cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of right ventricular contractile abnormalities in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy versus hypertensive heart disease using two dimensional strain imaging: a cross-sectional study.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects the right ventricle (RV) because of the anatomically hypertrophied septum and plausibly by extension of the myopathic process to the RV. We sought to investigate RV strain in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to either HCM or hypertension (H-LVH). Our cross-sectional study included 32 patients with HCM, 21 patients with H-LVH, and 11 healthy subjects, who were evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography. Using a dedicated software package, bi-dimensional acquisitions were analyzed to measure segmental longitudinal strain in apical views. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) was calculated by averaging septal and right free wall strains. The HCM and H-LVH groups were comparable for age and demographic characteristics. Right ventricular tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion was not significantly different between HCM and H-LVH subjects. Moreover, RV GLS, septal and lateral RV myocardial strain were significantly impaired in patients with HCM (all p 14.9% differentiated HCM and H-LVH with a 90% sensitivity and a 95% specificity (p < 0.001). RV strain parameters are impaired in patients with HCM. Assessment of two-dimensional RV strain parameters could help differentiate between HCM and H-LVH.
The Effects of Network Link Unreliability for Leader Election Algorithm in a Smart Grid System

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) can improve the reliability of our critical infrastructure systems. By augmenting physical distribution systems with digital control through computation and communication, one can improve the overall reliability of a network. However, a system designer must consider what effects system unreliability in the cyber-domain can have on the physical distribution system. In this work, we examine the consequences of network unreliability on a core part of a Distributed Grid Intelligence (DGI) for the FREEDM (Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management) Project. To do this, we apply different rates of packet loss in specific configurations to the communication stack of the software and observe the behavior of a critical component (Group Management) under those conditions. These components will allow us to identify the amount of time spent in a group, working, as a function of the network reliability.
Managing metadata for distributed information servers

We present the design and implementation of a distributed index architecture to facilitate metadata discovery on large networks. Many current information discovery systems use crawlers to search the Internet, constructing metadata from the data they find. Instead, we propose a general distributed index architecture that uses descriptive hierarchies to organize metadata and route metadata queries to sites likely to produce relevant results. We are testing the architecture in the NASA Earth Observing System domain. We address some requirements particular to EOS, then discuss the design implications. We also present the results of preliminary performance studies on a prototype.
Exploring the Co-Mutlimerization of bCNG Channels

The bacterial cyclic nucleotide gated (bCNG) channel family is a subfamily of the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) superfamily. Members of the bCNG channel family have been shown to gate in response to cyclic adenosine monophosephate alone, but are incapable of rescuing E. coli in osmotic downshock assays. In the bCNG channel family, some bacterial genomes encode for multiple bCNG homologues while others encode for a single homologue. The presence of multiple bCNG homologues in a single bacterial genome has lead us to hypothesize that these channels might exist as heteromultimers, which would represent the first observation of heteromultimeric channels in prokaryotes. In a pull-down assay, bCNG homologues from a single bacterial genome, form heteromultimers, when heterologously expressed in E. coli. Additionally, bCNG channels from different bacteria can form heteromultimers when co-expressed with bCNG channels containing the same number of transmembrane domains. To determine if bCNG heteromultimers are formed in vivo, RT-PCR was used to verify the co-translation of bCNG channels.
Direct observation of ion-irradiation-induced chemical mixing

Irradiation-induced dissolution of particles and mixing at heterogeneous interfaces in materials is of importance for ion beam processing and radiation materials sciences. Modeling has predicted dissolution of particles and homogenization at sharp chemical interfaces; imaging and depth profiling techniques have also been used to observe damage and mixing resulting from ion or neutron bombardment. Analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy has been used to directly observe the ion-irradiation induced elemental mixing and dissolution of {approx}25-50 nm titanium oxycarbonitrides in a nanostructured ferritic alloy irradiated at 173 K. The magnitude of the mixed zone is consistent with radiation damage theory.
A simulator for multilevel distribution systems

This article describes the use of simulation to de sign a multilevel distribution system which is supplied by one manufacturing plant and several local suppliers. The program is written in SIMSCRIPT.Each regional warehouse is assumed to obtain most of its product from one distribution center, which is in turn supplied by the manufacturer. The model generates forecasts at each level based on demand data which is randomized in accordance with empirical distributions.If the manufacturing capacities, which in the simula tion are user-specified, are too small to meet the demand, the model adjusts the distribution schedule. Each warehouse is provided the opportunity to pur chase some fraction of its demand for any item from a local independent supplier on a routine basis and on an extra-purchase basis when the manufacturer can not supply the item through his distribution centers.The article discusses model validation and an appli cation of the simulator to determine the optimum number and the locations of stora...
Guaranteeing the topology of an implicit surface polygonization for interactive modeling

Morse theory shows how the topology of an implicit surface is affected by its function's critical points, whereas catastrophe theory shows how these critical points behave as the function's parameters change. Interval analysis finds the critical points, and they can also be tracked efficiently during parameter changes. Changes in the function value at these critical points cause changes in the topology. Techniques for modifying the polygonization to accommodate such changes in topology are given. These techniques are robust enough to guarantee the topology of an implicit surface polygonization, and are efficient enough to maintain this guarantee during interactive modeling. The impact of this work is a topologically-guaranteed polygonization technique, and the ability to directly and accurately manipulate polygonized implicit surfaces in real time.
Effects of rowing on humeral strength.

This study used an aggregate measure of robusticity (based on humeral areal and inertial cross-sectional components) to test the hypothesis that rowing on oceans led to more robust humeri than did rowing on rivers or not rowing at all. Results confirmed the hypothesis that male ocean-rowers had more robust humeri than did male river-rowers or nonrowers. However, although the females from the ocean-rowing populations did not row, they averaged more robust humeri than did females from the non-ocean-rowing populations. Males averaged greater robusticity than did females. The robusticity of ocean-rowing populations, therefore, does not seem to be due solely to bone remodeling resulting from strenuous rowing. Humeral robusticity is difficult to attribute to specific activities because, in humans, upper limbs are utilized for many activities. Some populations may have more robust humeri because certain environments require greater overall activity levels in order to survive.
Information models for use in product design: a comparison

Abstract The paper reviews the reasons for the growing interest in product modelling and the application of data-modelling concepts to cad/cam development. The information needs for the design of products, as distinct from those for manufacturing, business and other applications, are articulated. Given these needs, five information models used in product modelling are reviewed: the entity-relationship model, niam, idef1x, express and EDM.
An Ecological Perspective on the Media and Youth Development.

From an ecological perspective, daily activities are both a cause and a consequence of youth development. Research on youth activities directs attention to the processes through which daily activities may have an impact on youth, including (a) providing chances to learn and practice skills, (b) serving as a forum for identity development, (c) affording opportunities to build social ties, (d) connecting youth to social institutions, and (e) keeping youth from engaging in other kinds of activities. Youth's daily activities, in turn, both influence and are influenced by the multilayered ecology within which their lives are embedded, an ecology that ranges from the proximal contexts of everyday life (e.g., family, peer group) to the larger political, economic, legal, and cultural contexts of the larger society. The article concludes with consideration of methodological issues and directions for research on the media and youth development.
Microenzymatic assays for lysosomal enzymes in primary amniotic fluid cell cultures.

Abstract A study of three lysosomal enzymes (hexosaminidase, s-galactosidase and α-galactosidase) in normal primary amniotic fluid cell cultures using a micro-enzymatic assay is presented. No difference in enzyme activity was found between primary and amniotic cell cultures in passage number one. A progressive change in the proportions of hexosaminidase A and hexosaminidase B with time was demonstrated in culture. The feasibility of this procedure for the early prenatal diagnosis of disorders due to lysosomal enzyme deficiency is discussed.
Determining Accurate Kinetic Parameters of Potentially Important Heterogeneous Atmospheric Reactions on Solid Particle Surfaces with a Knudsen Cell Reactor

One of the most important applications of the Knudsen cell reactor is in determining heterogeneous reaction kinetics of potentially important atmospheric reactions. Knudsen cell measurements involving gas reactions on atmospherically relevant particle surfaces, including salt, carbon black, soot, and mineral dust, are often obtained using powdered samples. In this study, we have investigated the importance of gas diffusion into the underlying layers of powdered samples when determining kinetic parameters from Knudsen cell experiments. In particular, we show that the use of the geometric surface area of the sample holder is, in general, not justified in determining initial uptake coefficients or reaction probabilities because the interrogation or probe depth of gas-phase molecules into the bulk powder can be anywhere from tens to thousands of layers deep. One problem encountered by current models used to account for gas diffusion into the underlying layers is that the diffusion constant of the gas through ...
Wegener's granulomatosis upper respiratory tract and pulmonary radiographic manifestations in 30 cases with pathogenetic consideration

Although the radiographic manifestations and pathologic features of Wegener's granulomatosis have been well described, their relationship to two variants of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c- and p-ANCA) remains unclear. The purposes of this study are to analyze the radiographic and pathologic findings in 30 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis and to correlate c- and p-ANCA with such findings. Major histologic findings included parenchymal necrosis, necrotizing vasculitis, and granulomatous inflammations. Nodular lesions were more often associated with arteritis whereas patchy fluffy lesions associated with hemorrhagic capillaritis. ANCAs, particularly c-ANCA, instead of p-ANCA, were present in a high percentage of patients tested. These findings suggest that c-ANCA could play an important pathogenetic role in Wegener's granulomatosis which showed dual pathologic processes: vasculitis and granulomatous inflammation manifested radiographically as either nodular or pneumonia-like lesions, whereas p-ANCA was more often associated with patchy fluffy lung lesions as the consequence of hemorrhagic capillaritis.
The membrane potential of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: an evaluation of the null point method.

The effects of valinomycin (25 pM) on the membrane potential and on initial, passive Na+ and K+ movements have been determined in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The membrane potential of steady-state cells in a physiologic environment was – 23.2 mV. Addition of valinomycin induced a small, significant hyperpolarization (Vm = –29.6 mV) when averaged over the population tested. However, analyses of the response of individual cells to valinomycin showed two different potential effects: (1) the majority of cells hyperpolarized after treatment; but (2) a significant fraction depolarized when exposed to valinomycin. The Vm of steady-state cells incubated in saline with K+ at concentrations of 21 mM or 75 mM was – 21.4 mV and –22.0 mV, respectively. Addition of valinomycin to these cells was without effect on Vm, thus establishing the “null point” responses. Only for cells incubated in saline with a K+ of 75 mM was there agreement between Vm and K+ equilibrium potential (Vk). Determinations of cellular Na+ and K+ showed that valinomycin induced net losses of K+ and gains of Na+ by cells incubated in either physiologic saline or saline with a K+ concentration of 21 mM. However, the celular K+ of cells incubated in saline with a K+ concentration of 75 mM was unaltered by valinomycin. There was a two- to threefold increase in K+ permeability of the cell membrane in the presence of valinomycin. These results are consistent with the existence of two null points in the membrane-potential response to valinomycin: One is established when the membrane potential corresponds to Vk; the second occurs when the effects of valinomycin on K+ loss from the cell are exactly offset by its inhibition of active Na+ + K+ transport.
Radar classification of landmines by time-frequency analysis

ABSTRACT A flying platform illuminates a land mine field with mixtures of various landmines (i.e., buri ed, on the surface, plastic or metallic) and some confusers, with an ultra-wideband (UWB) radar. The polarimetric echoes returned by the mine field are mapped into an overall synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image, which is then analyzed pixel-by-pixel by modern time-frequency (t-f) techniques. The t-f analysis of any echo from any of the indi vidual scatterers in the mine field can be performed using a number of t-f distributions, which in turn generate two-dimensional plots of each such scatterer in t-f space. These plots are richer in informati on than those in the original SAR image, and they offer a larger variety of clues useful for the discrimination of each type of mine from the others or from the confusers. Several t-f distributions are employed in the study, and it is found that some are better than others for the present purpose of target detection and classification. From the images obtained we can conclude that the Pseudo-Wigner-Ville and the Choi-Williams distributions provide the best discrimination results. It is also found that the larger mines such as those denoted here as of type-1 are the easiest to id entify. Using the above-mentioned distributions it follows that the distinction between actual mines and clutter objects (or confusers) becomes clearer, pa rticularly when the latter objects are metallic. Numerous images generated in this study confirm the above conclusions. Keywords: Target identification, time-frequency analysis, mine-fields, SAR images.
Evidence for a shift from IgD to IgA synthesis in the maturation of human B lymphocytes.

Abstract A case of chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) is described in which IgD and IgA are the copredominant membrane immunoglobulins. Since CLL represents malignant proliferations of B lymphocytes arrested at discrete points during maturation, the findings in this case suggest that at least some of the developing cells destined to synthesize IgA for secretion pass through a stage in which immunoglobulins D and A are present together on the cell membrane.
Computer-Enhanced Interventions for Drug Use and HIV Risk in the Emergency Room: Preliminary Results on Psychological Precursors of Behavior Change

This article describes process data from a randomized controlled trial among 781 adults recruited in the emergency department who reported recent drug use and were randomized to: intervener-delivered brief intervention (IBI) assisted by computer, computerized BI (CBI), or enhanced usual care (EUC). Analyses examined differences between baseline and post-intervention on psychological constructs theoretically related to changes in drug use and HIV risk: importance, readiness, intention, help-seeking, and confidence. Compared to EUC, participants receiving the IBI significantly increased in confidence and intentions; CBI patients increased importance, readiness, confidence, and help-seeking. Both groups increased relative to the EUC in likelihood of condom use with regular partners. Examining BI components suggested that benefits of change and tools for change were associated with changes in psychological constructs. Delivering BIs targeting drug use and HIV risk using computers appears promising for implementation in healthcare settings. This trial is ongoing and future work will report behavioral outcomes.
Community Leaders, Business Ownership, and Support of Entrepreneurship Development: The Role of Macroentrepreneurs

Macroentrepreneurs are community leaders with entrepreneurial experience and are likely to understand the problems of initiating business ventures within communities. Through their leadership role they are assumed to create a facilitative community1 entrepreneurship environment by helping develop the local social, economic, and physical infrastructure to benefit nascent and extant entrepreneurs and in turn the broader community. Also identified as community entrepreneurs in the literature, they have been the subject of theory and conjecture but relatively little empirical research. Leaders in six communities were surveyed to examine the characteristics differentiating involvement in a local entrepreneurship program, including present and past business ownership. Results indicated that macroentrepreneurs, especially current business owners, tended to be less knowledgeable and involved in the entrepreneurship program than non-business owning community leaders. The findings suggest that in initiating communi...
Memory may not need reminding.

After primary Leishmania major infection, two populations of CD4+ T cells, termed 'effector' and 'central memory' T cells, are generated. Work in mice shows that both populations can mediate protection against subsequent infection, and that persistent infection keeps the effector response robust ( pages 1104–1110 ).
Genetic evidence for the spread of agriculture in Europe by demic diffusion

European agriculture originated in the Near East about 9,000 years ago. The Neolithic reached almost all areas suitable for agriculture by 5,000 yr BP (before present). The routes and times of the spread of agriculture through Europe are relatively well established, but not its manner of spreading. This could have been by cultural diffusion with few genetic consequences. By contrast, Ammerman and Cavalli-Sforza proposed that the spread of farming increased local population densities, causing demic expansion into new territory and diffusive gene flow between the neolithic farmers and mesolithic groups. We have now tested observed genetic patterns against expectations derived from the demic expansion hypothesis. We found significant partial correlations of genetic distances with a distance matrix especially designed to represent the spread of agriculture on that continent, when geographic distances are held constant. These findings support the hypothesis of Ammerman and Cavalli-Sforza and invite further investigation into Renfrew's hypothesis on the origin of the Indo-European languages.
"Primary" Pulmonary Hypertension with Coexisting Portal Hypertension A Retrospective Study of Six Cases

Six cases are described in which there was a coexisting pulmonary arterial and portal venous hypertension. In 5 of the cases, the pulmonary vascular lesions responsible for the pulmonary hypertension resembled those seen in cases of recurrent embolization. Three of the cases had portal venous thromboses. One of these also had thrombosis of esophageal varices. These thrombi may have been the site of origin for pulmonary emboli. Other possible causes of the pulmonary vascular lesions are also discussed. In one case, there was a severe necrotizing arteritis in the pulmonary arterial tree.
Calculation of Protein Heat Capacity from Replica-Exchange Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Different Implicit Solvent Models

The heat capacity has played a major role in relating microscopic and macroscopic properties of proteins and their disorder-order phase transition of folding. Its calculation by atomistic simulation methods remains a significant challenge due to the complex and dynamic nature of protein structures, their solvent environment, and configurational averaging. To better understand these factors on calculating a protein heat capacity, we provide a comparative analysis of simulation models that differ in their implicit solvent description and force-field resolution. Our model protein system is the src Homology 3 (SH3) domain of alpha-spectrin, and we report a series of 10 ns replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations performed at temperatures ranging from 298 to 550 K, starting from the SH3 native structure. We apply the all-atom CHARMM22 force field with different modified analytical generalized Born solvent models (GBSW and GBMV2) and compare these simulation models with the distance-dependent dielectric screening of charge-charge interactions. A further comparison is provided with the united-atom CHARMM19 plus a pairwise GB model. Unfolding-folding transition temperatures of SH3 were estimated from the temperature-dependent profiles of the heat capacity, root-mean-square distance from the native structure, and the fraction of native contacts, each calculated from the density of states by using the weighted histogram analysis method. We observed that, for CHARMM22, the unfolding transition and energy probability density were quite sensitive to the implicit solvent description, in particular, the treatment of the protein-solvent dielectric boundary in GB models and their surface-area-based hydrophobic term. Among the solvent models tested, the calculated melting temperature varied in the range 353-438 K and was higher than the experimental value near 340 K. A reformulated GBMV2 model of employing a smoother molecular-volume dielectric interface was the most accurate in reproducing the native conformation and a two-state folding landscape, although the melting transition temperature did not show the smallest deviation from experiment. For the lower-resolution CHARMM19/GB model, the simulations failed to yield a bimodal energy distribution, yet the melting temperature was observed to be a good estimate of higher-resolution simulation models. We also demonstrate that a careful analysis of a relatively long simulation is necessary to avoid trapping in local minima and to find a true thermodynamic transition temperature.
Experimental evaluation of flame observables for simplified scalar dissipation rate measurements in laminar diffusion flamelets

Abstract We present a comparative evaluation of the potential of several flame observables to yield a simplified measurement of the scalar dissipation rate ( χ ). The realization of the importance of this quantity for the structure of diffusion flamelets has led to brilliant experimental efforts targeted to its measurement, with a particular emphasis on χ stoich , i.e., its value at the stoichiometric surface, which has been shown to control extinction. Such measurements require a significant amount of experimental resources, since they necessitate the simultaneous acquisition of multi-scalar data. The possibility of a simplified measurement stems from the realization that the related gradient of the mixture fraction scales as the inverse of an appropriately defined thickness of the mixing layer. In this paper, we investigate experimentally the utilization of several flame observables for the measurement of this thickness. In a flat, nitrogen diluted, counterflow, methane/oxygen diffusion flame, the scalar dissipation rate was first measured directly using line Raman imaging of major species and a N 2 -molecule based definition of the mixture fraction. Additionally, LIF measurements of the hydroxyl radical (OH) and formaldehyde (HCHO) as well as Raman measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) were performed across the flamelet. The precision of χ stoich estimates based on the thickness of the layers of these three observables as well as the layers corresponding to [HCHO] × [OH] and [CO] × [OH] “overlap” zones was evaluated in terms of following the theoretically expected inverse-square-root dependence on strain rate. Also, the absolute thickness of these layers was recorded, since it may restrict the application of simplified techniques in turbulent flow fields.
Evidence-based treatments for traumatized children and adolescents.

This article reviews recent advances in empirically supported psychotherapeutic treatments for children and adolescents experiencing trauma and provides a brief summary of available interventions, as well as a context for their use. We highlight the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s recent practice guidelines for trauma treatment and discuss their implications for clinicians, including the benefits of involving caregivers in treatment and the rationale for using practices that are specifically trauma-focused as first-line intervention. Finally, we discuss the status of research on the real-world implementation of these therapies and the need for further research, particularly regarding clinician knowledge and use of empirically supported practices, potential stepped-care approaches to trauma treatment, and the need to reduce attrition in child trauma research and practice.
Influence of Text and Participant Characteristics on Perceived and Actual Text Difficulty

Because patients customarily receive medical text that is difficult to understand, we are developing a simplification algorithm to support simpler writing by medical professionals. Our algorithm relies on term familiarity and automatically suggests alternative wordings from different sources. We conducted a user study (N=17) to evaluate its effectiveness on reducing perceived and actual difficulty. Perceived difficulty was measured using sentences and a Likert-scale. Actual difficulty was measured using documents and multiple-choice and Cloze tests. We found a strong significant simplification effect for perceived difficulty (p=.002), but no effect for actual difficulty: only 6.2% improvement on the Cloze test. Evaluating participant characteristics showed that reading more newspapers or magazines correlated with lower multiple-choice (r=-386, p=.016) and Cloze test (r=.340, p=.025) scores. STOFHLA scores, a health literacy measure, correlated with the Cloze test scores (r=.461, p=.002).
AIChE initiatives to promote effective management of chemical reactivity hazards

Over the last several decades, AIChE has taken a leadership role in advancing the technology and management of chemical reactivity hazards. This paper describes the successes of recent AIChE activities and introduces a current effort to bring practical understanding and application of these concepts both to smaller businesses and to businesses that do not manufacture chemicals but nonetheless may have chemical reactivity hazards to manage. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2006
There Is Always Tomorrow? Libraries on the Edge

ABSTRACT There is an old saw about a young man adapting a persona and then spending the rest of his life trying to create a new one. To even meet, let alone exceed, user expectations in the digital age do research libraries need to shed their old personae and fundamentally re-invent themselves? Can we really categorize our users and their expectations? What are the metrics that will inform our repositioning? Are time and the information marketplace moving too fast for us to get in front of rising user expectations? What role will leadership play in creating new roles in the evolving information environment?
Choking Under the Pressure of a Positive Stereotype: Gender Identification and Self-Consciousness Moderate Men's Math Test Performance

Choking under pressure occurs when an individual underperforms due to situational pressure. The present study examined whether being the target of a positive social stereotype regarding math ability causes choking among men. Gender identification and self-consciousness were hypothesized to moderate the effect of math-gender stereotypes on men's math test performance. Men high in self-consciousness but low in gender identification significantly underperformed when exposed to gender-relevant test instructions. No significant effects were found under a gender-irrelevant condition. These findings are discussed in the contexts of research on stereotype threat, stereotype lift, and choking under pressure.
The force-velocity relationship at high shortening velocities in the soleus muscle of the rat.

1. In intact skeletal muscle fibres, estimates of unloaded shortening velocity obtained from slack test measurements (V0) have been shown to exceed, by approximately 7%, estimates obtained from extrapolation of velocities measured during isotonic releases (Vmax). In contrast, published values for the V0 of whole soleus muscles of rats exceed Vmax by 56%. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that this difference between whole muscles and single fibres is due to a difference in their respective force-velocity relationships at loads less than 5% of maximum isometric tetanic force (P0). In addition, we examined, by computer simulation, the effect of inter-fibre heterogeneity on the force-velocity characteristics of a whole muscle. 2. The force-velocity relationship of soleus muscles of rats was determined at low loads, in vitro at 20 degrees C, by recording force maintained during controlled shortening at constant velocities. The relationship was simulated by assigning a hyperbolic force-velocity curve to each motor unit and summing the force contributions of individual units at each of a series of velocities. 3. When measurements from low loads were included, the force-velocity relationship intersected the velocity axis at V0 (5.0 +/- 0.1 fibre lengths/s, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 10), not Vmax (3.1 +/- 0.1 fibre lengths/s). The simulated and measured force-velocity relationships agreed at all loads, supporting the premise that the deviation from hyperbolic form responsible for the large disparity between V0 and Vmax of whole muscles is a consequence of heterogeneity in shortening velocity among fibres.
Innovating introductory computer science courses: approaches and comparisons

In recent years much attention and effort have been devoted to the task of innovating computer science courses, especially the introductory ones. In this paper we describe an innovation in an introductory computer science course at South Carolina State University, a four-year minority-educating institution. Our approach is a combination of: a) adoption - we started by adopting the concept of studying jointly computer science concepts and digital media concepts, b) adaptation - we introduced the new course concept as extension and adaptation of a legacy computer literacy course, c) innovation - since we aim primarily at students majoring in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technology (STEM), we introduced specific modules and topics designed to enhance topics of interest to these students. We present some of the content of our course and its influence on students' knowlegde acqusition process. We also present students' survey data and compare them with data obtained at two other institutions: a major research university, and b) a two-year college.
Percentile Modifications of Two Sample Rank Tests

Abstract This paper presents a simple method for increasing the limiting Pitman efficiency of rank tests relative to the best tests for samples normal distributions without using complicated scoring systems. Our proposal is to select two numbers p and r (0 < p, r < 1) and then score, with integer weights, the data in the top p th and bottom r th fractions of the combined sample. The percentile modified tests for scale are quite effective. When p = r = 1/8 (i.e., we score only the extreme quarter of the combined sample) the A.R.E. of the test to the F test is .85.
Employing Computer-Administered Exams in General Psychology: Student Anxiety and Expectations

Computer-administered exams offer many advantages, but instructors may be reluctant to use them due to concerns that computer anxiety may increase student test anxiety. Introductory psychology students (N = 265) completed surveys prior to their first exam about their anxiety related to the upcoming exam, computers in general, and taking exams on the computer. One group of students took traditional paper-and-pencil exams and the other group took computer-administered exams. We found no differences between the groups for exam anxiety or general computer anxiety, but the traditional group reported more anxiety about taking an exam on computer. We recommend strategies for relieving students' anxiety, such as in-class demonstrations of the technology.
Numerical quadrature and two‐dimensional radiative heat transfer

Four methods of numerically integrating a two-variable integral equation, which is used to describe non-dimensional radiosity in a diffuse grey cavity, are presented. Physical reasoning is used to organize the successful method for obtaining physically plausible solutions.
An exact invariant variance ratio test

Abstract The variance ratio test has been prominent among tests for temporary and permanent innovations in economic and financial time series. This paper develops an exact variance ratio test which is mean invariant, and it lists sample exact critical values and powers.
Sham-feeding response of rats to Polycose and sucrose.

Adult female rats were fitted with gastric fistulas and maintained at 85% of their ad lib body weight. Their real-feeding (fistula closed) and sham-feeding (fistula open) responses to polysaccharide (Polycose) and sucrose solutions were measured during 30 min/day one-bottle tests. The rats consumed similar amounts of a 1% Polycose solution during real- and sham-feeding tests, but their sham-intakes of 4%, 16% and 32% Polycose solutions greatly exceeded their real-intakes of these solutions. Similar results were obtained with sucrose solutions. The rats sham-fed more Polycose than sucrose at the 1% and 4% concentrations, while their sham-intakes of the 16% and 32% Polycose and sucrose solutions were comparable. In subsequent two-solution sham-feeding tests, the rats preferred 1% Polycose to 1% sucrose, but preferred sucrose to Polycose at 4%, 16% and 32% concentrations. These preference results indicate that rats find Polycose more palatable than sucrose at low concentrations, but sucrose more palatable at high concentrations. In addition, the findings that the rats preferred 4% sucrose to 4% Polycose in the two-bottle test, but sham-fed more 4% Polycose than 4% sucrose in the one-bottle tests, suggest that sucrose is more “orally-satiating” than is Polycose. These results provide further evidence for qualitative differences in the tastes of sucrose and polysaccharide. They also indicate that the amount of solution sham-fed does not necessarily reflect the palatability of the solution.
Utilization of Hearing AIDS Issued by the Public Health Service Hearing Aid Use in Ribe County, Denmark

A prospective survey was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of public audiological rehabilitation. Two hundred and fifty-four of 256 consecutive patients were interviewed six months after hearing aid issue. One hundred and sixty-eight (66%) were full-time users, 225 (88%) wore an aid either all the time or every day. Eight were successful situational users, while 21 (8%) were non-users. Eighty-six of the 233 users (37%) made use of their telecoil. Of a total of 363 aids dispensed, 26 (7%) were out of use. Experienced users differed significantly from first-time users: they had poorer hearing, they used their aids more than first-time users and they were more often treated binaurally.
Analysis of skin deformation profiles during sinusoidal vibration of fingerpad.

Vibrotactile perception threshold measurement has been widely used to diagnose the severity of peripheral neuropathy associated with hand-arm vibration syndrome and sensory losses in stroke and diabetic patients. The vibration perception threshold is believed to be influenced by many factors, such as contact force and vibration frequency. The present study is intended to analyze, theoretically, the time-dependent deformation profile of skin surface, strain distributions within soft tissue, and response force of a fingertip when it is stimulated by a probe vibrating with a sinusoidal movement. A two-dimensional finite element model, which incorporates the essential anatomical structures of a finger: skin, subcutaneous tissue, bone, and nail, has been proposed to analyze the effects of vibration amplitude, frequency, and preindentation on the dynamic interaction between the fingerpad and vibrating probe. The simulation results suggest that the fraction of time over which the skin separates from the probe during vibration increases with increasing vibration frequency and amplitude, and decreases with increased preindentation of the probe. The preindentation of the probe has been found to significantly reduce the trend of skin/probe decoupling. The simulation results show reasonably consistent trends with the reported experimental data. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2003: 8719Rr, 8719Bb, 8710+e
Ultrasound time-reversal MUSIC imaging with diffraction and attenuation compensation

Time-reversal imaging with multiple signal classification (TR-MUSIC) is an algorithm for imaging point-like scatterers embedded in a homogeneous and non-attenuative medium. We generalize this algorithm to account for the attenuation in the medium and the diffraction effects caused by the finite size of the transducer elements. The generalized algorithm yields higher-resolution images than those obtained with the original TR-MUSIC algorithm. We evaluate the axial and lateral resolutions of the images obtained with the generalized algorithm when noise corrupts the recorded signals and show that the axial resolution is degraded more than the lateral resolution. The TR-MUSIC algorithm is valid only when the number of point-like targets in the imaging plane is fewer than the number of transducer elements used to interrogate the medium. We remedy this shortcoming by dividing the imaging plane into subregions and applying the TR-MUSIC algorithm to the windowed backscattered signals corresponding to each subregion. The images of all subregions are then combined to form the total image. Imaging results of numerical and phantom data show that when the number of scatterers within each subregion is much smaller than the number of transducer elements, the windowing method yields super-resolution images with accurate scatterer localization. We use computer simulations and tissue-mimicking phantom data acquired with a real-time synthetic-aperture ultrasound system to illustrate the algorithms presented in the paper.
Enhanced Remedial Amendment Delivery through Fluid Viscosity Modifications: Experiments and numerical simulations

Low-permeability zones are typically bypassed when remedial fluids are injected into subsurface heterogeneous aquifer systems. Therefore, contaminants in the bypassed areas may not be contacted by the amendments in the remedial fluid, which may significantly prolong remediation operations. Laboratory experiments and numerical studies have been conducted to investigate the use of a shear-thinning polymer (Xanthan gum) to improve access to low-permeability zones in heterogeneous systems. The chemicals sodium mono-phosphate and the surfactant MA-80 were used as the remedial amendments. The impact of polymer concentration, fluid injection rate, and permeability contrast in the heterogeneous systems has been studied in a series of eleven two-dimensional flow cell experiments. The Subsurface Transport over Multiple Phases (STOMP) simulator was modified to include polymer-induced shear-thinning effects. The experimental and simulation results clearly show that using the polymer leads to an enhanced delivery of remedial amendments to lower-permeability zones and an increased sweeping efficiency. An added benefit of using the polymer is the stabilization of the displacing front when density differences exist between displaced and displacing fluids. The modified STOMP simulator was able to predict the experimental observed fluid displacing behavior well and might be used to predict subsurface remediation performance when a shear-thinning fluid is used to remediate a heterogeneous system at larger scales.
Assessment of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) spawning efforts in the lower St. Clair River, Michigan

One of the most threatened remaining populations of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes is found in the connecting channels between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Only two spawning grounds are presently known to be active in this region, and both are in the St. Clair River. The spawning reef in the St. Clair River delta has been recently colonized by round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in densities up to 25/m2, raising concerns regarding predation on the benthic-oriented eggs and larvae of the sturgeon. Investigations in 1998–1999 showed that while round goby predation does occur, a number of other factors may be equally affecting sturgeon spawning success, including few spawning adults (< 60), suspected poaching pressure, low retention rate of eggs on the reef, low hatch rate (∼0.5%), the presence of organic contaminants, and predation from native and exotic invertebrates and fish. Overall, we estimate that less than 1% of the eggs deposited during a spawning run survive to hatch. We were able to increase the egg hatch rate to 16% by placing eggs in predator-exclusion chambers on the reef. The fate of the larvae is uncertain. Two weeks after hatching, no larvae were found on the reef. We were unable to find them anywhere else in the river, nor was predation on larvae noted in either year. There were factors other than predation affecting larval survival in 1999. There was a higher silt load on the reef than in 1998 and large numbers of dead larvae were found. Recruitment success from this site could be improved by utilizing techniques to increase the number of eggs on the reef, such as reducing the illegal take of adult fish and by placing eggs in predator-exclusion chambers to increase hatch rate.
Plucked Strings and the Harpsichord

Abstract The excitation of a harpsichord string when it is set into motion, i.e., plucked, by a plectrum is studied. We find that the amplitude of the resulting string vibration is approximately independent of the velocity with which the key is depressed. This result is in accord with conventional wisdom, but at odds with a recent theoretical model. A more realistic theoretical treatment of the plucking process is then described, and shown to be consistent with our measurements. The experiments reveal several other interesting aspects of the plectrum–string interaction.
Regulatory potential for concerted modulation of Nrf2- and Nfkb1-mediated gene expression in inflammation and carcinogenesis.

Many studies have implicated nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-κB1 (Nfkb1) in inflammation and cancer. However, the regulatory potential for crosstalk between these two important transcription factors in inflammation and carcinogenesis has not been explored. To delineate conserved transcription factor-binding site signatures, we performed bioinformatic analyses on the promoter regions of human and murine Nrf2 and Nfkb1. We performed multiple sequence alignment of Nrf2 and Nfkb1 genes in five mammalian species – human, chimpanzee, dog, mouse and rat – to explore conserved biological features. We constructed a canonical regulatory network for concerted modulation of Nrf2 and Nfkb1 involving several members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family and present a putative model for concerted modulation of Nrf2 and Nfkb1 in inflammation/carcinogenesis. Our results reflect potential for putative crosstalk between Nrf2 and Nfkb1 modulated through the MAPK cascade that may influence inflammation-associated etiopathogenesis of cancer. Taken together, the elucidation of potential relationships between Nrf2 and Nfkb1 may help to better understand transcriptional regulation, as well as transcription factor networks, associated with the etiopathogenesis of inflammation and cancer.
Employment and Satisfaction Outcomes From a Job Retention Intervention Delivered to Persons with Chronic Diseases

Job retention services are recommended for people with chronic diseases based on their high risk for work disability. This randomized trial tested the effectiveness of a job retention intervention ...
Specifying the scope of 13-month-olds' expectations for novel words.

Recent research has documented that for infants as young as 12-13 months of age, novel words (both count nouns and adjectives) highlight commonalities among objects and, in this way, foster the formation of object categories. The current experiment was designed to capture more precisely the scope of this phenomenon. We asked whether novel words (count nouns; adjectives) are linked specifically to category-based commonalities from the start, or whether they also direct infants' attention to a wider range of commonalities, including property-based commonalities among objects (e.g. color, texture). The results indicate that by 12-13 months, (1) infants have begun to distinguish between novel words presented as count nouns versus. adjectives in fluent, infant-directed speech, and (2) infants expectations for novel words accord with this emerging sensitivity.
Using You Tube to enhance student class preparation in an introductory Java course

We provided 21 short YouTube videos for an Introduction to Programming in Java course. Students were surveyed on how often they watched the videos and did the readings, and how much these activites contributed to their learning. When professors reduced lecture time and increased lab time, students watched videos and read significantly more. Their test scores were at least as high and they indicated they would prefer to not have more lecture. The YouTube videos also provided a source of outreach for the university, drawing a large number of views, including the 13-17 year-old demographic.