cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-ray scatter suppression algorithm for cone-beam volume CT

Developing and optimizing an x-ray scatter control and reduction technique is one big challenge for cone beam volume computed tomography (CBVCT) because CBVCT will be much less immune to scatter than fan-beam CT. X-ray Scatter reduces image contrast, increases image noise and introduces reconstruction error into CBVCT. To reduce scatter interference, a practical algorithm that is based upon the beam stop array technique and image sequence processing has been developed on a flat panel detector-based CBVCT prototype scanner. This paper presents beam stop array-based scatter correction algorithm and the evaluation results through phantom studies. The results indicate that the beam stop array-based scatter correction algorithm is practical and effective to reduce and correct x-ray scatter for a CBVCT imaging task.
Tests of the Conserved Vector Current and Partially Conserved Axial-Vector Current Hypotheses in High-Energy Neutrino Reactions

The following theorem is proved: Consider the high-energy neutrino reaction $\ensuremath{\nu}+\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}l+\ensuremath{\beta}$, with $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ a nucleon or nucleus, $l$ a lepton ($e$ or $\ensuremath{\mu}$) and $\ensuremath{\beta}$ a system of strongly interacting particles. Suppose that the mass of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and the invariant mass of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ are not equal, and that the lepton mass is neglected. Then when the lepton emerges with its momentum parallel to that of the neutrino, the squared matrix element, averaged over lepton spin, depends only on the divergences of the vector and the axial-vector currents. Tests of the conserved vector current and the partially conserved axial-vector current hypotheses, based on the theorem, are proposed.
Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline Barium Strontium Titanate powder via sol-gel processing

Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) solid solution is a strong candidate material for application in tunable ferroelectric devices. In this research, we have synthesized and characterized nanocrystalline BST (Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3) powder with average particle-diameter of 15 nm through a simple sol-gel process, using barium acetate, strontium acetate and titanium isopropoxide as the precursors. In this process, stoichiometric proportions of barium acetate and strontium acetate were dissolved in acetic acid followed by refluxing, and addition of titanium (IV) isopropoxide to form BST gel. The gel was analyzed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The as-formed gel was dried at 200 °C and then calcined in the temperature range of 400 to 800 °C for crystallization. Phase evolution during calcination was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Particle size, morphology and the lattice fringes of the calcined powder were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). To study the effects of sintering on BST nanopowder, green ceramic specimens were prepared by uniaxial compaction and then sintered at 950–1,100 °C under atmospheric conditions. Sintered specimens were analyzed for phase composition, grain size and geometric bulk density.
Effect of scale on plant disease incidence and heterogeneity in a spatial hierarchy

Abstract The effect of patch scale on disease incidence and heterogeneity was assessed in a three-scaled spatial hierarchy using data collected from strawberry leaf blight epidemics and with Monte-Carlo simulation studies. Cluster sampling was used to collect disease incidence data from several strawberry fields at two commercial farms in Ohio over 2 years. Sampling units consisted of five leaves of three leaflets each. Leaflets represented the lowest scale of the hierarchy, leaves represented the intermediate scale, and the sampling units represented the upper scale. Results from data randomizations indicated that diseased leaflets were nearly maximally aggregated among leaves within sampling units, resulting in close to the minimum possible incidence and heterogeneity of disease among sampling units at the leaf scale. Based on Monte-Carlo simulations, incidence and heterogeneity of disease at the leaflet (i.e. lowest) scale had the largest effect on incidence and heterogeneity of disease at the leaf scale, respectively. However, analysis of variance of simulation results indicated that arrangement of diseased leaflets among leaves within sampling units, sampling unit size (=number of leaves or leaflets per sampling unit), leaf complexity (leaflets per leaf), and all interactions affected disease incidence and heterogeneity at the leaf scale. For a given level of intensity of leaflet disease incidence and heterogeneity, incidence and heterogeneity of disease at the leaf scale were most affected by sampling unit size when leaflets were arranged in an aggregated fashion among leaves; increasing the number of leaves per sampling unit was associated with decreasing disease incidence and increasing heterogeneity at the leaf scale. However, leaf complexity had the greater effect on leaf disease incidence and heterogeneity when diseased leaflets were arranged randomly or uniformly among leaves within sampling units; greater leaf complexity was associated with greater incidence and heterogeneity. Combined results indicated that incidence and heterogeneity of incidence of Phomopsis leaf blight varied between scales in a patch hierarchy. This variability was shown to be a function of lower-scale disease incidence and heterogeneity, sampling unit size, and leaf complexity.
Retroperitoneal leiomyomapresenting as prostatic mass

Abstract A case of retrovesical retroperitoneal leiomyoma presenting as a prostatic mass isreported. This tumor is rarely found in the retroperitoneum and is even rarer in the retrovesical space.
Identifying fuzzy models utilizing genetic programming

Abstract Fuzzy models offer a convenient way to describe complex nonlinear systems. Moreover, they permit the user to deal with uncertainty and vagueness. Due to these advantages fuzzy models are employed in various fields of applications, e.g. control, forecasting, and pattern recognition. Nevertheless, it has to be emphasized that the identification of a fuzzy model is a complex optimization task with many local minima. Genetic programming provides a way to solve such complex optimization problems. In this work, the use of genetic programming to identify the input variables, the rule base and the involved membership functions of a fuzzy model is proposed. For this purpose, several new reproduction operators are introduced.
EFFECT OF TEMPORAL FACTORS ON REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION BETWEEN CHORISTONEURA OCCIDENTALIS AND C. RETINIANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

The seasonal distributions of Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman and C. retiniana (Walsingham) males attracted to pheromone sources overlapped considerably at two sites in south-central Oregon. Bimodality in the seasonal distributions of trapped males of both species was associated with a period of cool weather. The daily periods of female calling, and attraction of males to female-baited traps and to chemically baited traps overlapped greatly between the two species. However, these three aspects of C. occidentalis mating behavior began 1–2 h before those of C. retiniana. Under laboratory conditions, there was also considerable overlap in the calling periods of the two species; but again, C. occidentalis females initiated calling slightly earlier than did female C. retiniana. Females of both species continued to call many hours past the cessation of male attraction to pheromones in the field. Male attraction to pheromones occurred earlier on cool evenings than on warm evenings. Laboratory studies indicated a similar effect of temperature on timing of female calling. Little intraspecific variation in calling periodicity was observed among field-collected populations of each species. However, a C. occidentalis laboratory colony appeared to have partially lost its circadian rhythm of calling.
Love thy patient: justice, caring, and the doctor-patient relationship.

Traditional moral theories of rights and principles have dominated medical ethics discussions for decades. Appeals to utilitarian consequences, as well as the principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, and justice, have provided the standard vocabulary and filled the literature of the field.Recently on the bioethics scene, however, there has been some discussion of virtue, and, particularly within the nursing ethics literature, appeals are being made to the feminist ethics of care. This intimation of a shift in the wind may have to do with postmodern doubt, or it may be attributable to the claim that virtue theory and the ethics of care (which focus on the character or feelings of the agent, respectively) are more appropriate to private interaction; theories of rights and justice (which focus on the act rather than the agent) are best applied to the political domain of public policy.
Experiences of Condom Fit and Feel among Men in Five European Nations

Findings from recent studies in the United States indicate that some men report they perceive problems with the fit and feel of condoms and that these perceptions are associated with lack of consistent condom use. However, little research has explored how men outside the U.S. feel about the fit and feel of condoms. The research project was conducted by researchers in the U.S. in collaboration with a range of community partners in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain. A total of 2,921 men completed The Condom Fit and Feel Scale and other items via Internet-based surveys available in six languages. Men from each nation were compared using descriptive and multivariate techniques to assess condom fit and feel. Although most men reported they generally perceived condoms to fit fine and feel comfortable, there were differences across men in different countries with regard to specific issues they experienced with condom fit and feel. In particular, men in the Netherlands were least likely to report that condoms fit fine and most likely to report that condoms felt too tight and/or too short. Men from Slovenia were most likely to report that condoms were too loose. The fit and feel issues that men identified may be among those that are associated with their likelihood of using, or not using, condoms consistently and correctly. A better understanding of fit and feel perceptions in this study will be beneficial to both condom manufacturers and health professionals.
Studies within studies.

Excerpt To the Editors:Drs. Toto and colleagues (1) recently described eight patients who had reversible renal insufficiency that was attributed to the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhib...
Understanding the Relationship Between Language Performance and University Course Grades

This article presents preliminary data correlating students' scores on measures of speaking, listening, and reading with their grades in Spanish courses. As might be expected, students with higher grades generally scored higher on performance assessments than did classmates with lower course grades. However, large score ranges resulted within a single letter grade. In addition, some students with low course grades scored rather well on certain measures of performance while some students with high course grades had low scores. In sum, the relationship between course grades, GPA, and performance level as evidenced by these data were far from predictable and underscored the need for (1) more research using a variety of methodologies, and (2) more careful alignment of course grades with demonstrated abilities to use language in interpretive and interpersonal settings.
The near and far acoustic fields of broadband shock associated noise

A stochastic model theory is presented which suggests that the broadband shock associated noise of supersonic jets is generated by the weak interaction between downstream propagating large turbulence structures and the quasiperiodic shock cells in the jet plume. The large turbulence structures are modelled by a superposition of the intrinsic instability waves of the mean flow of the jet, and the quasiperiodic shock cells are broken down into time-independent waveguide modes of the jet flow using multiple scales expansion. The observed broadband shock associated noise consists of a superposition of the spectra generated by the different waveguide modes. Starting from the equations of motion of a compressible fluid, formulas for calculating the far field and near field noise are developed. Good general agreement is found with previous results.
A case study of one instructor’s lecture-based teaching of proof in abstract algebra: making sense of her pedagogical moves

This paper is a case study of the teaching of an undergraduate abstract algebra course, in particular the way the instructor presented proofs. It describes a framework for proof writing based on Selden and Selden (2009) and the work of Alcock (2010) on modes of thought that support proof writing. The paper offers a case study of the teaching of a traditionally-taught abstract algebra course, including showing the range of practice as larger than previously described in research literature. This study describes the aspects of proof writing and modes of thought the instructor modeled for the students. The study finds that she frequently modeled the aspects of hierarchical structure and formal–rhetorical skills, and structural, critical, and instantiation modes of thought. This study also examines the instructor’s attempts to involve the students in the proof writing process during class by asking questions and expecting responses. Finally, the study describes how those questions and responses were part of her proof presentation. The funneling pattern of Steinbring (1989) describes most of the question and answer discussions enacted in the class with most questions requiring a factual response. Yet, the instructional sequence can be also understood as modeling the way an expert in the discipline thinks and, as such, offering a different type of opportunity for student learning.
Why We Should Put Clothes on Mice

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a key regulator of adaptive thermogenesis and energy expenditure. Mice lacking UCP1 are cold sensitive, but surprisingly not obese at room temperature. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Feldmann et al. (2009) unmask an obesogenic phenotype by simply maintaining these mice at thermoneutrality.
Enhanced visual memory effect for negative versus positive emotional content is potentiated at sub-anaesthetic concentrations of thiopental

Background. Emotional information has the ability to alter the formation and strength of a memory (‘memory modulation’). Memory modulation by negative emotion is mediated by the amygdala. It is not known how gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic drugs affect the processes involved in memory modulation. This study investigates whether memory for negative emotional stimuli is more refractory to the effects of GABAergic drugs. Methods. Eighty-three healthy volunteers were shown a randomized sequence of 60 visual stimuli consisting of negative, positive and neutral emotive pictures, while receiving a controlled infusion of thiopental (n=31), propofol (n=31), dexmedetomidine (n=10) or placebo (n=11). After a 5 h retention interval, when drug concentration was negligible, subjects performed a recognition task with ‘old’ pictures randomly mixed with ‘new’ pictures. Drug effect was calculated as the proportionate reduction in recognition for images of each emotional valence. Results. Forty-eight subjects were included in a within-subject logistic dose–response model analysis. In the thiopental group there was a smaller drug effect seen for negative vs positive images (proportional memory reduction from baseline 0.27 ( sd 0.20) vs 0.56 (0.25), P Conclusions. Over a specific dose range of thiopental (target serum concentration 2–7 μg ml−1), impairment of explicit memory for images with negative emotional valence is less than that for images with positive emotional valence. There is a strong possibility that propofol (target serum concentration 0.3–2.4 μg ml−1) causes a similar effect. Modulation of visual memory by negative emotional content continues at sub-anaesthetic concentrations of GABAergic drugs associated with explicit memory impairment.
Physical Structure of the Proto-Planetary Nebula CRL 618. I. Optical Long-Slit Spectroscopy and Imaging

In this paper we present optical long-slit spectroscopy and imaging of the protoplanetary nebula CRL 618. The optical lobes of CRL 618 consist of shock-excited gas, which emits many recombination and forbidden lines, and dust, which scatters light from the innermost regions.
The role of the human psoralen 4 (hPso4) protein complex in replication stress and homologous recombination.

Psoralen 4 (Pso4) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that has been implicated in a variety of cellular processes including RNA splicing and resistance to agents that cause DNA interstrand cross-links. Here we show that the hPso4 complex is required for timely progression through S phase and transition through the G2/M checkpoint, and it functions in the repair of DNA lesions that arise during replication. Notably, hPso4 depletion results in delayed resumption of DNA replication after hydroxyurea-induced stalling of replication forks, reduced repair of spontaneous and hydroxyurea-induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), and increased sensitivity to a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor. Furthermore, we show that hPso4 is involved in the repair of DSBs by homologous recombination, probably by regulating the BRCA1 protein levels and the generation of single strand DNA at DSBs. Together, our results demonstrate that hPso4 participates in cell proliferation and the maintenance of genome stability by regulating homologous recombination. The involvement of hPso4 in the recombinational repair of DSBs provides an explanation for the sensitivity of Pso4-deficient cells to DNA interstrand cross-links.
Prolonged exposure to gaba activates GABA-gated chloride channels in the presence of channel-blocking convulsants

Abstract 1. In assays of 36 Cl − uptake into mouse brain vesicles, 100 μM GABA markedly increased both the initial rate of 36 Cl − uptake and the total amount of chloride taken up over a 120-sec incubation period. Specific GABA-dependent 36 Cl − uptake (the difference between total and background uptake) was essentially complete within 15 sec of incubation. 2. Incubation with GABA following preincubation with 10 μM endrin, a polychlorocycloalkane insecticide and established blocker of GABA-gated chloride channels, showed a stimulation of uptake over background levels that was much slower in onset than that observed with GABA alone but nevertheless achieved virtually the same level of stimulation above background levels after 90 sec of incubation with GABA. 3. In electrophysiological assays of GABA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes following injection with rat brain mRNA, endrin (20 μM) effectively blocked the transient currents elicited by brief exposure of oocytes to GABA (200 μM). However, prolonged exposure to GABA in the absence of perfusion produced a large, slowly-developing inward current. 4. The actions of several known GABA antagonists were also compared as inhibitors of GABA-dependent 36 Cl − uptake into mouse brain vesicles at short (4 sec) and long (120 sec) incubation times using concentrations of inhibitors known to produce approximately 70–90% inhibition of GABA-dependent chloride uptake in 4-sec incubations. Picrotoxinin and TBPS, like endrin, were completely ineffective as inhibitors in 120-sec incubations. In contrast, bicuculline was almost as effective at 120 sec as at 4 sec, and avermectin B 1a produced approximately 50% inhibition of the GABA response after 120 sec 5. These data suggest that the potent inhibitory action of picrotoxinin, bicyclic phosphates and orthocarboxylates, and polychlorocycloalkane insecticides on GABA-gated chloride channels may be restricted to a subpopulation of receptors that mediates transient, rapidly-densitizing responses to GABA.
Maximizing parameters for tissue ablation by using an internally cooled electrode.

Our results showed that both use of gradual increase of power levels and restarting the generator after the equipment reached initial impedance level will increase ex vivo liver ablation.
Community support for license plate recognition

Purpose – Although the use of license plate recognition (LPR) technology by police is becoming increasingly common, no empirical studies have examined the legal or legitimacy implications of LPR. LPR may be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from relatively routine checks of stolen vehicles to more complex surveillance functions. The purpose of this paper is to develop a “continuum of LPR uses” that provides a framework for understanding the potential legal and legitimacy issues related to LPR. The paper then analyzes results from the first random-sample community survey on the topic. Design/methodology/approach – Random-sample survey (n=457). Findings – The paper finds substantial support for many LPR uses, although the public also appears to know little about the technology. The survey also reveals that the public does not regard the uses of LPR as equivalent, but rather support is qualified depending upon the use at issue. Originality/value – Previous research has not systematically categorized th...
Is radioiodine more likely than antithyroid drugs to worsen ophthalmopathy in patients with Graves disease

This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings and limitations of a systematic review by Acharya et al. that assessed the utility of radioiodine to treat Graves hyperthyroidism. The authors examined 10 randomized controlled trials, and focused on the potential causative relationship between radioiodine and Graves ophthalmopathy. They concluded that the risk of Graves ophthalmopathy following radioiodine therapy is higher than that after treatment with antithyroid drugs (relative risk [RR] 4.23). The risk of severe Graves ophthalmopathy was also found to be increased after treatment with radioiodine (RR 4.35). Glucocorticoid prophylaxis was highly effective in preventing disease progression in patients with pre-existing Graves ophthalmopathy (RR 0.03). Here, I highlight the issues to consider when interpreting and generalizing these results, such as the limitations imposed by the inconsistency of disease classification and description in the various trials. Although this systematic review highlighted the small but real risk of Graves ophthalmopathy progression following radioiodine therapy, it could not provide insight into the extent of this progression or identify which patients are at highest risk and so might benefit most from prophylaxis.
Nearly acyclic graphs are reconstructible

We prove that a graph G is reconstructible if G has a node v with G-v acyclic. The proof uses colored graphs and shows how to reconstruct some graphs from pieces which share a common subgraph having few automorphisms.
Immunocytochemical evidence for phorbol ester-induced protein kinase C translocation in HL60 cells.

Abstract The ability of tumor promoting 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to redistribute protein kinase C in human promyelocytic leukemic HL60 cells was investigated. It was found that TPA caused a rapid translocation (within 10 min) of protein kinase C from the cytosolic (soluble) fraction to the particulate (membrane) fraction, as determined indirectly by assaying for the enzyme activity or by immunoblotting of the enzyme protein in the isolated subcellular fractions. Immunocytochemical localization of the enzyme demonstrated directly that the TPA caused an enzyme translocation to the plasma membrane. These findings suggest that translocation to the plasma membrane of the enzyme may represent initial events related to the TPA effect on terminal differentiation of HL60 cells to monocytes/macrophages.
Development of Citizen-Organized Environmental NGOs in China

Social movement theories provide a framework for explaining the post-1990 rise in China’s citizen-organized environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs), which consisted of at least 128 organizations as of 2004. We use a political process model, which is based on favorable political opportunities, cognitive liberation, and indigenous organizational strength, to explain the sharp growth in citizen organized ENGOs. In addition, we employ a world society perspective to help clarify why the political environment in China became favorable for ENGO growth, and how international ENGO practices were diffused within China. Our analysis shows that the relatively high status of ENGO founders together with their personal and professional networks also played important roles in ENGO growth.
An Improved Procedure for the Purification of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) Metacyclics from the Insect Vector1

. We have developed an improved procedure for isolating and purifying the metacyclic trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi from infected Triatoma infestans. The procedure was simple, did not require time-consuming removal of the insect gut, and gave a good recovery of metacyclics. Purification involved centrifugal flotation of the parasites in Percoll followed by diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography. The resulting purified metacyclics exhibited no loss of infectivity when assayed in mice as compared to metacyclics taken directly from the insects.
Identification of a major, CsrRS-regulated secreted protein of Group A streptococcus.

CsrR/CsrS (CovR/CovS) is a two-component regulator of extracellular virulence factors in Group A streptococcus, but the full range of regulated exoproteins is unknown. Since CsrR represses expression of regulated factors, culture supernates of wild-type and CsrR(-)mutant strains were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) to identify regulated exoproteins. Supernates of DeltacsrRS(-)mutant, but not wild-type, bacteria contained an abundant 23 kDa protein. The N-terminal sequence of this spot corresponded to a putative open reading frame (ORF) in the streptococcal genome. In a mobility shift assay, phosphorylated CsrR bound to a PCR amplicon that included sequences upstream of this ORF. By primer extension analysis, the ORF (designated mspA, for Mucoidy-associated Secreted Protein) was expressed in mid- and late-exponential phase in a DeltacsrRS(-)mutant. The presence of an in-frame deletion in mspA did not affect colony appearance, mucoidy or in vitro growth, and there was no difference between DeltamspA and wild-type strains in a mouse model of skin infection. MspA is co-regulated with other factors required for dermonecrosis (e.g. capsule, streptolysin S and purogenic exotoxin B); however, deletion of this gene does not affect expression of hyaluronic acid capsule or severity of skin infection in mice.
Anticonvulsant activity of some 4-methoxy- and 4-chlorobenzanilides

A series of mono-, di-, and trimethylated derivatives of 4-chloro- and 4-methoxybenzanilide was synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. This series was prepared in the course of studies designed to examine the relationship between anticonvulsant effects and benzamide structure. The compounds were tested in mice against seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (scMet), as well as with the rotorod assay for neurologic deficit. In mice dosed intraperitoneally, 4-methoxy-2, 6-dimethylbenzanilide (4) showed a median anticonvulsant potency (ED50) of 18.58 mg/kg in the MES test and a median toxicity (TD50) of 133.72 mg/kg in the rotorod toxicity assay, yielding a protective index (Pl = TD50/ED50) of 7.2. In mice dosed orally with 4, the anti-MES ED50 was 27.40 mg/kg and the TD50 dose was determined to be 342.58 mg/kg, resulting in a protective index of 12.5.
Eat or be eaten: fungus and nematode switch off as predator and prey

Use of the parasitic nematode Deladenus siricidicola to control invasive pine-killing Sirex noctilio woodwasps in the Southern Hemisphere is one of the most successful examples of classical biological control. Both nematode and woodwasp rely on the white rot fungus, Amylostereum areolatum, for continued survival, and the nematode is commercially mass produced in its mycophagous phase on this fungus. We tested the hypothesis that a role reversal can occur wherein fungal hyphae invade and kill nematode eggs. Deladenus siricidicola eggs were exposed to A. areolatum to quantify the number of eggs lost to fungal invasion. Additionally, A. areolatum and A. chailletii were observed via cryogenic scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy to document their ability to parasitize eggs and adults of D. siricidicola, D. proximus, and an undescribed Deladenus species. This study reports evidence of a basidiomycete destroying nematode eggs, as well as a novel trapping mechanism used to capture and parasitize three species of adult female Deladenus nematodes.
A CONTINUOUS, AUTOMATIC METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF RATE OF HYDROLYSIS OF PEPTIDES AND AMIDES.

Abstract A continuous, automatic method for following the enzymic hydrolysis of amides and peptides is presented. The apparatus used is a modification of part of the Technicon automatic amino acid analyzer, and the method is based on the development of color with ninhydrin. Excellent sensitivity and precision have been demonstrated in experiments with N -acetyl- l -tryptophan amide as substrate and α-chymotrypsin as enzyme. The method permits the use of considerably lower enzyme concentrations than was possible previously, and is comparable in convenience and sensitivity to the pH-stat method used in following the kinetics of ester hydrolysis.
USING LISTENING JOURNALS IN MATH METHODS

The purpose of this teacher action research was twofold: to learn more about preservice teachers' preconceived notions related to listening and to investigate how a listening journal assignment impacted preservice teachers' views of listening as an important aspect of discourse. The participants were enrolled in a mathematics methods course for PreK–3 (early childhood) majors during their last semester of coursework prior to student teaching. Data in the form of final reflections from participants' listening journals and researchers' field notes were analyzed. Findings suggest that the preservice teachers entered the course without truly considering listening as an important component of teaching methods related to facilitating classroom discourse. The listening journal assignment helped them begin to think more deeply about listening and the different definitions and modes of listening; however, at the end of the semester, many still wrote about their own personal journeys with listening and not about th...
Effect of diquat on the distribution of iron in rat liver.

Diquat toxicity is proposed to be mediated through the generation of active oxygen species; however, the exact role of active oxygen in toxicity is not known. The generation of damaging oxygen radicals requires transition metals such as iron. In vitro studies have shown that redox cycling of diquat results in the release of iron from ferritin, thus increasing the potential for active oxygen species generation. We sought to determine if diquat administration to male Sprague-Dawley rats would result in the release of iron from ferritin in vivo. Rats were treated with diquat dibromide (20 mg/kg body weight) and the effect on the iron distribution in liver was determined. The results show that diquat-treated animals had increased levels of hepatic low molecular weight chelatable iron (LMWC-Fe) and decreased levels of hepatic ferritin iron when compared to saline-treated animals. These results suggest that diquat toxicity may be associated with the release of iron from ferritin in vivo and that iron release from ferritin may be a process common to other free radical mediated toxicities.
Isolation and characterization of 10 polymorphic microsatellites in saltcedars (Tamarix chinensis and Tamarix ramosissima).

Tamarix ramosissima and Tamarix chinensis are invasive weed species in western North America. Previous studies based on single locus DNA sequence data revealed some information about the invasion process, but multilocus markers can provide additional information about levels of introgression and genotype origins. We have developed primers that amplify 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci from T. ramosissima; these primer pairs also successfully amplify polymorphic microsatellites from the closely related T. chinensis, a species that forms hybrids with T. ramosissima in the western USA.
Belief ascription and model generative reasoning: joining two paradigms to a robust parser of messages

This paper discusses the extension of ViewGen, a program for belief ascription, to the area of intensional object identification with applications to battle environments, and its combination in a overall system with MGR, a Model-Generative Reasoning system, and PREMO a semantics-based parser for robust parsing of noisy message data.ViewGen represents the beliefs of agents as explicit, partitioned proposition-sets known as environments. Environments are convenient, even essential, for addressing important pragmatic issues of reasoning. The paper concentrates on showing that the transfer of information in intensional object identification and belief ascription itself can both be seen as different manifestations of a single environment-amalgamation process. The entities we shall be concerned with will be ones, for example, the system itself believes to be separate entities while it is computing the beliefs and reasoning of a hostile agent that believes them to be the same entity (e.g. we believe enemy radar shows two of our ships to be the same ship, or vice-versa. The KAL disaster should bring the right kind of scenario to mind). The representational issue we address is how to represent that fictional single entity in the belief space of the other agent, and what content it should have given that it is an amalgamation of two real entities.A major feature of the paper is our work on embedding within the ViewGen belief-and-point-of-view system the knowledge representation system of our MGR reasoner, and then bringing together the multiple viewpoints offered by ViewGen with the multiple representations of MGR. The fusing of these techniques, we believe, offers a very strong system for extracting message gists from texts and reasoning about them.
Three-dimensional organization of fibroblasts and collagen fibrils in rat tail tendon

The orderly arrangement of fibroblasts and collagen in tendons and ligaments suggests that these cells may have precise relationships with one another and with the collagen fibrils. The spatial organization of rat tail tendon was therefore examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and by reconstructing a 35-μm long segment of tendon from serial transmission electron micrographs. Fibroblasts were regularly arranged in columns and showed more intimate association in the longitudinal than in the transverse plane. Thin cytoplasmic sheets extended up to 3 μm transversely, frequently forming junctional attachments with similar processes from adjacent cells or from the same cell. Longitudinal processes were longer, often extending for more than 20 μm and forming junctional attachments with other cells in the same column. Such processes often exhibited invaginations in which there were single fibrils or small groups of fibrils; this arrangement may be indicative of fibril elongation or may serve to transmit tension between the fibroblast and the collagen fibrils. This organization has interesting implications for the growth and function of other fibrous connective tissue, such as the periodontal ligament.
Compression of computer graphics images with image-based rendering

We present a new compression algorithm for synthetic images that produces high compression rates by utilizing depth and color information from previously rendered images. Images predicted from prior images are combined with a residual image that may be transmitting from a remote location, to generate new images. The image-based rendering technique provides accurate motion prediction and accelerates rendering at the same time by exploiting temporal coherence. The motion prediction is computed and evaluated in image- order, pixel by pixel, producing residual images that are sparse and do not require address or index data. The system yields a compression ratio improvement of a factor of 4 - 10 over MPEG, in many cases. This approach is attractive for remote rendering applications where a client system may be a relatively low-performance machine and limited network bandwidth makes transmission of large 3D data impractical. The efficiency of the server generally increases with scene complexity or data size since the rendering time is predominantly a function of image size. This technique is also applicable to archiving animation.
Meal protein and zinc levels interact to influence zinc retention by the rat

Abstract The relationship between the effect of egg white protein and zinc in a meal on zinc retention was examined by feeding test meals labeled with Zn-65 to rats and monitoring retention of radioactivity with a whole body counter. Corrected retention (an estimate of absorption) was determined by extrapolating to zero time the semilogarithmic plot of Zn-65 retention between 5 and 26 days after the meal. Test meals contained fixed amounts of sucrose, cornstarch, corn oil, and variable amounts of egg white and zinc chloride. Fractional zinc retention was reduced by increasing the usual dietary zinc intake or zinc in the meal, and was enhanced by increasing protein in the meal. Meal zinc and protein interacted, such that with more zinc in the meal, more protein was needed to observe enhanced zinc retention. Enhancement of zinc retention by protein was not linear with the amount of protein and was not related to the protein to zinc ratio in the meal. The interaction was similar whether rats were accustomed to diets containing 14 or 37 mg zinc/kg. These data indicate that zinc absorption is affected by an interaction between the protein and zinc content of a meal, and the dose-response relationship between the amount of zinc consumed and the amount retained may be amplified by a moderate amount of protein.
Fatty acid synthesis in rat fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation.

The effect of uterine artery ligation at 17 days of gestation to induce intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) on fetal fatty acid synthesis was studied in pregnant rats. Significant impairment in fatty acid synthesis was observed in fetal liver and lung tissue. The specific activity of fatty acids at 19 days of gestation in the liver was lower in the IUGR rats, as compared to controls, 44.6 ± 13 versus 87.9 ± 10 cpm/μmole fatty acids (p < .05). At 21 days of gestation, the specific activity of fatty acids was 40.6 ± 7.8 as compared to 75.8 ± 9.8 cpm/μmole in the IUGR and control fetuses, respectively (p < .05). In lung, the specific activity of fatty acids was 25.7 ± 5.4 cmp/μmole in IUGR fetuses as compared to 46.6 ± 9 cpm/μmole in control littermates at 19 days (p < .05). This difference persisted at 21 days since the specific activity was 32.2 ± 2.4 in experimental fetuses as compared to 42.6 ± 3.0 cpm/μmole in controls (p < .05). Brain and placental tissues demonstrated no statistically significant differences in specific activity at either time in gestation. The total fatty acid content per organ for both liver and lung was also reduced in the IUGR group. Decreased substrate transfer from mother to fetus during placental insufficiency may account for decreased lipogenesis in the IUGR fetus. Brain and placental tissues are spared despite significant compromises in liver and lung capabilities for fatty acid synthesis.
Relaxed maximum a posteriori fault identification

We consider the problem of estimating a pattern of faults, represented as a binary vector, from a set of measurements. The measurements can be noise corrupted real values, or quantized versions of noise corrupted signals, including even 1-bit (sign) measurements. Maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) estimation of the fault pattern leads to a difficult combinatorial optimization problem, so we propose a variation in which an approximate maximum a posteriori probability estimate is found instead, by solving a convex relaxation of the original problem, followed by rounding and simple local optimization. Our method is extremely efficient, and scales to very large problems, involving thousands (or more) of possible faults and measurements. Using synthetic examples, we show that the method performs extremely well, both in identifying the true fault pattern, and in identifying an ambiguity group, i.e., a set of alternate fault patterns that explain the observed measurements almost as well as our estimate.
On the ramsey numbers N(3,3,...3;2)

The main results of this paper are N(3,3,3,3;2) > 50 andf(k+1)>=3 f(k)+f(k-2), where f(k) = N3,3,...;2)ktimes -1 for k >= 3.
Modulation Adaptation for OFDM Packet Radio Transmissions

Adaptive modulation can improve the performance and reliability of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) packet transmissions over dynamic fading channels. For this to occur, the modulation must be selected to match the subchannel conditions as they evolve over time, which requires that subchannel state information be collected and routinely updated. In this study we develop and evaluate a method for modulation adaptation that does not rely on traditional channel measurements to assess subchannel quality.
The separation of the compounds of the lanosterol group present in “isocholesterol” by chromatography of the p-iodobenzoates-I131 and benzoates

Abstract Methods are described for chromatographing “isocholesterol” mixtures as the p-iodobenzoates-I131 or benzoates on silicic acid-Celite columns developed with petroleum ether. Lanosterol and dihydrolanosterol can be isolated directly from “isocholesterol.” Agnosterol and dihydroagnosterol can be estimated spectroscopically in “isocholesterol” and isolated from mixtures enriched by preliminary recrystallizations of the acetates.
Imagery encoding and false recognition errors: Exploring boundary conditions of imagery's enhancing effects

After generating images based on descriptions of object interactions, false recognition errors can be substantially reduced in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) task. Boundary conditions for this effect were examined in three experiments by testing imagery encoding tasks against encoding tasks used previously to alter false recognition levels. False recognition errors were lowest following imagery encoding whether comparisons involved an object interaction encoding task used previously (Experiments 1 and 2) or a new version of the task (Experiment 2). In addition reductions in false recognition errors were observed in a new imagery-encoding task (Experiment 3). Generating descriptions had differential effects on "remember" responses to falsely recognised items (Experiment 2). In combination with content analyses on participants' descriptions, these findings speak to alternative explanations for the effects of imagery encoding on false recognition errors. The findings also have implications for the use of DRM results in developing recommendations regarding the use of guided imagery in applied contexts.
Human Capital, Adjustments in Subjective Probabilities, and the Demand for Pest Controls

In addition to risk aversion, farmer behavior in an uncertain environment is governed by subjective probability estimates of random events. The estimates given here lend support to the idea that human capital development can improve farmers' ability to estimate pest damage probabilities. More accurate assessment of subjective probabilities leads to lower pesticide use and increases the use of labor-intensive pest controls. The human capital variables with the largest effects are formal schooling and farmer experience, with smaller impacts from field scouting and extension schools.
Interactional differences in second- and fourthborns: Applications of a theory

Abstract Systems theory of ordinal position is used to examine the interactional differences between second- and fourthborn subjects during two problem-solving tasks. Twenty unrelated dyads, each containing a second-and fourthborn, participated. Family size was controlled for by making certain all subjects were “middle children,” meaning that they had both older and younger siblings. Interpersonal interaction was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the Relational Coding System. Significant results showed that secondborns made more responses coded as “assertions” and fourthborns made more responses coded as “questions.” Support is given to the hypothesis that interactional differences exist among siblings. Implications are discussed for the use of the systems theory of ordinal position in the study of nonshared environments among siblings.
Tres premisas nocivas en el estudio del gueto norteamericano

The paper develops a deep criticism of the dominant approaches to the study of urban poverty in the United States. According to the author, these approaches simplify the notion of ghetto to the extreme, thus turning this concept into the equivalent to pocket of poverty and divesting the term of historical specificity, heuristic potential and psychological value. The author advocates for the recovery of an institutional approach to the notion of ghetto and for the end to the exoticism built around this concept; thus, it is argued that the ghetto is the complex result of the articulation of a series of institutional agents and factors along with the operation of dominant political and economic structures. These agents and structures transcend the ghetto and reverberate throughout society rather than being the result of local particularities or the cultural essence of its dwellers. The paper aims to lay the foundations for further research.
Increased Neuronal Endocytosis and Protease Delivery to Early Endosomes in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease: Neuropathologic Evidence for a Mechanism of Increased β-Amyloidogenesis

The early endosome is the first vacuolar compartment along the endocytic pathway. It is the site of internalization and initial processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE), two proteins of etiological importance in Alzheimer’s disease, and a putative site of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) formation. Here, we identify early endosomes in human pyramidal neurons, using specific compartmental markers and morphometry, and show that in Alzheimer’s disease individual endosomes display up to 32-fold larger volumes than the normal average. Endosomal enlargement contributed to an average 2.5-fold larger total endosomal volume per neuron, implying a marked increase in endocytic activity. Endosomal alterations were evident in most pyramidal neurons in Alzheimer brain, detectable at early stages of the disease but absent in several other neurodegenerative disorders examined. In addition, mature and proenzyme forms of the proteases cathepsin B and cathepsin D, a candidate APP secretase, were identified in most early endosomes in Alzheimer brains but were detectable in only a minor proportion of endosomes in normal brain. Expression of the cation-dependent 46 kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor was elevated in pyramidal neurons of Alzheimer brains, which could be a possible basis for the altered cathepsin trafficking pattern. Enhanced endocytic activity, coupled with increased trafficking to endosomes of proteases, which may have the ability under pathological conditions to generate Aβ, constitutes a potential mechanism by which β-amyloidogenesis may become accelerated in sporadic AD and also be subject to influences by ApoE.