cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Intermediate Extended Literacy Routine to support struggling third grade readers.

vi Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Literacy Issues 2 Government Influence on Educational Issues 3 The Problem 11 Purpose of the Study 17 Research Questions 18 Definition of Terms 19 Limitations 21 Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature 22 Introduction 22 Effective Schools 22 Effective Teachers 26 Effective Teachers of Reading 28 Effective Classroom Reading Curriculum Design 38 At-risk Students 41 School Factors 45 Acquisition of Fluency and Reading Comprehension 49 Grouping for Reading Instruction 51 Guided Reading in the Intermediate Grades 57 Conclusion 62 Chapter 3: Method 65 Introduction 65 Purpose 66 Research Questions 66 Setting and Sample 67 Research Design 70 Independent Variable 73 Procedure 75 Dependent Variable 77 Baseline/Comparison Condition 78
Region-based fault-tolerant distributed file storage system design in networks

Distributed storage of data files in different nodes of a network enhances its fault tolerance capability by offering protection against node and link failures. Reliability is often achieved through redundancy in one of the following two ways: i storage of multiple copies of the entire file at different locations nodes or ii storage of file segments not entire files at different node locations. In the N,K file distribution scheme, N file segments from a file F are created in such a way that it is possible to reconstruct the entire file, just by accessing any Ki¾?N segments. For the reconstruction scheme to work, it is essential that the K segments of the file are stored in nodes that are connected in the network. However, in the event of node/link failures, the network might become disconnected i.e., split into several connected components. We focus on node failures that are spatially correlated or region based. Such failures are often encountered in disaster situations or natural calamities where only the nodes in the disaster zone are affected. The first goal of this research is to design a least cost file storage scheme to ensure that no matter which region is destroyed; resulting in fragmentation of the network, a largest connected component of the residual network will have enough file segments with which to reconstruct the entire file. In case the least cost to ensure this objective is within the allocated budget, the storage design will be all region fault-tolerant ARFT. In case the least cost exceeds the allocated budget, design of an ARFT file storage system design is impossible. The second goal of this research is to design file storage schemes that will be maximum region fault-tolerant within the allocated budget. The third goal of this research is to investigate the impact of the coding parameters N and K on storage requirements for ensuring all region or \textit{maximum region} fault-tolerant design. We provide maximum region fault-tolerant design. We provide approximation algorithms for the problems and evaluate their performance through simulation using two real networks and compare their results to the optimal solutions obtained using Integer Linear Program. The simulation results demonstrate that the approximation algorithms almost always produce near optimal results in a fraction of the time needed to find the optimal solution. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 664, 380-395 2015
Violent Behavior in Female Inmates Possible Predictors

Research findings have been equivocal regarding the relationship between experiencing trauma and exhibiting violent behavior in women. This study seeks to determine predictors of violent behavior in female inmates utilizing various conceptualizations of traumatic experiences. Results indicate a significant univariate relationship between experiencing more frequent physical abuse experiences, both interpersonal and noninterpersonal types of trauma, and both physical and sexual assaults with frequency of engagement in violent behavior. The regression model explained approximately 21.0% of the variance in violent behavior. Furthermore, frequency of physical abuse experiences was a significant predictor of frequency of engagement in violent behavior and explained 12.74% of unique variance. These results suggest that the frequency of physical abuse experiences may serve as a risk factor for women's violent behavior. Although more research is needed, it appears that addressing the potential for violence in women who experience abuse may be an appropriate target of treatment.
Sparsity Inducing Prior Distributions for Correlation Matrices of Longitudinal Data

For longitudinal data, the modeling of a correlation matrix R can be a difficult statistical task due to both the positive definite and the unit diagonal constraints. Because the number of parameters increases quadratically in the dimension, it is often useful to consider a sparse parameterization. We introduce a pair of prior distributions on the set of correlation matrices for longitudinal data through the partial autocorrelations (PACs), which vary independently over (−1,1). The first prior shrinks each of the PACs toward zero with increasingly aggressive shrinkage in lag. The second prior (a selection prior) is a mixture of a zero point mass and a continuous component for each PAC, allowing for a sparse representation. The structure implied under our priors is readily interpretable for time-ordered responses because each zero PAC implies a conditional independence relationship in the distribution of the data. Selection priors on the PACs provide a computationally attractive alternative to selection o...
Neighborhood disorder and smoking: Findings of a European urban survey

Using the Large Analysis and Review of European housing and health Status (LARES) survey, this paper investigates the influence of neighborhood physical disorder on smoking behaviors, and the extent to which it is mediated by perceptions of safety. Indicators of physical disorder: litter, graffiti, and the absence of vegetation on facades, balconies or windows, were directly observed by surveyors. The paper also considers whether the place effects on smoking are similar across the 7 European cities in the study. Results indicate that the odds of smoking are 64% higher for those living in an area rated high on neighborhood disorder compared to low. The effect is substantially greater for men than for women with men in areas rated high on disorder showing odds of smoking that are twice as high as those living in areas rated low. The association does not vary by city of residence. Only a small part of the effect of neighborhood disorder is mediated by perceptions of safety. The finding of a substantial neighborhood physical disorder effect on smoking across a range of cities in Europe adds to the evidence suggesting that environmental interventions are worth pursuing in conjunction with other approaches to smoking prevention.
A Comparison of Different Message-Passing Paradigms for the Parallelization of Two Irregular Applications

We present experimental results for parallelizing two breadth-first search-based applications on Thinking Machines CM-5 by using two different message-passing paradigms, one based onsend/receive and the other based onactive messages. The parallelization of these applications requires fine-grained communication. Our results show that the active messages-based implementation gives significant improvement over the send/receive-based implementation. The improvements can largely be attributed to the lower latency of the active messages implementation.
Analytical atomic spectroscopy using ion trap devices.

Investigations using ion trap devices for analytical atomic spectroscopy purposes have focused on the use of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ion source with ion trap mass spectrometric (ITMS) detection. Initial studies were conducted with an instrument assembled by simply appending an ion trap as the detector to a fairly conventional ICP/MS instrument, i.e. leaving an intermediate linear quadrupole between the plasma source and the ion trap. The principal advantages found with this system include the destruction of nearly all problematic and typical ICP/MS polyatomic ions (e.g., ArH+, ArO+, ArCl+, Ar2 +, etc) and a dramatic reduction of the primary plasma source ion, Ar+. These results prompted the development of a second-generation plasma source ion trap instrument in which direct coupling of the ICP and ion trap has been effected (i.e. no intermediate linear quadrupole); the same performance benefits have been largely preserved. Initial operation of this instrument is described, characterized, and compared to the originally described ICP/ITMS and conventional ICP/MS systems. In addition, experiments aimed at improving ICP/ITMS sensitivity and selectivity using broadband resonance excitation techniques are described. Finally, the potential for laser optical detection of trapped ions for analytical purposes is speculated upon.
Turning Reciprocal Feedback Regulation into Combination Therapy

Two recent Cancer Cell articles report the discovery of reciprocal feedback regulation between androgenic and PTEN loss/PI3K-AKT signaling in prostate cancer. Both studies link endocrine regulation with a common oncogenic pathway, which led to the development of a combination therapeutic approach with immediate application in prostate cancer.
New role of high-sensitivity database inspection

In the past, database inspection of photo masks has been used primarily as design verification; defect inspection was done only as a last resort. The increase of single die reticles has forced increasing use of database for defect inspection, but at the cost of sensitivity and through put time (TPT). With the advent of fast throughput and high sensitivity database systems, the use of database for inspection of photo masks is taking on a new role. The comparison of chrome on glass photo masks to the ideal database can now be used to quantify mask parameters such as process bias uniformity, edge roughness, and transmission uniformity in addition to defects. Database inspection will move from the realm of a last resort option to a preferred option. The user must now be prepared to understand and use the valuable data now available to them to quantify the quality of their mask, and improve their process. Intel designed artifact masks were created to quantify process bias uniformity in addition to other defects. Using mask to database inspection, critical dimension (CD) process uniformity, and edge roughness in addition to both traditional and thoroughness defects, were quantified throughout the active area. Results presented demonstrate the additional information now available to the mask engineer to evaluate mask quality, and implement process changes.
Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency influences surgical outcome in treatment of rectal prolapse.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to document the effect of pudendal nerve function on anal incontinence after repair of rectal prolapse. METHODS: Patients with full rectal prolapse (n=24) were prospectively evaluated by anal manometry and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) before and after surgical correction of rectal prolapse (low anterior resection (LAR; n=13) and retrorectal sacral fixation (RSF; n=11)). RESULTS: Prolapse was corrected in all patients; there were no recurrences during a mean 25-month follow-up. Postoperative PNTML was prolonged bilaterally (>2.2 ms) in six patients (3 LAR; 3 RSF); five patients were incontinent (83 percent). PNTML was prolonged unilaterally in eight patients (4 LAR; 4 RSF); three patients were incontinent (38 percent). PNTML was normal in five patients (3 LAR; 2 RSF); one was incontinent (20 percent). Postoperative squeeze pressures were significantly higher for patients with normal PNTML than for those with bilateral abnormal PNTML (145vs.66.5 mmHg;P=0.0151). Patients with unilateral abnormal PNTML had higher postoperative squeeze pressures than those with bilateral abnormal PNTML, but the difference was not significant (94.8vs.66.5 mmHg; P=0.3182). The surgical procedure did not affect postoperative sphincter function or PNTML. CONCLUSION: Injury to the pudendal nerve contributes to postoperative incontinence after repair of rectal prolapse. Status of anal continence after surgical correction of rectal prolapse can be predicted by postoperative measurement of PNTML.
Breakup between Australia and Antarctica: A brief review in the light of new data

Abstract The arguments justifying the revised timing of breakup between Australia and Antarctica (Cande and Mutter, 1982) and the reconstruction of Broken Ridge and Kerguelen Plateau (Mutter and Cande, 1983) are reviewed and considered with respect to new subsidence data. The age of breakup was revised from anomaly 22 time (55 My B.P.) to anomaly 34 time (85 My B.P.). The rough topography of the Diamantina Zone can be attributed to very slow spreading (−5 mm/yr.) beginning between the times of anomaly 34 and anomaly 19. The reconstruction of Broken Ridge and Kerguelen Plateau at anomaly 34 time shows overlap of these two features, but the overlap problem is nearly resolved by anomaly 18 time ( ~ 42 My B.P.). Normal seafloor spreading rates (22 mm/yr.) commenced at anomaly 19 time ( ~ 43 My B.P.). Subsidence patterns calculated from biostratigraphic data from wells drilled along Australia's southern margin are interpreted as more consistent with the revised age of Australia-Antarctic breakup. Subsidence curves systematically show rapid subsidence associated with the rift phase of margin development followed by much slower thermally-controlled subsidence during the drift phase. The timing of the rift-to-drift transition is believed to coincide with the age of breakup ( ~ 60 to 110 My B.P.). In addition, the subsidence curves indicate a west-to-east propagation of breakup along the southern margin. Magnetic anomaly patterns and stratigraphie observations are consistent with this hypothesis.
Kinetics of Thermal Death in Eggs and First Instars of Three Species of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Kinetics of thermal death and death rate curves for eggs and first instar Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis (Hendel); and melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), were determined at temperatures between 42 and 48°C and for times of up to 50 min using a hot water-immersion technique. Both eggs and larvae of all three species showed mortality that was directly related to the severity of treatment and time of exposure. Larvae appeared more resistant to heat than eggs at a given temperature. Larval tolerance to heat was very similar for all species; Mediterranean fruit fly eggs appeared more tolerant to heat than those of either of the Dacus species. Eggs and larvae of all three species showed death rate curves characterized by a lag at lower temperatures followed by a more or less constant rate of death. At high temperatures, the curves appeared logarithmic. This information may be useful in determining suitability of heat treatments for disinfestation of commodities attacked by these insects.
A Meta-Analytic Review of Communication Campaigns to Promote Organ Donation

The current study, using random-effects meta-analysis, provides a review of communication campaigns designed to promote organ donation. Findings across 23 campaigns indicate an overall 5% increase in study outcomes (e.g., registry signing) compared to control groups (k = 23, N = 6,647,801). Several moderators were tested including publication bias, target audience, and type of campaign. Statistically significant differences were not found for any of the moderator factors tested. Results are discussed in terms of future campaigns designed to promote organ donation.
Evidence that noradrenaline modulates the increase in striatal dopamine metabolism induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation.

Abstract The effect of oxotremorine was studied on the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylglycol (MHPG) in the corpus striatum of rats. At a dose of 1 mg/kg oxotremorine incresed HVA levels by 68% and MHPG, by 51%. MHPG was also increased in the nucl. accumbens (58%) and neocortex (42%). Pretreatment with clonidine 0.1 mg/kg, abolished the increased in MHPGin the striatum and significantly inhibited the rise in HVA. 1-Propanolol 2.5 mg/kg, but not d-propanolol, had an effect similar to that of clonidine. A lower dose of oxotremorine (0.5 mg/kg) increased striatal HVA by 36% but did not alter MHPG levels This increase in HVA was not reduced by 1-propranolol. Eight days after bilateral lesions of the locu coeruleus, there was a reduction in the basal concentrations of noradrenaline (41%) and MHPG (57%) in the striatum. The data suggest that a higher doses of oxotremorine (1 mg/kg), but not a lower dose (0.5 mg/kg), a noradrenergic pathway is stimulated to increase the rate of metabolism of noradrenaline in the striatum. Oxotrremorine also appears to increase dopamine metabolism in the striatum by at least two separate mechanisms, one of which involves the mediation of noradrenaline.
Comparative Activities and Toxicities I: Sugar and Amino Acid Derivatives of Aminosalicylic Acids

Abstract A comparison has been made of the effects of sugar and γ-amino acid derivatives of the carboxyl group of both nitro- and aminosalicyclic acids in lowering acute toxicity and changing antitubercular activity. The a-amino acid derivatives were as effective as the sugar derivatives in lowering toxicity and showed a slightly better retention
Application of the Bootstrap to Calibration Experiments

In calibration experiments, a number of samples of known concentration are used to establish the relationship between a measured response and sample concentration; this relationship is then used to estimate the unknown concentration of further samples from their measured responses. In addition to the estimates themselves, it is useful to have available some measure of their precision, usually given in the form of confidence limits. The standard method of inverting prediction limits is found to work well in simple situations, but in nonlinear multivariate calibration it becomes intractable. The bootstrap offers an alternative methodology, but in the calibration framework its application is not obvious. We describe some considerations in bootstrapping calibration data and compare our methods with a previous attempt and with the standard method in linear, nonlinear, and multivariate situations. The bootstrap is found to be a useful tool in those situations where the standard method is difficult to implement.
Measurement and Calculation of Fluid Dynamic Characteristics of Rough-Wall Turbulent Boundary-Layer Flows

Experimental measurements of profiles of mean velocity and distributions of boundary-layer thickness and skin friction coefficient from aerodynamically smooth, transitionally rough, and fully rough turbulent boundary-layer flows are presented for four surfaces-three rough and one smooth. The rough surfaces are composed of 1.27 mm diameter hemispheres spaced in staggered arrays 2, 4, and 10 base diameters apart, respectively, on otherwise smooth walls. The current incompressible turbulent boundary-layer rough-wall air flow data are compared with previously published results on another, similar rough surface. It is shown that fully rough mean velocity profiles collapse together when scaled as a function of momentum thickness, as was reported previously. However, this similarity cannot be used to distinguish roughness flow regimes, since a similar degree of collapse is observed in the transitionally rough regimes, since a similar degree of collapse is observed in the transitionally rough data. Observation of the new data shows that scaling on the momentum thickness alone is not sufficient to produce similar velocity profiles for flows over surfaces of different roughness character. The skin friction coefficient data versus the ratio of the momentum thickness to roughness height collapse within the data uncertainty, irrespective of roughness flow regime, with the data formore » each rough surface collapsing to a different curve. Calculations made using the previously published discrete element prediction method are compared with data from the rough surfaces with well-defined roughness elements, and it is shown that the calculations are in good agreement with the data.« less
Investigation of the mechanics of Type III stapes columella tympanoplasty using laser-Doppler vibrometry

Tympanoplasty describes a group of surgical procedures used to repair the ossicular chain and the tympanic membrane (TM). The modern era of tympanoplasty was established by Zollner and Wullstein (1–2), who separated tympanoplasty into subtypes on the basis of the relationship between the TM and the ossicles or cochlear windows. Type III tympanoplasty is a commonly used surgical procedure for reestablishing the continuity between the TM and the inner ear when the ossicles are diseased. Type III tympanoplasty is subdivided into three different types based on the Nadol-Schuknecht modification (3) of the original Wullstein classification: 1) stapes columella tympanoplasty, which consists of placing a TM graft (usually made of fascia) directly onto the stapes head (Fig. 1A); 2) minor columella tympanoplasty, which consists of placing a strut or prosthesis between the stapes head and the TM graft; and 3) major columella tympanoplasty, which consists of placing a strut or prosthesis between the stapes footplate and the TM graft. FIG. 1 Schematic diagrams showing (A) Type III stapes columella tympanoplasty, illustrating the TM graft coupled to the head of stapes, and (B) LDV measurement locations on the TM graft: 1) over stapes head, 2) over RW, and 3) over anterior TM. The postoperative hearing results after tympanoplasty, in general, and after Type III stapes columella tympanoplasty, in particular, are variable, with air-bone gaps (ABGs) ranging from 10 to 60 dB (1–11). Some reasons for poor hearing outcomes include nonaeration of the middle ear cavity, stapes fixation, and poor coupling between the TM graft and stapes (11). In the present study, we examined the postoperative hearing outcomes in 22 patients (23 ears) who underwent Type III stapes columella tympanoplasty. All patients also underwent measurement of TM motion by means of laser-Doppler vibrometry (LDV). The LDV measurements were correlated with the postoperative hearing results to determine whether LDV was useful in identifying the determinants of the hearing outcomes in these patients.
Protective effects of antioxidants against endrin-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and excretion of urinary lipid metabolites.

Abstract Oxidative stress is believed to play a pivotal role in endrin-induced hepatic and neurologic toxicity. Therefore, the effects of the antioxidants vitamin E succinate and ellagic acid have been examined on hepatic lipid peroxidation, DNA single-strand breaks (SSB), and the urinary excretion of lipid metabolites following an acute oral dose of 4.5 mg endrin/kg. Groups of rats were pretreated with 100 mg/kg vitamin E succinate for 3 d followed by 40 mg/kg on day 4, or 6.0 mg ellagic acid/kg for 3 d p.o. followed by 3.0 mg/kg on day 4 or the vehicle. Endrin was administered p.o. on day 4 2 hr after treatment with the antioxidant. All animals were killed 24 h after endrin administration. Vitamin E succinate pretreatment decreased the endrin-induced increase in hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation by approximately 60% and 40%, respectively. Ellagic acid pretreatment reduced the endrin-induced increased in mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation by approximately 76 and 79%, respectively. Both vitamin E succinate and ellagic acid alone produced small but nonsignificant decreases in hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation. A 3.3-fold increase in the incidence of hepatic nuclear DNA single-strand breaks was observed 24 h after endrin administration. Pretreatment of rats with vitamin E succinate, vitamin E, and ellagic acid decreased endrin-induced DNA-SSB by approximately 47%, 22%, and 21%, respectively. Pretreatment of rats with vitamin E succinate decreased the endrin-induced increase in the urinary excretion of malodialdehyde, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and acetone by approximately 68, 65, 70, and 55%, respectively. Ellagic acid pretreatment prior to endrin administration decreased the excretion of these same four metabolites by 86, 90, 87, and 73%, respectively. Thus, the results indicate that antioxidants can attenuate the biochemical consequences of endrin-induced oxidative stress although the effects on DNA-SSB were less pronounced than on lipid peroxidation, which may be associated with compartmentation and antioxidant distribution.
EasyEnglish: A Tool for Improving Document Quality

We describe the authoring tool, EasyEnglish, which is part of IBM's internal SGML editing environment, Information Development Workbench. EasyEnglish helps writers produce clearer and simpler English by pointing out ambiguity and complexity as well as performing some standard grammar checking. Where appropriate, EasyEnglish makes suggestions for rephrasings that may be substituted directly into the text by using the editor interface.EasyEnglish is based on a full parse by English Slot Grammar; this makes it possible to produce a higher degree of accuracy in error messages as well as handle a large variety of texts.
Trading Places: Choice and Committee Chairs in the U.S. Senate, 1950-1986

In this paper we ask why members of Congress chair the committees they do. While the answer is related to the norm of seniority, we argue that it additionally involves strategic considerations that have not been considered in prior research. Our analysis examines the choices of senators 1950-1986 who have had the opportunity to chair two or more committees. Because senators are allowed to chair only one committee in any given Congress, these legislators must decide which committee to chair. Empirical analysis indicates that the choice of committee chairs involves a strategy that extends the influence of senators in a position to make such decisions and effectively reduces the variance of policy preferences in the set of committee leadership positions.
Cell Body Remodeling during Dying-back Axonopathy: DRG Changes during Advanced Disease

Although the neuronal cell body functions critically in maintaining and repairing the axon, little attention has been focused on the soma during neurotoxin-induced dying-back of the axon. To help elucidate changes in the perikarya during axonal dying-back, this study employed the hexacarbon model of axonal neuropathy in a setting designed to maximize the chances of detecting structural alterations. A spectrum of cell body modifications occurred in the fifth lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of rats chronically exposed to 2,5-hexanedione. These included distinctive cytoplasmic remodeling, a perineuronal cell reaction, and evidence of neuronal death with neuronophagia. These findings suggest the importance of the cell body in the pathogenesis of neurotoxin-induced axonal degeneration and imply that complex soma-axon interactions may help determine the fate of intoxicated neurons.
Barriers to use of oral rehydration salts for child diarrhea in the private sector: evidence from India

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of child mortality in India. Most deaths are cheaply preventable with the use of oral rehydration salts (ORS), yet many health providers still fail to provide ORS to children seeking diarrheal care. In this study, we use survey data to assess whether children visiting private providers for diarrheal care were less likely to use ORS than those visiting public providers. Results suggest that children who visited private providers were 9.5 percentage points less likely to have used ORS than those who visited public providers (95% CI 5–14). We complimented these results with in-depth interviews of 21 public and 17 private doctors in Gujarat, India, assessing potential drivers of public–private disparities in ORS use. Interview results suggested that lack of direct medication dispensing in the private sector might be a key barrier to ORS use in the private sector.
Three-dimensional structure of the lipovitellin–phosvitin complex from amphibian oocytes

Microcrystals of the lipoprotein–phosphoprotein complex which are found in the oocytes of Xenopus laevis were examined using electron microscopy. Analysis of Fourier transforms of the images of the (010) and (001) projections showed the space group to be P21221. Ten projections were combined to produce a map of the complex having about 20 A resolution. The lipoprotein complex consists of two subunits related by a local twofold symmetry axis. The density was averaged around the local symmetry and reasonably well defined structural domains can be seen in the resulting model.
Selective chemical depolymerization of rhamnogalacturonans.

Abstract A method was developed to selectively methyl esterify and then cleave GalA residues in pectic polysaccharides. The method was optimized using a rhamnogalacturonan (RG) from Arabidopsis mucilage as a model compound. The carboxyl group of the GalA residues in the RG was selectively methyl esterified using tetrabutylammonium fluoride and iodomethane in Me2SO containing 8% water. A 1D HMQC NMR method to determine the degree of methyl esterification was developed using 13C-iodomethane as the methylating agent. The methyl-esterified pectins were fragmented by β-elimination in 0.2 M sodium borate, pH 7.3, at 125 °C. The resulting oligoglycosyl fragments, which contain a nonreducing 4-deoxy-β- l -threo-hex-4-enepyranosyluronic acid residue, were characterized using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, monosaccharide composition analysis, and 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Application of this method to branched RG from potato generated low-molecular-weight fragments containing two residues from the RG backbone and a single side chain. In contrast, the fragments obtained when RG is treated with RG lyase contain a minimum of four backbone residues. The chemical method thus facilitates the release and structural characterization of the side-chain structures of RG obtained from various plant sources. The method also provides a convenient method for generating fully or partially methyl-esterified homogalacturonans.
Ranked set sampling with unequal samples for skew distributions

A ranked set sampling procedure with unequal samples for positively skew distributions (RSSUS) is proposed and used to estimate the population mean. The estimators based on RSSUS are compared with the estimators based on ranked set sampling (RSS) and median ranked set sampling (MRSS) procedures. It is observed that the relative precisions of the estimators based on RSSUS are higher than those of the estimators based on RSS and MRSS procedures.
High-density QCD and instantons

Abstract Instantons generate strong nonperturbative interactions between quarks. In vacuum, these interactions lead to chiral symmetry breaking and generate constituent quark masses on the order of 300–400 MeV. The observation that the same forces also provide attraction in the scalar diquark channel leads to the prediction that cold quark matter is a color superconductor, with gaps as large as ∼100 MeV. We provide a systematic treatment of color superconductivity in the instanton model. We show that the structure of the superconductor depends on the number of flavors. In the case of two flavors, we verify the standard scenario, and provide an improved calculation of the mass gap. For three flavors, we show that the ground state is color–flavor locked and calculate the chiral condensate in the high-density phase. We show that as a function of the strange quark mass, there is a sharp transition between the two phases. Finally, we go beyond the mean-field approximation and investigate the role of instanton/anti-instanton molecules, which—in addition to superconducting gap formation—provide a competitive mechanism for chiral restoration at finite density.
Prevention of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in rhesus monkeys by tin-protoporphyrin.

Summary: Rhesus monkey infants were injected subcutaneously at birth with 12 to 100 μmol of tin-protoporphyrin IX, a competitive inhibitor of microsomal heme oxygenase. The elevated unconjugated serum bilirubin levels of the neonates receiving this metalloporphyrin rapidly declined to near adult levels by 24–30 h. Control neonates which received an injection of saline exhibited normal physiologic hyperbilirubinemias of from 3–6 mg/dl by 12–24 h as expected. These studies establish the effectiveness of tin-protoporphyrin IX in depressing bilirubin production and preventing physiologic hyperbilirubinemia in simian neonates. Two of six animals receiving the metalloporphyrin exhibited signs of toxicity.
BORON NANOWIRES AND NOVEL TUBE-CATALYTIC PARTICLE-WIRE HYBRID BORON NANOSTRUCTURES

Catalyst-assisted growth of boron nanowires and novel tube–catalytic particle–wire hybrid boron nanostructures were achieved by pyrolysis of diborane at 820–890°C and ~ 200 mTorr in a quartz tube furnace. Electron microscopy imaging and diffraction analysis reveal that most of the nano-structures are amorphous. Elemental analysis by EELS and EDX shows that the nanostructures consist of boron with a small amount of oxygen and carbon. Possible growth mechanisms for the tube–catalytic particle–wire hybrid boron nanostructures are discussed.
CD40 Ligand-mediated Activation of the de Novo RelB NF-κB Synthesis Pathway in Transformed B Cells Promotes Rescue from Apoptosis

CD40, a tumor necrosis factor receptor family member, is expressed on B lymphocytes. Interaction between CD40 and its ligand (CD40L), expressed on activated T lymphocytes, is critical for B cell survival. Here, we demonstrate that CD40 signals B cell survival in part via transcriptional activation of the RelB NF-kappaB subunit. CD40L treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells induced levels of relB mRNA. Similarly, CD40L-mediated rescue of WEHI 231 B lymphoma cells from apoptosis induced upon B cell receptor (surface IgM) engagement led to increased relB mRNA levels. Recently, we characterized a new de novo synthesis pathway for the RelB NF-kappaB subunit, induced by the cytomegalovirus IE1 protein, in which binding of p50/p65 NF-kappaB and c-Jun/Fra-2 AP-1 complexes to the relB promoter works in synergy to potently activate transcription (Wang, X., and Sonenshein, G. E. (2005) J. Virol. 79, 95-105). CD40L treatment of WEHI 231 cells caused induction of AP-1 family members Fra-2, c-Jun, JunD, and JunB. Cotransfection of Fra-2 with the Jun AP-1 subunits and p50/c-Rel NF-kappaB led to synergistic activation of the relB promoter. Ectopic expression of relB or RelB knockdown using small interfering RNA demonstrated the important role of this subunit in control of WEHI 231 cell survival and implicated activation of the anti-apoptotic factors Survivin and manganese superoxide dismutase. Thus, CD40 engagement of transformed B cells activates relB gene transcription via a process we have termed the de novo RelB synthesis pathway, which protects these cells from apoptosis.
Wave Measurements at the Columbia River Light Vessel, 1933–1936

Wave observations at the Columbia River Light Vessel during the years 1933 to 1936 are reported. The predominant direction of wave attack is shown to be very nearly perpendicular to the alignment of the shoreline during periods both of accretion and of erosion. In the years intervening since these observations, wave measurements have been made in depths of 40 to 60 ft at a number of localities, but only scattered measurements in deep water have become available. The observations reported here, even though crudely executed, are considered to be reliable as to direction, length, and period; the lengths reported probably should be increased about one-third. Crude as the observations were, they are probably more accurate than are most of the previously reported deep-water observations because the observation point was a relatively small, anchored ship. So far as can be discovered, no other set of observations in deep water at a single location has extended over more than a few days. The record is representative of conditions at sea off the North Pacific Coast.
Smoking and the emergence of a stigmatized social status

An increase in the social unacceptability of smoking has dramatically decreased tobacco use in the USA. However, how policies (e.g., smoke free air laws) and social factors (e.g., social norms) drive the social unacceptability of tobacco use are not well understood. New research suggests that the stigmatization of smokers is an unrecognized force in the tobacco epidemic and could be one such mechanism. Thus, it is important to investigate the sources of smoker-related stigmatization as perceived by current and former smokers. In this study, we draw on the broader literature about stigma formation in the context of the tobacco epidemic and examine the role of attribution, fear, tobacco control policies, power and social norms in the formation of smoker-related stigma. We test hypotheses about the determinants of stigma using a population-based sample of 816 current and former smokers in New York City. The results show that perceptions of individual attributions for smoking behavior and fear about the health consequences of second hand smoke are important influences on smoker-related stigmatization. Structural forms of discrimination perpetrated against smokers and former smokers (e.g., company policies against hiring smokers) are also related to smoker-related stigma. Respondents with more education perceive more smoker-related stigma than respondents with less education and, Black and Latino respondents perceive less smoker-related stigma than White respondents. Social norms, specifically family and friends' expressed disapproval of smoking, contribute to the formation of smoker-related stigma. These findings suggest important points of leverage to harness the powerful role of stigma in the smoking epidemic and raise concerns about the possible role of stigma in the production of smoking disparities.
Progress in wet-coated organic light-emitting devices for lighting

Here we present recent progress in developing efficient wet-coated organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) for lighting applications. In particular, we describe a novel approach for building efficient wet-coated dye-doped blue phosphorescent devices. Further, a novel approach for achieving arbitrary emission patterning for OLEDs is discussed. This approach utilizes a photo-induced chemical doping strategy for selectively activating charge injection materials, thus enabling devices with arbitrary emission patterning. This approach may provide a simple, low cost path towards specialty lighting and signage applications for OLED technology.
A test for abrupt change in hazard regression models with Weibull baselines

Abstract We develop a likelihood ratio test for an abrupt change point in Weibull hazard functions with covariates, including the two-piece constant hazard as a special case. We first define the log-likelihood ratio test statistic as the supremum of the profile log-likelihood ratio process over the interval which may contain an unknown change point. Using local asymptotic normality (LAN) and empirical measure, we show that the profile log-likelihood ratio process converges weakly to a quadratic form of Gaussian processes. We determine the critical values of the test and discuss how the test can be used for model selection. We also illustrate the method using the Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) data.
Detection of Mutagenic Activity of Metronidazole and Niridazole in Body Fluids of Humans and Mice

After humans were treated at therapeutic doses with the trichomonacide metronidazole (Flagyl) and the antischistosomal agent niridazole mutagenic activity was demonstrable in their urines when tested with the histidine auxotroph of Salmonella typhimurium. Both compounds were active in the host-mediated assay in mice, and evidence of activity was found in the blood and urine of mice treated with niridazole but not with metronidazole.
Sonic Logging Through Casing For Porosity And Fluid Characterization In the Wilmington Field, CA

Theoretical relationships, confirmed by laboratory and field data, suggest that hydrocarbon-bearing rocks in situ can be differentiated from rocks containing brines using sonic velocity measurements. A project to test this technique has been undertaken in the Wilmington Field, California. Models, using values of fluid and formation properties typical of the Miocene-age turbidites within the target interval, confirm that it should be possible to differentiate between hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon bearing sands in this field using compressional and shear wave sonic velocity logs. To date six wells (ranging in age up to 50 years) have been logged through casing with multipole sonic logging sondes. There is remarkable agreement between compressional velocities determined using two different tools and analysis methods. Also, velocities measured in open hole agree with those measured after casing was installed in the most recently drilled well. Although compressional velocities have been determined in all but one case, shear-wave velocities have been obtained only in the most recently drilled wells and only where differences between dipole mode and tube wave velocities are sufficiently large. Porosity can be determined from shear-wave velocity using models for unconsolidated sands presented by Dvorkin and Nur (in press). Predictions of oil saturation are in qualitative agreement with models and with open-hole determinations.
Laparoscopic Versus Robotic Sacrocolpopexy: Outcomes and Costs

Abdominal sacrocolpopexy (SCP) has been considered one of the gold standard surgical procedures for correction of apical pelvic organ prolapse, with high success rates and few complications (Maher et al. Database Syst Rev, 2013). Minimally invasive SCP has been shown to have the additional benefit of reduced blood loss and decreased hospital length of stay, without compromising anatomic or subjective outcomes (Freeman et al. Int Urogynecol J 24:377–84, 2013). This report summarizes the latest literature on minimally invasive SCP, with a focus on outcomes and efficiency. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) have shown equivalent subjective and anatomic outcomes for robotic SCP (RSCP) and laparoscopic SCP (LSCP), with increased operative time and cost associated with RSCP.
Inhibition of pitting corrosion on aluminum alloy 2024-T3: Effect of soluble chromate additions vs. chromate conversion coating

Abstract Pitting potentials (Epit) of aluminum alloy (AA) 2024-T3 (UNS A92024) were improved with additions of 0.01 M sodium chromate (Na2CrO4, pH 8) and 0.0062 M Na2CrO4 + 0.0038 M chromic acid (H2CrO4, pH 6) additions to 0.1 M sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) + 0.005 M sodium chloride (NaCl, pH 6) after 2-h periods at open-circuit potential (OCP). Chromate conversion coatings (CCC) on AA 2024-T3 also improved Epit in 0.1 M Na2SO4 + 0.005 M NaCl. However, CCC did not improve the Epit determined in fast potentiodynamic scans without periods at OCP. These tests were designed to minimize chromate leaching and long-range transport of chromate. The OCP of CCC AA 2024-T3, Al2Cu, Al2CuMg, 99.999% Cu, and 99.998% Al were not changed significantly in 0.1 M Na2SO4 + 0.005 M NaCl. Moreover, the OCP of AA 2024-T3, Al2Cu, Al2CuMg, and 99.999% Cu were not changed significantly in 0.1 M Na2SO4 + 0.005 M NaCl with the addition of 0.01 M soluble chromate at pH 6 and pH 8. The mass transport limiting current density for O2 reducti...
Correcting Radiated EM Emission Data Measured in Nonideal Environments

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that all computing devices meet radiated electromagnetic (EM) emission limits before they are marketed in the United States. EM emission measurements must be made in an environment where the results can be correlated with the results of tests made in an open field. Although the FCC does not specify a method of correlation, it is not uncommon to add or subtract correction factors to the measured results. These correction factors are usually arrived at by comparing data taken in the nonideal environment with theoretical or open-field data. However, when correction factors are applied without regard to the characteristics of the EM source, the corrected value may be more in error than the uncorrected value.
Parallel Array Classes and Lightweight Sharing Mechanisms

We discuss a set of parallel array classes, MetaMP, for distributed-memory architectures. The classes are implemented in C++ and interface to the PVM or Intel NX message-passing systems. An array class implements a partitioned array as a set of objects distributed across the nodes - a "collective" object. Object methods hide the low-level message-passing and implement meaningful array operations. These include transparent guard strips (or sharing regions) that support finite-difference stencils, reductions and multibroadcasts for support of pivoting and row operations, and interpolation/contraction operations for support of multigrid algorithms. The concept of guard strips is generalized to an object implementation of lightweight sharing mechanisms for finite element method (FEM) and particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithms. The sharing is accomplished through the mechanism of weak memory coherence and can be efficiently implemented. The price of the efficient implementation is memory usage and the need to explicitly specify the coherence operations. An intriguing feature of this programming model is that it maps well to both distributed-memory and shared-memory architectures.
Red Blood Cell Storage: How Long Is Too Long?

Red blood cells (RBCs) undergo biochemical and structural changes during storage, commonly referred to as the "storage lesion." Evidence suggests that the longer the RBC product is stored, the less effective is the transfused blood. Many studies linking morbidity to transfusion have not considered duration of RBC storage as a variable that may modulate the effect. In addition, the effects of supply and demand and RBC inventory management strategies have been incompletely investigated. It is possible to envision a blood management system based on modern inventory management strategies that could greatly reduce storage duration.
Density Functional Calculations, Structure, and Vibrational Frequencies of 2-Cyclopenten-1-one in Its S0, S1(n,π*), T1(n,π*), and T2(π,π*) States†

Density functional calculations have been carried out on the S0, S1(n,π*), and T1(n,π*) states of 2-cyclopenten-1-one (2CP) to complement the experimental study of the triplet state using cavity ringdown spectroscopy described in the previous paper. Structures and vibrational frequencies were calculated for each state at both the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels. The structural information was used to obtain the kinetic energy part of the ring-bending Hamiltonian, for the analysis of triplet-state spectral data. The density functional calculations show the molecule in its S0 and S1 states to be planar, but to have a small barrier to planarity in the T1(n,π*) triplet state. This is in line with potential-energy fits to the experimental ring-bending levels for each state. The calculated barrier for the T2(π,π*) state is 999 cm-1. This provides further confirmation that the cavity ringdown data, from which a 43-cm-1 barrier was determined, correspond to the T1(n,π*) state. The calculated vibra...
New Definitions of Misconduct: Priorities for the 1990s:

In 1992, two new definitions of scientific misconduct were proposed that differ significantly from those previously adopted by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Public Health Service, and many universities. This commentary considers insights underlying the proposals, asks whether the proposals cover the full range of likely serious deviations from accepted practice, and attaches priority to viewing definitions of misconduct in science within the investigative and adjudicative contexts where they operate.