cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classroom Reinforcement and Learning: A Quantitative Synthesis.

AbstractTo estimate the instructional effects of rewards or positive reinforcement, both primary and secondary, on classroom learning, 102 effect sizes were calculated from statistical data in 39 studies spanning a period of 20 years and containing a combined sample of 4,842 students in 202 classes. The mean of the study-median effect sizes is 1.17, which suggests average percentiles on learning outcomes of 88 and 50, respectively, for positively reinforced and control groups. Contrary to previous theory and opinions, the strong effects of instructional reinforcement appear constant across grades (kindergarten through college), socioeconomic levels, race, private and public schools, and community types; but tangible reinforcers may be slightly more effective than intangible ones; and girls and students in special schools and classes may be slightly more affected by reinforcements than other students.
Elevated Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels in Children with Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Elevated Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels in Children with Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Digital elevation extraction from multiple MTI data sets

The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) extraction process traditionally uses a stereo pair of aerial photographs that are sequentially captured using an airborne metric camera. Standard DEM extraction techniques have been naturally extended to utilize satellite imagery. However, the particular characteristics of satellite imaging can cause difficulties in the DEM extraction process. The ephemeris of the spacecraft during the collects, with respect to the ground test site, is the most important factor in the elevation extraction process. When the angle of separation between the stereo images is small, the extraction process typically produces measurements with low accuracy. A large angle of separation can cause an excessive number of erroneous points in the output DEM. There is also a possibility of having occluded areas in the images when drastic topographic variation is present, making it impossible to calculate elevation in the blind spots. The use of three or more images registered to the same ground area can potentially reduce these problems and improve the accuracy of the extracted DEM. The pointing capability of the Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) allows for multiple collects of the same area to be taken from different perspectives. This functionality of MTI makes it a good candidate formore » the implementation of DEM extraction using multiple images for improved accuracy. This paper describes a project to evaluate this capability and the algorithms used to extract DEMs from multi-look MTI imagery.« less
Simplified technique for polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

We have developed a fiber-based polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) system using non- polarization-maintaining fiber and a single detector, in which the polarization-sensitive components are implemented entirely in bulk optics in the sample arm.
Multireader evaluation of lesion conspicuity in small pancreatic adenocarcinomas: complimentary value of iodine material density and low keV simulated monoenergetic images using multiphasic rapid kVp-switching dual energy CT.

Objective Perform multireader analysis of objective and subjective lesion conspicuity for small pancreatic adenocarcinomas using rapid switching dual energy CT (rsDECT).
The Hess pupil dilation findings: Sex or novelty?

Pupil dilation research was initially focused upon emotional reactions and then shifted almost entirely to information processing. In the present study we return to the initial research and addresses the question of whether pupil dilation in response to nudity reflects general arousal or more specific sexual arousal. Among heterosexual participants, pictures of opposite sex nudes should produce sexual arousal, while pictures of nudes of either sex should produce a general novelty reaction. Pupil dilation was monitored among men and women viewing pictures of clothed men, clothed women, nude men, and nude women. Pupils dilated more to nude pictures than to the clothed pictures, regardless of the sex of the participant or the sex of the target person being viewed.
Successful control of intractable hypoglycemia using rapamycin in an 86-year-old man with a pancreatic insulin-secreting islet cell tumor and metastases.

Context: Insulinomas are rare tumors of the pancreatic islet cells that produce insulin. Approximately 5 to 10% of these tumors are cancerous, and control of insulin secretion and hypoglycemia may be difficult in these patients. Malignant insulinomas generally respond poorly to traditional chemotherapeutic agent regimens. At present, streptozotocin is the only approved drug for the treatment of pancreatic islet cell tumors. Setting and Patient: This report describes a case of an elderly gentleman with a metastatic pancreatic insulinoma and severe hypoglycemia. A continuous infusion of octreotide lowered the blood glucose levels further. He required diazoxide, a thiazide diuretic, phenytoin, and a constant infusion of glucose to control the hypoglycemia and elevated insulin levels. Intervention: Rapamycin was administered at an oral dose of 2 mg/d. Results: On the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) agent rapamycin, he was weaned off all drugs except for the thiazide diuretic and maintained euglycemia wit...
Preventing substance abuse and relationship violence: Proof-of-concept evaluation of a social, multi-user, tablet-based game

Increasing evidence suggests that using technology and Internet-based methods in prevention programming can be an efficacious delivery practice. This literature implies that applying digital technologies to prevention may provide a unique opportunity to carry out interventions with reliability and in a manner that is more appealing and suitable to youth. This exploratory study reports on a proof-of-concept evaluation of Choices & Consequences, a substance abuse and relationship violence prevention program that integrates digital technologies and devices with game-based behavior change techniques. Six focus groups (N = 44) were conducted with youth living in a Southwestern city. RESULTS suggest that youth preferred various aspects of this prevention game to traditional methods. They especially liked that the game was engaging and that they were able to learn in both formal and informal environments, that is interacting with each other and a facilitator or playing the game on their own. RESULTS also found that youth learned many lessons while playing the game and they believe the game may help prevent substance abuse and relationship violence among the target population of early adolescents. Thus, this research suggests that prevention programs for youth that combine interactive methods, mobile technology, social networking, and competitive gaming could be a strong alternative to traditional delivery methods.
Acute stress reduces reward responsiveness: implications for depression.

Background Stress, one of the strongest risk factors for depression, has been linked to “anhedonic” behavior and dysfunctional reward-related neural circuitry in preclinical models. Methods To test if acute stress reduces reward responsiveness (i.e., the ability to modulate behavior as a function of past reward), a signal-detection task coupled with a differential reinforcement schedule was utilized. Eighty female participants completed the task under both a stress condition, either threat-of-shock (n = 38) or negative performance feedback (n = 42), and a no-stress condition. Results Stress increased negative affect and anxiety. As hypothesized based on preclinical findings, stress, particularly the threat-of-shock condition, impaired reward responsiveness. Regression analyses indicate that self-report measures of anhedonia predicted stress-induced hedonic deficits even after controlling for anxiety symptoms. Conclusions These findings indicate that acute stress reduces reward responsiveness, particularly in individuals with anhedonic symptoms. Stress-induced hedonic deficit is a promising candidate mechanism linking stressful experiences to depression.
Is rock 'n' roll a symptom of Baumol's disease?

The theory of unbalanced productivity growth, sometimes referred to as "Baumol's disease", has been widely applied since Baumol and Bowen (1966) first used it to analyze the economic problem of the performing arts.(l) The idea has generally been applied to non-profit arts such as the theater and ballet, rather than to profitoriented enterprise. This paper applies the unbalanced productivity approach to a cultural activity produced for profitthe live performance of popular music. In particular, Baumol's disease provides an additional explanation for the shift in the dominant form of American popular music from big band swing in the 1930s and 1940s to rock 'n' roll in the 1950's. Many factors contributed to the decline of the big band and the rise of the rock 'n' roll band as the dominant
Buildup of Polymer/Au Nanoparticle Multilayer Thin Films Based on Hydrogen Bonding

We report two new hydrogen-bonding-based routes for layer-by-layer fabrication of polymer/Au nanoparticle multilayer thin films. Two types of Au nanoparticles surface-modified with carboxyl groups or pyridine groups were prepared in nonaqueous solvents. In the first assembly route, we consecutively adsorbed poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) and Au nanoparticles with carboxyl group tailored surfaces. In the second route, we alternatively deposited poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and Au nanoparticles with pyridine group tailored surfaces. The multilayer buildup was monitored by UV−vis spectroscopy, which showed a linear increase of the film absorbance with the number of adsorbed Au layers. FTIR spectroscopy was used to verify hydrogen bonding between the pyridine and carboxyl groups, which is believed to be the driving force for the formation of polymer/Au multilayer thin films.
Whispers: The role of family secrets in eating disorders

(2000). Whispers: The role of family secrets in eating disorders. Eating Disorders: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 43-61.
Experimental studies of the Bohm criterion in a two-ion-species plasma using laser-induced fluorescence.

The flow of multiple ion species onto plasma boundaries is an important feature of many plasma systems. Divertors and limiters in fusion plasma devices, etching and deposition plasmas, and Langmuir probes are among the many examples where the plasma-wall interaction is a salient feature of the system and in which multiple ion species are often present. Understanding sheath formation in such plasmas, a longstanding problem, remains an unsolved fundamental and practical problem in plasma science. It is a topic that has only recently begun to attract interest [1‐ 4]. Langmuir was the first to envision the problem of sheath formation in terms of two distinctly different scale lengths. He recognized that ions must arrive at the sheath edge with some velocity derived from weak electric fields extending from the sheath edge some ‘‘considerable distance’’ [5] into the plasma compared with the sheath thickness. The region of this long scale length, � p ,i s now known as the plasma presheath [6 ‐8], and the sheath scale length is the Debye length, � D. Bohm [9] was the first to derive an expression for the minimum mean kinetic energy required of the ions at the sheath edge of a single species plasma in order for real sheath solutions to exist (mv 2 =2 � Te=2), where v is a fluid velocity and Te is measured in eV. These along with others have pointed out the discontinuity in the asymptotic forms of the electric field of the sheath and presheath where they join, and have derived expressions for an electric field in the transition region. Electric field strengths and thicknesses of this transition region have now been measured [10] in weakly collisional plasma for which the ion
Synthesis of peptides containing DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine)

Abstract Proteins from coral reefs structures, eggshells, and marine mollusk adhesives all contain the amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). The insoluble nature of these materials has hampered characterization and turned our efforts toward work with small peptide mimics. In this paper, we present the syntheses of various DOPA derivatives: Boc-DOPA, Fmoc-DOPA, DOPA(TBDMS)2, DOPA(TBDPS)2, Boc-DOPA(TBDPS)2, Fmoc-DOPA(TBDMS)2, and Fmoc-DOPA(TBDPS)2 (where Boc=tert-butyloxycarbonyl, Fmoc=9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl, TBDMS=tert-butyldimethylsilyl, and TBDPS=tert-butyldiphenylsilyl). These DOPA compounds were used to prepare peptides of various sequences. The synthetic procedure described provides an efficient route to DOPA-containing peptides in which sidechain deprotection and cleavage from resin can be accomplished in one step.
Precipitation in Aberdeen, SD: data analysis approach

Daily, monthly, and annual sums of precipitation for Aberdeen, South Dakota, from 1890-2008 were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods (primary statistical analysis, factor analysis, time-series analysis: shift detection and simplified Fourier analysis - SFA) and provided descriptions of the variability (stochastic and cyclic or oscillatory) for monthly and annual sums of precipitation. The goal was to describe the natural variability in three scales, then to use this to forecast extremes, such as the spring 2007 flooding event that occurred in Aberdeen. The part of the variability that may be explained for sums of precipitation seasonality by factor model is 57%. The single time series relations of the main cyclic component to the mean sum of precipitation for monthly data (mean = 1.8 and altitude = 1.4 with period of 12 months) is equal 77.5% and for annual data (mean = 21.7 and altitude = 2.2 with period of 46 years) 10.4%. For time series of annual sum of precipitation the sum of cyclic altitudes is equal to 44.7% of mean. To expect extremely high daily sum of precipitation we have to use knowledge about variability of daily, monthly and annual sum of precipitation and May and June of 2010 look like a good sample of this.
Beta-Gauge for Hair Measurements

THE quantitative measurement of hair is an important factor in studies of heat exchange between animal and environment. Methods currently employed consist in counting the number of hairs per unit area, measuring the mean hair length, and determining the weight of hair per unit area. In measurements of hair number or hair weight per unit area a major error arises from the difficulty of measuring precisely an area on the mobile, elastic, non-planar skin of an animal. Any method requiring the removal of the hair for measurement changes the heat-transfer characteristics of the area, and repeat measurements cannot be made on the same area. An absorption-type beta-ray gauge would appear to offer a solution to the problem of measurement of the mass of hair per unit area. It would be a rapid, non-destructive, and reasonably accurate direct measurement of the mass of hair per unit area at the point of measurement.
Analysis of the Human 3'-Phosphoadenosine 5'-Phosphosulfate Synthase Genes.

INTRODUCTION. PAPS is the universal sulfonate donor compound. PAPS synthase (PAPSS) catalyzes the formation PAPS in two concerted steps. In the first step SO4 combines with ATP to form adenosine 5’-phosphosulfate (APS) and PPi catalyzed by ATP sulfurylase domain. In the second step APS combines with another molecule of ATP to form PAPS and ADP catalyzed by APS kinase domain. In higher eukaryotes APS kinase domain (aa 1-268) and ATP sulfurylase domain (aa 220-623) are fused together into a single polypeptide termed PAPS synthase (PAPSS) (1). cDNA of the two isoforms PAPSS1 (accession # U53447) and PAPSS2b (accession # AF 150754) from human have been molecularly cloned and characterized[1]. PAPS synthase genes have been localized to chromosome 4q24 (PAPSS1) and chromosome 10q22.3-10q25.1 (PAPSS2)[1,2].
How left inferior frontal cortex participates in syntactic processing: Evidence from aphasia

We report on three experiments that provide a real-time processing perspective on the poor comprehension of Broca's aphasic patients for non-canonically structured sentences. In the first experiment we presented sentences (via a Cross Modal Lexical Priming (CMLP) paradigm) to Broca's patients at a normal rate of speech. Unlike the pattern found with unimpaired control participants, we observed a general slowing of lexical activation and a concomitant delay in the formation of syntactic dependencies involving "moved" constituents and empty elements. Our second experiment presented these same sentences at a slower rate of speech. In this circumstance, Broca's patients formed syntactic dependencies as soon as they were structurally licensed (again, a different pattern from that demonstrated by the unimpaired control group). The third experiment used a sentence-picture matching paradigm to chart Broca's comprehension for non-canonically structured sentences (presented at both normal and slow rates). Here we observed significantly better scores in the slow rate condition. We discuss these findings in terms of the functional commitment of the left anterior cortical region implicated in Broca's aphasia and conclude that this region is crucially involved in the formation of syntactically-governed dependency relations, not because it supports knowledge of syntactic dependencies, but rather because it supports the real-time implementation of these specific representations by sustaining, at the least, a lexical activation rise-time parameter.
Structural conversion of cytosolic steroid receptors by an age-dependent epididymal protease

Epididymides from sexually mature rabbits contain a factor that induces a discrete reduction in the sedimentation coefficient of cytosolic estrogen receptors from various tissues (rabbit epididymis and accessory sex organs; rabbit, rat and mouse uterus) and of cytosolic progesterone receptors from the rabbit uterus. The factor is not species-specific since a similar activity was detected in extracts of mature rat epididymides. Although present in cytosol, the factor is obtained in much higher yield in hypertonic extracts of the nucleomyofibrillar fraction of mature rabbit epididymal tissue. Using rabbit uterine estrogen receptor as substrate, we have determined the following details about the rabbit epididymal factor: (1) it is tissue-specific (undetectable in extracts from rabbit accessory sex organs, testis, uterus, liver, lung, kidney and intestine); (2) it is age-dependent (undetectable in extracts from sexually immature rabbit epididymides); (3) its maintenance is testis-independent following its post-pubertal induction or activation; (4) it is primarily localized in the caput region of the epididymis; (5) it is inactivated by elevated temperature; (6) it is macromolecular in nature; (7) it is DNase- and RNase-resistant; (8) it is irreversibly inactivated by leupeptin, indicating that it is a protease; and (9) it is effective on unoccupied and occupied receptors.
Interaction of Capillary Plasma with Double-Base and Composite Propellants

Experiments were conducted to characterize the electrothermal capillary plasma and its interaction with a double-base propellant, JA2, and two nitramine composite propellants, M43 and XM39, in closed-chamber and open-air conditions. Pressure-time histories were recorded during ignition and burning of the propellants in the closed chamber. Experimental results indicate significant differences in ignition and combustion of the propellants. The composite propellants exhibited a two-stage burning behavior: one stage of rapid burning driven by the plasma and a second stage of slower self-sustained burning, which occurred with a clear delay after the first stage. During the burning that is driven by the plasma, the burn rate was largely independent of propellant type. Optical microscopic images of recovered propellant samples showed clear physical changes in surface and possibly in subsurface structure, an indication of in-depth melting, vaporization, and possibly chemical reactions. Plasma-induced mass losses for the three propellants were obtained from open-air testing and compared to the values calculated based on the pressure data from closed-chamber tests.
Multiplex differential display identifies a novel zinc-finger protein repressed during withdrawal from cocaine

Abstract Multiplex differential display (MDD), a modification of differential display reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR), was used to identify cocaine-dependent regulation of previously known and unknown gene products. Direct comparison of the MDD amplification profiles of duplicate, total RNA samples from the caudate putamen (CPu) of either vehicle or cocaine treated Sprague–Dawley rats indicated that the relative induction of a 240 bp (8G247) product, likely to represent c-fos mRNA, closely paralleled changes in c-fos mRNA as measured by Northern blot analysis. MDD and Northern blot analysis also revealed substantial repression of another PCR product (8G226) at 1 h and 1 day after repeated administration of cocaine. At 2 days after cocaine exposure, the level of 8G226 had returned to control levels. The DNA sequence of 8G226 exhibited near identity with a mouse zinc-finger protein (PZf) and is thus likely to represent a transcriptional regulator. Interestingly, the repression of 8G226 immediately after cocaine treatment is in direct contrast to the cocaine-dependent increase in expression documented for NGFI-A, another zinc-finger protein which also functions as a transcriptional regulator. Detailed characterization of the prolonged reduction in the expression of 8G226 may lead to the identification of additional regulatory pathways that produce changes in cellular response after repeated cocaine exposure.
A 'cool' load balancer for parallel applications

Meeting power requirements of huge exascale machines of the future will be a major challenge. Our focus in this paper is to minimize cooling power and we propose a technique that uses a combination of DVFS and temperature aware load balancing to constrain core temperatures as well as save cooling energy. Our scheme is specifically designed to suit parallel applications which are typically tightly coupled. The temperature control, comes at the cost of execution time and we try to minimize the timing penalty. We experiment with three applications (with different power utilization profiles), run on a 128-core (32-node) cluster with a dedicated air conditioning unit. We calibrate the efficacy of our scheme based on three metrics: ability to control average core temperatures thereby avoiding hot spot occurence, timing penalty minimization, and cooling energy savings. Our results show cooling energy savings of up to 57% with a timing penalty of 19%.
Yield and Yield Gaps in Central U.S. Corn Production Systems

The magnitude of yield gaps (YGs) (potential yield – farmer yield) provides some indication of the prospects for increasing crop yield. Quantile regression analysis was applied to county corn (Zea mays L.) yields (1972–2011) from Kentucky, Iowa, and Nebraska (irrigated) (total of 115 counties) to estimate the attainable potential yield (APY) (yield in the most favorable environments in the 40-yr record) for each county. The YG for each year was the difference between the APY and the county yield. Potential productivity (40-yr mean county yield) varied substantially within and among states (579–1001 g m –2 ). The mean relative yield gap (RYG) varied from 9 to 24% of APY and decreased linearly (p < 0.0001) as the mean county yield increased for each state. Large YGs were partially related to very low yields that occurred in some years and may reflect the ability of the soil to supply water to the crop; other soil or management factors may also be involved since irrigation did not reduce the RYG in Nebraska to zero. The highest mean county APY was 30% (Kentucky), 22% (Iowa) and 14% (Nebraska) higher than the lowest county APY. This second YG occurred in favorable environments. Reducing the first YG in Kentucky and Iowa will probably require irrigation. Reducing the second YG may be more difficult if it is related to intractable soil characteristics. These results suggest that soil conditions may play an important role in determining the size of YGs in Midwestern corn production systems.
Components of mating behavior in planktonic copepods

Abstract Successful mating behavior is essential to the survival of all sexually reproducing organisms. To explore the components of a successful mating interaction for planktonic copepods, mating behavior can be compared to predatory behavior using the “components of predation” framework of C.S. Holling. As the components of predation can be considered to include encounter, attack, capture and ingestion, analogously, mating behavior can be considered to include encounter, pursuit, capture and copulation. Each component of mating behavior involves recognition of mate characteristics mediated by the sensory perception of that species. Some signals can be detected remotely, while others require direct contact between potential mates. The probability of encounter between males and receptive females can be estimated based on information on density of adult copepods that are receptive to mating, their swimming speeds and the distances over which they can recognize one another. Based on limited data, it appears that encounter rates between males and receptive females may be quite low in some environments. Behavioral adaptations must exist to increase encounter rates; one potential mechanism is swarm formation. Once potential mates have encountered each other, they must determine if they are members of the same species and they are ready to mate. Copulatory behavior involves a precise sequence of movements influenced by chemical and mechanical signals from the potential mate.
Stumbling and Succeeding Together: a New Medical School’s Collaborative Initiative to Elevate Interprofessionalism as a Signature Hallmark in Training Future Healthcare Leaders

The process of creating a longitudinal interprofessionalism curriculum was initiated through the collaborative efforts of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, the Jefferson College of Health Sciences and the Batten Leadership Institute of Hollins University. A year-long Interprofessionalism Leadership course, that constitutes the first part of the Interprofessionalism domain that spans the four years of medical school at VTCSOM, was designed and implemented. The strategy for creating this course and subsequest alterations based on student feedback and faculty reflection are provided. The commentary provides experiential insight for other schools embarking on curricular revisions revolving around interprofessional healthcare education.
Capsule commentary on Larochelle et al., Reducing excess biomarker testing at an academic medical center.

Larochelle et al.1 test a multimodality intervention to prevent unnecessary use of CK and CK-MB testing and overuse of troponin testing in the diagnosis of cardiac chest pain. The authors modified the electronic medical record cardiac order set, removing the option for CK and CK-MB testing and promoting serial troponin ordering in adherence with established guidelines. In addition, the authors conducted informational sessions related to the above guidelines and distributed pocket cards for information reinforcement. The study, completed as an interrupted times series design, cited an absolute increase of guideline-concordant ordering of cardiac biomarkers of 38.4 % with an associated $1.25 million decrease in charges over the first year. This paper is an excellent example of how a “forced” intervention of EMR modifications can be combined with a weaker intervention based on educational sessions to create clinically meaningful and sustainable results through the use of quality improvement techniques and human factors engineering principles.2 In an era where healthcare spending is at an all-time high and with foreseeable significant reimbursement changes with the adoption of the Affordable Healthcare Act, healthcare institutions will need to continue to find ways to provide smarter care at a smaller price.3 The lessons from this article could easily be applied to countless other clinical scenarios such as inappropriate ordering of head CTs in the setting of mild trauma4 and inappropriate use of hepatocellular screening guidelines in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis,5 simply to name two. The authors successfully demonstrate how a low-cost multimodality intervention can provide exceptional cost savings without compromising clinical care. What is more, the cost savings cited likely are an underestimate given the implied cost savings of unnecessary additional testing such as cardiac stress tests and heart catheterizations. We should all take a cue from the authors to evaluate our daily clinical practices within our own institutions to improve the cost and quality of the care we deliver.
Hypervelocity impact of mixtures

Abstract The study of the behavior of mixtures during shock loading entails several special problems which are both physical and computational in nature. On the physical level, many mixtures of interest such as engineering composites and water-saturated geological materials have consitituents which are both soft and porus. Thus hypervelocity impact produces enormous heating. The distribution of this heating between the constituents of the mixture must be understood before accurate predictions of Hugoniot states and release paths can be achieved. On the computational level, numerical solutions within a wavecode framework require simultaneous solutions of an equation of state and conservation of energy equation for each constituent of the mixture. At present, to achieve these solutions a numerical subcycling scheme is required. In this paper these problems are discussed in detail. A formulation of the theory of mixtures will be presented which is both complex enough to encompass the essential physics of many problems and simple enough to be incorporated into many wave propagation codes. Results of calculations will be compared to impact and release experiments on a mixtures of water and powdered calcite.
Graph theory based model for learning path recommendation

Abstract Learning design, the activity of designing a learning path, can be a complex task, especially for learners. A learning design recommendation system would help self-learners find appropriate learning objects and build efficient learning paths during their learning journey. Educational Data Mining (EDM) has provided an impressive amount of novelties related to learning object recommendation systems. However, most of the solutions proposed thus far do not take into account eventual competency dependencies among learning objects and/or are not designed for large repositories of interdependent learning objects. We propose a model to build a learning design recommendation system based on graph theory. From this model, we propose, implement and test an approach using the concept of cliques to recommend learning paths.
α1-Antichymotrypsin activity correlates with and may modulate matrix metalloproteinase-9 in human acute wounds

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a central role in many physiologic processes including acute and the chronic wounds. MMP-9 is not routinely expressed in healthy tissues but is promptly expressed as a proenzyme and converted into active enzyme after tissue injury. The mechanisms involved, including the activators and inhibitors for this enzyme in human tissue remain largely obscure. We recently identified α1-antichymotrypsin (α1-ACT), an acute phase factor, as a potent inhibitor controlling activation of pro-MMP-9 by human skin. The aim of this study is to establish the clinical relevance of the inhibitor in cutaneous wound healing. Fluids from acute burn blisters and conditioned media from skin explants of burn patients were analyzed. We observed that the presence pro-MMP-9 and its activation correlated with the proximity to and degree of injury. Early after trauma, massive levels of wound α1-ACT were associated with an absence of pro-MMP-9 activation. Conversely, the active MMP-9 occurs simultaneously with inactivation of α1-ACT. Our results suggest a role for α1-ACT as a physiologic inhibitor of MMP-9 activation in human wound healing.
Plasmodium falciparum likely encodes the principal anion channel on infected human erythrocytes

Invasion by the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is associated with marked yet selective increases in red blood cell (RBC) membrane permeability. We previously identified an unusual voltage-dependent ion channel, the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC), which may account for these increases. Since then, controversy has arisen about whether there are additional parasite-induced anion channels on the RBC membrane and whether these channels are parasite-encoded proteins or the result of modifications of an endogenous host protein. Here, we used genetically divergent parasite isolates and quantitative transport measurements to examine these questions. Our studies indicate that PSAC alone can adequately account for the increased permeability of infected RBCs to key solutes. Two distinct parasite isolates, grown in RBCs from a single donor, exhibit channel activity with measurably different voltage-dependent gating, a finding difficult to reconcile with simple activation or modification of a host protein. Instead, this difference in channel gating can be conservatively explained by a small number of polymorphisms in a parasite gene that encodes PSAC. The absence of known eukaryotic ion channel homologues in the completed P falciparum genome suggests a novel channel gene, and substantiates PSAC as a target for antimalarial development.
Strategic determination of higher education subsidies and tuitions

Abstract Strategic interactions of subsidies and tuitions in public higher education are described in a differentiated-product setting where legislatures first determine subsidies and then governing boards of universities set tuition. When revenue of the university is important relative to students’ welfare in legislative preferences, commitment to the subsidy prior to the setting of tuition leads to a lower subsidy and a higher tuition than will occur if legislatures determine tuition. In response to an increase in the level of demand for education, there is a decrease in the subsidy and an increase in tuition, which is consistent with the US historical pattern.
Superfluid critical behavior in the presence of a dilute correlated impurity

Measurements of the superfluid density and heat capacity in porous aerogel glasses that are [ital completely] [ital filled] with liquid helium are presented as examples of critical behavior in the presence of a dilute correlated impurity. Longstanding doubts about the existence of critical behavior in [sup 4]He-filled porous media, brought about by the failure of all previous searches for a singularity in anything other than the superfluid density, are put to rest by the observation of a sharp heat-capacity singularity that is coincident with the superfluid transition. With the notable exception of the superfluid transition in pure helium itself, the superfluid transitions in [sup 4]He-filled aerogel are among the sharpest phase transitions ever seen. However, the critical exponents for the superfluid density and heat capacity are both markedly different from the corresponding exponents in pure helium. We conclude that the correlated disorder introduced by the aerogel glass drives this system away from the three-dimensional [ital XY] universality class to which pure helium belongs.
Prescribing Authority for Pharmacists, Florida Style: A Home Run or a Swing and a Miss?

2006 marked the 40th year of publication for The Annals. Throughout its history. The Annals has provided important contributions to the development of clinical pharmacy. In 2007, we are continuing to publish articles reflecting on the history of clinical pharmacy through the eyes of practitioners, including those pioneering clinical pharmacy, as well as those who have more recently entered the profession and a well-established specialty. In addition, we are presenting articles and editorials from the early history of The Annals that have given direction and shape to the practice of clinical pharmacy (see page 1887).
Monitoring for vowels in isolation and in a consonantal context.

The identifiability of isolated vowels (/V/) was compared to that of vowels in consonantal context (/pVp/) when subjects performed a monitoring task. On successive blocks of trials in a test series, the subjects listened for instances of one or another of nine monophthongal vowels (/i,I,q,1,v,a,c,U,u/) and identified each test item as being an instance or not. On average, resulting false alarm errors occurred significantly less often in the /pVp/ condition, consistent with the previous finding that vowel perception may be aided by consonantal context. This beneficial effect of context was found to be restricted to the class of open vowels, however, with perception of the close vowels being somewhat hindered by context. The error data for misses also showed an interaction between context and vowel height. Various accounts of the interaction are considered.
Nonidentical and outlier duty cycles as factors accelerating UHMWPE wear in THA : A finite element exploration

Wear rate and wear direction vary considerably within total hip arthroplasty (THA) patient cohorts. Third body effects and wide-ranging differences in patient activity levels are two factors suspected of contributing to wear variability. A sliding-distance-coupled contact finite element formulation was used to test the hypothesis that nonidentical duty cycles (differing activities, or change of third body challenge) produce accelerations in polyethylene wear. Effects of nonidentical duty cycles, time-variant femoral head roughening, and outlier gait inputs were investigated. Without femoral head roughening, combination walk/stair-climb wear simulations did not result in appreciably higher volumetric wear than a walk-only simulation, but when a roughened zone was included, walk/stair-climb volumetric wear increased by approximately 57% above that of a similarly roughened walk-only simulation. To investigate time-variant femoral head roughening, wear simulations were begun with femoral head roughening at one location on the femoral head, switching to another location halfway through the simulation. Results varied depending on roughening sites, but cases of substantial increase in wear involved a transient jump in wear rate shortly after the change of head roughening location. Outlier duty cycles were simulated by increasing or decreasing the joint contact force and range of motion inputs, to levels at the 97.5th and 2.5th percentiles of a population of normal subjects. The resulting wear showed an increase or decrease closely proportional to the percentage by which each input (force or range of motion) was changed.
Broadband matching of multi-port networks terminated in frequency-dependent loads

This paper extends the problem of double-port matching of two frequencydependent non-Foster positive real impedances to that of multi-port matching. Givenn non-Foster positive real impedances and the preassigned transducer power-gain characteristics, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a lossless, reciprocaln-port equalizer terminated in these impedances at the ports satisfying the prescribed transducer power-gain characteristics.
Reactions of Gases with Irradiated Organic Solids: II. Reactions of Propionanmide, n-Butyramide, Isobutyramide, and Stearamide With Oxygen and Nitric Oxide

Abstract When organic solids are subjected to ionizing radiation free radicals which often persist for long periods of time are generated. It is shown here that the free radicals in irradiated crystalline propionamide, n-butyramide, isobutyramide, and stearamide can react rapidly with oxygen, nitric oxide, and similar gases. Evidence has been obtained from electron spin resonance, X-ray diffraction, gas absorption, and end-product analysis that the gases diffuse into the crystalline lattice of the amides reaching the radical sites and initiating chain reactions which are influenced by the diffusion rate. The layer type crystal structure which is found in these compounds is important in understanding these effects. With oxygen, the first step in the reaction is the formation of peroxy radicals. The reaction is then propagated by a hydrogen abstraction mechanism with the formation of hydroperoxides and ketoamides. With nitric oxide the picture is less clear. There is evidence from ESR spectra for the format...
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. A clinicopathologic study of a previously unrecognized composite variant

Six cases are reported of a previously undescribed unusual composite variant of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma that is not readily classifiable by either the Rappaport or the Lukes and Collins classifications, or by the recently proposed Working Formulation. These cases are characterized by a partly nodular, partly diffuse proliferation of lymphoid cells surrounded by a separate, zonally distinct proliferation of large plasmacytoid cells. The latter cells are located in medullary and paracortical areas in lymph nodes and in the marginal zone of the white pulp and in the red pulp in the spleen. This distinct zonal characteristic was noted in the small bowel as well in one case. Five of our six patients were male, and their ages ranged from 46 to 68 years. Three had a monoclonal serum IgM and one had hyperglobulinemia that was not further characterized. Three had evidence of an altered immune state. In all cases, monoclonal IgM was demonstrated in involved tissues by an immunoperoxidase technique. These cases are unusual because of the unique topographic segregation of the varying types of tumor cells in all cases, and because of the association of paraproteinemia with nodular lymphoma in three. The resemblance of this tumor to the plasma cell variant of giant lymph node hyperplasia with which two cases were originally confused, and to lymph nodes in patients with autoimmune diseases, may be responsible for its lack of recognition. Cancer 53:1103-1108, 1984.
Geothermal waste treatment biotechnology

Studies at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) have led to the development of a technically and economically feasible, as well as environmentally acceptable, biochemical process for detoxification of geothermal residues. For this process, selected microorganisms that live in extreme environments have served as models for the new biotechnology. Assuming a 2,500-kg / h sludge production rate, the new technology is capable of a better than 80% removal rate of toxic metals, usually in less than a 25-hour period. The process itself depends on a number of flexible parameters, allowing this technology to be tailored to specific needs of different geothermal producing regimes, such as those found in the Salton Sea and the Geysers area of California. Thus geothermal residual sludges and brines can be processed to remove only a few metals, such as arsenic and mercury, or many metals, ranging from valuable metals such as chromium, gold, and silver to radionuclides, such as radium. In some cases, combined metal removal and metal recovery processes may be cost efficient and therefore advantageous. The emerging biotechnology for the treatment of geothermal energy production wastes is versatile and offers a number of application options, which are discussed in the paper.
Dual-band, dual-circularly polarised antenna element

A dual-band element that operates with dual-circular polarisation in two separate industrial, scientific and medical bands is presented. The design that is based on concentric square slot/shorted-ring configuration is realisable in cost-effective printed circuit board technology making it attractive for low-cost personal communications devices. The antenna element provides a flexible topology that allows for convenient, independent control of the polarisation and impedance bandwidth of two distinct frequency bands with no fundamental limitation on the ratio between the high- and low-band frequency ranges. The topology of this element is presented, and the antenna concept is validated via simulated and measured results.
Interfacial friction and adhesion of cross-linked polymer thin films swollen with linear chains.

The preparation and interfacial properties of a new type of tethered, thin-film lubricant coating are presented. These coatings are composed of three components: a dense self-assembled monolayer (SAM) underlayer that presents reactive vinyl groups at its surface; a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) overlayer that is covalently tethered to the SAM; and free, mobile linear PDMS chains dispersed in the network. We investigate the influence of the molecular weight (Ms) and concentration of the free PDMS chains on the structure and equilibrium swelling properties of the cross-linked films. Using a bead-probe lateral force microscopy measurement technique, we also quantify the interfacial friction and adhesion characteristics of surfaces functionalized with these coatings. We find that both the volume fraction and the molecular weight of free PDMS molecules in the coatings influence their interfacial friction and adhesion properties. For example, the addition of short PDMS chains in dry, cross-linked PD...
Radioimmunologic Assessment of the Level of Circulating LH Antibodies After Passive Immunization in the Rat: Relation to the Level of LH Secretion1

A double antibody radioimmunologic technique was used to estimate circulating levels of “free” LH antibodies (Ab) (i.e., Ab available for binding to radioiodinated rat LH in vitro) after a single injection of an equine antiserum to bovine LH (LH-AS) into cyclic (diestrus-1), early pregnant (d 6 or d 8), short-term (1 d) or long-term (12 d) ovariectomized, or 8-d hypophysectomized female rats. In both cyclic and pregnant rats given 0.5 ml LH-AS sc the blood Ab levels peaked 1 to 2 days after injection and then decreased exponentially (half-time: 14.6-17.0 h) and equally; vaginal estrus also appeared in the cyclic and in the aborting pregnant rats on the 6th day, and ovulation on the 7th day after LH-AS treatment, when the blood levels had fallen to very low values. The rate of exponential decrease in blood Ab levels was not affected by other routes of administration (iv or ip) of LH-AS, or by SC doses of 1.0 or 0.25 ml, although the peak levels and their duration were related to dose and route of administr...
Pinning of dynamic spin-density-wave fluctuations in cuprate superconductors

We present a theory of the pinning of dynamic spin-density-wave (SDW) fluctuations in a d-wave superconductor by local imperfections that preserve spin-rotation invariance, such as impurities or vortex cores. The pinning leads to static spatial modulations in spin-singlet observables, while the SDW correlations remain dynamic: these are the ``Friedel oscillations'' of a spin-gap antiferromagnet. We connect the spectrum of these modulations as observed by scanning tunnelling microscopy to the dynamic spin structure factor measured by inelastic neutron scattering.
Inhibition of Cell-Free Splicing by Saccharides That Bind Galectins and SR Proteins

The carbohydrate-binding proteins galectin-1 and galectin-3 are found in the nucleus of cells. Using a cell-free assay, depletion and reconstitution experiments have documented that these two proteins are required factors in pre-mRNA splicing. Thiodigalactoside, which binds to both galectins, inhibited the splicing reaction, whereas cellobiose, which binds neither protein, failed to yield the same effect. Although L-rhamnose does not bind to either galectin-1 or galectin-3, it does inhibit the cell-free splicing assay. The effect of rhamnose is best explained by its strong binding to Sfrs1, one member of another family of nuclear splicing factors (the SR proteins) that exhibit carbohydrate-binding activity.