cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ARRS, your trusted partner in lifelong learning

AJR:195, December 2010 300 bc, the Chinese philosopher Kuan Tzu wrote, “when planning for a year, sow corn; for a decade, plant trees; for a lifetime, train and educate men.” The importance of lifelong learning was highlighted again in 1996, which was designated the “Year of Lifelong Learning” in Europe by the European Parliament. The information explosion and globalization clearly contributed to this renewed interest in lifelong learning. Closer to home, few of us probably know that our second president, John Adams, and his wife, Abigail, were both avid lifelong learners. In a letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, on May 8, 1780, Abigail wrote, “Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence” [3]. So, how do people learn? Many educators have studied this topic extensively. In a book titled Freedom to Learn, Carl R. Rogers [4] states that humans have a natural potential to learn, and learning occurs when the learner is not threatened. He further states that significant learning occurs with the perception of relevance of the subject and by doing. Not surprisingly, learning is facilitated when the learner participates. In his book Adult Education and Lifelong Learning, Peter Jarvis [5] states, “Human learning is a combination of processes whereby whole persons construct experiences of situations and transform them into knowledge, skills, beliefs, values, and emotions, and integrate the outcomes into their own biographies.” Most of us know that true teaching is not just telling our students what we know, but showing them how to learn; and that learning is not limited to memorizing a set of facts, but includes using resources to find, evaluate, and apply information. Yet our education system, including our resident training and continuing medical education, provides too much teaching and not enough learning of lifelong skills such as critical thinking, ARRS, Your Trusted Partner in Lifelong Learning
Clinical and pathogenetic implications of histopathology in childhood polydermatomyositis.

Childhood dermatomyositis is a distinct subset of dermatomyositis with highly variable outcome. We reviewed our experience with 29 patients observed over a period of 22 years and attempted to correlate tissue manifestations with outcome. Distinctive vascular lesions included non-necrotizing lymphocytic vasculitis and a unique spectrum of endovascular injury producing temporary or permanent occlusion of small arteries and capillaries. Vessels with noninflammatory endovasculopathy were often reactive with fluorescein-conjugated antisera to IgM, C3d, and/or fibrin. Lesions linked to endovascular injury include infarction, zonal myopathy, and loss of capillary network. We were able to identify half of the children destined to have persistent morbidity on the basis of severity of vasculopathy in pretreatment muscle-biopsy specimens. Our observations support a central role for endothelial cell injury in the pathogenesis of childhood dermatomyositis, suggest a basis for assessing the efficacy of therapy, and provide a focus for investigation of basic mechanisms.
Status of Interracial Marriage in the United States: A Qualitative Analysis of Interracial Spouse Perceptions

This article investigates the major issues facing interracial marriage from the perspective of individuals currently in these unions. Differential assimilation is used as a conceptual model to focus this exploration. The research methodology employs a qualitative approach based on open-ended questions embedded in a larger survey questionnaire administered to a national non-random sample of interracially married individuals in 2007. The findings were examined for three issue areas; social acceptance of interracial marriages, negative perceptions within society of interracial unions, and perceived differential treatment of interracial marriages. Responses from individuals in black/white marriages tended to show that these unions have more difficulty in society in comparison to those without a black spouse.
Detection and elimination of reflections in beam-foil target chambers.

Description of techniques for detecting and reducing to negligible values beam-radiation reflection and scattering in high vacuum target chambers used in beam foil experiments. It is suggested that all target chambers be checked in the manner described in order to discover and reduce intensity variations that may not be obvious on the usual beam-foil decay curves.
Gossip, Gossipers, Gossiping

The nature and meaning of gossip are discussed, drawing upon interdisciplinary observations. Gossiping is not restricted to one modality of expression. Nor is gossip merely "idle talk!' (the common definition), but instead purposeful communication that appears to serve three primary functions-information, influence, and entertainment. Implications for further inquiry and theoretical integration are noted.
Seed and seedling survival of African mahogany (Entandrophragma spp.) in the Central African Republic: Implications for forest management

Abstract African mahoganies of the genus Entandrophragma are among the most valuable and important timber species harvested in Central Africa, representing more than 70% of total export volume from many areas. In spite of the importance of these species, relatively little is known about their regeneration ecology and little effort has gone into understanding the reasons for the consistently reported regeneration failures after logging. I assessed seed survival to germination (Entandrophragma angolense) and seedling survivorship (E. cylindricum) in three different forest types – monodominant Gilbertiodendron, mixed species, and fallow forest – under three different treatments – control, small mesh chicken wire, and large mesh chicken wire – to evaluate the relative importance of different causes of mortality. All seeds were eaten in controls and in both exclosure treatments within Gilbertiodendron forest in a matter of days. Seed survivorship to germination within exclosures in mixed species and fallow forest increased by approximately 10 and 25%, respectively, compared to Gilbertiodendron forest. Six-month seedling survivorship in controls was 37, 12, and 9% in Gilbertiodendron, mixed species and fallow forest, respectively. Seedling mortality was due to different causes in each forest type. In Gilbertiodendron forest controls, an equivalent percentage of seedlings died due to fungal and insect attack (27 and 28%, respectively), while in mixed species forest controls 28 and 55% of seedlings died of these causes, respectively. In fallow forest controls, 48% of seedlings died from predation and/or uprooting by small mammals, all in the first few weeks post-sowing; insect attack (26%) and drought (13%) were other important causes of seedling deaths. Protecting seedlings with exclosures had a dramatic effect on seedling survivorship within the fallow forest, increasing to over 50%. Because of their exceptional value, out or enrichment planting of these species may be economically viable both as part of forest management and agroforestry systems. Thus, planting out seedlings of these species in mixed species and fallow forest gaps with the appropriate soil chemical composition after the period of potential dry season and small mammal vulnerability is recommended.
Applications of a Multiple Linear Regression Model to the Analysis of Relationships between Eastward- and Westward-Moving Intraseasonal Modes

Multiple linear regression models with nonlinear power terms may be applied to find relationships between interacting wave modes that may be characterized by different frequencies. Such regression techniques have been explored in other disciplines, but they have not been used in the analysis of atmospheric circulations. In this study, such a model is developed to predict anomalies of westward-moving intraseasonal precipitable water by utilizing the first through fourth powers of a time series of outgoing longwave radiation that is filtered for eastward propagation and for the temporal and spatial scales of the tropical intraseasonal oscillations. An independent and simpler compositing method is applied to show that the results of this multiple linear regression model provide a better description of the actual relationships between eastward- and westward-moving intraseasonal modes than a regression model that includes only the linear predictor. A statistical significance test is applied to the coefficients of the multiple linear regression model, and they are found to be significant over broad regions of the Tropics. Correlations between the predictors are shown to not significantly influence results for this case. Results show that this regression model reveals physical relationships between eastward- and westward-moving intraseasonal modes. The physical interpretation of these regression relationships is given in a companion paper.
Detection of early gene expression changes during activation of human primary lymphocytes by in vitro synthesis of proteins from polysome-associated mRNAs

The rapid increase in protein synthesis during the mitogenic stimulation of human peripheral blood lymphocyte is the result of global and specific translational control mechanisms. To study some of these mechanisms, we examined the in vitro translatability of mRNAs associated with the polyribosome fraction. Polyribosome fractions were isolated from lymphocytes after activation with ionomycin and the phorbol ester PMA. The associated PAmRNAs were translated in the presence of mRNA-depleted rabbit reticulocyte lysate and [35S]Met, and the protein products were analyzed by SDS–PAGE and autoradiography. There was little synthesis of protein from the PAmRNAs isolated from unactivated T cells, but the PAmRNAs isolated from activated T cells showed a rapid increase in translatability. Translation of the PAmRNAs was sensitive to edeine and m7GTP, suggesting their cap-dependent translation. With activation, the majority of proteins showed increasing in vitro translation, but two proteins, p72 and p33, were found to have increased synthesis within 30 min, which decreased in 1 h. Transcription inhibitors were used to ascertain if regulation of their expression was transcriptional or translational. To identify these proteins, we used biotinylated lysine during the in vitro translation reaction, and we extracted the biotinylated protein by using streptavidin magnetic beads. The protein product was analyzed by mass spectrometry. p33 was identified as a prohibitin-like protein (BAP37), but the identification of p72 was not found in the databases. The distinct up-regulation and down-regulation of their protein expression suggest their tightly controlled regulation during early T cell activation.
Lizard diversity and agricultural disturbance in a Caribbean forest landscape

Understanding the impact of agriculture on biodiversity is critical for effective conservation management. Our goal was to determine the impact of agricultural disturbance on the lizard fauna of Los Haitises National Park and the surrounding region in the Dominican Republic. This region has a history of extensive agricultural disturbance followed by abrupt abandonment. Abundance and diversity were surveyed in six habitats: relatively undisturbed hilltop (mogote), four habitats disturbed by agriculture (pasture, oil palm plantation, cacao plantation, conuco or home garden), and one forested habitat. Three of these habitats (pasture, cacao plantation, conuco) were also examined at different stages of activity or abandonment. Glue-trap grids were used to sample each habitat. In general, species richness was lower in more heavily or recently disturbed habitats. Richness was lowest in active agricultural habitats where only 54% of the region's lizard species were detected. Notably, agricultural systems differed considerably in their ability to support a diverse lizard assemblage. Abandoned agricultural habitats had slightly higher richness than their active counterparts, but still contained only 69% of the region's species. By contrast, nearly every native species, including several never observed in agriculturally disturbed habitats, were detected on the undisturbed hilltops (mogotes). These mogotes may have served as refugees for species that could not tolerate disturbance when the region was being heavily exploited for agriculture. Overall, our results suggest that the continued protection of the park, and its mogotes in particular, will be required to maintain the region's lizard diversity.
A robust unified approach to analyzing methylation and gene expression data

Microarray technology has made it possible to investigate expression levels, and more recently methylation signatures, of thousands of genes simultaneously, in a biological sample. Since more and more data from different biological systems or technological platforms are being generated at an incredible rate, there is an increasing need to develop statistical methods that are applicable to multiple data types and platforms. Motivated by such a need, a flexible finite mixture model that is applicable to methylation, gene expression, and potentially data from other biological systems, is proposed. Two major thrusts of this approach are to allow for a variable number of components in the mixture to capture non-biological variation and small biases, and to use a robust procedure for parameter estimation and probe classification. The method was applied to the analysis of methylation signatures of three breast cancer cell lines. It was also tested on three sets of expression microarray data to study its power and type I error rates. Comparison with a number of existing methods in the literature yielded very encouraging results; lower type I error rates and comparable/better power were achieved based on the limited study. Furthermore, the method also leads to more biologically interpretable results for the three breast cancer cell lines.
Jet Flame Ignition in a Supersonic Crossflow Using a Pulsed Nonequilibrium Plasma Discharge

A short-pulse repetitive discharge is used to ignite hydrogen jet flames in supersonic crossflows. Nonequilibrium plasma is produced by repetitive pulses of 7-kV peak voltage, 20-ns pulsewidth, and 50-kHz repetition rate. Sonic or subsonic hydrogen jets are injected into a pure-oxygen supersonic free-stream flow of Mach numbers M = 1.7-2.3. The fuel injection nozzles and electrodes are mounted flush with the surface of a flat plate that is oriented to be parallel to the flow to minimize stagnation pressure losses associated with generated shock waves. A configuration combining an upstream subsonic oblique jet and a downstream sonic transverse jet serves to provide an adequate flow condition for jet flame ignition. The flow pattern and shock waves induced by the dual hydrogen jets are characterized by Schlieren imaging. Planar-laser-induced fluorescence and emission spectroscopy are employed for imaging the distribution of OH radicals. The OH fluorescence image of the region in the vicinity of the discharge confirms jet flame ignition by the plasma.
Far field beam pattern of one MW combined beam of laser diode array amplifiers for space power transmission

The far-field beam pattern and the power-collection efficiency are calculated for a multistage laser-diode-array amplifier consisting of about 200000 5 W laser diode arrays with random distributions of phase and orientation errors and random diode failures. From the numerical calculation it is found that the far-field beam pattern is little affected by random failures of up to 20% of the laser diodes with reference of 80% receiving efficiency in the center spot. The random differences in phases among laser diodes due to probable manufacturing errors is allowed to about 0.2 times the wavelength. The maximum allowable orientation error is about 20% of the diffraction angle of a single laser diode aperture ( approximately 1 cm). The preliminary results indicate that the amplifier could be used for space beam-power transmission with an efficiency of about 80% for a moderate-size (3-m-diameter) receiver placed at a distance of less than 50000 km. >
MAMMALIAN HETEROTRIMERIC G-PROTEIN-LIKE PROTEINS IN MYCOBACTERIA : IMPLICATIONS FOR CELL SIGNALLING AND SURVIVAL IN EUKARYOTIC HOST CELLS

Mammalian heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G proteins) are involved in transmembrane signalling that couples a number of receptors to effectors mediating various physiological processes in mammalian cells. We demonstrate that bacterial proteins such as a Ras-like protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa or a 65 kDa protein from Mycobacterium smegmatis can form complexes with human or yeast nucleoside diphosphate kinase (Ndk) to modulate their nucleoside triphosphate synthesizing specificity to GTP or UTP. In addition, we demonstrate that bacteria such as M. smegmatis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis harbour proteins that cross react with antibodies against the alpha-, beta- or the gamma-subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. Such antibodies also after the GTP synthesizing ability of specific membrane fractions isolated from glycerol gradients of such cells, suggesting that a membrane-associated Ndk-G-protein homologue complex is responsible for part of GTP synthesis in these bacteria. Indeed, purified Ndk from human erythrocytes and M. tuberculosis showed extensive complex formation with the purified mammalian alpha- and beta-G-protein subunits and allowed specific GTP synthesis, suggesting that such complexes may participate in transmembrane signalling in the eukaryotic host. We have purified the alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunit homologues from M. tuberculosis and we present their internal amino acid sequences as well as their putative homologies with mammalian subunits and the localization of their genes on the M. tuberculosis genome. Using oligonucleotide probes from the conserved regions of the alpha- and gamma-subunit of M. tuberculosis G-protein homologue, we demonstrate hybridization of these probes with the genomic digest of M. tuberculosis H37Rv but not with that of M. smegmatis, suggesting that M. smegmatis might lack the genes present in M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Interestingly, the avirulent strain H37Ra showed weak hybridization with these two probes, suggesting that these genes might have been deleted in the avirulent strain or are present in limited copy numbers as opposed to those in the virulent strain H37Rv.
Tourism and Terrorism: Terrorists' Threats to Commercial Aviation Safety and Security

If aeroplanes and passengers, as well as property and people on the ground are to be protected, potential perpetrators of aviation terrorism must be prevented from breaching security checkpoints and gaining access to ‘secure’ airport areas and to aircrafts. Given the interconnectedness of the air transportation system, a sufficiently high level of security must be provided throughout the entire system. In this chapter we examine terrorism issues relevant to airline and airport security internationally, a topic that has received much attention since 9/11. Understanding the key issues is crucial in evaluating the various methods of regulating and providing aviation safety and security. The purpose of this chapter is to review the key features of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and the characteristics of the resulting security policy. Then we examine terrorism, previous terrorists' acts against aviation as well as current and future aviation threats. A summary of our major points completes the chapter.
Estimating Load-Sharing Properties in a Dynamic Reliability System.

An estimator for the load-share parameters in an equal load-share model is derived based on observing k-component parallel systems of identical components that have a continuous distribution function F (˙) and failure rate r (˙). In an equal load-share model, after the first of k components fails, failure rates for the remaining components change from r (t) to γ1r (t), then to γ2r (t) after the next failure, and so on. On the basis of observations on n independent and identical systems, a semiparametric estimator of the component baseline cumulative hazard function R = –log(1 – F) is presented, and its asymptotic limit process is established to be a Gaussian process. The effect of estimation of the load-share parameters is considered in the derivation of the limiting process. Potential applications can be found in diverse areas, including materials testing, software reliability, and power plant safety assessment.
Do medical house officers value the health of veterans differently from the health of non-veterans?

Background Little information is available regarding medical residents' perceptions of patients' health-related quality of life. Patients cared for by residents have been shown to receive differing patterns of care at Veterans Affairs facilities than at community or university settings. We therefore examined: 1) how resident physicians value the health of patients; 2) whether values differ if the patient is described as a veteran; and 3) whether residency-associated variables impact values.
Near-Optimal Control of Altitude and Path Angle During Aerospace Plane Ascent

Altitude and e ight-path-angle control during the posttransonic airbreathing segment of aerospace plane ascent is addressed, with objectives to minimize fuel usage and respect the vehicle e ight envelope. Based on a time-scale separation between energy/mass and altitude/path-angle dynamics, the altitude/path-angle control problem is viewedina singularperturbation framework asan initialboundary-layerproblem. Afeedbacklawapproximating theminimum-fuelinitialboundary-layercontrolisobtainedbysolvinganeighboring-optimalproblem.Tofacilitate this derivation, the state constraint that is active on the slow solution is modeled in the boundary layer using an appropriatepenaltyfunction.Theneighboring-optimalfeedbacklawperformswellaslongastemporaryconstraint violations are acceptable in the boundary layer. An alternate linear feedback law is derived with gains calculated to reduce constraint violations, but this law leads to increased fuel usage. Numerical results are presented for a lifting-body cone guration of an aerospace plane and a Mach 8 e ight condition. The results show that fuel usage and control activity are reduced when the peak dynamic pressure is allowed to increase. Differences in fuel usage are small for the vehicle model employed.
Environmental contaminants in Texas, USA, wetland reptiles: Evaluation using blood samples†

Four species of reptiles (diamondback water snake [Nerodia rhombifer], blotched water snake [N. erythrogaster], cottonmouth [Agkistrodon piscivorus], and red-eared slider [Trachemys scripta]) were collected at two contaminated and three reference sites in Texas, USA. Old River Slough has received intensive applications of agricultural chemicals since the 1950s. Municipal Lake received industrial arsenic wastes continuously from 1940 to 1993. Blood samples were analyzed for organochlorines, potentially toxic elements, genetic damage, and plasma cholinesterase (ChE). Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) concentrations reached as high as 3.0 ppm (wet weight) in whole blood of a diamondback water snake at Old River Slough, a level probably roughly equivalent to the maximum concentration found in plasma of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in 1978 to 1979 when DDE peaked in this sensitive species. Possible impacts on diamondback water snakes are unknown, but at least one diamondback water snake was gravid when captured, indicating active reproduction. Arsenic was not found in red-eared sliders (only species sampled) from Municipal Lake. Red-eared sliders of both sexes at Old River Slough showed declining levels of ChE with increasing mass, suggesting a life-long decrease of ChE levels. Possible negative population consequences are unknown, but no evidence was found in body condition (mass relative to carapace length) that red-eared sliders at either contaminated site were harmed.
Treatment Options in Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Objective:To evaluate the treatment options in steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Data Sources:Literature was obtained by searching MEDLINE (1966–May 2007) and EMBASE (1980–May 2007).Study Selection and Data Extraction:All pertinent clinical trials, retrospective studies, case reports, and compassionate use studies were identified and evaluated for safety and efficacy of the pharmacologic agents.Data Synthesis:Steroid-refractory acute GVHD is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Although various pharmacologic agents have been studied in the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD, no treatments have been established as a salvage therapy. Preliminary data on different pharmacologic agents have been identified and evaluated for their efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD. The effects of the pharmacologic agents varied significantly among patients: severity of the disease, invol...
Kinematic Motion Analysis and Muscle Activation Patterns of Continuous Reaching in Survivors of Stroke

Coordinated reaching requires continuous interaction between the efferent motor output and afferent feedback; this interaction may be significantly compromised following a stroke. The authors sought to characterize how survivors of stroke generate continuous, goal-directed reaching. Sixteen survivors of stroke completed functional testing of the stroke-affected side and a continuous reaching task between 2 targets with both sides. Motion analysis and electromyography data were collected to determine segmental contributions to reach (e.g., amount of compensatory trunk), spatiotemporal parameters (e.g., peak velocities), and muscle activation patterns (MAP). Repeated measures analyses of variance compared how survivors of stroke reach with the stroke-affected versus less affected sides. Correlations were determined between kinematic outcomes and functional ability. Participants used significantly more trunk movement and less shoulder flexion and elbow extension when reaching with the stroke-affected side. This corresponded with less muscle activity in the proximal musculature including the anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid on the stroke-affected side. There were significant correlations between the segmental contributions to reach, functional ability, and MAPs. Survivors of stroke generate reduced MAPs in the stroke-affected side corresponding to altered segmental kinematics and function ability. These findings suggest that impairments in the ability to generate sufficient MAPs may contribute to the difficulty in generating continuous reaching motions.
VOCABULARY, SEMANTICS, AND LANGUAGE EDUCATION. Evelyn Hatch and Cheryl Brown. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Pp. viii + 468. $47.95 cloth, $19.95 paper.

As part of the Cambridge Language Teaching Library series, this book provides a solid introduction to vocabulary and semantics for teachers and teacher trainers involved in language education. The authors maintain a multidisciplinary perspective on these topics by including both L1 and L2 views and research from linguistics, psychology, anthropology, cognitive science, and education.
A Relational Approach to the Right of Confrontation and its Loss

Battering is fundamentally different from violence between non-intimates. Domestic violence is widely understood as an ongoing pattern of conduct defined by both physical and non-physical manifestations of power. Yet, by tacit default to analogy and precedent, our legal system equates domestic violence with paradigmatic non-domestic violence, resulting in an odd disconnect between the law and life outside of it. This observation is particularly true in the Confrontation Clause context, where notions of domestic violence underlying contemporary jurisprudence are sufficiently inaccurate as to fatally undermine the coherence of both doctrine and theory. As scholars, practitioners, and courts struggle to discern the meaning of the Supreme Court's recent pronouncement in Davis v. Washington, my critique focuses on the underlying conceptual framework as inherently flawed. A full appreciation of the dynamics of domestic abuse results in what I refer to as a relational approach to Confrontation Clause analysis. This Article, part of a symposium on - Crawford and Beyond, - develops the relational approach by analyzing the two doctrinal questions that will continue to arise most frequently in the post-Crawford era: (1) when is a statement testimonial, and (2) when has a defendant forfeited his right of confrontation? In evaluating whether a statement is testimonial, the Court has adopted a theoretical framework that posits a binary relationship between crying for help and providing information for investigatory purposes. In the domestic violence realm, this dichotomy is false. By obscuring this reality, the dominant judicial approach has resulted, and will continue to result, in the classification as testimonial of many statements by domestic violence victims that are, in fact, cries for help in response to immediate danger. Yet even were courts to adopt the contextualized approach to the threshold definitional question that I advocate, there undoubtedly will be hearsay that is properly defined as testimonial. Accordingly, as the advancement of forfeiture arguments in domestic violence cases becomes commonplace, the doctrine must evolve to take into account the characteristics that distinguish domestic violence from other types of criminal tampering. In short, courts cannot correctly interpret the meaning of forfeiture without acknowledging the patterned nature of abuse. When the realities of domestic violence are attended to, a new paradigm for Confrontation Clause jurisprudence - one that is, in essence, relational - can be discerned. Adopting a relational approach to confrontation has the potential to transform how we think about the value of confrontation in domestic violence prosecutions and beyond.
Breaking Aggregation and Driving the Keto-to-gem-Diol Equilibrium of the N,N′-Dimethyl-2,6-diaza-9,10-anthraquinonediium Dication to the Keto Form by Intercalation in Cucurbit[7]uril

1H NMR, ESI-MS, and DFT calculations with the M062X/6-31G* method show that, in water, the bistetrafluoroborate salt of N,N′-dimethyl-2,6-diaza-9,10-anthraquinonediium dication (DAAQ·2BF4–) exists in equilibrium with both its gem-diol and several aggregates (from dimers to at least octamers). With high concentrations of HCl (e.g., 1.2–1.5 M), all aggregates break up and the keto-to-gem-diol equilibrium is shifted quantitatively toward the quinone form. The same effect is observed with 1.5 mol equiv of cucurbit[7]uril, CB[7], with which all equilibria are shifted toward the quinone form, which undergoes slow exchange with the CB[7] cavity as both the free and the CB[7]-intercalated quinone (DAAQ@CB[7]) are observed simultaneously by 1H NMR. The affinity of DAAQ for the CB[7] cavity (Keq = 4 × 106 M–1) is in the range found for tricyclic dyes (0.4–5.4 × 106 M–1), and among the highest observed to date. A computational comparative study of the corresponding CB[7] complex of the N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridiniu...
Seismic Risk Assessment Of Highway Bridges In Clark County, Nevada

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lists Clark County, Nevada as a region of high seismicity. Slemmons, et al. (2001) show that there are eight faults in Clark County capable of producing earthquakes of moment magnitude Mw between 6.5 and 7.0. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is rapidly growing and the possibility of a large earthquake is real. Therefore, mitigation efforts are necessary to ensure the public’s well-being. Risk assessment is the first step in earthquake preparedness. To date, we have performed analyses of essential structures and highway bridges. This paper focuses on the highway bridges in which 786 bridges were considered in the study region. The risk analysis comprised of two components: (1) vulnerability analysis, and (2) importance analysis. The vulnerability analysis was completed by utilizing the FEMA software HAZUS-MH with a Level II assessment. The analysis used information on the structural systems, combined with geotechnical site characterization, which was accomplished using compiled in situ shear wave velocity measurements and well log databases. The importance analysis takes into account average daily traffic, detour length, bridge length, pedestrian traffic, railroad traffic and defense route. The final product of this study is a bridge priority list that can help the Nevada Department of Transportation in identifying bridges with high seismic risk. Bridges receiving significantly large risk scores will be analyzed in detail to determine whether they are candidates for retrofit or replacement.
Fundamental Relationships in Acid Decomposition of Samples for Elemental Analysis using Microwave Energy

Appropriate sample preparation is essential to achieve both accuracy and precision in analysis of materials. This preliminary step is one of the most time-consuming parts of many analyses and has become the rate limiting step for such multi-element techniques as ICP, AA, GFAAS and ICPMS. Acid dissolution of biological and botanical samples can take from 4 to 48 hours using classical digestion techniques. Standard reflux methods used in EPA procedures may take from 24–96 hours. Many of these same samples require only 10 to 20 minutes with microwave digestions, dramatically reducing preparation time. Volatile elements such as selenium and phosphorus can be quantitatively retained in a sealed vessel using microwave decomposition prior to instrumental analysis (1). The technique has been tested on all the major sample types including biological, botanical, geological, alloy, and glassy samples and has demonstrated advantages for each of these sample groups. The development of microwave procedures for each of these sample types is currently an intense area of research.
New Ants from Stomachs of Bufo Marinus L. and Typhlops Reticulatus (L.)

In studying the biology of ants in the Neotropical Region many amphibians and reptiles were found to be of significance as predators. The new ants here described were taken with other ants from the stomachs of the giant toad, Bufo marinus L., and the blind snake, Typhlops reticulatus (L.).[1][1] [1]: #fn-1
Influence of the Fixed Negative Charges on the Measured Poisson’s Ratio, Young’s Modulus and Electrical Response of Articular Cartilage

Under physiological conditions, the solid extracellular matrix (ECM) of articular cartilage derives negative charges from its proteoglycan content [1]. The load-deformation behavior of the tissue (i.e., its apparent mechanical property) comes from not only the intrinsic matrix properties, but also these charges that are attached to the matrix. Study shows that in 1D configurations (such as confined compression), at equilibrium, the osmotic pressure associated with these fixed charges may contribute as much as 50% of the apparent compressive modulus [1–3].© 2002 ASME
Cooperative Path Planning for UCAVs Based on Improved PSO Algorithm

Two methods were proposed for solving the problem of cooperative path planning for multiple Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles(UCAV).Based on space direct method,the problem of 3D cooperative path planning was change into 2D path planning at different height layers.Then new coordination variables and coordination functions were established,which were different from the old ones.Finally,an improved Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO) algorithm was used for simulation and an ideal result was obtained.
Effect of Squalene on Fat Supersession and Organ Indexes in MSG-Obese Rats

Objective To explore the effect of oral administration of squalene on body fat and organ weight in male obese rats treated with monosodium glutamate(MSG).Methods Twenty male Wistar rat pup models of obesity were established.During the same period,10 male Wistar rat pups administered an equivalent volume saline were served as blank group.After weaning,the rats in trial group were orally fed with squalene-containing(1,000 mg/kg) diet,while the rats in control group were given a regular control diet as the same as blank group.Body weight was measured every 2 weeks.All the rats were sacrificed at 22 weeks.The epididymal and testicle of each rat were weighed.Organ indexes,the concentration of blood fat and blood serum indexes were measured.Results As compared with the rats in control group,the weight and body fat of the rats in trial group were significantly decreased(P 0.05).Blood glucose,cholesterol,triglyceride,LDL-C and HDL-C were declined,while Leptin,testosterone and organ weight indexes were increased in the rats of trial group.Conclusions Squalene may counteract the increase of body fat,and promote organs' weights and reproduction in MSG-obese rats.
Experimental study of the compositions and stabilities of synthetic nyböite and nyböite-glaucophane amphiboles

Synthesis of end-member glaucophane (Na 2 Mg 3 Al 2 Si 8 O 22 (OH) 2 ) has0 not been achieved in any previous experimental studies. Instead, compositions are displaced from the end-member, often along the exchange vector NaAl□ -1 Si -1 , i.e. towards nyboite (Na 3 Mg 3 Al 3 Si 7 O 22 (OH) 2 ). In this study nyboite synthesis was attempted in a piston-cylinder apparatus at 15-32 kbar / 600-900°C from various bulk compositions : Na 3 Mg 3 Al 3 Si 7 O 23 + H 2 O (OH-NY experiments), Na 3 Mg 3 Al 3 Si 7 O 23 .7SiO 2 + H 2 O (OH-Q experiments) and compositions on the nyboite - glaucophane joint (G-N experiments). Run products were characterised by optical microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analysis. Amphiboles obtained in OH-NY experiments are quaternary solid solutions of nyboite, glaucophane, Mg-substituted-katophorite and eckermannite (Ny-Gl-Kt-Ek), with maximum Ny contents of ∼0.7 mole fraction, whose compositions migrate along MgMgSi -1 with increasing pressure, and along AlAlMg -1 Si -1 with increasing temperature. They coexist with Jd or Ab +Ne, plus a ternary sodium phlogopite - talc - preiswerkite (Sp-Tc-Pw) sheet silicate ; are stable to the highest pressure investigated (32 kbar) ; and break down below about 15 kbar through either the metastable reaction Ny-Gl-Kt-Ek ss +Sp-Tc-Pw ss = Ab + Ne + Sp, or the stable reaction Ny-Gl-Kt-Ek ss + Sp-Tc-Pw ss = Jd +Sp. Amphiboles synthetised in OH-Q experiments coexist with Qz/Co + Ab/Jd ± Tc. They are ternary Ny-Gl-Kt solid solutions, with low Ny contents which decrease slightly with increasing pressure and temperature through the reaction MgMgNa -1 Al -1 . Their P, T stability field is reduced with respect to that of OH-NY amphiboles : the low-pressure limiting reaction Am + Qz = Ab +Tc has been bracketed at 14.8-18.5 kbar/700°C - 18.2-19.5 kbar/800°C. Experiments using bulk compositions between Ny and Gl also yield amphiboles that are either quaternary Ny-Gl-Kt-Ek, or ternary Ny-Gl-Kt solid solutions, the latter obtained only at a high pressure (22 kbar) in an experiment on the glaucophane bulk composition. The presence of Qz in any experiment inhibits the growth of Sp, with the result that Tc is the only stable sheet silicate, and the amphibole composition is buffered onto the Ny-Gl-Kt triangle. If Qz is not present, a ternary sheet silicate can grow, and hence a quaternary amphibole. These observations are supported by results of recent studies, as well as by natural data, and reveal the true nature of Ernst's (1963) polymorphic reaction between low- and high-pressure forms of glaucophane : it is the reaction Am + Qz = Ab + Tc located in this study, with the low-pressure polymorph Gl I a quaternary amphibole, and the high-pressure polymorph Gl II a ternary amphibole
Focus projection and prenuclear accents: evidence from lexical processing

ABSTRACTTheories of Focus Projection claim that a single pitch accent on a verb's argument is sufficient to prosodically mark that verb as part of the focus, negating the need for a prenuclear accent on the verb itself. The present study employed online lexical processing to test this claim empirically. In three cross-modal associative priming experiments, listeners heard English SVO sentences with/without prenuclear accenting on the verb in both broad (VP) and narrow (object) focus contexts. Results showed that the absence of a prenuclear accent in broad focus contexts did not disrupt priming, but the presence of one in narrow focus contexts did. This disruption was found to be somewhat modulated by individual differences in “autistic traits”. Overall, the findings are interpreted as supporting a model that includes both (a) a Focus Projection mechanism and (b) an information structural function for prenuclear accents, with the latter possibly subject to cross-listener variation.
Talker identification: Effects of masking, hearing loss, and age.

The ability to identify who is talking is an important aspect of communication in social situations and, while empirical data are limited, it is possible that a disruption to this ability contributes to the difficulties experienced by listeners with hearing loss. In this study, talker identification was examined under both quiet and masked conditions. Subjects were grouped by hearing status (normal hearing/sensorineural hearing loss) and age (younger/older adults). Listeners first learned to identify the voices of four same-sex talkers in quiet, and then talker identification was assessed (1) in quiet, (2) in speech-shaped, steady-state noise, and (3) in the presence of a single, unfamiliar same-sex talker. Both younger and older adults with hearing loss, as well as older adults with normal hearing, generally performed more poorly than younger adults with normal hearing, although large individual differences were observed in all conditions. Regression analyses indicated that both age and hearing loss were...
Persistent focal enhancement of the cisternal segment of oculomotor nerve in ophthalmoplegic migraine.

Ophthalmoplegic migraine (OM) is a rare form of migraine characterized by recurrent episodes of headache with ophthalmoplegia related to paresis of cranial nerves III, IV, or VI.1 Adult onset of ophthalmoplegic migraine is rare as patients usually have a history of typical migraine headaches early in life in addition to a positive family history.2 OM is a diagnosis of exclusion requiring appropriate laboratory test and neuroimaging studies to ensure an accurate diagnosis.3 In most cases of OM, there is a transient enhancement of the apparent origin of the oculomotor nerve.1,4 The recent revision of the International Headache Classification has reclassified OM from a subtype of migraine to the category of neuralgia.5 OM is rare, with an estimated annual incidence of 0.7 per million.6
Review: Pressure sores in the elderly can be predicted, prevented, and treated

Source Citation Smith DM, Winsemius DK, Besdine RW. Pressure sores in the elderly: Can this outcome be improved? J Gen Intern Med. 1991;6:81-93.
Centralized multi-node repair for minimum storage regenerating codes

In distributed storage, erasure codes are widely used to provide data reliability, where every codeword symbol corresponds to one storage node. The network traffic cost during the repair of node failures, called repair bandwidth, is an important metric in code design. In particular, minimum storage regenerating (MSR) codes are maximum distance separable (MDS) codes that have optimal repair bandwidth. In this paper, we generalize the problem to minimum storage multi-node regenerating (MSMR) codes, which are MDS codes with optimal repair bandwidth for e node failures. We describe a general framework for converting MSR codes to MSMR codes. The repair strategy for e failures is similar to that for single failure, however certain extra requirements need to be satisfied by the repairing functions for single failure. Then we apply this framework to product-matrix codes and interference alignment codes.
Conversion and Anti-conversion in Contemporary Sri Lanka: Pentecostal Christian Evangelism and Theravada Buddhist Views on the Ethics of Religious Attraction

Over the last decade Buddhist nationalist activists have pursued various measures to curb proselytism by Christians who strive to “unethically convert” Sri Lankans born as Buddhists. Sri Lankan Buddhist nationalist discourses reveal suspicions that the act of becoming enculturated into Christianity is detrimental to the person and to the nation in a number of ways. What can such nationalist discourses about “unethical conversions,” and about the instruments used to engender religious attraction, tell us about the politics of perception that inflame antipathies over proselytism, conversion, and apostasy? Analysis of ethnographic material reveals that Buddhist protectionists tend to regard two forms of Christian “gift” to be operative in securing conversions. First, gifts of Christian charity are perceived to be material “allurements” that serve to induce conversions and religious patronage among vulnerable Sri Lankans. Comparatively examining Christian and Buddhist forms of giving (charity and dāna respectively), which engender radically different types of ethical sensibilities about the use of gifts and care as modalities of conversion and religious attraction, helps to illuminate why charity is a significant point of contention between these religious communities. Secondly, Pentecostal Christian charisma—or the notion that God's Grace is a gift which can be evidenced through miracles of healing—appears to Buddhist skeptics as dubious and harmful means of manipulating Sri Lankans into committing apostasy. Using ethnography to depict how adherents and detractors alike have made spectacles out of charismatic Christian promises of miracles, this essay describes how recent controversies have played out between Buddhist nationalists and Christian evangelists within the Sri Lankan public sphere. Focusing on charity and charismatic miracles as modalities of conversion, this paper illuminates key aspects of the anxieties over new Christian forms of religious propagation, proselytism, and devotion as they have entered into a milieu marked by ethno-religious nationalism, religious protectionism, as well as established ethical sensibilities and religious conventions.
Techniques of visual knowledge construction in the Practices of Analog Videotape Digitization

This presentation describes findings from qualitative-interpretive research conducted on media preservationists carrying out small-scale digitization projects involving the digital reformatting of analog videotape. Eight preservationists working in media preservation labs were interviewed and observed carrying out digitization projects in their work sites. Adopting a social constructionist perspective and employing concepts from Reiner Keller's sociology of knowledge approach to discourse (SKAD), the research data were analyzed to gain insight into processes of knowledge construction. The object of knowledge found to be central to participants' practices of knowledge construction was the invisible video signal, a continuously varying electrical signal that necessitates techniques and technologies of visualization and observation. This research identified six epistemic techniques, arrays of sensory-cognitive micropractices that participants enact in order to construct knowledge about, act upon the video signal and produce legitimate digital copies of analog originals: applying calibrated vision; patterned looking; matching and comparing visual representations of signals; historicizing the tape; investigating the nature of errors; and constructing copies. This research offers new understanding of visual knowledge construction in workplace contexts and emphasizes the importance of studying the interpretive aspects of digitization practices.