cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of explicit timing on mathematics problem completion rates in African-American third-grade elementary students

A multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the effects of Van Houten and Thompson's (1976) explicit timing procedure on problem completion rates and accuracy levels in African-American third-grade students. During the explicit timing phase, students were told that they were being timed and were instructed to circle the last problem completed at each 1-min interval. Results showed that the explicit timing procedure increased problem completion rates. A decreasing trend in percentage of problems correct also occurred. Exploratory data analysis suggested that decreases in accuracy were not caused by the explicit timing procedure and did not occur in students who had attained high levels of preintervention accuracy. Discussion focuses on recommendations for educators who wish to use timing procedures to increase students' rates of accurate responding.
Small plot evaluation of an electro-optical cotton yield monitor

Abstract The application of precision agriculture to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production has been limited due to the lack of a suitable yield monitor. Cotton yield monitors under research have utilized load cells, sound sensors and electro-optical devices to measure seedcotton yield. A commercial electro-optical cotton yield sensor was introduced to the cotton industry in 1997 by the Zycom Corporation, Bedford, MA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the precision of this new yield monitor on small research plots. Cotton research plots were harvested and monitor values recorded from a single harvesting head. Seedcotton was saved from each plot and weighed for comparison with yield monitor values. Monitor values were compared to cumulative plot weights. A total of 226.8 kg of seedcotton was harvested from 72 plots. A significant linear relationship (r2=0.99) was observed between monitor values and observed plot weights. This yield monitor looked very promising for estimating cotton yields and suggests that this technology may allow for the application of precision agriculture to cotton production.
Chemical probes for the rapid detection of Fatty-acylated proteins in Mammalian cells.

The attachment of lipids onto proteins modulates the activity of proteins in many biological settings. The analysis of protein lipidation, however, is challenging due to the relatively few methods for the detection of lipid-modified proteins. Here we describe the synthesis of ω-azido-fatty acids as non-radioactive chemical probes for the rapid visualization of fatty-acylated proteins in mammalian cells. Following metabolic installation of the ω-azido-fatty acids onto target proteins by cellular enzymes, fatty-acylated proteins are selectively biotinylated with a phosphine−biotin reagent via the Staudinger ligation and visualized by streptavidin blotting. Depending on the chain length of the ω-azido-fatty acids, N-myristoylated and S-palmitoylated proteins can be visualized selectively in cell lysates and on specific proteins. These chemical probes provide new tools to analyze fatty acylation of proteins in living cells.
Stimulation of IRS-1-associated Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Akt/Protein Kinase B but Not Glucose Transport by β1-Integrin Signaling in Rat Adipocytes

The signal transduction pathway by which insulin stimulates glucose transport is not understood, but a role for complexes of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase as well as for Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) has been proposed. Here, we present evidence suggesting that formation of IRS-1/PI 3-kinase complexes and Akt/PKB activation are insufficient to stimulate glucose transport in rat adipocytes. Cross-linking of beta1-integrin on the surface of rat adipocytes by anti-beta1-integrin antibody and fibronectin was found to cause greater IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity, and Akt/PKB activation, detected by anti-serine 473 antibody, than did 1 nM insulin. Clustering of beta1-integrin also significantly potentiated stimulation of insulin receptor and IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, IRS-associated PI 3-kinase activity, and Akt/PKB activation caused by submaximal concentrations of insulin. In contrast, beta1-integrin clustering caused neither a change in deoxyglucose transport nor an effect on the ability of insulin to stimulate deoxyglucose uptake at any concentration along the entire dose-response relationship range. The data suggest that (i) beta1-integrins can engage tyrosine kinase signaling pathways in isolated fat cells, potentially regulating fat cell functions and (ii) either formation of IRS-1/PI 3-kinase complexes and Akt/PKB activation is not necessary for regulation of glucose transport in fat cells or an additional signaling pathway is required.
Positive Correlation Between the Expression of inlA and inlB Genes of Listeria monocytogenes and Its Attachment Strength on Glass Surface

Previous research involving internalin A (inlA) and internalin B (inlB) single- and double-knockout mutants of Listeria monocytogenes has suggested the involvement of two surface proteins, InlA and InlB, in the adherence of the cells to a glass surface. This phenomenon was further investigated with a larger number (n = 27) of L. monocytogenes wild-type strains that were isolated from catfish processing plants and catfish fillets, in addition to internal controls, one ATCC 7644 strain, and L. monocytogenes EGDe strain. Of the wild-type strains, three were shown to produce truncated forms of InlA protein. A blot succession method was used to measure the ease of detachment of sessile L. monocytogenes from a glass surface after attachment at 4 °C for 8 h. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to quantitate mRNA levels of inlA and inlB in L. monocytogenes strains after the cells were incubated at 4 °C for 8 h. An inverse relationship between the ease of cell removal from glass surface and the relative inlA and inlB mRNA levels with R2 value of 0.664 and 0.431, respectively, was observed. This suggests that the attachment strength of L. monocytogenes on glass surface is positively correlated with inlA and inlB expression. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in attachment strength among serotypes. These results suggest that L. monocytogenes InlA and InlB proteins play a role in adherence to a glass surface at low temperature, and the attachment ability is independent of serotype.
Metabolism and Distribution of 1-[14C]Alprazolam in Rats

Using 14C-labeled alprazolam (1-[14C]APZ) as a model for 1-[11C]APZ, we evaluated the tissue distribution of total radioactivity and assessed the contribution of the polar metabolites of APZ (α-hydroxmethyl-and 4-hydroxy-APZ) to radioactivity levels in the plasma and brains of rats over the course of 1 h. The biodistribution data showed that the uptake of radioactivity by rat brain was 0.31% of the injected dose per gram of tissue weight at 10 min postinjection. Pretreating rats reduced the levels in brain to 0.21% of the injected dose at 10 min but had little effect on the distribution of radioactivity in plasma and other tissues studied. Analysis of the metabolites in plasma and brain homogenates by an extraction-thin-layer chromatography-liquid scintillation method revealed that >94% of the radioactivity in the rat brain was due to 1-[14C]APZ over the course of 1 h. APZ, therefore, is stable to metabolic transformations in the rat brain, and the polar metabolites are readily conjugated and excreted so that their cerebral uptake is minimal.
Study of the initial stage of electroless Ni deposition on Si (100) substrates in aqueous alkaline solution

We investigated electroless nickel deposition in aqueous alkaline solution with and without conventional palladium catalyzation and found that nickel deposition was initiated and sustained on silicon substrates even without the palladium nuclei activation of the surface. But the resulting quality of the nickel film was not as good as the one with the prior activation. The reason was observably directed to the initial stage of the deposition processes. Nickel deposits nucleation on silicon surface was considered crucial for subsequent achievement of a well adhered, least damage influenced film. Effects of ammonia fluoride, nickel ion concentration and bath temperature in the aqueous nickel bath without reducing agent were studied over the nucleation results. The existence of fluorine ions in the solution increased the density of nickel nuclei particles and refined nickel particle sizes to the most extent, while concentrated nickel bath enhanced the nucleation as well. Consequently the improved quality of nickel film that was obtained from the electroless baths can be attributed to the fine and dense nickel particles formed in the initial stage by virtue of the fluorine ion, concentrated nickel ion and elevated temperature.
Forensic steganalysis: determining the stego key in spatial domain steganography

This paper is an extension of our work on stego key search for JPEG images published at EI SPIE in 2004. We provide a more general theoretical description of the methodology, apply our approach to the spatial domain, and add a method that determines the stego key from multiple images. We show that in the spatial domain the stego key search can be made significantly more efficient by working with the noise component of the image obtained using a denoising filter. The technique is tested on the LSB embedding paradigm and on a special case of embedding by noise adding (the ±1 embedding). The stego key search can be performed for a wide class of steganographic techniques even for sizes of secret message well below those detectable using known methods. The proposed strategy may prove useful to forensic analysts and law enforcement.
Three-dimensional interaction of Phi29 pRNA dimer probed by chemical modification interference, cryo-AFM, and cross-linking.

Six pRNAs (p for packaging) of bacterial virus phi29 form a hexamer complex that is an essential component of the viral DNA translocating motor. Dimers, the building block of pRNA hexamer, assemble in the order of dimer → tetramer → hexamer. The two-dimensional structure of the pRNA monomer has been investigated extensively; however, the three-dimensional structure concerning the distance constraints of the three stems and loops are unknown. In this report, we probed the three-dimensional structure of pRNA monomer and dimer by photo affinity cross-linking with azidophenacyl. Bases 75–81 of the left stem were found to be oriented toward the head loop and proximate to bases 26–31 in a parallel orientation. Chemical modification interference indicates the involvement of bases 45–71 and 82–91 in dimer formation. Dimer was formed via hand-in-hand contact, a novel RNA dimerization that in some aspects is similar to the kissing loops of the human immunodeficiency virus. The covalently linked dimers were found to be biologically active. Both the native dimer and the covalently linked dimer were found by cryo-atomic force microscopy to be similar in global conformation and size.
Specificity of monohydric phenol oxidations by meta cleavage pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa T1

The oxidation of several mono-hydric phenols by wild type and mutant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa T1 has been studied. The data suggest, that a non-specific enzyme sequence of the meta cleavage pathway is induced by all of these phenols, which can catalyze the oxidation of phenol and its analogues to pyruvate, a fatty acid and a carbonyl compound, according to the general scheme of Dagley et al. (1964). Mutants unable to grow on phenol (hydroxylase-negative), have been isolated, and they are also unable to grown on or oxidize the cresols and the xylenols. Revertants of these mutants regain the capacity to grow on all these phenols and are indistinguishable from the wild type. Induced-substrate relationships for the earlier enzymes of the pathway have been determined, e.g., phenol in addition to catechol and the methylcatechols is an inducer for catechol 2,3-oxygenase. Analysis of the enzymic content of cells grown in a variety of steadystate conditions shows (a) that the ratio of the specific activities of the “phenol” hydroxylase and catechol 2,3-oxygenase is constant for each of their analogous substrates; and (b) that induction and catabolite repression of catechol 2,3-oxygenase and the “muconic semialdehyde” hydrolyase are coordinate, but that control of the “phenol” hydroxylase is independent.
Ground effects on the performance of a two-element dipole array designed for NVIS communications

The use of a two element dipole array for near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) communications is computationally investigated. The antenna is placed close to the vehicle of interest, namely the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV), and the effect of different grounds on the input impedance, efficiency, Q-factor, and BW of the antenna and vehicle system are determined. Good corroboration of the conducted method of moments analysis with finite element method is obtained, thus validating this work's conclusions.
Identifying Red Variables in the Northern Sky Variability Survey

We present a catalog of 8678 slowly varying stars with near-infrared colors corresponding to the evolved asymptotic giant branch population. Objects were selected from the Northern Sky Variability Survey (NSVS) covering the entire sky above declination δ = -38° in a single unfiltered photometric band corresponding to a V-band magnitude range of ~8–15.5 mag. After quality cuts, the number of measurements for a typical star is approximately 150, but it ranges up to ~1000 for high-declination stars. We show that the use of support vector machines, a modern machine-learning algorithm, can reliably distinguish Mira variables from other types of red variables, namely, semiregular and irregular. We also identify a region of parameter space that is dominated by carbon stars. Our classification is based on period, amplitude, and three independent colors possible with photometry from the NSVS and the Two Micron All Sky Survey. The overall classification accuracy is ~90% despite the relatively short survey baseline of 1 yr and limited set of features. There are 6474 stars in our sample without identifications in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars, which, as such, are most likely new discoveries. Period-amplitude and period-color diagrams of both our previously known and newly identified Mira stars are in good agreement with published studies based on smaller samples.
Theoretical calculations of the d-, f-, and g-electron transition series.

Self consistent field calculations of effective quantum numbers for nd, nf and ng electrons for atomic configurations from 2-126 Z
Synthesis and lead(II) sorption of silica gel-immobilized, di-ionizable calix[4]arenes

Di-ionizable calix[4]arenes with two lower-rim N-(X)sulfonyl carboxamide groups were covalently linked to silica gel via a single attachment on the upper rim. Both the acidity of the ionizable groups (X group variation) and the length of the spacer that joins the ligands to the silica gel matrix were varied. Preliminary evaluation of these new ion-exchange resins for sorption of lead(II) from aqueous solutions was conducted.
Derivation of force field parameters for SnO2-H2O surface systems from plane-wave density functional theory calculations.

Plane-wave density functional theory (DFT-PW) calculations were performed on bulk SnO2 (cassiterite) and the (100), (110), (001), and (101) surfaces with and without H2O present. A classical intera...
Remediating Knowledge-Making Spaces in the Graduate Curriculum: Developing and Sustaining Multimodal Teaching and Research

Abstract Functional, critical, and rhetorical training in multimodal teaching and research must span all aspects of professional development within the graduate curriculum in order to best prepare emerging professionals for success in the age of digital media. The authors call upon multiple perspectives of their home program and offer a range of benchmarks for other programs that want to promote digital teaching and research as integral, sustainable components of their knowledge-making spaces.
Introduction: Nutritional and Functional Roles of Eggs in the Diet

For years, eggs have been held up as a powerhouse of nutrition. This reputation has been due to eggs’ exceptional nutrition profile as a nutrient-dense food containing high quality protein and a substantial amount of many essential vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately their position on the nutrition pedestal fell with the discovery that they are also a source of dietary cholesterol. The most recent scientific research not only returns eggs to their golden past, but elevates their position as a functional food and ultimately provides more reasons than ever to consume eggs. In February 2000, scientists convened at a conference in Amelia Island, Florida, to discuss the latest research about the role of eggs in disease prevention and the promotion of health. This supplement of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (JACN)presents compelling scientific evidence about eggs’ functional food attributes, reaffirms that eggs have a minimal effect on blood cholesterol levels and presents new research on the contribution of eggs to the American diet. For health professionals, this issue provides a new scientifically based viewpoint on eggs and their role in health and nutrition, a viewpoint that should be imparted to all consumers in an effort to ensure optimal health and well-being.
Inhibition of Bacterial Adherence by Secretory Immunoglobulin A: A Mechanism of Antigen Disposal

Preparations of secretory iminunoglobuilin A (S-IgA) isolated from human parotid fluid specifically inhibited the adherence of Streptococcus strains to epithelial cells. Since bacterial adherence is a prerequisite for colonization of mucous surfaces. S-IgA-mediated inhibition of adherence would limit bacterial colonization. This mechanism can explain how secretory immunoglobulins function in the disposal of bacterial antigens.
Seasonal and Spatial Variation in Diversity and Abundance of Tardigrades in Leaf Litter from Louisiana and Florida

Abstract During 2002–2003, we collected samples of leaf litter (10-cm diameter) from two woodland sites in southwestern Louisiana and one in central Florida. In Louisiana, we collected at four times (autumn, winter, spring, and summer) and in Florida in spring and summer. We divided each sample into two layers, an upper leafy layer (1–2 cm in depth) and a lower layer of humus (1–2 cm in depth). We detected six species of tardigrades in samples from Louisiana and five in samples from Florida. Seasonal variation in density of tardigrades was pronounced at each site. Tardigrades generally were more abundant in the upper layer. Density and diversity of tardigrades in the leaf litter at these sites were less than in mountainous areas of Italy and Tennessee, USA.
Structural Determinants for Interaction with Three Different Effectors on the G Protein β Subunit

In the yeast two-hybrid system, a 100-residue fragment (β1A) from the N terminus of the β1 subunit interacts with domains specific to adenylyl cyclase 2 (AC2), the muscarinic atrial potassium channel (GIRK1), and phospholipase C-β2 (PLC-β2). Based on the crystal structure of the G protein, β1A is composed of an N-terminal α helix, a loop, and five β strands in which the C-terminal four β strands form a β sheet, the first of seven sheets that make up the propeller structure of the β subunit. A mutant of β1A (L4P, L7P, and L14P), in which the α helix was potentially destroyed, interacted poorly with the G protein γ subunit but effectively with domains of AC2, GIRK1, and PLC-β2. In contrast, another mutant of β1A (S72A, D76A, and W82A), in which a network of hydrogen bonds was disrupted, interacted poorly with GIRK1 and PLC-β2 domains, but effectively with the γ subunit and the AC2 domain. These results suggest that the proper folding of the first five β strands in the G protein β subunit is a requirement for appropriately positioning residues that interact with GIRK1 and PLC-β2. Furthermore, since mutations that potentially disrupted the folding of these β strands did not affect interaction with AC2, the structural determinants on the G protein β subunit for interaction with various effectors may be different.
Characterization of the Bovine Innate Immune Response to Intramammary Infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae

Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for almost one-half of the clinical cases of mastitis that occur annually. Of those gram-negative bacteria that induce mastitis, Klebsiella pneumoniae remains one of the most prevalent. Detection of infectious pathogens and the induction of a proinflammatory response are critical components of host innate immunity. The objective of the current study was to characterize several elements of the bovine innate immune response to intramammary infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. The inflammatory cytokine response and changes in the levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP), 2 proteins that contribute to host recognition of gram-negative bacteria, were studied. The contralateral quarters of 7 late-lactating Holstein cows were challenged with either saline or K. pneumoniae, and milk and blood samples were collected. Initial increases in the chemoattractants C5a and IL-8, as well as TNF-alpha, were evident in infected quarters within 16 h of challenge and were temporally coincident with increases in milk somatic cells. Augmented levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8 were observed in infected quarters until >48 h postchallenge, respectively. Elevated levels of IL-12, IFN-gamma, and the antiinflammatory cytokine, IL-10, which were first detected between 12 and 20 h postinfection, persisted in infected quarters throughout the study (>96 h). Initial increases in milk LBP and sCD14 were detected 16 and 20 h, respectively, after challenge. Together, these data demonstrate that intramammary infection with K. pneumoniae elicits a host response characterized by the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and elevation of accessory molecules involved in LPS recognition.
A Review of Marital Rape

The current paper represents a comprehensive review of marital rape, including its legal history and numerous aspects of its perpetration and victimization. Specifically, this review focuses on theories and forms of marital rape, the scope of the problem, risk factors, resistance strategies, and marital rape's psychological and physical effects, and help-seeking behaviors and interventions for victims. Historically, marital rape has not been recognized as a criminal act; only recently has marital rape become illegal in all 50 states. Marital rape is a serious societal issue that is experienced by 10% to 14% of all married women and 40% to 50% of battered women. Marriages in which marital rape occurs have significantly higher rates of non-sexual violence and marital dissatisfaction, as well as lower ratings of marital quality. Victims who resist marital rape often employ verbal means of resistance. However, most of marital rape victims are either unable or afraid to resist sexual aggression by their husbands. Victims of marital rape experience significant levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, gynecological problems, and negative physical health symptoms. Victims of marital rape seek help from a variety of different resources. Seeking help from social service agencies and the law appears to be the most effective behaviors for ending marital rape. Stress inoculation therapy and cognitive processing therapy are promising treatments for victims of marital rape. The literature on marital rape is characterized by considerable methodological problems, and further research is needed to gain a better understanding of this problem.
STABILITY TRENDS OF 1:1 AND 2:1 DIALKYLMALONATO RARE-EARTH CHELATES.

Abstract The step-formation constants of the 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 malonato, diethylmalonato, di- n -propylmalonato and di- n -butylmalonato rare-earth and yttrium chelates were determined at ionic strength 0·100 (KNO 3 ) at 25·0°C by a potentiometric method. The first and second ionization constants of the ligand acids were also measured. The trend of the first formation constants with cationic radius, observed with the lanthanide malonates, is followed in the case of the dialkylsubstituted rare-earth malonates. Stability increases with complexity of the substituents, although the dimethylmalonate ligand exhibits less affinity for rare-earth cations than malonate itself. The trends manifested by the second constants are less regular. A curious odd-even stability differential is apparent in these systems with the heavier rare earths (TbLu). The differential is apparent in both b 1 , and b 1 and the cumulative effect in β 2 values is sufficient to cause reversal of the usual ion-exchange elution order in the case of the YbLu and the DyHo pairs when ammonium malonate buffer is the eluant on Dowex 50-X8.
Cohomology of Dowling Lattices and Lie (Super)Algebras

We extend a well-known relationship between the representation of the symmetric group on the homology of the partition lattice and the free Lie algebra to Dowling lattices.
Etiologic Stroke Subtypes: Updated Definition and Efficient Workup Strategies

Stroke affects approximately 16.9 million individuals per year worldwide and is the second leading cause of death. Stroke represents a family of related, but distinct subtypes. Classifying stroke subtypes must take into account various aspects of a standardized stroke workup to allow optimization of treatment and prevention strategies. Secondary prevention and pharmacologic treatment is tailored based on stroke mechanism. Additionally prognostication and recurrent risk also depends on stroke etiology. Efficient workup of stroke relies on a thorough history, clinical examination, imaging studies, and putative mechanism of stroke that lead the treating physician to a particular etiological path. Here , we provide the reader with updated definitions of etiologic ischemic stroke types as well as efficient workup strategies.
Development of the infundibulum of jungle fowl during incubation indicating neurohaemal role for this area.

An area under the ependyma of the infundibulum in jungle fowl hens enlarges progressively during incubation. The structure is reduced in size and altered in appearance in laying hens, regressed in nonlaying hens, and absent in males. Enlargement of the structure does not depend on increasing or decreasing day length. The area did not enlarge in jungle fowl receiving injections of prolactin. No similar structure was found in incubating house sparrows, rock doves, or ring-necked pheasant. Histological and histochemical examination of the enlarged area led to the tentative conclusion that it may represent a neurohaemal depot for ergones from the infundibular hypothalamic nuclei and may be evolved from a structure homologous with the neurohypophysis of lower vertebrates.
An integrated approach to predictive genomic analytics

A variety of methods and algorithms have recently been employed in the analysis of gene expression data, including reverse-engineering and knowledge-based pathway modeling, semantic gene similarity, network analysis and clustering. These methods and algorithms address different subparts of the same overall challenge and need to be applied in combination to address predictive genomic analysis as a whole. In this paper, we present an integrated approach to predictive genomic analysis that achieves this objective and describe an application of the approach to the study of neuroprotection in stroke.
The Model Minority Thesis Revisited: (Counter)Evidence from the Science and Engineering Fields

In this article, the author explores whether Asian Americans in science and engineering fit the image of a successful Model Minority and whether, compared to whites and blacks, Asian Americans have similar chances of moving into management. Drawing from National Science Foundation panel data, this study examines the likelihood of whites, blacks, and Asians moving into management across occupational fields and organizations. Results indicate that only in certain occupations and organizations are Asian American males and females doing as well as their white peers. In contrast, blacks seem to have mobility comparable to whites across fields and organizations. The racial patterns of the career mobility of scientists and engineers provide mixed evidence for the thesis that Asian Americans are a successful Model Minority in professional occupations.
A simple electronic device for gassing tissue culture vessels

A device is described which will (a) mix 100% CO2 with compressed air in any desired proportion, (b) deliver the mixed CO2-air at any desired flow rate, and (c) permit automatic control of the time period for which gas flows. This device employs two solenoid valves controlling gas flow, a commercially available electronic timer, and two gas regulators.
Continuity and change from early childhood to adolescence in autism.

Background: This longitudinal study of 48 children diagnosed with autism at 2–5 years of age was designed to test the hypothesis that diagnosis would remain stable for most of the sample but that there would be improvements in symptom severity, adaptive behavior, and emotional responsiveness in adolescence. Methods: A sample of children with autism assessed in both early and middle childhood were observed in late adolescence with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS) and their parents were administered the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale. Results: All but 2 adolescents (46 of 48) met lifetime criteria for autism according to the ADI-R, and all but 4 adolescents (40 of 44) met criteria for autism spectrum disorder on the ADOS. In contrast to the continuity in diagnosis, parents described improvements in social interactions, repetitive/stereotyped behaviors, adaptive behaviors, and emotional responsiveness to others’ distress in adolescence compared to middle childhood. High-functioning adolescents with autism showed more improvement in these domains than low-functioning adolescents with autism. The extent to which the adolescents were observed to be socially engaged with their peers in school in middle childhood predicted adaptive behavior skills even when intelligence level was statistically constrained. Conclusions: The developmental trajectory of children with autism appears to show both continuity and change. In this sample, most individuals continued to be diagnosed in the autism spectrum but parents reported improvements in adolescence. The results suggest that social involvement with peers improves adaptive behavior skills, and this argues for focusing intervention programs in this area. In addition, it is clear that high-functioning adolescents improve more than low-functioning individuals not only in cognitive abilities but also in social interaction skills. Thus, any early intervention that impacts the cognitive abilities of young children with autism is likely to have a parallel influence on their social skills as they mature into late adolescence and early adulthood.
An Empirical Study of Robustness of Network Centrality Scores in Various Networks and Conditions

Network centrality score is an important measure to assess the importance and the major roles that each node plays in a network. In addition, the centrality score is also vitally important in assessing the overall structure and connectivity of a network. In a narrow sense, nearly all network mining algorithms, such as social network community detection, link predictions etc., involve certain types of centrality scores to some extent. Despite of its importance, very few researches have empirically analyzed the robustness of these measures in different network environments. Our existing works know very little about how network centrality score behaves at macro- (i.e. network) and micro- (i.e. individual node) levels. At the network level, what are the inherent connections between network topology structures and centrality scores? Will a sparse network be more (or less) robust in its centrality scores if any change is introduced to the network? At individual node levels, what types of nodes (high or low node degree) are more sensitive in their centrality scores, when changes are imposed to the network?And which centrality score is more reliable in revealing the genuine network structures? In this paper, we empirically analyze the robustness of three types of centrality scores: Betweenness centrality score, Closeness centrality score, and Eigen-vector centrality score for various types of networks. We systematically introduce biased and unbiased changes to the networks, by adding and removing different percentages of edges and nodes, through which we can compare and analyze the robustness and sensitivity of each centrality score measurement. Our empirical studies draw important findings to help understand the behaviors of centrality scores in different social networks.
On the analytical solution for self-similar grain size distributions in two dimensions

Abstract In a recent publication an analytical solution of the Fokker–Planck continuity equation for the grain size distribution for two-dimensional grain growth in the long time limit (self-similar state) was provided. It used von Neumann–Mullins law and the results of Rios and Glicksman, but was based on a stochastic formulation first proposed by Pande. In this paper this analytical solution is compared with experimental and computer simulation distributions. It is found that grain size distribution, as obtained by simulations of two-dimensional grain growth, although in agreement with our analytical results, may in fact differ from experimentally obtained grain size distributions in thin films. It is also shown mathematically that in the two limiting cases the general solution is reduced to the Hillert or Rayleigh distributions.
DIAGNOSING AND TREATING PLANTAR FASCIITIS : A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO PLANTAR HEEL PAIN

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain at the weight-bearing surface of the heel, and may coexist with other sources of heel pain. This has led to a confusing array of treatment strategies, including surgery. We offer a simple, effective diagnostic and treatment algorithm that emphasizes nonsurgical treatment options for this often frustrating condition.
Predictive Quantization of Range-Focused SAR Raw Data

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems create massive amounts of data which require huge resources for transmission or storage. The limited capacity of the downlink channel demands efficient onboard compression of SAR data. However, SAR raw data exhibit very little correlation which can be exploited in a compression algorithm. Range focusing is shown to increase the data correlation by exposing some of the distinctive features of the scene under surveillance. In this paper, we first present analysis of spotlight-mode SAR to show the source of the increased correlation in the range-focused data. Next, we propose two algorithms-transform-domain block predictive quantization (TD-BPQ) and transform-domain block predictive trellis-coded quantization (TD-BPTCQ)-for the compression of the range-focused data. Experimental results indicate that, at the rate of 1 bit/sample, and for similar or lower computational complexity, TD-BPQ and TD-BPTCQ outperform the best method proposed in the literature by 1.5 and 2.3 dB in signal-to-quantization-noise ratio, respectively. Similar improvements are observed for the rate of 2 bits/sample.
Transcranial Doppler blood flow measurement during cesarean section in two patients with cerebral vascular disease

We present two cases of neurovascular disease in pregnancy in which transcranial Doppler was used to assess the status of the cerebral circulation during cesarean section under regional anesthesia. One woman had been found to have moyamoya disease, following a series of transient ischemic attacks during her first pregnancy, which ended in spontaneous abortion. On this occasion she was delivered by cesarean section under slowly-induced epidural anesthesia, using ephedrine to maintain the blood pressure, and transcranial Doppler revealed no change in signal in her left middle cerebral artery. Both mother and baby had an uneventful post natal course. The second case involved a primiparous woman with a large arteriovenous malformation that had been detected following generalized seizures, which were treated with valproic acid. Her cesarean section was conducted under spinal anesthesia, and her blood pressure maintained with ephedrine. Again transcranial Doppler revealed no change in signal in her middle cerebral artery during the procedure. We believe this is a potentially useful technique to monitor the cerebral circulation intraoperatively in the presence of cerebrovascular disease.
Isolation and characterization of the mitochondrial DNA of Allomyces macrogynus.

Abstract The mitochondria from Allomyces macrogynus were isolated by differential centrifugation and purified in floatation gradients of Renografin. The presence of mitochondria was monitored by analysis for succinate dehydrogenase and confirmed by electron micrographs. DNA isolated from purified mitochondria was homogeneous and behaved as a single species when subjected to buoyant density analysis, thermal denaturation and renaturation. The buoyant density is 1.702 g/cm 3 , the G + C content 42% and the kinetic complexity 52 · 10 6 daltons.
The mushroom body

What is a mushroom body? The mushroom body is a prominent and striking structure in the brain of several invertebrates, mainly arthropods. It is found in insects, scorpions, spiders, and even segmented worms. With its long stalk crowned with a cap of cell bodies, a GFP-labeled mushroom body certainly lives up to its name (Figure 1). The mushroom body is composed of small neurons known as Kenyon cells, named after Frederick Kenyon, who first applied the Golgi staining technique to the insect brain. The honey bee brain, for instance, contains roughly 175,000 neurons per mushroom body while the brain of the smaller fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster only possesses about 2,500. Kenyon cells thus make up 20% and 2%, respectively, of the total number of neurons in each insect's brain. Kenyon cell bodies sit atop the calyx, a tangled zone of synapses representing the site of sensory input. Projecting away from the calyx is the stalk comprised of Kenyon cell axons carrying information away to the output lobes.
Lumbar puncture needle length determination

Abstract Introduction Appropriate lumbar puncture (LP) needle length selection may be more difficult for less experienced practitioners or for patients who are of unusually large or small body habitus. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between body height and weight, and the percutaneous depth to the spinal canal, which can more reliably assist in selecting an LP needle length. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who received an abdominal computed tomographic scan (for any reason) from July 1999 to December 2000. Lumbar puncture depth was measured on the computed tomographic scan and was used to derive a formula. Results The final data pool consisted of 175 patients, aged 25 days to 80 years, with height of 48 to 181.5 cm, weight of 3.0 to 127.3 kg, and body mass index of 11.7 to 49.7 kg/m2. Using this data set, the formula for predicting the required LP depth is (weight in kilograms, height in centimeters): LP depth (cm) = 1 + 17 × weight height . Using linear regression comparing the skin to mid–spinal canal depth measurements with the calculated LP depths, R2 was 0.81 (P Conclusion Compared with other formulas, this formula might be a more reliable predictor for estimating the required LP needle length, but this must be validated by further studies. It should be noted that none of the formulas were perfect.
GENERATING IDEALS IN COMMUTATIVE ARTINIAN GROUP RINGS AND A GENERALIZE D PASCAL'S TRIANGLE

ABSTRACT Let denote the minimal number of generators of an ideal I of a local ring . It is shown that if is a principal local ring with of characteristic , and with for each i, then the group ring satisfies an ideal of , where is the unique maximal ideal of . We also introduce a generalized version of Pascal's triangle and show how it can be used to give recursive formulas for this number
Microphase vs. macrophase formation in homopolymer/block copolymer blends with exothermic interaction

Abstract The formation of a microphase and a macrophase in solvent-cast homopolymer/block copolymer blends, where the homopolymer is exothermically miscible with one of the block copolymer segments, is demonstrated to depend on the molecular weights of the homopolymer and the incompatible segment of the block copolymer, in spite of the exothermic mixing. Binary blends of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with poly(n-butyl-methacrylate-b-styrene) (PnBMA-b-PS) block copolymer, solvent cast from methyl ethyl ketone, were investigated. By varying the molecular weight, we vary the thermodynamic product NχPVC/PS which controls the phase morphology. Here N = N PVC N PS /N PVC 1 2 + N PS 1 2 ) 2 , where NPVC and NPS are the degrees of polymerization of PVC and PS block copolymer segment, respectively, and χPVC/PS is the Flory—Huggins parameter which characterizes the repulsive interaction between PVC and PS. Microphase separation is observed when NχPVC/PS is small; and when NχPVC/PS is large, macrophase or macrophase-induced microphase separation occurs. The routes of phase formation are discussed using equilateral triangular phase diagrams, and a morphology diagram is constructed for homopolymer/block copolymer blends. Microphase formation is observed even when the molecular weight of the homopolymer is much larger than that of the miscible block copolymer segment, and when the homopolymer is polydisperse. Indeed, since macrophase formation occurs when N is large, it is clear that low molecular weight block copolymer is necessary to form the microphase when a homopolymer of high molecular weight is present.
The chemical origin of enhanced signals from tip-enhanced Raman detection of functionalized nanoparticles

Here we present results that investigate the origins of signals observed in tip-enhanced Raman (TERS) measurements of functionalized nanoparticles. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is known to give the largest enhancements in gap junctions. Similarly, gap-mode TERS also produces significant enhancements. The methodology developed here provides gap-mode like enhancements in TERS measurements without the need for a metal surface. Using a combination of aggregated nanoparticle SERS and TERS detection of functionalized nanoparticles, we assess the chemical origins of the observed peaks and show that molecules outside of gap junctions are also enhanced using our methodology. Our experiments use biotin and streptavidin as a model system for protein–ligand binding. Different size functionalized nanoparticles (20, 50, 80 nm) show changes in intensity in both SERS and TERS measurements. SERS measurements indicate that streptavidin has a larger Raman cross-section than biotin and is preferentially observed. The specific streptavidin peaks observed by TERS vary depending on whether streptavidin is attached to the nanoparticle and located in the gap or bound to the substrate surface. This methodology suggests a route to enhancing TERS signals associated with protein receptors in biological systems that cannot be isolated to a metallic surface.
Energy resolution of a multiwire proportional quantameter

Abstract The energy resolution and certain other characteristics are evaluated for an electromagnetic-shower detector consisting of multiwire proportional chambers interleaved between lead plates. Such a detector preserves the energy linearity, angular isotropy, and position uniformity of the standard ion-chamber quantameters used in monitoring photon beams, and in addition, it can determine the point of incidence, the time of arrival, the detailed spatial shower development, and the total energy of individual gamma rays. The energy resolution is, however, significantly broader than for the corresponding shower counter in which plastic scintillators are used between lead plates. This can be understood in terms of a simple model that takes into account fluctuations in ionization in the thin detector planes as well as fluctuations in the number of shower tracks sampled.
A comparative study of the action of six crystalliferous bacteria on the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni

Abstract The present study was initiated to compare the effects of six Bacillus crystalliferous bacteria on the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni. The six bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis thuringiensis, Bacillus thuringiensis galleria, Bacillus thuringiensis alesti, Bacillus thuringiensis sotto, Bacillus entomocidus entomocidus, and Bacillus finitimus, represented the various strains of Bacillus crystalforming bacteria. These bacteria were studied for their effects on cessation of feeding, pupation, mortality, and pathological effects on the midgut of the cabbage-looper larvae. The cabbage looper appeared to be most affected by the four B. thuringiensis species, especially B. thuringiensis galleria and B. thuringiensis thuringiensis. Of the four B. thuringiensis species, only the two highest concentration levels (Level 4 containing 5,000,000 viable spores/ml of medium and Level 5 containing 50,000,000 viable spores/ml of medium) caused effects in all aspects of this study. B. thuringiensis galleria and B. thuringiensis thuringiensis at the third level (containing 500,000 viable spores/ml of medium) caused some deleterious effects on the larvae. The lower three concentrations of B. thuringiensis alesti and B. thuringiensis sotto (Level 1 containing no viable spores, Level 2 containing 50,000 viable spores/ml of medium and Level 3), the two lower levels of B. thuringiensis galleria and B. thuringiensis thuringiensis, and all the levels of B. entomocidus entomocidus and B. finitimus caused little or no visible effects on the third- and fifth-instar larvae.
"Tax-ing" the cancer stem cell.

A transgenic mouse model of the HTLV-1 Tax gene generates T-cell lymphomas characteristic of ATLL. In this issue of Blood , Yamazaki and colleagues describe the identification of cancer stem cells in Tax-transgenic mice that develop lymphoma, which has implications for the origins of ATLL in HTLV-1–infected patients.