cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Low-Cost, Post Hoc Method to Rate Overall Site Quality in a Multi-Site Demonstration

Demonstration programs and social experiments are often subject to sophisticated, controlled evaluations. An important factor that is not subject to control, and sometimes even goes unobserved, is overall program site quality. Site quality can be observed in process evaluations, but these tend to be expensive. This paper describes an alternative approach to site quality measurement. With observations elicited from national program staff of a large demonstration project, we developed an approach that uses Concept Mapping to identify dimensions for rating program site quality and compared our results with ratings based on site visits developed during program implementation. The site quality ratings and rankings resulting from our approach are plausible, have desirable psychometric properties, and are developed at much lower cost than is possible for even relatively modest process analyses.
English teaching, intercultural competence, and critical incident exercises

Critical incident exercises (CIEs) are increasingly used in English courses, and there seems little doubt that in addition to providing English practice opportunities CIEs also help learners build intercultural competence. The question is: What precise aspects of intercultural competence do CIEs help learners build? This article introduces an open-ended variety of CIE called an ‘encounter exercise,’ and explores the aspects of intercultural competence regular use of such exercises helps learners build. Drawing on recent literature about dual-process views of thinking, this article argues that encounter exercises are valuable for helping learners build the following habits of thought: (1) being consciously aware of the interpretation process in intercultural communication situations, (2) consciously considering multiple interpretations of puzzling or problematic intercultural encounters, (3) paying conscious attention to factors that may affect how one interprets problematic intercultural encounters, espec...
The effects of acute corticosteroid therapy for asthma on serum immunoglobulin levels.

Abstract Immunoglobulin levels were followed in 21 nonsteroid-dependent asthmatics who required corticosteroids for an exacerbation of asthma. Twenty subjects who did not receive corticosteroids were used as controls. Baseline IgM and IgE levels were significantly higher in the corticosteroid-treated group. A fall in IgG level, maximal at 2 to 4 wk, was observed in the corticosteroid group, but not in control patients. Similarly, a significant fall in IgA was observed only in the corticosteroid group, maximal at 6 to 8 wk. There was no significant change in IgM levels in either group. Total IgE levels increased dramatically I wk after institution of corticosteroids. This was followed by a decrease to baseline or below at 6 to 8 wk. Changes in specific IgE antibody titers as measured by RAST technique revealed similar changes to those seen with total IgE. The results of the study indicate that asthma therapy with short-term corticosteroids can be associated with prolonged depressions of serum IgG, IgA levels and transient elevations of IgE levels, without apparent alterations of IgM levels.
The distribution of catecholamines within the inferior olivary complex of the gerbil and rabbit.

The inferior olivary complex of pre-adult and adult gerbils and rabbits was examined with the histochemical fluorescence technique for the intraneuronal-demonstration of monoamines. The observed patterns were compared directly to those seen in the rat. Dissimilar distributions of monoamine-containing varicosities were observed between these mammalian species. These data support the belief that monoamine distribution as previously reported for the rat brain is not a complete model for other mammals. Also, a question is raised concerning the existence of the previously reported monoamine-containing cell bodies in this nuclear complex.
Biotinidase Deficiency: A Novel Vitamin Recycling Defect

The recent finding that biotinidase deficiency is the primary biochemical defect in late-onset multiple carboxylase deficiency has stimulated new interest in the inherited disorders of biotin-dependent carboxylases. The clinical and biochemical features of biotinidase deficiency are discussed. We also speculate about two exciting areas currently being investigated: the localization of action of biotinidase, and the possible role of the enzyme as a binding or carrier protein for biotin.
Leadership Lessons From Salvador Minuchin

As cultures become more integrated through the global networking of communication, transportation, and trade, it is a propitious time for therapists to consider changes that may need to be made for a conceptual shift toward globalization in both theory and practice. During this time, it would be advantageous to consider therapist in the field who successfully perpetuated change. Salvador Minuchin was a great leader and effective change agent in the field of psychotherapy. He set the pace for perspectives to shift from individual to broader scopes. The purposes of this article are to analyze Minuchin’s leadership using leadership theory and to determine the key attributes of his leadership, so that marriage and family therapists can learn from them and emulate them. The transformational and servant leadership (SL) models serve to theoretically ground the discussion of Minuchin’s leadership styles.
The early detection of host immune response to spontaneous mouse mammary tumors by leukocyte adherence inhibition

Longitudinal testing of C3H/HeJ female mice was carried out over a 52-week period with the leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay using solubilized tumor antigen prepared by 3 M KCl extraction. During this period, 75% of the mice developed histologically confirmed mammary adenocarcinomas. Of those mice 93% had a statistically significant P < 0.01) LAI response to soluble mammary tumor antigen prior to first detection of tumors by palpation. Five percent of the test group developed statistically significant LAI responses without development of detectable mammary tumors within a 34-week observation period. The first significant LAI reactivity of individual mice preceded the first detection of tumors by an average of more than 17 weeks.
From Desktop to Field: Deploying Visual Incident Analysis for Law Enforcement

We present a prototype mobile application environment for law enforcement users to assist them in daily operations. This system supports the collection of real-time observations and allows users to quickly share their findings with team members. Mobile tools for law enforcement introduce safety and other operational constraints that must be considered in developing appropriate user interfaces. Our environment attempts to address these challenges and provide tools to increase information sharing among officers and, expedite form-filling and evidence collection. Moreover, real-time location tracking and mapping enables mobile users to view the locations of team members and to push data (such as field-collected images, video, or text) to them.
IMAPP AMSR-E level 1 processing implementation and level 2 products evaluation

The International MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) Processing Package (IMAPP) is supported by NASA with the goals of developing a software package which is freely available for processing MODIS and AIRS/AMSU/HSB Data and promoting and supporting the worldwide use of EOS data, and involving the international community in EOS validation efforts. Both NASA's TERRA and AQUA spacecrafts have direct broadcast (DB) X-band downlinks that allow MODIS (on board both TERRA and AQUA) and AIRS/AMSU/HSB and AMSR-E (on board AQUA only) data to be received in real time by sites having the proper reception hardware. In addition to the current released IMAPP, which allows ground stations capable of receiving EOS direct broadcast data to generate products derived from MODIS and AIRS/AMSU/HSB, products from AMSR-E are under developed. Comparison of one month direct broadcast AMSR-E level 1 data with standard AMSR-E level 2A (level 1 data embedded) data archived by MSFC, NASA, have been carried out and the results have shown that the DB level 1 implementation successfully matches the standard products of brightness temperatures in terms of bias, RMS errors and correlation coefficients, i.e., the DB level 1 data are well calibrated and geo-located and are ready for retrieval for geophysical products. The AMSR-E level 2 products for precipitation and soil moisture are currently under evaluation. Those products will be compared with and validated against the official products.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Abscisic acid levels and metabolism in the leaf epidermal tissue of Tulipa gesneriana L. and Commelina communis L.

We have shown the presence of abscisic acid (ABA) in abaxial epidermal strips taken from Tulipa gesneriana and Commelina communis and that the ABA level rises in the epidermis when leaves are water stressed. ABA levels had risen 50% in the abaxial epidermis of C. communis 30 min after the leaves lost 10% of their fresh weight. Epidermis from both T. gesneriana and C. communis metabolize [14C]ABA to several products probably including phaseic acid (PA) and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA).
Validation of a new physical activity questionnaire for a sedentary population.

Background Many available physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) are limited due to either focus on recreational activities or burdensome length.
Development and sensitivity to serotonin of Drosophila serotonergic varicosities in the central nervous system

Serotonin is a classical small-molecule neurotransmitter with known effects on developmental processes. Previous studies have shown a developmental role for serotonin in the fly peripheral nervous system. In this study, we show that serotonin can modulate the development of serotonergic varicosities within the fly central nervous system. We have developed a system to examine the development of serotonergic varicosities in the larval CNS. We use this method to describe the normal serotonergic development in the A7 abdominal ganglion. From first to third instar larvae, the volume of the neuropil and number of serotonergic varicosities increase substantially while the varicosity density remains relatively constant. We hypothesize that serotonin is an autoregulator for serotonergic varicosity density. We tested the sensitivity of serotonergic varicosities to serotonin by adding neurotransmitter at various stages to isolated larval ventral nerve cords. Addition of excess exogenous serotonin decreases native varicosity density in older larvae, and these acute effects are reversible. The effects of serotonin appear to be selective for serotonergic varicosities, as dopaminergic and corazonergic varicosities remain qualitatively intact following serotonin application.
Scenario 2: A Patient with Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia—Introduction to Clinical Trial Design Issues

A prototypical patient is presented to introduce important design issues for clinical trials of antibacterials in the treatment of ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia.
The Decline of Job Loss and Why It Matters

There is considerable evidence that American workers face lower risks of job loss in recent years than 10, 20, or 30 years earlier. I summarize some of the evidence for this claim and explain why the decline of job loss matters. My attention centers on “unwelcome” job loss: employer-initiated separations that lead to unemployment, temporary or persistent drops in earnings, and other significant costs for job losers. Since there is no fully satisfactory statistic for the incidence of job loss, I consider several measures and data sources.
The Use of Transistors in Physiological Amplifiers

Preliminary experiments have indicated that it is feasible to construct low-level dc differential amplifiers using inexpensive hearing aid transistors. The noise level of such amplifiers was found to be roughly proportional to source impedance; it is less than that of a vacuum tube circuit for sources having an impedance of less than 10,000 ohms. A physiological amplifier having a voltage gain of 10,000 was designed on the basis of these experiments. Several of these units have been constructed which show a bandwidth of about 60 kc and a noise level of about 2 ?v rms with a 50-ohm input. For measuring nerve potentials a pair of electrometer tubes connected as cathode followers are used as an input probe. With this circuit arrangement the noise level is the order of 15 ?v.
Efficient simulation of fuel cell stacks with the volume averaging method

Abstract In fuel cell systems, a multitude of coupled physical and chemical processes take place within the assembly: fluid flow, diffusion, charge and heat transport, as well as electrochemical reactions. For design and optimisation purposes, direct numerical simulation of the full three-dimensional (3D) structure (using CFD tools) is often not feasible due to the large range of length scales that are associated with the various physical and chemical phenomena. However, since many fuel cell components such as gas ducts or current collectors are made of repetitive structures, volume averaging techniques can be employed to replace details of the original structure by their averaged counterparts. In this study, we present simulation results for SOFC fuel cells that are based on a two-step procedure: first, for all repetitive structures detailed 3D finite element simulations are used to obtain effective parameters for the transport equations and interaction terms for averaged quantities. Bipolar plates, for example, are characterised by their porosity and permeability with respect to fluid flow and by anisotropic material tensors for heat and charge transport. Similarly one obtains effective values for the Nernst potential and various kinetic parameters. The complex structural information is thereby cast into effective material properties. In a second step, we utilise these quantities to simulate fuel cells in 2D, thereby decreasing the computation time by several orders of magnitude. Depending on the design and optimisation goals, one chooses appropriate cuts perpendicular or along the stack axis. The resulting models provide current densities, temperature and species distributions as well as operation characteristics. We tested our method with the FEM-based multiphysics software NMSeses, which offers the flexibility to specify the necessary effective models. Results of simulation runs for Sulzer HEXIS–SOFC stacks are presented.
On coefficients of the Tutte polynomial

Abstract This paper characterizes, for each i and j , the matroids that are minor-minimal among connected matroids M with b ij ( M ) > 0, where t ( M ) = Σb ij ( M ) x i y j is the Tutte polynomial of M . One consequence of this characterization for a connected matroid M is that b 11 ( M ) > 0 if and only if the two-wheel is a minor of M . Similar results are obtained for other small values of i and j . A generalization of these results leads to new combinatorial proofs which strengthen known results on the coefficients. These results imply that if M is simple and representable over GF( q ), then there are coefficients of its Tutte polynomial which count the flats of M of each rank that are projective spaces. Similarly, for a simple graphic matroid M ( G ), there are coefficients that count the number of cliques of each size contained in G .
Assessing the role of mini-applications in predicting key performance characteristics of scientific and engineering applications

Computational science and engineering application programs are typically large, complex, and dynamic, and are often constrained by distribution limitations. As a means of making tractable rapid explorations of scientific and engineering application programs in the context of new, emerging, and future computing architectures, a suite of "miniapps" has been created to serve as proxies for full scale applications. Each miniapp is designed to represent a key performance characteristic that does or is expected to significantly impact the runtime performance of an application program. In this paper we introduce a methodology for assessing the ability of these miniapps to effectively represent these performance issues. We applied this methodology to three miniapps, examining the linkage between them and an application they are intended to represent. Herein we evaluate the fidelity of that linkage. This work represents the initial steps required to begin to answer the question, "Under what conditions does a miniapp represent a key performance characteristic in a full app?" Proxies are being used to examine the performance of full application codes.We present a methodology for showing the link between full application codes and their proxies.We demonstrate this methodology using four applications and their proxies.
Critical Thinking for Natural Resource, Agricultural, and Environmental Ethics Education

Future decision makers in natural resource fields will be required to make judgments on issues that lack clear solutions and with information complicated by ethical challenges. Therefore, natural resource, environmental, and agricultural professionals must possess the ability to think critically about the consequences of policy, economic systems, and individual human behaviors on the environment. To ensure that future professionals can examine competing claims, university students must develop critical thinking skills that allow them to examine ethical issues surrounding the environment. We review literature on critical thinking specifically in regard to necessary components to creating critical thinking opportunities in the classroom. We then discuss special considerations for teaching critical thinking in the context of natural resource and agriculture ethics education.
Change of thymic size during and following cytotoxic therapy in young patients

In a retrospective study, 108 thoracic CT-scans of 18 patients aged 5–25 who had received cytotoxic treatment for solid tumors were evaluated. The thymic size decreased in 15/17 patients during treatment and increased in 14/15 after the end of therapy. In 5/5 patients, the change could also be detected with relapse therapy. These changes have to be considered in the evaluation of a mediastinal mass suspected of metastasis during and following cytotoxic therapy.
The effect of C/O ratio on the condensation of planetary material

The condensation temperatures of refractory silicates and oxides in a gas of cosmic composition are strongly dependent on the C/O ratio. As the ratio increases from 0.4 to 0.9, condensation temperatures of compounds such as Al2O3, Ca2Al2SiO7, MgAl2O4, Mg2SiO4, and MgSiO3 decrease by 50-100 degrees. As C/O increases from 0.9 to 1.0, these temperatures drop an additional 300-400 degrees. Other chemical differences result when C/O approximately equals or exceeds 0.9. A new suite of high-temperature minerals appears (graphite, CaS, Fe3C, SiC and TiN); the reaction CO + 3H2 yields CH4 + H2O proceeds to the right at higher temperatures; and iron, whose condensation temperature is unaffected, condenses at higher temperatures than any silicate or oxide.
The vapor-phase infrared and Raman spectra of p-difluorobenzene (h4) and (d4)

Abstract This new study of the vapor-phase infrared and Raman spectra of p-difluorobenzene (h4) and (d4) includes assignments from the high-resolution electronic spectrum, from fluorescence spectra, and one assignment from the two photon electronic spectrum. A new set of frequencies and assignments has been made for the fundamentals of this important intermediate-sized molecule. The most important changes concern the assignments previously made for the lowfrequency au mode (ν8), two members of the b2u class (ν19 and ν20), and one very important change for the lowest frequency fundamental of the b3u (out-of-plane) class (ν30), which has been observed directly in the far infrared. The results are all corroborated by the assignments of the perdeuterated analog where changes in previous assignments of Fermi resonance pairs have also been made. Some interesting differences between the Raman spectra of the vapor and the liquid perproto compounds have not been adequately explained in this study.
Biomineralization inspired preparation of nanoparticles and nanoparticulate films

Abstract Biomineralization inspired preparation of nanoparticles and nanoparticulate films is illustrated here by the in situ generation of nanoparticles under monolayers; the formation of nanoparticles in the aqueous pools of reversed micelles; and the self-assembly of ultrathin films composed of alternating layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles.
Production technology status of woody and herbaceous crops

Abstract Several woody and herbaceous energy crop species have been selected as high-potential candidates for supplying biomass feedstocks. Successful methods for their establishment and maintenance have been developed. Recommended species vary as a function of region of the country and soil type. Yields are equally variable. The crops that have received the most research and development include hybrid poplars (fast-growing trees) and switchgrass (a perennial grass). Some information is also available on other tree crops, thick-stemmed perennials and annuals. Supplying large volumes of biomass to energy facilities on a daily basis requires that consideration be taken of the harvest timing, storage and delivery characteristics of different feedstocks as well as their yield, cost and energy properties. Our summary suggests that a combination of crops will be needed to provide large amounts of low-cost and environmentally sustainable year-round supplies of biomass feedstocks.
Beyond arousal: Valence, dominance, and motivation in the lateralization of affective memory

Studies have found that memory for the affective dimensions of valence and arousal are lateralized in left and right hemispheric systems, yet much heterogeneity has been demonstrated across studies. We explored possible reasons for this heterogeneity by assessing the lateralization of the affective dimensions of valence and dominance and correlations with behavioral inhibition and activation sensitivities (BIS/BAS). Seventy-one females viewed words differing in valence and dominance presented to each hemisphere, completed immediate recall and recognition tests, and the BIS/BAS scales. We found evidence of both valence- and dominance-based patterns of memory lateralization, with relatively more evidence for valence-based patterns. Our analyses also revealed that BIS sensitivity was associated with a valence-based pattern of recall lateralization. Our findings reveal the utility of dominance and BIS sensitivity in accounting for heterogeneity in findings in the literature on affective memory lateralization, highlight potential processes underlying affective memory biases, and can inform models of the hemispheric lateralization of emotion in the context of memory.
Facile one-step synthesis of MnO2 nanowires on graphene under mild conditions for application in supercapacitors

Composites of integrated 1-D MnO2 nanowires and 2-D graphene sheets at nanoscale are successfully prepared under the mild condition of 100 °C. The fabricated materials are extensively characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and the formation mechanism is investigated. It is of particular note that the graphene sheets in this case play dual roles, both as active reagent to reduce MnO4− to form 1-D MnO2 nanowires and as active component of the composites integrated into the 3-D structure. The proof-of-concept demonstration shows that the 3-D composites can be used as active materials for supercapacitors, where the high-surface area 2-D graphene sheets serve as both high-surface area active materials and conductive supports for high-capacity 1-D MnO2 nanowires.
Instability of the axisymmetric monsoon flow and intraseasonal oscillation

[1] A linear model of intermediate complexity based on quasi-equilibrium theory is used in a zonally symmetric aquaplanet configuration to investigate the stability of the mean summer monsoon flow in the south Asian region. In the control case, the mean state has one linearly unstable mode that corresponds in period and structure to the variability in the nonlinear model described by Bellon and Sobel (2008) and to the observed 30- to 60-d mode of intraseasonal variability. This mode features propagation of the precipitation anomalies from the equator to the monsoon trough around 20°N. Both the period of this mode and its direction of propagation are determined by the direction and magnitude of the mean meridional baroclinic flow. The wind-induced surface heat fluxes associated with the surface westerlies in the northern tropics are an important contributor to the instability of the mode. The mechanisms of propagation and reinitiation of convection are further described. (1) Meridional advection of vorticity by the mean flow is responsible for the creation of free-tropospheric vorticity north of the convection center. This vorticity in turn creates boundary layer convergence via Coriolis acceleration and subsequent northward movement of the convection. (2) Meridional advection of zonal momentum creates equatorial free-tropospheric easterlies on the equator. These easterlies in turn generate low-level convergence via the β term of the Coriolis acceleration and cause the reemergence of convection at the equator.
Alterations in rat alveolar surfactant phospholipids and proteins induced by administration of chlorphentermine

Chlorphentermine is a cationic amphiphilic drug which produces a phospholipid storage disorder in rat lungs. Experiments were carried out to characterize changes in the composition of acellular alveolar lavage materials and to study possible mechanisms by which pulmonary surfactant phospholipidosis is produced by administration of the drug. Following ten daily injections of chlorphentermine (25 mg/kg body weight), there are 12.2- and 13.6-fold increases of pulmonary lavage total phospholipids and disaturated phosphatidylcholines (disaturated PC), respectively. In addition, there is a 2.8-fold increase in total protein and a 12.7-fold increase in the surfactant apoprotein group with molecular weights from 28,000 to 32,000. We measured incorporation of labeled palmitate, choline and glycerol into disaturated PC in type II cells and alveolar macrophages isolated from control and chlorphentermine-treated animals. The drug does not affect the incorporation of labeled substrates into disaturated PC in either cell type. However, in alveolar macrophages there is a decrease in the rate of intracellular degradation of recently synthesized disaturated PC in chlorphentermine-treated animals. The drug also inhibits the phospholipase-induced catabolism of rat surfactant disaturated PC which occurs during incubation of alveolar lavage fluid in vitro at 37 degrees C. When the lavage fluid is divided into subfractions by differential centrifugation, a larger percentage of the phospholipid is distributed in the less sedimentable subfractions in chlorphentermine-treated animals relative to controls, suggesting the accumulation of older surfactant materials. These results suggest that chlorphentermine-induced phospholipidosis of pulmonary surfactant materials is due to decreased rates of phospholipid degradation.
New insights into the anhydrobiotic phenomenon: The effects of trehalose content and differential rates of evaporative water loss on the survival of Aphelenchus avenae

The effects of differential rates of evaporative water loss on the survival capabilities of small aggregates (ca. 10 mg wet wt) of Aphelenchus avenae were assessed. This was achieved using a comparative approach between rapid (direct transfer of preconditioned nematodes to successively compounds accumulated were also assessed during the induction process. Glyecrol and glucos levels remained low (< 1% dry wt)) while trehalose levels increased dramatically during preconditioning (8–10% dry wt), but the elevated levels were unable to support survival during periods of rapid water loss. Survival was directly related to the rate of evaporative water loss, with the highest level of survival being afforded by the most gradual dehydration regime. In addition, the water loss curves identified a critical period where hydration levels ranged from 40% to 12% H2O. During this time, slow drying was essential if the nematodes were to successfully survive the dehydration process. Survival curves also revealed the existence of a transition phase in the dehydration process, where nematodes required further dehydration before revival could occur. These results are discussed in relation to the adaptive significance of polyhydroxy compound accumulation and the probable role that specific hydration levels play in the implementation of other adaptations at the cellular and subcellular levels. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bullous Sarcoidosis: A Report of Three Cases

Three cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis presented as bullous emphysema with severe airflow obstruction, and the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was unsuspected for at least 2 years. Potential mechanisms of bullous emphysema from sarcoidosis are discussed. The physician should suspect sarcoidosis as the cause of bullous emphysema when young patients who have smoked relatively few pack-years present with emphysema or severe airflow obstruction. Additional clues are the presence of mediastinal adenopathy on a chest radiograph or a CT scan and a history consistent with extrapulmonary sarcoidosis.
Benzodiazepine receptor GABA ratios: regional differences in rat brain and modulation by adrenalectomy

GABA ratios were measured in several brain regions in sham-operated, adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized dexamethasone-injected rats. In sham-operated animals, GABA ratios varied 2.5-fold among the regions. In adrenalectomized animals the GABA ratios were increased in the hypothalamus and striatum but decreased in the hippocampus. Dexamethasone injection into adrenalectomized animals reversed the increased GABA ratio in the striatum. These data indicate that glucocorticoids can modulate GABA ratios, possibly by affecting the availability of the individual receptors in the receptor complex.
Reducing high-risk drinking in mandated college students: Evaluation of two personalized normative feedback interventions

This study evaluated the efficacy of two brief personalized normative feedback interventions aimed at reducing heavy drinking among mandated college students (N = 135). Students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Web-based assessment with self-guided personalized normative feedback (SWF) or Web-based assessment with counselor-guided personalized normative feedback (CWF). Results indicated that students in the CWF condition reported significantly greater reductions in weekly drinking quantity and binge drinking frequency than those in the SWF group at follow-up (M = 8 months). Students in the CWF group also reported significantly greater reductions in estimates of peer drinking from baseline to the follow-up assessment than students in the SWF group. In addition, changes in estimates of peer drinking partially mediated the effect of the intervention on changes in drinking. Results suggest that counselor-guided feedback may be more effective in reducing drinking among mandated students relative to self-guided feedback in the long term.
The global 11‐year solar signal in July–August

During the past 41 years there has been an observable effect of the 11-year solar cycle on the temperatures and heights in the levels between the middle troposphere and 10 hPa (the highest level in the data) in July–August. Between 30°S and the North Pole the temperatures and heights were higher at peaks than in valleys of the solar cycle, between 30°S and 70°S they were lower in the peaks, and above Antarctica they were higher. This meridional pattern of differences and the fact that they decrease with decreasing elevation suggest that the solar signal observed below 10 hPa is imposed from above as an indirect, dynamic effect. The pattern of the temperature and height differences indicates that the solar cycle affects the southern winter and northern summer stratospheric vortices. At the earth's surface an 11-year solar signal is not obvious in the zonally averaged temperatures and pressures in July–August.
Effects of lesions in ventral anterior thalamus on experimental focal epilepsy

Abstract The effect of stereotaxic lesions of the ventral anterior thalamus, or the adjacent inferior thalamic peduncle, on experimental models of focal cortical epilepsy was studied. Acute epileptic foci in cat sensorimotor cortex were made by injection of tungstic acid gel. Following ipsilateral lesions of ventral anterior thalamus or the adjacent inferior thalamic peduncle in these animals there was a highly significant reduction in electrographic seizure frequency and duration compared to prelesion control periods. Interictal activity at the focus was not altered. The frequency and duration of spontaneous clinical seizures in five rhesus monkeys with chronic alumina cream foci in motor strip was continuously monitored in activity chairs. Both seizure frequency and duration decreased in all animals in the 4-week period after ipsilateral ventral anterior thalamic lesions as compared to the 4-week control period. Sham lesions did not have these effects. The thalamic lesions did not discernably alter behavior or neurologic function in these primates. Thus ventral anterior thalamic lesions decrease seizure frequency and duration in both acute and chronic experimental models of focal cortical epilepsy. These findings indicate that pathways originating in or passing through the ventral anterior thalamus play a role in the generalization of focal cortical seizures. These lesions in ventral anterior thalamus may be useful in the treatment of medically intractable seizures secondary to foci inaccessible to direct excision.
Mitchell Osteotomy for Hallux Valgus: Long-term Follow-up and Gait Analysis*

In this retrospective study of 96 Mitchell first-metatarsal osteotomies performed on 69 patients with an average follow-up of 7 years, we found that more than 86% were completely satisfied and that the procedure was equally effective in all age groups. Excessive first metatarsal shortening, dorsiflexion of the osteotomy, and failure to correct the intermetatarsal angle to 10 degrees or less correlated with poorer results. This study demonstrates a relationship between metatarsal shortening and osteotomy plantarflexion. Gait analysis demonstrated that these patients do not have normal foot mechanics postoperatively.
An Optical Determination of the Ground-State Splittings of Group V Impurities in Germanium

A method is described by which direct and accurate values are obtained for the energy separations, $4\ensuremath{\Delta}$, of the singlet and triplet ground states of Group V impurities in germanium. The method relies on measuring the energy difference between optical absorption lines which are due to transitions from both ground states to the same excited state of an impurity. With the values of $4\ensuremath{\Delta}$ so found and the values of $\frac{4\ensuremath{\Delta}}{{E}_{2}}$ given by other workers, values of the shear deformation potential constant ${E}_{2}$ are obtained. Also observed for each impurity is a shift of the triplet state to an energy which is lower than that given by the effective-mass formalism. This shift is found to be almost the same for all the Group V impurities.
Direct measurement of ph within marine biofilms on passive metals

Direct measurements of the pH within natural marine biofilms grown on platinum have been made with iridium/iridium oxide solid‐state microelectrodes. The data show that the pH is highly variable, with steep gradients both perpendicular to and along the metal surface. Measured values ranged from 8 in the outer portions of the biofilm to below 2 in localized areas near the metal surface. It was verified that bulk water flowing along the hydrophilic outer sheath of the micro‐electrode could effect the measured pH values. However, meaningful data could still be taken because the response time of the electrode was sufficiently less than the time for water ingression. The data presented are consistent with recent heterogeneous biofilm models and with the idea that localized areas of low pH within biofilms can be a contributing factor in biologically influenced corrosion processes.
Expert commentary: niacin safety.

p c r icotinic acid, or niacin, has been recognized for 50 years s therapy for the vitamin B3 deficiency disorder pellagra nd as a cholesterol-lowering agent.1 During its long-term se in the latter capacity, its favorable effects on lipid profile nd on cardiovascular risk, as well as its spectrum of side ffects, have been well documented. Although niacin has hown no severe toxicities, as documented in clear and ell-supported detail in the report by Guyton and Bays2 in his supplement, its side effects have tended to discourage idespread use. The dominant side effect is cutaneous ushing, with variable severity among patients; in addition, nfrequent hepatic toxicity, hyperglycemia, gout, and rare etinal macular edema have been reported. All these effects re niacin dose dependent and fully reversible given timely iscontinuation. Much of the lore on niacin stems from tudies of the immediate-release (IR) and the very-slowelease preparations.3 Hepatic toxicity and flushing have een favorably affected by recent preparations that attempt o strike a beneficial balance between the duration and the eak levels of plasma drug exposure. During this long eriod of niacin observation and investigation, we have ome to better understand the dosing requirements for its ffective use in cardiovascular prevention. When prescribng niacin, physicians can improve outcomes if they (1) use aily doses of no more than about 2 g of prolonged-release iacin, and 4 g of IR niacin, as tolerated; (2) avoid high or rolonged plasma levels; and (3) gradually increase the aily dose over a 1to 4-month period to reach the target ose. New prescription preparations designed around these rinciples compare favorably with older preparations.4,5
Homological Properties of (Graded) Noetherian PI Rings

Abstract Let R be a connected, graded, Noetherian PI ring. If injdim( R ) = n R is Auslander-Gorenstein and Cohen-Macaulay, with Gelfand-Kirillov dimension equal to n . If gldim( R ) = n R is a domain, finitely generated as a module over its centre and a maximal order in its quotient division ring. Similar results hold if R is assumed to be local rather than connected graded. Alternatively, suppose that R is a Noetherian PI ring with gldim( R ) R / M 1 ) = hd( R / M 2 ) for any two maximal ideals M i in the same clique. Then, R is a direct sum of prime rings, is integral over its centre, and is Auslander-Gorenstein. If R is a prime ring, then the centre Z ( R ) of R is a Krull domain and R equals its trace ring TR. Moreover, hd( R / M ) = height( M ), for every maximal ideal M of R .
Underreporting of Induced and Spontaneous Abortion in the United States: An Analysis of the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth

Underreporting of induced abortions in surveys is widespread, both in countries where the procedure is illegal or highly restricted and in those where it is legal. In this study, we find that fewer than one half of induced abortions performed in the United States in 1997–2001 (47 percent) were reported by women during face-to-face interviews in the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Hispanic and black women and those with low income were among the least likely to report their experience of abortion. Women were also less likely to report abortions that occurred when they were in their 20s. Second-trimester abortions were more likely to be reported than first-trimester terminations. The levels of recent spontaneous abortion reported in the 2002 NSFG were consistent with the accumulated body of clinical research, although substantially more lifetime pregnancy losses were reported on self-administered surveys than in face-to-face interviews. Subsequent research should explore strategies to improve information collected on abortion, and, in the interim, research involving pregnancy outcomes should be adjusted for unreported induced abortions.
Increase in serum FSH following unilateral ovariectomy in the rat.

It has been suggested that increased gonadotrophin secretion follows unilateral ovarian removal and leads, a priori, to the compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary. Recent studies have failed to substantiate this increase, possibly because the techniques employed were insufficiently sensitive to determine subtle alterations in gonadotrophin levels. A modification of the Steelman-Pohley bioassay for FSH was utilized in a study of serum and pituitary FSH in unilaterally ovariectomized rats. In a number of experiments, FSH was observed to increase in the pooled serum of adult, albino females of a Wistar strain that had been operated four days previously. This increase was followed by a gradual decrease, with serum FSH values returning to preoperative levels at 20–24 days, at which time rapid hypertrophy of the remaining ovary had ceased. Pituitary FSH decreased in the 24 hr following ovarian removal and remained depressed until the first detectable increase in weight of the remaining ovary at 4 days....
Debating embryonic dignity in a liberal society.

How are we to understand the public debate over destructive embryo research? In this brief article, I have proposed that in essence, this controversy involves a disagreement over human dignity. I have also argued that if an intrinsic account of human dignity is the only account that can coherently sustain a liberal society and if science has shown that the earliest human embryo is a human being, then by the standards of liberalism itself, the human embryo merits the protection accorded to all human beings in a liberal society. Therefore, he or she cannot be destroyed for research purposes.
Transfusion of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in the carboxy state is beneficial during transient focal cerebral ischemia

Exchange transfusion of large volumes of hemoglobin (Hb)-based oxygen carriers can protect the brain from middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Hb in the carboxy state (COHb) may provide protection at relatively low volumes by enhancing vasodilation. We determined whether transfusion of rats with 10 ml/kg PEGylated COHb [polyethylene glycol (PEG)-COHb] at 20 min of 2-h MCAO was more effective in reducing infarct volume compared with non-carbon monoxide (CO) PEG-Hb. After PEG-COHb transfusion, whole blood and plasma COHb was <3%, indicating rapid release of CO. PEG-COHb transfusion significantly reduced infarct volume (15 ± 5% of hemisphere; mean ± SE) compared with that in the control group (35 ± 6%), but non-CO PEG-Hb did not (24 ± 5%). Chemically dissimilar COHb polymers were also effective. Induction of MCAO initially produced 34 ± 2% dilation of pial arterioles in the border region that subsided to 10 ± 1% at 2 h. Transfusion of PEG-COHb at 20 min of MCAO maintained pial arterioles in a dilated state (40 ± 5%) at 2 h, whereas transfusion of non-CO PEG-Hb had an intermediate effect (22 ± 3%). When transfusion of PEG-COHb was delayed by 90 min, laser-Doppler flow in the border region increased from 57 ± 9 to 82 ± 13% of preischemic baseline. These data demonstrate that PEG-COHb is more effective than non-CO PEG-Hb at reducing infarct volume, sustaining cerebral vasodilation, and improving collateral perfusion in a model of transient focal cerebral ischemia when given at a relatively low dose (plasma Hb concentration < 1 g/dl). Use of acellular Hb as a CO donor that is rapidly converted to an oxygen carrier in vivo may permit potent protection at low transfusion volumes.
REAL-EXCHANGE-RATE UNCERTAINTY AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN LDCS

This paper examines empirically the link between real-exchange-rate uncertainty and private investment in developing countries, using a large cross-country time series data set. The paper builds a GARCH-based measure of real-exchange-rate volatility and finds that it has a strong negative effect on investment, after controlling for other standard investment determinants and taking into account their potential endogeneity. The effect of uncertainty is not uniform, however. There is some evidence of threshold effects, so that uncertainty only matters when it exceeds some critical level. In addition, the negative effect of real-exchange-rate uncertainty on investment is significantly larger in economies that are highly open and in those with less developed financial systems.
Harm Reduction: A Public Health Response to the AIDS Epidemic Among Injecting Drug Users

Human use of psychoactive drugs precedes recorded history, and human misuse of such drugs is probably almost as old. Within the last century, laboratory techniques for strengthening drug preparations and the invention of injection equipment as a method of administration have greatly increased the potential for harmful consequences of psychoactive drugs. The intense effects from intravenous administration of highly refined drugs creates a higher likelihood of developing both tolerance and dependence-and of overdosing, if the quantity of drug is greater than the amount usually taken. Nonsterile injections may also lead to abscesses and diseases, such as endocarditis. Furthermore, multi person use of drug injection equipment has spread such infections as hepatitis B . The HIV/AIDS epidemic, however, has created an adverse consequence that is qualitatively different from the previously experienced problems associated with the injection of psychoactive drugs. In many countries, this difference has led to a conceptual reevaluation of how to approach the problems associated with psychoactive drug use. There are several compo­ nents of the difference between AIDS and other adverse consequences of drug
Electrolyte Disturbances and Critical Care Seizures

Electrolyte disturbances in the ICU are extremely common. The electrolyte disorder most commonly associated with seizure is hyponatremia, although extremely low Mg2+, phosphate, and both very low and high Ca2+ values can cause seizures. Critical care physicians must be vigilant to suspect and identify electrolyte disturbances in their patients, because a growing amount of information suggests that they are a marker and potentially a cause of poor prognosis. Electrolyte disturbances should never be uncritically accepted as the etiology of a seizure until a thorough investigation has been undertaken.
Characterizing the expression of the human olfactory receptor gene family using a novel DNA microarray

Background Olfactory receptor (OR) genes were discovered more than a decade ago, when Buck and Axel observed that, in rats, certain G-protein coupled receptors are expressed exclusively in the olfactory epithelium. Subsequently, protein sequence similarity was used to identify entire OR gene repertoires of a number of mammalian species, but only in mouse were these predictions followed up by expression studies in olfactory epithelium. To rectify this, we have developed a DNA microarray that contains probes for most predicted human OR loci and used that array to examine OR gene expression profiles in olfactory epithelium tissues from three individuals.