cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examination of the Structure of Irish Students' Vocational Interests and Competence Perceptions.

Abstract A sample of 307 Irish high school students completed a modified version of the Personal Globe Inventory (PGI, Tracey, 2002 ). Results of separate principal components analyses demonstrated the presence of three substantive factors: People/Things, Data/Ideas, and Prestige, similar to the structure of the PGI in US samples ( Tracey, 2002 ). The fit of Holland’s six-type RIASEC, the PGI eight-type model, and the PGI spherical structure to the data were examined using the randomized test of hypothesized order relations. The results demonstrated that each model fit the Irish data well. No structural differences were found between gender groups. The results support the structural validity of the modified PGI in an Irish context.
Corn Yield and Nitrate Loss in Subsurface Drainage from Midseason Nitrogen Fertilizer Application

Whether in response to remotely sensed plant N status or as a rescue treatment when previously applied N has been lost to denitrification or leaching, there is growing interest in applying N to corn at midseason. While the yield benefits of this practice are variable, little information is available as to the impacts of midseason N application on water quality. We compared grain yields and NO3 losses in drainage water as a result of applying N either once after emergence or equally split between just after emergence and midseason (V16). Nitrogen treatments consisted of 199 (H), 138 (M), and 69 (L) kg ha 21 applied postemergence (V1–V3), and 69 kg ha 21 applied postemergence and again at midseason (R). Grain yield for corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], grown in a 2-yr rotation, and drainage water NO3 concentrations were measured on replicated tile-drained plots in a producer’s field from 2002 through 2005. Midseason application of additional N resulted in 0.9 and 2.5 Mg ha 21 greater yield than the L treatment in 2002 and 2004, respectively; however, yield was greater when the same total amount of N was applied in one application shortly after emergence (M treatment) vs. the split treatment. There was no carryover effect on subsequent soybean yields for any of the N treatments. Annual flow-weighted NO3 concentrations in tile drainage were consistently greater (0.3–1.3 mg L 21 )f or the R treatment than the M treatment and significantly greater when averaged across all years. Residual soil NO3 at the end of the year also indicated that some of the midseason N application was not taken up by the crop and was available for leaching. Thus, midseason N application was beneficial for recovering some of the potential yield in corn when initial N applications are insufficient for optimum yield, but the practice did not benefit water quality in this study compared with a single application at emergence.
Soft tetragonal distortions in ferromagnetic Ni 2 MnGa and related materials from first principles

A detailed examination of the energy landscape, density of states, and magnetic moment of tetragonally distorted ferromagnetic ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{MnGa}$ was performed using first-principles local-spin-density (LSD) pseudopotential calculations, varying V as well as $c/a.$ The energy of tetragonal ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{MnGa}$ is found to be nearly constant for values of $c/a$ over a wide range, with shallow minima near $c/a=1$ and 1.08 in addition to that near 1.2. This flat energy surface is consistent with the wide range of observed values of $c/a.$ It also explains the observation of pseudomorphic growth of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{MnGa}$ on GaAs, despite a nominal $3%$ lattice mismatch. The related materials ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{MnAl},{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{MnIn},$ and ferromagnetic NiMn were examined for similar behavior, but all are seen to have a single well-defined minimum at $c/a$ near 1, consistent with available experimental information. For NiMn, the ground-state antiferromagnetic ordering and structural parameters are correctly predicted within the LSD approach.
Measurement of boundaries using a digitizer tablet.

SUMMARY The perimeter is the most error prone of the primary measurements (length, perimeter and area) made when using a device such as a digitizer tablet to trace profiles on micrographs. To allow for minimization of this error an expression is developed relating the error in the perimeter to the digitizer resolution plus other errors in the entry process. The predictions of this expression are shown to be in good agreement with the results of computer simulation of the tracing process, as well as results from manual tracing using a digitizer tablet. This analysis of the digitizer entry process also provides a method by which an optimal choice of the sample spacing between digitizer coordinates can be made.
Selective inhibition of precursor incorporation into ribosomal RNA in gamma-irradiated Tetrahymena pyriformis

Abstract Sublethal doses of γ radiation are known to inhibit total RNA synthesis in the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena . To determine if the synthesis of a particular class of RNA is preferentially inhibited, pulse-labeled RNA was isolated from normal exponentially growing cells, irradiated cells, and cells in which total RNA synthesis had recovered to the pre-irradiation level. The RNAs were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and oligo(dT)-cellulose column chromatography. Inhibition of RNA synthesis primarily involves ribosomal RNA. However, radiation does not cause a delay in the processing of precursor rRNA or a preferential loss of either of the mature rRNAs. Following irradiation, poly(A)-containing RNA [poly(A+)RNA] is synthesized at a rate up to three times greater than the control rate. The elevated poly(A+)RNA synthesis occurs during the period of depressed rRNA synthesis and even after rRNA synthesis has recovered to its pre-irradiation rate. While the sizes of the total cellular ribonucleoside triphosphate pools are depressed in the irradiated cells, these pools probably do not represent the actual compartments containing the precursors for RNA synthesis, and the observed changes cannot explain the modifications in macromolecular synthesis in irradiated Tetrahymena .
A comparison of discrete versus continuous environment in a variance components-based linkage analysis of the COGA data.

The information content of a continuous variable exceeds that of its categorical counterpart. The parameterization of a model may diminish the benefit of using a continuous variable. We explored the use of continuous versus discrete environment in variance components based analyses examining gene × environment interaction in the electrophysiological phenotypes from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. The parameterization using the continuous environment produced a greater number of significant gene × environment interactions and lower AICs (Akaike's information criterion). In these cases, the genetic variance increased with increasing cigarette pack-years, the continuous environment of interest. This did not, however, result in enhanced LOD scores when linkage analyses incorporated the gene × continuous environment interaction. Alternative parameterizations may better represent the functional relationship between the continuous environment and the genetic variance.
CULTURAL POLITICS AND CONTESTED PLACE IDENTITY

Abstract This paper considers festivals as place-contingent cultural politics and examines them as political instruments and promotional products at the same time. Conflicts between globalization, tradition, and place identity are discussed by examining the Kangnung Dano festival in Korea. Findings suggest that the contested meaning of place leads to the reconstruction of regional identities and the reframing of symbolic identities. Kangnung Dano is read as a “cultural framework” reflecting simplistic and dualistic classifications of festivals into sacred and secular, public and private, and social conflicts and cohesion through place identification. The paper proposes that regional identity has been dynamically constructed and is re-constructing due to contested meanings of place.
A multiple criteria assessment of decision technology system journal quality

Abstract Over the years, a number of researchers have assessed the quality of information systems (IS) journals. Most of these studies have assessed general IS journals, but few have specifically examined journals that focus on decision making support systems. Furthermore, even though there are many factors that measure journal quality, very few gauges have been used in the previous evaluations. This paper offers a multiple criteria quality assessment of decision making support journals. Initially, the article presents the criteria and a methodology for consolidating the multiple criteria into an integrated measure of journal quality. Next, there is a discussion of the data collection process and the resulting multiple criteria evaluation. The paper concludes with a summary of the evaluation and the implications for information systems theory and practice.
Differences in the stimulus properties of barbital and hallucinogens

Abstract The present investigation sought to determine whether drugs which produce markedly different perceptual effects in man, barbital and mescaline or LSD produce different stimuli in rats. In a standard 2 lever operant test chamber, rats received sweetened milk for correct responses according to a variable interval schedule. All sessions were preceded by 1 of 2 treatments; following Treatment A, only responses on Lever A were reinforced and, in a similar fashion, Lever B was correct following Treatment B. No responses were reinforced during the first 5 min of a daily 30 min session. It was found that barbital can serve as a discriminative stimulus when this drug is paired with saline. Previously, we had demonstrated that mescaline or LSD can serve as discriminative stimuli. When barbital was administered to animals trained to discriminate mescaline or LSD and saline, they made either random responses or responses appropriate to saline treatment. This observation suggests that the stimulus properties of barbital are difference from those of the hallucinogens. A subsequent demonstration of discriminated responding when barbital and mescaline or LSD were paired as discriminative stimuli supports this conclusion. The present results extend previous findings which suggest that the degree of similarity or difference of drug stimuli in rats is congruent with the degree of similarity or difference of perceptula drug effects in man.
A new test for mean residual life times

SUMMARY The mean residual life at age t is the expected value of the remaining life beyond that age. A new U-statistic is derived for testing constant versus decreasing mean residual life. The new test is easier to compute and performs better for several alternatives than previous tests.
Expanding the polarity range of ionic liquids

Abstract The polarity of several [X-mim]NTf2 ionic liquids, as measured with solvatochromic dyes, Reichardt's dye and Nile Red, may be varied over a wide range by attachment of functional group-containing substituents (X) to the imidazolium cation.
Characteristic vibrational frequencies of Cyclic ketones

Abstract The characteristic CO vibration frequency changes in small ring cyclic ketones are analyzed in terms of the kinetic enery effect of angle variation and the potential energy effects of hybridization and ring strain. A simple model is developed which accounts qualitatively for the effects; a more exact model is used for quantitative correlations. It is found that the changes in CO frequency are due almost entirely to the geometrical effect on the kinetic energy. Hybridization effects cancel out and play little role.
Striated Muscle Fibers: Facilitation of Contraction at Short Lengths by Caffeine

One of the factors evidently responsible for decreasing the force of muscle contraction with shortening is inactivation of the myofibrils in the core of a muscle fiber. Caffeine antagonizes this inactivation and, correspondingly, changes the length-force relationship at short muscle lengths.
In situ Al-TiB composite obtained by stir casting

Anin situ Al-matrix TO particle (10–50 μm size, ∼ 10 vol %) composite was formed by stir casting at 900°C a slurry containing liquid aluminium (2024), Ti02, KBF4 and Na3AlF6 in the weight ratio 13.5:4:1:4. The reactions among these ingredients resulted in TiB, together with small amounts of TiB2 and TiAl3. The composite (after T6 heat treatment, but no secondary processing) exhibited tensile strength 270 MPa, modulus 91 GPa and ductility 8%.[/p]
Sexual Maturity in Broiler Breeder Males

Sexual maturity and fertility of two lines of broiler breeder males, one commercial and one experimental, were evaluated individually in order to determine the earliest age at which they could be expected to produce viable spermatozoa capable of producing acceptable fertility. Comparative data for the two lines were also collected on duration of fertility, percent fertility, percent hatchability and chicks per hen during an 8-week period using pooled semen from each of the two lines. The results of this study indicate that 9.1 and 6.8% of the male of the experimental and commercial lines, respectively, produce viable spermatozoa at 11 weeks of age, and consequently, could be selected at that age and used to reproduce stock under selection. The duration of fertility was 10.5 days for the experimental line and 8.8 days for the commercial lines; with fertility levels of 86.1 and 82.8%, respectively, for the eggs produced by the two lines during this period. There were no differences in fertility, hatchability, or chicks produce per hen between the two lines for the 8-week reproductive period.
A Framework for Optimal Placement of Energy Storage Units Within a Power System With High Wind Penetration

This paper deals with optimal placement of the energy storage units within a deregulated power system to minimize its hourly social cost. Wind generation and load are modeled probabilistically using actual data and a curve fitting approach. Based on a model of the electricity market, we minimize the hourly social cost using probabilistic optimal power flow (POPF) then use a genetic algorithm to maximize wind power utilization over a scheduling period. A business model is developed to evaluate the economics of the storage system based on the energy time-shift opportunity from wind generation. The proposed method is used to carry out simulation studies for the IEEE 24-bus system. Transmission line constraints are addressed as a bottleneck for efficient wind power integration with higher penetration levels. Distributed storage is then proposed as a solution to effectively utilize the transmission capacity and integrate the wind power more efficiently. The potential impact of distributed storage on wind utilization is also evaluated through several case studies.
Do-it-yourself cellphones: an investigation into the possibilities and limits of high-tech diy

This paper describes our do-it-yourself cellphone and our use of it to investigate the possibilities and limits of high-tech DIY practice. We describe our autobiographical approach -- making the phone and using it in our daily lives -- and our work disseminating the cellphone in workshops and online. This informs a discussion of the implications of technology for DIY practice. We suggest an understanding of DIY as an individual's ability to combine existing technologies into a desired product, enabled and limited by ecosystems of industrial actors and individuals. We distinguish different pathways into high-tech DIY practice, consider the relationship between prototyping and production, and discuss the effect of technology on DIY's relevance and tools, and on notions of transparency. We conclude by reflecting on the relationship between DIY and empowerment: the extent to which making devices gives people control over the technology in their lives.
The Forms of Capital and the Developed Achievement of Black Males.

This study sought to examine the association of the various forms of capital on the developed achievement of Black males. As one of the richest longitudinal family economic data sets, the Child Dev...
A gradient-based algorithm for the state initialization of control systems

The authors present an efficient algorithm for the state variable initialization of the network and control system. This algorithm is suitable for slow transient studies in AC/DC systems. It uses gradient methods to update the integrator inputs. The network is solved by the load-flow and the control system by the Gauss-Seidel method. Following the simultaneous steady-state solutions of the combined network and control system, the initial values of the state variables describing the dynamics for each component are calculated. A computer program was developed on the basis of the proposed algorithm for the initialization of slow transient studies in AC/DC systems. Results from the initialization of a typical AC/DC system are given. >
Abnormality of Oct-1 DNA binding in T cells from Sjogren's syndrome patients

Primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by T cell hypoactivity. To understand the diminished T cell response to activation signals, we measured nucleoprotein DNA-binding activities regulating gene expression during T cell activation using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 9/19 SS patients were found to be defective in their ability to bind an october sequence (Oct-1). This Oct-1-binding phenotype remained stable in culture for up to 3 days prior to activation. This abnormality was not seen in resting T cells nor T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or SS accompanied by RA. The SS Oct-1 DNA-binding abnormality correlated significantly with an inability of cells to exit the Gzero/G1 cell cycle phase when stimulated in vitro. Importantly, nucleoprotein extracts showing decreased DNA-binding activity had normal amounts of Oct-1 proteins as determined by immunoprecipitation, implying a functional defect in the Oct-1 protein. Moreover, defective DNA binding was corrected by treatment with acid phosphatase.
Effects of off-road vehicles in Ballinger Canyon, California

Recreational use of vehicles, mainly motorcycles, off constructed roads and trails has been heavy in Ballinger Canyon, Los Padres National Forest, California, for the past 8 yr. The vegetation and shallow soils of this arid area have proved sensitive to such use. In the heaviest-use zones, soil and bedrock losses from individual vehicle trails average 600 kg · m −2 . Erosion rates in those trails over a period of 8 yr are as high as 250 kg · m −2 · yr −1 , and total mass losses from hill-slopes adjacent to the campground average 19,000 t · km −2 · yr −1 (t = metric tons). These average annual erosion rates exceed Soil Conservation Service soil-loss tolerances by a factor of 86 and exceed the already very high natural denudation rate of the Transverse Ranges by a factor greater than 5.
A microcomputer-based technique for measuring response times in written protocols

We describe a computer system that can be used to collect response times simultaneously with written protocols. It is applicable to tasks in which written protocols and associated response times are of interest.
Wafer bonding for integrated materials

Wafer bonding and layer transfer technology has emerged as one of the fundamental technologies for the fabrication of integrated materials. In this paper, we will first discuss the basics and the generic nature of the wafer direct bonding process in terms of inter-molecular forces, surface mechanics and chemistry, interface reactions and bonding procedures. Based on the understanding of wafer bonding process, innovative low temperature wafer bonding technologies that operate at wafer level in ambient conditions have been developed to facilitate the integration of almost any materials that are similar or dissimilar. Room temperature chemical bonding and low temperature epitaxial or hetero-epitaxial-like bonding approaches are introduced. Finally, examples of integrated materials prepared by wafer bonding and layer transfer are presented.
Developing game-like instructional modules to enhance student learning in lower level core computer science courses (abstract only)

Statistics have shown that fewer African Americans are pursuing Computer Science (CS) degrees relative to their proportion of the overall population and among those who do major in CS very few are employed as programmers. Struggling with the lower level core CS courses is the main barrier preventing students from declaring CS major and retaining students in the program. In this poster, we present our project of developing game-like instructional modules to enhance student learning in those gatekeeper courses namely Computer Programming I, Computer Programming II and Data Structures. The project involves implementing three components: Education, Assessment and Dissemination. The education component includes developing game-like instructional modules for those three courses, which will allow students to learn the difficult concepts in a gaming context. The assessment component includes establishing an advisory board for the project and implementing the evaluation plan. The advisory board, which consists of experienced CS faculty, education faculty and professionals from the game industry, assists in project development and the evaluation process. The dissemination component includes disseminating results through national conferences, outreach programs, computer science HBCU consortiums, publications and an HBCU faculty workshop. Several modules have been developed and evaluated in the computer programming classes at Winston-Salem State University. Initial assessment results show that game-like instructional modules had a positive impact on student learning.
Atomistic model for the growth of feathery structures in duplex massive transformations

Abstract An atomistic model for the growth of feathery structures in duplex massive transformation is described. It is proposed that the feathers grow by two-dimensional nucleation and growth of close packed planes. The experimental evidence which relates to the model is summarized and discussed.
Implementation and Performance of Portals 3.3 on the Cray XT3

The Portals data movement interface was developed at Sandia National Laboratories in collaboration with the University of New Mexico over the last ten years. Portals is intended to provide the functionality necessary to scale a distributed memory parallel computing system to thousands of nodes. Previous versions of Portals ran on several large-scale machines, including a 1024-node nCUBE-2, a 1800-node Intel Paragon, and the 4500-node Intel ASCI Red machine. The latest version of Portals was initially developed for an 1800-node Linux/Myrinet cluster and has since been adopted by Cray as the lowest-level network programming interface for their XT3 platform. In this paper, we describe the implementation of Portals 3.3 on the Cray XT3 and present some initial performance results from several micro-benchmark tests. Despite some limitations, the implementation of Portals is able to achieve a zero-length one-way latency of under six microseconds and a uni-directional bandwidth of more than 1.1 GB/s
The role of Clock in the developmental expression of neuropeptides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the dominant circadian pacemaker in mammals. To understand better the ontogeny of mouse SCN and the role of the pacemaker in peptide expression, the authors examined the distribution of cells that were immunoreactive for vasopressin (AVP) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in wild type and Clock mutant mice at two developmental stages. Clock homozygous mice failed to show the dramatic increase in the number of VIP-immunoreactive (VIP-ir) neurons from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P30 that was found in the SCN of wild type mice. The number of AVP-ir neurons was relatively constant in the postnatal SCN but was significantly reduced in Clock/Clock mice. The effects of the Clock mutation varied with position in the SCN for both peptides. Densitometry of immunolabeled brains indicated that the Clock mutation reduced AVP expression specifically in the SCN and not in other brain areas. The SCN did not significantly change shape or size with age or Clock genotype. Taken together, these results indicate that the neonatal mouse SCN has its full complement of cells, some of which are not yet mature in their neuropeptide content. Furthermore, the observation that the Clock mutation appears to act on a subset of AVP and VIP cells suggests heterogeneity within these cell classes in the SCN.
Pharmacologic effects on the expression of class II histocompatibility antigen in experimental endotoxin-induced uveitis.

Abstract Systemic dexamethasone, cyclosporine A, colchicine, indomethacin, and cobra venom factor were administered to Lewis rats that were then challenged with 100 μg of Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin. The effects of these five pharmacologic agents in endotoxin-induced uveitis were studied by analyzing their effects on ocular inflammation and on the expression of class II antigen of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the epithelium of the ciliary body and iris. All the agents used in our study exhibited anti-inflammatory effects but only dexamethasone was able to inhibit significantly the expression of Ia antigen on the uveal epithelium. This demonstrates a dissociation between the inflammation and class II antigen expression and supports our previous data that class II antigen presentation may precede the inflammatory infiltrates. The alteration of ocular inflammation and especially the variation of Ia antigen expression in the uveal tissue may provide insight into the mechanism of action and the success of different pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of uveitis.
Effect of the Normal Microbial Flora on Gastrointestinal Motility.

SummaryThe rate of propulsion of gastrointestinal contents was compared in germfree and conventional mice using a non-absorbable radioactive substance, yttrium 91. Following intragastric administration, the marker was propelled much more rapidly through the gastrointestinal tract of conventional as compared to germfree animals, demonstrating that “normal” propulsive activity is determined to a significant degree by the presence of the normal flora. This function of the flora has important implications for host defense. The precise mechanism of action of the flora is obscure.
Solutions for a dupuit aquifer with sloping substratum and areal recharge

Abstract Three solutions to the Dupuit-Forchheimer equation for soil water flow over a sloping substratum and areal recharge are presented in an interactive FORTRAN program. Included are (1) a linearized time-dependent solution, (2) a nonlinear finite difference solution, and (3) an exact steady state solution for the nonlinear problem.
A Specific Interface between Integrin Transmembrane Helices and Affinity for Ligand

Conformational communication across the plasma membrane between the extracellular and intracellular domains of integrins is beginning to be defined by structural work on both domains. However, the role of the α and β subunit transmembrane domains and the nature of signal transmission through these domains have been elusive. Disulfide bond scanning of the exofacial portions of the integrin αIIβ and β3 transmembrane domains reveals a specific heterodimerization interface in the resting receptor. This interface is lost rather than rearranged upon activation of the receptor by cytoplasmic mutations of the α subunit that mimic physiologic inside-out activation, demonstrating a link between activation of the extracellular domain and lateral separation of transmembrane helices. Introduction of disulfide bridges to prevent or reverse separation abolishes the activating effect of cytoplasmic mutations, confirming transmembrane domain separation but not hinging or piston-like motions as the mechanism of transmembrane signaling by integrins.
Reliability assessment of centrifuge soil test results

Abstract A methodology to assess the reliability of the mean value obtained from a series of soil test results is employed to assess the quality of the results obtained from laboratory soil tests and centrifuge experiments performed with framework of the VELACS Project.
Compactification of information in r color 2 dimensional rectangular patterns

Abstract A method for uniquely condensing r -color, 2-dimensional rectangular pattern information into a single real number is illustrated. It is seen that this method allows one to reconstruct the original pattern with no problems about the uniqueness of the reconstruction, if one is given the symbol assignment table.
Field-aligned currents in the undisturbed polar ionosphere

Field-aligned currents, FAC’s, which couple ionospheric currents at high latitudes with magnetospheric currents have become an essential cornerstone to our understanding of plasma dynamics in the polar region and in the earth’s magnetosphere. Initial investigators of polar electrodynamics including the aurora were unable to distinguish between the ground magnetic signatures of a purely two-dimensional current and those from a three-dimensional current system, ergo many scientists ignored the possible existence of these vertical currents. However, data from magnetometers and electrostatic analyzers flown on low-altitude, polar-orbiting satellites proved beyond any reasonable doubt that field-aligned currents existed, and that different ionospheric regions were coupled to different magnetospheric regions which were dominated by different electrodynamic processes, e.g., magnetospheric convection electric fields, magnetospheric substorms and parallel electric fields. Therefore, to define the “undisturbed” polar ionosphere and its structure and dynamics, one needs to consider these electrodynamic processes, to select times for analysis when they are not strongly active and to remember that the polar ionosphere may be disturbed when the equatorial, mid-latitude and sub-auroral ionospheres are not.
RELATIONSHIP OF CRITICAL FLICKER-FUSION THRESHOLDS TO READING READINESS IN SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN.

Critical flicker-fusion thresholds were determined for two groups of 6-yr.-old children, differentiated on the basis of their readiness for reading instruction. There was no significant difference between the mean cff scores for the high and low readiness groups. Their off scores were slightly higher than those reported by Howe (1963) for the same age level. There appeared to be a tendency for these Ss to cross thresholds on succeeding ascending and descending trials. This may have been due to a response-delay, or to administration procedures. There was no significant correlation between off thresholds and scores on reading readiness, intelligence, and reading achievement. There were no significant relationships between off scores and results of visual screening examinations. It was concluded that off procedures ate not of practical value for the identification of children with low reading readiness.
Using Creative Group Techniques in High Schools

Groups in high schools that use creative techniques help adolescents express their emotions appropriately, behave differently, and gain insight into themselves and others. This article looks at seven different creative arts media—music, movement, visual art, literature, drama, play, and humor—and offers examples of how they can be used in groups for high school students.
Technology diffusion and military users: Perceptions that predict adoption

Technology diffusion in the military is an important but understudied phenomenon. Comprehending what military users perceive to be important about using technology can provide insight into factors that influence adoption and diffusion. This study examined military user perceptions about technology. A survey instrument measuring the Perceptions of Innovating and Voluntariness was distributed among people with experience in the military domain. The perceptions of ease of use, relative advantage, and result demonstrability were the strongest predictors of adoption or nonadoption. Voluntariness was not a strong predictor. An implication of the research is that it is possible to determine predictors of adoption in ways that can be used to inform requirements and designs.
Observation of low-contrast all-optical switching based on the Zeno effect

Low-contrast all-optical Zeno switching has been demonstrated in a Silicon Nitride microdisk resonator coupled to hot Rubidium vapor. The device is based on the suppression of cavity power buildup due to non-degenerate two-photon absorption.
The effects of plant growth substances and mixed cultures on growth and metabolite production of green algae Chlorella sp.: a review.

Recent interest in the use of microalgae for the production of biofuels and bioproducts has stimulated an interest in methods to enhance the growth rate of microalgae. This review examines past work involving the stimulation of Chlorella sp. growth and metabolite production by plant growth substances as well as by mixed cultures of Chlorella sp. with bacteria. Plant growth substances known to regulate Chlorella sp. growth and metabolite production include auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, polyamines, brassinosteroids, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and combinations of two or three of the aforementioned substances. Mixed cultures of bacteria are examined, including both natural bacteria–algae consortia and artificially induced symbioses. For natural consortia, commonly occurring bacterial species, including the genera Brevundimonas and Sphingomonas, are discussed. For artificially induced symbioses, the use of the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum is examined in detail. In particular, a variety of studies have involved the coimmobilization of Chlorella sp. with Azospirillum sp. in alginate beads, with the goal of using the mixed culture to treat wastewater. In summary, the use of plant growth substances and mixed cultures provides two methods to increase the growth of Chlorella sp., whether for the production of lipids for biofuels, the production of bioproducts, the treatment of wastewater, or a variety of other reasons.
A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Brown Locus of Control Scale:

Covariance modeling techniques were used to test the assumption of group invariance of the Brown Locus of Control Scale (BLOCS) by comparing results from two different populations; American and Kuwaiti adult women. Results provide support for the hypothesis that the validity of the locus of control construct could be generalized to different cultural groups with some caveats.
Microfabricated protein-containing poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel arrays for biosensing

We describe the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel microstructures containing immobilized enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and urease for the detection of analytes. Changes in the microenvironment pH due to enzyme-catalyzed reaction with the analyte of interest were used to fluorescently detect low concentrations of the analyte. The hydrogel microstructures were prepared photolithographically on silicon surfaces. The use of a microarraying robot to create microstructured hydrogel array sensors is also described. A dual analyte sensor using this scheme is presented to demonstrate the ease of creation of such multianalyte sensors. Such micron-sized arrays can therefore be easily used as biosensors to detect small molecular weight analytes to extremely low concentrations in air or water.
On finding minimal 2-connected subgraphs

We present efficient parallel algorithms for the problems of finding a minimal 2-edge-connected spanning subgraph of a 2-edge-connected graph and finding a minimal biconnected spanning subgraph of a biconnected graph. The parallel algorithms for both problems run in polylog time using a linear number of PRAM processors. We also give sequential algorithms for these problems that run in time O(m+n log n) where n and m denote the number of vertices and edges, respectively, in the input graph.
Thermocline ventilation and pathways of tropical–subtropical water mass exchange

The mechanism of thermocline ventilation is investigated using a global, high-resolution oceanGCM, with realistic topography and surface wind forcing. Because 2-dimensional representationsof circulation can be misleading, the subsurface flow is examined by visualizing the trajectoriesof particles which subduct in the mid-latitudes and travel within the ventilated thermocline.Three model runs are performed, each with identical surface forcing but with different initialparticle distributions. Results from these runs show that the pathways of water mass exchangebetween the tropics and the subtropics are functions of the surface wind forcing, backgrounddensity structure, and basin geometry. In the Pacific, ventilated waters from the northern andsouthern mid-latitudes reach the tropical thermocline through both the western boundary andthe interior of the basin. In the Atlantic Ocean, the equatorial thermocline is ventilated primarilythrough water mass exchange with the southern hemisphere alone. In the Indian Ocean, thepathways of water mass exchange have patterns similar to those in the Atlantic and Pacificbasins, though the lack of a mid-latitude gyre in the northern basin restricts the deep subductionand ventilation to the southern hemisphere. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.2000.d01-7.x
Factory throughput improvements through intelligent integrated delivery in semiconductor fabrication facilities

"Integrated Delivery" is a system that integrates the automated material handling systems (AMHS) with process tools to automate the flow of material through a semiconductor fabrication facility (fab). It was developed to streamline operations in fully mechanized 300-mm wafer fabs by automating the delivery of lots to/from the tools, and automating all aspects of lot processing, with no manual intervention. Within this context, lot delivery performance is a critical factor impacting factory throughput. Poor material delivery performance translates into tools sitting idle waiting for lots to be delivered, which increases tool cycle time and decreases output. This work describes intelligent integrated delivery (IID) capabilities, including just-in-time proactive material movement and delivery prioritization, to reduce delivery time impacts. These capabilities significantly reduce the lot delivery queue time, and as a result, measurably improve factory throughput. The results have been demonstrated via theoretical modeling, as well through actual deployment in Intel's 300 mm fabs.
The Geography of Inequality: Why Separate Means Unequal in American Public Schools.

Persistent school segregation means not only that children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds attend different schools but also that their schools are unequal in performance. This study doc...
An Early Assessment of Accountable Care Organizations Efforts to Engage Patients and Their Families

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) have incentives to meet quality and cost targets to share in any resulting savings. Achieving these goals will require ACOs to engage more actively with patients and their families. The extent to which ACOs do so is currently unknown. Using mixed methods, including a national survey, phone interviews, and site-visits, we examine the extent to which ACOs actively engage patients and their families, explore challenges involved, and consider approaches for dealing with those challenges. Results indicate that greater ACO use of patient activation and engagement (PAE) activities at the point-of-care may be related to positive perceptions among ACO leaders of the impact of PAE investments on ACO costs, quality, and outcomes of care. We identify a number of important practices associated with greater PAE, including high-level leadership commitment, goal-setting supported by adequate resources, extensive provider training, use of interdisciplinary care teams, and frequent mon...
A quick and effective method for capacitated lot sizing with startup and reservation costs

Abstract We present a pure zerp-one integer programming model for determining single-item production lot sizes in capacitated “long production run” environments, where each production period is dedicated to a single product, and where production of a given item may extend over more than one production period. All costs, as well as capacity, are time-varying, and include startup (changeover), reservation (opportunity), holding, and production costs. Holding and production cost may also vary within a period. The problem setting is effectively the single-item subproblem of the “multiple product cycling” case. Our a model is efficient primarily because of variable elimination strategies associated with capacity limitations. Although our formulation makes two simplifying assumptions versus previous research, these did not significantly hamper model performance. Experimentation on problems from the literature yielded a 93% optimality frequency, with less than 60 pivots required for 20 period problems, a tremendous efficiency improvement over previous models. As such, the model represents an excellent and practical first step toward efficiently solving multiple product problems on an industrial scale.
A measurement-based analysis of the real-time performance of linux

This paper presents an experimental study of the latency behavior of the Linux OS. We identify major sources of latency in the kernel with the goal of providing real-time performance in a widely used general-purpose operating system. We quantify, each source of latency with a series of micro-benchmarks and also evaluate the effects of latency on a time-sensitive application. Our analysis shows that there are two main causes of latency in the OS: tinier resolution and non-preemptable sections. Our experiments show that in the standard Linux kernel the tinier resolution latency is predominant, and generally hides the non-preemptable section latency We use accurate timers to reduce timer resolution latency and then analyze the non-preemptable section latency for several variants of Linux.
Protein cross‐linking by peroxidase: Possible mechanism for sclerotization of insect cuticle

Incubation of test proteins with horseradish peroxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and a catechol resulted in polymerization and precipitation of test proteins. SDS-PAGE readily revealed the generation of dimers, trimers, and higher oligomers in the reaction mixture. With the exception of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, and norepinephrine, most other catechols tested participated in protein polymerization. The inability of these three catechols to accomplish polymerization is attributed to their high rate of intramolecular cyclization, which results in melanin formation. Radioactive studies with [3H]N-acetyldopamine clearly reveal both intermolecular and intramolecular cross-linking of test proteins by peroxidase. Based on these studies a possible mechanism for sclerotization and the biological significance of peroxidase in cuticle is discussed.
Resident fishes display elevated organic pollutants in salmon spawning streams of the great lakes.

Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) can transport bioaccumulated organic pollutants to stream ecosystems where they spawn and die. We quantified PCBs, DDE, and PBDEs in resident fishes from 13 Great Lakes tributaries to assess biotransport of pollutants associated with introduced Pacific salmon. Resident fishes sampled from salmon spawning reaches had higher mean pollutant concentrations than those from upstream reaches lacking salmon (93.5 and 4.1 μg·kg–1 [PCB], 24.0 and 3.1 μg·kg–1 [DDE], 8.5 and 1.0 μg·kg–1 [PBDE], respectively), but differences varied substantially among lake basins. In Lake Michigan tributaries, PCB concentrations in resident fishes from salmon reaches were over four times higher than those from salmon reaches in Lake Huron and over 30 times higher than those from Lake Superior. Moreover, resident fish pollutant concentrations were better explained by pollutant inputs from salmon (μg·m–2; R2 = 0.76 [PCB], 0.64 [DDE], 0.64 [PBDE]) than by land development/agriculture, watershed area, r...
Synthesis of Neomycin‐DNA/Peptide Nucleic Acid Conjugates

Syntheses of neomycin conjugates of DNA and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is reported. The DNA and PNA conjugates were prepared by coupling neomycin isothiocyanate with the amino group of DNA/PNA in order to form a thiourea linkage. The use of neomycin isothiocyanate as an electrophilic reagent for a general route to aminoglycoside‐coupled nucleic acid biopolymers is described.
Quantization effects in high-speed pipelined recursive filters

An exploration is made of roundoff and quantization errors in pipelined high-speed recursive filters, implemented using look-ahead computation and a two's complement number system. These errors are theoretically estimated for a first-order recursive filter, for both decomposed and nondecomposed implementations. The maximum total roundoff error in decomposed scattered look-ahead filters is shown to be less than that in the nondecomposed scattered look-ahead filters. Further, the quantization error in decomposed filters is less when poles are closer to origin (as compared with nondecomposed ones). Experimental results are presented for a sixth-order Butterworth and a fourth-order Chebyshev low-pass filter. High speed can also be obtained by using redundant arithmetic in standard filter structures. These filters may suffer from reduced dynamic range and degraded finite word-length effects. Experimental results for such implementations are presented. >
Limited efficacy of experimental anti-epileptic drugs in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy: Implications for patient management and study recruitment

Patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) are commonly recruited for investigational anti-epileptic drug (XAED) studies. However, the long-term outcome of TLE after exposure to XAEDs is poorly documented. In this pilot study, we report the USC Epilepsy Center's experience of 19 patients with TLE enrolled in three XAED trials. The data reinforce that TLE is a drug-resistent epilepsy, and referral of good surgical candidates for surgery rather than XAED trials is more likely to result in remission.
What Animal Models Can Teach Us About the Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis in Humans

Technology that permits the reproducible infection of laboratory animals with virulent tubercle bacilli under conditions that simulate those under which humans are infected is now available. This technology has been used to investigate a series of fundamental questions about the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. An integrated view of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis has been constructed that combines studies from animal models and our understanding of the key events in the development of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis in humans. This view, developed as a guide for further hypothesis testing, indicates that whether cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis develops by endogenous reactivation or by exogenous reinfection is determined solely by the route by which the tubercle bacillus reaches the apical-subapical region of the lung. It is in this region that the bacillus survives the cell-mediated immune response. This view of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis permits identification of the factors in a given geographic region that govern the probability of the development of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis by one or the other pathway. Knowledge of these factors permits the identification of the appropriate strategies for tuberculosis control.