cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using first-grade teacher ratings to predict third-grade english language arts and mathematics achievement on a high-stakes statewide assessment

Early childhood professional organizations support teachers as the best assessors of students’ academic, social, emotional, and physical development. This study investigates the predictive nature of teacher ratings of first-grade students’ performance on a standards-based curriculum-embedded performance assessment within the context of a state accountability system. The sample includes 4292 elementary school students cross-classified by 131 first-grade and 137 third-grade schools attended. This study uses extant statewide assessment data for students located in a state in the southeastern part of the United States. Controlling for student and school demographic variables in cross-classified random effects multilevel models, first-grade teacher ratings—as reflected by domain scores on a performance assessment—are found to positively and significantly correlate with students’ third-grade academic achievement.
Harvest the Wind: America's Journey to Jobs, Energy Independence, and Climate Stability

Review of: "Harvest the Wind: America's Journey to Jobs, Energy Independence, and Climate Stability," by Philip Warburg.
An evaluation of the rate of absorption of solar radiation in the O2(X3Σg→b1Σg) transition

The rate at which molecular oxygen absorbs radiation in the O2(X3Σg→b1Σg) transition is calculated using a line-by-line radiative transfer model. This rate is critical to the determination of the population of the O2(b1Σg) state required for studies of the O2(b1Σg→X3Σg) dayglow, the O2(a1Δg→X3Σg) dayglow, and possibly the rates of oxidation of H2 and N2O. Previous evaluations of this rate (which is sometimes called the g-factor) have significantly overestimated its value. The rate is tabulated as a function of altitude, pressure, and solar zenith angle.
Nucleic Acid Enzymes (Ribozymes and Deoxyribozymes): In Vitro Selection and Application

Natural catalysts composed of RNA were discovered in the early 1980s. After this advance, it was logical to consider that artificial nucleic acid enzymes made from either RNA or DNA could be developed by recapitulating the basic evolutionary principles in the laboratory. In subsequent years, many artificial ribozymes and deoxyribozymes have indeed been identified by in vitro selection, and the scope of nucleic acid catalysis now encompasses a much wider range of chemical reactions than is found in nature. The study of artificial ribozymes and deoxyribozymes can provide fundamental insight into the functioning of natural catalytic nucleic acids. In addition, artificial nucleic acid enzymes are increasingly used in practical applications ranging from analytical chemistry to biology.
A bicycle crash inspires an inquiry-based learning activity

Summary This article introduces a fun, hands-on activity for comparing hand water displacements.
Practical modeling of comparator metastability for conventional and LSB-first SAR ADCs

A practical model for characterizing comparator metastability errors in SAR ADCs is presented. Previous work used uniformly-distributed ADC input signals to calculate signal-to-metastability error ratio (SMR), in the interest of making the derivation easy. The contributions of this work are three-fold: first, it is shown that for characterizing metastability it is more reasonable to use input signals with normal or Laplace distributions. Second, it is shown that the simplifying assumptions in previous work overestimated SMR by as much as 18dB compared to this more accurate analysis. Finally, it is shown that LSB-first SAR ADCs achieve SMR performance equal to or better than conventional SARs, depending on bandwidth.
Solubility and gelation of legumin in mixed solvents

Legumin was obtained from horse beans, green peas and vetches, and the solubility and gelation of this protein in some mixed solvents was observed. The following results were obtained: 1 Legumin dissolves at 75–85° in 35–40 vol-% n-propyl alcohol containing 0.2–1,0 Mol/l such neutral salts as NaBr, KI, magnesium chloride etc. If the concentration of legumin is high enough (2–4%) the solutions set upon cooling and become clear, stable jellies. Those of the jellies which are loose are thixotropic. If poured onto glass, legumin renders tough films which adhere strongly to the surface. 2 If propyl alcohol is added to legumin which is dissolved in a salt solution, precipitation takes place at 5–25 vol-% and at over 50 vol-% propyl alcohol, but in the limits of 30–45 vol-% the mixtures are clear and stable. 3 The viscosity numbers of legumin in the solutions containing about 40 vol-% propyl alcohol are much higher than in pure salt solutions, and the viscosity increases in time, if the concentration of legumin is over 0,1%. The heated solutions have a greater viscosity than the unheated. 4 The titrations with iodine showed that the amount of reducing groups (HS-) do not increase under the influence of propyl alcohol at low temperatures, but such an increase takes place upon heating the mixtures up to 75–85° for 30–60 minutes. 5 Dioxane, pyridine and acetic acid act like propyl alcohol except that the concentration limits in which precipitation and solubilisation occur are somewhat different. 50% ethyl alcohol or acetone have a much weaker solubilizing power than propyl alcohol or dioxane. 6 The solubility in cold mixed solvents is due to the interaction of legumin with the solvent. This interaction is very little dependent on pH or some chemical changes of the protein. It is assumed that a moderate unfolding of the round shaped molecules of legumin occurs only upon heating the mixtures. Es wurde festgestellt, das das Pflanzenglobulin Legumin sich in salzhaltigem, heisem, 35–40% Propylalkohol lost. Diese Losungen, wenn gekuhlt, erstarren zu klaren Gallerten, falls die Konzentration des Legumins nicht zu klein ist; wenn gegossen auf Glas, liefern die Losungen hartnackig an der Glasoberflache haftende, harte Filme. Viskositatsmessungen und Titrationen mit Jod zeigen, das Legumin in heisen, salzhaltigen Propylalkohol-Wasser-Gemischen denaturiert ist. Flockungsversuche von Legumin aus Salzlosungen durch Propylalkohol und andere organische Losungsmittel (bei Zimmertemperatur) zeigen, das bei gewissen mittleren Konzentrationen der organischen Stoffe die Gemische von Wasser-Salz-Org.Stoff stark peptisierend, d. h. losend wirken. Die Viskositat des Legumins in gemischten Losungsmitteln ist hoher als in Salzlosungen und erhoht sich mit der Zeit, falls die Konzentration des Legumins uber 0,1% ist.
Chapter 13 Histophysiologic Gradient Culture of Stratified Epitbelium

Publisher Summary Stratified epithelium is regulated effectively in nature. The homeostasis of the normal membrane with its balance of proliferative gain and desquamative loss has been studied in animals, however inevitably with the ever-present constellation of unknown interventions by nervous system, blood vascular system, and endocrines. Stratified epithelium in culture is now available for new kinds of analysis. The interest is in the comparison of stratified epithelia from donors of different ages, for example bladders of newborn, young adult, and senescent rats. The normal development of many glandular epithelial organs involves the appearance of specialized progenitor cells as distinct structural aggregates, and the development of the organ by a sequence whereby the primary aggregate gives rise to secondary ones.
Prevalence and factors predictive of intraocular fungal infection in patients with fungemia at an academic urban tertiary care center

To report the prevalence and to identify factors predictive of intraocular infection in patients with fungemia receiving prophylactic antifungal therapy.A retrospective review of patients who received prophylactic antifungal therapy and a dilated fundus examination at an academic urban tertiary care center from 2000 to 2007. Basic demographic information, fungal species grown, antifungal agent(s) used, number of positive blood culture specimens, visual acuity, visual symptoms, and known risks of disseminated candidiasis were noted. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors significantly associated with intraocular fungal infection.A total of 132 patients with positive fungemia culture were requested to have ophthalmology consults. The prevalence of ocular infection was 6.9% (N=9). All nine patients were infected with Candida species. Undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) surgery within the prior 6 months was significantly related to developing intraocular infection, with an odds ratio of 18.5 (95% confidence interval, 15.1-24.3; P=0.002). Having ≥3 positive fungal blood cultures was also a significant risk factor, with an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-3.7; P=0.03). Among 40 patients having GI surgery, eight (20.0%) had intraocular fungal disease, compared with one of 92 patients (1.1%) not having GI surgery. Among 125 patients with a negative baseline examination result, two of 32 patients (6.3%), who had recent GI surgery, subsequently developed fungal ocular disease, compared with 0 of 93 patients (0%), who did not have recent GI surgery.Recent GI surgery and higher numbers of positive fungal blood culture specimens may be predictive of candida ocular infections. Normal baseline fundoscopy examination results in patients with such risks may require repeat evaluations to detect delayed manifestations.
Sustainable Commerce: Public Health Law and Environmental Law Provide Tools for Industry and Government to Construct Globally-Competitive Green Economies

This Article examines the legal mechanics underlying the sustainable commerce private/public governance paradigm whereby industry and government create sustainable commerce initiatives which coordinately grow local/state economies and employment, enhance local/state competitiveness in the global marketplace, and at the same time substantially improve local/state public health and environmental infrastructure. This includes an examination of the legal foundation for state/local sustainable commerce initiatives drawn from existing public health and environmental law and a review of two specific local/state sustainable commerce initiatives which have followed this paradigm with impressive results over a two-to-four year timeframe. Part II of this Article examines how public health and environmental law bases provide legal authority and policy rationales upon which to construct local/state sustainable commerce initiatives. Part III examines how a small Georgia town, Ringgold — the county seat for Catoosa County, GA — recently implemented sustainable commerce initiatives, allowing this North Georgia community to actively participate in market-based low-carbon sustainable commerce initiatives which not only address legacy environmental and public health issues, but which create economic opportunities into the future. Part IV outlines how global industry now fulfills its own sustainable commerce programs requiring U.S. manufacturers to meet detailed environmental and public health metrics for both corporate operations and product life cycle analysis as a condition of purchasing their goods and services. Part IV also details how one U.S. manufacturer, the Murray Corporation, created management systems based on the ISO standard series to address customer environmental and public health metrics for their operations and products in order to qualify as an approved vendor for sales overseas. Part V then concludes with a continued discussion of ISO standard-based management systems as a key legal and regulatory tool by which local government and industry can coordinately construct sustainable commerce initiatives which ensure government and industry will successfully attain defined sustainable commerce goals. The example is drawn from the experience of the U.S. public health system. This discussion includes a review of how ISO-based third party assurance systems complement existing common and statutory law to achieve aggressive sustainable commerce timelines and goals over the immediate future (2–4 year timeframe).
Trade liberalization, competition and productivity growth – new evidence from Pakistani manufacturing firms

It is generally believed that a rise in foreign competition makes the industrial sector more efficient. By using a novel firm-level data set from a variety of industries in Pakistan, this paper revisits productivity-liberalization link, and investigates the effect of trade liberalization on competition and firm productivity. We find that productivity gains from reducing overall tariff rates are not obvious from a simple regression of total factor productivity on tariff rates; if there are any gains from reducing tariffs on intermediate goods, they are greatly counterbalanced by reduction in tariffs on final goods. There is evidence of an increase in competition following trade liberalization. In a majority of industries, there is reduction in returns to scale, indicating the existence of inflexible capacity constraints in these industries. Moreover, it offers evidence for the perception that gains from trade liberalization in the form of improvement in firm productivity have been greatly exaggerated.
Incomplete iterated Cauchy problems

Abstract We treat numerous higher order incomplete abstract Cauchy problems by writing them in the form 1. (1) Π k = 1 n , ( d dt − A k ) u(t) = 0 (t ⩾ 0) , 2. (2) ui − 1(0) = xi (1 ⩽ i ⩽ j), 3. (3a) ui − 1(t) bounded (1 ⩽ i ⩽ n − j), or 4. (3b) limt → ∞ u(i − 1)(t) = 0 (1 ⩽ i ⩽ n − j). The abstract Cauchy problem (1), (2), and (3a) is wellposed, in a certain sense, when A1, …, Aj generate bounded C-semigroups and (−Aj + 1), …, (−An) generate uniformly stable C-semigroups. For (1), (2), and (3b), we need A1, …, Aj and (−Aj + 1), …, (−An) to generate stable C-semigroups.
The impact of supply management on environmental performance outcomes

Environmentally responsible manufacturing is concerned with minimizing the environmental impact of products from development to end-of-life disposal or remanufacture. Environmental pressures from customers, regulation, legislation and competition have made organizations more aware of the impact that products have on the natural environment. This study focuses on environmental concerns during the early stages of product design. We examine these concerns with a specific focus on the involvement of supply management personnel, inter-organizational supplier relationships and a determination of how environmental issues affect supplier selection and supply base management. The literature on environmental supplier and purchasing involvement in product development and environmental supplier selection criteria and codes of conduct is reviewed. Following this, secondary data from the websites of environmentally proactive organizations will be gathered to examine what type of tracking is used for suppliers. Finally, discussions with proactive organizations will be presented during the conference that explore the role of supply management personnel in capturing, measuring, quantifying and reporting on the environmental costs and benefits associated with its suppliers. This research provides insights into how the involvement of supply management can improve the environmental performance outcomes of an organization.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Posttraumatic cerebral ischemia after fluid percussion brain injury: an autoradiographic and histopathological study in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Mild-to-moderate reductions in local cerebral blood flow (ICBF) have been reported to occur in rats after moderate (1.7-2.2 atm) fluid percussion brain injury. The purpose of this study was to determine whether evidence for severe ischemia (i.e., mean ICBF < 0.25 ml/g/min) could be demonstrated after severe brain injury. In addition, patterns of indium-labeled platelet accumulation and histopathological outcome were correlated with the hemodynamic alterations. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 23), anesthetized with halothane and maintained on a 70:30 mixture of nitrous oxide:oxygen and 0.5% halothane, underwent normothermic (37°C) parasagittal fluid percussion brain injury (2.4-2.6 atm). Indium-111 -tropolone-labeled platelets were injected 30 minutes before traumatic brain injury (TBI), while 14 C-iodoantipyrine was infused 30 minutes after trauma for ICBF determination. Sham-operated animals (n = 8) underwent similar surgical procedures but were not injured. For histopathological analysis, traumatized rats (n = 5) were perfusion-fixed 3 days after TBI. RESULTS: In autoradiographic images of indium-labeled platelets, abnormal platelet accumulation that was most pronounced overlying the pial surface was commonly associated with severe reductions in ICBF within underlying cortical regions 30 minutes after TBI. For example, within the lateral parietal cortex, ICBF was significantly reduced from 1.67 ± 0.11 ml/g per minute (mean ± standard error of the mean) in sham-operated animals to 0.23 ± 0.03 ml/g per minute within the traumatized group. In addition to focal severe ischemia, moderate reductions in ICBF were detected throughout the traumatized hemisphere, including the frontal and occipital cortices, hippocampus, thalamus, and striatum. Mild decreases in ICBF were also observed throughout the contralateral cerebral cortex. At 3 days after severe TBI, histopathology demonstrated intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with cerebral contusion and selective neuronal necrosis. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that multiple cerebrovascular abnormalities, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, focal platelet accumulation, and severe ischemia, are important early events in the pathogenesis of cortical contusion formation after TBI. Injury severity is expected to be a critical factor in determining what therapeutic strategies are attempted in the clinical setting.
University students setting goals in the context of autonomy, self‐efficacy and important goal‐related task engagement

In this study, the authors attempted to examine the roles of trait autonomy, trait self‐efficacy, important goal‐related task engagement and gender in predicting whether undergraduate university students are willing to set difficult goals. One hundred and thirty‐six undergraduate communications students from the North‐Eastern USA completed an online survey. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to create the multiple item variables. The relationships were examined using structural equation modelling. As predicted, results revealed that trait autonomy indirectly and positively predicted setting difficult goals through trait self‐efficacy and a person’s willingness to engage in important tasks. A willingness to take on important goal‐related tasks and self‐efficacy beliefs was associated with those who reported a readiness to set difficult goals. Results suggest that before males engage in challenging goal attainment they must perceive themselves as self‐efficacious, whereas females are inspired by tasks th...
A Molecular Imaging Paradigm to Rapidly Profile Response to Angiogenesis-directed Therapy in Small Animals

Purpose The development of novel angiogenesis-directed therapeutics is hampered by the lack of non-invasive imaging metrics capable of assessing treatment response. We report the development and validation of a novel molecular imaging paradigm to rapidly assess response to angiogenesis-directed therapeutics in preclinical animal models.
An Evaluation of Chip Separation Criteria for the FEM Simulation of Machining

Different chip separation criteria for the FEM simulation of machining were examined. Criterion based on distance between the tool tip and the node located immediately ahead, criterion based on maximum shear stress in the element ahead of the tool tip, criterion based on average maximum shear stress in the shear plane, and criterion based on a combination of distance and stress were investigated. Under conditions of smooth separation of chip from workpiece, simulation results showed that, during steady-state cutting, the type of chip separation criteria did not greatly affect chip geometry, nor distributions of stress and strain. The magnitude of the chip separation criteria also did not significantly affect chip geometry and distributions of stress in the chip but it did affect the chip separation process, distributions of stress in the machined surface, and distributions of effective plastic strain both in the chip and in the machined surface. During the initiation of cutting, neither the geometrical nor physical criteria simulate the machining process correctly. A combination of geometric and physical criteria was also recommended in this study.
LIGHT-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN LEAD(II)GOLD(I) DICYANIDE

Abstract Photoluminescence studies of Pb[Au(CN)2]2 are reported. Laser excitation of 337 nm for Pb[Au(CN)2] at 78 K results in a decrease in luminescence intensity with increasing laser exposure time indicating the creation of non-luminescing species. Increasing the sample temperature to 300 K results in the non-luminescing species going back to the original Pb[Au(CN)2]2. Light-induced electron transfer in which Au(I) is reduced to Au(CN)22− is assigned as the principal process responsible for the decrease in luminescence intensity of Pb[Au(CN)2]2 with increasing laser exposure at 78 K.
Rescue of contractile abnormalities by Na+/Ca2+ exchanger overexpression in postinfarction rat myocytes.

Previous studies on myocytes isolated from rat hearts 3 wk after myocardial infarction (MI) demonstrated increased cell length, reduced Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCX1) activity, altered contractility, and...
Synthesis of variable-interval performance from those for component fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement

Two pigeons were trained to peck a response key under a procedure in which 5-min periods of keylight-on alternated with 6-min periods of blackout. During keylight-on periods, food reinforcement was provided for the first peck following 20 sec (E schedule), 120 sec (M schedule), or 300 sec (L schedule) into the period. In different experimental conditions, the E, M, and L schedules were presented either alone or in combination. When E and/or M schedules were presented, food reinforcement was provided in only a portion (usually one-half) of the periods. Performance under the combination conditions was roughly predicted by summing the separate E-, M-, and L-schedule performances. Deviations from adequate prediction were, however, observed, which demonstrated interactions between the E, M, and L schedules.
Two more independent selectable markers for stable transfection of Leishmania

Abstract Genetic transformation of Leishmania has relied upon two exogenous selectable markers, neo and hyg, encoding resistance to G418 and hygromycin B respectively. There is a need for multiple independent selectable markers, since Leishmania is diploid and experimental sexual crosses are not currently feasible. Here we report on the development of two additional markers:pac, conferring resistance to the glycopeptide antibiotic puromycin, and phleo, conferring resistance to the DNA-binding drug phleomycin. We constructed a set of four analogous shuttle vectors with these four markers, using DNA segments flanking the Leishmania major H region hmtxr gene to provide information required for expression. These constructs (pHM-NEO, pHM-HYG, pHM-PAC and pHM-PHLEO) were successfully transfected into L. major, mostly with efficiencies comparable to those observed with previous DHFR-TS-based neo and hyg-containing constructs. The exception was pHM-PHLEO, which transfected 30-foldless efficiently; this may be related to the nonenzymatic mechanism of resistance encoded by phleo. All four constructs were shown to replicate extra-chromosomally. Stable transfectants bearing all paired combinations of pHM constructs were obtained by a second round of transfection. These data show that the four markers are functionally independent and in conjunction with the LeishmaniaN-acetylglucosaminyl transferase gene, brings the number of selectable markers available in Leishmania to five.
Cervical spine fracture-dislocation birth injury: prevention, recognition, and implications for the orthopaedic surgeon

Spinal cord birth injury is rare, and orthopaedic surgeons infrequently encounter it. The injury is associated with hyperextension of the fetal head in utero and during delivery and with forceps-assisted breech vaginal deliveries. These cervical spinal cord injures may be complete or partial. They most commonly occur in the absence of bony injury, which can lead to diagnostic difficulties. Ultrasound and MRI studies are valuable diagnostic tools for identifying spinal cord injury in cases of hypotonic newborns with difficult deliveries. The authors report an unusual case of spinal cord birth injury with frank cervical fracture-dislocation following a difficult footling breech vaginal delivery. Early recognition of hyperextension of the fetal head in utero and planned cesarean section are important prevention methods. While this type of injury is rare, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon must understand its nature and severity to facilitate timely treatment.
Extraocular control of seasonal reproduction in female tree sparrows (Spizella arborea)

The work reported here explored extraocular control of seasonal reproduction in a photoperiodic species. Photosensitive female tree sparrows (Spizella arborea) were subjected to bilateral or unilateral ocular enucleation or to sham operation and exposed to a photoregimen designed to stimulate luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, to induce photorefractoriness, and to restore photosensitivity. As revealed by plasma LH profiles constructed from measurements taken over 181 days, neither bilateral nor unilateral ocular enucleation had a substantive effect on photoinduced LH release, on the development of photorefractoriness, or on the recovery of photosensitivity. In a related experiment, photorefractory sighted females were implanted epicranially with miniature self-powered lights (SPLs) or with non-emitting helium blanks (HBs) and transferred to short days. After 8 weeks, SPLs and HBs were removed, and birds were challenged with long days. As indicated by plasma LH and ovarian responses to the challenge, previously HB-implanted birds had regained photosensitivity, but previously SPL-implanted birds remained photorefractory. When interpreted within the context of the effects of blinding, these findings suggest that an extraocular encephalic mechanism maintains photorefractoriness. Collectively, the data support the hypothesis that photoinduced LH release and the biannual transitions between photosensitivity and photorefractoriness are controlled by an extraocular mechanism(s).
Doppler-limited spectra of the ν3 vibration of 12CH4 and 13CH4

Abstract The tetrahedral splittings in the P and R branches of the ν 3 band of natural methane have been examined with Doppler-limited resolution using a difference-frequency spectrometer. The spectra obtained by this difference-frequency mixer are compared to recent high-resolution grating spectrometer studies of 12 CH 4 and enriched 13 CH 4 . The resolution, selectivity and precision are improved over the conventional methods. The mixing spectrometer utilizes tunable, narrow linewidth infrared radiation generated in the nonlinear optical crystal, LiNbO 3 as the beat frequency between a CW argon ion and a tunable dye laser. This spectrometer covers the 2.2 to 4.2 μm infrared spectrum with an instrumental resolution of 5 × 10 −4 cm −1 and continuous scans up to ∼1 cm −1 and with ir power ∼1 μW.
The Aerodynamics of an Actively Twisted Wing

Aerodynamic performance of aircraft can be changed by moving separate surfaces which are mechanically connected to the main wing and moved with complex linkages. A possible alternative method of changing performance with less mechanical complexity is presented. Instead of separate control surfaces, the shape of complete aerodynamic structures can be changed with shape memory alloy (SMA) materials as part of the structure. In this work SMA wire is wrapped around a simple test wing. When activated by heating, the wire contracts which results in twisting the wing. The angle of attack along the wingspan changes which changes the aerodynamic forces on the wing. This could be used to optimize the flight condition. Results are presented from initial wind tunnel experiments which show the change in lift due to twisting. Aerodynamic models that account for the variable angle of attack along the span are also developed. The results from the experiments and aerodynamic model are compared.© 2005 ASME
Choosing the right multiple channel system to minimize transaction costs

Abstract This paper proposes that firms can use a transaction cost approach to make multiple channel system design related decisions. The author differentiates between two types of multiple channel systems and hypothesizes that transaction asset specificity, behavioral uncertainty and environmental uncertainty lead manufacturers to adopt either a dual channel system or a multiple independent channel system. Furthermore, the author proposes that when all three transaction cost variables match with the type of multiple channel system used, firms can minimize their transaction costs and eventually increase their channel system performance in terms of contribution to firm profitability. The author tests the hypotheses with survey data collected from 229 firms. The results support that the fit between the type of multiple channel mix and the three transaction-cost theory variables results in lower transaction costs and higher contribution to profit. The author presents theoretical and managerial implications.
Heat capacity studies of phase transitions in langbeinites III. Diammonium dicadmium sulfate (NH4)2 CD2(SO4)3

Abstract Heat capacity measurements have been made on diammonim dicadmium sulfate (ACdS), (NH4)2CD2(SO4)3, from 12 to 333 K in an adiabatic calorimeter. The transition into the ferroelectric phase near 92 K was observed as a sharp peak in the head capacity curve. Additional maxima in the form of a smaller peak at 90.7 K and a shoulder at 91.5 K were also detected and were attributed to sample inhomogeneities. The enthalpy and entropy of transition are (771±7) J.mol−1 and (8.4 ± 0.1 J.K−1.mol−1, respectively. No anomalous heat capacity was observed in the region of 162 K where other investigatore reported a phase transition, however. Smoothed values of the heat capacity, entropy, enthalpy increment, and Gibbs energy function are presented from 15 to 320 K. The thermodynamic results for the transition are discussed and compared to those from other ammonium langbeinites.
Forced Precessions of the IMAGE Spacecraft

IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration), NASA’s first Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) mission, was led by Southwest Research Institute, successfully captured global neutral atom images of the Earth’s inner magnetosphere and far and extreme ultraviolet images of the aurora and plasmasphere, respectively, and performed radio sounding of various magnetospheric boundaries and regions, during the period May 2000 to December 2005. During the in-orbit checkout and deployment phase of IMAGE, two significant spacecraft attitude modes meriting further study became apparent. The first was an unanticipated forced precession of the core body driven by the spin-plane wire antennas of the Radio Plasma Imager (RPI), with an initial period on the order of 20 minutes. The second was a slower precession of the entire system, driven by gravity gradient acting on the extended wire spin plane and having a period of approximately 105 days. Star Trackers onboard the spacecraft enabled the periods of both motions to be very well constrained by attitude observations. Both motions are analyzed and calculated rates are compared to rates observed in star-tracker data for the actual system.
Systemic risks/benefits of selfish network operations & management in dynamic environment

Allowing selfish agents to acquire and exploit system information has both positive and negative effects on the overall performance of resource allocation systems. The positive effect results from reduction in the uncertainty inherently present in large-scale systems. The negative effect, which can be mitigated through congestion pricing, is due to agent selfishness. However, current research, concentrated around the notion of “Price of Anarchy”, is mostly concerned with the negative effect. This paper evaluates systemic risks/benefits of selfish agent ability to acquire and exploit dynamic system information in a specific case of selfish routing in a large-scale, random, loss network. Our analysis indicates that the beneficial effect of this ability dominates in a case of high system uncertainty — low load, while the negative effect dominates in a case of low system uncertainty — high load. In the intermediate cases while the beneficial effect still dominates in the “normal” operating mode, the negative effect manifests itself in a risk of cascading overload driving the system to an emergent metastable, i.e., persistent, congested mode. Future research should consider resource allocation models with elastic selfish users and evaluate effect of the congestion pricing.
Validation of the treatment identification strategy of the HEDIS addiction quality measures: concordance with medical record review

Strategies to accurately identify the occurrence of specific health care events in administrative data is central to many quality improvement and research efforts. Many health care quality measures have treatment identification strategies based on diagnosis and procedure codes - an approach that is inexpensive and feasible but usually of unknown validity. In this study, we examined if the diagnosis/procedure code combinations used in the 2006 HEDIS Initiation and Engagement quality measures to identify instances of addiction treatment have high concordance with documentation of addiction treatment in clinical progress notes. Four type of records were randomly sampled from VHA electronic medical data: (a) Outpatient records from a substance use disorder (SUD) specialty clinic with a HEDIS-qualified substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis/CPT code combination (n = 700), (b) Outpatient records from a non-SUD setting with a HEDIS-qualified SUD diagnosis/CPT code combination (n = 592), (c) Specialty SUD Inpatient/residential records that included a SUD diagnosis (n = 700), and (d) Non-SUD specialty Inpatient/residential records that included a SUD diagnosis (n = 700). Clinical progress notes for the sampled records were extracted and two raters classified each as documenting or not documenting addiction treatment. Rates of concordance between the HEDIS addiction treatment identification strategy and the raters' judgments were calculated for each record type. Within SUD outpatient clinics and SUD inpatient specialty units, 92% and 98% of sampled records had chart evidence of addiction treatment. Of outpatient encounters with a qualifying diagnosis/procedure code combination outside of SUD clinics, 63% had chart evidence of addiction treatment. Within non-SUD specialty inpatient units, only 46% of sampled records had chart evidence of addiction treatment. For records generated in SUD specialty settings, the HEDIS strategy of identifying SUD treatment with diagnosis and procedure codes has a high concordance with chart review. The concordance rate outside of SUD specialty settings is much lower and highly variable between facilities. Therefore, some patients may be counted as meeting the 2006 HEDIS Initiation and Engagement criteria without having received the specified amount (or any) addiction treatment.
Horizontal mergers and the balance of trade

This paper explores the relationship between market structure and the balance of trade in a dominant firm/competitive fringe model. It is shown that, absent efficiency effects, a horizontal merger between the dominant producer and a domestic fringe firm leads to a deterioration in the balance of trade, but, where efficiencies arise, this effect may be reversed. A sufficient condition for such reversal to occur is derived.
Raman Microscopy Of Semiconductor Films

The Raman spectrum of semiconductors is sensitive to changes in the structural, mechanical and electrical properties. We report results obtained with the Raman microprobe after laser processing or damage of semiconductor thin films. The spatial resolution in our experiments has allowed the observation of unsuspected modifications.
A Comparison of Some Theoretical Models of Parallel Computation

In this paper we briefly describe and compare a number of theoretical models for parallel computation; namely, Petri nets, computation graphs, and parallel program schemata. We discuss various problems and properties of parallel computation that can be studied within these formulations and indicate the ties between these properties and the more practical aspects of parallel computation. We show how marked graphs, a particular type of Petri net, are a restricted type of computation graph and indicate how some results of marked graphs can be obtained from known results of computation graphs. Also, for schemata we discuss the decidability versus undecidability of various properties and several techniques of schemata composition.
Depolarization of Cardiac Membrane Potential Promotes Calcium Waves

A calcium (Ca) wave propagates when Ca sparks recruit new sparks in the adjacent Ca release units (CRUs) in cardiac myocytes. When Ca releases occur, Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is removed mostly via the SERCA pump and the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) from the cytosol. If this removal process is more dominant than the positive feedback process of Ca induced Ca release, Ca waves cannot propagate. The diastolic membrane potential can be hyperpolarized or depolarized by various factors such as hyperkalemia, hypokalemia in the long term or by delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) in the short term. In this study we investigate how membrane potential affects Ca waves. We use a physiologically detailed ventricular myocyte mathematical model to investigate individual factors which affect Ca wave propagation. We investigate the voltage range of −90 ∼ −70 mV. We find that depolarization of the membrane potential promotes Ca wave propagation and hyperpolarization prevents Ca wave propagation. Ca transport by NCX is determined by membrane potential as well as sodium and Ca concentrations. Depolarized membrane potential reduces NCX-mediated efflux, and thus promotes Ca wave propagation. Moreover, depolarized membrane potential promotes spontaneous Ca releases which can cause initiation of multiple Ca waves. This indicates that during DADs, CRUs interact with not just the immediately adjacent CRUs via Ca diffusions, but also farther CRUs via fast (∼0.1ms) voltage diffusion on the membrane through the NCX. This may also be an additional mechanism of synchronization of Ca waves among multiple cells in tissue.
Exploring adaptability of secure group communication using formal prototyping techniques

Traditionally, adaptability in communication frameworks has been restricted to predefined choices without taking into consideration tradeoffs between them and the application requirements. Furthermore, different applications with an entire spectrum of requirements will have to adapt to these predefined choices instead of tailoring the communication framework to fit their needs. In this paper we extend an executable specification of a state-of-the-art secure group communication subsystem to explore two dimensions of adaptability, namely security and synchrony. In particular, we relax the traditional requirement of virtual synchrony (a well-known bottleneck) and propose various generic optimizations, while preserving essential security guarantees.
The aerospace-electronics industrial complex of Southern California: The formative years, 1940–1960☆

Abstract This paper deals with the growth and development of the aerospace-electronics industrial complex of Southern California over its formative period from 1940 to 1960. The origins of the complex in the aircraft industry of Los Angeles and San Diego in the 1920s and 1930s are briefly described. The consolidation of the complex during World War II is analyzed. The earliest beginnings of the missile and military electronics industries are shown to coincide with the period of World War II. It is demonstrated how Southern California emerged after the War as a major recipient of Department of Defense prime contract awards. These awards constitute the main driving force of the whole high-technology industrial system of the region over the post-World War II decades. During and shortly after the Korean War, the missile and electronics industries began to expand with particular rapidity. By the 1950s, a dense system of agglomeration economies had formed within and around the region's aerospace-electronics industrial complex. The paper ends with a brief allusion to Southern California's developmental pathway after the 1950s.
Perspectives: The Health Insurance Industry In The Year 2001: One Scenario

To explore the dynamic environment of the U.S. health care system, Health Affairs posed the following question to several industry and academic leaders: What, in your view, is the future of private health insurance in the United States? The responses to this question are presented in this Perspectives section. They range from a futuristic “what-if?” scenario, to the views of insurance industry insiders, to a trade unionist's resounding call for reform and accountability.
How should we teach computing to humanists

The first general session of the Vassar Workshop on Teaching Computers and the Humanities Courses dealt with the philosophical questions of what humanists (and, therefore, humanities students) should learn about computing. Nancy Ide discusses this subject in her article elsewhere in this issue. The second session of the Workshop turned to the matter of how one should teach this material. I was one of four panelists on that session. We each presented our own opinions of appropriate methodologies based on our experiences with teaching such courses. During these sessions, participants described courses for teaching computing to humanists that ranged from undergraduate to post-doctoral and from single discipline (usually language or literature) to broad general coverage. Courses also ranged from "practical" training in using specific application packages to "theoretical" treatments of principles and methods of computing. Before describing my own courses and approach in detail, I will briefly summarize some of the courses presented by other speakers at Vassar in order to give an idea of this wide range of possibilities. Susan Hockey of Oxford University has been teaching computing to humanists since 1975. Postsecondary education in the United Kingdom is quite different from that in the United States. There students concentrate almost entirely on one subject for their entire university careers; any other courses they take are voluntary. Hockey is based in the University Computing Center where, as she explained at Vassar, "the effort is on teaching people to use computers sensibly." Her students receive no credit for the courses she teaches, and there are no examinations. They attend out of in-
Servocontrolled cardiac assistance: Effects of left ventricular to aortic and left atrial to aortic assistance on infarct size

Cardiogenic shock following cardiac surgery may be unresponsive to intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). In such a situation circulatory assist devices have been shown to be effective in supporting the circulation. The systems being used either bypass the failing left ventricle (LV) using a simple roller pump (RP) from the left atrium to the aorta (AA-LVA) [3, 7, 11] or from the left ventricular apex to the aorta (LVAD) [8, 12]. A second group of devices employ an auxiliary ventricle from the LV apex to the aorta [1, 14] (LVAD). In addition to supporting circulation, cardiac assistance may result in the salvage of ischemic myocardium by increasing the oxygen supply to the demand ratio [4, 6]. Previous studies have shown the greater effectiveness of left ventricular assistance (LVA) [13] in reducing myocardial oxygen consumption compared to AA-LVA. Pennock and associates [15] showed that the effectiveness of different degrees of LVA was dependent on the size of the infarct. A previous study from this laboratory [9] showed that AA-LVA was effective in reducing infarct size in a small infarct model, but not in the large infarct model. The effects of LVA on infarct size were therefore studied and are contrasted with those of AA-LVA.
Prenatal detection of Down's syndrome.

Advances in understanding the causes and prenatal diagnosis of Down s syndrome are explained. The population of women of childbearing age to whom these advances are most important is delineated, and counseling and nursing implications are discussed. A review of the genetic causes of Down's syndrome is also presented.
Use of representational difference analysis for the identification of mdm2 oncogene amplification in diethylstilbestrol-induced murine uterine adenocarcinomas.

Exposure in utero to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) is associated with the subsequent development of reproductive-tract malignancies in female offspring. To search for the genetic targets of DES, representational difference analysis was used to compare genomic DNA from DES-associated mouse uterine adenocarcinoma cells with genomic DNA from normal CD-1 mouse tissue. Several difference clones were obtained, all of which recognized rearranged and amplified sequences in tumor compared with normal DNA. One of these difference fragments mapped to a region of mouse chromosome 10 that includes the mdm2 oncogene. Amplification and overexpression of mdm2 was found in all three early-passage cell lines established from independent DES-associated cancers. These findings demonstrate the potential power of representational difference analysis in cancer research and suggest a genetic mechanism for DES-induced carcinogenesis. ©1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electronic Journals in Aggregated Collections: Providing Access through the Catalog and a Cold Fusion Database.

Abstract Patrons in academic libraries want convenient 24-hour access to full-text journals in a rapid, convenient manner. They want “anytime, anywhere” access to information and they do not want to enter a library to obtain it. This article describes how Eastern Washington University Libraries provide access to full-text journals through several collections.
Analysis Of A Satellite Interferometer System (SIS)

A satellite interferometer system (SIS) utilizing 1 O laser heterodyne systems has been investigated. In its simplest form, the system consists of a pair of satellites, one in a polar orbit and the other in a synchronous orbit. The spatial frequencies covered in a twelve hour observing period extend upward from the inverse of the earth's diameter, corresponding to a resolution of 10-12 radians. Absolute phase, corresponding to the constantly changing baseline between the two satellites, is measured by a simultaneous heterodyning of a calibration laser traversing the distance between the two satellites. The orienta-tion of the baselines is recorded from timing and sequencing the data, with corrections for time dilation and other perturbations.
The Future of the New World that Was Supposed to Be

: “North-South” divides usually overlook the fact that Latin America was also part of the New World. It was only after WW II that these countries were lumped together in a large bunch called “third world.” For the sake of simplicity, this paper restricts itself to the period when Liberation Theology made its appearance until now. Even though the seventies devised an autonomous Christianity, with its own traits and purposes, nowadays the churches are back in the mainstream. Issues that engage Christians there are not unlike their counterparts in “the North,” thanks to globalization. Demographic changes are still more important than cultural ones, and economic prospects are more likely to interfere in the shape of Christianity than the will and emotions of leaders and the faithful alike.