cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rationale and design of the Miami Healthy Heart Initiative: a randomized controlled study of a community health worker intervention among Latino patients with poorly controlled diabetes

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus disproportionately affects the Latino community. Latinos with diabetes are also less likely to have adequate control of cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure. Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly being used to address various health disparity conditions, including diabetes. However, evidence of their effectiveness from randomized controlled trials is limited. Methods: The Miami Health Heart Initiative is a randomized controlled trial of 300 Latino patients with diabetes. Patients with hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) $8.0% were recruited from Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. At baseline, all patients underwent phlebotomy, physical examination, and a structured 90-minute research interview. They were then randomized to either usual care or a CHW intervention called Carino. For participants in the Carino arm of the study, CHW services included assistance with nonmedical social services, health education, and patient navigation in which the CHWs serve as a bridge between patients and the health care system. These services were delivered through home visits, phone calls, and group visits. At 12 months, all subjects had a follow-up examination. The primary outcomes at 1 year are changes in systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, and HbA 1c . Secondary outcomes include medication adherence, medication intensification, diabetes self-efficacy, physical activity, and self-reported fruit and vegetable intake. Discussion: The Miami Healthy Heart Initiative is one of the first rigorously conducted randomized controlled trials to provide evidence on the impact of CHWs on diabetes intermediate outcomes among Latinos. If the data support our primary hypotheses, the study would lend added support to ongoing efforts to incorporate CHWs as part of our national efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities.
New species, new records, and neotypification of some Mesoamerican Ericaceae

Cavendishia davidsei Luteyn,Cavendishia gomezii Luteyn, andCavendishia limonensis Luteyn are described as new and their relationships are discussed;C. davidsei andC. limonensis are illustrated.Cavendishia chiriquiensis var.chiriquiensis and var.bullata, Sphyrospermum ellipticum, Themistoclesia horquetensis, and the genusAnthopterus (A. revolutus) are newly reported from Costa Rica;Orthaea brachysiphon is newly reported from Mexico. Belize, and Honduras;Pernettya prostrata is reported here from Honduras; andThemistoclesia costaricensis is verified from Panama.Cavendishia glutinosa (=C. endresii) andEmpedoclesia brachysiphon (=Orthaea brachysiphon) are neotypified.
Selective Protein−Protein Interactions Direct Channeling of Intermediates between Polyketide Synthase Modules†

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) have represented fertile targets for rational manipulation via protein engineering ever since their modular architecture was first recognized. However, the mechanistic principles by which biosynthetic intermediates are sequentially channeled between modules remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate the importance of complementarity in a remarkably simple, repetitive structural motif within these megasynthases that has been implicated to affect intermodular chain transfer [Gokhale, R. S., et al. (1999) Science 284, 482]. The C- and N-terminal ends of adjacent PKS polypeptides are capped by short peptides of 20−40 residues. Mismatched sequences abolish intermodular chain transfer without affecting the activity of individual modules, whereas matched sequences can facilitate the channeling of intermediates between ordinarily nonconsecutive modules. Thus, in addition to substrate−PKS interactions and domain−domain interactions, these short interpolypeptide sequences represent a ...
Measuring the person-centeredness of caregivers working with nursing home residents with dementia.

There is increasing interest in promoting person-centered caregiving within gerontology. However, few observational instruments have been developed to measure person-centered caregiving behaviors. In the present study, two innovative coding instruments—the Person-Centered Behavior Inventory (PCBI) and the Global Behavior Scale (GBS)—were used to test the hypothesis that caregivers’ person-centeredness would be negatively correlated with residents’ resistiveness to care. The study hypothesis was based on the need-driven dementia-compromised theory of behavior. It was expected that person-centered caregiving would better meet residents’ needs and be associated with less resistiveness to care. This hypothesis was tested by coding 70 videotaped interactions between 54 caregivers and 20 residents diagnosed with dementia. Resistiveness to care was measured by behaviorally coding residents’ resistive behaviors based on the Resistiveness to Care scale. The study hypothesis was supported when the GBS was used to measure person-centeredness, but not when the PCBI was used. The findings provide preliminary support for the predictive and construct validity of the GBS and the PCBI.
Comparison of single-stick and double-stick techniques for percutaneous nephrostomy.

We compared single- and double-stick techniques of percutaneous nephrostomy insertion by retrospectively reviewing 140 percutaneous nephrostomy procedures in 101 patients. All procedures were performed by residents or fellows with direct attending supervision. Either the single-stick or double-stick technique was used based solely on personal attending preference. There were no significant differences in groups in terms of age, sex, or degree of hydronephrosis. In the single-stick technique, the kidney was punctured with sonographic guidance and the tract was serially dilated to accept an 8.5 Fr. nephrostomy catheter. In the double-stick technique, the kidney was punctured with sonographic guidance and a mixture of air and contrast were injected into the collecting system. The affected side was then elevated and a posterior calyx was punctured using fluoroscopic guidance. Both groups were compared in terms of complications and early tube dysfunction using the chi-squared test. All procedures were successful without immediate complications. Bleeding requiring transfusion occurred in 4.7% (4/86) procedures in the single stick group and 3.7% (2/54) in the double stick group (p-value not significant). None of these patients required further interventions for bleeding. Tube dysfunction leading to premature tube exchange occurred in 3.5% (3/86) of catheters in the single stick group and 3.7% (2/54) of catheters in the double- stick group (p-value not significant). We found no significant difference between the single and double- stick methods of percutaneous nephrostomy in terms of success rates, complications, or tube function. We believe that the single-stick method should be adopted as the insertion technique of choice.
Interfacial reactions and Schottky barriers of Pt and Pd on epitaxial Si1-xGex alloys

The evolution of interfacial reactions during the deposition of Pt and Pd on epitaxial Si1−xGex alloys was studied using x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for metal coverage up to 10 A. Auger electron depth profiling was performed on a thicker metal overlayer before and after in vacuo annealing to study the redistribution of composition in the reactions. We have found that Pt and Pd react mainly with Si to form silicides at 350 °C, leaving some Ge to segregate at the surface. These results were correlated with Schottky barrier height measurements. We found that the Schottky barrier heights of Pt/n‐Si0.8Ge0.2 and Pd/n‐Si0.8Ge0.2 are about the same, pinned at 0.68 eV, which is much smaller than those of n‐Si. These barrier heights are quite stable up to 550 °C.
Resistive Computation: A Critique

Resistive Computation was suggested by [6] as an idea for tacking the power wall by replacing conventional CMOS logic with Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) based Look-Up Tables (LUTs). Spin Transfer Torque RAM (STTRAM) is an emerging CMOS-compatible non-volatile memory technology based on Magnetic Tunnel Junctions as a memory bit [3]. The principal advantage of STTRAM is that it is leakage-resistant, which is an important characteristic beyond the 45nm technology node, where leakage concerns are becoming a limiting factor in microprocessor performance. Although STTRAM is a good candidate for replacing SRAM for on-chip memory, we argue in this article MTJ-based LUTs are unnecessarily expensive in terms of area, power, and performance when implementing fixed combinational logic that does not require the reprogramming ability provided by MTJs.
Arachidonic acid distribution in lipids of mammary glands and dmba-induced tumors of rats

Abstract In the phospholipid fractions, arachidonic acid represented a several fold higher percentage of fatty acids from DMBA-induced tumors and in mammary glands from midpregnant rats when compared to mammary glands from virgin rats. Arachidonic acid was not present in measurable quantities in the neutral lipid fractions of mammary glands from virgin rats. The arachidonic acid in the neutral lipid fraction of mammary glands from mid-pregnant rats was only detectable in the triglyceride-sterol ester fraction, but in that fraction less than 1% of the fatty acids were arachidonic acid. In the neutral lipids of the DMBA-induced tumors, it was of particular interest that a high proportion (19%) of the fatty acids in the diglyceride fraction consisted of arachidonic acid; no arachidonic acid was detected in the diglycerides of the normal tissues.
Minor groove orientation for the (1S, 2R, 3S, 4R)-N2-[1-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,3,4-trihydroxybenz[a]anthracenyl)]-2'- deoxyguanosyl adduct in the N-ras codon 12 sequence

The conformation of the trans-anti-(1S,2R,3S,4R)-N2-[1-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,3,4-trihydroxybenz[a]anthracenyl)]-2‘-deoxyguanosyl adduct in d(G1G2C3A4G5X6T7G8G9T10G11)·d(C12A13C14C15A16C17C18T19G20C21C22), bearing codon 12 of the human N-ras protooncogene (underlined), was determined. This adduct had S stereochemistry at the benzylic carbon. Its occurrence in DNA is a consequence of trans opening by the deoxyguanosine amino group of (1R,2S,3S,4R)-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[a]anthracenyl-3,4-diol. The resonance frequencies, relative to the unmodified DNA, of the X6 H1‘ and H6 protons were shifted downfield, whereas those of the C18 and T19 H1‘, H2‘, H2‘ ‘, and H3‘ deoxyribose protons were shifted upfield. The imino and amino resonances exhibited the expected sequential connectivities, suggesting no interruption of Watson−Crick pairing. A total of 426 interproton distances, including nine uniquely assigned BA−DNA distances, were used in the restrained molecular dynamics calculations. The refined struct...
Dynamics of nitrate leaching under irrigated potato rotation in Washington State: a long-term simulation study

Abstract In Washington State, nitrate is the most prevalent and frequently documented groundwater contaminant. The process appears driven by irrigation development associated with excessive use of fertilizers. A significant concentration of the problem is located in the Quincy–Pasco area. A computer simulation study was conducted with the objective of estimating the amount and dynamics of nitrate leaching from a typical irrigated crop rotation in this area. A 30-year record of daily weather from Richland, WA (near Pasco), a representative sandy soil (Quincy series, mesic Xeric Torripsamments), and a center pivot-irrigated crop rotation including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) were considered. CropSyst, a cropping systems model, was used to simulate the interactions between soils, crops, weather, and irrigation and fertilization management scenarios. When scenarios with fertilization rates above current recommended rates were simulated, potato had the largest nitrate leaching amounts during the growing season. When fertilization approached recommended rates, the simulated nitrate leaching during the potato growing seasons was low and not different from that of maize growing seasons. Excess irrigation did not affect significantly the bulk of simulated nitrate leaching, although it enhanced leaching during crop periods. Nitrate leaching was found to be more significant during no-crop periods (fall and winter), particularly following potato. Precipitation variability resulted in cycles of nitrate accumulation in the soil followed by leaching, at times producing some large events. Overall, the simulation study showed that reducing fertilization rates was the only effective approach to reducing nitrate leaching.
Alterations in purine nucleotide pyrophosphorylases and resistance to purine analogues.

Abstract Resistance to purine analogues in mutants isolated from Salmonella typhimurium , strain LT-2 , resulted in the loss of specific purine nucleotide pyrophosphorylases. Thus, mutants resistant to 2,6-diaminopurine, 6-mercaptopurine, and 8-azaguanine lacked adenylic, inosinic and guanylic pyrophosphorylases, respectively. The mutants resistant to 2,6-diaminopurine were of two types. One of them, dap-r-3 , was deficient in adenylic pyrophosphorylase, whereas in the other mutant, dap-r-6 , activity of this enzyme was unaffected. However, both the mutants were unable to make corresponding nucleotides from 2,6-diaminopurine. Resistance to 6-mercaptopurine also resulted in two types of mutations. One type, mp-r-I , was deficient only in inosinic pyrophosphorylase; the other, mp-r-2 , in both inosinic and guanylic pyrophosphorylases. Resistance to 8-azaguanine in the mutant, azg-r , resulted in loss of only guanylic pyrophosphorylase activity. All the mutants retained xanthylic pyrophosphorylase activity. Results indicated the existence of at least three (possible four) purine nucleotide pyrophosphorylases. Resistance to all the purine analogues was characterized by the inability of the resistant strains to make nucleotides from the analogues. These observations suggested that the nucleotides were probably the active inhibitory forms of the analogues, and that a deficiency in activating enzymes led to the resistance in the above mutants.
A Pieri-Type Formula for H*T(SLn(C)/B)☆

The singular cohomology of the Grassmann variety of k-planes in Cn has a basis {sν} indexed by partitions. The classical Pieri formula is an explicit rule for determining the coefficients in the expansion of the cup products1m∪sλ=∑c1m,λμsμ,where 1m is a column of length m and s1m is the mth Chern class of the tautological bundle. Lascoux and Schutzenberger [C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris294 (1982), 447–450] formulated a generalization of Pieri's formula to the cohomology of the flag variety SLn(C)/B and briefly indicated an algebraic proof. (Manivel [Cours Specialises 3 (1998)] provides details of this proof.) A geometric proof was given by Sottile [Ann. Inst. Fourier (Grenoble) 46 (1996), 89–110]. In this paper we state and prove a generalization of this Pieri-type formula for the T-equivariant cohomology of the flag variety. We use the algebraic description of the T-equivariant cohomology of the flag variety due to Kostant and Kumar [Adv. Math.62 (1986), 187–237] and Arabia [Bull. Soc. Math. France117 (1989), 129–165], and our new formula exposes an equality of certain structure Constants in this algebra. Our proof is an induction based on the original idea in Lascoux and Schutzenberger.
Infrared properties of semiconductors: Talking physics with simple models, à la Eli Burstein

Abstract As Eli Burstein's student, I learned from him the value of intuition, of spirited discussion of physics ideas, and of simple but deep models. These lessons took film hold in my research career. Simple classical models play a major role in one of my interests, the far infrared (20-1, 000 cm −1 ) properties of solids. I give an appreciation of Eli's methods, followed by a survey of my use of models to analyze a variety of far infrared data from bulk and microstructure III–V, II–VI and IV–VI semiconductors.
Aspectos reproductivos del langostino colorado (Pleuroncodes monodon H. Milne Edwards, 1837), frente a la costa de Concepción, Chile

Se describen diversos aspectos reproductivos del langostino colorado (Pleuroncodes monodon) frente a la costa de Concepcion (Chile), donde esta especie constituye una de las principales pesquerias de crustaceos del pais. En esta zona se realizaron 15 cruceros entre agosto de 1988 y octubre de 1989, con 250 lances de 30 min de duracion cada uno. Las capturas se efectuaron con redes de arrastre de fondo, en estaciones predefinidas a 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 y 300 m de profundidad. En este periodo se analizo un total de 147.871 ejemplares; 81.978 machos (56,4%) y 65.893 hembras (44,6%). Las hembras oviferas totalizaron 26.632 individuos, con el 18,0% de la muestra total. Las longitudes cefalotoracicas (Lc) estuvieron comprendidas en ambos sexos entre 7,1 y 52,8 mm. La proporcion sexual total fluctuo con porcentajes mensuales que variaron entre 35,6 y 67,9% en los machos, siendo en general predominante este sexo tanto en las muestras mensuales por zona y totales. Se determino que la reproduccion ocurre una vez al ano, con mayor incidencia de hembras oviferas entre mayo y octubre. La talla en que el 50% de las hembras alcanza la madurez sexual fue de 25,6 mm de Lc. El diametro de los huevos vario entre 0,47 y 0,78 mm, apreciandose un incremento de tamano en funcion del avance del desarrollo embrionario. Este comprendio entre 90 y 120 dias y la eclosion de los huevos se produjo entre junio y octubre. El potencial reproductivo fluctuo entre 1.808 y 33.966 huevos, en ejemplares comprendidos entre 22,0 y 43,9 mm. De los modelos utilizados para ajustar la relacion talla (Lc) y fecundidad (NTH), el modelo de poder explico mejor esta relacion: NTH = 0,015*Lc3,844. La mayor contribucion de nuevas crias a la poblacion (55%), la realizaron las hembras comprendidas entre 25 y 29 mm de Lc
Potential expansion of the academic job market: Opportunities for sociologists

Following a period of a restricted and declining academic market, an expansion of such opportunity for sociologists is forecast. The next decade will be characterized by increasing enrollments, particularly after 1995, and an increasing percentage of faculty currently employed within academia will pass the normal age of retirement. The “uncapping” of age of retirement is not expected to have a significant impact on the need to replace older faculty. Despite a decline in the production of Ph.D.’s during the 1980s, there continues to exist a significant pool of underutilized sociologists. The impact of this oversupply will depend upon more than the increase in demand within academic institutions. The number of sociologists employed outside academia increased during the 1980s, and this trend is expected to continue. Conclusions must remain tentative because of the severe limitations of available data, and additional data collection and analysis is suggested. Nevertheless, the next decade is seen as a time of expanding opportunities for sociologists, and the market for their service is seen as becoming increasingly competitive.
The dependence of the Sn grain structure of Pb-free solder joints on composition and geometry

The effects of solder composition, under bump metallurgy and solder joint geometry on Sn grain morphology in Pb free solder joints were examined. SnAgCu solder joints were examined for compositions ranging from Sn, near eutectic SnCu, near eutectic SnAg, to near eutectic SnAgCu. The geometries of solder joints were varied: diameters from 10 to 150 microns, and heights between ten and sixty microns were selected. Solidification temperatures of the samples after various thermal histories were monitored by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Sn grain morphologies were examined by optical microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction in order to determine the amount of Sn interlacing. Correlations between the composition, or geometry, and the amount of Sn interlacing are reported. The nucleation rates of Sn from the melt in these Pb solder joints at a number of different temperatures were also measured. An expression for the nucleation rate of Sn in a controlled collapse chip connection solder joint as a function of temperature was thus formulated, providing a predictive capability for Sn solidification temperatures. This study has shown that variations in the temperature of solidification of Sn from the SnAgCu melt result in significant differences in the Sn grain morphology.
Stem cell-based delivery of Hypoxamir-210 to the infarcted heart: implications on stem cell survival and preservation of infarcted heart function

This study seeks to test our hypothesis that transgenic induction of miR-210 in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) simulates the pro-survival effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and that engraftment of (PC)MSC helps in the functional recovery of ischemic heart by miR-210 transfer to host cardiomyocytes through gap junctions. miR-210 expression in MSC was achieved by IPC or nanoparticle-based transfection of miR-210 plasmid ((miR)MSC) and functional recovery of the infarcted heart of rat transplanted with (PC)MSC or (miR)MSC was evaluated. Both (PC)MSC and (miR)MSC showed higher survival under lethal anoxia as compared to (non-PC)MSC and scramble-transfected MSC ((Sc)MSC) controls with concomitantly lower CASP8AP2 expression. Similarly, both (PC)MSC and (miR)MSC survived better and accelerated functional recovery of ischemic heart post-transplantation. To validate our hypothesis that MSC deliver miR-210 to host cardiomyocytes, in vitro co-culture between cardiomyocytes and (PC)MSC or (miR)MSC (using (non-PC)MSC or (Sc)MSC as controls) showed co-localization of miR-210 with gap-junctional connexin-43. miR-210 transfer to cardiomyocytes was blocked by heptanol pretreatment. Moreover, higher survival of cardiomyocytes co-cultured with (PC)MSC was observed with concomitant expression of CASP8AP2 as compared to cardiomyocytes co-cultured with (non-PC)MSC thus suggesting that miR-210 was translocated from MSC to protect host cardiomyocytes. Induction of miR-210 in MSC promoted their survival post-engraftment in the infarcted heart. Moreover, direct transfer of pro-survival miR-210 from (miR)MSC to host cardiomyocytes led to functional recovery of the ischemic heart.
Immunotherapy of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing β cells are destroyed. Diabetic patients manage their hyperglycemia by daily insulin injections. However, insulin therapy is by no means a cure. Accordingly, a significant effort has been ongoing to develop immunotherapies that effectively prevent and/or treat T1D in the clinic. This review focuses on antigen- and antibody-based immunotherapies and discusses the respective strengths and weaknesses of these approaches.
Direct electronic measurement of the spin Hall effect

The generation, manipulation and detection of spin-polarized electrons in nanostructures define the main challenges of spin-based electronics. Among the different approaches for spin generation and manipulation, spin-orbit coupling--which couples the spin of an electron to its momentum--is attracting considerable interest. In a spin-orbit-coupled system, a non-zero spin current is predicted in a direction perpendicular to the applied electric field, giving rise to a spin Hall effect. Consistent with this effect, electrically induced spin polarization was recently detected by optical techniques at the edges of a semiconductor channel and in two-dimensional electron gases in semiconductor heterostructures. Here we report electrical measurements of the spin Hall effect in a diffusive metallic conductor, using a ferromagnetic electrode in combination with a tunnel barrier to inject a spin-polarized current. In our devices, we observe an induced voltage that results exclusively from the conversion of the injected spin current into charge imbalance through the spin Hall effect. Such a voltage is proportional to the component of the injected spins that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the spin current direction and the voltage probes. These experiments reveal opportunities for efficient spin detection without the need for magnetic materials, which could lead to useful spintronics devices that integrate information processing and data storage.
Effects of Exogenous Vasopressin on Electrocortical Activity in the Fetal Lamb

We evaluated the effects of exogenous arginine vasopressin on electrocortical activity in the fetal lamb. Eight experiments were conducted on 5 chronically instrumented fetal lambs. Arginine vasopressin was infused at the rate of 1.56-2.27 mlU/min/kg estimated fetal weight for 30 min. Fetal electrocortical activity was obtained by 2 stainless steel screw electrodes implanted bilaterally on the fetal parietal skull. A significant increase was seen in the number of times that electrocortical activity switched from low voltage to high voltage and from high voltage to low voltage. The mean duration of the low voltage state was significantly decreased, while the duration of high voltage remained the same. The percentage of time that fetuses spent in the low voltage state was significantly decreased and in the high voltage state was significantly increased. In conclusion, exogenous AVP affects the regulation of fetal electrocortical activity, including the frequency of switching from one electrocortical activit...
Smart bearing utilizing embedded sensors: design considerations

This paper analyzes various design considerations of a 'smart' rolling element bearing with self-diagnostic capabilities. The self-diagnostic capability was added to the bearing by integrating a condition monitoring module into the raceway. The advantages of this design over a conventional condition monitoring system are discussed. A structural analysis was done to evaluate the effect of various modifications to the bearing raceway. It was found that the raceway of a conventional bearing could accept a miniaturized sensor module without a significant impact to the bearing. A miniaturized acoustic emission sensor was designed to fit into the sensor module. The sensor was designed to respond to the bearing's characteristic frequencies.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Update on accommodative esotropia.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to present an update on accommodative esotropia. Methods The diagnosis, clinical features, etiology, treatment, prognosis, and clinical course for the 3 types of accommodative esotropia are presented. Results Accommodative esotropia is the most common pediatric strabismus and must be differentiated from other pediatric esotropias. Although its average age of onset is 2.5 years, it can begin during the first year of life and is seen rarely in older children and teenagers. Refractive accommodative esotropia and nonrefractive accommodative esotropia have a better prognosis for achieving normal binocular vision and high-grade stereopsis with appropriate and timely treatment than partly accommodative esotropia. Children with successfully treated accommodative esotropia need to be followed up with to prevent possible deterioration and development of a superimposed nonaccommodative esotropia, which in some cases may require extraocular muscle surgery. Emmetropization and spontaneous resolution of the esotropia occur rarely and may take many years. Conclusion Approximately 50% of all pediatric esotropias are either entirely or partly accommodative. Proper care is long term and includes monitoring the refractive error and binocular vision status over the years.
The Literacy Test and Its Making

Noteworthy provisions, other than the literacy test, in the act of 1917, 448. — The literacy test itself significant of a change in public opinion, 449. — The earlier acts aimed at selection only, 451. — The literacy test a measure of restriction, 452. — The bill of 1897, vetoed by President Cleveland, 453. — Speaker Cannon's successful manoeuvers against a similar bill in 1906, 455. — President Taft's veto of 1913, 456. — President Wilson's veto of 1915, 459. — The act of 1917 finally passed over the veto, 459.
A Systems Framework for Special Education Program Evaluation

Evaluation of special education programs and services is a growing concern of many educators and school psychologists. For special education program evaluation to be worthwhile at the local level, however, a broad-based view of the process is necessary. This paper describes a systems framework for special education program evaluation that allows practitioners to more readily adapt program evaluation methods, procedures, and techniques to the problems and nature of special services delivery, Use of the framework as an organizing device helps provide definition and direction to the relatively underdeveloped area of special education program evaluation methods, procedures, and techniques to the problems and nature of special services delivery. Use of the framework as an organizing device helps provide definition and direction to the relatively underdeveloped area of special education program evaluation.
Effect of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on ultrastructure of developing limb-bud cells in vitro☆

Abstract Limb-bud cells differentiate into chondrocytes, myocytes, fibrocytes and epithelial cells in vivo. While detailed morphological descriptions of developmental events have been presented, mechanisms governing differentiation of cells in vivo are not yet apparent. Limb-bud cells can be grown in tissue culture and will differentiate into the same cell types as occur in vivo. Chondrogenesis in vitro appears to mimic differentiation in vivo as evaluated both biochemically and ultrastructurally. Incorporation of H235SO4 into glycosaminoglycans increases markedly on the fourth day in culture. At the same time, cells assume the morphology of mature chondrocytes and synthesize extracellular matrix composed of 250–400A proteoglycan granules and poorly cross-banded collagen fibers. Myocytes can be detected as early as 21 hr after initiation of cell cultures and contain giant polysomes and thick and thin filaments. When early embryonic limb-bud cells are treated with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd), myogenesis is diminished and differentiation into chondrocytes is prevented irreversibly. Incorporation of H235SO4 remains depressed throughout the culture period despite removal of the drug after the second day of growth. Development of organelles associated with synthesis of extracellular material (rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus) is not prevented by treating limb-bud cells with BrdUrd. Extracellular matrix consists primarily of bundles of collagen fibers.
Layered thermohaline natural convection

Abstract The results of two quasi-steady experiments in layered, double-diffusive convection are presented and interpreted in terms of a steady-state model. In the experiments heat and salt are transported upward through two horizontal convecting layers of water which are separated by a thermocline. a region of large temperature and concentration gradients. As the thermocline stability number β c ΔC β 1 ΔT increases, the thermocline becomes thicker and the fluxes of heat and salt decrease. These two characteristics of the thermohaline system are shown to be consistent with a conduction-convection model which views the thermocline as a conduction region separating two convective boundary layers. That molecular diffusion is the dominating transport process in the central portion of the thermocline is experimentally verified. The thickness of the conducting region is found to vary with the imposed boundary conditions in such a manner as to maintain conditions of near neutral stability across the boundary layers.
Development of the Irish Peat Fuel Industry

. Over the past three decades peat (or turf) production in Ireland has been transformed from a rudimentary hand-won operation to a highly mechanized and commercially profitable national industry. Through a pragmatic admixture of government policy-making and technological advancement 130,000 acres of bogland have been converted into a major fuel production complex. Peat has captured a large share of the domestic solid fuel market, both rural and urban, and accounts for one-quarter of the nation's electricity output. Owing to recent international energy shortages and inflated fuel import costs, the economic viability of peat fuel has been greatly enhanced. As a consequence, a major expansion program has been initiated. Nascent recognition of the new “peat economics” has stimulated interest in other countries and prompted serious re-examination of long-neglected boglands. Apart from providing a valuable source of indigenous energy, the industry has made appreciable social and economic contributions, particularly in terms of buttressing balance of payments and generating employment in rural districts.
Altered arrangement of the DNA in injection-defective lambda bacteriophage.

Abstract We have characterized two variant bacteriophage λ particles, λZ− and λdoc L, that have low infectivity but normal morphology. The low infectivity is due, at least in part, to a defect in DNA injection. This defect is probably the result of an altered location of the right end of the chromosome with respect to the phage tail: the right end of λZ− and λdoc L DNA, in contrast to that of wild-type λ, cannot be cross-linked to the tail. The cross-linking experiments were greatly facilitated by a new technique that allows routine spreading of DNA for electron microscopy without the use of a protein film. We propose that the Z gene product, a tail protein, acts by recognizing a specific feature near the right terminus of the DNA and promoting its insertion into the tail. This feature is presumably missing in most λdoc L particles.
A formal synthesis of (-)-englerin A by relay ring closing metathesis and transannular etherification.

A bicyclization approach to englerin A has culminated in a formal asymmetric total synthesis. Key transformations in the 10-step sequence are a regiospecific epoxide opening and a relay ene-yne-ene metathesis that converts linear substrates specifically to Δ4,6-guaiadiene-9,10 diol derivatives. Regiospecific functionalization of the diene moiety installs the oxygen bridge required for the englerin tricyclic core.
Microsatellite variation associated with prolactin expression and growth of salt-challenged tilapia.

Biologists have long argued that runs of alternating purines and pyrimidines could form alternative DNA structures, which might regulate transcription. Here, we report that simple sequence repeat p...
Performance Diagnosis Matrix: A Discussion of Performance Improvement Scholarship

Most Human Resource Development (HRD) and Performance Improvement (PI) professionals agree that organizational performance is critical. There is less agreement, however, on the specific concepts that underlie differing models of performance diagnosis and improvement. Part of this disagreement may stem from a lack of a strong theoretical and empirical grounding in the multi-disciplinary concepts that comprise the basis of performance improvement. Swanson's (1994) Performance Diagnosis Matrix of Enabling Questions identifies elements central to HRD effectiveness and provides a theoretical framework through which multiple and diverse scholarly contributions can be explored to provide HRD/PI with additional theoretical strength. This discussion offers a more complete and stronger understanding of HRD/PI and the elements necessary to improve organizational performance by researching significant authors and research studies for concepts raised in the fifteen enabling questions posed in Swanson's Performance Diagnosis of Enabling Questions. These fifteen questions address performance variables (mission/goal, systems design, capacity, motivation, and expertise) at three performance levels (organizational, process, and individual).
Grades of meaning

In this paper, I lend novel support to H. P. Grice’s account of speaker meaning (GASM) by blunting the force of a significant objection. Stephen Schiffer has argued that in order to make GASM sufficient, one must add restrictions that are psychologically impossible to fulfill, thereby making GASM untenable. In what follows, I explain the elements of GASM that require it to invoke these psychologically unrealizable restrictions. I then accept Schiffer’s criticism, but modify its significance to GASM. I argue that the problem that Schiffer notes is not a reason to reject GASM, but a reason to embrace it. GASM shows that meaning is best understood as an absolute concept—an unrealizable ideal limit. Taking some inspiration from contextualist theories of knowledge attribution, I argue that my version of GASM offers a useful contextualist account of meaning attribution. Hence, pragmatic theories of meaning and communication should not wholly exclude GASM from their theorizing, at least not for the reasons that are commonly given.
Sex Steroid Hormones, Upper Body Obesity, and Insulin Resistance

Low plasma levels of SHBG and free testosterone have been associated with increased insulin resistance and risk for type 2 diabetes in males. As truncal obesity, a condition accompanied by increased insulin resistance, is also associated with low SHBG and testosterone levels, the independent association of low free testosterone and SHBG with excessive insulin resistance remains to be determined. In this study we evaluated whether in normogonadic men, plasma levels of SHBG and free testosterone are primarily related to insulin resistance or to generalized and regional adiposity. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps and iv glucose tolerance tests were performed in 24 healthy volunteer and 33 patients with mild type 2 diabetes. The 2 groups were chosen to have similar body mass index and were found to have similar body composition and fat distribution, assessed by underwater weighing, skinfold thickness, and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen. In the 2 groups combined, plasma levels of SHBG correlated inversely with fat accumulation in both sc and intraabdominal areas. Plasma levels of free testosterone correlated inversely with both truncal and peripheral skinfold thickness only in the nondiabetic men. No associations between plasma levels of sex steroid hormones and insulin resistance, hepatic glucose output, or insulin secretion were found to be independent of adiposity. Furthermore, although patients with diabetes were more insulin resistant than those without diabetes, the 2 groups had similar plasma concentrations of free testosterone (55 +/- 14 and 67 +/- 27 pmol/liter, respectively), SHBG (19 +/- 13 and 19 +/- 13 nmol/liter), estradiol (83 +/- 5 and 81 +/- 21 pmol/liter), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (3.6 +/- 2.2 and 2.8 +/- 1.7 nmol/liter). We conclude that in normogonadal nondiabetic males, the variability in plasma bioavailable testosterone concentrations is predictive of the variability in fat deposition in the sc adipose tissue compartments of both truncal and peripheral areas. Low plasma levels of bioavailable testosterone do not independently predict excessive insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction, or hepatic glucose output in normogonadal men.
Having Babies at Home: Is It Safe? Is It Ethical?

Home births entail a definite small risk, of unknown magnitude. Hospital births entail a wider range of risks, whose magnitude may be large but is also unknown. The morality of home births should be decided on a case-by-case basis, according to these priorities: safety of the mother, safety of the fetus, benefit to the fetus, potential benefit to the mother.
Methanol{tris­[2-(2-pyridylmethyl­eneamino)ethyl]amino-κ7N}calcium(II) bis­(perchlorate) methanol solvate

In the title compound, [Ca(C24H27N7)(CH3OH)](ClO4)2·CH3OH, the Ca2+ ion is coordinated by all seven N atoms from the tris­[2-(2-pyridylmethyl­eneamino)eth­yl]amine ligand and by the O atom of a methanol mol­ecule, in an approximately square-anti­prismatic geometry.
AUTOCORRELATED EXOGENOUS FACTORS AND THE DETECTION OF DELAYED DENSITY DEPENDENCE

Coupled trophic interactions with specialist predators or resources are thought to be primarily responsible for generating delayed density dependence. Previous theoretical studies suggest that autocorrelation in exogenous factors could generate apparent negative delayed density dependence in populations regulated only by direct density dependence. Using both linear and nonlinear models, we show that autocorrelated exogenous factors can generate the spurious appearance of not only negative, but also positive, delayed density dependence in populations regulated only by direct density dependence. Evidence for negative delayed density dependence is found mainly in populations exhibiting monotonic deterministic stability, whereas evidence for positive delayed density dependence is found mainly in populations exhibiting damped or persistent two-point cycles, or more complex deterministic dynamics. We argue that fluctuating resources (e.g., mast seeding) in bottom-up controlled communities could qualify as autocorrelated exogenous factors and cause apparent delayed density dependence in the population of their consumers.
Study of coupled thermal electric behavior of compliant micro-spring interconnects for next generation probing applications

Advances in integrated circuit fabrication have given rise to a need for an innovative, inexpensive, yet reliable probing technology with ultra-fine pitch capability. Flexible micro-spring structures that can exceed the probing needs of the next-generation microelectronic devices have been developed. Highly compliant cantilevered springs have been fabricated at pitches as small as 6/spl mu/m. These micro-springs are designed to accommodate topological variation in probing surfaces while flexing within the elastic regime. Coupled thermal-electric numerical models have been developed to understand the thermal contours and current density developed across these springs. Based on the models and experiments, it is seen that the electrical resistance of the probe spring under study will be less than 1 /spl Omega/. Also, it is seen that the maximum temperature due to Joule heating is localized near the tip of the probe and can be about 93/spl deg/C above the ambient temperature, when temperature dependent bulk material properties are used. Optimization of the spring geometry to reduce this maximum temperature is outlined. In addition, the role of scale effects on the thermal conductivity of the spring material is studied. Based on the work, it can be said that it is possible to design micro-contact springs for probing applications such that the electrical resistance and the temperature increase during probing will be within acceptable limits.
Measurements of S(IV) and organic anions in Minnesota rain

Abstract In 167 fractions from 84 rain events collected at two sites in Minnesota during the summer of 1982, S(IV) accounted 1.12% of the measured anions and thus usually contributed very little of the free acidity. A few events were observed, however, in which the S(IV) contribution was large. Organic acids were observed in nearly every fraction, with acetate being the most abundant. The samples were not preserved to prevent the loss of organic acids, which made an accurate assessment of the contribution of the organics to the acidity impossible and may have accounted for the low amounts of formate observed. The pH of samples in storage increased with time, a phenomenon which appeared to be related to gas exchange.
Nursing Philosophy: Foucault and Cultural Diversity Issues in the Nursing Field

Cultural diversity is a highly important issue in nursing education and nursing practice today. This study is a philosophical approach to the power relationship between a health care provider and a care recipient. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationships between nurses and ethnic minority patients based on the discussions of some Foucauldian concepts that are related to cultural diversity. Based on the analysis, this study provides some suggestions for cultural competency in nursing practice.
Modification to a previous higher order model for particle transport in binary stochastic media

Abstract The problem of particle transport and radiative transfer through a stochastic mixture of two immiscible materials is considered. When the material mixing process is assumed to obey Markovian statistics, an ensemble average of this stochastic transport equation leads to two coupled transport equations containing four different ensemble-averaged unknowns. Modification to a previous higher order closure involving additional transport equations is suggested as a new closure. The closure philosophy is to demand that the closed set of equations reproduces certain exact limiting behaviors in rod geometry. To assess the accuracy of the proposed modification, numerical results predicted by this new higher order closure, for both the Markovian and the non-Markovian mixing statistics, are given and compared with exact benchmark results as well as with results from the standard closure available in the literature.
A community learns design: towards a pattern language for novice visual programmers

We conducted a one-day design workshop in which residents of a community collaborated in learning about and designing community-related visual simulations (to be implemented in Stagecast Creator). An analysis of their design ideas and concerns revealed several visual design patterns that were apparent even in these very early stages of simulation design. This analysis helps us to characterize the design constructs people may be able to specify or learn when first encountering visual simulation design tasks and projects. In this paper, we introduce the concept of patterns and their relationship to visual programming and present several visual programming language patterns mined from the projects developed at the community simulation design workshop. Finally, we discuss how these patterns might be incorporated into minimalist tutorials that we are developing to introduce community residents to visual simulation design.
Mitochondrial association, protein phosphorylation, and degradation regulate the availability of the active Rab GTPase Ypt11 for mitochondrial inheritance

The Rab GTPase Ypt11 is a Myo2-binding protein implicated in mother-to-bud transport of the cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER), late Golgi, and mitochondria during yeast division. However, its reported subcellular localization does not reflect all of these func - tions. Here we show that Ypt11 is normally a low-abundance protein whose ER localization is only detected when the protein is highly overexpressed. Although it has been suggested that ER-localized Ypt11 and ER-mitochondrial contact sites might mediate passive transport of mitochondria into the bud, we found that mitochondrial, but not ER, association is essential for Ypt11 function in mitochondrial inheritance. Our studies also reveal that Ypt11 function is regulated at multiple levels. In addition to membrane targeting and GTPase domain-depen- dent effector interactions, the abundance of active Ypt11 forms is controlled by phosphoryla- tion status and degradation. We present a model that synthesizes these new features of Ypt11 function and regulation in mitochondrial inheritance.