cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH IN UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SOURCES OF NUTRIENTS TO COASTAL WATERS

. We model the value of environmental research in the presence of uncertainty about thesources of environmental pollutants and natural processes affecting the level of pollution. The model may be used to estimate the value of environmental research directed at resolving the uncertainty. We illustrate the model using a numerical simulation of a hypothetical case involving nutrient pollution of coastal waters. We show that the ex ante value of research is positively related to the level of uncertainty. There is a diminishing return with respect to the level of research investment. We find that research is more valuable ex post if it leads to unexpected findings.
Evaluation of Oral Submucosal Blood Flow at Dental Injection Sites by Radioactive Xenon Clearance in Beagle Dogs

Oral submucosal blood flow was measured at dental injection sites in anesthetized dogs and compared with subcutaneous blood flow. Blood flow was calculated from the measured half-time for clearance of radioactive xenon dissolved in saline. By this method, oral submucosal blood flow was much greater than subcutaneous blood flow and was comparable in magnitude to values reported for cerebral blood flow. Injection of a solution containing 1:100,000 epinephrine at the mandibular canal produce a delayed clearance of isotope which was three times as long as the clearance time for solutions without epinephrine.
Effective interactions and block diagonalization in quantum-mechanical problems

Many models of condensed-matter systems have interactions with unexpected features: for example, exclusively distant-neighbor spin–orbit interactions. On first inspection these interactions seem physically questionable in view of the basis states used. However, such interactions can be physically reasonable if the model is an effective one, in which the basis states are not exactly as described, but instead include components of states removed from the problem. Mathematically, an effective model results from partitioning the Hamiltonian matrix, which can be accomplished by energy-dependent or energy-independent methods. We examine effective models of both types, with a special emphasis on energy-independent approaches. We show that an appropriate choice of basis makes the partitioning simpler and more accurate. We illustrate the method by calculating the spin–orbit splitting in graphene.
Hyperoxia- and hypoxia-mediated activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes: a comparison of cord and adult venous blood.

Abstract Background: Among the most prominent changes occurring in newborn infants is the exposure of tissues and blood cells to increased oxygen tension. This increase is even more pronounced in neonatal resuscitation using 100% oxygen, currently recommended in the published guidelines. Objective: To analyse the response of neonatal and adult polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to high or low oxygen tension in vitro. Materials: Neonatal cord blood and adult venous blood without previous contact to ambient air was exposed to 0, 21, or 100% oxygen for 30 min followed by incubation for up to 24 h. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to assess PMN activation as indicated by downregulation of L-selectin expression. Cell viability was quantified by the amount of propidium iodide uptake. Results: In adult PMN, L-selectin downregulation was greatly accelerated by hypoxia (PO 2 =27.2±3.4 mmHg) compared with both normoxia (PO 2 =71.0±11.0 mmHg) or hyperoxia (PO 2 =653.2±9.4) ( P P Conclusion: Oxygen exposure of neonatal PMN leads to a more pronounced activation as compared with adult cells. Exposure towards high concentrations of oxygen may contribute to inflammatory processes during early neonatal life.
Structural embeddedness and organizational social outcomes in a centrally governed mental health services network

Abstract This article is an examination of the effects of network involvement, or structural embeddedness, on three organizationally based social outcomes. Specifically, we argue that in centralized, publicly funded networks an organization's structural embeddedness will be related to its trustworthiness, reputation and influence, as rated by other network members. Results from a network survey of a publicly funded health and human service network generally confirm our hypotheses and suggest additional work on the topic.
Evaluation of children with urinary tract infection--impact of the 2011 AAP guidelines on the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux using a historical series.

Abstract Objective To clarify the impact of the updated American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the evaluation of children presenting with initial febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) on the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children with normal renal sonograms. Materials and methods Children with VUR followed between 2002 and 2004 were evaluated using criteria specified in the AAP guidelines. A total of 49 children (42 girls) who were 2–24 months of age at diagnosis of VUR made following initial febrile UTI were included. Results 40.8% of ultrasounds were abnormal. While children with abnormal ultrasounds were more likely to have scintigraphic evidence of renal damage than children with normal ultrasounds (50% vs 17%, p = 0.026), one third of the children with abnormal renal scans had normal RBUS. There was no statistically significant difference in diagnosis of grade 3 or higher VUR between groups (p = 0.136). Conclusions Most children in this series would not have been diagnosed with VUR after initial febrile UTI. More worrisome, 17.2% of children with normal ultrasound had renal injury identified on renal scanning, and 62.1% had grade 3 or higher VUR. These findings reinforce concerns that the new guidelines may miss or delay diagnosis of clinically significant VUR.
Entire solutions of the abstract Cauchy problem

We introduce a family of operators that we will callentire C-groups, and apply them to the first and second order abstract Cauchy problem, for a large class of linear operators on a Banach space. This produces unique solutions, for all initial data in a large (often dense) set, eachof which extends to an entire function, with continuous dependence on the initial data.
Mechanisms of Mixing and Creation of Structure in Laminar Stirred Tanks

Although stirred tanks have been the most commonly used fluid mixing devices since the beginnings of the industrial era, little is known about how and why they mix, and, therefore, about how to improve their performance, particularly when operated in the laminar regime. In laminar conditions, chaos is the only route to achieve efficient mixing. From the body of research in 2-D chaotic flows, very minute perturbations in the velocity field can lead to widespread chaos and substantial enhancement of mixing performance, but these observations have not been systematically applied to industrially relevant 3-D flows. Using planar laser induced fluorescence and direct numerical simulations, the mechanisms of creation and evolution of mixing structures were studied in Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows. The observed dynamical behaviors are related to geometric features of the system. In Newtonian flow systems, the passing of the impeller blades triggers the onset of chaos by introducing small perturbations to the underlying regular 2-D flow that is observed when impellers are substituted with discs. In non-Newtonian viscoelastic systems, nonlinearity in the stress field introduced by the fluid rheology drives the system to spontaneous chaos even when concentric discs are used to stir the fluid.
Metabolic engineering for synthesis of aryl carotenoids in Rhodococcus

Rhodococcus erythropolis naturally synthesizes monocyclic carotenoids: 4-keto-gamma-carotene and gamma-carotene. The genes and the pathway for carotenoid synthesis in R. erythropolis were previously described. We heterologously expressed a beta-carotene desaturase gene (crtU) from Brevibacterium in Rhodococcus to produce aryl carotenoids such as chlorobactene. Expression of the crtU downstream of a chloramphenicol resistance gene on pRhBR171 vector showed higher activity than expression downstream of a native 1-deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate synthase gene (dxs) on pDA71 vector. Expression of the crtU in the beta-carotene ketolase (crtO) knockout Rhodococcus host produced higher purity chlorobactene than expression in the wild-type Rhodococcus host. Growth of the engineered Rhodococcus strain in eight different media showed that nutrient broth yeast extract medium supplemented with fructose gave the highest total yield of chlorobactene. This medium was used for growing the engineered Rhodococcus strain in a 10-l fermentor, and approximately 18 mg of chlorobactene was produced as the almost exclusive carotenoid by fermentation.
The equations of radiative hydrodynamics.

The hydrodynamic equations of motion for an electron gas in interaction with a radiation field are derived from the kinetic theory description of this system. Variational expressions for the transport coefficients appearing in these equations are obtained. The expressions for the transport coefficients are compared to the previously obtained expressions for these quantities and the differences are noted.
Social and nutritional factors influencing the dispersal of resident coyotes

Abstract Factors influencing the likelihood that a coyote, Canis latrans , will disperse or remain in its natal pack are not well understood. The social and nutritional factors influencing the dispersal of resident coyotes in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming were examined by observing 49 coyotes from five resident packs for 2456 h from January 1991 to June 1993. One of two strategies was adopted: disperse or remain in the natal pack (philopatry). Dispersing coyotes were low-ranking pups, or low-ranking betas, who spent little time with other pack members and were typically subordinate during interactions with other members of their pack. Dominant (alpha) coyotes and higher-ranking betas did not disperse. Dispersers had little or no access to ungulate carcasses during winter compared with higher-ranking, philopatric individuals in the pack. The ability to capture small mammals also became important in determining which animals remained or dispersed. When pack size increased in the winter of 1992–1993, possibly intensifying competition at ungulate carcasses, philopatric pups and betas captured small mammals at a higher rate than dispersing coyotes. Individuals that remained in the pack were dominant and higher-ranking, typically had greater access to carcasses in their respective packs and captured small mammals at a higher rate than dispersing individuals when pack sizes were largest. Philopatric coyotes remained within their pack with the objective of advancing to the alpha breeding position. Low-ranking, subordinate coyotes left their natal pack and attempted to establish themselves in either adjacent or distant territories.
A comparison of three clinical methods of spatial contrast-sensitivity testing in normal subjects.

Three methods clinically used for measuring spatial contrast sensitivity were performed monocularly in normal subjects to compare their sensitivity and applicability. The methods tested were (1) the Von Bekesy tracking procedure, (2) the Method of Increasing Contrast, both carried out on a Nicolet CS-2000 automated Vision Tester, and (3) the Vistech Contrast Test System, a photographic test chart. The results show that the threshold sensitivities of the Von Bekesy tracking procedure and the Method of Increasing Contrast were not significantly different. For sensitivity to middle and high spatial frequency, the Vistech test chart was found to approximate the Method of Increasing Contrast. With automated testing, a slower rate of contrast progression and a larger visual angle produced lower thresholds of detection of the contrast-sensitivity function. Using a slow rate of contrast progression, both the Vistech test chart and the Method of Increasing Contrast were rapidly conducted, easy to administer, and gave good approximations of the spatial contrast-sensitivity function.
Robust multi-pipeline scheduling in low-duty-cycle wireless sensor networks

Data collection is one of the major traffic pattern in wireless sensor networks, which requires regular source nodes to send data packets to a common sink node with limited end-to-end delay. However, the sleep latency brought by duty cycling mode results in significant rise on the delivery latency. In order to reduce unnecessary forwarding interruption, the state-of-the-art has proposed pipeline scheduling technique by allocating sequential wakeup time slots along the forwarding path. We experimentally show that previously proposed pipeline is fragile and ineffective in reality when wireless communication links are unreliable. To overcome such challenges and improve the performance on the delivery latency, we propose Robust Multi-pipeline Scheduling (RMS) algorithm to coordinate multiple parallel pipelines and switch the packet timely among different pipelines if failure happens in former attempts of transmissions. RMS combines the pipeline features with the advantages brought by multi-parents forwarding. Large-scale simulations and testbed implementations verify that the end-to-end delivery latency can be reduced by 40% through exploiting multi-pipeline scheduled forwarding path with tolerable energy overhead.
Corrigendum to "PROSPER community-university partnership delivery system effects on substance misuse through 6 1/2years past baseline from a cluster randomized controlled intervention trial" [Prev. Med. 56 (2013) 190-196]

This article reports findings from a cluster randomized trial. As a result of an undetected change in the coding for sample subsets during data collection, there was an error in the individual-level student sample size reported in the study abstract and in the description of the sample included in the analysis. The details of the cluster-based average sample size and range, represented in the study's cluster-basedparticipation summary (Fig. 1) are correct as originally reported. TheN for participants stated in the abstract represented studentswho had valid information, rather than only those who completed the pretest. The correct N for those who completed pretests at baseline is 10,849 (90% of those eligible at the time). The correct description of the longitudinal analytic sample is that it included those who (1) were enrolled in a school district in their assigned condition for at least 3 waves of data collection following pretest, and (2) completed the survey both during pretest and during at least one additional wave. The article's findings and interpretations that were based on this longitudinal sample hold as originally reported.
Consumers' responses to price presentation formats in rebate advertisements

Abstract Although rebates offer an important and popular promotion tool in retailing, little research has investigated whether their presentation format can influence consumers’ evaluations of and purchase intentions toward products featured in rebate ads. Retailers generally use two different rebate ad formats: one that transparently shows both before- and after-rebate prices and the other that displays the after-rebate price in relatively large print and the before-rebate price in small print. Three experimental studies attempt to determine which format is more effective for eliciting favorable consumers’ responses, and the results show that the format emphasizing only after-rebate prices generally leads to lower purchase intentions because of the negative affect it elicits. Furthermore, the effect of a rebate presentation format is moderated by the rebate amount, consumers’ price knowledge, and rebate processing time. The results show that consumers’ responses to different rebate presentation formats entail both emotional responses and rational evaluations.
Scanning tunnelling microscopy of Z-DNA.

SCANNING tunnelling microscopy (STM) has been used to map the surface topography of inorganic materials at the atomic level, and is potentially one of the most powerful techniques for probing biomolecular structure1–3. Recent STM studies of calf thymus DNA4,5and poly(rA) · poly(rU)5 have shown that the helical pitch and periodic alternation of major and minor grooves can be visualized and reliably measured. Here we present the first STM images of poly(dG-me5d) · poly(dG-me5dC) in the Z-form. Both the general appearance of the fibres and measurements of helical parameters are in good agreement with models derived from X-ray diffraction6–4.
Interaction of Factor XII and high molecular weight kininogen with cytokeratin 1 and gC1qR of vascular endothelial cells and with aggregated Aβ protein of Alzheimer's disease

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) attaches to endothelial cells at separate sites on the heavy and light chains by a process which requires 15-50 microM zinc. Previously identified binding proteins include gClqR, cytokeratin 1, and the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (U-par), however, their relative contribution to binding are not yet clarified. We have purified the binding proteins by affinity chromatography, in the presence of zinc ion, and identified cytokeratin 1 and gC1qR by amino acid sequencing of an internal peptide and by immunoblot as heavy chain and light chain binding proteins, respectively. Antibody to cytokeratin 1 inhibited HK binding to endothelial cells by 30%, antibody to gClqR inhibited HK binding to endothelial cells by 72%, and a mixture of both inhibited binding by 86%. The binding and activation of the proteins of the kinin-forming cascade along the cell surface is zinc-dependent. Similarly, proteins of the plasma kinin-forming cascade can be activated by binding to aggregated A(beta) protein of Alzheimer's disease. Activation of the cascade using purified proteins or upon addition of Abeta to plasma requires aggregation of A(beta) and the reactions are zinc-dependent. In plasma, HK is cleaved and bradykinin is liberated. The data demonstrate that aggregated A(beta) can bind and activate proenzymes of the plasma kinin-forming cascade to release bradykinin and these reactions are dependent on zinc ion.
Rehabilitation of long-standing facial nerve paralysis with percutaneous suture-based slings.

Long-standing facial paralysis creates significant functional and aesthetic problems for patients affected by this deficit. Traditional approaches to correct this problem have involved aggressive open procedures such as unilateral face-lifts and sling procedures using fascia and implantable materials. Unfortunately, our results with these techniques over the last 5 years have been suboptimal. The traditional face-lift techniques did not address the nasolabial fold to our satisfaction, and suture-based techniques alone, while offering excellent short-term results, failed to provide a long-term solution. This led to the development of a novel percutaneous technique combining the minimally invasive approach of suture-based lifts with the long-term efficacy of Gore-Tex–based slings. We report our results with this technique for static facial suspension in patients with long-standing facial nerve paralysis and our surgical outcomes in 13 patients. The procedure offers re-creation of the nasolabial crease and suspension of the oral commissure to its normal anatomic relationships. The recovery time is minimal, and the operation is performed as a short outpatient procedure. Long-term 2-year follow-up has shown effective preservation of the surgical results.
Government Intervention in the Coptic Church in Egypt during the Fatimid Period

Cet article traite des pressions qu'a du subir l'eglise copte durant la periode fatimide (969-1171), tant de la part d'eglises subordonnees (eglise nubienne, eglise abyssinienne) que du pouvoir fatimide lui-meme. Les eglises subordonnees n'hesitaient pas en effet a s'adresser au sultan pour que ce dernier oblige le patriarche a ceder a leurs demandes. De meme, l'administration du patriarchat etait genee par les frequentes requetes qu'adressaient au sultan des Coptes mecontents, incitant le sultan a intervenir de plus en plus frequemment dans les affaires de l'Eglise.
Nd isotopic variations in Precambrian banded iron formations

The isotopic composition of Nd is reported for eight banded iron formations (BIFs) ranging in age from 0.65 to 3.4 Ga. The data suggest a trend of increasingly positive epsilon(Nd) values with age which is interpreted to reflect isotopic variations in Precambrian seawater. The Urucum (0.65 Ga) and the Gunflint (1.9 Ga) BIFs yield negative epsilon(Nd) values between -6 and 0. The remaining BIFs, with ages of 1.84 to 3.4 Ga, have predominantly positive values between -1 and +4. The Nd isotopic signature of BIFs changes from a principally continental source to a dominantly depleted mantle source from the present into the Archean.
Mesh update strategies in parallel finite element computations of flow problems with moving boundaries and interfaces

Abstract We present strategies to update the mesh as the spatial domain changes its shape in computations of flow problems with moving boundaries and interfaces. These strategies are used in conjunction with the stabilized space-time finite element formulations introduced earlier for computation of flow problems with free surfaces, two-liquid interfaces, moving mechanical components, and fluid-structure and fluid-particle interactions. In these mesh update strategies, based on the special and automatic mesh moving schemes, the frequency of remeshing is minimized to reduce the projection errors and to minimize the cost associated with mesh generation and parallelization set-up. These costs could otherwise become overwhelming in 3D problems. We present several examples of these mesh update strategies being used in massively parallel computation of incompressible flow problems.
The effect of clinical pharmacy services on patients with essential hypertension.

The effect of clinical services provided by a pharmacist to 25 study patients with essential hypertension was evaluated and compared to the course followed by 25 control hypertensive patients not receiving these services. Results show a significant improvement (P < 0.001) in the study patients' knowledge of hypertension and its treatment, a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the number of study patients who complied with prescribed therapy, and a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the number of study patients whose blood pressures were kept within the normal range during the study period. Most of these study patients had been hypertensive and noncompliant before, and they reverted to this status after the study period. The 25 control patients were hypertensive and noncompliant before, during, and after the study period. Fifty-nine incidents of suspected adverse reactions to antihypertensive drugs were identified in the study patients, occurring more frequently in those patients who were noncompliant, hy...
Potential interactions between non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and other drugs

Objective: The objective of this review is to summarize what is known in human and veterinary patients regarding the potential interactions of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with clinically important drugs. Data sources: Relevant articles as identified through searches of Medline, 1985 to present. Human data synthesis: Hemodynamic drug interactions are most likely to cause clinically relevant problems in humans, in which NSAIDs blunt the response to anti-hypertensive agents and diuretics in patients with cardiovascular disease, or cause renal decompensation in patients with hypovolemia. In addition, NSAIDs enhance the ulcerogenic effects of glucocorticoids or other recently administered NSAIDs, and can increase bleeding from anti-coagulant drugs or from herbs with platelet inhibitory activities. Veterinary data synthesis: Although there are numerous studies examining the safety and efficacy of various NSAIDs in healthy or arthritic dogs, there are very few studies that address the safety of these agents in veterinary patients receiving medication for other acute or chronic conditions. Conclusions: Based upon what is known in humans, more studies are needed in veterinary patients to assess the safety of NSAIDs in those animals being treated with anti-hypertensive, diuretic or anti-coagulant drugs.
Robust 3GHz CMOS low noise amplifier adapted for RFID receivers

A 3GHz source degenerated low noise amplifier (LNA), is developed to support a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) receiver in a variation tolerant environment. The standard LNA design was adapted for this purpose and was designed for 180nm CMOS process. The amplifier provides a forward gain (S 21 ) of 12.27dB with a Noise Figure (NF) of 1.81dB, while drawing a power of 8mW from a 1.5V supply. We also present a reliability analysis of the effect of process variations on circuit performance. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to verify these effects on the NF and Stability factor (K f ) of the LNA. The resulting spread obtained shows robustness to process parameter variations.
Resonances in One Dimension and Fredholm Determinants

We discuss resonances for Schrodinger operators in whole- and half-line problems. One of our goals is to connect the Fredholm determinant approach of Froese to the Fourier transform approach of Zworski. Another is to prove a result on the number of antibound states—namely, in a half-line problem there are an odd number of antibound states between any two bound states.
Microstructure-sensitive design of a compliant beam

We show that mechanical design can be conducted where consideration of polycrystalline microstructure as a continuous design variable is facilitated by use of a spectral representation space. Design of a compliant fixed-guided beam is used as a case study to illustrate the main tenets of the new approach, called microstructure-sensitive design (MSD). Selection of the mechanical framework for the design (e.g., mechanical constitutive model) dictates the dimensionality of the pertinent representation. Microstructure is considered to be comprised of basic elements that belong to the material set. For the compliant beam problem, these are uni-axial distribution functions. The universe of pertinent microstructures is found to be the convex hull of the material set, and is named the material hull. Design performance, in terms of specified design objectives and constraints, is represented by one or more surfaces (often hyperplanes) of finite dimension that intersect the material hull. Thus, the full range of microstructure, and concomitant design performance, can be exploited for any material class. Optimal placement of the salient iso-property surfaces within the material hull dictates the optimal set of microstructures for the problem. Extensions of MSD to highly constrained design problems of higher dimension is also described.
Double-excitation fluorescence spectral imaging: eliminating tissue auto-fluorescence from in vivo PPIX measurements

ABSTRACT An ultrasound coupled handheld-probe-based optical fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) system has been in development for the purpose of quantifying the production of Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) in aminolevulinic acid treated (ALA), Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) in vivo. The design couples fiber-based spectral sampling of PPIX fluorescence emission with a high frequency ultrasound imaging system, allowing regionally localized fluorescence intensities to be quantified [1]. The optical data are obtained by sequential excitation of the tissue with a 633nm laser, at four source locations and five parallel detections at each of the five interspersed detection locations. This method of acquisition permits fluo rescence detection for both superficial and deep locations in ultrasound field. The optical boundary data, tissue layers segmented from ultrasound image and diffusion theory are used to estimate the fluorescence in tissue layers. To improve the recovery of the fluorescence signal of PPIX, eliminating tissue auto-fluorescence is of great importance. Here the approach was to utilize measurements which straddled the steep Q-band excitation peak of PPIX, via the integration of an additional laser source, exciting at 637 nm; a wavelength with a 2 fold lower PPIX excitation value than 633nm.T he auto-fluorescence spectrum acquired from the 637 nm laser is then used to spectrally decouple the fluorescen ce data and produce an accurat e fluorescence emission signal, because the two wavelengths have very similar auto-fluorescence but substantia lly different PPIX excitation levels. The accuracy of this method, using a single source detector pair setup, is verified through animal tumor model experiments, and the result is compared to differe nt methods of fluorescence signal recovery.
Measuring innovation, productivity, and job performance of professionals: A decision modeling approach

The innovation, productivity, and job performance of professionals in a high-technology firm in the nuclear industry were operationally defined through a policy-capturing approach. Policies of 83 professionals and managers of professionals on the three dimensions were simulated by presenting each of the subjects with the work behaviors of 32 hypothetical professionals. Each of the 83 subjects decided on the innovation, productivity, and the job performance of each of the 32 profiles for a total of 7968 decisions. Analysis of the decisions indicated that innovation, productivity, and performance were each defined differently and that there were differences between the professionals' and the managers' policies. This research indicates that decision modeling offers a promising methodology to define the dimensions of professionals' work performance in a variety of research, development, and engineering contexts.
Parallel feedback Active Noise Control of MRI acoustic noise with signal decomposition using hybrid RLS-NLMS adaptive algorithms

This paper presents a cost-effective adaptive feedback Active Noise Control (FANC) method for controlling functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) acoustic noise by decomposing it into dominant periodic components and residual random components. Periodicity of fMRI acoustic noise is exploited by using linear prediction (LP) filtering to achieve signal decomposition. A hybrid combination of adaptive filters-Recursive Least Squares (RLS) and Normalized Least Mean Squares (NLMS) are then used to effectively control each component separately. Performance of the proposed FANC system is analyzed and Noise attenuation levels (NAL) up to 32.27dB obtained by simulation are presented which confirm the effectiveness of the proposed FANC method.
Managing Information Flow for Flexible Assessment of Student Learning in Large Lecture Classes

Large lecture courses provide numerous logistical challenges because of the volume of information about student performance that invariably arises due to the number of students involved. These challenges tend to limit the options associated with the assessment of learning. The advent of computer-graded tests was considered a triumph decades ago, in a large part because it took advantage of the efficiency of information organization that computers afford. The World Wide Web provides new efficiencies in information management that can support new flexibility in assessing what students learn in our courses. By utilizing online database software, information flow is enhanced, and this fact allows the inclusion of a variety of optional assessments for students. Providing choices of assessment to students acknowledges differences in learning styles and provides additional methods for students to succeed in entry-level courses.
Mechanisms of positive inotropic action of flosequinan, hydralazine, and milrinone on mammalian myocardium

Flosequinan is an arterial and venous dilator that also has a positive inotropic effect at relatively higher doses. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of this positive inotropic effect in ferret papillary muscles loaded with the Ca2+ indicator, aequorin. Over the range of doses from 10(-6) to 10(-3) M, flosequinan produced a 61 +/- 9% increase in peak tension that was accompanied by a corresponding increase in [Ca2+]i. This positive inotropic effect was not selectively blocked by addition to the perfusate of procaine 0.6 microM, tetrodotoxin 10(-6) M or by verapamil, 5 x 10(-8) M. In contrast, the positive inotropic effect of flosequinan, but not milrinone or hydralazine, was potentiated by prior addition of ouabain 3 nM to enhance intracellular Ca2+ via reduction of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Moreover, antagonists of Na+/Ca2+ exchange, including cadmium 10 microM, amiloride 600 microM and choline substitution for 1/3 Na+ in the perfusate, blocked the response to flosequinan but not hydralazine or milrinone. These results indicate that flosequinan produces a positive inotropic effect by reduction of Na+/Ca2+ exchange in mammalian myocardium. Moreover, flosequinan has the potential to interact synergistically with other positive inotropic agents such as digoxin that affect Na+/Ca2+ exchange by direct or indirect actions.
A Love for the Thing: The Pleasures of Rap as a Literate Practice

Using the framework of social literacies studies, this article illustrates the central role of pleasure as both the motivation for and result of rap composition. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted with four young adults who are part of a rap collective, the author identifies three key sources of pleasure in composition: 1 Discourse membership 2 Self-expression and self-representation 3 Play These young adults, aged 15 to 21, are part of the very demographic overrepresented in statistics of school dropouts and underachievement: they are urban, African American, and from low-income backgrounds. Their passion for writing belies the statistics, and will be recognizable to educators who have seen adolescents trading oral rhymes in school hallways and scribbling lyrics in their notebooks. This article contributes to the growing body of research on situated literacy practices, offers insights about the young rappers and writers in our midst, and highlights the importance of creating contexts for learning that speak to youths' experiences and motivations.
Analysis of a memory module failure pattern

Memory modules used in personal computers were discovered to have a potential reliability defect caused by a fault in the module manufacturing process. In order to assess the eventual impact on personal computer reliability, should it be decided to use these modules, thermal stress testing and subsequent analysis of the results was performed. Several approaches were employed in the calculation of the relevant statistical parameters which would describe the failure pattern; and the validity of each approach was assessed by comparing predicted with actual results. The optimum approach was used in making a projection to normal operating conditions. Finally the analysis was developed to account for the configuration of modules as assembled in the personal computer. This last stage of the analysis allowed the definition of the expected failure pattern of the machine due to defective memory modules.
Effects of positive and negative adult-child interactions on children's social preference ☆

Abstract The effects of positive and negative interactions on children's performance and preferences for the adults associated with each type of interaction were studied. Five children served as subjects during daily sessions in which each of three adults followed prescribed patterns of social interaction. One adult (positive) dispensed positive comments contingent upon either color-sorting or completion of arithmetic problems; a second adult (negative) mildly reprimanded the child for off-task behavior; and the third adult (extinction or nonreactive) said nothing to the child when he was present. Following each session the three adults reentered and the child chose one of them for an additional period of interaction. Three response measures (frequency, latency, and percent of time on-task) and children's adult preferences were obtained daily. The negative adult affected the most task behavior and had strongest stimulus control; the positive adult, though exerting little control over children's behavior, was the most preferred. Children's adult preferences were not specific to the task setting, but were observed across a variety of contexts.
The Yin–Yang of Dendrite Morphology: Unity of Actin and Microtubules

Actin and microtubules (MT) are targets of numerous molecular pathways that control neurite outgrowth. To generate a neuronal protrusion, coordinated structural changes of the actin and MT cytoskeletons must occur. Neurite formation occurs when actin filaments (F-actin) are destabilized, filopodia are extended, and MTs invade filopodia. This process results in either axon or dendrite formation. Axonal branching involves interplay between F-actin and MTs, with F-actin and MTs influencing polymerization, stabilization, and maintenance of each other. Our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating development of the axon, however, far eclipses our understanding of dendritic development and branching. The two classes of neurites, while fundamentally similar in their ability to elongate and branch, dramatically differ in growth rate, orientation of polarized MT bundles, and mechanisms that initiate branching. In this review, we focus on how F-actin, MTs, and proteins that link the two cytoskeletons coordinate to specifically initiate dendritic events.
The political impact of tourism dependence in Latin America

Abstract This research seeks to test empirically the validity of hypotheses drawn from dependency theory that suggest that economic reliance on tourism creates political dependence. Specifically, it seeks to determine whether the Carribean region, strongly dependent on U.S. tourism, is demonstrably more compliant politically with the United States than other, less dependent, Latin American nations. In addition, the paper examines the relation between political compliance and other indicators of dependence, e.g., investment, aid, and trade. Compliance is measured basically by correlating each nation's voting behavior in the UN General Assembly with that of the United States. A series of tests on a number of relevant economic and political variables yields no confirmation of the dependency argument in the political realm.
Is vision metric? Comment on Lappin and Love (1992).

In a recent paper, Lappin and Love (1992) showed that depth judgments, based on planar motion of a stimulus, are remarkably precise. This led them to the conclusion that perception of planar motion allows acquiring metric information about visual space. We show, however, that Lappin and Love’s stimuli contained 2-D cues in the frontal plane that could subserve the subjecfs judgments.
Protective Pumping to Reduce Aquifer Pollution, Glynn County, Georgiaa

Water-level declines in the principal artesian aquifer have created a head imbalance between the aquifer and an underlying brackish-water zone containing up to 4,550 mg/1 chloride. The brackish-water zone leaks brackish water into the aquifer through several breaks in a confining unit. A relief well tapping the brackish-water zone was drilled near a suspected break and pumped at about 3,000 gpm to lower the potential in the zone and bring it into hydrostatic equilibrium with the aquifer. The pumping apparently succeeded in decreasing the rate of brackish-water leakage into the aquifer. Successive samples of water from a well tapping the aquifer and downgradient from the relief well showed a decrease in the chloride content. Several more relief wells may be necessary to ultimately control chloride contamination of the aquifer.
Future therapeutic trends in osteoarthritis

Since cartilage contains no nerve endings, symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) are indirect. Therapy of OA, to date, has been directed at the symptoms of pain, signs of inflammation and loss of function. A major advance has been surgical joint replacement. This benefit however, is often limited by the joint area involved and to the survival of the endoprosthesis.Orthopedic new approaches to therapy of OA include removal of abnormal tissue to stimulate repair (e.g., burring, abrasion) and grafting (e.g., osteochondral grafts, perichondrium, periosteum) to the subchondral bone. Controlled activity (e.g., passive motion) has been studied alone and with the above.Can a medication retard or reverse the degradative process of OA? Several medications are being examined for potential “chondroprotective” characteristics. Some of these agents are not new: oversulfated glycosaminoglycans (Arteparon(R)) derived from cartilage and glycosaminoglycan peptides (Rumalon(R)) derived from cartilage and bone marrow extracts may ...
Phase-slope and group-dispersion calculations in the frequency domain by simple optical low-coherence reflectometry

We report a new method by which phase slope and group dispersion can be calculated with a simple optical low-coherence reflectometer to quantify physiological conditions. A discrete-time signal processing algorithm based on the first and second derivatives of the phase with respect to wave number was developed from discrete-time Fourier properties. The algorithm avoids the 2π ambiguity associated with most phase unwrapping. Experimental data collected by use of well-characterized optical materials validated the algorithm, which was minimally sensitive to phase noise. The group dispersion of bovine cornea was measured at various hydrations and was significantly dependent on hydration. The results suggest that group dispersion is an indicator of corneal alterations.
Spatial heterogeneity in size-structure of meiofaunal-sized invertebrates on small-spatial scales (Meters) and its implications

Abstract Spatial heterogeneity in population size-structure and other demographic characteristics on scales of meters was observed for four species of meiofaunal-sized marine invertebrates. Zausodes arenicolus Wilson, a harpacticoid copepod, was shown to have heterogeneous spatial distributions of size-structure on two dates on a subtidal sandflat in Tampa Bay, Florida. Significant spatial variation in the proportion of adults for Z. arenicolus was also observed. Cyclopina gracilis Claus, a cyclopoid copepod, and the harpacticoid copepod Harpacticus sp. displayed heterogeneous size-distributions in Arctic seasonal sea ice. In addition, Cyclopina gracilis sex ratios and age-structure differed significantly among sample locations. Juvenile Gemma gemma Totten, a bivalve, appeared to show variation in size-structure on one date on an intertidal sandflat in Tom's Cove, Virginia. Spatial variation in population characteristics, such as size-structure, appears to be a common phenomenon for small marine invertebrates. A nested sampling design is suggested as one method to overcome this problem. Such a design would allow evaluation of spatial variation in population characteristics, which could thus be separated from temporal variation in these parameters. If spatial heterogeneity in population characteristics is ignored, changes in these characteristics may incorrectly be interpreted to result from temporal changes.
Kinetics of RNA polymerase-promoter complex formation: effects of nonspecific DNA-protein interactions

Abstract The rates of formation of RNA polymerase-promoter open complexes at the galactose P2 and lactose UV5 promoters of E. coli were studied using polyacrylamide gels to separate the heparin-resistant complexes from unbound DNA. Both the apparent rate and extent of reaction at these promoters are inhibited at excess RNA polymerase. This inhibition, which can be relieved by the addition of non-promoter DNA, is interpreted to be the result of occlusion of the promoter site by nonspecifically bound polymerase. Additionally, biphasic kinetics are observed at both gal P2 and lac UV5, but not at the PR promoter of phage lambda. This behavior disappears when the concentration of RNA polymerase in the binding reaction is less than that of the promoter fragment. It is proposed that at excess enzyme nonspecifically bound polymerase molecules sliding along the DNA may "bump" closed complexes from the promoter site thereby reducing the rate of open complex formation. Kinetics mechanisms quantifying both the occlusion and bumping phenomena are presented.
Low Temperature Carbon Nanotube Film Transfer via Conductive Adhesives

A low temperature process for transferring carbon nanotube (CNT) film from a silicon wafer to a copper surface via conductive adhesives is proposed. Both the close-and open-ended CNT films were successfully transferred to a desirable substrate. The morphologies and electrical properties of the transferred CNT films were studied. An ohmic contact was formed between a CNT film and a highly conductive adhesive, while a semiconductor joint was formed between a CNT film and a high resistivity adhesive.
Impaired febrile response with age: role of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.

We demonstrated previously that in Escherichia coli-infected rats, the heat necessary for the febrile response is a result of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). To investigate whether senescent rats have an impaired febrile response to infection and whether such an impairment is a result of attenuated sympathetically activated thermogenesis in BAT, we assessed body temperature and the increase in mitochondrial guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP) binding sites in interscapular BAT in response to E. coli administration in young and senescent male F-344 rats. There was a significant delay of 2 hr in the onset of fever in the older animals. In addition, in senescent rats, the peak fever (1.0 +/- 0.1 delta degrees C vs 2.2 +/- 0.1) and the cumulative fever (383 +/- 43 delta degrees C.min vs 775 +/- 69) were significantly less than in the young rats (P less than 0.005). Baseline levels of GDP binding were the same in young and old rats. In young rats, during the rising phase of the fever, E. coli infection resulted in a 50% increase in the density of GDP binding sites in BAT mitochondria. In contrast, there was no increase in GDP binding in the older rats following infection. The failure to increase GDP binding may be a result of a reduced ability to unmask reserve GDP binding sites. Alternatively, there may be fewer total GDP binding sites (masked and unmasked) in senescent rats and these sites may already be unmasked. Collectively, these data suggest that the impaired febrile response with age is due to reduced thermogenesis in BAT.
Calorie Restriction— the SIR2 Connection

A nutritious diet low in calories improves the health and extends the life span of rodents. Recent studies identified a gene, SIR2, which encodes an NAD-dependent deacetylase and may mediate the effects of calorie restriction. In this review, we discuss SIR2 genes and calorie restriction in the lower organisms yeast and Drosophila. We then describe the physiological changes in mammals during calorie restriction and how they may lead to the observed health benefits. We summarize the roles of mammalian Sirt1 in mediating these changes in tissues and endocrine systems and propose that Sirt1 regulates calorie restriction by sensing low calories and triggering physiological changes linked to health and longevity.
Refractive index matching and marking methods for highly concentrated solid–liquid flows

Two index-matched systems of solid particles in liquid have been developed to enable the study of velocity and concentration distributions in the highly concentrated solid–liquid flows. The mixtures have excellent optical transparency up to depths exceeding 80 mm at concentrations up to 50% solids by volume. Highly visible marker particles with nearly the same mechanical properties as the index-matched particles are formed by metal plating or substitution. Good quality images of marker particles are obtained in both stationary and moving two-phase mixtures, and permit accurate tracking of the individual markers.