cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
School Violence Beyond Columbine: A Complex Problem in Need of an Interdisciplinary Analysis

Before Columbine, people tended to look at school violence in fragmented ways, which reflected a disciplinary analysis of social problems. Explanations about the causes of school violence tended toward psychological and developmental explanations about why school-age children become violent and social control theory about the lack of attachment and involvement by youth in conventional culture. Corresponding policies to deal with the problem focused on better detection, preemptive intervention, closer supervision, zero tolerance, and peer mediation. This narrow microanalytical framing of the issue failed to consider the multiple causal components of this complex problem, which includes the interrelated role of teachers, school administrators, educational practices and effective pedagogy, school district policy, cultural framing, gendered educational expectations, and the changing state of family and community relations in a postmodern "heartless" society. Taking an interdisciplinary approach suggests simultaneous considerations of the interrelated components constituting the problem from micro to macro and the multiple levels in which the problem is manifest.
Erythrocyte Surface: Novel Determinant of Drug Susceptibility in Rodent Malaria

To study the role of the erythrocyte membrane in the process of chloroquine accumulation, surface polypeptides were digested with a nonspecific protease from Streptomyces griseus. This treatment activated a saturable process of chloroquine accumulation with an affinity and a specificity similar to those of mouse erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium berghei CS (chloroquine susceptible). Studies of competitive inhibitors of chloroquine accumulation yielded the following approximate values for K(i): amodiaquine, 2 x 10(-7) M; quinacrine, 5 x 10(-7) M; quinine, 2 x 10(-6) M; and mefloquine, 2 x 10(-5) M. Lack of a substrate requirement distinguished this process from the one used by P. berghei and permitted the protease to be used in studies of infected erythrocytes. Protease treatment of erythrocytes infected with P. berghei CR (chloroquine resistant) produced a dramatic transformation. Instead of describing a sigmoid curve, the process of chloroquine accumulation became saturable and substrate dependent, with a K(diss) of approximately 10(-8) M; i.e., protease-treated erythrocytes infected with P. berghei CR now behaved similarly to those infected with P. berghei CS. Coating the erythrocyte surface with albumin completely inhibited the protease-activated process of chloroquine accumulation. These findings are presented as evidence that erythrocyte surface components determine the affinity with which chloroquine is accumulated and thereby determine whether or not the malaria parasite will be susceptible to the drug.
Rex Stockton's Contributions to Group Counselor Education

ABSTRACT The best means of training group counselors continues to be discussed and debated in the field of small group work. The authors trace Rex Stockton's work from the use of criterion-based instruction in teaching group counseling to the current application of experiential and skill-based learning. They also examine Stockton's impact on the foundations and atmosphere of group work preparation from when he began in the field at the time of T-group popularity through the present. Stockton's influence on group leader development via his videotape training series will be discussed along with his mentoring and body of programmatic research.
Biomarkers of nephrotoxic acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common condition with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Epidemiologic data suggest that a significant proportion of AKI cases is at least partially attributable to nephrotoxin exposure. This is not surprising given intrinsic renal susceptibility to toxicant-induced injury, a consequence of the unique physiologic and biochemical properties of the normally functioning kidney. A number of pathophysiologic mechanisms have been identified that mediate toxic effects on the kidney, resulting in a variety of clinical syndromes ranging from subtle changes in tubular function to fulminant renal failure. Unfortunately, standard metrics used to diagnose and monitor kidney injury, such as blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, are insensitive and nonspecific, resulting in delayed diagnosis and intervention. Considerable effort has been made to identify biomarkers that will allow the earlier diagnosis of AKI. Further characterization of these candidate biomarkers will clarify their utility in the setting of acute nephrotoxicity, define new diagnostic and prognostic paradigms for kidney injury, facilitate clinical trials, and lead to novel effective therapies.
Cycloaddition protocol for the assembly of the hexacyclic framework associated with the kopsifoline alkaloids.

An approach to the hexacyclic framework of the kopsifoline alkaloids has been developed and is based on a Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclization−cycloaddition cascade. The resulting [3+2]-cycloadduct was readily converted into the TBS enol ether 23. Oxidation of the primary alcohol present in 23 followed by reaction with CsF afforded compound 24 that contains the complete hexacyclic skeleton of the kopsifolines.
Variation in sodium current amplitude between vasopressin and oxytocin hypothalamic supraoptic neurons.

Biophysical characteristics of tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium (Na+) currents were studied in vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) supraoptic neurons acutely isolated from rat hypothalamus. Na+ current...
Reducing the dose of human chorionic gonadotropin in high responders does not affect the outcomes of in vitro fertilization.

Objective The lowest effective hCG dose in high responders during IVF–embryo transfer (ET) has not been established. This study was performed to confirm that a dose of 3,300 IU is sufficient to provide adequate oocyte maturation and fertilization. Design Retrospective review of IVF clinical data. Setting Infertility center at a tertiary care university. Patient(s) Ninety-four IVF cycles were analyzed from high responders based on peak E 2 levels. Demographics were compared including age, diagnosis, and stimulation protocol. Intervention(s) On the day of hCG administration, if E 2 levels were ≥2,500 but Main outcome measure(s) Number of oocytes retrieved, proportion of mature oocytes, fertilization rates, chemical and clinical pregnancy rates (PR). The incidence and severity of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was also analyzed. Result(s) Mean ages were 35.4 ± 0.7 and 33.2 ± 0.7 for groups A and B, respectively. Peak E 2 levels differed significantly (2,907 ± 76 vs. 4,260 ± 129 pg/mL), as well as the mean number of eggs retrieved (15.9 ± 0.9 vs. 20.3 ± 1.2). Proportion of mature eggs (81.6% vs. 81.9%), fertilization rate (70.5% vs. 68.7%), chemical PR (58.7% vs. 58.7%), and clinical PR (50.0% vs. 43.5%) were similar. There was no difference in the incidence of mild, moderate, or severe OHSS. Conclusion(s) A reduced hCG dose of 3,300 IU results in a similar proportion of mature eggs, similar fertilization rates, and similar PRs compared to 5,000 IU. Reducing the dose of hCG does not eliminate the risk of OHSS in a high-risk group.
High risk but not always lethal: the effect of cirrhosis on thermally injured adults.

Abstract : The aim of this article was to determine the effect of cirrhosis on mortality in thermally injured adult patients. We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted to our burn center during 2003 to 2010. Eight hundred eight patients were included in this study, of whom 24 had the diagnosis of cirrhosis established from electronic medical records and/or autopsy reports. The mortality rate for the cirrhotic patients was 50%, and for the noncirrhotic patients it was 14.8%. On logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.10), TBSA (OR, 1.08; CI, 1.06-1.10), inhalation injury (OR, 3.17, CI, 1.61-6.25), and cirrhosis (OR, 8.78; CI, 2.97-25.98) had independent effects on mortality. Of the 24 cirrhotic patients in this study, the admission Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score for the patients who survived hospitalization was 12.1 plus or minus 4.0, and for the patients who died it was 13.8 plus or minus 6.0 (P =.4). When comparing patients with 10 to 50% TBSA burn, the mortality rate for cirrhotic patients was 83.3% (10/12), and for the noncirrhotic patients it was only 12.7% (50/394), P less than .0001. Adults with cirrhosis are rarely able to survive burn injuries greater than 10% TBSA. Although we did not detect a significant association between admission Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and death, the presence of cirrhosis is a high premorbid contributor and, therefore, new strategies are needed to improve outcomes.
INAV: Minimizing delay induced by DCF control packet losses in IEEE 802.11 to optimize throughput

IEEE 802.11 uses Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) as default channel access method which is based on Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) where all the nodes compete for the channel access. Based on this mechanism a node cannot transmit until the medium is free. Collision can occur if two or more stations within each other's transmission range transmit simultaneously. To overcome this problem several solutions have been proposed, for instance Request To Send/Clear To Send (RTS/CTS) mechanism, through which the channel is reserved for a specified time period known as Network Allocation Vector (NAV). Although this mechanism provide all the nodes to share the medium fairly but it is observed that this mechanism can lead to bandwidth underutilization, especially in networks with higher packet delivery failure rates. In this paper, we propose Intimated Network Allocation Vector (INAV) - a modified version of existing NAV mechanism - which considerably reduce bandwidth underutilization in such networks. This modification works by exploiting the backing-off feature of neighbors of the communicating nodes. The proposed technique recovers more than 93% of idle waiting time for neighbors of the nodes that fail to complete the four way handshake of RTS/CTS.
Optical simulation and fabrication of periodic triangular gratings for the enhancement of photovoltaic solar panels

The solar energy industry strives to produce more and more efficient and yet cost effective photovoltaic (PV) panels. Integration of specific micro/nano optical structures on the top surface of the PV panels is one of the efficient ways to increase their PV performance through enhancing light trapping and in-coupling. In this study, periodic triangular gratings (PTGs) in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were numerically simulated and optimized. The goal of this study is to enhance the ability of solar panels to convert maximum obtainable amount of solar energy by improving the optical in-coupling of light to PV material. Initial optical simulation results shown that a flat PV panel (without any enhancing micro-optical structures) exhibits an average incident light power of 0.327 W over a range of the incident light angles between 15o and 90o. Introduction of the PTG allows capturing the incoming sunlight and reflecting it back onto the PV material for a second or more chances for absorption and conversion into electricity. The light trapping and redirection is achieved through the total internal reflection (TIR) phenomenon. Geometry of the PTG was initially optimized with respect to an incident sunlight orientation of 15o, 30o, 45o, 60o, 75o, and 90o. Optical performance of the particular optimized PTGs was analyzed over daylight conditions and several optical parameters, such as average incident power and intensity, were calculated when sunlight orientation angle was changing from 15o to 90o. By adding the PTG optimized for 15o incidents light, an average incident power of 0.342 W was achieved (4.6% improvement of optical performance). Functional PTG prototypes were fabricated with optical surface quality (below 10 nm Ra). The simulation results allow understanding how the overall daytime photovoltaic performance of solar panels can be improved.
The cell attachment determinant in fibronectin

Fibronectin possesses a domain that interacts with cell surfaces. The ability of fibronectin to promote cell attachment can be duplicated with a short amino acid sequence, glycyl-L-arginyl-glycyl-L-aspartyl-L-serine, taken from that domain. The tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp appears to be irreplaceable for maintenance of the activity of this peptide, whereas the serine residue can be replaced with some, but apparently not all, possible residues. This recognition sequence, or a closely related sequence, is present in a number of proteins other than fibronectin that interact with cells. These proteins include collagens, fibrinogen, thrombin, a bacterial surface protein, and two viral proteins, as well as discoidin-I, a protein implicated in the aggregation of Dictyostelium discoideum. A similar sequence is also repeated in some, but not all, fibronectin molecules, making it possible that some fibronectin molecules have more than a single cell attachment site. Synthetic peptides constructed from sequences taken from several of these other proteins have also been shown to promote cell attachment. The tripeptide sequence may, therefore, constitute an ancient cellular recognition mechanism common to many proteins.
An Application of Exploratory Statistical Methods to Language Pathology

Two simple exploratory statistical techniques, stem and leaf displays and box plots, are described and applied to the analysis of Western Aphasia Battery Cortical Quotient scores for 111 acute stroke patients. A stem and leaf display highlights the shape of a distribution of data and is useful for quickly ordering and displaying data in the form of a frequency distribution; box plots focus special attention on the tails of a distribution and are valuable for summarizing, analyzing, and comparing group data. These methods were used to determine an internal Cortical Quotient cutoff score to distinguish between normal and cognitively impaired patients. The utility of this Cortical Quotient cutoff score and the relevance of these statistical techniques to other research in communicative disorders are discussed.
Bioluminescence: Dual Mechanism in a Planktonic Tunicate Produces Brilliant Surface Display

Luminescent flashes emanate spontaneously and on mechanical stimulation from the bodies of Oikopleura dioica (Urochordata, Larvacea); flashes also emanate, on mechanical stimulation only, from both their occupied and discarded mucous houses. The luminescence is intrinsic to the animals and their houses. Field observations suggest that, because of this dual method of light production, larvaceans may contribute substantially to surface coastal displays of marine bioluminescence.
Housing choice and community success for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness

Consumer choice is a central principle of psychosocial rehabilitation and supported housing approaches. This study assessed level of housing choice and the relationship of choice to community success in supported housing demonstration projects in five states. Assessment of level of choice about housing revealed very limited housing options and a high degree of influence from service providers over housing choice. Despite few options, most respondents liked their housing option(s), and felt they had enough information to make a good housing decision. The relationship of choice to community success over time demonstrated that choice was positively related to housing satisfaction, residential stability, and psychological well-being. Discussion focuses on implications of the findings for mental health services and public policy.
Comparison of analytical predictions and experimental results for a 1:8-scale steel containment model pressurized to failure

Abstract Predictions for the response of a 1:8-scale model of a steel nuclear containment building to overpressurization are compared to experimental results. Finite element analyses were used to predict the model's response. Strains, displacements, and leak rate measurements were made at 21 different pressure levels. Comparisons of the pressure histories for strain and displacement at a point, and the spatial variation of strain and displacement are made. In addition, comparisons of a more global nature, such as the capacity of the model and the failure mode, are discussed. An evaluation of the predictive capabilities and the failure criteria is made in light of these comparisons.
Variations in143Nd/144Nd and87Sr/86Sr ratios in oceanic basalts

143Nd/144Nd ratios have been determined on 37 samples of oceanic basalt, with a typical precision of±2–3 × 10−5 (2 σ). Ocean island and dredged and cored submarine basalts are included for which reliable measurements of87Sr/86Sr ratios exist in the literature or have been measured as part of this study. A strong negative correlation exists between143Nd/144Nd and87Sr/86Sr ratios in basalts from Iceland and the Reykjanes Ridge, but such a clear correlation does not exist for samples from the Hawaiian Islands. However, when other ocean island basalts from the Atlantic are included there is an overall correlation between these two parameters. Increases and decreases in Rb/Sr in oceanic basalt source regions have in general been accompanied by decreases and increases respectively in Sm/Nd ratios. The compatibility of the data with single-stage models is assessed and it is concluded that enrichment and depletion events, which are consistent with transfer of silicate melts, are responsible for the observed variation.
Assay Procedures for Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, and Their Sulfoxides and Determination of Urinary Excretion of These Compounds in Mental Patients

Assay procedures for thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and their sulfoxides are described which are rapid, simple, and relatively specific (about 0.5 μg of drug or sulfoxide/ml). Chlorpromazine interferes with the determination of these drugs whereas imipramine, desipramine, biperidin, and haloperidol do not. The urinary concentrations of these four compounds were determined in 24-hr samples and timed-interval collections obtained from patients with schizophrenic reactions. Thioridazine and trifluoperazine seem to be extensively metabolized, and less than 1% of the unchanged drugs and 2–6% of the corresponding sulfoxides were observed in 24-hr urine samples. The ratio between the parent drug and its respective sulfoxide was fairly constant. Urinary excretions of thioridazine and its sulfoxide were dose independent, whereas those of trifluoperazine and its sulfoxide showed a strong dose dependency. Timed-interval collections during an 8-hr period showed rather consistent excretions of unchanged trifluoperazine and thioridazine but wide intra and interpatient variations in the sulfoxide excretions.
To swim or not to swim: regional effects of serotonin, octopamine and amine mixtures in the medicinal leech

Focally treating the head brain of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis with various biogenic amines affected the initiation, termination and maintenance of fictive swimming (i.e., the neural correlate of swimming). Application of serotonin to saline surrounding only the head brain inhibited fictive swimming, whereas removing serotonin induced swimming. This contrasts sharply with previous observations that serotonin applied to the nerve cord induces swimming. Although application of octopamine to the brain activated swimming, a mixture of octopamine and serotonin inhibited swimming. Subsequent removal of this mixture from the brain activated robust swimming and was more potent for activating swimming than either the removal of serotonin or the application of octopamine. Swim episodes induced by brain-specific manipulations of octopamine had more swim bursts per episode than those induced by serotonin. These brain-specific effects of the amines on fictive swimming are probably due to the modulation of higher-order circuits that control locomotion in the leech. We observed that serotonin or a mixture of serotonin and octopamine hyperpolarized an identified descending brain interneuron known as Tr2. Removal of the mixture caused Tr2 to exhibit membrane potential depolarizations that correlated in time with the expression of swim episodes.
Modeling General Hysteresis Behavior and Random Vibration Application

A simple constructive technique for the development of rate-type hysteresis models for general nonlinear system is presented. The technique is used to develop hysteresis models to incorporate time history-dependent postyield restorting forces, and general pinching behavior in smoothly varying deteriorating models. Applications of these models to random vibration analysis modeling via simulation and equivalent linearization techniques under Gaussian noise excitation is presented.
Endophyte sporulation in root nodules of actinorhizal plants

All strains of isolated Frankia possess the genetic capacity to form sporangia since, when grown in vitro, they usually sporulate freely, depending on the physical and chemical environment in which they are cultured. Endophytic sporulation involving Frankia differentiation of sporangia within root nodules has been described in only 16 host species in 9 genera within six families of actinorhizal plants. From studies published to date, endophytic sporulation cannot be correlated with specific environmental conditions surrounding the host plants. Based on the literature and on previously unpublished observations from field and greenhouse studies, an account is given of the occurrence of sporulation in actinorhizal plants with emphasis on Alnus, Casuarina, Comptonia, Elaeagnus and Myrica. The possible role of the host plant in controlling Frankia sporulation as contrasted to the control exerted by the genetic constitution of the microbial symbiont is explored.
Asymptotic eigenvalue distribution of block-Toeplitz matrices

The need for approximating block-Toeplitz with Toeplitz block matrices by means of block-circulant with circulant block matrices with the objective of transforming an inherently ill-posed image deconvolution problem to a well-posed one motivated a surge of papers on the analysis of the quality as well as the speed of convergence of the algorithms that produce such approximants to serve as preconditioners for conjugate-gradient methods. This correspondence contributes to that surge by giving a simple proof of the fact that the sequence of eigenvalues of the Hermitian block Toeplitz with Toeplitz-block matrices are asymptotically equidistributed. To do this, Weyl's (1916) results on the distribution properties of multidimensional sequences are exploited. Inferences to related results are made.
A commutativity theorem for rings

Let R be an associative ring with identity in which every element is either nilpotent or a unit. The following results are established. The set N of nilpotent elements in R is an ideal. If R/N is finite and if x ≡ y (mod N) implies x2 = y2 or both x and y commute with all elements of N, then R is commutative. Examples are given to show that R need not be commutative if “X2 = y2” is replaced by “xk = yK” for any integer k > 2. The case N = (0) yields Wedderburn's Theorem.
The Pliocene-Pleistocene Boundary, Italy and California

The Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary, defined by the first evolutionary appearance of Globorotalia (Truncorotalia) truncatulinoides (d9Orbigny) from its immediate ancestor Globorotalia {Truncorotalia) tosaensis Takayanagi and Saito, is at or near the base of the Calabrian in Italy and within the Wheelerian Stage of Balcom Canyon, California. This level is thought to be correlative with the base of the Gilsa magnetic event, about 1.79 m.y. ago. The boundary separates also the Discoaster brouweri Tan Sin Hok zone below from the Gephyrocapsa caribbeanica Boudreaux and Hay zone above. A younger Gephyrocapsa oceanica Kamptner zone is defined in the upper part of the Calabrian in both the Santa Maria di Catanzaro and Le Castella sections of Italy; the two sections are of the same age. Referring to paleoclimatic cycles near the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary, a cooler interval is recorded in the late Pliocene of Italy (Astian) by Lona (1962) and in the late Pliocene of California. The Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary is assigned near the base of a slightly warmer cycle, and it is associated with a transgressive phase with rising sea levels in the Calabrian, a glacioeustatic relationship. A higher stand of sea level in the Calabrian resulted in improved circulation between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, resulting in the introduction of exotic benthic Atlantic species into the Mediterranean. A long preglacial Pleistocene (Calabrian) of Selli (1967a) is followed by the major glacial Pleistocene; the glacial Pleistocene is thought to coincide mostly with the Brunhes normal magnetic epoch (Bandy and Casey, 1969a, 1969b). A major cooling in southern California and Italy is defined by the influx of a dominantly sinistrally coiled population of the polar form, Globorotalia (Turborotalia) pachvderma (Ehrenberg). This event has been defined at or near the base of the Lomita Marl in southern California, a formation dated radiometrically as being about 3 m.y. old (Obradovich, 1965, 1968); this age is now thought to be slightly more than three times too great (Bandy, 1969a).
IS THE POPULATION SIZE OF A SPECIES RELEVANT TO ITS EVOLUTION

This paper examines aspects of genetic draft, the stochastic force induced by substitutions at one locus on the dynamics of a closely linked locus. Of particular interest is the role of population size on genetic draft. Remarkably, the rate of substitution of weakly selected advantageous mutations decreases with increasing population size, whereas that for deleterious mutations increases with population size. This dependency on population size is the opposite of that for genetic drift. Moreover, these rates are only weakly dependent on population size, again contrary to the strong dependency of drift-based dynamics. Four models of the strongly selected loci responsible for genetic draft are examined. Three of these exhibit a very weak dependency on population size, which implies that their induced effects will also be weakly dependent on population size. Together, these results suggest that population size and binomial sampling may not be relevant to a species' evolution. If this is the case, then a number of evolutionary conundrums are resolved.
The ultraviolet radiation environment of Antarctica - McMurdo Station during September-October 1987

Daily data from the Nimbus-7 TOMS were combined with a model of atmospheric radiative transfer to compute the time evolution of ultraviolet irradiance, at wavelengths from 290 to 350 nm, incident on McMurdo Station during September-October 1987. Large changes in column ozone occur as the polar vortex moves over the site. This is accompanied by correspondingly large variations in UV radiation at the earth's surface. At a wavelength near 305 nm, the irradiance in early October exceeds values appropriate to an unperturbed ozone layer by a factor of 5-6. As December 21 approaches, the noontime UV irradiance increases, irrespective of changes in ozone.
Conflict and Social Order: A Research Strategy for Complex Propositions1

Contrary to some impressions, the serious study of social conflict is not a recent innovation. Further, the legacy of past studies has been cumulative, resulting in a valuable array of hypotheses, empirical generalizations, conceptual schemes, and proto-theories. The state of the field, accordingly, indicates the timely usefulness of consideration of strategy and tactics for building valid empirically-based theories. Singular propositions concerning social conflict are severely limited in empirical applicability by the necessity of invoking the rule of ceteris paribus. But full specification of relevant contexts is impracticable. A strategy proposed here is the use of theoretically specified multivariate models. This approach is illustrated by specific empirical generalizations, drawn from laboratory research, field experiments, large-scale field studies, and comparative macro-analyses. Additional possibilities for further development are suggested by stating a hypothetical “law” of collective conflict, on the basis of which additional predictive hypotheses are suggested.
GaN-AlGaN high electron mobility transistors for multiple biomolecule detection such as photosystem I and human MIG

This paper demonstrates a novel way of using a single type of high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device for detecting two kinds of biomolecules (Photosystem I and recombinant human monokine induced by interferon gamma, MIG). MIG was successfully detected in 150 mM concentration of phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Floating gate configuration used for biomolecule detection eliminates the need of external gate voltage and represents purely the effect of biomolecules immobilization and binding events on the gate surface.
Testing for market efficiency in emerging markets: evidence from the Athens Stock Exchange

The purpose of this study is to test the efficiency level of the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). It performs efficiency tests for the years 2000–2002. The results of these tests enable us to argue that over the two years of the study, ASE was not an efficient market as it suffered from volatility clustering. However, the FTSE/ASE 20 index showed evidence of weak form efficiency as it followed a random walk pattern.
Image-Based Brachytherapy: A Forum for Collaboration between Radiation Oncologists and Diagnostic Radiologists

There has been increased interest in implementing image-guided brachytherapy to better define the structures of interest and assess the radiation dose distribution in tumors and surrounding normal tissues. This is particularly helpful in the treatment of pelvic malignancies such as cervix cancer and prostate cancer, in which the tumor lies in close relationship to the bladder and rectosigmoid. This provides a forum for the collaboration of diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists.
Species Richness and Pollen Loads of Hummingbirds Using Forest Fragments in Southern Costa Rica1

In many areas of the humid tropics, relatively small patches of forest is the habitat most commonly available for forestdwelling organisms. To assess resident hummingbird use of forest fragments near the Las Cruces Biological Station in southwestern Costa Rica, we mist-netted birds in five fragments (0.3‐20 ha; ca 1300 m elev.) and the station’s 226ha forest preserve (ca 900‐1280 m elev.). From January 1994 through mid-March 1999, we recorded 1069 captures of 21 hummingbird species during 49,900 net hours. Species richness, diversity indices, and capture rates increased asymptotically with patch size, as expected. We captured 16 hummingbird species in both the largest fragment (20 ha) and in the nearby forest preserve. Non-forest hummingbirds did not occur more frequently in the fragments than in the preserve, and all fragments supported a mixture of forest-interior and canopy-dwelling hummingbird species, along with a diverse group of hummingbird-pollinated plants. Phaethornis guy was common at all sites and visited .13 plant species in the fragments during the 1998 dry season (based on analyses of pollen collected from the birds’ heads). In contrast, Eutoxeres aquila was found at only the largest three sites (10, 20, and 226 ha) and carried pollen from only one plant species during the 1998 dry season. Lampornis castaneoventris, a high-elevation hummingbird species, was far more common in the fragments than in the preserve, while three species typically found at lower elevations were rare in the fragments and common in the preserve. These distribution patterns could be influenced by local climatic differences because the fragments are higher and receive more cloud mist and annual precipitation than the preserve. Our data show that pollen loads on hummingbird species vary, and this has implications for gene flow among hummingbird-pollinated plants. Although our results are consistent with previous reports that hummingbird species may be less affected by deforestation than insectivorous avian species such as army ant followers, it is important to note that from the perspective of the genetics and demographics of hummingbird-pollinated plants, the important issue is whether appropriate pollinator species are able to move plant propagules among subpopulations of plants in fragmented landscapes. We conclude that the biodiversity of tropical forest fragments as small as 10 to 20 ha is high enough to warrant long-term preservation of these areas, especially if they are located near larger tracts of forest.
Extracting STRIPS Representations of Actions and Events

Knowledge about how the world changes over time is a vital component of commonsense knowledge for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and natural language understanding. Actions and events are fundamental components to any knowledge about changes in the state of the world: the states before and after an event differ in regular and predictable ways. We describe a novel system that tackles the problem of extracting knowledge from text about how actions and events change the world over time. We leverage standard language-processing tools, like semantic role labelers and coreference resolvers, as well as large-corpus statistics like pointwise mutual information, to identify STRIPS representations of actions and events, a type of representation commonly used in AI planning systems. In experiments on Web text, our extractor’s Area under the Curve (AUC) improves by more than 31% over the closest system from the literature for identifying the preconditions and add effects of actions. In addition, we also extract significant aspects of STRIPS representations that are missing from previous work, including delete effects and arguments.
Improving medical graduates' training in palliative care: advancing education and practice

The needs of an aging population and advancements in the treatment of both chronic and life-threatening diseases have resulted in increased demand for quality palliative care. The doctors of the future will need to be well prepared to provide expert symptom management and address the holistic needs (physical, psychosocial, and spiritual) of patients dealing with serious illness and the end of life. Such preparation begins with general medical education. It has been recommended that teaching and clinical experiences in palliative care be integrated throughout the medical school curriculum, yet such education has not become the norm in medical schools across the world. This article explores the current status of undergraduate medical education in palliative care as published in the English literature and makes recommendations for educational improvements which will prepare doctors to address the needs of seriously ill and dying patients.
Intraorganizational conflict in the hospital purchasing decision making process.

Empirical data collected from administrators and purchasing managers in 56 general short term hospital facilities together with in-depth interviews conducted in 9 hospitals provided insights as to ...
Smart Materials in Inflatable Structure Applications

The focus of this work is to investigate the use of smart materials for vibration testing and control of inflated satellite components. Lightweight inflatable structures are a viable alternative in aerospace structure design. These structures, however, pose special problems in testing and in controlling vibrations due to their extremely lightweight, flexible, and high-damping properties. The smart materials offer the required flexibility with very high electromechanical coupling and, hence are logical elements for the use in the dynamics and control of inflated structures. The aim of the new concept presented in this work is to provide a refined methodology in ground testing for verifying predictive modeling efforts, and to design sensor/actuator systems to actively control unwanted vibrations of an inflated space object. Multiple sensors/actuators and modern state-space based controllers have been implemented to study the various performance of the proposed concept.
The Incidence of Body-Checked and Misshapen Eggs in Relation to the Number of Hens Per Cage and Time of Oviposition

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine if the incidence of body-checked and misshapen eggs were a significant problem and to determine the relationship of number of hens per cage and time of oviposition to the incidence of body-checked and misshapen eggs in a commercial egg operation. In Experiments 1 to 3, eggs laid by three different flocks of hens were scored for degree of misshapenness and body checks. In Experiments 4 to 6, eggs laid by hens housed at various cage densities or manipulated back and forth to various cage densities were also scored. The results indicated that the number of body-checked eggs varied from .9% to 5.4% and 8.5% for the hens in Experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. However, the total percentage of misshapen and body-checked eggs was approximately the same (20%) for the different hens. Eggs laid between 0600 hr and 0800 hr had the highest percentage of body checks with 4.0%, 13.4%, and 32.7% being body-checked from hens in Experiment 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Very few body-checked or misshapen eggs were laid after 1000 hr. The incidence of body-checked eggs was directly related to the number of hens per cage.
Young Investigator Perspectives. Teaching and the postdoctoral experience: impact on transition to faculty positions.

This editorial continues with our Young Investigator Perspectives series. Drs. Uno and Walton are young investigators who hold faculty positions. They completed a K12 postdoctoral program through t...
Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy: A Risk Factor for Short-Term Wound Complications after Radical Resection for Rectal Cancer?

Background Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for rectal cancer may increase wound complications after oncologic proctectomy. We aimed to assess the relationship between neoadjuvant RT and 30-day wound complications after radical surgery for rectal cancer. Study Design We identified rectal cancer patients (International Classification of Diseases, revision-9 [ICD-9] code 154.1) who underwent radical resection, using NSQIP from 2005 to 2010. Patients were stratified into preoperative radiation vs no radiation groups. Our primary outcome was any wound complication. The association between preoperative RT and postoperative wound complication rate was assessed by univariate, multivariable, and propensity score analyses. Results Of 242,670 colorectal cases, 6,297 patients were included. Of these, 2,476 (39%) received RT within 90 days preoperatively. The RT group, compared with the no RT group, received more chemotherapy within 30 days preoperatively (15.0% vs 2.5%, p Conclusions Neoadjuvant radiotherapy does not appear to be an independent risk factor for wound complications after radical surgery for rectal cancer.
THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF VAPOR-LIQUID AND VAPOR-SOLID EQUILIBRIA DATA TO OBTAIN INTERACTION SECOND VIRIAL COEFFICIENTS

In the prediction of thermodynamic properties of liquid and gaseous mixtures, often it is necessary to know the potential energy of interaction between like and unlike species. If sufficient data are available for each pure component comprising the mixture, the potential energy for like interactions will be known. However, the potential energy for the unlike interactions is generally to be predicted from pure component data. For example, in the derivation of Prigogine’s [1] average potential model for liquid mixtures and in some of the more refined theories of corresponding states for mixtures [2], it is assumed that $$ { \in _{12}} = {({ \in _{11}}{ \in _{22}})^{\frac{1}{2}}} $$ (1) $$ {\sigma _{12}} = \frac{{{\sigma _{11}} + {\sigma _{22}}}}{2} $$ (2) where eij- and σ tj are energy and length parameters in a two parameter potential energy function such as the Lennard-Jones (12: 6) potential. That these rules are inadequate has been demonstrated recently by several investigators [3–6]. If substantial progress is to be made in the prediction of mixture behavior from the theory of inter-molecular forces, it is necessary that more accurate mixing rules be developed. The values of e 12 and σ12 can be calculated from a variety of observed data; for example, binary diffusion coefficients, thermal diffusion coefficients, viscosity of mixtures, and second interaction virial coefficients. It should be noted that each property yields its characteristic force constants and one cannot in general work interchangeably with force constants derived from different properties.
Energetic aminated-azole assemblies from intramolecular and intermolecular N–H⋯O and N–H⋯N hydrogen bonds

Compounds with adjacent C-NO2, C-NH2 and N-NH2 groups were designed and synthesized via amination. Their structures were characterized by infrared, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The effect of intramolecular and intermolecular N-HO and N-HN hydrogen bonds is discussed. Detonation properties were calculated by EXPLO 5 software based on calculated HOFs and experimental densities.
Tier 3: Intensive mathematics intervention strategies

The purpose of this chapter is to offer strategies for developing tier 3 treatment packages for students experiencing mathematics difficulties. There is a paucity of available standard protocol interventions that meet evidence-based expectations and current research is underway to address this gap. Types of mathematics challenges are reviewed and a general overview of the status of mathematics interventions is provided. The majority of this chapter describes six key elements of intensive mathematics intervention packages: (a) skill by treatment match; (b) explicit instruction; (c) self-instruction; (d) concrete–representation–abstract sequencing; (e) productive opportunities for practice; and (f) motivation. Corresponding evidence for the use of each of these strategies is described with emphasis on number combinations and fluency.
Heme-nitrosyls: electronic structure implications for function in biology.

ConspectusThe question of why mammalian systems use nitric oxide (NO), a potentially hazardous and toxic diatomic, as a signaling molecule to mediate important functions such as vasodilation (blood pressure control) and nerve signal transduction initially perplexed researchers when this discovery was made in the 1980s. Through extensive research over the past two decades, it is now well rationalized why NO is used in vivo for these signaling functions, and that heme proteins play a dominant role in NO signaling in mammals. Key insight into the properties of heme-nitrosyl complexes that make heme proteins so well poised to take full advantage of the unique properties of NO has come from in-depth structural, spectroscopic, and theoretical studies on ferrous and ferric heme-nitrosyls. This Account highlights recent findings that have led to greater understanding of the electronic structures of heme-nitrosyls, and the contributions that model complex studies have made to elucidate Fe–NO bonding are highlighte...
EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE TRANSACTIONS

This paper develops a partial equilibrium mode in a simple extraction framework to identify the channels through which the fluctuation of exchange rate affects international trade. The major result evidence from the theoretical model is that an increase in the variance of the general economic shock in the exchange rate process reduces the volume of exports. Developing countries may increase their profit from international trade than increase accessibility to foreign exchange markets. The validity of the theoretical result is further investigated empirically for seven developed and four developing economies using the GARCH approach. The empirical evidence in the validity trade relationship provides mixed results across developed and developing economies. In the case of developing economies, the empirical results offer unequivocal support for the view that fluctuation of real exchange rates has negative effect on the volume of export, which the relationship is found to the ambiguous among developed countries.
Group Actions, Equivalence and Invariants

We now turn our attention to examining in a general way such group actions as (11.25) and the corresponding equivalence relations.
Multi-heterodyne spectroscopic techniques using Fabry-Pérot quantum cascade lasers for trace gas detection

We have studied various spectroscopic detection techniques for applications in multi-heterodyne spectroscopy performed in a dual comb configuration. Self-coherence properties of a multi-mode QCL are also investigated.
Maximum-Likelihood Analysis of the Tethythere Hypothesis Based on a Multigene Data Set and a Comparison of Different Models of Sequence Evolution

Hyracoids have been allied with either perissodactyls or tethytheres (i.e., Proboscidea + Sirenia) based on morphological data. The latter hypothesis, termed Paenungulata, is corroborated by numerous molecular studies. However, molecular studies have failed to support Tethytheria, a group that is supported by morphological data. We examined relationships among living paenungulate orders using a multigene data set that included sequences from four mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, tRNA valine, 16S rRNA, cytochrome b) and four nuclear genes (aquaporin, A2AB, IRBP, vWF). Nineteen maximum-likelihood models were employed, including models with process partitions for base composition and substitution parameterizations. With the inclusion of partitions with a heterogeneous base composition, 18 of 19 models favored Hyracoidea + Sirenia. All 19 models favored Hyracoidea + Sirenia after excluding heterogeneous base composition partitions. Most of the support for Hyracoidea + Sirenia derived from the mitochondrial genes (bootstrap support ranged from 51 to 99%); Tethytheria, in turn, received 0 to 19% support in different analyses. Bootstrap support deriving from the nuclear genes was more evenly split among the competing hypotheses (3 to 45% for Tethytheria; 17.5 to 62% for Hyracoidea + Sirenia). Lineage-specific rate variation among both mitochondrial and nuclear genes may contribute to the different results that were obtained with mitochondrial versus nuclear data. Whether Tethytheria or a competing hypothesis is correct, short internodes on the molecular phylogenies suggest that paenungulate orders diverged from each other over a 5- to 8-million-year time window extending from the late Paleocene into the early Eocene. We also used likelihood-ratio tests to compare different models of sequence evolution. A gamma distribution of rates results in a greater improvement in likelihood scores than does an allowance for invariant sites. Twenty-one rate partitions corresponding to stems, loops, and codon positions of different genes result in higher likelihood scores than a gamma distribution of rates and/or an allowance for invariant sites. Process partitions of the data that incorporate base composition and substitution parameterizations result in significant improvements in likelihood scores in comparison to models that allow only for relative rate differences among partitions.