cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloning of urea transporters from the kidneys of two batoid elasmobranchs: evidence for a common elasmobranch urea transporter isoform

One of the two phloretin-sensitive, facilitated urea transporters identified from the kidneys of the myliobatiform, euryhaline elasmobranch, Dasyatis sabina, a 379 amino acid protein ([D. sabina]strUT-2), was very similar to the 380 amino acid isoform (shUT) present in the kidney of the squaliform, dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias (a species that can be considered marginally euryhaline since it utilizes upper estuarine, as well as ocean habitats). To test the proposal that this isoform is a conserved urea transporter (UT) expressed in the kidneys of diverse elasmobranchs, UTs were cloned from the kidneys of a rajiform elasmobranch, the stenohaline skate, Leucoraja ocellata and another dasyatid stingray, the marginally euryhaline, Dasyatis say. Utilizing 5′/3′ RACE, a 2,060 nt cDNA that encoded a phloretin-sensitive, 378 amino acid skate urea transporter ([L. ocellata]skUT-2) and a 1,683 nt cDNA that encoded a stingray 379 amino acid UT ([D. say]strUT-2) were obtained. These deduced UTs have a very high sequence identity with the known elasmobranch Uts. [L. ocellata]skUT-2 was 86% identical to [D. sabina]strUT-2 and 84% identical to [S. acanthias]shUT. [D. say]strUT-2 was 97% identical to the [D. sabina]strUT-2. These findings support the hypothesis that a conserved UT isoform is present in the kidneys of marine elasmobranchs, and is an important pathway for facilitated urea transport in the kidneys of marine elasmobranchs.
Meta-Analyses of Developing Brain Function in High-Risk and Emerged Bipolar Disorder

Objectives: Identifying early markers of brain function among those at high risk for pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) could serve as a screening measure when children and adolescents present with sub-syndromal clinical symptoms prior to the conversion to bipolar disorder. Studies on the offspring of patients with bipolar disorder who are genetically at high risk (HR) have each been limited in establishing a biomarker, while an analytic review in summarizing the findings offers an improvised opportunity towards that goal. Methods: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of mixed cognitive and emotional activities using the GingerALE software from the BrainMap Project was completed. The meta-analysis of all fMRI studies contained a total of 29 reports and included PBD, HR and typically developing (TD) groups. Results: The HR group showed significantly greater activation relative to the TD group in the right DLPFC-insular-parietal-cerebellar regions. Similarly, the HR group exhibited greater activity in the right DLPFC and insula as well as the left cerebellum compared to patients with PBD. Patients with PBD, relative to TD, showed greater activation in regions of the right amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, medial PFC, left ventral striatum, and cerebellum and lower activation in the right VLPFC and the DLPFC. Conclusions: The HR population showed increased activity, presumably indicating greater compensatory deployment, in relation to both the TD and the PBD, in the key cognition and emotion processing regions, such as the DLPFC, insula and parietal cortex. In contrast, patients with PBD, relative to HR and TD, showed decreased activity, which could indicate a decreased effort in multiple PFC regions in addition to widespread subcortical abnormalities, which are suggestive of a more entrenched disease process.
A Peculiar Blind Spot: Why did Radical Political Theory Ignore the Rampant Rise in Inequality Over the Past Thirty Years?

This article explores why over the past thirty years political theorists largely failed to address the emergence of neoliberal capitalism and the debilitating effects of growing inequality on the lives of ordinary people and on the nature of democracy. The article argues that the predominant focus of political theory from the 1980s onwards on the role of group identity in political action and on epistemological questions of the nature of the self, while having the positive effect of helping theorists to interrogate forms of domination that cannot be reduced to class, also led many “radical” political theorists to downplay how the macro-structural workings of late capitalism—and the neoliberal erosion of social rights—limit the possibilities for human freedom. The article concludes by arguing that if radical political theory is to inform political practice it must revitalize a theoretical understanding of social solidarity and of democratic equality.
Magnetic resonance perfusion imaging in acute middle cerebral artery stroke: comparison of blood volume and bolus peak arrival time.

Ten patients with a diagnosis of acute middle cerebral artery stroke were evaluated using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during bolus injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (GdDTPA), MR angiography, and conventional MRI. Scans were performed within 24 hours of symptoms, onset, and 5 of the 10 patients had follow-up MR scans 3 or more days later to determine radiological outcome. Perfusion data were analyzed in terms of relative regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and bolus peak arrival times (BAT). Although relative rCBV values overall showed no significant changes compared with contralateral regions of interest, BAT was significantly increased in both infarct and peri-infarct regions. Areas of abnormal BAT significantly exceeded areas of T 2 hyperintensity in acute studies; follow-up images indicated that the size of infarction increased to include some regions with previously abnormal BAT. BAT appears to be a more sensitive parameter for the detection of abnormal cerebral perfusion than rCBV. Used in conjunction with other MR methods, perfusion MR imaging may allow visualization of ischemic tissue at risk of infarction in acute stroke
Iron-Catalyzed [2π + 2π] Cycloaddition of α,ω-Dienes: The Importance of Redox-Active Supporting Ligands

The bis(imino)pyridine iron bis(dinitrogen) complex, (iPrPDI)Fe(N2)2 (iPrPDI = 2,6-(2,6-iPr2C6H3NCR)2C5H3N), serves as an efficient precursor for the catalytic [2pi + 2pi] cycloaddition of alpha,omega-dienes to yield the corresponding bicycles. For amine substrates, the rate of catalytic turnover increases with the size of the nitrogen substituents, demonstrating competing heterocycle coordination and product inhibition. In one case, a bis(imino)pyridine iron azobicycloheptane product was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Preliminary mechanistic studies highlight the importance of the redox activity of the bis(imino)pyridine ligand to maintain the ferrous oxidation state throughout the catalytic cycle.
Effects of litigation on maintenance of psychological symptoms after severe hand injury

Severe psychological symptoms after severe work-related hand injury, manifested as posttraumatic stress disorder, are not significantly potentiated or sustained by concomitant litigation if the patient has had early psychologic intervention. This study does not support assumptions about "accident neurosis" that delays recovery from the psychological sequelae of severe work-related hand injury.
Exploring tangible collaborative distance learning environments for the blind and visually impaired

This work-in-progress presents our prototype of a tangible collaborative distance learning environment via a custom set of Trackable Interactive Multi-modal Manipulatives (TIMMs). This work defines a Tangible User Environment (TUE), empowering people with visual impairments to create, modify, and naturally interact with graphical representations that are commonly encountered in mathematics, computer science and other scientific disciplines. TIMMs are designed to enable distance collaboration among students and with instructors. This system supports remote and active position, proximity, stacking, and orientation tracking of manipulatives on a multi-touch table-top surface, while providing complete visibility to local and remote instructors. This user-centered system design is derived from various visits and discussions with instructors of blind and visually impaired students in K-12 education.
The (Mis)Allocation of Capital

Is capital allocated so that its marginal product is equated to the market interest rate? Is the marginal product of capital equalized across its alternative uses? This paper attempts to answer both of these questions using data from India, and concludes that both these standard properties fail by a wide margin. (JEL: O16, G2)
ASYMMETRY OF INFLUENCE IN ALCOHOLICS' MARITAL COMMUNICATION: ALCOHOL'S EFFECTS ON INTERACTION DOMINANCE*

Eight couples participated in a study of dominance in alcoholics' marriages. Data for this investigation were derived from pretreatment assessment materials, a study on alcohol's effects on marital communication, and a study of insiders' and outsiders' perceptions of marital interaction. Little support was found for the contention that alcoholics are submissive or less influential when compared to their spouses. While alcoholics perceive themselves as submissive, on behavioral measures they are not. Alcohol may function to reduce the discrepancy between alcoholics' perceptions of their influencing ability and their actual performance. This would support current models of alcoholism and marriage which attribute adaptive consequences to drinking.
Accumulation of Biglycan and Perlecan, but Not Versican, in Lesions of Murine Models of Atherosclerosis

Proteoglycan accumulation within the arterial intima has been implicated in lipoprotein retention and in atherosclerosis progression in humans. Two commonly studied murine models of atherosclerosis, the apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient (apoE-/-) mouse and the low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR-/-) mouse, develop arterial lesions similar to those of human atherosclerosis. However, specific proteoglycan classes that accumulate in lesions of these mice and their relation to the retention of specific apolipoproteins have not been previously determined. In this report, we characterized the distribution of proteoglycans (versican, biglycan, and perlecan) and apolipoproteins (apoB, apoA-I, and apoE) in proximal aortic lesions of chow-fed apoE-/- and LDLR-/- mice at 10, 52, and 73 weeks of age. We observed that similar to the apoE-/- mice, the LDLR-/- mice develop intermediate and advanced plaques within 52 weeks of age. Perlecan and biglycan (both are proteoglycans) appeared early in lesion development with distinct expression patterns as the plaques advanced. Versican, a major proteoglycan detected in human plaques, was mostly absent in both strains. ApoA-I and apoB were detected in early through advanced lesions in regions of proteoglycan accumulation in both strains. Our results indicate that proteoglycans may contribute to the retention of lipoproteins at the earliest stage of atherosclerosis in murine models of atherosclerosis.
Consumer magazines and ethical guidelines

Americans read more than 10 magazines per month. Despite the profound effect this exposure has on individuals and society, little research has been done into ethical standards of magazines. Results of this pilot study of 100 consumer magazines indicate a considerable lack of standard practices and few ethical guidelines.
in search: the purported biological basis of parenthood

A discussion of Concerned United Birthparents (CUB), a group advocating change in American adoption policies, demonstrates the importance of a nature/culture construct in individual experiences of parenthood. Through a vivid rhetoric, the group redefines the significance of relinquishing a child to adoption; searching for a child “reverses” the surrender of a child. Reassessing “biological” and “social” claims, CUB affirms the importance of “nature” in parent-child bonds. The article contributes to the literature on American kinship and on life-crisis rituals, adding an indication of the links between individual interpretations and changes in public policy.
Sociology at UCLA.

In a discipline in which departments are often characterized by irreconcilable controversies and factional disputes, UCLA’s department stands out as a pluralistic community that fosters interaction, communication, and mutual understanding. At UCLA the micro and macro meet: leading ethnographers and survey researchers work side by side; noted Marxists, functionalists and phenomenologists participate in the same colloquia, and persons with a variety of outlooks share membership on the same student committees. Ambitious students committed to obtaining the Ph.D. experience a stimulating educational career in a department that prides itself on diversity, but whose faculty understands that its program must be structured and coherent.
Measurement of left ventricular mass by contrast ventriculography.

Background Elevated left ventricular mass (LVM) has been shown to be an important predictor of adverse cardiac events. Calculation of LVM using contrast ventriculography, as described by Rackley, involves measuring left ventricular wall thickness in a single plane, with assumptions made about ventricular geometry. Hypothesis We hypothesized that a modification of the Rackley method, involving multiple measurements of left ventricular (LV) wall thickness in 2 orthogonal planes, may add value in the determination of LVM in patients with LV remodeling and dysfunction. Methods The LVM was determined in 24 patients with LV dysfunction who had undergone both cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) and contrast left ventriculography. Right anterior oblique (RAO) and left anterior oblique (LAO) still frames in diastole were used to measure LV length, chamber area, and wall thickness. From these variables, LV volume, myocardial volume, and LVM were calculated. The LVM calculations using an average wall thickness from the LAO and RAO projections were compared with LVM measured by CMRI. Results Eighty eight percent of patients had hypertension, 100% had coronary artery disease, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction by contrast left ventriculography was 41 ± 14%. Averaging left ventricular wall thickness from RAO and LAO projections using biplane ventriculography for LVM calculation yielded a strong correlation (r = 0.77, p < 0.01) with LVM calculated from CMR. Conclusions In patients with left ventricular dysfunction, biplane left ventricular wall thickness measurements for contrast ventriculography LVM calculations render a strong correlation with LVM calculated by CMRI. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Are all “milks” created equal?

See related research article on page [1287][1] and at [www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.140555][2] In a linked article, Lee and colleagues[1][3] describe a significant negative association between the consumption of non–cow’s milk beverages and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in a large,
Surface microtopography in siloxane–polyurethane thermosets: The influence of siloxane and extent of reaction

Abstract The effect of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) content, PDMS molecular weight, and the extent of prepolymerization reactions between hydroxyl functional PDMS and polyisocyanate were explored in order to understand the influence of these variables on the formation of surface microtopography in a siloxane–polyurethane thermoset. The system is based on a difunctional hydroxyalkyl terminated PDMS, trifunctional poly(caprolactone) polyol, and a polyisocyanate. The effect of PDMS content was studied with PDMS of MW 1000 and 2000. PDMS of MW 1000 was varied from 5% to 15% and with PDMS of MW 2000 the level was varied from 5% to 12%. Tapping mode AFM images of the surface topography were used to characterize the system. The extent of reaction prior to film formation was studied by FTIR and correlated with microdomain formation in the final polymer film. Two different mixing strategies were explored: one where all of the ingredients were mixed together and a second approach where PDMS and polyisocyanate were mixed first, followed by the addition of the trifunctional polyol. Monte Carlo simulation of the polymerization with 10% PDMS of MW 1000 in the formulation revealed that there was a window of conversion for both PDMS and isocyanate at which the system spontaneously phase separates to form a microtopographical surface.
ACT-R: a theory of higher level cognition and its relation to visual attention

The ACT-R system is a general system for modeling a wide range of higher level cognitive processes. Recently, it has been embellished with a theory of how its higher level processes interact with a visual interface. This includes a theory of how visual attention can move across the screen, encoding information into a form that can be processed by ACT-R. This system is applied to modeling several classic phenomena in the literature that depend on the speed and selectivity with which visual attention can move across a visual display. ACT-R is capable of interacting with the same computer screens that subjects do and, as such, is well suited to provide a model for tasks involving human-computer interaction. In this article, we discuss a demonstration of ACT-R's application to menu selection and show that the ACT-R theory makes unique predictions, without estimating any parameters, about the time to search a menu. These predictions are confirmed.
A Comparison of Local Analysis, Global Analysis and Ontology-based Query Expansion Strategies for Bio-medical Literature Search

In this paper we present the design and evaluation of our biomedical literature searching approaches using the TREC 2004 ad hoc retrieval task in the Genomics track. The main approach taken in our system is to expand queries by exploiting the three widely used strategies - local analysis, global analysis, and ontology-based term re-weighting across various search engines. The experimental results show that (1) ontology-based term re-weighting provides the best results among the three query expansion strategies, (2) expanding the initial query with more precise ontology-based term enhances LSI based local analysis substantially, and (3) including context to term re-weighting and LSI further improves the precision. Experimental results also show that the ontology-based term re-weighting with LUCENE or LEMUR search engines increases the average precision by up to 20.3% or 12.1%, respectively, compared to that of the baseline runs. In addition, the LSI-based local analysis increases the average precision by 9.2% with LEMUR search engine. We believe the approaches of the term re-weighting and LSI-based local analysis may be exploited in other bio-medical domains.
Alston on Plantinga and soft theological determinism

In this paper I shall challenge a thesis advanced by William P. Alston in a splendid paper published in 1985 entitled "Divine Foreknowledge and Alternative Conceptions of Human Freedom".1 The thesis in question concerns the argument given by Alvin Plantinga in God, Freedom and Evil for the claim that divine foreknowledge is compatible with human freedom. It consists of the claim that Plantinga's argument is best understood as relying (implicitly) on the conditional conception of power (ability, freedom) employed by such figures in the history of ethics as Hume and Schlick. Interestingly, this same thesis is defended by William Hasker in "Foreknowledge and Freedom" an article published at about the same time as Alston's.2 Here, after a lengthy analysis of Plantinga's early as well as his more recent writings on the foreknowledge problem, Hasker concludes that in these sources Plantinga's is what William James once called a "soft determinist". He is, let us say, a soft theological determinist. I should add that although I shall reject this soft deterministic interpretation of Plantinga's reasoning in God, Freedom and Evil, Alston's analysis of Plantinga's text seems to me to be the most penetrating of the many that have been offered in the recent literature on the foreknowledge problem. My own discussion will contain both procedural and substantive elements germinated from Alston's reflections. It will also include critical comments relating to two other (in my mind) less insightful attempts to gain closure on Plantinga's illusive, though obviously provocative compatibilist argument. I'll begin by establishing the context in which Alston's reasoning is framed.
Investigation of SnPbAg solder for die attach of GaAs devices

Solder-based die-attach processes used to affix GaAs devices to heat spreading carriers were investigated. The microstructures of the solder materials were assessed, with a focus on void formation, and the response of the solder and backsurface metallization and carrier plating to the temperature cycles of die attachment and reflow processes. Voided regions were found in all solder joints, with a dramatic sensitivity to temperature cycles. Gold-tin alloy phases were found to dominate the microstructure of the solder for all configurations evaluated. The total thermal budget was a critical issue in the formation and transformation of various phases, as expected for low melting point alloys. NiVAu and TiPtAu backmetal systems were investigated to determine their suitability for die attachment.
Synthesis of a tris(pyrazolyl) borate-stabilized molybdenum alkylidene and its hydrolysis products. Crystal structures of TpMo(CH2C(Me)2Ph) (NAr)(O) and [TpMo(NAr)(O)]2O

Abstract The synthesis of a tris(pyrazolyl)borate-stabilized molybdenum (VI) imido alkylidene complex, TpMo(CHC(Me)2Ph)(NAr) (OTf) (1) [Ar= 2,6-i-Pr2-C6H3,Ph=C6H5,OTf=OSO2CF3], has been achieved by addition of potassium hydridotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate (KTp) to Mo(CHC(CH3)2Ph)(NAr)(OTf)2(DME). Stirring compound1 over alumina in the presence of H2O gave TpMo(CH2C(Me)2Ph)(NAr)(O) (2). Alternatively, compound1 was converted to2 by the addition of CsOH·H2O in THF. A single crystal of [TpMo(NAr)(O)]2O (4) was isolated from a solution of2. Compounds2 and4 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and the bonding considerations about the molybdenum atoms are discussed.
Discontinuous dynamics of a non-linear, self-excited, friction-induced, periodically forced oscillator

Abstract The discontinuous dynamics of a non-linear, friction-induced, periodically forced oscillator is studied. The analytical conditions for motion switchability at the velocity boundary in such a nonlinear oscillator are developed to understand the motion switching mechanism. Using such analytical conditions of motion switching, numerical predictions of the switching scenarios varying with excitation frequency and amplitude are carried out, and the parameter maps for specific periodic motions are presented. Chaotic and periodic motions are illustrated through phase planes and switching sections for a better understanding of motion mechanism of the nonlinear friction oscillator. The periodic motions with switching in such a nonlinear, frictional oscillator cannot be obtained from the traditional analysis (e.g., perturbation and harmonic balance method).
Identification of putative peptide paracrines/hormones in the water flea Daphnia pulex (Crustacea; Branchiopoda; Cladocera) using transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry

The cladoceran crustacean Daphnia pulex has emerged as a model species for many biological fields, in particular environmental toxicology and toxicogenomics. Recently, this species has been the subject of an extensive transcriptome project, resulting in the generation and public deposition of over 150,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). This resource makes D. pulex an excellent model for protein discovery using bioinformatics. Here, in silico searches of the D. pulex EST database were conducted to identify transcripts encoding putative peptide precursors. Moreover, the mature peptides contained within the deduced prepro-hormones were predicted using online peptide processing programs and homology to known arthropod isoforms. In total, 63 putative peptide-encoding ESTs were identified encompassing 14 distinct peptide families/subfamilies: A-type allatostatin, B-type allatostatin, C-type allatostatin, bursicon (both alpha and beta subunit peptides), crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP), crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH)/ion transport peptide (both CHH- and moult-inhibiting hormone-like subfamilies), diuretic hormone (calcitonin-like), ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH), FMRFamide (both neuropeptide F and short neuropeptide F subfamilies), orcokinin and pigment dispersing hormone. From these transcripts, the structures of 76 full-length/partial peptides were predicted, which included the first C-type allatostatin-like peptide identified from a crustacean, the first crustacean calcitonin-like diuretic hormone, an undescribed CCAP isoform, two hitherto unknown ETH variants, and two new orcokinins. Neuronal localization of several of the identified peptide families was confirmed using immunohistochemitry (i.e. A-type allatostatin, CCAP, FMRFamide and PDH). In addition, immunohistochemical analyses identified other putative neuropeptides for which no ESTs had been found (i.e. corazonin, insect kinin, proctolin, red pigment concentrating hormone, SIFamide, sulfakinin and tachykinin-related peptide). Collectively, the data presented here not only catalog an extensive array of putative D. pulex peptide paracrines/hormones, but also provide a strong foundation for future investigations of the effects of environmental/anthropogenic stressors on peptidergic control in this model organism.
128‐channel body MRI with a flexible high‐density receiver‐coil array

Purpose To determine whether the promise of high-density many-coil MRI receiver arrays for enabling highly accelerated parallel imaging can be realized in practice. Materials and Methods A 128-channel body receiver-coil array and custom MRI system were developed. The array comprises two clamshells containing 64 coils each, with the posterior array built to maximize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the anterior array design incorporating considerations of weight and flexibility as well. Phantom imaging and human body imaging were performed using a variety of reduction factors and 2D and 3D pulse sequences. Results The ratio of SNR relative to a 32-element array of similar footprint was 1.03 in the center of an elliptical loading phantom and 1.7 on average in the outer regions. Maximum g-factors dropped from 5.5 (for 32 channels) to 2.0 (for 128 channels) for 4 × 4 acceleration and from 25 to 3.3 for 5 × 5 acceleration. Residual aliasing artifacts for a right/left (R/L) reduction factor of 8 in human body imaging were significantly reduced relative to the 32-channel array. Conclusion MRI with a large number of receiver channels enables significantly higher acceleration factors for parallel imaging and improved SNR, provided losses from the coils and electronics are kept negligible. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1219–1225. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteriuria was detected in 11 of 41 patients colonized or infected with MRSA. The patients with bacteriuria generally were older than 40 years of age, five were diabetic, seven had prior indwelling uretheral catheters, two had undergone other urologic manipulations, and only one was clinically symptomatic. Eight patients received variable combinations of antibiotic therapy prior to the diagnosis of MRSA bacteriuria, and seven were still on antibiotic therapy at the time the bacteriuria was detected. Bacteriuria lasted four days to 14 weeks, and was eradicated promptly with cephalosporin therapy in five six patients. Bacteriuria in the untreated patients cleared spontaneously in one month. A single MRSA serotype (83A) predominated. The MRSA isolates were resistant in vitro to most antibiotics except vancomycin. Resistant colonies were observed within cephalothin disc zones of inhibition at 30C (resistance was confirmed by microtube-dilution sensitivity testing). MRSA disc sensitivity testing for cephalothin may be unreliable when performed at 35C.
Post‐earthquake bridge repair cost and repair time estimation methodology

While structural engineers have traditionally focused on individual components (bridges, for example) of transportation networks for design, retrofit, and analysis, it has become increasingly apparent that the economic costs to society after extreme earthquake events are caused at least as much from indirect costs as direct costs due to individual structures. This paper describes an improved methodology for developing probabilistic estimates of repair costs and repair times that can be used for evaluating the performance of new bridge design options and existing bridges in preparation for the next major earthquake. The proposed approach in this paper is an improvement on previous bridge loss modeling studies—it is based on the local linearization of the dependence between repair quantities and damage states so that the resulting model follows a linear relationship between damage states and repair points. The methodology uses the concept of performance groups (PGs) that account for damage and repair of individual bridge components and subassemblies. The method is validated using two simple examples that compare the proposed method to simulation and previous methods based on loss models using a power–law relationship between repair quantities and damage. In addition, an illustration of the method is provided for a complete study on the performance of a common five-span overpass bridge structure in California. Intensity-dependent repair cost ratios (RCRs) and repair times are calculated using the proposed approach, as well as plots that show the disaggregation of repair cost by repair quantity and by PG. This provides the decision maker with a higher fidelity of data when evaluating the contribution of different bridge components to the performance of the bridge system, where performance is evaluated in terms of repair costs and repair times rather than traditional engineering quantities such as displacements and stresses. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Problems, Prescriptions, and Paradoxes in Second Language Teaching

As teachers who have worked in a variety of settings during most of the past two decades, we have struggled to find answers to problems that confront language teachers everywhere. Now, as teacher trainers in Denver and Seattle, we find that we are routinely asked to give advice to teachers, to offer suggestions concerning activities and program goals. We are just beginning to appreciate the extent to which teachers are bound up in giving and receiving advice, and recently we have become intrigued by the realization that prescriptions are implicit in virtually all discussions of the relationship between theory and practice. Our profession seems to subscribe to the notion that embedded in every new insight into language learning and teaching lies advice to be followed. One has only to look at a sampling of journals in education to discover that most research articles conclude with "implications for teaching," containing explicit and implicit prescriptions for teachers. However, it is rare for an article on teaching practice to contain "implications for researchers." This unidirectional flow of knowledge and insight is also evident at professional conferences: Researchers are frequently sought as plenary speakers for teachers, but it is rare for researchers to request classroom teachers to address them.
Design, asymmetric synthesis, and evaluation of pseudosymmetric sulfoximine inhibitors against HIV-1 protease

The HIV-1 protease is a validated drug target for the design of antiretroviral drugs to combat AIDS. We previously established the sulfoximine functionality as a valid transition state mimetic (TSM) in the HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PI) design and have identified a lead pseudosymmetric compound with nanomolar enzymatic inhibitory activity. Here, we report the asymmetric synthesis of this compound and its application in the synthesis of sulfoximine-based peptidomimetic HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Molecular modeling revealed the potential mode of binding of the sulfoximine inhibitor as a TSM. The predicted absolute binding free energies suggested similar inhibitory effect as observed in our enzymatic inhibitory studies.
Analysis of Iron in Layer Silicates by Mossbauer Spectroscopy

Analysis of Mossbauer effect in layer silicates provides a spectroscopic method for deter- mining valences and coordination of iron. In this study Mossbauer spectra were obtained for amesite, cronstedtite, nontronite, two glauconites, biotite, lepidomelane, chlorite, minnesotaite, vermiculite, stilpnomelane, and chloritoid. Trivalent iron was detected in tetrahedral coordination. Abundant trivalent iron in octahedral coordination apparently causes quadrupole splitting values of divalent iron in the same mineral to decrease. This phenomenon was noted in cronstedtite and glauconite. In cases where divalent iron predominates in the mineral, the quadrupole splitting is larger. It is generally accepted that ferrous iron is largely in octahedral coordination. This suggests that the octahedral sites may be more distorted when ferric iron is present in the octahedral sheet. In biotite, quadrupole splitting of divalent iron is decreased when trivalent iron is present in tetrahedral sheets. This suggests that there is also more distortion in the octahedral sheet because of iron in tetrahedral positions.
Moral Consideration Regarding the Arizona Tax Credit Law

I begin by commenting on the language used, both by the Arizona tax credit law, and by our commentators, and then turn to a discussion of a factor I believe fuels the impetus for sectarian education. I end with a consideration of questions related to the social, cognitive, and moral costs of such privatization, in contrast to a democratic commitment to education.
Characteristics of registered nurses' self-directed learning projects for professional development.

Abstract This study examined characteristics of 88 self-directed learning (SDL) projects. The projects were completed within 6 months of the study by practicing registered nurses and pertained to some aspect of learning for professional development. The characteristics that were studied were the SDL projects' locations, planners, benefits, resources, obstacies, organization, and subject gains in knowledge and skill. Subjects reported that the home and the work place were the most frequently used locations for SDL projects. The learners themselves and groups led by professionals were responsible for 70 per cent of the planning. The two most frequently used resources were peer coworkers and conference handouts. The most frequently checked motivator for doing the projects was the anticipated ability to apply the knowledge or skill gained during learning. The leading obstacle was finding time to do the learning. The majority of the subjects reported that the projects were organized with goals, planned activities, and evaluation strategies. Most of the subjects believed that they learned a great deal from the projects and that others had also benefited from their learning. Implications are discussed.
Seismic waves and the surface-layers of the Earth

In California at present the lack of seismographic stations sufficiently closely spaced forbids the drawing of travel time-curves for local earthquakes and thus allows no direct conclusions to be drawn as to the structure of the surface-layers of the Earth. The most that can be done is to examine our local earthquake records from the one or two stations at which they are recorded, and to compare the actual wave-groups registered with those computed on the bases of structures of the surface-layers as concluded for Europe by seismologists there.
Lipopolysaccharide exacerbates infarct size and results in worsened post-stroke behavioral outcomes

A third of ischemic stroke cases have no traditional underlying causes such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity, or age. Moreover, thirty to forty percent of strokes occur during or acutely after an active infection and the incidence of stroke increases during flu season. We and others have shown that the combination of a minor bacterial infection mimic, 100 μg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prior to a minor stroke—30 min transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO)—exacerbates infarct volume in a mouse model. Thus, experimental and epidemiological data strongly suggest that infection and/or inflammation play a role in stroke occurrence and severity. However, to date, long-term outcomes of stroke during an active infection has not been studied. 3–4 month old C57Bl6/J mice were treated with saline or LPS 30 min prior to a 30 min tMCAO or sham surgery. A behavioral battery was administered to assess health status/sickness behavior, neurological deficits, motor, cognitive, and affective behaviors. We show for the first time that exposure to a low dose of LPS prior to a mild stroke significantly worsens neurological deficits and sickness scores. Motor, cognitive, and affective behaviors were assessed post-stroke and while stroke significantly affected motor behavior on rotarod, LPS did not increase the motor deficits. We did not observe any effects of stroke or LPS on cognitive and affective behaviors. Our observations of the association between infection, stroke, and worse sickness and neurological outcomes identify (1) a clinical need to aggressively treat infections in people with risk factors for stroke and (2) the need to understand the mechanism(s) of the association between infections and stroke.
Femtosecond Excited-State Dynamics of an Iron(II) Polypyridyl Solar Cell Sensitizer Model

Time-resolved electronic absorption spectroscopy on a ∼100 fs time scale has been used to study excited-state dynamics in an FeII polypyridyl complex. [Fe(tren(py)3)]2+, where tren(py)3 is tris(2-pyridylmethyliminoethyl)amine, forms a 1MLCT excited state upon irradiation at 400 nm and is known from previous studies to undergo relaxation to a low-lying ligand-field state having S = 2. Static absorption measurements on the low-spin parent complex and a high-spin analogue have been used to identify spectroscopic signatures for the S = 0 and S = 2 ligand-field states, respectively. Comparison of these data with femtosecond and nanosecond differential absorption spectra establishes that the net ΔS = 2 intersystem crossing is essentially complete in well under 1 ps. Spectroelectochemistry on [Fe(tren(py)3)]2+ has also been used to find an absorption feature characteristic of the initially formed 1MLCT state at λ ≳ 600 nm. Analysis of single-wavelength kinetics data in this spectral region reveals that the charg...
Fault-tolerant distributed reconnaissance

This paper describes a method to efficiently canvass an area of interest using distributed sensing methods, assisted by fault-tolerant resource management. By implementing multiple aircraft in an assessment configuration, aerial monitoring and diverse sensing can be accomplished through the use of ad-hoc networking principles; aircraft act as nodes, each being a distributed agent in the network. Combined with a method called the Distributed Apt Resource Transference System (DARTS) for reallocating redundant or alternately-allocatable resources, such implementations can enjoy longer operational duration, increased coverage, and a higher probability of executing the desired reconnaissance. DARTS employs a hybridization of gossip and flooding-based resource discovery methods to find suitable replacement resources in the case of a node failure. Failures may arise due to natural (environmental) interference or malicious attacks designed to disrupt the mission. Testing of the fault-tolerant resource management techniques demonstrated resiliency of the system, resulting in minimal bandwidth requirements to reallocate (up to 6-fold reduction in traffic) and a faster speed of resource reallocation (up to 79% improvement), even in the face of an inconsistent state of operation. By implementing intrusion detection system (IDS) technologies to spawn the reallocation process (a procedure called triggering), DARTS provides a flexible, lightweight, and scalable method to efficiently allow reconnaissance and other distributed sensing applications to occur on a mobile, airborne platform.
Unsteady RANS method for surface ship boundary layer and wake and wave field

Results are reported of an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) method for simulation of the boundary layer and wake and wave field for a surface ship advancing in regular head waves, but restrained from body motions. Second-order finite differences are used for both spatial and temporal discretization and a Poisson equation projection method is used for velocity–pressure coupling. The exact kinematic free-surface boundary condition is solved for the free-surface elevation using a body-fitted/free-surface conforming grid updated in each time step. The simulations are for the model problem of a Wigley hull advancing in calm water and in regular head waves. Verification and validation procedures are followed, which include careful consideration of both simulation and experimental uncertainties. The steady flow results are comparable to other steady RANS methods in predicting resistance, boundary layer and wake, and free-surface effects. The unsteady flow results cover a wide range of Froude number, wavelength, and amplitude for which first harmonic amplitude and phase force and moment experimental data are available for validation along with frequency domain, linear potential flow results for comparisons. The present results, which include the effects of turbulent flow and non-linear interactions, are in good agreement with the data and overall show better capability than the potential flow results. The physics of the unsteady boundary layer and wake and wave field response are explained with regard to frequency of encounter and seakeeping theory. The results of the present study suggest applicability for additional complexities such as practical ship geometry, ship motion, and maneuvering in arbitrary ambient waves. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Storage performance isolation: an investigation of contemporary I/O schedulers

Consolidation of storage resources in data centers is becoming popular because it offers various types of benefits including the benefit of economy-of-scale. In these data centers, storage systems are shared by workloads of multiple customers. Each customer is provided with a Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee. In the absence of gross over-provisioning, in order to provide every customer with a level of I/O service conforming to the promised QoS, it is important to ensure performance isolation. This means that the performance experienced by the workload of a given customer must not suffer due to variations in I/O request stream characteristics of other customers. This is a huge challenge. In the last decade, several I/O schedulers have been designed that apportion shared storage resources among competing request streams. Most of these schedulers assume that the workloads presented to them can be serviced while conforming to the QoS promised to all customers. The feasibility of this is determined apriori using a provisioning tool.
Humboldt and Aztec Art

(1996). Humboldt and Aztec art. Colonial Latin American Review: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 277-297.
Identity Constructions and Negotiations Among 1.5- and Second-Generation Nigerians: The Impact of Family, School, and Peer Contexts

Past scholarship on immigrant racial and ethnic identity construction tends to ignore the processes by which social context influences identity at the individual level. In this qualitative study, Janet T. Awokoya presents a complex understanding of 1.5- and second-generation African immigrant youths’ identities. Awokoya explores how three major contexts—family, school, and peer groups—affect the ways in which African immigrant youth construct and negotiate their racial and ethnic identities. Further, she contends that the ways in which African immigrant youth are expected to conform to ideals of what it means to be African, Nigerian, African American, and Black, which dramatically shift across contexts, significantly confound the racial and ethnic identity constructions and negotiations for these youth. The article concludes with a discussion of practical and theoretical implications for identity development among Black immigrant youth.
Measurement of Shielding Effectiveness of Microwave-Protective Suits

With more restrictive exposure standards and greater public concern about safety from nonionizing radiation, protective clothing to shield workers from dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation has become imminently important. Tests were conducted of the shielding effectiveness of a number of microwave suits. Fabric attenuations at 10 selected locations on the suit were measured by the waveguide-transmission-loss method to evaluate the material, and relative field strengths at the surface of a full-sized phantom man model exposed to 2450-MHz free-field radiation fields with and without the suit were measured to evaluate the entire suit. The ratio of the incident power required to produce the same output from a diode E-field sensor placed against the synthetic tissue of the model exposed with and without the suit was used as a measure of attenuation. The waveguide measurements are important for a comparative evaluation of the different fabrics, and the free-field measurements are important for evaluating the fabric as well as the suit design and configuration in shielding effectiveness. The Navy suit provided the best performance in terms of shielding effectiveness, with attenuation varying from 34.5 to 48.7 dB, but its flammability constitutes a safety hazard. The Wave Guarde suit was second best, with attenuation varying from 13.2 to 35 dB. The Milliken (20.3-33.7 dB attenuation) and Invascreen (18.7-24.5 dB attenuation) suits provide acceptable protection for E-field polarization parallel to the long axis of the body, but poor protection (2.0- 19.2 dB for the former and 0.4-21.1 dB for the latter) for E-field polarization perpendicular to the body. Localized high-power-density exposures of up to 1000 mW/cm/sup 2/ for 1 h from a waveguide aperture did not cause material damage to any of the suit fabrics. The Milliken was the most fire retardant, but its shielding performance was the poorest, owing to the large number of openings at the pockets, cuffs, sleeves, and collar. The Invascreen suit is well designed to eliminate the problem, but the shieldlng of the fabric is less effective.
Neonatal pulmonary hypoplasia with premature rupture of fetal membranes and oligohydramnios.

We assessed pulmonary function and compression deformities in 76 preterm infants ≤34 weeks gestation who had premature rupture of membranes (PROM) for longer than 5 days (mean±SD 18.8±15.4 days, range 6 to 90 days). Twenty-one of the 76 infants had oligohydramnnios and positional deformities at birth; however, only two infants met all the criteria for the oligohydramnios tetrad. All 21 required assisted ventilation from the moment of birth. Twenty infants had clinical evidence of pulmonary hypoplasia; 18 of these died. Pulmonary hypoplasia was confirmed by significantly low wet lung weights, low lung DNA content, or low radial alveolar counts in the 13 infants with postmortem examinations. Fifty-five infants with PROM for longer than 5 days did not have positional deformities. Twenty-one required assisted ventilation, of whom 10 had severe oligohydramnios. Eleven of the 21 died; autopsies were performed. All had normal wet lung weights, but seven had significantly decreased radial alveolar counts, implying a less severe but still fatal form of pulmonary hypoplasia. None of the remaining 34 infants had lung disease, and only three had oligohydramnios. We conclude that pulmonary hypoplasia can result from PROM associated with severe oligohydramnios of as short as 6 days duration. Furthermore, fatal pulmonary hypoplasia can occur with little or no external deformation.