cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research progress on prevention and control of virus B hepatitis

Aiming at the weak reactions after hepatitis B vaccine in some children in the EPI,some scholars have optimized the process and dose of children immunization,but there is not a consistent view. At present,the prevention and control of hepatitis B in adults mainly depends on vaccination and treatment. Although there are many drugs,hepatitis B is still incurable. There is no a preferred treatment method of hepatitis B,which should be further investigated. Therefore,the prevention and control of hepatitis B should focus on immunization,supplemented by treatment. Besides children immunization,the hepatitis B vaccination among adults needs to be strengthened. In order to understand the current condition of hepatitis B prevention and control,as well as relevant research progress,the authors carry out a review by consulting the past literatures.
Intracardiac metastasis of high-grade sarcoma of the neck causing right ventricular outflow obstruction.

A 71-year-old man with a medical history significant for high-grade pleomorphic undifferentiated soft tissue sarcoma of the neck and multiple lung metastases presented to the emergency room, with exertional dyspnoea. He was actively receiving palliative radiation at the time of presentation as his tumour was deemed untreatable by his oncologist. Physical examination revealed a cachectic man in mild respiratory distress, at rest. A firm, non-tender 8×8 cm mass was palpated in the suboccipital area of his neck. On auscultation, there were bilateral scattered rhonchi, but no crackles. Cardiovascular examination revealed a grade 3/6 ejection systolic murmur, heard loudest in the pulmonic area, which worsened on inspiration but did …
Knowledge Flow through a Military Joint Task Force Operation

The military is a knowledge enterprise like many businesses, governmental agencies, and universities. However, the immense size, geographical dispersion, and hazardous environment associated with the military makes it an extreme case even among large, global knowledge enterprises. Because knowledge is rarely distributed evenly through large organizations, the need for effective knowledge flow is crucial, and is particularly acute in the military. Informed by recent advances in knowledge-flow theory, this chapter describes results from an immersive case study of knowledge flow through a military joint task force operation. Results include a novel framework for classifying and visualizing diverse knowledge flows, along with a unique view into the use of knowledge for competitive advantage in a military context.
Identification of new branch points and unconventional introns in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Spliced messages constitute one-fourth of expressed mRNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and most mRNAs in metazoans. Splicing requires 5' splice site (5'SS), branch point (BP), and 3' splice site (3'SS) elements, but the role of the BP in splicing control is poorly understood because BP identification remains difficult. We developed a high-throughput method, Branch-seq, to map BPs and 5'SSs of isolated RNA lariats. Applied to S. cerevisiae, Branch-seq detected 76% of expressed, annotated BPs and identified a comparable number of novel BPs. We performed RNA-seq to confirm associated 3'SS locations, identifying some 200 novel splice junctions, including an AT-AC intron. We show that several yeast introns use two or even three different BPs, with effects on 3'SS choice, protein coding potential, or RNA stability, and identify novel introns whose splicing changes during meiosis or in response to stress. Together, these findings show unanticipated complexity of splicing in yeast.
Heat Treatment of Buckypaper for Use in Volatile Organic Compounds Sampling

Three types of buckypapers BPs, two of them fabricated with arc discharge AD single-walled carbon nanotubes SWNTs acetone-cleaned AD BP and methanol-cleaned AD BP and one with high-pressure carbon monoxide HiPco SWNTs HiPco BP, were heat-treated at different conditions to find the specific conditions for each type that improve the adsorption properties. Based on thermogravimetric analysis TGA data, three heat treatment conditions were designed for the AD BPs and another three conditions for the HiPco BPs. Also, changes in weight and physical integrity before and after the heat treatment were considered. Heating at 300°C for 90 minutes was selected for acetone-cleaned AD BP, in which the BP kept its physical integrity and yielded a relatively high Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller BET surface area 970 ± 18 m2/g, while methanol-cleaned AD BP was excluded because of its physical change. For HiPco BP, a condition of 300°C heating for 30 minutes was chosen as a relatively higher surface area 933 ± 54 m2/g and less weight loss 5% were observed.
A Russian Tragedy

Despite its success, there seems to be a gap between the Russian software industry and its Western counterparts. The web extra at https://youtu.be/QpLvVw0Z4rM is an audio recording of author David Alan Grier reading his Global Code column, in which he discusses Russian software industry.
The clinical impact of bedside fiberoptic laryngoscopic recording on a tertiary consult service.

Objectives/hypothesis Fiberoptic laryngoscopy is dependent on accurate descriptions of examination findings. Traditional recording methods can be impractical for inpatient consults. Therefore, we aim to determine the utility of a smartphone-coupled portable recording system with flexible laryngoscopy for transmitting information between resident and attending physicians in a real-time setting. Study design Pilot prospective study in a tertiary academic hospital. Methods This is a prospective study of inpatient consultations in a tertiary referral hospital over a 3-month period from April 2015 to June 2015. Flexible laryngoscopy was performed by a resident physician, and mobile recordings were relayed to an attending physician. Concordance of laryngoscopy interpretations between resident and attending physicians as well as changes in management were documented. Results Seventy-nine fiberoptic examinations were recorded and compared. Each consult was categorized as follows: airway evaluation (AE) (43%, 34/79), voice evaluation (VE) (3.7%, 3/79), dysphagia (D) (24%, 19/79), and aerodigestive tract mass/pathology (ADM) (29.1%, 23/79). Nine examinations showed discordance between resident and attending interpretations. Inter-rater agreement was good, with a kappa value of 0.747 (95% confidence interval: 0.643-0.851). The frequency of discordant exams within each group was as follows: AE (15%, 5/34), VE (33%, 1/3), D (11%, 2/19), and ADM (4.3%, 1/23). In five patients, changes in laryngoscopy interpretation changed clinical management. Seven nondiscordant exams had a change in management after attending review. Of the 79 exams, only one required repeat flexible laryngoscopy by the attending physician. Conclusions Portable recording of flexible laryngoscopy is an effective tool for timely management of inpatient consultations. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 128:818-822, 2018.
A CMOS single-cell deformability analysis using 3D hydrodynamic stretching in a GHz dielectric flow cytometry

This paper presents a high-throughput flow cytometry in CMOS for single-cell deformability analysis. By applying hydrodynamic stretching using microfluidics, cells are compressed and deformed depending on its elasticity. A CMOS 11-GHz dielectric sensor with on-chip coplanar electrodes is used to measure the degree of deformation through changes in the capacitance encoded in the measured waveforms. Experiments using polystyrene beads and THP-1 cells with and without ethanol incubation demonstrate the system capability with a throughput greater than 1 kcells/sec.
The Religious Victims of the Long Parliament, 1642–1649

Two classes of royalists were especially marked for punishment by the Long Parliament. The Anglican clergy and the Roman Catholics were doubly abhorred, for in addition to representing religious doctrines which the puritans had decried since Elizabethan times, both groups were active in supporting the king.
Ion-Pair Dissociation on α-MoO3 Surfaces: Focus on the Electrolyte–Cathode Compatibility Issue in Mg Batteries

Nanosizing has been explored as one option to enhance typically sluggish Mg ion mobility in cathode materials. Here, we explore the effects of the surfaces of α-MoO3 in facilitating or hindering Mg ion desolvation at the electrolyte–cathode interface. It is well-known in the Mg battery community that Mg–anion contact ion pairs may form in the electrolyte and thus the insertion of Mg into the cathode must involve desolvation and dissociation, where Mg is detached from the counterion at the cathode surface. Here we compare two representative Mg–anion pairs, i.e., (Mg–Cl)+ and (Mg–TFSI)+ (TFSI–, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide), differentiated according to the size and polarizability of the anion, and examine their dissociations on different α-MoO3 surfaces. We find that (Mg–Cl)+ requires a higher dissociation energy than (Mg–TFSI)+, which implies that the Mg–TFSI-type electrolyte is more suitable to be integrated with the MoO3 cathode when creating an electrochemical cell. The dissociation of (Mg–TFSI)+ ...
African American Adolescents' Gender and Perceived School Climate Moderate How Academic Coping Relates to Achievement

Using stereotype threat and motivational resilience theories as the guiding frameworks, this study examined how African American adolescents' academic coping strategies (i.e., problem solving, help seeking, self-encouragement, comfort seeking, and commitment) were associated with academic achievement, and whether these associations varied by adolescents' gender and perceptions of school climate (i.e., school mastery goal structure and support for cultural pluralism). Data were collected from 274 African American seventh graders (Mage = 12.84 years; 55% female; 91% low-income). Results suggested that associations between academic coping and achievement depended on adolescents' gender and school climate perceptions. Problem solving was associated with higher achievement for males only. Comfort seeking was associated with lower achievement among females and for adolescents who perceived their schools to be less mastery-oriented. Commitment related to lower achievement among males who perceived less supportive school climates. Importantly, self-encouragement was associated with higher achievement among males who perceived greater school support for cultural pluralism. Replication analyses with White adolescents from the same schools indicated that these findings were unique to African American adolescents.
Imaging Studies Section (Echocardiograms, Ventriculograms, Aortograms and Angiograms)

To prepare for the imaging studies section of the board exam, you MUST know the answer option lists for the section INSIDE AND OUT. You can find the answer option lists on the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) official website, http://www.abim.org/, under the tab, “take the exam your complete guide,” then under the "Prepare for the Exam: Take the Tutorial" section, near the bottom is a pdf file called "Sample Cases - Electrocardiograms and Imaging Studies (pdf)." Pay extra attention to the last page, which explains the scoring of sample cases.
Imino Acids of the Brain

Extensive and detailed review articles and chapters on brain amino acids can easily be found in the literature, including handbooks of neurochemistry. To my knowledge, this is the first chapter to discuss separately data on imino acids (cyclic secondary imino acids) present in the nervous tissue. Thirty-two substances are listed by Himwhich and Agrawal in Volume 1 of the Handbook of Neurochemistry 1 as amino acids and analogues present in the brain of five mammalian species (mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, cat, and dog). The concentrations reported in brain vary widely from a few nanomoles (half-cystine) to several micromoles (glutamic acid) per gram fresh tissue. So far, only three imino acids have been related to brain function: proline (PRO), hydroxyproline (HYP), and pipecolic acid (PA) (Fig. 1). Their concentrations in whole brain are relatively low compared to other cerebral amino acids: PRO (30–80 nmol/ g), HYP (40–80 nmol/g), and PA (18 ± 4 nmol/gla). Cat brain has ten times lower concentrations of PRO than GABA.2 However, this is the same range shown by several amino acids such as methionine, leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and ornithine.3 It is interesting to note that several of these “trace amino acids” are present at relatively high levels (proline, valine, isoleucine, tyrosine, ornithine, and phenylalanine) in the early postnatal life and fall to significantly lower levels at 2–3 weeks after birth. These changes may result from (1) qualitative changes in protein synthesis after birth, (2) high concentrations in the mother’s blood prior to delivery, or (3) slower accumulation from circulation into the brain in the adult because of changes in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after birth. or (4) postnatal activation of breakdown and secretion.
CHAPTER 7 – Isolation, Purification, and Characterization

This chapter discusses the isolation, purification, and characterization of polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are physically and chemically characterized in attempts to correlate their structure, properties, and function. Polysaccharides are isolated and extracted from vegetative milieu and concentrated in as high a concentration as possible, without serious structural modifications. Polysaccharides are usually separated from vegetable matter with the use of aqueous active solvents (hot dilute acids, alkalis, oxidants, etc). In isolation and purification, although water is the main solvent, when alcohol is included, it acts as an antidispersant of the hydrocolloidal solute. Numerous methods are available for analysis of polysaccharides, based either on their chemistry, occasionally involving unique fine structures and subunits, or on their response to ambient stimuli as chain molecules sensitive to altered environments. Neutral and ionic polysaccharides are distinguished from each other by charge on the latter, which originates from dissociation of acidic groups, complexation with ionic ligands, or adsorption of ions.
Stochastic Representation of NCEP GEFS to Improve Sub-seasonal Forecast

The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) has been in daily operation to provide probabilistic guidance for public since December 1992. Since July 2017, the GEFS was extended from 16 days to 35 days forecast to support NCEP Climate Prediction Center (CPC)’s sub-seasonal forecast. The latest GEFS version was upgraded in three areas to improve sub-seasonal forecast: (1) introducing a new set of stochastic physical perturbations to improve model uncertainty representation for the tropics; (2) a 2-tiered SST approach to consider ocean impact; and (3) a new scale-aware convection scheme to improve model physics for tropical convection and MJO forecasts. The new set of stochastic physical perturbations include stochastic kinetic energy backscatter to make up subscale energy lost during model integration; stochastic physics perturbation tendency with five different spatial and temporal scales to perturb physical tendency; and stochastic perturbed humidity on the model lower level. After upgraded to new set of stochastic physical perturbations, the MJO forecast skill has been improved from 12.5 days of a 25-month period to nearly 22 days by combining all three modifications include stochastic physics. In the extratropics, the 500-hPa geopotential height; surface temperature and precipitation are improved for sub-seasonal timescale as well. However, the raw forecast skills of surface temperature and precipitation are extremely low, and the results imply that calibration may be important and necessary for surface temperature and precipitation forecast for the sub-seasonal timescale due to the large systematic model errors.
A Rational Approach for Creating Peptides Mimicking Antibody Binding

This study reports a novel method to design peptides that mimic antibody binding. Using the Knob-Socket model for protein-protein interaction, the interaction surface between Cetuximab and EGFR was mapped. EGFR binding peptides were designed based on geometry and the probability of the mapped knob-sockets pairs. Designed peptides were synthesized and then characterized for binding specificity, affinity, cytotoxicity of drug-peptide conjugate and inhibition of phosphorylation. In cell culture studies, designed peptides specifically bind and internalize to EGFR overexpressing cells with three to four-fold higher uptake compared to control cells that do not overexpress EGFR. The designed peptide, Pep11, bound to EGFR with KD of 252 nM. Cytotoxicity of Monomethyl Auristatin E (MMAE)-EGFR-Pep11 peptide-drug conjugate was more than 2,000 fold higher against EGFR overexpressing cell lines A431, MDA MB 468 than control HEK 293 cells which lack EGFR overexpression. MMAE-EGFR-Pep11 conjugate also showed more than 90-fold lower cytotoxicity towards non-EGFR overexpressing HEK 293 cells when compared with cytotoxicity of MMAE itself. In conclusion, a method that can rationally design peptides using knob-socket model is presented. This method was successfully applied to create peptides based on the antigen-antibody interaction to mimic the specificity, affinity and functionality of antibody.
Appropriate Titration of Basal Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes and the Potential Role of the Pharmacist

A substantial proportion of patients with suboptimal control of their type 2 diabetes experience delays in treatment intensification. Additionally, patients often experience overuse of basal insulin, commonly referred to as “over-basalization,” whereby basal insulin continues to be uptitrated in order to meet targets, when addition of a mealtime bolus insulin dose may be a more appropriate option. In order to overcome these challenges, there is a need to develop the capacity of allied healthcare professionals to provide appropriate support to these patients, such as during initiation or titration of basal insulin. Pharmacists play an integral role in healthcare delivery, with patients seeing their pharmacist, on average, seven times more often than their primary care physician. This places pharmacists in a unique position to provide diabetes education and care, which may help patients avoid clinical inertia. Nevertheless, the management of the disease with basal insulin is becoming increasingly complex, with growing numbers of treatment options (such as recent second-generation longer-acting basal insulin formulations) and frequently updated titration algorithms. The two most common titration schedules specify either increasing doses by a set amount every 2–3 days or a treat-to-target strategy. Neither schedule has been shown to be superior, and the decision to use one or the other should be based on a discussion between the clinician and patient after assessment of mental and physical acumen, comfort of both parties, and follow-up plans. This review article discusses basal insulin therapy options and titration algorithms from the unique perspective of the pharmacist in order to help ensure that optimal antidiabetes therapy is initiated, appropriately titrated, and maintained. Funding: Sanofi US, Inc.
Prospects and advancement in super hybrid rice breeding in China.

The present study is an attempt to review the history of super hybrid rice breeding in China and abroad and an introduction to advancement in super hybrid rice breeding in China.At present,a great breakthrough in utilizing subspecies heterosis of indica and japonica rice and plant type breeding has been obtained in super hybrid rice breeding in China,and super hybrid rice has been extended for large scale cultivation.But,there are many problems existing in super hybrid rice cultivation,such as poorer adaptability,lower seed setting rate,bad grain quality,worse resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses,fewer double-cropping super rice varieties(combinations),imperfect breeding theory and technology.Therefore,some suggestions and research prospects have been put forward for overcoming these problems.
DYNAMICAL METEOROLOGY | Waves

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 2, pp 703–711, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd.
The Harmonic Mean as a Factor in Currency Conversion.

Solving for gives (0.22514) X (40) = 9.0056, or $9.01. But if the shopper is content merely to have a rough idea of the dollar cost of the item, his or her reasoning about the prob lem could go something like this: If the exchange rate were 20x5 to the franc, which is equivalent to 5 francs to the dollar, the 40-franc item would cost 40/5 = 8 dollars; if the exchange rate were 25? to the franc, or 4 francs to the dollar, the 40-franc item would cost 40/4 = 10 dollars. Since the exchange rate, 22.514jeito the franc, is about midway between 20? and 25?, the cost of the 40-franc item at this rate must be about
Performance of Two Anchored Walls Under Cut and Fill Construction Sequences

Tieback walls are typically designed using apparent earth pressures that are obtained initially by back-calculating earth pressures from measured support loads for excavation only. For construction activities involving both excavation and backfilling aspects, the use of apparent earth pressures might not be adequate. This paper investigates the performance of two tieback walls constructed using a combination of fill and cut construction sequences. Results obtained from data collected using load cells and strain gages along with the soldier piles of both walls, show the correlation of axial loads and bending moments to construction activities. Results show that some load is transferred to the soldier piles during anchor installation, despite using steel casings to prevent this action. Backfilling behind the wall created significant curvature in the soldier piles based on the measured bending moments. Moreover, results evidence that the apparent earth pressure does not reflect the observed bending moments in the walls. However, a beam model including lateral displacement is presented to represent the measured response in both walls. The results unveil differences in anchor loads estimations, evaluates the appropriateness of apparent earth pressures for the design of tieback walls and provides design recommendations.
Wearable Reasoner: Towards Enhanced Human Rationality Through A Wearable Device With An Explainable AI Assistant

Human judgments and decisions are prone to errors in reasoning caused by factors such as personal biases and external misinformation. We explore the possibility of enhanced reasoning by implementing a wearable AI system as a human symbiotic counterpart. We present "Wearable Reasoner", a proof-of-concept wearable system capable of analyzing if an argument is stated with supporting evidence or not. We explore the impact of argumentation mining and explainability of the AI feedback on the user through an experimental study of verbal statement evaluation tasks. The results demonstrate that the device with explainable feedback is effective in enhancing rationality by helping users differentiate between statements supported by evidence and without. When assisted by an AI system with explainable feedback, users significantly consider claims supported by evidence more reasonable and agree more with them compared to those without. Qualitative interviews demonstrate users' internal processes of reflection and integration of the new information in their judgment and decision making, emphasizing improved evaluation of presented arguments.
Bidirectional tuning of phase transition properties in Pt : VO2 nanocomposite thin films.

A phase transition material, VO2, with a semiconductor-to-metal transition (SMT) near 341 K (68 °C) has attracted significant research interest because of drastic changes in its electrical resistivity and optical dielectric properties. To address its application needs at specific temperatures, tunable SMT temperatures are highly desired. In this work, effective transition temperature (Tc) tuning of VO2 has been demonstrated via a novel Pt : VO2 nanocomposite design, i.e., uniform Pt nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in the VO2 matrix. Interestingly, a bidirectional tuning has been achieved, i.e., the transition temperature can be systematically tuned to as low as 329.16 K or as high as 360.74 K, with the average diameter of Pt NPs increasing from 1.56 to 4.26 nm. Optical properties, including transmittance (T%) and dielectric permittivity (e′) were all effectively tuned accordingly. All Pt : VO2 nanocomposite thin films maintain reasonable SMT properties, i.e. sharp phase transition and narrow width of thermal hysteresis. The bidirectional Tc tuning is attributed to two factors: the reconstruction of the band structure at the Pt : VO2 interface and the change of the Pt : VO2 phase boundary density. This demonstration sheds light on phase transition tuning of VO2 at both room temperature and high temperature, which provides a promising approach for VO2-based novel electronics and photonics operating under specific temperatures.
A Second and Third Look at FIRST: Testing Adaptations of A Principle-Guided Youth Psychotherapy.

We examined the acceptability, integrity, and symptom trajectories associated with FIRST, a principle-guided treatment for youth internalizing and externalizing problems designed to support efficie...
Variations in Medical Students' Educational Preferences, Attitudes and Volunteerism during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.

Public health crises require individuals, often volunteers, to help minimize disasters. The COVID-19 pandemic required such activation of individuals, but little is known about medical students' preferences of such engagement. We investigated potential variations in medical students' educational preferences, attitudes, and volunteerism during the COVID-19 pandemic based on socio-demographics to better prepare for future activation scenarios. A web-based, anonymous survey of U.S. medical students at a single institution was conducted in May 2020. Across four training year, 518 (68% response rate) students completed the survey. During the pandemic, 42.3% (n = 215) wanted to discontinue in-person clinical experiences, 32.3% (n = 164) wanted to continue, and 25.4% (n = 129) were neutral. There was no gender effect for engagement in volunteer activities or preference to engage in clinical activities during the pandemic. However, second-year (n = 59, 11.6%) and third-year students (n = 58, 11.4%) wanted to continue in-person clinical experiences at a greater proportion than expected, while a small proportion of fourth-year students (n = 17, 3.3%) wanted to continue, χ2(6) = 43.48, p < .001, φ = 0.29. Majority of respondents (n = 287, 55.5%) volunteered in clinical and non-clinical settings. A lower proportion of fourth-year (n = 12, 2.3%) and first-year students (n = 50, 9.7%) volunteered than expected. Likelihood to volunteer during a pandemic varied by gender, training year, and/or prior experience with disaster event depending on the type of volunteer-site setting. Our findings suggest socio-demographic factors may impact medical student engagement and volunteerism during a public health crisis. Educational leadership should be sensitive to such variations and can facilitate volunteer activities that allow student engagement during future pandemics.
Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War

1. A 'happy combination of clemency with firmness'. The small wars prologue 2. The road from Sedan 3. The paroxysms of imperial might in the shadow of the Great War 4. From Tipperary to Tel Aviv: British counterinsurgency in the shadow of World War II 5. From small wars to La Guerre Subversive. The radicalization and collapse of French counterinsurgency 6. Vietnam, counterinsurgency, and the American way of war 7. 'A conspiracy of heroes' - revolution and counterinsurgency in Latin America 8. Building the 'most successful counterinsurgency school' - COIN as the British way of war 9. Britain's thirty years' war in Northern Ireland 10. Vietnam with a happy ending - Iraq and 'The Surge' 11. Conclusion Bibliography.
Preliminary Results in the Understanding of Accessibility Challenges in Computer Gaming for the Visually Impaired

Today’s gamers are confronted by a plethora of game choices ranging from simple, two-dimensional board games to highly sophisticated and visually intensive video games. The gaming industry is experiencing a period of growth and innovation through content delivery (e.g. mobile devices, social media platforms, etc.) and user interface/interaction modes (e.g. motion capture/detection, haptic feedback, online game play, etc.).
DEMONSTRATION OF INDUCED SYNERGISTIC HEMOLYSIS BY “NONHEMOLYTIC” STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPECIES

Smith, Doyle C. (Kansas State University, Manhattan), V. D. Foltz, and T. H. Lord. Demonstration of induced synergistic hemolysis by “non-hemolytic” Staphylococcus species. J. Bacteriol. 87: 188–195. 1964.—The synergistic hemolysis of “normally nonhemolytic” staphylococci on blood-agar incubated in, or adjacent to, a secondary zone of certain hemolytic staphylococci is described. The synergism apparently results from the combining of two factors, Z , produced by hemolytic staphylococci that elaborate a secondary zone, and T , produced by “nonhemolytic” staphylococci. The production of the two factors is substantiated by (i) the absence of clear hemolysis around nonhemolytic colonies and in the secondary zone of hemolytic colonies, and by (ii) evidence of clear hemolysis when the secondary zone reaches to within a few millimeters, and finally surrounds, the nonhemolytic colonies. It was possible to show on a blood-agar plate containing a mixture of both hemolytic and nonhemolytic cultures that all colonies exhibited a zone of clear hemolysis. When 400 colonies were selected from such a blood plate, 280 were nonhemolytic on subsequent studies. The remaining 120 colonies were hemolytic. Thus, there is danger of confusing non-hemolytic Staphylococcus colonies, showing induced hemolysis, with truly hemolytic colonies. If a similar situation occurred on a diagnostic blood plate, it could very likely result in failure to identify a possibly pathogenic staphylococcus. Images
Ionic Mechanisms of Burst Firing in Dissociated Purkinje Neurons

Cerebellar Purkinje neurons have intrinsic membrane properties that favor burst firing, seen not only during complex spikes elicited by climbing fiber input but also with direct electrical stimulation of cell bodies. We examined the ionic conductances that underlie all-or-none burst firing elicited in acutely dissociated mouse Purkinje neurons by short depolarizing current injections. Blocking voltage-dependent calcium entry by cadmium or replacement of external calcium by magnesium enhanced burst firing, but it was blocked by cobalt replacement of calcium, probably reflecting block of sodium channels. In voltage-clamp experiments, we used the burst waveform of each cell as a voltage command and used ionic substitutions and pharmacological manipulations to isolate tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive sodium current, P-type and T-type calcium current, hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih), voltage-activated potassium current, large-conductance calcium-activated potassium current, and small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) current. Measured near the middle of the first interspike interval, TTX-sensitive sodium current carried the largest inward current, and T-type calcium current was also substantial. Current through P-type channels was large immediately after a spike but decayed rapidly. These inward currents were opposed by substantial components of voltage-dependent and calcium-dependent potassium current. Termination of the burst is caused partly by decay of sodium current, together with a progressive buildup of SK current after the first interspike interval. Although burst firing depends on the net balance between multiple large currents flowing after a spike, it is surprisingly robust, probably reflecting complex interactions between the exact voltage waveform and voltage and calcium dependence of the various currents.
Atypical hepatic cirrhosis with angiomatous change; report of a case.

Summary A case of atypical non-alcoholic cirrhosis with diffuse angioma-like dilatation of the sinusoids is described. This apparently is a very rare lesion in man.
Migration in Archeology: The Baby and the Bathwater

Migration has been largely ignored by archeologists for the last two decades. Yet prehistoric demography and population studies are accepted as central concerns, and neither of these can be studied profitably without an understanding of migration. Recent books by Rouse and Renfrew have resurrected migration as a subject of serious analysis. It is proposed here that systems-oriented archeologists, in rejecting migration, have thrown out the baby with the bathwater. Traditional archeological approaches to migration fall short because a methodology for examining prehistoric migration must be dependent upon an understanding of the general structure of migration as a patterned human behavior. Aspects of such a structure are suggested and an application to a particular case in Eastern Europe is described.
Xenon oxide and xenon sulfide emission systems at 234 and 227 nm

Abstract The two-body quenching reactions of Xe(6p)★ excited-state atoms with N2O and OCS provide moderately efficient sources for generating the electronically excited (ionic) states of XeO★ and XeS★. These ionic states decay radiatively via bound-free transitions to the ground-state potentials with intensity maxima at 234 and 227 nm for XeO★ and XeS★, respectively. The quenching kinetics of Xe(6p[1/2]0 and 6p[3/2]2) with N2O, OCS, NO2, SO2, O2 and CO, and the formation kinetics of XeO★ and XeS★ are discussed.
Perfection thickness of graphs

We determine the order of growth of the worst-case number of perfect subgraphs needed to cover an n-vertex graph.
Environmentally Influenced Urbanisation: Footprints Bound for Town?

Over the past 30 years, urbanisation has been a prominent phenomenon and various drivers have been proposed to explain it. Very few have suggested that the degradation of the rural environment was one of them. This paper explores the human–environment interface by focusing on the portrayal of these concepts within scholarly literature. A systematic literature review was conducted and 147 articles were examined to determine the direction of the link between the environment and human mobility, and if urbanisation was featured. The results demonstrate that equal attention is paid to both directions of the environment–mobility link. Of the articles reviewed, 40 per cent focus on urbanisation, but 93 per cent of those portray urbanisation as a forcing on the environment, rather than an impact of environmental degradation. The lack of support for environmentally influenced urbanisation can be explained by coupled system complexity, disciplinary research and the silence of those most likely to endure environment...
The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: A Single-Center Experience over 5 Years

Background The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) was developed to refine fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology definitions and improve clinical management. This study evaluates the impact of the BSRTC 5 years after its adoption at a single institution.
Bobble-head doll syndrome: Review of the pathophysiology and CSF dynamics

The bobble-head doll syndrome is a rare movement disorder; fewer than 40 cases have been reported. It is usually associated with cystic abnormalities in the region of the anterior third ventricle. Various physiologic mechanisms have been proposed but none of them has been substantiated. We report a patient with this syndrome produced by a suprasellar arachnoid cyst. The CSF dynamics were investigated with CT cisternography. The phenomenon was apparently the result of intermittent obstruction at the foramina of Monro, a feature which has not previously been reported in this condition. The head movement served to partially relieve intraventricular obstruction, by both a posterior displacement of the cyst away from the foramina of Monro and a reduction in cyst size. This finding supports the concept that the bobble-head syndrome may be a "learned" behavior which lessens the symptomatology of hydrocephalus related to foramina of Monro obstruction.
The bootstrap program for boundary CFT d

We study the constraints of crossing symmetry and unitarity for conformal field theories in the presence of a boundary, with a focus on the Ising model in various dimensions. We show that an analytic approach to the bootstrap is feasible for free-field theory and at one loop in the epsilon expansion, but more generally one has to resort to numerical methods. Using the recently developed linear programming techniques we find several interesting bounds for operator dimensions and OPE coefficients and comment on their physical relevance. We also show that the “boundary bootstrap” can be easily applied to correlation functions of tensorial operators and study the stress tensor as an example. In the appendices we present conformal block decompositions of a variety of physically interesting correlation functions.
Solar system: Saturn's ring rain

Saturn's atmosphere bears a latent image of its icy rings, implying that electrically charged bits of water ice are being transported along magnetic-field lines of force from sources in the ring plane to the upper atmosphere. See Letter p.193 A magnetic connection between Saturn and its ring system has been suggested previously. It might explain, among other things, the unexpectedly low electron densities and high temperatures observed in the ionosphere. Now that missing link has been observed. Near-infrared spectral data from the W. M. Keck II telescope, focused on Saturn's noon meridian, are consistent with the transfer of charged water from the rings to the ionosphere, sufficient to flood a third of the planet's upper atmospheric surface. This ring 'rain' links the rings to the planet electrically and magnetically, leading to the global modulation of upper atmospheric chemistry.
Body mass index and screening for colorectal cancer: Gender and attitudinal factors

Abstract Background: Overweight/obese women and men are at increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality. Research examining body mass index (BMI) and CRC screening has had mixed results. A clearer understanding of the extent to which high-BMI subgroups are screened for CRC is needed to inform planning for CRC screening promotions targeting BMI. Methods: Data were obtained from a random, population-based sample of women and men at average-risk for CRC (aged 50–75 years) during 2004 (n = 1098). Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate whether BMI category was significantly associated with the probability of reporting recent CRC screening and with the probability of agreeing with statements denoting attitudes/perceptions about CRC and screening. Attitudes/perceptions about CRC and screening were evaluated as potential mediators and moderators of the association between BMI category and CRC screening. Results: After controlling for characteristics associated with CRC screening, overweight and obese women were each 40% less likely to have CRC screening than women with normal-BMI (OR = 0.6, 95% CI:0.4–0.9 and OR = 0.6, 95% CI:0.3–0.9). BMI category was unrelated to screening among men. Obese women (but not men) were less aware than normal-BMI women that obesity increased risk for CRC (OR = 0.5, 95% CI:0.3–0.9) and less worried about CRC (OR = 0.5, 95% CI:0.3–0.8). However, findings suggest that attitudes/perceptions about CRC and screening did not mediate or moderate the association between BMI category and CRC screening. Conclusion: Overweight/obese women are at increased risk for CRC because of their greater BMI and their propensity not to screen for CRC. Study findings suggest that potentially modifiable perceptions, e.g., lack of awareness of risk for CRC and less worry about CRC, in this subgroup may not explain the relationship between BMI category and reduced screening.
Multiple vascular fibromas and myxoid fibromas of the fingers: A histologic and ultrastructural study

A father and his son were seen because of multiple wartlike lesions on their fingers and palms. On histologic examination, these lesions showed changes compatible with vascular fibromas, myxoid fibromas, and, in a few instances, verruca vulgaris. We are not aware of reports of similar cases in the dermatologic literature.
Affinity chromatography of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase from dog lung.

Abstract A 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase has been purified from dog lung by NAD+-CH-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme determined by gel filtration is 46, 500. The biochemical properties of the dog lung enzyme are similar to that isolated from other sources.
Using a genetic algorithm to find an optimized pulse coupled neural network solution

Pulse Coupled Neural Networks (PCNNs) have been shown to be of value in image processing applications, especially at identifying features of small spatial extent at low signal to noise ratio. In our use of the PCNN, every pixel in a scene feeds a neuron in a fully connected lateral neural network. Nearest neighbor neurons contribute to the output of any given neuron using weights that link the neuron and its neighborhood in both a linear and a non-linear fashion. The network is pulsed, and the output of the network at each pulse is a binary mask of neurons that are active. Pulsing drives the network to evaluate its state. The multi-dimensionality and the non-linear nature of the network make selecting weights using trial and error a non-trivial problem. It is important that the desired features of the input are identified on a predictable pulse, a problem that has yet to be sufficiently addressed by proponents of the PCNN. Our method to overcome these problems is to use a Genetic Algorithm to select the set of PCNN coefficients which will identify the pixels of interest on a predetermined pulse. This method enables PCNNs to be trained, which is a novel capability and renders the method of use for applications.
The infrared refractive indices of CHBr3, CCl4 and CS2

Abstract Spectrally resolved data for the real part, n(λ) of the complex refractive index, n = n + i k , of bromoform (tribromomethane, CHBr3) at room temperature (298 K) in the wavelength range 1–13 μm are presented. The measurements were made using the near-normal reflectance technique. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by comparing measured values of n(λ) of water with available data in the literature. For bromoform, n(λ) is found to decrease gradually from 1.58 to 1.51 over this wavelength range, except in the region of anomalous dispersion near absorption bands at 3.3 and 8.7 μm. A complete infrared window for extinction measurements on suspended particulates can be obtained using CCl4 in the spectral range 1–6 μm, CHBr3 in the ranges 6.0–7.4 μm and 11–13 μm, and CS2 in the range 7.4–11.0 μm. The data for n(λ) of CCl4 in the range 1–9 μm, and those for CS2 in the range 7.4–11.0 μm, obtained from reflectance measurements, compare favorably with data available in the literature.
Cell cycle inhibition and retinoblastoma protein overexpression prevent Purkinje cell death in organotypic slice cultures.

Purkinje cells are vulnerable to a number of physical, chemical, and genetic insults during development and maturity. Normal development of these cells depends on the cell-cell interactions between granule and astroglial cell populations. Apoptotic death in Purkinje neurons had been shown to be associated with cell cycle activation, and new DNA synthesis is associated with Purkinje cell death in staggerer and lurcher mutant mice. Here using an in vitro organotypic slice culture model from 9 (P9) and 4 days (P4) old postnatal rats we show that the cyclin dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors (roscovitine, olomoucine, and flavopiridol) protect the Purkinje cells from cell death. The results are more pronounced in the cerebellar sections from P4 rats. Analysis of Purkinje neurons in sections from P4 rats after 1 week of culturing showed that while there were very limited calbindin positive neurons in the untreated sections the cdk inhibitor treated sections had a notably higher number. Although treatment with cdk inhibitors inhibited Purkinje cell loss significantly, the morphology of these neurons was abnormal, with stunted dendrites and axons. Since the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) is the major pocket protein involved in determining the differentiated state of neurons we examined the effect of over-expressing Rb in the organotypic cultures. Rb overexpression significantly inhibited the Purkinje cell death and these neurons maintained their normal morphology. Thus our studies show that the cell death in Purkinje neurons observed in organotypic cultures is cell cycle dependent and the optimal survival requires Rb. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007.
Philosophy on steroids: why the anti-doping position could use a little enhancement.

There is currently much concern over the use of pharmaceuticals and other biomedical techniques to enhance athletic performance—a practice we might refer to as doping. Many justifications of anti-doping efforts claim that doping involves a serious moral transgression. In this article, I review a number of arguments in support of that claim, but show that they are not conclusive, suggesting that we do not have good reasons for thinking that doping is wrong.
Femtosecond laser-induced dynamical quantum processes on solid surfaces (DQPSS)

The mechanisms and the timescales involved in the breaking and making of chemical bonds lie at the foundation of chemical dynamics. Femtosecond laser-induced dynamical quantum processes on solid surfaces (DQPSS) lead to efficient desorption, dissociation, and reaction of adsorbed molecules. Control of the chemical pathways is achieved by varying the duration and fluence of the laser pulses, thus accessing different excitation and energy transfer mechanisms. By adjusting the time delay between two laser pulses, the timescales of DQPSS can be directly probed. The DQPSS driven by femtosecond lasers are also involved in the spatially resolved chemistry and materials modification induced by the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. Insights into the microscopic mechanisms in conventional thermal desorption and chemistry are also gained from studies of femtosecond laser-induced DQPSS. A general understanding of these different surface phenomena is emerging.
Bis-ketol phosphate alkyl triesters: Rate of initial ketol group hydrolysis

Abstract Bis-(2-oxo-2-phenyl ethyl) tetrahydrofurfuryl phosphate ( 7 ) was synthesized by the addition of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to the corresponding bis-ketol hydrogen phosphate ( 8 ) using DCC as the condensing agent. The rate of loss of a single ketol group was determined over the pH range 6.9 to 9 and at different temperatures. At pH 7.4 and 37°C compound 7 hydrolyzed with a pseudo-first rate constant of 6.2 × 10 −4 s −1 . This hydrolysis rate is 10 8 fold faster than a simple alkyl phosphate triester. The rate of hydrolysis is similar to that observed for mono-ketol dialkyl phosphate triesters.
The Rate of Return to Aging: A Capital Stock Accounting

Not until recently, that measurement of the stock human capital attracted the attention of scholars and researchers in the US and the EU. In the 21st century, estimates of the stock of human capital for the US and several EU countries were developed by the OECD human capital project. Other estimates were also reported for the US. Thanks to these efforts, it is possible to shed some light on an old-new contention that the elderly population absorbs more of society’s resources than they contribute, hence imposing an ever rising burden on younger generation. Based on the recent estimates of the stock of human capital, the hypothesis advanced in the paper is that such a claim needs to be revisited in light of the very significant familial and intergenerational transfers.