cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of a School Readiness Screener by Gender and Parent Education Levels

This study examined the dimensionality and measurement invariance of the Kindergarten Student Entrance Profile (KSEP), a brief screening tool designed for use as a universal school readiness assessment. Teachers rated the readiness of 10,031 children during the first month of kindergarten in four ethnically diverse, medium-sized school districts in central California. From the total sample, two random, independent subsamples were identified. First, S1 (n = 5,050) was utilized to conduct a CFA. Results yielded evidence supporting a two-factor structure encompassing children's social-emotional and cognitive readiness that is similar to previous studies examining the KSEP with less diverse student samples. Next, a series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted using S2 (n = 4,981) to replicate the structure identified in the first CFA with an independent subsample and to test the measurement invariance of the KSEP across two sets of categorical variables: (a) gender and (b) parent education lev...
Numerical simulation of gate turn-off (GTO) light-emitting thyristors

Results of 2D numerical simulation of a four-terminal light emitting thyristor in the regime of incomplete turn-off are presented. This regime is characterized by the negative gate current, which is insufficient to turn the device off. A part of the middle p-n junction is reverse biased and blocks the current, whereas the remaining part of the structure is highly conducting and light-emitting. The size of the light-emitting area and the light intensity in this region can be controlled using small gate signals. Gates make it possible also to control the position of the light-emitting region. The utilization of incomplete turn-off principle can be used for light intensity modulation and switching purposes.
Endoplasmic Reticulum to Golgi Transport: Methods

Newly synthesized cargo proteins translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are incorporated into small vesicular carriers that mediate transport to the Golgi, via pre-Golgi intermediates along microtubule tracks. In vitro assays allow for the examination of factors that are required for and/or regulate the budding of vesicular carriers from the ER and the subsequent fusion of these vesicles with the Golgi. Keywords: endoplasmic reticulum; golgi apparatus; vesicles; cell-free assay
Signaling Concerns about Fairness: Cooperation under Uncertain Social Preferences

This paper investigates incomplete information and signaling about players?inequity aversion in the simultaneous and sequential-move prisoner?s dilemma game. We first evaluate the role of incomplete information according to: (1) whether uncertainty helps select the effcient equilibrium outcome, and (2) whether more cooperation can be sustained under incomplete than under complete information. We then examine the possibility of information transmission among individuals in a signaling game. A separating equilibrium can be supported in which players with high concerns about fairness bear the cost of cooperating in order to reveal their type to opponents, thus promoting cooperation in subsequent periods. We also fi?nd a pooling equilibrium in which a player unconcerned about inequity aversion initially cooperates in order to mislead the uninformed player. This misleading strategy induces cooperation from the uninformed player in the subsequent stage of the game, moment at which the unconcerned player takes the opportunity to defect. This "backstabbing" equilibrium helps explain frequently observed behavior in ?finitely-repeated experiments.
Flow of viscoelastic polymeric melts through converging ducts

An experimental study has been carried out to better understand the flow behavior of viscoelastic polymeric melts in a converging channel which consists of two nonparallel planes. For the study, measurements were taken of both stresses and velocities, the former by means of the flow birefringence technique and the latter by means of streak photography. The material used was polystyrene. A comparison was made of the stress-birefringent patterns obtained in the present study with those obtained in an earlier study byHan andDrexler, who used a slit die having a tapered entrance. It has been found that both stresses and velocities in the converging flow field of polymeric melts do not exhibit any noticeable evidence of secondary motion, contrary to the theoretical prediction made by earlier investigators. The apparently unnoticeable secondary motion in the present study may be attributable to the extremely slow motion of the polymeric melts investigated. Also carried out was a theoretical analysis of converging flow. This was essentially the same as that carried out earlier byHan andDrexler, using a modified second-order fluid model which assumes that all three material functions depend on the second invariant of the rate of deformation. A comparison was made of the experimentally determined stress distributions with the theoretically predicted ones.
My favorite programming contest problems

The problems discussed in this paper are delightful brainteasers. Even though they were devised for programming contests, they can be used as interesting assignments in programming courses at various levels of expertise. The problems are: (1) What happens if the hour hand and the minute hand of a clock are interchanged? (2) Given the number on a ski lift chair moving up, and the number on the opposite chair moving down, calculate the remaining time of the ride. (3) Given the nationalities of a person's ancestors, calculate the percentage of each nationality represented in the person. (4) What is the minimum percentage of popular votes a candidate would need in order to win an election that is conducted through an electoral college?
Monitoring for Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity

Objective To review the basis for recommendations of the Cardiology Committee of the Children's Cancer Study Group, published in Pediatrics, for serial cardiac monitoring of cancer patients during anthracycline therapy and reduction of therapy should cardiac studies show abnormalities. Design Because the effects of overall morbidity and mortality should be considered when a recommendation is made to withhold potentially lifesaving chemotherapy based on abnormal cardiac findings of patients without clinical evidence of cardiac dysfunction, supporting studies referenced in the published recommendations were reviewed. Specifically, studies were evaluated to determine whether a reduction in anthracycline dose, as a result of abnormal cardiac findings by monitoring, reduced cardiac morbidity and related mortality compared with a prospectively followed control population without dose modification. In addition, the effects of cardiac monitoring and subsequent anthracycline dose modification on oncologic morbidity and mortality were reviewed in these studies. Finally, the contributions of the cardiac and oncologic effects of dose modification were examined to determine the effect of this change in therapy on overall morbidity and mortality. Results None of the studies cited in developing these recommendations prospectively determined, with controls, the effects of cardiac monitoring and anthracycline dose modification on cardiac, oncologic, or overall morbidity and mortality. Therefore, none of the studies cited in support of cardiac monitoring and subsequent dose reduction demonstrated the efficacy of such an approach. In the absence of such data, concerns are raised as to whether such a monitoring program with subsequent dose modification might do more harm than good. In addition, none of the methods of screening for anthracycline cardiotoxicity has been shown to be adequately predictive of early or late cardiac outcomes. Finally, adoption of these recommendations would inhibit the investigation of the efficacy of the proposed plan. Conclusion Given the absence of supportive data and the potential to do harm, no recommendation for dose modification based on abnormal cardiac findings in patients without clinical evidence of cardiotoxicity can be endorsed, including those of the Cardiology Committee of the Children's Cancer Study Group. When clinical evidence of cardiotoxicity is present, anthracycline dose modification is recommended. A prospective controlled study to determine the effects of dose modification based on cardiac test results is indicated.
Imaging of neuromuscular potentials using noninvasive electrode array processing

Presents a new technique for reconstruction and imaging of volumetric neuromuscular activity using digital signal processing of multichannel surface potential recordings. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to chart anatomical structures and quantify material permittivity within the inhomogenous volume. Array signal processing is used localize neuromuscular action potentials based on the available anatomical and electromyographic measurements. Poisson's equation is then solved using finite element methods coupled with signal processing estimation techniques. This new imaging tool can greatly enhance clinical diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular injuries and disorders by localizing pathological signals within muscle. >
Seeing through New Eyes: An Experimental Investigation of the Benefits of Photography

This study examined the affective and cognitive benefits of taking photographs of oneâ€™s everyday surroundings. Thirty-eight undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to either take photographs in a mindful, creative way; take photographs in a neutral, factual way; or do a count-your-blessings writing exercise, an activity that is known to reliably increase mood [1]. Planned contrasts revealed that those taking mindful, creative photographs were, on average, in a significantly better mood and were significantly more appreciative and motivated than those taking neutral photographs. There were no significant differences between either photography condition and the writing activity. These results suggest that, when done thoughtfully, photography can be an effective way of improving mood and appreciation of everyday life.
Relationships between scores on Stanford‐Binet IV and Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence

A kindergarten class of 9 boys and 11 girls took the 1986 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (Fourth Edition) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Of 6 correlations of total scores and subtest pairs, only the correlation of total scores was statistically significant (p<.01).
Evaluation of a new West Nile Virus lateral-flow rapid IgM assay

Abstract This study evaluated the performance of a new Food and Drug Administration-approved lateral-flow diagnostic screening test for qualitative detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) in serum or plasma. Five public health laboratories across the United States performed retrospective testing on blinded serum samples from patients with physician reported diagnoses of WNV infection. The results of the RapidWN™ WNV IgM assay were compared with two commercially available WNV IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA) and two public health-developed WNV-IgM tests. After discrepancies were resolved, the RapidWN™ WNV IgM EIA demonstrated a 98.8% sensitivity (range: 96.0–100%), a 95.3% specificity (range: 90.9–100%), a positive predictive value of 96.3% (range: 94.7–100%), and a negative predictive value of 98.4% (range: 95.5–100%), as compared to the predicate assays. The study results suggest that the RapidWN™ WNV IgM EIA is an effective, qualitative screening test that produces results comparable to that of predicate assays and can be employed rapidly to detect WNV IgM in patients suspected of having WNV infection.
Self-Reported Leadership Experiences in Relation to Inventoried Social and Emotional Intelligence

Leadership has both social and emotional components. Social intelligence appears to tap the social component found in leadership. Recently, emotional intelligence has surfaced as a stable individual difference variable and appears to tap the emotional component of leadership. Mayer and Salovey (1993) suggested that the emotional intelligence and social intelligence constructs overlap. This study examined the power of both emotional and social intelligence to account for variance in self-reported leadership experiences. One hundred ninety-two university students completed measures of social and emotional intelligence and a measure of leadership experiences. Regression analyses showed that both social intelligence and emotional intelligence accounted for variance in leadership experiences. Although emotional intelligence was found to account for variance in leadership, it did not add unique variance beyond social intelligence. Social intelligence appears to play a principal role in leadership.
Pulse arrival time is not an adequate surrogate for pulse transit time in terms of tracking diastolic pressure

We compared pulse arrival time (PAT) and pulse transit time (PTT) in terms of their ability to track diastolic pressure (DP). We performed the comparison using high fidelity, invasive arterial waveforms recorded from six dogs during multiple interventions. On average, DP ranged from 40 to 106 mmHg and therefore varied widely. PAT and PTT were able to predict DP with average root-mean-squared-errors of 9.8±5.8 mmHg and 5.7±2.0 mmHg (p = 0.02). Thus, even though PAT is simpler to measure, we can only recommend using PTT for tracking DP.
Immunoimmobilization of α2-macroglobulin-β-trypsin complexes: A novel approach for the biochemical characterization of modulator-protease interactions☆

Abstract A new approach to the biochemical characterization of α2-macroglobulin-protease complexes is described based upon our observation that α2-macroglobulin (α2M) or α2M-β-trypsin complexes become quantitatively bound to anti-human α2M antibody that is covalently coupled to an agarose gel matrix. The immunoimmobilized α2M-β-trypsin complexes hydrolyze the chromogenic tripeptide substrate, N-benzoyl- l -phenylalanyl- l -valyl- l -arginine-p-nitroanilide HCl and the amidolytic activity of these complexes is proportional to the concentration of bound β-trypsin. The Km and Vmax of the soluble complexes are identical to those of the solid-phase α2M-β-trypsin complexes indicating that immunoimmobilization does not alter the hydrolytic capacity of the complex. Optimal pH of the assay was 8–9, at a NaCl concentration of 0.05-0.3 m NaCl. The immobilized enzyme complex was remarkably stable since it retained its amidolytic activity following repeated assays. Varying concentrations of 131I-β-trypsin were added to plasma containing a trace amount of 125I-α2M. The α2M-β-trypsin complexes that formed were quantitatively recovered from the plasma by the immunoimmobilization technique as determined by radioactivity and amidolytic activity measurements. Fifty-eight percent of the β-trypsin added to plasma was bound to α2M as demonstrated by both the immunoimmobilization assay and by molecular sieve chromatography. Thus a novel approach has been developed for rapid isolation and concentration of α2M-protease complexes and for the characterization of their catalytic potential.
The potential use of cultured cells to detect non-neuronal targets of neuropeptide action.

Abstract Although many studies have described the localization and possible neuromodulatory role of neuropeptides little attempt has been made to determine whether glial cells are possible targets of neuropeptides' actions. The use of primary cell cultures derived from neonatal rat central and peripheral nervous system may provide a means of assaying for such effects and gaining a better understanding of glial cells' roles in nervous system function.
Effects of feeding method, diet nutritive value and physical form and genotype on feed intake, feeding behavior and growth performance by meat goats

Abstract Thirty-two F1 Boer × Spanish (28.7 ± 0.49 kg) and 40 3/4 Boer–1/4 Spanish (31.9 ± 0.47 kg) wethers, approximately 5 months of age, were used to compare feeding systems with different dietary treatments. Feeding systems were Calan gates and automated feeding units allowing one animal to consume feed at a time. Two diets included concentrate (C) and two were dehydrated alfalfa (A), fed pelletized (P) or loose (L). The main effect of feeding method was not significant for any variable. There was an interaction in DM intake (DMI) involving feeding method, diet, and genotype, which indicated that with a concentrate diet, regardless of physical form, DMI was not influenced by feeding method. Main effect dietary treatment means (1.78, 1.67, 2.04, and 1.70 kg for C-P, C-L, A-P, and A-L, respectively; S.E. = 0.030) indicated that pelletizing had a slightly greater effect on DMI with A versus C. ADG was lowest among treatments for A-L (212, 205, 190, and 157 g for C-P, C-L, A-P, and A-L, respectively; S.E. = 8.9), and ADG:DMI was greater for C versus A (127, 120, 94, and 94 g/kg for C-P, C-L, A-P, and A-L, respectively; S.E. = 7.8). Both ADG and ADG:DMI were similar between genotypes. For wethers subjected to automated feeding units, the number of feeder visits was lowest among diets ( P P
Facilitating the Welfare-to-Work Transition for Women with a Mental Health Work Barrier

Since the 1996 PRWORA welfare reform act requiring workforce participation in order to receive services, evidence has emerged that many welfare recipients experience mental health work barriers. Ye...
Incorporation of local structure in continuous dislocation theory

Continuous dislocation theory has not had great practical applicability, owing largely to the dislocation density tensor being an average quantity that includes very limited information about dislocation structures and energetics at length scales smaller than the averaging volume. Here we present a straightforward way to include the effects of underlying structure based on moments of the dislocation distribution and show that the addition of a small number of order parameters enables one to accurately characterize the energetics.
The lowest triplet state of tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedithione. II. Calculation of spin-orbit coupling

Abstract A calculation of the spin-orbit coupling in the lowest excited triplet state of tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedithione (TMCBDT) has been performed. The results show the following. (1) In the TMCBDT crystal the ground singlet-to-lowest triplet transition moment is predicted to be exclusively ⨍ c polarized, as observed. (2) The assignment of the lowest triplet state should be 3 A u as found earlier for the oxygen analog. TMCBD. (3) The two largest contributions (∼ 60%) to the isolated-molecule T 1 → S 0 transition moment come from the two triplet-triplet transitions. and , both of which are polarized along the CS bonds. (4) The total contribution to the transition moment parallel to the CS bonds is 76% from the T l ← T 1 transitions and 24% from the S γ ← S 0 transitions. And, finally, (5) the calculated oscillator strength of 2 × 10 −4 for the largest T 1 ← S 0 component (along y ) falls within the range of typical spin-allowed, singlet-singlet n- = transitions.
Transgenic Enhancement of High‐Molecular‐Weight Glutenin Subunit 1Dy10 Concentration: Effects in Wheat Flour Blends and Sponge and Dough Baking

ABSTRACT Dough strength is needed for efficient breadmaking quality. This property is strongly influenced in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by gluten seed storage proteins and, in particular, by high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunit composition. Experiments were designed to elevate expression of a key native HMW glutenin subunit (1Dy10) via genetic engineering and to determine whether resultant flours can be used in sponge and dough applications, the most common commercial bread-baking procedure. Both unblended and blended samples from transgenic and nontransgenic sister lines were tested, with blended samples being formed by addition to a control sample. Dough properties, as determined by farinograph evaluation, were improved by the transgene-encoded increases in 1Dy10 in both undiluted and blended flours. Mean farinograph stability of transgenic samples was twice that of the control, and blends with transgenic samples demonstrated increases in stabilities proportional to the amount of transgenic fl...
Water extraction times for plant and soil materials used in stable isotope analysis

Stable isotopic analysis of water for many ecological applications commonly requires extractions of water from dozens to hundreds of plant and soil samples. With recent advances in mass spectrometry, water extraction, rather than the isotopic analysis itself, is the bottleneck in sample processing. Using cryogenic vacuum distillation, we have created extraction timing curves to determine how much time (Tmin) is required to extract an unfractionated water sample. Our results indicated that Tmin values are 60 to 75 min for stems, 40 min for clay soils, 30 min for sandy soils and 20 to 30 min for leaves. While the extraction times reported here may allow for some reductions relative to times reported in the literature, the extraction process will continue to be a rate-limiting step in plant water analyses. Ultimately, technological advances eliminating the need for extraction are required to greatly increase throughput rates in water isotope analysis for ecological research. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optical Simulation of Radar Resolution

It is difficult and expensive to evaluate with radar equipment the resolution required in order that a given target be detectable. In an effort to obtain this information more cheaply and easily, an optical simulator has been constructed in which the very high resolution in an optical aerial photograph has been degraded by known amounts. Portions of typical degraded photographs are included.
Virtual screening reveals allosteric inhibitors of the Toxoplasma gondii thymidylate synthase–dihydrofolate reductase

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii can lead to toxoplasmosis in those who are immunocompromised. To combat the infection, the enzyme responsible for nucleotide synthesis thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR) is a suitable drug target. We have used virtual screening to determine novel allosteric inhibitors at the interface between the two TS domains. Selected compounds from virtual screening inhibited TS activity. Thus, these results show that allosteric inhibition by small drug-like molecules can occur in T. gondii TS-DHFR and pave the way for new and potent species-specific inhibitors.
Experimental measurements of upward flame spread on a vertical wall with external radiation

Abstract The overall objective of the project is to gain an understanding of the flame spread phenomenon under simulated surrounding fire conditions. In this phase of the project, emphasis is placed on obtaining experimental data for upward flame spread with applied external radiation on practical wall materials. A second phase (not yet reported) is the development of a numerical flame spread model and the experimental results presented here will be used for comparison with model predictions. Flame height, and in some cases pyrolysis height, were recorded as functions of time for 120 cm×30 cm samples; and these data were used to quantitatively investigate the effect of external radiation on several materials. Infrared heating panels were used to supply radiant fluxes of up to 15 kW/m 2 to the sample. Many wood-based materials do not exhibit flame spread to the top of the sample when ignited without applied external flux. With moderate levels of external radiation (5–10 kW/m 2 ), many of these materials sustained flame spread to the top of the sample. With increasing external radiation levels, flame spread was also more rapid. A comprehensive series of tests was run on particle board to investigate the effect of igniter strength, preheat of the sample, and sample thickness. Igniter strength was not a significant factor and did not cause the flame spread to be sustained; the effect of preheat, even at moderate levels of radiant flux, was important; and sample thickness had a slight effect, with thicker samples burning slower. Total heat feedback to the sample was measured and the maximum values for various samples are reported. Experimental data obtained in this project will be used to aid in the development and validation of a numerical flame spread model.
Ontology-based view of natural language meaning: the case of humor detection

This paper deals with computational detection of humor. It assumes that computational humor is an useful task for any number of reasons and in many applications. Besides these applications, it also shows that recognition of humor is a perfect test platform for an advanced level of language understanding by a computer. It discusses the computational linguistic/semantic preconditions for computational humor and an ontological semantic approach to the task of humor detection, based on direct and comprehensive access to meaning rather than on trying to guess it with statistical-cum-syntactical keyword methods. The paper is informed by the experience of designing and implementing a humor detection model, whose decent success rate confirmed some of the assumptions while its flaws made other ideas prominent, including the necessity of full text comprehension. The bulk of the paper explains how the comprehensive meaning access technology makes it possible for unstructured natural language text to be automatically translated into the ontologically defined text meaning representations that can be used then to detect humor in them, if any, automatically. This part is informed by the experience, subsequent to humor detection, of designing, implementing, and testing an ontological semantic text analyzer that takes an English sentence as input and outputs its text meaning representation (TMR). Every procedure mentioned in the paper has either been implemented or proven to be implementable within the approach.
Beyond just the facts: transforming the museum learning experience

We present Museum Detective, a handheld system designed for use by school children to encourage guided learning through paired discovery of one object in an art museum. Initial analysis showed that children were able to use the devices cooperatively and exhibited longer-term retention of information about the artifacts in the gallery. We propose that the design of the Museum Detective interface can be refined to further encourage students to actively transform their museum learning experience.
Tigers eating tigers: evidence of intraguild predation operating in an assemblage of tiger beetles.

Summary 1. Co-occurrence of closely related predators in a prey-limited habitat appears to contradict the principle of competitive exclusion, however it may be explained through indirect effects, niche shifts, and intraguild predation. 2. The interactions between sympatric tiger beetle Cicindela species were examined. Cicindela circumpicta is the largest of three species (C. circumpicta, C. togata, C. fulgida) found in saline habitats throughout central North America. The temporal occurrence of these species overlaps, as does their spatial occurrence on exposed salt flats of saline marshes. During field observations, exoskeletal remains of C. togata were found at the study site in Nebraska, U.S.A. 3. In laboratory trials, male C. circumpicta ate C. togata in 38% of trials and female C. circumpicta ate C. togata in 50% of trials (n = 24). 4. In the field, potential prey, consisting mainly of small flies, was found mostly in shaded conditions but tiger beetles differed significantly in shade use, with C. circumpicta spending 70% of the time in the shade compared with ≈ 20% for C. togata. Differential habitat use was not explained by maximum temperature tolerances, which did not differ between the species. 5. Laboratory trials established that both tiger beetle species consumed small prey (apterous Drosophila) but C. togata was more efficient at capturing winged Drosophila. 6. Foraging efficiency, as measured by the time taken for a C. togata to capture three prey items, decreased significantly in the presence of other tiger beetles, especially C. circumpicta. 7. These results are an indication that intraguild predation and induced changes in foraging behaviour operate in the ecology of adult tiger beetles.
Selected characteristics, roles, goals, and satisfactions of department chairmen in state and land-grant institutions

Chairmen at 38 state and land-grant institutions were found to be involved in three major roles: academic, administrative, and leadership. The academic role consists of duties of student involvement and research activities. Chairmen enjoy this role and report high emphasis on concurrent goals but feel frustrated in terms of time to pursue commensurate activities. The administrative role requires the majority of time and also contains some of the less desirable duties. In addition, administrative goals are seen as over-emphasized. The leadership role involves tasks related to academic personnel and program development. It is a major satisfaction realized by accepting the position of chairman. Developing abilities of faculty members and maintaining academic freedom are the two most important goals in this role. The respondents also made suggestions on changes and development programs which would improve their effectiveness.
Social and linguistic factors influencing adaptation in children's speech.

The ability to appropriately reciprocate or compensate a partner's communicative response represents an essential element of communicative competence. Previous research indicates that as children grow older, their speech levels reflect greater adaptation relative to their partner's speech. In this study, we argue that patterns of adaptation are related to specific linguistic and pragmatic abilities, such as verbal responsiveness, involvement in the interaction, and the production of relatively complex syntactic structures. Thirty-seven children (3–6 years of age) individually interacted with an adult for 20 to 30 minutes. Adaptation between child and adult was examined among conversational floortime, response latency, and speech rate. Three conclusions were drawn from the results of this investigation. First, by applying time-series analysis to the interactants' speech behaviors within each dyad, individual measures of the child's adaptations to the adult's speech can be generated. Second, consistent with findings in the adult domain, these children generally reciprocated changes in the adult's speech rate and response latency. Third, there were differences in degree and type of adaptation within specific dyads. Chronological age was not useful in accounting for this individual variation, but specific linguistic and social abilities were. Implications of these findings for the development of communicative competence and for the study of normal versus language-delayed speech were discussed.
Thermal and structural properties of biologically derived monodisperse hairy-rod polymers.

Monodisperse derivatives of poly(γ-4-(hexadecyloxy)benzyl α,l-glutamate) (PHBG-X, X = 3 or 4) with backbone sequence GluAsp(Glu_(17)Asp)_xGluGlu were prepared by reaction of 4-(hexadecyloxy)phenyldiazomethane with the corresponding monodisperse poly(α,l-glutamate) (PLGA) derivatives (PLGA-X, X = 3 or 4). PHBG-3 and -4 exhibited strong endotherms near 45 °C and weak endotherms near 86 °C when analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. X-ray diffraction suggested that these polymers aggregate to form layerlike solid structures at room temperature, with extended alkyl side chains forming paraffinlike crystallites. Most of the side chain order disappears at the first melting transition; however, the layerlike structure remains. Both polymers are isotropic above the second melting transition; no ordered melts were observed at higher temperatures, possibly due to the small aspect ratios of PHBG-3 and -4. In contrast, polydisperse poly(γ-4-(hexadecyloxy)benzyl α,l-glutamate) (PDI = 1.2, DP = 98) (PHBG-P1), prepared from commercial PLGA, formed liquid crystalline (LC) phases between 97 and 105 °C.
Covariance of baseline symptom scores in prediction of future symptom scores: A methodological note

It is now standard practice in psychopathology research to longitudinally assess the predictive effects of putative etiological factors on symptoms. A common statistical technique employed in the implementation of such research is multiple regression/correlation, with a baseline symptom measure used as a covariate in an analysis of the association between etiological factors and future symptoms. This report highlights the importance of testing the assumption of homogeneity of covariance in such analyses, not only because it is statistically required, but also because it provides theoretically relevant information regarding onset, exacerbation, or remission of symptoms.
On swept volume formulations: implicit surfaces

Recent developments in the formulations for generating swept volumes have made a significant impact on the efficiency of employing such algorithms and on the extent to which formulations can be used in representing complex shapes. In this paper, we outline a method for employing the representation of implicit surfaces using the Jacobian rank deficiency condition presented earlier for the sweep of parametric surfaces. A numerical and broadly applicable analytic formulation is developed that yields the exact swept volume.
Optical arbitrary waveform generation

Optical arbitrary waveform generation will allow waveforms to be synthesized at optical frequencies but with the flexibility currently available at radiofrequencies. This technique is enabled by combining frequency comb technology, which produces trains of optical pulses with a well-defined frequency spectrum, with pulse shaping methods, which are used to transform a train of ultrashort pulses into an arbitrary waveform. To produce a waveform that fills time, the resolution of the shaper must match the repetition rate of the original pulse train, which in turn must have a comb spectrum that is locked to the shaper. Here, we review the current efforts towards achieving optical arbitrary waveform generation and discuss the possible applications of this technology.
In the presence of very fast comproportionation, sampled current voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry yield equal two versus one-electron limiting current ratios. Reconciliation through analysis of concentration profiles

Abstract A species having three sequential redox states is able to react with its higher oxidation (or lower reduction) state producing two equivalents of its middle redox state. A possible electrochemical signature of that comproportionation reaction is that the faradaic current from the two-electron process ( I 1,1 ) might not be twice the current of the corresponding one-electron process ( I 1,2 ). In this paper, using redox-active species with well-separated one- and two-electron processes, such as N , N ′-di- n -heptylviologen, N -methyl-4-benzoylpyridinium perchlorate, TCNQ, TTF, N , N′ -dimethylphenazine and TMPD, it is reported that within a wide range of the experimental parameters, two seemingly different electrochemical methods, namely sampled current voltammetry (SCV), a diffusion-controlled method, and rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry, a convection-dominated method, give equal mass-transfer limited current ratios ( I 1,2 / I 1,1 ). These phenomena have been traced to the fact that close to the electrode distance-normalized concentration profiles generated from both SCV and RDE voltammetry are superimposable. Digital simulations have confirmed these conclusions, and have led to the elucidation of the relative roles of the comproportionation reaction rate constant, k f , and the diffusion-layer thickness, δ , in determining the value of the ( I 1,2 / I 1.1 ) SCV or RDE ratio: when the diffusion-layer is thicker, the comproportionation reaction time is longer and limiting ( I 1,2 / I 1,1 ) ratios are reached with lower k f values. (The larger δ corresponds to longer sampling times in SCV and slower electrode rotation rates in RDE voltammetry.). Ultimately, the limiting values of the ( I 1,2 / I 1,1 ) SCV or RDE ratios are controlled by the relative values of the diffusion coefficients of all three species involved in the comproportionation reaction. According to our results, the ( I 1,2 / I 1,1 ) SCV or RDE ratio can afford kinetic information on the comproportionation reaction, and comprises a diagnostic criterion for the relative diffusion coefficients of a redox-active species and its one-electron oxidized (or reduced) form.
An Efficient and Scalable Synthesis of the Endothelin Antagonists UK-350,926 and UK-349,862 Using a Dynamic Resolution Process

The development and scale-up of a potential manufacturing route to the endothelin antagonists UK-350,926 1 and UK-349,862 2 are described. A key synthetic challenge in designing an efficient route ...
Role of the tongue base suspension suture with The Repose System bone screw in the multilevel surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVE:The Repose System (tongue base suspension) is a new, minimally invasive technique for tongue base suspension in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this project was to describe our preliminary experience using this tongue base suspension system in conjunction with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in the multilevel surgical approach to the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).STUDY DESIGN:We conducted a retrospective analysis of 19 consecutive patients undergoing UPPP and The Repose System tongue base suspension for the management of obstructive sleep apnea during a 1-year period (1998 through 1999). RESULTS: Fifteen patients (11 men and 4 women) had complete preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic data. A 46% reduction in the preoperative respiratory disturbance index (RDI) (38.7 ± 12.3) versus the postoperative RDI (21.0 ± 7.4, P < 0.05) was demonstrated at a mean of 3.8 months after surgery. The apnea index demonstrated a 39% reduction. The surgical cure rat...
Influence of the vagus nerve on the inhibitory effect of fat in the duodenum

In 4 mongrel dogs with a Heidenhain pouch, selective gastric vagotomy, total gastrectomy, and an esophagoduodenostomy, the influence of vagotomy on inhibition of gastric secretion by fat in the duodenum was assessed. The amount of inhibition with the duodenum vagally innervated was not significantly different from the amount of inhibition when the duodenum was vagally denervated by truncal vagotomy. It is concluded that complete vagotomy does not interfere with the release of the inhibiting humoral substance released by fat in the duodenum.
Radiation exposure: Comparison of rapid exchange and conventional over‐the‐wire coronary angioplasty systems

The growth of coronary angioplasty has resulted in increased fluoroscopy time to patients, staff, and physicians. Rapid exchange-type catheters have purported to reduce fluoroscopy time and procedure time compared to conventional over-the-wire systems. Of 150 consecutive patients, 54 were treated solely with rapid-exchange catheters and 84 were treated solely with over-the-wire catheters. Excluding 12 cases treated with fixed wire or combination catheters, the following data were found: Overall procedural success was obtained in 98.5% (136/138) of patients, 1.5% (2) requiring emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A significant 35% reduction in fluoroscopy time and 13% reduction in procedure time were found when rapid-exchange catheters were used, with identical success rates, number of balloons used per case, and complication rates compared to over-the-wire catheters. Rapid-exchange catheters should be considered as part of an overall effort to reduce radiation exposure in the interventional cardiology laboratory.
Nitric Oxide and the Cardiovascular System

Part I. Biology of Nitric Oxide. The Biological Chemistry of Nitric Oxide, Joseph Loscalzo. Cell and Molecular Biology of Nitric Oxide Synthases, Olivier Feron and Thomas Michel. Cellular Signal Transduction and Nitric Oxide, Stanley Heydrick. Regulation of Gene Expression by Nitric Oxide, Ami A. Deora and Harry M. Lander. Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis, and Nitric Oxide, Stefanie Dimmeler and Andreas M. Zeiher. Nitric Oxide and Ion Channels, Victoria M. Bolotina. Role of Nitric Oxide in Vasomotor Regulation, Richard A. Cohen. Nitric Oxide and Platelet-Mediated Hemostasis, Elisabeth M. Battinelli and Joseph Loscalzo. Nitric Oxide Modulates Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion, Wolfgang Cerwinka and D. Neil Granger. Nitric Oxide and Cardiomyocyte Function, Jean-Luc Balligand and Paul J. Cannon. The Fibroblast and Nitric Oxide, Peter Brecher. Nitric Oxide in Cardiac Electrophysiology, Lu Fei and Douglas P. Zipes. Part II. Cardiovascular Pathophysiology of Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide and Endothelial Dysfunction, Gerard A. Dillon and Joseph A. Vita. Nitric Oxide and Hypertension, M. Audrey Rudd, Maria R. Trolliet, and Joseph Loscalzo. Nitric Oxide and Pulmonary Hypertension, John J. Leopore and Kenneth D. Bloch. Nitric Oxide in Atherosclerosis, Robert T. Eberhardt and Joseph Loscalzo. Thrombotic Disorders and Nitric Oxide Insufficiency, Jane E. Freedman and Joseph Loscalzo. Myocardial Nitric Oxide in Heart Failure, Douglas B. Sawyer and Wilson S. Colucci. Shock States and Nitric Oxide, Hartmut Ruetten and Christoph Thiemermann. Stroke and Nitric Oxide, Nancy E. Stagliano and Paul L. Huang. The Role of Nitric Oxide in Ischemia-Reperfusion, Allan M. Lefer and Reid Hayward. Part III. Nitric Oxide in Cardiovascular Therapeutics. Nitrovasodilators, John D. Horowitz. S-Nitrosothiols, Jane A. Leopold and Joseph Loscalzo. Diazeniumdiolates (Formerly NONOates) in Cardiovascular Research and Potential Clinical Applications, Joseph E. Saavedra, Anthony L. Fitzhugh, and Larry K. Keefer.Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy for Acute Respiratory Failure, William Hurford and Warren M. Zapol. Antioxidants and Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide Action, Annong Huang and John F. Keaney, Jr. Coating Arterial and Blood-Contacting Surfaces with NO*-Donating Compounds, John D. Folts and Joseph Loscalzo. Gene Therapy and Nitric Oxide, Heiko E. von der Leyen. Nitric Oxide and Tissue Preservation in Transplantation, David J. Pinsky and David M. Stern. L-Arginine: Its Role in Cardiovascular Therapy, Andrew J. Maxwell and John P. Cooke. Index.
Adenocarcinoma in situ with a small cell (endometrioid) pattern in cervical smears: a test of the distinction from benign mimics using specific criteria.

BACKGROUND Papanicolaou smears have been less effective in preventing cervical adenocarcinoma than in preventing squamous carcinoma. One reason may be a lack of awareness of certain smear patterns of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) such as those with crowded small cells (endometrioid pattern). METHODS A test set of 29 smears (17 AIS with an endometrioid pattern, 12 benign mimics) was reviewed by 11 cytologists (4 experienced cytotechnologists, 3 cytopathology fellows, and 4 cytopathologists with varying levels of experience). Participants were blinded as to the actual diagnosis and the number of cases in each category and were instructed to diagnose either AIS or a benign lesion. Results of this review were not disclosed before a second review conducted after instruction in specific criteria for “endometrioid” AIS. Results were compiled using kappa statistics. RESULTS In the first round, the ability to distinguish these lesions was poor for 8 of the 11 reviewers, and no reviewer was in excellent agreement with the actual diagnosis. In the second round, only 1 reviewer had a poor rating, and 4 of 11 were in the excellent category. Misdiagnoses in both rounds were more commonly the result of underdiagnosis of AIS than overdiagnosis of benign cases. CONCLUSIONS The presentation of AIS in smears as groups of crowded small cells is prone to underdiagnosis. Awareness of this problem and use of criteria improves sensitivity. [See editorial on pages 243–4, this issue.] Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 1999;87:254–8. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
The many faces of egg activation at fertilization

The signaling networks controlling calcium release and cortical granule exocytosis at fertilization are complex and multilayered, providing various points for regulatory input and quality control. Though it is clear that many of the mechanisms leading to both calcium release and cortical granule exocytosis are conserved, a great deal of variability exists between homologous signaling pathways in different species. The signaling pathways responsible for the release of calcium seen at fertilization vary from species to species, yet they center around the importance of IP3-mediated signaling. Similarly, while there are differences in the mechanisms of regulated secretion between species and between intracellular membrane trafficking events, particularly with respect to time and space, all seem to be dependent on the SNARE proteins and their regulator and effector proteins. What has been most helpful in these studies is the convergence of studies from many different species of eggs. With the amazing divergence of reproductive processes and mechanisms that exists throughout phylogeny, it is comforting to see such strong overlapping roles of key players in widely disparate eggs.
Consumers indirectly increase infection risk in grassland food webs.

Most pathogens exist within complicated food webs of interacting hosts, vectors, competitors, and predators. Although theory has demonstrated a variety of mechanisms by which predation and competition in food webs can indirectly control infection risk in hosts, there have until now been no experimental tests of this theory. We sampled the effect of long-term exclusion of large vertebrate herbivores on the prevalence of infection by a group of aphid-vectored viruses that infect grasses (barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses) in an oak savannah in central California. We found that pathogen prevalence was ≈4-fold higher in the presence of consumers than in areas where they were excluded. Vertebrate consumers did not directly alter infection rates by this aphid-vectored pathogen group, but rather increased infection risk by increasing the relative abundance of highly-competent hosts in the grassland community. This large-scale experiment, measuring changes in host abundance and infection risk in response to altered consumption rates, confirms theoretical predictions that consumers can indirectly increase infection risk by altering the composition of whole communities. Most importantly, these results demonstrate that, even in complex natural communities, alterations to food web composition such as consumer invasion or extinction can lead to significant impacts that cascade throughout entire communities, including changes in infection risk.
Multi-axis integrated CMOS-MEMS inertial sensors

Multi-axis integration of inertial sensors is crucial for portable electronics. This paper presents a DRIE CMOS MEMS process that is capable of realizing lateral and vertical sensing comb drives. An integrated 3-axis accelerometer and an integrated 5-axis inertial measurement unit including a 3-axis accelerometer, a z-axis gyroscope and an x/y gyroscope are also introduced.
On the Reported Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase by an Agent with Sedative Properties

1-Benzyl-2-methyl-5-methoxytryptamine has been reported, on the basis of indirect evidence, to inhibit monoamine oxidase. More direct experiments, however, demonstrate that the drug is devoid of the ability to block monoamine oxidase in brain in vitro or in vivo.
Somatosensory Development: A new level of refinement

Gene 'knockout' mice lacking a critical NMDA-receptor subunit have a brief life span, but have already resolved some long-standing controversies about the development of the rodent somatosensory system.