cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lexical Ambiguities in the Vocabulary of Statistics.

Lexical ambiguities exist when two different meanings are ascribed to the same word. Such lexical ambiguities can be particularly problematic for learning material with technical words that have everyday meanings that are not the same as the technical meaning. This study reports on lexical ambiguities in six statistical words germane to statistics classes— arbitrary , model , random , range , uniform , and variable —based on data collected from an Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics course taught in the southeastern United States. Data was collected at the beginning and end of an academic year. Of the six words studied, four— model, random, uniform, and variable –were found to have substantial lexical ambiguities.
Modeling exploration strategies to predict student performance within a learning environment and beyond

Modeling and predicting student learning is an important task in computer-based education. A large body of work has focused on representing and predicting student knowledge accurately. Existing techniques are mostly based on students' performance and on timing features. However, research in education, psychology and educational data mining has demonstrated that students' choices and strategies substantially influence learning. In this paper, we investigate the impact of students' exploration strategies on learning and propose the use of a probabilistic model jointly representing student knowledge and strategies. Our analyses are based on data collected from an interactive computer-based game. Our results show that exploration strategies are a significant predictor of the learning outcome. Furthermore, the joint models of performance and knowledge significantly improve the prediction accuracy within the game as well as on external post-test data, indicating that this combined representation provides a better proxy for learning.
Learning to Eat After Esophageal Atresia Repair: In Infancy and Childhood

Once the esophagus has been surgically connected, the next steps in the progression for the child to eat orally begin. Focusing on eating will be the charge of the speech therapist, a specialist with extensive knowledge and experience dealing with feeding difficulties in infants and children. The therapist brings an understanding of the swallow mechanism, feeding skill development, and infant/child development to the therapy process. He will lend his expertise to the well-being of the child to develop the most carefully planned feeding program. The child and parents are at the center of this program. Combining the child’s past experiences, the parents’ beliefs and expectations, and following the child’s lead. The therapist melds these components with his own knowledge to visualize a course with the desired outcome of eating. The course is determined by information gathered in the evaluation, knowledge of normal feeding development, and understanding how the repair process interferes with the normal development of the child. Three primary areas are examined in the evaluation to identify where the child is starting on the spectrum of developmental feeding skills. The areas include oral motor skills, sensory integration, and physiological function. Throughout the course of treatment, there will be many questions raised by the parents, and the quality of the answers will influence the treatment outcome. Their buy-in to therapy is mandatory for success. Education and participation of parents in the therapy program will help address many questions such as: will my child ever eat? How long will it take my child to learn to eat? These are the two most critical questions which parents base so much hope upon the initial answers. The therapist’s responses to these questions can set the entire tone for the duration of treatment. Many therapists would acknowledge that working with children after repair of esophageal atresia presents the most challenging collection of issues related to eating for the speech therapist.
Clinical predictors of 5-year survival in patients with EGFR-mutant metastatic NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKIs.

8071 Background: Activating mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were discovered over 10 years ago. EGFR mutations predict increased response rates and progression-free survival...
Syntactic alternation research: Taking stock and some suggestions for the future

Over the last 20 or so years, research on syntactic alternations has made great strides in both theoretical and methodological ways. On the theoretical side, much of the research on syntactic alternations was restricted to generative linguistics debating how near synonymous constructions differed slightly in meaning and/or how one (and which one) was derived from the other (transformationally). On the methodological side, much research consisted of monofactorial studies based on relatively simple text counts. By now, however, syntactic alternation research has become much more functional (in a broad sense of the term) and much more methodologically sophisticated: Much work is now motivated/interpreted psycholinguistically or in a broadly usage-based/cognitive linguistic framework and much work has now adopted a regression-based analytical strategy. These attractive developments notwithstanding, much remains to be done and, in this paper, I sketch some recent developments in (largely) separate alternation studies that I would like the field to adopt more broadly. These developments can be heuristically grouped into ones that have to do with (i) the statistical analysis of corpus-based and experimental alternation data, (ii) new predictors that explain typically unexplored aspects of variability in alternations.
Binaural perceptual weighting of reverberation level in normal hearing listeners

In general, perceived reverberation strength is related to physical reverberation level present at the two ears; however, this relation depends on listening condition. Pervious work using virtual auditory space techniques has demonstrated that when physical reverberation is reduced in one ear while leaving the other ear unchanged, listeners do not report a change in reverberation strength. Reducing physical reverberation equally in both ears under binaural listening or in the signal ear under monaural listening elicits a decrease in perceived reverberation strength. To better understand the relation between physical and perceived reverberation in different listening conditions, a perceptual weighting experiment was performed. Listeners reported perceived reverberation strength in a test stimulus using a magnitude estimate paradigm relative to a standard while listening over headphones. Test stimuli were generated by jittering reverberation level independently in the two channels of a binaural room impulse...
Quantitative analysis of the regulation of leukocyte chemosensory migration by a vascular prosthetic biomaterial.

The need for improved, infection-resistant vascular biomaterials calls for more objective evaluation of the immune pathophysiology of implantable prosthetic materials. In this study we have developed a new strategy to quantitatively characterize population-averaged responses of immune cell migration on vascular prosthetic materials. This approach, incorporating a chemokinetically regulated "biomaterial-gel" sandwich configuration, was applied to quantify both random and directed modes of the chemosensory migration of human neutrophil leukocytes on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). Our studies show that (a) microporous, synthetic materials like ePTFE suppress the basal rate of random cell migration relative to that reported on non-porous control surfaces; (b) stimulation with chemoattractant (formyl peptide) can significantly elevate rates of random and directed migration on ePTFE; and (c) protein conditioning of ePTFE with albumin or immunoglobulin G can differentially modulate the rates and relative proportion of random and directional components of leukocyte migration response to chemoattractant. This, to our knowledge, is the first objective quantitation of chemokinetically regulated cell migration on implantable prosthetic materials.
A systematic scoping review of environmental health conditions and hygiene behaviors in homeless shelters.

Abstract Background There are well-established relationships between health and homelessness, and shelters can facilitate the transmission of diseases and contribute to their prevention. Adequate environmental health conditions and hygiene behaviors in homeless shelters are fundamental to the health of their clients, a marginalized population. We report the status of environmental health conditions and hygiene behaviors in homeless shelters and associated health outcomes; interventions to improve these conditions, behaviors, and outcomes; and obstacles to improvement. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost were searched for peer-reviewed studies, and additional sources for grey literature. Studies were included if they reported primary data on one or more environmental health condition or hygiene behavior in homeless shelters. Results Twenty-eight studies were included in the review. Insufficient ventilation systems, unhygienic bedding, and overcrowding were the most documented environmental health and hygiene deficiencies in homeless shelters, and tuberculosis infections and skin diseases were the most documented associated health outcomes among clients. Studies frequently recommended or described implementation of behavioral and administrative controls, ventilation system improvements, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation fixtures. Discussion Most studies addressed airborne transmission of tuberculosis and were conducted in high-income countries, revealing an imbalance in the literature. Insufficient resources and the transience of clients are barriers to improving hygiene behaviors and environmental conditions in homeless shelters. Further investment and research into ensuring adequate hygiene and environmental health in this setting can protect and promote the health and well-being of people experiencing homelessness.
Ph.D. Student Development: A Conceptual Model for Research-Intensive Social Work PhD Programs

Social work PhD programs aim to attract students with the highest potential for being future stewards of the discipline. At research-intensive institutions, preparing students to be productive in t...
Examining Childcare Instability and Transition Patterns in Low-Income, Urban Neighborhoods in the United States: A Qualitative Study

This study examines why African-American caregivers in low-income urban neighborhoods in the United States transition their children between different childcare arrangements involving relative care...
Bound preserving and energy dissipative schemes for porous medium equation

Abstract A class of bound preserving and energy dissipative schemes for the porous medium equation are constructed in this paper. The schemes are based on a positivity preserving approach for Wasserstein gradient flow and a perturbation technique, and are shown to be uniquely solvable, bound preserving, and in the first-order case, also energy dissipative. Ample numerical results are presented to validate the theoretical results and demonstrate the effectiveness of the new schemes.
Dengue and Zika virus infection are impaired by small molecule ER proteostasis regulator 147 in an ATF6-independent manner

Flaviviruses, including Dengue and Zika, are widespread human pathogens, however, no broadly active therapeutics exist to fight infection. Here, we establish the recently discovered pharmacologic modulator of ER proteostasis 147 as an effective host-centered antiviral strategy. Compound 147 reduces infection by attenuating viral replication without causing toxicity in host cells. 147 is a preferential activator of the ATF6 pathway of the unfolded protein response, which requires targeting of cysteine residues primarily on protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs). We find that the antiviral activity of 147 is independent of ATF6 induction but does require modification of reactive thiols on protein targets. Targeting PDIs using RNAi and other PDI small molecule inhibitors was unable to recapitulate the antiviral effects, suggesting additional identified protein targets of 147 may mediate the activity. Importantly, 147 can impair infection of multiple strains of Dengue and Zika virus, indicating that it is suitable as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent.
In Memoriam R. Douglas Cope 1955–2019

With profound sadness we remember the passing of R. Douglas (Doug) Cope on 6 October 2019. Doug taught colonial Latin American history for thirty-one years at Brown University, where he was a belov...
Autophagy Blockade Limits HER2+ Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis by Perturbing HER2 Trafficking and Promoting Release Via Small Extracellular Vesicles

Autophagy modulation is an emerging strategy for cancer therapy. By deleting an essential autophagy gene or disrupting its autophagy function, we determined a mechanism of HER2+ breast cancer tumorigenesis by directly regulating the oncogenic driver. Disruption of FIP200-mediated autophagy reduced HER2 expression on the tumor cell surface and abolished mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-Neu mice. Decreased HER2 surface expression was due to trafficking from the Golgi to the endocytic pathways instead of the plasma membrane. Autophagy inhibition led to HER2 accumulation in early and late endosomes associated with intraluminal vesicles and released from tumor cells in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Increased HER2 release from sEVs correlated with reduced tumor cell surface levels. Blocking sEVs secretion rescued HER2 levels in tumor cells. Our results demonstrate a role for autophagy to promote tumorigenesis in HER2+ breast cancer. This suggests that blocking autophagy could supplement current anti-HER2 agents for treating the disease.
The Impact of Surgical Center Volume on Reoperation Risk after Mid Urethral Sling.

Purpose:We sought to determine whether a center’s surgical volume affects patient reoperation rates after mid urethral sling (MUS) surgery.Materials and Methods:We performed a retrospective cohort ...
Prediction of cardiovascular morbidity from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

The relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular morbidity has been appreciated for many years and is based both on actuarial studies [26] and on population surveys [14]. This relationship is based on a relatively small number of blood pressure readings taken from each individual in an office or clinic setting. It is also well known that blood pressure varies considerably within individuals, both for measurements taken in similar circumstances on different occasions [2, 3], and when taken in different circumstances, e.g., at home rather than in the clinic [4]. It is generally assumed that the damage done by hypertension is related to the average level of pressure over time, although this assumption should not go unchallenged, because it is conceivable that the peaks of pressure and the shape of the arterial pressure waveform could also contribute [22]. Recent findings from the Framingham survey indicate that the average pressure over 30 years gives a closer correlation with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) measured by echocardiography [8], which is the most reliable measure of target organ damage available at the present time [7].
Toward a Proof of Concept Implementation of a Cloud Infrastructure on the Blue Gene/Q

Conventional cloud computing architectures may seriously constrain computational throughput for HPC applications and data analysis. The traditional approach to circumvent such problems has been to map such applications onto specialized hardware and co-processor architectures. These shortcomings have given rise to calls for software that can provide richer environments for implementing clouds on these HPC architectures. It was recently reported that a proof of concept cloud computing system was successfully embedded in a standard Blue Gene/P HPC supercomputer. This software defined system re-arranged user access to nodes and dynamically customized features of the BG/P architecture to map clouds systems and applications onto the BG/P. This paper reports on efforts to extend the results achieved on the BG/P to the newer BG/Q architecture. This work demonstrates a potential for a cloud to capitalize on the BG/Q infrastructure and provides a platform for developing better hybrid workflows and for experimentation with new schedulers and operating systems within a working HPC environment.
Role of Phospholipid Asymmetry in Cellular Membrane Fusion

Because of its relative simplicity and the wealth of information available on its membrane, the erythrocyte has served as a useful model for studies of the mechanisms of cellular and membrane fusion. Insight has been sought most often from scrutinizing intercellular fusion systems, while relatively little attention has been given to intracellular fusion and to what might be learned from evaluating conditions conducive to this type of fusion. Similarly, alterations in the protein portion of the membrane which might play a role in fusion have been given far more attention than the role which alterations in phospholipids, particularly their arrangement, might play in erythrocyte fusion. In this paper, we explore phospholipid spacing as a potential determinant of intracellular erythrocyte membrane fusion. In particular, we postulate that erythrocyte membranes with tightly-packed phospholipids are fusion-incompetent, whereas those with loosely-packed phospholipids are fusion-competent; and that packing is controlled by the maintenance or loss of the normal asymmetric distribution of phospholipids in the erythrocyte membrane.
Integrable Nonlinear Systems and their Perturbation

What are the simplest nonlinear structures that exist in science and mathematics? This question seems perhaps too grandiose to describe in any coherent way. However, this is precisely what is meant by an integrable nonlinear system. In terms of differential equations this topic classically involves questions of integrability by quadrature for ordinary differential equations, and for dynamical systems of mechanics, the notion of integrable systems goes back to the nineteenth century, when famous studies of Jacobi, Liouville, and Poincare achieved great insight. The recent decade is quite unique in that two opposite directions of research come to the fore. The first direction involves extending systems to infinite dimensions, (i.e. systems with an infinite number of degrees of freedom). In the second extension, one analyzes simple dynamical systems depending on a real parameter, that are the negation of integrable. Such systems are called chaotic because, for example, the observed motions of such systems cannot be predicted with any accuracy over long time intervals. In this chapter I first ask the question, What nonlinear phenomena lie between these two extremes. Secondly, Can one create a mathematical language and structure to understand these diverse forms of integrability?
The specific binding of three fragments of staphylococcal nuclease.

Abstract Previous observations on the productive complementation by several sets of two inactive and disordered fragments of Staphylococcal nuclease (149 residues without cysteines and disulfide bonds) indicated that peptide bonds either between residues 48 and 50 or at some point between residues 113 and 124 can be cleaved without causing destruction of the information to determine the functional structure. For example, nuclease-T-(6–48) (residues 6 to 48) binds to nuclease-T-(49–149) and to nuclease-T-(50–149) and forms nuclease-T', the enzymically active and ordered complexes ((6–48) + (49–149)) and ((6–48) + (50–149)), respectively. Nuclease-(1–126) and nuclease-(99–149) yield another functional complex ((1–126) + (99–149)). In the present study, nuclease-(49, 50–126) (the mixture of residues 49 to 126 and 50 to 126) was prepared by limited trypsin digestion of trifluoroacetylated nuclease-T-(49, 50–149) (the mixture of nuclease-T-(49–149) and nuclease-T-(50–149)). It is shown that nuclease-T-(6–48), nuclease-(49, 50–126), and nuclease-(99–149) bind in equimolar ratio below 20° to form a population of three-fragment complexes, presumably the mixture of ((6–48) + (49–126) + (99–149)) and ((6–48) + (50–126) + (99–149)). The three-fragment complex appears to have intrinsic enzymic activity, although at very low level, and affinity for the nuclease ligand, deoxythymidine 3',5'-diphosphate in the presence of Ca2+. The heat stability of the three-fragment complex is less than that of the enzymically active derivatives with only one discontinuity of the polypeptide chain, although the latter themselves show lower heat stability than that of intact nuclease. These observations support the view that specific non-covalent binding of the three fragments to form an enzymically active structure can still take place if the simultaneous cleavages of the peptide bonds are at the two "permissible" sites.
Airway-Resident Memory CD8 T Cells Provide Antigen-Specific Protection against Respiratory Virus Challenge through Rapid IFN-γ Production.

CD8 airway resident memory T (TRM) cells are a distinctive TRM population with a high turnover rate and a unique phenotype influenced by their localization within the airways. Their role in mediating protective immunity to respiratory pathogens, although suggested by many studies, has not been directly proven. This study provides definitive evidence that airway CD8 TRM cells are sufficient to mediate protection against respiratory virus challenge. Despite being poorly cytolytic in vivo and failing to expand after encountering Ag, airway CD8 TRM cells rapidly express effector cytokines, with IFN-γ being produced most robustly. Notably, established airway CD8 TRM cells possess the ability to produce IFN-γ faster than systemic effector memory CD8 T cells. Furthermore, naive mice receiving intratracheal transfer of airway CD8 TRM cells lacking the ability to produce IFN-γ were less effective at controlling pathogen load upon heterologous challenge. This direct evidence of airway CD8 TRM cell–mediated protection demonstrates the importance of these cells as a first line of defense for optimal immunity against respiratory pathogens and suggests they should be considered in the development of future cell-mediated vaccines.
Changes in the Arctic Ocean CO2 sink (1996–2007): A regional model analysis

[1] The rapid recent decline of Arctic Ocean sea ice area increases the flux of solar radiation available for primary production and the area of open water for air-sea gas exchange. We use a regional physical-biogeochemical model of the Arctic Ocean, forced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research atmospheric reanalysis, to evaluate the mean present-day CO2 sink and its temporal evolution. During the 1996–2007 period, the model suggests that the Arctic average sea surface temperature warmed by 0.04°C a−1, that sea ice area decreased by ∼0.1 × 106 km2 a−1, and that the biological drawdown of dissolved inorganic carbon increased. The simulated 1996–2007 time-mean Arctic Ocean CO2 sink is 58 ± 6 Tg C a−1. The increase in ice-free ocean area and consequent carbon drawdown during this period enhances the CO2 sink by ∼1.4 Tg C a−1, consistent with estimates based on extrapolations of sparse data. A regional analysis suggests that during the 1996–2007 period, the shelf regions of the Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas experienced an increase in the efficiency of their biological pump due to decreased sea ice area, especially during the 2004–2007 period, consistent with independently published estimates of primary production. In contrast, the CO2 sink in the Barents Sea is reduced during the 2004–2007 period due to a dominant control by warming and decreasing solubility. Thus, the effect of decreasing sea ice area and increasing sea surface temperature partially cancel, though the former is dominant.
On the optimizing-adaptive control problem

The optimizing-adaptive control problem arises in applications where the desired behavior is not specified explicitly, but instead, an objective function of the plant behavior and the unknown plant itself is to be optimized. In these cases, the control task involves the explicit determination of the optimal behavior and the control action to achieve that behavior. The difficulty with this problem is that it involves a conflict between identification and optimisation on the one hand, and control on the other. In this paper, we study this problem in the context of the intelligent exercise machine application. We propose two related excitation supervisors which switch between an excitation phase and a control phase, based on an internally generated optimality error signal.
A Comparison Of Two Methods For Random Labelling of Balls by Vectors of Integers

Kirk (1993) raised the question of comparing the following two ways for labelling balls. Given r pre-determined positive integers n i (1 ≤ i ≤ r), and given N balls (N large), consider two ways to randomly assign r–component vectors of integers (a 1,…, a r ) to them, such that 1 ≤ a i ≤ n i . We will call these vectors labels. Of course, altogether there are \(\prod {_{i = 1}^r \,n_i }\) possible labels.
RELIABILITY BASES OF STRUCTURAL SAFETY AND DESIGN

Principal probability concepts are presented and developed for the proper modeling and analysis of uncertainty, and for evaluating the associated effects on safety and design. Under conditions of uncertainty, safety and serviceability of structures can be assured only in terms of the probability of survival (or conversely of failure); accordingly, the level of safety is expressed explicitly as a function of the degree of uncertainty. The assumptions necessary to implement probability concepts in the development of practical design criteria and code provisions are explained and delineated. Uncertainty (including uncertainty associated with errors in estimation and imperfection in mathematical models) is expressed in terms of the coefficient of variation; in this term, its effect on safety and design can be assessed systematically and logically through first-order statistical analysis. Specific proposals for evaluating safety level and for developing safety and load factors for design are developed.
Model-Based Optimization of a Hydraulic Backhoe using Multi-Attribute Utility Theory

Modeling and simulation are commonly used in all stages of the design process. This is particularly vital to the success of systems engineering projects where the system under consideration is complex and involves interactions between many interdisciplinary subsystems. In the refining stages of the design process (after concept selection), models and simulations can be used to refine and optimize a system with respect to the decision maker’s objectives. In this paper, a dynamic model of a hydraulic backhoe serves as a test-bed for a large-scale sensitivity analysis and subsequent optimization of the most significant design parameters. The model is optimized under uncertainty with respect to a multi-attribute utility function that includes fuel consumption, cost of the key components, and machine performance. Since such an optimization can be costly in terms of time and computational resources, the objective of this paper is to provide a useful, costeffective methodology for this type of problem. To perform the optimization, a parallel computing cluster is used in conjunction with a kriging surrogate model to reduce computation time.
Diet-Related Knowledge, Skill, and Adherence Among Children with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

The dietary adherence of a sample of 97 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus has been quantitatively described. Now, in an effort to understand the poor dietary adherence found, diet-related knowledge and skill and their relationship to dietary adherence among 90 diabetic children have been studied. Diet-related competencies assessed were the ability to: (1) recall the personal diet plan, (2) correctly fill one's plate from a buffet, with the diet plan in hand, and (3) choose an appropriate meal from a restaurant menu. Adherence to the diet was assessed by unobtrusive observations at meals. Error rates on the three tests of knowledge and skill were .21, .28, and .51, respectively. The mean error rate at mealtime was .35, only slightly higher than the error rate for filling a plate when the children knew they were being tested. In a multiple regression analysis, age (r = .37) and sex (R = .48) were associated with adherence to the diet plan. Ability to choose correctly from a menu, duration of diabetes, and ability to correctly fill a plate from a buffet also entered the regression equation (R = .54). The data suggest that many children did not possess the knowledge and skill required for good dietary adherence, regardless of motivation. Health educators may underestimate the complexity of the behaviors expected of chronically ill patients.
Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin-induced macrophage cytotoxicity against bladder cancer cells.

Many details of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy of bladder cancer have been discovered in the past decades. However, information on a potential role for macrophage cytotoxicity as an effector mechanism is limited. Macrophages play pivotal roles in the host innate immunity and serve as a first line of defense in mycobacterial infection. In addition to their function as professional antigen-presenting cells, the tumoricidal activity of macrophages has also been studied with considerable interest. Studies have shown that activated macrophages are potent in killing malignant cells of various tissue origins. This review summarizes the current understanding of the BCG-induced macrophage cytotoxicity toward bladder cancer cells with an intention to inspire investigation on this important but underdeveloped research field.
Forest structure and fuels dynamics following ponderosa pine restoration treatments, White Mountains, Arizona, USA

Southwestern ponderosa pine forest ecosystems have become uncharacteristically dense as a result of intensive livestock grazing, logging, and fire exclusion, which have contributed to a buildup of fuels and increased vulnerability to high-severity, landscape-scale crown fires. In 2002, we implemented a replicated ecological restoration experiment to (1) quantify site-specific reference conditions, (2) analyze effects of elevation on forest structure, surface fuels, and canopy fuels, (3) test responses to three treatments: control, full treatment, and burn-only, and (4) evaluate effectiveness of treatments for restoring attributes to near historical reference conditions. Reconstructed reference conditions showed that basal area (BA) averaged 9.2 m 2 ha � 1 and tree density averaged 86.2 trees ha � 1 across the site in 1880 prior to widespread fire exclusion, with the highest tree density values occurring at the two upper elevation sites. In 2002, prior to treatment, BA averaged 28.9 m 2 ha � 1
An Atom Interferometer for Gradient Magnetometry

We theoretically demonstrate that an atom interferometer can be used to measure gradient magnetic fields. We report on our development of such a device to be used in a potentially noisy environment.
Magneto-optical recording on evaporated Co/Pt multilayer films

Co/Pt multilayers composed of 0.3-nm Co and 1-nm Pt layers were prepared by e-beam evaporation from Co and Pt sources. These Co/Pt multilayers with a total film thickness of 20-30 nm have a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, a perpendicular hysteresis loop with a saturated remanence, a coercivity of about 1.8 kOe, and a Curie temperature of about 300 degrees C. They are structurally stable enough for thermomagnetic magnetooptical recording. Moreover, these Co/Pt multilayers are corrosion resistant and have enhanced Kerr rotation at short wavelengths. On a disk of 15*(Co(0.32 nm)/Pt(1.15 nm)) multilayer enhanced with 80-nm silicon nitride, a CNR (carrier-to-noise ratio) of 59 dB was achieved with a reading laser ( lambda =820 nm) power of 1 mW for a 2-MHz carrier at 10 m/s, and 64 dB with 3-mW read power for a 2.5-MHz carrier at 20 m/s. It is concluded that these Co/Pt multilayers are very promising as magnetooptical recording materials. >
The Simulation of Moisture Processes in Climate Models and Climate Sensitivity

Abstract General circulation models (GCMs) designed for projecting climatic change have exhibited a wide range of sensitivity. Therefore, projected surface warming with increasing CO2 varies considerably depending on which model is used. Despite notable advances in computing power and modeling techniques that have occurred over the past decade, uncertainties of model sensitivity have not been reduced accordingly. The sensitivity issue is investigated by examining two GCMs of very different modeling techniques and sensitivity, with attention focused on how moisture processes are treated in these models, how moisture simulations are affected by these processes, and how well these simulations compare to the observed and analyzed moisture field. Both GCMs predict increases of atmospheric moisture with doubled CO2, but the increment predicted by one model is substantially higher (approximately twice) than that predicted by the other. This same difference is seen in responses of the boundary layer diffusive moi...
Tuning the photoinduced electron-transfer thermodynamics in 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazoline fluorophores: X-ray structures, photophysical characterization, computational analysis, and in vivo evaluation.

A series of donor-substituted 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazoline fluorophores were structurally characterized by X-ray analysis, and their photophysical properties studied by steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy. The photoinduced electron-transfer thermodynamics of the derivatives was estimated on the basis of the spectroscopic data and redox potentials of the fluorophores. The aryl substituents in the 1- and 3-position of the pyrazoline ring influence the photophysical properties of the fluorophores in distinctly different ways. The excited-state equilibrium energy ΔE00 is primarily influenced by changes of the substituent in the 1-position, whereas the reduction potential of the fluorophore is essentially determined by the 3-aryl group. Density functional calculations were used to probe the electronic structure and energy ordering of the emissive and the electron-transfer state. The results from the computational analysis agree qualitatively well with the experimental data. In addition, we have eva...
Mapping the Effects of SI Cortex Stimulation on Somatosensory Relay Neurons in the Rat Thalamus: Direct Responses and Afferent Modulation

We have used single-unit recording techniques to map the spatial distribution of the primary somatosensory (SI) cortical influences on thalamic somatosensory relay nuclei in the rat. A total of 193 microelectrode penetrations were made to record single neurons in tracks through the medial and lateral ventroposterior (VPL and VPM), ventrolateral (VL), posterior (Po), and reticular (nRt) thalamic nuclei. Single units were classified according to their (1) location within the nuclei, (2) receptive fields, and (3) response to standardized microstimulation in deep layers of the SI cortical forepaw areas. The SI stimulation produced short-latency (1- to 7-msec) excitatory responses in different percentages of neurons recorded in the following thalamic nuclei: VPL, 42.0%; Po, 25.0%; nRt, 16.4%; VL, 13.6%; and VPM, 9.9%. Within the VPL, the highest proportion of responsive neurons was found in the anterior region. Although most of the VL region was unresponsive, the caudal subregion bordering the rostral VPL showed some responsiveness (13.6% of neurons). In general, the spatial pattern of corticothalamic influences appeared to reciprocate the known thalamocortical connection patterns, but with a heterogeneity that was unpredicted. The same parameters of SI cortical stimulation were used in studies of corticofugal modulation of afferent transmission through the VPL thalamus. A condition-test (C-T) paradigm was implemented in which the cortical stimulation (C) was delivered at a range of time intervals before test (T) mechanical vibratory stimulation was applied to digit 4 of the contralateral forepaw. The time course of cortical effects was analyzed by measuring the averaged evoked unit responses of thalamic neurons to the T stimuli, and plotting them as a function of C-T intervals from 5 to 50 msec. Of the 20 VPL neurons tested during SI stimulation, the average response to T stimulation was decreased a mean of 36%, with the suppression peaking (at 49% inhibition of the afferent response) about 15 msec after the C stimulus. Considerable rostrocaudal variation was observed, however. Whereas neurons in the rostral VPL (near VL) were strongly inhibited (-69%), neurons in the middle and caudal VPL exhibited facilitations at long and short C-T intervals, respectively. This study establishes a specific projection system from the forepaw region of SI cortex to different subregions of the VPL thalamus, producing specific temporal patterns of sensory modulation.
VARIANTS OF TISSUE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR THAT DISPLAY EXTRAORDINARY RESISTANCE TO INHIBITION BY THE SERPIN PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR TYPE 1

Fibrinolysis is regulated in part by the interaction of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). Previous investigations suggest that three specific arginine residues, Arg-298, Arg-299, and Arg-304 of t-PA, play a critical role in this important regulatory interaction. Our earlier studies have demonstrated that conversion of any of these three residues to a glutamic acid residue reduced the rate of inhibition of t-PA by PAI-1 by factors varying from 58-64. In addition, we have reported that the second order rate constant for inhibition by PAI-1 of the variant t-PA/K296E,R298E,R299E is reduced by a factor of approximately 2800 compared with that of wild type t-PA. In this study, we have significantly extended our earlier observations by identifying t-PA variants that are substantially more resistant to inhibition by PAI-1 than any previously reported variants of t-PA or urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Single-chain t-PA/R275E,R298E, R299E,R304E, for example, is inhibited by PAI-1 approximately 120, 000 times less rapidly than single-chain, wild type t-PA. We also report the first direct comparison of the effects of charge reversal mutations of Arg-298, Arg-299, and/or Arg-304 on the properties of the single- and two-chain forms of t-PA. While these mutations confer extraordinary resistance to inhibition by PAI-1 to both forms of the enzyme, our observations reveal that the single-chain enzyme is affected to a greater extent than the two-chain enzyme. Two-chain, wild type t-PA is inhibited by PAI-1 approximately 1.4 times more rapidly than single-chain t-PA. The corresponding ratio increases to 7.6 or 6.7, respectively, for variants of t-PA containing the R298E, R299E or R298E,R299E,R304E mutations.
Choice Effects and the Ineffectiveness of Simulation: Response to Kühberger et al.

: Kuhberger et al. show that producing the Langer effect is considerably more difficult than has been assumed. Although their results clearly demonstrate a need for further exploration of the Langer effect, none of their arguments undermines the evidence against simulation theory that we presented in Nichols et al. (1996). In our study the actor subjects did show an effect, but the prediction subjects did not predict it, despite the fact that they were provided with all the details of the actor's situation. Further, we report additional evidence that corroborates our empirical case against simulation theory.
Bone strain sensation via transmembrane potential changes in surface osteoblasts: Loading rate and microstructural implications

A model is developed in which osteoblasts can sense the strains applied to a small region of bone through electrical coupling between adjacent cells. The stress-generated potentials within bone are assumed to occur through streaming potentials, and the coupled network of osteocytes is assumed to act in a manner similar to the classical cable model for nerve cells. In a one-dimensional model, the linear poroelastic equations for motion of the fluid are solved analytically for sinusoidally varying imposed strains, and the streaming potentials are predicted from the fluid flow. The changes in the osteocyte and osteoblast transmembrane potential are given by an analytical solution to the governing equations, and the dependence of the transmembrane potential changes (TPC) on position, loading rate, manner of loading (compression versus bending), and on the degree of cellular coupling is discussed. The model correctly predicts the rate dependence of remodelling established by other investigators. The influence of the electrical parameters within the model indicate that further study of the cellular coupling in bone can yield important new information on bone remodelling.
Moral reasoning, intercultural development, and multicultural experiences: relations and cognitive underpinnings

Abstract The relation between moral reasoning and intercultural sensitivity is discussed. We hypothesize that multicultural experiences are related to both types of development, describe the cognitive processes through which multicultural experiences theoretically facilitate development, and present empirical data supporting the association. Though the underlying developmental constructs were initially conceptualized as stage theories, we borrow from cognitive science and contemporary theories of human learning ( Derry, 1996 ) to think of moral and intercultural development in terms of increasing sociocognitive flexibility. Intercultural and moral development share the common element of a critical shift from rigid to flexible thinking. In moral reasoning, this is characterized by the shift from conventional to post-conventional thinking. In intercultural development, a similar movement occurs between the ethnocentric and ethnorelative orientations of intercultural sensitivity. In order to test our hypothesis, college students (n=70) took measures of intercultural development (Intercultural Development Inventory), moral judgment (Defining Issues Test), and multicultural experience (Multicultural Experience Questionnaire). The results indicate that moral judgment and intercultural development are significantly related to one another. Both are related to multicultural experiences, particularly depth of the experiences, as opposed to breadth.
A variable multi-step method for transient heat conduction

A variable explicit time integration algorithm is developed for unsteady diffusion problems. The algorithm uses nodal partitioning and allows the nodal groups to be updated with different time steps. The stability of the algorithm is analyzed using energy methods and critical time steps are found in terms of element eigenvalues with no restrictions on element types. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate the accuracy of the method.
An implicit particle-in-cell method for granular materials

An implicit-in-time method for granular materials is described. The method combines the material point method, a first-order contact algorithm, and a Newton-Krylov equation solver to give improved energy conservation, stabilization of the finite-grid-instability, and the correct description of collisions between grains.
People, Knowledge, and Change in Participatory Research

My purpose in this article is to highlight characteristics of participatory research that distinguish it from other forms of research aimed at generating action. To this end, I will single out the ...
Institutional transitions, global mindset, and EMNE internationalization

Abstract Recently revised theoretical explanations of the internationalization process have been offered to specifically account for the propensity of Emerging Market Multinationals (EMNEs) to engage in accelerated internationalization. However, this literature stream has yet to consider how the fundamental institutional transitions occurring in emerging markets promote the individual and organizational level global mindset that helps account for this accelerated, proactive international expansion. Our dynamic multi-level conceptual framework examines the influences of both the home country institutions and intra-organizational mindsets on the development of EMNE outward FDI decision making. This framework contributes to extant literature by integrating conceptualizations of national culture with the informal and formal institutions offered by institutional theory, while examining how fundamental shifts in these influence the intra-organizational context. Furthermore, our conceptual framework adopts a multi-level perspective of global mindset as an antecedent of firm decision making and adds to the global mindset literature by arguing that institutional transition is a macro level antecedent of global mindset.
Topological boundary modes in isostatic lattices

The mathematical connection between isostatic lattices—which are relevant for granular matter, glasses and other ‘soft’ systems—and topological quantum matter is as deep as it is unexpected.
Maximizing Treatment Effectiveness in Clinical Practice: An Outcome-Informed, Collaborative Approach:

Clinicians need easy-to-use, practical, systematic methods of evaluating, informing, and reporting the effectiveness of treatment. Practicing clinicians no longer have to rely on the DSM for treating their clients, but by making use of both outcome and process measures they can create a more collaborative and effective therapy with their clients. The findings from over 40 years of psychotherapy outcome research literature emphasize the importance of common factors as the curative elements central to all forms of therapy regardless of theoretical orientation. Methods discussed here offer practitioners the means to identify which clients are responding to treatment and those for which treatment is not working so that adjustments can be made to the therapy. The goal is to decrease dropout rates, increase levels of customer satisfaction, and document and improve the overall effectiveness of treatment.
Music format effects in radio advertising

Radio advertising performance was experimentally investigated to determine whether music format can moderate the persuasive effect of ads for low involvement type products. Recall, attitude toward the product, attitude toward the advertisement, and behavioral intention scores each provide support for the research hypothesis. As predicted, a highly involving music format produced the most consistently favorable effects for the products tested.