cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Land rental markets in the process of rural structural transformation: Productivity and equity impacts from China

The importance of land rental for overall economic development has long been recognized in theory, yet empirical evidence on the productivity and equity impacts of such markets and the extent to which they realize their potential has been scant. Representative data from China's nine most important agricultural provinces illustrate the impact of rental markets on households' economic strategies and welfare, and the productivity of land use at the plot level. Although there are positive impacts in each of these dimensions, transaction costs constrain participation by many producers, thus preventing rental markets from attaining their full potential. The paper identifies factors that increase transaction costs and provides a rough estimate of the productivity and equity impacts of removing them.
Written Testimony of Marin K. Levy on

Court expansion and other changes to the Court’s composition implicate fundamental questions about the role and operation of our nation’s highest court. These include whether expanding the Court would harm the institution’s legitimacy, whether expansion would prompt a series of expansions in the future, whether an expanded Court could function well as a single decision-making body, and whether expansion would contradict existing constitutional norms and conventions. Even if the answers to these questions were known, there is a larger background question to be answered—namely how such considerations should be weighted in assessing any proposal to change the Court’s structure. It is no easy task that the Commission has been given, and I hope that the legal community and public at large is cognizant of this. In contrast to the subject of the panel, my own testimony will be fairly circumscribed. What I hope to offer the Commission is additional context by providing information about recent changes and attempts to change the size of state supreme courts. The descriptive analysis that follows does not itself constitute a normative argument. Rather, my goal is to provide the Commission with intra-country comparative data concerning changes to court structure, from which the Commission can draw its own conclusions. I would stress at the outset that I believe experiences with state court expansion do not offer easy lessons about the wisdom of the enterprise; and, as in any comparative discussion, one should be mindful of the differences between systems when attempting to derive meaning. Those differences include, inter alia, that the majority of state supreme court justices are not appointed but elected, that the majority serve for terms and must be reelected (or, less often, reappointed) to continue service, and that the majority have mandatory retirement ages and not life tenure. Part I will provide information regarding attempts (and successes) to alter the size of the highest court in eleven different states over a recent period of approximately one decade. Then, Part II will briefly consider the size of each state court of last resort, as they stand today.
Trends in the quality and cost of inpatient surgical procedures in the United States, 2002-2015

Objectives This study documents trends in risk-adjusted quality and cost for a variety of inpatient surgical procedures among Medicare beneficiaries from 2002 through 2015, which can provide valuable insight on future strategies to improve public health and health care. Methods We focused on 11 classes of inpatient surgery, defined by the Agency for Health Research and Quality's (AHRQ's) Clinical Classification System. The surgical classes studied included a wide range of surgeries, including tracheostomy, heart valve procedures, colorectal resection, and wound debridement, among others. For each surgical class, we assessed trends in treatment costs and quality outcomes, as defined by 30-day survival without unplanned readmissions, among Medicare beneficiaries receiving these procedures during hospital stays. Quality and costs were adjusted for patient severity based on demographics, comorbidities, and community context. We also explored surgical innovations of these 11 classes of inpatient surgery from 2002-2015. Results We found significant improvements in quality for 7 surgical classes, ranging from 0.08% (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) to 0.74% (heart valve procedures) per year. Changes in cost varied by surgery, the significant decrease in cost ranged from -2.59% (tracheostomy) to -0.34% (colorectal resection) per year. Treatment innovation occurred with respect to surgical procedures utilized for heart valve procedures and colorectal resection, which may be associated with the decrease in surgical cost. Conclusions Our results suggest that there was significant quality improvement for 7 surgery categories over the 14-year study period. Costs decreased significantly for 6 surgery categories, and increased significantly for 3 other categories.
Lee D. Ross (1942-2021).

Memorializes Lee D. Ross (1942-2021). Ross made many contributions to social psychology. He had a knack for seeing the broad and deep psychological processes underlying individual episodes of rich, everyday behavior. Ross then crafted experiments that explored those processes in a way that was engaging and unusually memorable. After completing his PhD degree in 1969, Ross joined the faculty at Stanford University, where he taught for 52 years. Ross first achieved prominence in 1977 when he coined the term "the fundamental attribution error" to describe the tendency to attribute behavior primarily to a person's traits, attitudes, and other characteristics even when it should be clear that the person's behavior was largely the result of situational influences or constraints. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Efficient, Strongly Consistent Implementations of Shared Memory (Extended Abstract)

We present linearizable implementations for two distributed organizations of multiprocessor shared memory. For the full caching organization, where each process keeps a local copy of the whole memory, we present a linearizable implementations of read/write memory objects that achieves essentially optimal efficiency and allows quantitative degradation of the less frequently employed operation. For the single ownership organization, where each memory object is “owned” by a single process which is most likely to access it frequently, our linearizable implementation allows local operations to be performed much faster (almost instantaneously) than remote ones.
An inexpensive RFID attendance system

This article illustrates an inexpensive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) classroom attendance system. The attendance system performs the following major functions: (1) tracks each student's classroom attendance for any number of courses, (2) emails attendance records and messages to all students, (3) supplies unique 5-digit numbers for use on Scantron test forms and for posting grades, and (4) tracks the issuance and return of test booklets given out during an examination.
Spontaneous children's emotion recognition by categorical classification of acoustic features

This paper describes three categorical classification approaches to spontaneous children's emotion recognition based on acoustic features from speech. Also, we present a fourth approach combining by stacking generalisation the two best classifiers. We used the FAU Aibo Corpus to work under real-life conditions, dealing with spontaneous speech and with low emotional expressiveness, unbalanced data, non-prototypical emotions and a garbage class. Experiments were carried out using the leave-one-speaker-out strategy to consider speaker independence. Two different training and test sets were used at the end to validate the results. We selected the two best classifiers to be merged by comparing the results obtained in the leave-one-speaker-out stage. Experiments showed that the fusion of these classifiers resulted in a more robust structure when it had to classify previously unseen data.
Reaction Types in the Environment

Most of the chemicals found in today’s environment are comparatively new and the animal world has had only a short time to adapt to them. It is interesting to note, therefore, that so many of these compounds can be transformed by living organisms. Some of these foreign compounds are water soluble and easily eliminated; however, many compounds are lipid soluble and not readily excreted. Biotransformations tend to make these materials more polar, increase their water-solubility, and thereby increase their elimination from the organism body.
Investment, Capital Accumulation, and GrowthSome Evidence from The Gambia 1964-98

This paper considers the potential variables that have determined economic growth in The Gambia during 1964-98. The results indicate that The Gambia`s aggregate production function exhibits increasing returns to scale, thus supporting the endogenous growth-type model. The impact of private investmentand thus private capital accumulationon output is large and significant. Furthermore, increases in public investment boost output substantially. Finally, the effects associated with human capital accumulation are positive and statistically significant. The paper also estimates a series on total factor productivity growth that indicates that The Gambia was able to use its resources more efficiently.
Hume, Skepticism, and Early American Deism

L'A. mesure l'influence de Hume sur la pensee americaine en general, et sur la these deiste, en particulier. A travers la reception du philosophe dans les colonies britanniques, l'A. montre que Hume developpe des arguments contre la croyance dans les miracles qui sont plus consistants que les critiques deistes. Examinant le rejet du christianisme, le scepticisme, l'atheisme et l'immoralisme de Hume, l'A. conclut en faveur de sa conception de la loi naturelle contre les pretentions a priori de la connaissance metaphysique.
Biological Particles as Irregularly Shaped Scatterers

Light scattering techniques used in biology provide a fast, non-destructive probe that is very sensitive to small but significant biological changes that are not seen by any other optical technique. The S34 component of the scattering matrix is particularly sensitive to temporal changes in the biosystem as depicted in several examples.
Youth Sports: A Program Evaluation

(1981). Youth Sports: A Program Evaluation. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 67-70.
Thrombin-induced expression of the KC gene in cultured aortic endothelial cells. Involvement of proteolytic activity and protein kinase C.

Abstract The KC gene, first identified in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated BALB/c 3T3 cells, shares structural similarities with a new family of genes that code for secreted cytokines which appear to be involved in wound healing and inflammation. Thrombin is a coagulation system proteinase likely to be present in vivo at sites of tissue injury. This enzyme is known to stimulate multiple responses in cultured endothelial cells (EC), including the production of eicosanoids, the expression of growth factor genes and the adhesion of leukocytes. The present experiments were designed to examine the effect of thrombin on KC mRNA expression in EC and to explore the molecular mechanisms involved. Thrombin caused a marked concentration-dependent increase in the steady state level of KC mRNA in confluent porcine aortic EC. The level of KC mRNA reached a peak 2 h after thrombin treatment and returned to near control levels by 8 h. Thrombin that was pretreated with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) to block proteolytic activity did not stimulate KC gene expression. Trypsin (2 μg/ml) but not PSMF-trypsin also caused a substantial increase in the level of KC mRNA. We postulated a role for protein kinase C in thrombin-induced KC gene expression since previous work had demonstrated a similar EC response to phorbol esters. This hypothesis was further supported by the finding that thrombin-induced KC expression was suppressed by the C kinase inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, but not by its structural analogue. The results of the present study demonstrate that thrombin augments KC mRNA expression by vascular EC in a process that requires intact proteinase activity. The activation of protein kinase C may be a necessary component of the intracellular signalling pathway involved in this response.
13 Pre-anaesthetic evaluation

Pre-anaesthetic evaluation serves the purposes of maximizing both anaesthetic safety and efficiency of healthcare delivery. With the advent of outpatient care, the pre-anaesthetic evaluation clinic has become common. In the emerging American model, computerized records speed the gathering of patient records and the assessment of patient condition. Physician entry of patient evaluation is moving from dictation to direct physician entry, which will accelerate as handwriting and voice recognition systems mature. Purchasers of such systems should consider the security of the system, including authentication, authorization, encryption and storage systems utilized.
Calcium Signals: STIM Dynamics Mediate Spatially Unique Oscillations

Receptor-induced Ca2+ oscillations provide ‘digitized’ signals that confer precise activation of downstream targets. New studies reveal that STIM proteins — sensors of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ levels — cyclically translocate during oscillations, transiently coupling to activate cell-surface Ca2+ entry channels, resulting in a spatially unique signal that selectively triggers immediate-early gene expression.
Luxol fast blue ARN: a new solvent azo dye with improved staining qualities for myelin and phospholipids.

Luxol fast blue ARN (Du Pont, C.I. solvent blue 37) is a diarylguanidine salt of a sulfonated azo dye. This dye was compared with other Luxol blue and Luxol black dyes. Luxol fast blue ARN has improved staining qualities for phospholipids and myelin, and can advantageously be substituted for Luxol fast blue MBS (MBSN). Appropriate staining times for a 0.1% dye solution in 95% ethanol (containing 0.02% acetic add) at 35°-40° C range from 2-3 hr. After staining, the sections should be rinsed in 95% ethanol, rinsed in distilled water, and differentiated for 2 sec in 0.005% Li2CO3, rinsed in 70% ethanol, washed in water, and counterstained as required. Phospholipids and myelin selectively stain deep blue. A fixative containing CaCl2, 1%; cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, 0.5%; and formaldehyde, 10%, in water gave excellent results with brain. However, 10% formalin can be used. The staining of the phospholipids is probably due to the formation of dye-phospholipid complexes.
Onset of Marangoni convection in a layer of fluid modulated by a weak nonplanar oscillatory shear

Abstract Onset of Marangoni convection in a horizontal layer of fluid possessing a deformable free surface and subjected to a nonplanar oscillation of shear due to motion of the lower plate is studied. Results show that the onset of the Pearson mode occurring at finite wavelengths is delayed by the nonplanar shear, but also that the long-wavelength mode, originally studied by Scriven and Sternling, is destabilized. The modulational effect peaks at a finite frequency and tends to zero in both small and large frequency limits. Physical mechanisms for both stabilization and destabilization are discussed.
Assessing the Validity of Multimedia Training Simulators

The increased availability of powerful multimedia computers has enabled many corporate security groups to adopt a variety of computerised training simulators. Unfortunately, these organisations may adopt or develop training simulators which have not been properly validated. Without proper training validation, significant organisational effort may be expended without realising any improvement in operational performance. This paper offers security managers and security training programme developers a set of guidelines to ensure that a potential training simulator is properly examined with respect to training validity before widespread corporate adoption. This approach is illustrated using data from the Bomb Threat Training Simulator project, for which the research and development were supported under award number 96-IJ-CX-0025 from the Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, US Department of Justice. Points of view in this paper are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of Justice.
Improved Methods for Reprogramming Human Dermal Fibroblasts Using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting

Current methods to derive induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from human dermal fibroblasts by viral infection rely on expensive and lengthy protocols. One major factor contributing to the time required to derive lines is the ability of researchers to identify fully reprogrammed unique candidate clones from a mixed cell population containing transformed or partially reprogrammed cells and fibroblasts at an early time point post infection. Failure to select high quality colonies early in the derivation process results in cell lines that require increased maintenance and unreliable experimental outcomes. Here, we describe an improved method for the derivation of iPSC lines using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate single cells expressing the cell surface marker signature CD13NEGSSEA4POSTra-1-60POS on day 7–10 after infection. This technique prospectively isolates fully reprogrammed iPSCs, and depletes both parental and “contaminating” partially reprogrammed fibroblasts, thereby substantially reducing the time and reagents required to generate iPSC lines without the use of defined small molecule cocktails. FACS derived iPSC lines express common markers of pluripotency, and possess spontaneous differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. To demonstrate the suitability of FACS for high-throughput iPSC generation, we derived 228 individual iPSC lines using either integrating (retroviral) or non- integrating (Sendai virus) reprogramming vectors and performed extensive characterization on a subset of those lines. The iPSC lines used in this study were derived from 76 unique samples from a variety of tissue sources, including fresh or frozen fibroblasts generated from biopsies harvested from healthy or disease patients.
Effects of rule structure and reward magnitude on the acquisition and adoption of self-reward criteria.

Summa~y.-This study investigated the effects of rule structure and reward magnimde on children's acquisition and adoption of a self-reward criterion that a training agent had either displayed or imposed. A 2 X 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design, with two levels of rule structure, two levels of reward magnitude, two modes of training, and sex differentiation was employed. As predicted, high rule structuring resulted in less rule deviation and more self-rewarding verbalizations than did low rule structuring. However, contrary to prediction, high-reward Ss did not differ significantly from low-reward Ss with respect to the amount of rule violation committed in the training agent's absence. An important aspect of socially acquired self-control is the manner in which children learn to self-admiaister various rewards and punishments that are available to them in the absence of external constraints. In life siruations persons must continually evaluate their own achievements and select criteria for the selfadministration of praise and various material gratifications. Despite the pervasiveness of self-reward as a. human process, relatively few experimental invescigations of its antecedents :lave been conducted (e.g., Bandura & Kupers, 1964; Bandura & Whalen, 1966; Kanfer & Marston, 1963a, 1963b; Marston, 1965). These investigations have demonstrated thac both direct training and observational learning may affect the adoption of self-reward criteria. Recent research within a social learning framenrork has also demonstrated the effects of discrepancies between observed and imposed criteria (Mischel & Liebert, 1966), the power of the training agent (Miszhel & Liebert, 1967), and nurtiuance by the training agenthpon the self-reward criteria adopted by children. The present study further investigated the acquisition and adoption of selfimposed reward criteria through the manipulation of social learning variables. Two aspects of training, the verbal strucnuing of rules for self-reward and the material value associated with the available rewards, were hypothesized to affect . the subsequent incidence of self-reward. The design also permitted an examination of the relative effectiveness of direct training and observarional learning. Recent research has suggested thac a critical antecedent of self-control is the 'This study was supported by a grant from the Vanderbilt University Research Council. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the administrative officials and teachers of the Nashville Metropolitan School System, without whose generous cooperation this study would not have been possible. The help of Martha C. Good, who served as E, is also acknowledged. %. Bandura, J. Grusec, & F. Menlove. Some social determinants of self-monitoring reinforcement systems. (Unpublished manuscript, Stanford Univer.)
Dorsal Raphe and Substantia Nigra Response to Flumazenil in Diazepam-Dependent Rats

Abstract Flumazenil (FLU; 25 μg) and DMSO–vehicle were focally injected (1 μl) into the substantia nigra (SN) and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) in rats chronically implanted with silastic capsules containing diazepam (DZ; 540 mg/week). FLU precipitated an abstinence syndrome in the SN as indicated by a significant abstinence score, several abstinence signs and reduced total power of the fast frequency bands of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in the injections sites frontal cortex, (FC) and hippocampus (H). In contrast, FLU did not produce an abstinence syndrome in the DR, and its effect on the power of the EEG in DR, FC and H was not significantly different from that of the DMSO–vehicle. The data show regional heterogeneity in the response of the SN and the DR to chronic DZ treatment in terms of a focally precipitated abstinence syndrome.
The first anionic four-connected boron imidazolate framework

Reported here is an organic-cation templated 4-connected anionic boron imidazolate framework [N(CH(3))(4)][Cd(SH)(2)B(im)(4)] (ABIF-1, im = imidazolyl), which is synthesized from the reaction of the supertetrahedral Cd(10)S(4)(SPh)(12) cluster with [N(CH(3))(4)]Cl and NaB(im)(4). The work represents an important step in the expansion of boron imidazolate frameworks from neutral BIFs to anionic ABIFs.
Non-collinear spin arrangements in NiZn ferrites studied by the Mössbauer effect

Abstract Samples of the nickel-zinc ferrite series NixZn1-xFe2O4 with x = 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 have been studied by the Mossbauer-effect technique at liquid helium temperature using longitudinal magnetic fields of 16kOe. The hyperfine fields at 57Fe nuclei in A and B sites have been determined. Canted spin structures associated with Fe3+ ions are observed for all samples. Spectra were fitted using a localized canting model. The ratio of intrasublattice to intersublattice exchange constants resulting in the best fit is JBB/JAB = 0.130±0.005.
LEED studies of adsorption on clean (100) copper surfaces

Abstract The interactions of nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen with atomically clean (100) copper surfaces have been studied by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) techniques. Cleaning methods included argon-ion bombardment, which produced (111) facets and decreased the work function to about 0.3 eV below that of the clean, annealed surface. The density of these facets was reduced by heat treatment. Retarding potential measurements indicated that the reflection coefficient of the clean, annealed surface attained a value of 0.70 in the very low energy region. Ion bombardment or contamination of the surface decreased the value of this parameter. Adsorption of N and N + on the clean surface produced a surface net described by Cu(100) c(2 × 2) — N, and Na + adsorbed to form an amorphous surface layer. Conversion of the molecular layer to the 2 × 2 structure did not occur. The ground state nitrogen molecule did not adsorb. A surface oxygen net, having oblique symmetry and providing a coverage of one-half monolayer, was formed by oxygen exposures of 1 × 10 −5 Torr-min at room temperature. Formation of this structure was accompanied by a slight increase in work function and a marked decrease in reflection coefficient. Oxygen exposures greater than 3 × 10 −5 Torr-min produced a three-dimensional structure providing a surface net described by Cu (100) 2 × 4–45° — 0. This structure formed preferentially at defect sites and had a work function about 0.4 eV lower than that of the clean surface. Oxygen exposures as high as 2 × 10 −1 Torr-min at room temperature caused the 2 × 4 structure to grow and did not produce the true oxide. Hydrogen did not adsorb.
Monotone control laws for noisy, countable-state Markov chains

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the effects of observation quality on the optimal control law structure for a countable state Markov system subject to certain restrictions on the cost and state dynamics descriptions. The optimization problem considered models a variety of control systems, including unreliable systems subject to noisy state observations and replacement and maintenance decisions. Conditions are presented which imply the existence of optimal control laws that are monotone for completely observed and completely unobserved versions of the general, noise corrupted problem. The importance of these results is two-fold. First, presently available sufficient conditions for the existence of monotone optimal control laws for the general case are particularly restrictive and difficult to verify. Second, the substantial computational advantages that result from considering only monotone control laws emphasize the potential usefulness of the completely observed and completely unobserved results in determining bounds on optimal expected cost and suboptimal designs for the general case.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Nucleic Acid Compounds and their Mixtures

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has been used to characterize nucleic acid compounds—such as free bases, mononucleotides, and dinucleotides—to study the viability of the technique to analyze mixtures of the various compounds and to see whether the SERS properties of the dinucleotides are sequence dependent. To these ends, silver colloids (sols) prepared by citrate reduction methods have been used as the enhancing surface. We have found that some components show stronger enhancement than others and that the more strongly enhanced species tend to dominate spectra of equimolar mixtures. In addition, the relative intensities of the spectra of mixtures are different from the spectra of the individual components added together. This is likely due to competition among the analyte molecules for enhancing surface sites and to the surface potential of the enhancing agent favoring certain components over others. Despite these occurrences, the spectral features of various compounds are additive, and the spectrum of one component can be subtracted from the spectrum of the mixture with the features of the others left intact. Also, the enhancement of the various components is pH dependent, and is different from an aqueous medium to an electrophoresis gel medium. SERS shows considerable promise as a tool for characterizing mixtures of nucleic acid compounds.
Perceptions of partners' problematic alcohol use affect relationship outcomes beyond partner self-reported drinking: alcohol use in committed romantic relationships.

Alcohol use is prevalent among college students, including those who are in committed romantic relationships. Individuals' perceptions of their partner's alcohol use may have significant effects on how they view both their partner and their relationship. The current study examines the effect of one's perception of one's romantic partner's drinking as problematic on one's relationship satisfaction and commitment, and whether this varies as a function of one's partner's drinking. Both partners in romantic heterosexual relationships (N = 78 dyads) completed an online survey assessing alcohol use and problems, relationship satisfaction and commitment, and the perception that their partner's drinking was problematic. Analyses using Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs) revealed a partner-moderated actor interaction, such that partner self-reported drinking significantly moderated the association between the actor's perception of their partner's drinking as problematic and actor relationship outcomes. Results indicated that when partners drank at higher levels, perceiving their drinking as problematic did not have an effect. These individuals were less satisfied regardless of their perceptions. However, when partners drank at lower levels, perceiving their drinking as problematic was negatively associated with relationship outcomes. Furthermore, for alcohol consumption, three-way interactions with gender emerged, indicating that this effect was stronger for males. Results extend the literature on drinking in relationships and on interpersonal perception. Implications and future directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Notes on the River Shrimp, Macrobrachium ohione (Smith) 1874, in the Galveston Bay System of Texas

Abstract The migration of Macrobrachium ohione during its spawning season was observed from 1969 to 1971 in the Galveston Bay area. Maximum activity was at night and during the new moon. Rainfall seemed to be associated with increased movement. Salinities near 15 ‰ appeared to act as a barrier to movement of this species into the Galveston Bay system.
Long-term outcome of primary glaucoma triple procedure with adjunctive 5-fluorouracil

· Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effect of adjunctive subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the filtration outcome of primary glaucoma triple procedure (PGTP) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. · Methods: Seventy-four POAG patients were randomly assigned to PGTP alone (36 patients) or PGTP with adjunctive subconjunctival 5-FU (5.0 ± 1.3 injections of 5 mg each, total of 24.8 mg) (38 patients). After surgery, the patients were examined at regular intervals for intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, medical therapy requirements, and complications. Surgical success was defined as IOP ≤20 mmHg on postoperative medication ≤1 without additional glaucoma surgery. · Results: Over an average follow-up (±SD) of 45.3 ± 25.0 months, both 5-FU and control groups maintained significant improvement of IOP control and visual acuity. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the 5-FU and control groups with respect to postoperative IOP, number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity outcome, and success rate overall or in selected patients with one or more of the risk factors for filtration failure. · Conclusions: The use of low-dose subconjunctival 5-FU (mean dosage of 24.8 mg in 5.0 ± 1.3 injections) as an adjunct did not significantly improve the long-term filtration outcome of PGTP in POAG patients.
From computer ethics to the ethics of global ICT society

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the place of computer/ICT ethics in the global ICT society driven by knowledge economy.Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on three main issues: the evolution of the name of the leading technology of our times and, accordingly, the evolution of the name of the society in which this technology plays the leading role; some ethical dilemmas that the global ICT society will need to solve; global ICT ethics and the knowledge economy.Findings – The paper suggests that global ICT ethics should be an ethics focusing on the dynamics of the relationship between the weak and the strong, the rich and the poor, the healthy and the sick worldwide – and it should explore the ethical problems from the point of view of both parties involved. That way, Global ICT Ethics can have a truly communicative character, and it can become an ethics that will be both a co‐creator and also a result of a democratic processes.Originality/value – This paper should interest any...
Amblyopia in the phakic eye after unilateral congenital cataract extraction

The treatment of unilateral congenital cataract remains a challenge because form deprivation early in life leads to amblyopia. Visual outcomes after congenital cataract extraction have improved dramatically with earlier surgery, greater attention to optical correction of the aphakia, and part-time occlusion therapy of the phakic eye. A published review of unilateral congenital cataract studies between 1988 and 2004 found that 88% of patients with primary intraocular lens implantation achieved 20/200 or better visual acuity and a mean of 20% achieved 20/40 or better visual acuity. 1 Improved outcomes are attributable, in part, to surgical intervention at an earlier age. It has been shown that surgical intervention during the first 6 weeks of age is associated with a better visual prognosis than surgery at a later age. 2 In this report, we describe a patient with unilateral congenital cataract treated with cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation at 8 weeks of age who had a better visual outcome in his operative eye than in his phakic eye.
Optical vortices in optically-induced photonic lattices

We study experimentally propagation of high-order vortices in linear and nonlinear optically-induced photonic lattices. We observe necklace-like solitons as well as vortex-induced nonlinear lattice deformation due to angular momentum carried by the vortex beam.
Elementary Teachers' Classroom Practices and Beliefs in Relation to US Science Education Reform: Reflections from within

This study unveils the stories of 3 public school elementary teachers from the USA who reflected on their beliefs about science education reform, and implementation of the reform in their classroom teaching, in response to state recommendations for change in science education. The teachers' stories show how various factors assisted or impeded the implementations of reform in their teaching, the various challenges related to their grade-level teaching, and the teachers' personal struggles to make sense of reform recommendations. Within each case study, we describe 4 common themes from the teachers' interviews. These themes are related to teachers' science teaching strategies, their science teaching efficacy beliefs about adopting reform, the types of science learning outcomes teachers target, and the types of teaching resources available to them. Implications for teacher education and practice are discussed in relationship with study findings.
Increased Infectivity of Anchorless Mouse Scrapie Prions in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Human Prion Protein

ABSTRACT Prion protein (PrP) is found in all mammals, mostly as a glycoprotein anchored to the plasma membrane by a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linkage. Following prion infection, host protease-sensitive prion protein (PrPsen or PrPC) is converted into an abnormal, disease-associated, protease-resistant form (PrPres). Biochemical characteristics, such as the PrP amino acid sequence, and posttranslational modifications, such as glycosylation and GPI anchoring, can affect the transmissibility of prions as well as the biochemical properties of the PrPres generated. Previous in vivo studies on the effects of GPI anchoring on prion infectivity have not examined cross-species transmission. In this study, we tested the effect of lack of GPI anchoring on a species barrier model using mice expressing human PrP. In this model, anchorless 22L prions derived from tg44 mice were more infectious than 22L prions derived from C57BL/10 mice when tested in tg66 transgenic mice, which expressed wild-type anchored human PrP at 8- to 16-fold above normal. Thus, the lack of the GPI anchor on the PrPres from tg44 mice appeared to reduce the effect of the mouse-human PrP species barrier. In contrast, neither source of prions induced disease in tgRM transgenic mice, which expressed human PrP at 2- to 4-fold above normal. IMPORTANCE Prion protein (PrP) is found in all mammals, usually attached to cells by an anchor molecule called GPI. Following prion infection, PrP is converted into a disease-associated form (PrPres). While most prion diseases are species specific, this finding is not consistent, and species barriers differ in strength. The amino acid sequence of PrP varies among species, and this variability affects prion species barriers. However, other PrP modifications, including glycosylation and GPI anchoring, may also influence cross-species infectivity. We studied the effect of PrP GPI anchoring using a mouse-to-human species barrier model. Experiments showed that prions produced by mice expressing only anchorless PrP were more infectious than prions produced in mice expressing anchored PrP. Thus, the lack of the GPI anchor on prions reduced the effect of the mouse-human species barrier. Our results suggest that prion diseases that produce higher levels of anchorless PrP may pose an increased risk for cross-species infection.
A semiautomated kinetic assay of phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase

Abstract A semiautomated kinetic assay of phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase was developed and provided high sensitivity without radiochemical techniques. Dithiothreitol was used as a reductant to simplify the reaction mixture. The deproteination (dialysis) and tyrosine determination were carried out by an automated procedure using standard AutoAnalyzer equipment. The enzymatic activity in pCPA-treated and control rats was measured, and other possible applications of the procedure are discussed.
Attrition from ophthalmology residency programs.

Purpose To investigate the incidence of and reasons for voluntary resident attrition from ophthalmology training programs. Design Retrospective survey. Methods A survey was mailed to residency program directors of the 121 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–accredited ophthalmology residency programs asking them to report the number of residents who withdrew from training during 2001 to 2002 and the reasons for withdrawal. Results Of 102 responding programs, 13 (12.7%) had one resident withdraw from training in the academic year 2001 to 2002. These 13 residents represented 1.1% of all ophthalmology residents in training at the responding institutions during that academic year. The most frequent reason for withdrawing was to enter another medical specialty. Conclusions Voluntary resident attrition from ophthalmology training programs is uncommon. The 1.1% attrition rate in this study is the lowest among published reports of attrition from other specialties.
An embedding theorem for Lasnev spaces

Abstract A Lasnev space is a space which is the image of a metric space under a closed, continuous function. We show that every Lasnev space can be densely embedded in a Lasnev space which has a dense, metrizable, complete, G δ subspace A . With this, we extend a theorem of K.R. Van Doren to say that for every Lasnev space X there is a Lasnev space Y each open set of which has subspace homeomorphic to X . By considering additional conditions on A , we find a necessary and sufficient conditional that an arbitrary space be a Lasnev space.
Allocation of resources away from sites of herbivory under simultaneous attack by aboveground and belowground herbivores in the common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Following herbivory, plants can preferentially allocate newly acquired resources away from attacked sites as an important mechanism conferring tolerance. Although reported previously for both aboveground and belowground herbivores, it remains unclear whether plants can simultaneously allocate resources away from both kinds of herbivore attack, and whether they have interactive effects on plant resource allocation. In the current study, we used dual-isotopic techniques to compare the allocation of newly acquired carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) by the common milkweed Asclepias syriaca following attack by an aboveground herbivore, the monarch caterpillar Danaus plexippus and a belowground herbivore, larvae of the red milkweed beetle Tetraopes tetraophthalmus. Both species induced significant changes in the allocation of C and N in A. syriaca. Specifically, A. syriaca increased allocation of new N to stems at the expense of allocation to damaged tissues (i.e., leaf or root). When under simultaneous attack, the allocation of resources to stems was greater than that induced by either herbivore alone, suggesting that (1) the herbivores have additive effects on allocation patterns by A. syriaca and (2) A. syriaca was able to mitigate the effects of future attack by both herbivore species simultaneously.
Business Games at the Undergraduate Level

Deals with the use of business games as an educational tool in the teaching of management. Factors to consider when selecting a game; Conduct of the game; Observations on the effect of the game; Comments of students regarding the game; Suggestions for improving the game.
Chloroplast DNA phylogeny and phylogeography of the North American plums (Prunus subgenus Prunus section Prunocerasus, Rosaceae)

The North American plums are a closely related group that are not easily circumscribed, have overlapping morphologies, and are known to hybridize. We previously showed that the North American plums are a closely related, monophyletic group of taxa with little to no cpDNA sequence divergence between taxa. In that study, we came to the unanticipated conclusion that relationships inferred among the taxa contrast sharply with previously defined groups based on morphological characters. Here the aim was to determine if the primary cpDNA haplotypes identified in our earlier study are confined to the taxa in which they were initially observed. The cpDNA rpL16 intron was sequenced for 207 accessions of the 17 North American plum taxa plus Prunus texana. The results show that many taxa contain more than one of the three primary cpDNA haplotypes. Aside from the results found in sect. Prunocerasus, this study has broader implications for phylogenetics in general. The common practice of choosing a single exemplar to represent a taxon can be profoundly misleading in closely related groups. In hindsight, the possibility existed in our earlier study that we could have chosen a different combination of exemplars, which could have resulted in a different inferred phylogeny.
On the gram-atomic volumes of metal-metalloid glass forming alloys

Abstract : A large number of alloy glasses are composed by combining late transition elements (A) with certain metalloids (B), such as Si, P, C, Ge, B, in ratios ranging roughly from A5B, to A3B. This range usually includes a composition, near A4B, at which the system exhibits an extraordinarily deep eutectic. The actual glass temperatures, Tg, vary only slowly with composition around this eutectic; thus, the reduced glass temperature, T sub rg = T sub l/T sub g, where T sub l is the liquidus temperature, will be at or near maximum at the eutectic. The existing thermal measurements indicate that substantial heat is evolved when the alloys form from the pure metallic liquid states of A and B and that considerable short range compositional order develops as the alloy melts are cooled to T sub g.
Lessons in mentoring.

Mentoring is an essential catalyst for a successful medical career in science or clinical practice. In recent years, tools have been developed to measure the impact of mentoring on career achievements, and numerous models have been developed to improve mentor training. Sid Gilman, M.D., F.R.C.P., Chair of Neurology for 26 years at the University of Michigan, is well-recognized as a role model for mentors in neurology across the country. We report the result of a survey of his former trainees on the valuable aspects of his mentoring style. A review of the current mentoring literature, including suggested training programs for mentors, is also provided.
Reconfigurable bandpass filter with variable bandwidth at 5.8 GHz using a capacitive gap variation technique

A reconfigurable bandpass filter that consists of capacitive coupled resonators has been designed with the capability to switch between two distinct bandwidths while keeping a fixed center frequency of 5.8 GHz. This filter can be adapted between a narrowband state with a 4% bandwidth and a wideband state with a 10% bandwidth. This filter achieves a passband reconfiguration ratio greater than 2:1 using only 2 resonators. The design presented here introduces a capacitive gap variation technique for tunable bandpass filters offering great adaptability and full control over parameters such as overall quality factor, center frequency, passband ripple, and bandwidth. Measurements are included demonstrating this technique and verifying the implementation of the filter.
Bifilar Helix GNSS Antenna for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Applications

A wideband Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) bifilar helix antenna for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications is presented here. The antenna is designed to fit inside the vertical stabilizer of the Dakota UAV. The antenna is fabricated using a novel direct write thermal spray technology. A feeding network insert is designed incorporating a hybrid providing a balanced 200- Ω output to the antenna.
Alternative mechanisms of telomere lengthening: Permissive mutations, DNA repair proteins and tumorigenic progression

Telomeres protect chromosome termini to maintain genomic stability and regulate cellular lifespan. Maintenance of telomere length is required for neoplastic cells after the acquisition of mutations that deregulate cell cycle control and increase cellular proliferation, and can occur through expression of the enzyme telomerase or in a telomerase-independent manner termed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The precise mechanisms that govern the activation of ALT or telomerase in tumor cells are unknown, although cellular origin may favor one or the other mechanisms. ALT pathways are incompletely understood to date; however, recent publications have increasingly broadened our understanding of how ALT is activated, how it proceeds, and how it influences tumor growth. Specific mutational events influence ALT activation, as mutations in genes that suppress recombination and/or alterations in the regulation of telomerase expression are associated with ALT. Once engaged, ALT uses DNA repair proteins to maintain telomeres in the absence of telomerase; experiments that manipulate the expression of specific proteins in cells using ALT are illuminating some of its mechanisms. Furthermore, ALT may influence tumor growth, as experimental and clinical data suggest that telomerase expression may favor tumor progression. This review summarizes recent findings in mammalian cells and models, as well as clinical data, that identify the genetic mutations permissive to ALT, the DNA repair proteins involved in ALT mechanisms and the importance of telomere maintenance mechanisms for tumor progression. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that permit tumor cell immortalization will be important for identifying novel therapeutic targets in cancer.
Accelerating fast multipole methods for the Helmholtz equation at low frequencies

The authors describe a diagonal form for translating far-field expansions to use in low frequency fast multipole methods. Their approach combines evanescent and propagating plane waves to reduce the computational cost of FMM implementation. More specifically, we present the analytic foundations for a new version of the fast multipole method for the scalar Helmholtz equation in the low frequency regime. The computational cost of existing FMM implementations, is dominated by the expense of translating far field partial wave expansions to local ones, requiring 189p/sup 4/ or 189p/sup 3/ operations per box, where harmonics up to order p/sup 2/ have been retained. By developing a new expansion in plane waves, we can diagonalize these translation operators. The new low frequency FMM (LF-FMM) requires 40p/sup 2/+6p/sup 2/ operations per box.