cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Scapy in Teaching Network Header Formats: Programming Network Headers for Non-Programmers (Abstract Only)

ntroductory computer networks courses often include descriptive coverage of the network protocol headers. A straightforward listing of the headers and their meanings can lead to questions like "Will this be on the test"? Programming exercises may involve selecting values for some aspects of a protocol but tend to abstract away the details, and depend on prior programming skills. In addition, campuses without dedicated network lab facilities may have limited ability to experiment with protocols on an existing institutional network. The Python-based Scapy package provides explicit, detailed control of the contents of header fields, and includes graphical visualization features that offer easy feedback. Programming ability is helpful but not necessary; the interactive Python environment permits step-by-step and guided exploration of the various protocols. Effective use of scapy requires root (administrator) privileges; a virtual machine environment such as that provided by Oracle VirtualBox allows complete control and access to the operating system. This talk is about scapy-based lab modules that the author is developing, which provide active, hands-on exposure to and manipulation of network headers. So far, a Transport-layer activity and a preliminary Link-layer activity have been written. The current activities will be discussed, along with ideas for additional modules.
MOLECULAR TARGETS FOR RADIOSENSITIZATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses molecular targets for radiosensitization that have reached clinical trial or that are likely to form the basis of clinical trials in the future. The chapter explores several approaches to create radiosensitization through various interactions with EGFr. The receptor can be blocked by a specific antibody, such as cetuximab in the case of EGFr or trastuzumab in the case of Her2. Another approach is to interfere with the tyrosine kinase cytoplasmic component of EGFr, as is currently being explored with the small molecule gefitinib. Anti-EGFr-induced radiosensitization may also be intimately involved with DNA double-strand break repair. Angiogenesis inhibitors show considerable promise as possible synergistic agents for use with radiotherapy, which complements their potential systemic activity. Cetuximab and other agents targeting the EGFr appear to act in part through the anti-angiogenesis pathway, which may contribute to synergy with radiation. Various cell lines with Ras mutations have been shown to exhibit radioresistance. The first attempt to induce enhanced radiosensitivity through interference with the membrane binding of Ras was undertaken with lovastatin, a drug that non-specifically interferes with lipid metabolism. The importance of angiogenesis suggests that the standard measure of radiosensitization, the clonogenic assay, may be inadequate and more clinically relevant in vivo assays are required.
Instructional Grouping: Purposes and Consequences

(1990). Instructional Grouping: Purposes and Consequences. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 63, No. 6, pp. 261-263.
The Instability of Non-dual Knowing: Post-gnosis Sādhana in Vidyāraṇya’s Advaita Vedānta

The Advaita Vedāntic path to liberation is often characterized as being constituted by, and as culminating in, gnosis or advaitic awakening. In his fourteenth century work, the Jīvanmuktiviveka, Vidyāraṇya, however, argues for a broader conception of Advaita Vedāntic sādhana, which revolves around the problem of post-gnosis obscurations. In this paper, I examine Vidyāraṇya’s understanding of the causes of post-gnosis hindrances and how they inform his articulation of two stages of renunciation and their corresponding disciplinary schemes and liberative results. I also explore the way in which Vidyāraṇya situates the JMV’s yogic approach in relation to his Śaṃkarite sampradāya.
Co-Morbid Conditions in Underserved Low-Income African Americans with Heart Failure

Background Non-cardiac co-morbid conditions occur in 20-30%, and depression occurs in 15-26% of patients with heart failure. This can undercut the quality of care, but little is known about co-morbidities in underserved urban African Americans with heart failure, the population subgroup at the greatest risk. Hypothesis Medical and psychological comorbidities are prevalent among underserved urban African Americans with heart failure. Methods: We analyzed data from Congestive Heart failure Adherence Redesign Trial (CHART), which is funded by the national heart lung and blood institute (NCT 01698242). CHART is a multi-level clinical trial aimed at improving adherence in low income patients having heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The trial recruited 320 patients from 5 minority serving hospitals in Chicago with a self-reported annual income of Results This population was: 25.3% ≥ 65 years, 42.5% female, 86.6% African American, and 66.5% below the federal poverty line. Baseline analysis of co-morbid conditions showed that 241 (75.3%) had more than 3 non-cardiac chronic comorbidities Major depression existed in 54 (16.9%), post-traumatic stress disorder existed in 34 (10.6%), and participants experienced a median of 3 major traumatic events, including being involved in gun violence, witnessing a murder, and being a victim of sexual or physical assault. Approximately one-third were not taking their medications as prescribed, as reported via electronic pill caps. Conclusions Multiple medical comorbidities, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and non-compliance with medical therapy are highly prevalent among underserved low-income African Americans with HFrEF. Therefore, it is urgent to extend quality care in this special population beyond a single focus on the condition of the heart.
Proceedings of the 2014 ACM international workshop on Software-defined ecosystems

With the emerging technology breakthrough in computing, the fundamental definition of computer systems is under revision. This revolutionary change is occurring in many ways including the blending of mobile and fixed computing platforms, the use of software systems as virtual network connected "devices," and the emergence of analytics as tools for building scalable systems. This year, BigSystems takes continues its theme of "Software Defined Systems" with interesting presentations covering new operating systems research, multi-data center data management, networking, and flexible "Platform as a Service" architectures. The keynote presentation by Brent Gorda, head of Intel's High Performance Data Division, highlights the technological advances that underpin the development of ever more performant software defined systems. Finally, a panel of distinguished researchers and industry professionals debates and discusses the technology ramifications of software defined system architectures and design approaches. It is the time to rethink system design and management without boundaries towards software-defined ecosystems, the Big System. The basic principles of software-defined mechanisms and policies have witnessed great success in clouds and networks. We are expecting broader, deeper, and greater evolution and confluence towards holistic software-defined ecosystems. BigSystems 2015, in its second year, continues to provide the venue for early and important innovations in this emerging discipline. We offer a rich program from keynote on feeding data into big systems, paper presentation sessions on software-defined platforms, software-defined systems (OS and data centers), to the panel on building flexibly changeable systems at scale. The First International Workshop on Software-Defined Ecosystems (BigSystem 2014) provides an open forum for researchers, practitioners, and system builders to exchange ideas, discuss, and shape roadmaps towards such big systems in the era of big data.
MRI-only brain radiotherapy: Assessing the dosimetric accuracy of synthetic CT images generated using a deep learning approach

Abstract Purpose This study assessed the dosimetric accuracy of synthetic CT images generated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for focal brain radiation therapy, using a deep learning approach. Material and methods We conducted a study in 77 patients with brain tumors who had undergone both MRI and computed tomography (CT) imaging as part of their simulation for external beam treatment planning. We designed a generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate synthetic CT images from MRI images. We used Mutual Information (MI) as the loss function in the generator to overcome the misalignment between MRI and CT images (unregistered data). The model was trained using all MRI slices with corresponding CT slices from each training subject’s MRI/CT pair. Results The proposed GAN method produced an average mean absolute error (MAE) of 47.2 ± 11.0 HU over 5-fold cross validation. The overall mean Dice similarity coefficient between CT and synthetic CT images was 80% ± 6% in bone for all test data. Though training a GAN model may take several hours, the model only needs to be trained once. Generating a complete synthetic CT volume for each new patient MRI volume using a trained GAN model took only one second. Conclusions The GAN model we developed produced highly accurate synthetic CT images from conventional, single-sequence MRI images in seconds. Our proposed method has strong potential to perform well in a clinical workflow for MRI-only brain treatment planning.
The sustainability publication gap and its implications

Scientific articles and journals represent a knowledge network, and the distribution of articles among journals with different impact factors highlight a structure of the network. We found a large gap in the publication pattern of sustainability with research published in either high or low impact factor journals, but not middle-range impact factor outlets. This distribution stands in contrast to established disciplines, which maintain a continuous gradient across low to high impact factor journals. The bi-modal publication pattern of sustainability may reflect the variation in the significance of the topics addressed by sustainability researchers or the youthful stage of sustainability as a scientific field. The sustainability publication gap may hamper communication among sustainability scientists and delay the consolidation of the field. Simultaneously, it may assist sustainability from becoming a research silo, nurturing and strengthening the integrative character of its research.
View prediction using manifold learning in non-linear feature subspace

In this paper, we make use of a convolutional autoencoder to predict multiple unseen views of an object in the infrared domain. The dataset we use for this purpose is called ‘DSIAC-ATR Image database’ which has never been used before for view prediction in the non-linear feature subspace. Our method involves exploiting the underlying feature subspace – the manifold of the object - to predict an unseen view. We address a more challenging task of view prediction by working with greyscale images- the infrared images collected both during the day and night. We propose multiple architectures that not only predict how an object (a military vehicle in this case) will look like at a certain orientation but also learn to predict day or night infrared image and produce either as asked. We train our networks and show via experiments that the weights do not learn the geometry of transformation in the Euclidean space but rather in the Riemannian space. We explore the underlying feature subspace and observe that the networks learn the manifolds and thereby produce sharp, distinct and natural-looking images.
The ASL-CDI 2.0: An updated, normed adaptation of the MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventory for American Sign Language.

Vocabulary is a critical early marker of language development. The MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventory has been adapted to dozens of languages, and provides a bird’s-eye view of children’s early vocabularies which can be informative for both research and clinical purposes. We present an update to the American Sign Language Communicative Development Inventory (the ASL-CDI 2.0, https://www.aslcdi.org ), a normed assessment of early ASL vocabulary that can be widely administered online by individuals with no formal training in sign language linguistics. The ASL-CDI 2.0 includes receptive and expressive vocabulary, and a Gestures and Phrases section; it also introduces an online interface that presents ASL signs as videos. We validated the ASL-CDI 2.0 with expressive and receptive in-person tasks administered to a subset of participants. The norming sample presented here consists of 120 deaf children (ages 9 to 73 months) with deaf parents. We present an analysis of the measurement properties of the ASL-CDI 2.0. Vocabulary increases with age, as expected. We see an early noun bias that shifts with age, and a lag between receptive and expressive vocabulary. We present these findings with indications for how the ASL-CDI 2.0 may be used in a range of clinical and research settings
Lifespan of companion dogs seen in three independent primary care veterinary clinics in the United States.

The privately owned companion dog is an emerging model in comparative medicine, notably because it shares the human environment including its risk factors, is affected by many analogous age-related diseases, receives comparable medical care, and has excellent veterinary medical data available. Past studies of dog lifespan have used academic, corporate or insurance data. While independent primary care data exist for the UK, none have as of yet been published for the US. This study analyzed data from three independent primary care US veterinary hospitals and identified factors that influence lifespan and mortality in a cohort of n = 20,970 privately owned dogs using Kaplan-Meier survival estimators and Cox Proportional Hazards modelling, including body size as a covariate. As previously reported, body size was negatively correlated with lifespan. Gonadectomy was associated with a longer lifespan, with the effect being stronger in females than in males. This lifespan advantage was conserved in gonadectomized female dogs that lived to at least ages 5 and 8 years. We did not find significant differences in lifespan between purebred and mixed breed dogs; however, breeds with larger effective population sizes and/or lower inbreeding coefficients had median survival times 3–6 months longer than breeds with smaller effective population sizes or higher inbreeding coefficients, indicating that these measures of genetic diversity may be affecting breed lifespans. We also found that dog breeds belonging to the “Mountain” ancestral group had median survival times that were 3.5–4.6 years shorter than other purebred dog groups, which remained significant even when correcting for body size. Our findings show that it is possible to obtain and analyze data from independent veterinary clinics in the US, an approach that could be useful for studies of comparative epidemiology under the One Health and One Welfare paradigms. We also show that the lifespan effects of gonadectomy are not identical between the sexes and should be investigated separately by sex in future analyses. More research is needed to further clarify the influence of age at gonadectomy, as well as the factors leading to the observed differences in lifespan in the “Mountain” ancestral group and in dog breeds of varying inbreeding coefficients and effective population sizes.
63 Microsatellite instability/mismatch repair biomarker testing disparities in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: Implications for immune checkpoint inhibitors

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized outcomes for patients with a spectrum of cancer types, including the first tissue/site-agnostic FDA approvals (in 2017 for 2nd-line and 2020 for 1st-line) for advanced cancers with DNA microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficiency (MSI-High/MMRd). However, the factors associated with patients‘ access to MSI/MMR testing are unknown. Methods Patients ≥20-years-old who newly presented with histopathologically-confirmed stage 4 colorectal adenocarcinoma from 2010–2016 were identified from the National Cancer Database, which comprises >70% of all newly-diagnosed cancer patients in the U.S. Patients were excluded if they lacked data about MSI/MMR testing or were initially diagnosed at another institution. The primary outcome was receiving MSI/MMR testing, either via immunohistochemistry or molecular diagnostic. Patient demographic, socioeconomic, and care setting characteristics were evaluated for association with MSI/MMR testing, as well as between MSI/MMR testing and immunotherapy receipt, using multivariable logistic regression. Results Of 45,326 newly-diagnosed stage 4 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, only 26.5% (n=11,998) received MSI/MMR testing – rising from 14.4% in 2010 to 41.1% in 2016 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.26/year, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.25–1.29, p Conclusions MSI/MMR testing rates for stage 4 colorectal cancer patients have dramatically improved in recent years, but appeared underutilized in patients that were older, of Black non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, uninsured or Medicaid-insured, or diagnosed at community programs. Our findings suggest that socioeconomic and care setting opportunities exist for improving access to testing of this important predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade.
Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose There is limited evidence comparing direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin in solid organ transplant recipients. We performed a pooled analysis to study the safety of DOACS in this patient population. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases from their inception to July 31, 2020 using the search terms “heart transplant” or “lung transplant” or “liver transplant” or kidney transplant” or “pancreas transplant” and “direct oral anticoagulant” for literature search. Random effects model with Mantel-Haenszel method was used to pool data of major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major bleeding, venous thromboembolism, and stroke. Results We identified five studies which compared DOACs with warfarin. Pooled analysis included 489 patients, of which 259 patients received DOACs and 500 patients received warfarin. When compared to warfarin, the use of direct oral anticoagulants was associated with decreased risk of composite bleed (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.32 - 0.76, p =0.002)(Figure 1). There were no differences in rates of major bleeding (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.20 - 1.49, p =0.24) or venous thromboembolism (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.25 - 1.70, p =0.38) between the two groups. Conclusion Evidence from pooled analysis suggests that DOACs are comparable to warfarin in terms of safety in solid organ transplant recipients. Further research is warranted to conclusively determine whether DOACs are safe alternatives to warfarin for anticoagulation in solid organ transplant recipients.
Reply to Chan et al.: Better delineating female and male sexual orientation.

Chan et al. (1) use survey data to examine the association between self-reported sexual orientations (Kinsey scores) and online dating activity in bisexual men and women. They show that Kinsey scores predict similar patterns of contact behavior for bisexual individuals of both sexes and consequently question our position that the expression of male and female bisexuality shows some fundamental differences (2). Although their data are interesting, Chan et al. have misunderstood scientific findings on female sexual orientation that are especially relevant to our study. Most importantly, genital, neural, and subjective arousal patterns [and … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: jeremy.jabbour{at}u.northwestern.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Discordantly normal ApoB relative to elevated LDL-C in persons with metabolic disorders: A marker of atherogenic heterogeneity.

Objective A significant proportion of persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS), prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes (T2D) do not develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).We sought to determine whether discordantly normal apolipoprotein B (ApoB) relative to elevated LDL-C may help to explain heterogeneity in ASCVD risk among persons with metabolic disorders. Methods There were 278 Bogalusa Heart Study participants with MetS (n=95), prediabetes (n=233), or T2D (n=31) and LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL who were free of carotid plaque at baseline (2001-02) and underwent carotid ultrasound at follow-up (2013-16). Multivariable modified Poisson regression estimated the long-term absence of carotid plaque for lower ApoB, continuously and categorically. Results Participants were on average 36.1 years old at baseline, 61.5% were women, and 31.7% were black. A total of 50.7% had discordantly normal ApoB (<90 mg/dL) and the mean ApoB and LDL-C concentrations were 91.6 mg/dL and 137.7 mg/dL, respectively. In addition to having higher HDL-C and lower triglyceride values, individuals with ApoB <90 were more likely to maintain persistent absence of plaque compared to those with ApoB ≥90 (73.1% versus 58.4%, p=0.01). Contrastingly, there was no significant difference in the proportion of individuals who remained free of plaque with increasing LDL-C (p=0.45). Independent of traditional risk factors including LDL-C, each 10 mg/dL lower ApoB (RR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19) and ApoB <90 (RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.00-1.43) were significantly associated with the persistent absence of carotid plaque. Conclusions One-half of young persons with metabolic disorders and elevated LDL-C had discordantly normal ApoB and a low burden of carotid atherosclerosis over 13 years, suggesting that ApoB better represents the atherogenic lipid burden compared to LDL-C in this patient population. These results suggest a utility for assessing whether routine ApoB measurement can improve ASCVD risk stratification in young persons with metabolic disorders who have high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol.
A Fault Behavior Model for an Avionic Microprocessor: A Case Study

This paper describes an experimental analysis of the impact of transient faults on a microprocessor-based jet-engine controller, used in the Boeing 747 and 757 aircrafts. A hierarchical simulation environment based on SPLICE which allows the injection of transients during run-time and, the tracing of their impact is described. Results show that given a transient fault, there is approximately an 80% chance that there is no impact on the chip. If no latch-errors occur within 8 clock cycles, no significant damage is likely to happen. Thus, the overall impact of a transient is well contained. An empirical model is also derived to identify and isolate the critical fault propagation paths, the module most sensitive to fault propagation and, the module with the highest potential of causing external pin-errors.
Exploring requirements for online art collections

While standards for textual retrieval systems are well established, similar standards for the design of visual retrieval systems, specifically for digital art collections, are lacking. The following study extends previous lines of research in developing guidelines for the design and evaluation of museum websites and, specifically, retrieval interfaces for digital art objects. Based on analysis of novice art users' evaluations of several digital art interfaces, this study developed a list of required features that contribute to the users' perception of the overall website quality. The article includes discussion of the survey's findings and directions for future work.
Infections Due to the Dimorphic Fungi

The thermally dimorphic fungi grow as molds in the natural environment or in the laboratory at 25–30°C, and as yeasts or spherules in tissue or when incubated on enriched media at 37 °C. They include the agents of the endemic systemic mycoses prevalent in the Western Hemisphere, i.e., Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Also discussed here are Sporothrix schenckii, which occurs worldwide and usually causes cutaneous rather than systemic disease, and Penicillium marneffei, a recently recognized cause of systemic mycosis in Southeast Asia. In recent years, these fungi have become an increasing problem due to rising populations in the endemic areas, more travel, and an increasing number of immunocompromised patients (especially those with AIDS). Because of space limitations we have tried to emphasize more recent developments in the ecology, epidemiology, and clinical aspects of these mycoses. Pathogenesis and host defense are reviewed in other chapters (Chaps. 1, 3, 4, this Vol.).
Algorithmic Approaches to Information Retrieval and Data Mining

The emerging globalized information environment, with its unprecedented volume and diversity of information, is creating novel computational problems and is transforming established areas of research such as information retrieval. I believe that many of these problems are susceptible to rigorous modeling and principled analysis. In this talk I will focus on recent research which exemplifies the value of theoretical tools and approaches to these challenges.
A distributed multicast multi-rate maxmin flow control protocol

This paper presents the first distributed multi-rate maxmin rate allocation protocol for multicast traffic. The protocol supports minimum rate guarantee for each receiver as a QoS parameter. The protocol is practical and it maintains a good performance-scalability trade-off. While the network is required to participate, the complexity added by the protocol is minimal.
The population question: The eebate of family welfare reforms in Sweden, 1930-38

This essay discusses the public debate over demographic developments that took place in Sweden in the early 1930's. It argues that this debate over the "population question" helped to create a national consensus around the welfare policies implemented by the 1932 Social Democratic cabinet• Thus the "population quest ion" furthered the societal unity that animated the so-called "Swedish model" of governing, characterized by a societal, tripartite corporatism and a reform labour government. This paper discusses one, specific public debate over one, specific sub-set of social reforms. It also seeks to illuminate a larger historical process, by which a newly democratic, freshly liberal and recently industrialized country become a corporatist state, dominated civically by state-within-the-state Social Democratic Party organs. It suggests one, partial, answer to a central historical question of this transformation: how could civic quiet and societal consensus be retained as the political power-locus shifted to a reform socialist political movement and as economic resources were redistributed according to a notion of a moral economy originating in workingmen's vote and improving the relative economic position of the working classes?
Web 2.0 on Trial: Testing the 'Safe Harbor' Provision in Viacom v. Youtube

This paper examines Viacom Int'l Inc. v. YouTube, Inc., 718 F. Supp. 2d 514 (S.D.N.Y. 2010), which will soon be heard on appeal in the Second Circuit. Viacom, the media conglomerate worth in excess of $28 billion, filed suit against YouTube under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which holds service providers liable for copyright infringement if the provider has "actual knowledge that the material... on the system or network is infringing" or if "in the absence of such actual knowledge, [it is] aware of facts or circumstances from which infringing activity is apparent." YouTube claims to be immune from copyright infringement claims arising out of user postings under the DMCA, specifically §512(c). This section establishes a "notice-and-take-down" or "safe harbor" scheme under which providers are immune from third-party (i.e., the user) infringements as long as providers "respond expeditiously" when notified of specific infringements by copyright holders. This is expected to become a crucial copyright case for user-generated content providers.
Drug‐metabolizing Enzymes: A Group of Promiscuous Catalysts

Mammalian drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) are a group of cellular catalysts responsible for the metabolism of all xenobiotics and certain endobiotics in the body. Fittingly, DMEs are exceedingly versatile enzymatic systems. DMEs catalyze oxidation, reduction, conjugation, and nucleophilic trapping reactions. Unlike classical, well-behaved enzymes, DMEs exhibit common properties characteristic of promiscuous catalysts for substrate binding, catalysis, reaction type, metabolite formation, and enzyme kinetics. At the molecular level, DMEs appear to have used all means of chemical–protein interactions that are also observed in other biological systems, only that they are pushed to the extreme to achieve enzymatic versatility at the expense of substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency in DME reactions. DME promiscuity has implications in the evaluation and prediction of the safety, drug–drug interaction, and pharmacokinetic properties of therapeutic agents, as well as the risk assessment of environmental carcinogens and toxicants. Keywords: drug-metabolizing enzymes; cytochrome P450; promiscuous enzymes; drug metabolism reactions; catalysis; structures
A thermodynamic flow analysis of particle formation efficiency in a mixed flow colloid thrustor.

Thermodynamics of nozzle flow in physical model of mixed flow colloid thrustor to improve particle formation efficiency
Incremental concurrent builds for modular systems

This paper describes a system for controlling build operations for modular programs in a distributed environment. Our build system performs complete type-checking across module boundaries, verifies user-defined constraints between a system's components, and minimizes the recompilations required when new module versions are incorporated in a rebuild. The build system is based on a formal attribute grammar model that captures and exploits the semantic attributes of the underlying build environment represented by a particular software development environment and programming language. The build environment manages the computations involved in building a specific target system by using a specialized form of incremental concurrent attribute grammar evaluation. This paper demonstrates how the attribute grammar model describes the dependencies in a build environment and efficiently initiates and coordinates the various computations required during a complex system build. We illustrate our general approach with a detailed example describing an 〈Adele, Modula-2〉 build environment.
Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Grading Through the Use of Computer-Assisted Grading Rubrics

This study tests the use of computer-assisted grading rubrics compared to other grading methods with respect to the efficiency and effectiveness of different grading processes for subjective assignments. The test was performed on a large Introduction to Business course. The students in this course were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the grading method. Efficiency was measured by the professor's time to grade the assignments; effectiveness was measured by a student satisfaction survey. Results suggest that the computer-assisted grading rubrics were almost 200% faster than traditional hand grading without rubrics, more than 300% faster than hand grading with rubrics, and nearly 350% faster than typing the feedback into a Learning Content Management System. Results also seemed to indicate that the use of a computer-assisted grading rubric did not negatively affect student attitudes concerning the helpfulness of their feedback, their satisfaction with the speed with which they received their feedback, or their satisfaction with the method by which they received feedback.
Factors associated with colorectal cancer screening among a low-income, multiethnic, highly insured population: does provider's understanding of the patient's social context matter?

The primary aim of this paper was to explore whether provider’s understanding of patient’s social context is associated with screening uptake, independent of provider’s recommendation. Baseline data were collected in 2004–2005 from a cluster randomized control trial in 12 low-income housing sites. Participants included 695 low-income, multiethnic adults aged 50 years and over who were primarily insured (97%). Provider’s recommendation was significantly associated with current adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Provider’s understanding of patient’s social context, as operationalized by how well participants felt that their provider knew (a) their responsibilities at work, home, or school; (b) their worries about health; and (c) them as a person and their values and beliefs, was also significantly associated with current adherence to screening, independent of provider’s recommendation. Participants who reported that their provider knew them well on two or three items were significantly more likely to be current with CRC screening compared to those who reported their provider knew them well on only one or none of the items (odds ratio = 1.56; 95% confidence interval = 1.06, 2.29). Our findings indicate that provider’s understanding of patient’s social context, independent of provider’s recommendation for CRC screening, contributed to adherence to CRC screening in this low-income, multiethnic population.
Imperfect information and wage flexibility

Abstract Differences in the mixture of sectoral to aggregate shocks across economies cause structurally identical economies to respond differently to similar disturbances. Evaluating the flexibility of labor markets in different countries thus requires knowledge of the relative importance of sectoral and aggregate shocks.
Relationship between pheromone trap capture and emergence of adult oriental fruit moths, grapholitha molesta (lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Pheromone trap capture of feral male Oriental fruit moths was highly correlated with capture of males emerging from ground litter in the spring of 1977 and 1978. The correlation between pheromone trap capture of males and female emergence was also good in 1978 but poor in 1977. It is concluded that pheromone monitoring traps are an accurate measure of the actual spring adult emergence pattern of this species.
Biocontrol of Ailanthus altissima: inoculation protocol and risk assessment for Verticillium nonalfalfae (Plectosphaerellaceae: Phyllachorales)

Verticillium nonalfalfae has been proposed as a biocontrol for invasive Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven) in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. However, previous studies evaluating this potential biocontrol utilised a conidial suspension with a short shelf life as inoculum. Anticipating future expanded use of V. nonalfalfae, we evaluated other inoculum formulations, inoculation protocols and sensitivity of non-target (non-Ailanthus) plant species within Pennsylvania. The most effective inoculum formulation, with an extended shelf life, was prepared by mixing water with stored, refrigerated soil containing V. nonalfalfae. Less successful, but positive infections were obtained by simply using infected Ailanthus wood and leaves as inoculum. Monthly inoculation of Ailanthus trees demonstrated that the optimal time for successful inoculations was April to May, but limited infections were achieved during all months, including the winter. The health of Ailanthus and non-target species was evaluated within a dec...
OPTICAL PROBLEMS OF TELEVISION RECORDING OF THE MOON AND PLANETS FROM APPROACHING SPACECRAFT

The type and quality of scientific information desired from television cameras on spacecraft approaching the moon and nearby planets are reviewed. The desired accuracy of the optical data is compared with that presently secured from earth-based telescopes. The fundamental limitations due to the vibration and shock of the rocket launch and to the vacuum, radiation, and temperature environment of interplanetary space are considered. The influences of solar illumination, phase angle, and altitudes of recording on the resolution obtained are discussed. Optical television systems employed on certain lunar and planetary probes are described. Methods of improving optical television images received on earth by reduction of the background noise are noted.
Electron neutrino background analysis with the MINOS near detector

The MINOS experiment has the potential to observe electron neutrino appearance for a set of oscillation parameters that has not been excluded by the CHOOZ experiment. However, the observation of this hypothetical signal relies on an accurate understanding of the backgrounds. In order to understand the backgrounds, an analysis of the MINOS near detector energy spectrum, which contains no oscillated signal, is utilized. The results of this analysis can then be extrapolated to the far detector to yield the background estimate. The details of the signal versus background separation methods and the results of this near detector analysis are discussed.
Dynamics of mismatched base pairs in DNA.

The structural dynamics of mismatched base pairs in duplex DNA have been studied by time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements on a series of duplex oligodeoxynucleotides of the general type d[CGG(AP)GGC].d[GCCXCCG], where AP is the fluorescent adenine analogue 2-aminopurine and X = T, A, G, or C. The anisotropy decay is caused by internal rotations of AP within the duplex, which occur on the picosecond time scale, and by overall rotational diffusion of the duplex. The correlation time and angular range of internal rotation of AP vary among the series of AP.X mismatches, showing that the native DNA bases differ in their ability to influence the motion of AP. These differences are correlated with the strength of base-pairing interactions in the various AP.X mismatches. The interactions are strongest with X = T or C. The ability to discern differences in the strength of base-pairing interactions at a specific site in DNA by observing their effect on the dynamics of base motion is a novel aspect of the present study. The extent of AP stacking within the duplex is also determined in this study since it influences the excited-state quenching of AP. AP is thus shown to be extrahelical in the AP.G mismatch. The association state of the AP-containing oligodeoxynucleotide strand is determined from the temperature-dependent tumbling correlation time. An oligodeoxynucleotide triplex is formed with a particular base sequence in a pH-dependent manner.
The effects of acrylonitrile on hemoglobin and red cell metabolism

The effects of acrylonitrile (VCN) on hemoglobin and red cell metabolism were studied in vitro and in vivo using male Sprague-Dawley rats. Reduced glutathione (GSH) was rapidly depleted by VCN. The reaction between VCN and GSH to form S-cyanoethyl glutathione is both enzymic and nonenzymic. GSH depletion induced oxidation of considerable amount of hemoglobin to methemoglobin. Incubation of nitrite-treated erythrocytes with VCN (2-10 mM) resulted in a significant decrease in methemoglobin reduction. VCN initiated hemolysis in vitro at a concentration of 0.05 M, and at concentrations lower than 0.05 M rendered erythrocytes susceptible to osmotic fragility even at higher concentration of NaCl. Following oral administration of VCN (80 mg/kg), significant perturbations of levels of red-cell GSH, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, adenosine triphosphate, pyruvate, lactate, and oxidized glutathione occurred within 1 h. These changes returned to normal levels between 6 and 24 h. A strong correlation between the depletion of GSH in vivo and covalent binding [2,3-14C]VCN to hemoglobin was observed. These in vivo and in vitro results suggest that chronic exposure to VCN may lead to methemoglobinemia and consequently may cause impaired delivery of oxygen to various tissues.
For Better or For Worse: Psycholegal Soft Spots and Advance Planning for Same-Sex Couples.

Research has suggested that the majority of psychologists feel underprepared to provide services to lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients, including same-sex couples. To provide competent services to same-sex couples, psychologists must be aware of and sensitive to legal status issues. One special area of vulnerability for couples can be addressed and at least partially alleviated by advance planning for possible medical crises, including the death of a partner. The creation of wills, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives can create and protect the rights of partners during these times of crisis. Issues related to minority stress may discourage couples from planning. Case illustrations of culturally competent practice in dealing with issues of minority stress and advance planning are provided.
Intestinal physiology in the parasitized host: integration, disintegration, and reconstruction of systems.

As noted in the introduction, the major objective in discussing gut inflammation in the parasitized host is to underscore the difficulty in establishing whether an inflammation-induced change represents a physiological adaptation or maladaptation (Fig. 3). Deciding whether a specific physiological adjustment, even one that contributes to disease, serves a useful function depends on the perspective of the observer who is in possession of information to make a critical judgment. This is like considering adaptations from an evolutionary sense where the significance of a change that evolved as a consequence of natural selection must be interpreted relative to the long-term "goal directedness" of that change, e.g., relative to its contribution to reproductive fitness. Because of the contributions of inflammation to both symptoms of disease and to the development of functional immunity, the parasitized host provides a means whereby both negative and positive effects of mucosal responses can be studied simultaneously. A careful analysis of the consequences of inflammation is important in contemplating the meaning of "neuroimmunophysiology of gastrointestinal mucosa."
DEVELOPING MEDIA LITERACY IN THE SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSROOM , Paul Gruba

DEVELOPING MEDIA LITERACY IN THE SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSROOM. Paul Gruba. Sydney, NSW: Macquarie University, 2005. Pp. vi + 64. $49.95 paper.This volume, part of the “Teaching with New Technology” series, aims to provide teachers with practical techniques and lesson plans that employ computer-based technologies in second language (L2) classrooms. The volume helps promote teaching and the development of media literacy utilizing digitized video clips, and it provides access to both practical and research-based approaches. The author presents pertinent research summaries and issues in order to help teachers understand the theoretical bases behind various teaching techniques and eventually allow them to conduct action research in their own classrooms.
Countercurrent Immunoelectrophoresis in the Diagnosis of Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System

Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis was utilized in the study of 621 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid to determine the correlation of detection of viral antigens with the clinical diagnosis of aseptic meningitis and related viral infections. A panel of viral antisera was immunoelectrophoresed against 119 specimens from patients with suspected viral infections of the central nervous system (group 1), 32 from patients with bacterial meningitis (group 2), and 470 from patients with no suspected infection of the nervous system (group 3). One or more precipitin bands were detected in 79% of specimens from group 1, 19% from group 2, and 4% from group 3. Paired acute- and convalescent-phase sera from 32 (78%) of 41 patients with precipitin bands detected by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated a fourfold or greater change in complement-fixing antibodies to the detected antigen. With refinements in antisera, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis may become useful in the rapid laboratory diagnosis of viral infection of the central nervous system.
Efficient recruitment of TFIIB and CBP-RNA polymerase II holoenzyme by an interferon-β enhanceosome in vitro

The transcriptional activity of an in vitro assembled human interferon-β gene enhanceosome is highly synergistic. This synergy requires five distinct transcriptional activator proteins (ATF2/c-JUN, interferon regulatory factor 1, and p50/p65 of NF-κB), the high mobility group protein HMG I(Y), and the correct alignment of protein-binding sites on the face of the DNA double helix. Here, we investigate the mechanisms of enhanceosome-dependent transcriptional synergy during preinitiation complex assembly in vitro. We show that the stereospecific assembly of the enhanceosome is critical for the efficient recruitment of TFIIB into a template-committed TFIID-TFIIA-USA (upstream stimulatory activity complex) and for the subsequent recruitment of the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme complex. In addition, we provide evidence that recruitment of the holoenzyme by the enhanceosome is due, at least in part, to interactions between the enhanceosome and the transcriptional coactivator CREB, cAMP responsive element binding protein (CBP). These studies reveal a unique role of enhanceosomes in the cooperative assembly of the transcription machinery on the human interferon-β promoter.
Direct measurement of delta wing vortex circulation using ultrasound

The circulation around a closed path encompassing the primary vortex of stationary delta wings is investigated through the use of ultrasound. Ultrasonic pulses were propagated clockwise and counterclockwise along a fixed, closed path which was positioned perpendicular to the delta wing root chord lines. Circulation in the plane of the closed path was then determined from the transit time difference between the clockwise and counterclockwise pulses. Half-delta wings of 60- and 70-deg sweep angle were tested over a range of angles of attack from 2 to 38 deg and from 2 to 52 deg, respectively, in 20 increments, and at distances of 35, 50, 65, and 80 percent root chord from the wing apexes. Circulation behavior was examined as it relates to these parameters and to primary vortex burst location. Circulation was measured to grow nonlinearly with angles of attack for which the burst point remained downstream of the wing planform; circulation then increased in an approximately linear manner with increasing angle of attack until the burst point reached the vicinity of the wing apex. Circulation was found also to increase approximately linearly with increasing chordwise location at constant angles of attack. (Author)
Vegetation response to intensity of herbaceous weed control in a newly planted loblolly pine plantation

Growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings through three growing seasons after planting increased with intensity of herbaceous weed control using herbicides. Weed control had no effect on pine survival. Two years of complete herbaceous weed control (CHC, control throughout the first two growing seasons after planting) and ‘operational’ herbaceous weed control (OHC, sulfometuron at 0.42 kg ai/ha at the beginning of the first growing season), resulted in lower biomass of weeds plus trees than with no herbaceous weed control (NHC) during the first growing season. Differences in total biomass during the first year were due to differences in biomass of herbaceous weeds. Total biomass on CHC and OHC plots was at least as great as NHC the second year, and greater by the third year, as pines assumed dominance as a result of increased growth from reduction of herbaceous weeds. The operational herbicide treatment had no significant impact on overall herbaceous weed biomass and cover, and little effect on species composition compared to no herbaceous weed control two and three growing seasons after treatment. The CHC treatment significantly reduced herbaceous weed biomass, cover and composition through three growing seasons.