cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Promoting Student-Centered Learning in Experiential Education:

Experiential educators claim to value student-centered learning, yet the values, as evidenced in practice, are often teacher-centered. The purpose of this article was to increase awareness of the inconsistencies between espoused values, and values in practice, effecting teacher and student power relationships during the facilitation of experiential programs. The literature review includes related philosophical topics, a summary of what other professionals in the field have written about student-centered facilitation, and an overview of eight generations of facilitation. The author argues that teacher-centered facilitation is problematic in experiential education and justifies increasing the use of student-centered facilitation practices. Suggestions are provided for: (a) establishing forums for dialog about student-centered facilitation, (b) incorporating more student-centered facilitation practices, and (c) considering student-centered learning during program development and facilitator training. The aut...
Effects of salinity on synthesis of DNA, acidic polysaccharide, and growth in the blue-green alga, Gomphosphaeria aponina

Abstract A blue-green alga, Gomphosphaeria aponina, was grown in artificial sea water at salinities 20–36%. Fair to good growth was obtained at all salinities, and growth constants (Ke) were obtained. A parabolic relationship was obtained for the growth salinity relationship, e.g. (S−Smax)2 = −2p(Ke−K′e), where S and Smax is the given salinity and the maximum salinity, respectively, for which growth constants Ke and Ke′ were obtained; p is a constant. The rate of DNA synthesis increased linearly with growth constant above Ke = 0.95 day−1. Linear correlation coefficients were obtained for rate of polysaccharide synthesis and the rate of DNA synthesis, as well as for the rate of DNA synthesis and the rate of synthesis of aponin. The latter is material isolated from G. aponina and has cytolytic activity toward the Florida red tide organism, Gymnodinium breve, an unarmoured dinoflagellate.
A kinetic and equilibrium study of competitive adsorption between atrazine and Congo red dye on activated carbon : the importance of pore size distribution

A series of phenolic resin-based microporous activated carbon fibers (ACF) with different micropore size distributions were used to assess the role of pore size distribution (PSD) in the mechanism of competitive adsorption between the organic micropollutant, atrazine, and a compound larger in size, Congo red dye (CR). Batch kinetic and equilibrium experiments with the CR/atrazine system consisted of single-solute, simultaneous adsorption, CR preloading followed by atrazine contact, and atrazine preloading followed by CR contact. Based on the previous pore characterization studies and the PSD, two types of pore structures were proposed: telescopic pores and branched pores. With the telescopic pore structure, evidence is presented to support a transition from surface pore blockage to pore constriction (without loss of atrazine capacity) to direct competition for adsorption sites, with increasing average micropore size. With the branched pore structure (micropores branching off from mesopores), direct competition for adsorption sites in a fraction of the large micropores and pore constriction and pore blockage of smaller micropores were found to be important. The kinetics of adsorption was found to be important in determining the impact of simultaneous adsorption, while CR surface coverage and preloading time were the key factors controlling the impact of preloading on atrazine adsorption.
Giant alatoform bivalves in the Upper Triassic of western North America.

ABSTRACT. Large, alatoform bivalves, Wallowaconcha raylenea gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Triassic of north-eastern Oregon, are described and placed in a new family, Wallowaconchidae, within the Megalodontoidea, which also contains the families Megalodontidae and Dicerocardiidae (herein transferred). Major character innovations of wallowaconchids are the internal partitioning of wings and development of non-articulating thin vanes on the hingeplate. The wallowaconchid hinge, which changed during ontogeny, differs greatly from the hinge of other bivalves. Wallowaconchids probably evolved from a species of the megalodontid Triadomegalodon. Although wallowaconchids are homeomorphs of the alate Permian alatoconchid bivalves, hinge structure shows that these two groups are unrelated. Large wings on wallowaconchids were used for snowshoe support. They may have utilized elaborate vanes and wing chambers to culture microbial symbionts, either microalgae or bacteria. These bivalves are endemic to displaced island arc terranes in western North America, occurring in Yukon, Canada (Stikine terrane), Oregon, USA (Wallowa terrane), and Sonora, Mexico (Antimonio terrane). They occupied environmental niches similar to those of large megalodontid bivalves of Triassic tropical provinces.
Concentration in the Human Ovarian Follicular Fluid of Radioactive Tracers and Drugs circulating in the Blood

THE potential hazard of genetic changes induced by radioactive substances and of mutagenic and radiomimetic action of non-radioactive compounds is of current interest. Information, however, as to the intimacy of contact of these substances, when introduced into the human body, with the reproductive cells, particularly the ovum, is scant.
Heart Disease Nutrition Education Program Increases Familiarity with Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Recommendations

Many Wyoming communities are isolated from population centers and services, resulting in an unmet need for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention nutrition education. Twentyeight percent of Wyoming adults report 3 or more modifiable CVD risk factors. Needs assessment data collected by Extension in 2 southern Wyoming counties identified a need for CVD-nutrition education addressing healthy eating, fruit and vegetable intake, heart-healthy diet, and low-fat cooking. In response, the evidencebased CVD nutrition education program, Eat to Your Heart’s Content (EYHC) curriculum was selected. TheEYHCcurriculumwasoriginally developed for older communityresiding women in North Carolina, so it was revised using Social Marketing Theory (SMT) principles for use as an Extension-delivered, group-based program. SocialMarketing Theory, a cyclic process that actively involves the target audience during program development, has 6 steps: (1) planning, (2) delivery-method selection, (3) material development, (4) implementation, (5) evaluation, and (6) program revision. For this project, Steps 2 and 3 involved the administration in the 2 county areas of a 10-minute survey (print and online) that inquired about positive and negative programming attributes, participation motivators and barriers, CVD-related topics of interest, and desired program length. Results identified desire for current, relevant and easy-toimplement, science-based information presented in a creative manner, with
Variability among isolates of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis

Morphological, pathogenic and genetic variability among 25 isolates of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis was quantified and compared. Genetic variability was assessed with 36 RAPD markers that were generated with eight random decamer primers. Cluster analysis of the PCR products indicated substantial genetic variability among isolates of this species. Out of 300 possible isolate-isolate combinations, 193 had less than 50% similarity (shared polymorphisms). In contrast, most of the isolates were similar morphologically and pathogenically, regardless of host or geographical origin. We suggest that, in spite of substantial molecular divergence in isolated populations of this fungus, the environment selects for similar characteristics associated with pathogenicity. Isolates from nematodes in the Hoplolaimidae (Rotylenchus robustus and Hoplolaimus galeatus), however, grew slower on agar, produced larger conidia, and were less pathogenic towards nematodes than were isolates from other hosts.
PhysPix: instantaneous rigid body simulation of rasters

Modern physics engines process collisions by leveraging vector representations (e.g. Box2D or Open Dynamics Engine (ODE)), which means that artists who work with pixel-based 2D content must map their pixel drawings onto representations such as Delaunay triangulations [Shewchuk 1996]. Effects such as destruction then require remeshing, which can be onerous to perform at runtime. The alternative is pixel-perfect collision handling, but past games such as Worms! and Scorched Earth that use this approach have not attempted true rigid body simulations. We present PhysPix, a 2D rigid body simulation framework based on pixels. PhysPix allows 1) artist control over the exact boundaries used for objects in the simulation, 2) natural bitmap-based support for destruction, and 3) an intuitive painting interface for properties such as non-uniform weight distributions.
Municipal displays. Civic self-promotion and the development of German ethnographic museums, 1870-1914

Cet article discute l'emergence d'une culture internationale de collecte ou l'auto-valorisation locale et nationale, le prestige et les discours materialistes jouerent des roles fondamentaux dans le developpement de l'ethnographie entre les annees 1870 et 1914. En contraste avec l'attention considerable qu'avait suscite la tradition boasienne et avec les travaux recents des musees americains et britanniques, les contributions des grandes collections museales de l'Europe continentale restent tres largement ignorees et les activites des societes savantes qui les ont parrainees et financees a peu pres oubliees. L'article s'attache a redresser ce constat en soulignant le caractere international de la vogue des musees au 19eme siecle et discute la fonction culturelle specifique des musees allemands.
Experimental Study on Carbon Fiber Tape–Based Deicing Technology

In cold regions, snow and ice cause serious safety problems to the transportation system. South central Alaska, particularly Anchorage, is susceptible to a number of icing events resulting from frequent freeze/thaw cycles in the winter season. Traditionally, deicing has been accomplished by mechanical, chemical, and thermal methods. However, these methods cause problems such as damage to pavement, pollution in the environment, corrosion to vehicles and reinforcing steel in concrete, or being too expensive. A new type of roadway deicing system on the basis of commercially available carbon fiber tape is proposed. This paper presents the design of a deicing heating panel, the layout and construction of the test sidewalk, experimental results and analyses, and cost comparison with other deicing systems. Experimental results including system performance, deicing time, energy consumption, deicing cost, and temperature variation with time and location are presented. The sensitivity of the deicing cost to ambient air temperature, wind chill, and snow density is also analyzed. Finally, this system is compared with other deicing systems in annual operating cost, unit cost, power density, and installation cost. The cost comparison shows that the present deicing system demonstrates higher energy efficiency and lower installation cost among the systems compared and has great potential for applications in cold regions.
Inhomogeneous inflation: Numerical evolution.

We describe our three-dimensional numerical relativity code for the evolution of inhomogeneous cosmologies. During the evolution, the constraint equations are monitored but not solved. The code has been tested against perturbation theory with good results. We present some runs of inhomogeneous inflation with strongly inhomogeneous initial data.
Statistical GPU power analysis using tree-based methods

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have emerged as a promising platform for parallel computation. With a large number of scalar processors and abundant memory bandwidth, GPUs provide substantial computation power. While delivering high computation performance, the GPU also consumes high power and needs to be equipped with sufficient power supplies and cooling systems. Therefore, it is essential to institute an efficient mechanism for evaluating and understanding the power consumption requirement when running real applications on high-end GPUs. In this paper, we present a high-level GPU power consumption model using sophisticated tree-based random forest methods which can correlate the power consumption with a set of independent performance variables. This statistical model not only predicts the GPU runtime power consumption accurately, but more importantly, it also provides sufficient insights for understanding the dependence between the GPU runtime power consumption and the individual performance metrics. In order to gain more insights, we use a GPU simulator that can collect more runtime performance metrics than hardware counters. We measure the power consumption of a wide-range of CUDA kernels on an experimental system with GTX 280 GPU as statistical samples for our power analysis. This methodology can certainly be applied to any other CUDA GPU.
Accounting for imperfect detection in Hill numbers for biodiversity studies

Summary Hill numbers unify biodiversity metrics by combining several into one expression. For example, species richness, Shannon's diversity index and the Gini–Simpson index are a few of the most used diversity measures, and they can be expressed as Hill numbers. Traditionally, Hill numbers have been calculated from relative abundance data, but the expression has been modified to use incidence data as well. We demonstrate an approach for estimating Hill numbers using an occupancy modelling framework that accounts for imperfect detection. We alter the Hill numbers formula to use occupancy probabilities as opposed to the incidence probabilities that have been used previously and to calculate its summations from the modelled species richness. After introducing the occupancy-based Hill numbers, we demonstrate the differences between them and the incidence-based Hill numbers previously used through a simulation study and two applications. In the simulation study and the two examples using real data, the occupancy-based Hill numbers were larger than the incidence-based Hill numbers, although species richness was estimated similarly using both methods. The occupancy-based Hill number estimators are always at their asymptotic values (i.e. as if an infinite number of samples have been taken for the study region), therefore making it easy to compare biodiversity between different assemblages. In addition, the Hill numbers are computed as derived quantities within a Bayesian hierarchical model, allowing for straightforward inference.
Roman Stoic Precreation Discourse

AbstractCosmological imagery figures prominently in the precreation discourse of Roman Stoics, more so than in the precreation discourse of Jewish and Christian writers of the Hellenistic-Roman period. Roman Stoics imagine a realm of eternal time and space beyond the world of ordinary human experience and understanding. What humans can know of this realm is not revealed to them by a deity who dwells there, but by the spirits of virtuous souls who speak to select family members from the places where they dwell in the afterlife. Two examples are Aeneas’ father Anchises who describes primal reality to his son in the underworld, in Book VI of Virgil’s Aeneid, and Scipio Africanus, the Roman soldier and statesman, who speaks of similar matters when his grandson of the same name travels to the outermost realm of heaven in a dream, in Book VI of Cicero’s Republic. The myth and philosophy from which Cicero and Virgil draw their images of the primordial realm make the rhetography of their precreation discourse much richer than that found in Jewish and Christian precreation discourse of the period. Also, the relationship between rhetography and rhetology is more complex in Roman Stoic discourse and poses challenges for translators and interpreters of Cicero and Virgil.
Facile thermal treatment process for assembling vertically aligned semiconductor nanorods in solution

Large-area films of vertically-aligned semiconductor nanorods have the potential to be useful, active materials for optoelectronic devices. We demonstrate here a highly facile thermal annealing approach for reversibly assembling 28 nm long CdSe nanorods into vertically aligned arrays in solution. Using temperature to control solvent strength, aggregated nanorods in a marginally poor solvent mixture were first dispersed at elevated temperatures and then reassembled into freely suspended, ordered sheets of aligned nanorods up to 24 μm in diameter upon slow cooling. The assembly method was tolerant of nanorod polydispersity and was effective over a wide range of solvents and nanorod concentrations. The pre-assembled nanorods could be directly drop-cast from solution onto a substrate and rapidly dried to obtain a film of vertically aligned nanorods.
Open source and journalism: toward new frameworks for imagining news innovation

Journalists and technologists increasingly are organizing and collaborating, both formally and informally, across major news organizations and via grassroots networks on an international scale. Thi...
Chemical Modification of siRNA Bases to Probe and Enhance RNA Interference

Considerable attention has focused on the use of alternatives to the native ribose and phosphate backbone of small interfering RNAs for therapeutic applications of the RNA interference pathway. In this synopsis, we highlight the less common chemical modifications, namely, those of the RNA nucleobases. Base modifications have the potential to lend insight into the mechanism of gene silencing and to lead to novel methods to overcome off-target effects that arise due to deleterious protein binding or mis-targeting of mRNA.
Depressive symptoms: how do adolescents compare with adults?

Abstract Purpose To compare depressive symptoms between U.S. adolescents and adults. Methods Data are from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 18,488), the Americans' Changing Lives Project (N = 3,164), and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (N = 3,023). Depressive symptoms were assessed with items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale, operationalized as present or persistent. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess correlates of depressive symptoms within each sample. Results Older adolescents reported the highest symptom presence, but symptom persistence was similar between adolescents and young to middle aged adults. The oldest adults reported the lowest symptom presence but the highest symptom persistence. For adolescents and for adults, low household income and ethnic minority status were the most consistent multivariate correlates of depressive symptoms. Conclusions Older adolescents experience more depressive symptoms than adults and comparable symptom persistence, suggesting that these adolescents may be at the highest risk for depression. This risk may be especially pronounced among economically disadvantaged ethnic minority adolescents.
ParentChecker: a computer program for automated inference of missing parental genotype calls and linkage phase correction

Accurate genetic maps are the cornerstones of genetic discovery, but their construction can be hampered by missing parental genotype information. Inference of parental haplotypes and correction of phase errors can be done manually on a one by one basis with the aide of current software tools, but this is tedious and time consuming for the high marker density datasets currently being generated for many crop species. Tools that help automate the process of inferring parental genotypes can greatly speed the process of map building. We developed a software tool that infers and outputs missing parental genotype information based on observed patterns of segregation in mapping populations. When phases are correctly inferred, they can be fed back to the mapping software to quickly improve marker order and placement on genetic maps. ParentChecker is a user-friendly tool that uses the segregation patterns of progeny to infer missing genotype information of parental lines that have been used to construct a mapping population. It can also be used to automate correction of linkage phase errors in genotypic data that are in ABH format. ParentChecker efficiently improves genetic mapping datasets for cases where parental information is incomplete by automating the process of inferring missing genotypes of inbred mapping populations and can also be used to correct linkage phase errors in ABH formatted datasets.
Electrospinning of poly(MMA-co-MAA) copolymers and their layered silicate nanocomposites for improved thermal properties

Copolymers consisting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) and their layered silicate nanocomposites were electrospun to form fibers with diameters in the sub-micron range. The presence of MAA increased the Tg and thermal stability of the copolymers through formation of anhydrides upon heating. Fibers of uniform diameters were obtained for the poly(MMA-co-MAA) copolymers and nanocomposites containing montmorillonite (MMT), while protrusions were observed on the electrospun fibers from nanocomposites containing fluorohectorite (FH). The electrospinnability of copolymer solutions and nanocomposite dispersions predicted based on both rheological analyses and conductivity measurements correlates well with the experimental electrospinning observations. Dispersion of clays within the nanocomposites improved the electrospinnability of the nanocomposite dispersions. MMT is predominantly exfoliated and well distributed within the fiber and oriented along the fiber axis. Char formation was observed when the MMT-containing fibers were heated above the decomposition temperature, indicating a potential for reduced flammability and increased self-extinguishing properties, whereas the FH-containing materials disintegrated into either film or powder form.
Amine synthesis in regenerating rat liver: effect of hypophysectomy and growth hormone on ornithine decarboxylase.

The effect of hypophysectomy and subsequent hormone therapy on ornithine decarboxylase (ORD) activity was examined in regenerating rat liver. Enzyme activity was determined by measuring the liberation of 14CO2 from carboxyl-labeled ornithine. In rats with intact pituitaries, ORD activity 4 hr after hepatectomy was 10 times that of sham-operated controls. Hypophysectomized rats failed to show an increase in ORD activity 4 hr after hepatectomy. A time course study showed that hypophysectomy resulted in a delayed increase and an early decline of ORD activity after partial hepatectomy. After the removal of thyroids, adrenals, ovaries, or testes, the increase in ORD activity 4 hr after hepatectomy was the same as in control animals. Treating hypophysectomized animals with triiodothyronine piior to hepatectomy produced a small but significant increase in enzyme activity. Growth hormone treatment produced a greater enhancement, although enzyme levels were still lower than those of control rats. Combined treatmen...
Analysis of Four Residues within Substrate Recognition Site 4 of Human Cytochrome P450 3A4: Role in Steroid Hydroxylase Activity and α-Naphthoflavone Stimulation

Abstract Sequence alignment of human cytochrome P450 3A4 with bacterial enzymes of known structure has provided a basis from which to predict residues involved in substrate oxidation. Substitutions were made at four residues (I301, F304, A305, and T309) predicted to be located within the highly conserved substrate recognition site 4. Site-directed mutants engineered to contain carboxy-terminal histidine tags were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified on a metal affinity column. The integrity of each protein was assessed by SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Functional analysis was performed using progesterone and testosterone as substrates and α-naphthoflavone as an activator. In testosterone hydroxylase assays, all of the mutants displayed rates of total product formation similar to wild-type 3A4, with several mutants showing small differences in specific products formed. However, with progesterone as the substrate, mutants F304A, A305V, and T309A exhibited altered product ratios and/or changes in the rates of product formation. F304A and A305V also displayed altered flavonoid stimulation that resulted in product ratios dramatically different from wild-type 3A4. Therefore, the kinetics of progesterone hydroxylation of these mutants and the wild-type enzyme were further assessed, and the data were analyzed with the Hill equation. Results with wild-type 3A4 and F304A indicated that at high progesterone concentrations, hydroxylation rates and product ratios are independent of the presence of α-NF. This suggests that progesterone may be equivalent to α-NF as an activator. In contrast, A305V exhibited autoactivation by progesterone but inhibition by α-NF.
Global seismicity of 2003: centroid–moment-tensor solutions for 1087 earthquakes

Abstract Centroid–moment-tensor (CMT) solutions are presented for 1087 earthquakes that occurred during 2003. The solutions are obtained using the method of Dziewonski et al. [Dziewonski, A.M., Chou, T.-A., Woodward, J.H., 1981. Determination of earthquake source parameters from waveform data for studies of global and regional seismicity. J. Geophys. Res. 86, 2825–2852] and applying corrections for aspherical Earth structure as represented by the whole-mantle shear-velocity model SH8/U4L8 of Dziewonski and Woodward [Dziewonski, A.M., Woodward, R.L., 1992. Acoustic imaging at the planetary scale. In: Emert, H., Harjes, H.-P. (Eds.), Acoustical Imaging, vol. 19. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 785–797]. The model of inelastic attenuation of Durek and Ekstrom [Durek, J.J., Ekstrom, G., 1996. A radial model of inelasticity consistent with long-period surface wave attenuation. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 86, 144–158] is used to predict the decay of the waveforms. The focal mechanisms of the largest, or otherwise significant, earthquakes of 2003 are reviewed.
Cardioplegia Solutions—Unproven Herbal Approach Versus Tested Scientific Study

Cardioplegic solutions are used throughout the world, but must undergo careful testing before their clinical application. This study points out the importance of recognizing the hemodynamic changes produced by tested solutions so that appropriate decisions can be made in selecting crystalloid or blood solutions. Examples are provided, in which arbitrary changes made by the well-intentioned surgeon can produce damage through unanticipated alterations that are introduced without prior testing, and then used clinically. Recognition of the advantages and disadvantages of each solution is the underpinning of selection for clinical use so that unanticipated misadventures do not occur. Furthermore, the importance of making solutions in pharmacies with good manufacturing practices can avoid causing problems that would otherwise be prevented. Fundamentally, cardioplegic solutions are direct cardiac medications that must be tested as other drugs are so that unforeseen problems are avoided.
Detached single cilia: another potential pseudomicrobe seen in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens.

High magnification examination of Romanovsky-stained bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) material may be needed, if one is to confidently exclude small organisms such as toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, and the negative images of mycobacteria. Pseudomicrobes have been described, and detailed criteria must be carefully applied, if incorrect diagnoses are to be avoided. We recently noted numerous free-lying, uniform, eosinophilic, straight or slightly curved bacilliform structures in such a specimen. These were seen on Diff-Quik®-stained material, but were extremely pale on Papanicolaou-stained slides. Comparison with the cilia of contaminating bronchial cells showed these pseudomicrobes to have similar length, diameter, and tinctorial properties. Electron microscopy of the sedimented cell pellet showed isolated, detached single cilia (DSC) far removed from any bronchial cells. Twenty BAL's from 13 males and seven females (median age = 48.5) undergoing infection surveillance were then retrospectively reviewed. DSC were present in 16 specimens (80%), but were rare in three of these. Although present in cases with prominent bronchial cell contamination (n=6 cases), DSC were also encountered when ciliated cells were rare (n=13), or absent (n=1). Familiarity with these distinctive structures should make it unlikely that they will be mistaken for infectious organisms. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A critical heat flux correlation for droplet impact cooling

Abstract The characteristics of a single stream of monodispersed water droplets impacting a horizontal, upward facing flat surface have been investigated. The objective was to determine the effect of droplet diameter, impact frequency and impact velocity on the critical heat flux (CHF). A generalized correlation has been developed for the nondimensional CHF as a function of the Weber and Strouhal numbers of the impacting droplets. The Weber and Strouhal numbers ranged from 175 to 730 and 7.00 × 10 −3 −3.00 × 10 −2 , respectively. With a confidence level of greater than 95% differences between predicted and experimental CHF values were less than ±22%.
Lorentz-Invariance Algebraization of Hadron Vertex Function in SU(3)

It is shown that, in the exact SU(3) limit and under plausible assumptions, the matrix elements of the SU(3) axial-vector currents taken between two hadron states at rest form a closed algebra isomorphic to SO(9, 3). Some remarks are made on previous results for SU(2) axial-vector currents.
The discrete agglomeration model with a time-varying kernel

Agglomeration of particles in a fluid environment occurs in industrial processes and is studied experimentally. The fundamental process has been modeled using the agglomeration (coagulation or Smoluchowski) equation. This paper examines the discrete agglomeration model with a time-varying kernel.
Apolipoprotein E in sporadic Alzheimer's disease: Allelic variation and receptor interactions

An increased prevalence of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 allele exists in late onset familial Alzheimer's disease. We found, in sporadic Alzheimer's disease, that 62% of patients possessed an ApoE-epsilon 4 allele, compared with 20% of controls. ApoE-epsilon 4/4 patients had more senile plaques (SPs) than epsilon 3/3 patients. ApoE immunoreactivity of SPs was equivalent in both groups. Two receptors bind ApoE complexes, the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP). In normal brain, anti-LRP antibodies strongly stained neurons and lightly stained astrocytes; anti-LDL receptor antibodies stained only the neuropil and astrocytes. In Alzheimer's disease, SPs and reactive astrocytes were also strongly LRP immunoreactive. Colocalization of ApoE and LRP to SPs implies that these molecules may be involved in metabolism of components of SPs.
The Three-dimensional Evolution of Buoyant Magnetic Flux Tubes in a Model Solar Convective Envelope

We present a set of three-dimensional spherical shell anelastic MHD simulations of the buoyant rise of magnetic flux tubes from the base of the convection zone to a depth of 16 Mm below the photosphere. It is found that when a twisted flux tube arches upward due to buoyancy, it rotates out of the plane and thus produces a tilt at the apex. Our simulations show that for tubes with the twist rate that is necessary for a cohesive rise, the twist-induced tilt dominates that caused by the Coriolis force, and furthermore, the twist-induced tilt is of the wrong direction (opposite to the observational Joy's law) if the twist is left-handed (right-handed) in the northern (southern) hemisphere, following the observed hemispheric preference of the sign of the active region twist. It is found that in order for the emerging tube to show the correct tilt direction (consistent with observations), the initial twist rate of the flux tube needs to be less than half of that needed for a cohesive rise. Under such conditions, severe flux loss is found during the rise. We also found that due to the asymmetric stretching of the rising tube by the Coriolis force, a field strength asymmetry develops, with the field in the leading leg (leading in the direction of rotation) of the Ω-shaped emerging tube being stronger than the field in the following leg, which results in a more compact morphology in the leading polarity of the emerging active region.
Optimal pilot-to-data power ratio for diversity combining with imperfect channel estimation

The bit error probability for BPSK modulation over correlated Rice fading channel is derived for minimum mean square error channel estimation using pilot symbol assisted modulation and diversity combining at the receiver. The optimal pilot-to-data power ratio is studied for different Rice K factors. The theoretical result is verified by Monte-Carlo simulation with space diversity fading model
roBlocks: a robotic construction kit for mathematics and science education

We describe work in progress on roBlocks, a computational construction kit that encourages users to experiment and play with a collection of sensor, logic and actuator blocks, exposing them to a variety of advanced concepts including kinematics, feedback and distributed control. Its interface presents novice users with a simple, tangible set of robotic blocks, whereas advanced users work with software tools to analyze and rewrite the programs embedded in each block. Early results suggest that roBlocks may be an effective vehicle to expose young people to complex ideas in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Carotenoids, immunocompetence, and the information content of sexual colors: an experimental test.

Abstract: Many male birds use carotenoid pigments to acquire brilliant colors that advertise their health and condition to prospective mates. The direct means by which the most colorful males achieve superior health has been debated, however. One hypothesis, based on studies of carotenoids as antioxidants in humans and other animals, is that carotenoids directly boost the immune system of colorful birds. We studied the relationship between carotenoid pigments, immune function, and sexual coloration in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), a species in which males incorporate carotenoid pigments into their beak to attract mates. We tested the hypotheses that increased dietary carotenoid intake enhances immunocompetence in male zebra finches and that levels of carotenoids circulating in blood, which also determine beak coloration, directly predict the immune response of individuals. We experimentally supplemented captive finches with two common dietary carotenoid pigments (lutein and zeaxanthin) and measured...
Fundamentals of ion-beam-assisted deposition: Technique and film properties☆

This paper reviews work at NRL to develop an improved understanding of the ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) process and to develop a highly reproducible IBAD system for research and applications. A theoretical treatment of the IBAD process by collision cascade simulation is first reviewed. Fundamentals of the growth dynamics are treated, including the effects of sputtering, reflection, species distribution and charge exchange neutralization of the ions, and the ion-beam-enhanced desorption and reaction rates of gaseous impurities on the surface. Data are presented which demonstrate how changes in process parameters affect the film composition and film properties. These parameters are gas pressure, evaporation rate, ion current and ion energy. Most of the discussion centers on silicon nitride and titanium nitride films. Comparison of these two systems allows the separation of physical and chemical effects on film composition. Finally, unusual structural and mechanical properties of Si1−xNx metastable films are described as well as applications of the films.
Intelligent disruption recovery for decentralized manufacturing systems

The problems of intelligent response to disruptions in a decentralized manufacturing system are considered. In the absence of intelligent coordination, the response to a disruption of one part of the system may cause a disruption in another part of the system. A model for the problem of recovering from this kind of disruption is given. A solution approach based on the idea of negotiation from the field of distributed artificial intelligence is presented. The model and solution approach are evaluated in the domain of job shop rescheduling. >
The cost of secondhand smoke exposure at home in California

Objective Healthcare and mortality costs of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home among non-smokers in California were estimated for the year 2009. Methods Costs were estimated with an epidemiological model using California SHS home exposure rates and published relative risks. Healthcare costs included nine conditions, and mortality was estimated for four perinatal and three adult conditions. Three mortality-related measures were estimated: deaths, years of potential life lost (YPLL) and the value of lost productivity. Results SHS-attributable healthcare costs totalled over $241 million. The most costly conditions for children and adolescents were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ($7.8 million) and middle ear disease ($5.6 million). For adults, the most costly conditions were ischaemic heart disease (IHD) ($130.0 million) and asthma ($67.4 million). Deaths of 821 Californians were attributable to SHS exposure in the home, including 27 infants whose mothers smoked while pregnant and 700 adults who died from IHD. These deaths represented a loss of over 13 000 YPLL and $119 million in lost productivity. Conclusions The economic impact of SHS exposure in the home totalled $360 million in California in 2009. Policies that reduce exposure to SHS at home have great potential for reducing healthcare and mortality costs.
Islet transplantation, stem cells, and transfusion medicine*☆☆

Despite the widespread use of exogenous insulin, morbidity and mortality caused by type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) continue to place a significant burden on society, both in terms of human suffering and cost. The transplantation of vascularized pancreas, usually performed concurrently with renal transplantation, can cure type 1 DM, as shown by results in more than 15000 such transplants over about 30 years. Transplantation of isolated pancreatic islets, instead of the whole organ, however, offers an attractive alternative that minimizes surgery and its complications. Although islet transplantation initially met with only modest success (only about 9% insulin independence at 1 year posttransplant), recent changes in patient selection criteria, number and treatment of islets transplanted, and better immunosuppressive regimens dramatically improved the results; spawning widespread enthusiasm for islet transplantation. Despite this promise, organ/islet availability remains an important limitation to this technology. A solution to the problem of limited materials for transplantation may be in the use of stem/progenitor cells. This article reviews the background of the current enthusiasm for pancreatic islet cell transplantation, highlights future research trends in the field, and suggests that the new islet-related cellular therapies belong within the domain of transfusion medicine.
Slow light using spin coherence and V-type electromagnetically induced transparency in [110] strained quantum wells

We model the slow-light phenomenon using electromagnetically induced transparency from spin coherence in [110] quantum wells. The long electron-spin lifetime in [110] quantum wells and the strain-induced shift of the light-hole-like excitonic transition energy below those of the heavy-hole-like continuum states can enhance the performance of slow light. The optical anisotropy due to band mixing and strain in [110] quantum wells is properly taken into consideration. By using light-hole-like excitons, the delay of a probe light with TM polarization in an optical waveguide controllable by an intense pump is made possible with the aid of long spin coherence.
Adaptive Re-Routing over Circuits: An Architecture for an Optical Backbone Network

As Internet traffic continues to grow unabated at an exponential rate, it is unclear whether the existing packet routing network architecture based on electronic routers will continue to scale at the necessary pace. On the other hand, optical fiber and switching elements have demonstrated an abundance of capacity that appears to be unmatched by electronic routers. Although a number of optical backbone architectures have been proposed (e.g., optical burst switching), they generally rely on frequent dynamic circuit reconfigurations and new signaling protocols for network-wide coordination. Recently, we proposed an alternative optical backbone architecture called COPLAR based on a paradigm of coarse optical circuit switching by default and adaptive re-routing over circuits when necessary [4]. This approach is based on the provisioning of long-duration quasi-static optical circuits between IE (Ingress-Egress) router pairs at the boundary of the network to carry the traffic by default. When a provisioned circuit is inadequate, we adaptively load-balance the excess traffic across circuits with spare capacity so that all traffic can be routed to their final destinations without the need to create new circuits on-the-fly. Our initial work was focused on the system architecture design and the provisioning of quasi-static circuits. In this paper, we focus on the problem of adaptive re-routing over circuits. Our evaluation using real traffic data on two real backbone networks (Abilene and GEANT) shows that our adaptive re-routing over circuits approach can effectively accommodate excess traffic even under heavy traffic loads.
Beginning French via the Read-and-Speak Method.

An innovative foreign language methodology, “Read-and-Speak,” was tried in a yearlong pilot section of beginning French at the University of Utah in academic 1984–85. The method involves the following: (a) from the outset students were assigned massive easy readings in the foreign language (300 pages during the first quarter); (b) from the outset they were encouraged to speak the foreign language in class; and (c) formal grammar instruction was delayed until April when an entire introductory text was covered in five weeks. At the end of the year, standardized testing showed the-Read-and-Speak method to be significantly more effective than the traditional method. Moreover, student response was positive: the new method was perceived to be a relatively pleasurable way to learn French. Read-and-Speak's success may be explained by its grounding in basic learning theory: the new method lays down maximal memory traces, it widely spaces those traces over time, and it sets the traces in pleasing contexts. The success of Read-and-Speak may also be explained by its insistence upon early unstructured speech.
Euglena gracilis A Model for Flagellar Surface Assembly, with Reference to Other Cells That Bear Flagellar Mastigonemes and Scales

The flagella of euglenoids consist of a rich assemblage of surface appendages precisely positioned with respect to each other and to axonemal components. The presence of these appendages (mastigonemes or flagellar hairs) and the occurrence of flagellar scales in certain “green” flagellates provide visible evidence that the flagellar surface in these forms is constructed and maintained to a large extent independently from the adjacent cell surface. Thus, flagellar assembly may require both the specific targeting of some proteins to and the exclusion of other proteins from the flagellar surface. In the case of some green flagellates, for example, there may be two layers of geometrically arranged scales on the flagella, each layer may consist of a different kind of scale, the layers do not intermix, and the flagellar scales differ markedly from the scales (up to three different kinds) found on the cell body. Organisms with scales and mastigonemes have served as useful models in helping to understand how flagellar surfaces are assembled and how surface molecules are stabilized or held in position along a presumably fluid flagellar membrane.
INCORPORATION OF AXONALLY TRANSPORTED SUBSTANCES INTO MYELIN LIPIDS

Abstract— The possibility that axonally transported lipids and/or proteins might undergo transaxonal migration and become incorporated into surrounding myelin lamellae was studied by isolating myelin from optic tracts of myelinating rabbits at various times following intraocular injection of [3-14C]-serine and [2-3H]glycerol. Myelin isolated by a procedure employing ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-.N,N'-tetraacetic acid had relatively constant specific radioactivity with respect to both isotopes over a 21 day period. Myelin lipids showed a gradual increase in 14C specific radioactivity, attributed to reutilization of [14C]serine from the axon by a compartment of the oligodendrocyte. Free serine is postulated to arise in the axon from catabolism of axonally transported proteins (and possibly lipids) and to migrate transaxonally into the neighboring oligodendroglia. This reutilization mechanism resulted in synthesis of myelin cerebrosides, sphingomyelin, ethanolamine phosphoglycerides and possibly sulfatides, but not gangliosides or serine phosphoglycerides. The data for choline- and inositol-phosphoglycerides are inconclusive. [3H]Glycerol-labeled myelin lipids decreased slowly in 3H specific radioactivity with time, indicating either that [2-3H]glycerol does not participate in the reutilization pathway or that the label is lost in the process. Evidence is presented that 3H- and 14C-labeled lipids are true myelin constituents. Lipids from the myelin, axolemma- and axon-enriched fractions tended to converge in specific radioactivity over the 21 days, especially the former two fractions. These results together with isotope ratio changes point to an equilibration process whereby lipids are able to transfer. (or exchange) between the 3 compartments. Protein radioactivity in isolated myelin was suggested to arise from residual axon/axolemma contamination, and no evidence was found for transaxonal migration of protein into myelin. The 2 mechanisms elucidated here are believed to account for a quantitatively small portion of myelin lipid and are considered to represent a form of axon-glia interaction.
Step-Coupler for Efficient Waveguide Coupling to Ge/Si Avalanche Photodetectors

In recent years, Ge/Si avalanche photodiodes (APDs) have shown significant potential in high-sensitivity and high-speed photodetection for optical communications. Waveguide-coupling can further increase the bandwidth-efficiency product of these devices by separating the optical absorption path from the carrier collection path. Here we present a step-coupler design for efficient vertical coupling between Si waveguides and Ge/Si APDs. The step-coupler approach can achieve >;70% absorption with a 10-μm-long Ge absorption region at λ = 1550 nm, 5 X reduction in device length compared to the conventional waveguide coupling. The significant increase in coupling efficiency is due to vertical multimode interference (MMI) that enhances light scattering towards the Ge active region and creates mirror images of optical modes close to the Ge layer.