cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
QSPR for predicting chloroform formation in drinking water disinfection.

Chlorination is the most widely used technique for water disinfection, but may lead to the formation of chloroform (trichloromethane; TCM) and other by-products. This article reports the first quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) for predicting the formation of TCM in chlorinated drinking water. Model compounds (n = 117) drawn from 10 literature sources were divided into training data (n = 90, analysed by five-way leave-many-out internal cross-validation) and external validation data (n = 27). QSPR internal cross-validation had Q 2 = 0.94 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.09 moles TCM per mole compound, consistent with external validation Q2 of 0.94 and RMSE of 0.08 moles TCM per mole compound, and met criteria for high predictive power and robustness. In contrast, log TCM QSPR performed poorly and did not meet the criteria for predictive power. The QSPR predictions were consistent with experimental values for TCM formation from tannic acid and for model fulvic acid structures. The des...
Changes in self-perceived ability as a function of performance in an assessment centre

Changes in self-perceived ability as a function of performance in an assessment centre were evaluated. Centre participants (n = 1693) provided self-ratings on eight ability dimensions before and immediately after the assessment centre experience. Performance measures on five different exercises were provided by assessors. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated significant changes in perceived ability on five of the eight assessment centre dimensions. Further, the effect of specific centre exercises reflected changes in self-perceived ability (e.g. planning and organizing) which were consistent with the type of exercise (e.g. in-tray) under study. Suggestions for further research on self-assessments specifically in the context of assessment centre participation are provided.
Asymmetric information and contract design for payments for environmental services

Abstract In contractual relationships involving payments for environmental services, conservation buyers know less than landowners know about the costs of contractual compliance. Landowners in such circumstances use their private information as a source of market power to extract informational rents from conservation agents. Reducing informational rents is an important task for buyers of environmental services who wish to maximize the services obtained from their limited budgets. Reducing informational rents also mitigates concerns about the “additionality” of PES contracts because low-cost landowners are least likely to provide different levels of services in the absence of a contract. Paying low-cost landowners less thus makes resources available for contracts with higher opportunity cost landowners, who are more likely to provide substantially different levels of services in the absence of a contract. To reduce informational rents to landowners, conservation agents can take three approaches: (1) acquire information on observable landowner attributes that are correlated with compliance costs; (2) offer landowners a menu of screening contracts; and (3) allocate contracts through procurement auctions. Each approach differs in terms of its institutional, informational and technical complexity, as well as in its ability to reduce informational rents without distorting the level of environmental services provided. No single approach dominates in all environments. Current theory and empirical work provides practitioners with insights into the relative merits of each approach. However, more theoretical work and experimentation in the laboratory and the field are necessary before definitive conclusions about the superiority of one or more of these approaches can be drawn.
TH‐E‐ValA‐06: 4D DMLC IMRT Delivery to Targets Moving in Two Dimensions (in BEV)

Purpose: To deliver proper IMRT to moving tumors using DMLC necessitate proper leaf sequencing technique to take care of the dynamic nature of the target. A complete compensation of motion can be achieved only if the compensation is in both the directions (direction along (x) and perpendicular (y) to the leaves motion). A technique to accomplish this is proposed. Method: The motion of the target is divided into two components. Then leaf trajectories to deliver the desired intensity modulated profile is calculated for all leaf pairs (LP) assuming the target is moving in one direction (x direction). Then leaf trajectories of all the leaf pairs are synchronized. Now the motion is compensated in x direction. As the MLC leaf can move only in one direction, the motion compensation in y direction is accomplished by switching the leaf trajectories of each pair appropriately i.e. say if the target is moving upwards in y direction, after a threshold value (value before which motion in y direction is neglected) the leaf trajectory of LPs are switched upwards meaning the leaf trajectory of LP1 is now followed by LP2 and trajectory of LP2 by LP3 and so on. The switching is in the other direction if the target is moving downward. Small dosimetric errors may occur while switching depending upon the time it takes to do the switch and also the threshold value after which switching happens. Results: An example of 4D‐IMRT delivery to an irregular shaped rigid target moving in an elliptical pattern is shown. Other related delivery issues are addressed (dealing with target motion exceeding maximum leaf speed). Conclusions: This method of compensating the two dimensional tumormotion in BEV with one dimensional moving MLC while delivering IMRT meeting all mechanical practical and constraints is possible and promising for 4D‐IGIMRT.
Multiple Extracellular Loops Contribute to Substrate Binding and Transport by the Escherichia coli Cobalamin Transporter BtuB

The Escherichia coli outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters for iron complexes and cobalamins recognize their multiple and diverse substrates with high specificity and affinity. The X-ray crystallographic structures of several transporters show that the substrate-binding surfaces are comprised of residues from the internal globular domain and multiple extracellular loops. The extracellular loops on the N-terminal half of the transmembrane beta-barrel of the cobalamin transporter BtuB participate in binding of the cofactor calcium atoms and undergo substantial conformation changes upon substrate binding. The functional relevance of the five C-terminal loops was examined by examining the effects of short in-frame deletions. Each loop contributed in different ways to the binding of BtuB substrates. Deletions in loops 7, 8, 9, and 11 strongly decreased cobalamin binding and transport, whereas deletions in loops 8, 9, and 10 affected binding and entry of phage BF23. None of the loops were essential for the action of colicin E1 or E3, which is consistent with the crystallographic observation that the colicin E3 receptor-binding domain can contact almost all of the loops. A deletion in loop 9 or 11 eliminated the ability of cobalamin to inhibit the action of colicin E1. These phenotypes show that there are multiple independent binding elements and point out similarities and differences in binding properties among the TonB-dependent transporters.
Peer-assisted interventions: Early promises, notable achievements, and future aspirations

Abstract Peer-assisted interventions have become increasingly popular over the past several years. These procedures utilize peers to implement a variety of different instructional or behavior change interventions within educational settings. Four types of peer-assisted interventions reported within the educational and applied behavior analysis literature include peer managers, peer tutors, peer models, and group-oriented contingencies. This article examines the initial promises, notable achievements, and future aspirations of peer-assisted interventions. The initial promises were superior effectiveness and practicality. An examination of the literature (notable achievements) indicates some evidence for effectiveness, but little documentation of procedural practicality. The immediate goals (future aspirations) include the more thorough assessment of practicality and popularity of peer-assisted interventions.
Transfer across perfused human placenta. IV. Effect of protein binding on free fatty acids.

Extract: The effect of protein binding on the rate of placental transfer of hexanoic (C 6) and decanoic (C 10) acids was investigated in an in vitro perfusion system of human placenta. As much as 30% of transferred C 6 was converted to more polar compounds; so that the observations related to the combined effects on transfer and metabolism. Less than 10% of C 10 was similarly metabolized. Both fatty acids are soluble in buffered salt solutions at the concentrations used (40 μM) and both are bound to serum albumin, C-10 having higher association constants (K′ for C 6, 1.48 × 104; for C 10, 1.03 × 105). When the placenta is perfused with buffered salt solution, the transfer of C 6 is 22% more rapid than that of C 10. It is suggested that binding within the placenta retards C 10 more than C 6. The addition of 1 g/100 ml bovine serum albumin to the maternal perfusate reduces the transfer rate of C 10 by 80%, whereas 2 g/100 ml serum albumin has a more moderate effect on C 6 (a reduction of 50%). The addition of 1 g/100 ml serum albumin to the fetal perfusate increases transfer rate of both free fatty acids (FFA), C 6 by about 25% and C 10 by about 250%. With equivalent concentrations of serum albumin in maternal and fetal perfusates, the transfer rate of C 10 was reduced by 65%, whereas there was no detectable effect on transfer of C 6 in two of three experiments. The transfer rates of FFA increase logarithmically with progressive shortening of the carbon chain from C 16 to C 8 when maternal and fetal perfusates contain serum albumin. Protein binding is apparently the determining factor. The rate of transfer falls off at C 6 and C 4, even though protein-binding continues to decrease. The determining factor may be the hydrophilic nature of these molecules. Speculation: If the observations on FFA have general applicability, the overall effect of protein binding on placental transfer of a particular substance may relate to its water solubility and protein binding. If water solubility is not a limiting factor, protein binding may decrease transfer rate sharply, as occurs with decanoic acid (C 10). With substances that have very limited water solubility, protein binding may increase transfer by increasing the amount presented to the placenta. Palmitic acid (C 16) appears to be such a compound. The fraction bound to proteins in the perfusate, as measured by equilibrium dialysis, may not be the most significant factor determining rates of transfer. More significant may be the competitive aspects of binding in the perfusate and to the placenta in influencing rates of release and uptake.
Electronic structure and dielectric function of Mg2Si

Abstract The electronic band structure and the imaginary part of the frequency- dependent dielectric function, e2(ω), are calculated. There is good agreement between theory and experiment for the location in energy, the shape and the magnitude of the prominent structure in e2(ω).
Management implications of the relationships between water chemistry and fishes within channelized headwater streams in the midwestern United States.

Many headwater streams in the midwestern United States were channelized for agricultural drainage. Conservation practices are implemented to reduce nutrient, pesticide, and sediment loadings within these altered streams. The impact of these practices is not well understood because their ecological impacts have not been evaluated and the relationships between water chemistry and fishes are not well understood. We evaluated relationships between water chemistry and fish communities within channelized headwater streams of Cedar Creek, Indiana, and Upper Big Walnut Creek, Ohio. Measurements of water chemistry, hydrology, and fishes have been collected from 20 sites beginning in 2005. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the relationships between water chemistry and fish communities were weak, but significant (P < 0.05). Fish communities exhibited negative relationships with ammonium and nitrate plus nitrite and positive relationships with dissolved oxygen, pH, and metolachlor. The strongest observed relationships occurred within those regression models that included a combination of nutrients, herbicides, and physicochemical variables. Multiple regression analyses also indicated that five water chemistry variables exhibited significant relationships (P < 0·05) with hydrology. Our results suggest that if water chemistry is the focus of a conservation plan, then the most effective conservation practices may be those that have a combined influence on nutrients, herbicides, and physicochemical variables. Additionally, the use of a combination of conservation practices to address physical habitat and water chemistry degradation is most likely to provide the greatest benefits for fish communities within channelized headwater streams.
Behavioral Implications of Lowering Cholesterol Levels: A Double-Blind Pilot Study

The treatment of hypercholesterolemia may be associated with greater noncardiac mortality. This current pilot study sought to determine which behaviors, if any, are associated with decreases in cholesterol level. Twelve subjects received one of two cholesterol-reducing drugs or placebo. Cholesterol and behavioral ratings were measured at baseline, 4, and 52 weeks with standardized scales. Cholesterol levels markedly declined with concomitant significant increases in impulsivity ratings at 4 weeks. At 52 weeks, the increase in impulsivity ratings was no longer apparent, but depression ratings showed a significant improvement. This pilot study, although limited in size, raises the possibility that cholesterol-lowering drugs are associated with mild, time-limited increases in impulsivity and with mild, time-delayed improvements in depression ratings.
Automated Surveillance for Ventilator-Associated Events

Abstract BACKGROUND:The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has implemented a new, multitiered definition for ventilator-associated events (VAEs) to replace their former definition of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We hypothesized that the new definition could be implemented in an automated, efficient, and reliable manner using the electronic health record and that the new definition would identify different patients than those identified under the previous definition. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using an automated algorithm to analyze all patients admitted to the ICU at a single urban, tertiary-care hospital from 2008 to 2013. RESULTS:We identified 26,466 consecutive admissions to the ICU, 10,998 (42%) of whom were mechanically ventilated and 675 (3%) of whom were identified as having any VAE. Any VAE was associated with an adjusted increased risk of death (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.53-2.37;P CONCLUSIONS:A fully automated method of identifying VAEs is efficient and reliable within a single institution. Although VAEs are strongly associated with worse patient outcomes, additional research is required to evaluate whether and which interventions can successfully prevent VAEs.
High-peak-power pulsed fiber sources

We report on the effectiveness of bend-loss mode filtering for power scaling of large-core, rare-earth-doped fibers. The technique affords a diffraction-limited beam quality from multimode fibers, which is crucial for practical applications of fiber sources. We demonstrate the technique in a >300-kW-peak-power, <1-ns-pulse-duration Yb-doped fiber amplifier, which we used for multiple harmonic generation.
21-Telluraporphyrins. 2. Catalysts for bromination reactions with hydrogen peroxide and sodium bromide

meso-Tetraphenyl-21-telluraporphyrins 3 and 4 act as catalysts for bromination reactions with H2O2 and NaBr. Oxidation of telluraporphyrin 3 with excess H2O2 follows pseudo-first-order kinetics wit...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Seven cases of iliotibial band syndrome and the pathoanatomic findings of each, as demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging, are presented. These findings were compared with magnetic resonance imaging scans of 10 age- and sex-matched control knees without evidence of lateral knee pain. Magnetic resonance imaging signal consistent with fluid was seen deep to the iliotibial band in the region of the lateral femoral epicondyle in five of the seven cases. Additionally, when compared with the control group, patients with iliotibial band syndrome demonstrated a significantly thicker iliotibial band over the lateral femoral epicondyle (P < 0.05). Thickness of the iliotibial band in the disease group was 5.49 +/- 2.12 mm, as opposed to 2.52 +/- 1.56 mm in the control group. Cadaveric dissections were performed on 10 normal knees to further elucidate the exact nature of the area under the iliotibial band. A potential space, i.e., a bursa, was found between the iliotibial band and the knee capsule. This series suggests that magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates objective evidence of iliotibial band syndrome and can be helpful when a definitive diagnosis is essential. Furthermore, correlated with anatomic dissection, magnetic resonance imaging identifies this as a problem within a bursa beneath the iliotibial band and not a problem within the knee joint.
Seeing is believing: Applications for nanotechnology in medical imaging and drug discovery

In recent years, progress has been made on in both micro- and nano-sized materials. At the same time, the advances in biology, specifically in genomics, have provided us with a wealth of information that can now be put into research applications and hopefully clinical practice. In our research center in Niskayuna, NY, we have been working on advanced technologies and novel approaches in both areas. Here we show several examples of how we have addressed different topics in our research. In addition, we will show, how we are combining nanotechnology with advanced biology. In particular, we will show examples of using nanoparticles for different applications in vitro and in vivo. We will also show the context for both technology areas and the applications of strategic importance.
Fabrication and Properties of VOx-Based Nanorods

There is an explosive interest in rodlike vanadium oxide nanomaterials. This review discusses the current research activities on vanadium oxide nanorods in our group. We begin this paper with a variety of chemical and physical methods that have been used to synthesize vanadium oxide nanorods. There follows a discussion of techniques for adjusting vanadium oxide nanorods by doping, ordered constructing, Langmuir−Blodgett assembly, etc. At the end of this paper, we discuss a wide range of interesting properties, such as electrochemical, electrical, optical, magnetic, and field-emission properties, associated with vanadium oxide nanorods, as well as various intriguing applications. We conclude with personal remarks on the outlook for research on vanadium oxide nanorods.
Leiomyosarcoma of the cervix.

Abstract Background Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma arising from the uterine cervix is extremely rare, with only three cases reported in the world literature. We present the case report of a 14-cm epithelioid leiomyosarcoma arising from the uterine cervix. Case A 47-year-old female presented with a 1-year history of worsening menorrhagia and was found to have a large pelvic mass extending into and filling the upper vagina. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, revealing a 14 × 10 × 9 cm cervical epithelioid leiomyosarcoma. Conclusion Although exceedingly rare, leiomyosarcoma is able to arise primarily from the uterine cervix. Given its extreme rarity, management of cervical LMS must be extrapolated from the currently accepted management for uterine LMS.
Computational circuits using the neural optimization concept

A neural network structure able to perform the operations of analogue and binary addition is proposed. The network employs Hopfield's model of a neuron with the connection elements specified on the basis of an analysis of the energy function. Simulation using NMOS neurons has shown convergence predominantly to the correct global minima.
Measles: extinction or evolution?

Abstract The human body is the biological environment to which measles virus must adapt. In this paper the immunity conferred by vaccination is viewed as a selective force on the evolution of this virus. The possible consequences of this type of selection pressure include an increased R O , antigenic variation, and immune depression.
A Syk inhibitor for sick platelets

In this issue of Blood, Podolanczuk and colleagues report that oral dosing with a selective inhibitor for the Syk kinase achieves sustained increases in platelet counts in mice with antibody-induced thrombocytopenia and a subset of human patients with ITP refractory to other treatment.
Feedback Control of Set1 Protein Levels Is Important for Proper H3K4 Methylation Patterns

Methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 by the Set1 subunit of COMPASS correlates with active transcription. Here, we show that Set1 levels are regulated by protein degradation in response to multiple signals. Set1 levels are greatly reduced when COMPASS recruitment to genes, H3K4 methylation, or transcription is blocked. The degradation sequences map to N-terminal regions that overlap a previously identified autoinhibitory domain, as well as the catalytic domain. Truncation mutants of Set1 that cause under- or overexpression produce abnormal H3K4 methylation patterns on transcribed genes. Surprisingly, SAGA-dependent genes are more strongly affected than TFIID-dependent genes, reflecting differences in their chromatin dynamics. We propose that careful tuning of Set1 levels by regulated degradation is critical for the establishment and maintenance of proper H3K4 methylation patterns.
Measuring Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression in Adolescence: Reliability, Validity, and Gender Differences

Evaluated the psychometric properties of a newly created measure of cognitive vulnerability to depression for use with adolescents. Previous measures have shown poor internal consistency reliability and have not completely assessed all hypothesized components of cognitive vulnerability. High school students completed questionnaires assessing cognitive vulnerability to depression, negative life events, depressive symptoms, and general internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The Adolescent Cognitive Style Questionnaire (ACSQ) demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability and good test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis showed there were 3 latent factors to the ACSQ. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with another attributional style questionnaire, as well as with depressive and internalizing symptoms. The interaction of ACSQ with negative events significantly predicted concurrent depressive and internalizing symptoms but not externalizing problems. Last, cognitive vulnerability mediated the gender difference in depressive symptoms. Overall, results suggest that the ACSQ is a highly reliable and valid measure of cognitive vulnerability to depression in adolescence.
A Comparison of Nocturnal Drainage Flow in Three Tributaries

Abstract The characteristics of tributary drainage flow in stable, nocturnal conditions in three closely located tributaries are compared. The orientation of the tributaries with respect to Kimball Creek, into which they drain, appears to be a controlling factor in the tributary flow. In particular, oscillations in the drainage flow are found to be weakest and drainage mass per unit area greatest in the tributary most closely aligned with the main canyon.
A statistical approach to line segmentation in handwritten documents

A new technique to segment a handwritten document into distinct lines of text is presented. Line segmentation is the first and the most critical pre-processing step for a document recognition/analysis task. The proposed algorithm starts, by obtaining an initial set of candidate lines from the piece-wise projection profile of the document. The lines traverse around any obstructing handwritten connected component by associating it to the line above or below. A decision of associating such a component is made by (i) modeling the lines as bivariate Gaussian densities and evaluating the probability of the component under each Gaussian or (ii)the probability obtained from a distance metric. The proposed method is robust to handle skewed documents and those with lines running into each other. Experimental results show that on 720 documents (which includes English, Arabic and children's handwriting) containing a total of 11, 581 lines, 97.31% of the lines were segmented correctly. On an experiment over 200 handwritten images with 78, 902 connected components, 98.81% of them were associated to the correct lines.
Product recovery with some byte: an overview of management challenges and environmental consequences in reverse manufacturing for the computer industry

Abstract Estimates vary about the rate at which end-of-life computer products have been piling up, but the total population of spent computers is likely to reach into the hundreds of millions. To tackle this mounting solid and hazardous waste problem, policy and business entrepreneurs are promoting product recovery as an environmentally preferable alternative to disposal, and product recovery infrastructure and strategy has begun to develop in recent decades. However, despite some real and theoretical developments in the field, current literature lacks an overall description of the recovery process capable of capturing the essence of end-of-life management challenges for complex, rapidly obsolete, high-tech products like computers and electronics. The absence of this broad frame of reference presents a problem for managers trying to integrate environmentally sound choices into planning and management. Using case research from the computer and electronics industry, in this paper we present a generalized overview of product recovery. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: to describe the recovery of computers as a step-by-step process, and to frame an environmental research agenda for recovery management. With an eye toward generalizing the growing and diversifying practices in reverse manufacturing, we use our description from the computer and electronics industry to highlight broad challenges that managers confront at each stage of the process and to identify environmental dimensions of product recovery management decisions that require additional research.
Prostate Cancer Survivorship: Prevention and Treatment of the Adverse Effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy

BACKGROUND More than one-third of the estimated 2 million prostate cancer survivors in the United States receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). This population of mostly older men is medically vulnerable to a variety of treatment-associated adverse effects.
Interplay Between Distributional Estimates and Boundedness in Harmonic Analysis

In this paper, a proof is given that certain boundedness properties of operators yield distributional estimates that have exponential decay at infinity. Such distributional estimates imply local
Microdegradation Procedure for Radioactive Peptide Ergot Alkaloids

Abstract A degradation procedure for 14 C-labeled peptide ergot alkaloids is described; it allows the determination of the specific activities of all the products obtained in the hydrolysis of these alkaloids from a sample of not more than 10 μmoles.
Nanoemulsion delivery systems: influence of carrier oil on β-carotene bioaccessibility

Consumption of carotenoids may reduce the incidences of certain chronic diseases, but their use in foods is currently limited because of their poor water-solubility, low bioavailability and chemical instability. We examined the impact of carrier oil type on the bioaccessibility of β-carotene encapsulated within nanoemulsion-based delivery systems. Oil-in-water nanoemulsions (d orange oil. The bioaccessibility of β-carotene was negligible (≈0%) in orange oil nanoemulsions because no mixed micelles were formed to solubilise β-carotene, and was relatively low (≈2%) in MCT nanoemulsions because the mixed micelles formed were too small to solubilise β-carotene. In contrast, β-carotene bioaccessibility was relatively high (≈66%) in LCT nanoemulsions. Our results have important implications for the design of effective delivery systems for encapsulation of carotenoids and other lipophilic bioactive components.
Predictors of bark beetle activity and scale-dependent spatial heterogeneity change during the course of an outbreak in a subalpine forest

Climate conditions and forest structure interact to determine the extent and severity of bark beetle outbreaks, yet the relative importance of each may vary though the course of an outbreak. In 2008, we conducted field surveys and reconstructed forest conditions at multiple stages within a recent mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. At each stage in the outbreak, we examined changes in (1) lodgepole pine mortality and surviving stand structure, (2) the influence of topographic versus stand structure variables on mortality rates, and (3) stand complexity and landscape heterogeneity. Lodgepole pine mortality reduced basal area by 71 %, but only 47 % of stems were killed. Relative to pre-outbreak stands, surviving stands had lower mean dbh (11.0 vs. 17.4 cm), lower basal area (8.5 vs. 29.3 m2 ha−1), lower density (915 vs. 1,393 stems ha−1), and higher proportions of non-host species (23.1 vs. 10.6 % m2 ha−1). Factors predicting mortality rates changed through the course of the outbreak. Tree mortality during the early stage of the outbreak was associated with warm, dry sites and abundant large trees. During the middle and late stages, mortality was associated with stand structure alone. Stand complexity increased, as defined by stand-scale variability in density, basal area, and the proportion of susceptible trees. Landscape heterogeneity decreased according to semi-variograms of tree diameter and basal area. Increased stand complexity may inhibit future MPB population development, but decreased landscape heterogeneity may facilitate outbreak spread across the landscape if a future outbreak were to irrupt.
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT, TEACHING, AND LEARNING: TOWARD A CAMPUSWIDE LANGUAGE AND SYSTEM

On most community college campuses where quality and improvement are taken seriously, there are at least three coexisting languages. The language of total quality management is spoken by administrators and by faculty members who teach management or business courses; the language of assessment is spoken by both faculty members and administrators; and the language of teaching and learning is spoken primarily by faculty members and academic administrators. Each language reflects a philosophical commitment to improvement. Each overlaps in terminology with the other two. Each suffices well in its own domain. Yet each is, by itself, insufficient as a campuswide lingua franca of continuous improvement. These languages may continue to coexist. If a college is really to accomplish a paradigm shift throughout the institution, however, it must generate its own language—a language spoken by all, a language that describes and discusses a campuswide system of quality, improvement, and change.
Quantitative assessment of flow and electric fields for electrophoretic focusing at a converging channel entrance with interfacial electrode

The electric field and flow field gradients near an electrified converging channel are amenable to separating and focusing specific classes of electrokinetic material, but the detailed local electric field and flow dynamics in this region have not been thoroughly investigated. Finite elemental analysis was used to develop a model of a buffer reservoir connected to a smaller channel to simulate the electrophoretic and flow velocities (which correspond directly to the respective electric and flow fields) at a converging entrance. A detailed PTV (Particle Tracking Velocimetry) study using charged fluorescent microspheres was performed to assess the model validity both in the absence and presence of an applied electric field. The predicted flow velocity gradient from the model agreed with the PTV data when no electric field was present. Once the additional forces that act on the large particles required for tracing (dielectrophoresis) were included, the model accurately described the velocity of the charged particles in electric fields.
On the calorimeter problem for finite cylinders and rectangular prisms

Probleme du transfert de chaleur ou de matiere entre une particule solide et un volume fini de fluide. Methode de resolution de ce probleme, fournissant des solutions en developpement de fonctions propres plus concises que celles qui ont ete obtenues precedemment
The New Virtual (Inter)Face of African Pentecostalism

In the absence of research on religion and the Internet in Africa, this paper examines select African Pentecostal ministries that are developing websites as a major new interface for interacting with their membership, with potential converts, competing or partnering religious groups, and organs of the media and the state. It argues that this new media platform constitutes an important site for the constitution of Pentecostal leadership in the contemporary African and diasporic contexts.
Efficient signaling schemes for wideband space-time wireless channels using channel state information

An orthogonal decomposition of a general wideband space-time frequency selective channel is derived assuming antenna arrays at both the transmitter and receiver. Knowledge of channel state information is assumed at both the transmitter and receiver. The decomposition provides a framework for efficiently managing the degrees of freedom in the space-time channel to optimize any combination of bit-error rate and throughput in single-user or multiuser applications. The decomposition is used to derive efficient signaling schemes and receiver structures for a variety of scenarios. For a fixed throughput system, we investigate a power allocation scheme that minimizes the effective bit-error rate. In addition, a strategy to maximize the throughput under a worst-case bit-error rate constraint is proposed. For multiuser applications, we propose a signaling scheme that achieves orthogonality among users by exploiting the temporal channel modes which are common to all users. The effect of imperfect channel state information at the transmitter is also investigated.
Beyond a Test Score: Explaining Opportunity Gaps in Educational Practice

The author shares an opportunity gap explanatory framework to assist educational researchers and theorists in analyzing, explaining, and naming educational practice, especially in highly diverse an...
On Kolmogorov's superpositions and Boolean functions

The paper overviews results dealing with the approximation capabilities of neural networks, as well as bounds on the size of threshold gate circuits. Based on an explicit numerical (i.e., constructive) algorithm for Kolmogorov's superpositions we show that for obtaining minimum size neural networks for implementing any Boolean function, the activation function of the neurons is the identity function. Since classical AND-OR implementations, as well as threshold gate implementations which require exponential size (in the worst case), it follows that size-optimal solutions for implementing arbitrary Boolean functions require analog circuitry. Conclusions and several comments on the required precision are presented.
Dynamics analysis of an age distribution model of oscillating yeast cultures

The ability of an age-population balance model to capture experimentally observed oscillatory dynamics of continuous cultures of budding yeast was investigated through numerical simulations. Experiments with continuous yeast cultures have shown that several oscillatory modes can occur at the same operating condition, and that the mode attained depends on the start-up conditions. Numerical simulations of the model did reveal the existence of several stable periodic solutions. However, each occurred over a di3erent range of dilution rates. Experiments also have shown that the steady state in continuous yeast cultures is stable, even under conditions that allow oscillatory dynamics. The stability of the steady state of the age population balance model under conditions that allow oscillatory dynamics was not resolved. The Jacobian matrix at the steady state is highly ill conditioned, with some eigenvalues very close to the imaginary axis. Using di3erent integration routines to solve the model gave di3erent results with regard to the stability of the steady state, one solver 6nding the steady state to be stable, another 6nding the steady state to be unstable. ? 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ras activation of Erk restores impaired tonic BCR signaling and rescues immature B cell differentiation

B cell receptors (BCRs) generate tonic signals critical for B cell survival and early B cell development. To determine whether these signals also mediate the development of transitional and mature B cells, we examined B cell development using a mouse strain in which nonautoreactive immunoglobulin heavy and light chain–targeted B cells express low surface BCR levels. We found that reduced BCR expression translated into diminished tonic BCR signals that strongly impaired the development of transitional and mature B cells. Constitutive expression of Bcl-2 did not rescue the differentiation of BCR-low B cells, suggesting that this defect was not related to decreased cell survival. In contrast, activation of the Ras pathway rescued the differentiation of BCR-low immature B cells both in vitro and in vivo, whereas extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) inhibition impaired the differentiation of normal immature B cells. These results strongly suggest that tonic BCR signaling mediates the differentiation of immature into transitional and mature B cells via activation of Erk, likely through a pathway requiring Ras.
Aging, Progenitor Cell Exhaustion, and Atherosclerosis

Background— Atherosclerosis is largely attributed to chronic vascular injury, as occurs with excess cholesterol; however, the effect of concomitant vascular aging remains unexplained. We hypothesize that the effect of time in atherosclerosis progression is related to obsolescence of endogenous progenitor cells that normally repair and rejuvenate the arteries. Methods and Results— Here we show that chronic treatment with bone marrow–derived progenitor cells from young nonatherosclerotic ApoE−/− mice prevents atherosclerosis progression in ApoE−/− recipients despite persistent hypercholesterolemia. In contrast, treatment with bone marrow cells from older ApoE−/− mice with atherosclerosis is much less effective. Cells with vascular progenitor potential are decreased in the bone marrow of aging ApoE−/− mice, but cells injected from donor mice engraft on recipient arteries in areas at risk for atherosclerotic injury. Conclusions— Our data indicate that progressive progenitor cell deficits may contribute to the...
An analysis of the squeeze-film lubrication mechanism for articular cartilage.

An asymptotic analysis of a lubrication problem is presented for a model of articular cartilage and synovial fluid under the squeeze-film condition. This model is based upon the following constitutive assumptions: (1) articular cartilage is a linear porous-permeable biphasic material filled with a linearly viscous fluid (i.e. Newtonian fluid); (2) synovial fluid is also a linearly viscous fluid. The geometry of the problem is defined by assuming that (1) cartilage is a uniform layer of thickness H; (2) synovial fluid is a very thin layer compared to H; (3) the radius R of the load-supporting area (or the effective radius of curvature of joint surface, Ri) is large compared to H. Squeeze-film action is generated in the lubricant by a step loading function applied onto the two bearing surfaces. The model assumptions and the material properties yield two small parameters in the mathematical formulation. Based on these two small parameters, two coupled nonlinear partial differential equations were derived from an asymptotic analysis of the problem: one for the lubricant (analogous to the Reynolds equation) and one for the cartilage. For known properties of normal cartilage, our calculations show: (1) the cartilage layer deforms to enlarge the load-supporting area; (2) cartilage deformation acts to reduce the lateral fluid speed in the lubricant, thus prolonging the squeeze-film time which ranges from 1 to 10 s; (3) lubricant fluid in the gap is forced from the central high-pressure region into cartilage, and expelled from the tissue at the low-pressure periphery of the load-bearing region; and (4) tensile hoop stress exists at the cartilage surface despite the compressive squeeze-film loading condition. This hoop stress results directly from the radial flow of the interstitial fluid in the cartilage layer.
A cytological study of Chilomonas paramecium with particular reference to the so-called trichocysts.

SYNOPSIS. Chilomonas paramecium has been studied by light and electron microscopy with special attention to the so-called trichocysts. The electron miscroscope reveals that the anatomy of these bodies is unlike that of the classical trichocysts of ciliates. Since these structures can be extruded from the body of the organism they have been called ejectisomes. The ejectisomes have a regular geometrical shape and a complex internal structure. They consist of two unequal components which are enclosed by a thin membrane. Morphological polarity is established by an anterior smaller unit and a posterior larger unit. When the ejectisomes are found in the peripheral cytoplasm or in a perivestibular position the smaller unit is always oriented toward the surface. A suggestion is made that the ejectisomes are derived from the vesicular component of the Golgi complex. An interpretation is offered concerning a mechanism by which ejectisomes may be extruded from the body.
Persian Policy and the Yehud Community During Nehemiah

J. Weinberg’s political and social theory, Burger-Tempel-Gemeinde (‘citizen-temple community’), has been widely accepted as the social model for the community (or communities) of Yehud during the Persian period. Proceeding from this proposed social model many scholars have offered sociological theories for a political structure of Yehud. But it is possible that Weinberg’s theory is inadequate for the context, due in part to the general omission of the role of the Persian Empire and its political concerns, factors which most certainly demand attention. By means of a critical review of the model in reference to the book of Nehemiah, this paper explores and discusses Weinberg’s proposal of two economies which would later merge to become a theocratic state, and argues that such a proposal misappropriates the evidence. Such misappropriation is due in part to Weinberg’s heavy reliance upon the cult and its leaders for the political structure. This reliance must be addressed by setting the cultic leaders within ...
Evaluating the novelty of text-mined rules using lexical knowledge

In this paper, we present a new method of estimating the novelty of rules discovered by data-mining methods using WordNet, a lexical knowledge-base of English words. We assess the novelty of a rule by the average semantic distance in a knowledge hierarchy between the words in the antecedent and the consequent of the rule - the more the average distance, more is the novelty of the rule. The novelty of rules extracted by the DiscoTEX text-mining system on Amazon.com book descriptions were evaluated by both human subjects and by our algorithm. By computing correlation coefficients between pairs of human ratings and between human and automatic ratings, we found that the automatic scoring of rules based on our novelty measure correlates with human judgments about as well as human judgments correlate with one another. @Text mining
Duration of Lactation and Maternal Adipokines at 3 Years Postpartum

OBJECTIVE Lactation has been associated with reduced maternal risk of type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. We examined the relationship between breastfeeding duration and maternal adipokines at 3 years postpartum. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used linear regression to relate the duration of lactation to maternal leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, and peptide YY (PYY) at 3 years postpartum among 570 participants with 3-year postpartum blood samples (178 fasting), prospectively collected lactation history, and no intervening pregnancy in Project Viva, a cohort study of mothers and children. RESULTS A total of 88% of mothers had initiated breastfeeding, 26% had breastfed ≥12 months, and 42% had exclusively breastfed for ≥3 months. In multivariate analyses, we found that duration of total breastfeeding was directly related to PYY and ghrelin, and exclusive breastfeeding duration was directly related to ghrelin (predicted mean for never exclusively breastfeeding: 790.6 pg/mL vs. ≥6 months of exclusive breastfeeding: 1,008.1 pg/mL; P CONCLUSIONS In this prospective cohort study, we found a direct relationship between the duration of lactation and both ghrelin and PYY at 3 years postpartum.
Buddhism and Thai Art

The last few years have been exciting for the field of Thai art history because of new archaeological discoveries and publications that have shed new light on several periods and subjects. New art history books range from highly technical books written for specialists like Hiram Woodward to less technical books, written by specialists, but for general readers, such as Betty Gosling's book The Origins of Thai Art, guidebooks written by specialists for a wide audience that includes scholars and educated tourists such as Dawn Rooney's book, Ancient Sukhothai: Thailand's Cultural Heritage, and art exhibition catalogues written by specialists for museum goers and scholars such as Forrest McGill's catalogue, The Kingdom of Siam: The Art of Central Thailand, 1350–1800. New light has also been shed on the field of Buddhism in Thailand, scholars such as Peter Skilling, Steve Collions, Donald Swearer, Justin McDaniel, Leedom Lefferts, and Bonnie Brereton published new translations of texts, compiled dictionaries, and studied ritual practices in relations to texts and objects. At the same time, Buddhist scholars and anthropologists have incorporated Buddhist art and architecture in their studies of texts and rituals. This article will offer a critical overview of the relation between the study of art and Buddhism in Thailand.
Hospitalized adolescents' reports of sexual and physical abuse: a comparison of two self-report measures.

This study assesses the consistency of adolescents' reports of sexual and physical abuse via two self-report questionnaires with different measurement approaches and examines demographic and psychopathological characteristics that influence abuse reporting. Seventy adolescent inpatients completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (Likert-type items are summed to form dimensional scales, and cutoff scores determine abuse status), the Traumatic Events Questionnaire—Adolescents (multiple-choice items determine abuse status) and measures of depression, suicidal ideation, and dissociative symptoms. Consistent reports of physical and sexual abuse were given by 86% and 71% of youngsters, respectively. Discrepant reporters of sexual abuse were significantly more likely to be male, whereas consistent reporters were significantly more depressed and suicidal and reported higher levels of sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect. Adolescents, for the most part, were consistent in their responses about sexual and physical abuse on both a Liken scale and a direct-answer-format questionnaire. The CTQ had a lower threshold for detection of sexual abuse, particularly for boys.