cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Socratic Tutor for Source Code Comprehension

Reported here are the findings of a comparative study on the effects of using a Socratic Intelligent Tutoring System for source code comprehension and learning computer programming. The result shows there are significant differences between the two groups where students who used Socratic Tutor ITS improved their knowledge by 45% in term of learning gain, developed a better understanding of concepts such as nested if-else and for loop, and improved their confidence level by 13%. Furthermore, the result of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient shows a positive correlation (r = 0.68) between feedback from the ITS and learning gain.
Mechanical degradation due to vacancies produced by grain boundary corrosion of steel

Abstract Ductile alloys fail in corrosive environments by intergranular stress corrosion cracking, through interactions between mechanical and chemical processes that are not yet understood. We investigate formation and mechanical effects of metal defects produced by grain boundary corrosion of low-alloy pipeline steel, at conditions of high susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking in the absence of hydrogen evolution. Nanoindentation measurements show local softening near corroded grain boundaries, indicated by significantly reduced critical loads for dislocation nucleation. Molecular dynamics simulations of nanoindentation of bulk iron showed that metal vacancies and not interstitial hydrogen atoms explain the observed critical load reduction. Both the dislocation activation volume and dislocation activation energy for vacancy-charged samples are found to be nearly one-half of that for a hydrogen charged samples. Quantitative agreement with experimentally measured indentation response was found for vacancy concentrations equivalent to the bulk silicon concentration in the steel, suggesting that vacancies originate from oxidation of reactive silicon solute atoms at grain boundaries. The results help explain the chemical mechanism of formation of vacancy defects that may participate in grain boundary degradation in the absence of hydrogen embrittlement environment.
Deletion analysis of the F plasmid oriT locus.

Functional domains of the Escherichia coli F plasmid oriT locus were identified by deletion analysis. DNA sequences required for nicking or transfer were revealed by cloning deleted segments of oriT into otherwise nonmobilizable pUC8 vectors and testing for their ability to promote transfer or to be nicked when tra operon functions were provided in trans. Removal of DNA sequences to the right of the central A + T-rich region (i.e., from the direction of traM) did not affect the susceptibility of oriT to nicking functions; however, transfer efficiency for oriT segments deleted from the right was progressively reduced over an 80- to 100-bp interval. Deletions extending toward the oriT nick site from the left did not affect the frequency of transfer if deletion endpoints lay at least 22 bp away from the nick site. Deletions or insertions in the central, A + T-rich region caused periodic variation in transfer efficiency, indicating that phase relationships between nicking and transfer domains of oriT must be preserved for full oriT function. These data show that the F oriT locus is extensive, with domains that individually contribute to transfer, nicking, and overall structure.
Rocket observations of energetic ions in the nighttime equatorial precipitation zone

The paper deals with the first direct measurements of energetic particles at low altitudes in the equatorial zone. The measurements were carried out at Chilca, Peru (magnetic dip = -0.7 degrees) during the NASA launch operation Antarqui. The results illustrate how the incident energetic particle intensity, energy spectrum, and pitch-angle distribution vary with altitude in the presence of a horizontal magnetic field.
Evidence that molecular components of papillae may be involved in ml-o resistance to barley powdery mildew

Abstract We demonstrate that papillae in a resistant barley isoline, Riso 5678 (R), contain a light-absorbing component that is not characteristic of papillae in the corresponding susceptible isoline. In resistant coleoptiles incubated on a standard Ca(NO 3 ) 2 solution, penetration attempts by the powdery mildew fungus were typically unsuccessful and papillae contained the light-absorbing component, whereas in the susceptible coleoptiles the reverse occurred. Chlortetracycline strongly inhibited both the resistance to penetration and the incorporation of the light-absorbing component into papillae in the resistant isoline but had little or no effect in the susceptible isoline. When data from all treatments and genotypes were combined, the penetration efficiency was 5% where papillae contained the light-absorbing component, 99% where they did not, and 47% where the amount of light absorbance was intermediate. Autofluorescence, UV absorbance and lacmoid staining all suggested that the light-absorbing component is rich in phenylpropanoids. Acid fuchsin revealed a basic staining material in papillae in resistant but not in susceptible coleoptiles, and in resistant coleoptiles the basic staining material was specifically associated with penetration failures. Thus, the light-absorbing component and basic staining material in papillae may be molecular components of the ml-o resistance mechanism.
Application of theorem proving to problem solving

This paper shows how an extension of the resolution proof procedure can be used to construct problem solutions. The extended proof procedure can solve problems involving state transformations. The paper explores several alternate problem representations and provides a discussion of solutions to sample problems including the "Monkey and Bananas" puzzle and the 'Tower of Hanoi" puzzle. The paper exhibits solutions to these problems obtained by QA3, a computer program bused on these theorem-proving methods. In addition, the paper shows how QA3 can write simple computer programs and can solve practical problems for a simple robot.
Comparative Advantage and International Trade: Deficiencies in the Current Pedagogy

This paper calls attention to deficiencies in current principles-level treatments of comparative advantage and international trade. Authors routinely make a fundamental mistake in their interpretations of comparative advantage, and subsequently commit one or both of the following sins: The first, a sin of omission, is the failure to develop one of the most important implications of comparative advantage in international trade, namely, that domestic firms compete against other domestic firms, not just their foreign counterparts. The second sin, one of commission, is to confuse comparative advantage with absolute advantage.
Ictal hypoventilation contributes to cardiac arrhythmia and SUDEP: report on two deaths in video-EEG-monitored patients.

SUMMARY Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a common cause of death in patients with epilepsy, with cardiorespiratory dysfunction and a primary cessation of cerebral function proposed as causes. We report two cases of SUDEP in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy undergoing video-EEG (electroencephalography) telemetry at two centers. Both had secondarily generalized convulsions. EEG, electrocardiography (ECG), and respiratory changes in these two patients are reported herein. Ictal/postictal hypoventilation may contribute to SUDEP with the resulting hypoxemia and acidosis leading to failure of recovery of cortical function and eventual cardiac failure.
Novel Technique for Inhibiting Buckling of Thin-Walled Steel Structures Using Pultruded Glass FRP Sections

The use of composite materials for strengthening the ailing infrastructure has been steadily gaining acceptance and market share. It can even be stated that this strengthening technique has become main stream in some applications such as strengthening concrete structures. The same cannot be said about steel structures; for which research on composite material strengthening is relatively new. Several challenges face strengthening steel structures using composite materials such as the need for high-modulus composites to improve the effectiveness of the strengthening system. This paper explores a new approach for strengthening steel structures by introducing additional stiffness to buckling-prone regions. The proposed technique relies on improving the out-of-plane stiffness of buckling-prone members by bonding pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sections as opposed to the commonly used approach that relies on in-plane FRP contribution. The paper presents results from an experimental investigation where ...
What and when in action prediction

An ANOVA revealed a main effect of Movement Gaps (F(1, 20)=17.250, p=0.000) and an interaction between Movement Gaps and single versus interacting actors (F(7,140)=3.566, p=0.022). When the distractor had occurred in the preceding movie sequence, observers were more accurate in predicting future action when observing interactive action than single action, suggesting that observers may excel in distinguishing between backward and forward action trajectories with interactions. However, when target and distractor were both sampled from future postures, subjects were more accurate in predicting action with a single actor, suggesting a greater temporal precision in the single-actor prediction.
A Streak Camera System for Time Resolved Fluorimetry

Abstract Presently, there are several techniques for measurement of fluorescence lifetimes of organic molecules. These techniques, reviewed by Ware,1 can be divided into two basic groups, those based upon pulsed sources and those based on modulated sources and phase shift measurement. In the pulsed methods, repetitive, short pulse width, intense excitation pulses excite the fluorophor and the fluorescence decay is measured; the source temporal response must be deconvoluced from the fluorescence decay in order to evaluate the fluorescence signal and lifetime. Typical sources of excitation include nanosecond flashlamps and more recently nanosecond N2-laser (with or without a dye laser) and mode-locked lasers with picosecond pulse widths2-6. The modulated source phase shift methods,1 involve sinusoidal excitation of the fluorophor and measurement of the phase shift between the modulated excitation source and the modulated flourescence. Because modulation frequencies are limited to approximately 20 MHz, fluor...
Unifying Qualitative and Quantitative Database Preferences to Enhance Query Personalization

Query personalization can be an effective technique in dealing with the data scalability challenge, primarily from the human point of view, i.e., making big data easier to use. In order to customize their query results, users need to express their preferences in a simple and user-friendly manner. In this paper, we present a graph-based theoretical framework and a prototype system that unify qualitative and quantitative preferences, while eliminating their disadvantages. Our integrated system allows for (1) the specification of database preferences and the creation of user preference profiles in a user-friendly manner, (2) the manipulation of preferences of individuals or groups of users and (3) total ordering of the tuples in the database, matching both qualitative and quantitative preferences, hence significantly increasing the number of tuples covered by the user preferences. We confirmed the latter experimentally by comparing our preference selection algorithm with Fagin's TA algorithm.
Testing the assumptions of the theoretical calculations in simple superionic conductors: The phonon response in KBiF4

Abstract Theoretical calculations of the phonon infrared and Raman response in simple superionic conductors such as AgI, CuI, and CaF 2 types are based on two fundamental assumptions. First, most of the response can be understood in terms of a breakdown of the selection rules due to disorder (lack of translational symmetry) and second, harmonic lattice dynamics can be used with a good degree of accuracy. This is tested here experimentally in the superionic conductor K 1−x Bi 1+x F 4+2x which has the CaF 2 structure (x=0.0 is analogous to 2CaF 2 ) and the assumptions are found to be appropriate. The calculations are also compared to recent experimental results of the density of states of PbF 2 . Again agreement is good.
Oxygen quenching of positronium in silica gels

Abstract Positronium decay rates have been measured in silica gels of various pore sizes, at two temperatures, 297 and 77 K, and as a function of oxygen concentration. The cross section of positronium quenching due to a monolayer of adsorbed O2 at 77 K is found to be at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the cross section for conversion quenching by subsequent layers, and is similar to that observed in gaseous oxygen. No evidence of chemical quenching has been observed.
A Rorschach Journey With Bruno Klopfer : Clinical Application and Teaching

This article is a draft of a speech given as the recipient of the 2008 Bruno Klopfer Memorial award. I review some important details of the life of Bruno Klopfer, his contributions to the scoring and interpretation of the Rorschach (Exner, 2003), and his emphasis on the use of phenomenology in the process. I then focused on Klopfer's flexible scoring method and his use of Testing of the Limits techniques on the Rorschach, emphasizing their application to therapeutic and collaborative assessment. I illustrate my own application of Testing of the Limits using case vignettes. Finally, I present selected parts of two 1959 radio interviews of Bruno Klopfer.
Herbivory in invasive rats: criteria for food selection

Three species of rats (Rattus exulans, R. rattus, R. norvegicus) are widely invasive, having established populations in terrestrial habitats worldwide. These species exploit a wide variety of foods and can devastate native flora and fauna. Rats can consume a variety of plant parts, but may have the most dramatic effects on plant populations through consumption and destruction of seeds. The vulnerability of vegetation to rat consumption is influenced by many factors including size of plant part, and mechanical and chemical defenses. We reviewed the literature to find out what plant species and plant parts invasive rats are consuming and what characteristics these sources share that may influence selection by rats. Many of the studies we found were preformed in New Zealand and our analyses are, therefore, focused on this location. We also performed feeding trials in the laboratory with R. norvegicus to determine if seed hardness and palatability would influence rat consumptive choices. We found more reports of rat consumption of fruits and seeds versus vegetative plant parts, and smaller fruits and seeds versus larger. R. norvegicus are reported to consume proportionally more vegetative plant parts than either R. exulans or R. rattus, possibly due to their more ground dwelling habits. Large size and hard seed coats may deter rat feeding, but unpalatable chemicals may be even more effective deterrents to rats. Scientists and managers can better manage vegetation in rat invaded areas by understanding the criteria rats use to select food.
Ontogeny, environment, and shape of a marine snail Thais lamellosa Gmelin

Abstract Shell shape, as expressed in terms of log weight/log length, (relative weight), changes progressively as Thais lamellosa Gmelin grows. Relative weight decreases at all sites, but the decrease is relatively rapid at localities with low food supply and correspondingly low growth rates. Snails at these sites are ‘slender’ relative to those at sites with greater barnacle populations. The sitespecific shapes are phenotypic, since snails with fat and with slender parents all became slender in the laboratory where food was readily available and growth rates were higher than those observed at most field localities. Since these snails did not become ‘fat’, food abundance is not the immediately causal, environmental factor promoting a slow change in relative weight. Two other species of Thais live in the same places and undergo similar changes in relative weight.
A pairwise algorithm for training multilayer perceptrons with the normalized risk-averting error criterion

Proper use of the normalized risk-averting error (NRAE) criterion has been shown to avoid nonglobal local minima effectively in the mean squared error (MSE) criterion. For training on large datasets, a pairwise algorithm for the NRAE criterion similar to the widely-used least mean square algorithm for the MSE criterion is proposed. The gradual deconvexification method employing this pairwise algorithm is tested on examples with built-in nonglobal local minima that are difficult to avoid and on recognition of handwritten numerals with the MNIST dataset. Numerical experiments show that the pairwise algorithm for the NRAE criterion is computationally more economical than the corresponding batch algorithm and delivers multilayer perceptrons with better performances than training methods based on the MSE criterion.
Acute nutrition management in the prevention of metabolic illness: a practical approach with glucose polymers.

Many episodes of metabolic decompensation are triggered by catabolism. Catabolism is a physiologic state in which the body uses internal energetic fuels. It is evoked by lack of nutrition and sufficient calories and enhanced by physiological stressors such as infection. During fasting, metabolism sequentially shifts from use of enteral nutrients during the absorptive stage to glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, protein hydrolysis and amino acid oxidation, and lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. During these processes, intermediates of metabolism are generated resulting in accumulation of toxic intermediaries in many inborn errors of metabolism. These can include organic acids, ammonia, amino acids, such as in maple syrup urine disease, and the accumulation of fatty acyl-CoAs and free fatty acids in fatty acid oxidation disorders. In addition, catabolism can result in a deficiency of an essential energy substrate in inborn errors of metabolism. In glycogen storage diseases, lack of glycogenolysis can result in hypoglycemia, and hypoketonemia occurs in disorders of ketogenesis or fatty acid oxidation. Promotion of anabolism is a key measure in the treatment and prevention of illness in most inborn errors of metabolism. The provision of substrates corrects a deficit, such as glucose in glycogen storage disorders and energy substrates in disorders of fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis. Anabolism also can decrease accumulating toxic substances by decreasing their production, and by assisting in their removal. Anabolism decreases or halts protein catabolism resulting in reduced generation of ammonia, free amino acids and their metabolites, such as organic acids. During anabolism accumulating metabolites are removed. During the anabolic state, protein synthesis with incorporation of branched chain amino acids helps lower leucine levels in maple syrup urine disease. Free fatty acids are used in triglyceride synthesis, thus lowering them in fatty acid oxidation disorders, and the incorporation of propionyl-CoA in odd-chain length fatty acid synthesis and further into triglycerides removes propionate precursors in propionic acidemia and methylmalonic aciduria. During intercurrent illness in metabolic patients, the resting energy expenditure can be elevated [1], and both protein synthesis and catabolism are increased [2]. Anabolism requires the provision of full caloric support for the immediate period, whereas sustained anabolism beyond 24 h also requires the provision of essential nutrients such as essential ami
Processing strategy and distraction affect reaction time and the CNV

Subjects used two attentional sets for a reaction time (RT) task in which the information necessary for correct performance was divided between the warning (S1) and the imperative (S2) stimuli. In the general preparation set both right and left forefingers were to be prepared equally for the response. In the specific preparation set either the right or left forefinger was to be primed differentially on the side indicated by S1; thus, S2 matched a subject’s preparation on only 50% of these trials. During half of all the trials a visual distractor was randomly presented. Dependent variables were RT and the contingent negative variation (CNV). Both set and distraction affected RT and the CNV, with larger negative shifts and faster RTs associated with the specific set. While the effect of distraction on performance was reduced under the specific set, the CNV was insensitive to this interaction, attenuating equally to distraction in both sets.
Seeing Chemistry through the Eyes of the Blind: A Case Study Examining Multiple Gas Law Representations

Adequately accommodating students who are blind or low-vision (BLV) in the sciences has been a focus of recent inquiry, but much of the research to date has addressed broad accommodations rather than devising and testing specific teaching strategies that respond to the unique challenges of BLV students learning chemistry. This case study seeks to identify instructional techniques that support or impede the representation of information for BLV students in the context of a typical gas laws unit in a college chemistry course for science majors. Desimone’s framework on selection and attention informed the analysis. A blind student participated in five interviews to provide insights on how symbols, equations, and concepts were communicated and interpreted. Findings identified in the analysis of transcripts pertain to three communication modalities of interest: verbal, written, and tactile representations of information to aid learning. Using the results generated for practitioners, the authors generated guide...
Peace Fair or Warfare: Educating the Community

Psychologists who wish to promote peace and justice must investigate how to mobilize the political will of the people in order to improve the policy making of the elite. This is the second study in a program of action research designed to investigate ways of encouraging people to accept personal responsiblity for influencing governmental foreign policy. It reports an attempt to create an ideal educational experience—a peace fair—that would provide the set of conditions that the first study suggested were essential for the acceptance of personal responsibility. The fair was successful in convincing individuals that they personally could do something to help prevent nuclear war. However, it revealed a serious weakness in the current peace movement—an inability to portray convincingly a course of national action that could promote peace and justice. This is an essential component for efficient action. Suggestions are made for the next round of research.
Path-integral derivation of gauge and gravitational chiral anomalies in theories with vector and axial-vector couplings in arbitrary even dimensions.

On deduit les anomalies associees a des transformations lineaires generales de fermions couples aux champs vectoriels ou axi-vectoriels externes dans des espaces courbes de dimensions paires arbitraires dans le cadre de l'integrale de parcours
High speed tribological properties of graphite fiber/ Cu-Sn matrix composites

Abstract High speed dry friction experiments of graphite fiber/Cu-Sn matrix composites against steel were conducted at sliding velocities up to 235 m s−1. The composite samples were prepared by the method of liquid metal infiltration. It has been determined that the friction coefficient and the wear rate depend on the amount of tin in the matrix, orientation of fibers relative to the sliding surface, the sliding velocity, the graphite grain size and the degree of liquid metal infiltration within the fibers. The increase in tin content leads to a decrease in both friction and wear due to an increase in matrix hardness. Specimens tested with the fibers oriented perpendicular to the sliding surface exhibit better frictional behavior than those with fibers parallel to the sliding surface. Both friction coefficient and wear rate reach a minimum value at a velocity between about 120 and 180 m s−1. Large graphite grain size and poor liquid metal infiltration within the fibers have a detrimental effect on wear.
Effect of Antibiotic Supplements upon Hatchability and upon Growth and Viability of Progeny

Abstract THE role of vitamin B12 as an essential factor in reproduction of poultry was established by Lillie, Olsen and Bird (1949) and confirmed by Petersen, Wiese, Lampman and Dahlstrom (1950). Olcese, Couch and Lyman (1950) and Carver and McGinnis (1950) showed that hatchability was improved by a fermentation product now known to contain an antibiotic as well as vitamin B12. Whether the improvement in hatchability could be attributed to vitamin B12 alone or to a combination of vitamin B12 and antibiotic was not established. An investigation was undertaken at the Agricultural Research Center at Beltsville, Maryland, to determine the relationship of antibiotics to hatchability and also the possibility of improving the performance of chicks by feeding antibiotics to their dams. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Experiment 1. Preliminary hatchability data for an 8-week period were obtained from a group of third generation pedigreed Rhode Island Red pullets bred for a high degree of . . .
Bilateral renal carcinoma in Von Hippel-Lindau disease

Von Hippel-Lindau disease, one of the phakomatoses, is believed to be a disorder of mesodermal differentiation. Renal lesions, usually cysts or adenocarcinomas with an occasional hemangioblastoma, occur in approximately two thirds of all patients. The renal neoplasms previously reported have been multiple, bilateral, and usually beyond resection. A thirty-eight-year-old white male with a cerebellar hemangioblastoma and bilateral renal adenocarcinoma underwent suboccipital craniotomy, right heminephrectomy, and left radical nephrectomy. No evidence of recurrent disease can be identified ten months postoperatively. An aggressive approach in this systemic disease appears to be warranted.
Impact of Intraoperative Fluid Administration on Length of Postoperative Hospital Stay Following Orthognathic Surgery

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the volume of intraoperative fluids administered to patients during routine orthognathic surgery is associated with increased length of hospital stay for postoperative convalescence. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study design was used to identify 168 patients undergoing routine orthognathic surgery at Mayo Clinic from 2010 through 2014. The primary predictor variable was total volume of intravenous fluids administered during orthognathic surgery. The primary outcome variable was the length of hospital stay in hours as measured from the completion of the procedure to patient dismissal from the hospital. Additional covariates were collected including patient demographic data, preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, type of intravenous fluid administered, complexity of surgical procedure, and duration of anesthesia. Results On univariate analysis, total fluid was significantly associated with increased length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42 to 2.33; P Conclusions Among surgical complexity, duration of anesthesia, and total volume of intraoperative intravenous fluids administered for routine orthognathic surgery, the duration of anesthesia has the strongest predictive value for patients requiring prolonged hospital stay for postoperative convalescence.
Lyapunov controllability and global optimal control

Certain problems in nonlinear optimal control where we are required to steer the state away from attracting sets are related to global Lyapunov functions for the uncontrolled dynamics. In particular. the optimal cost as a function of terminal point, starting from an attracting set turns out to be a Lyapunov function. The geometric condition that gives this result is a kind of controllability that relates the control dynamics and the gradient of the Lyapunav function. This problem, arises in large deviation theory for diffusions and its solution yields new qualitative results for the exit paths of large deviations.
An experimental approach to study the toxicity of nonparticulate air pollutants. II. Effect of ozone inhalation on nadide phosphate levels in tracheal mucosa.

Epithelial cell suspensions were prepared from rat trachea by the brush technique. The ratio of reduced nadide phosphate (NADPH) to oxidized nadide phosphate (NADP+) was determined by the enzymatic cycling method. In normal rat tracheal epithelium, this ratio was greater than one. This preponderance of NADPH over NADP+ agrees with other investigators’ findings for rat liver and brain. The NADPH/NADP+ ratio in rat tracheal epithelia, following 1 hour of ozone inhalation at 33 ppm, is not significantly different from the controls. Ozone destroyed NADPH, but not NADP+, in vitro. This experiment’s potential depends upon the availability of microanalytical methods for biological compounds possibly having crucial roles in toxic mechanisms. Its usefulness in elucidating the nature of the toxic-inhalant injury may be greater in studying tracheobronchial disease than diseases primarily affecting lung parenchyma.
A Multisite Evaluation of Prison-Based Therapeutic Community Drug Treatment:

A quasi-experimental study examined multiple postrelease outcomes up to 2 years for inmates who participated in therapeutic community (TC) drug treatment programs (n = 217) or comparison groups (n = 491) at five state prisons. Statistical controls included level of need for treatment, current and prior criminal history, and postrelease employment. Prison TC was effective even without mandatory community aftercare, although main effects and interactions varied somewhat across different outcome measures and sites. TC significantly reduced rearrest and reincarceration rates but not drug relapse rates. Postrelease employment predicted drug relapse and reincarceration, and employment interacted with age to predict rearrest. Two sites had higher drug relapse rates than the other three. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
Projection X-Space Magnetic Particle Imaging

Projection magnetic particle imaging (MPI) can improve imaging speed by over 100-fold over traditional 3-D MPI. In this work, we derive the 2-D x-space signal equation, 2-D image equation, and introduce the concept of signal fading and resolution loss for a projection MPI imager. We then describe the design and construction of an x-space projection MPI scanner with a field gradient of 2.35 T/m across a 10 cm magnet free bore. The system has an expected resolution of 3.5 × 8.0 mm using Resovist tracer, and an experimental resolution of 3.8 × 8.4 mm resolution. The system images 2.5 cm × 5.0 cm partial field-of views (FOVs) at 10 frames/s, and acquires a full field-of-view of 10 cm × 5.0 cm in 4 s. We conclude by imaging a resolution phantom, a complex “Cal” phantom, mice injected with Resovist tracer, and experimentally confirm the theoretically predicted x-space spatial resolution.
Kiglapait geochemistry V: Strontium

Abstract The Kiglapait intrusion contains 330 ppm Sr and has Sr Ca = 5 × 10 −3 and Rb Sr = 3 × 10 −3 , as determined by summation over the Layered Group of the intrusion. Wholerocks in the Lower Zone contain 403 F L 0.141 ppm Sr, where F L is the fraction of liquid remaining; Sr drops to 180 ppm at the peak of augite production ( F L = 0.11) and rises to a maximum of 430 ppm in the Upper Zone before decreasing to 172 ppm at the end of crystallization. Feldspars in the Lower Zone contain 532 F L 0.090 ppm Sr, increasing to 680 ppm in the Upper Zone before decreasing to 310 ppm at the end. Clinopyroxenes contain 15 to 30 ppm Sr and have a mineral-melt distribution coefficient D = 0.06 except near the top of the intrusion where D = 0.10. The calculated feldspar-liquid distribution coefficient has an average value near 1.75 but shows four distinct trends when plotted against X An of feldspar. The first two of these are strongly correlated with the modal augite content of the liquid, on average by the relation D = 1.4 + 0.02 Aug L . The third (decreasing) trend is due to co-crystallization of apatite, and the fourth (increasing) trend can best be attributed to a triclinic-monoclinic symmetry change in the feldspar at An 26 , 1030°C. The compound feldspar-liquid distribution coefficient K D for Sr Ca bears out these deductions in detail and yields ΔG r for the Sr-Ca exchange ranging from nearly zero at the base of the Lower Zone to −26 k J /gramatom at the end of crystallization. The compound feldspar-liquid distribution coefficient K D for Rb Sr varies from 0.3 in the Lower Zone to 1.1 at the end of crystallization. The ratio Ca F Ca L is about 1.45 for troctolitic liquids containing 5% augite, for which K D (Sr-Ca) = 1.0 and D Ca = D Sr . For common basaltic liquids containing 20% augite, the Kiglapait data predict solSr F Sr L = 1.8 , as commonly found elsewhere. The strong dependence of D sr on augite content of the liquid illuminates the role of liquid composition and structure in determining the feldspar-liquid distribution coefficient. Conversely, a discontinuous change in the trend of D Sr when apatite arrives shows that the effect is due to apatite crystallization itself, not to the continuous variation of the liquid as it becomes enriched in apatite component.
Island Arc Origin for the Gladesville and Associated Bodies in the Carolina Superterrane in Central Georgia, Southern Appalachians

AbstractTerrestrial mafic and ultramafic bodies form in various tectonic settings and from a wide variety of magma types. Clarifying the origin of such rocks in orogenic belts such as the southern Appalachians is important to understanding the formation of mountain belts and associated mafic and ultramafic rocks. A petrographic and geochemical study was conducted on the Gladesville, Hillsboro, Juliette, Holly Grove, and Berry Creek bodies in the Carolina superterrane of the southern Appalachians in central Georgia to place some constrains on the origin and tectonic setting of these mafic and ultramafic rocks. Results from this study show that the rock types investigated in the Gladesville and associated bodies are mostly metabasalts and olivine metagabbronorites. The mineralogies of these bodies are plagioclase, hornblende, clinopyroxene, and opaques. MgO contents range from 3.5 to 7.5 wt% MgO for the Gladesville, Hillsboro, and Berry Creek bodies, with the Juliette and Holly Grove bodies having slightly ...
Polyamines in the anemia of end-stage renal disease

Polyamines in the anemia of end-stage renal disease. The improvement in the anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) suggests that dialyz-able substances present in the sera of uremic patients either inhibit erythropoiesis directly or inactivate erythropoietin (EPO). In the present study predialysis sera from patients with ESRD inhibited erythroid colony (CFU-E) (N = 10) formation to a significantly (P 0.05) inhibition of CFU-E (N ≥ 5) than that of CFU-GM (N ≥ 5) growth. Concentrations of 0.80, 1.0, and 1.5 nm/ml of putrescine (PU) were 92%, 85%, and 77% of erythroid colony (CFU-E) controls (TV = 4) and 104%, 130%, and 127% of CFU-GM controls (N = 4). Putrescine (PU) at 1.5 nm/ml also produced a significant (P
Histopathological spectrum of erythema multiforme

Lesions of erythema multiforeme from seventy-five patients have been studied histologically. In addition to peculiar intercellular epidermal oedema, subepidermal separation and a lymphohistiocytic inflammatory infiltrate in the papillary dermis, epidermal cell necrosis was observed in a variable percentage of the lesions. While dermal disturbance was a predominant finding in the macular lesions, focal or generalized keratinocytic necrosis was seen in the macular, papular, bullous and iris lesions in that order of frequency. Significant numbers of eosinophils were present in the inflammatory infiltrate in 60% of the bullous and 28% of the macular lesions. Our findings suggest that erythema nultiforme represents a tissue reaction with spectral expression, one end presenting as a predominantly dermal disturbance and the other merging into the adult type of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Yet, the histological features remain sufficiently characteristic for differentiation from other erythematous and vesiculobullous eruptions.
The contribution of theme parks and attractions to the social and economic sustainability of destinations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the contribution made by this theme issue to the question: how far do theme parks and attractions contribute to social and economic sustainability of destinations?Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews some of the key contributions emerging from this theme issue.Findings – Theme parks and attractions will continue growing globally. There seem to be many internal and external reasons that may lead to success and failure of theme parks and attractions. It is evident that theme parks and attractions contribute greatly to sustainability of destinations in many areas including investments in infrastructure, job creation, tax revenues, tourism revenues, donations, and community support. However, it is also evident that failure of a theme park may result in a major decline or failure of a destination.Research limitations/implications – It also emerges that more research is needed into development and management of theme parks and attractions globally.Prac...
Effect of Tolcapone on Brain Activity During a Variable Attentional Control Task: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Counter-Balanced Trial in Healthy Volunteers

Background Attention is the capacity to flexibly orient behaviors and thoughts towards a goal by selecting and integrating relevant contextual information. The dorsal cingulate (dCC) and prefrontal (PFC) cortices play critical roles in attention. Evidence indicates that catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) modulates dopaminergic tone in the PFC and dCC.
Work in progress - progression of an engineering leadership program for the future

The Engineering Leadership Program at Iowa State University was launched in 2006 to inspire altruistic leadership in engineering students leading to greater civic and political engagement. The first cohort of freshmen scholars experienced a structured set of common leadership learning experiences, designed and implemented primarily by upper-class scholars. To guide the process of leadership development and create a standard of excellence, a set of outcomes and related competencies with key actions are being articulated in an iterative team process involving the scholars, faculty, staff, and advisors from across campus.
Transition Layers for Singularly Perturbed Delay Differential Equations with Monotone Nonlinearities

Transition layers arising from square-wave-like periodic solutions of a singularly perturbed delay differential equation are studied. Such transition layers correspond to heteroclinic orbits connecting a pair of equilibria of an associated system of transition layer equations. Assuming a monotonicity condition in the nonlinearity, we prove these transition layer equations possess a unique heteroclinic orbit, and that this orbit is monotone. The proof involves a global continuation for heteroclinic orbits.
Absorbed dose estimates to structures of the brain and head using a high‐resolution voxel‐based head phantom

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the viability of using a high-resolution 3-D head phantom in Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) structure dosimetry. This work describes a high-resolution voxel-based model of a human head and its use for calculating absorbed doses to the structures of the brain. The Zubal head phantom is a 3-D model of a human head that can be displayed and manipulated on a computer. Several changes were made to the original head phantom which now contains over 29 critical structures of the brain and head. The modified phantom is a 85 x 109 x 120 lattice of voxels, where each voxel is 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.4 mm3. This model was translated into MCNP lattice format. As a proof of principle study, two MCNP absorbed dose calculations were made (left and right lateral irradiations) using a uniformly distributed neutron disk source with an 1/E energy spectrum. Additionally, the results of these two calculations were combined to estimate the absorbed doses from a bilateral irradiation. Radiobiologically equivalent (RBE) doses were calculated for all structures and were normalized to 12.8 Gy-Eq. For a left lateral irradiation, the left motor cortex receives the limiting RBE dose. For a bilateral irradiation, the insula cortices receive the limiting dose. Among the nonencephalic structures, the parotid glands receive RBE doses that were within 15% of the limiting dose.
Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a G protein in mouse oocytes, eggs, and preimplantation embryos: developmental changes and possible functional roles.

Abstract G proteins, which in many somatic cells serve as mediators of signal transduction, were identified in preimplantation mouse embryos by their capacity to undergo pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. Two pertussis toxin (PT) substrates with Mr = 38,000 and 39,000 (α38 and α39) are present in approximately equal amounts. Relative to the amount in freshly isolated germinal vesicle (GV)-intact oocytes, the amount of PT-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of α38–39 falls during oocyte maturation, rises between the one- and two-cell stages, falls by the eight-cell and morula stages, and increases again by the blastocyst stage. The decrease in PT-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of α38–39 that occurs during oocyte maturation, however, does not require germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), since inhibiting GVBD with 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine (IBMX) does not prevent the decrease in the extent of PT-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. A biologically active phorbol diester (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate, TPA), but not an inactive one (4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, 4α-PDD), totally inhibits the increase in PT-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of α38–39 that occurs between the one- and two-cell stage; TPA inhibits cleavage, but not transcriptional activation, which occurs in the two-cell embryo ( Poueymirou and Schultz, 1987 . Dev. Biol. 121, 489–498). In contrast, cytochalasin D, genistein, or aphidicolin, each of which inhibits cleavage of one-cell embryos, or α-amanitin or H8, each of which inhibits transcriptional activation but not cleavage of one-cell embryos, have little or much smaller inhibitory effects on the increase in PT-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of α38–39. Results of immunoblotting experiments using an antibody that is highly specific for αi1–3 reveal the presence of a cross-reactive species of Mr = 38,000 (α38) in the GV-intact oocyte, metaphase II-arrested egg, and one-, two-cell embryos. Relative to these stages, a reduced amount of this species is present in the eight-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages. Treatment of oocytes with PT results in a small but significant acceleration in the rate of GVBD, but has no effect on the extent of polar body emission. Treatment of one-cell embryos with PT has no effect on the extent of cleavage, onset of transcriptional activation at the two-cell stage, or development of two-cell embryos to the hatching blastocyst stage.
Balancing clinical experience in outpatient residency training.

Background. To receive adequate training experience, resident panels in teaching clinics must have a sufficiently diverse patient case-mix. However, case-mix can differ from one resident panel to another, resulting in inconsistent training. Method. Encounter data from primary care residency clinics at Massachusetts General Hospital from July 2008 to May 2010 (64 residents and ~3800 patients) were used to characterize patients by gender, age, major disease category (both acute and chronic, e.g., Cardio Acute, Cardio Chronic, etc., for a total of 44 disease categories), and number of disease categories. Imbalance across resident panels was characterized by the standard deviation for disease category, patient panel size, and annual visit frequency. To balance case-mix in resident panels, patient reassignment algorithms were proposed. First, patients were sorted by complexity; then patients were allocated sequentially to the panel with the least overall complexity. Patient reassignment across resident panels ...
Ranges of energetic ions in matter

Based on standard transport theory for the slowing down of heavy ions in matter, a fast and efficient method has been developed for the calculation of range-distribution parameters. The method allows for the use of arbitrary nuclear-scattering cross sections and electronic energy-loss functions, and all target-ion combinations can be handled. Examples of calculations of the mean projected ranges and the longitudinal- and transverse-range stragglings for high-energy heavy ions are presented. The results are compared with existing experimental data.
Utility of positron-emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in the management of the neck in recurrent laryngeal cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Patients who develop recurrence of laryngeal cancer after radiotherapy organ preservation protocols are offered salvage laryngectomy, often with bilateral neck dissection. However, there can be multiple complications of neck dissection in the previously irradiated neck, including poor wound healing and increased potential for fistula. Positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) may have the ability to spare some of these patients from the morbidity of unnecessary neck dissections if it can reliably exclude recurrent nodal disease. The purpose of our study was to determine whether preoperative PET/CT could correctly predict the pathologic status of the neck in patients with locally recurrent laryngeal cancer and clinically N0 neck. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: A review of our head and neck tumor registry revealed 269 patients with recurrence of laryngeal cancer from 1975 to 2010. Out of this pool, we identified 15 patients who had PET/CT scans prior to neck dissections for recurrent laryngeal cancer. Results: Five patients with pathologically negative neck had accurate PET/CT reads (100% specificity) prior to surgery. Similarly, seven patients who had a PET/CT read positive for cervical disease had pathologically positive nodes (100% positive predictive value). However, three patients with clinically N0 neck who had PET/CT reads that were negative had positive nodal pathology, giving a sensitivity of 70% and a 62.5% negative predictive value. Conclusions: We believe that this false negative rate is too high to warrant deferring neck dissection based on PET/CT, and we recommend that patients who are clinically N0 for recurrent laryngeal cancer be offered neck dissection along with salvage laryngectomy. Laryngoscope, 2012
Time-crosslink density reduction investigated by photochemical scission

Abstract The applicability of a time-crosslink density reduction principle to the terminal region creep behavior of plasticized polyurethane samples was investigated. Such reduction is similar to the well known time-temperature reduction principle, except that variation in a crosslink density, rather than temperature, is responsible for differences observed in material response. The sets of experiments which were analyzed were each carried out on single samples changes in crosslink density were caused by the photo-induced scission of disulfide bonds incorporated in the network. In this way, a high degree of experimental precision was realized. Our results indicate that time-crosslink density reduction is appropriate for this system, but the time scale shift observed here is much less sensitive to changes in crosslink density than previously reported for other systems. Changes in network topology which are not accurately reflected in the crosslink density may be responsible for this difference. Furthermore...