cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Curriculum-Based Measurement: Generic vs. Curriculum-Dependent Probes

Abstract Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) has evolved as a reliable and valid method for measuring and monitoring student performance in basic academic skills. While the efficacy of CBM for assessing reading skills is not in question, issues remain regarding whether or not a difference exists between CBM probes derived directly from the instructional curriculum and generic probes. The current study extends previous research comparing the utility of two types of CBM reading probe materials. Both types of probes were administered to 13 second grade students twice weekly for 5 weeks. No significant differences were found between the two probe types' measurement of performance or progress over time, which suggests that school psychologists and educational professionals can use generic or curriculum-dependent probes in curriculum-based measurement.
Anthocyanin Synthesis in Maize Aleurone Tissue

Anthocyanin synthesis in maize has been the subject of intense genetic, biochemical, and molecular experimentation. These studies have identified the structural genes encoding enzymes and transporters of the biosynthetic pathway, as well as the key regulatory genes. The picture that emerges from these analyses is that pigmentation in the maize aleurone is orchestrated by a complex regulatory network involving interaction among tissue-specific, developmental and environmental factors.
"Let's Talk about Sex"... In School

The Education of Eros by Dennis Carlson presents a comprehensive history of American sex education, from 1950 to 2010, presented through the wider historical and cultural lens of this period in American history. Framed through a series of societal “problems,” Carlson presents a history that demonstrates the impact of American life, politics, and belief systems on the sex education teens received in schools. Despite some challenges in organization, the text is well written, clear, and informative. Well referenced, this text is an excellent resource for readers interested in beginning research on one of the many topics taken up within the book.
234U238U disequilibrium as an aid to hydrologic study of the Floridan aquifer

Abstract Investigation of the distribution and environmental disequilibrium patterns of naturally occurring uranium isotopes ( 234 U, 238 U) in waters of the Floridan aquifer in north Florida, utilizing the analytical methods of isotope dilution and alpha-particle spectrometry, indicates that variations in isotopic activity ratios and concentrations can be related to the regional hydrogeologic framework. The data permit interpretation in terms of (1) regional permeability characteristics, including the existence of hydrologic barriers, (2) groundwater circulation patterns, (3) sources of waters from various parts of the hydrologic environment, and (4) areas of extensive Pleistocene leaching within the Floridan aquifer.
A study of the excited 1Σ+g states in Na2

Abstract Using the technique of two-step polarization labeling spectroscopy seven excited 1 Σ + g states in Na 2 have been found. Molecular constants are derived from a Dunham expansion. Tentative assignments are made to the 3p+3p, 3s+ n d and 3s+ n s atomic asymptotes.
Design of California Aqueduct

Design of the California Aqueduct Project by the California Department of Water Resources considered scheme of operation as an integral component of the physical design of the system. The scheme of operation was based on an analysis of existing water delivery projects, definition of project functions, and extensive analysis which included the use of computer simulation. Development of a controlled volume concept of operation and design for remote control made possible greater reliability, more efficient operation and rapid response in emergencies. The result is an aqueduct designed and constructed to reliably, efficiently and economically deliver water to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
A review of turbulent-boundary-layer heat transfer research at Stanford, 1958-1983

For the past 25 years, there has existed in the Thermosciences Laboratory of the Mechanical Engineering Department of Stanford University a research program, primarily experimental, concerned with heat transfer through turbulent boundary layers. In the early phases of the program, the topics considered were the simple zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer with constant and with varying surface temperature, and the accelerated boundary layer. Later equilibrium boundary layers were considered along with factors affecting the boundary layer, taking into account transpired flows, flows with axial pressure gradients, transpiration, acceleration, deceleration, roughness, full-coverage film cooling, surface curvature, free convection, and mixed convection. A description is provided of the apparatus and techniques used, giving attention to the smooth plate rig, the rough plate rig, the full-coverage film cooling rig, the curvature rig, the concave wall rig, the mixed convection tunnel, and aspects of data reduction and uncertainty analysis.
TH-D-330A-07: Model-Based Statistical Image Reconstruction for 4D PET

Purpose: Four‐dimensional (4D) PET can be acquired with gated, dynamic or list mode. In reality, a major problem limiting its clinical application is the poor statistics, since the total coincidence counts in conventional 3D PET are divided into several phase bins and each of them is treated as an independent entity in 4D image reconstruction. We develop a mathematically rigorous system approach that allows one to maximally enhance the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of 4D PET by simultaneously considering the coincidences acquired at all time points when reconstructing the phase‐resolved images.Method and Materials: A GE Discovery‐ST PET/CT scanner was used to acquire 4D‐CT/PET images. A Real‐time Position Management (RPM) system was used to determine the respiration phases and to correlate temporally the PET and CTimages. By deformable registration of the 4D‐CT images, a patient‐specific motion model was derived and incorporated into our “spatial‐temporal PETreconstruction” algorithm based on the maximum likelihood principle. The approach was quantitatively evaluated with numerical and physical phantom experiments. Five clinical studies of pancreatic, lung and liver cancer patients were then carried out. Results: Via a novel concept of “virtual curved line‐of‐response”, we proved that the PET “4D likelihood” can be maximized with a modified expectation‐maximization algorithm. Numerical/physical phantom experiments and patient studies showed that the algorithm converged monotonically. In the former two cases, the “ground truths” were reached within 40 iterations, and the SNRs were enhanced by more than 80% over the regular 4D PET and 35% over 3D PET. Similar level of improvement was observed for the patient studies. Conclusion: A spatial‐temporal reconstruction formalism has been established to fully take advantage of the coincidence information acquired in the 4D acquisition process when reconstructing phase‐resolved PETimages. It allows us to obtain the statistically optimal 4D solution and substantially improved SNRs in 4D PET.
Screening for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Shifting the Focus on Diagnosis

The financial and human cost of diabetes is rising such that one in every five health care dollars is spent to treat this disease. This major public health concern needs to be addressed in the most efficacious manner to curtail the human carnage from the resulting consequences of this disease. It seems prudent that health care focus on preventing type 2 diabetes through screening and treatment of prediabetes. The purpose of this column is to assess the movement toward the prevention of diabetes.
A coupled states reactive scattering study of bending excited resonances in three-dimensional H + H2

Abstract Reaction probabilities from coupled states calculations on the Liu-Siegbahn-Truhlar-Horowitz surface for H+H 2 are calculated for the energy range 0.90–1.30 eV. Peaks in the vibrationally inelastic reaction probabilities near 1.10, 1.20 and 1.22–1.24 eV suggest that bending excited resonances labelled by the quantum numbers (11 1 0), (12 0 0) and (12 2 0) exist.
The fragmentation of d-state antianalogue single particle strength in odd A Nb isotopes

Abstract The fragmentation of the d-state single-particle strength in odd A Nb isotopes is calculated in a model employing six active orbits outside a closed 88Sr case; realistic matrix elements were used. The centroid of the strength is found to decrease and the amount of fragmentation to increase as neutrons are added to the target. The shape of the distribution was not Gaussian.
Fracture strength of molars containing three surface amalgam restorations

L onservative amalgam preparations have been recommended over the past 25 years.‘-” In general, the more recent textbooks on operative dentistry have also stated that dental tissue should be conserved whenever possible.‘-’ Two studies have determined the axial load required to fracture teeth with varying widths of occlusal preparation.” * Mandibular molars with Class I preparations one-third greater than the intercuspal width were found to be significantly stronger than those with small restorations or no restoration at all.* Previous fracture studies dealt only with the effect of varying the widths of the occlusal preparation in molar teeth and the mesiocclusodistal preparation in premolar teeth.‘, p This article reports the effect of three surface amalgam restorations on the fracture strength of human mandibular molars.
Biological interactions as determinants of distributions of benthic invertebrates within the substrate of stony streams

Stainless steel screen cages were buried in the substrate of Otter Creek, Wisconsin, during spring 1976 and 1977 and the East River, Colorado, during summer 1977 and stocked with known densities of benthos. Cages were retrieved after 3 days of colonization and attrition from a given direction and species densities and distributions compared to those initially present. With increasing initial benthic density, the net change in numbers of invertebrates per cage decreased linearly, the net immigration decreased linearly, and the net emigration increased linearly. Benthic invertebrates preferred low density areas of substrate to high density areas of comparable physical-chemical quality. Theoretical equilibrium cage densities indicated that given a consistent habitat, a consistent number and assemblage of benthic invertebrates will colonize. The most abundant species in both streams were categorized according to their observed immigration patterns as density-dependent or density-independent species; overall trends showed that most species were density-dependent. Studies of benthic distributions within stream substrates have followed two genera1 approaches. One involves sampling the benthos with surface techniques (see Cummins 1962) or core sampling devices (Williams and Hynes 1974) and concurrently measuring parameters that are considered important determinants of the distributions. The other is an experimental approach by which stream habitats are manipulated so that the effects of particular factors can be measured individually. The former approach is more conventional and yields results on population fluctuations. The latter is more effective in measuring the relative importance of different factors in determining the distribution of species; it is more difficult, yet more likely to yield conclusive data (Woodin 1974). Recent studies have emphasized the importance of biological interactions as determinants of stream distributions (Fox 1977; Friberg et al. 1977; Hildrew and Townsend 1976) and suggest that experimental procedures such as caging rocks and altering species composition in cages are useful techniques by which to examine the effects of predation and competition on benthic distribution patterns. The cages described here provide such a technique.
Raman scattering from VO2 single crystals: A study of the effects of surface oxidation.

${\mathrm{VO}}_{2}$ single crystals were studied in an effort to resolve the differences that are present in two previous reports on the Raman spectra of ${\mathrm{VO}}_{2}$. We find that surface oxidation effects that change the stoichiometry of the material at the surface layer produce large shifting of the Raman spectral peaks. The experimental evidence is presented and the relation to the previous Raman studies of ${\mathrm{VO}}_{2}$ are discussed.
What Is a Writing Group? Dilemmas of the Leader

A writing group can serve to reinforce literary and therapeutic goals. The model outlined here assumes a leader with literary and clinical training, including expertise in group dynamics. The group format is adapted to support exploration of the writer’s main problem, the absence of the reader at the moment of writing. The group modifies the writer’s “mythical” reader through member interactions with writer and writing. Giving and receiving feedback are central to the group process. The leader’s dilemma in a bifocal form like this is to know when and how far to interpret group members’ psychological issues. The best rule is to interpret “toward” the group (i.e., to bring up material that can be safely and readily processed there), but to be cautious about interpretation of patterns of early character formation. Anyone tempted to lament the decline of groups has been out of touch with the contemporary writing scene. The writer has left the garret to seek a responsive community of like–minded others. Not only do virtually all university English departments offer creative writing classes, which tend to be interpersonally interactive, but both more and less experienced writers are eagerly forming groups in which to present and critique each other’s work. The acknowledgments section of published literature often includes a note of gratitude to “my writing group,” or to a list of names that were probably members of one. Such groups may form in real or
Mind bomb1 is a ubiquitin ligase essential for mouse embryonic development and Notch signaling.

Abstract The Notch–Delta signaling pathway controls many conserved cell determination events. While the Notch end is fairly well characterized, the Delta end remains poorly understood. Mind bomb1 (MIB1) is one of two E3 ligases known to ubiquitinate Delta. We report here that a targeted mutation of Mib1 in mice results in embryonic lethality by E10.5. Mutants exhibit multiple defects due to their inability to modulate Notch signaling. As histopathology revealed a strong neurogenic phenotype, this study concentrates on characterizing the Mib1 mutant by analyzing Notch pathway components in embryonic neuroepithelium prior to developmental arrest. Premature neurons were observed to undergo apoptosis soon after differentiation. Aberrant neurogenesis is a direct consequence of lowered Hes1 and Hes5 expression resulting from the inability to generate Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1). We conclude that MIB1 activity is required for S3 cleavage of the Notch1 receptor. These results have direct implications for manipulating the differentiation of neuronal stem cells and provide a putative target for the modulation of specific tumors.
The Chicago spinsters: Stella Miles Franklin and the New Woman response to marriage inequality

This paper focuses on the portrayal of spinsters in the unpublished writings of Australian feminist Stella Miles Franklin. I emphasise the ways Franklin's spinster narratives are shtaped by her feminist social purity and New Woman intellectual and artistic influences, as well as by her personal experiences as an unmarried woman. I suggest that Franklin joins New Woman writers beginning to portray spinsters as sympathetic characters, but goes one step further in scripting these ‘old maids’ as attractive, intelligent, and competent. Such portrayals include nuanced representations of unmarried women as first, witty, vivacious, and physically attractive characters; second, women who negotiate romantic relationships with men for themselves and others; and third, characters involved in feminist civic-minded work.
Post-hatching thyroid development and body growth in precocial vs altricial birds

Abstract 1. 1. Thyroid growth, thyroid function and body growth are markedly different in developing precocial Japanese quail and altricial Ring doves despite comparability in incubation period, hatchling size, adult body weight and adult serum thyroid hormone concentrations. 2. 2. In quail thyroid activity is high during the perinatal period, declines shortly after hatching, then gradually attains adult function. 3. 3. In contrast, in doves, there is no perinatal peak of thyroid activity. Thyroid function is low at hatching and increases steadily during the first week. Serum hormone concentrations vary around a mean similar to that of adults during the remainder of the nestling and fledgling periods.
Comparing simulations of lipid bilayers to scattering data: the GROMOS 43A1-S3 force field.

Simulations of DOPC at T = 303 K were performed using the united atom force field 43A1-S3 at six fixed projected areas, AP = 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72 A2, as well as a tensionless simulation that ...
Bipolar Disorder: Medication Adherence and Life Contentment

Using family stress theory, we examined the influence of family and health stress, level of coping, and internal health locus of control upon the life contentment of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BPD) who were either adherent or nonadherent to their medication regimens. A survey-interview design was used with a sample of 100 individuals diagnosed with BPD; 50 participants were adherent to their medication and 50 were considered nonadherent. The results indicated that the adherent group had fewer health problems and more resources for coping with stress, possessed a stronger belief that their own behaviors controlled their health status, and had higher life contentment compared to nonadherent participants. For the participants in this study, internal health locus of control had the greatest total effect on life contentment followed by family coping. Implications included the need to comprehensively assess each individual regarding the multiple factors in one's life that influence an effective treatment regimen.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block for managing abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis: a prospective single center experience

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block for managing abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis: a prospective single center experience
Effects of Tamoxifen on the Radiosensitivity of Hormonally Responsive and Unresponsive Breast Carcinoma Cells

The effect of tamoxifen on the radiosensitivity of an estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and an estrogen receptor negative (ER−) breast carcinoma cell line was studied in vitro. Tamoxifen concentrations of 1 and 5 μM inhibited the proliferation of ER+ MCF-7 cells but had little effect on the growth of ER− MDA-MB-231. A 48 hr incubation in tamoxifen increased the proportion of G0/G1 MCF-7 cells, but minimally altered the cell cycle kinetics of MDA-MB-231 cells. Tamoxifen resulted in a small but significant increase in the mean inactivation dose of subconfluent cultures of the ER+ cells but had no effect on the ER− cells. The predominant change for MCF-7 cells was a decrease in the linear damage coefficient, alpha. This was not associated with any enhanced capacity to recover from split radiation fractions. There was no difference in radiosensitivity comparing irradiated log-phase to immediately plated plateau-phase cells. However, 24 hr delayed plating of irradiated plateau-phase cells resulted in decreased radiosensitivity of a magnitude comparable to that seen with tamoxifen. Quantitation of DNA strand fragmentation revealed no difference in the amount of single or double strand break induction nor the kinetics of strand break repair for cultures irradiated with or without tamoxifen. We conclude that tamoxifen results in a small decrease in the radiosensitivity of proliferating hormone responsive breast carcinoma cells and this effect appears to be most related to delay in cycle progression after release from tamoxifen inhibition. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mosaic Analysis of Gene Function in Postnatal Mouse Brain Development by Using Virus-based Cre Recombination

Normal brain function relies not only on embryonic development when major neuronal pathways are established, but also on postnatal development when neural circuits are matured and refined. Misregulation at this stage may lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Many genes have been studied in the prenatal brain and found crucial to many developmental processes. However, their function in the postnatal brain is largely unknown, partly because their deletion in mice often leads to lethality during neonatal development, and partly because their requirement in early development hampers the postnatal analysis. To overcome these obstacles, floxed alleles of these genes are currently being generated in mice. When combined with transgenic alleles that express Cre recombinase in specific cell types, conditional deletion can be achieved to study gene function in the postnatal brain. However, this method requires additional alleles and extra time (3-6 months) to generate the mice with appropriate genotypes, thereby limiting the expansion of the genetic analysis to a large scale in the mouse brain. Here we demonstrate a complementary approach that uses virally-expressed Cre to study these floxed alleles rapidly and systematically in postnatal brain development. By injecting recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) encoding Cre into the neonatal brain, we are able to delete the gene of interest in different regions of the brain. By controlling the viral titer and coexpressing a fluorescent protein marker, we can simultaneously achieve mosaic gene inactivation and sparse neuronal labeling. This method bypasses the requirement of many genes in early development, and allows us to study their cell autonomous function in many critical processes in postnatal brain development, including axonal and dendritic growth, branching, and tiling, as well as synapse formation and refinement. This method has been used successfully in our own lab (unpublished results) and others, and can be extended to other viruses, such as lentivirus, as well as to the expression of shRNA or dominant active proteins. Furthermore, by combining this technique with electrophysiology as well as recently-developed optical imaging tools, this method provides a new strategy to study how genetic pathways influence neural circuit development and function in mice and rats.
The body wall of cheilostome bryozoa IV. The frontal wall of schizoporella unicornis (Johnston).

The frontal wall of Schizoporella unicornis (Johnston) develops as a partition of the coelom just before ascus formation. The ascus develops proximally from the proximal border of the aperture. S. unicornis, therefore, belongs to the monothetic Order Cryptocystidea. The outer part of the opercular cuticle is lost during development.
On equivalence of binary forms

Abstract In this paper the question of equivalence of two binary forms is related to certain properties of the roots. A method is given to determine whether or not two forms are equivalent. This method applies to a wide class of forms, though not all.
Energy efficiency in chinese apartment buildings: Parametric analysis with the DOE-2.1A computer program

Abstract Using an uninsulated Beijing apartment house of standard design as a base case, the DOE-2.1A energy analysis program is used to study the cost-effectiveness of more energy-efficient designs. Two measures have attractive simple payback times; reduced infiltration (1–2 yr payback) and insulation of the north wall (6 yr). The cost of conserved coal for the insulation measure is less than half the international price of coal. This insulation adds only 0.6% to the first cost of the building, yet, combined with more attention to infiltration, it reduces annual heat load from 230 to 130 MJ/m 2 . Furthermore, the first cost of these two measures may be offset by savings from downsizing the heating plant. In Shanghai, reduced infiltration and insulation are justified not on the basis of saving fuel, but because they make dwellings more comfortable.
The geometry of continuum regularization

Abstract This lecture is primarily an introduction to coordinate-invariant regularization, a recent advance in the continuum regularization program. In this context, the program is seen as fundamentally geometric, with all regularization contained in regularized DeWitt superstructures on field deformations.
Who Should Be Called Father? Paul of Tarsus between the Jesus Tradition and Patria Potestas

According to the family values that characterized the cultures in which Jesus of Nazareth and Paul of Tarsus were socialized, the authority of fathers over their children was unquestioned and almost without limits. All children were taught that filial piety was essential to life; obedience was expected of even grown sons and daughters as long as their fathers were alive, including acquiescing to the marriages that fathers were expected to arrange to increase their family's honor. The historical Jesus undermined the authority of fathers in general and rejected the obligations of blood-family ties. Paul of Tarsus then sought to put into effect Jesus' strategy, including ignoring completely the authority of fathers when advising his readers regarding marriage, divorce, and celibacy. For both Jesus and Paul, rejecting patriarchal authority was the first step toward their creating a new kind of family: faith-related brothers and sisters—without a traditional father.
Treatment of nonpsychotic major depression during pregnancy: patient safety and challenges

In pregnant women with major depression, the overarching goal of treatment is to achieve or maintain maternal euthymia, thus limiting both maternal and fetal exposure to the harmful effects of untreated or incompletely treated depression. However, the absence of uniformly effective therapies with guaranteed obstetric and fetal safety makes the treatment of major depression during pregnancy among the most formidable of clinical challenges. Clinicians and patients are still faced with conflicting data and expert opinion regarding the reproductive safety of antidepressants in pregnancy, as well as large gaps in our understanding of the effectiveness of most antidepressants and nonpharmacological alternatives for treating antenatal depression. In this paper, we provide a clinically focused review of the available information on potential maternal and fetal risks of untreated maternal depression during pregnancy, the effectiveness of interventions for maternal depression during pregnancy, and potential obstetric, fetal, and neonatal risks associated with antenatal antidepressant use.
SeeDTV: deployment-time validation for wireless sensor networks

Deployment of a wireless sensor network (WSN) system is a critical step because theoretical models and assumptions often differ from real environmental characteristics and performance at the deployment site. In addition, such systems are often located in areas that are difficult to reach or even in-accessible for certain periods of time. Therefore, it is imperative to verify the functionality of the system at the time of the deployment, thus lowering the risk of early failures. Coincidentally, the validation minimizes the expense of revisiting the site in the near future for re-deployment, maintenance, or repairs. In this paper we present a deployment time validation framework SeeDTV that consists of techniques and procedures for WSN status assesment and verification. SeeDTV is supported by a portable, lightweight, and low power in-situ user interface device SeeMote. SeeDTV has demonstrated the potential for early problem detection at three levels of WSN in-situ validation: sensor node devices, wireless network physical and logical integrity, and connectivity to the back-end such as a data server over the Internet. SeeDTV is presented in the context of LUSTER -- an environmental sensor network for ecological monitoring under a shrub thicket canopy on islands off the coast of Virginia.
Deletion mutants of Xenopus laevis 5S ribosomal DNA

Abstract Deletion mutants have been derived from a plasmid-cloned repeating unit of Xenopus laevis oocyte 5S DNA by introducing the transposable chloramphenicol-resistance element Tn9 into the AT-rich spacer sequence near the 5′ terminus of the X. laevis 5S rRNA gene in a recombinant plasmid and then selecting plasmids which had lost the transposable element. Plasmids lacking the entire transposable element and various protions of the AT-rich spacer sequence flanking the original site of Tn9 integration have been obtained, and their ability to support transcription of the remaining X. laevis 5S rRNA gene has been tested in X. laevis oocyte nuclei. The deletion mutants analyzed in the present study retain the 49 nucleotide nonrepetitive sequence immediately adjacent to the 5′ terminus of the gene, but lack as much as 80% of the repetitive AT-rich spacer sequence (Fedoroff and Brown, 1978). Such deletion mutants are fully active templates for 5S rRNA synthesis. This implies that the AT-rich spacer, which comprises half or more of each repeating unit in X. laevis oocyte 5S DNA, is relatively unimportant for correct initiation of transcription, and that if there are extragenic sequences with promoter function, they are likely to reside in the short nonrepetitive region immediately adjacent to the gene.
I feel a change comin’ on’: The counter‐culture image of the South in Southern Rock ‘n’ roll

(1977). I feel a change comin’ on’: The counter‐culture image of the South in Southern Rock ‘n’ roll. Popular Music and Society: Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 93-99.
Creating a community of support for graduate students and early career academics

This paper focuses on strategies for enhancing the preparation of geographers moving into academic careers. Based on research and experience gained from the Geography Faculty Development Alliance and Enhancing Departments and Graduate Education in geography projects, several suggestions for improved practice are detailed. These move beyond self-help models and argue for a systematic, community-based approach to professional development. Reasons for change are disparities that sometimes exist between the implicit knowledge needed for career success and the topics addressed explicitly in graduate curricula. Although the focus is geography, the argument is set in the context of interdisciplinary debate about improving doctoral education.
Hydrocarbon-free potassium laser

A hydrocarbon-free alkali laser operating on a mixture of potassium vapour and helium buffer gas has been demonstrated. Hydrocarbon-free alkali lasers can operate at higher temperatures without risk of cell contamination caused by chemical reactions between the alkali atoms and the hydrocarbon buffer gas.
Surgical treatment of ventricular septal defects.

Abstract The subject of the surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect is reviewed. Certain items await statistical documentation and certain concepts remain as yet not totally proved. Yet, after five years of surgical experience with the treatment of ventricular septal defect, it can be stated with confidence that operation can yield a high incidence of excellent results in properly selected patients.
Gordon Tullock: gone but surely not forgotten

Bruce Yandle’s personal remembrance of Gordon Tullock, an intellectual giant whose passion for knowledge and understanding knew no boundaries, may be gone, but he will not be forgotten.
Zoogeographical barrier on the continental slope off cape lookout, Nort Carolina

Abstract The distribution of Sipuncula and Pogonophora on the continental slope off North and South Carolina suggests a zoogeographical barrier southeast Cape Lookout, North Carolina, around 34°N between 150 and 2500 m for 14 of 27 species found. Similarity coefficients and a group average cluster analysis support the conclusions. This barrier may result from the effects of bottom currents on larval dispersion.
Phase behavior of tethered polymers with lateral mobility in poor solvents

We present a scaling theory (ST) for the phase behavior of tethered polymers with lateral mobility in poor solvents. The coupling between inter‐ and intrachain interactions is included to describe the crossover between the ‘‘mushroom’’ and the layer regimes. The macroscopic phase separation and the associated changes in the chain configurations along the coexistence curve are obtained. The coupling between the thermodynamic state and the configurational behavior is described in detail. Good agreement between the ST and a molecular approach (single‐chain mean‐field theory) is obtained for the thermodynamic behavior and most of the conformational properties of the chains. Based on the ST, the renormalization group (RG) analysis is employed to derive the degree of polymerization, N, exponents in the critical amplitudes of the phase separation. It is found that some of the critical amplitudes have no N dependence, as expected in the semidilute regime, while others do show a dependence. These findings are in l...
Modeling in-house vs. contract maintenance, with fixed costs and learning effects

Abstract Most companies perform a mix of in-house repair and contract repair. Some operations that need to be performed regularly are done by plant personnel as a part of routine preventive maintenance. Other operations require equipment or skills that the plant personnel do not possess, and these are routinely handled by contracts. A third category is made up of those repairs or maintenance actions which could be done either in-house or by contract. Such a situation arises in many vehicle fleet maintenance shops, in a manufacturing environment where both contractors and skilled technicians are available, and in a wartime environment where repairs are either performed by highly skilled enlisted personnel or by vendors. In addition to assisting in such problems, a good analytical structure for solving such problems has potential value in determining the number of employees with each skill level that the manufacturer has to keep in the work force. In situations where a maintenance operation can be done either in-house or by contract to an outside firm, it is natural to ask how many units of the operation should be done in-house (or by contract) so as to minimize the total maintenance cost. One formulation of this problem assumes that the time per unit is a constant for each craft and for each repair type. This leads to a linear programming model which is easily formulated and solved. In a real maintenance environment, however, learning takes place, and the per unit times decrease as the number of units repaired increases. Including this learning in the problem formulation gives a nonlinear objective function and nonlinear constraints. The objective function is further complicated by including a fixed cost (for diagnostic equipment and one-time training) for each maintenance operation performed in-house. The resulting problem with all these nonlinearities can be solved using a Monte Carlo improvement technique. The problem and its formulation together with the solution algorithm are described.
Review of: Digital Jesus: The Making of a New Christian Fundamentalist Community on the Internet, by R. G. Howard

Howard, R. G. (2011). New York, NY: New York University Press, 213 pp. $24.00 (paperback). Digital Jesus is an ethnographic study of the formation and evolution of a leaderless online fundamentalis...
The differentiation of nematocysts and associated structures in the cnidaria.

The differentiation of nematocysts and associated structures in the tentacles of the sea anemone Metridium senile fimbriatum and in the tentacles of medusae of the hydroid Obelia longissima was studied by electron microscopy. Stages in the morphogenesis of nematocysts are: 1. transformation of an interstitial cell into a cnidoblast in which the primordium of the nematocyst arises from Golgi vacuoles, 2. development of the basal part of the primordium into a capsular region that is continuous with an external tube with which microtubules, Golgi apparatus, and centrioles are associated distally, 3. growth of the capsular region to include most of the external tube, and 4. differentiation of an internal tube with spines from the matrix of the capsule and of the remaining external tube. The external tube is not invaginated to become the internal tube, but is incorporated into the capsular region by distal growth of the capsular wall. At the same time the matrix, both before and during differentiation into a thread, moves into the capsule. The development of nematocysts in Obelia differs from that in Metridium in several respects. In the former the basitrich has an operculum plus associated cnidocil and dense rods whereas in the latter the nematocysts (amastigophore, b-mastigophore and basitrich) have three apical flaps and an associated flagellum, with the exception of the spirocyst.
STRUCTURE AND REGULATION OF THE SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM RNC-ERA-RECO OPERON

The Escherichia coli rnc-era-recO operon encodes ribonuclease III (RNase III; a dsRNA endonuclease involved in rRNA and mRNA processing and decay), Era (an essential G-protein of unknown functions and RecO (involved in the RecF homologous recombination pathway). Expression of the rnc and era genes is negatively autoregulated: RNase III cleaves the rncO 'operator' in the untranslated leader, destabilizing the operon mRNA. As part of a larger effort to understand RNase III and Era structure and function, we characterized rnc operon structure, function and regulation in the closely related bacterium Salmonella typhimurium. Construction of a S typhimurium strain conditionally defective for RNase III and Era expression showed that Era is essential for cell growth. This mutant strain also enabled selection of recombinant clones containing the intact S typhimurium rnc-era-recO operon, whose nucleotide sequence, predicted protein sequence, and predicted rncO RNA secondary structure were all highly conserved with those of E coli. Furthermore, genetic and biochemical analysis revealed that S typhimurium rnc gene expression is negatively autoregulated by a mechanism very similar or identical to that in E coli, and that the cleavage specificities of RNase IIIs.t. and RNase IIIE.c. are indistinguishable with regard to rncO cleavage and S typhimurium 23S rRNA fragmentation in vivo.
On detecting spatial regularity in noisy images

Abstract Detecting spatial regularity in images arises in computer vision, scene analysis, military applications, and other areas. In this paper we present an O (n 5 2 ) algorithm that reports all maximal equally-spaced collinear subsets. The algorithm is robust in that it can tolerate noise or imprecision that may be inherent in the measuring process, where the error threshold is a user-specified parameter. Our method also generalizes to higher dimensions.
Spontaneous p53 mutation in murine mesothelial cells: increased sensitivity to DNA damage induced by asbestos and ionizing radiation.

Abstract The p53 gene regulates the GI cell cycle checkpoint in response to DNA damage. A primary murine mesothelial cell line (D9) spontaneously acquired a point mutation at codon 135 in exon 5 of the p53 gene, resulting in substitution of alanine for proline; early passage D9 cells expressed wild-type p53. The growth rate of late passage D9 cells that acquired the p53 mutation was increased compared to that of early passage cells; however, this mutation was not sufficient to confer tumorigenicity to this cell line. Mammalian cells that express wild-type p53 show a transient arrest in G1 after exposure to ionizing radiation. Early passage D9 cells showed a GI arrest following ionizing radiation, while late passage D9 cells arrested in G2 or mitosis. The clastogenic effects of ionizing radiation can be demonstrated by the cytokinesis-arrested micronucleus assay. Following treatment with cytochalasin B to arrest cytokinesis, ionizing radiation induced micronuclei in 50% of late passage D9 cells compared to 15% of early passage cells. After exposure to 15 μg/cm2 of crocidolite asbestos fibers, 18% of late passage cells had micronuclei compared to 4% of early passage cells. It is hypothesized that loss of the G1 cell cycle checkpoint contributes to genetic instability in murine mesothelial cells.
Response of relatively refractory canine myocardium to monophasic and biphasic shocks.

BACKGROUND Certain biphasic waveforms defibrillate at lower energies than monophasic waveforms, although the mechanism is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS The relative ability of monophasic and biphasic shocks to stimulate partially refractory myocardium was compared because defibrillation is thought to involve stimulating relatively refractory myocardial tissue. Shocks of 25-125 V were given during regularly paced rhythm in 11 open-chest dogs. Computerized recordings of shock potentials, and of activations before and after the shocks, were made at 117 epicardial sites. To quantify the shock field strength, the shock potential gradients were calculated at the electrode sites. Monophasic action potential (MAP) electrode recordings, obtained in five dogs, confirmed direct myocardial excitation by the shock, that is, activations beginning during the shock. Tissue was directly excited up to 4 cm from the shocking electrode, and the area directly excited increased as the shock was made stronger or given less prematurely. In six dogs, strength-interval curves for direct excitation were determined from plots of potential gradient versus refractoriness at each electrode site. The biphasic curves were located to the right of the monophasic curves by 8 +/- 4 msec, indicating a lesser ability to excite refractory myocardium. When the gradient at the directly excited border was at least 3.8 +/- 1 V/cm, conduction failed to propagate away from the directly excited zone after the shock, and MAP recordings made near the border showed a shock-induced graded response. This graded response, which prolonged repolarization, may have been responsible for the failure of conduction from the directly excited zone. Although better for defibrillating, the biphasic waveform was thus less effective than the monophasic one in exciting relatively refractory myocardium. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that waveform selection for defibrillation should not be guided solely by the ability of the waveform to stimulate tissue, as these two properties can be discordant.
The maximum number of ways to stab n convex nonintersecting sets in the plane is 2 n - 2

LetS be a collection ofn convex, closed, and pairwise nonintersecting sets in the Euclidean plane labeled from 1 ton. A pair of permutations $$\left\{ {(i_1 ,i_2 ,...,i_{n - 1} ,i_n ,),(i_n ,i_{n - 1} ,...,i_2 ,i_1 ,)} \right\}$$ is called ageometric permutation of S if there is a line that intersects all sets ofS in this order. We prove thatS can realize at most 2n?2 geometric permutations. This upper bound is tight.
Cell line models for differentiation: preadipocytes and adipocytes:

In vitro models have been invaluable in determining the mechanisms involved in adipocyte proliferation, differentiation, adipokine secretion and gene/protein expression. The cells presently available for research purposes all have unique advantages and disadvantages that one should be aware of when selecting cells. Established cell lines, such as 3T3-L1 cells, are easier and less costly to use than freshly isolated cells, even though freshly isolated cells allow for various comparisons such as the in vitro evaluation of different in vivo conditions that may not be possible using cell lines. Moreover, stem cells, transdifferentiated cells or dedifferentiated cells are relatively new cell models being evaluated for the study of adipocyte regulation and physiology. The focus of this brief review is to highlight similarities and differences in adipocyte models to aid in appropriate model selection and data interpretation for successful advancement of our understanding of adipocyte biology.
Fixation of cesium on crystalline titania with high leach-resistivity

A study of fixation of caesium on crystalline titania by co-precipitation was carried out. A maximum loading of ∼46wt% of caesium was found to be incorporated in the titania matrix. High leach-resistivity of Cs cations was observed to be in the order of 10−6–10−8 g.m−2.d−1 by Soxhlet flow refluxing at 97 °C of the composite material calcined at 800, 1000 °C for 48 hours. The analysis of X-ray powder diffractions of the composite materials revealed that cesium was fixed in the crystal lattice of host titania with the formation of new mineral phases of CsTi4O9 and Cs2Ti5O11. The results, taken together, implicate that a better fixation of caesium on titania can be achieved by calcination at 1000 °C for 48 hours.
Shifts in Microbial Biomass and the Bacteria: Fungi Ratio Occur Under Field Conditions Within 3 h After Rainfall

Increases in the frequency of soil drying and extreme precipitation projected by climate models may have important consequences for soil microbial community composition. However, the microbial response may occur over short time scales not captured by traditional sampling methods. Following a 2-year rainfall exclusion experiment in a pine forest ecosystem, we used phospholipid fatty acid profiling to measure the hourly, daily, and weekly-scale response of soil microbial biomass and the bacteria/fungi ratio to a precipitation event. We compared this response to the rewetting of un-manipulated plots. Within 3 h of watering, we detected increases in fungal and bacterial biomass of 125% and 66%, respectively, in un-manipulated plots, but only small increases in biomass within drought plots. We detected a decrease in the bacteria/fungi ratio in un-manipulated plots and an increase in this ratio in the drought plots. This surprising result was likely caused by root mortality (resulting from the previous 2-year rain exclusion) and an increase in ammonium pools in the drought plots, both of which could have suppressed fungal growth. Whereas past research suggests that soil microbes are resistant to drying–rewetting stress and to changes in annual precipitation patterns, here we show that microbes are sensitive to soil drying, but highly resilient, recovering within hours or days of a rain event. We propose that more emphasis be placed on hourly-scale field measurements of soil microbial community structure in future climate change studies.
Cyclin D3 action in androgen receptor regulation and prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation is dependent on activation of the androgen receptor (AR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor. AR activation controls G1–S phase progression through fostering enhanced translation of the D-type cyclins, which promote cell cycle progression through activation of CDK4/6. However, the D-type cyclins harbor additional, CDK4/6 kinase-independent, functions through manipulation of transcription factors, including AR. It was previously established that cyclins D1 and D3 have the potential to modulate AR, and with regard to cyclin D1, disruption of this function occurs in human tumors. Therefore, it was essential to interrogate cyclin D3 function in this tumor type. Here, we show that cyclin D3 is found in association with AR in PCa cells, as mediated through a conserved motif. Cyclin D3 functions to attenuate AR activity through defined mechanisms that include modulation of ligand-dependent conformational changes and modulation of chromatin binding activity. Accumulated cyclin D3 slows cell proliferation in AR-dependent cells, thus suggesting that androgen-induced D-type cyclin production serves to temper the mitogenic response to androgen. Supporting this hypothesis, it is shown that cyclin D3 expression is reduced in primary PCas as a function of tumor grade, and inversely correlates with the proliferative index. In total, these data identify cyclin D3 as a critical modulator of the androgen response, whose deregulation may foster unchecked AR activity in PCa.