cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creativity, Customization, and Ownership: Game Design in Bootstrap: Algebra

Game programming projects are concrete and motivational for students, especially when used to teach more abstract concepts such as algebra. These projects must have open-ended elements to allow for creativity, but too much freedom makes it hard to reach specific learning outcomes. How many degrees of freedom do students need to make a game feel like one they genuinely designed? What kinds of personalization do they undertake of their games? And how do these factors correlate with their prior game-playing experience or with their identified gender? This paper studies these questions in the concrete setting of the Bootstrap:Algebra curriculum. In this curriculum, students are only given four parameters they can customize and only a few minutes in which to do so. Our study shows that despite this very limited personalization, students still feel a strong sense of ownership, originality, and pride in their creations. We also find that females find videogame creation just as satisfying as males, which contradicts some prior research but may also reflect the nature of games created in this curriculum and the opportunities it offers for self-expression.
Are millennials moving to more urbanized and transit-oriented counties?

Recent studies show that two distinct narratives have emerged about the millennials’ behavior, attitudes, and preferences regarding their choice of residence and transportation. According to the optimistic narrative, by living and traveling sustainably, millennials are planting the seeds of an urban renaissance. According to the pessimistic narrative, the changes in their behavior are due to economic constraints. To examine whether the inter-county migration pattern of American millennials is consistent with the optimistic narrative, this study compares some spatial and travel characteristics of the origins and destinations of millennials (age 25-34) and older adults (age 35-64) by using data from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey and the 2010 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics. Basic comparisons show that the destinations chosen by millennials are likely to have the characteristics that are consistent with the optimistic narrative. The push-pull regression models show that the effects of the county characteristics on migration are often significant but modest. The effects are not remarkably different for the two age groups.
Bile acids as drugs: principles, mechanisms of action and formulations

Bile acid therapy is based on the use of bile acid agonists or bile acid antagonists. Bile acid agonists consist of bile acids or their derivatives. They are used for two purposes. The first is to correct a deficiency in bile acids because of defective biosynthesis or intestinal conservation and thereby to restore bile acid function. This rationale may be termed replacement therapy. The second is to alter the composition of circulating bile acids and thereby to modulate cholesterol metabolism and/or decrease the cytotoxicity of the circulating bile acid pool. This rationale may be termed displacement therapy. Administration of chenodeoxycholic (CDCA) and/or ursodeoxycholic (UDCA) decreases biliary secretion of cholesterol leading to secretion of bile that is unsaturated in cholesterol and gradual dissolution of cholesterol gallstones. Administration of UDCA to patients with chronic cholestatic liver disease lowers the proportion of endogenous cytotoxic dihydroxy bile acids in the circulating bile acids, improves liver tests, and delays liver failure. Bile acid antagonists act to decrease intestinal conservation of bile acids either by sequestering bile acids in the intestinal lumen or by inhibiting bile acid transport by the ileal enterocyte. For therapy, CDCA is administered as the protonated acid and is well absorbed. UDCA is also administered as the protonated acid, but absorption is incomplete. Complete absorption can be obtained using the sodium salt of UDCA in a capsule with a pH-sensitive enteric coating. The taurine conjugate of UDCA is administered as the protonated sulfonic acid, and its absorption requires a carrier mechanism; however, it is likely to undergo rapid deconjugation during enterohepatic cycling, liberating UDCA which can be passively absorbed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Convolutions and Transformations

Very naturally, in applications we often want to study suitable functions or transformations of an original collection of variables X 1, X 2,…, X n. For example, the original variables X 1, X 2,…, X n could be the inputs into some process or system, and we may be interested in the output, which is some suitable function of these input variables. We dealt with the problem of finding distributions of functions of one continuous variable in Chapter 7. Similar, but technically more involved, techniques for studying distributions of functions of many continuous variables are presented with illustrations in this chapter. Sums, products, and quotients are special functions that arise quite naturally in applications. These will be discussed with special emphasis, although the general theory is also presented. Specifically, we present in this chapter the classic theory of polar transformations, the Helmert transformation in arbitrary dimensions, and the development of the t, and F distributions.
General Homology Theory

To a large extent the present chapter is arrow-theoretic. There is a substantial body of linear algebra which can be formalized very systematically, and constitutes what Steenrod called abstract nonsense, but which provides a well-oiled machinery applicable to many domains. References will be given along the way.
Screening for Adverse Drug Events: a Randomized Trial of Automated Calls Coupled with Phone-Based Pharmacist Counseling

Medication adverse events are important and common yet are often not identified by clinicians. We evaluated an automated telephone surveillance system coupled with transfer to a live pharmacist to screen potentially drug-related symptoms after newly starting medications for four common primary care conditions: hypertension, diabetes, depression, and insomnia. Cluster randomized trial with automated calls to eligible patients at 1 and 4 months after starting target drugs from intervention primary care clinics compared to propensity-matched patients from control clinics. Primary and secondary outcomes were physician documentation of any adverse effects associated with newly prescribed target medication, and whether the medication was discontinued and, if yes, whether the reason for stopping was an adverse effect. Of 4876 eligible intervention clinic patients who were contacted using automated calls, 776 (15.1%) responded and participated in the automated call. Based on positive symptom responses or request to speak to a pharmacist, 320 patients were transferred to the pharmacist and discussed 1021 potentially drug-related symptoms. Of these, 188 (18.5%) were assessed as probably and 479 (47.1%) as possibly related to the medication. Compared to a propensity-matched cohort of control clinic patients, intervention patients were significantly more likely to have adverse effects documented in the medical record by a physician (277 vs. 164 adverse effects, p < 0.0001, and 177 vs. 122 patients discontinued with documented adverse effects, p < 0.0001). Systematic automated telephone outreach monitoring coupled with real-time phone referral to a pharmacist identified a substantial number of previously unidentified potentially drug-related symptoms, many of which were validated as probably or possibly related to the drug by the pharmacist or their physicians. Multiple challenges were encountered using the interactive voice response (IVR) automated calling system, suggesting that other approaches may need to be considered and evaluated. ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT02087293
Toward the Tailoring Chemistry of Metal Nanoclusters for Enhancing Functionalities

Ultrasmall metal nanoparticles (often called nanoclusters) possess unique geometrical structures and novel functionalities that are not accessible in conventional nanoparticles. Recent progress in their synthesis and structural determination by X-ray crystallography has led to deep understanding of the structural evolution, structure-property correlation, and growth modes, such as the layer-by-layer growth in face-centered cubic (fcc)-type nanoclusters, linear assembly of vertex-shared icosahedral units, and other unique modes. The enriched knowledge on the correlation between the structure and the properties has rendered metal nanoclusters a new class of functional nanomaterials. Despite the significant achievements in structural determinations, mapping out the structure-property correlation is still very challenging because of the core-shell structures of nanoclusters (e.g., Au n(SR) m protected by thiolate ligands) with metal atoms partitioned between the core and the shell. In such structures, the core and the surface are entangled and cannot be separately studied because changing the core structure would inevitably change the surface (or vice versa). Thus, it is of great importance to develop the "tailoring" chemistry for structural modification of the core (or surface) while retaining the other parts, in order to achieve fundamental understanding of what part of the nanocluster structure plays what role in the functionalities. In this Account, we summarize some recent work on the strategies to control the atomic structures of metal nanoclusters for tuning their properties, such as stability, optical absorption, excited-state electron dynamics, and photoluminescence, as well as their catalytic reactivity. The development of a ligand-based strategy has permitted the synthesis of structural isomers of nanoclusters with the same size but different functionalities. Successful modification of the core (or surface) structure while maintaining the other components has led us to gain some fundamental understanding of the respective roles of the core and the surface in the nanocluster functionalities. Such "tailoring" chemistry on metal nanoclusters can provide a strong basis for functional nanomaterials consisting of nanocluster components with desired properties. Further development of the tailoring chemistry will guide materials chemists to new directions and tailor-made functional nanomaterials for specific applications.
A Survey of the Background, Activities and Goals of Medical Informatics Trainees

Abstract Medical informatics trainees currently supported by the National Library of Medicine were surveyed regarding their experience, activities and goals. Their responses indicate 1)a wide breadth of experience and interests of the trainees, 2)a dominance of program director personalities, rather than content and issues, in selecting training programs and 3)frequent dissatisfaction with the content and structure of the training programs.
Improving Acceptance of Background Noise with Sound Enrichment.

Background Acceptance of background noise serves as a means to predict likelihood of hearing aid success. Individuals that are able to accept background noise are more likely to be successful with hearing aids. Purpose The aim of the study was to assess the impact of sound enrichment on the acceptable noise level (ANL). Study Sample Nineteen young adult participants served as listeners. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. Research Design An experimental design with random assignment to experimental or control group was used. Data Collection and Analysis One group used sound enrichment procedures for 2 weeks, whereas the other group served as a control group. Sound enrichment procedures required that participants add low-level background sound to any quiet environment encountered during the study. Most comfortable listening level (MCL) and background noise level (BNL) were measured at three sessions, each 1 week apart (baseline, after 1 week of treatment, and after 2 weeks of treatment). Results Analytical statistics revealed that ANL improved for the sound enrichment group but remained the same for the control group. For both groups, there was no significant change in MCL across sessions. However, for the experimental group, BNL improved (increased) over the 2-week period while using sound enrichment. Conclusions Results of this study indicate that ANL can be improved with the use of sound enrichment procedures over a 2-week period. Future work should examine the use of sound enrichment procedures for older adults with hearing loss.
The Clery Act and Student Behavior: An Empirical Consideration

The present study examined the utilization of Clery Act information by college students. Results from 107 students indicated that awareness of the Clery Act and knowledge of crime log information w...
Tuned and screened range-separated hybrid density functional theory for describing electronic and optical properties of defective gallium nitride

We apply a hybrid density functional theory approach, based on a tuned and screened range-separated hybrid (SRSH) exchange-correlation functional, to describe the optoelectronic properties of defective gallium nitride (GaN). SRSH and time-dependent SRSH (TDSRSH) are tuned to produce accurate energetics for the pristine material and applied to the study of a series of point defects in bulk GaN, a blue light-emitting material that degrades in the presence of defects. We first establish the accuracy of the method by comparing the predicted quasiparticle gap and low-energy excitation spectra of (TD)SRSH and many-body perturbation theory for both pristine GaN and GaN containing a single nitrogen vacancy. Aided by the reduced computational cost of (TD)SRSH, we then report on three additional technologically relevant point defects and defect complexes in GaN: the gallium vacancy, the carbon interstitial, and the carbon-silicon complex. We compute the low-energy optical absorption spectra for these defects and show the presence of defect-centered transitions. Furthermore, by estimating the Stokes shift, we predict, in agreement with previous studies, that the carbon substitutional defect is a candidate for the detrimental yellow luminescence in GaN. This study indicates that TDSRSH is a promising and computationally feasible approach for quantitatively accurate, first-principles modeling of defective semiconductors.
Significant life extension of lithium-ion batteries using compact metallic lithium reservoir with passive control

Abstract Both traditional graphite-based lithium-ion batteries and next generation silicon-based chemistries suffer significant capacity fade from loss of cyclable lithium due to continued solid-electrolyte interphase growth. A possible engineering solution to maintaining the capacity of cells is incorporating a metallic lithium reservoir and discharging the reservoir into a working electrode to make up for lost cyclable lithium. Here, metallic lithium reservoirs are inserted into both pouch- and cylindrical-format cells. Significant capacity recovery and lifetime extension are demonstrated for traditional graphite and Si/graphite-based cells. A combination of post-mortem characterization and modeling provide insight into how the lithium distribution as a function of position from reservoir vary with recovery rate. The potential of using passive control to potentially eliminate the need for extra wiring for the third electrode is explored using a simple resistor.
The mental health of refugees in the USA: changes and the unchanged

The objective of this study was to better understand what the scientific community is saying about refugees and mental health, how it is discussed, and to understand the impact of their outputs over time through a bibliometric analysis. This research uses bibliometric analysis on 465 documents, including peer-reviewed journal articles and books, sourced from an online database of peer-reviewed literature. Contrary to the exponential rate in which research productivity has grown in the past 20 years, the literature on the mental health of refugees in the United States has not shown significant changes. The researched themes, methods, and their findings appear to have echoed much of it from the past. Some implications of such echoing include that the means by which the scientific communities approach the topic of mental health of refugees has largely been unchanged. Also, various refugee communities in the US appear to share similar mental health conditions and experiences, irrespective of when and where they resettle.
Comparison of Clinical Characteristics Between Clinical Trial Participants and Nonparticipants Using Electronic Health Record Data.

Importance Assessing generalizability of clinical trials is important to ensure appropriate application of interventions, but most assessments provide minimal granularity on comparisons of clinical characteristics. Objective To assess the extent of underlying clinical differences between clinical trial participants and nonparticipants by using a combination of electronic health record and trial enrollment data. Design, setting, and participants This cross-sectional study used data obtained from a single academic medical center between September 1996 and January 2019 to identify 1645 clinical trial participants from a diverse set of 202 available trials conducted at the center. Using an aggregated resampling procedure, nonparticipants were matched to participants 1:1 based on trial conditions, number of recent visits to a health care professional, and calendar time. Exposures Clinical trial enrollment vs no enrollment. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was standardized differences in clinical characteristics between participants and nonparticipants in clinical trials stratified into the 4 most common disease domains. Results This cross-sectional study included 1645 participants from 202 trials (929 [56.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 54.65 [21.38] years) and an aggregated set of 1645 nonparticipants (855 [52.0%] male; mean [SD] age, 57.24 [21.91] years). The most common disease domains for the selected trials were neoplastic disease (86 trials; 737 participants), disorders of the digestive system (31 trials; 321 participants), inflammatory disorders (28 trials; 276 participants), and disorders of the cardiovascular system (27 trials; 319 participants); trials could qualify for multiple disease domains. Among 31 conditions, the percentage of conditions for which the prevalence was lower among participants than among nonparticipants per standardized differences was 64.5% (20 conditions) for neoplastic disease trials, 61.3% (19) for digestive system trials, 58.1% (18) for inflammatory disorder trials, and 38.7% (12) for cardiovascular system trials. Among 17 medications, the percentage of medications for which use was less among participants than among nonparticipants per standardized differences was 64.7% (11) for neoplastic disease trials, 58.8% (10) for digestive system trials, 88.2% (15) for inflammatory disorder trials, and 52.9% (9) for cardiovascular system trials. Conclusions and relevance Using a combination of electronic health record and trial enrollment data, this study found that clinical trial participants had fewer comorbidities and less use of medication than nonparticipants across a variety of disease domains. Combining trial enrollment data with electronic health record data may be useful for better understanding of the generalizability of trial results.
The Effects of Microaggressions on Depression in Young Adults of Color: Investigating the Impact of Traumatic Event Exposures and Trauma Reactions

Microaggressions are a common way that individuals experience racism in the United States. The current study examined the extent to which microaggressions contribute to mental health difficulties, namely trauma reactions and depression, after controlling for other traumatic event exposures. We sought to address gaps in the literature by quantitatively assessing the associations among microaggressions, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and depression symptoms. Participants were 140 young adults of color (68.8% female) who were recruited online. Linear regression analyses evidenced that microaggressions were uniquely associated with depression symptoms, B = 0.27, after controlling for lifetime traumatic event exposures, with this association partially mediated by trauma reactions, B = 0.49. These results suggest that microaggressions are a clinically relevant factor in understanding mental health problems reported by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the United States and warrant analysis, assessment, and intervention through a trauma lens.
Multiscale characterization of ovariectomized rat femur.

Abstract Estrogen deficiency activates bone resorbing cells (osteoclasts) and to a lesser extent bone forming cells (osteoblasts), resulting in a gap between resorption and formation that leads to a net loss of bone. These cell activities alter bone architecture and tissue composition. Thus, the objective of this study is to examine whether multiscale (10-2 to 10-7 m) characterization can provide more integrated information to understand the effects of estrogen deficiency on the fracture risk of bone. This is the first study to examine the effects of estrogen deficiency on multiscale characteristics of the same bone specimen. Sprague-Dawley female rats (6 months old) were obtained for a bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) or a sham operation (sham). Micro-computed tomography of rat femurs provided bone volumetric, mineral density, and morphological parameters. Dynamic mechanical analysis, static elastic and fracture mechanical testing, and nanoindentation were also performed using the same femur. As expected, the current findings indicate that OVX reduces bone quantity (mass and bone mineral density) and quality (morphology, and fracture displacement). Additionally, they demonstrated reductions in amount and heterogeneity of tissue mineral density (TMD) and viscoelastic properties. The current results validate that multiscale characterization for the same bone specimen can provide more comprehensive insights to understand how the bone components contributed to mechanical behavior at different scales.
Density of periodic points for Lattès maps over finite field

Abstract Let L d be the Lattes map associated to the multiplication-by-d endomorphism of an elliptic curve E defined over a finite field F q . We determine the density δ ( L d , q ) of periodic points for L d in P 1 ( F q ) . We show that the periodic point densities δ ( L d , q n ) converge as n → ∞ along certain arithmetic progressions, and compute simple explicit formulas for δ ( L l , q ) when l is a prime and E belongs to a special family of supersingular elliptic curves.
Carrier-Mediated Transport Processes

In Chapter 20(1) the movement of solutes across biological membranes is treated in relation to processes which do not, in general, involve a chemical interaction between the permeant and the membrane, and which are thermo-dynamically dissipative in character—i.e., the free energy of the matter under observation decreases during transport.
Velocity and Absorption of High-Frequency Sound Near the Lambda Transitions in Solid CD4

Deuterated methane CD4 freezes at 89.6°K and in the solid phase undergoes two phase transitions characterized by lambda-type heat capacity maxima at 22.2 and 27.1°K.1At low pressures solid CH4 exhibits clearly only one phase transition at 20.48°K.1 The object of our study was to determine the acoustical properties associated with the phase transitions in CD4 and to compare the results with prior work2 on CH4. We have measured velocity and attenuation of 4- and 12-MHz longitudinal sound in CD4 at temperatures between 2 and 77°K and have observed discontinuities in the slope of the velocity vs. temperature curve and attenuation peaks in the vicinity of the transition temperatures.
The 3D Human Motion Control Through Refined Video Gesture Annotation

In the beginning of computer and video game industry, simple game controllers consisting of buttons and joysticks were employed, but recently game consoles are replacing joystick buttons with novel interfaces such as the remote controllers with motion sensing technology on the Nintendo Wii [1] Especially video-based human computer interaction (HCI) technique has been applied to games, and the representative game is ‘Eyetoy’ on the Sony PlayStation 2. Video-based HCI technique has great benefit to release players from the intractable game controller. Moreover, in order to communicate between humans and computers, video-based HCI is very crucial since it is intuitive, easy to get, and inexpensive. On the one hand, extracting semantic low-level features from video human motion data is still a major challenge. The level of accuracy is really dependent on each subject’s characteristic and environmental noises. Of late, people have been using 3D motion-capture data for visualizing real human motions in 3D space (e.g, ‘Tiger Woods’ in EA Sports, ‘Angelina Jolie’ in Bear-Wolf movie) and analyzing motions for specific performance (e.g, ‘golf swing’ and ‘walking’). 3D motion-capture system (‘VICON’) generates a matrix for each motion clip. Here, a column is corresponding to a human’s sub-body part and row represents time frames of data capture. Thus, we can extract sub-body part’s motion only by selecting specific columns. Different from low-level feature values of video human motion, 3D human motion-capture data matrix are not pixel values, but is closer to human level of semantics.
Eosinophil Major Basic Protein-1 Does Not Contribute to Allergen-Induced Airway Pathologies in Mouse Models of Asthma

The relationship between eosinophils and the development of Ag-induced pulmonary pathologies, including airway hyper-responsiveness, was investigated using mice deficient for the secondary granule component, major basic protein-1 (mMBP-1). The loss of mMBP-1 had no effect on OVA-induced airway histopathologies or inflammatory cell recruitment. Lung function measurements of knockout mice demonstrated a generalized hyporeactivity to methacholine-induced airflow changes (relative to wild type); however, this baseline phenotype was observable only with methacholine; no relative airflow changes were observed in response to another nonspecific stimulus (serotonin). Moreover, OVA sensitization/aerosol challenge of wild-type and mMBP-1(-/-) mice resulted in identical dose-response changes to either methacholine or serotonin. Thus, the airway hyper-responsiveness in murine models of asthma occurs in the absence of mMBP-1.
A Review of “Contextualizing Theological Education”

Until recently, classical or traditional theological and biblical discourse in U.S. academies had tended to be written from a Eurocentric male perspective. Beginning in the mid-20th century, howeve...
EL FORMATO TABULAR: UNA REVISIÓN DE LITERATURA

The growing emphasis on the development of research abilities positions the presentation and interpretation of data as activities of increasing importance. B...
Monolithic integrated PCR reactor-CE system for DNA amplification and analysis to the single molecule limit

A fully integrated genomic analysis microsystem including heaters, temperature sensors, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chambers directly connected to capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation channels has been developed. The device utilizes pneumatic valves and hydrophobic vents for positive and sensorless sample loading and immobilization within 200 nL PCR chambers. Use of microfabrication techniques for the creation of resistive heating and temperature-sensing elements has improved the thermal response and accuracy of the system beyond previous limits. Amplified PCR products are labeled on-column with a fluorescent intercalating dye and injected into a gel-filled microchannel for electrophoretic analysis. Successful sex determination by performing multiplex PCR from human genomic DNA is demonstrated in under 15 minutes.
The use of a topical antihistamine in the treatment of raised linear bands of infancy.

: Raised linear bands of infancy is a newly recognized but rarely reported entity whose etiology remains unknown. Some cases have been associated with dermatographism and it has been postulated that the bands may be related to an increase in collagen deposition and fibrosis from increased mast cell mediators. This is the first reported case of raised linear bands responding to treatment with a topical antihistamine.
RESILIENCE IN OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN RURAL, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN AREAS

Background: Possessing high levels of resilience may be one factor that helps older adults adjust to the hardships associated with aging. Residing in a rural, urban, or suburban location may impact the resilience level of older adults.Purpose: First, to determine if resilience levels vary in older adults living in rural, urban, or suburban areas. Second, to determine if the relationships of socio-demographic factors (age, income, education, marital and employment status), social networks, health status, and resilience vary with the location in which older adults live.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 277 registered voters aged 65 years or over who lived in rural, suburban, or urban locations in New York State. The instruments used were the Resilience Scale, the SF-12v2, and the Lubben Social Network Scale-revised.Results: No differences were found in resilience levels across the three locations. In regression analysis, stronger family networks, lower household income, and good mental and physical health status were found to be significantly associated with high resilience levels.Conclusion: The location in which older adults reside did not affect resilience levels. Strong social ties and good mental and physical health were associated with resilience. The surprising association with resilience was low income. Mental health status was most strongly associated with resilience in older adults. Screening older adults for resilience levels and intervening when low levels are identified by implementing strategies to build resilience may be clinically relevant; however further research is needed.
Repositioning Ethical Commitments: Participatory Action Research as a Relational Praxis of Social Change

The development of participatory action research (PAR) reflects an ethical commitment to creating conditions for social change to be used by the community for their own purposes. But what are the ethical issues and responsibilities involved in participatory research? And how do these differ from the ethical guidelines mandated by our Institutional Review Boards (IRB)? Here I illustrate how participatory research grounds the IRB’s abstract ethical principles in terms that are meaningful to the community, referencing a youth participatory video research project “Equal access to higher education for all “ that focuses on the challenges undocumented students face trying to go to college. My analysis engages this project as a way of exploring participatory ethics as a relational praxis, specifically outlining the epistemological orientation of participatory action research (PAR) as an ‘ethic of care’. The Equal Access project raises critical questions relevant to our conceptualization of risk and responsibility. I argue that participatory research re-positions our understanding of ethics within the broader socio-political, global context of our everyday lives. With this in mind, researchers have a collective responsibility to address ethical questions of representation, political strategy, and emotional engagement.
An experimental approach to improve student attitudes toward careers in selling

Students' negative attitudes toward careers in selling are well documented in the literature. This study shows how such attitudes can be improved by minor changes in course content of the introductory marketing course. Such changes are necessary if the full potential of the personal selling component is to be realized.
Excitation of large coherent phonon amplitudes in semiconductors and semimetals

Recently, we have shown that coherent lattice vibration can be induced and subsequently detected in certain semimetals and semiconductors (e.g. Bi, Sb, Te, Ti2O3) using short pulses of optical light. The time-resolved optical pump-probe data show in each case that only totally symmetric lattice modes (i.e. A1 symmetry) are coherently excited, even though other symmetry modes of comparable Raman cross-section exist. Careful measurement of the coherent photon phase reveals that the excitation mechanism for coherent phonons is related to a pump-induced shift in the ion equilibrium configuration in these materials. Of particular interest in these experiments are the magnitudes of the observed reflectivity modulations. Implications of lattice modulations are discussed as well as the validity of employing the equilibrium calibration in the transient regime.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
"Supernormal" conduction and excitability

Electrocardiographic manifestation of "supernormal" conduction is defined as conduction that is more rapid than expected or presence of conduction when block is anticipated. It is not supernormal in the sense or being more rapid than normal. Therefore, the term relative supernormality or "supernormality" is more appropriate. The mechanism of "supernormal" conduction is conduction during a period of supernormal excitability and conduction associated with altered membrane potential. Some of the more common phenomena that are not dependent on conduction during the supernormal period but manifest better than expected conduction, thus simulating "supernormal" conduction, include dual AV nodal conduction, the "gap" phenomenon, "peeling back" of the refractory period, summation of subthreshold responses, diastolic phase 4 depolarization, and phasic autonomic influences.
Behavior of spherical solid particles released in a laminar boundary layer along a flat plate

The behavior of a very small solid spherical particle initially at rest on the surface of a flat plate in a laminar boundary layer along the plate is investigated. The Stokes drag is the only force considered to be acting on the particle. The fluid Reynolds number Ref is assumed to be large, and the particle Reynolds number Re is assumed to be small. The equations describing the motion of the particle are two simultaneous, second order, nonlinear, ordinary differential equations with one parameter. A complete digital computer solution and analytic limiting solutions for large and small values of a dimensionless time τ have been obtained. The numerical and the analytic solutions are in close agreement. The results presented are the velocity, trajectory, and time history of the particle and the force acting on the particle. These results show that the particle comes into equilibrium with the fluid very quickly with respect to the spatial coordinates, rising only several radii from the surface in its entire flight.
Encoding and decoding touch location in the leech CNS

Spike times encode stimulus values in many sensory systems, but it is generally unknown whether such temporal variations are decoded (i.e., whether they influence downstream networks that control behavior). In the present study, we directly address this decoding problem by quantifying both sensory encoding and decoding in the leech. By mechanically stimulating the leech body wall while recording from mechanoreceptors, we show that pairs of leech sensory neurons with overlapping receptive fields encode touch location by their relative latencies, number of spikes, and instantaneous firing rates, with relative latency being the most accurate indicator of touch location. We then show that the relative latency and count are decoded by manipulating these variables in sensory neuron pairs while simultaneously monitoring the resulting behavior. Although both variables are important determinants of leech behavior, the decoding mechanisms are more sensitive to changes in relative spike count than changes in relative latency.
Interrelationship of indoor radon concentrations, soil-gas flux, and meteorological parameters

Passive electret-based radon flux monitors were deployed at 12-hour intervals for 1 year outside a single-family house, in order to access the variability and reliability of this method for estimation of indoor radon concentrations. Radon flux from the soil averaged 37 mBq/m 2 . s and showed small diurnal and seasonal fluctuations. Continuous basement-level radon measurements were collected at 5-minute intervals during the same time period, inside the house. The corresponding measurements allowed a direct comparison of the relationship of radon flux from the soil, using this method, and actual indoor radon concentrations at the house. Indoor radon levels showed strong diurnal and seasonal cycles, with the indoor radon concentrations during the year ranging from 50 to 1570 Bq/m 3 and averaging 360 Bq/m 3 . Meteorological measurements (barometric pressure, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall) collected at the site provided additional potentially correlative parameters to radon flux and indoor concentrations. While indoor radon levels at the house were not obviously affected by barometric pressure and wind speed, they were found to be strongly influenced by indoor and outdoor temperature differentials.
Design of a Hot Gas Vane Motor

This paper describes the design of a hot gas vane motor. The motor is intended as a portable direct drive actuator powered by a hot gaseous working fluid as an alternative to battery-powered electromagnetic motors. The objective is thus to convert a maximum amount of enthalpy at the inlet into mechanical rotational output energy in a compact and lightweight package. The described motor incorporates a non-circular stator shape and a geometry of injection and exhaust ports to maximize conversion efficiency. An analytical model is developed to describe the torque output and efficiency of the motor. Simulations are performed to provide insight into the motor behavior and characterize the expected motor performance.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Pyroelectric properties of alanine and deuterium substituted TGSP and TGSAs single crystals

Abstract Alanine and deuterium substituted (NH 2 CH 2 COOH) 3 · (1 - x )H 2 SO 4 · x H 3 PO 4 (TGSP) and (NH 2 CH 2 COOH) 3 · (1 - x )H 2 SO 4 · x H 3 AsO 4 (TGSAs) single crystals were grown. Pyroelectric figure of merit p K and polarization P s of ADTGSP and ADTGSAs were measured and are of the same order as those obtained on ATGSP and ATGSAs, respectively. In both deuterated crystals, T c was 10°C higher than the T c values observed on either pure TGS or ATGSAs and ATGSP single crystals.
Non-recurrent 17p11.2 deletions are generated by homologous and non-homologous mechanisms

Several recurrent common chromosomal deletion and duplication breakpoints have been localized to large, highly homologous, low-copy repeats (LCRs). The mechanism responsible for these rearrangements, viz., non-allelic homologous recombination between LCR copies, has been well established. However, fewer studies have examined the mechanisms responsible for non-recurrent rearrangements with non-homologous breakpoint regions. Here, we have analyzed four uncommon deletions of 17p11.2, involving the Smith-Magenis syndrome region. Using somatic cell hybrid lines created from patient lymphoblasts, we have utilized a strategy based on the polymerase chain reaction to refine the deletion breakpoints and to obtain sequence data at the deletion junction. Our analyses have revealed that two of the four deletions are a product of Alu/Alu recombination, whereas the remaining two deletions result from a non-homologous end-joining mechanism. Of the breakpoints studied, three of eight are located in LCRs, and five of eight are within repetitive elements, including Alu and MER5B sequences. These findings suggest that higher-order genomic architecture, such as LCRs, and smaller repetitive sequences, such as Alu elements, can mediate chromosomal deletions via homologous and non-homologous mechanisms. These data further implicate homologous recombination as the predominant mechanism of deletion formation in this genomic interval.
Opiate tolerance and dependence induced in vitro in single myenteric neurones.

OPIATES inhibit the firing of neurones in the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig ileum in a manner which is strikingly similar to their effects on many central neurones. This action on single neurone firing has been studied in detail1–3; it occurs at low concentrations of opiates1–3 and opioid peptides4, it is mimicked by the (−)- but not by the (+)-isomer of optical enantiomers, and it is reversed or prevented by the specific antagonist naloxone1–4. Naloxone has no effect on the firing rate of myenteric neurones removed from normal animals; however, it does cause a marked increase in the rate of firing of myenteric neurones taken from guinea pigs which have previously been made physically dependent on morphine5. Previous studies have shown that some signs of opiate tolerance and dependence can be induced in the guinea pig ileum both in vitro6,7 and in vivo8,9. In the present experiments, we have induced tolerance to the effects of opiates by exposing myenteric neurones to agonists in vitro for periods of about 24 h. Such neurones also showed manifestations of dependence on the presence of the opiate, in that their rate of firing increased markedly when the agonist was removed or when an antagonist was introduced. The tolerance and dependence were induced only by exposure to the (−)-isomer of enantiomeric agonists, and the increase in firing was precipitated only by the (−)-isomer of enantiomeric antagonists.
Effects of excitatory amino acids on locomotor activity after bilateral microinjection into the rat nucleus accumbens: possible dependence on dopaminergic mechanisms.

Abstract In order to study the role of excitatory amino acids on motor function, the effects of kainic, quisqualic, and N- methyl - dl - aspartic acids on locomotor activity were determined after their direct injection into the nucleus accumbens. These three amino acids have been used in previous studies to classify receptors for excitatory amino acids in the mammalian spinal cord. After injection into the nucleus accumbens all three amino acids stimulated locomotor activity, with kainic acid being the most potent and N- methyl - dl - aspartic acid the least potent. The maximum intensity of the stimulation produced by kainic and quisqualic acids was greater than that produced by N- methyl - dl - aspartic acid. These results suggest that receptors in the nucleus accumbens, sensitive to kainic and quisqualic acids, play a more important role in the stimulation of locomotor activity than those sensitive to N- methyl - dl - aspartic acid. In addition to the above amino acids, the administration of large doses of l -aspartic and d -glutamic acids also produced hyperactivity, while l -glutamic acid had no effect. To determine whether endogenous dopamine mediates the hypermotility produced by the excitatory amino acids, the response to these amino acids was studied after treatment with reserpine or dopamine receptor blocking agents. Reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), haloperidol (0.8 mg/kg, i.p.) or fluphenazine [5.0 μg (total dose) injected into the nucleus accumbens] markedly attenuated the hypermotility induced by excitatory amino acids. These results suggest that the hypermotility produced by excitatory amino acids is mediated through release of dopamine and the subsequent stimulation of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens.
Laparoscopic Surgery for Genuine Stress Incontinence

Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension has rapidly become one of the primary surgical treatment options for genuine stress incontinence. The procedure has been modified by some investigators because of technical difficulty with laparoscopic suturing, but should be identical to the conventional open Burch procedure. This article reviews the indications, operative technique, clinical results, complications and learning curve for laparoscopic retropubic surgical procedures.
Thalamus: Organization and Function (Vol. 1), Experimental and Clinical Aspects (Vol. 2)

Abstract edited by M. Steriade, E.G. Jones and D.A. McCormick, Elsevier, 1997. $495.00 (1700 pages) ISBN 0 08 042507 0
A Survey of New Keynesian Theories of Aggregate Supply and Their Relation to Industrial Organization

I survey the recent literature on the Phillips curve. Along the way, I will try to relate this literature to topics of interest to industrial organization. I will also point out the gaps in our understanding and places where more careful micro-economic analysis would be helpful to macroeconomists. In the conclusion, I summarize what an industrial organization economist might take away from this literature.
Effect of electron disruption in the energy recovery linac based electron ion collider

Beam-beam effects present one of the major factors limiting the luminosity of colliders. In the energy recovery linac (ERL) based eRHIC design, the electron beam, accelerated in a superconducting ERL, collides with the proton beam circulating in the RHIC ring. During such collisions the electron beam undergoes a very strong beam-beam interaction with the protons, which warrants careful examination. We evaluated transverse disruption and linear mismatch effects in the electron beam caused by collisions and considered several countermeasures to mitigate the emittance growth from these interactions. The minimum required aperture of transport lines is calculated that should allow the transport of the electron beam during the deceleration process.
The Development and Validation of a Gifted Student Screening Scale.

This article describes the development and validation of the Gifted Student Screening Scale (GSSS). Factor analyses indicated that the scale is appropriate for use with both gifted and nongifted students. Cross-validation using discriminant analysis showed that the GSSS stably differentiated gifted and nongifted students. Cut-scores for identifying students for further testing for gifted program were established. The GSSS is a stable, empirirically documented instrument for screening that is relatively easy to use, relatively accurate, and based on previous reasearch.
Crystal structure of the zeta isoform of the 14-3-3 protein.

THE 14-3-3 family of proteins have recently been identified as regulatory elements in intracellular signalling pathways1: 14-3-3 proteins bind to oncogene and proto-oncogene products, including c-Raf-1 (refs 2-5), c-Bcr (ref. 6) and polyomavirus middle-T antigen7; overexpression of 14-3-3 activates Raf kinase in yeast2,3 and induces meiotic maturation in Xenopus oocytes5. Here we report the crystal structure of the major isoform of mammalian 14-3-3 proteins at 2.9 A resolution. Each subunit of the dimeric protein consists of a bundle of nine antiparallel helices that form a palisade around an amphipathic groove. The groove is large enough to accommodate a tenth helix, and we propose that binding to an amphipathic helix represents a general mechanism for the interaction of 14-3-3 with diverse cellular proteins. The residues in the dimer interface and the putative ligand-binding surface are invariant among vertebrates, yeast and plants, suggesting a conservation of structure and function throughout the 14-3-3 family.