cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model of injection-locked relativistic klystron oscillator

By the use of a simple model, we explicitly incorporate the coupling between the driver cavity and the booster cavity in a relativistic klystron amplifier (RKA). We show that this RKA configuration may turn into an injection locked oscillator only when the beam current is sufficiently high. Other features revealed by this model include: the downshifted frequency mode (`0' mode) is unstable whereas the upshifted frequency mode (`(pi) ' mode) is stable; the growth rate of the `0' mode is relatively mild so that the oscillation can start only in an injection locked mode; the oscillation does not require the presence of reflected electrons; and the separation of the cavities must be sufficiently short. These, and other features, are found to be in qualitative agreement with the recent experiments on the injection locked relativistic klystron oscillator that were conducted at the Phillips Laboratory.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toxicokinetics of monochloroacetic acid: a whole-body autoradiography study.

Abstract Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) is a toxic chemical used as a herbicide and in the synthesis of various organic compounds. MCA has also been shown to be present in chlorinated drinking waters. In order to understand the mechanism of MCA toxicity, we studied the tissue distribution of [1-14C]MCA in rats, by whole-body autoradiography technique. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a tracer dose of [1-14C]MCA [6.8 μg/100 g (40 μCi) body weight] by tail vein and euthanized at different time intervals (5 min, 1, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h). The animals were embedded in carboxymethyl cellulose and frozen immediately. Frozen animals were sectioned and processed using whole-body autoradiographic techniques. Analysis of developed sections showed that at 5 min, there was a rapid accumulation of 14C-activity in the kidney cortex and stomach walls. The radioactivity was rapidly removed from the circulation. There was high accumulation of 14C-activity in the myocardial tissues. The liver was also loaded with MCA and/or its metabolites. After 1 h following administration of [14C]MCA, radioactivity was extensively excreted into the small intestinal lumen. The accumulation of 14C-activity in the brain, thymus, salivary glands and tongue was prominent at 1 h. After 4 h the liver and other tissues started to eliminate most of the radioactivity. Contrary to other tissues, however, the central nervous system, thymus and pancreas started to accumulate the radioactivity at later time periods. These observations suggest the accumulation of MCA and/or its metabolites into hydrophilic tissues at earlier time periods and into lipophilic tissues at later times.
Mechanism of action in thalidomide teratogenesis

In this commentary, we describe a model to explain the mechanism of the embryopathy of thalidomide. We propose that thalidomide affects the following pathway during development: insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) stimulation of the transcription of alphav and beta3 integrin subunit genes. The resulting alphavbeta3 integrin dimer stimulates angiogenesis in the developing limb bud, which promotes outgrowth of the bud. The promoters of the IGF-I and FGF-2 genes, the genes for their binding proteins and receptors, as well as the alphav and beta3 genes, lack typical TATA boxes, but instead contain multiple GC boxes (GGGCGG). Thalidomide, or a breakdown product of thalidomide, specifically binds to these GC promoter sites, decreasing transcription efficiency of the associated genes. A cumulative decrease interferes with normal angiogenesis, which results in truncation of the limb. Intercalation into G-rich promoter regions of DNA may explain why certain thalidomide analogs are not teratogenic while retaining their anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activity, and suggests that we look elsewhere to explain the action of thalidomide on TNF-alpha. On the other hand, the anti-cancer action of thalidomide may be based on its antiangiogenic action, resulting from specific DNA intercalation. The tissue specificity of thalidomide and its effect against only certain neoplasias may be explained by the fact that various developing tissues and neoplasias depend on different angiogenesis or vasculogenesis pathways, only some of which are thalidomide-sensitive.
Causes of sinks near Tucson, Arizona, USA

Land subsidence in the form of sinks has occurred on and near farmlands near Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. The sinks occur in alluvial deposits along the flood plain of the Santa Cruz River, and have made farmlands dangerous and unsuitable for farming. More than 1700 sinks are confined to the flood plain of the Santa Cruz River and are grouped along two north-northwestward-trending bands that are approximately parallel to the river and other flood-plain drainages. An estimated 17,000 m3 of sediment have been removed in the formation of the sinks. Thirteen trenches were dug to depths of 4–6 m to characterize near-surface sediments in sink and nonsink areas. Sediments below about 2 m included a large percentage of dispersive clays in sink areas. Sediments in nonsink areas contain a large component of medium- to coarse-grained, moderately to well sorted sand that probably fills a paleochannel. Electromagnetic surveys support the association of silts and clays in sink areas that are highly electrically conductive relative to sand in nonsink areas. Sinks probably are caused by the near-surface process of subsurface erosion of dispersive sediments along pre-existing cracks in predominantly silt and clay sediments. The pre-existing cracks probably result from desiccation or tension that developed during periods of water-table decline and channel incision during the past 100 years or in earlier periods.
Prospects for reducing the processing cost of lithium ion batteries

Abstract A detailed processing cost breakdown is given for lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes, which focuses on: 1) elimination of toxic, costly N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) dispersion chemistry; 2) doubling the thicknesses of the anode and cathode to raise energy density; and 3) reduction of the anode electrolyte wetting and SEI-layer formation time. These processing cost reduction technologies generically adaptable to any anode or cathode cell chemistry and are being implemented at ORNL. This paper shows step by step how these cost savings can be realized in existing or new LIB manufacturing plants using a baseline case of thin (power) electrodes produced with NMP processing and a standard 10–14-day wetting and formation process. In particular, it is shown that aqueous electrode processing can cut the electrode processing cost and energy consumption by an order of magnitude. Doubling the thickness of the electrodes allows for using half of the inactive current collectors and separators, contributing even further to the processing cost savings. Finally wetting and SEI-layer formation cost savings are discussed in the context of a protocol with significantly reduced time. These three benefits collectively offer the possibility of reducing LIB pack cost from $502.8 kW h−1-usable to $370.3 kW h−1-usable, a savings of $132.5/kWh (or 26.4%).
Anchoring the Gas-Phase Acidity Scale†

Theoretical calculations and experimental values from the recent literature are used to construct and evaluate a high precision gas-phase acidity scale. Gas-phase acidities at 0 K are evaluated for 12 reference species with accurately known acidities. Using recent spectroscopic results, small but significant revisions are presented for the acidities of ammonia, water, and formaldehyde. These revised anchor acidities are applied to previous thermokinetic or equilibrium measurements of the acidities of small alkanols, ethene, and benzene. Combined with electron affinities from literature negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, the revised acidities yield the following improved bond dissociation enthalpies: D298(CH3O−H) = 437.7 ± 2.8 kJ/mol, D298(C2H5O−H) = 438.1 ± 3.3 kJ/mol, D298((CH3)2CHO−H) = 442.3 ± 2.8 kJ/mol, D298((CH3)3CO−H) = 444.9 ± 2.8 kJ/mol, D298(C2H3−H) = 463.0 ± 2.7 kJ/mol, and D298(C6H5BH) = 472.2 ± 2.2 kJ/mol. Calculation of gas-phase acidities at 0 K are investigated for seve...
Biological control of terrestrial silica cycling and export fluxes to watersheds

Silicon has a crucial role in many biogeochemical processes—for example, as a nutrient for marine and terrestrial biota, in buffering soil acidification and in the regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Traditionally, silica fluxes to soil solutions and stream waters are thought to be controlled by the weathering and subsequent dissolution of silicate minerals1,2. Rates of mineral dissolution can be enhanced by biological processes3. But plants also take up considerable quantities of silica from soil solution, which is recycled into the soil from falling litter in a separate soil–plant silica cycle that can be significant in comparison with weathering input and hydrologic output4,5,6,7,8. Here we analyse soil water in basaltic soils across the Hawaiian islands to assess the relative contributions of weathering and biogenic silica cycling by using the distinct signatures of the two processes in germanium/silicon ratios. Our data imply that most of the silica released to Hawaiian stream water has passed through the biogenic silica pool, whereas direct mineral–water reactions account for a smaller fraction of the stream silica flux. We expect that other systems exhibiting strong Si depletion of the mineral soils and/or high Si uptake rates by biomass will also have strong biological control on silica cycling and export.
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: OVERCOMING OPERATIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND SOCIAL BARRIERS

An analysis of survey data from Matlab Bangladesh suggests that the provision of primary health care is a more complex process than is reflected by current strategies. The Bangladesh experience indicates that single-outcome indicators (e.g. deaths averted) for assessing the effect of health measures while necessary for comparing the cost-effectiveness of various approaches rarely encapsulate all the aims of an intervention. For example in the year after the introduction in Matlab of modern contraception and tetanus immunization for pregnant women the intervention population had ab0ut a 25% lower crude birth and death rate yet little difference was observed in infant mortality rates. Policies aimed at contering single diseases may cause factors such as nutrition which has important biosocial interactions with infection to be undervalued. Rather than viewing childhood morality in relation to specific diseases--an approach that promotes an emphsis on tchnology--childhood mortality should be seen as the result of sequential insults accumulated over time. the reluctance of eligible women to accept tetanus vaccine and the greater utilization of diarrhea treatment services for male than female children are examples of the significance of the demand factor. Also needed is improved knowledge of the interaction between the structure of health care delivery systems and a populations political economy. Public investments for primary health care in India have been targeted to large-scale public systems operated by a bureaucracy biased toward procedure rather than performance. Finally future research should incorporate the strengths of both the natural and the social sciencs.
Growing Right Onto Wellness (GROW): A Family-Centered, Community-Based Obesity Prevention Randomized Controlled Trial for Preschool Child-Parent Pairs

Growing Right Onto Wellness (GROW) is a randomized controlled trial that tests the efficacy of a family-centered, community-based, behavioral intervention to prevent childhood obesity among preschool-aged children. Focusing on parent-child pairs, GROW utilizes a multi-level framework, which accounts for macro (i.e., built-environment) and micro (i.e., genetics) level systems that contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. Six hundred parent-child pairs will be randomized to a 3-year healthy lifestyle intervention or a 3-year school readiness program. Eligible children are enrolled between ages 3 and 5, are from minority communities, and are not obese. The principal site for the GROW intervention is local community recreation centers and libraries. The primary outcome is childhood body mass index (BMI) trajectory at the end of the three-year study period. In addition to other anthropometric measurements, mediators and moderators of growth are considered, including genetics, accelerometry, and diet recall. GROW is a staged intensity intervention, consisting of intensive, maintenance, and sustainability phases. Throughout the study, parents build skills in nutrition, physical activity, and parenting, concurrently forming new social networks. Participants are taught goal-setting, self-monitoring, and problem solving techniques to facilitate sustainable behavior change. The GROW curriculum uses low health literacy communication and social media to communicate key health messages. The control arm is administered to both control and intervention participants. By conducting this trial in public community centers, and by implementing a family-centered approach to sustainable healthy childhood growth, we aim to develop an exportable community-based intervention to address the expanding public health crisis of pediatric obesity.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: recovery after plasmapheresis, corticosteroids, splenectomy, and antiplatelet agents.

A 68-year-old woman severely ill with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) made a complete recovery after splenectomy was added to a program of corticosteroids, antiplatelet agents, and plasmapheresis. The authors review the subject of therapy of TTP. They advise high-dose corticosteroids, antiplatelet agents, and plasmapheresis, with splenectomy to be considered as an effective alternative.
Access to Higher Education for Nontraditional Students and Minorities in a Technology-Focused Society

This article presents gains in enrollment data of women and minorities in higher education. The article argues that although access and opportunity have dramatically improved for women, particularly “reentry” or “nontraditional” learners, the same is not true for minorities, especially African Americans. Nontraditional African American women are showing a higher rate of participation than their male counterparts.
Relaxation phenomena and stability of probability densities

Abstract A characteristics function whose positive time behavior is proportional to a step response function is constructed in such a way that: all its derivatives at t = 0 are finite; it has the usual exponential decay behavior for intermediate times; it satisfies the Paley-Wiener bound for long times. The constructed characteristic function C π k ( t |0) is piecewise continuous with behavior determined by different exponentials of a monomial function of t , namely −(\ t \/τ k ) k , termed monomial exponentials, on appropriate segments of time. Continuity conditions at joining points provide relations among the τ k so only one τ k is an independent parameter. The occurrence of τ k well within a particular segment in (positive) time determines the monomial exponential that dominates the behavior of C τ k ( t |0), and the behavior is then called k -dominant. The k -dominance property is discussed for the probability density P τ k (ω) corresponding to C τ k ( t |0). A formalism is developed in which the probability density for a summand variable in ω-space maintains k -dominant behavior for its corresponding characteristic function. The property of k -dominant stability for probability densities is thereby introduced. At this point the identification of the positive t portion of C τ k ( t |0) as a step response function is used to make a comparison which a relaxation model in complex system which others have called the Ngai model. The latter involves the introduction of interactions that lead to a modification of a constant decay rate for a linear exponential to a time-dependent one appropriate for fractional expotential behavior. Ngai's predicted relation between the two respective relaxation time parameters corresponds here to a continuity condition for C τ k ( t |0). k -dominance and, by implication, k -dominant stability are compatible with the Ngai model. Also compatible with the Ngai model and the concept of k -dominant stability is a cross-over from one-dominant to α-dominant behavior under a change of experimental conditions that is actually observed for selected systems.
Candidaemia in Patients with an Inserted Medical Device

The importance of medical devices as a source of infection has been increasingly appreciated. Candida spp. are responsible for a significantly increasing number of device-related infections, particularly those involving the bloodstream and urinary tract. A wide range of devices may be colonized by Candida spp., including central venous catheters, cardiac devices, and knee and hip prostheses. Medical device infections invariably require antifungal therapy and, in many cases, device removal, with associated hazards to some patients. Currently recommended treatments include amphotericin B formulations, azoles and echinocandins. The echinocandins, with efficacy against Candida biofilms, may have a role in the future in improved lock therapy for the treatment of device-associated candidal infections.
Coding the Deaths from the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

This article presents suggestions regarding how the statistical coding of the deaths from the September 11 terrorist attacks should be done using ICD external cause of injury codes and FBI UCR codes. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) records deaths in the U.S. based on the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with its Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR), records deaths reported by state and local law enforcement agencies as murder and non-negligent manslaughter and justifiable homicides of felons by law enforcement and civilians. The author recommends that the NCHS and the UCR should classify the deaths as war related.
Velocity compression and cooling of a sodium atomic beam using a frequency modulated ring laser

Abstract A thorough understanding of the effects associated with velocity compression and cooling of atomic beams through laser-atom interactions requires a detailed study of the dipole radiation force. Such a study can be carried out with the use of a high-resolution atomic beam apparatus and a frequency-swept ring laser employed in a counter-propagating colinear laser-atom beam geometry. The principles of the proposed experimental program are discussed as well as directions for futures research.
Chronic infusion of norepinephrine and clonidine into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Previous experiments have shown that acute injection of NE and CLON into the PVN initiates a short-term feeding response in satiated rats. This study examined, in brain-cannulated rats, the impact of remote, chronic injections of NE, CLON, or saline on daily food intake and body weight gain. Over a period of 14 days, NE was infused into the PVN, either continuously at a rate of 12 nm/μl/hr, or discretely at a rate of 6 nm/μ l/sec. In addition, the α2-adrenergic agonist CLON was infused into the PVN discretely at a rate of 3 nm/0.5 /μl/30 sec. Relative to saline infusion, chronic (continuous or discrete) stimulation of the PVN with either of these drugs was effective in potentiating daily food intake by 12–19% and in increasing body weight gain, from approximately 1.5 g/day to 3.3 g/day. This evidence indicates that medial hypothalamic NE, especially within the PVN, is sufficiently robust to alter long-term feeding patterns and body weight regulation.
Cell phone use and acoustic neuroma: the need for standardized questionnaires and access to industry data.

Abstract Background The capacity of radiofrequency from cell phones to be absorbed into the brain has prompted concerns that regular cell phone use may increase the risk of acoustic neuroma (AN) and other brain tumors. This article critically evaluates current literature on cell phone use and AN risks and proposes additional studies to clarify any possible linkage. Methods Through a PubMed search, we identified and reviewed 10 case-control studies and 1 cohort study of AN risks associated with cell phone use and a meta-analysis of long-term mobile phone use and its association with AN and other brain tumors. Results Most studies did not find association between the development of AN and cell phone use, but some studies that followed cases for 10 years or more did show an association. Among 10 case-control studies, odds ratios for AN associated with regular cell phone use ranged from 0.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-1.0) to 4.2 (95% CI, 1.8-10). Cell phone use was not associated with increased risk for AN in the Danish cohort study, which excluded business users from their study. The meta-analysis, which included 3 case-control studies, found that subjects who used cell phones for at least 10 years had a 2.4-fold greater risk of developing ipsilateral AN. In general, retrospective studies are limited in the ability to assess cell phone exposure because of recall bias and misclassification. Conclusions The evaluation of AN risk factors is challenging due to its long latency. Some studies of longer term cell phone use have found an increased risk of ipsilateral AN. Adopting a prospective approach to acquire data on cell phone use, obtaining retrospective billing records that provide independent evaluations of exposures, and incorporating information on other key potential risk factors from questionnaires could markedly advance the capacity of studies to evaluate the impact of cell phones on AN.
n -alkyl thiol head-group interactions with the Au(111) surface

State-of-the-art first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory were performed on ${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}({\mathrm{CH}}_{2}{)}_{n\ensuremath{-}1}\mathrm{S}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Au}(111)$ systems. We show that the adsorption site of methylthiolate at a range of coverages on the Au(111) surface is the fcc site, not the hcp site as has been recently reported. Further, we report that increasing alkane chain length enhances the fcc site preference. Study of the electronic structure of the system underscores the importance of sulfur $3d$ orbitals to thiol chemisorption.
Multimodality Therapy and Liver Transplantation in Patients With Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 6 Years, Single-Center Experience

Abstract The treatment of patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has improved dramatically over the past 10 years. We conducted a 6-year prospective study, using multimodality ablation therapy (MMT) combined with liver transplantation (LTx) for patients with cirrhosis and unresectable HCC. Subjects were classified as: group 1 (n = 35), intention to treat with MMT + LTx; group 2 (n = 16), contemporaneous LTx with “incidental” HCC on explants; group 3 (n = 94), MMT alone; and group 4 (n = 19), palliative care alone. MMT included trans-arterial chemo-embolization (54.4%), trans-arterial chemo-infusion (28.6%), and radio frequency ablation (17%). Group 1, with a mean wait time of 11.6 months pre-MELD era and 5.4 months post-MELD era, had a mean of 2.4 ± 1.2 MMTs and achieved 1- 3-, and 5-year patient survivals of 100, 100, and 76%, respectively, which was not different from group 2 (incidental HCC), namely 93, 93, and 93%, respectively; or to a contemporaneous non-HCC LTx group: namely 84.3, 78.7, and 73.9%, respectively. Despite careful pretransplant HCC staging, 22.8% (8 of 35) group 1 subjects were understaged. Those subjects in group 1 with true T1–2 stage HCC achieved 100% cancer-free survival at 5 years. Only three cases of HCC recurrence occurred in our series, all of whom were understaged. Our data suggest that pretransplant MMT followed by timely LTx provides excellent disease-free survival at 5 years for patients with true T1–2 stage HCC and cirrhosis. Pretransplant HCC understaging contributes to posttransplant HCC recurrence after LTx.
Individual change amid stable smoking patterns in polydrug users over 3 years.

Abstract The pattern of stability/change in smoking status was examined annually in 254 community-dwelling polydrug users over 3 years. Respondents' smoking status was classified as nonsmoker, intermittent smoker, or “everyday” smoker. Results showed that the typical probability of retaining the same smoking status across any two consecutive assessments was: 0.77 for nonsmokers (never smokers and former smokers combined), 0.82 for everyday smokers, and 0.16 for intermittent smokers. The transition matrix proved stable across three observations; the predicted equilibrium distribution matched well with observed distributions. Fifty-five percent of intermittent smokers converted to everyday smoking within a year, but 29% converted to former-smoker status in the same period. No other transition exceeded 12%. Considerable flux in individual smoking status, particularly among intermittent smokers, was observed despite stable prevalence of smoking status in this population. Intermittent smoking status appeared to be a temporary “way station” between the two more stable everyday smoker and nonsmoker classifications. Results challenge current assumptions about “occasional” or “chipper” smokers.
Shock-wave viscosity measurement

The problem of measuring the viscosity of fluids under shock-loading conditions is discussed. The authors examine in detail the method of Sakharov et al. (1965) and Zaidel' (1967) for measuring shear viscosity from the decay of perturbations on a corrugated shock front. The relevance of initial conditions, finite shock amplitude, bulk viscosity, and the sensitivity of the measurements to the shock boundary conditions are discussed. The validity of the viscous perturbation approach is examined by numerically solving the second-order Navier-Stokes equations. These numerical experiments indicate that shock instabilities may occur even when the Kontorovich-D'yakov stability criteria are satisfied. The corrugated shock front induces mixing of the shocked sample. This mixing is particularly vigorous in viscous materials and may be responsible for the rapid rate of some shock-induced chemical reactions. The experimental results for water at 15 GPa are discussed, and several possibilities are considered to explain why the viscosity obtained by these experiments is so different from those obtained by other methods. Two possible reasons are favored: (1) the analytic method may be inappropriate because it ignores possible complications at the onset of the shock perturbations, and (2) the large effective viscosity determined by this method may reflect the existence of ice VII on the Rayleigh path of the Hugoniot. The latter interpretation reconciles the experimental results with estimates and measurements obtained by other means and is consistent with pressure-volume-temperature Hugoniot data and the phase diagram of H2O.
Pulse Combustion: Impinging Jet Heat Transfer Enhancement1

Abstract A new method for convective heat transfer enhancement is described. The technique involves the use of a pulse combustor to generate a transient jet that impinges on a flat plate. Enhancements in convective heat transfer of a factor of up to 2.5, compared to a steady impinging jet at approximately the same Reynolds number, have been obtained. Heat transfer data for several experimental configurations are presented. Flow field visualizations and theoretical calculations are used to suggest an enhancement mechanism.
Habitat Use and Time Budgeting by Wintering Ferruginous Hawks

From 1992-1995 we studied the winter ecology of Fermginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) in Colorado. Hawks spent 84% of the daylight interval perching. Time-budgets indicated that on average hawks perched 18 times day-' (range 3-50), with perches aver- aging 30 min in duration. Diurnal perching was in trees, on poles, and on the ground. Utility poles and other human-made structures were used more than ground and deciduous tree perches. Tree perches were used for the longest mean duration. The mean daily Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) home range of 36 hawks was 3.53 km2. The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) was the most important prey species, and extant prairie dog colonies characterized winter habitat for Fermginous Hawks.
Feasibility of a rapid systems engineering framework: an exploratory study

Systems Engineering (SE) has been traditionally viewed as an extremely rigorous approach for having resource intensive processes often perceived to involve bureaucratic decision making; therefore, deemed to be affordable only by large companies and government institutions. However, in recent years, the commercial industry is trying to leverage the benefits of SE by selecting the relevant aspects that apply to them and customising SE to a leaner and compressed version. This paper explores the suitability and the feasibility of rapid approaches and techniques to the existing SE processes. More specifically, this paper describes 22 techniques of rapid systems engineering (RSE) during the design and implementation processes, relevant to those processes and lessons learned. These techniques are applied to the 14 SE processes as illustrated by the SE standard - ISO 15288. An exploratory survey was developed by the authors based on the SE process activities as per ISO 15288 to evaluate application utilising a rapid approach in current projects from various industries. This paper provides conclusions to applying rapid techniques to the SE processes based on existing literature and the experiences of the projects surveyed. It concludes with a discussion of potential research projects for the evaluation of RSE.
Exploring the Impact of a Professional Practice Education Doctorate in Educational Environments

This article presents one approach to assessing the impact of an online professional practice doctorate in education on participants' work environments. It is unique in that it explored impact during the doctoral program, before participants began their dissertation research, and it focused on how participants apply learning from the program within their practice and how they grow professionally in ways that make contributions to their organizations and their profession. The data are based on participant interviews, participants' curriculum vitae submitted during qualifying exams, and professional websites. The findings indicate that an online professional program embedded in practice can have powerful impact within a short period of time on students' own practice, their local organizations, and their colleagues at regional, state, and national levels and spur their professional momentum.
Thresholds and Thrones: Morphology and Symbolism of Dangme Public Altars

Current studies of African epistemology are stimulating a similar interest in the notion of secrecy and some of its formal expressions (Nooter and Vogel 1993). Thus far, the profile of 'secret art' emerging from the corpus of scholarly works is taking many forms. These include some of the least known, the least visible, and the most understated and anomalous forms in African art.1 Still, because objects that embody secret meanings need not be hidden, the visual arts of some African peoples frequently blend public exposure and secrecy. The display or nondisplay of many elements is therefore culturally determined. In much of Africa south of the Sahara, cultural secrets tend to be religious secrets too, so much so that discussions of the esoteric arts are inevitably intertwined with the doctrinal and practical aspects of traditional beliefs, namely, mythology, prayer, and ritual performances. Yet religion, by its very nature-that is, its elusiveness and seeming irrationality-provides a logical transition, or bridge, between reality and illusion. Its multidimensionality, in particular, suggests that its expressive forms could lend themselves to a range of meanings that are usually culturally specific. This essay illustrates these interconnections by focusing on one such artistic genre: the mud altar complex of the Dangme people of southern Ghana. Although the word altar does not adequately convey the multiple uses of the forms in question in Dangme society today, it is used here for lack of a more appropriate term. These altars exemplify the paradox of having a public art that includes a wholly private, secret dimension. It also brings to the fore several compelling issues that often confront studies of religious art. First is the extent to which the Dangme perception of the human-spirit relationship influences how they conceptualize the
Separable Attentional Predictors of Language Outcome

The aim of this study was to examine the combined influences of infants’ attention and use of social cues in the prediction of their language outcomes. This longitudinal study measured infants’ visual attention on a distractibility task (11 months), joint attention (14 months), and language outcomes (word –object association, 14 months; MBCDI vocabulary size and multi-word productions at 18 months of age). Path analyses were conducted for two different language outcomes. The analysis for vocabulary revealed unique direct prediction from infants’ visual attention on a distractibility task (i.e., maintaining attention to a target event in the presence of competing events) and joint attention (i.e., more frequent response to tester’s bids for attention) for larger vocabulary size at outcome; this model accounted for 48% of variance in vocabulary, after controlling for baseline communication status (assessed at 11 months). The analysis for multi-word productions yielded direct effects for infants’ distractibility, but not joint attention; this model accounted for 45% of variance in multi-word productions, again after controlling for baseline communication status. Indirect effects were not significant in either model. Results are discussed in light of the unique predictive role of attentional factors and social/attention cues for emerging language.
Reduced genetic variation in insular northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) along the North Pacific Coast

Nearshore oceanic archipelagos are natural laboratories that could provide valuable insight into the role of evolutionary processes such as founder effects and incipient speciation in biotic conservation. The Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska is an example of such a complex, yet few biological investigations have been conducted. For the past 50 years, the region has experienced intense anthropogenic disturbances (particularly timber harvesting), causing habitat fragmentation and potential disruption of biotic communities. As part of a series of studies of mammals endemic to Southeast Alaska, we examined mitochondrial DNA sequences from 118 flying squirrels to investigate genetic diversity across Southeast Alaska. Mitochondrial sequence divergence corroborates the subspecific designation of the endemic Prince of Wales flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus griseifrons). This island lineage exhibits severely reduced genetic variation and may be the result of an early Holocene founder event. Nearly all of the animals we examined on Prince of Wales Island and ten islands to the west had identical cytochrome b (52 of 53) and control region (21 of 21) sequences. In contrast, substantial polymorphism and little genetic structuring were found in comparable populations on the mainland of Southeast and Interior Alaska. Because flying squirrels in the Pacific Northwest are associated with old-growth forest, forest-use plans should aim to conserve this unique lineage of island squirrels.
Measurement of Papaya Maturity by Delayed Light Emission

Tomatoes were classified into three stages of maturity on the basis of visual color appearance and evaluated for differences in intensity of delayed light emission (DLE) and chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment contents. High correlations between DLE and chlorophyll show that as tomatoes ripened, DLE intensity and chlorophyll decreased and carotenoids increased. Results showed that DLE has a high potential for use in the automated sorting of fresh market tomatoes into categories of maturity.
A New Model to Decrease Time-to-Appointment Wait for Gastroenterology Evaluation

OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation and evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to increase new-patient access and decrease time-to-appointment wait for gastroenterology care. METHODS: We used a new model of care for gastroenterology evaluation. For specified clinical complaints, we offered new-patient appointments that were scheduled with a general pediatrician as an alternative to a subspecialist. A nurse navigator assisted in triaging patients. We analyzed all patient encounters over an 8-month period. To verify decreased time-to-appointment wait, mystery shoppers made semimonthly calls to centralized scheduling. We surveyed parents/families after visits with the pediatrician or subspecialists regarding satisfaction. RESULTS: The “access” pediatrician evaluated and treated ∼40% of all new patients presenting to the division during the study period. Approximately 10% of new patients evaluated by the pediatrician (4% overall) were referred on to the subspecialist; fewer patients were reevaluated by the pediatrician in follow-up. The pediatrician ordered a minimal number of procedures. Semimonthly sampling revealed that overall new-patient access improved from an average time-to-appointment wait of 25 days to <1 day. Parent/family satisfaction was high for the patients evaluated by the pediatrician. CONCLUSIONS: Embedding a general pediatrician within a subspecialty division, and navigating patients to this provider, can increase access to treatment of new low- to moderate-complexity patients. The access pediatrician can maintain patient satisfaction, provide high-quality care, and decrease need for subspecialist evaluation. The model, in the setting of a large academic medical center, may provide a solution for barriers to patient care such as lengthy time-to-appointment wait. * Abbreviations: AIDHC — : Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children AP — : access pediatrician GI — : gastroenterology IOM — : Institute of Medicine PCP — : primary care provider
Performance prediction of smart permanent virtual circuits in ATM networks with CACI Comnet

As networks become larger and more complex the design and management of systems become more and more difficult. New technologies, such as asynchronous transfer mode, new algorithms, and bandwidth demanding applications are implemented every day. How can network designers decide which combinations of connections, communication speeds, algorithms, and applications are the most appropriate for their business? A widely accepted answer is performance prediction through simulation. A model can be used to: evaluate various design alternatives or various operational policies; explore the behavior of proposed systems and connections before actually building them; and pre-test modifications. We apply simulation techniques to ATM networks. In an ATM network the basic data units, called cells, are routed through switched or permanent virtual circuits. A smart permanent virtual circuit is a connection that looks like a permanent virtual circuit at the local and remote endpoints with a switched virtual circuit in the middle. In an earlier paper the author (1997) presented a search algorithm for managing smart permanent virtual circuits. Our goal is to predict the performance of this search algorithm with the distributed software module of the simulation modeling system CACI Comnet.
Prediction Model of Bus Arrival Time for Real-Time Applications

Advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) are one component of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and a major component of ATIS is travel time information. Automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems, which are a part of ITS, have been adopted by many transit agencies to track their vehicles and to predict travel time in real time. Because of the complexity involved, there is no universally adopted approach for this latter application, and research is needed in this area. The objectives of the research in this paper are to develop a model to predict bus arrival time using AVL data and apply the model for real-time applications. The test bed was a bus route located in Houston, Texas, and the travel time prediction model considered schedule adherence, traffic congestion, and dwell times. A historical data-based model, regression models, and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to predict bus arrival time. It was found that ANN models outperformed both the historical data-based model and the regression model in terms of prediction accuracy. It was also found that the ANN models can be used for real-time applications.
A Programmable 0.18- $\mu\hbox{m}$ CMOS Electrochemical Sensor Microarray for Biomolecular Detection

A configurable electrochemical sensor microarray system-on-a-chip fabricated in a standard digital 0.18-mum complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process is presented. Each pixel within this 5times10 array occupies a 160 mumtimes120 mum area and contains a differential electrochemical transducer with a programmable sensor. The sensor has a digitally configurable topology capable of performing different electroanalytical measurements for a variety of affinity-based biomolecular sensing applications. The main modes of operation for this system are impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry, potentiometry, and field-effect sensing
Measuring Cation Dependent DNA Polymerase Fidelity Landscapes by Deep Sequencing

High-throughput recording of signals embedded within inaccessible micro-environments is a technological challenge. The ideal recording device would be a nanoscale machine capable of quantitatively transducing a wide range of variables into a molecular recording medium suitable for long-term storage and facile readout in the form of digital data. We have recently proposed such a device, in which cation concentrations modulate the misincorporation rate of a DNA polymerase (DNAP) on a known template, allowing DNA sequences to encode information about the local cation concentration. In this work we quantify the cation sensitivity of DNAP misincorporation rates, making possible the indirect readout of cation concentration by DNA sequencing. Using multiplexed deep sequencing, we quantify the misincorporation properties of two DNA polymerases – Dpo4 and Klenow exo 2 – obtaining the probability and base selectivity of misincorporation at all positions within the template. We find that Dpo4 acts as a DNA recording device for Mn 2+ with a misincorporation rate gain of ,2%/mM. This modulation of misincorporation rate is selective to the template base: the probability of misincorporation on template T by Dpo4 increases .50-fold over the range tested, while the other template bases are affected less strongly. Furthermore, cation concentrations act as scaling factors for misincorporation: on a given template base, Mn 2+ and Mg 2+ change the overall misincorporation rate but do not alter the relative frequencies of incoming misincorporated nucleotides. Characterization of the ion dependence of DNAP misincorporation serves as the first step towards repurposing it as a molecular recording device.
Auctions with resale

This paper studies auctions at which the good for sale may later be resold by the auction winner. Valuations at such auctions are endogenously determined, based in part on equilibrium expectations of resale outcomes. While these valuations sometimes re ect common value components introduced by the secondary market, the resale opportunity changes auctions in ways that cannot be captured by any model ignoring resale. The model predicts signaling through bids, multiple symmetric equilibria for some standard auctions, and potential gains to a seller from excluding bidders in order to create an active resale market. Key policy implications and empirical predictions can also overturn those based on models without resale. * This paper is based in part on chapter 2 of my 1996 Ph.D. dissertation at Northwestern University. Thanks to Gopal DasVarma, Wolfgang Pesendorfer, Rob Porter, Jeroen Swinkels, Keith Waehrer, seminar participants at Northwestern and Rochester, and especially Steve Matthews for many valuable discussions and comments. Emanuel Ornelas provided capable research assistance. I am grateful for nancial support from the National Science Foundation (SBR-9809082) and from the Ameritech Foundation through the Consortium for Research on Telecommunications Policy.
Vasopressin Regulation of the Proestrous Luteinizing Hormone Surge in Wild-Type and Clock Mutant Mice

In the female mouse, ovulation and estrous cyclicity are under both hormonal and circadian control. We have shown that mice with a mutation in the core circadian gene Clock have abnormal estrous cycles and do not have a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge on the afternoon of proestrus due to a defect at the hypothalamic level. In the present study, we tested the hypotheses that vasopressin (AVP) can act as a circadian signal to regulate the proestrous release of LH, and that this signal is deficient in the Clock mutant. We found that Avp expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and AVP 1a receptor (Avpr1a) expression in the hypothalamus is reduced in Clock mutant mice compared to wild-type mice. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of AVP on the afternoon of proestrus is sufficient to induce LH secretion, which reaches surge levels in 50% of Clock mutant mice. The effect of AVP on the Clock mutant LH surge is mediated by AVPR1A, as co-infusion of AVP and an AVPR1A-specific antagonist prevents AVP induction of LH release, although infusion of an AVPR1A antagonist into wild-type mice failed to prevent a proestrous LH surge. These results suggest that reduced hypothalamic AVP signaling plays a role in the absence of the proestrous LH surge in Clock mutant mice. The results also support the hypothesis that AVP produced by the SCN may be a circadian signal that regulates LH release.
Technologies to Minimize Water Quality Impacts of Irrigated Agriculture.

Irrigation transformed arid land in the Pacific Northwest into productive agricultural land. However, much of this land is prone to erosion during irrigation, which can cause problems on and off of the field. Management practices have been developed to control soil erosion on irrigated land and improve the quality of water returning to streams and rivers. Applying polyacrylamide (PAM) with irrigation water can reduce erosion from furrow irrigated fields more than 90%. Using PAM in combination with other practices, such as applying straw mulch in furrows and installing small sediment ponds on fields, can virtually eliminate sediment loss fromfields. Once soil runs off a field, it can be removed by settling in sediment ponds, although soluble nutrients remain in the water. Applying 20 mg/L alum to irrigation return flow water can remove about 50% of the soluble phosphorus that will not be removed as suspended sediment settlesin ponds. Using these management practices allows irrigation to continue with minimal impact on water quality.
Magistrates of the Sacred: Priests and Parishioners in Eighteenth-Century Mexico

Introduction Part I. Politics, Place, and Religion: 1. Parish Priests in Bourbon Mexico 2. The Archdiocese of Mexico and the diocese of Guadalajara 3. Issues of local religion Part II. Priests: 4. Becoming a Parish Priest 5. The careers of Parish Priests 6. Making a living 7. Priests as judges and teachers 8. Priests at work 9. Sanctions and deference Part III. Parishioners: 10. Christian duties and local celebrations 11. Saints and images 12. Cofradias 13. The Curas' lay network Part IV. The Politics of Parish Life:14. Officials, popular action, and disputes with Parish Priests 15. Leadership and dissention in Pueblo politics 16. District governors and Parish Priests 17. Arancel disputes Appendixes.