cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliability and validity of rubrics for assessment through writing

Abstract This experimental project investigated the reliability and validity of rubrics in assessment of students’ written responses to a social science “writing prompt”. The participants were asked to grade one of the two samples of writing assuming it was written by a graduate student. In fact both samples were prepared by the authors. The first sample was well written in terms of sentence structure, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; however, the author did not fully answer the question. The second sample fully answered each part of the question, but included multiple errors in structure, spelling, grammar and punctuation. In the first experiment, the first sample was assessed by participants once without a rubric and once with a rubric. In the second experiment, the second sample was assessed by participants once without a rubric and once with a rubric. The results showed that raters were significantly influenced by mechanical characteristics of students’ writing rather than the content even when they used a rubric. Study results also indicated that using rubrics may not improve the reliability or validity of assessment if raters are not well trained on how to design and employ them effectively.
Sequential Tests of Hypotheses for System Reliability Modeled by a 2-Parameter Weibull Distribution

For the 2-parameter Weibull distribution, truncated sequential tests are developed for the null hypothesis R = R0 against the alternative hypothesis R = R1 which are based on the logarithm of the likelihood ratio. Wald upper and lower bounds for a sequential test are modified by Monte Carlo methods using a Monte Carlo sample size of 2000 to yield the desired ? and s errors. Results are given for null hypothesis R0 = 0.9 vs. an alternative hypothesis R1 = 0.729, 0.81, 0.854 for (?, s) = (0.2, 0.2), (0.1, 0.2) and (0.1, 0.1). Monte Carlo verification of the boundaries, again based on a Monte Carlo sample size of 2000 runs, yielded ? and s values consistent with Monte Carlo sampling error. The average sample size of the sequential tests result in a saving of about 40% of the values needed for the corresponding fixed sample test. Therefore we have developed and verified a useful sequential test for the reliability of systems whose failure are modeled by the 2-parameter Weibull distribution.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of lacto-N-fucopentose III in lung carcinomas with monoclonal antibody 624a12

Summary Bronchopulmonary carcinomas were analyzed immunohistocbemically using monoclonal antibody 624A12. The antibody was raised against a human “small cell carcinoma” cell line NCI-H69. It recognizes a particular sugar sequence in lacto-N-fucopentose III, which is preserved in formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue. Various bronchopulmonary carcinomas revealed characteristic patterns of immunoreactivity. Forty nine/50 adenocarcinomas were immunoreactive either diffusely or focally. The immunostaining was usually limited to the cell membranes with occasional intracytoplasmic immunostaining in large cells. The only negative case had been irradiated before surgical resection. Twenty seven/38 squamous cells carcinomas did not immunostain while the remaining 11 displayed focal immunoreactivity in areas of “loose cellular apposition” associated with necrosis and, rarely, in squamous pearls. All of six adenosquamous carcinomas showed immunoreactivity focally. Eleven/30 large cell carcinomas and 10/11 broncbiolo-alveolar carcinomas were either diffusely or focally immunoreactive. Seven/26 intermediate cell neuroendocrine carcinomas were focally immunoreactive while none of 33 typical small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, 21 carcinoids, and 10 well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas was immunoreacitve. An adenoid cystic carcinoma was diffusely immunoreactive, and a mucoepidermoid carcinoma was focally immunoreactive. We conclude that various broncbopulmonary neoplasms have characteristic patterns ofdistribution of this antigen, and that monoclonal antibody 624A12 may be useful for the differential diagnose among bronchopulmonary carcinomas, and their differential diagnosis from pleural mesotheliomas.
Rheumatoid synovial fibroblast adhesion to human articular cartilage. Enhancement by neutrophil proteases

Objective. To determine if preexposure of human articular cartilage to activated neutrophils alters rheumatoid synovial fibroblast adhesion to human articular cartilage. Methods. Human articular cartilage was exposed to either activated neutrophils, interleukin-1, or supernatants obtained from activated neutrophils that had been treated with different protease inhibitors. Radiolabeled rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts were then incubated with the cartilage and the number of counts associated with the cartilage was determined. Results. Pretreatment of human articular cartilage with either activated neutrophils or supernatants obtained from activated neutrophils enhanced subsequent rheumatoid synovial fibroblast adhesion. In contrast, interleukin-1 treatment of cartilage did not alter the adhesion of synovial fibroblasts. The enhanced adhesion could be attenuated by pretreatment of the neutrophil supernatants with either diisopropylfluoro-phosphonate or EGTA and almost completely abolished by using both inhibitors. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that adhesion of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts to human articular cartilage can be enhanced by exposing the cartilage to proteases released by neutrophils. These results suggest that neutrophil products may play a role in enhancing adhesion of rheumatoid synovium to cartilage in vivo.
“I Yam What I Yam” … The Power of the Self in Exercise Behavior

This article proposes that exercisers would be wise to consider self-related concepts when planning their physical activity experience. We review several key self-related terms, including self-schema, possible selves, and self-talk, and show how these components of the self can contribute to adherence to physical activity. Then, we provide strategies you can use to enhance your physical activity behavior by capitalizing on your physical activity-related schemas and developing appropriate possible selves. Finally, we link these concepts to your self-talk, including strategies to address negative self-talk that could hinder your exercise behavior.
Evaluation of the effects of lofexidine and clonidine on naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in opioid-dependent humans.

Aims To examine the efficacy of lofexidine, an α2 adrenergic agonist, to suppress opioid withdrawal symptoms in opioid-dependent humans under in-patient laboratory conditions by using a naloxone challenge procedure. Design Randomized, within-subject, cross-over design with drug administration taking place under double-blind and triple-dummy conditions. Setting A 14-bed in-patient hospital research unit dedicated to the conduct of behavioral pharmacology studies. Participants Eight healthy adult volunteers (two female/six male) with histories of polysubstance abuse and current physical dependence on opioids. Intervention Participants were stabilized onto methadone and maintained on 30 mg/day, p.o. throughout the study. Oral placebo, lofexidine (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg, p.o.) and clonidine (0.1 and 0.2 mg, p.o.) were each tested as pre-treatments once in combination with each of three intramuscular naloxone doses (0, 0.1 and 0.3 mg, i.m.) during 18 separate experimental sessions. Measurements An array of physiological indices (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure, pupil diameter) as well as a number of subjective and observer-rating scales sensitive to opioid withdrawal effects. Findings As expected, lofexidine and clonidine both produced dose-related decreases in blood pressure and heart rate but few subjective effects; naloxone increased opioid withdrawal signs and symptoms in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Although both lofexidine and clonidine reduced the cardiovascular response to naloxone challenge, close inspection of the data reveal that this occurred only to the extent that baseline physiological parameters were reduced, while neither drug significantly modified the overall magnitude of the response to naloxone. Moreover, neither lofexidine nor clonidine suppressed the subjective discomfort of opioid withdrawal or significantly reduced other autonomic signs of opioid withdrawal, such as lacrimation or rhinorrhea. Conclusions These data suggest that lofexidine is well tolerated even at supratherapeutic acute doses. However, its failure to modify most signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal suggest that its effective use in spontaneous withdrawal will require concomitant medications for improved therapeutic response.
Heritability Estimates of Gestation Length and Birth Weight in Holstein-Friesian Cattle and their use in Selection Indexes,

Abstract Heritabilities of gestation length and birth weight of 958 Holstein calves were 0.60±0.12 and 0.34±0.09, respectively, after the data were adjusted for the effects of herd, sex, parity, year, and season. The least-squares means for birth weight and gestation length were 93.5lb and 277.4 days, respectively. The correlations between birth weight (BW) and gestation length (GL) were: phenotypic, 0.43; genotypic, 0.37; and environmental, 0.52. The index for selection for shorter gestation length is I=−GL + 0.10 BW and the index for selection for lower birth weight is I=−BW−0.14 GL.
Isometric contraction in glycerinated skeletal muscle of horseshoe crab and rabbit—III. Relaxation☆

Abstract 1. 1. Isometric contraction produced in glycerinated horseshoe crab and rabbit fibers could be partially reversed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or ethylene glycol-bis-(aminoethyl)-tetraacetic acid (EGTA); more of the latter chelator is needed in both species for comparable relaxation. 2. 2. Measurement of threshold levels showed that greater amounts of EDTA and EGTA are necessary to initiate relaxation of horseshoe crab than are required for rabbit. 3. 3. Soaking fibers in KCl, EDTA or EGTA prior to contraction did not influence the amount of relaxation. 4. 4. Reintroduction of divalent cations to chelator relaxed Limulus fibers reversed relaxation; rabbit fibers did not respond to reintroduced Ca2+ or Mg2+. 5. 5. Assay of Ca2+ pumping ability of fractionated horseshoe crab muscle showed that the light microsomes were the most active component but these preparations were unable to produce any relaxation of isometric contraction in glycerinated fibers.
Genetic Consequences of Mammalian Social Structure

Populations of social mammals are characterized by several demographic features that may increase the magnitude of genetic drift relative to other evolutionary forces. In particular, polygynous mating and socially mediated constraints on gene flow have been proposed to foster random genetic differentiation among social groups, thereby accelerating rates of evolutionary change. To evaluate this hypothesized link between sociality and genetic sub-division, I examined results of published studies of mammalian populations in which genetic structuring was assessed at the level of social groups. Population genetic data from a taxonomically diverse array of social mammals revealed low to moderately high levels of genetic differentiation among social groups ( F st = 0.006–0.227), coupled with consistently high levels of within-group heterozygosity indicated by negative F is -values. Relatively higher levels of genetic structuring were observed in populations in which sampling effects associated with polygynous mating were reinforced by female philopatry. The degree of genetic subdivision observed in several taxa, most notably black-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) and red howler monkeys ( Alouatta seniculus ), indicated that social organization can have a profound impact on population genetic structure. However, in most cases, social barriers to gene flow are likely insufficient to promote the degree of genetic subdivision and inbreeding envisioned by models of rapid drift-induced speciation. It appears that social mammals generally are characterized by a dynamic non-equilibrium mode of population structure in which local demes are characterized simultaneously by small variance effective sizes and large inbreeding effective sizes.
Long-term cost effectiveness of addiction treatment for criminal offenders

This paper extends previous research that performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the Amity in-prison therapeutic community (TC) and Vista aftercare programs for criminal offenders in sout...
Mimicking the first turn of an α-helix with an unnatural backbone: conformation-specific IR and UV spectroscopy of cyclically constrained β/γ-peptides.

The folding preferences of two capped, constrained β/γ-dipeptide isomers, Ac-βACPC-γACHC-NHBn and Ac-γACHC-βACPC-NHBn, (designated βγ and γβ, respectively), have been investigated using single- and double-resonance ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy in the gas phase. These capped β/γ-dipeptides have the same number of backbone atoms between their N- and C-termini as a capped α-tripeptide and thus serve as a minimal structural unit on which to test their ability to mimic the formation of the first turn of an α-helix. Resonant two-photon ionization and UV–UV hole-burning spectroscopy were performed in the S0–S1 region, revealing the presence of three unique conformations of βγ and a single conformation of γβ. Resonant ion-dip infrared spectra were obtained in the NH stretch region from 3300 to 3500 cm–1 and in both the amide I and amide II regions from 1400 to 1800 cm–1. These infrared spectra were compared to computational predictions from density functional theory calculations at the M05-2X/6-31+G(d) l...
Beyond the Maxwell limit: thermal conduction in nanofluids with percolating fluid structures.

In a well-dispersed nanofluid with strong cluster-fluid attraction, thermal conduction paths can arise through percolating amorphouslike interfacial structures. This results in a thermal conductivity enhancement beyond the Maxwell limit of $3\ensuremath{\phi}$, with $\ensuremath{\phi}$ being the nanoparticle volume fraction. Our findings from nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, which are amenable to experimental verification, can provide a theoretical basis for the development of future nanofluids.
Computer simulation of topological evolution in 2-d grain growth using a continuum diffuse-interface field model

The local kinetics and topological phenomena during normal grain growth were studied in two dimensions by computer simulations employing a continuum diffuse-interface field model. The relationships between topological class and individual grain growth kinetics were examined, and compared with results obtained previously from analytical theories, experimental results and Monte Carlo simulations. It was shown that both the grain-size and grain-shape (side) distributions are time-invariant and the linear relationship between the mean radii of individual grains and topological classn was reproduced. The moments of the shape distribution were determined, and the differences among the data from soap froth, Potts model and the present simulation were discussed. In the limit when the grain size goes to zero, the average number of grain edges per grain is shown to be between 4 and 5, implying the direct vanishing of 4- and 5-sided grains, which seems to be consistent with recent experimental observations on thin films. Based on the simulation results, the conditions for the applicability of the familiar Mullins-Von Neumann law and the Hiller's equation were discussed.
Treatment of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus infection accounts for 40% of chronic liver disease in the United States and is the most common indication for liver transplantation. Estimates suggest that 4 million people, or 1.8% of the American population, have or have had hepatitis C virus infection. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin are the current standard of care for treatment. Recent studies have suggested that ribavirin dose and duration of therapy may be adjusted based on genotype. The goals of therapy are to slow disease progression, improve hepatic histology, reduce infectivity, and decrease the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Sustained virologic response, which generally implies the absence of viremia 6 or more months following completion of therapy, is increasingly being regarded as a cure, with evidence of slowing or even regression of fibrosis on follow-up liver biopsy. Assessment by liver biopsy of disease severity and evaluation of comorbidities and possible contraindications to therapy should be weighed in the decision to begin treatment. Counseling patients regarding transmission, natural history, and drug and alcohol abstinence should also be included in management. Close monitoring should be done during treatment for interferon and ribavirin side effects, including depression, bone marrow suppression, and hemolytic anemia.
Immunological mechanisms involved in psoriasis.

The past decade has borne witness to tremendous advances in our knowledge of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and the weight of evidence is now on the side of the T cell as being an integral mediator of this process. Advances in molecular technology have enabled direct in vivo measurement of cytokines and, although no animal model exists for the study of psoriasis, the use of cyclosporine has served as an excellent investigatory tool. The utilization of therapeutics to study psoriatic mechanisms is an unusual approach in that one must derive conclusions from disappearance of measurable factors such as cytokines and assume that these same factors are vital to the initiation and maintenance of a psoriatic plaque. Studying disease evolution using the Koebner phenomenon or relapse following treatment would supply a more accurate picture of initiating events. Based on the immune hypothesis, therapeutic modalities which are now entering the arena include T cell vaccination, particularly if psoriasis-specific T cell receptor Vβ-restricted clones can be isolated from psoriatic plaques.
Reconceptualizing adolescent identity

The authors review Act Your Age! A Cultural Construction of Adolescence by Nancy Lesko, Conversational Borderlands: Language and Identity in an Alternative Urban High School by Betsy Rymes, and School Kids/Street Kids: Identity Development in Latino Students by Nilda Flores-Gonzalez.
Wet and dry deposition of trace elements onto the Greenland ice sheet

Abstract Trace element concentrations have been measured in the air and in fresh and older surface snow during the summers of 1978 and 1979 at Dye 3, south-central Greenland. These data have been used with other information in the literature to calculate a total (wet plus dry) deposition velocity on the order of 0.5 cms −1 for trace element transport to the ice sheet on an annual basis. The data suggest that dry deposition contributes less than 25 % of the total transport for elements with large enrichment factors. Crustal elements may be more significantly influenced by dry deposition.
The effect of β-ecdysone on the rate of peptide chain elongation in imaginal disks of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Previous investigation ( Fristrom et al., 1974) has shown that β-ecdysone increases protein synthesis in imaginal disks of Drosophila melanogaster either by increasing the rate of translational initiations or the rate of peptide elongation. The rate of peptide elongation (2.1 amino acids per second) was found to be the same in the presence and absence of β-ecdysone. Thus, the evidence indicates that β-ecdysone causes an increase in the rate of protein synthesis by increasing the rate of translational initiations.
Stress dependence of recrystallized-grain and subgrain size in olivine

Abstract New experiments on Mt. Burnet dunite have been carried out to evaluate the effects of important physical parameters on recrystallized-grain size and subgrain size in olivine deforming under steady-state conditions. The experiments, done under both wet and dry conditions in a Griggs solid-pressure-medium apparatus, were conducted in constant strain rate, constant stress and stress relaxation modes at 10 kbar confining pressure, temperatures from 1000°C to 1300°C, strain rates from 10 −4 to 10 −8 /sec and stress differences of from 0.5 to 10 kbar. For dunite deformed under wet conditions, recrystallized-grain size is slightly temperature-dependent but under dry conditions it is only stress-dependent with D = 137 σ −1.27 for D in μm and σ in kbar. Subgrain sizes also depend only on stress; for the dry experiments d = 28 σ −0.62 and for the wet ones d = 15 σ −0.69 . Subgrain sizes decrease with increasing stress but do not increase with decreasing stress and hence record only maximum stress levels. Recrystallized-grain sizes adjust to both increasing and decreasing stress levels, at minimal strains and times, and thus record the stress history. Because of this and of the inherent stability of recrystallized grains, this technique is regarded as more reliable than the subgrain size and free dislocation density and curvature methods for estimating stress magnitudes in tectonites having deformed in the steadystate.
DISSOCIATION OF HYPOPHYSEAL CONTENT AND URINARY EXCRETION OF GONADOTROPIN IN CIRRHOSIS.

SummaryBioassays of gonadotropin from 13 cirrhotic men showed ample hypophyseal gonadotropic hormone in 10. Urinary gonadotropin excretion was not detected in 5 of 9 cirrhotics, and had low normal values in the other 4. Pituitary gonadotropin release may be inhibited in some cases of cirrhosis, possibly by estrogen.
The effect of defects on the fatigue crack initiation process in two p/m superalloys: part ii. surface-subsurface transition

The change in fatigue failure initiation sites from a surface to subsurface location for two P/M nickel-based superalloys is analyzed. In particular the influences of defect size, shape, and population on the elevated temperature fatigue processes are assessed. The analysis shows that at high strain ranges, crack initiation occurs rapidly, and crack propagation rates determine the fatigue life and failure site. As a result, defect location (related to population) and size are the more important parameters. At lower strain ranges, however, crack initiation is critical in determining the failure origin, and this is primarily controlled by defect shape.
Empirically validated treatments—What now?

Abstract Progress in the identification of empirically supported psychological interventions is described, along with possible mechanisms for training in such treatments. Obstacles to training established clinicians, including time, cost, and geographic barriers are also discussed.
Thermal strain and stress in copper thin films

Abstract Desired improvements in the performance and reliability of integrated circuit interconnects may necessitate a move from aluminum alloys to copper. Before copper is adopted, however, characterization of the thermal stress behavior of copper thin films is necessary in order to identify mechanical reliability concerns and to determine differences from aluminum behavior. In this study, the behavior of copper films is evaluated to determine effects of film texture, thickness, and the presence of a passivation layer. Mechanistic models based on bulk deformation maps and interface-controlled dislocation glide are compared with the measured behavior. A preferred [111] grain orientation is found to slightly increase the stress throughout a thermal cycle as compared with a film with random grain orientation. An inverse relationship between film thickness and strength, similar to that seen in aluminum, is quantified. The presence of a passivation layer significantly reduces stress relaxation at high temperatures, resulting in behavior that closely resembles that of unpassivated aluminum films. Neither model adequately predicts the thickness and passivation effects over the entire temperature and stress range, emphasizing the need for more characterization of the flow processes active in metallic thin films.
Evidence of vorticity in the great red spot of Jupiter

Jupiter Red Spot vorticity at perimeter indicated by interaction with dark spots circulating along south equatorial belt
Thermodynamic Properties of CoCl2·2NC5H5– A Quasi-One-Dimensional Ising System

Previously measured magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of powder samples CoCl 2 ·2NC 5 H 5 are compared with a theory for ferromagnetic Ising spin 1/2 chains weakly coupled by Ising antiferromagnetic interactions to their nearest neighbor chains. The weak interchain interaction is first treated within mean field theory; later short range order effects are included approximately via a reaction field formalism. Each chain, in its (approximate) effective field is treated exactly. Good agreement with experiment for both χ and C p is found with the following parameters: intrachain exchange J =10.8 K; interchain exchange J '=0.175 K; principal values of the g tensor, g // =7.0 and g ⊥ =5.0.
NADH-dependent cytochrome P-450 oxidase system in submicrosomal particles

Summary An NADH-dependent pathway of electron transfer has been observed in the cytochrome P-450 oxidase systems of submicrosomal particles of rabbit hepatocytes. This NADH-mediated reduction of cytochrome P-450 proceeds in the absence of cytochrome b5 and is not due to indirect reduction by superoxide. Smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum appear to contain the NADH-dependent system as well as an NADPH-dependent system.
Late Quaternary sedimentation on the Leidy Creek fan, Nevada–California: geomorphic responses to climate change

Well-dated surface and subsurface deposits in semiarid Fish Lake Valley, Nevada and California, demonstrate that alluvial-fan deposition is strongly associated with the warm dry climate of the last two interglacial intervals, and that fans were stable and (or) incised during the last glaciation. Fan deposition was probably triggered by a change from relatively moist to arid conditions causing a decrease in vegetation cover and increases in flash floods and sediment yield. We think that this scenario applies to most of the other valleys in the southern Basin and Range. Radiocarbon, tephra, and a few thermoluminescence and cosmogenic ages from outcrops throughout Fish Lake Valley and from cores on the Leidy Creek fan yield ages of >100–50 ka and 11–0 ka for the last two periods of alluvial-fan deposition. Mapping, coring and shallow seismic profiling indicate that these periods were synchronous throughout the valley and on the proximal and distal parts of the fans. From 50 to 11 ka, fan deposition ceased, a soil formed on the older alluvium and the axial drainage became active as runoff and stream competence increased. Slow deposition due to sheet flow or aeolian processes locally continued during this interval, producing cumulic soil profiles. The soil was buried by debris-flow sediment beginning at about 11 ka, coincident with the onset of relatively dry and warm conditions in the region. However, ground-water discharge maintained a large freshwater marsh on the valley floor throughout the Holocene. Pulses of deposition during the Holocene are recorded in the marsh and fan deposits; some pulses coincided with periods of or transitions to warm, dry climate indicated by proxy climate records, whereas others may reflect local disturbances associated with volcanism and fires. Within the marsh deposits, much of the clastic material is probably desert loess. In addition, the deposition of coppice dunes within the fan deposits coincides with two dry periods during the late Holocene.
Trade flow lags, monetary and fiscal policy, and exchange-rate overshooting

Abstract In this paper model a is constructed that combines trade slow lags with the model in the appendix to Dornbusch's seminal paper on exchange-rate dynamics. Here output is free to vary and inflation is determined by a simple Phillips curve mechanism. It turns out that, because of the trade slow lags, monetary expansion causes interest rates to decline, but the exchange rate need not oveshoot, as one would expect; whereas fiscal policy always produces overshooting. It follows that monetary policy may be a less important source of exchange-rate variability than is commonly believed, and fiscal policy more important.
High conductivity and phase transitions of tetramethylammonium hydroxide pentahydrate, (CH3)4NOH·5H2O

Abstract A clathrate hydrate, tetramethylammonium hydroxide pentahydrate was found to be a fast “proton” or “hydroxide ion” conductor, about 5×10 −3 S cm −1 , for the room temperature phase (phase III). The high temperature phase (phase I) has body-centered cubic symmetry and high conductivity comparable to the liquid phase. Details of the mediate phase (phase II) are ambiguous.
Regulation of Intracellular Cholesterol Distribution by Na/K-ATPase

Recent studies have ascribed many non-pumping functions to the Na/K-ATPase. We show here that graded knockdown of cellular Na/K-ATPase α1 subunit produces a parallel decrease in both caveolin-1 and cholesterol in light fractions of LLC-PK1 cell lysates. This observation is further substantiated by imaging analyses, showing redistribution of cholesterol from the plasma membrane to intracellular compartments in the knockdown cells. Moreover, this regulation is confirmed in α1+/– mouse liver. Functionally, the knockdown-induced redistribution appears to affect the cholesterol sensing in the endoplasmic reticulum, because it activates the sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathway and increases expression of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase and low density lipoprotein receptor in the liver. Consistently, we detect a modest increase in hepatic cholesterol as well as a reduction in the plasma cholesterol. Mechanistically, α1+/– livers show increases in cellular Src and ERK activity and redistribution of caveolin-1. Although activation of Src is not required in Na/K-ATPase-mediated regulation of cholesterol distribution, the interaction between the Na/K-ATPase and caveolin-1 is important for this regulation. Taken together, our new findings demonstrate a novel function of the Na/K-ATPase in control of the plasma membrane cholesterol distribution. Moreover, the data also suggest that the plasma membrane Na/K-ATPase-caveolin-1 interaction may represent an important sensing mechanism by which the cells regulate the sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathway.
A Pulsed NMR Study of Molecular Reordering in a Nematic-Cholesteric Mixture

Abstract The effects of pulsed electric fields on the molecular order in a nematic-cholesteric mixture are reported, and a theoretical discussion of these phenomena is given. The molecular order is determined from the time dependence of the second moment of the proton absorption line shape.
Fully discrete Galerkin approximations of parabolic boundary-value problems with nonsmooth boundary data

In this paper we study the convergence properties of a fully discrete Galerkin approximation with a backwark Euler time discretization scheme. An approach based on semigroup theory is used to deal with the nonsmooth Dirichlet boundary data which cannot be handled by standard techniques. This approach gives rise to optimal rates of convergence inL p[O,T;L 2(Ω)] norms for boundary conditions inL p[O,T;L 2(?)], 1?p??.
Estimation of the failure time distribution in the presence of informative censoring

We present a method for estimating the survival curve of a continuous failure time random variable from right-censored data. Our method allows adjustment for informative censoring due to measured prognostic factors for time-to-event and censoring while simultaneously quantifying the sensitivity of the inference to residual dependence between failure and censoring due to unmeasured factors. We present the results of a simulation study and illustrate our approach using data from the AIDS Clinical Trial Group 175 study.
Hoeffding's inequality for uniformly ergodic Markov chains

We provide a generalization of Hoeffding's inequality to partial sums that are derived from a uniformly ergodic Markov chain. Our exponential inequality on the deviation of these sums from their expectation is particularly useful in situations where we require uniform control on the constants appearing in the bound.
Estimation of Classification Consistency When the Probability of a Correct Response Varies

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that large, within-examinee item difficulty variability had on estimates of the proportion of consistent classification of examinees into mastery categories over two test administrations. The classification consistency estimate was based on a single test administration from an estimation procedure suggested by Subkoviak (1976). Analyses of simulated data revealed that the use of a single estimate for an examinee's probability of a correct response, even when that probability varied greatly within a test for an examinee, did not affect the estimation of the proportion of consistent classifications.
Effect of silver doping on the surface of La5/8Ca3/8MnO3 epitaxial films

Thin film manganese oxides (manganites) display remarkable properties, such as colossal magnetoresistance and charge ordered phases, and became a focal point of research in the past two decades owing to potential applications ranging from oxide spintronics to resistive switching-based memories. LaxCa1−xMnO3 (LCMO), a widely studied manganite, is known to substantially improve its transport properties when doped with Ag. However, despite the abundance of studies on LCMO, the effect of silver on the surface structure is unknown. Here, through in-situ methods, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is performed on La5/8Ca3/8MnO3 films grown by pulsed laser deposition. Films doped by silver, as confirmed by in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, display large-scale reconstructions, interpreted as being of type (√10 × √10)R18.4°, while films lacking silver display a (√2 × √2)R45° reconstruction that may be associated with a surface charge-ordered state. It is posited that the possible cause of the varied reconstructions is due to a vacancy ordering on top of the existing (√2 × √2)R45° reconstruction. These studies highlight the influence of Ag on the surface structure, and therefore a route towards modifying the surface properties of manganites.
Vortical motion contributions to stress transport in turbulent boundary layers

Four‐wire hot‐wire probe measurements are used to examine the relationships between the motions bearing spanwise vorticity, ωz, and the mechanisms responsible for turbulent stress transport. The measurements were carried out in thick zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers over the Reynolds number range, 1010<Rθ<4850. Because of the scale of the flow, the spatial resolution of the probe was, in general, very good. The capabilities of the probe allowed all of the terms in the balance equation for 〈u2〉, except the pressure strain correlation, to be directly measured. Regarding wall region vorticity dynamics, velocity–vorticity correlation measurements are used to investigate ωz motion contributions to the gradients of the turbulent stresses. In particular, the measured positive correlation between v and ωz for y+<15 is shown to be consistent with the large ∂〈−uv〉/∂y gradient in this region, and physically, with the outward motion of sublayer streaks. Relationships between the motions bearing ωz and...
In Vitro Beating Heart Simulator for Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Therapy Research

Heart disease is the number one cause of death today with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) being a major contributor to the mortality rate1. Because of the invasive nature of Aortic Valve Resection (AVR), the typical treatment for AVS, between 30–60% of patients affected by severe aortic stenosis cannot be treated surgically, usually due to age and advanced comorbidities. Qualifying individuals must undergo extensive rehabilitation and of those who qualify 4.3% to 25% do not survive the first year following the procedure3,4.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A Simple Preparation of 3-Formyl-Cycloalkenones

Abstract Recently, we required a convenient method for preparing the 3-formyl-cyclohexenone, 1, starting from dihydroresorcinol. The conversion of dihydroresorcinol into the cyclohexenone derivative 2, could be readily accomplished using the elegant method of Stork and Danheiser,1 however, existing methods for the transformation of the ketone group of 2 into the formyl group of 1 did not prove satisfactory.2 We describe here, a simple and general method for the transformation of 2 into 1 (Scheme I).
The bridge: Providing nursing care for survivors of sexual violence

Purpose: To describe the experiences of nurses who provide care for survivors of sexual violence (SV) on a number of different types of hospital units. Data sources: Semi-structured interviews of 23 unit managers and 12 advanced practice nurses from four tertiary care hospitals were audiotaped and transcribed. Participants were asked to describe how they screen for SV and how they provide care for survivors. A team approach was used to conduct a thematic analysis of the data. Conclusions: The bridge metaphor was chosen as the central theme of the data because it captures three key aspects of the participants' experiences: an initial sense of disconnection from patients who are survivors of SV (being separated on opposite shores), the need to proceed cautiously (tentatively stepping onto the bridge), and the experience of forming a meaningful connection that serves as the context of care (meeting on the bridge and crossing it together). Implications for practice: This research suggests that nurses provide quality care for survivors of SV by intuitively responding to survivors' cues of distress, cautiously broaching the topic of violence, and finding ways to ease the healthcare encounter. Language: en
Null controllability of AMCD-spacecraft attitude control system

Advances in the technology of dual-spin stabilization have rendered it possible to design a new attitude control actuator which is presently under extensive investigation at Langley Research Center, NASA, Stability and Control Division. A proto-type model of this concept is presently being tested at the research centre. Some advantages and a description of an attitude control of the AMCD-spacecraft are given by Anderson and Groom (1975). However, the energy dissipation in the high speed Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) or the de-spin main spacecraft structure introduced through a damping mechanism is not considered in the report by Anderson and Groom. This author developed the mathematical model with energy dissipation which was presented at the 1975 NSF-CBMS Conference at Mississippi state University (Sinha 1975).
Change Detection and Correction Facilitation for Web Applications and Services

There are a large number of websites serving valuable content that can be used by higher-level applications, Web Services, Mashups, etc. Yet, due to various reasons (lack of computing resources, financial constraints etc.) they are unable to provide Web Service APIs to access their data. In their desire to incorporate the latest and greatest technologies, as well as to adapt layouts that are more preferred by users, websites undergo changes over time. These changes can range from minor, e.g. function name changes, to major, e.g., shifting the web platform to AJAX technologies. This paper addresses the problem of detecting layout changes for websites which are unable to provide any Web Service to access their content, yet do not mind others harvesting said content.
Numeracy‐related exchanges in joint storybook reading and play

Studies of the processes by which parents encourage early numerical development in the context of parent–child interactions during routine, culturally relevant activities at home are scarce. The present study was designed to investigate spontaneous exchanges related to numeracy during parent–child interactions in reading and play activities at home. Thirty‐seven families with a four‐year‐old child (13 low‐income) were observed. Two types of numeracy interactions were of interest: socio‐cultural numeracy exchanges, explaining the use and value of money or numbers in routine activities such as shopping or cooking, and mathematical exchanges, including counting, quantity or size comparisons. Results indicated that high‐income parents engaged in more mathematical exchanges during both reading and play than did low‐income parents, though there were no differences in the initiation of socio‐cultural numeracy exchanges. The focus of parental guidance related to numeracy was conceptual and embedded in the activit...
Client-Server Architecture Design based on Wiretap Codes

We propose a method to design attack-resistant client-server architectures based on wiretap codes. We show that by appropriately spreading messages across different packets a client-server architecture under active attack can be modeled as a passive wiretap channel. The secrecy capacity of this equivalent wiretap channel is then used as an optimization metric to limit the impact of the attacks.
A tale of two sections: an experiment to compare the effectiveness of a hybrid versus a traditional lecture format in introductory microbiology.

Two sections of an introductory microbiology course were taught by one instructor. One was taught through a hybrid format and the other through a traditional format. Students were randomly assigned to the two sections. Both sections were provided with identical lecture materials, in-class worksheets, in-class assessments, and extra credit opportunities; the main difference was in the way the lecture material was delivered—online for the hybrid section and in person for the traditional section. Analysis of final grades revealed that students in the traditional section did significantly better than those in the hybrid section (p < 0.001). There was a significant main effect of class standing (p < 0.01). When performance in the two sections was compared for each class year separately, the differences were only significant for sophomores (p < 0.001); freshmen, juniors, and seniors did not perform differently in the hybrid versus the traditional section. An anonymous midterm survey suggested factors likely contributing to the overall lower success of students in the hybrid section: some students in the hybrid section did not take lecture notes and/or use the audio component of the online lectures, suggesting minimal interaction with the lecture material for these students.
Chaos in time-dependent variational approximations to quantum dynamics

@Dynamical chaos has recently been shown to exist in the Gaussian approximation in quan-tum mechanics and in the self-consistent mean ﬁeld approach to studying the dynamics ofquantum ﬁelds. In this study, we ﬁrst show that any variationalapproximationto the dynam-ics of a quantum system based on the Dirac action principle leads to a classical Hamiltoniandynamics for the variational parameters. Since this Hamiltonian is generically nonlinearand nonintegrable, the dynamics thus generated can be chaotic, in distinction to the exactquantum evolution. We then restrict attention to a system of two biquadratically coupledquantum oscillators and study two variational schemes, the leading order large N (fourcanonical variables) and Hartree (six canonical variables) approximations. The chaos seenin the approximate dynamics is an artifact of the approximations: this is demonstrated bythe fact that its onset occurs on the same characteristic time scale as the breakdown of theapproximations when compared to numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schr¨odingerequation.PACS numbers: 05.45. +b, 03.65. Sq, 2.30 Wd, 03.65 -w
A theorem on approximation of irrational numbers by simple continued fractions

Let ξ be an irrational number with simple continued fraction expansion ξ= [a0;a1,a2,…], Pn/qn be its nth convergent, . The following two theorems were proved by Muller [9] and rediscovered by Bagemihl and McLaughlin [1]:Theorem 1.For n>1,
Reverse saturable absorbers: indanthrone and its derivatives

Significant progress has been achieved in organic synthesis for the development of nonlinear materials. Indanthrone, oxidized indanthrone, monochloroindanthrone, and indanthrone oligomer have been prepared and demonstrated as reverse saturable absorbers at 532 and 1064 nm.
Intelligent control system for improving the efficiency of a series hybrid for the EcoCAR 2 challenge

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is participating in EcoCAR 2: Plugging in to the Future [1], an advanced vehicle competition run by Argonne National Labs and sponsored by General Motors and the United States Department of Energy. The competition challenges 15 schools from the United States and Canada to design and implement the most efficient hybrid vehicle architecture. As part of the EcoCar Challenge, ERAU has been developing the Intelligent Driver Efficiency Assistant (IDEA), an advanced predictive supplementary control system for the university's EcoCAR 2 competition vehicle. The goal of the IDEA system is to minimize the emissions and energy consumption of ERAU's hybrid-electric vehicle through the application of artificially intelligent, and adaptive and predictive control system theory. These predictions allow IDEA to place its control system in the best possible mode of operation to minimize overall vehicle emissions and energy consumption. This paper discusses the EcoCAR 2 competition, IDEA's architecture and role within the competition, and ERAU's future work to complete, validate, and demonstrate the IDEA system.
The time-dependent distribution of phosphorylated intermediates in native sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase from skeletal muscle is not compatible with a linear kinetic model.

Quenched-flow mixing was used to characterize the kinetic behavior of the intermediate reactions of the skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase (SERCA1) at 2 and 21 °C. At 2 °C, phosphorylation of SR Ca-ATPase with 100 IM ATP labeled one-half of the catalytic sites with a biphasic time dependence (Mahaney, J. E., Froehlich, J. P., and Thomas, D. D. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 4864- 4879). Chasing the phosphoenzyme (EP) with 1.66 mM ADP 10 ms after the start of phosphorylation revealed mostly ADP-insensitive E2P (95% of EPtotal), consistent with its rapid formation from ADP- sensitive E1P. The consecutive relationship of the phosphorylated intermediates predicts a decrease in the proportion of E1P ((E1P)/(EPtotal)) with increasing phosphorylation time. Instead, after 10 ms the proportion of E1P increased and that of E2P decreased until they reached a constant 1:1 stoichiometry ((E1P):(E2P) 1). At 21 °C, phosphorylation displayed a transient overshoot associated with an inorganic phosphate (Pi) burst, reflecting increased turnover of E2P at the higher temperature. The P i burst exceeded the decay of the EP overshoot, suggesting that rephosphorylation of the enzyme occurs before the recycling step (E2 f E1). This behavior and the reversed order of accumulation of phosphorylated intermediates at 2 °C are not compatible with the conventional linear consecutive reaction mechanism: E1 + ATP f E1‚ATP f E1P + ADP f E2P f E2‚Pi f E1 + Pi. Solubilization of the Ca-ATPase into monomers using the nonionic detergent C12E8 gave a pattern of phosphorylation in which E1P and E2P behave like consecutive intermediates. Kinetic modeling of the C12E8-solubilized SR Ca-ATPase showed that it behaves according to the conventional Ca-ATPase reaction mechanism, consistent with monomeric catalytic function. We conclude that the nonconforming features of native SERCA1 arise from oligomeric protein conformational interactions that constrain the subunits to a staggered or out-of-phase mode of operation.