cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A critique of applied catastrophe theory in the behavioral sciences

Using the war model of Isnard and Zeeman as a paradigm, it is shown that many catastrophe theory models in social science possess serious weaknesses. The catastrophes supposedly account for real-life behavior, but actually are only a restatement of the fact that discontinuities exist. No deep mathematical results are actually used. The hypotheses are ambiguous or far-fetched. In addition, Thom's theorem, the mathematical centerpiece of applied catastrophe theory, is inherently uninformative for applications. The theory is helpful on neither the qualitative nor the quantitative level. Finally, better and simpler mathematical tools exist.
The Social Studies Curriculum in Atlanta Public Schools During the Desegregation Era

This historical investigation explores how teachers, students, and education officials viewed the social studies curriculum in the local context of Atlanta, and the broader state of Georgia, during the post-Civil Rights era, when integration was a court-ordered reality in the public schools. During the desegregation era, Atlanta schools were led by Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Superintendent, Dr. Alonzo Crim. Brought to Atlanta as part of a desegregation compromise, Dr. Crim became APS's first African American superintendent. In particular, the authors investigate how national social studies movements, such as Man: A Course of Study (MACOS), inquiry-based learning, co-curriculum activities, and standards movements, adapted to fit this Southeastern locale, at a time when schools were struggling to desegregate. Local curriculum documents written in the 1970s reveal a traditional social studies curriculum. By the 1980s, APS's social studies curriculum guides broadened to include a stronger focus on an enacted community-inside the classroom and around the world. In oral history interviews, however, former teachers, students, and school officials presented contrasting perspectives of how the social studies curriculum played out in the reality of Atlanta's public schools during the desegregation era.
Random walk approach to spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit coupling

We introduce and solve a semiclassical random walk (RW) model that describes the dynamics of spin polarization waves in zinc-blende semiconductor quantum wells. We derive the dispersion relations for these waves, including the Rashba, linear and cubic Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions, as well as the effects of an electric field applied parallel to the spin polarization wave vector. In agreement with calculations based on quantum kinetic theory [P. Kleinert and V. V. Bryksin, Phys. Rev. B 76, 205326 (2007)], the RW approach predicts that spin waves acquire a phase velocity in the presence of the field that crosses zero at a nonzero wave vector, ${q}_{0}$. In addition, we show that the spin-wave decay rate is independent of field at ${q}_{0}$ but increases as ${(q\ensuremath{-}{q}_{0})}^{2}$ for $q\ensuremath{\ne}{q}_{0}$. These predictions can be tested experimentally by suitable transient spin grating experiments.
Implementing Gauss Jordan on a hypercube multicomputer

We consider the solution of dense algebraic systems on the NCUBE hypercube via the Gauss Jordan method. Advanced loop interchange techniques are used to determine the appropriate algorithm for MIMD architectures. For a computer with p = n processors, we show that Gauss Jordan is competitive to Gaussian elimination when pivoting is not used. We experiment with three mappings of columns to processors: block, wrap and reflection. We demonstrate that load balancing the processors results in a considerable reduction of execution time.
Divergences and Involution-Dependent Constants

We show how the cancellation of the dilaton divergence in the 1-loop open bosonic string vacuum and N-tachyon scattering amplitude depends upon a set of involution-dependent constants. Such a set of constants exists at each loop level and thus provides a means with which to study the connection between the cancellation of divergences and anomalies for the gauge group SO(2D/2).
Legendre-Stirling permutations

We first give a combinatorial interpretation of Everitt, Littlejohn, and Wellman's Legendre-Stirling numbers of the first kind. We then give a combinatorial interpretation of the coefficients of the polynomial (1-x)^3^k^+^1@?"n"="0^~{{n+kn}}x^n analogous to that of the Eulerian numbers, where {{nk}}are Everitt, Littlejohn, and Wellman's Legendre-Stirling numbers of the second kind. Finally we use a result of Bender to show that the limiting distribution of these coefficients as n approaches infinity is the normal distribution.
Glutathione peroxidase in human cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract Glutathione peroxidase activity was investigated in human cerebrospinal fluid. CSF was obtained from 23 male adult patients with dementia, cerebrovascular disease and multiple sclerosis. The mean glutathione peroxidase activity in the CSF was 6.2 nmol NADPH oxidized min−1·mg−1 protein ± 0.6S.E.M.. No differences in the activities were observed in these neurological diseases suggesting that this value may reflect normal glutathione peroxidase activity in human CSF. The age or the protein concentration in CSF did not correlate significantly with glutathione peroxidase activity in CSF.
Voice Personalities Inducing Trust and Satisfaction in a Medical Interactive Voice Response System

Verbal and non-verbal behaviors that contribute to trust and satisfaction in the patient-physician relationship have typically been investigated in face-to-face interactions between patient and physician. However, it is becoming more common for physicians to administer surveys over interactive voice response systems (IVRs). In this context, patient trust and satisfaction must still be maintained in order to insure accurate disclosure on the surveys. This paper describes the results of research in which we investigated if individuals' perceptions of trust and satisfaction are affected through voice, alone. When considering voice in the absence of non-verbal cues, a sympathetic voice was more liked and trusted than a professional voice, which was more liked and trusted than an upbeat voice. It was also found that trust can be moderated by the gender of the voice presented in an IVR, with females reporting higher trust for professional voices than do males.
Ion-transfer current-scan polarographic studies of metal extractants with ascending water electrode:Transfer of divalent metal ion complexes of phenanthrolines across a liquid-liquid interface.

The transfer mechanism of Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions from an aqueous to a dichloroethane (DCE) solution of phenanthroline derivatives (Phen) was studied. Included were 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen), 4, 7-dimethyl-1, 10-phenanthroline (4, 7-DMP), 4, 7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline (4, 7-DPP) and 2, 9-dimethyl-1, 10-phenanthroline (2, 9-DMP). The investigation was carried out by current-scan polarography at the ascending water electrode (AWE). Some polarographic waves were observed that can be attributed to the slow formation of 1:1 M2+-Phen complexes. In some cases, as with the Ni2+-Phen systems and the Co2+-4, 7-DPP system, no wave was observed, because the complexation rates are too slow. All of the Cd2+-Phen and all of the Zn2+-Phen systems, except for the Zn2+-4, 7-DPP system which exhibits a kinetic wave, yielded diffusion-controlled waves. Furthermore, a number of these systems appear to be affected by significant interfacial adsorption of the M2+-Phen complexes.
Leadership of the Contested Terrain of Education for Democracy.

This paper summarizes and compares the perspectives of the prior essays in this issue. Goes on to argue that education for democracy requires dialogical, authentic learning rather than the commodification of uniform, standardized knowledge and its acquisition touted by those marketizing education primarily for economic purposes. The paper calls upon educators and university scholars to resist the identification of learning with text scores, and to defend the traditional role of learning in the human emancipation of citizens whose knowledge and life lessons learned in school contribute to their wise governance of themselves.
Acute cadmium exposure induces stress-related gene expression in wild-type and metallothionein-I/II-null mice.

Abstract This study examined the effect of acute cadmium on stress-related gene expression and free radical production in wild-type and metallothionein-I/II-null (MT-null) mice. Atlas Toxicology arrays showed that acute cadmium (40 μmol/kg as CdCl 2 , ip for 3 h) markedly increased the expression of genes encoding heat-shock proteins, heme oxygenase-1, and genes in response to DNA damage/repair. The expression of genes encoding cytochrome P450 enzymes, UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, Mn-superoxide dismutase, and catalase was suppressed by cadmium. MT-null mice were more sensitive than wild-type mice to cadmium-induced, stress-related gene expression, in accord with greater activation of transcription factor AP-1 and phosphorylated JNK and ERK. To evaluate free radical production, mice were simultaneously given the spin trap agent, N-tert -butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN, 250 mg in DMSO/kg, ip) with cadmium, and livers were removed 30 min later for PBN-trapped radical extraction with chloroform:methanol (2:1), and detected with electron spin resonance (ESR). Cadmium treatment caused detectable ESR signals for PBN adducts as well as lipid peroxidation in the liver similarly in both wild-type and MT-null mice. Thus, the mechanism of acute cadmium toxicity involves multiple facets including oxidative damage and aberrant gene expression, and absence of MT exacerbates Cd-induced aberrant gene expression.
Block copolymer-quantum dot micelles for multienzyme colocalization.

To mimic the structure and functionality of multienzyme complexes, which are widely present in Nature, Pluronic-based micelles were designed to colocalize multiple enzymes. To stabilize the micelles as well as to enable characterization of single enzyme immobilization and multienzyme colocalization by Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), quantum dots (QDs) were incorporated into the micelles to form Pluronic-QD micelles using a novel microreactor. Model enzymes glucose oxidase (GOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were respectively labeled with fluorescent dyes. The results indicated that FRET occurred between the QDs and dyes that labeled each type of enzyme in single enzyme immobilization studies as well as between the dyes in colocalization studies. These observations were consistent with increases in micelle size after adsorption of dye-enzymes as verified by dynamic light scattering. In addition, the activity of single enzymes was retained after immobilization. An optimized colocalization process improved the overall conversion rate by approximately 100% compared to equivalent concentrations of free enzymes in solution. This study demonstrates a versatile platform for multienzyme colocalization and an effective strategy to characterize multienzyme immobilization and colocalization, which can be applicable to many other multienzyme systems.
A comparison of three assays for prediction of clinical response to chemotherapy

Tumors from 30 patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies were evaluated for sensitivity or resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents by three laboratory assays: the subrenal capsule (SRC) assay, the stem cell clonogenic (SCC) assay, and a delayed [3H]TdR incorporation ([3H]TdR) assay. The tumors were tested against a standard battery of chemotherapeutic drugs; 39% of the tumors were sensitive to one or more of these agents in the SRC assay compared to only 24% in the [3H]TdR assay and 4% in the SCC assay. Eighteen of the patients had adequate follow-up to correlate their clinical course to the assay predictions. In this study, the prospective predictive accuracy (sensitivity) of the SRC assay was 100% compared to 25% for the [3H]TdR assay and 0% for the SCC assay. The respective specificities were 63, 73, and 80%. The SRC assay appeared to predict clinical response for gynecologic malignancies more accurately than either the [3H]TdR or the SCC assay.
Changing Clinicians' Behaviors in an Academic Medical Center: Does Institutional Commitment to Total Quality Management Matter?

The purpose of this project was to determine whether changing clinicians' behaviors to reduce costs in a large academic medical center is facilitated by the prior existence of a total quality management program. Ten teams, made up primarily of clinicians, were charged with devising strategies for altering specific clinical behaviors to reduce costs without detriment to quality of care. Half the teams followed the center's total quality management approach. Team success was assessed by how well three key tasks were completed: problem definition, design of plan of action, and plan implementation. Two teams achieved outright success es, three had outright failures, and five were in between. Adherence to a total quality management approach was not found to be associated with team suc cess. A much better predictor of success was the level of involvement and support by clinicians and managers; because that factor is largely controlled by institution al incentives, those incentives may need to be realigned befor...
The efficacy of violence mitigation: A second look using time-series analysis

Abstract Among peace researchers and practitioners, it is generally accepted that efforts to prevent violence can be instrumental in its mitigation. So, it was distressing to read the research findings of Meier, Bond, and Bond (2007) that mitigation was positively related to organized raids in the Horn of Africa where there is pastoralist–pastoralist and pastoralist–agriculturalist violence. This article seeks to build on their research. It uses a ‘de-trending’ approach for time-series analysis that is commonly used in economics and financial studies. It reports an opposite statistically significant finding. When the data used by Meier et al. are de-trended, violence associated with organized raids is negatively correlated with mitigation. This negative correlation is similar when data on mitigation and organized raids are de-trended with time as a predictor, on the one hand, and with seasonality over time as a predictor, on the other. Implications regarding the temporal dimension of peace research and practice are presented.
Life inside the womb: implications for newborn and infant nurses

Abstract The education of nurses working with newborns and infants does not typically include a lengthy discussion on the fetal environment, yet existence in the womb has a significant impact on the long-term outcome. This article is a review of the specific aspects of the fetal environment, including the cervix, uterus, placenta, chorion, amnion, amniotic fluid, and maternal aspects, and the potential meaning of these facets to the newborn and infant.
CALCULATION OF MOLECULAR WEIGHTS AND KJELDAHL NITROGEN‐TO‐PROTEIN CONVERSION FACTORS FOR MYOFIBRILLAR PROTEINS FROM AMINO ACID SEQUENCES

The objectives of this research were to calculate the molecular weights and Kjeldahl conversion factors for the major myofibrillar proteins from knowledge of their primary structures. Kjeldahl nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors for the myofibrillar proteins myosin, actin, and tropomyosin were calculated from amino acid sequences found in the literature. The molarity of pure protein solutions can be determined without the use of a primary standard with the Kjeldahl nitrogen determination method and use of calculated Kjeldahl nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors. The molecular weights of bovine myosin (519,725), actin (41,549), alpha-tropomyosin (32,680), and beta-tropomyosin (32,811) were calculated. The nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors for these proteins were calculated to be respectively 6.05, 6.29, 6.24, and 6.25. The molecular weights of myosin light chains L1, L2, L3, and L4 and the myosin heavy chain were calculated and their respective nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors were: 6.18, 6.34, 6.34, 6.32, and 6.01.
Genetic and Morphological Variation of Bluegill Populations in Florida Lakes

Abstract The structure of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) populations in natural Florida lakes was assessed from electromorphic and morphologic characters. Electrophoretically assayed allele frequencies are homogeneous within lakes and heterogeneous among lakes. Populations in two adjacent lakes connected by a short river are nearly identical. Several considerations indicate that even young-of-the-year bluegills are well mixed within subpopulations of these lakes, and that individual dispersal is important in maintaining intersubpopulation homogencity in allele frequency. This pattern of genetic differentiation contrasts with the pattern of heterogeneity observed in meristic counts for several morphological traits. At the microgeographic level, genetic homogeneity probably reflects a long-term history of bluegill movements within a lake, while within-lake morphological heterogeneity reflects the varied conditions during individual development to which incompletely isolated subpopulations are exposed.
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN STATUTORY PENALTIES AND DOMESTIC ELDER ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS

ABSTRACT Adult Protective Services statutes designate penalties for those who inflict abuse on elders. These penalties are either civil or criminal, with criminal penalties delineated as misdemeanors or felonies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of criminal penalties for the infliction of abuse on the rates of reported, investigated, and substantiated domestic elder abuse for all states. The District of Columbia and forty-three states’ APS-related statutes make elder abuse crimes felonies while thirty provide misdemeanors for some or all aspects of elder abuse. After taking into account demographic factors that influence investigation rates, states were found to have higher investigation rates if their statute made abuse a felony, had longer prison terms, tracked reports of abuse allegations, required reporting by professionals, and had more words in the definitions of abuse. After taking into account demographic factors that influence substantiation rates, states were found to ha...
The valley-orbit splitting of bound exciton states in Si:Al

Abstract The effect of valley-orbit interaction is investigated for bound excitons in Si:A l with the inclusion of the Umklapp contributions to the intervalley scattering. We find our results are in good agreement with experiments. In particular, the calculated spectral splitting of the Γ1(h,h) component is 0.065 mev, in agreement with the experimental value 0.07 mev. The splittings for other multiplet components are also discussed.
A constitutive model for fault gouge deformation in dynamic rupture simulations

[1] In the context of numerical simulations of elastodynamic ruptures, we compare friction laws, including the linear slip-weakening (SW) law, the Dieterich-Ruina (DR) law, and the free volume (FV) law. The FV law is based on microscopic physics, incorporating shear transformation zone (STZ) theory which describes local, nonaffine rearrangements within the granular fault gouge. A dynamic state variable models dilation and compaction of the gouge, and accounts for weakening and restrengthening in the FV law. The principal difference between the FV law and the DR law is associated with the characteristic length scale L. In the FV law, LFV grows with increasing slip rate, while in the DR law LDR is independent of slip rate. The length scale for friction is observed to vary with slip velocity in laboratory experiments with simulated fault gouge, suggesting that the FV law captures an essential feature of gouge-filled faults. In simulations of spontaneous elastodynamic rupture, for equal energy dissipation the FV law produces ruptures with smaller nucleation lengths, lower peak slip velocities, and increased slip required for friction to fully weaken to steady sliding when compared to ruptures governed by the SW or DR laws. We also examine generalizations of the DR and FV laws that incorporate rapid velocity weakening. The rapid weakening laws produce self-healing slip pulse ruptures for low initial shear loads. For parameters which produce identical net slip in the pulses of each rapid weakening friction law, the FV law exhibits a much shorter nucleation length, a larger slip-weakening distance, and less frictional energy dissipation than corresponding ruptures obtained using the DR law.
Xbox—A Source of Nickel Exposure in Children

Macintosh laptop computers and iPhone5s were recently added to the list of potential nickel sources. The Xbox gaming controller also joins the list.
The Evolution–Intelligent Design Debate: A Meaningful Context for Teaching the Nature of Science in Information Literacy. Part 1: Historical Background and Philosophical Considerations

Although absent from the ACRL Information Literacy Standards for Science and Technology, the ability to distinguish between what is and is not science is an essential component of information literacy. Addressing this question requires the librarian to introduce concepts such as the nature of science, its realm, rules, and limits, as well as the nature of pseudoscience and nonscience before fulfilling the other set goals of instruction. We present some historical background, followed by a discussion of some of the demarcation criteria for science from the philosophy of science using the evolution versus intelligent design debate as a case study.
The electrochemistry of proteins and related substances: Part II. Insulin

Abstract The electroreduction of insulin in pH 7.4 solution was studied at the hanging mercury drop electrode by cyclic voltammetry and at a mercury pool electrode by controlled potential coulometry. The proposed mechanism involves reduction of an adsorbed monolayer of insulin (maximum coverage of 10 μC cm−2) in a four-electron reaction at about −0.6 V vs. SCE resulting in breakage of two of the three disulfide bonds in the molecule. Fast reoxidation leads to recovery of much of the reduced species. At longer time (ca. 100 s) a steady state is reached where the reductions and reoxidation involve reversible two-electron reactions.
Effects of Arg90 Neutralization on the Enzyme-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Chorismate to Prephenate.

Chorismate mutase (CM) is an enzyme that catalyzes the Claisen rearrangement of chorismate to prephenate. In a recent effort to understand the basis for catalysis by CM, Kienhofer and co-workers (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 3206-3207) reported results on the mutation of Arg90 in Bacillus subtilis CM (BsCM) to citrulline (Cit), an isosteric but neutral arginine analogue. An ca. 10(4)-fold decrease in kcat or 5.9 kcal/mol increase in the free-energy barrier (ΔG(‡)) for the overall catalysis was observed upon mutation. In this work, attention is turned to determining the key factors that contribute to the reduced catalytic efficiency of Arg90Cit BsCM. Using a combined QM/MM Monte Carlo/Free-Energy Perturbation method, a ΔΔG(‡) value of 3.3 kcal/mol is obtained. The higher free-energy barrier for the mutant is exclusively related to inferior stabilization of the TS, particularly one of its carboxylate groups, by neutral Cit. In addition, the reaction becomes 2.0 kcal/mol more exergonic. As BsCM is limited by product release, this step contributes to the remainder of the 10(4)-fold decrease in the rate constant in going from Arg90 to Cit.
Functional preservation in patients with renal cortical tumors: The rationale for partial nephrectomy

Renal cortical tumors (RCT) are a family of neoplasms with diverse histology and metastatic potentials. Conventional clear cell tumors account for 54% of all RCT and 90% of those that metastasize. Liberal use of abdominal imaging detects 70% of RCT incidentally and at a small size (< 4 cm in diameter). Emerging evidence strongly favors partial nephrectomy (PN) as the primary treatment when technically possible for tumors 7 cm or smaller. This approach provides local tumor control equivalent to radical nephrectomy (RN) and prevents or delays chronic kidney disease (CKD) onset. CKD is present in 26% of apparently well patients with such small renal tumors and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hospitalization, and death. The likelihood of freedom from an estimated glomerular filtration rate lower than 45 mL/min/1.73m2, a level of significant CKD, is 95% after PN, but only 64% after RN. RN should be reserved for patients with massive renal tumors in whom PN is not an option. Increased training in PN and its wider application is essential.
Muir-Torre Syndrome

In this case report of Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS), we describe a 47-year-old man with a personal and family history of colon cancer and a personal history of keratoacanthoma who presented with a sebaceous carcinoma and, subsequently, had a cystic sebaceous tumor. Immunohistochemical examination of the patient's colonic tumor, located proximal to the splenic flexure, revealed absence of MutL homolog (MLH)-1 protein. MTS is a rare genodermatosis defined clinically by the occurrence of a sebaceous neoplasm and an internal malignancy in the absence of other predisposing factors. Most patients present with sebaceous adenomas, but cystic sebaceous neoplasms have been reported as specific markers of MTS. Gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers are the most common internal malignancies, with colorectal cancers often occurring at or proximal to the splenic flexure, contrary to most sporadic colorectal cancers. MTS is most frequently found as a variant of the autosomal dominant disorder hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), with tumors demonstrating microsatellite instability and germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes MutS homolog (MSH)-2 and MLH1. However, the distribution of gene mutations of patients with MTS is slightly different from that seen in all HNPCC families, and some cases of MTS arise spontaneously. Physicians should consider MTS in patients presenting with a sebaceous neoplasm, and immunohistochemical examination of tumors for MSH2 and MLH1 protein can be used as a screening test to identify patients with MTS. While the sebaceous and internal neoplasms of MTS are thought to follow a more indolent course than sporadic malignancies, patients with this disorder should be treated with standard therapies and carefully followed. Evidence indicates that for individuals with or at risk of MTS or HNPCC, colonoscopy every 1-2 years beginning at age 20-25 or 10 years younger than the youngest age at diagnosis in the family can be strongly recommended. Additionally, most experts believe that an annual history and physical examination, including a complete skin examination and urinalysis, as well as periodic endometrial sampling and/or transvaginal ultrasound for women, are worthwhile screening tests for these high-risk patients.
Subjective and objective evaluation of bruxing patients undergoing short-term splint therapy.

Summary Subjective and objective criteria were utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of short-term bite splint therapy on bruxistic behaviour. A simple bruxism monitoring device was used to check pre-treatment and post-treatment nocturnal bruxism. This preliminary study suggests that short-term splint therapy is effective in eliminating mild to moderate facial pain and dysfunction while reducing bruxistic behaviour. The bruxism monitoring device is a simple and effective tool for diagnosing bruxism quantitatively.
Prediction of delivery among women with early preterm labor by means of clinical characteristics alone

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to assess whether individual clinical factors or combinations thereof could be used to accurately predict the risk of delivery within 1 week of admission among women with preterm labor and minimal cervical dilatation. Study Design: We performed a case-control study of patients admitted to our institution with preterm labor and minimal cervical dilatation. A case patient was a patient who sought treatment with uterine contractions between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation with cervical dilatation ≤2 cm, who received tocolysis with magnesium sulfate, and who was delivered within 7 days of admission. Control subjects were those who had the same presentation with preterm labor but were not delivered within the first 7 days after admission. The medical records of case patients and control subjects were then abstracted, and information on >70 potential predictors was recorded. Statistical analysis consisted of bivariate and multivariable methods. We also generated a multivariable clinical predictive model with the purpose of detecting a proportion as high as possible of those destined to be delivered within 1 week (high sensitivity). We estimated that we would need 50 case patients and 150 control subjects to detect an odds ratio of 2.5 for risk factors with a prevalence of 20%, an α error of .05, a β error of .20, and a control subject/case patient ratio of 3:1. Results: Three variables were eligible for inclusion in our logistic models according to the bivariate analyses—bleeding on admission, substance abuse, and admission white blood cell count ≥14,000 cells/μL. The simplest and most favorable model included only 2 variables, bleeding and substance abuse, and yielded a sensitivity of 46% and a specificity of 76%. The full 3-variable model had similar test characteristics. For no model were we able to achieve a sensitivity ≥50%. Conclusion: The results of this case-control study suggest that combinations of clinical factors do not yield an adequate level of discrimination to be used alone for predicting the likelihood of delivery within 1 week among patients with minimal degrees of cervical dilatation. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1414-8.)
Different levels of glycosylation contribute to the heterogeneity of alpha 1(II) collagen chains derived from a transplantable rat chondrosarcoma

Three collagen fractions, each of which contain molecules composed of alpha 1(II) chains, have been isolated from pepsin-solubilized rat chondrosarcoma collagen. One fraction could be selectively precipitated from the pepsin digest at 0.7 M NaCl. Two additional fractions were obtained on chromatography of the collagen precipitating at 1.2 M NaCl on carboxymethyl cellulose under nondenaturing conditions. When chromatographed on carboxymethyl cellulose under denaturing conditions, each fraction contained components eluting in the position expected for alpha 1(II) chains. One of the fractions precipitating at 1.2 M NaCl contained the recently described 1 alpha and 2 alpha chains in addition to material eluting as alpha 1(II) chains. Comparison of the chains eluting as alpha 1(II) chains in the various fractions with respect to amino acid composition, carbohydrate content, and cyanogen bromide-cleavage products showed that they differed only in the number of glycosylated hydroxylysyl residues. In this regard, alpha 1(II) chains obtained from collagens precipitated at 1.2 M NaCl exhibited significantly higher levels of glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysyl residues than alpha 1(II) chains precipitated at 0.7 M NaCl. These results indicate that molecules composed of alpha 1(II) chains are heterogeneous with respect to levels of hydroxylysine-linked carbohydrate moieties and that the more highly glycosylated molecules require higher salt concentrations for precipitation from acidic solutions. The data also indicate that a proportion of the more highly glycosylated alpha 1(II) chains are involved in the formation of one or more molecular species with 1 alpha and 2 alpha chains.
A review of sucroferric oxyhydroxide for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients receiving dialysis

Abstract Purpose Sucroferric oxyhydroxide is the newest phosphate binder to receive US Food and Drug Administration approval for patients on dialysis. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the studies that have been conducted with this medication and determine where it may fit in the clinician’s overall treatment plan for hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods Literature searches were performed in the PubMed database and www.ClinicalTrials.gov using the search terms sucroferric oxyhydroxide, and PA21 phosphate binder. Limits were set to include only clinical trials performed in human subjects. Findings Four completed clinical trials and 3 ongoing studies were identified. Completed clinical trials included Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III studies that all demonstrated the ability of sucroferric oxyhydroxide to lower serum phosphorus concentrations. One study compared sucroferric oxyhydroxide with sevelamer and reported no statistically significant difference in serum phosphorus–lowering ability. The ongoing trials are evaluating sucroferric oxyhydroxide for long term use, in peritoneal dialysis patients, and compared with calcium-based phosphate binders. Implications Sucroferric oxyhydroxide is an effective phosphate binder for chronic kidney disease patients receiving hemodialysis and may offer an advantage in terms of pill burden. Gastrointestinal side effects are similar to those of current phosphate binders. Advantages of other phosphate binders (ie, the lipid- and uric acid–lowering abilities of sevelamer) may outweigh the pill burden benefits of sucroferric oxyhydroxide.
Neanderthals and Modern Humans: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective

Clive Finlayson, 2004, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 255 p. (Hardcover, US $85.00) ISBN: 0-521-82087-1. Ever since the first recognition, back in the pre-evolutionary days of 1856, that Neanderthal Man was a real phenomenon to be contended with and somehow to be explained, paleoanthropologists have enjoyed—if that is the right word—a thoroughly equivocal relationship with this extinct but big-brained human relative. Clearly so close to our own species Homo sapiens , but equally obviously so different, Homo neanderthalensis hovers right at the brink of what we usually think of as humanity. Ought we to see the Neanderthals as no more than a rather strange version of ourselves? Or should we view them as a distinctive evolutionary entity that needs to be understood on its own—and very different—terms? Since the middle of the last century, when paleoanthropology capitulated to the seductive simplicities of the Evolutionary Synthesis (which reduced the evolutionary process to little more than generation-by-generation gene frequency changes within lineages), students of the human fossil record have tended to display a warm-hearted ecumenicism that welcomes the Neanderthals into the embrace of Homo sapiens . For even though they are nowadays a lot more willing than they were a only a decade or two ago to admit just how morphologically distinctive the Neanderthals actually were, most paleoanthropologists remain reluctant to cede these hominids their own independent identity. Clive Finlayson, the erudite and thoughtful author of Neanderthals and Modern Humans, …
A prospective study of the incidence and open-label treatment of interferon-induced major depressive disorder in patients with hepatitis C

Interferon (IFN) therapy has been associated with the development of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) when given to patients with hepatitis C (HCV). The incidence, time course, risk factors, and treatment of IFN-induced MDD are poorly understood. The objectives of the present study were to determine the incidence of IFN-induced MDD, as well as to determine the efficacy of open-label antidepressant treatment, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for IFN-induced MDD. Thirty-nine HCV patients on IFN therapy were monitored weekly using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Those who became depressed were treated with citalopram, a SSRI antidepressant. Main outcome measures included the incidence of IFN-induced MDD, as well as response rates to antidepressants in those patients who developed IFN-induced MDD. Our results showed that 13 of 39 patients (33%) developed IFN-induced MDD. There were no differences in age, gender, past history of MDD, or substance use between those who became depressed and those who did not. However, there were significantly fewer African American patients in the depressed group. Patients who developed IFN-induced MDD were on IFN therapy for an average of 12.1 weeks prior to the development of MDD. Eleven of 13 patients (85%) were responsive to antidepressant treatment. We conclude that IFN-induced MDD is common in HCV patients. Health care providers should follow IFN-treated HCV patients for the development of MDD, particularly between the 2nd and 5th months of IFN therapy. SSRIs, in particular citalopram, are an effective treatment for IFN-induced depression in HCV patients.
Estrogen receptors in male breast cancer: clinical and pathologic correlations.

Breast cancer tissue from 12 male patients was evaluated for the presence of estrogen receptors (ER), and at least 10 of 12 were found to be high in ER (ER +). A combination of previously published cases and our own experience indicates that 80% of patients (37/47) have ER+ tumors. This incidence of ER positivity in men is greater than that in women with breast cancer. Clinical responses to hormonal therapy have been observed in the ER+ patients but not in one ER– patient. Measurement of ER may be clinically important in men with breast cancer.
Gender differences in trunk, pelvis and lower limb kinematics during a single leg squat

A B S T R A C T The relationship between trunk and lower limb kinematics in healthy females versus males is unclear since trunk kinematics in the frontal and transverse planes have not been systematically examined with lower limb kinematics. The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of different multi-joints movement strategies between genders during a single leg squat. We expected that compared to males, females would have greater trunk and pelvis displacement due to less trunk control and display hip and knee movement consistent with medial-collapse (i.e. greater hip adduction, hip medial rotation, knee abduction, and knee lateral rotation) on the weight-bearing limb. Nine females and 10 males participated in the study. Kinematic data were collected using an 8camera, 3D-motion-capture-system. Trunk relative to pelvis, pelvis relative to the laboratory, hip and knee angles in three planes (sagittal, frontal and transverse) were examined at two time events relevant to knee joint mechanics: 458 of knee flexion and peak knee flexion. Females flexed their trunk less than males and rotated their trunk and pelvis toward the weight-bearing limb more than males. Females also displayed greater hip adduction and knee abduction than males. Taken together these results suggest that females and males used different movement strategies during a single leg squat. Females displayed a trunk and pelvic movement pattern that may put them at risk of knee injury and pain.
Group Involvement in Delinquent Acts A Study of Offense Types and Male-Female Participation

This article focuses on the nature of group delinquency by examining the proportion of delinquency committed in groups and by exploring the size and sexual content of the groups in which delinquency is carried out. The data for the study were collected in the juvenile court in Montgomery County, Maryland. There are 225 cases in the sample. The sample was selected randomly. The notion of delinquency as group behavior is well supported by the finding that 63% of all offenses in this sample showed group involvement rather than individual behavior in the commission of delinquency. The data show that violent offenses are more likely committed by youths acting alone than in groups. Non-violent offenses are more likely committed in groups. Of female delinquencies, 57% were committed in groups, a proportion only slightly less than the proportion of male delinquencies committed in groups. Delinquencies of both males and females are more likely to involve groups of only two or three youths rather than larger group ...
The Effects of the Vane and Mainstream Turbulence Level on Hot Streak Attenuation

This paper discusses the effects of varying pitch position on the attenuation of a simulated hot streak in a vane cascade under conditions of low and high turbulence. Measurements describe the effect of both small and large changes in pitch away from the stagnation line as evidenced by hot streak variations in the wake and at the trailing edge. Under both turbulence conditions, the vane serves to increase or decrease the attenuation rate depending on the location of the hot streak relative to the vane due to isolating of the hot streak core by the vane wall. Additional attenuation resulted due to the action of the wake on the hot streak.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Beyond Bridging and Buffering Cases of Leadership Perspective and Practice at the Nexus of School–Community Relations

In multiple ways and toward various ends, school leaders increasingly engage in developing partnerships with universities, community members and groups, businesses, and other organizations. School–community relations and collaborations are viewed as necessary means for bringing different kinds of resources to schools, teachers, students, and families. In fact, Khalifa (2012) argued that urban school leadership includes being “community leader.” While this image resonates with many, and the practice of school–community leadership may be take-for-granted in leadership preparation programs, the complexity of such endeavors cannot be understated. The work of authentically negotiating, sustaining, and engaging multiple constituents, partners, and communities is complicated by political, cultural, social, organizational, and ethical issues inherent to such interactions. The uncertainties produced by competition among schools for enrollments, threats of school closures, changing demographics, and increased accountability add to the complexities leaders face when developing and sustaining school–community collaborations. In such settings, leaders are often required to navigate conflicting views of school aims and activities. They are also challenged to find ways to connect the school with its immediate community in various ways, including through linkages with community organizations and constituents (Sanders, 2003; Warren, 2005). In many settings, school–community tensions are exacerbated by a legacy of disenfranchisement of public school constituents. Historically, school boards have not represented their
TEMPORAL FLUCTUATIONS OF FLUORESCENCE RESONANCE ENERGY TRANSFER BETWEEN TWO DYES CONJUGATED TO A SINGLE PROTEIN

Abstract Biological molecules together with available labeling chemistries provide an ideal setting to investigate the interaction between two closely spaced dye molecules. The photo-excitation of a donor molecule can be non-radiatively transferred to a near-by acceptor molecule via the induced-dipole–induced-dipole interaction in a distance-dependent manner. In this work, we further elaborate on single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements between two dye molecules attached to a single protein – staphylococcal nuclease molecules [T. Ha, A.Y. Ting, J. Liang, W.B. Caldwell, A.A. Deniz, D.S. Chemla, P.G. Schultz, S. Weiss, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96 (1999) 893–898]. Temporal fluctuations in the energy transfer signal include: (1) reversible transitions to dark states; (2) irreversible photodestruction; (3) intersystem crossing to and from the triplet state; (4) spectral fluctuations; (5) rotational dynamics of the dyes; and (6) distance changes between the two dyes. To extract biologically relevant information from such measurements, an experimental strategy and data analysis schemes are developed. First, abrupt photophysical events, such as (1)–(3) are identified and removed from the data. The remaining slow, gradual fluctuations in the energy transfer signal are due to spectral shifts, rotational dynamics and distance changes of the dyes. Direct measurements of each dye's spectral fluctuation and rotational dynamics indicate that these, by themselves, cannot fully account for the observed energy transfer fluctuations. It is therefore concluded that inter-dye distance changes must be present as well. The distance and orientational dynamics are shown to be dependent on the binding of the active-site inhibitor (deoxythymidine diphosphate) to the protein. The inhibitor most probably affects the protein's stability and the dye–protein interaction, possibly by amplifying the motion of the linker arm between the fluorophore and the protein.
Determination of the distribution volume that can be used to calculate the intravenous loading dose

An intravenous loading dose is given to rapidly achieve a desired drug concentration in the blood. A loading dose calculated with the volume of distribution (Vd) at steady state will result in high peak concentrations and possibly serious adverse effects. A loading dose based on the central compartment Vd (Vc) followed by a maintenance infusion may also miss the target drug concentration and cause serious adverse effects. The Vd can be viewed as a time-dependent variable that expands from the Vc immediately after injection, to eventually include the steady-state Vd. If the loading dose is calculated from a Vd determined after the time of peak effect (tmax), then the actual concentration will exceed the target concentration at the tmax. If a loading dose is calculated from a Vd before the peak effect occurs, the actual concentration will be insufficient to achieve the target concentration at tmax. A loading dose based on the Vd at the tmax will accurately achieve the concentration at the tmax without unexpected adverse effects. To determine the Vd at peak effect, it is necessary that an effect can be measured, the peak effect can be detected and the plasma concentrations are sampled frequently enough to quantify the plasma concentrations at the tmax. For drugs that attain an ultra-fast effect (1 to 2 minutes), arterial samples need to be measured. If the onset of effect is intermediate or slow, venous blood can be sampled as the arterial and venous concentrations may be similar at the tmax.
Expert system shells — selecting the most appropriate development environment

Abstract Positive and negative features of commercially available expert system shells are reviewed from the user's perspective. This review does not present the features of any particular shell. Requirements and desirable features for expert system shells are dependent upon specific application needs and user expertise. Users fall into three general categories: (1) students learning about expert systems, (2) domain experts involved in prototyping, testing, and extending a system, or (3) knowledge engineers with familiarity and skill in knowledge representation methodology and building programs. All shells provide four basic functions: (1) a knowledge representation scheme, (2) an inference or search mechanism, (3) a means of describing a problem, and (4) status determination during problem solving. Despite this commonality, shells lie on a continuum of relatively simple languages to very elaborate development environments, each having its own purposes and strengths at different stages of the expert system development cycle. Users should carefully select the shell most suited to their needs and level of expertise. User satisfaction will be maximized through consideration of the following important shell features: (1) knowledge representation schemes, (2) knowledge engineering tools, (3) inference engine and problem solving strategies, (4) compatability and portability, (5) user interface, (6) performance and productivity, and (7) other advanced features provided by expert system technology.