cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint recognition and discrimination in nonlinear feature space

A new general method for linear and nonlinear feature extraction is presented. It is novel since it provides both representation and discrimination while most other methods are concerned with only one of these issues. We call this approach the maximum representation and discrimination feature (MRDF) method and show that the Bayes classifier and the Karhunen- Loeve transform are special cases of it. We refer to our nonlinear feature extraction technique as nonlinear eigen- feature extraction. It is new since it has a closed-form solution and produces nonlinear decision surfaces with higher rank than do iterative methods. Results on synthetic databases are shown and compared with results from standard Fukunaga- Koontz transform and Fisher discriminant function methods. The method is also applied to an automated product inspection problem (discrimination) and to the classification and pose estimation of two similar objects (representation and discrimination).
Frontiers in Nonclinical Drug Development: Biosimilars

Biopharmaceuticals, produced by recombinant DNA technology, are generally more complicated to produce than small molecule drugs. As patents around the development and manufacturing of these biopharmaceuticals expire, biosimilars are being developed as comparable and more affordable alternatives to improve patient access and market competition. This commentary explains what a biosimilar is; it compares and contrasts biosimilar production with that of small molecule, generic, and other biological drugs; and it describes basic principles of the nonclinical development program for monoclonal antibody biosimilars.
Ultrastructure of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons and their projections in the golden hamster

Seasonal breeding mammals exhibit a reversible annual cycle of fertility, and thus represent valuable models for investigating the organization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons which mediate the neuroendocrine control of reproduction. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to examine the ultrastructure of LHRH neurons and their projections in a seasonal breeder, the golden hamster, housed under photoperiodic conditions which are reproductively stimulatory. LHRH perikarya in the diagonal band, medial septum, and preoptic area were bipolar or unipolar cells which possessed nuclei with prominent indentations and multiple nucleoli. LHRH reaction product within these cells was associated with neurosecretory granules and the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), particularly those portions of RER adjacent to the outer nuclear envelope. LHRH cell bodies and dendrites in the hamster received an extremely limited amount of synaptic input; of a total of twenty-five cells analyzed, we found only five instances of morphologically identified synapses onto immunoreactive dendrites. Occasionally close somatic appositions were seen between LHRH cells and non-immunoreactive neurons, and in one instance between two LHRH somas. In the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), LHRH fibers appeared as isolated strings of varicosities. In contrast, within the median eminence immunoreactive axonal profiles were frequently bundled together in fascicles although synaptic specializations were not observed between individual axons. The existence of contacts between LHRH axons in the median eminence, coupled with the extreme paucity of synaptic inputs onto LHRH neurons in this species, suggests that the median eminence may be a site where neural or hormonal signals could influence the coordinated release of LHRH from cells of dispersed origin.
Structure and Mechanism of an ADP-Glucose Phosphorylase from Arabidopsis thaliana†,‡

The X-ray crystal structure of the At5g18200.1 protein has been determined to a nominal resolution of 2.30 A. The structure has a histidine triad (HIT)-like fold containing two distinct HIT-like motifs. The sequence of At5g18200.1 indicates a distant family relationship to the Escherichia coli galactose-1-P uridylyltransferase (GalT): the determined structure of the At5g18200.1 protein confirms this relationship. The At5g18200.1 protein does not demonstrate GalT activity but instead catalyzes adenylyl transfer in the reaction of ADP-glucose with various phosphates. The best acceptor among those evaluated is phosphate itself; thus, the At5g18200.1 enzyme appears to be an ADP-glucose phosphorylase. The enzyme catalyzes the exchange of (14)C between ADP-[(14)C]glucose and glucose-1-P in the absence of phosphate. The steady state kinetics of exchange follows the ping-pong bi-bi kinetic mechanism, with a k(cat) of 4.1 s(-)(1) and K(m) values of 1.4 and 83 microM for ADP-[(14)C]glucose and glucose-1-P, respectively, at pH 8.5 and 25 degrees C. The overall reaction of ADP-glucose with phosphate to produce ADP and glucose-1-P follows ping-pong bi-bi steady state kinetics, with a k(cat) of 2.7 s(-)(1) and K(m) values of 6.9 and 90 microM for ADP-glucose and phosphate, respectively, at pH 8.5 and 25 degrees C. The kinetics are consistent with a double-displacement mechanism that involves a covalent adenylyl-enzyme intermediate. The X-ray crystal structure of this intermediate was determined to 1.83 A resolution and shows the AMP group bonded to His(186). The value of K(eq) in the direction of ADP and glucose-1-P formation is 5.0 at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C in the absence of a divalent metal ion, and it is 40 in the presence of 1 mM MgCl(2).
Selective trapping of rearranged spirocyclic isodicyclopentadienes by tropone

Abstract The unparalleled substituent-dependent regulation of the course of cycloaddition reactions between isodicyclopentadienes and tropones is described.
An Integrated Alcohol Abuse and Medical Treatment Model for Patients with Hepatitis C

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have high rates of alcohol consumption, which is associated with progression of fibrosis and lower response rates to HCV treatment. This prospective cohort study examined the feasibility of a 24-week integrated alcohol and medical treatment to HCV-infected patients. Patients were recruited from a hepatology clinic if they had an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score >4 for women and >8 for men, suggesting hazardous alcohol consumption. The integrated model included patients receiving medical care and alcohol treatment within the same clinic. Alcohol treatment consisted of 6 months of group and individual therapy from an addictions specialist and consultation from a study team psychiatrist as needed. Sixty patients were initially enrolled, and 53 patients participated in treatment. The primary endpoint was the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) alcohol composite scores, which significantly decreased by 0.105 (41.7% reduction) between 0 and 3 months (P < 0.01) and by 0.128 (50.6% reduction) between 0 and 6 months (P < 0.01) after adjusting for covariates. Alcohol abstinence was reported by 40% of patients at 3 months and 44% at 6 months. Patients who did not become alcohol abstinent had reductions in their ASI alcohol composite scores from 0.298 at baseline to 0.219 (26.8% reduction) at 6 months (P = 0.08). This study demonstrated that an integrated model of alcohol treatment and medical care could be successfully implemented in a hepatology clinic with significant favorable impact on alcohol use and abstinence among patients with chronic HCV.
KINECT-BASED UNIVERSAL RANGE SENSOR FOR LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS

The Microsoft Kinect is part of a wave of new sensing technologies. Its RGB-D camera is capable of providing high quality synchronized video of both color and depth data. Compared to traditional 3-D tracking techniques that use two separate RGB cameras’ images to calculate depth data, the Kinect is able to produce more robust and reliable results in object recognition and motion tracking. Also, due to its low cost, the Kinect provides more opportunities for use in many areas compared to traditional more expensive 3-D scanners. In order to use the Kinect as a range sensor, algorithms must be designed to first recognize objects of interest and then track their motions. Although a large number of algorithms for both 2-D and 3-D object detection have been published, reliable and efficient algorithms for 3-D object motion tracking are rare, especially using Kinect as a range sensor.In this paper, algorithms for object recognition and tracking that can make use of both RGB and depth data in different scenarios are introduced. Subsequently, efficient methods for scene segmentation including background and noise filtering are discussed. Taking advantage of those two kinds of methods, a prototype system that is capable of working efficiently and stably in various applications related to educational laboratories is presented.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
DNA Amplification and Hybridization Assays in Integrated Plastic Monolithic Devices

PCR amplification, DNA hybridization, and a hybridization wash have been integrated in a disposable monolithic DNA device, containing all of the necessary fluidic channels and reservoirs. These integrated devices were fabricated in polycarbonate plastic material by CO2 laser machining and were assembled using a combination of thermal bonding and adhesive tape bonding. Pluronics polymer phase change valves were implemented in the devices to fulfill the valving requirements. Pluronics polymer material is PCR compatible, and 30% Pluronics polymer valves provide enough holding pressure to ensure a successful PCR amplification. By reducing the temperature locally, to ∼5 °C, Pluronics valves were liquefied and easily opened. A hybridization channel was made functional by oligonucleotide deposition, using Motorola proprietary surface attachment chemistry. Reagent transport on the device was provided by syringe pumps, which were docked onto the device. Peltier thermal electrical devices powered the heating and co...
Turbidity Currents: Monitoring Their Occurrence and Movement with a Three-Dimensional Sensor Network

Detailed field data on the occurrence, flow pattern, and internal dynamics of both surge and continuous turbidity currents have been obtained with a three-dimensional array of optical and thermal sensors. The array, operated in a glacial lake in southeastern British Columbia, collected detailed information on the character of surge events with velocities reaching 110 centimeters per second and continuous underflows exceeding 90 centimeters per second. Thefindings (i) indicate that such currents are frequent events, occurring with density differences between the incoming stream water and the lake water as low as 0.19 kilogram per cubic meter of water; (ii) document the differences in the initiation and internal characteristics of the continuous and surge events; and (iii) support the concept of erosion by turbidity currents.
A 2.5nJ/b 0.65V 3-to-5GHz Subbanded UWB Receiver in 90nm CMOS

A non-coherent 0-to-16Mb/s UWB receiver using 3-to-5GHz subbanded PPM signaling is implemented in a 90nm CMOS process. The RF and mixed-signal baseband circuits operate at 0.65V. Using duty-cycling, adjustable BPFs, and an energy-aware baseband, the receiver achieves 2.5nJ/b and 10-3 BER with -95dBm sensitivity at 100kb/s.
Behavioral activity of catnip (Lamiaceae) essential oil components to the German cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae).

Abstract The essential oil of catnip, Nepeta cataria L., contains two isomers of nepetalactone, E,Z- and Z,E-nepetalactone, and was tested for repellent activity to adult male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), in a choice-test arena. The two isomers of nepetalactone were purified by using preparative thin-layer chromatography and tested for behavioral activity in the choice-test arena. Significant differences due to concentration were detected by analysis of variance, and the responses were compared by least-squared means analysis. The activities of the essential oil and purified isomers were compared with N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) by a paired t-test. E,Z-Nepetalactone was the most active of the compounds tested, being significantly more active to this species than equivalent doses of DEET, the essential oil, or Z,E-nepetalactone. Antennectomized insects showed no response to concentrations that were active against intact insects.
Hall Thruster Cathode Flow Impact on Coupling Voltage and Cathode Life

The cathode coupling voltage in Hall thrusters, which is the voltage difference between the cathode and the thruster beam plasma potential, is considered an indicator of the ease with which electrons flow from cathode to anode.Historically, the coupling voltage has beenminimizedby increasing the amount of propellant injected through the hollow cathode due to early observations that thismaximizes the discharge (or anode) efficiency.However, recent experiments described here show that the total thruster efficiency is independent of the cathode flow over the range from 5 to 10%of the propellant injected into the thruster body through the anode. For this reason, cathode flow rates can be reduced closer to the classic plume mode limit characteristic of the hollow cathode design without impacting the total thruster efficiency. Such reductions in cathode flow rate can significantly extend the cathode life, especially for higher-power Hall thrusters with larger discharge currents, where the normal Hall thruster cathode flow split will significantly exceed the optimum level for cathode operation and life.
Surgical management of adult inferior turbinate hypertrophy: a systematic review of the evidence.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The evidence-based medicine (EBM) schema advocates critical appraisal of the scientific literature for treatment of diseases. The objective of this review was to analyze the role of surgery for symptomatic adult inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) by focusing on the following question: In adults with nasal airway obstruction (NAO) from documented ITH having failed medical therapy, does inferior turbinate surgery improve disease-specific quality of life, symptoms, and/or objective parameters with minimum 6-month follow-up?. Study Design: Evidence-based review. Methods: Articles for inclusion were identified by query of appropriate search terms in the PubMed database. The articles were reviewed independently by two authors and assigned an evidence level based on standard EBM guidelines. Results: The search yielded 514 abstracts for review, retrieved 143 abstracts for full review, and included 96 articles in the report. The majority of the articles were assigned level 4 (75) or level 5 (18) evidence. One report was assigned level 1 and two reports were assigned level 2. Median number of patients reported was 50 (range, 1–533). Subjective assessment parameters were reported in 80 studies. Objective parameters were evaluated in 36 studies, including acoustic rhinometry or rhinomanometry (26) and mucociliary function (8). Overwhelming data supported efficacy of surgery for NAO from ITH with positive results reported in 93 studies. Conclusions: The literature provides considerable level 4 and 5 evidence for efficacy of surgery for adult symptomatic ITH. Given the paucity of level 1 and 2 data, future studies should focus on prospective studies with matched control groups for comparison.
The Functional Role of Alternative Splicing of Ca2+‐Activated K+ Channels in Auditory Hair Cells

Turtle auditory hair cells are frequency tuned by the activity of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channels, the frequency range being dictated primarily by the channel kinetics. Seven alternatively spliced isoforms of the KCa channel alpha-subunit, resulting from exon insertion at two splice sites, were isolated from turtle hair cells. These, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, produced KCa channels with a range of apparent calcium sensitivities and channel kinetics. However, most expressed channels were less calcium sensitive than the hair cells' native KCa channels. Coexpression of alpha-subunit with a bovine beta-subunit substantially increased the channel's calcium sensitivity while markedly slowing its kinetics, but kinetic differences between isoforms were preserved. These data suggest a molecular mechanism for hair cell frequency tuning involving differential expression of different KCa channel alpha-subunits in conjunction with an expression gradient of a regulatory beta-subunit.
Whirling and stability of flywheel systems, part I: Derivation of combined and lumped parameter models

Abstract The objective of this paper is to provide a theoretical foundation to predict many aspects of dynamic behavior of flywheel systems when spin-tested with a quill shaft support and driven by an air turbine. Theoretical analyses for the following are presented: (1) determination of natural frequencies (or for brevity critical speeds of various orders), (2) Routh-type stability analysis to determine the stability limits (i.e., the speed range within which small perturbations attenuate rather than cause catastrophic failure), and (3) forced whirling analysis to estimate the response of major components of the system to flywheel mass eccentricity and initial tilt. For the first and third kinds of analyses, two different mathematical models of the generic system are investigated. One is a seven-degree-of-freedom lumped parameter analysis, while the other is a combined distributed and lumped parameter analysis.
Association of physical activity with lower type 2 diabetes incidence is weaker among individuals at high genetic risk.

Aims/hypothesis We examined whether or not the association of physical activity with type 2 diabetes incidence differs according to several types of genetic susceptibility.
SAICAR Stimulates Pyruvate Kinase Isoform M2 and Promotes Cancer Cell Survival in Glucose-Limited Conditions

Pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) plays an important role in the growth and metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells in stress conditions. Here, we report that SAICAR (succinylaminoimidazolecarboxamide ribose-5'-phosphate, an intermediate of the de novo purine nucleotide synthesis pathway) specifically stimulates PKM2. Upon glucose starvation, cellular SAICAR concentration increased in an oscillatory manner and stimulated PKM2 activity in cancer cells. Changes in SAICAR amounts in cancer cells altered cellular energy level, glucose uptake, and lactate production. The SAICAR-PKM2 interaction also promoted cancer cell survival in glucose-limited conditions. SAICAR accumulation was not observed in normal adult epithelial cells or lung fibroblasts, regardless of glucose conditions. This allosteric regulation may explain how cancer cells coordinate different metabolic pathways to optimize their growth in the nutrient-limited conditions commonly observed in the tumor microenvironment.
Metoclopramide-induced tardive dyskinesia: A case report

A case of tardive dyskinesia developed in a patient who had been treated with metoclopramide for 8 months. Acute extrapyramidal side effects are also possible with this medication. Guidelines for the use of metoclopramide are presented with special emphasis on patients with renal insufficiency and the elderly. The importance of consultation-liaison psychiatrists' familiarity with the neurologic side effects of this commonly prescribed drug used in general medical practice is emphasized.
An efficient algorithm for byzantine agreement without authentication

Byzantine Agreement involves a system of n processes, of which some t may be faulty. The problem is for the correct processes to agree on a binary value sent by a transmitter that may itself be one of the n processes. If the transmitter sends the same value to each process, then all correct processes must agree on that value, but in any case, they must agree on some value. An explicit solution not using authentication for n = 3t + 1 processes is given, using 2t + 3 rounds and O(t3 log t) message bits. This solution is easily extended to the general case of n ⩾ 3t + 1 to give a solution using 2t + 3 rounds and O(nt + t3 log t) message bits.
Mussels (Mytilus sp.) as an indicator of lead pollution

The lead contents of two species of mussels (Mytilus californianus and M. edulis) collected along the Pacific coast from Piedras Blancas, California to Punta Banda, Baja California were determined by isotope dilution method. The whole soft parts of the mussels, on a dry weight basis, contained from 0.27 to 42 ppm of lead, which can be related to their local habitats. The gill tissues of the mussels showed the highest lead concentration.
Impact of personal values on agricultural research

The scientific cadre often assumes that research and fanning decisions are value‐free. Biological scientists and agricultural producers need to recognize how our values influence the degree to which we engage difficult long‐term economic, environmental, and social impacts of technology. Identification and clarification of values can help shape and inform decisions on research and production practices. Envisioning activities can create an awareness of the consequences of current systems and open new vistas for the future. Envisioning how a farm or a community can appear in 25 years engenders challenges to current assumptions about efficiencies of scale, impacts of new technologies, and social consequences of changes in agricultural systems. Scientists can “learn from the future”; by examining successful and unsuccessful models tried in other places and times, and create preferable futures that reflect values of producers and society rather than accepting a trend‐based future for each farm and community.
Effect of dietary fat on the release rate of cholesterol from swine erythrocytes.

SummaryThree groups of swine were fed for 8 mo the basal ration; the basal ration plus 17% corn oil or the basal ration plus 17% hydrogenated fat which contained 50% trans fatty acids (margarine base stock). The cholesterol content in the plasma was higher in those fed hydrogenated fat diet as compared to those fed the basal or corn oil. However, the cholesterol content in the erythrocytes appeared to be constant regardless of dietary fat. Different dietary fats resulted in considerable differences in the total fatty acid patterns of the plasma and erythrocyte lipids. The release rate of cholesterol from the erythrocytes obtained from swine fed the different dietary fats was compared from cholesterol specific activity changes vs time. The results indicate that the time required to reach 50% equilibration for the erythrocytes and plasma from those fed corn oil, basal diet, and hydrogenated fat was; 1.24, 1.32, and 1.98 hr; respectively. A possible explanation for the slower release rate of cholesterol in t...
Advertising and its Effect on Industrial Concentration: A Contingency Perspective

Abstract The ongoing debate over the effect of advertising on industrial concentration is investigated. Evidence from prior literature appears to indicate that there is no consistent relationship across industries. A framework which maintains that the effect of advertising on industrial concentration is contingent upon the type of industry being examined (convenience vs. nonconvenience) is proposed. In particular, it is proposed that: a) advertising is positively associated with industrial concentration in convenience goods industries; and b) advertising is not associated with industrial concentration in nonconvenience industries. Longitudinal data from the soft drink and personal computer industries is analyzed using a distributed-lag model to demonstrate the validity of the framework.
Restoring the Ethnolinguistic Rights of Bulgaria's Turkish Minority

This article presents a fairly detailed account of the positive changes in restoring the ethnolinguistic rights of Bulgaria's Turkish minority since the post-10 November 1989 reversal of former Communist leader Todor Zhivkov's policy of cultural-linguistic assimilation. In spite of strong opposition and nationwide protests by various nationalist parties and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of ordinary Bulgarians, gone are the worst abuses of the Zhivkov era, such as the government's prohibition of ethnic Turks speaking Turkish in public, learning their ancestral language in school, bearing Muslim names, performing Turkish folk music and dance, or having access to periodicals, books, radio and TV programs in Turkish.
Purification and partial characterization of a 31-kDa cysteine endopeptidase from germinated barley

Proteolytic enzymes hydrolyze cereal seed storage proteins into small peptides and amino acids, which are very important for seed germination and the malting process. A cysteine-class endopeptidase was purified from 4-d-germinated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Morex). Four purification steps were used, carboxymethyl cellulose cation-exchange chromatography, chromatofocusing, size-exclusion chromatography, and electroelution from a polyacrylamide gel. The endopeptidase was most active at pH 4.5. It's isoelectric point (pI) was 4.4, as determined by isoelectric focusing, and it's SDS-PAGE molecular size was 31 kDa. The enzyme specifically hydrolyzed peptide bonds when the S2 site contained relatively large hydrophobic amino acids. The N-terminal amino acid sequence residues (1–9) of the 31-kDa endopeptidase had high homology to those of the EP-A and EP-B cysteine proteinases reported previously. The 31-kDa endopeptidase had a hydrolytic specificity similar to that of the Morex green malt 30-kDa endopeptidase we characterized previously, and also reacted with the antibody raised against the purified 30-kDa proteinase, but the two had different mobilities on non-denaturing PAGE. The hydrolytic specificities of both 30- and 31-kDa endopeptidases are such that both would very quickly cleave hordein (barley storage) proteins to small glutamine- and proline-rich peptides that could be quickly degraded to amino acids by barley exopeptidases.
Automated control synthesis for an assembly line using discrete event system control theory

The design of logic controllers for event-driven systems continue to rely largely on intuitive methods rather than on formal techniques. This approach results in a control code that requires extensive verification, is hard to maintain and modify, and may even fail at times. Supervisory control theory (SCT) provides a formal approach to logic control synthesis. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of the supervisory control theory in manufacturing systems, an educational test-bed that simulates an automated car assembly line has been built using LEGO/spl reg/ blocks. Finite state machines (FSMs) are used for modeling operations of the assembly line, and for the specifications that accomplish the task of successfully completing the assembly repeatedly. Using the technique of SCT, we derive a supervisor that enforces the specifications while offering the maximum flexibility of assembly. Subsequently a controller is extracted from the maximally permissive supervisor for the purpose of implementing the control by selecting, when possible, at most one controllable event from among the ones allowed by the supervisor. Testing to check the correctness of the control code is reduced, since the controller is guaranteed to enforce the specifications.
Effects of a Structured Weight-Bearing Exercise Program on Bone Metabolism Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Trial

Purpose Treatments for breast cancer, specifically hormonal therapy, accelerate bone loss (BL) among breast cancer survivors, leading to osteoporosis and an increase in fracture risk. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a moderate form of weight-bearing exercise, equivalent to walking, and it has been shown to improve aerobic capacity and strength among breast cancer survivors and might also be effective in slowing bone loss in breast cancer survivors. This pilot study compared the influence of TCC with that of standard support therapy (ST; exercise control) on BL biomarkers among breast cancer survivors.
Effect of Using Electronic Apex Locators on Selected Endodontic Treatment Parameters

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of using electronic apex locators on the number of radiographs taken and the adequacy in length of the final obturation. Patients in an undergraduate student endodontics clinic participated in the study. The working length (WL) was estimated by the authors for all cases (36 teeth; 58 canals), using both a preoperative standardized radiograph and an electronic measurement. The students were then asked to place WL files to one of the estimates (electronic or radiographic; chosen by random assignment) and take a WL radiograph. Neither the students nor their instructors knew which method was chosen for the estimates. Once treatment was completed, the total number of working radiographs was counted. The number of cases with acceptable (0 to 2 mm short of the apex) or unacceptable obturation was also blindly registered. An electronic estimate of the WL improved length quality of the final obturation, compared with a radiographic estimate. The number of working radiographs taken was less in the electronic apex locator group in anterior and premolar teeth, but not in molars.
Schools engaged in school-wide reading reform: an examination of the school and individual student predictors of kindergarten early reading outcomes

This study examined the school and student predictors of early reading outcomes for kindergarten students enrolled in schools that participated in a beginning reading reform program. The study employed a nested design with students nested within schools and applied hierarchical linear modeling analyses to account for the organizational structure of the dataset. Fifty-seven schools were selected from all of the Hawaiian Islands to participate in the Institute on Beginning Reading (IBR), a research-based model of school-wide reading improvement. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the existence and magnitude of school effects on student early reading outcomes for schools engaged in a beginning reading reform model. Subjects were 3,652 Kindergarteners nested within 57 schools across the Hawaiian Islands. Results indicate that there were both significant and meaningful differences between schools on kindergarten early reading outcomes.
Interference, extraversion and paired-associate learning.

Recently, McLaughlin & Eysenck (1967) found extraverts superior to introverts on both easy and difficult paired-associate tasks. These data were interpreted by assuming that introverts possess higher cortical arousal which interferes with the integration on the lists. This inference is supported by Jensen's (1964) finding of introverts being less resistant to response competition in a serial-learning task.
Technique modification for radioactive implants when plastic tubes are used in fibrosed head and neck areas

Severe fibrosis around an area implanted with plastic tubes required a strong pulling tension force to place them in position. This pull produced a stretching of the tubes, and a consequent narrowing of the lumen, making afterloading with radioactive seeds impossible. Comments about this problem are made. Regular techniques in this situation cannot be used, and a technique modification is proposed.
Effects of ethanol and of other factors on ADP-induced aggregation of human blood platelets in vitro.

Abstract In studying the inhibition of ADP-induced human platelet aggregation, it became necessary to ascertain exacting conditions for interpreting biodynamic responses generated by even minor alterations in molecular constitution. The influence of ethanol was evaluated along with the effect of post-venipuncture and incubation time. The experimental conditions were studied in the absence as well as in the presence of platelet-aggregationinhibitor aspirin.
The Sophy: News of Shah Ismail Safavi in Renaissance Europe

Shah Ismail Safavi emerged as the revolutionary leader of a new, Shiʻite movement in western Iran in the early years of the sixteenth century. News of his rise to power reached Western Europe almost immediately and provoked a wide range of responses: some observers hoped he would join the Christian princes of Europe in a new offensive against their common enemy, the Ottoman Turks. Others saw him as an economic and social revolutionary who brought justice to the poor and dispossessed of Persia and whose works might occasion similar reforms in Europe. Yet others saw his rise as a providential event, freighted with apocalyptic significance, or perhaps a divine endorsement of some more particular domestic agenda. Learned humanist observers in Italy and elsewhere found themselves on several sides of the question, expressing first scepticism and then later qualified enthusiasm for this new Islamic prince. The circulation of information about Shah Ismail was fluid, unpredictable, and shaped by local conditions; the printing press also played an important role in transmitting—and transforming—the story of the “Sophy” across Renaissance Europe.
Deciphering a mechanism of membrane permeabilization by α-hordothionin peptide

α-Hordothionin (αHTH) belongs to thionins, the plant antimicrobial peptides with membrane-permeabilizing activity which is associated with broad-range antimicrobial activity. Experimental data have revealed a phospholipid-binding site and indicated formation of ion channels as well as membrane disruption activity of thionin. However, the mechanism of membrane permeabilization by thionin remained unknown. Here it is shown that thionin is a small water-selective channel. Unbiased high-precision molecular modeling revealed formation of a water-selective pore running through the αHTH double α-helix core when the peptide interacted with anions. Anion-induced unfolding of the C-end of the α2-helix opened a pore mouth. The pore started at the α2 C-end between the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic regions of the peptide surface and ended in the middle of the unique hydrophobic region at the C-end of the α1-helix. Highly conserved residues including cysteines and tyrosine lined the pore walls. A large positive electrostatic potential accumulated inside the pore. The narrow pore was, nonetheless, sufficient to accommodate at least one water molecule along the channel except for two constriction sites. Both constriction sites were formed by residues participating in the phospholipid-binding site. The channel properties resembled that of aquaporins with two selectivity filters, one at the entrance, inside the α2 C-end cavity, and a second in the middle of the channel. It is proposed that the αHTH water channel delivers water molecules to the bilayer center that leads to local membrane disruption. The proposed mechanism of membrane permeabilization by thionins explains seemingly controversial experimental data.
Nurses' Hand Hygiene Practices: Effects of Scenario, Knowledge, and Locus of Control

Inadequate hand hygiene for healthcare workers is one of the most common sources of pathogen transmission in hospitals. In the current study nurses were surveyed as to their level of hand hygiene knowledge, internal locus of control, and risk assessment of specific scenarios. Scenarios were manipulated as to the person involved, the location of possible transmission, and the level of risk in the scenario. Results indicated a need for product designers and hygiene educators to focus on hospital surfaces, worker beliefs, and increasing hand hygiene education.
On the Contributions of RXComplex and Agonist-Receptor Complex to Formation of the Ternary Complex: Results of a New Method of Analysis

Abstract More than 2 decades ago it was demonstrated that responses of some well-studied biochemical systems were not proportional to occupation of receptors by hormones specific for the receptors, even when the receptors were considered to be very closely coupled to the response. A plausible hypothesis devised to account for some of those results involved the formation of a ternary complex consisting of receptorRhormone (or transmitter) ligandLand so-called regulatory or transducer protein X . The most successful experimental-theoretical study of such a system was that of DeLeanet al.(1980) who showed that the adenylate cyclase-linked β-adrenergic system of frog erythrocyte membranes conformed closely to the theoretical model of Jacobs & Cuatrecasas (1976). Not only did conformity to the theory require the formation of ternary complex X but also of significant quantities of binary complex X X as well. Black & Leff (1983) were the first to adapt the ternary complex hypothesis to describe experiments of the types commonly carried out by pharmacologists. It was later utilized for this purpose by others such as Mackay (1987, 1988), Morganet al.(1988), Jenkinson (1989) and Leff & Harper (1989). Although all of these writers gave due attention to the ternary complex in their formulations, they omitted from their calculations the X complex to whose significance DeLeanet al.had drawn attention. In the following treatment we have reconsidered the role of the binary X complex from new points of view and have shown thatR X complex contributed to formation of the ternary complex in the experiments of DeLeanet al.but that agonist-receptor complex did not do so. These results contradict the suggestion of DeLeanet al.concerning the “simplest” mechanistic explanation of their observations.
Effects of polymeric dispersants and surfactants on the dispersing stability and high-speed-jetting properties of aqueous-pigment-based ink-jet inks

Good jetting performance and pigment-dispersing stability are necessary for pigment-based ink-jet inks. This study investigates how the chemical structures of the polymeric dispersants affect the pigment-dispersing stability and jetting performance of ink-jet inks. A series of polymeric dispersants containing styrene (hydrophobic unit) and acrylic acid (hydrophilic unit) with different ratios have been synthesized and used to disperse different pigments. Because 3000–12,000 ink drops can be expelled from the nozzle of a thermal bubble-type ink-jet printer within 1 s, the jetting behavior is related to the rheology variation of a dilute solution under a high shear. An in situ drop formation system has been used to study the high-shear-rate rheology (dynamic surface tension and dynamic viscosity) of a solution with a viscosity lower than 3 cps, which no commercial rheometer can measure. Excellent ink-jet inks can only be produced by the combination of pigments, dispersants, and surfactants with appropriate hydrophilicity. Moreover, the correlation of the pigment surface properties, the chemical structures of the polymeric dispersants, and ink formulation is discussed. The effects of the surfactants and firing conditions on the jetting behavior of the ink-jet ink are also examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1909–1920, 2003
Influence of macroscopic and microscopic interactions on kinetic rate constants. III. Determination of von Smoluchowski's f-factor for HSA adsorption onto various metal oxide microparticles, using the extended DLVO approach

Abstract The adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) onto hydrophobic talc and various types of hydrophilic silica has been studied. The kinetic adsorption constants for each case were determined experimentally, using time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopy. Von-Smoluchowski's f-factor, a measure of the dominance of the macroscopic protein repulsion by the solid surface, was determined for each protein-surface system. The free energies of both macroscopic (repulsive) and microscopic (attractive) interactions between HSA and solid substrata were calculated via extended DLVO (XDLVO) analysis. The combination of such kinetic and thermodynamic data can lead to the estimation of a number of other parameters which are characteristic for each system and contain significant information, such as the mean microscopic and macroscopic-scale interaction energies between protein and solid substratum and the ratio of unfavorable to favorable protein orientations during adsorption, as well as the average net total ratio of repulsion over attraction. The latter was found to be inversely proportional to the amount of HSA adsorbed onto the various mineral particles, after 1 h exposure. Furthermore, detailed examination of all kinetic adsorption parameters leads to the conclusion that the equilibrium affinity constant, extrapolated to zero time K aff t → 0 is the parameter which rather accurately defines the specific interactions for a given protein-solid substratum system. However the most precise characterization of a given protein-substratum system is defined by both the specific (microscopic) adsorption k a mic and the specific (microscopic) desorption k d mic rate constants, which are obtained after elimination of the influence of the aspecific (macroscopic) factors which strongly influence the overall rate constants (ka and kd).
Financial impact of endoscopic vein harvest for infrainguinal bypass.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the financial and clinical impact of endoscopic saphenous vein harvest for lower extremity bypass. Methods: The charts of all patients who underwent elective infrainguinal bypass with saphenous vein since we began using endoscopic harvest were analyzed, and the data were compared with our concomitant series of conventionally harvested bypasses. Wound complications were classified as cellulitis (I), an open/draining wound (II), or threatened/exposed graft (III). Actual hospital costs were analyzed in a subset of 84 patients without excessive preoperative stay or additional major inflow or flap procedures, and the financial data were converted to 2001 US dollars. Results: From March 1999 to December 2001, 242 bypasses were performed with open (n = 134) or endoscopic (n = 108) vein harvest techniques. Overall (34.1% versus 20.4%; P P P P Conclusion: Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest results in a cost savings of more than $1200 per procedure during hospitalization and of almost $2200 per procedure including the costs of readmission. This is primarily from a shortened length of stay, a decreased rate of major wound infections, and a reduction in the need for early readmission. (J Vasc Surg 2003;37:323-30.)
Theatre-Making: Interplay between Text and Performance in the 21st Century

Some books take you by the hand and gently guide you through their corridors of insight and knowledge. Others propel you into the heart of matters and never let go. Duska Radosavljevic’s Theatre-Ma...
The student prompt: Student feedback and change in teaching practices in postsecondary computer science

Research on retaining students in computer science is clear: pedagogical and curricular interventions that are experienced by all students are the most effective. Yet understanding what brings faculty to modify their teaching practices is scant. This study presents findings from a study based on interviews with 66 computer science professors and instructors in the U.S. Faculty described various sources of student feedback that prompt them to change their teaching practices. Though not originally an interview topic, every instructor mentioned ways in which student feedback instigated change. Faculty described several sources of feedback that influence teaching choices, with the goal of trying to improve their teaching. These include formalized evaluations; feedback inferred from student performance; direct requests from students; and students' nonverbal behavior. As sources of evidence for making decisions about teaching practices, each of these is problematic. We describe what makes them problematic and offer solutions described by faculty interviewed.
Image formation in EUV lithography: Multilayer and resist properties

We report the results of a modeling study of the image formation process in EUVL. Using a rigorous diffraction scheme, we compute the propagation of the mask image in the multilayer stack. The same approach is used to compute the aberrations induced by the multilayer stack on converging beams. We show that in the first case the multilayer stack introduces a change in the mask image that affects the final image projected on the water and that in the second case the multilayers introduce a non-negligible amount of spherical aberration in the propagating beam.
Diagnostic and prognostic significance of minimally elevated creatine kinase-mb in suspected acute myocardial infarction

Abstract CK-MB changes were studied using agarose gel electrophoresis in 244 patients admitted to a coronary care unit for suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A range of minimally elevated CK-MB levels, from 1 to 24 IU/liter, was identified as representing uncertain AMI events. Positive AMI events were defined by elevations of 25 IU/liter or more documented in patients with new 0 waves or abnormalities in all enzyme and isoenzyme levels. Negative AMI events were defined by elevatilon of 0 IU/Ilter, observed in all control subjects. The 1-year cardiac mortality rates in the “positive”-AMI (n = 91) and “uncertain”-AMI (n = 22) groups were identical (22%), and significantly higher than that in the “negative”-AMI group (n = 93) (6%) (p
Erodibility of a soil drainage sequence in the loess uplands of Mississippi

ARTICLE I NFO The susceptibility of loess soils in the lower Mississippi to runoff and erosion losses varies as a function of landscape position and mapping units. This study was conducted to determine the effects of soil drainage on physical and chemical properties that influence erodibility through their control of aggregate stability. Soil samples were collected from the A- and B-horizons of the five representative pedons in the Memphis catena whose drainage class varied from well-drained to poorly-drained. The fine earth fraction (b2 mm) of each soil was characterized for a range of basic soil physical and chemical properties. Additional sub-samples (b8 mm) were placed in a rainfall simulator pan (0.6 m×0.6 m test area) and subjected to simulated rainfall at an intensity of 64 mm h �1 . Soil erodibility was assessed by the use of an aggregation index (AI) computed from water dispersible clay (WDC) relative to total clay contents. The data show that as soil drainage classes became wetter, the percentage of sediment b53 µm increased with a decrease in soil AI resulting from a loss of Fe, Al, and Si oxide cementing agents. These results suggest that cementing agents responsible for soil aggregate stabilization are mobilized under conditions of relatively low redox potentials which increase soil erodibility.
Student class standing, Facebook use, and academic performance

Abstract Although some research has shown a negative relation between Facebook use and academic performance, more recent research suggests that this relation is likely mitigated by multitasking. This study examined the time students at different class ranks spent on Facebook, the time they spent multitasking with Facebook, as well as the activities they engaged in on the site ( N = 1649). The results showed that seniors spent significantly less time on Facebook and spent significantly less time multitasking with Facebook than students at other class ranks. Time spent on Facebook was significantly negatively predictive of GPA for freshmen but not for other students. Multitasking with Facebook was significantly negatively predictive of GPA for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors but not for seniors. The results are discussed in relation to freshmen transition tasks and ideas for future research are provided.