cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Focalized Pulmonary Histoplasmosis (Coin Lesion): A Report of 58 Cases

Focalized histoplasmosis is often indistinguishable from neoplasms and other granulomatous lesions in their gross appearance, clinical manifestations, and roentgenographic examination. However, in a few cases the diagnosis of histoplasmoma can be strongly suspected from roentgenographic evidence of the characteristic laminated or stippled calcification. The presence of calcium within the nodule does not rule out carcinoma, and exploratory thoracotomy is indicated to establish a definitive diagnosis. We have operated on 58 patients with proved histoplasmoma with no mortality and only two minor postoperative complications. There is no evidence of recurrence of the disease with an average followup of 50 months. The inability to culture the organisms from the resected tissue is probably caused by their not being viable and suggest the benign nature of the disease. Wedge resection is the operation of choice and there is no evidence to indicate that dissemination of the disease results from surgical removal of the focalized lesion. We believe amphotericin B therapy is not indicated in the treatment of focalized histoplasmosis unless the patient develops recurrence of the disease, which is very rare.
Eyeblinking During Problem Solving: The Effect of Problem Difficulty and Internally vs Externally Directed Attention

This study examined the eyeblink rate during non-visual problem solving. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design compared eyeblink rates for easy and difficult problems, internally and externally directed attention, and numerical and alphabetical tasks. The major finding was a higher eyeblink rate for difficult problems. There was also a significant interaction between difficulty and the direction of attention; internally directed attention yielded higher blink rates only during the solution of easy problems. Range-corrected data yielded the same pattern of results, but F-values were consistently higher and accounted for a larger proportion of the variance.
Phase behavior and microstructure of nonaqueous microemulsions. 2

The microstructure of nonaqueous microemulsions formed with propylene glycol, glycerol, three different alkanes, and pentaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C{sub 12}E{sub 6}) is probed with NMR self-diffusion measurements and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). At low oil concentrations, both NMR self-diffusion and SANS results can be modeled in terms of a microstructure of ellipsoidal oil-rich droplets with only excluded volume interactions. These droplet structures percolate to an oil-continuous structure as the volume fraction of oil in the microemulsions increases. Percolation thresholds measured as a function of alkane chain length are interpreted in terms of the phase behavior of the microemulsion and the strength of droplet interactions. 41 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs.
Are Neuroimages Like Photographs of the Brain

Images come in many varieties, but for evidential purposes, photographs are privileged. Recent advances in neuroimaging provide us with a new type of image that is used as scientific evidence. Brain images are epistemically compelling, in part because they are liable to be viewed as akin to photographs of brain activity. Here I consider features of photography that underlie the evidential status we accord it, and argue that neuroimaging diverges from photography in ways that seriously undermine the photographic analogy. While neuroimaging remains an important source of scientific evidence, proper interpretation of brain images is much more complex than it appears.
A NMR technique for the analysis of pore structure: Application to materials with well-defined pore structure

Abstract The application of NMR spin—lattice relaxation measurements of water contained in porous solids is investigated as a possible tool for the determination of pore size distributions. NMR methods have several potential advantages over conventional porosimetry/adsorption techniques including the study of wet porous solids, a wide range of sample sizes that may be studied, and the fact that no pore shape assumption is required. In principle, water contained in a pore will relax faster than bulk water. This decrease in the observed relaxation rate decay constant, T1, is directly related to the pore volume to surface area ratio (i.e., hydraulic radius) according to the “two-fraction, fast-exchange model.” However, the suitability of this model and NMR spin—lattice relaxation measurements for the determination of pore size distributions has not been previously demonstrated. Pore size distributions have been determined for two series of porous solids by mercury porosimetry and a NMR method. A series of four controlled-pore glasses with very narrow pore size distributions and a mean radius in the range 3.4 to 17.6 nm were studied at a frequency of 20 MHz and at four temperatures. By using four samples with similar surface chemistry/ pore shape, the validity of the two-fraction, fast-exchange model was assessed. Experiments were conducted using a 180°–τ-90° pulse sequence and the distribution of T1 was calculated using a nonnegative leastsquares routine (NNLS) presented in a previous paper. The two-fraction model described the change of mean T1 with pore radius at a given temperature. The change of the surface relaxation decay constant, T1s, fit an Arrhenius expression with an activation energy of 1.8 kcal/mole. Agreement between the mercury porosimetry and NMR derived pore size distributions is excellent. T1 measurements at both 20 and 300 MHz and 303 K were also made on a series of porous solids fabricated by pelleting submicron silica spheres. These solids exhibit afairly wide pore size distribution (⋍ one order of magnitude). The two-fraction, fast-exchange model satisfactorily described the relationship between pore size and T1. Agreement between mercury porosimetry and NMR pore size distributions is good. However, the NMR derived distributions consisted of a series of narrow peaks overlapping the single broad porosimetry peak. The surface relaxation effect, and, hence, the overall pore size sensitivity, is increased by a factor of 3 when the proton frequency is decreased from 300 to 20 MHz.
Linking advertising and quantity decisions in the single-period inventory model

Abstract The single-period problem (SPP), also known as the newsboy or news-vendor problem, is to find the order quantity which maximizes the expected profit in a single period probabilistic demand framework. Interest in the SPP remains unabated and many extensions to it have been proposed in the last decade. An important aspect of the SPP is the effect of advertising on sales. In this paper, we extend the SPP to a case in which advertising leads to increases in sales. We assume that the mean demand is increasing and concave in advertising expenditure and address three cases of demand variance as a function of advertising expenditure: (1) demand has constant variance, (2) demand has constant coefficient of variation, and (3) demand has an increasing coefficient of variation. We deal with two objectives: (a) maximizing the expected profit and (b) maximizing the probability of achieving a target profit. We provide closed or near-closed form solutions to the problem under uniform, exponential, and normal demand distributions. We illustrate the results using numerical examples and provide some insights into the effect of advertising.
Changing Diet and Exercise Behaviors in Individuals at Risk for Weight Gain

To date, there have been very few studies on the primary prevention of obesity and/or weight gain. This paper identifies three times periods that might be appropriate for such efforts at weight gain prevention--the 25 to 35 year age window, the perimenopausal period, and the year following successful weight loss. Research is encouraged that compares these three time periods and various intervention strategies. Several different approaches to primary prevention are identified, including group treatment programs with weekly meetings vs. less intensive, community-based interventions; focusing on those who are currently at ideal body weight vs. including those who are overweight as well; and targeting weight gain prevention per se vs. attempting to produce modest weight losses and/or modify cardiovascular risk factors. This paper suggests that primary prevention efforts should include exercise, changes in quality and quantity of food consumed, behavior modification, and some degree of therapist contact, but the manner in which these changes should be implemented to produce long-term habit change remains unclear.
SEX DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

The literature in this bibliography focuses on studies which relate discrimination in education to sex differences in the attainment of roles and rewards both in the educational system and in the larger society. This literature is reviewed in an extensive preface to the bibliography. The 1000 item bibliography itself contains references to published and unpublished materials which may be of use to persons interested in the problem of sex discrimination in education. The references are available on a computer file, and may be accessed. Information on how to access the materials is provided.
On the emergence and propagation of a phase boundary in an elastic bar with a suddenly applied end load

This paper is concerned with the dynamical analysis of an elastic bar whose stress-strain relation is not monotonic. For a special class of these materials, an initial-boundary value problem in one-dimension is considered for a semi-infinite bar whose end is subjected to a monotonically increasing load. If the load is sufficiently high, a strain discontinuity—or phase boundary—emerges at the end of the bar and subsequently propagates into the interior. Its trajectory is governed by a pair of differential-delay equations. An analysis of this system for short times provide an asymptotic description of the emergence of the phase boundary. For large-times a different analysis indicates that the phase boundary velocity approaches a constant. Conditions are deduced which determine whether this boundary eventually becomes the leading disturbance.
The rehabilitation of captive baboons

Eleven baboons who had been singly housed indoors for an average of 5 years were moved to outdoor social groups in an attempt to provide a more species-typical environment and reduce high levels of abnormal behavior. Nine of the baboons were observed while in single housing and, over a 6-month period, while housed outdoors socially to document long-term changes in behavior. Abnormal behavior decreased significantly from an average of 14% of the observation time in the single cages to 3% in the sixth month of social housing. Cage manipulation and self-directed behaviors also significantly decreased, while social behavior, enrichment-directed behavior, and locomotion increased in social housing. Baboons that had been in long-term indoor single housing were able to reproduce and form stable social groups without injury. This study provides evidence that even behaviorally disturbed nonhuman primates can be successfully rehabilitated to live in social groups.
High-resolution electrostatic analog tunable grating with a single-mask fabrication process

We present the design, modeling, fabrication, and characterization of the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) analog tunable diffraction grating with the concept of transverse actuation. In contrast to the vertically actuated "digital" tunable grating, our prototype design trades angular tunable range for tuning resolution. The prototype shows an angular tunable range of 250 murad with 1-murad resolution at 10 V. Grating pitch changes corresponding to the full range and resolution are 57 nm and 2.28 Aring, respectively confirmed by experimental measurement and theoretical calculation. Simulation shows that subradian tunable range is feasible with better lithographic design rules or higher actuation voltage. The single-mask fabrication process offers several advantages: 1) Excellent optical flatness; 2) ease of fabrication; and 3) great flexibility of device integration with existing on-chip circuitry. Tunable gratings such as the one presented here can be used for controlling dispersion in optical telecommunications, sensing, etc., applications
Aflibercept in lung cancer

Introduction: Angiogenesis, the recruitment and growth of blood vessels, is a process central to the growth of solid tumors. One of the key mediators of angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of ligands. An antibody to VEGF-A, bevacizumab, has demonstrated a survival benefit in conjunction with platinum-based doublet chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Aflibercept (VEGF Trap) is a recombinant VEGF receptor–antibody protein fusion with higher affinity for VEGF-A than bevacizumab, plus affinity for VEGF-B and placental growth factor (PlGF). Areas covered: This article reviews recent clinical trials investigating the role of aflibercept in the treatment of lung cancer, both published in the literature and those for which preliminary data have been presented at major scientific meetings. Expert opinion: Aflibercept has proven Phase III efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer, but in lung cancer, large clinical trials have not yielded positive results. There remai...
Stiction in RFMEMS capacitive switches

Stiction is a major limiter in the reliability of RF MEMS capacitive switches and varactors. There are three major categories of stiction: temporary, voltage-independent, and permanent. The permanent stiction is defined in this paper as adhesion of two parts of otherwise separate surfaces even after exposure to water, high temperature anneals, a normal range of bias conditions or restoring forces, and after long periods of relaxation (>1 year). This paper will examine the effects of bias waveform, ambient, and moisture on permanent stiction in RF MEMS capacitive switches. The mitigation solutions for permanent stiction are often different than conventional wisdom for mitigation of temporary stiction.
Rearranging Exosites in Noncatalytic Domains Can Redirect the Substrate Specificity of ADAMTS Proteases

ADAMTS proteases typically employ some combination of ancillary C-terminal disintegrin-like, thrombospondin-1, cysteine-rich, and spacer domains to bind substrates and facilitate proteolysis by an N-terminal metalloprotease domain. We constructed chimeric proteases and substrates to examine the role of C-terminal domains of ADAMTS13 and ADAMTS5 in the recognition of their physiological cleavage sites in von Willebrand factor (VWF) and aggrecan, respectively. ADAMTS5 cleaves Glu373–Ala374 and Glu1480–Gly1481 bonds in bovine aggrecan but does not cleave VWF. Conversely, ADAMTS13 cleaves the Tyr1605–Met1606 bond of VWF, which is exposed by fluid shear stress but cannot cleave aggrecan. Replacing the thrombospondin-1/cysteine-rich/spacer domains of ADAMTS5 with those of ADAMTS13 conferred the ability to cleave the Glu1615–Ile1616 bond of VWF domain A2 in peptide substrates or VWF multimers that had been sheared; native (unsheared) VWF multimers were resistant. Thus, by recombining exosites, we engineered ADAMTS5 to cleave a new bond in VWF, preserving physiological regulation by fluid shear stress. The results demonstrate that noncatalytic thrombospondin-1/cysteine-rich/spacer domains are principal modifiers of substrate recognition and cleavage by both ADAMTS5 and ADAMTS13. Noncatalytic domains may perform similar functions in other ADAMTS family members.
Studies upon the methane fermentation. IV. The isolation and culture ofMethanobacterium Omelianskii

1. The isolation of pure cultures ofMb. Omelianskii has been achieved by the agar shake culture method. The purity of the cultures was established by microscopic examination and by testing for possible contaminants in suitable media under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. 2. The organism is a thin, unbranched, Gram-variable rod. Motility occurs but is rare. Spores of low heat resistance are formed. 3. Growth of the organism in pure culture is shown to be influenced by a number of factors including hydrogen sulfide concentration, pH, phosphate and carbonate concentrations. The pH range of growth is from 6.5 to 8.1, the optimum being at 7.0–7.2. Increasing the phosphate concentration up to about 2% is beneficial because it increases the buffering of the medium. Growth and alcohol oxidation are directly proportional to the carbonate supply at low concentrations. High concentrations of soluble carbonates are inhibitory. 4. Mb. Omelianskii uses ammonia as a nitrogen source and is not stimulated by organic nitrogen compounds or growth factors such as are present in yeast extract. 5. A culture medium is described which allows rapid and abundant development ofMb. Omelianskii quite comparable with that obtainable with other obligately anaerobic bacteria.
The Wild East: Portrait of an Urban Nomad

The Wild East: Portrait of an Urban Nomad Directed by Michael Haslund-Christensen 2002 54 minutes, color Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 10018-3396 www.frif.com
Methyl sulfide production by Aerobacter aerogenes in milk.

Abstract Aerobacter aerogenes was isolated as the causative organism in samples of commercial milk having defects described as cowy or feedy, or both. The fact that aqueous solutions of trace amounts of methyl sulfide (Me 2 S) give similar flavors led to a study of its production by A. aerogenes in milk. Inoculation of the organism into vacuum heat-treated, homogenized milk was followed by measuring bacterial development, titratable acidity, Me 2 S concentration, and flavor characteristics. In three separate trials, inoculated milk incubated at 5C developed from 500–800 ppb Me 2 S when bacterial counts were between 1 and 100 million/milliliter. This occurred between the third and fifth day. Levels of Me 2 S were determined by gas chromatographic analysis from standard curves prepared in homogenized milk. The concentrations of Me 2 S produced greatly exceeded its threshold level of 115 ppb in homogenized milk. Flavors characterized as Me 2 S-like, molasses-like, or cowy were observed after three days when the Me 2 S peaks appeared. The Me 2 S concentration decreased rapidly from the fifth to the seventh day, during which time the odor characteristics of the milk also changed.
System Identification of a 200 kN Magneto-Rheological Fluid Damper for Structural Control in Large-Scale Smart Structures

This paper presents a hyperbolic tangent model to capture the salient dynamic behavior of large-scale 200 kN magneto-rheological (MR) fluid dampers. The damper model will be used for simulation studies of the effectiveness of semiactive control for seismic protection as well as for controller design and diagnostic tests for large-scale real-time testing of the MR dampers at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) fast hybrid test (FHT) facility. A series of sinusoidal tests are conducted at the CU FHT facility for varying frequencies, amplitudes, and constant control current levels to determine the parameters of the hyperbolic tangent model as functions of current. Finally, the simulated damper force from the MR damper model is compared to that of the physical MR dampers subjected to random excitation and random control current. The hyperbolic tangent model is observed to predict closely the experimentally obtained MR damper forces over a wide dynamic range and within the constraints of computation time and fixed integration time step required for real-time diagnostic tests utilizing the CU FHT system.
A Case Series: Cognitive- Behavioral Treatment (Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy) of Trauma-Related Nightmares Experienced by Children

Two case studies are presented to demonstrate that children who experience trauma-related nightmares may benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy for this sleep problem. The treatment was adapted from the empirically supported adult treatment for chronic trauma-related night- mares: exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy (ERRT). Pretreatment and posttreatment nightmare frequency and severity were measured in addition to subjective nightmare-related distress, behavioral problems, sleep quality and quantity, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Improvement in nightmare and sleep disturbance fre- quencies were found as well as reductions in parents' reports of child behavior problems. This study provides preliminary support for the use of ERRT with children.
Overview of Synergy with Reference to Double Beta-Lactam Combinations

Combination antimicrobial therapy is used to expand the bacterial coverage over a single agent, to prevent the emergence of resistant organisms, to decrease toxicity by allowing lower doses of both agents, or for synergy. Synergy is one of the most common of these reasons, especially in serious infections. The introduction of new broad-spectrum beta-lactam antimicrobials has led to their combination in the treatment of seriously ill patients. Whereas a combination of an aminoglycoside and a beta-lactam antimicrobial is frequently synergistic, much less is known about synergy between combinations of beta-lactams. In vitro testing shows most combinations of two beta-lactams to be indifferent or additive in their effects; rarely does synergy occur. Antagonism can sometimes be seen, particularly with combinations involving cefoxitin or imipenem, especially if the treated organism is Enterobacter or Pseudomonas. Results of clinical trials comparing double beta-lactam (DBL) therapy with aminoglycoside/beta-lactam combinations show no difference in clinical response rates. Highly active DBL combinations may substitute for standard aminoglycoside-containing regimens in certain situations, even though they are not reliably synergistic. However, in the treatment of seriously ill patients such combinations may be less desirable.
The Kullback–Leibler Rate Pseudo-Metric for Comparing Dynamical Systems

This paper is concerned with information theoretic "metrics" for comparing two dynamical systems. Following the recent work of Tryphon Georgiou, we outline a prediction (filtering) based approach to do so. Central to the considerations of this paper is the notion of uncertainty. In particular, we compare systems in terms of additional uncertainty that results for the prediction problem with an incorrect choice of the model. While used variance of the prediction error, we quantify the additional uncertainty in terms of the Kullback-Leibler rate. This pseudometric is closely related to the classical Bode formula in control theory and we provide detailed comparison to the variance based metric. We present three applications that serve to illustrate the utility of the Kullback-Leibler rate to a range of model reduction and model selection issues. One, we show that model reduction with the metric leads to the so-called optimal prediction model. Two, for the particular case of linear systems, we describe an algorithm to obtain optimal prediction auto regressive (AR) models. Three, we use the metric to obtain a formula for stochastic linearization of a nonlinear dynamical system.
Management of Hepatitis B: Our Practice and How It Relates to the Guidelines

Seven drugs have been approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral treatment has been shown to be effective in suppressing hepatitis B virus replication, decreasing inflammation and fibrosis in the liver, and preventing progression of liver disease. However, current medications do not eradicate hepatitis B virus; therefore, a key question is which patients need to start treatment and which patients can be monitored. Professional societies have developed guidelines to assist physicians in recognition, diagnosis, and optimal management of patients with chronic hepatitis B. These guidelines suggest preferred approaches, and physicians are expected to exercise clinical judgment to determine the most appropriate management based on the circumstances of the individual patient. This article reviews recommendations in hepatitis B guidelines and the basis for those recommendations, and we discuss what we do in our practice to illustrate factors that may influence decisions regarding hepatitis B management.
Large-scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediments of the Clark Fork River, Montana, U.S.A.

Historic discharges from the mining and smelting complex at the head-waters of the Clark Fork River have resulted in elevated Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in the <60 μm fraction of both bed and flood-plain sediments of the river. Processes affecting the trends in longitudinal distributions of these metals were investigated by repeated sampling over a 380 km river reach between August 1986 and July 1989. At the most upstream site, bed-sediment metal concentrations were enriched 18–115 times above least enriched tributaries, depending on the metal. All metals decreased exponentially with distance downstream away from mining. The exponential model predicts that elevated metal concentrations should occur over 550 km downstream, in Lake Pend Oreille. Longitudinal trends, obvious on a scale of hundreds of kilometers, were obscured by small-scale spatial variability when shorter stretches of the river were considered. Longitudinal dispersion appeared to be controlled largely by physical dilution with less-contaminated sediments. Evidence suggests that erosion of contaminated flood-plains contributes to metal contamination in the bed sediments. Tributary input appeared to have little influence on the large-scale, downstream distribution of metals; however, it did contribute to local variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations. Association of metals with specific mineral grains, as well as variability in total organic C and Fe concentration, appeared also to contribute to variability. Some year-to-year variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations was observed, however, trends in longitudinal dispersion were not significantly different between at least two of the years sampled.
Using Statistics and Spatial Data Mining to Study Land Cover in Wyoming :Can We Predict Vegetation Types from Environmental Variables?

Factor analysis, classification and regression tree analysis (CART), discriminant analysis and classification analysis were applied to study land cover in Wyoming, to explore: 1) how environmental variables are related to one another; 2) whether land cover types (forest, grass, shrub and un-vegetated) are differentiated from one another in term of abiotic conditions; and 3) how to predicate vegetation covers based on environmental variables. A factor analysis indicated that environmental variables were characterized by three dominant conditions: 1) harsh condition for survival, 2) suitable condition during growing season, and 3) harsh condition caused by high altitude. A discriminant analysis indicated that: 1) forests and grasses required wet climate with relatively cool summers, while shrub could bear drought; 2) quite different to forests, grasses required dry winters and relatively wet and warm summers. CART and classification analysis both indicated that, by using Precipitation in July, Maximum Annual Temperature and Average Annual Precipitation, we had a fair accuracy in predicting vegetation covers in Wyoming. Keywords: Factor analysis, discriminant analysis, classification and regression tree, land cover, Wyoming .
Diverse Bacterial PKS Sequences Derived From Okadaic Acid-Producing Dinoflagellates

Okadaic acid (OA) and the related dinophysistoxins are isolated from dinoflagellates of the genus Prorocentrum and Dinophysis. Bacteria of the Roseobacter group have been associated with okadaic acid producing dinoflagellates and have been previously implicated in OA production. Analysis of 16S rRNA libraries reveals that Roseobacter are the most abundant bacteria associated with OA producing dinoflagellates of the genus Prorocentrum and are not found in association with non-toxic dinoflagellates. While some polyketide synthase (PKS) genes form a highly supported Prorocentrum clade, most appear to be bacterial, but unrelated to Roseobacter or Alpha-Proteobacterial PKSs or those derived from other Alveolates Karenia brevis or Crytosporidium parvum.
Surgical treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (including carcinoid).

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are rare tumors, but as they have become recognized more often, and their care has been concentrated at some centers, standards of care have developed. With these standards, questions in the field have led to focused studies to inform practitioners. RECENT FINDINGS The efficacy and morbidity of care have been well delineated now for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, as well as the effect of stretching the bounds of resection to include vascular reconstruction. The management of the gallbladder in patients with mid-gut carcinoid tumors and palliative approaches to mesenteric vein compression have been reported. The operative management of liver metastases shows the benefit of this approach, even when incomplete, as well as the safety of performing complex procedures in appropriate situations. SUMMARY Some of the difficult or controversial decision areas in the surgical care of patients with neuroendocrine tumors are now more clear because of recently reported data.
Using participatory methods to examine policy and women prisoners' health.

This article describes how community-based participatory research (CBPR) led to the discovery of the unintended consequences of jail and prison copayment policy on women prisoners’ health. The arti...
Self-disclosure and psychotherapy with children and adolescents.

The focus of this chapter is a discussion of the concept of self-disclosure as it applies to therapeutic work with adolescents and children. This begins with a brief discussion of the relevance of self-disclosure in psychotherapeutic work with adults, in order to demonstrate the importance of using a developmental perspective in understanding this phenomenon in work with a younger population. It will also briefly review the positions taken by different analytic schools of thought regarding the therapist’s self-disclosure in work with adult patients.
A Neighborhood Notion of Emergent Literacy: One Mixed Methods Inquiry to Inform Community Learning

Using a convergent parallel mixed methods design, this study considered the early literacy and language environments actualized by childcare providers and parents of young children (ages 3–5) living in one large urban community in the United States of America. Both childcare providers and parents responded to questionnaires and participated in focus groups held at various community sites within the neighborhood. Using snowball sampling, 77 childcare providers and 149 parents responded to surveys that asked about their individual roles in children’s emergent literacy development. Subsequently, several focus groups were held, ensuring childcare provider and parent representation from both center and home-based early childcare sites. Study questions considered the consistencies and inconsistencies in beliefs and actions by members of both community groups regarding early literacy development. Consistencies and inconsistencies were identified through a descriptive comparative analysis within and across survey and focus group data to guide the implementation of practical, ecological, research-based community learning that can be used as a model for other communities seeking to create similar communities of practice.
A drug that stops traffic at the nuclear border.

In this issue of Blood , Ranganathan et al seek a holy grail: evidence that a drug with a novel mechanism of action may be effective for acute myeloid leukemia patients.[1][1] Unfortunately, the overall remission rate for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is only approximately 40%,
Closed-loop identification of unstable systems using noncausal FIR models

ABSTRACTNoncausal finite impulse response (FIR) models are used for closed-loop identification of unstable multi-input, multi-output plants. These models are shown to approximate the Laurent series inside the annulus between the asymptotically stable pole of the largest modulus and the unstable pole of the smallest modulus. By delaying the measured output relative to the measured input, the identified FIR model is a noncausal approximation of the unstable plant. We present examples to compare the accuracy of the identified model obtained using least squares, instrumental variables methods, and prediction error methods for both infinite impulse response (IIR) and noncausal FIR models under arbitrary noise that is fed back into the loop. Finally, we reconstruct an IIR model of the system from its stable and unstable parts using the eigensystem realisation algorithm.
Learning from Errors in Computer Text Editing

This presentation explores how people learn from mistakes that they make when learning a computer text editor. The development of complex procedural skills is characterized by the frequent appearance of errors. Learners gain information about the characteristics of a system as they make errors and plan how to recover from error states. This project examines the processes of error recognition, explanation, and recovery planning–and how these processes influence the development of plans for using an interactive system.
Fiber-coupled Suspended GaAs Waveguides for Efficient Broadband Spectroscopy of Single InAs Quantum Dots

Fiber-coupled waveguides are realized for broadband spectroscopy of InAs quantum dots. Above-band and p-shell excitation of individual dots is performed, with fluorescence collection into the fiber exceeding free-space collection by one order of magnitude.
Hyperthyroid adult rat cardiomyocytes. I. Nucleotide content, beta- and alpha-adrenoreceptors, and cAMP production.

Ventricular myocytes isolated from the hypertrophied hearts of thyrotoxic adult rats have an increase in mean protein content per myocyte (6.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.2 ng) compared with euthyroid ce...
Phosphorylation of a NAC Transcription Factor by a Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Regulates Abscisic Acid-Induced Antioxidant Defense in Maize

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) has been shown to play an important role in abscisic acid (ABA)-induced antioxidant defense and enhance the tolerance of plants to drought stress. However, its downstream molecular events are poorly understood. Here, we identify a NAC transcription factor, ZmNAC84, in maize (Zea mays), which physically interacts with ZmCCaMK in vitro and in vivo. ZmNAC84 displays a partially overlapping expression pattern with ZmCCaMK after ABA treatment, and H2O2 is required for ABA-induced ZmNAC84 expression. Functional analysis reveals that ZmNAC84 is essential for ABA-induced antioxidant defense in a ZmCCaMK-dependent manner. Furthermore, ZmCCaMK directly phosphorylates Ser-113 of ZmNAC84 in vitro, and Ser-113 is essential for the ABA-induced stimulation of antioxidant defense by ZmCCaMK. Moreover, overexpression of ZmNAC84 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) can improve drought tolerance and alleviate drought-induced oxidative damage of transgenic plants. These results define a mechanism for ZmCCaMK function in ABA-induced antioxidant defense, where ABA-produced H2O2 first induces expression of ZmCCaMK and ZmNAC84 and activates ZmCCaMK. Subsequently, the activated ZmCCaMK phosphorylates ZmNAC84 at Ser-113, thereby inducing antioxidant defense by activating downstream genes.
The Marketing of Rebellion

How do a few political movements challenging Third World states become global causes celebres, whereas most remain isolated and obscure? The Marketing of Rebellion rejects the common view that needy groups readily gain help from selfless nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Even in the Internet age, insurgents face a Darwinian struggle for scarce international resources – and, to succeed, they must aggressively market themselves. To make this argument, Clifford Bob systematically compares two recent movements that attracted major NGO support, Mexico’s Zapatista rebels and Nigeria’s Ogoni ethnic group, against similar movements that failed to do so. Based on primary document analysis and more than 45 interviews with local activists and NGO leaders, the author shows that support goes to the savviest, not the neediest. TheMarketing of Rebellion develops a realistic, organizational perspective on social movements, NGOs, and “global civil society.” It will change how the weak solicit help, the powerful pick clients, and all of us think about contemporary world politics.
On the conditions of exponential stability in active disturbance rejection control based on singular perturbation analysis

ABSTRACTStability of active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) is analysed in the presence of unknown, nonlinear, and time-varying dynamics. In the framework of singular perturbations, the closed-loop error dynamics are semi-decoupled into a relatively slow subsystem (the feedback loop) and a relatively fast subsystem (the extended state observer), respectively. It is shown, analytically and geometrically, that there exists a unique exponential stable solution if the size of the initial observer error is sufficiently small, i.e. in the same order of the inverse of the observer bandwidth. The process of developing the uniformly asymptotic solution of the system reveals the condition on the stability of the ADRC and the relationship between the rate of change in the total disturbance and the size of the estimation error. The differentiability of the total disturbance is the only assumption made.
Importance Ranking of Parameters Affecting Reactor Dynamics Using the Taguchi Method

In the simulation of nuclear plant behavior through system codes, there are often uncertainties associated with the large number of model parameters required as code inputs. The use of the Taguchi ...
Intravitreal Imaging of I-124 Radiolabled bevacizumab, ranibizumab and aflibercept in a rabbit model with PET-CT

1066 Objectives Intravitreal delivery of radiolabeled anti-VEGF epitopes closely mimics current delivery techniques of ophthalmologic therapeutic agents in conditions such as exudative macular degeneration and various causes of macular edema. To establish a non-invasive imaging methodology that determines and compares the physiologic and pharmacokinetic properties of intravitreally placed radiolabeled compounds. Methods Each agent was radiolabeled with I-124 using a modified Iodogen method. Intravitreal injections were performed with a 32 gauge needle in the left eye of each subject. Three anesthetized Dutch-belted rabbits underwent intravitreal injection with 1.25 mg/0.05 mL I-124 bevacizumab, three with 0.5 mg/0.05 mL I-124 ranibizumab and four with 2.0 mg/0.05 mL I-124 aflibercept. Serial imaging with micro PET-CT (Inveon, Siemens Preclinical, Knoxville, TN, USA) were obtained on days 0, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. Mirco PET/CT uptake was decay corrected quantified in becquerels/mL (Bq/mL). Results All three radiolabeled pharmaceuticals remained in the vitreous cavity for the duration of the study with no extravasation into the central nervous system or elsewhere. Individual decay curves could be determined for all three agents. The average biologic clearance was determined to be 4.2 ± 0.1 days for I-124 bevacizumab, 2.8 ± 0.1 days for I-124 ranibizumab and 4.6 ± 0.1 days for I-124 aflibercept. Phantoms were clearly visible at day 28 for I-124 ranibizumab and day 35 for I-124 bevacizumab and I-124 aflibercept. Conclusions The introduced methodology is feasible to non-invasively assess the anatomic and pharmacokinetic properties of radiolabeled compounds. There was no significant escape from the vitreous cavity for the 3 agents. Aflibercept demonstrated the longest intravitreal retention time and ranibizumab the shortest. Research Support This research was supported by the Ohio Third Frontier ODSA TECH 09-028, TECH 10-012 and TECH 13-060
Metabolic rate and hypoxia tolerance are affected by group interactions and sex in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster): new data and a literature survey

ABSTRACT Population density and associated behavioral adjustments are potentially important in regulating physiological performance in many animals. In r-selected species like the fruit fly (Drosophila), where population density rapidly shifts in unpredictable and unstable environments, density-dependent physiological adjustments may aid survival of individuals living in a social environment. Yet, how population density (and associated social behaviors) affects physiological functions like metabolism is poorly understood in insects. Additionally, insects often show marked sexual dimorphism (larger females). Thus, in this study on D. melanogaster, we characterized the effects of fly density and sex on both mass-specific routine oxygen consumption (VO2) and hypoxia tolerance (PCrit). Females had significantly lower routine VO2 (∼4 µl O2 mg−1 h−1) than males (∼6 µl O2 mg−1 h−1) at an average fly density of 28 flies·respirometer chamber−1. However, VO2 was inversely related to fly density in males, with VO2 ranging from 4 to 11 µl O2 mg−1 h−1 at a density of 10 and 40 flies·chamber−1, respectively (r2=0.58, P 0.5) flies, with higher fly densities having a lower PCrit. An extensive survey of the literature on metabolism in fruit flies indicates that not all studies control for, or even report on, fly density and gender, both of which may affect metabolic measurements.
Student Debt: Rhetoric and Reality

AbstractThe general perception of a student debt “crisis” misses the reality that most education borrowing improves people’s lives by increasing educational opportunities. Higher income people carry more student debt than lower income people. However, specific groups of people and specific types of debt cause serious difficulties. Default rates are disturbingly high, but the biggest problems are among students who do not complete their programs and among those who attended for-profit institutions. Finding solutions to the very real problems requires pinpointing the problems, targeting the solutions, and recognizing the responsibilities of both borrowers and taxpayers. The most important strategy for ameliorating student debt problems is preventing people from borrowing for programs they are unlikely to complete and institutions that won’t serve them well. Major steps for dealing with existing debt include an improved income-driven payment system that appropriately supports borrowers while expecting most t...
Understanding the Stories of Presidential Candidates: A Comparison Between the Stories of 2012 and 2016:

To be elected President of the United States, a candidate must create a story that both resonates with and persuades the electorate. Gardner suggested that “leaders achieve their effectiveness chie...
A synthetic biochemistry platform for cell free production of monoterpenes from glucose

Cell-free systems designed to perform complex chemical conversions of biomass to biofuels or commodity chemicals are emerging as promising alternatives to the metabolic engineering of living cells. Here we design a system comprises 27 enzymes for the conversion of glucose into monoterpenes that generates both NAD(P)H and ATP in a modified glucose breakdown module and utilizes both cofactors for building terpenes. Different monoterpenes are produced in our system by changing the terpene synthase enzyme. The system is stable for the production of limonene, pinene and sabinene, and can operate continuously for at least 5 days from a single addition of glucose. We obtain conversion yields >95% and titres >15 g l-1. The titres are an order of magnitude over cellular toxicity limits and thus difficult to achieve using cell-based systems. Overall, these results highlight the potential of synthetic biochemistry approaches for producing bio-based chemicals.
Preoperative paravertebral blocks for the management of acute pain following mastectomy: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Preoperative paravertebral blocks (PPVBs) are routinely used for treating post-mastectomy pain, yet uncertainties remain about the cost-effectiveness of this modality. We aim to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PPVBs at common willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds. A decision analytic model compared two strategies: general anesthesia (GA) alone versus GA with multilevel PPVB. For the GA plus PPVB limb, patients were subjected to successful block placement versus varying severity of complications based on literature-derived probabilities. The need for rescue pain medication was the terminal node for all postoperative scenarios. Patient-reported pain scores sourced from published meta-analyses measured treatment effectiveness. Costing was derived from wholesale acquisition costs, the Medicare fee schedule, and publicly available hospital charge masters. Charges were converted to costs and adjusted for 2016 US dollars. A commercial payer perspective was adopted. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were evaluated against WTP thresholds of $500 and $50,000 for postoperative pain control. The ICER for preoperative paravertebral blocks was $154.49 per point reduction in pain score. 15% variation in inpatient costs resulted in ICER values ranging from $124.40–$180.66 per pain point score reduction. Altering the probability of block success by 5% generated ICER values of $144.71–$163.81 per pain score reduction. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis yielded cost-effective trials 69.43% of the time at $500 WTP thresholds. Over a broad range of probabilities, PPVB in mastectomy reduces postoperative pain at an acceptable incremental cost compared to GA. Commercial payers should be persuaded to reimburse this technique based on convincing evidence of cost-effectiveness.
Expanded Polystyrene Life Cycle Analysis Literature Review: An Analysis for Different Disposal Scenarios

Abstract Expanded polystyrene is a common packaging material in the modern world. It is valued for attributes such as low cost and weight. Expanded polystyrene is a petroleum product, without a cle...
Periodontal disease: links with serum lipid/ triglyceride levels? Review and new data.

Abstract Evidence now supports an intriguing role for serum lipids/triglycerides in modulation of the host immune response to infection. This paper will review the studies that have been conducted in humans and various animal models of the association between elevated serum lipids/triglycerides (i.e. hyperlipidaemia) and periodontitis (PD). We will also present new data in rats that suggests a bi-directional relationship between hyperlipidaemia and PD, i.e. that PD itself may be able to modulate serum lipid levels. This review will introduce evidence from other studies that the type of dietary lipids is important in the modulation of the immune/inflammatory response. Overall, the studies presented herein suggest that further investigation using epidemiological and experimental approaches is warranted.
Introduction of Quality-Driven Team-Based Systems: Issues at the Boundary Ofoperations Management and Industrial Relations

In order to improve the quality of their products many American corporations have begun to shift the emphasis of the organization of production from detection of defects to improvement of the production process. Most quality improvement programs emphasize employee involvement and team work in problem-solving and execution of day-to-day tasks. Based on the experiences of a set of companies, we explore the impact of teams on process improvements. Potential benefits from introducing team-based systems lie in the productive use of workers’ knowledge and expertise. The introduction of teams also has the effect of partitioning the tasks of an organization: the proper partitioning of tasks can enhance organizational control and reduce coordination and monitoring costs.
A STUDY OF NbMo AND NbMo$^{-}$ BY ANION PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455