cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metal Encapsulation of Ceramic Nuclear Waste

A conceptual flow sheet is presented for encapsulating a ceramic waste form in solid lead, using existing or developing technologies. Unresolved and potential problem areas of the flow sheet are outlined, and suggestions are made on how metal encapsulation might be applied to other solid radioactive wastes from the nuclear fuel cycle. It is concluded that metal encapsulation is a technique applicable to many forms of solid wastes and is likely to meet future waste isolation criteria and regulations.
Vesicourethral Dysfunction following Cystourethropexy

AbstractWe report on 32 women referred to our institution with incontinence or voiding dysfunction after an anti-incontinence operation. Our method of investigation included simultaneous pressure-flow-sphincter electromyography, and anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopy. The patients were classified into 3 groups with respect to normal, hyporeflexive or hyperreflexive detrusor activity. The most common reasons for failure were improper surgical indications, suture misplacement and over correction of the vesicourethral angle.
A single point mutation (Phe340-->Leu340) of a conserved phenylalanine abolishes 4-[125I]iodo-(2,5-dimethoxy)phenylisopropylamine and [3H]mesulergine but not [3H]ketanserin binding to 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors

The molecular processes by which agonists and antagonists bind to serotonin2 [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT2)] receptors are currently unknown. Three molecular models have proposed that conserved aromatic residues help to anchor the phenyl ring of 5-HT via stacking or pi-pi-type interactions with the 5-HT2 receptor. To test these models we made single point mutations (Phe339-->Leu339 and Phe340-->Leu340) of two aromatic residues that are conserved among all guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled 5-HT receptors and a single point mutation (Phe125-->Leu125) that exchanges a 5-HT2 for a 5-HT1c sequence. [3H]Mesulergine binding was abolished by Phe340-->Leu340 and unchanged with the Phe339-->Leu339 and Phe125-->Leu125 mutations, whereas [3H]ketanserin binding affinity was diminished by the Phe339-->Leu339 mutation and unchanged by Phe340-->Leu340 and Phe125-->Leu125. We also found that the affinities of three ergot derivatives (mesulergine, methysergide, and lisuride) were decreased by 88-1079-fold with only the Phe340-->Leu340 mutation. We also discovered that 4-[125I]iodo-2,5-(dimethoxy)phenylisopropylamine (DOI) binding was abolished in COS-7 cells expressing 5-HT2 (Phe340-->Leu340) receptors but maintained in cells expressing the Phe339-->Leu339 and Phe125-->Leu125 mutations. Additionally, the Ki values for several agonists and partial agonists (5-HT, DOI, m-chlorophenylpiperazine, trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine, bufotenine, and MK-212) were greatly diminished (26-14,000-fold decrease) only with the Phe340-->Leu340 receptor mutation. Finally, the Phe340-->Leu340 mutant receptors displayed an attenuated or abolished ability to augment phosphoinositide hydrolysis in COS-7 cells with four separate agonists (5-HT, MK-212, bufotenine, and quipazine). Taken together, these results are consistent with the idea that agonists and certain ergot derivatives anchor to 5-HT2 receptors, in part, via specific interactions with aromatic residue Phe340 located in transmembrane region VI.
What Is Recovery

Recovery is abstinence from substances of abuse along with a process of change where individuals work to improve their own health and wellness, which maybe physical, emotional, and spiritual in nature. Recovery is the ability to live a meaningful life in one’s chosen community while striving to achieve one’s full potential. This chapter explores the subtleties and variables associated with recovery looking at the hallmarks, the stages, and potential supports for recovery. It also provides suggestions for discussions with patients who are in different stages of recovery.
Medication Use in Older Adults

Knowledge about the safety and efficacy of individual medications in older adults (i.e., those ≥65 years of age) is often limited due to the frequent exclusion of this population from premarketing clinical trials of new medications. Regardless, multiple medications are commonly prescribed for community-dwelling older adults who may also choose to use over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements. Medications are prescribed at even higher rates in institutional settings, and the types of medications prescribed differ across care settings as well. The use of multiple medications can result in under-, over- or inappropriate prescribing and patient medication nonadherence, which can lead to a decline in patient functional status and an increase in use of health services. Understanding medication use and its effects in older adults who live in different care settings is likely to aid in designing future interventions for the improvement of health care for this population.
Operating Rules for Storage Reservoirs

The problems of the best planning and the best operation of storage reservoirs have occupied the professional men from the time the first modern reservoirs have been built in the second half of the last century. With time, the operational rules in the form of operational curves, tables or equations have been developed. Basically, experience with planning and operation of reservoirs, on a trial and error basis, has lead to the various types of operational rules based on the original reservoir objectives and various constraints. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the various factors involved in developing guidelines and operational rules for reservoir operation. A summary describing purposes, objectives, system operation and related factors for selected reservoir systems is given.
Localised pneumoperitoneum following liver mass biopsy in the setting of post-ERCP pneumobilia

A 72-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of fatigue, weight loss and painless jaundice. Liver chemistries confirmed cholestasis with hyperbilirubinaemia of 25.6 mg/dL. An abdominal CT scan revealed multifocal liver lesions and dilation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. On endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a common bile duct stricture was found requiring dilation and insertion of a biliary stent. Cholangiogram demonstrated free bile drainage without contrast medium leakage. The patient then underwent CT-guided biopsy of a left lobe liver mass. On the next day, she complained of constant abdominal …
An analysis of the key determinants of hotel employees' ethical behavior

Abstract One of the main challenges plaguing the hotel industry today is the unethical behavior of its employees which spreads like a bad, contagious disease across all departments of a hotel company, has a strong negative impact on hotel operations, results in huge financial losses and other detrimental consequences and has become a major headache for many hotel companies. The purpose of this study is to identify what the main factors are that impact the ethical behavior of hotel employees to help hotels understand the source of this problem. More specifically, this study attempts to replicate Deshpande, Joseph, and Prasad's (2006) study -which was conducted in hospitals-in three, four, and five star hotels in Greece to examine whether it will yield similar results. This study is based on a previous work that the first author presented at the EuroCHRIE 2013 conference in Freiburg, Germany and is among the first ones to be conducted in hotels as most research studies on this topic were conducted in non-hospitality settings. The examined factors include the following: the ethical behavior of peers and managers, the hotel employees' business ethics education, as well as the role of gender, nationality, age, level of education and length of time that participants have worked in the position they were in as well as in the hotel industry overall. Results revealed that some of these factors are key determinants that rule the ethical behavior of employees regardless of the setting they are in.
Antecedents and consequences of autonomous information seeking motivation

Abstract Autonomously motivated individuals tend to enjoy activities more than those who are extrinsically motivated, and they also tend to invest more effort. Grounded in basic psychological needs theory, the current study examines the motivation of students' autonomous information seeking and its relationship with the amount of effort invested in and enjoyment derived from information seeking. Autonomy support and perceived competence were found to explain 34.7% of the variance in autonomous motivation while autonomous motivation, in turn, explained 13.1% of variance in effort and 25.8% variance in enjoyment. The model indicates a positive relationship between basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation. Higher students' autonomy support and perceived competence levels lead to increases in autonomous motivation to seek information. Higher autonomous motivation levels, similarly, lead to higher levels of effort and enjoyment. Findings confirm that intrinsically motivated students enjoy information seeking more and invest more effort in the activity. This highlights the importance of encouraging students to engage in information seeking independently, while providing the necessary guidance that would increase their competence.
Effect of actinomycin D on in vivo purine biosynthesis in hamster cells.

In the course of studying the possible induction of enzymes associated with purine biosynthesis in the Chinese Hamster Cell line, V79, we wished to ascertain whether any newly synthesized short-lived mRNA species, or proteins were required for regulation of the de novo pathway. This was done by measuring in vivo purine biosynthesis in the presence of an inhibitor of RNA synthesis (Actinomycin D), and inhibitors of protein synthesis (cycloheximide and puromycin). Although we could not, at this stage, find evidence of a need for new mRNA or proteins, a direct effect of both actinomycin D and puromycin on de novo purine biosynthesis was noted.
Association between HIV genotype, viral load and disease progression in a cohort of Thai men who have sex with men with estimated dates of HIV infection.

Background Differences between HIV genotypes may affect HIV disease progression. We examined infecting HIV genotypes and their association with disease progression in a cohort of men who have sex with men with incident HIV infection in Bangkok, Thailand. Methods We characterized the viral genotype of 189 new HIV infections among MSM identified between 2006–2014 using hybridization and sequencing. Plasma viral load (PVL) was determined by PCR, and CD4+ T-cell counts were measured by flow cytometry. We used Generalized Estimating Equations to examine factors associated with changes in CD4+ T-cell counts. Factors associated with immunologic failure were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. Results Among 189 MSM, 84% were infected with CRF01_AE, 11% with recombinant B/CRF01_AE and 5% with subtype B. CD4+ T-cell decline rates were 68, 65, and 46 cells/μL/year for CRF01_AE, recombinants, and subtype B, respectively, and were not significantly different between HIV subtypes. CD4+ T-cell decline rate was significantly associated with baseline PVL and CD4+ T-cell counts (p 50,000 copies/ml (AHR 2.03; 1.14–3.63, p = 0.017). There was no difference in time to immunologic failure between HIV subtypes. Conclusion Among HIV-infected Thai MSM, low baseline CD4+ T-cell and high PVL are associated with rapid progression. In this cohort, no significant difference in CD4+ T-cell decline rate or time to immunologic failure was seen between CRF01_AE and other infecting HIV subtypes.
Cardiac arrest after induction of anesthesia in a 2-month-old infant with undiagnosed Williams syndrome

A 2-month-old male infant presented for elective repair of inguinal hernias. His preoperative medical history and physical examination were unremarkable. During induction of anesthesia, the infant sustained an adverse cardiac event. The event was characterized by tachycardia, hypotension, and massive ST-segment elevation. Despite vigorous resuscitation, spontaneous hemodynamic stability could not be achieved and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed severe hypoplasia of the ascending aorta. As effective cardiac function did not recover and there was evidence of diffuse ischemic brain injury, life support was withdrawn. Genetic testing performed postoperatively was definitive for Williams syndrome.
Reversed-phase liquid chromatography system constant database over an extended mobile phase composition range for 25 siloxane-bonded silica-based columns.

Abstract The solvation parameter model is used to characterize the retention properties of 25 siloxane-bonded type-B silica columns under typical reversed-phase liquid chromatography conditions with binary aqueous mobile phases containing 10–70% (v/v) methanol and acetonitrile. To further explore the affect of solvent type on column selectivity complementary information is presented for aqueous phases containing 10–70% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran for two columns. Columns were selected to include examples of all common column packing morphologies for small molecule separations (totally porous particles, superficially porous particles, organic–inorganic hybrid particles, and a monolith) and common topologies octadecylsiloxane-bonded (including phases with a polar-embedded group, mixed-mode phases with a short-chain siloxane-bonded polar functional group, sterically crowded, positive shield, and fluorine-containing phases); octylsiloxane-bonded; and various phenyl-containing stationary phases with different linker arms, pentafluorophenylalkyl and biphenyl groups. The column properties are reported as a system constant database and as system maps for the full range of mobile phase compositions. Selectivity differences are evaluated using principal component factor analysis to classify the columns into selectivity groups and correlation plots of the system constants for compared columns at all mobile phase compositions. The later is shown to be a suitable technique to identify (near) selectivity equivalent columns and varied columns suitable for method development. Contributions to retention from steric resistance and cation-exchange interactions not parameterized in the solvation parameter model are identified for columns and conditions where they may be important. It is shown that the interaction parameters employed in the hydrophobic-subtraction model have little overlap with those of the solvation parameter model and a quantitative comparison of column properties delineated by both models is not possible.
The Influence of Classroom Physical Activity Participation and Time on Task on Academic Achievement.

Objectives Determine the impact of classroom-based physically active lessons on time-on-task. Secondarily, determine the relationship of time-on-task with academic achievement controlling for key demographic variables. Methods Seventeen elementary schools were cluster randomized to receive classroom physical activity (A+PAAC, N=9) or control (i.e., no physical activity, N=8) for a 3-year trial. Teachers were trained to deliver physically active lessons with moderate-to-vigorous intensity targeting 100 minutes per week. Outcome measures included academic achievement (Weschler Individual Achievement Test-III), administered at baseline and repeated each spring for 3 years, time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and time spent on task (TOT) pre- and post-physical activity. Multilevel modeling was utilized to estimate the impacts of percent time spent in MVPA and percent TOT post-lesson on academic achievement and the change in these impacts over 3 years, accounting for dependency among observations and covariates including age, gender, race, free or reduced lunch, BMI, and fitness. Results A greater percentage of time performing MVPA were each significantly associated with higher math scores (p=.034) and spelling scores (p<.001), but not reading scores. Academic achievement was not associated with TOT. Conclusion Findings suggest that a greater percentage of time spent participating in MVPA results in higher math scores and spelling scores, but not reading scores, independent of TOT. Future studies should continue to evaluate the influence of physically active classroom lessons on time spent on task and its impact on academic achievement. Furthermore, strategies are needed to maximize impact and to determine the sustainability of physical activity's effect on classroom behavior and academic achievement.
Product pricing in the Solar Array Manufacturing Industry - An executive summary of SAMICS

Capabilities, methodology, and a description of input data to the Solar Array Manufacturing Industry Costing Standards (SAMICS) are presented. SAMICS were developed to provide a standardized procedure and data base for comparing manufacturing processes of Low-cost Solar Array (LSA) subcontractors, guide the setting of research priorities, and assess the progress of LSA toward its hundred-fold cost reduction goal. SAMICS can be used to estimate the manufacturing costs and product prices and determine the impact of inflation, taxes, and interest rates, but it is limited by its ignoring the effects of the market supply and demand and an assumption that all factories operate in a production line mode. The SAMICS methodology defines the industry structure, hypothetical supplier companies, and manufacturing processes and maintains a body of standardized data which is used to compute the final product price. The input data includes the product description, the process characteristics, the equipment cost factors, and production data for the preparation of detailed cost estimates. Activities validating that SAMICS produced realistic price estimates and cost breakdowns are described.
Pacifying the Homeland: Intelligence Fusion and Mass Supervision

In 2003, the federal government created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. To advance information sharing across the United States, D...
Characterizing nitrogen attenuation by headwater slope wetlands across different land uses

Abstract Rapidly increasing population pressure and land conversion from forests to urban and agricultural uses have been important stressors on coastal wetlands. Headwater wetlands in the southeast U.S. are particularly vulnerable because of their small size- they are easily filled or impacted through ditching, piping or impoundments. Since headwater areas have a disproportionately high influence on watershed flow and nutrient flux, alterations to their functionality can have impacts to downstream and coastal waters. Although headwater wetlands are generally understood to support water quality, the magnitude and mechanisms for this function are often uncertain. We compared flow, NO2−-N + NO3−-N (NO2 + NO3) concentrations, and NO2 + NO3 loads at the inlet and outlet of four headwater slope wetlands across common land covers/uses (i.e., commercial-urban, residential-suburban, agriculture, and forested) in coastal Alabama, USA. Watershed sizes draining to wetlands ranged from 0.5–1.8 km2 and each wetland showed distinct and shared trends. Measured NO2 + NO3 concentrations were typically low (
A portable survivorship care plan: a tool that helps educate and improve knowledge in childhood cancer survivors

There is a growing population of survivors of childhood cancer at risk for late effects that can affect their overall quality of life. There is evidence that they have inadequate knowledge about their diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent late effects. A randomized study was conducted to determine if a portable credit card–sized plastic card, the “Survivor Healthcare Passport,” improved the survivor’s knowledge of diagnosis, treatment, risks, and follow-up care. The study included 126 patients 2 years post-end of cancer treatment and took place at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Survivorship Clinic. Patients attending the UCSF Survivorship clinic were randomized to receive or not receive a passport at their first survivorship clinic visit. Each groups’ knowledge of diagnosis, treatment history, and follow-up needs was assessed at three time points with a questionnaire. Patients who received the passport distributed immediately after their visit demonstrated improved and sustained knowledge compared with survivors who did not receive the passport until more than 4 months later. Enhancing a survivor’s knowledge is an important endeavor and a continual challenge for practitioners in survivorship clinics. This portable educational tool helps improve patient knowledge of their cancer, therapy, and follow-up needs. By providing a tangible card that is quick and easy to access, survivors have access to their treatment late effects and follow-up needs that can also be shared with other healthcare providers.
Proposing Core Practices for Social Studies Teacher Education: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Inquiry-Based Lessons:

As states, school districts, and teachers continue to adopt the inquiry-based principles of the College, Career, and Civic (C3) Framework, social studies teacher education must engage in a concomit...
Middle-aged and older Black adults' experiences completing a traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive battery and two contemporary computerized cognitive batteries.

Traditional neuropsychological batteries may account for disparities in education and may produce testing anxiety, particularly for older Black adults. Computerized batteries may be more amenable t...
Final Report of the Near-Millimeter Wave Study Subpanel on Atmospheric Propagation

The desire to “see” through limited visibility environments such as fogs, clouds, and smokes has recently motivated substantial interest in that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum having wavelengths near 1 mm. This region appears to offer an attractive compromise between the high resolution capabilities of infrared radiation and the low loss propagation characteristics of microwaves. The technology base for such millimeter/submillimeter wavelengths is, however, extremely limited.
New Tmc1 Deafness Mutations Impact Mechanotransduction in Auditory Hair Cells.

Transmembrane channel-like protein isoform 1 (TMC1) is a major component of the mechano-electrical transducer (MET) channel in cochlear hair cells and is subject to numerous mutations causing deafness. We report a new dominant human deafness mutation, TMC1 p.T422K, and have characterized the homologous mouse mutant, Tmc1 p.T416K, which caused deafness and outer hair cell (OHC) loss by the fourth postnatal week. MET channels showed decreased Ca2+ permeability and resting open probability, but no change in single-channel conductance or expression. Three adjacent deafness mutations are TMC1 p.L416R, p.G417R, and p.M418K, the last homologous to the mouse Beethoven that exhibits similar channel effects. All substitute a positive for a neutral residue, which could produce charge screening in the channel pore or influence binding of an accessory subunit. Channel properties were compared in mice of both sexes between dominant (Tmc1 p.T416K, Tmc1 p.D569N) and recessive (Tmc1 p.W554L, Tmc1 p.D528N) mutations of residues near the putative pore of the channel. Tmc1 p.W554L and p.D569N exhibit reduced maximum current with no effect on single-channel conductance, implying a smaller number of channels transported to the stereociliary tips; this may stem from impaired TMC1 binding to LHFPL5. Tmc1 p.D528N, located in the pore9s narrowest region, uniquely caused large reductions in MET channel conductance and block by dihydrostreptomycin (DHS). For Tmc1 p.T416K and Tmc1 p.D528N, transduction loss occurred between P15 and P20. We propose two mechanisms linking channel mutations and deafness: decreased Ca2+ permeability, common to all mutants, and decreased resting open probability in low Ca2+, confined to dominant mutations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Transmembrane channel-like protein isoform 1 (TMC1) is thought to be a major component of the mechanotransducer channel in auditory hair cells, but the protein organization and channel structure are still uncertain. We made four mouse lines harboring Tmc1 point mutations that alter channel properties, causing hair cell degeneration and deafness. These include a mouse homolog of a new human deafness mutation pT416K that decreased channel Ca2+ permeability by introducing a positively-charged amino acid in the putative pore. All mutations are consistent with the channel structure predicted from modeling, but only one, p.D528N near the external face of the pore, substantially reduced channel conductance and Ca2+ permeability and virtually abolished block by dihydrostreptomycin (DHS), strongly endorsing its siting within the pore.
Towards a Solidarity Economy Approach to Community Economic Development

This article ventures to chart a new course for community economic development (CED) based on the transformative possibilities of the solidarity economy framework. Many CED scholars have critiqued the limitations of the current dominant approach of “market-based” CED and proposed new strategies for CED to more effectively address urban poverty. This article seeks to further that discourse by proposing a new approach and framework for CED, namely a solidarity economy approach, guided by the five principles of solidarity economy theory: 1) solidarity, 2) equity in all dimensions, 3) sustainability, 4) participatory democracy, and 5) pluralism. This new course is largely predicated on a critique of market-based CED and the work of frontline communities to directly address the needs of neighborhoods and improve the overall quality of life. Ultimately, the article argues that the solidarity economy approach to CED is an important, potentially transformational framework for effectively and sustainably addressing the root cause of urban poverty, and reversing the harmful effects of neoliberal market-based community economic development strategies.
Remembering Prof. Allen Taflove: A Finite-Difference Time-Domain Pioneer and Educator [In Memoriam]

Prof. Allen Taflove, a pioneer of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, award-winning educator, and devoted mentor and advisor, died on 25 April 2021 at the age of 71. Prof. Taflove received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1971, 1972, and 1975, respectively. He began his career as a research engineer at IIT Research Institute, Chicago, where he spent nine years before returning to Northwestern to join the faculty of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His 37-year career as a professor at Northwestern was distinguished by groundbreaking research in fundamental FDTD algorithm development and scientific and engineering applications of FDTD across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Effect of surgeon and anesthesiologist volume on surgical outcomes

Abstract Background Little is known regarding the effects of caseload volume of other relevant members of the “surgical team.” The present study sought to report variations in health care utilization and outcomes relative to surgeon and anesthesiologist volume among patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. Methods A total of 969 patients undergoing pancreatic surgery from 2011–2013 were identified at a large, tertiary care center. Multivariable regression analyses explored the effects of provider volume on crystalloid administration, blood transfusions, mortality, length of stay, and hospital charges. Results A total of 11 surgeons were identified while 100 anesthesiologists were involved in providing care to all patients. Annual case volume for surgeons ranged from 5–101 pancreatic resections per year; each anesthesiologist was involved in a fewer number of cases per year with a maximum of 15 patients treated by the same anesthesiologist. Higher volume surgeons had higher transfusions (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38–2.47; P P P = 0.003). In contrast, 30-d readmission was lower among higher volume surgeons (low volume versus high volume; 23.1% versus 11.6%; P P > 0.05). Similarly, total hospital charges and mortality were not associated with provider volumes (both P > 0.05). Conclusions Although variability exists in health care practices among providers at the surgeon level, less is observed among anesthesiologists. Although a proportion of this variability can be explained by provider volumes, a significant proportion remains unexplained possibly due to nonmodifiable factors such as patient case mix.
Cation Activation of Na,K-ATPase after Treatment with Thimerosal

Publisher Summary The importance of sulfhydryl groups in maintaining the functional integrity of the Na, K-ATPase has been well established. The modification of one set of –SH groups on the enzyme by N -ethylmaleimide leads to specific changes in the functional catalytic properties of the Na, K-ATPase. The treatment with N -ethylmaleimide blocks the usual sequential transition from phosphoenzyme, which is ADP sensitive and K insensitive (E 1 P) to one which is K sensitive and ADP insensitive (E 2 P). The major consequence of this modification is, along with the inhibition of Na, K-ATPase activity, an increase in the partial reaction, which depends upon the level of E 1 P—that is, ATP/ADP exchange. The treatment of Na, K-ATPase enzyme with thimerosal (ethylmercurithiosalicylate) results in a significant inhibition of the overall Na, K-ATPase activity, without significantly inhibiting Na-ATPase, ATP: ADP exchange or K-stimulated p -nitrophenylphosphatase (PNPPase) activities. The normal-complex Na-activation kinetics seen in the Na-ATPase activity became monotonic after mercurial modification. The Na dependence of the ATPase activity of the untreated enzyme is compared with that of the enzyme after modification with thimerosal.
Performance of MGMDH network on structural piecewise system identification

This paper will address the capability of the Modified Group Method of Data Handling (MGMDH) for continuous and piecewise continuous approximation functions. The MGMDH is used to construct the mathematical structure of dynamic system, which is observable only from its input and output with large number of input variables. The paper present the theory and simulation results for estimation of piecewise continuous polynomial function. The output performance evaluation is included.
Transgenic Animal Models of B- and T-Cell Autoreactivity

Transgenic animals can be made to express self-reactive antigen receptors by constructing heritable genetic modifications of their germline. The development of transgenic technology has been used to learn about the pathogenic role and regulation of autoreactive B and T lymphocytes. Examples highlighted here include T-cell receptors that contribute to T-cell-mediated diabetes mellitus and B-cell receptors against facultative or obligate self antigens that are regulated by B-cell anergy or clonal deletion. An unexpected finding was the discovery of receptor editing in B cells expressing site-directed, transgenic antideoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) B-cell receptors. In these B cells, the products of further immunoglobulin gene rearrangements displace the autoreactive antigen receptor. Notably, the same anti-DNA receptor can participate in an autoimmune response, if the immunoglobulin transgene is backcrossed on an autoimmune genetic background. Because the analysis of transgenic antigen receptors has led to many exciting discoveries it is likely that transgenic animals will remain front and centre of immunology research for years to come. Keywords: B-cell development; allelic exclusion; autoimmunity; antigen receptors; microinjection; receptor editing
The Great Bioassay Hoax, and Alternatives

A review of recent literature reveals large variations in results of bioassays, such as those proposed for solid waste testing. Sources of variation are categorized, and an estimate is made of the range in test results attributable to each source category. The age of the test organism is potentially the largest source of variation, and has effects up to five orders of magnitude on the outcome of bioassays. Other sources of variation have effects of several orders of magnitude, and nearly all sources have at least one-order-of-magnitude effect. It is concluded that bioassays cannot be used to predict the impact of contaminants introduced to an ecosystem or population, and therefore serve poorly as a tool in pollution management. Three criteria are proposed for judging the utility of any pollution evaluation technique. These are: the ability to incorporate good scientific practice in any application: the relationship of the measured response to the natural field response; and the relationship of the measured response to important ecosystem processes. Multi-species tests in micro- and mesocosms usually satisfy these criteria better than single-species tests, and may also be used to help develop simpler tests that satisfy these criteria. The focus of impact evaluation must bemore » on growth, reproduction, and survival and parameters that can be related readily to them. Lastly, pollution management schemes have always recognized that human interests are the sole standard of which ecosystem effects are ''harmful,'' and which are not.« less
In Search of Eden: Bronislava Nijinska in California

Bronislava Nijinska spent the last thirty-two years of her life in Southern California. Beginning with her first visit to Hollywood in 1934 to choreograph the dances in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this essay examines her activities in California both as a teacher and a choreographer. It looks closely at her Hollywood bowl season of 1940, when she staged three of her ballets, all new to the United States; the dancers she trained who went on to distinguished professional careers, and her approach to teaching. It briefly summarizes her activities in the 1940s, when she choreographed for Ballet Theatre, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and Ballet International; the 1950s, when she worked for the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas; and the 1960s, when the revival of Les Noces and Les Biches by the Royal Ballet brought her most celebrated works back into repertory. Finally, it speculates on the reasons she settled in California, given the limited opportunities it offered her for creative work.
Replication of Phage RNA

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the replication of the phage of ribonucleic acid (RNA). This chapter discusses the replication of the RNA of the RNA phages. However, reference is made to the replication of other RNA viruses, either to point out similarities or to stress differences. The control mechanisms that regulate the relative amounts of viral proteins and viral RNA species formed are not completely understood. It has been suggested that under normal circumstances, only the parental RNA strands (and possibly early progeny RNA strands) direct the formation of the viral polymerase responsible for the formation of “minus” strands and that the coat polypeptide is involved in translation control. Phage mutants, in which the relevant control mechanisms have been lost, provide a powerful tool for the study of this problem. The replication of most animal and plant viruses, containing single stranded RNA, has many features in common with that of the RNA phages. In particular, it is possible that the replication of viruses, such as Rous sarcoma virus, involves, hitherto, unknown features. Careful analysis of the further purified “RNA replicase” system, which forms infective progeny RNA when primed with parental RNA, will undoubtedly yield a clear answer to this question, as well as to the problem whether one or two separable enzymes are involved in the viral RNA synthesis.
Angular distribution of Xe 5s. -->. epsilonp photoelectrons: Disagreement between experiment and theory

The angular asymmetry parameter ..beta.. for the Xe 5s..-->..epsilonp photoelectrons has been studied with use of synchrotron radiation (h..nu.. = 28--65 eV). The present results show that the relativistic random-phase approximation theory does not satisfactorily describe the Xe 5s photoionization process close to the Cooper minimum and thus require a renewed theoretical approach. The 5s partial photoionization cross section was obtained over the same photon region and the results agree with experimental values found in the literature.
The Use Of Metacognitive Scaffolding To Improve College Students Academic Success

In this era of accountabilities and complex ecologies, it is important to highlight results from metacognitive scaffolding, aimed at enhancing the learning strategies of a group of college freshmen preparing for the Praxis 1 examination. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of the use of metacognitive scaffolding used to enhance the literacy skills of 35 college students on their performance as measured by their test scores in Praxis 1 examination. It focuses on the importance of learning strategies to academic success, and literacy challenges encountered by college students. The result from the study indicates substantial improvement in students’ literacy performance on Praxis 1 examination.
Clinical Approaches to Somatization

Somatization is the experience and expression of psychological distress through bodily symptoms. Somatization can be conceptualized as an emotional state that has not been represented symbolically or as a defense against intolerable emotions and fantasies. Bodily concerns can also function as a means of seeking responsiveness from others. Alexithymia refers to a difficulty identifying and symbolizing emotional states that has been found to be associated with somatization. When functioning as a defense, a focus on the body can be used to avoid frightening or intolerable feelings and fantasies, or to ward off aggressive fantasies by viewing oneself as physically damaged. Systematic studies have demonstrated the presence of the defense of somatization in mood disorders, particularly anxiety and panic disorders. In treating anxiety disorders, the therapist helps the patient to determine the nature of emotions and fantasies that the patient is defending against, particularly fears and conflicts surrounding anger and separation.
Leucocyte labeling with colloidal 111In in whole blood

Abstract A simple method of 111 In leucocyte labeling in whole blood is described. 111 In-colloid is initially formulated using iron (50 μg Fe +3 ). 111 In-colloid is then added to 10 mL of whole blood and leucocyte labeling is achieved by phagocytosis. Non-phagocytosed 111 In-colloid is solubilized using a sodium citrate solution. Labeling efficiencies of 60–80% have been achieved with this method. If needed, excess 111 In-soluble-complexes can be removed in the plasma fraction by appropriate centrifugation. The labeling method described is easy to use and has the advantage of selectively labeling leucocytes in a whole blood mixture.
Toward the Evaluation of Educational Videos using Bayesian Knowledge Tracing and Big Data

Along with the advent of MOOCs and other online learning platforms such as Khan Academy, the role of online education has continued to grow in relation to that of traditional on-campus instruction. Rather than tackle the problem of evaluating large educational units such as entire online courses, this paper approaches a smaller problem: exploring a framework for evaluating more granular educational units, in this case, short educational videos. We have chosen to leverage an adaptation of traditional Bayesian Knowledge Tracing (BKT), intended to incorporate the usage of video content in addition to assessment activity. By exploring the change in predictive error when alternately including or omitting video activity, we suggest a metric for determining the relevance of videos to associated assessments. To validate our hypothesis and demonstrate the application of our proposed methods we use data obtained from the popular Khan Academy website.
A 3D Graphical User Interface for Resonance Modeling

Resonance models describe a wide variety of musical sounds using perceptually-meaningful parameters. The compact representation of resonance models allows efficient storage, modification and real-time implementation. Widespread adoption of resonance models has been hampered by the lack of specialized tools to display and manipulate them. We demonstrate here a novel 3D editor designed for musicians, composers and sound designers to manipulate sounds described by resonance models. Visualization and modification of resonance parameters is based on familiar metaphors from the physical world. The editor is a component of OpenSoundEdit, a portable sound-editing framework.
REVEAL Model Simplified: Performance of the REVEAL Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Prediction Model Using-Non Invasive and Routinely Measured Parameters

Purpose The current REVEAL model for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) uses 19 predictors to calculate a one year survival probability. There is a growing interest in the creation of simplified prediction models that use easily obtained, non-invasive and affordable predictors. We hypothesized that a simplified REVEAL model would have comparable performance to the original model. Methods and Materials REVEAL scores were calculated in 140 patients with PAH, and then recalculated excluding right heart catheterization and pulmonary function data. The original and simplified models were then used to predict one year outcomes (survival or composite survival or freedom from lung transplant (FLT)) and the performance of the models was compared. Results The c index for the original REVEAL model to predict one year survival was 0.765, and for the simplified model 0.749 (p = 0.41). For the composite outcome of survival or FLT at 1 year, the c index for the original model was 0.805 compared to 0.796 using the simplified model (p= 0.54). The observed and predicted survivals among risk strata assigned by the simplified model were not statistically different from one another (p=0.46), suggesting adequate model calibration. Conclusions A simplified REVEAL prediction model for PAH using non-invasive and routinely measured predictors had comparable performance to the original model. The benefit of such a model is increased usability, reduced cost, and identification of easily measured predictors that should be followed in routine clinical practice.
Wall friction and lubrication during compaction of coal logs

Phenomena related to wall friction and lubrication of coal compaction in a cylindrical mold were investigated. It was found that the product of friction coefficient and the Janssen constant is not constant but varies with the compaction force. However, at high compaction force levels, this product becomes constant. Lubrication of the mold with calcium stearate or molybdenum disulfide dry film showed a significant increase of the axial stress transmitted to the bottom piston. Based on the compaction response diagram, coal particles can be classified as hard and brittle materials. The volume of a coal log during compaction decreases linearly with the logarithm of the compaction pressure. The ejection force with or without wall lubrication can be estimated from a simple formula derived in this paper.
Glutathione S-transferase P1 Ile105Val polymorphism, cigarette smoking and prostate cancer.

Abstract The enzyme glutathione S -transferase P1 (GSTP1) detoxifies carcinogenic products of tobacco smoke. This exploratory case-control study evaluates the possible effect modification by the GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism (replacement of isoleucine by valine at codon 105) on smoking and prostate cancer. Because the Val variant possesses up to a five-fold greater enzymatic activity towards the carcinogenic metabolites of tobacco smoke, the Ile allele is expected to be related to an increase in the risk of prostate cancer among smokers. GSTP1 genotype and epidemiological data were obtained from 122 cases of prostate cancer and 135 healthy males as controls. A logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The adjusted OR of homozygous Ile compared to other genotypes for prostate cancer was 1.21 (95% CI: 0.61–2.83). Smoking was not significantly associated with prostate cancer with an adjusted OR of 1.56 (95% CI: 0.78–3.12). However, among individuals with the Ile / Ile genotype, smoking was strongly associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer with an adjusted odds ratio of 4.09 (95% CI: 1.25–13.35). A potential multiplicative interaction was suggested between GSTP1 and smoking on the risk of prostate cancer with the adjusted OR for the interaction of 4.52 (95% CI: 1.07–19.17). To our knowledge, this is the first time that a potential effect modification by the GSTP1 Ile/Ile genotype on smoking and the risk of prostate cancer is suggested.
Synthetic nonlinear semiconductors

Second-order optical nonlinearities associated with intra-subband transitions in Al x Ga 1-x AS heterostructure exhibiting the quantum size effect are considered and shown to be large under conditions of degenerate doping and nonsymmetric compositional grading. Nonlinearities of between 10-100 times larger than in bulk GaAs seem feasible.
The effect of ouabain on sodium transport and metabolism of the toad bladder.

10−4 M ouabain added to the toad bladder in vitro inhibited both active sodium transport and CO2 production. These effects were similar to those observed when sodium was removed from the mucosal bathing medium. We conclude that the predominant cause of the reduction of respiration induced by ouabain is inhibition of transepithelial sodium transport.
Self-interstitials in semiconductors: what we are learning from interstitial Zn in ZnSe

Abstract Interstitial Zn + i has been observed in ZnSe by optical detection of EPR to be on-center in either T d interstitial site – that surrounded by four Se atoms, ( Zn i ) + Se , or by four Zn atoms, ( Zn i ) + Zn . This can be understood by a simple universal model which predicts stability for an interstitial atom in this site if its free atom valence configuration contains no p-electrons, as is the case for the Zn 0 i (4 s 2 ) , Zn + i ( 4 s 1 ), and Zn ++ i ( 4 s 0 ). Otherwise it predicts a distortion off-center into a bonded configuration with one or more of its neighbors. Unanticipated in the model is the observation that Zn + i can be made to hop back and forth between the two sites by optical excitation at 1.5 K, a motion fully equivalent to the one jump process for its long-range diffusion. It is proposed that the process involves capture into an excited p-electron state, similar to the EL2 or DX phenomenon in GaAs or AlGaAs, so that the resulting distortion can give it a `kick’ in the direction between the two sites. The model also appears to account for the properties reported for the first time at this meeting for the self-interstitial in diamond, the only other identified self-interstitial in a semiconductor.
Labor induction with intravaginal misoprostol compared with the dinoprostone vaginal insert: a systematic review and metaanalysis

Objective The purpose of this study was to review randomized trials that compared the efficacy of the dinoprostone 10-mg controlled-release vaginal insert with that of vaginally administered misoprostol tablets in cervical ripening and labor induction. Study Design Electronic databases were used to identify randomized clinical trials that compared dinoprostone with misoprostol. Estimates of the relative risk for individual studies and risk difference from dichotomous outcomes with the use of random and fixed-effects models were calculated. Results Women who received misoprostol had a higher incidence of vaginal delivery within 12 and 24 hours of prostaglandin application, compared with dinoprostone. Both modalities had similar incidences of cesarean delivery, uterine hyperstimulation, and fetal tachysystole. There was an increased need for oxytocin augmentation in the dinoprostone group. No significant difference in neonatal outcomes was noted between the 2 groups. Conclusion Vaginally administered misoprostol was more effective than the dinoprostone vaginal insert for cervical ripening and labor induction. The safety profiles of both drugs were similar.