cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Satisfaction and Perceived Learning of Science in Different Distance Education Delivery Modes for Rural Elementary School Teachers Involved in a Professional Development Project

The Science Co-op is a local systemic change project that connects eight regional clusters of elementary schools in rural Missouri and Iowa in the USA. These clusters are comprised of 38 school districts distributed over 40,000 square miles and include more than 1,400 teachers and 20,000 elementary school students. The project stresses inquiry science in the classroom and involves investigating science ideas using a constructivist approach and cross-curricular connections. Within the frameworks of the Science Co-op project a technology known as Interactive Television (ITV) allows for almost real-time interaction (a 3–5 second delay) within the state boundaries of Missouri and Iowa, respectively. The primary goals of the ITV sessions are to enhance the science content and science pedagogical knowledge among the population of elementary school teachers that they may have lacked in their prior education, and to reinforce and extend instructional strategies emphasized in this local systemic change project. In this study the participants' self-reported learning and reactions to live ITV sessions and videotaped, delayed broadcast of ITV sessions were compared. Regression analysis results show teaching experience's influence on overall satisfaction with ITV (p 0.05 for perceived new skills and content learned on the different modes of communication.
Distribution of a neutral cardioplegic vehicle during the development of ischemic myocardial contracture

During prolonged ischemic cardiac arrest successful myocardial protection depends upon uniform delivery of cardioplegic solutions to all regions of the heart. Accordingly, we studied the regional and transmural distribution of a neutral crystalloid (dextran-saline) solution during normothermic (37°C) ischemia in 18 isolated blood-perfused dog hearts (isovolumic left ventricle). In the baseline state, coronary perfusion pressure was 100 mmHg. At the onset of ischemia and every 15 min throughout ischemia, we infused 100 ml of crystalloid solution (37°C) at a perfusion pressure of 100 mmHg and the distribution of crystalloid solution was assessed (radioactive microsphere technique). The hearts were reperfused after 60 min ( n =9) or 90 mins ( n =9) of ischemia. In the baseline pre-arrest state the left ventricle (LV) received 67±1.0% of the total coronary blood flow; the LV subendocardial to subepicardial flow ratio was 1.33±0.18, the LV end diastolic pressure was 7.5±0.4 mmHg, and mean trasmural myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was 16.4±1.1 μ m /g DW. At the onset and throughout the first 45 mins of ischemia ( n =9), regional and transmural distribution of the crystalloid solution was similar to that of coronary blood flow during the baseline state; there was no change in LV end diastolic pressure, but there was a moderate fall in ATP content (7.26±1.6 μm/g DW). After 75 mins of ischemia ( n =9), despite the development of ischemic contracture (LV end diastolic pressure exceeded 20 mmHg in all 9 hearts) and marked ATP depletion (2.76±0.5 μ m / g DW), there was an increase in crystalloid solution delivery to the LV as a whole and the subendocardium in particular (the LV received 82±2.0% and the subendocardial to subepicardial flow ratio was 1.75±0.1). Even in a subgroup with severe contracture during ischemic arrest (LV end diastolic pressure >60 mmHg, n =4) there was no reduction in crystalloid solution delivery. Thus, the presence of ischemic contracture does not preclude delivery of crystalloid solution to the LV subendocardium.
Parental Knowledge, Involvement, and Satisfaction with Their Child's Special Education Services

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine levels of parental knowledge of PL 94-142, participation in special education-related activities, and satisfaction with special education services. A three-page questionnaire was sent to 200 parents with children receiving special education services in a Midwestern metropolitan school district. The questionnaire contained items concerning parents' knowledge of PL 94-142 rights and procedures, parental participation and involvement in special education-related activities, and parental satisfaction with special education services. One hundred twelve parents responded to the questionnaire (56%). The sample primarily consisted of Caucasian mothers. Respondents were knowledgeable about procedures and provisions of PL 94-142, highly involved in their child's special education services, and generally satisfied with services their child was receiving. Parent participation was correlated with parent satisfaction with their child's IEP, school personnel, and speci...
High Pressure Reform: Examining Urban Schools' Response to Multiple School Choice Policies

Over the past several decades, policymakers have sought to address the problem of school failure by exposing traditional public schools to competitive market forces. In this analysis, we examine how two traditional public schools in a “high pressure/high choice” urban school cluster in Texas responded to a number of overlapping choice policies that have caused them to lose significant numbers of students. We explore how these two traditional public schools made sense of, and formulated a response to, their multiple “competitors,” how they balanced market pressures and the other external (accountability) pressures that they faced. In this analysis, we illustrate how competition does not always lead to significant or productive change in low performing schools.
SU‐FF‐T‐160: Planning Dynamic Particle Therapy

Purpose: To develop a planning algorithm for dynamic particle therapy. Materials and Methods: In our modeling, a beam of heavy charged particles is viewed as a high dose volume (called a “shot”) localized in its Bragg Peak region, and treatment planning is to route this shot to cover a target volume. Compared to pencil beam scanning, where the target is scanned layer by layer, we intend to optimize the route of the Bragg Peak along with the energy and orientation of the beams on a global scale. The key steps of our optimization include: (1) Use geometric and randomized techniques to select a collection of potential “shots” based on pre‐computed kernels of different energies. (2) Filter out the final shots using constrained least square optimization. (3) Calculate a “traveling salesman” route of the final shots. (4) Interpolate the route and perform an accurate dose calculation for each interpolation point. (5) Calculate the dwelling time of each interpolation point using constrained least square optimization.Results: A planning system is implemented and is applied to proton and antiproton therapies for 3 simulated 3D phantoms. The first phantom has a spherical target. The second phantom consists of a spherical target surrounded by a C‐shaped critical structure. The third phantom is obtained by swapping the target and critical structure in the second phantom. In all cases, 2 pairs of opposing beams were used in the optimization. In all cases, the planning algorithm generates high quality plans. We have also observed that proton and antiproton are comparable in their abilities to produce quality plans in terms of physical dose.Conclusion: A planning algorithm for dynamic particle therapy is developed and has been verified using protons and antiprotons. For future research, we will extend the technique to other heavy charged particles and incorporate radiobiological effects.
A Tentorial Venous Hemangioma Presenting As an Extra-Axial Mass in the Ambient Cistern: A Case Report

Although venous hemangiomas are one of the most common soft-tissue tumors, venous hemangiomas in the central nervous system are extremely rare. We present an unusual case of venous hemangioma originating from the interdural space of the tentorium. A 32-year-old woman was incidentally found to have extra-axial mass occupying the left ambient cistern. This tumor was observed for the first 4 years as it was completely asymptomatic. Surgical resection was later recommended when the tumor grew. The mass originated from between the two layers of the anteromedial tentorial incisura. There were no findings indicative of previous hemorrhage inside the mass. The matrix of the mass was firm and vascular, resembling a fibrous meningioma. Gross total resection was achieved without any neurological deficit. Pathological examination revealed a dense fibrous connective tissue with a proliferation of vessels marked by thickened walls. A spindle cell proliferation in the vessel walls did not stain with the antibody to S-100 protein. Movat stain demonstrated the venous character of the vessels. These results were histologically compatible with a venous hemangioma. Albeit extremely rare, a venous hemangioma, a distinct clinical and pathological entity from a venous angioma, can present an intracranial mass lesion.
The use of geometric and arithmetic mean exposures in occupational epidemiology

In constructing quantitative measures of exposure for the study of chronic occupational disease, researchers have generally used a cumulative exposure calculated as the sum of the products of period-specific exposure concentrations and the time each individual spent in each exposure category. There has been some disagreement and lack of clarity about the use of the geometric or arithmetic mean of exposure for this calculation. This paper explores the difference in the use of the two measures and defines a relative bias introduced with the geometric vs. the arithmetic mean. The magnitude of the bias is calculated in two linear models of possible exposure-response relationships. The theoretical basis for the choice of one mean over the other is then explored. It is suggested that when adopting a linear exposure response model, the arithmetic mean is the more appropriate measure. In other models, such as a linear-log (outcome is proportional to the logarithm of exposure) model, the geometric mean would be more appropriate.
Expectancies, dietary restraint, and test meal intake among undergraduate women.

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between self-reported dietary restraint and expectancies about caloric content on test meal consumption among undergraduate women. Participants completed two test meal sessions during which they were asked to consume as much milkshake from a covered opaque container as they wished. In one session, participants were instructed that the milkshake was made with high-calorie ingredients, and in the other that the milkshake was made with low-calorie ingredients. The milkshakes in both sessions were actually made with the same ingredients. Participants’ mean consumption was less on the low-calorie instruction day (402 g) than on the high-calorie instruction day (382 g), but the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, few significant relationships were observed between dietary restraint measures and total intake on either the low- or high-calorie instruction days. Thus, this study supports a growing body of literature indicating that scores on measures of dietary restraint are not related to the actual restriction of food intake.
Phase-noise suppression in an interferometric fiber optic sensor with recirculating paths

We report a modified all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration incorporating recirculating fiber paths in both the signal and reference arms. This system can be operated using a time-division based interrogation approach to yield a self phase-noise compensated sensor.
Effective Feynman propagators and Schrödinger equations for processes coupled to many degrees of freedom

This paper presents a new approach to quantum evolution in the presence of a quantum bath. We develop an equation of motion for an observed system evolving under the influence of an unobserved quantum bath. The methodology we follow uses operator expansions of the Feynman propagator. Corrections to the zeroth order approximation are corrections to an adiabatic approximation. In this paper we explicitly develop an approximation which is infinite order in bath and system coupling, but first order in system degree of freedom. This infinite order approximation is found through a resummation of an infinite class of terms in the operator expansion. We first present a simplified single time (Markovian) version of the theory. We then present a derivation for including the effects of memory. The approach developed in this paper also has the potential for systematic improvement. In other words, while the bath and system coupling in this calculation is treated to infinite order, the system itself is only treated to ...
The bases of the tRNA anticodon loop are independent by genetic criteria

We employed two methods to study the translational role of interactions between anticodon loop nucleotides. Starting with a set of previously constructed weakly-suppressing anticodon loop mutants of Su7, we searched for second-site revertants that increase amber suppressor efficiency. Though hundreds of revertants were characterized, no second-site revertants were found in the anticodon loop. Second site reversion was detected in the D-stem, thereby demonstrating the efficacy of the search method. As a second method for detecting interactions, we used site-directed mutagenesis to construct multiple mutations in the anticodon loop. These multiple mutants are very weak suppressors and have translational activities that are equal to or lower than that predicted for the independent action of single mutations. We conclude that although the anticodon loop sequence of Su7 has an optimal structure for the translation of amber codons, we find no evidence that interactions between loop bases can enhance translational efficiency.
Oxidation of Pd n (n=1-7,10) clusters supported on alumina/NiAl(110)

First-principles theoretical investigations on the oxidation of ${\text{Pd}}_{n}$ $(n=1--7,\text{ }10)$ clusters deposited on alumina/NiAl(110) have been carried out using a gradient-corrected density-functional approach. Our studies indicate that the free ${\text{Pd}}_{n}$ clusters are compact and maintain their compact structures when deposited on the surface, undergoing only small relaxations of the Pd-Pd distance. The clusters bind to the surface via a pair of Pd atoms and with a binding energy of around 1.0 eV. Studies of oxidation through an ${\text{O}}_{2}$ molecule show that ${\text{O}}_{2}$ occupies sites closer to the surface for ${\text{Pd}}_{1}$, ${\text{Pd}}_{4}$, ${\text{Pd}}_{5}$, and ${\text{Pd}}_{6}$ while, in other cases, the binding is highest to Pd atoms farther from the surface. An analysis of the charge gained by the ${\text{O}}_{2}$ molecule upon absorption shows that, while ${\text{O}}_{2}$ always gains charge, the amount of charge contributed by the ${\text{Pd}}_{n}$ cluster or the surface can vary significantly. In particular, in the case of ${\text{Pd}}_{4}$, only a small charge is donated by the cluster, thus accounting for the recently observed lack of shift in the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy levels.
Effects of inhibition of transsarcolemmal calcium influx by nickel on force of postrest contraction and on contracture induced by rapid cooling.

Objective: The aim was to characterise the influence of a decrease in transsarcolemmal calcium influx on the calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and on the force of postrest contraction, which is largely activated by calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Methods: Isometric force of postrest contractions in isolated rabbit papillary muscles was measured in the absence and in the presence of ryanodine (1 μM). The force measured in the presence of ryanodine was used as an index of transsarcolemmal calcium influx. The calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum was estimated by rapid cooling induced contracture measurements. Nickel (Ni2+) was used to decrease the calcium influx, and the results were compared to those obtained by lowering the extracellular calcium concentration. Results: The addition of Ni2+ or lowering extracellular Ca2+markedly decreased the force of postrest contraction measured in the presence of ryanodine, and moderately decreased the force of postrest contraction measured in the absence of ryanodine. Neither the addition of Ni2+nor lowering extracellular Ca2+ decreased maximum rapid cooling induced contracture; this was actually increased in the presence of Ni2+ even though a larger number of stimuli was required in the presence than in the absence of Ni2+ for the force of the subsequently elicited contracture to reach the maximum level. Conclusions: The results suggest (1) that a decrease in the calcium influx reduces the force of the postrest contraction by decreasing the amount of calcium required to trigger the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, without decreasing its maximum calcium content; and (2) that Ni2+ decreases the rate of filling of sarcoplasmic reticular calcium stores even though the calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum after a sufficiently large number of beats is higher in the presence of Ni2+ than in its absence. Cardiovascular Research 1993; 27 :801-806
Optical Interference Coatings Design Contest 2007: triple bandpass filter and nonpolarizing beam splitter

A triple bandpass filter (28 solutions received) and a nonpolarizing beam splitter (23 solutions received) were the subjects of the design contest held in conjunction with the 2007 Optical Interference Coatings topical meeting of the Optical Society of America. Fifteen designers participated using a wide spectrum of design approaches and optimization strategies to create the submissions. The results differ significantly, but all meet the contest requirements. Fabien Lemarchand wins both contests by submitting the thinnest (6254 nm) triple bandpass design and the widest (61.7 nm) nonpolarizing beam-splitter design. Michael Trubetskov is in second place, followed by Vladimir Pervak in both contests. The submitted designs are described and evaluated.
Effect of solid-liquid density change on dendrite tip velocity and shape selection

Phase-field simulations are used to examine tip velocity and shape selection in free dendritic growth of a pure substance into an undercooled melt in the presence of a density change between the solid and liquid. The dendrite is assumed to grow two-dimensionally inside a Hele-Shaw cell. The phase-field model is coupled with a previously developed two-phase diffuse interface model to simulate the flow in the liquid that is induced by the density change. The predicted dependence of the dendrite tip growth Peclet number on the relative density change is compared with an available analytical solution and good agreement is obtained. The simulations verify that the dendrite tip selection parameter, modified to account for the different densities of the solid and liquid phases, is independent of the relative density change.
The Effects of Management Program and Social Rank on Behavior and Productivity of White Leghorn Layers in Cages

Abstract The effects of three management programs for behavioral and production performance traits of caged layers were evaluated. Management programs consisted of 5 birds per cage; (1) in deep cages, (2) shallow cages, both with full feed, and (3) shallow cages with restricted feeding. Feeding frequencies, aggressive activity, egg production, egg weights, body weights, and egg shell strenths were determined for social ranks within cage groups. Feed usage was determined for management programs only. Social rank effects for feeding frequencies were observed (P≤.05) with reduced feedings for the lowest rank in Programs 1 and 3. Egg production was significantly (P≤.05) reduced for the lowest social rank with the feed restriction program. No differences for body weights, weight gains, egg size, and shell breaking strength were observed among social ranks. Management program significantly (P≤.05) affected aggressive activity, body weights and feed usage. Birds in shallow cages with full feeding recorded the fewest number of total aggressive acts, whereas birds in shallow cages with feed restriction recorded the most total aggressive acts. Birds in shallow cages with full feeding had larger body weights, weight gains, and used more feed.
Integrating Independently-Developed Components in Object-Oriented Languages

Object-oriented programming promises to increase programmer productivity through better reuse of existing code. However, reuse is not yet pervasive in today's object-oriented programs. Why is this so? We argue that one reason is that current programming languages and environments assume that components are perfectly coordinated. Yet in a world where programs are mostly composed out of reusable components, these components are not likely to be completely integrated because the sheer number of components would make global coordination impractical. Given that seemingly minor inconsistencies between individually designed components would exist, we examine how they can lead to integration problems with current programming language mechanisms. We discuss several reuse mechanisms that can adapt a component in place without requiring access to the component's source code and without needing to re-typecheck it.
Mad2 Prolongs DNA Damage Checkpoint Arrest Caused by a Double-Strand Break via a Centromere-Dependent Mechanism

Eukaryotic cells employ a suite of replication and mitotic checkpoints to ensure the accurate transmission of their DNA. In budding yeast, both the DNA damage checkpoint and the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) block cells prior to anaphase. The presence of a single unrepaired double-strand break (DSB) activates ATR and ATM protein kinase homologs Mec1 and Tel1, which then activate downstream effectors to trigger G2/M arrest and also phosphorylate histone H2A (creating gamma-H2AX) in chromatin surrounding the DSB. The SAC monitors proper attachment of spindle microtubules to the kinetochore formed at each centromere and the biorientation of sister centromeres toward opposite spindle pole bodies. Although these two checkpoints sense quite different perturbations, recent evidence has demonstrated both synergistic interactions and cross-talk between them. Here we report that Mad2 and other SAC proteins play an unexpected role in prolonging G2/M arrest after induction of a single DSB. This function of the SAC depends not only on Mec1 and other components of the DNA damage checkpoint but also on the presence of the centromere located > or = 90 kb from the DNA damage. DNA damage induces epigenetic changes at the centromere, including the gamma-H2AX modification, that appear to alter kinetochore function, thus triggering the canonical SAC. Thus, a single DSB triggers a response by both checkpoints to prevent the segregation of a damaged chromosome.
THE EPIPHYSIS OF THE GYPSY MOTH, LYMANTRIA DISPAR (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE): STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

The external structure, cellular structure, and function of the tibial epiphysis of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), are described. Scanning electron micrographs and histological preparations indicate that the epiphysis of the male gypsy moth is an efficient antennal comb, but behavioral studies indicate it is not required for either precopulatory stimulation or for orientation to sex pheromones. The acanthae covering the inner surface of the epiphysis appear to have only a mechanical function.
A novel method for suppression of vertical coupling in multi-layered substrates

This paper demonstrates the suppression of vertical coupling between multiple plane pairs in GHz range of frequencies with electromagnetic band-gap structures (EBGs). For the first time, dispersion diagrams have been developed for the EBGs used in vertical isolation giving insight into the coupling suppression. Results from simulations, measurements and analytical methods are presented to demonstrate the proposed method.
Daily tympanometry as a functional measure of middle ear status and Eustachian tube function

Abstract Objective Tympanometry is a relatively simple method to assess middle ear (ME) status and pressure. Daily, serial tympanometric measurements may contain information on the constitutional efficiency of Eustachian tube function (ETF). A study was conducted to determine family compliance with an effort-intensive protocol that requires daily tympanometry done on each child, daily symptom recording by a parent and weekly visits with study personnel and to abstract measures that summarize the data as they relate to ETF. Methods Longitudinal 6-month, daily follow-up on 249 children from 123 families by parent-recorded bilateral tympanometry and cold-like illnesses. Results Study attrition was minimal with 90% of the enrolled families completing 90% of the study period. Parental compliance with daily tympanometry was less. Overall, 67% of the families were 80% compliant and 51% were 90% compliant. Two measures (aMEP, average middle ear pressure; vMEP, standard deviation of MEP) were evaluated for summaries of the longitudinal tympanometric results. These measures were not bilaterally independent or mutually independent and were affected by cold-burden and age. The best summary measure of constitutional ET efficiency may be a dimensional map of vMEP on aMEP with subsequent subdivision of the dimensional space into zones with functional interpretations. Conclusion Long-term studies that require daily parental recording of tympanometry and the presence/absence of cold-like illness are feasible. It is expected that compliance with the required procedures can be increased substantially by pre-selection of candidate families. Preliminary data analyses suggest that the longitudinal tympanometric data contains important information on constitutional ETF.
Inducible and Constitutive Resistance to Macrolide Antibiotics and Lincomycin in Clinically Isolated Strains of Streptococcus pyogenes

Studies on erythromycin resistance in strains of group A streptococci indicated that they were comprised of two types: (i) an inducible, resistant type (IR strains) was seen, which manifested immediate logarithmic growth in media containing high concentrations of the drug only after brief previous exposure (induction period) of the organisms to subinhibitory concentrations of erythromycin, and (ii) a constitutive, resistant type (CR strains) which demonstrated, without prior drug exposure, continued logarithmic growth in media containing high concentrations of erythromycin. Subinhibitory concentrations of either chloramphenicol or puromycin, when added to IR strains prior to induction, interfered with their induction by erythromycin. Exposure of CR strains to chloramphenicol did not visibly affect the subsequent growth curve of these strains in media containing high concentrations of erythromycin. In IR strains, resistance to other macrolide antibiotics (oleandomycin, spiramycin, carbomycin, magnamycin) and to lincomycin also was inducible in nature. There was cross-inducibility between erythromycin, other macrolide antibiotics, and lincomycin. CR strains were constitutively resistant to these antibiotics.
The association between recreational parks, facilities and childhood obesity: a cross-sectional study of the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health

Background Despite the rising childhood obesity rates, few studies have examined the association between access to recreational parks and facilities and obesity. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among 42 278 US children who participated in the 2007 National Survey of Children9s Health. Access to parks and recreational facilities was self-reported by parents, and body mass index was calculated from parents’ self-report of the child9s height and weight. Logistic regression was used to obtain ORs and 95% CIs. Since obesity was not a rare occurrence, an OR correction method was used to provide a more reliable estimate of the prevalence ratio (PR). Results Children with access to parks and facilities had decreased prevalence of obesity as compared to children without access (PR=0.79, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.91). After adjustment for covariates, the magnitude of the association remained unchanged; however, results were no longer statistically significant (PR=0.77, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.07). Race/ethnicity was an effect modifier of the access–obesity relationship (p Conclusions This research highlights potential health disparities in childhood obesity due to limited access to recreational parks and facilities. Additional studies are needed to further investigate this association. If confirmed, providing safe, accessible parks and facilities may be one way to combat childhood obesity, particularly among minority children.
Path-integral derivation of the complex ABCD Huygens integral

The Huygens integral, or Green’s function, for paraxial beam propagation in a generalized lenslike medium is derived as a Feynman path integral involving a summation over real rays. This formulation provides a physically intuitive understanding of the structure of the Green’s function. The path integral is evaluated by introducing in a consistent manner the notion of complex rays, and the familiar result for the Huygens integral in terms of the complex ABCD matrix of the medium is obtained.
Non-Union of the Scapular Body. A Case Report*

Numerous authors have reported on the relative rarity of scapular fractures, the high association between such fractures and other injuries, and the infrequent necessity of operative treatment1,6-8,10,13,14. Non-operative treatment is routinely recommended for most, if not all, fractures of the scapular body10,11,15. Non-union of such a fracture is a relatively rare complication. Although there have been reports of non-unions involving the base of the coracoid process, the scapular spine, and the acromion1,11,12,15, we were unable to find a reported case of symptomatic non-union of the scapular body. We report the case of a patient who had pain and scapular dysfunction due to a non-union of the body of the scapula, which was successfully treated with open reduction and internal fixation with local bone-grafting. A forty-five-year-old right-hand-dominant man who worked as a cement mason sustained a burst fracture of the second lumbar vertebra when a pallet of bricks fell on him on December 12, 1993 (Fig. 1). The fracture was treated with posterior instrumentation from the twelfth thoracic to the third lumbar vertebra; however, because the fracture was treated at another institution, no information was available regarding whether or not a spinal arthrodesis was performed at any level. Postoperatively, the patient was immobilized in a body cast for three months. It was not noted how much of the scapula and thorax was covered by the cast. After removal of the body cast, the patient noticed prominence of the left scapula, pain in the scapular region, and restricted motion of the left shoulder. The patient was then referred to our Shoulder and Elbow Service. Fig. 1 Anteroposterior radiograph of the chest, made at the time of …
Total Plasma Protein and Renesting by Greater Sage-Grouse

Abstract Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population declines have been attributed to reduced productivity. Although renesting by sage-grouse may contribute significantly to annual productivity during some years, little information is available on this aspect of sage-grouse reproductive ecology. We investigated the relationship between total plasma protein, age of hen, time of first nest initiation, and time of first nest loss on occurrence of renesting. We captured, assigned age, extracted blood, and radiomarked prelaying, female sage-grouse on 4 study areas during 1999–2004. We monitored radiomarked females from mid-April through June to identify period of nest initiation (early, mid, or late), nest loss (early or late), and renesting activity. We only considered hens that were available to renest (n = 143) for analysis, and we censored those that nested successfully or died during their first nest attempt. Depredation and abandonment accounted for 85% (122/143) and 15% (21/143) of the un...
High Output Cardiac Failure Resolving after Repair of AV Fistula in a Six-Month-Old.

Background. Acquired AVF in pediatrics are commonly caused by iatrogenic means, including arterial or venous punctures. These fistulae can cause great hemodynamic stress on the heart as soon as they are created. Case. A six-month-old 25-week gestation infant was referred for respiratory distress. Initial exam revealed tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypertension. There was a bruit noted on her left arm. An ultrasound showed an arteriovenous fistula. Its location, however, precluded intervention because of the high risk for limb-loss. An echocardiogram showed evidence of pulmonary hypertension that was treated with sildenafil and furosemide. However, no improvement was seen. On temporary manual occlusion of the fistula, the patient was noted to have increased her blood pressure and decreased her heart rate, suggesting significant hemodynamic effect of the fistula. The fistula was subsequently ligated and the patient clinically and echocardiographically improved. Conclusion. A patient in high output cardiac failure or pulmonary artery hypertension, especially premature patients with preexisting lung disease, should be probed for history of multiple punctures, trauma, or surgery and should have prompt evaluation for AVF. If it can be diagnosed and repaired, most of the cases have been shown to decrease the stress on the heart and reverse the pathologic hemodynamics.
Diphtheria of the uterine cervix

Summary The case of a 23-year-old white female who presented a frosty-white markedly adherent uterine cervical membrane is reported. The organisms cultured were morphologically Corynebacterium diphtheriae . Although virulence tests proved the organisms to be nontoxin producers, the administration of diphtheria antitoxin to the patient resulted in the disappearance of the cervical lesion. Study of the literature confirms the opinion that female genital diphtheria is rare. Not a single case of diphtheria confined to the cervix uteri was found. Every case of diphtheria should be given the benefit of careful study of the genitalia. Such studies in the past would have undoubtedly revealed some secondary infections which were overlooked.
High-temperature viscosity of many-component glass melts

Abstract In this article, we argue that 1) the activation energy for viscous flow becomes independent of temperature when the viscosity of molten glass is sufficiently low at high enough temperatures, such as those that exist in a glass-melting furnace, and 2) the intercept of the linear function lnη versus T− 1 (η is the viscosity and T is the temperature) is independent of glass composition. This hypothesis, which is hardly new and is well supported by experimental data, allows minimization of the number of fitting parameters. A new dataset of meticulously measured viscosities of a large composition region of simulated nuclear waste glasses that recently became available provided an excellent opportunity to test this hypothesis to verify it again. Also, we used this dataset to demonstrate that some popular functions designed for representing the high-viscosity segment (where the activation energy changes with temperature) are not recommendable for approximating the low-viscosity segment (where the activation energy is constant). Fitting such functions produces overparameterization and leads to physically meaningless (or at least esthetically unsatisfactory) outcomes, or, if the functions are constrained by the glass-transition viscosity and the high-temperature asymptote, the result is a significant lack of fit.
Octopamine release impairs courtship conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster

Octopamine is known to have an appetitive role in odor conditioning paradigms in Drosophila melanogaster. We sought to test whether octopamine could also act as an appetitive stimulus in courtship conditioning, a paradigm in which training with an unreceptive female (such as a decapitated virgin) causes a subsequent decrease in courtship behavior in male Drosophila. To control octopamine release, we used the Tdc2-Gal4 and UAS-dTRPa1 genes in conjunction to depolarize octopaminergic neurons at 27 C in experimental flies. We hypothesized that inducing octopamine release during courtship training would decrease the aversive impact of training and cause less subsequent suppression of courtship behavior. Our findings confirmed this hypothesis: Tdc2-Gal4/UAS-dTRPa1 flies trained at 27 degrees showed significantly more courtship behavior than controls during testing, and in fact showed no significant effect of courtship training. This confirms that octopamine release counteracts the aversive stimulus of failure to copulate, indicating that octopamine may have an appetitive role in courtship.
Chemistry: Role of DNA Testing in Cystic Fibrosis

Cloning of the gene for cystic fibrosis (CF) has made possible DNA analysis for mutations of the CF gene, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Confirming the diagnosis of CF based on identification of two CF gene mutations is highly specific, but not very sensitive. Lack of detection of CFTR mutations does not exclude the diagnosis of CF. DNA testing for CF can also be used for prenatal diagnosis and in carrier screening. Analysis of DNA for CFTR mutations can provide interested family members with valuable genetic information, if appropriate genetic counseling is also available, and can be helpful in the prediction of CF gene phenotypes, such as pancreatic status, as well as in categorization of patients with CF in research protocols for clinical investigations.
Increased Productivity, Role in Alleviating Food Insecurity Possible: Response #1 to Hallsworth and Wong’s viewpoint

First paragraphs It's true that urban agriculture may provide a modest contribution to most cities' food supply. However, Hallsworth and Wong (2013) fail to recognize the range of cities across North America as well as the numerous opportunities to increase the productivity of urban agriculture and its potential role in alleviating food insecurity. They also under¬emphasize the value of urban agriculture beyond the quantity of food produced. There are many cities — Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee come to mind — with large amounts of open space and notions of incorporating agriculture into the fabric of a 21st century green city. The authors fail to acknowledge the potential for expanded productivity per unit of land beyond what is currently observed, for example with the use of passive solar, season-extension methods. In Michigan, with average low temperatures below Vancouver's, unheated hoophouses allow for at least 30 crops to be grown, many year-round (Colasanti, Matts, Blackburn, Corrin, & Hausler, 2010). The authors dismiss what can be grown in a 4-square-meter (43-square-feet) garden as "suitable only for... personal enjoyment," but during the frost-free period an extra vegetable serving for a family of four per day is easily accomplished in this space....
The female role in advertisements: Some experimental evidence.

conducted on this issue and, for the most part, study findings have been disparaging of advertising.' In particular, advertising has been criticized for presenting women as simple-minded, noncareer oriented, and male-dependent. Essentially, say the critics, advertising perpetuates archaic and distorted sex role stereotypes.2 While controversy over the occupational and social roles portrayed by women in advertisements continues to simmer, there is a second, related phenomenon which may possess even more long run significance both for marketing managers and society in general. This is the trend toward increasing eroticism and nudity in advertisements.
Increase in Growth Cone Size Correlates with Decrease in Neurite Growth Rate.

Several important discoveries in growth cone cell biology were made possible by the use of growth cones derived from cultured Aplysia bag cell neurons, including the characterization of the organization and dynamics of the cytoskeleton. The majority of these Aplysia studies focused on large growth cones induced by poly-L-lysine substrates at early stages in cell culture. Under these conditions, the growth cones are in a steady state with very little net advancement. Here, we offer a comprehensive cellular analysis of the motile behavior of Aplysia growth cones in culture beyond this pausing state. We found that average growth cone size decreased with cell culture time whereas average growth rate increased. This inverse correlation of growth rate and growth cone size was due to the occurrence of large growth cones with a peripheral domain larger than 100 μm2. The large pausing growth cones had central domains that were less consistently aligned with the direction of growth and could be converted into smaller, faster-growing growth cones by addition of a three-dimensional collagen gel. We conclude that the significant lateral expansion of lamellipodia and filopodia as observed during these culture conditions has a negative effect on neurite growth.
Data Visualization and Structure Identification

For three datasets, all dealing with materials with ABO\(_3\) chemistries, the two data visualizations algorithms of Tsafrir et al. [Bioinformatics 21, 2301 (2005)] were studied and applied. These algorithms permute the distance matrix associated with the data in a way to unveil structure in one case by keeping large-distanced information afar or in the other case by keeping small-distanced information near. Modifications to their proposed numerical implementations were made to enhance effectiveness. The two algorithms were used both in space of the materials and the features, looking for groupings of features and materials. In general, for the datasets considered, when visualized, the features tended to show more distinctive structure (clustering) than the materials. For enhanced grouping of materials, the initial studies point to the importance of feature selection.
Novel Approaches to Statistical Learning in Materials Science

We describe developments in statistical learning theory and their application to problems in materials science. An example in the context of piezoelectrics is also discussed.
Evolutionary history of chloridoid grasses estimated from 122 nuclear loci.

Abstract Chloridoideae (chloridoid grasses) are a subfamily of ca. 1700 species with high diversity in arid habitats. Until now, their evolutionary relationships have primarily been studied with DNA sequences from the chloroplast, a maternally inherited organelle. Next-generation sequencing is able to efficiently recover large numbers of nuclear loci that can then be used to estimate the species phylogeny based upon bi-parentally inherited data. We sought to test our chloroplast-based hypotheses of relationships among chloridoid species with 122 nuclear loci generated through targeted-enrichment next-generation sequencing, sometimes referred to as hyb-seq. We targeted putative single-copy housekeeping genes, as well as genes that have been implicated in traits characteristic of, or particularly labile in, chloridoids: e.g., drought and salt tolerance. We recovered ca. 70% of the targeted loci (122 of 177 loci) in all 47 species sequenced using hyb-seq. We then analyzed the nuclear loci with Bayesian and coalescent methods and the resulting phylogeny resolves relationships between the four chloridoid tribes. Several novel findings with this data were: the sister lineage to Chloridoideae is unresolved; Centropodia + Ellisochloa are excluded from Chloridoideae in phylogenetic estimates using a coalescent model; Sporobolus subtilis is more closely related to Eragrostis than to other species of Sporobolus; and Tragus is more closely related to Chloris and relatives than to a lineage of mainly New World species. Relationships in Cynodonteae in the nuclear phylogeny are quite different from chloroplast estimates, but were not robust to changes in the method of phylogenetic analysis. We tested the data signal with several partition schemes, a concatenation analysis, and tests of alternative hypotheses to assess our confidence in this new, nuclear estimate of evolutionary relationships. Our work provides markers and a framework for additional phylogenetic studies that sample more densely within chloridoid tribes. These results represent progress towards a robust classification of this important subfamily of grasses, as well as proof-of-concept for hyb-seq next-generation sequencing as a method to generate sequences for phylogenetic analyses in grasses and other plant families.
Sodium Benzoate Inhibits Growth of or Inactivates Listeria monocytogenes

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to grow or survive was determined using tryptose broth at pH 5.6 or 5.0, supplemented with 0, 0.05. 0.1, 0.15. 0.2. 0.25 or 0.3% sodium benzoate, and incubated at 4,13,21 or 35°C. The bacterium grew in benzoate-free controls under all conditions except at 4°C and pH 5.0. At pH 5.6 and 4°C, after 60 d, L. monocytogenes (initial population ca. 103/ml) was inactivated by 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3% sodium benzoate. Other concentrations of benzoate permitted slight growth during the first 36 d of incubation followed by a decrease in populations of the pathogen. At pH 5.0 and 4°C, from 0.15 to 0.3% benzoate completely inactivated the pathogen in 24 to 30 d, whereas the other concentrations caused a gradual decrease in the population during the 66-d incubation period. At 13°C and pH 5.6, L. monocytogenes grew (more at lower than higher concentrations of benzoate) in the presence of all concentrations of benzoate except 0.25 or 0.3%, which prohibited growth throughout a 264-h incubation period. Reducing the pH to 5.0 minimized growth at the two low concentrations of benzoate and caused slight decreases in population at the other concentrations of benzoate. At 21 and 35°C and pH 5.6, appreciable growth of L. monocytogenes occurred in the presence of 0.2% or less sodium benzoate, whereas higher concentrations were inhibitory, permitting little if any growth by the pathogen. Reducing the pH to 5.0 allowed limited growth of the pathogen at 21 and 35°C when the medium contained 0.05 or 0.1% sodium benzoate. Higher concentrations caused either complete inhibition or inhibition plus partial or complete inactivation of the pathogen during incubations of 117 h at 21°C or 78 h at 35°C.
Surveillance of Drug Overdoses Using Google Fusion Tables.

Introduction Drug use is a constantly evolving public health challenge. We present the use of Google Fusion Tables and Google Maps for the surveillance of drug-related deaths and discuss its potential large-scale use. Methods Demographic and geographic data for deaths related to cocaine and heroin use occurring from 2012-2014 was queried from the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office. Fusion Tables was then used to plot each address onto a map. Results We developed a method to automatically import data into Fusion Tables. Individualized icons were then used to denote specific demographics and locations on a Google Map where filters could be applied to visualize findings such as only 18-25 year old white males. These features provided an easy means to visualize the relative high frequency of heroin-related deaths in white males. Furthermore, the date filters highlighted heroin-related deaths more than doubled in 2014 compared to previous years. Conclusions Mapping of health-related data has a long-standing history in public health, though its use in the forensic pathology community is limited. Fusion Tables provides users with the ability to visualize and analyze patterns and share data. Many geocoding solutions exist; however, we found this software to be user friendly and flexible. Our office now includes these visualizations into the annual summary that is provided to local law enforcement, public health officials, and the general public.