cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teacher agency in the performance of inquiry-oriented science curriculum reform

In this commentary, I consider several theoretical and analytical aspects of Tang Wee Teo and Margery Osborne’s case study. I begin by identifying structuralist and cultural themes in Tang Wee and Margery’s theoretical model of human activity. Next, I offer an alternative interpretation for Tang Wee and Margery’s reported findings in terms of the notion of multiple teacher agencies. After that, I discuss the dramaturgical or theatrical nature of the symbolic interactionist model used by Tang Wee and Margery, focusing specifically on the issues of teacher role-taking and curriculum authorship. The paper then ends with a discussion about the significance of Tang Wee and Margery’s study wherein I emphasize the need for science education researchers to give more careful consideration to teacher agency and the analytical value of theatrical metaphors from the field of social dramatism.
Copolymerizations of ethylene and α-olefins with supported piano-stool catalysts

Abstract Recent developments in single-site catalysis (SSC) have led to many interesting discoveries in ethylene and α-olefin copolymerizations. Here, we report the synthesis of, and polymerizations with, supported piano-stool catalysts and their related analogues. CpTiCl 3 , Cp*TiCl 3 , TMSCpTiCl 3 , and (TMS) 2 CpTiCl 3 were covalently bound to a poly(styrene- r -4-hydroxystyrene) copolymer, affording macroligated catalysts. Ethylene/1-octene and ethylene/styrene copolymerizations with each of these supported catalysts were attempted with cocatalysts including methyl aluminoxane, B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , [Ph 3 C][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ], and [PhN(CH 3 ) 2 H][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ]. To determine the effects that the macroligand and the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ring have on polymer yield and activity, comonomer incorporation, polymer composition, molecular weight, polydispersity index, melting point, and crystallization behavior were investigated. We discovered that the catalysts have vastly different, yet interesting, effects on ethylene/1-octene (EO) and ethylene/styrene (ES) copolymerizations. For ethylene/1-octene copolymers, the activity of the supported catalysts and the amount of 1-octene incorporated into the copolymer is dependent upon the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ring. The formation of EO copolymers using supported aryloxy-based cyclopentadienyl complexes can also be used as additional evidence for the presence of the tethered aryloxy moiety. The copolymer composition and the thermal properties of these copolymers were also studied. Ethylene/styrene copolymerizations produced polymers with varying characteristics specific to the catalyst employed for the polymerizations. Polymers synthesized with the supported CpTiCl 3 and TMSCpTiCl 3 displayed both polyethylene and syndiotactic polystyrene melting points. Conversely, polymers synthesized with the supported Cp*TiCl 3 displayed only a polyethylene melting point, while polymers prepared with the supported (TMS) 2 CpTiCl 3 displayed only a syndiotactic polystyrene melting point. These findings suggest that copolymerization of ethylene and styrene is not possible with these catalysts. Analysis of the homopolymerizations of styrene and ethylene with Cp*TiCl 3 and (TMS) 2 CpTiCl 3 , respectively, shows significantly lower activities, leading to preferential polymerization of the more active monomer during copolymerization.
A thin-wall cement paste cylinder for creep tests at variable humidity or temperature

Production of cement paste cylindrical specimens developed for creep tests at variable humidities and/or temperatures is described. The wall thickness is only 0.75 mm, which is required so that an equilibrium humidity distribution can be achieved in a short time with the result that the material parameters may be obtained directly by experiment.
Descartes's Theory of Distinction

In the first part of this paper I explore the relations among distinctness, separability, number, and non-identity. I argue that Descartes believes plurality in things themselves arises from distinction, so that things distinct in any of the three ways are not identical. The only exception concerns universals which, considered in things themselves, are identical to particulars. I also argue that to be distinct is to be separable. Things distinct by reason are separable only in thought by means of ideas not clear and distinct. In the second part I argue that the notion of separability in Descartes's account of real distinction between mind and body is subject to five different interpretations. I claim that the heart of Cartesian dualism concerns the separability of the attributes thought and extension. It does not require that mind and body are separable in the sense that each can exist without the other existing.
Proposing a Test for Policy-Based Evidence Making: A Content Analysis of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Review

This article examines how policy-based evidence making (marshalling research in support of a predetermined policy) can delegitimize the role of social science in informing and influencing changes in public policy and practice. First, this study offers a content analysis of the memorandum of the U.S. defense secretary establishing the comprehensive review of 10 U.S.C. § 654, the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, identifying the designations and attributions used in this memorandum. Second, this article proposes a six-part test for policy-based evidence making and pilot this test on the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” review memorandum. Implications for policy practice are discussed.
A fit to the carbon tetrachloride dynamic polarizability

Abstract This note gives the detailed fitted curve of the dynamic polarizability α(ω) of carbon tetrachloride. The curve fit is obtained from spectroscopic measurements reported in the literature combined with oscillator strength sum-rule constraints imposed by theory. As an example of an application of this new fit, the carbon tetrachloride Lifshitz—Hamaker constant is calculated to be 9.92 × 10 −13 erg.
Unequal error protection of embedded video bitstreams

This paper presents an unequal error protection of embedded video bitstreams using three dimensional SPIHT (3-D SPIHT) algorithm and Spatio-Temporal Tree Preserving 3-D SPIHT (STTP-SPIHT) algorithm. We have already proved the efficiency and robustness of the STTP-SPIHT in both of noisy and noiseless channels by modifying the 3-D SPIHT algorithm. We demonstrate that the 3-D SPIHT can also be error resilient against channel bit errors by dividing the embedded video bitstreams, and more error resilient when we divide the STTP-SPIHT bitstreams.
Due Date Assignment, Job Order Release, and Sequencing Interaction in Job Shop Scheduling*

Depending on the techniques employed, the due date assignment, release, and sequencing procedures in job shop scheduling may depend on one another. This research investigates the effects of these interactions with a simulation model of a dynamic five-machine job shop in which early shipments are prohibited. Performance of the system is measured primarily in terms of the total cost (work-in-process cost, finished goods holding cost, and late penalty) incurred by the shop, but a number of non-cost performance measures are also reported. The results support existence of a three-way interaction between the due date, release, and sequencing procedures as well as interaction between shop utilization and procedure combination. Statistical tests are used to identify those rules that perform best both overall and in combination with other rules.
Novel light‐extraction film

— A novel extractor's application to backlight-unit (BLU) architectures of different size and application is presented. Critical material and design parameters are discussed. Seemingly trivial changes in design to accommodate different sizes and lighting geometries result in dramatic performance changes.
Head multidetector computed tomography: emergency medicine physicians overestimate the pretest probability and legal risk of significant findings.

Abstract Objectives This study focuses on clinically assigned prospective estimated pretest probability and pretest perception of legal risk as independent variables in the ordering of multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) head scans. Our primary aim is to measure the association between pretest probability of a significant finding and pretest perception of legal risk. Secondarily, we measure the percentage of MDCT scans that physicians would not order if there was no legal risk. Methods This study is a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive analysis of patients 18 years and older for whom emergency medicine physicians ordered a head MDCT. Results We collected a sample of 138 patients subjected to head MDCT scans. The prevalence of a significant finding in our population was 6%, yet the pretest probability expectation of a significant finding was 33%. The legal risk presumed was even more dramatic at 54%. These data support the hypothesis that physicians presume the legal risk to be significantly higher than the risk of a significant finding. A total of 21% or 15% patients (95% confidence interval, ±5.9%) would not have been subjected to MDCT if there was no legal risk. Conclusions Physicians overestimated the probability that the computed tomographic scan would yield a significant result and indicated an even greater perceived medicolegal risk if the scan was not obtained. Physician test-ordering behavior is complex, and our study queries pertinent aspects of MDCT testing. The magnification of legal risk vs the pretest probability of a significant finding is demonstrated. Physicians significantly overestimated pretest probability of a significant finding on head MDCT scans and presumed legal risk.
Convergent evolution of endometrial prolactin expression in primates, mice, and elephants through the independent recruitment of transposable elements

Prolactin (PRL) is a multifunctional signaling molecule best known for its role in regulating lactation in mammals. Systemic PRL is produced by the anterior pituitary, but extrapituitary PRL has also been detected in many tissues including the human endometrium. Prolactin is essential for pregnancy in rodents and one of the most dramatically induced genes in the endometrium during human pregnancy. The promoter for human endometrial Prl is located about 5.8 kb upstream of the pituitary promoter and is derived from a transposable element called MER39. Although it has been shown that prolactin is expressed in the pregnant endometrium of a few mammals other than humans, MER39 has been described as primate specific. Thus, in an effort to understand mechanisms of prolactin regulatory evolution, we sought to determine how uterine prolactin is transcribed in species that lack MER39. Using a variety of complementary strategies, including reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and whole-transcriptome sequencing, we show that endometrial Prl expression is not a shared character of all placental mammals, as it is not expressed in rabbits, pigs, dogs, or armadillos. We show that in primates, mice, and elephants, prolactin mRNA is transcribed in the pregnant endometrium from alternative promoters, different from the pituitary promoter and different from each other. Moreover, we demonstrate that the spider monkey promoter derives from the long terminal repeat (LTR) element MER39 as in humans, the mouse promoter derives from the LTR element MER77, and the elephant promoter derives from the lineage-specific LINE retrotransposon L1-2_LA. We also find surprising variation of transcriptional start sites within these transposable elements and of Prl splice variants, suggesting a high degree of flexibility in the promoter architecture even among closely related species. Finally, the three groups shown here to express endometrial prolactin-the higher primates, the rodents, and the elephant-represent three of the four lineages that showed adaptive evolution of the Prl gene in an earlier study (Wallis M. 2000. Episodic evolution of protein hormones: molecular evolution of pituitary prolactin. J Mol Evol. 50:465-473), which supports our findings and suggests that the selective forces responsible for accelerated Prl evolution were in the endometrium. This is the first reported case of convergent evolution of gene expression through the independent recruitment of different transposable elements, highlighting the importance of transposable elements in gene regulatory, and potentially adaptive, evolution.
An iterative method to compute a closest saddle node or Hopf bifurcation instability in multidimensional parameter space

Addresses the general problem of finding bifurcations of a stable equilibrium which are closest to a given parameter vector lambda /sub 0/ in a high-dimensional parameter space. The author proposes an iterative method to compute saddle node and Hopf bifurcations which are locally closest to lambda /sub 0/. The iterative method extends standard, one-parameter methods of computing bifurcations and is based on formulas for the normal vector to hypersurfaces of the bifurcation set. Conditions on the hypersurface curvature are given to ensure the local convergence of the iterative method. The sensitivity to lambda /sub 0/ of the distance to a closest bifurcation is derived. >
Studies on the nature of pain arising from an ischemic limb

Summary It is suggested that potassium plays a major role in the genesis of ischemic pain; this hypothesis is based partly on experimental work on animals, and, to some extent, on the clinical observations and biochemical studies we have presented. During muscular activity potassium is liberated from the cells. Under ischemic conditions, a physical factor is introduced which leads to a rapid accumulation of the potassium ion until it reaches the threshold required for stimulating the pain end organs in the muscle. It is further assumed that an increase in the activity of tissues other than muscle, possibly skin, might also result in discharge of potassium, and, under suitable ischemic conditions, result in pain.
Do Trends in Muskrat Harvest Indicate Widespread Population Declines

Ondatra zibethicus (Muskrat) is one of the most widely distributed furbearers in eastern North America. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Muskrats are experiencing a regional decline in numbers, although little empirical evidence exists to support this claim. Our objectives were to document temporal trends in Muskrat harvest in eastern North America, and to use the relationship between harvest and pelt price to infer potential trends in regional Muskrat populations. Muskrat harvest has declined by approximately 75% since 1986 in eastern North America, despite a recent resurgence in pelt prices. Recent harvest rates showed little correlation (r 2 = 0.355-0.559) with cur- rent or time-lagged pelt prices, despite large correlations (r 2 = 0.785-0.823) between pelt price and harvest from historic data (1948-1968). These results suggest that, at low harvest levels, there is only a weak correlation between harvest and pelt price. These results may be indicative of regional declines in Muskrat abundance, although future research is needed to substantiate this hypothesis.
Immunohistochemical studies on the interaction between Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and Newcastle disease virus.

Newcastle disease virus infection of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells resulted, after a period of time, in the appearance of intracellular viral antigen which could be demonstrated by the fluorescent antibody technique. This antigen appeared in the cytoplasm of infected cells only after inoculation of cell-virus mixtures into the peritoneal cavities of mice. The latent period prior to the appearance of antigen depended inversely on the number of viral particles adsorbed onto the cells prior to inoculation. The final intensity of staining appeared not to be proportionate to the number of viral particles adsorbed to each cell. The appearance of this antigen was not correlated with a rise of titer of infectious, hemagglutinating, or complement-fixing virus. Viral antigen was demonstrated on the surface of tumor cells after adsorption of NDV onto these cells at 0°C. At appropriate virus:cell ratios, antigen was noted to disappear from the surface at 37°C. in vitro , and in vivo , in the absence of demonstrable elution of virus. The appearance of intracellular viral antigen could not be detected in vitro when tumor cell-NDV mixtures were incubated at 37°C., even when an average of 1550 "infectious particles" had adsorbed to each cell.
Teaching Daily Living Skills to Seven Individuals With Severe Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparison of Video Prompting to Video Modeling

We conducted a systematic replication of Cannella-Malone et al. by comparing the effects of video prompting to video modeling for teaching seven students with severe disabilities to do laundry and ...
Structural and Mechanical Stability of Reduced Nickel Oxide/Yttria-stabilized Zirconia Anode/Electrolyte Structures for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Applications

Highly porous Ni-8YSZ anodes supported by a thin and dense electrolyte layer of 8YSZ have been developed for solid oxide fuel cell applications by reducing a NiO-8YSZ anode/electrolye precursor structure in a gas mixture of 5% H2-95% Ar at 800°C for selected time periods up to 8 h. It appears that 2 h of exposure to the reducing conditions is enough to reduce∼80% of NiO. XRD and SEM analyses in the reduced samples disclose the formation of the Ni-8YSZ cermet structure with desired porosity and microstructure. The porosity in the anode samples, which increases with the increase in the fraction of reduced NiO, severely affects the hardness and elastic moduli of the anode samples. Vickers indentation tests show that a hardness value of 5.5 GPa in the unreduced anode samples (12% porosity) reduces to less than 1 GPa in the 8 h reduced samples (36.68 % porosity). Similarly, a decrease of ˜44% in the Young's modulus and ˜40% in shear modulus is observed in the 8 h reduced samples through impulse excitation techniques, in comparison to the unreduced anode precursor. Since the elastic properties of fully dense Ni, NiO and YSZ are comparable to each other, the decrease in the magnitude in elastic moduli and hardness is attributed to the colossal increase in porosity as a result of the reduction of NiO in H2 atmosphere.
An Increased Throughput FPGA Design of the JPEG2000 Binary Arithmetic Decoder

As digital imaging techniques continue to advance, new image compression standards are needed to keep the transmission time and storage space low for increasing image sizes. The Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) fulfilled this need with the ratification of the JPEG2000 standard in December of 2000. JPEG2000 adds many features to image compression technology but also increases the computational complexity of traditional encoders. To mitigate the added computational complexity, the JPEG2000 algorithm allows processing parts in parallel, increasing the benefits of implementing the algorithm in application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). A ?exible FPGA implementation of the JPEG2000 binary arithmetic decoder, the core component of the JPEG2000 decoding algorithm, is presented in this paper. The proposed JPEG2000 binary arithmetic decoder reduces the amount of resources used on the FPGA allowing 17% more entropy block decoders to fit on chip and consequently increasing the throughput by 35% beyond previous designs.
Towards a metric management approach for multi-emerging technology based fabrication facilities

Multi Technology, High Product Mix, Low Volume fabrication facilities (MT-HMLV) are the harbingers of next generation economies. Yet MT-HMLV's are fraught with ineffective operation and strategic management practice. Practices they often borrow from the metric management approach endemic of single technology high volume production facilities. If this is true in a time of recession and increased globalization then these facilities are at risk. We focus on one very important group of these facilities; those which are working at the interface of micro technology, nanotechnology and semiconductor micro fabrication. This group is not atypical. Due to the high degree of success that the metrics management approach has enjoyed in High Volume Semiconductor Fabrication facilities (HVSF) they are the “Defacto” standard for any fabrication facility remotely akin to semiconductor fabrication and this group is. However, simply applying HVSF based metrics to our group of MT-HMLV facilities are proving ineffectual. We employ an extensive literature review and the case study methods to ascertain why these commonly used metrics have been so ineffectual. Further, we utilize these same techniques to develop a more useful metrics management approach for our specific group of MT-HMLV's facilities. We base our metrics on the unique nature of MT-HMLV facilities as well as traditionally used HVSF metrics and R&D metrics.
Optimum Design of Laminated Plates under Axial Compression

The paper presents a method for designing laminated plates with orthotropic layers under uniaxial and biaxial compression. The objective is to find the fiber direction of all the layers that give the highest buckling stress; therefore, it is necessary to solve an unconstrained maximization problem. The optimization technique used is Powell's conjugate direction method. Numerical calculations were made for plates with three, four, and six layers.
16*16 limited intermediate buffer switch module for ATM networks

An investigation is made of the performance of a nonblocking packet switch having input buffers and a limited amount of buffers within the switch fabric, where contention for the output ports occurs. This technique improves the performance significantly, while maintaining the switch fabric speed equal to that of the port speed. For uniform traffic, a 16*16 switch with head of line priority scheduling has an achievable throughput equal to 87.5%. The simulation results suggest that for unbalanced and bursty traffic, the performance of the switch does not degrade appreciably. >
Assessing an Educational Intervention to Improve Physician Violence Screening Skills

Objectives. Health professionals play an integral role in assessing the risk of violence in their patients. However, there have been few evaluations of violence prevention education programs for health care personnel. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a violence-screening education program on pediatric residents9 and medical students9 comfort level and skills in the identification and management of violence risks. Setting. Adolescent clinic of a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Participants. Fifty-six second-year residents and third-year medical students assigned to a 4-week adolescent clinic rotation. Design. Randomized, controlled comparison study conducted over a 1-year period. Intervention. On alternate months, medical students and residents in the intervention group participated in a 3-hour workshop on violence prevention. The workshop included a didactic session with an overview of firearm, media, and sexual violence; a discussion of risk factors for adolescent violence; and training on the approach to the adolescent interview. Participants also discussed violence risks in the community with a panel of teen health educators, engaged in one-on-one role play with the youth educators, and received feedback on their violence screening skills. The control group received the standard ambulatory clinic manual with articles on violence prevention. Evaluation Methods. All participants completed prerotation and postrotation questionnaires assessing their self-reported screening practices, as well as perceived importance and confidence in violence screening. Participants also interviewed and examined an adolescent standardized patient (SP) in the clinic. SPs completed evaluations on the content of the residents9 and students9 screening, their interpersonal skills, and their skill in the identification and management of the violence-related problem. Results. Over 12 months, 30 control and 26 intervention participants were recruited. There were no differences in prerotation questionnaire scores for intervention and control groups in screening practices, perceived importance and confidence in violence screening. Postrotation intervention participants reported more screening compared with controls on violence in school/neighborhood and fighting history. There was also greater perceived importance in asking about access/use of weapons and violence in school/neighborhood. Intervention participants also had improved performance compared with controls on SP evaluations of screening for violence, identification and management of the violence-related scenario, and interpersonal skills. Conclusion. A violence prevention education program with teen health educators improved participants9 self-reported violence questioning, as well as increased perceived comfort and importance in violence screening. Participants in the program also improved their identification and management of a standardized violence-related scenario presented in an adolescent clinic setting. adolescent violence, physician education, violence risk screening.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Self-administered Questionnaire to Measure Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

This research developed and evaluated a brief but comprehensive measure of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for use in research and applied settings. Questionnaire construction involved a review of empirical precedents as well as qualitative work with STD experts (n = 6) and the target population (n = 40). Eighty-five items were piloted (n = 50) and tested (n = 391) with college students. Item- and test-level analyses identified items that were eliminated to shorten the questionnaire. Factor analyses revealed a two-factor model of STD knowledge, including a Cause/Cure factor and a General Knowledge factor. Six supplemental items were added to the final questionnaire for their public health value and resulted in the 27-item STD-Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ). The STD-KQ demonstrated internal consistency (α = .86) and test–retest reliability (r = .88) over a brief period. Evidence for the validity of the STD-KQ was obtained through a comparison with a validated HIV knowledge questionnaire (Carey & Schroder, 2002); treatment outcome sensitivity was obtained in response to an educational program. Use of the STD-KQ will enable researchers and health educators to identify knowledge deficits, measure knowledge for theory testing, evaluate risk reduction programs, and assess treatment response in research and applied settings.
On symposia: LiveJournal and the shape of fannish discourse

Fandom has changed dramatically as the primary medium for fan discussion has shifted from mailing lists to LiveJournal. Decentralization and spaces focussed on individuals rather than topics have created changes such as a stronger knowledge in peripheral knowledge of fandoms, and an increase in multifandom and metafandom discussion.
Propofol-Containing Sedatives Increase Levels of Parathyroid Hormone

Objective: To evaluate the effects of propofol and propofol containing disodium edetate (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA]) on the parathyroid-calcium axis in normal subjects. Design: Randomised, double-blind, age-stratified, crossover trial. Setting: Single centre. Patients: A total of 50 healthy subjects. Interventions: Each subject was randomised to receive propofol or propofol containing EDTA on day 1 and the alternate treatment between days 15 and 29, with a 2-week washout period in between. On the day of treatment, subjects received a bolus of trial medication (1 or 2 mg/kg) followed by a 60-minute observation period. At the end of 60 minutes, subjects received trial medication infused for 60 minutes at 1 of 4 randomised infusion rates (25, 50, 100, or 200 μg/kg per min). Subjects were monitored for an additional 60 minutes following the infusion. Measurements and Results: Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood ionised calcium concentration, serum total magnesium concentration, serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, and plasma EDTA level were assessed at periodic intervals during and following the bolus and continuous infusion of trial medication. Mean arterial pressure significantly decreased (p < 0.05) following the bolus injection of both trial medications and returned to baseline at 60 minutes; it significantly decreased again during the continuous infusion and returned to baseline during recovery. Heart rate and respiratory rate fluctuated in both groups with significant increases and decreases throughout the study period following the bolus injection; both returned to baseline during the recovery period in each group. Ionised calcium and total magnesium concentrations remained within normal limits and were unchanged in response to both study medications. PTH levels significantly increased following the bolus injection of both study drugs. The increase in PTH levels was greater with higher doses of study medication during the infusion period. There was no difference in the response of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, or PTH levels between propofol and propofol with EDTA. EDTA levels increased significantly during the infusion of propofol with EDTA, reaching mean levels of 240 ng/mL. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that propofol increases PTH levels in normal subjects; however, propofol with EDTA does not alter ionised calcium or total magnesium concentrations.
Is the pro-choice position for infanticide ‘madness’?

Professor George and I agree more than we disagree, but I continue to question his use of ‘madness’ to describe support of infanticide. Many will think he means no reasonable person can support infanticide—especially when (1) he compares it with support of slavery and (2) he claims that ‘anyone’ should ‘immediately’ be able to see that infanticide is wrong. George admits that Jefferson Davis’ support of slavery was not the same as support of slavery today because Davis’ social order was built around principles which obscured slavery's great evil. But something similar is the case with contemporary …
Titanium foams produced by solid-state replication of NaCl powders

Abstract Open-celled titanium foams were fabricated by vacuum hot pressing of a blend of Ti and NaCl powders followed by NaCl removal in water. Densification kinetics of the Ti/NaCl blends are measured at 780 °C at various pressures (30–50 MPa), NaCl volume fractions (30–70%) and NaCl powder sizes (50–500 μm). As compared to pure Ti powders, densification kinetics of the blends is faster for relative densities below 92% due to rapid deformation of the NaCl powders. After dissolution, the flattened shape of the NaCl powders is replicated in the pores, resulting in an anisotropic porous structure. The foams exhibit good compressive strengths (e.g., 102 MPa for 50% porosity and 28 MPa for 67% porosity), low Young moduli (e.g., 29 GPa for 51% porosity) and ductile behavior up to compressive strain >60%.
The Organization of the Core Proteins of the Yeast Spindle Pole Body

The spindle pole body (SPB) is the microtubule organizing center of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its core includes the proteins Spc42, Spc110 (kendrin/pericentrin ortholog), calmodulin (Cmd1), Spc29, and Cnm67. Each was tagged with CFP and YFP and their proximity to each other was determined by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET was measured by a new metric that accurately reflected the relative extent of energy transfer. The FRET values established the topology of the core proteins within the architecture of SPB. The N-termini of Spc42 and Spc29, and the C-termini of all the core proteins face the gap between the IL2 layer and the central plaque. Spc110 traverses the central plaque and Cnm67 spans the IL2 layer. Spc42 is a central component of the central plaque where its N-terminus is closely associated with the C-termini of Spc29, Cmd1, and Spc110. When the donor-acceptor pairs were ordered into five broad categories of increasing FRET, the ranking of the pairs specified a unique geometry for the positions of the core proteins, as shown by a mathematical proof. The geometry was integrated with prior cryoelectron tomography to create a model of the interwoven network of proteins within the central plaque. One prediction of the model, the dimerization of the calmodulin-binding domains of Spc110, was confirmed by in vitro analysis.
Paraplegia increases skeletal muscle autophagy

Introduction: Paraplegia results in significant skeletal muscle atrophy through increases in skeletal muscle protein breakdown. Recent work has identified a novel SIRT1- p53 pathway that is capable of regulating autophagy and pro- tein breakdown. Methods: Soleus muscle was collected from 6 male Sprague-Dawley rats 10 weeks after complete T4-5 spinal cord transection (paraplegia group) and 6 male sham-operated rats (control group). We utilized immunoblotting methods to measure intracellular proteins and quantitative real-time poly- merase chain reaction to measure the expression of skeletal muscle microRNAs. Results: SIRT1 protein expression was 37% lower, and p53 acetylation (LYS379) was increased in the paraplegic rats (P < 0.05). Atg7 and Beclin-1, markers of autophagy induction, were elevated in the paraplegia group compared with controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Severe mus- cle atrophy resulting from chronic paraplegia appears to increase skeletal muscle autophagy independent of SIRT1 sig- naling. We conclude that chronic paraplegia may cause an increase in autophagic cell death and negatively impact skeletal muscle protein balance. Muscle Nerve 46: 793-798, 2012
Effects of two cholinesterase‐inhibiting pesticides on freshwater mussels

The freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata and the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea were exposed for 96 h at 21°C to aldicarb, a carbamate pesticide, and acephate, an organophosphate pesticide. Test pesticide concentrations ranged from 0 to 320 mg/L. We found no mortality under these conditions. Relative to controls, cholinesterase (ChE) activity in adductor muscle from E. complanata was significantly depressed at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg aldicarb/L and 1.3 mg acephate/L. Higher pesticide concentrations were required to inhibit ChE activity in whole bodies of C. fluminea than in adductor muscle of E. complanata. Raising the experimental temperatures from 21 to 30°C increased pesticide-induced mortality, with mussels dying at aldicarb or acephate concentrations of only 5 mg/L. Cholinesterase activities of adductor muscle depressed 94 to 96% relative to controls began to recover within 2 and 12 d, but they were not fully recovered for 12+ and 24+ d following aldicarb and acephate exposures. Both aldicarb and acephate at 5 mg/L reduced shell closure responsiveness of mussels, with more pronounced effects observed at 27°C than at 21°C. Our data support the usefulness of determining ChE activity in adductor muscle to identify the exposure of freshwater mussels to ChE-inhibiting pesticides.
GPU Cluster for High Performance Computing

Inspired by the attractive Flops/dollar ratio and the incredible growth in the speed of modern graphics processing units (GPUs), we propose to use a cluster of GPUs for high performance scientific computing. As an example application, we have developed a parallel flow simulation using the lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) on a GPU cluster and have simulated the dispersion of airborne contaminants in the Times Square area of New York City. Using 30 GPU nodes, our simulation can compute a 480x400x80 LBM in 0.31 second/step, a speed which is 4.6 times faster than that of our CPU cluster implementation. Besides the LBM, we also discuss other potential applications of the GPU cluster, such as cellular automata, PDE solvers, and FEM.
Hydrogen production by steam reforming glucose in supercritical water

Results of the steam reforming of glucose in supercritical water at 34.5 MPa and temperatures between 450° and 650°C are presented. At 600°C and above glucose is completely gasified (no observable char or tar product) in less than one minute. The gas consists primarily of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and a small amount of carbon monoxide and methane. Phase separation of the products exiting the reactor makes the gas available at very high pressure.
Plasmid, serotypic, and enterotoxin analysis of Bacillus cereus in an outbreak setting.

Bacillus cereus is a recognized agent of food-borne disease. In this report we describe an outbreak of B. cereus gastroenteritis associated with consumption of beef stew among patients and staff at a Rhode Island nursing home. The beef had been improperly stored after preparation. The predominant symptoms of the illness were cramps and diarrhea; it lasted an average of 16 h. No deaths occurred. The organism was recovered from 10 of 23 stools collected from ill patients and 1 of 21 stools collected from controls (P = 0.0044, Fisher9s two-tailed exact test). All isolates had the same biotype and serotype, newly designated H.26; all elaborated the diarrheal B. cereus enterotoxin when tested in rabbits by the vascular permeability reaction; and all had identical plasmid profiles, which differed from those of B. cereus strains selected randomly from other outbreaks. Plasmid analysis may prove to be a useful new tool in investigating outbreaks of B. cereus food poisoning. Images
Antibody, T-cell and dendritic cell immunotherapy for malignant brain tumors

Modest improvement in brain tumor patient survival has been achieved through advances in surgical, adjuvant radiation and chemotherapeutic strategies. However, these traditional approaches have been unsuccessful in permanently controlling these aggressive tumors, with recurrence being quite common. Hence, there is a need for novel therapeutic approaches that specifically target the molecularly diverse brain tumor cell population. The ability of the immune system to recognize altered tumor cells while avoiding surrounding normal cells offers an enormous advantage over the nonspecific nature of the conventional treatment schemes. Therefore, immunotherapy represents a promising approach that may supplement the standard therapies in eliminating the residual brain tumor cells. This review summarizes different immunotherapeutic approaches currently being tested for malignant brain tumor treatment.
The Empirical Basis of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Development of New Treatments Versus Evaluation of Existing Treatments

Borderline personality disorder is a severe and pervasive personality disorder. The high prevalence of disorder, together with poor outcomes in traditional treatments, low compliance with treatment, high hospitalization rates, and serious suicide risk, suggests that any new treatment with even marginal data on empirical validity would be greeted with enthusiasm by the clinical community. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is such a treatment. Describing and defining a comprehensive principle-driven treatment such as DBT, however, and selecting strategies and methods for development and evaluation of new treatments for severe and high-risk mental disorders raise complex issues. Although there have been a number of controlled trials examining the efficacy of DBT, the extent of the treatment’s efficacy, the mechanisms of efficacy, and the degree to which the treatment should be adopted in community mental health are not clear.
Molecular simulations in chemical engineering: Present and future

This article focuses on simulation of systems described by classical force fields, noting that an area of intense research is concerned with bridging the gap between classical and quantum descriptions, and even between quantum and macroscopic models. It is also centered on Monte Carlo (MC) methods, as opposed to molecular dynamics (MD) techniques.
Pulsatile flow through a bifurcation with applications to arterial disease.

Abstract Fatty streaks and fibrous plaques are known to be localized in bends, junctions, and branches of the large arteries, suggesting a significant role for fluid mechanics in the genesis of arterial disease. Various mechanisms have been proposed in the literature based on the known occurrence of eddies and high surface traction. For the purpose of helping in the evaluation of these mechanisms, the flow behavior in a bifurcation was chosen for study. The equations of continuity and motion were solved using the marker and cell numerical technique for the two-dimensional, periodic flow of a Newtonian fluid through a horizontal, bifurcating, rigid channel. Both regions of eddying at the outer wall and of high shear stress at the inner wall were shown by the calculations for both steady and pulsatile flows. The eddies disappeared completely during a portion of each cycle for pulsatile flow.
Modeling Knowledge Resource Selection in Expert Librarian Search

Providing knowledge at the point of care offers the possibility for reducing error and improving patient outcomes. However, the vast majority of physician’s information needs are not met in a timely fashion. The research presented in this paper models an expert librarian’s search strategies as it pertains to the selection and use of various electronic information resources. The 10 searches conducted by the librarian to address physician’s information needs, varied in terms of complexity and question type. The librarian employed a total of 10 resources and used as many as 7 in a single search. The longer term objective is to model the sequential process in sufficient detail as to be able to contribute to the development of intelligent automated search agents.
2015 Presidential Address: 75 Years of Battling Diabetes−Our Global Challenge

This address was delivered by Samuel Dagogo-Jack, MD, President, Medicine & Science, of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), at the Association's 75th Scientific Sessions in Boston, MA, on 7 June 2015. Dr. Dagogo-Jack is a professor of medicine and the director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and the director of the Clinical Research Center at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, where he holds the A.C. Mullins Endowed Chair in Translational Research. He has been an ADA volunteer since 1991 and has served on several national committees and chaired the Association's Research Grant Review Committee. At the local level, he has served on community leadership boards in St. Louis, MO, and Tennessee. A physician-scientist, Dr. Dagogo-Jack's current research focuses on the interaction of genetic and environmental factors in the prediction and prevention of prediabetes, diabetes, and diabetes complications. He is the principal investigator of the Pathobiology of Prediabetes in a Biracial Cohort (POP-ABC) study and also directs The University of Tennessee site for the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) and the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)/DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS). Dr. Dagogo-Jack earned his medical and research doctorate degrees from the University of Ibadan College of Medicine in Nigeria, holds a master's of science from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England, and completed his postdoctoral fellowship training in metabolism at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in Missouri. A board-certified endocrinologist, Dr. Dagogo-Jack has been elected to the Association of American Physicians and is the 2015 recipient of the Banting Medal for Leadership from the ADA. The ADA and Diabetes Care thank Dr. Dagogo-Jack for his outstanding leadership and service to the Association.
Limitation of private attending pediatricians' neonatal intensive care privileges in level III institutions throughout the United States.

OBJECTIVE To determine the privileges of Private Attending Pediatricians (PAP) in caring for newborns requiring intensive (ITC), intermediate (IMC), or continuing (CC) care in Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) throughout the United States. DESIGN A two-page mail questionnaire was sent to 429 Level III NICUs to obtain the statement best describing the PAPs' privileges, the number of PAP, and some of the PAPs' functions. Level III NICUs were classified by geographic region as Eastern, Central, or Western United States. RESULTS Responses were received from 301 NICUs (70%) representing 48 states, the District of Columbia, and > 9000 PAP. Twenty-two institutions had no PAP. In the remaining 279 institutions, 96% (267/279) had restricted the PAPs' privileges partially or completely. In 32% (88/279), the PAP were not allowed to render any type of NICU care. In 18% (51/279) of the institutions, the PAP were allowed to render CC only. In 27% (76/279) of the institutions, the PAP were allowed to render IMC and CC only. Limitation of PAPs' privileges were reported in all geographic areas in the U.S., were more pronounced in the Eastern than the Central or Western sections of the country, and were noted in institutions with small ( or = 60) numbers of PAP. Limitation of PAPs' privileges was determined by the PAP him/herself in many institutions. Proficiency in resuscitation was considered to be a needed skill. Communication with parents of an infant under the care of a neonatologist was encouraged. CONCLUSIONS The PAPs' privileges were limited partially or completely in most Level III NICUs. Knowledge of this restricted role impacts significantly on curriculum design for pediatric house officers, number and type of health care providers required for Level III NICUs and future house officer's career choices.
T. F. Coil Replacement Considerations for the FED Baseline Configuration

A study was conducted to establish the tasks and special equipment required to remove and replace a Toroidal Field (T.F.) coil from the FED baseline configuration and to identify critical design fe...
Neurocutaneous Disorders for the Practicing Neurologist: a Focused Review

The neurocutaneous disorders (NCDs) embrace an extensive group of developmental disorders associated with involvement of the skin, central nervous system (CNS), and/or the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The neurocutaneous manifestations relate to the common ectodermal origin of these organs. This review intended for the practicing clinical neurologist focuses on selected aspects of the NCDs primarily those associated with cerebrovascular disease. Our emphasis is primarily on those NCDs with genetic heterogeneity and their neurological manifestations.
A Healthy Balance: Religion, Identity, and Community in Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine

well as spiritual and psychological ill health. Critics have argued that Erdrich's fiction depicts the valiant survival of Native American people and their struggle to regain their nearly forgotten cultural heritage.2 While Erdrich's fiction certainly portrays the value in cultural knowledge, Love Medicine, as Catherine Rainwater has shown, uncovers the resulting ambivalence experienced by her characters as they attempt to reconcile their Native American heritage with the expectations of the dominant white culture in the modern and postmodern United States.3 The ambivalence created in this attempted reconciliation underscores the difficulty faced by Erdrich's characters in reaching a balance between the spheres of past and present, personal and communal, private and public. Love Medicine presents characters searching for a healthy balance between seemingly diametrically opposed cultures. This search for a healthy balance is evinced in the characters' belief systems, in their relationships with each other, and within their own sense of personal identity. Marie Kashpaw, June Kashpaw, Lulu Lamartine, Nector Kashpaw, and Lipsha Morrisey contend with their personal identities and beliefs, others' perceptions and expectations, and their place in their families and community. Love Medicine depicts characters whose searches lead them to discard obsolete identities as they journey to