cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opposing associations between sedentary time and decision-making competence in young adults revealed by functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network

How daily physical activity and sedentary time relate to human judgement and functional connectivity (FC) patterns that support them remains underexplored. We investigated the relationships between accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time to decision-making competence (DMC) in young adults using a comprehensive Adult-Decision Making Competence battery. We applied graph theory measures of global and local efficiency to test the mediating effects of FC in cognitively salient brain networks (fronto-parietal; dorsal attention, DAN; ventral attention; and default mode), assessed from the resting-state fMRI. Sedentary time was related to lower susceptibility to a framing bias. However, once global and local efficiency of the DAN were considered we observed (1) higher susceptibility to framing with more sedentary time, mediated through lower local and global efficiency in the DAN, and (2) lower susceptibility to framing with more sedentary time. MVPA was not related to DMC or graph theory measures. These results suggest that remaining sedentary may reduce neurofunctional readiness for top-down control and decrease engagement of deliberate thought, required to ignore irrelevant aspects of a problem. The positive effect suggests that the relationship between sedentary time and DMC may be moderated by unmeasured factors such as the type of sedentary behavior.
Dementia Caregiving During the "Stay-at-Home" Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess family caregivers' primary appraisal of stressors related to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, secondary appraisal of resources and support availability, and use of coping strategies as predictors of perceived role overload during the stay-at-home phase of the pandemic. Method Telephone interviews with 53 family caregivers of persons with dementia from rural Virginia 2 weeks after enactment of the governor's stay-at-home order using structured and open-ended questions were conducted. Results Caregivers who were more concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic were at greater odds of experiencing high role overload than those who recognized positive aspects of the pandemic, as were those who received insufficient support from family and friends. Discussion Use of the transactional model of stress responses yielded important insights about families coping with dementia. Caregivers' perceptions of the pandemic's impact varied, with differential effects on their well-being.
Three-dimensional multi-scale model of deformable platelets adhesion to vessel wall in blood flow

When a blood vessel ruptures or gets inflamed, the human body responds by rapidly forming a clot to restrict the loss of blood. Platelets aggregation at the injury site of the blood vessel occurring via platelet-platelet adhesion, tethering and rolling on the injured endothelium is a critical initial step in blood clot formation. A novel three-dimensional multi-scale model is introduced and used in this paper to simulate receptor-mediated adhesion of deformable platelets at the site of vascular injury under different shear rates of blood flow. The novelty of the model is based on a new approach of coupling submodels at three biological scales crucial for the early clot formation: novel hybrid cell membrane submodel to represent physiological elastic properties of a platelet, stochastic receptor-ligand binding submodel to describe cell adhesion kinetics and lattice Boltzmann submodel for simulating blood flow. The model implementation on the GPU cluster significantly improved simulation performance. Predictive model simulations revealed that platelet deformation, interactions between platelets in the vicinity of the vessel wall as well as the number of functional GPIbα platelet receptors played significant roles in platelet adhesion to the injury site. Variation of the number of functional GPIbα platelet receptors as well as changes of platelet stiffness can represent effects of specific drugs reducing or enhancing platelet activity. Therefore, predictive simulations can improve the search for new drug targets and help to make treatment of thrombosis patient-specific.
Clinical impact of tocilizumab therapy in SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections in ICU and non-ICU patients

Background: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a monoclonal antibody against the interleuikin- 6 receptor which is potentially beneficial in COVID-19 induced cytokine release syndrome (CRS) However, there are limited studies showing anti-inflammatory effect and clinical benefit of TCZ in COVID-19 patients This retrospective study examines treatment responses of criteria based TCZ therapy for SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection for ICU vs non-ICU patients Methods: We established institutional criteria to identify patients at risk of CRS from COVID-19 Patients were included if they received at least 1 dose of TCZ and were admitted for at least 72 hours Primary endpoint was to assess clinical improvement (CI) at the end of admission CI was defined by extubation, downgrade from ICU, discharged or improvement in Clinical Ordinal Scale by 2 Secondary endpoint of the study was to assess inpatient mortality (IM) and risk factors associated with IM Subgroup analysis included impact of early (< 96 hours) vs late (≥ 96 hours) TCZ therapy on IM Results: Between March 25 to May 6, 2020, 170 patients met criteria and received TCZ There were 83 non-ICU patients and 87 in the ICU Forty five patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) ICU patients tended to be obese, receive 2 doses of TCZ and have longer length of stay Overall CI was seen in 71% of patients CI was higher in non-ICU vs ICU patients (85 5% vs 57 5%, P=0 002) Overall IM was 18 8%;however, IM was lower in non-ICU vs ICU patients (8 4% vs 28 7%, P=0 0014) IM was higher in patients on IMV vs non-IMV (30% vs 15 4%, P=0 03) Risk factors of ICU admission, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and AKI were associated with higher risk of IM Many IM patients were made comfort care No differences were observed in early vs late TCZ therapy on inpatient mortality, but there was a trend toward lower mortality with early TCZ COS Review of Tocilizumab Patients Conclusion: TCZ is an effective treatment option in patients with SARS-CoV-2 patients at risk of CRS Patients receiving TCZ in non-ICU setting had a better response to treatment compared to ICU patients Obesity and AKI were associated with higher risk of mortality, but there was no statistical difference in early vs late therapy Further studies with control group and larger sample size are warranted
Humoral Immune Microvasculopathy: Treatable Motor-Sensory Axonal Polyneuropathies with C5b-9 Deposition on Endoneurial Microvessels (1993)

Objective: To characterize clinical features and treatment responses of patients with motor-sensory polyneuropathies who had humoral immune microvasculopathy (HIM) with deposits of the terminal components of complement (C5b–9) on endoneurial microvessels. Background: C5b-9 deposition on endomysial capillaries is a characteristic feature of dermatomyositis. We studied patients with motor-sensory polyneuropathies and C5b-9 deposition on endoneurial microvessels. Design/Methods: Retrospective chart review of clinical, laboratory, electrodiagnostic and neuropathologic features of 16 consecutive adults with motor-sensory polyneuropathies and C5b-9 deposition on endoneurial microvessels detected on evaluation of nerve biopsies. Strength was serially measured quantitatively using hand held dynamometry at the first clinic visit, pre-treatment, post-treatment and at follow-up clinic visit. High dose corticosteroids were used for treatment. Results: Clinical features included gradually progressive (mean duration of symptoms 3.5 years), asymmetric, distal predominant, weakness. Other features were ages of onset between 34 to 84 years (mean ± SD age, 64±12 years), male predominance (75%) and diabetes (56%). Weakness was always present in distal legs and occurred in hands in 44%. Sensory loss was distal and pan-modal. Electrodiagnostic studies showed sensorimotor neuropathy (94%) with axon loss, but never demyelination. Muscle and nerve biopsies showed capillaries with C5b-9 deposition on endoneurial microvessels (94%) and/or endomysial (63%) capillaries. All patients had axon loss, usually varied among or within fascicles. All patients had rapid improvement in strength in the weeks after treatment, comparing their pre-treatment and post-treatment courses (p = 0.0007). Conclusions: Patients with HIM motor-sensory polyneuropathy syndromes are frequently males over 60 years of age with progressive asymmetric, predominantly distal leg, and some hand, weakness. The predominant pathologic findings are axon loss with C5b–9 deposition on endoneurial microvessels. High dose corticosteroid treatment of HIM is associated with significant and rapid improvement in muscle strength. Controlled trials will be useful to test and validate these results. Disclosure: Dr. Trikamji has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pestronk has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Sanofi.
Variability of Provincial Capital Rainfall in Pakistan Using Wavelet Transformation

This study is focused on the regional variation of rainfall (RF) in Pakistan using wavelet transformation. The RF variation in five regions of Pakistan, namely, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad are investigated. The highest variability was observed from 1961 to 2015 in a monthly data set for each region. The results reveal that the main variation is observed in the middle phase of each RF signal and some in the recovery phase (initial and end) using Daubechies (db 2) wavelet. In addition, the study reveals that the maximum RF variability occurred in 1–4-year periodicity using the Morlet wavelet. This caused moisture and led to more RF received in cities. Karchi, Peshawar, and Quetta show a decrease in RF as compared to Lahore and Islamabad. We also estimated the role of significant ENSO periodicity for 8–16 years in increasing RF observed post-1970 and pre-1970, and after 2000, showing neutral or decreasing RF. Finally, based on these results, Islamabad and Lahore are the wettest cities observed as compared to Karachi, Peshawer and Quetta, which represent the drier cities with low RF.
Method for the fabrication of thick multilayered nickel/iron oxide nanoparticle magnetic nanocomposites

Abstract Magnetic nanocomposites consisting of ferrite nanoparticles and magnetic metals have been of interest for use in power electronic components due to their ability to achieve relatively high magnetic permeabilities while also having low losses. Unfortunately, fabrication challenges limit the maximum achievable thickness of these films to ∼ 4 µm, though thicker films are desirable for increased power handling. To overcome these challenges this works seeks to demonstrate a fabrication method whereby thick composite films can be made by constructing sequential composite layers, performing electrophoretic deposition and electro-infiltration steps for each layer. Composite samples of iron oxide nanoparticles electro-infiltrated with nickel that are 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 layers thick will be fabricated and characterized both structurally and magnetically. Structural measurements accomplished with SEM show that each layer appears to contribute 4 µm to the total thickness, with the one layer sample being 3.99 ± 0.12 µm thick and the ten layer sample being 39.19 ± 3.1 µm thick. Results show that the dc magnetic properties of these composites stay constant as thickness increases, having an average magnetic saturation of 464 kA/m, and coercivity of 2.5 kA/m. The ac magnetic properties similarly showed that the permeability of the composites also stayed consistent at 20. However, the dimensional resonance frequency of the composites decreased as thickness increased, lowering to ∼ 96 MHz for 1 layer (∼4 µm) to ∼ 8 MHz for 10 layers (∼40 µm), revealing a trade-off between thickness of a maximum operating frequency.
Ethanol pre-exposure differentially impacts the rewarding and aversive effects of α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP): Implications for drug use and abuse

Abstract Rationale Exposure to a drug can subsequently impact its own reactivity as well as that of other drugs. Given that users of synthetic cathinones, i.e., “bath salts”, typically have extensive and varied drug histories, an understanding of the effects of drug history on the behavioral and physiological consequences of synthetic cathiones may be important to their abuse liability. Objectives The goal of the current work was to assess the effects of an ethanol pre-exposure on the rewarding and aversive effects of α-PVP. Methods Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to ethanol prior to combined conditioned taste avoidance/conditioned place preference training in which rats were injected with 1.5, 3 or 5 mg/kg of racemic α-PVP or vehicle. Following a 7-day washout period, rats were then tested for thermoregulatory effects of α-PVP using subcutaneous probes to measure body temperature changes over the course of 8 h. This was followed 10 days later by assessments for α-PVP-induced locomotor activity and stereotypies over a 1-h session. Results α-PVP induced significant dose- and trial-dependent taste avoidance that was significantly attenuated by ethanol history and dose- and time-dependent increases in locomotor activity that were significantly increased by ethanol. α-PVP also induced place preferences and dose- and time-dependent increases in body temperature, but these measures were unaffected by ethanol history. Conclusions α-PVP's aversive effects (as measured by taste avoidance) were attenuated, while its rewarding effects (as indexed by place preference conditioning) were unaffected, by ethanol pre-exposure. Such a pattern may indicate increased α-PVP abuse liability, as changes in the balance of aversion and reward may impact overall drug effects and likelihood of drug intake. Future self-administration studies will be necessary to explore this possibility.
13 COMMUNIST COMPUTERS

The vast majority of Soviet managers and administrators had little or no perception of the practical and potential value of computers. — Seymour E. Goodman, 1979 1 The Cold War hung over billions of people like a dark cloud. It had started secretly during World War II when the Soviet Union and the Allies lined up on opposite sides to shape the postwar world with rival brands of a global order and did not end until the Soviet Empire imploded in 1989. In the intervening nearly half century, the world came close to nuclear holocaust several times, while both sides fought numerous surrogate ground wars in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Both sides monitored and controlled what companies could buy and sell to each other, because they were always concerned about espionage and the exchange of technologies that might provide military advantages to the other side. For example, Polish computer users liked British technologies, and Soviet officials thought Poles and East Germans might share communist computer architectures with the West. The Russians sold a handful of machines to the West, largely through Finland, but the majority of sales went from West to East. Charles de Gaulle's clash with the government of the United States over a French effort to acquire a CDC computer was typical of much larger forces at work that shadowed the activities of IBM and other large corporations around the world.
Ultrastructural Localization of IgA and IgG in Uterine Epithelial Cells Following Estradiol Administration

The secretory immune system in the reproductive tract of the female mammal is acutely sensitive to stimulation by estradiol (1). Within three hours of each of three daily doses of estradiol to the ovariectomized rat, IgG enters the uterine lumen (2) concomitant with the fluid imbibition phase of estrogen stimulation of the uterus. The levels of IgA in the uterine lumen, on the other hand, do not rise significantly until 32–48 hours of estradiol stimulation (2,3). In order to characterize the morphologic nature of the process of immunoglobulin transport in this polarized epithelial system, we analyzed the distribution patterns of post-embedment immunogold labeling assays of IgA and IgG in uterine epithelial cells at various times of estradiol stimulation.
Policy Engine: A Framework for Authorization, Accouting Policy Specification and Evaluation in Grids

We have developed a policy-based decision framework that provides authorization and cost-based accounting in the EZGrid system, a resource broker for metacomputing. Primarily, this work allows the administrators and the owners to exercise more control over their resources by dictating usage permissions and/or restrictions in a grid environment. This mechanism is independent of the applications and the heterogeneous target domains. The EZGrid resource broker uses the policy engine to evaluate authorization policies of the remote site in the process of making resource choices. Globus Access to Secondary storage (GASS) is used as the back end for staging policy files, if needed, from the remote site to which authorization is required.
The BRIDGE: A Toolkit Approach to Reverse Engineering System Metadata in Support of Migration to Entreprise Software

The role of reverse engineering system metadata when migrating legacy systems to enterprise software such as PeopleSoft™ has not been widely articulated. Bridging the gap between new enterprisewide software systems and legacy systems has proven to be an enormous and costly hurdle when attempted without sufficient understanding of the legacy environment and enterprise metadata. We present a model-based methodology for constructing a metadata-based foundation for migrating data from legacy systems to enterprise software. The methodology components include: • analysis of project organization, constraints and definition, • development of project control structure, and • deployment of toolkit components to capture, analyze and utihze metadata. Methodologies work best when supported by appropriate tools. Based on widely available Office-suite components, a flexible toolkit was developed to support the methodology and facilitate system evolution. The toolkit allows users to capture, analyze, and publish various implementation-specific metadata. The toolkit publishes metadata for use by the technical implementation team as well as by project management and business users. We describe each methodology component, the associated toolkit elements developed to implement each component, the various component outputs, and the resources required to implement the solution. The methodology was developed in the context of an anonymous real world implementation. Organizations can use this approach to create a sound basis for reverse engineering system metadata when migrating to enterprise software.
The Plasma Membrane of Isolated Fat Cells I. IDENTIFICATION OF TRYPSIN-SENSITIVE MEMBRANE PEPTIDES BY SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Abstract Analysis of purified plasma membranes from isolated fat cells by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resolved at least 11 major peptide components which ranged in apparent molecular weights from 168,000 to 22,000. No alteration in the number or mobilities of these components was found when fat cells were isolated with three different preparations of partially characterized crude collagenase (Clostridium histolyticum) or if plasma membranes were purified on linear or discontinuous sucrose gradients. Fat cell plasma membranes contained two major glycopeptides with apparent molecular weights of 94,000 and 78,000. The isolated fat cell plasma membrane fraction consisted of approximately 40% protein, 40% phospholipid, 16% cholesterol, and 4% neutral carbohydrate. Essentially complete removal of phospholipid and cholesterol from membranes could be attained by extraction with ethanol at room temperature for 15 min. The alcohol-insoluble fraction consisted of about 95% protein, 4% neutral sugar, and 0.5% sialic acid. A diffuse Schiff reagent-positive band which migrated near the dye front on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels was alcohol-soluble indicating the possible presence of glycolipid. The marked reduction in the ability of plasma membranes derived from trypsinized fat cells to bind 125I-insulin was accompanied by the selective digestion of two major membrane peptides of molecular weights 68,000 and 54,000 and the partial digestion of a 42,000 molecular weight peptide. The membrane glycoproteins were relatively resistant to trypsin treatment of intact cells or isolated plasma membranes in Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer. In contrast, membranes suspended in hypotonic EDTA (1 mm) were uniformly degraded by trypsin, apparently as a consequence of altered conformations of the membrane or the membrane peptides, or both, in this medium.
Economic benefits of less restrictive regulation of advanced practice nurses in North Carolina

Abstract Background With looming provider shortages and increased demand for health care, many states are looking for low-cost ways to alleviate the shortages. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the economic impact of less restrictive regulations for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in North Carolina. Method We use economic impact analysis to demonstrate the economic impacts of making state scope-of-practice regulations on APRNs less restrictive in North Carolina. Outcomes include economic output, value-added, payroll compensation, employment, and tax revenue for North Carolina and for various subregions. Discussion If North Carolina adopted the same approach to APRN regulation as the least restrictive states, its economy will benefit from substantial increases in economic output and employment. The state will also see increases in tax revenue. Conclusions In addition to substantially shrinking the size of projected physician shortages, allowing full scope-of-practice for APRNs will bring significant economic benefits to the state of North Carolina. Our analysis should be helpful to policy makers considering ways to deal with provider shortages.
Engaging the Student in the Field Instruction Relationship

Abstract BSW and MSW students' evaluations of their field instructors and these individuals' use of various supervisory skills and assignments were assessed early in the field placement. Skills that directly enhanced students' learning in the field were most influential. Supervisory activities that introduced students to the agency and what would be expected of them were particularly helpful. Differences in first-time and second-year students' reactions suggest that students' learning needs vary, based on their prior experience with and understanding of the field. The findings also suggest the need for training to help field instructors make the transition from social work practitioner to social work educator.
Chemical Weapons and Transnational Community: A History of the Fox Cities-Kurgan Sister City Program

A paradox of the end of the cold war is that the peace American and Soviet citizens long strived for has actually brought with it increased instability for some. Cold War “securityscapes” required the creation of towns to produce, manage, and store the weapons that were instruments of the mutually assured destruction policies of the US and USSR (Gusterson 2004, 1998). At the end of the cold war, these two countries and an anxious global community faced the question of what to do with nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. The Chemical Weapons Convention and other documents focused on what to do with the weapons, to the exclusion of considering the socio-economic and health-related impacts on local communities. In this article I focus on the village of Shchuchye and an international partnership between two sister cities that is building a local, participatory model of development.
Relation of atherogenic lipoproteins with estimated glomerular filtration rate decline: a longitudinal study

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with dyslipidemia, but the role of atherogenic lipid fractions in CKD progression remains unclear. Here we assess whether baseline plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III), causal cardiovascular (CV) risk factors being studied as therapeutic targets, are associated with decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over time. In the Penn Diabetes Heart Study (PDHS), a single-center observational cohort of type 2 diabetes patients without clinical CV disease or pre-existing CKD, we performed linear mixed effects modeling with incremental multivariable analysis to evaluate the effects of baseline plasma Lp(a) and apoC-III on the slope of eGFR over time for subjects with longitudinal data (N = 400). Each two-fold higher plasma Lp(a) level was associated with an additional decline in eGFR by 0.50 mL/min/year in the fully adjusted model (p < 0.001). Baseline Lp(a) levels greater than the atherogenic cut-point of 30 mg/dL were associated with a decline in eGFR by 2.75 mL/min/year compared to 1.01 mL/min/year in subjects with baseline Lp(a) less than 30 mg/dL (p < 0.001). Although each two-fold higher apoC-III level was also associated with statistically significant decline in eGFR over time, as expected the association was attenuated after adjusting for baseline triglycerides, the key lipid intermediary regulated by apoC-III in circulation. Elevated baseline plasma Lp(a) levels are associated with a decrease in eGFR over time independent of race, lipid medication use, and albuminuria, whereas elevated baseline apoC-III levels are associated with eGFR decline in a triglyceride-dependent fashion.
Optically activated switch/modulator using a photoconductor and two channel waveguides

An optically activated switch was fabricated on LiNbO3 substrate by deposition of photoconductor-metal electrode structure on two channel waveguides obtained by the outdiffusion process. One waveguide was overcoated with a CdS film, and served as a light detector which converted the optical signal in that waveguide into an electric signal. Utilizing the electrooptic effect, this electric signal modulated the light propagating in the second waveguide by changing the refractive index, and the cutoff condition, of the waveguiding channel between two metal electrodes. The waveguides in the optically controlled switch can be either single or multimode. The length of the device can be short in comparison with other switching schemes. When binary optical signals are applied to the two waveguides, the switch can perform logic AND, NEGATION, OR and pseudo-amplification operations.
Ascending spinal systems in the fish, Prionotus carolinus.

The fin rays of the pectoral fin of the sea robins (teleostei) are specialized chemosensory organs heavily invested with solitary chemoreceptor cells innervated only by spinal nerves. The rostral spinal cord of these animals is marked by accessory spinal lobes which are unique enlargements of the dorsal horn of the rostral spinal segments receiving input from the fin ray nerves. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 1,1;-dioctadecyl-3,3,3', 3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (diI) were used as anterograde and retrograde tracers to examine the connectivity of these accessory lobes and the associated ascending spinal systems in the sea robin, Prionotus carolinus. The majority of dorsal root fibers terminate within the accessory lobes at or nearby their level of entrance into the spinal cord. A few dorsal root axons turn rostrally in the dorsolateral fasciculus to terminate in the lateral funicular complex situated at the spinomedullary junction. The lateral funicular complex also receives a heavy projection from the ipsilateral accessory lobes. In addition, it contains a few large neurons that project back onto the accessory lobes. Injections of either diI or HRP into the lateral funicular complex label fibers of the medial lemniscus which crosses the midline in the caudal medulla to ascend along the ventral margin of the contralateral rhombencephalon. Within the medulla, fibers leave the medial lemniscus to terminate in the inferior olive and in the ventrolateral medullary reticular formation. Upon reaching the midbrain, the medial lemniscus turns dorsally to terminate heavily in a lateral division of the torus semicircularis, in the ventral optic tectum, and in the lateral subnucleus of the nuc. preglomerulosus of the thalamus. Lesser projections also reach the posterior periventricular portion of the posterior tubercle with a few fibers terminating along the ventral, posterior margin of the ventromedial (VM) nucleus of the thalamus. The restricted projection to the ventral tectum is noteworthy in that this part of the tectum maintains the representation of the ventral visual field, that is, the area in which the fin rays lie. A prominent spinocerebellar system is also evident. Both direct and indirect spinocerebellar fibers can be followed through the dorsolateral fasciculus, with or without relay in the lateral funicular nucleus and terminating in a restricted portion of the granule cell layer of the ipsilateral corpus cerebelli. The similarities in connectivity of the spinal cord between the sea robins and other vertebrates are striking. It is especially notable because sea robins utilize the chemosensory input from the fin rays to localize food in the environment. Thus, although these fish use their spinal chemosense as other fishes use their external taste systems, the spinal chemosense apparently relies on the medial lemniscal system to guide this chemically driven feeding behavior.
ENVISION: the effectiveness of a dual‐level professional development model for changing teacher practice

The ENVISION professional development model uses active teacher involvement in inquiry and inquiry‐based teaching to enhance teachers' understandings about inquiry‐based study of local environmental problems and teaching science using inquiry. Teachers also design and implement professional development for their school‐based colleagues about teaching environmental science through inquiry. Therefore, professional development is conducted at two levels. ENVISION staff train teachers directly (called Level I participants) and these Level I participants in turn train their school colleagues (called Level II participants). The study reported here was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of this dual‐level professional development strategy. Results based on the first two years of the program revealed that: Level I participants enhanced their understanding of inquiry and inquiry teaching, with 25 out 30 (83%) changing their classroom practice; and that 21 out of 31 (68%) of Level II participants changed their ...
Effective Thermal Conductivity for Combined Radiation and Free Convection in an Optically Thick Heated Fluid Layer

The effective thermal conductivity for radiative heat transfer within an optically thick fluid layer undergoing high Rayleigh number convection is derived. This result is combined with available ''pure'' free-convection heat-transfer correlations to obtain closed-form analytical descriptions of the gross properties of a radiating fluid layer heated internally or form below. These simple solutions compare favorably with recent work in which the governing energy equation incorporating both turbulant heat transport and thermal radiation is solved numerically.
A quasi-three-dimensional large-signal circuit model for lateral transient analysis of MOS device

Abstract A new quasi-three-dimensional large-signal circuit model of the metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitance (MOSC) under non-equilibrium depletion or inversion bias is presented. This model is based on the threedimensional version of Sah's distributed equivalent circuit model. A simple technique of scaling the circuit elements to account for circular symmetry is shown. The circuit elements perpendicular to the MOS interface are integrated to yield a quasi-three-dimensional circuit model. The numerical analysis technique of Green and Schewchun is then used to obtain photocurrent transient responses under arbitrary signal level. Theoretical photocurrent transient calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental curves, both for the fast initial transient as well as the slow long time decay.
Specific ion effects on double layer forces through ion hydration

Abstract An attempt is made to explain the dependence of the strength of repulsion between two charged parallel plates immersed into an electrolyte solution on the nature of the electrolyte. The theory provides a sequence of ions which almost coincides with the Hofmeister series for both anions and cations. The repulsive force is calculated by taking into account that the ions are hydrated; this hydration generates a negative volume exclusion entropy, which is considered to be responsible for ion specificity. In contrast to the traditional theory in which the electrolyte solution is considered to be ideal, the present one includes a nonideal contribution caused by ion hydration. It will be also shown that at high salts concentrations the anions of the same counterion provide strong specificities (large differences between the repulsive interactions of successive ions) for positively charged surfaces, and the cations of the same counterion strong specificities for negatively charged surfaces.
Hyperglycemia and gatifloxacin: a case report and summary of current literature.

Background: Gatifloxacin is a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Several case reports have described hyperglycemiathat is related to gatifloxacin use. Objective: Our goal was to report a new case of gatifloxacin-related hyperglycemia in a nondiabetic patient with acute renal dysfunction. Also summarized are data from existing case reports. Case Summary: A 71-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease was admitted for saphenous vein harvestsite infection, atrial fibrillation, postoperative Dressler's syndrome, and resolving acute renal failure after coronary artery bypass graft 10 days prior. His history was notable for the absence of diabetes mellitus. Four days after initiating gatifloxacin 400 mg/d for a wound infection and 3 days after an increase in serum creatinine to 2.8 mg/dL, his fasting serum glucose level was elevated to 209 mg/dL on routine laboratory evaluation. Standard dose sliding scale insulin was begun to control the patient's blood glucose, and his gatifloxacin dose was lowered to 200 mg/d due to his diminished renal function. The patient's blood glucose levels normalized rapidly after his course of gatifloxacin was completed. Discussion: Thirteen cases of gatifloxacin-related hyperglycemia have been reported in the medical literature, 10 of which were in nondiabetic patients and at least 9 of which were in patients with creatinine clearance levels Conclusion: In this patient with impaired renal function, gatifloxacin was probably associated with hyperglycemia.
Modelling of propagation delays in the bilevel crossing interconnections on the GaAs-based integrated circuits

A computer-efficient model of the propagation delays in the bilevel crossing interconnections on the GaAs-based very high speed integrated circuits (VHSICs) has been developed. The interconnections on the first and second levels are modelled by a combination of lumped circuit parameters and distributed circuit transmission lines. The ground and coupling capacitances used in the model were determined by the method of moments in conjunction with a Green's function appropriate for the geometry of the interconnections. Based on the numerical model, several software modules have been developed which have been used to simulate the dependence of the propagation delays on the various interconnection parameters such as its length, width and material resistivity. Modules have also been used to study the dependence of the delays on other design parameters such as the driving transistors' output resistance, the loading transistor's input capacitance and the number of crossing lines.
The Influence of Competitive Intensity and Market Dynamism on Knowledge Management Capabilities of Multinational Corporation Subsidiaries

Abstract The authors use the environment–strategy–performance theoretical framework to examine the direct influence of the environmental market conditions of competitive intensity and market dynamism on knowledge management capabilities of multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries and resultant subsidiary performance. The results of a survey of the managers of Croatian subsidiaries of foreign MNCs indicate that though both competitive intensity and market dynamism individually influence knowledge management capabilities, when examined jointly, market dynamism is a more influential environmental market condition than competitive intensity. The authors also find a significant, positive relationship between a subsidiary's knowledge management capabilities and its performance. The findings indicate the importance of understanding local market conditions and developing proper strategic configurations for MNC subsidiaries.
Yeast farnesyl-diphosphate synthase: site-directed mutagenesis of residues in highly conserved prenyltransferase domains I and II.

Abstract Prenyltransferases that catalyze the fundamental chain elongation reaction in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway contain several highly conserved amino acids, including two aspartate-rich regions thought to be involved in substrate binding and catalysis. We report a study of site-directed mutants for yeast farnesyl-diphosphate synthase (FPPSase; geranyl-diphosphate:isopentenyl-diphosphate, EC 2.5.1.10), a prenyltransferase that catalyzes the sequential 1'-4 coupling of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) with dimethylallyl diphosphate and geranyl diphosphate. A recombinant form of FPPSase extended by a C-terminal -Glu-Glu-Phe alpha-tubulin epitope (EEF in single-letter amino acid code) was engineered to facilitate rapid purification of the enzyme by immunoaffinity chromatography and to remove traces of contaminating activity from wild-type FPPSase in the Escherichia coli host. Ten site-directed mutants were constructed in FPPSase::EEF. The six aspartates in domain I (at positions 100, 101, and 104) and domain II (at positions 240, 241, and 244) were changed to alanine (mutants designated D100A, D101A, D104A, D240A, D241A, and D244A); three arginine residues were changed, Arg-109 and Arg-110 to glutamine and Arg-350 to alanine (mutants designated R109Q, R110Q, and R350A); and Lys-254 was converted to alanine (mutant designated K254A). Mutations of the aspartatic residues and nearby arginine residues in domain I and Asp-240 and Asp-241 in domain II drastically lowered the catalytic activity of FPPSase::EEF. The D244A and K254A mutants were substantially less active, while kcat and the Michaelis constants for the R350A mutant were similar to those of FPPSase::EEF. Addition of an -EEF epitope to the C terminus of wild-type FPPSase resulted in a 14-fold increase of KmIPP and a 12-fold decrease of kcat, suggesting that the conserved hydrophilic C terminus of the enzyme may have a role in substrate binding and catalysis.
Revisiting the 7×7 reconstruction of Si(111)

Abstract Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) on boron-doped, p-type Si(111) confirmed the main structural features of the 7 × 7 reconstruction of nearly intrinsic n-type material, in particular the three-fold rotational symmetry. In the p-doped material, one distinct maximum is absent in about every fifth cell. This is attributed to a surface-boron dopant, implying an appreciable surface segregation of boron.
Interpersonal relationships among inmates and prison violence

The present study explored the benefits of having a friend (i.e., an inmate who helped make another inmate a better person) in prison for males and females. Additional qualitative and quantitative analyses explored gender differences in terms of the frequency with which male and female inmates reported having violent physical encounters in prison, gender differences in inmates’ reasons for fighting physically, and gender differences between inmates who reported having a close friend and their likelihood of engaging in prison violence. Incarcerated men and women provided similar descriptions of quality friendship; however, men fought more frequently and for different reasons than women did.
One-pot metal templated synthesis for the preparation of 2-quinoxalinol salen metal complexes

Metal complexes of 2-quinoxalinol salen (salqu) ligands can be prepared in a one-pot metal templated synthesis resulting in significantly enhanced yields than if the ligand were prepared and isolated prior to introducing the metal for complexation. Using this method, 12 salqu metal complexes have been prepared and characterized from +2 metal ions.
Decisions Regarding Music Training: Parental Beliefs and Values

Musical talent development generally involves high levels of parental support over an extended period of time. This study examined parents' expectancy beliefs and values regarding their child's music training, regular academic work, and athletic activities. Parents of 231 students, aged 6-18, who attended programs at four music institutions responded to a questionnaire. The results suggest that parents may initially send their children for music training not for musical talent development per se, but for more general educational value. However, with more training and more advanced musical development, parents seem to regulate their beliefs and values across the three domains in the single-minded service of musical talent development.
Determination of iron in cadmium and cadmium telluride.

Abstract A procedure is described for the determination of iron in the 10 −6 –10 −4 % range in cadmium and cadmium telluride. Acetylacetone is used for the separation of iron from cadmium, and the iron is determined spectrophotometrically with bathophenanthroline.
Sign language subtitling

The object of this paper is the development of a new method of sign language subtitling for motion pictures aimed at deaf children who cannot read English yet and can communicate only via signs. The method is based on the recently introduced concept of "semantroid" (an avatar limited to head and hands) and on the implementation of a new scrolling technique which allows for concurrent display of 4 subtitling windows at the bottom of the screen. To maximize the readability of the semantroid's face and hand configurations, we have created a new 3D model and we have shaded it with a combination of 3D and toon shaders. In addition, we have followed recent results in color perception to optimize the visibility of those body parts directly involved in the signing motion. The signing semantroid, optimized for maximum readability, can be scaled to fit in a very small area, and thus it is possible to display four captioning windows simultaneously. The concurrent display of several progressive animated signed sentences allows for review of the information, a feature not present in any sign language subtitling method presented so far. As an example of application, we have used the subtitling scrolling semantroid in a video of a chemistry experiment and we have tested its effectiveness with a group of hearing and non-hearing signers.
Highly Doped P-Type and N-Type ZnS, ZnSe, CdS and CdSe Thin Films Growth by Pulsed Laser Deposition

ZnS, ZnSe, CdS and CdSe thin films were grown on InP or GaAs substrates with high ptype and n-type doping concentrations by pulsed excimer laser deposition without any postannealing processing. The x-ray diffraction results showed that these thin films were fully epitaxial (in-plane aligned). These high quality films are suitable for use as optoelectronic devices which will operate in the visible region of the spectrum.
Expression of Cartilage Developmental Genes in Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-Transgenic Mice

Hox genes encode transcription factors, which regulate skeletal patterning and chondrocyte differentiation during the development of cartilage, the precursor to mature bone. Overexpression of the homeobox transcription factors Hoxc8 and Hoxd4 causes severe cartilage defects due to delay in cartilage maturation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and fibroblastic growth factors (FGFs) are known to play important roles in skeletal development and endochondral bone formation and remodeling. In order to investigate whether these molecules are aberrantly expressed in Hoxc8- and/or Hoxd4-transgenic cartilage, we performed quantitative RT-PCR on chondrocytes from Hox-transgenic mice. Gene expression levels of Bmp4, Fgf8, Fgf10, Mmp9, Mmp13, Nos3, Timp3, Wnt3a and Wnt5a were altered in Hoxc8-transgenic chondrocytes, and Fgfr3, Ihh, Mmp8, and Wnt3a expression levels were altered in Hoxd4-transgenic chondrocytes, respectively. Notably, Wnt3a expression was elevated in Hoxc8- and reduced in Hoxd4-transgenic cartilage. These results suggest that both transcription factors affect cartilage maturation through different molecular mechanisms, and provide the basis for future studies into the role of these genes and possible interactions in pathogenesis of cartilage defects in Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-transgenic mice.
Technique of Hautmann ileal neobladder with chimney modification: interim results in 50 patients

Purpose: We report our 4-year experience with the chimney modification of the Hautmann ileal neobladder. This modification involves use of an 8 to 12 cm. tubularized isoperistaltic ileal chimney for the ureterointestinal anastomosis. Materials and Methods: Between April 1995 and March 1998, 50 men and women with invasive bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy and creation of a Hautmann neobladder with chimney modification. Complications were assessed, divided as early and late, and subdivided as those related or unrelated to the neobladder. Continence was evaluated using a detailed patient questionnaire. Results: There were no intraoperative deaths. Early complications in 11 of the 50 patients were neobladder related in 5 (10%) and unrelated to the neobladder in 6 (12%). The early reoperation rate was 6%. Late postoperative complications in 10 patients (20%) were neobladder related in 8 (16%) and unrelated to the neobladder in 2 (4%). After 1 year 93% and 86% of patients achieved good day and nighttime continence, respectively. In 2 patients (4%) clean intermittent catheterization is performed and 1 required placement of an artificial urinary sphincter. Ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures were detected in 6 of 100 ureteral units (6%), including 2 with failed initial endoscopic management. Open surgical revision of the ureterointestinal anastomotic site was easier due to the anterior position of the ureters, and identification and mobilization of the isoperistaltic limb. Conclusions: Our experience with the chimney modification of the Hautmann neobladder compares favorably to other forms of orthotopic urinary diversion in regard to ureteral stenosis, early and late postoperative complications, urinary continence and simplification of the ureterointestinal anastomosis.
REGIOSELECTIVE CYCLOCARBOXYLATION OF NONCONJUGATED DIENES TO CYCLIC KETO ESTERS

The carboxylation of 1,5-hexadiene in the presence of (PPh3)2PdCl2 in 1-butanol at 100 °C gives butyl 2-(3-methyl-2-oxocyclopentyl)acetate (1) in good yield. Small amounts of linear diesters are also produced. A number of other olefins were also carboxylated to give mixtures of cyclic and linear products. Although carboxylation of monoolefins usually gives a mixture of regioisomers, cyclopentanone 1 is produced in >25:1 selectivity over the cyclohexanone regioisomer. Deuterium labeling and model studies were carried out in an attempt to explain the unusual regioselectivity observed. These studies suggest that although the reversible initial insertion of 1,5-hexadiene into Pd−H occurs with poor regioselectivity, the conversion of the regioisomer resulting from a 2,1-insertion to product is much faster than conversion of the other regioisomer to product.