cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Schemas in Problem Solving: Schemas and assessment

The purpose of part IV is to describe some of the important issues involved in assessing schema knowledge. The primary focus is on assessing learning that accrues from schema-based instruction. In its simplest form, the argument presented here states that there should be a common theory governing instruction, the learning that occurs as a result of the instruction, and the assessment of the learning. I propose that schema theory uniquely provides the needed framework for all three. Instruction and learning from instruction have been the topics of the previous two parts. Now, the focus shifts to issues of assessment. To some degree, the ideas offered here have already been introduced, because it has been impossible to discuss the evaluation of learning from schema-based assessment without delving into some of the assessment questions and techniques. These issues are elaborated more fully here. The two chapters of part IV describe the theory and practice of schema-based assessment. Chapter 10 looks at the theoretical issues that accompany schema-based assessment. Chapter 11 describes assessment as it is performed in SPS and PSE, pointing out how the theory can be put into practice and examining some of the unique features of the evaluation in these systems.
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization and bloodstream infection: prevalence, risk factors, and the impact on early outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Background Screening for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is performed at many transplant centers, but data on the impact of VRE colonization and bloodstream infection (BSI) on hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes remain conflicting. Methods Consecutive adults with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent allogeneic HCT between 2004 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were screened by perirectal PCR swabs targeting vanA and vanB twice weekly while inpatient. Results Of a total of 203 patients (median age 54 years), 73 (36%) were VRE colonized prior to HCT, 23 (11%) became colonized within the first 100 days, and 107 (53%) remained non-colonized through day 100 post HCT. A landmark analysis on HCT day 0 revealed no significant difference in overall survival according to pre-transplant colonization status (P=.20). However, patients with subsequent VRE colonization within the first 100 days of HCT had a significantly worse survival on both univariable (P=.04) and multivariable (P=.03) analyses. During the first 30 days post HCT, 11 (5% of total and 11% of the VRE colonized) patients developed VRE BSI. Ten (91%) of these had screened positive for VRE colonization before the bacteremia. Age ≥60 years, HCT-comorbidity index ≥3, and VRE colonization were independent risk factors for VRE BSI on multivariable analysis (P=.04, .03, .003, respectively). Only 1 (9%) patient with VRE BSI died within the first 100 days post HCT. Conclusion VRE colonization is a surrogate marker and not an independent predictor of worse outcomes post HCT. VRE BSI is associated with increased morbidity, but does not impact post-HCT survival.
Modeling Evolution by Evolutionary Machines: A New Perspective on Computational Theory and Practice

The main goal of this paper is the further development of the foundations of evolutionary computations, connecting classical ideas in the theory of algorithms and the contemporary state of art in evolutionary computations. To achieve this goal, we develop a general approach to evolutionary processes in the computational context, building mathematical models of computational systems, called evolutionary machines or automata. We introduce two classes of evolutionary automata: basic evolutionary automata and general evolutionary automata. Relations between computing power of these classes are explored. Additionally, several other classes of evolutionary machines are investigated, such as bounded, periodic and recursively generated evolutionary machines. Dierent properties of these evolutionary machines are obtained.
Cosmic Microwave Background experiments — past, present and future

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is the oldest electromagnetic radiation to reach the earth. Measurements of this radiation play a central role in modern Cosmology. In this presentation, I will describe the information that can be obtained from measurements of the CMB. The importance of these measurements is such that there have been two rounds of Nobel Prizes. The field has been advanced by small ground- and balloon-based measurements followed by space missions including COBE and WMAP. The Planck mission will be launched next year. A new generation of ground-based observations is now beginning, which may lead to yet another space mission. The requirements for such measurements have strongly driven the development of direct detection systems at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. The physical and practical issues that generally favor the use of coherent receivers (now based on HEMT amplifiers) at frequencies below -90 GHz and bolometric detectors at higher frequencies will be discussed. The development of this field will be illustrated by describing generic types of technology developments and of experiments.
Market Segmentation Factors and Marketing Strategies in Flower and Garden Plants Business: A Case of Ongkharak District, Thailand

Small scale business has never played an important role in the economy as it is today. This study, therefore, aims to investigate small business enterprise with emphasis on flowers and garden plants. Specifically, it intends to identify market segmentation factors and practical small business marketing strategies utilized by flowers and garden plants entrepreneurs. This investigation used survey research with questionnaires as the data collection instrument. A total of one hundred samples were collected for analysis. The basic statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, and ranking. The result of the analysis showed that most of the key marketing segmentation factors are very important in the thriving business of flowers and garden plants. In addition, entrepreneurs relied on marketing mix strategies and consider the product, price, place or distribution channel as very important elements while promotion as moderately important.
Adaptive Neural Control Algorithm Design for Attitude Stabilization of Quadrotor UAV

This paper presents a new adaptive neural network control scheme to stabilize the attitude of the quadrotor helicopter. The dynamic model was developed via Newton−Euler formalism. The robust adaptive control is then realized using neural network (NN) algorithm based on a PID controller in the aim to adjust its gain parameters. The proposed algorithm is developed to adapt the structure of the conventional PID controller to a dynamic PID controller. Finally, the proposed controller is compared with that classical PID controller using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results show that the neural PID controller produces better performance than the conventional one, particularly in case of perturbation.
Promoting the behaviorological analysis of verbal behavior.

Abstract An important contribution of radical behavioral science is its analysis of verbal behavior. Slowly but surely an increasing number of efforts verify the propositions explicit or inherent in Skinner's theory of verbal behavior, or apply his analysis to clinical or educational practice. But both the theory and the effort to apply it are met with silence. Such silent neglect simply varies the calumnious attention usually given to behavioristic science. In recent years several papers have called attention to how non-behaviorists have habitually misrepresented the science of behavior and its underlying philosophy of radical behaviorism (Cooke, 1984; DellaLana, 1982; Morris, 1985; Todd, 1987a; Todd & Morris, 1981; Todd & Morris, 1983). These authors offer various solutions. Their preferred strategy stresses an increased effort to disseminate accurate information about behavioristic science to the press and to the world at large. They generally address, however, errors of commission, not omission. Further, their solutions tend to dwell on “processes” instead of “products.” This paper first reviews the problem of misrepresentation of the science. It then addresses the principal error of omission in the psychological literature, and offers a solution based on achieving new products resulting from new verbal behavior technology.
In Defense of Brain Death: Replies to Don Marquis, Michael Nair-Collins, Doyen Nguyen, and Laura Specker Sullivan

In this paper, I defend brain death as a criterion for determining death against objections raised by Don Marquis, Michael Nair-Collins, Doyen Nguyen, and Laura Specker Sullivan. I argue that any definition of death for beings like us relies on some sortal concept by which we are individuated and identified and that the choice of that concept in a practical context is not determined by strictly biological considerations but involves metaphysical, moral, social, and cultural considerations. This view supports acceptance of a more pluralistic legal definition of death as well as acceptance of brain death as death.
Broadband High Channel Count Optical Fiber Interface for Silicon Photonics using Polymer Waveguides

We present an optical interface for silicon photonics based on adiabatic optical coupling to polymer waveguides, polarization insensitive and scalable to high optical channel count systems. Coupling losses below 1.5 dB were achieved for the entire O- and C-band.
Pregnancy and Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is increasing in incidence worldwide, including pregnant women who are highly vulnerable to its effects. Pregnant women should be screened routinely for substance abuse. Because self-report may be unreliable, toxicology screens can be useful, especially if multiple drugs are being abused. Each individual drug has unique maternal and fetal effects. Licit substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine are more frequently abused. Complete cessation of alcohol should be encouraged to avoid the development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and long-term neurobehavioral effects. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug. Opioid maintenance programs can be utilized in opioid addicted patients (including heroin and cocaine) to avoid relapses. Neonatal abstinence syndrome should be expected in these infants and managed appropriately.
Bioengineering of Meat

Americans are inundated with warnings about the health risks of consuming certain types/classes of foods. A recent report from the National Research Council, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cites the recommendations of both medical and health professionals who urge reduced consumption of dietary fat; particularly that of animal origin. Furthermore, consumers are becoming more health and weight conscious with a growing preference for leaner meat. In the search to offer consumers foods which are lower in fat content, new technologies and production methods appear to hold promise for improving the nutritional attributes of animal products (meat).
Sleep: Neural Systems

Contrary to popular belief, brain activity neither ceases nor uniformly decreases during sleep. Instead, while some neurons decrease their output, others increase and it is this reciprocal activation and inactivation that gives sleep its dynamic organization. Depending upon the brain region and the chemical character of the neurons under study, sleep may be profound and relatively unconscious (as in Stages III and IV of non-REM sleep) or lighter with varying degrees of conscious experience (as in Stages I, II, and REM sleep). The periodic alternation of sleep and waking and the cyclic alternation of the non-REM and REM phases are controlled by neurons in the hypothalamus and lower brain stem respectively. Sleep tends to occur when neurons secreting such chemicals as norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine decrease their activity and when neurons secreting acetylcholine increase their activity. This reciprocal activity is maximal during REM sleep when the overall neuronal activity of the brain level equals that of waking but when the distribution of activation is markedly different. This regional differentiation of activation and inactivation provides the physiological basis of dreaming and affords the brain the opportunity for functionally significant differences in information processing.
Treatment of Violent and Sexual Obsessions Using Exposure and Response Prevention During a Concurrent Depressive Episode

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently co-occurs during a major depressive episode (i.e., Major depressive disorder, MDD). Concurrent depressive episodes may present additional challenges a...
Disease Severity and Quality of Life Outcome Measurements in Patients With Keloids: A Systematic Review.

Background Keloids have been assessed by numerous methods and severity indices resulting in a lack of standardization across published research. Objective This study aims to evaluate published keloid randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and identify the need for a gold standard of assessment. Methods and materials PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase were searched for human RCTs on keloid treatment during a 10-year period. Eligible studies were English language RCTs reporting disease severity outcome measures after keloid treatments. Results A total of 40 disease outcome measures were used in 41 included RCTs. Twenty-four (59%) of the included studies used more than one disease severity scale. The most frequently used outcome measures were the Vancouver Scar Scale (34%) (n = 14), followed by serial photography (24%) (n = 10). These were followed by adverse events and complications (20%) (n = 8), Visual Analogue Scale (12%) (n = 5), keloid dimensions (12%) (n = 5), and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (10%) (n = 4). Only one study reported quality of life outcomes. Conclusion There is wide variation in keloid outcome measures in the published literature. A standardized method of assessment should be implemented to reduce the disparities between studies and to better be able to compare the numerous treatment modalities.
Simulating the world

We have a way to predict – and change – the future. Should we use it? Graham Lawton reports
Flash: scalable spatial probabilistic graphical modeling

The current explosion in spatial data raises the need for efficient spatial analysis tools to extract useful information from such data. Spatial probabilistic graphical modeling (SPGM) is an important class of spatial data analysis that provides efficient probabilistic graphical models for spatial data. Unfortunately, existing SPGM tools are neither generic nor scalable when dealing with big spatial data. In this work, we present Flash; a framework for generic and scalable spatial probabilistic graphical modeling (SPGM). Flash exploits Markov Logic Networks (MLN) to express SPGM as a set of declarative logical rules. In addition, it provides spatial variations of the scalable RDBMS-based learning and inference techniques of MLN to efficiently perform SPGM predictions. We have evaluated Flash, based on three real spatial analysis applications, and achieved at least two orders of magnitude speed up in learning the modeling parameters over state-of-the-art computational methods.
Prediction of mechanical properties of fused filament fabricated structures via asymptotic homogenization

Abstract Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is one of the most commonly practiced additive manufacturing processes due to its low-cost nature. However, there are many challenges faced by fused filament fabrication process with the most prominent examples being ability to produce stronger parts, general understanding of mechanics going into the process, limited printing envelope and etc. One of these challenges is the ability to predict mechanical behavior of the printed parts under external loads which is crucial to any engineering design and is an obstacle for the FFF-made parts. This study reports the application of asymptotic homogenization as a tool for predicting the mechanical properties of fused filament fabricated thermoplastics with line infill, grid infill, and gyroid structures. Predicted properties are vertified using microstructural and experimental analysis.
Receptor tyrosine kinase activation: From the ligand perspective.

Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are single-span transmembrane receptors in which relatively conserved intracellular kinase domains are coupled to divergent extracellular modules. The extracellular domains initiate receptor signaling upon binding to either soluble or membrane-embedded ligands. The diversity of extracellular domain structures allows for coupling of many unique signaling inputs to intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation. The combinatorial power of this receptor system is further increased by the fact that multiple ligands can typically interact with the same receptor. Such ligands often act as biased agonists and initiate distinct signaling responses via activation of the same receptor. Mechanisms behind such biased agonism are largely unknown for RTKs, especially at the level of receptor–ligand complex structure. Using recent progress in understanding the structures of active RTK signaling units, we discuss selected mechanisms by which ligands couple receptor activation to distinct signaling outputs.
Initial Conditions for Convection-Allowing Ensembles over the Conterminous United States

AbstractFive sets of 48-h, 10-member, convection-allowing ensemble (CAE) forecasts with 3-km horizontal grid spacing were systematically evaluated over the conterminous United States with a focus o...
Insights on keto-hydroperoxide formation from O2 addition to the beta-tetrahydrofuran radical

Abstract Cyclic ethers provide an interesting case study of low-temperature oxidation chemistry, especially in relevance to biofuels. A recent experimental study (Hansen et al., 2019) revealed new questions regarding the low-temperature oxidation mechanism of tetrahydrofuran (THF) concerning the formation of keto-hydroperoxides. In particular, keto-hydroperoxides originating from the THF-β radical were not captured accurately by current literature models, motivating this work to calculate the energetics of the first and second O2-addition pathways for THF radicals. Electronic structure calculations at the CCSD(T)/cc-pV∞Z//M06-2X/cc-pVTZ level of theory were used to generate potential energy surfaces for the α-C and β-C THF radicals and subsequent pathways to the formation of the keto-hydroperoxide isomers. These are the first theoretical calculations of the second O2-addition radical pathways for the THF-β radical. Results from the theorical work provided further insight into the low-temperature oxidation of THF. This included identifying the pathways most likely to form the keto-hydroperoxide isomers observed in prior experimental work; and detecting that the shortcomings in prior models are likely due to uncertainties in R + THF abstraction reaction rates. These conclusions will motivate future work for accurate THF kinetic model development.
Patient Reported Outcomes In Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy

Background Amyloidosis cardiomyopathy is a systemic disease with high risk of disability and death. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are validated tools that measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and provide prognostic information in patients with heart failure. However, data on HRQoL profile and prognostic value of PROs in patients with cardiac amyloidosis are limited. Methodology This is an observational study of patients with transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) and light chain amyloidosis (AL) who completed Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) at the time of clinic visit. We examined KCCQ-12 scores and their relationship to HF hospitalization or death in both amyloidosis groups. Results A total of 81 patients were included in the study, 48 with ATTR and 33 with AL with a mean age of 78±7 years and 65±10 years, respectively. KCCQ-12 results were similar in both groups and showed significant HRQoL limitation - median summary score of 38 (IQR 24-60) for ATTR and 51 (IQR 31-73) for AL, p = 0.128. Compared to AL, patients with ATTR had more impairment in the physical limitation domain (Table). Over a median follow-up of 343 days, HF hospitalization or death occurred in 23 (48%) patients with ATTR and 17 (51%) patients with AL. KCCQ score was associated with the risk of HF hospitalization or death with a correlation ratio of 0.9 for ATTR (p=0.025) and 1.0 for AL (p=0.03). ROC AUC for KCCQ-12 ability to predict HF hospitalization or death was 0.7 (95% CI, 0.54-0.84, p = 0.026) for ATTR and 0.8 (95% CI, 0.62-0.95, p = 0.006) for AL. In ATTR, the rate of HF hospitalization or death increased proportionally with decreasing KCCQ-12 scores while in patients with AL high events rates were seen for KCCQ-12 scores 60 or lower. (Figure). Conclusions Patients with ATTR and AL amyloidosis cardiomyopathy suffer from poor HRQoL and high burden of events. Our study shows that KCCQ provides important prognostic information in these patients. Routine KCCQ assessments could be used to identify high-risk patients in need of close monitoring.
Identification of abscission checkpoint bodies as structures that regulate ESCRT factors to control abscission timing.

When a cell divides, it must first carefully duplicate its genetic information and package these copies into compartments housed in the two new cells. Errors in this process lead to genetic mistakes that trigger cancer or other harmful biological events. Quality control checks exist to catch errors before it is too late. This includes a final ‘abscission’ checkpoint right before the end of division, when the two new cells are still connected by a thin membrane bridge. If cells fail to pass this ‘no cut’ checkpoint, they delay severing their connection until the mistake is fixed. A group of proteins called ESCRTs is responsible for splitting the two cells apart if nothing is amiss. The abscission checkpoint blocks this process by altering certain proteins in the ESCRT complex, but exactly how this works is not yet clear. To find out more, Williams et al. imaged ESCRT factors in a new experimental system in which the abscission checkpoint is active in many cells. This showed that, in this context, certain ESCRT components were rerouted from the thread of membrane between the daughter cells to previously unknown structures, which Williams et al. named abscission checkpoint bodies. These entities also sequestered other factors that participate in the abscission checkpoint and factors that contribute to gene expression. These results are key to better understand how cells regulate their division; in particular, they provide a new framework to explore when this process goes wrong and contributes to cancer.
Achieving Economic Dynamism in China

Innovation is driven by having a high degree of market competition, governmental support of education, efficiency-enhancing regulations, and a legal structure that supports property rights. Innovation also depends on society having people with both the desire and opportunity to exercise their creativity and their inventiveness by coming up with original ideas and the entrepreneurial spirit to build businesses based on those ideas. China has long had high growth rates based on catching up to the world standard technologies. If China is to make the next big leap from a middle-income country into a high-income country, then China will need to both promote indigenous innovation and continue improving its institutions. But, at least as importantly, it will have to foster creativity, originality, exploration, and entrepreneurship. China has taken big steps to encourage entrepreneurship in big cities, in rural areas and small cities, and that is great. Yet, it’s one thing to realize today’s standards of productivity, and it’s another thing to be generating new stuff all the time. China is going to need people who demonstrate their creativity by conceiving and introducing original things. Only this kind of indigenous innovation can lead to permanent growth.
Cross-Sectional Imaging of the Adrenal Gland

Evaluation of the adrenal glands is a frequent indication for cross-sectional imaging, in particular in oncology patients. The following chapter reviews adrenal gross and microscopic anatomy, imaging protocols, and an algorithmic approach to evaluating adrenal masses.
Dual-Modality Preclinical SPECT/CT Instrumentation

Preclinical imaging using SPECT and small animal models provides a very high spatial resolution using pinhole geometries or other convergent collimator geometries [1, 2], typically in submillimeters [3]. In addition, multiple apertures of pinholes in combination with multiple radionuclide detectors potentially provide a desirable high detection efficiency of radionuclide gamma-ray photons [4, 5]. However, the utility of preclinical SPECT imaging is limited especially when the imaging studies require more than the functional information that SPECT alone can provide [6–8].
HIV and psoriasis

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be complicated by psoriasis and/or an inflammatory arthritis. The clinical features of the arthritis are variable, and may resemble psoriatic arthritis or Reiter’s syndrome (1,2). The fact that both psoriasis and Reiter’s syndrome may present for the first time or be exacerbated by HIV infection suggests that HIV infection enhances or triggers the expression of these diseases in a susceptible individual (1,3). These diseases show significant etiological, clinical, and histological overlap, and are considered to be part of the same disease spectrum (2).
Learning word meanings from examples

This paper describes work in progress on a computer program that uses syntactic constraints to derive the meanings of verbs from an analysis of simple English example stories. The central idea is an extension of Winston's (Winston 1975) program that learned the structural descriptions of blocks world scenes. In the new research, English verbs take the place of blocks world objects like ARCH and TOWER, with frame-based descriptions of causal relationships serving as the structural descriptions. Syntactic constraints derived from the parsing of story plots are used to drive an analogical matching procedure. Analogical matching gives a way to compare descriptions of known words to unknown words. The "meaning" of a new verb is learned by matching pan of the causal network description of a story precis containing the unknown word to a set of such descriptions derived from similar stories that contain only known words. The best match forges an assignment between objects and relations such that the unknown verb is matched to a known verb, with the assignment being guided by syntactic constraints. The causal network surrounding the unknown item is then used as a scaffolding to construct a network representing the use of the novel word in a particular context. Words (and their associated stories) that are "best matches" are grouped together into a similarity network, according to the match score.
Negotiating Languages in Immigrant Families

This study is about the multifaceted nature of language use in immigrant families. Following earlier explorations of language in the segmented assimilation framework and using adolescent and parental data from the 1995 wave of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study, this article examines how adolescents' use of English with their parents relates to their proficiency in English and ethnic languages, and their personal language preferences, as well as their parents' language proficiency and use. The findings suggested that adolescent language choice in child-parent interactions reflected the family's ways to negotiate the distinct linguistic repertoires of immigrant parents and their children. The adolescent use of English was not necessarily associated with social and emotional estrangement between generations. Even when adolescents generally preferred English, they were less likely to use English in child-parent interactions if their parents, particularly their mothers, were less proficient in English. On the other hand, adolescents were more likely to speak English to their parents if their mothers were proficient in English, regardless of what language parents used with the children. Parents who spoke to their children in English likely responded to their children's doubts about their ethnic language proficiency and were linguistically and emotionally ready to make that transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Properties of Anick’s spaces

We prove three useful properties of Anick’s space T 2n−1(pr). First, at odd primes a map from P 2n(pr) into a homotopy commutative, homotopy associative H-space X can be extended to a unique H-map from T 2n−1(pr) into X. Second, at primes larger than 3, T 2n−1(pr) is itself homotopy commutative and homotopy associative. And third, the first two properties combine to show that the order of the identity map on T 2n−1(pr) is pr.
Development by Dispossession: Terra Nullius and the Social‐Ecology of New Enclosures in Ethiopia

One of the alarming features of the intersection of the world economic crisis with the global food and energy crises has been the tidal wave of large-scale land acquisitions it has unleashed. By enclosing the village commons and extinguishing the customary rights of smallholders, these land grabs are accelerating trends toward large-scale industrial farming and tenure rearrangements favoring international agribusiness. This article situates these developments in the social space of Ethiopia and a specific historical context of transformations in state and property relations. By critically analyzing the designation of the commons as empty or underutilized spaces awaiting redemptive development, it highlights the ways in which the legitimizing claims of terra nullius efface the complex ecologies and distinctive spatial dynamics of social reproduction in the zones designated for enclosures.
Thejj-LS transformation matrices for three or more equivalentp ord electrons

The transformation coefficients (l n ∝;SLJ|ln j 1 p (J1)j 2 q (J2)J) are given for the configurationsp n andd n . It is shown that the transformation for any configuration involving incompletes, p, ord shells can be found from these coefficients.
Comparison of a few recording current meters in San Francisco Bay, California

A team of research scientists in the U.S. Geological Survey uses San Francisco Bay, California, as an outdoor laboratory to study complicated interactions of physical, chemical, and biological processes which take place in an estuarine environment. A current meter comparison study was conceived because of the need to select a suitable current meter to meet field requirements for current measurements in the Bay. The study took place in south San Francisco Bay, California, in the spring of 1977. An instrument tower which was designed to support instruments free from the conventional mooring line motions was constructed and emplaced in south San Francisco Bay. During a period of two months, four types of recording current meters have been used in the tests. The four types were: (1) Aanderaa, (2) tethered shroud-impeller, (3) drag-inclinometer, and (4) electromagnetic current meters. With the exception of the electromagnetic current meter, one of each type was mounted on the instrument tower, and one of each type was deployed on moorings near the instrument tower. In addition, a wind anemometer and a recording tide gauge were also installed on the tower. This paper discusses the characteristics of each instrument and the accuracy that each instrument can provide when used in an estuarine environment. We pay special attention to our experiences in the field operation with respect to handling of the instruments and to our experiences working up the raw data in the post-deployment data analysis.
Muslim Women's Islamic Higher Learning as a Human Right: The Action Plan

Copyright 1997, Syracuse University Press. This is a pre-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in the edited book Muslim Women and the Politics of Participation: Beijing Platform following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available through the Syracuse University Press: http://syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/index.html. See also: http://www.eself-learning-arabic.cornell.edu/publications.htm#2
Methods and models in process safety and risk management: Past, present and future

The paper reviews past progress in the development of methods and models for process safety and risk management and highlights the present research trends; also it outlines the opinions of the authors regarding the future research direction in the field. Based on the open literature published in the leading journals in the field of safety, risk and reliability, the review covers the evolution of the methods and models developed for process safety and risk management. The methods and models are categorized as qualitative, semi-quantitative, quantitative and hybrid. The progress in the last few decades is discussed in the context of the past. Developments in the current decade formulate the basis of the present trends; future directions for research in these fields are also outlined. The aim of the article is to provide a historical development in this field with respect to the driving forces behind the development. It is expected that it will help researchers and industrial practitioners to gain a better understanding of the existing concepts. At the same time the aim is to provide direction to bridge the existing gaps through research and developments.
Investigation of the output droop characteristics of parallel-connnected DC-DC converters

The analytical proof that output voltage droop characteristics of parallel-connected DC-DC power converters are only appropriate for very limited applications is presented. Because the converters are rarely made to be identical, near-uniform current-sharing without additional control can be achieved only when converters connected in parallel have similar characteristics of being very close to the ideal current sources. This can occur at a cost of poor voltage regulation. As an alternative, the current-sharing control technique, which requires no remote-sensing, is proposed. The technique ensures uniform or designated current distribution throughout the specified load range. A control circuit module is independently implemented without any preliminary knowledge or any circuit modification of the source converters. >
Variance Components: Partialled vs. Common

Conventional partialling methods and the variance components they assume or generate were shown to be inconsistent with sound conceptual models of correlation and variance components. A different approach was taken, and newer partialling and variance-isolation procedures were employed. Like conventional partialling, this approach orthogonalizes variables by partitioning the scores/observations. Unlike conventional partialling, it yields a “common” component and two “unique” components. That is, two correlated variables are broken down into three orthogonal components, as depicted by a Venn diagram of two overlapping circles. The common component, or overlap area, C, has maximum variance—as a proportion of variance it equals the correlation, r, between the variables. And the variance of each unique component is 1 – r, as opposed to 1 – r2 which is the variance of the conventional residual. In addition to being consistent with fundamental conceptualizations of correlation/association and variance components...
Annealing kinetics of electrodeposited lithium dendrites.

The densifying kinetics of lithium dendrites is characterized with effective activation energy of E_a ≈ 6 − 7 kcal mol^(−1) in our experiments and molecular dynamics computations. We show that heating lithium dendrites for 55 °C reduces the representative dendrites length λ(T,t) up to 36%. NVT reactive force field simulations on three-dimensional glass phase dendrites produced by our coarse grained Monte Carlo method reveal that for any given initial dendrite morphology, there is a unique stable atomic arrangement for a certain range of temperature, combined with rapid morphological transition (∼10 ps) within quasi-stable states involving concurrent bulk and surface diffusions. Our results are useful for predicting the inherent structural characteristics of lithium dendrites such as dominant coordination number.
Insulin-stimulated glucose transport is dependent on Golgi function in isolated working rat heart.

Abstract Insulin and epinephrine stimulate glucose uptake through distinct mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that the golgi apparatus is involved in insulin-stimulated but not epinephrine-stimulated glucose transport and phosphorylation. Methods: We perfused isolated working rat hearts with Krebs–Henseleit buffer containing [2- 3 H]glucose (5 mmol/l, 0.05 μ Ci/ml) and Na-oleate (0.4 mmol/l). In the absence or presence of the inhibitor of golgi function, brefeldin A (30 μ mol/l), either insulin (1 mU/ml), epinephrine (1 μ mol/l), or phenylephrine (100 μ mol/l) plus propranolol (10 μ mol/l, selective α -adrenergic stimulation) were added to the perfusate. Results: Cardiac power was stable in all groups (between 8.56±0.61 and 10.4±1.11 mW) and increased (34%) with addition of epinephrine, but not with selective α -adrenergic stimulation. Insulin, epinephrine, and selective α -receptor stimulation increased glucose transport and phosphorylation ( μ mol/min/g dry wt, basal: 1.19±0.13, insulin: 3.89±0.36, epinephrine: 3.46±0.27, α -stimulation: 4.08±0.40). Brefeldin A increased basal glucose transport and phosphorylation and blunted insulin-stimulated but not epinephrine-stimulated glucose transport and phosphorylation. Selective α -stimulated glucose transport and phosphorylation was also blunted by brefeldin A. Conclusions: Both insulin and α -adrenergic stimulation result in glucose transporter translocation from a pool that requires golgi function. Stimulation with epinephrine results in glucose transporter translocation from a pool that does not require golgi function. The stimulating effects of the α -adrenergic pathway on glucose transport and phosphorylation are independent of changes in cardiac performance.
Fatima Hatun née Beatrice Michiel: Renegade Women in the Early Modern Mediterranean

During the last decades of the sixteenth century, Beatrice Michiel fled an unhappy marriage in Venice for Constantinople. She converted to Islam, taking the name of Fatima, remarried, and because o...
Applications of Conventional and Non-Restrictive Multiple-Choice Examination Items.

ultiple-choice examinations can be effective, provided that the format in which each item is written is suitable for testing the mastery of the instructional objectives. All too often, the format chosen is not suitable. The typical multiple choice examination is composed of only one kind of item: a stem accompanied by several answers, one of which is correct, the others incorrect. Habit and lack of familiarity with an alternative form can account for this near-monopoly. For testing knowledge about objectives with a single answer as a solution, the conventional multiple-choice item is appropriate. However, this type of item is inadequate for measuring the learning of objectives that require several answers. To evaluate student performance on objectives of this category, items used should be capable of including variable numbers of correct answers. The purposes of this article are to reintroduce a type of item that can fulfill this requirement and to describe its applications in contrast to those of the conventional form.
WORK VALUES OF COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS

The present study compared the values of college-bound students with those of high school seniors-in-general on the Work Values Inventory. College-bound males scored significantly lower than the st...
Efficient post-optimization analysis procedure for the dynamic lot-sizing problem

Abstract In this paper, we develop an efficient post-optimization analysis procedure for the Wagner-Whitin solution to the Dynamic Lot-Sizing Problem (DLSP). The proposed procedure can be used in the context of a branch-and-bound algorithm, or in smoothing heuristic approaches for solving the Capacitated Lot-Sizing Problem (CLSP).
High Accuracy Observations of Spectrally Resolved IR Radiance from Earth Orbit: Setting the Time Scale in the Energy-Climate Debate

The development optical systems capable of determining the absolute, spectrally resolved, infrared radiance emitted from the Earth to Space to an accuracy of 0.1 K from Earth orbit are reviewed in the context of a national climate research strategy. High accuracy climate benchmark observations constitute a primary objective of the NASA CLARREO satellite mission outlined in the NRC Earth Sciences Decadal Survey released in 2007. In addition to the objective of high accuracy time series of global climate change, the CLARREO observations provide an important new approach to test and systematically improve climate forecast models by directly detecting the feedback of water vapor, clouds, and temperature forced by the release of carbon dioxide, methane, etc into the atmosphere. Both the optical system developments and the methods for testing forecast models are reviewed.
Competitive sorption between 1,3-dichlorobenzene or 2,4-dichlorophenol and natural aromatic acids in soil organic matter

Previously, we showed that sorption of anthropogenic organic compounds in soils is competitive as a result of the heterogeneous sorption potential of soil organic matter (SOM). We hypothesize that naturally occurring, low mo lecular weight organic molecules or ions could compete with anthropogenic molecules for sorption sites in SOM. We show here that natural aromatic acids suppress sorption from water of 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB) or 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by up to ∼40% to two soils, a Pahokee peat (93% SOM) and a Cheshire fine sandy loam (3% SOM). The experiments were performed at the natural pH of the soil suspension (5.0 and 5.6, respectively), at which the aromatic acids were mostly ionized. In a screen test at 100 μg/mL aromatic acid concentration, 10 out of 11 competed significantly with 2,4-DCP. Five were selected for further study: vanillic, p-hydroxybenzoic, trans-cinnamic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids. The selected five aromatic acids as well as the two anthropogenic compounds gave n...
PAI-1 deficiency attenuates the fibrogenic response to ureteral obstruction

PAI-1 deficiency attenuates the fibrogenic response to ureteral obstruction . Background Progressive renal disease is characterized by the induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), suggesting that impaired activity of the renal plasmin cascade may play a role in renal fibrosis. Methods To test this hypothesis, the severity of renal fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was compared in PAI-1 wild-type (+/+) and PAI-1 deficient (-/-) mice. The extent of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, renal plasminogen activator and plasmin activity, and renal expression of profibrotic genes was evaluated after 3, 7, and 14 days of UUO. Results Renal PAI-1 mRNA levels increased 8- to 16-fold in the +/+ mice after UUO surgery, and PAI-1 protein was detected in kidney homogenates. Interstitial fibrosis was significantly attenuated in -/- mice compared with +/+ mice at day 7 and day 14, based on the interstitial area stained with picrosirius red and total kidney collagen content. However, neither the mean renal plasminogen activator nor plasmin activities were increased in -/- mice compared with +/+ mice. The number of interstitial macrophages were significantly lower in the -/- mice three and seven days after UUO; interstitial myofibroblasts were significantly fewer at three days. At the same time points, this altered interstitial cellularity was associated with a significant reduction in renal mRNA levels for transforming growth factor-β and procollagens α1(I) and α1(III). Conclusions These studies establish an important fibrogenic role for PAI-1 in the renal fibrogenic response. The results demonstrate that one important fibrosis-promoting function of PAI-1 is its role in the recruitment of fibrosis-inducing cells, including myofibroblasts and macrophages.
Simulation of heat transfer to a canned corn starch dispersion subjected to axial rotation

Abstract A finite element based simulation software (FIDAP) was used to solve the governing mass, momentum and energy transport equations for heating a 3.5% corn starch dispersion (STD) at 121°C in a 303×406 axially rotating can. A thermorheological model for the STD was incorporated into the program. Results revealed non-uniform temperature distribution with different slowest heating point (SHP) in the can when it was stationary and continuously rotating at 15 and 146 rpm. At 146 rpm, a highly viscous layer of gelatinized starch that formed at the can wall hindered heat transfer in the radial direction resulting in slower heat penetration than at 0 and 15 rpm.
Analysis of Taurine in Blood Plasma of Epileptic Patients Using an Improved Isocratic HPLC Method for Amino Acids

Abstract An efficient, reversed-phase HPLC method is described in which 21 derivatized amino acids were isocratically separated in less than 90 minutes. An internal standard was used to improve precision and accuracy. The method, which separated taurine from α-, β-, and γ-aminobutyric acids, was used to quantify taurine levels in 83 blood plasma samples. A statistical comparison was made between taurine levels found in the plasma of epileptic and non-epileptic children.
Tailored Dielectric Properties and Tunability of Lead Free Relaxor Ba(ZrxTi1 − x)O3:MgO Composites

Among the environmental friendly lead free perovskite ferroelectrics, Barium Zirconate Titanate, Ba(Zr x Ti 1 − x )O 3 (BZT) compositions have attracted considerable attentions for the potential tunable microwave device applications such as tunable filters, resonators, phase shifters, antennas etc. To further enhance the suitability of BZT compositions and tailoring their dielectric properties, MgO has been introduced to fabricate the Ba(Zr x Ti 1 − x )O 3 :MgO composites for optimum device applications. DC electric field dependence of dielectric behavior of the ceramic composites has been studied in the temperature range from 300 K to 11 K for the tunable dielectric devices. The results have been analyzed in relation to the tunability (%) and the figure of merit (K-factor) of the tunable dielectric materials. Manipulating the Zr:Ti concentration and optimizing the percentage of MgO in BZT:MgO composites the tunable dielectric properties at desired temperature can be tailored to make it useful in an array...
The CPN−1 model with unconstrained variables

Abstract The CP N −1 model is investigated in terms of unconstrained variables in both the lagrangian and hamiltonian formulations. The presence of a gauge ambiguity is intimately related with confinement and the appearance of a dynamically generated vector field. Various aspects of the spectrum of states in the large- N limit are investigated.
Amplification circuit and microelectrode array for HL-1 Cardiomyocyte action potential measurement

We have designed and tested two amplification circuits for measuring HL-1 cardiac action potentials, single-ended and differential. We describe the improvements in performance resulting from the differential configuration. These improvements are especially important considering the cell culture's aqueous environment that experiences DC drift. In addition we have designed and fabricated a 4×4 gold microelectrode array and cultured HL-1 cells on the electrodes. The array is connected to our circuit through a custom made Pogo pin jig to allow for easy measurements from the electrodes while cells are being cultured. This setup allowed us to obtain initial results for modeling the transfer function of the cell culture as a passive device network. Testing has confirmed the circuits are capable of filtering low frequency signals including DC drift and frequencies above 5 kHz. The amplification was achieved through two gain stages with a total gain of 60 dB for the single-ended and 46 dB for the differential circuits.