cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Absorption spectrophotometry of turbid suspensions: a method of correcting for large systematic distortions.

Abstract Absorption spectra of intact biological materials as measured with conventional spectrophotometers are normally distorted by light-scattering losses and the “sieve effect.” A scattering correction is described which may be obtained from two experimental absorption curves measured with different effective distances between the sample and the photocell. A correction for the sieve effect is based on theoretical relations derived by Duysens and co-workers. Applied to suspensions of chloroplasts and of red blood cells, the resulting method gave spectra of the intact materials which quantitatively agree with those expected from the spectra of the extracted pigments and with data given in the literature.
New Belgrade and Socialist Yugoslavia’s Three Globalisations

New Belgrade was the most ambitious urban project of Yugoslavia's socialist modernisation. Its fabric bears the inscriptions of three distinct globalisation projects in which the country participated as its foreign policy shifted from the most faithful ally of the USSR to the brink of joining NATO, and then to one of the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement. This article analyses how the key symbolic spaces of New Belgrade were shaped by these three globalisation projects and, in turn, how they participated in the shaping of socialist Yugoslavia's global imaginaries. Currently undergoing a fourth, neolibaralglobalisation, the urban palimpsest of New Belgrade challenges not only the stereotypical assumptions about socialist architecture, but also the binary topology of utopian dreamworlds of the Cold War, which had its third, nonaligned side.
Gender and judicial decisions: Do female judges decide cases differently than male judges?

After more than thirty years of feminism and dramatic changes in the number of women entering the legal profession, legal scholars and researchers continue to debate the impact of women's presence on the administration of justice. Central to this debate is the question of whether gender affects legal outcome. Using data collected from state trial judges (N=195) in Pennsylvania, this study examines whether the gender of the litigant and/or judge affects case outcome. Findings show that while litigant characteristics do not affect judicial decisions, the gender of the judge does.
Layoffs, Plant Closings, and Worker Displacement in America: Serious Problems that Need a National Solution

Pervasive economic changes in America during the past decade have generated severe structural adjustment problems for millions of long-service blue-collar workers. Public and private efforts to help these workers are inadequate and tardy in delivery. This article examines the severity of the displaced worker problem, reviews what is currently being done, and argues that America needs a new displaced worker adjustment program. In December 1986 the Secretary of Labor's Task Force proposed such a program, and most of it has since been passed by Congress and signed into law. If this legislation is fully implemented, it will fill a major gap in the nation's employment and training policy, and help America remain competitive in the world marketplace.
The Mooij criterion and weak localization

Abstract Formulae are obtained which show that when the residual resistivity of a metal lies in the range, 100–200μΩ-cm, where the temperature coefficient of resistivity α becomes zero (Mooij Criterion), the electron mean free path, the weak field coherence length and the Fermi wavelength are approximately equal. Arguments are made to show that the concept of weak localization must break down at the resistivity where the α≈0. In degenerate semiconductors these formulae predict the residual resistivity at which the Hall mobility is a maximum and where the negative magneto- resistivity, associated with weak localization, increases rapidly.
Panic disorder in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Several lines of investigation strongly support the notion that panic disorder afflicts at least one third of patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and unexplained chest pain. Panic disorder is a common problem, affecting 1-2% of the U.S. population. Current research suggests an etiology that is both psychophysiologic and cognitive. The locus ceruleus and cortico-releasing factor are implicated in the biological circuit associated with panic attacks, while psychological research indicates that catastrophic thinking, phobic responses to somatic sensations, and repressed anger, grief, and traumatic events play a part in triggering attacks. Treatment consists of pharmacologic interventions, including antidepressants and benzodiazepines, as well as psychotherapeutic work focusing on catastrophic thinking and repressed anger, grief responses, and other traumatic experiences.
Effect of retinoid analogues on mammary cancer in transgenic mice with c-neu breast cancer oncogene.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and is a leading cause of mortality in women. The TG.NK transgenic mouse line expresses the c-neu breast cancer oncogene under the control of an MMTV promoter and appears to be a useful animal model for evaluation of intervention strategies to delay/prevent breast cancer. Fiber-rich nonpurified diet (NTP-2000), as compared to a purified diet (AIN-76A), has previously been shown to significantly delay the development of mammary cancer in the TG.NK model. Four-week old hemizygous TG.NK female mice with MMTV/c-neu oncogene were fed NTP-2000 diet containing the retinoid analogue 4-hydroxyphenyl retinamide (4-HPR) at 5 mM/kg or an arotinoid Ro 40-8757 at 2 and 3 mmol/kg for 26 weeks. The 4-HPR at 5 mmol/kg diet delayed the development of palpable tumors up to 24 weeks, but by 26 weeks, the incidence was not significantly different from the NTP-2000 diet control group. However, the 4-HPR diet markedly decreased the average weight of the tumors at 26 weeks. The 4-HPR diet also caused a significant increase in body weight without an increase in food consumption. Arotinoid Ro-40-8757 at both doses inhibited the development of mammary tumors for the duration of the study. However, the Ro 40-8757 at 3 mmol/kg appeared to be toxic as indicated by a significant depression of the average body weight with alopecia and skin scaling in some mice. Our observations with TG.NK transgenic mouse and fiber-rich diet (NTP-2000) indicate that the arotinoid Ro 40-8757 has a markedly higher inhibitory effect on the development of mammary cancer than 4-HPR. Studies to evaluate genetic changes and expression of hormonal receptors and growth factors associated with the inhibition of mammary cancer development by the retinoid analogues are in progress.
Association between resting and exercise hemodynamics with renal function in patients with heart failure and depressed ejection fraction

Background:Abnormal renal function is commonly seen in patients with heart failure and it portrays a poor prognosis. Although worsening cardiac output is thought to play a major role in pathogenesis of renal dysfunction, this theory has not been proven conclusively. In this study, we sought to assess the resting and exercise hemodynamics among heart failure patients and its correlation with renal function. Methods: One hundred and eighty four patients with ejection fraction 40%who underwent hemodynamic exercise testing were studied. Patients on dialysis were excluded. Patients were divided into groups based on quartiles of serum creatinine distribution: group 1 1.0 mg/dl, group 2 1.0–1.2 mg/dl, group 3 1.21–1.6 mg/dl, and group 4 1.61 mg/dl. These groups were compared for various clinical and hemodynamic parameters. Independent predictors of increasing serum creatinine were assessed. Results: Serum creatinine ranged from 0.5–4.1 mg/dl (mean 1.3 0.5 mg/dl). There were no significant differences between the four groups based on treatment with diuretics or ACE inhibitors, whereas beta-blockers were used less frequently in patients with worse renal function (74%, 70%, 80%, 59% between groups 1-4 respectively, p 0.03). Significant baseline differences between groups 1-4 included: age50 13, 52 11, 55 10, and 59 10 years (p 0.01), body surface area 1.96 0.27, 1.98 0.25, 2.05 0.18, and 2.08 0.23 m2 (p 0.04), peak oxygen consumption 12.4 3.6, 13.0 3.0, 12.3 3.0, and 11.5 2.7 ml/min/kg (p 0.01), resting cardiac index 2.03 0.52, 2.12 0.69, 1.87 0.45, and 1.84 0.43 l/min/m2 (p 0.03), peak exercise cardiac index 4.10 1.47, 4.53 1.09, 3.99 1.07, and 3.84 1.01 l/min/m2 (p 0.04), and history of peripheral vascular disease 15%, 9%, 21%, and 28% (p 0.03), among groups 1–4 respectively. Similarly, there were trends towards differences in mean blood pressure, ischemic etiology, and history of diabetes and hypertension, but these results did not reach statistical significance. Other than resting and exercise cardiac index, there were no other hemodynamic differences noted between the four groups in bivariate analysis. When other significant associations were controlled for, neither resting nor exercise cardiac index was not associated with renal function independently. Conclusion: Resting and exercise hemodynamics do not explain abnormal renal function among patients with heart failure and depressed ejection fraction. With the exception of extreme cases, other mechanisms explaining renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure needs to be explored.
THz spectroscopy of the atmosphere

THz spectroscopy of the atmosphere has been driven by the need to make remote sensing measurements of OH. While the THz region can be used for sensitive detection on many atmospheric molecules, the THz region is the best region for measuring the diurnal behavior of stratospheric OH by remote sensing. The infrared region near 3 microns suffers from chemiluminescence and from spectral contamination due to water. The ultraviolet region near 300 nm requires solar illumination. The three techniques for OH emission measurements in the THz region include Fourier Transform interferometry, Fabry-Perot interferometry, and heterodyne radiometry. The first two use cryogenic direct detectors while the last technique uses a local oscillator and a mixer to down convert the THz signal to GHz frequencies. All techniques have been used to measure stratospheric OH from balloon platforms. OH results from the Fabry-Perot based FILOS instrument will be given. Heterodyne measurement of OH at 2.5 THz has been selected to be a component of the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Earth Observing System CHEM-1 polar satellite. The design of this instrument will be described. A balloon-based prototype heterodyne 2.5 THz radiometer had its first flight on, 24 May 1998. Results form this flight will be presented.
Free radical adducts induce alterations in DNA cytosine methylation.

Abstract Methylation of cytosines in DNA is important for the regulation of expression of many genes. During carcinogenesis, normal patterns of gene methylation can be altered. Oxygen radical injury, shown to damage DNA in a variety of ways associated with cancer development and other conditions, has been suggested to affect DNA methylation, but a mechanism has not been demonstrated. Using oligonucleotides containing the common oxygen radical adduct 8-hydroxyguanine to replace guanine, we found that the enzymatic methylation of adjacent cytosines is profoundly altered. Furthermore, there is a high degree of positional specificity with respect to this effect. Thus, free radical injury may explain some of the altered methylation observed during carcinogenesis.
Gestalt Approaches to Assessing Strategic Coalignment: A Conceptual Integration1

SUMMARY Strategic coalignment involves a configuration comprising the external environment, internal organizational arrangements and organizational effectiveness. Each of the above elements is constrained, quasi-deterministic (especially in the short-term) and multidimensional. For the open systems property of equifinality to be satisfied, organizational effectiveness profiles need to be considered endogenous to a gestalt containing all the three elements. Strategic fit would then be assessed in terms of the consistency of the gestalt. This approach would also position coalignment research more consistently with strategic management's goal of adaptive fit, as well the other open systems property of homeostasis. A modified analytical approach is suggested.
Joint distribution of peaks and valleys in a stochastic process

General expressions and numerical results are presented pertaining to the occurrence of two local extrema of a stochastic process at prescribed time values. The extrema may be either peaks or valleys and the process may be either stationary or nonstationary. General formulas are presented for the rates of occurrence, the joint and conditional probability distributions, and the moments of the extreme values. These formulas are relatively simple multiple-integral expressions, but the integrands involve the joint probability density function for six random variables. The procedures are then applied for the special case of a stationary mean-zero Gaussian process for which the calculations are greatly simplified. Numerical results for three different spectral density functions demonstrate that conditioning on either only the existence or both the existence and the value of one peak can have a very significant effect on both the rate of occurrence and the probability distribution of a second peak.
On Hamiltonian and symplectic Lanczos processes

Abstract Large sparse Hamiltonian eigenvalue problems arise in a variety of contexts. These problems can be attacked directly, or they can first be transformed to problems having some related structure, such as symplectic or skew-Hamiltonian. In the interest of efficiency, stability, and accuracy, such problems should be solved by methods that preserve the structure, whether it be Hamiltonian, skew-Hamiltonian, or symplectic. The present work outlines Krylov subspace methods for computing partial eigensystems of skew-Hamiltonian, Hamiltonian, and symplectic matrices and records some of the relationships between them. The ordinary unsymmetric Lanczos process is a structure-preserving method for skew-Hamiltonian matrices. The Hamiltonian and symplectic Lanczos processes developed here are condensed versions of the processes that have been published previously. The condensed Hamiltonian Lanczos process applied to H is equivalent to the unsymmetric Lanczos process applied to the skew-Hamiltonian H 2 but costs half as much to execute. The condensed symplectic Lanczos process applied to S is equivalent to the unsymmetric Lanczos process applied to the skew-Hamiltonian matrix S + S −1 but also costs half as much to execute. Implicit restarts of the Hamiltonian and symplectic Lanczos processes can be effected by the SR algorithm. Because of the known relationship between the SR and HR algorithms, the much simpler HR algorithm can be used to restart the condensed symplectic and Hamiltonian Lanczos processes. Each of these restart procedures is equivalent to restarting the unsymmetric Lanczos process using the HR algorithm. The HR algorithm is most effectively implemented as an implicit (bulge-chasing) HZ algorithm on a symmetric, tridiagonal–diagonal pencil T − λD .
Organic/inorganic hybrid network structure nanocomposite scaffolds based on grafted chitosan for tissue engineering

We describe the first study of structure-processing-property relationship in organic/inorganic hybrid network structure nanocomposite scaffolds based on grafted chitosan for bone tissue engineering. Chitosan was first grafted with propylene oxide to form hydroxypropylated chitosan, which was subsequently linked with ethylene glycol functionalized nanohydroxyapatite to form an organic/inorganic network structure. The resulting scaffold was characterized by a highly porous structure and significantly superior physico-chemical, mechanical and biological properties compared to pure chitosan. The scaffolds exhibited high modulus, controlled swelling behavior and reduced water uptake, but the water retention ability was similar to pure chitosan scaffold. MTT assay studies confirmed the non-cytotoxic nature of the scaffolds and enabled degradation products to be analyzed. The nanocomposite scaffolds were biocompatible and supported adhesion, spreading, proliferation and viability of osteoblasts cells. Furthermore, the cells were able to infiltrate and colonize into the pores of the scaffolds and establish cell-cell interactions. The study suggests that hydroxypropylation of chitosan and forming a network structure with a nano-inorganic constituent is a promising approach for enhancing physico-chemical, functional and biological properties for utilization in bone tissue engineering applications.
Flower formation in the short-day plant Kalanchoë by grafting with a long-day and a short-long-day Echeveria.

Flower formation was induced in the shortday plant Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poellnitz under long-day conditions by grafting with flowering shoots of the short-long-day plant Echeveria harmsii (Rose) MacBr. and of the long-day plant Echeveria 'pulvoliver' (E. pulvinata Rose x E. harmsii). Vegetative shoots from induced Echeveria plants failed to cause a flowering response in Kalanchoe. The presence of flowering and vegetative shoots side by side on induced Echeveria plants provides evidence for physiological chimeras in this genus.
Prevalence of extended reconnection X-lines in the solar wind at 1 AU

[1] A survey of Wind and ACE data has been performed to address the generality of previous reports of extremely extended reconnection X-lines in the solar wind. We have studied 51 events in which both Wind and ACE detected the same solar wind current sheets and one of the spacecraft observed a reconnection exhaust. In 50 of the 51 events, the other spacecraft also observed essentially the same reconnection signatures, and all but one of the jets pointed in the same direction at both spacecraft. In 7 of these cases, the X-line extended more than 100 Earth radii (or 10 4 ion skin depths). Our findings strongly indicate that reconnection X-lines in large-scale current sheets (with magnetic shear >∼70°) are fundamentally extended, and not patchy and randomly distributed in space. Finally, the extended reconnecting current sheets are typically highly planar, indicating no significant current sheet warping associated with the reconnection process.
Phonon scattering by impurity platelet precipitates in diamond

An expression is obtained for the relaxation time for scattering of phonons by platelets of precipitated impurities of atomic masses and volume different from the host. For large-diameter platelets a closed expression was used in a model describing plateletlike nitrogen precipitates in type-$\mathrm{I}a$ diamonds. A fit of the model to thermal-conductivity data reported by Slack indicates that the major fraction of nitrogen impurities are present in nonparamagnetic point-defect associations rather than in large precipitates, at least for that specimen. The minor fraction of nitrogen present as platelets governs the thermal conductivity at very low temperatures.
Multiferroics: progress and prospects in thin films.

Multiferroic materials, which show simultaneous ferroelectric and magnetic ordering, exhibit unusual physical properties — and in turn promise new device applications — as a result of the coupling between their dual order parameters. We review recent progress in the growth, characterization and understanding of thin-film multiferroics. The availability of high-quality thin-film multiferroics makes it easier to tailor their properties through epitaxial strain, atomic-level engineering of chemistry and interfacial coupling, and is a prerequisite for their incorporation into practical devices. We discuss novel device paradigms based on magnetoelectric coupling, and outline the key scientific challenges in the field.
17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to prevent prematurity in nulliparas with cervical length less than 30 mm

RESULTS: The frequency of PTB did not differ between the 17-OHP (n 327) and placebo (n 330) groups (25.1% vs 24.2%; relative risk, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.79‐1.35). There also was no difference in the composite adverse neonatal outcome (7.0% vs 9.1%; relative risk, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.46‐1.30). CONCLUSION: Weekly17-OHPdoesnotreducethefrequencyofPTBin nulliparous women with a midtrimester CL30 mm.
Optics curriculum development at the Optical Sciences Center

The broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of optics makes it difficult to develop an optics curriculum with sufficient breadth and depth to adequately teach the material one would like a graduating student to know, and to effectively prepare them for career in optics. The University of Arizona's Optical Sciences Center offers M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs as well as an undergraduate B.S. program, with each of these programs having distinctly different goals and curricula. The primary intent of the Ph.D program is to provide the student with a broad basic optics education plus in-depth education and research experience in a sub-field of optics, while the primary intent of the M.S. program is to provide students with either an in-depth education in a particular optics sub-field or a broad basic optics education. The undergraduate program prepares students for an industrial optics career at the junior engineer level, with tracks or minors that allow a student to also acquire competence in any one of several related fields. In this paper, the various curricula and related examinations that have been developed for these three programs are discussed, along with the considerations that drove their development, their successes, and their shortcomings.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Superconducting cuprates discussed as subperoxides

Abstract Structural and thermodynamic arguments are given that overoxidized superconducting cuprates harbor Cu2+ and O− rather than Cu3+ and represent a yet unrepresented subperoxide series amongst the peroxide family. They behave as expected for anionic O charge order compounds with trends to subperoxide quantization O1−2qq. Optimized superconducting Tc are predictable as 666 K/q reflecting harmonics of the interaction of polaron patterns with the crystal structure. Absence of Tc is due to O− preferential site occupation. For complex cuprates (e.g., based on M=Bi, Hg…) observed Tc are higher than predicted by characteristic stoichiometric factors indicating that M can undergo quantized reductive cell volume (V) expanding selfdoping to achieve specific q. Trends to Tc plateaus, maximum doping tolerance, V expansion effects and stratified tolerance factor adjustments with temperature become understandable as due to a quantized subperoxide web. Moreover, the principle of fractional valency selfbonding depicts these materials as electron compounds and points generally a way to an understanding of structural and superconducting properties of related metallic systems.
Computer simulation of distorted structural frameworks

Abstract The paper describes procedures which may be used to produce visual simulations of distorted structural frameworks in the form of computer-generated shaded pictures. The system operates as a post-processor for standard framework analysis routines and produces scenes which consist of distorted structural elements and models of loads and supports. Applications of the system to the display of individual elements, two-dimensional bents and three-dimensional frameworks are illustrated.
Dipole State in Nuclei

It is shown that the energies of the positions of singleparticle excitations lying between zero bombarding energy and the binding energy of the last neutron cannot be compared directly due to dipole absorption. Because many particle-hole states can be formed, with the states almost degenerate in energy, the particle-hole interaction can have a profound effect in redistributing dipole transition strength. These effects are demonstrated by a schematic model which shows how coherent effects are able to push the dipole transitions to high energies. Protons in a potential well are considered, and the discussion is extended to protons and neutrons in a nucleus. The discussion is limited to nuclei with double closed shells, neglecting the influence of the few valence nucleons, spin, and considering only transitions from 1 to 1 + 1. (C.J.G.)
Fabrication of supported lipid bilayer (SLB) and nanotube transistor hybrid biosensing platform using microfluidic channels

Here we demonstrate a simple way to pattern SLBs onto desired area of carbon nanotube (CNT) films using microfluidic channels. Integrated systems in which all-semiconducting nanotube network transistors are coated directly with lipid bilayers are demonstrated. This new system forms a mechanically robust, stable platform for various sensing applications. Finally, in contrast to all previous studies using nanotubes for membrane interrogation, we use a simple, robust fabrication process based on printable semiconducting nanotube ink, which is compatible with mass-manufacturing in roll-to-roll, flexible electronic applications. This will allow direct translation of the technology into a low cost, next generation measurement system for electrophysiology. This approach will find broad applications in electrophysiology.
Pin-printed chemical sensor arrays for simultaneous multianalyte quantification.

A new approach to rapidly produce micrometer-scale sensor elements into reusable multianalyte chemical sensor arrays is demonstrated. By using pin printing technology in concert with sol−gel processing methods, we form discrete xerogel-based microsensors on a planar substrate. We illustrate the new approach by forming discrete O2- and pH-responsive sensing elements into arrays that allow one to simultaneously determine O2 and pH in aqueous samples. The pin printing method allows one to prepare sensor elements that are on the order of 100 μm in diameter, 1−2 μm thick, at a rate of approximately one sensor element per second with a single pin. Within a given calibrated array, the sensor element-to-sensor element response is reproducible to within 5%, the sensor element short- and long-term reproducibilities are 3 and 6%, respectively, and the array-to-array response reproducibility is 11%. These results demonstrate the potential of this methodology for rapidly forming ensembles of reusable sensor arrays for...
Risk-indexed herbicide taxes to reduce ground and surface water pollution: an integrated ecological economics evaluation

Abstract Public policy toward pesticide use in agriculture can benefit from data coming from models that integrate ecological and economic constraints into cropping decisions and pesticide use. Herein we use such a model to focus on the environmental and economic effectiveness of a specific set of tools used to promote sustainable agriculture with less pesticide runoff — incentive-based instruments created by risk-indexed herbicide input-taxes. We measure risk by health advisory levels and by an ecological economic simulation model that estimates predicted exposure levels. We explore whether this innovative solution of herbicide input-taxes does better at reducing losses to farm net returns, and surface and groundwater loadings than quantity restrictions. Using the integrated CEEPES model, our results suggest that risk-indexed input taxes by information about individual herbicide exposure levels can be a cost-effective tool to reduce predicted groundwater exposures. No single policy, however, was efficient at simultaneously improving groundwater and surface water quality. Instead we construct an efficient policy set. We find exposure-induced taxes were most efficient for small percentage reductions in overall exposure, bans were efficient for medium reductions, and flat taxes were efficient for high reductions.
Electrocardiographic Markers of Late Sudden Death Risk in Postoperative Tetralogy of Fallot Children

Late Sudden Death Risk in Postoperative TOF. Following surgery for tetralogy of Fallot (TOP), children may develop late onset ventricular arrhythmias. Many patients have both depolarization and repolarization abnormalities, including right bundle branch block (RBBB) and QT prolongation. The goal of this study was to improve prospective risk-assessment screening for late onset sudden death. Resting ECG markers including QRS duration, QTc, JTc, and interlead QT and JT dispersion were statistically analyzed to identify those patients at risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. To determine predictive markers for future development of arrhythmia, we examined 101 resting ECGs in patients (age 12 ± 6 years) with postoperative TOF and RBBB, 14 of whom developed late ventricular tachycardia (VT) or sudden death. These ECGs were also compared with an additional control group of 1000 age- and gender-matched normal ECGs. The mean QRS (± SD) in the VT group was 0.18 ± 0.02 seconds versus 0.14 ± 0.02 seconds in the non-VT group (P < 0.01). QTc and JTc in the VT group was 0.53 ± 0.05 seconds and 0.33 ± 0.03 seconds compared with 0.50 ± 0.03 seconds and 0.32 ± 0.03 seconds in the non-VT group (P = NS). There was no increase in QT dispersion among TOF patients with VT or sudden death compared with control patients or TOF patients without VT, although JT dispersion was more common in the TOF groups. A prolonged QRS duration in postoperative TOF with RBBB is more predictive than QTc, JTc, or dispersion indexes for identifying vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias in this population, while retaining high specificity. The combination of both QRS prolongation and increased JT dispersion had very good positive and negative predictive values. These results suggest that arrhythmogenesis in children following TOF surgery might involve depolarization in addition to repolarization abnormalities. Prospective identification of high-risk children may be accomplished using these ECG criteria.
The Effects of Creating Psychological Ownership among Students in Group Projects

This article proposes that marketing instructors may be able to enhance student learning and satisfaction in group projects by applying a key principle of effective group leadership: creating a sense of ownership in the minds of students. Student ownership in the educational process is proposed to be a key part of the success of group experiential exercises. This article (1) draws from the management and marketing literatures to advance the idea that student self-reports of learning from class projects can be increased by increasing student ownership; (2) compares student response to an experiential teaching tool across two conditions: control group—the instructor chooses and provides products to be sold—and high student ownership—the students choose and provide products to be sold; and (3) demonstrates that experiential education tools are more effective when they include an element of ownership.
An Empirical Investigation of Teacher Attrition.

Abstract Using data from a national longitudinal survey, current duration analysis techniques are used to examine the first spell in teaching for a sample of certified elementary and secondary school teachers. A rich set of observable demographic and school characteristics is included in a proportional hazard model which also accomodates unobservable differences (heterogeneity) in both individuals and schools. The estimates of the model indicate that the length of a teacher's first spell in teaching is more responsive to wages than improved working conditions such as smaller student–teacher ratios. The paper also finds that marriage and fertility variables, which have not been included in previous models of teacher attrition, are important determinants of the length of time that a teacher remains in the field. [JEL C23, I21, J63]
Defining performance tradeoffs for multi-degree-of-freedom bilateral teleoperators with LQG control

Two main objectives of feedback design for bilateral teleoperators are position coordination between the master and slave and accurate haptic display of environment forces to the human operator. We demonstrate that, for multi-degree-of-freedom teleoperation, certain directional haptic distortions may occur unless the controller creates an isotropic impedance between the master and slave. On the other hand, a strictly isotropic impedance controller may sacrifice position coordination performance. Thus, it is desirable to find a control design that achieves the best possible simultaneous position coordination and accurate haptic display. We provide quantitative measures of these goals and provide a solution to the feedback design problem through novel application of optimal Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) control to multi-degree-of-freedom teleoperation. An experimental study demonstrates the tradeoff between the goals of position coordination and isotropic impedance when a teleoperator is subject to realistic bandwidth constraints due to intrinsic hardware limitations.
Making decisions about sustainability: joining social values with technical expertise

The term sustainable development is widely used but sustainability is an hardly agreed-upon concept. Generally, it means that due to environmental limitations society needs to consider the fate of future generations explicitly when making decisions. Governments, corporations, and individuals have called for vigorous action to attain sustainability, yet methods for practical implementation are still not at hand. This paper provider a brief introduction to sustainable development and, in particular, to a leading technique for specifying the concept, namely sustainability indicators. It next discusses why sustainability is both important and a challenge to public decision-making. The importance of technical expertise is highlighted and a potentially useful methodology is proposed-the application of a formal multi-attribute decision process to extend existing research on sustainability indicators into a publicly-accessible decision-making context which can be improved by technical expertise. Results from empirical research on this technique in an energy policy application are reported.
Pretreatment predictors of death from other causes in men with prostate cancer.

Purpose: Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer will die of other causes and pretreatment patient characteristics may identify those who are likely to die of other causes. Accurate stratification of patients by risk of other cause mortality may reduce needless treatment preventing morbidity and expense.Materials and Methods: Using the CaPSURE™ database a cohort of men was identified with clinically localized prostate cancer who had definitive treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy between 1995 and 2004. Pretreatment patient characteristics were evaluated to determine if early other cause mortality could be predicted.Results: Of 13,124 subjects enrolled in CaPSURE 5,070 had clinical T1c–T3a prostatic adenocarcinoma treated with radical prostatectomy (77%) or radiation therapy (23%) and posttreatment followup data. Median followup was 3.3 years. The cohort was divided into 3 groups. The prostate cancer specific mortality group included 55 men (1%) who died of prostate cancer. The 296 men...
Brain lithium measurements with 7Li magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS): A literature review

7Li magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been successfully used in recent years as a new tool to measure brain tissue lithium concentrations in vivo. After demonstration of its feasibility in animal studies over a decade ago, human investigations have characterized the brain pharmacokinetics of lithium. Preliminary studies have investigated brain pharmacokinetic correlates of clinical response in the treatment of bipolar disorder patients, with indication of possible clinical relevance of 7Li MRS measures. In this paper we reviewed the accumulated literature in this area, and discuss possible directions for this research in the context of preliminary studies conducted by our group that demonstrated the feasibility of 7Li MRS at 3 T.
Contribution of Roads to Forest Fragmentation in the Rocky Mountains

The contribution of roads to forest fragmentation has not been adequately analyzed. We quantified fragmentation due to roads in a 30,213-ha section of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in sout heastern Wyoming with several indices of landscape structure using a geographic information system. The number of patches, mean patch area, mean interior area, mean area of edge influence, mean patch perimeter, total perimeter, and mean patch shape identified patch- and edge-related landscape changes. Shannon-Wiener diversity, dominance, contagion, contrast, and angular second moment indicated effects on landscape diversity and texture. Roads added to forest fragmentation more than clearcuts by dissecting large patches into smaller pieces and by converting forest interior habitat into edge habitat. Edge habitat created by roads was 1.54–1.98 times the edge habitat created by clearcuts. The total landscape area affected by clearcuts and roads was 2.5–3.5 times the actual area occupied by these disturbances. Fragmentation due to roads could be minimized if road construction is minimized or rerouted so that its fragmentation effects are reduced. Geographic information system technology can be used to quantify the potential fragmentation effects of individual roads and the cumulative effects of a road network on landscape structure.
Control of an airship using particle swarm optimization and neural network

The objective of this paper is to design an optimized controller for the Tri-turbofan Airship model. In lieu of using the traditional controller analysis method, the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm for controller optimization has been implemented. For more accurate results, this research used an updated neural network model to approximate the actual Tri-turbofan Airship dynamics. The effectiveness of the PSO algorithm will be shown by the simulation in an updated neural network model, compared to a linear model of the Tri-turbofan model.
Carotenoid Pigments in Kale are Influenced by Nitrogen Concentration and Form

The objective of these experiments was to investigate the effects of N rate and form on the accumulation of lutein, β-carotene and chlorophyll pigments in the leaf tissues of kale. Winterbor, Toscano and Redbor kale cultivars were greenhouse grown using nutrient solution culture. In the first study, N treatments were 6, 13, 26, 52 and 105mgL −1 at a constant 1NH4-N:3 NO3-N ratio. On a fresh weight basis, plant pigment concentrations (lutein, β-carotene and chlorophylls) were not affected by N rate. When calculated on a dry weight basis, however, carotenoid pigments increased linearly in response to increasing N rate. In a second study, N rate was held constant at 105mgL −1 and N form was changed as follows: 100% NH4-N:0% NO3-N, 75% NH4-N:25% NO3-N, 50% NH4- N:50% NO3-N, 25% NH4-N:75% NO3-N and 0% NH4-N:100% NO3-N. Increasing NO3-N in nutrient solutions from 0 to 100% resulted in increases in both lutein and β-carotene concentrations. Increases in carotenoid concentrations would be expected to increase the nutritional value of kale. Therefore N management should be considered in crop production programmes designed to increase the concentrations of nutritionally valuable carotenoids.  2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Clinical and genetic aspects of Angelman syndrome

Angelman syndrome is characterized by severe developmental delay, speech impairment, gait ataxia and/or tremulousness of the limbs, and a unique behavioral phenotype that includes happy demeanor and excessive laughter. Microcephaly and seizures are common. Developmental delays are first noted at 3 to 6 months age, but the unique clinical features of the syndrome do not become manifest until after age 1 year. Management includes treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms, use of antiepileptic drugs for seizures, and provision of physical, occupational, and speech therapy with an emphasis on nonverbal methods of communication. The diagnosis rests on a combination of clinical criteria and molecular and/or cytogenetic testing. Analysis of parent-specific DNA methylation imprints in the 15q11.2-q13 chromosome region detects approximately 78% of individuals with lack of maternal contribution. Less than 1% of individuals have a visible chromosome rearrangement. UBE3A sequence analysis detects mutations in an additional 11% of individuals. The remaining 10% of individuals with classic phenotypic features of Angelman syndrome have a presently unidentified genetic mechanism and thus are not amenable to diagnostic testing. The risk to sibs of a proband depends on the genetic mechanism of the loss of the maternally contributed Angelman syndrome/Prader-Willi syndrome region: typically <1% for probands with a deletion or uniparental disomy; as high as 50% for probands with an imprinting defect or a mutation of UBE3A. Members of the mother's extended family are also at increased risk when an imprinting defect or a UBE3A mutation is present. Chromosome rearrangements may be inherited or de novo. Prenatal testing is possible for certain genetic mechanisms.
Shigella flexneri Interactions with the Basolateral Membrane Domain of Polarized Model Intestinal Epithelium: Role of Lipopolysaccharide in Cell Invasion and in Activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase ERK

An early step governing Shigella flexneri pathogenesis is the invasion of the colonic epithelium from the basolateral surface followed by disruption of the colonic epithelial barrier. Despite recent insight into S. flexneri-host interactions, much remains to be determined regarding the nature of the initial contact between S. flexneri and the host epithelial basolateral membrane domain. Since the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is located at the outermost part of the bacterial membrane, we considered that this component might be used by S. flexneri to attach to the basolateral surface of the intestinal epithelium and promote a proinflammatory response. Therefore, polarized human T84 intestinal epithelial cells were infected from the basolateral surface with either wild-type S. flexneri or one of its isogenic LPS-defective strains with mutations in either rfc, rfaL, or galU. We found that both adherence to and internalization into the basolateral surface of a polarized intestinal epithelium with S. flexneri were highly dependent on the length of the LPS (i.e., rfc > rfaL > galU). Furthermore, the addition of the anti-inflammatory LPS (RsDPLA) considerably decreased the invasion profile of wild-type S. flexneri by nearly 50%. Since LPS is associated with host inflammation, we further examined whether this molecule was involved in Shigella-induced inflammatory events. We found that S. flexneri LPS plays an important role in mediating epithelial-derived signaling, which leads to directed migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes across model intestinal epithelium. This signaling most likely involves the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular regulated kinase. Thus, our findings have important implications on the understanding of the mechanisms by which S. flexneri can elicit mucosal inflammation.
Vulnerabilities and opportunities at the nexus of electricity, water and climate

The articles in this special issue examine the critical nexus of electricity, water, and climate, emphasizing connections among resources; the prospect of increasing vulnerabilities of water resources and electricity generation in a changing climate; and the opportunities for research to inform integrated energy and water policy and management measures aimed at reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience. Here, we characterize several major themes emerging from this research and highlight some of the uptake of this work in both scientific and public spheres. Underpinning much of this research is the recognition that water resources are expected to undergo substantial changes based on the global warming that results primarily from fossil energy-based carbon emissions. At the same time, the production of electricity from fossil fuels, nuclear power, and some renewable technologies (biomass, geothermal and concentrating solar power) can be highly water-intensive. Energy choices now and in the near future will have a major impact not just on the global climate, but also on water supplies and the resilience of energy systems that currently depend heavily on them.
Nonclassic history in children with radial head subluxations

Radial head subluxation (RHS) is a common pediatric orthopedic injury, frequently diagnosed through the classic history of axial traction to the upper extremity of a child. However, not all children with RHS will present with this classic history. This may result in misdiagnosis and delay of appropriate treatment. To evaluate the prevalence of non-classic presentations, a retrospective study was conducted of 45 emergency department patients with RHS. Of these patients, 15 presented with an atypical history. All patients were in minimal distress, holding their affected arms semiflexed and pronated (the nursemaid's position). The classic and nonclassic history groups were equivalent in patient age, spontaneous reductions, and physician reductions. A trend towards more radiographs was noted in the nonclassic group. This study suggests that even in the absence of the classic history of upper extremity traction, radial head subluxation should be suspected in any pediatric patient with an upper extremity complaint who presents with the affected arm in the nursemaid's position.
Thermodynamics of transition metal carbonyls I. Fe(CO)5, Ru(CO)5, Os(CO)5

Abstract The thermodynamic properties of Fe(CO)5 liquid and vapor have been reviewed and re-evaluated. Standard third law thermodynamic functions for Fe(CO)5 (g) have been computed using updated spectroscopic data from the literature. Third law thermodynamic functions for Ru(CO)5 (g) and Os(CO)5(g) have been computed using estimated fundamental vibrational wave numbers and assuming the molecules to have structures similar to Fe(CO)5(g). Standard third law entropies are computed as: (104.96 ± 0.4) cal K−1 mol−1 for Fe(CO)5(g); (110.45 ± 1.0) cal K−1 mol−1 for Ru(CO)5(g); (110.73 ± 1.0) cal K−1 mol−1 for Os(CO)5(g). Mean Ru-CO and Os-CO bond energies for Ru(CO)5 (g) and Os(CO)5 (g) are estimated and the standard enthalpies and entropies of formation for the gaseous molecules are calculated.
Divergent kinase signaling mediates agonist-induced phosphorylation of phosphatase inhibitory proteins PHI-1 and CPI-17 in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Phosphatase holoenzyme inhibitor (PHI)-1 is one of the newest members of the family of protein phosphatase inhibitor proteins. In isolated enzyme systems, several kinases, including PKC and rho kin...
Fibroblasts Protect the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from Ceftriaxone In Vitro

The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, can be recovered long after initial infection, even from antibiotic-treated patients, indicating that it resists eradication by host defense mechanisms and antibiotics. Since B. burgdorferi first infects skin, the possible protective effect of skin fibroblasts from an antibiotic commonly used to treat Lyme disease, ceftriaxone, was examined. Human foreskin fibroblasts protected B. burgdorferi from the lethal action of a 2-day exposure to ceftriaxone at 1 microgram/mL, 10-20 x MBC. In the absence of fibroblasts, organisms did not survive. Spirochetes were not protected from ceftriaxone by glutaraldehyde-fixed fibroblasts or fibroblast lysate, suggesting that a living cell was required. The ability of the organism to survive in the presence of fibroblasts was not related to its infectivity. Fibroblasts protected B. burgdorferi for at least 14 days of exposure to ceftriaxone. Mouse keratinocytes, HEp-2 cells, and Vero cells but not Caco-2 cells showed the same protective effect. Thus, several eukaryotic cell types provide the Lyme disease spirochete with a protective environment contributing to its long-term survival.