cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dreaming, designing, doing, developing, and innovation orientation: A case study of working in innovation Stanford style in remote rural Nicaragua

Objective: Since 2004, the author has worked in the cities of the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua in innovation and entrepreneurship. The message is innovation and the Stanford D School Design Thinking Model. In 2016, an invitation was received to work in the autonomous region of the Northern Caribbean Coast. This would be an opportunity to try the methodologies at the base of the economic pyramid in a remote rural location. Research Design & Methods: This is a case study, taking the innovation work started in the United States and continued in Universities in Nicaragua to a very rural area with the guidance and support of UNICAM. UNICAM is the Universidad en el Campo, or, the University of the Country, an innovation in education. The goal is to take University-level education to the rural communities. The town is at the entrance to the RAAN, the developing northern Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. The challenges were many in this rural community! Who would attend? Where would it be held? What would be a relevant theme for this community? What activities would help participants through a workshop on innovation? This was not the typical academic group of faculty and students that the authors work with. Findings: The results showed that in this case study, you could take the theory and methodology directly to a rural population who did not have the advantages of a world-class education. They used the methodology of Design Thinking effectively. Contribution & Value Added: The contribution here is opening the minds of the academic community that perhaps the goal should be to take applied education to the students wherever, and not expect the students to come to the cloistered halls of academia.
Abstract 087: NPFF Receptors NPFF-R1 and NPFF-R2 in the Kidney: A Target for the Negative Control of Sodium Transport and Blood Pressure

The kidney is critical in the overall regulation of fluid, electrolyte balance and blood pressure (BP). The renal dopaminergic system inhibits sodium transport in almost all nephron segments and is...
Values of character sums for finite unitary groups

Abstract A known result for the finite general linear group GL ( n , F q ) and for the finite unitary group U ( n , F q 2 ) posits that the sum of the irreducible character degrees is equal to the number of symmetric matrices in the group. Fulman and Guralnick extended this result by considering sums of irreducible characters evaluated at an arbitrary conjugacy class of GL ( n , F q ) . We develop an explicit formula for the value of the permutation character of U ( 2 n , F q 2 ) over Sp ( 2 n , F q ) evaluated at an arbitrary conjugacy class and use results concerning Gelfand–Graev characters to obtain an analogous formula for U ( n , F q 2 ) in the case where q is an odd prime. These results are also given as probabilistic statements.
“Swimming among the Jellyfish”: travel guides, Elizabeth von Arnim, and Rügen

In the opening of Elizabeth von Arnim’s The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rugen (1904), the protagonist, Elizabeth, comes across Marianne North’s autobiography, Recollections of a Happy Life (1894) an...
A review of research in primate sanctuaries

While non-human primate studies have long been conducted in laboratories, and more recently at zoological parks, sanctuaries are increasingly considered a viable setting for research. Accredited sanctuaries in non-range countries house thousands of primates formerly used as subjects of medical research, trained performers or personal pets. In range countries, however, sanctuaries typically house orphaned primates confiscated from illegal poaching and the bushmeat and pet trafficking trades. Although the primary mission of these sanctuaries is to rescue and rehabilitate residents, many of these organizations are increasingly willing to participate in non-invasive research. Notably, from a scientific standpoint, most sanctuaries provide potential advantages over traditional settings, such as large, naturalistic physical and social environments which may result in more relevant models of primates' free-ranging wild counterparts than other captive settings. As a result, an impressive scope of research in the fields of primate behaviour, cognition, veterinary science, genetics and physiology have been studied in sanctuaries. In this review, we examine the range and form of research that has been conducted at accredited sanctuaries around the world. We also describe the potential challenges of sanctuary-based work and the considerations that external researchers may face when deciding to collaborate with primate sanctuaries on their research projects.
Near-infrared fluorescence imaging for intraoperative margin assessment during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Objectives To demonstrate how using a standardised dosing strategy of indocyanine green (ICG) dye with near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging can be used to differentiate renal tumours from normal renal parenchyma during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Patients and methods We reviewed a prospectively collected database of 361 consecutive RAPNs using NIRF between June 2011 and March 2018, and determined the rate at which differential fluorescence was achieved. Tumour and kidney fluorescence or afluorescence were recorded intraoperatively and compared to histological results on final pathology. Results Of 330 tumours, after 31 exclusions for nonvisible tumours due to adherent fat, completely intrarenal location or for incomplete data, 288 (87.3%) successfully exhibited differential fluorescence. Among the predominant histologies, 249 of 277 (89.9%) renal cell carcinomas did not fluoresce, as well as 23 of 32 (71.9%) oncocytomas. Real-time gross assessment of resection margin for fluorescence yielded a positive margin rate on final pathology of 0.30%. Conclusion When administered with a standardised ICG-dosing strategy, NIRF successfully achieved differential fluorescence in a large majority of tumours during RAPN with an exceedingly low positive margin rate.
Pharmacist-driven medication reconciliation reduces oral oncolytic medication errors during transitions of care.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to characterize medication errors associated with oral oncolytics as patients with cancer were admitted to the inpatient setting and identify contributing factors that lead to errors. METHODS A review of patients prescribed a cyclic oral oncolytic who were then admitted to the inpatient setting at a large, academic medical center from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2018, was conducted. RESULTS Eighty-one patients were included in the analysis. Thirty-five errors (43%) related to transcription of the oral oncolytic regimen from the outpatient to the inpatient setting were identified. Categorization of errors revealed that 46% were due to delays in treatment. Within this error subset, 75% of the delays were related to unavailability of nonformulary oral oncolytics. There was a significant decrease in error for patients who received medication reconciliation by a pharmacist (P = 0.032) after admission. There were no other significant differences observed among variables that may have led to increased error rates. Three percent of errors were reported to the internal medication safety reporting system at our institution. CONCLUSION The inability to fully confirm patients' home regimen via chart review poses great risk to accurate medication ordering upon hospital admission. Completion of medication reconciliations by pharmacists serves to decrease rates of errors that may occur during hospital admission in cancer patients undergoing treatment with oral oncolytic therapies.
Exercise-Pharmacology Interactions: Metformin, Statins, and Healthspan.

There is an increased focus on treatments to extend the healthspan. There is solid evidence that exercise extends the healthspan, but other treatments, such as metformin and statins, are also gaini...
Quasi-periodic Oscillations Associated with Spectral Branches in Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer Observations of Circinus X-1

We present Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) All-Sky Monitor observations of the X-ray binary Circinus X-1 that illustrate the variety of intensity profiles associated with the 16.55 day flaring cycle of the source. We also present eight observations of Cir X-1 made with the RXTE Proportional Counter Array over the course of a cycle wherein the average intensity of the flaring state decreased gradually over ~12 days. Fourier power density spectra for these observations show a narrow quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peak that shifts in frequency between 6.8 and 32 Hz, as well as a broad QPO peak that remains roughly stationary at ~4 Hz. We identify these as Z-source horizontal and normal branch oscillations (HBOs/NBOs), respectively. Color-color and hardness-intensity diagrams (CDs/HIDs) show curvilinear tracks for each of the observations. The properties of the QPOs and very low frequency noise allow us to identify segments of these tracks with Z-source horizontal, normal, and flaring branches that shift location in the CDs and HIDs over the course of the 16.55 day cycle. These results contradict a previous prediction, based on the hypothesis that Cir X-1 is a high- atoll source, that HBOs should never occur in this source.
Virtual Visits During COVID-19 Pandemic; A Pediatrician’s Perspective

Telehealth is an expanding eld and facilitates the ability to connect with the patients, when physicalencounters are not possible However, its use in pediatric services remains limited In light of the COVID-19pandemic, telehealth is the only available option to provide continuity of care American Academy of Pediatricsalso has issued guidance in order to ensure continued care for children during this crisis We assess thefeasibility of web-based platforms and explore the challenges and barriers to telehealth implementation in asmall primary care setting Methods A video-conference using web-based applications is used for historytaking and visual examination to assess child activity in a pediatric practice serving over 400 children Weasked parents to rate their experience and degree of satisfaction Results We summarize our experienceintegrating telehealth technology into the practice of pediatrics: Limited Evaluation;Although telehealth maybe equivalent to face-to-face evaluation in many regards;it lacks the opportunity to perform a physicalexamination This is particularly concerning in examining children with medical complexities It is therefore important to pre-screen which children should be seen, in person Time Management: The visits often exceedtime allotted particularly in infants and younger children Initially it took signicant time to obtain andadequate history We started pre-brieng regarding virtual visit and what to expect Technical Challenges: Lackof familiarity with telehealth and the equipment is an important challenge, particularly in disadvantagedpopulation Physicians also facing technical issues as there was insufficient time to prepare Concern for Over-treatment: The treatment may simply be based on symptoms such as child touching the ears and attributed tootitis media;or a fever and cough may be treated as pneumonia Also, because of the ambiguity of thesituation, many parents may simply prefer to obtain a prescription for an antibiotic, or other medications Threat to Privacy: This issue is more relevant to the adolescent We believe adolescents would be betterserved, if they were permitted to use their personal cell phone Reimbursement: An inadequatereimbursement is a most important issue For sustainability, a sincere effort is needed to establish adequatepayment mechanism for telehealth services Liability Issues: Since telehealth mediated medical care is limitedregarding a physical examination, physicians are anxious whether they are missing certain importantdiagnosis This raises a concern for medicolegal liability There is a need to set clear guidelines for liabilityprotections Conclusion Although telehealth is widely accepted by the parents, it is important to understandthe limitations of telehealth The nature of such limitations should be conveyed to parents Since the health ofchildren cannot wait for a normalization of health care delivery;we need to be able to modify, adapt and try todo what is feasible
Beyond the Cubital Tunnel: Use of Adjunctive Procedures in the Management of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

Background:Our management of cubital tunnel syndrome has expanded to involve multiple adjunctive procedures, including supercharged end-to-side anterior interosseous to ulnar nerve transfer, cross-...
Lattices and integral quadratic forms

In many ways, quaternion algebras are like “noncommutative quadratic field extensions”: this is apparent from their very definition, but also from their description as wannabe \(2\times 2\)-matrices. Just as the quadratic fields \(\mathbb Q (\sqrt{d})\) are wonderously rich, so too are their noncommutative analogues. In this part of the text, we explore these beginnings of noncommutative algebraic number theory.
mTOR Signaling Regulates Metabolic Function in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells and Promotes Efficient Brain Remyelination in the Cuprizone Model.

In demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, primary loss of myelin and subsequent neuronal degeneration throughout the CNS impair patient functionality. While the importance of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling during developmental myelination is known, no studies have yet directly examined the function of mTOR signaling specifically in the oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage during remyelination. Here, we conditionally deleted Mtor from adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) using Ng2-CreERT in male adult mice to test its function in new OLs responsible for remyelination. During early remyelination after cuprizone-induced demyelination, mice lacking mTOR in adult OPCs had unchanged OL numbers but thinner myelin. Myelin thickness recovered by late-stage repair, suggesting a delay in myelin production when Mtor is deleted from adult OPCs. Surprisingly, loss of mTOR in OPCs had no effect on efficiency of remyelination after lysophosphatidylcholine lesions in either the spinal cord or corpus callosum, suggesting that mTOR signaling functions specifically in a pathway dysregulated by cuprizone to promote remyelination efficiency. We further determined that cuprizone and inhibition of mTOR cooperatively compromise metabolic function in primary rat OLs undergoing differentiation. Together, our results support the conclusion that mTOR signaling in OPCs is required to overcome the metabolic dysfunction in the cuprizone-demyelinated adult brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Impaired remyelination by oligodendrocytes contributes to the progressive pathology in multiple sclerosis, so it is critical to identify mechanisms of improving remyelination. The goal of this study was to examine mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in remyelination. Here, we provide evidence that mTOR signaling promotes efficient remyelination of the brain after cuprizone-mediated demyelination but has no effect on remyelination after lysophosphatidylcholine demyelination in the spinal cord or brain. We also present novel data revealing that mTOR inhibition and cuprizone treatment additively affect the metabolic profile of differentiating oligodendrocytes, supporting a mechanism for the observed remyelination delay. These data suggest that altered metabolic function may underlie failure of remyelination in multiple sclerosis lesions and that mTOR signaling may be of therapeutic potential for promoting remyelination.
Irreversible phase transitions due to laser-based T-jump heating of precursor Eu:ZrO 2 /Tb:Y 2 O 3 core/shell nanoparticles

Abstract Amorphous precursors of Eu-doped-ZrO 2 /Tb-doped-Y 2 O 3 (p-Eu:ZrO 2 /p-Tb:Y 2 O 3 ) core/shell nanoparticles are rapidly heated to temperatures between 200 °C and 950 °C for periods between 2 s and 60 s using a CO 2 laser. During this heating process the nanoparticles undergo irreversible phase changes. The fluorescence spectra due to Eu 3+ dopants in the core and Tb 3+ dopants in the shell are used to identify distinct phases within the material and to generate time/temperature phase diagrams. Such phase diagrams can potentially help to determine unknown time/temperature histories in thermosensor applications.
Privacy issues in smart grid deployment

This chapter serves as an introduction to the privacy and security issues presented by advanced metering and other "smart grid" technologies, and to recent policy efforts to address them. The chapter introduces the recent political and economic push to move to the ‘smart grid’, describes the privacy issues presented by advanced metering technologies and the data they gather, and gives an overview of regulatory and policy efforts being made to address them as the smart grid develops.Smart electricity meters and other devices that gather or process household energy signatures at high temporal resolutions hold a great deal of promise. Among other predicted benefits, smart grid technologies are expected to better manage energy usage, enable real-time demand-response pricing, improve efficient load balancing across the grid, and increase the capacity for solar and other edge-based energy generation. These predicted benefits depend, in part, on new, richer data models of energy flow and usage. The temporally granular data collected by advanced metering technologies can reveal detailed information about intimate life within the home, raising serious questions about how to address privacy interests. Moreover, the present vision for the smart grid requires large numbers of new devices and gateways to connect from the ‘edge’ of the grid, raising security issues that require immediate and sustained attention. Recent and ongoing technical and policy efforts in the United States and elsewhere attempt to address these issues.
Structure, Phase Transitions, and Isotope Effects in [(CH3)4N]2PuCl6

The single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of [(CH3)4N]2PuCl6 is presented for the first time, resolving long-standing confusion and speculation regarding the structure of this compound in the literature. A temperature-dependent study of this compound shows that the structure of [(CH3)4N]2PuCl6 undergoes no fewer than two phase transitions between 100 and 360 K. The phase of [(CH3)4N]2PuCl6 at room temperature is Fd3c a = 26.012(3) A. At 360 K, the structure is in space group Fm3m, with a = 13.088(1) A. The plutonium octahedra and tetramethylammonium cations undergo a rotative displacement, and the degree of rotation varies with temperature, giving rise to the phase transition from Fm3m to Fd3c as the crystal is cooled. Synthesis and structural studies of the deuterated salt [(CD3)4N]2PuCl6 suggest that there is an isotopic effect associated with this phase transition, as revealed by a changing transition temperature in the deuterated versus protonated compound, indicating that the donor–acceptor ...
Discrete Fourier Transform

The Fourier Transform has wide applications in scientific computing and engineering. Although it has a continuous version, we will consider only the discrete version (DFT) and present what is commonly known as the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. The DFT can replace a set of n values with another set of n values that represents the same information in a different way that may be easier to work with in a particular application. Later, after the work has been performed, the transformation can be reversed.
Macroeconomic Influences on Social Security Disability Insurance Application Rates

It is generally accepted that Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) Program application rates are influenced by the macro economy. DI program data and previous research indicate that a disproportionate number of beneficiaries (past applicants) are less-educated, with low-skill employment histories. These applicants, while they worked, were likely to intertemporally shift their durables consumption expenditures in response to tight budget constraints over the business cycle. Many endured a decline in their wages relative to the average U.S. worker. A strategy for linking DI application rates to the economy, therefore, is one that focuses on durables consumption shifts and wage inequality. Consistent with our expectations, we find that aggregate DI application rates are inversely related to various durables consumption-to wealth ratios and measures of wage inequality felt by less-educated/low-skilled workers. An interesting finding of this paper is that the national unemployment rate is not always a reliable predictor of DI application rates.
Finding Influential Authors in Brand-Age Communities

Enterprises are increasingly using social media forums to engage with their customer online- a phenomenon known as Social Customer Relation Management (Social CRM) . In this context, it is important for an enterprise to identify “influential authors” and engage with them on a priority basis. We present a study towards finding influential authors on Twitter forums where an implicit network based on user interactions is created and analyzed. Furthermore, author profile features and user interaction features are combined in a decision tree classification model for finding influential authors. A novel objective evaluation criterion is used for evaluating various features and modeling techniques. We compare our methods with other approaches that use either only the formal connections or only the author profile features and show a significant improvement in the classification accuracy over these baselines as well as over using Klout score.
An exact numerical solution of the solitary wave

The solitary wave, first studied in the field by J. Scott Russell, is an elevation of the water surface moving with essentially constant form at a celerity dependent upon the ratio a of its height to the depth of water upon which it propagates. The fore and aft portions of its profile are symmetrical, and gradually approach the undisturbed water-surface elevation at large distances from the crest. While the solitary wave can be observed upon a running stream, the essential features are retained when considering propagation in standing water. It is under these latter circumstances that the fluid motion in the wave is most nearly irrotational and most accurately subject to analysis by potential-flow techniques.
Biological correlates of high mathematical reasoning ability.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some new findings on possible biological correlates of extremely high mathematical and verbal abilities and proposes that a combination of exogenous and endogenous factors also determines the sex difference in mathematical reasoning ability. Large sex differences in mathematical reasoning ability are found prior to puberty among intellectually advanced students. This difference could predict subsequent sex differences in achievement in mathematics and science. Because few differences are found in the backgrounds and attitudes of the boys and girls tested, it is unlikely that simple environmental hypotheses can entirely explain the data presented in the chapter. Some of the findings on physiological correlates of extreme precocity are difficult to reconcile with most of the biologically oriented hypotheses that have been proposed to account for sex differences in cognitive functioning. The chapter proposes a single unifying hypothesis to account for sex differences observed. Because there are well-documented differences in the environment as well as in the biology of boys and girls, it is a combination of both of these factors that cause the sex difference in mathematical reasoning ability.
Detection and identification of biological and nonbiological particles using optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy sensors

We report on an innovative optical sensor based on the combination of optical tweezers and Raman Spectroscopy that is highly sensitive and selective for fast detection and identification of single biological and nonbiological particles.
Calderon preconditioned CFIE with MLFMM for acceleration

It is well known that the application of the method of moments to solving electromagnetic wave scattering from large PEC targets usually results in very ill-conditioned matrix equations. In fact, the condition number of the MoM matrices grows as O(1/(kh)2), where k is the wavenumber, and h is the discretization length. To circumvent this difficulty, in the recent literature there are quite a few proposed approaches. Roughly, we can divide them into two categories: the fast direct factorization methods and analytic preconditioners employing the Calderon identities. Among the fast direct factorization approaches, we mention the work by R. Adams et. al [1] and J. Shaeffer [2]. Among the analytic preconditioning strategies, we list the papers by R. Adams [3], Christiansen and Nedelec [4], and Buffa and Christiansen [5]. This paper closely follows the later approach, which is to precondition the MoM matrices using the Calderon formulas and hence reduce the iteration counts in Krylov iterative matrix solvers. We shall detail our progress in this paper, the successes, the remaining difficulties, and finally our ongoing efforts in making the proposed Calderon CFIE a fast and effective numerical method for solving electromagnetic wave scattering from large, closed PEC targets.
The Low Compliance Bladder

Compliance is defined as the increase in pressure per unit of volume (V/P). Normally the bladder is very compliant and may be filled to large volumes with very little increase in detrusor pressure. The low compliance bladder results from intrinsic disease processes within the bladder wall which result in fibrosis and decreased elasticity. This decreased elasticity of the bladder wall is reflected in the urodynamic tracing as a loss of accommodation with a gradual pressure increase during filling. This is frequently associated with a diminished bladder capacity in conditions such as radiation cystitis. When the lack of bladder wall compliance results in bladder pressure equalization with the urethra, incontinence results in a pattern similar to the atonic bladder when the bladder can distend no longer but at much smaller volumes.
Is The Community Health Needs Assessment Replacing the Certificate of Need

The purpose of this paper is to question the need for Certificates of Need at the state level. At the Federal level the Affordable Care Act requires hospitals must justify their community impact through a Community Health Needs Assessment (IRS Form 990 Schedule H) in order to retain their tax-exempt status. Not-for-profit hospitals will save money, time and personnel resources if the CON is combined with the CHNA and all states accept this change, no longer requiring the CON.
The Impact of Market Structure and Learning on the Tradeoff between R&D Competition and Cooperation

This paper compares R&D competition and cooperation when firms can devote resources to a ‘safe’ investment or a risky R&D investment. When the discovery of a new product creates positive externalities on non-discovering firms, equilibrium investment flow, ex ante investment, and welfare under R&D competition are less than or equal to what they are under research cooperation. With negative externalities, R&D cooperation results in the same or lower ex ante investment than under R&D competition, and social welfare may also be less. Our results have relevance for empirical studies of the impact of R&D cooperation on R&D outcomes.
Development of a Human Atlas of Strengths

Abstract : There are many military tasks where forces must be exerted to perform critical activities. Most of these activities are dynamic in nature and hence require the individual to exert forces in a range of postures and configurations to complete the task. The reliance on static strength capability is inadequate in such cases because of the dynamic nature of the activity and the variance in the strength capability as a function of the position of the limb in space and/ or the speeds of movements involved. The primary objectives of this project were: (1) to develop a dynamic strength battery to assess dynamic strength capabilities of individuals and then to correlate static and dynamic strength measures; and (2) establish appropriate strength and anthropometric distributions and a demonstration of the computer accommodated model program. The first phase in this project was geared towards the development of a test battery for assessment of dynamic strength of trunk, arms, and legs for appropriate range of motion. The second phase of the project had two goals; (1) to develop an accommodation model; and (2) to establish appropriate strength and anthropometric distributions. Keywords: Body composition, Age, Sex, Height, Weight.
Trypanosoma cruzi: morphogenesis in diffusion chambers in the mouse peritoneal cavity and attempted stimulation of host immunity.

Abstract Sequential morphologic changes and antigen producing capacity of Trypanosoma cruzi in peritoneally implanted diffusion chambers were studied. Diffusion chambers were equipped with two Nuclepore filters (0.20 μm pore size) sandwiched between three Lucite rings. Epimastigotes or trypomastigotes and amastigotes were placed in diffusion chambers and surgically implanted into the peritoneal cavity of mice, or placed in in vitro cell culture, or in various types of culture media and incubated at 26 or 37 C. Epimastigotes maintained in diffusion chambers in mice changed into trypomastigotes as evidenced by the presence of numerous transitional stages and the concomitant decrease in the percentage of the former and increase in the percentage of the latter in chambers removed and examined at 16, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 84 hr after implantation. The maximum of 68% trypomastigotes was noted in chambers examined at 84 hr. Amastigotes subsequently appeared, apparently arising from trypomastigotes and reached the highest percentage (49%) obtained at 132 hr. The total number of parasites in chambers decreased slightly during the first 36 hr (20%). Little change in the total number of parasites was noted during the interval of 36–108 hr. A subsequent decrease in numbers of parasites was noted until by 280 hr after implantation, chambers contained less than 2% of the original number of organisms present in the chambers. No similar transformation of epimastigotes was noted in diffusion chambers maintained in cell culture at 37 C or in a cell culture growth medium or LIT medium at 37 or 26 C. No detectable morphological change was noted when trypomastigotes and amastigotes were implanted in diffusion chambers in the peritoneal cavity of mice. The total number of these parasites decreased notably (82%) after 24 hr. Mice receiving diffusion chambers containing epimastigotes implanted at two different intervals (21 days apart), developed only marginal protective immunity when challenged with virulent T. cruzi three weeks after the second implant of chambers, and no protection was afforded those mice implanted with chambers containing trypomastigotes and amastigotes. Sera collected from mice 6 wk after the second implantation of diffusion chambers containing parasites were observed to have antibody titers to T. cruzi as demonstrated by the fluorescent antibody technique and direct agglutination procedure.
SPECIAL SERIES: Intensive Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders

Abstract This special series on intensive treatments for anxiety disorders in youth reminds us that these are challenging conditions and there is much more work to be done to address some of the limitations to and challenges of treating anxiety disorders in children using CBT. The treatments described in this series are intensive in their delivery and represent innovation on the part of the investigators. Most consistently, these treatments manipulated the time element to deliver the usual number of sessions within a shorter span of time (e.g., 15 sessions in 3 to 4 weeks for school refusal and OCD) or to maximize treatment within a shorter number of sessions (e.g., phobia, separation anxiety, and panic). This commentary presents ideas on certain highlights from each paper and implications for dissemination to the community.
A Two-Dimensional Typology of Latin American Political Parties

T HROUGHOUT RECENT DECADES important changes have taken place in Latin America that appear to have altered aspects of political party competition. The growth of the middle class, urbanization, industrialization, greater literacy, better means of communication, and a higher standard of living all have had deep and vital impacts upon Latin American society in general and upon political parties in particular. It may be too early to speak of a newly-acquired accommodating attitude in politics, but obviously there has been a shift in public attitudes, political activity, and governmental concerns. The important issues of the day vary from those of pre-World War II years, as does the general mood of the political participants. It is difficult to pinpoint the change," but it becomes noticeable when we approach political party activities in the past decade. The more dynamic, larger, more industrialized, wealthier Latin American nations are maturing both politically and economically. They have generally overcome severe internal crises and have lived through deep disturbances to their social fabric. Latin American development, partially evident from social, economic and political modernization indices,2 has engendered a spirit of political incre-
Performance Appraisal in North Carolina Municipalities

This study surveys performance appraisal practices, focusing upon North Carolina municipal governments. General appraisal procedures involving performance standards, specific types of performance appraisal systems, add-on practices (designed to enhance appraisal effectiveness), and the various purposes underlying appraisals are examined. In addition, the effects of city and organizational size and that of governmental structure on these personnel practices are studied.In general, performance appraisal practices are little used among North Carolina's municipal governments. Under a third claim generic procedures, and a sixth do not have any specific system. Among add-on options only interviews and interim appraisals garner use in as much as a quarter of the towns. Purposes fare somewhat better, with nearly half using performance appraisal as a guide for merit pay decisions. For the most part, performance appraisal is but marginally used in aiding personnel decisions.Population and workforce effects are some...
Beamwidth analysis for SAR processing of airborne depth-sounder data over ice sheets

Information on the bedrock topography below the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is vital to developing models of future sea-level rise. To measure the topography, advanced data acquisition and processing techniques, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), are required. This work investigates the optimal beamwidth that would enable SAR processing to maximize the signal to noise ratio of the target. Platform height above the ice surface and bedrock roughness determine the optimal beamwidth. We found that for data collected at a “typical” altitude of 867 m, the optimal beamwidth is about 8°. In the high-altitude case, we found that beamwidth did not have a significant effect on the signal-to-noise ratio. This is probably related to scattering from the ice surface.
Ocular foreign body

t r 34-year-old man was working with a wire brush aint stripper, which was a rotating wheel with muliple steel or copper wires, to strip old paint from a urface. He turned on the machine briefly to check that t was working and was not wearing safety goggles at he time when a wire flew off and struck him in the left ye. His wife brought him in by private vehicle. At the ime of presentation, he denied any visual changes or iscomfort. On examination, the vital signs were normal. The eye xamination was remarkable for the appearance of a piral-shaped wire embedded in the left lateral sclera ith a small associated hematoma (Figure 1). Depth of he foreign body was difficult to ascertain. Pupils were ound, reactive to light in both eyes, and were not af-
Vascular repair after menstruation involves regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor phosphorylation by sFLT-1.

Regeneration of the endometrium after menstruation requires a rapid and highly organized vascular response. Potential regulators of this process include members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of proteins and their receptors. Although VEGF expression has been detected in the endometrium, the relationship between VEGF production, receptor activation, and endothelial cell proliferation during the endometrial cycle is poorly understood. To better ascertain the relevance of VEGF family members during postmenstrual repair, we have evaluated ligands, receptors, and activity by receptor phosphorylation in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. We found that VEGF is significantly increased at the onset of menstruation, a result of the additive effects of hypoxia, transforming growth factor-α, and interleukin-1β. Both VEGF receptors, FLT-1 and KDR, followed a similar pattern. However, functional activity of KDR, as determined by phosphorylation studies, revealed activation in the late menstrual and early proliferative phases. The degree of KDR phosphorylation was inversely correlated with the presence of sFLT-1. Endothelial cell proliferation analysis in endometrium showed a peak during the late menstrual and early proliferative phases in concert with the presence of VEGF, VEGF receptor phosphorylation, and decrease of sFLT-1. Together, these results suggest that VEGF receptor activation and the subsequent modulation of sFLT-1 in the late menstrual phase likely contributes to the onset of angiogenesis and endothelial repair in the human endometrium.
Placement Algorithms for Arbitrarily Shaped Blocks

New placement algorithms have been developed which are suitable for the layout of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. Hierarchical decomposition is used to reduce the circuit function to a size that can be comprehended by the designer and is computationally feasible to layout. At each hierarchical level the problem consists of the placement of interconnected rectangular blocks of arbitrary size and shape such that the area occupied by the blocks and their interconnections is minimal. Constructive initial placement and iterative improvement algorithms are presented.
Idioms of Improvement: Vidyasagar and Cultural Encounter in Bengal

Idioms of Improvement explores the world view of Isvarachandra Vidyasagar, a prominent reformer who exemplifies the convergence within Bengali culture of Sanskritic and European cultural streams. Emphasis is placed on situating Vidyasagar within a vernacular milieu that can account for his work as an educator, prose author, and socio-religious reformer.
Purification, Cloning, and Characterization of the 16 S RNA m2G1207 Methyltransferase from Escherichia coli

Next Section Abstract The methyltransferase that forms m2G1207 in Escherichia coli small subunit rRNA has been purified, cloned, and characterized. The gene was identified from the N-terminal sequence of the purified enzyme as the open reading frame yjjT (SWISS-PROT accession numberP39406). The gene, here renamed rsmC in view of its newly established function, codes for a 343-amino acid protein that has homologs in prokaryotes, Archaea, and possibly also in lower eukaryotes. The enzyme reacted well with 30 S subunits reconstituted from 16 S RNA transcripts and 30 S proteins but was almost inactive with the corresponding free RNA. By hybridization and protection of appropriate segments of 16 S RNA that had been extracted from 30 S subunits methylated by the enzyme, it was shown that of the three naturally occurring m2G residues, only m2G1207 was formed. Whereas close to unit stoichiometry of methylation could be achieved at 0.9 mm Mg2+, both 2 mmEDTA and 6 mm Mg2+ markedly reduced the level of methylation, suggesting that the optimal substrate may be a ribonucleoprotein particle less structured than a 30 S ribosome but more so than free RNA.
Do national variables converge to world averages

Abstract We show that convergence of national variables to world averages is equivalent to stability of the difference dynamics defined in this paper under special circumstances, and that the national difference can be made to disappear if the monetary instruments are coordinated.
The asymptotic posterior normality of the latent trait for polytomous IRT models

Chang and Stout (1993) presented a derivation of the asymptotic posterior normality of the latent trait given examinee responses under nonrestrictive nonparametric assumptions for dichotomous IRT models. This paper presents an extention of their results to polytomous IRT models in a fairly straightforward manner. In addition, a global information function is defined, and the relationship between the global information function and the currently used information functions is discussed. An information index that combines both the global and local information is proposed for adaptive testing applications.
The Comparative Biology of Chondrodysplasias in Mice

Several monogenic mutants in mice result in chondrodysplastic dwarfism. Although they have been studied by different protocols so that the data are not strictly comparable, they represent a spectrum of genetic defects of chondrogenesis that produce chondrodysplasias in mice and, by homology, in man. Because tissues and cells of mice are available for experimental study and the genetics of mice is under experimental control, these mutants can be employed to investigate the biochemical and physiological processes that are disrupted by specific mutations. The systematic study of these disturbed developmental and biochemical pathways will increase our understanding of chondrogenesis and chondrodysplasia as similar studies have done for intermediary metabolism.
Study on Strain-Rate Sensitivity of Cementitious Composites

In this study, we conduct a combined experimental and micromechanical investigation into the strain-rate sensitivity of concretes, with a special reference to the effect of aggregate concentration. We first measured the stress-strain relations of Type I portland cement with 0.45 water-to-cement ratio (w/c), and then those of the mortar containing sand aggregates of up to 50% volume concentration, over six orders of magnitude of strain rate, from 5× 10−6 /s to 1× 10−1 /s under compression. It was found that, at a given strain rate, the peak stress increases with the aggregate concentration but the peak strain tends to decrease with it. At a given aggregate concentration, the peak stress also increases with strain rate whereas the peak strain generally decreases with it. We then developed an inclusion-matrix type micromechanical model to simulate the behavior of the concrete. In this process the nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of the portland cement was modeled by a modified Burger's model with strain-rate ...
Some One‐Electron Properties of H2O and NH3

Several one‐electron properties have been evaluated for H2O and NH3 using ab initio SCF functions. The functions are obtained from the Hartree—Fock—Roothman equations using a minimal Gaussian‐lobe basis. The diamagnetic‐susceptibility tensor, quadrupole‐moment tensor, diamagnetic nuclear shielding tensor at O, N, and H, and the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for 17O, 14N, and D have been evaluated. These properties have been compared, when possible, with experiment. The total magnetic susceptibility tensor for NH3 and H2O and the diagonal elements (in the principal inertia system) of the absolute nuclear shielding tensor at H and N in NH3 have been estimated by combining the ab initio diamagnetic results with the experimental paramagnetic contributions available from measurements of the rotational magnetic moment and the spin—rotation interaction, respectively.
Oleamide Synthesizing Activity from Rat Kidney IDENTIFICATION AS CYTOCHROME C

Oleamide (cis-9-octadecenamide) is the prototype member of an emerging class of lipid signaling molecules collectively known as the primary fatty acid amides. Current evidence suggests that oleamide participates in the biochemical mechanisms underlying the drive to sleep, thermoregulation, and antinociception. Despite the potential importance of oleamide in these physiologic processes, the biochemical pathway for its synthesis in vivo has not been established. We report here the discovery of an oleamide synthetase found in rat tissues using [(14)C]oleoyl-CoA and ammonium ion. Hydrogen peroxide was subsequently found to be a required cofactor. The enzyme displayed temperature and pH optima in the physiologic range, a remarkable resistance to proteolysis, and specificity for long-chain acyl-CoA substrates. The reaction demonstrated Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K(m) for oleoyl-CoA of 21 microm. Proteomic, biochemical, and immunologic analyses were used to identify the source of the oleamide synthesizing activity as cytochrome c. This identification was based upon peptide mass fingerprinting of isolated synthase protein, a tight correlation between enzymatic activity and immunoreactivity for cytochrome c, and identical functional properties shared by the tissue-derived synthetase and commercially obtained cytochrome c. The ability of cytochrome c to catalyze the formation of oleamide experimentally raises the possibility that cytochrome c may mediate oleamide biosynthesis in vivo.
Marine curriculum: A pragmatic learning technique

This paper is an attempt to demonstrate how a specific teaching strategy stressing skill development as a powerful unifying force may be employed, especially when a multidisciplinary marine curriculum, heterogenous student population, and varying professional goals collide in the same classroom and at the same time in the midst of so-called "information exposion" blast! As a case in point, Applied Oceanography (AO), a highly multidisciplinary and an intermediate course at Community College of Rhode Island between 1976- '81 is assessed as a skill-oriented tool for 250 students; mostly middle-age and working. AO's contents included these contemporary and fairly technical topics: offshore petroleum, energy technologies, ocean mining, fisheries, sea-farming, conservation and management of marine resources, and pollution. The student population varied in terms of their economic status, age, and educational preparation. In terms of profession, studentbody comprised doctors, nurses, engineers, technicians, environmentalists, fishermen, retired navymen, businessmen including one company president to name a few. As a teaching strategy, AO emphasized development of these skills: reading, writing, and speech using the vast reservoir of basic and contemporary knowledge of the ocean business. The aforementioned skills were indirectly incorporated in the preparation, and subsequent oral presentation of each student's assigned research project before the class. Also, necessary incentives were offered to students for group communication throughout the course duration. AO had adopted a lecture/seminar style format. The student evaluation of AO indicated rating of 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. More important, in terms of productivity, at present seven volumes of selected research projects is underway for an intended publication in the near furture. It is concluded that a skill-oriented approach is more effective as a learning process than a conventional lecture format; especially in the complex domain of ocean business.