cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial flow of yield-power-law fluids: Numerical analysis, experimental study and the application for drilling fluid losses in fractured formations

Abstract A theoretical solution for radial flow of Yield-Power-Law (Herschel–Bulkley) fluids between two parallel disks is presented. The fundamental equations are based on momentum balance in radial coordinates. The solution encompasses the Newtonian, Bingham Plastic and Power-Law fluids as special cases. The numerical solution has been compared with experimental data obtained from radial flow between two parallel disks. Upon application of mathematical simplifications, a closed form expression for pressure drop for radial flow of Yield-Power-Law (YPL) fluids is obtained and presented as an “approximate analytical” solution. The validity of the approximate solution is examined versus numerical solution. The application of the approximate solution to the prediction of drilling fluid losses in fractured formations is discussed.
Cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase activity evaluation of endosequence root repair material

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of a new bioceramic root repair material, EndoSequence Root Repair Material (ESRRM; Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA), and to compare these characteristics with those of ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK) and Geristore (GR; Den-Mat LLC, Santa Maria, CA). Methods Human Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells were exposed to 1-, 3-, and 7-day elutes of the materials (100% and 50% strength) for 24 hours after which the bioactivity and ALP activity of the cells were evaluated using a methylthiazol sulfophenyl (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay and para -Nitrophenylphosphate colorimetric assay, respectively. In the positive control group, Triton X-100 (Boehringer Mannheim Corp, Indianapolis, IN) was used to lyse the cells, representing 100% cytotoxicity, and in the negative control group cells received fresh culture medium only. Data were statistically analyzed using the unpaired t test and 1-way analysis of variance. Results The results revealed that the bioactivity of the cells as well as ALP activity were significantly decreased after exposure to ESRRM elutes in almost all time periods, both in 100% and 50% concentrations, with the exception of ALP activity of day 1 elutes of ESRRM at 50% concentration. MTA did not change the bioactivity or ALP activity of the cells. GR elutes of 100% concentration reduced the bioactivity on days 1 and 3, whereas GR elutes of 50% concentration affected the cells only on day 1. None of the GR elutes had any effect on ALP activity of the cells. Conclusions It was concluded that ESRRM elutes of all time periods in general reduced the bioactivity and ALP activity of osteoblast-like cells. GR reduced bioactivity only, whereas MTA had no effect on the cells.
Grain alignment and magnetization anisotropy of Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4

Procedures have been developed to make Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 powders which have thec-axis of all the grains aligned in one direction. By rotating a powder sample mixed with liquid epoxy about an axis perpendicular to a strong applied magnetic field, thec-axis of the grains aligns with the axis of rotation. The procedure works for any material having the maximum room-temperature susceptibility perpendicular to thec-axis. Using this technique, we measured the magnetic anisotropy of this electron-carrier high-temperature superconductor.
Increasing consensus in trait judgments through outcome dependency

Abstract This experiment examined two methods for increasing consensus and reducing biases in trait judgment: (1) outcome dependency, and (2) the presence or absence of particular social roles when making trait judgments. Subjects participated in groups and watched videotapes of eight different peers being interviewed on questions relevant to trait attributes. Outcome dependent subjects were led to believe that they would choose one of the interviewees to teach them a game and that all subjects in the group would compete against one another to win a prize. Subjects rated each target on 12 different trait dimensions and completed a recall task. The trait ratings were analyzed using the Social Relations Model; results indicated that outcome dependency increased the consensus among judges (target variance) and reduced idiosyncratic judgments (relationship variance). No differences in the recall data as a function of outcome dependency occurred. In addition, the presence or absence of a rating task had no effect on any of the dependent variables.
Gastroduodenal Mucosal Defense

The gastroduodenal mucosa withstands injury from acid, drugs, foodstuffs, and other factors. Defense mechanisms include pre-epithelial and epithelial barriers, submucosal acid sensors, prostaglandin generation, endogenous protective gases, and other chemical mediators. Recent studies have focused on proteinase-activated receptors and their linkage to prostaglandin formation, as well as on antioxidants targeted to reduce harmful reactive oxygen species. Investigation continues into the protective roles of calcitonin gene-related peptide, hydrogen sulfide, annexin-1, survivin, and methylnicotinamide. This article also summarizes some new findings on the genetics of ulcer formation and the effects of age and gender on mucosal defense and touches on current developments in drugs, including considerations for future therapeutic agents.
Tuning JPEG 2000 decompression performance via rounding: theory and practice

JPEG 2000 inverse scalar quantization includes a reconstruction rounding factor that has a range of allowable values within the standard. Although the standard notes a fixed value that works reasonably well in practice, implementations are allowed to use other values in an effort to improve the reconstructed image quality. This paper discusses some of the issues involved in adjusting the rounding factor.
Soil amplification: some refinements

Abstract The most widely used techniques for the study of one-dimensional amplification of vertically propagating seismic waves involve solution of the dynamic equations in the frequency domain with linearly viscoelastic material properties. Material nonlinearities are approximately modeled by iterative use of linear solutions, adjusting values of modulus and damping until they are compatible with computed levels of strain. The program SHAKE is the best known example of a code using this procedure. Several refinements to the iterative scheme originally proposed by Seed and Idriss are presented in this paper. In particular, it is shown that the solution for the layers underlying the control motion can be obtained in one single step, when the mass matrix is diagonal. Use of the shear stress in place of the shear strain as the controlling parameter in determining material properties gives faster convergence and identifies cases of potential non-convergence. Trivial modifications are also proposed to the standard scheme that would enable the researcher to study the amplification or deconvolution of non-vertically incident SH waves with a code like SHAKE. These modifications consist simply in changing the mass density of the soil, and redefining the characteristic strain.
Kinship foster family type and placement discharge outcomes

Using a combination of survey and administrative data describing 453 public kinship foster family placements in Illinois, this study examines the relationship between kinship family type and the timing and disposition of children's placement discharge outcomes. Family types are identified using an empirically-grounded typology of kinship families based on family structure and household composition (Zinn, 2010). In order to explore the mechanisms governing the relationships between family type and children's placement discharge outcomes, the moderating effects of several other kinship family characteristics are also examined. Results suggest significant differences in the type and timing of children's placement discharge outcomes across kinship family type as well as two other kinship family characteristics: caregiver age and fostering competency. Implications for kinship family scholarship, policy, and practice are discussed.
Faculty Development in SACS-Accredited Community Colleges

This article presents the results of an exploratory study of community college faculty development activities. The purpose of the study was to determine if community colleges evaluate faculty development efforts and use the results to shape a coherent faculty development plan that supports the mission of the institution. The community colleges in this study clearly relied on traditional approaches to faculty development and made minimal efforts at evaluation, preferring to rely on untested assumptions and past practices. Their efforts tend to be unfocused, with little or no attempt to deliberately connect activites to the institutional strategic plan.With increasing calls for accountability coupled with shrinking resources, it becomes imperative that community colleges demonstrate that they wisely use their resources to impact the mission of the institutions. This means that community colleges must develop focused faculty development programs that have clear and distinct goals that are intended to improve...
The Role of Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism in Online Consumers’ Responses Toward Persuasive Communication on the Web

The traditional conceptualization of individualism and collectivism as ideas on opposite ends of a dichotomous continuum is limited and in need of better formulation. This study tested Triandis’ horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism typology for its ability to detect differences in Web users’ cultural orientations within an individualistic culture, and examined the role of these cultural orientations in people’s media use, Web skills and challenges, and attitude toward Web advertising. Findings from an online survey among Web users suggest that these types of cultural orientations impacted people’s perceived Web skills and their attitudes toward Web advertising in both general and specific ways. Suggestions are advanced for future research to better understand the influence of cultural orientations on consumer response toward computer-mediated communication.
The effects of CRF and α-helical CRF on anxiety in normal and hypophysectomized rats

The effect of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) on anxiety in normal and hypophysectomized (HYPOX) rats was investigated. Intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.) of 2 μg of CRF increased anx...
A review of TRISO fuel performance models

Abstract Several advanced reactor designs incorporate tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles to achieve high coolant temperature and high fuel burnup levels and thus require reliable and robust fuel performance models (FPMs) to evaluate reactor performance. This manuscript provides a detailed and concise review of the numerous published TRISO FPMs. The article begins with a brief review of TRISO fuel particles, before describing the important fuel behavior and failure mechanisms of TRISO fuel. Suggested material property correlations for use in TRISO fuel performance modeling are summarized with an emphasis on the limits of validity for those correlations and notes regarding their use and origin. A review of the major historical and current TRISO FPMs assesses each model’s capabilities and origin and provides a systematic comparison of the codes to document similarities and differences in their features. Finally, areas of improvement and unsolved problems are discussed that may limit the accuracy of TRISO fuel performance modeling.
Regulation of gonadotropin-stimulable adenylyl cyclase of the primate corpus luteum.

Abstract In an effort to understand the molecular mechanisms that control luteal function in the human and nonhuman primates, we have investigated the experimental conditions for expression of gonadotropin-induced adenylyl cyclase (AC) in membrane particles from primate corpus luteum (CL) and some of the factors modulating the enzyme activity. We also examined the usefulness of the cell-free model for studying the role of AC in the regulation of CL functions in human and nonhuman primates. Enzyme activity was dependent on guanine nucleotide and Mg ion. Dose-response curves showed that the AC activation constants for hCG was about 0.1 μg/ml. This value did not shift after the addition of guanine nucleotide. Enzyme responsiveness to prostaglandin E2 was small and, in contrast to a number of other nonprimate species, AC from the human CL was not stimulated by catecholamines. Calcium directly inhibited responsiveness of hCG-sensitive AC; inhibition was significant at 0.5 mM CaCl2 (in the presence of 1 mM EDTA and 2 mM ATP), being 90% at 2.5 mM CaCl2. These results support the concept that Ca2+ might play a role in the regulation of gonadotropin action and life span of human CL. Changes in AC activities during luteal phase and pregnancy were similar in the CL of monkeys and humans. Thus, in both cases, maximal gonadotropin responsiveness was observed during the midluteal phase. Also, during pregnancy (term and early pregnancies), responsiveness to exogenous hCG in vitro was very low, but the enzyme was readily responsive to NaF (10 mM) and forskolin (100 μM). These activities suggest that the tissue remains functionally active during pregnancy. It is concluded that the cell-free AC system is an effective model to study the cellular mechanisms that regulate luteal function in human and nonhuman primates.
Approximate contingency preselection by topological analysis

Preliminary results of steady-state security assessment using the topological properties of an interconnected electric system are given. Decomposition of the interconnected system into radial subsystems forms the basis of the approach. The method is described by means of a detailed example. >
Calibrating transition-metal energy levels and oxygen bands in first-principles calculations: Accurate prediction of redox potentials and charge transfer in lithium transition-metal oxides

Transition-metal (TM) oxides play an increasingly important role in technology today, including applications such as catalysis, solar energy harvesting, and energy storage. In many of these applications, the details of their electronic structure near the Fermi level are critically important for their properties. We propose a first-principles--based computational methodology for the accurate prediction of oxygen charge transfer in TM oxides and lithium TM (Li-TM) oxides. To obtain accurate electronic structures, the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06) hybrid functional is adopted, and the amount of exact Hartree-Fock exchange (mixing parameter) is adjusted to reproduce reference band gaps. We show that the HSE06 functional with optimal mixing parameter yields not only improved electronic densities of states, but also better energetics (Li-intercalation voltages) for $\mathrm{LiCo}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{LiNi}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ as compared to the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), Hubbard $U$ corrected GGA ($\mathrm{GGA}+U$), and standard HSE06. We find that the optimal mixing parameters for TM oxides are system specific and correlate with the covalency (ionicity) of the TM species. The strong covalent (ionic) nature of TM-O bonding leads to lower (higher) optimal mixing parameters. We find that optimized HSE06 functionals predict stronger hybridization of the $\mathrm{Co}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}3d$ and $\mathrm{O}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}2p$ orbitals as compared to GGA, resulting in a greater contribution from oxygen states to charge compensation upon delithiation in $\mathrm{LiCo}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. We also find that the band gaps of Li-TM oxides increase linearly with the mixing parameter, enabling the straightforward determination of optimal mixing parameters based on GGA ($\ensuremath{\alpha}=0.0$) and HSE06 $(\ensuremath{\alpha}=0.25)$ calculations. Our results also show that ${G}_{0}{W}_{0}@\mathrm{GGA}+U$ band gaps of TM oxides ($M\mathrm{O},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}M=\mathrm{Mn},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Co},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Ni}$) and $\mathrm{LiCo}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ agree well with experimental references, suggesting that ${G}_{0}{W}_{0}$ calculations can be used as a reference for the calibration of the mixing parameter in cases when no experimental band gap has been reported.
Routing and Wavelength Assignment of Static Manycast Demands Over All-Optical Wavelength-Routed WDM Networks

In this paper we present the static manycast routing and wavelength assignment (MA-RWA) problem along with heuristics and an integer linear program (ILP) to solve it. Manycast is a point-to-multipoint communication paradigm with applications in e-Science, Grid, and cloud computing. A manycast request specifies a candidate set of destinations, of which a subset must be reached. To solve MA-RWA, a light-tree must be assigned to each manycast request in a static set such that the number of wavelengths required is minimized. We present two heuristics, the shortest path heuristic (SPT) and the lambda path heuristic (LPH), a tabu search meta-heuristic (TS), and an ILP formulation. We show that TS provides results close to the optimal solution (from the ILP) for small networks. We then show that TS provides a 10% improvement over LPH and a 30%-40% improvement over SPT for various realistic networks.
A first passage problem and its applications to the analysis of a class of stochastic models

A problem of the first passage of a cumulative random process with generally distributed discrete or continuous increments over a fixed level is considered in the article as an essential part of the analysis of a class of stochastic models (bulk queueing systems, inventory control and dam models). Using drect probability methods the authors find various characteristics of this problem: the magnitude of the first excess of the process over a fixed level, the shortage before the first excess, the levels of the first and prefirst excesses, the index of the first excess and others. The results obtained are llustrated by a number of numerical examples and then are applied to a bulk queueing system with a service delay discipline.
Marketing Mix Reactions to Entry

Initial product, distribution, marketing expenditure, and price reactions by incumbents are examined for 115 entrants into oligopolistic markets. The most common reaction pattern is either no reaction or only a single reaction. It is very unusual for entrants to face reactions across the entire marketing mix. Reactions in the first two years after entry are explained as a function of the entrant's strategy, incumbent characteristics, and industry characteristics. The explanation provides insights into why marketing mix reactions to entry are often limited.
TGF-β: the sword, the wand, and the shield of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells

Since its rediscovery in the mid-1990s, FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) have climbed the rank to become commander-in-chief of the immune system. They possess diverse power and ability to orchestrate the immune system in time of inflammation and infection as well as in time of harmony and homeostasis. To be the commander-in-chief, they must be equipped with both offensive and defensive weaponry. This review will focus on the function of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) as the sword, the wand, and the shield of Tregs. Functioning as a sword, this review will begin with a discussion of the evidence that supports how Tregs utilize TGF-β to paralyze cell activation and differentiation to suppress immune response. It will next provide evidence on how TGF-β from Tregs acts as a wand to convert naive T cells into iTregs and Th17 to aid in their combat against inflammation and infection. Lastly, the review will present evidence on the role of TGF-β produced by Tregs in providing a shield to protect and maintain Tregs against apoptosis and destabilization when surrounded by inflammation and constant stimulation. This triadic function of TGF-β empowers Tregs with the responsibility and burden to maintain homeostasis, promote immune tolerance, and regulate host defense against foreign pathogens.
Reduction of neutrophil activity decreases early microvascular injury after subarachnoid haemorrhage

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) elicits rapid pathological changes in the structure and function of parenchymal vessels (≤ 100 μm). The role of neutrophils in these changes has not been determined. This study investigates the role of neutrophils in early microvascular changes after SAH Rats were either untreated, treated with vinblastine or anti-polymorphonuclear (PMN) serum, which depletes neutrophils, or treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which limits neutrophil activity. SAH was induced by endovascular perforation. Neutrophil infiltration and the integrity of vascular endothelium and basement membrane were assessed immunohistochemically. Vascular collagenase activity was assessed by in situ zymography. Vinblastine and anti-PMN serum reduced post-SAH accumulation of neutrophils in cerebral vessels and in brain parenchyma. PDTC increased the neutrophil accumulation in cerebral vessels and decreased accumulation in brain parenchyma. In addition, each of the three agents decreased vascular collagenase activity and post-SAH loss of vascular endothelial and basement membrane immunostaining. Our results implicate neutrophils in early microvascular injury after SAH and indicate that treatments which reduce neutrophil activity can be beneficial in limiting microvascular injury and increasing survival after SAH.
Sensor: the atomic computing particle

We visualize the world as a fully connected information space where each object communicates with all other objects without any temporal and geographical constraints. We can model this fully connected space using fine granularity processing which can be implemented using sensors technology. We regard sensors as atomic computing particles which can deployed to geographical locations for capturing and processing data of their surrounding. This report introduces a number of excellent research articles which present unique problems and their success in finding efficient solutions for them. It also peeks in to the future of ever changing information processing discipline.
Nudging Federalism towards Productive Experimentation

Formal constitutional amendment can be difficult to achieve and, without the confidence of experience, may introduce changes that too quickly and too rigidly alter the balance of authority between federal and state governments. Therefore, in federal systems it is preferable to experiment with alterations prior to formal adoption. In this article I address how federal systems encourage two types of policy experimentation that are either unlikely to be tried or unlikely to be accepted. To encourage costly state experimentation, the federal government can alter financial incentives, nudge states towards a new policy by shifting public attention, set a pre-emptive floor and offer party-based rewards. To smooth union acceptance of selfish experimentation, a set of safeguards encourages deliberation and experience with the policy that leads to public acceptance or rejection.
Increased Complications in Obese Patients Undergoing Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty.

The direct anterior (DA) approach for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has demonstrated successful short term outcomes in several studies. However, there is no consensus about which patients are appropriate candidates for DA total hip arthroplasty. It is also unclear if short term outcomes in obese patients undergoing THA through a DA approach are elevated in comparison to non-obese patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate complication rates and short term outcomes of obese, pre-obese, and normal body mass index (BMI) patients undergoing THA with a DA approach in a consecutive group of patients. This study was a retrospective review of 210 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral THA through a DA approach for osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis during the early peri-operative period. The study included 61 patients with normal BMI, 70 pre-obese patients, and 79 obese patients according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification (49 class I obese, 22 class II obese, and 8 class III obese patients). Patient charts were reviewed to determine differences in surgical time, length of stay, disposition, major complications, wound complications, and short term outcome measures. When comparing normal and pre-obese patients (BMI 30), the obese group demonstrated increased surgical times by 12.7 minutes (P<0.0001), as well as increased length of stay (P=0.0303), narcotic use (P=0.0037), and assistive device use at two weeks (P<0.0030). In addition, major complications and wound complications were both significantly increased in the obese group (odds ratio [OR], 8.8; P=0.0493 and OR, 3.6; P=0.0431, respectively). There was also a trend toward increased use of rehabilitation facilities in the obese group at disposition, 15.4% vs 7.6% (P=0.0774). This study demonstrates that obese patients undergoing a DA approach have a 8.8 and 3.6 times increase in major and wound complications, respectively, compared to patients with a BMI <30. Obese patients also demonstrated significant increases in operative time, use of narcotics, use of assistive devices, and length of stay. There was a trend toward higher use of rehabilitation placement. While significant, these findings are similar to complication rates in the literature for other THA operative approaches. This study further defines the risks associated with performing THA on obese patients regardless of approach.
Enzyme biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

EschericMa coil B synthesized fl-galactosidase and an enzyme system for v-xylose when exposed to lactose and xylose respectively in nitrogen-free media. The amount of ~-galactosidase formed in the absence of external nitrogen depended upon the nature of the medium in which the cells had originally been grown. Half as much of this enzyme was synthesized without exogenous nitrogen by cells taken from a nitrogen-rich medium as was formed by cells under favorable conditions with an external supply of nitrogen. Escherichia coli B contained a pool of nitrogen compounds soluble in 80 per cent ethanol and made up of several ninhydrin-positive components. One of these was identified chromatographically as glycine using an authentic radioactive sample. Another substance behaved like sefine on the chromatograms. The internal pool of amino acids and peptides was large enough to account for the ~-galactosidase synthesized by cells exposed to lactose in a medium free of nitrogen. Some degree of interaction of the syntheses of the ~-galactosidase and xylose enzyme systems was observed in nitrogen-free media. This interaction produced a greater effect on the formation of fl-galactosidase and was attributed to a limiting factor(s) in the internal nitrogenous pool or to a limiting intermediate in enzyme synthesis.
Sequences upstream and downstream of two xylem-specific pine genes influence their expression

Abstract The identification of regulatory elements conferring high levels of expression in differentiating pine xylem will be valuable for genetic engineering of wood properties and will contribute to our understanding of gene regulation in this important group of forest trees. We examined the roles of both upstream and downstream elements in regulating the expression of two genes with preferential expression in developing xylem of loblolly pine. Gene constructs containing a PtX3H6, PtX14A9, or CaMV 35S promoter, the uid A gene encoding β-glucuronidase, and a PtX3H6, PtX14A9, or NOS terminator were used to transform tobacco and hybrid poplar. When combined with the NOS terminator, neither pine promoter conferred xylem-specific expression in tobacco. When combined with the PtX3H6 promoter, an element at the 3′ end of PtX3H6 reduced GUS expression resulting in preferential expression in vascular tissues. This silencing effect was not observed when the pine terminator was tested in conjunction with the CaMV 35S promoter. The PtX14A9 terminator did not increase tissue specificity. In leaves of transgenic poplar, both pine promoters conferred preferential GUS expression in veins when combined with the NOS terminator. The PtX3H6 terminator greatly decreased expression in leaves and stems when combined with the PtX3H6 promoter but only slightly altered expression when combined with the CaMV 35S promoter. An element at the 3′ end of PtX14A9 increased GUS expression in veins when used in conjunction with either the PtX14A9 or CaMV35S promoter.
Telephone Follow-up for Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery: Parent and Provider Satisfaction

Traditional 4- to 6-week clinic follow-up after pediatric ambulatory surgery does not rapidly identify complications and is often a burden for parents. Telephone follow-up offers support and is preferred in a variety of adult populations, but there is little research in pediatrics to support this practice. This article describes a practice change involving a standardized telephone follow-up protocol by a pediatric nurse practitioner to parents within 1 week of their child's ambulatory surgery. An interview survey method was used to evaluate parent satisfaction with telephone follow-up and desire for a clinic visit. Staff satisfaction and resource utilization are also described.
Neutrophil Count in African Americans: Lowering the Target Cutoff to Initiate or Resume Chemotherapy?

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for participation in clinical trials are meant to select patients who are appropriate for the disease under study and to protect clinical research subjectparticipants from undue risk related to the research. The selection criteria should not arbitrarily exclude subjects. In 1994, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published guidelines on the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical trials. The guidelines were intended to ensure that women and members of minorities are included in all human subject research and specified that concerns for cost could not be viewed as an acceptable reason for excluding these groups. It is thus incumbent on researchers to ensure that undue barriers are not placed on groups of individuals that would cause their underrepresentation in publicly funded clinical research. Toward meeting these goals, the guidelines called for the initiation of programs and support for outreach efforts to recruit underrepresented groups into clinical studies. Although these efforts have led to the increased participation in some instances of previously excluded groups onto clinical trials, there may be circumstances where eligibility criteria can exclude participation of certain groups disproportionately. 1-4 Rigid requirement for minimal WBC numbers may be one such criterion deserving of further consideration in this regard. Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN) is a condition used to describe individuals ofAfricandescentwithneutrophilcountslessthan1.510 9 cells/Lin theabsenceofothercauses 5 andconstitutesonesuchgroupforwhom minimalWBCnumbersmayarbitrarilyexcludefromparticipationin clinical trials. The risk of febrile neutropenia is determined by the durationanddepthofneutropenia,withtheriskgreatestwhenthe neutrophils are below 0.5 10 9 cells/L. 6-8 There are currently insufficientdatatoindicatethatindividualswithBENwouldfacea higher risk of febrile neutropenia greater than those without BEN. Therefore, BEN may unduly exclude clinical trials participation in a greater proportion of individuals from certain ethnic groups compared with others. It follows that exclusion of individuals with BENmaybeatoddswithNIHguidelinesaimedtowardenhancing
Aplicaciones del diálogo humano de tutoría al autotutor: un sistema inteligente de tutoría

At the University of Memphis we have created an intelligent tutoring system, called AutoTutor, that helps students learn by holding a conversation in natural language. Decades of research on human tutoring have guided our creation of AutoTutor, which implements effective tutoring strategies. Several studies have shown that AutoTutor promotes significant learning gains. The current research examines which features of the dialog can account for the learning gains, and assesses AutoTutor?s appropriate use of dialog. Specifically, we explored the dialog patterns from natural tutoring interactions with AutoTutor and analyzed how short pedagogical feedback is related to learning. We found that AutoTutor creates an appropriate model of student knowledge and responds to the students in a manner consistent with their overall performance. These results together with previous findings support the conclusion that AutoTutor is an effective intelligent tutoring system that uses pedagogical strategies that are appropriate for individual learners.
Impact of viral-mediated IGF-I gene transfer on skeletal muscle following cast immobilization

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a potent myogenic factor that plays a critical role in muscle regeneration and muscle hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of IGF-I overexpression on the recovery of muscle size and function during reloading/reambulation after a period of cast immobilization in predominantly fast twitch muscles. In addition, we investigated concomitant molecular responses in IGF-I receptor and binding proteins (BPs). Recombinant adeno-associated virus vector for IGF-I (rAAV-IGF-IA) was injected into the anterior compartment of one of the hindlimbs of young (3 wk) C57BL6 female mice. At 20 wk of age, both hindlimbs were cast immobilized in a shortened position for 2 wk to unload the tibialis anterior (TA) and extensor longus digitorum (EDL) muscles. The TA and EDL muscles were removed bilaterally after 2 wk of cast immobilization and after 1 and 3 wk of free cage reambulation. Increases in IGF-I mRNA and protein levels with IGF-I overexpression were associated with significant increases in muscle wet weight, fiber size, and tetanic force, although overexpression did not protect against cast immobilization-induced muscle atrophy. After 1 wk of reambulation, evidence of enhanced muscle regeneration was noted in IGF-I-overexpressing muscles with an increased prevalence of central nuclei, embryonic myosin, and Pax7 positive fibers. We also observed larger relative gains in muscle size (wet weight and fiber area), but not force, during the 3-wk reambulation period in hindlimb muscles overexpressing IGF-I compared with contralateral control legs. Changes in IGFBP-5 mRNA expression during cast immobilization and reambulation paralleled those of IGF-I, whereas IGFBP-3 expression changed inversely to IGFBP-5.
AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA and AEROMONAS SOBRIA AS POTENTIAL FOOD POISONING SPECIES: A REVIEW

Epidemiological and toxicological evidence implicating Aeromonas hydrophila and Aermononas sobria as agents of human gastroenteritis is reviewed. These psychrotrophic species are common contaminants of refrigerated animal products, and the possibility that they may cause food poisoning is discussed.
UNDERSTANDING ROLES OF MICROBES IN MARINE PELAGIC FOOD WEBS: A BRIEF HISTORY

Introduction “The sea harbors an extensive population of bacteria, varying greatly in numbers and in the variety of their activities.’ Waksman 1934; “...microorganisms are widely distributed in sea water and on the ocean floor, where they influence chemical, physiochemical, geological, and biological conditions.” ZoBell, 1946. Progress in understanding of microbes in ocean systems has depended both on the research focus of individual scientists, and on the development of novel approaches to study of microbes in the sea. A brief history of the study of ecological roles of microbes in the sea shows that many of the current research thrusts were of interest early on in the development of the field. Often, however, progress on specific facets of marine microbial ecology was impeded by lack of instrumentation and methods to address the problems. A great deal of what we know about marine microbes has only been discovered since the mid-1970’s. New methodology, including molecular genetics approaches and major oceanographic expeditions in the past few decades, have revolutionized our understanding of the vital roles microbes play in marine ecosystems. Every aquatic microbiologist working during the 1970’s and 1980’s has a unique perspective of the development of the field at that time. Our own perspective is influenced by our years at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, where L. R..Pomeroy and colleagues did research that led to novel concepts about the role of microbes in marine ecosystems. We are also grateful for the perspectives of several of our colleagues who have authored highly influential papers.
The Relation between Fitness Components and Population Prediction in Drosophila. II: Population Prediction.

HIS is the second of two articles (PROUT 1971) describing an experimental Tsystem for estimating fitness components in Drosophila. The system is principally concerned with the fitness components operating in the adult phase of the life cycle where fertility and mating effects can generate complications in the pattern of selection. The objective is the estimation of a sufficient set of adult components for the purpose of predicting genotype frequencies in a poplation. In the first article the experimental system is described in detail and then applied to certain fourth chromosome mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. In this article the estimates of fitness components are incorporated into recurrence equations which are then used to predict the behavior of experimental populations segregating for these same mutants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Drosophila melanogaster fourth chromosome recessive mutants eyeless (eyt) and shaven (sun) in repulsion linkage constitute the genetic system used to test the method. Because of the negligible recombination within fourth chromosomes, the two mutants are treated as segregating alleles which complement to produce a wild-type heterozygote. The three genotypes will be denoted ee. e/s, ss, for eyeless, heterozygote, and shaven, respectively. Five populations were started with e/s flies. Each population was maintained in a half-pint culture bottle containing medium. The eggs laid were allowed to develop at 25°C for two weeks, at the end of which time the adult flies were transferred to a new bottle for 24 hr of egg laying, after which the adult flies were removed, and a sample d 100 (ignoring sex) was classified and counted. The eggs resulting from the 24 hr of egg laying constituted the beginning of the next generation. The five populations, designated A through E, were maintained for 25 generations. As will be shown presently, all populations quickly established a polymorphic equilibrium. In order to provide data for testing the theory, artificial perturbations of the equilibrium were introduced twice during the history of the populations, at generation 9 and at generation 21. A perturbation was accomplished in the following way: For a given population at the end of the 2-week period, instead of transferring the flies as usual, the entire population was etherized and all flies were discarded except the females of one of the homozygous phenotypes (eyeless or shaven). Then only these females, most of whom had previously mated, were used as founders of the next generation by the usual 24 hr of egg laying. The next and subsequent generations were treated routinely. At generation 9, populations A and B were selected for shaven (against eyeless), D and E were selected in favor of eyeless (against shaven), while population C was left unperturbed. At generation 21, A and B were selected for eyeless, D and E were selected for shaven, and C was left unperturbed.
The bott filtration of a loop group

In [10] it was shown that the "degree" filtration on the homology of OSU(n) has a geometric realization. Indeed, by the theory of loop groups, OSU(n) is homotopy equivalent to an infinite dimensional flag variety, and the spaces of the filtration are in fact Schubert subvarieties, indexed by an explicitly determined family of elements in the affine Weyl group. At first glance the existence of this filtration, and in particular the way it can be obtained from the affine Weyl group, appears to be peculiar to SU(n). In this paper we show that in fact the construction is a very general one: If G is a compact Lie group, a theorem of Bott [3] shows that OoG admits a finite generating complex-e-i.e., a finite complex X, together with an inclusion i : X --. OoG, such that i*(H*(X; 7l)) generates the Pontrjagin ring of OoG. This defines a multiplicative filtration on the homology of OoG, and again one can ask for a geometric realization. (The degree filtration mentioned above corresponds to the usual generating complex (:pn-l --. OSU(n).) In fact the map X --. OoG extends to a map OEX --. !loG, so that the filtration we seek corresponds precisely to the James filtration on OEX. Our main result is that whenever X is the generating complex associated to a "miniscule node" of the Dynkin diagram of G, there is indeed a filtration of OoG by Schubert varieties realizing the filtration on homology (Theorem 2.3). We even give explicit descriptions of the elements of the affine Weyl group indexing the filtrations; that X is a generating complex reduces, from this point of view, to the fact these elements form a cofinal sequence for the Bruhat order (Corollary 2.5). The use of miniscule nodes is very convenient, but unfortunately excludes the groups G2 , F., ana E8 • However, this restriction could probably be avoided.
Topics in Context: Understanding Information Integration

How does information integration change the learning process? Can integration be used to increase far transfer in advanced learners? This article seeks to explain the answers to those questions and to provide effective models for promoting integration in the context of law school learning.
Risk Factors for Epilepsy after Febrile Seizures

Investigators from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, identified prognostic factors for subsequent epilepsy in a prospective study of 501 children with a first febrile seizure (FS).
Benchmark Studies Using Virtual Model Basin for Resistance and Diffraction: A RANS CFD Approach

Virtual Model Basin (VMB) developed based on RANS CFD Approach along with VOF model to simulate free-surface has been used to perform benchmark studies and the results are presented in this paper. The VMB based on general purpose CFD solver ANSYS FLUENT has been used to simulate resistance and diffraction problems for a Navy surface combatant hull and the results are validated against experimental data. The resistance simulations are done to assess two turbulence models and best among the two is used to solve the diffraction problem. The validation results suggest that the VMB approach reproduces the flow features, forces and moments accurately.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The pattern of the renal vascular response to epinephrine in man.

SummaryThe effect of epinephrine injected into the renal artery has been studied as a model for the assessment by angiography and xenon washout of the control and relative responsiveness of the renal cortical vasculature to such stimuli in man and to ascertain whether a quantitatively significant shunt mechanism can be demonstrated in the human kidney. The findings suggested a dominant sensitivity of the cortical vasculature and rule out the presence of a quantitatively significant shunt mechanism in this setting. The pattern of recovery from the effects of epinephrine suggests that patchy areas in the cortex recover a normal rate of perfusion while other areas remain extremely vasoconstricted. This pattern of perfusion appears to be characteristic of the kidney in a large number of clinical situations.
O Nascer De Um Departamento

Alguns homens de idade, de vez em quando, tornam-se interessantes em virtude dos eventos ou das pessoas importantes que lembram. Eu sou tal especie de homem. Gosto de falar sobre acontecimentos e celebridades do meu passado. Hoje, com sua permissao, pretendo descrever umas coisas que ocorreram aqui no Brasil ha vinte e tres anos.
The distribution of mean monthly precipitable water vapor and annual precipitation efficiency in Nigeria

Precipitable water vapor was calculated for Nigeria using a combination of surface and upper air data and mean monthly maps have been drawn. Annual maps of precipitable water vapor and precipitation efficiency have also been included.
Detection for enterovirus in healthy people and environmental sewage in Kashgar, Xinjiang

Objective To determine prevalence of human enterovirus in healthy people and environmental sewage, to provide basis for investigating events of derivation virus of poliomyelitis vaccine and researching risk of enterovirus in water to public health. Methods Kashgar was chosen as a monitoring site, 150 feces samples of healthy people and one environmental sewage were collected to isolate and identify enterovirus. Results There were positive in the 150 feces samples for15 strains of enterovirus with positive rate of 10.0%, in sewage for 11 strains of enterovirus, including 2 strains of poliovirus and 9 strains of ECHO-viruses. Conclusions Enterovirus exists widely in healthy people and environmental sewage in Kashgar. Environment surveillance is helpful for understanding popular distribution range of vaccine-derived poliovirus(VDPV) and guiding the investigation and handling VDPV event effectively. At the same time, important background information can be provided for further study on enterovirus risks to public health.
The Preparation of Microenvironments for Bound Enzymes by Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis

It has become evident that in the area of immobilized enzymes no single attachment system or resin support or reactor design will be optimum for all enzymes. Thus it is imperative that we develop a repertoire in these areas to allow for system designs which will either optimize the immobilized enzyme or make it more substrate selective. We sought to develop a systematic method that would allow one to specify the chemical microenvironment on the support resin onto which the enzyme is attached; thereby enabling a more systematic investigation of the influence of surface environment on enzyme structure and activity. Hornby et al., (1) Goldstein et al., (2), and Goldstein (3) have shown that the surface characteristics of the resin, i.e., its charge and hydrophobic nature, do influence the apparent kinetic parameters of immobilized enzymes. Furthermore, we (4) have shown that the spatial placement of the enzyme from the resin’s surface also affects the kinetic parameters. This led us to examine the feasibility of synthesizing peptide chains of a given chemical characteristic on the surface of a resin and attaching the enzyme to these chains. Such a method would allow comparisons of microenvironments without the interferring effects of matrix structure or enzyme distance from the surface, since these could be held constant.
Chiral analysis by regression modeling of spectral data

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the role of chemometric methods, such as multivariate regression analysis as a means of extracting information about the enantiomeric composition of samples from ordinary (achiral) spectral data. The chapter has shown that chiral analysis by regression modeling of spectral data is feasible when cyclodextrins are used as chiral auxiliaries and the regression models produced can predict the enantiomeric composition of unknown samples to about 5%. While the use of multivariate regression modeling of spectroscopic data for chiral analysis is promising as an emerging potential analytical technology, however, in its present stage of development, it cannot necessarily compete with more mature existing methods of chiral analysis. The progress in analytical chemistry depends on the study of new potential techniques that have potential analytical utility, even if the actual analytical applications lie in the future. Clearly more work will be needed to extend the technique to real samples such as biological fluids and pharmaceuticals so that the full analytical potential of the concept can be realized.