cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of New Markers of Alcohol-Derived DNA Damage in Humans.

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for the development of several cancers, including those of the head and neck and the esophagus. The underlying mechanisms of alcohol-induced carcinogenesis remain unclear; however, at these sites, alcohol-derived acetaldehyde seems to play a major role. By reacting with DNA, acetaldehyde generates covalent modifications (adducts) that can lead to mutations. Previous studies have shown a dose dependence between levels of a major acetaldehyde-derived DNA adduct and alcohol exposure in oral-cell DNA. The goal of this study was to optimize a mass spectrometry (MS)-based DNA adductomic approach to screen for all acetaldehyde-derived DNA adducts to more comprehensively characterize the genotoxic effects of acetaldehyde in humans. A high-resolution/-accurate-mass data-dependent constant-neutral-loss-MS3 methodology was developed to profile acetaldehyde-DNA adducts in purified DNA. This resulted in the identification of 22 DNA adducts. In addition to the expected N2-ethyldeoxyguanosine (after NaBH3CN reduction), two previously unreported adducts showed prominent signals in the mass spectra. MSn fragmentation spectra and accurate mass were used to hypothesize the structure of the two new adducts, which were then identified as N6-ethyldeoxyadenosine and N4-ethyldeoxycytidine by comparison with synthesized standards. These adducts were quantified in DNA isolated from oral cells collected from volunteers exposed to alcohol, revealing a significant increase after the exposure. In addition, 17 of the adducts identified in vitro were detected in these samples confirming our ability to more comprehensively characterize the DNA damage deriving from alcohol exposures.
Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting as inguinal hernia: A case report.

Abstract Introduction One of the most common surgical procedures performed annually is inguinal hernia repair. Inguinal hernias are traditionally known to be caused by a weakening in the abdominal wall and precipitated by increased intraabdominal pressure. Recently, intra-abdominal cancer producing the increased intraabdominal pressure, along with metastasis directly into the inguinal canal, have been identified in more studies as causes of inguinal hernias. Presentation of case This case focuses on a unique presentation of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting as an inguinal hernia. Discussion This patient's rapid demise and advanced metastatic disease upon presentation is alarming, but his advanced disease process presenting as a routine inguinal hernia is noteworthy. Upon literature analysis, the number of advanced disease processes – most notably cancer – presenting as hernias is significant. Conclusion This case emphasis the importance of perioperative screening, and presents the question, should hernias indicate further workup in the appropriate, at-risk patient populations.
Multi-Trait Machine and Deep Learning Models for Genomic Selection using Spectral Information in a Wheat Breeding Program

Prediction of breeding values and phenotypes is central to plant breeding and has been revolutionized by the adoption of genomic selection (GS). Use of machine and deep learning algorithms applied to complex traits in plants can improve prediction accuracies in the context of GS. Spectral reflectance indices further provide information about various physiological parameters previously undetectable in plants. This research explores the potential of multi-trait (MT) machine and deep learning models for predicting grain yield and grain protein content in wheat using spectral information in GS models. This study compares the performance of four machine and deep learning-based uni-trait (UT) and MT models with traditional GBLUP and Bayesian models. The dataset consisted of 650 recombinant inbred lines from a spring wheat breeding program, grown for three years (2014-2016), and spectral data were collected at heading and grain filling stages. MT-GS models performed 0-28.5% and -0.04-15% superior to the UT-GS models for predicting grain yield and grain protein content. Random forest and multilayer perceptron were the best performing machine and deep learning models to predict both traits. These two models performed similarly under UT and MT-GS models. Four explored Bayesian models gave similar accuracies, which were less than machine and deep learning-based models, and required increased computational time. Green normalized difference vegetation index best predicted grain protein content in seven out of the nine MT-GS models. Overall, this study concluded that machine and deep learning-based MT-GS models increased prediction accuracy and should be employed in large-scale breeding programs. Core IdeasO_LIPotential for combining high throughput phenotyping, machine and deep learning in breeding. C_LIO_LIMulti-trait models exploit information from secondary correlated traits efficiently. C_LIO_LISpectral information improves genomic selection models. C_LIO_LIDeep learning can aid plant breeders owing to increased data generated in breeding programs C_LI
Improving the Purity and Uniformity of Pd and Pt Nanocrystals by Decoupling Growth from Nucleation in a Flow Reactor

Despite significant progress in controlling the synthesis of noble-metal nanocrystals, the purity and uniformity of many products are still plagued by the unwanted nucleation events taking place in...
Spinal Brucellosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction The most common location of infection of brucellosis is the musculoskeletal system. It is estimated that the spine is involved in 2-54% of brucellosis infections, with the lumbar spine most commonly affected. We report an uncommon case of brucellar spondylodiscitis, in addition to the pathology, common presentation, and management of spinal brucellosis through additional literature review. Case report A 65-year-old Hispanic male presented to an orthopedic spine surgeon with signs and symptoms concerning for metastatic disease to the spine. Investigation revealed that the patient had the rare diagnosis of brucellar spondylodiscitis. This only became apparent after detailed questioning of the patient's history revealed his employment within a Mexican meat slaughterhouse and a regular consumer of unpasteurized Mexican cheeses. Conclusion Although uncommon, brucellosis spondylodiscitis should remain as a differential diagnosis in any patient who presents with back pain and fever. Detailed history taking and thorough physical examination remain vital in the work-up of brucellar spondylodiscitis. Understanding the pathology, radiographic findings, and necessary work-up are essential to properly treat this infection.
The behavioral effects of gestational and lactational benzo[a]pyrene exposure vary by sex and genotype in mice with differences at the Ahr and Cyp1a2 loci

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and known carcinogen in the Top 10 on the United States9 list of priority pollutants. Humans are exposed through a variety of sources including tobacco smoke, grilled foods and fossil fuel combustion. Recent studies of children exposed to higher levels of PAHs during pregnancy and early life have identified numerous adverse effects on the brain and behavior that persist into school age and adolescence. Our studies were designed to look for genotype and sex differences in susceptibility to gestational and lactational exposure to BaP using a mouse model with allelic differences in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme CYP1A2. Pregnant dams were exposed to 10 mg/kg/day of BaP in corn oil-soaked cereal or the corn oil vehicle alone from gestational day 10 until weaning at postnatal day 25. Neurobehavioral testing began at P60 using one male and one female per litter. We found main effects of sex, genotype and treatment as well as significant gene x treatment and sex x treatment interactions. BaP-treated female mice had shorter latencies to fall in the Rotarod test. High-affinity AhrbCyp1a2(-/-) mice had greater impairments in Morris water maze. Interestingly, poor-affinity AhrdCyp1a2(-/-) mice also had deficits in spatial learning and memory regardless of treatment. We believe our findings provide future directions in identifying human populations at highest risk of early life BaP exposure, because our model mimics known human variation in our genes of interest. Our studies also highlight the value of testing both males and females in all neurobehavioral studies.
Superior colliculus-mediated visual behaviors in cat and the concept of two corticotectal systems.

Publisher Summary This chapter is the outgrowth of a series of experiments in cat in an attempt to understand how cortex and midbrain (specifically, the superior colliculus) interact in the production of visual behaviors. A number of years ago, researchers examined how primary visual cortex affects the most visually “dominant” area of the superior colliculus (SC), its superficial laminae. This proved to be an excellent model for determining how the brain builds receptive fields from converging afferents. An extrastriate cortical area has now been identified as controlling the deep laminae SC cells that connect to those areas of the brainstem and spinal cord through which overt responses are initiated. Compromising any station along this circuit seriously impairs visual attention and orientation capability. Many of the receptive field properties of these visual cells were found to be dependent on the inputs received from primary visual cortex. This dependency is apparent when removal of striate cortex eliminated from these SC cells their binocularity, directional selectivity, and preferences for moving rather than stationary flashed.
MO-E-BRD-01: Is Non-Invasive Image-Guided Breast Brachytherapy Good?

Is Non-invasive Image-Guided Breast Brachytherapy Good? – Jess Hiatt, MS Non-invasive Image-Guided Breast Brachytherapy (NIBB) is an emerging therapy for breast boost treatments as well as Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) using HDR surface breast brachytherapy. NIBB allows for smaller treatment volumes while maintaining optimal target coverage. Considering the real-time image-guidance and immobilization provided by the NIBB modality, minimal margins around the target tissue are necessary. Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation in brachytherapy: is shorter better? - Dorin Todor, PhD VCU A review of balloon and strut devices will be provided together with the origins of APBI: the interstitial multi-catheter implant. A dosimetric and radiobiological perspective will help point out the evolution in breast brachytherapy, both in terms of devices and the protocols/clinical trials under which these devices are used. Improvements in imaging, delivery modalities and convenience are among the factors driving the ultrashort fractionation schedules but our understanding of both local control and toxicities associated with various treatments is lagging. A comparison between various schedules, from a radiobiological perspective, will be given together with a critical analysis of the issues. 1. to review and understand the evolution and development of APBI using brachytherapy methods 2. to understand the basis and limitations of radio-biological ‘equivalence’ between fractionation schedules 3. to review commonly used and proposed fractionation schedules Intra-operative breast brachytherapy: Is one stop shopping best?- Bruce Libby, PhD. University of Virginia A review of intraoperative breast brachytherapy will be presented, including the Targit-A and other trials that have used electronic brachytherapy. More modern approaches, in which the lumpectomy procedure is integrated into an APBI workflow, will also be discussed. Learning Objectives: 1. To review past and current clinical trials for IORT 2. To discuss lumpectomy-scan-plan-treat workflow for IORT
Differential control of Bradyrhizobium japonicum iron stimulon genes through variable affinity of the iron response regulator (Irr) for target gene promoters and selective loss of activator function

Summary Bradyrhizobium japonicum Irr is a conditionally stable transcriptional activator and repressor that accumulates in cells under iron-limited, manganese-replete conditions, but degrades in a haem-dependent manner under high iron conditions, manganese limitation or upon exposure to H2O2. Here, we identified Irr-regulated genes that were relatively unresponsive to factors that promote Irr degradation. The promoters of those genes bound Irr with at least 200-fold greater affinity than promoters of the responsive genes, resulting in maintenance of promoter occupancy over a wide cellular Irr concentration range. For Irr-repressible genes, promoter occupancy correlated with transcriptional repression, resulting in differential levels of expression based on Irr affinity for target promoters. However, inactivation of positively controlled genes required neither promoter vacancy nor loss of DNA-binding activity by Irr. Thus, activation and repression functions of Irr may be uncoupled from each other under certain conditions. Abrogation of Irr activation function was haem-dependent, thus haem has two functionally separable roles in modulating Irr activity. The findings imply a greater complexity of control by Irr than can be achieved by conditional stability alone. We suggest that these regulatory mechanisms accommodate the differing needs for Irr regulon genes in response to the prevailing metabolic state of the cell.
Legal Error, Litigation, and the Incentive to Obey the Law

The occurrence of legal error seems inevitable: evidence brought before courts often will be incomplete or subject to misinterpretation and courts sometimes will misconstrue the law.' This article studies the effects of legal errors on the decision to bring a suit and on the incentive to obey the law. It also examines how various policies can be used to lessen problems caused by legal errors. The first section of the article considers the influence of legal errors on litigation. It is observed that "type I" errors-in which truly guilty defendants escape liability-discourage suits because such errors reduce a plaintiff's probability of prevailing. Conversely, "type II" errors-in which truly innocent defendants are found liable-encourage suits because such errors raise the probability of success.2 The effects of legal errors on the propensity
They Murdered the Pigeons!: The Failure of State-Mandated Teacher Appraisal Systems

ehaviorist B. F. Skinner took two pigeons and made them turn in two opposite directions. When one turned in the correct direction, he gave that pigeon a reward, something to eat. State legislatures want to make teachers teach better, but instead of rewards certain legislatures have given teachers a whack up the side of the head with an annual appraisal. They mandate that teachers must teach better or receive a low rating on their annual evaluations. What these legislatures want is better teaching without having to pay for it with worthwhile rewards. In effect they take a big stick and murder the pigeons. States such as Texas and Georgia have come to the same conclusion as the U.S. Air Force study by J. E. Morsh and E. W. Wilder (1952), which stated: "No single specific observable teacher act has yet been found whose frequency or percent of occurrence is invariably and significantly correlated with student achievement." Both Texas and Georgia legislated teacher appraisal systems that were based on the effective-schools research. Several years after instituting these systems, these states ranked 43rd and 45th respectively on SAT scores (Kelly 1991). The Minnesota Educational Effectiveness Program (MEEP), which was designed to employ the behaviors identified by the school-effectiveness research, was declared ineffective by the Minnesota State Department of Education in 1989. Educators in all three states eventually concurred with the Air Force findings. Recently, several studies in which teachers were trained and observed using the effective-schools research found that students actually did worse that students of teachers not so trained (Stalling 1987; Gersten et al. 1987). John Goodlad and associates (1982) surveyed 1,350 teachers, 18,000 students, and 8,600 parents in 39 schools and all the principals, superintendents, and school board members in these schools. After 5,000 classroom observations, Goodlad concluded that there was very little
B cell autophagy mediates TLR7-dependent SLE and controls extramedullary hematopoiesis (BA4P.217)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease, defined by a loss of B cell self-tolerance resulting in the production of autoantibodies. One of the many mechanisms described resulting in a break in B cell self-tolerance is overexpression of the endosomal toll-like receptor, TLR7. We hypothesized that autophagy plays a crucial role in TLR7 activation in B cells by delivering ligand to endosomes. To test this model, we produced TLR7 transgenic (tg) mice with a B cell-specific (CD19-cre) ablation of autophagy (ATG5 ko), and compared SLE development to that of TLR7 tg mice with intact autophagy machinery. We observed that loss of ATG5 in B cells significantly increased the survival of TLR7 tg mice, reduced serum IgG and anti-nuclear autoantibodies, thereby preventing glomerulonephritis. These data suggest that B cell autophagy is required for TLR7-mediated SLE disease progression. However, while symptoms of SLE were ameliorated, extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) was dramatically increased with a splenic red pulp expansion in these mice. Thus, autophagy in B cells plays an important role in controlling lineage determination in hematopoiesis, likely by regulating chemokine and cytokine production, the mechanism by which is currently under investigation. A better understanding of the control steps involved in TLR7 activation and cytokine production could lead to improved therapeutics for treatment of SLE.
Dynamics of Automobile Ownership Under Rapid Growth

Little research has focused on how the factors that influence travel behavior change in rapidly developing and increasingly motorized cities. This paper examines household motor vehicle ownership and focuses on potential variations in the preferences revealed through vehicle choice models estimated for Santiago, Chile, in 1991 and 2001 and includes measures of relative location, subway proximity, residential density, and land use mix. The results indicate that preferences changed between 1991 and 2001 and suggest that as incomes rise and vehicle ownership becomes increasingly affordable, the apparent influence of demographic, land use, and other contextual variables changes. The results vary across land use and locational variables; most notably, the relationship between vehicle ownership and land use mix appears to weaken over time, whereas the effect of the distance to the central business district strengthens, and the effect of residential density varies in the apparent direction of change, depending o...
Design of the signal and data format for wide area augmentation of the Global Positioning System

The wide area augmentation system (WAAS) is being deployed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to augment the Global Positioning System (GPS) with additional ranging signals and a supporting ground network. The augmented system can be used as the primary position sensor for enroute through precision approach air navigation. Specifically, the WAAS provides the following three services: integrity monitoring to improve safety; a ranging function to improve time availability and continuity of service; and differential GPS corrections to improve accuracy. This paper describes the design of the WAAS signal and data format. It states the design objectives and describes the basic approach. Then, it analyzes the correction update rates, message duration, messaging rates and the use of forward error correction. This paper does not: give a basic description of the WAAS, analyze the non-interference properties of the signal, or give a description of the data fields.
Application of strontium isotopes to late Miocene-early Pliocene stratigraphy

Measurements of {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr ratios of planktonic foraminifers from paleomagnetically dated Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) cores indicate that the {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr ratio of seawater increased linearly between 6 and 4 Ma with a slope of 87 {times} 10 {sup {minus}6}/m.y. This suggets that {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr variation in this time interval are useful for estimating ages in marine sequences. The theoretical stratigraphic resolution of the technique is 0.23 m.y., but the practical resolution is estimated to be 0.3-0.5 m.y. Strontium isotope ratios of five samples at the base of the Miocene/Pliocene (M/P) boundary stratotype at Capo Rossello, Sicily, have a mean {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr value of 0.708995 {plus minus} 0.00002. Applying the regression equation derived from our {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr vs. age data set for deep-sea sequences yields an age of 4.94 {plus minus} 0.50 Ma (95% confidence interval) for the M/P boundary stratotype, similar to ages estimated by biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic methods. Correlation of this mean {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr ratio to the section at DSDP Site 519 suggests that the boundary is coincident with the onset of a major early Pliocene transgression, as recorded by a decrease in oxygen isotope values for benthic foraminifers. This studymore » demonstrates the potential application of strontium isotope stratigraphy for correlating and dating problematic sequences, such as those deposited in restricted, shallow-water, or high-latitude environments.« less
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of chicoric acid analogs as inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase

A series of analogs of the potent HIV-1 integrase (HIV IN) inhibitor chicoric acid (CA) was designed with the intention of ameliorating some of the parent natural product's undesirable properties, in particular its toxicity, instability, and poor membrane permeability. More than 70 analogs were synthesized and assayed for three types of activity: (1) the ability to inhibit 3'-end processing and strand transfer reactions using recombinant HIV IN in vitro, (2) toxicity against the CD4+ lymphoblastoid cell line, MT2, and (3) anti-HIV activity against HIV(LAI). CA analogs lacking one of the carboxyl groups of CA and with 3,4,5-trihydroxycinnamoyl sidechains in place of the caffeoyl group of CA exhibited the most potent inhibition of HIV replication and end-processing activity. Galloyl-substituted derivatives also displayed very potent in vitro and in vivo activities, in most cases exceeding the inhibitory effects of CA itself. Conversely, analogous monocarboxy caffeoyl analogs exhibited only modest inhibition, while the corresponding 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl-substituted compounds were devoid of activity.
Enveloped Virus Inactivation by Fatty Acid Derivatives

The enveloped bacteriophage φ6 has been shown to be a valuable model system for the preliminary screening of compounds that might be expected to inactivate herpes simplex virus and other enveloped mammalian viruses. A variety of fatty acid derivatives that form fluid micelles in aqueous media have been found to be potent inactivators of φ6. The chemical nature of the polar head group, the length of the alkyl chain(s), and the extent and geometry of unsaturation are all important parameters in determining the antiviral effectiveness of this class of compounds.
Gearing Up for the 2012 Presidential Race News Coverage About African American Voters in the New York Times

This study assessed the inclusiveness of New York Times coverage prior to the 2012 presidential election as it relates to the lived experiences of African American voters. The study specifically as...
Influence of strong magnetic fields on genetic endpoints in Tradescantia tetrads and stamen hairs

Inflorescences from Tradescantia clones 4430 and 02 were subjected to mean magnetic field intensiteis of 0.16 or 0.76 to 0.78 tesla for 6 to 11 days. Following exposures to both intensities, damage to pollen mother cell chromosomes at early prophase was determined by scoring the frequency of micronuclei in early tetrads. Pink mutations in stamen hair cells of clone 4430 were scored for 15 days after a 6-day exposure to the higher intensity level while clone 02 was scored during and for 6 days after an 11-day exposure to the 0.16 tesla field. Comparison of micronuclei results from exposed groups to those for control groups that were scored concurrently showed that there was no significant difference in frequency for either clone or either field intensity (P values in contingency table analyses were between 0.42 and 0.6); similarly, pink mutation frequencies for clone 4430 exposed and control groups did not differ significantly (a contingency test yielded χ2 = 1.4 and P = 0.26). Comparisons of pink mutation frequencies during the first 6 days of clone 02 exposure to those in the period when an effect should be greatest (days 7 through 17 revealed no significant difference (χ2 = 2.6 and P = 0.1) between the two scoring periods, through frequencies were higher during the early scoring period.
Endovascular repair of an acute blunt popliteal artery injury

Blunt popliteal arterial injury is uncommon and is usually associated with surrounding soft tissue and orthopedic injuries, which may complicate traditional open operative repair. We present the successful management of a blunt popliteal artery injury through an endovascular approach, where we imaged the lesion, extracted the thrombus, protected against distal embolization, and performed a balloon angioplasty to the intimal lesion. Our approach is the first documented in the literature in which endovascular repair of a blunt popliteal artery injury was performed successfully in an acutely ischemic extremity. Using a filter wire is a novel way to prevent distal embolization during manipulation.
Clay Aerogel Composite Materials

A simple, inexpensive, and environmentally-friendly process for converting mixtures of clays and polymers has been developed. Polymer and clay are combined in water, and the mixtures are freeze dried to produce materials which have bulk densities typically in the range of 0.03 – 0.15 g/cm3. These low density polymer/clay aerogel materials possess good mechanical properties similar to those of traditional polymer foams, can be reinforced with fibers, modified with nanoparticles, biomineralized, or converted into porous ceramics.
How much and what type: analysis of the first year of the acute care surgery operative case log.

BACKGROUNDA case log was created by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Acute Care Surgery (ACS) committee to track trainee operative experiences, allowing them to enter their cases in the form of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. We hypothesized that the number of cases an
N21,N22-carbonyl-bridged biliverdin. red-blue color change effected by conformation

An N21,N22-carbonyl-bridged mesobiliverdin, prepared in high yield by reaction of the unbridged parent (λmax 639 nm, ϵ 15,700, chloroform) with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, gave magenta-colored solutions in chloroform that absorb strongly in the visible spectrum (λmax 534 nm, ϵ 27,700) and shifted to bright blue (λmax 669 nm, ϵ 35,300) upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid.
Vehicle Dynamics Approach to Driver Warning

This paper discusses a concept for enhanced active safety by introducing a driver warning system based on vehicle dynamics that predicts a potential loss of control condition prior to stability control activation. This real-time warning algorithm builds on available technologies such as the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The driver warning system computes several indices based on yaw rate, side-slip velocity, and vehicle understeer using ESC sensor suite. An arbitrator block arbitrates between the different indices and determines the status index of the driving vehicle. The status index is compared to predetermined stability levels which correspond to high and low stability levels. If the index exceeds the high stability level, a warning signal (haptic, acoustic, or visual) is issued to alert the driver of a potential loss of control and ESC activation. This alert will remain in effect until the index is less than the low stability level at which time the warning signal will be terminated. A vehicle speed advisory algorithm is integrated with the warning algorithm to provide a desired vehicle speed of a vehicle traveling on a curve. Simulation results and vehicle tests were conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the warning algorithm.
Visual sensing devices in home-care systems

Research on monitoring in the home environment often assumes that the use of cameras is unacceptable because of privacy concerns. In this paper, I examine this assumption in light of research on designing for older adults, privacy in assisted living, and theories of privacy. In addition, I propose well-being as an additional variable to be considered when designing home-care systems. I conclude by suggesting avenues for future research on visual sensing devices in home-care settings.
Quadrangular embeddings of the complete even k -partite graph

Abstract The complete even k -partite graph K n1 , n2 ,…, n k is the complete k -partite graph where all the n i 's are even numbers. Orientable and nonorientable quadrangular embeddings are constructed for all these graphs.
Supplemental Instruction Integrated Into an Introductory Engineering Course

In an effort to increase student comprehension of course material and to decrease engineering student attrition rate, Supplemental Instruction (SI) was integrated into a first-year engineering course (Introduction to Engineering Analysis; IEA) during the Fall 1996 semester through the combined efforts of the Advising and Learning Assistance Center and the Core Engineering Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. SI is a voluntarily-attended, interactive course review program that helps students master course material while they develop and integrate effective learning and study skill strategies. SI does not disrupt the normal lecture or recitation sections of a course. SI was successfully incorporated into IEA as indicated by two main results: 1) students who attended SI received higher course grades than did students who never attended SI and 2) students who attended SI were less likely to receive a final course grade of a D or F, and were thus less likely to withdraw from the engineering program. Since a majority (66%) of SI attendees was composed of at-risk students (who received a letter grade of “C” on at least one of the four course examinations) and high-risk students (who received a letter grade of “D” or “F” on at least one of the four course examinations), SI was helping those who had the most to gain from the experience. Furthermore, SI was embraced by the attendees, who rated the sessions 4.7 on a scale of 1 (not helpful) to 5 (very helpful) on SI end-of-the-term evaluations. The logistics of implementing SI into an engineering course is presented.
Raman spectra of bixbyite, Mn 2 O 3 , up to 40 GPa

The Raman spectra of bixbyite, Mn2O3, were measured up to 40 GPa at room temperature. Mn2O3 undergoes a phase transition from the C-type rare earth structure to the CaIrO3-type (post-perovskite) structure at 16–25 GPa. The transition pressure measured in Raman spectroscopy is significantly lower than the pressure reported previously by an X-ray diffraction study. This could be due to the greater polarizability in the CaIrO3-type structure, consistent with high-pressure observation on the CaIrO3 type in MgGeO3, although it is still possible that experimental differences may cause the discrepancy. Unlike the change at the perovskite to CaIrO3-type transition, the spectroscopic Gruneisen parameter does not decrease at the C-type to CaIrO3-type transition. The spectroscopic Gruneisen parameter of the low-pressure phase (C type) is significantly lower than thermodynamic Gruneisen parameter, suggesting significant magnetic contributions to the thermodynamic property of this material. Our Raman measurements on CaIrO3-type Mn2O3 contribute to building systematic knowledge about this structure, which has emerged as one of the common structures found in geophysically important materials.
Petri nets: Properties, analysis and applications

Starts with a brief review of the history and the application areas considered in the literature. The author then proceeds with introductory modeling examples, behavioral and structural properties, three methods of analysis, subclasses of Petri nets and their analysis. In particular, one section is devoted to marked graphs, the concurrent system model most amenable to analysis. Introductory discussions on stochastic nets with their application to performance modeling, and on high-level nets with their application to logic programming, are provided. Also included are recent results on reachability criteria. Suggestions are provided for further reading on many subject areas of Petri nets. >
A role for hydrophobic residues in the voltage-dependent gating of Shaker K+ channels.

Abstract A leucine heptad repeat is well conserved in voltage-dependent ion channels. Herein we examine the role of the repeat region in Shaker K+ channels through substitution of the leucines in the repeat and through coexpression of normal and truncated products. In contrast to leucine-zipper DNA-binding proteins, we find that the subunit assembly of Shaker does not depend on the leucine heptad repeat. Instead, we report that substitutions of the leucines in the repeat produce large effects on the observed voltage dependence of conductance voltage and prepulse inactivation curves. Our results suggest that the leucines mediate interactions that play an important role in the transduction of charge movement into channel opening and closing.
FIBRIN SEALANT ENABLES TUBELESS PERCUTANEOUS STONE SURGERY

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Fibrin sealant has been demonstrated to be safe and effective as a hemostatic agent and urinary tract sealant. We assessed the ability of fibrin sealant to facilitate tubeless management after uncomplicated percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).Materials and Methods:: Eight consecutive patients underwent single access tubeless PCNL for renal calculi in a total of 9 renal units in a 2-month period. An additional patient with distal ureteral obstruction underwent antegrade ureteroscopy for an 8 × 8 mm distal ureteral stone. Average patient age was 47 years and mean stone size was 3.37 cm2 (range 0.64 to 9.90). Following complete stone clearance a Double-J (Medical Engineering Corp., New York, New York) ureteral stent was placed antegrade and 2 cc HEMASEEL APR (Haemacure Corp., Sarasota, Florida) fibrin sealant was injected under nephroscopic or fluoroscopic visualization into the parenchymal defect just within the renal capsule. Preoperative and postoperative hematocrit (HCT) was determined....
5. Síndrome de hidrorraquia caudal normotensiva o megacauda. Diagnóstico y tratamiento

La Megacauda consiste en un aumento de las dimensiones del saco dural dorsolumbar o lumbar. La sintomatologia se presenta de acuerdo al nivel anatomico. Es un trastorno congenito o adquirido, su presencia diagnosticada mediante Resonancia Magnetica Nuclear no implica necesariamente la aparicion de sintomatologia. Se presentan dieciocho casos tratados con resultados optimos. Summary The increase in size of thoraco lumbar thecal sac is called MEGACAUDA. This is a congenital or acquired malformation and its symptomathology varies accordingly with topography. It can be casily diagnosed with M R I and in some cases we did not find clinical manifestaron. We present 18 cases treated with optimal results.
Water and democracy: new roles for civil society in water governance

In most democratic countries, government officials make water-allocation decisions. Citizens depend on these officials and their technical advisors to take account of both technical and political considerations in determining which water uses get priority, what infrastructure investments to make and what water quality standards to apply. In many parts of the world, water users and stakeholders have additional opportunities to comment on such decisions before they are implemented. Under some circumstances, citizens can challenge water management decisions in court. This is not enough. More direct democracy, involving stakeholders before such decisions are made, can produce fairer and increasingly sustainable results. The steps in collaborative adaptive management – a form of stakeholder engagement particularly appropriate to managing complex water networks – are described in this article along with the reasons that traditional forms of representative democracy are inadequate when it comes to water policy.
A higher-radix division with simple selection of quotient digits

A higher-radix division algorithm with simple selection of quotient digits is described. The proposed scheme is a combination of the multiplicative normalization used in the continued-product algorithms and the recursive division algorithm. The scheme consists of two parts: in the first part, the divisor and the dividend are transformed into the range which allows the quotient digits to be selected by rounding partial remainders to the most significant radix-r digit in the second part. Since the selection requires only the most significant part of the partial remainder, limited carry-propagation adders can be used to form the partial remainders. The divisor and dividend transformations are performed in three steps using multipliers of the form 1 + s k r−k as in the continued product algorithm. The higher radix of the form r = 2k, k=2,4,8,…, can be used to reduce the number of steps while retaining the simple quotient selection rules.
Stellar analogs of solar magnetic activity

The techniques and principal results of observational studies of stellar activity are summarized. Both chromospheric and coronal emission clearly track surface magnetic field properties, but it is not well known how the detailed relation between the emission and surface magnetic fields varies with spectral type. For lower Main-Sequence stars of the same spectral type, there is clear evidence of a close relationship between mean activity level and rotation period P rot. There is also less definitive evidence for a similar dependence on convective overturn time τc, such that activity depends on the single parameter Ro = P rot/τc. For single stars, stellar rotation, and magnetic activity both decline smoothly with age. This implies a feedback between angular momentum loss rate and activity level. Temporal variations in mean stellar activity level mimic the solar cycle only for old stars like the Sun, being much more irregular for younger stars. The characteristic timescale of the variations (the ‘cycle period’) appears to depend on Ro for old stars, but shows no clear dependence on either rotation rate or spectral type for younger stars. Further data on mean activity and its variation for a large number of lower Main-Sequence stars should contribute significantly to our understanding of the causes of stellar magnetic activity.
A semi-ellipsoid-model based fuzzy classifier to map grassland in Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract Remote sensing techniques offer effective means for mapping plant communities. However, mapping grassland with fine vegetative classes over large areas has been challenging for either the coarse resolutions of remotely sensed images or the high costs of acquiring images with high-resolutions. An improved hybrid-fuzzy-classifier (HFC) derived from a semi-ellipsoid-model (SEM) is developed in this paper to achieve higher accuracy for classifying grasslands with Landsat images. The Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China, is chosen as the study area, because an acceptable volume of ground truthing data was previously collected by multiple research communities. The accuracy assessment is based on the comparison of the classification outcomes from four types of image sets: (1) Landsat ETM+ August 14, 2004, (2) Landsat TM August 12, 2009, (3) the fused images of ETM+ with CBERS, and (4) TM with CBERS, respectively, and by three classifiers, the proposed HFC-SEM, the tetragonal pyramid model (TPM) based HFC, and the support vector machine method. In all twelve classification experiments, the HFC-SEM classifier had the best overall accuracy statistics. This finding indicates that the medium resolution Landsat images can be used to map grassland vegetation with good vegetative detail when the proper classifier is applied.
A secure modular mobile agent system

Applications in mobile multi-agent systems require a high degree of confidence that code that runs inside the system will not be malicious and that any agents which are malicious can be identified and contained. Since the inception of mobile agents, this threat has been addressed using a multitude of techniques, but many of these implementations have only addressed concerns from the position of either the platform or the agent, and very few approaches have undertaken the problem of mobile agent security from both perspectives simultaneously. Furthermore, no middleware exists that facilitates provision of the required security qualities of mobile agent software while extensively focusing on easing the software development burden. In this paper, we introduce a mobile agent system that enhances security functionality by integrating core software and hardware assurance qualities, as well as addressing security concerns from the perspectives of both the platform and the agent.
Trigeminal and olfactory sensitivity : comparison of modalities and methods of measurement

Objective: The principal objective was to chart sensitivity for human nasal irritation by alternative psychophysical methods, namely, a common detection procedure versus a nasal lateralization procedure that required the subject to indicate whether a vapor had stimulated the left or right nostril. This objective relates to the broader issues as to (a) whether subjects with normal olfaction (normosmics) can yield, through novel methodology, an index of sensitivity to nasal irritation comparable with that obtained from subjects without olfaction (anosmics) and (b) whether both types of subjects have similar irritation sensitivity in general. This study sought to gauge interconvertability both between types of subjects and between modes of stimulus presentation for irritative and, where appropriate, olfactory stimulation.
Hiring hospitality faculty:: Erudition and experience

Abstract Of nearly 100 hospitality faculty membeers hired in the past three years, more than half held a doctoral degree. While the bulk of those new hires had just a year or two of hospitality work experience, many reported considerable time in the industry.
Photoreactivating enzyme from euglena and the control of its intracellular level.

Abstract Photoreactivating (PR) enzyme activity has already been demonstrated by us in cell-free extracts of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris Pringsheim using the Hemophilus transformation assay. This activity can also be detected in extracts using a direct non-biological assay for the photorepair of thymine dimers in DNA. PR enzyme is found in extracts of both wild-type cells and cells of an aplastidic mutant, W 3 BUL, lacking detectable chloroplast DNA, indicating that the PR enzyme is neither coded nor translated exclusively in the chloroplast, but is probably coded in the nucleus and translated in the cytoplasm. Growing cultures of wild-type cells manifest a large increase in PR enzyme activity in vitro upon entering stationary phase. This correlates with the increased photoreactivability of chloroplast inheritance in vivo in stationary phase cells, previously found for Euglena , and suggests that a substantial part of the newly synthesized PR enzyme is available to repair plastid DNA. When dark-grown nondividing wild-type cells are exposed to light, there is a large increase in the specific activity of PR enzyme measured in vitro . This increase is prevented by cycloheximide but not by chloramphenicol or streptomycin, indicating that the enzyme is synthesized on 87s cytoplasmic ribosomes rather than 68s chloroplast ribosomes. Wavelengths of light effective for PR of chloroplast DNA in vivo are also effective for the light induction of PR enzyme. A brief illumination (45 min) of dark-grown nondividing wild-type cells triggers the synthesis of PR enzyme which continues in the absence of light. Growing cultures of W 3 BUL also exhibit a preferential synthesis of PR enzyme in the staionary phase of growth, but the specific activity in vitro is consistently ten times higher than that of wild-type. Dark-grown non-dividing cultures of W 3 BUL also show a cycloheximide-sensitive light induction of PR enzyme synthesis which, however, is dependent on the continued presence of light. The light induction of PR enzyme synthesis can be regarded as the induction of an enzyme by one of its substrates.
Slot jet impingement heat transfer from circular cylinders

The heat transfer characteristics of circular cylinders exposed to slot jet impingement of air has been studied experimentally. The study focused on Reynolds numbers (based on nozzle average exit velocity and cylinder diameter) in the range 600–8000. Both contoured orifice and sharp-edged orifice jet configurations were investigated for cylinder diameter-to-jet width spacings of 0.66, 1.0 and 2.0, and for jet exit-to-nozzle width spacings in the range 1<z/w<11. Reference measurements were made with the same cylinder in infinite parallel flow in a wind tunnel. The results reveal that the slot jet yields considerably higher average heat transfer from the cylinder when compared to the infinite parallel flow case on the basis of identical average velocity in the slot jet and infinite flow configurations. As with slot jet impingement heat transfer from flat surfaces, there appears to be a nozzle-to-cylinder spacing, scaled by nozzle width, which exhibits a maximum in heat transfer. The average heat transfer characteristics of the cylinder are correlated empirically.
Measurements of very low gas flow velocities by photothermal deflection spectroscopy.

A technique for measurement of gas flow velocity using photothermal deflection spectroscopy is described. This technique is especially suited for measurements of very low velocities. An extensive investigation of the technique has been carried out. This all-optical technique is nonintrusive and has high degrees of spatial and temporal resolution.
REVISED HIERARCHICAL ANALYSIS METHOD BASED ON CRISP AND FUZZY ENTRIES

Abstract In this paper, I continue to study the alternative hierarchical analysis method that was initialed in [Saaty, 1976]. Instead of using pairwise ratio matrices, this method uses pairwise subtraction matrices. By doing so, computational complexity is reduced significantly, and as shown by a statistical experiment described in this paper, the two methods lead basically to the same results. Furthermore, this method provides an optimal solution in the sense of minimizing an appropriate error function. Due to the significant reduction in computational complexity, fuzzy hierarchical analysis based on pairwise subtraction matrices becomes more manageable. Finally, I point out a new application area of the hierarchical analysis: estimating crisp or fuzzy prior probability distributions for Bayesian inference with imprecise probabilities.