cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learner outcomes and satisfaction: A comparison of live video-streamed instruction, satellite broadcast instruction, and face-to-face instruction

This study examined the final grade and satisfaction level differences among students taking specific courses using three different methods: face-to-face in class, via satellite broadcasting at remote sites, and via live video-streaming at home or at work. In each case, the same course was taught by the same instructor in all three delivery methods, and an attempt was made to survey students taking the course via the three different delivery methods. MANOVA results indicated no grade or satisfaction level differences among the three populations. Self-reported computer literacy skills revealed a slight fit between the chosen delivery mode and the reported computer literacy skills. These results provide additional evidence to support both the ''no significant difference'' phenomenon and the use of distance education as a viable, convenient and flexible alternative delivery mode capable of extending learning opportunities to non-traditional students.
Measurement of electron content at the magnetic equator

Ionospheric electron content variation with solar radio flux from Faraday rotation data at magnetic equator
Performance characterization of precision micro robot using a machine vision system over the Internet for guaranteed positioning accuracy

There is a missing link between a virtual development environment (e.g., a CAD/CAM driven offline robotic programming) and production requirements of the actual robotic workcell. Simulated robot path planning and generation of pick-and-place coordinate points will not exactly coincide with the robot performance due to lack of consideration in variations in individual robot repeatability and thermal expansion of robot linkages. This is especially important when robots are controlled and programmed remotely (e.g., through Internet or Ethernet) since remote users have no physical contact with robotic systems. Using the current technology in Internet-based manufacturing that is limited to a web camera for live image transfer has been a significant challenge for the robot task performance. Consequently, the calibration and accuracy quantification of robot critical to precision assembly have to be performed on-site and the verification of robot positioning accuracy cannot be ascertained remotely. In worst case, the remote users have to assume the robot performance envelope provided by the manufacturers, which may causes a potentially serious hazard for system crash and damage to the parts and robot arms. Currently, there is no reliable methodology for remotely calibrating the robot performance. The objective of this research is, therefore, to advance the current state-of-the-art in Internet-based control and monitoring technology, with a specific aim in the accuracy calibration of micro precision robotic system for the development of a novel methodology utilizing Ethernet-based smart image sensors and other advanced precision sensory control network.
Structural components of mouse mammary tumor virus. I. Polypeptides of the virion.

Mouse mammary tumor virus (mMTV) obtained from MJY-alpha cell cultures and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis possesses four major polypeptides and six to eight minor components. Three of the major proteins, with estimated molecular weights of 60,000, 52,000 and 37,000, are glycoproteins, as demonstrated by labeling with [3H]glucosamine. Labeling with [35S]sulfate revealed significant amounts of sulfate associated with the 60,000 (gp60) and 52,000 (gp52) glycoproteins, whereas sulfate was minimally incorporated into the 37,000 (gp37) dalton glycoprotein. At least three glycopeptide species containing both [3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulfate labels were obtained after extensive Pronase digestion of mMTV, indicating that [35S]sulfate is covalently linked to the carbohydrate component of mMTV glycoproteins. Variations in the polypeptide pattern of mMTV were observed when virions were grown and labeled under different culture conditions. The amount of gp60 decreased substantially, with an apparent increase in a minor polypeptide at 33,000 daltons, if virions were harvested from stationary cultures or if culture medium was not changed daily during viral harvests. When virions containing gp60 were incubated with medium from stationary cultures or with stationary cell layers, the level of gp60 decreased with a corresponding increase in the amount of radioactivity at 33,000 daltons. Cleavage of gp60 and gp52 was demonstrated by treatment of purified mMTV virions with trypsin or alpha-chymotrypsin (1–150 μg/ml) for 1 min to 3 hr. Virions were morphologically unaltered after incubation with either protease; however, both gp60 and gp52 were absent from the polypeptide patterns. The data suggest that gp52 is cleaved to form 33,000, 22,000, and possibly 37,000 dalton glycoproteins which remain associated with virions. Other mMTV virion polypeptides were resistant to treatment with protease.
Ab initio molecular dynamics: basic concepts, current trends and novel applications

The field of ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD), in which finite temperature molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories are generated with forces obtained from accurate 'on the fly' electronic structure calculations, is a rapidly evolving and growing technology that allows chemical processes in condensed phases to be studied in an accurate and unbiased way. This article is intended to present the basics of the AIMD method as well as to provide a broad survey of the state of the art of the field and showcase some of its capabilities. Beginning with a derivation of the method from the Born–Oppenheimer approximation, issues including the density functional representation of electronic structure, basis sets, calculation of observables and the Car–Parrinello extended Lagrangian algorithm are discussed. A number of example applications, including liquid structure and dynamics and aqueous proton transport, are presented in order to highlight some of the current capabilities of the approach. Finally, advanced topics such as inclusion of nuclear quantum effects, excited states and scaling issues are addressed.
The morphology of the amphibian endolymphatic organ

An extensive survey of the anatomy of the endolymphatic organ (i.e., endolymphatic sac and duct) has been made on thirty-four species of amphibians. 1 The histological structure is similar throughout the group; the sac being formed of cubical cells, which grade into the columnar cells of the duct. A part or the whole of the duct is formed of peculiar ‘ependyma-like’ cells. 2 The organ typically arises from the sacculus, extends to the endolymphatic foramen by which it enters the endocranial cavity. Here the sac-like expansion of the organ lies in the extradural space. 3 Six morphological types of endolymphatic organ may be recognized in the Amphibia. 4 The development of the endolymphatic organ of four of these types has been followed. The structure in each case may be considered to have reached its definitive condition at the time of metamorphosis. 5 The types of sac structure cannot be readily correlated with any habit of the animals possessing them. 6 A discussion is given of the homology, comparative morphology, and function of the organ throughout vertebrates.
Mesoscopic Fluctuations of Co-Tunneling and Kondo Effect in Quantum Dots

Conductance of a quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime is discussed. At moderately low temperatures, the thermally-assisted transport of electrons through the dot gives way to elastic co-tunneling [1]. The amplitude of the elastic co-tunneling is sensitive to the specific structure of electron wave functions in a given sample. The conductance exhibits strong mesoscopic fluctuations [2]. Statistical properties of these fluctuations are reviewed in this lecture. At lower temperatures, conductance through a dot is altered by the Kondo effect, if the number of electrons on the dot is odd. We describe the universal features of the Kondo conductance [3, 4], and briefly discuss the manifestations of this effect in the limiting cases of weak and strong [5] dot-lead coupling.
2011 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2011) [Conference Reports]

A review of the 2011 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2011) is provided.
Bright Fluorescent Chemosensor Platforms for Imaging Endogenous Pools of Neuronal Zinc

A series of new fluorescent Zinpyr (ZP) chemosensors based on the fluorescein platform have been prepared and evaluated for imaging neuronal Zn(2+). A systematic synthetic survey of electronegative substitution patterns on a homologous ZP scaffold provides a basis for tuning the fluorescence responses of "off-on" photoinduced electron transfer (PET) probes by controlling fluorophore pK(a) values and attendant proton-induced interfering fluorescence of the metal-free (apo) probes at physiological pH. We further establish the value of these improved optical tools for interrogating the metalloneurochemistry of Zn(2+); the novel ZP3 fluorophore images endogenous stores of Zn(2+) in live hippocampal neurons and slices, including the first fluorescence detection of Zn(2+) in isolated dentate gyrus cultures. Our findings reveal that careful control of fluorophore pK(a) can minimize proton-induced fluorescence of the apo probes and that electronegative substitution offers a general strategy for tuning PET chemosensors for cellular studies. In addition to providing improved optical tools for Zn(2+) in the neurosciences, these results afford a rational starting point for creating superior fluorescent probes for biological applications.
Effects of Added Substrate on Production of Red Swamp Crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, in Earthen Ponds without Planted Forage

The effects of addition of substrate consisting of plastic mesh fencing to experimental earthen ponds were evaluated for the culture of the red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, without planted forage. Mean daily yield (kg/ha/d), number of crawfish harvested (number/ha/d), and mean individual harvest weight were compared for ponds with and without substrate during a 2-yr period. The surface area of added substrate was equivalent to 50% of the bottom surface area of the pond. Mean daily yield in the ponds containing substrate, based on a comparison with that of the previous year, increased by 80.2% and was principally attributed to a 66.7% increase in the number of crawfish harvested. Comparative values for the ponds without substrate were 13.1 and 11.7%. For the second year, the treatmentdependent response was consistent. Mean daily yield for the substrate ponds increased by 48.8% compared to 15.0% for the ponds lacking substrate. The primary benefit of the substrate appears to be provision of refuge and three-dimensional distribution of crawfish in the pond, thereby reducing the incidence of cannibalism and increasing the total number of crawfish harvested per hectare per day. The benefit of the substrate in a commercial production setting must be weighed against its cost and longevity as well as the conditions of the particular management scenario into which it may be incorporated.
Comparison of the capacity fade of Sony US 18650 cells charged with different protocols

A new varying current decay (VCD) protocol, which charges the Li-ion battery at a faster rate, was developed. The performance of the battery charged using the VCD protocol was compared with the performance of batteries charged with conventional constant current–constant voltage (CC–CV) and constant voltage (CV) protocols. The destructive physical analysis tests at the end of 150 cycles indicated higher impedance for the cells cycled using the VCD protocol compared to the cell charged using the conventional (CC–CV) mode. The observed increase of the impedance was due to a small increase of the potential above the cut-off value of 4.2 for short times. A complete capacity fade material balance as a function of number of cycles was performed in order to account for the total capacity loss due to different charging protocols used. The loss of primary active material (Li + ), the secondary active material (LiCoO2/carbon) and the rate capability losses were determined for Sony US 18650 Li-ion cells and compared for different charging protocols. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Optimizing glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition: lessons from recent randomized controlled trials.

Recent randomized clinical trials with intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition have provided unanticipated results, thereby questioning their role as empirical medical management for acute coronary syndromes. The lack of benefit with abciximab observed in Global Utilization of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries IV is somewhat inconsistent with the benefits seen with this agent in coronary intervention, and the benefits of an early invasive approach incorporating tirofiban seen within Treat Angina with Aggrastat and determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infraction 18. Additionally, a direct ‘head-to-head’ comparative study of abciximab and tirofiban within the setting of percutaneous coronary intervention demonstrates clinically relevant superiority with abciximab with respect to 30-day outcomes. These findings indicate that the interaction between glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition and clinical outcome in the setting of coronary instability and mechanical plaque disruption is more complex than initially perceived. Hence, although an abundance of evidence details the efficacy of these agents, their optimal clinical application remains somewhat challenging in light of these recent data. However, within the context of previous trial experience, the current evidence highlights several key aspects of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy that may be associated with improved patient outcomes. In particular, these trials indicate: (i) the importance of selecting high-risk patients in whom substantial clinical benefit is evident, (ii) the incorporation of these agents into an early invasive strategy, thereby matching the timing of vascular injury with maximal platelet inhibition and (iii) optimal dosing to achieve the high levels of platelet inhibition that appear to be required for efficacy with these agents. (Intern Med J 2002; 32: 338−345)
Maximum-Likelihood Deconvolution of NMR Spectra in Multidimensional Space

Abstract Maximum-likelihood spectral deconvolution can be applied to three- and four-dimensional NMR spectra, improving resolution by effectively sharpening lines in air of the dimensions of the data set. Spectral noise is simultaneously suppressed and cross-talk between (hyper)planes is minimized. This method is demonstrated for two three-dimensional data sets; the method can be combined with linear prediction time extension of multidimensional free-induction decays and other preparatory data processing. Multidimensional MLM reconstruction offers promise for future fully automated data processing and analysis of large NMR data arrays used far determination of complex molecular structures from NMR. The algorithm is readily adapted to parallel computers, which will extend its practicality for the largest data arrays, including four- and five-dimensional data.
Characterization of ret oncogenic activation in MEN2 inherited cancer syndromes

Germline mutations of c-ret, encoding a receptor-type tyrosine kinase, were found to be associated with variants of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2A, MEN2B), and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. NIH/3T3 stable transfectants expressing RET with a mutation of MEN2A (MEN2A/RET) or MEN2B (MEN2B/RET) gained a transformed morphology, formed colonies in soft agar, and formed tumors in nude mice. These results confirmed that both MEN2A/RET and MEN2B/RET exert dominant transforming activities in NIH/3T3 cells. However, in contrast to their clinical manifestation, transfectants expressing MEN2A/RET exhibited a higher tumorigenicity in nude mice than transfectants expressing MEN2B/RET may depend on the presence of its ligand and/or substrates that are absent in NIH/3T3 cells. No change in the cellular localization of the mutated RET proteins was observed compared to c-RET. Interestingly, ret activation in NIT/3T3 cells appeared to be associated with up-regulation of homologous gap-junctional intercell...
SU-EE-A1-04: Verifying Internal Target Volume Using Cone-Beam CT for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Treatment

Purpose: The internal target volume (ITV) could be determined using 4D CT simulation images and be verified in the treatment room using on‐board cone‐beam CT(CBCT) since the CBCT projection images are acquired over approximately 10 breathing cycles. This study used a 4D dynamic phantom to verify the accuracy of this technique and also to develop a procedure for using CBCT to clinically verify ITV in stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT) treatment. Method and Materials: A CIRS 4D dynamic phantom, with a target ball and precisely controlled motion, was imaged using a 4D CT scanner. A Varian RPM system was used for respiratory gating. Ten 3‐D image sets were generated corresponding to 10 breathing phases. The ITV was determined based on the phase images. To assess concordance, on‐board CBCTimages of the target ball were compared with the 4D‐CT defined ITV. SBRT patient with tumor targets located in the thorax and upper abdomen were similarly scanned using phase gating 4D CT. The ITVs were compared between simulation CT and CBCT scans to identify localization error. Results: The dynamic phantom motion was 20mm along the inferior‐superior direction, 5mm along the anterior‐posterior direction, and 2mm along the left‐right direction with a cycle time of 4 seconds. The concordance of the CBCT and ITV matching was within 1 mm. For the lungSBRT patient, the target volume based on the CTimages without respiratory gating was 0.7 cc. The ITV was 2 cc. The ITV matches well with the CBCTimages. The localization errors between free‐breathing CT and CBCT were 2 mm to the right, 1 mm to the anterior, and 2 mm to the superior. Conclusion:CBCT provides an accurate assessment of the ITV for targets affected by respiratory motion.
The Navy Space Surveillance System

A complete system for satellite detection and tracking and for computations of satellite orbits has been built by the Navy under ARPA sponsorship. This detection system uses a CW transmitter separated from two receiving sites, all having fan-type coplanar antenna beams. The angle of arrival of the reflected signals is measured at each station by the use of an interferometer. The position of the reflecting object is inferred by the point in the fan antenna beam defined by the intersection of the arrival angles at the two receiving stations. Two ARPA-sponsored Space Surveillance radal (radio detection and location) devices of the type described have been installed in the southern U. S. In addition to the detecting and tracking installation the system includes data transmission lines, a data reduction center, a very high speed computer for orbit determination and predictions, and display devices.
Chloroquine mediated molecular tuning of astrocytes for enhanced permissiveness to HIV infection

We report in this study that minimum productive HIV infection in astrocytes (a predominant cell type in brain and persists for the entire life) occurs through endocytosis. The lysosomotropic agent chloroquine enhanced permissiveness of astrocytes to HIV infection possibly by circumventing degradation of endosome-entrapped viral particles. In particular, chloroquine may promote establishment of a stable long term viral reservoir in astrocytes and may eventually facilitate early onset of neurological complications.
Human control of dynamically complex objects

Humans interact with a variety of objects, many of which have dynamically complex properties, such as a cup of coffee. An efficient way to manipulate such objects is to drive them at a resonant frequency. This requires less effort due to dynamic amplification of control inputs. However, errors in control may also be amplified, increasing variability and making it difficult to achieve a kinematic goal. How humans control dynamically complex objects near a resonant frequency, while at the same time achieving kinematic goals, is unknown. To address this question, ten healthy subjects were asked to practice oscillating a cart and pendulum (simulated using a haptic display). Subjects had to move the cart between two spatial targets at the pendulum's resonant frequency. A visual display showed the pendulum bob moving in a semicircular cup (the cart was hidden), mimicking a ball rolling in a cup. Results showed that in early practice subjects moved below the resonant frequency and used an in-phase strategy — the cup and ball moved in the same direction. This was associated with large applied forces and high variability. With practice subjects moved above the resonant frequency and switched to an anti-phase strategy — the cart and pendulum moved in opposite directions. Concurrently, subjects' applied force decreased by half and the interaction force of the ball on the cup increased, which moved the cup to the spatial targets. Using this strategy, subjects became less variable and more accurate. Although the switch in phasing was in part dictated by the task dynamics, the direction of the shift is best explained by a controller that seeks to exploit the dynamics of an object to achieve task goals with small outlays of energy and low variability.
ABASH: finding bugs in bash scripts

This paper describes the design and implementation of ABASH, a tool for statically analyzing programs written in the bash scripting language. Although it makes no formal guarantees against missed errors or spurious warnings (largely due to the highly dynamic nature of bash scripts), ABASHis useful for detecting certain common program errors that may lead to security vulnerabilities. In experiments with 49 bash scripts taken from popular Internet repositories, ABASH was able to identify 20 of them as containing bugs of varying severity while yielding only a reasonable number of spurious warnings on both these scripts and the generally bug-free initialization scripts of the Ubuntu Linux distribution. ABASH works by performing abstract interpretation of a bash script via an abstract semantics that accounts for shell variable expansion. The analysis is also parameterized by a collection of signatures that describe external program interfaces (for Unix commands, etc.), yielding an easily configurable and extensible framework for finding bugs in bash scripts
Decline and change in seasonality of US rotavirus activity after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine.

BACKGROUND: In 2006, routine immunization of US infants against rotavirus was initiated. We assessed national, regional, and local trends in rotavirus testing and detection before and after vaccine introduction. METHODS: We examined data for July 2000 through June 2008 from a national network of ∼70 US laboratories to compare geographical and temporal aspects of rotavirus season timing and peak activity. To assess trends in rotavirus testing and detection, we restricted the analyses to 33 laboratories that reported for ≥26 weeks per season from 2000 to 2008. RESULTS: Nationally, the onset and peak of the 2007–2008 rotavirus season were delayed 15 and 8 weeks, respectively, compared with prevaccine seasons from 2000–2006. Delays were observed in each region. The 2007–2008 rotavirus season lasted 14 weeks compared with a median of 26 weeks during the prevaccine era. Of 33 laboratories, 32 reported fewer positive results and a lower proportion of positive test results in 2007–2008 compared with the median in 2000–2006, with a 67% decline in the number and a 69% decline in the proportion of rotavirus-positive test results. The proportion of positive test results in 2007–2008 compared with the median in 2000–2006 declined >50% in 79% of the laboratories and >75% in 39% of the laboratories. CONCLUSIONS: The 2007–2008 US rotavirus season seems substantially delayed, shorter, and diminished in magnitude compared with seasons before vaccine implementation. The extent of change seems greater than expected on the basis of estimated vaccine coverage, suggesting indirect benefits to unvaccinated individuals. Monitoring in future seasons is needed to confirm these trends.
Polarized light propagation in turbid media

Polarimetry, which is a comparison of the polarization state of light before and after it has interacted with a material, can be used to discriminate unscattered and weakly scattered photons from multiply scattered photons. Weakly scattered photons tend to retain their incident polarization state whereas highly scattered photons become depolarized; thus, polarization-based discrimination techniques can be used to image through tissue with decreased noise and increased contrast. Many previous studies investigating polarization- based discrimination have been conducted on tissue phantoms, with the ultimate goal being noninvasive imaging of breast tumors. We demonstrate here that linearly and circularly polarized light propagate differently in common tissue phantoms than in two independent techniques on tissue phantoms consisting of polystyrene and Intralipid microsphere suspensions, and on porcine adipose tissue and porcine myocardium. We show that contrary to expectations made from studies in the phantoms, linearly polarized light survives through more scattering events than circularly polarized light in both adipose tissue, which contains quasi-spherical scatterers, ad myocardium, which contains quasi-spherical and cylindrical scatterers. Differences between spherical and biological scatterers are discussed, along with the impact of tissue birefringence on degree of polarization measurements.
Line-based relative pose estimation

We present an algorithm for calibrated camera relative pose estimation from lines. Given three lines with two of the lines parallel and orthogonal to the third we can compute the relative rotation between two images. We can also compute the relative translation from two intersection points. We also present a framework in which such lines can be detected. We evaluate the performance of the algorithm using synthetic and real data. The intended use of the algorithm is with robust hypothesize-and-test frameworks such as RANSAC. Our approach is suitable for urban and indoor environments where most lines are either parallel or orthogonal to each other.
A Bayesian multivariate probit for ordinal data with semiparametric random-effects

A heterogeneous thresholds probit for ordered ratings is developed to remove conditional independence among responses and incorporate respondent traits. We propose a semiparametric approach to relaxing normality of random-effects in the probit model that account for differences in response style. Simulation studies provide evidence of the ability for the proposed semiparametric model to better recover an underlying distribution of respondent effects than the parametric one with a normal hierarchical prior. The application to ratings on the value of information sources for automobiles demonstrates significant correlations among responses and irregularity in the shape of unobserved heterogeneity.
Experimental determination of the dominant wave mode in the active near-earth magnetotail

Measurements of the low frequency (2-128 Hz) electric field in the plasma sheet at approximately 19 earth radii during a substorm period obtained from the burst mode on the spherical double probe on the ISEE-1 satellite are examined. The data are analyzed to determine the frequencies and wave-lengths of the waves. It is detected that the observed frequencies correlate well with lower hybrid frequencies, the spectra have narrow peaks, and waves are present from the high latitude plasma sheet boundary to the neutral sheet. The observations are compared with theories of broad-band electrostatic waves. The data reveal that lower hybrid drift waves become unstable when the plasma sheet thins prior to substorm onset.
Planetary magnetospheres: 1991–1993

This paper briefly summarizes published work in the field of planetary magnetospheres from 1991 to mid-1993. The 1992 Ulysses fly-by and the proximity of Jupiter for remote sensing have meant that the Jovian magnetosphere has dominated interest in the field, resulting in studies of the interaction of magnetospheric plasma with dust grains as well as the satellite Io, the morphology and chemistry of the Io plasma torus, the aurora, plus plasma processes in the middle magnetospheric current sheet and outer magnetosphere. Two debates (about the plasma sources and transport rate and about the degree of symmetry of the magnetic field) have dominated recent work on the magnetosphere of Saturn. The effects of highly asymmetric magnetic fields on magnetospheric configurations and processes have been the major themes of work on the outermost giant planets since Voyager 2 flew past Uranus and Neptune in 1986 and 1989 respectively.
Safety, tolerance and pharmacokinetics of intravenous doses of the phosphate ester of 3-hydroxymethyl-5,5-diphenylhydantoin: a new prodrug of phenytoin.

A new prodrug of phenytoin, the disodium phosphate ester of 3-hydroxymethyl-5,5-diphenylhydantoin (ACC-9653), was administered intravenously over 30 minutes to four different groups of volunteers at doses of 150, 300, 600, and 1200 mg. The prodrug and phenytoin were measured in plasma samples, collected at specified times, by specific high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays. The prodrug, after achieving a maximum concentration at the end of the 30-minute infusion (Cmax 20, 36, 75, 129 micrograms/mL) declined rapidly with a half-life (t1/2) of about 8 minutes. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (10, 19, 43, 77 mg.hr/L) was proportional to dose whereas the total clearance, 14 L/hr, was independent of dose. The volume of distribution of the prodrug, a polar, water-soluble molecule was about 2.6 L, indicating that most of the dose remained in the plasma. The concentration of phenytoin reached 90% of its maximum about 12 minutes after the end of the infusion of ACC-9653. At the dose of 1200 mg of prodrug, the average peak concentration of phenytoin was about 17 micrograms/mL, near the upper limit of the therapeutic range. Adverse reactions (lightheadedness, nystagmus, incoordination) were minor and attributed to phenytoin. No significant abnormalities in ECG, Holter monitoring, or EEG were noted after the infusion of ACC-9653.
Silica Transformations in the System PbO‐SiO2

Mixtures of PbO and silicic acid were fired at 710°, 820°, and 910°C for periods up to 1000 hr in air. At each temperature cristobalite and tridymite crystallized rapidly, with the greatest development in samples with compositions of 1 mole PbO to 50 and 60 moles SO2. At 820° and 91O°C tridymite continued to crystallize at the expense of cristobalite. At 710°C quartz formed, after a nucleation time of approximately 200 hr, at the expense of cristobalite and tridymite. The equilibrium assemblages were cristobalite and tridymite at 820° and 910°C and quartz and PbSiO2 at 710°C. The results are interpreted in terms of the tentative phase relations outlined by Holmquist for the high-silica regions of binary silicate systems. Phase development curves and lattice parameter measurements characterize the initially formed cristobalite as a metastable solid solution containing approximately 2 mole % PbO. Equilibrium was approached by exsolution of PbO from the cristobalite structure.
Value of coronal reformations in the CT evaluation of acute head trauma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Routine axial CT images may not be ideally suited for detecting ICH in transversely oriented locations such as the floor of the anterior and middle cranial fossas and vertex. This study was performed to evaluate whether coronal reformations improve detection of ICH in NCCT performed for head trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing a first NCCT in the ED for evaluation of head trauma were included prospectively during a 6-month interval. NCCT images were reconstructed into standard 5-mm axial datasets and were also reformatted into coronal datasets of 5-mm sections and 2.5-mm intervals. Thirty-two of 213 (15%) scans were interpreted as showing traumatic ICH. These cases were interspersed with 30 studies without ICH. Cases were reviewed for the presence and location of ICH by 2 staff neuroradiologists. RESULTS: Of 213 patients, 32 NCCTs demonstrated ICH (a total of 104 foci). Fifteen of 104 (14%) ICHs (8 patients) were detected solely on coronal images. Locations included the floor of the anterior and middle cranial fossas, vertex, corpus callosum, falx, tentorium, and occipital convexity. Coronal reformations allowed exclusion of suspicious findings on axial images in 14 instances (7 patients). Coronal images aided interpretation in 29/104 (28%) findings. CONCLUSIONS: Coronal reformations improve the detection of ICH over axial images alone, especially for lesions that lie in the axial plane immediately adjacent to bony surfaces. The use of coronal reformations should be considered in the routine interpretation of head CT examinations performed for the evaluation of head trauma.
Instruments for Assessing Risk of Bias and Other Methodological Criteria of Published Animal Studies: A Systematic Review

Background: Results from animal toxicology studies are critical to evaluating the potential harm from exposure to environmental chemicals or the safety of drugs prior to human testing. However, the...
Physical activity and health-related quality of life in liver transplant recipients

The US Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health recommends that people of all ages engage in regular physical activity, and that significant health benefits can be obtained through a moderate amount of physical activity. Physical activity appears to improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by enhancing physical functioning in persons compromised by poor health. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Status Questionnaire was sent to all patients who were 5 years or more post-liver transplantation at the University of California at San Francisco. Additional questions related to coexisting medical conditions and participation in regular physical activity were included. SF-36 scale scores were compared between active and inactive patients. Regression analysis was also performed to determine the contributions of coexisting medical conditions and physical activity to the physical scales of the SF-36 questionnaire. Patients who participated in regular physical activity had significantly higher scores on all physical scales and the physical component scale (PCS). The regression model, which included age, sex, time posttransplantation, retransplantation, recurrence of hepatitis C, number of comorbid conditions, and physical activity participation showed that both the number of comorbid conditions and participation in physical activity were significant independent contributors to the physical functioning scale and PCS. This study indicates that physical activity is related to HRQOL after liver transplantation independent of other coexisting medical conditions.
Capturing Ambiguities: Communal Conflict Management Alternative in Ghana

Abstract The primary purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative land conflict management method for rural Ghana. The paper adopts the country's legislative and judicial decentralization programs as a framework for integrating aspects of the existing conflict management methods and skills of the national government and the country's ethnic groups. The paper argues that the continuing outbursts and protraction of land conflicts, particularly conflicts between host communities and migrant-farming groups, in Ghana demonstrate increasing ambiguities in the determination of land rights and the ineffectiveness of the existing land conflict management methods in the country.
Therapists' perceptions of the psychotherapeutic process: development of a psychotherapy process inventory.

A psychotherapeutic process inventory of 74 items rated by therapists over an “average” of a series of therapy sessions was developed. Following initial determination of the inventory's reliability...
A sequential test for variable selection in high dimensional complex data

Given a high dimensional p-vector of continuous predictors X and a univariate response Y, principal fitted components (PFC) provide a sufficient reduction of X that retains all regression information about Y in X while reducing the dimensionality. The reduction is a set of linear combinations of all the p predictors, where with the use of a flexible set of basis functions, predictors related to Y via complex, nonlinear relationship can be detected. In the presence of possibly large number of irrelevant predictors, the accuracy of the sufficient reduction is hindered. The proposed method adapts a sequential test to the PFC to obtain a “pruned” sufficient reduction that shed off the irrelevant predictors. The sequential test is based on the likelihood ratio which expression is derived under different covariance structures of X|Y. The resulting reduction has an improved accuracy and also allows the identification of the relevant variables.
Dual PPAR-α and -γ activators derived from novel benzoxazinone containing thiazolidinediones having antidiabetic and hypolipidemic potential

Abstract 2,4-Thiazolidinedione derivatives of 1,3-benzoxazinone were synthesized and evaluated for their PPAR-α and -γ dual activation. DRF-2519, a compound obtained through SAR of TZD derivatives of benzoxazinone, has shown potent dual PPAR activation. In ob/ob mice, it showed better efficacy than the comparator molecules. In fat fed rat model, it showed significant improvement in lipid parameters, which was better than fibrates.
Computing prime harmonic sums

= 1801241484456448000,andthenusedaprecomputedtableofsumsintheSchoenfeldinterval(therebyavoiding interpolation or binary search and multiple evaluations of S(x)) todiscoverS(1801241230056600467) ≤ 3.99999 99999 99999 99966 andS(1801241230056600523) ≥ 4.00000 00000 00000 00021.There are no primes between these two xvalues.This computation took roughly one week on two workstations.Franz MertensJosephine Mitchell& Lowell Schoenfeld
Modulation of vocal and nonvocal behavior in adult squirrel monkeys by selective MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition.

Abstract The acute effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors l -deprenyl (0.5–5.0 mg/kg), clorgyline (1.0–10.0 mg/kg), and milacemide (100–400 mg/kg) on the behavior of adult male squirrel monkeys were examined during brief social separations beginning 60 min after subcutaneous drug administration. All three drugs selectively reduced the rate of calling during social separation at doses which did not affect time spent in locomotion, nor the frequency of vigilance-checking. Deprenyl and milacemide, but not clorgyline, produced concurrent decreases in locomotion at the higher doses tested. At threshold doses, clorgyline, but not deprenyl or milacemide, increased call duration and decreased call peak frequency compared to vehicle control values. Plasma levels of MHPG were decreased by an optimal dose of clorgyline but not by deprenyl or milacemide, indicating that substrate specificity was maintained at the drug doses employed. We conclude that different MAO substrates mediate different aspects of vocal and nonvocal behavior in adult male squirrel monkeys.
The role of service-learning in transforming teacher candidates' teaching of reading

Abstract Most reading methods courses taught in the United States do little to change student teachers' actual classroom instruction because new pedagogies are not practiced in a structured, supportive, closely supervised manner. This lack of practice results in failure to develop strong feelings of self-efficacy during university courses. Because literacy courses fail to help preservice teachers think differently about literacy development, beginning teachers continue to perpetuate decades old methods of teaching young children how to read and write. These ‘business as usual’ pedagogies are especially dangerous for at risk learners. This study compared two literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates taught by the same professor at the same university with variables held constant with one exception. Course One incorporated a service-learning component as an integral part of the instructional process. During Course Two, the teacher candidates taught sample lessons to their classmates. It was hypothesized that teacher candidates who practiced new pedagogies with children at a designated low performing, highly diverse elementary school (Course One—Service-learning) during a highly structured service-learning experience would develop more self-efficacy and, therefore, demonstrate greater implementation of the course content than those who role played their practice (Course Two—Practice with Peers). Results document that incorporating service-learning into a well developed literacy course dramatically increased the self-efficacy of the participants by the conclusion of the course. This, in turn, led to increased implementation of course content during the remainder of their student teaching experience.
Adult type 3 adenylyl cyclase-deficient mice are obese.

Background A recent study of obesity in Swedish men found that polymorphisms in the type 3 adenylyl cyclase (AC3) are associated with obesity, suggesting the interesting possibility that AC3 may play a role in weight control. Therefore, we examined the weight of AC3 mice over an extended period of time. Methodology/Principal Findings We discovered that AC3−/− mice become obese as they age. Adult male AC3−/− mice are about 40% heavier than wild type male mice while female AC3−/− are 70% heavier. The additional weight of AC3−/− mice is due to increased fat mass and larger adipocytes. Before the onset of obesity, young AC3−/− mice exhibit reduced physical activity, increased food consumption, and leptin insensitivity. Surprisingly, the obesity of AC3−/− mice is not due to a loss of AC3 from white adipose and a decrease in lipolysis. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that mice lacking AC3 exhibit obesity that is apparently caused by low locomotor activity, hyperphagia, and leptin insensitivity. The presence of AC3 in primary cilia of neurons of the hypothalamus suggests that cAMP signals generated by AC3 in the hypothalamus may play a critical role in regulation of body weight.
The plasma membrane proton-translocating ATPase.

Living cells require membranes and membrane transporters for the maintenance of life. After decades of biochemical scrutiny, the structures and molecular mechanisms by which membrane transporters catalyze transmembrane solute movements are beginning to be understood. The plasma membrane proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) is an archetype of the P-type ATPase family of membrane transporters, which are important in a wide variety of cellular processes. The H+-ATPase has been crystallized and its structure determined to a resolution of 8 A in the membrane plane. When considered together with the large body of biochemical information that has been accumulated for this transporter, and for enzymes in general, this new structural information is providing tantalizing insights regarding the molecular mechanism of active ion transport catalyzed by this enzyme.
Ubiquitin proteasome pathway: implications and advances in cancer therapy

The degradation of most eukaryotic cells is controlled by the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. This pathway is responsible not only for the degradation of short and long-lived proteins but also tumor suppressors, transcription factors and cell cycle proteins. Altered degradation of these proteins is thought to promote cancer growth and spread. By contrast, inhibition of the proteasome would lead to cell cycle arrest and ultimately programmed cell death, or apoptosis. A structured review of the published literature examining the role of ubiquitin proteasome inhibition in cancer growth and regulation is provided. Advances in the development of proteasome inhibitors have allowed detailed investigation of this pathway in cancer growth. Relevant in vitro and in vivo studies of proteasome inhibition as pertains to cancer therapy are detailed. The ubiquitin proteasome pathway is critical in the degradation of proteins involved in cell cycle control and tumor growth. Proteasome inhibitors have been shown to arrest or retard cancer progression, by interfering with the ordered, temporal degradation of regulatory molecules. Clinical trials examining the agents have begun.
Prior-list organization in part-whole free-recall learning

In free-recall learning, the prior learning of a part list has a marked effect on the course of whole-list learning. In the present study, it was shown that S s who had learned either some or all of the words from a few of the optimal memory units on the whole list were superior in whole-list learning to S s who had learned only one item from each optimal unit. Part-list organization was quickly abandoned when it was inappropriate for whole-list learning; there was, however, persistent interference with the development of optimal memory units for whole-list learning.
Stable and efficient fluorescent red and green dyes for external and internal conversion of blue OLED emission

We have synthesized a series of diphenylamine-substituted coumarin, (dicyanomethylene)pyran, and benzophenoxazone dyes and report on their optical and electroluminescent properties, thermal and photooxidative stabilities, and potential as red and green dopants for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays or down-conversion fluorescent dyes for external color-converters. Incorporation of the bulky phenyl groups in these dyes delays the onset of concentration quenching when they are dissolved in polymer films. Their improved photoluminescent efficiency and photooxidative stability make them excellent candidates for external color-conversion. The improved electroluminescence and power efficiencies and enhanced thermal stability of 3-(2‘-benzimidazolyl)-7-(diphenylamino)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (C7S) as well as its Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates suggests its use as a green dopant in OLED devices.
Phase transformations and the spectral reflectance of solid sulfur: Can metastable sulfur allotropes exist on Io?

Laboratory investigations have been conducted on the effects of variations in sulfur sample histories on their solid-state transformation rate and the corresponding spectral variation of freshly frozen sulfur. The temporal variations in question may be due to differences in the amount and type of metastable allotropes present in the sulfur after solidification, as well as to the physics of the phase-transformation process itself. The results obtained are pertinent to the physical behavior and spectral variation of such freshly solidified sulfur as may exist on the Jupiter moon Io; this would initially solidify into a glassy solid or monoclinic crystalline lattice, then approach ambient dayside temperatures. Laboratory results imply that the monoclinic or polymeric allotropes can in these circumstances be maintained, and will take years to convert to the stable orthorhombic crystalline form.
Mosaic trisomies in human spontaneous abortions

Data from a cytogenetic survey of spontaneous abortions were examined to determine the incidence and origin of mosaic trisomies in this population. The overall frequency of mosaicism among trisomies was approximately 5%, but the level of mosaicism varied significantly among trisomies, being much higher for the nonacrocentric than for the acrocentric trisomies. Evidence from chromosome heteromorphism analysis suggests that the extra chromosome in mosaic trisomies usually has a meiotic origin.