cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The social ecology of police attitudes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use Klinger's theory of negotiated order to examine whether district crime and deviance levels exert influence on levels of police cynicism towards district residents. A secondary purpose is to discuss the policy implications for the proposed relationship between district crime and police cynicism.Design/methodology/approach – Interviews from the Project on Policing Neighborhood (POPN) and patrol district crime data were used to study whether crime and deviance levels exert influence on police cynicism of district residents (n=574). It was hypothesized that officers would be more cynical of citizens in districts with higher rates of violent crime compared with their colleagues assigned to districts with lower rates of violent crime.Findings – The results of OLS regression analyses indicate that district violent crime rate was related to police cynicism and in the direction hypothesized, controlling for both individual and occupational covariates. Officers with mor...
Surface induced resonant Raman scattering (SIRRS)

Abstract We use a classical theory to propose a possible explanation for the cause of the enhancement of the intensity of Raman scattering by adsorbed molecules. We arrive at the conclusion that this effect may be due to a surface induced resonant Raman scattering. The dependence of the scattering intensity on the frequency of the incident light and the reasons for the different “enhancing efficiency” of various metals is analyzed.
The kinetic compensation effect

The criticisms raised by J. Zsako concerning an earlier paper by this author [J. Thermal Anal. 9 (1975) 101] are in turn examined. The lack of physical significance ofn, E, andZ for thermal decompositions is recognized by both authors. The disagreement lies in the value of using these parameters when the complete rate equation is not known.
Born to Work: Child Labour In India

This disturbing work is based on first-hand field investigations carried out in the brassware, gem polishing, lock making, and glass factories. Utilizing data collected under adverse and even hostile conditions, in defiance of Mafia-like organizations that shield industries exploiting child labor from the gaze of the outside world, the author describes the working conditions of these children. A large number of children, some only five years old, work through the night under great health and safety hazards. Workplace trauma is widespread, stunting the growth of these children both physically and mentally. The author contends that these appalling practices are rampant in India, and that state policies aimed at protecting children are poorly conceived and badly enforced. Illustrated with photographs, this thoroughly-documented study provides hard evidence of widespread abuse and exploitation.
Improving the Reproductive Efficiency of Dairy Cattle through Genetic Selection

Abstract Achieving pregnancy in high-producing dairy cows in a timely and cost-effective manner is one of today's greatest management challenges. Fertility is highly influenced by management and environmental factors, but significant genetic differences exist in both male (service sire) and female (daughter) fertility. The first challenge in improving fertility through genetic selection is data collection, because an inverse relationship exists between quantity and quality. Rough measures, such as calving interval, are available for all multiparous milk-recorded cows. Insemination data (and, hence, nonreturn rates) are available for perhaps half of the population, while pregnancy examination data are available for roughly a quarter of the population. Detailed data regarding technician, type of breeding (standing or synchronized), and so on are available from selected herds, but milk progesterone data are limited to experimental studies. Statistical modeling is also a challenge, because linear models are inappropriate for binary traits, and data for continuous traits are badly skewed and frequently censored. Threshold models can be used for binary data, but survival (failure time) models may more effectively fit the complex nature of fertility traits and the genetic and environmental factors that influence them. This paper describes 2 potential approaches to genetic analysis of fertility traits based on detailed reproductive data and advanced statistical methodology. The first is a large-scale threshold model analysis that uses data regarding veterinarian-confirmed conception rates, while the second is an in-depth analysis of the management and genetic factors that influence fertility in a failure time model that properly accounts for censoring among cows that were culled or failed to conceive. The former approach can be used for large-scale analyses of service sire fertility, while the latter can be used for evaluation of reproductive management, as well as genetic improvement of daughter fertility.
Sea level higher than present 3500 years ago on the northern main Hawaiian Islands

New data from an emerged coastal bench and associated fossil beach on Kapapa Island (Oahu), Hawaii, preserve a detailed history of middle to late Holocene sea level. These include 29 new calibrated radiocarbon ages and elevations indicating mean sea level reached a maximum position of 2.00 ± 0.35 m ca. 3500 yr B.P. These results correlate with additional evidence from Hawaii and other Pacific islands and provide constraints on Oahu's long-term uplift rate (0.03–0.07 mm/yr), previously based solely on Pleistocene age shorelines. Our sea-level reconstruction is consistent with geophysical model predictions of Earth's geoid response to the last deglaciation and with observations of increased Antarctic ice volume during the late Holocene.
Integrating Age and Comorbidity to Assess Screening Mammography Utilization

Background Most studies use age as a cutoff to evaluate screening mammography utilization, generally examining screening up to age 75 years (the age-cutoff method). However, many experts and guidelines encourage clinicians to consider patient health and/or life expectancy. Purpose To compare the accuracy of estimating screening mammography utilization in older women using the age-cutoff method versus using a method based on the projected life expectancy. Methods Two cohorts were selected from female Medicare beneficiaries aged 67–90 years living in Texas in 2001 and 2006. The 2001 cohort (n=716,279) was used to generate life-expectancy estimates by age and comorbidity, which were then applied to the 2006 cohort (n=697,825). Screening mammography utilization during 2006–2007 was measured for the 2006 cohort. Data were collected in 2000–2007 and analyzed in 2011. Results The screening rate was 52.7% in women aged 67–74 years based on age alone, compared to 53.5% in women in the same age group with a life expectancy of ≥7 years. A large proportion (63.4%) of women aged 75–90 years (n=370,583) had a life expectancy of ≥7 years. Those women had a screening rate of 42.7%. The screening rate was 35.7% in women aged 75–90 years based on age alone, compared to 16.3% in women in the same age group with a life expectancy of Conclusions Estimating screening mammography utilization among older women can be improved by using projected life expectancy rather than the age-cutoff method.
Importance of enolase in Giardia lamblia differentiation

The ability of Giardia to differentiate into cysts which survive in the environment and release the virulent trophozoites after ingestion in the small intestine is essential for transmission and disease. We examined the role of enolase, a glycolytic enzyme, in Giardia differentiation. The sequence of Giardia lamblia enolase (gEno) is most similar to enolases in Homo sapiens and Leishmania mexicana, and shows the conserved catalytic and metal-binding residues. We used an integration vector to stably express wild type and mutant gEno. In trophozoites, wild type gEno localized to the cell membrane, caudal flagella and cytosol. gEno is present on the wall of mature cysts, but not in encystation secretory vesicles (ESV). The expression of gEno with a deletion of residues G167-K169, or mutations H389Q/R390S significantly inhibited excystation while mutation of residue D257K had no effect. These results suggest a role for enolase in regulation of Giardia excystation.
Reply by Authors to A. Goldburg

Goldburg has apparently misunderstood the significance of the local minimum critical Reynolds number (Re_f, d)min, er. When the effective turbulent diffusivity e_T is smaller than the kinematic viscosity, v_i, the work done by the Reynolds stresses is more than counterbalanced by the rate of viscous dissipation. Thus, turbulence in the wake cannot exist when (e_T/u_fd) < (v_f/u_jd), or when Re_f, d < (Re_f, d)min, er, any more than turbulent flow in a pipe can exist below a critical Reynolds number of 2000. If one chooses to call this “quenching,” that is a problem in semantics and not in fluid mechanics.
Effects of vasoactive mediators on the rat lung pericyte: quantitative analysis of contraction on collagen lattice matrices.

Pericytes are contractile cells of the microvasculature which may contribute to the hypotension and increase in permeability that are present during inflammation and late-stage sepsis. The purpose of this study was to examine the contractile effects, if any, of septic modulators on the lung pericyte. Contractile effects were qualitatively examined using a previously developed silicone rubber method. This study further demonstrates a quantitative method for measuring the contraction of lung pericytes cultured on a collagen lattice. Contraction was measured by the change in collagen matrix area in response to vasoactive stimuli. Bradykinin and serotonin significantly increased contraction in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximum increase in contraction twice that of control. Forskolin and adenosine caused relaxation, also in a significant dose-dependent manner, with a maximum decrease in contraction of 80 and 30-40%, respectively. Histamine had no effect on contractility in either the silicone rubber or the collagen lattice assay. These results show that the lung pericyte, like the retinal pericyte, is a contractile cell and can be stimulated to contract or relax in vitro by the presence of certain inotropic agents present during inflammation and sepsis. These responses may play a role in microvascular regulation.
Phonological Awareness and Speech Comprehensibility: An Exploratory Study

This study examined whether differences in phonological awareness were related to differences in speech comprehensibility. Seventeen adults who learned English as a foreign language (EFL) in academic settings completed 14 tests of phonological awareness that measured their explicit knowledge of English phonological structures, and three tests of phonological short term memory. The same participants also read aloud a passage and narrated picture stories. These tasks were used by 12 native speakers of English to rate the EFL speakers' comprehensibility on a 9-point scale. There was a strong positive correlation between composite phonological awareness scores and rated comprehensibility and between composite phonological awareness scores and phonological short term memory. The correlation between rated comprehensibility and phonological short term memory was not significant. A simple linear regression analysis showed that approximately 19% of the variance in rated comprehensibility scores was accounted for b...
Arabidopsis Transcriptome Changes in Response to Phloem-Feeding Silverleaf Whitefly Nymphs. Similarities and Distinctions in Responses to Aphids

Phloem-feeding pests cause extensive crop damage throughout the world, yet little is understood about how plants perceive and defend themselves from these threats. The silverleaf whitefly (SLWF; Bemisia tabaci type B) is a good model for studying phloem-feeding insect-plant interactions, as SLWF nymphs cause little wounding and have a long, continuous interaction with the plant. Using the Affymetrix ATH1 GeneChip to monitor the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transcriptome, 700 transcripts were found to be up-regulated and 556 down-regulated by SLWF nymphs. Closer examination of the regulation of secondary metabolite (glucosinolate) and defense pathway genes after SLWF-instar feeding shows that responses were qualitatively and quantitatively different from chewing insects and aphids. In addition to the RNA profile distinctions, analysis of SLWF performance on wild-type and phytoalexin-deficient4 (pad4) mutants suggests aphid and SLWF interactions with Arabidopsis were distinct. While pad4-1 mutants were more susceptible to aphids, SLWF development on pad4-1 and wild-type plants was similar. Furthermore, although jasmonic acid genes were repressed and salicylic acid-regulated genes were induced after SLWF feeding, cytological staining of SLWF-infested tissue showed that pathogen defenses, such as localized cell death and hydrogen peroxide accumulation, were not observed. Like aphid and fungal pathogens, callose synthase gene RNAs accumulated and callose deposition was observed in SLWF-infested tissue. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of phloem-feeding insect-plant interactions and distinguish SLWF global responses.
Challenges for food sovereignty policy making: the case of Nicaragua’s Law 693

Food sovereignty policy initiatives face significant challenges in their quest to be approved. This article examines the case of Nicaragua’s Law 693, the Law of Food and Nutritional Sovereignty and Security, which was passed in 2009. Drawing on empirical research, the article details the initial stages of the policy-making process – from the origins and development of the proposal for a food sovereignty law to its introduction and initial deliberation by the National Assembly to the breakdown in the approval process because of conflict over the law’s content. Using theoretical insights from the food sovereignty and food security policy literature, Law 693 is examined, noting key limitations food sovereignty faced during the policy-making process. The study finds that the strength and force of national food sovereignty discourses, the ability of food sovereignty advocates to convince others of the legitimacy and viability of the food sovereignty approach, and the willingness of the state to create the nece...
Paper 3: Turbo-Charged Diesel Engines in Production

This paper describes some of the practical problems encountered and the resolutions applied during the design and development of a turbo-charged derivative of a production engine. Some further problems are described which were met when the prototype designs were manufactured in the production area. A very brief summary of the reasons for turbo-charging, and the performance results, are also included. The base engine was a 6-litre direct injection dry-linered diesel engine with a rated speed of 2800 rev/min in its naturally aspirated form, used for commercial vehicle propulsion plus industrial and marine purposes.
Management of Lymphoceles after Renal Transplant: Case Report of a Novel Percutaneous Image-guided Treatment Technique

A 65-year-old African American man with end-stage renal disease underwent renal transplantation and developed a perigraft lymphocele with an associated progressive increase in serum creatinine 6 weeks after surgery, which failed to resolve with percutaneous drainage and surgical therapy. Fluoroscopic and ultrasound-guided percutaneous transperitoneal balloon fenestration with a 22-mm, 2-cm-long balloon catheter resulted in resolution of the lymphocele as shown by ultrasound at 3 and 5 months.
Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape

A celebration of a strange elemental landscape - of the animals and people who live there; of its history and future; of the dreams it inspires. Above all it is about the relationship between human imagination and the landscape. The author also wrote "Of Wolves and Men".
Effect of flow configuration on the operation of coupled combustor/reformer microdevices for hydrogen production

Abstract The effect of flow configuration, namely co- vs. counter-current flow, on the operation of multifunctional microdevices for hydrogen production is analyzed using two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. Stoichiometric propane/air gaseous combustion and ammonia reforming on Ru occur in alternate parallel channels (600 and 300 μ m wide, respectively) separated by a thermally conducting wall ( 300 μ m thick). It is shown that complete conversion of ammonia can be achieved at millisecond residence times in both flow configurations. The power generated, based on 100% utilization of the hydrogen produced, is in the range of 8–60 W per cm height of the device depending on flow rates. A proper balance of the flow rates of the combustion and reforming streams is, however, crucial in achieving this. For either configuration, the maximum power generated is determined by extinction at large reforming stream flow rates. Materials stability, resulting from high temperatures generated at low reforming stream flow rates, determines the lower power limit for a given flow rate of combustible mixture. The two flow configurations are contrasted based on multiple performance criteria, such as device temperature, power exchanged, conversions, and net hydrogen production by constructing operation maps. They are found to be practically equivalent for highly conductive materials. Using properly balanced flow rates, the co-current configuration expands the operation window to medium as well as low thermal conductivity materials as compared to the counter-current configuration that shows a slightly superior performance but in a rather narrow regime of high ammonia flow rates and high thermal conductivity materials.
Lipolytic activity of isolated fat cells from intact and hypophysectomized cockerels, Gallus domesticus

Abstract 1. 1. The lipolytic activity of isolated fat cells of domestic cockerel adipose tissue is markedly decreased by hypophysectomy. 2. 2. Hypophysectomy in the rooster causes a 40 per cent decrease in adipose tissue adenyl cyclase but does not affect phosphodiesterase activity. 3. 3. Fat cells prepared from adipose tissue of hypophysectomized roosters maintain their sensitivity to glucagon. The maximal lipolytic rate is, however, lower than that observed for control fat cells.
The Use of Enhanced Guided Notes in an Electric Circuit Class: An Exploratory Study

This study was conducted to evaluate students' (n=70) learning performance after their participation in lectures using enhanced guided notes (EGN) in an electric circuits course for non-electrical engineering students. Unlike traditional guided notes, EGN include questions that prompt students to evaluate their metacognitive knowledge. The results of the study demonstrate a significant increase in student learning performance with the application of EGN, as measured by an AC/DC Circuit Concept Inventory. Students reacted positively to the use of the EGN in a survey given to assess their learning experience.
Ex-vivo treatment of donor bone marrow with anti-T-cell immunotoxins for prevention of graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract Two patients undergoing marrow transplantation for acute lymphocytic leukaemia in third remission received from histocompatible siblings marrow pretreated with a mixture of three anti-T-cell immunotoxins, consisting of murine monoclonal antibodies covalently linked to ricin. This marrow processing effectively- eliminated functional T-cell responses while preserving the marrow precursors necessary for sustained haematoimmunopoietic engraftment. No post-transplant immunoprophylaxis was administered. Both patients showed prompt peripheral engraftment and were discharged from hospital within a month of transplantation. No toxic effects or graft-versus-host disease were apparent after the administration of immunotoxin-treated marrow. Ex-vivo immunotoxin pretreatment appears a safe and simple procedure which deserves further clinical testing as a sole method of graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.
The cortical column: a structure without a function

This year, the field of neuroscience celebrates the 50th anniversary of Mountcastle's discovery of the cortical column. In this review, we summarize half a century of research and come to the disappointing realization that the column may have no function. Originally, it was described as a discrete structure, spanning the layers of the somatosensory cortex, which contains cells responsive to only a single modality, such as deep joint receptors or cutaneous receptors. Subsequently, examples of columns have been uncovered in numerous cortical areas, expanding the original concept to embrace a variety of different structures and principles. A ‘column’ now refers to cells in any vertical cluster that share the same tuning for any given receptive field attribute. In striate cortex, for example, cells with the same eye preference are grouped into ocular dominance columns. Unaccountably, ocular dominance columns are present in some species, but not others. In principle, it should be possible to determine their function by searching for species differences in visual performance that correlate with their presence or absence. Unfortunately, this approach has been to no avail; no visual faculty has emerged that appears to require ocular dominance columns. Moreover, recent evidence has shown that the expression of ocular dominance columns can be highly variable among members of the same species, or even in different portions of the visual cortex in the same individual. These observations deal a fatal blow to the idea that ocular dominance columns serve a purpose. More broadly, the term ‘column’ also denotes the periodic termination of anatomical projections within or between cortical areas. In many instances, periodic projections have a consistent relationship with some architectural feature, such as the cytochrome oxidase patches in V1 or the stripes in V2. These tissue compartments appear to divide cells with different receptive field properties into distinct processing streams. However, it is unclear what advantage, if any, is conveyed by this form of columnar segregation. Although the column is an attractive concept, it has failed as a unifying principle for understanding cortical function. Unravelling the organization of the cerebral cortex will require a painstaking description of the circuits, projections and response properties peculiar to cells in each of its various areas.
The social ecology of adolescent-initiated parent abuse: A review of the literature

This article provides an ecological framework for understanding adolescent-initiated parent abuse. We review research on adolescent-initiated parent abuse, identifying sociodemographic characteristics of perpetrators and victims (e.g., gender, age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status [SES]). Bronfenbrenner’s [1] ecological systems theory is applied, which examines the risk and protective factors for adolescent-initiated parent abuse within micro- (maltreatment, domestic violence, parenting behavior and disciplinary strategies), meso- (peer influence), exo- (media influence), macro- (gender role socialization), and chronosystem (change in family structure) levels. Findings from our review suggest that older and White children are significantly more likely to abuse their parents. Females are selective in the target of their aggression, while males target family members in general. Mothers are significantly more likely to be abused than fathers. However, researchers also report variations in the association between SES and parent abuse. Domestic violence and child maltreatment are risk factors, while findings on parenting behavior and disciplinary strategies are mixed. Peer influence, exposure to media violence, gender role socialization, and change in family structure can potentially increase the risk of parent abuse. Practice and research implications are also discussed. An ecological systems framework allows for an examination of how various contexts interact and influence parent abuse behavior, and can provide needed directions for further research.
The stubbornness of science, the arrogance of art

This paper discusses some limitations inherent in the two indispensable tools we use in the practice of psychotherapy, our theoretical understanding of the human personality, and our spontaneous empathic responses to our patients: the science and the art of therapeutic practice. it also considers some extremely important though not at all revolutionary ways in which we can minimize the effect of these limitations that are inherent in our tools.
A social-psychological perspective on developmental disabilities.

Although social psychologists have long been interested in the topics of prejudice and stigmatization, their orientation has typically been much more toward process than impact. Thus, disabled and/or stigmatized persons have often been the targets of research but seldom the subjects. The current paper summarizes research of the last decade concerning the effects of disabilities and their associated stigmas on the social environment of disabled children and adolescents. In this case, however, the focus is on stigmatization from the perspective of disabled persons themselves: How do they perceive their stigma, and how does it affect their perceptions of and interactions with others who are also disabled? Research has indicated that nondisabled persons' reactions to people with disabilities are characterized by ambivalence. It is suggested here that disabled persons themselves also have negative (as well as positive) attitudes toward their own stigma and others who share it. For some disabled persons, such a...
Molecular determinants for binding of methylenedioxytryptamines at 5-HT/LSD receptors

In investigations of the molecular determinants for the recognition of drugs by a serotonin (5-HT) receptor in the brain, the commonality in the reactivity patterns of 5-HT congeners has been identified. On this basis a mechanistic hypothesis is proposed to explain the rank order of the affinity of drugs that bind to the receptor shared by 5-HT and LSD (the 5-HT/LSD receptor). This hypothesis describes the relation between affinity and the intramolecular rearrangement needed to make a 5-HT congener recognizable at the 5-HT/LSD receptor. The rearrangement of the congener aligns the electrostatic orientation vector of its indole portion in the direction defined by the vector in 5-HT. To further probe this mechanistic hypothesis the molecular determinants for the action of a new series of tryptamine derivatives was studied in which a methylenedioxy substituent is placed at the 5.6 or the 4,5 positions. The reactivity characteristics of these molecules are presented. The-oretical predictions for their activity on the 5-HT/LSD receptor are discussed. These predictions are based on the comparison of the electrostatic potentials of these molecules with the requirements for 5-HT-like recognition by the 5-HT/LSD receptor, and on simulations of molecular interactions with a molecular probe (imidazolium cztion) which represents a matching receptor site. The electrostatic nature of the complexes that these molecules form with imidazolium cation is revealed by the decomposition of the stabilization energy. It is shown that the affinity of these new compounds for 5-HT/LSD receptors can be predicted and explained on the basis of the working hypothesis obtained previously. Preliminary experimental data on the binding of 5,6- and 4.5-methylenedioxy derivatives of typtamine to the 5-HT/LSD receptors in brain confirm these findings.
Room temperature ionic-liquid electrochemical gas sensor array system for real-time mine safety monitoring

This paper presents a real-time, electrochemical gas sensor array system featuring room temperature ionic-liquid interfaces and targeting safety monitoring in underground mines. A prototype system was constructed using a custom ionic-liquid sensor array, a custom multi-mode electrochemical sensor readout board, and a commercial low power microcontroller board. Gas sensors for multiple mine gases were implemented in a 2 by 2 miniaturized array. A novel resource-sharing circuit tailored to our gas sensor array was utilized to significantly decrease power, cost and size while implementing two electrochemical detection modes. The system achieves a resolution as high as 0.01% vol in amperometry mode and 0.06% vol in impedance spectroscopy mode for oxygen as an example target gas.
Partial focusing of radiation by a slab of indefinite media

Negative refraction can occur at the interface between vacuum and an indefinite medium—an anisotropic medium for which not all elements of the permittivity and permeability tensors have the same sign. We show experimentally and via simulations that a metamaterial composed of split ring resonators, designed to provide a permeability equal to −1 along the longitudinal axis, will redirect s-polarized electromagnetic waves from a nearby source to a partial focus. The dispersion characteristics of indefinite media prohibit the possibility of true aplanatic points for a planar slab; however, by contouring the surfaces aplanatic points may be realized, as well as other geometrical optical behavior.
Ultrastructure of developing melanosomes in c57 black and pallid mice.

Abstract The pigment mutant pallid in the mouse was studied because its effect on inner ear development (absence of otoliths) can be phenocopied by manganese deficiency during gestation, suggesting a relationship between the gene pallid , pigmentation, and manganese metabolism. Ultrastructure was examined to compare pigment granule formation in wild-type ( C57Bl ) and pallid mice at various ages in three tissues: the retinal epithelium, the inner ear epithelium, and the epidermis. Results of studies of melanosomes in the retina and skin of C57Bl mice concur with earlier reports concerning the structure of wild-type melanosomes. Pigment granule formation in the inner ear of C57Bl mice was identical to that in the retina, suggesting that these melanocytes had a common cellular origin. The protein substructure of pallid epidermal and retinal premelanosomes was similar to that of the wild type. Epidermal melanosomes were smaller than those of black mice and melanin deposition was scanty; dense melanosomes were never formed. In maturing pallid retinas, premelanosomes were unmelaninized and scarce. Melanosomes, with or without melanin, were not observed in the retinal epithelium of adult pallid animals. No immature or mature pigment granules were found in the inner ear epithelium of pallid mice. This alteration in pallid melanin formation may reduce the intracellular manganese concentration, thus resembling a dietary manganese deficiency.
Airflow, gas deposition, and lesion distribution in the nasal passages.

The nasal passages of laboratory animals and man are complex, and lesions induced in the delicate nasal lining by inhaled air pollutants vary considerably in location and nature. The distribution o...
Interaction Between Two Domains in the AChR Gating Reaction

The AChR is a large ion channel that isomerizes between non-conducting and conducting conformations. Residue αA96 is located in loop 5 (loop A) near the agonist-binding site, which moves at the outset of the channel-opening process (the Φ value for the adjacent residue αD97 is 0.93). Side chain substitutions at nearby (<0.45 nm, 2QC1.pdb) residue αY127 (β-strand 6) change the gating equilibrium constant (Keq) by up to 290,000-fold (Φ=0.77). This suggests that αY127 moves in concert with the lower part of the extracellular domain, after the motion of loop 5. αD97 and αY127 are not coupled energetically. We tested the hypothesis that αA96 and αY127 energetically link the first two Φ-blocks, to propagate the opening conformational wave from the upper to the lower part of the extracellular domain. We mutated residue αA96 (C, F, K, L, N, Q) and measured single-channel gating kinetics (mouse α2βδe, cell-attached, -100 mV, 20 mM choline, PBS, 23°C). The Φ-value for αA96 is 0.90, indicating that it moves at the onset of channel gating along with other residues in loop 5. αA96N showed the largest change in Keq (∼900-fold) and markedly increased unliganded gating. Next, we performed mutant cycle analysis to test for energetic coupling between αA96 and αY127. Keq for the double mutant αA96K+αY127E is 18-fold greater than the wt, where the effects of the single mutants, if additive, predict one that is 9.2-fold smaller. This corresponds to a coupling free energy of -3.1 kcal/mol. Similarly, Keq for the double mutant αA96C+αY127C is 213-fold greater than the wt, whereas a value 1.7-fold smaller is predicted assuming independence (coupling free energy of -3.6 kcal/mol). These are large interaction energies that suggest αA96 and αY127 form a key energetic link between the first and second Φ-blocks.
A large outbreak of Trichophyton tonsurans among health care workers in a pediatric hospital

Background Although Trichophyton tonsurans remains a major cause of dermataophytoses in US children, nosocomial spread may go unrecognized in health care settings. We describe a staff outbreak of T tonsurans infection among health care workers in a freestanding pediatric hospital. Methods Epidemiologic evaluation (retrospective and prospective) was performed in the health care providers and ancillary staff assigned to a 27-bed inpatient medical unit in which the suspected outbreak occurred. Results Twenty-one individuals, including staff, a hospital volunteer, and a patient, developed tinea corporis during a 5-month period. All infections coincided with multiple admissions of a 2-year-old suspected index patient who demonstrated persistent infections of the scalp and arm. Fungal isolates obtained from the index patient and affected staff (when available) were subjected to multilocus strain typing, which revealed an identical genetic match between the index case and infected hospital personnel. Conclusion T tonsurans can spread widely among staff members caring for children with recalcitrant dermatophyte infections. Recognition that workplace transmission may be the etiology of a succession of infections occurring in a single inpatient unit is necessary to limit the number of infected individuals.
A note on periodic Ricker maps

In this note, we study the k-periodic Ricker equation for and establish the following Assume p n ∊ (0, 2). Then the Ricker equation (1.1) has a globally asymptotically stable k-periodic solution ....
Large-eddy simulation and wall modelling of turbulent channel flow

We report large-eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent channel flow. This LES neither resolves nor partially resolves the near-wall region. Instead, we develop a special near-wall subgrid-scale (SGS) model based on wall-parallel filtering and wall-normal averaging of the streamwise momentum equation, with an assumption of local inner scaling used to reduce the unsteady term. This gives an ordinary differential equation (ODE) for the wall shear stress at every wall location that is coupled with the LES. An extended form of the stretched-vortex SGS model, which incorporates the production of near-wall Reynolds shear stress due to the winding of streamwise momentum by near-wall attached SGS vortices, then provides a log relation for the streamwise velocity at the top boundary of the near-wall averaged domain. This allows calculation of an instantaneous slip velocity that is then used as a ‘virtual-wall’ boundary condition for the LES. A Karman-like constant is calculated dynamically as part of the LES. With this closure we perform LES of turbulent channel flow for Reynolds numbers Re_τ based on the friction velocity u_τ and the channel half-width δ in the range 2 × 10^3 to 2 × 10^7. Results, including SGS-extended longitudinal spectra, compare favourably with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of Hoyas & Jimenez (2006) at Re_τ = 2003 and maintain an O(1) grid dependence on Re_τ.
A nonlinear control scheme for extremum power seeking in wind Turbine Energy Conversion Systems

A novel nonlinear control scheme for maximum power seeking in wind turbine energy systems is presented in this paper. In the proposed control scheme, the wind turbine power coefficient is estimated using a Lyapunov-based adaptive control technique. The power coefficient estimation procedure differs from previous estimation strategies. The estimated power coefficient is used to determine a desired turbine rotor speed which is based on an estimate of the power coefficient gradient with respect to rotor speed. The desired rotor speed moves the turbine operation in the direction of increasing power coefficient and a PI controller causes the turbine rotor speed to track the desired rotor speed. The presented extremum seeking procedure differs markedly from the well-known perturb and observe scheme and does not require the addition of a dither signal. The NREL FAST numerical results are presented to demonstrate the validity and robustness of the developed control scheme.
Supporting Social Interactions and Awareness in Educational Programming Environments

Empirical evaluations of programming environments have traditionally focused on human performance measures such as task efficiency, error rates, and learnability. In addition to these effectiveness measures, we believe there is good reason to consider the ability of programming environments to promote social interactions and awareness during programming tasks. Indeed, especially in educational contexts, programming success and persistence in the computing discipline have been positively correlated with programmers' sense of community and ability to communicate with others. We introduce social programming environments as a new breed of educational programming environment designed to promote social interaction and awareness, and we propose a way to evaluate such environments relative to social learning theory.
The no-observed-adverse-effect-level in drug safety evaluations: Use, issues, and definition(s)

The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) is an important part of the non-clinical risk assessment. It is a professional opinion based on the design of the study, indication of the drug, expected pharmacology, and spectrum of off-target effects. There is no consistent standard definition of NOAEL. This is based, in part, on the varied definitions of what constitutes an adverse effect. Toxicologists, either investigating or reviewing, have not been consistent in defining an effect as either adverse or acceptable. The common definition of NOAEL, "the highest experimental point that is without adverse effect," serves us well in general discussions. It does not, however, address the interpretation of risk based on toxicologically relevant effects, nor does it consider the progression of effect with respect to duration and/or dose. This paper will discuss the issues and application of a functional definition of the NOAEL in toxicology evaluations.
Chronic exposure to Ro20-1724 protects dopaminergic neurons in vitro against the neurotoxic action of N-methyl-D-aspartate and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium.

Abstract Using organotypic cultures of rat ventral mesencephalon, the effects of chronic (12–15 day) exposure to the type IV cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro20-1724, were examined. At concentrations of 10−8–10−5 M, Ro20-1724 alone had no effect upon the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons or upon neurite outgrowth. However, the drug offered significant protection, with maximum effect at 10−6 M, against subsequent acute (48 h) exposure to the neurotoxic agents 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA).
Homeostatic responses to alterations of blood volume in puppies. I. Hemorrhage

of the plasma volume with lowering of the hematocrit. The red cell deficit is replaced later, since stimulation of new red cell production begins well after the whole blood volume has been restored by increase in plasma volume. These responses can be measured in the adult. and an understanding of them provides a rational basis for the diagnosis and treatment of blood loss. In order to assess the magnitude of blood loss and replacement reqlliremchnts in the infant, it has been necessary to rely on uncontrolled clinical observations alone or to extrapolate from experimental data obtained in adult subiects. It is obviously not safe to assume that physiologic responses in the infant and in the adult differ only in magnitlldti or that they are qualitatively unaffected by the processes of maturation. .4s with manv phvsiologic mechanisms which concern the young surgical patient. 110 csp&im&tal c~valuntions of the response to hr,morrhage in the yomng ha1.c been reported in the literature. This report concerns such an evaluation in puppies, The pl~ppy has been srleckd as the experimental animal becauscb abundant hemorrhage data have already been obtained in this and other laboratories “.a in cAzperimc,nts \\-ith the adult dog and are available for comparison . and bc~ause controlled experimental data are not readily obtainable in the hllman infant. T’xperiments in the dog and in man have shoL1.n thcb expansion of the plasma to occur continuously o\‘er a 36 to 18 hour period.:‘,” Diffcrencr~s iri rate, and magnitude of the process in man and in the dog hn\~a heen reported,
Mobile User Interfaces based on User Attention

Many of the challenges associated with creating a successful user interface are amplified on mobile devices. This is due to the limited screen space available. We are currently developing and testing new algorithms to present information in a more intuitive manner on mobile devices, particularly in Augmented Realty applications. We are developing solutions to integrate information about where the user is looking when deciding what information to present. This minimizes the amount of "visual clutter" that results from presenting all available information. While we focus on new interfaces to facilitate ease of interaction with mobile augmented reality applications, the ideas behind the work could also be applied in other domains. We conducted an initial experiment to identify candidate methods for information placement based on eye tracking on a desktop LCD. We then conducted a follow-up experiment to compare the most suitable candidate method against a naive approach on a tablet device (iPad). We found that one particular method worked well in terms of speed and accuracy in a simple information retrieval approach. The naive method also worked well, however with the new method based on eye tracking, the level of visual clutter is dramatically decreased.
Refractive index effects on radiative behavior of a heated absorbing-emitting layer

Temperature distributions and other heat transfer characteristics are analyzed for a heated plane layer of semitransparent material with refractive index >1. The analysis includes heat conduction, emission, and absorption within the layer. The layer has diffuse interfaces; examples are a frosted quartz window used to diffuse incident radiation in high temperature surroundings, or a ceramic layer with small scattering used in hightemperature applications. Each side of the layer is heated by radiation and convection, and interface reflections are included. When the index of refraction is larger than unity, there are total internal reflections of some of the energy within the layer. This has a substantial effect on distributing energy across the layer, and considerably alters the temperature distribution from when the refractive index is unity. Results are given for a gray layer and for a two-band spectral variation of the absorption coefficient. Radiant energy leaving the surface was examined to determine when it could be used to measure surface temperature accurately.
Biologic Origin of Iron Nodules in a Marine Terrace Chronosequence, Santa Cruz, California

The distribution, chemistry, and morphology of Fe nodules were studied in a marine terrace soil chronosequence northwest of Santa Cruz, California. The Fe nodules are found at depths < 1 m on all terraces. The nodules consisted of soil mineral grains cemented by Fe oxides. The nodules varied in size from 0.5 to 25 mm in diameter. Nodules did not occur in the underlying regolith. The Fe-oxide mineralogy of the nodules was typically goethite; however, a subset of nodules consisted of maghemite. There was a slight transformation to hematite with time. The abundance of soil Fe nodules increased with terrace age on the five terraces studied (aged 65,000-226,000 yr). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed Fe-oxide-containing fungal hyphae throughout the nodules, including organic structures incorporating fine-grained Fe oxides. The fine-grained nature of the Fe oxides was substantiated by Mossbauer spectroscopy. Our microscopic observations led to the hypothesis that the nodules in the Santa Cruz terrace soils are precipitated by fungi, perhaps as a strategy to sequester primary mineral grains for nutrient extraction. The fungal structures are fixed by the seasonal wetting and dry cycles and rounded through bioturbation. The organic structures are compacted by the degradation of fungal C with time.
Coronene and liumogen as VUV sensitive coatings for Si CCD imagers: a comparison.

Phosphor coatings have long been employed in the detection of UV radiation. With the interest in the use of silicon charge coupled device (CCD) imagers as the detector for the space telescope and other space-borne astronomical missions, a UV sensitive phosphor is desired the emission spectrum of which usefully matches the spectral response of the CCD. Such a phosphor would provide an unparalleled opportunity to image in the UV, the visible, and near IR wavelengths with the same detector. A recent study has suggested that coronene and sodium salicylate (which emit at 500 and 420 nm, respectively) are the most promising candidate phosphors. The potential of a third organic phosphor, liumogen, is the subject of this Letter.
Turbulent boundary layer on a rotating disk calculated with an effective viscosity

Skewed turbulent boundary layer and incompressible laminar flow on rotating disk, considering effective viscosity relations and applications domain
The Epistemology of Non-Instrumental Value

Might there be knowledge of non-instrumental values? Arguments are give for two principal claims. One is that if there is such knowledge, it typically will have features that do not entirely match those of other kinds of knowledge. It will have a closer relation to the kind of person one is or becomes, and in the way it combines features of knowing-how with knowing-that. There also are problems of indeterminacy of non-instrumental value which are not commonly found in other things that we can know about. The second claim is that there is a strong prima-facie case for holding that there is such knowledge, and that the usual arguments against this are all faulty.
Vaccination with yeast-expressed cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) virus-like particles protects rabbits from CRPV-induced papilloma formation

Papillomaviruses infect epithelia of the skin and mucous membranes and cause benign or malignant tumours in animals and in humans. The viruses are highly species-specific, and cell culture systems for propagating human papillomaviruses (HPVs) do not exist. However, there are several animal papillomavirus models. In the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) system, we demonstrated that recombinant CRPV virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the capsid proteins L1 or L1+L2 can be produced in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Three immunizations with L1 VLPs formulated on aluminum adjuvant at 1–100 μg dose−1 efficiently protected rabbits from challenge with CRPV. Sera of immunized rabbits were shown to contain high-titered serum antibodies to CRPV L1 VLPs and to neutralize CRPV in vitro. Our results suggest that recombinant yeast-derived VLPs could be the basis for a candidate HPV vaccine.