cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoionization of HOCO revisited: a new upper limit to the adiabatic ionization energy and lower limit to the enthalpy of formation

Abstract A new upper limit to the adiabatic ionization energy of trans -hydroxyoxomethyl, EI( t -HOCO)≤8.195±0.022 eV, is provided, producing a lower limit to the enthalpy of formation, Δ H f 0 o ( t -HOCO)≥−45.8±0.7 kcal/mol (≥−46.5±0.7 kcal/mol at 298 K). The spectrum shows progressions in CO and C–O stretches of HOCO + and provides evidence for the excitation of OCO bend. In addition, the data tentatively suggest an ionization onset as low as 8.06±0.03 eV. While it is not clear whether the latter corresponds to cis or trans isomer, it may indicate that Δ H f 0 o (HOCO) is even higher.
Evidence of dynamical spin shielding in Ce from spin-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

Using Fano effect measurements upon polycrystalline Ce, we have observed a phase reversal between the spectral structure at the Fermi edge and the other 4f derived feature near a binding energy of 2 eV. The Fano effect is the observation of spin polarized photoelectron emission from nonmagnetic materials, under chirally selective excitation, such as circularly polarized photons. The observation of phase reversal between the two peaks is a direct experimental proof of Kondo shielding in Ce, confirming the predictions of Gunnarsson and Shoenhammer, albeit with a small modification.
Incorporating Spain into the Comparative Democratization Syllabus

On June 15, 2007, Spain celebrated 30 years since the 1977 elections inaugurated the current democratic political system. These were the first democratic elections in 40 years—the last were held during Spain's first experience with mass democracy during the Second Republic (1931–1936). This essay explores why and how to incorporate the Spanish case into syllabi on comparative democratization. I suggest a few interesting topics to explore and more fully develop how the Spanish case can be used to illustrate explanations of democratization, namely modernization theory and elite pact making.
Near Real-Time Monitoring of Bead Area Damage in Rolling Tires Using a Rotating Wheel Model and Multi-Directional Vibration Data

In current tire durability tests, technicians must stop tests periodically to inspect each tire, resulting in a time consuming, expensive, and relatively subjective process. Online tire monitoring would thus be a dramatic improvement over the current methodology. If such a system could be extended to on-line vehicle use, it could dramatically increase safety, reduce downtime, and lead to better fuel efficiency in commercial and passenger cars and trucks. A near real-time system to monitor the initiation of bead area damage in rolling tires was developed using vibration data collected from the wheel end spindle. To generate an accurate model of the forced response of the wheel end spindle, a tire on a fixed spindle was impacted with a modal punch while the tire was preloaded against a plate. The frequency response functions acquired from this system were then used to develop a rotating tire model consisting of time-delayed forcing functions applied to the tire patch at the rolling frequency; this model was used to assist in interpreting the results from the near real-time monitoring system. The near real-time continuous monitoring system has been deployed in a manufacturing test environment and utilizes frequency data from three mutually orthogonal acceleration measurements. These data are combined to create a highly sensitive composite index that identifies when the initiation of bead area damage has occurred.
EXPLORING ITEM CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE DIFFICULTY OF TOEFL DIALOGUE ITEMS

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between a set of item characteristics and the difficulty of TOEFL® dialogue items. Identifying characteristics that are related to item difficulty has the potential to improve the efficiency of the item-writing process The study employed 365 TOEFL dialogue items, which were coded on 49 variables, including 5 significant variables reported in Nissan, DeVincenzi, and Tang (1996). Of the 5 significant variables in Nissan et al., 3 correlated significantly with item difficulty in this study. Another 11 met a critical probability criterion. These 11 included representatives from three broad categories of variables: 2 in the category of word-level factors, 1 in the category of discourse-level factors, and 8 in the category of task-processing factors. Multiple regression analyses indicate that the variables in this study account for about 40% of the variance in item difficulty.
Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Contacts on Ge: Physics and Applications

We achieve a 70x reduction in specific contact resistivity to 1.28E-6Ωcm² using metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contacts with TiO2. The effectiveness of this method is understood in terms of the electron barrier height, band offsets, and the metal/TiO2 interface. Finally, TiO2 MIS contacts were integrated on Ge N-MOSFETs.
A Stir and Disinfect Technique to Recycle Perlite for Cost-Effective Greenhouse Tomato Production

Abstract Perlite is an excellent medium for growing greenhouse tomatoes. Reusing perlite without processing to grow successive tomato crops is potentially risky because of media compaction, salt buildup, and pest contamination. Replacing used perlite with new medium to raise every tomato crop is costly and recovering the expense by selling the fruit at a higher price may not work well in a competitive market. A study was conducted in a greenhouse to determine if stirring used perlite with an auger mounted on an electric drill and disinfecting the stirred medium with hot water would be more economical than replacing the medium with new perlite, and have no negative impact on yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). Results indicated that stirring and disinfecting used perlite for recycling saved 78% of the cost to replace the medium, and reduced medium EC, N03-N, K, and Na contents by 50, 50, 72, and 43%, respectively. The residual salt after treating the media with hot water was mostly within the o...
The absorption of deuterium by cerium-containing binary alloys☆

A study of the absorption of deuterium gas by a series of binary alloys of cerium, Ce3Co, Ce5.3Co, Ce4.5Ni, and Ce8.5Fe, has been made. Measurements of equilibrium pressures versus concentration were taken at 400 and 500°C for each and in addition the variation of pressure over the range 400–650°C was determined at concentration of DCe = 1 and DCe = 2 for all systems. The results can be semiquantitatively explained with a model based on compound formation. Heats of reaction of deuterium with the various alloys are: −51.9, −54.2, −55.9, and −64.3 kcal/mole D2 for Ce5.3Co, Ce8.5Fe, Ce3Co, and Ce4.5Ni, respectively. The heat of formation of CeD2 was measured: −45.6 kcal/mole D2. The alloys are evaluated as tritium-getters for possible applications to CTR technology.
Impact of pre-plant root substrate amendments on soilless substrate EC, pH, and nutrient availability

Pre-plant root substrate amendments have a great impact on the soluble salt level of plug seedling substrates. Nine common pre-plant amendments alone and a typical commercial combination of some of these showed that the greatest contributors to seedling substrate (2 sphagnum peat moss: 1 perlite: 1 vermiculite by volume) electrical conductivity (EC) level were gypsum, calcium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. Moderate contributions were realized from triple superphosphate, Epsom salt, and two commercial micronutrient mixes. The salt contributions from dolomitic limestone and wetting agent were small and of little commercial concern. At the most common application rates for seedling substrate, additions of gypsum, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and the mixture raised the total substrate EC (saturated media extract procedure) by 1.47, 1.23, 1.09, and 1.57 dS m−1, respectively, from an initial no amendment level of 0.84 dS m−1. The resulting EC levels were unacceptable according to the current maximum sta...
Ni3Al based composite interlayers for wide gap transient liquid phase bonding of NiAl–Hf single crystals to a nickel base superalloy

AbstractThe formation of undesirable second phases, for example σ and/or carbides, represents a major problem during transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of NiAl alloys to nickel base superalloys. Unlike many other TLP bonding systems, the formation of these second phases does not appear to be associated directly with the presence of the interlayer. Instead, the formation of second phases in the bonds results from a combination of extensive interdiffusion between the two substrates and the low solubility, in NiAl, of common alloying additions to nickel base alloys (such as Cr, Mo, and W). The use of a composite interlayer consisting of NiAl (as a non-melting constituent) and copper (as a liquid former) allows very short bonding times and this has been found previously to suppress the formation of σ and carbides, during bonding. In contrast, the use of NiAl–Cu composite interlayers had little effect on the formation of second phases during post-bond heat treatment and this represents a considerable problem...
Identifying the best in mathematics and science at the U.S. Department of Education

Abstract Interest is intense in disseminating mathematics and science materials developed by the Department of Education as well as other agencies. Two approaches are discussed for identifying, evaluating, and disseminating materials. One is the National Diffusion Network and its Program Effectiveness Panel, a dissemination system with 20 years of history but with a screening process in need of revisions if NDN is to meet its potential in mathematics and science. The other is the Committee on Education and Human Resources, a new interagency effort that has potential to identify, evaluate, and disseminate a large body of existing but largely underutilized mathematics and science materials.
The assessment of preservice teachers' dispositions

Abstract Teacher dispositions are a central force in shaping the environment in which schooling takes place. State and national accrediting bodies have underscored this importance by including preservice teacher dispositions as an important component within the standards. Consequently, teacher certification programs must attend to this dimension; however, dispositions are neither easily identified nor easily assessed. This study field tested an instrument used to identify and evaluate preservice teachers' dispositions. The implementation of the instrument was grounded in a commitment to have students reflect first on their own behavior, with faculty oversight in reviewing this self‐assessment. The instrument was evaluated in terms of its reliability using Cronbach's alpha. The process of using the instrument was analyzed through student and faculty feedback. The revised instrument is provided for use by other universities.
40Ar/39Ar thermochronologic constraints on the tectonothermal evolution of the Northern East Humboldt range metamorphic core complex, Nevada

Abstract The northern East Humboldt Range (NEHR) of northeastern Nevada exposes a suite of complexly deformed migmatitic, upper amphibolite-facies rocks in the footwall of the Ruby Mountains-East Humboldt Range (RM-EHR) detachment fault. New 40Ar/39Ar data on hornblende, muscovite, biotite, and potassium feldspar help constrain the kinematic and thermal evolution of this terrain during Tertiary extensional exhumation. Hornblende samples from relatively high structural levels yield discordant age spectra that suggest initial cooling during early Tertiary time (63–49 Ma). When coupled with petrological constraints indicating a strongly decompressional P-T-t path above 550°C, the hornblende data suggest that exhumation of the RM-EHR may have initiated in early Tertiary time, approximately coincident with the initial phases of unroofing in the Wood Hills immediately to the east and with the end of thrusting in the late Mesozoic to early Tertiary Sevier orogenic belt of eastern Nevada and western Utah. This temporal coincidence suggests that gravitational collapse of tectonically thickened crust in the internal zone of the Sevier belt could have driven the initial phases of unroofing. Thermal history during the final stage of exhumation of the NEHR is constrained by discordant hornblende cooling ages of 36-29 Ma from deep structural levels and biotite, muscovite, and potassium feldspar cooling ages of 27-21 Ma from a range of structural levels. Comparison of muscovite, biotite, and potassium feldspar cooling ages with previously published fission-track cooling ages implies very rapid cooling rates at temperatures below the closure temperature for muscovite (270°–350°C), but time gaps of > 7 m.y. between hornblende and mica cooling ages suggest that cooling at higher temperatures was more gradual. In addition, comparison of 40 Ar 39 Ar mica cooling ages with previously published fission-track apatite cooling ages suggests pronounced thermal gradients between the NEHR and adjacent areas during latest Oligocene to earliest Miocene time. Such thermal gradients could be readily explained if the RM-EHR detachment fault dipped > 30° between the 300°C and 100°C isotherms. Finally, 40 Ar 39 Ar biotite cooling ages increase southward through the East Humboldt Range, compatible with northward extrapolation of a previously recognized pattern of WNW-younging biotite cooling ages from the Ruby Mountains. A simple model involving the propagation of footwall uplift in the direction of tectonic transport beneath an initially listric normal fault can explain the principle features of the Oligocene to Miocene thermochronologic data set for the RM-EHR.
Cyclosporin A potentiation of VP-16: production of long-term survival in murine acute lymphatic leukemia.

Our prior in vitro studies on the correction of multidrug resistance by cyclosporin A (CsA) prompted us to investigate the effect of CsA and VP-16 in vivo. CsA given simultaneously at 2 or 10 mg/kg with VP-16 to BDF/1 mice bearing parental drug-sensitive P388 or L1210 lymphatic leukemia produced a 100% increase in survival as compared with VP-16 treatment alone. CsA-containing regimens also promoted 60-day survival in a significant number of P388 or L1210 leukemia-bearing mice as compared with animals receiving VP-16 in the absence of CsA (P<0.02 andP<0.001, respectively). CsA enhancement of the survival of mice bearing these lymphatic leukemias is restricted to VP-16, since the addition of CsA to therapeutic agents such as vincristine, daunorubicin, methotrexate, or cisplatin had no effect on survival.
Cesium laser with transverse diode laser pumping

A transversely pumped Cs vapor laser has been demonstrated using fifteen laser diode arrays to pump the gain medium, yielding 14% optical to optical efficiency and 15% slope efficiency.
The Lure of the Sensational Murder

In the last decade, a new stream of scholarship has emerged in the history of American crime and criminality: the study of sensationalized murder stories. This review of the recent literature focuses upon three particular books-Patricia Cline Cohen's The Murder of Helen Jewett, Karen Halttunen's Murder Most Foul, and Virginia McConnell's Arsenic Under the Elms-while considering a number of other works published in the last decade, The reviewer argues that this is a deceptively broad held, and that each work has strengths and weaknesses. Cases studies like Cohen's Murder of Helen Jewett are riveting, creating a rich and nuanced portrait of a historical moment. But they cannot so easily explore important changes in culture and society over time. Broader works center upon significant transitions in American life, but emphasize varying sides of those transitions. Halttunen's Murder Most Foul emphasizes changes in the American mind in regard to crime stories, for instance, whereas Daniel Cohen's Pillars of Salt is centered more upon social and cultural change. Altogether this is a rich and rewarding new vein of scholarship in the history of American crime and culture.
Effects of x-ray irradiation on polycrystalline silicon, thin-film transistors

The effects of x-ray irradiation on the transfer and noise characteristics of excimer-laser-annealed polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin-film transistors (TFTs) have been examined at dose levels up to 1000Gy. Parameters including mobility, threshold voltage, subthreshold swing, and leakage current, as well as flicker and thermal noise coefficients, were determined as a function of dose. In addition, the physical mechanisms of the observed changes in these parameters are analyzed in terms of radiation-generated charge in the gate oxide, at the Si–SiO2 interface, and at the grain boundaries. The results of the studies indicate that poly-Si TFTs exhibit sufficient radiation tolerance for the use in active-matrix flat-panel imagers for most medical x-ray applications.
The diagnostic value of biopsy of small peripheral lymph nodes in patients with suspected lymphoma

In a patient with suspected lymphoma, it is considered desirable to confirm the diagnosis by excisional biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes. However, sometimes the ideal nodes are positioned internally, requiring a deep invasive procedure for access, or the patient may have underlying medical conditions that make it risky to perform such an invasive procedure. Under a protocol approved by our institution's review board (IRB), we reviewed five patients in whom superficial lymph nodes were biopsied which were smaller than usually considered optimal for diagnosis (=2 cm). In each of these cases, the biopsy yielded diagnostic information upon which treatment could be based, sparing the patient a deep invasive procedure. We suggest that in situations in which large internal lymph nodes are not easily accessible and/or the patient's clinical situation precludes more invasive procedures, including deep core needle biopsy of a large mass, it is worthwhile to consider the removal of smaller, superficial lymph nodes with minimal risk which may suffice for diagnosis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Emerging infections of the central nervous system.

Emerging infections affecting the central nervous system often present as encephalitis and can cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis requires not only careful history taking, but also the application of newly developed diagnostic tests. These diseases frequently occur in outbreaks stemming from viruses that have mutated from an animal host and gained the ability to infect humans. With globalization, this can translate to the rapid emergence of infectious clusters or the establishment of endemicity in previously naive locations. Since these infections are often vector borne and effective treatments are almost uniformly lacking, prevention is at least as important as prompt diagnosis and institution of supportive care. In this review, we focus on some of the recent literature addressing emerging and resurging viral encephalitides in the United States and around the world—specifically, West Nile virus, dengue, polio, and cycloviruses. We also discuss new, or “emerging,” techniques for the precise and rapid diagnosis of encephalitides.
The automorphisms of convolution algebras of C∞ functions

Abstract We find the automorphisms and the spectra of several different topological convolution algebras of C∞-functions on the real line. Starting with the convolution algebra of compactly supported C∞-functions, equipped with the usual LF-topology, we define a corresponding convolution algebra of C∞-functions of arbitrarily fast exponential decay at ∞; and convolution algebras of a given finite degree r of exponential decay at ∞. These algebras may be described topologically as “hyper Schwartz spaces.” With a natural Frechet topology, which we define, they get a structure as locally m-convex algebras. The continuous automorphisms and spectra of these algebras are described completely. We show that the algebra of C∞-functions of infinitly fast exponential decay at ∞, H J , on the one hand, and the algebra of C∞-functions of only a finite degree e −r¦x¦ decay at ∞, J r0, on the other hand, have quite different automorphisms, although H J = ∩r J r0. As an application, we show that the conformal group is canonically represented as the full group of automorphisms of J r0, and that this representation does not extend to a representation on the Banach algebra L1( R ).
Environmental durability of glass-fiber composites

Abstract Durability of glass-fiber/polymer composites is dictated by the durability of the components: glass fiber, matrix, and the interface. Environmental attack by moisture, for example, can degrade the strength of the glass fiber; plasticize, swell, or microcrack the resin; and degrade the fiber/ matrix interface by either chemical or mechanical attack. The relative rates of these degradation processes are a function of the chemistry of the resin, temperature, length of time of exposure, degree of stress (whether cyclic or static), chemistry and morphology of coating of coupling agent on the glass fiber, and type of glass fiber. Several examples illustrate how the chemistry and morphology of the coatings of coupling agents that are on the glass fiber influence the strength and durability of the interfacial region.
Antimicrobial Activity of ɛ-Polylysine against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes in Various Food Extracts

This study compared the antimicrobial effects of epsilon-polylysine (epsilon-PL) against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes in 6 food extracts and in broth. The food extracts (10% (w/w) in distilled water) evaluated were fat-free and whole fat milk, beef, bologna, rice, and vegetables (50:50 ratio of broccoli and cauliflower). epsilon-PL was tested at 0.005% and 0.02% (w/v) against E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes, and 0.02% and 0.04% (w/v) against S. Typhimurium. The substrates were inoculated (5 log CFU/mL) and periodically analyzed for surviving populations during storage at 12 degrees C for 6 d. In general, all 3 pathogens reached 7 to 9 log CFU/mL within 2 d in control substrates (no epsilon-PL). Immediate bactericidal effects (P < 0.05) following exposure to epsilon-PL were obtained in the rice (all pathogens) and vegetable (E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium) extracts. During storage, antimicrobial effects of epsilon-PL were more pronounced in the food extracts than in the broth medium. The greatest antimicrobial activity for all 3 pathogens was obtained in the rice and vegetable extracts, where counts were reduced (P < 0.05) to below the detection limit (0.0 log CFU/mL) by one or both epsilon-PL concentrations tested. In the other food extracts (fat-free milk, whole fat milk, beef, and bologna), both epsilon-PL concentrations tested generally resulted in lower (P < 0.05) pathogen levels at the end of storage compared to initial counts, with better bactericidal effects exerted by the higher of the 2 epsilon-PL concentrations. Additional research is needed to explore the potential antimicrobial effects of epsilon-PL in real food systems.
Representing convective organization in prediction models by a hybrid strategy

The mesoscale organization of precipitating convection is highly relevant to next-generation global numerical weather prediction models, which will have an intermediate horizontal resolution (grid spacing about 10 km). A primary issue is how to represent dynamical mechanisms that are conspicuously absent from contemporary convective parameterizations. A hybrid parameterization of mesoscale convection is developed, consisting of convective parameterization and explicit convectively driven circulations. This kind of problem is addressed for warm-season convection over the continental United States, although it is argued to have more general application. A hierarchical strategy is adopted: cloud-systemresolving model simulations represent the mesoscale dynamics of convective organization explicitly and intermediate resolution simulations involve the hybrid approach. Numerically simulated systems are physically interpreted by a mechanistic dynamical model of organized propagating convection. This model is a formal basis for approximating mesoscale convective organization (stratiform heating and mesoscale downdraft) by a first-baroclinic heating couplet. The hybrid strategy is implemented using a predictor–corrector strategy. Explicit dynamics is the predictor and the first-baroclinic heating couplet the corrector. The corrector strengthens the systematically weak mesoscale downdrafts that occur at intermediate resolution. When introduced to the Betts–Miller– Janjic convective parameterization, this new hybrid approach represents the propagation and dynamical structure of organized precipitating systems. Therefore, the predictor–corrector hybrid approach is an elementary practical framework for representing organized convection in models of intermediate resolution.
Hyperaccumulator Alyssum murale relies on a different metal storage mechanism for cobalt than for nickel

The nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulator Alyssum murale has been developed as a commercial crop for phytoremediation/phytomining Ni from metal-enriched soils. Here, metal co-tolerance, accumulation and localization were investigated for A. murale exposed to metal co-contaminants. A. murale was irrigated with Ni-enriched nutrient solutions containing basal or elevated concentrations of cobalt (Co) or zinc (Zn). Metal localization and elemental associations were investigated in situ with synchrotron X-ray microfluorescence (SXRF) and computed-microtomography (CMT). A. murale hyperaccumulated Ni and Co (> 1000 microg g(-1) dry weight) from mixed-metal systems. Zinc was not hyperaccumulated. Elevated Co or Zn concentrations did not alter Ni accumulation or localization. SXRF images showed uniform Ni distribution in leaves and preferential localization of Co near leaf tips/margins. CMT images revealed that leaf epidermal tissue was enriched with Ni but devoid of Co, that Co was localized in the apoplasm of leaf ground tissue and that Co was sequestered on leaf surfaces near the tips/margins. Cobalt-rich mineral precipitate(s) form on leaves of Co-treated A. murale. Specialized biochemical processes linked with Ni (hyper)tolerance in A. murale do not confer (hyper)tolerance to Co. A. murale relies on a different metal storage mechanism for Co (exocellular sequestration) than for Ni (vacuolar sequestration).
Advanced abdominal pregnancy associated with fetal pulmonary hypoplasia: Report of a case

Delaying delivery of a premature abdominal pregnancy may allow for fetal pulmonary maturation. Prolonged extreme oligohydramnios, however, resulting in significant pulmonary hypoplasia would frustrate any effort to wait for pulmonary maturation. Little mention of this complication is found in the literature. Therefore, two cases of abdominal pregnancy are presented, one with fetal pulmonary hypoplasia and one without. Assessing the volume of amniotic fluid is suggested when a decision is being made to deliver this type of pregnancy.
Situation awareness recovery.

Objective: We describe a novel concept, situation awareness recovery (SAR), and we identify perceptual and cognitive processes that characterize SAR. Background: Situation awareness (SA) is typically described in terms of perceiving relevant elements of the environment, comprehending how those elements are integrated into a meaningful whole, and projecting that meaning into the future. Yet SA fluctuates during the time course of a task, making it important to understand the process by which SA is recovered after it is degraded. Method: We investigated SAR using different types of interruptions to degrade SA. In Experiment 1, participants watched short videos of an operator performing a supervisory control task, and then the participants were either interrupted or not interrupted, after which SA was assessed using a questionnaire. In Experiment 2, participants performed a supervisory control task in which they guided vehicles to their respective targets and either experienced an interruption, during which they performed a visual search task in a different panel, or were not interrupted. Results: The SAR processes we identified included shorter fixation durations, increased number of objects scanned, longer resumption lags, and a greater likelihood of refixating on objects that were previously looked at. Conclusions: We interpret these findings in terms of the memory-for-goals model, which suggests that SAR consists of increased scanning in order to compensate for decay, and previously viewed cues act as associative primes that reactivate memory traces of goals and plans.
Empathetic, Critical Integrations of Multiple Perspectives: A Core Practice for Language Teacher Education?.

In this self-study, the author reflects on her implementation of empathetic, critical integrations of multiple perspectives (ECI), which she designed to afford preservice teachers the opportunity to discuss and collectively reflect upon the oft-diverging multiple perspectives, values, and practices they experience during their practicum (Daniel, 2014; Grossman, Smagorinsky, & Valencia, 1999; Thompson, Windschitl, & Braaten, 2013; Zeichner, 2010). Because candidates can experience conflicting values in practicums, such as the use of transmission-based pedagogy versus constructivist views of learning (Anderson & Stillman, 2010), they need support and opportunities to talk about how they navigate these contradictory goals and visions of effective instruction. The author found that ECIs help candidates to participate in building connections between university-based and practicum-based learning experiences in teacher education, a problem that Zeichner (2010) has suggested teacher educators remedy. Results of this self-study led the author to a new goal of cultivating responsiveness at two levels—(1) in her own responsiveness with candidates, and (2) in her abilities to cultivate candidates’ responsiveness with ELLs.
Thermal properties of extruded/injection-molded poly(lactic acid) and biobased composites

To determine the degree of compatibility between poly(lactic acid) and different biomaterials (fibers), poly(lactic acid) was compounded with sugar beet pulp and apple fibers. The fibers were added in 85 : 15 and 70 : 30 poly(lactic acid)/fiber ratios. The composites were blended by extrusion followed by injection molding. Dif- ferential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric anal- ysis were used to analyze the extruded and extruded/ injection-molded composites. After melting in sealed dif- ferential scanning calorimetry pans, the composites were cooled through immersion in liquid nitrogen and aged (stored) at room temperature for 0, 7, 15, and 30 days. After storage, the samples were heated from 25 to 1808 Ca t 108C/ min. The neat poly(lactic acid) showed a glass-transition transition at 598C with a change in heat capacity (DCp) value of 0.464. The glass transition was followed by crystal- lization and melting transitions. The enthalpic relaxation of the poly(lactic acid) and composites steadily increased as a function of the storage time. Although the presence of fibers had little effect on the enthalpic relaxation, injection molding reduced the enthalpic relaxation. The crystallinity percentage of the unprocessed neat poly(lactic acid) dropped by 95% after extrusion and by 80% for the extruded/injection-molded composites. The degradation was performed in air and nitrogen environments. The deg- radation activation energy of neat poly(lactic acid) exhib- ited a significant drop in the nitrogen environment, although it increased in air. This meant that the poly(lactic acid) was more resistant to degradation in the presence of oxygen. Overall, injection molding appeared to reduce the activation energy for all the composites. Sugar beet pulp sig- nificantly reduced the activation energy in a nitrogen envi- ronment. In an air environment, both sugar beet pulp and apple fibers increased the activation energy. The enzymatic degradation of the composites showed a higher degradation rate for the extruded samples versus the extruded/injection- molded composites, whereas the apple composites exhibited higher weight loss. The thermogravimetric analysis data showed that the degradation of unprocessed and extruded neat poly(lactic acid) followed a one-step mechanism, whereas extruded/injection-molded composites showed two-step degradation. A higher fiber content resulted in up to three-step degradation mechanisms. 2007 Wiley Periodi-
Inflammatory Mediators and the Failing Heart Past, Present, and the Foreseeable Future

Recent studies have identified the importance of proinflammatory mediators in the development and progression of heart failure. The growing appreciation of the pathophysiological consequences of sustained expression of proinflammatory mediators in preclinical and clinical heart failure models culminated in a series of multicenter clinical trials that used “targeted” approaches to neutralize tumor necrosis factor in patients with moderate to advanced heart failure. However, these targeted approaches have resulted in worsening heart failure, thereby raising a number of important questions about what role, if any, proinflammatory cytokines play in the pathogenesis of heart failure. This review will summarize the tremendous growth of knowledge that has taken place in this field, with a focus on what we have learned from the negative clinical trials, as well as the potential direction of future research in this area.
Image processing: mathematics, engineering, or art

From the strict mathematical viewpoint, it is impossible to fully achieve the goal of digital image processing, which is to determine an unknown function of two dimensions from a finite number of discrete measurements linearly related to it. However, the necessity to display image data in a form that is visually useful to an observer supersedes such mathematically correct admonitions. Engineering defines the technological limits of what kind of image processing can be done and how the resulting image can be displayed. The appeal and usefulness of the final image to the human eye pertains to aesthetics. Effective image processing necessitates unification of mathematical theory, practical implementation, and artistic display.
Spectral profiling for the simultaneous observation of four distinct fluorescent proteins and detection of protein-protein interaction via fluorescence resonance energy transfer in tobacco leaf nuclei

The control of subcellular localization of proteins and their interaction with other partners in vivo are important parameters that provide clues to their function and regulation. The ability to simultaneously track multiple protein species with high resolution should provide a valuable assay system to study and characterize various types of posttranslational control pathways. In this work, we established the system and a method involving "spectral profiling" for the resolution of four different fluorescent protein tags in the same viewing field using digital imaging technology. With these techniques, we have (a) developed new derivatives of mGFP5, which is commonly used in the plant field, that are about three times brighter; (b) demonstrated that four spectrally distinct fluorescent proteins (cyan, green, yellow, and red) that are fused to a transcription factor could be stably expressed in nuclei and distinguished in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) mesophyll cells; and (c) shown that interaction between partners of a dimeric transcription factor can be detected by measuring fluorescence resonance energy transfer. These technologies should help one to study protein-protein interactions efficiently, especially for nuclear proteins under in vivo conditions.
The Populus Class III HD ZIP transcription factor POPCORONA affects cell differentiation during secondary growth of woody stems

The developmental mechanisms regulating cell differentiation and patterning during the secondary growth of woody tissues are poorly understood. Class III HD ZIP transcription factors are evolutionarily ancient and play fundamental roles in various aspects of plant development. Here we investigate the role of a Class III HD ZIP transcription factor, POPCORONA, during secondary growth of woody stems. Transgenic Populus (poplar) trees expressing either a miRNA-resistant POPCORONA or a synthetic miRNA targeting POPCORONA were used to infer function of POPCORONA during secondary growth. Whole plant, histological, and gene expression changes were compared for transgenic and wild-type control plants. Synthetic miRNA knock down of POPCORONA results in abnormal lignification in cells of the pith, while overexpression of a miRNA-resistant POPCORONA results in delayed lignification of xylem and phloem fibers during secondary growth. POPCORONA misexpression also results in coordinated changes in expression of genes within a previously described transcriptional network regulating cell differentiation and cell wall biosynthesis, and hormone-related genes associated with fiber differentiation. POPCORONA illustrates another function of Class III HD ZIPs: regulating cell differentiation during secondary growth.
Syn-folding remagnetization of Cambro-Ordovician carbonates from the Pennsylvania Salient post-dates oroclinal rotation

Paleomagnetic directions of 35 sites of Cambro-Ordovician carbonates from 10 anticlines were analyzed to test models of curvature along the Pennsylvania Salient of the Appalachians and to constrain the relative timing of magnetization acquisition. The sites yield directions of magnetization that are almost all reversed with near-horizontal inclinations upon appropriate structural correction. The common, Late Paleozoic (Kiaman-aged) direction and incremental fold tests show that these directions represent remagnetizations carried by authigenic magnetite, acquired just before or during the earlier phases of folding. No convincing indications were found of primary magnetizations. Mean declinations from the northeastern and southwestern limbs of the salient differ by a few degrees, indicating negligible, if any, rotation between the limbs. The results are similar to prior studies of overlying Siluro-Devonian carbonates, showing coherent behavior of the entire Paleozoic cratonic cover. We conclude that the statistically negligible difference in declination indicates that (previously demonstrated) oroclinal bending occurred before carbonates of the Paleozoic stratigraphic cover were remagnetized during the Permian and before regional folding was completed.
Disparity between reported and measured patient weight: can it affect planning in breast reduction surgery?

Abstract Background Patient weights are frequently used in surgery for essential calculations including preoperative surgical planning, dosing of medications, and qualification for insurance reimbursement. Often, there is a disparity between patient-reported and actual measured weights. This study examines differences between self-reported and measured weights and implications in breast reduction surgery. Methods A review was performed of 197 consecutive women who presented for breast surgery at an academic institution. Self-reported weights were recorded during the initial encounter, and the patients were subsequently weighed on the same day. A paired t -test was used to compare the self-reported and actual measured weights and stratified analysis performed based on body mass index (BMI). The Schnur sliding scale was used to estimate resection weights for reduction mammaplasty. Results The overall mean difference in reported and measured weight was 3.0 lbs standard deviation (SD) 8.9 ( P 30) groups were 1.7 lb SD 5.5 ( P P Conclusions Significant disparities between self-reported and measured weights were identified in patients presenting for breast surgery. These differences can influence important calculations of resection weights for breast reduction surgery. These differences may also affect dosing of medications and preoperative planning.
Irrelevant features at fixation modulate saccadic latency and direction in visual search

Do irrelevant visual features at fixation influence saccadic latency and direction? In a novel search paradigm, we found that when the feature of an irrelevant item at fixation matched the feature defining the target, oculomotor disengagement was delayed, and when it matched a salient distractor more eye movements were directed to that distractor. Latency effects were short-lived; direction effects persisted for up to 200 ms. We replicated latency results and demonstrated facilitated eye movements to the target when the fixated item matched the target colour. Irrelevant features of fixated items influence saccadic latency and direction and may be important considerations in predicting search behaviour.
Congenital TORCH Infections in Infants and Young Children Neurodevelopmental Sequelae and Implications for Intervention

This article describes a group of congenital infections called TORCH infections. TORCH infections, including toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes, may result in significant developmental disability in children who are congenitally infected. These children and their families are often in need of early intervention services, yet program staff may have concerns over including them in group programs and activities. This article describes methods of transmission, incidence, and developmental outcomes for some of the most common congenital TORCH infections. Medical terminology that early interventionists may encounter in these children's developmental histories is incorporated and defined throughout the text, and program implications for early intervention are drawn.
The macrophage mannose receptor: current status.

Sugar-specific recognition of oligosaccharide chains present on macromolecules and particles has emerged as an important mechanism by which macrophages carry out a variety offunctions including host defense, molecular scavenging, and cell-cell recognition. Among the oligosaccharide determinants that are recognized by macrophages, terminal mannose residues are the most thoroughly studied. More than a decade ago, in vivo experiments showed that a variety of glycoproteins bearing high mannose chains, including the lysosomal enzyme {j-glucuronidase, were rapidly and specifically cleared from the bloodstream after intravenous infusion (1). It is now widely appreciated that in vivo clearance of mannose glycoconjugates is mediated by a receptor found in liver Kupffer and endothelial cells and in mononuclear phagocytes (2). With the exception of lysosomal hydrolases, which possess high mannose chains as a remnant of the mannose-phosphate targeting marker, glycoproteins and membrane glycoconjugates of most higher organisms bear processed or complex N-linked oligosaccharide chains (3). As such, mannose is nearly always relegated to a penultimate or more inferior position in the carbohydrate structure. Lower organisms, however, including many infectious agents, have little facility to process N-linked oligosaccharide chains and, consequently, express abundant mannose, glucose, and other sugars on their surfaces. It is not surprising, then, that higher organisms have evolved sugar-specific recognition molecules as part oftheir host-defense system. Macrophages recognize, in addition to mannose and L-fucose, molecules and particles bearing galactose, glucose, and N-acetylneuraminic acid residues (2). The mannose receptor has served as an excellent model for studies of receptor recycling in the macrophage. The availability of several high affinity ligands and anti-receptor antibodies have permitted a detailed analysis of receptor movement in macrophages. {j-Glucuronidase, a lysosomal glycosidase that can be easily purified from rat preputial glands, and mannose-derivitized bovine serum albumin (mannoseBSA) , bind the mannose receptor with high affinity. Many other glycoconjugates have been used as ligands as well, including ricin A-chain, yeast mannan and invertase, ovalbumin, and ribonuclease B. Binding and internalization studies have shown that the mannose receptor is both phagocytic (4)
A Large New England Kindred With Autosomal Dominant Neurogenic Scapuloperoneal Amyotrophy With Unique Features

• We describe a large New England kindred bearing an autosomal dominant syndrome of neurogenic amyotrophy with variable expression. Features include congenital absence of muscles, progressive scapuloperoneal atrophy, laryngeal palsy, and progressive distal weakness and atrophy. The pattern of expression and progression varies in different branches of the family. Males are more severely affected than females. Disease expression is more severe and progressive in succeeding (third and fourth) generations. This striking increase in severity and progressivity in succeeding generations may have genetic implications. The syndrome most resembles the Stark-Kaeser chronic scapuloperoneal amyotrophy, but is considered a distinct entity.
Cr/sup 2+/-doped zinc chalcogenides as efficient, widely tunable mid-infrared lasers

Transition-metal-doped zinc chalcogenide crystals have recently been investigated as potential mid-infrared lasers. Tetrahedrally coordinated Cr/sup 2+/ ions are especially attractive as lasants on account of high luminescence quantum yields for emission in the 2000-3000-nm range. Radiative lifetimes and emission cross sections of the upper /sup 5/E state are respectively /spl sim/10 /spl mu/s and /spl sim/10/sup -18/ cm/sup 2/. The associated absorption band peaked at /spl sim/1800 mm enables laser-diode pumping of the Cr/sup 2+/ systems. Laser demonstrations with ZnS:Cr and ZnSe:Cr (using a MgF/sub 2/:Co/sup 2+/ laser pump source) gave slope efficiencies up to 30%. Excited-state-absorption losses appear small, and passive losses dominate at present. Tuning experiments with a diffraction grating produce a tuning range covering at least 2150-2800 nm. Laser crystals can be produced by Bridgman growth, seeded physical vapor transport, or diffusion doping. Zinc chalcogenide thermomechanical properties of interest for medium-to-high-power operation compare favorably with those of other host materials, except for the larger refractive-index derivative dn/dT.
Chemical Reactions in the Processing of MoSi2 Carbon Compacts

Hot-pressing of MoSi2 powders with carbon at high temperatures reduces the siliceous grain boundary phase in the resultant compact. The chemical reactions in this process were examined using the Knudsen cell technique. A 2.3 wt pct oxygen MoSi2 powder and a 0.59 wt pct oxygen MoSi2 powder, both with additions of 2 wt pct carbon, were examined. The reduction of the siliceous grain boundary phase was examined at 1350 K and the resultant P(SiO)/P(CO) ratios interpreted in terms of the SiO(g) and CO(g) isobars on the Si-C-O predominance diagram. The MoSi2 + carbon mixtures were then heated at the hot-pressing temperature of 2100 K. Large weight losses were observed and could be correlated with the formation of a low-melting eutectic and the formation and vaporization of SiC.
Managing Chronic Kidney Disease in Older People.

To the Editor Dr Levey and colleagues1 and Dr Glassock and colleagues2 debated whether age calibration should be required to determine chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older people. However, this is not what matters to patients. The rate of loss of renal function, not age calibration of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), is what really matters.