cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function.

It is now recognized that 30% to 50% of patients who have symptomatic congestive heart failure have preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction [1,2]. Abnormalities in diastolic function not only assume a fundamental role in these but also relate to the severity of symptoms and prognosis in all heart failure patients, regardless of the cause [3,4]. Two-dimensional (2D) and Doppler echocardiography are the most important clinical tools available for the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction [5]. Echocardiography is widely available, portable, and biologically safe and is also capable of excluding other important causes of heart failure, such as valvular disease. The recent integration of new Doppler modalities in many cases can establish the specific pathophysiologic abnormalities involved and can provide reasonably accurate quantification. In most cases, a comprehensive integration of clinical data, 2D structural information, and Doppler physiologic data is required to provide a complete evaluation. Diastolic dysfunction may be defined as the inability of the heart to maintain an adequate cardiac output under normal filling pressure [6]. This inability may manifest early as impaired exercise tolerance or as overt leftand right-sided heart failure at rest. There are numerous physiologic parameters that can affect LV diastolic function. These parameters interact to maintain LV filling under relatively low atrial
Social, spatial and political determinants of U.S. abortion rates.

Abortion rates in the United States have risen annually since the 1973 Supreme Court decision. The regions with the greatest rate increases are the Southern and Plains states; the lowest rate increases were in regions which had high abortion rates soon after abortion was legalized. While spatial contiguity appears to influence abortion rates, that is, states with high rates of abortion are clustered spatially, social and political influence are also evident. Ratification of the equal rights amendment, the seeking of abortion outside the state of residence, and the degree of urbanization within a state are variables which influenced U.S. abortion rates between 1973 and 1977.
Temperature dependence of the response function of magnets

Motivated to improve the magnetic properties at high temperatures, we study the temperature dependence of the static response function of Heisenberg spins with different anisotropies on different lattices with and without the dipolar interaction. This inverse susceptibility can be interpreted as an effective anisotropy constant. For cubic anisotropy it dies off much faster than the magnetization. Possible implication of this to the making of new high temperature soft magnetic materials is discussed.
Experience With Coapted Gastric Tube Outlet and Composite Gastrointestinal Reservoir for Continent Cutaneous Urinary Diversion

ABSTRACTPurpose: Established techniques for urinary diversion are not ideal for certain patients such as those with extensive pelvic irradiation, metabolic acidosis, short bowel syndrome or renal insufficiency. In a multi-institutional study a gastrointestinal reservoir was previously found to provide metabolic balance in such patients. We used a coapted gastric tube as the continent outlet in patients undergoing gastrointestinal urinary diversion. We evaluate the long-term functional results of the gastric tube to provide continence and report our long-term followup results.Materials and Methods: A composite reservoir was constructed from gastric and transverse colon or ileal segments. In addition, a gastric strip, in continuity with the gastric segment of the composite reservoir, was tubularized and coapted to provide the continence mechanism.Results: A total of 19 patients with a gastrointestinal reservoir and coapted gastric tube outlet were followed for 24 to 101 months, of whom 18 are continent day ...
Three Modes of Stimulus Presentation in a Simulation Test of Interpersonal Communication Competence.

Complex skills are difficult to assess using ordinary measurement procedures such as paper-and-pencil tests. For example, in interpersonal communication, the selection of words, the tone of voice, and other variables which bear directly on the intent of the communication cannot be interpreted independently of each other or of the reactions of the listener. When a task is complex, a sample of the actual behavior is the best predictor of the potential an individual possesses for responding effectively. This approach has been labeled worksample assessment (Cronbach, 1970). Because some of the myriad aspects of complex tasks cannot be adequately controlled, a worksample procedure may prove costly and dangerous to those involved. An untrained "therapist" might say something harmful to a client, for example, without realizing its impact. Simulation instead of an actual worksample would seem to be a solution to such problems (Cronbach, 1970, p. 199; Boyd and Shimberg, 1971, p. 8). In simulating the worksample task, the stimulus situation for the assessment could be approximated, thus controlling the more potentially harmful variables. One characteristic of a simulation which may be varied is the modality of the stimulus presentation. It may range in realism or complexity from the actual worksample task, to an audiovisual presentation of the situation, to typescript. Each level would allow more control by eliminating potentially cumbersome or harmful aspects of the original situation. This control, however, might also eliminate information essential to accurate assessment.
A Seven Year Longitudinal Multi-Factor Assessment of Teaching Concerns Development through Preparation and Early Years of Teaching.

This study was designed to assess, over a seven year period from the commencement of teacher preparation through five years of teaching, the development of teachers' self, impact, and task concerns as formulated by Fuller for a longitudinal sample of teachers (N = 60) and to determine what, if any, personal and academic attributes of teachers might be associated with these teachers' changes in concerns about teaching as postulated by the Fuller model. Statistically significant developmental changes in the teachers' concerns about teaching were identified with concerns about survival as a teacher (self concerns) decreasing and concerns about the task of teaching increasing, as hypothesized by Fuller; whereas the teachers' impact upon pupil concerns were highest in intensity but relatively stable at all four points in career development. Interactions between career stages and teacher characteristics were identified, however, indicating that the self and impact concerns can not be adequately explained by just points of time in career development as also hypothesized by Fuller. Concerns about teaching were found to be related to grade point averages, gender, and personality type but not with basic academic skills, academic majors, family characteristics, ACT scores, and locus of control orientations.
Application of Optical Scintillation Measurements to Turbulence Diagnostics

The irradiance fluctuations of beams which propagate through a turbulent medium can be used to infer the spatial spectrum of the turbulent scatterers. The propagation of Goubau-type beam waves in a random medium is used to show that amplitude fluctuations depend upon the transmitter aperture size, observation distance, and wavelength. Most of the results are presented in terms of a parameter, αL, which is inversely proportional to the Fresnel number, πW02/Lλ. A Monte Carlo numerical procedure is used to obtain the normalized mean-square log-amplitude fluctuation as a function of the inverse Fresnel number for various magnitudes of the turbulence inner scale. The applicability of these procedures to measured turbulence spectra is also discussed.
Conservation form in computational magnetohydrodynamics

Abstract The question of whether or not to use a conservation form of the internal energy equation in computational magnetohydrodynamics is considered. Conservation errors resulting from both spatial and temporal difference methods are demonstrated, and means of eliminating the spatial errors and reducing the temporal ones are discussed. It is shown that only in the limit dt -> 0 can a nonconservation form of the internal energy equation be used without destroying in the finite difference equations any of the conservation properties of the magnetohydrodynamic partial differential equations.
Lifetime-Based pH Sensor System Based on a Polymer-Supported Ruthenium(II) Complex

A new luminescence lifetime-based pH sensor system is described. The system is based on [Ru(Ph2phen)2DCbpy]2+ (DCbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) immobilized in a mixed domain network copolymer utilizing hydrophobic regions in a hydrophilic, water-swellable, poly(ethylene oxide) matrix. The metal complex binds irreversibly to the hydrophobic domains leaving the pH-sensing COOHs projecting into an aqueous-rich poly(ethylene oxide) region. The complex shows a strong pH dependence of its lifetime (3-4-fold) and provides a usable pH range of about 3-5. The long (approximately 1 micros) excited-state lifetime and visible absorption of the sensor simplifies measurements. A model for the combined pH and oxygen-quenching sensitivity of the complex is provided; this allows use of the pH system over a wide range of oxygen concentrations. The combined polymer sensor is easy to prepare and requires no covalent chemistry. Further, the polymers enhance the luminescence of the complex and minimize interference from oxygen quenching.
Teaching Budgeting: A Basic Course in Public Sector Financial Management

In recent years, many graduate schools of public administration have introduced concentrations or tracks in public financial management. We hope that Professor Berne's description of the introductory course at New York University will provoke responses, particularly from practitioners. Those of us who are academics do have a responsibility to public sector managers!
Characterization of natural titanomagnetites (Fe3−xTixO4) for studying heterogeneous electron transfer to Tc(VII) in the Hanford subsurface

Sediments with basaltic provenance, such as those at the Hanford nuclear reservation, Washington, USA, are rich in Fe-bearing minerals of mixed valence. These minerals are redox reactive with aqueous O2 or Fe(II), and have the potential to react with important environmental contaminants including Tc. Here we isolate, identify and characterize natural Fe(II)/Fe(III)-bearing microparticles from Hanford sediments, develop synthetic analogues and investigate their batch redox reactivity with aqueous Tc(VII). Natural Fe-rich mineral samples were isolated by magnetic separation from sediments collected at several locations on Hanford’s central plateau. This magnetic mineral fraction was found to represent up to 1 wt% of the total sediment, and be composed of 90% magnetite with minor ilmenite and hematite, as determined by X-ray diffraction. The magnetite contained variable amounts of transition metalsconsistent with alio- and isovalent metal substitutions for Fe. X-ray microprobe analysis showed that Ti was the most significant substituent, and that these grains could be described with the titanomagnetite formula Fe3_xTixO4, which falls between endmember magnetite (x = 0) and ulvo¨ spinel (x = 1). The dominant composition was determined to be x = 0.15 by chemical analysis and electron probe microanalysis in the bulk, and by L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-raymore » photoelectron spectroscopy at the surface. Site-level characterization of the titanomagnetites by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism showed that despite native oxidation, octahedral Fe(II) was detectable within 5 nm of the mineral surface. By testing the effect of contact with oxic Hanford and Ringold groundwaters to reduced Ringold groundwater, it was found that the concentration of this near-surface structural Fe(II) was strongly dependent on aqueous redox condition. This highlights the potential for restoring reducing equivalents and thus reduction capacity to oxidized Fe-mineral surfaces through redox cycling in the natural environment. Reaction of these magnetically-separated natural phases from Hanford sediments with a solution containing 10 lmol L_1 Tc(VII) showed that they were able to reductively immobilize Tc(VII) with concurrent oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) at the mineral surface, as were synthetic x = 0.15 microparticle and nanoparticle analogue phases. When differences in the particle surface area to solution volume ratio were taken into consideration, measured Tc(VII) reduction rates for Fe3_xTixO4(x = 0.15) natural material, synthetic bulk powder and nanoparticles scaled systematically, suggesting possible utility for comprehensive batch and flow reactivity studies.« less
Construction and expression in tumor cells of a recombinant vaccinia virus encoding human interleukin-1β

Background: Human interleukin-1β (hIL-1β) injected intratumorally has demonstrated growth inhibition of transplanted subcutaneous tumors in mice, regression of metastatic lesions, resistance to tumor rechallenge, and increased survival. Vaccinia virus (VV) can be genetically engineered to produce cytokines and may be an effective vector for gene therapy of cancer. This study was designed to (a) construct a VV expressing hIL-1β, (b) assess tumor cell infection in vitro with this construct, (c) measure hIL-1β production, and (d) assess the bioactivity of the secreted cytokine. Methods: The hIL-1β gene was amplified from a plasmid clone using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then cloned into a homologous recombination (HR) and expression vector, which was used to insert the hIL-1β gene into the VV genome. Selection of the recombinant VV (vMJ601hIL-1β) was based on inactivation of viral TK and expression of β-galactosidase. vMJ601hIL-1β infectivity and cytokine production was assessed by infecting tumor cell lines and analyzing culture supernatants for hIL-1β. Bioactivity of the hIL-1β produced was demonstrated using an IL-1 dependent T helper cell line. Results: The hIL-1β gene was successfully cloned into the VV genome by HR, which was confirmed by PCR. vMJ601hIL-1β efficiently infected tumor cells, as shown by increased hIL-1β secretion (0 to >500 ng/ml) and morphologic evidence of viral cytopathic effect. vMJ601hIL-1β-infected cells secreted large amounts of hIL-1β (mean 772 ng/106 cells/24 h). The secreted hIL-1β was bioactive (mean bioactivity 6.8×108 U/mg of hIL-1β). Conclusions: (a) hIL-1β can be cloned into VV, (b) vMJ601hIL-1β retains its infectivity, (c) a large amount of hIL-1β is secreted, and (d) the secreted hIL-1β is bioactive. Recombinant VV may allow in situ cytokine gene delivery and expression in established tumors.
New concedpts for high frequency and high power frequency multipliers and their impact on quasi-optical monolithic array design

Varactors have been extensively employed for harmonic generation, where high cut-off frequency is dependent upon small C min , which is typically achieved using small device active area. However, small area limits the output power. Furthermore, the power and frequency dependences of the series resistance in the epitaxial region degrade the efficiency and cut-off frequency as well. As a result, currently utilized varactors are only officient for relatively low power generation and limited output frequency. Herein, we describe our new approach where by epitaxially stacking single quantum barrier structures, more than an order of magnitude improvement in cut-off frequency and power handling ability may be possible. Alternatively, by combining a Schottky barrier with stacked single quantum barriers, superior performance can also be achieved. These concepts can be readily employed for quasi-optical frequency multiplier arrays, and appear to result in simplified fabrication compared to other devices. The design of high performance quasi optical arrays requires optimization of the passive (metalization) grid as well as the embedded semiconductor devices. Recent work has resulted in an improved impedance model for the standard diode-loaded strip array, including a quantitative estimate of the shunt capacitance introduced across the diode by the discontinuity of the metal strip at the diode site (“gap”). The value of this capacitance exceeds the predictedC min for these new devices. We discuss two grid design approaches that can suppress this capacitance.
Modified potentials in many-body perturbation theory: Three-body and four-body contributions

Three-body and four-body contributions to the third-order diagrammatic perturbative energy expansion are evaluated for the electronic energy, using both the standard self-consistent-field potential ${V}^{N}$ and a modified potential ${V}^{N\ensuremath{-}1}$ to determine the unoccupied states. The [$\frac{2}{1}$] Pad\'e approximants to the energy are constructed and first-order perturbative wave functions are inserted into the Rayleigh quotient to yield rigorous upper bounds for the energy. The results indicate that the standard ${V}^{N}$ potential generates a more suitable virtual orbital basis for the calculations.
Cotranslational Biogenesis of NF-κB p50 by the 26S Proteasome

The NFkappaB1 gene encodes two functionally distinct proteins termed p50 and p105. p50 corresponds to the N terminus of p105 and with p65 (RelA) forms the prototypical NF-kappaB transcription factor complex. In contrast, p105 functions as a Rel-specific inhibitor (IKB) and has been proposed to be the precursor of p50. Our studies now demonstrate that p50 is generated by a unique cotranslational processing event involving the 26S proteasome, whereas cotranslational folding of sequences near the C terminus of p50 abrogates proteasome processing and leads to p105 production. These results indicate that p105 is not the precursor of p50 and reveal a novel mechanism of gene regulation that ensures the balanced production and independent function of the p50 and p105 proteins.
Neurochemical correlates of spasticity

Abstract Dogs were made paraplegic by complete mid-thoracic spinal cord transection. The content of glycine, glutamate, aspartate, and γ-aminobutyric acid were determined in ventral and central grey matter from the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord at 1, 3 and 8 weeks after transection. A rapid decrease in the content of aspartate and glycine accompanied the onset of spasticity. By the eight week post-transection, aspartate and glycine had decreased to less than 50% of control levels.
Citation Help in Databases: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

In 2005, the authors reviewed citation help in databases and found an error rate of 4.4 errors per citation. This article describes a follow-up study that revealed a modest improvement in the error rate to 3.4 errors per citation, still unacceptably high. The most problematic area was retrieval statements. The authors conclude that librarians should include citation features in the evaluation of databases and should open a dialogue with vendors about the importance of providing accurate, reliable information about citations to students.
FIXED SUM LOSSES IN OPERATIONAL FORECASTING

In operational applications, forecasts are normally adjusted by applying safety factors to allow for asymmetry in the underlying loss function. This paper considers an extension of the often used linear loss function to situations in which an error can also result in a fixed sum loss.
Cubic spline techniques for fitting X-ray cross sections

Abstract Cubic spline least squares fitting algorithms are developed for continous functions and functions with jump discontinuities. The cubic spline coefficients for incoherent and coherent scattering cross sections for elements from sodium through cobalt are reported for energies from 1 to 150 keV, and when two interior knots (three regions) are used they yield accuracies better than those obtined by a single cubic polynomial. Specialized discontinuous cubic spline functions are used to fit X-ray photoelectric cross sections to allow accurate fitting across the absorption edge discontinuities for a wide range of energies with a very simple function. Cubic spline coefficients for photoelectric cross sections of all elements in the atomic number range from 11 to 27 and in the energy range from 1 to 150 keV are reported. The cubic spline representation provides a computationally faster method of using X-ray cross sections than polynomial interpolation from discrete data sets and requires much less computer storage.
Modeling Control Adaptations During Recovery From Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

In this paper, we aim to model a functional task affected by injury, along with the corresponding neuromuscular compensation strategy, in order to understand differences in task performance during recovery from the injury. This study is motivated by differing rates of functional task improvements during recovery from anterior cruciate ligament repair. In particular, clinical studies have shown faster recovery times for single-limb forward hopping versus single-limb crossover hopping (hopping back and forth laterally while moving forward). Modeling this hopping task will help us understand whether the main factor of the differing functional results is from the physical restrictions of the injury, the compensation strategies used to overcome these restrictions, or a combination of both. Our hypothesis is that the discrepancies in clinical functional results will be reproduced by employing a feedforward compensation strategy, where the compensation is learned and adjusted over time.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Imaging chemical interfaces perpendicular to the optical axis with focus-engineered coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

Abstract In vibrational microscopy, it is often necessary to distinguish between chemically distinct microscopic objects and to highlight the “chemical interfaces” present in the sample under investigation. Here we apply the concept of focus engineering to enhance the sensitivity of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy to these interfaces. Based on detailed numerical simulations, we show that using a focused Stokes field with a sharp phase jump along the longitudinal direction leads to the suppression of the signal from bulk regions and improves the signal contrast from vibrational resonant interfaces oriented perpendicular to the axis of beam propagation. We also demonstrate that the CARS spectral response from chemical interfaces exhibits a clean, Raman-like band-shape with such a phase-shaped excitation. This phenomenon of interface highlighting is a consequence of the coherent nature of CARS signal generation and it involves a complex interplay of the spectral phase of the sample and the spatial phase of the excitation fields.
Childhood ADHD increases the risk of nicotine use in adolescence and alcohol use in young adulthood.

QUESTION Question: Does childhood attention-defi cit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increase the risk of substance use disorders (SUDs) in adolescence and young adulthood? Outcomes: Persistent substance use, abuse or dependence meeting DSM-IV TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision) criteria for SUDs. Single substance categories included alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, tobacco or nicotine; other outcomes included any psychoactive SUD (excluding nicotine) or drug use disorder (DUD; excluding alcohol and nicotine). METHODS Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Data sources: MEDLINE, CINHAL, PsycINFO and EMBASE were searched from the database inception to October 2009. Additional articles were identifi ed by hand search of reference lists. Study selection and analysis: Inclusion criteria were English language prospective cohort studies comparing substance use in primary school children (≤12 years) with and without ADHD (DSM-III, DSM-III-R, DSM-IV criteria or DSM-II hyperkinetic disorder) and following participants to a mean age of 18 years or older. Inclusion criteria for nicotine use were extended to include adolescents aged 14–16 years because of the few eligible studies. A single reviewer selected studies and assessed internal validity with a second reviewer appraising a random sample. Studies of historical cohorts or those retrospectively applying diagnoses were excluded. Included studies measured outcomes using reliable measurements. Random effects meta-analyses were performed using all studies which provided suffi cient data to calculate ORs and 95% CIs or unadjusted ORs and CIs where direct calculation was not possible. Heterogeneity was quantifi ed using I 2 and the Cochran Q test.
Use of statistical analysis in the biomedical informatics literature

Statistics is an essential aspect of biomedical informatics. To examine the use of statistics in informatics research, a literature review of recent articles in two high-impact factor biomedical informatics journals, the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA) and the International Journal of Medical Informatics was conducted. The use of statistical methods in each paper was examined. Articles of original investigations from 2000 to 2007 were reviewed. For each journal, the results by statistical methods were analyzed as: descriptive, elementary, multivariable, other regression, machine learning, and other statistics. For both journals, descriptive statistics were most often used. Elementary statistics such as t tests, chi(2), and Wilcoxon tests were much more frequent in JAMIA, while machine learning approaches such as decision trees and support vector machines were similar in occurrence across the journals. Also, the use of diagnostic statistics such as sensitivity, specificity, precision, and recall, was more frequent in JAMIA. These results highlight the use of statistics in informatics and the need for biomedical informatics scientists to have, as a minimum, proficiency in descriptive and elementary statistics.
Beyond connectivity - new metrics to evaluate robustness of networks

Robustness or fault-tolerance capability of a network is an important design parameter in both wired and wireless networks. Connectivity of a network is traditionally considered to be the primary metric for evaluation of its fault-tolerance capability. However, connectivity κ(G) (for random faults) or region-based connectivity κ R (G) (for spatially correlated or region-based faults, where the faults are confined to a region R) of a network G, does not provide any information about the network state, (i.e., whether the network is connected or not) once the number of faults exceeds κ(G) or κ R (G). If the number of faults exceeds κ(G) or κ R (G), one would like to know, (i) the number of connected components into which G decomposes, (ii) the size of the largest connected component, (iii) the size of the smallest connected component. In this paper, we introduce a set of new metrics that computes these values. We focus on one particular metric called region-based component decomposition number (RBCDN), that measures the number of connected components in which the network decomposes once all the nodes of a region fail. We study the computational complexity of finding RBCDN of a network. In addition, we study the problem of least cost design of a network with a target value of RBCDN. We show that the optimal design problem is NP-complete and present an approximation algorithm with a performance bound of O(log K + 4log n), where n denotes the number of nodes in the graph and K denotes a target value of RBCDN. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm by comparing it with the performance of the optimal solution. Experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm produces near optimal solution in a fraction of time needed to find an optimal solution.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Chromatin States Reveals Distinct Mechanisms of Sex-Dependent Gene Regulation in Male and Female Mouse Liver

Chromatin state maps were developed to elucidate sex differences in chromatin structure and their impact on sex-differential chromatin accessibility and sex-biased gene expression in mouse liver. Genes in active, inactive, and poised chromatin states exhibited differential responsiveness to ligand-activated nuclear receptors and distinct enrichments for functional gene categories. Sex-biased genes were clustered by chromatin environments and mapped to DNase-hypersensitive sites (DHS) classified by sex bias in chromatin accessibility and enhancer modifications. Results were integrated with genome-wide binding data for five transcription factors implicated in growth hormone-regulated, sex-biased liver gene expression, leading to the following findings. (i) Sex-biased DHS, but not sex-biased genes, are frequently characterized by sex-differential chromatin states, indicating distal regulation. (ii) Trimethylation of histone H3 at K27 (H3K27me3) is a major sex-biased repressive mark at highly female-biased but not at highly male-biased genes. (iii) FOXA factors are associated with sex-dependent chromatin opening at male-biased but not female-biased regulatory sites. (iv) Sex-biased STAT5 binding is enriched at sex-biased DHS marked as active enhancers and preferentially targets sex-biased genes with sex-differences in local chromatin marks. (v) The male-biased repressor BCL6 preferentially targets female-biased genes and regulatory sites in a sex-independent chromatin state. (vi) CUX2, a female-specific repressor of male-biased genes, also activates strongly female-biased genes, in association with loss of H3K27me3 marks. Chromatin states are thus a major determinant of sex-biased chromatin accessibility and gene expression, with FOXA pioneer factors proposed to confer sex-dependent chromatin opening and STAT5, but not BCL6, regulating sex-biased genes by binding to sites in a sex-biased chromatin state.
Using aggregation and dynamic queries for exploring large data sets

When working with large data sets, users perform three primary types of activities: data manipulation, data analysis, and data visualization. The data manipulation process involves the selection and transformation of data prior to viewing. This paper addresses user goals for this process and the interactive interface mechanisms that support them. We consider three classes of data manipulation goals: controlling the scope (selecting the desired portion of the data), selecting the focus of attention (concentrating on the attributes of data that are relevant to current analysis), and choosing the level of detail (creating and decomposing aggregates of data). We use this classification to evaluate the functionality of existing data exploration interface techniques. Based on these results, we have expanded an interface mechanism called the Aggregate Manipulator (AM) and combined it with Dynamic Query (DQ) to provide complete coverage of the data manipulation goals. We use real estate sales data to demonstrate how the AM and DQ synergistically function in our interface.
Collaborative Gaming: Teaching Children About Complex Systems and Collective Behavior

Although games-including board games, video games, and Massive Multiplayer Online Games-have garnered significant attention in recent years for their impact on educational outcomes, a primary focus of this interest is the transfer of knowledge from game to nongame settings. Building on this literature, our research explores how game designs that promote either competitive or collaborative play may lead to differential outcomes including dramatically different and social dynamics. Using video transcribed for speech and gesture, we developed a grounded coding scheme to compare the experiences of a group of 40 early elementary students engaged in a uniquely designed board game, called HIVEMIND, to teach advanced science content to young children ages 6 to 9, which were organized around either (a) individual or (b) collective play. Findings indicate that, in collaborative mode, players were significantly more likely to make positive comments to others, talk on-topic, read instructions to other players, gaze toward the board as well as other players, and take shorter turns among other findings. Implications of this work for designing games and promoting collaborative and positive learning experiences are discussed.
Measurement of Whisker Orientation in Composites by X-Ray Diffraction*

Standard x-ray diffraction techniques have been shown to give a quantitative measure of orientation of α-SiC whiskers in polymeric matrices. The pole distributions of the (1120) planes of SiC have been fitted to a normal bivariate distribution where the standard deviation is taken as a measure of the degree of orientation and the volume under the surface as the volume fraction of whiskers oriented within a given set of limits. A semiquantitative trans mission photographic method was also used and the half-arc lengths are shown to give results comparable with those of the quantitative methods. The specimens were whisker filled strands of cellulose triacetate and cupra-ammonium rayon (Cupram), made by a wet spinning process, and an epoxy composite made from the Cupram strand. The strands are shown to exhibit rotational symmetry about the long axis whereas the composite does not.
Women and the Politics of the Spanish Popular Front: Political Mobilization or Social Revolution?

Moments of massive social change, almost by definition, open new social and political arenas to individuals and groups previously prevented from participating in them. Whether because of the sense of possibility that revolutionary moments tend to offer, the collapse of existing mechanisms of social control, or the effects of broad-based mobilization, those previously subordinated often use such moments to take their places on the historical stage. Women, in particular, frequently appear as political actors in such contexts. But just as surely as revolutions tend to open opportunities for participation in the political and social life of a community, the consolidation of power often tends to narrow them, once again—albeit with a new “cast” of political actors. And, if women have tended to benefit from revolutionary moments, they have also suffered the consequences of consolidation: no matter what the ostensible goals of the revolution, as the exercise of power is “regularized,” opportunities for women contract.
Predicting functional and regulatory divergence of a drug resistance transporter gene in the human malaria parasite

The paradigm of resistance evolution to chemotherapeutic agents is that a key coding mutation in a specific gene drives resistance to a particular drug. In the case of resistance to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine (CQ), a specific mutation in the transporter pfcrt is associated with resistance. Here, we apply a series of analytical steps to gene expression data from our lab and leverage 3 independent datasets to identify pfcrt-interacting genes. Resulting networks provide insights into pfcrt’s biological functions and regulation, as well as the divergent phenotypic effects of its allelic variants in different genetic backgrounds. To identify pfcrt-interacting genes, we analyze pfcrt co-expression networks in 2 phenotypic states - CQ-resistant (CQR) and CQ-sensitive (CQS) recombinant progeny clones - using a computational approach that prioritizes gene interactions into functional and regulatory relationships. For both phenotypic states, pfcrt co-expressed gene sets are associated with hemoglobin metabolism, consistent with CQ’s expected mode of action. To predict the drivers of co-expression divergence, we integrate topological relationships in the co-expression networks with available high confidence protein-protein interaction data. This analysis identifies 3 transcriptional regulators from the ApiAP2 family and histone acetylation as potential mediators of these divergences. We validate the predicted divergences in DNA mismatch repair and histone acetylation by measuring the effects of small molecule inhibitors in recombinant progeny clones combined with quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. This work demonstrates the utility of differential co-expression viewed in a network framework to uncover functional and regulatory divergence in phenotypically distinct parasites. pfcrt-associated co-expression in the CQ resistant progeny highlights CQR-specific gene relationships and possible targeted intervention strategies. The approaches outlined here can be readily generalized to other parasite populations and drug resistances.
Women's Physical and Psychological Symptoms During Early Phase Recovery from Alcoholism: A Longitudinal Study

In this descriptive longitudinal pilot study, symptoms reported weekly by 18 alcohol-dependent women (AG), during their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months of recovery, were compared with the symptoms from a comparison group (CG) of 15 healthy non-alcoholic women. The women provided weekly records of physical and psychological symptoms, craving, and use of alcohol, nicotine, psychoactive drugs, and prescription medications. During the study, two alcoholism subgroups emerged. The AG-Abstain remained abstinent while the AG-Relapse used substances intermittently. Symptom scores were compared across groups with t-test and ANOVA. An intercept, slope, and R2 were calculated to determine the pattern of each woman's scores over time. Symptom scores diminished over time, but remained higher for the AG than the CG through the 12th study week. Significant differences in R2 values demonstrated that the symptom scores fit a negative sloping regression line better in the AG-Abstain than the AG-Relapse subgroups. Emotional irritab...
Women Engineering Students and Self‐Efficacy: A Multi‐Year, Multi‐Institution Study of Women Engineering Student Self‐Efficacy

As our nation's need for engineering professionals grows, educators and industry leaders are increasingly becoming concerned with how to attract women to this traditionally male career path. Self-efficacy has been shown to be related to positive outcomes in studying and pursuing careers in non-traditional fields. This paper describes the results of two years of engineering self-efficacy data collected from women engineering students at five institutions across the U.S. This study adds to the growing body of self-efficacy literature via its multi-year, multi-institution design and helps to clarify the impact of the engineering curriculum on self-efficacy. Results indicate that while women students show positive progress on some self-efficacy and related subscales, they show a significant decrease on feelings of inclusion from the first to second measurement period and further suggest a relationship between ethnicity and feelings of inclusion. Additionally, correlations show that self-efficacy is related to women students' plans to persist in this predominantly male discipline.
COMPARISON OF CATHEPSIN B, D, H AND L ACTIVITY IN FOUR SPECIES OF PACIFIC FISH

The activities of cathepsins B, D, H and L were compared in crude muscle extracts from four species of fish: Pacific whiting (PW), (Merluccius productus); arrowtooth flounder (ATF), (Atheresthes stomias); Alaska pollock (AP), (Theragra chalcogramma); and Pacific cod (PC), (Gadus macrocephalus). Both PW and ATF are known to undergo softening during post-mortem handling and cooking while AP and PC do not. Cathepsin B and L activities were both higher in extracts of PW and ATF than in AP and PC. Cathepsins B and L activities were both much higher in PW than in ATF. Cathepsin H activity was highest in AP followed by ATF with PC and PW having the lowest activities. Cathepsin D activity was extremely low in all four species. The heat stability of the various cathepsin activities showed cathepsin B to be the most heat labile and was inactivated by 50C heating for 15 min. Cathepsin H activity was inactivated at 60C, while cathepsin L required 70C for inactivation. Cathepsins B and L are the most likely responsible for softening in PW and ATF during holding and subsequent processing. However, during cooking, cathepsin L likely causes the most damage since it requires 70C for inactivation. The difference in heat stability of cathepsins B and L can be used to differentiate between their activities.
Pan1 is an intrinsically disordered protein with homotypic interactions

The yeast scaffold protein Pan1 contains two EH domains at its N-terminus, a predicted coiled-coil central region, and a C-terminal proline-rich domain. Pan1 is also predicted to contain regions of intrinsic disorder, characteristic of proteins that have many binding partners. In vitro biochemical data suggest that Pan1 exists as a dimer, and we have identified amino acids 705 to 848 as critical for this homotypic interaction. Tryptophan fluorescence was used to further characterize Pan1 conformational states. Pan1 contains four endogenous tryptophans, each in a distinct region of the protein: Trp(312) and Trp(642) are each in an EH domain, Trp(957) is in the central region, and Trp(1280) is a critical residue in the Arp2/3 activation domain. To examine the local environment of each of these tryptophans, three of the four tryptophans were mutagenized to phenylalanine to create four proteins, each with only one tryptophan residue. When quenched with acrylamide, these single tryptophan mutants appeared to undergo collisional quenching exclusively and were moderately accessible to the acrylamide molecule. Quenching with iodide or cesium, however, revealed different Stern-Volmer constants due to unique electrostatic environments of the tryptophan residues. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy data confirmed structural and disorder predictions of Pan1. Further experimentation to fully develop a model of Pan1 conformational dynamics will assist in a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of endocytosis.
Dynamic Multichannel Access With Imperfect Channel State Detection

A restless multi-armed bandit problem that arises in multichannel opportunistic communications is considered, where channels are modeled as independent and identical Gilbert-Elliot channels and channel state detection is subject to errors. A simple structure of the myopic policy is established under a certain condition on the false alarm probability of the channel state detector. It is shown that myopic actions can be obtained by maintaining a simple channel ordering without knowing the underlying Markovian model. The optimality of the myopic policy is proved for the case of two channels and conjectured for general cases. Lower and upper bounds on the performance of the myopic policy are obtained in closed-form, which characterize the scaling behavior of the achievable throughput of the multichannel opportunistic system. The approximation factor of the myopic policy is also analyzed to bound its worst-case performance loss with respect to the optimal performance.
Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone Alter Aromatase Kinetic Properties in Human Granulosa Cells

We have previously reported that, in human granulosa cells, thiazolidinediones rosiglitazone and pioglitazone inhibit estrogen synthesis by interfering with androgen binding to aromatase, without an effect on aromatase mRNA or protein expression. In the current paper, we explore the effects of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone on the aromatase enzyme kinetic properties in human granulosa cells. The cells were incubated with various concentrations of testosterone or androstenedione, with or without rosiglitazone or pioglitazone. Estradiol and estrone concentrations in the conditioned tissue culture medium were measured by radioimmunoassay or immunosorbent assay. When testosterone was used as substrate, rosiglitazone or pioglitazone inhibited the Vmax by 35% (P < 0.001) and 24% (P < 0.001), respectively. When androstenedione was used as substrate, both rosiglitazone or pioglitazone inhibited Vmax by 13% (P < 0.007). We conclude that rosiglitazone or pioglitazone has no effect on Km but inhibits Vmax of aromatase in human granulosa cells, therefore, acting as noncompetitive inhibitors.
Kenya Rift International Seismic Project, 1989–1990 Experiment

Ever since Gregory's work at the turn of the century, the extensional structures extending through central Kenya have been recognized as the classic example of a continental rift zone. Because of the scale and variety of rift features present, this locality has fascinated geologists and geophysicists since its discovery.
An Application of Expectancy Theory to Explain a Manager's Intention to Use a Decision Support System

A continuing gap exists between the capabilities of sophisticated computer-based information systems and the extent to which these systems are used by individuals. Studies which have examined the relationship between system utilization and various user, system, implementation, and organizational variables have provided few consistent findings. A new approach to this topic is suggested by a recent study by Davis, Bagozzi, and Warshaw [11], which indicates that individuals' intentions to use a system determine subsequent use. A large body of psychology-based research also supports this relationship between behavioral intentions and subsequent behavior. This study employs expectancy theory, which has often been used to examine behavioral intentions, to explain managers' intentions to use a decision support system (DSS). The results imply that the variables of the expectancy force model are determinants of a manager's behavioral intentions to use a DSS, and the variables of the expectancy valence model are determinants of the attractiveness of using a DSS to a manager.
A Stalk-Eyed Ephydroid Fly from the Eocene (Diptera: Ephydroidea: Camillidae)

Abstract A distinctive new species of the extinct ephydroid fly genus, Protocamilla Hennig (Camillidae), is described in mid-Eocene (45 myo) Baltic amber: Protocamilla groehni, n.sp. The unique male specimen has pedunculate eyes, which is presumably a sexual dimorphism as in Drosophilidae. Fore tarsi are also sexually dimorphic. This is the fifth ephydroid to be described from Baltic amber and the only hypercephalic ephydroid known outside the Drosophilidae. The phylogenetic position of Protocamilla is briefly discussed.
Dominance among Captive Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius Phoeniceus) in a Competitive/Cooperative Situation:

8 pairs of male red-winged blackbirds were tested in an operant conditioning situation wherein both the response perch and food hopper were freely available to both members of a pair. It was observed that familiarization with a territory and epaulet visibility are not critical to maintenance of dominance in reproductively inactive birds. The potential usefulness of competitive/cooperative tasks for the study of dominance behavior is discussed.