cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The design of environmental markets: What have we learned from experience with cap and trade?

This article reviews the design of environmental markets for pollution control over the past 30 years, and identifies key market-design lessons for future applications. The focus is on a subset of the cap-and-trade systems that have been implemented, planned, or proposed around the world. Three criteria led us to the selection of systems for review. First, among the broader class of tradable permit systems, our focus is exclusively on cap-and-trade mechanisms, thereby excluding emission-reduction-credit or offset programmes. Second, among cap-and-trade mechanisms, we examine only those that target pollution abatement, and so we do not include applications to natural resource management, such as individual transferable quota systems used to regulate fisheries. Third, we focus on the most prominent applications—those that are particularly important environmentally, economically, or both.
Discovering, Analyzing, and Managing Safety Stories in Agile Projects

Traditionally, safety-critical projects have been developed using the waterfall process. However, this makes it costly and challenging to incrementally introduce new features and to certify the modified product for use. As a result, there has been increasing interest in adopting agile development paradigms within the safety-critical domain. This in turn introduces numerous challenges. In this paper we address the specific problems of discovering, analyzing, specifying, and managing safety requirements within the agile Scrum process. We propose SafetyScrum, a methodology that augments the Scrum lifecycle with incrementally applied safety-related activities and introduces the notion of "safety debt" for incrementally tracking the current safety status of a project. We demonstrate the viability of SafetyScrum for managing safety stories in an agile development environment by applying it to a project in which our existing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle system is enhanced to support a River-Rescue scenario.
Yeast Models of Prion-Like Proteins That Cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Reveal Pathogenic Mechanisms

Many proteins involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are remarkably similar to proteins that form prions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These ALS-associated proteins are not orthologs of yeast prion proteins, but are similar in having long, intrinsically disordered domains that are rich in hydrophilic amino acids. These so-called prion-like domains are particularly aggregation-prone and are hypothesized to participate in the mislocalization and misfolding processes that occur in the motor neurons of ALS patients. Methods developed for characterizing yeast prions have been adapted to studying ALS-linked proteins containing prion-like domains. These yeast models have yielded major discoveries, including identification of new ALS genetic risk factors, new ALS-causing gene mutations, and insights into how disease mutations enhance protein aggregation.
3D printed structures for optimized carbon capture technology in packed bed columns

ABSTRACTThe use of 3D printed structured packing for the optimization of aqueous-amine based carbon capture in packed absorption columns is examined in this paper. An experimental testing system ha...
Utility of open surgical lung biopsy in children.

Abstract Introduction Open lung biopsy (OLB) is commonly used to obtain a definitive histological diagnosis in children with respiratory disorders. This allows correct treatment pathways to be followed and guides discussions surrounding prognosis. Our aim was to determine if OLB is useful in obtaining a conclusive diagnosis in a child with complex respiratory disease. Materials and methods In total, 179 OLB episodes were identified in children under 18 years from 2006 to 2016. Biopsies confirming congenital thoracic malformations or pulmonary metastatic disease were excluded. Results 42 patients had 44 episodes of OLB in the period studied. A definitive histological diagnosis was reached in 35 (79%) cases. There were no deaths directly attributable to OLB surgery. Conclusion OLB contributed substantially in obtaining a definitive diagnosis for our patient population, no increase in mortality. It allowed targeted treatment and provided valuable prognostic information on the likely progression of the disease so families could plan for palliation where appropriate.
Software and System Reliability Engineering for Autonomous Systems Incorporating Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have attracted significant interest as enablers of autonomous systems. However, these techniques are susceptible to a variety of failures as well as adversarial attacks, suggesting the need for formal reliability and resilience engineering methods. Tempered by the knowledge that machine learning is not a panacea and that private industry, infrastructure management, and defense systems are regularly subject to external attack, it is essential to assess the possible failures and corresponding consequences that these technologies may inadvertently introduce. This paper seeks to bridge the gap between traditional and emerging methods to support the engineering of autonomous systems incorporating machine learning. Toward this end we seek to synthesize methods from established fields such as system and reliability engineering as well as software testing with recent trends in the design and test of machine learning algorithms. The proposed approach should provide organizations with additional structure to comprehend and allocate their risk mitigation efforts in order to address issues that will inevitably arise from these less well understood technologies.
Factors Predicting Detrimental Change in Declarative Memory Among Women With HIV: A Study of Heterogeneity in Cognition

Objective: Statistical techniques used to study cognitive function in HIV typically yield normative estimates and can mask the heterogeneity in cognitive trajectories over time. We applied a novel statistical approach to identify clusters of individuals with distinct patterns of change in declarative memory in HIV-seropositive (HIV+) and HIV-seronegative (HIV-) women. Methods: 1731 women from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study, a multi-center, prospective cohort study, completed the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HLVT-R) at > 2 visits. To derive subgroups with similar patterns of decline by HIV-serostatus, we used a mixed-effects framework that modeled the trajectory of multiple declarative memory outcomes over time, while simultaneously clustering individuals. Results: Of the 1731 participants, 1149 were HIV+, (70% Black/African American [AA]; 30% White/Other [W/O]) and 582 were HIV- (68% AA; 32% W/O). Race stratification was necessary to optimize clustering. Among HIV+AA’s, four subgroups emerged: a subgroup with minimal decline, two with accelerated decline, and one with stable but low performance. In HIV- AA, three subgroups emerged: one with minimal decline and two with accelerated decline. In multivariable-adjusted models among HIV+, individuals with accelerated decline were less educated (P<0.001) and more likely to have a history of depression (P<0.001) versus those with minimal decline. Similar subgroups were identified in W/O HIV+ and W/O HIV- participants. Conclusions: We identified clinically meaningful subgroups of women with distinct phenotypes of declarative memory decline, which depend on race and HIV-serostatus using a data driven approach. Identification of underlying mechanisms and risk factors contributing to the observed differences are warranted. More broadly our modeling approach could be other populations to identify risk factors for accelerated cognitive decline and to personalize interventions.
Microscale Carbon Cycling Between Bacteria and Algae Under the Sun

Photosynthetic planktonic algae in the aquatic biosphere exert a profound influence on the carbon cycle and will in part determine our planet’s response to climate change. The microbial world surrounding these organisms, also known as their microbiome, have direct cell-to-cell interactions with them and in turn affect small-scale cycling of elements one tiny volume of water at a time. The difficulty of studying the interaction of microorganisms at the single cell scale, as well as the lack of an approach to transfer this information to better understand large-scale biogeochemical processes, has hampered our ability to accurately predict the response of aquatic ecosystems to external factors such as pollution and climate change. In addition, these processes are not well-linked to those in other ecosystems (soil, groundwater, the atmosphere), which would be needed to help predict the global microbial biogeochemical response to our ever-changing climate. A coordinated scientific effort across agencies and beyond borders is now required to tackle this problem, as this is no longer an issue solely for curious academic researchers. Instead, as a national and international security issue, government agencies must increase their involvement in aquatic carbon cycling research to ultimately solve this issue of global importance. Our future depends on it.
CLLLC Dual Active Bridge with Novel Insulation Approach for SST Applications

This paper proposes a new insulation approach to meet the medium-voltage (MV) isolation requirements of the DC-DC converter modules in a Solid-State Transformer (SST) or Power Electronic Transformer (PET). The proposed approach simplifies the fabrication and cooling requirements of the MV transformer. The isolation strategy results in relatively higher leakage inductance and lowers magnetizing inductance for the transformer. A phase-shift controlled CL’L’LC resonant dual active bridge is proposed as the ideal topology to effectively utilize the transformer and meet the control needs. The designed converter maintains zero voltage switching at all load conditions, even at no-load. The phase-shift modulation provides a smooth transition from forward power to reverse power and vice versa. An 80 kW, 800 V to 800 V, 50 kHz converter prototype is fabricated. The MV transformer is designed to have more than 90 mm creepage and 50 mm clearance, and 12 kV dielectric withstand capability. Detailed fabrication details for the MV transformer are given. Steady-state waveforms at no-load and full-load validate the ZVS of all devices over the entire load range. To prove the ease of controllability, hardware result for a step-change in power from 80 kW to -80 kW is given. Measured rated power efficiency is 98.63%, and peak efficiency is 98.85% measured at 60% load.
Predicting Osteopathic Medical Student Performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge From Results of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation.

Background To improve their standing in residency selection, many osteopathic medical students choose to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Although scores on USMLE Step 1 and Level 1 of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) are known to be highly correlated, scarce data exist on the association between COMLEX-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE) and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and USMLE Step 2 CK scores and derive an equation to predict performance on USMLE Step 2 CK for applicants who have only taken COMLEX-USA. Methodology We reviewed COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and USMLE Step 2 CK scores for all students at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine from May 2020 to April 2021. Linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and USMLE Step 2 CK scores. Results A total of 340 students took both COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and USMLE Step 2 CK. There was a linear association between COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and USMLE Step 2 CK scores such that every one-point increase in COMLEX-USA was associated with a 0.13-point increase in USMLE Step 2 CK score (standard error = 9.1; model R2 = 0.64). Conclusions Students or programs interested in predicting performance on USMLE Step 2 CK from performance on COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE can do so using the following equation: USMLE Step 2 CK = 0.13(COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE) + 163.5.
Conserved Noncoding Sequences in Plant Genomes

Plant genomes carry a great diversity of all sorts of sequences and many have functions. Some of these sequences specify functions important to the plant by encoding RNA sequences, some of which (genes or coding domain sequences) encode proteins. Some sequences encode binding functions important to the plant, such as the DNA sites near genes that bind regulatory proteins (motifs), while others may function to block the binding or movement of chromosomal proteins (e.g. insulators). One of the goals of molecular biology studies is to discover the exact functions specified by the genome. However, this is not a simple task. A typical plant has about 30,000 genes, and this does not include genes that function largely selfishly such as most transposons. All of these about 30,000 genes encode one or more messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and many of these genes contain different parts: introns, exons, RNA binding sites, DNA binding sites and similar. Somewhere near the transcriptional units of a gene comprised of its coding regions are the chromosomal regulatory regions that enable the gene to be a part of one or more biological pathways or networks, transcription factor binding sites, enhancer sites, insulator sites and so forth. Added up, there are “millions” of specific DNA sequences that carry specific coding, binding or blocking functions important to gene function sequences with a chromosomal start, stop and strand. We know something functional, however vague, about several thousand of these sequences and almost nothing about the meaning of their combinations.
Michigan Peremptory Orders: A Supreme Oddity

Michigan Court Rule 7.302(H)(1) (the "peremptory order rule") authorizes the Supreme Court to affirm or reverse a Court of Appeals judgment summarily upon an application for leave to appeal. The rule contrasts starkly with rules of other state supreme courts and its frequent use has proven controversial. The paper includes a comprehensive Appendix of the rules on discretionary appeals procedures in other states with intermediate appellate courts. The rules in other states invariably provide only for granting or denying review of an application and, if granted, full briefing follows. Concerns of selectivity and restraint separate this first question of appeal-worthiness from the ultimate determination of its merits of the question presented. These high court customs for discretionary appeals are tempered to allow expedited ruling in emergency or if a party's right to immediate relief is clear to the entire court, e.g., as in mandamus. Michigan’s Supreme Court followed this practice throughout most of the 20th Century. Except in emergencies, applications for leave were either granted or denied; if granted, the parties filed briefs on the question. The paper traces the origin of Michigan's so-called "peremptory order" rule to practices of issuing prerogative writs of prohibition and mandamus: such summary orders issued only in such cases of clear entitlement to the relief, or in emergencies. Yet, when the Michigan Court of Appeals was established in 1964, the Supreme Court hurriedly added a rule (without notice) giving itself the power to summarily reverse any decision of that new court on any application for leave to appeal, even when no emergency existed. The paper documents how the peremptory rule was rarely invoked until the mid-1970’s, when the Court began using it regularly as a docket-clearing device. The paper gives examples of the Court’s peremptory rulings, which are either terse orders with no statement of reasons or per curiam opinions. It also explores how summary reversals of Court of Appeals’ decisions have routinely issued over dissents from one or more of the Justices.The paper concludes that Michigan’s rule and its peremptory orders are aberrant and unwarranted uses of judicial power. It recommends that the bench and bar reflect on the costs and benefits of the Court’s peremptory order regime and that – at a minimum – the Supreme Court amend M.C.R. 7.302(H)(1) to restrict it to cases of bona fide emergency or where the Justices unanimously support summary disposition.
Maturing monitoring agents into model based diagnostic agents for ground processing of the Space Shuttle and future exploration

NASA Kennedy Space Center deploys rule-based software agents to help monitor the Space Shuttle ground telemetry data. The agents recognize predefined measurement patterns and issue notifications to Shuttle Engineers when various events occur. Hundreds of rules for thousands of measurements have been written. Currently, these agents possess only shallow knowledge. They do not lend themselves to more complex tasks, such as autonomously diagnosing hardware failures in the ground support equipment. Processing and preparing a Space Shuttle for launch requires the verification of thousands of end items, such as pumps, valves, relays, and batteries. Diagnosing hardware problems within this extensive array of ground support equipment is a labor intensive task. It requires thousands of person hours for each processing flow of the Space Shuttle. Reasoning about the structure and behavior of the ground processing systems is ubiquitous in this real-time environment. Automating this diagnostic task would not only benefit today's ground processing needs, but pave the path for infusing autonomy into future support systems that may operate on various non-terrestrial surfaces including lunar, Martian, and orbiting spaceports. When failures in surface support equipment occur in these remote locations, an army of humans-in-the-loop, as present in today's Space Shuttle ground processing environment, will simply not be available. Thus, higher degrees of diagnostic automation becomes even more essential for remote surface support processing and operations. This paper presents an evolution path for maturing today's monitoring agents into model based diagnostic agents that can benefit both the Space Shuttle and future Exploration vehicles. This will enable more automated inference of the location of end item failures. We discuss the identification of knowledge patterns within the existing Space Shuttle ground support domain, the migration of rule sets towards an XML like representation, and the introduction of an assumption based truth maintenance system to leverage this knowledge base.
Stixrude receives James B. Macelwane Medal

Lars P. Stixrude was awarded the James B. Macelwane Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on December 8, 1998, in San Francisco, California. The medal recognizes significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by a young scientist of outstanding ability.
The rates of the major steps in the molecular mechanism of RNase H1-dependent antisense oligonucleotide induced degradation of RNA

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are most commonly designed to reduce targeted RNA via RNase H1-dependent degradation, however kinetic parameters for ASO-mediated targeting and subsequent cleavage and degradation of RNA in living cells are poorly understood. In this manuscript we use an inducible minigene system to determine the time course of ASO activity in the cell. Estimates of the time required for the ASO to enter and traverse the cell, scan the target mRNA, bind the cognate site, recruit RNase H1 and initiate cleavage, are presented in the context of transcription and mRNA processing rates. Data are also presented which indicate that rates for RNase H1-dependent ASO-mediated degradation of the targeted RNAs are different for nuclear-retained versus RNAs exported to the cytoplasm and that the level of RNase H1 in the cell and cellular compartments is limiting to the rate of ASO activity. In both cellular compartments RNase H1 ASOs essentially double the endogenous rates of clearance of the target RNA. Overexpression of Escherichia coli RNase H1 or the presence of multiple cognate sites each further increase the rate of target RNA degradation.
The initiation of pulmonary respiration in a bird embryo: tidal volume and frequency.

Pulmonary ventilation in embryos and hatchlings of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus), measured with a barometric plethysmograph, revealed a progressive rise in tidal volume (Vt) and minute volume (VE) during the paranatall period to achieve hatchlings levels. VT and VE in internally pipped eggs (penetration of air cell) was 0.06 ml±0.03 (SD) and 3.11 ml·min−1±1.80, respectively. Ventilation was significantly higher (P<0.05) in eggs with pip-holes (VT=0.5 ml±0.04 and VE=7.09 ml·min−1±2.76). A significant difference (P<0.05) was also obtained for VT and VE between embryos and hatchlings chicks. The respiratory frequency (f) was approximately 47 breaths·min−1 for both embryos and chicks. Acute changes in ventilation were examined in response to 2% CO2, 5% CO2, and 10% CO2 in air. For embryos, VT increased significantly (P<0.05) only with 10% CO2 and was accompanied by a significant decrease (P<0.05) in f. Hatchling VT increased significantly (P<0.05) with each test gas and VE increased significantly (P<0.05) with acute exposure to 5% CO2, from 16.5 ml·min−1±2.0 in normoxic air to 53.9 ml·min−±8.6. The shearwater embryo is relatively insensitive to high levels of CO2, suggesting a respiratory adaptation to naturally inspired air cell gas concentrations during the internal pipping phase and rebreathing.
Facility for stress corrosion cracking of irradiated specimens in supercritical water

This paper presents the capability to conduct stress corrosion cracking experiments on neutron-irradiated material in supercritical water for application to the GenIV supercritical water reactor concept. The Irradiated Materials Testing Laboratory (IMTL) is dedicated to performing stress corrosion cracking experiments of neutron-irradiated specimens in supercritical water in both content extension rate tensile mode and crack growth rate mode and to conduct analysis of the morphology and composition of the fracture surface via scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis.
Use of Two Feeds in Simulated Moving Beds for Binary Separations

Simulated moving bed (SMB) and Analog systems with two-feeds are proposed to increase the separation performance. Operation with both total and partial feeds is studied. When the two feeds have different compositions, the proposed SMB system often showed better performance than conventional SMB and Varicol systems and the Analog system with two-feeds typically achieved higher purities compared to the Analog for conventional SMB and Varicol when the number of tanks was increased. Partial-feed operation strategy for SMB and Analog systems with two-feeds often showed significant performance improvement compared to conventional SMB plus partial feed and Varicol plus partial feed. When the two feeds are identical, partial feed operation of the two-feed SMB becomes identical to partial feed operation of Varicol.
Carbon dioxide anesthesia of the face fly, Musca autumnalis De Geer: effects of temperature and oxygen on knockdown rate.

1. 1. Two factors which when varied produce changes in the rate of metabolism are temperature and oxygen concentration. 2. 2. When temperature was varied between 5 and 25°C, a Q10 of 2 for the rate of knockdown of face flies was found with a 35% carbon dioxide-20% oxygen mixture. The rate of knockdown was inversely related to temperature. 3. 3. At constant carbon dioxide levels a linear relationship between knockdown and oxygen level below 5 per cent occurs. Above 5% oxygen, further increases in oxygen are without effect on the rate of knockdown. 4. 4. It is possible to produce knockdown at 5°C with 20% oxygen and carbon dioxide between 5–10%.
Computer-Aided Software Engineering - An approach to real-time software development

A new software engineering discipline is Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE), a technology aimed at automating the software development process. This paper explores the development of CASE technology, particularly in the area of real-time/scientific/engineering software, and a history of CASE is given. The proposed software development environment for the Advanced Launch System (ALS CASE) is described as an example of an advanced software development system for real-time/scientific/engineering (RT/SE) software. The Automated Programming Subsystem of ALS CASE automatically generates executable code and corresponding documentation from a suitably formatted specification of the software requirements. Software requirements are interactively specified in the form of engineering block diagrams. Several demonstrations of the Automated Programming Subsystem are discussed.
Mechanism of cellobiose epimerase

Abstract The mechanism of the epimerization of cellobiose to 4-0-β- d -glucopyranosyl- d -mannose by enzyme preparations from Ruminococcus albus was investigated in deuterium oxide. Only the proton of carbon-two of the reducing moiety is exchanged during the conversion. Cellobiulose is not isomerized by this system. A proposed mechanism involves a carbanion-type but no keto intermediate in this unique epimerization.
Influence of Solvent on the Spectroscopic Properties of Cyano Complexes of Ruthenium(II)

UV−visible spectra, emission spectra, and RuIII/II reduction potentials have been measured for cis-[Ru(bpy)2(py)(CN)]+ (bpy is 2,2‘-bipyridine; py is pyridine), cis-Ru(bpy)2(CN)2, [Ru(tpy)(CN)3]- (tpy is 2,2‘:6‘,2‘‘-terpyridine), [Ru(bpy)(CN)4]2-, and [Ru(MQ+)(CN)5]2- (MQ+ is N-methyl-4,4‘-bipyridinium cation) in twelve solvents. The shifts in the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption (Eabs) or emission (Eem) band energies with solvent increase linearly with the number of cyano ligands and correlate well with the Gutmann “acceptor number” of the solvent. Intraligand π → π* band energies also correlate with acceptor number, but with only ∼30% of the shifts for the MLCT bands. The solvent dependence arises through mixing of the π → π* transitions with lower energy MLCT transitions. MLCT absorption and emission spectra are convolutions of overlapping vibronic components, and a Franck−Condon analysis of emission spectral profiles for cis-Ru(bpy)2(CN)2* has been used to evaluate the energy gap, E0,...
Relationship, Power, and Other Influences on Self-Protective Sexual Behaviors of African American Female Adolescents

This study examined risky sexual behaviors, gender, and power issues affecting risk taking, and factors most likely to promote self-protection among female African American adolescents. A cross-sectional design was used for data collection. The sample included 130 adolescents ranging from 14 to 20 years of age, who completed questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis resulted in two models that accounted for 23% and 37% of the variance. Behavioral intention, partner age, pregnancy status, current substance use, and length of sexual relationship were statistically significant predictor variables. Behavioral intentions, in particular, were found to be a strong predictor of condom use among African American youth.
First Year Seminars Produce Long-Term Impact:

In an effort to provide insight into a strategy for increasing student retention, students enrolled in a first year seminar were paired with a matched comparison group, and retention of the 1,853 s...
Sequential single agents as first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: a strategy derived from the results of GOG-132

First-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer during the past decade has evolved toward the use of carboplatin and paclitaxel combinations. This has been based on randomized trials showing that combinations of these two drugs lead to a outcome similar to that obtained using cisplatin and paclitaxel (that had, in turn, proven superior in progression-free survival and overall survival to cisplatin and cyclophosphamide) but with less toxicity. Surprisingly, taxane-platinum combinations were not superior to control arms in two studies (ICON3 and GOG-132) utilizing carboplatin or cisplatin as the comparators. This has renewed interest in the role of single agents in first-line chemotherapy - a concept also supported by a number of prior clinical trials with single-agent platinum compounds yielding results not inferior to combinations. Early 'pre-emptive' crossover (prior to the stipulated clinical progression) to paclitaxel or a paclitaxel-containing regimen, however, occurred in 24% of patients initially treated with cisplatin on GOG-132. This has led to the interpretation of this trial as a combination versus sequential design. Although not subscribing to this interpretation, the results of GOG-132 and ICON3 not only raise doubts over a clear superiority of combinations over single agents but also lead to a consideration of sequential treatment designs for first line. Advantages of such designs are: (a) ability to provide 'dose-dense' platinums followed by 'dose-dense' paclitaxel and, perhaps, other drugs; and (b) the potential of acquiring biological data linked to the antitumor effects of a specific drug. Mathematical modeling and recent positive results in breast cancer adjuvant therapy support the use of 'dose-dense' strategies, and these should be considered in the design of future trials in ovarian cancer.
Carbenicillin therapy of severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

Abstract Twenty-eight patients with severe infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated with the semi-synthetic penicillin, carbenicillin. Twenty-four of the 28 patients had major underlying medical problems, and 18 patients had been treated with gentamicin or the polymyxins with little or no effect prior to carbenicillin therapy. Five of the 10 patients with pneumonia were cured or showed marked improvement, eight of 11 patients with septicemia, one patient with wound infection and all five patients with urinary tract infection were cured. Rather rapid step-wise resistance to carbenicillin was noted in pseudomonas strains isolated from 4 patients failing to respond to carbenicillin therapy, and has led to the recommendation of combined usage with gentamicin in severe infections. A 7 yr-old girl with reduced kidney function had 2 episodes of motor seizures due to carbenicillin overdosage. Six patients had minor side-effects. Carbenicillin represents a major advance in the therapy of severe pseudomonas infections.
The Role of Trustworthiness in Teaching: An Examination of "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie".

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that trustworthiness plays in the ability of teachers to function as moral role models. Through exploration of Muriel Spark’s novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, I explain some of the central features of trustworthiness as a moral virtue and suggest how these features are critical to developing moral relationships between teachers and students. I show how and why the character of Miss Jean Brodie fails to embody trustworthiness, and how moral philosophy and psychological insight are bound up with teachers’ efforts to treat students well and to behave in ways that morally warrant the trust most of us typically grant them. Finally, I propose some of the important implications this analysis has for teacher education.
Students' attitudes towards computer testing in a basic science course.

Objectives The introduction of computerized testing offers several advantages for test administration, however, little research has examined students’ attitudes toward computerized testing. This paper, reports the attitudes of 202 students in a first year cell biology and histology course toward computerized testing and its influence on their study habits over a three year period. Design and methods Multiple choice and image-based extra credit examinations and summative image-based examinations have been successfully administered in the course. The results indicate that students readily accept computer exams and that their study habits were influenced in a positive manner by the computer administered extra-credit examinations. Results Our results provide further evidence that medical students like the use of computer administered examinations and that the examinations may actually accentuate the learning experience.
Continuous Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging During Untreated Ventricular Fibrillation

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was performed in 6 swine after the induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF). With use of a 1.5-T GE Signa NV-CV/i scanner (GE Medical Systems), data were acquired with a steady-state, free-precession pulse sequence (repetition time=3.7 ms, echo time=1.6 ms, α=45°, matrix=224×224, field of view=36×27 cm2, slice …
Incentives, iterative communication, and organizational control

This paper defines a class of incentive mechanisms for decentralized organizations when communication between the members of the organization must, a priori, be iterative in nature. Payoff functions for the members of the organization are defined and these functions along with the set of possible member strategies are viewed as defining an N-person game. We define a solution concept for this game that has the following properties: the members of the organization (nontrivially) maximize their payoffs at a “solution” and the overall organizational goals are achieved by any “solution.” Acting in accordance with the behavioral rules of the organization, i.e., “telling the truth,” is shown to be among the “solutions” to the game. Thus, the members of the organization are shown to have an incentive to follow these rules, since doing so is an individually optimal strategy that is, in some sense, easy to calculate. Arrow [I] has defined the problem of organizational control as consisting of two parts: (1) the choice of operating (behavioral) rules, i.e., communication and decision making rules and (2) the choice of enforcement rules, i.e., rules that induce the members of the organization to follow the operating rules.’ There is a vast literature in economics concerned with the definition and/or analysis of operating rules for decentralized organizations, theoretical planning procedures being the most obvious [2, 14, 18].2 These various
Expected family size and perceived status deprivation among high school senior women.

Recent research and the increased visibility of the women’s liberation movement have raised questions concerning the influence of changing attitudes of women on their family size intentions. A sample of 238 high school senior women was drawn to test a causal model in which several structural variables and attitudes concerning the role of women were seen as influencing career, education, and marital expectations. It was proposed that these life-style expectations along with the causally prior structural and attitudinal variables would influence family size expectations. Although very little variation in fertility expectations was explained, the differential effects of the model on the two transformed expected family size variables yielded substantively significant results.
The TOADS A New American Urban Epidemic

This article is an exploratory study of Temporarily Obsolete Abandoned Derelict Sites (TOADS)-that is, deserted industrial sites and housing projects. Interviews with city planning departments and/...
Sodalites as ultramicroporous frameworks for hydrogen separation at elevated temperatures: thermal stability, template removal, and hydrogen accessibility

Sodalite (SOD) is a highly promising porous structure for hydrogen separation from larger gas molecules due to the presence of small (∼2.8 A) six-membered ring openings of the sodalite cages. Thermal stability, template removal, and the release of encapsulated hydrogen were studied for low-silica (Si/Al = 1), high-silica (Si/Al = 5) and pure-silica (Si/Al = ∞) sodalites. The release of encapsulated hydrogen from sodalite cages was observed at 380, 550, and 480 °C for low-silica, high-silica and pure-silica sodalites, respectively, suggesting the operating temperatures for hydrogen separation employing these sodalite structures.
Conformation state of the ryanodine receptor and functional effects of ryanodine on skeletal muscle

The ryanodine receptor (RyR) and the dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor (L-channels) comprise the main elements of the functional feet of the triadic element in skeletal muscle. These two main elements have conformational states that are regulated by the membrane potential and the consequent electrical field. The pharmacological action of ryanodine on skeletal muscle depends upon the physiological functional state of the RyR. At a resting potential of -90 m V, ryanodine at very low concentrations, 10(-11) M, causes the RyR to have a low conductance state which allows calcium to leak from the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and to be recycled with ATP utilization, leading to a marked increase in oxygen consumption and aerobic metabolism. At concentrations greater than 10(-6) M, ryanodine can cause a slowly developing contracture of resting muscle, inhibit the muscle twitch when the RyR complex is formed during stimulation, and, if formed before stimulation, accelerate the development of contracture. Biochemical studies have revealed that the RyR has four binding sites in which the conductance state depends upon the number of sites occupied by ryanodine. Our present understanding of the RyR-operated calcium channel is the result of an interdisciplinary approach in which each discipline (anatomy, physiology, biophysics, and biochemistry) contributes to our knowledge of the pharmacological action of ryanodine.
Modeling holocene changes in the location and abundance of beech populations in Eastern North America

Abstract Maps of Holocene changes in pollen percentages show changes in the magnitude and location of taxon abundances. They also show changes in the patterns of decreasing abundance around the areas of maximum abundance. Transport equations with source/sink, advection, and diffusion terms provide analogs for modeling these different components of continent-scale population dynamics. We used recently developed numerical techniques to fit such a transport equation to Holocene changes in beech ( Fagus ) pollen percentages along a transect between Tennessee and southern Quebec. A constant coefficient model explained 91% of the variance for the changes in beech pollen percentages between 8000 and 500 yr B.P. Estimated values for the coefficients were 9.6 km 2 /year for diffusion, 0.05 km/yr for advection, and 0.18/1000 yr for the exponent in the source/sink term. Perturbation and residual analysis showed these values to be robust and statistically sound. A second version of the transport model with temporally varying parameters for the source/sink term yielded small but significant improvement by explaining 94% of the variance. A plausible interpretation of the model results is that the changes in beech populations reflect spatial shifts in the multifactorial environmental conditions that are most favorable for the growth of beech trees.
Effects of Dust Control Coatings on Phosphorus Fertilizer Dissolution and Uptake

Granular phosphorus (P) fertilizers are often treated with coatings, such as oil or wax, to decrease dust production during packaging, shipping, storage, and spreading. Unconfirmed reports from the field suggest these coatings may negatively impact plant response to applied P fertilizers. A three-phase study was conducted to determine if these coatings significantly affect P dissolution rates, soil P test levels, P uptake, or yield. Coated and uncoated monoammonium phosphate granules were obtained from two fertilizer manufacturers. In Phase I, fertilizer dissolution rates in water were measured for fertilizer application rates representing both irrigated and dryland conditions. In Phase II, dissolution rates were evaluated in an acid-washed sand at two moisture contents. In Phase III, Olsen P, P uptake, and dry biomass in corn were measured in a low pH and high pH soil for both broadcast and incorporated fertilizer applications. Dust control coatings did not significantly decrease dissolution rates, Olsen...
The in-vitro effect of fungal dextranase on human dental plaque

Summary-Suspensions of dental plaque from eighteen children with high caries activity were hydrolyzed in vitro by a partially purified fungal dextranase isolated from Penicillium funiculosum NRRL 1768. The dextranase preparation appeared to lack 1,4glucanhydrolase and sucrase activity. The release of reducing substances from the plaque was measured by use of a 3,5-dinitrosalicylate reagent. Hydrolysis occurred at pH 5.1 but not at pH 7.0. Approximately 20 per cent of the total carbohydrate of plaque was consumed by the dextranase (2-3 per cent of the plaque dry weight). No isomaltose was found when the hydrolysates were analysed by a thin layer chromatography procedure which could detect as little as 0.1 pg of isomaltose. The findings suggest that the quantity of dextran in these plaque samples is low.
SOME EVIDENCE THAT BANKS USE INTERNAL CAPITAL MARKETS TO LOWER CAPITAL COSTS

To the extent raising external capital is especially costly for banks (as the preceding article suggests), bank managers have incentives to manage their internal cash flow in ways that minimize their need to raise external equity. One way to accomplish this is to establish bank holding companies that set up internal capital markets for the purpose of allocating scarce capital across their various subsidiaries. By “internal capital market” the authors mean a capital budgeting process in which all the lending and investment opportunities of the different subsidiaries are ranked according to their risk-adjusted returns; and all internal capital available for investment is then allocated to the highestranked opportunities until either the capital is exhausted or returns fall below the cost of capital, whichever comes first. As evidence of the operation of internal capital markets in bank holding companies, the authors report the following set of findings from their own recent studies: ▪ For large publicly traded bank holding companies, growth rates in lending are closely tied to the banks' internal cash flow and regulatory capital position. ▪ For the subsidiaries of bank holding companies, what matters most is the capital position and earnings of the holding companies and not of the subsidiaries themselves. ▪ The lending activity of banks affiliated with multiple bank holding companies appears to be less dependent on their own earnings and capital than the lending of unaffiliated banks. The authors also report that, after being acquired, previously unaffiliated banks increase their lending in local markets. This finding suggests that, contrary to the concerns of critics of bank consolidation, geographic consolidation may make banks more responsive to local lending opportunities.
Decreased Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum after coronary artery occlusion for 60 and 90 minutes.

Dogs were placed on total cardiopulmonary bypass and the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery was occluded for the duration of 15 min, 60 min or 90 min. In some experiments the coronary perfusion was restored after the occlusion. Fragments of sarcoplasmic reticulum were isolated from ischemic and nonischemic cardiac tissue and the Ca2+ transport mechanism of the reticulum was studied. The Ca2+ uptake of reticulum fragments obtained from cardiac tissue ischemic for 15 min was not impaired compared to the nonischemic control hearts. However, ischemia for 60 or 90 min caused impairment of Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from the ischemic tissue. The functional damage brought by coronary occlusion for 60 min could be reversed by the restoration of coronary circulation after the occlusion, but after occlusion for 90 min it was irreversible.
Determining the absolute, chemical-heterogeneity-corrected molar mass averages, distribution, and solution conformation of random copolymers

We present a method by which to obtain the absolute, chemical-heterogeneity-corrected molar mass (M) averages and distributions of copolymers and apply the method to a gradient random copolymer of styrene and methyl methacrylate in which the styrene percentage decreases from approximately 30% to 19% as a function of increasing molar mass. The method consists of separation by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with detection using multi-angle static light scattering (MALS), differential viscometry (VISC), differential refractometry (DRI), and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy (UV) and relies on the preferential absorption of styrene over methyl methacrylate at 260 nm. Using this quadruple-detector SEC/MALS/UV/VISC/DRI approach, the percentage of styrene (%St) in each elution slice is determined. This %St is then used to determine the specific refractive index increment, corrected for chemical composition, at each elution slice, which is then used to obtain the molar mass at each slice, corrected for chemical composition. From this corrected molar mass and from the chemical-composition-corrected refractometer response, the absolute, chemical-heterogeneity-corrected molar mass averages and distribution of the copolymer are calculated. The corrected molar mass and intrinsic viscosity at each SEC elution slice are used to construct a chemical-heterogeneity-corrected Mark–Houwink plot. The slice-wise-corrected M data are used, in conjunction with the MALS-determined R G,z of each slice, to construct a conformation plot corrected for chemical heterogeneity. The corrected molar mass distribution (MMD) of the gradient copolymer extends over an approximately 30,000 g/mol wider range than the uncorrected MMD. Additionally, correction of the Mark–Houwink and conformation plots for the effects of chemical heterogeneity shows that the copolymer adopts a more compact conformation in solution than originally concluded.
Effect of configuration on the binding of an electron to a fixed linear electric quadrupole

Abstract A quantum mechanical investigation has been made of the binding of an electron to a finite linear electric quadrupole in two configurations, one of which has two positive charges, each of charge + q , symmetrically placed about a negative charge -2 q , and the other has the signs of the charges reversed. When the expectation value of the Hamiltonian is minimized in a variational calculation using Gaussian wave functions and then set to equal zero, the solution of the resulting equation gives the value of the minimum quadrupole moment required to assure the existence of a bound state. It has been found that the ratio of minimum quadrupole moments required to bind an electron for the first and second configurations is 7.9.
The focus group: a tool for programme planning, assessment and decision‐making—an American view*

The objective of this paper is to describe the focus group process used with hospital librarians in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Southwest Region (NN/LM/PSR), in order to illustrate how focus groups can be effectively used in the library setting to plan programmes around identified needs. This paper explores the focus group methodology, a qualitative research technique, by discussing why it is used and the process involved in its use. Aspects of the methodology that are discussed include participant selection, question development, data analysis, and use of results in programme planning. The focus group findings assisted NN/LM/PSR in understanding the needs of hospital librarians related to integrating electronic resources into library services. The focus group data were used to determine the forum, content and speakers for a day-long symposium and subsequent planning meeting. The use of the focus group technique to assess the needs of a specific group on a specific issue resulted in activities and programmes that met these needs successfully. Based on the experiences detailed in this paper, the authors are confident that focus groups are an effective tool for programme planning, needs assessment and decision-making for all types of libraries.