cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Collagenase stimulation in cocultures of human fibroblasts and human tumor cells

Cocultures of human fibroblasts with 3 different human tumor cell lines exhibited high levels of collagenase activity against type I collagen compared to individual cultures of each cell type. For LX-1 lung carcinoma cells maximum stimulation occurred at a ratio of tumor cells to fibroblasts of 0.5:1. These cocultures contained 15-50 times more collagenase activity than the sum of the individual cultures. Conditioned medium from the LX-1 cells stimulated the fibroblasts to an extent similar to that obtained in the cocultures. Conditioned medium from the fibroblasts did not stimulate the tumor cells. Thus human tumor cells secrete a factor(s) which stimulates collagenase production by human fibroblasts.
AROUSAL, MEMORY, AND IMPRESSION-FORMATION EFFECTS OF ANIMATION SPEED IN WEB ADVERTISING

Animated advertisements on the Web come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; they also animate at different speeds. Although recent studies have shown animated ads to be more effective than still ads, the role played by the rate of motion in animated ads has been neglected. An experiment was designed to address this issue by focusing specifically on the physiological and psychological effects of animation speeds in Web ads. Hypotheses derived from motion effects, excitation transfer, limited capacity, and vividness effects theories were tested via a mixed-design experiment wherein participants (N = 47) were exposed to both slow-paced and fast-paced animated ads in one of two sequences (fast then slow, or slow then fast). Arousal was monitored during reception, while memory, conation, and impression formation were measured via a postexposure paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Results indicate that animation speed is a psychologically significant variable. Theoretical and practical implications are discu...
The Impact of Out-of-State Entry on the Cost Efficiency of Local Commercial Banks

Abstract We examined the relationship between out-of-state entry and local bank cost efficiency in states which passed interstate banking laws prior to the Riegle-Neal Act. The cost efficiency of local banks worsened with increased entry in the years immediately following the implementation of local laws, but improved in response to increased entry in states which had been allowing out-of-state entry for at least six years. These results suggest that the Riegle-Neal Act will enhance competition and improve bank performance, particularly in local markets for which Riegle-Neal marks the first introduction of interstate competition.
Polyarticular symmetric tophaceous joint inflammation as the initial presentation of gout

Abstract A 76-year-old woman suffered from bilateral distal index finger pain and swelling. The patient had been intially treated with antibiotics for herpetic whitlow complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. Gout was diagnosed through clinical history, physical examination and identification of monosodium urate crystals in the joint aspirate. Gout appearing as polyarticular, symmetric tophi involving the periungual region and distal interphalangeal joint has not been previously described.
Monte Carlo computation of pair correlations in excited nuclei.

We present a novel quantum Monte Carlo method based on a path integral in Fock space, which allows the computation of finite-temperature properties of a many-body nuclear system with a monopole pairing interaction in the canonical ensemble. It enables an exact calculation of the thermodynamic variables such as the internal energy, the entropy, or the specific heat, from the measured moments of the number of hops in a path of nuclear configurations. Monte Carlo calculations for a single-shell (h11/2)^6 model are consistent with an exact calculation from the many-body spectrum in the seniority model.
The role of gold in alchemy. Part I

Since ancient times and in every culture, gold has been valued for its beauty as well as for its unique physical and chemical properties. Hence it is not surprising that the pseudoscience of alchemy arose almost everywhere from earliest times in an attempt to convert base metals into the ‘king of metals.’. The idea of transmutation was based upon observation of the ubiquitous changes occurring in nature and the application of analogies and correspondences. Its primary theoretical basis lay in the various theories of matter which reduced the bewildering diversity of material substances to several fundamental ‘elements’. Among the most important of these theories were those of the Two Contraries and the Five Elements (the Chinese), the Four Elements (the Greeks), the Sulphur-Mercury Theory (the Arabs) and the Tria Prima (Paracelsus). This review traces the history of alchemy and the role of gold in it. Part I takes us to the time of Paracelsus and the opinions of Robert Boyle on the subject.
Stresses in orthopedic walking casts.

Abstract An experimental program to evaluate the stresses in orthopedic plaster casts is reported in this paper. Experiments were first conducted to measure the properties of plaster bandage material. Among the properties measured were tensile and compressive strength along various axes of the matrix-type material. Poisson's ratio, elastic moduli, effects of cyclic loading, hysteretic effects, and molding effects. Strength was measured as a function of curing time and moisture content. Subsequently, walking casts were applied to volunteer subjects and experiments were conducted to determine the stresses in the casts under normal and abnormal use. Conclusions are drawn regarding the suitability of plaster bandage material, and regarding improvements in application technique.
Unique orientation of lamellae in film processed poly (phenylene sulfide)

The morphology of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, obtained as processed film has been studied using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A unique morphology has been identified in the original film. The spherulites are very small in size and possess a cylindrical symmetry with their lamellae oriented on the edge. In these processed PPS films, the a-axis of the lattice is preferentially aligned perpendicular to the film plane, while the b and c axes are predominantly in the film plane. In the PPS isothermally crystallized from the melted, original film, there is no such preferential orientation. Thermal analysis of the original and melt crystal-lized PPS shows that while the degree of crystallinity is about the same, the nature of the amorphous phase in the two materials is different. In the original film, we did not observe a heat capacity increment at a glass transition temperature by DSC, indicating that all of the amorphous phase belongs to the category of rigid amorphous phase. In the melt crystallized PPS, a distinct glass transition was seen, though only a portion of the amorphous phase becomes mobile at Tg. The differences in orientation and mobility of the amorphous phase in the original film compared to melt crystallized PPS are explained by the different thermal processing procedures used for the two materials.
Hair and blood as substrates for screening children for lead poisoning

Abstract In Russia, hair, rather than blood, is usually used as a substrate for screening children for lead poisoning. We attempted to gauge the accuracy of this method by comparing these two methods. The evaluation was done in Saratov, Russia. We collected hair and blood samples from 189 children who attended 11 kindergartens. Their mean blood lead concentration was 9.8 μmlg/dl (range = 3.1–35.7 μmlg/dl), and their mean hair lead concentration was 7.2 μmlg/g (range = 1.0–7.2 μmlg/g [i.e., 1.0 being the lowest detectable limit]). Hair lead concentration as a screening method had 57% sensitivity and resulted in 18% of the children being classified as false-negatives. We conclude, therefore, that measuring hair lead concentration is not an adequate method with which to screen children for lead poisoning.
Synchronous and asynchronous implementations of relaxation algorithms for nonlinear network optimization

We discuss a parallel dual relaxation algorithm for network optimization. Synchronous and asynchronous implementations of the algorithm are developed on a shared memory multiprocessor, the Alliant FX/8. Alternative designs for parallel computing that tradeoff synchronization delays with computations are proposed. Their performance is analyzed empirically with computational experiments. It is demonstrated that the most effective parallel implementation is an asynchronous one, for which speedup factors of up to 7.2 are achieved on an 8 processor system.
Determining User Needs for Community-Based Geospatial Information Technology Services

The State of Indiana is in the process of creating a set of database tools to allow improved access, sharing, and understanding of information about community-level resources for any location within the state. This paper describes developing efforts to identify the needs of users in local government, community planning, emergency response, and agricultural extension offices to utilize the growing technical capabilities of geospatial information systems to improve environmental quality and local resource utilization for citizens of the state.
Back to Basics: Commonsense Approach to Optimizing Fecundity.

The field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility has made massive advancements in the recent past in terms of offering comprehensive fertility care to individuals seeking to start or expand their families. Developments in, and increasing access to, assisted reproductive technology (ART) options has allowed opportunities for biological parenting for a multitude. Technological improvements in the field of cryopreservation have contributed to an increasing consideration of embryo, and now oocyte, cryopreservation as “procreative banking” strategies. The past decade has witnessed a meteoric expansion in technological options for genetic analysis of embryos, allowing to a certain extent, mitigation of aneuploidy-related pregnancy wastage on one hand, and enhancing the likelihood of conceiving a healthy child free of inherited disorders, on the other. Despite such innovative progress in the infertility arena, success rates for ART have remained stagnant for over a decade, with per cycle pregnancy rates of 42-48% for young women undergoing fresh autologous embryo transfer. While remaining the most successful and increasingly used treatment to overcome infertility, access to ART is far from equitable; personal perspectives, financial constraints, and service access are some of the challenges that limit utilization of effective fertility treatment options among communities. It is no surprise that women, couples, and providers have more than ever begun to question, “What can we do to improve natural fertility?” It is rare to meet a couple seeking fertility treatment who has not already scoured the Internet or elicited the advice of family and friends searching for natural methods of boosting his or
Supplying clotting factors from hematopoietic stem cell-derived erythroid and megakaryocytic lineage cells.

Systemically distributed proteins such as clotting factors have been traditionally expressed from muscle or liver to achieve therapeutic, long-term expression. As long-lived cell capable of generating an abundant progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) also merit consideration for this purpose. To be clinically relevant, this approach would require that hematopoietic cells be capable of expressing high levels of functional, secreted proteins, that the risk of insertional oncogenesis be minimized, and that sufficient stem cell engraftment be achieved following minimally invasive conditioning. Recent reports demonstrate the feasibility of expressing either factor IX (FIX) or factor VIII (FVIII) in erythroblasts and platelets using lineage-restricted vectors, resulting in effective treatments in mouse models of hemophilia. The erythroid system is especially powerful in providing high protein output, yielding FIX levels approaching 1 µ g/ml per vector copy in the plasma of long-term hematopoietic chimeras, a secretion level that vastly outperforms any other current mammalian constitutive or long-terminal repeat (LTR)-driven vector system. These early but promising studies raise the prospect of further developing these strategies for clinical investigation.
In vitro release of eosinophil cationic protein from peripheral eosinophils reflects disease activity in childhood Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.

The aim of this study was to compare in vitro release of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from peripheral blood eosinophils during active phases of childhood Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis with phases of remission. Ten children with CD and nine children with ulcerative colitis were investigated during 55 and 56 clinical visits, respectively. Each patient was investigated during at least one phase of clinically active disease and one phase of remission. Disease activity was assessed by means of the Paediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) in Crohn disease and according to the clinical activity index of Rachmilewitz in ulcerative colitis. On an intra-individual basis, in vitro ECP release was significantly higher (P < 0.001) during active phases of CD and ulcerative colitis than in phases of remission (CD:median: 24.5 μg/l, range 16.0–61.2 versus median: 5.7 μg/l, range 2.0–16.7; ulcerative colitis: 14.8 μg/l, 8.3–39.8 versus 4.9 μg/l, 2.0–9.9). On an inter-individual basis, in CD and ulcerative colitis a strong and highly significant correlation was observed between disease activity indices and in vitro release of ECP from peripheral eosinophils (r = 0.89, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion These results show that in vitro ECP release from peripheral eosinophils reflects disease activity in both CD and ulcerative colitis and therefore can be used as a new appropriate laboratory parameter for assessment of disease activity in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Osteosynthesis of traumatic manubriosternal dislocations and sternal fractures with a 3.5/4.0 mm fixed-angle plate (LCP).

Introduction We present a case series of three patients with manubriosternal dislocation and/or sternal fractures.
What Can the Rules of Evidence Teach Us About Writing Forensic Reports

The rules of evidence codify the legal system’s evolved wisdom about fairness and validity. Especially on point are the rules pertaining to relevance (Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) 401), expert testimony (FRE 702), questioning witnesses (FRE 611), prejudice (FRE 403), hearsay (FRE 802), and character evidence (FRE 404). This paper assays to improve our reports and align them with the legal culture, regardless of whether this is needed to make our reports admissible, and to take advantage of what jurisprudence knows about weighing and presenting evidence. The paper reviews the most salient courtroom evidentiary rules, along with their associated courtroom objections, and discusses their implications for report writing. Understanding our legal system’s treatment of evidence can improve our own.
Is there a disability culture? A syncretisation of three possible world views

Is there a disability culture? Or are disabled people simply individuals-or at best a socio/political minority group-striving to fit in to the dominant culture (whatever that is)? The author challenges Lois Bragg's contention that Deaf Culture exists, but not Disability Culture. The paper first traces historically the different conceptualisations of culture, beginning with E. B. Tylor's Primitive Cultures (1871) through to post-modern accounts by Kuper, Giroux and McLaren. Using a wide range of these concepts, three possible world views of disability culture are developed: Culture as Historical/Linguistic, Culture as Socio/Political, and Culture as Personal/Aesthetic. From these alternatives, a macro-sociological framework is set forth to evaluate each of these world views, as well as a set of ethical questions to consider in choosing which one might be most robust. The paper concludes with a proposal for a syncretized view of disability culture and asserts that the experience of disability culture is a t...
Investigation of ultrafine particle deposition to vegetation branches in a wind tunnel

Vegetation is an important sink for atmospheric ultrafine particles (UFP). Prediction of UFP deposition to vegetation, however, is still problematic. In this study, we have investigated size-dependent removal of UFP by two conifer species: pine and juniper. The experiments were performed by placing freshly cut branches into a wind tunnel and measuring UFP size distributions upstream and downstream of the branches. Five air velocities ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 m/s, two packing densities (volume fraction occupied by the branches) and two branch orientations were tested to assess their effect on particle removal. The UFP removal efficiency was found to decrease with increasing particle size, increasing wind speed, and decreasing packing density. The branch orientation did not affect the removal efficiency within the uncertainty of the measurements. To facilitate extrapolation of the measurement results to real-life conditions, we have tested the applicability of filtration theory to particle removal by vegetat...
Use of quinolones for treatment of ear and eye infections.

Malignant otitis externa is a severe, necrotizing infection of the external auditory canal which is sometimes fatal. The traditional antimicrobial treatment has usually been the combination of an antipseudomonal beta-lactam and an aminoglycoside, given intravenously for 4 to 8 weeks. Over 100 patients have been treated with a fluoroquinolone alone, most commonly ciprofloxacin given by mouth in a dosage of 750 mg b.i.d. for 6 to 12 weeks. About 90 % of patients have been cured. Treatment with a quinolone has the advantage over older treatments that it can be given orally and has a low rate of side-effects. The ocular penetration of the fluoroquinolones has been studied in patients with uninfected eyes. After the administration of a single dose of ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin or norfloxacin, penetration into the aqueous humor, expressed as the ratio of the peak concentration in the aqueous humor to that in the serum, is about 20 %. The penetration of ciprofloxacin into the vitreous humor, based primarily on the data from one report, is about 20 %. The concentrations are likely to be higher after repeated doses or in the inflamed eye. Whether the concentrations achieved will be adequate for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes has not been determined.
Foibles, follies, and fusion: web-based collaboration for medical image labeling

Labels that identify specific anatomical and functional structures within medical images are essential to the characterization of the relationship between structure and function in many scientific and clinical studies. Automated methods that allow for high throughput have not yet been developed for all anatomical targets or validated for exceptional anatomies, and manual labeling remains the gold standard in many cases. However, manual placement of labels within a large image volume such as that obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is exceptionally challenging, resource intensive, and fraught with intra- and inter-rater variability. The use of statistical methods to combine labels produced by multiple raters has grown significantly in popularity, in part, because it is thought that by estimating and accounting for rater reliability estimates of the true labels will be more accurate. This paper demonstrates the performance of a class of these statistical label combination methodologies using real-world data contributed by minimally trained human raters. The consistency of the statistical estimates, the accuracy compared to the individual observations, and the variability of both the estimates and the individual observations with respect to the number of labels are presented. It is demonstrated that statistical fusion successfully combines label information using data from online (Internet-based) collaborations among minimally trained raters. This first successful demonstration of a statistically based approach using minimally trained raters opens numerous possibilities for very large scale efforts in collaboration. Extension and generalization of these technologies for new applications will certainly present fascinating areas for continuing research.
Angiographic aspects of tumors of renal pelvis and ureter

Selective renal arteriography was done in 5 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and upper ureter. In 2 cases, the presence of tumor vessels was unequivocally diagnostic. In the remaining 3 cases, the arteriographic changes were not as prominent but were suggestive of neoplasm and were helpful in differentiating other causes of filling defects in the collecting system.
Leaf parenchyma with transfer cell-like characteristics in the moss, Polytrichum commune Hedw.

Mature leaves of Polytrichum commune Hedw. were examined in regard to structural features and possible solute transport mechanisms. The leaf bundle is organized into several parenchyma layers which are termed passage cells, deuters, and socci. The deuters (leptoids of some authors) are large-diametered parenchymatic elements which exhibit papillate wall ingrowths characteristic of transfer cells. The deuter cytoplasm is typical of transfer cells, including a large number of mitochondria, numerous polysomes, and a peripheral network of ER associated with the wall ingrowths. Deuters show little ultrastructural similarity to leptoids (sieve elements of bryophytes) of the stem. Socci parenchyma and passage cells have a distinct inner wall layer which is convoluted in places, and therefore, these cells as well as the deuters might be involved in intensive short-distance fluxes of solutes. A possible translocation mechanism involving an active, carrier-mediated loading of leaf parenchyma is discussed in relation to these structural features. IN A SEARCH for the mechanism of photoassimilate conduction in the leaf of the moss, Polytrichum commune, Reinhart and Thomas (1981) concluded on the basis of solute uptake saturation kinetics and inhibition studies that the mechanism of translocation involves an active, carrier-mediated loading of sucrose from apoplastic free space into the food-conducting cells. This process would be analogous to vein loading, i.e., transport and loading of sucrose into the sieve elements of phloem against a concentration gradient. Apart from the above study and several oth
The Ontogeny of Sugar Transport in Kidney

Summary: Concentrative uptake of α-methyl-D-glucoside (AMG) by isolated renal tubule fragments from the newborn Sprague-Dawley rat has been demonstrated and the validity of this phenomenon confirmed by an in vivo demonstration of AMG uptake by the newborn kidney cortex. A kinetic analysis of the entry phenomenon in the newborn tubule reveals the presence of two distinct membrane transport systems for AMG, only one of which is present in the adult tubule. All transport of sugar in both newborn and adult tubules was phlorizin-sensitive, but was only partially inhibited in Na+-free buffer. Glucose was shown to inhibit uptake competitively on the shared, high capacity system. Uptake on the high affinity system in the newborn represents 15-20% of the total at physiologic sugar concentrations. It is concluded that active sugar transport is a characteristic of the newborn rat kidney and that the isolated tubule preparation is a more accurate reflection of this phenomenon than is the renal cortical slice.
Transport of Tritium-labelled l-Histidine Through the Schwann and Myelin Sheaths into the Axon of Peripheral Nerves

Transport of Tritium-labelled l-Histidine Through the Schwann and Myelin Sheaths into the Axon of Peripheral Nerves
A portfolio analysis of returns to farm equity and assets.

A portfolio analysis was used to determine the optimal investment into alternative types of Kansas farms by nonfarm investors. Dairy and crop farms would enter the optimal portfolio if asset values would fall by 4.8 percent and 31.3 percent, respectively. Study results show that swine and irrigated crop farms have earned competitive return rates with common stocks and T-Bills from 1973–1985. Results suggest that many Kansas farmers would have been better off with less debt. Arrangements to transfer nonfarm equity into agriculture will continue to be an area needing study.
Challenges in Teaching Applied Thermodynamics

Most Mechanical Engineering programs offer a course in applied thermodynamics either as a requirement or as an elective for an undergraduate degree. Student success in this course depends on their preparation on fundamental concepts gained in an introductory course in thermodynamics. The divide in background knowledge among students creates a challenge for an instructor teaching the applied thermodynamics course. This paper explains how students’ background knowledge of the fundamental concepts is evaluated at the beginning of the semester. It provides a description of an approach adapted in teaching the course in order to close the gap in background knowledge among students. Through assessment results, this paper demonstrates how the adapted teaching method has improved student success. Other challenges for instruction and student assessment are discussed in this paper.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Determining crop-water production functions using yield¿irrigation gradient algorithms

Abstract Crop-water production functions (CWPFs) are a useful tool for irrigation planning, but derivation of CWPFs by field experimentation is expensive, and traditional analytical techniques are not well suited to derivation of CWPFs. Physiologically based crop models provide a useful tool for simulation of agricultural experiments, but they have not been extensively applied to the task of CWPF determination. A new algorithm type based upon differential crop yield response to irrigation (“yield–irrigation gradients” [YIG]) is presented that uses these crop models to determine planning-level irrigation schedules and CWPFs. Three specific algorithms are developed within this type, varying in complexity, performance, and computational costs. Performance of the YIG methods is compared against a standard reference evapotranspiration method. In particular, the randomized iterative YIG (RIYIG) algorithm provides near-optimal results but at the highest computational costs of all the methods specified. All of the techniques presented have general applicability and are not limited to any one crop or location.
Fine structure of the oxynticopeptic cell in the gastric glands of an elasmobranch species (Halaelurus chilensis)

Gastric mucosa of an elasmobranch species was examined by electron microscope. The gastric glands contain one form of cell whose fine structure is similar to the cell that secretes both hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen of the amphibian gastric glands proper. The oxynticopeptic cells are characterized by: (a) a luminal surface with long projections of cytoplasm having dilatations in their thickness; (b) a tubulo-vesicular system in the apical cytoplasm; (c) a great number of mitochondria, some of which are of great length; (d) a well developed granular endoplasmic reticulum and a conspicuous Golgi apparatus; and (e) a large nucleus with a conspicuous nucleolus. A fourth part of the cells are binucleated. Physiological implications of some of these ultrastructural features are discussed.
The course of dissociation for patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects: a 10-year follow-up study.

An early review of the clinical literature suggested that three areas of cognitive disturbance were particularly associated with the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD): experiences of depersonalization and derealization, feelings of distrust and suspiciousness, and stress-related micropsychotic episodes (1). Twelve studies were subsequently published that assessed the presence of the dissociative experiences reported by borderline patients (2-13). Taken together, it was found that these experiences were both common and discriminating for those with BPD. More recently, studies have focused on the severity of the dissociative symptoms of borderline patients using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) (14-18)—a 28-item self-report measure with proven psychometric properties. In general, they have found that borderline patients have a mean DES score of 17.8-27.4. This range is similar to mean scores achieved by late adolescents and eating-disordered patients but substantially lower than mean DES scores achieved by patients meeting criteria for PTSD or dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID) (19-22). It was also found that borderline patients had a significantly higher mean score on the DES than comparison subjects with other forms of personality disorder (16-18). Additionally, it was found that borderline patients had higher mean scores than axis II comparison subjects on the three factors that underlie the DES: absorption, depersonalization, and amnesia (16-18). The current study is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to assess the severity of the dissociative experiences of borderline patients and axis II comparison subjects over time. More specifically, the DES was administered at baseline and at five contiguous two-year follow-up periods to a large sample of carefully diagnosed borderline patients and comparison subjects with other forms of personality disorder. Over the ten years of follow-up, retention was high in both study groups. The study had three aims. The first was to determine the course of the overall severity of dissociation as well as the severity of the three subtypes of dissociation assessed by the DES—absorption, depersonalization, and amnesia —among borderline patients and axis II comparison subjects. The second aim was to examine the overall severity of dissociation over time of borderline patients who had low levels, moderate levels, and high levels of overall dissociation at baseline. The third aim was to examine time to remission and time to recurrence for those borderline patients who had a mean DES score in the high range at baseline. In addition, we assessed time to new onset of a high score for those borderline patients with a mean DES score in the low-moderate range at baseline.
Integrating COTS Routers into Terminals for Future Protected SATCOM Systems with Dynamic Resource Allocation

Future protected SATCOM systems will be packet-switched, carrying IP traffic for voice, video, and data applications. Many of these applications will be sensitive to delay, jitter and loss. Hence, SATCOM terminals must have the ability to process, route, queue and schedule IP traffic in a manner that provides QoS differentiation and performance guarantees. In order to minimize costs and complexity, it is desirable to use COTS routers in terminals to provide the IP routing and scheduling functionality. For a COTS router to be a viable option, the router must be able to interface with the terminal modem and control software, as well as with a dynamically varying RF link layer. Due to bandwidth limitations coupled with traffic demand on the satellite uplinks and downlinks, resources are assigned dynamically to terminals as they are needed using both Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM). In this paper, we investigate the ability of a COTS router to provide QoS functionality while restricting its egress rate to match a time-varying RF uplink channel. We then integrate the COTS router into an RF test terminal and demonstrate the interoperability of the router with the RF uplink Dynamic Resource Allocation (DRA) subsystem, the terminal modem, and control software.
Criticality of data quality as exemplified in two disasters

The explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and the shooting down of an Iranian Airbus by the USS Vincennes were the result of two serious consumer software and management errors. Both disasters have been reviewed in detail in the literature, providing a variety of plausible explanations for the cause of the disasters. However, our review sheds new light on the problem. Disasters such as these certainly involve many factors and we do not claim to be purporting a new single factor theory. But we show that there were visible data-quality problems in the systems. After discussing the importance of data quality, we point to the specific problems in these two cases. It is believed that management, especially in a world so dependent upon information, should pursue an aggressive plan of treating information as a critical product.
On-Line Computer Classification of Handprinted Chinese Characters as a Translation Aid

This paper describes a method for using sequential positional information to recognize handprinted Chinese characters, and a computer program which uses this method to provide a translation aid. The method is based on the fact that Chinese characters are drawn as a definite sequence of a few types of strokes. The program, which provides a direct man-computer communication via a RAND Tablet and a CRT display, simplifies using a Chinese dictionary by reducing the number of steps and the time required.
Outcome analysis of intraabdominal infection with resistant gram-positive organisms.

Background: Although the microbiology of intraabdominal infection has been well described, the role of resistant organisms remains unclear. To evaluate the hypothesis that intraabdominal infections...
A Modest Defence of School Choice

This is a response to Samara Foster’s engaging critique of my book School Choice and Social Justice. In this response to her criticisms I clarify and try to correct some apparent misunderstandings of the book, but also take the opportunity to pose again a challenge to opponents of choice which neither she, nor other of my critics, has taken up.
Kinetics of phase-transfer-catalyzed oxidations ofp-substituted benzyl alcohols with aqueous hypochlorite

A series ofp-substituted benzyl alcohols have been oxidized to their corresponding aldehydes using aqueous hypochlorite and phase-transfer catalyst (PTC) conditions. The reaction constant, p, has been determined to be +1.03. Possible mechanisms are suggested.
Enhancing and Enacting Curricular Progressions in Elementary Mathematics

In this study, we examined how curricular resources supported three expert teachers in their enactment of progressions. Using a video-stimulated interview process, we documented the multiple types of progressions identified, described, and enacted by the teachers. Results indicate that the teachers used four different types of progressions—mathematical concepts, instructional activities, number choices, and student solutions—and that the progressions were embedded within each other. This study contributes to the field’s understanding of the ways in which expert teachers make use of curriculum- and research-based progressions in their teaching practices.
Membrane-assisted capillary isoelectric focusing coupling with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-Fourier transform mass spectrometry for neuropeptide analysis

Herein we report a highly efficient and reliable membrane-assisted capillary isoelectric focusing (MA-CIEF) system being coupled with MALDI-FTMS for the analysis of complex neuropeptide mixtures. The new interface consists of two membrane-coated joints made near each end of the capillary for applying high voltage, while the capillary ends were placed in the two reservoirs which were filled with anolyte (acid) and catholyte (base) to provide pH difference. Optimizations of CIEF conditions and comparison with conventional CIEF were carried out by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) tryptic peptides. It was shown that the MA-CIEF could provide more efficient, reliable and faster separation with improved sequence coverage when coupled to MALDI-FTMS. Analyses of orcokinin family neuropeptides from crabs Cancer borealis and Callinectes sapidus brain extracts have been conducted using the established MA-CIEF/MALDI-FTMS platform. Increased number of neuropeptides was observed with significantly enhanced MS signal in comparison with direct analysis by MALDI-FTMS. The results highlighted the potential of MA-CIEF as an efficient fractionation tool for coupling to MALDI MS for neuropeptide analysis.
Thinking Critically about Social Issues through Visual Material.

AbstractThis article addresses an arts-integrated social studies curriculum for grades three through five entitled Artful Citizenship, designed by The Wolfsonian-Florida International University. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant program, the design and implementation of the program was done concurrently with a three-year evaluation of the curriculum's impact on visual literacy and critical-thinking skills conducted by Curva and Associates. The research was conducted in low-performing urban schools in Miami-Dade County and targeted students at risk for failing Florida's standardized achievement tests in reading and math.Artful Citizenship was created by a museum with a collection specializing in art and design—mass-produced objects that reveal how design reflects and shapes social, political, and technological change. Because of the collection's nature, the aim of Artful Citizenship was to use inquiry-based strategies that focused on t...
Fractionation of plasma proteins using dye-ligand chromatography: elution profiles on immobilized green TSK-AF.

Abstract The fractionation of human plasma by chromatography on immunobilized Gree TSK-AF was assessed by immunological analysis of the elution profiles of 27 different plasma proteins. A three-dtep procedure was used to elute from the column. First a low-molarity buffer (30 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, I = 0.053) was applied, then a linear salt gradient (0–1.0 M NaCl in the above buffer) was followed by an additional wash with four bed volumes of 1.0 M NaCl. Tighly bound proteins were finally stripped with 0.5 M NH4SCN. The elution profile of the proteins using this procedure appears to be very reproducible. Comparison with the profile obtained upon chromatography on Cibacron Blue 3GA [Gianazza, E. and Arnaud P. (1982) Biochem. J. 201, 129–136] indicates significant differences between the binding properties of the two gels. These differences can be used to design a “tandem-chromatography” system which provides an efficient means for the separation of several plasma proteins.
Seeing with Paper: Government Documents and Material Participation

Government documents such as welfare applications or accounting records are often considered mundane artifacts that signify shared practice and routine. In this paper we examine cases where these "everyday documents" are sites of creation and contestation of the dominant information order. We argue that the circulation of everyday government documents opens up the possibility for a population to gaze back and "see" the state. In three cases, we show how the materiality of everyday documents in welfare schemes takes center-stage in mediating public participation in India and in the US.
Effect of thin silicon dioxide layers on resonant frequency in infrared metamaterials

Infrared metamaterials fabricated on semiconductor substrates exhibit a high degree of sensitivity to very thin (as small as 2 nm) layers of low permittivity materials between the metallic elements and the underlying substrate. We have measured the resonant frequencies of split ring resonators and square loops fabricated on Si wafers with silicon dioxide thicknesses ranging from 0 to 10 nm. Resonance features blue shift with increasing silicon dioxide thickness. These effects are explained by the silicon dioxide layer forming a series capacitance to the fringing field across the elements. Resonance coupling to the Si-O vibrational absorption has been observed. Native oxide layers which are normally ignored in numerical simulations of metamaterials must be accounted for to produce accurate predictions.
Kinetics of nucleation and crystal growth of hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite on titanium oxide surfaces

Abstract Although titanium has long been used as an implant material, the mechanisms of its subsequent biomineralization are not yet understood. The nucleation and growth of hydroxyapatite (Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH, HAP) and fluorapatite (Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F, FAP) on titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) surfaces have been investigated using constant composition (CC) methods in supersatured solutions at 37°C and ionic strength 0.15 mol l −1 with relative supersaturation, 13.4–15.0 and 13.5–16.5 for HAP and FAP, respectively. The solid phases during the reaction were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Both crystal phases nucleated at the TiO 2 particle surfaces with supersaturation-dependent induction periods, τ in , preceding the initial crystal growth, varying from 8 to 17 h for HAP and from 7 to 15 h for FAP. The interfacial tensions, γ, estimated both from initial growth rate data following nucleation and from the induction times were about 32 and 39 mJ m −2 for FAP and HAP, respectively. These values were of the same order of magnitude as those determined by a contact angle method involving thin layer techniques. The results show that TiO 2 will nucleate both HAP and FAP, but only after relatively long induction periods. It is also interesting to note that the X-ray diffraction pattern of HAP on TiO 2 surfaces resembles that of bone and root dentin mineral in the region 2θ from 30 to 35°.
Physician preferences for elements of effective consultations

Background Effective communication is vital for optimal medical consultation, but there is little current information about physician preferences for effective consultation.
Effect of hydrophobically modified comb-like polymer on interfacial properties of coal

Abstract Hydrophobically modified polymers arc known to exhibit interesting interfacial properties and here surface modification of coal by a comb-type hydrophobic-hydrophilic copolymer (DAPRAL) was studied. Floatability tests revealed the coal to become more hydrophobic with increasing DAPRAL concentration regardless of its original floatability, suggesting that free segments of adsorbed polymer molecules can reorient with the hydrocarbon chains protruding into the gas phase. Zeta potential measurements it pH 3.5 and 7 showed the minimum DAPRAL concentrations needed to mask completely the surface charge of coal to correspond to those required to increase the coal floatability to the maximum. Hydrophobicity measured using a new reliable film-levitation technique also showed the coal to become more hydro-phobic with increasing polymer concentration but only until a plateau is reached. Further increase in DAPRAL concentration caused a decrease in the hydrophobicity which is suggested to be due to the consumption of the hydrocarbon chains on unadsorbed polymer segments by the formation of micellar aggregates.
Wi-Fi energy harvesting system using body-worn antennas

This paper presents the design of a body-worn ambient RF energy harvesting system. The proposed system harvests freely available RF energy in an office environment using the 2.45-GHz WLAN band and converts it to usable DC power. To capture sufficient ambient RF energy, multiple body-worn embroidered textile antennas are conformally woven into a daily garment. A RF-to-DC rectifier circuit is also designed and optimized for operation at the WLAN band. Experimental tests are carried out to evaluate the average DC power that can be harvested in an office environment where significant wireless data traffic exists. These measurements will demonstrate the capability of the proposed body-worn energy harvester in supplying low-power electronics.
A faculty–librarian collaboration for developing information literacy skills among preservice teachers

Abstract Preservice teachers enrolled in the first portion of an undergraduate education program at the Florida State University were assigned to develop case studies based on their experience working in local elementary schools. The case studies were to include research from the scholarly literature of the field using a rubric developed by the instructor for evaluating sources. After inadequate results were recorded from the initial semester's projects, the course instructor paired with a liaison librarian to provide a workshop to improve the use of scholarly resources in the following semester's class. This article reports on a citation analysis of student bibliographies from the two classes, finding that the number of scholarly resources cited increased significantly when the librarian's presentation accompanied the use of the instructor's rubric. The results affirm earlier research that a combination of library instruction and clear faculty-established guidelines and requirements for the use of scholarly resources results in increased quality of student research.
Receptor neuron losses result in decreased cytochrome P‐450 immunoreactivity in associated non‐neuronal cells of mouse olfactory mucosa

Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses were used to investigate nasal cytochrome P-450 distribution in mice with either unilateral naris closure for 3, 4, or 5 months, or olfactory bulbectomy. P-450 immunoreactivity was observed only in the supporting cells and Bowman's glands of the olfactory mucosa. Immunoreactivity was clearly reduced in rostral regions of the open-side olfactory mucosa where losses of receptor neurons resulted from 3 to 5 months of closure. Closed-side immunoreactivity was similar to controls. In 4 month closure animals that had regrown their receptor neurons, open-side immunoreactivity was comparable to controls. Olfactory bulbectomy also depressed P-450 immunoreactivity. These data suggest that presence or absence of receptor neurons markedly affects P-450 expression in nonneuronal cells of the olfactory mucosa. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The development of the longbow in late medieval England and ‘technological determinism’

Traditional understandings of the development of the medieval English longbow and its role in the fourteenth-century ‘infantry revolution’ have recently been challenged by historians. This article responds to the revisionists, arguing based on archaeological, iconographic and textual evidence that the proper longbow was a weapon of extraordinary power, and was qualitatively different from – and more effective than – the shorter self-bows that were the norm in England (and western Europe generally) before the fourteenth century. It is further argued that acknowledging the importance of the weapon as a necessary element of any credible explanation of English military successes in the era of the Hundred Years War does not constitute ‘technological determinism’. ☆ My thanks to the Journal of Medieval History's anonymous reader for helpful comments.