity index. Although the odds for events 1-year post PCI were not increased (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 0.9-4.3), the p-value approached significance in this small sample (p = 0.09). Conclusions This retrospective study suggests that PCI performed in cocaine-associated myocardial infarction comes with a high 30-day and one-year risk. Further prospective studies are needed to better define this risk and to lend insight into better management strategies.
A Review of Recent Experimental and Theoretical Research of Dew Point Evaporative Coolers

Evaporative cooling is one of the techniques to lower the ambient air temperature according to the requirements. The technique includes the injection of moisture in the coming air, thus increasing its specific humidity. This technique can cool the air up to wet bulb temperature of the incoming air. In the recent past, the techniques are developed to lower the temperature of air without addition of moisture in the incoming air. These techniques demonstrate that the incoming air temperature can be approached near the dew point temperature of the incoming air. The present paper essentially focuses on the recent theoretical and experimental research of dew point evaporative coolers. Different flow configurations of heat exchange mediums, optimization of geometrical parameters, performance parameters (wet bulb and dew point effectiveness), energy efficiency ratio and energy saving potential are the key elements to study the prospects of dew point evaporative coolers over the conventional refrigeration systems operated by mechanical means. Dew point evaporative cooling technology is environmental friendly and has the potential in reducing the impact on earth due to global warming.
Sick and Shut In: Incarceration During a Public Health Crisis

COVID-19, the latest infectious coronavirus disease, was discovered in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has rapidly reached pandemic levels. The World Health Organization and the Centers for D...
Transsternal Transpericardial Bronchopleural Fistula Repair

Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula with empyema is a rare complication with devastating consequences that can occur at any time after pneumonectomy. Over the years multiple methods have been developed to treat this morbid condition. The most frequently utilized procedure to manage a bronchopleural fistula is a repeat thoracotomy with fistula repair and muscular flap coverage. However, this necessitates operating in densely fibrotic tissue planes, does not allow thorough dissection of the fistula, and has a high rate of recurrence. A less utilized technique, the transsternal transpericardial approach, allows the surgeon not only to enter the chest anteriorly and dissect in fresh tissue planes but also affords excellent exposure of the carina and fistula. This is an important approach with which all thoracic surgeons should be familiar as it offers an excellent option for large and recalcitrant postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas.
MirCure: a tool for quality control, filter and curation of microRNAs of animals and plants

Motivation microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential components of gene expression regulation at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs have a well-defined molecular structure and this has facilitated the development of computational and high-throughput approaches to predict miRNAs genes. However, due to their short size, miRNAs have often been incorrectly annotated in both plants and animals. Consequently, published miRNA annotations and miRNA databases are enriched for false miRNAs, jeopardizing their utility as molecular information resources. To address this problem, we developed MirCure, a new software for quality control, filtering and curation of miRNA candidates. MirCure is an easy-to-use tool with a graphical interface that allows both scoring of miRNA reliability and browsing of supporting evidence by manual curators. Results Given a list of miRNA candidates, MirCure evaluates a number of miRNA-specific features based on gene expression, biogenesis and conservation data, and generates a score that can be used to discard poorly supported miRNA annotations. MirCure can also curate and adjust the annotation of the 5p and 3p arms based on user-provided small RNA-seq data. We evaluated MirCure on a set of manually curated animal and plant miRNAs and demonstrated great accuracy. Moreover, we show that MirCure can be used to revisit previous bona fide miRNAs annotations to improve miRNA databases. Availability and implementation The MirCure software and all the additional scripts used in this project are publicly available at https://github.com/ConesaLab/MirCure. A Docker image of MirCure is available at https://hub.docker.com/r/conesalab/mircure. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Discovery of Gold Nanoparticles in Marcellus Shale

A high density of gold (Au) nanoparticles has been observed on the surfaces of the coexisting opal nanospheres in kerogen-bearing shales from the Marcellus Formation. Our analyses of the Au nanopar...
Blood Transfusion Pitfalls

Despite significant advances in screening and understanding of transfusion-related complications, transfusion of allogeneic blood products will always involve inherent risk due to the sourcing of blood from donors, the limits of screening technology, and the potential for human error. While life-threatening transfusion reactions from hemolysis, TACO, and TRALI are rare, they can have devastating consequences for patients receiving transfusions. Blood products should always be given with caution and with the understanding that a variety of reactions are possible. Leukoreduction, irradiation, storage guidelines, and selective donor procedures for certain allogeneic products have limited risks to patients to a considerable degree. In addition, commonly known life-threatening chronic infections are now rarely transmitted from allogeneic blood due to the extensive screening process for blood donations, but the threat of new emerging pathogens is always a concern. Unfortunately, there exists few definitive treatments for the variety of transfusion reactions beyond cessation of product administration and supportive medical care. The blood bank and appropriate medical staff should be notified in all instances of suspected transfusion reactions, regardless of the seriousness of the reaction.
Autonomous Sensor System for Wind Turbine Blade Collision Detection

This paper presents an automated blade collision detection system for use on wind turbines, toward the goal of supporting monitoring and quantitative assessment of wind energy impacts on wildlife. A wireless, multisensor module mounted at the blade root measures surface vibrations, and a blade-mounted camera provides image capture of colliding objects. Using sensor data recorded during field testing of the system on an operational wind turbine, we present the development, training, and testing of automated detection algorithms for collision detection using machine-learning approaches. In particular, we compare the use of a new two-step, anomaly-based classification algorithm with conventional adaptive boosting and amplitude-based detection techniques, where the two-step approach improves average precision for the experimental data set. This integrated sensor and classification systems demonstrates a new approach for automated, on-blade collision detection for wind turbines, with broad utility across structural health monitoring applications.
RECIPROCALLY INHIBITORY CIRCUITS OPERATING WITH DISTINCT MECHANISMS ARE DIFFERENTLY ROBUST TO PERTURBATION AND MODULATION

Summary What features are important for circuit robustness? Reciprocal inhibition is a building block in many circuits. We used dynamic clamp to create reciprocally inhibitory circuits from GM neurons of the crab stomatogastric ganglion by injecting artificial synaptic and hyperpolarization-activated inward (H) currents. In “release”, the active neuron controls the off/on transitions. In “escape”, the inhibited neuron controls the transitions. We characterized the robustness of escape and release circuits to alterations in circuit parameters, temperature, and neuromodulation. Escape circuits rely on tight correlations between synaptic and H conductances to generate bursting but are resilient to temperature increase. Release circuits are robust to variations in synaptic and H conductances but fragile to temperature increase. The modulatory current (IMI) restores oscillations in release circuits but has little effect in escape. Thus, the same perturbation can have dramatically different effects depending on the circuits’ mechanism of operation that may not be observable from circuit output. Highlights The synaptic threshold determines the mode of reciprocal inhibitory circuits. Robust oscillatory escape mode circuits rely on tight conductance correlations. Release mode circuits are sensitive to temperature and neuromodulation. Mixed mode circuits are sensitive to neuronal excitability differences.
Enhanced Radiomics for Prediction of Rupture Status in Cerebral Aneurysms.

ABSTRACT Background Radiomics is a powerful tool for automatic extraction of morphologic features, but when applied to cerebral aneurysms is inferior to established descriptors in classifying rupture status. We sought a strategy to recover neck orientation and parent vessel caliber in a bid to enhance Radiomics performance and facilitate its adoption for aneurysm risk stratification. Methods 135 sidewall (32 ruptured) and 216 bifurcation (90 ruptured) aneurysms from 3-dimensional rotational catheter angiography (3DRA) datasets were analyzed. Clinical 3DRA defined in arbitrary orientation underwent affine transformations enabling aneurysm neck alignment to XY plane prior to analysis in PyRadiomics, thus facilitating automatic extraction of aneurysm height and width, previously not possible with random alignment. Additionally, parent vessel size was estimated from aneurysm location, and incorporated into enhanced Radiomics (height, width, height/width, size ratio). Rupture status classification was compared across methodologies, for 31 automatically computed conventional Radiomics, enhanced Radiomics, and established size/shape descriptors using univariate, multivariate, and area under the curve (AUC) statistics. Results Enhanced Radiomics derived Height/Width and Size Ratio were significantly higher in both ruptured subsets. Using multivariate analysis in sidewall lesions, enhanced Radiomics (AUC=0.85) matched established features (AUC=0.86) and outperformed conventional Radiomics (AUC=0.82); in bifurcation lesions enhanced Radiomics (AUC=0.78) outperformed both established features (AUC = 0.76) and conventional Radiomics (AUC=0.74). Conclusion Enhanced Radiomics incorporating neck orientation and parent vessel estimate is an efficient operator-independent methodology which offers superior rupture status classification for both sidewall and bifurcation aneurysms and should be considered a strong candidate for larger scale multi-center and multi-modality validation.
TU-G-204-01: BEST IN PHYSICS (IMAGING): Dynamic CT Myocardial Perfusion Measurement and Its Comparison to Fractional Flow Reserve

Purpose: To evaluate a first pass analysis (FPA) technique for CT perfusion measurement in a swine animal and its validation using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as a reference standard. Methods: Swine were placed under anesthesia and relevant physiologic parameters were continuously recorded. Intra-coronary adenosine was administered to induce maximum hyperemia. A pressure wire was advanced distal to the first diagonal branch of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery for FFR measurements and a balloon dilation catheter was inserted over the pressure wire into the proximal LAD to create varying levels of stenosis. Images were acquired with a 320-row wide volume CT scanner. Three main coronary perfusion beds were delineated in the myocardium using arteries extracted from CT angiography images using a minimum energy hypothesis. The integrated density in the perfusion bed was used to calculate perfusion using the FPA technique. The perfusion in the LAD bed over a range of stenosis severity was measured. The measured fractional perfusion was compared to FFR and linear regression was performed. Results: The measured fractional perfusion using the FPA technique (P_FPA) and FFR were related as P_FPA = 1.06FFR – 0.06 (r2 = 0.86). The perfusion measurements were calculated with only three to five total CT volume scans, which drastically reduces the radiation dose as compared with the existing techniques requiring 15–20 volume scans. Conclusion: The measured perfusion using the first pass analysis technique showed good correlation with FFR measurements as a reference standard. The technique for perfusion measurement can potentially make a substantial reduction in radiation dose as compared with the existing techniques.
Characterisation of Cheddar cheese flavour by sensory directed instrumental analysis and model studies

Commercial Cheddar cheeses with and without a beefy/broth-like flavour note had a remarkable similarity in their overall GCO-AEDA and DHDA aroma compounds profiles. However, the beefy/broth-like Cheddar samples had particularly high flavour dilution factors for 3-(methylthio)propanal (methional) and 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (Furaneol). 2-Ethyl-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone and 2-methyl-3-furanthiol (MFT) were identified at higher but overall low intensities in broth-like cheeses. Sensory analysis of mild flavoured Cheddar cheese spiked with a combination of methional, Furaneol and MFT showed a more intense beefy/broth-like.
Design For Six Sigma with Critical-To-Quality Metrics for Research Investments

Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) has evolved as a worthy predecessor to the application of Six-Sigma principles to production, process control, and quality. At Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), we are exploring the interrelation of our current research, development, and design safety standards as they would relate to the principles of DFSS and Six-Sigma. We have had success in prioritization of research and design using a quantitative scalar metric for value, so we further explore the use of scalar metrics to represent the outcome of our use of the DFSS process. We use the design of an automotive component as an example of combining DFSS metrics into a scalar decision quantity. We then extend this concept to a high-priority, personnel safety example representing work that is toward the mature end of DFSS, and begins the transition into Six-Sigma for safety assessments in a production process. This latter example and objective involves the balance of research investment, quality control, and system operation and maintenance of high explosive handling at LLNL and related production facilities. Assuring a sufficiently low probability of failure (reaction of a high explosive given an accidental impact) is a Critical-To-Quality (CTQ) component of our weapons and stockpile stewardship operation and cost. Our use of DFSS principles, with quantification and merging of CTQ metrics, provides ways to quantify clear (preliminary) paths forward for both the automotive example and the explosive safety example. The presentation of simple, scalar metrics to quantify the path forward then provides a focal point for qualitative caveats and discussion for inclusion of other metrics besides a single, provocative scalar. In this way, carrying a scalar decision metric along with the DFSS process motivates further discussion and ideas for process improvement from the DFSS into the Six-Sigma phase of the product. We end with an example of how our DFSS-generated scalar metric could be improved given success of our future research investments in impact safety scenarios.
Adding emotional stressors to training in simulated cardiopulmonary arrest enhances participant performance.

Medical Education 2010: 44: 1006–1015 Objectives Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) skills tend to degrade over time. There is mounting evidence that high-fidelity simulation (HFS) is advantageous to teaching ACLS. The aspects of HFS that enhance learning are not entirely clear, but the anxiety generated by a scenario may enhance retention through well-established learning pathways. We sought to determine whether an HFS with added emotional stress could provoke anxiety and, if so, whether or not participants learning ACLS would demonstrate better written and applied knowledge retention 6 months after their initial course. Methods Twenty-five student volunteers from Year 1 and 2 at Mount Sinai School of Medicine were randomly assigned to a control group or an emotional content (EC) group for a sudden cardiac death management course. All subjects were monitored for heart rate and were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Control group participants experienced an HFS in which actors were not scripted to add stress, whereas EC group participants were exposed to an emotionally charged environment using the same actors. Results Participants across the two groups were well matched by resting heart rates, baseline anxiety and prior ACLS knowledge. The EC group participants experienced greater anxiety than controls (mean state anxiety score: 35.0 versus 28.2 [p < 0.05]; average heart rate [HR]: 94.6 bpm versus 72.9 bpm [p < 0.05]; maximum HR: 120.8 bpm versus 95.3 bpm [p < 0.05]). Six months later, written test scores were similar, but the EC group participants achieved higher practical competency examination (‘mega code’) scores than controls (32.5 versus 25.0; p < 0.05). Independent t-tests and Spearman rank coefficients were employed where applicable. Conclusions Simulation with added emotional stressors led to greater anxiety during ACLS instruction but correlated with enhanced performance of ACLS skills after this course. The quantitative and qualitative values of added stressors need further exploration, but these values represent important variables in simulation-based education.
A self-learning optimization technique for topology design of computer networks

Topology design of computer networks is a constrained optimization problem for which exact solution approaches do not scale well. This paper introduces a self-learning, non-greedy optimization technique for network topology design. It generates new solutions based on the merit of the preceding ones. This is achieved by maintaining a solution library for all the variables. Based on certain heuristics, the library is updated after each set of generated solutions. The algorithm has been applied to a MPLS-based IP network design problem. The network consists of a set of Label Edge Routers (LERs) routing the total traffic through a set of Label Switching Routers (LSRs) and interconnecting links. The design task consists of -- 1) assignment of user terminals to LERs; 2) placement of LERs; and 3) selection of the actually installed LSRs and their links, while distributing the traffic over the network. Results show that our techniques attain the optimal solution, as given by GNU solver - lp_solve, effectively with minimum computational burden.
Media Violence Associations with the Form and Function of Aggression among Elementary School Children.

Although the association between media violence exposure (MVE) and physical aggression (PA) has been well studied, few studies have examined the link between MVE and other subtypes of aggression. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between MVE and reactive and proactive subtypes of both PA and relational aggression (RA). Six hundred and forty‐one third to fifth grade students reported on their exposure to media violence. RA and PA were assessed by peers and teachers. Reactive and proactive subtypes of RA and PA were assessed by teacher reports. Findings revealed a significant positive association between MVE and overall PA and RA. The relation with RA was stronger for girls than for boys. When predicting the functional subtypes of aggression, higher MVE was associated with lower reactive RA, higher proactive RA, and higher reactive PA, and MVE was unrelated to proactive PA. The implications of the findings for future research are discussed.
The clinical and biologic importance of neovascularization and angiogenic signaling pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Angiogenesis has been found to be an important regulator in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. More recent studies have also demonstrated the importance of this biologic process in normal hematopoietic cell development and the pathophysiology of several hematologic malignancies. This review provides an overview of the clinical and biologic importance of angiogenesis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients with CLL have detectable levels of both plasma and cellular pro- and anti-angiogenic cytokines, as well as abnormal neovascularization in the marrow and lymph nodes. Recent evidence suggests a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-based autocrine pathway promotes the survival of CLL B cells in part through upregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, interactions between CLL B cells and their microenvironment generate alterations in the secretion of angiogenic factors that result in enhanced leukemic B-cell resistance to apoptotic cell death. From a clinical stanpoint, interpatient variation is observed in markers of angiogenesis and appears to have prognostic implications. Several clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of anti-angiogenic agents for treatment of patients with CLL are underway with promising preliminary results. Additional research is needed to identify the regulation of aberrant and critical angiogenic pathways in CLL B cells, to determine how angiogenic markers can be used to improve prognostication for CLL patients, and to explore how the angiogenic characteristics of CLL B cells can best be manipulated for therapeutic benefit.
Geoelectric Upper Mantle Anomalies in the United States

Geoelectric studies have shown that a pronounced high conductivity region exists in the upper mantle of the Southwestern United States. This anomaly is well correlated with other geophysical anomalies. Tne electrical measurements can be interpreted to give upper mantle temperatures very close to the melting point. Preliminary measurements near the California ocean-continent boundary indicate even higher conductivities exist in the mantle under the ocean.
Memory and Private Mourning in an English Country House during the First World War: Lady Alda Hoare’s Musical Shrine to a Lost Son

Considered in the context of contemporary, upper-class mourning practices on the British home front, Lady Alda Hoare’s annotated sheet music collection symbolized a shrine to her son, who was killed in the First World War. Such use of material objects as sources of consolation became substitutes for the normal ritual of a burial, since soldiers’ bodies were not sent home. Departing from the existing literature’s focus on the public and professional musical responses to the War, Lady Alda’s music reveals an alternative, intensely private way in which music, as a symbol of memory, aided in the grieving process.
Product Design: Research Trends and an Agenda for the Future

Abstract Academic research in product design is growing in popularity, and new challenging research questions are emerging. This article explores several of these product design research issues. We first explore the role of design as a driver of innovation and as a strategic resource to senior managers for competitive advantage. We revisit the topic of functional integration on the new product team, focusing in particular on the cooperation between designers and marketers. There is also a rich literature emerging on customer-initiated design and user toolkits for design, and we explore this intriguing stream as well. Considering these topics, and several others identified in a recent special issue on design research in the Journal of Product Innovation Management, we present an agenda for research in product design. We conclude with a discussion of how these design research trends affect researchers as well as practitioners involved in high-fashion or luxury-brand goods.
Group I intron lateral transfer between red and brown algal ribosomal RNA

How group I introns originate in nuclear ribosomal (r)RNA genes is an important question in evolutionary biology. Central to this issue is the multitude of group I introns present in evolutionarily distantly related plant, fungal, and protist lineages, together with an understanding of their origin and lateral transfer from one exon to another, between cell organelles, and between cells. These introns vary considerably in primary and secondary structure; and their provenance from a few or perhaps many mobile elements that have spread in rRNAs is unknown. Here we show that a novel lineage of group IC1 introns inserted at position 516 (Escherichia coli gene numbering) in the small subunit rRNA in bangiophyte red algae and a brown alga (Aureoumbra lagunensis) are specifically related, although their host cells are not. These bangiophyte and Aureoumbra introns are the only known cases that have a helical insertion in the P5b helix. The highly conserved primary and secondary structure of the extra P5b helix suggests that it is important, although its specific function is unknown. Our study attempts to understand the origin and movement of these IC1 introns.
Age differences and sex differences in some introvertive and emotional traits.

(1944). Age Differences and Sex Differences in some Introvertive and Emotional Traits. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 219-229.
Uncertainty in dissolved oxygen prediction due to variability in algal photosynthesis

Abstract The contribution of variance in river community metabolism to overall uncertainty in predictions from dissolved oxygen models is evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. Results using a modification of the Streeter-Phelps model to include a term for mean daily net production show that uncertainty in parameters used to describe community metabolism must be considered when probability distributions of dissolved oxygen in rivers are estimated. This conclusion is shown to be valid for a range of conditions and is therefore applicable to all but heavily polluted or highly turbid streams. Use of a refined version of the oxygen balance equation that accounts for diel variation in algal productivity demonstrates that variance in dissolved oxygen in rivers is likely to be much larger than that predicted by models that use mean daily values of net production.
Otitis media in a population of black American and white American infants, 0–2 years of age

To determine the incidence of otitis media (OM) and the bacteriology of acute otitis media (AOM) in a clinic population of young children in Pittsburgh, 138 black infants and 60 white infants were followed from birth to 2 years of age, examined at monthly intervals and whenever an upper respiratory tract infection (URI) or OM intervened. By 24 months of age the cumulative incidence of episodes of AOM was 43% and 42%, and of episodes of middle-ear effusion (MEE) was 86% and 85% in black and white infants, respectively. The average rate of episodes of AOM was 0.41 and 0.39 and of episodes of MEE was 1.68 and 1.70 in black and white infants, respectively. Tympanocentesis was performed for episodes of AOM and the following organisms were isolated from black and white infants, respectively: Streptococcus pneumoniae 43% and 43% of episodes; Moraxella catarrhalis 24% and 24%; non-typable Haemophilus influenzae 18% and 24%; and Haemophilus influenzae type b 5% and 0%. In both black and white infants first born children had less ear disease. We found no difference in the incidence of otitis media during the first 2 years of life between black and white infants.
Proteinase involvement in the solubilization of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase.

Abstract This paper demonstrates that a heavy particle fraction, which contains lysosomes, is required for the solubilization of HMG-CoA reductase from rat liver microsomes by the widely-used slow freeze-thaw procedure. This solubilization is effectively inhibited by the proteinase inhibitors, leupeptin and antipain, but not by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, pepstatin A or N-α-p-tosyl-L-lysine methyl ester. These results suggest that a thiol proteinase, possibly derived from lysosomes, is responsible for solubilizing the reductase.
Cryothermal mapping of the sinus node in dogs: a simple method of localising dominant and latent pacemakers.

To investigate the potential use of cryothermal mapping to localise the sites of the dominant and latent pacemakers of the sinus node, we compared the results of cryothermal and electrical mapping of the sinus node in 16 dogs. In all dogs, cooling (−5 to +5°C) of a localised epicardial area of about 3 × 3 mm2 close to the sulcus terminalis (area 1) resulted in a decrease in heart rate and a change in the P wave configuration. Cooling of an additional area of up to 15 × 3 mm2 (area 2) while cooling of area 1 was maintained resulted in a further decrease in heart rate and a further change in P wave configuration until junctional rhythm occurred. In all dogs areas 1 and 2 could be identified within 5 min. The heart rate and P wave configuration returned to control following cooling suggesting no adverse effect of cooling on the sinus node in this temperature range. In dogs with sufficiently slow heart rates, recording from area 1 showed diastolic and upstroke slopes followed by primary negativity, indicating that area 1 was the area of the dominant pacemaker. Recording from area 2 showed only diastolic slopes indicating that area 2 was the area of the latent pacemaker. Compared to electrical mapping for identifying diastolic slope, upstroke slope and primary negativity or earliest atrial activation, cryothermal mapping is a simple, quick and safe procedure for localisation of the sinus pacemakers. Unlike recording of sinus nodal electrograms, cryothermal mapping can be performed in the presence of rapid heart rates. Clinical application of the technique during cardiac surgery may help prevent damage to the sinus node and reduce the incidence of postoperative sinus node dysfunction.
Physiological implications of adenosine receptor‐mediated platelet aggregation

Adenosine is an important mediator of inhibition of platelet activation. This metabolite is released from various cells, as well as generated via activity of ecto-enzymes on the cell surface. Binding of adenosine to A(2) subtypes (A(2A) or A(2B)), G-protein coupled adenosine receptors, results in increased levels of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a strong inhibitor of platelet activation. The role and importance of adenosine and its receptors in platelet physiology are addressed in this review, including recently identified roles for the A(2B) adenosine receptor as a modulator of platelet activation through its newly described role in the control of expression of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptors.
Reduction of insensible water loss in premature infants under the radiant warmer

THE USE of radiant warmers for the care of neonates is not without risks nor side effects; hyperthermia, 1 increased insensible water loss, 2 and first-degree burns 3 have been reported. The mechanism for the high IWL in infants under radiant warmers is not known. It is probably due to either an increase in blood flow as a result of direct thermal effect on the skin 2 or to a poorly controlled physical environment.' Since a heat shield has been shown to facilitate achievement of neutral thermal environment in an incubator? -6 this study was designed to see if it could also be used to reduce IWL under the radiant warmer.
Patients’ views of teamwork in the emergency department offer insights about team performance

Background Research into efforts to engage patients in the assessment of health-care teams is limited. Objective To explore, through qualitative methods, patient awareness of teamwork-related behaviours observed during an emergency department (ED) visit. Design Researchers used semi-structured question guides for audio-recorded interviews and analysed their verbatim transcripts. Setting and participants Researchers conducted individual phone interviews with 6 teamwork subject matter experts (SMEs) and held 5 face-to-face group interviews with patients and caregivers (n = 25) about 2 weeks after discharge from the emergency department (ED). Results SMEs suggested that a range of factors influence patient perspectives of teams. Many patients perceived the health-care team within the context of their expectations of an ED visit and their treatment plan. Four themes emerged: (i) patient-centred views highlight gaps in coordination and communication; (ii) team processes do concern patients; (iii) patients are critical observers of ways that team members present their team roles; (iv) patients’ observations of team members relate to patients’ views of team effectiveness. Analysis also indicated that patients viewed health-care team members’ interactions with each other as proxy for how team members actually felt about patients. Discussion Results from both sets of interviews (SME and patient) indicated that patient observations of teamwork could add to assessment of team processes/frameworks. Patients’ understanding about teamwork organization seemed helpful and witnessed interteam communication appeared to influence patient confidence in the team. Conclusion Patients perspectives are an important part of assessment in health care and suggest potential areas for improvement through team training.
When are metal ion-dependent hydroxyl and alkoxyl radical adducts of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide artifacts?

Abstract The formation of the 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide ( DMPO . OH ) adduct of the spin trap DMPO has been reported to occur through nucleophilic addition of water in the presence of aqueous ferric chloride ( K. Makino, T. Hagiwara, A. Hagi, M. Nishi, and A. Murakami, 1990, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 172, 1073–1080 ). Due to the serious implications of these findings with respect to many spin trapping studies, the suitability of DMPO as a hydroxyl radical spin trap was studied in typical Fenton systems. Using 17O-enriched water, we show conclusively that nucleophilic addition of water occurs at the nitrone carbon (or C-2 position) of DMPO in the presence of either Fe or Cu ions. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that this nucleophilic reaction is a major pathway to the DMPO . OH adduct, even during the reaction of Fe(II) or Cu(I) with hydrogen peroxide. Primary alkoxyl adducts of DMPO also form in aqueous solution through nucleophilic addition in the presence of both Fe(III) and Cu(II). Attempts to obtain secondary and tertiary alkoxyl adducts by this mechanism were unsuccessful, possibly due to steric effects. When the reaction is carried out in various buffers, however, or in the presence of metal ion chelators, nucleophilic addition to DMPO from Fe(III) is effectively suppressed. Chelators also suppress the reaction with Cu(II). Hence, under most common experimental conditions in biochemical free radical research, nucleophilic addition to DMPO should not be of major concern.
Recent experiments for laminar and turbulent film heat transfer in vertical tubes

Abstract This study reviews experimental local heat-transfer data for laminar and turbulent film heat transfer for downward condensing films, under the influence of interfacial-waviness and shear–stress effects. Local laminar-wavy-film heat transfer and transition to turbulence are significantly influenced by local wave characteristics, which depend not only on the film developing length, but also on the film-formation method. The results demonstrate that the dimensionless film thickness, incorporating shear stress, provides a more appropriate length scale to estimate laminar-wavy-film heat transfer, as well as transition to turbulence. For turbulent films, a phenomenologically-based local heat-transfer correlation has been proposed, treating the near-wall and near-interface regions in series, to derive a `two-layer resistance model', based on the investigation of turbulence structure across sheared gas–liquid interfaces.
School Expulsion: The Interface of Disabilities and Discipline

Since the implementation of a “zero tolerance” policy for possession of controlled substances and weapons on school campuses in California, a tenfold increase in the number of expulsions has been noted in some school districts. In the past five years, articles have appeared in the journals of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand documenting the rise in use of expulsion as a disciplinary measure, but there have been few domestic publications addressing this pressing issue. The present study describes the characteristics of 38 special education students from among a larger sample of 158 expulsion referrals that occurred between school years 1992–93 and 1994–95 in one California school district. Students with more severe handicapping conditions who were served in more restrictive educational settings enjoyed greater protection from expulsion, whereas students with mild handicaps were at greater risk of exclusion. The use of non-special education interventions, a tendency to emphasize academic behaviors over more global functioning, and the developmental vulnerability of middle school students to expulsion proceedings are discussed. Recommendations for the practice of school psychology include assessment, consultation, and intervention strategies to assist these troubled and troubling students.
Dehydroalanine crosslinks in human lens

This study was conducted to develop a methodology for the purification and detection of histidinoalanine, lanthionine and lysinoalanine in the lens tissue. Cataractous and aged human lens proteins were hydrolysed and fractionated by using anion-exchange chromatography. The fraction containing the bulk of dehydroalanine crosslinks was derivatized with dansyl chloride and then separated and quantified by means of RP-HPLC. The spectral and chromatographic properties of all three substances purified and quantified in this study were identical to those of their synthesized counterparts. Histidinoalanine and lanthionine were the most abundant dehydroalanine crosslinks in both water-soluble and water-insoluble lens proteins. Histidinoalanine levels in water-soluble proteins from the cataractous lenses of Indian origin were 6.2-fold higher than those in water-soluble proteins from normal lenses (1.68+/-0.75 vs 0.26+/-0.06 nmol/mg protein; p<0.001). In water-insoluble proteins, they were 2.2-fold higher in cataractous lenses compared with normal lenses (1.59+/-0.76 vs 0.73+/-0.17 nmol/mg protein; p<0.01). Lanthionine levels were significantly higher in water-insoluble proteins of cataractous lenses when compared to non-cataractous lenses (2.5+/-1.68 vs 0.95+/-0.08 nmol/mg protein; p<0.03). Unlike histidinoalanine, this crosslink appears to accumulate in relatively high concentrations in water-soluble lens proteins; its concentration was 9-fold higher than histidinoalanine from the same proteins (0.26+/-0.06 HAL vs 2.34+/-0.76 LAN nmol/mg protein; p<0.0004). The concentration of lysinoalanine was in the picomolar range and in cataractous lens proteins only.
The effect of the torso boundary in electrocardiography

This paper outlines and contrasts three different (external) “infinite medium” potential fields which may be obtained (in principle) from known geometry, conductivities, and bounded medium torso potentials. Their electrocardiographic implications are considered.
Stability and Decomposition Products of Hectorite

The Hector, California, bentonite has been found unusual in many respects, and its thermal stability under hydrothermal conditions is no exception. It is important that the stability of this bentonite be known, as it is an end member of the saponite series with all cation positions, excluding interlayer, in the structure filled. The information is applicable to studies of wall rock alteration in which saponites occur as alteration products associated with ore deposition. This saponite has an upper thermal stability limit of 750°C, at 15,000 psi water pressure, at which temperature it decomposes. The only products observed were talc and vapor; above 780°C the decomposition products observed were anthophyllite and vapor. Syntheses on the hectorite composition corroborate these decomposition temperatures and products. Hydrothermal treatment at temperatures below about 450°C produce no change in the x-ray diffraction pattern of hectorite: on drying, the lattice collapses to a basal spacing (10–12A) approaching that of mica, and with ethylene glycol expands to 17A. However, after hydrothermal treatment above this temperature and to decomposition at 750°C, the hectorite, after subsequent cooling, collapses on drying at 110°C or less to 9.4A, but expands as before to 17 A with glycol saturation. Without the glycol treatment the resulting material could be mistaken for talc and considered the decomposition product of hectorite at the higher temperatures. This behavior also occurs using the synthetic hectorite but does not occur when using synthetic or natural saponites containing aluminum. For comparison, the relative stabilities of some dioctahedral and trioctahedral layered minerals are given to show the consistently higher stabilities for the minerals whose octahedral positions are filled.
A comparative double-blind study of esophageal barium pastes.

To demonstrate esophageal varices barium sulfate suspensions must coat the lower esophagus for as long as 5 to 10 minutes. This study compared the ability of five barium sulfate preparations to resist disappearance by inadvertent swallowing. Three of the special preparations for esophageal examinations, Esophatrast, Barosperse Esophageal Paste, and HD-5000 performed satisfactorily. Examiner skill, persistence, and careful technique are the most important factors in examining the lower esophagus. The authors' procedure for examination of the esophagus for varices is described. It takes into account position, time, phase of respiration, occasional use of drugs, and procedures to insure good coating and relaxation of the lower esophagus.
Long-term results and consequences of single ventricle palliation

Abstract Severe hypoplasia of the right ventricle leads to the need to offer an alternative strategy beyond two-ventricle repair for the infant with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum. Although the relative short-term results for the Fontan operation have improved considerably over the past two decades, long-term results are worrisome. The Fontan circulation with resultant elevation in systemic venous pressure and low cardiac output leads to end-organ dysfunction and a series of new diseases. In this review, we discuss the physiological consequences of the Fontan circulation, its effect on the liver and gastrointestinal tract, and propose a new clinical care model for the management of these unique patients.