cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superoxide and bone resorption.

Abstract The reaction of superoxide with nitroblue tetrazolium produces an electron-dense diformazan precipitate which can be used to localize areas of superoxide production. Transmission electron microscopy was used to demonstrate that difomazan granules formed by the reaction of nitroblue tetrazolium with excess superoxide are electron dense, whereas monoformazan granules generated by hydrogen peroxide were not. On the basis of these observations, superoxide formed along the osteoclast-bone interface was localized by demonstrating the electron-dense diformazan granules between the osteoclastic membrane and the bone surface. The formation of this reaction product was inhibited by a superoxide scavenger, the deferoxamine mesylate-manganese complex (the “green” complex), confirming the specificity of the reaction product. The scavenger also inhibited bone resorption. High concentrations of superoxide generated in vitro at a neutral pH degraded osteocalcin into numerous peptide fragments, demonstrating the ability of superoxide to break peptide bonds. These studies localize superoxide production to the ruffled border space and suggest that superoxide generated at the osteoclast-bone interface is involved in bone matrix degradation.
Phenomenological shortcut to dissipative tunneling

A phenomenological approach to dissipative tunneling, originally put forth by Pollak [Phys. Rev. A 33, 4244 (1986)], is discussed and contrasted with the bounce formalism. This phenomenological approach is based on the WKB theory for parabolic barrier tunneling. It is quite simple and readily evaluated. We study the results for the leading exponential dissipative decay rate in metastable potentials and contrast them with previous instanton-type (bounce-technique) calculations. In doing so, we compare the zero-temperature decay rate in various metastable potentials, different dissipation mechanisms, and also consider the rate enhancement at very low temperatures. One finds between the two methods unexpected good agreement at weak to moderate dissipation strength; the accuracy decreases with increasing dissipation strength and increasing deviation from a harmonic barrier shape.
Feeding the injured intestine: enteral nutrition in the critically ill patient.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The utilization of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients is frequently suboptimal. This may be due, in part, to ongoing controversies regarding appropriate use of enteral support, but there are also perceived barriers to its use even when there is good evidence that it can be given. This review was undertaken to outline some of these controversies and barriers to use of enteral nutrition in the ICU. RECENT FINDINGS Although the advantages of enteral nutrition may have been overstated, it remains preferable to parenteral nutrition for support of critically ill patients. Early initiation of enteral support is a reasonable approach. Many patients with perceived contraindications to enteral therapy are actually good candidates for its use. Frequent interruptions in enteral nutrition lead to suboptimal nutrient delivery, but might be overcome by use of specific protocols emphasizing safe and effective utilization of enteral support. SUMMARY Use of enteral nutritional support is recommended for critically ill patients requiring specialized nutritional support. Barriers to its use could be overcome by better educating providers about indications for use and by developing methods to avoid undue interruption of therapy.
Suspended sediment discharge as related to streamflow, topography, soil, and land use

The results of suspended-sediment sampling were used to obtain average annual suspended sediment discharge from 29 watersheds of western Oregon by relating sediment-sampling results to streamflow and by using streamflow frequencies. The values of average suspended sediment thus obtained were related by regression analysis to average watershed values of two streamflow variables, two topographic variables, two soil variables, and one channel bank variable. The soil variables were functions of particle size and aggregation determined by analyzing samples of the surface soil taken at standardized locations in the major geologic types. The other variables were functions of data published in maps and other secondary sources. The regression results were used (1) to construct a map of the sediment producing potential of lands in western Oregon under average land use conditions; (2) to estimate how the actual production of sediment would differ from the potential with deviation of land use from average; and (3) to distribute present sediment production to the three major source areas: forest land, agricultural land, and channel banks of the main river.
The Neuropsychology of Memory Illusions: False Recall and Recognition in Amnesic Patients

Abstract Memory illusions have been explored extensively in cognitive studies of normal memory, but hardly at all in neuropsychological research with amnesic patients. The present experiment examined false recall and recognition of nonstudied words that are preceded by a list of strong associates. We used the Deese (1959) paradigm, recently revived by Roediger and McDermott (1995), in which people frequently claim that nonstudied words appeared on a presented list. Results showed that amnesic patients were less susceptible to false recognition than were matched controls and showed different patterns of false recall. To account for the observed differences between amnesics and controls, we suggest that false recognition of nonstudied words preceded by numerous associates depends on the same kinds of semantic and associative information about study list words that also supports accurate recognition. Amnesic patients do not retain such information, resulting in poor recollection of study list words and decreased susceptibility to false recognition.
Queering pornography through qualitative methods

AbstractThis study explores the meanings of participation for members of the queer pornography community in the San Francisco Bay Area of California by utilizing a mix of qualitative research methods. Research questions sought to grasp the shared values and beliefs of the participants, including factors that might influence identification with this community and its activist roots. Prior research has examined queer porn with regard to the race and gender diversity of performers (Hernandez & Tester, 2004), and the queering of specific sex acts such as penetration (Day, 2009). But a more empirical exploration, including examining the discourse on definitions of both queer pornography and the queer pornography community has not yet been done. Nor have issues of identity making or identify affirmation through participation in queer pornography been addressed (DeGenevieve, 2007; Jacobs, 2007). These unexplored aspects of pornography research and the unique characteristics of the queer pornography community dem...
VelProbePE: An automated spreadsheet program for interpreting point velocity probe breakthrough curves

Groundwater velocity is an important parameter for determining the fate and transport of contaminants. Recently developed point velocity probes (PVPs) were designed to provide centimeter-scale measurements of the direction and magnitude of groundwater velocity based on the injection and electrical detection of a small, saline tracer. The code reported here for velocity probe parameter estimation (VelProbePE) was designed using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in Microsoft Excel for processing and interpreting tracer breakthrough curves specifically for PVP applications. VelProbePE contains multiple, autoinitializing user forms that guide the user through the data-processing steps. The program allows for the rapid processing and editing of up to 16 detector signals in a single workbook. VelProbePE uses simplex optimization to calculate the intermediate parameters required for the estimation of velocity magnitude and direction.
Concurrent weekly cis-platinum and radiotherapy in advanced cervical cancer: A preliminary dose escalating toxicity study

Concurrent weekly cis-platinum in a dose escalating manner and conventional radiotherapy was evaluated in advanced cervical cancer. The toxicity of weekly cis-platinum given 2 hr before standard fractionation of radiotherapy was assessed using the modified GOG toxicity criteria. Sixteen patients having parameters indicating high risk for conventional therapy failure including positive pelvic and paraaortic nodes and intraperitoneal spread were entered. There was no life-threatening toxicity. The toxicity of the administered chemotherapy was only moderate. Patient compliance was good as at the 20 mg/m2 dose level, 79% of the prescribed doses were administered. The use of adjuvant cis-platinum in poor prognosis advanced cervical cancer merits further study.
Percutaneous Repair Of Mitral Paravalvular Regurgitation

Surgical replacement with either a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve remains the mainstay for most adult valve disorders. Though long-term prognosis in most cases after surgery is excellent, one possible complication is a paravalvular leak. Paravalvular leaks are leakages around the implanted prosthesis, the reported incidence of which is between 1-5%.1 Paravalvular leaks are more common with mechanical valves and mitral valves than with bioprosthetic and aortic valves. The incidence of paravalvular leaks after mitral valve replacement is approximately 12.5%. Various factors are thought to contribute to the development of paravalvular leaks shortly after surgery - an incomplete seal between the sewing ring and valve annulus, annular calcification and infection.2 Size of the paravalvular leak usually determines the clinical presentation of the leak. Smaller leaks (6 mm), are associated with significant regurgitation leading to heart failure.3 The major indications for treatment of paravalvular leaks include severe symptoms with valve regurgitation and persistent, severe hemolysis requiring multiple periodic blood transfusions. The current gold standard for treatment of paravalvular leaks is surgery with either replacement or resuturing of the original prosthesis. Reoperation is associated with higher mortality and morbidity than the initial operation, with reported mortality as high as 13%, 15% and 37% following first, second and third procedures, respectively.4 The operative mortality after paravalvular leak surgery is around 7%, and the perioperative stroke rate of 5% with a 10-year Kaplan-Meier survival of 30%. In elderly patients with comorbidities, and in patients with multiple prior chest surgeries, however, the risks of reoperation frequently prohibit surgery. In these patients, percutaneous closure offers an attractive alternative for the treatment of paravalvular leaks, as it is considerably less invasive than surgery and might be associated with fewer risks to the patient.5•7
Comparing Fixed-Route and Demand-Responsive Feeder Transit Systems in Real-World Settings

This research presents a method for comparing fixed-route transportation systems and demand-responsive feeder transit systems by using passenger survey data, published transit schedules, and optimal routing techniques. Demand-responsive transportation can be used to improve transit service levels in low-demand areas. Because demand in cities can vary significantly across the region and by time of day, an effective means of determining when demand-responsive services can outperform fixed-route services, and vice versa, is needed. This research builds on existing comparison techniques that focus on gridded street systems and expands the techniques to include all types of street networks, transit schedules, and passenger demand levels. The generic techniques are presented and a case study is given for Atlanta, Georgia, to determine where demand-responsive feeder systems could be implemented to improve customer satisfaction and reduce operating costs.
High Pressure Conductivity and NMR Investigation of Siloxane-Based Polymer Electrolytes

Abstract Variable temperature and pressure conductivity and 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of several siloxane-based polymers complexed with NaCF3SO3 are reported. The conductivity exhibits V.T.F. behavior of the type commonly observed in amorphous polymer electrolytes, and activation volumes (29.9 cm3/mol at 313K for one sample) typical of these materials. The NMR linewidths associated with mobile Na+ ions exhibit motional narrowing above Tg in a manner similar to other Na-polymer electrolytes. The pressure dependence of the 23Na linewidth is consistent with a 10-15 K/kbar increase in Tg.
A stack sequential decoding-based smoothing algorithm for dynamic systems with interference

A stack sequential decoding algorithm is used to estimate the states of dynamic systems with an arbitrary random interference in the observation model. First, the models are approximated so that the motion model is represented by a trellis diagram. Second, some metrics are assigned to the nodes, branches, and paths of this trellis diagram. Finally, using a stack sequential decoding algorithm, the states are estimated. The simulation results have shown that the new smoothing algorithm performs well.
Circuit and Physical Design of the zEnterprise™ EC12 Microprocessor Chips and Multi-Chip Module

This work describes the circuit and physical design implementation of the processor chip (CP), level-4 cache chip (SC), and the multi-chip module at the heart of the EC12 system. The chips were implemented in IBM's high-performance 32nm high-k/metal-gate SOI technology. The CP chip contains 6 super-scalar, out-of-order processor cores, running at 5.5 GHz, while the SC chip contains 192 MB of eDRAM cache. Six CP chips and two SC chips are mounted on a high-performance glass-ceramic substrate, which provides high-bandwidth, low-latency interconnections. Various aspects of the design are explored in detail, with most of the focus on the CP chip, including the circuit design implementation, clocking, thermal modeling, reliability, frequency tuning, and comparison to the previous design in 45nm technology.
Long-Term Impact of Shoot Blight Disease on Red Pine Saplings

Damage from Sirococcus and Diplodia shoot blights of red pine is widespread and periodically severe in the Lake States. An outbreak of shoot blight occurred in red pine sapling plantations across northern Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1993. We established monitoring plots in red pine sapling plantations severely affected by shoot blight in Michigan and Wisconsin to assess the influence of residual overstory red pine and the presence of Sirococcus and Diplodia shoot blights on disease severity and their long-term impact on tree survival and growth. Fourteen years after the initial outbreak, many red pine saplings had recovered from serious damage ( 1/3 of new shoots affected) that had occurred in a single outbreak year followed by lower levels of disease in subsequent years. However, the most severely affected trees sustained higher mortality and reduced growth. Forking or development of crooks of the main stem was common if terminal leaders were killed by shoot blight. Results from this study suggest that the impact of a shoot blight outbreak on red pine saplings largely depends on the presence or absence of an inoculum source in residual overstory trees, the species of pathogen present in the stand, and the initial disease severity.
Extracellular matrix synthesized by clonal osteogenic cells is osteoinductive in vivo and in vitro: Role of transforming growth factor-beta1 in osteoblast cell-matrix interaction†

ROB-C26 (C26) is a multipotential, clonal cell line known to express several members of the TGF-β superfamily and to become more osteoblastic (e.g., express higher levels of alkaline phosphatase) upon treatment with 10 -6 M retinoic acid (RA). We hypothesize that the expression of this more osteoblastic phenotype subsequent to RA exposure is the result of the treated cell's extracellular matrix (ECM) becoming a repository and active source of putative osteoinductive growth factors including, specifically, select members of the TGF-β superfamily. To test this hypothesis, we isolated the ECM from RA-treated and untreated C26 cells and assessed them for their ability to promote osteogenic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. We then explored whether the latter activities could be attributed specifically to TGF.β1. We found that the ECM of treated cells isolated by cell lysis and extensive washing induced endochondral bone formation in vivo when implanted into the thigh muscles of athymic nude mice and stimulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in vitro in freshly plated C26 cells. This latter stimulation was comparable to levels observed with direct RA treatment. This latter in vitro activity was only very partially mimicked by the ECM prepared from untreated cells and not duplicated at all by RA-treated collagen or the ECM from another RA-treated multipotential cell line. Moreover, the in vivo osteoinductive effect of the treated C26 cell ECM was not duplicated by comparable ECM prepared from untreated cells. Finally, we also found that preincubation of the ECM with specific, neutralizing antibodies to either TGF.β's 1, 2, and 3 or TGF-β1 alone substantially reduced the ability of the ECM to stimulate ALP activity. This inhibitory effect was not seen using nonspecific IgG. These data identify the C26 cell line as a valuable model system for exploring cell-matrix interaction in osteogenic differentiation, provide direct support for an autocrine role of the ECM in such differentiation, and suggest that TGF-β1 is an important ECM-based mediator in the regulation of osteoblastic development. (J Bone Miner Res 1995 ;10 :1203-1208)
Natural Competence Is a Major Mechanism for Horizontal DNA Transfer in the Oral Pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis

ABSTRACT Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative anaerobe that resides exclusively in the human oral cavity. Long-term colonization by P. gingivalis requires the bacteria to evade host immune responses while adapting to the changing host physiology and alterations in the composition of the oral microflora. The genetic diversity of P. gingivalis appears to reflect the variability of its habitat; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms generating this diversity. Previously, our research group established that chromosomal DNA transfer occurs between P. gingivalis strains. In this study, we examine the role of putative DNA transfer genes in conjugation and transformation and demonstrate that natural competence mediated by comF is the dominant form of chromosomal DNA transfer, with transfer by a conjugation-like mechanism playing a minor role. Our results reveal that natural competence mechanisms are present in multiple strains of P. gingivalis, and DNA uptake is not sensitive to DNA source or modification status. Furthermore, extracellular DNA was observed for the first time in P. gingivalis biofilms and is predicted to be the major DNA source for horizontal transfer and allelic exchange between strains. We propose that exchange of DNA in plaque biofilms by a transformation-like process is of major ecological importance in the survival and persistence of P. gingivalis in the challenging oral environment. IMPORTANCE P. gingivalis colonizes the oral cavities of humans worldwide. The long-term persistence of these bacteria can lead to the development of chronic periodontitis and host morbidity associated with tooth loss. P. gingivalis is a genetically diverse species, and this variability is believed to contribute to its successful colonization and survival in diverse human hosts, as well as evasion of host immune defenses and immunization strategies. We establish here that natural competence is the major driving force behind P. gingivalis DNA exchange and that conjugative DNA transfer plays a minor role. Furthermore, we reveal for the first time the presence of extracellular DNA in P. gingivalis biofilms, which is most likely the source of DNA exchanged between strains within dental plaque. These studies expand our understanding of the mechanisms used by this important member of the human oral flora to transition its relationship with the host from a commensal to a pathogenic relationship.
Dynein-Driven Mitotic Spindle Positioning Restricted to Anaphase by She1p Inhibition of Dynactin Recruitment

Dynein is a minus-end–directed microtubule motor important for mitotic spindle positioning. In budding yeast, dynein activity is restricted to anaphase when the nucleus enters the bud neck, yet the nature of the underlying regulatory mechanism is not known. Here, the microtubule-associated protein She1p is identified as a novel regulator of dynein activity. In she1Δ cells, dynein is activated throughout the cell cycle, resulting in aberrant spindle movements that misposition the spindle. We also found that dynactin, a cofactor essential for dynein motor function, is a dynamic complex whose recruitment to astral microtubules (aMTs) increases dramatically during anaphase. Interestingly, loss of She1p eliminates the cell-cycle regulation of dynactin recruitment and permits enhanced dynactin accumulation on aMTs throughout the cell cycle. Furthermore, localization of the dynactin complex to aMTs requires dynein, suggesting that dynactin is recruited to aMTs via interaction with dynein and not the microtubule itself. Lastly, we present evidence supporting the existence of an incomplete dynactin subcomplex localized at the SPB, and a complete complex that is loaded onto aMTs from the cytoplasm. We propose that She1p restricts dynein-dependent spindle positioning to anaphase by inhibiting the association of dynein with the complete dynactin complex.
Venn-type diagrams for arguments of N terms

The attempt to find usable diagrams for n terms of the sort devised by John Venn seems to have originated with Venn himself, who published diagrams for up to five classes (the fifth class, however, was shaped like a doughnut, and contained an area outside itself — like the hole in the doughnut). Venn then suggested that “if we wanted to use a diagram for six terms ( x, y, z, w, v, u ) the best plan would probably be to take two five-term figures, one for the u part and one for the non- u part of all the other combinations …” Such a method would, as Venn admits, be somewhat confusing to the eye, and thus fail to fulfil one of the major purposes of the diagram; nevertheless, it is a method which could be extended to cover n classes. Venn also suggests (but without illustration) another method for drawing diagrams for n terms: “… the rule of formation would be very simple. We should merely have to begin by drawing any closed figure, and then proceed to draw others subject to the one condition that each intersect once, and once only, all the existing subdivisions produced by those which had gone before.” Then, in a rather surprising footnote, he adds: “It will be found that when we adhere to continuous figures, instead of the discontinuous five-term figure given above, there is a tendency for the resultant outlines thus successively drawn to assume a comb-like shape after the first four or five. If we begin by circles or other rounded figures the teeth are curved, if by parallelograms then they are straight.
Computer-based Diagnostic Support Systems

To the Editor :—I read with great interest the study by Elstein et al. on the use of computer based diagnostic support systems.1 I felt, however, that one of the restrictions they placed on data provided as input to computer programs may have unrealistically limited program effectiveness. So-called definitive tests were withheld from the programs. I believe their definition of definitive is too broad. Consider their example of a high white blood cell level in a patient with appendicitis. While I think giving the computer program the results of a biopsy or a nuclear medicine scan would be too much, it is highly …
Framing alters risk-taking behavior on a modified Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) in a sex-specific manner.

Framing uncertain scenarios to emphasize potential positive or negative elements influences decision making and behavior. The current experiment investigated sex differences in framing effects on risk-taking propensity in a modified version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Male and female undergraduates completed questionnaires on sensation seeking, impulsiveness, and risk and benefit perception prior to viewing one of three framing conditions for the BART: (1) positively-framed instructions emphasizing the ability to earn money if balloons were inflated to large size; (2) negatively framed instructions emphasizing the possibility that money could be lost if balloons were inflated to bursting; and (3) completely framed instructions noting both possible outcomes. Results revealed correlations between BART performance and impulsiveness for both sexes. Compared to positive and complete framing, negatively framed instructions decreased balloon inflation time in women but not men, indicating sex diffe...
A Model for the Optimal Control of a Measles Epidemic

The number of cases of measles in the United States has risen dramatically in the last few years. In 1983, the number of measles cases was at an all time low, 1497 reported cases, but in 1988, there were 3411 cases and in 1989 there were approximately 17,850 cases (Centers for Disease Control 1990). The state of Texas reported the second highest number of cases in 1989 (3201 cases) and one of the worst outbreaks in the United States occurred in the Houston area (1802 cases reported from late 1988 to September 1989) (Centers for Disease Control 1990; Canfield 1989). A significant number of cases of the measles have occurred on university and college campuses and many of the epidemics have centered around public schools. The adult population in the United States is largely immune to the measles because of infection prior to the beginning of vaccination programs. The purpose of this paper is to present some data analysis and to develop a model suitable for the analysis of an optimal strategy for the distribution of vaccine during an epidemic.
Improved and versatile viral 2A platforms for dependable and inducible high-level expression of dicistronic nuclear genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

†‡ SUMMARY A significantly improved viral 2A peptide system for dependable high-level expression of dicistronic genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been developed. Data are presented demonstrating that use of an especially proficient ‘extended FMDV 2A’ coding region allows production of two independent protein products from a dicistronic gene with almost complete efficiency. Importantly, results are also presented that demonstrate the utility of this 2A system for efficient high-level expression of foreign genes in C. reinhardtii, which has not previously been reliably achievable in this algal model system. To expand the versatility of the 2A expression system, a number of commonly used selectable marker proteins were assessed for their compatibility with the extended FMDV 2A peptide. Additional experiments demonstrate the feasibility and utility of 2A-containing dicistronic systems that rely on a strong conditional promoter for transcriptional control and a low-expression marker gene for selection. This strategy allows easy and efficient delivery of genes of interest whose expression levels require regulation either to mitigate potential toxicity or allow differential expression under controlled experimental conditions. Finally, as an additional practical demonstration of the utility of the extended FMDV 2A system, confocal fluorescence microscopy is used to demonstrate that native and foreign proteins of interest bearing post-translational remnants of the extended FMDV 2A peptide localize correctly to various cellular compartments, including a striking demonstration of the almost exclusive localization of the Rubisco small subunit protein to the pyrenoid of the C. reinhardtii chloroplast in cells maintained under ambient CO2 concentrations.
Synthetic simulation of mesh-based parallel applications driven by fine-grained profiling

We are interested in discovering the intrinsic dynamics of parallel applications, which are independent of runtime environment, to aid in the development of appropriate tuning policies, especially dynamic load balancing policies. Based on the novel idea of profiling mesh-based applications at a fine granularity of each mesh element, this paper proposes a synthetic application simulator which is driven by a series of application signatures mapping to the mesh structure. By integrating the ZOLTAN library into the system, our simulator provides a convenient test bed for developing and evaluating load balancing policies.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common yet underdiagnosed condition of repetitive episodes of complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) airflow reduction during sleep as a result of adverse upper airway neuromuscular and anatomic factors. Cyclic hypoxemia and arousal may lead to several chronic physiologic perturbations that potentially link OSAHS with the initiation or exacerbation of many cardiac and vascular conditions commonly encountered by primary care providers. The cardinal features of OSAHS, such as snoring, daytime dysfunction, and being overweight, are common and nonspecific, so diagnosis rests on objective assessment of nocturnal breathing by polysomnography. First-line therapy is usually continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), with lifestyle modifications, oral appliances, and upper surgery reserved for milder cases or CPAP failures. This article reviews terminology, clinical consequences, pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment pertinent to the perspective of the primary care provider.
DOING TIME IN THE NEW GENERATION JAIL: INMATE PERCEPTIONS OF GAINS AND LOSSES

Observations of New Generation, podularldirect supervision jail operations indicate that the innovative architectural design and inmate management style provide a safer, more humane environment for inmates while concurrently reducing opportunities for inmates to illegitimately fulfill their needs. In the first part of this paper, we demonstrate how differences in New Generation and traditional jail architecture and operations influence the legitimate and illegitimate means by which inmates seek to fulfill their needs. Using data collected from New Generation and traditional jails, we then compare inmate perceptions of need fulfillment, evaluations of the environment and levels of stress.
Asymptotically convergent modified recursive least-squares with data-dependent updating and forgetting factor for systems with bounded noise

Continual updating of estimates required by most recursive estimation schemes often involves redundant usage of information and may result in system instabilities in the presence of bounded output disturbances. An algorithm which eliminates these difficulties is investigated. Based on a set theoretic assumption, the algorithm yields modified least-squares estimates with a forgetting factor. It updates the estimates selectively depending on whether the observed data contain sufficient information. The information evaluation required at each step involves very simple computations. In addition, the parameter estimates are shown to converge asymptotically, at an exponential rate, to a region around the true parameter.
Understanding motivations for Internet use in distance education

Uses and Gratifications (U & G) is a communications theory paradigm developed to understand media-use motivations. This research paradigm has recently been applied to understand motivations for Internet use. Internet U & G typically orient to distinct process-based, content-based, and socially based motivations for use of the network. This study applies U & G to examine the Internet usage motivations of technology students enrolled in an Internet-enabled distance education course and finds that digital content is highly sought after by students in Internet-supported distance education classes. Distance education students are also motivated to use Internet communication resources to offset the lack of social interaction found in normal classrooms. Students' Internet usage process motivations actually diverge into two distinct areas, related generally to searching versus browsing in the support of learning objectives.
Paramagnetic Ionic Liquids for Measurements of Density Using Magnetic Levitation

Paramagnetic ionic liquids (PILs) provide new capabilities to measurements of density using magnetic levitation (MagLev). In a typical measurement, a diamagnetic object of unknown density is placed in a container containing a PIL. The container is placed between two magnets (typically NdFeB, oriented with like poles facing). The density of the diamagnetic object can be determined by measuring its position in the magnetic field along the vertical axis (levitation height, h), either as an absolute value or relative to internal standards of known density. For density measurements by MagLev, PILs have three advantages over solutions of paramagnetic salts in aqueous or organic solutions: (i) negligible vapor pressures; (ii) low melting points; (iii) high thermal stabilities. In addition, the densities, magnetic susceptibilities, glass transition temperatures, thermal decomposition temperatures, viscosities, and hydrophobicities of PILs can be tuned over broad ranges by choosing the cation−anion pair. The low melting points and high thermal stabilities of PILs provide large liquidus windows for density measurements. This paper demonstrates applications and advantages of PILs in density-based analyses using MagLev.
Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

LTHOUGH pre-eclampsia and eclampsia affect only a small proportion of all pregnancies, they account for substantial obstetric morbidity and mortality.l"2 Pre-eclampsia affects approximately 6% to 8% of all pregnancies, whereas eclampsia has an incidence of 1/1,000 to 1/2,000 deliveries in the United States. However, hypertension during pregnancy is responsible for up to 19% of maternal deaths in the United States. Most maternal deaths in pre-eclamptic women occur from either cerebral hemorrhage or adult respiratory distress syndrome. These complications are usually related to substandard care, the most common factor being a delay in treating the disease aggressively. Other lapses in care include poorly controlled hypertension, delayed delivery to allow fetal maturity, neglect of worsening symptoms, and inadequate postpartum management. Inadequate control of hypertension with subsequent cerebral hemorrhage remains a common, preventable cause of maternal death. Inadequate prophylaxis and treatment of eclamptic seizures is also a common contributor to maternal death. Although the exact etiology of pre-eclampsia is unknown, several factors predispose to preeclampsia, including nulliparity (85% of cases), African-American race, history of previous preeclampsia, family history of pre-eclampsia, obesity, lupus erythematosus, protein S and protein C deficiency, chronic hypertension, renal disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, and conditions associated with rapid uterine growth (eg, macrosomia). Hypertension is commonly an isolated finding with no further complications. However, some women also develop renal, central nervous system, cardiovascular, and/or hematologic dysfunction. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) categorize hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as follows: (1) pregnancy induced hypertension~women who develop hypertension during pregnancy; pre-eclampsia-hypertensive women who also develo p proteinuria; eclampsia--preeclamptic women who also experience seizures/or coma; HELLP syndrome--thrombocytopenia with evidence of hemolysis and increased liver enzymes in pre-eclamptic women; (2) chronic hypertension--hypertension that precedes pregnancy; and (3) chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. With regard to anesthetic management, improper selection of anesthesia and inadequate control of hypertension during anesthesia are the most common reasons for morbidity and mortality. To minimize the possibility of a poor outcome, anesthesiologists must understand pre-eclampsia and eclampsia with their complex pathophysiology and variable presentation and have an optimal plan for anesthetic management.
Subjective Performance and the Value of Blind Evaluation

We investigate the incentive and project screening effects of anonymity in a setting of subjective performance evaluation. If the review process is “blind”, then the applicant’s (payoff relevant) type is hidden from the reviewer. If the process is nonblind or “informed”, then the reviewer observes the applicant’s type directly. In either case, the evaluator receives a noisy signal on the quality of the agent’s project and decides whether to accept or reject it. We find that if the signal is not verifiable, then informed evaluation results in an excessively steep equilibrium acceptance policy: the standard applied to low-ability applicants is too stringent and the standard applied to high ability applicants is too lenient. Blind review in which all applicants face the same standard often provides better incentives, but it discards valuable information for screening projects. We discover that blind review is more likely to be preferred by the evaluator when (1) the applicant pool is skewed toward high ability types; (2) the stakes from acceptance are relatively high for applicants; (3) both types of errors are relatively less costly; or (4) there is little competition among reviewers. We also discover that under blind review, the evaluator may benefit from a more diverse applicant pool.
MFIE analysis and design of ridged waveguides

This paper presents a unified approach for the analysis and design of ridged waveguides by a magnetic held integral equation (MFIE) formulation. The MFIE approach allows accurate and complete solution via a simple numerical implementation of pulse basis functions. The emphasis of the paper is oriented to the design of ridged waveguides for applications in microwave components and systems, rather than to details of numerical algorithms. Erroneous bandwidth estimates due to neglect of the TE/sub 11/ mode in previous works have been corrected; and various useful design curves on cutoff frequency, bandwidth, attenuation, and waveguide impedance are provided. The proposed theory is verified by comparison to exact closed-form solutions and other published results. >
Informed consent and research design in critical care medicine.

The Nuremberg Code recently celebrated its 50th birthday, marking the progress that has been made in ensuring respect for human rights both within and beyond the context of medical research [1]. Today, many journal editors will refuse to consider manuscripts that have not undergone formal review by an independent committee, and virtually none will publish results that were procured without the explicit informed consent of the subjects. In one sense, therefore, the bioethics movement of the past several decades seems to have scored a resounding victory.
Religion or Ethnicity?: Middle Eastern Conflicts and American Arab-Muslim Protest Politics

This article argues that American Arab-Muslim political mobilization in response to conflicts abroad is predominantly influenced by their ethnic divisions and sectarian cleavages rather than shared religious commonalities. The article provides an analysis of Detroit's Arab-Muslim reactions to the conflicts in the Middle East from 2001–2009. It shows that while Arab-Muslims were particularly active in expressing their views on the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and the winter 2009 Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip, the Iraq War of 2003 did not generate noteworthy activism. Varied expressions regarding different Middle Eastern conflicts are predominantly influenced by the different national origins of various Arab populations.
Coagulation algorithms with size binning

The Smoluchowski equation describes the time evolution of an aerosol particle size distribution due to aggregation or coagulation. Any algorithm for computerized solution of this equation requires a scheme for describing the continuum of aerosol particle sizes as a discrete set. One standard form of the Smoluchowski equation accomplishes this by restricting the particle sizes to integer multiples of a basic unit particle size (the monomer size). This can be inefficient when particle concentrations over a large range of particle sizes must be calculated. Two algorithms employing a geometric size binning convention are examined: the first assumes that the aerosol particle concentration as a function of size can be considered constant within each size bin; the second approximates the concentration as a linear function of particle size within each size bin. The output of each algorithm is compared to an analytical solution in a special case of the Smoluchowski equation for which an exact solution is known . The range of parameters more appropriate for each algorithm is examined.
Arctic sea ice albedo derived from RGPS-based ice thickness estimates

The Radarsat Geophysical Processor System (RGPS) uses sequential synthetic aperture radar images of Arctic sea ice taken every 3 days to track a large set of Lagrangian points over the win- ter and spring seasons. The points are the vertices of cells, which are initially square and 10 km on a side, and the changes in the area of these cells due to opening and closing of the ice are used to esti- mate the fractional area of a set of first-year ice categories. The thickness of each category is esti- mated by the RGPS from an empirical relationship between ice thickness and the freezing degree days since the formation of the ice. With a parameterization of the albedo based on the ice thickness, the albedo may be estimated from the first-year ice distribution. We compute the albedo for the first spring processed by the RGPS, the early spring of 1997. The data include most of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. We find that the mean albedo is 0.79 with a standard deviation of 0.04, with lower albedo values near the edge of the perennial ice zone. The biggest source of error is likely the assumed rate of snow accumulation on new ice.
Inhibition of c-Kit by tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Several small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) inhibit c-Kit, an effect associated with myelosuppression and hair depigmentation. We studied a panel of approved and investigational TKIs for inhibitory activity against FLT3 and c-Kit, and on hematopoietic progenitor cells. Potent c-Kit
MULCHING EFFECTS ON THE SEASONALLY FLOODED ZONE OF WEST-CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA WETLANDS

Wetland mulching is the transfer of surface soil (often from a wetland that will be filled or otherwise impacted) onto the surface of a wetland creation area to provide wetland vegetation, organic matter, and soil organisms. A total of 33 herbaceous wetland creation areas (17 mulched and 16 non-mulched) in the Tampa, Florida, USA region were studied at the end of the wet season (November) and subsequent dry season (June) to determine the effects of mulching. All wetland creation areas were constructed between 5 and 11 years prior to the study. Using the seasonally flooded zone of each wetland, we examined the effects that mulching has on 1) percent organic matter in the soil, 2) the Prevalence Index (measure of hydrophytic vegetation occurrence) of plant communities present, 3) species richness, eveness, and diversity (Shannon Index), 4) total vegetation cover, 5) above-ground biomass production, 6) soil pH, and 7) nutrient content. Mulched wetlands had a higher percent organic matter in the soil than non-mulched wetlands (5.9±0.5% vs 2.6±0.3%, respectively). In November, the mulched wetlands had lower Prevalence Index values, species richness, and diversity values than non-mulched wetlands. Between November and June, nonmulched wetlands decreased in species richness (10.6±0.7 to 6.6±0.6 per m2) and overall diversity (Shannon Index values 1.74±0.08 to 1.28±0.10), while no change in diversity was detected for mulched wetlands. In a subsample of wetland sites, the concentrations of secondary macro-elements (Mg, Ca, and K) were greater in the mulched than in non-mulched wetlands. No significant differences were detected for primary nutrients (NO3−N and P), soil pH, or above-ground plant biomass. Even 5–10 years after construction, initial mulching still seems to still have an influence on ecosystem development in these created wetlands.
Performance of an intuitive hash table in shared-memory parallel programs

Much research has been done and effort expended to design associative arrays or "hash tables" for parallel architectures. These efforts focus on a variety of techniques, including data distribution patterns, data access patterns, tiny changes to the hash function and the buffering of accesses. These efforts are not without merit, but the additional work laid on the programmer or the specialized nature of some of the layouts leads to a very low rate of return. Considering the push for modern parallel programming languages which abstract away the underlying architecture, a more intuitive version of the hash table is appropriate. We discuss the design and implementation of a hash table that is deliberately disconnected from the hardware. Performance of this design is evaluated along with recommendations for future work and usage.
A Pilot PropBank Annotation for Quranic Arabic

The Quran is a significant religious text written in a unique literary style, close to very poetic language in nature. Accordingly it is significantly richer and more complex than the newswire style used in the previously released Arabic PropBank (Zaghouani et al., 2010; Diab et al., 2008). We present preliminary work on the creation of a unique Arabic proposition repository for Quranic Arabic. We annotate the semantic roles for the 50 most frequent verbs in the Quranic Arabic Dependency Treebank (QATB) (Dukes and Buckwalter 2010). The Quranic Arabic PropBank (QAPB) will be a unique new resource of its kind for the Arabic NLP research community as it will allow for interesting insights into the semantic use of classical Arabic, poetic literary Arabic, as well as significant religious texts. Moreover, on a pragmatic level QAPB will add approximately 810 new verbs to the existing Arabic PropBank (APB). In this pilot experiment, we leverage our knowledge and experience from our involvement in the APB project. All the QAPB annotations will be made freely available for research purposes.
Extrusion Forming of Si3N4

The extrusion forming of silicon nitride produced by imide decomposition was studied to fabricate Si3N4 ceramic parts. Green bodies were prepared from a slurry containing 60% solids (92% Si3N4, 4% Al2O3 and 4% Y2O3), 40% distilled water and 0.12% deflocculant (polyacrylic ammonium) with binder (curdlan). The green bodies were dried after formed by vacuum extrusion, and sintered in the range of 1650 to 1800°C under N2 gas at 0.9MPa. The most dense body (3.22×103kg·m-3) was obtained by sintering at 1800°C for 4h. These results indicate that dense silicon nitride parts can be produced by an extrusion method.
Breakthrough Branding: Positioning Your Library to Survive and Thrive

Suzanne Walters and Kent Jackson. Chicago, IL: ALA Neal-Schuman, 2013, 216 pp., ISBN: 978-1-55570-766-8, softcover, $75.00.Amidst tremendous change, be it economical or technological, twenty-first ...