cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Looking in the Mirror of Inquiry: Knowledge in Our Students and in Ourselves

At a large, urban community college located in the Northeastern United States, a group of faculty interested in helping students assume agency in their own learning used the methodology of Collaborative Inquiry (CI) as a way to examine the factors that help or hinder this process. Unexpected was the epistemological shift they underwent as a result of the CI process. The group had hoped to find ways to make students less passive, starting with the question “How do we make students into makers of knowledge?” The CI methodology, however, required the faculty to examine themselves and their own relationship with the process of knowledge-making. Through the inquiry process, which required participants to question their own assumptions, they realized that, even though they considered themselves makers of knowledge within their respective fields, they had approached this knowledge-making process quite passively. The group members thus found themselves involved in a Collaborative Inquiry process that they hadn’t initially fully understood but which required that they become active makers of knowledge. As a result, members rejected many of the assumptions implicit in the original question and began to approach the challenge of teaching and learning more actively, more respectfully, and with more humility. This article offers a narrative of this group’s process, the conclusions they reached, a set of reflections, and considerations that others using the CI process for professional development oriented inquiries may find useful. KEYWORDS collaborative inquiry, second person inquiry, action research, experiential learning, transformative learning
Transgenic and gene knock-out techniques and burn research

The development of transgenic technology has given researchers a powerful tool to examine biological effects, and the response to injury is no exception. Techniques such as pronuclear injection, targeted homologous recombination, and Cre/loxP gene excision are being used to construct animals with specific genetic designs; these are exploited to learn the role of genes in the response to severe burn. We review the construction of transgenic animals, pitfalls and benefits of this relatively new technique, and how this technique has been used in burn research.
Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics calculation of the transport properties of carbon dioxide

Abstract We compute the thermal conductivity and diffusion coefficient of supercritical carbon dioxide along the 313 K isotherm using non—equilibrium molecular dynamics. Comparisons are made with experiment at four densities corresponding to pressures of 30, 70, 200 and 500 bar. Two intermolecular potential models for carbon dioxide are compared.
Inactivation and reversion of multisite streptomycin resistance mutations of Pneumococcus.

Purified DNAs were prepared from pneumococcal strains bearing either a multisite or single site streptomycin resistance (str-r) marker. In addition, each DNA contained a single site erythromycin resistance marker (ery-r2) or a pair of closely linked ery-r markers (ery-r2 and ery-r6). These DNA preparations were subjected to inactivation by subcritical heating or nitrous acid. Regardless of the genetic size of the streptomycin resistance marker, it was inactivated in a manner identical to that of the ery-r2 marker and less rapidly than that of the linked pair of ery-r markers.
Crack growth in unidirectional graphite-epoxy under biaxial loading

Center-notched coupons of 16-ply unidirectional AS4/3501-6 graphite-epoxy were loaded in tension to failure in order to determine the direction of initial crack growth, the load required to cause initial crack growth, and the load required to cause failure. Fifteen-degree off-axis tensile coupons provided a far-field biaxial state of stress away from the notch. Specimens of three different length-to-width ratios were tested in order to vary the biaxial stress states. Two notch configurations were used, one perpendicular to the loading direction, the other perpendicular to the material fiber direction. In all of the cases studied experimentally, crack growth was parallel to the fiber direction. An anisotropicelasticity crack-tip stress analysis was subsequently implemented in order to compare experimental crack-growth directions to those predicted by three crack-extension-direction criteria. Of the three criteria studied, (Strain-energy density, the tensor polynomial, and the normal stress ratio), only one, the normal-stress-ratio criterion, provided crack-growth-direction predictions that agreed with the experimental results.
Rapidly evolving large extracranial vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm in Behçet's disease: Case report and review of the literature.

Behcet's disease is a multisystem chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology with a wide spectrum of symptoms and organ system involvement. Arterial manifestations, particularly of the extracranial vertebral arteries, are rare. We report an unusual case of an African American patient with Behcet's disease, who presented with bilateral spontaneous vertebral artery pseudoaneurysms. The patient underwent successful endovascular parent vessel occlusion with detachable coils and on follow-up had complete clinical and angiographic signs of recovery.
EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF EUSTRONGYLIDES IGNOTUS IN FLORIDA: DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY, AND NATURAL INFECTIONS IN INTERMEDIATE HOSTS

A total of 63,451 fish, representing 39 species, was collected from 176 foraging sites used by ciconiiform wading birds in peninsular Florida (USA) and examined for larvae of Eustrongylides ignotus. Infected fish were identified from 30 (17%) of the sites, all of which had been altered by human disturbance such as removal of sediment to construct ditches and dikes, improve water flow, or increase storage capacity and had a history of receiving anthropogenic nutrients such as sewage effluent, urban runoff, or agricultural runoff. The mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and several species of sunfish (Centrarchidae) were the most important intermediate hosts. Infected fish were not collected at any of the unaltered sites. A total of 10,508 oligochaetes (representing 36 species) was identified from 22 sites that had fish infected with E. ignotus and 36 sites where no infected fish were collected. None of the oligochaetes was infected with larvae of E. ignotus. Immature tubificids without hair setae (probably Limnodrilus sp.), Dero digitata, and L. hoffmeisteri were the most abundant oligochaetes at sites where infected fish occurred, making up 78% of the total collected. Compared to unaltered sites, altered sites were characterized by higher mean densities of fish and oligochaetes; surface waters with decreased dissolved oxygen and increased total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a; sediments with higher soil oxygen demand and total phosphorus; larger grain sizes; and higher percentage emergent vegetation and grasses.
Major Problems in the Use of Computing Machines

1) Medical histories recorded by machine. How will these records be used by medical people and medical institutions? The answer to this is important because at the moment no one has told us of a real bona fide use for these records, and consequently, having them in machine form is of no clear-cut advantage. 2) Machine-aided diagnoses. We feel that the computing machine can be of real service in this area, but it is not at all clear exactly how the medical profession can take advantage of the capabilities of the machinery. The real problem here is to use the computer to aid the doctor, not to replace him. 3) Laboratory data. Laboratory data can be fed into computers perhaps more easily than can any other data. However, it is probably going to be important to use laboratory analyzing equipment which can make records in machine-readable form if full advantage is to be taken of the computing machine. 4) The handling of graphical and pictorial information. such as ``EKG, EEG, and X-ray pictures.'' EKG's and EEG's can probably be made to yield to mathematical analysis, but the question of machine-digested X rays is still open. 5) Communication between doctor and computer. The question of how a doctor can introduce data into the computer without having to resort to the usual transcription of handwritten data to punch-card form is one that I feel we must settle if there is to be any progress at all in this area.
ARRDC3 suppresses breast cancer progression by negatively regulating integrin β4

Large-scale genetic analyses of human tumor samples have been used to identify novel oncogenes, tumor suppressors and prognostic factors, but the functions and molecular interactions of many individual genes have not been determined. In this study we examined the cellular effects and molecular mechanism of the arrestin family member, ARRDC3, a gene preferentially lost in a subset of breast cancers. Oncomine data revealed that the expression of ARRDC3 decreases with tumor grade, metastases and recurrences. ARRDC3 overexpression represses cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, growth in soft agar and in vivo tumorigenicity, whereas downregulation of ARRCD3 has the opposite effects. Mechanistic studies showed that ARRDC3 functions in a novel regulatory pathway that controls the cell surface adhesion molecule, β-4 integrin (ITGβ4), a protein associated with aggressive tumor behavior. Our data indicates ARRDC3 directly binds to a phosphorylated form of ITGβ4 leading to its internalization, ubiquitination and ultimate degradation. The results identify the ARRCD3-ITGβ4 pathway as a new therapeutic target in breast cancer and show the importance of connecting genetic arrays with mechanistic studies in the search for new treatments.
Model-robust test plans with applications in accelerated life testing

We study a criterion based on a weighted asymptotic sample ratio (ASR) that yields model-robust test plans with relatively low ASRs under different models. We apply the criterion to accelerated life test planning in which interest lies in estimating life quantiles and there is uncertainty as to whether the Weibull or the lognormal model best describes the lifetime distribution. We use the criterion to determine optimum and best 4:2:1 allocation plans. We compare the ASRs of our test plans with the optimum and best 4:2:1 allocation test plans when the model is specified incorrectly. Test plans are evaluated in terms of ASRs, expected numbers of failures, and extrapolation to use stress. We illustrate the criterion in a practical situation.
Unconventional states of confined quarks and gluons

Abstract The spectrum of confined colored quarks and gluons is studied in the bag. ta states are calculated: hadrons made of gluons alone; QQ Q Q exotics and QQQ or Q Q states with unconventional quantum numbers. Many of these states are in the mass range 600–1600 MeV. The known 0++ mesons may be members of a nonet of QQ Q Q exotics rather than P-wave Q Q states.
Utilization of CO2 as cushion gas for porous media compressed air energy storage

Utilization of CO 2 as Cushion Gas for Porous Media Compressed Air Energy Storage Curtis M. Oldenburg 1 and Lehua Pan Earth Sciences Division 90-1116 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA 94720 Corresponding Author cmoldenburg@lbl.gov Abstract Porous media compressed air energy storage (PM-CAES) and geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) can potentially be combined when CO 2 is used as the cushion gas. The large increase in density of CO 2 around its critical pressure at near-critical temperature means that a PM-CAES reservoir operated around the CO 2 critical pressure could potentially store more air (energy) for a given pressure rise in the reservoir. One-dimensional (1D) radial TOUGH2 simulations of PM- CAES with CO 2 as the cushion gas have been carried out to investigate pressurization and gas- gas mixing effects. We find that pervasive pressure gradients in PM-CAES make it desirable to position the air-CO 2 interface close to the well, but cushion gas at such locations is subject to strong and undesirable air-CO 2 mixing and subsequent production of CO 2 up the well. To avoid this negative effect, CO 2 cushion gas should be located at the far outer margins of storage reservoirs where mixing will be very slow. In such a configuration, the super-compressibility of CO 2 will not be exploited, but CO 2 can be stored in the GCS context potentially earning significant value for the PM-CAES project depending on the price of carbon.
Assessment of eating disorders

Abstract Objective: This paper examines diagnostic agreement between interview and questionnaire assessments of women participating in a long-term follow-up study of bulimia nervosa. Methods: Women ( N =162) completed follow-up evaluations comprising questionnaires and either face-to-face or telephone interviews. Results: Consistent with previous research, rates of eating disorders were higher when assessed by questionnaire than when assessed by interview; however, rates of full bulimia nervosa were similar. Overall diagnostic agreement was adequate for eating disorders ( κ =.64) but poor for bulimia nervosa ( κ =.49), with greater agreement between questionnaires and telephone interviews ( κ 's range: .67–.71) than between questionnaires and face-to-face interviews ( κ 's range: .35–.58). Conclusion: Findings support the possibility that increased rates of eating pathology on questionnaire assessments may be due, in part, to increased candor when participants feel more anonymous. Questionnaire assessments may not be inferior to interview assessments; they may reveal different aspects of disordered eating.
Recruitment, growth, and diel vertical migration of Euphausia pacifica in a temperate fjord

The pelagic crustacean Euphausia pacifica Hansen was sampled with a multiple-sample 1.0 m2 Tucker trawl and a multiple-sample 1.0 m2 vertical net in Dabob Bay, Washington on 17 dates between May 1985 and October 1987. Size (stage) structure and abundance of the population were determined for each date, while vertical distribution and diel migration were determined for 13 dates. Although internannual variability in both timing and magnitude of events occurred, consistent patterns were discernable. The population produced a large pulse of larvae (2 to 5 mm) in late spring of each year, apparently in response to the vernal phytoplankton bloom. Much lower abundances of larvae occurred during summer and autumn of each year, and larvae were completely absent during winter. Recruitment to the juvenile (6 to 9 mm) and adult (≥10 mm) stages was strongest during the summer, with abundances of these individuals peaking in summer and autumn. Individual growth rates, determined by modal progression analysis, were calculated for E. pacifica. Rates ranged from zero for some adult cohorts during the winter to 0.12 mm d-1 for larvae during spring. The latter are among the highest ever reported for this species in the field. The vertical distributions and diel vertical migrations (DVM) of E. pacifica varied seasonally and between size (stage) classes. At night, all size classes were distributed in the surface layer (upper 25 m) irrespective of season or year. During the day, the larger/older stages were always distributed at middepths (50 to 125 m). In contrast, the daytime distribution of the larvae was more variable, being concentrated at the surface during spring and early summer of 1985, and at increasing depths later in the summer and autumn of 1985 and again in spring of 1986. This resulted in invariant DVM in the juveniles and adults, but variable DVM in the larvae, the latter of which is hypothesized to be a response to variable abundances of zooplanktivorous fish.
Hydrogen bonding effects on aspartate ester reactions

Michael addition reactions were utilized to form AB2 type monomers and esterified to form polyaspartate esters (PASPE). FTIR and NMR spectroscopic methods indicate that a relatively linear architecture was produced that contrasts with an expected hyperbranched (HB) structure. Linear chains formed due to a reactivity difference between the hydrogen bonded (H-bonded) and non-H-bonded esters. The esterification reaction was directed toward the H-bonded ester as shown by 2D NMR correlation spectroscopy. A model is proposed to explain the observed increase in reactivity of the H-bonded ester. Hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) in both the monomeric and polymeric aspartate (ASP) esters was analyzed by 2D NMR spectroscopy. The difference in chemical shifts of the methylene protons before and after reaction was attributed to the geometrical effects of the five-membered ring formed from H-bonding. Monomeric aspartate esters (ASPE) were found to have the greatest difference in chemical shift, while the in-chain H-bonded protons of the PASPE were observed to have the least difference in chemical environments. Internal H-bonding in the ASPE affected its reaction with an aliphatic isocyanate (NCO) due to varying reactivities of the primary hydroxyl (OH) compared to the secondary amine (NH). Internal hydrogen bonding of the OH groups with the amine may also explain unexpected relative reactivities with isocyanates. Both NMR and FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the OH group was exclusively consumed with no NH reaction product detected. A lack of hydantoin ring formation upon further heating the NCO/ASPE reaction product proved that the OH group was more reactive. In an equimolar reaction of ASPE with cyclohexyl isocyanate, NMR and FTIR measurements showed quantitative formation of the urethane adduct instead of the expected urea.
Use of composite endpoints in thrombolysis trials of acute myocardial infarction.

Although preventing early mortality following acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the most important goal of thrombolytic therapy, insistence on its use as the only or principal endpoint in trials of acute MI will limit the number of new thrombolytic-antithrombotic regimens that can be tested, and thus may inhibit future progress of this important area of cardiovascular therapeutics. Trials of thrombolytic therapy over the past decade, as discussed in this article, have demonstrated that: (1) thrombolytic therapy improves both mortality and intermediate endpoints, and (2) intermediate nonfatal endpoints are strongly linked to long-term mortality. Taken together, these facts provide strong evidence that intermediate nonfatal events can be used as valid endpoints in future trials of thrombolytic therapy. The unsatisfactory outcome composite endpoint, which incorporates mortality and important intermediate endpoints, will make it possible to compare innovative new regimens in much smaller trials. Ultimately, both of these approaches (i.e., megatrials using a mortality endpoint and smaller trials utilizing a composite unsatisfactory outcome endpoint) can be used in a complementary fashion. A new regimen could first be tested using the unsatisfactory outcome endpoint; if it showed particular promise, it could then become a candidate for testing in a megatrial. Conversely, if it did not prove better than standard regimens, futile research in tens of thousands of patients might be prevented. Thus, the use of composite endpoints will expand the number of new thrombolytic-antithrombotic regimens that can be tested and, it is hoped, accelerate progress in the treatment of acute MI.
Regulatory light-chain Cys-55 sites on the two heads of myosin can come within 2A of each other.

Abstract The di-thiol reagent, 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) is shown to induce disulfide bond formation between Mercenaria regulatory light-chain Cys-55 sites on either head of scallop hybrid myosin. This indicates that these two sites on opposite heads of myosin can come within 2A of each other and this confirms a prediction based on earlier data [Chantler, Tao and Stafford (1991) Biophys. J. 59, 1242–1250]. Results demonstrate that myosin heads in solution show a considerable mutual freedom of movement which can be monitored by probes in the vicinity of regulatory light-chain residue 55. Implications for light-chain movement on the myosin head are discussed.
Topology, dynamics, and control in cortical blood flow elucidated with optical techniques

Blood is a limited resource that supplies neurons and glia with nutriments. How is blood distributed both in a fail-safe way and in response to changing metabolic loads? We examine this issue in rodent cortex. First, in terms of topology, all-optical histology is used to reconstruct the vasculature network. Second, in terms of dynamics, the flux of blood cells in individual vessels is measured in response to neuronal activation and/or the perturbation of flow of a targeted vessel via plasma-mediated ablation. Lastly, in terms of control, optical indicators of neurovascular signaling molecules that alter vessel diameter are measured.
Environmental indices and the politics of the Conservation Reserve Program

Abstract Environmental indicators can be used to target public programs to provide a variety of benefits. Social scientists, physical scientists, and politicians have roles in developing indicators that reflect the demands of diverse interest groups. We review the US Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the largest agricultural conservation program the United States, to determine how a set of environmental indicators were developed and used, and assess results of their application. The use of such indicators has helped the CRP increase and broaden the program’s environmental benefits beyond erosion reduction, which was the primary focus of early program efforts, to meet other demands. This case study provides an example about how integration and assessment for the purpose of managing public resources requires more than natural science disciplines. Social science can help explain how public values influence what information is collected and how it is interpreted. Examples are given to show how the indices used for the CRP integrated science, politics and social values. In the end, the environmental benefits index (EBI) used to target US$ 20 billion of CRP funds reflects compromises made between science and policy considerations. It is our intention that studying this index will yield ideas and understanding from the natural science community that develops ecosystem indices about how to better plug in to programs in the future.
Immunohistochemical detection of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger and histone 1.5 in uterine leiomyosarcoma and leiomyoma.

The accurate distinction of leiomyoma from leiomyosarcoma is essential for patient management. However, the distinction can be difficult to make, particularly in tissue biopsy samples. Immunohistochemistry has been established as a useful technique to aid in the diagnosis of malignancies. The advantages of immunohistochemical studies are their ease of use and interpretation. This study is the first to evaluate the utility of the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) protein and the histone 1.5 (H1.5) protein as potential diagnostic immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing leiomyosarcoma from leiomyoma. Tissue samples from 21 leiomyosarcomas and 26 leiomyomas were studied. The student t-test and the Fisher exact test were used to calculate the differences in staining between the 2 groups. Statistically significant differences were found in the staining indices of anti-PLZF and anti-H1.5 when comparing benign and malignant tumors (P < .0001 and P < .0001, respectively). The mean H1.5 staining score in leiomyosarcomas was 158.3, compared to 28.3 in leiomyomas. The mean PLZF score in leiomyosarcomas was 1.5 in contrast to 71.5 in leiomyomas. For H1.5 at a score ≥60, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.5% and 84.6%, respectively. For PLZF, a score ≤15 had a test sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 80.8%, respectively. This suggests that staining for H1.5 or PLZF can serve as a good screening test. Additionally, combining the 2 immunostains results in a sensitivity and specificity of 90.5% and 97.5%, respectively, in differentiating between leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. We describe immunostaining for PLZF and H1.5 in benign and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors. Statistically significant differences in staining patterns were found, suggesting utility in distinguishing leiomyosarcomas from leiomyomas.
Image change detection via ensemble learning

The concept of geographic change detection is relevant in many areas. Changes in geography can reveal much information about a particular location. For example, analysis of changes in geography can identify regions of population growth, change in land use, and potential environmental disturbance. A common way to perform change detection is to use a simple method such as differencing to detect regions of change. Though these techniques are simple, often the application of these techniques is very limited. Recently, use of machine learning methods such as neural networks for change detection has been explored with great success. In this work, we explore the use of ensemble learning methodologies for detecting changes in bitemporal synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Ensemble learning uses a collection of weak machine learning classifiers to create a stronger classifier which has higher accuracy than the individual classifiers in the ensemble. The strength of the ensemble lies in the fact that the individual classifiers in the ensemble create a "mixture of experts" in which the final classification made by the ensemble classifier is calculated from the outputs of the individual classifiers. Our methodology leverages this aspect of ensemble learning by training collections of weak decision tree based classifiers to identify regions of change in SAR images collected of a region in the Staten Island, New York area during Hurricane Sandy. Preliminary studies show that the ensemble method has approximately 11.5% higher change detection accuracy than an individual classifier.
Cognitive mechanisms in generalized anxiety disorder: A second generation of theoretical perspectives

A second generation of cognitive-behavioral models of GAD have extended Beck’s model in several critical directions. These directions involve placing greater emphasis on understanding the role of compensatory self-protective processes such as worry, and more recently, of affective avoidance, as well as the role of emotion dysregulation. They also include trying to better understand the threat appraisals and fears of uncertainty that may be implicated in the disorder. The present Special Issue presents several papers that illustrate these new approaches. This Introduction to the Special Issue briefly considers the interrelation of these models in a broader theoretical context and suggests in outline several future research directions for developing a better and more articulated understanding of the disorder.
Mean sea level before and after some great strike-slip earthquakes

The annual mean sea levels of all permanently recording tide gauge stations along the North American west coast were inspected for evidence of elevation changes before and after large strike-slip earthquakes. The Yakutat earthquake, 1958 with M = 7.9 was preceded by 3 ± 3 cm of uplift 50 km west of the central part of the 400 km rupture. The Sitka earthquake, 1972 with M = 7.1, was preceded by 3 ± 3 cm of uplift at a station 40 km east of the center of the 170 km rupture. The Queen Charlotte earthquake, 1949 with M= 8.1, was followed by 5 ± 1 cm of subsidence 200 km east of the center of the 300 km rupture. This subsidence is interpreted as dilatancy recovery. In this case the uplifted area had a radius of approximately 200 km, and the precursor time may have been about 30 years. The San Francisco earthquake, 1906 with M = 8.3, was preceded by no uplift during seven years before it and was followed by no elevation change during 20 years after the event. The measurements were taken at the Presidio 6 km from the fault trace. The Long Beach earthquake, 1933 with M= 6.3, was preceded by 1 ± 1 cm of uplift at a point 7.4 km from the 50 km long aftershock zone.
A quantitative analysis of prenatal intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and cognitive development.

Abstract Although a rich source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that may confer multiple health benefits, some fish also contain methyl mercury (MeHg), which may harm the developing fetus. U.S. government recommendations for women of childbearing age are to modify consumption of high-MeHg fish to reduce MeHg exposure, while recommendations encourage fish consumption among the general population because of the nutritional benefits. The Harvard Center for Risk Analysis convened an expert panel (see acknowledgments) to quantify the net impact of resulting hypothetical changes in fish consumption across the population. This paper estimates the impact of prenatal n-3 intake on cognitive development. Other papers quantify the negative impact of prenatal exposure to MeHg on cognitive development, and the extent to which fish consumption protects against coronary heart disease mortality and stroke in adults. This paper aggregates eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cognitive development in controls and in children who had received n-3 PUFA supplementation (seven studies of formula supplementation and one study of maternal dietary supplementation). Our analysis assigns study weights accounting for statistical precision, relevance of three endpoint domains (general intelligence, verbal ability, and motor skills) to prediction of IQ, and age at evaluation. The study estimates that increasing maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake by 100 mg/day increases child IQ by 0.13 points. The paper notes that findings were inconsistent across the RCTs evaluated (although our findings were relatively robust to changes in the weighting scheme used). Also, for seven of the eight studies reviewed, effects are extrapolated from formula supplementation to maternal dietary intake.
Preeclampsia Recurrence and Prevention

Women with a previous pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia have an increased risk for recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. For severe preeclamptic women in an initial pregnancy, recurrence rates for any type of preeclampsia are very high, approaching 50% in some studies. Significant maternal and fetal complications are more common in recurrent preeclampsia compared with an initial episode. For women who have experienced a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia, a systematic evaluation for underlying risk factors may identify a specific pathway suitable for a specific intervention. Although some progress has been made in developing potential therapeutic options to prevent preeclampsia recurrence, there is a great need for better data to determine who will benefit most from any specific therapy.
Sural and radial sensory responses in healthy adults: Diagnostic implications for polyneuropathy

We prospectively performed sural and radial sensory nerve conduction studies in 92 healthy subjects, aged between 21 and 88 years, both to determine the lower limits of normal (LLN) and to assess the effects of age and body mass index (BMI) on the sural and radial sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes and on the sural/radial amplitude ratio (SRAR). Using the nonparametric bootstrap method to calculate 95% confidence intervals, we found that the 5% LLN values for sural and radial SNAPs were 14 microV and 25.5 microV in subjects aged or =60 years. The 5% LLN for SRAR for all patients was 0.21. Sural and radial SNAP amplitudes but not SRAR were strongly and inversely correlated with age and BMI. These age-adjusted normal values and revised SRAR will aid in the electrodiagnosis of polyneuropathy.
Seismogenic structures in the central Virginia seismic zone

A correlation between earthquake hypocenters and seismic reflection data in central Virginia has become apparent on an automatic line drawing (ALD) display of seismic reflection data. With the reprocessed Virginia I-64 reflection Vibroseis data extended to 14 s, reflectors are imaged from the lower crust as well as from the upper crust. Specifically, the improved resolution and data quality of ALDs have produced an image of an antiformal structure bounded by mid-crustal reflections on the bottom and by major thrusts at the top. The reflections that define the roof of the antiform are most prominent from about 6 s (18 km) on the east near Richmond under the Coastal Plain sediments, to 1-1.3 s (3-4 km) between Richmond and Charlottesville, and to 3.5 s (10.5 km) on the west. Seismic signatures that can be followed downward from the surface between Charlottesville and Richmond appear to be truncated at the roof of the antiform. The dominant reflections that define the roof correlate with the seismic signature of the transported Taconic suture on the west flank and mylonites on the east flank. The distribution of hypocenters in the area shows an excellent correlation with the westward-dipping reflections that form the roof ofmore » the antiform on its western flank. Earthquake activity in this locale may be related to reactivation of the thrusts defining the roof and/or faults above the antiformal structure; however, distribution of the easternmost and deepest set of hypocenters appears to be related to an extensive near-vertical diabase dike swarm of Mesozoic age.« less
Association of PCB, PBDE and PCDD/F body burdens with hormone levels for children in an e-waste dismantling area of Zhejiang Province, China.

Increased electronic waste (e-waste) has raised public concerns regarding exposure to numerous toxic contaminants, particularly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). In China, the body burdens of PCBs, PBDEs and PCDD/Fs are associated with thyroid hormones in populations from e-waste dismantling sites; however, it is unclear whether this association occurs in children. In this study, we determined the serum levels of PCBs, PBDEs and PCDD/Fs and the endocrine hormones including free triiodothyronine (FT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4), total thyroxine (TT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and growth hormone (GH) in 21 children from an e-waste dismantling area and 24 children from a control area. The results showed that the mean levels of ∑PCBs and ∑PBDEs in the exposure group were significantly higher than in the control group (40.56 and 32.09 ng g(-1) lipid vs. 20.69 and 8.43 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively, p 0.05). For the endocrine hormones, we did not find significant differences between the exposed and control groups, although the mean levels of FT3, TT3, TT4, ACTH, cortisol and GH were higher, whereas the mean levels of FT4 and TSH were lower in the exposed group. The mean level of ∑PBDEs was positively correlated with the mean levels of ∑PCBs (r=0.60, p<0.05) and ∑PCDD/Fs (r=0.61, p<0.05). Furthermore, the mean level of ∑PBDEs was positively correlated with ACTH (r=0.61, p<0.05). In conclusion, our data suggested that exposure to e-waste dismantling environment increased the body burdens of PCBs and PBDEs in local children and that these contaminants released from the e-waste might contribute to abnormal changes in hormone levels.
Effects of Ductility and Planar Anisotropy in Folding of Rock Layers: ABSTRACT

The mechanisms of folding that can operate within a sequence of layered rocks are dependent on the relative ductilities and on the nature of inherent anisotropy in the rocks. Flexural mechanisms require the presence of mechanical anisotropy, and folding is effected by slip between layers, by flow within layers, or by a combination of the two. Flexural folding represents a true bending of layers. Passive mechanisms operate only in rock sequences that are mechanically isotropic. This condition may exist either because of the absence of effective planar anisotropy or because of the ineffectiveness of anisotropy resulting from high ductility. The geometry of flow in passive folding reflects only the stress field and velocity gradients existing during deformation. Flow occurs cross the layering, and the layering serves only to record the relative displacements. A gradational mechanism, by which certain layers are flexed in response to passive behavior in the associated rocks, causes quasi-flexural folding. This mechanism operates primarily in layered sequences characterized by high-ductility contrast, and produces strongly disharmonic folding. Because changing environmental conditions can alter both the ductilities of the rocks involved and the effectiveness of planar anisotropy, the mechanism that initiates folding may be superceded by one or more other mechanisms during the course of deformation. The effect of layering in the folding process decreases with increasing ductility, and every gradation exists between ideally flexural and ideally passive folding. End_of_Article - Last_Page 610------------
EPR of Ce 3+ in La-Group V A Intermetallic Compounds

EPR at 9.2 GHz has been employed to obtain the crystalfield splittings of Ce 3+ diluted in cubic LaX (X=P, As, Sb).
Wind analysis in aviation applications

The Rapid-Update-Cycle (RUC) and Rapid Refresh (RAP) weather products provide a valuable source of data for evaluating environmental winds in the aviation domain. This paper identifies techniques for wind analysis, including interpolation techniques and patterns for distributed computation. These techniques are useful in a number of aviation applications, a subset of which are described: New instrument procedure designs benefit from historical 5-year wind profiles. Wind characterization and visualization techniques facilitate the selection of representative environmental conditions for simulations. Wind forecasts are uplinked in real-time to support trajectory-based operations. These applications leverage the RUC and RAP weather products to provide valuable technical insights. The paper concludes with areas for future research.
A non-linear analysis of experiments on the morphological stability of ice cylinders freezing from aqueous solutions

Abstract A non-linear theory of morphological stability of a solid circular cylinder growing in a supercooled melt is developed and applied to recent experiments on the growth of ice cylinders in distilled water and in aqueous solution. The cylinders develop Φ perturbations in the circular shape and z perturbations parallel to the axes of the cylinders. The theory successfully predicts the growth rate of the z perturbations. The non-linearity arises because the Φ perturbations have grown to a substantial size before the z perturbations are measured. From an analysis of the z perturbation growth rates, a value of 25 mJ/m2 is obtained for the ice-water surface tension on surfaces parallel to the c-axis; the corresponding value obtained from a less-satisfactory linear analysis was 22 mJ/m2.
Evolution of Ethical Debate about Human Gene Therapy

ABSTRACT Ethical issues generally evolve through four stages: threshold, open conflict, extended debate, and adaptation. The history of the ethical debate on human gene therapy is examined. The threshold was the Nirenberg appeal in 1967. The open conflict centered around two early controversial cases: those of Rogers and Cline. The extended debate has lasted from 1980 to the present, but now adaptation, i.e., a public policy, for somatic cell gene therapy is emerging.
Are Credit Default Swap Spreads High in Emerging Markets? An Alternative Methodology for Proxying Recovery Value

In times of distress when a country loses access to markets, there is evidence that credit default swap (CDS) spreads are a leading indicator for sovereign risk than the EMBI+ sub-index for the country. However, it is not easy to discern the variables that determine the level of CDS spreads in Emerging Markets (EM); traders only quote the CDS spreads and not the inputs that are required to calculate such spreads. This note provides some evidence from Argentina and Brazil that reveals inconsistency between theory and practice in pricing CDS spreads in EM. This note suggests an alternate methodology that links CTD (cheapest-to-deliver) bonds to recovery values assumed in CDS contracts. Furthermore, special features that pertain to CDS contracts (repo specialness, short squeezes by central banks) may also magnify the financial distress of a sovereign.
Improving Standard Bridges with Attention to Cast-in-Place Substructure

This paper focuses on improving the efficiency and aesthetics of standard highway bridges with attention to cast-in-place substructure design. Standard short- and moderate-span bridges are predominantly functional and nondescript. Recent developments in superstructure design have led to improved efficiency of construction and material use, with a resulting slender, attractive appearance. However, typical substructure design remains a component where creativity can be played out for considerable improvements to the overall bridge appearance. A review of current cast-in-place substructure systems is presented including individual, wall, hammerhead, and multicolumn bents. Design recommendations for improving overall bridge appearance and the efficiency of the substructure are presented. Attention is given to integrating aesthetics with material and construction efficiency and with economic considerations. Recommendations include addressing structural expression, visibility through the bridge, shaping of the ...
Tantalum plasma etching with minimum effect on underlying nickel-iron thin film

Abstract Removing tantalum (Ta) from nickel-iron (NiFe) surface in CF4/O2 plasma was first demonstrated to be a more robust process than argon ion milling in preserving and controlling the NiFe magnetic thickness during Ta overetch. A factorial study showed that the NiFe magnetic thickness loss could be further reduced by replacing CF4 with CHF3 and reducing O2 flow. For an optimized CHF3/CF4 process, the NiFe magnetic thickness loss for a 100-A Ta overetch was only 5 A. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis showed the presence of the fluorocarbon on the CF4/CHF3 etched Ta surface and nickel fluoride on the NiFe surface after Ta overetch. A mechanism of removing tantalum with minimum effect on the underlying nickel-iron thin film was also proposed.
Formulating a Curriculum on Aging and Health for University Undergraduates

There is a need in our society to raise the national consciousness about aging, health, and the prospects for longevity, so that many more persons take responsibility for their personal health and understand what we will need in an era of health-care reform to promote health across the life course. We address this imperative by offering a relevant curriculum through a public-health lens, designed especially for university undergraduate students. Unlike the traditional educational focus on graduate students who are already committed to a career in the health professions, the students in our sights have little prior exposure to the course content and are still largely uncertain of their career plans. We believe this proposed course will help students understand aging processes as these evolve over time, understand the opportunities that arise from greater life expectancy, encourage them to promote their own health, and make a social contract to do so for society.
Homing of Rainbow Trout Transplanted in Lake Michigan: A Comparison of Three Procedures Used for Imprinting and Stocking

Abstract We compared the homing ability of three groups of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) stocked in Lake Michigan by different procedures. One group of juvenile rainbow trout was imprinted to a synthetic chemical, morpholine, during the presmolt and smolt stages, and a second group was not imprinted. Both groups were stocked directly into Lake Michigan, 1 km north of the Little Manitowoc River. A third group of trout was retained in a pond on the Little Manitowoc River during the presmolt and smolt stages and then released into Lake Michigan at the same location as the other two groups. During the adult spawning migration, morpholine was metered into the Little Manitowoc River. This river and 16 other locations were monitored for returning fish. The morpholine-imprinted fish returned to the Little Manitowoc River in greater numbers and strayed less than did fish from the other two treatment groups. This result is a consequence of exposure to a unique odor cue at the critical period for imprinting.
Pour une économie de la dé-limitation : la Prison amoureuse de Jean Froissart

Au moment ou le poete se represente dans son texte, ce dernier devient une unite prise dans une totalite, l'oeuvre, qu'il s'agit de limiter, de clore (cloture du livre, cloture de la representation). Mais c'est aussi a ce moment que se met en place une economie textuelle qui va a l'encontre de cette limitation
Vaccines for melanoma.

Melanoma vaccines are now an accepted, but still experimental, treatment for patients who have been rendered clinically free of disease by surgical resection but are at high risk of recurrence and in selected patients with advanced but still limited disease. There seems to be a correlation between the ability of melanoma vaccines to stimulate antimelanoma cellular or antibody immune responses and improved clinical outcome. Accordingly, this article describes a number of strategies that are now being pursued to improve the clinical effectiveness of this first generation of vaccines by improving their ability to stimulate antimelanoma immunity. To establish the true effectiveness of vaccines in the treatment of malignant melanoma, several large, prospectively randomized phase III studies are currently being conducted. Criteria that can be used currently to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different vaccine formulations are discussed.
Co-reversion of a lectin-resistant mutation and non-metastatic phenotype in murine tumor cells.

Three independent isolates, one obtained spontaneously and the others obtained after in vitro mutagenesis, of a WGA-resistant mutation were compared to the highly metastatic parental murine cell line MDAY-D2 for alterations in plasma membrane glycoproteins and changes in metastatic behavior. The mutants were non-metastatic from an s.c. site of injection and poor organ-colonizers when administered i.v. Each of the mutant lines had the same lesion in N-linked oligosaccharide structure, which rendered the cells hypersensitive to the N-acetylglucosamine-binding lectin BSII in vitro. The phenotypic similarities between the 3 WGA-resistant isolates indicated that the mutation was directly related to the attenuated malignant phenotype. Direct confirmation was obtained by the isolation of a BSII-resistant clone of the mutant cells that co-reverted for lectin-sensitivity, lectin binding glycoproteins and malignant aggressiveness. The results indicate a direct relationship between malignant behavior and cell-surface oligosaccharide structure.
The Role of Personal Characteristics in Perceptions of Dangerousness

The literature warns of the problematic nature of predictions of dangerousness. This article discusses two studies investigating the role of personal characteristics-notably race, social class, and criminal history-in evaluations for dangerousness. In the first study, 100 mental health professionals rated altered case history profiles. Analysis of variance revealed that social class and criminal history significantly influenced the raters' evaluations. In the second study, descriptive and discriminant analysis revealed that social power variables distinguished best between 30 forensic hospital patients judged dangerous and 30 others judged nondangerous. Social power variables and a history of violent criminal behavior were found to be of importance in the assessment of dangerousness. Language: en