cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Charge injection and trapping in Al 2 O 3 gate insulators

Previous efforts to effectively investigate and model the high-field charging phenomenon in pyrolytic Al 2 O 3 have been thwarted by the difficulty of separating the injection and trapping phenomena. Characterizing the injection is extremely difficult because the interface electric field varies as charge accumulates in traps, and the varying field produces rapidly varying currents, making it equally difficult to ascertain trapping behavior. In this work high-field electron injection and photoinjection into Al 2 O 3 are investigated using new experimental techniques which maintain constant the interface fields and injection currents, thereby permitting independent determination of injection and trapping characteristics. It is shown that the electron trapping in Al 2 O 3 MIS structures is strongly localized near the Si-Al 2 O 3 and metal-Al 2 O 3 interface regions. Comparisons of electron injection from the metal and from silicon show that the hypothetical native SiO 2 layer at the Si-Al 2 O 3 interface either is nonexistent or has no appreciable effect on injection properties. Studies of field and temperature dependence provide evidence that the electron injection occurs by trap-assisted tunneling.
Isolation, growth and differentiation of adult rabbit skeletal myoblasts in vitro

A simple and reliable method is described for the growth and differentiation of myoblasts isolated from adult New Zealand White rabbit fast-twitch (tibialis anterior) and slow-twitch (soleus) skeletal muscle. Cells were dissociated mechanically, and expanded in DMEM supplemented with 20% horse serum. The myoblasts were differentiated by switching to DMEM supplemented with 10% horse serum when the myoblasts were 80–90% confluent. The myoblasts fused into multinucleated myotubes that spontaneously contracted. At the light microscopic level, the myotubes exhibited a striated pattern as revealed by positive immunostaining for sarcomeric proteins such as α-actinin, myosin and titin. Electron microscopy demonstrated well ordered sarcomeres with localized mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum. The only notable difference between the fiber types was in the initial response to isolation wherein the myoblast yield was four-fold greater from the soleus than the tibialis anterior, in agreement with satellite cell abundance in predominately slow-twitch vs fast-twitch muscles. These techniques repeatedly (n = 12) produced a population of healthy myoblasts isolated from either fast- or slow-twitch skeletal muscle which can be utilized for studies of skeletal muscle differentiation, assembly and signaling.
iTV: A major opportunity for financial services, or not?

Interactive television has arrived, thanks to substantial technology investments that have been made by Sky and others. It is growing in importance as innovative interactive applications are developed for broadcast programmes (eg the BBCi service and Big Brother), and for advertising — and will develop further when broadband deployment gets to critical mass. Readers should not expect a television-variant of the world wide web, however. This was tried during 2000–2002 in the form of web look-alike, interactive ‘walled garden’ sites, and failed to attract critical mass footfall. The model has evolved and now revolves around interactive content synchronised with broadcast, which offers financial services companies an interesting new way to increase awareness and to differentiate the service presentation. Furthermore, over the next ten years, broadband is expected to usher in a new era of personalised television — in which specialised broadcasts (such as personal pensions advice programmes) can be made available on demand. The observations in this paper are mainly drawn from the UK, where digital television penetration is high; the lessons can be applied more broadly, however, and are relevant to any organisation thinking of promoting its service through entertainment channels.
Operationalizing Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: A Synthesis of Classroom-Based Research

In this article, we present a synthesis of classroom-based research on the implementation of culturally relevant pedagogy. We examine 45 classroom-based research studies from 1995 to the present, highlighting culturally relevant pedagogy as enacted in classrooms. In the final section we address a few conundra and unanswered questions stemming from the research. By describing and synthesizing how others have operationalized culturally relevant pedagogy in the classroom, we offer illustrative discussion points that will assist preservice teachers, experienced teachers, and teacher educators in developing a more holistic understanding of what culturally relevant pedagogy “looks like” in classrooms.
Adaptive wavelets for distortion correction in interferometric sensors

Adaptive wavelets are important when the signals or environment are changing with time. Interferometric sensors (moire, Michelson, Mach-Zehnder, or shearing interferometers) are critical to many Smart Structures applications. Adaptive wavelets will be developed to achieve phase distortion correction. Phase distortion correction will be achieved by means of wavelet ridge extraction and phase conjugation.
In Vivo Imaging of VEGF Expression for Monitoring Molecular Response to Cancer Therapy

We developed a novel optical molecular specific contrast agent that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We tested the agent in mouse tumor models and detected increased VEGF expression in vivo following cobalt chloride treatment.
Overweight in children and adolescents in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

To the Editor .— The recent study by Waring and Lapane of 62 887 children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder found that those who were not on treatment were more likely to be overweight, defined as a BMI above the 95th percentile, …
Synthesis of Ultra-Thin Superhydrophilic Titanium Oxide Film and its Effects on the Capillary of Microchannels

Ultra-thin superhydrophilic titanium oxide films were fabricated on silicon microchannels by an in situ reaction sol-gel method using titanium tetraisopropoxide as a starting material.. By changing the concentration of water in ethanol and reaction time, the thickness of synthesized TiO2 films can be controlled from around 10 nm to 80 nm. The contact angle of as-synthesized TiO2 films on flat silicon is around 20° and can be further decreased to zero by calcination at 700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. X-ray diffraction spectra show the microstructure of the TiO2 films changed gradually from amorphous to anatase with the increase of calcination temperature. Surface morphology of the film before and after calcination also shows that a smoother coating with crystal structure was obtained by heat treatment. The flow velocity in the TiO2 coated channel reached around 0.03 m/s, almost ten times of that in PDDA/PSS coated channel and 4 times of that in SiO2 coated one. The ultra-thin superhydrophilic TiO2 films fabricated by this method show the ability to strongly increase the wettability of microchannels without affecting the morphology of the sidewall of the channels, indicating potential applications to biomolecule analysis and surface tension driven microfluidic systems.© 2010 ASME
The Volunteer and the Sannyāsin: Archetypes of Retirement in America and India

Cultures differ in their models of the life course, including the number and the content of the stages through which people are expected to pass. Among those societies that recognize a period of retirement, the developmental tasks and opportunities that older individuals face are shaped by cultural ideas about morality, spirituality, passion, and fulfillment. This article examines two archetypes for retirement: the American volunteer, and the Indian sannyāsin or “renouncer.” Drawing on ethnographic data from a study of American retirees and descriptions of spiritual seekers in India, it considers the social roles these ideal types play, their self and their public images, the congruence between cultural expectations and their actual experiences, and the underlying values these people embody. It suggests that while older American volunteers view retirement as an entitlement, they also stress their obligation to use free time to pay back their society for the benefits they have enjoyed. They thus add a mora...
Distinguishing Best and Strategic Practices: A Framework for Managing the Dilemma between Creating and Claiming Value

Most negotiation courses and textbooks focus a good deal of attention on the tension between competitive moves to claim value and cooperative moves to create value. However, relatively little empirically-based advice is offered about how to manage that tension effectively. Drawing broadly on negotiation research, this essay elaborates a framework of prescriptive advice for how negotiators can manage the tension effectively by distinguishing between best practices and strategic practices. Best practices are defined as those that tend to work well in all situations. Strategic practices are defined as those that tend to work well in certain situations and poorly in others. Best and strategic asserting, accommodating, integrating, and avoiding practices are elaborated.
Magnetic resonance imaging in childhood disseminated encephalomyelitis

We report the magnetic resonance imaging features in two children with post-infectious disseminated encephalomyelitis. Magnetic resonance imaging dramatically demonstrated multiple white matter lesions in both children and resolution of lesions in conjunction with clinical recovery. These cases indicate that magnetic resonance imaging has considerable diagnostic utility in disseminated encephalomyelitis of childhood.
Structure and Evolution of the Alternatively Spliced Fast Troponin T Isoform Gene

The vertebrate fast skeletal muscle troponin T gene, TnTf, produces a complexity of isoforms through differential mRNA splicing. The mechanisms that regulate splicing and the physiological significance of TnTf isoforms are poorly understood. To investigate these questions, we have determined the complete sequence structure of the quail TnTf gene, and we have characterized the developmental expression of alternatively spliced TnTf mRNAs in quail embryonic muscles. We report the following: 1) the quail TnTf gene is significantly larger than the rat TnTf gene and has 8 non-homologous exons, including a pectoral muscle-specific set of alternatively spliced exons; 2) specific sequences are implicated in regulated exon splicing; 3) a 900-base pair sequence element, composed primarily of intron sequence flanking the pectoral muscle-specific exons, is tandemly repeated 4 times and once partially, providing direct evidence that the pectoral-specific TnT exon domain arose by intragenic duplications; 4) a chicken repeat 1 retrotransposon element resides upstream of this repeated intronic/pectoral exon sequence domain and is implicated in transposition of this element into an ancestral genome; and 5) a large set of novel isoforms, produced by regulated exon splicing, is expressed in quail muscles, providing insights into the developmental regulation, physiological function, and evolution of the vertebrate TnTf isoforms.
Studies on prodigiosin and the bipyrrole precursor

Isolation and structure studies on prodigiosin, and on the C10H10O2N2 bipyrrole precursor are discussed. NMR data on a series of substituted pyrroles are listed showing characteristic chemical shifts of pyrrole-NH and pyrrole ring protons. The effect of electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing substituents on the absorption of α- and β-protons is shown.
An Interesting Experience with Chicken Pox

ABSTRACT The appearance of chicken pox in the contest flock at the California Farm Bureau Egg Laying Contest at Santa Cruz, being conducted under the auspices of the Poultry Division of the College of Agriculture, University of California, the second week after the start of the contest on November 1, 1921, furnished a certain amount of interesting data on this disease which should be of extreme interest to poultry raisers. The first two cases appeared in one particular entry the second week of the contest but in a day or two it appeared in another pen. As both of these pens came from the same shipping point, the disease undoubtedly came from that territory and may have been contracted en route by contact with diseased stock. Since this disease develops slowly it was the eighteenth of November before there was enough evidence of pox to make it advisable to vaccinate the . . .
Elemental sulfur accumulation in Pisolithus

Elemental sulfur was extracted from intact sporocarps of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and identified by means of chemical analysis and crystallographic characterization using a petrographic microscope.
Hemodynamic assessment of the lonescu-shiley pericardial xenograft in the mitral position

While the very low thrombogenicity without anticoagulant therapy and generally good durability of the lonescu-Shiley bioprosthesis has been demonstrated, further hemodynamic assessment is necessary. The present study assessed cardiac function and heterograft performance during right and left heart catheterization at rest and exercise (three to six months postoperation) of eight patients with severe mitral stenosis and/or regurgitation prior to surgery. We found, comparing pre- and postoperative resting values, that mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased (32 +/- 2.7 to 22 +/- 3.5 mm Hg; P < 0.02), cardiac index increased (2.1 +/- 0.09 to 2.5 +/- 0.13 liters/min/m2; P < 0.01), pulmonary wedge pressure decreased (21 +/- 2.3 to 13 +/- 1.8 mm Hg; P < 0.01), and the clinical status (NYHA) improved markedly. Mean diastolic gradient across the pericardial xenograft was 6.1 +/- 1.1 mm Hg at rest and 14.6 +/- 2.3 mm Hg on exercise. The calculated xenograft surface area was 1.7 cm2 at rest and 2.0 cm2 during exercise. No regurgitation was detected in seven of eight patients. Thus, mitral lonescu-Shiley bioprosthesis provide excellent heterograft function.
Two-point turbulence closure applied to variable resolution modeling

Variable resolution methods have become frontline CFD tools, but in order to take full advantage of this promising new technology, more formal theoretical development is desirable. Two general classes of variable resolution methods can be identified: hybrid or zonal methods in which RANS and LES models are solved in different flow regions, and bridging or seamless models which interpolate smoothly between RANS and LES. This paper considers the formulation of bridging methods using methods of two-point closure theory. The fundamental problem is to derive a subgrid two-equation model. We compare and reconcile two different approaches to this goal: the Partially Integrated Transport Model, and the Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes method.
A geometrical approach for generalizing the production possibility set in DEA

Consider a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) study with n Decision Making Units (DMUs) and a model with m inputs plus outputs. The data for this study are a point set, {a 1,…,a n }, in . A DMU is efficient if its data point is located on the efficient frontier portion of the boundary of an empirical production possibility set, a polyhedral envelopment hull described by the data. From this perspective, DEA efficiency is a purely geometric concept that can be applied to general point sets to identify records with extreme properties. The generalized approach permits new applications for nonparametric frontiers. Examples of such applications are fraud detection, auditing, security, and appraisals. We extend the concept of DEA efficiency to frontier outliers in general envelopment hulls.
Donor-acceptor distance and protein promoting vibration coupling to hydride transfer: A possible mechanism for kinetic control in isozymes of human lactate dehydrogenase

Theoretically based computational methods have been developed in our group to identify protein motions, symmetrically coupled to the reaction coordinate, which modulate the width and height of the barrier to reaction. Previous studies have applied the methods to horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH), to help explain experimental kinetic isotope effects. In this paper the methods have been applied to the two isoforms of human lactate dehydrogense (LDH) enzymes which facilitate hydride transfer during the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate. LDH isoforms have evolved to accommodate substrate demand in different parts of the body. The active sites of the isoforms are identical in amino acid content yet the kinetics are distinct. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations for each isoform with either substrate bound. The signature of the protein promoting vibration (PPV) is distinct for each isoform due to differences in the donor-acceptor distance. We hypothesize that kinetic control of hydride transfer may be exerted via a decreased donor-acceptor distance when lactate is bound to the heart isoform and when pyruvate is bound to the skeletal muscle isoform. The identity, frequency, and position of active site amino acid motions correlated to the donor-acceptor motion also vary for each isoform. These results demonstrate that even in almost identical enzymes, subtle differences in protein structure, remote from the active site, can have significant effects on reaction dynamics.
Fossils of Uncertain Affinity from the Upper Devonian of Iowa

Thousands of specimens of the enigmatic fossil Gluteus minimus (new genus, newt species) occur in a 5-centimeter-thick interval within the Maple Mill Shale and in equivalent deposits of the Devonian of eastern Iowa. They are roughly lenticular. bilobed fossils up to 11 millimeters in diamiter and 8 milllimeters thic. These objects consistently asymmetrical in the same direction. defy placement in any known higher taxon when their morphology. histology, and apatitic composition considered.
Symmetrical gaits of primates

Walking and symmetrical running gaits of 26 genera of primates are analyzed using numerical and graphical methods described previously. The raw data are 1701 feet of 16 mm motion picture film mostly exposed at 64 frames per second. Adult monkeys and apes usually use the walking trot or diagonal-sequence walks. Individual monkeys occasionally use lateral-sequence walks resembling those that are usual for human infants. Human children moving on hands and feet use gaits ranging from the walking pace through the lateral-sequence walks to the walking trot. An infant macaque studied from age 17 hours to 96 days first walked with a lateral-sequence, diagonal-couplets gait and then gradually shifted to the diagonal-sequence, diagonal-couplets gait of the adult. Few non-primates use the diagonal-sequence walks which are typical of primates. Typical support sequences are figured. Relative placement of feet and consequent slight asymmetry are described.
The identification of nonlinear reaction systems with two‐level inputs

The general problem of characterizing a nonlinear, physical process from its input-output records is examined. A method of identifying the class of nonlinear, time-invariant processes with switched two-level inputs and finite memories is successfully applied to several nonlinear systems. The identification model consists of a finite, orthogonal series expansion for the output as a function of the past of the input. Of particular interest is the characterization and synthesis of a nonlinear, continuous stirred-tank reactor. This system, as well as others that are investigated, is simulated on a digital computer and identified after an initial observation period. No specific knowledge of the unknown process is presumed; however, only moderately fast input switching is permitted. After synthesizing the identification model, the process and model outputs are compared.
The Effectiveness of Long-Term Treatment of Malignant Hypertension

A survey is reported of the courses of 84 patients who presented the syndrome of malignant hypertension and who have been under treatment with potent antihypertensive drugs. Among these, 70 per cent survived 1 year of observation, 50 per cent 3 years, 33 per cent 5 years, and 26 per cent 6 years. These survival rates represent substantial therapeutic gains over survival rates in the untreated series of Keith, Wagener, and Barker. The reported first-year survival rate is weighted by the untoward complication of hexamethonium pneumonitis, and current survival is greater than in the estimate presented. Other causes of death are (1) rapidly or (2) delayed or slowly progressive renal failure and (3) complications of atherosclerosis. The first is usually associated with poor control of blood pressure. It seems merely an attenuation of the usual course of malignant hypertension. The syndrome of delayed or slowly progressive renal failure is associated with diffuse occlusive fibrous intimal hyperplasia of major r...
Automated streak-seeding with micromachined silicon tools

This report presents a new approach to streak-seeding based on custom-designed silicon microtools. Experimental data show that the microtools produce similar results to the commonly used boar bristles. One advantage to using silicon is that it is rigid and can easily serve as an accurately calibrated end-effector on a micro-robotic system. Additionally, the fabrication technology allows the production of microtools of various shapes and sizes. A working prototype of an automatic streak-seeding system based on these microtools was built and successfully applied for protein crystallization.
Variation in CT pediatric head examination radiation dose: results from a national survey.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to examine the variation in radiation dose, CT dose index volume (CTDIvol), and dose-length product (DLP) for pediatric head CT examinations as a function of hospital characteristics across the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A survey inquiring about hospital information, CT scanners, pediatric head examination protocol, CTDIvol, and DLP was mailed to a representative sample of U.S. hospitals. Follow-up mailings were sent to nonrespondents. Descriptive characteristics of respondents and nonrespondents were compared using design-based Pearson chi-square tests. Dose estimates were compared across hospital characteristics using Bonferroni-adjusted Wald test. Hospital-level factors associated with dose estimates were evaluated using multiple linear regressions and modified Poisson regression models. RESULTS. Surveys were sent out to 751 hospitals; 292 responded to the survey, of which 253 were eligible (35.5% response rate, calculated as number of hospitals who ...
PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION

Although life-saving, mechanical ventilation may be associated with many complications, including consequences of positive intrathoracic pressure, the many aspects of volutrauma, and adverse effects of intubation and tracheostomy. Optimal ventilatory care requires implementing mechanical ventilation with attention to minimizing adverse hemodynamic effects, averting volutrauma, and effecting freedom from mechanical ventilation as quickly as possible so as to minimize the risk of airway complications.
The Latin Dependency Treebank in a Cultural Heritage Digital Library

This paper describes the mutually beneficial relationship between a cultural heritage digital library and a historical treebank: an established digital library can provide the resources and structure necessary for efficiently building a treebank, while a treebank, as a language resource, is a valuable tool for audiences traditionally served by such libraries.
Seismic attenuation near the East Pacific Rise and the origin of the low-velocity zone

Abstract Low shear wave velocities beneath mid-ocean ridges and in the low-velocity zone beneath oceanic plates commonly have been attributed to the presence of melt or dissolved water, but several recent studies have challenged that interpretation. The alternative is that the anelastic effects of increasing temperature may cause the observed drop in velocity along with a predicted increase in attenuation. We report the first measurements of surface wave attenuation within regional arrays of seismometers on the seafloor. Near the East Pacific Rise, there is much less attenuation than is predicted by models in which the velocity is controlled solely by the direct elastic and anelastic effects of changing temperature, suggesting that melt and water concentration do play an important role. There also is somewhat less attenuation than is found in global studies; we speculate that scattering from unresolved velocity heterogeneities contribute to the apparent attenuation in global studies.
Mass Problems and Randomness

A mass problem is a set of Turing oracles. If P and Q are mass problems, we say that P is weakly reducible to Q if every member of Q Turing computes a member of P. We say that P is strongly reducible to Q if every member of Q Turing computes a member of P via a fixed Turing functional. The weak degrees and strong degrees are the equivalence classes of mass problems under weak and strong reducibility, respectively. We focus on the countable distributive lattices ω and s of weak and strong degrees of mass problems given by nonempty subsets of 2ω. Using an abstract Godel/Rosser incompleteness property, we characterize the subsets of 2ω whose associated mass problems are of top degree in ω and s, respectively Let R be the set of Turing oracles which are random in the sense of Martin-Lof, and let r be the weak degree of R. We show that r is a natural intermediate degree within ω. Namely, we characterize r as the unique largest weak degree of a subset of 2ω of positive measure. Within ω we show that r is meet irreducible, does not join to 1, and is incomparable with all weak degrees of nonempty thin perfect subsets of 2ω. In addition, we present other natural examples of intermediate degrees in ω. We relate these examples to reverse mathematics, computational complexity, and Gentzen-style proof theory.
Sarcomeric Gene Expression and Contractility in Myofibroblasts

Myofibroblasts are unusual cells that share morphological and functional features of muscle and nonmuscle cells. Such cells are thought to control liver blood flow and kidney glomerular filtration rate by having unique contractile properties. To determine how these cells achieve their contractile properties and their resemblance to muscle cells, we have characterized two myofibroblast cell lines. Here, we demonstrate that myofibroblast cell lines from kidney mesangial cells (BHK) and liver stellate cells activate extensive programs of muscle gene expression including a wide variety of muscle structural proteins. In BHK cells, six different striated myosin heavy chain isoforms and many thin filament proteins, including troponin T and tropomyosin are expressed. Liver stellate cells express a limited subset of the muscle thick filament proteins expressed in BHK cells. Although these cells are mitotically active and do not morphologically differentiate into myotubes, we show that MyoD and myogenin are expressed and functional in both cell types. Finally, these cells contract in response to endothelin-1 (ET-1); and we show that ET-1 treatment increases the expression of sarcomeric myosin.
Impact of Perceived Racial Discrimination on Health Screening in Black Women

Perceived discrimination has been shown to be related to health screening behavior. The present study examines the effect of discrimination on cancer screening among women in the Black Women's Health Study. Five self-report items measured discrimination in everyday life and three items measured experiences of major discrimination. Logistic regression was used to test associations of discrimination with Pap smear, mammography, or colonoscopy utilization. At the start of follow-up, 88.8% had a Pap smear in the previous year, 52.7% had a mammogram, and 20.0% had received a colonoscopy. Both everyday and major discrimination were associated with not having received a Pap smear, even after adjusting for other variables. Discrimination was not associated with mammography or colonoscopy utilization. In conclusion, perceived everyday and major discrimination is associated with poorer utilization of Pap smears for cervical cancer screening among Black women.
A mixed‐methods investigation of sensory response patterns in Barth syndrome: A clinical phenotype?

Barth syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects approximately 1/500,000 boys each year. While treatment of medical complications associated with Barth is of primary importance, there is a concomitant need to look at behavioral and clinical features of the disorder. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of atypical sensory processing in 21 boys with Barth syndrome and to explore if phenotypic patterns of sensory responsiveness may be useful in early diagnosis. Using a mixed methods approach, we found that sensory issues related to feeding and eating were ubiquitous in our sample, with some behaviors such as strong gag reflex identifiable early in development. Specifically, boys with Barth had a strong preference for salty, cheesy, and spicy foods while having an overall restricted repertoire of foods they would eat (e.g., picky eaters). In boys with Barth as they age, auditory sensitivity and auditory filtering issues also emerged as potential sensory-related behaviors affecting academic performance and participation. Overall, this study suggests that early identification of sensory patterns in Barth may assist in differential diagnosis and create opportunities for early interventions that may minimize the impact of these behaviors on function and participation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HIV-1 Nef Binds the DOCK2–ELMO1 Complex to Activate Rac and Inhibit Lymphocyte Chemotaxis

The infectious cycle of primate lentiviruses is intimately linked to interactions between cells of the immune system. Nef, a potent virulence factor, alters cellular environments to increase lentiviral replication in the host, yet the mechanisms underlying these effects have remained elusive. Since Nef likely functions as an adaptor protein, we exploited a proteomic approach to directly identify molecules that Nef targets to subvert the signaling machinery in T cells. We purified to near homogeneity a major Nef-associated protein complex from T cells and identified by mass spectroscopy its subunits as DOCK2-ELMO1, a key activator of Rac in antigen- and chemokine-initiated signaling pathways, and Rac. We show that Nef activates Rac in T cell lines and in primary T cells following infection with HIV-1 in the absence of antigenic stimuli. Nef activates Rac by binding the DOCK2-ELMO1 complex, and this interaction is linked to the abilities of Nef to inhibit chemotaxis and promote T cell activation. Our data indicate that Nef targets a critical switch that regulates Rac GTPases downstream of chemokine- and antigen-initiated signaling pathways. This interaction enables Nef to influence multiple aspects of T cell function and thus provides an important mechanism by which Nef impacts pathogenesis by primate lentiviruses.
A diffusion-based algorithm for workspace generation of highly articulated manipulators

Motivated by a physical phenomenon, the diffusion process, this paper develops a diffusion-based algorithm for workspace generation of highly articulated manipulators. This algorithm makes the workspace generation problem as simple as solving a diffusion-type equation which has an explicit solution. This equation is a partial differential equation defined on the motion group and describes the evolution of the workspace density function depending on the manipulator length and kinematic properties. Numerical simulations using this algorithm are also presented.
The effects of technology-enhanced formative evaluation on student performance on state accountability math tests

Technology-enhanced formative evaluation (TEFE) could enhance student achievement while diminishing the burden of formative evaluation for educators. The current study examined data from 360 randomly selected schools that either used a TEFE program for 1 year to 4 years 11 months, for 5 or more years, or not at all. Analyses of covariance found a significant and moderate to large (d = .51 and .78) effect on percentage of students who scored proficient on state accountability tests in math. Moreover, among schools that used TEFE, those with a non-White student population of at least 50% scored in the proficient range on state math tests at a rate equal to that of those with at least 50% White students. A significant and moderate to large (d = .71) effect was found, however, between these two groups of schools among schools that did not use a TEFE program. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pedigrees, assortative mating and speciation in Darwin's finches

Pedigree analysis is a useful tool in the study of speciation. It can reveal trans-generational influences on the choice of mates. We examined mating patterns in a population of Darwin's medium ground finches (Geospiza fortis) on Daphne Major Island to improve our understanding of how a barrier to the exchange of genes between populations arises in evolution. Body sizes of mates were weakly correlated. In one year, the smallest females were paired non-randomly with the males of similar size, and in another year the largest males were paired with the largest females. An influence of parental morphology on the choice of mates, as expected from sexual imprinting theory, was found; the body size of mates was predicted by the body sizes of both parents, and especially strongly by the father's. These associations imply that the seeds of reproductive isolation between species are present within a single variable population. The implication was subject to a natural test: two exceptionally large birds of the study species, apparently immigrants, bred with each other, as did their offspring, and not with the members of the resident population. The intense inbreeding represents incipient speciation. It parallels a similar phenomenon when another species, the large ground finch, immigrated to Daphne and established a new population without interbreeding with the resident medium ground finches.
Factors that contribute to blood loss in patients with colonic angiodysplasia from a population-based study

Background & Aims Most studies of angiodysplasia are small and performed at a single center. We investigated the epidemiology and management of colonic angiodysplasia by using a national endoscopy database. Methods Colonoscopy reports (n = 229,727; generated from January 2000 to December 2002) from patients with documented angiodysplasia (n = 4159) were retrieved from the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative. Predictors of occult or overt blood loss and endoscopic treatment were identified by using multivariate logistic regression. Results Most patients with documented angiodysplasia were older than 60 years (73%) or had right-sided lesions (62%). There was evidence of blood loss in 56% of patients with angiodysplasia. Predictors of blood loss included inpatient status (odds ratio [OR], 8.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.42–14.10), 2–10 angiodysplasias (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.29–1.75), more than 10 lesions (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.69–2.80), black race (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.46–2.62), severe illness (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.62–2.41), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.32–2.22), and age older than 80 years (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.06–1.63). Endoscopic therapy was given to 28% of patients with evidence of blood loss and in 68% with active bleeding. Endoscopic treatment increased among patients in a university practice setting (vs community setting, OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.96–3.27) and decreased in Northwest geographic locations (vs Southwest, OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43–0.84). Conclusions Predictors of blood loss in patients with colonic angiodysplasia include inpatient status, comorbidities, age, race/ethnicity, and lesion number. Endoscopic therapy for angiodysplasia varied according to practice setting and region.
Weight Increase During Chilling of Broilers as Influenced by Method of Opening the Abdominal Cavity During Evisceration

Abstract It has been shown (Bailey et al., 1948) that cut up parts absorbed more moisture during slush-ice chilling than did eviscerated whole chickens. Therefore, the greater the amount of surface exposed to the chill water, the greater will be the moisture absorption by the carcass. The present work was carried out to determine the amount of moisture pickup during chilling of poultry as influenced by the type, extent, and location of cuts used when opening the abdominal cavity during evisceration. METHOD A total of 72 Arbor Acre White Rock broilers, averaging approximately 2 lbs. were used in this study. The birds were killed by the standard outside cut, allowed to bleed for 90 seconds, scalded in 125–128°F. water for 90 seconds, and hand picked. They were then eviscerated and the head, oil sac, feet and crop were removed. The crop was removed through a rear-of-neck slit. The control eviscerating…
Sample Contamination from Grinding and Sieving Determined by Emission Spectrometry

The trace element contaminations, introduced by grinding or sieving samples of Specpure silica and calcium carbonate in various devices in common usage, have been measured using emission spectrometry. The tungsten carbide vial introduced large amounts of Co and Ti. The alumina mortar introduced Al, Cr, Fe, Ga, and Zr. The alumina–ceramic vial introduced Al, Cu, Fe, Ga, Li, Ti, B, Ba, Co, Mn, Zn, and Zr. The boron carbide mortar (except for B), the agate mortar, and the Lucite grinding vials introduced little or no contamination, as did sifting with nylon sieves. Stainless steel or brass sieves introduced appreciable levels of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn. The contamination Cu, Pb, and Zn from sieving with the brass was greatest in the smaller size fraction. Pregrinding an aliquot of the sample is recommended. Greater reductions in contamination from the grinding material were noted by pregrinding with soft fine CaCO3 than with SiO2. Cross contamination from previously ground samples was demonstrated to be a major source of contamination. Grinding with the hard, more abrasive SiO2 removed more of the cross contaminants than did the CaCO3.
Controlled-load limited switch dynamic logic circuit

Limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL), a high performance logic circuit, has been modified by introducing a pseudo-nMOS style load. The resultant circuit consumes less power, primarily due to the reduction of capacitance on the clock network. The controlled-load LSDL is shown to be more robust to noise and power rail bounce. A 64-bit rotator circuit was used in the analysis. The effect of process variation on circuit performance is also evaluated.
Cryptogenic Stroke Associated With Patent Foramen Ovale in a Collegiate Volleyball Athlete: A Case Report

Cryptogenic stroke is a form of cerebral vascular accident that has an unknown origin and is rarely associated with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and migraine headaches. This is an uncommon occurrence in young, healthy, active adults, and it is increasingly rare for the episode to occur during an athletic competition. Stroke is easily recognizable with its distinct signs and symptoms, but it is also easily confused with many of its differential diagnoses, such as seizures or head trauma, if the episode occurs during an athletic competition. This case report describes the stroke episode, incidence of migraine headaches, diagnostic testing, and surgical management of a college female volleyball athlete who suffered a cryptogenic stroke associated with PFO during an athletic competition. Diagnostic testing included magnetic resonance imaging with contrast, electroencephalograph, lower extremity Doppler testing, and a transesophageal echocardiograph with agitated saline study. Surgical correction of the PFO included a cardiac catheterization percutaneous procedure based on fluoroscopic and echocardiograph imaging. After release from physicians, the athlete returned to full participation in the sport of volleyball, where she competed for the next 2 years without complications. The patient has reported no symptoms from stroke or PFO closure procedure in 3 years, and migraine headaches have decreased in severity, frequency, and duration.
WLBT News in the Deregulation Era: Modern Racism or Representative Picture?

The Federal Communications Commission no longer keeps a microscopic watch on television stations as it did in years past. This being the case, could stations falter in their public interest obligations? This is an important question because of the power of television news. The present research examines WLBT News in Jackson, Mississippi. This article does not contend that WLBT News should adhere to a higher standard for public interest than the other stations in its market. WLBT holds a distinctive place in broadcast history. WLBT was the first television station to lose its broadcast license for anti-public interest reasons during an era of heavy broadcast regulation. The content of the newscasts were read as “text” and interpreted with semiotic methodolgy in terms of their symbolic and cultural meanings about race. The results of the study suggest that there is more to the messages in the newscasts than what meets the eye at first glance.
The impact of local food marketing on purchase decision and willingness to pay in a foodservice setting

ABSTRACTUsing survey methodology and experimental design, the current study examines the effects of consumer perception of marketing through the use of signage, product involvement, and willingness to pay on purchase outcomes for locally grown products within a university foodservice setting. Results from the logistical regression models suggest that perception of signage has a larger impact on choosing local food products than product involvement or willingness to pay. Experimental testing showed that when given a choice between local and non-local foods, the average sales for local products were higher than the non-local options, and consumers were willing to pay upward of 10% more for locally grown produce. Implications and future research opportunities are discussed.
Poultry Housing in Florida

Abstract Florida hens need protection from the mid-noon hours of sunshine, in winter, as well as shelter during the sudden showers of the three mid-summer months. The usual conditions of two thirds of the state, call for a southern or southeastern frontage. Unless a cement floor and foundation wall can be had it is better to build on wooden or brick posts, with a wooden floor, above the ground enough to get thorough ventilation under the house. The roof pitched high enough to shed water, with a wide overhang to lessen the amount of sunshine and water reaching the walls of the building. The bungalow—sleeping porch—idea is applied as well to hens as to humans in Florida. The poultry department advises against large houses, high studding, costly construction. The shed roof is recommended for the smaller houses and the double pitch roof for the larger ones. The height within . . .
Research of Erosion Sesistance of HVOF-sprayed Fe-Al/Cr_3C_2 Composite Coating

The Fe-Al/Cr3C2 composite coating was made in the 20 steel by HVOF. The erosion sesistance of HVOF-sprayed Fe-Al/Cr3C2 were researched. The coatings surface was analysed by SEM. The results show that the erosion mechanism of HVOF-sprayed Fe-Al/Cr3C2 is brittleness?brittleness-ductile and ductile at 300℃?450℃ and 650℃.Impingement angles do effects to erosion resistance, the erosion resistance of HVOF-sprayed Fe-Al/Cr3C2 at 30°impingement angles is better than that at 90°. The erosion resistance of HVOF-sprayed is enhanced with the temperature increasing.
Ovarian cyclicity in thyroid-suppressed ewes treated with propylthiouracil immediately before onset of seasonal anestrus

Two experiments were conducted to determine if propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced thyroid suppression immediately before onset of anestrus would extend the breeding season in mature ewes. In Exp. 1, twice-weekly serum concentrations of progesterone indicated that all ewes were cyclic before initiation of treatment. Beginning on d 0 (January 17), ewes received 0 (n = 4), 20 (n = 5), or 40 (n = 5) mg of PTU x kg(-1) of body weight (BW) x (-1) for 35 d. Blood samples were collected regularly throughout the trial and serum thyroxine and progesterone were quantified. Ewe BW were similar (P > 0.90) among treatments before the experiment began (mean = 78.2 +/- 4.5 kg). Likewise, serum concentrations of thyroxine averaged 86.5 +/- 8.0 ng/mL on d 0. After 11 d of PTU treatment, serum thyroxine was 90.2,75.2, and 44.2 +/- 14.0 ng/mL in ewes receiving 0, 20, and 40 mg of PTU/kg BW, respectively (linear effect, P = 0.04). On d 20, thyroxine values in the three respective groups were 73.0, 51.1, and 16.1 +/- 12.9 ng/mL (linear effect, P < 0.01). Fourteen days after PTU treatment ended, serum thyroxine did not differ (P = 0.53) among the three respective groups (71.4,73.3, and 57.5 +/- 11.8 ng/mL). Ewes receiving PTU tended to weigh less on d 42 (84.2, 78.2, and 71.8 +/- 5.1 kg for ewes treated with 0, 20, and 40 mg PTU/kg, respectively; linear effect, P = 0.10). Day of onset of anestrus was designated as the day on which serum progesterone decreased and remained below 1 ng/mL. Ewes treated with 0, 20, or 40 mg of PTU/kg BW became anestrous on d 16,40, and 81 (+/- 12) of the experiment, respectively (linear effect, P < 0.01). At the time the 35-d treatment period ended, 25, 60, and 100% of ewes receiving 0, 20, or 40 mg of PTU/kg exhibited normal estrous cycles. In Exp. 2, ewes received 0, 20, or 40 mg of PTU/kg BW for 14 d. The dose was then decreased to 0, 10, and 20 mg of PTU/kg BW for the remaining 21 d. Serum thyroxine decreased to concentrations below 20 ng/mL by d 9 after initiation of PTU treatment. Ewe weights did not differ throughout the trial and no BW loss was observed. The average day that each group entered anestrus was similar to those in Exp 1. Large doses of PTU dramatically lower serum thyroxine and this effect appears to inhibit onset of anestrus in ewes.
Neue Möglichkeiten in der immunologischen Diagnostik der Treponemen-Infektion (Syphilis)

Es wird uber ein Verfahren zum Nachweis treponemen-spezifischer IgM-Antikorper berichtet. Dabei werden die Antikorper unter Verwendung eines FITC-markierten Anti-Human-IgM-Serums vom Kaninchen im Patientenserum direkt — oder nach Gel-Diffusion des Serums uber Sephadex G 200 — fluoreszenz-optisch erfast. Die an den Serumproben von 609 Patienten mit unbehandelter bzw. ausreichend behandelter Syphilis erhobenen Befunde werden mitgeteilt. Sie zeigen, das die Methodik zur Fruherfassung einer Treponemen-Infektion beim Erwachsenen geeignet ist. Daruber hinaus wird dargestellt, das das Testergebnis die Beurteilung des Effektes einer spezifischen, antibiotischen Behandlung der Infektion zu ermoglichen scheint.
Theories of Risk Management and Multiple Hazards: Thoughts for Engineers from Regulatory Policy

Regulatory policy can offer a rich resource for engineers who are interested in managing multiple risks. Like engineers, regulatory policymakers routinely face decisions about risks from multiple hazards. The chapter begins by presenting two observations about risk that regulatory theorists have come to recognize as posing core challenges to multi-risk management: countervailing risk, which is ancillary risk that arises when (in)action is taken to reduce a targeted risk; and reciprocal risk, or risks that develop from interactions between multiple sources and multiple behaviors. The chapter then provides an overview of three approaches used in regulatory risk management to respond to the challenges posed by multiple risks: the precautionary principle, cost-benefit analysis, and the capability approach. These different approaches interact differently with the challenges posed by countervailing and reciprocal risks, have different strengths and drawbacks, and can pull decision-makers in different directions when managing multiple risks. Exploring the way that policymakers manage multiple risks—and the challenges they face in doing so—may thus provide valuable insights to engineers facing multiple hazards.