cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parental response to brood size in a cichlid fish

This paper reports on an experiment designed to investigate whether guarding females of the cichlid Aequidens coeruleopunctatus adjust their parental behaviour in response to changes in brood size. It was found that females were easier to scare away from their broods when threatened, and stayed away for longer, after some of their fry had been removed, and that the reverse occurred when broods were experimentally augmented with foreign fry. Brood size manipulations change the expected benefits of future investment. These results therefore indicate that parental care strategies in A. coeruleopunctatus reflect future prospects for reproductive success rather than past investment.
Effect of phenylazoaniline to cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide ratio on micellar shape

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of phenylazoaniline (PAA) on the shape of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles. Change in micellar shape may have an impact on PAA transport characteristics. In a previous publication (Yoon, K.A. and Burgess, D.J., Pharm. Res. 13 (1996) 433), it was reported that the concentration of CTAB is related to the permeability coefficient of PAA in a triphasic system containing mineral oil, water and micellar phases. The diffusion coefficients of PAA in CTAB solutions were calculated from viscosity, dynamic light scattering and dialysis studies, (using U-tube viscometry, a Nicomp particle sizer and side-by-side diffusion cells, respectively) to determine any change in micellar shape with change in CTAB concentration. Diffusion coefficients were estimated from intrinsic viscosity using Simha's relationship (Tanford, C., Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules. Wiley, New Yoirk, 1961). According to the viscosity and dynamic light scattering studies, CTAB micelles change from spheres to rods at a PAA: CTAB molar ratio of 0.468±0.02, whereas this transition occurred at 0.32±0.02, according to the dialysis data. The difference between these data can be explained by the effects of aqueous boundary layer present on either side of the permeating membrane and the membrane adsorption in the dialysis studies. Aqueous boundary layer effects were determined by changing the stirring rate and the membrane adsorption effect was determined by presaturating the membrane. These studies indicate that change in the permeability coefficient of PAA with increase in CTAB concentration in the triphasic system may be due to change in micellar shape.
Biopsy-induced tricuspid regurgitation after cardiac transplantation

Abstract Transvenous endomyocardial biopsy is now well-established as the gold standard for evaluation of possible rejection episodes after cardiac transplantation. From 1965 to August 1992, 190 patients have undergone 193 cardiac transplantations at Barnes Hospital. One hundred eighty-three patients survived their initial hospitalization and serve as the study group. Their records were reviewed for the purposes of identifying those with tricuspid regurgitation as a complication of right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. These patients have undergone a total of 2,960 biopsies for an average of 16.2 biopsies per patient. Over a mean follow-up period of 4.22 years, all patients have been evaluated with standard two-dimensional echocardiograms. Mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation was very common, but was thought to be biopsy-induced only if severe and accompanied by flail components of the tricuspid valve. Twelve patients were identified with this entity at our Institution. Of these, 5 had no symptoms and were receiving no diuretics, 3 had mild symptoms consisting of lower extremity edema and continued to receive diuretics, 2 had moderate symptoms, and 2 had right heart failure and anasarca refractory to medical therapy. Both of the severely affected patients subsequently required tricuspid valve replacement. We conclude that the tricuspid valve apparatus is at significant risk of injury during endomyocaidial biopsy, that most patients will be minimally symptomatic due to tricuspid regurgitation when this injury occurs, and that when the injury is accompanied by severe symptoms, the likelihood of improvement with medical therapy is small.
At the poles eventually all you get is cold.

SUMMARY I argue that any choice for either science or religion can necessarily only disserve those in the care of professional chaplains. The present and future of professional chaplaincy lies with integrating the strengths of the scientific method and attention to outcomes into the service of our calling in faithfulness, presence, compassion, and process.
Velocitv and Thrust Measurements in a Ouasi-Steadv J - J Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster

Quasi-steady MPD arc thrustor average thrust measurements, considering time-of-flight velocity determination by ion collecting probes
Electronic structure and orbital polarization of LaNiO 3 with a reduced coordination and under strain: A first-principles study

First-principles density functional theory calculations have been performed to understand the electronic structure and orbital polarization of LaNiO$_3$ with a reduced coordination and under strain. From the slab calculation to simulate [001] surface, it is found that $d_{3z^2-r^2}$ orbital occupation is significantly enhanced relative to $d_{x^2-y^2}$ occupation owing to the reduced coordination along the perpendicular direction to the sample plane. Furthermore, the sign of the orbital polarization does not change under external strain. The results are discussed in comparison to the bulk and heterostructure cases, which sheds new light on the understanding of the available experimental data.
Creep characteristics of an Al2wt.%Cu alloy in the solid solution range

Abstract The creep characteristics of an Al2wt.%Cu alloy including the stress exponent, the activation energy for creep and the shape of the creep curve were investigated in the temperature range of 783–843 K, where copper is in solid solution. The experimental data of the alloy, when plotted as creep rate against stress on a logarithmic scale, show the presence of two transitions in the stress dependence of creep rate; at constant temperature, the stress exponent n for creep changes from a value of 4.5 at low stresses (low stress region) to a value of about 3 at intermediate stresses (intermediate stress region) and then increases again to a value of 4.5 at high stresses (high stress region). The activation energies for creep at low, intermediate and high stresses are 155 kJ mol −1 , 151 kJ mol −1 and 180 kJ mol −1 respectively. While creep curves obtained in the entire stress range of the investigation exhibit a normal primary stage, the extent of the stage is less pronounced at intermediate stresses ( n = 3.2) than at both low and high stresses ( n = 4.5). The above creep characteristics obtained for Al2wt.%Cu are discussed in the light of recent suggestions and predictions regarding deformation mechanisms in solid solution alloys.
Real-time stereo vision using semi-global matching on programmable graphics hardware

Extracting depth information from pairs of stereo images in real-time allows interactive 3d operations on live video streams. We present a novel adaptation of the Semi-Global Matching (SGM) Algorithm [Hirschmuller 2005] to graphics processing (GPU) hardware, which operates in real-time and frees the CPU for other tasks. We also present shaders which use the extracted depth information to manipulate the video stream in real time.
Classifying and interpreting threats to patient safety in hospitals: insights from aviation

We examine how the information gathered about patient safety-related events is influenced by the interpretation and classification of these events in hospitals and by the context in which hospitals operate. Building on aviation safety studies, we developed research questions to guide a qualitative, interview-based study of three hospitals. We found that having a specific (or general) definition of an event was important for aviation safety information systems, but was not salient for hospitals. In these hospitals, event classification was influenced by professional perspectives, perceived professional responsibility, event contingencies, and surveillance technology. In both contexts, decision makers avoided reporting potentially dangerous events by classifying them in non-reportable categories. The importance of industry context for these results underscores the need for industry-specific midlevel conceptual frameworks. Healthcare policy-makers advocate standardizing event definitions to promote learning, but if organizational factors influence definitions and classification schemes, this may undermine the usefulness of centralized error reporting. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acquired channelopathies in nerve injury and MS.

Although neurophysiologic doctrine has traditionally referred to “the” voltage-gated sodium channel, it is now clear that there are at least nine genes that encode molecularly and physiologically distinct sodium channels. Mutations of sodium channel genes provide a basis for genetic channelopathies. Dysregulated expression of sodium channels due to alterations in activity of nonmutated channel genes, on the other hand, can produce acquired channelopathies. Two examples of acquired channelopathies are discussed in this article. Recent research has established that peripheral nerve injury can provoke an acquired channelopathy in spinal sensory neurons; axonal transection triggers the turning-off of some previously active sodium channel genes and the turning-on of at least one previously silent sodium channel gene, a set of molecular changes that can result in hyperexcitability of these cells. Emerging evidence also suggests that an acquired channelopathy, characterized by abnormal expression of sensory neuron specific sodium channels that can alter impulse trafficking within Purkinje cells, may contribute to the pathophysiology of MS. Subtype-specific drugs that selectively modulate various types of channels probably will soon be developed. The acquired channelopathies associated with nerve injury and MS may thus represent prototype disorders that present therapeutic opportunities.
Activity detection in a multi-user environment

The detection of a weak stochastic signal in multi-variate impulsive noise is investigated. The signal is that of a new user in a Code-Division Multiple-Access multi-user system. A particular type of transformation noise is considered: the trasmitted signal vector is modified by a linear transformation prior to signal detection thereby yielding a signal process and noise process that are dependent from component to component of the recieved vector. The linear operator is designed to combat multiple-access interference. The effect of such a transformation is studied by deriving the efficacies and asymptotic relative efficiencies of several detectors. Both linear and non-linear cross-correlator detector structures are examined. The performance of the detectors is determined for two types of non-Gaussian noise: additive channel noise and residual multiple-access interference noise. The numerical results are consistent with previous findings and motivate the investigation of a hybrid detector which is composed of a combination of the linear correlator and the polarity coincidence correlator. The asymptotic normality of the test statistics under study is also investigated.
Single Strand DNA Binding and Annealing Activities in the Yeast Recombination Factor Rad59

Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD59 gene is required for homologous recombination processes and normal level of resistance to ionizing radiation. To study the biochemical functions of Rad59, it was overproduced in yeast and purified to near homogeneity. Rad59 binds DNA, showing much higher affinity for ssDNA than dsDNA. Rad59 also anneals complementary DNA strands, and order of addition experiments indicate that maximal annealing efficiency is achieved when both complementary DNA strands are present upon addition of Rad59. Thus, Rad59 resembles its homolog Rad52 in being able to bind ssDNA and anneal complementary DNA strands. However, unlike Rad52, DNA annealing by Rad59 is not accelerated by the ssDNA binding factor RPA. DNA binding and strand annealing are likely to be important for the biological functions of Rad59 in general recombination and in the single-strand annealing pathway of recombination.
Effects of second messenger system activation on functional expression of tyrosine hydroxylase fusion gene constructs in neuronal and nonneuronal cells.

A genomic clone for rat tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was isolated and a fragment containing 503 bp upstream of the transcription start site was sequenced. The BamHI/AluI fragment was inserted into a plasmid carrying the coding sequence for bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Another construct with the 5′ sequence truncated to -151 bp also was prepared. When these were introduced into several mammalian cell lines, including C6 glioma, BE(2) neuroblastoma, CV-1 or Ltk− fibroblasts, different basal levels of CAT expression were observed. In the fibroblast lines, THCAT constructs were not expressed unless the cells were treated with forskolin or TPA. However, the low basal expression was not correlated to endogenous expression as THCAT constructs expressed comparably in BE(2)C, HeLa, and C6 glioma. Treatment of any of the cell lines with forskolin, TPA, or a combination of the two agents stimulated the expression by at least two-fold in all cell lines and the maximally induced levels were at least 10-fold over promoterless controls. These data indicate that the essential promoter elements as well as those conferring responsivity to cyclic AMP reside within 151 bp of the transcription start site. However, the array of elements regulating cell-type expression lie, at least in part, beyond the 500-bp region examined. Further, a role for phosphorylation in the regulation of basal and induced transcription of TH is suggested.
Assimilation of Satellite Cloud Data into the GMAO Finite-Volume Data Assimilation System Using a Parameter Estimation Method. Part I: Motivation and Algorithm Description

Abstract General circulation models are unable to resolve subgrid-scale moisture variability and associated cloudiness and so must parameterize grid-scale cloud properties. This typically involves various empirical assumptions and a failure to capture the full range (synoptic, geographic, diurnal) of the subgrid-scale variability. A variational parameter estimation technique is employed to adjust empirical model cloud parameters in both space and time, in order to better represent assimilated International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) cloud fraction and optical depth and Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) liquid water path. The value of these adjustments is verified by much improved cloud radiative forcing and persistent improvement in cloud fraction forecasts.
Erosion-Corrosion of a Carbon Steel Elbow in a Carbon Dioxide Environment

Abstract For many conditions, erosion-corrosion can produce higher wall penetration rates than erosion or corrosion alone. While flow velocity generally is believed to be an important factor, more ...
Interface concepts for plug-compatible production management systems

Abstract Currently, the integration of production management systems that have been built by different vendors is either costly and time-consuming or virtually impossible. If factory integration costs are to be reduced, it is essential that these systems be made plug-compatible. This paper assesses current factors that lead to incompatibility between manufacturing systems built by different systems vendors. Taking these factors into consideration, and interface philosophy is suggested which could be used to guide future integration efforts. The application of this philosophy to key interfaces within the Automated Manufacturing Research Facility ( AMRF ) at the National Bureau of Standards, is discussed.
Software defined radio: Inexpensive hardware and software tools

DSP topics such as software defined radio are more easily taught if appropriate demonstrations and laboratory experiences are provided. This paper describes a new, inexpensive software defined radio educational platform based upon MATLAB and the Texas Instruments C6713 digital signal processing starter kit. We describe the hardware and software issues and briefly describe recommended classroom use.
Selenium accumulation in the floral tissues of two Brassicaceae species and its impact on floral traits and plant performance

Abstract Selenium (Se) is a metalloid that can occur naturally in soils from the Cretaceous shale deposits of a prehistoric inland sea in the western United States. Agricultural irrigation and runoff solubilizes Se from these shales, causing buildups of toxic levels of selenate (SeO42−) in water and soil. Our main objective was to investigate the accumulation of Se in two Brassicaceae species chosen for their potential as phytoremediators of Se contaminated soils. We tested the hypothesis that Se will accumulate in the pollen and nectar of two plant species and negatively affect floral traits and plant reproduction. Certain species of Brassicaceae can accumulate high concentrations of Se in their leaf tissues. In this study Se accumulation in plant tissues was investigated under greenhouse conditions. Se accumulator (Brassica juncea) and Se hyperaccumulator (Stanleya pinnata) plants were irrigated in sand culture with 0 μM selenate (control), 8 μM selenate, and 13 μM selenate. Nectar and pollen in S. pinnata contained up to 150 μg Se mL−1 wet weight and 12900 μg Se g−1 dry weight when irrigated with 8 μM selenate. Se levels in nectar (110 μg Se mL−1 wet weight) and pollen (1700 μg Se g−1 dry weight) were not as high in B. juncea. Floral display width, petal area and seed pod length were significantly reduced in the 13 μM selenate Se treatment in B. juncea. S. pinnata floral traits and seeds were unaffected by the Se treatments. This study provides crucial information about where some of the highest concentrations of Se are found in two phytoremediators, and may shed light on the potential risks pollinators may face when foraging upon these accumulating plants. In the field, duration of the plant's exposure, Se soil and water concentrations as well as other environmental factors may also play important roles in determining how much Se is accumulated into the leaf and floral tissues. Our greenhouse study shed light on two species’ ability to accumulate Se, as well as determined the specific plant tissues where Se concentrations are highest.
Nonlocality in Quantum Computing

The operation of a quantum computer is inherently nonlocal due to the entanglement of separated quantum gates. This paper is concerned instead with the use of nonlocal effects to construct the quantum gates themselves. A nonlocal interaction in which pairs of atoms exchange two photons is expected to produce a large nonlinear phase shift. An interesting feature of this effect is that energy is not conserved at the location of an individual atom but it is conserved overall. The preliminary results from a series of experiments in a sodium vapor cell are in apparent agreement with the predictions of the theory. These nonlinear phase shifts can be used to construct quantum logic gates, such as a Controlled-NOT.
Predictors of Acute Urinary Toxicity in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated with a Combined Low-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiotherapy

(V100%!95%) required a modified rectal importance factor during optimization and often (70.4%) could not achieve a rectum V80% less than 0.2cc, demonstrating a compromise is often required between coverage and normal tissue dose. Detailed investigation of these patients can help to identify circumstances where achieving ideal plan quality is challenging. No immediate significant rectal toxicity has been reported so far, but we continue to collect quality of life data on these patients to report on long term results. Conclusions: Dosimetry values for the first 86 patients treated using an HDR brachytherapy boost at our center are presented. For the majority of patients, good prostate coverage and low normal tissue doses are achieved, especially when compared to criteria specified in recent trials such as NCIC PR-15. Often patients requiring significant intervention during plan optimization also required lower prostate coverage to reduce rectum dose. Physicians accept the coverage for each case upon review of the dose distribution with knowledge of the location of the disease.
Risk factors associated with adrenal insufficiency in severely injured burn patients

Acute adrenal insufficiency (AI) is an uncommon disorder among critically ill burn patients, which can often go unrecognized. The goal of the current study is to identify risk factors for AI among patients who have sustained severe thermal injury. A case-control study was conducted among all adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Burn Center during a 7-year period (1997-2003). All burn patients who developed AI were selected as cases (n = 26), and a random sample of those ICU patients who did not develop AI were selected as controls (n = 56). Two variables demonstrated significant independent associations with the risk of AI. Patients who developed AI were older than controls (50 vs. 46 years, respectively) and suffered a significantly greater area of thermal injury when compared with controls (mean percentage of total body surface area burned for cases and controls 45.5% and 25.4%, respectively). Over half (59.1%) of the patients with AI died compared with only 14.6% of controls (P < 0.0001). The development of AI appears to be associated with a greater TBSA burn and older age. After severe thermal injury, the diagnosis of AI substantially increases the risk of death. A better understanding of factors that predispose burn patients to AI may aid in earlier diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and improved outcomes.
The error-related negativity (ERN) and psychopathology: Toward an endophenotype

The ERN is a negative deflection in the event-related potential that peaks approximately 50 ms after the commission of an error. The ERN is thought to reflect early error-processing activity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). First, we review current functional, neurobiological, and developmental data on the ERN. Next, the ERN is discussed in terms of three psychiatric disorders characterized by abnormal response monitoring: anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse. These data indicate that increased and decreased error-related brain activity is associated with the internalizing and externalizing dimensions of psychopathology, respectively. Recent data further suggest that abnormal error-processing indexed by the ERN indexes trait- but not state-related symptoms, especially related to anxiety. Overall, these data point to utility of ERN in studying risk for psychiatric disorders, and are discussed in terms of the endophenotype construct.
Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses of Colistin-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae Reveal Multiple Pathways of Resistance

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae has resulted in a more frequent reliance on treatment using colistin. However, resistance to colistin (Col(r)) is increasingly reported from clinical settings. The genetic mechanisms that lead to Col(r) in K. pneumoniae are not fully characterized. Using a combination of genome sequencing and transcriptional profiling by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis, distinct genetic mechanisms were found among nine Col(r) clinical isolates. Col(r) was related to mutations in three different genes in K. pneumoniae strains, with distinct impacts on gene expression. Upregulation of the pmrH operon encoding 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (Ara4N) modification of lipid A was found in all Col(r) strains. Alteration of the mgrB gene was observed in six strains. One strain had a mutation in phoQ. Common among these seven strains was elevated expression of phoPQ and unaltered expression of pmrCAB, which is involved in phosphoethanolamine addition to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In two strains, separate mutations were found in a previously uncharacterized histidine kinase gene that is part of a two-component regulatory system (TCRS) now designated crrAB. In these strains, expression of pmrCAB, crrAB, and an adjacent glycosyltransferase gene, but not that of phoPQ, was elevated. Complementation with the wild-type allele restored colistin susceptibility in both strains. The crrAB genes are present in most K. pneumoniae genomes, but not in Escherichia coli. Additional upregulated genes in all strains include those involved in cation transport and maintenance of membrane integrity. Because the crrAB genes are present in only some strains, Col(r) mechanisms may be dependent on the genetic background.
All Clone-mates are not Created Equal: Fitness Discounting Theory Predicts Pea Aphid Colony Structure

As many animals form aggregations, group-living is believed to be adaptive. It is not clear, though, if clonal aggregations should have spatial structure, as protecting clone-mates is the genetic equivalent of protecting self. ‘Fitness discounting’ theory states that immediate reproductive opportunities are of greater value than are delayed opportunities. Thus, we hypothesized that spatial structure should exist in colonies of unequal-aged, clonal organisms like aphids. We predicted that, compared to reproductive (5th instar) individuals, young (2nd and 3rd instar) juveniles (i.e., the youngest instars capable of emitting an alarm signal) should occupy the most dangerous feeding positions. As individuals approach reproductive maturity and alarm signals decline (4th instar), they should occupy increasingly safer feeding positions. We tested these predictions by documenting the spatial distribution of two (green and pink) pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, asexual lineages (“clones”) at 1, 3, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after host plant colonization. Confirming our hypothesis, we found that early (2nd and 3rd) instar aphids occupied feeding positions with the highest predation risk. Upon reaching the penultimate (4th) instar, individuals dispersed from the colony to colonize other leaves. Thus, pea aphid colonies are not random aggregations; aphid colony structure can be explained by fitness discounting theory.
“Onomastic Emphasis” in Julia Álvarez's Saving the World

AbstractIn her 2007 novel, Saving the World, Julia Alvarez uses alternating chapters to narrate both a modern tale and a corresponding historical saga. She employs nomenclature emphatically on multiple levels in the work in order to make the theme of identity central to the narrative. This study will examine the connection between name and character in Alavarez's novel. At the same time, it will also analyze the link between that connection and the various onomastic elements that serve to unite and even blend the two parallel stories.
Physical aging of ultrathin glassy polymer films tracked by gas permeability

Abstract Membrane-based separations play a key role in energy conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by providing low energy routes for a wide variety of industrially-important separations. For reasons not completely understood, membrane permeability changes with time, due to physical aging, and the rate of permeability change can become orders of magnitude faster in films thinner than one micron. The gas transport properties and physical aging behavior of free-standing glassy polysulfone and Matrimid® films as thin as 18 nm are presented. Physical aging persists in glassy films approaching the length scale of individual polymer coils. The films studied ranged from 18–550 nm thick. They exhibited reductions in gas permeability, some more than 50%, after ∼1000 h of aging at 35 °C, and increases in selectivity. The properties of these ultrathin films deviate dramatically from bulk behavior, and the nature of these deviations is consistent with enhanced mobility and reduced Tg in ultrathin films. The Struik physical aging model was extended to account for the influence of film thickness on aging rate, and it was shown to adequately describe the aging data.
Treatment of Pulmonary Histoplasmosis

We have outlined our method for administration of amphotericin B to patients with pulmonary histoplasmosis and have mentioned some of our surgical indications. In summary, amphotericin B is the most potent drug available at the present time for the medical treatment of histoplasmosis and is of extreme benefit when used in combination with surgery for this disease also.
Extending device performance in photonic devices using piezoelectric properties

This study focuses on the influence of epi-layer strain and piezoelectric effects in asymmetric GaInAs/GaAlAs action regions that potentially lead to intra-cavity frequency mixing. The theoretical limits for conduction and valence band offsets in lattice-matched semiconductor structures have resulted in the deployment of non-traditional approaches such as strain compensation to extend wavelength in intersubband devices, where strain limits are related to misfit dislocation generation. Strain and piezoelectric effects have been studied and verified using select photonic device designs. Metrics under this effort also included dipole strength, oscillator strength, and offset of energy transitions, which are strongly correlated with induced piezoelectric effects. Unique photonic designs were simulated, modeled, and then fabricated using solid-source molecular beam epitaxy into photonic devices. The initial designs produce "lambda" wavelength, and the introduction of the piezoelectric effect resulted in "lambda/2" wavelength. More importantly, this work demonstrates that the theoretical cutoff wavelength in intersubband lasers can be overcome.
A typological approach to the study of parenting: associations between maternal parenting patterns and child behaviour and social reception

The present work addresses the associations between self‐reported maternal parenting behaviours and aggression, personality and peer regard of children (n = 119) in early childhood (ages three–six years). A k‐means cluster analysis derived types of mothers based on their relative use of autonomy support and restrictive control. Outcomes included mother and teacher reports of physical and relational aggression, personality and peer acceptance as well as a peer nominations procedure for social reception. As hypothesised, children of mothers who report demonstrating little autonomy support and high restrictive control were more aggressive, less agreeable, conscientious, extraverted, and less well accepted by their peers. Findings are discussed in terms of maternal attributions of maternal behaviour, child behaviour in multiple contexts, and differential perceptions of mothers and teachers.
Tide and tsunami reporting system

The system has been designed to transmit water pressure data from the sea floor to the surface as an interval between two pulses. Upon acoustic query from the surface the bottom unit was designed to respond with the data readout and to initiate the taking of a new pressure reading. The first unit was installed under Ocean Station Papa (Lat. 50\deg N., Long. 145 W.) in a cooperative program with Dr. John Garrett of the Canadian Department of Environment. Due to an unforeseen coincidence the bottom unit became "self-querying" upon emplacement; thus it operated continuously which greatly shortened the battery life of the system. During the two months the system, was functional data were recorded at the surface mostly during daylight hours. Data for a tidal analysis were obtained but no tsunami occurred during the recording space, The second unit has been emplaced under Ocean Station Papa which should provide data complementing the four Canadian seamount tide stations.
Using OPUS for Measuring Vertical Displacements in Houston, Texas

AbstractThe Houston area has been suffering from subsidence for several decades. Therefore, continuously operating reference stations (CORS) in this area may have experienced considerable vertical displacements. The Online Positioning User Service (OPUS), provided by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), uses CORS as references in its data processing. This study investigated what effects, if any, the subsidence experienced by these CORS around Houston contributes to the accuracy of OPUS vertical results. Our OPUS results were determined from three long-term (over 10-year) blocks of continuous data using Global Positioning System (GPS) stations located in different parts of the Houston area. The OPUS results were compared with the vertical measurements from the precise point positioning with single receiver phase ambiguity (PPP-SRPA) solution implicit in the GIPSY/OASIS 6.1.2 software. This particular study indicates that OPUS achieves 1.0-cm vertical accuracy for daily sessions (24 h) in the region around H...
Quasiparticle tunneling in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O thin films.

Description de la formation de jonctions a effet tunnel par depot d'une couche mince d'Al 2 O 3 et d'une contre-electrodes sur des films de Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O pulverises et recuits. Etude par spectroscopie de conductance differentielle, de la conductivite, qui presente une faible conductivite pour des polarisation faibles et deux paires de pics symetriques par rapport a la polarisation nulle, qui sont correles en energie et en amplitude relative avec les deux phases supraconductrices de Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O presentes dans le film (110 K et 85 K). Determination des positions des pics et des valeurs des parametres de gap reduits. La forme des courbes de conductance en presence des polarisations fortes est parabolique. Explication de cet effet
Assessing and Testing Interrater Agreement on a Single Target Using Multi-Item Rating Scales:

An index for assessing interrater agreement with respect to a single target using a multi-item rating scale is developed. The variance of rater mean scale scores is used as the numerator of the agreement index. Four variants of a disattenuated agreement index that vary in the random response term used as the denominator are examined. A variant of rwg(J)using perfectly collinear, uniformly distributed responses as the baseline is recommended as a useful index of disattenuated agreement. A test of the equality of variances is recommended for deleting items with a level of interrater agreement significantly different from zero but lower than that of the remaining items.
Examining Peer Collaboration in Online Inquiry

Abstract This study examines peer collaboration among four pairs of seventh graders who read online to determine what caused the downfall of the Mayan civilization. More and less productive collaborative interactions are presented through snippets of dialogue in which pairs negotiated complex texts. Few examples of how teachers can skillfully facilitate collaborative interactions currently exist, despite the call for these skills in the Common Core State Standards. Teaching ideas that support collaborative online reading are featured. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of The Educational Forum for the following free supplemental materials: set of printable graphic organizers to support collaborative online reading and cross-curricular web resources to support critical evaluation of online content].
Properties of estrogen-sensitive uterine sugar metabolism specificity of inhibitory sugars.

The in vitro uterine metabolism of glucose-U-14C was examined by determining 14CO2 production and the incorporation of glucose carbons into lipid and protein. Sugar transport and phosphorylation were investigated by measuring the uterine conversion of 2-deoxyglucose- l-14C to 2-deoxyglucose-6-PO4-l-14C. The presence of certain unlabeled sugars in the incubation medium caused inhibition of glucose metabolism, while equimolar quantities of other sugars were not inhibitory. Inhibition was concentration dependent and was exhibited by sugars which are phosphorylated in a manner analogous to glucose. Although several nonmetabolized sugars are not inhibitory, 2-deoxyglucose, which is only transported and phosphorylated, does display considerable inhibition of glucose metabolism. Similarly, glucose and mannose are quite effective in inhibiting 2-deoxyglucose transport and phosphorylation. These findings support the hypothesis that a rate-determining, phosphorylation-dependent entry step governs uterine sugar meta...
Supervising the Supervisors: A Case-Based Group Forum for Faculty Development

Objective Faculty development has increasingly become a focus in medical education. Many models are employed around the United States. The authors present a group model process developed to train new educators to teach our medical students.
Synthesis of Complementary Host- and Guest-Functionalized Polymeric Building Blocks and Their Self-Assembling Behavior

New polymers that incorporate paraquat or crown ether moieties as chain ends or central units were synthesized by stable free radical polymerization (SFRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). For SFRP, TEMPO derivatives that contain a functional unit were used as initiators. For ATRP, a copper−amine or copper−bipyridine complex was used as a catalyst with radical initiators from halide derivatives of paraquat and crown ethers. These end- or center-functionalized polymers formed pseudorotaxane complexes with complementary small molecules. They also formed reversible pseudorotaxane polymers: chain-extended, star-shaped homopolymers, and block copolymers. Complexation studies to determine stoichiometry and association constants with thermodynamic parameters were performed by NMR spectroscopy and isothermal microcalorimetric (ITC) titration. The association constants of crown ether derivatives and paraquat compounds in chloroform were measured for the first time: Ka = 2.97 × 103 M−1 for paraquat ...
Emulsion formulations as a vector for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo

Abstract For successful gene therapy, it is necessary to develop vectors capable of efficiently introducing genetic materials into target cells. Various techniques for transgene delivery have been developed, among which cationic liposome-mediated delivery is widely accepted. DC-Chol/DOPE cationic liposomes, synthesized in our laboratory, have been successfully used as a vector in clinical trials for treating melanoma and cystic fibrosis. Formation of large aggregates at higher concentration and serum sensitivity are major drawbacks of the cationic liposome-mediated delivery system. To overcome these problems, we have developed cationic emulsion formulations. By the addition of non-ionic surfactant to the formulation, the formation of large aggregates was prevented and stable DNA/cationic emulsion complexes were obtained. These complexes transfected different cell lines with an equivalent or higher efficiency compared to the cationic liposomes, and possessed no serum sensitivity. We have also developed reconstituted chylomicrons as an in vivo gene transfer vector to the liver. The hydrophobic complex of DNA and TC-Chol was extracted by chloroform and emulsified with triglyceride, PC, lyso PC, Chol and Chol oleate. More than 60% of the complex was incorporated into the reconstituted chylomicrons. Portal vein injection of the DNA-incorporated reconstituted chylomicrons into mice produced a high amount of gene product in the liver. Emulsion formulations appeared to have more favorable physical and biological activities than traditional cationic liposomes as a gene delivery system in vivo.
Attendance at religious services and subsequent mental health in midlife women.

Objective:Spiritual and religious factors may influence mental health in midlife women. The purpose of this study was to explore whether strength of religious beliefs or attendance at religious services helps to mitigate the stresses of life in mid-life women.Methods:Data are from a sub-sample of 265 women, ages 40–70, who were participants in the REACH study, a longitudinal study investigating health parameters in a representative sample of households from rural communities in eastern North Carolina. Using t-tests and linear regression analyses, we analyzed the relationship between frequency of attendance at religious services and strength of religious beliefs in 1997 and subsequent mental health in 2003 as measured by the mental health component score (MCS) of the SF-12.Results:The mean MCS in 2003 was significantly higher (better mental health) in women who reported attending religious services ≥1/week compared to those who reported attending <1/week (53.9 vs. 51.7; p < 0.05). In the linear regression ...
The application of the Na-K-Ca geothermometer to thermal areas of Utah and the Imperial Valley, California

Abstract The sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) geothermometer is discussed as a tool for locating and evaluating areas prospectively valuable for geothermal development. Presented is a regional analysis of the major thermal springs of Utah to demonstrate the use of the Na-K-Ca geothermometer as a rapid and meaningful method of geothermal reconnaissance. Of the thermal areas of Utah, Roosevelt Hot Springs show the greatest geothermal potential where estimated temperatures are nearly 300 °C. This compares favorably with estimated and measured temperatures from proven geothermal fields such as Cerro Prieto in Mexico and the Salton Sea field of California. Also presented are more detailed studies of LaVerkin Ho1 Springs and Wilson Hot Springs, Utah, and the Mesa anomaly, Imperial Valley, California. These studies examine the accuracy and precision of the Na-K-Ca geothermometer and the physical conditions under which it can be reliably used to predict subsurface temperatures. It is shown that in the saline environment of the Imperial Valley, it should be possible to obtain useful information even though the results might normally be considered suspect due to concentration or dilution of the analyzed samples.
Game-themed instructional modules: a video case study

Integration of video games into introductory programming (CS1/2) courses motivates and engages students while contributing to their learning outcomes [17, 1, 2]. However, it is challenging for general faculty members teaching CS1/2 courses, few of whom have computer graphics or games backgrounds, to integrate video games. Game-Themed Instructional (GTI) Modules are designed specifically to encourage general faculty members to teach CS1/2 concepts using interactive, graphical, game-like examples. Six independent and self-contained GTI modules were created as a collection of interactive graphical example programs designed to demonstrate one single programming concept (e.g., conditional statements). This paper discusses the design parameters and implementation of the GTI modules and describes a case study of selectively adopting some of the GTI modules in an existing CS1 class. The results of the study demonstrate that it is possible for a faculty member with no games or graphics background to blend GTI modules into an existing CS1 class with minimum alterations to established course materials. The GTI modules are excellent catalysts, enabling faculty to begin exploring teaching with game-themed materials and helping students to be more engaged in CS1 topics.
Population dynamics and evolutionary processes" the manifold roles of habitat selection

Any character that has a substantial effect on a species' distribution and abundance can exert a variety of indirect effects on evolutionary processes. It is suggested that an organism's capacity for habitat selection is just such a character. Habitat selection can constrain the selective environment experienced by a population. Habitat selection can also indirectly influence the relative importance of natural selection, drift, and gene flow, through its effect on population size and growth rate. In many circumstances (but not all), habitat selection increases population size and growth rate, and thereby makes selection in a local environment more effective than drift and gene flow.
Ultrastructure of secondary spore formation in the rust Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae

Basidiospores of G juniperi-virginianae discharged onto water tended to form secondary spores rather than germ tubes and appressoria. Repetitive germination to form secondary spores was not simply a variation of germ tube development, but rather a distinctly different process. Within 45 minutes after landing on water, one of the two nuclei of a basidiospore undergoing repetitive germination disintegrated. The sterigma that developed from the basidiospore was approximately three times the diameter of a germ tube and lacked the copious extracellular matrix associated with germ tubes and appressoria. Virtually all the contents ofthe basidiospore eventually entered the sterigma and secondary spore that developed at its tip. After the surviving nucleus entered the secondary spore it underwent a mitotic division. Mature secondary spores were binucleate and morphologically identical to the parent basidiospores.
A parallel distributed data CPHF algorithm for analytic Hessians.

One of the most commonly used means to characterize potential energy surfaces of reactions and chemi- cal systems is the Hessian calculation, whose analytic evaluation is computationally and memory demanding. A new scalable distributed data analytic Hessian algorithm is presented. Features of the distributed data parallel coupled perturbed Hartree-Fock (CPHF) are (a) columns of density-like and Fock-like matrices are distributed among pro- cessors, (b) an efficient static load balancing scheme achieves good work load distribution among the processors, (c) network communication time is minimized, and (d) numerous performance improvements in analytic Hessian steps are made. As a result, the new code has good performance which is demonstrated on large biological systems.
Direct Effects of PPARα Agonists on Retinal Inflammation and Angiogenesis May Explain How Fenofibrate Lowers Risk of Severe Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

In this issue of Diabetes , Chen et al. (1) used rodent models of type 1 diabetes and ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization to examine how the lipid-lowering drug fenofibrate may prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the sight-threatening complication of diabetes that causes retinal microvascular dysfunction, which in turn leads to diabetic macular edema (DME), formation of exudate deposits, and microhemorrhages. In the advanced proliferative stage of diabetic retinopathy, neovascularization can result in retinal detachment and blindness. Therapeutic options for diabetic retinopathy have been limited. Until recently, intensive glycemic control, with its risks of hypoglycemic events and increased mortality, was the only known means of reducing the progression of diabetic retinopathy (2,3). Laser photocoagulation of the peripheral retinal tissue, intravitreal injection of steroids or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, and vitrectomy can each stabilize or improve vision, but they are all invasive and are associated with various complications. Additional treatment options are needed. An orally available drug that reduces the risk of diabetic retinopathy progression without intensive glycemic control, retinal destruction, or repeated intravitreal injections would be ideal. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with dyslipidemia characterized by elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, and variable LDL cholesterol. Although statins are clearly beneficial, a residual atherogenic dyslipidemia often remains (4). Fibric acid derivatives, such as fenofibrate, stimulate the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor type α (PPARα) and lead to increased fatty acid β-oxidation, thus decreasing plasma triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels and increasing HDL cholesterol levels (5). This makes fibrates, in combination with statins, a logical treatment for diabetic dyslipidemia. Recent large-scale clinical studies, including the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) and …