cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Turbomachinery Research and Design: The Role of DNS and LES in Industry

The role of high-fidelity CFD in industry is rapidly evolving due to the growth of computational power. Direct and large eddy simulations of realistic turbomachinery flows are now possible to analyze not only fundamental problems, but also to investigate compressor and turbine design spaces. Nevertheless, it is practically impossible to replace conventional Reynolds averaged models with scale resolving simulations in the framework of industrial design iterations. Along these lines, this paper describes how scale resolving simulations can have a direct impact on both the design and the design tools of turbomachinery components. The presented results prove how high-fidelity simulations can explain unsteady loss generation, and how advanced post-processing indicates performance top offenders. When coupled with machine-learning, scale-resolved simulations are also capable of improving the accuracy Reynolds averaged models routinely used in design work.
Critical Perspectives on the Evolution of Technology in American Public Schools

This nation has historically viewed technology as a powerful, independent force for social change and superior education. Despite the enormous value placed on technology, however, the vision of dramatically superior education pouring great young minds into society has not materialized. In fact, the overall impact of technology on education has been quite small, manifesting little discernable change in the classroom. With the enormous promise that so many believed technology offered for education, why has that promise failed to materialize? This paper will trace the evolution of technology attempted in the public schools, and the great expectations and subsequent failure to meet the majority of them. Generally speaking, these failures have resulted not from a refusal on the part of teachers to apply the technologies, but the social-situational influences that are an integral part of the public educational milieu. Ultimately, the technologies adopted have been those most easily adapted to existing pedagogical approached, a reality that will remain in the public schools without a dramatic change both in educational paradigm and in method of adoption.
Effect of pecan variety and the method of extraction on the antimicrobial activity of pecan shell extracts against different foodborne pathogens and their efficacy on food matrices

Abstract The shells of pecans are a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential inhibitory activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of pecan shell extracts as effected by the type of cultivar and the method of extraction against various foodborne bacterial pathogens. Defatted shell powders of 19 different pecan cultivars were subjected to aqueous and ethanolic extraction (1:20 w/v) procedures, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of lyophilized pecan shell extracts dissolved in deionized water containing 5% DMSO (v/v) were determined against multiple strains of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. The antimicrobial activity of pecan shell extracts was found to be pathogen specific and strain dependent. Overall, L. monocytogenes was found to be least resistant to treatment with pecan shell extracts with an MIC and/or MBC values ranging from 1.25 to 5 mg/mL followed by Salmonella enterica (2.5 to ≥5 mg/mL) and E. coli O157:H7 (≥5 mg/mL). Type of cultivar and the method of extraction found to have a variable effect on the antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the challenge studies on fresh-cut cantaloupes and thawed catfish fillets treated with 5 mg/mL pecan shell extracts and stored at 4 °C for up to 5 days showed a
Pan-cancer predictions of MEK inhibitor sensitivity are partially driven by differences between cancer types

Pharmacogenomic datasets of drug response and genomics data in tumor cell lines allow the development of pan-cancer (i.e. tissue-agnostic) predictions of drug response. However, it is unclear how much between-tissue differences in drug response and molecular characteristics contribute to pan-cancer predictions. Using two datasets containing 346 and 504 cell lines with MEK inhibitor (MEKi) response and RNA, SNP, and CNV data we show between-tissue differences make substantial contributions to the performance of pan-cancer MEKi response predictions. We estimate that exclusion of between-tissue signals in predicted MEKi response leads to a 22% decrease in performance metrics. Nevertheless, MEKi response is predicted as well or better by pan-cancer approaches when they have larger samples than tissue-specific approaches. Success of pan-cancer prediction highlights how drug response in different cancers may invoke shared regulatory mechanisms despite tissue-specific routes of oncogenesis, yet different cancer types require flexible incorporation of between-cancer and within-cancer signals.
An analysis of RelaxedIK: an optimization-based framework for generating accurate and feasible robot arm motions

We present a real-time motion-synthesis method for robot manipulators, called RelaxedIK, that is able to not only accurately match end-effector pose goals as done by traditional IK solvers, but also create smooth, feasible motions that avoid joint-space discontinuities, self-collisions, and kinematic singularities. To achieve these objectives on-the-fly, we cast the standard IK formulation as a weighted-sum non-linear optimization problem, such that motion goals in addition to end-effector pose matching can be encoded as terms in the sum. We present a normalization procedure such that our method is able to effectively make trade-offs to simultaneously reconcile many, and potentially competing, objectives. Using these trade-offs, our formulation allows features to be relaxed when in conflict with other features deemed more important at a given time. We compare performance against a state-of-the-art IK solver and a real-time motion-planning approach in several geometric and real-world tasks on seven robot platforms ranging from 5-DOF to 8-DOF. We show that our method achieves motions that effectively follow position and orientation end-effector goals without sacrificing motion feasibility, resulting in more successful execution of tasks compared to the baseline approaches. We also empirically evaluate how our solver performs with different optimization solvers, gradient calculation methods, and choice of loss function in the objective function.
What if They Are All High-Risk for Attrition? Correlates of Retention in a Longitudinal Study of Reentry from Prison:

Longitudinal data are essential to research in criminology and criminal justice. Despite attrition’s implications for validity, understanding its sources is underexplored empirically. We examine th...
Christian citizens: reading the Bible in black and white in the Postemancipation South

I picked up Elizabeth L. Jemison’s Christian Citizens amid the flurry of virtual roundtables, think pieces, and social media activity within the Religious Studies sphere unpacking the legacies of a...
Modeling habitat suitability and management options for maintaining round whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) in Adirondack ponds

Habitat loss, acid precipitation, and non-native species have drastically reduced the number of Adirondack waterbodies occupied by round whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum). The goal of this study w...
Genomics serology to inform therapies and vaccines for arthritogenic alphaviruses.

In PNAS, Malonis et al. (1) isolate and characterize several human monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) that neutralize infection with arthritogenic alphaviruses. Alphaviruses represent a large group of positive-strand RNA viruses, some of which cause infections in humans. They are widely distributed, are transmitted by mosquitoes, and have been clinically classified as encephalitic and arthritogenic, according to the most prevalent symptoms in human and animal infections. Among alphaviruses, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a frequent cause of outbreaks in different geographic locations and is characterized by fever and joint inflammation, often accompanied by persistent joint pain and arthralgia for several months after initial infection that can lead to joint immobilization (2). CHIKV is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, and, although most infections take place in the tropical and subtropical regions, outbreaks and local transmission of CHIKV have been known to occur in Europe and the United States too. The expansion of the geographical distribution of the Aedes vector has been a major contributor to the increases in CHIKV infections during the last decades (3). Other arthritogenic alphaviruses known to infect humans are Mayaro virus (MAYV), Ross River virus (RRV), and O’nyong-nyong virus (ONNV), present in South America, the South Pacific, and Africa, respectively. Currently, despite their burden on human health, there are no available specific treatments or vaccines against any alphaviruses. The use of pathogen-specific … [↵][1]1 Email: adolfo.garcia-sastre{at}mssm.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Cannabis Abuse and Peri-operative Complications Following Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Nationwide Analysis

Objective In this retrospective cohort analysis, we examined the differences in baseline characteristics and peri- and post-operative outcomes of patients with and without cannabis abuse/dependence in surgically- and endovascularly- treated unruptured and ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods A study population of 26,868 patients was defined using the 2009-2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Baseline characteristics were compared across cannabis and non-cannabis groups, and traits that differed significantly were factored into multivariate analysis using 1:1 propensity score matching. Matched groups were then analyzed to compare cannabis and non-cannabis cohorts regarding endpoints: mortality, length of stay, discharge disposition, total hospital charges, and several peri- and post-operative outcomes. Results In both surgical and endovascularly treated groups for unruptured intracranial aneurysms, those who abused cannabis were more likely to be male, younger, and tobacco smokers compared to those who did not. Post-matching, no significant endpoint differences were noted. Similarly, in both surgical and endovascular treated groups for ruptured aneurysms, those who abused cannabis were more likely to be male, younger, and tobacco smokers. Post-matching, cannabis-abusers within the endovascular treatment group had a longer length of stay and were more likely to develop any hydrocephalus, obstructive hydrocephalus, sepsis, and acute kidney injury; cannabis abusers who underwent surgical treatment were more likely to develop any hydrocephalus and specifically communicating hydrocephalus. Conclusions Cannabis abusers with ruptured intracranial aneurysms are more likely to experience certain adverse outcomes from surgical or endovascular treatment compared to non-abusers, but such is not the case for cannabis-abusers treated for unruptured aneurysms.
Evoked Potentials, Response Timing, and Motor Behavior: A Response

Publisher Summary Coordinated and skilled movements depend upon spatial–temporal patterns of interaction not only between different neuromuscular control centers, but between sensory and motor centers as well. Thus, the study of motor behavior requires the use of experimental and/or statistical techniques that are sensitive to interaction patterns among diverse brain regions. Normal sensorimotor performance thus depends upon integrative and adaptive capacities of the involved sensory and motor systems. Displacing the optical array during sensorimotor training provides a means of studying adaptive processes that are hypothesized to be the same neural processes as those involved in normal visual-motor performance. In this chapter, several experiments are described that point to the value of studying adaptation to optical displacement in mentally retarded individual s. This chapter concludes with a consideration of synaptic temporal variability. Although the data presented are based upon recordings of the short-latency auditory evoked response (ABR), it is assumed that these neural events are representative of other brain systems, including those involved in sensorimotor integration. The results suggest that increased synaptic instability may account for impaired motor control in mentally retarded individuals.
Fitting Data to a Model

A good reference for the material in this section is Chap. 15 of Numerical Recipes [1]. Frequently we are given a set of data points \((x_i, y_i), i = 1, 2, \cdots , N\), with corresponding error bars, \(\sigma _i\), through which we would like to fit to a smooth function \(f(x)\). The function could be straight line (the simplest case), a higher order polynomial, or a more complicated function.
Full Information Estimation

In the previous chapter, we discussed methods of estimation for systems of simultaneous equations that utilized information pertaining to a particular equation alone but not that related to other equations nor the fact that the structural disturbances of various equations are contemporaneously correlated. In this chapter, however, methods are introduced that utilize both intra- and inter-equation information. As we shall see, the utilization of this additional information leads to a gain in the efficiency of estimation. In addition, this chapter discusses the implementation and testing of linear hypotheses in simultaneous equations models that may arise from a priori economic reasoning. Apart from the information implicit in a simultaneous equations model itself, the utilization of linear hypotheses can lead to extra gains in efficiency.
Decentralized Human Resource Management in Public Service – The Italian National Research Council Approach

The Italian National Research Council is a public company with multiple locations and many decentralized human resources departments. With decentralized human resources management, each location controls its own individual personnel issues such as attendances and leaves. One of the goals of decentralized human resources departments is to give autonomy to different locations, allowing them to adapt to the specific scientific climate of the individual site. However, the actual result of this form of human resources management is often disorganization, failure to follow unified standards or an ineffective application of those standards.
Hoping for a Godly (White) Family: How Desire for Religious Heritage Affects Whites’ Attitudes Toward Interracial Marriage

This study examines how a desire to pass on religious heritage shapes whites’ attitudes toward interracial marriage for their children. Utilizing national survey data (Baylor Religion Survey 2007), I estimate ordered logit regression models to examine the extent to which whites’ desire to have their children and children's spouses share their religion affects attitudes toward their hypothetical daughters marrying blacks, Latinos, or Asians, net of other factors. Analyses reveal that whites who consider it more important that their children and children's spouses share their religion are less comfortable with their daughters marrying blacks, Latinos, or Asians. These effects are robust to the inclusion of measures for religiosity, political ideology, intimate interracial experiences, and other sociodemographic correlates. These findings suggest that, for whites, religious heritage has a clear ethno-racial component. The greater their desire for descendants to share the same religious views, the more whites would prefer that these descendants themselves be white, indicating that, for many white Americans, religious heritage is equated with whiteness. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for research on religion and interracial families.
Behavior Combination and Swarm Programming

The RoboCup Simulator League provides an excellent platform for research on swarm computing. Our research focuses on group behaviors emerge from collections of actors making decisions based on local information. Our RoboCup simulator team is designed around an architecture for experimenting with behavioral primitives defined over groups and mechanisms for combining those behaviors.
Biological control of fruit flies in Hawaii: Factors affecting non-target risk analysis

The potential negative impacts of biological pest control on non-target species have become the focus of a contentious debate. In this article, we use examples from both classical and augmentative biological control of fruit fly pests in Hawaii to address several important factors in assessing non-target risks of fruit fly parasitoids. Several fruit fly parasitoids have been introduced to Hawaii and contribute substantially to the reduction of pest populations in the state's farms and forests. However, an historical lack of host-specificity testing of these parasitoids with non-target species has raised concerns about their impact on non-pest fruit flies, including some flies deliberately introduced for biological control of weeds and others that are endemic Hawaiian species. When developing protocols to assess risks of introduced fruit fly parasitoids, we need first to define an appropriate range of species against which host specificity should be tested. For assessing susceptibility of a non-target species to parasitoids, behavioral tests are as important as suitability tests. Experimental factors, such as host-exposure substrate, absence or presence of preferred hosts, and laboratory vs. natural conditions, are shown to affect the results of host-specificity tests and risk analysis. Still, assessing long-term, indirect ecological impacts of parasitoids and weighing potential risks and benefits in multiple dimensions (besides dollar values) remains a challenge to environmentalists, conservationists, applied ecologists, and biocontrol practitioners.
Pushing on: petrolism and the statecraft of oil

Despite expanded debate on energy security, the American relationship to foreign oil in the ten years since 9/11 has remained unchanged. We argue that energy policy has languished for three reasons: (1) the creation of a fake ‘addiction’ discourse, (2) the real petroleum dependency of American militarism, and (3) the importance of oil as a weapon in American statecraft.
Study designs in dermatology: Practical applications of study designs and their statistics in dermatology

A proper understanding of study designs and related statistical methodology is necessary for clinical dermatologists to critically read scientific literature and incorporate this information into clinical practice. This review focuses on how to identify the appropriate use of study designs and the statistical methodology used therein. Topics covered include population sampling and generalizability, power and sample size calculations, correction for multiple statistical testing, and how to identify the appropriate use of statistics. The impact of improved study designs in previously controversial topics in dermatology will be discussed.
Current Topics and Controversies in Menstrual Migraine

As menstrual-related migraine (MRM) has been reported to be longer, more disabling, less responsive to acute therapy, and more prone to recurrence than nonmenstrual migraine attacks, effective preventive strategies are key to their management. Some combined hormonal contraceptives have been suggested as specific preventives for MRM. This article takes a closer look at some of these products, including concerns surrounding them, non-contraceptive benefits, and their potential role as preventive agents for MRM.
Yoga in Clinical Practice

As the popularity of yoga has increased in mainstream society, its role as a form of complementary healthcare in clinical settings continues to grow as well. However, until recently, the popularity of yoga as a cultural phenomenon has not been matched by a commensurate increase in the rigor of research methods designed to assess its effectiveness in healthcare settings. Because of yoga’s growing popularity, it is important for clinicians to have an empirically based working knowledge of its potential benefits and limitations. This paper reviews 52 clinical research studies of yoga published since 2011, limiting attention exclusively to randomized controlled trials in the interest of both rigor and economy of space. Promising trends and persistent limitations in the literature are explored in depth. The majority of the studies reported positive outcomes in the yoga intervention groups, but further research is needed to validate yoga as an effective intervention for various populations.
Integrin Signaling: The Platelet Paradigm

ADHESION IS REQUIRED for cell growth, differentiation, survival, and function. Nowhere is this more evident than in the response to tissue injury, where vascular damage triggers reparative processes, such as hemostasis, inflammation, and wound healing. These processes depend on a coordinated series
Alterations in Serum Immunoglobulin G Subclasses in Patients With-Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

We have examined the concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass antibodies in the sera of 27 patients with ulcerative colitis and 21 patients with Crohn's disease as well as in 11 normal controls and 11 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In comparison with a control mean serum IgG, concentration of 5173 μg/ml, patients with ulcerative colitis exhibited a significantly increased mean serum concentration of 7924 μg/ml (p 1 level of 5898 μg/ml. In contrast, control sera had a mean IgG 2 level of 2477 μg/ml and ulcerative colitis sera had a similar IgG 2 level of 2269 μg/ml, whereas Crohn's disease sera had a significantly increased mean IgG 2 level of 5111 μg/ml (p 1 level of 15,594 μg/ml (p 2 serum level (3271 μg/ml). Neither ulcerative colitis nor Crohn's disease sera exhibited altered levels of IgG 3 or IgG 4 . These data show that alterations in IgG subclass concentrations occur in the sera of patients with active, untreated inflammatory bowel disease, similar to the previously noted changes in the IgG subclasses secreted by lymphocytes from involved inflammatory bowel disease intestinal specimens.
Acculturation and well-being among college students from immigrant families.

Objective The present study was designed to ascertain the associations between acculturation and well-being in first-generation and second-generation immigrant college students. Acculturation was operationalized as a multidimensional construct comprised of heritage and American cultural practices, values (individualism and collectivism), and identifications, and well-being was operationalized in terms of subjective, psychological, and eudaimonic components. Method Participants were 2,774 first-generation and second-generation immigrant students (70% women), from 6 ethnic groups and from 30 colleges and universities around the United States. Participants completed measures of heritage and American cultural practices, values, and identifications, as well as of subjective, psychological, and eudaimonic well-being. Results Findings indicated that individualistic values were positively related to psychological and eudaimonic well-being, and positively, although somewhat less strongly, linked with subjective well-being. American and heritage identifications were both modestly related to psychological and eudaimonic well-being. These findings were consistent across gender, immigrant generation (first versus second), and ethnicity. Conclusions Psychological and eudaimonic well-being appear to be inherently individualistic conceptions of happiness, and endorsement of individualistic values appears linked with these forms of well-being. Attachments to a cultural group—the United States, one's country of origin, or both—appear to promote psychological and eudaimonic well-being as well. The present findings suggest that similar strategies can be used to promote well-being for both male and female students, for students from various ethnic backgrounds, and for both first-generation and second-generation immigrant students. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Clin. Psychol. 00:1–21, 2012.
The Second Decade: What Develops (and How)

The lion's share of cognitive development research addresses cognitive processes of individuals in the first decade of life. The assumption has been that mechanisms of learning and development identified in such research will apply as well to later periods. This chapter questions that assumption and examines aspects of cognitive development that may be unique to the second decade – a time when the nature and directions of development become less universal and more variable. Topics covered include brain and processing growth, learning and knowledge acquisition, deductive and inductive inference, inquiry and scientific thinking, epistemological understanding, argument, and decision-making. Aspects of cognitive development in the second decade that warrant particular attention, it is claimed, are increasing meta-level regulation and management of mental processes and the growing importance of disposition, as well as competence. Keywords: adolescence; argument and decision making; brain development; deductive and inductive inference; epistemological understanding; information processing; inquiry and scientific thinking; knowledge acquisition; learning; metacognition; regulation; variability
The detection and estimation of the change point in a disccrete-time stochastic system

A piecewise-constant process containing a single jump is observed under noise in the context of discrete time. The conditional density and maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator of the jump time as well as the Bayes detector of the jump itself are determined using the powerful measure transformation approach. The Bayes detector provides a convenient sequential detection rule for practical on-line implementation. An asymptotic result for the distribution of the MAP estimator's estimation error and the corresponding convergence rate are derived. This result provides a reference measure of optimal performance for jump-time estimators in discrete-time stochastic systems that does not depend on the jump time's prior distribution
Paulo Freire, Eduardo Frei, Literacy Training and the Politics of Consciousness Raising in Chile, 1964 to 1970

This article examines the politics of literacy during the administration of Chilean President Eduardo Frei. Literacy training was an essential part of Christian Democratic efforts to promote agrarian reform and rural unionisation and incorporate the peasantry into the Chilean political system. Paulo Freire, working for the ministries of agriculture and education, was able to employ his innovative ‘consciousness raising’ techniques throughout Chile. In practice, the campaign often blurred the line between creating a critical consciousness and creating a Christian Democratic consciousness, while Freire himself became caught up in political struggles within the administration over the extent and pace of reform.
"Free" sialic acid in ovine submaxillary gland.

Abstract The validity of the thiobarbituric acid assay of Warren for N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) was examined. This method has been stated to determine both “free” of total sialic acid. About 25% of the total sialic acid present in ovine submaxillary gland homogenates is determined as “free” NANA (i.e. gave the thiobarbituric acid reaction directly without preliminary acid hydrolysis). Only 10–15% of the so-called “free”, i.e. direct-reacting, NANA was dialyzable. If the original homogenate was subjected to the periodate oxidation step of the Warren procedure, the mixture dialyzed and the thiobarbituric acid assay completed on aliquots of the dialysis fluid, then the color developed was equivalent to almost all the direct-reacting NANA measurable before dialysis. Deproteinization of an homogenate by various means led to a fall in direct-reacting NANA that paralleled the drop in protein content. It was concluded that analysis for direct-reacting NANA in ovine submaxillary gland homogenates gives rise to artifactual “free” NANA, probably by oxidation and cleavage by periodate of NANA linked to glycoproteins, because of sopme peculier structural property or as a result of enztmic changes that take place in the whole homogenate.
White layer formation due to phase transformation in orthogonal machining of AISI 1045 annealed steel

It is commonly believed that the white layer formed during machining of steels is caused primarily by a thermally induced phase transformation resulting from rapid heating and quenching. As a result, it is often assumed that if the temperature at the tool flank-workpiece interface exceeds the nominal phase transformation temperature for the steel, a white layer forms. However, no attempt has been made to actually measure the temperatures produced at the tool flank-workpiece interface and correlate it with microstructural evidence of phase transformation. This paper aims to address these limitations through suitably designed experiments and analysis. Orthogonal machining tests were performed on AISI 1045 annealed steel at different cutting speeds and tool flank wear. During machining, temperature measurements at the tool flank-workpiece interface were made using an exposed thermocouple technique. Metallographic studies of the machined sub-surface and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were performed to determine the presence and depth of white layer, and the presence of the retained austenite phase in the machined surface layer, respectively. Analysis of the data shows that the white layer can form due to phase transformation at temperatures below the nominal austenitization temperature of the steel. Possible causes of this result are presented.
Direct-Channel Resonances from Regge-Pole Exchange

The $\ensuremath{\rho}$ Regge amplitude for $\ensuremath{\pi}N$ charge-exchange scattering with helicity flip is partial-wave analyzed in the direct channel. This produces resonance circles on the Argand diagram corresponding to the prominent experimental ${N}^{*}$ resonances.
p-Chloroamphetamine. Temporal relationship between psychomotor stimulation and metabolism of brain norepinephrine.

Abstract Unlike amphetamine, p -chloroamphetamine causes a decrease in cerebral serotonin (5HT) in rats. This effect on 5HT metabolism persists after the psychomotor stimulation has subsided. Like amphetamine, however, p -chloroamphetamine exerts a marked effect on the metabolism of intraventricularly administered 3 H-norepinephrine during the period of psychomotor stimulation. Thus, it markedly increases the level of 3 -normetanephrine and decreases that of the tritiated deaminated catechol and the deaminated- O -methylated metabolites. Desipramine, which blocks the metabolism of amphetamine, prolongs both the pharmacological and biochemical effects caused by amphetamine. It is concluded that the psychomotor stimulation elicited by p -chloroamphetamine, like that of amphetamine, is associated with changes in the metabolism of brain norepinephrine and not of brain serotonin.
Plugging gp120s Cavity

NBD-556 is a class of HIV-1 entry inhibitors that binds HIV-1 surface glycoprotein gp120 and induces conformational changes, which mimic those caused by CD4 binding. Here, Madani et al. (2008) show that NBD-556 binds to the highly conserved "Phe-43 cavity" on gp120.
Direct Transfer of Human Dystrophin Genes into Striated Muscles of MDX Mice

Plasmid DNA constructs containing either a human full length dystrophin cDNA (G. Dickson, London, UK) or a deleted, Becker type, dystrophin cDNA (K.E.Davies, DR. Love, Oxford, UK.) were injected into hearts and quadriceps of dystrophin deficient MDX mice. Seven days later, analysis of immunohistochemical staining for dystrophin showed expression of dystrophin proteins in ~1 % of quadriceps muscle cells localized mostly in the sarcolemma. 10-15 dystrophin positive cardiocyte were also seen in sections of injected hearts. Western-blot of quadriceps muscles has also identified the dystrophin expressions. Peripherally localized nuclei of muscle cells were shown in about 50 percent of dystrophin positive myofibers compared with 20 percent of dystrophin negativ myofibers suggesting the the functional effect of expressed human dystrophin protein. This direct gene transfer method has an alternative application for genetherapy of inherited myopathies but the efficiency must be increased.
A case study of retention practices at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Computer science is seeing a decline in enrollment at all levels of education. One key strategy for reversing this decline is to improve methods of student retention. This paper, based on a 10-month case study at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, examines two aspects of student retention at both the graduate and undergraduate levels: community identity and community relationships. Our data shows that students feel isolated from each other, faculty, and members of the greater computer science community. Given our findings, we highlight existing programs and propose new programs which improve student-community interactions. While the lessons learned might not apply at every institution, they constitute a valuable case study for improving conditions for students at large research universities.
Electronic relaxation dynamics of water cluster anions.

The electronic relaxation dynamics of water cluster anions, , have been studied with time-resolved photoelectron imaging. In this investigation, the excess electron was excited through the p←s transition with an ultrafast laser pulse, with subsequent electronic evolution monitored by photodetachment. All excited-state lifetimes exhibit a significant isotope effect (τD2O/τH2O ∼2). Additionally, marked dynamical differences are found for two classes of water cluster anions, isomers I and II, previously assigned as clusters with internally solvated and surface-bound electrons, respectively. Isomer I clusters with n ≥ 25 decay exclusively by internal conversion, with relaxation times that extrapolate linearly with 1/n toward an internal conversion lifetime of 50 fs in bulk water. Smaller isomer I clusters (13 ≤ n ≤ 25) decay through a combination of excited-state autodetachment and internal conversion. The relaxation of isomer II clusters shows no significant size dependence over the range of n = 60−100, with...
Photoelectron and electron-energy-loss features of solid deuterium.

Photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the valence electronic states of solid deuterium condensed on a silver support cooled to 4--5 K. In addition to seeing a photoelectron feature from the 1[sigma][sub [ital g]] molecular state, other photoelectron peaks were seen at lower kinetic energies. A peak located [minus]13.5 eV from the 1[sigma][sub [ital g]] feature is attributed to resonant photoelectron scattering. A smaller peak located [minus]29.0 eV from the 1[sigma][sub [ital g]] feature can be explained by a double scattering event. The magnitude of the electron energy loss during scattering is larger in the solid phase than in the gas phase and physical mechanisms for this are discussed.
Low levels of inorganic mercury damage the corneal endothelium

The effect of inorganic mercury on the integrity of the endothelium of isolated bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) corneas was examined by spectrophotometric analysis of corneal uptake of the vital stain Janus green, and by both transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy. The uptake of Janus green by the endothelium is dose related between 1.0 and 30.0 microM HgCl2. The effect of mercury is not altered by changes in external calcium concentration, nor is it influenced by the calcium ionophore A23187, indicating that inorganic mercury damages the corneal endothelium through a mechanism which does not involve competition with external calcium or interaction with calcium channels. TEM and SEM demonstrate significant ultrastructural damage to the endothelium exposed to inorganic mercury, including cellular swelling, increased vacuolization, focal denuding of Descemet's membrane, and diminished integrity at the intercellular junctions.
Dorsal third ventricular cysts revisited

We have previously argued that the clinical entity of dorsal third ventricular cyst in association with agenesis of the corpus callosum is a developmentally, radiologically, and clinically distinct and separate entity from the dorsal cyst of alobar holoprosencephaly. Herein, we describe seven patients who underwent treatment of their dorsal third ventricular cyst with fluid diversion and shunting and report their long-term follow-up. The authors reviewed the literature and discrepancies identified in differentiating dorsal third ventricular cysts and holoprosencephaly. Postoperative scans showed evidence of cyst decompression and stabilization of head circumference. Two patients required shunt revision surgery for delayed malfunction while the remainder has had no revision surgery since initial placement. Given the good clinical outcome in comparison to alobar holoprosencephaly patients, we recommend fluid diversion in this population of patients.
Shifting Perspectives: The Narrative Strategy in Hartmann's “Erec”*

This essay on Hartmann von Aue's Erec traces related changes in the protagonist and in the narrative perspective. Initially, the narrator's use of psycho-narration and commentary provides access to Erec's inner qualities and reflections; the reader's familiarity with the protagonist in the opening episodes parallels the latter's unproblematic relationship with society. When Erec becomes estranged from his court and Enite, the narrator's stance shifts accordingly. During the Prubefahrt, the prevailing mode of narration, reportage, reveals no more about Erec's state of mind than does Erec himself. As a result, Erec's behavior in this section remains as much of a mystery to the reader as to the other characters in the story. As Erec overcomes his isolation in the final episodes, both the protagonist and the narrator provide insight into the source of Erec's problem: The narrator penetrates Erec's exterior, while the protagonist becomes more talkative and willing to discuss the nature of his difficulties. And yet the lesson to be learned from Erec's experiences becomes explicit only when he himself expresses it to Mabonagrin. Thus Hartmann places us in a situation analogous to that of his protagonist: Erec's insights become our insights. Like Erec, we proceed from ignorance to a new understanding of the knight's proper relationship to society.
Fungal sclerotium size maximizes the number of successful offspring

Abstract The growth rate of a biological processes often depends upon the expected number of successful offspring. Applied probability is used to calculate the expected number of successful “offspring” of a fungus under certain reasonable assumptions. The radii of the sclerotia (offspring) which maximize this number analytically for realistic parameter values are those which are actually observed.
Effects of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin on Capacitation of Rabbit Spermatozoa

SPERM capacitation is the acquisition in the female genital tract of the ability to penetrate the zona pellucida1,2. In the rabbit the process is said to require a minimum of 6 h in the uterus2 and in the oviduct as well3. In experimental studies on capacitation, capacitated sperm can be obtained by two different methods: either spermatozoa from the ejaculate or from the epididymis are deposited surgically in the female tract (uterus or oviduct), or sperm are deposited in the vagina by normal mating or artificial insemination. Capacitated sperm can be recovered from the uterus 6 h or more later. When capacitation is evaluated in terms of yield of fertilized ova from suitable recipient does, it appears that surgical deposition results in lower efficiency of capacitation than does deposition by normal mating. Adams and Chang4,5 compared the two methods of preparing capacitated sperm and found that the yield of fertilized ova was 16 per cent with surgical deposition but 60 per cent with normal mating. Similar results were found in our laboratory9 and, although a different experimental procedure was used, average yields of 15.4 per cent and 69.3 per cent fertilized ova were observed, respectively, for the two types of capacitation methods9. The obvious difference between the two methods is the presence of coital stimulus in one and its absence in the other. Coital stimulus in the rabbit causes the release of pituitary LH (luteinizing hormone) which in turn induces ovulation. Experimentally, ovulation is induced by intravenous injection of LH4 (30 I.U.) or of HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) (25 I.U.), but the amount of LH actually released following normal mating is not at present known. We therefore investigated the effectiveness of capacitation after surgical deposition of sperm in the uterus of oestrous does.
Determinants of core temperature at the time of admission to intensive care following cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: To determine the predictors of core temperature on arrival in the intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery. Design: Prospective, randomized trial. Setting: Tertiary care medical center, operating rooms (ORs), and ICU. Patients: 72 patients presenting for coronary artery bypass surgery. Interventions: Randomized assignment for ambient OR temperature (16–18°C vs. 21–23°C) and rewarming endpoint on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB; nasopharyngeal and urinary bladder temperatures ≥36.5°C and 34.0°C, respectively, vs. nasopharyngeal and urinary bladder temperatures ≥37.5°C and 36.0°C, respectively) at the time of separation from bypass. Measurements and Main Results: The best (and only significant) predictor of core temperature on arrival in the ICU was rewarming endpoint at the time of separation from CPB ( p = 0.004). Patient weight, height, body habitus, and nitroprusside administration did not significantly predict core temperature. Ambient temperature affected only body temperature when the duration of time in the OR after separation from bypass was prolonged (>90 min). A weighted average body temperature was a better predictor of complete rewarming than was any single monitoring site. Conclusions: To reduce the incidence of hypothermia after cardiac surgery, the most important variable is rewarming endpoint achieved before separation from bypass. A warm ambient temperature (>21°C) may be beneficial if the duration of time in the OR after bypass is prolonged (>90 min).
The aeronomic problem of nitrogen oxides

Abstract From consideration of the observational data on atmospheric nitric oxide, it is found that its concentration at any height must be less than 1011 cm−3. Theoretical deductions from an aeronomic study show that its concentration could be of the order of 108 cm−3 (or 5 × 108) at about 80 km, and 109 cm−3 (or 5 × 109) at about 65 km. At any height below 70 km the nitric oxide concentration must be less than the ozone concentration. The dissociation of nitrogen molecules involved in nitric oxide formation depends strongly on photoionization by ultraviolet or X-ray radiation and subsequent dissociative recombination. The vertical distribution of nitrogen atoms cannot be determined by a dissociation equilibrium, since it is subject to dynamical effects such as diffusion and atmospheric mixing. Whatever the processes involved in the formation of nitric oxide, its vertical distribution will tend to follow the atmospheric distribution until it becomes dissociated. A departure from photo-equilibrium conditions cannot occur for nitrogen peroxide molecules, for their lifetime in a sunlit atmosphere is very short. Nitrous oxide seems to play no role in the mesosphere. In anticipation of the importance attached to the aeronomic problem of nitrogen oxides in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, various provisional numerical data are presented.
Role of protein kinase A in human hepatocyte DNA synthesis.

The cellular mechanisms associated with the replicative response of hepatocytes to growth factor stimulation is incompletely understood. Murine hepatocyte DNA synthesis is altered by cyclic AMP, suggesting that protein kinase A is involved in the cellular mechanisms associated with liver growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of protein kinase A in human hepatocyte DNA synthesis. Human hepatocytes were isolated and maintained in primary culture on rat tail collagen. DNA synthesis was evaluated by determining [3H]thymidine incorporation. Human hepatocytes between 24 and 96 hr following harvest increased DNA synthesis in response to epidermal growth factor but not in response to glucagon, a stimulant of adenyl cyclase, or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis was decreased by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Cyclic AMP isomers that block or stimulate the effect of cyclic AMP on protein kinase A did not significantly alter resting or mitogen-stimulated human hepatocyte DNA synthesis. The results suggest that increased protein kinase A activity does not produce human hepatocyte replicative DNA synthesis.
70 THE APPLICABILITY OF THE DENVER PRESCREENING DEVELOP-MENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE (DPDQ) IN A LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC POPULATION

Since the validity of the DPDQ has been examined only in predominantly White middle class populations in Denver, CO, a prospective study was conducted to assess the validity of the questionnaire in a predominantly indigent Black population. The effect of an educational package in increasing the accuracy of parental response of DPDQ as also assessed. 127 infants were enrolled in a longitudinal follow-up program from age 2 wks to 1 yr. Parents in a randomly selected experimental group observed an audiovisual presentation describing progressive developmental behavior and were asked to record their child's subsequent development. 78 of the 127 infants were followed for 3 mos, while 53 and 33 have been followed for 6 and 9 mos, respectively. The mean agreement scores between parental responses to the DPDQ and the observed development via DDST were 93.6%, 93.2% and 91% at 3, 6, and 9 mos, respectively. There were no significant differences in the item agreement scores of the experimental group vs the control group thereby demonstrating failure of the educational program in increasing the accuracy of parents. The overreferral rate was quite low (12.8%). The results attest to the validity, generality and feasibility of DPDQ in a lower socioeconomic population and raise some questions about parent education through audiovisual and written materials.