cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serious Toys: Introducing Sensors and Sensor Networks in Pre-collegiate Classrooms

Sensors have become pervasive throughout our daily activities. Virtually all appliances use one or more sensors. Networks of sensors are used to support home and medical monitoring, wildlife behavioral monitoring, military applications, and environmental management. Observing the value of sensors in computing, we developed the third in a series of serious toys for use in pre-collegiate classrooms. The "toy" is an embedded hardware device designed to enhance a lecture titled "Learning About Sensors and Sensor Networks." In this paper, we describe the curriculum module and its use in five classes from a local middle school, and four groups from a summer outreach program. We conclude with a summary of evaluation results that show the program produced positive results.
Biliary dyskinesia: The most common indication for cholecystectomy in children

Background The purpose of this study is to examine the current indications for cholecystectomy in children and to evaluate the results after such surgery. Methods Retrospective analysis of 107 consecutive cholecystectomies performed in children at the Children's Hospital of Illinois between October 1998 and September 2003. Hospital medical charts and outpatient clinic charts were reviewed. Patients' families were contacted by telephone to obtain longer-term follow-up. Results were analyzed with SPSS 12.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill). Results Biliary dyskinesia (BD) was the indication for surgery for 62 (58%) of the 107 children who underwent cholecystectomy during the study period. Gallbladder calculus (GC) disease was the next most common indication with 29 (27%) children. The duration of symptoms was longer for BD. The most common presenting symptom in both groups was abdominal pain. Food intolerance was reported by 45% of patients with BD, significantly higher than patients with GC. Mean length of stay after cholecystectomy was 17 hours and 45 hours for BD and GC, respectively. Short-term follow-up showed relief or improvement of symptoms in 85% of children with BD and in 97% with GC. There were no deaths. Two (1.9%) children of the total of 107 developed complications; both had intra-abdominal abscesses. Most patients had complete or considerable long-term improvement in symptoms. Conclusions Biliary dyskinesia was the most common indication for cholecystectomy in children in our study. More than half of the surgeries were performed on an outpatient basis. Morbidity was minimal and mortality was zero. We had satisfactory short- and long-term symptom resolution with long-term patient satisfaction reaching 95%.
SU-E-E-07: When the Old Ways Are the Best Ways: In Defense of Didactic Training

Purpose: Physics education for residents has taken on a more prominent role due to the new ABR examination format. We present a curriculum for a new radiology residency entering its second year. This curriculum favors an extensive traditional didactic teaching approach. The curriculum is designed to minimize the amount of independent learning that is necessary outside the classroom Methods and Materials: idactic training repeats yearly for all four years of residency and consists of two 1-hour lectures per week and several in-class tests. The impact of physics on clinical practice is introduced gradually throughout the residency using specific clinical cases. The extensive time spent with the residents allows lectures to be taught at a deep (almost physicist) level and reduces the necessity of learning base concepts outside of lecture. This frees the resident to use resources (e.g., AAPM/RSNA physics modules) to cement concepts through repetition or to learn a slightly confusing concept from a different teaching perspective. Consistent testing reduces the traditional resident studying technique of physics “cramming.” Results: On average, the first year residents scored in the 98th percentile on the American College of Radiology Diagnostic Radiology In-Service Training Exam (ACR DXIT). Feedback from the new first year residents was very positive and suggestions are constantly solicited and incorporated. For example, based on resident feedback, short-format quizzes each lecture were eliminated and replaced interactive questions during lecture. Residents felt they have advanced rapidly and have a better understanding of radiologic physics, though they have expressed concern that the 1-hour lecture block may not be optimal for learning physics. Conclusion: An extensive, physicist-led series of didactic lectures is effective in the teaching of physics to residents.
A Method for the Determination of a Differential Equation Model for Simple Nonlinear Systems

A method is described for the establishment of a nonlinear differential equation which acts as a model for an actual physical system. It is assumed initially that the actual system contains only a single nonlinear element and that this element may be represented in the differential equation model by a single-valued nonlinear function of a single variable. The method is then extended to systems which contain several nonlinear elements. It is assumed that the system may be excited by a specified periodic input and that neither the input nor the output of the system is significantly corrupted by noise. An experimental criterion is given for the range of periodic inputs which permit satisfactory determination of the differential equation model.
Semistable conjecture via $K$-theory

We show that the semistable conjecture of Fontaine and Jannsen (see [9]) is true for proper, vertical, fine, and saturated log-smooth families with reduction of Cartier type (e.g., proper schemes with simple semistable reduction). We derive it from Suslin's comparison theorem [31, Corollary 4.3] between motivic cohomology and etale cohomology. This gives a new proof of the semistable conjecture showing motivic character of p-adic period maps
Rehabits: A common language of functional assessment

Abstract Probabilistic measurement models offered by Rasch and others can be used to link different functional assessment instruments into a single measurement system. This study assessed 54 subjects (diagnoses: 8 brain injuries, 7 neuromuscular, 22 musculoskeletal, 7 spinal cord, 10 stroke) admitted to a free-standing rehabilitation hospital at admission and discharge using both the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Patient Evaluation and Conference System (PECS). Thirteen FIM and 22 PECS motor skills items were scaled together into a 35-item instrument, providing scale values for all items in the same unit of measurement. Separate FIM and PECS measures produced for each subject correlate .94 and .91( p p
Intraspecific variation in seed dispersion of Lepidium campestre (Brassicaceae)

Intraspecific variation in seed dispersion provides the initial context for frequency-dependent and density-dependent processes affecting seed/seedling survival. We examined intraspecific variation in seed dispersion in a ballistically dispersed herbaceous annual, Lepidium campestre, in both the presence/absence of vegetation to determine the magnitude of variation in seed dispersion among parents, the relationship of this variation to parental architecture, and the effect of the presence of vegetation both on the variation and on its relationship to parental architecture. We quantified seed dispersion by placing concentric rings of traps around individual parents out to a distance of 2 m in the presence/absence of vegetation in an oldfield plant community. In the absence of vegetation, parents differed in the distance and direction that their seeds traveled. Parental height and infructescence length explained a significant proportion of the variation in mean and standard deviation of seed dispersal distance, as well as skewness and kurtosis of the distribution of seed number as a function of distance. The mean direction that seeds traveled was correlated with all architectural traits. When plants dispersed their seeds in sites with dense vegetation, mean dispersal distance and standard deviation in distance decreased, and dispersal distributions were more right-skewed and leptokurtic. The presence/absence of vegetation explained some of the variation among parents in the moments of the distance distribution, but architectural traits also contributed to these descriptive models. Directional components of dispersal were not affected by vegetation. Correspondence analysis, a multivariate technique that examined distance and direction simultaneously, revealed that architectural attributes related to variation in dispersion were different from analyses of distance alone. These results suggest that architectural attributes of the parent contribute not only to the distance that seeds travel, but also to other axes of variation, i.e., skewness and kurtosis of the distance distribution or multivariate axes of seed dispersion. Surrounding vegetation alters seed dispersion, but parental attributes can still explain some of the residual variation. This variation in seed dispersion among parents creates the opportunity for selection on parental dispersal traits.
Retention of 14C-DDT in cellular fractions of vertebrate insecticide-resistant and susceptible fish

Abstract DDT resistant and susceptible populations of mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis ) were assayed for DDT retention in particulate fractions of livers and brains following in vivo and in vitro treatment with 14 C-DDT. Livers and brains were homogenized, and particulate fractions were prepared by differential centrifugation and counted for radioactivity. The in vivo studies indicate a significant difference in retention between brains from susceptible and resistant fish and point to a membrane barrier to DDT in tissues from resistant fish. There is also a more effective blood-brain barrier in resistant fish than in susceptible fish. There was a difference in total distribution of DDT based on percent retention in brain tissue of resistant and susceptible fish. It appears that the cell membranes of resistant fish retain DDT, thus reducing the amount entering the cell. The opposite effect is seen in the mitochondrial membrane as DDT is apparently prevented from entering rather than being membrane bound. In the in vivo liver treatments the heavy microsome fraction was the only significantly different cell component in which the heavy microsomes from resistant fish retained more 14 C-DDT than those from susceptible fish. For the in vitro treatments all liver fractions from susceptible fish showed a significantly greater retention than did those from resistant fish.
ParaGraph: graph editor support for parallel programming environments

WE REPORT HERE ON A GRAPH EDITOR, CALLED PARAGRAPH, THAT SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMMING OF MASSIVELY PARALLEL COMPUTATIONS. IT PROVIDES A FLEXIBLE MECHANISM FOR THE CONCISE SPECIFICATION OF FAMILIES OF ANNOTATED GRAPHS, ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF USER-ANNOTATION AND SCALE INDEPENDENT GRAPH MANIPULATION. IT HAS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO OUR PROGRAMMING ENVIORNMENT, WHERE IT SERVES AS THE BASIS FOR TOOLS SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION ABSTRAC- TIONS IN PROGRAM SPECIFICATION AND DEBUGGING. ITS EXTENSION TO A NUMBER OF OTHER PARALLEL PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENTS WOULD BE STRAIGHTFORWARD.
Structure and developmental expression of the nerve growth factor receptor in the chicken central nervous system

Chicken nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor cDNAs have been isolated and sequenced in an effort to identify functionally important receptor domains and as an initial step in determining the functions of the NGF receptor in early embryogenesis. Comparisons of the primary amino acid sequences of the avian and mammalian NGF receptors have identified several discrete domains that differ in their degree of conservation. The highly conserved regions include an extracellular domain, likely to be involved in ligand binding, in which the positions of 24 cysteine residues and virtually all negatively charged residues are conserved; a transmembrane region, including flanking stretches of extracellular and cytoplasmic amino acids, which has properties suggesting it interacts with other proteins; and a cytoplasmic PEST sequence, which may regulate receptor turnover. Transient expression of NGF receptor mRNA has been seen in many regions of the developing CNS. Experiments suggest that both NGF and its receptor help regulate development of the retina.
Projection-based switched system optimization: Absolute continuity of the line search

The line search is considered for the problem of numerical switched system optimization using projection-based techniques. Switched system optimization may be formulated as an infinite dimensional optimal control problem where the switching control design variables are constrained to the integers. Projection-based techniques handle the integer constraint by considering an equivalent problem with unconstrained design variables but where the cost is dependent on the projection of the design variables to the constrained set of feasible switched system trajectories. This paper is concerned with the line search step of the projection-based optimization procedure. The main result provides sufficient conditions on the descent direction so that the update rule is absolutely continuous with respect to the step size.
Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Physiologic Assessment using Echocardiography for Management and Optimization

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are being deployed increasingly in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and medically refractory congestive heart failure of any etiology. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of the Thoratec Heartmate II (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA) for outpatient use. Echocardiography is fundamental during each stage of patient management, pre-LVAD placement, during LVAD placement, for postoperative LVAD optimization and long-term follow-up. We present a pragmatic and systematic echocardiographic approach that serves as a guide for the management of left ventricular assist devices.
An Investigation into the Growth of Electrical Trees in XLPE Cable Insulation

This paper describes the effects of frequency, voltage, temperature and mechanical stress on the times to breakdown of XLPE cable insulation subjected to highly divergent fields. Temperature and mechanical stress reduce the times to breakdown but tests with increasing voltage and high frequency produced unexpected results which could not be explained by the existing theory of electrical tree growth. Results of partial discharge measurements indicate that space charges are dominant in determining the shape of the tree and the time to breakdown of the insulation.
From dictatorship to democracy: the US and regime change in Paraguay, 1954–1994

Abstract This paper seeks to analyse the external sources of democratisation in Paraguay, specifically how the US contributed to regime change in that country. In the small and vulnerable countries of Latin America, like in Central America, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Paraguay, where the US played a portentous role in the rise, consolidation and demise of authoritarian regimes during the Cold War, Washington has also rendered a vital, but often neglected role, in protecting and enhancing democratic rule. This paper also provides an analysis of the different forms of leverage exercised by the US before and during Paraguay's transition.
The Vocational Identity Scale: A Diagnostic and Treatment Tool

A comprehensive summary of the evidence for the validity and reliability of the Vocational Identity scale is provided for the period 1980-1992. The authors conclude that the Identity scale has substantial construct validity and retest reliability. Contrary to earlier analyses, a recent large scale factor analysis strongly suggests that the scale is best represented by a single factor.
Exploring the dimensions of organizational assimilation: Creating and validating a measure

The purpose of this study was to create and validate a measure of organizational assimilation index. Organizational assimilation describes the interactive mutual acceptance of newcomers into organizational settings. Members from the advertising, banking, hospitality, university, nonprofit, and publishing industries participated in two phases of research. In the first phase, 13 interviewees suggested six dimensions of organizational assimilation: familiarity with others, organizational acculturation, recognition, involvement, job competency, and adaptation/role negotiation. The second phase involved analysis of a survey of 342 participants that appeared to validate the six dimensions. The OAI's construct validity was tested and supported through the use of three other scales. Job satisfaction and organizational identification related positively to assimilation, while propensity to leave related negatively.
Framework for Multihazard Risk Assessment and Mitigation for Wood-Frame Residential Construction

Wood-frame residential construction represents a major investment in the United States, which, when exposed to hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural hazards, may sustain substantial damage. Although in many parts of the country one natural hazard dominates, in certain areas multiple hazards may pose a significant threat to buildings. Building design and construction practices should address the overall risk to residential construction from multiple hazards to achieve design strategies and risk levels that are consistent with occupant expectations and social objectives. This paper presents a framework for multihazard risk assessment using hurricane and earthquake hazards as an example. Structural reliability-based methods that describe natural hazard and structural system response probabilistically are essential for quantifying expected losses from natural disasters and for developing appropriate strategies to manage risk. The framework permits the main sources of uncertainty that affect building performance to be identified, and provides insight on strategies for effective multihazard mitigation efforts.
Notes on breeding sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper’s hawks in Barnwell County, South Carolina.

Breeding records of Accipiter striatus (Sharp-shinned Hawks) in the southeastern US are scattered and isolated. We documented a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Accipiter cooperii (Cooper's Hawk) nest while conducting a telemetry study on Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Red-headed Woodpeckers) in Barnwell County, SC in 2006 and 2007. We report the fi rst known nest of a Sharp-shinned Hawk in Barnwell County, SC and the fi rst report of Sharp-shinned Hawks preying upon Red-headed Woodpeckers. Thirteen of 93 (13.9 %) woodpeckers were killed by accipiters in the summers of 2006 and 2007. Large, contiguous forests managed for Picoides borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpeckers) may be used by breeding Sharp-shinned Hawks. The bright plumage, loud calls, and behavior of Red-headed Woodpeckers, particularly during the nestling stage, may make them conspicuous prey for accipiters.
Stress at Work: A Comparison of Men and Women

A research design was constructed to quantify examined estimates of stress resulting from selected work events and perceived differences of its impact among men and women.
HIFα Targeted for VHL-Mediated Destruction by Proline Hydroxylation: Implications for O2 Sensing

HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) is a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in cellular adaptation to changes in oxygen availability. In the presence of oxygen, HIF is targeted for destruction by an E3 ubiquitin ligase containing the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL). We found that human pVHL binds to a short HIF-derived peptide when a conserved proline residue at the core of this peptide is hydroxylated. Because proline hydroxylation requires molecular oxygen and Fe(2+), this protein modification may play a key role in mammalian oxygen sensing.
Yanks, Canucks, and Aussies: Governance as Liberation.

This chapter offers a three-nation perspective on college governance, emphasizing the condition of autonomy embedded in governance arrangements.
Self-reported affect and core irrational thinking: A preliminary analysis.

Prior tests of irrational thinking have included affect words in their irrational idea statements. Thus, because of content similarity, spuriously high correlations may have been previously observed between the endorsement of irrational ideas and self reported affect. A new measure of core irrational ideas, the Personal Beliefs Test, was given to 70 adults between the ages of 17 and 58. Results showed moderate correlations with neuroticism and self-reported negative affect, and a non-significant association with positive affect, thus supporting RET theory. Most of the explained variance in negative affect was related to the endorsement of irrational, Low Frustration Tolerance and Self Worth statements. This suggests that rational emotive therapists might devote greater time to disputing these ideas. Since most studies, including the present one, find only moderate correlations (i.e. .20 to .70) between irrational thinking and negative affect, it seems important to review the hypothesis that such thinking is theprimary cause of emotionality.
RNA synthesis in fully-grown mouse oocytes

IT is now well documented for various species that the progress of early development depends to a large extent on materials synthesised and stored in the oocyte during oogenesis. A well studied example of this phenomenon is the synthesis and accumulation of both ribosomal and “informational” RNA in amphibian oocytes1–3. The extent of the contribution of oocyte RNA to early mammalian development is, however, not completely clear, since mouse embryos initiate rRNA synthesis at least as early as the four-cell stage of embryogenesis4,5 and, unlike certain lower forms, the progress of early cleavage in the mouse is interfered with by inhibitors of RNA synthesis6–8. On the other hand, it is clear that growing mouse oocytes synthesise and store RNA9–12, such that the ovulated egg contains approximately the same amount of RNA on a volume basis as the amphibian egg (calculated from refs 13 and 14).
High-performance computation of distributed-memory parallel 3D voronoi and delaunay tessellation

Computing a Voronoi or Delaunay tessellation from a set of points is a core part of the analysis of many simulated and measured datasets: N-body simulations, molecular dynamics codes, and LIDAR point clouds are just a few examples. Such computational geometry methods are common in data analysis and visualization, but as the scale of simulations and observations surpasses billions of particles, the existing serial and shared memory algorithms no longer suffice. A distributed-memory scalable parallel algorithm is the only feasible approach. The primary contribution of this paper is a new parallel Delaunay and Voronoi tessellation algorithm that automatically determines which neighbor points need to be exchanged among the sub domains of a spatial decomposition. Other contributions include periodic and wall boundary conditions, comparison of our method using two popular serial libraries, and application to numerous science datasets.
Induced Nitric Oxide Synthesis Is Dependent on Induced Alternatively Spliced CAT-2 Encoding L-Arginine Transport in Brain Astrocytes

The inducible isoform II of nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) was recently cloned from brain and identified in astroglial cells. Induced nitric oxide biosynthesis occurs in brain cells only if extracellular cerebrospinal fluid contains -arginine. This study demonstrates for the first time that induced iNOS activity is strictly dependent on concomitant induction of an alternatively spliced transcript of the cat-2 gene encoding high affinity -arginine transporter System y+ in cultured rat astrocytes. Inhibition profiles of radiolabeled -arginine and -leucine uptake identified the dominance of Na+-independent transport System y+ serving cationic amino acids, with insignificant activities of Systems y+L, bo,+, or Bo,+. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction/sequencing/cloning strategy was used to identify a single 123-base nucleotide sequence coding the high affinity domain of alternatively spliced CAT-2 (not CAT-2a) in astrocytes activated by lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma. Using this sequence as a cDNA probe, it was determined that CAT-2 mRNA, iNOS mRNA, and System y+ activity were concomitantly and strongly induced in astrocytes. Constitutive CAT-1 mRNA was weakly present in neurons and astrocytes, was not inducible in either cell type, and contributed <3% to total System y+ activity. Although astroglial iNOS Km approximately 10 microM L-arginine for intracellular substrate, hyperbolic kinetics of inducible iNOS activity measured as a function of extracellular L-arginine concentration gave Km approximately 50 microM L-arginine with intact cells. The same Km approximately 50 microM was obtained for induced membrane transport System y+ activity. iNOS activity was reduced to zero in the absence of extracellular L-arginine uptake via System y+. These findings expand the current understanding of NO biosynthesis modulation and implicate a coordinated regulation of intracellular iNOS enzyme activity with membrane L-arginine transport in brain.
In blog we trust? Deciphering credibility of components of the internet among politically interested internet users

This study employed an online survey of politically interested Internet users during the two weeks before and the two weeks after the 2004 presidential election to compare how they judge five components of the Internet in terms of credibility for political information. Blogs were judged as the most credible with issue-oriented Web sites also judged as highly credible. Candidate Web sites and bulletin boards were only judged moderately credible while chat rooms were rated not very credible. This study also explored whether reliance on the Internet resource or motivations for visiting the source significantly predict Internet component credibility after controlling for demographic and political variables.
Managing Energy Engineering Education: The Introductory Course

Future energy engineers will need to understand a range of diverse energy initiatives. The purpose of this paper is to present a plan for developing an Energy Engineering course for undergraduates. The course will introduce students to the concepts needed to understand the 21st century energy mix, and should help tomorrow’s leaders understand their role as stewards of the earth’s natural resources.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Travel to Common Destinations: An Exploration Using Multiday GPS Data

Decisions involving common travel patterns over time, such as traveling to and from the same destination multiple times per week or month, are likely different from decisions involving unique circumstances. Understanding of travel decisions involving common destinations could help with the development of programs, services, and infrastructure aimed at changing travel behavior. This paper explores how common travel destinations can be defined through the use of stated and revealed data (a 5-day GPS trip log). Revealed common destinations were identified through hierarchical agglomerative clustering. A 200-m maximum threshold for defining clusters was found to be appropriate in this context. Three ways of defining "common" were explored through the use of the revealed GPS data on the basis of the number of trips that ended at the cluster or the number of days that trips ended at the cluster. The analysis of travel to and from the revealed common destinations identified some potential for variability that de...
Studies on 1,4-dipyrrolidino-2-butyne (Tremorine) in mice

Abstract Tremorine, 1,4-dipyrrolidino-2-butyne, was studied with respect to tremor, hypothermia, analgesia, and intestinal motility. Tremors which are produced by Tremorine are specifically antagonized by the known effective anti-Parkinsonism compounds, and these data correlate well with the method using the tremor monkey. The hypothermia following Tremorine administration may be an involvement of the heat-conserving and heat-producing mechanisms of thermoregulation. This action is probably mediated centrally. Drugs in general which are effective in antagonizing the tremor are also effective in antagonizing the hypothermia. The cholinergic effects observed following Tremorine are effectively blocked by the anticholinergic drugs. The mode and site of action of Tremorine remains undefined, although it is likely that Tremorine acts at multiple sites.
Glacier and Permafrost Problems in High South Asia: International Workshop on Cryosphere and Hazards for Hindu Kush, Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau; Kathmandu, Nepal, 31 March to 2 April 2008

An outgrowth of prior conferences that had to be held separately for political reasons [Bagla, 2006a, 2006b], a 3-day workshop to discuss the impact of climate change on the glaciers and permafrost of high Asia hosted some 70 geoscientists from China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and the United States and a few from Europe and Canada. The scientists concluded that a major need exists for better long-term monitoring of glaciers in the region using satellite imagery coupled with direct observations in the field. Also emphasized was the lack of cooperation or lack of sharing of essential hydrological information between the commonly militarily opposed countries in the area. Even within each country, agencies do not necessarily share data with other agencies or with university scientists. For example, a ludicrous situation was noted wherein it is easier to obtain high-resolution imagery and digital elevation models from scientists in opposing countries rather than domestically, where such data can be restricted or illegal to use. Such data hoarding potentially increases a population's risk because people who are trying to forecast hazardous droughts, floods, and landslides commonly cannot get appropriate information.
The cognitive skill of coaching collaboration

We observed eight experienced avionics technicians as they coached collaborating dyads who worked on problems in Sherlock 2, an intelligent tutoring system for avionics. Data analysis focused on: (1) defining the cognitive skill of coaching collaboration, (2) identifying cues that coaches use to detect and diagnose peer interaction impasses, and (3) specifying how coaches remedy these impasses. Coaching collaboration is an extension of the task of mentoring in one-on-one interactions. It involves three levels of diagnosis: diagnosing problems in the task situation, in students' knowledge and problem-solving process, and in peer interactions. One-on-one instructional interactions--e.g., medical rounds consultations between an expert physician and a resident--involve only the first two levels. We describe cues that can signal to a human or automated coach that intervention is necessary and can indicate what the cause of a peer interaction impasse is. During problem solving, the avionics experts tended to focus on giving advice that would keep students on a productive solution path. They seldom addressed problems at the interaction level---e.g., by prompting a student who evidently knew what to do next to help his peer. However, experts and students used the post-practice reflective discussions to more fully address knowledge gaps, misconceptions, and interaction-level problems.
Reductive Photocarboxylation of Phenanthrene: A Mechanistic Investigation

Irradiation of a solution of phenanthrene (PHN) in DMSO saturated with CO2 in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) produced 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid (1) in 55% yield, trans-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-9,10-dicarboxylic acid (2) in 11% yield, a trace of phenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid (3), and a trace of 10-[p-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid (5). Addition of cumene, a hydrogen donor, or water, a proton donor, decreased the yield of 2, while addition of certain salts increased its yield. 9-Carboxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthr-10-yl, generated by irradiation of phenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid in the presence of DMA, is proposed to be an intermediate in the formation of the acids. The quantum yield for the formation of 2 increased to a maximum of 0.13 with increasing light intensity. High CO2 concentrations in DMSO changed the reaction pathway, greatly reducing the yields of 1 and 2, and phenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid (3) and 10-[p-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]-9,...
Effects of Vertically Aligned Fractures on Reflection Amplitudes: An Amplitude-Versus-Offset Study

SUMMARY Fracture orientation is playing an increasingly important role in modern directional drilling. To maximize production, a horizontal borehole should be oriented perpendicular to the alignement of the vertical fractures (Mueller, 1992). Seismic reflection data have shown that interval velocities decrease from the direction parallel to the fractures to the direction transverse to the fractures (Chang and Gardner, 1992). In this research, we investigate the effects of the orientation of vertically aligned fractures on reflection amplitudes. A fracture model (Figure 1) which was used to study the relationship between fracture orientation and interval velocity analysis was used to record our seismic data. Two seismic lines, one run parallel to the fracture orientation and the other run perpendicular to the fracture orientation, were recorded by an end-on shooting geometry setup. The recorded raw data were then migrated by using the prestack migration technique to recover the reflected energy which was reflected from the top of the fracture zone. Our results show that the magnitude of the reflection amplitude decreases with increasing offset. For the perpendicular line, the rate of decrease is higher than for the parallel line.
POLYMERIZATION OF MONOMERIC TO POLYMERIC VESICLES. CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract The first reports on the polymerization of monomeric vesicles to their polymerized counterparts [1–18] appeared in the literature in the early 1980s. The primary goal of this early work was to stabilize the relatively unstable monomeric vesicles in order to stimulate the function of biological membranes. Triggered by these at-tempts and the prospects for utilization of polymerized vesicles as energy conversion systems [19–23], as drug-carriers [24–26] in medicine, and as media for the performance of biomimetic reactions [27], the subject of formation and characterization of polymerized vesicles has matured significantly in the last 10 years. In the early stages of research following the molecular requirements that had been set for the synthesis of vesicle-forming surfactants, a great number of polymerizable amphiphiles were prepared. However, these first primarily synthetic investigations were followed by more elaborate studies on the kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization coupled with compara...
Dual Signaling and Ligand Selectivity of the Human PTH/PTHrP Receptor

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates PTH/PTH-related peptide-related receptors (PTHRs) to stimulate both adenylyl cyclase (AC) and phospholipase C (PLC). How these parallel signals mediate specific cellular and tissue responses to PTH, such as the complex anabolic versus catabolic actions of PTH on bone, remains unsettled. Previous studies of PTHR signaling and function employed mainly rodent or other cell lines that express endogenous PTHRs and, possibly, alternate species of PTH receptors. To preclude confounding effects of such receptors, we stably expressed recombinant human PTHRs (hPTHRs) at different levels of surface density in LLC-PK1 porcine renal epithelial cells that lack endogenous PTH responsiveness. hPTH(1–34) induced concentration-dependent activation of both AC and PLC via transfected hPTHRs. Maximal intensity of each signal increased with receptor density, but more hPTHRs were required for PLC than for AC activation. Coupling to AC was saturated at receptor densities too low to detect sustained PLC activation. hPTH(3–34), found by others to be a PLC/protein kinase C (PKC)-selective peptide in rat cells, did not activate PLC via human (or rat) PTHRs under conditions (1 μM peptide, 106 hPTHRs/cell) where hPTH(1–34) stimulated PLC severalfold. Other cellular responses that require PKC activation in these cells, such as sodium-dependent phosphate transport and cAMP-independent secretion of plasminogen activator, were induced by PTH(1–34) but not by hPTH(3–34) or hPTH(7–34). We conclude that amino-truncated PTH analogs reported to activate PKC cannot directly activate phosphatidylinositol-specific PLC via the human or rat PTHR and therefore that PTH receptors may access alternate, PLC-independent pathways of PKC activation in some target cells. The relative intensity of AC and PLC signaling via the hPTHR may be strongly regulated by changes in its surface expression.
Local dispersal of male Helicoverpa zea

Local dispersal of Helicoverpa zea (Boddies) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) males as they emerged following the F 1 and F 2 generations in dent corn was examined in a 4 km diam. area in South Carolina, USA. Males were marked at artificial nectar feeding stations using RbCl, and recovered in traps baited with a synthetic pheromone. Effects of noctural boundary layer winds, crop pattern at the pheromone traps, and crop pattern between the marking area and pheromone traps were examined. Local movement of captured male moths was predominantly downwind in both fights in both years of the study. Crop pattern at the traps had no effect on capture of marked moths. During some flights, flowering crops between the marking area and traps had a negative effect on the number of marked moths captured
The Effect of Group Counseling on the Frequency of Grief Reported by Infertile Couples

Twenty-nine individuals undergoing infertility evaluation or treatment attended a six-session, group infertility program. At the first and last session, the individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire about grief, self-concept, marriage satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. The pretest and posttest scores were used to determine if an infertility group counseling program could be effective in reducing the frequency of grief responses. The study confirmed that infertility counseling was effective in reducing the self-reported symptoms of grief experienced by some infertile couples.
The FFT: an algorithm the whole family can use

The fast Fourier transform is one of the fundamental algorithm families in digital information processing. The author discusses its past, present, and future, along with its important role in our current digital revolution. It is concluded that the FFT is both parent and child of the digital revolution, a computational technique at the nexus of the worlds of business and entertainment, national security and public communication. Although it is anyone's guess as to what lies over the next horizon in digital signal processing, the FFT will most likely be in the thick of it.
Efficacy of high-dose methotrexate, ifosfamide, etoposide and dexamethasone salvage therapy for recurrent or refractory childhood malignant lymphoma

Background: Children with recurrent or refractory malignant lymphoma generally have a poor prognosis. There is a need for new active drug combinations for this high-risk group of patients. Patients and methods: This study evaluated the activity and toxicity of the methotrexate, ifosfamide, etoposide and dexamethasone (MIED) regimen for childhood refractory/recurrent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) or Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). From 1991 through 2006, 62 children with refractory/recurrent NHL (n = 24) or HL (n = 38) received one to six cycles of MIED. Based on MIED response, intensification with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was considered. Results: There were 10 complete (CR) and 5 partial responses (PR) among the 24 children with NHL [combined response rate, 63%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 38% to 73%]. There were 13 CR and 18 PR among the 37 assessable children with HL (combined response rate, 84%; 95% CI, 68% to 94%). Although 59% courses were associated with grade IV neutropenia, treatment was well tolerated and without toxic deaths. Conclusions: MIED is an effective regimen for refractory/recurrent childhood malignant lymphoma, permitting a bridge to intensification therapy with HSCT.
Joint spatial and temporal delta-sigma modulation for wideband antenna arrays and video halftoning

Extending an existing architecture for delta-sigma conversion of vector inputs, we suggest spectrally shaping quantization noise jointly in the temporal and spatial frequency domains with delta-sigma modulation, and we examine the application of the idea to wideband antenna or acoustic arrays and to halftoning of video imagery.
Serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to chlamydial heat shock protein 60 but not to human and bacterial homologs are associated with coronary artery disease

Background— Evidence for an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been reported by numerous studies, cross-reactive heat shock protein (Hsp) antibody responses have been causally linked to CAD, and the severity of chlamydial disease pathogenesis correlates with Hsp serology. Our aim was to determine if chlamydial Hsp (cHsp) antibody responses are predictive of CAD. Methods and Results— Patients were recruited in a case-control study: 250 cases had angiographically significant CAD (stenosis ≥70%), and 250 controls had normal coronary arteries (stenosis <10%). Serum immunoglobulin G reactivity to Hsp10 and Hsp60 antigens (chlamydial, Escherichia coli, and human), and C pneumoniae whole organisms were measured by ELISA. Univariate analysis confirmed that classical CAD risk factors were predictors of CAD. Univariate analysis showed that cHsp60 (P= 0.001, OR 3.9), cHsp10 (P=0.045, OR 3.8), E coli Hsp60 (P=0.04, OR 1.5) and C pneumoniae (P=0.03, OR 1.8) ELISA o...
Landholder cooperation for sustainable upland watershed management : a theoretical review of the problems and prospects

Despite national legislation and substantial donor investments, watershed degradation continues to threaten the sustained economic development and social welfare of millions of citizens in the developing world. Past efforts have largely concentrated on the physical rather than institutional aspects of watersheds, and have often relied on external incentives to coerce or persuade individuals to adopt conservation practices. In contrast to this conventional "physical" perspective, watersheds can be considered as sets of vested interests (and social relations) within a physically defined space. In essence, watersheds are physically defined subsets of rural society. Actors with vested interests within watersheds are interdependent because of water flow across political boundaries. From this perspective, the achievement of watershed management is a question of social relations, and cooperation between individual actors. Though there is growing realization for an expanded role of local, cooperative institutions in watershed management, theories on how such institutions might be identified, evolve or be promoted are limited. Toward this end, this paper examines some of the theoretical aspects of landholder cooperation for watershed management: the socio-political setting of upland watersheds; the physical attributes of watersheds influencing cooperation; the nature of externalities and incentives in watersheds; and the economic and socio-cultural factors affecting the emergence of collective action units. The processes by which collective action groups actually form are also reviewed. The paper concludes with a synthesis of the prospects for landholder cooperation approaches, the appropriate role of policy and a proposed process for promoting such cooperation.
Association of snRNA genes with coiled bodies is mediated by nascent snRNA transcripts.

Abstract Background: Coiled bodies are nuclear organelles that are highly enriched in small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and certain basal transcription factors. Surprisingly, coiled bodies not only contain mature U snRNPs but also associate with specific chromosomal loci, including gene clusters that encode U snRNAs and histone messenger RNAs. The mechanism(s) by which coiled bodies associate with these genes is completely unknown. Results: Using stable cell lines, we show that artificial tandem arrays of human U1 and U2 snRNA genes colocalize with coiled bodies and that the frequency of the colocalization depends directly on the transcriptional activity of the array. Association of the genes with coiled bodies was abolished when the artificial U2 arrays contained promoter mutations that prevent transcription or when RNA polymerase II transcription was globally inhibited by α-amanitin. Remarkably, the association was also abolished when the U2 snRNA coding regions were replaced by heterologous sequences. Conclusions: The requirement for the U2 snRNA coding region indicates that association of snRNA genes with coiled bodies is mediated by the nascent U2 RNA itself, not by DNA or DNA-bound proteins. Our data provide the first evidence that association of genes with a nuclear organelle can be directed by an RNA and suggest an autogenous feedback regulation model.
Two-dimensional recursive adaptive filtering

Two-dimensional adaptive filters are used in image and video processing applications. Several different two-dimensional structures and algorithms have been developed, the most recent of which is a 2D infinite impulse response (IIR) adaptive filter. IIR adaptive filters offer reduced computational complexity and increased modeling flexibility when compared to finite impulse response (FIR) filters. A simple gradient algorithm is developed, and experimental results are presented which clearly show the dependence of convergence on the 2D indexing scheme. Results show that the 2D IIR mean-squared-error performance surface characteristics are similar to those of the 1D IIR adaptive filter with respect to unimodality of the error surface. A quasi-Newton acceleration algorithm is suggested to improve the rate of convergence. >
Respiratory viral infection predisposing for bacterial disease: a concise review

Although bacterial superinfection in viral respiratory disease is a clinically well documented phenomenon, the pathogenic mechanisms are still poorly understood. Recent studies have revealed some of the mechanisms involved. Physical damage to respiratory cells as a result of viral infection may lead to opportunistic adherence of bacteria. Enhanced bacterial adherence by specific mechanisms has been documented for respiratory cells infected with influenza A virus, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus in both in vitro and in vivo models. To date, results of various experimental studies indicate that different mechanisms for increased bacterial adherence induced by viruses are operating for specific viral-bacterial combinations. In the present review, a number of key findings obtained during the past two decades is presented and discussed.
K-12 online lesson alignment to the principles of Universal Design for Learning: the Khan Academy

The field of K-12 education is being transformed, with an influx of students, including those with identified disabilities, engaging in blended and fully online learning. While online learning shows promise for students with disabilities through flexible content and personalised instruction, concerns regarding accessibility and appropriateness of online learning for this population still exist. In order to examine this concern, researchers developed and used a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Scan Tool to measure lesson content and alignment with UDL principles, guidelines and checkpoints. Four hundred and seventy-eight math, science and world history Khan Academy lessons were randomly selected and evaluated for this study. The paper highlights the results of the study, in terms of the lessons’ alignment with UDL principles and guidelines, as well as a discussion on limitations and future research.