cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knowledge sources for an intelligent algebra tutor

The focus of this paper is on the underlying knowledge base for an intelligent tutorial system for high-school algebra problems. We present a model of problem solving flexible enough to account for a variety of problem-solving behaviors and general enough to allow new problem domains to be defined easily. The model is based upon the analysis of protocols between students and expert tutors. We show how student errors can be monitored and remediated using the model, and we provide an approach to understanding problem difficulty that can be used to generate challenging problems and also provides a mechanism for planning their solution. Cet article traite de la base de connaissances implicite ? un systeme tutoriel intelligent pour les problemes ? algebre ?ecole secondaire. Nous presentons un modele de resolution de probleme suffisamment flexible pour rendre compte ? un nombre important de comportements en resolution de probleme et suffisamment general pour permettre de definir aisement de nouveaux domaines de travail. Le modele se base sur ľ analyse de protocoles entre etudiants et tuteurs experts. Nous montrons comment les erreurs ?eudiant peuvent etre controlees et comment on peut y remedier en utilisant le modele; nous poposons aussi une approche pour comprendre la difficulte? un probleme qui peut ětre utilisee pour generer des problemes stimulants ainsi que pour obtenir un mecanisme permettant de construire leur solution. Mots cles: enseignement intelligent assiste par ordinateur, EIAO (ICAI), systeme expert, resolution de probleme, systemes tutoriels.
Far-ultraviolet photometry of orion stars

Far-ultraviolet photometric data for early type stars in Orion, in the 1050–1180 and 1230–1350 A wavelength ranges, were obtained in an Aerobee rocket flight on 30 January 1969. The results corrected for interstellar extinction, appear in good agreement with model atmospheres in the case of main-sequence stars. Bright giant and supergiant stars, however, appear to be up to one magnitude fainter than main-sequence stars of similar spectral class in the 1050–1180 A range. The present results indicate that the detectors used in a previous flight were lower in sensitivity than was thought, so the results from that flight have been corrected using the present data for stars in common with the previous flight. The far-ultraviolet extinction law for θ Orionis is shown to be abnormal, with the observed extinction far less than predicted on the basis of ultraviolet extinction measurements of other stars, and the observedE(B-V).
The Reduction of Azo Dyes by the Intestinal Microflora

Azo dyes are widely used in the textile, printing, paper manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and food industries and also in research laboratories. When these compounds either inadvertently or by design enter the body through ingestion, they are metabolized to aromatic amines by intestinal microorganisms. Reductive enzymes in the liver can also catalyze the reductive cleavage of the azo linkage to produce aromatic amines. However, evidence indicates that the intestinal microbial azoreductase may be more important than the liver enzymes in azo reduction. In this article, we examine the significance of the capacity of intestinal bacteria to reduce azo dyes and the conditions of azo reduction. Many azo dyes, such as Acid Yellow, Amaranth, Azodisalicylate, Chicago Sky Blue, Congo Red, Direct Black 38, Direct Blue 6, Direct Blue 15, Direct Brown 95, Fast Yellow, Lithol Red, Methyl Orange, Methyl Red, Methyl Yellow, Naphthalene Fast Orange 2G, Neoprontosil, New Coccine, Orange II, Phenylazo-2-naphthol, Ponceau 3R, Ponceau SX, Red 2G, Red 10B, Salicylazosulphapyridine, Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine, and Trypan Blue, are included in this article. A wide variety of anaerobic bacteria isolated from caecal or fecal contents from experimental animals and humans have the ability to cleave the azo linkage(s) to produce aromatic amines. Azoreductase(s) catalyze these reactions and have been found to be oxygen sensitive and to require flavins for optimal activity. The azoreductase activity in a variety of intestinal preparations was affected by various dietary factors such as cellulose, proteins, fibers, antibiotics, or supplementation with live cultures of lactobacilli.
Role of water activity in the dry heat sterilization of micro-organisms.

Abstract The true role of water activity in the dry heat sterilization of micro-organisms is not clear. Under the assumption of a one vital substrate first order kinetic sterilization mechanism, an analysis of a w sterilization data suggests that the a w role may be that of altering molecular stability through changing the entropy of activation with a w changes.
Tate classes on a product of two Picard modular surfaces

Abstract We compute the space of codimension 2 Tate classes on a product of two Picard modular surfaces in terms of automorphic representations on GL (n), n . The relevant part of the fourth cohomology splits into subspaces indexed by pairs of such automorphic representations. When these representations are not automorphically induced, the corresponding Tate classes are shown to be abelian.
Nobody's watching? Subtle cues affect generosity in an anonymous economic game.

Abstract Models indicate that opportunities for reputation formation can play an important role in sustaining cooperation and prosocial behavior. Results from experimental economic games support this conclusion, as manipulating reputational opportunities affects prosocial behavior. Noting that some prosocial behavior remains even in anonymous noniterated games, some investigators argue that humans possess a propensity for prosociality independent of reputation management. However, decision-making processes often employ both explicit propositional knowledge and intuitive or affective judgments elicited by tacit cues. Manipulating game parameters alters explicit information employed in overt strategizing but leaves intact cues that may affect intuitive judgments relevant to reputation formation. To explore how subtle cues of observability impact prosocial behavior, we conducted five dictator games, manipulating both auditory cues of the presence of others (via the use of sound-deadening earmuffs) and visual cues (via the presentation of stylized eyespots). Although earmuffs appeared to reduce generosity, this effect was not significant. However, as predicted, eyespots substantially increased generosity, despite no differences in actual anonymity; when using a computer displaying eyespots, almost twice as many participants gave money to their partners compared with the controls. Investigations of prosocial behavior must consider both overt information about game parameters and subtle cues influencing intuitive judgments.
Six Year Experience with a Structured Program to Reduce Percutaneous Central Venous Catheter Related Sepsis in Newborn Infants

Six Year Experience with a Structured Program to Reduce Percutaneous Central Venous Catheter Related Sepsis in Newborn Infants
C/EBPβ regulates TNF induced MnSOD expression and protection against apoptosis

The CCAAT enhancer binding protein-beta (C/EBPbeta) is a critical regulator of many cellular processes. Exposure of C/EBPbeta-deficient fibroblasts to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) resulted in their death due to apoptosis. While, the expression of Bad, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, CAS, and hILP/XIAP, as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB was normal in C/EBPbeta-deficient cells, induction of manganous superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene did not occur. Ectopic expression of C/EBPbeta in C/EBPbeta-deficient fibroblasts prevented TNF-induced apoptosis. C/EBPbeta complemented cells were able to induce MnSOD in response to TNF, ruling out the possibilities that C/EBPbeta could render protection by regulating early apoptotic gene expression and/or NF-kappaB p65 expression. Moreover, C/EBPbeta-deficient cells stably transfected with an MnSOD expression vector bypassed the requirement of C/EBPbeta in protection against TNF-induced cell death, suggesting that C/EBPbeta protects TNF-induced apoptotic cell death through its role in activating MnSOD expression. Mechanistically, C/EBPbeta was required for induced NF-kappaB p65 binding to MnSOD's intronic TNF response element and indispensable for histone acetylation of the element in response to TNF. These results suggest a role for C/EBPbeta in MnSOD regulation through remodeling of local chromatin structure.
Generation of cytokines through the leucocyte immunoglobulin‐like receptors

Summary The LIRs comprise a family of immunoregulatory receptors with activating and inhibitory members as well as soluble forms of the receptors. These receptors are part of the larger context of other families of activating and inhibitory receptors, some of which are closely related members of the immunoglobulin superfamily and others of which are C-type lectin receptors. In vitro data have demonstrated the capacity of the inhibitory LIRs to regulate the threshold and amplitude of cellular responses to diverse agonists. The emerging data on the activating receptors indicate that they may elicit release of preformed, granule-associated mediators, de novo lipid mediator generation and cytokine release either from preformed stores or by gene induction. The identification of ligands for the LIRs is limited currently to the recognition of a broad array of MHC class I molecules by LIR1 and LIR2 (and possibly LIR6). Gene disruption studies of the closest mouse homologues of the inhibitory LIRs support the hypothesis that the LIRs may regulate inflammatory responses, particularly those dependent on the mast cell and/or Th2 cell-dependent humoral responses. The relative balance of inhibitory and activating LIRs expressed by a particular cell, the differential regulation of their putative ligands, whether endogenous host-related or exogenous pathogen-related, and the exposure of the LIRs to those ligands may play an important role in determining cellular activation responses and the development and resolution of tissue inflammation.
Does time after pair bond disruption affect subsequent reproduction in the socially monogamous woodland vole (Microtus pinetorum)

Disruption of the pair bond between socially monogamous animals leads to changes in behavior, which may have reproductive consequences. There are two alternative hypotheses to explain the effect of the length of time since pair bond disruption on subsequent reproduction. One hypothesis predicts that voles housed immediately with a new opposite-sex conspecific will be as likely to produce litters and will produce them as quickly as voles separated from their initial mate for longer. Alternatively, if attachment between mates is enduring, we expect that more voles separated longer from their previous mates will produce litters and produce them sooner than voles re-paired immediately after separation from their initial mates. Woodland voles, paired with opposite-sex conspecifics, remained together until parturition. Mates were then separated for 0, 7, or 14 days until re-pairing with an opposite-sex conspecific. Pair bond disruption did not prevent males and females from mating subsequently, which was consistent with data from our breeding colony. In addition, the length of time an individual remained alone after pair bond disruption did not affect the latency to produce a litter. Our results show that having been paired previously does not affect subsequent reproduction in this socially monogamous vole.
Programmer specified pointer independence

Good alias analysis is essential in order to achieve high performance on modern processors, yet precise interprocedural analysis does not scale well. We present a source code annotation, #pragma independent, which provides precise pointer aliasing information to the compiler, and describe a tool which highlights the most important and most likely correct locations at which a programmer should insert these annotations. Using this tool we perform a limit study on the effectiveness of pointer independence in improving program performance through improved compilation.
Thermodynamic Properties of Mixtures Based on van der Waals Equation of State: R-32/125 Binary System

The increasingly urgent need to replace the familiar refrigerant compounds (chlorofluorocarbons) has required the development of a new class of compounds, termed hydrofluorocarbons. Accurate thermodynamic properties of these new compounds are critically important for the manufacturing industries to develop new equipment. Several pure refrigerants have been modeled with high accuracy using many-term virial expansion equations of state such as a modified Benedict-Webb-Rubin equation (MBWR). However, many proposed refrigerant mixtures have not been as accurately modeled as the pure refrigerants. The present study is an attempt to provide a solution to this deficiency. Using the classical van der Waals equation of state with few empirical modifications, the general mixture equations of state have been developed with accuracy similar to pure compound equations of state such as the MBWR. The model has been applied to R-32 (CF2H2) and R-125 (CF3-CF2H) mixtures, with accuracy within about 1% for pressure, tempera...
The effect of the method of isolation of cell nuclei on the ratios of nuclear proteins to DNA.

Abstract Nuclei have been isolated from rat liver in aqueous media by a variety of methods and the ratios of the principal protein fractions to DNA have been compared. It has been found that these ratios can be strongly affected by the method of isolation: for example, the ratio of the globulin fraction to DNA varied from almost zero for nuclei isolated by a method where the pH of the homogenate was about 7.6 to approximately 1.3 for nuclei isolated at pH 5.8 with 0.44 m sucrose for homogenizing medium. The most interesting specific findings were as follows: 1. 1. The ratio of total histone to DNA was close to 1 for nuclei isolated in the presence of 0.003 to 0.005 m CaCl2 or MgCl2 using sucrose solutions for homogenizing medium whereas this ratio varies from 1.8 to 2.5 (depending on conditions used for globulin extraction) for nuclei isolated at pH 5.8 using 0.44 m sucrose for homogenization. The use of 0.003-0.005 m CaCl2 or MgCl2 in the isolation procedure with sucrose as homogenizing medium therefore causes loss of the “easily extractable” histone fraction. 2. 2. The ratio of residual protein to DNA for nuclei isolated at pH 5.8 using 0.44 m sucrose for homogenization is always close to 2.0, whereas this ratio can fall to values between 1.0 and 1.5 where nuclei are isolated by methods that apparently lead to proteolytic degradation of nuclear proteins. These and other results are tabulated and discussed.
F-14 Re-Engining with The F110 Engine

The advantages of re-engining the F-14 aircraft with the F110 engine is presented. The areas of improvement and the engine development philosophy are explained. A summary description of the pertinent engine design features of the F110 are presented. The flight test results on inlet/engine compatability, afterburner operation, airplane performance, and maintainability/reliability/durability are interpreted. Finally, a description of the proposed version of the F110 engine for the F-14 is presented.Copyright © 1985 by ASME
Investigation of the phenotypic and genetic properties of Brenneria nigrifluens strains, the causal agent of walnut bark canker in Kurdistan province, Iran

Summary Phenotypic and genetic properties of Brenneria nigrifluens, the causal agent of walnut bark canker disease were studied using a combination of key biochemical tests, analysis of whole-cell protein extracts and genetic fingerprints based on DNA primers corresponding to conserved motifs in bacterial repetitive (repetitive extragenic palindromic, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus and BOX) elements and to the 16s rRNA gene. Phenotypic properties indicated that 11 strains showed a high degree of similarity and 80%) to a B. nigrifluens reference strain. This study showed that the majority of strains had 0–3 plasmids with estimated sizes ranging 9–32 Kb. Strains were clustered into two and three groups by whole-cell protein analysis and rep-PCR, respectively.
Detection of aldehydes with 4-amino-5-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol as spray reagent.

A spray reagent of 4-amino-5-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol, 2% in aqueous 1N NaOH, was used for the detection of aldehydes on chromatograms of lipids. Purple spots are produced with aldehydes, and 1 μg of palmitaldehyde can be detected easily on thin layer chromatograms. The reagent is specific for aldehydes and does not react with ketones. The aldehyde moiety from plasmalogens is detected only after acidic hydrolysis. Purple or red stains arise also with ozonides. Simple precautions against autoxidation of the lipids should be taken to prevent formation of aldehydes which could lead to misinterpretations.
Carcinogen-induced Melanotic Tumours of the Tylotrich (Hair) Follicle

IN skin of the Syrian golden hamster, clusters of pigmented dendritic cells are found occasionally around certain hair follicles1. These areas of pigment are visible to the eye as small black spots. Ghadially and Barker1 consider these clusters of pigmented cells to be normal, not nevi, and their studies of skin treated repeatedly with 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) indicate that melanotic tumours arise at these particular sites.
Sinapic acid stimulator of anthocyanin accumulation in carrot cell cultures

Abstract In clones of wild carrot ( Daucus carota L.) cells which accumulate anthocyanin, exogenously supplied sinapic acid increases their anthocyanin accumulation in the presence or absence of dihydroquercetin which is a known precursor of cyanidin. The exogenously supplied sinapic acid was not converted into malvidin by the cells. The cells accumulate anthocyanin with cyanidin as the only chromophore in the presence or absence of sinapic acid. Sinapic acid feeding did not initiate anthocyanin accumulation in clones which were not anthocyanin accumulating.
Variability of infiltration under uncertainty in unsaturated zone parameters

Abstract A problem of special interest is the variability of infiltration caused by uncertainty in unsaturated zone parameters. The problem is studied here by solving a one-dimensional form of Richards' equation within a Monte Carlo analysis. Based on experimental data, cross-correlation between measurable soil properties — namely, the soil-water characteristic function and the hydraulic conductivity function — is defined. The unsaturated zone parameters can be estimated explicitly from the value of the saturated hydraulic conductivity. Also clarified are the effects of spatially varied parameters on the variability of point infiltration, water content, and time to the onset of ponding. The paper explores how both model sophistication and parameter cross-correlation affect modeling results. Analytical solutions can be used in the stochastic analysis if cross-correlation is considered. The inclusion of cross-correlation decreases the variability of output parameters without much effect on the mean values of these parameters. An effective value is defined for the saturated hydraulic conductivity that may characterize the heterogeneous soil. For a specified rainfall intensity, this value depends on the variability and autocorrelation structure of the saturated hydraulic conductivity. Neglecting variability may lead to unacceptable errors.
A simple model of generalized plasticity

Abstract The generalized plasticity model, which has previously been discussed by the author primarily in a theoretical way, is made specific in the form of a simple version based on a single function of the state variables. After a review of the basic concepts of generalized plasticity, the appropriate simplifications are introduced, leading to a one-dimensional model that can be used to generate, in closed form, stress-strain diagrams under arbitrary stress-controlled loading, including cyclic loading. This model is then extended into a multiaxial form that is used to solve the problem of the plastic expansion (with elastic deformations neglected) of a pressurized thick-walled tube.
Phase II Study of Fludarabine, Cytarabine (Ara-C), Cyclophosphamide, Cisplatin and GM-CSF (FACPGM) in Patients With Richter's Syndrome or Refractory Lymphoproliferative Disorders

A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fludarabine, cytarabine (ara-C), cyclophosphamide, cisplatin and GM-CSF (FACPGM) treatment in patients with Richter's syndrome (RS), refractory prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Twenty-two patients with RS, refractory PLL, or refractory NHL were entered into this trial between March 1997 and February 2001. Median age was 62 years (42-74); 77% were over 60 years of age. Histologic diagnosis was large cell NHL transformation in 15 patients with CLL, immunoblastic transformation of CLL in one, refractory PLL in three, and refractory NHL in three patients. Treatment consisted of fludarabine 30mg/m2 (days 1-3), ara-C 0.5g/m2 (days 3-4), cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m2 (days 2-4), cisplatin 15 mg/m2 IV CI (days 1-4) with GM-CSF 250 microg/m2 from day 5 to recovery of neutrophils and antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients with response were to receive a maximum of six cycles of therapy. Eighteen patients were evaluable for response; one patient achieved a complete remission (5%), 12 stable disease/no response (67%) and five patients had progressive disease (28%). The median survival was 2.2 months (range, 1-19); the median failure-free survival was 1.5 months (range, 0.5-18.6). Grade III/IV toxicities were as follows: anemia in 62% of cycles; leucopoenia in 66%; granulocytopenia in 90%; thrombocytopenia in 83%; hyperbilirubinemia in 14%; hyperuricemia in 17%; hyponatremia in 17%; hypokalemia in 14%; hypophosphatemia in 10%; hypoalbulinemia in 14%; hypocalcemia in 7%; and hypercalcemia in 3%. One (3%) patient developed cardiac failure. Forty-one percent of the cycles were complicated with fever, 34% with non-neutropenic fever, and 55% cycles with infections (fungal 31%; bacterial 57%; HSV 6%; VZV 6%). FACPGM had very limited activity and significant toxicity in a cohort of patients with heavily pretreated refractory lymphoproliferative disorders.
Global Optimization Studies on the 1-D Phase Problem

The Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Simulated Annealing (SA), two techniques for global optimization, were applied to a reduced (simplified) form of the phase problem (RPP) in computational crystallography. Results were compared with those of “enhanced pair flipping” (EPF), a more elaborate problem-specific algorithm incorporating local and global searches. Not surprisingly, EPF did better than the GA or SA approaches, but the existence of GA and SA techniques more advanced than diose used in this study suggest that these techniques still hold promise for phase problem applications. The RPP is, furthermore, an excellent test problem for such global optimization methods.
Resistance of Alfalfa to the Spotted Alfalfa Aphid

Single sterns with1 trifoliolate leaf from susceptible (C-Al) and resistant (C-84) alfalfa clones were placed in aqueous solutions of amino acids, sugars, or juices expressed from the 2 plants. After a day the trifoliolates were charged with adult Therioaphis maculata (Buckton) and insect behavior was noted for the succeeding 3 days. Most of the sugar and amino acid solutions were no different than water in their effects on the plants or insects. Hydroxyproline, leucine, and methionine were toxic. 4-Aminobutyric acid, cysteine, homoserine, proline, tyrosine, and melezitose solutions enabled the aphids to stay longer on the stems from the resistant clone than when these stems were placed in water. Clarified and autoclaved The resistance of certain alfalfa clones to infestation Juices from the 2 clones were infused into the excised stems of each clone. No juices from the resistant plants rendered the susceptible stems more resistant, thereby ruling out a soluble toxin or feeding deterrent as a mechanism for resistance. Juices from both the susceptible and resistant plants rendered the resistant cuttings more susceptible, thereby ruling out the presence of a selective nutrient in the susceptible plants. The results indicate that the alfalfa clone resistant to the spotted alfalfa aphid probably contains a level of some nutrients that is too low to support the aphid, and that is why the insect cannot live and reproduce on this plant.
Modeling for Partitioned and Multi-core Flight Software Systems: (Instrument Software Framework)

This paper presents an approach for modeling component based flight software systems that can be deployed to a wide variety of hardware and operating system configurations. Our focus is deployment to multiple ARINC653 partitions, however, the technique is effective across multiple processors as well. The modeling technique presented is two tiered: first software components are represented in System Modeling Language (SysML) utilizing an off-the-shelf Magic Draw Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tool. A custom plug in is used to produce domain specific XML. Secondly, a Python code generator is used to map the domain specific XML to implementation C++ code. To facilitate the technique a new lite-weight component framework called the Instrument Software Framework (ISF) was developed. Component based software architectures have been shown to improve the quality of flight software systems. The modeling approach using SysML, XML and the ISF is explained. Separation of concerns of the deployment target environment from the component implementation are demonstrated by our technique. The ISF architecture will be described along with an essential Hub Component Design Pattern that enables swappable communication mediums between computing elements.
Meson Effects in n-p Capture

A contribution to the $n\ensuremath{-}p$ capture amplitude which results from the modification of the nucleon current operators by the nuclear interaction is calculated. The two-nucleon states are represented by Heitler-London states and the capture amplitude is related to single-nucleon matrix elements by means of an expansion corresponding to the exchange of mesons between the nucleons. These single-nucleon matrix elements are evaluated using the fixed-source theory. The one-meson excited Heitler-London state gives a contribution similar to the isobar model of Austern; the role of this state in the nuclear potential is also discussed. If a deuteron wave function with a relatively large $D$-state probability is used, the interaction effect is about 3% of the phenomenological cross section.
Creating mathematical artifacts: extending children's engagement with math beyond the classroom

Math manipulatives help children understand abstract concepts through concrete interactions. In this paper, I describe children's use of a computational manipulative and how that use spread beyond the classroom context. The manipulative supports children as they attempt to make connections between the abstract targeted content (in this case, fractions and symmetry) and concrete instantiations of those concepts (in this case, quilt block designs they have created). The children engaging with the software in this socio-technical environment were excited about creating designs to share, and they talked about their designs in a mathematical way. Their math talk seemed to be supported in many ways during the activities, and the artifacts they created extended their engagement with this learning activity outside of math class.
Has victimology outlived its usefulness

Victimology has made important contributions to understanding victimization in the last several decades. Yet it has done little to reduce victimization. Instead, victimological findings and victim advocacy have been used by policymakers to promote ineffective ‘law and order’ crime policies. Victimology has been substantially co-opted, largely because it has either shunned politics or at least implicitly endorsed a counterproductive politics. Instead, victimology must re-examine its direction and politics. The possibilities are illustrated by examining several alternative, anti-crime ideologies and case studies.
Charge transfer by direct tunneling in thin-oxide memory transistors

Charge transfer by direct tunneling in thin-oxide MNOS memory transistors is carefully examined and the similarities and dissimilarities between different models is shown. The consequences of different assumptions concerning the tunneling probability, surface states, and trap distributions are investigated, and directions for future work are discussed.
The effect of anisotropic collagen-GAG scaffolds and growth factor supplementation on tendon cell recruitment, alignment, and metabolic activity

Current surgical and tissue engineering approaches for treating tendon injuries have shown limited success, suggesting the need for new biomaterial strategies. Here we describe the development of an anisotropic collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffold and use of growth factor supplementation strategies to create a 3D platform for tendon tissue engineering. We fabricated cylindrical CG scaffolds with aligned tracks of ellipsoidal pores that mimic the native physiology of tendon by incorporating a directional solidification step into a conventional lyophilization strategy. By modifying the freezing temperature, we created a homologous series of aligned CG scaffolds with constant relative density and degree of anisotropy but a range of pore sizes (55–243 μm). Equine tendon cells showed greater levels of attachment, metabolic activity, and alignment as well as less cell-mediated scaffold contraction, when cultured in anisotropic scaffolds compared to an isotropic CG scaffold control. The anisotropic CG scaffolds also provided critical contact guidance cues for cell alignment. While tendon cells were randomly oriented in the isotropic control scaffold and the transverse (unaligned) plane of the anisotropic scaffolds, significant cell alignment was observed in the direction of the contact guidance cues in the longitudinal plane of the anisotropic scaffolds. Scaffold pore size was found to significantly influence tendon cell viability, proliferation, penetration into the scaffold, and metabolic activity in a manner predicted by cellular solids arguments. Finally, the addition of the growth factors PDGF-BB and IGF-1 to aligned CG scaffolds was found to enhance tendon cell motility, viability, and metabolic activity in dose-dependent manners. This work suggests a composite strategy for developing bioactive, 3D material systems for tendon tissue engineering.
A test of the occupational matching hypothesis for rehabilitation clients with severe mental illness.

Purpose This study compared job matching rates for clients with severe mental illness enrolled in two types of employment programs. Also examined was the occupational matching hypothesis that job matching is associated with better employment outcomes. Methods The study involved a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing evidence-based supported employment to a diversified placement approach. The study sample consisted of 187 participants, of whom 147 obtained a paid job during the 2-year follow-up. Jobs were coded using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles classification system. Match between initial job preferences and type of job obtained was the predictor variable. Outcomes included time to job start, job satisfaction, and job tenure on first job. Results Most occupational preferences were for clerical and service jobs, and most participants obtained employment in these two occupational domains. In most cases, the first job obtained matched a participant’s occupational preference. The occupational matching hypothesis was not supported for any employment outcome. The occupational matching rate was similar in this study to previous studies. Conclusions Most clients who obtain employment with the help of evidence-based supported employment or diversified placement services find jobs matching their occupational preference, and most often it is a rough match. Occupational matching is but one aspect of job matching; it may be time to discard actuarial classification systems such as the Dictionary of Occupational Titles as a basis for assessing job match.
A quantitative study of temporal and spatial response patterns in a thalamic cell population electrically stimulated.

Summary In locally anesthetized cats, unit activity was recorded in the immediate vicinity of a stimulating electrode implanted in nucleus ventralis lateralis of the thalamus (VL). Three classes of cells were distinguished: (I) non-responsive, (II) immediately silenced, and (III) initially fired by the VL stimulus. The latter were also silenced following the initial discharged. Quantitative estimates of their relative proportions are given as a function of distance of the cells from the stimulated site. Immediately silenced cells were found preferentially located at more than 2 mm from the stimulated site. These results concern VL-identified neurons as well as other cells. Upon repetition of the VL stimuli at 100 msec intervals, the responses were changed in such a way that, globally, the second pulse produced a more intense firing, by more neurons, but with a slightly longer latency (augmentation). Similar observations were made while stimulating the VL in decorticate preparations and the medial geniculate nucleus (GM) in intact animals. This is in sharp contrast with the response patterns of mesencephalic cells locally stimulated. None of them were immediately silenced, and repetition of the stimuli at 100 msec intervals produced no systematic changes. The quantitative data gathered in this study are used to reconstruct a picture of the events occurring in a thalamic cell population submitted to local electrical stimulation.
Proteomic Study of Hepatic Nuclear Extracts in an Adaptive Acetaminophen Tolerance Model

Variability in response to acetaminophen (APAP)-induced aseptic inflammation and tolerance to the impending hepatic damage has been described. To understand the mechanism of adaptive tolerance, we investigated the proteomic profiles of crude nuclear lysates in a mouse model. We hypothesized that pretreatment with low doses of APAP prior to a toxic dose results in differential protein expression. Mice (BALB/C) were separated into three groups: the pretreated (PT) group received incremental doses of APAP while the last dose only (LD) and naive groups were given saline vehicle. A toxic dose of APAP was administered on the seventh day to the PT and LD animals only and all groups were euthanized 3 h postdose. Total protein from crude hepatic nuclear lysates were applied to protein arrays and analyzed by immunoaffinity mass spectrometry. Comparative data analyses of protein peaks revealed a protein that was significantly increased at m/z of 60,030 (p60) in the LD animals vs the other two groups. The closest match for the preliminary identification of the p60 protein based on a Swiss-Prot/TagIdent database search using the approximate isoelectric point and molecular weight information was Ccr4–Not complex subunit-2. This protein is a subunit of a multiprotein complex and serves as a transcriptional suppressor involved in controlling mRNA synthesis and degradation. Preliminary identification was also supported by Western blot analysis using anti-CNOT2 antibody. Considering the APAP tolerance model, we conclude that toxicogenomic approaches such as nuclear profiling are useful tools in assessing differential expression of transcriptional factors involved in inflammatory response and adaptive tolerance to toxins.
Comparing American and Japanese Achievement: Is the United States Really a Low Achiever?:

It is widely accepted that the Japanese educational system is more effective than the U.S. system and that this greater effectiveness produces across-the-board higher achievement. Using the data from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA.) Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS), this paper examines both curriculum and achievement in Japan and the United States in grade 7/8 algebra and grade 12 elementary functions and analysis (calculus). The results suggest that overall, the lower achievement of the United States is the result of curricula that are not as well matched to the SIMS tests as are the curricula of Japan. Where the American curriculum is comparable to both the "curriculum" of the test and the curriculum of Japan, that is, in grade 8 algebra classes, U.S. achievement is similar to that of Japan. These findings suggest that the analytic methodology of cross-national achievement Studies like those of IEA or International Assessment of Educational ...
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Effect of Interfaces in Melting and Solid-State Amorphization

The amorphous phase formation and initial crystalline reactions at Pt/GaAs interfaces has been investigated via high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), microdiffraction, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). A thin amorphous intermixed layer consisting of three elements, platinum, gallium, and arsenic was observed at Pt/GaAs interface in an as-deposited sample. This interlayer grew to 4.5nm in an amorphous state upon low temperature(e.g. 200°C) annealing by a solid-state amorphization reaction. Following the growth of the amorphous interlayer, subsequently, Pt3Ga and PtAs2 phases nucleated within the amorphous layer and grew at the Pt and GaAs sides, respectively. We also observed the same reaction processes with in-situ annealing HRTEM.
Columns: Polymer Supports in Synthesis

A versatile approach to generate hybrid biomaterials, using atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from resin-immobilized peptides, has been reported by N. R. Washburn and co-workers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland (see JACS, 2004, 126, 3472–3476). This approach successfully synthesized a specific peptide unit (GRGDS) to which a controlled molecular weight chain of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was attached. Before describing the polymer-supported synthetic strategy, the reason why peptide/synthetic polymer conjugates are of interest will be described. Future medical implants will probably incorporate materials that are functionalized with groups that engage in targeted recognition with specific cell receptors (see Science, 2002, 295, 1014 and J. Biomed
A comprehensive SNP and indel imputability database

Motivation: Genotype imputation has become an indispensible step in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Imputation accuracy, directly influencing downstream analysis, has shown to be improved using re-sequencing-based reference panels; however, this comes at the cost of high computational burden due to the huge number of potentially imputable markers (tens of millions) discovered through sequencing a large number of individuals. Therefore, there is an increasing need for access to imputation quality information without actually conducting imputation. To facilitate this process, we have established a publicly available SNP and indel imputability database, aiming to provide direct access to imputation accuracy information for markers identified by the 1000 Genomes Project across four major populations and covering multiple GWAS genotyping platforms. Results: SNP and indel imputability information can be retrieved through a user-friendly interface by providing the ID(s) of the desired variant(s) or by specifying the desired genomic region. The query results can be refined by selecting relevant GWAS genotyping platform(s). This is the first database providing variant imputability information specific to each continental group and to each genotyping platform. In Filipino individuals from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, our database can achieve an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.97, 0.91, 0.88 and 0.79 for markers with minor allele frequency >5%, 3–5%, 1–3% and 0.5–1%, respectively. Specifically, by filtering out 48.6% of markers (corresponding to a reduction of up to 48.6% in computational costs for actual imputation) based on the imputability information in our database, we can remove 77%, 58%, 51% and 42% of the poorly imputed markers at the cost of only 0.3%, 0.8%, 1.5% and 4.6% of the well-imputed markers with minor allele frequency >5%, 3–5%, 1–3% and 0.5–1%, respectively. Availability: http://www.unc.edu/~yunmli/imputability.html Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. Contact: [email protected]
Differential aluminum tolerance in soybean: An evaluation of the role of organic acids.

The role of organic acids in aluminum (Al) tolerance has been the object of intensive research. In the present work, we evaluated the roles of organic acid exudation and concentrations at the root tip on Al tolerance of soybean. Exposing soybean seedlings to Al 3 + activities up to 4.7 μM in solution led to different degrees of restriction of primary root elongation. Al tolerance among genotypes was associated with citrate accumulation and excretion into the external media. Citrate and malate efflux increased in all genotypes during the first 6 h of Al exposure, but only citrate efflux in Al-tolerant genotypes was sustained for an extended period. Tolerance to Al was correlated with the concentration of citrate in root tips of 8 genotypes with a range of Al sensitivities (r 2 = 0.75). The fluorescent stain lumogallion indicated that more Al accumulated in root tips of the Al-sensitive genotype Young than the Al-tolerant genotype PI 416937, suggesting that the sustained release of citrate from roots of the tolerant genotype was involved in Al exclusion. The initial stimulation of citrate and malate excretion and accumulation in the tip of all genotypes suggested the involvement of additional tolerance mechanisms. The experiments included an examination of Al effects on lateral root elongation. Extension of lateral roots was more sensitive to Al than that of tap roots, and lateral root tips accumulated more Al and had lower levels of citrate.
Staging and management of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) accounts for two-thirds of cases of primary cutaneous lymphoma. Most variants of CTCL are indolent lymphoma, the most common being mycosis fungoides. In addition, Sezary syndrome, the leukaemic variant, has an aggressive clinical course. Accurate diagnosis and staging is critical in determining the prognosis of those with CTCL. The tumour, node, metastasis and blood stage needs to be documented and used to determine an overall stage from IA to IVB. Management of patients should be carried out by a multidisciplinary team. A full clinical examination should be made at all visits. Thorough investigations are needed at diagnosis and should be repeated during disease progression to allow initial staging and restaging. Treatment of patients with early-stage disease (IA-IIB) should be limited to skin-directed therapy. More advanced or resistant disease may be treated with systemic therapies such as extracorporeal photopheresis, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy, novel retinoids or chemotherapy, and where possible, patients should be entered into clinical trials.
High accuracy multiwavelets with short supports

We show how to construct multiwavelets from wavelets. The multiwavelets resulting from such constructions retain accuracy and regularity or the original wavelets and are all supported on a shorter interval than the original wavelets. In fact, we can arrange, at the expense of the number of channels, to obtain any accuracy obtainable for compactly supported wavelets and support in a prescribed neighborhood of the unit interval.
Team allegiance can lead to both optimistic and pessimistic predictions

Abstract Although team allegiance is usually associated with optimistic predictions about team performance, the authors hypothesized that preferences for one’s group can also lead to pessimistic predictions. Upon arrival to the laboratory, groups of four participants were split into teams of two based on bogus criteria. Participants were informed that their teammate would compete against a member of the other team in a trivia game consisting of both easy (e.g., “pop culture”) and hard (e.g., “50’s movies”) categories. They provided likelihood estimates regarding outcomes for each category. As predicted, team allegiance inflated participants’ optimism about their teammate winning the easy categories, but deflated optimism about their teammate winning the hard categories. Path analyses supported the proposed account indicating that preferences for a teammate to win led to an enhanced focus on the teammate’s strengths and weaknesses (and neglect of the strengths and weaknesses of the other competitor).
Effect of the number of external markers in multimodal 3-D image registration

The minimum number of external markers that is needed for a multimodal 3-D image registration is studied quantitatively by using Monte-Carlo techniques. Using computer simulation, test images are generated over the head in both modalities using a predefined transformation. The optimized transformation obtained from a set of matched external markers using the simplex minimization method followed by a variable metric method is applied to these images to study how good the registration is with a given number of markers. The authors studied the /spl chi//sup 2/ per degree of freedom and the residuals as a function of the number of external markers. It is found that the registration is optimum for 10 markers and above. >
The morphology of the masticatory apparatus facilitates muscle force production at wide jaw gapes in tree-gouging common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) generate wide jaw gapes when gouging trees with their anterior teeth to elicit tree exudate flow. Closely related cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) do not gouge trees but share similar diets including exudates. Maximizing jaw opening theoretically compromises the bite forces that marmosets can generate during gouging. To investigate how jaw-muscle architecture and craniofacial position impact muscle performance during gouging, we combine skull and jaw-muscle architectural features to model muscle force production across a range of jaw gapes in these two species. We incorporate joint mechanics, resting sarcomere length and muscle architecture estimates from the masseter and temporalis to model muscle excursion, sarcomere length and relative tension as a function of joint angle. Muscle excursion from occlusion to an estimated maximum functional gape of 55 deg. was smaller in all regions of the masseter and temporalis of C. jacchus compared with S. oedipus except the posterior temporalis. As a consequence of reduced muscle excursion distributed over more sarcomeres in series (i.e. longer fibers), sarcomere length operating ranges are smaller in C. jacchus jaw muscles across this range of gapes. This configuration allows C. jacchus to act on a more favorable portion of the length-tension curve at larger gapes and thereby generate relatively greater tension in these muscles compared with S. oedipus. Our results suggest that biting performance during tree gouging in common marmosets is improved by a musculoskeletal configuration that reduces muscle stretch at wide gapes while simultaneously facilitating comparatively large muscle forces at the extremes of jaw opening.