cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding of cystatin C to Alzheimer’s amyloid β inhibits in vitro amyloid fibril formation

Abstract The colocalization of cystatin C, an inhibitor of cysteine proteases, with amyloid β (Aβ) in parenchymal and vascular amyloid deposits in brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients may reflect cystatin C involvement in amyloidogenesis. We therefore sought to determine the association of cystatin C with Aβ. Immunofluorescence analysis of transfected cultured cells demonstrated colocalization of cystatin C and β amyloid precursor protein (βAPP) intracellularly and on the cell surface. Western blot analysis of immunoprecipitated cell lysate or medium proteins revealed binding of cystatin C to full-length βAPP and to secreted βAPP (sβAPP). Deletion mutants of βAPP localized the cystatin C binding site within βAPP to the Aβ region. Cystatin C association with βAPP resulted in increased sβAPP but did not affect levels of secreted Aβ. Analysis of the association of cystatin C and Aβ demonstrated a specific, saturable and high affinity binding between cystatin C and both Aβ 1–42 and Aβ 1–40 . Notably, cystatin C association with Aβ results in a concentration-dependent inhibition of Aβ fibril formation.
Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzothiazoles from 2-Fluorophenylisothiocyanate

Abstract Treatment of 2-fluorophenylisothiocyanate with a Grignard reagent, followed by base-induced cyclization of the resulting thioamide, provides a convenient method of synthesizing 2-substituted benzothiazoles. Best results are obtained upon isolation and purification of the intermediate thioamide, but a direct one-pot isothiocyanate-to-benzothiazole transformation has also been achieved.
Nondestructive Evaluation of Poor-Wetted Lead-Free Solder Bumps in Ball Grid Array Packages Using Laser Ultrasound and Interferometric Technique

A laser ultrasound and interferometer inspection system has been successfully applied to detect solder bump defects, including missing, misaligned, open, and cracked solder bumps in flip chips, land grid array packages and chip capacitors. This system uses a pulsed Nd:YAG laser to induce ultrasound in the chip packages in the thermoelastic regime; it then measures the transient out-of-plane displacement response on the package surface using a laser interferometer. The amplitudes of the out-of-plane displacement responses are usually in the order of nanometer. The quality of solder bumps is evaluated by analyzing the transient responses. In this paper, this system is used to evaluate the quality of lead-free solder bumps in ball grid array (BGA) packages; specifically, BGA packages with poor wetted solder bumps are used as test vehicles. Poor wetting not only decreases the mechanical strength of interconnection at the interface between the solder bumps and substrate, but also deteriorates electrical and thermal performance because of the unreliable connections between the package and the printed circuit board (PCB). Causes of poor wetting vary from the solder materials themselves to the manufacturing process. Here, poor wetting of solder bumps were intentionally created by using an improper reflow profile. The transient out-of-plane displacement signal responses from these packages are compared to a hybrid reference signal generated by signal responses from defect-free samples. Packages with poor wetted solder bumps are distinguished from the normal packages by using the correlation coefficient signal analysis method. Then, laser ultrasound inspection results are also compared with results from continuity test, X-ray inspection and scanning acoustic microscope (SAM). Finally, the cross-section images are further used to confirm the existence of the poor wetting in samples with unusual correlation coefficient. It can be concluded that this laser-ultrasound system is capable of identifying the presence of poor wetting in BGA packages.
Effect of surface treatment on the efficiency of stainless steel packings

The separation efficiency of triangular-pyramid-type Stedman packing made from stainless steel gauze has been investigated with both organic and aqueous test mixtures at atmospheric and under reduced pressure. For the organic system the packing was found to be most efficient at 310 mm. Hg. With the aqueous test mixture, scatter and irreproducible results were obtained and it has been shown that this was due to the wetting characteristics of the stainless steel gauze. Untreated stainless steel packing is unsuitable for heavy-water concentration. Improvement in the wetting properties of the gauze by treatment with potassium permanganate led to similar efficiency with both aqueous and organic test mixtures.
CT cystoscopy: an innovation in bladder imaging.

Ronald J.Zagoria, KunLiu,David SteltsRadiologic techniques forexamining thebladder havebeenhampered byrelatively lowsensitivity forsmalllesiondetection, obscuration oflesionsbycontrast material collect-inginthebladder lumen,andtherelatively longexaminationtimeforsomeprocedures suchasMRimaging. Theselimita-tions,coupled withtheinherent advantages ofdirectvisual-ization, havemade cystoscopy thestandard fordetectingbladder lesions. Cystoscopy hasitsowndrawbacks, includ-ingpatient discomfort, equipment requirements, relativelyhighcost,andthefactthattheexamination islimitedtothesurface ofthebladder andcannot evaluate adjacent extra-vesical structures. Helical CTandprogress incomputertechnology haveledtothedevelopment ofapromising newtechnique forbladder evaluation: CTcystoscopy. Withthistechnique, agas-distended bladder isscanned withhelicalCTinapproximately 10sec.Afterroutine evaluation ofthehelical CTimages, thedataaretransmitted toagraphicsworkstation forfurther processing. Real-time thmee-dimen-sional(3D)rendering oftheCTimages isperformed tovisu-allysimulate acystoscopic examination. Thistechnique hasbeenattempted inthreevolunteers, andtheresults indicatethatitisafeasible waytoexamine thebladder.Materials andMethodsCTcystoscopy isperformedindependently onaspartofalargerCTexamination. CTcystoscopyconsistsofsevensequentialsteps:
Radioiodinated 2-hydroxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(4-phenylpiperidinyl)propane: Potential radiotracer for mapping central cholinergic innervation in vivo

Abstract Radioiodinated 2-hydroxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(4-phenylpiperidinyl)propane, 5 (4-HIPP), was synthesized and evaluated as a simple vesamicol-like radiotracer for mapping cholinergic pathways in the brain. Both enantiomers of 5 exhibit significant accumulation (approx. 2% of injected dose) and prolonged retention (t12 > 3 h) within the rat brain. The accumulation of radioiodinated 5 in the rat brain was reduced by up to 70% in the presence of vesamicol and its analogs. The levorotary isomer (−)-4-[ 123 I)HIPP exhibits significant accumulation in the monkey brain, with a half-life of about 9 h. Radioiodinated 5 may therefore be a useful tool for studying cholinergic pathways in the brain.
Does ECT permanently alter seizure threshold

Recent research has raised the possibility that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) results in a persistent elevation of seizure threshold among males. In this study, seizure threshold, quantified by the method of limits procedure, was assessed at the first and last treatments of 148 consecutive depressed patients. Patients with and without a prior history of ECT did not differ in seizure threshold at the first treatment, seizure duration at the first treatment or averaged across all treatments, or in the magnitude of the seizure threshold increase over the ECT course. No evidence was obtained that history of ECT was associated with alterations of seizure threshold or seizure duration.
Minimal sensitivity control for hybrid environments

This paper presents a method to develop trajectories which remain optimally insensitive to sudden changes in dynamics. The approach is applied to two example systems that model a vehicle's attempt to navigate through potentially hazardous areas of the state space. Through these simplified examples, we show how to automatically plan trajectories which either avoid or adjust controls to safely pass through critical regions of the state space.
A remark on Algorithm 644: “A portable package for Bessel functions of a complex argument and nonnegative order”

Algorithm 644 computes all major Bessel functions of a complex argument and of nonnegative order. Single-precision routine CBESY and double-precision routine ZBESY are modified to reduce the computation time for the Y Bessel function by approximately 25% over a wide range of arguments and orders. Quick check (driver) programs that exercise the package are also modified to make tests more meaningful over larger regions of the complex plane.
Nonclassical radiation from a single self-assembled InAs quantum dot

We report the experimental observation of photon antibunching in fluorescence from a single self-assembled InAs quantum dot. The nonclassical photon statistics proves the atomlike nature of a single quantum dot at cryogenic temperatures. Pump-power-dependent measurements of the correlation function ${g}^{(2)}(\ensuremath{\tau})$ provide a method to determine the recombination time of the single exciton ground-state transition that does not require pulsed lasers. Using this method, we investigate the influence of photonic environment on a single quantum dot exciton lifetime.
Self-Efficacy and Substance Abuse: Assessment Using a Brief Phone Interview

Abstract Considerable research has shown that one’s self-efficacy to avoid cigarette smoking and alcohol use increases during treatment and that high self-efficacy ratings at follow-up are associated with positive outcome. The present study extends existing research in two ways. First, self-efficacy was assessed among a predominantly crack-cocaine–using population during treatment and 1 month following treatment. Second, the viability of a brief self-efficacy measure (4 item) was assessed using a phone interview. Results from 186 patients (61% reporting crack-cocaine) interviewed following treatment showed that self-efficacy increased during treatment and was higher for patients reporting abstinence 1 month after treatment. The results from the brief self-efficacy assessment were comparable to an established version of the self-efficacy measure. These findings suggest that (a) self-efficacy may be related to the maintenance of abstinence from cocaine and other substances of abuse, and (b) self-efficacy can be measured quickly and reliably through a phone interview.
Beyond Original Sin: A Paradigm Shift for the Age of Neuroscience

In this article I explore the implications of Jesus’ location of the kingdom of heaven in the lived experience of the individual and of the findings of neuroscientific research for a paradigm shift in Christian theology, one that moves us beyond the Adamic myth and belief in original sin. Support for a theological paradigm shift based on lived experience is provided by Capps (1993) and for this particular paradigm shift by Pagels (1989) and Ricoeur (2004). I point out that the doctrine of original sin supports and fosters the negativity bias of the brain and inhibits the resculpting of the brain. Drawing on Hanson’s (2009) evidence in support of the brain’s neuroplasticity (i.e., its capacity to change itself) and on Brach’s (2003) critique of the “trance of unworthiness,” I make the case for meditative and mindful awareness practices in Christianity and other religious traditions as proven methods for the resculpting of the brain in order that individuals may experience greater joy, contentment, and awareness of the goodness of life and of God’s creation. A longitudinal neuroscientific research study of Roman Catholic nuns (Newberg and Waldman 2009) provides evidence in support of the role of contemplative prayer and meditation in generating the joy and serenity that Jesus’ allusion to the hidden treasure envisions.
OUTCOME OF PULMONARY AND AORTIC HOMOGRAFTS FOR RIGHT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW TRACT RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract To determine late patient outcome and homograft durability, we reviewed 326 patients who received aortic ( n = 230) or pulmonary ( n = 118) cryopreserved homografts for right ventricular outflow reconstruction between January 1985 and October 1993. Patient survival, including operative mortality, 5 years after the operation was similar between the two groups (ulmonary homograft 86%, aortic homograft 80%; p = not significant by log-rank test). However, 5-year freedom from homograft failure was significantly better for pulmonary homografts (94% versus 70%), p p p p p p p = 0.03) in aortic homograft recipients but not in pulmonary homograft recipients. These results indicate that both aortic and pulmonary homografts provided excellent intermediate-term patient survival after right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, but pulmonary homografts are more durable than aortic homografts with less calcification and obstruction, especially among children 4 years old or younger. (J T HORAC C ARDIOVASC SURG 1995; 109: 509-18)
“[A] Woman of Her Time and People”: Cather's Early Short Fiction and the Challenges of Modernity

These days, before I sit down at my computer and begin a new writing project, I attempt to clear my mind and desk of the accumulated clutter of weeks of work that seem unrelated to my writing. Docu...
The developing tangential velocity profile for axial flow in an annulus with a rotating inner cylinder

A method is described of predicting the growth of a tangential velocity profile in fully developed laminar axial flow through a concentric annulus when the inner surface is rotated at speeds which are insufficient to generate Taylor vortices. The treatment, which is based on simplification and subsequent solution of the Navier-Stokes equations, as Fourier-Bessel series, appears preferable to momentum-integral techniques through greater simplicity of expression and in requiring fewer assumptions about the developing tangential profile. The validity of the predictions is best at high axial Reynolds number.
Carbon nanotube-quenched fluorescent oligonucleotides: probes that fluoresce upon hybridization.

We report an effective, novel self-assembled single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) complex with an oligonucleotide and demonstrate its feasibility in recognizing and detecting specific DNA sequences in a single step in a homogeneous solution. The key component of this complex is the hairpin-structured fluorescent oligonucleotide that allows the SWNT to function as both a “nanoscaffold” for the oligonucleotide and a “nanoquencher” of the fluorophore. Given this functionality, this carbon nanotube complex represents a new class of universal fluorescence quenchers that are substantially different from organic quenchers and should therefore have many applications in molecular engineering and biosensor development. Competitive binding of a DNA target and SWNTs with the oligonucleotide results in fluorescence signal increments relative to the fluorescence without a target as well as in marked fluorescence quenching. In contrast to the common loop-and-stem configuration of molecular beacons (MBs), this novel fluore...
The "biosecuritization" of healthcare delivery: Examples of post-9/11 technological imperatives

This paper develops the concept of “biosecuritization” to describe new instantiations of the technological imperative in healthcare. Many discourses and practices surrounding hospitals’ new investments in information and communication technologies tend to revolve around security provision. Oftentimes, however, scenarios of extreme and exceptional circumstances are used to justify the implementation of identification and tracking technologies that may be more about managerial control than patient care. Drawing upon qualitative research in 23 U.S. hospitals from 2007 to 2009, our analysis focuses on hospitals’ deployment of identification and location technologies that manage patients, track personnel, and generate data in real-time. These systems are framed as aiding in the process of managing supplies and medications for pandemic flu outbreaks, monitoring exposure patterns for infectious diseases, and helping triage or manage the location and condition of patients during mass casualty disasters. We show that in spite of the framing of security and emergency preparedness, these technologies are primarily managerial tools for hospital administrators. Just as systems can be used to track infection vectors, those same systems can be used on a daily basis to monitor the workflow of hospital personnel, including nurses, physicians, and custodial staff, and to discipline or reward according to performance. In other words, the biosecuritization modality of the technological imperative leads to the framing of medical progress as the “rationalization” of organizations through technological monitoring, which is intended to promote accountability and new forms of responsibilization of healthcare workers.
Automatic detection and classification of hypodense hepatic lesions on contrast-enhanced venous-phase CT

The objective of this work was to develop and validate algorithms for detection and classification of hypodense hepatic lesions, specifically cysts, hemangiomas, and metastases from CT scans in the portal venous phase of enhancement. Fifty-six CT sections from 51 patients were used as representative of common hypodense liver lesions, including 22 simple cysts, 11 hemangiomas, 22 metastases, and 1 image containing both a cyst and a hemangioma. The detection algorithm uses intensity-based histogram methods to find central lesions, followed by liver contour refinement to identify peripheral lesions. The classification algorithm operates on the focal lesions identified during detection, and includes shape-based segmentation, edge pixel weighting, and lesion texture filtering. Support vector machines are then used to perform a pair-wise lesion classification. For the detection algorithm, 80% lesion sensitivity was achieved at approximately 0.3 false positives (FP) per slice for central lesions, and 0.5 FP per slice for peripheral lesions, giving a total of 0.8 FP per section. For 90% sensitivity, the total number of FP rises to about 2.2 per section. The pair-wise classification yielded good discrimination between cysts and metastases (at 95% sensitivity for detection of metastases, only about 5% of cysts are incorrectly classified as metastases), perfect discrimination between hemangiomas and cysts, and was least accurate in discriminating between hemangiomas and metastases (at 90% sensitivity for detection of hemangiomas, about 28% of metastases were incorrectly classified as hemangiomas). Initial implementations of our algorithms are promising for automating liver lesion detection and classification.
An analysis of the perceived competencies of CEOs in public park and recreation agencies

This study identified the competencies that CEOs in public parks and recreation agencies in the United States perceived they needed in order to perform their duties. Two simultaneous Delphi techniques were used with two different cohorts of CEOs. Thirty jurors were selected from each group with 22 per group agreeing to participate. During the four step process, the jurors were asked to: (a) list competencies they perceived as important for the CEO position; (b) rank the importance of the competency in relation to their job; (c) determine if the categories derived from the results in the previous rounds were accurate; and (d) determine the perceived importance of the competency category to the CEO. Based on the results of the Delphi process, the CEO Competency Framework was developed consisting of three levels of specificity including six general competency categories 20 primary competencies and 72 specific competencies.
Differentiation of Panax quinquefolius grown in the USA and China using LC/MS-based chromatographic fingerprinting and chemometric approaches.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines in the world. Discriminating between P. quinquefolius grown in different countries is difficult using traditional quantitation methods. In this study, a liquid chromatographic mass spectrometry fingerprint combined with chemometric analysis was established to discriminate between American ginseng grown in the USA and China. Fifteen American ginseng samples grown in Wisconsin and 25 samples grown in China were used. The chromatographic fingerprints, representing the chemical compositions of the samples, made it possible to distinguish samples from the two locations. In addition, it was found that some ginsenosides varied widely from P. quinquefolius cultivated in these two countries. P. quinquefolius grown in the USA is higher in ginsenoside Rc, ginsenoside Rd, quinquenoside III/pseudo-ginsenoside RC1, malonyl ginsenoside Rb1, and ginsenoside Rb2, but lower in ginsenoside Rb1 compared with P. quinquefolius grown in China. These ginsenosides may be responsible for the class separation seen using fingerprinting and chemometric approaches.
Delivery of photoreactive psoralen derivatives to specific biological targets

Psoralens are bifunctional molecules which photoreact with the pyrimidine bases of nucleic acids to form monoadducts and diadducts, or interstrand cross-links. We have prepared psoralen derivatives with additional functional groups which can be specifically directed to chosen biological targets. A sulfhydryl-containing psoralen which can form site-specific cross-links in plasmid DNA has been used to study psoralen repair and mutagenesis. Cloned DNA containing psoralen monoadducts has been cross-linked to specific regions of viral RNA and used to probe virus assembly. A biotinylated psoralen derivative which binds specifically to avidin has been used to detect small amounts of DNA. Finally, a psoralen derivative of insulin has been used to deliver psoralen specifically to activated lymphocytes.
Synthesis of polymer network scaffolds and microspheres based on poly(ε-caprolactone-co-glycolic acid-co-l-serine)

Abstract Polydepsipeptide networks and cross-linked beads have been prepared by UV photopolymerization of acrylated poly(e-caprolactone- co -glycolic acid- co - l -serine) [PCL (Glc-Ser)]. The acrylated PCL(Glc-Ser) cross-linked polymer networks obtained were glassy and transparent, and the gel content was approximately 85%. The network showed relatively low swelling in water but is easily swelled in chloroform and in dimethyl sulfoxide. The acrylate polymers on copolymerization with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) resulted in cross-linked networks [PCL(Glc-Ser)/HEMA], which were swelling in water and in DMSO showing the potential of the polymer in hydrogel applications. The modified PCL(Glc-Ser) beads prepared by UV initiated suspension polymerization and were characterized by optical microscopy. These degradable networks and beads may be useful as polymer scaffolds for biomaterial applications.
Weight change and the risk of gestational diabetes in obese women.

BACKGROUND Obesity is an established risk factor for gestational diabetes. It is not known whether this risk might be reduced through weight loss between pregnancies. We sought to determine whether weight loss between pregnancies reduced the risk of gestational diabetes among obese women. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study of 4102 women with 2 or more singleton live births in Washington State between 1992 and 1998. All subjects were nondiabetic and obese (at least 200 lbs) at their first birth during these years. Weight change was calculated as the difference between prepregnancy weight for the 2 pregnancies. We estimated relative risks of gestational diabetes at the subsequent delivery through stratified analyses and Mantel-Haenszel estimates. RESULTS Thirty-two percent of women lost weight between pregnancies, with a mean weight loss of 23 lbs. Women who lost at least 10 lbs between pregnancies had a decreased risk of gestational diabetes relative to women whose weight changed by less than 10 lbs (relative risk = 0.63; 95% confidence interval = 0.38-1.02, adjusted for age and weight gain during each pregnancy). Of the 61% of women who gained weight between pregnancies, the mean weight gain was 22 lbs. Women who gained at least 10 lbs had an increased risk of gestational diabetes (1.47; 1.05-2.04). CONCLUSIONS Even moderate changes in prepregnancy weight can apparently affect the risk of gestational diabetes among obese women. This may offer further motivation for interventions aimed at reducing obesity among women of reproductive age.
A New Concept of the Transformation Sequence of Kaolinite to Mullite

MANY solid-state reactions involving oxide systems take place by re-organization of cations within a framework of oxygen ions and the rate of the reaction is controlled by ion diffusion rather than by nucleation and grain growth processes. This general concept has been well illustrated by recent work of Bernal et al. 1 on oriented transformations of iron oxides and hydroxides, and of Steadman and Youell2 on the thermal transformation of an iron silicate of layer-lattice type.
Schemes of action and operation involving composite units

Abstract The construction of schemes of action and operation involving composite units is crucial in the mathematical development of children. In the article, six different composite units are identified along with two general categories of schemes involving composite units—units-coordinating schemes and unit segmenting schemes. The schemes within these two categories produced by the three children who are subjects of study in the article are the results of accommodations the children made in their number sequences. The three children each began a two-year teaching experiment with a specific type of number sequence. One of them had constructed the initial number sequence (INS) , one the tacitly nested number sequence (TNS) , and one the explicitly nested number sequence (ENS) . The accommodations of these number sequences by the involved children yielded schemes within the two categories that were qualitatively distinct. Based upon these distinctions, the roots of multiplication and division in children are explained. The first multiplicative concept occurred as an accommodation of the TNS, which is explained as a recursive counting scheme. The operation of recursion of the TNS was used to produce the first units-coordination that can be called multiplicative. Preconcepts and concepts of multiplication and division are identified in terms of the schemes in the two categories and are contrasted with how multiplication and division are understood in contemporary school mathematics programs.
Co-evolution in context: The importance of studying gut microbiomes in wild animals

Because the gut microbiota contributes to host nutrition, health and behavior, and gut microbial community composition differs according to host phylogeny, co-evolution is believed to have been an important mechanism in the formation of the host-gut microbe relationship. However, current research is not ideal for examining this theme. Most studies of the gut microbiota are performed in controlled settings, but gut microbial community composition is strongly influenced by environmental factors. To truly explore the co-evolution of host and microbe, it is necessary to have data describing host-microbe dynamics in natural environments with variation in factors such as climate, food availability, disease prevalence, and host behavior. In this review, I use current knowledge of host-gut microbe dynamics to explore the potential interactions between host and microbe in natural habitats. These interactions include the influence of host habitat on gut microbial community composition as well as the impacts of the gut microbiota on host fitness in a given habitat. Based on what we currently know, the potential connections between host habitat, the gut microbiota, and host fitness are great. Studies of wild animals will be an essential next step to test these connections and to advance our understanding of host-gut microbe co-evolution.
Simple Climate Models to Illustrate How Bifurcations Can Alter Equilibria and Stability

Climate change is, by its nature, a truly interdisciplinary topic. While college level science classes now frequently include exposure to climate change issues, not all science majors, math majors and future math K-12 teachers are likely to see climate issues in the course of their studies. Here we present one self-contained topic that can be presented to those students without requiring too much additional explanation about climate change issues. This case study also can serve to illustrate the rather sophisticated concept of a “tipping point” to a diverse science audience without advanced training in dynamical systems. We consider the effect of solar radiation on the size of ice caps, and show that small changes in solar radiation can cause major irreversible changes in the size of ice caps. We present two sets of exercises that students can be asked to work on their own, after the overall conceptual model has been presented during the class. This material was inspired by the experience gained by one of the authors in teaching Interdisciplinary Modeling: Water-Related Issues and Climate Change course in summer 2012. It was used by the authors in a Math 420/620 Mathematical Modeling class at the University of Nevada, Reno in Fall 2012.
Support Vector Pattern Recognition And AVO Classification

The purpose of this paper is to present a learning algorithm to classify data with nonlinear characteristics. The support vector (SV) algorithm is a novel type of learning machine based on statistical learning theory (Vapnik, 1998). The support vector (SV) machine implements the following idea: It maps the input vectors x into a high-dimensional feature space Z through some nonlinear mapping, chosen a priori. In this space, an optimal separating hyperplane is constructed to separate data groupings.
The effects of expectancy disconfirmation on outcome satisfaction in police‐citizen encounters

This study tests the expectancy disconfirmation model using survey data from citizens who recently had police encounters. We find support for the expectancy disconfirmation model’s primary hypothesis that increased disparity between expectations of police performance and actual service inversely affects citizen satisfaction with the way the police handle encounters. This finding persists for both voluntary (e.g. breaking and entering victims) and involuntary (e.g. traffic citations) police encounters. Our results also suggest that the scope of the expectancy disconfirmation model is limited. For example, the disparity between expectations and actual service is not correlated with citizen satisfaction with the police in general. Overall, the results show that the expectancy disconfirmation model is useful in that it provides conceptual guidance in an area of research that has been relatively void of theory, and can also help identify needed changes in police practices.
Nafion ∕ TiO2 Proton Conductive Composite Membranes for PEMFCs Operating at Elevated Temperature and Reduced Relative Humidity

Nafion/TiO 2 composite membranes with different TiO 2 contents were studied in an H 2 /O 2 proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) over a wide range of relative humidity (RH) values from 26 to 100% at temperatures of 80and 120°C. The composite membranes, which were prepared using a recast procedure, showed a pronounced improvement over unmodified Nafion membranes when operated at 120°C and reduced RH. For instance, at 50% RH, the Nafion/20% TiO 2 membrane demonstrated a performance identical to that of an unmodified Nafion membrane operated at 100% RH. This performance level was comparable to that of a bare Nafion membrane at 80°C. The high performance of the Nafion/TiO 2 composite membranes at low RH was attributed to improved water retention due to the presence of absorbed water species in the electrical double layer on the TiO 2 surface. The zeta potential and thickness of the hydrodynamically immobile water layer at the TiO 2 /water interface were discussed as parameters influencing the water balance in the membranes. The obtained experimental PEMFC performance data were fitted using an analytical equation, and calculated parameters were analyzed as functions of RH and TiO 2 content in the composite membranes.
Clinical training: challenges for a new millennium.

It is a challenging and intimidating task to comment on the thoughts of several prominent leaders in the field of psychotherapy research and training. For many years I have turned to their scholarly writings for guidance, insight, and understanding. I have also urged my students to read their articles and books, to attend their presentations, and to listen carefully to the reports of these experts about the state of psychotherapy. In the present context Drs. Watkins and Guarnaccia have invited this impressive group of experts to offer their views on the direction in which psychotherapy training is moving and the particular implications of these trends for psychotherapy educators and training programs. To paraphrase the once popular television commercials about an American investment company, “When Levenson, Strupp, Mahrer, Boulet, and Beutler talk, people listen.” When thinkers of this stature share their wisdom, I listen carefully, and I urge my colleagues who are involved in psychotherapy training to do the same. In my brief comments, I will discuss some of the challenges that we educators face and attempt to offer some recommendations that are based, in part, on the views of these contributors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 55: 405–409, 1999.
Strength-Based RTI: Conceptualizing a Multi-Tiered System for Developing Gifted Potential

This article explores the possibilities of a strength-based Response to Intervention (RTI) model for developing and identifying gifted potential. Although much has been written about the promises and challenges of RTI in recent years, the utility of RTI for meeting the needs of gifted learners has not been fully explored. This article seeks to address this void by examining RTI's potential to meet the unique learning needs of gifted and talented students, discuss challenges teachers might face, and invite gifted education advocates and researchers to explore and expand on this dialogue.
Replacement antiperthites in gneisses of the Babbitt-Embarrass area, Minnesota, U. S. A.

Zoned and antiperthitic plagioclase is abundant in the amphibolitefacies gneisses of the Babbitt-Embarrass area. Concentrations of K-feldspar blebs within antiperthite grains are surrounded by haloes of plagioclase that is either more sodic or more calcic than the host grain. Plagioclase twinning is commonly obliterated in such zones. Microprobe analyses show that the composition of the halo and of the host plagioclase varies from grain to grain within a single sample. Potassium depletion in the haloes is quantitatively insufficient to supply the potassium in the antiperthitic K-feldpar blebs, suggesting that an origin by exsolution is improbable. However, the relations between zoning and antiperthitic K-feldspar are generally in accord with those predicted by Hofmann (1967) for alkali-infiltration metasomatism of plagioclase-bearing rocks. The presence of wide sodic or calcic haloes around K-feldspar blebs in antiperthites may probably be regarded as evidence of origin by replacement.
Alcohol consumption by pregnant women in the United States during 1988-1995.

Abstract Objective: To examine trends in alcohol use among pregnant women in the United States and to characterize pregnant women who use alcohol, with an emphasis on frequent use (at least five drinks per occasion or at least seven drinks per week). Methods: We used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 1988 through 1995 to obtain the percentage of pregnant women who used alcohol. We used multiple logistic models to identify subgroups of pregnant women who are at increased risk for alcohol use. Results: Overall, 14.6% (869 of 5983) of pregnant women consumed alcohol and 2.1% (133 of 5983) consumed alcohol frequently. Among pregnant women, alcohol use decreased from 22.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.8, 23.9) in 1988 to 9.5% (95% CI 7.9, 11.8) in 1992 and then increased to 15.3% (95% CI 13.1, 17.2) by 1995. Among pregnant women, frequent alcohol use decreased from 3.9% (95% CI 2.4, 5.2) in 1988 to 0.9% (95% CI 0.4, 1.6) in 1991 and then increased to 3.5% (95% CI 2.0, 5.1) by 1995. Pregnant women who were at high risk for alcohol use were college educated, unmarried, employed, or students, had annual household incomes of more than $50,000, or were smokers. Pregnant women who were at high risk for frequent alcohol use were more likely to be unmarried, or smokers. Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women calls for increased ascertainment of alcohol use among preconceptional and pregnant women. Brief interventions by clinicians, increased referral to alcohol treatment programs, and increased use of contraception by women of reproductive age who are problem drinkers should be considered as means of preventing alcohol-exposed pregnancies. (Obstet Gynecol 1998;92:187–92.)
Integrin dimerization and ligand organization: key components in integrin clustering for cell adhesion.

Cell adhesion requires both integrin occupancy and integrin clustering. In this work, we investigate a mechanism based on organizing ligand into islands and integrin dimerization for the initiation of integrin clustering. To study integrin clustering and integrin occupancy we develop a two-dimensional Monte Carlo lattice description of the cell–substrate interface to simulate the diffusion and reaction of integrins. We demonstrate that integrin dimerization can drive integrins into clusters of sizes greater than two. Ligand organization or integrin dimerization alone is unable to increase the number of bound integrins, but when both are present they cooperate to increase both binding and clustering of integrins. In addition, when integrin dimerization and ligand organization are both present large integrin clusters, which may act as nucleation sites for the formation of adhesion complexes, are observed. These results describe a potential mechanism for the clustering of integrin receptors and avidity modul...
Effects of Rough Rice Drying and Storage Conditions on Sensory Profiles of Cooked Rice

ABSTRACT In both domestic and international markets, the end-use quality of rice affects its market value and acceptability to consumers. The effect of various postharvest processing treatments on sensory characteristics of cooked rice was investigated using sensory descriptive methods. Cooked rice quality was affected (P < 0.05) by rough rice wet holding, drying temperature, storage temperature, and storage duration. Cohesiveness of mass and hardness of sample were significantly affected by the temperature of drying. A higher storage temperature reduced the cohesiveness of mass and gluiness, while sample hardness, clumpiness, and geometry of slurry increased. Storage duration had more profound effects on the sensory attributes studied. Perceived starchy note, clumpiness, gluiness, and overall sensory impression decreased after four weeks of storage. Storage duration also influenced hardness, moisture absorption, sulfury notes, and cardboardy notes.
The dissociative adsorption of ammonia on Si(100)

Abstract The nature of the NH 3 adsorption process on Si(100) at 120 K was studied by isotopic mixing with adsorbed atomic deuterium and thermal desorption spectroscopy. NH 3 was found to dissociatively adsorb onto Si(100) dimer sites at 120 K as NH 2 (a) and H(a). The NH 2 (a) species persist up to about 700 K where two reaction channels become available. The major reaction channel leads to the decomposition of NH 2 (a) to N(a) and H(a). The minor channel is a recombination reaction that leads to the desorption of ammonia. This recombination reaction exhibits a deuterium kinetic isotope effect.
Optimizing Compliant, Model-Based Robotic Assistance to Promote Neurorehabilitation

Based on evidence from recent experiments in motor learning and neurorehabilitation, we hypothesize that three desirable features for a controller for robot-aided movement training following stroke are high mechanical compliance, the ability to assist patients in completing desired movements, and the ability to provide only the minimum assistance necessary. This paper presents a novel controller that successfully exhibits these characteristics. The controller uses a standard model-based, adaptive control approach in order to learn the patient's abilities and assist in completing movements while remaining compliant. Assistance-as-needed is achieved by adding a novel force reducing term to the adaptive control law, which decays the force output from the robot when errors in task execution are small. Several tests are presented using the upper extremity robotic therapy device named Pneu-WREX to evaluate the performance of the adaptive, ldquoassist-as-neededrdquo controller with people who have suffered a stroke. The results of these experiments illustrate the ldquoslackingrdquo behavior of human motor control: given the opportunity, the human patient will reduce his or her output, letting the robotic device do the work for it. The experiments also demonstrate how including the ldquoassist-as-neededrdquo modification in the controller increases participation from the motor system.
Invention Strategies and the ESL College Composition Student

The recent finding by composition researchers and teachers that the composing process can be taught as an intellectual and cognitive activity has led to a renewed interest in the ancient art of invention and the view that invention can be practiced as systematic procedures of discovery, the primary purpose of which is to generate ideas about a subject. This article reviews composition and invention research, discusses a variety of discovery techniques, and provides a rationale for teaching invention in an academic writing course. One student's notes are then presented to illustrate how invention can be successfully employed to narrow down a topic, generate content, discover a form, and create a thesis for an assigned essay. The article concludes by suggesting that although ESL students may experience invention differently from their native English-speaking counterparts, they can benefit from instruction in invention which is adapted to meet their needs.
Remote detection of buried land-mines and IEDs using LWIR polarimetric imaging

We report results of an ongoing study designed to assess the ability for enhanced detection of recently buried land-mines and/or improvised explosive devices (IED) devices using passive long-wave infrared (LWIR) polarimetric imaging. Polarimetric results are presented for a series of field tests conducted at various locations and soil types. Well-calibrated Stokes images, S0, S1, S2, and the degree-of-linear-polarization (DoLP) are recorded for different line-of-sight (LOS) slant paths at varying distances. Results span a three-year time period in which three different LWIR polarimetric camera systems are used. All three polarimetric imaging platforms used a spinning-achromatic-retarder (SAR) design capable of achieving high polarimetric frame rates and good radiometric throughput without the loss of spatial resolution inherent in other optical designs. Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis and a standardized contrast parameter are used to compare detectability between conventional LWIR thermal and polarimetric imagery. Results suggest improved detectability, regardless of geographic location or soil type.
Detection and tracking of objects in underwater video

For oceanographic research, remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) routinely record several hours of video material each day. Manual processing of such large amounts of video has become a major bottleneck for scientific research based on this data. We have developed an automated system that detects and tracks objects that are of potential interest for human video annotators. By pre-selecting salient targets for track initiation using a selective attention algorithm, we reduce the complexity of multi-target tracking, in particular of the assignment problem. Detection of low-contrast translucent targets is difficult due to variable lighting conditions and the presence of ubiquitous noise from high-contrast organic debris ("marine snow") particles. We describe the methods we developed to overcome these issues and report our results of processing ROV video data.
DEFOG: discrete enrichment of functionally organized genes

High-throughput biological experiments commonly result in a list of genes or proteins of interest. In order to understand the observed changes of the genes and to generate new hypotheses, one needs to understand the functions and roles of the genes and how those functions relate to the experimental conditions. Typically, statistical tests are performed in order to detect enriched Gene Ontology categories or pathways, i.e. the categories are observed in the genes of interest more often than is expected by chance. Depending on the number of genes and the complexity and quantity of functions in which they are involved, such an analysis can easily result in hundreds of enriched terms. To this end we developed DEFOG, a web-based application that facilitates the functional analysis of gene sets by hierarchically organizing the genes into functionally related modules. Our computational pipeline utilizes three powerful tools to achieve this goal: (1) GeneMANIA creates a functional consensus network of the genes of interest based on gene-list-specific data fusion of hundreds of genomic networks from publicly available sources; (2) Transitivity Clustering organizes those genes into a clear hierarchy of functionally related groups, and (3) Ontologizer performs a Gene Ontology enrichment analysis on the resulting gene clusters. DEFOG integrates this computational pipeline within an easy-to-use web interface, thus allowing for a novel visual analysis of gene sets that aids in the discovery of potentially important biological mechanisms and facilitates the creation of new hypotheses. DEFOG is available at http://www.mooneygroup.org/defog.
The Report of the National Commission on the Reform of Secondary Education: Its Implications for Foreign Language Education

W HAT IS WRONG with American secondary education? What has caused its many problems? What are some feasible solutions? What role will foreign language instruction play in the high school of the future? All these questions save the last one are answered explicitly by The Reform of Secondary Education, a report of the National Commission on the Reform of Secondary Education. As regards foreign language study, if its status is not precisely delineated at least there are clear indications as to the direction the profession should be looking in order to be a significant element in America's changing patterns of education. This study, subtitled: "Report to the Public and Profession," was produced under the auspices of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and published by McGraw Hill in 1973. It is the most recent in a history of key reports which have appeared at times of educational crisis and controversy. The current problems are only too apparent. Schools have seen a proliferation of . . .student dissent, unrest, and racial discord. These influences, coupled with countless court decisions, have radically changed the high schools' student bodies, and the attitudes of students on racial, cultural and socio-economic matters. Neither the schools' altered clientele nor restricted authority currently matches the traditional mode of operation (p. xiii).