cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computing Infrastructure and Curriculum Design for Introductory Data Science

The goal of this workshop is to equip educators with concrete information on content and infrastructure for designing and painlessly running a modern data science course. This is a three-part workshop. Part 1 will outline a curriculum for an introductory data science course and discuss pedagogical decisions that go into the choice of topics and concepts as well as the choice of programming language (R) and syntax (primarily tidyverse), and the emphasis on literate programming for reproducibility (with R Markdown). Part 2 will discuss infrastructure choices around teaching data science with R: RStudio as an integrated development environment, cloud-based access with RStudio Cloud and Server, version control with Git, and collaboration with GitHub. Part 3 will focus on classroom management on GitHub (with ghclass). Workshop attendees will work through several exercises from the course and get first-hand experience with using the tool-chains and techniques described above. While the workshop content will focus on usage of R, many of the pedagogical takeaways will be language agnostic. All workshop content, including teacher facing documentation and student facing course materials, will also be available to participants via datasciencebox.org. Please bring a laptop with you.
Sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate food group consumption and dietary diversity among infants and young children in Nepal

Infants and young children need diversified diets to grow healthy. However, there is limited evidence on factors associated with consumption of various food groups. This study aimed to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate food group consumption and not meeting the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in Nepal. Using cross-sectional data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, the factors at the individual-, household-, and community-levels associated with not consuming foods from the seven food groups, which are grains, roots and tubers, legumes and nuts, dairy products, flesh foods, eggs, vitamin-A rich fruits and vegetables, and other fruits and vegetables, and not meeting the MDD were examined. The least consumed food group was eggs, followed by flesh foods and 46.5% of children received the MDD. Children aged 6-11 months had higher odds of not consuming foods from the seven food groups and not meeting the MDD than older children. Children from the poorest quintile had higher odds of not consuming legumes and nuts, dairy products, flesh foods, and other fruits and vegetables, and not meeting the MDD. Children from Terai/Madhesi Other had higher odds of not consuming foods from the seven food groups compared to those from the other groups. Children from Province 2 had higher odds of not consuming eggs, vitamin-A rich fruits and vegetables, and other fruits and vegetables, and not meeting the MDD. Dietary diversity among children in Nepal needs improvement. National policies and programs need to promote the consumption of diverse food groups by considering different sociodemographic characteristics.
'But I don't want to lead a group!' Some common problems of social workers leading groups

There is a general fear by both social work students and practitioners of leading groups. One result is that a majority of social workers do dyadic or family counselling and avoid groupwork in their practice. The article deals with fears and fantasies, linked to a perceived loss of power and control, experienced by the social worker leading groups. It also addresses some of the common problems workers face in creating and maintaining groups, including lack of authenticity, misuse of techniques, ignoring process and reluctance to confront, and suggests practical ways the problems cm be addressed. Publisher’s note: We are now putting all back issues of Groupwork on line. Articles in this issue have been scanned to pdf files as viable original typesetting files no longer exist. Though they may not look it, these files are searchable. This issue was published nearly 30 years ago. We have stated author professional details as received at time of publication. Abstracts are word-for-word transcriptions of the original abstracts with no attempt to update terminology.
Reevaluation of spin-orbit dynamics of polarized e+e− beams in high energy circular accelerators and storage rings: An approach based on a Bloch equation

We give an overview of our current/future analytical and numerical work on the spin polarization in high-energy electron storage rings. Our goal is to study the possibility of polarization for the ...
Clostridium difficile differentially alters the structure and metabolism of distinct cecal microbiomes to promote persistent colonization during infection

Clostridium difficile has become the most common single cause of hospital-acquired infection over the last decade in the United States. Susceptibility is primarily associated with previous exposure to antibiotics, which compromise the structure and function of the gut bacterial community. Furthermore, specific antibiotic classes correlate more strongly with recurrent or persistent C. difficile infection. We used a murine model of infection to explore the effect of distinct antibiotic classes on sustained C. difficile colonization, as well as the impact of infection on community-level gene expression and metabolism 18 hours post-infection. Utilizing untargeted metabolomic analysis, we found that C. difficile infection has larger impacts on the metabolic activity of the microbiota across cefoperazone and streptomycin-pretreated mice, which become persistently colonized compared to clindamycin-pretreated mice that cleared the infection within 8 days. Through metagenome-enabled metatranscriptomics, we observed that the infected microbial communities were enriched in pathways associated with amino acid metabolism and particularly in non-dominant species relative to mock-infected controls. Conversely, in mice pretreated with clindamycin, the effect of infection on the microbiota was only detectable in changes to the community structure but not in metabolic activity or gene expression. Our results suggest that C. difficile is able to restructure the nutrient-niche landscape in certain gut environments in order to promote persistent infection.
The development and validation of a campus recruiting expert system using expert opinions and historical data

Abstract This article describes the development and validation of an expert system used for screening entry level candidates for employment in an accounting firm. The system is designed to assist a recruiter conducting campus interviews in deciding which candidates to call for a second interview at company premises. Such expert systems have the potentail for improving consistency and efficiency of the many human recruiters' decisions, and for minimizing personal biases or the use of unlawful criteria (e.g., race, gender, or age) in these decisions. Whereas a hypothetical expert system for this recruiting problem has been previously described in the literature, we actually built one. We describe how we built the necessary knowledge base and how and why our inference engine calculates the probabilities of acceptance, hold, and rejection based on a combination of expert opinions and historical data base. The system is validated by comparing it against recent case-by-case decisions of human experts. We recognize the limitations of our study and discuss the lessons learned from this development effort.
Robot Learning from Demonstration with Tactile Signals for Geometry-Dependent Tasks

Deploying robot learning frameworks in unconstrained environments requires robustness and tractability. We must not only equip the robot with a sufficient range of sensing capabilities, but also provide training data in a sample-efficient manner. To this end, we identify and address a need specifically in robot learning from demonstration (LfD) literature to account for not only end-effector pose and wrench signals, but also tactile signals for contact. While traditional pose and wrench signals have proven to be sufficient for robots to learn basic position and force-control behaviors, they are inherently too constraining for the learning of general manipulation tasks. In particular, useful manipulation tasks often rely on the geometry of the contact interaction. To explore the value of geometry-based tactile signals, we utilize a LfD framework built upon hidden Markov models and Gaussian mixture regression, adapt it to our robotic system equipped with a soft tactile sensor, and validate its performance with an edge-following task and a manipulation task involving different object geometries.
Characterization and Activation of Fas Ligand-Producing Mouse B Cells and Their Killer Exosomes.

B lymphocytes make several contributions to immune regulation including production of antibodies with regulatory properties, release of immune suppressive cytokines, and expression of death-inducing ligands. A role for Fas ligand (FasL)-expressing "killer" B cells in regulating T helper (TH) cell survival and chronic inflammation has been demonstrated in animal models of schistosome worm and other infections, asthma, autoimmune arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. FasL+ B cells were also capable of inducing immune tolerance in a male-to-female transplantation model. Interestingly, populations of B cells found in the spleen and lungs of naive mice constitutively expresses FasL and have potent killer function against TH cells that is antigen-specific and FasL-dependent. Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B cells constitutively express FasL and package it into exosomes that co-express MHC Class II molecules and have killer function against antigen-specific TH cells. FasL+ exosomes with markers of B-cell lineage are abundant in the spleen of naive mice. Killer B cells therefore represent a novel target for immune modulation in many disease settings. Our laboratory has published methods of characterizing FasL+ B cells and inducing their proliferation in vitro. This updated chapter will describe methods of identifying and expanding killer B cells from mice, detecting FasL expression in B cells, extracting FasL+ exosomes from spleen and culture supernatants, and performing functional killing assays against antigen-specific TH cells.
Honoring Choice by Consenting Adults: Prospective Conflict Waivers as a Mature Solution to Ethical Gamesmanship--A Response to Mr. Fox

In a recent article entitled All’s OK Between Consenting Adults: Enlightened Rule on Privacy, Obscene Rule on Ethics, published in Volume 29 of this Law Review (the “Article”), author Lawrence J. Fox assails the increasing utilization of prospective conflict waivers by law firms with even the most sophisticated corporate clients. The central thesis of the Article is that a prospective conflicts waiver agreement between a law firm and a highly sophisticated client, even one advised on the implications of the waiver by independent counsel, at the inception of the attorney-client relationship when both are able to make
Severe lacerations of the uterus following a criminal abortion.

Abstract A case is presented of a severely lacerated uterus following a criminal abortion with unusual preadmission circumstances.
Opportunities and challenges for future generation grid research

Grid systems are now a standard approach to solving problems in large scale, multidisciplinary scientific endeavors. These research groups are often geographically distributed, and to conduct their research, they need to share access to physical resources such as supercomputers, large databases, on-line instruments and distributed applications. Grid infrastructure helps solve their problems because it can provide a layer of middleware that virtualizes the access to these resources. The users see a single coherent computer system instead of a complex network of distributed resources. In most cases, users enter the grid though a ”gateway” portal, which may be a web portal or a ”thick” desktop client. The gateway gives the user a way to browse metadata about computational experiments to access data products, to monitor active workflows and to run applications and share results. The user can focus on the problems of science and not computer systems. All of this is made possible because of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) that underlies the core Grid middleware. In this presentation, we will look at several examples of successful Scientific Grids and Gateways. We will also describe the fundamentals of the web service SOAs that works best in Grid systems. We will illustrate these ideas with an example called LEAD which is a Grid designed to improve our ability to predict meso-scale weather events such as hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes. We will also describe how this entire approach to service virtualization is now being used in industry to better use the resources of a single, but distributed business enterprise. While a great deal of progress has been made there are many exciting and unsolved problems. As we go through the talk, we will highlight these challenges and research opportunities.
Studies on transmural potentials in vitro in relation to intestinal absorption: IV. Phlorizin-sugar interactions in rat gut☆

Abstract A simple and sensitive system is described for the measurement of short-circuit current, Ise, across the wall of everted sacs of rat small intestine. With this system phlorizin-dependent changes in current, ΔIse, and in transmural potential, ΔPD, have been measured and appear to be saturable functions of the phlorizin concentration in the medium. These changes in Ise and PD, by analogy with similar saturation effects upon ΔIse and ΔPD induced by actively transported sugars, may be interpreted in terms of an interaction of Na+ and phlorizin with a mobile carrier in the brush border membrane of the intestinal epithelial cell. By extrapolation from plots of 1/ΔPD or 1/ΔIsevs. 1/phlorizin or sugar concentration, apparent Km and Ki values for phlorizin, the latter determined against glucose and several of its analogs, have been estimated. The differential effects of the Na+ concentration in the medium upon the apparent Km and Ki values suggest that phlorizin may enter the cell by two modes of interaction with the carrier. The possible nature of these modes is discussed. The ratio of apparent Km for a given sugar to the apparent Ki of phlorizin against that sugar remains essentially unchanged irrespective of the Na+ concentration. Furthermore, the Km/Ki ratios for two or more structurally related sugars seem to allow for sharper discrimination between their affinities for the carrier than can be inferred from sugar apparent Km values alone.
Substitutes or Complements? Exploring the Relationship between Formal Contracts and Relational Governance

Transaction cost economics advocates that greater exchange hazards be met either with more tightly crafted contracts or, when the costs of crafting and enforcing complex contracts are sufficiently high, with vertical integration. However, many argue that transaction cost economics vastly overstates the need for either integration or contractual safeguards in exchange settings commonly labeled as hazardous. In many industries, firms engage in complex, collaborative exchanges that involve rather high levels of asset specificity and are characterized by other known hazards, yet are managed without vertical integration and with limited formal contracts. These relational exchange arrangements supported by trust are viewed as substitutes for complex contracts or vertical integration. Others argue that formal contracts may in fact undermine trust and thereby encourage, rather than discourage, opportunistic behavior. In this paper, we develop and test an alternative perspective - that formal contracts and relational governance function as complements. Using data from a sample of information service exchanges, we find empirical support for this complementary position. Managers appear to accompany their increasingly customized contracts with increased levels of relational governance (and visa versa). Moreover, this interdependence underlies their ability to generate improvements in exchange performance. Implications as well as related hypotheses regarding the determinants of relational governance and contracts are also explored.
The capacity of bit-interleaved space-time coded modulation with imperfect channel state information

We analyze the capacity of bit-interleaved space-time coded modulation (BI-STCM) over fast fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. The channel capacity and cutoff rate are computed under the uniform inputs constraint, when only imperfect channel state information (CSI) is available. A canonical model is adopted to analyze the impact of imperfect CSI, where the key parameter is the correlation coefficient between the corresponding fading gain and its estimate. Our results show that imperfect CSI can cause significant performance degradation in channel capacity, which implies that communication at high SNR can be very power inefficient with imperfect CSI.
Protein hydration changes in the formation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide complexes of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of yeast. I. Buoyant densities, preferential hydrations, and fluorescence-quenching titrations.

Abstract The preferential hydrations of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of yeast and its (NAD)4 complex have been calculated from buoyant densities measured by an isopycnic sedimentation method in a concentration series of potassium phosphate solutions and by sedimentation equilibrium in cesium chloride gradients. In potassium phosphate solution at the isopycnic concentration and pH 7.4 and 25°, the preferential hydration of the apoenzyme is 0.480 g of water per g of protein. There is a 15.7% decrease in preferential hydration when the NAD complex is formed. This corresponds to a 6.3% decrease in volume of the solvated protein and is in accord with a reported 7% volume contraction measured by x-ray small angle scattering. The buoyant density increase associated with NAD complex formation is attributed to the elimination of water from cavities in the contracting protein structure that exclude the salt component of the solvent. Essentially the same hydration change occurs at pH 8.5, where the protein binds NAD with a high degree of positive cooperativity, and at pH 7.4, where the binding appears to occur at noninteracting sites. Chloride binding to the apo- and holoenzymes has been estimated from the pH shift that occurs when cesium chloride at its isopycnic concentration is added to a solution of the isoionic protein. The buoyant density increase associated with NAD complex formation does not involve an increased binding of salt, the heavy component of the solvent.
Soybean Planting Date and Growth and Development

Soybean planted either the last week of April or the first week of May typically produces yields greater than later planted soybean. This project will determine if initiation and duration of particular growth stages, along with main stem node accumulation explain why early planted soybean (late April/early May) yield greater than late planted soybean (mid May). Six planting dates with a one week interval were planted at seven Iowa State University (ISU) research stations and growth stages of the plants from the different planting dates were determined twice weekly.
In vitro Cytotoxicity of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Tea Extracts to Cancerous and Normal Cells from the Human Oral Cavity

This study compared the in vitro responses of malignant and normal cells from the human oral cavity to tea extracts and to its main polyphenolic component, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The antiproliferative effects of tea polyphenolic extracts and EGCG were more pronounced towards immortalized, tumourigenic (CAL27, HSC-2, and HSG(1)) and non-tumourigenic (S-G) cells than towards normal (GN56 and HGF-1) fibroblasts and green tea was more toxic than black tea. As the addition of tea extract or EGCG to cell culture medium led to the formation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), the research then focused on EGCG as an inducer of oxidative stress, using CAL27, the cancerous cells most sensitive to EGCG, HSG(1), the cancerous cells least sensitive to EGCG, and GN56 cells. The toxicity of EGCG was decreased in the presence of catalase, an enzyme that degrades H(2)O(2), or of deferoxamine, a chelator of Fe(3+). Conversely, pretreatment of the cells with the glutathione depleters, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea, potentiated the toxicity of EGCG. A 4-hr exposure to EGCG lessened the intracellular level of reduced glutathione in the CAL27 and HSG(1) cells, but not in the GN56 fibroblasts. Whereas EGCG itself did not induce lipid peroxidation, Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation was potentiated by EGCG. A 72-hr exposure to cytotoxic concentrations of EGCG induced significant cytoplasmic vacuolization in all cell types. The results presented herein are consistent with EGCG acting as a prooxidant, with the cancerous cells more sensitive to oxidative stress than the normal cells.
Comparison of Sensitivity of Immunofluorescent Microscopy to That of a Combination of Immunofluorescent Microscopy and Immunomagnetic Separation for Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts in Adult Bovine Feces

A direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) (Merifluor; Meridian Diagnostics, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio) was compared to an immunomagnetic separation (IMS) assay (Dynabeads; Dynal, Inc., Lake Success, N.Y.) coupled with immunofluorescent microscopy (Waterborne, Inc., New Orleans, La.) for their ability to detect low concentrations of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in adult bovine fecal material. IMS-DFA resulted in a 2-log-unit increase in sensitivity (10 oocysts/g) compared to DFA alone (1,000 oocysts/g). The higher sensitivity obtained with IMS-DFA resulted from testing 2 g of fecal material instead of the 13 to 19 mg of fecal material tested in the DFA; the increased sensitivity was not attributable to a higher percent recovery.
Sodium intake trends and food choices.

Since 1980 General Mills Inc has regularly conducted studies of the mean daily intake of 25 nutrients from nationally representative samples of 4000 American households ( 10 000 individuals). This paper examines trends in sodium consumption derived from these studies. Calculated estimates of both discretionary and nondiscretionary intake indicate that overall sodium consumption has declined since the early 1980s. Shifts in food sources of sodium have occurred over the 10-y study period, with the greatest amounts of sodium coming from meats and mixed dishes. Greater interest in the sodium content of the diet is predicted because of the daily value listing on the new food label and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's campaign to reduce sodium intake. Until an acceptable alternative for the salty taste from sodium chloride is available, offering reduced-sodium alternatives and gradually reducing the sodium content of existing products appears to be the food industry's best approach to meet consumers' concerns about sodium.
Opsonic property of multiple myeloma serum.

SummaryThe opsonic activity of serum from 7 patients with multiple myeloma was studied in a phagocytic system employing human leucocytes and a strain of E. coli 0-4. It was demonstrated that these patients have sufficient heat-labile opsonin to promote phagocytosis and intracellular killing of the ingested organisms. The presence of myeloma protein did not interfere with this property.
Testing JPL's PPP Service

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL's) automated GPS data analysis service, which is available via the Internet, has been tested. This service is attractive not only because data submission and retrieval are entirely automated on the Internet, but also because it makes centimeter positioning possible for individual dual-frequency receivers. To learn more about this service, the repeatability of position solutions were investigated by means of two simple experiments. The positions of a continuously operating reference station have been computed repeatedly for observation times ranging from 1 hour to 24 hours. In addition, short baseline repeatability and accuracy were tested. Centimeter-level results were obtained. The difference in the vertical definition of the electronic center for antennas of different types could readily be identified. The JPL service is easy to use, even in its present form (which one might label version 1.0). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Value of Adopting a Human Science Perspective in the Management and Treatment of Addiction

In this article I argue that it is possible and valuable to adopt a human science perspective on addiction as a supplement to the predominant natural scientific approach to treatment and policy making. I make this argument by pinpointing some of the problematic aspects of basing policy decisions and treatment interventions exclusively on a natural scientific view of addiction, and by giving examples of how a human science perspective on addiction offers a useful alternative from which to base such decisions. A review of two human science dissertations on the experience of being an alcoholic is used to illustrate some possible contributions to the treatment and understanding of addictions that can be derived from a human science perspective.
Effect of gallium nitrate in vitro and in normal rats

Gallium nitrate (GN) is an inhibitor of bone resorption and thereby may result in a change in coupled bone formation. In the present investigation the effects of GN on bone formation were studied in the rat osteosarcoma (ROS) 17/2.8 cell line and normal diploid rat osteoblasts (ROB) in vitro and the femur of rats treated in vivo, measuring mRNA levels for two osteoblast parameters, type I collagen, a marker of matrix formation, and osteocalcin, a bone specific protein and also histone H4, a marker of cell proliferation. GN, at 50 microM for 3 h, increased type I collagen mRNA levels by 132% in ROS 17/2.8 cells and by 122% in proliferating ROB cells. Osteocalcin (OC) mRNA levels were decreased by 61% in ROS 17/2.8 cells and by 97% in differentiated ROB cells. These changes occurred in the absence of any effects on cell proliferation. Seventy-day-old female rats were then treated with GN, 0.5 mg/kg/day, for 3 weeks. As previously reported, GN decreased serum calcium levels, but had no effect on lumbar or femoral bone density. In contrast to the in vitro effects, GN had no effect on type I collagen steady-state mRNA levels in the femur; however, it decreased OC steady-state mRNA levels in the femur by 58%. These results suggest that GN has similar in vitro effects in transformed and normal osteoblasts, while the collagen-stimulatory effects observed in vitro cannot be extrapolated to in vivo models. The consistent inhibition of osteocalcin in vitro and in vivo suggests a more specific target for GN that may relate to its effects in inhibiting bone resorption in normal rats.
An investigation into the role of SH1 and SH2 groups of myosin in calcium binding and tension generation.

Abstract Myosin heavy chains influence the Ca2+ binding properties of the light chains. When the SH1 + SH2 moieties of myosin, located on heavy meromyosin S-1, are blocked, myosin loses its Ca2+ binding capabilities. Furthermore, (SH1 + SH2)-blocked myosin no longer expresses tension when analyzed as modified actomyosin threads. When the SH1 moiety of myosin is blocked, myosin continues to express normal Ca2+ binding properties as well as normal tension.
Atmospheric Turbulence and Storm Surge Due to Hurricane Belle (1976)

Abstract Mean and fluctuating winds wore measured within the atmospheric surface layer at three locations across Long Island during the landfall of Hurricane Belle on 9 August 19176. An order of magnitude increase in wind shear was observed. A maximum friction velocity of ∼133 cm s−1 and a maximum energy dissipation rate of ∼130 cm−2 s−3 were estimated. Mean wind speeds at the beach were found to he 3–5 times the corresponding wind speeds inland. A periodicity in rainfall associated with bands of thundershowers was observed. A storm surge of ∼125 cm was estimated from water level records near Shinnecock Inlet. The records indicated the three successive stages, forerunner, hurricane surge and resurgence, associated with the hurricane.
In vivo high-resolution magic angle spinning proton NMR spectroscopy of Drosophila melanogaster flies as a model system to investigate mitochondrial dysfunction in Drosophila GST2 mutants

In vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), a non-destructive biochemical tool used for investigating live organisms, has recently been performed in studies of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a useful model organism for investigating genetics and physiology. We used a novel high-resolution magic angle-spinning (HRMAS) NMR method to investigate live Drosophila GST2 mutants using a conventional 14.1-T NMR spectrometer equipped with an HRMAS probe. The results showed that, compared to wild-type (wt) controls, the GST2 mutants had a 48% greater (CH(2))n lipid signal at 1.33 ppm, which is an insulin resistance biomarker in Drosophila skeletal muscle (P=0.0444). The mutants also had a 57% greater CH(2)C= lipid signal at 2.02 ppm (P=0.0276) and a 100% greater -CH=CH- signal at 5.33 ppm (P=0.0251). Since the -CH=CH- signal encompasses protons from ceramide, this latter difference is consistent with the hypothesis that the GST2 mutation is associated with insulin resistance and apoptosis. The findings of this study corroborate our previous results, support the hypothesis that the GST2 mutation is associated with insulin signaling and suggest that the IMCL level may be a biomarker of insulin resistance. Furthermore, direct links between GST2 mutation (the Drosophila ortholog of the GSTA4 gene in mammals) and insulin resistance, as suggested in this study, have not been made previously. These findings may thus be directly relevant to a wide range of metabolically disruptive conditions, such as trauma, aging and immune system deficiencies, that lead to increased susceptibility to infection.
Exudation of dissolved organic carbon by brown algae

The release via exudation of dissolved organic carbon by Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. was investigated under laboratory conditions. In contrast to results previously reported by Sieburth (1969), continuous release of organic matter was found with only 1 specimen out of 21 tested either in stagnant sea water or in sea water flowing through the system. The holdfast of the plants was found to release relatively large amounts of organic material; however, this release lasted only for short periods, and was most probably due to damage caused by removing the plants from their substrate. The possible reasons for the failure to detect exudation are discussed. With Fucus vesiculosus L., no reliable results could be obtained, most probably due to particulate matter sloughing off the plants during the washings and during the experiments under conditions of photosynthesis.
Micromechanical analysis of short cracks in fiber-reinforced ceramics

The finite-element method is used to perform a micromechanical analysis of a crack in a fiber-reinforced ceramic, when the crack length is the same order of magnitude as the fiber spacing. The stress intensity factor is calculated under mode-I loading for various crack lengths and fiber volume fractions. Cracks with and without fibers bridging the faces of the crack are analyzed.
Rereading the Crusades: An Introduction

(1995). Rereading the Crusades: An Introduction. The International History Review: Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 663-669.
Secondary school size and curriculum comprehensiveness

Abstract If economies of scale are important in secondary education, it ought to be possible to observe fewer problems with input indivisibility and greater degrees of resource specialization in larger compared to smaller secondary schools. Moreover, it ought to be possible to observe some evidence of greater curriculum comprehensiveness in larger schools since this is one of the possible consequences of scale economies. The present study examines these phenomena using data collected in New York State schools. Results indicate that the sources of scale economies are largely exhausted by the time enrollments reach relatively small levels and that beyond these modest enrollment levels, gains in curricular comprehensiveness are trivial.
Scaling Behaviors of Graphene Nanoribbon FETs

In this study, we report the comprehensive 3-D quantum simulation of GNRFETs to explore scaling behaviors and ultimate scaling limits of GNRFETs. The dependence of the I-V characteristics, transconductance, subthreshold swing, and DIBL on the channel length is studied and compared for single gate, double gate, and wrapped around gate geometries, and the roles of gate insulator and contact size are examined.
The Boundary Violations Scale: an empirical measure of intergenerational boundary violations in families.

This article reviews the development of a new measure to assess children's perceptions of intergenerational boundary violations in families. The Boundary Violations Scale is a theoretically derived instrument consisting of 12 items. Principal components analysis using data from 119 young adolescents from diverse ethnic backgrounds (i.e., 56% Hispanic and 44% non-Hispanic) revealed three factors (promoting maturity, forming coalitions, and communicating as peers) that are consistent with the behavioral manifestations of this construct as posited by structural family theory. The validity of the measure was supported by significant correlations with theoretically relevant measures of family processes and child adjustment as reported by children and their mothers.
Observation of large saturated pulses in wire chambers filled with argon-carbon dioxide mixtures

Abstract Large saturated pulses of the type referred to as “self-quenching streamer” discharges have been observed in argon-carbon dioxide mixtures. This type of gas mixture may have some advantages over previously studied gases [1–3]. Data on the behavior of these pulses as a function of voltage anode wire diameter and carbon dioxide concentration are presented.
Evaluation of a novel mixed pyrite/pyrrhotite catalyst for coal liquefaction

Abstract Iron compounds are known to be active catalysts for direct coal liquefaction. We have synthesized ferric sulfide (Fe 2 S 3 ) and have used it as a precursor for the preparation of specific mixtures of pyrite and pyrrhotite in intimate contact, to be used as liquefaction catalysts. By varying the gas phase, time and temperature of the disproportionation of ferric sulfide, the relative amounts of pyrite and pyrrhotite are controlled. The effects of the pyrite/pyrrhotite ratio on conversion and yields of coal liquefaction are experimentally evaluated. The coal sample used is a high-volatile bituminous coal, carefully chosen for its very low pyritic sulfur content. A conventional shaken tubing-bomb reactor is used. The best conversion and yield are associated with a presulfided catalyst containing roughly equal amounts of pyrite and pyrrhotite. Increasing the temperature of liquefaction increases the total conversion and significantly increases the selectivity to desired products. Presulfiding has little effect, except at low temperatures and for the catalyst with equal amounts of pyrite and pyrrhotite.
Optimization of Multi-Attribute Tasks for Underwater Motion of Robotic Sensor Agents

Target detection, identification, and tracking are tasks of great importance in counterterrorism preparations. The development of a new generation of mobile autonomous wireless robotic sensor agents provides new advanced opportunities for target monitoring and tracking. We are particularly interested in the investigation of the underwater motion of the mobile robotic sensor agents. However, the trajectory of the underwater motion of a robotic sensor agent from the initial point to the destination significantly differs from the ground motion trajectory. Firstly, an underwater vehicle is affected by the current flow and its motion strongly depends on the structure of the river (cross-section shape, bottom type, etc) or ocean. Secondly, the battery power is limited and it almost impossible to recharge the batteries while the agent is underwater. Also, the time for robotic sensor agents to reach the target may be crucial. Consequently, finding the fastest path to the destination given a water stream is important. Thus, how should cluster of underwater robotic sensors move to optimize multi-attribute tasks?
Reproductive Function and Outcome of Pregnancy After Liver Transplantation in Women

Objective To discuss menstrual function before and after liver transplantation, immunosuppression during pregnancy, outcome and management of pregnancy, and use of contraception in women after liver transplantation. Material and Methods We review the relevant medical literature and describe our clinical experience in the management of gynecologic and obstetric issues in recipients of liver transplants. Results Menstrual abnormalities, such as amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, irregular bleeding, and metrorrhagia, are common in women with liver disease and may often be the first clinical indication of liver dysfunction. Normal menstrual function is frequently restored after transplantation. Successful pregnancies have occurred in recipients of liver transplants, but such pregnancies are often complicated by preterm delivery, preeclampsia, and infection. Use of immunosuppressive medications should be maintained during pregnancy, and drug concentrations should be carefully monitored; none has been found to be teratogenic. Pregnancy does not seem to accelerate graft rejection. Barrier contraception or sterilization, if appropriate, seems to be the safest option for these patients. Conclusion Because liver transplantation leads to restoration of normal menstruation, female patients of reproductive age must be counseled about the possibility of pregnancy and the use of contraception. Pregnancy should be avoided for at least the first 6 months after transplantation. With specialized care and attention, pregnancies are generally associated with good outcomes.
Using osteoclast differentiation as a model for gene discovery in an undergraduate cell biology laboratory

A key goal of molecular/cell biology/biotechnology is to identify essential genes in virtually every physiological process to uncover basic mechanisms of cell function and to establish potential targets of drug therapy combating human disease. This article describes a semester-long, project-oriented molecular/cellular/biotechnology laboratory providing students, within a framework of bone cell biology, with a modern approach to gene discovery. Students are introduced to the topics of bone cells, bone synthesis, bone resorption, and osteoporosis. They then review the theory of microchip gene arrays, and study microchip array data generated during the differentiation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts in vitro. The class selects genes whose expression increases during osteoclastogenesis, and researches them in small groups using web-based bioinformatics tools. Students then go to a biotechnology company website to find and order small inhibitory RNAs (siRNAs) designed to “knockdown” expression of the gene of interest. Students then learn to transfect these siRNAs into osteoclasts, stimulate the cells to differentiate, assay osteoclast differentiation in vitro, and measure specific gene expression using real-time PCR and immunoblotting. Specific siRNA knockdown resulting in a decrease in osteoclastogenesis is indicative of a gene's physiological relevance. The results are analyzed statistically and presented to the class in groups. In the past 2 years, students identified several genes essential for optimal osteoclast differentiation, including Myo1d. The students hypothesize that the myo1d protein functions in osteoclasts to deliver important proteins to the cell surface via vesicular transport along microfilaments. Student response to the new course was overwhelmingly positive. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 385-392, 2010
Hemolysin Production in Irradiated Mice Given Spleen or Bone-Marrow Homogenate

Summary and Conclusions1. Recovery of the production of hemolysin in irradiated mice receiving bone marrow or spleen cell homogenate occurred at the same rate as in litter-mate control mice exposed to 450 r of X-rays.2. Recovery of antibody production in response to injected sheep erythrocytes is gradual and begins in the 4th week after exposure of mice to 450 r. Recovery of the hemolysin response is not complete even at 7 weeks after this dose of radiation since many of the mice had peak serum hemolysin titers that were below the limits of non-irradiated controls.3. The time required for the development of peak titer following a single immunizing injection was not lengthened by exposure to 450 r whole-body irradiation.
New oriental aradid bugs in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History) (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Summary The following new taxa of Oriental Aradidae are described: Acoryphocoris duodecimus sp. nov. (Sulawesi), A. minor sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Apaniocoris micropterus gen. and sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Aphelocoris minutissimus sp. nov. (Sarawak), Arictus gracilis sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Artabanus burmensis sp. nov. (Borneo), Chelonocoris tomentosus sp. nov. (Malaya), Chinessa kokodensis sp. nov. (New Guinea), C. major sp. nov. (New Guinea), Crimia tertia sp. nov. (Java), Magdalenia excelsa gen. and sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Mastigocoris insularis sp. nov. (Christmas Is, Indian Ocean), Mezira mekongensis sp. nov. (Laos), M. submontana sp. nov. (India), Mezira (Zimera) kachinensis sp. nov. (Burma), Neuroctenus perplexus sp. nov. (Bhutan), Notoplocaptera breviceps sp. nov. (N. Borneo), N. dollingi sp. nov. (N. Borneo), Overlaetiella elongata sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Parapictinus confusus sp. nov. (Sri Lanka), Proxius (Nesoproxius) malayensis sp. nov. (Malaya), Scironocoris malayensis sp. nov. (Malaya), and Usingerida longiro...
Observations on the life history and predatory behaviour of Zelus exsanguis (Stål) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

SYNOPSIS The life history and reproductive behaviour of Zelus exsanguis is described. An account is given of predatory behaviour in this species, and the mechanism of prey capture is examined.
Regional analysis of dynamic deformation characteristics of native aortic valve leaflets.

Background The mechanical environment of the aortic valve (AV) has a significant impact on valve cellular biology and disease progression, but the regional variation in stretch across the AV leaflet is not well understood. This study, therefore, sought to quantify the regional variation in dynamic deformation characteristics of AV leaflets in the native mechanical environment in order to link leaflet stretch variation to reported AV calcification patterns.
Isolation and partial characterization of an endothelial cell growth factor from the bovine kidney: homology with basic fibroblast growth factor.

Abstract Two kidney-derived mitogens have been isolated by ion exchange, heparin-Sepharose and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on the basis of their capacity to stimulate the proliferation of bovine vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Gas phase sequence analysis identified the amino terminal sequences His-Phe-Lys-Asp-Pro-Lys-Arg-Leu-Tyr-X-Lys-Asn-Gly-Gly-Phe-Phe-Leu and His-Phe-Lys-Asp-Pro-Lys-Arg-Leu, respectively. The sequences are identical to residues 16–32 and 16–23 of bovine basic pituitary Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). The possibility that these kidney-derived mitogens are related, if not identical, to pituitary basic FGF is supported by the observations that they have similar molecular weights (15–16 kDa), similar retention behavior on all steps of chromatography and similar amino acid compositions, and they share at least some structural homology. Moreover, the kidney-derived growth factors, like basic FGF, are potent stimulators of capillary endothelial cells, granulosa cells, adrenocortical cells and vascular smooth-muscle cells (ED 50 = 50 pg). The results demonstrate the existence of a kidney-derived FGF and suggest that at least some of the mitogenic, angiogenic and neovascularising activities described to be present in the kidney are due to the presence of an FGF-like molecule in this tissue.
Neutron magnetic resonance

The history of neutron magnetic resonance experiments is described from the earliest experiments published in 1940 up to the present. Experiments, both with neutron bcams and neutron bottles are described. Results of the best experiments on the neutron magnetic moment and the neutron electric dipole moment are given. The relationship of the neutron electric dipole moment experiments to time reversal symmetry are discussed.
Biologically Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Responsive nanoparticles that release their drug cargo in accordance with a change in pH or oxidative stress are of significant clinical interest as this approach offers the opportunity to link drug delivery to a specific location or disease state. This research news article reviews the current state of this field by examining a series of published articles that highlight the novelty and benefits of using responsive polymeric particles to achieve functionally-targeted drug delivery.
SPOC-a stored program optical computer

The Digital Optical Computing (DOC) group at the University of Colorado at Boulder have built the world's first stored program optical computer (SPOC). Several features that distinguish this computer from traditional electronic computers are: the use of optical fibers and pulses of light instead of wires and electronic signals; the use of space and time to store information instead of flip-flops; synchronization based on the predictable propagation time of signals; and return to zero signal encoding. One goal was to show that optics could be used to build a general purpose stored program computer. Another goal was to demonstrate that predictable signal propagation time could replace flip flops for synchronization. The SPOC is a functionally complete computer. The constant speed of light was used to synchronize the signals in the SPOC. We adjusted the length of the input fibers to the logic gates so the signals would arrive at the same time. This synchronization technique is called time-of-flight design. The group developed a design tool, called XHatch, to help design time-of-flight circuits. We used XHatch to determine the lengths of the optical fibers for the SPOC based on its circuit design. The fibers act as registers by storing the signals in space and time until they are fed into a logic element. >
Proteomics of proteasome complexes and ubiquitinated proteins

Ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation is central to the regulation of many important biological processes, including cell cycle progression, apoptosis and DNA repair. Recognition and degradation of ubiquitinated substrates by the 26S proteasome is tightly regulated to maintain normal cell growth. Disruption of the proteasomal degradation pathway has been implicated in a wide range of human diseases. Although the ubiquitin-proteasome system has been intensively investigated, many key questions remain unanswered in regard to its components and regulation of its activities. A key step towards a full understanding of the pathway is to investigate the proteasome complex subunit composition, heterogeneity, post-translational modifications, assembly, proteasome interaction networks and degradation substrates. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches have been successfully applied for unraveling the details of the proteasome complexes and their substrates in an unprecedented fashion. An overview of the current knowledge of the proteasomal degradation pathway based on mass spectrometry approaches is presented.