cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipid Function in Excitable Membranes

Excitable membranes are molecular bilayers which regulate ionic transport rates as a function of stimulus parameters, and in this way, generate the electrical messages of the nervous system. HODGKIN and HUXLEY (1) have provided an elegant description of the excitable characteristics of the squid axon. The HODGKINHUXLEY equation describes how ionic transport rates are regulated selectively by the squid membrane, but it does not provide a molecular explanation for the way the lipids and proteins of the membrane accomplish this regulation (2–7). Our understanding of the molecular events in the excitable process is very incomplete at the present time.
Futile Cycles in the Metabolism of Glucose

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of futile cycles in thermogenesis and metabolic control. Cyclic processes are common in metabolism. They serve many functions, in oxidation and synthesis, in the generation of energy and reducing equivalents, and in transfer and transport of a variety of compounds and reducing equivalents against energy barriers or through membranes. However, there is one type of cycling whose function is not immediately apparent. These cycles may occur when there are two opposing metabolic pathways in the cell in which the reactions in the forward and reverse directions are catalyzed by separate enzymes. Cellular metabolism is thought of as tightly regulated, so that the operation of “useless” energy-dissipating reactions has been commonly discounted. Liver parenchymal cells and kidney cortex cells contain the complete complement of enzymes for the synthesis of glucose and glycogen and also for glycolysis. Many of the reactions are readily reversible and are common to both pathways, but the key steps are unique to each path and irreversible because of the energy barriers.
The Use of Microbial Metabolites for the Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microbes through their primary and secondary metabolism can be used to identify infections caused by these organisms. The detection of microbial VOCs in human breath allows noninvasive, rapid, species-specific diagnosis of these infections. However, the detection and identification of these microbe-specific breath VOC signatures are still quite challenging due to the very low abundance of microbial VOCs in human breath. Pre-concentration of these VOCs, which are highly diluted in human breath, is important for the evaluation of these metabolites. In this chapter, we discuss methods for pre-concentration of VOCs using sorbent materials, solid-phase microextraction, and headspace sorptive extraction, and review common analytical techniques used to analyze breath VOCs, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, soft ionization mass spectrometry techniques, ion mobility spectrometry, differential mobility spectrometry, and electronic nose sensors.
Combinatorics at ℵω

Abstract We construct a model in which the singular cardinal hypothesis fails at ℵ ω . We use characterizations of genericity to show the existence of a projection between different Prikry type forcings.
Holding period returns from NASDAQ traded ADRs

ABSTRACTThis study examines the initial three-year holding period returns of the 202 ADRs listed from 1990 through 2015 and traded on the NASDAQ relative to the corresponding holding period returns...
Comfort with Robots Influences Rapport with a Social, Entraining Teachable Robot

Teachable agents are pedagogical agents that employ the ‘learning-by-teaching’ strategy, which facilitates learning by encouraging students to construct explanations, reflect on misconceptions, and elaborate on what they know. Teachable agents present unique opportunities to maximize the benefits of a ‘learning-by-teaching’ experience. For example, teachable agents can provide socio-emotional support to learners, influencing learner self-efficacy and motivation, and increasing learning. Prior work has found that a teachable agent which engages learners socially through social dialogue and paraverbal adaptation on pitch can have positive effects on rapport and learning. In this work, we introduce Emma, a teachable robotic agent that can speak socially and adapt on both pitch and loudness. Based on the phenomenon of entrainment, multi-feature adaptation on tone and loudness has been found in human-human interactions to be highly correlated to learning and social engagement. In a study with 48 middle school participants, we performed a novel exploration of how multi-feature adaptation can influence learner rapport and learning as an independent social behavior and combined with social dialogue. We found significantly more rapport for Emma when the robot both adapted and spoke socially than when Emma only adapted and indications of a similar trend for learning. Additionally, it appears that an individual’s initial comfort level with robots may influence how they respond to such behavior, suggesting that for individuals who are more comfortable interacting with robots, social behavior may have a more positive influence.
Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME)

This chapter describes the technical aspects of transanal total mesorectal excision including patient positioning, instrumentation, type of incision and port locations, approach, and dissection, resection, and reconstruction steps. The authors also offer pearls and pitfalls.
RanBP1 controls the Ran pathway in mammalian cells through regulation of mitotic RCC1 dynamics.

The Ran GTPase plays critical roles in multiple cellular processes including interphase nucleocytoplasmic transport and mitotic spindle assembly. During mitosis in mammalian cells, GTP-bound Ran (R...
LABORATORY EVALUATION OF GEOSYNTHETIC-REINFORCED PAVEMENT SECTIONS

Preliminary experimental and analytical investigations were conducted to evaluate the performance of pavements with and without geotextile or geogrid reinforcement materials. Four pavement sections were tested: one unreinforced section that served as a control and three sections reinforced with either one of two geotextiles or a geogrid. The pavement sections were constructed to model a typical secondary road in Virginia built over a weak granular (silty sand) subgrade material. Loading of the pavement sections was accomplished through the use of a computer-controlled pneumatic system that delivered approximately 55 kPa through a 30-cm rigid plate at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. The resulting displacement of the pavement surface was monitored by an array of linear variable displacement transformers. The performance of each pavement section was evaluated as a function of the applied number of cycles, the resulting surface deflection profile, and the layer deflection profile. It was concluded that geosynthetics can substantially improve the performance of a pavement section constructed on a subgrade soil with a low California bearing ratio. Also the reinforcing mechanisms of geogrids and geotextiles are different.
Adoptive transfer of placental ischemia-stimulated natural killer cells causes a preeclampsia-like phenotype in pregnant rats.

Problem The Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) rat model of placental ischemia recapitulates many characteristics of preeclampsia including maternal hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and increased cytolytic natural killer cells (cNKs). While we have previously shown a 5-fold higher cytotoxicity of RUPP NKs versus normal pregnant NKs, their role in RUPP pathophysiology remains unclear. In this study, we tested the hypotheses that (1) adoptive transfer of RUPP-stimulated NKs will induce maternal hypertension and IUGR in normal pregnant control (Sham) rats and (2) adoptive transfer of Sham NKs will attenuate maternal hypertension and IUGR in RUPP rats. Method of study On gestation day (GD)14, vehicle or 5 × 106 RUPP NKs were infused i.v. into a subset of Sham rats (Sham+RUPP NK), and vehicle or 5 × 106 Sham NKs were infused i.v. into a subset of RUPP rats (RUPP+Sham NK; n = 12/group). On GD18, Uterine Artery Resistance Index (UARI) was measured. On GD19, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured, animals were sacrificed, and blood and tissues were collected for analysis. Results Adoptive transfer of RUPP NKs into Sham rats resulted in elevated NK activation, UARI, placental oxidative stress, and preproendothelin expression as well as reduced circulating nitrate/nitrite. This led to maternal hypertension and IUGR. RUPP recipients of Sham NKs demonstrated normalized NK activation, sFlt-1, circulating and placental VEGF, and UARI, which led to improved maternal blood pressure and normal fetal growth. Conclusion These data suggest a direct role for cNKs in causing preeclampsia pathophysiology and a role for normal NKs to improve maternal outcomes and IUGR during late gestation.
RBPMS, an RNA-Binding Protein That Mediates Cardiomyocyte Binucleation and Cardiovascular Development

SummaryNoncompaction cardiomyopathy is a common congenital cardiac disorder associated with abnormal ventricular cardiomyocyte trabeculation and impaired pump function. The genetic basis and underlying mechanisms of this disorder remain elusive. We show that genetic deletion of R NA b inding p rotein with m ultiple s plicing ( Rbpms ), an uncharacterized RNA binding and splicing factor, causes perinatal lethality in mice due to congenital cardiovascular defects. Loss of Rbpms causes premature onset of cardiomyocyte binucleation and cell cycle arrest during development. Human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes with RBPMS gene deletion have a similar blockade to cytokinesis. Sequencing analysis revealed that RBPMS plays a role in RNA splicing and influences RNAs involved in cytoskeletal signaling pathways. We found that RBPMS mediates isoform switching of the heart-specific LIM domain protein Pdlim5 . Loss of Rbpms leads to abnormal accumulation of Pdlim5 -short isoforms, disrupting cardiomyocyte cytokinesis. Our findings connect premature cardiomyocyte binucleation to noncompaction cardiomyopathy and highlight the role of Rbpms in this process.
Development of a Continuous Energy Version of Keno V.a

KENO V.a is a multigroup Monte Carlo code that solves the Boltzmann transport equation and is used extensively in the nuclear criticality safety community to calculate the effective multiplication factor k{sub eff} of systems containing fissile material. Because of the smaller amount of disk storage and CPU time required in calculations, multigroup approaches have been preferred over continuous energy (point) approaches in the past to solve the transport equation. With the advent of high-performance computers, storage and CPU limitations are less restrictive, thereby making continuous energy methods viable for transport calculations. Moreover, continuous energy methods avoid many of the assumptions and approximations inherent in multigroup methods. Because a continuous energy version of KENO V.a does not exist, the objective of the work is to develop a new version of KENO V.a that utilizes continuous energy cross sections. Currently, a point cross-section library, which is based on a raw continuous energy cross-section library such as ENDF/B-V is not available for implementation in KENO V.a; however, point cross-section libraries are available for MCNP, another widely used Monte Carlo transport code. Since MCNP cross sections are based on ENDF data and are readily available, a new version of KENO V.a named PKENO V.amore » has been developed that performs the random walk using MCNP cross sections. To utilize point cross sections, extensive modifications have been made to KENO V.a. At this point in the research, testing of the code is underway. In particular, PKENO V.a, KENO V.a, and MCNP have been used to model nine critical experiments and one subcritical problem. The results obtained with PKENO V.a are in excellent agreement with MCNP, KENO V.a, and experiments.« less
Fundamentals of carrier transport

Fundamentals of Carrier Transport is an accessible introduction to the behaviour of charged carriers in semiconductors and semiconductor devices. It is written specifically for engineers and students without an extensive background in quantum mechanics and solid-state physics. This second edition contains many new and updated sections, including a completely new chapter on transport in ultrasmall devices. The author begins by covering a range of essential physical principles. He then goes on to cover both low- and high-field transport, scattering, transport in devices, and transport in mesoscopic systems. The use of Monte Carlo simulation methods is explained in detail. Many homework exercises are provided and there are a variety of worked examples. The book will be of great interest to graduate students of electrical engineering and applied physics. It will also be invaluable to practising engineers working on semiconductor device research and development.
External Skeletal Fixation in Ruminants

External skeletal fixation (ESF) techniques are increasingly being adapted for treatment of fractures in large animals. This article includes detailed information regarding decision making for ESF, biomechanics of ESF, interaction of the bone and implants, general surgical techniques for application of ESF (including traditional ESF, use of acrylic sidebars for ESF, and transfixation, pinning, and casting), discussions of application of ESF to specific bones, and complications associated with the use of ESF. Also, techniques for the management of open, infected fractures are presented. Future directions of ESF research and application also are presented.
Photoresist and Etch Residue Removal Effect of Surface Energy and Interfacial Tension

In the fabrication of microelectronic devices and integrated circuits, fluorocarbon post-plasma etch residue removal is an important cleaning process. The low-surface energy and cross-linked nature of residues, combined with compatibility concerns between cleaning solutions and device film materials and structures, make such cleaning and residue removal processes particularly challenging. In addition, development of effective cleaning chemistries is complicated by the variability of etch residue compositions and thus their chemical and physical properties. In this work, the efficiency of cleaning solutions was tested through the investigation of the interactions between "model" films and/or patterned fluorocarbon residues and cleaning chemistry. Measurement and analysis of these interactions to identify possible correlations with observed cleaning efficiency were performed using the Owens-Wendt approach. Comparison of the relative amounts of polar and dispersive interactions between solid materials and the cleaning solutions in combination with estimation of separation energy between the residue and substrate as a function of applied cleaning chemistry offered reasonable correlations with residue removal. This information provides insight into the formulation of cleaning mixtures for fluorocarbon-based residue removal.
Abstract #LB-156: A survivin molecular mimic peptide vaccine against human glioma

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Objectives: Survivin is a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) that has significant potential for use as a cancer vaccine target. We have developed a modified survivin peptide epitope (SVN53-67/M57) which contains an amino acid alteration that improves MHC I binding properties so that this particular peptide is more effective at eliciting CTL responses against survivin-expressing glioma and human CNS lymphoma cells. This modified epitope or \#8220;peptide mimic\#8221; of survivin is thus similar, but not identical to the wild type molecule (SVN53-67). Therefore, the mimic may break tolerance by stimulating T cell clones that recognize survivin, but which have not been deleted during establishment of self-identity, because of their reduced affinity for wild type antigen. Methodology & Results: In vitro binding assays show that there is a greater than 70 fold increase in binding affinity for the SVN53-67/M57 mimic peptide versus SVN53-67 wild type epitopes. Mice that have been vaccinated with the SVN53-67/M57 peptide mimic develop specific CD8+ T cells to SVN epitopes as detected utilizing peptide loaded H-2Kb:Ig fusion protein. This vaccine produced CTL responses and helper T cell-associated cytokine production, resulting in a significant prolongation of survival in mice with GL261 cerebral gliomas (>200% increased median survival time). This indicates the retention of immunogenic properties after alteration of the wild type peptide SVN53-67 into SVN53-67/M57. The mouse MHC class I is capable of binding both SVN53-67 andSVN53-67/M57 forms equally well while human MHC I would preferentially bind the SVN53-67/M57 mimic. We have performed ex vivo cytotoxicity assays using PBMC-derived CTL from patients whose DC are primed to survivin. These CTL were tested against autologous and allogeneic HLA-matched gliomas. Our results indicate that target cells were lysed more effectively by CTL stimulated by SVN53-67/M57 mimic-loaded DC. The mimic peptide also stimulated cytokine support. Additional data show the presence of spontaneous anti-survivin antibodies in patient serum prior to SVN53-67/M57 exposureleading to the possibility that the SVN mimic vaccine could be redirecting pre-existing humoral immunity towards cellular immunity. Conclusions: The SVN53-67/M57 vaccine was significantly more effective than the smaller SVN57-64/M57 core CTL epitope as a cancer vaccine, emphasizing the potential benefit of incorporating multiple class I epitopes and class II-associated cytokine support within a single peptide. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr LB-156.
Dialogue and Its Discontents: The Cognitive and Hermeneutic Forms of Dialogue

Delineations of dialogue within educational theory and philosophical literature often emphasize its transformative potential, whereby one is enabled to move from idiosyncratic or parochial responses and interpretations to more socially conscious and aware ones. In this essay, I examine the cognitive and hermeneutic forms of dialogue, and draw out the “fault lines” that may be evidenced in their delineations with reference to the above stated goal. I illustrate the cognitive through Ruth Grant and the hermeneutic through Rob Reich who draws on Hans-Georg Gadamer’s notion of a fusion of horizons. Each form of dialogue is linked to a particular understanding of affect that can be seen to influence educators’ understanding of how to tap into the transformative potential of students, especially in classes where issues of social justice and difference are addressed. Broadly speaking, the affective sphere indicates the human being’s capacity for receptivity, and the phenomena of one experiencing a surrender of agency; of being moved, stirred, or excited by that which is not the self. 1 I argue that the conceptions of affect within the cognitive and hermeneutic forms of dialogue are limited in that the movement of the not-self can be seen to revert back to the self or the Same, resulting in educators envisioning their educational arrangements and pedagogies in ways that may elide or stunt their students’ transformative potential. 2 My purpose is not to argue for a wholesale rejection of dialogue as a means to facilitate students’ transformative capacity, but to merely map out some of the difficulties for a transformative education with the above two forms of dialogue. THE COGNITIVE FORM OF DIALOGUE Typifying the emphasis on the cognitive, Ruth Grant, in her essay “The Ethics of Talk: Classroom Conversation and Democratic Politics,” posits that dialogue can make people better. 3 She characterizes dialogue through the terms of logical activity and appraisal, where dialogue indicates following the dictates of reason, listening while others are speaking, critically evaluating different opinions, making distinctions, putting forth evidence with a view to reaching agreement on what comes forth as most reasonable, taking responsibility for one’s statements and opinions by supplying reasons and evidence for one’s views, and acting autonomously in terms of being “governed by an internal submission to reason,” which indicates yielding not to one’s conversation partner, but to the “unforced force” of the better argument. 4 Grant emphasizes that the “rationalism” inherent in dialogue, unlike other “isms” opens up the possibilities for persuasion and conversation, rather than closing them down. Educators interested in cultivating the transformative capacities of their students may turn to the strategy that is implied by Grant’s conception of dialogue. They may emphasize that students follow the dictates of reason; they would have them critically evaluate different opinions, make distinctions, supply reasons and
Up-down asymmetry of neutral current events as a diagnostic for νμ−νst versus νμ−ντ oscillations

Abstract We show that the asymmetry in the neutral current events (e.g. νN → νNπ 0 ) can be used to discriminate between ν μ − ν τ and ν μ − ν st mixing as being responsible for the atmospheric neutrino anomaly. Specifically, A N vanishes for ν μ − ν τ mixing and is about 2/3 A μ for ν μ − ν st mixing. We also comment on the possibility of mixing of all three neutrinos (i.e. ν μ − ν τ − ν st ) which can give a muon asymmetry as large as 1/2.
Isolated Cardiac Muscle Assays

Isolated cardiac muscle is one of the major tissues used in pharmacological research. It is compact, easily prepared, and functions as a syncytium yielding rapid responses to a variety of agents. Described in this unit are methods of preparing and handling isolated cardiac muscle, a preparation rich in autonomic receptors.
Linearly constrained interference rejection for improved spread spectrum performance

An adaptive technique is presented that utilizes the known characteristics of the pseudonoise spread spectrum sequence to enhance the detection capabilities diminished by interference excision. The new technique uses a constrained excision to decrease the bit error rate. The formation of constraint surfaces is the basis of the projection technique used in the adaptive update of the excision filter. The constrained updating of the filter coefficients retains the interference rejection properties of the excision filter while decreasing the variance of the decision variable. The filter operates without training bits and requires little additional computational processing cost over a standard adaptive excision filter. Simulation results demonstrate the mean square error improvement obtained by using the constrained excision filter. >
Parallel optimization of stack filters

An open problem associated with designing stack filters is finding the optimum configuration for a given noise type and the signal characteristics which need to be preserved. This problem is modeled here as a combinatorial search problem. Efficient search methods that can be easily implemented on any massively parallel computer were developed and tested in two parallel computing environments. The first is the Connection Machine, and the second is a hypercube-connected MIMD (multiple-instruction-stream, multiple-data-stream) machine simulated using Cosmic C. The performance of the filters found by the algorithms developed were excellent in comparison with the performance of the median filter. The efficiency of the algorithms clearly demonstrates the potential of using them for adaptive filtering. The algorithms can be implemented on any type of parallel computer. >
Conjugation of poor inhibitors with surface binding groups: a strategy to improve inhibition

Conjugation of surface binding groups with inhibitors for carbonic anhydrase leads to the conversion of weak inhibitors to strong inhibitors.
Parity nonconservation and stellar collapse

ACCORDING to the current theory, the evolution of sufficiently massive stars leads eventually to gravitational instability and collapse. After thermonuclear burning has stopped, dense stellar cores become unstable and collapse to form neutron stars (pulsars) or black holes. In both cases energy of the order of 0.1 Mc2 is released, mostly in the form of neutrinos and gravitational waves. As the radius of the core decreases, its magnetic field grows (magnetic flux is conserved) and can reach huge values of order 1012–1013 G. Even greater azimuthal fields (∼3 × 1015 G) can be generated by differential rotation of the core1. It will be shown here that neutrino emission in the collapse is asymmetric, as a result of parity nonconservation in weak interactions. Neutrinos and antineutrinos are emitted preferentially in the direction parallel to the local magnetic field of the collapsing core.
Vasoreactivity to inhaled nitric oxide with oxygen predicts long-term survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension

AbstractPulmonary vasodilator testing is currently used to guide management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the utility of the pulmonary vascular response to inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen in predicting survival has not been established. Eighty patients with WHO Group I PAH underwent vasodilator testing with inhaled NO (80 ppm with 90% O2 for 10 minutes) at the time of diagnosis. Changes in right atrial (RA) pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, Fick cardiac output, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were tested for associations to long-term survival (median follow-up 2.4 years). Five-year survival was 56%. Baseline PVR (mean±SD 850±580 dyne-sec/cm5) and mPAP (49±14 mmHg) did not predict survival, whereas the change in either PVR or mPAP while breathing NO and O2 was predictive. Patients with a ≥30% reduction in PVR with inhaled NO and O2 had a 53% relative reduction in mortality (Cox hazard ratio 0.47, 95% confiden...
Quantum confinement transition in a d -wave superconductor

We study the nature of the zero-temperature phase transition between a d-wave superconductor and a Mott insulator in two dimensions. In this ``quantum confinement transition,'' spin and charge are confined to form the electron in the Mott insulator. Within a dual formulation, direct transitions from d-wave superconductors at half-filling to insulators with spin-Peierls (as well as other) order emerge naturally. The possibility of striped superconductors is also discussed within the dual formulation. The transition is described by nodal fermions and bosonic vortices, interacting via a long-ranged statistical interaction modeled by two coupled Chern-Simons gauge fields, and the critical properties of this model are discussed.
Pulsed gas-phase alkylation of isobutane/2-butene over sulfated zirconia

Abstract A pulsed-feed alkylation study of gas-phase 2-butene with isobutane was conducted over sulfated zirconia (SZ) to determine the effect of temperature and feed composition on the dominant reactions and deactivation mechanisms. For all conditions, high initial conversion of 2-butene to C 5 was observed, which is attributed to alkylation followed by rapid cracking on the strongest acid sites. These sites deactivated quickly, and then the steady-state catalyst behavior was observed to be different at different temperatures. During alkylation at 50°C, the catalyst deactivated after 40 pulses, which is attributed to the build-up of trimethylpentane (TMP) products that do not readily desorb from the catalyst surface at this temperature, and was verified when pulses of pure 2,3,4-TMP over SZ produced similar cracking results. At 100°C, the adsorbed alkylation and/or oligomerization products were very selectively cracked to form 2-butene, resulting in a net dehydrogenation of isobutane to 2-butene. At temperatures in the 150–250°C range, the product selection was dominated by high cracking rates, but the catalytic activity remained stable with nearly complete conversion of 2-butene at the highest temperatures. It was also found that the deactivated catalyst at 50°C could be regenerated by simply heating to 150°C, which apparently removed the adsorbed hydrocarbons by either volatilization or cracking.
Global transcriptional response to interferon is a determinant of HCV treatment outcome and is modified by race

Interferon (IFN)-alpha-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C is effective in fewer than 50% of all treated patients, with a substantially lower response rate in black patients. The goal of this study was to investigate the underlying host transcriptional response associated with interferon treatment outcomes. We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients before initiation of IFN-alpha therapy and incubated the cells with or without IFN-alpha for 6 hours, followed by microarray assay to identify IFN-induced gene transcription. The microarray datasets were analyzed statistically according to the patients' race and virological responses to subsequent IFN-alpha treatment. The global induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) was significantly greater in sustained virological responders compared with nonresponders and in white patients compared with black patients. In addition, a significantly greater global induction of ISGs was observed in sustained virological responders compared with nonresponders within the group of white patients. The level of IFN-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 activation, a key component of the Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT signaling pathway, correlated with the global induction of ISGs and was significantly higher in white patients than in black patients. In conclusion, both treatment outcome and race are associated with different transcriptional responses to IFN-alpha. Because this difference is evident in the global induction of ISGs rather than a selective effect on a subset of such genes, key factors affecting the outcome of IFN-alpha therapy are likely to act at the JAK-STAT pathway that controls transcription of downstream ISGs.
Trying on a new pair of shoes: Urban teacher–learners conduct research and construct knowledge in their own classrooms

Abstract This article explores how classroom-based teacher inquiry research supports teachers in constructing understandings about teaching and learning that are uniquely applicable to their own contexts in American urban schools. This study was conducted by two teacher educators in their year-long classroom-based inquiry research classes with approximately 50 teacher education candidates.
Political Accommodation and Functional Interaction along the Northern Italian Borderlands

Borderlands are places where large–scale and small–scale politics interact. Relationships between national states at the largescale affect local relations at the smallscale. Likewise, activities at the small–scale redound to the larger scale. While the politics of boundaries and borderland regions is often viewed at the scale of the national states, we argue that politics at the borderland needs to be examined in two other ways: in terms of relations between regions across national boundaries (small–scale) and in the relations between the borderland region itself and the national state (cross–scale). This article examines the nature of ‘cross–scale’ and “small–scale” political relations in the northern Italian borderlands. This is explored through (1) the degree of autonomy granted by the Italian government towards regions and cultural minorities on the border, and (2) the nature and extent of contacts and shared projects with neighboring regions across the boundary. Two conclusions are drawn. First, that the nature of cross–scale concessions to regional autonomy depends on the strength of the minority groups involved. Second, that the extent of small–scale contact and collaboration across the boundary depends on pre–existing economic interrelationships and cultural ties.
Evaluating the technical feasibility of aflatoxin risk reduction strategies in Africa

Public health interventions must be readily accepted by their target populations to have any meaningful impact and must have financial and infrastructural support to be feasible in the parts of the world where they are most needed. At the same time, these interventions must be assessed for potential unintended consequences, either to the environment or to human health. In this paper, we evaluate the technical feasibility of interventions to control aflatoxin risk, to be potentially deployed in parts of Africa where aflatoxin exposure poses a significant public health concern. We have applied a conceptual framework for feasibility to four interventions, one associated with each of four different stages of aflatoxin risk: biocontrol (pre-harvest), a post-harvest intervention package (post-harvest), NovaSil clay (dietary), and hepatitis B vaccination (clinical). For each intervention, we have assessed the following four components of technical feasibility: (1) characteristics of the basic intervention, (2) characteristics of delivery, (3) requirements on government capacity, and (4) usage characteristics. We propose ways in which feasibility of each intervention is currently high or low from the perspective of adoption in Africa, how public education is crucial for each of these interventions to succeed, and how to align economic incentives to make the interventions more suitable for less developed countries.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM READERS MEI LANFANG, BRECHT, MEYERHOLD, AND OTHER ISSUES: A REPLY TO JANNE RISUM

I read with great interest and gratitude Janne Risum’s extensive review1 of my recent book, Mei Lanfang and the Twentieth-Century International Stage: Chinese Theatre Placed and Displaced (New York...
On the regioselectivity of Pd catalyzed intramolecular carbametalations

Abstract Whereas 1,6-enynes possessing disubstituted acetylenes cyclize under Pd catalysis via a 5-exo-trig mode, such cyclizations of 1,6-enynes possessing a t
Strain hardening and recovery in a bulk metallic glass under nanoindentation

Abstract Hardening and recovery phenomena, which have not been recognized in amorphous materials at room temperature before, were observed in a bulk metallic glass (BMG) using an instrumented nanoindentation. From designed cyclic experiments, we observed the hardness of the BMG increased each time when the sample was reloaded immediately after unloading and then gradually reduced to a stable value before the next unloading. This phenomenon was explained using a free-volume model for amorphous structure.
Standards and protocols: Performance of stop-and-wait protocols over high-delay links

The performance of stop-and-wait protocols over links with high propagation delay such as satellite links is discussed. Primary focus is placed on situations where a large block size is employed to compensate for the loss of throughput caused by the large propagation delay. Possible loss in data intergrity due to undetected errors is investigated. The results show that in most environments, acceptably high throughput can be obtained without sacrificing data integrity.
Therapeutic options for neuromuscular diseases.

One of the most challenging aspects of clinical neurology involves the diagnosis and treatment of lower motor neuron (LMN) disease in small animals. The first step in the recognition of these diseases is understanding the terminology. The smallest definable anatomic unit of this system is the LMN unit. This unit is composed of the motor neuron cell body contained in the ventral gray matter (ventral horn) of the spinal cord. For the nerves that innervate the thoracic and pelvic limbs, these segments are the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral intumescences, respectively. From these motor neurons, axons arise and travel centrifugally to synapse via the neuromuscular junction to varying numbers of myofibers, individual muscle cells. At the level of the muscle, the axon terminal forms a specialized synaptic relation to individual myofibers called the neuromuscular junction. The last aspect of the LMN unit is the myofiber itself. On a gross anatomic level, multiple axons from motor neurons exit the spinal cord, forming a ventral root, which joins the dorsal root to form the spinal nerve. Varying numbers of spinal nerves join together to form peripheral nerves, which eventually reach their target muscle groups. The term lower motor neuron system encompasses these structures. The term lower motor neuron disease implies disease affecting any one or all parts of the LMNunit. Neuromuscular disease and peripheral nervous system can be used synonymously in place of the term LMN unit. As in all other aspects of neurology, it is of paramount importance to make an accurate neuroanatomic diagnosis, without which defining an etiology and designing a treatment protocol are all but impossible. Classic clinical features of LMN disease include abnormalities in gait, postural reactions, reflexes, and sensory evaluation. Briefly, the gait is typically short-strided with overflexion of the joints, often giving the impression
R-Squared Measures for Count Data Regression Models With Applications to Health-Care Utilization

R-squared measures of goodness of fit for count data are rarely, if ever, reported in empirical studies or by statistical packages. We propose several R-squared measures based on various definitions of residuals for the basic Poisson regression model and for more general models such as negative binomial that accommodate overdispersed data. The preferred R-squared measure is based on the deviance residual. An application to data on health-care-service utilization measured in counts illustrates the performance and usefulness of the various R-squared measures.
Serum thyroglobulin is a poor diagnostic biomarker of malignancy in follicular and Ḧurthle-cell neoplasms of the thyroid

Abstract Background Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is the most accurate biomarker for thyroid cancer recurrence. However, some clinicians measure preoperative Tg as a diagnostic cancer marker despite lack of supporting evidence. We examined whether Tg accurately predicts malignancy in follicular or Hurthle-cell neoplasms. Methods We reviewed 366 patients who underwent thyroidectomies for follicular/Hurthle-cell neoplasms. We compared Tg in malignant versus benign tumors by univariate and receiver-operator characteristic analyses. We also examined several Tg-derived indices that normalized Tg to known confounding factors including nodule size, thyroid function, and type of Tg assay. Results Thirty-nine patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. There were no differences between malignant (n = 16) and benign (n = 23) lesions in Tg or any of the normalized indexes. Receiver-operator characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of .59. Lesions with Tg levels greater than 500 μg/L had a positive predictive value of .75. Conclusions Tg has poor accuracy for predicting malignancy in follicular or Hurthle-cell thyroid neoplasms.
Substance use among adolescent students with consideration of budget constraints

This paper estimates the demand for cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana with consideration of the other goods that might exist in a teenager’s utility function. Youth tend to have small incomes and limited wants, with the result that many students spend the bulk of their income on only a few items such as fast food, clothing, and entertainment. In this paper, we examine the influence of changes in the prices of goods commonly bought by teenagers on the demand for cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. We estimate own and cross price effects using the prices of the illicit substances and other consumer products including gasoline, clothing, entertainment, and fast food. Income effects are also estimated and show that teens with higher incomes and allowances are more likely to use substances. The implications of higher excise taxes on different products are discussed.
The Strategies Instructional Approach.

Abstract OVER THE PAST ten years, various efforts to develop and validate instructional programs to train students in strategies and thinking skills have been initiated. These efforts have usually focused on either the benefits of specific strategy training or on the very general parameters of how strategy instruction should be implemented. As a result, the translation from research to practice has often resulted in educational applications that have either been removed from common academic and social tasks required for school success, or the applications have not been sufficiently intensive or specific to have a significant impact on the learning and performance of individuals with handicapping conditions. To be successful, strategies instruction must focus on both the general and specific elements of instruction within the context of a rich strategy environment Well designed strategy environments should promote, model, guide, and prompt efficient and effective learning and performance across settings fo...
Substantiating the need to apply a sociocultural lens to the preparation of teachers in an effort to achieve science reform

This qualitative, sociocultural study examines how teacher preparation programs may have deliberate impact on science reform by unearthing the complex layers of diversity inherent in the contextual reality of education. This study was conducted in one of the largest school districts in the Southeastern United States, serving a predominately Hispanic population comprising 65 % of its student body, followed by African Americans at 24 %. The representative subjects utilized for this study were elementary education undergraduate students and later a percentage of the same subjects, as practicing teachers in the field. All subjects were exposed to inquiry based methodology in science teaching as part of their undergraduate studies with emphasis on the learning cycle, facilitation of student voice and exposure to the nature of science. The goal of science education was emphasized to students as purposeful in promoting scientific literacy. This study is framed by sociocultural theory grounded in a social constructivist paradigm with the understanding that science learning takes place within social and collaborative processes leading to internalization and greater sense of self-efficacy. The study examines the perception of education students’ beliefs about scientists as well as reflections on their own learning of science as elementary students themselves. As present practicing teachers, perspectives from their position in the field were obtained via interviews. Interviews served to elicit reflections on present practice as related to previous perceptions, in order to analyze whether these were pervasive in framing practice as well as self-perceptions related to science. A lack of change of these perceptions may underscore the importance of an emphasis on issues of gender, culture and social factors within teacher preparation, specific to science teaching and learning. Cognizance of such factors are believed to support internalization and hence greater understanding of the complexities framing science teaching and learning, leading to an actual paradigm shift in our elementary science classrooms.
Religiousness and suicide in a nationally representative sample of Trinidad and Tobago adolescents and young adults

The present study examines religiousness and its connection to suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts among Trinidad and Tobago adolescents and young adults. Data are from Trend Research Empowering National Development on adolescents and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago (N = 4448). Religious affiliation, self-perceived religiousness, attendance at religious services, prayer frequency, socio-demographic variables, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts were assessed. Compared to nonreligious, Catholics (OR 0.63, p < 0.05) and Seventh-day Adventists (OR 0.47, p < 0.01) were less likely to think about suicide, and hindus (OR 5.81, p < 0.05) and other affiliates (OR 7.28, p < 0.01) were more likely to be treated for suicide. Higher self-rated religiosity was related to lower likelihood of thinking about suicide (OR 0.86, p < 0.01) and lower likelihood of planning suicide (OR 0.78, p < 0.001). Attendance at religious services was related to lower likelihood of thinking about suicide (OR 0.94, p < 05) and fewer suicide attempts (β = −0.11, p < 0.01). More frequent prayer was related to lower likelihood of thinking about suicide (OR 0.92, p < 0.01) and lower likelihood of planning suicide (OR 0.90, p < 0.001). Religiousness may offer benefits for adolescents and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago by reducing the likelihood that they engage in suicide thoughts and behaviors. Results may hold implications for counselors, clergy, teachers, and others working with adolescents and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago.
The solubility of argon in vitreous silica

Abstract A modified Seiverts method was used to measure inert gas solubility in fused silica. Using the original (average site) model equation, and a solubility site density of Ns = 2.3 × 1021/cm3, helium solubility data gave a vibrational frequency for the helium atom of 4.6 × 1012s−1 and a binding energy of −2.02 kcal/mol. Using a vibrational frequency value of 1.5 × 1012s−1 for the argon atom, the argon solubility data gave a binding energy of −7.0 kcal/mol and a solubility site density of 9.8 × 1019/cm3. The density of accessible sites to argon atoms is reasonably consistent with a log-normal model of interstitial site structure.
Data trawling: to fish or not to fish.

In medical research, grant applications and research plans require the prespecification of any hypotheses to be studied. Although such a priori defined associations of interest are the primary goal of the research undertaken, much more data are usually available, in particular from large epidemiological cohort studies in which information on multiple exposures and outcomes is obtained. Only a fraction of possible relations between potential risk factors and diseases is specified before the study is initiated. Generally, the decision about what associations are of interest is based on evidence from basic research, work in animals, or other previous observational epidemiological studies. Cross-sectional studies and to some extent casecontrol studies are used to find undiscovered associations since data can be gathered fairly easily. Prospective studies are generally regarded as too expensive to be wasted on hypothesis generation, and the resources invested are thought to be used most efficiently for hypothesis testing or hypothesis confirmation. What, however, should be done with all the data collected and readily available but not specified in the original research plan? Should they be ignored and wasted? Or should they be saved for a few years or decades until some other studies have raised a hypothesis that can then be tested with the preserved cohort data? Epidemiologists and statisticians investigating all possible associations within a data set are often accused of data dredging or conducting fishing expeditions in search of statistical significance. Such critics, however, overlook the important danger of not studying an association when it actually exists (we define this as a type zero error). Savitz and colleagues 1 have recommended that existing data be exploited to address previously unanticipated research questions in the interest of time and resources. Whether the hypotheses were anticipated during data collection should not affect the validity of the results provided that the data are of high quality. 1
Scanning optical reconstruction of coded aperture images

A scanning optical technique is described and used to reconstruct coded aperture images obtained with four different kinds of arrays. The feasibility and advantages of the technique are demonstrated experimentally. The results are used to compare the imaging properties of these arrays, i.e.: lateral resolution, background noise and axial (tomographic) resolution.