cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manual of First and Second Fixing Carpentry

Les Goring’s book covers all the detailed knowledge required for carrying out first fixing carpentry – such as modern and traditional roofing and fitting and fixing modern and traditional floor joists on new-build sites before plastering or drylining of walls and ceilings takes place – and second fixing carpentry – such as fitting staircases, hanging doors, skirting and architraves and kitchen units after dry-lined plastering has taken place and the shell of the building is watertight. In the opening chapters, this work also covers reading-of-drawings' knowledge, tools and fixing-devices. This new edition, with over 500 coloured drawings supporting its step-by-step approach, has been updated throughout to take into account current industry practices and changes in the UK’s Building Regulations. Two new chapters have also been added, covering the formwork carpentry for casting in situ, reinforced concrete stairs and landings, and making and fixing different shelf arrangements to correct spans. The breadth of coverage and clear ‘how-to-do-it’ text makes this book an essential in-and-after-college resource for the 2000 apprentices per year taking NVQs and the 1500 students following Construction Awards within the Wood Occupations from the City & Guilds’ Construction Skills. The in-depth technical detail and practical focus makes this book an essential purchase for all aspiring woodworkers, craft teachers and construction lecturers – to either read now and/or use as a future reference manual. It should also be of value to general builders and DIY enthusiasts, whose carpentry knowledge might (understandably) be sketchy in certain areas.
The Impact of Radiation Therapy on Lymphocyte Count and Survival in Metastatic Cancer Patients Receiving PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Purpose Therapeutic radiation has conflicting immune effects: radiation therapy (RT)-induced immunogenic cell death can contribute to immune response, but lymphocytes are also sensitive to RT. It is unknown whether palliative RT leads to lymphopenia in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and whether this affects outcomes. As such, we sought to assess the impact of palliative RT on circulating lymphocyte count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients being treated with PD-1-directed ICI and associations with survival. Methods and materials We identified patients from 5 radiation oncology centers, treated with palliative RT and either pembrolizumab or nivolumab with non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma. Patients who received intervening cytotoxic chemotherapy were excluded. We recorded absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio before and after palliative RT and at the start of ICI. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models. Results One hundred ten patients received 225 courses of palliative RT. Median change in ALC after RT was -161 cells/mL. Decreases in ALC were greater with RT to the spine, lung/mediastinum, and chest wall compared with the brain, extremity, or abdomen/pelvis (P = .002) and after courses >5 fractions (P = .003). Extracranial and >5-fraction RT was associated with increased odds of severe lymphopenia (ALC Conclusions Extracranial or prolonged courses of RT increase the risk of severe lymphopenia, which is associated with poorer survival in patients treated with ICI.
Factors Affecting Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactivity of Metal-Oxo Porphyrinoid Complexes.

ConspectusThere has been considerable interest in hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions mediated by metal/oxygen species because of their central role in metalloenzyme function as well as synthetic catalysts. This Account focuses on our progress in synthesizing high-valent metal–oxo and metal–hydroxo porphyrinoid complexes and determining their reactivities in a range of HAT processes. For these studies we have utilized corrolazine and corrole ligands, which are a ring-contracted subclass of porphyrinoid compounds designed to stabilize high-valent metal complexes. The high-valent manganese complex MnV(O)(TBP8Cz) (TBP8Cz = octakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazine3−) provided an early example of a well-characterized low-potential oxidant that can still be effective at abstracting H atoms from certain C–H/O–H bonds. Approximating the thermodynamics of the HAT reactivity of the MnV(O) complex and related species with the help of a square scheme approach, in which HAT can be formally separated into proton (pKa)...
Inside 50,000 living rooms: an assessment of global residential ornamentation using transfer learning

The global community decorates their homes based on personal decisions and contextual influences of their larger cultural and economic surroundings. The extent to which spatial patterns emerge in residential decoration practices has been traditionally difficult to ascertain due to the private nature of interior home spaces. Yet, measuring these patterns can reveal the presence of geographic culture hearths and/or globalization trends. In this work, we collected over one million geolocated images of interior living spaces from a popular home rental website, Airbnb ( http://airbnb.com ), and used transfer learning techniques to automatically detect the presence of key stylistic objects: plants, books, decor, wall art and predominance of vibrant colors. We investigated patterns of home decor practices for 107 cities on six continents, and performed a deep dive into six major U.S. cities. We found that world regions show statistically significant variation in decorative element prevalence, indicating differences in geographic cultural trends. At the U.S. neighborhood level, elements were only weakly spatially clustered and found to not correlate with socio-economic neighborhood variables such as income, unemployment rates, education attainment, residential property value, and racial diversity. These results may suggest that American residents in different socio-economic environments put similar effort into personalizing and caring for their homes. More broadly, our results represent a new view of worldwide human behavior and a new application of machine learning techniques to the exploration of cultural phenomena.
Agronomic research and productivity growth in post green revolution agriculture

This dissertation presents a methodology for measuring the impact of crop management research on agricultural productivity. The relationship between specific research projects and increases in producer surplus are identified. The methodology is used to derive an estimate of the return to public investment in crop management research in the Yaqui Valley of Sonora, Mexico;The impact of the crop management research effort is examined by looking at changes in producers' practices 1981-1989 using farm survey data. An examination of changes in producers' practices and modifications in crop management recommendations showed that only two practices were modified because of new research results. The quasi-rent impact of these research-induced changes in farmer practice are estimated using yield function estimation and the construction of enterprise budgets;The market setting for the case study is one of a small producing region facing perfectly elastic demand for output as well as perfectly elastic supply of production inputs. Changes in consumer surplus, therefore, do not occur and the impact on producer surplus is measured as changes in quasi-rent;Estimates of the internal rate of return (IRR) to the crop management research investment are derived under a range of assumptions about the benefit and cost streams. Under the most reasonable sets of assumptions, the IRR is estimated to fall between 16 and 26 percent;The study implies that the development of improved crop management practices can make a significant contribution to increasing agricultural productivity. One implication for the allocation of resources within agronomic research programs is that careful monitoring of farmer acceptance of research results can improve the efficiency of research investments.
Epithelial and Mixed Epithelial/Mesenchymal Malignancies of the Uterine Corpus

Cancers of the uterine corpus are the most frequently diagnosed malignancies of the female genital tract in the United States, with an estimated 61,880 new cases and 12,160 associated deaths expected for 2019. Endometrial carcinomas, which represent more than 95% of uterine corpus cancers, are heterogeneous as a group, and have been shown to be classifiable into clinically relevant subsets using morphological/immunophenotypic and molecular modalities. The recognized histotypes encapsulate the biologic profiles of the subclasses, albeit imperfectly, and accordingly continue to serve as a surrogate indicator for defining these clinically relevant subsets. This chapter illustrates the most salient pathologic features of epithelial and mixed epithelial/mesenchymal malignancies of the uterine corpus, with an emphasis on core appearances, morphologic variations, and immunophenotypic features.
Infusing Universal Design for Learning into Physical Education Professional Preparation Programs

Although physical education teachers overwhelmingly agree that students with disabilities should be included in general education, many are simply not adequately prepared. This article presents uni...
Unemployed: White-Collar Job Searching After the Great Recession:

A burgeoning literature on white-collar unemployment and job searching has sought over the past two decades to explain why white-collar workers embrace neoliberal labor market restructuring, and wh...
Defect Analysis in CSS and Sputtered CdSe x Te 1-x Thin Films

Defect analysis of CdSe x Te 1-x alloy films prepared via close space sublimation (CSS) and sputtering have been carried out utilizing low temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. We observe defect emission at 1.31 eV in both CSS and sputtered films which red shifts with increasing temperature. Therefore, the 1.31 eV peak is assigned to recombination of an electron in the conduction band with a hole localized in an unidentified vacancy defect state. Unlike CdSe x Te 1-x , ~1.31 eV peak has been assigned to free-to-bound (FB) peak in polycrystalline CdTe by previous researchers. Our analysis shows that a small amount of Se incorporation into CdTe has been found to change the nature of dominant native defect. Furthermore, we observe the bound exciton peak at ~1.49 eV in both films while free exciton peak (1.52 eV) is absent in latter. The presence of a free excitonic peak in CSS film confirms its better crystallinity compared to the sputtered one. Identification of such defect states and their nature are crucial to improving the efficiency of CdTe based solar cells.
Public support for “more” women in Congress

Is political knowledge about the actual level of women's representation still related to support for women's descriptive representation? Using data from the 2018 CCES, I find that knowledge of the ...
Facile Synthesis of Monodispersed Ag NPs in Ethylene Glycol Using Mixed Capping Agents.

Capping agents play an important role in the synthesis of silver nanostructures in polyol solvents. In this work, we demonstrate that using a small amount of tannic acid (TA), a reducing capping ag...
Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Impact on Lost Production Days among Industrial Workers: A Data Analytics Approach

Health and safety of workers in the industrial environment remained a concern, and providing a safe work culture is top priority of the management. Mining Industry being one of the high-stress workplace witness different occupational health and safety issues. In this work, we envisioned a healthy work environment for the mining workforce and carried out detailed data analytics on accident, illness and injury dataset covering a total of 13 years of history from 2005-2017. Our results show that Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) remained the most frequent health issues which further caused an average of 51 lost workdays and a maximum of 900 lost production days. Furthermore, individual analysis on the miners body part affected due to WMSDs shows that shoulder is most suffered followed by knee with an average of 77 and 57 lost workdays respectively, whereas back remained the most suffering body part in the entire dataset leading to an average of 48 lost workdays. In addition, underground mine operations witness more WMSDs in total than surface mines and mill or preparation plants. The findings reported will be useful to find out the factors leading to WMSDs at mining workplace and adopt preventive measures and introducing new alternative technologies considering automation at workplace.
Acute Neurological Complications of Brain Tumors and Immune Therapies, a Guideline for the Neuro-hospitalist

Patients with brain tumors presenting to the emergency room with acute neurologic complications may warrant urgent investigations and emergent management. As the neuro-hospitalist will likely encounter this complex patient population, an understanding of the acute neurologic issues will have value. We discuss updated information and management regarding various acute neurologic complications among neuro-oncology patients and neurologic complications of immunotherapy. Understanding of the acute neurologic complications associated with central nervous system tumors and with common contemporary cancer treatments will facilitate the neuro-hospitalist management of these patient populations. While there are aspects analogous to the diagnosis and management in the non-oncologic population, a number of unique features discussed in this review should be considered.
Exploring the relationship between dialogic teacher talk and students’ persuasive writing

Abstract Studies have documented the importance of dialogic classroom discourse for supporting academic outcomes such as reading comprehension and vocabulary development. This study examines the relationship between teacher talk during whole-classroom discussions in 42 classrooms and post-discussion persuasive essays from students in grades four through seven (n = 471). Teacher talk was coded by type of question (contestable, semi-open, or quiz-like) and teachers' follow-ups (prompting, pressing for reasoning, active listening), and further categorized as indicating either high or low levels of dialogic talk. Multilevel modeling that accounts for student participation rate, discussion topic, and students' demographic information shows that high dialogic teacher talk positively predicts students’ persuasive essay scores, while low dialogic teacher talk negatively predicts their scores. The study supports existing hypotheses about the role of teacher dialogic talk in whole-class settings.
The Situated, Relational, and Evolving Nature of Epilepsy Diagnosis

An understanding of medical diagnosis as it is practiced is essential for those seeking to support it using intelligent systems. Through the case of epilepsy, we show that diagnosis is a situated, relational, and evolving process that accounts for information well beyond the patient's physiology, even for physiological phenomena like seizures. Through observations and interviews with neurologists, we show that the meaning of brainwaves and other physiological data depends upon a range of patient-specific and contextual factors, such as age, comorbidities, and mealtimes. Further, we show that diagnosis is partly determined by social factors such as the activities of caregivers and other clinicians, and environmental factors such as faulty electrical wiring. Additionally, diagnostic classifications can evolve in response to new information: events that were once considered seizures can be reinterpreted as clinically irrelevant and vice versa. We contribute a broader sociotechnical perspective to literature on intelligent decision making in healthcare and discuss implications for the design of decision support systems that can better support the work of medical diagnosis.
Blood-pressure-induced oscillations of cerebral hemodynamics during hemodialysis

In a study on one patient during hemodialysis, we used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure coherent oscillations of cerebral concentrations of oxyhemoglobin ([HbO2]), deoxyhemoglobin ([Hb]), and total-hemoglobin ([HbT]) induced by systemic oscillations in mean arterial pressure (MAP) at a frequency of 0.07 Hz. During hemodialysis, we observed that the phase of [Hb] versus [HbO2] becomes less negative, whereas the phase of [HbT] versus MAP becomes more negative. By applying a quantitative hemodynamic model, we assign these phase changes to an increase in venous blood transit time and a less effective cerebral autoregulation during the hemodialysis process.
Living on the edge: The impact of protracted oxygen stress on life in the Late Devonian

Abstract The Late Devonian records one of the most dramatic series of taxonomic and ecological turnovers in the history of life. The precise controls over the elevated extinctions and depressed origination rates at this time are not fully resolved, but reduced oxygen conditions undoubtedly played a role. A combined geochemical and paleontological dataset from 17 localities across New York and Ohio provide a cohesive record of prolonged and repeated oxygen stress in the Appalachian Basin associated with numerous biotic turnovers through the Late Devonian. The trace fossil signal, captured as ichnofabric index data, and trace metal proxies (Mo, U, V) in this study provide insight into bottom water conditions, while biomarker data, including hopane/sterane, sterane carbon number ratios and Chlorobi-derived carotenoid abundances, in combination with organic-walled microfossil (OWM) abundances inform the nature of biological communities and redox conditions in the water column. These collective proxies allow us to compare the Lower and Upper Kellwasser Events, and the Hangenberg Biocrisis, with background conditions through the Late Devonian across a range of depositional environments. The results reveal that each of these three extinctions has a unique signal. Interestingly, the Hangenberg exhibits the greatest departure from background environmental conditions without comparable extinction rates, suggesting that prolonged oxygen stress throughout the Late Devonian removed vulnerable populations and limited the impact of this event. Further, variable signals and responses between bioevents likely indicate different drivers for each. This work adds to the narrative that the Late Devonian extinction event was unique among the “Big 5” and sets the stage for a more global-scale dissection of triggers, kill mechanisms, and responses.
Re-Imagining 'Action Research' as a Tool for Social Innovation and Public Entrepreneurship

We live in challenging times. From climate change to economic inequality and forced migration, the difficulties confronting decision-makers are unprecedented in their variety, as well as in their complexity and urgency. Our standard policy toolkit seems stale and ineffective while existing governance institutions are increasingly outdated and distrusted. To tackle today’s challenges, we need not only new solutions but new ways of arriving at solutions. In particular, we need fresh research methodologies that can provide actionable insights on 21st century conditions. Such methodologies would allow us to redesign how decisions are made, how public services are offered, and how complex problems are solved around the world. Rethinking research is a vast project, with multiple components. This new essay focuses on one particular area of research: action research. In the essay, I first explain what we mean by action research, and also explore some of its potential. I subsequently argue that, despite that potential, action research is often limited as a method because it remains embedded in past methodologies; I attempt to update both its theory and practice for the 21st century. Although this article represents only a beginning, my broader goal is to re-imagine the role of action research for social innovation, and to develop an agenda that could provide for what Amar Bhide calls “practical knowledge” at all levels of decision making in a systematic, sustainable, and responsible manner.
Alginate-based antimicrobial coating reduces pathogens on alfalfa seeds and sprouts

Abstract Foodborne illness associated with the consumption of contaminated sprouts has been a significant food safety risk. While seed disinfection with chemical sanitizers has been used as an intervention approach, its efficacy to reduce bacterial load has not been always satisfactory. In this study, a newly developed alginate-based, antimicrobial seed coating treatment was evaluated for its efficacy to reduce foodborne pathogens from alfalfa seeds and sprouts. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, air-dried, and thereafter subjected to different treatments. The treated seeds were analyzed for bacterial cell populations over 28 days of storage. Meanwhile, treated seeds after one day of storage were sprouted for three days and the populations of pathogens on sprouts were determined. The results showed that the alginate coating in the presence of lactic acid (alginate coating/LA) reduced both pathogens to an undetectable level one day after the treatment. With sprouts, alginate coating/LA resulted in significantly lower (P
Gender respect education: a proposal to combat commercial sexual exploitation

The article discusses the concept of gender respect education and a proposal to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in places such as the U.S. as of 2015. Gang rapes, sexual crimes, and violence against girls and women in India are mentioned. Rape and human trafficking victim laws are assessed, as well as U.S. federal and state legislation which has been passed regarding CSEC and sexually exploited children. Society's perception of girls is also examined. Keywords: Juvenile justice; Human trafficking
Abstract 26: MUC1 enhances neuropilin-1 signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has the worst prognosis of all cancers and is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Mucin1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein over-expressed in more than 60% of PDA and its expression correlates with high metastases and poor prognosis. In PDA, there is a correlation between blood vessel density, tumor levels of VEGF, and disease progression. We have recently discovered a novel association between MUC1 and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) expression. Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a co-receptor for VEGF165 and blockade of NRP-1-VEGF165 interaction has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth in several other cancer types. Thus, we hypothesize that MUC1 induces a pro-angiogenic tumor microenvironment by increasing levels of VEGF and NRP-1, thus enhancing disease progression and metastases. We have generated Muc1-expressing KC and Muc1-null KCKO mouse PDA cell lines for this study. Compared to KCKO, KC cells secrete more VEGF and express higher levels of NRP-1 as well as VEGF receptors (1/2/3). Although the cell culture supernatants from KC do not alter the NRP-1 level on the endothelial line 2H11 cells, they significantly promote the 2H11 cell tube formation. Consistent with the in vitro results, tumor lysates from KC-bearing mice have higher levels of NRP-1 and VEGFR2 and its phosphorylations at Tyr residues 951, 996, and 1175. In human PDA cell lines, inhibition of MUC1 expression by specific siRNA reduced NRP-1 level while overexpression of full-length MUC1 increases NRP-1 expression. This suggests a direct regulation of NRP-1 by MUC1. Furthermore, the over-expression of MUC1 in BxPC3 human PDA cell line induces strong angiogenesis and promotes tumor metastasis in a zebrafish tumor xenograft model. Finally, we report that inhibition of NRP-1 by its specific blocking peptide suppresses BxPC3.MUC1 tumor growth in vivo. Taking together, MUC1 in PDA cells can enhance their own NRP-1 levels and promote the VEGF-VEGFR-NRP-1 signaling, which may favor the creation of a pro-angiogenic microenvironment for tumor growth and metastases. Our findings highlight the potential for MUC1 targeted blockade of VEGF-NRP-1 interaction in PDA by conjugating the NRP-1 inhibitory agents to a MUC1 targeting antibody. Citation Format: Ru Zhou, Jennifer Curry, Priyanka Grover, Lopamudra Das Roy, TinChung Leung, Pinku Mukherjee. MUC1 enhances neuropilin-1 signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 26. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-26
Observations of TOPEX/Poseidon Orbit Errors Due to Gravitational and Tidal Modeling Errors Using the Global Positioning System

Satellite altimetry is faced with the challenge of measuring subtle variations in the dynamic topography of the world’s oceans with cm-level accuracy. The TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) mission was designed to resolve these signals by measuring the radial component of the orbit with an accuracy of 13 cm, or better, in a root-mean-square (RMS) sense. Owing to major advances in precision orbit determination, the actual level of performance is estimated to be nearly an order of magnitude better than that [e.g., Tapley et al., 1994a]. This is primarily due to improvements in the gravity model for the Earth, including the tide model, and the effectiveness of the 3 precision tracking systems carried on the spacecraft (see next section). This paper summarizes the results obtained from a comparison between two distinct types of T/P orbits: classical dynamic orbits and GPS-based reduced-dynamic orbits. Surface manifestations of the relative spatial and temporal behavior of these orbits are described in terms of their effect on altimetric observations of dynamic topography.
Journey Into the Whirlwind: Graham-and-Doddsville Revisited

The mutual fund is a superb concept, a vehicle for investors to pool their savings in a diversified portfolio and thus acquire experienced management, as well as economies of scale in fees and expenses. Mutual funds offer, too, remarkable flexibility, the ability to withdraw at will even modest sums, at the underlying asset value. Being a favored child of the law, investors receive detailed disclosures, a safe harbor from double taxation, and SEC oversight. Markets fluctuate, but a mutual fund's diversity and presumably skilled management allow the investor to take a longer view, freeing him from the concern that Stock A or B will report lower earnings next week. Clearly, those thrifty Scots had a brilliant idea, and equity mutual funds alone now have $4 trillion in assets, up from a mere $250 billion as recently as 1990. What follows is a speech I gave in December 2005 before the NY Society of Security Analysts. It was billed as a celebration of Graham-and-Dodd style value investing, and indeed the invitation had been a consequence of an article I wrote earlier that year, in which I explored a dramatically successful group of patient investors ("Searching for Rational Investors in a Perfect Storm"). I used the occasion to take a broader look at mutual funds, and in particular to study large cap growth funds, which it developed play the performance game, turning over their portfolios at stunning rates with disheartening results for investors, though not for the managers. An update of my earlier study provided a useful benchmark.
Retrovirology and young Turks...

It is 2004, and as a virologist and retrovirologist for the past 18 years, I pause to survey the publishing landscape of our field of science. Without a doubt, today, we have two outstanding journals published in the United States dedicated to basic virological research, Journal of Virology and Virology as well as several other authoritative journals dedicated to virological research published in the US and elsewhere. Is there then a need for Retrovirology?
Genetic Implications of Somaclonal Variation in Plants

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the genetic implications of somaclonal variation in plants. The chapter investigates the topic of somaclonal variation from two perspectives. The first perspective is an examination of the various categories of somaclonal variation and speculation on the underlying mechanisms, including a discussion of how seemingly unrelated phenomena may be interconnected. The second perspective is a description of the unusual genetic outcomes that would be predicted, and the implications of these types of variation for use of tissue culture-derived materials. Emphasis could be placed on the genetic changes that may be detected in regenerated plants and their progeny because these genetic changes are of utmost practical significance. Throughout the chapter, “somaclonal variation’’ is taken to mean any genetic, cytogenetic, or molecular changes produced during tissue culture or plant regeneration. Changes detected in the sexual progeny of regenerated plants are often considered to be “stable,” and contrasted with the “epigenetic” traits that are sometimes detected in tissue cultures or primary regenerants.
Jacob receives Macelwane Medal

The James B. Macelwane Medal was presented to Daniel J. Jacob at the 1994 AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony on May 25,1994. The medal recognizes significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by a young scientist of outstanding ability. The award citation and Jacob's response are presented here.
Phase transitions and in situ dynamics of crystal grain formation of alumina nanotubes templated by vertically aligned carbon nanotubes

Phase transitions of amorphous alumina (a-alumina) nanotubes grown by atomic layer deposition and templated by carbon nanotubes were investigated with thermal annealing, transmitted Kikuchi electron diffraction, electron-irradiation-induced crystallization, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The resulting, engineered alumina nanotube arrays demonstrate a large range of tunable phases that are vital for understanding how alumina nanotube arrays can be applied for uses within biotechnology, catalysis, and other academic and industrial uses.
A conversation about ensuring computer literacy of first-year students

This paper explores the purpose and usefulness of a course in computer literacy. It introduces a method that allows students to make choices on the order and timing of covering material within the course and uses a skills assessment software package to ensure learning and equivalency across and within sections. It provides some methods for dealing with the problems inherent in a self-paced course. Finally, the future of a course in computer literacy is discussed. I'm all for a paradigm shift in the way we teach computer literacy to our first-year students. For instance, we could follow in the footsteps of our colleagues over in the English department and establish a “computers across the curriculum” program. Or we could provide on-line computer tutorials to all of our entering students and let them teach themselves. Or we could simply assume/require that computer literacy is provided in the K-12 years. That's got to happen at some point, doesn't it? Our course is offered within the School of Business and our employers tell us that computer application skills (or the lack thereof) are the primary contributor to the first impression of competency of a new intern or entry level employee. Our goal is to insure that students going to do internships and at graduation are computer literate. Thus, we have the computer literacy course, sometimes known as a course in computer applications or teaching Microsoft Office/WordPerfect Suite.
Chordal rings as fault-tolerant loops

Abstract The loop is a commonly used interconnection network for computer systems. In this paper we consider the problem of making a loop network fault-tolerant. Previous solutions employ the absolute minimum number of redundant components, for a specified level of fault-tolerance. In our approach, “extra” redundancy is used to reduce the size and complexity of the interconnection network. Designs based on chordal rings are presented which can tolerate one and two processor failures. The examples given indicate that for large scale systems, the approach can produce improvement over previous approaches, yielding designs which are more in accord with the limitations of current technology.
Development of a Situation×Trait Adaptive Response (STAR) model-based smoking motivation questionnaire

Abstract The Situation×Trait Adaptive Response Smoking Motivation Questionnaire (STAR-SMOQ) was developed to assess dimensions of conscious motivation to smoke, as well as desire to smoke, and probability of smoking across a number of situations, using a theoretical scale construction strategy based on the STAR model of smoking motivation proposed by Gilbert [Gilbert, D. G. (1995). Smoking: individual differences, psychopathology, and emotion. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis]. Item analysis of a 97-item version of the STAR-SMOQ using a sample of 215 undergraduate smokers yielded 55 items covering four dimensions (Cognitive Enhancement, Pleasure Enhancement, Negative Affect Reduction [with Anger, Anxiety, and Depression subscales], and Weight/Appetite Control). Internal consistency reliability coefficients for the resulting four scales ranged from 0.87 to 0.94. Preliminary validation of STAR-SMOQ scales was conducted using a sample of 155 student and adult smokers. As predicted, the STAR-SMOQ scales showed modest correlations with theoretically related scales of the Russell Smoking Motivation Questionnaire (RSMQ) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory Neuroticism Scale. For example, the Depression facet of the NEO-PI-R correlated more highly with the STAR-SMOQ Desire When Depressed subscale than with any RSMQ scales. Validity of the Appetite/Weight control scale was supported by the finding that females scored higher than males on this measure.
Report of a nonnutritive food substance, palatable to rats

Formulas are presented for two food substances matched in taste and texture characteristics, one nutritive (4.00 cal/g) and the other nonnutritive (0.00 cal/g). Mean consumption amounts and body weight changes over a five day period are given for both male and female rats. Areas of possible application are suggested for experiments where natural ingestion of bulk is desired
Heme oxygenase active-site residues identified by heme-protein cross-linking during reduction of CBrCl3.

The reduction of CBrCl3 by the heme-heme oxygenase complex forms dissociable and covalently bound heme products. No such products are formed with mesoheme in which the heme vinyl substituents are replaced by ethyl groups. The dissociable heme products are chromatographically similar but not identical to those obtained in the analogous reaction with myoglobin. Tryptic digestion of the heme-protein adduct and Edman sequencing and mass spectrometric analysis of the heme-linked peptide identify His-25, the proximal iron ligand, as the alkylated residue. Reaction of CBrCl3 with the heme complexes of the T135V mutant and a Delta221 C-terminal truncated protein yields heme-linked peptides in addition to that from the wild-type reaction. The sequence of the principal labeled peptide from the T135V reaction, 205TAFLLNIQLFEELQELLTHDTK226 , and the lability of the adduct suggest the heme is attached to one of the carboxylic acid residues. A carboxylic acid residue is probably also labeled in the modified peptide 49LVMASLYHIYVALEEEIER67 from the Delta221 truncated protein. Thus, addition of the reductively generated trichloromethyl radical to a heme vinyl group produces a species that alkylates active-site residues. The changes in the alkylated residue caused by the Thr-135 mutation or truncation of the protein places residues in the sequences 49-67 and 205-226 within the active site. Furthermore, this is the first demonstration that heme oxygenase, like cytochrome P450, may catalyze the reductive metabolism of halocarbons and thus contribute to the toxicity of these agents.
Peruvian natural dye plants

The use of natural dyes to color textiles and other objects has a long history in Andean South America, but has for the most part become a lost technology with the introduction of synthetic dyes. A literature and field survey to recover information about the traditional use of dye plants in Peru, from pre-Hispanic to recent times, was accompanied by taxonomic identification of collected dye plant materials. Fiftysix dye plants from Peruvian sources are listed.
Assessment 101 for Librarians: A Guidebook

SUMMARY Library assessment has found a new audience in librarians and library administrators seeking guides for steering libraries into the new century. Measurement, evaluation, assessment–these are all terms that describe taking stock of libraries, from services to collections, from small scale studies to mammoth surveys. The purpose of assessment is to answer questions about the library environment such as what does the library own, who are its users, are users satisfied, and if not, why not? Assessment is followed by analysis, deciding what the collected data mean and what decisions they support. Libraries must be willing to implement the outcomes suggested or determined through assessment. What skills or knowledge are needed to successfully perform library assessment? Where can you polish your skills or pick up assessment tips? What should you read, hear, and sign up for? It's all covered in this guide to library assessment.
River basins as groundwater exporters and importers: Implications for water cycle and climate modeling

[1] The groundwater reservoir and its interaction with surface water facilitate lateral transport of continental water and energy. Current climate models do not account for long-distance groundwater flow between model cells but route the atmospheric surplus (precipitation (P) minus evapotranspiration (ET)) directly to stream discharge within a model grid cell. We ask how much water exits a river basin without ever passing through its surface outlet? What are the climatologic and geologic factors influencing this flux? To answer these questions, a separation of groundwater flow from river flow is necessary. We use the ratio of stream discharge (Qr) to basin recharge (R = P − ET) for this purpose; where Qr:R 1, a basin is considered a groundwater importer. Here Qr is obtained from 39 years of U.S. Geological Survey Hydro-Climatic Data Network observed stream discharge from 1555 basins across the continental United States, and R (P − ET) is derived from 50 years of hydrologic simulation by the Variable Infiltration Capacity model. It was found that the Qr:R ratio deviates significantly from 1 across the continent. Detailed investigations of individual basins suggest that the deviations are primarily a function of geology, while climate and basin scale influence the magnitude of these deviations. Further, a marked incongruity between the surface and groundwater flow directions is apparent, suggesting that surface drainage is only partially indicative of subsurface flow regimes. The apparent significance of this long-distance groundwater flow component reinforces the need for inclusion of the groundwater reservoir in current water cycle and climate modeling efforts.
PRECOLLEGIATE CURRICULA, UNIVERSITY CHARACTERISTICS, AND FIELD PERSISTENCE AMONG SCIENCE MAJORS

Few studies have attempted to examine simultaneously how student and university characteristics are associated with the persistence of women and men in the sciences. The present study took advantage of a unique data set containing the records of individual students on the SAT (1979-1982) and their corresponding records on the GRE (1985-1990), including the questionnaires that accompany each test. Information on the students' undergraduate institutions from the College Board Annual Survey of Colleges was then added to these records. The data set included 48,492 non-Latino White students with English as their best language who indicated an interest in computer, engineering, mathematical or physical (CEMP) science fields in one or more responses to four questions about their intended major field of study. Two transition points were studied: from intended college major as high school seniors to actual undergraduate major (Stage I), and from actual undergraduate major to intended graduate school major (Stage II). Persistence was defined as staying within the broad category of CEMP sciences. The descriptive findings showed net losses from the CEMP pool of students at both transition points and greater field switching for women — both into CEMP sciences and out of CEMP sciences. For men at Stage I, 35% of those with a CEMP field as a first choice for major switched to a non-CEMP field, but new recruits into CEMP undergraduate majors reduced the net loss to only 12%. For women at Stage I, 50% of those with a CEMP field as a first choice for major switched to a non-CEMP field, but new recruits into CEMP undergraduate majors reduced the net loss to only 8%. For men at Stage II, 19% of CEMP undergraduate majors switched to a non-CEMP field for graduate study, but recruits into CEMP for intended graduate work reduced the net loss to 15%. For women at Stage II, 31 % of CEMP undergraduate majors switched to a non-CEMP field for graduate study, but recruits into CEMP fields for intended graduate work reduced the net loss to 24%. The predictive findings for both transitions, using logistic regression with random coefficients, showed that student and university characteristics (entered jointly) were associated with field persistence for the majority of fields. Significant gender differences in field persistence remained for most, but not all, fields after controlling for student and university characteristics. The higher the percentage of women enrolled in the institution as a whole, the lower the field persistence for both men and women in the majority of fields at Stage I after controlling for other variables.
Unfinished business: Michael Wilson's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" screenplay

Michael Wilson, a blacklisted expatriate American screenwriter, had received no credit for his work on the screenplay of David Lean and Sam Spiegel's worldwide success, The Bridge on the River Kwai . This paper describes Wilson's subsequent work for Spiegel and Lean on an adaptation of T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom . Differences with Lean over story direction on what would become Lawrence of Arabia eventually led to Wilson's departure and replacement by Robert Bolt. Although his contributions to the script were officially hidden, Wilson successfully appealed to the British Writers' Guild in a screen credit arbitration. But not until three decades later after the film's release was his credit formally acknowledged in the United States.
Estimating phosphorus retention of existing and restored coastal wetlands in a tributary watershed of the Laurentian Great Lakes in Michigan, USA

Simulation modeling with uncertainty analysis was applied to the question of nonpoint source pollution control through extensive wetland restoration. The model was applied to the Quanicassee River basin, a tributary stream to Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron in northeastern Michigan, USA. An estimate of the role of the existing 695 ha of riverside and lake-side wetlands in the lower Quanicassee River basin suggests that they retain 1.2 metric tons of phosphorus per year (mt P/yr), or 2.5% of the total phosphorus load from the basin. A simple Vollenweider-type model of phosphorus retention by created wetlands, calibrated with 3-years of data from two wetland sites in Midwestern USA, was used to estimate the effect of major wetland restoration in the basin. For a wetland restoration project involving 15% of the Quanicassee River basin or 3,120 ha of wetlands, an estimated 33 mt P/yr could be retained, assuming a proper hydrologic connection between the wetlands and the river. This would represent a reduction of two-thirds of the existing phosphorus load to the Bay from the Quanicassee River basin. Large-scale wetland restoration appears to be a viable management practice for controlling phosphorus and other nonpoint source pollution from entering Saginaw Bay. It is an alternative that meets two major resource goals – developing wetland habitat and controlling pollution to the Great Lakes.
A kinematically-coupled magnetic bearing calibration fixture

Abstract A calibration fixture has been developed that measures the force of an electromagnetic actuator as a function of coil current and target separation gap. The measured force characteristics are used to linearize the dynamics of magnetic bearings controlled by these actuators. The calibration fixture mechanical design and test procedure are described. An extremely stiff gothic arch ball-and-groove coupling fabricated from silicon carbide is used along with a lightweight target platen constructed from composite materials to place the resonant frequency of the calibration fixture at 1.8 kHz. This permits the characterization of magnetic bearing elements at frequencies up to 1 kHz. Experimental results from force testing a magnetic bearing element are presented along with the frequency response of the calibration fixture and suggestions for further research. We also present the design of an associated linear current amplifier designed specifically for low noise and a high negative current slew rate.
Structural characterization and low-temperature physical properties of p-type single-crystal K8Ga8.5Sn37.5 grown by self-flux method

Abstract Single-crystal K8Ga8.5Sn37.5 was synthesized employing a self-flux method where Ga and Sn were used as fluxes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that this composition crystallizes in a cubic structure with the Pm 3 ¯ n space group (#223, a=11.9345(16) A, V=1699.9(4) A3, Z=1, and R/wR=0.0187/0.0382). A large dynamic disorder and anisotropic atomic displacement parameters were observed for K atoms inside the larger polyhedra in the crystal structure of K8Ga8.5Sn37.5. Electrical properties measurements indicate p-type conduction with onset of minority charge carrier conduction at temperatures above 270 K.
Peptide hormones as tumor markers

Ectopic production and secretion of hormones by a wide variety of tumors were initially recognized by signs and symptoms of excess circulating biologically active hormone. With the development of more sophisticated and sensitive techniques, it has become apparent that not all tumors secrete biologically active hormones. Some altered forms of polypeptide hormones may be in very high concentrations immunologically but be inactive biologically. On the other hand, polypeptide hormones may circulate at concentrations too low to induce clinical signs and symptoms. Consequently, new ectopic humoral syndromes have been recognized and the incidence of previously described syndromes has become considerably greater than previously recognized. Every hormone known to be normally secreted by endocrine organs or the placenta has been documented to be secreted ectopically by a wide variety of tumors. Moreover, several of those hormones may be used as biochemical markers of malignancy for both screening and monitoring of patients with documented or suspected tumors.
Carcinogens and mutagens in the undergraduate laboratory

Identifying carcinogens and suspected carcinogens; methods for identification and safe disposal; results and specific recommendations for metals, organic solvents, and others.