cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Prospective Randomized Comparative Study of Three Guided Bronchoscopic Approaches for Investigating Pulmonary Nodules: The PRECISION-1 Study

Background The capability of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules (PPNs) remains limited. Despite decades of effort, evidence suggests that the diagnostic accuracy for electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (EMN) and radial endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) approach only 50%. New developments in robotic bronchoscopy (RB) may offer improvements in the assessment of PPNs. Methods A prospective single-blinded randomized controlled comparative study to assess success in localization and puncture of PPNs, using an ultrathin bronchoscope with radial EBUS (UTB-rEBUS) vs EMN vs RB in a human cadaver model of PPNs Results Sixty procedures were performed to target 20 PPNs over the study period. Implanted PPNs were distributed across all lobes, with 80% located within the lung periphery. The target PPN mean diameter was 16.5 ± 1.5 mm, with 50% noted to have a CT bronchus sign. The rate of successful PPN localization and puncture was superior when using RB, compared with EMN (80% vs 45%; P = .02). Among unsuccessful needle passes, the median needle to target “miss” distance was significantly different when comparing UTB-rEBUS, EMN, and RB (P = .0014). Conclusions In a cadaver model, use of RB significantly increased the ability to localize and successfully puncture small PPNs when compared with existing technologies. This study demonstrates the potential of RB to precisely reach, localize, and puncture small nodules in the periphery of the lung.
Contribution of Cav1.2 Ca2+ channels and store-operated Ca2+ entry to pig urethral smooth muscle contraction

Urethral smooth muscle (USM) generates tone to prevent urine leakage from the bladder during filling. USM tone has been thought to be a voltage-dependent process, relying on Ca2+ influx via voltage...
Chirping up the Right Tree: Incorporating Biological Taxonomies into Deep Bioacoustic Classifiers

Class imbalance in the training data hinders the generalization ability of machine listening systems. In the context of bioacoustics, this issue may be circumvented by aggregating species labels into super-groups of higher taxonomic rank: genus, family, order, and so forth. However, different applications of machine listening to wildlife monitoring may require different levels of granularity. This paper introduces TaxoNet, a deep neural network for structured classification of signals from living organisms. TaxoNet is trained as a multitask and multilabel model, following a new architectural principle in end-to-end learning named "hierarchical composition": shallow layers extract a shared representation to predict a root taxon, while deeper layers specialize recursively to lower-rank taxa. In this way, TaxoNet is capable of handling taxonomic uncertainty, out-of-vocabulary labels, and open-set deployment settings. An experimental benchmark on two new bioacoustic datasets (ANAFCC and BirdVox-14SD) leads to state-of-the-art results in bird species classification. Furthermore, on a task of coarse-grained classification, TaxoNet also outperforms a flat single-task model trained on aggregate labels.
High Performance Simulations to Support Real-time COVID19 Response

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented global crisis and serves as a reminder of the social, economic and health burden of infectious diseases. The ongoing trends towards urbanization, global travel, climate change and a generally older and immuno-compromised population continue to make epidemic planning and control challenging. Recent advances in computing, AI, and bigdata have created new opportunities for realizing the vision of real-time epidemic science. In this talk I will describe our group's work developing scalable and pervasive computing-based concepts, theories and tools for planning, forecasting and response in the event of epidemics. I will draw on our work in supporting federal agencies as they plan and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. I will end the talk by outlining directions for future work.
Florida FFA Vegetable Judging Competition: A Study Guide

This 7-page guide links to articles about insects that are often used in the Florida FFA Vegetable Judging Competition. Written by Jennifer Lynn Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development Department, April 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h388
Optimizing preclinical learning with retrieval practice: A call to action

This Personal View is about our experience with preclinical education as medical students. We discuss the problem with current medical education in light of an ever-growing body of medical knowledge and increasing student disengagement with preclinical lectures. We briefly review the concept of retrieval practice as an effective, evidence-based learning strategy that helped us retain knowledge for longer periods and propose that medical educators should adopt this strategy to best prepare medical students to navigate the vastly expanding scope of modern medicine.
Effect of Gesture Interface Mapping on Controlling a Multi-degree-of-freedom Robotic Arm in a Complex Environment:

There are many robotic scenarios that require real-time function in large or unconstrained environments, for example, the robotic arm on the International Space Station (ISS). Use of fully-wearable...
Writing as Mapping

Effective writing involves consistently making good decisions. Decisions about words. Decisions about structure. Decisions about the different aims of drafting and editing. Along those same lines, it can be helpful to think of individual pieces of writing—especially individual pieces of legal writing—as creating a map to a decision. This essay explores that connection and offers advocates of all kinds a framework for how to convince people to make a certain decision or take a particular action.
Utilization of peer advisement course among first year students: A pilot study exploring students and their perceptions.

Abstract Background The transition from high school to college can be a stressful experience for first-year university students. Peer advisors are thought to be a valuable social support resource for first-year nursing students. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions and experiences of both first-year nursing students and their peer advisors in a first semester seminar course. Methodology A cross-sectional descriptive design was used on a sample that included 108 first-year nursing students and five peer advisors. Results The study revealed that 68% of the participating freshmen felt that the program met their nursing school expectations and 95.1% reported that the peer advisor group meetings were beneficial and met the goals of the courses, as anticipated. Students described their peer advisors as excellent communicators, accommodating, and sensitive to diversity. The course also offered peer advisors an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Conclusion The findings of this study might help inform the academic institution's practices regarding the benefits of peer advisement program for first-year students.
Fundamentals of Rate Distortion Theory

Let X1, . . . , X n be independent chance variables, each with distribution π = (π1, . . . , π a ) on the set A = {1, . . . , a} (the “source” alphabet). Let X n = (X1, . . . , X n ), and A n * be the space of all n-sequences with elements in the source alphabet. Let C = {1, . . . , c} be the “reproduction’’ alphabet, and C*n the space of all n-sequences with elements in this alphabet. Let d be a given “distortion” function, i.e., d (i, j) is the “distortion” between i (i = 1, . . . , a) and j (j = 1, . . . , c). Define d’0 = mind(i, j), d’00= maxd(i, j). Let a n = (a1, . . . , a n ) e A* n and c n = (c1, . . . , c n ) e C*n. The distortion d (a n , c n ) between a n and c n is defined to be $$ d\left( {{a_n},{c_n}} \right) = \frac{1}{n}\quad \sum\limits_{j = 1}^n {d\left( {{a^i},{a^1}} \right)} $$ (11.1.1)
Dietary Zinc Affects Serum Concentrations of Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Growing Lambs

Glucose tolerance and concentrations of insulin, somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-I and cortisol were evaluated in lambs deficient, marginal or adequate in zinc. There were three treatments: 1) deficient (basal diet deficient in zinc; 3.7 mg zinc/kg diet); 2) marginal (basal diet + 5 mg zinc/kg diet); and 3) adequate (basal diet + 40 mg zinc/kg diet). Lambs fed the zinc-deficient diet had lower (P 0.05) by zinc status. Severe zinc deficiency altered circulating concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I and somatotropin, whereas a marginal deficiency had no effect in growing lambs.
Tiny Bubbles Tell All

Our knowledge of long-term human effects on greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere comes from air trapped in ice cores taken from polar ice sheets. These ice core samples allow researchers to place modern changes in the context of natural variations over hundreds of thousands of years. In his Perspective, [Brook][1] discusses results reported in the same issue by [ Siegenthaler et al .][2] and by [ Spahni et al .][3] based on new samples obtained by the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA). The new long records of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide from EPICA extend the window on greenhouse gas levels to 650,000 years. The results confirm that the modern atmosphere is highly anomalous and reinforce the view that greenhouse gases and climate are intimately related. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5752/1285 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5752/1313 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5752/1317
The international financial crisis : have the rules of finance changed?

Special Addresses: Back from the Brink (C D Romer) Longer Days, Fewer Weekends (K M Warsh) What Broke? The Root Causes of the Crisis: Origins of the Subprime Crisis (C W Calomiris) The Role of the Financial Sector in the Great Recession (M Mussa) Containing a Systemic Crisis: Is There Really No Playbook?: Regulating Systemic Risk (M Kawai & M Pomerleano) Systemic Risk: Is There a Playbook? (R K Steel) Dealing with the Crisis: The Role of the State: Banking on the State (P Alessandri & A G Haldane) The Role of the State in a Crisis (P L Swagel) What To Do About Bubbles: Monetary Policy and Macroprudential Regulation: Financial Instability and Macroeconomics: Bridging the Gulf (C Borio & M Drehmann) Bubbles? (A H Meltzer) Dealing with Crises in a Globalized World: Challenges and Solutions: Global Financial Reform: Diagnosis and Prognosis - A Network Approach (A L T Sheng) Dealing with Cross-Border Bank Distress: Some Specific Options for Reform (S Claessens) How to Make Regulators and Government More Accountable: Regulatory Governance and Agency Design: Making Safety-Net Managers Accountable for Safety-Net Subsidies (E J Kane) The Sentinel: Improving the Governance of Financial Policies (R Levine) Policy Panel: Where Do We Go from Here?: Where Do We Go from Here? (A K Kashyap) Where to from Here? Have the Rules of Finance Changed? (J Silvia) and other papers.
Oxidative Stress in Tropical Marine Ecosystems

T he accumulation of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere has had profound effects on the geochemistry, physiology, and evolution of life on the planet. However, most organisms must also contend with the negative aspects of living in a world with oxygen. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is prevalent in the world’s oceans and oxidative stress is an important component of the stress response in marine organisms exposed to a variety of environmental stressors such as thermal stress, which is now becoming more prevalent because of climate change. In tropical environments exposure to high irradiances of visible and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) contributes significantly, through both direct and indirect processes, to ROS production in the water as well as in many tropical marine taxa of plants and animals. The negative effects of ROS must also be balanced by their role in signal transduction that facilitates processes such as apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis. Because of the high irradiances of solar radiation and exposure to high air and seawater temperatures, oxidative stress in tropical marine environments is ubiquitous and is normally kept in check by a suite of antioxidants, both enzymatic and nonenzymatic, in diverse tropical marine taxa in order to survive, grow and reproduce.
Evaluation of Performance of Dental Providers on Posterior Restorations: Does Experience Matter? A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Approach

The purpose of this study is to discern what factors affect the longevity of amalgam and of composite restorations by dentists who perform posterior restorations. Data are obtained from the Washington Dental Service and contain 1.5 million patient encounters representing visits to 23,000 providers from January 1993 through 31 December 1999. Analysis of provider performance is estimated through Data Envelopment Analysis. The principal finding is that the most efficient dentists produce posterior restorations that survive almost 5 months (4.6 months) longer than those by inefficient providers (χ2 e 18.98, p < 0.0001). The findings suggest that there is no difference in restoration longevity between amalgam and composite restorations when the restoration is performed by efficient provider.
Effects of beractant and poractant administration on cerebral hemodynamics

Objective: To determine whether type and timing of surfactant preparation affect cerebral blood flow (CBF) hemody- namics differently. Study design: Two sites monitoring cerebral hemodynamics during surfactant administration. Beractant (4.0 ml/kg) and poractant (2.5 ml/kg first dose, 1.25 ml/kg subsequent doses) were administered according to the manufacturer. CBF velocity (CBFv) was assessed before and after the first (Site A) and second (Site B) doses of beractant and poractant. Results: At Site A, 10 infants (birth weight 690 ± 133 g) were studied. CBFv decreased 28.9 ± 5.1% following the first dose of surfactant; there were no differences between beractant and poractant. At Site B, 16 infants (birth weight 896 ± 311 g) were studied. CBFv increased 47.4 ± 35.7% after the second dose of beractant and did not change after the second dose of poractant. Conclusion: This is a preliminary report of two related trials examining CBFv responses to beractant and poractant. CBFv decreased similarly after the first dose of beractant and poractant. CBFv increased after the second dose of beractant, but not after poractant. Cerebral hemodynamic responses between the first and second doses may be due to differences in quantities of airway fluid, while second dose differences between beractant and poractant may be due to differences in dose-volume.
Anomalous magnetic response of the valence-fluctuating compound YbInCu4

The exact solution of the spin one-half Falicov-Kimball model, with random hopping between the lattice sites, is used to explain the anomalous magnetic response of Yb-based valence-fluctuating intermetallic compounds. The anomalous behavior arises from an entropy-driven local-moment--nonmagnetic transition of unhybridized Yb ions in these materials which can also be used to explain the observed metamagnetism and resistivity anomalies.
NKX3.1 Suppresses TMPRSS2–ERG Gene Rearrangement and Mediates Repair of Androgen Receptor–Induced DNA Damage

TMPRSS2 gene rearrangements occur at DNA breaks formed during androgen receptor-mediated transcription and activate expression of ETS transcription factors at the early stages of more than half of prostate cancers. NKX3.1, a prostate tumor suppressor that accelerates the DNA repair response, binds to androgen receptor at the ERG gene breakpoint and inhibits both the juxtaposition of the TMPRSS2 and ERG gene loci and also their recombination. NKX3.1 acts by accelerating DNA repair after androgen-induced transcriptional activation. NKX3.1 influences the recruitment of proteins that promote homology-directed DNA repair. Loss of NKX3.1 favors recruitment to the ERG gene breakpoint of proteins that promote error-prone nonhomologous end-joining. Analysis of prostate cancer tissues showed that the presence of a TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangement was highly correlated with lower levels of NKX3.1 expression consistent with the role of NKX3.1 as a suppressor of the pathogenic gene rearrangement.
(2‐Dimethylaminoethyl)triphenylphosphonium Bromide

[21331-80-6] C22H25BrNP (MW 414.33) InChI = 1S/C22H25NP.BrH/c1-23(2)18-19-24(20-12-6-3-7-13-20,21-14-8-4-9-15-21)22-16-10-5-11-17-22;/h3-17H,18-19H2,1-2H3;1H/q+1;/p-1 InChIKey = YIIHEMGEQQWSMA-UHFFFAOYSA-M (precursor to dimethylaminoethylidenetriphenylphosphorane, which condenses with aldehydes and ketones to give allylic amines1) Physical Data: mp 201 °C. Form Supplied in: white solid; widely commercially available. Preparative Method: this reagent and analogous N,N-dialkylaminoethyltriphenylphosphonium bromides are prepared by condensation of the corresponding β-amino alcohols with Triphenylphosphine in the presence of Hydrogen Bromide.1 Purification: recrystallization from acetic acid–chloroform. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: should be dried in vacuo for best results.
Barrier function of epithelia

The ability of an epithelium to prevent permeation of noxious agents has not been well studied except in the gastrointestinal tract where exclusion of H+ has clinical significance. This article reviews the permeation routes across epithelia both as elucidated in the extensive electrophysiological work done in recent years and as demonstrated in morphological studies. We thus place concepts about gastrointestinal barrier function into the framework of transport physiology. Both the permeability and permselectivity of epithelial barriers are reviewed here. The effects of physical agents (pressure and electric current), polyvalent cations, organic compounds with both specific (channel blocking) and nonspecific (detergent) membrane properties, cyclic nucleotides, microfilament-active agents, and particularly H+ on both the barrier function (permeability and permselectivity) and transport function of epithelia are considered. Based on the available data, an important role for active Na+ transport in the maintenance of the epithelial barrier function can be postulated.
Clines with asymmetric migration.

The consequences of asymmetric dispersion on the maintenance of an allele in a one-dimensional environmental pocket are examined. The diffusion model of migration and selection is restricted to a single diallelic locus in a monoecious population in the absence of mutation and random drift. It is further supposed that migration is homogeneous and independent of genotype, the population density is constant and uniform, and Hardy-Weinberg proportions obtain locally. If dispersion is preferentially out of an environmental pocket at the end of a very long habitat, the condition for maintaining the allele favored in the pocket becomes less stringent than for symmetric migration; dispersion preferentially into the pocket increases the severity of the condition for polymorphism. If an allele is harmful in large regions on both sides of an environmental pocket, the probability for polymorphism is decreased by asymmetric migration. The criterion for the existence of a cline is independent of the sense of the asymmetry; the cline itself is not. These phenomena are studied both analytically and numerically.—It is shown for symmetric migration and variable population density that the more densely populated parts of the habitat are more influential in determining gene frequency than the others. Thus, the higher the population density in an environmental pocket, the more easily an allele beneficial in the pocket will be maintained in the population.
Responses of Merriam's kangaroo rats, Dipodomys merriami, to various levels of carbon dioxide concentration.

Abstract 1. 1. We examined the responses of Merriam's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami, to four levels of CO2 concentration in the inspired air, 2, 5, 10 and 20% CO2. 2. 2. Heart rate, HR, depression increased in magnitude with increasing CO2 concentration. 3. 3. Respiratory frequency, Rf, increased by about 20 per cent at all levels of CO2 concentration. 4. 4. Rectal temperature, Tre, dropped more rapidly as the CO2 concentration in the inspired air increased. 5. 5. The semi-fossorial kangaroo rat seems to have a sensitivity to CO2 intermediate between non-fossorial and diving rodents. 6. 6. It is unlikely that hypercapnia induced torpor regularly occurs among kangaroo rats since only slight reduction in Tre occurs at CO2 concentration of 5 per cent, well above the concentrations of CO2 normally encountered in the burrow.
Effect of minimal hearing loss on children's ability to multitask in quiet and in noise.

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of minimal hearing loss (HL) on children’s ability to perform simultaneous tasks in quiet and in noise. Method Ten children with m...
GlobalWork Bridging Distance, Culture & Time

The article presents a review of the book “GlobalWork: Bridging Distance, Culture & Time,” by Mary O'Hara-Devereaux and Robert Johansen.
The synthesis of oligosaccharide-l-asparagine compounds. Part IV. 2-acetamido-N-(l-aspart-4-oyl)-2-deoxy-6-O-α-d-mannopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosylamine

Abstract The title compound, used for the chemical and biochemical synthesis of glycopeptides and as a reference substance in the structure elucidation of glycoproteins, was synthesized via two different routes. In one of these syntheses, condensation of 2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-α- d -mannopyranosyl bromide ( 1 ) with 2-acetamido-3,4-di- O -acetyl-2-deoxy-β- d -glucopyranosyl azide, or with the 3- O -acetyl azide analog, followed by acetylation, gave 2-acetamido-3,4-di- O -acetyl-2-deoxy-6- O -(2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-α- d -mannopyranosyl)-β- d -glucopyranosyl azide ( 4 ) in 76 and 74% yields, respectively. Catalytic reduction of 4 with Adams' catalyst, and condensation of the resulting amine with 1-benzyl N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- l -aspartate, gave the protected derivative 10 of the title compound in 67% yield. In the other synthesis, 10 was obtained in 66% yield by condensation of 1 with 2-acetamido-3,4-di- O -acetyl- N -[1-benzyl N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- l -aspart-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β- d -glucopyranosylamine. Removal of the protective O -acetyl, N -(benzyloxycarbonyl), and benzyl groups gave the title compound.
Stereogenic competition in bilirubin conformational enantiomerism

Abstract Optically active bilirubin analogs (1 and 2) with a stereogenic center in each propionic acid side chain were synthesized and examined by CD and NMR spectroscopy. Introduction of an α-methyl and a β-methyl forces the pigment to adopt either a left-handed (M) or right-handed (P) helicity with a folded, ridge-tile conformation. As evidenced by exciton-type circular dichroism spectra, the ( αS,α′S- 3 ), ( βS,β′S- 5 ), ( αS,β′S- 1 ) stereoisomers strongly prefer the M - helicity ridge-tile conformation, but the (αR,β′S) stereoisomer (2) prefers the P - helicity .
Sex differences in conformity: Instrumental or communal response?

Male and female introductory psychology students (N=88) were asked to read a clinical case history and the opinion consensus of either (a) their peers, (b) advanced psychology students, or (c) Ph.D. clinical psychologists that the patient should be hospitalized for at least 90 days (an extreme treatment). Subjects then indicated on a scale of 10 to 90 days, the length of hospitalization they thought best. In a significant interaction effect (sex of subject × expertise of source) males were least influenced by the opinions of their peers and increasingly influenced as the source became more expert. Females, however, seemed most influenced by their peer group, recommending longest hospitalization terms in that condition. Results are interpreted in terms of sex-role identification and the emergence of an instrumental (task) or communal set.
Exchange Rate Regime, Central Bank Independence, and Political Business Cycles in Brazil

This article examines policy consequences of electoral cycles and exchange rate regime choices in Brazil. The literature on opportunistic political business cycles maintains that governments adopt expansionary economic policies before elections to mobilize voters’ support. However, research findings in Latin America based on the theory has been inconclusive. I argue that the lack of conclusive evidence in Latin America stems from measurement errors common in the use of cross-national aggregate data. Using Brazil’s monthly data from 1985 to 2006, this article shows that there are electorally induced fiscal cycles under fixed and crawling peg exchange rate regimes and electorally induced monetary cycles under floating exchange rates only when the nation’s central bank is not independent. Indeed, accounting for Brazil’s unique economic contingencies and longitudinal variations in the de facto central bank independence, its public policy behavior remarkably resembles that of the more affluent, economically stable OECD countries.
Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: Innovative trends and prospects

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with recent advancements resulting in modest impacts on patient survival. Nanomedicine represents an innovative field with immense potential for improving cancer treatment, having ushered in several established drug delivery platforms. Nanoconstructs such as liposomes are widely used in clinics, while polymer micelles are in advanced phases of clinical trials in several countries. Currently, the field of nanomedicine is generating a new wave of nanoscale drug delivery strategies, embracing trends that involve the functionalization of these constructs with moieties that enhance site-specific delivery and tailored release. Herein, we discuss several advancements in established nanoparticle technologies such as liposomes, polymer micelles, and dendrimers regarding tumor targeting and controlled release strategies, which are being incorporated into their design with the hope of generating a more robust and efficacious nanotherapeutic modality. We also highlight a novel strategy known as multistage drug delivery; a rationally designed nanocarrier aimed at overcoming numerous biological barriers involved in drug delivery through the decoupling of various tasks that comprise the journey from the moment of systemic administration to arrival at the tumor site.
Observing responses and informative stimuli.

Pigeons were trained on a trial procedure. A trial began with the illumination of a pecking key by a white light. After a fixed interval, a key peck could turn the key to one of two equi-probable colors and produce a delayed trial outcome—an equi-probable occurrence of either reinforcement or nonreinforcement. After a trial, the key turned dark and the trial ended. The response could be made into an observing response by correlating the key colors with the outcomes. Response rates in the fixed interval then increased to a level greater than when the colors and outcomes were uncorrelated. In another phase, the response produced only the colors. The trial outcomes occurred some seconds after the fixed interval without a response being required. Correlating the colors with the outcomes again increased response rates. In a second experiment, a further condition was added in which reinforcement was the outcome on every trial. Response rates were lower than when there were equi-probable reinforcement and nonreinforcement outcomes with correlated colors, and about the same as when there were equi-probable outcomes with uncorrelated colors. The results suggest that stimuli providing information about the probability of reinforcement are themselves reinforcing.
Fragrance material review on trans-3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of trans-3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
Rigorous definition and analysis of program complexity measures: an example using nesting

Abstract Two deficiencies persist in program complexity measures research: a lack of formalism in defining complexity measures and a lack of analytical tools for evaluating these measures. The lack of formalism significantly hinders independent empirical evaluations of proposed measures. The lack of analytical tools and techniques for evaluating measures makes comparisons between independent research efforts difficult. As an example of one attempt to avoid these deficiencies, we formally define “nesting” for arbitrary (not necessarily well-structured) programs and use this definition to redefine four existing measures of nesting that have appeared in the literature. We then define one simple tool that can be used to evaluate nesting measures. Application of this tool to the redefined measures reveals in one case that the proposed measure does not adequately quantify the nesting represented by the simple tool. In the other three cases the measures are demonstrably similar. Analogous analytical evaluations of proposed measures prior to the requisite empirical studies are encouraged.
Estimating the demand for library service: theory and practice.

Issues related to the demand for library service are not new to library administrators and other information scientists. However, formal economic analysis of that demand is just beginning. This paper has two objectives: to explain the theoretical links between the demand for library service and key economic variables and to describe how demand was estimated in one specific experimental context: the demand for library service of institutional users of the Cleveland Health Sciences Library. This study is cited to illustrate some problems that are likely to arise in attempting to estimate statistically the parameters of library demand functions. The need for more precise economic analysis of library demand has grown as forms of information that have traditionally been provided free to users begin to acquire explicit price tags. This trend is likely to continue. Most economic models for setting library user fees require specific inputs about the demand for information and the sensitivity of demand to changes in economic variables. Even in situations where user fees are not applicable, an understanding of the demand function can be useful in predicting how the amount of library service demanded might change if underlying economic or noneconomic variables change. As more complete data become available, economic analysis of library demand will be employed more frequently as a policymaking tool.
Dynamics and Cognition

Many who advocate dynamical systems approaches to cognitive science believe themselves committed to the thesis of extended cognition and to the rejection of representation. I argue that this belief is false. In part, this misapprehension rests on a warrantless re-conception of cognition as intelligent behavior. In part also, it rests on thinking that conceptual issues can be resolved empirically. Once these issues are sorted out, the way is cleared for a dynamical systems approach to cognition that is free to retain the standard conception of cognition as taking place in the head, and over representations.
Cuticular structures of the priapulid Halicryptus spinulosus: A scanning electron microscopical study

The surface anatomy and the structures lining the pharynx of Halicryptus spinulosus were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The structures were compared and contrasted with those reported for other priapulids, particularly those features previously studied with SEM. Buccal papillae and pharyngeal teeth of two types were described. Surface structures observed with SEM were: scalids, abdominal setae, anal papillae, posterior warts and ring papillae. The latter three structures are unique among described priapulids. The anal papillae are composed of several rounded, perhaps pedunculate, structures; the posterior warts are composed of mitriform structures in close association with columnar structures. Both are located in separate depressions in the posterior integument. The ring papillae occur on the annuli close to the posterior end. Halicryptus spinulosus was previously thought to lack these structures.
Agricultural Education Early Field Experience Through the Lens of the EFE Model

The purpose of this national study was to describe agricultural teacher education early field experience (EFE) practices using the EFE model. The population for this study was all agricultural education teacher preparation programs (N = 83) listed in the AAAE Directory of University Faculty in Agricultural Education. Data were collected via an online survey sent to a single point of contact (i.e., the agricultural teacher education coordinator) at each institution. For this study, EFE was defined as all field experiences that occur prior to student teaching; the experiences could be offered within or outside of the agricultural education curriculum. Programs required a minimum number of contact hours and a minimum number of lessons to be taught while in the field. The most common forms of assessment were the university supervisor’s review of documents, cooperating teacher signatures, reflective writing, and student journaling. This study has implications for agricultural teacher education programs that are planning to evaluate or revamp their current EFE programs. Developing consistency across programs will provide a better experience for all students involved in agricultural education EFE.
Local Government Implementation of the Americans With Disabilities Act: Factors Affecting Statutory Compliance

One of the questions raised after the signing of the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act is how local governments would implement the statute. This qualitative study examines 20 cities in two states, categorizing implementation efforts and identifying factors that affect local government compliance with the law.
Care of the Infant with Sclerema Neonatorum

High-risk infants are particularly prone to sepsis which can be accompanied by sclerema neonatorum. This condition is manifested by skin hardening. Causation of hardening of a sick infant's skin must be identified for appropriate treatment to be implemented. Nursing care of the infant with sclerema is very complex. Throughout the course of the disease, the infant frequently requires antimicrobial therapy, ventilatory support, exchange transfusions, precise intake and output measurements, and temperature control. Psychosocial support for the family and infant is also an important part of the nurse's role. In spite of standard therapy, the mortality rate for infants with sclerema remains high. New advances, such as exchange transfusions, give some hope for the survival of these very ill infants.
Polymeric plasticizer extends the lifetime of PVC-membrane ion-selective electrodes

The nature of the plasticizer plays a pivotal role in the analytical performance of polymer membrane ion sensors. Conventional plasticizers suffer leaching or migration from the membrane and exudation, both of which could limit the lifetime of sensors based on plasticized membranes. Herein, we describe the use of polyester sebacate (PES), a model polymeric plasticizer, in the preparation of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) using valinomycin as ionophore. PVC membrane electrodes plasticized with polyester sebacate demonstrated potentiometric response characteristics that compared favorably to ones plasticized with the conventional and similarly structured plasticizer bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DOS). Increasing the content of polyester sebacate in the membrane enhanced the response and improved the selectivity of valinomycin-based ISEs toward potassium over sodium. Various methods, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, dark field optical microscopy, and potentiometry were employed to study the effect of plasticizer on the leaching of the membrane components and the lifetime of both DOS- and PES-plasticized membranes. PES-plasticized electrodes maintained Nernstian response and high selectivity for more than four months, an improvement over DOS-plasticized membrane electrodes. This was attributed to enhanced retention of the membrane components because of the high polymeric nature of the polyester sebacate. These characteristics suggest that polyester sebacate is a good candidate to replace the conventional plasticizers in preparing PVC membrane electrodes with longer lifetime.
Application of fed-batch fermentation to the preparation of isotopically labeled or selenomethionyl-labeled proteins.

Abstract An increasing demand for isotopically labeled samples for spectroscopic and crystallographic studies has led to a corresponding need for effective and efficient methods for producing these samples. The present work is based on the strategy of using an isotopically labeled compound as the growth-limiting nutrient during protein expression inEscherichia coli(DE3) strains. By using dissolved O2and agitation rate data, the cell growth, feeding of the isotopic label, induction of protein expression, and the harvest of cells can be coordinated in a feedback controlled fermenter in a simple, easily defined manner. This approach is demonstrated for the nutrient-limited production of [U-15N]- and [U-13C,U-15N]-labeled toluene 4-monooxygenase effector protein inE. coliBL21(DE3) with isotopic abundance identical to that of the labeled precursors. For selective labeling, demonstrated with selenomethionine using methionine auxotrophE. coliB834(DE3), ∼80–85% incorporation was obtained from methionine-dependent growth of the auxotroph followed by selenomethionine feeding and protein induction upon methionine depletion. This selective labeling is accomplished in a single culture, does not require washing or resuspension, minimizes costly incorporation of label into host cell mass prior to induction, and can be easily adapted to selective labeling with other amino acids. Moreover, cell mass yield from these experiments can be readily optimized to provide the desired level of protein for a given investigation from a single growth and purification. This combination provides an efficient, controllable option for isotopic labeling experiments.
Experimental study of energy-level statistics in a regime of regular classical motion.

We have studied energy-level statistics of the diamagnetic lithium Rydberg spectrum in a regime of regular classical motion. The distribution of adjacent levels displays the Poisson-type behavior that has been reported in theoretical studies of numerous systems. Long-range correlations in the spectrum can be related simply to the number of underlying manifolds.
Structure and Thermodynamics of Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Nanocrystallites

Equilibrium structures and thermodynamic properties of dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayers on small (Au140) and larger (Au1289) gold nanocrystallites were investigated with the use of molecular dynamics simulations. Compact passivating monolayers are formed on the (111) and (100) facets of the nanocrystallites, with adsorption site geometries differing from those found on extended flat Au(111) and Au(100) surfaces, as well as with higher packing densities. At lower temperatures the passivating molecules organize into preferentially oriented molecular bundles with the molecules in the bundles aligned approximately parallel to each other. Thermal disordering starts at T ≳200 K, initiating at the boundaries of the bundles and involving generation of intramolecular conformational (gauche) defects which occur first at bonds near the chains' outer terminus and propagate inward toward the underlying gold nanocrystalline surface as the temperature is increased. The disordering process culminates in melting of...
An overview of noninvasive methods of deep vein thrombosis detection.

It has been estimated that twenty million cases of deep vein thrombosis occur per year in the United States (1). The major life threatening complication is, of course, pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) and there are approximately 600,000 new cases of PE per year (2) resulting in approximately 50,000 to 100,000 deaths (3-6). Approximately 85-95% of al1 PE are thought to arise from the deep venous system of the calf or the upper leg, or the external pelvic venous system and inferior vena cava (4, 7,8,9). However, some investigators report a low incidence of PE arising from DVT of calf veins in patients with no other venous system involvement although this remains controversial (10-15). Furthermore, de novo external pelvic venous thrombosis or inferior vena caval thrombosis without involvement of the deep system of the upper leg is thought to be a rare occurrence (7, 12, 16, 17). Therefore, the majority of patients with a life threatening DVT have involvement of the deep venous system of the upper legs (7, 10, 12, 13). This forms the rationale for many of the noninvasive methods used for deep vein thrombosis detection, which concentrate on demonstrating abnormalities in the deep venous system of the upper legs. Because the clinical diagnosis of DVT (and PE) is difficult and because there is no completely reliable noninvasive method of DVT detection (also true of PE), a wide variety of tests are utilized, (occasionally in combination), often depending upon the personal
The secreted glycoprotein Noelin-1 promotes neurogenesis in Xenopus.

Neurogenesis in Xenopus neural ectoderm involves multiple gene families, including basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, which initiate and control primary neurogenesis. Equally important, though less well understood, are the downstream effectors of the activity of these transcription factors. We have investigated the role of a candidate downstream effector, Noelin-1, during Xenopus development. Noelin-1 is a secreted glycoprotein that likely forms large multiunit complexes. In avians, overexpression of Noelin-1 causes prolonged and excessive neural crest migration. Our studies in Xenopus reveal that this gene, while highly conserved in sequence, has a divergent function in primary neurogenesis. XenopusNoelin-1 is expressed mainly by postmitotic neurogenic tissues in the developing central and peripheral nervous systems, first appearing after neural tube closure. Its expression is upregulated in ectopic locations upon overexpression of the neurogenic genes X-ngnr-1 and XNeuroD. Noelin-1 expression in animal caps induces expression of neural markers XBrn-3d and XNeuroD, and co-expression of secreted Noelin-1 with noggin amplifies noggin-induced expression of XBrn-3d and XNeuroD. Furthermore, in animal caps neuralized by expression of noggin, co-expression of Noelin-1 causes expression of neuronal differentiation markers several stages before neurogenesis normally occurs in this tissue. Finally, only secreted forms of the protein can activate sensory marker expression, while all forms of the protein can induce early neurogenesis. This suggests that the cellular localization of Noelin-1 may be important to its function. Thus, Noelin-1 represents a novel secreted factor involved in neurogenesis.
Open reading frame sso2387 from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus encodes a polypeptide with protein-serine kinase activity

The predicted polypeptide product of open reading frame sso2387 from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, SsoPK2, displayed several of the sequence features conserved among the members of the "eukaryotic" protein kinase superfamily. sso2387 was cloned, and its polypeptide product was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein, rSsoPK2, was recovered in insoluble aggregates that could be dispersed by using high concentrations (5 M) of urea. The solubilized polypeptide displayed the ability to phosphorylate itself as well as several exogenous proteins, including mixed histones, casein, bovine serum albumin, and reduced carboxyamidomethylated and maleylated lysozyme, on serine residues. The source of this activity resided in that portion of the protein displaying homology to the catalytic domain of eukaryotic protein kinases. By use of mass spectrometry, the sites of autophosphorylation were found to be located in two areas, one immediately N terminal to the region corresponding to subdomain I of eukaryotic protein kinases, and the second N terminal to the presumed activation loop located between subdomains VII and VIII. Autophosphorylation of rSsoPK2 could be uncoupled from the phosphorylation of exogenous proteins by manipulation of the temperature or mutagenic alteration of the enzyme. Autophosphorylation was detected only at temperatures >or=60 degrees C, whereas phosphorylation of exogenous proteins was detectable at 37 degrees C. Similarly, replacement of one of the potential sites of autophosphorylation, Ser(548), with alanine blocked autophosphorylation but not phosphorylation of an exogenous protein, casein.
The effect of freezing and storage at −60 °C on the viability of Mycobacterium leprae

Abstract Suspensions of M. leprae in 10% glycerol and 0.1% bovine serum albumin were quick-frozen and stored for various periods of time at −60 °C. Viability of the bacterial suspensions, measured by means of Shepard's mouse footpad technique, did not decrease progressively during prolonged storage, suggesting that the observed decreases in viability resulted from the freezing process rather than from storage. Considerable variability was noted in the loss of viability which resulted from freezing.
Application of Sobolev gradient techniques to two-point ray tracing

ABSTRACTThe Sobolev gradient steepest descent provides a numerically efficient iterative bending algorithm for two-point ray tracing. This new algorithm has advantages in its relative ease of numerical implementation, its ability to provide accurate solutions in discontinuous velocity fields (including head wave solutions), and its ability, when smooth velocity fields are used, to provide accurate solutions while using relatively few ray segments. The algorithm owes its advantages to its implicit nature, which it inherits from the Sobolev gradient solution method. For most models, the algorithm can be implemented such that at convergence, the norm of the gradient approaches zero. Thus, convergence implies a stationary point of the traveltime integral, guaranteeing that the rays found satisfy Fermat’s principle.
Spread in sheet rolling : a comparison using experiments, analytical solutions and numerical techniques

Abstract Two models have been developed to predict transverse deformation and spread during sheet rolling. The asymptotic model (ASY) is an approximate method that yields analytical results, but contains a number of modeling restrictions. Short computation time is the primary advantage of the asymptotic solution. The lateral flow model (LFM) is a more robust numerical method, in the sense that more general constitutive and interface behavior can be considered. The two models are briefly described, compared to each other and to experimental data. The comparisons exhibit good agreement between the two models and between models and experimental data.
Estrogen replacement therapy withdrawal and regression of metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and its withdrawal in patients with breast cancer are limited. METHODS: Four cases were observed involving estrogen replacement therapy withdrawal as management of metastatic breast cancer. RESULTS: Three patients with a history of primary breast cancer developed metastatic disease while on ERT. A fourth patient presented with metastatic breast cancer while on ERT. Withdrawal of this "physiologic" ERT alone as the only therapeutic intervention resulted in regression of metastatic disease in all four patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving ERT who develop metastatic breast cancer, withdrawal of ERT alone is a therapeutic option. Awareness of this phenomenon may be of value in management of these patients. The role of ERT and value of ERT withdrawal in patients with breast cancer deserve further study.