cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Unique Piece of Mars

Following the pioneering Mars Exploration Rovers, NASA's Curiosity rover is actively exploring the crustal rocks of Mars. Despite the exciting results returned by the rovers, there is no substitute for a hand sample of crustal rock. Because such samples will not be returned to Earth anytime soon, geochemists who want a piece of Mars in their labs must satisfy themselves with martian meteorites ( 1 ). These comprise a group of igneous rocks with telltale signs of martian alteration products ( 2 ) and have provided ground truth for the information returned by the rovers. Oddly, however, the hundred or so known martian meteorites are chemically unrepresentative of the martian crust determined by missions ( 3 ). On page 780 of this issue, Agee et al. ( 4 ) put an end to this conundrum with the finding of a new martian meteorite, Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034, a basaltic breccia unique among known martian meteorites with respect to age, oxygen isotopes, and petrology.
An investigation of the relationship between student attitudes and student achievement

This study consisted of an experimental investigation of the relationship between student attitudes toward both course and professor and the subsequent student achievement in the course. Different teaching styles resulting in significantly different attitudes were utilized and the effect on achievement analyzed. The major finding of the study was no significant difference in achievement given significant differences in attitude. Implications and limitations of the study are presented.
Prior illumination and the respiration of maize leaves in the dark

The course of respiration of attached maize (Zea mays L.) leaves was measured by infrared gas analysis of CO(2) efflux in the dark following illumination in atmospheres of 300 microliters of CO(2) per liter of air, CO(2)-free air, and CO(2)-free N(2) containing 400 microliters of O(2) per liter. CO(2) efflux from control leaves started 3 to 4 minutes after darkening, increased to a maximum after about 20 minutes, and returned to a steady minimum after 2 to 3 hours. Respiration was quantitatively related to prior illumination, independent of net CO(2) fixation in the light, and depressed by N(2). Light, but not air, was required to produce a substrate for respiration in the subsequent dark period; air was required for oxidation of the substrate to CO(2). The stimulation of respiration by prior illumination in maize leaves differs in its slower onset and greater duration from the postillumination burst of photorespiration.
Truth Without Dialectic

In many ways, Heidegger's difference from Hegel forms the quiet center of Macomber's excellent study. Like Hegel, Heidegger is profoundly traditional in the sense that his innovations and departures arise out of a lively interaction with our philosophical tradition. Like Hegel, Heidegger finds individual moments of history characterized by an ontological difference from being which makes them illusory when taken by themselves as criteria for truth. Like Hegel, Heidegger rejects the correspondence theory of truth and the primacy of discursive intellect. And like Hegel, he is certain that truth and being can never be experienced in total separation from temporal events. Yet Heidegger rejects Hegel's concept of dialectic in relation to being, and in this lies the tale of Heidegger's rejection of Hegel's ontology. Relying on Macomber's clear treatment of this rejection and his unusually lucid grasp of many of Heidegger's concepts relative to this move, I shall consider in Macomber's book only his treatment of the non-dialectical nature of truth as Heidegger understands it. I shall not deal with Macomber's treatment of Nietzsche's thought in relation to Heidegger, although the author stresses that relation considerably and discusses it at length. Macomber presents his essay as an introduction to Heidegger's understanding of truth. By this I take him to mean that although he wants to interpret as clearly as possible the structure or anatomy of disclosure (disillusion) as Heidegger sees it, he does not intend to make constructive use of his
Safety behavior and consumer responses to cigarette lighter safety mechanisms

This paper analyzes consumer responses to lighter child-resistant mechanisms using an original sample of 200 households with young children. Results from an in-house placement of lighters indicate that the child-resistant mechanism would diminish consumer care. The child-resistant device reduced risk perceptions, parental concern with lighter safety, the assessed need for precautions, and consumer care. The results provide the most detailed empirical evidence of the mechanisms driving the diminished safety precautions in response to technological improvements in safety. The overall efficacy of the mechanism, however, is sufficient to generate a safety improvement despite the diminished care.
The Role of the Communal Voice in Constructing Meaning at the Funeral of an Infant Child in a Quaker Community in Costa Rica

This article attempts to capture the ongoing process of the construction of a “communal voice” out of the idiosyncratic “individual voices” of diverse people in a remote Quaker Community in the rainforest mountains of Costa Rica. The communal story is investigated through the rituals surrounding the death of an infant child. The constant dialogue is examined as the Cliffedgians struggle with issues of community/individualism, tolerance/conviction, and simplicity/benefit. Attention is also given to the communal construction of taboo areas of discourse.
Membrane coating granules: the fate of the discharged lamellae.

Rat gingival epithelium was found to be a favorable tissue for studying the fate of the contents of membrane-coating granules. Prior to horny cell formation the lamellar contents of these granules are discharged into the intercellular spaces between uppermost granular cells and between granular and horny cells. After discharge the lamellae coalesce, mix with existing intercellular material, and form broad sheets in the intercellular spaces. In the mid and upper regions of the stratum corneum, membranelike figures or bilayers of indeterminant length are seen in the intercellular spaces. These membranes are oriented parallel to, and often are in contact with, the horny cell membrane; thus, they may act as a barrier against penetration of substances into the skin. This investigation was supported by Research Grant No. AM 14693, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, United States Public Health Service.
On the Nuclear Magnetic Moments of the Isotopes of Rubidium and Chlorine

The molecular beam, magnetic resonance method has been applied to the measurement of the nuclear gyromagnetic ratios of ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}$, ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}$, ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{37}$ and ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{35}$. The $g$ values are 1.820\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006, 0.536\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002, 0.454\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002 and 0.546\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002, respectively. The magnetic moments of ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}$ and ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}$, obtained from the observed $g$ values and the known nuclear spins, are 2.741\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.009 and 1.345\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005, respectively. The substantial agreement of the moment ratio $\frac{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{87}}{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{85}}$, 2.038, found by this method, with that obtained from atomic beam measurements indicates that any contribution to h.f.s. by a form of interaction between electron and nucleus not electromagnetic in character is small. A nuclear moment of 1.365\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 is obtained for ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{35}$ if one takes the band spectra spin value of 5/2 for this nucleus. No information concerning the spin of ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{37}$ is available.
Glottal consonants … another view

I am in favor of letting [h] and [ɦ] stay where they are as glottal fricatives—honorary glottal fricatives, if you like! What the preceding paper says about them is true—there tends to be noticeable glottal turbulence with [h] only occasionally, particularly before open [a]-type vowels (or after them, in languages with final [h]'s). The voiced counterpart is perhaps more likely to have some turbulent glottal flow, being, in fact breathy or whispery voice. My reason for wanting to keep [h] and [ɦ] in the chart is perhaps more phonological and practical than strictly phonetic. There are so many languages in which one or both of these sounds functions as a syllabic margin—as a term in a series of consonants—that one often wants to put them in a chart of consonants. In Caucasian languages [h] often coexists in the consonant system alongside [ʔ], and (e.g. in dialects of Agul) alongside [ʔ], [ʡ], [ħ], [ʕ], [H] and [ʢ].
The Role of Contrast in Causal and Explanatory Claims

Following Dretske (1977), there has been a considerable body of literature on the role of contrastive stress in causal claims. Following van Fraassen (1980), there has been a considerable body of literature on the role of contrastive stress in explanations and explanation-requesting why-questions. Amazingly, the two bodies of literature have remained almost entirely disjoint. With an understanding of the contrastive nature of ordinary causal claims, and of the linguistic roles of contrastive stress, it is possible to provide a unified account of both phenomena. I provide such an account from within the framework of a probabilistic theory of causation. Relations of 'screening-off', long familiar to researchers in probabilistic causality, play a central role in this account.
UV resonance Raman study of the spatial dependence of α-helix unfolding

We used ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectra to examine the spatial dependence and the thermodynamics of α-helix melting of an isotopically labeled α-helical, 21-residue, mainly alanine peptide. The peptide was synthesized with six natural abundance amino acids at the center and mainly perdeuterated residues elsewhere. Cα deuteration of a peptide bond decouples Cα−H bending from N−H bending, which significantly shifts the random coil conformation amide III band; this shift clearly resolves it from the amide III band of the nondeuterated peptide bonds. Analysis of the isotopically spectrally resolved amide III bands from the external and central peptide amide bonds show that the six central amide bonds have a higher α-helix melting temperature (∼32 °C) than that of the exterior amide bonds (∼5 °C).
Nice to know you: Positive emotions, self–other overlap, and complex understanding in the formation of a new relationship

Based on Fredrickson's ((1998). What good are positive emotions? Review of General Psychology, 2, 300–319.; (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56, 218–226) broaden-and-build theory and Aron and Aron's ((1986). Love as expansion of the self: Understanding attraction and satisfaction. New York: Hemisphere) self-expansion theory, it was hypothesized that positive emotions broaden people's feelings of self–other overlap in the beginning of a new relationship. In a prospective study of first-year college students, we found that, after 1 week in college, positive emotions predicted increased self–other overlap with new roommates, which in turn predicted a more complex understanding of the roommate. In addition, participants who experienced a high ratio of positive to negative emotions throughout the first month of college reported a greater increase in self–other overlap and complex understanding than participan...
Affinity Chromatography Demonstrates a Direct Binding between Cytoplasmic Dynein and the Dynactin Complex

We used affinity chromatography to probe for a direct binding interaction between cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin. Purified cytoplasmic dynein was found to bind to an affinity column of p150Glued, the largest polypeptide in the dynactin complex. To test the specificity of the interaction, we loaded rat brain cytosol onto the p150Glued affinity column and observed that cytoplasmic dynein from cytosol was specifically retained on the column. Preincubation of the p150Glued affinity matrix with excess exogenous dynein intermediate chain resulted in a significant reduction of dynein binding, suggesting that p150Glued may be interacting with dynein via this polypeptide. Therefore we constructed an affinity column of recombinant dynein intermediate chain and observed that dynactin was retained from rat brain cytosol. These results demonstrate that the native dynein and dynactin complexes are capable of direct in vitro interaction mediated by a direct binding of the dynein intermediate chain to the p150Gluedcomponent of the dynactin complex. We have mapped the site of this interaction to the amino-terminal region of p150Glued, which is predicted to form an α-helical coiled-coil. Regulation of the dynein-dynactin interaction may prove to be key in the control mechanism for cytoplasmic dynein-mediated vesicular transport.
SU‐E‐T‐33: A Comparative Study of Commissioning Data of Two TrueBeam LINACs with TrueBeam Representative Beam Data

Purpose: To compare the commissioning water tank data of the two TrueBeam type linacs with TrueBeam Representative Beam Data. Methods: Three flattening filtered (FF), 6MV, 10MV, and 15MV, and two flattening filtered free (FFF), 6FFF and 10FFF, photon beams of one TrueBeam and one TrueBeam STX Linacs (Varian Medical Systems) are compared to the TrueBeam Representative Beam Data (TRBD) as provided by Varian. All measurements are scanned in Blue Phantom (IBA) with cc04 ion chamber at SSD 100cm at the highest dose rate available for each beam. The TRBD set is the average values of three TrueBeams at a single institution acquired by Iba cc13 ion chamber. To compare the beam quality, the PDD at d10 and d20 and the corresponding PDD 10/20 ratio at field sizes of 3×3, 10×10 and 30×30 cm2 are compared. The flatness of 10×10 and 30×30 cm2 open field profiles at depth of dmax, 10cm and 20cm are also compared. The output factors for square fields are also compared. Results: The PDD difference at both d10 and d20 between all FF and FFF beams and TRBD are within 0.6% and 0.9% respectively. The average PDD ratio difference between all beams and TRBD is within 0.5%. The flatness of all the FF and FFF beams are within 0.4% and 1.0% of TRBD respectively. The output factor differences between the two TrueBeams and RTBD for all beams and field sizes are within 0.8%. Conclusion: All the beam parameters of both the FF and FFF beams of the two Truebeams are within 1% of TRBD. Research grant from Varian Medical Systems
Randomized Government Safety Inspections Reduce Worker Injuries with No Detectable Job Loss

In order to assess the impact of occupational and health practices in the state of California, Levine et al. (p. [907][1]) compared more than 400 uninspected firms with a matched set of inspected firms that were chosen at random. Employees at the inspected firms were less frequently injured and, consequently, the inspected firms suffered fewer injury-related costs. Encouragingly, there were no significant differences in other economic outcomes, such as sales and employment levels, between control and inspected firms. [1]: /lookup/volpage/336/907
Receptor tyrosine kinases and respiratory motor plasticity.

Abstract Protein kinases are a family of enzymes that transfer a phosphate group from adenosine tri-phosphate to an amino acid residue on a protein. The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are expressed on the outer cell membrane, bind extracellular protein ligands, and phosphorylate tyrosine residues on other proteins—essentially permitting communication between cells. Such activity regulates multiple aspects of cellular physiology including cell growth and differentiation, adhesion, motility, cell death, and morphological and synaptic plasticity. This review will focus on the role of RTKs in respiratory motor plasticity, with particular emphasis on long-term changes in respiratory motoneuron function. Reflecting the predominant literature, specific attention will be devoted to the role of tropomyosin-related kinase type B (TrkB) activation on phrenic motoneuron activity. However, many RTKs share similar patterns of expression and mechanisms of ligand-induced activation and downstream signaling. Thus, a perspective based on TrkB-induced phrenic motor plasticity may provide insight into the potential roles of other RTKs in the neural control of breathing. Finally, understanding how different RTKs affect respiratory motor output in the long-term may provide future avenues for pharmacological development with the goal of increasing respiratory motor output in disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and after spinal cord injury. This is best illustrated in recent studies where we have used small, highly diffusible molecules to transactivate TrkB receptors near phrenic motoneurons to improve breathing after cervical spinal cord injury.
An ultrastructural study of nine thymomas.

Nine thymomas, a normal adult thymus, and tissue culture of one thymoma were studied ultrastructurally. The histologic types of thymoma included lymphocytic, epithelial, mixed and spindle cell varieties. Two of the tumors were invasive and one was associated with myasthenia gravis. Despite the histologic dissimilarities, the complex anatomic interrelationships involving lymphocytes, epithelial cells, and blood vessels as seen in the thymus tended to be preserved in all but one of the thymomas. The exception was the spindle-cell thymoma which contained only rare lymphocytes and simpler vascular structures. The findings include variations in the frequency of desmosomes and cytoplasmic fibrils of the epithelial cells, the occasional presence of lymphocytes within the laminated venules, and the unusual finding of a gland-like structure in one of the tumors. Correlations between ultrastructural changes and clinical behavior could not be made.
Protection of the active site of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase from inhibition by potassium tetrachloroplatinate.

Abstract Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase ( l -malate : NAD + oxido-reductase, EC 1.1.1.37) was inhibited by potassium tetrachloro platinum (II), K 2 PtCl 4 , in the presence of varying concentrations of NADH, NAD + and l -malate and mixtures of NAD + and l -malate. It was observed that NADH is an effective protector of the enzyme from inhibition while both NAD + and l -malate are poor protectors. Spectral studies have suggested that the protection afforded by the substrates are accomplished by reaction with specific groups on the enzyme rather than by complexation of the substrates with PtCl 4 2− . From the above data it has been concluded that the tetrachloroplatinate ion binds only at the active site and that this site which is effectively protected by NADH, and moderately protected by a NAD + - l -malate complex probably contains one or more sulfur containing amino acid side chains. It is also proposed that when the tetrachloroplatinate complexes with the enzyme there is some effect, possibly a conformational change, which causes the release of NADH at the allosteric site.
Atomoxetine increases extracellular levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in prefrontal cortex of rat: a potential mechanism for efficacy in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The selective norepinephrine (NE) transporter inhibitor atomoxetine (formerly called tomoxetine or LY139603) has been shown to alleviate symptoms in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We investigated the mechanism of action of atomoxetine in ADHD by evaluating the interaction of atomoxetine with monoamine transporters, the effects on extracellular levels of monoamines, and the expression of the neuronal activity marker Fos in brain regions. Atomoxetine inhibited binding of radioligands to clonal cell lines transfected with human NE, serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) transporters with dissociation constants (Ki) values of 5, 77 and 1451 nM, respectively, demonstrating selectivity for NE transporters. In microdialysis studies, atomoxetine increased extracellular (EX) levels of NE in prefrontal cortex (PFC) 3-fold, but did not alter 5-HTEX levels. Atomoxetine also increased DAEX concentrations in PFC 3-fold, but did not alter DAEX in striatum or nucleus accumbens. In contrast, the psychostimulant methylphenidate, which is used in ADHD therapy, increased NEEX and DAEX equally in PFC, but also increased DAEX in the striatum and nucleus accumbens to the same level. The expression of the neuronal activity marker Fos was increased 3.7-fold in PFC by atomoxetine administration, but was not increased in the striatum or nucleus accumbens, consistent with the regional distribution of increased DAEX. We hypothesize that the atomoxetine-induced increase of catecholamines in PFC, a region involved in attention and memory, mediates the therapeutic effects of atomoxetine in ADHD. In contrast to methylphenidate, atomoxetine did not increase DA in striatum or nucleus accumbens, suggesting it would not have motoric or drug abuse liabilities.
Cochlear implant considerations in children with additional disabilities

Early identification and management of disabilities in children are essential to reduce long-term developmental sequelae. Many of the causes of hearing loss also produce cognitive delays resulting in a large number of children with both deafness and developmental disabilities. Children who have hearing loss and additional disabilities require complex, individualized therapy to maximize their long-term quality of life. Hearing loss is often detected early because of widespread newborn hearing screening programs and the decision for cochlear implantation in children presenting with multiple medical and developmental disorders is still evolving. This article will review the literature regarding cochlear implant considerations in children with additional developmental disabilities in areas of family perception, speech and language development, cognitive development including adaptive behavior and intelligence, communication and functional skills, auditory outcomes, quality of life outcomes, predictors of outcomes and realistic expectations after cochlear implantation.
Modelling the role of information in elections

A foundational issue concerning elections is the incentives for candidates to provide informative and truthful campaign messages with regards to their policy intentions. The standard model of electoral competition formulated by Hotelling [1929] and Downs [1957] is incapable of addressing this issue because of the ad hoc assumption that the winning candidate must fulfill his campaign promises. Using recent developments in games of incomplete information, this paper develops a model of electoral competition for the purpose of investigating the role of information in elections.
Upper and lower critical points: Thermodynamic constraints on the solution properties of silicate melts

Abstract Thermodynamic stability analysis both classical and nonclassical is applied to silicate melts to examine the possible occurrence of two liquid fields with upper and/or lower critical temperatures. The conditions for the existence of an upper critical point in a binary silicate melt are that the second derivatives of the enthalpy and entropy with respect to composition are both negative in supercritical melts. The necessary condition for the existence of a lower critical point is that the excess entropy is negative in near critical melts. The excess entropy of olivine-rich melts is likely to be negative, implying that a two-liquid field with a lower critical point may be encountered in superliquidus peridotite melts.
Dependencies between questions and responses during small-group instruction in two preschool programs

Abstract This study examined the language of teachers and children during small-group instruction in two cognitively oriented preschools. Twenty-two small group instruction sessions were videofilmed in each preschool. Lesson-relevant utterances from the 44 videotapes were coded for grammatical and cognitive variables. In order to examine five specific question and response verbal contingencies, the data were analyzed using a sequential analysis procedure. First, it was shown that significant dependencies existed between (a) the posing of questions by teachers and children's verbal responses in both programs; (b) children's questions to classmates and an immediate peer response in one program; (c) teacher's process questions and children's verbal reference to a self-performed mental operation in both programs; and (d) teacher's closed-form questions and children's verbal reference to a self-performed mental operation in one program. Second, it was also shown that no dependency existed between teacher's open-form questions and children's verbal reference to a self-performed mental operation in both programs. The effectiveness or noneffectiveness of various questions is discussed in terms of the different instructional procedures employed in the two programs, and implications for teachers are suggested.
Kinetic Interpretation of the Kelvin Relations

The derivation of the Kelvin relations for the reversible heat development and the thermo-electric force in crystals is shown to depend only on the assumption of the principle of detailed balancing. Previous treatments of this subject have been less general. The work of Nordheim is valid only for isotropic materials, and that of Ehrenfest and Rutgers, though applicable to crystals, depends on the assumption of elastic collisions between the electrons and the atoms of the metal. In both treatments the electrons are assumed to be completely free and to be described by an energy function which is spherically symmetrical. All of these restricting assumptions are removed. The solution of the integral equation describing the distribution function of the electrons is obtained by a general method which depends only on the assumption of detailed balancing. This principle gives the integral equation an essentially symmetrical kernel, as a consequence of which a formal solution may be obtained. One may use this solution to derive the electric and heat current equations and to prove certain reciprocal relations from which the Kelvin equations follow. The proof of the existence of these relations, involving as it does only the assumption of detailed balancing, may be considered as a substantiation for the case of conduction in metals of certain very general considerations of Onsager.
Quantum dot enabled detection of Escherichia coli using a cell-phone.

We report a cell-phone based Escherichia coli (E. coli) detection platform for screening of liquid samples. In this compact and cost-effective design attached to a cell-phone, we utilize anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibody functionalized glass capillaries as solid substrates to perform a quantum dot based sandwich assay for specific detection of E. coli O157:H7 in liquid samples. Using battery-powered inexpensive light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) we excite/pump these labelled E. coli particles captured on the capillary surface, where the emission from the quantum dots is then imaged using the cell-phone camera unit through an additional lens that is inserted between the capillary and the cell-phone. By quantifying the fluorescent light emission from each capillary tube, the concentration of E. coli in the sample is determined. We experimentally confirmed the detection limit of this cell-phone based fluorescent imaging and sensing platform as ∼5 to 10 cfu mL−1 in buffer solution. We also tested the specificity of this E. coli detection platform by spiking samples with different species (e.g., Salmonella) to confirm that non-specific binding/detection is negligible. We further demonstrated the proof-of-concept of our approach in a complex food matrix, e.g., fat-free milk, where a similar detection limit of ∼5 to 10 cfu mL−1 was achieved despite challenges associated with the density of proteins that exist in milk. Our results reveal the promising potential of this cell-phone enabled field-portable and cost-effective E. coli detection platform for e.g., screening of water and food samples even in resource limited environments. The presented platform can also be applicable to other pathogens of interest through the use of different antibodies.
Tracking occupational hearing loss across global industries: A comparative analysis of metrics

Occupational hearing loss is one of the most prevalent occupational conditions; yet, there is no acknowledged international metric to allow comparisons of risk between different industries and regions. In order to make recommendations for an international standard of occupational hearing loss, members of an international industry group (the International Aluminium Association) submitted details of different hearing loss metrics currently in use by members. We compared the performance of these metrics using an audiometric data set for over 6000 individuals working in 10 locations of one member company. We calculated rates for each metric at each location from 2002 to 2006. For comparison, we calculated the difference of observed-expected (for age) binaural high-frequency hearing loss (in dB/year) for each location over the same time period. We performed linear regression to determine the correlation between each metric and the observed-expected rate of hearing loss. The different metrics produced discrepant results, with annual rates ranging from 0.0% for a less-sensitive metric to more than 10% for a highly sensitive metric. At least two metrics, a 10dB age-corrected threshold shift from baseline and a 15dB nonage-corrected shift metric, correlated well with the difference of observed-expected high-frequency hearing loss. This study suggests that it is feasible to develop an international standard for tracking occupational hearing loss in industrial working populations.
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: reflections on action research and qualitative inquiry[1]

Abstract In this article the author argues that the current state of educational inquiry, particularly as it relates to action research and qualitative inquiry, is in high flux. If this were true, several possible implications follow. First is the idea that with this flux all inquiry occurs in a context that is politcial, organisational, and geographical. Second is the need to see local adaptations of action research – origins, structures, variations, and meanings for the participants. Inquirers and practitioners work in these local settings and typically hope to make improvements and reforms there. Third, a historical view seems exceedingly important as one assesses the current situation and looks to the future of action research. Knowing how things ‘were’ facilitates possible visions of the future. Fourth, each of these implications has importance in the breadth or narrowness of the definition(s) of action research, that is, what counts as action research. Finally, working on the belief that most if not...
The Effect of Feeding Corn Molded with Penicillium lanosum to Broiler Chicks

Abstract Penicillium lanosum was isolated from broiler feed obtained from troughs in a house in which the litter was wet and the chicks were substantially smaller than expected at the time of slaughter. Corn was inoculated with the fungus, incubated for 8 weeks, dried, and incorporated in a broiler ration. The ration was fed to broiler chicks for a period of 2 weeks in order to evaluate toxicity. Experimental chicks developed diarrhea and grew slower than the controls. Gross lesions consisted of swollen kidneys and erosions in the lining of the gizzard. Histologic examination revealed mild toxic nephritis and growth of fungus in and on the surface of the gizzard lining. Penicillium lanosum was isolated from the gizzards of affected birds. Diarrhea but no gizzard lesions occurred in birds feld molded corn which had been treated with ethylene oxide. This finding indicates that this isolate of P. lanosum is both toxigenic and capable of producing gizzard erosion.
Cryoprotection of phosphofructokinase with organic solutes: characterization of enhanced protection in the presence of divalent cations

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) purified from rabbit skeletal muscle is fully inactivated after being frozen in liquid nitrogen for 30 s and thawed. The addition of 500 mm trehalose, sucrose, or proline to the enzyme solution prior to freezing results in a recovery of over 70% of the original activity after thawing. Slightly less stabilization is imparted by maltose and 4-hydroxyproline whereas glucose, glycine, inositol, and glycerol at concentrations up to 500 mm are relatively ineffective at protecting PFK. With 50 mm trimethylamine-N-oxide, almost 50% of the prefreeze activity is recovered, and this same level of cryoprotection is noted at concentrations up to 500 mm. The addition of ionic zinc to enzyme-organic solute mixtures prior to freezing greatly enhances the cryoprotection imparted by all of the solutes tested. This effect is not simply due to the summation of the individual cryoprotective capacities of zinc and the organic solute because in many instances a great degree of cryoprotection is noted when each component is present at a concentration at which, by itself, it is totally ineffective. In the presence of a constant 50 mm organic solute concentration, freeze-thaw stabilization of PFK is increased as the concentration of zinc is increased. When the zinc concentration is held constant (0.6 mm) and organic solute concentration varied, the maximum cryoprotection, in most cases, is noted with less than 50 mm organic solute. At higher solute concentrations the degree of enhancement decreases such that with 500 mm organic solute the addition of zinc results in only a slight increase in protection. The addition of ionic copper, cadmium, nickel, and cobalt to trehalose-PFK solutions prior to freezing also increases the percentage of activity recovered after thawing. Magnesium, manganese, and calcium are ineffective in this respect.
Müller-Lyer Illusions: Their Origin in Processes Facilitating Object Recognition

Perspective theories for the Muller-Lyer illusions have considered them to reflect constancies normally permitting the viewer to compensate for distance in estimating the true size of three-dimensional objects. Our experiments suggest a rather different perspective theory involving object recognition.A novel experimental procedure was used. Each of the separate groups of thirty subjects viewed only one of nineteen experimental drawings based on the Muller-Lyer figures. They judged the overall length of the shaft and divided it into subjectively equal quarters. The major findings were that the effect of each component angle was generally independent of other angles and independent of any overall perspective appearance of the figure. The shortening effect produced by an acute angle was limited to the contiguous quarter, whue the lengthening effect of an obtuse angle extended undiminished from the contiguous quarter to the next quarter.Perspective photographs are shown, demonstrating that these angle-induced...
Effects of combination therapy using hypothermia and erythropoietin in a rat model of neonatal hypoxia–ischemia

Effects of combination therapy using hypothermia and erythropoietin in a rat model of neonatal hypoxia–ischemia
Detection of clonal T-cell receptor γ chain gene rearrangements by polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR/DGGE) in archival specimens from patients with early cutaneous T-cell lymphoma : Correlation of histologic findings with PCR/DGGE

Abstract Background: Early stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) may be difficult to distinguish from benign inflammatory dermatoses by routine histologic examination. Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether clonal rearrangements of the T-cell receptor (TCR) g gene by polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR/DGGE) could be detected in the early stages of CTCL and to correlate these findings with conventional histopathology. Methods: A total of 39 specimens from 12 patients with CTCL were obtained. The slides were evaluated independently by three dermatopathologists, and categorized into three groups: nondiagnostic, suggestive of CTCL, and diagnostic of CTCL. Of the 39 specimens, 33 were tested by PCR/DGGE by means of GC-clamped primers for clonal rearrangement of the TCR γ gene. Results: The histologic evaluation of the 12 cases showed a significant variation among the three dermatopathologists. The correlation of PCR/DGGE with routine histology was as follows: Clonal TCR γ gene rearrangements were demonstrated in 73% of the specimens nondiagnostic for CTCL, 71% of those suggestive of CTCL, and 74% of those diagnostic of CTCL. Conclusion: Clonal TCR γ gene rearrangements may be detected in patients with early CTCL, even when the histologic findings are not unequivocally diagnostic. In patients with multiple biopsy specimens, identical clones were demonstrated in all rearranged samples, indicating the same neoplastic clone was present in the earliest stages of disease.(J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:453-60.)
Parallelism and pipelining in ultra low voltage digital circuits

We investigate two important performance-enhancing techniques - pipelining and parallelism - in the context of ultra-low voltage digital circuits. The investigation at near and sub-Vt supply voltages shows that pipelining can provide a superior benefit in throughput and energy-efficiency across a wide range of near and sub-Vt supply voltages while parallelism can provide a less amount of benefits only if the utilization of the circuits is high. Based on this investigation, an FFT core has been designed employing (1) an extensive degree of pipelining and (2) the parallelism with maximal utilization in major building blocks. The developed core demonstrates a significant amount of improvement in energy-efficiency and throughput over the existing near/sub-Vt FFT demonstrations.
Loss of neurotensin receptor-1 disrupts the control of the mesolimbic dopamine system by leptin and promotes hedonic feeding and obesity

Neurons of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) control motivated behaviors such as feeding and ambulatory activity, in part by modulating mesolimbic dopamine (DA) circuits. The hormone, leptin, acts via the long form of the leptin receptor (LepRb) in the brain to signal the repletion of body energy stores, thereby decreasing feeding and promoting activity. LHA LepRb neurons, most of which contain neurotensin (Nts; LepRbNts neurons) link leptin action to the control of mesolimbic DA function and energy balance. To understand potential roles for Nts in these processes, we examined mice null for Nts receptor 1 (NtsR1KO). While NtsR1KO mice consume less food than controls on a chow diet, they eat more and become obese when fed a high-fat, high-sucrose palatable diet; NtsR1KO mice also exhibit augmented sucrose preference, consistent with increased hedonic feeding in these animals. We thus sought to understand potential roles for NtsR1 in the control of the mesolimbic DA system and LHA leptin action. LHA Nts cells project to DA-containing midbrain areas, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra (SN), where many DA neurons express NtsR1. Furthermore, in contrast to wild-type mice, intra-LHA leptin treatment increased feeding and decreased VTA Th expression in NtsR1KO mice, consistent with a role for NtsR1 signaling from LHA LepRb neurons in the suppression of food intake and control of mesolimbic DA function. Additionally, these data suggest that other leptin-regulated LHA neurotransmitters normally oppose aspects of Nts action to promote balanced responses to leptin.
An accurate and sensitive method for the determination of methylmercury in biological specimens using GC-ICP-MS with solid phase microextraction

A highly sensitive and selective method has been developed for the determination of methylmercury in biological specimens and NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The procedure involves microwave extraction with acetic acid, followed by derivatization and headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated silica fiber. Optimization of conditions including gas chromatograph injection temperature, microwave extraction power and microwave extraction time are presented. The identification and quantification (via the method of standard additions) of the extracted compounds is carried out by capillary gas chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection (GC-ICP-MS) using a unique heated interface that was designed for this work. The SPME-GC-ICP-MS method was validated for the determination of methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in a variety of biological Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), ranging from 13.2 ng g−1 in SRM 1566b Oyster Tissue, to 397 ng g−1 in SRM 1946 Lake Superior Fish Tissue. Additionally, this method was applied to the determination of MeHg in seabird eggs (common murres, Uria aalge and thick-billed murres, Uria lomvia) collected from colonies on Little Diomede and Bogoslof islands in the Bering Sea and Saint Lazaria Island in the Gulf of Alaska and cryogenically banked in the Marine Environmental Specimen Bank. The results obtained demonstrate that SPME-GC-ICP-MS is a sensitive technique for the determination of methylmercury at trace and ultra-trace levels in a variety of natural matrices with high reproducibility and accuracy. In all instances, the sample-to-sample variability was typically 2% relative standard deviation (RSD) and the method detection limit for methylmercury was 4.2 pg g−1 (as Hg), based on a 0.5 g tissue sample of SRM 1566b Oyster Tissue.
Chlamydia Rapid Test was moderately accurate for diagnosing Chlamydia infection in women.

H H Lee Dr H H Lee, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; hl207@cam.ac.uk Is Chlamydia Rapid Test accurate for screening for and diagnosing Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women? ### Design: blinded comparison of Chlamydia Rapid Test with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. ### Setting: young people’s sexual health centre (site 1) and 2 genitourinary medicine clinics (sites 2 and 3) in the UK. ### Participants: 1349 women ⩾16 years of age who had not taken antibiotics in the previous month, were not currently menstruating, and provided valid samples (93% of eligible participants). Most women at site 1 (n = 663, mean age 19 y) were asymptomatic; about 67% of women at the genitourinary medicine clinics (n = 385, mean age 25 y at site 2; n = 301, mean age 28 y at site 3) were …
Supporting Families of Young Children With Disabilities: Examining the Role of Administrative Structures

This article presents findings from two early intervention agencies examining how administrative structures affect providers’ ability to serve families of young children with disabilities. Based on previous research identifying three administrative structures (i.e., vision/leadership, organizational climate, and resources), this article illustrates the relationship between administrative structures, provider practices, and family supports and services. Findings include (a) the role of administrators’ knowledge and vision influencing provider practices, (b) the importance of organizational climates that foster partnership and peer support for implementing and evaluating practices, (c) the effects of resource allocation decisions on family supports and services, and (d) the need for accountability to ensure effective practices and family supports and services.
RFS MCMC Predetection Fusion Applied to Multistatic Sonar Data

Predetection fusion can be indispensable for multisensor/multitarget tracking using large networks of low quality sensors. Previously we derived both the "optimal" generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) and a more practicable contact-sifting variant. Unfortunately, the gaps between the two in terms both of computation time and performance are not inconsiderable. In this paper we propose an approach, based on random finite sets (RFS) and implemented by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation, that offers a good balance between run time and metrics for the tracking results.
DNA Fingerprinting of Pasteurella multocida Recovered from Avian Sources

Repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were used to characterize a sample of 43 field isolates and 4 attenuated vaccine strains of Pasteurella multocida recovered from multiple avian species. Both rep-PCR and AFLP assays were rapid and reproducible, with high indices of discrimination. Concordance analyses of rep-PCR and AFLP with somatic serotyping indicate that, in general, somatic serotyping is a poor indicator of genetic relatedness among isolates of P. multocida. In addition, the data provide evidence of host specificity of P. multocida clones. Overall, the results of our study indicate that the rep-PCR and AFLP techniques enable rapid fingerprinting of P. multocida isolates from multiple avian species and enhance the investigation of fowl cholera outbreaks.
Impact of the Clinical Pharmacist on Readmission in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have reported a positive impact of pharmacists on care of patients with chronic illnesses. The impact of the clinical pharmacist on hospital readmission in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has yet to be evaluated, as of this writing.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the impact of the clinical pharmacist as a direct patient-care team member on cardiac-related readmission in patients admitted to the general cardiology unit with ACS.METHODS:A prospective, nonrandomized observational study compared patients who received standard practice care with patients admitted to a service with a clinical pharmacist to provide care at the bedside. Patients admitted to and discharged from the general cardiology unit for ACS were included. The primary endpoint of the study was cardiac-related readmission at 30 days following hospital discharge. Secondary endpoints included length of stay and medication utilization. Interventions provided by the clinical pharmacist in the study group were documen...
Educational interventions successfully reduce pedestrians' overestimates of their own nighttime visibility

Pedestrians dramatically overestimate their own visibility at night. This is likely to result in pedestrians unknowingly engaging in dangerous behavior. To determine the extent to which pedestrians' estimates of their own visibility are influenced by educational interventions, clothing reflectance, and headlamp beam setting, participants in 2 experiments estimated their own nighttime visibility by walking toward a stationary car to the point where they believed they were just recognizable as a pedestrian. In the first experiment 48 university students were tested and in the second experiment 9 high-school driver education students were tested. Overall, participants failed to appreciate the benefits of reflective clothing and of high-beam illumination. However, the participants in Experiment 1 who had heard a relevant lecture several weeks earlier gave estimates that were 10% shorter than did a control group. Participants in Experiment 2 heard a more focused and graphic-intensive lecture and gave estimates that were 56% shorter than did a control group. Potential applications of this research include increasing pedestrian safety by designing and implementing research-based public education campaigns aimed at reducing pedestrians' overestimates of their own nighttime visibility.