cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Redesigning a Statistics Literacy Course to Help Prepare Pre-service Teachers to Teach (Statistics to) English Language Learners

A university’s statistics literacy course was redesigned to give its biggest clientele (pre-service elementary and middle school teachers) content and pedagogy to improve their learning and make their future teaching more effective in a geographic region with a significant proportion of English language learners (ELLs) students. The research-informed redesign made the course more accessible and useful and yielded insights about the distinctive ways in which ELL-responsive pedagogy plays out in the statistics classroom, a context that had received little specific attention (compared to the mathematics classroom) despite its rapidly-growing importance in curricular and societal trends.
HOPE is a good thing? Probationer perceptions of and experiences with the honest opportunity probation with enforcement demonstration field experiment

This article examines how the Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program was received by probationers in the context of a large-scale replication and evaluation trial. The HOPE DF...
Vaping: Impact of Improving Screening Questioning in Adolescent Population: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

The use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) increased dramatically over the past decade, making them the most common tobacco product used among youth. While physicians often screen for the use of tobacco, very few screen for vaping product usage. This quality improvement project aimed to increase the screening rate of ENDS use among adolescents to 85% to match the Healthy People 2020 screening target of 83.3% for smoking. Method We collected data from weekly chart reviews of all adolescent visits with a primary care provider by using keywords such as "vapor," "e-cigs," and "vaping" to document screening for ENDS use. The project consisted of 4 PDSA cycles: (1) education of the Adolescent Clinic staff about screening; (2) the addition of the specific question for e-cigarette use in the facility's Electronic Health Record; (3) house staff lecture about the importance of screening; and (4) reinforcement about screening to adolescent physicians. Results The percentage of screening for traditional tobacco use was consistently higher than ENDS use in all months. ENDS use assessment increased since the first intervention, going from 0% at baseline to 90% at the end. The addition of a specific question for ENDS use in EPIC was the most significant intervention and increased the screening percentage to 78%. Conclusions To adequately assess for the use of ENDS, the nonspecific question, "do you smoke?" is not sufficient. A direct approach is necessary. A specific question in the EHR is the most significant way to increase screening for ENDS use.
Domestic Violence and Tribal Protection of Indigenous Women in the United States

The purpose of this article is to discuss openly the issue of the physical abuse of American Indian women in a manner that reflects the authors' knowledge of how American Indian people live. This article confronts presumptions or pre-existing notions about the indigenous people of the United States that pervade popular culture.Initially, this article will examine the sovereign nature of the tribal nations within the parameters of both international law and United States jurisprudence. This article will also address the way in which some international instruments relate to the rights and protection of indigenous people, including specific provisions for protecting women. Furthermore, this article will provide an overview of the American Indians' shared world view, revealing values in sharp contrast to those of the majority of American society. The lives of indigenous peoples are anchored upon communal values, rather than individualism, as the primary guide to behavior. Finally, this article will demonstrate how some tribes seek to protect their female members through codes, customary law, and intervention programs which provide services to victims, abusers, and their families.
Increased water use efficiency leads to decreased precipitation sensitivity of tree growth, but is offset by high temperatures

Both increases in temperature and changes in precipitation may limit future tree growth, but rising atmospheric CO2 could offset some of these stressors through increased plant Water Use Efficiency (WUE). The net balance between the negative impacts of climate change and positive effects of CO2 on tree growth is crucial for ecotones, where increased climate stress could drive mortality and shifts in range. Here, we quantify the effects of climate, stand structure, and rising CO2 on both annual tree-ring growth increment and intrinsic WUE (iWUE) at a savanna-forest boundary in the Upper Midwest United States. Taking a Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach, we find that plant iWUE increased by ~ 16–23% over the course of the twentieth century, but on average, tree-ring growth increments do not significantly increase. Consistent with higher iWUE under increased CO2 and recent wetting, we observe a decrease in sensitivity of tree growth to annual precipitation, leading to ~ 35–41% higher growth under dry conditions compared to trees of similar size in the past. However, an emerging interaction between summer maximum temperatures and annual precipitation diminishes the water-savings benefit under hot and dry conditions. This decrease in precipitation sensitivity, and the interaction between temperature and precipitation are strongest in open canopy microclimates, suggesting that stand structure may modulate response to future changes. Overall, while higher iWUE may provide some water savings benefits to growth under normal drought conditions, near-term future temperature increases combined with drought events could drive growth declines of about 50%.
Cryo-EM structure of ABCG5/G8 in complex with modulating antibodies.

The heterodimer of ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCG5 and ABCG8 mediates the excretion of sterols from liver and intestine, playing a critical role in cholesterol homeostasis. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of ABCG5/G8 in complex with the Fab fragments from two monoclonal antibodies at 3.3A resolution. The high-resolution structure reveals a unique dimer interface between the nucleotide-binding domains (NBD) of opposing transporters, consisting of an ordered network of salt bridges between the conserved NPXDFXXD motif and serving as a pivot point that may be important for the transport cycle. While mAb 11F4 increases the ATPase activity potentially by stabilization of the NBD dimer formation, mAb 2E10 inhibits ATP hydrolysis, likely by restricting the relative movement between the RecA and helical domain of ABCG8 NBD. Our study not only provides insights into the structural elements important for the transport cycle but also reveals novel epitopes for potential therapeutic interventions.
AGA Technical Review on the Medical Management of Moderate to Severe Luminal and Perianal Fistulizing Crohn’s Disease

The incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) is rising globally. Patients with moderate to severe CD are at high risk for needing surgery and hospitalization and for developing disease-related complications, corticosteroid dependence, and serious infections. Optimal management of outpatients with moderate to severe luminal and/or fistulizing (including perianal) CD often requires the use of immunomodulator (thiopurines, methotrexate) and/or biologic therapies, including tumor necrosis factor–α antagonists, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab, either as monotherapy or in combination (with immunomodulators) to mitigate these risks. Decisions about optimal drug therapy in moderate to severe CD are complex, with limited guidance on comparative efficacy and safety of different treatments, leading to considerable practice variability. Since the last iteration of these guidelines published in 2013, significant advances have been made in the field, including the regulatory approval of 2 new biologic agents, vedolizumab and ustekinumab. Therefore, the American Gastroenterological Association prioritized updating clinical guidelines on this topic. To inform the clinical guidelines, this technical review was completed in accordance with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) framework. The review addressed the following focused questions (in adult outpatients with moderate to severe luminal CD): overall and comparative efficacy of different medications for induction and maintenance of remission in patients with or without prior exposure to tumor necrosis factor–α antagonists, comparative efficacy and safety of biologic monotherapy vs combination therapy with immunomodulators, comparative efficacy of a top-down (upfront use of biologics and/or immunomodulator therapy) vs step-up treatment strategy (acceleration to biologic and/or immunomodulator therapy only after failure of mesalamine), and the role of corticosteroids and mesalamine for induction and/or maintenance of remission. Finally, in adult outpatients with moderate to severe fistulizing CD, this review addressed the efficacy of pharmacologic interventions for achieving fistula and the role of adjunctive antibiotics without clear evidence of active infection.
Attracting the crowd in online fundraising: A meta-analysis connecting campaign characteristics to funding outcomes

Abstract This study used meta-analytic methods complemented with an “attracting the crowd” framework to develop and test a model that connects campaign characteristics to fundraising outcomes. The proposed framework suggests that all paths between a crowdfunding campaign and its outcomes run through a single primary mechanism – attracting the crowd. A total of 36 separate meta-analytic associations across 112 samples (k = 112) with more than 3.5 million observations (N = 3,546,755) were computed to examine the proposed framework. Results suggest that the amount of text, videos, and positive tone of a campaign have a positive association with the number of backers contributing to a campaign. Number of backers in turn showed a positive association with funding amount and funding success. The results support the proposed framework and suggest that number of backers is a key mechanism that connects campaign characteristics to funding amount and funding success. A post hoc analysis was also performed to examine the association between gender and funding outcomes. The results suggest that the gender of those seeking funding has little direct influence on number of backers, funding amount, and funding success, which offers support for arguments of gender equality in online fundraising. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Race, Worldviews, and Conflict Mediation: Black and White Styles of Conflict Revisited

The article offers a wide-ranging, critical reflection on intercultural mediation theory and practice. Rather than following the standard format of literature review and discussion, the author uses his experiences as a mediator and researcher to frame the culture question and analyze intercultural practice models. We begin with the White American author's realization that culture is important, following a mediation session in which the other participants were Black. Reading Kochman's Black and White Styles in Conflict reinforced that realization, and, combined with other works, suggested a relatively straightforward relationship between culture and mediation managed through cultural competency. However, original field research on third-party peacemaking in West Africa complicated the issue by indicating that worldviews and associated conflict styles are highly diverse, varying both within and across social groups. The second half of the paper examines the nature of cultural perspectives or worldviews and considers proposed methods for intercultural mediation. By analyzing prominent responses to the issue of sociocultural variation, the paper explores the challenge of creating a broadly applicable mediation methodology that addresses the complexity of worldviews.
Abstract 19554: Is Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with Cardiopulmonary Bypass Support (On-pump) Superior to CABG Without Bypass Support (Off-pump) in the High-Risk?: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Background: Data from RCTs regarding the efficacy of on- vs. off-pump CABG remain inconclusive. This is especially true of high-risk patient populations. Current practice guidelines from the ACC/AHA in collaboration with Thoracic Surgical Societies do not make specific recommendations for the choice of on- vs. off-pump CABG, but leave the decision to the primary operator. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of on- vs. off-pump CABG in higher surgical risk patients. Methods: We selected RCTs comparing on- and off-pump CABG, focusing on high-risk patient populations. Studies were included if the patient population was described as “high-risk” or included “high-risk” features: European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroScore) >6, age >70 years, pre-existing renal insufficiency, history of stroke(s), and the presence of left ventricular dysfunction. A PubMed literature search was performed for all publications between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2013 with search terms: on-pump, off-pump, coronary artery bypass, high-risk, left ventricular dysfunction, elderly, aged, and renal insufficiency. A total of 64 publications were screened, of which 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. We evaluated for the endpoints of cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, need for repeat revascularization, renal failure, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Results: A total of 11,374 patients with a mean age of 70 years were enrolled. On-pump CABG was not associated with improved CV (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.38-1.73) and all-cause mortality (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.80-1.32). No statistically significant reduction seen in development of non-fatal MI (RR 1.17; 95% CI 0.78-1.75) and renal failure (RR 1.48; 95% CI 0.94-2.32), while the need for repeat revascularization by 1-year was reduced (RR 0.69; 95% 0.50-0.97). However, on-pump CABG was associated with an increased risk of stroke (RR 1.34; 95% 1.02-1.76) and LOS (mean difference 2.24 days; 95% CI 0.34-4.14). Conclusion: In high-risk patients, on-pump CABG is associated with a reduced risk for repeat revascularization by 1-year but at a cost of increased risk of stroke and longer hospitalization. On-pump and off-pump CABG have comparable all-cause and CV mortality.
ADCP observations of edge waves off Oahu in the wake of the November 2006 Kuril Islands tsunami

Received 13 September 2007; revised 5 October 2007; accepted 8 November 2007; published 15 December 2007. [1] During the 2006 Kuril Islands tsunami, edge waves propagating along Oahu’s south shore were observed via depth-averaged ADCP velocity and pressure data acquired in real-time by a coastal observatory at 12 m depth and 400 m offshore. Time-varying rotary-component velocity spectra obtained via wavelet analysis agree with the phase lag observed between pressure and each Cartesian velocity component, in indicating the directions of rotation and travel of progressive edge waves. Furthermore, the theoretical ratios between power in the free surface elevation and in each velocity component of edge waves, agree with those observed, and a nonlinear shallow-water model shows edge waves of various modes propagating along the shore near our observation location. Importantly, the maximum surge in sea level occurred at a time when edge waves of all constituent frequencies were superposed. Citation: Bricker, J. D., S. Munger, C. Pequignet, J. R. Wells, G. Pawlak, and K. F. Cheung (2007), ADCP observations of edge waves off Oahu in the wake of the November 2006 Kuril Islands tsunami, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L23617, doi:10.1029/ 2007GL032015.
Far-Ultraviolet Observations of NGC 4151 during the ORFEUS-SPAS II Mission

We observed the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151 on 11 occasions at 1-2 day intervals using the Berkeley spectrometer during the ORFEUS-SPAS II mission in 1996 November. The mean spectrum covers 912-1220 A at ~0.3 A resolution with a total exposure of 15,658 s. The mean flux at 1000 A was 4.7×10−13 ergs cm-2 s-1 A-1. We identify the neutral hydrogen absorption with a number of components that correspond to the velocity distribution of H I seen in our own Galaxy as well as features identified in the C IV λ1549 absorption profile by Weymann et al. The main component of neutral hydrogen in NGC 4151 has a total column density of log NH I = 18.7±1.5 cm-2 for a Doppler parameter b=250±50 km s-1, and it covers 84%±6% of the source. This is consistent with previous results obtained with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. Other intrinsic far-UV absorption features are not resolved, but the C III* λ1176 absorption line has a significantly higher blueshift relative to NGC 4151 than the C III λ977 resonance line. This implies that the highest velocity region of the outflowing gas has the highest density. Variations in the equivalent width of the C III* λ1176 absorption line anticorrelate with continuum variations on timescales of days. For an ionization timescale of less than 1 day, we set an upper limit of 25 pc on the distance of the absorbing gas from the central source. The O VI λ1034 and He II λ1085 emission lines also vary on timescales of 1-2 days, but their response to the continuum variations is complex. For some continuum variations they show no response, while for others the response is instantaneous to the limit of our sampling interval.
Investigating dormant‐season application of pheromone in citrus to control overwintering and spring populations of Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

BACKGROUND The leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, reproduces on leaf flush during winter. Deployment of pheromone during winter could suppress moth populations in spring and summer more than a spring application alone. We tested the primary pheromone component of P. citrella, (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal, released gradually over several months from elastomeric dispensers in a citrus grove in 6.4 ha main plots in winter and/or 3.2 ha subplots in spring (834 mg triene ha−1) and evaluated moth catch and leaf mining. RESULTS After winter treatment, dispensers provided >85% disruption of male moth catch in traps for 37 weeks, and after spring treatment they provided >92% disruption for 26 weeks, but there was only a 12% reduction in leaf infestation in spring. Two applications were no better than only a single application in spring. Disruption of moth catch was weaker in treated plots where traps were placed high (3.1 m) rather than low (1.6 m) in the tree canopy. CONCLUSION Dispensers provided effective and persistent disruption of male catch in pheromone-baited monitoring traps but were minimally effective in reducing leaf infestation by P. citrella. Winter application of pheromone did not reduce leaf mining in spring compared with spring application alone. Tops of trees may have provided a refuge for mating. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Efficient Message Passing on Shared Memory Multiprocessors

We have described a non-conventional scheme for the message passing on SMP systems. It may represent a possible solution to the performance issues of existing or new PVM applications on such systems and it has the important feature of being completely transparent to the users which are not required to change their codes. We like to stress that the same mechanism could be used for other message passing libraries (e.g. MPI) and that, although with some effort, we expect it to be portable to other SMP platforms as well.
The Impact of Visual Impairment on Perceived School Climate.

The current investigation examines whether visual impairment has an impact on a student’s perception of the school climate. Using a large national sample of high school students, perceptions were examined for students with vision impairment relative to students with no visual impairments. Three factors were examined: self-reported level of happiness, perception of a positive school climate, and negative school affect. Results revealed no differences for the seeing and visually impaired students on self-reported happiness and perception of a positive school climate factors, however significant differences were found on the negative school affect factor. Additionally, gender was significantly related to the negative school affect factor.
Critical Analysis of Strategies for Determining Rigor in Qualitative Inquiry

Criteria for determining the trustworthiness of qualitative research were introduced by Guba and Lincoln in the 1980s when they replaced terminology for achieving rigor, reliability, validity, and generalizability with dependability, credibility, and transferability. Strategies for achieving trustworthiness were also introduced. This landmark contribution to qualitative research remains in use today, with only minor modifications in format. Despite the significance of this contribution over the past four decades, the strategies recommended to achieve trustworthiness have not been critically examined. Recommendations for where, why, and how to use these strategies have not been developed, and how well they achieve their intended goal has not been examined. We do not know, for example, what impact these strategies have on the completed research. In this article, I critique these strategies. I recommend that qualitative researchers return to the terminology of social sciences, using rigor, reliability, validity, and generalizability. I then make recommendations for the appropriate use of the strategies recommended to achieve rigor: prolonged engagement, persistent observation, and thick, rich description; inter-rater reliability, negative case analysis; peer review or debriefing; clarifying researcher bias; member checking; external audits; and triangulation.
Neurofibroma of the urinary bladder.

BACKGROUND Neurofibroma of the urinary bladder is rare. Only isolated case reports have appeared. Information regarding the long term follow-up of patients with neurofibroma is limited. METHODS The authors studied 4 cases of neurofibroma of the bladder diagnosed at Mayo Clinic from 1965 through 1990. Immunostains for S-100 protein, neurofilament protein, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), cytokeratin (CAM 5.2; AE 1/3), Type IV collagen, MIB-1, and p53 protein were performed in all cases, as was Alcian blue at pH 2.5. The mean follow-up was 9.6 years (range, 2–18 years). RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 17 years (range, 7–28 years); the male-to-female ratio was 1:1. All four patients exhibited physical stigmata of neurofibromatosis type 1. Clinical presentations included hematuria (one patient), irritative symptoms (two patients), and pelvic mass (one patient). Long term urinary complications included bladder atony (two patients), neurogenic bladder (one patient), and recurrent urinary tract infection with hematuria (one patient). Subsequently, two patients underwent partial cystectomy and one a complete cystectomy. Involvement of the bladder was generalized in all four cases. Three tumors were transmural, showing a diffuse and plexiform pattern of growth; in the fourth case, a superficial biopsy showed only diffuse submucosal growth with conspicuous pseudo-Meissnerian corpuscle formation. An Alcian blue positive, variably collagenized matrix was present in all cases. Tumor cells displayed immunoreactivity for S-100 protein and Type IV collagen in all cases. Neurofilament protein positive axons were evident in three cases; all other immunostains were negative. The mean MIB-1 labeling index was 3.2% (range, 0.9–7.3%). No malignant transformation was observed during a mean follow-up of 9.6 years. CONCLUSIONS Neurofibroma of the bladder presents early in life, is of the plexiform type with a diffuse component, and usually occurs in the setting of generalized neurofibromatosis type 1 rather than as isolated visceral neurofibromatosis. Malignant transformation did not occur in any of these 4 patients during a mean follow-up time of 9.6 years. Cancer 1999;86:505–13. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Leveraging the General Transit Feed Specification for Efficient Transit Analysis

Since 2007, the transit industry has benefited from a widely adopted data standard called the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), which has enabled the development of numerous traveler information tools (i.e., transit trip planners). The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the potential for GTFS feeds as a data source for transit analyses, such as those found in the Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual. There are three primary project tasks: an analysis of GTFS field usage by different agencies; an analysis of a single agency's operations at the stop, route, and system levels; and a batch analysis and comparison of 50 large transit agencies in North America. Compared with manually transcribing schedules from transit websites or parsing printed schedules, the use of scripts and database queries suggests that the GTFS is a highly efficient data source and proves the importance of broadly accepted data standards. The methodology documented in this paper and the open source scripts (mad...
A model for oxidation-assisted low cycle fatigue of superalloys

Cracks in superalloys subject to an isothermal, sustained hold, compressive strain cycle experience cycle-by-cycle extension. The phenomenon has been attributed to the strains induced by the formation a thermally grown oxide (TGO) on the crack faces with the strain accommodated by alloy creep. Basic features have been elucidated through finite element calculations. The present objective is to develop a straightforward model that explicitly relates the fatigue to the TGO strains and the alloy creep rates. For this purpose, insights are first developed through finite element simulations. The results are rationalized through simple mechanics assessments, leading to analytic expressions for the crack growth rate. Insights are gained using a plasticity model that demonstrates how the TGO growth strains are accommodated and the stress distributed at various stages during the strain cycle. Creep calculations highlight the time-dependent phenomena occurring during the hold interlude. Finally, an expression for the crack growth rate is presented in terms of the TGO growth strain rate, its thickness, the alloy creep strength and the hold time.
One day’s sultan T.N. Seshan and Indian democracy

T.N. Seshan’s tenure as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in the early 1990s transformed the role of the Election Commission of India in India’s electoral politics. This article examines Seshan’s reforms but concentrates in particular on the public controversies that Seshan’s tenure at the Election Commission engendered. Public debate about the role of the Election Commission brought to the surface underlying assumptions about the meaning of popular sovereignty in defining India’s democracy. It highlighted the tension between law and democracy in shaping democratic ideals in India and underscored a view of elections as legally marked by a cyclical notion of ‘electoral time’. The reforms of the Election Commission during the early 1990s, in fact, opened an unprecedented period of public debate in India on the nature of electoral democracy, which this article explores.
Lessons from seashells: silica mineralization via protein templating

Silica, the most abundant compound in the earth's crust, is also widespread in biological systems. Silica has many functions, including support and protection in single-celled organisms and in higher plants and animals alike. Despite this widespread occurrence and importance of function, little is known about biosilica and the mechanisms that produce controlled microscopic and macroscopic silica structures with nanoscale precision, exceeding present synthetic technological approaches. Here we highlight recent progress in identifying proteins, genes and the various environmental factors responsible for the controlled synthesis of silica by marine organisms. Examples of biomimetic approaches to biosilica formation using model peptides to control the formation of structures through manipulation of the processing environment are discussed.
Aliphatic polyamine oxidation response variability and stability at boron-doped diamond thin-film electrodes as studied by flow-injection analysis

Abstract Previously it was shown that four different aliphatic polyamines can be quantitatively electrooxidized at boron-doped diamond thin film electrodes without derivatization or the use of pulsed voltammetric waveforms [Anal. Chem. 71 (1999) 1188; Anal. Chem. 69 (1997) 4041]. The flow injection analysis (FIA-EC) investigation (amperometric detection mode) of cadaverine (CAD), putrescine (PUT), spermine (SPM) and spermidine (SPMD), reported previously [Anal. Chem. 71 (1999) 1188], are updated herein with particular emphasis on the electrode response variability and stability. Most of the measurements were made with a film deposited from a 0.50% methane-to-hydrogen (C/H) volumetric ratio. In general, films deposited with C/H ratios near this value tend to possess the requisite physicochemical properties to support anodic oxygen transfer reactions. The electrode performance was evaluated in terms of the linear dynamic range, limit of quantitation, response variability and response stability. A linear dynamic range from 1.0 μM to 1.0 mM and a limit of quantitation of 1.0 μM or 20 pmol injected (S/N≥3) were found for CAD, PUT, and SPMD. For SPM, a linear dynamic range from 0.32 μM to 1.0 mM and a limit of quantitation of 0.32 μM or 6.4 pmol were observed. The response variability, as low as 2–4%, was observed which is vastly improved over previous results. The improvement was achieved by introducing a 3–6 min delay period between injections. The long-term response stability was good with no evidence for any progressive response attenuation or complete fouling by the reaction product, even though a solid deposit was observed to accumulate on the electrode surface with extended use. The deposit appears to partially reduce the active electrochemical area for polyamine oxidation and to decrease the overpotential for water discharge. Preliminary chromatographic results demonstrated the possibility of separating and detecting the polyamines by a simple reverse-phase scheme at constant applied potential.
Characterization of metallic nano-particles via surface wave scattering: B. Physical concept and numerical experiments

Abstract We present a methodology to characterize nanometer-size particles on or near a surface via surface-wave scattering. With a series of simulations, we show that the size of nano-particles on a metallic surface can be determined unambiguously from the angular profile of the elliptical polarization of scattered waves expressed as normalized scattering Mueller matrix elements M ij . This characterization modality is based on the interaction of particles on a surface with the evanescent waves. The particle–surface interactions become less pronounced with separation distance, and the scattering of evanescent waves by nano-particles does not show any significant size dependence. The results suggest that it is possible to monitor the self-assembly process of metallic particles on metallic surfaces in real time, which is crucial for on-line control in bottom-up nano-manufacturing processes.
A Novel Human Polycomb Binding Site Acts As a Functional Polycomb Response Element in Drosophila

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are key chromatin regulators implicated in multiple processes including embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, and germ cell differentiation. The PcG proteins recognize target genomic loci through cis DNA sequences known as Polycomb Response Elements (PREs), which are well characterized in Drosophila. However, mammalian PREs have been elusive until two groups reported putative mammalian PREs recently. Consistent with the existence of mammalian PREs, here we report the identification and characterization of a potential PRE from human T cells. The putative human PRE has enriched binding of PcG proteins, and such binding is dependent on a key PcG component SUZ12. We demonstrate that the putative human PRE carries both genetic and molecular features of Drosophila PRE in transgenic flies, implying that not only the trans PcG proteins but also certain features of the cis PREs are conserved between mammals and Drosophila.
Plasmolysis and the tetrazolium reaction inAnacharis canadensis

The plasmolytic method and the triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reaction were compared as criteria of vitality inAnacharis canadensis, following treatment with 7 different types of herbicides. In general there was good agreement between the two methods. Cells that were plasmolyzable exhibited the capacity to reduce TTC, and contrariwise. Maleic hydrazide, as an exception, inhibited the TTC reaction in varying degree according to concentration.
Assessment of university students’ coping strategies and reasons for driving in high-risk drinking-driving situations

A total of 116 students (87 women; 29 men) enrolled at a large, public Midwestern university in the United States were recruited to complete a set of demographic questionnaires and drinking-driving episode surveys. The latter surveys assessed participants' reported motivations for driving or not driving during four recent drinking episodes. Content analyses were used to develop lists of commonly reported reasons for not driving (e.g. found alternate transportation), reasons for driving after drinking (e.g. perceived need to go to destination), potential alternatives to driving after drinking (e.g. walking to destination), and strategies used to avoid detection or arrest by police (e.g. driving more slowly, using back roads or side streets). Participants made both situational and self-coping attributions to explain why they did not, on occasion, drive after drinking. These results may be used as a foundation for prevention and education programs that are designed to: (a) encourage use of coping strategies and alternatives to driving while disputing peer-generated justifications for driving after drinking, and (b) challenge the value of potentially unsafe strategies for avoiding detection and arrest when driving under the influence.
Differentiation of large suprasellar masses by evaluation of the superior margin

Differentiation of suprasellar masses by computed tomography criteria depends on intrasellar extension, patterns of calcification and enhancement, associated bony reaction, and cystic changes. In the case of a homogeneously enhancing suprasellar mass that does not exhibit any of these differentiating findings, separating a suprasellar meningioma from a large suprasellar pituitary adenoma has been quite difficult. We reviewed the computed tomography findings of 42 such tumors. There were 19 meningiomas and 23 pituitary adenomas chosen that had few or none of the commonly applied findings used in differentiation. Evaluation of the superior contour of these masses seems a reliable sign to use in this situation. A single upward convex curve correlated with a meningioma in 15 of 19 cases (78%), whereas a multiple upward convex curve correlated with a pituitary adenoma in 19 of 23 cases (82%). Although some pitfalls were encountered when employing this sign--such as pseudolobulations caused by the adjoining cavernous sinus, dural, or vascular structures--it nonetheless led to the correct diagnosis in approximately 80% of cases.
A blocking probability estimator for the multi-application and multi-resource constraint problem

The provisioning of network equipment is becoming increasingly challenging due to the large number of application types that must be supported at once. In addition, most applications must make use of various types of resources, including network bandwidth and server CPU cycles, among others. An application request may be blocked when one or more of the resource types that are required to achieve the desired QoS cannot be reserved due to their shortage. This problem is referred to as the multi-application and multi-resource (MA-MR) constraint problem. In this paper, a Markov chain model is proposed to efficiently and accurately estimate the blocking caused by the MA-MR constraint. The model's strength is its scalability and ability to account for hundreds of application types concurrently sharing multiple pools of distinct resources. The proposed blocking probability estimator is applicable to a number of practical engineering tasks. For instance, in the cloud infrastructure, the estimator may enable rapid decisions to be made in real-time while accounting for the blocking probability that application requests may experience due to a multitude of concurrent resource constraints, including the lack of network bandwidth, server CPU cycles, memory and storage.
Effect of abrasion on protective properties of polyester and cotton/polyester blend fabrics.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of surface abrasion on the sorption and penetration of pesticide through fabrics
Protein release kinetics of a biodegradable implant for fracture non-unions

Non-union of long bone fractures is often a serious complication of fracture healing. It is estimated that 100 000 non-unions occur in the united States annually and result in the loss of function of the involved limb. The present study was performed to develop a microporous polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid (PLA-PGA) implant for the delivery of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to sites of fracture non-unions, and to characterize the protein release kinetics of such an implant in vitro. A 50:50 copolymer of PLA-PGA was used to fabricate the implants using a gel formation technique. The implants were subjected to hydrolytic degradation in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 degrees C for up to 72 d. The protein release and the polymer degradation were monitored during this time period. The release kinetics of these implants were studied using a model protein, soybean trypsin inhibitor (TI), as well as BMP. The results indicate that there is a burst release of the proteins in the initial 48 h followed by a lower elution rate. The release of both the proteins followed similar trends. The molecular weight of the polymer decreased at a faster rate compared to its mass.
Memory for objects in real scenes: The development of recognition and recall

Abstract Subjects examined crowded semirealistic layouts of toy objects, or photographs of these layouts, and then tried to identify added, moved or deleted items. The main study, involving 1st-, 3rd, 6th-graders, and adults, showed that although successful recognition of added items was superior to both recall of deleted items and recognition of moved ones, all three scores improved with age. In addition, false reports of “new” items decreased markedly in the older groups. The results argue against the widely held view that recognition memory undergoes little or no developmental improvement. No significant difference between real layouts and photographs appeared either in the main experiment or in replications involving shorter exposure (Experiment 2) or retarded subjects (Experiment 3).
Modified reconstitution method used in patch-clamp studies of Escherichia coli ion channels

We have modified the procedure of Criado and Keller (1987) to study ion channels of Escherichia coli reconstituted in liposomes. The modifications include (a) excluding the use of any detergent and (b) inducing blisters from liposomes with Mg2+. These blisters, which appear to be unilamellar, are stable for hours. They could be repeatedly sampled with different patch-clamp pipettes each achieving seal resistance greater than 10 GOhms. Activities of three types of ion channels are often observed by use of this method, including two voltage-sensitive cation channels of different conductances. Even the mechanosensitive channel, previously recorded from live E. coli cells (Martinac et al., 1987), was also detected in these blisters. Apparently the channel protein and any accessory structures, postulated to be needed for mechanotransduction, can be reconstituted together by this method.
From Out of the Desert Blooms a Jewel of the Southwest: A Commentary on the History of Mayo Clinic in Arizona

From the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. W hen Drs Will and Charlie Mayo traveled to Arizona for winter respites with their family and eventually purchased adjoining residences in Tucson in the 1930s, little did they know that Mayo Clinic in Arizona would someday arise out of the Sonoran Desert to become the third Mayo Clinic group practice. Indeed, they could not have envisioned how their values and vision for the practice of medicine, so central to the essence of Mayo Clinic, would become an integral part of health care in the southwestern United States. The expansion to Arizona was made possible by the 1983 decision to look at growth areas for additional Mayo Clinic campuses outside Rochester, Minnesota. In 1984, the decision was made to open a second group practice clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, which opened its doors in 1986. Approved in 1985 as a location for the next Mayo Clinic site, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale (as the operation was then known) sprang to life amidst saguaro, cholla, and prickly pear cacti on 180 acres of land in Scottsdale, nestled at the base of the majestic McDowell Mountains. The Scottsdale campus opened its doors in 1987. “Why Arizona?” some may ask. Chief AdministrativeOfficer Emeritus Robert Fleming tells that there was a decision made to expand not just to one location outside Rochester but to have 2 locations: Jacksonville, Florida, and another to-be-determined site. Criteria for selecting the next location included an area where the population was growing to minimize impact on existing local physicians. According to Robert Smoldt, former Chief Administrative Officer and the head of strategic planning at the time of theMayoClinic expansion, a key factor in site selection was the relationship of an area’s population compared with the number of academic medical centers or multispecialty group practices with more than 100 physicians. At the time, Phoenix, Arizona, was the largest
Beyond oil: energy alternatives for Greece and the Mediterranean

The global energy situation is examined with respect to dwindling resources and new technologies. Planning and development of energy resources and reserves in Greece are discussed. Alternative renewable energy resources for Greece, particularly wind energy, solar energy, and nuclear power, are considered. Alternative renewable energy prospects for Europe are assessed, and European energy planning activities are described. >
Further learning effects of knowledge of results upon time estimation.

College students of both sexes served as their own controls to test four hypotheses in each of three experiments designed to assess effects of knowledge of results (KR) as verbal information correct to the nearest .01 sec. on time estimations. Analysis indicated that (1) KR significantly increased the mean accuracy of time estimations obtained by the methods of production and estimation but not by the method of reproduction, (2) that KR significantly decreased the variance of the time estimations in all three experiments, (3) that in all three experiments after KR underestimators significantly increased their mean time estimates whereas overestimators significantly decreased their mean time estimations, and (4) that no significant sex differences were present. Notions of excitation and inhibition as intervening variables and of the Pavlovian first- and second-signalling systems were employed in tentative explanations.
The dynamic state of protein turnover: It's about time

The continual destruction and renewal of proteins that maintain cellular homeostasis has been rigorously studied since the late 1930s. Experimental techniques for measuring protein turnover have evolved to measure the dynamic regulation of key proteins and now, entire proteomes. In the past decade, the proteomics field has aimed to discover how cells adjust their proteomes to execute numerous regulatory programs in response to specific cellular and environmental cues. By combining classical biochemical techniques with modern, high-throughput technologies, researchers have begun to reveal the synthesis and degradation mechanisms that shape protein turnover on a global scale. This review examines several recent developments in protein turnover research, emphasizing the combination of metabolic labeling and mass spectrometry.
The phytoplankton of spring Lake, Michigan

Spring Lake in Michigan U.S.A. is a highly productive body of water, containing many rare and unknown phytoplanktonic algae. A list of 283 species identified and their general distribution during the eight months of collection is brought.
Probing the dynamics of a protein hydrophobic core by deuteron solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

With the goal of investigating dynamical features of hydrophobic cores of proteins over a wide range of temperatures, the chicken villin headpiece subdomain protein (HP36) was labeled at a “single” site corresponding to any one of the two CδD3 groups of leucine-69, which is located in a key position of the core. The main techniques employed are deuteron NMR quadrupolar echo line shape analysis, and T1Z (Zeeman) and T1Q (quadrupolar order) relaxation experiments performed at 11.7 and 17.6 T over the temperature range of 112 to 298 K. The experimental data are compared with computer simulations. The deuteron line shapes give an excellent fit to a three-mode motional model that consists of (a) fast three-site rotational jumps about the pseudo C3 methyl spinning axis, (b) slower reorientation of the spinning axis, described by diffusion along a restricted arc, and (c) large angle jumps between traces of rotameric conformers. Relaxation behavior is described by a phenomenological distribution of activation ene...
Predominance of brain tumors in an extended Li-Fraumeni (SBLA) kindred, including a case of Sturge-Weber syndrome †

BACKGROUND Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is characterized by a plethora of cancers, most prominent of which is carcinoma of the breast followed by sarcomas, brain tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, lung carcinoma, and adrenocortical carcinoma (therefore, also referred to by the acronym SBLA syndrome). METHODS The family reported herein was first described 2 decades ago. Now extensive follow-up has shown the predictable occurrence of these tumor types, in addition to an excess of brain tumors and the finding of Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) in an LFS-affected family member. RESULTS A possible new feature of the disorder, suggestive of SWS, was identified in a patient in the direct genetic lineage. This patient had a rhabdomyosarcoma of the eyelid at age 29 months and at age 14 years was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma/acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A remarkable excess of brain tumors was identified in this family through this current update. The p53 germ-line mutation was not identified in any affected member of this family. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this is the first example of SWS in the context of LFS. Brain tumors appear to be an important component of the tumor spectrum of LFS, as evidenced in this family. Cancer 2000;88:433–39. © 2000 American Cancer Society.