cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing and Developing Interactive Narratives for Collaborative Problem-Based Learning

Narrative and collaboration are two core features of rich interactive learning. Narrative-centered learning environments offer significant potential for supporting student learning. By contextualizing learning within interactive narratives, these environments leverage students’ innate facilities for developing understandings through stories. Computer-supported collaborative learning environments offer students rich, collaborative learning experiences in which small groups of students engage in constructing artifacts, addressing disciplinary challenges, and solving problems. Narrative and collaboration have distinct affordances for learning, but combining them poses significant challenges. In this paper, we present initial work on solving this problem by introducing collaborative narrative-centered learning environments. These environments will enable small groups of students to collaboratively solve problems in rich multi-participant storyworlds. We propose a novel framework for designing and developing these environments, which we are using to create a collaborative narrative-centered learning environment for middle school ecosystems education. In the learning environment, students work on problem-solving scenarios centered on how to support optimal fish health in aquatic environments. Results from pilot testing the learning environment with 45 students suggest it supports the creation of engaging and effective collaborative narrative-centered learning experiences.
Radiology Nurse Manager

The nurse manager role in any radiology department is vital to the leadership of a successful team that continually delivers quality care to patients as well as maintaining safe practices, staff satisfaction, and professional development.
A Peptide Derived from Lens Epithelium-Derived Growth Factor Stimulates HIV-1 DNA Integration and Facilitates Intasome Structural Studies.

Abstract The low solubility and aggregation properties of HIV-1 integrase (IN) are major obstacles for biochemical and structural studies. The lens epithelium–derived growth factor (LEDGF) is a cellular factor that binds IN and tethers preintegration complexes to chromatin before integration. The LEDGF also stimulates HIV-1 IN DNA strand transfer activity and improves its solubility in vitro. We show that these properties are conferred by a short peptide spanning residues 178 to 197 of the LEDGF that encompasses its AT-hook DNA-binding elements. The peptide stimulates HIV-1 IN activity both in trans and in cis. Fusion of the peptide to either the N- or C-terminus of IN results in maximal stimulation of concerted integration activity and greatly improves the solubility of the protein and nucleoprotein complexes of IN with viral DNA ends (intasomes). High-resolution structures of HIV-1 intasomes are required to understand the mechanism of IN strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), which are front-line drugs for the treatment of HIV-1, and how the virus can develop resistance to INSTIs. We have previously determined the structure of the HIV-1 strand transfer complex intasome. The improved biophysical properties of intasomes assembled with LEDGF peptide fusion IN have enabled us to determine the structure of the cleaved synaptic complex intasome, which is the direct target of INSTIs.
Development of Photoactive g -C 3 N 4 /Poly(vinyl Alcohol) Composite Hydrogel Films with Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity

Free-standing, composite hydrogels containing the visible-light responsive metal-free semiconductor graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as an integral component have been fabricated by direct casting...
A multi-GPU implementation of a full-field crystal plasticity solver for efficient modeling of high-resolution microstructures

Abstract In a recent publication (Eghtesad et al., 2018), we have reported a message passing interface (MPI)-based domain decomposition parallel implementation of an elasto-viscoplastic fast Fourier transform-based (EVPFFT) micromechanical solver to facilitate computationally efficient crystal plasticity modeling of polycrystalline materials. In this paper, we present major extensions to the previously reported implementation to take advantage of graphics processing units (GPUs), which can perform floating point arithmetic operations much faster than traditional central processing units (CPUs). In particular, the applications are developed to utilize a single GPU and multiple GPUs from one computer as well as a large number of GPUs across nodes of a supercomputer. To this end, the implementation combines the OpenACC programming model for GPU acceleration with MPI for distributed computing. Moreover, the FFT calculations are performed using the efficient Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) FFT library, called CUFFT. Finally, to maintain performance portability, OpenACC-CUDA interoperability for data transfers between CPU and GPUs is used. The overall implementations are termed ACC-EVPCUFFT for single GPU and MPI-ACC-EVPCUFFT for multiple GPUs. To facilitate performance evaluation studies of the developed computational framework, deformation of a single phase copper is simulated, while to further demonstrate utility of the implementation for resolving fine microstructures, deformation of a dual-phase steel DP590 is simulated. The implementations and results are presented and discussed in this paper.
Comparison of In-Situ and Retrospective Self-Reports on Assessing Hearing Aid Outcomes.

Background Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a methodology involving repeated surveys to collect in-situ self-reports that describe respondents' current or recent experiences. Audiology literature comparing in-situ and retrospective self-reports is scarce. Purpose To compare the sensitivity of in-situ and retrospective self-reports in detecting the outcome difference between hearing aid technologies, and to determine the association between in-situ and retrospective self-reports. Research Design An observational study. Study Sample Thirty-nine older adults with hearing loss. Data Collection and Analysis The study was part of a larger clinical trial that compared the outcomes of a prototype hearing aid (denoted as HA1) and a commercially available device (HA2). In each trial condition, participants wore hearing aids for 4 weeks. Outcomes were measured using EMA and retrospective questionnaires. To ensure that the outcome data could be directly compared, the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile was administered as an in-situ self-report (denoted as EMA-GHABP) and as a retrospective questionnaire (retro-GHABP). Linear mixed models were used to determine if the EMA- and retro-GHABP could detect the outcome difference between HA1 and HA2. Correlation analyses were used to examine the association between EMA- and retro-GHABP. Results For the EMA-GHABP, HA2 had significantly higher (better) scores than HA1 in the GHABP subscales of benefit, residual disability, and satisfaction (p = 0.029–0.0015). In contrast, the difference in the retro-GHABP score between HA1 and HA2 was significant only in the satisfaction subscale (p = 0.0004). The correlations between the EMA- and retro-GHABP were significant in all subscales (p = 0.0004 to Conclusion The study suggests that in-situ self-reports collected using EMA could have a higher sensitivity than retrospective questionnaires. Therefore, EMA is worth considering in clinical trials that aim to compare the outcomes of different hearing aid technologies. The weak to moderate association between in-situ and retrospective self-reports suggests that these two types of measures assess different aspects of hearing aid outcomes.
Designing Invasion-Resistant Plant Communities: The Role of Plant Functional Traits

Designing Invasion-Resistant Plant Communities: The Role of Plant Functional Traits DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v32i1_james
Assessment of the DNA partial specific volume and hydration layer properties from CHARMM Drude polarizable and additive MD simulations

In this study we report on the accurate computation of the biomolecular partial specific volume (PSV) from explicit-solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The case of DNA is considered, and the predictions from two state-of-the-art biomolecular force fields, the CHARMM36 additive (C36) and Drude polarizable models, are presented. Unlike most of the existing approaches to assess the biomolecular PSV, our proposed method bypasses the need for the arbitrarily defined volume partitioning scheme into the intrinsic solute and solvent contributions. At the same time, to assess the density of the hydration layer water, we combine our simulation analysis approach with some of the existing fixed-size methods to determine the solute's intrinsic volume, and also propose our own approach to compute all required quantities exclusively from MD simulations. Our findings provide useful insights into the properties of the hydration layer, specifically its size and density, parameters of great importance to the variety of techniques used to model hydrodynamic and structural properties of biological molecules. The computed PSV values are found to be in close agreement with the values obtained from analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) experiments performed on canonical B-form duplex DNAs and single-stranded DNAs forming G-quadruplex structures. Since the biomolecular PSV represents an important quantitative measure of solute-solvent interactions, near quantitative agreement with AUC measurements is indicative of the quality of the all-atom models used in the MD simulations, particularly the reliability of the CHARMM force-field parameters for nucleic acids, water, mobile ions, and interactions among these entities.
Alimentos e imperio: La administración del hambre en comentarios reales de los Incas

References to food in the first part of the Royal Commentaries of the Incas [1609] by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega are few and not very specific. But this does not mean that they are not relevant, as they highlight their enormous importance in an agrarian society par excellence. The Incas, through the production, distribution and consumption of food, established an expansive society that was subjecting - especially through the hunger strategy - to other indigenous groups to "instruct" them according to divine orders (myth of the solar couple). The food uses in Royal Commentaries are so varied and complex that, in addition to satisfying biological needs, they function as religious, cultural, economic, and warlike artifacts indispensable for the organization, operation, and expansion of the Inca empire.
CSF-Derived CD4+ T-Cell Diversity Is Reduced in Patients With Alzheimer Clinical Syndrome.

Background and Objectives Patients with Alzheimer dementia display evidence of amyloid-related neurodegeneration. Our focus was to determine whether such patients also display evidence of a disease-targeting adaptive immune response mediated by CD4+ T cells. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the CSF immune profiles of patients with Alzheimer clinical syndrome (ACS), who display clinically defined dementia. Methods Innate and adaptive immune profiles of patients with ACS were measured using multicolor flow cytometry. CSF-derived CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell receptor repertoire genetics were measured using next-generation sequencing. Brain-specific autoantibody signatures of CSF-derived antibody pools were measured using array technology or ELISA. CSF from similar-age healthy controls (HCs) was used as a comparator cohort. Results Innate cells were expanded in the CSF of patients with ACS in comparison to HCs, and innate cell expansion increased with age in the patients with ACS, but not HCs. Despite innate cell expansion in the CSF, the frequency of total CD4+ T cells reduced with age in the patients with ACS. T-cell receptor repertoire genetics indicated that T-cell clonal expansion is enhanced, and diversity is reduced in the patients with ACS compared with similar-age HCs. Discussion Examination of CSF indicates that CD4+ T cell–mediated adaptive immune responses are altered in patients with ACS. Understanding the underlying mechanisms affecting adaptive immunity will help move us toward the goal of slowing cognitive decline.
Protein and college males: knowledge, behaviors, and recommendations (633.3)

To determine protein knowledge, dietary practices, and intakes compared to recommendations, a convenience sample of non-athlete college males (n=50), 18-24 years old, completed 7 day dietary and ph...
An all electronic, fully microfabricated micro gas chromatograph

This paper reports a full micro gas chromatograph (µGC) in which all the components are electronic. All components, including a Knudsen pump, a preconcentrator, separation columns, and capacitive gas detectors, form a complete µGC system that has no moving parts, uses room air as carrier gas, and can be fabricated by a common low-cost process. The preliminary system has experimentally demonstrated sampling, separation, and detection of 12 chemicals with 1– 10 ppm concentrations. The calculated detection limit is expected to reach as low as 20 ppb.
Electronics and Circuit Analysis Using MATLAB

From the Publisher: Useful to students, professional engineers, scientists, and technicians, Electronics and Circuit Analysis using MATLAB provides a simple, easy-to-understand, hands-on introduction to MATLAB, demonstrates the use of MATLAB for solving electronic problems, outlines various ways MATLAB solves circuit analysis problems, shows the flexibility of MATLAB for solving general engineering and scientific problems.
Relationships between Rap1b, Affinity Modulation of Integrin αIIbβ3, and the Actin Cytoskeleton

The affinity of integrin αIIbβ3 for fibrinogen is controlled by inside-out signals that are triggered by agonists like thrombin. Agonist treatment of platelets also activates Rap1b, a small GTPase known to promote integrin-dependent adhesion of other cells. Therefore, we investigated the role of Rap1b in αIIbβ3 function by viral transduction of GFP-Rap1 chimeras into murine megakaryocytes, which exhibit inside-out signaling similar to platelets. Expression of constitutively active GFP-Rap1b (V12) had no effect on unstimulated megakaryocytes, but it greatly augmented fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3 induced by a PAR4 thrombin receptor agonist (p
The development of a ytterbium ion frequency standard

A ytterbium ion standard currently under development for both ground and space applications is described. The ytterbium ion was chosen for its large hyperfine splitting at 12.6 GHz and the accessibility of its first excited electronic energy levels with light from frequency-doubled semiconductor and solid state lasers. The desired characteristics of a spaceborne instrument and the choice of ytterbium are discussed. The results of spectroscopy carried out on trapped ytterbium ions to determine means for overcoming the population trapping difficulties associated with this ion are presented. >
Characterization of yeast EF-1α: Non-conservation of post-translational modifications

Abstract Elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) is an abundant cellular protein and its amino-acid sequence has been inferred from numerous organisms, including bacteria, archaebacteria, plants and animals. In large measure, it would appear that the overall structure has probably been maintained given the 33% identity and 56% similarity of Escherichia coli EF-Tu with human EF-1α. Chemical sequencing of EF-Tu and EF-1α has revealed that these proteins are post-translationally modified. In order to assess the possible function of these modifications, we have chemically sequenced the EF-1α from the lower eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast). To our surprise, the methylation pattern of yeast EF-1α was quite different from either rabbit or brine shrimp EF-1α with only the trimethyllysine at position 79 conserved although the yeast protein is 81% identical to rabbit EF-1α. A dimethyllysine was observed at position 316 which corresponds to a trimethyllysine in brine shrimp and rabbit EF-1α. The other positions in yeast EF-1α which were methylated were unrelated to the other six possible positions for modification observed in brine shrimp or rabbit EF-1α. In addition, the unique glycerylphosphorylethanolamine observed in mammalian EF-1α and suspected in brine shrimp EF-1α was not found in yeast EF-1α.
Teens speak out about HIV / AIDS: focus group discussions about risk and decision-making.

Abstract Purpose To better understand the factors teens consider when making decisions regarding sex and condom use. Methods Twenty-one same-sex focus groups were conducted with a total of 92 male and female teens from a range of high school programs; schools were selected based on the range of programs and diversity of students enrolled. Focus group moderators facilitated groups using a set of open-ended key questions about sexual decision-making and HIV/AIDS for each group; discussion on a specific topic area continued until no new information was generated. Group discussions were tape-recorded and transcribed, and themes were identified through independent content analysis of the transcriptions and assistant moderator notes. Results Although teens acquire HIV/AIDS knowledge in school and are aware of positive and negative outcomes of engaging in sexual behavior, many times the information does not seem salient or personally relevant and thus is not used in making decisions related to having sex. In general, results indicate that boys and girls seem to have different ideas/reasons for having or not having sex. Boys relate to the physical nature of sex, whereas girls relate to the emotional aspects. Teens report being bored with AIDS education, but suggest needing information that is more relevant for them. Conclusions Attempts should be made to make HIV education more relevant for teens so that they use the information they have when making decisions about safer sexual behavior. Different approaches may be needed for boys and girls.
TWO CONCEPTS OF COERCION

In this essay I have begun to construct the liberal and the Marxian concepts of coercion. The differences between them are fundamental and probably irreconcilable. That does not mean, however, that given their respective ontologies, each is valid in its own right. On the contrary, neither concept is valid if its ontological presuppositions are insecurely grounded and/or if it exhibits internal inconsistencies or contradictions. The liberal concept of coercion, explicated by means of the agency model, suffers from both of these defects. The agency model of coercion is seriously, indeed fatally, flawed. For latter-day liberals this is an unpalatable conclusion. Yet I trust that my reasons for reaching this conclusion — however dry and prolix they may seem — are accessible to everyone, liberals and Marxists alike.
Organic chemistry: Molecular diversity by design.

Many organic syntheses are target-oriented — each multi-step route is designed to make just one compound. But now a diversity-oriented synthesis can make 80 different molecular skeletons in just a few steps.
Public computing options for individuals with cognitive impairments: survey outcomes.

Purpose. To examine availability and accessibility of public computing for individuals with cognitive impairment (CI) who reside in the USA.Method. A telephone survey was administered as a semi-structured interview to 145 informants representing seven types of public facilities across three geographically distinct regions using a snowball sampling technique. An Internet search of wireless (Wi-Fi) hotspots supplemented the survey.Results. Survey results showed the availability of public computer terminals and Internet hotspots was greatest in the urban sample, followed by the mid-sized and rural cities. Across seven facility types surveyed, libraries had the highest percentage of access barriers, including complex queue procedures, login and password requirements, and limited technical support. University assistive technology centres and facilities with a restricted user policy, such as brain injury centres, had the lowest incidence of access barriers.Conclusion. Findings suggest optimal outcomes for peopl...
Source mechanism of volcanic tremor: fluid-driven crack models and their application to the 1963 kilauea eruption

Abstract We propose a model for the mechanism of magma transport based on a fluid-filled tensile crack driven by the excess pressure of fluid. Such a transport mechanism can generate seismic waves by a succession of jerky crack extensions, if the fracture strength of rock varies in space, or if there is a difference between the dynamic and static values of the critical stress intensity factor. We also find that the opening and closing of a narrow channel connecting two fluid-filled cracks may be a source of seismic waves. Using the finite-difference method, we calculated the vibration of dry and fluid-filled cracks generated by: (1) a jerky extension at one end or at both ends and (2) a jerky opening of a narrow channel connecting two cracks. We then calculated the far-field and near-field radiation from these vibrating cracks. The spectra show peaked structures, but interestingly, most high-frequency peaks are only present in the near-field and cannot be transmitted to the far-field. The spectral features described above are often observed for volcanic tremors and in some cases for seismic signals associated with hydraulic fracturing experiments. We first consider as a model of volcanic tremor randomly occurring jerky crack extensions, and derive a formula relating the tremor amplitude to the excess pressure in the magma, the incremental area in each extension, and the frequency of extensions. These parameters are also constrained by other observations, such as the rate of magma flow. Our model was tested quantitatively against observations made in one of the best-described case histories of volcanic tremor: the October 5–6, 1963 Kilauea flank eruption. We found that a single, long crack extending from the summit to the eruptive site cannot explain the observations. The model of a steadily expanding crack ran into difficulties when quantitative comparisons were made with observations. The extension of crack area needed to explain the amplitude of volcanic tremor should accompany a large increase in tremor period which was not observed. Our second model is a chain of cracks connected by narrow channels which open and close. The length of each crack is around 1 km, the channel area connecting neighboring cracks is about 103m2, and the channel opens jerkily with the magmatic excess pressure of about 20 bars. The frequency of jerky opening of each channel is about once in 15 seconds. The channel is closed after each jerky opening, as soon as magma is moved through the channel.
Early Eocene Arctic climate sensitivity to pCO2 and basin geography

[1] We present results from new early Eocene (∼55–45 Ma) climate modeling experiments with the NCAR Community Climate System Model. These experiments test the sensitivity of climate to a large increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases, such as may have occurred at the Paleocene-Eocene (P-E) boundary (∼55.5 Ma), and also allow us to explore the role of Arctic basin configuration on climate. Experiments were run with pCO2 at 560 and 2240 ppm, and a third experiment, at 2240 ppm, incorporates a passage to a neighboring ocean to explore the potential effect of the ocean on Arctic warming, were the Arctic not isolated. Quadrupling pCO2 warms the Arctic by ∼8°C in the annual average, doubles atmospheric moisture content in this region and eliminates Arctic sea ice, consistent with proxy estimates of warming at the P-E boundary. Opening the Arctic Ocean warms mean annual sea surface temperature by an additional ∼4°C.
Environmental Reviews and Case Studies: Limitations and Challenges of Provincial Environmental Protection Bureaus in China's Environmental Data Monitoring, Reporting and Verification

Although administered from the top-down, China's environmental governance is characterized by decentralization, a feature that has been cited as the cause of poor implementation of policies at the local levels. To address this implementation gap, the central government in China has instituted environmental targets in its evaluation system of local leaders. However, the system of performance evaluation based on statistics and indicators has revealed problems of data and information abnormalities, falsification, and collusion between local officials to hide or misrepresent data. Little academic attention has been paid to sub-national institutions in place for data collection, reporting, and verification in China. This paper seeks to understand how institutions collect and transfer environmental data in China's vertical governance structure, as well as the challenges faced primarily by provincial Environmental Protection Bureaus (EPBs) to shed light on why discrepancies and gaps in environmental data might e...
Suppression of serum insulin level by diazoxide does not alter serum testosterone or sex hormone-binding globulin levels in healthy, nonobese women

Suppression of serum insulin levels with diazoxide is associated with a decrease in serum testosterone and an increase in serum sex hormone-binding globulin in obese women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. To determine whether physiologic insulin levels play a regulatory role in the androgen status of nonobese women with normal menses, the androgen status of five nonobese normal women was assessed on two occasions: during a control study and after 10 days of oral diazoxide (100 mg, three times daily) administration. Insulin release in response to 100 gm oral glucose administration decreased from 108.0 ± 28.2 to 49.3 ± 5.2 nmol - min/L ( p = 0.05) after diazoxide administration. However, despite suppression of insulin release, diazoxide administration did not affect serum total testosterone (diazoxide, 0.73 ± 0.10; control, 0.69 ± 0.11 nmol/L; p = NS) or sex hormone-binding globulin (diazoxide, 79.7 ± 16.6; control, 70.2 ± 12.6 nmol/L; p = NS) concentrations. These observations suggest that physiologic insulin levels in nonobese healthy women do not regulate testosterone metabolism and that diazoxide does not exert a direct or independent effect on serum testosterone or sex hormone-binding globulin levels.
Synthesis of simplified human Growth Hormone secretion mechanism on FPGAs

In this paper, we present a simulation and hardware realisation on a compact electronic chip of a simplified growth hormone secretion mechanism. After realisation, the chip operates as a stand-alone device that mimics the function of the mechanism. The chip can be implemented to explore the function of the mechanism. To simulate the mechanism, a mathematical model has been developed. Four hormones have been considered, Growth Hormone (GH), Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH), Somatotropin Release-Inhibiting Factor (SRIF) and Insulin like Growth Factor (IGF-1). After realisation, the chip is tested. The chip behaves identically to the operation of the simulated mechanism.
Shear response of concrete-filled FRP composite cylindrical shells

This paper presents an analytical procedure for predicting the shear load-deformation response of concrete filled fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite cylindrical shells with full- and noncomposite behavior. The approach is based on a sectional layered analysis with an iterative algorithm to achieve equilibrium and compatibility conditions of the FRP/concrete system, including the cracked behavior of the FRP-confined concrete, until first-ply failure of the FRP composite. The model follows first order mechanics for the shear behavior of structural members in combination with a smeared shear modulus for cracked concrete and inclusion of extension/shear coupling effects of anisotropic FRP laminates. Comparisons of the analytical response with available experimental data from large- and small-scale tests were found to be in reasonable agreement and corroborated the significant influence of the concrete core and the composite interaction details on the shear load-deformation response. Parametric studies on the influence of concrete properties, axial loads, and FRP laminate design are discussed.
In-situ vapor phase lubrication of MEMS devices

The basic principles, potentials, and challenges of the in-situ vapor phase lubrication will be addressed in the MEMS panel discussion.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
THE PIERRE AUGER PROJECT: AN OBSERVATORY FOR THE HIGHEST ENERGY COSMIC RAYS

Cosmic rays with energies above 1020 eV have been observed. The existence of these events presents us with a puzzle. The Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff in the spectrum expected due to interactions with the cosmic background radiation is not observed. This constrains the origin of conventional particles responsible for these events to cosmologically-nearby distances (≪ 100 Mpc). Cosmic ray protons at these energies are deflected little by intergalactic magnetic fiels, so an association with likely sources on the sky is expected but has not been convincingly observed. Our understanding of the origin of these events is hampered by poor statistics and sky coverage, since the rate of cosmic rays above 1020 eV is about one particle per km2 per century. The Pierre Auger project has been formed to address this problem. Two 3000 km2 observatory sites, one in each hemisphere, are planned to provide full sky coverage. Each site will include a hybrid detector consisting of a water Cerenkov detector array on the surface and air fluorescence 'eyes'. The southern observatory, located near the town of Malargue in Mendoza, Argentina, is now under construction.
Poor use of cardiac rehabilitation among older adults: a self-regulatory model for tailored interventions.

Background A greater number of older adults now live with coronary heart disease (CHD). This poses a significant public health problem, because older adults are at high risk for CHD-related mortality and morbidity. Overwhelming data support the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation for secondary prevention, yet only a small portion of eligible older adults receive it. Methods and Results Whereas many studies examined factors that affect the use of cardiac rehabilitation among older adults, few interventions aimed to improve their cardiac rehabilitation participation rates. A substantial body of evidence indicates that an individual's illness perceptions play a pivotal role in health behavior, and may be a promising target for intervention. Drawing from the theoretic and empiric findings of others, a self-regulatory model is proposed that explicates how CHD perceptions of older adults may influence participation in cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusion The model may provide a useful guide for the development of effective interventions tailored to older adults.
Discontinuous Galerkin unsteady discrete adjoint method for real-time efficient tsunami simulations

An unsteady discrete adjoint implementation for a discontinuous Galerkin model solving the shallow water wave equations on the sphere is presented. Its use for tsunami simulations is introduced to reconstruct the initial condition automatically from buoy measurements. Based on this feature, a real-time tsunami model is developed, using several numerical tools such as a high-order discretization, hp-refinement, parallel dynamic load balancing and adjoint-based data assimilation. The model is able to reconstruct the tsunami source and accurately forecast its far-field propagation (e.g. from Japan to Chile, at a distance of about 17000km) in a computational time 20 times faster than the physical propagation time, to which the data collecting time needs to be added. The work presented constitutes a step towards an efficient nonlinear tsunami warning model. Additional features could be added for more complete realistic forecasts.
Kinetics of 14C-Photosynthate Uptake by Developing Soybean Fruit

By pulse-labeling field-grown soybean leaves for 60 seconds at midday with 14 CO 2 and then sequentially harvesting, dissecting, and extracting the radioactive fruit tissues (of pod and seeds), the route, uptake kinetics, and metabolic fate of 14 C-photosynthate as it was imported by 35- to 40-day-old pods were determined. As the [ 14 C]sucrose pulse entered the pods, the seeds became radioactive immediately but a lag of nearly 30 minutes occurred before label could be detected in the pod wall pericarp. Import of the 14 C-pulse by the seeds was exclusively via the seed coats, where rapid unloading occurred. Maximum accumulation of label in the seed coat occurred in about 60 minutes at which time 59% of the total radioactivity in the fruit was in the three seed coats, whereas only 7% was in the cotyledons they enclosed. The photosynthate remained as [ 14 C]sucrose as it passed through the seed coat, but appeared to be hydrolyzed relatively soon after uptake by the cotyledons. By 2.5 hours, 60% of the 14 C-photosynthate pulse had passed into the cotyledons with only 27% remaining in the seed coats. Inasmuch as there is no vascular connection between maternal seed coat and the developing embryo, cotyledonary uptake of sucrose released from the inner seed coat surface may require specialized transport mechanisms.
The National Institutes of Health celebrates a birthday

The $1.1 billion-budgeted federal agency, responsible for 36 percent of the nation’s expenditures for medical and dental research, is now 80 years old. More than 10,000 postdoctoral researchers and 20,000 predoctoral candidates in teaching institutions were assisted last year through various grant programs of the NIH.
Ubiquinol-10 is an effective lipid-soluble antioxidant at physiological concentrations

Abstract It is well known that ubiquinone-10 (coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone 50) acts as an electron carrier of the respiratory chain in mitochondria. In this paper we show that ubiquinol-10, the reduced form of ubiquinone-10, also efficiently scavenges free radicals generated chemically within liposomal membranes. Ubiquinol-10 is about as effective in preventing peroxidative damage to lipids as alpha-tocopherol, which is considered the best lipid-soluble antioxidant in humans. The number of radicals scavenged by each molecule of ubiquinol-10 is 1.1 under our experimental conditions. In contrast to alpha-tocopherol, ubiquinol-10 is not recycled by ascorbate. However, it is known that ubiquinol-10 can be recycled by electron transport carriers present in various biomembranes and possibly by some enzymes. We also show that ubiquinol-10 spares alpha-tocopherol when both antioxidants are present in the same liposomal membranes and that ubiquinol-10, like alpha-tocopherol, does not interact with reduced glutathione. Our data together with previous work on the antioxidant function of ubiquinol reported in the literature strongly suggest that ubiquinol-10 is an important physiological lipid-soluble antioxidant.
The ultimate eftects of vena caval ligation performed at an age on lower extremity epiphyseal growth

Summary Vena caval ligation in pigs at the age of six weeks appears to result in an inhibition of epiphyseal growth in long bones. This is most marked from the time of operation until the thirtieth week of age. Increased pressure and stagnant anoxia are suggested as the causative factors. Growth seems to assume a normal rate after collateral circulation has had an opportunity to develop. Anything that might increase thrombosis or delay the development of collateral circulation (i.e., intravenous dye) could conceivably result in further growth retardation. There is no effect observed in total body weight. The extent of shortening observed amounts to approximately 10 per cent (see Fig. 8).
ID3 Prescribing Patterns for Treatment of Upper Respiratory Infections

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the treatment received by patients with an upper respiratory infection (URI) in the South Carolina Medicaid Population during 1996. Literature suggests that antibiotics are commonly prescribed to patients presenting with symptoms of an URI even though less than 20% are bacterial in origin. Overuse of antibiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and unnecessary costs. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis for a cold (ICD-9-CM 460) or URI (ICD-9-CM 465) between 01/01/96 and 12/31/96 were identified. The study design allowed for each subjects to have multiple diagnosis (episodes). for each episode, subjects with prescriptions for antibiotics or symptomatic cold medications within 7 days after the diagnosis were identified. Any episode within 14 days of a claim for a bacterial infection, sinustis or otitis was removed from the study, to rule out the possibility that the antibiotic was related to another infection. RESULTS: A total of 22,791 patients was eligible for inclusion in the study, incurring 27,847 episodes (Range 1–7 episodes). 9468 (34%) of the episodes were treated with an antibiotic, accounting for $166,702.33. This rate is lower than that seen in previous studies; however, our inclusion were more stringent than was used previously. If 20% of URIs are bacterial, approximately 3,900 of these antibiotics were unnecessary. A 25% reduction in the excess prescriptions would provide a cost savings of $17,169.75 for South Carolina Medicaid. CONCLUSION: In spite of comprehensive documentation arguing against using antibiotics for treatment of URIs, it appears that they still remain a popular choice for physicians, with 34% of subjects in this study receiving antibiotics. This represents an area for cost savings for the South Carolina Medicaid Program.
Solving the Puzzle: Case Examples of Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization as a Tool to End the Diagnostic Odyssey

We review 3 cases where array comparative genomic hybridization made a difference in the medical management of the patient, ended the diagnostic odyssey, predicted prognosis for the patient, and/or provided closure to the family. Comparative genomic hybridization is a useful tool for testing individuals with clinical examinations suggestive of a genetic syndrome but in which a specific syndrome may be difficult to pinpoint. The cost is similar to that of a standard karyotype but there is a higher yield in children and adults with clinical signs of a genetic syndrome.
Costs to hospitals of acquiring and processing blood in the US: a survey of hospital-based blood banks and transfusion services.

Background Little is known about the economics of acquiring and processing the more than 14 million units of red blood cells used annually in the US.
Picosecond timing of terawatt laser pulses with the SLAC 46-GeV electron beam

Abstract We report on the collision of 1.5 ps (FWHM) laser pulses traversing at 17° a short ∼7 ps (FWHM) 46.6 GeV electron bunch. The phase-locked system used to maintain the correct timing of the laser pulses and the appropriate diagnostics are described. The jitter between the laser and electron pulses is determined from the stability of the observed rate of Compton scatters and can be described by a Gaussian distribution with σ j ⋍ 2.2 ps .
Policy Alternatives and Traffic Safety: Mandatory Seat Belts and Drunk Driving Reform in California

Government has taken a variety of approaches to achieve its policy objectives. One strategy which has been utilized across a variety of issue areas is deterrence. Specifically, government attempts to induce desirable behavior by raising the certainty, swiftness and/or severity of penalties on citizens. As a policy tool the concept of deterrence has been utilized with uneven success in juvenile and adult corrections (Erickson, Stafford, and Galliher 1984; Pestello 1984; Deutsch and Alt 1977; Loftin and McDowall 1984). In addition, deterrence has entered discussions of the effectiveness of capital punishment (Ehrlich 1975; Bailey 1983; McFarland 1983) and the literature on the prevention of spousal abuse (Sherman and Berk 1984; Berk and Newton 1985). Highway safety is another policy area where the deterrence concept has been utilized extensively. The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the effects of a deterrence-based reform of the drinking and driving laws in California, effective January 1, 1982, along with the January 1, 1986, mandatory seat belt law.
Recent Advances in the Structural Mechanisms of DNA Glycosylases

DNA glycosylases safeguard the genome by locating and excising a diverse array of aberrant nucleobases created from oxidation, alkylation, and deamination of DNA. Since the discovery 28 years ago that these enzymes employ a base flipping mechanism to trap their substrates, six different protein architectures have been identified to perform the same basic task. Work over the past several years has unraveled details for how the various DNA glycosylases survey DNA, detect damage within the duplex, select for the correct modification, and catalyze base excision. Here, we provide a broad overview of these latest advances in glycosylase mechanisms gleaned from structural enzymology, highlighting features common to all glycosylases as well as key differences that define their particular substrate specificities.
Identification of microtubules in normal and diabetic rabbit islets grown in monolayer culture.

Abstract Twenty percent of a colony of New Zealand white rabbits develop insulinopenic diabetes characterized morphologically by hypergranularity of the beta cells. A technique to study insulin secretion in vitro, and to identify the cytoplasmic microtubular complex (CMTC) by indirect immunofluorescence in islets isolated from normal and diabetic rabbits, was developed. Normal and diabetic islet cells contain an extensive CMTC, but despite a severe defect in both phases of insulin release in diabetic rabbits ( p
A causal model of life satisfaction among the elderly

A path analysis model of life satisfaction is proposed and applied to data from interviews with 141 persons aged 60 years and over. Predictor variables examined are self-reported health, income, education and an activity index. The analysis was conducted separately for the two sexes. Health and activityemerge as strong predictors of life satisfaction while income influences life satisfaction indirectly via activity. The importance of investigating direct and indirect effects of variables via path analysis is discussed.
Induction of Taurocholate Release from Isolated Rat Hepatocytes in Suspension by α‐Adrenergie Agents and Vasopressin: Implications for Control of Bile Salt Secretion

Hepatocytes incubated with 25 μM. [3H]taurocholate rapidly deplete the extracellular medium of [3H]taurocholate and achieve a steady-state level of intracellular bile salt within 15 min. Exposure of cells at steady state ith extracellular taurocholate to the catecholamines norepinephrine or epinephrine results in release of 3H from the cells into the incubation medium; the 3H released represents almost exclusively unmetabolized [3H]taurocholate. The hierarchy of effectiveness of the catecholamines, norepinephrine ≈ epinephrine > phenylephrine ≫ isoproterenol, is indicative of an α-adrenergic mechanism. Induction of [3H]taurocholate release by norepinephrine is inhibited by the β-antagonists phenoxybenzamine and phentolamine and by chlorpromazine, but is not affected by the β-antagonist propranolol, further supporting an α-adrenergic basis for this phenomenon. Arginine vasopressin, at concentrations of 1 ± 10−9 M and greater, also induces bile salt release. Classical α- and β-antagonists have minimal effects on vasopressin induced bile salt release. While the peptide hormones angiotensin and oxytocin are, alone, relatively ineffective inducers of bile salt release, oxytocin potentiates the induction of bile salt release by vasopressin, suggesting complex interactions with membrane receptor function. Further studies assessing the interaction of sympathetic neurotransmitters and peptide hormones with bile salt transport and release in the hepatocyte may provide insight into the regulation of hepatic secretory function in the intact animal.
Effect of Physician Training on Fluoroscopy Time During ERCP

Our purpose was to compare fluoroscopy time during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) between endoscopists with different levels of experience. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 269 consecutive ERCPs at an academic hospital during 1 year. Median fluoroscopy time was significantly longer in more complex cases, such as in therapeutic (406.5 s [IQR, 235.5-685]) compared to diagnostic (202 s [IQR, 141-481]; P = 0.002) procedures. The experience (number of prior ERCPs) of gastroenterology fellows involved in procedures was an independent predictor of shorter fluoroscopy time when controlling for patient and procedure characteristics (P < 0.0001). Median fluoroscopy time was 2.73 min shorter after at least 50 procedures had been performed (P = 0.039). Time for ERCPs involving fellows was not significantly longer than cases by attending physicians alone (P = 0.23). Increased experience is associated with lower radiation exposure during ERCP training. Radiation reduction methods should be prospectively investigated and integrated into training programs.
"Ghostwriters": Spiritualists, Copyright Infringement, and the Right of Publicity

In 1917, British-born editor and publisher Mitchell Kennerley (1878-1950) offered for sale Jap Herron, a new novel which he implied was written by the eminent Mark Twain. There was no author's name on the title page, but the frontispiece was a portrait of Mark Twain. This book included an introduction by St. Louis journalist and author Emily Grant Hutchings explaining the odd origins of the novel. Indeed, they were odd - Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, had been dead for six years, and the manuscript of Jap Herron was not some old piece of fiction he had left behind in a desk to be discovered after his demise. In her preface, Mrs. Hutchings claimed that Twain, to whom she referred familiarly as Mark, and whom she had met during his life, had dictated the book, as well as two short stories, to her through a Ouija Board, that is, through spirit communication via a board labeled with the alphabet, and with the assistance of a spirit medium, Mrs. Lola V. Hays.
Molecular aspects of transferrin expression in the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans morsitans)

Iron is an essential element for metabolic processes intrinsic to life, and yet the properties that make iron a necessity also make it potentially deleterious. To avoid harm, iron homeostasis is achieved via proteins involved in transport and storage of iron, one of which is transferrin. We describe the temporal and spatial aspects of transferrin (GmmTsf) expression and its transcriptional regulation in tsetse where both the male and female are strictly hematophagous. Using Northern, Western and immunohistochemical analysis, we show that GmmTsf is abundant in the hemolymph and is expressed in the adult developmental stages of male and female insects. It is preferentially expressed in the female milk gland tubules and its expression appears to be cyclical and possibly regulated in synchrony with the oogenic and/or larvigenic cycle. Although no mRNA is detected, GmmTsf protein is present in the immature stages of development, apparently being transported into the intrauterine larva from the mother via the milk gland ducts. Transferrin is also detected in the vitellogenic ovary and the adult male testes, further supporting its classification as a vitellogenic protein. Similar to reports in other insects, transferrin mRNA levels increase upon bacterial challenge in tsetse suggesting that transferrin may play an additional role in immunity. Although transferrin expression is induced following bacterial challenge, it is significantly reduced in tsetse carrying midgut trypanosome infections. Analysis of tsetse that have cured the parasite challenge shows normal levels of GmmTsf. This observation suggests that the parasite in competing for the availability of limited dietary iron may manipulate host gene expression.