cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Variants in Phyletically Diverse Organisms

Electrophoretically distinct forms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (TDH) have been detected in turtle, perch, trout, spinach, and yeast. Multiple forms were not detected in rat, rabbit, chicken, frog, honey bee, Euglena, or Escherichia coli. The combination of two different subunits into tetramers is a probable explanation for the five-membered sets usually detected in extracts exhibiting TDH multiplicity.
Signal transduction in the erythropoietin receptor system

Abstract. Developing erythroid cells require the glycoprotein hormone, erythropoietin (EPO) as an activator of the rapid proliferation of early proery-throblasts (colony forming units-erythroid [CFU-e]), and subsequently as an activator of late erythroid gene expression. Activation of these growth and differentiation events proceeds from the binding of EPO at its transmembrane receptor (Class I cytokine receptor), to the engagement of a complex set of signaling pathways. Studies of reconstituted activities of the cloned EPO receptor in transfected hematopoietic cell lines have served well in identifying receptor domains and downstream mediators involved in proliferative signaling. Extracellular domains have been defined which contribute to lig-and binding, receptor processing and transport, and possible dimerization. Cytosolic regions have been delineated which mediate induced mitogenesis, early gene transcription, activated protein tyrosine phos-phorylation, down modulation of EPO- and gran-ulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-induced proliferation, and direct association with PI3- and JAK-2 kinases. These newly defined properties begin to align the EPO receptor mechanistically with growth factor receptors (GFR) which encode, or likewise associate with, regulated protein tyrosine kinases including the Class II cytokine receptors for interferons α/β and γ. An improved understanding of factors which mediate EPO-induced late erythroid gene activation also is emerging. These factors and pathways may be distinct from those associated with EPO-induced proliferation and may involve induced increases in cellular Ca++, cAMP and arachidonic acid, as well as the modulation of GATA-1, and/or SCL. Attributes of model systems used in studies of the role of EPO in late erythroid differentiation also are considered.
Multiple forms of atypical rearrangements generating supernumerary derivative chromosome 15

Maternally-derived duplications that include the imprinted region on the proximal long arm of chromosome 15 underlie a complex neurobehavioral disorder characterized by cognitive impairment, seizures and a substantial risk for autism spectrum disorders[1]. The duplications most often take the form of a supernumerary pseudodicentric derivative chromosome 15 [der(15)] that has been called inverted duplication 15 or isodicentric 15 [idic(15)], although interstitial rearrangements also occur. Similar to the deletions found in most cases of Angelman and Prader Willi syndrome, the duplications appear to be mediated by unequal homologous recombination involving low copy repeats (LCR) that are found clustered in the region. Five recurrent breakpoints have been described in most cases of segmental aneuploidy of chromosome 15q11-q13 and previous studies have shown that most idic(15) chromosomes arise through BP3:BP3 or BP4:BP5 recombination events. Here we describe four duplication chromosomes that show evidence of atypical recombination events that involve regions outside the common breakpoints. Additionally, in one patient with a mosaic complex der(15), we examined homologous pairing of chromosome 15q11-q13 alleles by FISH in a region of frontal cortex, which identified mosaicism in this tissue and also demonstrated pairing of the signals from the der(15) and the normal homologues. Involvement of atypical BP in the generation of idic(15) chromosomes can lead to considerable structural heterogeneity.
The function and meaning of work and the job: Morse and Weiss (1955) revisited.

The article presents the results of a study that revisits an earlier study pertaining to the function and meaning of work. The original study asserted that the function of work as a purely an econo...
Maximizing welfare through cooperative negotiation in a multi-agent Internet economy

E-commerce over the Internet has become an attractive means of conducting business in today's world. However, the principles of classical economics demand a fresh insight before they can be adapted to the market structure presented by the Internet. Here, we investigate markets for goods that are characterized by an experience-limited supply curve. We propose an algorithm that maximizes the welfare in the e-market by maximizing the combined profit of the buyers and sellers. For this, the buyers and sellers must reveal their value and cost curves to a trusted intermediary who can determine the transaction that maximizes their joint welfare. We show that accurate revelation of hidden profits offers better incentives, both to the buyers and the sellers, than inaccurate or incomplete revelation.
DIRECT DISPLACEMENT SYNTHESIS METHOD FOR SHAPE MORPHING SKINS USING COMPLIANT MECHANISMS

This paper presents a direct displacement synthesis method for the design of shape morphing skin structures using compliant mechanisms. The objective of this method is to design a skin structure that will deform to a desired final shape when acted on by a specific load. The method utilizes a ground structure geometry which can facilitate variable bending stiffness along the length of the skin using compliant spring members. Synthesis procedures involve the use of direct displacement to determine how the bending stiffness of the skin must vary to produce the desired shape change. The direct displacement synthesis method differs from other compliant mechanism synthesis methods found in literature, such as pseudo-rigid-body and continuum structure optimization, in the approach taken to solve for the unknown variables in the system. By using direct displacement to determine how the structure must respond to a specific load to achieve the desired shape change, the unknown variables within the system can be extracted directly without the use of optimization techniques.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A multicenter registry of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: Physiology and outcome

In a multicenter registry conducted over 2 yr of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we enrolled 153 patients and collected data daily for 7 consecutive days and weekly thereafter until death or hospital discharge. The purposes of the registry were (1) to determine whether a more liberal definition of ARDS (PaO2/FIO2 < or = 250; bilateral pulmonary infiltrates within 7 days) than those commonly used would result in enrollment of patients earlier in their clinical course, and (2) to study the clinical course of the syndrome in survivors and nonsurvivors. The mortality rate was 54% and it was significantly greater in older versus younger patients (75% versus 37%) and in septic versus nonseptic patients (60% versus 43%). We found that the definition of ARDS used for the registry resulted in enrollment of patients 1 to 7 days earlier than was the case when other published definitions of ARDS were applied to the patient population. Fewer than 2% of the patients failed to meet one of the nonregistry definitions of ARDS within 7 days. The mortality rate was independent of the definition used to identify ARDS patients. Our results suggest that a more liberal definition of ARDS than those commonly used can result in identification of the same population of patients earlier in their clinical course.
Minimum-Variance Estimation of Reentry Debris Trajectories

A minimum-variance estimator is developed for reentry debris trajectories using discrete-time multiple sensor line-of-sight measurements. An integral state model is used for the unknown drag ballistic coefe cient and lift ballistic coefe cient. An extended Kalman e lter is developed for the forward estimate and a Rauch ‐Tung‐Striebel smootherisdeveloped forthebackward estimate.Themethod istestedonnonlifting and lifting reentry trajectories that are synthesized using a high-e delity trajectory simulator. The results of this research show that reentry debris trajectoriescanbeestimatedusing theapproach developeddespitethelack ofaccuratemodelsfortheaerodynamic coefe cients.
Mechanism of supported bilayer formation of zwitterionic lipids on SiO2 nanoparticles and structure of the stable colloids

Bare, chemically surface modified and supported lipid bilayer (SLB) nanoparticles are finding expanding uses in pharmaceutical, biomedical and materials applications, where in vivo, in vitro or in the environment they come into contact with lipids in the form of cells or cellular debris, and where clustering of the nanoparticles can affect dosages and cellular uptake. Here, the mechanism of formation, nano-structure, state of aggregation and colloidal stability of SLBs for a model system consisting of ∼100 nm silica (SiO2) nanoparticles and zwitterionic lipids in the form of ∼100 nm small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) is investigated at low and high ionic strengths, as a function of the surface area (SA) ratios of the SUVs (SASUV) and SiO2 (SASiO2). Formation of single-SLBs is suggested to be a bi-molecular collision event, both above and below the lipid phase transition temperature (Tm), between negatively charged SiO2 and neutral SUVs, with rupture of SUVs occurring at the vesicle sides where there is a small radius of curvature, followed by continued wrapping of the SiO2. At low ionic strength (5 mM NaCl), colloidal metastability occurs at SASUV/SASiO2 ≥ 1/1 due to residual electrostatic repulsion, and the nanosystem exists as independent, non-interacting particles. At high ionic strength (PBS buffer), precipitation occurs at SASUV/SASiO2 = 1/1 due to charge shielding, but at SASUV/SASiO2 ≥ 2/1, excess SUVs adsorb onto the SLBs at defects sites (bare SiO2) in the first SLB, restoring undulatory/protrusion forces, and thus colloidal metastability, by portions of the SUVs not in contact with the SLBs; for SASUV/SASiO2 = 2/1 there is an approximate 1/1 pairing of SUVs and SLBs above Tm, while below Tm, aggregation of larger but meta-stable structures occurs. When the SASUV/SASiO2 = 2/1 nanosystems in PBS buffer are reheated to a temperature above Tm, separate, non-interacting particles are formed, suggesting that SUVs trapped on SiO2 defect sites are pinched off to form a SLB in the defect area, expelling a smaller SUV.
Dissociation of vertical and horizontal components of somesthetic orientation-localization during recovery from cortical damage: Implication regarding central associative functions

Blindfolded cats in which SII and adjacent areas had been ablated were tested for their ability to locate cutaneous stimuli as demonstrated by their bringing the mouth into contact with the stimulated point. During recovery, seven cats went through a phase in which they displayed dissociations of the vertical and horizontal components of the orientation-localization movement: either they moved the head downward before initiating any lateral movement or they turned towards the side of stimulation well before achieving accurate proximodistal localization. Hypotheses are offered about which aspects of anatomy and physiology are involved in proximodistal and lateral localization, and a simple mathematical model is given to suggest that one reason why such central associative functions in movement may have evolved is because they require fewer neurons than an alternative conceivable design.
Abelson tyrosine kinase is required to transduce midline repulsive cues.

Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling cascades play key roles in determining the formation of an axon pathway. The cytoplasmic Abelson tyrosine kinase participate in several signaling pathways that orchestrate both growth cone advance and steering in response to guidance cues. Here, a genetic approach is used to evaluate the role for Abelson in growth cones during a decision to cross or not to cross the Drosophila embryonic midline. Our data indicate that both loss- and gain-of-function conditions for Abl cause neurons within the pCC/MP2 pathway to project across the midline incorrectly. The frequency of abnormal crossovers is enhanced by mutations in the genes encoding the midline repellent, Slit, or its receptor, Roundabout. In comm mutants, where repulsive signals remain elevated, increasing or decreasing Abl activity partially rescues commissure formation. Thus, both too much and too little Abl activity causes axons to cross the midline inappropriately, indicating that Abl plays a critical role in transducing midline repulsive cues. How Abl functions in this role is not yet clear, but we suggest that Abl may help regulate cytoskeletal dynamics underlying a growth cone's response to midline cues. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 57: 15–30, 2003
Action current variation along nerves in series

Verteilung des Aktionsstromes langs zwei Nerven Die vonN. Rashevsky entwickelten Formeln fur die Verteilung des Aktionsstromes in einer unendlichen Nervenfaser werden auf den Fall von zwei in Serie aneinander anliegenden Fasern verallgemeinert.
Poetic transformations of Yolmo 'sadness'.

One way in which Yolmo Sherpa of Helambu, Nepal, come to terms with loss is to sing of it. The paper seeks to show how one Yolmo ‘song of sadness’ works to express, evoke and assuage sentiments of funerary grief. Yet to best explore the transformative poetics of the song, we must trace its semantic links to other songs and situations, and so develop a contextual understanding of the experiential contours of Yolmo ‘sadness,’ the local ethos of emotional avoidance and restraint, and the sociopolitical nature of emotional distress in the Helambu valley. The findings of this analysis lead the author to argue, in contrast with recent ethnographies which treat discourses on emotions as rhetorical strategies rather than as reflections of personal or communal experience, that we need an integrative approach which focuses on the relationship between language and experience, politics and felt emotion.
Mindfulness: A Promising Intervention Strategy in Need of Further Study

Baer (2003; this issue) has provided a thoughtful conceptual and empirical review of mindfulness-based clinical interventions, emphasizing the need for further research. In this commentary we elaborate on some of the areas needing further study. The promising initial data suggest a need for basic experimental and treatment outcome research in order to determine active ingredients and mechanisms of action in mindfulness-based interventions. In addition, questions remain regarding the optimal mode of delivery of this treatment, as well as how to integrate the non-striving aspect of mindfulness into clinical intervention.
Conceptual preference for thematic or taxonomic relations: A nonmonotonic age trend from preschool to old age ☆

Abstract Two experiments examined the development of conceptual preference for either thematic (functional) or taxonomic relationships in a match-to sample task. In Experiment 1 twenty subjects from each of five age groups—preschool to old age—completed a method of triads preference test where they were forced to choose a thematic or taxonomic match. Young and old individuals preferred the thematic parings while school age and college adults preferred the taxonomic matches. Although the Age × Preference relation was pronounced, the majority of subjects at all ages could provide adequate justification of both the preferred and nonpreferred relationship. In addition, kindergarten subjects in Experiment 2 could readily be trained to respond on the basis of the nonpreferred mode. These data suggest that the pervasive shift in conceptual responding from syntagmatic to paradigmatic, thematic to taxonomic, etc., represents a change in preference rather than a shift to a fundamentally new way of organizing knowledge.
The activities of the wintering caribou in northwestern alaska in relation to weather and snow conditions

Behavioural responses of wintering caribou to changing conditions of weather and the snow cover in northwestern Alaska signified their capacity to efficiently exploit the physical environment.The animals conserved energy by occupying wind-shadowed locations during storms and by changing territories and feeding intensively during calm periods. It is postulated that the numbers of caribou may be controlled by the morphology of the snow cover since they exhibited strong selection against snow criteria inappropriate to specific activities essential to their viability, and in particular, they would not dig for food where the snow cover was more than 70 cm thick.
Thermal Stress Analysis of SMT PQFP Packages and Interconnections

An elasto-plastic analysis of the thermal stresses and strains in a surface mounted plastic-quad-flat-pack (PQFP) assembly by using a 3-D finite element method is presented in this paper. Detailed stress and strain distributions and whole-field displacements of the assembly are also provided for a better understanding of its mechanical behavior during thermal cycling. It was found that the stresses and strains in the PQFP solder joint are smaller than those in the plastic-leaded-chip-carrier (PLCC) solder joint. The results presented herein should be useful in the design for reliability of this class of surface mount assemblies.
Religious and self-generated Quechua literacy practices in the Peruvian Andes

This article discusses Quechua speakers' religious literacy practices in the native language in a rural community located in the department of Cuzco (Peru). I argue that in a situation where the school did not play the role of developing or maintaining the written vernacular, a group of community members found specific situations where they felt comfortable writing in their mother tongue. This study contributes to the discussion of native language literacy and Quechua language maintenance by examining adult and child Quechua literacy practices in the religious realm. Additionally, I present the case of Marcos, as an example of a self-generated literacy practice of authoring huaynos (songs in Quechua), as a result of the author's participation in a Protestant church. Findings show that literacy skills developed in the religious domain can be transferred across contexts. However, these literacy practices were endangered by macro forces of globalization.
Characterization of fructose-1,6-diphosphate-insensitive catabolic glycerol kinase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Glycerol kinase is induced in cells ofPseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO when grown in the presence of glycerol or glycerol-3-phosphate. The enzyme was isolated from the soluble cytoplasmic fraction of cell extracts and purified 500-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on columns of Sephadex G-25, DEAE-Sephadex, hydroxyapatite, and Sephadex G-200. A molecular weight of 120,000 was estimated by gel filtration of the catalytically active enzyme. In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the purified product contained one major band of Coomassie Blue staining material. The enzyme exhibited an apparent Km of 40 μM for glycerol and 23 μM for ATP. Of the nucleotide triphosphates tested, only ATP served as a phosphoryl group donor. Mg++ or Mn++ was required for activity, although a threefold greater concentration of Mn++ was required when Mn++ substituted for Mg++. In contrast to most other catabolic glycerol kinases in bacteria, the enzyme was not inhibited by fructose-1,6-diphosphate nor by other tested metabolites.
Hall and Pearce negative transfer: Assessments in conditioned suppression and nictitating membrane conditioning experiments

Two experiments using a conditioned suppression procedure in the rat replicated the finding of Hall and Pearce (1979) that pairing a conditioned stimulus (CS) with a weak unconditioned stimulus (US) in Stage 1 produces negative transfer when US intensity is increased in Stage 2. Although the degree of negative transfer appeared to be independent of initial CS salience, it did depend on other factors. Specifically, weak suppression in Stage 1, or a postasymptotic decline in suppression in Stage 1, appeared crucial: strong suppression in Stage 1 unaccompanied by a postasymptotic decline resulted in positive, not negative, transfer. Experiments using the nictitating membrane response (NMR) conditioning procedure in the rabbit and a wide range of parameters failed to find evidence for negative transfer, but as a rule showed positive transfer instead. Because Kamin blocking, conditioned inhibition, and negatively accelerated learning curves are all readily obtained with the rabbit NMR procedure, the strong possibility exists that the mechanisms responsible for these effects differ from those responsible for the Hall-Pearce negative transfer phenomenon.
Lactation-induced deficits in NMDA receptor-mediated cortical and hippocampal activation: changes in NMDA receptor gene expression and brainstem activation

Abstract During lactation, there is an inhibition of cortical and hippocampal activation in response to N- methyl- d,l -aspartate (NMA), but not kainate, as assessed by induction of c-Fos expression. To study whether changes in NMDA receptor function may account for this inhibition, NMDA receptor subunit (NMDAR1) mRNA levels were measured by both Northern analysis and in situ hybridization. Analysis of NMDAR1 gene expression by Northern blot analysis did not reveal significant differences between cycling and lactating rats. Using in situ hybridization, NMDAR1 mRNA levels in several cortical and hippocampal areas appeared to be smaller in lactating rats, compared to cycling rats, although these differences reached significance only in the fronto-parietal cortex and piriform cortex. These subtle changes in NMDAR1 receptor subunit gene expression during lactation are not likely to account for the global lack of neuronal activation in response to NMA. However, it is possible that there may be changes in other NMDA receptor subunits that could account for the deficits in NMDA receptor activation. We also examined the activation state of afferent pathways in the brainstem that provide excitatory input to the cortex and hippocampus. During lactation, NMA induced c-Fos expression in similar areas of the brainstem as during the cycle, except in the locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe, where c-Fos expression was significantly less than that observed during the cycle. In contrast, no differences in the pattern of c-Fos expression in the brainstem in response to kainate were observed between cycling and lactating rats. The lack of NMA-induced activation of the locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe may contribute to the lack of cortical activation during lactation.
Dose-rate effects in silicon-implanted gallium arsenide from low to high doses

For implantation of silicon dopant into gallium arsenide, sheet resistance and damage increase as the ion dose rate increases in the high-dose regime (>5.0 × 1013 cm−2). But, in the low-dose regime (<5.0 × 1012 cm−2), although damage still increases with dose rate, the sheet resistance decreases. This qualitative difference implies that there must be a crossover point between the low- and high-dose regimes in the effect of damage and defect formation on dopant activation. This paper describes experiments in which damage and silicon dose were independently varied through the crossover point. Thermal wave, ion channeling, Hall effect measurements, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize structural and electrical changes that occur near the crossover. In GaAs implanted with silicon (29Si+) at doses between 3 × 1012 and 6 × 1013cm−2, it is shown that electrical activation for low dose rates first begins to exceed that for high dose rates at a dose of 2 × 1013 cm−2. Rapid growth of Type I dislocations also begins near this same dose, suggesting that there may be a link between defect formation and the crossover to negative dose-rate effects in the high-dose regime.
Should Public Discussion of Political Science Research Be Controlled? Why Interest Group Recommendations on the Proper Procedures for Reporting Research Should Be Treated with Skepticism

ciological Association's Section on Sociology of Education, asked the following question: "How can the discipline ... so structure itself that it does not erect norms against research that challenges the conventional wisdom? Or more pointedly, how can the discipline structure itself so as not to violate academic freedom, as it has done in the past?" (1989, 77; italics in original). He reminded his listeners of two occasions when he personally encountered threats to the conduct of
Reliability and validity of an instrument to describe burnout among collegiate athletic trainers.

Abstract Context: The existing investigations of professional burnout among certified athletic trainers (ATs) were conducted before 2000. Since 2000, several educational and legal changes have rede...
The COPI Complex Functions in Nuclear Envelope Breakdown and Is Recruited by the Nucleoporin Nup153

Nuclear envelope breakdown is a critical step in the cell cycle of higher eukaryotes. Although integral membrane proteins associated with the nuclear membrane have been observed to disperse into the endoplasmic reticulum at mitosis, the mechanisms involved in this reorganization remain to be fully elucidated. Here, using Xenopus extracts, we report a role for the COPI coatomer complex in nuclear envelope breakdown, implicating vesiculation as an important step. We have found that a nuclear pore protein, Nup153, plays a critical role in directing COPI to the nuclear membrane at mitosis and that this event provides feedback to other aspects of nuclear disassembly. These results provide insight into how key steps in nuclear division are orchestrated.
Percutaneous closure of acquired Gerbode defect: management of a rare complication of cardiac surgery

Although rare, acquired Gerbode defect (abnormal communication between left ventricle and right atrium) may result as a complication of myocardial infarction, endocarditis as well as aortic or mitral valve replacement resulting in resistant heart failure secondary to significant left to right shunting. We are reporting the case of a 50-year old lady with repeated aortic valve replacement presenting with resistant heart failure secondary to an acquired Gerbode defect. Management of this defect in these high-risk patients may be challenging and percutaneous closure, if feasible, may represent the best management option.
Oral Phenobarbital Loading: A Safe and Effective Method of Withdrawing Patients With Headache From Butalbital Compounds

Background.—The overuse of short-acting barbiturate medications for the acute treatment of headache is a common problem in the United States. Most experts agree that withdrawal from these medications is necessary for subsequent headache treatment to be successful, yet there are few published articles outlining effective methods of drug withdrawal. Objective.—To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of phenobarbital loading for withdrawal from overuse of short-acting barbiturate compounds in inpatients with headache. Design and Methods.—We performed a retrospective chart review of 18 consecutive patients in an inpatient pain rehabilitation program who were withdrawn from overuse of butalbital-combination medications using a phenobarbital-loading protocol. Results.—Eighteen patients with headache hospitalized in an inpatient pain unit for withdrawal from overuse of combination butalbital preparations underwent a phenobarbital-loading protocol. Short-acting barbiturate medications were discontinued, and patients received 120 mg of oral phenobarbital until their score on a predetermined scale reached target levels, and the drug was then discontinued. All patients were effectively treated with no serious adverse events. The median number of doses required varied significantly, and could not be predicted by the patient's prior intake. Conclusions.—Management of butalbital withdrawal can be simplified by using a phenobarbital-loading protocol, taking advantage of the natural tapering afforded by the drug's long half-life. This method possesses most of the characteristics of an ideal drug withdrawal program for patients with headache who are overusing medications.
An Undergraduate Summer Research Program in Software Safety

This paper shares the experiences and lessons learned from conducting an NSF-sponsored eightweek summer research program for ten undergraduate students from multiple universities. The focus of the research was on “Verification and Validation for Software Safety”, and emphasized a strong fundamental knowledge of software safety while maintaining a close collaboration with industry. The program included lectures and special tutorials from guest speakers, field trips, review sessions, as well as posters and final presentations by the students.
MICROBIAL ADHESION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM SPOROZOITES: PURIFICATION OF AN INHIBITORY LIPID FROM BOVINE MUCOSA

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan pathogen of humans and livestock worldwide. Its ability to infect a wide range of species raises questions as to the involvement of a specific host cell receptor for parasite–host recognition. To investigate the mechanism of parasite–host cell recognition, we have developed an in vitro cell suspension binding assay to investigate adhesion of C. parvum sporozoites to host cells. Morphologic features of binding events observed with this assay were identical to those described in natural infections. Glycoconjugates, Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell fractions, and plasma membrane vesicles (PMVs) were screened for their ability to block binding of sporozoites to MDBK cells. Mucins, MDBK cell fractions, and PMVs exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of sporozoite binding. The major inhibitory fraction from MDBK cells was found to be insoluble in aqueous medium, nonsaponifiable, and lacking carbohydrate moieties, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Its inhibitory effect was resista...
Spatial-temporal detection of electro-optic moving targets

A maximum likelihood algorithm to detect moving targets in space-time electro-optic data is derived using a model of temporally stationary and spatially nonstationary clutter statistics. Performance is evaluated in term of the probabilities of false alarm and detection. This algorithm is applied to a variety of image sequences: visible band and infrared (IR) sensors, with terrestrial and celestial clutter backgrounds. Comparison of theoretically predicted and experimentally derived statistics shows excellent agreement, validating the model and theoretical predictions. >
Evaluating the Bookmark Judgments of Standard-Setting Panelists.

The purpose of this study is to describe a new approach for evaluating the judgments of standard-setting panelists within the context of the bookmark procedure. The bookmark procedure is widely used for setting performance standards on high-stakes assessments. A many-faceted Rasch (MFR) model is proposed for evaluating the bookmark judgments of the panelists, and its use illustrated with standard-setting judgments from the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). Panelists set three performance standards to create four performance levels (Apprentice, Basic, Met, and Exceeded). The content area used to illustrate the model is mathematics in Grade 3. The analyses suggest that the MFR model provides a promising framework for examining bookmark judgments.
Regression as classification

The paper presents how solving regression problems can be posed as finding solutions to multiclass classification tasks. The accuracy (averaged over several benchmarking data sets used in this study) of an approximating (hyper)surface to the data points over a given high-dimensional input space created by a nonlinear multiclass classifier is slightly superior to the solution obtained by regression (hyper)surface. In terms of the CPU time needed for training i.e., for tuning the hyperparameters of the models, the nonlinear classifier shows significant (order of magnitudes for large datasets) advantages too. Here, the support vector machine (SVM) has been solving given regression problems as a classic SVM regressor and as the SVM classifier. In order to transform a regression problem into a classification task two possible discretizations of a continuous output (target) vector y are presented and compared. A very strict double (nested) cross-validation technique has been used for measuring performances of regression and multiclass classification SVMs. A novel approach and the experimental results obtained for five benchmarking regression data sets warrant both further theoretical investigations and broad application in practice.
Clostridium difficile—Associated Disease in a Setting of Endemicity: Identification of Novel Risk Factors

Background. Previous studies of risk factors for Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) have been limited by small sample sizes and case-control study designs. Many of these studies were performed during outbreaks of CDAD. Colonization pressure and use of fluoroquinolones, vancomycin, and gastric acid suppressors have not been fully evaluated as risk factors for CDAD. The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for endemic CDAD, including CDAD pressure, a modified version of colonization pressure. Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 36,086 patients admitted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis, MO) during the period from 1 January 2003 through 31 December 2003. Administrative, laboratory, and pharmacy data were collected from electronic hospital databases. Colonization pressure was measured through a surrogate variable (i.e., CDAD pressure). Multivariable pooled logistic regression models were used to evaluate independent risk factors for CDAD. Results. The analysis included 382 CDAD case patient admissions and 35,704 non-case patient admissions. Significant independent risk factors for CDAD included increasing age, admission(s) in the previous 60 days, hypoalbuminemia, leukemia and/or lymphoma, mechanical ventilation, and receipt of antimotility drugs, histamine-2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, intravenous vancomycin, fluoroquinolones, and first-, third-, or fourth-generation cephalosporins. Increasing CDAD pressure was a strong risk factor for CDAD (for a CDAD pressure >1.4, the odds ratio was 4.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-5.6). Receipt of metronidazole was protective against CDAD (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.6). Conclusions. This study identified the previously underrecognized CDAD risk factors of CDAD pressure and vancomycin. More studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between CDAD, these risk factors, and use of gastric acid suppressors and fluoroquinolones.
Highly Mismatched Alloys for Intermediate Band Solar Cells

It has long been recognized that the introduction of a narrow band of states in a semiconductor band gap could be used to achieve improved power conversion efficiency in semiconductor-based solar cells. The intermediate band would serve as a “stepping stone” for photons of different energy to excite electrons from the valence to the conduction band. An important advantage of this design is that it requires formation of only a single p-n junction, which is a crucial simplification in comparison to multijunction solar cells. A detailed balance analysis predicts a limiting efficiency of more than 50% for an optimized, single intermediate band solar cell. This is higher than the efficiency of an optimized two junction solar cell. Using ion beam implantation and pulsed laser melting we have synthesized Zn1-yMnyOxTe1-x alloys with x<0.03. These highly mismatched alloys have a unique electronic structure with a narrow oxygen-derived intermediate band. The width and the location of the band is described by the Band Anticrossing model and can be varied by controlling the oxygen content. This provides a unique opportunity to optimize the absorption of solar photons for best solar cell performance. We have carried out systematic studies of the effects of the intermediate band on the optical and electrical properties of Zn1-yMnyOxTe1-x alloys. We observe an extension of the photovoltaic response towards lower photon energies, which is a clear indication of optical transitions from the valence to the intermediate band.
Settling the score: stroke prediction in atrial fibrillation.

William Osler characterized medicine as a science of uncertainty and an art of probability [(1)][1], and this is especially true in making treatment decisions to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia. For most cardiologists, the decision to
Preserving the Social Studies as Core Curricula in an Era of Common Core Reform

Education reform over the last two decades has changed perceptions of core curricula. Although social studies has traditionally been part of the core, emphasis on standards-based teaching and learning, along with elaborate accountability schemes, is causing unbalanced treatment of subjects. While the research literature indicates teachers are spending less time on social studies, perceptions about the subject are more complicated. Some educators accept the value of social studies knowledge and skills, while others see it as an auxiliary subject for supporting test achievement. Integration is one way primary school teachers reconcile the need to focus on tested disciplines, while holding to traditional notions of the core curricula. Results from a case study involving primary teachers show integration as the preferred method for teaching social studies. However, participants also indicated they were unable to achieve effective integration due to time constraints, limited training, and inadequate curricular resources. The trajectory of standards-based reform suggests educators will continue to encounter obstacles that impede integration. Systematic improvements that preserve the place of social studies as part of the core curricula are unlikely. However, adoption of Common Core standards presents a practical opportunity for educators to reexamine the merits of integration.
Identifying Structural Changes from Within: Emancipatory Narratives Exploring Community Constraints to Women's Education and Empowerment in Rural India.

Using a critical theory framework, the article explores emancipatory narratives obtained through a case study of women in rural India. In-depth interviews, focus group conversations, observations, and document analysis highlight the complexity of the subsequent set of challenges facing women as it relates to both the education and empowerment for women. Initial research questions addressed different dimensions of women’s empowerment, but, through grounded theory, findings emerged that highlighted the constraints embedded in continuing education programs for women in these contexts. Providing evidence from the lived experiences of women who have been the recipients of an economic delivery program and nonformal education programs, themes highlight the role of politics, corruption, and poverty as larger systemic issues hindering women’s access to education.
Nationalism and National Sentiment in Post-socialist Romania

For western observers, a striking concomitant of the end of communist party rule was the sudden appearance of national movements and national sentiments. We were not alone in our surprise: even more taken aback were party leaders, somehow persuaded by their own propaganda that party rule had resolved the so–called "national question." That this was far from true was evident all across the region: from separatism in Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia and the Baltic and other Soviet republics; to bloodshed between Romania's Hungarians and Romanians, and between Bulgaria's Turks and Bulgarians; to Gypsy-bashing in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria; and widespread anti-Semitism–even in countries like Poland where there were virtually no Jews.
Nurses' recognition of delirium in the hospitalized older adult.

Background:Delirium is the most frequent complication associated withhospitalization of older adults, responsible for 17.5 millionadditionalhospitaldaysintheUnitedStateseachyear;yet,nursesfail to recognize it more than 30% of the time.Objectives:The specific aim of the study was to measure staff nurses’recognition of delirium in hospitalized older adults bycomparing nurse and expert diagnostician ratings for deliriumusing the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM).Method:This study investigated the rate of agreement/disagreementbetween researchers and a convenience sample of 167 nursescaring for 170 medical surgical patients (965 years) indetecting delirium. Paired (nurse vs researcher) CAM ratingswere completed at least every other day until either dischargeor delirium was detected by the researcher.Results:The researcher detected delirium in 7% (12/170) of patients.Nurses failed to recognize delirium 75% (9/12) of the time,with poor agreement between nurse/researcher for allobservations (. = 0.34). A generalized estimating equationlogistic regression model identified independent predictors ofnurses’ underrecognition of delirium that included increasingage and length of stay, dementia, and hypoactive delirium.Discussion:Findings provide further support for the significance of nurses’underrecognition of delirium in the hospitalized older adultwhen using the CAM. Additional research is warrantedregarding the clinical decision-making processes that nursesuse in assessing acute cognitive changes and in identifyingstrategies to improve delirium recognition.KEY WORDS:confusion, delirium, nurse recognition
Case Studies of Historical Epoch Shifts: Impacts on Space Systems and their Responses

Developing space systems often comes with high costs and long development times, resulting in significant investment. Space systems can take large amounts of resources to design, build, test, field, and operate, and can be required to operate for long periods of time in very harsh environments. These environments may be dynamic and possibly unanticipated during design and development. Given the large investment, space systems are expected to succeed in spite of encountering perturbations (disturbances or epoch shifts) that could impact their value delivery. The concept of value sustainment is proposed as the ability to maintain value delivery in the presence of such perturbations. Of the two types of perturbations, responses to epoch shifts (i.e. shift in context and/or needs) are investigated in this paper. The construct of Epoch Shift—Impact—Response—Outcome is proposed as a way to characterize and analyze historical system responses to changing operating contexts and needs. Four different historical cases, Iridium, Globalstar, Teledesic, and Galileo, and associated epoch shifts, are described, providing insights into how systems can respond to perturbations and what system characteristics aid in that process. The concept of ilities is briefly introduced, linking the system response to qualities that make a system successful. The epoch shift case studies, along with the corresponding displayed ilities in these systems, may provide a useful framework for future study. A broad survey of past systems characterized in this way may provide insights into the types of dynamic uncertainties that pose risks to such systems, as well as patterns of response (i.e. ilities) for such systems, in order to enhance the ability to intentionally design for value sustainment across dynamic operating environments in the future.
Sub-Feature Speckle Interferometry: A New Approach To Temperature Measurement

A new speckle technique, sub-feature speckle interferometry, is introduced that relies on the amplitude interference of two independent speckle patterns, originating from coherent illumination, using an optical system that produces interferometric quality interference fringes on a scale comparable to the speckle correlation length. Examples are given for in-plane translation, sample tilt, and temperature measurement (strain). A temperature measurement accuracy σ = 0.92°C is realized. In contrast to traditional full-field speckle cross-correlation techniques, this technique requires only a small number of detector elements with minimal signal processing and is compatible with many real-time sensor applications. Measurements of the optical phase across a speckle feature are presented.
Evaluation of Cyano Bonded Phases for the Fractionation of Bioactive Complex Mixtures

Cyanopropyl bonded-phase sorbents are investigated for the liquid chromatographic (LC) fractionation of complex mixtures with the goal of extending routine sample fractionation to samples containing highly polar biologically active components. Separations based both on gravity-flow column chromatography and on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are evaluated for efficiency and resolving power. Typical gravity-flow column separations of neutral to moderately polar mixtures are found to be less effective than those employing traditional sorbents; however, HPLC methods could be called upon to provide the resolving power necessary for satisfactory separations of these mixtures. For mixtures of polar reference compounds, cyano bonded phases provide good separations and are very efficient, permitting the elution of components too polar to be recovered from traditional sorbents. A scheme combining gravity-flow chromatography with HPLC is developed for the fractionation of complex mixtures into compound classes. It is based on the chromatographic behavior of reference compounds covering a wide polarity range utilizing cyanopropyl sorbents exclusively. Results are presented for the fractionation of two air particulate reference samples containing highly polar components.
Assessment of Assistive Computer Technology Needs in Students with Learning Disabilities

There is an increasing reliance on assistive computer technology (ACT) for children with learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia), although no formal system exists for prescribing the most appropriate technological assistance. It appears that many professionals responsible for technology assessments use an informal, subjective, intuitive, or trial and error methodology based on previous experience to prescribe assistive computer technologies for students. The Learning Disabilities Technical Assessment (LDTA) is an objective assessment tool designed to assist practitioners in selecting the most appropriate ACT (e.g., peripheral devices, instructional programs) for each individual. A pilot investigation of the LDTA with seventeen students is described. Although most students completed the assessment without difficulty, their experiences indicate that the LDTA can be improved by reprogramming to increase the speed of item presentation, increase the difficulty level of certain items, and revise the “interests” ...
Effects of inter-vanadium distance and A -site magnetism in A V 2 O 4 ( A = Cd , Mg , Zn ) spinels near the itinerant electron limit

We present temperature dependent powder x-ray diffraction measurements of the spinel $A{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ ($A=\mathrm{Cd}, \mathrm{Mg}, \mathrm{Zn}$, and ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$). The result shows that even though the V-V distance is an important governing parameter, the $A$-site magnetism also has a significant effect on the physical properties of $A{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. This is demonstrated by comparing the structural and transport properties of nonmagnetic $A$-site ions $A{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ ($A$ $=\mathrm{Cd}, \mathrm{Mg}, \mathrm{Zn}$) with the magnetic $A$-site ion substitutional sequence ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$.