cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Assessment of Group Size in Interteaching

A key component of interteaching, as described by Boyce and Hineline (2002), is the opportunity for students to participate in "dyadic" or pair discussions. Although the rationale for pair discussions is evident, only one study to date has evaluated the relative effectiveness of student performance when group size is manipulated. The present investigation was designed to further evaluate the effect of group size during pair discussions on student quiz scores in an introductory psychology course with a diverse group of learners. An alternating treatments design was implemented whereby students were assigned to work in a dyad or in groups of 4-5 students to discuss a preparation guide. All of the major components of interteaching were in effect during both conditions (i.e., availability of prep guides and quality points, clarifying lectures, and frequent test probes). Results showed a small advantage for performance following discussion in dyads, although a social validity measure indicated students favored discussion in larger groups. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future work will be discussed.
El comportamiento de la media y la mediana de muestras, según crece el tamaño de la muestra: Un estudio empírico comparativo

Se presentan los resultados de un estudio de simulacion donde hemos comparado el comportamiento de la media y la mediana de muestras como estimadores de sus respectivos parametros, segun crece el tamano de la muestra. Solo consideramos distribuciones continuas y sesgadas cuyas medias existen y cuyas medianas son unicas. Con respecto a las probabilidadesen cuestion, nuestros resultados esclarecen ambos la rapidez de convergencia y el efecto del sesgo. Ademas, nos intriga ver que, al parecer, existen puntos de cambio o intervalos de cambio, donde cambia el comportamiento de los estimadores. Para concluir, proponemos varios temas para futuras investigaciones.
Status and trends of fire activity in southern California yellow pine and mixed conifer forests

Abstract Frequent, low to moderate severity fire in mixed conifer and yellow pine forests of California played an integral role in maintaining these ecosystems historically. Fire suppression starting in the early 20th century has led to altered fire regimes that affect forest composition, structure and risk of vegetation type conversion following disturbance. Several studies have found evidence of increasingly large proportions and patches of high severity fire in fire-deprived conifer forests of northern California, but few studies have investigated the impacts of fire suppression on the isolated forests of southern California. In this study, spatial data were used to compare the current fire return interval (FRI) in yellow pine and mixed conifer forests of southern California to historical conditions. Remotely sensed burn severity and fire perimeter data were analyzed to assess changes in burn severity and fire size patterns over the last 32–100 years. Half of the yellow pine and mixed conifer forest in this study has missed multiple burn opportunities and has not experienced fire in the 109-year fire record. The average proportion of conifer forests burned in high severity fire (>90% tree basal area loss), average high severity patch size, and maximum high severity patch size all increased significantly from 1984 to 2016. The average fire proportion burned at high severity from 2000 to 2016 is 1.5 times higher than predicted for the natural range of variation (NRV). Additionally, the years after 2000 had high severity patches larger than 25 ha, whereas no fires before 2000 had patches this large, indicating a deviation from NRV since the turn of the century. Fire size in conifer forests significantly increased from 1910 to 2016, owed to a substantial increase in the occurrence of large fires (larger than the natural range of variation) after 2000. This analysis indicates that southern California conifer forests are like their northern counterparts in that they have burned very infrequently since the early 1900s, resulting in large and homogenous areas of stand replacing burns. This is likely exacerbated even further by recent fire-conducive weather conditions and extended periods of drought. In southern California, recovery from large, high severity burns is likely to be impeded by the small and disparate nature of mixed conifer forests and limited seed dispersal capabilities of remaining trees. Therefore, preemptive forest treatments and careful fire management is needed to return natural structure and function to these forests.
Deep learning regression model for antimicrobial peptide design

Abstract Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally occurring or synthetic peptides that show promise for treating antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Machine learning techniques are increasingly used to identify naturally occurring AMPs, but there is a dearth of purely computational methods to design novel effective AMPs, which would speed AMP development. We collected a large database, Giant Repository of AMP Activities (GRAMPA), containing AMP sequences and associated MICs. We designed a convolutional neural network to perform combined classification and regression on peptide sequences to quantitatively predict AMP activity against Escherichia coli. Our predictions outperformed the state of the art at AMP classification and were also effective at regression, for which there were no publicly available comparisons. We then used our model to design novel AMPs and experimentally demonstrated activity of these AMPs against the pathogens E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Data, code, and neural network architecture and parameters are available at https://github.com/zswitten/Antimicrobial-Peptides.
Effects of Cooperative Learning on Preservice Elementary Teachers' Interest in and Integration of Music into Core Academic Subjects.

The author investigated the effects of a cooperative learning environment on the implementation of integrating music into core academic subjects. Using a quasi-experimental design, participants (N ...
Think Christianly, Think Critically: Faith-Learning Integration, Critical Thinking, and Perceived Importance of Worldview Development among Students in Christian Higher Education

Using a quantitative research design, this study examined the patterns of growth in select faith-learning integration outcomes—critical thinking and perceived importance of worldview development—an...
Concomitant oxidation-diffusion-creep processes for stress generation and suppression of oxide-alloy interfacial instabilities

Abstract Metallic materials under extreme thermo-mechanical-environmental service conditions oftentimes rely on the formation of dense and protective oxide layers, e.g., typically alumina or chromia. Their failures, however, usually emerge from the morphological instability of such layers at the oxide-alloy interface. This work suggests that a tensile, biaxial stress arises in the substrate alloy due to the concomitant oxidation-diffusion-creep processes, which, in contrast to the growth stress in the oxide layer, provides a stabilizing factor that suppresses the rumpling or compositional variation in chromia or alumina interlayers. For rumpling analysis, the substrate tensile stress compensates the growth stress in the oxide layer. The compositional variation is modeled by the stress-domain analysis, which suggests that the substrate tensile stress prefers the growth of high-growth-stress oxide phase at the expense of low-growth-stress one. Our findings have been successfully employed to rationalize recent experiments in superalloys under cyclic oxidation conditions and in carburized or irradiated stainless steels under isothermal oxidation conditions.
A conversion from slow to fast memory in response to passive motion

Abstract When the same perturbation is experienced consecutively, learning is accelerated on the second attempt. This savings is a central property of sensorimotor adaptation. Current models suggest that these improvements in learning are due to changes in the brain’s sensitivity to error. Here, we tested whether these increases in error sensitivity could be facilitated by passive movement experiences. In each experimental group, the robot moved the arm passively in the direction that solved the upcoming rotation, but no visual feedback was provided. Then, following a break in time, participants adapted to a visuomotor rotation. Prior passive movements substantially improved motor learning, increasing total compensation in each group by approximately 30%. Similar to savings, a state-space model suggested that this improvement in learning was due to an increase in error sensitivity, but not memory retention. Thus, passive memories appeared to increase the motor learning system’s sensitivity to error. However, some features in the observed behavior were not captured by this model, nor by similar empirical models, which assumed that learning was due a single exponential process. When we considered the possibility that learning was supported by parallel fast and slow adaptive processes, a striking pattern emerged; whereas initial improvements in learning were driven by a slower adaptive state, increases in error sensitivity gradually transferred to a faster learning system with the passage of time.
Diagnoses during the first three years of life for children with prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome using a large maternal infant data hub

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of health and developmental outcomes in children with prenatal opioid exposure (POE) and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) compared to children without exposure during the first three years of life. Design and methods This was a secondary data analysis of the Maternal and Infant Data Hub (MIDH), a de-identified dataset originating from the Midwest region of the United States, consisting of newborn billing records and corresponding maternal and child electronic medical records. For these analyses, the repository included data on more than 20,000 children born between 2013 and 2019. Diagnoses were identified with International Classification of Diseases, ninth and tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes (ICD-9/10-CM). Firth logistic regression was used to assess whether incidence of each diagnosis code differed by exposure group. Results Among 20,389 children in the dataset, 13,173 were unexposed; 455 were POE, and 199 were POE + NAS. There were significant differences in frequency of diagnoses between groups, specifically regarding growth and development, infection, mental health, musculoskeletal, neonatal, sensory, and social issues. When comparing exposed groups, children with POE + NAS experienced more negative health outcomes than children with only POE across all years. Conclusions This study implicates POE as a significant variable associated with many health and developmental outcomes of children during the first three years of life. Practice implications It is crucial to understand and identify health risks observed more frequently in exposed children during such a critical period of growth and brain development.
The Operation of Supervisory Colleges in EU Banking Supervision: A Case Study of Soft Law Becoming Hard Law

In this paper, I consider the case of supervisory cooperation among bank regulators where voluntary cooperation (soft law) over a period of 50 years has become hard law (regulations and directives) within the European Union. Driven by major international bank failures or financial crises, international standards for prudential supervisory cooperation among bank regulators have steadily developed and become more precise and defined since the early 1970s.
Substance use disorder approaches in US primary care clinics with national reputations as workforce innovators.

Background Over the last decade, primary care clinics in the United States have responded both to national policies encouraging clinics to support substance use disorders (SUD) service expansion and to regulations aiming to curb the opioid epidemic. Objective To characterize approaches to SUD service expansion in primary care clinics with national reputations as workforce innovators. Methods Comparative case studies were conducted to characterize different approaches among 12 primary care clinics purposively and iteratively recruited from a national registry of workforce innovators. Observational field notes and qualitative interviews from site visits were coded and analysed to identify and characterize clinic attributes. Results Codes describing clinic SUD expansion approaches emerged from our analysis. Clinics were characterized as: avoidant (n = 3), contemplative (n = 5) and responsive (n = 4). Avoidant clinics were resistant to planning SUD service expansion; had no or few on-site behavioural health staff; and lacked on-site medication treatment (previously termed medication-assisted therapy) waivered providers. Contemplative clinics were planning or had partially implemented SUD services; members expressed uncertainties about expansion; had co-located behavioural healthcare providers, but no on-site medication treatment waivered and prescribing providers. Responsive clinics had fully implemented SUD; members used non-judgmental language about SUD services; had both co-located SUD behavioural health staff trained in SUD service provision and waivered medication treatment physicians and/or a coordinated referral pathway. Conclusions Efforts to support SUD service expansion should tailor implementation supports based on specific clinic training and capacity building needs. Future work should inform the adaption of evidence-based practices that are responsive to resource constraints to optimize SUD treatment access.
How Gender Stereotypes Impact Health Information Seeking Intention: Insights from an Implicit Association Test

The social construction of gender has profound implications on how individuals of different gender identities perceive health and formulate health-related decisions. An online survey experiment (N ...
Regulatory Defects in Leukemia: In Vitro Analysis

Studies of myeloid leukemic cell lines and primary cultures of leukemic bone marrow have yielded information on humoral regulation of growth and differentiation of myeloid cells and have revealed specific abnormalities in regulatory control that would appear to play important roles in the development and progression of hematopoietic neoplasia. Already considerable in vitro data have been accumulated to document the feasibility of the clinical application of such biological response modifiers as Retinoic acid, interferon, tumor necrosis factor, prostaglandin E, and differentiation-inducing proteins in a strategy designed to revert malignant hematopoietic cells to a pattern of normal proliferation and differentiation, or to mediate their selective ablation. Evidence that an effective cancer therapy can be based on induction of a phenotypic reversion of the tumor cell as well as by direct killing of tumor cells has been based on extensive studies on leukemic cell lines such as Friend mouse erythroleukemic cells (39), mouse myeloid (Ml) and myelomonocytic (WEHI- 3) cell lines (33, 71), and human HL-60 myeloid leukemic cells (40). These cell lines can be induced to differentiate and lose self-renewal and leukemogenic capacity following exposure to a variety of chemical agents, including some anticancer drugs (52, 109).
Abstract 13729: Surgical Myectomy Results in Significantly Improved Long-term Event Rate in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients With Severe Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction

Background: In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), surgical myectomy (SM) performed for relief of intractable symptoms is safe and associated with excellent long-term symptom-free survival. In such patients, we sought to determine if SM also results in improvement of long-term outcomes. Methods: We studied 1530 HCM patients with severe LVOTO (50±13 years, 63% men) that were evaluated at our center [excluding Results: Hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), family history of HCM and syncope were present in 41%, 15%, 17% and 18%, while 73% patients were in Functional Class (FC) ≥ II. Mean LVEF, basal septal thickness, LVOT gradient (resting or provocable) and indexed left atrial dimensions were 62±5%, 2.2±1 cm, 101±39 mm Hg, 2.2±0.4 cm/m2. During 8±6 years of follow-up, 990 (65%) patients underwent SM (of which 65% were isolated SM), while 540 (35%) did not. 94 (6%) patients had alcohol septal ablation (66 in the non myectomy group), while 18% developed atrial fibrillation (AF), and 18% had ICD. There were 169 (11%) events (151 deaths), with 0% 30-day mortality in the SM group. On stepwise multivariable Cox Proportional Hazard analysis, increasing age (Hazard Ratio or HR 1.22 [1.06-1.40]), CAD (HR 1.57 [1.06-2.33]), worsening FC (HR 1.34 [1.05-1.71]) and AF (HR 1.73 [1.23-2.43]) predicted higher events, while SM as a time-dependent covariate (HR 0.58 [0.41-0.81]) was associated with improved event-free survival (all p Conclusion: In HCM patients with severe LVOTO, SM is associated with significant improvement in long-term outcomes when compared to watchful waiting.
SRAM Vmax stability considerations

The voltage overdrive of SRAM cells is shown to be of concern as the stability at Vmax can be worse than at Vmin. The Vmax stability is especially sensitive to high resistances on single devices in the bitcell. Highlighted in this paper are SRAM Vmax stability issues observed in a 28nm technology as well as the increased susceptibility of FinFET SRAM cells for voltage overdrive issues.
Shock Properties of High-Strength Ceramics

A broad class of brittle solids subjected to large amplitude shock waves can support substantial shear stress (of order 2–10 GPa) without failing due to the very limited slip systems in these materials. When failure occurs under sufficiently intense shock loading, the effect is usually observed as a wave splitting in the compressive shock front. Because of the high confining stress state associated with the failure event in the shock compression environment, it is no longer certain whether the microstructural processes of deformation are brittle or ductile. Some, although by no means sufficient, evidence supports a brittle deformation mechanism in the materials of interest [1].
SPECIAL REVIEWS MANAGEMENT OF THE CHILD WITH CHRONIC ASTHMA

The management of the child with chronic asthma is discussed. The importance of possible prophylactic measures is mentioned. Environmental control is emphasized with special reference to the avoidance of house dust, feathers, wool, animal pets and strong odors. Change of climate is not always successful and it is important to do all that one can to relieve the child in his own community before this is considered. The asthmatic child must be protected against respiratory infections. The usual measures of prophylaxis in pediatric practice must not be omitted but are all the more urgently indicated in the case of asthmatic children. Recurrent lymphadenoid tissue in the nasopharynx following adenotonsillectomy is discussed in its relationship to bronchial asthma. The possible use of physiotherapeutic measures for the prevention of asthmatic chest deformities and for assisting in the relief of chronic bronchial asthma is mentioned. Psychosomatic factors are important and consist chiefly in giving the child a sense of security by means of a thorough understanding by the parent of the symptomatic treatment of asthma; the avoidance of coddling or rejection of the child; and teaching the child to excel in some special field so as to experience a feeling of superiority in competition with non-asthmatic children. The asthmatic child should be aided in the selection of a career in which, if asthma persists or recurs, the earning of a living will not be impossible. It is pointed out that the nature of the asthmatic problem is such that special facilities should be made available for research in all phases of the problem.
A method for evaluating head-controlled computer input devices using Fitts law

The discrete movement task employed in this study consisted of moving a cursor from the center of a computer display screen to circular targets located 24.4 and 110.9 mm in eight radial directions....
Observations of Wave-Mean Flow Interaction in the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract Variations of zonal mean and eddy properties in the Southern Hemisphere during the winter of 1979 are studied. Several periods of enhanced wave activity and rapid zonal-mean changes are observed. During these periods of rapid change both the actual zonal wind tendency and the Eliassen-Palm flux divergence have a dipole pattern in the upper stratosphere, with positive values in high latitudes and negative values in middle and low latitudes. The positive values of E-P flux divergence near the pole are particularly interesting, since they suggest a possible source of wave activity in this region. The stationary component of wavenumber 1 and the eastward traveling component of wavenumber 2 contribute most to the dipole pattern of wave driving in the stratosphere. A nearly uniform deceleration of the mean flow in the troposphere is contributed to by all zonal wavenumbers from 1 to 10. The lower wavenumbers contribute most to the driving in high latitudes, while the driving in lower latitudes is contri...
Plasmodium falciparum: detection of a novel asparagine-rich protein on the surface of sporozoite.

Abstract Zhang, K., Fujioka, H., Aikawa, M., and Kumar, N. 1999. Plasamodium falciparum: Detection of a novel asparagine-rich protein on the surface of sporozoite. Experimental Parasitology93, 1–6. We had previously cloned and characterized a gene for a novel asparagine-rich protein from P. falciparum (PfARP), a target of natural human immune response. The antibodies to PfARP were localized to the surface of parasitized red blood cells and reacted with intracellular components in all erythrocytic asexual and sexual stages of the parasite. We here describe reactivity of antibodies against this novel PfARP on the surface of mosquito stage sporozoite of P. falciparum by indirect immunofluorescence assay and immunoelectron microscopy, the latter revealing a highly periodic punctate pattern of distribution of PfARP on the surface of sporozoite. These results suggest a possibility that PfARP might represent yet another sporozoite surface protein.
Intermittency in the visual control of force in Parkinson's disease

Studies on the variability of motor output in Parkinson's disease have found contrasting results depending on the speed-accuracy constraints of the task. The first goal of this study was to determine if Parkinson's disease subjects are more variable than control subjects. The second goal of the study was to examine the limitations on visual and motor processing that contribute to the changes in force variability in Parkinson's disease. Eight mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (age: 68–80 years) and eight matched control (age: 68–80 years) subjects maintained a constant level of force at 25% of their maximum voluntary contraction with their index finger and thumb (grip precision task) for 20 s while online visual feedback of the total force was viewed on a computer monitor. During the force task, subjects received visual feedback at varying frequencies. The sampled visual feedback levels were presented at intervals as slow as every 5 s to as fast as every 0.04 s (0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, 6.4, 12.8, 25.6 Hz). Force variability decreased over sampled visual feedback according to hyperbolic decay functions. The minimal visual processing time for both the Parkinson's disease and control subjects was approximately 160 ms. Motor output corrections were generated in both groups at a frequency of 1 Hz over a wide range of sampled visual feedback levels. However, the amplitude of the 1–2 Hz visuo-motor corrective process was amplified in Parkinson's disease, and this related to increases in force-output variability. The findings suggest that the basal ganglia are important for adjusting the amplitude of motor output at 1–2 Hz during visuo-motor feedback control.
Modeling topographic and climatic control of east‐west asymmetry in Sierra Nevada glacier length during the Last Glacial Maximum

[1] Glaciers draining westward from the Sierra Nevada divide, California, during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) were � 7 times longer than east-draining glaciers. We address the degree to which this difference may be attributed to the topographic asymmetry of the west-tilted Sierran block and the climate asymmetry resulting from orographic modification of Pacific Ocean storms. We simulate kilometer-scale glaciers within the 50 � 50 km Kings Canyon region of the southern Sierra by employing a two-dimensional numerical model that is driven by simple, spatially variable climates and treats ice transport by deformation, sliding, and avalanching. In numerical experiments, we match simulated termini to LGM moraine positions to constrain the parameters of different climate scenarios. The 38-km-long LGM glacier in Kings Canyon was reproduced by a climate specified by an equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of 3170 m, a mass balance gradient of 0.01 m/yr/m, and a maximum positive balance of 2 m/yr. This climate generates much shorter (average � 6 km long) east-draining glaciers that, however, overshoot the LGM moraines by � 1 km. Roughly 97% of the E-W difference in glacier lengths can therefore be attributed to topographic asymmetry alone. A second experiment suggesting a 120-m-higher ELA of 3290 m east of the divide can explain the shorter east-draining glaciers. An experiment in which orographic precipitation is explicitly simulated and melt is prescribed using a positive degree-day algorithm matches both Kings Canyon and the average east-draining glacier length with an LGM climate that was 5.6� C cooler and � 2 times wetter than the modern Sierra Nevada.
A microfluidic droplet platform for multiplexed single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of an array plant genomic DNA samples

A programmable droplet-based platform which performs multiplexed single nucleotide polymorphism analysis on an array of plant genomic DNA samples is presented. This device has the potential to meet the demand for flexible and cost-effective tools that can perform high throughput genetic screening for applications such as allelic variation detection in agriculture. The microfluidic droplet-based device accepts an unlimited number of sample plugs containing genomic plant DNA from a multi-well plate. Each plug is separated by a fluorinated immiscible carrier fluid to prevent cross-contamination. Once plugs are loaded on to the device, mechanical chopping of these sample plugs is performed to digitize them into smaller daughter droplets. The device then performs subsequent synchronization-free, robust injection of multiple single nucleotide polymorphism interrogating probes in to the sample daughter droplets on-demand. This microfluidic platform combines the excellent control of valve-based microfluidics with the high-throughput capability of droplet microfluidics. Furthermore, generation of a one-dimensional array of combinatorial mixtures of DNA-probe droplets in which the sequence of drops is maintained throughout the device leads to automatic spatial indexing of these droplets, precluding the need for barcoding to identify droplet contents. We expect this flexible platform to expand the range of applications of droplet microfluidics to include applications requiring high degrees of multiplexing as well as high throughput screening of arrays of samples.
Utilization of mammalian 70S RNA by a purified reverse transcriptase from human myelocytic leukemic cells

Abstract A DNA polymerase activity present in the 60,000 × g pellet of human acute myelocytic leukemic blood cells catalyzes an endogenous RNA-dependent (RNase sensitive) DNA synthesis. After purification, this enzyme transcribes heteropolymeric regions of 70S RNA from various RNA tumor viruses but prefers mammalian over avian viral RNA. DNA transcribed from the viral RNA is, like that from RNA tumor virus reverse transcriptase, hydrogen bonded and covalently attached to the RNA template-primer. The DNA transcript, after alkaline hydrolysis, hybridizes specifically to the template-primer RNA. This activity is not decreased in the presence of DNA polymerases from normal cells, suggesting that the inability of the latter polymerases to catalyze transcription of viral RNA is not due to the presence of inhibitor(s). This DNA polymerase is easily distinguished from a terminal addition deoxynucleotidyl transferase and has previously been shown to be immunologically closely related to primate type-C virus reverse transcriptase.
Tip Deflection and Blocking Force of Soft PZT-Based Cantilever RAINBOW Actuators

A piezoelectric/electrostrictive RAINBOW actuator is a monolithic bending device consisting of an electromechanically active layer and a reduced passive layer formed in a high-temperature reduction treatment. When the piezoelectric or electrostrictive layer is driven under an electric field or when the environmental temperature changes, bending deflection is produced because of the constraint of the reduced inactive layer or because of the thermal expansion coefficient difference of the two layers. In this study, general analytical expressions relating tip deflection, blocking force, and equivalent moment with an applied electric field and temperature change are derived for a cantilevered RAINBOW actuator. It is shown that optimal actuator performance can be achieved in the RAINBOW actuator by choosing a suitable thickness ratio of the reduced layer to the PZT layer. A series of RAINBOW cantilever actuators have been experimentally prepared from high-density, soft, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics. Different reduction layer thickness is obtained by adjusting the processing parameters, such as reduction temperature and time. The measured results on tip deflection and blocking force agree well with theoretical prediction under a weak electric field. However, when a high driving electric field is used, deviation is observed, which can be attributed to a nonlinear piezoelectric response and a nonlinear elastic behavior associated with soft PZT materials under high driving electric fields.
Consequences of energy conservation in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Complete characterization of particle production and emission in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is in general not feasible experimentally. This work demonstrates, however, that the availability of essentially complete pseudorapidity distributions for charged particles allows for a reliable estimate of the average transverse momenta and energy of emitted particles by requiring energy conservation in the process. The results of such an analysis for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathit{NN}}}=130$ and 200 GeV are compared with measurements of mean-${p}_{T}$ and mean-${E}_{T}$ in regions where such measurements are available. The mean-${p}_{T}$ dependence on pseudorapidity for Au+Au collisions at 130 and 200 GeV is given for different collision centralities.
Comparing the performance of residential fire sprinklers with other life-safety technologies.

Residential fire sprinklers have long proven themselves as life-safety technologies to the fire service community. Yet, about 1% of all one- and two-family dwelling fires occur in homes protected by sprinklers. It has been argued that measured sprinkler performance has ignored factors confounding the relationship between sprinkler use and performance. In this analysis, sprinkler performance is measured by comparing 'like' structure fires, while conditioning on smoke detection technology and neighborhood housing and socioeconomic conditions, using propensity score matching. Results show that residential fire sprinklers protect occupant and firefighter health and safety, and are comparable to other life-safety technologies. Language: en
Practical use of chemical shift databases for protein solid-state NMR: 2D chemical shift maps and amino-acid assignment with secondary-structure information.

We introduce a Python-based program that utilizes the large database of 13C and 15N chemical shifts in the Biological Magnetic Resonance Bank to rapidly predict the amino acid type and secondary structure from correlated chemical shifts. The program, called PACSYlite Unified Query (PLUQ), is designed to help assign peaks obtained from 2D 13C–13C, 15N–13C, or 3D 15N–13C–13C magic-angle-spinning correlation spectra. We show secondary-structure specific 2D 13C–13C correlation maps of all twenty amino acids, constructed from a chemical shift database of 262,209 residues. The maps reveal interesting conformation-dependent chemical shift distributions and facilitate searching of correlation peaks during amino-acid type assignment. Based on these correlations, PLUQ outputs the most likely amino acid types and the associated secondary structures from inputs of experimental chemical shifts. We test the assignment accuracy using four high-quality protein structures. Based on only the Cα and Cβ chemical shifts, the highest-ranked PLUQ assignments were 40–60 % correct in both the amino-acid type and the secondary structure. For three input chemical shifts (CO–Cα–Cβ or N–Cα–Cβ), the first-ranked assignments were correct for 60 % of the residues, while within the top three predictions, the correct assignments were found for 80 % of the residues. PLUQ and the chemical shift maps are expected to be useful at the first stage of sequential assignment, for combination with automated sequential assignment programs, and for highly disordered proteins for which secondary structure analysis is the main goal of structure determination.
δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol: Effects of route of administration on onset and duration of activity and tolerance development

Pigeons trained to key-peck for food reinforcement on a VI 3′, were injected either orally, intramuscularly, or intravenously with δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and the onset and duration of this drug were determined. Onset of action was much faster for the intravenous route than the other two routes. Speed of and duration of effect were also affected by drag dosage. Using the same methods, the development of tolerance to the behavioral effects were investigated. Tolerance occurred with all three routes at about the same rate.
Gender difference in cytoprotection induced by estrogen on female and male bovine aortic endothelial cells

Before menopause, women have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases than men. Studies attribute this gender difference to estrogenic protection in the female cardiovascular system. We have demonstrated that 17β-estradiol (E2) protects female bovine aortic endothelial cells against oxidative injury, probably through the induction of antioxidant enzyme activities. In this study, we examined whether E2 confers a differential protection on male and female cells. Bovine aortic endothelial cells from both genders were preconditioned for 24 h with E2 (1 nM to 10 µM), and their resistance to paraquat (1 mM, 3 h), a superoxide generator, was measured using an MTT assay. In contrast to the protection observed in female bovine aortic endothelial cells, there was no protective effect by E2 on male bovine aortic endothelial cells at physiologic concentrations. However, E2 at 1–10 µM attenuated paraquat’s toxicity in both male and female cells, probably through its direct antioxidant activity. E2 at 1 nM increased in female, but not in male, cells the activities of super-oxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, which was associated with decreased levels of reactive oxygen species during subsequent paraquat exposure. This suggests that antioxidant enzyme induction plays some role in E2-augmented oxidative resistance in female endothelial cells.
Continuous-wave, multiple-order rotational Raman generation in molecular deuterium

We demonstrate the generation of ≈10 rotational sidebands using continuous-wave stimulated Raman scattering in molecular deuterium. The generation occurs inside a high-finesse cavity at molecular gas pressures of ≈0.1 atm.
A 300-/spl mu/W 1.9-GHz CMOS oscillator utilizing micromachined resonators

A low-power low-phase-noise 1.9-GHz RF oscillator is presented. The oscillator employs a single thin-film bulk acoustic wave resonator and was implemented in a standard 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process. This paper addresses design issues involved in codesigning micromachined resonators with CMOS circuitry to realize ultralow-power RF transceiver components. The oscillator achieves a phase-noise performance of -100 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset, -120 dBc/Hz at 100-kHz offset, and -140 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset. The startup time of the oscillator is less than 1 /spl mu/s. The oscillator core consumes 300 /spl mu/A from a 1-V supply.
Protean Code: Achieving Near-Free Online Code Transformations for Warehouse Scale Computers

Rampant dynamism due to load fluctuations, co runner changes, and varying levels of interference poses a threat to application quality of service (QoS) and has limited our ability to allow co-locations in modern warehouse scale computers (WSCs). Instruction set features such as the non-temporal memory access hints found in modern ISAs (both ARM and x86) may be useful in mitigating these effects. However, despite the challenge of this dynamism and the availability of an instruction set mechanism that might help address the problem, a key capability missing in the system software stack in modern WSCs is the ability to dynamically transform (and re-transform) the executing application code to apply these instruction set features when necessary. In this work we introduce protean code, a novel approach for enacting arbitrary compiler transformations at runtime for native programs running on commodity hardware with negligible (<1%) overhead. The fundamental insight behind the underlying mechanism of protean code is that, instead of maintaining full control throughout the program's execution as with traditional dynamic optimizers, protean code allows the original binary to execute continuously and diverts control flow only at a set of virtualized points, allowing rapid and seamless rerouting to the new code variants. In addition, the protean code compiler embeds IR with high-level semantic information into the program, empowering the dynamic compiler to perform rich analysis and transformations online with little overhead. Using a fully functional protean code compiler and runtime built on LLVM, we design PC3D, Protean Code for Cache Contention in Datacenters. PC3D dynamically employs non-temporal access hints to achieve utilization improvements of up to 2.8x (1.5x on average) higher than state-of-the-art contention mitigation runtime techniques at a QoS target of 98%.
Evaluation of the Hunter-Sessions Self-Retaining Aortic Cannula

A report of our experience with a new self-retaining aortic cannula is presented. We have used this cannula in more than 30 patients and found it to be very secure and convenient for rapid cannulation since no pursestring sutures are required for initial placement.
In vitro growth of Mycobacterium lepraemurium, an obligate intracellular microbe

By using an ultrasensitive technique to measure adenosine triphosphate in terms of functional biomass, we have confirmed that Mycobacterium lepraemurium (the agent of rat leprosy and a classical obligate intracellular microbe) grows in vitro in the Nakamura system. By using a sulfhydryl-containing medium that ocupies 65 to 75% of the culture tube volume, together with the five supplements recommended by Nakamura, we have obtained growth rates some eight times above the original. The new physicochemical environment and the use of adenosine triphosphate as an index of energy status in the presence and absence of growth provide a basis for investigating the physiology and growth of other noncultivated microbes.
Spin-glass-like distribution of interaction fields in a nearly ferromagnetic Ni-Cu alloy

Abstract The magnetic specific heat ( C m ) of a Ni-Cu alloy of 40 at% Ni was determined from low-temperature heat capacity measurements in various magnetic fields and is shown to derive from a dilute concentration of giant-moment clusters, consistent with previous magnetization measurements. From the field and temperature dependences of C m , it is also deduced that the distribution of interaction (exchange and anisotropy) fields experienced by the clusters extends continuously from large positive fields to large negative fields, relative to the applied field.
Mass transfer and velocity of rise phenomena for single bubbles

Abstract A dilatometric method has been used to determine mass-transfer rates for single bubbles in the systems nitrous oxide-water and ethylene-water, and the velocities of rise have been determined simultaneously. A mathematical treatment for the experimental data is presented that accounts for the effects on bubble volume of mass transfer, changes in hydrostatic pressure, interfacial area and partial pressure of soluble gas. It was found that velocities of rise of single bubbles are affected by either mass transfer or radial motion and that the specific rate of absorption decreases with increasing distance from the release point, the reverse appearing to be true for desorption. Absorption of nitrous oxide from single bubbles is found to be retarded by the presence of inert gases inside the bubble and by the surfactant heptanoic acid in the aqueous phase. It is concluded that surface effects predominate in determining the rates of absorption and desorption, and the possible nature of these surface phenomena in bubbles is discussed in detail.
Using KBS verification techniques to demonstrate the existence of rule anomalies in ADBs

Abstract As the field of verification and validation for knowledge-based systems (KBSs) has matured, much information, technology, and theory has become available. Though not all of the problems with respect to KBSs have been solved, many have been identified with solutions that can be used in an analogous manner in situations where the application is not necessarily a traditional KBS. As one example, the “active” component in an active database (ADB) consists of rules that execute as a result of database accesses and updates. In this paper, we demonstrate that anomalies found to impact the correctness of a KBS can also exist in ADBs. We first compare the rule structure of a KBS with the rule structures of various ADBs. To show their existence, we convert the rule syntax of the ADBs into a consistent format for analysis and anomaly detection. Once converted, we apply KBS verification techniques to isolate these anomalies. Due to the more increasing use of triggered rules in ADBs, this work illustrates the danger these anomalies can pose and the ever increasing need for ADB verification techniques to exist.
Diverse eucritic pebbles in the Vaca Muerta mesosiderite

Seven 5-cm basaltic pebbles from the Vaca Muerta mesosiderite were studied by neutron activation and electron microprobe analysis, and three additional pebbles were studied petrographically. The cumulate pebbles had low REE concentrations and high Eu/Sm ratios, indicating the absence of intercumulus liquid. Siderophile interelement ratios were similar to those found in Vaca Muerta metal except for anomalously low Ir concentrations. The presence of 20 percent impact-melt breccias among the pebbles and 35-40 percent melt breccias among the mesosiderite whole-rocks suggests that the mesosiderites were more extensively impact melted than the howardites. Three alternative models to explain this greater proportion of impact-melted material among the mesosiderites are proposed.
Epidemiology of periodontal disease in Western Nigerians in relation to socio-economic status

Abstract An epidemiological survey was carried out in the Yoruba ethnic group of Western Nigeria in 1965. The survey was undertaken to determine the relation of periodontal health to socio-economic status, and included 941 persons. The age groups between 5 and 19 yr comprised 53 per cent and 95 per cent of the low and high socio-economic communities respectively. Russell's Periodontal Index (PI) and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) comprising the Debris and Calculus Indices (DI-S and CI-S) were recorded. Evaluation of the nutritional status of the communities was carried out by studies of the dietary intakes and the biochemical estimation of blood haemoglobin, serum proteins and serum ascorbic acid levels. In both communities, CI-S and age were closely correlated with PI. At all ages, the same level of CI-S was associated with a higher PI score in the low than in the high socio-economic group. Multiple correlation analysis indicated some residual variation in PI not accounted for by age, CI-S and DI-S, and this was more evident in the low socio-economic group. Clinical, dietary and biochemical studies suggested marked deficiencies of essential nutrients in the low socio-economic group. The survey showed that, in addition to the oral hygiene, due attention should be paid to the host state and his environment in planning prophylactic measures for periodontal lesions especially in malnourished populations.
Constructive Empiricism: Normative or Descriptive?

In this paper, I argue that Constructive Empiricism (CE) is ambiguous between two interpretations: CE as a normative epistemology of science and CE as a descriptive philosophy of science. When they present CE, constructive empiricists write as if CE is supposed to be more than a normative epistemology of science and that it is meant to be responsible to actual scientific practices. However, when they respond to objections, constructive empiricists fall back on a strictly normative interpretation of CE. This ambiguity seems to make CE immune to objections in a rather ad hoc fashion.
Development and Evaluation of the RZWQM-CROPGRO Hybrid Model for Soybean Production

state-of-the-science into their models. In this study, the CROPGRO plant growth model of Decision Support System for Agrotechnology chemical) in an agricultural system based on current Transfer (DSSAT v3.5) was linked to the Root Zone Water Quality theoreticalandexperimental knowledge,processdetails Model (RZWQM) to provide RZWQM users an option of using of the models vary widely depending on the objectives CROPGRO. In the hybrid model, RZWQM supplied CROPGRO and timeframe of the model developers (Ma and Shafwith daily soil water and N, soil temperature, and potential evapotranspi- fer, 2001; McGechan and Wu, 2001). Many agricultural ration (PET), whereas CROPGRO supplied RZWQM with daily water system models use components from other existing and N uptake and plant growth variables. The RZWQM-CROPGRO models to save development time. For example, the hybrid model was then evaluated against the original CROPGROoriginal soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] crop growth soybean model using several data sets from the literature. These data model, SOYGRO, developed at the University of Florsets represented various drought conditions. Results showed that the ida, used the soil water and N balance component from RZWQM-CROPGRO hybrid model simulated higher water stress