cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Revisionists Revived: The Libertarian Historiography of Education.

Over a decade ago Jurgen Herbst, in a retrospective review of the field of educational history, noted with considerable perturbation that educational historiography had grown tired and dull. “The revisionist surge, whether traditional or radical, has spent itself,” said Herbst, and nothing new or interesting has emerged to replace it. A year later, in March of 2000, a major invitation-only conference sponsored by the Spencer Foundation was held to discuss the state of the field. Some of the conference's conclusions were published by Ruben Donato and Marvin Lazerson, who prefaced their comments on the current state of the field with a refresher on the “Golden Era” of the late 1960s and 1970s, noting that for many, in the words of one attendee, the passion of those days “is somehow lost. We don't know where we're heading. We don't know what we're doing.”
A model of end-user computing policy: Context, process, content and compliance

Abstract One factor that has been cited as key to successful end-user computing (EUC) management is a formalized policy statement that defines the limits of users' discretion. In this paper, a model of EUC policy is developed as a mechanism for examining relationships between organizational context, the process by which EUC policy is developed and administered, and the content of resulting policy statements. Organizational compliance is introduced as an important outcome measure in the model. A mail survey of MIS executives in 107 Fortune 1000 companies provides preliminary support for this contingency theory of EUC policy compliance. The results suggest that firms which are procedurally bureaucratic are most likely to develop comprehensive and restrictive EUC policy statements. Organizational compliance levels were reported to be highest in companies with both comprehensive and restrictive EUC policy statements and formal mechanisms for monitoring compliance.
Plans for the Second Epoch of the Southern Proper Motion Program

The first photographs for the Yale-San Juan Southern Proper Motion (SPM) program with respect to faint galaxies were taken with the collaboration of Columbia University in 1965. The first epoch photography was essentially completed in 1974 and plans are now under way to begin the second epoch observations in 1986.
Genotype reuse more important than genotype size in evolvability of embodied neural networks

The relative influence of genotype reuse and number of genotype parameters on the evolvability of an embodied neural network is explored. Two genotype to phenotype mappings are used to encode a neural network controlling a hexapod agent. A symmetric encoding reuses the genotype by duplicating parts of the genotype to create the phenotype. A direct encoding maps one genotype parameter to one phenotype parameter. To test whether genotype reuse is more important than genotype size, the architecture of the neural network is manipulated such that the genotype size of the symmetrically-encoded neural networks is larger than the directly-encoded neural networks. The symmetrically-encoded neural networks are found to be more evolvable than the directly-encoded despite having a larger genotype.
Estimated prevalence of dengue viremia in Puerto Rican blood donations, 1995 through 2010

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus (DENV) nucleic acid amplification testing of blood donations during epidemics in endemic locations, including Puerto Rico, has suggested possible sizable transfusion transmission risk. Estimates of the long-term prevalence of DENV viremic donations will help evaluate the potential magnitude of this risk in Puerto Rico. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Estimates of the prevalence of DENV viremia in the Puerto Rican population at large from 1995 through 2010 were derived from dengue case reports and their onset dates obtained from islandwide surveillance, estimates of case underreporting, and extant data on the duration of DENV viremia and the unapparent-to-apparent dengue infection ratio. Under the assumptions that viremia prevalence in blood donors was similar to that of the population at large and that symptomatic persons do not donate, statistical resampling methods were used to estimate the prevalence of dengue viremia in blood donations. RESULTS: Over the 16-year period, the maximum and mean daily prevalences of dengue viremia (per 10,000) in blood donations in Puerto Rico were estimated at 45.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.5-55.4) and 7.0 (95% CI, 3.9-10.1), respectively. Prevalence varied considerably by season and year. CONCLUSION: These data suggest a substantial prevalence of DENV viremia in Puerto Rican blood donations, particularly during outbreaks.
Cyanobacterial Responses to UV Radiation

The influence of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on populations of microorganisms has been the subject of serious investigation for at least the past 20–25 years. UVR that is applicable to the Earth’s surface (past or present) is arbitrarily divided into UVA (400–320 or 315 nm), UVB (280–320 or 315 nm), UVC (∼180–280 nm). Although essentially all organisms are affected by UVR, microorganisms show more rapid, immediate and measurable effects than macro-organisms. This chapter is mainly relegated to UVR and cyanobacteria, although UV effects on other phototrophs and microorganisms, when relevant, will be included. Some ancestors of living cyanobacteria, the oldest oxygenic organisms, may have evolved in the Archean or early Proterozoic Eons, from 3.5 to 2.5 Gyr, respectively, in a time when UV radiation fluxes reaching the surface, particularly UVB and UVC, were much higher than at present. The latter wavelength region (UVC) does not reach the Earth’s surface at present. Thus, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms in that distant age had to have evolved a strategy to tolerate these greater levels of UV radiation, and at present this strategy may demonstrably involve multiple devices, even within one organism. The best understood in the past several years for numerous organisms has been the active metabolic strategies that compensate for the destruction of vital genetic components, such as the development of efficient metabolic DNA repair systems. The implementation of gliding motility system for escaping the effects of high visible and UV radiation has been better described and understood. Some of the most revealing results in the last 10 years have been an almost complete understanding of the regulation of the UV-protective compounds, scytonemin and mycosporine-like compounds, that partially or completely avoid the damage caused by UV radiation.
Deep low-rank coding for transfer learning

Recent researches on transfer learning exploit deep structures for discriminative feature representation to tackle cross-domain disparity. However, few of them are able to joint feature learning and knowledge transfer in a unified deep framework. In this paper, we develop a novel approach, called Deep Low-Rank Coding (DLRC), for transfer learning. Specifically, discriminative low-rank coding is achieved in the guidance of an iterative supervised structure term for each single layer. In this way, both marginal and conditional distributions between two domains intend to be mitigated. In addition, a marginalized denoising feature transformation is employed to guarantee the learned single-layer low-rank coding to be robust despite of corruptions or noises. Finally, by stacking multiple layers of low-rank codings, we manage to learn robust cross-domain features from coarse to fine. Experimental results on several benchmarks have demonstrated the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm on facilitating the recognition performance for the target domain.
Employability and productivity among older workers : a policy framework and evidence from Latin America

As Latin American and the Caribbean countries face rapid aging transitions, the economic contribution of older workers will need to be strengthened. This paper uses household data from Brazil and Mexico to characterize labor market behavior of older workers, such as participation, sectoral and type of employment, and productivity, to identify critical areas for policy intervention. The paper also discusses other social policy related issues like health, remittances, and family arrangements. This paper suggests three areas for labor policy: (i) adjusting social security incentives to extend working life and postpone formal retirement; (ii) adjustments to labor market regulations to increase employment flexibility, smoothing the transition into retirement; and (iii) addressing skill needs through (re) training to maintain productivity and employability. This paper reviews existing evidence on these policy interventions in industrial and developing countries, and suggests areas for future analytical work.
Alterations in the mechanical properties and composition of skin in human growth hormone transgenic mice

Growth hormone is known to stimulate connective tissue, but the degree to which it influences skin biomechanical properties is unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that human growth hormone transgene expression changes the material properties and structural composition of adult mouse skin. Fracture toughness and elastic modulus were measured on freshly dissected dorsal skin and fixed samples were analyzed histologically. Transgenics had higher elastic moduli than their sex-matched non transgenic littermates, and male transgenics demonstrated increased fracture toughness. Male transgenics also had thicker skin than controls with a selectively increased dermis. In contrast, female transgenics had thinner skin than controls due to a reduced hypodermis. Biomechanical and histological variables were strongly correlated. Significant sex differences were present in nearly all comparisons indicating a dimorphic response to growth hormone in the skin. These data demonstrate that constant low-level growth hormone expression in marrow differentially affects skin layer thickness and concomitantly alters its biomechanical properties.
Synthesis and characterization of semicrystalline cycloaliphatic polyester/poly(dimethylsiloxane) segmented copolymers

High molecular weight poly(dimethylsiloxane)/semicrystalline cycloaliphatic polyester segmented copolymers based on dimethyl-1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylate were prepared and characterized. The copolymers were synthesized using a high trans content isomer that afforded semicrystalline morphologies. Aminopropyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) oligomers of controlled molecular weight were synthesized, end capped with excess diester to form a diester-terminated oligomer, and incorporated via melt transesterification step reaction copolymerization. The molecular weight of the polysiloxane and chemical composition of the copolymer were systematically varied. The polysiloxane segment was efficiently incorporated into the copolymers via an amide link and its structure was unaffected by low concentrations of titanate transesterification catalyst, as shown by control melt experiments. The homopolymer and copolymers were characterized by solution, thermal, mechanical, and surface techniques. The segmented copolymers were microphase separated as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was demonstrated that relatively short poly(dimethylsiloxane) segment lengths and compositions were required to maintain single phase melt polymerization conditions. This was, in fact, the key to the successful preparation of these materials. The copolymers derived from short poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments demonstrated good mechanical properties, melt viscosities representative of single phase polymer melts, and were easily compression molded into films. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3495–3506, 1997
Abstract model and controller design for an unstable aircraft

Model and Controller Design for an Unstable Aircraft Dale Enns* Honeywellt Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418 Hitay Ozbayt Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 and Alien TannenbaumJ University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 In this paper, we consider an unstable system with a time delay as an abstract model of an aircraft longitudinal motion for the short period. In our controller design we want both sensitivity reduction and robustness to certain unmodeled dynamics. Using standard arguments, these control objectives are formulated as an H°° optimal control problem. We show in detail how to compute the optimal controller for this distributed model (and not for a finite dimensional approximation). A numerical example is given to illustrate the computational procedure. Certain properties of the controller are discussed for this example.
Generation of Internal-and External-Mode Motions from Internal Heating: Effects of Vertical Shear and Damping

Abstract Tropical heating due to latent heat release has been proposed as a source that may influence midlatitude weather through teleconnection patterns. However, such heating is usually-internal (with the maximum in the midtroposphere) and, by itself, inefficient in exciting external, barotropic-type responses, which are necessary for the teleconnection mechanism. To study this problem, a simple two-level model is used to investigate the effect of vertical shear, differential damping and the planetary boundary layer on the characteristics of the atmospheric response to internal heating. All three effects are found to enable a transfer of energy from the internal-mode motions, which are directly forced by the internal heating, to external-mode motions. To generate external-mode divergent motions, it is necessary to have a planetary boundary layer or other equivalent effects that force vertical motion at the bottom of the atmosphere. The efficiency of generation increases with the horizontal scale. On the...
Cross-task compatibility and age-related dual-task performance.

Background/Study Context: This study examined the effects of stimulus-stimulus and response-response cross-task compatibility and aging on dual-task performance. Hypothesis 1 predicted that the response code compatibility effect in both experiments would benefit older adults comparably to younger adults. Hypothesis 2 predicted that stimulus-stimulus compatibility would be additive to the effects of cross-task compatibility. Methods: Younger and older adults participated in two dual-task experiments. Experiment 1 utilized a cross-task compatibility design identical to that of Koch and Prinz (2002, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 28, 192–201). Experiment 2 added a stimulus-stimulus compatibility condition. Results: The results of both experiments supported Hypothesis 1. Older adults displayed comparable cross-task compatibility effects to younger adults. The data did not support Hypothesis 2. The response-response compatibility effect from Experiment 1 was replicated, b...
Respiratory syncytial virus infection does not increase allergen-induced type 2 cytokine production, yet increases airway hyperresponsiveness in mice.

Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced disease is associated with childhood asthma and atopy. We combined murine models of allergen-sensitization and RSV infection to explore the interaction of allergic and virus-induced airway inflammation and its impact on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). We found that RSV infection during ova-sensitization (OVA/RSV) increased and prolonged AHR compared to mice only RSV-infected (RSV) or ova-sensitized (OVA). AHR is known to be associated with an increase in Type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in allergen-sensitized mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that RSV-induced enhancement of AHR was a result of potentiating the Type 2 cytokine profile promoted by ova-sensitization. Surprisingly, we found that Type 2 cytokines induced by ova-sensitization were not increased by RSV infection despite the increase in AHR, and in some cases were diminished. RNAse protection assay revealed no difference in IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA levels between the OVA and OVA/RSV groups, and IL-13 mRNA was significantly decreased in the OVA/RSV mice compared to the OVA group. Flow cytometric analysis of Type 2 cytokines demonstrated the same frequency of IL-4 and IL-5 production in lung-derived T lymphocytes from the OVA/RSV and OVA groups. Direct cytokine ELISA measurements of lung supernatant showed the level of IL-13 was significantly decreased in the OVA/RSV group compared to OVA mice, while there was no difference in either IL-4 or IL-5 between these two groups. These data indicate that the enhanced and prolonged AHR caused by the interaction of allergic airway inflammation and virus-induced immune responses is a complex process that can not be explained simply by augmented production of Type 2 cytokines.
Hydrogen atoms at a helium film surface

Abstract We study the properties of a hydrogen atom interacting with the surface of a helium film. The interaction with the flat helium surface as well as with the surface normal modes are included. The latter causes the formation of a surface mound, helium atoms in the neighborhood of the hydrogen atom are pulled closer. Results are reported for the mound profile and the corresponding effective mass of the hydrogen atom. In the potential well formed by the mound, we find a bound state for the motion of hydrogen atom parallel to the surface. The bound state energy is a logarithmic function of the film thickness.
L-type Calcium Channel Auto-Regulation of Transcription

L-type calcium channels (LTCC) impact the function of nearly all excitable cells. The classical LTCC function is to mediate trans-sarcolemmal Ca2+ flux. This review focuses on the contribution of a mobile segment of the LTCC that regulates ion channel function, and also serves as a regulator of transcription in the nucleus. Specifically we highlight recent work demonstrating an auto-feedback regulatory pathway whereby the LTCC transcription factor regulates the LTCC. Also discussed is acute and long-term regulation of function by the LTCC-transcription regulator.
Membrane Interactions Are Altered in Myelin Isolated from Central and Peripheral Nervous System Tissues

Isolated myelin has been used for determinations of membrane surface charge density and topographical mapping of components in the membrane. To determine how similar such myelin is to myelin of intact tissue, we have used x-ray diffraction to compare their intermembrane interactions. The interactions were monitored by measuring the myelin period in samples treated with distilled water, buffered saline at pH 4-9 and ionic strength 0.06-0.18, and saline containing HgCl2 or triethyl tin sulfate. Myelin was isolated from whole brains and sciatic nerves of mice by conventional methods involving sucrose gradient centrifugation and osmotic shock. Consistent with previous findings, electron microscopy showed that the multilamellar morphology, staining, and repeat periods of isolated myelin were essentially like those of intact myelin; however, the membrane stacks were less extensive than those in whole tissue. X-ray diffraction revealed that isolated CNS myelin was like intact myelin in showing reversible compaction in acidic media and in distilled water. However, unlike the myelin in whole tissue, isolated CNS myelin did not swell in hypotonic or alkaline media, or in the presence of HgCl2-saline or triethyl tin. The altered membrane interactions could result from an increase in adhesiveness of the apposed membrane surfaces. Reorganization of proteolipid protein and/or a reduction of surface charge could account for the change in surface properties of isolated CNS myelin. Isolated PNS myelin, like the membranes in whole tissue, showed both compaction and swelling; however, the membrane pairs were disordered in the swollen structure. This irregular membrane swelling could result from charge variation in the extracellular surfaces.
Purification, Characterization, and Cloning of an S-Adenosylmethionine-dependent 3-Amino-3-carboxypropyltransferase in Nocardicin Biosynthesis

S-Adenosylmethionine:nocardicin 3-amino-3-carboxypropyltransferase catalyzes the biosynthetically rare transfer of the 3-amino-3-carboxypropyl moiety fromS-adenosylmethionine to a phenolic site in the β-lactam substrates nocardicin E, F, and G, a late step of the biosynthesis of the monocyclic β-lactam antibiotic nocardicin A. Whereas a number of conventional methods were ineffective in purifying the transferase, it was successfully obtained by two complementary affinity chromatography steps that took advantage of the two substrate-two product reaction scheme. S-Adenosylhomocysteine-agarose selected enzymes that utilize S-adenosylmethionine, and a second column, nocardicin A-agarose, specifically bound the desired transferase to yield the enzyme as a single band of 38 kDa on a silver-stained SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The transferase is active as a monomer and exhibits sequential kinetics. Further kinetic characterization of this protein is described and its role in the biosynthesis of nocardicin A discussed. The gene encoding this transferase was cloned from a sublibrary of Nocardia uniformis DNA. Translation gave a protein of deduced mass 32,386 Da which showed weak homology to small molecule methyltransferases. However, three correctly disposed signature motifs characteristic of these enzymes were observed.
GABAA receptor β2/β3 subunit and GAD67 immunoreactivity in the trigeminal motor nucleus during early postnatal development

GABA neurotransmission plays a role in brainstem circuitry responsible for jaw movements. We investigated the developmental relationship between terminals expressing GAD67 and GABA(A) receptor beta(2)/beta(3) subunit expression within the trigeminal motor nucleus. GAD67 immunoreactivity was intense throughout development. Neuropilar beta(2)/beta(3) immunoreactivity emerged during the 2nd postnatal week. Our data provide anatomical evidence for a GABAergic innervation of neonatal trigeminal motoneurons and suggest that beta(2)/beta(3) subunit expression is developmentally regulated in trigeminal motoneurons.
Synthesis and Characterization of (Cp*Ru)3Co(CO)2(μ3-CO)B3H3 (Cp* = η5-C5Me5): A Metallaborane with Cubane Cluster Structure

Addition of a cobalt carbonyl fragment to (Cp*Ru)3(μ-H)2B3H6 leads to hydrogen loss and formation of the highly condensed (Cp*Ru)3Co(CO)2(μ3-CO)B3H3 cluster. Viewed as a 60-electron tetranuclear metal cluster with six M−M bonds, it completes the series: 64-electron (CpCo)4B4H4 with four M−M bonds; 68-electron (CpNi)4B4H4 with two M−M bonds.
Tighter convex hulls for rational Be´zier curves

Abstract We show how the convex hull of a rational Bezier curve can be tightened over the standard convex hull of the control polygon.
Mental Health Ethics: The Human Context

Mental Health Ethics: The Human Context by Phil Barker, Abingdon: Routledge, 2010. ISBN: 978 041557 100 5, 400 pp. In Mental Health Ethics, Phil Barker offers a readable, entertaining, and provocat...
A Comprehensive Review of the Use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in Treatment of Psychiatric and Headache Disorders

Background Neurostimulation as a treatment option for refractory neuropsychiatric disorders has been increasingly utilized in recent years. For patients with such refractory disorders who have often failed to respond to various medical interventions, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a promising treatment modality. DBS is a reversible and adjustable form of brain stimulation (also known as functional neurosurgery) in which desired brain structures (or circuits) are given focal electric stimulation via electrodes that are implanted in the brain tissue during a surgical procedure. It has been utilized among various psychiatric and neurological illnesses, in particular headache disorders. This article reviews the most relevant data regarding DBS for psychiatric and primary headache disorders. Methods Authors conducted a detailed literature search of Medline/PubMed database and studies that used DBS for the treatment of refractory neuropsychiatric disorders were reviewed. Response, remission, and safety measures of these studies were obtained. Results Despite the advancement in DBS treatment, the number of randomized controlled studies remains very limited due to ethical and methodological difficulties of setting up invasive procedures of this magnitude. So at present, DBS represents a modality used only in the most refractory patients. Conclusion Current data support DBS as a promising treatment option for neuropsychiatric disorders that do not respond to conventional treatments; however, it is clear that more research and patient volume is needed to demonstrate its efficacy in treating these conditions. The use of functional imaging to understand the pathophysiology of these disorders has been crucial for the utilization of DBS.
Caged ATP potentiates guanylate cyclase activity stimulated by atrial natriuretic factor in rat lung membranes.

Abstract ATP increases both basal and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-stimulated guanylate cyclase activities. The present studies were designed to compare the effect of adenosine-5′-triphosphate. P3-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-ethyl ester (caged ATP), a photolabile derivative of ATP, with ATP. Caged ATP increases both basal and ANF-stimulated enzyme activities in a concentration-dependent manner, but is more potent than ATP. The effect of caged ATP significantly decreases after it is photo-converted to ATP by UV irradiation. These observations suggest that the caged group introduces a hydrophobic interaction thereby facilitating granylate cyclase cyclase.
Discrete Gamma (Factorial) Function and Its Series in Terms of a Generalized Difference Operator

The recent theory and applications of difference operator introduced in (M. Maria Susai Manuel et al., 2012) are enriched and extended with a useful tool for finding the values of various series of discrete gamma functions in number theory. Illustrative examples show the effectiveness of the obtained results in finding the values of various gamma series.
Managing subject guides with SQL Server and ASP.Net

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the content management solution for 50 subject guides maintained by librarian subject specialists at the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries.Design/methodology/approach – The Web Development Librarian designed an SQL Server database to store subject guide content and wrote ASP.Net scripts to generate dynamic web pages. Subject specialists provided input throughout the process. Hands‐on workshops were held the summer before the new guides were launched.Findings – The new method has successfully produced consistent but individually customized subject guides while greatly reducing maintenance time. Simple reports reveal the association between guides and licensed resources. Using the system to create course‐specific guides would be a useful follow‐up project. Skills learned in training workshops should be refreshed at regular intervals to boost confidence and introduce changes in the system.Practical implications – The advantages of centralizing content an...
Marijuana and memory impairment: Effect on free recall and recognition memory☆

The effect of marijuana on memory was evaluated by presenting two groups of 17 male volunteers with lists of repeated or nonrepeated words following administration of a single marijuana cigarette containing 14 mg delta9-THC. An immediate free recall, final free recall and recognition memory test followed. Results indicated that marijuana significantly decreased immediate and final free recall but only slightly influenced recognition memory. Rate of acquisition on the repeated lists was the same for both groups. Long term retention of encoded information was not influenced by marijuana. The shape of the serial position curves departed slightly from those reported by other investigators in that some effects of the drug on the recency portion of the curve were noted. Both internal and external intrusions were elevated under marijuana.
Epilepsy and Obesity in Serotonin 5‐HT2C Receptor Mutant Mice

Serotonin 5-HT2C receptor null mutant mice were generated to assess the contribution of this receptor to the actions of serotonin. Mutant mice displayed both an epilepsy and obesity phenotype. The epilepsy syndrome was characterized by spontaneous seizures, lowered seizure threshold, enhanced seizure propagation and sound-induced seizure susceptibility. These findings implicate 5-HT2C receptors in the regulation of neuronal network excitability. It was also observed that body weight and adipose tissue deposition were elevated in adult mutant mice relative to their wild type littermates. Paired-feeding studies suggest that the obesity syndrome is a result of increased food intake. In addition, mutants displayed reduced sensitivity to the appetite suppressant actions of non-specific serotonergic agonists. These studies establish a role for 5-HT2C receptors in the serotonergic regulation of body weight and food intake.
Axisymmetric edge debonding in patched plates

Abstract The problem of edge debonding in patched elastic plates is considered for a variety of axisymmetric loading and support conditions. The problems are approached from a unified point of view, as a moving interior boundaries problem in the calculus of variations, incorporating a Griffith type energy criterion for debonding. This results in a selfconsistent model for the intact and debonded portions of the composite structure as well as for the primitive structures which comprise the system, and in addition yields the conditions which define equilibrium configurations of a propagating contact zone boundary and a propagating bond zone boundary. The latter yields the corresponding energy release rates for debonding. The situation of edge contact is also considered. Analytical solutions to the set of problems of interest are presented. Extensive numerical simulations based on these solutions are presented and yield results in the form of threshold curves which characterize the behavior of the evolving composite structure under load.
Self-study of Practice as a Framework to Promote Growth in the Student Teaching Experience

As teachers and teacher educators, we hope to model an inquiry stance. Our prior experiences suggested an educative value in collaborative self-study for graduate students who were also practicing teachers. To build on this, we invited social studies teacher candidates to learn about taking an inquiry stance through self-study. This collaborative self-study of teaching practice took place in varied school contexts and within a student teaching seminar course. Our goal was for the preservice teachers to engage in systematic inquiry into their practice. As teacher educators, we hoped to learn about our own practices and the ways we encourage an inquiry stance during student teaching. Learning outcomes for six of the preservice teachers and the three teacher educators are presented in this article.
Security Analysis, Agency Costs and Firm Characteristics

In this paper we appraise the monitoring activity of security analysis from the manager-shareholder conflict perspective. Using a data set of more than 7000 firm-year observations for manufacturing firms tracked by security analysts over the 1988-1994 period, our evidence supports the view that security analysis acts as a monitoring mechanism in reducing agency costs associated with the separation of ownership and control. However, we also find that security analysts are more effective in reducing managerial non-value maximizing behavior for single-focused than multi-segment (diversified) firms. In addition, the shareholder gains from the monitoring activity of security analysis are found to be larger for focused than for diversified firms.
How to Develop and Validate Institutional ACS Protocols: Guidelines and Transitions of Care in ACS Management

Clinical practice guidelines outline appropriate and evidence-based approaches for the management of medical conditions and performance of clinical procedures. Guidelines are typically developed with the goal of minimizing variations in clinical practice, improving quality of care, reducing litigation risk, optimizing health outcomes, and helping to control cost. The term “transitions of care” refers to specific interactions, communication, and planning that are required if patients are to move in a safe and orderly manner from one service or setting to another. Transitions occur between inpatient and outpatient settings and within hospitals, from initial presentation in the emergency department, through hospitalization, and back to the community or possibly to subacute care facilities. The objective of this article is to review processes for developing and validating institutional protocols that focus on management, communication, and transitions of care for ACS patients.
Outsiders inside e insiders outside: entre a ação pública nacional e transnacional em prol dos direitos humanos

Sera que o crescimento de uma sociedade civil global e um processo cumulativo, ou estamos apenas presenciando o afloramento transnacional de uma serie de Estados? Colocando essa pergunta de forma mais geral: "Sera que a tradicional divisao entre politicas nacionais e internacionais esta se decompondo?" Grande parte do futuro do ativismo social e transnacional depende dessa pergunta. Neste artigo, ilustrarei primeiro esse dilema referindo a historia atual e conhecida: os protestos em relacao a Tocha Olimpica, em Londres e Paris, e suas relacoes com o Tibete e Darfur, indagando o que isso nos diz em relacao a natureza do ativismo transnacional publico. Em seguida construirei uma tipologia de formas de interacao nacional e transacional entre os atores publicos nao estatais. Posteriormente, passarei a realizar uma previsao do futuro, com alguma prudencia, do que alguns intitulam "sociedade civil global" e de como ela pode afetar o ativismo transnacional.
A low-cost, low-delay location update/paging scheme in hierarchical cellular networks

A low-cost, two-step location update/paging scheme in a macrocell/microcell network is proposed and investigated. To reduce operating cost, the location update is operated only in the macrocell tier. A callee will be paged in the macrocell tier first. If the paging delay in the macrocell tier is too high due to large queuing delay, the callee will then be paged in the microcell tier. Original searching method is used in the microcell tier paging. The operation for the scheme is simple, since the macrocell/microcell cellular network has the advantage that a mobile user in such a cellular network can receive a signal from both a macrocell and a microcell. The analytical results show that, along with the low location update/paging cost, the two-step paging scheme also achieves low paging delay.
Continuum mesoscale modelling of nanocrystalline fcc metals under shock-loading using an spectral formulation fed by molecular dynamics results

In this paper we present a micromechanical approach based on Fast Fourier Transforms to study the role played by dislocation glide and grain boundary (GB) accommodation in the determination of the yield strength of nanostructured materials under shock. For this, we construct unit cells representing self-similar polycrystals with different grain sizes in the nanometer range and use local constitutive equations for slip and grain boundary accommodation. We study the effect of grain size and shock pressure on the local and effective behavior of nanostructured fcc materials with parameters obtained from experiments and atomistic simulations. Predictions of a previous pressure-sensitive model for the effective yield strength behind a shock front are improved by considering strain partition between slip and GB activity.
Development of Time Resolved Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for FXR Antagonist Discovery

FXR (farnesoid X receptor, NRIH4), a nuclear receptor, plays a major role in the control of cholesterol metabolism. FXR ligands have been investigated in preclinical studies for targeted therapy against metabolic diseases, but have shown limitations. Therefore, there is a need for new agonist or antagonist ligands of FXR, both for potential clinical applications, as well as to further elucidate its biological functions. Here we describe the use of the X-ray crystal structure of FXR complexed with the potent small molecule agonist GW4064 to design and synthesize a novel fluorescent, high-affinity probe (DY246) for time resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) assays. We then used the TR-FRET assay for high throughput screening of a library of over 5000 bioactive compounds. From this library, we identified 13 compounds that act as putative FXR transcriptional antagonists.
Patient simulation software to augment an advanced pharmaceutics course.

Objective. To implement and assess the effectiveness of adding a pharmaceutical care simulation program to an advanced therapeutics course.Design. PharmaCAL (University of Pittsburgh), a software program that uses a branched-outcome decision making model, was used to create patient simulations to augment lectures given in the course. In each simulation, students were presented with a challenge, given choices, and then provided with consequences specific to their choices.Assessments. A survey was administered at the end of the course and students indicated the simulations were enjoyable (92%), easy to use (90%), stimulated interest in critically ill patients (82%), and allowed for application of lecture material (91%). A 5-item presimulation and postsimulation test on the anemia simulation was administered to assess learning. Students answered significantly more questions correctly on the postsimulation test than on the presimulation test (p < 0.001). Seventy-eight percent of students answered the same 5 q...
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B mutants (N23K and F44S): biological effects and vaccine potential in a mouse model

Abstract Superantigens produced by Staphylococcus aureus can cause food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. The biological activities and vaccine potential of mutant staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) proteins, N23K and F44S, were studied in a lipopolysaccharide-potentiated mouse model. Although 10 μg of SEB per mouse is equivalent to 30 LD 50 , the same intraperitoneal dose of either mutant protein was nonlethal and did not elevate serum levels of tumor necrosis factors (TNF). N23K, F44S, and SEB were serologically identical in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with polyclonal anti-SEB. Immunization with alum containing N23K, F44S, or SEB elicited an anti-SEB response that protected 80–87% of the mice against a 10 μg SEB challenge. Controls lacking an anti-SEB titer did not survive. Pooled sera from immunized mice effectively blocked SEB-induced T-cell proliferation in vitro . Naive mice survived a lethal SEB challenge when given pooled antisera 1, 2, or 4 h later, whereas the antisera failed to protect animals when administered 6 or 8 h after the toxin. Lethality at the later times was consistent with increased serum levels of TNF observed 6 h after SEB injection. These studies suggest that the N23K and F44S mutant proteins of SEB are less biologically active than the wild-type toxin, yet retain epitopes useful for eliciting a protective antibody response.
Conditioned taste aversion: Oral and postingestional factors

Rats drank a casein solution and were dosed with lithium chloride 1.5 to 6 hr after. The experimental group had the casein solution pumped out of the stomach as they drank and then had the stomach flushed out with water. In the controls, the stomach contents were left intact. While there was the normal decrease in conditioned aversion as the delay between taste and malaise increases, there was no difference between the experimental and control rats in the amount of conditioned aversion. Oral cues account completely for the conditioned taste aversion observed.
Beam path conditioning for high energy laser beam directors

The uncontrolled thermal currents present in a beam expander can significantly degrade optical performance. Incident laser radiation on mirrors and their supporting structures insures that temperature differences will be present. These temperature differences within the beam path can induce significant optical distortions. Optical performance can be improved with active conditioning of the beam path. This report describes several aspects of active beam path conditioning: boundary layer control on mirrors, thermal conditioning of beam expander cavities and coude paths, and thermal control of vacuum and exit window configurations. Design concepts for each of these components are discussed. Beam path conditioning systems that combine these components are presented and recommendations given. Finally, a summary of current capabilities in beam path conditioning systems is made with recommendations for future work.
Mode of action of atracotoxin at central and peripheral synapses of insects

These studies characterized the paralytic and neurophysiological effects of an atracotoxin (ACTX), from the Australian funnel web spider, Hadronyche versuta, and compared it to the established P/Q-type calcium channel blocker, ω-agatoxin-IVA (ω-Aga-IVA). ACTX-induced paralysis was of a spastic form in housefly (Musca domestica) larvae, but it was inactive on neuromuscular junction of housefly and tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens). On cockroach (Periplaneta americana) cercal nerve–giant fiber synapse preparations, both toxins were effective blockers with potencies in the nanomolar range, but some spontaneous, high frequency trains of action potentials were observed with ACTX. In Drosophila melanogaster central nervous preparations, blockage of nerve firing occurred within 20 min when the nerve sheath was intact, demonstrating that the barrier could be breached by ACTX in vitro. There was a potent (pM) excitatory response to ACTX in this tissue, prior to the onset of block at higher concentrations. In contrast, ω-Aga-IVA was a pure blocker in both cockroach and Drosophila preparations. These studies demonstrate that central synaptic calcium channels underlie the action of ACTX. ACTX-dependent neuroexcitation has a number of possible mechanisms that warrant further study.
Symmetry and spontaneously broken symmetry in the physics of elementary particles

Abstract In this quasi-monographical article we review the role and the evolution in that role that the symmetry principle has played and is continuing to play in the development of the theory of the physics of elementary particles. We review first its use as an invariance principle which provides a group-theoretical classification for particles and for forces. In this classical, historical realm of the use of symmetry, symmetry acts only as a kinematic constraint which restricts and categorizes possible structures for thetheory. With the development of local gauge theories it was found that rather than merely be a constraint on the dynamics the symmetry of local gauge invariance could also provide an origin for the existence of the forces in the first place, with the forces being described by the mediation of a set of associated vector gauge bosons. Further, following developments in the theory of phase transitions, it was found that these local gauge theories could then themselves be spontaneously broken by the dynamical effects of the forces to produce an asymmetric observable world in a theory with completely symmetric forces. We review all these developments emphasizing in particular the close analogy with many-body theory and solid state physics, and present some recent applications of these ideas, specifically the unified theory of electromagnetic and weak interactions due to Weinberg, Salam, and Glashow, and the grand-unified theories of all the fundamental forces which are currently being considered in the literature.
A GA-SVM Hybrid Classifier for Multiclass Fault Identification of Drivetrain Gearboxes

This paper presents a genetic algorithm (GA)- support vector machine (SVM) hybrid classifier for multiclass fault identification of drivetrain gearboxes in variable-speed operational conditions. An adaptive feature extraction algorithm is employed to effectively extract the features of gearbox faults from the stator current signal of an AC machine connected to the gearbox. The multiclass GA-SVM classifier is used to identify the faults in the gearbox according to the fault features extracted. A GA is designed to find the optimal parameters of the SVM to obtain the best classification accuracy. The proposed hybrid classifier is validated on a gearbox connected with a permanent-magnet synchronous machine with three different faults. Experimental results show that the multiple types of gearbox faults can be effectively identified and classified by the proposed hybrid classifier with better accuracy than the traditional SVM classifier.
The Informational Basis for Mass Polarization

If nothing else, democratic politics requires compromise. Mass polarization, where citizens disagree strongly and those disagreements magnify over time, presents obvious threats to democratic well-being. The overwhelming presumption is that if polarization is occurring, a substantial portion of it is attributable to the fragmentation attendant an increasingly choice-laden media environment where individuals expose themselves only to opinion-reinforcing information. Under what conditions does mass opinion polarization occur? Through two over-time laboratory experiments involving information choice behavior, this paper considers, first, the effects of slant in one�s information environment on over-time opinion dynamics and, second, the moderating role of attitude importance on those effects. The experiments reveal that, despite similar information search behavior, those with strong attitudes are dogmatic, resisting even substantial contrary evidence; those with weak attitudes, by contrast, hear opposing arguments and develop moderate opinions regardless of the prevalence of those arguments in their environment. Evaluations of information, rather than information search behavior per se, explain why individuals with strong attitudes polarize and those with weak attitudes do not. Polarization therefore seems to require more than media fragmentation and, in fact, a more important factor may be the strength of citizens� prior attitudes on particular issues.
The Performance of Control Charts for Monitoring Process Variation

The Shewhart R–and S–charts are often used to monitor the variability of a quality characteristic of interest. In order to improve the sensitivity of these charting procedures to detecting small shifts in the process standard deviation, runs rules have been suggested. We evaluate the properties of the run length distributions of these charting procedures using a Markov chain approach. We show that the rules commonly used in practice based on the Western Electric Handbook do not have the statistical performance one might expect. Alternative runs rules are provided that provide the same in-control ARL's as the usual X-chart with runs rules. Average run length comparisons are made among various charts for monitoring variability, including cumulative sum charts and exponentially weighted moving average charts. It is shown that detection of decreases in variability is problematic with all of these methods.