cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical pharmacology of bruceantin by radioimmunoassay

During the phase I clinical trial of a new antitumor agent, bruceantin, the pharmacology was studied in 18 cancer patients. The drug was infused intravenously (IV) for 3 h at doses ranging from 1 to 3.6 mg/m2 per day for 5 days. The plasma drug disappearance curves were biphasic, with a fast initial half-life of less than 15 min. The second half-life (t1/2 beta) varied from 0.7 to 38 h among different patients and was not dose-related. The difference between the t1/2 beta on day 1 and that on day 5 was not significant. In patients with normal liver function, the mean plasma concentration at the end of infusion was 22 ng/ml, and the value of the area under the concentration X time curve (AUC) was 111 (ng/ml)h. In contrast, in patients with abnormal liver function the corresponding values were 115 ng/ml and 830 (ng/ml)h, respectively. In addition, these patients had a slower elimination half-life of 10.9 h and a decreased total clearance of 157 ml/min/m2, as compared with 2.6 h and 671 ml/min/m2, respectively, for the normal group. All these differences were statistically significant. Patients with abnormal liver function developed more severe toxicity, including fever, severe nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. Two patients with severe hepatic dysfunction received a reduced dose and developed no toxicity. These results demonstrated the importance of the effects of liver dysfunction on drug disposition and showed that the dosage should be reduced in patients with hepatic dysfunction.
What's Motor Development Got to Do with Physical Education?

Abstract Learning basic motor-development concepts will help students understand the skill differences they see in their classmates and in themselves.
Mechanisms of humoral immunity during Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection.

: Our laboratory has been investigating the mechanisms of host defense during Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in the mouse. Although major roles are clearly played by T cells, we found that antibodies could also control infection in both normal and immunocompromised SCID mice, and could protect the latter from lethal infection. Antibodies are not generally effective during such intracellular infections, so we would like to understand exactly how antibodies can mediate immunity in this model. We have found that much of the humoral immune response is directed at the bacterial outer membrane proteins (OMPs), and that highly effective OMP antibodies (mostly IgG2a) exhibited picomolar affinities and very long binding half-lives. These antibodies, which could mediate bacterial clearance from tissues as early as 24 hours after administration, require host Fc receptors for their function(s). In contrast, we have failed to find any role for complement or reactive nitrogen intermediates, or for neutrophils, or for NK cells. One possible mechanism is that antibodies or immune complexes trigger microbiocidal activities in infected macrophages that lead to the elimination of bacteria residing inside host macrophages. Alternatively, it is proposed that antibodies opsonize bacteria exposed during intercellular transfer. This notion is supported by studies that have demonstrated the presence of bacteria in the extracellular milieu during infection, and suggests that our understanding of the behavior of the bacterium in the host may be key to our understanding of its susceptibility to antibody-mediated host defenses.
The signal-to-noise characteristics of rod-cone interaction.

1. The influence of rods on cone-mediated vision was assessed in eight human observers. To this end, increment threshold functions were obtained by determining thresholds of a cone-detected test flash (25 ms duration, 655 nm wave-length, 13′ diameter) as a function of the illuminance of larger, 500 ms duration, rod-detected masking flashes. The type of photoreceptor influenced by each stimulus was carefully checked by means of a series of control procedures involving action spectra and selective rod adaptation. 2. When the rod mask was 512 nm in wave-length, 40′ in diameter, and less than one scotopic td in illuminance, increment threshold functions show that [Formula: see text], where ICth is cone test threshold, IR is rod mask illuminance, and D is a dark noise term similar to that used by Barlow (1956). Further increases in IR have no additional influences on cone test threshold until threshold is influenced by the combined action of the mask on both rods and cones. If IR is expressed in terms of scotopic flux rather than illuminance, the functional relationship obtained with all rod masks ≤ 40′ diameter and ≤ 580 nm wave-length is identical. 3. Over the range of illuminance where a square-root relationship is obtained, probability of seeing functions show that a signal-to-noise mechanism limits the detectability of the cone test flash. These findings suggests a quantitative model in which cones produce a signal in a detector which is proportional to the illuminance of the cone test flash. Within a neural locus designated E (excitatory spatial summator), a response is produced which over at least a 40′ diameter area, is proportional to the scotopic flux of the rod mask. E, however, feeds into a gain box, S, which saturates at illuminance levels at least 3 log10 units less than usual estimates of rod saturation. Other than saturation, S behaves in a linear fashion. 4. As diameter increases beyond 60′, rod masks of equal scotopic illuminance have progressively less influence on cone test threshold; rod masks > 2° have negligible influence on cone test threshold. We propose that I (inhibitory spatial summator), a neural locus which responds to scotopic flux provided over a very large area, attenuates the activity of E. The combined action of E and I is designated a rod channel. The response of cones and the rod channel summate at a detector. Within the detector, cone signals are distinguished from rod-related activity and intrinsic dark noise on the basis of signal-to-noise discriminations. 5. The neural substrate for this rod channel most probably involves the combined action of several neurones which synapse within the inner plexiform layer of the retina. The relationship of this rod channel to other perceptual phenomena is discussed.
GKS for imaging

By adopting the Graphical Kernel System (GKS), groups who manipulate pixelated images can take advantage of device independent graphics without giving up the functions which have traditionally been hardware dependent. Most of these functions, including image I/O, zoom, pan, lookup table manipulation, and cursor reading, are supported within GKS; several other functions, such as the use of multiple image planes and multiple look up tables, are accomodated by the GKS Escape and the Generalized Drawing Primitive (GDP). Because GKS has powerful inquire capabilities, it's possible to tightly customize applications code to a particular hardware display device. The inquire functions also can be used by an applications program to determine the hardware display size and thus avoid resampling of a pixelated image.GKS thoroughly separates applications programs from device- dependencies; however, device drivers must still be written. The time and effort of writing device drivers can be largely eliminated by using a single programmable device driver, which is tailored to each device by a GRAPHCAP configuration file, in much the same way as TERMCAP is used by Berkeley Unix implementations.
Limitations of the rank transform statistic in tests for interactions

Conover and Iman (1976), Iman (1974), and Iman and Conover (1976) have found the rank transform test to be robust and powerful when testing for interaction in experimental designs.The current study shows that, insofar as tests for interactions are concerned, the rank transform test is robust and powerful in some circumstances but is dramatically nonrobust and manifests power significantly below that of the usual F test in some cases. Therefore, this procedure should be used only withcaution when employed in designs suchas those examined here.
Dynamic optical projection of acquired luminescence for aiding oncologic surgery

Optical imaging enables real-time visualization of intrinsic and exogenous contrast within biological tissues. Applications in human medicine have demonstrated the power of fluorescence imaging to enhance visualization in dermatology, endoscopic procedures, and open surgery. Although few optical contrast agents are available for human medicine at this time, fluorescence imaging is proving to be a powerful tool in guiding medical procedures. Recently, intraoperative detection of fluorescent molecular probes that target cell-surface receptors has been reported for improvement in oncologic surgery in humans. We have developed a novel system, optical projection of acquired luminescence (OPAL), to further enhance real-time guidance of open oncologic surgery. In this method, collected fluorescence intensity maps are projected onto the imaged surface rather than via wall-mounted display monitor. To demonstrate proof-of-principle for OPAL applications in oncologic surgery, lymphatic transport of indocyanine green was visualized in live mice for intraoperative identification of sentinel lymph nodes. Subsequently, peritoneal tumors in a murine model of breast cancer metastasis were identified using OPAL after systemic administration of a tumor-selective fluorescent molecular probe. These initial results clearly show that OPAL can enhance adoption and ease-of-use of fluorescence imaging in oncologic procedures relative to existing state-of-the-art intraoperative imaging systems.
Evolutionarily independent genes and genomes and insights on genetic structure, evolution and conservation of the collis group of darters

Comparing variation across evolutionarily independent characters, notably nuclear and mitochondrial genes, yields a more robust estimate of diversification than is generally recovered from individual characters. Patterns of variation across multiple molecular markers from the mitochondrial (16SrRNA, cytochrome b) and nuclear (ldhA6 and aldB) genomes were examined from six populations of Etheostoma collis and two populations of Etheostoma saludae, species aligned in the collis groups. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that sequence variation among individuals from the Roanoke, Tar and Neuse Rivers and the Catawba and Pee Dee Rivers, respectively, form highly supported, deeply divergent clades. Relationships of alleles sampled from Saluda River E. saludae and Cape Fear River E. collis to these lineages are unresolved, but all groups are reciprocally monophyletic for both nuclear and mtDNA loci. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that historical factors have had a strong influence on the distribution of genetic variation among populations. Genetic variation within the collis group is consistent with all previously proposed taxonomic hypotheses for the collis group, providing no taxonomic insights. From a conservation standpoint, each population of the collis group is an ESU, thereby warranting a drainage-specific management strategy.
Molecular interactions and normal vibrations of Fe–bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium–Fe–bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ionic liquids: A density functional study

Abstract Density functional theory is used to obtain the electronic structure and normal vibrations of Fe–bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (1:1) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium–Fe–bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (1:1:1) ionic liquids. Different conformers were simulated on the basis of molecular interactions in 1:1 and 1:1:1 systems. Strength of molecular interactions in the ionic liquids was correlated with frequency shifts of characteristic vibrations relative to the corresponding vibration in free anion. The outcomes of the theoretical calculations were qualitatively compared with the experimental results.
uvbyCaHβ CCD Photometry of Clusters. IV. Solving the Riddle of NGC 3680

CCD photometry on the intermediate-band uvbyCaHβ system is presented for the open cluster, NGC 3680. Restricting the data to probable cluster members using the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) and the photometric indices alone defines a sample of 34 stars at the cluster turnoff that imply E(b-y) = 0.042 ± 0.002 (s.e.m.) or E(B-V) = 0.058 ± 0.003 (s.e.m.), where the errors refer to internal errors alone. With this reddening, [Fe/H] is derived from both m1 and hk using both b-y and Hβ as the temperature indices. The agreement among the four approaches is excellent, leading to final value of [Fe/H] = -0.14 ± 0.03 for the cluster and removing the apparent discrepancy between the past uvby analyses and extensive results from the red giants. The primary source of the photometric anomaly appears to be a zero-point offset in the original m1 indices. Using the homogenized and combined V, b-y data from a variety of studies transformed to B-V, the cluster CMD is compared with NGC 752, IC 4651, and the core–convective-overshoot isochrones of Girardi et al. By interpolation to the proper metallicity, it is found that the E(B-V), m - M, and age for NGC 752, IC 4651, and NGC 3680 are (0.03, 8.30, 1.55 Gyr), (0.10, 10.20, 1.7 Gyr), and (0.06, 10.20, 1.85 Gyr), respectively. The revised age and metallicity sequence and the color distribution of the giants provide evidence for the suggestion that the giants defining the apparent clump in NGC 3680 are predominantly first-ascent giants, as indicated by their Li abundance, while the clump stars in NGC 752, 0.1 mag bluer in B-V, are He-core–burning stars. When combined with the color distribution in IC 4651, it is suggested that over this modest age range where He-core flash becomes important, the distribution of so-called clump stars switches from being dominated by He-core–burning stars to first-ascent giants in the bump phase.
Boundary element method for vector modeling diffractive optical elements

Two boundary integral models of vector diffraction from diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are presented. The first is the method of moments and the second, the boundary element method. The advantages of boundary integral methods over alternate vector diffraction models are threefold. First, only the surface of the diffractive structure is sampled, not the entire solution space. Second, they can model both finite aperiodic and infinite periodic DOEs and, third, once the surface current distribution is determined for a given incident field, it can be used to determine the vector field amplitudes anywhere in space or over any region and/or regions of space. Results are presented for the diffraction of a TM-polarized plane wave from three conducting surfaces; a plate, grating, and diffractive lens.
Measurements and interpretation of a Jovian, near-equatorial feature

Evidence is presented to suggest that the large, rapidly moving features in Jupiter's equatorial currents are manifestations of Rossby solitary waves. Their morphological and dynamical similarity to the great red spot and the white ovals is revealed and discussed in the context of the available theory.
Genetic divergence of death valley pupfish populations: Species-specific esterases

Abstract 1. 1. Starch gel electrophoretic patterns of soluble tissue carboxylesterases suggest that five closely related, allopatric, nominal Cyprinodon (pupfish) species from Death Valley and adjacent areas are genetically distinct. At least four of the five species have the same chromosome number and yield fertile hybrid progeny in laboratory crosses; all five have identical hemoglobin and myogen electropherograms. 2. 2. Inhibitor and heat-inactivation experiments allowed empirical distinctions among the species-specific esterases; these distinctions and hybrid data were used to formulate simple genetic hypotheses. 3. 3. Only one of the resolved esterases was detectably polymorphic; the polymorphism was confined to a single species, C. nevadensis . Another esterase zone was completely divergent among two allopatric populations of C. macularius . 4. 4. The species-specificity of some of the pupfish esterases and the ecological differences among their habitats suggest that the divergent esterases may be involved in adaptation to environmental parameters. 5. 5. The results are of obvious applicability to other closely related teleost morphospecies or populations of questionable genetic distinctness.
The effects of preventive and restorative safety behaviors on a single-session of exposure therapy for contamination fear.

Abstract Background and objectives Recent research suggests that safety behaviors (SB) may not preclude treatment gains in exposure-based therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, it is relatively unknown what specific types of SBs may be detrimental to the therapeutic process, with some arguing that SBs be classified based on their function. The current study sought to examine the extent to which different SBs enhanced or weakened symptoms of contamination fear during a single session of exposure. Methods Sixty-seven non-clinical students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) exposure with no SBs (NSB), (2) exposure with preventive SBs (PSB), or (3) exposure with restorative SBs (RSB). Results Among the primary outcome measures, greater reductions in fear and behavioral avoidance were found for RSB in comparison to PSB, and the gains made by RSB were generalizable to other sources of potential contamination. Furthermore, RSB resulted in more rapid reductions in fear and disgust across repeated exposure trials. Limitations Limitations include the use of a nonclinical student sample. Conclusions Overall, the current study suggests that RSB may be beneficial as an adjunct to therapy whereas PSB are potentially detrimental. Results of the study are discussed in terms of exposure theories and the treatment of anxiety disorders.
The influence of temperature on the solubility of monosodium urate.

The limited solubility of monosodium urate in the presence of physiological sodium concentrations is shown to fall sharply with decreasing temperature. It is suggested that this phenomenon may play a role in determining the clinically observed distribution of tophi and the susceptibility of certain joints to acute gouty arthritis.
Deadline-based workload management for MapReduce environments: Pieces of the performance puzzle

Hadoop and the associated MapReduce paradigm, has become the de facto platform for cost-effective analytics over “Big Data”. There is an increasing number of MapReduce applications associated with live business intelligence that require completion time guarantees. In this work, we introduce and analyze a set of complementary mechanisms that enhance workload management decisions for processing MapReduce jobs with deadlines. The three mechanisms we consider are the following: 1) a policy for job ordering in the processing queue; 2) a mechanism for allocating a tailored number of map and reduce slots to each job with a completion time requirement; 3) a mechanism for allocating and deallocating (if necessary) spare resources in the system among the active jobs. We analyze the functionality and performance benefits of each mechanism via an extensive set of simulations over diverse workload sets. The proposed mechanisms form the integral pieces in the performance puzzle of automated workload management in MapReduce environments.
An Efficient Estimator for the Expected Value of Sample Information.

Background. Conventional estimators for the expected value of sample information (EVSI) are computationally expensive or limited to specific analytic scenarios. I describe a novel approach that allows efficient EVSI computation for a wide range of study designs and is applicable to models of arbitrary complexity. Methods.The posterior parameter distribution produced by a hypothetical study is estimated by reweighting existing draws from the prior distribution. EVSI can then be estimated using a conventional probabilistic sensitivity analysis, with no further model evaluations and with a simple sequence of calculations (Algorithm 1). A refinement to this approach (Algorithm 2) uses smoothing techniques to improve accuracy. Algorithm performance was compared with the conventional EVSI estimator (2-level Monte Carlo integration) and an alternative developed by Brennan and Kharroubi (BK), in a cost-effectiveness case study. Results. Compared with the conventional estimator, Algorithm 2 exhibited a root mean s...
The effect of luteal phase vaginal estradiol supplementation on the success of in vitro fertilization treatment: a prospective randomized study

Objective To determine whether the use of luteal phase vaginal E 2 supplementation improves clinical pregnancy rates in patients undergoing IVF treatment. Design Prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting University-based tertiary fertility center. Patient(s) One hundred sixty-six patients undergoing their first cycle of IVF treatment. Intervention(s) Patients underwent three different protocols for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF treatment with long GnRH agonist suppression, use of GnRH antagonist, or a microdose GnRH agonist protocol. Luteal phase support was in the form of IM P. Patients randomized into the study group (n = 84) received E 2 supplementation in the form of vaginal estrace 2 mg twice a day starting on the day of ET. Patients randomized to the control group (n = 82) received no E 2 supplementation. Main Outcome Measure(s) Clinical pregnancy rates. Result(s) There were no significant differences in the implantation (56/210 [26.7%] vs. 64/203 [31.5%]), clinical pregnancy (42/84 [50%] vs. 52/82 [63.4%]), and ongoing pregnancy rates (40/84 [47.6%] vs. 46/82 [56.1%]) between the study and control groups, respectively. In the subgroup of patients who used the long GnRH agonist suppression protocol, there was a lower clinical pregnancy rate in the study group compared with the control group (27/55 [49.1%] vs. 42/59 [71.2%]). There were, however, no differences in clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups in patients who used either the GnRH antagonist or microdose GnRH agonist protocols. Conclusion(s) The addition of vaginal E 2 supplementation to routine P supplementation for luteal support does not improve the probability of conception after IVF treatment.
Transgenic mice as model systems for studying gene mutations in vivo

Transgenic mice carrying bacterial reporter genes have been developed to study spontaneous or induced mutations in vivo. Mutations can be analysed upon the efficient retrieval of reporter genes from mouse genomic DNA into a suitable bacterial host. These systems allow, for the first time, the direct correlation of mutational mechanisms in vivo with their ultimate physiological endpoints, for example, cancer or ageing.
Positive Emotion and Health: Going Beyond the Negative.

This study examined the relationships between positive emotions and health. Two positive emotions were considered, hope and curiosity, in conjunction with 3 physician-diagnosed disease outcomes: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory tract infections. Medical data were abstracted over a 2-year period from 1,041 patient records from a multispecialty medical practice, and emotions were assessed through a mailed questionnaire. Across 3 disease outcomes, higher levels of hope were associated with a decreased likelihood of having or developing a disease. Higher levels of curiosity were also associated with decreased likelihood of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Results suggest that positive emotion may play a protective role in the development of disease.
Red Light Means Stop! Teaching Theology through Exposure Learning in Manila's Red Light District

This paper explores exposure learning as a strategy for teaching theology in a Christian seminary, by describing and analyzing one multicultural Asian class's exposure to the “Red Light Districts” of Manila (Philippines). Exposures consist of short-term experiential learning events through participation and immersion into a specific context, preceded and followed by a process of study and reflection. Exposure learning has the potential to minimize certain forms of student resistance around emotionally-charged subjects, such as the integration of race, class, and gender into theological education, because it is the experience together with shared critical reflection on it and not the teacher's viewpoints per se that unsettle prior interpretive frameworks. Exposure learning also carries certain risks and ethical dilemmas, and its long-term effects on transformation remain unclear. In spite of these pedagogical issues which the paper explores in detail, the paper supports exposure learning as an alternative experiential form of education for transformation.
Super-Resolution Tracking and Imaging of IgE Receptors during Stimulation by Antigen

In mast cells, cross-linking of IgE bound to FceR1 receptors with multivalent antigen initiates cell activation and consequent inflammatory responses. Clustered IgE-FceRI interacts with early signaling partners such as Lyn, Syk, and LAT, initiating a signaling cascade. Our previous scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies quantified the nanoscale co-redistribution of FceRI with Lyn, Syk, and LAT within the plasma membrane upon antigen stimulation. Here we use super-resolution localization microscopy to localize proteins on the cell surface with sub-diffraction resolution using a TIR fluorescence microscope. We present, in snapshots, the time-dependence of IgE receptor reorganization after antigen addition using chemically fixed cells and quantify the extent of clustering using pair autocorrelation functions. We have validated our methods for quantifying and correcting for artifactual clustering due to probe over-counting through two-color experiments where individual IgE proteins are labeled with one of two species of distinguishable fluorescent probe and imaged at sub-diffraction resolution in multiple color channels. Here clustering is quantified using pair cross-correlation functions. Results of one- and two-color super-resolution measurements agree well with conclusions from SEM experiments. We have also extended this technique to imaging living cells at room temperature to measure IgE receptor redistribution in real time. We quantify the organization and diffusion behavior of proteins undergoing stimulated responses with the excellent statistics afforded by the technique. Live cell experiments are conducted under a variety of stimulation conditions, such as in the presence of drugs that perturb membrane physical state or affect actin cytoskeleton assembly. Our results confirm that super-resolution imaging is an effective tool for quantitative imaging of cellular components at the nanoscale. Our ongoing studies are providing new information to clarify the physical basis for spatial assembly of specific proteins in the plasma membrane during early signaling events.
Reliability of Theophylline Clearance in Determining Maintenance Intravenous Aminophylline Therapy

Although theophylline has long been the primary drug used for the management of reversible obstructive airway disease, current recommendations for determining theophylline dosage have not been dependable and, when applied to individual patients, have resulted in a wide range of serum theophylline concentrations (STC) and frequent adverse reactions.1–3 The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability of using theophylline clearance values to adjust the theophylline infusion rate to achieve a desired STC and to determine the minimum time required for administration of a continuous theophylline infusion in a given population of patients before obtaining a single STC for the clinically reliable calculation of theophylline clearance.
Meson Dynamics and the Nuclear Many-Body Problem. I. The Free-Nucleon Problem

Relativistic nucleon-meson field theory is cast in a form appropriate to the nuclear many-body problem. Martin-Schwinger thermodynamic Green's functions are employed. The $n$-nucleon Green's functions satisfy a set of coupled equations which is formally identical to those of the usual potential many-body problem. Here, however, the two-body potential is replaced by a time-dependent interaction in which the mesons are formally eliminated in favor of higher-order nucleon correlations. A general program of increasing complexity for obtaining approximate solutions to the equations is discussed. It is necessary to solve the "vacuum" (one-, two-, etc., nucleon propagator) first. This has been done in the "Hartree-Fock" approximation which sums all diagrams containing a single continuous nucleon line with all possible uncrossed $\ensuremath{\pi}$ and $\ensuremath{\omega}$ meson lines. Peaks in the spectral function are identified with masses of known ${N}^{*}$ resonances. The appearance of ghost states, which arise in the process of mass and wave-function renormalization, is discussed. The resultant Green's function is used to calculate the magnetic moment of the nucleon, yielding a significantly better isovector component of the magnetic moment than the usual perturbation theory, although the isoscalar component is poor in both cases.
Why we need a revolution in strategic planning

Abstract The author uses a metaphorical concept of Newtonian planning in an Einsteinian environment to express the predicament facing planners in an environment subject to sudden and unpredictable change. The conventional ‘Newtonian’ approach assumes a sense of order and control whereas the current environment is turbulent, disordered and potentially out of control. He makes recomendations for strategic planners that accept the limitations of existing and foreseeable analytical techniques.
Conceptual and Empirical Issues in Child Custody Evaluations

Mental health professionals evaluate families involved in custody disputes in order to provide information and make placement or visitation recommendations. This article explores the value, theoretical, empirical, and measurement issues in child custody evaluations. We conclude that (1) value issues need to be explicated, (2) theories need to be developed so that relevant variables are specified and their relationships to outcome states are hypothesized, (3) further longitudinal research on the adjustment process of divorce needs to be conducted, and (4) valid assessment strategies need to be developed to assess relevant constructs. Given the state of knowledge in each of these problem areas, we argue that currently mental health professionals may have little accurate Information or warranted recommendations to offer.
Adaptation of gaze anchoring through practice in young and older adults

During visually guided manual movements, gaze is usually fixated to a target until a pointing movement is completed to that target, showing gaze anchoring. We previously examined gaze anchoring during a two-segment eye-hand task under a low accuracy constraint. Eye movements were made to predetermined first and second targets, while hand movements were varied across two conditions: (1) stop at the first target and discontinue (HS1) and (2) stop at both the first and the second targets (HS1S2). Young adults previously broke gaze anchoring at the first target only when the second pointing was excluded (HS1). However, older adults did not break gaze anchoring for either condition. The present study further investigated whether young and older adults break gaze anchoring through short-term practice under the same conditions. An HS1 practice proceeded to an HS1S2 practice. The results showed that the timing of terminating gaze anchoring relative to pointing completion oscillated considerably during the HS1 practice until it was stabilized. Conversely, that timing was stable during the HS1S2 practice. Nevertheless, the young adults benefited from the HS1 practice and broke gaze anchoring even when the second pointing was included in HS1S2. This indicates that gaze anchoring to pointing completion is not a prerequisite for the production of subsequent pointing. By contrast, older adults did not improve the timing of gaze anchoring termination for either practice condition, thereby failing to break gaze anchoring. Thus, aging compromises a predictive control of terminating gaze anchoring relative to pointing completion, which is difficult to overcome through short-term practice.
A Latent Entanglement Model: Effects of Irregularities of the Crystallite Surface on Polymer Draw

In a previous study on the drawing of polyethylene nascent reactor powders, the maximum achievable uniaxial draw ratio, DR, was found to be strongly dependent on prior synthesis conditions. Samples synthesized at 85 °C by a slurry process had the highest ductility. Synthesis at lower temperatures (60 and 30 °C) led to samples of lower DR. The highest achievable ductility is believed to correspond to the lowest entanglement density, but simple models suggest that lower synthesis temperatures should produce fewer entanglements. However, low crystallization temperatures lead to irregular fold surfaces, and these irregularities or defects can convert into entanglements when folded chain segments are drawn out of the crystals into more extended conformations. We have called these defects “latent entanglements”. This concept can explain experimental data on the structure and drawability of certain classes of nascent reactor powders and can prove helpful to the goal of tailoring ductility by control of synthesis.
Performance assessment and optimization of motion planning in a surgical trainer for potential space applications

Medical surgeries in the space environment, including long term space travel (e.g., to Mars) and permanent presence on other planetary bodies (e.g., Moon and Mars), are posing an inherent logistical, and in the absence of appropriately trained personnel (i.e., surgeons), even a potentially life-threatening challenge. As a potential mitigation the use of an existing surgical trainer tool that would allow crewmembers to acquire basic surgical skills is proposed, and to train space station personnel both in space and on the Moon and Mars to hone these skills long-term. Furthermore, this tool would potentially allow for tele-conducted surgeries, akin to the da Vinci Surgical System, controlled from Earth but executed onboard, e.g., the International Space Station. On Earth the surgical trainer can be used to train surgeons and flight surgeons. The efficiency of any surgical training system plays a significant role in its reduction of operative risks and stress associated with insufficient experience of the trainee. The primary goal of such systems is to raise the trainee to a higher level of proficiency without putting patients at risk in the operating room. The prototype for the Computer Assisted Surgical Trainer (CAST) being developed at the University of Arizona realizes an optimal motion-planning algorithm. The underlying system consists of mechanical fixtures equipped with encoders and DC motors. This hardware provides a means to accurately track the tip movements of laparoscopic instruments used in minimally invasive surgery. Furthermore it provides haptic and visual feedback to trainees by using a PID controller and augmented reality visualization. Examples of surgical guidance and the improvement of surgeon performance over time using CAST are presented.
NEWCOMER PROGRAMS An Educational Alternative for Secondary Immigrant Students

This article examines the small but growing presence of newcomer programs being implemented in urban middle and high school settings across the United States. The article provides the rationale for...
Cation-induced π-stacking

The design and synthesis of a new dipyridyl ligand with appended phenanthryl moieties is described. On addition of increments of silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate to a solution of the ligand, the phenanthryl protons shift upfield in the 1H NMR spectrum, suggesting that the phenanthrenes π-stack on coordination of silver(I). In accord with this, the oxidation potential decreased from 1.74 to 1.55 V on complexation of silver(I). The π-stacking was confirmed with the single-crystal X-ray structure of a palladium(II) coordination complex.
All your iFRAMEs point to Us

As the web continues to play an ever increasing role in information exchange, so too is it becoming the prevailing platform for infecting vulnerable hosts. In this paper, we provide a detailed study of the pervasiveness of so-called drive-by downloads on the Internet. Drive-by downloads are caused by URLs that attempt to exploit their visitors and cause malware to be installed and run automatically. Over a period of 10 months we processed billions of URLs, and our results shows that a non-trivial amount, of over 3 million malicious URLs, initiate drive-by downloads. An even more troubling finding is that approximately 1.3% of the incoming search queries to Google's search engine returned at least one URL labeled as malicious in the results page. We also explore several aspects of the drive-by downloads problem. Specifically, we study the relationship between the user browsing habits and exposure to malware, the techniques used to lure the user into the malware distribution networks, and the different properties of these networks.
Quality and economies of scale in higher education

This study attempts to develop and empirically estimate an average cost and output reltion for average total for higher education. Statistical results based on data for top PhD granting institutions suggest there are economies of scale in higher education. Academic reputation is also an important variable in explaining variations in average total cost.
The activity involvement of women and men in young and middle adulthood: A panel study

Abstract In a secondary analyses of a 36‐year panel study of 267 Euro‐American women and men, this research examined gender differences in (a) the frequency of individuals’ involvement in discretionary or free‐time activity in young and middle adulthood, (b) change in activity involvement between young and middle adulthood, and (c) predictors of activity involvement in young and middle adulthood. Activity involvement included participation in recreational, formal and informal educational, and voluntary (club and organizational) activities. Results of this panel study suggest both change and continuity in activity involvement with age. Results also indicate that gender distinguishes patterns and predictors of participation in discretionary activity.
Artificial neural networks in the solution of inverse electromagnetic field problems

The use of artificial neural networks in the solution of inverse electromagnetic field problems is investigated. It is shown that artificial neural networks, while being no panacea, have a role to play in a limited domain of applications-that is, while it is ineffective to train networks to cover a broad class of devices, it is indeed possible to develop well-trained networks that function effectively over a narrow range of performance of a particular class of device. Particularly if one knows the desired geometry approximately and uses training sets around this geometry, simple neural networks with a few training sets can be used to do an effective job. However, neural networks cannot be used efficiently without such prior knowledge. >
Intersection of two signalling pathways: extracellular nucleotides regulate pollen germination and pollen tube growth via nitric oxide

Plant and animal cells release or secrete ATP by various mechanisms, and this activity allows extracellular ATP to serve as a signalling molecule. Recent reports suggest that extracellular ATP induces plant responses ranging from increased cytosolic calcium to changes in auxin transport, xenobiotic resistance, pollen germination, and growth. Although calcium has been identified as a secondary messenger for the extracellular ATP signal, other parts of this signal transduction chain remain unknown. Increasing the extracellular concentration of ATPgammaS, a poorly-hydrolysable ATP analogue, inhibited both pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, while the addition of AMPS had no effect. Because pollen tube elongation is also sensitive to nitric oxide, this raised the possibility that a connection exists between the two pathways. Four approaches were used to test whether the germination and growth effects of extracellular ATPgammaS were transduced via nitric oxide. The results showed that increases in extracellular ATPgammaS induced increases in cellular nitric oxide, chemical agonists of the nitric oxide signalling pathway lowered the threshold of extracellular ATPgammaS that inhibits pollen germination, an antagonist of guanylate cyclase, which can inhibit some nitric oxide signalling pathways, blocked the ATPgammaS-induced inhibition of both pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, and the effects of applied ATPgammaS were blocked in nia1nia2 mutants, which have diminished NO production. The concurrence of these four data sets support the conclusion that the suppression of pollen germination and pollen tube elongation by extracellular nucleotides is mediated in part via the nitric oxide signalling pathway.
Large core single-mode chirally-coupled-core fibers for high power fiber lasers

Novel chirally-coupled-core (CCC) fibers enabled large-core laser systems operating robustly-singlemode, independently of fiber excitation, splicing and coiling conditions. A variety of high power continuous-wave, nanosecond-pulse and femtosecond-pulse fiber-laser systems have been demonstrated using CCC fibers.
Thalamo-cortical connections of areas 3a and M1 in marmoset monkeys.

The present investigation is part of a broader effort to examine cortical areas that contribute to manual dexterity, reaching, and grasping. In this study we examine the thalamic connections of electrophysiologically defined regions in area 3a and architectonically defined primary motor cortex (M1). Our studies demonstrate that area 3a receives input from nuclei associated with the somatosensory system: the superior, inferior, and lateral divisions of the ventral posterior complex (VPs, VPi, and VPl, respectively). Surprisingly, area 3a receives the majority of its input from thalamic nuclei associated with the motor system, posterior division of the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus (VL), the mediodorsal nucleus (MD), and intralaminar nuclei including the central lateral nucleus (CL) and the centre median nucleus (CM). In addition, sparse but consistent projections to area 3a are from the anterior pulvinar (Pla). Projections from the thalamus to the cortex immediately rostral to area 3a, in the architectonically defined M1, are predominantly from VL, VA, CL, and MD. There is a conspicuous absence of inputs from the nuclei associated with processing somatic inputs (VP complex). Our results indicate that area 3a is much like a motor area, in part because of its substantial connections with motor nuclei of the thalamus and motor areas of the neocortex (Huffman et al. [2000] Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 25:1116). The indirect input from the cerebellum and basal ganglia via the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus supports its role in proprioception. Furthermore, the presence of input from somatosensory thalamic nuclei suggests that it plays an important role in somatosensory and motor integration. J. Comp. Neurol. 435:291–310, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Characterization and mass spectral analysis of some grayanotoxin derivatives

The mass spectra of grayanotoxin III and some of its mono-, di, and tri-ester derivatives are discussed. Some of the physiological responses of this compound class are also presented. The extraction of this material from a natural source is discussed as well as the schemes for ester derivatization and spectral characterization of all compounds studied. High resolution mass spectral analysis and comparison of the mass spectra of similar compounds were used to define possible fragmentation mechanisms.
Encrypted objects and decryption processes: problem-solving with functions in a learning environment based on cryptography

This paper introduces an applied problem-solving task, set in the context of cryptography and embedded in a network of computer-based tools. This designed learning environment engaged students in a series of collaborative problem-solving activities intended to introduce the topic of functions through a set of linked representations. In a classroom-based study, students were asked to imagine themselves as cryptanalysts, and to collaborate with the other members of their small group on a series of increasingly difficult problem-solving tasks over several sessions. These tasks involved decrypting text messages that had been encrypted using polynomial functions as substitution ciphers. Drawing on the distinction between viewing functions as processes and as objects, the paper presents a detailed analysis of two groups’ developing fluency with regard to these tasks, and of the aspects of the function concept underlying their problem-solving approaches. Results of this study indicated that different levels of expertise with regard to the task environment reflected and required different aspects of functions, and thus represented distinct opportunities to engage those different aspects of the function concept.
Making the Most of Field-Measurable Ground Water Quality Parameters

The primary ground water quality parameters temperature, pH, Eh, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen must be measured in the field, though not necessarily in situ, to avoid errors caused by contamination such as aeration. These measurements, when made during the purging of a well, can be used to verify aquifer-representativeness of a sample, detect abnormalities within an aquifer, check laboratory measurements to detect sample deterioration, and prompt further monitoring actions. Electronic sensors are available for reliable field measurement of the primary parameters. Measurements should be made continuously in an in-line flow cell that is sealed from the atmosphere. Flow can be provided by a bladder pump dedicated to a single well. Samples for laboratory analysis should be collected when the values of the primary parameters do not vary more than 10 percent per casing volume pumped.
Acoustic band gap-enabled high-Q micro-mechanical resonators

We report high-quality factor (e.g., more than 6,000) silicon resonators operating at high frequencies (∼130 MHz) based on phononic crystals which are a new class of materials with artificially-engineerable phononic (or acoustic) properties. The resonators use the complete acoustic (or phononic) band gap of the designed crystal and are fabricated using a CMOS-compatible micromachining technology. As it will be discussed in this paper, these proof-of-concept phononic crystal resonators show the great potential of phononic crystal structures for efficiently confining and manipulating mechanical energy at the micrometer and nanometer length scales to surpass the performance of the conventional micromechanical devices used in wireless communication and sensing systems.