cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partial molar isentropic compressibilities and volumes of selected electrolytes and nonelectrolytes in dimethylsulfoxide

Precision densities and sound velocities for solutions of selected univalent electrolytes and nonelectrolytes in DMSO have been measured at 25°C, and apparent molar isentropic compressibilities and volumes evaluated. The data were extrapolated to infinite dilution to obtain standard state partial molar quantities, Ks,2°, and V2°. Values of V2° and Ks,2° for alkali metal halides in DMSO are very similar to those in water. The results confirm conclusions derived from data in water and other nonaqueous solvents that Ks,2° and V2° for alkali metal halides are strongly dependent on solvent compressibility. Ks,2° becomes more negative and V2° decreases as solvent compressibility increases. Attempts to determine ionic Ks,2° values suggest that a significant dissymmetry exists between φ4P+ and φ4B− in DMSO, whereas in water and MeOH, these large ions appear to behave similarly. Ionic V2° values support this conclusion. Steric hindrance in the DMSO molecule is believed to be responsible for this dissymmetry.
Intraoperative traction testing to detect incomplete inferior oblique myotomy/myectomy.

Abstract Purpose: Incomplete transection of the inferior oblique muscle during myotomy or myectomy is an important preventable cause of ineffective inferior oblique weakening surgery. Intraoperative traction testing has been suggested as a means of detecting an incomplete inferior oblique transection. The usefulness of intraoperative traction testing to detect incomplete myotomy was evaluated. Methods: The subjective "tightness" of the inferior oblique muscle was evaluated after partial and complete myotomy to determine how partial myotomy affected inferior oblique traction testing and to determine whether intraoperative traction testing is an effective means of ensuring that a complete myotomy has been achieved. Serial traction testing was performed on 10 inferior oblique muscles at the time of myotomy and scored, 0+ to 4+ tightness. Testing was performed before myotomy and after 50%, 90%, and total myotomy. Results: In 8 of 10 eyes traction testing remained strongly positive until the inferior oblique muscle had been completely transected. The average inferior oblique muscle tightness of these eight muscle was +1.69 before myotomy and after 50% and 90% myotomy. The tightness decreased to 0 after 100% myotomy. In two cases no inferior oblique muscle could be detected after 50% and 90% myotomy, respectively. These two muscles had preoperative traction testing of +0.5 and +1.00, respectively. Conclusions: Intraoperative traction testing is a practical and effective method of detecting in complete inferior oblique myotomy/myectomy, but the test should be interpreted with caution in patients with loose premyotomy muscles.
Rural connected communities: a project in online collaborative journalism

We describe a web-based collaborative educational project in an under-served rural community in Northern Thailand. The rural community enjoyed high internet connectivity via a satellite internet link installed as part of a larger research endeavor directed by Seymour Papert. Project Lighthouse is exploring the role of computers in educational reform throughout Thailand. The goal of this particular pilot project was to help villagers of all ages and backgrounds gain technological fluency, cultivate a sense of ownership and mastery, and develop knowledge and pride about their cultural heritage and history while creating an on-line magazine for their village. The constructionist methodology guided our work and helped people to view themselves not only as consumers but also as producers of information. The project employed a software environment named Pluto, an authoring tool specially designed at the MIT Media Lab to support community-based collaborative electronic publishing.
The extra-adrenal effects of metyrapone and oxazepam on ongoing cocaine self-administration

Abstract Investigation of the role of stress in cocaine addiction has yielded an efficacious combination of metyrapone and oxazepam, hypothesized to decrease relapse to cocaine use by reducing stress-induced craving. However, recent data suggest an extra-adrenal role for metyrapone in mediating stress- and addiction-related behaviors. The interactions between the physiological stress response and cocaine self-administration were characterized in rodents utilizing surgical adrenalectomy and pharmacological treatment. Male Wistar rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.25 mg/kg/infusion) and food pellets under a concurrent alternating fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement. Surgical removal of the adrenal glands resulted in a significant decrease in plasma corticosterone and a consequent increase in ACTH, as expected. However, adrenalectomy did not significantly affect ongoing cocaine self-administration. Pretreatment with metyrapone, oxazepam and their combinations in intact rats resulted in a significant decrease in cocaine-reinforced responses. These same pharmacological treatments were still effective in reducing cocaine- and food-reinforced responding in adrenalectomized rats. The results of these experiments demonstrate that adrenally-derived steroids are not necessary to maintain cocaine-reinforced responding in cocaine-experienced rats. These results also demonstrate that metyrapone may produce effects outside of the adrenal gland, presumably in the central nervous system, to affect cocaine-related behaviors.
Cellular metal lattices with hollow trusses

Cellular metal lattice truss structures are being investigated for use as multifunctional load supporting structures where their other functionalities include thermal management, dynamic load protection and acoustic damping. A simple method for making lattice structures with either solid or hollow trusses is reported. The approach involves laying up collinear arrays of either solid wires or hollow cylinders and then alternating the direction of successive layers. The alternating collinear assembly is metallically bonded by a brazing process. The dimensions of the cylinders, the wall thickness of hollow truss structures and the spacing between the trusses enable independent control of the cell size and the relative density of the structure. The process has been used to create stainless steel lattices with either square or diamond topologies with relative densities from 0.03 to 0.23. The through thickness elastic modulus of these lattice truss structures is found to be proportional to relative density. The square topology has twice the stiffness of the diamond oriented trusses. The peak compressive strengths of both topologies are similar and is controlled by plastic buckling. The structural efficiency of hollow truss structures with a fixed cell size is approximately proportional to the relative density unlike equivalent structures made from solid trusses whose peak strength has been predicted to scale with the cube of the relative density. The experimental data for hollow trusses lie between predictions for trusses with built-in and pin-jointed nodes consistent with experimental observations of constrained node rotation. The use of hollow trusses increases the resistance to buckling offsetting the usually rapid drop in strength as the relative density decreases in cellular systems where truss buckling controls failure. The low relative density hollow truss structures reported here have the highest reported specific peak strength of any cellular metal reported to date.
London penetration depth in Ba ( Fe 1 − x T x ) 2 As 2 ( T = Co , Ni ) superconductors irradiated with heavy ions

Irradiation with Pb ions was used to study the effect of disorder on the in-plane London penetration depth, $\ensuremath{\lambda}(T)$, in single crystals of $\text{Ba}{({\text{Fe}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{T}_{x})}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ $(T=\text{Co},\text{ }\text{Ni})$. An increase in the irradiation dose results in a monotonic decrease in the superconducting transition temperature, ${T}_{c}$, without affecting much the transition width. In both Co- and Ni-doped systems we find a power-law behavior, $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\lambda}(T)\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{n}$ with the exponent $n$ systematically decreasing with the increase in disorder. This observation, at qualitative odds with the response of $s$- and $d$-wave superconductors, finds natural explanation in a nodeless ${s}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ state with pairbreaking (interband) impurity scattering. We are able to describe the effect quantitatively assuming the pairbreaking strength intermediate between Born and unitary limits.
Recent results on dense Z pinches

Abstract A detailed description of the ongoing high density Z-pinch experiments at Los Alamos is given. A review of past dense experiments is included. A model for a dense Z pinch as a high-Q, low yield, reactor system is presented.
Weight changes in obese adults 6-months after discontinuation of double-blind zonisamide or placebo treatment.

We evaluated weight changes in obese patients at 6-months after they ended participation in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in which they received daily placebo, zonisamide 200 mg, or zonisamide 400 mg, in addition to lifestyle counseling. Of the originally randomized 225 patients, 218 completed month-12 when study interventions were discontinued. For the 154 patients who returned for 6-month follow-up off-treatment, weight changes between month-12 and month-18 for placebo (n=53), zonisamide 200 mg (n=49), and zonisamide 400 mg groups (n=52) were 0.5 kg (95% CI, −0.8 to 1.8; 0.7%), 1.5 kg (0.2 to 2.8; 1.6%; p=0.26 vs placebo) and 2.4 kg (1.1 to 3.7; 2.6%; p=0.04 vs placebo), respectively. Our results suggest that although zonisamide 400 mg daily for 12-months resulted in greater weight loss than with placebo, weight regain after discontinuation of interventions was greater in the zonisamide 400 mg group than placebo group.
The Impact of Zooplankton Grazing on Phytoplankton Species Composition and Biomass in Lake Champlain (USA-Canada)

Abstract Rates of grazing on phytoplankton by macrozooplankton (cladocerans and copepods > 220 μm in length) and microzooplankton (animals
Planar packing of tetrachlorodicyanobenzenes. II

Equimolar mixtures of ortho- and meta-, or ortho- and para-, or meta- and para-tetrachlorodicyanobenzene, C6Cl4(CN)2, form structures with disordered layers containing both kinds of molecules in rhombohedral or pseudo-rhombohedral cells. These structures are similar to the structure of the rhombohedral form of the meta isomer. The guiding force appears to be an intermolecular synthon, in which a nitrile group in one molecule interacts with Cl atoms in two adjacent molecules with N⋯Cl distances of approximately 3.1 A.
Myocardial Injury and Left Ventricular Performance After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose —Electrocardiographic abnormalities and elevations of the creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme (CK-MB) occur frequently after subarachnoid hemorrhage. In some patients, a reversible and presumably neurogenic form of left ventricular dysfunction is demonstrated by echocardiography. It is not known whether cardiac injury of this type adversely affects cardiovascular hemodynamic performance. Methods —We retrospectively studied 72 patients admitted to our neuro-ICU for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage over a 2.5-year period. We selected patients who met the following criteria: (1) CK-MB levels measured within 3 days of onset, (2) pulmonary artery catheter placed, (3) echocardiogram performed, and (4) no history of preexisting cardiac disease. Hemodynamic profiles were recorded on the day after surgery (n=67) or on the day of echocardiography (n=5) if surgery was not performed (mean, 3.3±1.7 days after onset). The severity of cardiac injury was classified as none (peak CK-MB 2%, n=6), or severe (abnormal left ventricular wall motion, n=9). Results —Abnormal left ventricular wall motion occurred exclusively in patients with peak CK-MB levels >2% ( P <0.0001), poor neurological grade ( P =0.002), and female sex ( P =0.02). Left ventricular stroke volume index and stroke work index were elevated above the normal range in patients with peak CK-MB levels <1% and fell progressively as the severity of cardiac injury increased, with mean values for patients with abnormal wall motion below normal (both P <0.0001 by ANOVA). Cardiac index followed a similar trend, but the effect was less pronounced ( P <0.0001). Using forward stepwise multiple logistic regression, we found that thick subarachnoid clot on the admission CT scan (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.0 to 3.4; P =0.04) and depressed cardiac index (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0 to 4.1; P =0.04) were independent predictors of symptomatic vasospasm. Conclusions —Myocardial enzyme release and echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities are associated with impaired left ventricular performance after subarachnoid hemorrhage. In severely affected patients, reduction of cardiac output from normally elevated levels may increase the risk of cerebral ischemia related to vasospasm.
Effects of uric acid and caffeine on A1 adenosine receptor binding in developing rat brain.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of serum uric acid or caffeine are associated with increased locomotor activity in rats and humans. Since uric acid and caffeine are structurally similar, it was hypothesized that these compounds alter locomotor activity through a common neural mechanism, specifically by acting as receptor antagonists at adenosine A 1 binding sites. In vitro competition of caffeine and uric acid against the A 1 agonist, [ 3 H] cyclohexyladenosine ([ 3 H]CHA), was conducted using homogenates of adult rat forebrain. Caffeine effectively competed for the A 1 binding site as previously reported (IC 50 = 107 μ M), but uric acid failed to compete with [ 3 H]CHA binding at concentrations within a relevant physiological range. Nevertheless, in vivo experiments indicated that chronic elevation of uric acid following allantoxanamide treatment of male rats on days 4–27 of life significantly decreased A 1 receptor binding in the striatum, a region traditionally implicated in mammalian locomotion. In contrast, chronic caffeine treatment on days 4–27 of life caused an increase in A 1 receptor binding in the cortex similar to increases reported previously in whole brain. These changes in A 1 receptor binding following chronic elevation of uric acid or caffeine did not persist in rats that had been withdrawn from allantoxanamide or caffeine treatment for 14 days. Results from in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that despite a similar molecular structure uric acid does not act by the same mechanism as caffeine to increase locomotor activity in rats.
Nutritional effect of oral supplement enriched in beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, glutamine and arginine on resting metabolic rate after laparoscopic gastric bypass

Background Weight regain that begins 12–18 months after laparoscopic gastric bypass has been attributed to changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is largely determined by lean body mass (LBM). An oral supplement containing beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, glutamine, and arginine (HMB/Glu/Arg) has helped to restore LBM in cachexia due to cancer and in critically ill trauma patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral HMB/Glu/Arg on LBM and RMR following laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB).
Characterization of Plasma Vitellogenin and Sex Hormone Concentrations during the Annual Reproductive Cycle of the Endangered Razorback Sucker

Abstract Population declines of the endangered razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus in the Colorado River basin have been attributed to predation by and competition with nonnative fishes, habitat alteration, and dam construction. The reproductive health and seasonal variation of the reproductive end points of razorback sucker populations are currently unknown. Using nonlethal methods, we characterized the plasma hormonal fluctuations of reproductively mature female and male razorback suckers over a 12-month period in a hatchery by measuring their vitellogenin (VTG) and three sex hormones: 17β-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and 11-ketotestosterone (KT). Fish were identified as reproductive or nonreproductive based on their body weight, VTG, and sex hormone profiles. In reproductive females, the E2 concentration increased in the fall and winter, and increases in T and VTG concentrations were generally associated with the spawning period. Mean T concentrations were consistently greater in reproductive femal...
Locus of spatial-frequency discrimination

In standard frequency-discrimination experiments either the retinal spatial frequencies (cycles per degree) or the object spatial frequencies (real world) could be compared, because the retinal and object frequency differences are the same. Current models of spatial-frequency discrimination assume that observers compare the retinal frequencies. I test this assumption by presenting gratings at different viewing distances (with strong depth cues). The object frequencies of the gratings bear the same relationship that they do in a standard frequency-discrimination experiment, but the retinal frequency of the more distant grating is always markedly higher than that of the near grating. The observer’s task is to compare the object spatial frequencies. This change from one depth to two (with no change in the stimulus object) has a negligible effect on the observer’s performance, suggesting that observers compare object frequencies even in standard spatial-frequency-discrimination experiments. This conclusion is supported by the findings that (1) observers appear unable to learn to compare retinal frequencies and (2) the interstimulus interval has no effect (over the range 0–1020 msec), implying long-term storage of the visual information. Suggestions are made about why these results are consistent with good system design.
Aspects of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) protein function in the brain.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 , is characterized by the development of hamartomas in a variety of organs. Concordant with the tumour-suppressor model, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is known to occur in these hamartomas at both TSC1 and TSC2 loci. LOH has been documented in renal angiomyolipomas, but loss of the wild-type allele in cortical tubers appears very uncommon. We analysed 24 hamartomas from 10 patients for second-hit mutations by several methods, and found no evidence for the inactivation of the second allele in many of the central nervous system (CNS) lesions, including tumours that appear to be clonally derived. We believe that somatic mutations in TSC1 and TSC2 resulting in the loss of wild-type alleles may not be necessary in some tumour types, and other mechanisms may contribute to tumorigenesis in this setting. We have shown that hamartin interacts with neurofilament light chain (NF-L) and could integrate the neuronal cytoskeleton through its direct interaction with NF-L and ERM (ezrin/radixin/moeisin) proteins. Our unpublished work further documents the binding of tuberin with Pam, a protein associated with c-Myc, which is enriched in brain. All these observations suggest that the tuberin–hamartin complex is likely to have distinct functions in the CNS.
Wait-Time and the Use of Target or Native Languages.

In the second language class, interactions between teachers and students serve as the focal point for learning how to use the language. After the teacher asks a question, students mentally process their answers. They hear the question, decipher its sounds and figure out its meaning and begin to form an answer. How long does it take to answer a question? How long should a teacher wait for an answer? Does it take longer to answer a question in the target language than in English? These are some of the questions that this study investigates. This article reports the results of a descriptive study of wait-time–the pause for thinking after questions and answers–in selected first-year high school Spanish and French classes. Over 7500 classroom events were recorded and coded in order to measure and find the variance in time of3270 instances of post-solicitation and post-response wait-time. The average durationofwait-time was 1.91 seconds (S.D. = 1.64) after questions; wait-time averaged 0.73 seconds (S.D. = 0.63) after responses. Post-response wait-time in all cases was short and of limited variance, indicating very little time for revision of thought in reaction to responses. Wait-time was significantly longer after questions in the native language.
Newer Therapeutic Approaches: Spondyloarthritis and Uveitis

Over the last 5 years considerable progress has taken place in the therapeutic approach to spondyloarthritis (SpA). This progress is due in large part to the development of effective biologic therapies and to improved clinical trial design and implementation. This article summarizes treatment advances in SpA with emphasis on the efficacy and safety of biologic agents in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, and uveitis.
Area of small disks

This paper considers Riemannian metrics on two dimensional disks where all geodesics are minimizing. A sharp reverse isoperimetric inequality is proven. This in turn yields near optimal bounds for the area of disks as well as near optimal upper bounds on the first nonzero Neumann eigenvalue of the Laplacian in terms only of the radius.
TDD design for UMTS Long-Term Evolution

Long-term evolution (LTE) will provide substantial enhancements to UMTS 3G systems including improved system capacity and coverage, low latency, reduced operating costs, multi-antenna support, flexible bandwidth operations and seamless integration with existing systems. LTE supports both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) modes to provide deployment flexibility in accordance with operatorpsilas preference and spectrum allocation. This paper presents an overview of LTE TDD design and highlights key differences with FDD. Design challenges unique to TDD are presented together with adopted technical solutions. Finally, simulation results are provided to demonstrate typical TDD system performance with data applications.
Resource optimization and environmental limitation in lowland South America

Hames, Raymond B.,.and William T. Vickers, eds. Adaptive Responses of Native Amazonians. New York: Academic Press, 1983. xv + 516 pp. including photographs, maps, references, and index. $49.00 cloth.
Quantitative detection of Borrelia burgdorferi with a microtiter-based competitive polymerase chain reaction assay.

Background: The current understanding of the inflammation associated with Lyme disease directly involves infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi within specific target tissues, accompanied by a significant host immunologic component driving the inflammatory process. The measurement of spirochetal tissue burden may thus be useful for studying animal models of Lyme disease pathogenesis. Widely available methods based on the culture of spirochetes from tissues do not provide quantitative information. Methods: We developed and evaluated a quantitative-competitive polymerase chain reaction assay based on amplification of the B. burgdorferi flagellin gene. The assay makes use of a competitive internal standard and a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection kit. Results and Conclusion: The assay clearly discriminated between infected and uninfected mouse tissues, and an accurate quantitation range of 500 to 20,000 spirochetes per milligram of tissue was obtained. C3H mice were shown to harbor greater amounts of spirochetal genomic DNA than BALB/c mice. Normalization of samples by tissue weight and genomic DNA content both provided acceptable results. These data indicate this assay can be used to provide reliable and meaningful measurements of spirochetal infectious burden, which will be extremely useful for the study of Lyme disease pathogenesis in the murine model.
Effects of mycotoxins on renal function: mycotoxic nephropathy.

During the recent past, the scientific community has been concerned with the effects of environmental pollutants on man and other animals. For the most part, the pollutants of interest have been man-made chemicals added inadvertently to the environment through waste disposal, over energetic use, and so on, or deliberately for some presumed worthwhile reason. There is little doubt that these contaminants represent potentially severe health hazards. There also exist in our ecosphere, however, other potential health hazards not provided by man's ingenuity or carelessness. The mycotoxins are a diverse group of chemicals produced by an equally diverse group of fungi. The beneficial effects of the penicillins , produced by several species of Penicillia, are well known. Equally important, however, is a broad range of chemical substances produced by fungi that are hazardous to man and other animals. A number of such substances have been demonstrated [1,2], but probably the aflatoxins are the most notorious of the fungal toxins in modern times. These compounds produce not only acute toxic syndromes, but also are carcinogenic [3]. The cancer-producing capability of the aflatoxins has been demonstrated in laboratory animals and is suggested from epidemiologic data to occur in man. Other mycotoxins may be potentially just as dangerous, however. For example, the rubratoxins can alter hepatic function and are teratogenic; penicillic acid may have toxic effects on the cardiovascular system in laboratory animals; and several fungal metabolites are nephrotoxic (see below).
Cyclooxygenase-2 regulation of brain lipid composition

Evaluation of: Ma K, Langenbach R, Rapoport SI, Basselin M: Altered brain lipid composition in cyclooxygenase-2 knockout mouse. J. Lipid Res. 48, 848–854 (2007). This study investigated for the first time the effects of life-long absence of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 on brain lipid composition using COX-2 null mice. Concentrations of different lipids were measured in the brains of COX-2 knockout and wild-type mice. The authors found multiple changes in brain lipid content as demonstrated by a significant increase in phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) and unesterified arachidic acid, and reduction in triacylglycerol and cholesterol concentrations. These data suggest that lack of COX-2 dramatically alters the brain lipid composition in the COX-2 knockout mouse. Thus, results from this report could have important implications for the interpretation of data from previous and future studies using COX-2 null mice.
Inhibition of oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins by phenolic substances in different essential oils varieties.

Phenolics antioxidant phytochemicals have been recently implicated for the lower rates of cardiac disease mortality among people consuming a Mediterranean diet. Essential oils are natural products extracted from vegetable materials, which can be used as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidants, and anti-carcinogenic agents or to preserve and give specific flavors to foods. The activities of 23 selected essential oils in inhibiting the copper-catalyzed oxidation of human-low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were determined in vitro. LDL oxidation was inhibited between 6, 2, and 83% by 2 μM (GAE) total phenolics. The relative inhibition of LDL oxidation was used to categorize the essential oils into four groups below 2% when they contained methylchavicol, anethol, p-cymen, apiole, cinnamic ether; 6−10% if they possessed a majority of carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, or vanillin; 10−50% for moderate amounts of thymol, carvacrol, cuminol, or eugenol; and 50−100% when eugenol is the major component. Total phenol content ...
EcoMOBILE: Integrating augmented reality and probeware with environmental education field trips

Positioned in the context of situated learning theory, the EcoMOBILE project combines an augmented reality (AR) experience with use of environmental probeware during a field trip to a local pond environment. Activities combining these two technologies were designed to address ecosystem science learning goals for middle school students, and aid in their understanding and interpretation of water quality measurements. The intervention was conducted with five classes of sixth graders from a northeastern school district as a pilot study for the larger EcoMOBILE project, and included pre-field trip training, a field trip to a local pond environment, and post-field trip discussions in the classroom. During the field experience, students used mobile wireless devices with FreshAiR(TM), an augmented reality application, to navigate the pond environment and to observe virtual media and information overlaid on the physical pond. This AR experience was combined with probeware, in that students collected water quality measurements at designated AR hotspots during the experience. We studied the characteristics of learning and instruction using measures of student attitudes, content learning gains, and opinions teachers provided via written and verbal feedback. We observed gains in student affective measures and content understanding following the intervention. Teachers reported that the combined technologies promoted student interaction with the pond and with classmates in a format that was student-centered rather than teacher-directed. Teachers also reported that students demonstrated deeper understanding of the principles of water quality measurement than was typical on prior field trips without these technologies and that students had expanded opportunities to engage in activities that resemble scientific practice. Overall, results of the students' surveys and teacher feedback suggest that there are multiple benefits to using this suite of technologies for teaching and for learning.
POSTCOPULATORY FEMALE CHOICE INCREASES THE FERTILIZATION SUCCESS OF NOVEL MALES IN THE FIELD CRICKET, GRYLLUS VOCALIS

Although recent studies have demonstrated that female crickets prefer novel males to previous mates, the relative contribution of pre- and postcopulatory behaviors to this advantage remain unknown, as do the reproductive consequences to males. I paired females either with previous or novel mates, and recorded the latency to mating and the time after mating at which the female removed the male's spermatophore, terminating sperm transfer. Females that mated with familiar males removed their spermatophores sooner than females that mated with novel males. Females paired with novel males also mated more quickly than females paired with familiar males, but this difference was not statistically significant. A molecular-based paternity analysis was used to determine whether the postcopulatory preference of females for novel males influences a male's fertilization success. Females were assigned to either mate three times with the same male and then once with a novel male, or four times with four different males. The paternity of the last male was higher when the female previously had mated repeatedly with the same male than when she had mated previously with different males. These results suggest that female spermatophore removal behavior influences male paternity such that novel males receive a fertility benefit.
Nitric Oxide–Mediated Modification of the Glycine Binding Site of the NMDA Receptor During Hypoxia in the Cerebral Cortex of the Newborn Piglet

This study tested the hypothesis that cerebral hypoxia results in nitric oxide (NO)-mediated modification of the glycine-binding site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Glycine binding characteristics were determined in normoxic, hypoxic, and hypoxic with 7-nitroindazole (7-NINA)-pretreated newborn piglets. The role of nitration was evaluated by determining binding characteristics in non-nitrated and in-vitro nitrated membranes. Bmax and Kd values were 30% higher in the hypoxic group than the normoxic and 7-NINA pretreated hypoxic groups. Kd values in the in-vitro normoxic nitrated membranes were similar to the non-nitrated hypoxic group. Bmax values in the in-vitro normoxic nitrated membrane samples were 16% lower than in the non-nitrated hypoxic group. We conclude cerebral hypoxia causes modification of the glycine-binding site of the NMDA receptor and this modification of the glycine-binding site may be NO mediated. We propose that NO-mediated modification of the glycine-binding site of the NMDA receptor regulates calcium influx through its ion-channel.
Perioperative hemodynamics obtained by pulse contour analysis facilitated the management of a patient with chronic hypertension, renal insufficiency, and superimposed preeclampsia during cesarean delivery

A 23 year-old woman with chronic hypertension, focal segmental glomerular sclerosis with chronic renal insufficiency, and superimposed severe preeclampsia, required cesarean delivery. The patient's course was also complicated by severe hyperkalemia and hypermagnesemia. "PulseCO" pulse contour analysis of a directly measured radial artery pressure tracing, without lithium calibration, enabled her physicians to follow trends in cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, facilitating and rationalizing her care. The limitations of pulse contour analysis are discussed.
Analysis of the HTLV-1 Gag assembly pathway by biophysical fluorescence

Much of the mechanistic details for how HTLV-1 Gag orchestrates virus particle assembly and release are poorly understood. Here, we monitored the behavior of both membrane-bound and cytoplasmic HTLV-1 Gag in real-time in living cells incubated on a fluorescence microscope. We used both fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS, conventional and z-scan) and fluorescence imaging (epi-illumination, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF)) to investigate the relationship between cytoplasmic and membrane bound Gag, using a Gag-YFP model system. FFS determines the brightness, mobility, and concentration (conventional) and localization (z-scan) of fluorescent particles from the intensity bursts generated by individual particles passing through a small observation volume, which yields information about protein stoichiometry, interactions, transport, and distribution. By coupling the single-molecule FFS technique with imaging techniques capable of monitoring Gag localization (epi-illumination) and membrane-specific localization (TIRF), we achieved new insights into the earliest events in HTLV-1 Gag assembly, and differences to HIV-1 Gag. We found that HTLV-1 Gag membrane-targeting occurred at all cytoplasmic concentrations measured, while appreciable membrane-targeting for HIV-1 required Gag cytoplasmic concentration to exceed a threshold. In addition, z-scan FFS revealed that a substantial population of membrane-bound HTLV-1 Gag exists not as puncta, but as a diffuse, low-order, dynamic “sheet.” These observations, coupled with previous observations of cytoplasmic Gag interactions and mobility, point to differences in membrane targeting of HTLV-1 and HIV-1 Gag. In summary, the suite of biophysical fluorescence techniques, applied HTLV-1 Gag, provide unparalleled information concerning HTLV-1 Gag trafficking processes in vivo, elucidating assembly pathway differences between HTLV-1 and other retroviruses.
The effect of the bank regulatory environment on state economic activity

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between bank regulation and economic activity. We look at the effect of branching and interstate banking regulations on three measures of state economic activity for the period from 1970 to 1988. Increases in bank costs and reductions in competition due to regulation can be expected to lead to reduced levels of financial intermediation, causing a decline in economic activity. Controlling for state and time-period effects, our results show an adverse effect of restrictive bank regulation on economic activity.
On a language for discrete dynamic programming and a microcomputer implementation

Abstract This paper presents a new modeling language (DDPL) for dynamic programming in addition to MOR/DP its microcomputer environment. DDPL is a programming language specifically tailored to the needs of dynamic programming; it is based upon a general and flexible recursion equation and supports common mathematical constructs such as arrays, sequences and functions. Programming statements such as IF/THEN/ELSE, REPEAT/UNTIL, WHILE, DOCASES and PRINT are also provided. The system addresses the broad class of problems having a finite number of stages, with each stage having a single state and decision variable. This class includes most common structures such as: shortest path problems, knapsack problems, a variety of nonserial problems, and Markov decision problems. Several examples are provided to illustrate the syntax and capabilities of MOR/DP. The environment consists of a text editor with pulldown menus and provides an on-line help facility.
Technetium-99m MDP extravasation with cutaneous pattern of ulnar innervation

Soft tissue features after an incorrectly administered radiotracer during scintigraphic imaging may create artifacts such as a "hot glove" phenomenon, lymphoscintigraphic demonstration, or localized skeletal activity adjacent to the injection site. The author presents a bone scintigraphy study showing a pattern of ulnar soft tissue innervation, which may be related to extravasation of injected technetium-99m MDP in the right upper extremity.
Dispersion Characteristics and Rheology of Organoclay Nanocomposites Based on a Segmented Main-Chain Liquid-Crystalline Polymer Having Pendent Pyridyl Group

The dispersion characteristics and rheology of organoclay nanocomposites based on a thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymer (TLCP) having pendent functional group were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and oscillatory shear rheometry. For the study, a segmented main-chain TLCP having pendent pyridyl group (PyHQ12) was synthesized and, for comparison, another segmented main-chain TLCP having pendent phenylsulfonyl group (PSHQ12) was synthesized, both TLCPs having the identical chemical structure for the main-chain backbone. The differences in phase transition temperature and rheological behavior observed between PyHQ12 and PSHQ12 are explained in terms of the self-associating characteristics of the pendent pyridyl group in PyHQ12. PyHQ12 and PSHQ12 were used to prepare nanocomposites with two commercial organoclays: one (Cloisite 30B) was natural clay (montmorillonite) treated with a surfactant (MT2EtOH) having hydroxyl groups, and the other (Cloisite 20A)...
Model level fusion of edge histogram descriptors and gabor wavelets for landmine detection with ground penetrating radar

We propose a discriminative method for combining heterogeneous sets of features for the continuous hidden Markov model classifier. We use a model level fusion approach and apply it to the problem of landmine detection using ground penetrating radar (GPR). We hypothesize that each signature (mine or non-mine) can be characterized better by multiple synchronous sequences that can capture different and complementary features. Our work is motivated by the fact that mines and clutter objects can have different characteristics depending on the mine type, soil and weather conditions, and burial depth. Thus, different sets of specialized feature extraction mechanisms, may be needed to achieve high detection and low false alarm rates. In order to fuse the different modalities, a multi-stream continuous HMM that includes a stream relevance weighting component is developed. In particular, we modify the probability density function that characterizes the standard continuousHMMto include state and component dependent stream relevance weights. We generalize the Minimum Classification Error (MCE) objective function to include stream relevance weights and derive the necessary conditions to update all model parameters simultaneously. Results on a large collection of GPR alarms show that the proposed model level fusion outperforms the baseline HMM when each feature is used independently and when both features are combined with equal weights.
On primitive fault test generation in non-scan sequential circuits

A method is presented for identifying primitive path-delay faults in non-scan sequential circuits and generating robust tests for all robustly testable primitive faults. It uses the concept of sensitizing cubes introduced in an earlier paper and a new, more efficient algorithm for generating them. Sensitizing cubes of the next-state and output logic are used to obtain static sensitizing vectors that can be applied to the non-scan sequential circuit as part of a vector-pair. These vector-pairs are also used in deriving robust tests. Initializing sequences from a reset state and sequences that propagate fault effects from flip-flops to primary outputs are also generated. The proposed method has been implemented and used to derive tests for primitive faults in ISCAS'89 and MCNC'91 benchmark circuits.
Exocytotic release from individual granules exhibits similar properties at mast and chromaffin cells

The effects of temperature on granular secretion were studied in individual bovine adrenal chromaffin and rat peritoneal mast cells. It was found that more molecules are released from individual granules at physiological temperature than at room temperature, where such experiments are normally performed. In mast cells, there is also a dramatic decrease in the time required for exocytosis to be complete at 37 degrees C compared to room temperature. In the presence of some cations, the amount released from individual granules at room temperature from both types of cells could be altered. The amount of secretion decreased with the divalent cation zinc but increased with the monovalent cation cesium. These experiments used two electrochemical techniques: cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. With amperometry, the concentration gradient created by the electrode near the cell further increased the amount of release. Similar responses to changes in the extracellular environment in chromaffin and mast cells suggest that the mechanism of extrusion of the granule contents is similar in both cell types.
Chapter One: The Study of Time Talk in Second Language Acquisition

Early Studies of Verbal Morphology , p.4 The Morpheme Order Studies, p.4 Phonetic Constraints, p.6 Investigating the Expression of Temporality, p.10 Methods of Research and Analysis, p.14 Overview of the Book, p.16
Synthesis of graphite by chlorination of iron carbide at moderate temperatures

Synthesis of graphite by extraction of iron from iron carbide by chlorine is reported in this work. This process is attractive because it can produce well-ordered graphite at temperatures as low as 600 °C, providing an opportunity for low-temperature solid-state synthesis. Thermodynamic simulation was used to determine the composition of the reaction products under equilibrium conditions and select the initial process parameters such as temperature and chlorine/carbide molar ratio. The interlayer spacing and crystal size of the produced graphite were calculated from X-ray diffraction measurements. The degree of orientation of the graphitic layers was determined by Raman spectroscopy. Three temperature regimes have been identified. At temperatures below 500 °C, amorphous or disordered carbon is formed as shown by Raman spectroscopy and TEM studies. Well-ordered graphite microcrystals are formed by solid-state growth between 600 and 1100 °C. Above the eutectic temperature in the Fe/Fe3C system, 1130 °C, the growth of large graphite crystals occurs from the liquid phase, similar to the formation of kish graphite by precipitation of carbon at high temperatures from supersaturated molten iron. Iron chlorides, the main impurities in the material synthesized by the solid-state growth, can be removed by using excess chlorine gas or by a separate wet chemical purification step. Preparation of graphite doped with iron for catalytic purposes is also possible using this process.
Which patients with undetectable PSA levels 5 years after radical prostatectomy are still at risk of recurrence?--implications for a risk-adapted follow-up strategy.

Objectives To determine the predictors of late prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure among men with an undetectable PSA level 5 years after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods A total of 505 men who had undergone RP for prostate cancer from 1985 to 2000 at Brigham and Women's Hospital and who had ≥5 years of recurrence-free survival (ie, all PSA levels Results The median follow-up was 10.7 years after RP (interquartile range 7.8-13.3). No patient had PSA failure at year 5, but the PSA failure-free survival rate for this cohort at year 10 was 88% (95% confidence interval 84.4%-91.0%) and, at year 13, was 82% (95% confidence interval 77.0%-86.0%). On multivariable regression analysis, the factors associated with failure after year 5 were Gleason score 7 (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.88, P = .036), Gleason score 8-10 (AHR 4.81, P ≤ .002), extracapsular extension (AHR 2.37, P = .003), and seminal vesicle invasion (AHR 1.52, P = .062). Conclusions Among men with an undetectable PSA level 5 years after RP, Gleason score 7, Gleason score 8-10, extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle invasion were significant predictors of subsequent late PSA failure. Patients with these factors (particularly Gleason score 8-10 or seminal vesicle invasion) should have continued close monitoring of their PSA level and consideration of early salvage, as appropriate. However, patients with Gleason score 6 disease were very unlikely to develop late recurrence and might be candidates for less-intense follow-up once they have passed the 5-year mark.
Elicitation of Haptic User Interface Needs of People with Low Vision

Various assistive technologies such as haptic technology are used to help people with visual impairments comprehend complex information. Yet there is likely to be a misconception that users with the same disability category share the same user interface needs; furthermore, the majority of the literature has been oriented toward total blindness rather than low vision, possibly leading to dissatisfaction with assistive technologies and discontinuation of its use by those with low vision. The aim of this article is to advance the understanding of the needs of those with low vision especially in relation to haptic-incorporated multimodal user interfaces. A scenario-based, participatory design approach was used to explore their needs. A total of 19 user needs were systematically documented under three categories: audition (n = 5), touch (n = 11), and vision (n = 3). This article focuses on qualitatively exploring their needs and theoretically interpreting the needs in the light of previous studies.