cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noise-induced changes in red blood cell velocity in lateral wall vessels of the rat cochlea

Abstract The effects of loud sound on the microvasculature of the cochlea are not well characterized or understood. Morphological changes in the stria vascularis and changes in blood flow are known to occur during or following sound stimulation, however the effects on cochlear blood flow appear to be complex. Studies have shown that noise exposure may produce increases in blood flow, decreases in blood flow, or no measureable change in blood flow. These inconsistent results probably reflect the various noise exposure parameters, the animal model used, and could be a function of the specific procedures utilized to assess blood flow changes. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of one specific class of sound exposure (high intensity noise) on red blood cell velocity in the capillaries of the second turn of the rat cochlea using intravital microscopy. This class of sound exposure was selected in order to attempt a confirmation of previous findings of increased blood flow (Perlman and Kimura, 1962) using the quantitative technique of red blood cell velocity measurement. Following determination of pre-exposure red blood cell velocities in capillaries of the rat cochlea second turn, animals were exposed to 133 dB or 110 dB broad-band noise for ten minutes. The red blood cell velocity was recorded continuously during the exposure. Exposure to both sound intensities disrupted stable and orderly baseline flow patterns and resulted in overall intensity-dependent increases in red blood cell velocity. Qualitatively, we observed aggregations of red blood cells, local vasoconstriction and directional reversals of red blood cell flow during noise exposure at both intensities. These results may represent the interaction of several mechanisms that participate in the control of blood flow in the cochlea during noise exposure.
Postextrasystolic mechanical restitution in closed-chest dogs. Effect of heart failure.

Background Postextrasystolic mechanical restitution (MRPES) is thought to be an expression of intracellular Ca2+ handling by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Since congestive heart failure is characterized by abnormal intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, we sought to delineate MRPES behavior before and after the production of heart failure to obtain insights into the relation between altered mechanical performance and Ca2+ handling. Methods and Results Ten dogs instrumented with left ventricular (LV) micromanometers and piezoelectric dimension crystals were studied under control conditions; 6 dogs also were studied after tachycardia heart failure (THF) produced by rapid LV pacing for 4 weeks. After priming at a basic cycle length of 375 ms, test pulses were delivered at fixed extrasystolic intervals (ESIs; 300, 375, or 450 ms) and graded postextrasystolic intervals (PESIs). Postextrasystolic mechanical response was assessed using single-beat elastance. MRPES curves were constructed by expressing normalized...
The mediation of mutagenicity and clastogenicity of heavy metals by physicochemical factors

Abstract Heavy metals are an important class of environmental hazards, and as the use of heavy metals in industry continues to increase, larger segments of the biota, including human beings, will be exposed to increasing levels of these toxicants. As many heavy metals are mutagenic and clastogenic, they cause teratogenic and/or carcinogenic effects. Studies with microbes and representatives of the aquatic biota have shown that the toxicity of heavy metals is mediated by the physicochemical characteristics of natural environments. A few studies have also indicated that such abiotic factors (e.g., pH, chelating agents, inorganic anionic and cationic composition) mediate the mutagenicity and clastogenicity of heavy metals. These studies indicate that the physicochemical characteristics of natural environments may also potentiate or attenuate the mutagenicity and clastogenicity of heavy metals to the indigenous biota. Furthermore, studies with laboratory animals have shown that the acute and chronic toxicity, including the teratogenicity and carcinogenicity, of heavy metals is mediated by physicochemical factors. A similar dependence of the mutagenicity and clastogenicity of heavy metals by the physicochemical characteristics unique to specific body fluids and tissues may explain the association of specific heavy metal-induced tumors with specific tissues. There is an apparent need to develop genotoxicity tests that incorporate into their procedures the mediating influence of physicochemical factors (pH, for example), as the use of only standardized procedures may hinder the detection of heavy metal, as well as of organic, genotoxins whose mutagenicity or clastogenicity is altered by conditions other than those used in the standardized assay, thereby producing false negative results.
Induction of hypospadias in a murine model by maternal exposure to synthetic estrogens.

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that maternal exposure to synthetic estrogen can cause hypospadias in male offspring and defined the morphological changes in the disrupted urethral seam. Timed pregnant C57/6 mice were exposed to synthetic estrogens. The genital tubercles were examined for the presence of hypospadias using histology, three-dimensional computer reconstruction, and plastic cast injection molds of the urethra. Microscopic serial analysis confirmed the presence of hypospadias, which occurred in ∼50% of the synthetic-estrogen-treated male fetuses. No effect was seen in the female embryos. Plastic cast injection showed that affected males had a shorter total urethral length and loss of male anatomic features such as the prostatic utricle. Exposure to synthetic estrogens during pregnancy affects the normal development of the urethra in the mouse. We conclude that endocrine disrupters play an important role in genital tubercle anomalies.
Single-Carrier Frequency-Domain Equalizer with Multi-Antenna Transmit Diversity

Single-carrier (SC) block transmission with cyclic prefix (CP) is a method with several advantages that has been incorporated into standards. This paper investigates the performance of multi-antenna SC-FDE under cyclic-delay diversity (CDD) and Alamouti signaling. Our analysis fully characterizes the diversity, showing that it depends not only on the antenna configuration and channel memory, but also on data block length and data transmission rate. Below a certain rate threshold, full diversity is available to both CDD and Alamouti signaling, while at higher rates their diversity diminishes, albeit not quite in the same way. Our analysis shows that at high rates the CDD diversity degenerates to the diversity of the SISO SC-FDE, while Alamouti signaling provides twice the diversity of SISO SC-FDE.
Impurity Lifetime Broadening on Noble-Metal Fermi Surfaces

A simple theory of lifetime broadening due to scattering from isolated impurities in noble-metal hosts is presented and used to calculate the Dingle temperature observed in de Haas-van Alphen experiments. Details of the scattering anisotropy are easily calculated when the impurity is a transition metal. Numerical estimates of the Dingle temperatures for three extremal orbits are in good agreement with experiments on CuNi and CuZn.
Approaches to the synthesis of some tyrosine-derived marine sponge metabolites: synthesis of verongamine and purealidin N.

The oxidation of tyrosine ethyl ester (7) with Na2WO4/H2O2 in ethanol, dimethyldioxirane in acetone, or methyltrioxorhenium/H2O2 in EtOH gave the corresponding tyrosine oxime (8) in high yield. Controlled bromination of the aromatic ring gave the monobromo oxime (9), the dibromo oxime (10), or the spiroisoxazoline (11) depending upon reaction conditions. Synthesis of the known metabolite verongamine (15) was achieved by oxidation of O-methyl bromotyrosine methyl ester and amidation of the resulting oxime ester (14) with histamine. The mono- and di-bromotyrosine oxime derivatives (9 and 10) were further transformed into the naturally occurring nitriles (16 and 17) by base hydrolysis of the ester and acid-catalyzed decarboxylation. Wadsworth−Emmons olefination of the dibromobenzaldehyde (20b) with phosphonate (18) gave the pyruvate silylenolether (21b). Deprotection and in situ oxime formation gave the oxime ester (23b). Attempted purification of the pyruvate ester resulted in a homoaldol condensation yield...
Further observations on the effects of autonomic blocking agents in patients with hypertension. I. General systemic effects of hexamethonium, pentamethonium, and hydrazinophthalazine.

Hexamethonium and pentamethonium produced a greater reduction in blood pressure in patients with malignant hypertension who had low serum concentration of sodium or severe encephalopathy than in those with benign hypertension. Concurrent administration of hydrazinophthalazine resulted in an additive effect on the blood pressure of most patients, with slower development of tolerance and less marked postural hypotension. In many patients there was improvement in signs and symptoms attributable to hypertension. Harmful effects of reduction in blood pressure occurred mainly in patients with malignant hypertension and consisted of renal insufficiency and evidence of myocardial and retinal ischemia.
How Religious Doubt Moderates Depression Symptoms Following Older Adult Bereavement

This study examined the relationship of religious doubt with mental health following bereavement, using data from a nationally representative longitudinal survey of religion and health in older adulthood. Growth curve modeling analyzed trajectories of change in symptoms of depression at up to three waves over up to seven years following either family bereavement or non-bereavement trauma. After bereavement, those with more religious doubt reported worsening symptoms, whereas those with less doubt reported stable or improving symptoms over the same period. After nonbereavement trauma, religious doubt was not associated with symptom change.
Transfer of theEscherichiacoliKl2 chromosome in the absence of DNA synthesis

Abstract Several recent reports bearing on the elucidation of the mechanism by which transfer of the chromosome is effected from donor to recipient cell in the Escherichia coli Kl2 mating system have suggested that DNA synthesis plays a role in the process. Jacob et al (1963) have proposed a model which explains the transfer process as a result of concomitant replication of the donor chromosome; Bouck and Adelberg (1963) have suggested that the initiation of DNA replication opens the donor chromosome at the F-attachment site, and if conjugation with a recipient occurs, the open chromosome is transferred as soon as the cycle of DNA replication is completed. The present report presents evidence to show that normal chromosome transfer in one Hfr strain occurs without concomitant DNA synthesis.
Determination of particulate and dissolved 228Th in seawater using a delayed coincidence counter

article i nfo The application of thorium-228 towardsunderstandingparticle dynamics intheopen ocean islimitedbecauseof its low natural abundanceinseawaterand associated sampling and analytical challenges.Here we describea fast and nondestructivemethod for measuringboth dissolved and particulate 228 Thactivities inthe openocean using Radium Delayed-Coincidence Counters (RaDeCC). Particulate and dissolved samples were collected from the
Turbulence profiles from a smooth flat-plate turbulent boundary layer at high Reynolds number

Abstract Much is known about smooth-flat-plate turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) at laboratory-scale Reynolds numbers because of a wealth of experimental data. However, smooth-flat-plate TBL data are much less common at the high Reynolds numbers typical of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic applications (Rex ∼ 108–1010), and at the even higher Reynolds numbers of many geophysical flows. This paper presents new LDV-measured profiles of the stream-wise velocity variance, the wall-normal velocity variance, and the Reynolds shear stress from the TBL that formed on a smooth flat plate at Karman numbers from 15,000 to 60,000 (Rex from 75 million to 220 million). The experiments were conducted in the William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel on a polished (k+
Two-body problems: A unified, classical, and simple treatment of spin-orbit effects

We show how the spin-orbit contribution to the two-body Hamiltonian, to order ${c}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, may be derived classically, in a simple but rigorous manner, from a knowledge of just the corresponding contributions for the one-body problem. As an illustration of the generality of our results, we consider, as particular cases, the electromagnetic and gravitational interactions and demonstrate how the usual results follow directly.
Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter

These autobiographical essays by a member of the Coeur d'Alene tribe interweave personal experiences with striking portraits of relatives, both living and dead, to form a rich tapestry of history, storytelling, and remembrance. Hale's is a story of intense and resonant beauty. Breathtaking in its range and authority, Bloodlines is an important addition to the literature of women of color. "In this set of eight brooding but brave essays, she confronts the painful facts not only of her life but of the tragically difficult lives of several generations of her female relatives...As Hale delves into her past, she perceives the deep roots of her struggle for survival and achievement, and recognizes the unseverable bond that connects her to her culture." Booklist
Structural characterization of amorphous materials applied to low-k organosilicate materials

Abstract We present a methodology to create computational atomistic-level models of porous amorphous materials, in particular, an organosilicate structure for ultra-low dielectric constant (ULK) materials known as “SiCOH.” The method combines the ability to satisfy geometric and chemical constraints with subsequent molecular dynamics (MD) techniques as a way to capture the complexities of the porous and amorphous nature of these materials. The motivation for studying ULK materials arises from a desire to understand the origin of the material's weak mechanical properties. The first step towards understanding how these materials might behave under processing conditions that are intended to improve their mechanical properties is to develop a suitable computational model of the material and hence is the focus of this paper. We define the atomic-scale topology of ULK materials that have been produced by chemical vapor deposition-like experimental techniques. Specifically, we have developed a method of defining the initial atom configurations and interactions, as well as a method to rearrange these starting configurations into relaxed structures. The main advantage of our described approach is the ability of our structure generation method to maintain a random distribution of relevant structural motifs throughout the structure, without relying on large unit cells and periodic boundaries to approximate the behavior of this complex material. The minimization of the different models was accomplished using replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD). Following the generation of the ‘equilibrium’ configurations that result from REMD for a ULK material of a pre-specified composition, we demonstrate that its structural properties, including bonding topology, porosity and pore size distribution are similar to experimentally used ULK materials.
Species of Political Parties: A New Typology

While the literature already includes a large number of party typologies, they are increasingly incapable of capturing the great diversity of party types that have emerged worldwide in recent decades, largely because most typologies were based upon West European parties as they existed in the late nineteenth through mid-twentieth centuries. Some new party types have been advanced, but in an ad hoc manner and on the basis of widely varying and often inconsistent criteria. This article is an effort to set many of the commonly used conceptions of parties into a coherent framework, and to delineate new party types whenever the existing models are incapable of capturing important aspects of contemporary parties. We classify each of 15 ‘species’ of party into its proper ‘genus’ on the basis of three criteria: (1) the nature of the party’s organization (thick/thin, elite-based or mass-based, etc.); (2) the programmatic orientation of the party (ideological, particularistic-clientele-oriented, etc.); and (3) tole...
Impurity State-Dangling Bond Pairs in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

We use the self-consistent pseudopotential method with a supercell model of a-Si:H to study the electronic structures of substitutional fourfold- coordinated P and fourfold-coordinated B at the second neighbor of a dangling bond. Partial transfer of charge from the impurity state to the dangling bond state is examined. The influence of passivating the dangling bond by a single H atom on the impurity state is also discussed.
Lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

![Figure][1] A 34-year-old male with a history of T cell–rich B-cell lymphoma relapsed 1 year after high-dose therapy with recurrent fevers, abdominal pain, and jaundice. He was cachetic with hepatosplenomegaly and ascites. Laboratory findings showed a white blood cell count of 2.7 × 109/L
A molecular technique for detecting the liberation of intracellular zinc in cultured neurons.

We have previously reported that oxidative stimuli liberate Zn2+ from metalloproteins, a phenomenon that can trigger neuronal cell death. Excessive intracellular Zn2+ in many cell types triggers the expression of genes that encode metal binding proteins, such as metallothionein, via the activation and nuclear translocation of metal response element (MRE)-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1). Cd2+ strongly induces nuclear translocation of MTF-1 in non-neuronal cells, but it does so by displacing Zn2+ from its metal binding sites within the cell and increasing the intracellular concentration of this ion. Here, we describe the use of MRE-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene as a sensitive molecular assay for detecting increases in intracellular zinc concentrations. MRE transactivation was induced in primary cortical neurons upon brief exposure to Zn2+ or Cd2+. Enhanced MRE transactivation was observed upon co-exposure of neurons to Cd2+ together with NMDA, as this metal can permeate through the receptor channel. Luciferase expression was observed regardless of whether or not neurons had been co-transfected with an MTF-1-containing plasmid, suggesting the presence of an endogenous MTF-1-like protein. Indeed, RT–PCR revealed that MTF-1 mRNA is present in neurons. In contrast, MTF-1 deficient dko7 cells were only observed to have MRE transactivation when co-transfected with MTF-1. Our results indicate that Cd2+ can effectively induce transactivation of MRE in neurons by liberating Zn2+ from its intracellular binding sites.
Structure of Distillation Regions for Multicomponent Azeotropic Mixtures

Geometric methods for the conceptual design of nonideal and azeotropic distillation systems have focused primarily on three- and four-component mixtures. A generalization of geometric methods that does not rely on visualization and gives a completely equation-based approach to determine the structure of distillation regions for homogeneous mixtures is described. This method is useful for mixtures with a large number of components, provided a vapor–liquid equilibrium model is available. The approach is applied to assess feasibility and alternative separations in several examples, including a five-component mixture with nine azeotropes and a six-component mixture with seven azeotropes. These methods can be used to rapidly generate process alternatives, and the examples demonstrate that there can be a surprising number of these alternatives for the distillation of azeotropic mixtures.
Consumer Perceptions of Trout as a Food Item

Abstract The impacts of socioeconomic/demographic characteristics, experiences and preferences of consumers on trout purchasing decisions were estimated using Probit and Ordered Probit regression techniques. Data from a survey of consumer purchasing behavior and personal attributes were used to deduce factors that led to either a high or low likelihood of purchasing trout products. Analysis of data pertaining to whole trout and value-added products yielded consistently different characteristics of consumers who show a high affinity toward purchasing one or more of such products. Results from these analyses were used to suggest techniques for marketing whole trout and value-added trout products to specific segments of the consumer population.
A Note on Exact Tests for Serial Correlation

Abstract A transformation of the OLS residual vector to achieve a desired covariance structure, proposed earlier by Durbin [3], is shown to be capable of substantially changing the OLS residual vector even when that vector already has nearly the desired covariance structure. This may explain its substantially inferior performance in Monte Carlo comparisons with the transform proposed by the Abrahamse and Koerts [1]. A new transform, involving only small alterations in Durbin's procedure, is shown to avoid the defect of the Durbin transform.
Advisory Committees To Four-Year Hospitality Education Programs: What Should They Be Doing for Your Program?

An expert panel of 12 hospitality program deans, department heads, and directors (CEOs) and 28 members of their advisory committees rated 60 statements identified as advisory committee activities. Panel members reached consensus on 58 of 60 statements after three survey mailings using the Delphi technique, a process for determining group consensus.The expert panel strongly agreed with six statements and disagreed with four statements. T-tests identified 10 statements where a significant difference (p=<.05) in agreement occurred between the CEOs and the advisory committee members. Three of those statements were financial issues, two were identifying research and training needs, and another was evaluating the hospitality education program. Advisory committee members indicated that they should be consulted regarding curriculum, subject matter, special training needs, and developing educational objectives.CEOs currently using or planning to use an advisory committee should carefully review the statement ratin...
On the Uses of Members' Responses to Researchers' Accounts

Ethnographic field research has oscillated between suspicion and celebration of members' representations of social reality. The emergence of phenomenologically oriented approaches in the social sciences has resulted in a shift toward the latter position. Indeed, the member's voice has been endowed with such authority that some have suggested that members' responses to a researcher's description comprise a significant measure of the description's adequacy. Using actual episodes in which research findings were presented to members of psychiatric emergency teams, the paper examines the dynamics and problematics of so-called "member validation procedures." Attention is focussed on the ambiguous, interactionally negotiated and politically charged nature of such transactions. Although it is proposed that these transactions are as problematic as any other, they are not to be discounted as a resource for research. Indeed, it is precisely because validation episodes often comprise intense moments of organizational...
Serum phosphate and lactate vary with FSH in an early postmenopausal population

Abstract Objective: We examined serum in recent postmenopausal women to determine the relationship of menopausal status, as FSH level, to serum acid-base balance. Design, setting, and patients: Serum electrolytes of 58 women, aged 53–58, were measured relative to serum FSH. The subjects were over one year since the last menstrual period and were from an academic practice setting. Results: In women with FSH 35 IU/L (n = 38, mean 84.8 IU/L, SD 34.5). No other major anions showed significant differences. Both groups were analyzed by mass spectroscopy for fatty acids and anionic metabolic intermediates. Lactate was the predominant anion in the organic group but accounted for only about 10% of the FSH-responsive anion change. This change was mainly due to a 0.1-mM increase in phosphate in the high FSH group. Conclusions: There is a direct correlation of early postmenopausal FSH to increasing serum phosphate. Changes in phosphorus may reflect differences in the rate of bone loss.
Economic Growth with Foreign Capital

In growth theory,foreign investment places a small open economy in the international steady state.In applied growth theory,foreign investment is assumed to shift technology.The present growth model separates foreign from domestic capital and develops the steady state where both capital/labor ratios are stationary.A capital scarce country would attract foreign investment and may arrive at a steady state with perpetual foreign investment.Such a steady state foreign investment host is characterized by low saving and high labor growth rates, and source countries the opposite. Incomplete convergence characterizes economic growth with foreign capital.
Management of Complications Associated with Total Ear Canal Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy in Dogs and Cats

Total ear canal ablation combined with bulla osteotomy is a salvage procedure recommended primarily for end-stage inflammatory ear canal disease but also for neoplasia and severe traumatic injuries. Due to the complexity of the procedure and the poor exposure associated with the surgical approach, there is significant risk for a variety of complications. This review discusses intraoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative complications reported in large retrospective studies, the causes for these complications, and recommendations about how to prevent them.
The use and reporting of patient-reported outcomes in phase III breast cancer trials:

BackgroundPublic and government attention to patient-centered research outcomes has been increasing, evidenced by the recent formation of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Drug development clinical trials can be made more patient-centered by collecting patient-reported outcome measures that can inform decision making by patients and their health-care providers. Patient-reported outcomes are important to collect in trials of breast cancer therapeutics, which encompass a wide range of treatment regimens and side effects.PurposeWe sought to determine recent trends in the use of patient-reported outcomes in drug trials for the treatment of breast cancer and evaluate the reporting of these data in study publications.MethodsWe searched ClinicalTrials.gov for phase III breast cancer drug trials, recording information on start date, primary completion date, primary outcome measure, primary sponsor, stage of cancer, and patient-reported outcome use. To assess the reporting of patient-reported outco...
Discovering and Understanding Multi-dimensional Correlations among Certification Requirements with application to Risk Assessment

In this paper we outline our approach to discover and understand multi-dimensional correlations among regulatory security certification requirements in the context of a complex software system. A thorough understanding of these correlations is necessary to assure that diverse constraints imposed by numerous certification requirements are adequate for collectively contributing to emergent security properties in a highly interconnected socio-technical environment. We elaborate on methodological support to discover an exhaustive set of applicable certification requirements in a given operational scenario of the target software system. We then describe techniques to systematically understand the multi-dimensional correlations among these requirements with application to security risk assessment. The case study of applying our approach to a regulatory certification process of The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is presented.
Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. While excellent treatment has emerged for neovascular disease, treatment for early AMD is lacking due to an incomplete understanding of the early molecular events. A prominent age-related change is the accumulation of neutral lipid in normal Bruch's membrane (BrM) throughout adulthood and also disease-related BrM accumulations called basal deposits and drusen. AMD lesion formation has thus been conceptualized as sharing mechanisms with atherosclerotic plaque formation, where low-density lipoprotein (LDL) retention within the arterial wall initiates a cascade of pathologic events. However, we do not yet understand how lipoproteins contribute to AMD. This paper explores how systemic and local production of lipoproteins might contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD.
The origin of the wavelength-dependent photoreactivity of trans-urocanic acid

Two-color, pulsed-laser photoacoustic calorimetry is used to distinguish between multiple rotamer or electronic state contributions to the absorption spectrum of the epidermal chromophore trans-urocanic acid. The data definitively show that the wavelength-dependent photochemistry of trans-urocanic acid results from the presence of two distinct, weakly coupled electronic states absorbing between 264 nm and 310 nm.
Finite element analysis of gradient coil deformation and vibration in NMR microscopy

Resolution degradation due to gradient coil deformation and vibration in NMR microscopy is investigated using finite element analysis. From the analysis, deformations due to the Lorentz force can be as large as 1-10 mu m depending on the gradient strength and coil frame material. Thus, these deformations can be one of the major resolution limiting factors in NMR microscopy. Coil vibration, which depends on the input current waveform and resolution degradation due to time-variant deformation and time-invariant deformation are investigated by numerical simulations. >
Multisyllabic Word Reading as a Moderator of Morphological Awareness and Reading Comprehension

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the relation between morphological awareness on reading comprehension is moderated by multisyllabic word reading ability in fifth-grade students (N = 169, 53.7% female, 65.2% minority status, 69.2% free/reduced lunch status), oversampled for poor reading skill, when controlling for general knowledge and vocabulary. Based on the lexical quality hypothesis, it was expected that morphological awareness would have a stronger effect on comprehension for children with poor word reading skills, suggesting possible use of morphological awareness for word identification support. Results indicated that neither morphological awareness nor word reading was uniquely associated with reading comprehension when both were included in the model along with vocabulary and general knowledge. Instead, the interaction between word reading and morphological awareness explained significant additional variance in reading comprehension. By probing this interaction, it was determined that the effect of morphological awareness on reading comprehension was significant for the 39% of the sample that had more difficulty reading multisyllabic words but not for students at the higher end of the multisyllabic word reading continuum. We conclude from these results that the relation between morphological awareness and reading comprehension is moderated by multisyllabic word reading ability, providing support for the lexical quality hypothesis. Although we have only correlational data, we suggest tentative instructional practices for improving the reading skill of upper elementary struggling readers.
Hard X-ray nano-focusing with Montel mirror optics

Abstract Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors in the Montel (or nested) configuration were tested for hard X-ray nanoscale focusing at a third generation synchrotron beamline. In this scheme, two mirrors, mounted side-by-side and perpendicular to each other, provide for a more compact focusing system and a much higher demagnification and flux than the traditional sequential K–B mirror arrangement. They can accept up to a 120 μm×120 μm incident X-ray beam with a long working distance of 40 mm and broad-bandpass of energies up to ∼30 keV. Initial test demonstrated a focal spot of about 150 nm in both horizontal and vertical directions with either polychromatic or monochromatic beam. Montel mirror optics is important and very appealing for achromatic X-ray nanoscale focusing in conventional non-extra-long synchrotron beamlines.
Defending against Denial of Service Attacks using a Modified Priority Queue: Bouncer

A denial of service (DoS) attack and a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack are two forms of attacks that can be launched against a commercial server. Their mode of attack is a hit-and-run attack since the payload of a DoS/DDoS attack is not smart enough to bypass bastions and firewalls. Rather, a DoS/DDoS attack sends a barrage of requests to a server, confusing the server into thinking that legitimate requests are coming into the server, and overloading the server along with its ability to process legitimate requests. Although data is not damaged, the server is nonetheless brought down, which could cascade into a series of other problems, the least of which is downtime for the server if it is an eCommerce (electronic commerce) server. This paper examines a front-end software object named "bouncer" written in Java that analyzes packets and places them in a priority queue based on their frequency of requests and their originating source
Bcl::Cluster: A method for clustering biological molecules coupled with visualization in the Pymol Molecular Graphics System

Clustering algorithms are used as data analysis tools in a wide variety of applications in Biology. Clustering has become especially important in protein structure prediction and virtual high throughput screening methods. In protein structure prediction, clustering is used to structure the conformational space of thousands of protein models. In virtual high throughput screening, databases with millions of drug-like molecules are organized by structural similarity, e.g. common scaffolds. The tree-like dendrogram structure obtained from hierarchical clustering can provide a qualitative overview of the results, which is important for focusing detailed analysis. However, in practice it is difficult to relate specific components of the dendrogram directly back to the objects of which it is comprised and to display all desired information within the two dimensions of the dendrogram. The current work presents a hierarchical agglomerative clustering method termed bcl::Cluster. bcl::Cluster utilizes the Pymol Molecular Graphics System to graphically depict dendrograms in three dimensions. This allows simultaneous display of relevant biological molecules as well as additional information about the clusters and the members comprising them.
Maize-Pathogen Interactions: An Ongoing Combat from a Proteomics Perspective

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a host to numerous pathogenic species that impose serious diseases to its ear and foliage, negatively affecting the yield and the quality of the maize crop. A considerable amount of research has been carried out to elucidate mechanisms of maize-pathogen interactions with a major goal to identify defense-associated proteins. In this review, we summarize interactions of maize with its agriculturally important pathogens that were assessed at the proteome level. Employing differential analyses, such as the comparison of pathogen-resistant and susceptible maize varieties, as well as changes in maize proteomes after pathogen challenge, numerous proteins were identified as possible candidates in maize resistance. We describe findings of various research groups that used mainly mass spectrometry-based, high through-put proteomic tools to investigate maize interactions with fungal pathogens Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium spp., and Curvularia lunata, and viral agents Rice Black-streaked Dwarf Virus and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus.
American World Empire or Declining Hegemony

Gowan challenges the usefulness of world-system theory in accounting for the emergence of an American world empire. His argument is based on one fundamental assumption, that of overwhelming U.S. power in the contemporary period. The assumption, however, is flawed. The U.S. is clearly an uncontested military superpower, a world leader with the ability to project its power and interests around the world. But its economic hegemony is in decline, and it is no longer the overwhelming presence it once was in the world-economy. Moreover, Gowan is unable to support his thesis that the U.S. is becoming an empire over Europe. Although the U.S. occupation and administration of Iraq is an example of colonial imperialism, there is no evidence to show that the U.S. has begun to establish a core-wide empire. On the contrary, U.S. political control over Europe has declined to its lowest level in the post-WWII period. The persuasiveness of world-system theory in explaining the changing global political economy remains strong.
Implementation and outcomes of inquiry-based learning in mathematics content courses for pre-service teachers

This mixed-methods study describes classroom characteristics and student outcomes from university mathematics courses that are based in mathematics departments, targeted to future pre-tertiary teachers, and taught with inquiry-based learning (IBL) approaches. The study focused on three two-term sequences taught at two research universities, separately targeting elementary and secondary pre-service teachers. Classroom observation established that the courses were taught with student-centred methods that were comparable to those used in IBL courses for students in mathematics-intensive fields at the same institutions. To measure pre-service teachers' gains in mathematical knowledge for teaching, we administered the Learning Mathematics for Teaching (LMT) instrument developed by Hill, Ball and Schilling for in-service teacher professional development. Results from the LMT show that pre-service teachers made significant score gains from beginning to end of their course, while data from interviews and from sur...
The Sibling Relationship in Foster Care: Policy Implications

The majority of children placed into foster care are separated from their siblings upon entering the child welfare system. Some research suggests that siblings enjoy more stable home environments and fewer behavioral problems when placed together in care. The sibling relationship may provide stability, consistency, and unconditional positive regard to the children most at risk for poor outcomes such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and loss of identity. This paper argues that foster care and child welfare agencies must institute the changes necessary to make sibling relationships a priority. Recommendations for integrating the protection of sibling relationships in the placement process are proposed.
Controlling European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Successionally Planted Sweet Corn in Western Massachusetts

European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), is a major pest of sweet corn in the northeastern United States, and is the focus of most sweet corn integrated pest management programs in this area. ECB can be effectively controlled, using fewer insecticide applications, when sprays are properly timed. There is no need to apply an insecticide to control ECB until the moths are active and the plant has reached the pretassel stage of development. One to two insecticide applications were needed following the end of the first flight; however, no additional applications were needed until after the beginning of the second flight. Once the second flight occurred, weekly applications to plants in the pretassel stage or older were necessary until harvest.
Drop Concentration and Flux on a Cylinder Using the Lagrangian Parcel Volume Method

When trying to predict how and where ice will accrete on an aircraft, engineers first need to be able to track the path and concentration of water particles. The current study uses a newly developed computational tool, the Lagangian Parcel Volume (LPV) method, to predict particle trajectories, concentration, and impact efficiency in two-dimensional unsteady flows. It combines the computationally efficiency of Eulerian particle concentration methods with the physical accuracy of Langrangian particle methods. The LPV method does this by calculating particle concentrations based on the volume of a parcel element, or cloud, at the flux plane compared to the initial volume. In this study, the LPV method is investigated for non-linear flows around a cylinder and improvement are made to increase computational accuracy. LPV results are also compared to experimentally obtained collection efficiency data .
Bacterial Synthesis of Nucleotides: Part X. Phosphorylation of 5-Amino-4-imidazole Carboxamide RibosidePart XI. Phosphoryl Transfer between Mononucleotides and Nucleosides via A Phosphotransferase Reaction

5′-Phosphoribosyl 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide was prepared by incubating 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide riboside and a phosphate compound with the bacteria characterized to phosphorylate at C5′ via the phosphoryl transfer reaction. Aromatic phosphate compounds and 5′-nucleotides were able to act as the phosphate donor. This material was isolated chromatographically and its properties were studied. The other bacteria characterized to phosphorylate at C3′ (or 2′) also phosphorylated a little probably at C3′ (or 2′) of 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide riboside.The phosphoryl interconversion between nucleotides and nucleosides was studied to be carried out via the phosphoryl transfer reaction observed in bacteria. The phosphotransferase activity of Ps. trifolii mediated reversibly the phosphoryl transfer between 5′-nucleotides and nucleosides, and its optimal pH was at around 8.5, whereas that of Prot. mirabilis did transfer the phosphoryl radical from 2′- and 3′-nucleotide to nucleoside at its optimal pH...
Investigation and research on HBV infection markers in population of Lanzhou city

Objective:To explore the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers distribution in Lanzhou City.Methods:In the eight counties and districts of Lanzhou city to carried out cross-sectional study of HBV infection markers distribution in the 1～50 age group. Results:There are obvious and effective to reduce the HBsAg carrier rate and HBV infection rate in population of Lanzhou city after the hepatitis B vaccine into childhood immunization,which access to the middle level epidemic area from the high level epidemic area. Conclusion:The survey provides the reference for further exploring hepatitis B vaccine of the expanding immunization strategy.
Lieber gleich berechtigt als später! Comparing Women’s Rights in the United States and Germany

Neither a century of formal political rights nor more than 50 years of equal pay and employment opportunity legislation have rendered American or German women socially equal to male citizens. A legal philosophy qua Staatsrason grounded in a concept of positive rights, sooner seen in the Federal Republic than in the United States, appears to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for producing reforms guaranteeing social equality between the sexes. While the USA initiated a “roll-back” of women’s welfare rights commencing with the Reagan years, Hartz IV reforms have only recently rendered paid employment a condition for receiving state assistance among disadvantaged women as mothers and care-takers in Germany. Both systems have ignored the intersectionality and cumulative impact of unequal social welfare treatment that block women’s access to full citizenship.
George Syncellus and Theophanes Confessor

When George Syncellus began writing his world chronicle in 808, the dark age of Byzantine historiography was already over, along with the military, political, religious, and economic emergency that had lasted through most of the seventh and eighth centuries. Twenty-odd years after the abolition of Iconoclasm in 787, iconophiles had made important progress in education and scholarship, even if their success in writing elegant literature had been less striking. Nicephorus I (802-11) was proving to be an energetic and talented emperor, under whom Byzantine soldiers and settlers had reclaimed most of Greece and Thrace from the Slavs. After the last outbreaks of the bubonic plague had ceased in the mid-eighth century, the Byzantine population and economy had begun to expand strongly, and both Church and state shared in the general prosperity.
Deinstitutionalisation and the Great Sociocultural Shift to Consumer Culture

John Burnham shows that the great sociocultural shift to consumer culture beginning in the mid-twentieth century was a necessary, but not a sufficient, cause of the deinstitutionalisation of mental patients and closing of mental hospitals. Traditional mental institutions were based on producer values, the work ethic, and the rehabilitation-for-work model. When making consumer choices became the cultural basis for personal identity, requiring care in mental hospitals no longer was an appropriate cultural function. Social adjustment did not require a person to be productive. Even mentally ill people could live independently and make choices, including unwise choices, to purchase goods and services.
The Impact of Temporary Uses on Property Prices: The Example of Food Trucks

AbstractFood trucks represent a temporary use of vacant or underutilised land. They have been assumed to increase the livability, vibrancy and attractiveness of a neighbourhood. However, no previous study has investigated whether this effect is reflected in property prices within the surrounding neighbourhood. We investigate the impact of a food truck pod on the values of single-family homes nearby. Using a quasi-experimental design, transaction data from Portland, Oregon and a difference-in-difference specification of a spatial regression model, we find that food trucks actually represent a negative externality, and that proximity of a home to food trucks is penalised by homebuyers. The closer a home is to the food trucks, the lower is the sales price. Explanations for this effect include increased parking shortages and trash issues in a neighbourhood due to food truck visitors.
An evaluation of mobile mammography outreach in urban and rural communities.

e17524 Background: Mobile mammography has been used to reach underserved women in a diverse number of settings. In this work, we demonstrate similarities and differences between rural and urban com...
The Fight Against the Present Darkness: The Mennonite Reaction to the Vietnam War

At the close of the letter to the Ephesians, the quarreling Christian churches of Asia were encouraged with the following, concluding remarks, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 251 Like the recipients of this letter who faced internal divide within their community, the American Mennonites living in the mid-twentieth century were faced with an outbreak of religious schisms within the Anabaptist community due to the war being waged by the United States in Vietnam. However, like the early Christians of Asia, these Mennonites were called to "fight" against the "present darkness" of the Vietnam War through peaceful, Christ-like means. Historically speaking, the Mennonites had intentionally separated themselves from the "secular" world in order to maintain their religious purity. However, throughout the early to mid-twentieth century, war and social unrest forced American Mennonites to leave their quiet communities and become increasingly involved in promoting social justice in the secular sphere.