cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A meta-analysis of studies of publication misrepresentation by applicants to residency and fellowship programs.

Purpose Many studies from various fields of medicine about the accuracy of residency and fellowship applications have reported disturbing percentages of candidates with publication misrepresentation on their applications. However, other similar studies have found much lower percentages. No evaluation of these types of studies is currently available to explain this disparity. Therefore, this study evaluated the wide range of percentages of applicants with publication misrepresentation reported in the literature. Method Studies of residency and fellowship applicant misrepresentation were identified and reviewed. Using uniform inclusion criteria, the data reported by each study were recalculated to determine the percentage of candidates with misrepresentation. Results Thirteen out of 18 studies (eight residency and five fellowship) found in the literature from 1995 to 2008 reported sufficient details to perform a recalculation. The most common type of misrepresentation reported was listing nonexistent articles, followed by errors in authorship order and nonauthorship. After recalculation, the mean percentage of candidates with misrepresentation per applicant pool decreased significantly (7.2% to 4.9%, P = .03048). No study characteristic, such as sample size, was found to be predictive of the percentage of applicants with misrepresentation. No difference was found in the percentage of applicants with misrepresentation in residency versus fellowship programs. Conclusions The variance in study results of misrepresentation decreases when uniform inclusion criteria are applied. Caution must be used in directly comparing the results of these studies as originally reported. Program directors should be aware that self-promotion in the authorship list is a common form of misrepresentation.
Comparative Study of the IEEE 34 Node Test Feeder under Practical Simplifications

The IEEE 34 node distribution test feeder incorporates all possible practical configurations and load profiles, such as three phase asymmetry, single phase laterals and distributed loads, among others. Simplifying assumptions leading to the balanced three phase main feeder and spot loads are common in the papers published in the literature on distribution system planning and operation. The purpose of this paper is to compare the results obtained using such simplifications with exact results given in the IEEE node test feeder data. Typical simplifying scenarios are assumed and the resulting balanced system analyzed. Comparison of voltage profiles and system losses validates the use of simplified balanced three phase system in the determination of equipment sizing, location and control parameters.
Zeros of the derivatives of the Riemann zeta function on Res<1/2

Abstract The Riemann hypothesis is equivalent to nonvanishing of ζ ′ ( s ) in the strip 0 Re s 1 / 2 and Levinson and Montgomery proved that the number of zeros of ζ ′ ( s ) in the region Re s σ , T Im s 2 T is less than T 1 + ( σ − 1 / 2 ) / 4 w ( T ) 2 log T for σ ⩽ 1 / 2 − w ( T ) / log T , where the function w ( T ) satisfies w ( T ) → ∞ as T → ∞ . In this paper, we generalize it to the higher derivatives ζ ( k ) ( s ) ( k > 1 ).
Isolation and manipulation of rostral mesencephalic tegmental progenitor cells from rat

Abstract A technique for isolating mitotic progenitor cells from the embryonic rostral mesencephalon is described. Culture of the progenitor cells in complete media with subsequent staining for neuron specific enolase (NSE) revealed that only 0.6% of the cells were NSE immunoreactive. Coculturing the progenitor cells with established striatal cultures did not result in conversion of any of the cells to the dopamine neuron phenotype (tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (THir) neurons). In contrast, co-culture of progenitor cells with established mesencephalic cultures produced a statistically significant, and in some cases (three of twelve), dramatic increase in the number of THir cells. The THir cells that were present had more pronounced process extension than those observed in mesencephalic mono-cultures. Culturing progenitor cells in transwell baskets that were continuously exposed to media but physically separated from established mesencephalic cultures growing underneath the baskets led to the conversion of only a few progenitor cells to THir neurons in four of twelve transwell studies suggesting that cell-cell contact between progenitor cells and mesencephalic cells is required for the conversion. This co-culture technique also increased the number of THir neurons in the mesencephalic cultures although the increase was not profound enough to explain the increase observed in traditional co-culture. These data suggest that mitotic progenitor cells can be isolated from fetal rat tissue and successfully converted to the dopamine neuron phenotype. Progenitormesencephalic co-culture appears to increase the number of THir cells in both tissue sources mediated in part by soluble factor(s) although cell-cell contact and presumably extracellular matrix proteins play a more substantial role. These progenitor cells may prove useful as a tissue source for transplantation procedures in Parkinson's disease.
The Domino Theory of steam gasification of spent shale

Abstract This Paper reports a study of the chemistry which occurs during the steam gasification of spent (i.e. retorted) Green River oil shale. The results suggest that in the presence of steam there is an unusual and strong coupling between the decomposition of the inorganic carbonates, the gasification of organic carbon by steam, and the removal of nitrogen from the shale.
An Examination of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale with a Sample of Academically Talented Children

The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS; Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990) was constructed and normed on an all-female college student sample. The present study is a psychometric examination of the instrument for use with a mixed-gender sample of 855 academically talented children who were participating in the longitudinal Developmental Study of Talented Youth conducted by the Center for Talented Youth of Johns Hopkins University. The internal consistency of the MPS total score was .87; coefficient alphas for the subscales ranged from .67 to .90. The matrix of intercorrelations of MPS subscales was consistent with that obtained with the college sample used to develop the instrument. A confirmatory item factor analysis demonstrated an acceptable degree of fit. A factor analysis of raw scores on the MPS subscales yielded two factors. The first factor appears to represent dysfunctional perfectionism, the second factor reflects healthy perfectionism. The scores on these factors were correlated ...
Sensitivity and specificity in silicone breast models.

To the Editor.— The use of silicone breast models, 1 the better to train physicians in the detection of breast lumps, is well meaning but of uncertain value in clinical care. However, this letter is intended to point out that certain techniques will actually make early detection of breast cancers less effective. The problem with currently available models is that they place "tumors" in a uniform matrix designed to simulate the normal breast. The ability to detect lesions of varying size, depth, and consistency in such a model is irrelevant, and the fact that fingertips (as opposed to pads) proved to be more effective in the present study illustrates this point. Successful breast examination requires a method that will not only emphasize abnormal masses but will also tend to subtract the multiple and variable masses that make up the normal breast. For that reason experienced examiners have always used finger
Generalized method of moments specification testing

Abstract This paper analyzes the asymptotic power properties of specification tests which are based on a finite set of moment conditions. It shows that any such test may fail against general misspecification that causes estimator inconsistency. The mutual asymptotic equivalence of maximal degree of freedom tests is shown and the form of optimal tests against specific forms of misspecification is derived. Applications to testing for exogeneity of a set of instrumental variables are presented.
Endogenous indoles as novel polyamine site ligands at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex

High-throughput ligand displacement screens of a series of endogenous indoles revealed that tryptamine, serotonin and 5-methoxytryptamine readily displace [3H]spermidine and [3H]MK-801 from their respective binding sites in rat brain homogenate. These data, coupled with their potent inhibition of spermidine-potentiated [3H]MK-801 binding, suggest that certain endogenous indoles may act as ligands to one or more polyamine binding sites in the brain, including those on the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor complex.
Competition with licensed shared spectrum

This paper considers sharing wireless spectrum via licensed secondary access in which a single firm has an exclusive license for secondary use of a spectrum band. Building on previous work modeling competition among wireless service providers, we study competition between primary and secondary firms with this type of sharing, and characterize its impact on social welfare, consumer welfare and firm profits.
On computational differentiation

Numerical derivatives play an important role in many computations. In many applications, the cost associated with evaluation of numerical derivatives may be significant. Dramatic improvements in the speed of such calculations can be obtained through careful consideration of how these derivatives are computed. This paper reviews several ways in which numerical derivatives can be evaluated: hand-coding, finite difference approximations, reverse polish notation evaluation, symbolic differentiation, and automatic differentiation. It is concluded that automatic differentiation has significant advantages over all other approaches. Several ways of improving the efficiency of obtaining derivatives in an interpretive, symbolic environment are discussed. Example problems are compared to illustrate these improvements.
From genome to phenotype: Modeling the interaction of physical and chemical signals in plant meristems

Presdential symposium Program/Abstract # 2 From genome to phenotype: Modeling the interaction of physical and chemical signals in plant meristems Elliot M. Meyerowitz Division of Biology 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA To develop a predictive theory of development – how to get from genome to phenotype – my laboratory and others have been developing Computational Morphodynamics — the use of live imaging and computational models to capture and model the causal mechanisms of development at the cellular and tissue level. By live image analysis of shoot apical meristems, the stem cell populations in flowering plants for all above-ground tissues, we have found that chemical and physical signals interact to lead to pattern. Chemical signals in the shoot meristem include secretion of signaling peptides that are ligands for receptor kinases, diffusion of small molecules such as cytokinins, and regulated transport of other small molecules, auxins. Physical signals are less understood, but recent work makes it clear that meristem cells reorganize their cytoskeletons parallel to maximal stress, and that stress-aligned microtubules determine the anisotropic properties of cell walls – which in turn alter stress patterns. Both processes are important for morphogenesis at the shoot apex and have multiple feedback loops, thus leading to the need for explicit mathematical models. The processes interact in producing the phyllotactic pattern, the spiral pattern of leaves and flowers around the stem. Computational models of phyllotaxis and primordial growth at the shoot apex show how local interactions of cells lead to complex global patterns, and have led to predictive and tested models for several aspects of plant growth and development. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.006 Developmental Biology 331 (2009) 384
Speech perception and speech production as indicators of reading difficulty

In order to investigate the relation between reading accuracy and speech processing, 20 children from grades 2 and 3 who were skilled in reading were compared with 20 less skilled readers on a speech perception and production task. The two groups of readers were indistinguishable in their production of the two-syllable words dippy, deepy, tippy, and teepy and in their perception of the stop consonants /d/ versus /t/. Less skilled readers were significantly less accurate than the skilled readers in a vowel identification task involving the lax and tense high vowels /i/ and /i/. The error pattern for vowel identification was similar across groups, with both groups making fewer errors when short and longer segments were alternated. The results imply that vowel phonemes are less securely represented in the perceptual system of less skilled readers than are consonant phonemes. In addition, the results raise the possibility that a selective perceptual impairment underlies at least some of the phonemic awareness problems that have been associated with poor reading.
Survival of mycobacteria on N95 personal respirators.

Objectives The overall aim of this study was to investigate the survival and possible growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis simulant bacteria on respirator filters. Methods Mycobacterium smegmatis was used as a biochemical simulant for M tuberculosis. Bacterial survival was tested on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-certified N95 respirators from three manufacturers. The first experiments simulated one-time respirator use and subsequent storage for 1 to 9 days under ideal conditions for the growth of mycobacteria: 37 degrees C and 85% relative humidity. The bacteria were loaded on the respirator filters under three different nutritional conditions: in the absence of nutrients; in the presence of human saliva (simulating conditions when the respirator is worn); and in the presence of nutrient broth (for ideal growth potential). The subsequent experiments simulated respirator wear for 2 hours under medium work-load conditions at a breathing rate of 56 L/min. Results It was found that M smegmatis did not grow on the tested respirators, even when the respirators were stored at temperature, humidity, and nutrition conditions most favorable for microbial growth. However, these bacteria could survive on respirators for up to 3 days during storage. The culturability of M smegmatis was not affected by airflow that simulated the breathing rate associated with medium work-load conditions for 2 hours. Conclusions This study shows that M tuberculosis surrogate bacteria collected on a respirator are not able to grow and are able to survive only in ideal (ie, not clinically relevant) conditions. Based on these experiments, we conclude that M tuberculosis is unlikely ever to become an infectious problem in the air again, once it is removed by a respirator.
Pharmacological blockade of the aromatase enzyme, but not the androgen receptor, reverses androstenedione-induced cognitive impairments in young surgically menopausal rats.

Abstract Androstenedione, the main circulating ovarian hormone present after menopause, has been shown to positively correlate with poor spatial memory in an ovary-intact rodent model of follicular depletion, and to impair spatial memory when administered exogenously to surgically menopausal ovariectomized rats. Androstenedione can be converted directly to estrone via the aromatase enzyme, or to testosterone. The current study investigated the hormonal mechanism underlying androstenedione-induced cognitive impairments. Young adult ovariectomized rats were given either androstenedione, androstenedione plus the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole to block conversion to estrone, androstenedione plus the androgen receptor blocker flutamide to block androgen receptor activity, or vehicle treatment, and were then administered a battery of learning and memory maze tasks. Since we have previously shown that estrone administration to ovariectomized rats impaired cognition, we hypothesized that androstenedione’s conversion to estrone underlies, in part, its negative cognitive impact. Here, androstenedione administration impaired spatial reference and working memory. Further, androstenedione did not induce memory deficits when co-administered with the aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, whereas pharmacological blockade of the androgen receptor failed to block the cognitive impairing effects of androstenedione. Anastrozole alone did not impact performance on any cognitive measure. The current data support the tenet that androstenedione impairs memory through its conversion to estrone, rather than via actions on the androgen receptor. Studying the effects of aromatase and estrogen metabolism is critical to elucidating how hormones impact women’s health across the lifespan, and results hold important implications for understanding and optimizing the hormone milieu from the many endogenous and exogenous hormone exposures across the lifetime.
Correlation between the energy shell structure and geometry in metallic nanoclusters: Quasiresonance states, isotope effect

Metallic nanoclusters displaying electronic shell structure exhibit the special feature of a correlation between their geometry and the number of delocalized electrons. Their shape evolution can be described as a quantum oscillation between quasiresonant states (prolate and oblate configurations) whose amplitudes depend on the degree of shell filling. The picture explains the evolution of absorption spectra and predicts a peculiar isotope effect.
Distinct nigrostriatal projection systems innervate striosomes and matrix in the primate striatum

Mesostriatal projections were labeled in 11 squirrel monkeys by injecting the anterograde tracer, [35S]methionine, into different parts of the dopamine-containing A8-A9-A10 cell complex of the midbrain. Two strikingly different compartmental patterns of mesostriatal projection were found. Fields of dense labeling in both the caudate nucleus and the putamen, interrupted by pockets of sparse labeling, were observed with deposits involving cell group A8, cell group A10 and/or the dorsally situated 'pars mixta' of the substantia nigra. Where striosomes could be identified as such in adjoining histochemically stained sections, the sparsely labeled zones were aligned with them. By contrast, a pattern of focally dense labeling in the caudate nucleus and putamen, with much weaker labeling surrounding the densely labeled zones, was found with injection sites centered in the horizontal band and associated ventrally extending fingers of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Many of the pockets of heightened labeling could be shown to correspond to histochemically defined striosomes. These compartmental patterns were identified both in the caudate nucleus and in the putamen. We conclude that the A8-A9-A10 cell complex of the primate contains spatially distinct subdivisions with preferential projections directed, respectively, toward the striosome and matrix compartments of the striatum.
A Decade in Perspective 1975–84: Focus and Trends in the Journal of Consumer Affairs

An analysis of research articles published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs for the issues published from 1975 (1) through 1984 (2) reveals a marked increase over time in the number of papers focusing on policy issues and a marked decrease over time on articles focusing on the consumer movement and consumer education. The largest number of authors during this period were from the University of California-Davis. Forty-four percent of all authors were from business and economics subject areas, and 26 percent were from home economics. Assistant Professors had the highest publishing rate. Papers were found to be equally divided between land grant and nonland grant institutions with the majority being of single or dual authorship. It is concluded that the Journal of Consumer Affairs is meeting its stated editorial policy.
Cantor Julia sets in a family of even elliptic functions

In this paper, we investigate topological properties of the Julia set of a family of even elliptic functions on real rectangular lattices. These functions have two real critical points and, depending on the shape of the lattice, one or two non-real critical points. We prove that if 0 is the only real fixed point then the Julia set is Cantor. We show that functions with Cantor Julia sets exist within every equivalence class of real rectangular lattices, and we generally locate the parameters giving rise to these Julia sets in the parameter plane representing real lattices.
Media Literacy and the Policymaking Process: A Framework for Understanding Influences on Potential Educational Policy Outputs.

This article examines some of the key public policy implications of the media literacy movement using
Mouse strain determines cardiac growth potential

Rationale The extent of heart disease varies from person to person, suggesting that genetic background is important in pathology. Genetic background is also important when selecting appropriate mouse models to study heart disease. This study examines heart growth as a function of strain, specifically C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mouse strains. Objective In this study, we test the hypothesis that two strains of mice, C57BL/6 and DBA/2, will produce varying degrees of heart growth in both physiological and pathological settings. Methods and Results Differences in heart dimensions are detectable by echocardiography at 8 weeks of age. Percentages of cardiac progenitor cells (c-kit+ cells) and mononucleated cells were found to be in a higher percentage in DBA/2 mice, and more tri- and quad-nucleated cells were in C57BL/6 mice. Cardiomyocyte turnover shows no significant changes in mitotic activity, however, there is more apoptotic activity in DBA/2 mice. Cardiomyocyte cell size increased with age, but increased more in DBA/2 mice, although percentages of nucleated cells remained the same in both strains. Two-week isoproterenol stimulation showed an increase in heart growth in DBA/2 mice, both at cardiomyocyte and whole heart level. In isoproterenol-treated DBA/2 mice, there was also a greater expression level of the hypertrophy marker, ANF, compared to C57BL/6 mice. Conclusion We conclude that the DBA/2 mouse strain has a more immature cardiac phenotype, which correlates to a cardiac protective response to hypertrophy in both physiological and pathological stimulations.
The importance of temperature on the neurovascular unit

Abstract Therapeutic hypothermia is the only treatment that has been shown to be of benefit to infant's ≥ 36 weeks of gestation with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. The evidence for the benefit is based on multiple, well-designed randomized clinical trials. Based on this data, the use of therapeutic hypothermia has been widely disseminated throughout the neonatal community. An important concept in hypoxic–ischemic brain injury is the functioning of the neurovascular unit which links neurons, non-neuronal cellular elements and the capillary endothelial cells to promote optimal barrier maintenance between the brain and systemic circulation, regulation of blood flow and neuro-immunologic functioning. Hypoxic–ischemic injury can trigger increased permeability of the blood‐brain-barrier via molecular events within the neurovascular unit and initiate pathways to brain injury. In addition, exposure of the brain to cellular elements from the systemic circulation can further propagate the neuro-inflammatory response. The influence of temperature on injury to the neurovascular unit has received relatively little attention. This review will focus on one component of the neurovascular unit, the blood‐brain barrier and its constituents. Specifically, this review will address the effects of hypoxia–ischemia and temperature on the neurovascular unit and potential knowledge gaps which may serve as areas for further investigation.
A formal definition for translating XML documents to the entity relationship model

In this paper we propose to conceptually model XML data and documents to the ER model. We present a set of rules for converting XML documents and their data to the ER model. This conceptual view of the XML data can then be easily translated to the relational model, which will then open the way for the development of applications that exploit well known reliable relational technologies to manage and manipulate large collections of XML documents and data travelling through the web.
Foodplant preferences of Pieris caterpillars (Lepidoptera)

Larvae of five Nearctic Pieris butterflies accept a wide range of native and naturalized crucifers under laboratory test conditions. Preferences among crucifers are usually statistical rather than absolute. Caterpillars do not necessarily reject plants that do not support larval growth in favor of those that do. Preferences are not significantly altered by larval development or prior experience with specific foodplant species. Progeny of different females do not exhibit significantly different preferences. Retention of behavioral flexibility by Pieris may enable older larvae to exploit alternative resources not suitable for young larvae.
Dynamic response of liquid curtains to time-dependent pressure fluctuations

Abstract A domain-adaptive finite difference method is used to study the dynamic response of incompressible, isothermal, inviscid liquid curtains that are subject to imposed pressure fluctuations. The domain-adaptive method involves a mapping that transforms the time-dependent physical domain into a fixed computational domain and requires that the unknown location of the downstream boundary of the physical domain be determined by means of an ordinary differential equation that ensures global mass conservation. An iterative block-implicit method has been used to solve the finite difference equations, and calculations are presented to illustrate the effects of the Froude number, convergence parameter, nozzle exit angle, amplitude and frequency of the imposed pressure fluctuations, and nozzle exit thickness-to-radius ratio on the liquid curtain convergence length. It is shown that the amplitude of the convergence length oscillations decreases as the Froude number, convergence parameter, frequency of the imposed pressure oscillations, and nozzle exit thickness-to-radius ratio are increased and increases as the nozzle exit angle and amplitude of the imposed pressure fluctuations are increased. The frequency of the convergence length oscillations is only a function of the Froude number and frequency of the imposed pressure fluctuations. It is also shown that the critical value of the pressure coefficient determined from analytical solutions of the steady-state equations can be exceeded without affecting the stability and convergence of the liquid curtain if the frequency of the imposed pressure oscillations is sufficiently high.
Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment: Structure of Mars' upper atmosphere

Mariner 9 observations of the limb intensity profile of the CO Cameron bands in the Martian airglow demonstrate the validity of a postulated relationship between the equivalent subsolar zenith intensity and the 10.7-cm solar radio flux. Comparison of averaged limb intensities of the CO2+ doublet and the Cameron bands on four favorable occasions is consistent with the intensities being directly proportional in a ratio of 0.24 to 1.
Two Crystal Forms of the Extracellular Domain of Type I Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor

Abstract The soluble extracellular domain of human type I tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFrI) is a 161 residue polypeptide found in scrum and urine. This domain tightly binds tumor necrosis factors (TNF) α and β and, as part of the whole receptor, initiates the powerful biological effects of TNF. The extracellular domain, typical of other TNF receptor superfamily members, comprises four cysteine-rich motifs. We have obtained two crystal forms of the sTNFrI. One crystal form is grown at pH 3·7 with MgSO 4 as the precipitant. These crystals are orthorhombic, space group P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , with cell dimensions a = 78·5 A, b = 85·5 A and c = 67·5 A. A data set to 2·0 resolution has been collected for these crystals. Tetragonal crystals, space group P 4 1 2 1 2 (or P 4 3 2 1 2), with unit cell dimensions a = 69·0 A and c = 185·5 A are obtained using methylpentanediol as precipitant at pH 8·5. Data to 2·8 A have been measured from these crystals. It appears that both unit cells may contain two molecules in the asymmetric unit. These crystal structures of sTNFrI may reveal possible conformational differences between receptor localized on the cell surface (high pH), the receptor in the endosomal compartments (low pII) and the receptor in a complex with tumor necrosis factor β. An accurate structure of the receptor and an understanding of its mechanism will provide a basis for rational drug design.
From Abl to actin: Abl tyrosine kinase and associated proteins in growth cone motility

The Abl tyrosine kinase plays an important role in axonogenesis. Recent reports indicate that this role involves interaction with several different protein families, including LAR phosphatases, catenin/cadherin cell adhesion complexes, Trio family GEFs, and Ena/VASP family actin regulatory proteins. These findings suggest that Abl and its associated proteins may regulate cell adhesion and actin polymerization, thereby regulating growth cone motility during axonogenesis.
Bringing High-Performance Reconfigurable Computing to Exact Computations

Numerical non-robustness is a recurring phenomenon in scientific computing. It is primarily caused by numerical errors arising because of fixed-precision arithmetic in integer and/or floating-point computations. Exact computation, based on arbitrary-precision arithmetic, has been developed over the last decade as an emerging numerical computation paradigm in response to this problem of numerical non-robustness. Exact arithmetic, specifically arbitrary-precision arithmetic, has been traditionally implemented using efficient software libraries such as GNU multi-precision (GMP). However, this results in a slower arithmetic performance when compared to fixed-precision arithmetic. In this paper we present a first effort, to the best of our knowledge, of reconfigurable hardware support for arbitrary-precision arithmetic. The proposed hardware architectures are based on virtual convolution scheduling which is derived from a formal representation of the problem. Targeting high performance and efficiency, dynamic (non-linear) pipelines techniques were exploited to eliminate the effects of deeply-pipelined operators. Referenced to GMP, our experiments showed promising results.
Isolated islets of Langerhans have slow oscillations of electrical activity.

Abstract Glucose-induced membrane electrical activity was recorded from single isolated mouse islets of Langerhans exposed to steady levels or to step changes of glucose concentration. Superimposed on the well-known rapid (approximately 15-second period) alternations in membrane potential, slow oscillations in the intensity of the electrical activity were observed having a period of 4.6 ± 0.2 minute (mean ± SEM, n = 19 islets) and a range of 3.0–6.2 minutes. The largest observed amplitude of oscillation was nearly 50% of the mean intensity. In 62 consecutive recordings from different islets, eleven (18%) islets oscillated steadily after 10 minutes of constant bath conditions while an additional eight islets (13%) oscillated only transiently following abrupt changes of islet stimulation. The oscillations, when triggered by changes of islet stimulation, appeared to be a “ringing” of the biphasic kinetics previously described for both electrical activity and insulin release. Since glucose-induced electrical activity is known to be well correlated with insulin secretory rate, these observations suggest that single isolated mouse islets may also display periodic insulin secretion.
Nature of the carbonyl groups in polyvinyl alcohol

Measurements of the viscosity of polyvinyl alcohol solutions may be correlated with the chemical nature of the polymer. In particular it is shown that polyvinyl alcohol contains carbonyl groups in the polymer chain, which are to some extent present as ketols. The presence of these keto groups has been demonstrated by a combination of spectrophotometric and chemical techniques. The carbonyl groups appear to be randomly distributed along the polymer chain and also seem to be independent of chain length. The presence of keto groups along the chain allows an explanation for the behavior of aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solutions with acid or alkali.
Angiotensin stimulates cortisol biosynthesis in human adrenal cells in vitro.

Abstract Adrenal glands obtained from patients undergoing therapeutic adrenalectomy were used to study the effects of angiotensin on human adrenal steroidogenesis. It was observed that angiotensin stimulated cortisol biosynthesis. Although this has been demonstrated to occur in canine and bovine adrenals, angiotensin-induced cortisol biosynthesis has not been established in man. The possibility that angiotensin merely stimulated glomerulosa cells to secrete precursor steroids which accumulated in the medium and then diffused into fasciculata cells to provide substrate for cortisol biosynthesis was excluded by demonstrating that 3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (pregnenolone) and progesterone (the only pertinent precursors) did not accumulate in angiotensinstimulated cell suspensions. In addition, angiotensin stimulated cortisol biosynthesis in a fasciculata cell suspension in which angiotensin did not stimulate aldosterone production. Therefore, in human adrenal cell suspensions angiotensin appeared to act directly to stimulate cortisol synthesis by fasciculata cells. In normal subjects pre-treated with dexamethasone, angiotensin infusions failed to stimulate an increase in plasma cortisol. The physiological importance of angiotensin as a regulator of cortisol secretion remains, therefore, to be established.
Desorption of dimethylformamide from Zn4O(C8H4O4)3 framework

Abstract Both dimethylformamide (DMF) and diethylformamide (DEF) are important solvents for the synthesis of Zn4O(C8H4O4)3 framework (MOF-5). It is generally recognized that DMF molecules can be completely displaced by CH2Cl2 during the synthesis of MOF-5. Herein, however, it was found that the DMF molecules inside the pores of the MOF-5 framework cannot be displaced by CH2Cl2. The desorption of the DMF molecules from the pores, which requires a temperature of 100 °C or above, is the first order with activation energy of 56.38 kJ/mol. In contrast, DEF molecules can be completely displaced by CH2Cl2 during the synthesis of MOF-5, because DEF molecules cannot penetrate into the pores of the MOF-5 paste.
The effect of porphyrin structure on binding to human serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy

The efficacy of porphyrin binding to human serum albumin (HSA) is critical to clinical use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Several porphyrins were utilized to measure the effect of porphyrin structure on its binding to HSA. Two categories of porphyrins were utilized: porphyrins with a hydrophobic and hydrophilic side: Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), Protoporphyrin IX dimethylester (PPIXDE), and Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and porphyrins with hydrophilic substituents on both sides: Hematoporphyrin IX (Hme), Hematoporphyrin IX dimethylester (HmeDE), and Deuteroporphyrin IX dimethylester (DPIXEG). The following methods were used for the analysis: Stern–Volmer quenching, fluorescence lifetimes, anisotropy, fluorescence binding, and homogeneous studies. The results indicate that PPIX, PPIXDE, and Ce6 bind to HSA efficiently, evidence that porphyrins bind strongly to HSA if they have a hydrophobic and hydrophilic side. Hme is thought to bind to HSA but likely to a lesser degree than the aforementioned three porphyrins. HmeDE and DPIXEG seem not to bind to HSA probably due to the lack of hydrophobic substituents.
Comparison of estimates of snow input with a small alpine catchment

Abstract We have used five methods to estimate the snow water equivalent input to the Glacier Lakes Ecosystem Experiments Site (GLEES) in south-central Wyoming during the winter 1987–1988 and to obtain an estimate of the errors. The methods are: (1) the Martinec and Rango degree-day method; (2) Wooldridge et al. method of determining the average yearly snowfall from tree morphology; (3) precipitation gage measurements from the Wyoming Water Research Center Snowy Range Observatory; (4) NADP collector data; (5) an independent estimate from snow core data from a small catchment in the GLEES. Estimated water input ranged from a low of 65 cm H2O (liquid water equivalent) for the precipitation gage to a high of 85 cm H2O for the Martinec and Rango method. An evaluation of the biases in the methods indicate that the true value may be nearer the high end of this range.
Effect of grain size and ramp loading on the low amplitude cyclic stress-strain curve of polycrystalline copper

Abstract Recent results reported by Lukas and coworkers raise questions about the differences in the cyclic stress-strain curves (CSSCs) of polycrystalline copper reported by many workers. In order to differentiate the effects on the CSSC of grain size and the ramp-loading mode of initiating a test in cyclic deformation, these two factors have been studied. The greatest effects are found to be associated with the grain size and this result is used to explain differences in the results reported by Lukas and coworkers.
Linguistic Understanding and Belief

In a recent paper, Dean Pettit (2002) argues against the view that understanding a bit of language consists in the possession of propositional knowledge of its meaning-what he labels the epistemic view of linguistic understanding.' His objection to the epistemic view is that it entails that it is necessary to understand a bit of language that one possess propositional knowledge of its meaning, but this necessity claim is false: for linguistic understanding, unlike knowledge, does not fail in Gettier cases, does not require epistemic warrant, and does not require belief; in supplying cases demonstrating this, one supplies cases of linguistic understanding without such knowledge. Pettit's arguments, if successful, thus establish the falsity of a variety of weaker claims in addition to that of the epistemic view. They would establish, for example, the falsity of necessity claims as weak as the weakest modality allowing the possibility of his cases. Further, the third argument-that linguistic understanding does not require belief that the bit of language means such-and-such-establishes, if successful, the falsity of parallel claims concerning belief. Given the case Pettit appeals to in his third argument, this would include the falsity of the claim that belief about an expression's meaning is nomologically necessary for a human speaker to possess linguistic understanding of it. Pettit's case thus poses a challenge to prominent empirical accounts of semantic competence that advert to states with such propositional content.
The Emergent Properties of Multimedia Applications for Storytelling Pedagogy in a Distance Education Online Learning Community

This study analyzed pedagogical strategies for the use of multimedia technologies to teach storytelling via distance education to an online learning community. These strategies and technologies offer an alternate paradigm that moves away from text-based online learning to the more experiential-based instruction extant in real-time storytelling courses. The use of digital video recordings of storytelling performances was examined through analysis of discussion posts collected from students over a two-year timeline that revealed unexpected outcomes (emergent properties). The research suggests that there are value-added benefits in the use of multimedia and asynchronous individual/group learning experiences for teaching storytelling online. It also affirms a gap in online learning to experience the pleasures of real-time/live storytelling and the immediacy of the human communication feedback loop.
Torsional Response and Stiffening of Individual Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

We report on the characterization of torsional oscillators which use multiwalled carbon nanotubes as the spring elements. Through atomic-force-microscope force-distance measurements we are able to apply torsional strains to the nanotubes and measure their torsional spring constants, and estimate their effective shear moduli. The data show that the nanotubes are stiffened by repeated flexing. We speculate that changes in the intershell mechanical coupling are responsible for the stiffening.
Variation in growth rate and ecophysiology among 34 grassland and savanna species under contrasting N supply: a test of functional group differences

Summary • We tested the hypothesis that biological trait-based plant functional groups provide sufficient differentiation of species to enable generalization about a variety of plant ecophysiological traits or responses to nitrogen (N). • Seedlings of 34 North American grassland and savanna species, representing 5 functional groups, were grown in a glasshouse in an infertile soil with or without N fertilization. • Forbs, C 3 and C 4 grasses, on average, had similar relative growth rates (RGR), followed in declining order by legumes and oaks, but RGR varied greatly among species within functional groups. All measured attributes differed significantly among functional groups, of these, only RGR and photosynthesis differed among functional groups in response to N. All groups, except the legumes, had significantly greater photosynthetic and respiration rates at elevated N supply. Principal components analyses and cluster analyses yielded groupings that corresponded only moderately well to the biologically based a priori functional groupings. • Variation in RGR among species and treatments was positively related to net CO 2 exchange (photosynthesis and respiration) and net assimilation rate, but unrelated to leaf area ratio. Photosynthetic and respiration rates were related to tissue %N among treatments and species. Our data indicate that RGR and related traits differ among the functional groups in significant ways, but in a complex pattern that does not yield simple generalizations about relative performance, controls on RGR, or response to resource supply rate.
Tonsillectomy Care for the Pediatrician

Pediatricians play an important role in the perioperative care of hospitalized children after tonsillectomy and are often called upon to manage posttonsillectomy problems in the outpatient setting. The tonsillectomy operation has changed in recent years. More children are operated upon for sleep disordered breathing and fewer for recurrent pharyngitis. New instruments now permit less invasive surgery. Systematic reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration and others have helped define best practices for preoperative assessment and postoperative care. This article will outline these practices as defined in the 2011 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation clinical practice guideline “Tonsillectomy in Children.” It will describe the different tonsillectomy operations, discuss patterns of normal healing, and review management of pain and posttonsillectomy hemorrhage to form a foundation for improved pediatric care.
Simulation of space-borne optical mass memory system

Issues concerning spaceborne applications of an optical-disk mass memory system (ODMMS) are investigated through computer simulation. The simulation model is developed according to a current description of ODMMS with certain application restraints. The results are examined in terms of system modularity, multiuser data rate buffering, disk module access, and read/write file management. The conditions and requirements for future disk controller designs are indicated in the simulation results. >
Static Electrification of Filaments Experimental Techniques and Results

In order to study the generation of charge on fibrous materials, an apparatus was constructed in which a fiber is held fixed while a second is rubbed across it under con trolled mechanical and ambi...
CleanJava: A Formal Notation for Functional Program Verification

Unlike a Hoare-style program verification, a functional program verification supports forward reasoning by viewing a program as a mathematical function from one program state to another and proving its correctness by essentially comparing two mathematical functions, the function computed by the program and its specification. Since it requires a minimal mathematical background and reflects the way programmers reason about the correctness of a program informally, it can be taught and practiced effectively. However, there is no formal notation supporting the functional program verification. In this paper, we propose a formal notation for writing functional program specifications for Java programs. The notation, called Clean Java, is based on the Java expression syntax and is extended with a mathematical toolkit consisting of sets and sequences. The vocabulary of Clean Java can also be enriched by introducing user-specified definitions such as user-defined mathematical functions and specification-only methods. We believe that Clean Java is a good notation for writing functional specifications and expect it to promote the use of functional program verifications by being able to specify a wide range of Java programs.
Molecular beam sampling

Beam attenuation and mass discrimination in effusive and quasieffusive molecular beams of gaseous mixtures have been studied experimentally in an instrument of conventional design, and have been rationalized in terms of transition flow effects and elastic scattering. Their implication in the quantitative monitoring of reacting chemical systems is examined, with particular emphasis in the case of the very-low-pressure pyrolysis technique.
Reliability and abnormality of test score differnces

An attempt is made to clarify the distinction between the reliability and the abnormality of a difference between a Ss scores on two measures. The evaluation of Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancies on the WISC-R is used as an illustrative example.
Film Effectiveness Performance for Coolant Holes Imbedded in Various Shallow Trench and Crater Depressions

Film cooling adiabatic effectiveness was investigated for various configurations of coolant holes embedded in shallow transverse trenches or circular and elliptical shaped depressions. As a basis of comparison, a shaped hole configuration was also tested. Tests were conducted on the suction side of a simulated vane at a downstream location where pressure gradient and curvature effects were small. For the transverse trench, effects of the trench width with varying depths, the trench wall angle, and the pitch between holes within the trench were investigated with trench depths that ranged from 0.5d to 1d. The crater depressions were tested at a depth of 0.5d. The film effectiveness for the crater depressions was not as good as the best performing trench configuration at that depth, but they all performed better than the baseline configuration of cylindrical holes. The trench configurations were found to have an optimum depth of 0.75d, with little improvement in performance for trench depths greater than this. Comparison of the trench performance with a typical shaped hole configuration showed that film effectiveness for the trench was similar to that of the shaped holes.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Infiltration of pressurized promoter solutions in a mesoporous silica

Abstract The infiltration of pressurized aqueous solutions of sodium cholate hydrate (CSH) and ammonium 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (1,8-ANS-NH4) in a hydrophobic silica gel is investigated experimentally. The CSH and 1,8-ANS-NH4 molecules act as promoters that lower the infiltration pressure in relatively large nanopores, resulting in the staged sorption isotherm curves. When the CSH concentration and the 1,8-ANS-NH4 concentration are relatively low, the infiltration plateau can be three staged. This finding has important relevance to developing programmable nanoporous protective and damping systems.