cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Civic Engagement Among Community College Students Through Service Learning

Higher education has been called upon to prepare its graduates to be civically engaged community members. Since the 1980s, faculty have taken up this call. Service learning is a common strategy that educators have adopted to stimulate civic engagement in students. In this study, service learning students and nonservice learning students from eight community colleges were given precourse and postcourse surveys on civic engagement. Results revealed a statistically significant increase in service learners’ civic engagement when compared to nonservice learners. The findings are consistent with other higher education studies that use an expanded definition of civic engagement.
Homology of the giant serotonergic neurons (metacerebral cells) in Aplysia and pulmonate molluscs

Abstract The properties of the giant cerebral serotonin-containing neurons of the opisthobranch mollusc Aplysia californica were studied and were compared to the existing data on the giant serotonin-containing neurons (metacerebral cells) of pulmonate molluscs. Among the properties examined were: axonal distribution, synaptic input and output, pharmacological responses, biophysical characteristics, and plasticity. With only minor exceptions, the properties of the serotonin-containing neurons of Aplysia and of pulmonate molluscs were remarkably similar, and it was concluded that these identified neurons are true homologues. The establishment of the homology of the metacerebral cells of Aplysia to the metacerebral cells of pulmonate molluscs extends the known distribution of these neurons to a second major subclass (Opisthobranchiata) of molluscs. Since pulmonate and opisthobranch molluscs differ substantially in behavioral and anatomical features, the study of the metacerebral cells of these two groups may promote the understanding of the evolutionary adaptation of the nervous system to different environmental pressures.
Ankle Disk Training Influences Reaction Times of Selected Muscles in a Simulated Ankle Sprain

Ankle disk training has been used as an exercise in sports medicine clinics to help protect against ankle sprains. This study investigated the effects of ankle disk training on the contraction pattern of the anterior tibialis, posterior tibialis, peroneus longus, and flexor digitorum longus muscles in a simulated ankle sprain. Twenty adults were recruited and divided into a control group and an experimental group. A platform with a trapdoor was used to simulate a lateral ankle sprain. Electromyographic data were recorded from each subject in pretraining and posttraining tests. The experimental group underwent ankle disk training for 8 weeks between the pretraining and posttraining tests. In the pretraining test, the four muscles started to contract simultaneously; in the posttraining test, the contractions of the anterior and posterior tibialis muscles were delayed. This delay favors the correction of excessive ankle inversion. This study examined the effects of one form of proprioceptive training on muscle reaction times, and its results may explain why such training can help protect against ankle sprains.
Comparison of the bonding between ML+ and ML2+ (M=metal, L=noble gas)

Ab initio calculations are reported of the spectroscopic constants for the low-lying states of the molecular ions ML2(+), where M = Li, Na, Mg, V, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu, and where L is usually Ar. Comparison with existing analogous calculations on the ML(+) ions shows how the bonding and binding energy change with the addition of a second noble gas atom. The second binding energy is predicted to be essentially the same as the first for the Li, Na, Mg, and V ions, but larger for the Fe, Co, Ni and Cu ions. The binding energies of the transition metal noble gas ions are not accurately predicted at the SCF level, because correlation is required to describe their M(0)Ln(+) character. All trends can be explained in terms of promotion and hybridization on the metal ion.
A minimal model of spontaneous CP violation with the gauge group SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)B−L

We propose and analyze a minimal model of spontaneous CP violation with the gauge symmetry SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)B−L. We find that the “isoconjugate relation” of Mohapatra and Pati is no longer valid in this model even for the four-quark case. However, due to a dynamical effect, all three of the main superweak predictions (η+− = η00, η+−0 = η000 and η+−0 = η+−) are approximately true to better than 1%. For the six-quark case, we find that the Kobayashi-Maskawa phase is calculable and small so that its presence does not appreciably change the phenomenology of the model.
Theoretical study of the As(100) surface reconstruction of GaAs

Abstract The reconstruction of the As-terminated GaAs(100) surface was examined using both the tight-binding and the self-consistent pseudopotential methods. Dimer models with unit cells as large as the c-4×4 one seen in electron-diffraction experiments were tested. Unlike the Si(100) surface, symmetric as well as asymmetric dimers are predicted to occur in equal densities at the surface.
Incoherent Neutron Scattering by Polycrystals

General expressions are given for the first terms in the expansion in powers of the neutron to nuclear mass ratio of the total cross section for incoherent scattering of neutrons by polycrystals. Special limiting cases of these expressions had been published earlier.
Age Differences in Levels of Overt and Covert Death Anxiety

The current study explored the relationship between conscious (overt) and unconscious (covert) death anxiety and chronological age, wherein composite scores as well as factor scores were used in the comparison of younger and older adults. Results indicated that there were reliable age differences in both overt and covert levels of death fear. Contrary to previous literature, older adults evidenced higher levels of overt fear, while younger adults' covert fears were greater. These data further substantiate the distinction between overt and covert levels of death anxiety in adulthood, where cumulative differential loss experiences over the course of a lifetime most likely lessen the need to deny fears of one's own death, while sensitizing older persons to the loss of intimate relationships with others.
Functional intergenic transcription: a case study of the X–inactivation centre

Long known to be riddled with repetitive elements and regarded as 'junk', intergenic regions in the mammalian genome now appear to be more than incidental spacers between coding sequences. Here, I review the example of Xite, an intergenic region at the X-inactivation centre which was recently shown to regulate the X-chromosome choice decision. Xite contains a series of DNaseI-hypersensitive sites and harbours two intergenic transcription start sites. These intergenic transcription elements act at the onset of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) to bias the selection of the active X. It has been proposed that Xite acts in cis on Tsix by promoting its persistence during XCI. Xite has also been proposed to be a candidate for the X-controlling element, a naturally occurring modifier of XCI ratios in mice and possibly also in humans. It seems likely that intergenic transcription will turn out to be a widespread phenomenon in mammals and that, more importantly, it will emerge as a significant regulatory mechanism for the expression of coding sequences.
Strength-time relationships of agar and alginate gels

The compressive strength of 2% agar and alginate gels was monitored periodically during the first 50–80 h after preparation. The strength increased rapidly in the first 6 h in the former and about 15 h in the latter, and then tended to stabilize, asymptotically. An empirical, two parameter mathematical model was used to estimate the asymptotic value on the basis of data obtained during the first 8 or 20 h, respectively. The common procedure of testing these gels after 24 h is satisfactory, since changes after this time are relatively small. A similar two parameter model was also applied to the weight loss of the alginate gels and it enabled prediction of the gel's final weight with reasonable accuracy. Since both models can be presented in a linear form, testing their applicability and calculation of their constants can be done by linear regression.
Effect of antibiotic pretreatment on immunogenicity of human heart valves and component cells

Abstract Background . For many years valves have been sterilized with high-dose antibiotics before implantation, but now there is an increasing trend to using "homovital" valves, which have been exposed to very low dose antibiotics. Methods . To investigate the immunogenicity of valve tissue, before and after exposure to high- and low-dose antibiotics, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human allogenic T cells were cocultured with antibiotic-treated valve discs, cultured valve endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Proliferation was measured by uptake of thymidine labeled with hydrogen 3. Results . Untreated tissue pieces stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (4,080 ± 980 cpm) at day 0 with similar results after 1 day in Hank's balanced salt solution (4,272.4 ± 1,307 cpm) reducing to 2,442 ± 926 cpm after 3 days and 1,111 ± 255 cpm after 5 days; antibiotic-treated pieces are less immunogenic after 1 (2,560 ± 403 cpm), 3 (1,550 ± 60 cpm), 5 (717 ± 295 cpm), and 7 days (633 ± 174 cpm) in homovital solution, whereas sterilized pieces are not immunogenic (184 ± 96 cpm) after only 1 day in strong antibiotics. Histologic analysis showed that this corresponds to a reduction of class I and class II expression by human valve endothelial cells. Human valve endothelial cells but not fibroblasts are capable of causing direct stimulation of CD4+ T cells. However, human valve endothelial cells poorly stimulate CD4+ T cells after incubation in homovital solution for 24 hours. Conclusions . This study shows that valve tissue is immunogenic and this immunogenicity is mediated mainly by endothelial cells. However, the immunostimulatory potential of the valve can be reduced by incubating the solution in an antibiotic cocktail.
Developmental susceptibility to the horizontal-vertical illusion

Developmental susceptibility to four forms of the horizontal-vertical (HV) illusion was examined in subjects ranging in age from 3 to 20 years. For each form of the HV illusion, one standard and six comparison stimuli were developed, with subjects first inspecting the standard and then selecting the matching comparator. The magnitude of the illusion, estimated from the difference between the size of the standard and that of the selected comparator, was found to be similar to values reported previously and determined through the use of a wide range of stimuli, procedures, and subject groups. Susceptibility to the HV illusion was greatest for the youngest subjects. It decreased for older subjects in accordance with the development of spatial coordinates, as suggested by Piaget.
Metformin impairs endothelialization after placement of newer generation drug eluting stents.

Objectives Metformin impairs endothelialization of drug eluting stents (DES) due to convergent signaling at the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. We assessed whether metformin will continue to adversely affect stent endothelialization despite design improvements in newer generation DES.
Mycorrhizal densities decline in association with nonnative plants and contribute to plant invasion

Belowground interactions between herbaceous native species and nonnative species is a poorly understood but emerging area of interest to invasive-species researchers. Positive feedback dynamics are commonly observed in many invaded systems and have been suspected in California grasslands, where native plants associate strongly with soil mutualists such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In response to disturbance, invading nonnative plants proliferate, and to the degree these species associate weakly with soil mutualists, we would expect mutualist efficacy to degrade over time. Degraded mutualist efficacy would negatively impact mutualist-dependent native species or their recruitment following a disturbance. We investigated the feedback dynamics of soil conditioned both with native and nonnative herbaceous communities of southern California grasslands to test this degraded mutualist hypothesis. Using a mesocosm approach, we inoculated each community with live soil originating from a remnant native grassland and varied the plant communities (i.e., native or nonnative) along a plant-species-richness gradient. After one year, we then used this conditioned soil for reciprocal feedback tests on a native and nonnative indicator species. We show that a native herbaceous forb (Gnaphalium californicum) grows best in soil conditioned by a diverse mix of other native species that includes G. californicum but is inhibited by soil conditioned by a diverse mix of nonnative species. We also show that an invasive, nonnative herbaceous forb (Carduus pycnocephalus) exhibits strong growth in soil lacking arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and in soil conditioned by a diverse mix of nonnative species that include C. pycnocephalus, and that it is inhibited by the same soil that best promotes the native, G. californicum. Separate bioassays for mycorrhizal density show a reduction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the nonnative-conditioned soil relative to the native-conditioned soil, which suggests that nonnative species do not promote the growth of mycorrhizal fungi in the same way that native species do. The growth patterns resulting from the vegetative history of these distinct soil communities provide evidence of a biotic feedback mechanism that may account for the maintenance of persistent communities of nonnative (and often invasive) plants ubiquitous throughout California grasslands.
Capitalizing on parent and family partnerships through programming

Interaction with parents and family members continues to increase on college campuses across the nation. This chapter reviews best practices for communicating with and programming for parents and family members of enrolled students.
Person Characteristic Versus Role Congruency Explanations for Assessment Center Ratings

The article presents information on the use of personal characteristics and the role congruency explanations for assessment center ratings. A discussion is presented about the moral and ethical imp...
**504 Detection of Cytogenetic Abnormalities Associated with Outcome Differences in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Array-Based Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) Analysis

Abstract 1633 Poster Board I-659 Background The presence of abnormal cytogenetic findings at diagnosis is an independent indicator of the outcome in patients with acute myeloid leukemias (AML). Recent availability of high-resolution analysis by aCGH technology has facilitated rapid detection of cytogenetic abnormalities previously undetected by the conventional G-banded karyotyping. Aim: To determine whether specific cytogenetic abnormalities, as detected by the aCGH analysis, are associated with differences in clinical outcomes in a group of patients with AML treated uniformly with the standard chemotherapy regimen of Idarubicin and Cytarabine. Methods A total of 111 patients with newly diagnosed AML (Median age: 55 years; range, 22 to 73 years) were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated with Idarubicin 12 mg/m 2 IV daily x 3 days and Cytarabine 1.5 g/m 2 by continuous IV infusion daily x 4 days (3 days in patients older than 60). The diagnostic bone marrow samples from 48 of these patients were analyzed by aCGH using a 44K CGH array with a spatial resolution of 50-75 kb (Agilent Inc). The aberrations detected by aCGH using CGH Analytics (Agilent Inc, Santa Clara, CA) and the Nexus Copy Number Software (Biodiscovery Inc, El Segundo, CA) were compared to conventional G-banded karyotyping results. Correlation of aCGH-detected aberrations with clinical outcome was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test. Results Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 34/48 (71%) patients, out of which 16 (47%) patients relapsed in less than 1 year (Median: 18.5 weeks, range: 1-44 weeks) and the remaining 18 (53%) patients sustained CR beyond one year (Median: 89 weeks, range: 58-132 weeks). The comparison of aCGH findings between the patients achieving CR and the resistant patients showed significant association of loss of a 155 kilobase region on 5q33.3 with achievement of CR (p TP53 gene in 3/12 (25%) patients, although these three patients showed genetic instability and poor clinical outcome. Overall, the aCGH findings were in concordance with the conventional karyotyping results. The aCGH analysis was able to detect aberrations in samples containing blast count as low as 5%. In addition, aCGH identified previously undetected aberrations, as small as 5 kb, of currently unknown significance. Conclusion The aCGH analysis indicates that the loss of 5q33.3 is associated with achievement of complete remission and the loss of 17p11.2-q11.1 is associated with poor overall survival in AML patients treated with Idarubicin and Cytarabine. Array CGH analysis provides a useful and rapid diagnostic tool for identifying these high-risk patients. The biologic roles of EBF1 and RNF145 in therapy response warrant further investigation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Increased insulin binding to erythrocytes in diabetic ketoacidosis: normalization with insulin therapy.

We studied insulin binding to erythrocytes in eight male type I diabetic patients in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) before and 24 h and 5 days after low dose insulin treatment. Mean specific [125I]insulin binding in DKA (mean ± SEM, 13.3 ± 0.6%) was significantly higher than values 24 h and 5 days after treatment (10.7 ± 0.7% and 9.6 ± 0.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). These values after treatment were similar to those of 15 age-matched normal males (10.5 ± 0.4%) and 6 controlled type I diabetic patients (10.1 ± 0.7%). The affinity constant (Ka = 2.26 ± 0.12 109 M−1) was significantly higher in DKA patients than in normal subjects (1.75 ± 0.15 109 M−1) or type I controlled diabetics (1.55 ± 0.15 109 M−1; P < 0.01). Insulin binding correlated inversely with arterial pH (r = −0.80; P < 0.001; n = 8). These results indicate an increase in specific [125I]insulin binding to erythrocytes in DKA, which is due to elevated receptor affinity (but not receptor numbers) and is reversible with treatment
Induction of Fos-immunoreactivity in the rat brain following disinhibition of the dorsomedial hypothalamus

Activation of neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) appears to play an important role in signaling the excitation of brain regions responsible for experimental fever and for many of the physiological and behavioral changes seen in experimental stress or anxiety in rats. Here, we examined the effect of disinhibition of the DMH by unilateral microinjection of bicuculline methiodide (BMI) on Fos expression in selected regions of the brain that have been implicated in anxiety and responses to stress and fever in rats. Disinhibition of the DMH resulted in dramatic increases in local Fos expression and also increased the numbers of Fos-positive neurons in the lateral septal nucleus and in both the parvocellular and magnocellular subdivisions of the paraventricular nucleus, with greater increases ipsilateral to the injection site in the DMH. However, microinjection of BMI had no significant effect on Fos expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, another forebrain area implicated in stress and anxiety. In the brainstem, disinhibition of the DMH increased Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius and the ventrolateral medulla bilaterally with greater increases again ipsilateral to the site of the microinjection, and also in the midline rostral raphe pallidus. Thus, disinhibition of neurons in the DMH in conscious rats results in increases in Fos expression in selected forebrain and brainstem regions that have been implicated in stress-induced physiological changes, anxiety, and experimental fever.
Salivary Gland Nucleotide Receptors: Changes in Expression and Activity Related to Development and Tissue Damagea,

Experiments were performed to document the presence of G protein-coupled P2Y nucleotide receptors in rat salivary glands and to examine changes in receptor expression during development and under conditions in which gland architecture is altered. The results indicate that, as opposed to mature rat submandibular gland (SMG), immature glands express functional P2Y1 receptors. P2Y1 receptor activity was highest at birth and declined over the next four weeks to undetectable levels. P2Y1 receptor mRNA levels remained constant over this time course, suggesting that receptor activity is regulated at some point other than transcription. Conversely, short-term culture of cells from the three major salivary glands resulted in upregulation of functional P2Y2 receptors. Responses to the P2Y2-selective agonist, UTP, were obtained after 3 h in culture and were maximal by 72 hours. This increase was paralleled by increased steady-state P2Y2 receptor mRNA levels. Upregulation of P2Y2 receptors also occurred in vivo following ligation of the main excretory duct of the SMG. These studies suggest that nucleotide receptors are dynamically regulated during development and as a result of perturbations to gland architecture.
Decoding Individuated Finger Movements Using Volume-Constrained Neuronal Ensembles in the M1 Hand Area

Individuated finger and wrist movements can be decoded using random subpopulations of neurons that are widely distributed in the primary motor (M1) hand area. This work investigates 1) whether it is possible to decode dexterous finger movements using spatially-constrained volumes of neurons as typically recorded from a microelectrode array; and 2) whether decoding accuracy differs due to the configuration or location of the array within the M1 hand area. Single-unit activities were sequentially recorded from task-related neurons in two rhesus monkeys as they performed individuated movements of the fingers and the wrist. Simultaneous neuronal ensembles were simulated by constraining these activities to the recording field dimensions of conventional microelectrode array architectures. Artificial neural network (ANN) based filters were able to decode individuated finger movements with greater than 90% accuracy for the majority of movement types, using as few as 20 neurons from these ensemble activities. Furthermore, for the large majority of cases there were no significant differences (p < 0.01) in decoding accuracy as a function of the location of the recording volume. The results suggest that a brain-machine interface (BMI) for dexterous control of individuated fingers and the wrist can be implemented using microelectrode arrays placed broadly in the M1 hand area.
Advances of cardiovascular MRI in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease characterized by abnormal myocardial hypertrophy, which can lead to a wide clinical spectrum, including sudden cardiac death and heart failure. Cardiac MRI has a significant role in establishing the diagnosis of HCM. In the three principal management issues related to HCM; testing of family members of affected individuals; assessing the risk of sudden cardiac death from lethal ventricular arrhythmias; and selection of appropriate treatments for left ventricular outflow obstruction, cardiac MRI has established or emerging roles.
Economic Substantive Due Process: Considered Dead is Being Revived by a Series of Supreme Court Land Use Cases

This article describes how the Supreme Court, in a series of land-use cases, is resurrecting economic substantive due process, which has been presumed dead since its rejection in the 1930s for blocking legislation aimed at fighting the Great Depression. The most dramatic step in this reversion to Lochner is Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District, a case handed down on June 25, 2013. Koontz extended the reach of Nollan v. California Coastal Commission and Dolan v. City of Tigard, cases that expanded takings law to include the lack of sufficient connection between a property interest required for mitigation of a permitted project and the project’s adverse impacts. Those cases changed the judicial standard for reviewing permit conditions requiring the dedication of land from rational basis to the heightened takings standard, which includes the government bearing the burden of persuasion. In Koontz, the Court ruled that this takings concept was applicable to the requirement that the permit applicant expend money to compensate for the impacts of the permitted activity despite the fact that the Fifth Amendment and previous case law confine takings analysis to property interests. The practical effect of Koontz is that courts must implement substantive due process review to a vast amount of permit decisions of local, state, and federal government. This article examines the doctrines of takings, substantive due process, and unconstitutional condition to arrive at the conclusion that the takings test created by Nollan, Dolan, and Koontz revives economic substantive due process. The article recognizes the legitimacy of the desire of property rights advocates for more than rubber stamp, rational basis review of progressively more stringent land-use regulation. To that end, the article concludes by proposing alternatives that accomplish this without resurrecting economic substantive due process that is a bad doctrine now for the same reasons it was rejected in the 1930s.
University students’ attitudes about learning in small groups after frequent participation:

This study examined the frequency of small groups in university students’ coursework and how that related to their general attitudes toward learning in groups and their views about different aspects of group work. We administered a survey to 208 students in an upper-division interdisciplinary arts and sciences program. Students reported that they had been in multiple groups, of different duration and types, both in their current program and in courses at their lower-division institutions. A regression analysis uncovered strong relationships between students’ past and present group experiences, peers, and instructor clarity about group purpose. The findings suggest that successful group work is no longer a matter of instructor effort but requires campus initiatives and interdepartmental coordination if students are to understand and experience the benefits of learning in small groups.
Infrared imaging and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings correlate with microperimetry in acute macular neuroretinopathy: a case report

Introduction Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings in a patient with acute macular neuroretinopathy, and correlation with functional defects on microperimetry, are presented.
Light Quantity Affects the Regulation of Cell Shape in Fremyella diplosiphon.

In some cyanobacteria, the color or prevalent wavelengths of ambient light can impact the protein or pigment composition of the light-harvesting complexes. In some cases, light color or quality impacts cellular morphology. The significance of changes in pigmentation is associated strongly with optimizing light absorption for photosynthesis, whereas the significance of changes in light quality-dependent cellular morphology is less well understood. In natural aquatic environments, light quality and intensity change simultaneously at varying depths of the water column. Thus, we hypothesize that changes in morphology that also have been attributed to differences in the prevalent wavelengths of available light may largely be associated with changes in light intensity. Fremyella diplosiphon shows highly reproducible light-dependent changes in pigmentation and morphology. Under red light (RL), F. diplosiphon cells are blue-green in color, due to the accumulation of high levels of phycocyanin, a RL- absorbing pigment in the light-harvesting complexes or phycobilisomes (PBSs), and the shape of cells are short and rounded. Conversely, under green light (GL), F. diplosiphon cells are red in color due to accumulation of GL- absorbing phycoerythrin in PBSs, and are longer and brick-shaped. GL is enriched at lower depths in the water column, where overall levels of light also are reduced, i.e., to 10% or less of the intensity found at the water surface. We hypothesize that longer cells under low light intensity, which is generally enriched in green wavelengths, are associated with greater levels of total photosynthetic pigments in the thylakoid membranes. To test this hypothesis, we grew F. diplosiphon under increasing intensities of GL and observed whether the length of cells diminished due to reduced pressure to maintain larger cells and the associated increased photosynthetic membrane capacity under high light intensity, independent of whether it is light of green wavelengths.
Systematic synthesis design. 8. Generation of reaction sequences

The numerical description of functionality allows a rigorous generation of all reactions from one structure (or partial structure) to another. The minimum number of steps required can be calculated and this “reaction distance” used to guide computer generation of sequences to converge on the target structure. A computer algorithm is described for efficient generation of all shortest synthetic routes between two given molecules as starting material and product. The program is seen as a prototype of a complete synthesis design program.
Firms' technological resources and the performance effects of diversification: A longitudinal study

While agency theory claims managerial self-interest creates a diversification discount, strategic theory explains that firms with certain kinds of resources should diversify. Longitudinal data on 227 firms that diversify between 1980 and 1992 reveal that the sample firms invest less in R&D and have greater breadth of technology (based on patent citations) than their industry peers prior to the diversification event. Also, acquiring firms may appear to have lower performance because of accounting conventions and because firms that use internal growth rather than acquisition pursue less extensive diversification. These findings help explain how diversification and financial performance are endogenous. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High-temperature deformation and microstructural analysis for silicon nitride-scandium(III) oxide

It was indicated that Si3N4 doped with Sc2O3 may exhibit high temperature mechanical properties superior to Si3N4 systems with various other oxide sintered additives. High temperature deformation of samples was studied by characterizing the microstructures before and after deformation. It was found that elements of the additive, such as Sc and O, exist in small amounts at very thin grain boundary layers and most of them stay in secondary phases at tripple and multiple grain boundary junctions. These secondary phases are devitrified as crystalline Sc2Si2O7. Deformation of the samples was dominated by cavitational processes rather than movements of dislocations. Thus the excellent deformation resistance of the samples at high temperature can be attributed to the very small thickness of the grain boundary layers and the crystalline secondary phase.
Conditional tissue-specific expression of the acid α-glucosidase (GAA) gene in the GAA knockout mice: implications for therapy

Both enzyme replacement and gene therapy of lysosomal storage disorders rely on the receptor-mediated uptake of lysosomal enzymes secreted by cells, and for each lysosomal disorder it is necessary to select the correct cell type for recombinant enzyme production or for targeting gene therapy. For example, for the therapy of Pompe disease, a severe metabolic myopathy and cardiomyopathy caused by deficiency of acid α-glucosidase (GAA), skeletal muscle seems an obvious choice as a depot organ for local therapy and for the delivery of the recombinant enzyme into the systemic circulation. Using knockout mice with this disease and transgenes containing cDNA for the human enzyme under muscle or liver specific promoters controlled by tetracycline, we have demonstrated that the liver provided enzyme far more efficiently. The achievement of therapeutic levels with skeletal muscle transduction required the entire muscle mass to produce high levels of enzyme of which little found its way to the plasma, whereas liver, comprising <5% of body weight, secreted 100-fold more enzyme, all of which was in the active 110 kDa precursor form. Furthermore, using tetracycline regulation, we somatically induced human GAA in the knockout mice, and demonstrated that the skeletal and cardiac muscle pathology was completely reversible if the treatment was begun early.
Scanning scene tunnel for city traversing

This paper proposes a visual representation named scene tunnel for capturing urban scenes along routes and visualizing them on the Internet. We scan scenes with multiple cameras or a fish-eye camera on a moving vehicle, which generates a real scene archive along streets that is more complete than previously proposed route panoramas. Using a translating spherical eye, properly set planes of scanning, and unique parallel-central projection, we explore the image acquisition of the scene tunnel from camera selection and alignment, slit calculation, scene scanning, to image integration. The scene tunnels cover high buildings, ground, and various viewing directions and have uniformed resolutions along the street. The sequentially organized scene tunnel benefits texture mapping onto the urban models. We analyze the shape characteristics in the scene tunnels for designing visualization algorithms. After combining this with a global panorama and forward image caps, the capped scene tunnels can provide continuous views directly for virtual or real navigation in a city. We render scene tunnel dynamically by view warping, fast transmission, and flexible interaction. The compact and continuous scene tunnel facilitates model construction, data streaming, and seamless route traversing on the Internet and mobile devices.
Specificity of Human Antibodies Reactive with Pneumococcal C Polysaccharide

Antibodies reactive with C polysaccharide (PS) were found in healthy adults, pneumococcal patients, and vaccinees. These antibodies were not directed to the phosphocholine determinant of the C PS, as they appear to be in mice, since the human antibodies were inhibitable only with C PS. We found another population of phosphocholine-specific antibodies inhibitable only by phosphocholine and related compounds.
Production of isotopically heavy ozone by ultraviolet light photolysis of O2

Ozone was produced by UV photolysis (157-200 nm) of molecular oxygen. The product ozone is enriched in O-17 and O-18 on a mass-independent basis, similar to the fractionations observed in an electrical discharge. The magnitude of O-18 and O-17 enrichment decreases with decreasing pressure, suggesting the presence of two fractionation mechanisms with differing delta-O-17/delta-O-18 ratios. One of the end members would be mass-independent with delta-O-18 equal to delta-O-17 equal to about 90 percent, which is dominant above about 20 torr. The second process which is significant below about 6 torr produces O3 with delta-O-18 equals about -55 percent, delta-O-17 equals about -27.5, possibly due to isotopic selectivity in diffusion to the reaction systems wall. The delta-O-17 = delta-O-18 isotopic fractionation resembles that observed in stratospheric ozone, though the magnitude of fractionation is a factor of four less.
Brief physician advice for high-risk drinking among young adults.

BACKGROUND High-risk alcohol use in persons 18 to 30 years of age is a critical public health problem. It is the number 1 cause of death in this population. This article reports the results of a subanalysis of young adults (aged 18 to 30 years) who participated in Project TrEAT (Trial of Early Alcohol Treatment) conducted in the offi ces of 64 primary care physicians located in 10 counties in southern Wisconsin. METHODS Project TrEAT was a randomized clinical trial designed to test the effi - cacy of a brief intervention protocol to reduce alcohol use, improve health status, and decrease health care utilization. A total of 226 young adults were randomly assigned to either a usual care or brief intervention group. RESULTS There were no signifi cant differences between the 2 groups at baseline on a number of potential confounders. During the 4-year follow-up period, there were signifi cant reductions in number of persons drinking more than 3 drinks per day, average 7-day alcohol use, number of persons drinking 6 or more drinks per occa- sion, and number of binge drinking episodes in the previous 30 days (P <.01 to P <.001). There were also signifi cant differences (P <.05) in emergency depart- ment visits (103 vs 177), motor vehicle crashes (9 vs 20), total motor vehicle events (114 vs 149), and arrests for controlled substance or liquor violation (0 vs 8). CONCLUSION In this 4-year subanalysis of young adults who participated in Proj- ect TrEAT, we found long-term reductions in high-risk drinking behaviors and con- sequences. The fi ndings of this study support more widespread implementation of brief interventions in primary care settings.
Exploring Master Therapists’ Use of Power in Conversation

Various theoretical approaches to therapy place different emphases on the use of power in therapy. In this study, we explore six master therapists' use of power via communicational control for theoretical consistency. Results indicate that all therapists, regardless of their stance on power, use the role of therapist to exert power in an initial therapy session. Master therapists, in general, did appear to be theoretically consistent with their stated philosophies of therapy. Suggestions for future studies exploring power therapists have are included.
Obesity Prevention In Urban Settings: Creating Healthy Environments

The Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles and Obesity Prevention, housed in the College of Health and Human Development, at California State University, Fullerton promotes interdisciplinary research and community outreach in areas related to children’s healt h and weight management. Two studies focusing on the built environment are showcased. The first study, “Commuting Patterns and Obesity Risk” demonstrates that students with longer commute times are more likely to have a body mass index (BMI) over 25, which is considered overweight. The second study, “Increasing Physical Activity with a Mobile Physical Activity Unit” turned a parking lot into a playground. This was created to provide children in Santa Ana, one of the densest cities in Orange County, California, a place to play. The built environment can have a profound effect on physical activity and if given the opportunity, is important to address in the design stages for the health of our communities.
Can Economists Contribute to Marketing Research

An extensive economic literature on consumer demand theory has not been adequately applied to marketing research. Marketing research tends to use sophisticated econometric tools without adopting underlying economic models. The author draws upon his own research for a non-technical analysis of this problem.
Political Avoidance, Constitutional Theory, and the VRA

Constitutional theory and design have been dominated by the specter of legislative and executive institutions voraciously seeking to expand their powers. But in modern political practice, the flight from political responsibility - the problem of political abdication - is at least as serious a threat. Constitutional theory has paid too little attention to this problem. And as a matter of institutional design, we are still struggling to find tools to force political actors to take responsibility they would rather avoid. Abdication, not aggrandizement, is the common thread that unites Congress's virtual absence from any major policymaking role on terrorism-related issues in the first five years after September 11th and the recent reauthorization process for the Voting Rights Act (VRA). This essay shows how the recent VRA renewal process presses scholars to consider the phenomenon of political avoidance and its implications for institutional design and constitutional theory.
Assessing morbidity compression in two cohorts from the Health and Retirement Study

Increases in life expectancy are hypothesised to be associated with shorter proportional time spent with morbidity (compression of morbidity). We assessed whether this has occurred among older adults in the USA during the 1990s and 2000s.We used data from the Health and Retirement Study to estimate a morbidity score based on eight chronic conditions and compare it (1) prospectively between two age-matched cohorts in 1992 and 2004 over a 6-year follow-up, and (2) retrospectively in the three waves prior to death among respondents who die in (1998-2004) and (2004-2010).Prospective assessment shows significantly higher prevalence in 6 of eight chronic conditions in the 2000s, with 37% higher diabetes prevalence. A retrospective evaluation shows significantly higher prevalence in 7 of eight chronic conditions in the three waves prior to death for (2004-2010) versus (1998-2004), with 41% higher prevalence of arthritis. Importantly, the farther away from time of death, the higher the average number of chronic conditions in (2004-2010).Using the largest longitudinal ageing study in the USA, we found no clear evidence of compression of morbidity as measured by self-reported chronic disease. Older adults in the USA may be experiencing greater disease burden in recent times.
Engineering Application of Primary Equipments On-line Monitoring System in Smart Substation

A new intelligent strategy of transformer,circuit breaker,arrester for extra-high voltage smart substation,and their intelligent component configuration as well as the implemented mode of integrated fault diagnosis are proposed.Analysis,evaluation and prediction of transformer,circuit breaker and arrester,etc.monitored equipments are implemented by sharing information and synthesizing data from main equipments so that the fault property,type,degree,cause and trend can be judged.Suggestion for removing failure is put forward so as to provide latest reference information for operating personnel and maintainer.Research results have been successfully applied to modernization of 500 kV smart substations.
Method for detection of a few pathogenic bacteria and determination of live versus dead cells

This paper presents a method for detection of a few pathogenic bacteria and determination of live versus dead cells. The method combines wireless phage-coated magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors and a surface-scanning dectector, enabling real-time monitoring of the growth of specific bacteria in a nutrient broth. The ME biosensor used in this investigation is composed of a strip-shaped ME resonator upon which an engineered bacteriophage is coated to capture a pathogen of interest. E2 phage with high binding affinity for Salmonella Typhimurium was used as a model study. The specificity of E2 phage has been reported to be 1 in 105 background bacteria. The phage-coated ME biosensors were first exposed to a low-concentration Salmonella suspension to capture roughly 300 cells on the sensor surface. When the growth of Salmonella in the broth occurs, the mass of the biosensor increases, which results in a decrease in the biosensor's resonant frequency. Monitoring of this mass- induced resonant frequency change allows for real-time detection of the presence of Salmonella. Detection of a few bacteria is also possible by growing them to a sufficient number. The surface-scanning detector was used to measure resonant frequency changes of 25 biosensors sequentially in an automated manner as a function of time. This methodology offers direct, real-time detection, quantification, and viability determination of specific bacteria. The rate of the sensor's resonant frequency change was found to be largely dependent on the number of initially bound cells and the efficiency of cell growth.
Interactions in L1 and L2 undergraduate student writing: Interactional metadiscourse in successful and less-successful argumentative essays

Abstract This study explores interactional metadiscourse in successful and less-successful (i.e., A- vs. B-graded) argumentative essays written by Chinese ESL university students, and how these ESL writers compare with high-rated L1 students. The analysis is based on three corpora of student writing: 25 successful ESL essays, 25 less-successful ESL essays, and 25 successful L1 English papers. Using Hyland’s (2005a) model of interactional metadiscourse, these papers were compared to examine the extent to which successful and less-successful student-produced argumentative essays differ in their employment of stance and engagement resources. Findings of the analysis suggest that successful essays, both L1 and L2, contain significantly greater instances of particularly hedging devices than less-successful essays. For some interpersonal resources, such as boosters and attitude markers, no significant differences were found. The analysis also reveals that, unlike their L1 peers, ESL students were overwhelmingly reluctant to establish an authorial identity in their writing. The paper concludes with a few implications for L2 writing pedagogy.
Predicting Success in Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage

To develop a model to predict successful bilirubin decrease following percutaneous biliary drain placement. A total of 257 patients who were identified having undergone percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain placement (PTBD) at our institution between 2002 and 2013 had their medical records and imaging reviewed. Of those, 190 of these patients met criteria and were used in the analysis. A regression model was performed on logarithm-transformed collected variables to predict post-drainage logarithmic transformed total bilirubin levels. A stepwise variable selection method based on Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion was used to select the most closely associated variables. The model was validated with a Monte Carlo simulation. A short program was developed to calculate the point estimate using the model developed and compared to actual values. The variables that best predicted bilirubin reduction were initial Tbl (PrTbl), INR and ALT. The selected model had a root mean squared error of 0.8. The model had a negative predictive value (PoTbl is below 2 mg/dL) of 83%. PTBD may not achieve decreasing bilirubin in patients with a malignant obstruction. This is an initial model that can help determine which patients may not benefit from PTBD placement. With more patients, the model’s validity can be increased and provide useful clinical determinant to aide patient care.