cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family Literacy: A Critical Inquiry–Based Approach to English Language Acquisition

In this theoretical article, the author explores the perceptions that drive the development of family literacy programs aimed at preparing limited-English-proficiency (LEP) families for schools in the United States. Examining English language learning with regard to power dynamics within a society and culture, the article considers the spectrum of approaches to family literacy ranging from efficiency-driven deficit models to more holistic community- and family-centered models. The author argues that a critical inquiry-based approach to family literacy programs, based on Freirean principles of problem posing, can better serve LEP populations in their transitions into U.S. school systems. The article examines three inquiry-based family literacy programs through the lens of a critical problem-posing framework and ends with suggestions for program development and future research.
How Dense Core Vesicles Are Delivered to Axon Terminals – A Review of Modeling Approaches

Dense core vesicles (DCVs) are neuronal organelles that transport diverse cargos important for neuron growth and function, such as neuropeptides, monoamines, and neurotrophic factors. Dysregulation of DCV transport is linked to numerous disorders. Neuropeptides, one of the key components transported by DCVs, are synthesized in the neuron soma. They are then packaged in DCVs and transported toward nerve terminals. Published experimental results suggest that DCVs circulate in nerve terminals, undergoing repeated anterograde and retrograde transport cycles. Some DCVs are captured as they travel through en passant boutons, which are sequential varicose sites in axon terminals. Other DCVs that were not captured while passing the boutons switch direction when they leave the terminal and re-enter circulation. The chapter reviews recent modeling approaches to simulating DCV transport in axon terminals. In particular, differences in modeling DCV transport in terminals with type Ib and type III boutons are discussed. The effects of varying the rate of DCV synthesis in the soma are investigated. The ability of the model to predict the trends observed in experiments is also discussed. Testable predictions made by the model are examined.
Urological Applications of Botulinum Toxin

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum (1). First discovered in 1897 by Professor Pierre Emile van Ermengem of Ellezelles, Belgium botulinum toxin is the most poisonous naturally occurring toxin known to man (2). Seven immunologically distinct antigenic subtypes of botulinum toxin have been isolated: A, B, C1, D, E, F, and G (1). Only types A and B are available for use clinically. Botulinum type A toxin (BTX-A), known as Botox® in the United States and Dysport® in the United Kingdom, is more potent and has a longer duration of action than type B (1,2). Type B is commercially available in the United States as MyoBloc® and in Europe as NeuroBloc® (2).
Microstructure investigations of U3Si2 implanted by high-energy Xe ions at 600 °C

Abstract The microstructure investigations on a high-energy Xe-implanted U 3 Si 2 pellet were performed. The promising accident tolerant fuel (ATF) candidate, U 3 Si 2 , was irradiated by 84 MeV Xe ions at 600 °C at Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS). The characterizations of the Xe implanted sample were conducted using advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. An oxidation layer was observed on the sample surface after irradiation under the ∼ 10 -5 Pa vacuum. The study on the oxidation layer not only unveils the readily oxidation behavior of U 3 Si 2 under high-temperature irradiation conditions, but also develops an understanding of its oxidation mechanism. Intragranular Xe bubbles with bimodal size distribution were observed within the Xe deposition region of the sample induced by 84 MeV Xe ion implantation. At the irradiation temperature of 600 °C, the gaseous swelling strain contributed by intragranular bubbles was found to be insignificant, indicating an acceptable fission gas behavior of U 3 Si 2 as a light water reactor (LWR) fuel operating at such a temperature.
Developmental Education: The Evolution of Research and Reform

Almost two-thirds of entering community college students and over one-third of students entering less-selective four year colleges are judged as lacking in the math and language skills necessary for success in college-level courses. Traditionally, these students have been referred to “remedial” or “developmental education” programs, which are designed to bring students’ math, reading, and writing skills up to the college’s expectations of entry-level students. Unfortunately, however, the vast majority of students referred to traditional developmental education sequences never complete these requirements. In response, states, college systems, and individual institutions have embarked on a wide array of reform efforts focused on increasing the accuracy of systems that place students into developmental education, accelerating student progress into college-level coursework, and improving the instruction and student supports for underprepared students. In this chapter, we review the traditional system’s structure and effectiveness and provide a history of first, second, and third-wave reforms and research on those approaches. This chapter also delineates the teaching and learning issues that must be addressed in order to further advance the reform movement, and discusses areas for future research.
Pavement Manager at Risk in Construction of Hot Mix Asphalt

Pavement management is part science, part management, and part experience. After several decades of promoting pavement management, many road owners are still reluctant to use it as they lack the knowledge, the experience, or the confidence. The problem is further complicated by the emergence of a large list of new products and techniques that are self-proclaimed to achieve miracles but fall short. The outcome of this arrangement is that thousands of miles of roads still cost more to maintain than if effective pavement preservation techniques were used. This paper attempts to resolve this dilemma by introducing the role of Pavement Manager at Risk (PMAR), allowing a Pavement Manager to offer a long-term pavement preservation service to a client in return for a fixed per-mile premium. This allows the knowledgeable Pavement Manager, who would typically be a Pavement Engineer or a practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience, to implement effective pavement preservation techniques and share the economic benefit with the owner. In this study, the responsibilities of the Pavement Manager at Risk (PMAR) will be introduced. The type of analysis it needs to run will be demonstrated in a case study. In this paper, a sample analysis is presented to present the financial aspects of managing a network of local roads. Pavement treatment cost, pavement condition, and treatment life extension in addition to the admin, mobilization, striping, and occasional patches expenses are presented. The benefits and risks of this approach are described.
Mus poschiavinus (Tobacco mouse)

This species is known only to the Val Poschiavo (Puschlav) in the Grisons/Switzerland. The animals were originally trapped by Professor E.von Lehmann,Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn,Germany. The karyotype of the male is from a spermatogonial metaphase, that of the female from a squash preparation of the spleen. Both are gifts of Professor Alfred Gropp and Dr.U.Tettenborn,Bonn,Germany.
Aquinas and His Predecessors: Some Further Differences

In the preceding Chapter, the principal opposition between the SLE and its predecessors was proposed. That opposition can be characterized variously. Speaking very generally, one might say that Aquinas disagreed with previous commentators on the unifying factor of the ten books of the Ethics. Or, if one prefers a less general description, one could explain that Aquinas insists by the SLE that the entirety of the Ethics is held together by the search for the answer to the question of human happiness. Thirdly, and now bringing in yet more detail, one can argue that, according to the SLE, in Book I is discovered a general description of the agent’s final end, a description requiring the subsequent examination of the virtues and some of their consequences; then, in Book X, and on the basis of the preceding nine books, a final description of the happiness proper to the human agent in this life is offered. Yet however one phrases the opposition between Aquinas and the earlier commentators on the Ethics, it seems undeniable that the SLE was intended as an expression of a moral theory of great importance to Aquinas. In the present Chapter, less central differences between Aquinas and Albert, as well as one between Aquinas and Averroes, will be examined. Additional evidence is thus offered for the view of the SLE as a work in which Aquinas proposed a theory of morality which in his mind had not up to that time been adequately understood.
Propeller Effects on the Response of High-Altitude Long-Endurance Aircraft

An enhanced nonlinear aeroelastic-coupled-flight dynamics framework that enables the investigation of propeller aerodynamics and inertial effects on the response of a very flexible aircraft is pres...
Effect of germination time on antioxidative activity and composition of yellow pea soluble free and polar soluble bound phenolic compounds

This research aims to study antioxidative activities of polar solvent extractable phenolic compounds from yellow peas with different germination times against oil-in-water emulsion oxidation. After germination (0, 2, 4, and 6 days), soluble free and polar soluble bound phenolic compounds were extracted and their antioxidative activity was evaluated using stripped soybean oil (SSO)-in-water emulsions. Liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS) and size-exclusion chromatography with multiangle-light-scattering and refractive-index detection (SEC-MALS-RI) were employed to analyze the phenolic composition and molar mass, respectively. Antioxidative activities of soluble free phenolic compounds increased in the SSO-in-water emulsion system, while those of polar soluble bound phenolic compounds decreased with germination. On the basis of chemometric analysis, pratensein (2), phloridzin (4), quercetin (9), sayanedine (12), hesperetin (13), glyzaglabrin (14), and pinocembrin (15) were speculated as the pivotal phenolic compounds responsible for the hydrogen donating capacity. Additionally, decreased molecular weight of soluble bound phenolic compounds was accompanied by the reduction of antioxidative activity in SSO-in-water emulsions indicating that the moieties of polar soluble bound phenolic compounds also have an important impact on the antioxidative activity of phenolic compounds.
A week-long instructional design approach to teach postoperative pain management knowledge among Afghan anesthesiology faculty: a potential global health teaching blueprint

# Background Anesthesia-focused short courses might be an effective and sustainable way to further the ongoing training and evidence-based practice skills of anesthesia professionals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Instructional design, the process by which formalized learning theory is incorporated into education planning and delivery, is a tool that can strengthen learning in these short courses. As part of an ongoing multilateral project between the University of Minnesota (UMN) and Kabul University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), this project sought to identify the feasibility and potential educational impact of a newly designed postoperative analgesia short-course employing instructional design principles. The Afghan faculty learners’ subjective viewpoint of the short course experience was also investigated and is described in this article. # Methods Afghan learners and United States based faculty met in Bangalore, India in August 2018 for this short course. During the 6-day course, learners participated in didactics and workshops discussing regional anesthesia techniques, multimodal analgesia, safety, pain assessment and management, and the influence of ethno-cultural context on pain control. Interactive games, model-based nerve block simulations, and flipped classroom approaches were educational strategies used in the course. The Afghan faculty also participated in instructional design workshops designed to strengthen their teaching skills for use with both students and faculty colleagues. Pretests, posttests, and opinion surveys were completed by the Afghan faculty learners. # Results All learners completed the course with full participation. A median of 5 out of 10 technical questions were answered correctly by the learners on the pretest; this score improved to a median of 6.5 on the posttest. The number of learners who ranked their understanding of the role of regional anesthesia in their perioperative care practice as “very well” increased from 2 to 5 faculty. Likewise, the number of learners who described their understanding of postoperative pain and their ability to perform regional anesthesia as “not well at all” decreased from 2 to 0 in both categories. Further, the majority of the participants agreed that at the end of the course their ability to understand and apply instructional design concepts had improved. # Conclusions The short course in postoperative pain management appeared to improve short-term knowledge among Afghan faculty participants. Afghan faculty had a favorable opinion of the course and increased confidence in their ability to use instructional design best practices. The results of this project suggest that short courses based in instructional design can be useful and effective for short-term knowledge gain in an LMIC setting such as Afghanistan.
Abstract 4656: Evaluating the role of early-life factors on the risk of pediatric central nervous system tumors: A registry-linkage study

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors in children and remain a significant contributor to death by disease in this population. While there is evidence that pediatric CNS tumors arise in early-life, limited knowledge is available on the role of maternal and perinatal factors in the etiology of these malignancies, which hampers prevention efforts. Therefore, we investigated the association between these early-life factors and risk of CNS tumors in children using data from Texas Cancer Registry, which is one of the world9s largest and most diverse cancer registries, which may lead to the identification of modifiable risk factors. Methods: Information on pediatric CNS tumor cases (N=1950) for the period 1995-2011 was obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry. Birth certificate controls were frequency-matched on year of birth at a ratio of 10:1 for the same period. Variables evaluated were obtained from birth records and included maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, maternal education, maternal nativity, maternal residency (urban vs rural), residency on Mexican border, plurality and birth order of child, size for gestational age, term of birth, and mode of delivery. Unconditional logistic regression was used to generate an adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) testing the association between each factor and CNS tumors overall, as well as astrocytoma (N=978) and ependymoma (N=157) subtypes individually. Results: Hispanic and non-Hispanic black mothers were less likely to have children who developed CNS tumors compared to non-Hispanic white mothers (OR: 0.88 [95%CI: 0.79-0.98]; OR: 0.78 [95%CI: 0.66-0.91], respectively). Conversely, infants born large for gestational age (OR: 1.26 [95%CI: 1.08-1.48]) as well as those delivered pre-term ( Conclusions: Overall, several maternal and perinatal factors were associated with pediatric CNS tumors, indicating the important role of these characteristics in the etiology of these clinically significant malignancies. Citation Format: Maral Adel Fahmideh, Erin C. Peckham-Gregory, Jeremy M. Schraw, Murali Chintagumpala, Stephen C. Mack, Philip J. Lupo, Michael E. Scheurer. Evaluating the role of early-life factors on the risk of pediatric central nervous system tumors: A registry-linkage study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4656.
Motivations and impact of international rotations in low- and middle-income countries for orthopaedic surgery residents: Are we on the same page?

Abstract Background Despite interest among North American orthopaedic residents to pursue rotations in resource-limited settings, little is known regarding resident motivations and impact on host surgeons. Methods Surveys were distributed to North American orthopaedic surgeons and trainees who participated in international rotations during residency to assess motivations for participation and to orthopaedic surgeons at partnering low- and middle-income country (LMIC) institutions to assess impact of visiting trainees. Results Responses were received from 136 North American resident rotators and 51 LMIC host surgeons and trainees. North American respondents were motivated by a desire to increase surgical capacity at the LMIC while host surgeons reported a greater impact from learning from residents than on surgical capacity. Negative aspects reported by hosts included selfishness, lack of reciprocity, racial discrimination, competition for surgical experience, and resource burdens. Conclusions The motivations and impact of orthopaedic resident rotations in LMICs need to be aligned. Host perceptions and bidirectional educational exchange should be incorporated into partnership guidelines.
Recurring Waves of COVID-19 Pandemic with Different Effects in Public Health

This paper analyzes first and second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in one of largest European countries, Italy, to show how the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic had a high negative effect on public health that reduced intensity with the summer season and with containment policies; second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, from August 2020 onwards, showed increasing confirmed cases but general impact in society seems to be of a lower intensity in society. This study can support best practice of crisis management to cope with future recurring waves of COVID-19 pandemic and similar epidemics.
Physics of thermalization and level density in an isolated system of strongly interacting particles

Here, we present a short review of ideas, methods and results for understanding the evolution of an excited mesoscopic system of strongly interacting constituents. We discuss the process of thermalization with its characteristic time dependence different from what is known in classical mechanics, the resulting state of quantum chaos, enhancement of sensitivity to weak perturbations including violation of fundamental symmetries in nuclei, problem of the level density, and effects of continuum and superradiance.
Electronic spectroscopy of the A1̃2A′′/A2̃2A′−X̃2A′ transitions of jet-cooled calcium ethoxide radicals: Vibronic structure of alkaline earth monoalkoxide radicals of Cs symmetry

Laser-induced fluorescence/dispersed fluorescence (LIF/DF) and cavity ring-down spectra of the A12A′′/A22A′−X2A′ electronic transition of the calcium ethoxide (CaOC2H5) radical have been obtained under jet-cooled conditions. An essentially constant A2−A1 energy separation for different vibronic levels is observed in the LIF spectrum, which is attributed to both the spin–orbit (SO) interaction and non-relativistic effects. Electronic transition energies, vibrational frequencies, and spin–vibrational eigenfunctions calculated using the coupled-cluster method, along with results from previous complete active space self-consistent field calculations, have been used to predict the vibronic energy level structure and simulate the recorded LIF/DF spectra. Although the vibrational frequencies and Franck–Condon (FC) factors calculated under the Born–Oppenheimer approximation and the harmonic oscillator approximation reproduce the dominant spectral features well, the inclusion of the pseudo-Jahn–Teller (pJT) and SO interactions, especially those between the A12A″/A22A′ and the B2A′ states, induces additional vibronic transitions and significantly improves the accuracy of the spectral simulations. Notably, the spin–vibronic interactions couple vibronic levels and alter transition intensities. The calculated FC matrix for the A12A′′/A22A′−X2A′ transition contains a number of off-diagonal matrix elements that connect the vibrational ground levels to the levels of the ν8 (CO stretch), ν11 (OCC bending), ν12 (CaO stretch), ν13 (in-plane CaOC bending), and ν21 (out-of-plane CaOC bending) modes, which are used for vibrational assignments. Transitions to the ν21(a″) levels are allowed due to the pJT effect. Furthermore, when LIF transitions to the A-state levels of the CaOC-bending modes, ν13 and ν21, are pumped, A12A′′/A22A′→X2A′ transitions to the combination levels of these two modes with the ν8, ν11, and ν12 modes are also observed in the DF spectra due to the Duschinsky mixing. Implications of the present spectroscopic investigation to laser cooling of asymmetric-top molecules are discussed.
Differences in Gut Microbiome Composition Between Sympatric Wild and Allopatric Laboratory Populations of Omnivorous Cockroaches

Gut microbiome composition is determined by a complex interplay of host genetics, founder's effects, and host environment. We are using omnivorous cockroaches as a model to disentangle the relative contribution of these factors. Cockroaches are a useful model for host-gut microbiome interactions due to their rich hindgut microbial community, omnivorous diet, and gregarious lifestyle. In this study, we used 16S rRNA sequencing to compare the gut microbial community of allopatric laboratory populations of Periplaneta americana as well as sympatric, wild-caught populations of P. americana and Periplaneta fuliginosa, before and after a 14 day period of acclimatization to a common laboratory environment. Our results showed that the gut microbiome of cockroaches differed by both species and rearing environment. The gut microbiome from the sympatric population of wild-captured cockroaches showed strong separation based on host species. Laboratory-reared and wild-captured cockroaches from the same species also exhibited distinct gut microbiome profiles. Each group of cockroaches had a unique signature of differentially abundant uncharacterized taxa still present after laboratory cultivation. Transition to the laboratory environment resulted in decreased microbiome diversity for both species of wild-caught insects. Interestingly, although laboratory cultivation resulted in similar losses of microbial diversity for both species, it did not cause the gut microbiome of those species to become substantially more similar. These results demonstrate how competing factors impact the gut microbiome and highlight the need for a greater understanding of host-microbiome interactions.
Precision Measurement of Eddy Current Coil Parameters

Investigation of experimental techniques for accurate electrical characterization of eddy current test coils and determination of the effect of various mechanisms, such as shorts, defective ferrite, or mechanical disturbance on the coil signature is important to the understanding and proper use of these coils. Such information is helpful in two areas of eddy current NDE; the evaluation of poorly performing commercial probes and the more esoteric problem of determining the interaction between an eddy current coil and a part containing defects.
Factors affecting prognosis in carcinoma of the ovary

Abstract 1. 1. One hundred and five cases of carcinoma of the ovary are reviewed and the 5 year survival rate of 89 of these patients analyzed. 2. 2. Cases of papilliferous serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary and pseudomucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary may be separated into a relatively benign type and a much more malignant variety. Carcinomas (even if there are gross metastases) with calcification and broad fibrous papillae and good differentiation of epithelial elements respond very well to radiation followed by operation. Patients who have tumors with metastases that morphologically show broad sheets of anaplastic cells with absence of calcification and broad papillae do very poorly with or without radiation. 3. 3. The prognosis of patients with tumors limited to one or both ovaries is good regardless of the microscopic picture and apparently regardless of radiation.
Length of site‐specific positive surgical margins as a risk factor for biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy

Objectives: Positive surgical margins (PSM) have been associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy, but the significance of PSM length and location are debated. We assessed the impact of PSM lengths at specific locations for BCR in an open radical prostatectomy series. Methods: Detailed clinical and pathological data were collected from 117 post-prostatectomy patients with PSM from 1984 to 2004 at our institution. PSM locations were classified as apex, mid-gland, base, bladder neck, and anterior fibromuscular region with lengths measured at each site. Aggregate PSM length was obtained by summing lengths of all PSM areas in contact with the inked surface. BCR was defined as serum prostate specific antigen level 0.2 ng/mL or greater. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses of PSM lengths were conducted either as a continuous or categorical variable relative to location as a predictor of BCR. Results: Multivariate analyses demonstrated that as a continuous variable, PSM length at the anterior fibromuscular region (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.17; P = 0.027) and bladder neck (HR = 1.29; P = 0.046) were significant predictors for BCR. As a categorical variable, PSM length ≥ 2 mm at the anterior fibromuscular area was significant for BCR (HR = 3.02; P = 0.036). Increasing Gleason grade and positive lymph node status were also found to be significant independent predictors for BCR. Conclusion: PSM length at the anterior fibromuscular region (continuous and categorical) and the bladder neck (continuous) was significantly associated with BCR. Site-specific PSM length, along with Gleason grade and lymph node status, can be predictive of BCR and assist in risk stratification of patients with PSM following radical prostatectomy.
The Institute for Scientific Information and the Science Citation Index

The history, goals, and capabilities of the Science Citation Index, which is produced by the Institute for Scientific Information, are reviewed. Recent statistics and data about astronomy are given. We address questions such as the importance of self-citations, whether citations really measure importance, and whether citations in different fields can be fairly compared.
A comparison of forecasting methods: fundamentals, polling, prediction markets, and experts

We compare Oscar forecasts derived from four data types (fundamentals, polling, prediction markets, and domain experts) across three attributes (accuracy, timeliness and cost effectiveness). Fundamentals-based forecasts are relatively expensive to construct, an attribute the academic literature frequently ignores, and update slowly over time, constraining their accuracy. However, fundamentals provide valuable insights into the relationship between key indicators for nominated movies and their chances of victory. For instance, we find that the performance in other awards shows is highly predictive of the Oscar victory whereas box office results are not. Polling- based forecasts have the potential to be both accurate and timely. Timeliness requires incentives for frequent responses by high-information users. Accuracy is achieved by a proper transformation of raw polls. Prediction market prices are accurate forecasts, but can be further improved by simple transformations of raw prices, yielding the most accurate forecasts in our study. Expert forecasts exhibit some characteristics of fundamental models, but are generally not comparatively accurate or timely. This study is unique in both comparing and aggregating four traditional data sources, and considering critical attributes beyond accuracy. We believe that the results of this study generalize to many other domains.
The politics of airplane production: The emergence of two technological frames in the competition between Boeing and Airbus

Abstract Economic models of technological innovation, as well as modern sociological approaches to the study of organizations, predict that two-actor markets will eventually evolve into one dominant technological logic. Why is it, then, that the only two global manufacturers of large commercial airplanes have developed diametrically opposed technological philosophies? Based on secondary historical sources, this article employs a theory of two-party democracies from political science and the theory of sociotechnical frames to explain why Boeing pilots are allowed ultimate command of their aircraft whereas Airbus confers this authority to the flight computer.
Autoradiography of [3H]glutamate binding during pentobarbital tolerance and withdrawal in the rat.

The influence of centrally administered pentobarbital on [3H]glutamate receptor binding in the rat brain was examined. Animals were rendered tolerant by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion through osmotic minipumps with pentobarbital (300 microg/10 microl/h, for 6 days), and dependent, by 24 h after withdrawal from pentobarbital. Pentobarbital tolerant rats have significant increases in [3H]glutamate binding in the cortex and hippocampus area. Pentobarbital withdrawal produced increases in glutamate binding in many regions, e.g., the cortex, hippocampus area, thalamus, and cerebellum. These results show that chronic i.c.v. infusion with pentobarbital increases N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) displaceable [3H]glutamate binding, suggesting that an increase in NMDA binding sites may play an important role in the development of tolerance to and withdrawal from pentobarbital.
The effect of sarcomere non‐uniformity on the sarcomere length‐tension relationship of skinned fibers

It has proved difficult to activate skinned muscle fibers to produce high tension (3 kg/cm2 level) without loss of clear striations. A new method was developed which permits high tension production in skinned muscle fibers while retaining clear striations. Clear striations allow reliable measurement of the sarcomere lengths during contraction by microscopy and diffractometry. The method is to increase the Ca++ concentration of the bathing solution very gradually over a time period of 5 to 10 minutes. Once the skinned fiber is conditioned by this slow activation, subsequent contractions can be elicited by ordinary quick activations without loss of striations. When the experiments are carried out with careful controls for the uniformity of the sarcomere length distribution along the entire length of the fiber, contractions are highly repeatable. Using the new method and stringent quality control of fibers, the sarcomere length-isometric tension relationship of skinned rabbit soleus fibers was obtained. The results differ from those previously obtained by conventional activation methods in that tension increases with sarcomere length not only at low (pCa = 5.8), but also at high (pCa = 5.2), calcium concentration.
Charged-particle stereotactic radiosurgery

Abstract Charged-particle stereotactic radiosurgery is the technique of using accelerated atomic nuclei for the irradiation of a small volume target to a high dose in a short time interval. This is contrasted with conventional radiotherapy where large volumes are treated with many small fractions of photon or electron radiation over a multi-week period. The helium-ion beam used for charged-particle stereotactic radiosurgery at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory 184-inch Synchrocyclotron is described. This beam is being used for the treatment of inoperable, deep, intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Intracranial AVMs are collections of abnormal blood vessels in the brain that may represent a failure of vessels to mature properly and after a long period of slow growth they may produce clinically recognizable neurological symptoms. Based on our experience using narrow beams of helium ions for stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of AVM patients, the characteristics of the treatments are described. Improvements to the technique which are possible by the use of other charged particle beams are discussed.
Determination of Optimum Alternative Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site/Disposal Technology Combinations

A methodology is developed and demonstrated to determine a numerical figure of merit (FOM) by which alternative low-level radioactive waste (LLWR) disposal sites and disposal technologies can be evaluated. The FOM is an arbitrarily selected nominal value, representative of the societal value of products associated with the LLRW, modified by the positive and negative impacts of waste disposal. Impacts considered include radiological health effects, transportation accidents, disposal and transportation economics, and user-specified socioeconomic factors. All impacts are converted to an economic basis via a user-specified value of life to allow a common basis of comparison. A demonstration of the methodology evaluates the 1984 Pennsylvania LLRW source team in 24 cases, 2 general locations, 3 soil types, and 4 disposal technologies (Part 61 trench, above-ground vault, below-ground vault, and grouted trench or engineered container). Costs derived for each case in 1984 dollars range from $1990 to 1090/m/sup 3/ ($28 to 31/ft/sup 3/). Uniform criteria applied to each case assume a linear loss of containment and structural stability for LLRW in a waste cell. Radiological pathways are primarily a function of the site and generally show little or no dependence on the disposal technology.
The Validation of Effect of Neutraceuticals on Growth and Immune Response of Nile Tilapia in Cool Water Using a Cluster-Based Approach

This interdisciplinary study investigated computational analytic methods used for biological hypothesis testing and applied the methods for the validation of the effects of nutraceuticals on growth and immune response of Nile tilapia in cool water. Farmers in cooler regions face problems with cultivating tilapia, one of the most popular cultivated fish species, due to poor survival rates at suboptimal temperatures. We hypothesized that two nutraceuticals, phosphatidylcholine and β-carotene, help tilapia adapt to cooler water temperatures and benefit tilapia's growth and immune response. Fish were reared in two different environments: warm water (28°C) and cool water (16°C). Fish reared in warm water (control) were provided with a basal commercial diet, while fish reared in cool water were provided with either the basal commercial diet (cool water control) or diets supplemented with nutraceuticals (either phosphatidylcholine or β-carotene). Experiments were conducted over an eight-week period. The effects ...
Zn-, Cd-, and Pb-transcription factor IIIA: properties, DNA binding, and comparison with TFIIIA-finger 3 metal complexes.

Properties of the metal ion binding sites of Zn-transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) were investigated to understand the potential of this type of zinc finger to undergo reactions that remove Zn2+ from the protein. Zn–TFIIIA was purified from E. coli containing the cloned sequence for Xenopus laevis oocyte TFIIIA and its stoichiometry of bound Zn2+ was shown to depend on the details of the isolation process. The average dissociation constant of Zn2+ in Zn-TFIIIIA was 10−7. The dissociation constant for Zn-F3, the third finger from the N-terminus of TFIIIA, was 1.0 × 10−8. The reactivity of Zn–TFIIIA with a series of metal binding ligands, including 2-carboxy-2′-hydroxy-5′-sulfoformazylbenzene (zincon), 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR), and 3-ethoxy-2-oxo-butyraldehyde-bis-(N4-dimethylthiosemicarbazone) (H2KTSM2) revealed similar kinetics. The reactivity of PAR with Zn–TFIIIA declined substantially when the protein was bound to the internal control region (ICR) of the 5S ribosomal DNA. Both Cd2+ and Pb2+ disrupt TFIIIA binding to its cognate DNA sequence. The Pb2+ dissociation constant of Pb-F3 was measured as 2.5 × 10−8. According to NMR spectroscopy, F3 does not fold into a regular conformation in the presence of Pb2+.
Properties of Concrete Incorporating Ultrafine Fly Ash and Silica Fume

A laboratory study on the influence of the combination of ultrafine fly ash (UFFA) and silica fume (SF) on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete is described. Also compared are the performance of concrete incorporating UFFA and SF (ternary blend of cement), concrete incorporating UFFA or SF (binary blend of cement), and control portland cement concrete. The test results show that the incorporation of SF or UFFA in concrete resulted in higher strength and improved durability (resistance to chloride penetration). These benefits were found to be more pronounced in the SF concrete. However, the SF concrete demonstrated several limitations such as low slump and high early-age shrinkage. These limitations were not observed in the UFFA concrete; addition of UFFA increased the slump and decreased the early-age shrinkage. To minimize the shortcomings of SF without losing its strength and durability benefits, a concrete mixture incorporating both SF and UFFA was prepared. The test results show that the incorporation of both SF and UFFA produces a concrete mixture that demonstrates high early-age strength and improved durability similar to those properties in SF concrete. In addition, unlike SF concrete, the new concrete mixture demonstrates a higher level of slump and a lower level of free shrinkage.
Shear behavior of polymer micro-scale truss structures formed from self-propagating polymer waveguides

The shear behavior of micro-scale truss structures formed from a three-dimensional interconnected pattern of self-propagating polymer waveguides was investigated. These structures had sub-millimeter size features and comprised a repeating octahedral-type unit cell designed to suppress bending in the truss members prior to initial failure. For a typical shear loading method, the experimentally measured shear moduli deviated from predicted values as the relative density decreased. However, the mechanical behavior changed when the shear loading condition was altered to distribute the load more uniformly between all truss members and the measured shear modulus was aligned with predicted values. The shear strength and total plateau strain of these structures were strongly dependent on the mode of failure and the uniformity with which the truss member failure was distributed through the thickness of the structure. Furthermore, plateau strains of up to 60% were achieved when all truss members in compression buckled uniformly. Thermo-oxidation reaction of the polymer micro-truss structures caused an increase in the shear modulus and maximum shear strength (up to 2.9 MPa), although oxidized structures fractured at the maximum shear strain.
An examination of the social validity of a parent training program

This study examined the social validity of a parent training program. Subjects were 15 clinic-referred children and their mothers and 15 nonclinic mother-child pairs. Home observations were conducted pre- and posttreatment and at a 2-month follow-up for the clinic group and at comparable times for the nonclinic group. Parental questionnaires regarding child adjustment also were completed. Fifteen months after treatment, consumer satisfaction measures were collected from parents in the clinic group. Treatment involved teaching parents to use social reinforcement and time-out. Clinic children were less compliant and more deviantbefore treatment but not after treatment or at the follow-up than the nonclinic children. Clinic parents perceived their children as being less well adjusted prior to and after treatment, but not at the 2-month follow-up, than the nonclinic parents perceived their children. At the 15-month follow-up, parents indicated satisfaction with the treatment they had received.
Geometric Invariance for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Sensors

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors have many advantages over electro-optic sensors (EO) for target recognition applications, such as range-independent resolution and superior poor weather performance. However, the relative unavailability of SAR data to the basic research community has retarded analysis of the fundamental invariant properties of SAR sensors relative to the extensive invariant literature for EO, and in particular photographic sensors. This paper develops the basic geometric imaging transformation associated with SAR from first principles, and then gives an existence proof for several geometric scatter configurations which give rise to SAR image invariants.
Viscoelastic flow around a confined circular cylinder: measurements using high-image-density particle image velocimetry

Abstract Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to measure the full-field instantaneous velocity in the inertialess, viscoelastic flow past a confined circular cylinder. Instantaneous fields of velocity vectors are obtained over an entire plane for the creeping motion of a highly viscoelastic fluid. In all cases considered, a fixed aspect ratio (channel half width to cylinder radius) of 16 was used. Our results indicated that at relatively low Deborah number (De), i.e. low flow rates, of 0.6 and 1.2, the flow reached steady-state conditions rapidly (i.e. ≤ 10 s). But as the flow rate is increased (or De is increased), e.g. De = 1.8 and De = 2.4, the viscoelastic flow may require as long as 90 s to reach steady flow. We also conducted experiments for steady, viscoelastic flow past an off-centered cylinder in the channel. Instantaneous full-field velocity and vorticity fields are examined for flow past an eccentrically-placed cylinder between parallel channels for various values of the eccentricity parameter (ϵ). Measurements are made at different values of Deborah number. It is seen from these studies that the spatial structure of the flow field, the vorticity intensity, and the spatial characteristics of vorticity field are all strongly affected by rheological parameter (elasticity) and geometric parameter (eccentricity).
Hierarchical design of mixed metal oxides: novel macroporous VPO phases

Macroporous vanadium–phosphorus–oxide phases (macro-VPO) displaying ordered 0.2–0.4 μm pores and unprecedented high surface areas (44–75 m2 g−1) have been synthesized using colloidal arrays of polystyrene spheres as a template.
Cytokine responses and math performance: The role of stereotype threat and anxiety reappraisals

Abstract This research independently manipulated two potential attenuators of stereotype threat – reappraisal of anxiety and test framing – to explore their independent and combined effects. Female participants took a difficult math exam that was described as gender-biased or gender-fair and were told that anxious arousal could positively impact performance or were given no information regarding arousal. Levels of the cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an immune marker of inflammation, were measured in oral mucosal transudate (OMT) both before and after the exam. Our findings indicate that directing reappraisal of physiological arousal attenuated increases in IL-6 across test framing conditions, and was especially effective under stereotype threat (i.e., gender-biased test condition). Reappraisal also mapped onto better test performance in the threat condition. Together, these findings provide insight into the unique and interactive effects of two situational interventions meant to reduce stereotype threat, indexed here by both physiological and performance-based correlates of threat.
Comparison of methods for quantitative analysis of additives in low-density polyethylene using supercritical fluid and enhanced solvent extraction

On-line supercritical fluid extraction-supercritical fluid chromatography (SFE-SFC) with cryogenic trapping was used to extract and separate five additives from a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sample. A glass tube filled with glass wool afforded excellent collection efficiency for the extracted analytes. Additive spiked sand was employed to optimize the various parameters of the on-line SFE-SFC system. Calibration curves from the spiked sand studies for on-line SFE-SFC were obtained with good linearities for quantitation. Results obtained on additives in LDPE from on-line SFE-SFC were comparable to those from off-line SFE-HPLC and off-line enhanced solvent extraction (ESE)-HPLC for all additives except Irganox 1076. However, the precision obtained with on-line SFE-SFC was lower than that from off-line SFE-HPLC and off-line ESE-HPLC due to the small sample size employed in the on-line system. Considerable clean-up of the ESE extract was required prior to chromatographic analysis. On-line SFE-SFC minimized the sample handling and eliminated the use of organic solvent. Despite the lower than expected precision, the on-line SFE-SFC method for quantitation of polymer additives appears to be reliable and robust for application in routine quality control analysis.
Optical emission of plasmas in ultraviolet and infrared laser ablation of graphite by time-resolved spectroscopy

The optical emission spectra of the plasma produced by infrared and ultraviolet laser ablation of graphite in a vacuum were observed. The fundamental output of an Nd: YAG laser was used as the infrared laser. The fourth harmonic output of an Nd: YAG laser and a KrF excimer laser were used as the ultraviolet lasers. The emission intensity of the ionic carbon as well as C2 and C3 from the plasma produced by the infrared laser were stronger than that produced by the UV lasers at the same fluences. The C2 and C3 emission intensities decreased rapidly with increasing the distance from the target. The emission intensity of atomic carbon at 247.8 nm from the plasma produced by the KrF excimer laser was much stronger than that produced by the other lasers at the same laser fluence, due to the wavelenght of the KrF laser being so close to that of atomic carbon's emission line as to raise its electrical state.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The 3-Deaza and 7-Deaza Derivatives of 5'-Amino-5'-deoxy-5'-noraristeromycin

The 3-deaza and 7-deaza derivatives of 5'-amino-5'-deoxy-5'-noraristeromycin ( 6 and 7 , respectively) have been prepared from the common starting material (+)-(1 R ,4 S )-4-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-yl acetate ( 8 ). Two Pd(0)-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions afforded the desired azide intermediates, 12 and 16 , which were transformed to target compounds by standard procedures. These compounds were evaluated against a large number of viruses and found to be inactive except for weak effect against hepatitis B virus: 6 , EC 50 4.7 μM (3TC EC 50 0.056 μM); 7 , EC 50 4.8 μM (3TC EC 50 0.063 μM).