cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 10 – Risk Assessment for Acute Exposure to Pesticides*

Publisher Summary This chapter follows the different methods of risk assessment for acute exposure to pesticides. Regulatory agencies have tended to focus their assessments of pesticide risk on the potential for toxicological effects to arise from repetitive, long-term usage of the chemicals. Consequently, much of the toxicological database required under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) examines the effects of repetitive, subchronic or chronic dosing by the oral route. From a public health perspective, however, the recorded human illnesses attributed to acute exposures to pesticides may be of greater significance than those connected with potential chronic exposures. The toxicological database for pesticides as a chemical use class is the most complete for any category of chemicals, with the possible exception of pharmaceuticals. Only one of the currently required FIFRA guideline studies examines the amount of chemical needed to produce nonlethal systemic effects from a single dose. The limited availability of applicable data sometimes forces the critical (regulatory) acute NOELs to be derived from multiple-dose laboratory animal studies, such as developmental toxicity studies. One of the major issues in selecting a critical endpoint for assessing the risks of acute exposure to pesticides is recognizing the difference between indications of exposure and an adverse effect. On the exposure side of risk assessment, although there are guidelines that exposure studies must meet, there are no required studies comparable to the required toxicity studies. However, government regulators are charged with protecting public health, and with that responsibility is an obligation to avoid unnecessary risks. As regulatory estimates of exposure must be based on logical, defensible calculations from the best data available, government scientists, faced with uncertainties from inadequate data, prefer to err on the side of safety.
Eleanor Maccoby: An Abridged Memoir

Editor's Note Eleanor Maccoby wrote a book-length memoir of her life at age 99, two years before her death. It is a fascinating and richly detailed account of a life well lived, filled with reminis...
The Photo-Evaporation of Dwarf Galaxies During Reionization

During the period of reionization the Universe was filled with a cosmological background of ionizing radiation. By that time a significant fraction of the cosmic gas had already been incorporated into collapsed galactic halos with virial temperatures below about 10000 K that were unable to cool efficiently. We show that photoionization of this gas by the fresh cosmic UV background boiled the gas out of the gravitational potential wells of its host halos. We calculate the photoionization heating of gas inside spherically symmetric dark matter halos, and assume that gas which is heated above its virial temperature is expelled. In popular Cold Dark Matter models, the Press-Schechter halo abundance implies that about 50-90% of the collapsed gas was evaporated at reionization. The gas originated from halos below a threshold circular velocity of 10-15 km/s. The resulting outflows from the dwarf galaxy population at redshifts 5-10 affected the metallicity, thermal and hydrodynamic state of the surrounding intergalactic medium. Our results suggest that stellar systems with a velocity dispersion below about 10 km/s, such as globular clusters or the dwarf spheroidal galaxies of the Local Group, did not form directly through cosmological collapse at high redshifts.
Management of life-threatening hemoperitoneum with minimally invasive percutaneous superselective arterial embolization.

The management of spontaneous hemoperitoneum centers on clinical suspicion, fluid resuscitation, appropriate early imaging, and therapeutic intervention. Traditionally, explorative laparotomy has b...
Implementing Pediatric Transition Education Initiative During Inpatient Admissions in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.

Abstract Background Adolescents with epilepsy are a population with unique needs when addressing transition to adult care. Scheduled, non-emergent admissions to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) have not yet been utilized to improve transition education. Methods The overarching goal of this evidence-based practice project was to explore opportunities to enhance the transition education patients and families receive in the clinic setting by leveraging scheduled inpatient admissions for EEG monitoring to provide structured transition education. Twenty-one Neurology Clinic providers were surveyed about their perspectives on the transition process. Thirty-five adolescent patients (12–20 years old) received a pre-test regarding their condition, health maintenance and disease management, and a subsequent post-test measuring knowledge retention after education with a provider. Documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) using an institution created transition flowsheet and a standardized template was used to communicate through the EHR with the primary neurology team. Findings The effectiveness of the intervention was supported as 100% of patients demonstrated increased knowledge after transition education. Providers' knowledge and support of transition efforts increased regarding tools and guidelines for transition of adolescents to adult care. Discussion These results support the feasibility of providing transition education in the EMU with shared responsibility between inpatient and ambulatory providers. Implications for practice Improved use of the transition flowsheet in the EMU and by ambulatory setting providers will enhance the process of transition. Discussion of self-management with adolescent patients during all phases of health care will encourage independence and promote successful transition to adult health care.
DM-pruning CADJ graphs for SOM clustering

As topology representing networks, the Cumulative ADJacency graph CADJ and its symmetric version $${{\text{CONN}}} = {\text{CADJ}} + {\text{CADJ}}^T$$ Tasdemir and Merenyi (IEEE Trans Neural Netw 20(4): 549–562, 2009), can be utilized as inputs to graph-based clustering (GBC) paradigms for partitioning the learned prototypes of a vector quantizer. To express complex data faithfully, CADJ must typically be pruned (thresholded, or made sparse) to be most effective as an input to GBC routines, whether they be algorithmic or driven by human assessment. This work, given in two parts, develops a formal framework for CADJ pruning as a preprocessing (sparsifying) step to improve CADJ’s use in any GBC routine. That is, rather than advocating a particular GBC method, our goal is development of sensible logic for creating sparse CADJ inputs to the entire family of GBC methods. Part 1 defines an overall quality measure for each CADJ edge by extending lines of reasoning used successfully in the past to prune CONN graphs. Part 2 introduces a Bayesian Dirichlet-multinomial (DM) model of CADJ edge weights with an intelligent prior constructed through analysis of the Voronoi tessellation generated by the vector quantization. The DM likelihood offers an internal assessment of information loss resulting from iterative CADJ edge removal, which is used to determine an optimal stopping criterion for the pruning process. We show that DM-Pruned CADJ graphs lead to GBCs comparable to the best previously achieved on highly structured real data.
That phone charging hub knows your video playlist

The rapid growth of smartphone usage has sparked a proliferation of public phone-charging hubs to cater to peoples’ growing charging needs. By virtue of being located in public spaces, however, these hubs have the potential to be manipulated by malicious actors who seek to use them as a vehicle to launch cyberattacks against the users of these hubs. In this paper, we show that if such a public charging hub is rigged with a power measurement circuitry, the power measurements could enable the inference of videos watched by the user on the phone. Using a playlist of 100 YouTube music videos, we show this kind of attack to classify the videos with an accuracy of up to 94.49%. We rigorously examine the dynamics of the attack using 5 different phone models, 16 screen brightness and volume configurations, and various training configurations and show it to be highly effective under a wide range of settings. Depending on the content of such videos, the profile of the target, and the attacker’s aims (e.g., government vs. private hacker), we argue that such an attack could have far-reaching privacy implications. The paper adds to the body of work highlighting power side-channels on computing devices as a potent threat to user privacy.
Risk and the Economic Value of the Software Producer

The economic worth of a commercial organization is a function of the present value of its future profits, discounted for both time and risk. Consequently, the economic value of a software firm is greatly affected by the predictability of the organization’s software development projects, since unpredictable projects warrant large risk premiums. We can quantitatively approximate the value of increased predictability, and evaluate the effectiveness of efforts, such as process improvement, to improve the predictability of software development projects.
An Application of Statistics to Meteorology: Estimation of Motion

Concern is with moving meteorological phenomena. Some existing techniques for the estimation of motion parameters are reviewed. Fourier-based and generalized-additive-model-based analyses are then carried out for the global geopotential 500 millibar (mb) height field during the period 1-6 January 1986.
Digestibility of chemically treated cotton plant byproduct and effect on mineral balance, urine volume and pH.

Effects of chemical treatment of cotton byproduct (CBP) on apparent digestibility, mineral balance, urine volume and pH and in vitro digestibility were studied in three experiments with growing lambs and a rumen-fistulated steer. Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) and apparent organic matter digestibility (OMD) of total diets were increased (P < .01) by 35.4 and 35.7% in Exp. 1, and by 16.2 and 13.6% in Exp. 3. The CBP was treated wih 4% (4 kg sodium hydroxide/96 kg CBP dry matter) sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and fed at 70% of the total dietary intake. Treatment of CBP with nitric and sulfuric acid increased (P < .01) both DMD and OMD 25% (Exp. 1). In Exp. 2, NaOH treatment decreased (P < .05) organic matter, cellulose and lignin content of CBP and increased (P < .05) ash content. In vitro digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and cell walls were increased (P < .05) by NaOH treatment. Volume of urine excreted by lambs in Exp. 1 and 3 was increased (P < .05) 53% but urine pH was affected by NaOH treatment. Acid treatment, however, resulted in a decrease (P < .01) in urine pH (9.4 vs 5.3). Feeding NaOH-treated CBP at increasing percentages of the diet increased Na balance and decreased K, Cl and Mg balance. NaOH-treated CBP had no effect on Ca or P balance. These results indicate the NaOH treatment of cotton byproduct increases apparent digestibility and that consumption of the treated product may increase the animal's requirement of K, Cl and Mg. Furthermore, urine volume is increased but urine pH is not affected by NaOH treatment.
Prevention of β-lactam-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii compared with placebo

OBJECTIVES To determine the safety and efficacy of a new preventive agent for antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in patients receiving at least one beta-lactam antibiotic. METHODS A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group study was performed in a high-risk group of hospitalized patients receiving a new prescription for a beta-lactam antibiotic and having no acute diarrhea on enrollment. Lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii or placebo (1 g/day) was given within 72 h of the start of the antibiotic(s) and continued until 3 days after the antibiotic was discontinued, after which the patients were followed for 7 wk. RESULTS Of the 193 eligible patients, significantly fewer, 7/97 (7.2%), patients receiving S. boulardii developed AAD compared with 14/96 (14.6%) on placebo (p = 0.02). The efficacy of S. boulardii for the prevention of AAD was 51%. Using a multivariate model to adjust for two independent risk factors for AAD (age and days of cephalosporin use), the adjusted relative risk was significantly protective for S. boulardii (RR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.08, 0.98). CONCLUSION The prophylactic use of S. boulardii given with a beta-lactam antibiotic resulted in a significant reduction of AAD with no serious adverse reactions.
The effects of aging on dentate circuitry and function

The central nervous system (CNS) undergoes a variety of anatomic, physiologic, and behavioral changes during aging. One region that has received a great deal of attention is the hippocampal formation due to the increased incidence of impaired spatial learning and memory with age. The hippocampal formation is also highly susceptible to Alzheimer's disease, ischemia/hypoxia, and seizure generation, the three most common aging-related neurological disorders. While data reveal that the dentate gyrus plays a key role in hippocampal function and dysfunction, the majority of electrophysiological studies that have examined the effects of age on the hippocampal formation have focused on CA3 and CA1. We perceive this to be an oversight and consequently will highlight data in this review which demonstrate an age-related disruption in dentate circuitry and function, and propose that these changes contribute to the decline in hippocampal-dependent behavior seen with "normal" aging.
Chapter 2 Preparation and basic properties of the rare earth metals

Summary For many years scientists have considered the rare earth elements as a group of nearly identical elements, and if something was known about one of them it was generally assumed to be the same for all of them. As rare earth scientists continue to work on these metals more exceptions are found each day. Indeed the differences in many cases are greater than those found for elements which lie in the same group, e.g. the alkaline earth metals, or the noble metals - Cu, Ag and Au. The differences due to the divalency of Eu and Yb as compared to the normal trivalent rare earth metals are the most obvious in consideration not only of their physical properties, but also in the method of preparing the pure metals. For the trivalent rare earths there are four major methods used to prepare these 14 metals (sections 1.1.1 to 1.1.3 and 1.2), and within each group there are minor but significant differences. A comparison of the basic physical properties shows significant and widely varying behaviors in their crystal structures (fcc→dhcp→Sm-type→hcp), melting points, (a difference of a factor of two between Ce and Lu), boiling points (the “saw-tooth” characteristic so vividly displayed in fig. 2.10), and vapor pressures (a difference of a factor of one million in the vapor pressures of La and Tm at 1300°C). Even the smooth, regular and systematic variation as implied in the term “lanthanide contraction” is not found in the metallic radii which exhibit anomalies at La, Gd and Lu, and between the light and heavy lanthanides (fig. 2.7a). Although, as noted, wide differences exist in the properties between certain rare earth elements, the systematic variation from one neighboring rare earth to the next (especially for the lanthanides) does occur, and allows one to predict properties which have not been determined experimentally. In making these predictions one should be aware that anomalies can occur and exercise caution. In so doing the application of systematics to rare earth materials can be a powerful tool for understanding their nature and predicting their behaviors in new surroundings.
A novel species of Euspondylus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from the Andes Mountains of central Peru.

The South American gymnophthalmid genus Euspondylus is distributed from Venezuela through Peru, with its highest diversity occurring in Peru. Euspondylus paxcorpus sp. nov. is a new species from Junin, Peru possessing prefrontal scales and represented by 60 specimens. The new species differs from all other species by the combination of four supraoculars with supraocular/supraciliary fusion, 5-7 occipitals, a single palpebral scale, five supralabials and infralabials, quadrangular dorsal scales with low keels arranged in transverse series only, 40-45 in a longitudinal count and 22-28 in a transverse count, 12 rows of ventrals in a transverse count and 23-25 in a longitudinal count, and no sexual dimorphism in coloration. The discovery of E. paxcorpus increases the known number of Euspondylus species to 13. Because the coloration patterns of the specimens were greatly different after preservation in alcohol, caution should be used when identifying Euspondylus species from museum specimens.
Lymphangiosarcoma in 12 dogs: a case series (1998–2013)

Lymphangiosarcoma (LAS) is an uncommon malignant neoplasia arising from lymphatic endothelium; little information exists regarding therapy. Single institutional retrospective review for canine LAS histopathology diagnoses over a 15-year period yielded 12 dogs. Ten dogs were presented for a mass and/or swelling at cervical, trunk or limb regions. Prior to diagnosis, 10 dogs received empiric wound therapy. Cytology performed in 10 consisted of mild inflammation. Survival ranged from 60, 168 and 876 days for three dogs with palliation; 90 days with prednisone in one; 182 days with chemotherapy in one; 240, 267, 487, 630 and 941 days for five receiving surgery; and 574 days for one receiving surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One dog is alive with recurrence at 243 days following surgery and carboplatin chemotherapy. Clinical improvement existed in LAS dogs receiving multimodal therapies. Early tissue biopsies are recommended for progressive oedematous lesions of unknown origin.
Designing Auctions in R&D: Optimal Licensing of an Innovation

We study an R&D game in which a research unit undertakes a (non-observable) research effort and, if an innovation is obtained, auctions licenses to a pool of producers. Each producer has a private valuation for the license and suffers a negative externality when a competitor becomes a licensee. We compare the optimal rule for the allocation of licenses and the level of research effort implemented by the innovator in two scenarios: free licensing by the innovator vs. optimal regulation. As long as the cost of public intervention is sufficiently low, free licensing induces two different types of inefficiencies: an excessively high price for licenses and a suboptimal dissemination of knowledge, and an excessively low research effort. This indicates that public intervention should combine the following measures: (i) an antitrust agency which limits the royalties that innovators can ask for a license, and (ii) a direct subsidy to research activity.
Ureteral Function is Modulated by a Local Renin-Angiotensin System

ABSTRACTPurpose: Although many aspects of ureteral physiology are well characterized, the exact mechanism of ureteral smooth muscle modulation has not been fully established. In other smooth muscle contractility is modulated by angiotensin II (AngII). We determined the presence of a local ureteral renin-angiotensin system and characterized the functional role of AngII in ureteral smooth muscle.Materials and Methods: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the expression of angiotensinogen, renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin receptor subtype 1 mRNA. The presence of AngII in ureteral tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Human and pig ureteral smooth muscle strips were suspended in tissue baths to determine the effect of the AngII receptor antagonist losartan on the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous ureteral contractions. Electrical field stimulation was performed before and after exposure to losartan.Results: Angiotensinogen, renin, angiote...
Learning-Related Synaptic Reconfiguration in Hippocampal Networks: Memory Storage or Waveguide Tuning?

A fundamental assumption of current hypotheses regarding hippocampal involvement in memory formation is that changes in synaptic connections between hippocampal neurons serve to encode information about recent events. An alternative possibility is that synaptic changes are "ruts" left by dynamic traveling waves involved in memory processes rather than a mechanism for storing memories of events. Specifically, traveling waves of activity in corticohippocampal circuits may sometimes modify those circuits as they propagate through them, thereby changing the paths and qualities of future wave patterns.
MR elastography of the in vivo abdominal aorta: A feasibility study for comparing aortic stiffness between hypertensives and normotensives

Purpose The purpose of this study is to demonstrate feasibility of using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to identify hypertensive changes in the abdominal aorta when compared to normotensives based on the stiffness measurements.
DETECTION OF FLAWS IN STRUCTURAL MEMBERS USING SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF ULTRASONIC SIGNALS

Abstract Ultrasonics is being increasingly used for inspection of structural members to identify defects and material properties. Time-or-flight and velocity measurements are primarily used in these testing. While these measurements lead to a fair estimate of stiffness and flaw detection, the sensitivity of the measurements is not always adequate to detect flaws in their early stages. This paper proposes the use of power spectral analysis in conjunction with velocity measurements to identify defects in structural members. The conditions necessary to make repeatable amplitude measurements are described and the data analysis techniques suitable for flaw detection are also discussed. The advantages of using power spectral analysis are illustrated using examples of defective aluminum, wooden, and composite wrapped concrete members. The proposed measurement and analysis technique can be easily generalized to structural members made from other materials such as steel or reinforced concrete. Keywords: Ultrasonic...
General synthesis and physicochemical characterisation of a series of peptide-mimic lysine-based amino-functionalised lipids.

A series of novel malonic acid diamides (second generation) with two long hydrophobic alkyl chains and an alkaline polar head group was synthesised and characterised as a new class of amino-functionalised lipids. These peptide-mimic lipids are suitable for polynucleotide transfer. The lipids bear a novel backbone consisting of a lysine unit and a malonic acid unit. Six different head-group structures, which vary in size and number of amino groups that can be protonated, were attached to the backbone structure. Furthermore, different alkyl chains were used to build the lipophilic part (namely tetradecyl, hexadecyl, and oleyl). Phase transitions of the new compounds in aqueous dispersions at pH 10 were analysed and discussed in terms of head group and alkyl chain variations. The shape and size of the formed aggregates of selected lipid dispersions were investigated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy.
Sclerotic Age Changes in Root Dentin of Human Teeth as Observed by Optical, Electron, and X-Ray Microscopy

A preliminary survey of age changes in human teeth by Nalbandian,1 2 utilizing the multifactorial point system proposed by Gustafson,3 suggested that the relative transparency of root dentin-generally known as "sclerosis"-might be among the more reliable dental aging characteristics, presumably least affected by the superimposed pathology to which the crown portion of teeth is prone. It seemed worthwhile, therefore, to examine the nature of the age changes in the root dentin more closely. In the present study structural alterations associated with sclerotic root dentin have been observed by means of optical and electron microscopy as well as by high-resolution microradiography. While similar techniques have been employed individually as applied to studies on crown dentin, there does not appear to be any previous study comparing the combined results of these several approaches in the study of typical sclerotic age changes in the root dentin of human teeth. The classical studies of W. D. Miller,4 Beust,5-7 and Bodecker and Lefkowitz,8 9 demonstrated alterations in the optical appearance of ground sections of dentin as well as a decrease in permeability to dyes coincident with aging. These changes could be the result of intratubular calcification, which would inhibit the diffusion of dyes and cause the refractive index of the tubules to approach that of the intertubular dentin, thus modifying the relative transparency. Recently a number of microradiographic investigations of crown dentin'0-'6 have revealed areas of considerably greater X-ray absorption in relation to the dentinal tubules than in the general dentin matrix, suggesting deposition of highly concentrated minerals. For example, J. Miller'0 demonstrated a highly mineralized zone around the odontoblastic processes in microradiographs of dentin from unerupted teeth. Similar observations were made by Blake" in sound teeth from elevento thirteen-year-olds. Bergmann and Engfeldt12 studied by microradiography the transparent dentin under superficial caries. Their material showed, in addition to hypercalcified zones around many tubules, other tubules which appeared to be completely obliterated by highdensity material. The following year Rbckert13 reported complete tubular obliteration in the crown dentin of young and old non-carious teeth, stating that there was a greater tendency toward tubular obliteration with increasing age.
Design and Implementation of a Real-Time Off-Grid Operation Detection Tool from a Wide-Area Measurements Perspective

Real-time situational awareness tools are of critical importance to power system operators, especially during emergencies. The availability of electric power has become a linchpin of most post-disaster response efforts, because public and private sector services depend upon it. Knowledge of the scope and extent of facilities impacted, as well as the duration of their dependence on backup power, enables emergency response officials to plan for contingencies and provide a better overall response. Based on the measurement data acquired by the frequency disturbance recorders deployed in the North American power grids, an off-grid detection method is proposed and implemented. This method monitors the critical electrical loads and detects the transition of these loads from an on-grid operation to an off-grid operation, during which the loads are fed by an uninterrupted power supply or a backup generation system. The details of the detection algorithm are presented, and some case studies and off-grid detection scenarios are also provided to verify the effectiveness and robustness. This paper also presents the real-time implementation of this method and several effectively detected off-grid situations. Moreover, two visualization tools are developed to display the real-time system operation condition in an intuitive manor.
Why are binding-site models more complicated than molecules?

A commonly occurring problem in drug development is that the binding affinities for a few compounds to a particular binding site on some protein have been measured, but the crystal structure for that protein is not available. Quantitative structure-activity methods attempt to empirically correlate the binding data with various features of the chemical structures of the drug molecules, so that one can predict the binding of novel compounds and thus aid the search for improved drugs. A common feature of nearly all these methods, however, is that they rely—implicitly or explicitly—on a guess as to the positioning of each molecule when bound to the common site. If one instead assumes that each molecule is free to seek out its optimal positioning in the site, then correlating the observed activity to molecular structure becomes more difficult, and can lead to surprisingly complicated site models. Here we show with some extremely simple artificial examples how this complexity necessarily arises.
Hardwiring of fine synaptic layers in the zebrafish visual pathway

Background Neuronal connections are often arranged in layers, which are divided into sublaminae harboring synapses with similar response properties. It is still debated how fine-grained synaptic layering is established during development. Here we investigated two stratified areas of the zebrafish visual pathway, the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the retina and the neuropil of the optic tectum, and determined if activity is required for their organization.
Tissue plasminogen activator mRNA expression in granule neurons coincides with their migration in the developing cerebellum.

Tissue plasminogen activator activity in the developing cerebellum, as quantified by zymography of cerebellar homogenates from embryonic day (E) 17 to adult mice, shows a peak of activity at postnatal day (P) 7, followed by a steady 75% decrease into adulthood. Northern blot analysis reveals a similar pattern for tissue plasminogen activator mRNA levels, which are low at E17 but increase dramatically, reaching their highest levels of specific mRNA/micrograms RNA in P1-P7 mice and declining about threefold in the adult mouse. In situ hybridization of whole mouse brain sections with a tissue plasminogen activator antisense cRNA probe shows pronounce reactivity in the cerebellum. Although some binding is associated with the cerebellar meninges, the external granule layer is devoid of tissue plasminogen activator mRNA at all ages. However, highly labeled elongated cells, which also bind antibody to neuronal nuclear antigen and are adjacent to Bergmann glial fibers (i.e., migrating granule neurons), are readily visible throughout the molecular and Purkinje layers at P7 and P14. In the adult mouse cerebellum, tissue plasminogen activator mRNA labeling is restricted to cells in the Purkinje/internal granule layers. Thus, tissue plasminogen activator gene expression is induced as granule neurons leave the external granule layer and begin their inward migration.
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN INTRACRANIAL DISEASE OF CHILDHOOD

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a non-invasive technique which avoids the hazards of x-irradiation and the need for intravenous contrast material. It seems an ideal imaging tool for the pediatric population. We studied 60 patients with central nervous system disease, median 8 years (range 6 days to 21 years) on a proton 0.125 Telsa NMR machine. Images were obtained in the transverse, horizontal and coronal planes by the partial saturation technique (T1 and T2 weighed images done in selected cases). NMR results were compared to concurrent enhanced computed tomographic (eCT) studies and other radiographic techniques in all cases. Patients included those with primary brain neoplasms (45), spinal cord tumors (4), intracerebral hemorrhage (3), Chiari malformation (2), demyelinating disease (2), and congenital brain anomalies (4). We conclude that: 1) NMR is a sensitive means of visualizing structural CNS disease; 2) NMR often supplies anatomic information not demonstrable by CT or other radiograpbic techniques, especially in the posterior fossa and upper cervical cord; 3) NMR is well tolerated by pediatric patients; and 4) NMR, although demonstrating abnormality as frequently as eCT, often is less specific for the type of pathology present. NMR, because of its safety and sensitivity, may soon be the imaging procedure of choice in the initial evaluation of children with CNS disease (especially in the posterior fossa and upper cervical cord), but will not completely replace the need for other imaging techniques.
Potential Bacterial Contamination in Fluorescein-Anesthetic Solutions

To determine the ability of fluorescein-anesthetic combination solutions and their applicators to regain sterility, we contaminated four commercially available fluorescein-anesthetic solutions and their dropper tips with inocula of either Pseudomonas species or Staphylococcus species. No organisms could be cultured from Fluress one minute after inoculation of the solution or five minutes after inoculation of the dropper tip. In contrast, organisms were cultured from the other fluorescein-anesthetic preparations for at least one hour after bacterial inoculation into the solution or onto the dropper tip. These differences in the ability of fluoresceinanesthetic solutions to regain sterility after bacterial contamination were statistically significant
Procedure Pearl: Stabilizing the patch with a long-handled cotton tipped applicator

C omprehensive patch test application allows for the detection of a myriad of chemical allergen sensitizers. The average number of allergens placed on a patient ranges from 65 to 100. There are 65 allergens in the North American Standard Series, and a variety of other chemicals may be tested as warranted based on a thorough history. The allergens are loaded into wells (either Finn chambers or IQ chambers) mounted on standard tape strips. The Finn chambers have longitudinal tape backing along one entire side to allow for easy handling, and require open faced storage to prevent adhesion to other strips (Fig 1). The IQ have raised plastic covers which permit stacking for storage and transport. These strips lack the tape backing strips for easy handling.
Effect of caffeine on performances of a perceptual-restructuring task at different stages of practice

Caffeine, a sympathomimetic drug which stimulates the adrenergic nervous system, was hypothesized to exert opposite effects upon performances of a perceptual-restructuring task (the Embedded Figures Task) at different stages of practice. Specifically, caffeine was hypothesized to impair performances of perceptual-restructuring tasks when the task is still novel in early trials; and to facilitate practice induced gains in task performance as the task becomes less novel. Sixty male undergraduates were studies. Each subject was tested on the Embedded Figures Task twice, in one of the following three sequences: caffeine-placebo; placebocaffeine; and placebo-placebo. Both hypotheses received statistically significant support.
Multiple alleles for zucchini yellow mosaic virus resistance at the zym locus in cucumber

Sources of resistance to several potyviruses have been identified and characterized within the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) germplasm. Resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) is present in inbred lines derived from the Dutch hybrid Dina (Dina-1) and from the Chinese cultivar ‘Taichung Mou Gua’ (TMG-1). Tests of allelism indicated that the genes for resistance to ZYMV in TMG-1 and Dina-1 are at the same locus; however, the two genotypes exhibited different phenotypes in response to cotyledon inoculation with ZYMV. Dina-1 exhibited a distinct veinal chlorosis and accumulation of virus limited to the first and/or second true leaves, while TMG-1 remained symptom-free and did not accumulate virus. The distinct veinal chlorosis phenotype in Dina-1 was dominant to the symptom-free phenotype in TMG-1 and was shown not to be due to a separate gene. These results indicate that a series of alleles differing in effectiveness and dominance relationships occurs at the zym locus such that Zym>zym Dina>zym TMG-1. In addition to ZYMV resistance, TMG-1 is also resistant to watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), the watermelon strain of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W) and the Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV); the WMV and MWMV resistances are at the same locus, or tightly linked to the zym locus. Dina-1 also was found to be resistant to PRSV-W and MWMV. The gene for MWMV resistance in Dina-1 appeared to be at the same locus or tightly linked (<1% recombination) to the gene for ZYMV resistance. In contrast to the response to ZYMV inoculation, Dina-1 does not exhibit distinct veinal chlorosis when inoculated with PRSV-W or MWMV. Collectively, these observations suggest that the gene(s) conferring resistance to ZYMV, WMV, and MWMV may be part of a gene cluster for potyvirus resistance in cucumber.
Rhetorical criticism as ethical action: Cherchez la Femme

This essay claims that the U.S. American rhetorical tradition of privileging Kenneth Burkes theory of ‘identification,’ ‘consubstantiality,’ and ‘the body,’ forecloses the inclusion of women in that tradition, hence inviting them to turn elsewhere for models of how they might enter into discourse for the purpose of moving others to an action or an attitude.
Organization of inputs to the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus: a reexamination with Fluorogold and PHAL in the rat

Possible inputs to the DMH were studied first using the fluorescent retrograde tracer Fluorogold, and identified cell groups were then injected with the anterograde tracer PHAL to examine the distribution of labeled axons in and around the DMH. From this work, we conclude that the majority of inputs to the DMH arise in the hypothalamus, although there are a few significant projections from the telencephalon and brainstem. With few exceptions, each major nucleus and area of the hypothalamus provides inputs to the DMH. Telencephalic inputs arise mainly in the ventral subiculum, infralimbic area of the prefrontal cortex, lateral septal nucleus, and bed nuclei of the stria terminalis. The majority of brainstem inputs arise in the periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, and ventrolateral medulla. In addition, it now seems clear that inputs to the DMH use only a few discrete pathways. Descending inputs course through a periventricular pathway through the hypothalamic periventricular zone, a medial pathway that follows the medial corticohypothalamic tract, and a lateral pathway traveling through medial parts of the medial forebrain bundle. Ascending inputs arrive through a midbrain periventricular pathway that travels adjacent to the cerebral aqueduct in the periaqueductal gray, and through a brainstem lateral pathway that travels through central and ventral midbrain tegmental fields and enters the hypothalamus, and then the DMH from more lateral parts of the medial forebrain bundle. The results are discussed in relation to evidence for involvement of the DMH in ingestive behavior, and diurnal and stress-induced corticosterone secretion.
Justifying Alternative Models in Learning Astronomy: A study of K–8 science teachers’ understanding of frames of reference

Understanding frames of reference is critical in describing planetary motion and learning astronomy. Historically, the geocentric and heliocentric models were defended and advocated against each other. Today, there are still many people who do not understand the relationship between the two models. This topic is not adequately treated in astronomy instruction and is unstudied in science education research. The present small‐scale study suggests that many science teachers of K–8 hold alternative conceptions about the models of the solar system. Most of the 14 teachers in the study believed that the geocentric model should not be used in classroom instruction because they thought that it was wrong. It was found that they justified their knowledge claims by following common sense, authority, pragmatism, or relativism. Their long‐held beliefs, lack of observational experience, and resistance in switching between two models made it difficult for them to have a deep understanding of the relationship of the two ...
Kinetics of polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated by the system benzoyl peroxide-dimethylaniline

Abstract The rates of polymerization and the degrees of polymerization produced in methylmethacrylate by the initiator-activator system benzoyl peroxide-dimethylaniline were studied at low temperatures. The initiation of polymer chains appears to result from a bimolecular reaction between amine and peroxide, since the temperatures used were below those at which benzoyl peroxide alone would appreciably initiate polymerization. The activation energy for initiation is calculated to be 12.8 kcal.
Review of MicroRNA Proposed Target Genes in Oral Cancer. Part II.

Objectives: Cancer is the product of alterations in oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and most recently microRNA genes not as a single event or single change but rather as a multistep process. The role of microRNA genes in carcinogenesis is recently explored and appears to be an early event in the pathogenesis of this as well as other disease processes and occurs via gene regulation by their own products, the microRNAs. The purpose of this article was to review the literature concerning MicroRNA proposed target genes in oral cancer. Material and Methods: A review of the available literature from 2000 to 2011 regarding the potential roles assumed by microRNAs in oral cancer was undertaken using PubMed, Medline, Scholar Google and Scopus. Keywords for the search were: microRNA and oral cancer and target genes, microRNA deregulation and oral cancer, microRNA and carcinogenesis in the head and neck/oral cavity. English language full length articles were reviewed. Results: Several microRNAs deregulated in oral cancer have been functionally validated and their exact target genes have been identified. Furthermore the carcinogenesis pathways impacted by these alterations has been proposed for some of these microRNAs. Conclusions: The expanding knowledge of specific roles of certain microRNAs is further contributing to our understanding of the complexity of tumour progression and behaviour. Consideration of this information and incorporation into treatment modalities through targeted therapy could potentially enhance our abilities to improve outcome especially when other established therapies have failed.
Building removal of particulate pollutant plume during outdoor resuspension event

Abstract The capacity of buildings to reduce the outdoor pollutant level during particle transport has not been thoroughly investigated. This study demonstrates that CFD modeling combined with multizone modeling can provide a complete picture on the fate and transport of PM pollutant plume passing a building. A plume intersecting a 6 m × 6 m × 6.3 m building with concentrations of 56, 93, 93, and 74 μg/m3 for 0.85 μm, 2.63 μm, 3.94 μm, and 8.77 μm particles, respectively, is simulated. The building removal rates are 79 ± 4 mg/h, 182 ± 10 mg/h, 209 ± 12 mg/h, 280 ± 26 mg/h, which are 0.1%, 0.13%, 0.15%, and 0.25% of the plume source emission rates, respectively. The building removal is mainly contributed by the deposition to the building envelope and deposition in the building cracks. The building removal rate varies with particle size, and is more affected by wind direction than the air intake location for the building air handling system. The resulting indoor PM concentration, estimated via multizone modeling, varies with particle size and zone, and is affected by the alignment of building crack openings and wind direction. The demonstrated simulation method can be used to investigate the reduction of a pollutant plume by high-density building clusters in the urban environment as well as the human exposure to the plume indoors. As compared to well-mixed models, the CFD generated spatially-resolved pollutant concentration around the building improves the accuracy of the prediction of indoor exposure to outdoor PM plumes.
(η5-Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tin(II) Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate: A New Cocatalyst for the Polymerization of α-Olefins

The organotin compound (η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tin tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (1) has been synthesized from a reaction between (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tin chloride and lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate. This cation proved to be an effective Ziegler−Natta α-olefin cocatalyst. Activities for ethylene polymerizations using dimethylzirconocene and 1 were 7.3 × 105 g of PE/(mol of 1·[C2H4]·h) at 20 °C and 1.2 × 106 g of PE/(mol of 1·[C2H4]·h) at 70 °C. This system was also effective for the polymerization of propylene. Activities using rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)dimethylzirconium with the tin cation were 3.0 × 105 g of PP/(mol of 1·[C3H6]·h). Activities increased markedly when using zirconocene dichlorides/tri(i-butyl)aluminum/1. Activities for ethylene polymerization using zirconocene dichloride/tri(i-butyl)aluminum/1 at 20 °C were 7.0 × 106 g of PE/(mol of 1·[C2H4]·h). Activities for the polymerization of propylene using rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/tri(i-butyl)alumin...
Flowfield and vehicle parameter influence on results of engineering aerothermal methods

Flightand ground-test heat-transfer data, detailed predictions, and engineering solutions have been compared. The impact of several parameters on heat transfer and the capability of three engineering codes to predict these results have been demonstrated. Results have shown that fairly good agreement with data and detailed solutions can be obtained, but good engineering judgment is required in choosing the options in the codes. In particular, comparison of the results of the engineering codes, AEROHEAT, INCHES, and MINIVER, with Reentry F flight data and ground-test heat-transfer data for a range of cone angles, and with the predictions obtained using the detailed VSL3D code, has shown very good agreement in the regions of applicability of the engineering codes. The impact of several flowfield and vehicle parameters, including entropy, pressure gradient, nose bluntness, gas chemistry, and angle of attack on heating levels has been shown to be important. Particular care must be exercised when using engineering codes since comparisons have demonstrated that the parameters of this study can significantly influence the actual heating levels and the prediction capability of a code. The engineering codes provide the user with relatively simple techniques to define the aerothermal environment for parametric or preliminary design studies.
Some characteristics of chemical precipitation

Two very dissimilar cold frontal occlusions deposited 6 mm and 60 mm of rain respectively at anobservatory in the rural northeastern U.S.A. Water precipitation was carefully observed. in conjunction with other meteorological parameters, through both storm systems.The concentration of several ionic substances were measured in specimens of rain watercollected during meteorologically homogeneous portions of the two storms.The rate of chemical precipitation was determined with respect to water precipitation. This rate was constant during the prefrontal stage of both storms, and increased following cold frontalpassage, in the convective side of the systems. Analyses of the time rate of chemical precipitation showed it to be constant during the continuous rain of April 5. Examinations of the ratio of chloride to sodium through the time history of the storms showsthem to agree with a transport model postulated by Rossby and Egner (1955).Although the two storms varied considerably with respect to convectivity and prevailing flow,the total amounts of the several ions precipitated were directly proportional to the amount of water precipitated. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1983.tb00016.x
Theoretical implications of the size principle of motoneurone recruitment.

Abstract There are a limited number of ways by which an orderly recruitment of motoneurones by size might occur in a population of similar neurones activated by synapses with invariant average properties and uniform distribution: (i) The smaller motoneurones might have lower voltage thresholds, or, if spherical, current thresholds that increase more rapidly than the square of the diameter, or faster than the inverse of input resistance, (ii) Smaller motoneurones might receive a higher uniform density of afferent boutons than larger cells, (iii) Larger cells might show a disproportionately large increase in soma diameter compared with smaller cells, thus having a smaller ratio of soma to dendrite input resistances. In particular, a size principle does not automatically arise from cells receiving a constant density of afferent terminals, even if the afferents end preferentially on the motoneurone dendrites, and despite the fact that individual synapses generate larger EPSPs in smaller cells.