cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing collaborative drawing tools and whiteboards: an analysis of the group process

Collaborative drawing tools, which are designed to allow multiple users to share an electronic drawing space, have recently become the focus of many researchers' efforts. While advances have been made in the technological implementation of these tools, little is known about the effect these tools have on group processes. This paper discusses a study that was conducted to compare groups using conventional (whiteboard) technology to those using collaborative drawing tools. The results of these two experiments provide evidence that these tools alter the way in, which groups work. For some types of tasks, the amount of interaction among group members using a collaborative drawing tool tends to be less than among groups using conventional technology. Groups using collaborative drawing tools tended to take significantly longer than whiteboard groups. Possible reasons for these results are further explored in this paper.
Discussion: A Naturalistic Study of a Teaching Method.

A naturalistic study was conducted to provide detailed answers to such questions as: how to prepare for a discussion, how to begin a discussion, how to react to student responses while maintaining the flow of ideas, how to keep on track to cover what is necessary, and how to end a discussion. The researchers base their findings on their observations and interpretations combined with the meanings ascribed to events by the participating instructor and students. The article includes a generalized description of a discussion approach called “controlled dialogue” as well as specific illustrations of each facet of the method. The authors raise questions about the utility of this type of research and its findings and draw implications regarding the possible applications of the research method and findings. Teaching improvement programs and research on teaching methods may benefit.
ION-BEAM-INDUCED AMORPHIZATION OF LAPO4 AND SCPO4

Abstract LaPO4 and ScPO4 were irradiated by a 1.5 MeV Kr+ ion beam using the HVEM-tandem Facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The ion-beam-induced amorphization was investigated over a temperature range of 20 to 570 K and the degree of amorphization was determined in-situ by monitoring the gradual loss of electron diffraction maxima. Subsequent high-resolution TEM analysis revealed the development of an amorphous phase. LaPO4 and ScPO4 were found to have activation energies for irradiation-enhanced annealing of 0.02 and 0.11 eV, attributed to diffusion-driven epitaxial recrystallization. The critical temperatures of amorphization were found to be 365 and 540 K, respectively. Both materials recrystallized under electron irradiation. These results suggest that the phosphates are generally less sensitive to ion-beam irradiation over a wide temperature range than are their silicate structure analogues and that the zircon structure-type has a higher energy barrier to recrystallization than the related monazite structure-type.
New measurements of coil-related magnetic field errors on DIII–D

Abstract Non-axisymmetric (error) fields in tokamaks lead to a number of instabilities including so-called locked modes [J.T. Scoville, R.J. La Haye, Nucl. Fusion 43 (4) (2003) 250–257] and resistive wall modes (RWM) [A.M. Garofab, R.J. La Haye, J.T. Scoville, Nucl. Fusion 42 (11) (2002) 1335–1339] and subsequent loss of confinement. They can also cause errors in magnetic measurements made by point probes near the plasma edge, error in measurements made by magnetic field sensitive diagnostics, and they violate the assumption of axisymmetry in the analysis of data. Most notably, the sources of these error fields include shifts and tilts in the coil positions from ideal, coil leads, and nearby ferromagnetic materials excited by the coils. New measurements have been made of the n=1 coil-related field errors in the DIII–D plasma chamber. These measurements indicate that the errors due to the plasma shaping coil system are smaller than previously reported and no additional sources of anomalous fields were identified. Thus they fail to support the suggestion of an additional significant error field suggested by locked mode and RWM experiments.
Making Sense Of Medical Technology

ABSTRACT: In seeking to explain contradictory reports that increased medical spending is both valuable and wasteful, Jonathan Skinner and colleagues rightly emphasize differences in regional practi...
A survey of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) awareness among neurosurgeons in Washington State.

Abstract Objectives: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the U.S. population increased significantly in the past 2 decades. To maximize a patient's recovery from a neurosurgical procedure, it is critical that neurosurgeons be aware of the benefits and potential adverse complications of CAM therapies. The survey's purpose was to assess the current patterns of CAM utilization by neurosurgery patients and neurosurgeon knowledge of CAM therapies among Washington State Association of Neurological Surgeons (WSANS) members. Methods: Members of the WSANS were surveyed in 2005. The survey was sent via e-mail and the data were anonymously collected using an online survey tool, Catalyst WebQ. Results: The majority of responses (79%) stated that their neurosurgery practice was ≥75% adults. Acupuncture, herbs, massage therapy, prayer, and yoga were the most common CAM treatments patients used or discussed with their neurosurgeon. Fifty percent (50%) of neurosurgeons discussed the use of acupuncture ...
Optimization of steerable sensor network for threat detection

A Markov chain approach to detecting a threat in a given surveillance zone by a network of steerable sensors is presented. The network has a finite number of predetermined states, and transition from one state to another follows a Markov chain. Under the assumption that the threat avoids detection, two game theoretic problems for finding an optimal Markov chain (two surveillance strategies) are formulated: the first maximizes the probability of threat detection for two consecutive detection periods, whereas the second minimizes the average time of detection for the worst-case threat's trajectory. Both problems are reduced to linear programming, and special techniques are suggested to solve them. For a dynamic environment with moving noise sources, the optimal Markov chain changes at each detection period, and the rate of convergence of the Markov chain to its stationary distribution is analyzed. Both surveillance strategies are tested in numerical experiments and compared one with another. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011
Investigation of solid electrolyte interfacial layer development during continuous cycling using ac impedance spectra and micro-structural analysis

Abstract The formation of passivating surface films on the electrodes of a lithium-ion polymer battery was investigated at various cycling state using ac impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A sealed commercial cell (Sony Co.) with a nominal capacity of 840 mAh was used for the experiment. An equivalent circuit used to model the impedance spectra show that, with continuous cycling there is a relatively large increase in the interfacial impedance and charge transfer resistances after a few hundred charge–discharge cycles. It was observed that the cell capacity decrease with increase cell impedance. SEM analysis on the electrodes shows that during continuous charge–discharge cycling, the deposition of sub-micro-size particles and dissolution of surface films on the graphite surface. This observation is consistent with increase in cell impedance as a function of charge/discharge cycling.
Measurement of Narrative Discourse Ability in Children With Language Disorders

Narratives from three studies differing in subject pools, elicitation procedures, and story content were analyzed using seven variables hypothesized to measure a variety of language abilities used in narrative production. Two questions were addressed: (a) To what extent did multiple variables represent common factors? and (b) To what extent did these variables distinguish children with language disorder from their nondisordered peers? Results indicated that: (a) The seven variables represented two factors; Factor I measured global organization of content (i.e., episode structure), and Factor II measured within- and across-sentence structure (i.e., grammatical sentence structure, within subordinate clause productivity, and textual cohesion), and (b) regardless of study, only the variables representing Factor II were selected as the most effective in predicting group membership.
Comparison of two approaches to observation therapy for acute otitis media in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE. This study compared parental adherence to delayed antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media with and without a written prescription in a pediatric emergency department. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Children aged 2 to 12 years who met criteria for delayed antibiotic treatment were randomly assigned to observation therapy with or without a prescription. Patients randomly assigned to observation therapy without prescription were instructed to seek follow-up care if symptoms persisted for 2 to 3 days. Patients assigned to observation therapy with a prescription were discharged with an antibiotic prescription, and instructed to fill it if their child9s symptoms persisted 2 to 3 days. A research assistant who was blinded to group assignment called parents 7 to 10 days after the visit to assess adherence to observation therapy. RESULTS. Of 117 children assigned to the observation therapy group, 100 completed follow-up; of 115 assigned to the observation therapy with a prescription group, 106 completed follow-up. In the observation therapy group, 87 parents reported no antibiotic use within the 3-day observation period compared with 66 parents in the prescription group. During the entire study period, 81% of the observation therapy group reported no use of antibiotics compared with 53% in the prescription group. These groups did not differ in satisfaction with the visit; 91% and 95% were very or extremely satisfied, respectively. No complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS. Observation therapy with and without a prescription were both well accepted by parents of children diagnosed with acute otitis media in an urban pediatric emergency department. Adherence to delayed antibiotic therapy was better for those not offered a prescription. These data suggest that, in the pediatric emergency department setting, observation therapy reduces antibiotic use without compromising satisfaction with the visit.
Prospect of space-based interferometry at EUV and soft X-ray wavelengths

We review the current capabilities of high-resolution, spectroscopic, space-borne instrumentation available for both solar and stellar observations in the EUV and soft X-ray wavelength regimes, and describe the basic design of a compact, all-reflection interferometer based on the spatial heterodyne technique; this is capable of producing a resolving power (lambda/Delta-lambda) of about 20,000 in the 100-200 A region using presently available multilayer optical components. Such an instrument can be readily constructed with existing technology. Due to its small size and lack of moving parts, it is ideally suited to spaceborne applications. Based on best estimates of the efficiency of this instrument at soft X-ray wavelengths, we review the possible use of this high-resolution interferometer in obtaining high-resolution full-disk spectroscopy of the sun. We also discuss its possible use for observations of diffuse sources such as the EUV interstellar background radiation.
PS1-3: Perceptions of Cancer Screening Messages in the Media: How Do Patients Make Sense of Conflicting Messages in the Popular Media Around Cancer Screening?

Background/Aims Americans are continually exposed to a message in the popular media that more healthcare services leads to better health. With respect to cancer screening, evidence-based guidelines on breast and prostate cancer screening run counter to a similar prevailing message in the popular media, which often encourages patients to “do their part” and screen for the disease. While considerable resources have been invested in the development of evidence-based decision aids (DAs) – patient education tools providing unbiased information about potential options and outcomes of a medical decision – patients may find these tools counter-intuitive because the evidence presented is often in direct contradiction to popular media depictions. Through focus groups and stimulus materials, this study investigated the influence and impact popular media has on medical decision-making for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer screening.
Cantor sets of circles of Sierpinski curve Julia sets

Our goal in this paper is to give an example of a one-parameter family of rational maps for which, in the parameter plane, there is a Cantor set of simple closed curves consisting of parameters for which the corresponding Julia set is a Sierpinski curve. Hence, the Julia sets for each of these parameters are homeomorphic. However, each of the maps in this set is dynamically distinct from (i.e. not topologically conjugate to) any other map in this set (with only finitely many exceptions). We also show that, in the dynamical plane for any map drawn from a large open set in the connectedness locus in this family, there is a Cantor set of invariant simple closed curves on which the map is conjugate to the product of certain subshifts of finite type with the maps on the unit circle.
Low-Diffusion Flux-Splitting Methods for Real Fluid Flows with Phase Transitions

Methods for extending the AUSM+ low-diffusion flux-splitting scheme toward the calculation of real fluid flows at all speeds are presented. The single-phase behavior of the fluid is defined by the Sanchez-Lacombe equation of state, a lattice-fluid description. Liquid-vapor phase transitions are modeled through a homogeneous equilibrium approach. Time-derivative preconditioning is utilized to allow effective integration of the equation system at all flow speeds and all states of compressibility. Modifications to the preconditioned variant of AUSM+ necessary to preserve solution accuracy under such conditions are presented in detail. One-dimensional results are presented for the faucet problem, a classic test case for multifluid algorithms, as well as for liquid octane flow through a converging-diverging nozzle. Two-dimensional calculations are presented for water flow over a hemisphere/cylinder geometry and liquid carbon dioxide flow through a capillary nozzle
Results of a meta-analysis of cost-benefit research: is this a question worth asking?

We attempted a meta-analysis of telemedicine research studies of the costs associated with telemedicine. First, we performed a search of six well known databases with a variety of relevant keywords. After discarding non-English publications, books and duplicate publications resulting from the same study, we were left with 551 articles for analysis. Our second step was to separate the articles into two groups: those with and those without quantitative cost data. Only 38 articles contained any type of real data. Because many of these 38 studies proved to be inadequately designed or conducted, we were unable to peform a traditional meta-analysis. Furthermore, there were a number of disturbing features common to these studies, including the omission of the number of consultations or patients, almost non-existent longitudinal data collection and lack of uniformity in cost analyses. We conclude that it is premature for any statements to be made, either positive or negative, regarding the cost-effectiveness of t...
Optical absorption of type-II superlattices.

Optical spectra of type-II superlattices are presented, including Coulomb interaction and continuum states. We clarify the relative importance of above- and below-barrier transitions. By gradually increasing the band-gap modulation, we visualize the transition from a bulk semiconductor to a type-I or type-II superlattice. We show that transitions that dominate the spectrum of a type-II superlattice are absent in the spectrum of a type-I superlattice and vice versa. The interplay of size and Landau quantization in the optical absorption is studied for both a type-I superlattice and a type-II superlattice in a perpendicular magnetic field. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
The positive-ion injector of ATLAS: design and operating experience

Abstract The recently completed positive-ion injector for the heavy-ion accelerator ATLAS is a replacement for the tandem injector of the present tandem-linac system. Unlike the tandem, the new injector provides ions from the full range of the periodic table. The concept for the new injector, which consists of an ECR ion source on a voltage platform coupled to a very-low-velocity superconducting linac, introduces technical problems and uncertainties that are well beyond those encountered previously for superconducting linacs. The solution to these problems and their relationship to performance are outlined, and experience in the operation of ATLAS with its new injector is discussed.
Experimental myocardial infarction in dogs. Description of a closed chest technique.

A closed chest technique for production of myocardial infarction in dogs is described. After isolation of the left carotid artery, selective coronary cineangiography is performed. A guide wire is then inserted into the catheter and advanced into the circumflex or anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. The catheter is temporarily removed. A specially designed, siliconized, stainless steel cylinder is then inserted over the guide wire. The catheter is reinserted and is used to push, direct, and lodge the stainless steel cylinder into the anterior descending or the circumflex artery. The dogs are heparinized before, and for 3 days subsequent to, constriction. Ventricular arrhythmias are treated with procainamide. Coronary cineangiograms and serial electrocardiograms are obtained after coronary artery constriction. This technique provides an accurate model for research in the field of myocardial infarction.
Mathematical Modeling of Gulf Coast Estuaries

The environmental pollution problems prevalent in gulf coast estuaries are a cause of great concern to those in water quality management. This paper outlines the dominant characteristics which affect the properties of these estuaries including geography, tide and current effects, wind effects, salinity and density regime, nature and level of waste discharge, low inflow levels, dredging effects and present quality levels. Two basic levels of analytical modeling which are useful in water quality management are presented. The first is a relatively crude completely mixed estuarine model which permits economical evaluation of varying parameters. The second is a very general steady state model which permits analysis of stratified systems. The ESTPOL computer language designed to simplify the use of the steady state model is described. The practical use of the analytical models as management tools for the solution of Texas Estuarine quality problems is demonstrated.
Stochastic esr analysis of rat liver and hepatoma mitochondrial lipids

A commonly used model for the interaction of the motional narrowing of ESR lines is shown to be qualitatively misleading. An analysis of lipid extracts of mitochondrial preparations labeled with 12-nitroxide stearic acid produced linear plots of the logarithm of the correlation time versus the reciprocal of the absolute temperature when analyzed with stochastic computer simulations. However, when the data were analyzed with isotropic Lorentzian line shape approximations, nonlinear plots were obtained.
CULTIVATION OF RAT MARROW-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN REDUCED OXYGEN TENSION: EFFECTS ON IN VITRO AND IN VIVO OSTEOCHONDROGENESIS

Rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) represent a small portion of the cells in the stromal compartment of bone marrow and have the potential to differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat, and fibrous tissue. These mesenchymal progenitor cells were maintained as primary isolates and as subcultured cells in separate closed modular incubator chambers purged with either 95% air and 5% CO(2) (20% or control oxygen) or 5% oxygen, 5% CO(2), and 90% nitrogen (5% or low oxygen). At first passage, some cells from each oxygen condition were loaded into porous ceramic vehicles and implanted into syngeneic host animals in an in vivo assay for osteochondrogenesis. The remaining cells were continued in vitro in the same oxygen tension as for primary culture or were switched to the alternate condition. The first passage cells were examined for in vitro osteogenesis with assays involving the quantification of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium and DNA content as well as by von Kossa staining to detect mineralization. Cultures maintained in low oxygen had a greater number of colonies as primary isolates and proliferated more rapidly throughout their time in vitro, as indicated by hemacytometer counts at the end of primary culture and increased DNA values for first passage cells. Moreover, rMSCs cultivated in 5% oxygen produced more bone than cells cultured in 20% oxygen when harvested and loaded into porous ceramic cubes and implanted into syngeneic host animals. Finally, markers for osteogenesis, including alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium content, and von Kossa staining, were elevated in cultures which had been in low oxygen throughout their cultivation time. Expression of these markers was usually increased above basal levels when cells were switched from control to low oxygen at first passage and decreased for cells switched from low to control oxygen. We conclude that rMSCs in culture function optimally in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen that more closely approximates documented in vivo oxygen tension.
Estimation of Great Lakes Water Level Statistics: Conditioning Via “The Bootstrap”

Abstract Reliable lake level frequency distributions are a critical component of any comprehensive strategy for coping with Great Lakes water level fluctuations. However, statistical techniques commonly used on riverine systems are inappropriate for large lake systems, due to the levels’ long-term persistence and dependence on the prevailing climatic regime. To illustrate an alternative methodology, we present a series of resampling analyses modeled after well-known bootstrap techniques applied to 130 years of monthly Lake Erie water level records. The analyses show that lake level exceedance probabilities should be conditioned on 1) length of planning horizon, 2) starting month of planning horizon, 3) initial lake level, and 4) climatic regime. Our methodology can be extended to additionally consider storm and wind effects on levels, to incorporate levels data available for discontinuous periods prior to 1860, and to develop other types of lake level statistics useful to decision makers, such as duration and time-to-exceedance probabilities.
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 inhibits colitis-induced carcinogenesis.

Chronic inflammation in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease is thought to result in altered epithelial cell growth regulation and ultimately carcinogenesis. This loss in cell growth regulation may be partially caused by a decrease in circulating intact insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IFGB-3) as a result of chronic inflammation. This study evaluates the effect of IFGB-3 on carcinogenesis in the setting of colitis. A previously described animal model for colitis-induced carcinogenesis was used. Colitis was induced in both wild-type and IFGB-3 transgenic CD1 mice with a one-week oral exposure to dextran sodium sulfate (2 percent in drinking water). All mice received a single intraperitoneal administration (10 mg/kg body weight) of a genotoxic colonic carcinogen, azoxymethane. At Week 20, the animals were killed and their colons were excised. The colons were examined by a pathologist under blinded conditions. Criteria assessed included the severity of colitis, number of aberrant crypt foci per mouse colon, incidence of colonic adenomas, and mean size of colonic adenomas. A total of 20 mice (10 in each group) were included in the study. The severity of colitis was not significantly different between the two groups (mean colitis score wild-type = 13.2; IFGB-3 transgenic = 11; P = not significant). The average number of aberrant crypt foci per colon was significantly lower in the IFGB-3 transgenic mice compared with the wild-type mice (1.5 ± 1.4 vs. 4.5 ± 2.7, respectively; P < 0.0001). The number of adenomas per colon was significantly lower in IFGB-3 transgenic group (1.2 ± 1.8) compared with the wild-type mice (3.7 ± 2.7; P = 0.005). In addition the average size of adenomas was significantly smaller in IFGB-3 transgenic mice (1.4 ± 1.3 mm) compared with the wild-type mice (2.6 ± 2 mm; P = 0.013). IFGB-3 significantly reduces the development of colonic tumors and precursor lesions in the setting of induced murine colitis. It is possible that the loss of IFGB-3 as a result of chronic inflammation may be associated with an increased rate of carcinogenesis in the inflammatory bowel disease setting. Although further studies are necessary, in theory, inhibiting the depletion of IFGB-3 or replacement of IFGB-3 may serve as a novel treatment strategy to prevent the development of colitis-induced carcinogenesis.
Sexual Receptivity in Pregnant and Pseudopregnant Rats

Sexual responsiveness was quantitatively assessed in female rats following a single injection of estradiol benzoate (EB) given at various times during the estrous cycle, pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. High levels of sexual receptivity were induced by 2 μg EB given during, or 1 day following, behavioral estrus in cyclic females. Sexual behavior was not observed in pregnant females treated with 2 μg EB either 3, 5, 10 or 15 days after mating; females injected immediately following insemination displayed a 2nd period of heat 48 hr later. Females given 2 μg EB on the 1st or 10th day of presudopregnancy exhibited sexual behavior; the same treatment was without effect when given on the 3rd or 5th day of pseudopregnancy. An increase in the dosage of EB to 6 ng was effectivein inducing receptivity in females treated on the 5th and 10th days of pregnancy or the 5th day of pseudopregnancy. This treatment was not effective in overcoming sexual refractoriness of females injected on the 15th day of pregnancy. Function...
Sex Differences in Intrinsic Aptitude for Mathematics and Science?: A Critical Review.

This article considers 3 claims that cognitive sex differences account for the differential representation of men and women in high-level careers in mathematics and science: (a) males are more focused on objects from the beginning of life and therefore are predisposed to better learning about mechanical systems; (b) males have a profile of spatial and numerical abilities producing greater aptitude for mathematics; and (c) males are more variable in their cognitive abilities and therefore predominate at the upper reaches of mathematical talent. Research on cognitive development in human infants, preschool children, and students at all levels fails to support these claims. Instead, it provides evidence that mathematical and scientific reasoning develop from a set of biologically based cognitive capacities that males and females share. These capacities lead men and women to develop equal talent for mathematics and science.
Wood Pellet Technology Roadmap

This paper presents a technology roadmap for the wood pellet industry in the Pacific Northwest U.S. The roadmap was developed for the Oregon Wood Innovation Center (OWIC), College of Forestry, Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvalis, OR. The researchers apply technology roadmapping to a bio-fuel called wood pellet using both qualitative and semiquantitative tools which resulted in a roadmap including market drivers, product, technology, knowledge, and partners.
Evaluation of the Hairless Rat as a Model for in Vivo Percutaneous Absorption

Percutaneous absorption of topically applied mannitol and progesterone was compared in vivo with the hairless and hairy rat. Urinary excretion and skin concentration profiles after topical application of mannitol demonstrated that hairless rat skin was a "leakier" barrier to percutaneous absorption of polar compounds than was hairy rat skin, independent of formulation. Liposomal, but not aqueous mannitol was retained in hairy rat skin (> 0.5% after 12 h), whereas only negligible amounts were retained in hairless rat skin, regardless of formulation. Progesterone absorption from hydroalcohol and liposomal formulations into hairless rat skin was about five times greater than that in hairy rat skin. Skin delipidization by acetone resulted in a dramatic reduction in the cutaneous barrier to systemic mannitol absorption, which was much more pronounced in hairy than in hairless rat skin. Histological findings of patulous cysts and enlarged, highly vascularized sebaceous glands in the hairless rat suggested that these structures may enhance polar pathways and provide a lipophilic reservoir relative to the fully developed hair follicles of the hairy rat. Collectively, the results document percutaneous absorption differences as a function of animal model, and also suggest that follicular structures make a major contribution to passive percutaneous absorption.
Fast adaptive early termination for mode selection in H.264 scalable video coding

In the scalable video coding extension of the H.264/AVC standard, an additional inter-layer prediction is combined with the traditional inter-frame prediction and intra prediction to obtain coding efficiency. This additional prediction demands a higher video encoding computational complexity. In this paper, our previously developed fast adaptive early termination algorithm is utilized to speed up the mode selection component of the H.264 scalable video coding at the base and enhancement layers. The experimental results over different content video sequences show a time reduction by 20% to 50% for spatial and quality scalable situations as compared with JSVM9.8 while achieving more or less the same video quality.
A comparison of features for automatic deception detection in synchronous computer-mediated communication

This research aims to compare the performance of automatic deception detection in synchronous computermediated communication (CMC) with and without incorporating structural features. In addition, the development of deception detection models draws on the linguistic features that have been widely studied in the online deception literature. The results suggest that structural features can be effective in detecting deception and combining the structural features with linguistic features can improve the performance of detecting deception.
Current and future antifungal therapy: new targets for antifungal agents

Invasive fungal infections are a major problem in immunocompromised patients. The recent expansion of antifungal drug research has occurred because there is a critical need for new antifungal agents to treat these life-threatening invasive infections. The overview of the development of antifungal therapy which is provided herein reflects the increased interest in this very special area of infectious diseases. Although we have newer, less toxic, antifungal agents that are available for clinical use, their clinical efficacy in some invasive fungal infections, such as aspergillosis and fusariosis, is not optimal. Thus, intense efforts in antifungal drug discovery are still needed to develop more promising and effective antifungal agents for use in the clinical arena.
Carbon input control over soil organic matter dynamics in a temperate grassland exposed to elevated CO 2 and warming

Abstract. Elevated CO2 generally increases soil C pools. However, greater available C concentrations can potentially stimulate soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. The effects of climate warming on C storage can also be positive or negative. There is a high degree of uncertainty on the combined effects of climate warming and atmospheric CO2 increase on SOM dynamics and its potential feedbacks to climate change. Semi-arid systems are predicted to show strong ecosystem responses to both factors. Global change factors can have contrasting effects for different SOM pools, thus, to understand the mechanisms underlying the combined effects of multiple factors on soil C storage, effects on individual C pools and their kinetics should be evaluated. We assessed SOM dynamics by conducting long-term laboratory incubations of soils from PHACE (Prairie Heating and CO2 Enrichment experiment), an elevated CO2 and warming field experiment in semi-arid, native northern mixed grass prairie, Wyoming, USA. We measured total C mineralization and estimated the size of the labile pool and the decomposition rates of the labile and resistant SOM pools. To examine the role of plant inputs on SOM dynamics we measured aboveground biomass, root biomass, and soil dissolved organic C (DOC). Greater aboveground productivity under elevated CO2 translated into enlarged pools of readily available C (measured as total mineralized C, labile C pool and DOC). The effects of warming on the labile C only occurred in the first year of warming suggesting a transient effect of the microbial response to increased temperature. Experimental climate change affected the intrinsic decomposability of both the labile and resistant C pools. Positive relationships of the rate of decomposition of the resistant C with aboveground and belowground biomass and dissolved organic C suggested that plant inputs mediated the response by enhancing the degradability of the resistant C. Our results contribute to a growing body of literature suggesting that priming is a ubiquitous phenomenon that should be included in C cycle models.
Minimax redundancy for large alphabets

We study the minimax redundancy of universal coding for large alphabets over memoryless sources and present two main results: We first complete studies initiated in Orlitsky and Santhanam [11] deriving precise asymptotics of the minimax redundancy for all ranges of the alphabet sizes. Second, we consider the minimax redundancy of a source model in which some symbol probabilities are fixed. The latter model leads to an interesting binomial sum asymptotics with super-exponential growth functions. Our findings could be used to approximate numerically the minimax redundancy for various ranges of the sequence length and the alphabet size. These results are obtained by analytic techniques such as tree-like generating functions and the saddle point method.
DIFFERENTIATION AMONG POPULATIONS WITH MIGRATION, MUTATION, AND DRIFT: IMPLICATIONS FOR GENETIC INFERENCE

Populations may become differentiated from one another as a result of genetic drift. The amounts and patterns of differentiation at neutral loci are determined by local population sizes, migration rates among populations, and mutation rates. We provide exact analytical expressions for the mean, variance, and covariance of a stochastic model for hierarchically structured populations subject to migration, mutation, and drift. In addition to the expected correlation in allele frequencies among populations in the same geographic region, we demonstrate that there is a substantial correlation in allele frequencies among regions at the top level of the hierarchy. We propose a hierarchical Bayesian model for inference of Wright's F-statistics in a two-level hierarchy in which we estimate the among-region correlation in allele frequencies by substituting replication across loci for replication across time. We illustrate the approach through an analysis of human microsatellite data, and we show that approaches ignoring the among-region correlation in allele frequencies underestimate the amount of genetic differentiation among major geographic population groups by approximately 30%. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results for the use and interpretation of F-statistics in evolutionary studies.
Systematic studies of modified vocalization: Speech production changes during a variation of metronomic speech in persons who do and do not stutter

Abstract The most common way to induce fluency using rhythm requires persons who stutter to speak one syllable or one word to each beat of a metronome, but stuttering can also be eliminated when the stimulus is of a particular duration (e.g., 1 second [s]). The present study examined stuttering frequency, speech production changes, and speech naturalness during rhythmic speech that alternated 1 s of reading with 1 s of silence. A repeated-measures design was used to compare data obtained during a control reading condition and during rhythmic reading in 10 persons who stutter (PWS) and 10 normally fluent controls. Ratings for speech naturalness were also gathered from naive listeners. Results showed that mean vowel duration increased significantly, and the percentage of short phonated intervals decreased significantly, for both groups from the control to the experimental condition. Mean phonated interval length increased significantly for the fluent controls. Mean speech naturalness ratings during the experimental condition were approximately “7” on a 1–9 scale (1 = highly natural; 9 = highly unnatural), and these ratings were significantly correlated with vowel duration and phonated intervals for PWS. The findings indicate that PWS may be altering vocal fold vibration duration to obtain fluency during this rhythmic speech style, and that vocal fold vibration duration may have an impact on speech naturalness during rhythmic speech. Future investigations should examine speech production changes and speech naturalness during variations of this rhythmic condition. Educational objectives : The reader will be able to: (1) describe changes (from a control reading condition) in speech production variables when alternating between 1 s of reading and 1 s of silence, (2) describe which rhythmic conditions have been found to sound and feel the most natural, (3) describe methodological issues for studies about alterations in speech production variables during fluency-inducing conditions, and (4) describe which fluency-inducing conditions have been shown to involve a reduction in short phonated intervals.
Recalibrating America’s Activity Habits: The Saga Continues

This review discusses the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and other continuing efforts to nudge the public toward more active living. Future directions for inquiry and empirically driven public policy initiatives also are addressed.
Geochemical effects of CO2 sequestration on fractured wellbore cement at the cement/caprock interface

Abstract The potential impact to the integrity of wellbore cements as a result of exposure to supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) has been raised as an area of some concern with respect to long-term effectiveness of CO2 storage in geological formations. In flow-through experiments we simulated diffusion of brine and SCCO2 from the interface between wellbore cement and caprock into a fracture-bearing Portland cement. The experiments were performed at in-situ reservoir pressure (pore pressure: 19.9 MPa) and temperature (54 °C) conditions for 113 days. For this purpose we saturated illite-rich shale and the Portland cement core (2.02 cm × 5.35 cm) with 1.65 M brine for 14 days. After this period of time we injected SCCO2 into the system for 99 days and simulated a diffusion process by using a pressure gradient of 0.7 MPa. Calcite precipitation occurred within the fracture and the induced pressure of crystal growth may explain an increase in the relative permeability along the fracture with time. SCCO2-induced reactions extended ~ 5 mm into the Portland cement core from the fracture and formed an orange-colored zone. The orange-colored zone is nearly completely carbonated with crystalline phases consisting mainly of calcite, aragonite, and vaterite. The only crystalline cement component that persisted in the orange-colored zone was brownmillerite. Interior portions of the hydrated cement were partially carbonated, modified in texture and contained newly formed calcite, hydrogarnet and hydrocalumite (Friedel's salt). Cement porosity decreased from 37.8% to 23.8% during carbonation and was associated with a 19.6% increase in mass.
Intentional Harms Are Worse, Even When They’re Not:

People and societies seek to combat harmful events. However, because resources are limited, every wrong righted leaves another wrong left unchecked. Responses must therefore be calibrated to the magnitude of the harm. One underappreciated factor that affects this calibration may be people's oversensitivity to intent. Across a series of studies, people saw intended harms as worse than unintended harms, even though the two harms were identical. This harm-magnification effect occurred for both subjective and monetary estimates of harm, and it remained when participants were given incentives to be accurate. The effect was fully mediated by blame motivation. People may therefore focus on intentional harms to the neglect of unintentional (but equally damaging) harms.
Human vascular endothelial cells express oxytocin receptors.

Pharmacological studies in humans and animals suggest the existence of vascular endothelial vasopressin (AVP)/oxytocin (OT) receptors that mediate a vasodilatory effect. However, the nature of the receptor subtype(s) involved in this vasodilatory response remains controversial, and its coupled intracellular pathways are unknown. Thus, we set out to determine the type and signaling pathways of the AVP/OT receptor(s) expressed in human vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Saturation binding experiments with purified membranes of primary cultures of ECs from human umbilical vein (HUVEC), aorta (HAEC), and pulmonary artery (HPAEC) and [3H]AVP or[ 3H]OT revealed the existence of specific binding sites with a greater affinity for OT than AVP (Kd = 1.75 vs. 16.58 nm). Competition binding experiments in intact HUVECs (ECV304 cell line) with the AVP antagonist[ 125I]4-hydroxyphenacetyl-d-Tyr(Me)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-NH2 or the OT antagonist[ 125I]d(CH2)5[O-Me-Tyr-Thr-Orn-Tyr-NH2]vasotocin, and various AVP/OT analo...
Statistical Analysis of Radar Rainfall Error Propagation

Abstract The prediction uncertainty of a hydrologic model is closely related to model formulation and the uncertainties in model parameters and inputs. Currently, the foremost challenges concern not only whether hydrologic model outputs match observations, but also whether or not model predictions are meaningful and useful in the contexts of land use and climate change. The latter is difficult to determine given that model inputs, such as rainfall, have errors and uncertainties that cannot be entirely eliminated. In this paper the physically based simulation methodology developed by Sharif et al. is used to expand this investigation of the propagation of radar rainfall estimation errors in hydrologic simulations. The methodology includes a physics-based mesoscale atmospheric model, a three-dimensional radar simulator, and a two-dimensional infiltration-excess hydrologic model. A time series of simulated three-dimensional precipitation fields over a large domain and a small study watershed are used, which ...
Process-variation-tolerant zero skew clock routing

A new hierarchical two-stage multiple-merge zero skew clock routing algorithm is presented. The routing results produced by the approach will have zero skew and minimal skew increase in the worst process-variation situation. >
Angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy is potentiated in mice overexpressing p22phox in vascular smooth muscle.

Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in several vascular pathologies associated with vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy. In the current studies, we utilized transgenic (Tg) mice (...
Physiologically compatible electrical stimulation of schwann cells enhances primary neurite outgrowth

This study investigates neuron response to electrically stimulated Schwann cells (SC) for neural engineering applications. Following injury, regenerating axons must navigate the injury and restore connections with distal targets. Previous results show moderate electrical stimulation (50 mV/mm) of SC-neuron co-cultures increases neurite outgrowth. To isolate the effect of any electrically mediate changes in Schwann cell phenotype, DC field of 50 mV/mm was applied to primary neonatal rat SC for 8 hours. Following stimulation, electrically stimulated SC conditioned medium was collected and the electrically stimulated SC recovered in new media for 12 hours. Primary dissociated neurons were seeded on 1) the electrically-stimulated SC or 2) in the electrically-stimulated SC conditioned medium and allowed to grow 12 hours. Results indicate that neurons grown on electrically stimulated SC exhibited a 3.2× increase in neurite outgrowth and a 2.8× increase in longest neurite compared to unstimulated SC controls. We observed increases in outgrowth in the conditioned medium. Neurons cultured in electrically stimulated SC conditioned media exhibit a 1.18× increase relative to their unstimulated SC controls. Appropriate application of electrical stimulation in vivo may contribute to the repair of injured nerves via electrically mediated changes to the neural and non-neural cells.
A personal view of average-case complexity

The structural theory of average-case complexity, introduced by Levin (1986), gives a formal setting for discussing the types of inputs for which a problem is difficult. This is vital to understanding both when a seemingly difficult (e.g. NP-complete) problem is actually easy on almost all instances, and to determining which problems might be suitable for applications requiring hard problems, such as cryptography. The paper attempts to summarize the state of knowledge in this area, including some "folklore" results that have not explicitly appeared in print. We also try to standardize and unify definitions. Finally, we indicate what we feel are interesting research directions. We hope that the paper motivates more research in this area and provide an introduction to the area for people new to it.
Cognitive Reserve as a Useful Concept for Early Intervention Research in Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong progressive neurologic disease typically diagnosed between ages 20 and 40 years: a time when persons are striving to accomplish normative goals of young adulthood (e.g., establishing a career).More than half ofMS patients suffer cognitive decline [for review, see Ref. (1)] especiallymemory problems and cognitive inefficiency (e.g., slowed processing speed, difficulty multi-tasking).
Cellular Immunotherapy of Advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection Using Autologous Lymph Node Lymphocytes: Effects on Chemokine Production

A pilot study was undertaken in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection to examine the effects of infusing autologous lymph node lymphocytes that had been cultured ex vivo in conditions designed to maximize the specific secretion of HIV-1-suppressive factors, including beta chemokines. Ten patients with CD4 cell counts between 119 and 436/microliter on antiretroviral drugs received a single infusion of CD4 and CD8 lymph node lymphocytes. There were no serious acute or chronic adverse clinical effects. Increases in serum levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta (MIP-1beta) and increases in the production of MIP-1beta by peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to HIV-1 env were observed. Increases in CD4 and CD8 cell counts and skin test reactivity to recall antigens and decreases in HIV-1 virus load were also observed. This cellular immunotherapy can modulate beta chemokine production in patients with advanced HIV-1 infection and may contribute immunorestorative and antiviral activities.