cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soft-Switching Mechanism for a High-Gain, Interleaved Hybrid Boost Converter

In this article, an auxiliary circuit-based soft-switching mechanism for a high-gain, nonisolated, four-phase interleaved hybrid boost converter is presented. The auxiliary circuit consists of only a single additional switch, four diodes, and a small auxiliary inductor, and ensures zero voltage transition (ZVT) of all four phases. Two variations of the ZVT circuit application are presented in this article, each having its own advantages and can be implemented without any significant modifications in the auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary switch operates with zero current switching, ensuring that the power loss in the auxiliary circuit is low for both cases. The timing of the ZVT circuit is adaptively controlled with changing load conditions. The proposed concepts are validated through a 2.5 kW hardware prototype operating at 100 kHz and achieving a high gain conversion from 46 V input to 850-V output. The converter is able to achieve a peak efficiency of 98.3% with silicon devices as main switches at 100-kHz switching frequency.
Process and characterization of ohmic contacts for beta-phase gallium oxide

β-Ga2O3 is a promising material for next-generation power devices because of its ultra-wide bandgap, the commercial availability of bulk substrates, epitaxial growth, and ease of n-type doping. To fully exploit its potential, it is critical to establish fabrication processes to form low-resistance ohmic contacts with excellent long-term stability. Due to upward band bending and unavoidable redox reactions occurring at the contact interface, making a good ohmic contact to gallium oxide can be challenging. Herein, we use a process-structure-property approach to systematically review the reported processes for ohmic contact formation on gallium oxide, the contact microstructure, and the resulting electrical properties including charge transport physics. Furthermore, we describe the present evidence for ohmic contact stability under accelerated aging. Using thermodynamic assessment, we propose alternate ohmic contact materials candidates. Finally, we identify gaps in the scientific knowledge on ohmic contacts to Ga2O3 and highlight opportunities for future investigations.
Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Patellar Tendon vs Hamstring Autografts: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials With a Mean Follow-up of 15 Years

Background: The two most common surgical treatment modalities for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL), patellar tendon (PT) and hamstring tendon (HS) autografts, have been shown to have outcomes that are both similar and favorable; however, many of these are short or intermediate-term. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum 10-year follow-up data to compare the long-term outcomes of ACL reconstructions performed using PT and HS autografts. Methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A search of three databases (PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE) was performed to identify RCTs with a minimum of 10-year follow-up that compared clinical and/or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. Results: Four RCTs with a total of 299 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up ranged from 10.2 to 17 years (mean, 14.79 years). No significant differences in knee laxity or clinical outcome scores were demonstrated in any of the studies. One study found that PT autografts were significantly more likely to have osteoarthritis identified by radiographic findings. Two studies found that patients with PT autografts reported increase kneeling pain, while none of the four studies reported a difference in anterior knee pain. There were no significant differences in graft failure rates. Conclusions: This review demonstrates no long-term difference in clinical or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. However, radiographic and subjective outcomes indicate that patients with PT autografts may experience greater kneeling pain and osteoarthritis. Therefore, orthopaedic surgeons should consider patient-centric factors when discussing graft options with patients.
DIET-SNN: A Low-Latency Spiking Neural Network with Direct Input Encoding & Leakage and Threshold Optimization

Bio-inspired spiking neural networks (SNNs), operating with asynchronous binary signals (or spikes) distributed over time, can potentially lead to greater computational efficiency on event-driven hardware. The state-of-the-art SNNs suffer from high inference latency, resulting from inefficient input encoding, and sub-optimal settings of the neuron parameters (firing threshold, and membrane leak). We propose DIET-SNN, a low latency deep spiking network that is trained with gradient descent to optimize the membrane leak and the firing threshold along with other network parameters (weights). The membrane leak and threshold for each layer of the SNN are optimized with end-to-end backpropagation to achieve competitive accuracy at reduced latency. The analog pixel values of an image are directly applied to the input layer of DIET-SNN without the need to convert to spike-train. The first convolutional layer is trained to convert inputs into spikes where leaky-integrate-and-fire (LIF) neurons integrate the weighted inputs and generate an output spike when the membrane potential crosses the trained firing threshold. The trained membrane leak controls the flow of input information and attenuates irrelevant inputs to increase the activation sparsity in the convolutional and linear layers of the network. The reduced latency combined with high activation sparsity provides large improvements in computational efficiency. We evaluate DIET-SNN on image classification tasks from CIFAR and ImageNet datasets on VGG and ResNet architectures. We achieve top-1 accuracy of 69% with 5 timesteps (inference latency) on the ImageNet dataset with 12x less compute energy than an equivalent standard ANN. Additionally, DIET-SNN performs 20-500x faster inference compared to other state-of-the-art SNN models.
Transcriptome Profiling of Dysregulated GPCRs Reveals Overlapping Patterns across Psychiatric Disorders and Age-Disease Interactions.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play an integral role in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. Almost all neurotransmitters involved in psychiatric disorders act through GPCRs, and GPCRs are the most common targets of therapeutic drugs currently used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. However, the roles of GPCRs in the etiology and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders are not fully understood. Using publically available datasets, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomic signatures of G-protein-linked signaling across the major psychiatric disorders: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BP), and major depressive disorder (MDD). We also used the BrainSpan transcriptomic dataset of the developing human brain to examine whether GPCRs that exhibit chronological age-associated expressions have a higher tendency to be dysregulated in psychiatric disorders than age-independent GPCRs. We found that most GPCR genes were differentially expressed in the four disorders and that the GPCR superfamily as a gene cluster was overrepresented in the four disorders. We also identified a greater amplitude of gene expression changes in GPCRs than other gene families in the four psychiatric disorders. Further, dysregulated GPCRs overlapped across the four psychiatric disorders, with SCZ exhibiting the highest overlap with the three other disorders. Finally, the results revealed a greater tendency of age-associated GPCRs to be dysregulated in ASD than random GPCRs. Our results substantiate the central role of GPCR signaling pathways in the etiology and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, our study suggests that common GPCRs’ signaling may mediate distinct phenotypic presentations across psychiatric disorders. Consequently, targeting these GPCRs could serve as a common therapeutic strategy to treat specific clinical symptoms across psychiatric disorders.
A Strategic Evaluation Methodology for Manufacturing Technologies

The purpose of this paper is three-fold. First, a prescriptive methodology relating manufacturing strategy to choice of technology is presented. Second, an experimental evaluation of the proposed methodology is described. Finally, the managerial implications of the methodology are explored in the context of a real-world case study. The forces that shape the firm’s competitiveness, the approach used to operationalize the variables in the real world, and the characteristics of the technologies are discussed. Based on the results of the case study, the technological options available to the firm were prioritized.
Measuring project progress by work sampling

The authors relate how independent systems for measuring project progress and resource performance were used in aiding both the client and contractors in planning work force size and scheduling to reduce cost and improve both efficiency and effectiveness. Goaded by comments from the prime contractor, the consultants set about the determine if they could combine the independent systems. To the surprise of everyone, the consultants were able to independently forecast job progress using only the results from the performance measurement system. A math model was developed and statistical analysis was used to validate the results. >
LONG-TERM OPERATION OF A TURBOCHARGED DIESEL ENGINE ON SOYBEAN OIL FUEL BLENDS

It has been known for more than 50 years that some diesel engines could be fueled for short periods with vegetable oils, either neat or with hydrocarbon fuel additives. World overproduction of soybean oil is increasing its potential as an economical diesel fuel extender. The subject test program was undertaken to determine long-term effects of this alternate fuel on a modern, high-speed diesel engine. The choice of a vegetable oil (soybean oil) as an alternative diesel engine fuel or fuel extender rather than the other major biomass motor fuel (ethanol) is related to the relative properties of these fuels. The common U.S. vegetable oils are much closer to hydrocarbon (No. 2D) diesel fuel than is ethanol in both cetane rating and volumetric energy content. Unlike ethanol, the vegetable oils can be blended 1:1 with No. 2D fuel to produce engine power and volumetric fuel consumption levels practically identical to those obtained with 100% No. 2D fuel. However, engine operation and laboratory bench tests demonstrated that some fuel blends were unsatisfactory for continuous use. The reasons for these difficulties were determined and a satisfactory fuel blend was proven through prolonged testing.
Perceived First Contact Care for Disabled Children

In a mail-back questionnaire survey, 169 mothers of myelodysplastic children were asked whom they would contact first for each of 24 health-related problems. These problems ranged from earaches to shunt obstruction to sexual counseling. All children were being followed in a comprehensive care clinic at a regional center; however, nearly half of these families lived in rural areas distant from the clinic. Eighty percent of children were said to have local physicians. Mothers tended to perceive clinic staff and specialists for first contact care according to severity of the child9s motor paralysis, the greater the child9s hospitalization experience, and the shorter the travel time from home to clinic. However, when travel time was controlled, there was no difference in overall perceptions for those mothers living more than 90 miles away from the clinic. In a second survey to 91 physicians designated as the "child9s local doctor" and a third survey to the 27 clinic staff members, respondents were asked whom should mother contact first for each of the 24 health-related problems. The clinic staff tended to prefer itself, despite the general policy of the clinic to encourage families to utilize comunity resources, including their local physicians. Local physicians tended to prefer themselves over clinic staff, a position consistent with the philosophy of primary care to the chronically disabled child.
Component-Level Characterization for Vehicle-Level Electromagnetic Simulations

With the proliferation of high-speed electronics and wireless devices in today’s automobiles, full-vehicle electromagnetic simulations are becoming an important part of the automotive design process. Full-vehicle simulations require complete and accurate models for the various electronic components found in the vehicle. Although automotive electronic components are currently subjected to a variety of electromagnetic measurements designed to ensure electromagnetic compatibility, existing measurement procedures do not yield sufficient information about the electromagnetic behavior of components to be useful in full-vehicle simulations. This paper outlines a set of tests designed to characterize automotive components as electromagnetic sources. Source models derived from these tests can be used in vehicle-level electromagnetic simulations. These simulations can then be used to help determine the best design and placement of wireless devices and other electronic components in the vehicle. They can also be used to identify potential electromagnetic compatibility problems and/or predict the outcome of full-vehicle electromagnetic compatibility tests. The proposed tests characterize components as four source types: conducted sources, electric-field sources, magnetic-field sources, and radiated field sources. High-, midand low-impedance load tests are proposed to derive Thevenin equivalent conducted sources. Hybrid TEM cell measurements are proposed to derive electricand magnetic-field source models. Floor-mounted semi-anechoic chamber measurements are proposed to derive radiated field source models.
Anatomy and Physiology of Pain

1. Pain is a subjective sensation that has no objective correlates. 2. Pain has many forms, and the perception of pain is affected by many factors including actual circumstances expectation, stress, and the emotional state of the person. 3. Many forms of pain are best described as suffering. 4. Pain may be divided into two large groups: pain that is caused by direct stimulation (physical or chemical) of specific receptors (nociceptors) and pain that is not caused by stimulation of nociceptors. There is also a third kind of pain in which activation of neural plasticity plays an important role. 5. Stimulation of nociceptors that are located in the skin, the cornea, tooth pulp, muscles, joints, peripheral nerves, the respiratory system, and viscera causes acute pain that has both a fast and a slow component. 6. Pain can also be caused by trauma or inflammatory processes generated in nerves or in the nervous system and not from activation of specific pain receptors. 7. Expression of neural plasticity can create pain (central neuropathic pain) that is caused by neural activity in the brain without peripheral input. 8. Transmission of pain in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (and the trigeminal nucleus) can be modulated by input from skin receptors (Aβ fibers) and descending activity from supraspinal sources. 9. The sympathetic nervous system can modulate the sensitivity of nociceptors and the transmission of pain signals in the spinal cord and the trigeminal nucleus. 10. Activation of neural plasticity can also cause change in processing of nociceptor-elicited pain signals causing hyperpathia (exaggerated and prolonged response to painful stimuli) and allodynia (painful sensation from light touch of the skin). 11. The vagus nerve is involved in some forms of pain, and electrical stimulation may reduce pain.
Experimental Investigation of a Shock-Accelerated Liquid Layer with Imaging and Pressure Measurement

Many inertial fusion energy reactor designs incorporate the use of liquid wall protection of cooling tubes to mitigate damage due to energetic particles and to absorb target debris. However, the pressure loading of the reactor first wall from the impulsive loading from the shock-accelerated liquid layer may be a concern. A vertical shock tube is used to conduct shock-accelerated liquid layer experiments to simulate this scenario. A shock wave contacts and accelerates a water layer down the shock tube where it is imaged in the test section. The pressure histories at various positions along the length of the shock tube are digitally recorded as well as the shadowgraph image of the breakup of the water layer. It is found that the speed of the transmitted shock wave is reduced after passing through the liquid layer, however, the pressure load at the end-wall of the shock tube is significantly increased due to the present of the liquid layer. Water layers of two different thicknesses are studied at several Mach numbers ranging from 1.34 to 3.20.
Isolation and characterization of 22S outer arm dynein from Tetrahymena cilia.

Publisher Summary Tetrahymena is easy to grow and as ciliary dynein is easy to isolate it is an excellent source of large quantities of dynein for biochemical and in vitro motility studies. This chapter summarizes the methods employed for the isolation and characterization of Tetrahymena ciliary outer arm dynein. This dynein is isolated as a 22S particle composed of three different heavy chains, called α , β , and γ . The V1 photolysis reaction cleaves each heavy chain once, producing six distinct photolysis products. The specific activity of the 22S dynein is approximately 0.9 micromoles phosphate released per minute per milligram of protein. The axonemal dyneins are the molecular motors that drive the active sliding between adjacent outer doublet microtubules. Localized constraints on the active sliding give rise to the propagated bending of cilia and eukaryotic flagella. Under the appropriate conditions, the photolysis of the dynein heavy chain is specific and thus diagnostic for dynein. It is a convenient method used for generating peptide maps of each heavy chain and a useful way to evaluate whether an isolated dynein retains its MgATPase activity.
Spindle assembly checkpoint proteins regulate and monitor meiotic synapsis in C. elegans

Homologue synapsis is required for meiotic chromosome segregation, but how synapsis is initiated between chromosomes is poorly understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, synapsis and a checkpoint that monitors synapsis depend on pairing centers (PCs), cis-acting loci that interact with nuclear envelope proteins, such as SUN-1, to access cytoplasmic microtubules. Here, we report that spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) components MAD-1, MAD-2, and BUB-3 are required to negatively regulate synapsis and promote the synapsis checkpoint response. Both of these roles are independent of a conserved component of the anaphase-promoting complex, indicating a unique role for these proteins in meiotic prophase. MAD-1 and MAD-2 localize to the periphery of meiotic nuclei and interact with SUN-1, suggesting a role at PCs. Consistent with this idea, MAD-1 and BUB-3 require full PC function to inhibit synapsis. We propose that SAC proteins monitor the stability of pairing, or tension, between homologues to regulate synapsis and elicit a checkpoint response.
COST ESTIMATES OF TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDED PRODUCTS: TEXTURIZED WHEY PROTEIN SNACKS AND CORN–SOY BLEND USED FOR EMERGENCY FEEDING

The operating costs associated with twin-screw extrusion cooking of various foods are fixed for a given size and production capacity for any class of products; the greater percentage of costs arise from the choice of ingredients and the product end use. For example, extruder texturized whey proteins (TWP) is a new class of ingredients with expanded functionality and range of applications such as in protein-enriched snacks. The cost to produce twin-screw extruder TWP was estimated to range from $0.67/kg to $11.63/kg depending on the protein concentration of the whey and the other ingredients. Extrusion cooking was also applied to a type of raw product purchased by the U.S. government for emergency feeding overseas under the Food for Peace program (P.L. 480 Title II program). The food, a mixture of corn, soy protein concentrate and soybean oil, and minerals blend (corn–soy blend) could be produced from $0.45 to $0.55/kg. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Cost estimates are essential for designing new factories or processes, and are indispensable in scaling up pilot-plant developed processes for real-world manufacturing. Cost estimates also facilitate serious consideration of any novel production process. This study provides estimates of the cost of twin-screw extrusion processing of two products: texturized whey protein puffed snacks and an emergency feeding product, instantized corn–soy blend.
Local-Domain Mesoscale Analysis and Forecast Model Support for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games

Abstract The National Weather Service (NWS) developed the Olympic Weather Support System (OWSS) to provide specialized operational weather support for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. Operational implementation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Forecast Systems Laboratory’s Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) was a key element of the OWSS. LAPS is a complete, three-dimensional data assimilation system that produced subhourly atmospheric analyses on an 8-km grid covering all the Olympic venues. The LAPS analyses also provided initial conditions to the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) mesoscale forecast model. RAMS forecasts were generated at least every 3 h using 8- or 2-km grids. For the first time, a comprehensive operational analysis and forecast system operated in a local NWS forecast office to support meso-β-scale forecasts and warnings. Numerous benefits of LAPS–RAMS to the local forecast office were demonstrated. The OWSS, with LAPS–RAMS included,...
Institutions, Livelihoods and the Environment : Change and Response in Mainland Southeast Asia

Despite the recent economic crisis, Mainland Southeast Asia continues to experience increasing economic integration of previously isolated rural hinterlands, especially in the upland areas of LAO P ...
A multiple level set method for modeling grain boundary evolution of polycrystalline materials

In this paper, we model grain boundary evolution based on a multiple level set method. Grain boundary migration under a curvature-induced driving force is considered and the level set method is employed to deal with the resulting topological changes of grain structures. The complexity of using a level set method for modeling grain structure evolution is due to its N-phase nature and the associated geometry compatibility constraint. We employ a multiple level set method with a predictor-multicorrectors approach to reduce the gaps in the triple junctions down to the grid resolution level. A ghost cell approach for imposing periodic boundary conditions is introduced without solving a constrained problem with a Lagrange multiplier method or a penalty method. Numerical results for both uniform and random grain structures evolution are presented and the results are compared with the solutions based on a front tracking approach (Chen and Kotta et al. 2004b).
Advantages of strategic mine planning

Abstract Strategic planning is being incorporated into the business formulation and implementation of many companies. The objective is to optimize the utilization of the principal resources (capital, labor, technology and mineral reserves) and maximize the strengths and opportunities of a mining company, while minimizing its weaknesses and threats. The present paper outlines the advantages of strategic planning for a mining company and the principal factors which affect its profitability (and survivability) in business, such as, productivity and environmental restrictions.
Endogenous polyamine concentrations during development. storage and ripening of pear fruits

Abstract Bartlett and Comice pears both had about 270 nmol/g of putrescine (PUT) one month after full bloom (AFB) and decreased to a low level at harvest. However, at early stages of fruit development Comice pears contained more than twice as much spermidine (SPD) as did Bartlett pears. The spermine (SPM) was undetectable at early development in Bartlett pears but was 244 nmol/g in Comice pears. Polyamine concentrations were also determined during storage of D'Anjou pears at −1° for 74 days. SPD was the polyamine in highest concentration and SPM the lowest, early in storage; the latter decreased to undetectable levels after 60 days in storage. After 40 days at −1° polyamines decreased to about 3 nmol/g and this corresponded to the time when ethylene synthesis began. Anjou pears which had not fulfilled their chilling requirements were not able to ripen or synthesize ethylene when held 14 days at 20°. In these tissues, PUT and SPD decreased but SPM did not change in concentration significantly during 14 days at 20°. In ‘Packham's Triumph’ pears that had been chilled at −1° to produce ethylene and ripen normally on transfer to 20°, the SPM decreased to an undetectable level by day four of ripening. There were no significant changes in PUT concentration, but SPD decreased gradually during ripening. It appears that SPM may play some regulatory role in ethylene metabolism, but the role of PUT and SPD is less clear.
Inertial Flows, Slow Flows, and Combinatorial Identities for Delay Equations

The vector field induced on the finite-dimensional inertial manifold of a delay equation with small delay is proved to agree, up to the order of the expansion, with the vector field induced on a slow manifold of the differential equation obtained from the delay equation by expanding to some finite order in powers of the delay. In addition, the smoothness of inertial vector fields, the smoothness of slow vector fields, and the existence of combinatorial-style identities obtained by equating the series expansions of the slow and inertial vector fields are discussed.
Discounting in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Healthcare Programmes

Discounting is a technique commonly used in cost-effectiveness analysis to ‘make fair’ comparisons of programmes whose costs and outcomes occur at different times. It is not a correction for inflation. While there is general agreement among health economists regarding the need to discount, there is less consensus on the procedure for discounting costs or benefits. We describe the method of constant-rate discounting, which uses the same rate to discount costs and benefits, and examine its impact on the cost effectiveness of selected health interventions. This methodology has significant limitations, however. Constant-rate discounting may not accurately represent the values of a society. Furthermore, discounting does not reflect the longitudinal time preferences of individuals (or groups). The philosophical rationale for constant-rate discounting is the concept of longitudinal equity, i.e. that society should make allocation decisions in such a way that present and future cohorts are treated equally, regardless of when they come into existence. In general, discounting affects the cost effectiveness of preventive interventions more than acute interventions, and it affects programmes with immediate cost more that those with ongoing cost. The reader of such analyses should be aware of these effects, and should use caution in comparing the cost effectiveness of interventions with vastly different timing of cost and benefit.
Kinetics of self-immolation: faster signal relay over a longer linear distance?

A counterintuitive observation of a faster signal relay over a longer linear distance prompted detailed kinetic studies of self-immolation reactions. With appropriate conformational bias, trigger-to-reporter signal transduction can take an efficient “shortcut” that outperforms conventional pathways involving repetitive quinone methide rearrangements and elimination.
Concurrent occurrence of multiple positive lifestyle behaviors and depression among adults in the United States.

Abstract Background To our knowledge, no studies have examined the dose-response association between concurrent occurrence of multiple positive health behaviors and depression. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the dose-response association between concurrent occurrence of lifestyle behaviors (i.e., diet, physical activity, and smoking) on depression symptoms among a national sample of U.S. adults (20–85 yr). Methods: Using data from the 2005–2006 NHANES (n=2574), diet was assessed from the healthy eating index variable; physical activity was assessed via accelerometry; smoking was assessed from cotinine levels; and depression was assessed from the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Results: Each lifestyle behavior was independently associated with depression in the expected direction, and there was also evidence of a dose–response relationship. Compared to those having 0 positive lifestyle factors, those with 1, 2, and 3 positive lifestyle factors, respectively, were 15% (p=0.38), 67% (p=0.001), and 82% (p=0.01) less likely to be classifed as having moderate or greater depression symptoms (PHQ-9≥10). Limitations: The main limitation of this study was the cross-sectional design. Conclusion: there is a dose-response relationship between concurrent occurrence of positive lifestyle behaviors and depression symptoms.
Covert Negative Reinforcement: An Experimental Test

Abstract Ss in the experimental group were asked to imagine an idiosyncratic noxious scene the cessation of which would be contingent upon imagining a neutral stimulus (a ringing bell). This was repeated 30 times. A second group was asked to imagine noxious and neutral scenes in an unpaired manner. A third group received no imagery training. In the experimental test phase, all Ss were asked to estimate the size of circles to establish a baseline. With Groups 1 and 2, E said the word “bell” when the Ss either overestimated (during the over-estimation condition) or underestimated (during the under-estimation condition) the size of the circles. Deviation of the estimates of circle size was influenced by use of the word “bell” in Group 1 only supporting the covert negative reinforcement hypothesis.
Authorizing the Foreign Language Student

This paper begins by reviewing the current practices in foreign language teaching in light of Bourdieu's theories of language and power to show how failing to assess discursive intent prevents students from understanding the strategic use of language. Bourdieu's model is then proposed as the basis for a pedagogy that authorizes students to use their existing cognitive skills in order to assess a text's discourse and uncover its verbal and nonverbal strategies. To illustrate this alternative pedagogy, pedagogical techniques used to teach a short video segment from German television in a third-semester Business German course will be discussed. Each of the techniques encourages students to look for the significance of the video's visual as well as verbal discourse. To help exemplify both the authorizing process and the pedagogical effectiveness of this new approach, these techniques will also be compared with input exercises that ask students to register information without assessing discursive intent. As a final point, this paper will discuss oral and written exercises that build on students' insights from their analysis of the video's visual and acoustic features.
Particulate matter (PM) exposure assessment--horizontal and vertical PM profiles in relation to agricultural activities and environmental factors in farm fields.

Reports profiling airborne particulate matter (PM) in farm fields, especially during a Class B biosolids land-injection process, are scarce. Thus, this study characterized PM in such a farm field located in northwest Ohio. For comparison, a control farm field with no biosolids application history was also monitored. During 11 days of varied agricultural activities, the concentrations of particle mass and number (count) and also metal content were monitored in the study field, and their interactions with environmental factors were examined. The monitoring was performed across the farm field at four heights of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 m from the ground. The overall mean (SD) concentration (μg/m3) of respirable suspended particulate matter (RPM) was 30.8 (23.1) with means ranging from 15.9 (3.80) during post-tilling Event 1, 19.9 (12.4) during biosolids application to 56.1 (11.7) during post-harvest (including baling) activity. The maximum concentration of RPM (μg/m3) was 43 during biosolids application, 90 du...
The nature of preschool phonological processing abilities and their relations to vocabulary, general cognitive abilities, and print knowledge

The development of reading-related phonological processing abilities represents an important developmental milestone in the process of learning to read. In this cross-sectional study, confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the structure of phonological processing abilities in 129 younger preschoolers (M = 40.88 months, SD = 4.65) and 304 older preschoolers (M = 56.49 months, SD = 5.31). A 2-factor model in which Phonological Awareness and Phonological Memory were represented by I factor and Lexical Access was represented by a 2nd factor provided the best fit for both samples and was largely invariant across samples. Measures of vocabulary, cognitive abilities, and print knowledge were significantly correlated with both factors, but Phonological Awareness/Memory had unique relations with word reading. Despite significant development of phonological processing abilities across the preschool years and into kindergarten, these results show that the structure of these skills remains invariant.
Are Some False-Positive Stress Echocardiograms a Forme Fruste Variety of Apical Ballooning Syndrome?

The mechanisms for abnormal stress echocardiograms (SEs) in patients with normal coronary arteries have not been clearly elucidated. We hypothesized that in some patients, this phenomenon may represent a forme fruste of apical ballooning syndrome (ABS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the characteristics of patients with strongly false-positive SEs and determine whether there were similarities to ABS. Thirty-one patients from the Mayo Clinic stress echocardiography database who had normal function at rest, extensive regional wall motion abnormalities in association with an abnormal response of left ventricular end-systolic cavity size at peak stress, and angiographically normal coronary arteries were evaluated. Eighty-four percent were women with a mean age of 61 +/- 12 years, 6% had a positive stress electrocardiogram, and only 26% had a hypertensive response to stress. In 81%, left ventricular ejection fraction decreased with stress and 97% developed new regional wall motion abnormalities in > or =4 segments. Peak wall motion score index was 1.65 +/- 0.39. Midventricular (100%) and apical (87%) segments were most often involved with relative sparing of the basal segments (77%; p = 0.01). There were no deaths during follow-up (2.3 +/- 0.7 years). In conclusion, the major findings of this study were that strongly false-positive SEs occurred predominantly in postmenopausal women, and frequently involved the apical and mid-left ventricular segments, features that were similar to ABS. Data were consistent with the hypothesis that some false-positive SEs may represent a forme fruste of ABS.
ESR STUDIES OF CHLOROPHYLL ONE-ELECTRON PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN SOLUTION: KINETICS OF REVERSIBLE QUINONE REDUCTION AND GENERAL REDOX MECHANISMS†

— ESR studies have been made of the kinetics of semiquinone radical formation and disappearance resulting from the reversible photosensitization of reduction or oxidation, by chlorophyll, pheophytin or hematoporphyrin, of several quinone-hydroquinone pairs in various solvents. The rate of radical decay was found to be second order with respect to the radical concentration in all systems. Radical formation rates were determined by the initial production rate minus the decay rate. The kinetic constants for single electron transfer between triplet porphyrins and quinones or hydroquinones were determined usingβ-carotene as a quencher in aqueous pyridine, and by measuring the initial rate of radical formation at various concentrations of quinones and hydroquinones in methanol and ethanol. These constants were found to be approximately the same in a given solvent for benzoquinone and hydroquinone with all porphyrins, though the rates differed in different solvents: pyridine-water ∼ 106I./mole sec, and methanol and ethanol ∼ 5X 104l./mole sec. Trimethylquinone and its hydroquinone also give similar rate constants for radical formation in pyridine-water, ∼ 106 l./mole sec. The second order radical decay constants for both benzoquinone and hydroquinone in pyridine-water were the same, ∼ 105 I./mole sec, with either chlorophyll, pheophytin or hematoporphyrin as sensitizer. The same activation energy, 6900 cal/mole, was found for chlorophyll-benzoquinone and hydroquinone in aqueous pyridine; 5500 cal/mole was obtained for these systems in ethanol. In methanol and ethanol solutions of chlorophyll, the same radical decay rate constants, ∼106 I./mole sec, were observed for both benzoquinone and hydroquinone. Also, the same decay constants, ∼ 106 I./mole sec, were found for trimethylquinone and its hydroquinine in pyridine-water. These latter two compounds gave extremely small steady-state ESR signals in ethanol compared with aqueous pyridine. We have also observed that the steady-state signal obtained with chlorophyll-menadione in ethanol-water was much enhanced by the presence of NADH. In contrast, NAD+ was found to decrease radical production, by increasing the decay rate, in the chlorophyll-hydroquinone system in aqueous pyridine. These results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms for radical formation and disappearance. The most likely possibility is considered to be a one-electron oxidation or reduction of the porphyrin triplet, followed by radical disproportionation and redox reactions between the disproportionation products.
Information technologies and civic engagement: Perspectives from librarianship and planning

Abstract Urban planning and librarianship are parallel fields in many ways. Both have theoretical and practical underpinnings driving each discipline; are interdisciplinary in focus; and both professions gather and disseminate information to stakeholders. Essential to the success of each discipline is an engaged user population. The authors use a case study from the Village of Oak Park to examine and reflect upon the effect of the Internet and other technologies in the public's ability to participate in an open planning process. The Village of Oak Park is known for its architectural heritage and outspoken community. Within its 4.5 square miles live a diverse population of approximately 52,000 people from different cultures, races, ethnicities, professions, lifestyles, religions, ages, and incomes where a majority of the population have some advanced education and over 80% of the households report home Internet use. How does a community like the Village of Oak Park engage in the planning process? What role does information play in this process? Can modern Information Technologies facilitate civic engagement? These questions are examined during a year-long case study conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in cooperation with the Village of Oak Park (VOP). Specifically, the investigators examined how information is gathered and used in the planning process and how the introduction of Information Technology (IT) tools influenced public participation and introduced many citizens to e-government through the planning process. The use of these tools is compared to the traditional planning process. Data from the project is presented to demonstrate a different kind of role librarians play in the research process. Last, the authors discuss the role of privacy in the gathering and sharing of information with the reliability of that information and the impact of privacy on the public planning process.
MOTIVATIONAL EFFECT OF WELL DRESSED TEACHERS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE ACADEMICALLY DEFICIENT

Sirmmary.-The importance of the teacher as a role model has not been listed on students' evaluation of instruction at a local community college, but research has shown that this is a concern for the motivation of first-year deficiency-level college srudents. This study surveyed students in deficiency-level classes on whether their motivation to learn is improved by having a well-dressed teacher (superficial role model). Both day and night students were not sipficandy motivated by the described teacher's dress. Night scudents were, however, significantly more motivated by the teacher's qualities (including dress) than were day studenrs. Accoding to Maslow's (1970) hierarchical model, "deficiency" needs (safety, love, esteem) must be satisfied before needs (self-actualization, knowledge). This seems an important consideration for the motivation of slower learners in the classroom. In studying classroom motivational techniques, Grace and Buser (1987) concluded teachers should be responsible for ensuring that the deficiency needs are satisfied because such students appear unlikely to be motivated by abiljties and attitudes, confidence, background experiences, and so appear predisposed to classroom fadure. Techniques recommended for improvemenr of motivation in the classroom include providing opportunities which increase self-esreem, concern for individual differences, enthusiasm in teading, furnishing interesting and relevant subject matter, and being a role model for success. All of these Factors, with the exception of the teacher as a role model, are listed on the students' evaluations of instruction at a local community college. This permitted examination of whether their teachers, as superficial role models, have a motivational effect on study habirs of first-year students least likely to remain in college. One hundred sixty-eight students were asked during class co read a hypothetical descriptive paragraph of a typically good teacher. The teacher was described positively as having assecs predominantly mentioned on the students' evaluation forms. Half of these students received the same paragraph with an additional sentence describing the teacher as well dressed and attractive. Both paragraphs were intermixed before [he forms were randomly distributed. Students were asked to rate each of seven statements (listed below the paragraph) about this teacher from strongly agree (4) to strongly disagree (1). The motivational statement (statement 3) was
Hypophysectomy of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and survival in fresh water and seawater

Coho salmon were hypophysectomized by a transorbital surgical technique. Hypophysectomized coho survived in fresh water but not in seawater. Plasma sodium levels were lower in hypophysectomized fish in fresh water and in 14 (isotonic) seawater than in sham-operated fish, suggesting impaired osmoregulatory function in hypophysectomized fish. In addition, Na+, K+-ATPase activity was reduced in hypophysectomized freshwater fish.
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses of infants after natural infection or immunization with live cold-recombinant or inactivated influenza A virus vaccine.

The cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response of infants after immunization with either inactivated trivalent subvirion vaccine (TIV) or bivalent attenuated cold-recombinant (CR) vaccine or occurrence of natural influenza virus infection were compared in a blinded, placebo-controlled study during the 1987–1988 and 1988–1989 influenza epidemic seasons. Healthy infants between 6 and 13 months of age were randomly assigned and administered a single dose of intranasal bivalent (A/H3N2/A/H1N1) CR vaccine, a two-dose regimen of TIV (A/H3N2/A/H1N1/B) influenza vaccine, or placebo. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained prior to and 2–8 weeks after vaccination and at the end of the epidemic season and stimulated with virus in vitro for 6 or 7 days. Lysis of autologous virus-infected target cells was assessed in a 4 hr 51Cr release assay. MHC class l-restricted influenza A-specific CTL was stimulated following natural influenza A virus infection but not after immunization with CR influenza A virus vaccine or TIV. These results demonstrate for the first time induction of influenza virus-specific CTL activity in infants under 1 year of age. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Static and dynamic properties of Yukawa systems : Application to dusty plasmas

The pair correlation function g(r) for a strongly coupled Yukawa liquid has been generated by using an HNC code for a wide range of nominal coupling (Γ=βZ 2 e 2 /a) and range (κ =κa) values (a is the interparticle distance). We have analyzed the collective mode structure of the system via the Quasi Localized Charge Approximation (QLCA) which requires the input of the correlation function [2]. The availability of g(r) has now made it possible to extend the analysis to arbitrary wave lengths for high κ-values. Both mode frequencies approach the same asymptotic limit, the Einstein frequency of the localized mode.
Preoperative and postoperative nomograms incorporating surgeon experience for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Previous studies suggest that the number of cases performed by a surgeon is predictive of prostate cancer recurrence even after controlling for the individual patient characteristics.1–3 This finding would suggest that, when counseling a patient as to his risk of recurrence, an adjustment should be made for the experience of the surgeon. Such an adjustment would improve the predictive accuracy of a tool, especially when applied across surgeons who have a broad range with respect to experience. We used individual patient data from 4 institutions to develop preoperative and postoperative models to predict biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative patient characteristics, we adjusted for the number of cases performed before the present case to reflect surgeon experience. These models were internally validated with use of bootstrapping methods and cross-validated among institutions. Moreover, the predictive accuracy was evaluated with and without adjustment for surgeon experience to characterize the improvement associated with this adjustment.
A Post-Modern Approach to the Spanish Renaissance: Paul Julian Smith on the Literature and Literary Theory of the Golden Age

In his Introduction, Dr Smith presents this book as ‘the first study of writing in the Spanish Renaissance or Golden Age to draw extensively on what has become known as “post-structuralism”‘.1 He does acknowledge some recent work in English, but his is the first attempt to approach, in a deconstructive mode, not a single piece of literature or an author, but a whole period's representative texts in three principal genres (lyric poetry, picaresque narrative, drama) as well as poetics. It merits attention, therefore, by virtue of being a trail-blazer. This is not conventional literary history, though the poets (Garcilaso, Herrera, Gongora) are treated sequentially, and the same may be said of the genres presented in the other chapters. Texts are not made part of a historical narrative or expressions of a mentalite. But neither is it totally detached from history, in the sense that the relation between the reader and the text is constrained by conventions and structures of authority that it is the critic's b...