cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scale Morphology Effects on Feeding Behavior and Biological Control Potential of Rhyzobius lophanthae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

We compared the morphological characteristics of the scale covers and bodies of 2 economically important scale species, California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), and oleander scale, Aspidiotus nerii (Bouche), to determine their protective value against predation by the coccinellid Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell). We also compared the morphology of the mandibles of R. lophanthae with that of Chilocorus cacti (L.), a specific predator of diaspidid scales. A higher percentage of R. lophanthae larvae survived when they fed on 2nd- and 3rd-instar A. aurantii and all stages of A. nerii than when they fed on gravid and parturient A. aurantii . Adult R. lophanthae took longer to consume 3rd-instar A. aurantii than 3rd-instar A. nerii and were frequently unable to penetrate the scale body of gravid and parturient A. aurantii . Predator preference for scale stage and species reflected the ease with which it was able to penetrate the scale cover and body of its prey. The hardened scale cover of gravid and parturient A. aurantii when coupled with the sclerotized scale body provided the scale with substantial immunity to predation by R. lophanthae for approximately two-thirds of the scale life span. We conclude that R. lophanthae is unlikely to suppress A. aurantii populations below those of economic concern when it is the sole biological control agent present. In contrast, the entire life span of A. nerii is vulnerable to predation, and this species appears to be suppressed to low densities by R. lophanthae .
The in Vitro Ligation of Bacterially Expressed Proteins Using an Intein from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The smallest known intein, found in the ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase gene of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (Mth RIR1 intein), was found to splice poorly in Escherichia coli with the naturally occurring proline residue adjacent to the N-terminal cysteine of the intein. Splicing proficiency increased when this proline was replaced with an alanine residue. However, constructs that displayed efficient N- and C-terminal cleavage were created by replacing either the C-terminal asparagine or N-terminal cysteine of the intein, respectively, with an alanine. Furthermore, these constructs were used to specifically generate complementary reactive groups on protein sequences for use in ligation reactions. Reaction between an intein-generated C-terminal thioester on E. colimaltose-binding protein (43 kDa) and an intein-generated cysteine at the N terminus of either T4 DNA ligase (56 kDa) or thioredoxin (12 kDa) resulted in the ligation of the proteins through a native peptide bond. Thus the smallest of the known inteins is capable of splicing and its unique properties extend the utility of intein-mediated protein ligation to include the in vitro fusion of large, bacterially expressed proteins.
SLDMOL: A tool for the structural characterization of thermally disordered membrane proteins ☆

SLDMOL is a program for modeling the 1-D scattering length density (SLD) profile of proteins at the lipid membrane–solution interface or adsorbed to other surfaces. The program reads experimental SLD data from neutron or XX-ray reflectivity measurements and compares the results to a trajectory of protein structures, finding the conformation and orientation that best fits the experimental data. SLDMOL is a freely distributed open source program written in python that can be run independently using command lines or a GUI. SLDMOL has also been integrated into the larger SASSIE package extending molecular modeling capabilities. Sample environment conditions can be replicated including H_2O/D_2O solvent contrasts, specific amino acid deuteration and complex molecular assemblies. Ensembles of protein conformations can be generated independently (e.g. molecular dynamics simulations) or with SASSIE. For each individual structure a best-fit SLD profile is outputted along with a goodness of fit parameter, protein depth penetration and surface coverage. In addition to individual comparisons SLD profiles can be calculated over ensemble averages of protein structures. As a result, SLDMOL provides a detailed molecular interpretation of reflectivity data or conversely can be used to predict experimental outcomes for different protein conformation and specific deuteration schemes prior to measurements.
Delayed onset and protracted progression of anaphylaxis after omalizumab administration in patients with asthma.

Background Risk of anaphylaxis is included in the prescribing information for omalizumab, but the nature of these reactions merits further elaboration. Objective To describe cases of anaphylaxis associated with omalizumab administration in patients with asthma. Methods We reviewed spontaneous postmarketing adverse event reports submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System database and to the manufacturers of omalizumab and cases published in the literature through December 2006. Diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis outlined by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network were used to screen cases. Results One-hundred twenty-four cases of anaphylaxis associated with omalizumab administration in patients with asthma were identified. Many cases had a delayed onset of symptoms beyond 2 hours after dose administration. Many cases were also characterized by a protracted progression, with individual signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis staggered over hours. Review of the case reports did not reveal any predictive risk factors for the delayed onset or protracted progression of anaphylaxis. Conclusion Omalizumab-induced anaphylaxis may be characterized by a delayed onset and a protracted progression of symptoms. Clinical implications The unusual timing of anaphylaxis in these cases challenges our understanding of anaphylaxis. A delayed onset of symptoms and protracted progression of anaphylaxis should be taken into account when administering omalizumab.
Effects of preparation method, age, and plating technique of thin agar layer media on recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 injured by sodium chloride.

Abstract The thin agar layer (TAL) method was experimentally tested to determine its ability to recover Escherichia coli O157:H7 injured by sodium chloride (NaCl). Cells grown in Brain Heart Infusion broth with 0%, 5%, or 7.5% (w/v) NaCl were spread and spiral plated onto Tryptic Soy agar (TSA), MacConkey Sorbitol agar (MSA), and TSA/MSA TAL combinations. Generally, TSA recovered more injured cells than TAL (p≤0.05), and TAL recovered more cells than MSA (p≤0.05). Preparation mode (two vs. three layers) and age (0, 1, or 7 days) of TAL had negligible effect on resuscitation of injured cells (p>0.05). TAL, which is conventionally used to recover heat, cold, and acid-injured foodborne pathogens, may be used to recover NaCl-injured E. coli O157:H7.
Reading the world’s mind: Political, socioeconomic and cultural approaches to understanding worldwide Internet search queries

Through content analysis of Google Zeitgeist’s monthly top 10 lists from countries around the world, this study investigated global Internet search patterns that, in effect, let the public speak for itself rather than answer questions about interests and agendas in a solicited manner. These lists were examined within the context of political differences (free, partially free and not free, determined by the Freedom House Country Ratings), socioeconomic differences (high SES, medium SES and low SES, determined by GDP per capita) and cultural differences (masculine, mixed and feminine, based on Hofstede’s cultural gender index). Statistical differences emerged in the SES and culture categories, while the political category did not yield sufficient data for formal analysis. This new, naturalistic approach to understanding the public stands to increase in relevance and precision as the number of global Internet users and concomitant availability of user data continue to grow.
A walking stick, Clonistria dominicana n. sp. (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae) in Dominican amber

A walking stick, Clonistria dominicana n. sp. (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromerinae: Diapheromerini) is described from Dominican amber. The new species can be distinguished from extant members of the genus by the long hind leg tarsomere II (over six times the length of the foreleg tarsomere II), the short metanotum, which is only half the length of the median segment and the prominent median carina. Two phasmatid eggs in separate pieces of Dominican amber are also presented. One of these has characteristics of the genus Clonistria Stal, 1875, which supports the generic placement of C. dominicana. The second egg resembles those of the genus Malacomorpha Rehn, 1906 (Pseudophasmatidae: Pseudophasmatinae). Both of these genera occur in Hispaniola today.
Quantum state transfer and entanglement distribution among distant nodes in a quantum network

We propose a scheme to utilize photons for ideal quantum transmission between atoms located at spatially separated nodes of a quantum network. The transmission protocol employs special laser pulses that excite an atom inside an optical cavity at the sending node so that its state is mapped into a time-symmetric photon wave packet that will enter a cavity at the receiving node and be absorbed by an atom there with unit probability. Implementation of our scheme would enable reliable transfer or sharing of entanglement among spatially distant atoms.
Seleno-Amino Acid Found in Astragalus bisulcatus

Ion-exchange and filter-paper columns were used in a separation of amino acids from an extract of Astragalus bisulcatus. Two amino acids were identified, S-methylcysteine and Se-methylselenocysteine.
Developing a Renewal Team in an Urban School District.

I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ D uring the last several years the Buffalo Public School District has been involved in the implementation of a court-ordered desegregation program. During "Phase One" of the program, the district's elementary school children were reassigned. "Phase Two" of the plan led to the desegregation of the district's secondary schools. The problems the district encountered with unprepared and, often, fearful teachers, wary students, concerned community groups, and cumbersome transportation schemes during "Phase One" worried school officials as they began to chart a course of action for the implementation of "Phase Two." This experience, along with observations of the problems that plagued other urban districts responding to court-ordered desegregation such as Boston and Louisville, convinced the district's leaders that they would have to make a major effort to prepare the staff and community for "Phase Two." They were aware that the staff would need significant training in interpersonal skills and, more important, need to explore underlying attitudes and values that might predispose them against the forthcoming secondary school desegregation program. Given this conclusion, plans were fashioned to insure that all employees (secretaries, drivers, and custodians as well as teachers and administrators) would be briefed, receive work in needed skill areas, and explore their values orientations, to enhance the smooth implementation of the desegregation effort. Having run in-service programs for the district's secondary school principals and central office staff over the past several years, I was asked to help with this effort.
A curve representation of human activity

One of the main challenges of high level analysis of human behavior is the high dimension of the feature space. To overcome the curse of dimensionality, we propose in this paper, a space curve representation of the high dimensional behavior features. The features of interest here, are restricted to sequences of shapes of the human body such as those extracted from a video sequence. This evolution is a one dimensional sub-manifold in shape space. The central idea of the proposed representation takes root in the Whitney embedding theorem which guarantees an embedding of a one dimensional manifold in as a space curve. The resulting of such dimension reduction, is a simplification of comparing two behaviors to that of comparing two curves in R 3 . This comparison is additionally theoretically and numerically easier to implement for statistical analysis. By exploiting sampling theory, we are moreover able to achieve a computationally efficient embedding that is invertible. Specifically, we first construct a global coordinates expression for the one dimension manifold and sampled along a generating curve.As experiment result, we provide substantiating modeling examples and illustrations of behavior classification.
Total e + e − annihilation cross section in the charm continuum

In view of new experiments the theory of the ${e}^{+}$${e}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ annihilation cross section in the kinematic region well above the charmonium region is reanalyzed, correcting previous inadequacies in the treatment of the renormalization group. The predictions agree well with the data but the experimental errors are still too large to provide a crucial test. The existence of resonances between (${q}^{2}$${)}^{1/2}$=4 GeV and (${q}^{2}$${)}^{1/2}$=4.5 GeV provides, however, compelling evidence that the value of the running charm-quark mass has been underestimated in the past.
Pachyonychia congenita and steatocystoma multiplex.

Pachyonychia congenita and steatocystoma multiplex are each rare conditions. It is still not widely appreciated that they are both manifestations of the same autosomal gene. Extensive clinical, X-ray and laboratory investigations on two affected members of a family, in which three generations are known to be affected, failed to reveal any specific abnormality other than the skin and nail lesions.
Ideology and opposition to abortion: trends in public opinion, 1972-1980.

Data from the NORC General Social Survey 1972–1980 are examined to determine the extent to which the conflict over legal abortion has come to be associated, in the structure of public opinion, with broader ideological differences concerning sexuality, feminism, and political liberalism. Specifically, attitudes toward premarital sex, homosexuality, women's roles, liberal versus conservative political self-identification, and views on government spending policies are examined as possible ideological correlates of position on abortion. Log-linear analysis demonstrates that a clear, significant, and persistent association exists between abortion attitude and each of the other five issues, independent of religion, education, or sex of the respondent. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any change from 1972 to 1980 in the strength of the association of abortion attitude with any of the other questions considered, despite the increased polarization and politicization of the abortion issue over the time period studied.
Low return loss field-installable optical connector

This paper describes the development of a low return loss mechanical splice type field installable connector while maintaining good ease of installation and performance.
Observation of Anomalously Short Mean Free Paths of Projectile Fragments of 1 . 8 5 A -GeV Ar 40 in CR-39 Etched Track Detector

When fragments of $1.85A$-GeV $^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$ projectiles are observed in a CR-39 etched track detector, anomalously short mean free paths of secondary nuclei with $11g~Zg~17$ are found within the first 2 cm after their production, at \ensuremath{\sim} 3 standard deviations. This confirms the previous reports of this "anomalon" effect in nuclear emulsion. The data can be fitted by the hypothesis that \ensuremath{\sim} 3.6% of the secondaries have a mean free path of \ensuremath{\sim} 1.0 cm and infinite lifetime.
Singularities and Rayleigh's hypothesis for diffraction gratings.

The foci or branch points are found for a sinusoidal boundary. It is shown how they determine the range of validity of Rayleigh’s hypothesis for diffraction gratings.
Developmental isolation and subsequent adult behavior of Drosophila pseudoobscura.

When isolated from all contact with other flies until the opportunity to exercise mating choices,Drosophila pseudoobscura displays genetically-mediated compensatory behavior: heterokaryotypic females are more vulnerable than homokaryotes to wholly restricted contact with conspecifics. They are less able to demonstrate normal frequency-dependent sexual selection after isolation than their own homokaryotypes. However, the later the isolation in this holometa-bolous insect-eggs, first instars, second instars, third instars, pupae, imagoes-the fewer the behavioral effects of this isolation.
Second-order nonlinear thin film characterization using logarithmic Hilbert transform

A new technique based on logarithmic Hilbert transform processing of Maker-fringe (MF) curves to characterize second-order optical nonlinear depth profile of thin films is described. Such characterization methods are important for several fields, for example to characterize the nonlinear coefficient profile of poled glass samples, which hold an important potential for fiber based nonlinear devices in telecommunication links. In the classical MF measurement system, a laser beam is focused onto the nonlinear film and the generated second-harmonic power is recorded vs. the laser incidence angle. The resulting MF curve is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the Fourier transform of the spatial profile d ( z ) of the nonlinear coefficient, where z is perpendicular to the film surface. Our new analytical method requires only the measurement of the MF curve of the nonlinear sample alone. It is based on the computation of the logarithmic Hilbert transform of the measured MF curve of the sample. Being analytical, this approach provides speed advantage over its iterative alternative. This new technique is verified experimentally with two germanosilicate-Infrasil structures, thermally poled at ~5 kV and 280° C in air. This choice of material was primarily made because germanosilicate films form excellent waveguides with a refractive index close to that of silica, which makes them compatible with fiber-optic technology. This is the first time that a Hilbert transform based analytical tool has been applied to uniquely characterize nonlinear thin films.
Computerized transcripts of social interactions

The advantages of a standardized format for transcribing social interactions to computerized media are discussed. The chief advantage of this scheme is that transcripts can be easily exchanged among research groups and across text processing programs. An important element of a transcript is the set of conventions, calledmarkup, that identify the metalinguistic features of texts. Conventions should employ symbols that (1) cannot be mistaken for ordinary text, (2) explicitly describe their linguistic function, and (3) obey a grammar. Social scientists who transcribe social interactions should participate in the development of a standardized scheme of descriptive markup for the encoding of machine-readable transcripts, based on the Standard Generalized Markup Language.
Computer-based semantic analyzers

Computer-based semantic analyzers come from five basic areas: machine translation, question and answer systems, content analysis, bibliographic retrieval, and medical information retrieval systems. This paper brings together and reviews these five basic areas and looks at representative semantic analyzers from them. The diversity of these semantic analyzers makes precise comparison impossible, but it was useful to draw some general comparisons in the areas of subject matter and breadth of context.
Automated Software Testing for Matlab

Software testing can improve software quality. To test effectively, scientists and engineers should know how to write and run tests, define appropriate test cases, determine expected outputs, and correctly handle floating-point arithmetic. Using Matlab xUnit automated testing framework, scientists and engineers using Matlab can make software testing an integrated part of their software development routine.
Set query optimization in distributed database systems

This paper addresses the problem of optimizing queries that involve set operations (set queries) in a distributed relational database system. A particular emphasis is put on the optimization of such queries in horizontally partitioned database systems. A mathematical programming model of the set query problem is developed and its NP-completeness is proved. Solution procedures are proposed and computational results presented. One of the main results of the computational experiments is that, for many queries, the solution procedures are not sensitive to errors in estimating the size of results of set operations.
$\hbox{Prius}^{+}$ and $\hbox{Volt}^{-}$ : Configuration Analysis of Power-Split Hybrid Vehicles With a Single Planetary Gear

The majority of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) available on the market are power-split hybrid vehicles with a single planetary gear (PG), including the popular Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt. Although both vehicles use a single PG, they have different configurations with different numbers of operating modes. The Prius has no clutch and has a single operating mode, whereas the Chevy Volt uses three clutches and has four modes. The goal of this paper is to present a thorough analysis of all possible configurations of power-split hybrid powertrain using a single PG. The analysis includes the following steps: 1) search for all possible ways to connect powertrain elements to the PG; 2) identify all potential locations for clutch installations around the PG and examine the feasibility of additional operating modes introduced by the clutch installation; and 3) optimize fuel economy for performance comparison. The proposed analysis shows that a single PG can produce 12 different configurations, each of which can have four feasible operating modes by adding three clutches to the PG. In case studies, we focus on the two configurations that are used in the Prius and Volt to find the impact of adding (or removing) clutches and modes on their fuel economy performance. Our results show that adding one clutch to the Prius transmission (which is named “Prius+”) can significantly improve fuel economy in urban driving, whereas removing two clutches from the Volt transmission (“Volt-”) will not significantly affect fuel economy in both urban and highway driving. This multimode configuration analysis can be used to systematically design future power-split HEVs.
Feminine Purity and Masculine Revenge-Seeking In Taken (2008)

The 2008 film Taken depicts the murderous rampage of an ex-CIA agent seeking to recover his teenage daughter from foreign sex traffickers. I argue that Taken articulates a demand for a white male protector to serve as both guardian and avenger of white women's “purity” against the purportedly violent and sexual impulses of third world men. A neocolonial narrative retold through film, Taken infers that the protection of white feminine purity legitimates both male conquest abroad and overbearing protection of young women at home. I contend that popular films such as Taken are a part of the broader cultural system of representing social reality that elicit popular adherence to common-sense myths of white masculinity, feminine purity, and Orientalism.
Yields of Alfalfa Varieties Selected for Aphanomyces Resistance in Kentucky

Field tests were conducted over 4 yr to investigate whether alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varieties and experimental populations selected for resistance to aphanomyces root rot (caused by Aphanomyces euteiches Drechsler) (here termed aphanomyces-selected varieties) would collectively outyield varieties not selected for resistance (unselected varieties). All entries were resistant to phytophthora root rot (caused by Phytophthora medicaginis E.M. Hans & Maxwell). At the conclusion of the tests, the mean cumulative dry matter yield of aphanomyces-selected varieties was higher (4.2% increase, P = 0.063) than that of unselected varieties in a site naturally infested with A. euteiches and P. medicaginis. However, total yields of certain unselected varieties equaled or even exceeded (P = 0.10) those of certain aphanomyces-selected varieties, and there was no correlation among varieties between yield and percentage of Aphanomyces-resistant plants. No significant difference in mean cumulative yield was observed between aphanomyces-selected and unselected varieties in two sites infested with A. euteiches alone nor in four sites not infested with either pathogen. Since outbreaks of seedling diseases were minor in all tests, the yield effects observed may be due to differences in plant health manifested after stand establishment. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that selection for Aphanomyces resistance contributes to an overall improvement of elite alfalfa germplasm for cultivation in poorly drained soils infested with both A. euteiches and P. medicaginis. However, considered alone, selection for Aphanomyces resistance in individual varieties was not always predictive of high yield in Aphanomyces-infested sites. These tests do not rule out the possibility of a substantial yield benefit to Aphanomyces resistance under conditions unusually conducive to seedling disease induced by A. euteiches.
Dominance-based measurement of productive and environmental performance for manufacturing

Abstract The concept of efficiency measurement is based on the definition of a frontier that envelopes observed production plans. The effect of pollution prevention and environmental compliance on productive efficiency is typically studied by considering pollution as not freely disposable (i.e., there is a cost incurred to dispose of pollution) or by assigning shadow prices to pollution outputs. However, the frontier along with the required technological assumptions needed for its definition may be replaced with the concept of pairwise dominance. With data from a manufacturing facility, the use of pairwise dominance allows one to consider a wide spectrum of inputs and outputs. Furthermore, the approach of benchmark correspondence is augmented so as to consider environmental performance. Pairwise dominance is applied to segregate production plans into sets according to their relative environmental and productive efficiency performance. These sets in conjunction with appropriately identified reference production plans are used to define distance-based measures of efficiency and environmental performance. Pollution prevention activities of a printed circuit board manufacturing facility motivated the development of the reported analytical framework.
Implicit theories in enduring relationships: Psychological gender differences in perceptions of one's mate

This study examined implicit theories in ongoing, enduring relationships in order to elucidate the cognitive outcomes of marital communication. A random, urban sample of 207 married couples assessed how the dimensions of instrumentality and expressivity applied to their mates. Predictions of how mates would weight these two dimensions were based on Sandra Bem's gender schema theory. This theory posits that individuals characterized primarily by masculine or feminine attributes are more likely to process social information on the basis of sex‐linked associations than individuals who combine masculinity and femininity. Consequently, we expected that (1) sex‐typed spouses would weight the dimension congruent with the mate's sex more heavily, and (2) androgynous and undifferentiated spouses would weight instrumentality and expressivity about equally. The findings indicated that the sex‐reversed spouses weighted most heavily the dimension congruent with the partner's sex. Interestingly, all mates, except the f...
Slow equilibration of a denatured protein: comparison of the cluster model with the proline isomerization model.

Abstract The slow equilibration of the denatured state after rapid unfolding of a globular protein is examined by the cluster model of protein folding (Kanehisa & Tsong, 1978) . The detection of this process in ribonuclease A and its acid catalysis have been considered evidence for the proline isomerization model. Our calculation shows that similar kinetic behavior is also expected for the cluster model.
Convergence Behaviors of Reduced-Order Models For Frictional Contacts

Numerical models to simulate interface behavior of friction connections under cyclic loading are investigated. The question of validity of lower-order models in successfully capturing response of friction joints under cyclic loading is addressed. Single-element macroslip models are not capable of capturing localized interface behavior prior to gross interfacial slip. This paper focuses on the convergence behavior of a multipoint contact microslip model comprised of Iwan-type elements for different physical parameters such as system response amplitude and kinematic state of the friction joint. System dynamics play a significant role in determining the convergence of structural behavior, especially for tuned damper sets in the nonzero damper mass case. This behavior is explored using simple linearized models that explain the response sensitivity in terms of the overall modal density near the forcing frequency. Convergence of the interface response kinematics is also considered, with a focus on the number of damping elements operating in the stick, stick-slip, and slip regimes at steady state. Energy dissipation scaling under light forcing is also examined, with the class of models considered here yielding scaling exponents consistent with experimental observations and analytical predictions from the literature. We show that the interface kinematic behavior converges at a slower rate than the structural response and therefore requires a higher-order interface model. These results suggest that extremely low-order models (i.e., 50 damping elements) are not. This result impacts model development and calibration approaches, as well as providing clues for appropriate model reduction strategies.
Detection of antibodies by polyvinylpyrrolidone II. Comparison of sensitivity of antihuman globulin and PVP.

Summary(1) Using the indirect Coomb's technic we have found that 10% PVP offers results comparable to anti-human globulin when dilutions are carried out in albumin or PVP. (2) An alternate rapid PVP tube test (of equal sensitivity to antihuman globulin) is described. (3) In certain “collagen” or hypersensitivity diseases, PVP may detect an agglutinating antibody on homologous erythrocytes.
MUC-3 evaluation metrics

The MUC-3 evaluation metrics are measures of performance for the MUC-3 template fill task. Obtaining summary measures of performance necessitates the loss of information about many details of performance. The utility of summary measures for comparison of performance over time and across systems should outweigh this loss of detail. The template fill task is complex because of the varying nature of the fills for each slot and the interdependencies of the slots. The evaluation metrics used in MUC-3 were adapted from traditional measures in information retrieval and signal procesing and were still evolving to fit the more complex data extraction task of MUC-3 when the evaluation was performed. The scoring of the template fill task and the calculation of the metrics used in MUC-3 will be described here. This description is meant to assist in the analysis of the MUC-3 results and in the further evolution of the evaluation metrics.
What Private and Public Schools Can Learn From Each Other

Public school and faith-based private school educators often primarily concern themselves with the health of their own sector. We contend, however, that the United States would benefit if American educators viewed the schooling system more holistically, in the process expressing a greater willingness to learn from those practicing in the other sector. We assert that schools in each sector have specific strengths that can, at least to some extent, find application in the other sector as well. If this perspective is applied and practiced, we believe that the overall American school system will be strengthened and revitalized sufficiently to compete in a global context. We assert that the timing of certain developments may be such that this is the best time for such a reorientation to take place.
Improved method for correlating late Pleistocene/Holocene records from the Bering Sea: application of a biosiliceous/geochemical stratigraphy

Abstract The combination of high-resolution siliceous biostratigraphy and radiocarbon dating provides a mechanism for detailed assessment of the depositional history in late Pleistocene sediments from the Bering Sea where average accumulation rates are uncharacteristically high compared to rates calculated for most other ocean basins. Vital to the development of this stratigraphy was the recognition that the abundance pattern of the radiolarian species Cycladophora davisiana in Bering Sea cores is quite similar to this species' previously correlated abundance curve in a late Pleistocene/Holocene record from the northwest Pacific. Comparison of this high-resolution stratigraphy with other recently developed floral and lithologic stratigraphies for late Pleistocene Bering Sea sediments shows that the various stratigraphies do not always yield identical results when applied to a particular sediment sequence. With this new stratigraphy based upon a combination of siliceous microfaunal abundance patterns and radiocarbon dating, one can identify reworking, discontinuities and other interruptions in the depositional sequence more precisely than with previously devised stratigraphies, thereby improving the correlation techniques for comparison of late Pleistocene/Holocene records from this marginal sea.
Analysis of the effects of snake venom proteinases on the activity of human plasma C1 esterase inhibitor, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and alpha 2-antiplasmin.

Abstract Incubation of C1 esterase inhibitor with Crotalid, Viperid and Colubrid snake venoms resulted in enzymatic inactivation of the inhibitor. Intact inhibitor (104 kDa) was converted into an active intermediate species of 89 kDa and then a further cleavage resulted in formation of an 86-kDa inactive inhibitor. In contrast, C1 esterase inhibitor did not lose activity during incubation with Elapid venoms; however, the intact inhibitor was gradually converted to an active species of 89 kDa during the incubation. Human α 1 -antichymotrypsin was inactivated by all venoms tested, including those from the Elapid family. The 67-kDa intact inhibitor was converted by the venom proteinases to an inactive 63-kDa form. The results suggest that this acute-phase plasma protein is readily susceptible to inactivation by venom proteinases. Human α 2 -antiplasmin (68 kDa) was cleaved to form a 61-kDa active intermediate, which then underwent a second cleavage to produce an inactive 53-kDa product. Elapid venoms had no effect on α 2 -antiplasmin activity and did not cleave this inhibitor. All inhibitors were inactivated with catalytic amounts of venom proteinases. No stable proteinase-proteinase inhibitor complexes were detected, and no random proteolysis of the inhibitors occurred.
Chromospheric downflow velocities as a diagnostic in solar flares

The dynamics of chromospheric condensations driven by evaporation during the impulsive phase of solar flares are explored. Specifically, it is found that the maximum chromospheric downflow speed is equal to 0.4(F/rho sub ch) exp 1/3, where F is that part of the flare energy flux driving chromospheric evaporation, and rho sub ch is the mass density in the preflare chromosphere just below the preflare transition region. This implies that chromospheric downflows as measured by H-alpha asymmetries may be a powerful probe of flare energetics.
The spectrum of Trp− mutants isolated as 5-fluoroanthranilate-resistant clones in Saccharomyces bayanus, S. mikatae and S. paradoxus

5-Fluoroanthranilic acid (FAA)-resistant mutants were selected in homothallic diploids of three Saccharomyces species, taking care to isolate mutants of independent origin. Mutations were assigned to complementation groups by interspecific complementation with S. cerevisiae tester strains. In all three species, trp3, trp4 and trp5 mutants were recovered. trp1 mutants were also recovered if the selection was imposed on a haploid strain. Thus, FAA selection may be more generally applicable than was previously described.
Interdisciplinary Treatment for Vestibular Dysfunction The Effectiveness of Mindfulness, Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques, and Vestibular Rehabilitation

Objective. To investigate whether an interdisciplinary program for vestibular patients improved health outcomes and health care utilization.Study Design. Case series with chart review.Setting. Outpatient neurotology clinic.Subjects and Methods. Patients (N = 167) with dizziness attended an interdisciplinary neurotology clinic; 129 were offered group treatment. After an introductory session, group treatment included 5 sessions incorporating mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and vestibular rehabilitation. Physical and emotional functioning, depression, anxiety, dizziness, impairment, coping, skill use, and patient satisfaction were measured with rating scales pre- and postgroup treatment. Data from 51 patients (male/female = 14/37; age range, 25-82 years) were analyzed with paired t tests or nonparametric tests. Logistic regression analyzed predictors of outcome and utilization for 116 patients (male/female = 81/35; age range, 11-86 years) attending the interdisciplinary clinic, introductory ses...
A brief history of human-computer interaction technology

This article summarizes the historical development of major advances in humancomputer interaction technology, emphasizing the pivotal role of university research in the advancement of the field.
Comparisons of Transport and Dispersion Model Predictions of the Joint Urban 2003 Field Experiment

Abstract For a hazardous material release in a city or densely populated area, effective mitigation requires an understanding of the transport and dispersion of these hazards in the complex urban environment. Improved characterization and understanding of urban transport and dispersion will allow for more robust modeling. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has developed a Hazard Prediction Assessment Capability (HPAC) that includes features to address hazardous releases within an urban environment. During the summer of 2003, a series of tracer gas releases were carried out in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and extensive meteorological and tracer concentration measurements were collected in a field experiment known as Joint Urban 2003 (JU03). This analysis uses the observations of JU03 to evaluate “Urban HPAC.” Twenty sets of simulations, or “predictions,” using four Urban HPAC modes and five meteorological input options, were created and compared using a variety of metrics. Strong consistency was found between...
The Deadline Constrained Weighted Completion Time Problem: Analysis of a Heuristic

A greedy heuristic that schedules jobs on one machine is examined. The problem considered is to minimize the sum of weighted completion times subject to deadline constraints. Both theoretical and empirical evidence are presented to suggest that this method finds solutions that are near optimal. Optimality conditions are developed. Also, an analysis of the relative error is presented. Worst case bounds are found that are based on the problem parameters. In addition, we show that the relative error goes to zero as the problem size goes to infinity.
Interactive visualization of retinal astrocyte images

Analyzing high-resolution images of astrocytes is important in understanding the diseases, such as glaucoma and retinal detachment, to which astrocytes are known to become reactive. This is challenging because the cells are small, homogeneous, and closely packed. We propose an interactive visualization system designed for such images. Our system employs a probabilistic segmentation algorithm to help distinguish between cells. Design decisions on visualization and interactions were made based on the needs of the scientists, resulting in a visualization that shows the details of individual cells in the context of a large image mosaic. Our interactive system brings patterns of information to the surface, conveys uncertainty, and serves as a tool for astrocyte research.
Septa design study for volumetric imaging in positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) has become an essential imaging tool to localize tumors in diagnostic radiology and to monitor the size of a lesion before and during the treatment in oncology. Currently, commercial PET cameras operate only in two extreme modes: i) no-septa: three-dimensional (3-D) acquisition mode, also called volumetric imaging; and ii) all-septa-in: two-dimensional (2-D) acquisition mode, also called multislice imaging. In this paper, intermediate septa designs in the brain mode have been sought to minimize the scatter and accidental coincidences with acceptable sensitivity loss. To achieve this goal, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to evaluate possible septa designs. Information about septal penetration, absorption and scattering components from simulations guided us to modify the thickness and total number of septa in the new configurations. Count rate performances of three septa configurations were measured on our experimental high resolution PET camera with 3.85-cm axial field-of-view (AFOV); the measurements were compared with the simulation results. No-septa configuration had lower noise equivalent count (NEC) compared the other two configurations because of small AFOV Monte Carlo simulations were performed to predict the count rate performances of seven septa configurations for 13.1-cm AFOV. In the large AFOV, because of increased number of line of responses, NEC rate for no-septa case peaked rapidly at 0.07 /spl mu/Ci/cc. No-septa configuration is not recommended for high count rate studies. In this case where activity density is 0.3 /spl mu/Ci/cc or more, 10-septa and 15-septa configurations performed better than the other configurations. Intermediate 5-septa designs with variable septum length performed better between 0.07-/spl mu/Ci/cc and 0.3-/spl mu/Ci/cc range which represents the clinical activity level for /sup 18/F-FDG brain studies.
Structure of the carboxy-terminal LIM domain from the cysteine rich protein CRP.

The three dimensional solution structure of the carboxy terminal LIM domain of the avian Cysteine Rich Protein (CRP) has been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The domain contains two zinc atoms bound independently in CCHC (C=Cys, H=His) and CCCC modules. Both modules contain two orthogonally-arranged antiparallel β-sheets, and the CCCC module contains an α-helix at its C terminus. The modules pack due to hydrophobic interactions forming a novel global fold. The structure of the C-terminal CCCC module is essentially identical to that observed for the DNA-interactive CCCC modules of the GATA-1 and steroid hormone receptor DNA binding domains, raising the possibility that the LIM motif may have a DNA binding function.
Enhanced Cardiac Regenerative Ability of Stem Cells After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Role of Human CD34+ Cells Deficient in MicroRNA-377

AbstractBackground: MicroRNA (miR) dysregulation in the myocardium has been implicated in cardiac remodeling after injury or stress.Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the role of miR ...
Static ownership inference for reasoning against concurrency errors

We propose a new approach for reasoning about concurrency in object-oriented programs. Central to our approach is static ownership inference analysis — we conjecture that this analysis has important application in reasoning against concurrency errors.
Purification and characterization of an N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase from cortical granules of Xenopus laevis eggs

The enzyme N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was purified from the cortical granules of Xenopus laevis eggs using affinity chromatography, gel filtration, and density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 37,000-40,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and density gradient centrifugation, had a Km for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminide of 0.66 mM and a Ki for glucosamine of 4.3 mM. The kinetic properties of the cortical granule enzyme were similar to the enzyme isolated from jack bean. Treatment of unfertilized eggs with the enzyme isolated from cortical granules or jack bean rendered eggs unfertilizable. Loss of fertilizability was proportional to the product of time and enzyme concentration, consistent with an enzymatic mechanism being responsible for the loss of fertilizability. The amount of enzyme present in the perivitelline space was approximately the same as that which reduced fertilizability by 50% in one hour. We suggest that the action of cortical granule N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase on egg integuments may function as a block to polyspermy at fertilization.
Black energy intensity versus green energy intensity: implications for sustainable development

This study attempted to identify the common trends for the ‘black’ and ‘green’ economic development of the major developed and developing countries as well as exceptions to these trends. It investigated these economies’ energy and carbon dependences in the last 42 years and their renewable energy growths in the last ten years. In addition to the traditional concept of ‘energy intensity’, this study developed the terms of ‘black energy intensity’ and ‘green energy intensity’ to test the hypothesis that the decrease in the former and the increase in the latter indicated an economy’s degree of transition to the sustainable development. It examined the major economies’ green energy intensities both with and without hydropower. The results revealed however that only a few EU countries passed both tests. Based on the major economies’ black energy intensities, carbon intensities, and green energy intensities, the study discussed their policy implications for these economies’ transformation to the sustainable development.
Genetic epidemiology of binging and vomiting.

BACKGROUND Bulimia nervosa is typically defined as the combination of the behaviours of binging and vomiting. We sought to clarify the relationship of these behaviours from a genetic epidemiological perspective. METHOD Using data on the lifetime history of binging and vomiting from a personally interviewed population-based sample of female twins (n = 1897), we applied bivariate twin modelling to estimate the sources of variation for these traits. RESULTS The association between having ever binged (23.6%) and having ever induced vomiting (4.8%) was very strong (odds ratio = 8.78, P < 0.0001). The best-fitting model indicated that lifetime binging and vomiting were both heritable (46% and 72%) and influenced by individual-specific environmental factors (54% and 28%). The overlap between the genetic (ra = 0.74) and individual-specific environmental factors (re = 0.48) for the two traits was substantial. No violations of the equal environmental assumption were evident. CONCLUSIONS Including binging and vomiting under the rubric of bulimia nervosa appears to be appropriate. Our data are consistent with the identification of binging and vomiting as complex traits resulting from the interplay of multiple genes and individual-specific environmental influences. In contrast to 'environmentalist' theories, our results suggest that genetic influences may be of particular relevance to the aetiology of binging and vomiting.