cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can achievement emotions be used to better understand motivation, learning, and performance in medical education?

In this article, we consider an emergent theory of human emotion. The overarching purpose of the article is to introduce medical education researchers to the notion of achievement emotions and provide a brief overview of how this work can inform the theory, research, and practice of medical education. First, we define achievement emotions and describe one of the leading contemporary theories of achievement emotions, control-value theory (Pekrun R. 2006. The control-value theory of achievement emotions: Assumptions, corollaries, and implications for educational research and practice. Educ Psychol Rev 18:315–341.). Next, we distinguish between different types of achievement emotions, their proximal causes, and their consequences for motivation, learning, and performance, and we discuss several implications for educational practice. Finally, we end with a call for more research on achievement emotions in medical education to facilitate our understanding of emotions and their impact on important educational o...
An algometer for intraoral pain tolerance measurements

An algometer was developed to provide a variable probing force (0-200 g force) which could be used intraorally. This algometer consisted of an autoclavable probe handpiece attached to an optical encoder, which recorded probing force to a computer when a button was pressed. The probe handpiece included a 0.40 mm diameter hemispherical tip which was placed in contact with the experimental site. The probe tip was pressed against the tissue with increasing force until the subject pressed the button, at which point the pain tolerance (PT) value was recorded by the computer. Intraoral soft tissue, PT values were obtained from nine healthy adult subjects during 6 weekly visits to determine the reproducibility of PT measurements. Five gingival sulcus sites and three gingival surface sites, all adjacent to the maxillary premolars constituted the experimental area. The reproducibility of PT values using the force stimulus from the algometer was evaluated using interclass correlation coefficients (R) for each of the eight sites. Visits 1 and 2 were training and calibration visits. Visits 3 through 6 were experimental visits. The R values ranged from 0.40 to 0.79 when data from all six visits were included. R values for Visits 3 through 6 were 0.63-0.97 indicating good to excellent correlation after subjects became familiar with the procedure. A complete repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant interaction between site and visit. Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare sensitivity across the eight sites. The results indicated that the three most anterior sites were significantly (P < 0.05) more sensitive than four of the posterior sites. When the sites were grouped into: (1) gingival surface sites; (2) mid-facial sulcus sites; and (3) interproximal sulcus sites, no significant differences were found in their PT values. The algometer is well suited for intraoral investigations because of its precision, computerized data entry and easily positioned, autoclavable handpiece. This new algometer may be useful for sensory and pain studies for other parts of the body.
Expression of fos and jun proto-oncogenes in benign versus malignant human uterine tissue.

Abstract Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate expression of fos and jun proto-oncogenes in benign human uterine tissue compared with malignant uterine tissue. Methods. Forty-two endometrial tissue specimens were obtained at the time of hysterectomy. Tissue samples from different phases of the menstrual cycle and from postmenopausal patients were stained using immunohistochemical methods to detect Fos and Jun proteins, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and Ki67 (detects a nuclear antigen associated with proliferating cells). Tissue was examined microscopically for nuclear staining in endometrial epithelium and stroma. The endometrium was based on the patient's last menstrual period, pathologic dating, and proliferative versus nonproliferative status as determined by Ki67. Benign and malignant specimens were subjected to Northern blot analysis to evaluate levels of expression of c- fos, c- jun, and jun -B mRNA. The pattern of c- fos mRNA expression in malignant samples was further evaluated using in situ hybridization. Results. In proliferative, secretory, postmenopausal, and progesterone-influenced, uterine specimens immunohistochemically stained and examined, the endometrial and stromal nuclei stained for both Fos and Jun in varying intensities. However, no pattern was found in the variation of intensity according to the phase of the endometrium. Similarly, in malignant and benign endometrial tissue examined by Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses, expression of proto-oncogene mRNAs was readily detectable, but no statistical correlation between type of tissue examined, grade of adenocarcinoma, and stage of endometrial cancer was found in this study. Conclusions. In rodent models, control of uterine cell proliferation is related to change in expression of fos and jun proto-oncogenes. Our results indicate that hormonal control is likely to be different in human endometrium and probably involves genes other than the proto-oncogenes under study. Expression of Fos and Jun do not correlate with endometrial cancer stage and grade.
The impact of passive tuned mass dampers and wind–wave misalignment on offshore wind turbine loads

Abstract Offshore wind turbines experience complex external loading from a variety of sources, especially wind and waves. To be economical, offshore wind turbine must operate reliably under these loading conditions. The external loading is complicated by the directionality of the wind and the waves. Metocean data in Europe and the US shows that the wind and the waves are often misaligned by significant amounts. This misalignment causes large loads on the tower in the side-side direction, which has very little structural damping compared to the fore-aft direction. Recent papers have highlighted the importance of considering wind–wave misalignment when analyzing the loads of offshore wind turbines. A variety of approaches are feasible and have been investigated to mitigate loading on offshore wind turbines due to the wind and waves. Many approaches control the aerodynamic loading on the rotor, either via control of the blade pitch or other aerodynamic actuation. This paper analyzes an alternative approach using structural control, in which passive tuned mass dampers are used to absorb and dissipate structural vibrations. In particular, this study investigates the load mitigation potential of passive tuned-mass-dampers for a 5 MW offshore wind turbine supported by a monopile, and subjected to realistic external conditions that include wind–wave misalignment. A comprehensive set of operational simulations is used to demonstrate that optimally tuned passive tuned-mass-dampers are capable or reducing tower fore-aft and side-side fatigue loads by approximately 5 % and 40 % , respectively. A discussion of the practical feasibility of such an approach is also provided.
Effects of Conversion Algorithms on Reported Upper-Air Dewpoint Depressions.

Abstract Different nations use different algorithms or other techniques to convert temperatures and relative humidities from radiosonde observations to dewpoint depressions. Thus, it is possible for identical measured values to result in different reported dewpoints. On the basis of a sample of conversion methods, we calculate the possible differences among the national practices. In general, the discrepancies are not large and would often be lost in the usual round-off procedures associated with transmission over the Global Telecommunications System, but in cold, dry conditions dewpoints different by more than 1°C could be reported for identical conditions. Some of the methods have been changed over time, so there is also the possibility of inhomogeneities in climate records.
Calcium Looping Cycle for CO2 Capture: Performance, Cost And Feasibility Analysis☆

Abstract Calcium looping (CaL) systems have been proposed as a lower-cost method of CO2 capture for power plants. This paper presents the results of a techno-economic assessment of a CaL system for post-combustion CO2 capture at a pulverized coal (PC) power plant. Comparisons are made with a conventional MEA-based CO2 capture process in terms of performance and cost. Considering the significant quantities of solid flows required for a CaL process, the applicability and operational feasibility of a CaL system for new or existing PC power plants also is studied. It was found that though the CaL system has better performance than the MEA-based CO2 capture process, the capital cost of the power plant and the cost of electricity is much higher than when the MEA-based system is used.
Targeted therapy of cancer: new roles for pathologists.

Anatomic pathologists have always been quite familiar with the heterogeneity of human cancers, an aspect that was historically less appreciated by basic researchers interested in ‘Cancer’ as a single process rather than a variety of human diseases. More recently, an increasing understanding of the biological heterogeneity of human cancers by cancer biologists and molecular pathologists has set the stage for the development of therapeutic agents that target the key oncogenic abnormalities characterizing specific cancer subsets.1 The increasing role of molecular markers of sensitivity or resistance to specific targeted agents in the management of common cancers such as breast, lung, and colon has brought these issues into everyday pathology practice.2, 3, 4
Regional variation in canine intestinal muscle mass and function.

Our aim was to investigate the contribution of variations in intestinal muscle morphology or function to regional differences in motor propertiesin vivo. We quantitated intestinal muscle thickness and surface area along the canine gut and compared thein vitro contractile properties of the jejunum and ileum. The thickness and cross-sectional surface area of both circular and longitudinal muscle demonstrated a parabolic distribution along the intestine, with the greatest values occurring in the proximal and distal regions. The terminal ileum had the greatest circular (885±194 μm) and longitudinal muscle (367±135 μm) thickness. Circular muscle was 2.5–3 times thicker than longitudinal muscle at all points. Passive tension was similar in muscle strips from the mid-jejunum, mid-ileum, and terminal ileum (2.8±0.8, 2.5±0.4, and 2.3±0.8 vs 2.5±0.5, 1.9±0.5, and 2.8±1.0, longitudinal and circular, respectively). Active and total tension, however, were significantly greater in longitudinal than circular muscle in mid-jejunum (active; 8.5±1.4 vs 5.6±1.2,P<0.05 and total 11.3±1.7 vs 8.1±1.2) and in mid-ileum (active 9.5±1.6 vs 5.8±1.2 and total 12.0±1.6 vs 7.7±1.2). Values for each layer were similar in both sites. In contrast, in the terminal ileum, longitudinal and circular muscle strips demonstrated similar active (10.1±1.7 vs 9.0±2.7 NS) and total tension (12.4±2.0 vs 11.9±3.4 NS). Dose-response curves to carbachol (10−8–10−2 M) were similar in all these regions. We conclude (1) there are regional variations in muscle mass but contractile properties are similar in jejunum and ileum; and (2) the unique motor properties of the terminal ileum may be related more to differences in muscle morphology and neural input than intrinsic function.
Viterbi sequences and polytopes

A Viterbi path of length n of a discrete Markov chain is a sequence of n+1 states that has the greatest probability of occurring in the Markov chain. We divide the space of all Markov chains into Viterbi regions in which two Markov chains are in the same region if they have the same set of Viterbi paths. The Viterbi paths of regions of positive measure are called Viterbi sequences. Our main results are (1) each Viterbi sequence can be divided into a prefix, periodic interior, and suffix, and (2) as n increases to infinity (and the number of states remains fixed), the number of Viterbi regions remains bounded. The Viterbi regions correspond to the vertices of a Newton polytope of a polynomial whose terms are the probabilities of sequences of length n. We characterize Viterbi sequences and polytopes for two- and three-state Markov chains.
Detector-related backgrounds in the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment, or KATRIN, is a next generation tritium beta decay experiment to directly measure neutrino mass with an expected sensitivity of 0.2 eV [KATRIN Design Report 2004 see http://www-ik.fzk.de/~katrin/ ]. Neutrino mass does not fit into the Standard Model, and determining this mass may set the scale of new physics. To achieve this level of sensitivity, backgrounds in the experiment must be minimized. A complete Geant4 [Agostinelli S et al. 2003 Nuclear Instr. Methods A 506 250-303 Allison J et al. 2006 IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science 53 No. 1 270-8] simulation of KATRINʼs focal plane detector and surrounding region is being developed. These simulations will help guide the design and selection of shielding and detector construction materials to reduce backgrounds from cosmic rays and natural radioactivity.
Addition of Si-H and B-H bonds and redox reactivity involving low-coordinate nitrido-vanadium complexes.

In this study we enumerate the reactivity for two molecular vanadium nitrido complexes of [(nacnac)V≡N(X)] formulation [nacnac = (Ar)NC(Me)CHC(Me)(Ar)−, Ar = 2,6-(CHMe2)2C6H3); X– = OAr (1) and N(4-Me-C6H4)2 (Ntolyl2) (2)]. Density functional theory calculations and reactivity studies indicate the nitride motif to have nucleophilic character, but where the nitrogen atom can serve as a conduit for electron transfer, thus allowing the reduction of the vanadium(V) metal ion with concurrent oxidation of the incoming substrate. Silane, H2SiPh2, readily converts the nitride ligand in 1 into a primary silyl–amide functionality with concomitant two-electron reduction at the vanadium center to form the complex [(nacnac)V{N(H)SiHPh2}(OAr)] (3). Likewise, addition of the B–H bond in pinacolborane to the nitride moiety in 2 results in formation of the boryl–amide complex [(nacnac)V{N(H)B(pinacol)}(Ntolyl2)] (4). In addition to spectroscopic data, complexes 3 and 4 were also elucidated structurally by single-crystal X...
Inner Ear Barotrauma After Stapedectomy in the Guinea Pig

Objective: The safety of scuba diving after stapedectomy is controversial. Stapedectomy is thought to predispose to inner ear barotrauma (e.g., perilymph fistula); however, many individuals continue to scuba dive following stapedectomy without ill effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cochlear effects of barotrauma, similar to that experienced with scuba diving, on inner ears previously treated with stapedectomy. Study Design: Prospective, controlled. Methods: Sixteen Hartley albino guinea pigs underwent unilateral total stapedectomy followed by hyperbaric dives on 5 consecutive days, beginning 3 weeks after stapedectomy. Cochlear effects were determined using click and tone-pip evoked electrocochleographic thresholds and cochlear hair cell counts. Results: Mean auditory thresholds increased by 29 dB after stapedectomy (P < .001), then remained stable thereafter. Mean thresholds in both the operated and control ears did not change with hyperbaric dives. Evidence of middle ear barotrauma (e.g., hemorrhage or tympanic membrane perforation) was observed in eight poststapedectomy ears and five control ears, but none demonstrated significant threshold elevation greater than or equal to 10 dB. Hair cell counts were not different between operated and control ears. Conclusions: Stapedectomy does not appear to predispose to cochlear sequelae in the guinea pig model of diving-related barotrauma.
A New Host and Three New Geographic Distribution Records for Trematodes (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae) from the Eastern Pipistrelle, Perimyotis subflavus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), in Arkansas, U.S.A.

Abstract Twenty eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus) were collected in November 2009 and March 2010 from an abandoned mine in Polk County, Arkansas, U.S.A., and examined for helminths. Fifteen (75%) were infected with 1 or more lecithodendriid trematodes, including 2 (10%) with Acanthatrium eptesici, 13 (65%) with Acanthatrium pipistrelli, 5 (25%) with Ochoterenatrema breckenridgei, and 2 (10%) with Paralecithodendrium naviculum; 7 (35%) were multiply infected with 2 trematode species. We document a new host record for P. naviculum, and A. eptesici, O. breckenridgei, and P. naviculum are reported from Arkansas for the first time. We also include a summation of the endoparasites of Perimyotis subflavus.
Mushroom bodies of the cockroach: their participation in place memory.

Insects and other arthropods use visual landmarks to remember the location of their nest, or its equivalent. However, so far, only olfactory learning and memory have been claimed to be mediated by any particular brain region, notably the mushroom bodies. Here we describe the results of experiments that demonstrate that the mushroom bodies of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana), already shown to be involved in multimodal sensory processing, play a crucial role in place memory. Behavioral tests, based on paradigms similar to those originally used to demonstrate place memory in rats, demonstrate a rapid improvement in the ability of individual cockroaches to locate a hidden target when its position is provided by distant visual cues. Bilateral lesions of selected areas of the mushroom bodies abolish this ability but leave unimpaired the ability to locate a visible target. The present results demonstrate that the integrity of the pedunculus and medial lobe of a single mushroom body is required for place memory. The results are comparable to the results obtained from hippocampal lesions in rats and are relevant to recent studies on the effects of ablations of Drosophila mushroom bodies on locomotion. J. Comp. Neurol. 402:520–537, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mean field games via controlled martingale problems: Existence of Markovian equilibria

Abstract Mean field games are studied in the framework of controlled martingale problems, and general existence theorems are proven in which the equilibrium control is Markovian. The framework is flexible enough to include degenerate volatility, which may depend on both the control and the mean field. The objectives need not be strictly convex, and the mean field interactions considered are nonlocal and Wasserstein-continuous. When the volatility is nondegenerate, continuity assumptions may be weakened considerably. The proofs first use relaxed controls to establish existence. Then, using a convexity assumption and measurable selection arguments, strict (non-relaxed) Markovian equilibria are constructed from relaxed equilibria.
Internet technology: resources for perinatal nurses

The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) are being discussed in many forums. This huge body of information is becoming a widely used research tool. Within the last few years, the WWW has grown enormously. In 1993, there were approximately 130 WWW sites. By 1997, experts estimated there were over a million sites on the web, many of them useful for nurses and accessible from the nearest computer. For perinatal nurses in practice, research, or education the need for information is great. Nurses need current data for clinical decision making, policy writing, patient education, continuing education, and research. Understanding how to use the Internet, being aware of its advantages and disadvantages, and knowing how to critically examine what is available will assist perinatal nurses in making use of this newest form of information technology.
Response inhibition and psychomotor speed during methadone maintenance: impact of treatment duration, dose, and sleep deprivation

Background In opiate-dependent individuals, abstinence results in deficits in cognitive functioning, which may be exacerbated by medication-associated sleep disruption.
Accelerating virtual high-throughput ligand docking: screening one million compounds using a petascale supercomputer

We describe a case study of using a task-parallel MPI version of Autodock4 [1,3] to run a virtual high-throughput screen of one-million compounds on the Jaguar Cray XK6 Supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. We include a description of scripts developed to increase the efficiency of the predocking file preparation and postdocking analysis. A detailed tutorial, scripts, and source code for this MPI version of Autodock4 are available online at http://www.bio.utk.edu/baudrylab/autodockmpi.htm.
Electrorefining of heavy nonferrous metals in molten electrolytes

Results of studying how the composition of metal and salt phases depends on electrorefining conditions and duration are shown. It is demonstrated that the existing designs of electrolyzers with liquid electrodes fail to provide the uniform distribution of current density over electrode surfaces thus favoring the complicated distribution of molten electrolyte components throughout the electrolyzer volume. This makes it impossible to assess a priori the content of impurities in the refined metal and in the fused electrolyte. An empiric method is proposed for assessing the time of electrolysis up to the production of a metal of desired purity as well as the concept of an electrolyzer that rules out the nonuniform current density distribution. To minimize the transfer of impurity metals from anode to cathode, the use of a porous auxiliary electrode is proposed and the conditions for co-discharge of cations on it are determined.
Orientational freezing in three dimensions: Mean-field theory

An analysis of orientational order in dense, three-dimensional liquids is presented. The alignment of neighboring regions of local orientational order with both icosahedral and cubic symmetry is studied with the use of mean-field theory. The theory predicts a first-order transition to a phase which possesses long-range orientational order but no translational order. This is the phase which appears to have been seen in recent computer simulations of a supercooled liquid.
Invasion and persistence of Streptococcus dysgalactiae within bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Little is known about bacterial and host factors that contribute to the establishment and persistence of intramammary infection by Streptococcus dysgalactiae. Streptococcus dysgalactiae adheres to epithelial cells from the bovine mammary gland and to extracellular matrix proteins in vitro and invades mammary epithelial cell cultures, all of which can be potentially important pathogenic mechanisms. In this study, mechanisms involved in the invasion of Strep. dysgalactiae into epithelial cells from the bovine mammary gland were characterized. Studies were conducted to determine whether Strep. dysgalactiae invaded mammary epithelial cell cultures in a dose-dependent manner and whether mammary epithelial cells that harbored different numbers of Strep. dysgalactiae for varying times were damaged. Bacterial invasion increased as inoculum size increased; however, the number of intracellular bacteria was not proportional to the inoculum size, indicating that a finite number of organisms is capable of invading epithelial cells. No net increase in intracellular organisms was detected at any bacterial density evaluated; however, Strep. dysgalactiae remained viable throughout the evaluation. In addition, Strep. dysgalactiae did not appear to cause cell injury at any bacterial density or time point evaluated. These data suggest that Strep. dysgalactiae can survive within mammary epithelial cells for an extended time without losing viability or damaging the eukaryotic cell. This feature may be associated with the development of persistent infection and protection of organisms from antimicrobial drugs and host defense mechanisms and may provide a route for bacterial colonization of subepithelial tissues.
Does Daylight Savings Time encourage physical activity

BACKGROUND: Extending Daylight Savings Time (DST) has been identified as a policy intervention that may encourage physical activity. However, there has been little research on the question of if DST encourages adults to be more physically active. METHODS: Data from residents of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah ages 18-64 who participated in the 2003-2009 American Time Use Survey are used to assess whether DST is associated with increased time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The analysis capitalizes on the natural experiment created because Arizona does not observe DST. RESULTS: Both bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that shifting 1 hour of daylight from morning to evening does not impact MVPA of Americans living in the southwest. CONCLUSIONS: While DST may affect the choices people make about the timing and location of their sports/recreational activities, the potential for DST to serve as a broad-based intervention that encourages greater sports/recreation participation is not supported by this analysis. Whether this null effect would persist in other climate situations is an open question. Language: en
Particle-gas-surface interactions in collection devices

Abstract Removal of particles from a gas suspension via a surface, and subsequent regeneration of the surface, are analyzed. The deposition of the particles in the collection device is primarily due to electric field (in electrostatic precipitators) and to a combination of electric and centrifugal fields (in a cyclone separator). Proper design of particle separation devices, including surface regeneration, is related to these field forces and to other effects.
On Medians and Quasi Medians

Abstract Let X 1, …, Xn be identically distributed according to a symmetric distribution F (satisfying suitable regularity conditions). An approximation to the variance of the median is computed up to terms of order 1/n 2 and a corresponding approximation to the efficiency of relative to the average up to terms of order 1/n. [These are compared with the actual efficiencies when F is normal or rectangular and in these cases are shown to give a much closer approximation to the exact efficiency than that given by the usual asymptotic efficiency.] It is pointed out that to the accuracy of this approximation, one should not use the median based on an odd number of observations since the median based on the next smaller even number is equally accurate. These results are extended to other averages of two symmetrically placed order statistics, suggesting the possibility of a further reduction in sample size without loss of accuracy.
Multiple Sources of Evidence: An Analysis of Stakeholders' Perceptions of Various Indicators of Student Learning.

This study compared different stakeholders' perceived validity of various indicators of student learning used to judge the quality of students' academic performance. Data were gathered from the questionnaire responses of 314 educators in three states that have implemented comprehensive state-wide assessment programs with high-stakes consequences both for educators and for students. MANOVA results showed that while educators generally hold similar perceptions, significant differences exist between school administrators and teachers. Administrators perceived the results from nationally normed standardized assessments, state assessments, and district assessments to be more valid indicators of student achievement than did teachers. In contrast, teachers granted more validity to classroom observations and homework completion and quality than did administrators. The implications of these differences for reform initiatives are discussed, particularly with regard to teachers' motivation to improve results.
Inertial force as a possible factor in mitosis.

Abstract Some previous studies of cell division have suggested that chromosome movements in mitosis involve two distinct forces: one which pulls chromosomes poleward by means of attached fibers, and amother which tends to push chromosome arms away from the pole. The latter force may also be a factor in non-chromosomal spindle transport, by which objects other than chromosomes are transported toward or away from spindle poles. Based on a survey of previous literature, this paper makes a prima facie case for describing this latter force as “inertial”, since in some respects it can be simulated by centrifugation. A theoretical analysis demonstrates that an inertial force could arise in the spindle from postulated high-frequency, small-amplitude oscillations, which could be caused by changes in coherently precessing electron spin alignments at the spindle poles. Some possible experimental approaches to the problem are briefly outlined.
Racial disparities and patterns of ovarian cancer surgical care in California

Objective To investigate disparities in the frequency of ovarian cancer-related surgical procedures and access to high-volume surgical providers among women undergoing initial surgery for ovarian cancer according to race.
Gly(247)-->Asp proenkephalin A mutation is rare in schizophrenia populations.

Schizophrenia is a complex and severe disorder of unknown cause and pathophysiology. In previous work examining an opioid hypothesis for schizophrenia, we identified a missense mutation (Gly(247) → Asp) in the proenkephalin A gene of one African-American patient. In the current study involving an extended set of African-American and other patients, we sought to identify additional mutant alleles and to determine the distribution of these alleles among several racial groups. However, the Gly(247) → Asp allele was not detected in any of 116 African-American (67 cases, 49 controls), 659 Caucasian, 1 Hispanic, 4 Asian, and 7 Native American individuals. Therefore, it appears that this mutation is a rare event of unknown clinical significance.
Histopathologic study of the effect of pulpal disease upon nerve fibers of the human dental pulp

Abstract Thirty specimens of diseased human pulpal tissue were placed in either of two categories—irreversible pulpitis or necrosis—on the basis of their response to standard diagnostic tests. After being stained with a modified Bodian's stain, the nerve fibers were studied microscopically and compared with nerve fibers from healthy pulpal tissue. Intact fibers with some variation from normal were observed in the specimens with irreversible pulpitis. These fibers were considered to be capable of conduction, on a morphologic basis. Dissolution of the fibers in the necrotic specimens was apparent. Only connective tissue sheaths remained. Conduction of a nerve impulse was considered impossible in these specimens.
Spider Populations and Their Response to Different Habitat Types

Summary The composition of a spider population in terms of species and numbers is influenced by many environmental factors. Examples of faunal differences between simple, uniform habitats and those which are much more diverse are discussed. This paper examines the characteristics of populations in different habitat types, some stable and others subject to use which causes disturbance. When adequate and accurate samples are taken of spider populations in a defined habitat it is usual to find a few Abundant species, a large number of Scarce, and a third category which is classified as Frequent. The species—numbers relationship can then be illustrated by calculating the proportion of the total population represented in each of the three groups. When graphed, an L-shaped curve is produced, which varies according to the structure and environmental conditions of the habitat, as well as to the sampling method used. A number of examples are described, and possible ecological interpretations are discussed. There a...
RADIATIVE DECAY OF TANGENTIAL SURFACE PLASMONS.

Abstract Tangential surface plasmon generation in thin plasma slabs by obliquely incident fast electrons and the subsequent radiative decay of these plasmons are considered theoretically. It is found that the yield depends strongly on the correlation distance for static density fluctuations in the plasma.
Far-field imaging by a planar lens: Diffraction versus superresolution

We resolve the long-standing controversy regarding far-field imaging by a planar lens made of a left-handed medium and demonstrate theoretically that the far-field image has a fundamentally different origin depending on the relationship between losses inside the lens and the wavelength of the light, $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. At small enough $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, the image is always governed by diffraction theory, and the resolution is independent of the absorption if both $\mathrm{Im}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}ϵ⪡1$ and $\mathrm{Im}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}⪡1$. For any finite $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, however, a critical absorption exists below which the superresolution regime occurs, although this absorption is extremely low and can hardly be achieved. We demonstrate that the transition between the diffraction-limited and superresolution regimes is governed by a universal parameter combining absorption, wavelength, and lens thickness. Finally, we show that this parameter is related to the resonant excitation of surface plasma waves.
Improving radial basis function kernel classification through incremental learning and automatic parameter selection

Training algorithms for radial basis function kernel classifiers (RBFKCs), such as the support vector machine (SVM), often produce computationally burdensome classifiers when large training sets are used. Furthermore, the developer cannot directly control this complexity. The proposed incremental asymmetric proximal support vector machine (IAPSVM) employs a greedy search across the training data to select the basis vectors of the classifier, and tunes parameters automatically using the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) after incremental additions are made. The resulting classifier accuracy, using an a priori chosen run-time complexity, compares favorably to SVMs of similar complexity whose parameters have been tuned manually.
Efficacy of Turkey Herpesvirus Vaccine When Administered Simultaneously with Fowl Pox Vaccine

The efficacy of the turkey herpesvirus (HVT) vaccine in protecting chickens challenged with virulent Marek's disease (MD) virus was unaffected by the presence of either the chick embryo fowl pox vaccine or fowl pox vaccine derived from cell culture. Conversely the HVT vaccine did not affect the efficacy of the fowl pox vaccine in chickens challenged with pathogenic fowl pox virus. A combination of spectinomycin dihydrochloride pentahydrate and lincomycin hydrochloride monohydrate as well as spectinomycin sulfate tetrahydrate were found to be compatible with the HVT and fowl pox vaccines as demonstrated by resistance after challenge with virulent MD virus or fowl pox virus.
Dye sensitized solar cells on paper substrates

Abstract This article reports for the first time in the literature, a dye sensitized solar cells with 1.21% efficiency (Voc=0.56 V, Jsc=6.70 mA/cm2 and F.F.=0.33) on paper substrates. The current dye sensitized solar cell technology is based on fluorine doped SnO2 (FTO) coated glass substrates. The problem with the glass substrate is its rigidity and heavy weight. Making DSSCs on paper opens the door for both photovoltaic and paper industries. The potential of using mature paper making and coating technologies will greatly reduce the current PV cost. Paper substrate based DSSCs not only offer the advantages of flexibility, portability and lightweight but also provide the opportunities for easy implantation to textile. In this study, a low temperature process is developed to coat uniform nickel on paper substrate as the metal contact to replace the traditional expensive FTO. The Ni paper showed excellent conductivity of 8–10 Ω/□. It is found that the control of metal oxide electrode morphology is critical to solar cell performance. The TiO2 film has the tendency to crack on Ni coated paper, which resulted in the shunt of the device and no solar cell efficiency was obtained. ZnO film on the other hand had good morphology tolerance on Ni coated paper and yielded solar cell efficiency of 1.21% (Voc=0.56 V, Jsc=6.70 mA/cm2 and F.F.=0.33) under AM 1.5 (activation area is 0.16 cm2). The control sample of ZnO solar cell on FTO glasses has the efficiency of 2.66% (Voc=0.64 V, Jsc=9.97 mA/cm2 and F.F.=0.42).
The effect of megestrol acetate on oral food and fluid intake in nursing home residents: a pilot study.

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of megestrol acetate (Megace ® OS; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ) on the oral food and fluid intake of nursing home (NH) residents under two conditions: usual NH care and optimal mealtime feeding assistance. Design and setting We conducted a prospective, preliminary trial in four NHs. Participants Participants (n = 17) were recruited from a larger study designed to assess nutritional care quality. Eligibility for the Megace ® OS trial required participants to consistently eat less than 75% of most meals under both usual NH care and optimal feeding assistance conditions at baseline. Intervention Megace ® OS, an oral liquid suspension of megestrol acetate, was given daily in a 400-mg dose for 63 days. Measurements Each participant’s oral food and fluid intake was monitored weekly for 1 day (three meals) during which research staff conducted direct observations of usual NH care (weeks 1, 3, and 5 and day 63) or provided optimal feeding assistance (weeks 2, 4, and 6). Average total percent intake was compared from baseline across the assessment weeks of the trial under the two mealtime care conditions. Results Megace ® OS had a significant effect on oral food and fluid intake only under the optimal mealtime feeding assistance condition, in which average total percent eaten increased from 50% (±15%) at baseline to 63% (±14%) post-63 days of the trial. There was no change in participants’ oral food and fluid intake under the usual NH care condition (average total percent intake at baseline 43% ± 12% vs. 43% ± 20% post-63 days). Conclusion The results of this preliminary study suggest that Megace ® OS is not an effective nutritional intervention to increase oral intake under usual NH care conditions, which is often characterized by inadequate feeding assistance. However, Megace ® OS in combination with optimal mealtime feeding assistance does significantly increase oral intake in a frail NH sample at high risk for weight loss.
Influence of phenotypic and social traits on dispersal in a family living, tropical bird

Individual variation in natal dispersal behaviors has extensive ecological and evolutionary consequences. Traits such as offspring sex, age, and body condition may influence dispersal, resulting in a potentially complex suite of associations in traits that can affect fitness. Conceivably, individuals with particular phenotypes may breed in different habitats, thus potentiating the development of geographic variation. Moreover, studies typically underestimate dispersal distance owing to sampling issues and rarely consider the direction of movement, limiting understanding of this important life history stage. I examined the influence of phenotypic and social traits on dispersal distance and direction in a family living bird, the western slaty antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha). When accounting for detection probability, juveniles dispersed 1–14 territories and 46–1268 m. The age at dispersal and body mass upon leaving the nest influenced dispersal distance and direction. Older and heavier individuals dispersed shorter distances. Younger individuals dispersed towards comparatively younger forest with a higher density of antshrike territories. Older and heavier offspring may be more competitive and/or have increased experience with the local habitat, increasing their probability of acquiring nearby territories. Contrary to other studies, sex-biased dispersal distance was not observed. Instead, the sexes dispersed in different directions, potentially to reduce the risk of inbreeding. This study revealed the importance of age at dispersal and body mass on variation in dispersal behaviors and highlighted the need to investigate sex biases in dispersal direction. Key wor ds: baker method, family living, inbreeding avoidance, intraspecific competition, social species, tropical. [Behav Ecol]
Human Temporal Lobe Activation by Speech and Nonspeech Sounds

Functional organization of the lateral temporal cortex in humans is not well understood. We recorded blood oxygenation signals from the temporal lobes of normal volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging during stimulation with unstructured noise, frequency-modulated (FM) tones, reversed speech, pseudowords and words. For all conditions, subjects performed a material-nonspecific detection response when a train of stimuli began or ceased. Dorsal areas surrounding Heschl's gyrus bilaterally, particularly the planum temporale and dorsolateral superior temporal gyrus, were more strongly activated by FM tones than by noise, suggesting a role in processing simple temporally encoded auditory information. Distinct from these dorsolateral areas, regions centered in the superior temporal sulcus bilaterally were more activated by speech stimuli than by FM tones. Identical results were obtained in this region using words, pseudowords and reversed speech, suggesting that the speech-tones activation difference is due to acoustic rather than linguistic factors. In contrast, previous comparisons between word and nonword speech sounds showed left-lateralized activation differences in more ventral temporal and temporoparietal regions that are likely involved in processing lexical-semantic or syntactic information associated with words. The results indicate functional subdivision of the human lateral temporal cortex and provide a preliminary framework for understanding the cortical processing of speech sounds.
Regional Planning in Less Developed Countries: A Retrospective View of the Literature and Experience:

There are several ways of interpreting the story of regional planning and development over the past 25 years. This article contrasts the reality of regional planning viewed as a professional proble...
The effects of induced dissipative small-scale motions and mixing on optical distortion in a plane shear layer

Optical distortion through a plane shear layer between two uniform streams of unequal temperatures is investigated using imaging of scalar mixing by planar laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Simultaneous fluorescence intensity measurements of disodium fluorescein and rhodamine B (the fluorescence of the latter is temperature dependent) are used to extract the temperature distribution within the plane of a laser sheet. This planar imaging technique allows a direct measurement of the index of refraction field, which is used to determine optical distortions in the imaging plane. While a given ray within the sheet is refracted at a cumulative angle that depends on the local index of refraction gradient along its path, LIF measurements in the cross-stream plane of the flow show substantial optical distortions near the upstream and downstream edges of the primary vortices where the angle between the local temperature (or index) gradient and the wavevector of the incident light is large. These distortions are manifested by the appearance of low- and high-intensity streaks that are advected with the flow and whose characteristic spatial scales significantly diminish with the onset of small-scale (mixing) transition. The formation of secondary (streamwise) vortical structures leads to substantial spanwise variations in index of refraction and consequently to optical distortions that vary with the phase of the base flow and can exceed the distortions in the cross-stream plane. An important aim of the present research is the investigation of the effects of direct actuation of small-scale motions on the mixing and consequently on optical distortion within the shear layer. The actuation suppresses the formation of the large coherent vortical structures and leads to localized enhancement of dissipation and reduction in turbulent kinetic energy. The actuation enhances mixing across the entire width of the forced shear layer and leads to significant reduction of optical distortion, suggesting that active small-scale mixing can play a significant role in the mitigation of aero-optical effects through turbulent shear flows.
Cooperative shape control of particle formations

The shape of a robot formation is key to performance in cooperative missions. Existing approaches of shape control require the formation dynamics be expressed in a unified coordinate frame. We present a shape theoretical approach which allows each robot, modeled as a particle, freedom to choose a coordinate frame to describe observed formation shape dynamics. Without knowing such coordinate frames of other robots, each robot is able to perform cooperative control. This is made possible by a class of gauge covariant cooperative control laws to control position, orientation, and shape of the formation. The formation dynamics are modeled as controlled Lagrangian systems on Jacobi shape space, we use measurements of shape variables and angular velocity as feedback to control the shape and to stop the rotation of the entire formation. Using Lyapunov functions, we prove that controlled dynamics converge to an invariant set where desired shape is achieved. Our method allows the robots to use direct observations from their onboard sensors to stabilize the formation.
Promoting Engaged Learners in the Music Classroom

Teachers are constantly challenged to provide learning opportunities and instructional strategies that promote student competency and success. “Students want and need work that enables them to demonstrate and improve their sense of themselves as competent and successful human beings” (Strong, Silver, & Robinson, 1995). Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No. Teachers, through careful attention to students’ needs and visual cues, can use various instructional strategies that promote engaged learners. Imagine yourself controlling two spinning wheels. One wheel provides the visual cues or characteristics of students engaged in learning. These characteristics include curiosity, enthusiasm, perseverance, and sense of success. The other wheel provides various teaching strategies available during instruction (see Figure 1). Strategies that may include providing students adequate foundational knowledge, performance opportunities, time for collaborations, time for reflection, appropriate assessments, and 556885 GMTXXX10.1177/1048371314556885General Music TodayCooper research-article2014
Sinister symbiosis: pathological hematopoietic-stromal interactions in CML.

The impact of myeloid malignancies on the nonhematopoietic components of the bone marrow remains poorly understood. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Schepers et al. (2013) describe how malignant myeloid cells alter the endosteal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche, resulting in the expansion of osteoblastic lineage cells that preferentially support malignant HSCs.
Towards a behavioral ecology of consumption: delay-reduction effects on foraging in a simulated Internet mall

Young adults shopped for music compact disks in a five store simulated Internet mall. In stock probability in all stores was constant at 0.80, but each store was associated with either a 0.5, 2, 4, 8, or 16 second to a feedback message indicating whether a particular disk was in stock or out of stock at that time. Working under a successive choice schedule, in Phase I subjects' behavior was in quantitative concordance with the Delay-Reduction Hypothesis (DRH), and in Phase II, when a changeover delay was added, subjects' behavior conformed more closely to the predictions of the DRH. Hyperbolic discount functions provided the best fit to the data. This study extends the synthesis of foraging theory and operant psychology, known as behavioral ecology, to human consumption in an affluent post-industrial culture, and provides the basis for an experimental analysis of human consumption. Extensions to research in consumer behavior, marketing strategy, and behavior on Internet services are proposed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.