cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Coaching and Mentoring Process: The Obvious Knowledge and Skill Set for Organizational Communication Professors:

This article explores the uses of coaching and mentoring as they apply to organizational communication professors. The authors contend that these professors already are proficient at coaching and mentoring and the coaching and mentoring processes are routinely undertaken as part of their standard university teaching responsibilities. As coaches, these faculty members assist their students in improving student communication abilities through observation, discussion, and follow-up. As mentors, these faculty members enter into a developmental relationship with students that extend beyond the classroom. A greater knowledge of coaching and mentoring will enhance instructional efforts and benefit students in multiple ways.
Fragments and Foundations: Medieval Texts and the Future of Feminism

This article examines the development of feminist criticism and gender studies within medieval literary studies and the limited impact that feminist treatments of texts from the Middle Ages have had on the field of feminist theory and criticism more generally. I survey the past achievements by feminists working with medieval texts, noting that they focused primarily on concepts of femininity, representations of characters, or women writers. Then I explore the conflicting assessments of the present status of feminism within medieval literary studies. Finally, I argue that there are three primary areas for future research: the expansion of the feminist ‘canon’, interactions within and between texts, and the intersections of language and gender. Feminism has achieved many of its original goals and now has been largely supplanted by gender and sexuality studies, including queer theory. However, I conclude that medieval texts offer new directions for feminist inquiry because they contain the origins of gendered language in English; medieval texts reveal that the meanings of words like womanhood, femininity, and wifehood have been disparate and contested from their first usages and thereby defamiliarize our modern usages of those same terms.
READMISSIONS IN HEART FAILURE AND MYOCARDIAL INFARCTIONS: A PARADOXICAL IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF CARE

Heart failure is the leading cause of readmissions in patients over the age of sixty-five in the United States. With the national rise in medical expenditures, there is great focus on reducing readmission rates as a parameter of quality improvement. We used the hospital compare database, which
GeSnSe3 glass — A novel exception to the Ioffe-Regel rule

Abstract Glasses based on the Ge 2−2 x Sn 2 x Se 3 ternary have been examined using scanning calorimetry, Mossbauer Spectroscopy, and molar volume measurements. The origin of extensive glass formation, especially near x = 0.5, is traced to a floppy molecular fragment based on the structure of c - GeSnS 3 . c - GeSnSe 3 does not exist in a structure isomorphic to c - GeSnS 3 , thus showing g - GeSnSe 3 to be a novel exception to the Ioffe-Regel Rule.
The traffic in garbage and hazardous wastes: an overview

The traffic in garbage and hazardous wastes is a huge illicit transnational business that involves a wide array of criminals, including private entities, corrupt public officials, and organized crime groups. The traffic in CFCs and radioactive materials and the chemical by-products of illicit crop cultivation and production are related problems with significant negative environmental and social consequences. Inelastic demand, price differentials among industrialized and developing nations, corruption, incongruent international regulations, a lack of political will, and the emergence of waste brokers are all factors that drive the illegal trade and inhibit law enforcement. While regulatory and criminal justice efforts have been mostly ineffective, technological innovations that reduce waste and the costs of safe disposal may limit opportunities for waste traffickers. The right mix of subsidies and taxation as well as monitoring and compliance at the local level could make legal disposal more attractive, and thus further inhibit criminal opportunities.
Gel electrophoresis: A new catalyst for acid systems

Abstract A new catalyst system for polyacrylamide gels at low pH has been developed. The system consists of ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, and hydrogen peroxide. It is more effective than the usual catalysts (tertiary amine and ammonium persulfate or riboflavin) and not inhibited by molecular oxygen. Separations of highly basic proteins proved the gels to be uniform, versatile, and reproducible.
An improved DEPT–HMQC sequence for high‐throughput NMR analysis

Two new pulse sequences are presented for the acquisition of DEPT–HMQC spectra, based on the original experiment of Kessler et al. The new sequences employ modifications intended to make the experiment well suited for high-throughput acquisition and automated analysis. The sequences use coherence selection with gradients to reduce artifacts and constant-time evolution to suppress unwanted F1 modulation. In addition, the new sequences require fewer pulses than the original experiment, and perform well even when pulse lengths are slightly mis-set. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Random Subgraphs of Cayley Graphs overp-Groups

The subject of this paper is the size of the largest component in random subgraphs of Cayley graphs, Xn, taken over a class of p -groups, Gn. Gnconsists of p -groups, Gn, with the following properties: (i)Gn/?(Gn) ~ =Fpn, where ?(Gn) is the Frattini subgroup and (ii) | Gn| ?nKn, where K is some positive constant. We consider Cayley graphs Xn=?(Gn, Sn?), where Sn?=Sn?Sn?1, and Snis a minimal Gn-generating set. By selecting Gn-elements with the independent probability ?nwe induce random subgraphs of Xn. Our main result is, that there exists a positive constant c 0 such that for ?n=c ln(| Sn? |)/| Sn? | the largest component of random induced subgraphs of Xncontains almost all vertices.
Hierarchical multi-resolutional optimal control systems

Abstract Complex systems with a very large number of state and control variables are difficult to analyse. multi level hierarchical control structure is proposed in this document. A method for goal propagation from the upper levels to the lower levels in the hierarchy is suggested.
Ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the solubilization of chlorzoxazone by alkyltrimethylammonium halides

Abstract From comparisons of the spectra of chlorzoxazone before and after solubilization in solutions of Tween 80, sodium lauryl sulfate, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the most significant changes were found for the cationic CTAB. Subsequent studies of the interaction of chlorzoxazone with CTAB indicated that the quaternary ammonium group induces the ionization of chlorzoxazone from its nonionic keto form to its ionized enolate form. From changes in the UV absorbance of chlorzoxazone after solubilization in solutions of CTAB, the binding constant of chlorzoxazone with the CTAB micelles (5.51 × 10 4 M −1 ) and the approximate number of binding sites (8) were calculated by Sepulveda's method, modified to include the critical micelle concentration. Furthermore, NMR studies of the more soluble chlorzoxazone-dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) systems indicated that chlorzoxazone was located in the palisade layer of the DTAC micelles with its carbonyl oxygen close to the surface and chlorine atom facing inward toward the nonpolar core of the micelles.
Isotopic evidence for crust-mantle evolution with emphasis on the Canadian Shield

Abstract Nd, Sr and Pb isotope data from carbonatites and related silicate rocks spanning an age range from 0.1 to 2.7 Ga in the Grenville and Superior provinces, Canadian Shield, trace the secular geochemical evolution of large ion lithophile element-depleted mantle sources beneath those provinces over the past 2.2 Ga. Sr data from 2.67-Ga-old syenites from the Abitibi, Quetico and Wabigoon belts in the Superior Province do not indicate depleted mantle sources, although ϵNd for the same rocks averages +1. Initial Pb ratios in the syenites yield single-stage model ages that agree closely with their radiometric ages, while the model ages for the younger complexes are substantially younger than their radiometric ages. This suggests either that Pb in the 2.67-Ga complexes was not derived from aged depleted mantle sources, or that any recycled crustal component with high U/Pb had previously experienced only a short crustal residence time. The combined Pb and Sr data suggest that the depleted mantle beneath the Superior Province sampled by the complexes was initiated ∼3 Ga ago, in agreement with previously published results. Available data on carbonatites from the Fennoscandian Shield parallel the Canadian Shield isotope evolution pattern, although data from the southern hemisphere show considerable divergence, indicating regional variations. However, isotope evolution data from Precambrian marine precipitates suggest that major contributions of Sr to the oceans from sialic crust commenced ∼3 Ga ago. Assuming a complementary relationship between sialic crust and depleted mantle, the Canadian and European Sr data agree with average world-wide evolution of depleted mantle, and therefore appear to have more than regional significance. Models to reconcile the differences between the Nd and Sr results are considered. With present information several models are viable, some of which involve the first appearance of major volumes of depleted mantle around 3.0 Ga due to formation of sialic continental crust. The contrast between the Sr and Nd data may be due to differences in the way in which the bulk silicate Earth isotope evolution models for Nd compared to those for Sr and Pb are derived. Until the cause of the differences between Nd and the Sr and Pb data are better understood the presence of substantial volumes of sialic continental crust prior to ∼3.0 Ga ago is open to question.
Metabolism and low temperature acclimation in the temperature crayfish, Orconectes virilis

Abstract 1. 1. Temperature zone crayfish, Orconectes virilis, respond to low temperature by quantitative changes in overall metabolism and in substrate utilization by the hepatopancreas. 2. 2. Intermolt crayfish show an initial rotation of their R-T curves, followed by translation. Premolt cryfish at 5°C show no significant change in QO2 but indicate, (a) negative translation, (b) no apparent adaptive change and (c) an indication of rotation with exposure time. 3. 3. Changes in tissue metabolism after 1–3 weeks of exposure to 5°C demonstrate a shift from the characteristic metabolic route of an intermolt cycle state to increase in substance utilization by both the Embden-Meyerhof and hexosemonolphosphate routes. 4. 4. Whole organism and tissue metabolic changes induced by low temperature exposure are correlated with conventional acclimation patterns and correspondence between theoretical analyses of enzyme changes and crustacean tissue responses are discussed.
Effects of Prolongea Isolation in Extreme Environments on Stress, Coping, and Depression1

This influence of prolongea isolation in an extreme environment on depressive symptoms, personality, and coping resources was examined in 121 members of the United States Antarctic Program in 1988–1989. Subjects were followed for a 1-year period in Antarctica. Winter-over personnel experienced an increase in depressive symptoms, avoidance as a coping method, and emotional discharge as a coping resource from baseline (T0) to Year-1 (T1). At T0, education, negative life events, job-related stress, low self-confidence, active cognitive and behavioral coping methods, and low satisfaction with social support were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. At T1, negative life events, low self-confidence, active behavioral and avoidance coping methods, affective regulation as a coping resource, and low satisfaction with social support were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. However, with the exception of T0 depressive symptoms, none of the social and demographic characteristics and T0 psychosocial measures predicted T1 depressive symptoms. The results of this study support the hypothesis that coping may be more strongly associated with environmental conditions that influence severity of stressor and availability of coping resources than with more remote and stable background factors.
THE EFFECTS OF ERRORLESS LEARNING AND BACKWARD CHAINING ON THE ACQUISITION OF INTERNET SKILLS IN ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

An important area in the learning and development of individuals with disabilities is the acquisition of independent, age-appropriate leisure skills. Three adults with autism and mental retardation were taught to access specific Internet sites using backward chaining and most-to-least intrusive prompting. The number of independent steps completed in the task analysis increased following training.
An investigation of time efficiency and near singular behavior of numerical robot kinematics

Abstract This paper introduces several modifications to the numerical methods used to find inverse kinematics solutions of manipulators. Modified Newton-Raphson and modified predictor-corrector algorithms are discussed and compared. These modifications contribute significantly to the reliability, stability, and time efficiency of these algorithms. These modified algorithms always converge if a physically realizable robot configuration exists, and are able to numerically determine (or approach) singular positions of the robot with desired numerical precision. The modified predictor-corrector based inverse kinematics is much faster than the one based upon the modified Newton-Raphson algorithm.
A monoclonal antibody which binds a carbohydrate moiety broadly expressed on rainbow trout leucocytes

Abstract A monoclonal antibody, anti-2PBL4X (IgG1), was developed which induces aggregation of trout leucocytes and suppresses in vitro mixed lymphocyte cultures and cytolysis by nonspecific cytotoxic cells. Cellular aggregation and suppression of functional assays is mediated by microgram quantities of the antibody and is dose-dependent. The epitope recognised by anti-2PBL4X is present on approximately 75% of trout peripheral blood cells, 84% of trout anterior kidney cells and 81% of trout thymocytes, as determined by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis of an extract of trout leucocytes reveals that multiple bands are stained by anti-2PBL4X. Digestion of the extract with the endoglycosidase F/N glycosidase-F from Flavobacterium meningosepticum abolishes the staining pattern, indicating that the antibody recognises a broadly expressed N-linked oligosaccharide on trout leucocytes.
Analysis of liberty single-sign-on with enabled clients

Web single-sign-on protocols-such as Microsoft passport, Oasis's security assertion markup language (SAML), and the Internet2 project Shibboleth, aim to solve security problems by letting individuals log in to many Internet services while authenticating only once, or at least always in the same way. Enterprises hope that single-sign-on protocols will significantly decrease customer-care costs due to forgotten passwords and increase e-commerce transactions by enhancing the user experience. Commercial interest centers on distributed enterprises and on small federations of enterprises with existing business relationships, such as supply chains. We concentrate on the liberty-enabled client and proxy (LECP) profile. The LECP protocol assumes a special protocol-aware client (the enabled client). We also consider the design of security protocols based on XML and Web services.
Repair of a high-flow iliac arteriovenous fistula using a thoracic endograft

Open surgical repair of iliac arteriovenous fistulas is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, making endovascular repair an attractive alternative. This report describes a 39-year-old man who was admitted with two-pillow orthopnea, edema, and fatigue. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the pelvis 13 years previously. Six years after the gunshot wound, he was diagnosed with cardiomegaly and high-output congestive heart failure. A magnetic resonance angiography documented a large pelvic arteriovenous fistula. A diagnostic contrast angiogram confirmed a high-flow fistula between the left distal main internal iliac artery and left common iliac vein. A Gore TAG thoracic endoprosthesis (W. L. Gore and Assoc, Flagstaff, Ariz) was used to repair this large, high-flow internal iliac artery–common iliac vein arteriovenous fistula.
A Different Kind of Aneurysm

A 43-YEAR-OLD white woman was admitted with a preoperative diagnosis of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. In 1979, 22 years before this admission, she had been diagnosed with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis and underwent aortic valve replacement with a Bjork-Shiley mechanical valve. In 1998, 19 years later, she developed hemodynamically significant aortic regurgitation. At that time, a transesophageal echocardiogram showed the presence of a large perivalvular leak and a large noncoronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. The valve was replaced with a 21-mm St. Jude mechanical prosthesis, and the sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was obliterated. The postoperative course was uneventful. In the months before this hospitalization, the patient began experiencing worsening episodes of palpitations. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed mild mitral regurgitation, mild tricuspid regurgitation, and trace aortic insufficiency with a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. Cardiac catheterization and aortography confirmed the existence of a posterior sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with a pinhole fistula to the left atrium. Ventriculography was not performed, however, because of the presence of the mechanical prosthetic aortic valve. The patient was taken to the operating room for repair of the sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. She was anesthetized, and after endotracheal intubation, a 7-MHz multiplane transesophageal
The Firm and Contracts

Suppose I buy a wheat-producing farm. I can organize production on the farm in two ways. I could enter into a contractual agreement with one person to grow wheat on my land, with another to harvest it, with a third to store it, and with a fourth to sell it. I negotiate a separate agreement with contractual partners and pay each of them an agreed upon sum of money (or whatever else the contract says) in exchange for a specific performance. This method of organizing production is called contracting across markets.
Optical vortices in quasi-periodic optical lattices

We investigate methods for manipulating individual sites in optical lattices that enable the creation of defects within otherwise periodic light patterns. The modified optical lattice is created by interference of plane and spiral waves.
The design of low-delay nonuniform pseudo QMF banks

This paper presents a method for designing low-delay nonuniform pseudo QMF banks. The method is motivated by the work of Li, Nguyen and Tantaratana, in which the nonuniform filter bank is realized by combining an appropriate number of adjacent subbands of a uniform pseudo QMF filter bank. In prior work, the prototype filter of the uniform pseudo QMF is constrained to have linear phase and the overall delay associated with the filter bank was often unacceptably large for filter banks with a large number of subbands. By relaxing the linear phase constraints, this paper proposes a pseudo QMF filter bank design technique that significantly reduces the delay. An example that experimentally verifies the capabilities of the design technique is presented.
Work In Progress: Collaborative Signals and Systems Laboratories at ASU, UWB, UCF, UTD, and URI

This WIP paper reports the status of a collaborative project involving five universities, namely, Arizona State University (ASU), the University of Washington, Bothell (UWB), the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), the University of Rhode Island (URI), and the University of Central Florida (UCF). The proposed project involves several educational technology innovations that involve software development, design of online signal and systems laboratories, assessment of laboratory practices, and joint dissemination of results. The program also includes a comprehensive pilot test of a new multi-site laboratory concept that allows students in remote sites to form and run concurrently real-time collaborative on-line simulations using the distance learning software and connectivity infrastructure developed as part of this program. The paper will describe the status of these activities and will focus especially on the collaborative laboratory.
Motion Planning for a Modular Self-Reconfiguring Robotic System

In this paper, we address the issue of motion planning for a bipartite class of modular self-reconfiguring robotic system (I-Cubes) that is a collection of active elements providing reconfiguration (3-DOF manipulators called links) and passive elements acting as connectors (cubes). The links, capable of attaching/detaching themselves from/to cubes, can position and orient the cubes.
Africa's Futures: from North – South to East – South?

Abstract This article contests dominant projections of Africa's future, most notably the Afro-pessimism that permeates almost all Northern analyses. While long-term data do confirm the continent's developmental impasse, they also dispute the dominant argument that Africa has been isolated and disengaged from the world economy. Indeed, Africa has been increasingly engaged with—and impoverished by—its relationships with Europe and North America. African scholars, recognising this dilemma, call for a return of the ‘developmental state’. This recommendation, however, like Afro-pessimist projections, fails to take into account fundamental transformations in Africa's geostrategic and world-economic relationships. The implications of two key, global transitions are traced for Africa and particularly South Africa: first, the disruptive power of global social movements; second, the rise of Asia and the demise of US and European hegemony over Africa.
Growth and death rates of bovine embryonic kidney cells in turbulent microcarrier bioreactors

Bead-bead collisions have been characterized using the velocity of the smallest turbulent eddies to calculate a turbulent collision severity (defined as the energy of collisions times their frequency), but a shear-based collision mechanism with a different dependence on the system variables is also applicable. This shearbased mechanism and the ratio of smallest eddy size to microcarrier diameter can explain the beneficial effects of both smaller diameter microcarriers and higher viscosity of the medium on the growth rate of bovine embryonic kidney cells. Death rates of these cells have also been measured at several levels of agitation. The decrease in apparent growth rate from increasing agitation is caused both by a higher rate of cell death as well as a lower intrinsic growth rate.
Correlations between the receptive field properties and morphology of neurons in the deep layers of the hamster's superior colliculus

Extracellular and intracellular recording, receptive field mapping, and intracellular HRP injection techniques were used to define the morphological classes of cells in the deep laminae of the hamster's superior colliculus and to determine whether there are any correlations between the structural and functional characteristics of these neurons. A total of 110 neurons were characterized and reconstructed. Of these, 23.6% (N = 26) were visual, 60% (N = 66) were somatosensory, 0.9% (N = 1) were bimodal (visual-somatosensory), and 15.4% (N = 17) were unresponsive. Of the somatosensory neurons, 72.7% (N = 48) were low threshold, 4.5% (N = 3) had a wide dynamic range, 9.1% (N = 6) responded only to noxious stimulation, and 13.6% (N = 9) had complex somatosensory receptive fields. Deep layer cells were divided into eight morphological classes. These classes were multipolar cells (26.4%, N = 29), bipolar cells (9.1%, N = 10), widefield vertical cells (7.3%, N = 8), horizontal cells (13.6%, N = 15), stellate cells (10.9%, N = 12), ventrally directed cells (5.5%, N = 6), sparse radial cells (17.3%, N = 19), and small sparse radial cells (6.4%, N = 7). Four cells (3.6%) did not fit into this classification scheme. Univariate and multivariate analyses of variance of properties such as soma area, number of branch points, total dendritic length, and volume and orientation of dendritic arbor indicated that these classes were significantly different. However, chi 2 analysis and multivariate analysis of variance indicated no significant relationships between morphological class and either laminar location or receptive field type. There was a significant positive relationship between the possession of dendrites that extended into the superficial laminae and visual responsivity.
Evaluating compliance-without-pressure techniques for increasing participation in online communities

Social psychology offers several theories of potential use for designing techniques to increase user contributions to online communities. Some of these techniques follow the "compliance without pressure" approach, where users are led to comply with a request without being subjected to any obvious external pressure. We evaluated two such techniques -- foot-in-the-door and low-ball -- in the context of Cyclopath, a geographic wiki. We found that while both techniques succeeded, low-ball elicited more work than foot-in-the-door. We discuss design and research implications of applying these (and other such techniques) in online communities.
A low-cost, portable generic biotoxicity assay for environmental monitoring applications

Fish chromatophores have been shown to be promising biosensors for the detection of hostile agents in the environment. However, state-of-art methods for such applications are still based on extensive use of data/signal processing, in conjunction with need for a skilled human observer to carry out the detection. As a result, conventional methods are complex, costly and cumbersome rendering them useless for field applications requiring low-cost portable solutions capable of fast detection. A new technique is proposed based on the popular scheme of observing the aggregation response in chromatophores for detection of toxicity, and a solution using optical detection and electronic processing is outlined. This scheme has the advantage of being low in cost while providing simple, fast and reliable detection.
Conventional interference cancellation for minimum redundancy array structure

A special thinned array structure, the minimum redundancy array (MRA), is proposed for interference cancellation. This array structure has been proven in the past to have advantages in direction finding applications. It is also shown that MRA performs as a canceler better than a comparable uniform array structure. Simulation results supplement this conclusion. >
A fourier product method for detecting approximate TANDEM repeats in DNA

Finding repetitive sequences in DNA is of particular interest in biology due to their role in genetic diseases, human gene mapping, evolution, and many other important and interesting applications. We propose a method for finding hidden periodicities in DNA based on Fourier analysis. It is shown that this approach is effective for finding new repeat patterns that were previously undetected by some of the most popular algorithms published in the literature
Systems engineering in the product lifecycle

This paper introduces basic elements of systems engineering that are useful in managing the product lifecycle, as expressed in an extension to the Unified Modeling Language. It presents models of product requirements for capturing stakeholder needs, system structure for defining the static relations of its elements, behaviour for the transformation of inputs to outputs, parametrics for constraining properties of structure and allocation for assigning behaviour to structure. The relation of behaviour to structure is identified as a central issue in the integration of systems and software engineering.
Natural Mentors in the Lives of African American Adolescent Mothers: Tracking Relationships over Time.

In this study, we focused on the academic attainment of African American adolescents as they made the transition from pregnancy or recent delivery to 2 years postpartum. We examined the duration, characteristics, and effects of relationships that endured over 2 years postpartum, and the role of adolescents' mentor versus maternal support. Compared to participants who did not identify mentors at either time point, participants whose mentor relationships endured over the course of the 2-year study were more likely to have remained in school or graduated. Subsequent analyses revealed that long-term mentor relationships were characterized by weekly and, in many instances, daily interactions. Additionally, participants in long-term mentor relationships reported deriving more emotional support from their mentors than from their mothers, were more satisfied with mentor support, and indicated that this support was more important to them than maternal support.
Response of the benthic nepheloid layer to near-inertial internal waves in southern Lake Michigan

[1] Time series measurements of water transparency, water temperature, and current velocity were made at a station located in 58 m of water in southern Lake Michigan during the summer of 1995. Currents generated by near-inertial internal waves are correlated with variations in the thickness and in the vertical distribution of suspended sediment in the benthic nepheloid layer. Although a direct causal link between internal wave action and changes in the nepheloid layer could not be established, the data suggest that local resuspension by shoaling internal waves maintains the layer during the stratified period. The origin and maintenance of the benthic nepheloid layer is most likely the result of local resuspension due to a combination of internal wave action and longer-term processes.
Food security and biodiversity: can we have both? An agroecological analysis

We present an extensive literature review exploring the relationships between food insecurity and rapid biodiversity loss, and the competing methods proposed to address each of these serious problems. Given a large and growing human population, the persistence of widespread malnutrition, and the direct and significant threats the expanding agricultural system poses to biodiversity, the goals of providing universal food security and protecting biodiversity seem incompatible. Examining the literature shows that the current agricultural system already provides sufficient food on a worldwide basis, but in doing so methodically undermines the capacity of agroecosystems to preserve biodiversity. However, the available evidence emphasizes the interdependence of biodiversity and agriculture, and the important role each plays in the maintenance of the other. Thus, our review supports the claim that the solutions to the problems of widespread food insecurity and biodiversity loss need not be mutually exclusive, and that it may be possible to address both using appropriate alternative agricultural practices.
Correlation between Protein Stability Cores and Protein Folding Kinetics: A Case Study on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Apo-Azurin

Summary This paper reports a combined computational and experimental study of the correlation between protein stability cores and folding kinetics. An empirical potential function was developed, and it was used for analyzing interaction energies among secondary structure elements. Studies on a β sandwich protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, showed that the computationally identified substructure with the strongest interactions in the native state is identical to the "interlocked pair" of β strands, an invariant motif found in most sandwich-like proteins. Moreover, previous and new in vitro folding results revealed that the identified substructure harbors most residues that form native-like interactions in the folding transition state. These observations demonstrate that the potential function is effective in revealing the relative strength of interactions among various protein parts; they also strengthen the suggestion that the most stable regions in native proteins favor stable interactions early during folding.
Efficient algorithm for the factorisation of the transfer function of a bandpass filter

The author presents an efficient algorithm for the factorisation of each of the fourth-order polynomials in a bandpass transfer function (arising in lowpass transformation) into the product of two real quadratic factors, simply by solving two quadratic equations. Such factorisation is necessary in the realisation and simulation of the filters. The same algorithm can also be applied to the case of band reject filters.
Introducing Ionic and/or Hydrogen Bonds into the SAM//Ga 2 O 3 Top- Interface of Ag TS /S(CH 2 ) n T//Ga 2 O 3 /EGaIn Junctions

Junctions with the structure AgTS/S(CH2)nT//Ga2O3/EGaIn (where S(CH2)nT is a self-assembled monolayer, SAM, of n-alkanethiolate bearing a terminal functional group T) make it possible to examine the response of rates of charge transport by tunneling to changes in the strength of the interaction between T and Ga2O3. Introducing a series of Lewis acidic/basic functional groups (T = −OH, −SH, −CO2H, −CONH2, and −PO3H) at the terminus of the SAM gave values for the tunneling current density, J(V) in A/cm2, that were indistinguishable (i.e., differed by less than a factor of 3) from the values observed with n-alkanethiolates of equivalent length. The insensitivity of the rate of tunneling to changes in the terminal functional group implies that replacing weak van der Waals contact interactions with stronger hydrogen- or ionic bonds at the T//Ga2O3 interface does not change the shape (i.e., the height or width) of the tunneling barrier enough to affect rates of charge transport. A comparison of the injection cu...
Provide Structure for Children With Learning and Behavior Problems

Establish clear physical and visual boundaries: Children with learning and behavior problems are better able to understand what is expected of them when there is a specific context to a room or table (i.e., physical education takes place in the gym, snack activities are always eaten at the round table, centers are used for reading, etc.). If an area is used for more than one activity, change the way the area or table looks (e.g., cover the table with a table cloth for snack and uncover it for math).
Down-regulation of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism By Sarcoid Alveolar Macrophages

Y-interferon production rose to 8 . 3 7 ± 1 . 3 5 IU/10 6 P B M C in control subjects and 1 2 8 . 9 ± 3 2 . 5 IU/10 6 P B M C in subjects wi th sarco idos is ( p < 0 . 0 1 ) . S p o n t a n e o u s p r o d u c t i o n of Y-interferon by bronchoalveolar cells o f subjects with sarcoidosis did not differ significantly from that of control subjects ( 9 . 5 ± 3 . 0 IU/10 6 lymphocytes vs 24 .1 ± 7 . 9 IU/10 6 lymphocytes) . However, after stimulation with ConA, there was a significant difference be tween Y-interferon production by B A L C from patients (89 .3 ± 3 3 . 4 IU/10 6 lymphocytes) and control subjects (14.7 ± 4 . 4 IU/10 6 lymphocytes , F ig 2).
Improving ABT Performance by Adding Synchronization Points

Asynchronous Backtracking (ABT ) is a reference algorithm for Distributed CSP (DisCSP ). In ABT , agents assign values to their variables and exchange messages asynchronously and concurrently. When an ABT agent sends a backtracking message, it continues working without waiting for an answer. In this paper, we describe a case showing that this strategy may cause some inefficiency. To overcome this, we propose ABT hyb , a new algorithm that results from adding synchronization points to ABT . We prove that ABT hyb is correct, complete and terminates. We also provide an empirical evaluation of the new algorithm on several benchmarks. Experimental results show that ABT hyb outperforms ABT .
Insulin treatment reduces pre-prandial plasma ghrelin concentrations in children with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Ghrelin is well recognized as a key factor in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis. The aim of the present study is to characterize the plasma ghrelin concentrations in children with type 1 diabetes at the time of diagnosis and to determine the effect of metabolic control after insulin therapy on circulating ghrelin levels. Also, the relationship between the simultaneous blood glucose concentrations and fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations was explored. MATERIAL/METHODS This prospective study assessed the changes in pre-prandial plasma ghrelin levels after treatment of type 1 diabetes with insulin. RESULTS The study comprised 19 children with new onset diabetes mellitus. Mean plasma ghrelin levels declined by 29% in diabetic children post insulin treatment (p=0.007). There was a significant correlation between plasma ghrelin and body mass index (BMI) in children with type 1 diabetes at diagnosis (r=-0.54), but not at follow up. The difference in ghrelin at diagnosis and at 3 month follow up demonstrated an inverse relationship to difference in plasma glucose (r=-0.48). CONCLUSIONS Plasma ghrelin concentrations could be suppressed in untreated type 1 diabetic children by improved glycemic control following insulin replacement.
The effect of phorbol esters on the responses of primate spinothalamic neurons to mechanical and thermal stimuli

1. Sensitization of dorsal horn neurons is thought to play an important role in pain perception, secondary hyperalgesia, and allodynia. Recent experimental evidence suggests that the sensitization of dorsal horn neurons is induced by combined increased release of excitatory amino acids and peptides in the spinal cord dorsal horn from nociceptive primary afferents due to an injury-caused barrage of impulses. We tested the hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) is involved as a second messenger in this process of neuronal sensitization. To activate PKC, infusion of a phorbol ester [12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)] into the dorsal horn through a microdialysis fiber was used. During TPA infusion the background activity of spinothalamic (STT) neurons increased substantially. After TPA application, while the background activity of the STT neurons was still increased, the responses evoked by either innocuous or noxious mechanical stimulation of the cutaneous receptive field did not change from the control level. However, 1 h after TPA administration the background activity returned to the control level and responses to innocuous mechanical stimuli were significantly elevated. The responses of STT cells to noxious heat and noxious mechanical stimuli did not change significantly after TPA administration. When a phorbol ester that does not activate PKC was applied (alpha-TPA), no significant changes in background or evoked activity of STT cells were observed. Our results provide evidence that PKC may play an important role in the process of sensitization of dorsal horn neurons to innocuous mechanical stimuli.
Advances in H2 sensors for bioanalytical applications

Abstract H 2 sensors have been receiving more attention, especially with the development of H 2 medicine and biodegradable alloys that produce H 2 . The H 2 sensors discussed in this review are primarily the electrochemical, chemochromic metal oxide, and color indicator sensors. This review focuses on the bioanalytical application of these existing H 2 sensors. The performance parameters of these sensors are reviewed to aid in identifying and selecting appropriate sensors for practical applications.
Structural and photophysical properties of alkylamino substituted 2-arylidene and 2,5-diarylidene cyclopentanone dyes

Abstract A series of alkylamino substituted 2-arylidene and 2,5-diarylidene cyclopentanone compounds were synthesized. Spectroscopic and photophysical properties of these compounds have been measured in a variety of solvents. Absorption and fluorescence maxima have been correlated with the Empirical Scale of Solvent Polarity (E T (30)). Theoretical TD-DFT spectral calculations and Lippert–Mataga analysis support the internal charge transfer (ICT) nature of the S 0 → S 1 excitation for these compounds, with higher degrees of ICT depicted for the alkylamino substituted 2,5-diarylidene cyclopentanones. Photophysical properties consisted of measuring the fluorescence quantum yields (Φ f ) and lifetimes (τ f ) in a variety of solvents. Radiative and nonradiative decay constants have been determined from the Φ f and τ f data. Variation with solvent in the nonradiative rate of decay is interpreted in terms of a competition between internal conversion and intersystem crossing. Lastly, two compounds presented have been shown to undergo excited state protonation in glacial acetic acid.
Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis: laboratory techniques applicable in developing countries

New technologies for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis that can be applied in developing countries where the prevalence of tuberculosis is high are based on methods that permit recognition of either mycobacterial products in clinical specimens or specific host responses to mycobacteria. Mycobacterial antigens can be identified by immunoassays based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mycobacterial DNA or rRNA can be identified with the use of single-stranded DNA probes. Both techniques are potentially suitable for use in developing countries, although there remain technical problems associated with the use of sputum samples. Serodiagnosis by ELISA is a promising technique based on recognition of the IgG antibody response of the host. The technique is ready for early application and can be used in developing countries. However, high specificity depends on the use of antigens that are not now generally available. The predictive accuracy of any newly proposed diagnostic technique must be compared with that of direct microscopic examination of sputum.
Twisted Maternalism: FROM PEACE TO VIOLENCE

Much of the recent work on Palestinian female suicide bombers (shahidas) explains their violence in domestic and maternal language. These descriptions read shockingly similar to the maternalist position. Maternalism typically equates women's participation in the political arena with peace and non-violence, and is criticized for essentializing women's role. The application of a ‘twisted’ maternalism to women's political violence also appears to be essentializing and objectifying. This body of work, then, analyzes the application of maternalism to the Palestinian shahidas. This characterization arguably subordinates women's choices to engage in political violence in a way that relies upon gendered assumptions about what it means to be a woman.
COMPLEXATION OF ARSENIC WITH DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Dissolved organic matter(DOM) can form complexes with arsenic(As) and thus affect speciation,mobility,and bioavailability of As in the environment.This paper summarizes the available studies that dealt with As—DOM complexation and the formation of As—DOM complexes,for the sake of providing systematic information on this subject.Topics discussed in this paper include(1) Forms of As—DOM complexation;(2) Separation and determination of As—DOM complexes;(3) Documentation of evidence supporting the formation of As—DOM complexes;(4) Environmental significance of As—DOM complexes formation;and(5) Future research needs in this field.
New Tarsonemids Associated with Bark Beetles (Acarina: Tarsonemidae)

The generic characters for Ununguitarsonemus Beer and Nucifora are emended and U. peacocki n. sp. is described. Descriptions and illustrations for Heterotarsonemus milleri and H. nakaharai n. spp. are presented, as well as a key to species for this genus. A lectotype is designated for Pseudotarsonemoides eccoptogasteris Vitzthum, the type for the genus. Illustrations and a redescription for this taxon are included. A key to species for this genus is included. New Pseudotarsonemoides spp. are: scolyti, americanus , and fechteri. The adult male of Tarsonemus ips is described and illustrations for the pupa and immature stages are given. New Tarsonemus spp. are: kennedyi, krantzi, wilkinsoni , and suskii.
Intraoperative Localization of a Renal Calculus Using Ultrasound

AbstractUltrasound is gaining widespread application in the area of diagnostic urology. We wish to describe its use in the intraoperative localization of a caliceal diverticulum and stone when more conventional techniques would not have been adequate.
Discovery: Legal Aspects

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by S. Bundy, volume 6, pp. 3739–3743, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Risk and Disaster Management for the IVF Laboratory

Since 1978 with the first documented live birth via in vitro fertilization, the assisted reproductive technology field has grown to become a commonplace practice. Clinics and laboratories dedicated to the cultivation and cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes, and spermatozoa are now found in most parts of the world, not just developed countries. With this widespread presence of assisted reproduction comes the responsibility to protect fresh and cryopreserved human tissue and maintain continuity of patient care in the event of a natural disaster or other destructive events upending the normalcy of clinics and hospitals. Critical for handling these types of disruptions is an emergency plan to first and foremost (1) protect laboratory personnel and patients, (2) preserve cryopreserved gametes and embryos, and (3) safeguard patient information, financial and operational documents, and laboratory equipment.
Seed banks and seed population dynamics of halophytes

In this review I will describe the importance of seed banks and thepopulation dynamics of seeds on the distribution of species in salinehabitats. The main questions being examined in this review include: 1.Does the seed bank represent the flora of the entire salinity gradient or isit restricted to the species in each zonal community? 2. Is the size andspecies composition of the persistent seed bank regulated by the degree ofsalt stress in habitats along an environmental gradient? 3. Does thepopulation dynamics of seeds influence the temporal and spatial distributionof plant species in saline habitats? Seed banks may be transient orpersistent depending upon the physiological responses of species and thesoil environment in which the seeds are found. The formation of zonalcommunities in salt marsh environments is affected by changes in soilsalinity and flooding along an elevational gradient. Population dynamics ofseeds have been found to determine the spatial and temporal distributionof species along salinity gradients. The flora and relative density of speciesof zonal communities are significantly dependent upon the stress toleranceof species at different stages of development and the presence of transientor persistent seed banks. The occurrence of a seed bank is related to thesalinity tolerance of species at the germination stage of development, aseeds ability to tolerate hypersaline conditions and flooding, and whetheror not species are able to maintain a persistent seed bank until hypersalineconditions are alleviated.
Interactive navigation inside 3D radiological images

Many radiological imaging scanners generate high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images. For complex anatomical regions such as the lungs and heart, these images can be used for interactive navigation inside the anatomy. The 3D image can act as a "virtual environment" representing the anatomy, and a computer-based system can be used for navigating through the environment. But such navigation must occur at interactive speeds if it is to be practical. This demands fast volume rendering from arbitrary viewpoints. The authors present an inexpensive fast volume rendering method that can generate sequences of views at interactive speeds. The method forms part of a system that permits dynamic navigation through 3D radiological images. The authors provide pictorial and numerical results for 3D pulmonary analysis.