cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applying tree-based ensemble algorithms to the classification of ecological zones using multi-temporal multi-source remote-sensing data

The decision tree method has grown fast in the past two decades and its performance in classification is promising. The tree-based ensemble algorithms have been used to improve the performance of an individual tree. In this study, we compared four basic ensemble methods, that is, bagging tree, random forest, AdaBoost tree and AdaBoost random tree in terms of the tree size, ensemble size, band selection (BS), random feature selection, classification accuracy and efficiency in ecological zone classification in Clark County, Nevada, through multi-temporal multi-source remote-sensing data. Furthermore, two BS schemes based on feature importance of the bagging tree and AdaBoost tree were also considered and compared. We conclude that random forest or AdaBoost random tree can achieve accuracies at least as high as bagging tree or AdaBoost tree with higher efficiency; and although bagging tree and random forest can be more efficient, AdaBoost tree and AdaBoost random tree can provide a significantly higher accur...
The Agar-Albumin Sandwich Technique for Processing Retinal Biopsy Specimens

Retinal biopsy may be a useful procedure in the diagnosis of certain cases of infectious retinitis complicated by retinal detachment. The small, delicate pieces of retina obtained by retinal biopsy are difficult to handle and prepare for histologic processing. The tissue is friable, may curl upon itself, and is often lost during normal processing. Routine methods for handling small biopsy specimens of other tissues are inadequate for preparing retinal specimens. We developed an agar-albumin tissue mount for the sterile recovery and transport of small pieces of retina from the operative field to the laboratory. The agar-albumin sandwich mount facilitates tissue processing without interfering with histologic sectioning or interpretation. The ability to recover small, friable pieces of retina in a manner that allows good histologic examination is essential if retinal biopsy specimens are to be used in the diagnosis and management of patients with infectious retinitis where the causative agent is unclear.
Fettsäuretrennung mit Sulzer‐Mellapak®‐Kolonnen Versuche, Auslegung und industrielle Erfahrung

Die Sulzer-Mellapak als Kolonnenfullung fur die Destination von Tallol und Fettsauren hat sich industriell mehrfach bewahrt und ist heutzutage die bevorzugte Packung im Fettsaurebereich. Dank ihr ist der Einsatz von Treibdampf nicht mehr notig. Ein kleiner Druckverlust und ein kleiner Hold-up schonen die empfindlichen Produkte. Im Vergleich zu Bodenkolonnen ergibt sich eine Kapazitatssteigerung um das Doppelte und ein um ca. 40 % kleineres Rucklaufverhaltnis. Fur die Ermittlung spezifischer Trennaspekte fuhrt Sulzer Destillationsversuche in einer Pilotanlage unter industriellen Bedingungen durch, und zwar mit dem Produkt des Kunden. Versuche mit Mellapak in der Pitch-Kolonne ergaben dank der besseren Pechabtrennung eine Erhohung der Ausbeute an destilliertem Tallol um ca. 10 % mit hoherer Saurezahl. Pilotversuche ohne Treibdampf in der Rosinkolonne fuhrten zu einer besseren Trennung zwischen Harzsaure und Roh-Fettsaure im Vergleich zu einer Bodenkolonne gleicher Hohe. Bei der eigentlichen Fettsaurekolonne konnte die Ausbeute an Fettsaure von 66% auf uber 70% erhoht werden, bei gleichzeitiger Qualitatssteigerung. Aufgrund der umfangreichen Versuchsergebnisse konnen industrielle Anlagen mit Durchsatz- und Reinheitsgarantie angeboten werden. Das bekannte Scale-up-Verhalten der Mellapak und Betriebsresultate aus industriellen Fettsaurekolonnen erlauben eine sichere Auslegung. Fatty Acid Separation by Sulzer-Mellapak®-Columns - Trials, Layout and Industrial Experience The Sulzer-Mellapak as column filling for the distillation of tall oil and fatty acids has proved true in industry for many times; nowadays it is the favoured package in the range of fatty acids. Thanks to it the application of propellent steam is no longer necessary. A small pressure loss and a little holdup preserve the delicate products. In comparison to the stage columns there is a twofold increase in capacity and a reflux ratio which is about 40 % lower. Distillation tests are carried out in a pilot plant under industrial conditions by Sulzer to detect specific separation aspects. The tests are made with the customer's product. Tests with Mellapak in the Pitch-column showed, due to the better pitch separation an increase of the yield of distillated talloil of about 10 % with higher acid factor. Pilot tests without propellent steam in the rosin column led to a better separation between rosin acid and raw fatty acids in comparison to a stage column of the same height. The yield of fatty acid in the real fatty acid column could be increased from 66 % to more than 70% at simultaneous quality increase. Industrial plants with throughput- and purity guarantee can be offered because of extensive test results. The well-known scale-up behaviour of Mellapak and working results from industrial fatty acid columns allow a reliable layout.
Age-related changes in consolidation of perceptual and muscle-based learning of motor skills

Improvements in motor sequence learning come about via goal-based learning of the sequence of visual stimuli and muscle-based learning of the sequence of movement responses. In young adults, consolidation of goal-based learning is observed after intervals of sleep but not following wake, whereas consolidation of muscle-based learning is greater following intervals with wake compared to sleep. While the benefit of sleep on motor sequence learning has been shown to decline with age, how sleep contributes to consolidation of goal-based versus muscle-based learning in older adults has not been disentangled. We trained young (n=62) and older (n=50) adults on a motor sequence learning task and re-tested learning following 12 hr intervals containing overnight sleep or daytime wake. To probe consolidation of goal-based learning of the sequence, half of the participants were re-tested in a configuration in which the stimulus sequence was the same but, due to a shift in stimulus-response mapping, the movement response sequence differed. To probe consolidation of muscle-based learning, the remaining participants were tested in a configuration in which the stimulus sequence was novel, but now the sequence of movements used for responding was unchanged. In young adults, there was a significant condition (goal-based v. muscle-based learning) by interval (sleep v. wake) interaction, F(1,58)=6.58, p=.013: Goal-based learning tended to be greater following sleep compared to wake, t(29)=1.47, p=.072. Conversely, muscle-based learning was greater following wake than sleep, t(29)=2.11, p=.021. Unlike young adults, this interaction was not significant in older adults, F(1,46)=.04, p=.84, nor was there a main effect of interval, F(1,46)=1.14, p=.29. Thus, older adults do not preferentially consolidate sequence learning over wake or sleep.
Learning at Work: Case Studies in Non-School Education.

This article is the result of a three-year study of student interns, which investigated the experiences of newcomers in various work organizations. A learning narrative, it compares internships in two very different work settings: a furniture-making shop and an animal protection league.
Clinically oriented evaluation of the accuracy of commonly used impression materials

The elastomeric impression materials used in this study exhibited comparable clinical accuracy when properly handled. In general, they were significantly more accurate than reversible hydrocolloid. In fact, because of their excellent dimensional stability, impressions made with addition curing silicone-base or polyether rubber impression materials remained accurate even after 1 week. Elastomeric impression materials have established themselves with reversible hydrocolloids as elastic impression materials that are capable of producing clinically accurate dies with an excellent replication of surface detail.
An unusual membrane organization observed during spermiogenesis in the mite Caloglyphus anomalus.

The fine structure of spermatids and spermatozoa of the soil mite Caloglyphus anomalus was observed. Early spermatids contain mitochondria, Golgi complexes, endoplasmic reticulum, and free ribosomes. During spermiogenesis chromatin condenses into 200–300 A thick threads, the nuclear membrane disappears and a highly folded surface membrane forms as an endoplasmic reticulum and/or Golgi complex derivative. In late spermatids inner portions of the surface folds sink into the cytoplasm and are found in mature spermatozoa as membrane sheets situated in concentric whorls around the chromatin threads. These observations are compared to previous fine structure studies on grain mite spermatozoa and spermatozoa wherein similar nucleocytoplasmic mixing and internalized membrane formations occur in efforts to demonstrate its possible significance in these unusual type spermatozoa. Assuming that these spermatozoa are not degenerative or otherwise nonfunctional, this is another example of an unusual nonflagellate type spermatozoa similar to closely related arachnids and crustacea.
Correlates of Long-Term Survival in the TICTAC Trial

Purpose The TICTAC trial compared the strategy of rapid steroid weaning with either TAC monotherapy (MONO) or TAC/MMF (COMBO) therapy. We report survival at 6 year median follow-up (4-8 yrs) and investigate the survival of selected subgroups. Methods and Materials 150 patients were randomized to either the MONO or COMBO groups as previously reported. Corticosteroids were initiated at 0.6 mg/kg and discontinued by 8 weeks post-transplant. Patients continue to be followed long-term. Results The survival of the MONO and COMBO groups remains similar though not identical. The 5 and 7 year survival for MONO was 85 %, and 80 %, and 93% and 84 % with COMBO respectively (p= 0.19 logrank). The table below details multiple analyses. There was no difference in survival based on gender, use of a pre-transplant VAD, PRA ≥ 10 %, UNOS status, or crossover of assigned study group. Blacks had a non-significant trend towards worse survival in the MONO group, but not in the COMBO group. Patients with renal dysfunction on the day of transplant (serum Cr ≥1.7 ) had a survival benefit with COMBO but not with MONO therapy. Conclusions COMBO therapy is preferred in patients with serum Cr ≥1.7 on the day of transplant, or in black patients due to improved survival in the TICTAC trial. Survival vs. Group MONO SURVIVAL COMBO SURVIVAL Factor # Pts 7 Year p-value logrank # Pts 7 Year p-value logrank Female Recipient 17 86.9% 0.77 13 75% 0.63 Male Recipient 62 78.6% 0.77 57 85% 0.63 Black Race 16 65.7% 0.1854 12 100% 0.47 Non-Black Race 63 84% 0.1854 59 80% 0.47 SCr ≥ 1.7 day of transplant 10 70% 0.032 13 82% 0.315 SCr 69 82.3% 0.032 58 84.8% 0.315 VAD Pre Txp 21 84.8% 0.75 19 94.7% 0.62 No VAD Pre-Txp 58 78.6% 0.75 52 79.5% 0.62 PRA ≥ 10 % 23 90.6% 0.13 22 92.9% 0.25 PRA 56 76.3% 0.13 49 79.2% 0.25 UNOS Status 1A 45 76.3% 0.24 31 79.8% 0.22 UNOS Status 1B 30 83.3% 0.24 38 87.1% 0.22 UNOS Status 2 4 100% 0.24 2 100% 0.22 Cross-over of Treatment Group 8 crossed to COMBO 66.7% 0.54 21 crossed to MONO 80.4% 0.41 Remained with Assigned Treatment 71 remained on MONO 81.5% 0.54 50 remained on COMBO 85.5% 0.41
Computerized interpretation of electromyographic data

A computer program was developed to plan, interpret and report the analysis of electromyographic data. The computer model formalized electrodiagnostic decisions through the use of a computational method known as augmented transition networks (ATN). The diagnoses of entrapment neuropathies, plexopathies, and radiculopathies were incorporated into the computer model. The system analyzed a difficult set of electromyographic (EMG) cases and the computer and physician reached the same conclusion 78% of the time. The system could explain the reason it reached its diagnostic conclusions and report to the physician all the relevant pathophysiologic derangements. The system could also offer advice on how one could strengthen a tentative diagnostic conclusion. While this system is limited in its diagnostic coverage of EMG problems, it may be a useful assistant to the electromyographer by focusing attention on significant pathophysiologic derangements detected on EMG examination.
The meaning of representation in animal memory

A representation is a remnant of previous experience that allows that experience to affect later behavior. This paper develops a metatheoretical view of representation and applies it to issues concerning representation in animals. To describe a representational system one must specify the following: the domain or range of situations in the represented world to which the system applies; the content or set of features encoded and preserved by the system; the code or transformational rules relating features of the representation to the corresponding features of the represented world; the medium, or the representation's physical instantiation; and the dynamics, or how the system changes with time. In part because of the behaviorist assumption that the hypothetical, covert changes occurring in an organism during learning correspond to the overt physical changes that are observed, issues of representation in animal behavior have been largely ignored as irrelevant or misleading. However, it can be inferred that representations, acting as models of environmental regularities, operate at many levels of behavioral functioning, both cognitive and noncognitive. Objections to the use of this concept in explanations of animal behavior, based on the claim that it is indeterminate and on behaviorist considerations of parsimony, can be answered. Animal representations may be specialized in terms of tasks and species. Data from tasks involving spatial memory, delayed matching-to-sample, and sequence learning suggest some foundations for a general theory of animal representations.
Differential cross sections in the ejected energy for an L=0 model of the electron-impact ionization of hydrogen

A calculational procedure is formulated for extracting differential cross sections in the ejected energy from a time-dependent wave-packet method for the electron ionization of hydrogen. The procedure is applied to an s-wave model for electron-hydrogen scattering. In contrast to recent time-independent methods, the differential cross sections are found to be smooth and symmetric. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Cancer genetics: activated notch takes center stage in T-cell leukemogenesis.

A convincing new study published in Science has upgraded the status of NOTCH1 from bit-part player in acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) to that of a central participant in the development of this aggressive cancer.1
Acoustic propagation in partially choked converging-diverging ducts

A computer model based on the wave-envelope technique is used to study acoustic propagation in converging-diverging hard walled and lined circular ducts carrying near sonic mean flows. The influences of the liner admittance, boundary layer thickness, spinning mode number, and mean Mach number are considered. The numerical results indicate that the diverging portion of the duct can have a strong reflective effect for partially choked flows.
Plant community dynamics in shortgrass steppe with grazing relaxation and imposition by large and small herbivores

Semiarid rangelands often respond slowly to rest/relaxation of grazing pressure by large herbivores, and the effects of grazing are most often inferred from this direction of study because the imposition of grazing onto previous ungrazed/lightly grazed areas occurred prior to the age of scientific studies. These rangelands host a diversity of small and large herbivores, but grazing studies most often concern effects of the large generalists. Here, the effects of herbivore body size on plant species richness and dominant species, and imposition and relaxation of grazing by large herbivores were studied by opening half of exclosures established in 1939 and building new exclosures to large herbivores, and to small-plus-large herbivores. Plant richness using sensitive species-area sampling was studied in a dry and a wet year, about 62 years after initiating the long-term experiment and about 6-10 years after initiating the altered designs. Convergence of the newly opened to large herbivore grazing treatment t...
Predicting increased condom use with main partners: potential approaches to intervention.

SUMMARY Educational interventions aimed at increasing condom use in high risk groups have met with limited success. Five psychological models developed or modified for HIV risk reduction include: the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TMC), the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This longitudinal study examined changes in condom use as a function of variables selected from these theories. Seventy-eight not-in-treatment crack smokers or drug injectors were given a comprehensive risk assessment and the “stages of change” questionnaire. Change in condom use was dichotomized to indicate reduced risk versus increased or no change in risk. Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that higher condom assertiveness, self-reported intention to start using condoms in the next six months, and having multiple sexual partners predicted reductions in unprotected sex at the 6 month follow-up. The disadvantag...
A comparison of the enzymatic responses of the DNA polymerases from four RNA tumor viruses.

Abstract DNA polymerases from avian, feline, murine and simian RNA tumor viruses exhibit substantial differences in optimal assay conditions and vary widely in their template-primer preferences. Avian DNA polymerase utilizes both natural and synthetic template-primers efficiently in the presence of Mg ++ as well as Mn ++ . By contrast, the mammalian viral DNA polymerases are much more responsive to poly(A)·oligo(dT) than to other template-primers, and exhibit up to 20-fold greater activity with Mn ++ than with Mg ++ . In addition, simian sarcoma virus DNA polymerase shows no detectable response to poly(C)·oligo(dG) over a wide variety of conditions stimulatory to the other viral enzymes.
Size–speed trade-off in optical switching elements

The basic building blocks of an interconnection network are the switching elements. We examine two optical implementations for a basic switching element: (1) ferroelectric liquid-crystal light valves and (2) Fabry-Perot etalons. For these two examples we report a trade-off between the size, i.e., the number of input and output channels, and the switching speed. We speculate that it may be a general property of optical switching elements that size and speed cannot be optimized simultaneously.
Design and characterization of 3-Azidothalidomide as a selective hydrogen sulfide probe.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recently recognized as an important signaling molecule in biological systems. Herein, we report the development of a fluorescence turn-on probe based on the structure of pomalidomide, a FDA approved drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Various characterizations demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity of this probe toward H2S. Furthermore, the application of this probe to detect H2S in living cells was confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence imaging studies.
Diversity of penetration of anti-cancer agents into solid tumours

. Failure of anti-cancer agents to reach all clonogenic cells at cytotoxic concentrations is recognized as an important form of resistance in solid tumours. Subcutaneously implanted mammary adenocarcinoma 16/C was used to evaluate the intratumour distribution of five alkylating, bioreductive alkylating and intercalating agents and two radiation sensitizers. The agents were classified according to their in vivo distribution in well- and poorly-perfused tumour regions, as delineated by lissamine green. The classifications were: (1) distribution in direct proportion to the vascular supply; (2) uniform distribution to well- and poorly-perfused tumour regions; and (3) preferential retention in the poorly-perfused tumour regions. Our current state of knowledge did not allow reliable prediction of the classification based on chemical structure or mechanism of action.
Integrated Framework for Artificial Immunity-Based Aircraft Failure Detection, Identification, and Evaluation

This paper presents a novel conceptual framework for an integrated set of methodologies for the detection, identification, and evaluation of a wide variety of failures of aircraft subsystems based on the artificial immune system paradigm. The detection represents the capability to declare that a failure within any of the aircraft subsystems has occurred. The identification process determines which element has failed. The evaluation of the failure addresses three aspects: the type of the failure, its magnitude, and the reassessment of the generalized flight envelope. Failure detection, identification, and evaluation schemes are included using the bioimmune system metaphor combined with other artificial intelligence techniques. The immunity-based fault detection operates in a similar manner as does the immune system when it distinguishes between entities that belong to the organism and entities that do not. The proposed approach directly addresses the complexity and multidimensionality of aircraft dynamic response in the context of abnormal conditions and provides the adequate tools to solve the failure detection problem in an integrated and comprehensive manner. A multiself failure detection and identification scheme is presented for actuator, sensor, engine, and structural failures/damages, which was developed and tested using a motion-based flight simulator. The scheme achieves excellent detection rates and a low number of false alarms and demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
The Science Behind Curriculum Development and Evaluation: Taking a Design Science Approach in the Production of a Tier 2 Mathematics Curriculum

The production of an effective mathematics curriculum begins with a scientific development, evaluation, and revision framework. The purpose of this study was to conduct an initial investigation of a recently developed Tier 2 mathematics curriculum designed to improve the outcomes of first grade students at risk for mathematics difficulties (MD). The curriculum, which is anchored to a scientific design framework and a well-specified theory of change, centers on the careful integration of foundational concepts of whole number and validated-design principles of explicit and systematic instruction. Four instructional groups, with each consisting of five first grade students with MD and one interventionist, participated in the study. Data related to the feasibility, usability, and promise of the curriculum to improve student mathematics achievement were collected using multiple methods. Results provide preliminary evidence in terms of these curriculum development and evaluation areas. Implications for instruct...
Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry of polybutadienes

High resolution time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was used to study a series of polybutadienes with molecular weights between 400 and 170 000 Da. The number-averaged and weight-averaged molecular weights of polybutadienes with molecular weights of 5000 Da showed primarily fragments in the mass range 500–4000 Da, resulting from main chain cleavage of CC single bonds. A fragmentation model based on simple statistical chain cleavage was used to explain the fragmentation patterns observed in the spectra. These fragmentation patterns contained Rn, +Δ, +2Δ and −Δ species, where Rn represents an integral number (n) of repeat units and Δ is a methylene group. The relative intensities of these clusters as a function of sample molecular weight and cluster size were studied, and were the same regardless of polymer size. The fine structure of the fragment clusters was also examined, and the mechanisms responsible for their formation are discussed.
X-ray Footprinting at Beamline X28C: A National Resource for Studying Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics

X-ray footprinting employs intense X-rays produced by synchrotron radiation to generate hydroxyl radicals in solution on microseconds-milliseconds timescales. These hydroxyls radicals undergo stable reaction with solvent accessible sites of macromolecule and produce covalent modifications, which are appropriate to probing macromolecule dynamics under physiological condition. For nucleic acids, one analyzes the pattern of fragments after X-ray exposure by gel electrophoresis; the protected sections that are not cleaved yield a 'footprint'. For proteins, the exposed samples are digested with proteases and analyzed by liquid chromatography- and tandem-mass spectrometry to determine the extent and sites of modification. The data provide detailed structural information to map tertiary contacts of macromolecular interactions, which can subsequently be used as constraints for molecular modeling to generate high-resolution structures. This method is unique in providing 'local' structural information in solution for gaining insight into dynamic processes involving, large RNA-protein and protein-protein assemblies on biologically relevant timescales. The method also can uniquely probe the 'local' structure of large complexes poised at equilibrium for functional states of interest, and has been extended to in vivo studies. Beamline X28C is located at the National Synchrotron Light Source of Brookhaven National Laboratory. An expanding set of user groups utilize this national resourcemore » funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health. The facility is operated by the Center for Synchrotron Biosciences and the Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics of Case Western Reserve University. The facility supports both onsite and offsite user access. Beam time is allocated online through peer reviewed user proposal system. Examples of recent research projects are provided.« less
Measurement of food volume based on single 2-D image without conventional camera calibration

Food portion size measurement combined with a database of calories and nutrients is important in the study of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. In this work, we present a convenient and accurate approach to the calculation of food volume by measuring several dimensions using a single 2-D image as the input. This approach does not require the conventional checkerboard based camera calibration since it is burdensome in practice. The only prior requirements of our approach are: 1) a circular container with a known size, such as a plate, a bowl or a cup, is present in the image, and 2) the picture is taken under a reasonable assumption that the camera is always held level with respect to its left and right sides and its lens is tilted down towards foods on the dining table. We show that, under these conditions, our approach provides a closed form solution to camera calibration, allowing convenient measurement of food portion size using digital pictures.
Enrichment of insertional mutants following retrovirus gene trap selection

Abstract The present study has investigated the use of gene trap retroviruses as insertional mutagens. A gene trap vector (U3Hygro) was used to target single-copy thymidine kinase ( tk ) genes, present at different sites in the genome. Cell populations isolated by gene trap selection contained a higher proportion of insertional mutants as compared with nonselected cells containing randomly integrated viruses. The number of integration events required to observe loss of gene function was reduced from 8-40 × 10 5 to 2-10 × 10 4 , an overall enrichment of 100- to 1000-fold. The feasibility of targeting normally diploid genes was also demonstrated in hypodiploid Chinese hamster ovary cells. The cellular gene encoding GlcNAc transferase I was disrupted in one wheat germ agglutinin resistant clone selected from a total of 5 × 10 4 gene trap events. The clone was nullizygous for GlcNAc transferase I, indicating that the allele opposite the provirus was lost as a result of preexisting hemizyogosity or by loss of heterozygosity. Finally, the total number of genes in the genome that could activate the expression of retrovirus gene traps was estimated at between 2 × 10 4 and 10 5 , suggesting that most expressed genes can be mutagenized by gene trap selection.
Sex and Race in the Determinants of Psychophysical Distress: A Reappraisal of the Sex-Role Hypothesis

To explain zwmen's higher rates of psychological distress, researchers often argue that sex roles differentially expose the sexes to variables associated with distress or render zwmen and men unequally vulnerable to role-related stress. To test these claims, ut use National Center for Health Statistics data on physical symptoms of distress, collected during physical examinations for 6,672 adults. Using multiple regression, ur assess the independent effects of marital status, employment, occupation, income, and age. The sex-specific analyses reveal several significant race interactions but very few significant sex differences. We cannot reject the null hypothesis that men and uxmen are equally affected by paid employment. Rather, our results suggest that the sexes are differently exposed to sex-role related stress through different risks of disrupted marriages, unemployment and low income. Data from hospital admissions, psychiatric care, and community surveys indicate that married women's rates of psychological disress' exceed men's (Gove,a,b; Gove and Tudor,a,b; Pearlin; Radloff; Thoits; Tweed and Jackson; Warheit et al.; but see Dohrenwend and Dohrenwend,a,b, for a dissenting view). This difference might reflect either differential exposure or vulnerability (Kessler,b) to factors associated with emotional distress or an unequal propensity to report distress. Among unmarried women the difference is reversed (Gove,a; Radloff), so biological predisposition can*Earlier versions of this paper were read at the 1978 American Sociological Association meetings and at the Conference on the Future of the Family, University of Warsaw, Poland, December 1978. We are grateful to Michael R. Geerken, Walter Gove, Lowell L. Hargens, Karen Miller, and anonymous referees for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper, and to Carolyn Muffins for editorial assistance. We are, of course, responsible for any errors. This research was supported in part by an Indiana University Faculty Grant-in-Aid. Address correspondence to Barbara E Reskin, Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382.
ETS - a performance prediction tool for protocols specified in FDT Estelle

Abstract With the advent of formal specification languages, it has become possible to represent complex communication protocols formally and unambiguously. Presence of automated tools for protocol specification and verification has made inroads for the wide-spread use of formal languages. One of the often neglected issues in protocol development activities centered around formal languages is the performance efficiency of the protocol under given network implementation. Many performance simulation tools are available, but they either do not use standard formal languages for protocol specification or lack a comprehensive performance prediction capability. In this paper we present a software tool which unifies formal protocol specification and performance prediction and thus enables protocols specified in FDT Estelle to be simulated for performance on a given network configuration which include point-to-point networks, common bus ethernet, ring and multihop static and mobile packet radio networks. It allows fine tuning of an otherwise correct protocol to improve its efficiency without the actual implementation and thus it helps in building rapid and efficient prototypes.
Understanding validity issues surrounding test-based accountability measures in the US

Purpose – This AERI-NEPC eBrief, the fourth in a series titled “Understanding validity issues around the world”, looks closely at issues surrounding the validity of test-based actions in educational accountability and school improvement contexts. The specific discussions here focus testing issues in the US. However, the general principles underlying appropriate and inappropriate test use in school reform and high stakes public accountability settings are applicable in both domestic and international settings. This paper aims to present the issues. Design/methodology/approach – This policy brief is based on a synthesis of conference proceedings and review of selected pieces of extant literature. It begins by summarizing perspectives of an invited expert panel on the topic. To that synthesis, the authors add their own analysis of key issues. They conclude by offering recommendations for test developers and test users. Findings – The authors conclude that recurring validity issues arise with tests used in sc...
NOAA's Diving Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) fields the largest civilian diving complement of any Federal agency. When NOAA was formed in 1970, various scientific agencies were consolidated. Their diving programs and personnel were also brought together and have evolved over these last 12 years into a safe and efficient underwater team. The NOAA Diving Program is responsive primarily to the research endeavors of the NOAA scientist yet also may benefit the general diving community.
Three-dimensional characterization of near-field transducers by electron tomography

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to study the structure of near-field transducers (NFT) for applications in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads. The overall shape of NFTs that had passed or failed an optical test was similar, as determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. However, the absence of a well-defined peg and the presence of a flat top on the ‘FAIL’ NFT disk induced poor thermal heat transfer from the NFT to the phase change medium and resulted in the optical test failure. The thermal heating around the NFT led to Ta diffusion from the adjacent tantala core and to the presence of Ta-rich particles in the alumina matrix in the plane of the NFT.
Spatial variability of nitrogen isotope ratios of particulate material from Northwest Atlantic continental shelf waters

Abstract Human encroachment on the coastal zone has led to concern about the impact of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) on estuarine and continental shelf waters. Western North Atlantic watershed budgets suggest that the export of human-derived N from estuaries to shelf waters off the east coast of the US may be significant; however, models based on water inputs and estimates of upwelling of deepwater nutrients to surface waters of the mid-Atlantic bight indicate that estuarine N may be a relatively minor component of the overall shelf N budget. Stable N isotope ratios could provide a means to assess the relative input of anthropogenic N to shelf waters, particularly since dissolved N from human sources has elevated δ 15 N values (range: 7–30‰). We collected particulate material from surface shelf waters off the US east coast from 2000 to 2005 at near-shore sample sites proximal to the mouth of six estuaries and corresponding sites farther offshore. Near-shore (mean 33.7 km from estuary mouth) δ 15 N values ranged from 5.5 to 7.7‰ Offshore values (mean 92.4 km from estuary mouth) were consistently lower than near-shore sites (average 4.7 ± 1.0‰ versus 6.8 ± 1.1‰), suggesting different N sources to near and offshore stations. Near-shore regions are often more productive, as mean monthly chlorophyll-a concentrations from the sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor (SeaWiFS) were significantly higher at near-shore sites near the mouth of three of the six estuaries. A mass balance using a concentration-dependent mixing model with chlorophyll-a concentrations as a surrogate for dissolved inorganic nitrogen can account for all of the nitrogen at near-shore sites south of Cape Cod with estuarine nitrogen estimated to contribute 45–85% of the nitrogen to the near-shore surface particulate material. Our results support the hypothesis that estuarine nitrogen is influencing continental shelf ecosystems, and also provide preliminary evidence of the spatial extent of its influence on shelf waters in the mid-Atlantic bight.
Developing a flexible online learning management system to facilitate various aspects of instructor-led training and lab administration

For many years, Academic Computing Services (ACS) at The University of Kansas (KU) has offered computer workshops to faculty, staff, students, and the general Lawrence, KS community. ACS required registration for most workshop offerings. In addition, ACS had the responsibility to oversee public computer lab reservations by faculty and staff. The tasks of workshop registrations and lab reservations were primarily carried out by a phone-in system. As the technical ability in the user community increased and as our services became more popular, this system became cumbersome. A need for a more automated registration and tracking system developed. ACS staff spent 5 months designing a central database that would integrate all computer workshop descriptions and schedules, as well as lists of lab software, hardware, locations, and reservations.Beginning this spring semester, ACS began requiring registration for all workshops. Registration could now be done online at http://www.ku.edu/acs/train 24 hours a day. Upon registration, a user account is created that keeps track of all workshops currently signed up for, and all workshops attended.The newly designed ACS training Web site features improved workshop listings that are sortable and searchable. Workshop listings can now be filtered by instructor, location, department, or category. There is also a new "Search" feature that lists workshops based upon user-inputted keywords. Moreover, a dynamic calendar allows users to examine the state of a workshop (open, closed, full, or cancelled) and to easily register for workshops that best fit their schedule. Once attendees for a particular class complete registration, instructors then have access to an online workshop roster to check attendance.Additional advantages of the new online registration system allow one to:receive workshop reminder emailsbe placed on a waiting list for full workshopsbe notified of any scheduling changes that may occuropt to get weekly workshop schedule updates and other training newsevaluate attended workshopsThe new ACS training Web site is successful in efficiently relating various aspects of workshops taught in a university environment. Most importantly, it has proved invaluable for us, as instructors, in our preparation and organization of delivering quality training.
Mercury Concentrations in Recent and Ninety-Year-Old Benthopelagic Fish

Several species of bottom-dwelling fish from 2500 meters with similar feeding habits had mercury concentrations that differed by an order of magnitude. Within one species there was a correlation between size and concentration, with the larger individuals having mercury concentrations as high as 0.8 part per million (wet weight). The mercury content of the water in the deep-ocean habitat of these fish appears not to determine the mercury content of a particular fish; species-specific factors and size do appear to determine this concentration. The species-specific variation between the recent fish also existed between the same two species in specimens collected 90 years ago from a depth of 2000 meters, and a 90-year-old specimen fit closely the size-concentration regression curve for nine recent individuals of the same species.
Ultratrace elements in nutrition: Current knowledge and speculation

The term ultratrace element has been defined as an element with an established, estimated, or suspected requirement generally indicated by μg/day for humans. Between 1970 and 1984, it was suggested that 11 elements should be added to the list of ultratrace elements that included chromium, molybdenum, and selenium; these elements were arsenic, boron, bromine, cadmium, fluorine, lead, lithium, nickel, silicon, tin, and vanadium. Since 1984, it has been suggested that three more elements, aluminum, germanium, and rubidium, should be added to the list, and circumstantial evidence has continued to accumulate which indicates that several of the ultratrace elements in addition to iodine and selenium, particularly arsenic, boron, chromium, nickel, silicon, and vanadium, are more important in nutrition than currently acknowledged. This evidence includes findings from human studies suggesting that boron has an essential function or beneficial effect in calcium metabolism, brain function, energy metabolism, and perhaps immune processes; and that chromium has an essential function in potentiating insulin action in the metabolism of glucose and lipids, and/or a beneficial effect on diabetes resulting from inadequate synthesis of insulin or insulin resistance. The major shortcoming that has prevented the unequivocal acceptance of the nutritional importance of any of the ultratrace elements suggested as being essential since 1970 and chromium is that a specific biochemical function has not been identified for any of these elements. The current status of the evidence suggesting essentiality, the possible biological function, and speculated dietary need for each of the 15 elements without an identified biochemical function is reviewed. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 11:251–274, 1998. Published 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
Multibody Dynamics of Parachute and Balloon Flight Systems for Planetary Exploration

Some of the models and simulation capabilities developed for analyzing parachute and balloon-assisted deployment of sensor packages within the Mars Aerobot Validation Program at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, are described. Different events occurring during the deployment of the system are considered. First, the effect of the detachment of the top parachute and the inflation of the balloon on the system stability are analyzed. Second, constitutive models of the ripstitch (shock alleviation device) are developed that compare well with experimental data. Third, the balloon is assumed to have reached a floating altitude, and the system response when a hinged camera is commanded to track an inertially fixed point on the surface of the planet is observed while perturbations in the form of wind gusts act on the system. These models and simulations have been motivated by the need to predict and validate flight-train stability behavior on deployment in support of flight tests.
Genomic heterogeneity and structural variation in soybean near isogenic lines.

Near-isogenic lines (NILs) are a critical genetic resource for the soybean research community. The ability to identify and characterize the genes driving the phenotypic differences between NILs is limited by the degree to which differential genetic introgressions can be resolved. Furthermore, the genetic heterogeneity extant among NIL sub-lines is an unaddressed research topic that might have implications for how genomic and phenotypic data from NILs are utilized. In this study, a recently developed high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) platform was used to investigate the structure and diversity of genetic introgressions in two classical soybean NIL populations, respectively varying in protein content and iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) susceptibility. There were three objectives: assess the capacity for CGH to resolve genomic introgressions, identify introgressions that are heterogeneous among NIL sub-lines, and associate heterogeneous introgressions with susceptibility to IDC. Using the CGH approach, introgression boundaries were refined and previously unknown introgressions were revealed. Furthermore, heterogeneous introgressions were identified within seven sub-lines of the IDC NIL ‘IsoClark’. This included three distinct introgression haplotypes linked to the major iron susceptible locus on chromosome 03. A phenotypic assessment of the seven sub-lines did not reveal any differences in IDC susceptibility, indicating that the genetic heterogeneity among the lines does not have a significant impact on the primary NIL phenotype.
Magnesium potassium phosphate ceramic for 99Tc immobilization

Abstract Technetium-99, present in the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) high-level waste (HLW) as a by-product of fission reactions, poses a serious environmental threat because it has a long half-life, is highly mobile in its soluble Tc 7+ oxidation state and is volatile at high temperatures. Magnesium potassium phosphate (MKP) ceramics have been developed to treat 99 Tc that has been partitioned and eluted from simulated high-level tank wastes by means of sorption processes. Waste forms were fabricated by adding MKP binder and a reducing agent (SnCl 2 ) to the 99 Tc-containing aqueous waste. In addition, waste forms were fabricated by first precipitating 99 Tc from the waste and subsequently solidifying it in MKP. 99 Tc loadings in the waste forms were as high as 900 ppm by weight. Waste form performance was established through various strength, leaching, and durability tests. Long-term leaching studies, as per the ANS 16.1 procedure, showed leachability indices between 11 and 14 for 99 Tc under ambient conditions. The normalized leach rate for 99 Tc, according to the product consistency test, was as low as 1.1 × 10 −3 g/m 2 d. The waste forms exhibited a compressive strength of ≈30 MPa and were durable in an aqueous environment. Containment of 99 Tc in MKP ceramics is believed to be due to a combination of appropriate reducing environment (determined from Eh–pH measurements) and microencapsulation in a dense matrix.
Evaluation of chitosan nanoparticles as a glazing material for cryogenically frozen shrimp

Abstract The potential of chitosan (CH) combined with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles as a glazing material for shrimp was investigated. Two CH–TPP nanoparticles glazing solutions were prepared: (1). A solution containing CH–TPP nanoparticles with 0.25 (g/100 mL) CH and 0.083 (g/100 mL) TPP (25CH–TPP) and (2). A solution containing CH–TPP nanoparticles with 0.5 (g/100 mL) CH and 0.167 (g/100 mL) TPP (50CH–TPP). Frozen shrimp samples were glazed with 25CH–TPP, 50CH–TPP, CH, TPP, acetic acid, and/or distilled water and then stored at −21 °C for 30 days. Glazed and non-glazed shrimp (NG) samples were analyzed for moisture content, glazing yield, weight loss, color, cutting force, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), yeasts, molds, coliforms and aerobic counts after 1, 3, 5, 20, and 30 d storage. Triplicate experiments were conducted and data statistically analyzed ( α = 0.05). Glazed shrimp had higher moisture than NG after 30 d storage. Among the glazes, 25CH–TPP and 50CH–TPP were the most effective in controlling lipid oxidation and reducing aerobic counts and yeasts and molds in shrimp.
Internship placement data: is nonplacement the only concern?

Current discussion regarding securing internships often focuses on their availability. Thus, quantity is especially emphasized. However, quality is also an issue of importance. The number of intern applicants receiving slots at quality internship sites, as defined by the internship having been accredited by the American Psychological Association or having successfully been reviewed by the Association of Psychology and Postdoctoral Internship Centers, was assessed. Information regarding the number of unfunded internships also was gathered. Recommendations for increasing the availability of quality internships are provided. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 58: 1323–1326, 2002.