cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of metals in fish from lead-zinc mining areas of southeastern Missouri, USA

Abstract The potential effects of proposed lead–zinc mining in an ecologically sensitive area were assessed by studying a nearby mining district that has been exploited for about 30 yr under contemporary environmental regulations and with modern technology. Blood and liver samples representing fish of three species (largescale stoneroller, Campostoma oligolepis, n=91; longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis, n=105; and northern hog sucker, Hypentelium nigricans, n=20) were collected from 16 sites representing a range of conditions relative to lead–zinc mining and ore beneficiation in southeastern Missouri. Samples were analyzed for lead, zinc, and cadmium, and for a suite of biomarkers (reported in a companion paper). A subset of the hog sucker (n=9) representing three sites were also analyzed for nickel and cobalt. Blood and liver lead concentrations were highly correlated (r=0.84–0.85, P
Growth of rat cortical neurons on DuraGen, a collagen-based dural graft matrix.

Abstract Objectives: DuraGen, a collagen-based dural graft matrix, is frequently used in clinical neurosurgery. In the present study we examined whether DuraGen influenced neuron survival of or process growth from cerebral cortex neurons in culture. Methods: Dissociated E19 rat cerebral cortical neurons were cultured at low density on poly-L-lysine or on cryostat-sectioned DuraGen. Neuron survival was assessed using morphological criteria, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI), nuclear staining and TUNEL labeling. Process growth was analysed using specific antibodies against MAP2 and the 200 kDa neurofilament subunit (NF-H) to identify dendrites and axons, respectively. Results: In immature cultures (3 days in vitro, DIV), nearly 70% of the neurons remained viable in control and DuraGen-exposed cells. In mature cultures (10 DIV), ∼45% of the neurons were viable. Survival was similar in DuraGen cultures and controls. Cell viability also was similar when DuraGen conditioned the medium, but w...
Development of Mucoadhesive Dosage Forms of Buprenorphine for Sublingual Drug Delivery

The development of mucoadhesive formulations of buprenorphine for intended sublingual usage in the treatment of drug addiction is described. The formulations include mucoadhesive polymer films, with or without plasticizers, and mucoadhesive polymer tablets, with or without excipients that enhance drug release and/or improve tablet compaction properties. The mucoadhesive polymers studied include carbomers such as Carbopol 934P, Carbopol 974P, and the polycarbophil Noveon AA-1, with excipients chosen from pregelatinized starch, lactose, glycerol, propylene glycol, and various molecular weights of polyethylene glycol. The development of plasticizer-containing mucoadhesive polymer films was feasible; however, these films failed to release their entire drug content within a reasonable period. Thus, they were not determined suitable for sublingual usage because of possible loss by ingestion during routine meal intakes. The mucoadhesive strength of tablet formulations containing Noveon AA-1 appears to be slightly superior to the Carbopol-containing tablets. However, the Carbopol 974P formulations exhibited superior drug dissolution profiles while providing adequate mucoadhesive strength. The tablet formulations containing Carbopol 974P as mucoadhesive polymer, lactose as drug release enhancer, and PEG 3350 as compaction enhancer exhibited the best results. Overall, the mucoadhesive tablet formulations exhibited superior results compared with the mucoadhesive film formulations.
A light and electron microscopic study of Kurloff bodies in the blood and spleen of the guinea pig.

The Kurloff body of guinea pig mononuclear leukocytes was studied by light and electron microscopy of blood and spleen. Electron microscopy disclosed the presence of extensively dilatedendoplasmic reticulum, clusters of small vesicles, and clumps of long parallel fibers in the cytoplasm. The osmiophilic inclusions contained many myelin figures, both around the periphery and free in the matrix. Evidence for motility of these cells was noted. Rods, filaments, and spheres seen in supravital preparations appear as myelin figures when seen with the electron microscope. Although historically considered, parasitism, nuclear extrusion and phagocytosis of cells are unlikely as causal in the formation of the inclusion. Being based on contradictable evidence, a lysosomal origin is doubted. The formative process isfelt to be either one of intracellular secretion or of a sequestering and concentration of a serum molecular component.
Improving management of aquatic invasions by integrating shipping network, ecological, and environmental data: data mining for social good

The unintentional transport of invasive species (i.e., non-native and harmful species that adversely affect habitats and native species) through the Global Shipping Network (GSN) causes substantial losses to social and economic welfare (e.g., annual losses due to ship-borne invasions in the Laurentian Great Lakes is estimated to be as high as USD 800 million). Despite the huge negative impacts, management of such invasions remains challenging because of the complex processes that lead to species transport and establishment. Numerous difficulties associated with quantitative risk assessments (e.g., inadequate characterizations of invasion processes, lack of crucial data, large uncertainties associated with available data, etc.) have hampered the usefulness of such estimates in the task of supporting the authorities who are battling to manage invasions with limited resources. We present here an approach for addressing the problem at hand via creative use of computational techniques and multiple data sources, thus illustrating how data mining can be used for solving crucial, yet very complex problems towards social good. By modeling implicit species exchanges as a network that we refer to as the Species Flow Network (SFN), large-scale species flow dynamics are studied via a graph clustering approach that decomposes the SFN into clusters of ports and inter-cluster connections. We then exploit this decomposition to discover crucial knowledge on how patterns in GSN affect aquatic invasions, and then illustrate how such knowledge can be used to devise effective and economical invasive species management strategies. By experimenting on actual GSN traffic data for years 1997-2006, we have discovered crucial knowledge that can significantly aid the management authorities.
Freelance Technical Writers and Their Place Outside Corporate Culture: High and Low Corporate Culture Styles

Freelance technical writers perform their work outside their clients' corporate culture, and this occurrence is becoming more and more common. It is important to understand the significance of the separation between technical writers and corporate culture, especially given that some freelance technical writers never meet their clients in person. Does corporate culture play a significant role for the freelance technical writing professional?
Age-of-acquisition norms for 220 picturable nouns

To obtain data for the further evaluation of age-of-acquisition as a word attribute in studies of verbal behavior, learning, and memory, estimates were secured from 62 undergraduates (35 males, 27 females) of the age at which they believed they had learned each of 220 picturable nouns (divided into two lists assigned randomly to halves of the sample), according to a 9-point scale. Reliabilities of these ratings were about .98. For comparative purposes, word frequency values for the words were secured from three large word-count studies or, where necessary, from subjective estimates made by 20 adults. Use of these and other variables as predictors of previously obtained picture-naming latencies ( Carroll & White, 1973 ) yielded results supporting the previous finding that age-of-acquisition is a more relevant predictor than word frequency. Some word frequency indices tend to reflect age-of-acquisition, but when this influence is minimized word frequency makes little contribution to the prediction.
Measuring Educational Outcomes for At-Risk Children and Youth: Issues with the Validity of Self-Reported Data

Background Youth programs often rely on self-reported data without clear evidence as to the accuracy of these reports. Although the validity of self-reporting has been confirmed among some high school and college age students, one area that is absent from extant literature is a serious investigation among younger children. Moreover, there is theoretical evidence suggesting limited generalizability in extending findings on older students to younger populations.
TEACHING NOTES: PAPER OR PIXELS? AN INQUIRY INTO HOW STUDENTS ADAPT TO ONLINE TEXTBOOKS

This case study investigated how 23 students adapted to using a completely online textbook in lieu of a traditional paper text. All were enrolled in a single advanced MSW practice course. A variety of adaptation styles evolved. The students' primary strategy was to revert to making paper copies when permitted to do so instead of reading the assigned materials online. While a few students adapted to the electronic textbook, most generally did not because of interface design, time constraints, and study strategies. Implications for further research on relying completely on electronically-distributed reading materials are discussed.
Vapor−Liquid Equilibria for the Hexane + Tetracosane and Hexane + Hexatriacontane Systems at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures

Vapor and liquid equilibrium compositions have been measured for the hexane + tetracosane and hexane + hexatriacontane systems at temperatures from 473.0 K to 622.9 K and pressures from 6.2 bar to 64.5 bar. A continuous-flow apparatus was used so that the low wax concentrations in the vapor phase could be accurately measured. Mixture critical pressures and compositions were also measured. The effects of chain length, branching, and substituent groups on the phase behavior of binary systems containing hexane + a long-chain alkane are summarized in the form of a pressure versus temperature projection. A practical application of this work is the separation of Fischer-Tropsch waxes from reactor catalyst via supercritical extraction. The proposed process uses near or supercritical solvents such as pentane and hexane for extraction and recovery of the waxes, which consist of paraffins, olefins, and alcohols up to C{sub 200} in size.
Technical and Economic Modeling for the Production of Torrefied Lignocellulosic Biomass for the U.S. Densified Fuel Industry

During recent years, a renovated interest in the pre-treatment of biomass through torrefaction has led to several proposals on industrial-scale application of the technology. Torrefaction holds promising characteristics for obtaining a high-energy yield biomass for further processing, including densified biofuels such as pellets and briquettes, at low overall costs, low energy input, and high capacity and availability for the near future, having the capability of displacing coal in power facilities. Despite many efforts in developing the technology at an industrial scale, very few manufacturers and companies are offering torrefied machinery and lignocellulosic torrefied biomass. Furthermore, information about the actual profitability of the business, sensitivity, and costs of torrefied biomass are very scarce and are limited to very focused studies in some areas of the production, but not in the overall supply chain, and manufacturing processes. This study aimed to develop and validate a technical and economic model for the production of lignocellulosic torrefied biomass for its utilization in the solid biofuels industry, with a focus on production and delivered costs for U.S. potential manufacturers. This model also includes analysis of important variables affecting production, such as biomass delivered costs, capital expenditure (CAPEX), and technology availability. Results indicate that the production of torrefied lignocellulosic biomass can be profitable for U.S. manufacturers, subject to a high sensitivity on biomass cost, CAPEX, and technology affordability for large-scale production. Other sensitive facts include carbon credits scenarios, which may influence profitability based on analyses of net present value and internal rate of return for the manufacturing facility.
Evolution of cytochrome c genes and pseudogenes.

A statistical analysis of the nucleotide sequences of cytochrome c genes from four species of animals and two of yeast and of cytochrome c pseudogenes from rat, mouse, and human was conducted. It was estimated that animals and yeast diverged 1.2 billion years ago, that the two duplicated genes DC3 and DC4 inDrosophila diverged 520 million years ago, and that the two duplicated genes Iso-1 and Iso-2 in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae diverged 200 million years ago. DC3 is expressed at a low level and has evolved 3 times faster than DC4. This observation supports the neutralist view that relaxation of functional constraints is a more likely cause of accelerated evolution following gene duplication than is advantageous mutation. All the rodent pseudogenes examined appear to be processed pseudogenes derived directly from the functional genes, and most of them apparently arose after the mosue-rat split. No event of gene conversion could be detected between any pair of the rodent pseudogenes. Our analysis suggests that the human cytochrome c gene has evolved at a rate comparable to the average rate for pseudogenes, whereas some human cytochrome c pseudogenes have evolved at an exceptionally low rate.
Behavioral specificity in the rorschach human movement response: A comparison of strippers and models

The presence of exhibitionism in actively exhibitionistic strippers and passively exhibitionistic models was confirmed when it was discovered that 40 out of 43 subjects produced at least one exhibitionistic (EXH) response on the Hand Test, which purportedly measures behavior. Subsequently, based on highly reliable ratings, it was found that the strippers produced significantly more active exhibitionistic human movement (M) responses on the Rorschach and the models more passive exhibitionistic M. This finding was interpreted as confirming Piotrowski's position that M represents reasonably specific overt behaviors. Implications were discussed, and an attempt was made to integrate past research on the Rorschach M score within the context of these findings.
Waiting for the Turnover of Time: Reading the Narrative Strategy of Awakening in Walter Benjamin's One-Way Street

What literary project can be deciphered from the non-mimetic representation of urban space in Walter Benjamin's One-Way Street? The book can be read as a course that attempts to make speak dialectical images found among the signs and sites of daily urban life in the first third of the twentieth century. The prominence of dreams already in the early pages of One-Way Street, together with dialectical images whose speech brings historical truth to consciousness, shows that Benjamin's city tour is a (hi)story of awakening. Within this context, the images of public places represent signs of a collective unconscious that are to be deciphered in order to overcome the dream-like state in which they are perceived. By aiming to overcome a state in which images regulate daily life and apperception in public space, Benjamin's project remains irreducibly political. Instead of following a mimetic approach, Benjamin undermines the authority of unconscious images within a writing process that describes the trajectory of ...
The US Dollar and the Trade Deficit: What Accounts for the Late 1990s?*

Based on a version of the IMF's global economy model set up to analyse macroeconomic interdependence between the United States and the rest of the world, this paper asks to what extent accelerating productivity growth in the United States may have contributed to the US real exchange rate appreciation and the trade balance deterioration witnessed in the second half of the 1990s. The paper concludes that productivity is only part of this story. A portfolio preference shift in favour of US assets, possibly triggered by faster productivity growth, and some uncertainty and learning about the persistence of both shocks are needed to match the data more satisfactorily.
Effect of combined reserpine and ECS on electroshock seizure thresholds in mice.

Abstract Recent evidence has suggested that electroshock seizure threshold is correlated with levels of brain biogenic amines. Reserpine, a drug that depletes serotonin and norepinephrine, has been shown to decrease seizure thresholds. ECS treatment has been shown to increase amine levels as well as seizure thresholds. Combined reserpine and ECS have been shown to produce an intermediate level of serotonin and norepinephrine, but seizure threshold data for this group is absent. It was the purpose of this study to examine the seizure thresholds for combined treatment and compare then with groups treated with reserpine alone, ECS alone, and a placebo control group. The results suggest that, if only maximal seizures are considered, the seizure threshold is lowest for the reserpine and highest for the ECS alone or control groups, with the combined treatment group falling intermediate. If both minimal and maximal seizures are considered, the reserpine and combined treatment groups do not differ from one another, but do show a lower threshold as compared to ECS or control groups.
Simple models of coupled fluid infiltration and redox reactions in the crust

Simple one-dimensional numerical models are presented for coupled advection-hydrodynamic dispersion and kinetically controlled oxidatioin-reduction reactions in graphite-free porous media containing magnetite coexisting with silicate assemblages. Fluid-solid interactions involving either OH (O2-H2O-H2) or COH (O2-H2O-H2-CO2-CO-CH4) fluids are considered at ∼500 ∘C and 5 kbar. The major implications of the modeling are as follows: (1) Regional (km scale) reduction of typical magnetite-bearing rocks originally at f O2 near NNO may be possible during long-term metamorphic fluid flow if the infiltrating fluids have sufficiently low f O2 and sufficiently large concentrations of CH4 and/or H2. Regional oxidation of such rocks by highly oxidized OH or COH fluids appears to be difficult to achieve. (2) Nearly identical mineral assemblages and modes may be produced by very different kinetic reaction pathways. The model implies that “equilibrium” assemblages preserved in rocks may not always reflect the true kinetic reaction path that evolved during fluid flow, and highlights the need for quantitative measurements of metamorphic reaction rates. (3) Preservation of sharp lithologic contacts between rocks of very different redox states containing accessory amounts of oxides may be unlikely if fluid-rock interaction times exceed 103104 years. Substantial contact disruption over these times scales is predicted even for oxide-rich rocks if redox contrasts between layers are large. Flow across lithologic contacts may produce asymmetric patterns of metasomatic mineral zonation that may prove useful for mapping flow directions in metamorphic sequences. (4) For fluid flow in typical T gradients through originally homogeneous rock, significant major element metasomatism (e.g., K, Na, Ca) may be possible without producing large changes in oxide abundances.
Eat Your Water for Health, Sport Performance, and Weight Control:

Water is considered the single most important nutrient, yet receives relatively little attention from nutritional experts. This is likely due to the fortunate fact that finely-tuned physiological mechanisms ensure adequate intake in the vast majority of individuals. Accordingly, some even question whether the standard “8 daily glasses” are necessary. Moreover, water is a major constituent of food, comprising up to ~95% of the weight of some common plant-based foods; thus, consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and dairy will inadvertently increase water intake. An added benefit of consuming more water in food is the increased satiation for lower caloric density which facilitates weight loss and maintenance. While most healthy individuals adequately fulfill their hydration needs through the physiological thirst response, some special populations including the very young, very old, and athletes, do deserve special consideration. With the increased incentive for Americans to increase their physical act...
Effects of chronic stress on the development of histamine enzymes

The activity of histidine-decarboxylase (HD) and histamine-N-methyl transferase (HMT) was studied in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex of rats from birth to adulthood. Developmental patterns were compared in sea level controls and in rats born and maintained continuously in a natural hypoxic environment (at a high altitude of 3800 m, PO2 13%) to determine whether chronic stress alters the development of the enzymes for histamine. When expressed in terms of total activity, both enzyme activities were low at birth and progressively increased with age in the two areas studied. When expressed in terms of specific activity, the developmental pattern of the enzymes better reflected that of histamine: for example, at birth, high HD activity and low HMT corresponded to high histamine levels; at 7 days, low HD activity and high HMT corresponded to low histamine levels. It is suggested that a feedback mechanism may operate between endogenous histamine levels and the activity of its synthesizing and catabolizing enzymes.
Solving spatial inverse problems using the probability perturbation method: An S-GEMS implementation

The probability perturbation method (PPM) is introduced as a flexible and efficient sampling technique for generating inverse solutions under a given prior geological constraint (prior model). In this paper, we present a methodology for producing software code that runs PPM within a public domain geostatistical software called the Stanford Geostatistical Earth Modeling Software (S-GEMS). The challenge in creating such code lies in the great diversity of forward models as well as prior models that can be handled by the PPM. Therefore, our software solution must be highly flexible and extensible such that it can be tailored to the various applications at hand. Our implementation has two main objectives: (1) to create an integrated working environment which provides users easy access to functionalities of the PPM through a general user interface as well as visualize results; (2) allow the users to plug-in their application specific code into the PPM algorithm workflow. We provide a two-part solution. The first part, which is hard-coded in S-GEMS as a plug-in module, runs the Dekker-Brent optimization algorithm to control the parameter perturbation needed for the inversion. It generates the PPM user interface and allows visualization of the spatial domain of interest using S-GEMS graphics capability. The second part is coded in object-oriented Python scripts and is used to control the PPM execution in S-GEMS. Users can program their particular needs in scripts and load them into S-GEMS as part of the PPM workflow. The same mechanism can be used to extend the capabilities of PPM itself by implementing new PPM variants in Python and making them a part of the base class hierarchy. Case studies are used to demonstrate the flexibility of our code. This approach requires the user to adapt only a small amount of python code, without modifying, or re-compiling the core S-GEMS code.
Surface and bulk aspects of mixed oxide catalytic nanoparticles: oxidation and dehydration of CH(3)OH by polyoxometallates.

The molecular structures and surface chemistry of mixed metal oxide heteropolyoxo vanadium tungstate (H3+xPW12−xVxO40 with x = 0, 1, 2, and 3) Keggin nanoparticles (NPs), where vanadium is incorporated into the primary Keggin structure, and supported VOx on tungstophosphoric acid (TPA, H3PW12O40), where vanadium is present on the surface of the Keggin unit, were investigated with solid-state magic angle spinning 51V NMR, FT-IR, in situ Raman, in situ UV−vis, CH3OH temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR), and steady-state methanol oxidation. The incorporated VOx unit possesses one terminal V═O bond, four bridging V−O−W/V bonds, and one long V−O−P bond in the primary Keggin structure, and the supported VOx unit possesses a similar coordination in the secondary structure under ambient conditions. The specific redox reaction rate for VOx in the Keggin primary structure is comparable to that of bulk V2O5 and the more active supported vanadium oxide catalysts. The specific acidic reaction rate for the WO...
In vitro 'sexual' evolution through the PCR-based staggered extension process (StEP)

This protocol describes a directed evolution method for in vitro mutagenesis and recombination of polynucleotide sequences. The staggered extension process (StEP) is essentially a modified PCR that uses highly abbreviated annealing and extension steps to generate staggered DNA fragments and promote crossover events along the full length of the template sequence(s). The resulting library of chimeric polynucleotide sequence(s) is subjected to subsequent high-throughput functional analysis. The recombination efficiency of the StEP method is comparable to that of the most widely used in vitro DNA recombination method, DNA shuffling. However, the StEP method does not require DNA fragmentation and can be carried out in a single tube. This protocol can be completed in 4-6 h.
Trace Driven Simulation of Dynamic Branch Prediction Schemes

Simulation studies of two branch prediction schemes in superscalar pipelined computers are presented in this paper. The two studied meth ods are the Per-address Adaptive (PA) scheme and the Global Adaptive (GA) scheme. In addi tion, simulation studies of a modification of the PA scheme, called Switched P/G Adaptive (SPGA), are also presented. Using several benchmarks, it has been illustrated that SPGA scheme has promising results at the possible expense of slight hardware addition.
Mercury's polar caps and the generation of an OH exosphere

Abstract We predict the OH column that will be present in the polar regions of the mercurian exosphere for physically realistic ice deposits at the poles, including both surface and buried ice. The probable rates of accretion by meteoritic, asteroidal, and cometary sources are computed and compared with loss rates. The rate of accretion of water at the poles from the nominal meteoritic infall is 2.5–8 × 108molecules cm−2sec−1. Including the uncertainty in meteoritic plus asteroidal infall rate, the accretion rate is 1–12 × 108cm−2sec−1. ForT 112 K or surface ice deposits.
The structure of braitschite, a calcium rare earth borate

The crystal structure of braitschite, Ca 6.15 Na 0.85 RE 2.08 [B 6 O 7 (OH) 3 (O,OH) 3 ] 4 (H 2 O), is reported here in space group P 6/ m with unit-cell parameters a = 12.1506(6), c = 7.3678(4) A, and V = 942.03(8) A 3 . Data were collected from a single crystal using a Mo K α source and a CCD detector, solved by direct methods, and refined to an R factor of 2.81%. The mineral structure consists of hexaborate fundamental building blocks that polymerize along [001] and are bound by Ca 2+ and REE 3+ counter-ions. The framework forms hexagonal channels, which are occupied alternately by Ca 2+ cations and water molecules. In an investigation of its thermal stability, braitschite maintains its crystallinity to a temperature of 400 °C, after which it undergoes decomposition. Using Rietveld refinements against powder X-ray diffraction data, we were able to track the loss of water molecules in channels and hydroxyl groups in the covalent B-O network with increasing temperature.
Establishing appropriate symptomatic control groups for the eating disorders

Two symptomatic control groups for the eating disorders were defined using high and low scores on the Dietary Restraint and Disinhibition scales of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire. Clinical subjects diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia nervosa were compared with these symptomatic control groups using measures of body weight, bulimic symptoms, and anorexic symptoms. In comparison to the high-Restraint/low-Disinhibition group, anorexic subjects scored higher on measures of eating disorder symptoms but not on Restraint and Disinhibition. The high-Restraint/high-Disinhibition group differed from bulimia nervosa subjects on measures of eating disorder symptoms but did not differ on Restraint and Disinhibition. The results suggested that a control group defined by high Restraint and low Disinhibition formed an appropriate control group for anorexia nervosa. For bulimia nervosa, the most appropriate control group was defined by high Restraint and high Disinhibition.
Growth and properties of GaAsSb/InP and GaAsSb/InAlAs superlattices on InP

GaAsSb/InP superlattices (SLs) grown on InP using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy are investigated by low-temperature cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The low-temperature CL spectra show the spatially indirect type II transition across the GaAsSb/InP interface. From type II luminescence, the conduction and valence band offsets between GaAsSb and InP are derived. The optical properties of GaAsSb/InAlAs SLs, which have type I band alignment, are compared with those of GaAsSb/InP SLs.
Vitamin A inadequacy in socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant Iowan women as assessed by the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test

The vitamin A status of low-income women (n = 57) during the third trimester of pregnancy was assessed by use of the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test. Non-Hispanic White (45), Hispanic (6), Afro-American (5), and Asian (1) women were recruited from public health programs in central Iowa. Serum retinol, β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, α-tocopherol, and cholesterol concentrations were also measured. Twenty six percent of the study population were found to be in a marginal vitamin A status with MRDR values ≥0.03, whereas 9% had values ≥0.06. The Hispanic and Afro-American groups seemed to be most at risk, with 50% and 40% (respectively) of the MRDR values ≥0.03 and 33% and 20% (respectively) ≥0.06. Carotenoid values were similar to those found in women in other like studies, except for the Afro-American group, which had mean values less than half those of the other groups. α-Tocopherol concentrations and α-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios of all ethnic groups fell in the normal range. The somewhat elevated cholesterol levels found in all groups can largely be attributed to pregnancy. Clearly, this study identifies a portion of the U.S. population at high risk of vitamin A inadequacy.
Criterion‐Referenced Measmment: A Valwable Perspective Clouded by Surplus Meaning

What is the relevance of criterion-referenced measurement to the performance-based assessment movement? Why do we need to strip away surplus meaning from the term criterion-referenced measurement? What confusions exist around the place of cut scores and other concepts in CRT?
Single-Tube Characterization Methodology for Experimental and Analytical Evaluation of Carbon Nanotube Synthesis

The existing evaluations of the semiconducting/metallic properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis do not take into account CNT variation and simply characterize the material with only one parameter psemi: the percentage of semiconducting CNTs. Specifically, this psemi figure of merit does not consider intermediate-on–off-ratio CNTs (semiconducting CNTs with poor Ion/Ioff), and yet, such CNTs can have a large impact on device- and circuit-level performance. Inspired by the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) community, we address this inadequacy by considering intermediate-on–off-ratio CNTs and other CNT variations by offering a holistic view of CNT characterization through parameter distributions. In this paper, a new methodology, called single-tube characterization (STC), is presented, which directly observes and evaluates the distributions of CNT material properties. Such holistic distributions not only enable more accurate characterization and analyses of the material properties and variations, but they also further enable analyses to accurately predict performance and variation at the device- and circuit-levels.
The Undocumented: Educating the Children of Migrant Workers in America

Abstract Immigration is not a new phenomenon in America. The education of undocumented or migrant children, however, continues to pose unique social, political, and educational problems for America's schools. Social and educational opportunities are typically hindered by frequent moves, poverty, gaps in previous schooling, and language barriers. Poverty, language, and cultural differences add to the challenges posed by mobility, the identifying characteristic of migrant students. Moving from place to place makes it difficult to attend school regularly, learn at grade level, accrue credits, and meet all graduation requirements. It is also difficult to participate in socializing activities and create the social networks critical to social mobility. Mobility makes it harder to receive the adult support most young people need academically, socially, psychologically, and emotionally. Migrant students also confront serious societal and institutional barriers. Anti-immigrant fears are stoked by allegations that ...
STATISTICAL MODELS FOR THE ESTIMATION OF BRIDGE REPLACEMENT COSTS

Abstract Making accurate estimates of bridge replacement costs is essential to assess present and future bridge funding needs. A series of analyses of variance was performed on bridge replacement costs to evaluate the effects of bridge attributes. Replacement cost prediction models were then developed by regression techniques. Bridge attributes which can be easily understood by bridge inspectors and engineers were used as predictor variables. Nonlinear and log-linear models were evaluated for developing cost prediction models. A residual analysis of these models showed that log-linear models were preferred to nonlinear models. Costs of bridges that had been replaced between 1980 and 1985 by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) were used as a data base. Replacement costs were converted to 1985 price using construction price indices. The final cost prediction models were validated using the costs of selected bridges which were replaced between January and June 1986, by the INDOT. Bridge replacement costs estimated by these models showed a fairly good correlation with the actual contract costs. To estimate current or future costs at a place other than in Indiana, one need to multiply appropriate cost indices.
Meridional energy transport: uncertainty in zonal means

The meridional energy transport in the atmosphere and ocean is computed using atmospheric analyses from ECMWF and NMC, and net radiative flux from ERBE. An error analysis of the zonally-averaged total transport shows that errors of ± 7 Wm−2 in net flux produce transport errors of ± 0.5 PW at the equator, an error of ± 9% in midlatitudes. Methods for correcting the mass non-conservation in transports derived from operational analyses are discussed. The ECMWF and NMC analysis systems now show remarkably similar zonally-averaged total energy transports, with normalized RMS differences of only 11%, despite 23% differences in Hadley-cell transports. The implied oceanic transport is derived along with an error estimate, and it is found to be broadly consistent with more direct measures of oceanic transport. The energy transport in NCAR's CCM1 and CCM2 is computed and is found to be about 20% larger than observations. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1995.00002.x
When free-riders become the agents for change—migrant fishers, institutional resilience, and adaptive fisheries management in Malawi

Abstract Fisheries co-management in Malawi has not achieved the successes anticipated. Mobility of fisherfolk is frequently blamed for the poor effectiveness of local institutions, and this often leads to calls for access limitation. However, recent research in Malawian water bodies suggests that fisher mobility increases livelihood sustainability for all lakeshore residents involved, and is well adapted to these contexts of fluctuating and uncertain fisheries. Therefore, the abilities of fisherfolk to move into and out of different local fisheries can arguably be judged to enhance fisheries resilience overall. In addition to these benefits, we present data from two ethnographic case studies to illustrate the positive impacts that migration has had on some of Malawi's more successful fisheries co-management institutions (known as Beach Village Committees or BVCs). Despite preexisting concerns regarding unsustainable local fishing practices, local stakeholders were unwilling or unable to address these challenges until conflicts with migrant fisherfolk prompted changes. In some cases, the ability of migrants to circumvent BVC regulations has highlighted the BVC's lack of local legitimacy. Additionally, when threatened with losing benefits to “outsiders,” local stakeholders are more willing and able to come together and take corrective action. We therefore argue against policies limiting access to local fisheries as these remove valuable catalysts for adaptive institutional learning in decentralized natural resources management.
Sublytic C5b-9-stimulated Schwann cell survival through PI 3-kinase-mediated phosphorylation of BAD

Sublytic C5b-9 induces cell cycle activation, proliferation, and rescue from apoptosis in Schwann cells. The signaling pathways for C5b-9-mediated rescue were investigated. Following serum withdrawal, DNA fragmentation, detected by TUNEL and FACS analysis, was 56.7% ± 7.3 and 91.9% ± 2.4 in cultured sciatic nerve Schwann cells from 6-day-old rats after 18 h and 24 h, respectively. Apoptosis was confirmed by inhibition of DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner by DMQD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor. Treatment with sublytic C5b-9 generated with purified components (C5*9) or Ab+C7-depleted serum (C7dHS)+C7 rescued 89% and 86% of Schwann cells, respectively, as compared with cells treated with C5*6, C8, C9, or Ab+C7dHS. Sublytic C5b-9 increased Schwann cell PI-3 kinase and Akt activity maximally at 5 min 3.14 ± 0.5-fold and 3.56 ± 0.4-fold, respectively, over controls. ERK-1 activity was maximally stimulated 2.98-fold at 15 min. Inhibition of PI-3 kinase by LY294002 abrogated the C5b-9-mediated Schwann cell rescue from apoptosis, while inhibition of ERK-1 with PD098,059 did not. PI-3 kinase-Akt pathway activation by C5b-9 induced, within 15 min, a 6.34 ± 1.2-fold increase in BAD phosphorylation at Ser 136, but not at Ser 112. Downstream Bcl-xL protein was increased 2.61-fold ± 0.34-fold by 18 h and 3.9-fold ± 0.84-fold by 24 h over controls. LY294002 prevented both BAD phosphorylation at Ser 136 and Bcl-xL protein induction, while PD098,059 did not. Our data indicated that sublytic C5b-9 rescued Schwann cell from apoptosis via activation of PI-3 kinase-Akt, BAD phosphorylation on Ser 136 and increased expression of Bcl-xL. Sublytic C5b-9 detected on Schwann cell in vivo during inflammatory neuropathy may facilitate survival of Schwann cell capable of remyelination. GLIA 36:58–67, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Initial Acquaintance Attachment Behavior of Siblings with the Newborn

The attachment process of siblings to the newborn was examined. Data were collected from observations of 30 siblings during initial encounters with the newborns and interviews with parents. Sibling behaviors to the newborn fell into two overlapping categories—acquaintance and attachment. The children interacted more with their mothers than with the newborns. No attachment behaviors were seen in children with loss experience. Methods of facilitation of acquaintance were identified.
Long-lived min mice develop advanced intestinal cancers through a genetically conservative pathway

C57BL/6J mice carrying the Min allele of Adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) develop numerous adenomas along the entire length of the intestine and consequently die at an early age. This short lifespan would prevent the accumulation of somatic genetic mutations or epigenetic alterations necessary for tumor progression. To overcome this limitation, we generated F(1) Apc(Min/+) hybrids by crossing C57BR/cdcJ and SWR/J females to C57BL/6J Apc(Min/+) males. These hybrids developed few intestinal tumors and often lived longer than 1 year. Many of the tumors (24-87%) were invasive adenocarcinomas, in which neoplastic tissue penetrated through the muscle wall into the mesentery. In a few cases (3%), lesions metastasized by extension to regional lymph nodes. The development of these familial cancers does not require chromosomal gains or losses, a high level of microsatellite instability, or the presence of Helicobacter. To test whether genetic instability might accelerate tumor progression, we generated Apc(Min/+) mice homozygous for the hypomorphic allele of the Nijmegen breakage syndrome gene (Nbs1(DeltaB)) and also treated Apc(Min/+) mice with a strong somatic mutagen. These imposed genetic instabilities did not reduce the time required for cancers to form nor increase the percentage of cancers nor drive progression to the point of distant metastasis. In summary, we have found that the Apc(Min/+) mouse model for familial intestinal cancer can develop frequent invasive cancers in the absence of overt genomic instability. Possible factors that promote invasion include age-dependent epigenetic changes, conservative somatic recombination, or direct effects of alleles in the F(1) hybrid genetic background.
Trends in the nutrient enrichment of U.S. rivers during the late 20th century and their relation to changes in probable stream trophic conditions

We estimated trends in concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) and the related change in the probabilities of trophic conditions from 1975 to 1994 at 250 nationally representative riverine monitoring locations in the U.S. with drainage areas larger than about 1,000 km 2 . Statistically significant (p , 0.05) declines were detected in TP and TN concentrations at 44% and 37% of the monitoring sites, and significant increases were detected at 3% and 9% of the sites, respectively. We used a statistical model to assess changes in the probable trophic-state classification of the sites after adjusting for climate-related variability in nutrient concentrations. The probabilistic assessment accounts for current knowledge of the trophic response of streams to nutrient enrichment, based on a recently proposed definition of ‘‘eutrophic,’’ ‘‘mesotrophic,’’ and ‘‘oligotrophic’’ conditions in relation to total nutrient concentrations. Based on these trophic definitions, we found that the trophic state improved at 25% of the monitoring sites and worsened at fewer than 5% of the sites; about 70% of the sites were unchanged. Improvements in trophic-state related to declines in TP were more common in predominantly forested and shrub‐ grassland watersheds, whereas the trophic state of predominantly agricultural sites was unchanged. Despite the declines in TP concentrations at many sites, about 50% of all monitoring sites, and more than 60% of the sites in predominantly agricultural and urban watersheds, were classified as eutrophic in 1994 based on TP concentrations. Contemporaneous reductions in major nutrient sources to streams, related to wastewater treatment upgrades, phosphate detergent bans, and declines in some agricultural sources, may have contributed to the declines in riverine nutrient concentrations and associated improvements in trophic conditions. Cultural sources of nutrients to streams changed appreciably during the last three decades of the 20th century in the U.S. Advances in wastewater treatment, enabled by the 1972 Clean Water Act, and state-level phosphate detergent bans greatly reduced municipal point sources of nutrients to streams (Litke 1999). Diffuse nutrient sources, including fertilizers and fossil-fuel emissions, rose to peak levels in the late 1970s and early 1980s and have varied considerably since that time (Howarth et al. 2002). Soil conservation and government-sponsored retirements of farmlands have received increasing attention since the 1980s (USDA 1997), although knowledge of their effects on stream nutrients are limited.
Channel Coding Rate in the Finite Blocklength Regime

This paper investigates the maximal channel coding rate achievable at a given blocklength and error probability. For general classes of channels new achievability and converse bounds are given, which are tighter than existing bounds for wide ranges of parameters of interest, and lead to tight approximations of the maximal achievable rate for blocklengths n as short as 100. It is also shown analytically that the maximal rate achievable with error probability ? isclosely approximated by C - ?(V/n) Q-1(?) where C is the capacity, V is a characteristic of the channel referred to as channel dispersion , and Q is the complementary Gaussian cumulative distribution function.
Scene Areas in Humans and Macaques

In this issue of Neuron, Kornblith et al. (2013) identify two regions in macaque occipitotemporal cortex that encode both spatial and nonspatial aspects of visual scenes and might be the homolog of the human parahippocampal place area.
Characteristics of Tau Oligomers

In Alzheimer disease (AD) and other tauopathies, microtubule-associated protein tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, undergoes conformational changes, aggregates, eventually becoming neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). As accumulating evidence suggests that NFTs themselves may not be toxic, attention is now turning toward the role of intermediate tau oligomers in AD pathophysiology. Sarkosyl extraction is a standard protocol for investigating insoluble tau aggregates in brains. There is a growing consensus that sarkosyl-insoluble tau correlates with the pathological features of tauopathy. While sarkosyl-insoluble tau from tauopathy brains has been well characterized as a pool of filamentous tau, other dimers, multimers, and granules of tau are much less well understood. There are protocols for identifying these tau oligomers. In this mini review, we discuss the characteristics of tau oligomers isolated via different methods and materials.
Virtues, Practical Wisdom and Psychological Well-Being: A Christian Perspective

Practical wisdom is a master character strength that is needed when specific virtues must be translated into concrete action. Although scholars have discussed practical wisdom since the time of Aristotle, empirical research on this master virtue has been hampered by problems involving conceptualization and measurement. The primary purpose of the current study is to assess the relationship between practical wisdom, self-esteem, and hope. This is accomplished by evaluating the relationships between self-esteem, hope, and a second-order confirmatory factor model which specifies that nine specific virtues (e.g., humility, compassion) are determined by a more abstract, higher-order construct that represents practical wisdom. This model is estimated with data from a recent nationwide survey of middle-aged and older adults. Two main findings emerge from the analyses. First, the data suggest that greater practical wisdom is associated with stronger feelings of self-worth and greater hope. Second, the findings reveal that the second-order factor model of fits the data well.