cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computer-Based Assessment of Problem Solving.

Abstract The purpose of this article is to examine the components required to assess student problem solving in technology environments. The article begins with a brief discussion of the purposes of testing, then provides an example demonstrating the difference between retention and transfer, defines and analyzes problem solving, and explores techniques and standards for measuring the quality of student understanding. Families of cognitive demands (e.g. problem solving) are identified that can serve as the frameworks for the design of learning, teaching, and testing applications. These models are intended to be implemented in various subject matters. Next, a set of key validity and fairness standards are presented to be considered in assessing the quality of assessments. Further, the criteria for validity are discussed that are particularly relevant to computer-based assessment of problem solving. These criteria include cognitive complexity, sensitivity to instruction, meaningfulness, reliability, fairness, and linguistic appropriateness. It is argued that these purposes of assessment with appropriate cognitive demand frameworks and with key standards can be integrated into a coherent, technology-based system of assessment for use in both public and classroom discourse.
Deformation-based morphometry reveals brain atrophy in frontotemporal dementia.

Objective To compare deformation-based maps of local anatomical size between subjects with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and healthy subjects to identify regions of the brain involved in FTD. Design Structural magnetic resonance images were obtained from 22 subjects with FTD and 22 cognitively normal, age-matched controls. We applied deformation-based morphometry and compared anatomy between groups using an analysis of covariance model that included a categorical variable denoting group membership and covaried for head size. Setting University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center, and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients Twenty-two subjects with FTD and 22 cognitively normal, age-matched controls. Interventions Neurological, neuropsychological, and functional evaluations and magnetic resonance imaging. Main Outcome Measure Deformation maps of local anatomical size. Results Patients with FTD showed extensive, significant atrophy of the frontal lobes, affecting both gray matter and white matter. Atrophy of similar magnitude but less significance was observed in the anterior temporal lobes. The subcortical and midbrain regions, particularly the thalamus, pons, and superior and inferior colliculi, showed strongly significant atrophy of smaller magnitude. Conclusions We confirmed frontal and anterior temporal gray matter atrophy in FTD. The observed white matter loss, thalamic involvement, and midbrain atrophy are consistent with pathological findings in late-stage FTD. Dysfunction of ventral-frontal-brainstem circuitry may underlie some of the unique clinical features of FTD.
Can a Personality Trait Predict Talk About Science?: Sensation Seeking as a Science Communication Targeting Variable

Sensation seeking, a trait that has been invoked by public health campaign scholars as a targeting variable, also holds promise for informal science education professionals who seek to engage socia...
The role of gonadal hormones in the sexual behavior of the rhesus monkey and human: A literature survey

The importance of the gonads for the display of sexual behavior has been realized for hundreds of years, yet only within the last century has active research in this area been conducted. The present communication surveys the literature concerned with the role of gonadal hormones in the activation, maintenance, and control of sexual behavior in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)and human. To place this topic in perspective the survey begins with a description of the normative aspects of sexual behavior and the endocrine events which correlate with the cyclic behaviors of the female. Building on this base the survey then focuses on descriptions of the effects on sexual behavior of the removal of hormones in adulthood and of the replacement of these hormones with either heteroor homotypic hormones.
An Analysis of the Logic of Televised Campaign Advertisements The 1972 Presidential Campaign

A set of "idio-logical attributes" was used to identify styles of "concludifying" in texts of paid political campaign advertising broadcast during the 1972 presidential election. Republican and Democratic advertisements were found to be similar in the variety and proportion of concludifying styles employed. Advertisements tended to avoid styles classified as "informal logical fallacies," but included common "cognitive maneuvers." Patterns of subject/ object association among candidate, party, and issue themes were found to reflect common interpretations of Nixon and McGovern campaign strategies.
Assessment of teamwork during structured interdisciplinary rounds on medical units

BACKGROUND: Interdisciplinary rounds (IDR) provide a means to assemble hospital team members and improve collaboration. Little is known about teamwork during IDR. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and characterize teamwork during IDR. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Six medical units which had implemented structured interdisciplinary rounds (SIDR). MEASUREMENTS: We adapted the Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery (OTAS) tool, a behaviorally anchored rating scale shown to be reliable and valid in surgical settings. OTAS provides scores ranging from 0 to 6 (0 = problematic behavior; 6 = exemplary behavior) across 5 domains (communication, coordination, cooperation/backup behavior, leadership, and monitoring/situational awareness) and for prespecified subteams. Two researchers conducted direct observations using the adapted OTAS tool. RESULTS: We conducted 7–8 independent observations for each unit (total = 44) and 20 joint observations. Inter-rater reliability was excellent at the unit level (Spearman's rho = 0.75), and good across domains (rho = 0.53–0.68) and subteams (rho = 0.53–0.76) with the exception of the physician subteam, for which it was poor (rho = 0.35). Though teamwork scores were generally high, we found differences across units, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) 4.5 (3.9–4.9) for the lowest and 5.4 (5.3–5.5) for the highest performing unit (P < 0.01). Domain scores differed, with leadership receiving the lowest (median [IQR] = 5.0 [4.6–5.3]), and cooperation/backup behavior and monitoring/situational awareness receiving highest scores (median [IQR] = 5.4 [5.0–5.5] and 5.4 [5.0–5.7]). Differences across subteams were of borderline significance (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The adapted OTAS instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability for assessing teamwork during SIDR across units, domains, and most subteams. Variation in performance suggests a need to improve consistency of teamwork and emphasizes the importance of leadership. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012. © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
DGT estimates cadmium accumulation in wheat and potato from phosphate fertilizer applications

Cadmium is a common impurity in phosphatic fertilizers and may contribute to soil Cd accumulation. Changes in total and bioavailable Cd burdens to agricultural soils and the potential for plant Cd accumulation resulting from fertilizer input was investigated. Three year field studies were conducted using three dose levels of cadmium-rich, commercial, phosphate fertilizers applied at four agricultural sites. Labile Cd concentrations, measured using the passive sampling device Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (CdDGT), increased with increasing fertilizer application rates. Cd also accumulated in the edible portion of wheat and potato crops grown at the sites, and showed strong positive dose response with fertilizer treatment. Regression models were calculated for each site, year, and for individual crops. Model comparisons indicated that soil physical and chemical parameters in addition to soil Cd fractions, were important determinants of CdDGT. Significant factors contributing to CdDGT concentrations were Cd from fertilizer input (Cdfertilizer), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and total recoverable Cd (Cdtotal). Important factors used to determine Cd concentrations in wheat grain (Cdwheat) and in potato (Cdpotato) were as follows: Cdwheat:Cdfertilizer, and CdDGT; and Cdpotato:Cdfertilizer, CdDGT, % O.M. The effective concentration, CE, calculated from DGT did not correlate well with Cdwheat or with Cdpotato. Direct measurements of CdDGT correlated better with Cd found in edible plant tissue. The modeling approach presented in this study helps to estimate Cd accumulation in plant tissue over multiple years and in distinct agricultural soil systems.
Hydrometeorological characteristics of the Black-Sea region in the years with extreme values of the Sargasso–Black-Sea index

We analyze the annual average values and the anomalies of some hydrometeorological characteristics averaged over the period since January till March near the South Coast of Crimea and in the open part of the Black Sea. It is shown that the sea-surface temperature, the surface temperature of air, and the atmospheric precipitation in the Black-Sea region are lower than the climatic mean values for the extremely high values of the index of North-Atlantic Oscillation (NAO index) (NAO ≥ 1) and the surface temperature gradient between the Sargasso and Black Seas (SBS index) (SBS ≥ 1). In the years with NAO ≤ − 1 and SBS ≤ − 1, the indicated characteristics exceed the climatic mean values. The entire process of changes in the sign of anomalies of the hydrometeorological characteristics runs with a period close to 20 yr.
Summary of presentations at the NIH/NIAID New Humanized Rodent Models 2007 Workshop

It has long been recognized that a small animal model susceptible to HIV-1 infection with a functional immune system would be extremely useful in the study of HIV/AIDS pathogenesis and for the evaluation of vaccine and therapeutic strategies to combat this disease. By early 2007, a number of reports on various rodent models capable of being infected by and responding to HIV including some with a humanized immune system were published. The New Humanized Rodent Model Workshop, organized by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute Allergy and Infection Diseases (NIAID), NIH, was held on September 24, 2007 at Bethesda for the purpose of bringing together key model developers and potential users. This report provides a synopsis of the presentations that discusses the current status of development and use of rodent models to evaluate the pathogenesis of HIV infection and to assess the efficacy of vaccine and therapeutic strategies including microbicides to prevent and/or treat HIVinfection.
Comments on "Digital Filters for Real-Time ECG Signal Processing Using Microprocessors"

In an earlier paper1 an adaptive filtering algorithm was proposed for the elimination of 60 Hz interference in the ECG. It is shown here that this algorithm is not truly adaptive, but is approximately equivalent to a fixed 60 Hz notch filter.
Elementary steps in the oxidation and dissociative chemisorption of ethanol on smooth and stepped surface planes of platinum electrodes

Abstract Infrared spectroscopy is applied to map pathways in the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol at platinum electrodes. Reactions at Pt(111), Pt(335) and polycrystalline platinum are studied for ethanol at 1–4 mM in 0.1 M HClO4. Isotopic labelling is used to track the fate of carbon atoms on the alcohol and methyl groups across a range of potentials from the hydrogen adsorption region to the leading edge of the oxide region. For the CC bond cleavage pathway, routes to the stable adsorbed carbon monoxide intermediate depend upon the applied potential. In the hydrogen adsorption region, adsorbed CO originating from the carbon on the alcohol group is detected, while more positive potentials are required to oxidize the methyl group. For the direct oxidation pathway, all surfaces catalyze the four-electron route to acetic acid. Strong vibrational bands from adsorbed acetic acid are detected during ethanol oxidation for the first time, and the appearance of these features correlates with a region of reaction inhibition in the voltammetry. In all cases, reactions progress to a greater extent at the Pt(335) and polycrystalline electrodes.
Fabrication of κ-carrageenan fibers by wet spinning: Addition of ι-carrageenan

Abstract Taking advantage of the gelation process of κ-carrageenan, we have developed a wet-spinning process to fabricate micro-scale fibers from κ-carrageenan. Effects of three important spinning parameters, i.e. coagulation bath composition, spinning rate and post-spinning mechanical drawing, on fiber morphological and tensile properties have been discussed. In the present report, we studied the addition of ι-carrageenan on thermal and rheological properties of the bicomponent gels and the fibers spun from them. It was found that κ- and ι-carrageenan underwent phase separation in the bicomponent gel. Upon addition of ι-carrageenan, the diameter and compliance of the blend fiber was increased.
Clinical Outcome and Sex Ratio for Frozen Blastocyst Transfers as Related to Timing of Blastocyst Cryopreservation

OBJECTIVE: Single blastocyst transfers are promoted as an efficient tool to control twin pregnancies in successful programs. For single blastocyst transfers to be a viable option, an efficient blastocyst cryopreservation program is essential. The frequent experience of less than anticipated success rates with frozen blastocysts may be discouraging as cumulative pregnancy outcomes may be in jeopardy. Exact timing and stage of blastocyst cryopreservation may be imperative to optimal frozen-thawed blastocyst pregnancy outcomes. Embryologists frequently faces decisions in freezing expanding blastocysts with reduced cell numbers before 120 hours post insemination (h.p.i.) or freezing the next day with increasing cell numbers, but risking inner cell mass degeneration and in vitro hatching (Meintjes et al., 2001). It has been documented that fresh blastocyst transfers frequently result in an increased male: female sex ratio. Freezing the slower embryos may result in a normalization of the sex ratio in frozenthawed blastocyst pregnancies. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine 1.) If optimum times exist for blastocyst cryopreservation and 2.) If the male: female sex ratio normalizes for frozen-thawed blastocyst pregnancies compared with fresh blastocyst transfers. DESIGN: Laboratory and clinical pregnancy outcomes were evaluated for blastocysts frozen at 117-, 118-119-, 120-, 130-137-, 138-139and 140 h.p.i. Differences were detected with paired t-tests and chi-square analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was prospectively collected over a 3-year period. Freezing was performed only if blastocysts were fully expanded with an ICM grade of C or better (A the best, F the worst) and trophoblast grades of B or better (A the best, D the worst). All efforts were made to freeze as late as possible on day 5 and as early as possible on day 6, preventing in vitro hatching. RESULTS: The results are summarized in the table. Overall, 97% of all patients with a thaw had a transfer. The average number of thawed blastocysts per transfer were 1.8. Implantation rates for day-5 cryopreservation were highest for blastocysts frozen 117 h.p.i. On day 6, implantation rates tended to be best the earlier the blastocyst cryopreservation.
Peptidergic Innervation of the Rat Cornea

Abstract Corneal nerves regulate corneal epithelial integrity, proliferation, and wound healing. The mechanisms by which the nerves mediate their effects remain poorly understood; however, the release of biologically active neuropeptides has been hypothesized. The purpose of the current investigation was to determine the relative densities, distribution patterns, and origins of rat corneal nerves containing each of eight different neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), neuropeptide Y (NPY), methionine-enkephalin (M-ENK), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), and cholecystokinin (CCK). In the first set of experiments, immunohistochemical demonstrations of the above neuropeptides were performed on free-floating corneal sections cut tangential to the corneal surface. The results showed that six of the peptides, CGRP, SP, GAL, NPY, M-ENK, and VIP were present in rat corneal nerves. The innervation patterns of corneal nerves containing each of these six peptides were then documented by mapping all fibers in serial sections from select corneal quadrants onto a series of line drawings by using a drawing tube. In the second set of experiments, the origins of the corneal peptidergic nerve fibers were determined by selective ocular denervations. Unilateral combined sensory and sympathetic ocular denervations or unilateral sympathetic ocular denervations were performed in adult rats by transecting the ophthalmomaxillary nerve and/or removing the superior cervical ganglion. After 5–7 days, each of the ipsilateral corneas was sectioned and processed immunohistochemically for the presence of one of the six peptides found in experiment one, and the fibers that survived the ocular denervations were plotted onto line drawings. Ocular denervations revealed that corneal peptidergic nerves have sensory (CGRP, SP, and GAL), sympathetic (NPY), and parasympathetic (GAL, NPY, M-ENK, and VIP) origins. The results of this investigation have shown that the peptidergic innervation of the rat cornea is more extensive and complex than previously reported. This is the first investigation to show the presence of GAL in the rat cornea, and the first to demonstrate the presence of NPY-, VIP-, and M-ENK-IR nerve fibers in the cornea of any species.
Control point transform for shape representation and measurement

Abstract A new fast transform from curve samples to least-squares normalized B-spline control points is developed and their relation to Fourier descriptors is established. Contour control point sequence scale, translation, and rotation are known to produce identical shape model variations. It is shown that under the conditions of our transform, such sequences are also directly applicable to efficient computation of many useful shape features or characteristics. First, methods for computing boundary curvature and mean contour sample from control points are presented. Then, transforms from contour control points to shape moments and projections are developed and tested.
STEM on the radio

Looking for an Internet radio station focusing on programing about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced on 26 September the launch of Science360 Radio, which it says is the first Internet radio stream dedicated to STEM programing. Science360 includes more than 100 radio shows and podcasts that are available on the Web as well as on iPhone and Android devices. The shows originate from a variety of sources, including NSF, other U.S. government agencies, science organizations, universities, and media outlets. For more information, seehttp://science360.gov/files/.
Activity of Some Enzymes in Developing Muscle of the Pig

Extract: Total phosphorylase, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities and lactic dehydrogenase isozyme patterns were determined on logissimus (white) and trapezius (red) muscles of developing pigs between the ages of 1 day and approximately 24 weeks. All enzyme activities were similar in both muscles at day 1. Phosphorylase and LDH activities in longissimus muscle increased rapidly and by 24 weeks there was a 4- and 10-fold increase in activities for the two enzymes, respectively. The GOT activity also increased but not to the same extent. Phosphorylase, LDH, and GOT acitivities of the trapezius muscle increased about 2-fold as the animal matured. Phosphorylase and GOT activities peaked in both muscles and then declined to adult values whereas LDH increased to the adult level. The LDH isoymes 1 and 11 were the major isozymes and V was a minor isozyme in both muscles at day 1 of age. In the adult, V was the major isozyme in longissimus muscle and I and V were the major isozymes in trapezius muscle. Speculation: The muscle of developing pig undergoes biochemical changes associated with fiber type differentiation. The muscle, however, displays a unique grouping of fiber types, and we believe that this unusual morphology, occuring as it does in a normal biochemical environment offers a favourable experimental model for study of the basis of differentiation.
Thermodynamics of the interactions of m-AMSA and o-AMSA with nucleic acids: influence of ionic strength and DNA base composition

Abstract The equilibrium binding of the antitumor agent m-AMSA and its biologically inactive analog o-AMSA to native and synthetic DNAs are compared over a wide range of ionic strengths and temperatures. Although o-AMSA binds DNA with a higher affinity than m-AMSA it is not effective as an antitumor agent. Both m-AMSA and o-AMSA bind DNA in an intercalative manner. Indepth investigations into the thermodynamic parameters of these interactions reveal the interaction of m-AMSA with DNA to be an enthalpy driven process. In contrast, the structurally similar but biologically inactive o-AMSA binds DNA through an entropy driven process. The differences in thermodynamic mechanisms of binding between the two isomers reveal that the electronic and/or steric factors resulting from the position of the methoxy substituent group on the anilino ring directs the DNA binding properties of these compounds and ultimately the biological effectiveness as an antitumor agent.
U.S. Research Regulations: Do They Reflect the Views of the People They Claim to Protect?

In this issue, Cho and colleagues report results of a survey examining attitudes about risk and preferences for notification and consent for research among U.S. adults. The editorialist discusses t...
Reduction of low-potential compounds by illuminated leaf homogenate and chloroplasts

Abstract 1. 1. Illuminated sugar beet leaf homogenate reduced both indigo carmine and FMN in the presence of DPIP and ascorbate. DPIP was absolutely required for the reaction. Reconstitution experiments indicated a requirement for some heat-labile factor present in the supernatant fluid following centrifugation. 2. 2. Balance studies revealed that one mole of ascorbate was photooxidized for each mole of indigo carmine photoreduced. 3. 3. The data are consistent with the view that the DPIP-ascorbate couple serves to prevent reoxidation of reduced indigo carmine by either reacting with the photochemical [OH] system or by depleting the oxygen content in the solution. 4. 4. Sugar beet chloroplasts are capable of effecting DPN photoreduction when they are present in high concentration and are illuminated for long periods. This photoreduction does not require added ascorbate and DPIP.
Upper and lower bounds to van der Waals force constants from half-integer oscillator strength sums

Abstract Simple formulas involving oscillator strength sums S ( k ), with half-integer k , are shown to give an asymptotic series of upper and lower bounds to van der Waals coefficients. Estimates of the bounds are calculated for several pairs of atoms.
Acidic properties of binary oxide catalysts: II. Mössbauer spectroscopy and pyridine adsorption for iron supported on magnesia, alumina, and titania

Abstract The acidic properties of MgO, Al2O3, and TiO2 were studied using pyridine adsorption. Infrared spectroscopy and gravimetric adsorption measurements indicate no acid sites on MgO, while Lewis acid sites were observed on the surfaces of Al2O3 and TiO2. Doping Fe onto MgO and A12O3 was shown by Mossbauer spectroscopy to produce only highly coordinated Fe (e.g., sixfold coordination). A small amount of low coordination iron (e.g., fourfold coordination) was observed on TiO2. Pyridine adsorption measurements showed that addition of Fe on MgO did not generate acidity, whereas iron produced a small number of sites on Al2O3 and iron addition caused a selective poisoning and strengthening of the acid sites on TiO2. All acids in this series of single component and binary component oxides were Lewis acids. A model of Lewis acidity is proposed in that the existence of coordinatively unsaturated cations responsible for the acidic properties can be predicted using Pauling's electrostatic bond strength rules. This model is also shown to be valid for iron cations deposited on SiO2.
Human chemokines: enhancement of specific activity and effects in vitro on normal and leukemic progenitors and a factor-dependent cell line and in vivo in mice

The myelosuppressive effects of human chemokines were evaluated in vitro on normal myeloid progenitors obtained from bone marrow and cord blood, on bone marrow progenitors from patients with acute or chronic leukemia, on proliferation of human factor-dependent cell line M07e, and in vivo on myelopoiesis in mice. Preincubation of human MIP-1α, MIP-2α, interleukin (IL)-8, platelet factor (PF) 4, monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF), and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in an acetonitrile (ACN) solution significantly enhanced the specific activity of these chemokines for in vitro suppression of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), erythroid (BFU-E), and multipotential (CFU-GEMM) progenitor cells stimulated to proliferate with a colony stimulating factor plus steel factor (SLF). Combinations of any two of these ACN-treated chemokines synergized to suppress colony formation of CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-GEMM at chemokine concentrations below that at which combinations of non-ACN treated chemokines are active. Cord blood progenitors, as previously reported, were in a slow or noncycling state and nonresponsive to inhibition by chemokines. However, after suspension culture with GM-CSF, IL-3, and SLF, they were placed into rapid cell cycle and were responsive to inhibition by ACN-treated chemokines. Low doses of these ACN-pretreated chemokines were active in vivo in suppressing absolute numbers and cycling status of femoral marrow CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-GEMM in C3H/HeJ mice. Other chemokines, alone and in combination, including MIP-1β, MIP-2β, GRO-α NAP-2, and RANTES, were inactive in vitro and in vivo whether or not they were pretreated with ACN. While heterogeneity in responsiveness of CFU-GM from different patients with leukemia to suppression by ACN-treated chemokines was apparent, if the patients had CFU-GM responsive to one of the active chemokines these cells were responsive to the other active chemokines; if patient CFU-GM were not responsive to one of the chemokines, they were not responsive to the other active chemokines. M07e colony-forming cells were responsive to the growth-inhibiting effects of the active ACN-treated chemokines, alone and in combination, but these effects were rapidly reversible and sustained only by multiple daily additions of chemokines. These results should be of value in considering these chemokines for potential clinical use and for assessment of their mechanisms of action, alone and in combination.
Cortisol reduces plasticity in the kitten visual cortex

Abstract We investigated the effect of elevated levels of cortisol on plasticity in the visual cortex of the cat. Animals were given daily injections of cortisol i.m. for 20 days starting around 35 days of age. After 10 days they were monocularly deprived, and after an additional 10 days recordings were made from the visual cortex to construct an ocular dominance histogram. The results were compared with those from normal animals of the same age, and with animals monocularly deprived for the same period but not treated with cortisol. Cortisol reduced the ocular dominance shift in a dose-dependent manner, but did not totally abolish it even at the highest doses used. Two other series of animals were recorded, one slightly later in the critical period and one slightly earlier, with care taken to give cortisol before the animals were exposed to light in the morning. In both cases, cortisol reduced the ocular dominance shift but did not abolish it. To interpret these results, we measured levels of plasma cortisol in normal cats of various ages. Average levels were fairly constant between birth and 12 months of age (0.5-1 microgram/dl), and increased slightly after that, but there was a large variation between animals. Thus elevated levels of cortisol can have a substantial effect on plasticity in the visual cortex of the cat, but the decline of the critical period for plasticity between 6 weeks and 3-5 months of age does not seem to be due to a rise in cortisol levels during this time.
Echocardiographic characterization of left ventricular diastolic properties in patients presenting for the maze procedure.

The aim of this study is to characterize and compare the left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling patterns in patients with paroxysmal (PAF) versus chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) undergoing the maze procedure and to examine their relation with the hemodynamic status. Fifty patients with PAF and 22 with GAF were studied. Hemodynamic measurements and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed after the induction of anesthesia but before surgical incision, at stable conditions. Transmitral (TMF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocities were recorded with the pulsed Doppler method. Statistical analysis between the two groups (PAF and CAF) was performed using Student's t-test and chi-squared test, with P less than .05 statistically significant. Compared with patients in the PAF group, those in the CAF group had: (1) higher pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (14 ± 5 v 12 ± 4 mm Hg; P v 52% ± 9%; P v 35 ± 15 cm/s; P P
Tendencies of Inner Surveillance in Democratic India: Challenges of Establishing Native Ethnographer’s Identity Among Indian Muslims

The paper analyzes how the native ethnographer’s position within his/her community becomes problematized during fieldwork conditions defined by fear of state surveillance forces. It focuses on the way state’s vigilance activities create new barriers for establishing of native ethnographer’s authority by challenging the ethnographer’s privileged access to his/her research community based on trust and cultural/religious affiliations. The apprehensions for personal safety experienced by the informants unsettle the distinctions between native and non-native ethnography. The paper argues that if anthropology is to progress as a meaningful social and cultural critique then it must elaborate the ethnographer’s experiences of navigating the shifting grounds as insider and outsider. It proposes a “thick description” of the way reticence and distrust of the informants is overcome. The aim is to create scholarship that counters political and social injustices by making explicit voids and gaps and by gleaning a wealth of information in silences.
Effect of dose, route, and schedule of bcg on antibody titer and survival of murine skin grafts across a weak histocompatibility barrier.

Skin was transplanted from male to female C57BL/6JRC mice. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was administered once subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intraperitoneally either 14 days prior to grafting or on the day of grafting in a dose of 5 X 10(5), 5 X 10(6), or 5 X 10(7) microorganisms. Serum antibody to BCG was assayed using complement fixation. There was a linear inverse relation between skin graft rejection and dose of BCG (p less than .01) such that the lowest dose of BCG was the most effective. The IM and SQ routes were more effective than the IP route. Schedule did not have significant effect on skin graft survival. Time to appearance of antibody correlated directly with dose. The prolonged survival of skin grafts combined with early appearance of antibody to BCG suggested that high doses of BCG could result in antigenic competition.
Towards exploratory test instance specific algorithms for high dimensional classification

In an interactive classification application, a user may find it more valuable to develop a diagnostic decision support method which can reveal significant classification behavior of exemplar records. Such an approach has the additional advantage of being able to optimize the decision process for the individual record in order to design more effective classification methods. In this paper, we propose the Subspace Decision Path method which provides the user with the ability to interactively explore a small number of nodes of a hierarchical decision process so that the most significant classification characteristics for a given test instance are revealed. In addition, the SD-Path method can provide enormous interpretability by constructing views of the data in which the different classes are clearly separated out. Even in cases where the classification behavior of the test instance is ambiguous, the SD-Path method provides a diagnostic understanding of the characteristics which result in this ambiguity. Therefore, this method combines the abilities of the human and the computer in creating an effective diagnostic tool for instance-centered high dimensional classification.
Performance assessment of mine detection systems

Assessing the performance of mine-detection systems usually means calculating probability of detection (P d and a false-alarm rate (FAR). relying on these measures of performance is a consequence of the way in which mine detection systems are tested. Most advanced technology demonstrations of mine detection systems require the participating contractors to provide the testing agency with a set of alarms, or declarations, that correspond to locations on the ground where a mine is suspected to be buried. Superimposing these alarms with the ground truth, or baseline, allows one to compute the P d and the FAR, but does not give insight into issues such as signal-to-noise ratios or signal-to-clutter ratios. With knowledge of S/N and S/C ratios, expected performance can be compared with demonstrated performance to determine how sensor sensitivity affects overall performance. In addition, S/C ratios provide a means to judge relative performance, but P d and FAR alone can be ambiguous.
Liquid immiscibility in a nephelinite–carbonate system at 25 kbar and implications for carbonatite origin

Mantle-derived carbonate-rich melts may have an important role in mantle metasomatism, and may serve as parent liquids for crustal carbonatite magmas. Experiments have shown that carbonatitic melts can be produced by partial melting of peridotite + CO_2 + H_2O above 22 kbar (ref. 3), and that silicate and carbonate liquids are immiscible between 2 and 15 kbar for a wide range of Ca/Na ratios. We have determined the extent of silicate-carbonate liquid immiscibility at 25 kbar and 1,050–1,300°C using mixtures of magnesian nephelinite, dolomite and sodium carbonate with and without water. In contrast to the low-pressure data, the two-liquid field at 25 kbar is restricted to more sodium-rich compositions, far removed from natural mantle melts. Our experimental results suggest that neither partial melting of carbonated peridotite, nor extensive fractional crystallization of silicate magmas at depths corresponding to 25 kbar, are likely to generate carbonatitic magmas by liquid immiscibility.
Temperature-Dependent Short-Circuit Capability of Silicon Carbide Power MOSFETs

This paper presents a comprehensive short-circuit ruggedness evaluation and numerical investigation of up-to-date commercial silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs. The short-circuit capability of three types of commercial 1200-V SiC MOSFETs is tested under various conditions, with case temperatures from 25 to 200 °C and dc bus voltages from 400 to 750 V. It is found that the commercial SiC MOSFETs can withstand short-circuit current for only several microseconds with a dc bus voltage of 750 V and case temperature of 200 °C. The experimental short-circuit behaviors are compared, and analyzed through numerical thermal dynamic simulation. Specifically, an electrothermal model is built to estimate the device internal temperature distribution, considering the temperature-dependent thermal properties of SiC material. Based on the temperature information, a leakage current model is derived to calculate the main leakage current components (i.e., thermal, diffusion, and avalanche generation currents). Numerical results show that the short-circuit failure mechanisms of SiC MOSFETs can be thermal generation current induced thermal runaway or high-temperature-related gate oxide damage.
(Glyco)sphingolipidology: an amazing challenge and opportunity for systems biology

Sphingolipids are found in essentially all eukaryotes and in some prokaryotes and viruses, where they influence cell structure, signaling and interactions with the extracellular environment. Because of the combinatorial nature of their biosynthesis, the sphingolipidome comprises untold thousands of species that encompass bioactive backbones and complex phospho- and glycolipids. Mass spectrometry is able to analyze a growing fraction of the sphingolipidome and is beginning to provide information about localization. Use of these structure specific, quantitative methods is producing insights, and surprises, regarding sphingolipid structure, metabolism, function and disease. Dealing with such large data sets poses special challenges for systems biology, but the intrinsic and elegant interrelationships among these compounds might provide a key to dealing with the complexity of the sphingolipidome.
New compounds: Synthesis of N-haloacyl analogs ox 1-(N-β-hydroxyethyl-4-piperidyl)-3-(4-piperidyl) propane as potential antineoplastic agents

A series of haloamide analogs of 1-(N-β-hydroxyethyl - 4 - piperidyl) - 3 - (4 - piperidyl)propane has been synthesized for the purpose of studying their potential anti-carcinogenic activity.
Diminished Baroreflex Sensitivity in High Blood Pressure

Sudden intravenous injections of small amounts of angiotensin or phenylephrine were given to 30 subjects to produce modest, brief increases in directly measured systemic arterial pressure. A plot of each systolic pressure against the second succeeding cardiac cycle length produced a linear distribution, the slope of which was expressed as the millisecond increase in cycle length per mm Hg rise in systolic pressure. The slope is an index of baroreflex sensitivity and was found to have an average value of 12.8 in 18 subjects without hypertension and 2.8 in 12 others with hypertension. When all results were pooled, there was an inverse relationship between the resting mean arterial pressure and slope of the baroreflex regression lines. The findings demonstrate reduced sensitivity of the baroreflexes in hypertension, with respect to control of heart rate. A distinction is made between this change in sensitivity and simple resetting of the reflex.
Geoscience applications of x-ray computed microtomography

A facility for x-ray computed microtomography (CMT) has been commissioned on the bending magnet beamline at the GeoSoilEnviroCARS sector at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). The APS bending magnet has a critical energy of 20 keV, and thus provides high flux at photon energies up to 100 keV, making it well suited to imaging a wide range of earth materials up to several cm in size. The current apparatus uses a Si (220) channel-cut monochromator covering the energy range from 5 to 35 keV with beam sizes up to 18 mm wide and 4 mm high. The transmitted x-rays are imaged with a single crystal YAG scintillator, a microscope objective and a 1242 X 1152 pixel fast CCD detector. The system spatial resolution is about 3 microns in both the transmission radiographs and the reconstructed slices. Data collection times are approximately 30 minutes. This facility has been used to conduct a number of preliminary studies of earth materials, including inclusion in diamonds, pores in waste repository rocks and fossils. Fluorescence tomography has been conducted on the companion undulator beamline, where we have imaged the internal trace element distribution in interplanetary dust particles.
The Cryptic Ichthyofauna of Lake Annie (Florida)

ABSTRACT The shoreline fishes of Lake Annie were sampled monthly from June 1986 to June 1988 with the Wegener ring technique. Sixteen species were collected, including eight that were not previously reported. There were significant differences in fish abundance and diversity around the shoreline of the lake.
Underground Mine Water for Heating and Cooling using Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

In many regions of the world, flooded mines are a potentially cost-effective option for heating and cooling using geothermal heat pump systems. For example, a single coal seam in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio contains 5.1 x 1012 L of water. The growing volume of water discharging from this one coal seam totals 380,000 L/min, which could theoretically heat and cool 20,000 homes. Using the water stored in the mines would conservatively extend this option to an order of magnitude more sites. Based on current energy prices, geothermal heat pump systems using mine water could reduce annual costs for heating by 67% and cooling by 50% over conventional methods (natural gas or heating oil and standard air conditioning).
DAFT: Disk geometry-Aware File system Traversal

Bulk file access is a read access to a large number of files in a file system. Example applications that use bulk file access extensively are anti-virus (AV) scanner, file-level data back-up agent, file system defragmentation tool, etc. This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of an optimization to modern file systems that is designed to improve the read efficiency of bulk file accesses. The resulting scheme, called DAFT (Disk geometry-Aware File system Traversal), provides a bulk file access application with individual files while fetching these files into memory in a way that respects the disk geometry and thus is as efficient as it can be. We have successfully implemented a fully operational DAFT prototype, and tested it with commercial AV scanners and data back-up agents. Empirical measurements on this prototype demonstrate that it can reduce the elapsed time of enumerating all files in a file system by a factor of 5 to 15 for both fragmented and non-fragmented file systems on fast and slow disks.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: outcome and diagnosis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection in humans and an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. Congenital CMV infection occurs in approximately 0.5 to 1 percent of all newborns in the United States and can result in significant neurological sequelae. The gold standard for diagnosing congenital CMV infection is isolation of the virus from infants within the first 2 weeks of life through conventional or rapid cell culture techniques. Newer molecular diagnostic methods to diagnose congenital CMV infection, including the nucleic acid amplification of viral DNA from the peripheral blood of infants, are being investigated, and the preliminary results show promise. However, more work must be done to standardize and validate these methods before they can be used routinely in establishing the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.
Cytokine modulators as novel therapies for asthma.

Cytokines play a critical role in orchestrating and perpetuating inflammation in asthmatic airways and several specific cytokine and chemokine inhibitors are now in development for the treatment of asthma. Inhibition of IL-4 with soluble IL-4 receptors has shown promising early results in asthma. Anti-IL-5 antibody is very effective at inhibiting peripheral blood and airway eosinophils but does not appear to be effective in symptomatic asthma. Inhibitory cytokines, such as IL-10, interferons, and IL-12 are less promising because systemic delivery produces intolerable side effects. Inhibition of TNF-α may be useful in severe asthma. Many chemokines are involved in the inflammatory response of asthma, and small-molecule inhibitors of chemokine receptors are in development. CCR3 antagonists are now in clinical development for the treatment of asthma. Because so many cytokines are involved in asthma, drugs that inhibit the synthesis of multiple cytokines may prove to be more useful. Several such classes of dr...
Clinical and neurophysiologic spectrum of orthostatic tremor: case series of 26 subjects.

Orthostatic tremor (OT) is a condition described as high-frequency tremors predominantly in the legs and trunk, which are present not only in the standing position but also during isometric contraction of the limb muscles. This report is one of the largest OT series describing clinical and neurophys- iologic findings in 26 subjects with OT. The main findings included 13.0 to 18.6 Hz leg tremors while standing with varied patterns of phase relationships between the antagonists of the ipsilateral leg and between the homologous muscles of the contralateral leg, short latency tremor onset upon standing with abrupt cessation after sitting, coexistence of tremors in the cranial structures and the arms, and sense of unsteadiness without actual falls. Although the oscillator of OT is most likely located in the brainstem, cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and cere- bellum may also be involved in its pathogenesis. © 2005 Move- ment Disorder Society
Fetal Breathing Movements and Changes at Birth

The fetus, which develops within a fluid-filled amniotic sac, relies on the placenta for respiratory gas exchange rather than the lungs. While not involved in fetal oxygenation, fetal breathing movements (FBM) nevertheless have an important role in lung growth and in development of respiratory muscles and neural regulation. FBM are regulated differently in many respects than postnatal respiration, which results from the unique intrauterine environment. Prominent distinctions of FBM include its episodic nature and apnea-sensitivity to hypoxia. The latter characteristic is the basis for using FBM in the assessment of fetuses at risk for hypoxic injury. At birth, the transition to continuous postnatal respiration involves a fall in temperature, gaseous distention of the lungs, activation of the Hering-Breuer reflexes, and functional connectivity of afferent O2 chemoreceptor activity with respiratory motoneurons and arousal centers. Importantly, exposure to drugs or adverse conditions in utero not only can change patterns of FBM but also can lead to epigenetic dysregulation in postnatal respiration. Such changes, can blunt respiratory and arousal defenses against hypoxic challenges in sleep. Thus, fetal hypoxia and/or drug exposure may in later life dispose sleeping infants, children, and adults to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, brain injury, and sudden death.
Cycloheptaamylose–Barbiturate Inclusion Complexes: Solubility and Circular Dichroism Studies

The interaction of cycloheptaamylose with some barbiturates was examined by solubility analysis and by circular dichroism. Complexation by inclusion of the barbiturate within the cavity of cycloheptaamylose leads to: (a) an enhancement in the aqueous solubility of the barbiturate, and (b) extrinsic Cotton effects in the circular dichroism spectra. Measurements from both methods yield formation constants for the 1:1 interactions. The relative strength of interaction with cycloheptaamylose is of the following order: phenobarbital > pentobarbital > amobarbital > barbital.
Pedagogical praxis: using technology to build professional communities of practice

Over the past decade and a half, work in the field of education on communities of practice [20] and/or communities of learners [2] has focused on how individual development takes place within the larger context of the norms and activities of a community. Recognizing this, educators working within the sociocultural tradition have focused on documenting the practices of extant communities [12; 18--20; 35] and/or on ways in which the "community of practice" of the classroom can be improved [2; 25]. Broadly speaking, this work looks at how the traditional intellectual disciplines (such as math, science, and history) are mobilized in the context of real-world practices, or how importing more authentic practices into school settings can develop disciplinary understanding more effectively.