cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virtual Reality as a Pedagogical Tool for Interdisciplinarity and Place-Based Education

Place-based education (PBE) has long been recognized as a high-impact educational practice. It embeds learning in a multi-sensory context that nurtures active, praxis-driven, interdisciplinary, and collaborative learning. More recently, educators have begun to utilize digital media and virtual reality technologies in ways that seem to parallel PBE. Using phenomenological concepts, especially following Edmund Husserl and Alfred Schutz, this chapter explores what the parallels and differences might be between physical and virtual places, ontologically as well as in its pedagogical role in PBE. It also attempts to interpret the other chapters of the book in light of the philosophical implications.
On the Benefits of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks on Animal Activity Recognition

Monitoring the behavior of animals (e.g., eating habits) can lead to conclusions regarding animal's welfare. To achieve this, remote monitoring of animal activity with the aid of inertial sensors and use of machine learning algorithms over the collected data can be used. However, these algorithms rely on handcrafted features extracted by statistical or heuristic functions over raw motion data. To this purpose, we employ deep Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets) for activity recognition of livestock animals, such as goats and horses. We investigate the potential gains of ConvNets compared with other machine learning algorithms of the literature, which are about 12.5% greater accuracy and more than 7% higher F1-score. Moreover, we designate the advantages of late sensor fusion (2D convolution) and also show that an increase on the number of filters on each layer does not necessarily lead to a greater classification accuracy. To this end, we benchmark various ConvNet architectures and demonstrate the role of hyperparameter tuning to optimize the overall accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, ConvNets are employed for animal activity recognition here for the first time.
Public Dissemination of Legal Proceedings and the Pricing of Contingent Legal Losses

Investors and regulators demand timely and objective information about firms’ contingent legal losses. Managers, however, have strong incentives not to disclose prejudicial information that could be used as an admission of guilt by litigation adversaries. We test whether the market prices contingent legal losses based on an alternative information source—federal court filings publicly accessible under the Federal Judiciary’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. Our evidence suggests that, despite the seemingly mundane content of PACER filings, investors use information embedded in these court documents to price contingent legal losses during the litigation process. The market response to individual PACER filings persists through all stages of the litigation process but attenuates as the lawsuit progresses. We find only a weak market response to the final resolution of the lawsuit, consistent with PACER filings enabling investors to price the litigation outcome beforehand. Our results suggest that the public availability of court documents helps investors price contingent legal losses despite deficiencies in management disclosures.
Occupational therapy fieldwork educators: Examining professional quality of life.

Background Occupational therapy practitioners with the simultaneous working role of fieldwork educator support the growth of the profession by supervising students, but little is known about their reported burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction levels, and if specific work characteristics predict those levels. Objective The purpose of this research was to: 1) assess the current levels of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout in occupational therapy fieldwork educators through The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), and 2) to explore how professional characteristic variables correlate and predict the measured constructs of compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. Methods A cross-sectional design was used, and participants were recruited from a convenience sample to complete the ProQOL and a work characteristic questionnaire. Results On the average, 117 fieldwork educators scored higher on the subscale of compassion satisfaction when compared to those of the normed group. Linear regression analyses revealed that a higher number of roles and greater years working predicted higher compassion satisfaction. Conclusions This study contributes to understanding the experiences of fieldwork educators in multiple roles, their reported levels of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout, and the potential for development of personal, educational and organizational resources to support professional quality of life indicators within the role of fieldwork educator.
Weather variability in urban Philippines: a gender analysis of household impacts

Weather variability affects many parts of the Philippines, can threaten human health and well-being, and may become more frequent and intense due to climate change. Compared to more visible extreme weather events (e.g., typhoons), seasonal and inter-annual weather variations (e.g., in precipitation, wind, temperature) associated with otherwise normal weather systems are less often incorporated into adaptation planning. To better inform such planning, this study examines self-reported household impacts of atypical rainy and dry seasons, with a focus on gender. By collecting data from women and men in the same randomly sampled households, this study contributes an innovative intrahousehold analysis to the growing body of work at the nexus of gender, weather, and climate. The study finds gendered differences in reported impacts for rainier than usual rainy seasons but few differences for drier or longer than usual dry seasons. Climate adaptation plans should further incorporate seasonal and inter-annual weather variability and seek participatory input from both women and men so that a diversity of concerns is addressed.
In-home communication intervention training for parents of multiply handicapped children.

Two major questions derived from social-interactional theory were addressed: What are the effects of an in-home communication training program for parents on (1) the acquisition of child-training skills (imitating/animating and expectant waiting) by parents of developmentally delayed children who have severe language impairments and autistic features and (2) the acquisition of communication behaviors in the children themselves? Questions regarding the social value of the intervention and effects on parent-child interactions were also addressed. Four mothers were taught two parent-training skills (imitating/animating and expectant waiting) during two in-home training sessions. Following the parent training, the mothers conducted training sessions in their homes with their children for 10 minutes, three times per week for 8-12 weeks. All sessions were videotaped and frequency counts taken of the target parent skills and child target behaviors. A single subject experimental research design was used incorporating a multiple baseline across two parental child-training skills (i.e., imitating/animating, expectant waiting). Data were analyzed visually as is customary in single subject experimentation, and direct behavioral counts showed that all four mothers demonstrated increases in the frequency with which they used the child-training skills following treatment. Increases in four child behavior frequencies (i.e., vocal utterances, social responding, social initiating, and intelligible words spoken) were also noted. The ECO Scales Interaction Profile results supported direct behavioral count data, showing significantly improved parent-child interactions for the subject dyads over three conditions (p < .034). Additionally, Parental Consumer Satisfaction Questionnaire results indicated that the intervention was positively perceived by the parents. Furthermore, the utility of single subject experimentation procedures in clinical nursing practice was clearly demonstrated in this research, and the findings support nurse-conducted, in-home parent training as a practical and socially valid means of addressing the complex needs of chronically disabled children and their families.
Policy-relevant indicators for mapping the vulnerability of urban populations to extreme heat events: A case study of Philadelphia

Abstract The recent global increase in extreme heat events linked to climate change is projected to continue. The additive effect of urban heat islands from impervious surfaces and urban heat emissions (e.g., from transportation and building cooling) exacerbates extreme heat events in urban areas, exposing dense populations to extreme heat with implications for human health. Ground- and satellite-based data on urban and suburban temperatures and vegetation over a historical period can help identify temporal and geospatial trends in heat exposure. A set of indicators has been developed to map the exposure, social sensitivity, and vulnerability of urban populations to heat wave health impacts. Guided by an Advisory Group of local planners in the pilot city of Philadelphia, localized trends of increasing urban extreme heat events using MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) data, confirmed with urban and non-urban temperature monitor data were identified. For the Philadelphia study area, the number of heat-event days in the urban setting has increased from approximately 4 days in 1980 to almost 12 days in 2013, while the non-urban setting has consistently experienced 5 days of heat events per year across the time period. Warmer micro-climates with limited vegetative cooling and elevated LSTs were also identified. The exposure indicator was combined with areas of high social sensitivity (e.g., low-income and elderly) to create a vulnerability indicator, showing significant overlap between highly exposed and highly sensitive populations. As a measure of the adaptive capacity of local governments to reduce the urban heat island, evidence of targeted vegetation increases or reduced localized temperatures linked to urban greening and cooling programs were sought, though none were of a scale to be identified by the 1 km satellite data utilized. The indicators have helped local decision makers to understand patterns of vulnerability, and may be used in the future to target adaptation actions and measure results (LST reduction or vegetation increase) from existing adaptation actions.
The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Delta Opioid Antagonists

The cloning of the δ-opioid receptor prompted significant chemical and pharmacological efforts toward the discovery of potent and selective antagonists for this G protein-coupled receptor. The field has advanced with the synthesis of peptide and nonpeptide compounds characterized by in vitro and in vivo assays, which have aided in the understanding of the various physiological roles of the δ-receptor. This chapter provides a review of the development of classical and new δ-opioid receptor antagonists and briefly comments on therapeutic indications for this class of drugs.
Open Problems in Weak Interaction Theory

As a starting point for this talk I went back to the report on weak interactions I gave nine years ago at the Heidelberg conference [1]. At that time one could say that nearly all weak interaction phenomena could be explained by the standard V and A charged currents using two parameters: the Fermi constant G and the Cabibbo angle θ C. There were two major failures: (1) the theory did not allow the observed CP violation; (2) the theory did not explain the apparent enhancement of ΔI = 1/2 non-leptonic transitions. However, in the case of CP violation it was possible that we were getting a first (and perhaps only) view of a new much weaker type of interaction; in the case of the ΔI = 1/2 rule it was possible that this was a strong interaction effect and did not reflect a basic symmetry property of the weak interaction Hamiltonian. In addition, I listed a number of open questions, repeated here in Table 1, which could be considered as implications of the standard theory not yet fully explored or as variations on the standard theory involving important effects that could have so far eluded experiment.
PHYTANIC ACID ALPHA -OXIDATION IN RAT LIVER PEROXISOMES : PRODUCTION OF ALPHA -HYDROXYPHYTANOYL-COA AND FORMATE IS ENHANCED BY DIOXYGENASE COFACTORS

Patients with generalized peroxisomal disorders, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, and Refsum disease are all unable to α-oxidize 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic (phytanic) acid. The exact cause of the oxidation defect in these patients is not well characterized, in part because there is only limited knowledge of the biochemical pathway. In 1969, the α-oxidation of phytanic acid was reported [Tsai, S.-C., Avigan, J. & Steinberg, D. (1969) Studies on the α-oxidation of phytanic acid by rat liver mitochondria, J. Biol. Chem. 244, 2682–2692] to involve the formation of an α-hydroxyphytanic acid intermediate prior to removal of the α carbon. Subsequently, most researchers have had difficulty detecting this intermediate. In the present study, cofactors known to form hydroxy intermediates by both monooxygen-ase and dioxygenase reaction mechanisms were incubated with purified rat liver peroxisomes and either [2,3-3H]phytanic acid or [1-14C]phytanic acid. Reaction products were separated by reverse-phase HPLC. A single reaction product, identified as α-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA rather than the free fatty acid, was detected when 2-oxoglutarate/Fe+2/ascorbate, cofactors associated with a dioxygenase reaction mechanism, were present. Concomitant with α-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA production, there was an increased accumulation of formate and CO2. This increase in α-oxidation products is evidence that α-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA is a true pathway intermediate and that the entire pathway functions in peroxisomes. In contrast, α-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA was not formed in any quantity in mitochondria. These studies suggest that the α-hydroxylation step of phytanic acid oxidation, which has been shown to be defective in Refsum disease, is located in peroxisomes.
Some Thoughts on Immigration: The Property Rights Connection

Most articles and books that have been written on immigration policy start from a utilitarian position. They discuss issues such as whether immigration, on balance, is more harmful than beneficial, whether allowing immigrants into the country results in job losses, increases in welfare costs, aids in economic growth, and so forth. This article is distinctly different in focus. Although utilitarian themes are discussed, this article places the main emphasis on the relationship between property rights and immigration policy. Part One reviews the utilitarian arguments that have been made in connection with immigration policy. Part Two discusses the balancing of interests argument, which attempts to arrive at solutions to immigration problems by balancing the interests of immigrants with the interests of those who are affected by immigration. Part Three examines the public policy rationale for placing restrictions on immigration. Part Four applies property rights theory to immigration policy. The article concludes that utilitarian approaches, which include the balancing of interests argument, suffer from fatal defects, as does the public policy argument. The real solution to immigration problems must be found in a policy that recognizes and respects property rights.
Density expansion of distribution functions: III. Quantum and classical binary molecular mixtures

Abstract The methods of the previous paper in this series are generalized so as to treat multi- component systems of particles with internal degrees of freedom. The generalization is illustrated by the analysis of the density expansion of the reduced Wigner distribution functions for a two-component system. The results of the treatment of the reduced density matrices are presented. Results for classical distribution functions follow immediately from those for the Wigner functions. It is demonstrated that the singlet distribution functions for classical molecular systems possess density expansions as do the singlet functions for atomic and molecular quantum systems.
An automatically compilable recognition network for structured patterns

A new method for efficient recognition of general relational structures is described and compared with existing methods. Patterns to be recognized are defined by templates consisting of a set of predicate calculus relations. Productions are representable by associating actions with templates. A network for recognizing occurrences of any of the template patterns in data may be automatically compiled. The compiled network is economical in the sense that conjunctive products (subsets) of relations common to several templates are represented in and computed by the network only once. The recognition network operates in a bottom-up fashion, in which all possibilities for pattern matches are evaluated simultaneously. The distribution of the recognition process throughout the network means that it can readily be decomposed into parallel processes for use on a multiprocessor machine. The method is expected to be especially useful in errorful domains (e.g., vision, speech) where parallel treatment of alternative hypotheses is desired. The network is illustrated with an example from the current syntax and semantics module in the Hearsay II speech understanding system.
IDA-based redundant arrays of inexpensive disks

The paper introduces the idea of using the Information Dispersal Algorithm (IDA) of M.O. Rabin (1989) to distribute data and redundancy information uniformly among multiple disks and compares the performance and reliability characteristics of shadowing, parity, and IDA. It discusses some ways to take advantage of the uniformity of data placement and argues that IDA is the algorithm of choice for achieving reliability and performance in parallel disk systems. >
Counseling Without Truth: Toward a Neopragmatic Foundation for Counseling Practice

The author presents an overview of contemporary developments in philosophy regarding the status of truth and discusses the implications of these ideas for the practice of counseling. Counseling without truth is presented as a desirable option when a neopragmatic frame of reference is adopted.
The elastic constants of copper alloys

Abstract The elastic constants of single crystals of dilute solutions of Al, Si, Zn, Ga and Ge in Cu have been determined by the ultrasonic pulse method. Alloying causes a decrease in all the fundamental constants, C44, (C 11 −C 12 ) 2 and (C 11 +2C 12 ) 3 , the relative decrease in (C 11 − C 12 ) 2 being the greatest. The changes in shear constants C44 and (C 11 − C 12 ) 2 have been interpreted in terms of the known electrostatic and ionic contributions to these constants for copper. The large decrease in (C 11 − C 12 ) 2 is attributed to the change in ion-ion interactions, upon alloying. The electrostatic shear stiffness of an alloy is found to be nearly equal to the electrostatic term for copper times the square of the electron atom ratio.
Neuronatin mRNA: alternatively spliced forms of a novel brain-specific mammalian developmental gene

Abstract Neurogenesis begins with the closure of the neural tube around mid gestation and continues in the rat for about two weeks postnatally. Therefore, we investigated the role of neuronatin, a novel cDNA that we cloned from neonatal rat brain (Joseph et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. , 201 (1994) 1227–1234), in brain development. Further studies described in the present manuscript, lead to the identification of two alternatively spliced forms of neuronatin mRNA, α and β, with the same open reading frame. Neuronatin-α encoded a novel protein of 81 aa, and the β-form encoded 54 aa. Both forms were identical, except that the α-form had an additional 81 bp sequence inserted into the middle of the coding region. On Northern analyses, neuronatin mRNA was relatively selective for the brain. It first appeared at E11–14, a time when the neural tube has closed and neuroepithelial proliferation initiated, became pronounced at E16–19 with a surge in neurogenesis, and declined postnatally to adult levels with the completion of neurogenesis. In order to determine whether there were other forms of neuronatin mRNA, and to study the expression of the α and β forms separately during development, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was carried out using primers flanking the coding region of the α and β forms. The RT-PCR results clearly indicated that there were only two forms of neuronatin. The β-forms first appeared at E11–14, whereas the α-form was present even earlier at E7–10. Together, these findings indicate that the two forms of neuronatin mRNA are regulated differently during brain development. The appearance of the β-form at mid-gestation, coinciding with the onset of neurogenesis, may suggest that alternative splicing of neuronatin mRNA has relevance in brain development.
K−p elastic scattering at 2.24 GeV/c

Abstract The differential elastic scattering cross section for 2.24 GeV/c K−p collisions has been measured in film from the Brookhaven 20″ bubble chamber. The total elastic cross section is found to be 6.2 ± 0.7 mb. The exponential dependence on square of the momentum t in (GeV/c)2 is fitted by ( d σ d Ω elastic = (12.4 ± 1.0 mb/sr) exp (7.81 ± 0.25)t . A A fit to a black disc model requires a radius of 0.95 ± 0.05 fm.
Epidemiologic evaluation of reoperation for surgically treated pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the risk of reoperation for surgically treated pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in a community-based population. Study design A 5-year prospective, observational study was conducted of women who had undergone pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence surgery in 1995. The cohort of 376 women was identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, and current procedural terminology codes in 149,554 reproductive-aged women within the Kaiser Permanente Northwest membership. Results Thirty-six women underwent 40 cases of reoperation. By survival analysis, 13% of women underwent reoperation by 71 months. Having undergone previous pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence surgery increased the risk of reoperation to 17% compared with 12% for women who underwent a first procedure (log rank, P =.04). No association was observed with age, body mass index, parity, previoushysterectomy not for prolapse, vaginal versus abdominal approach, severity of prolapse, ethnicity, chronic lung disease, smoking, previous corticosteroid use, and estrogen status. Conclusions Future reoperation is a significant risk of morbidity for women who undergo pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence surgery.
Amylase release from rat parotid glands. I. General characteristics.

Abstract The involvement of calcium, ATP, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in the release of amylase from rat parotid glands was examined. Pretreatment of the glandular tissue in 11.25 mM Ca 2+ medium potentiated the secretory responses to: dibutyryl cyclic AMP, elevation of the extracellular K + concentration, reduction of the H + concentration, La 3+ , and caffeine. Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation blocked release induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, K + , and reduction of H + , but had no effect on La 3+ , caffeine or tolbutamide-stimulated release. Inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity blocked only dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced release and did not inhibit the responses to K + , reduction of H + or caffeine. The loss of lactate dehydrogenase was used to access the integrity of the tissue during amylase release. No significant increase in the release of lactate dehydrogenase was observed during the secretory responses to: dibutyryl cyclic AMP, La 3+ , caffeine, or tolbutamide. Triton X-100 and ethanol increased the efflux of both amylase and lactate dehydrogenase. The differential involvement of Ca 2+ , ATP, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in amylase release induced by the various secretagogues suggests that three types of reactions are involved in the release of amylase.
Adhesive contact and scratch of polymer coatings

Adhesive Hertzian contact between a solid sphere and a soft polymer medium is analyzed by using the Moutier theorem and then compared with finite element computation. The latter is then extended to polymer coatings on a rigid substrate. Scratch experiments of a spherical sapphire indenter on a polymer coating are performed and the results understood based on the above analysis.
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) Scientific Data Analysis System

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), to be launched in 1982, is discussed. It will systematically survey the entire sky over a large percentage of the infrared spectrum, in the wavelength region of 8 to 120 microns, at sensitivities a hundred times greater than previously achieved from high-altitude observatories, aircraft, balloons or sounding rockets. The Scientific Data Analysis System (SDAS), an off-line data processing facility, is examined. Its primary function is to produce a catalog of inertially fixed infrared-emitting point sources (mainly stars and galaxies) observed during the IRAS survey. Details for source detection and confirmation are given. It is estimated that the catalog will contain approximately a million objects having a brightness of 10 amtowatts per square centimeter or greater; 125,000 SDAS detections, if spurious events of signal-to-noise ratios greater than 2.5 are included, will be made every day.
Vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of Pr3+ in CaAl4O7, LaMgAl11O19 and SrLaAlO4

Abstract The vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of Pr 3+ doped CaAl 4 O 7 , LaMgAl 11 O 19 and SrLaAlO 4 is reported. It appears that whenever the aluminate host lattice is excited directly, mainly exciton and 4f 2 –4f 2 [ 3 P 0 ] Pr 3+ emission are observed. When the excitation energy is lower, Pr 3+ ions are excited selectively and 4f5d–4f 2 emission dominates. These observations can be explained by assuming that energy transfer from the host lattice to the Pr 3+ ion takes place preferentially via an intermediate exciton state with an energy too low to reach the energetic Pr 3+ 4f5d excited states.
Acetylene reduction rate as a physiological indicator of the response of field-grown soybeans to simulated acid rain and ambient gaseous pollutants

Abstract The usefulness of nitrogenase activity as a physiological indicator of whole-plant response to environmental stresses such as gaseous air pollutants or acidic rain was evaluated. The acetylene reduction rate of excised nodules of field-grown soybean plants [ Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Davis] was assayed during 2 years of an experiment in which the soybean were exposed in open-top field chambers to simulated rain of pH 3.2, 4.2, or 5.2 in combination with nonfiltered (polluted) or charcoal-filtered air. There was no evidence of an effect of rain chemistry on nitrogenase activity. There was also no statistically significant effect of air filtration on the acetylene reduction rates, although rates were consistently lower in the nonfiltered chambers than in the charcoal-filtered chambers. The large experimental variance, which was partly attributable to sampling constraints, and the evidence for biological compensatory responses suggest that nitrogenase activity may not be a sensitive physiological indicator of stresses induced by acid rain or gaseous pollutants in soybeans.
Bovine mammary immune response to an experimental intramammary infection with a Staphylococcus aureus strain containing a gene for staphylococcal enterotoxin C1.

Abstract Staphylococcal enterotoxin C (SEC), a superantigen, is the most frequently expressed enterotoxin by bovine strains of Staphylococcus aureus causing mastitis. To examine the possible impact of SEC on the immune response of the bovine mammary gland, we monitored changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in mammary glands of four lactating cows after intramammary instillation of S. aureus strain Rn4220 transformed with a plasmid containing a gene coding for SEC1. Four other lactating cows received the same strain transformed with the plasmid without the SEC1 gene (positive control), and four cows were untreated (negative control). Mammary quarter milk samples for somatic cell count (SCC) analysis and determination of N -acetyl-β-D-glucosimindase (NAGase) activity levels were collected daily for 21 d postinstillation. Flow cytometry utilizing three-color analysis was used to phenotype lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from milk samples collected on d 0, 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, and 21 postinstillation from all the cows. Milk from mammary gland halves (positive control and experimental) or all mammary quarters (negative control) was collected for flow cytometric analysis. Increased NAGase activity, SCC, and isolated S. aureus demonstrated that infection was established in mammary quarters intrammarily instilled with bacteria. There were no significant differences ( P >0.05) in the proportions of BoCD4 helper T lymphocytes or BoCD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes between the two infected treatment groups. There was a significant day × treatment difference of the proportion of a γδ T cell subpopulation that did not express BoCD2, but did express the ACT2 activation molecule and a significant treatment difference of a γδ T cell subpopulation that expressed BoCD2, but not the ACT2 activation molecule ( P
Simultaneous incentive contrast effects with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages as the discriminanda for reward magnitude

Alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages consumed by rats prior to runway conditioning trials served as cues for reward magnitude. Learning under the alcoholic (but not the nonalcoholic) cue condition appeared to be state dependent. Under both conditions, a simple effect for reward magnitude occurred, but positive and negative incentive contrast effects occurred under only the alcoholic condition. The symmetrical contrast effects seem consistent with the view that alcohol enhances positive states rather than reduces negative ones.
Endometrial stripe thickness in tubal and intrauterine pregnancies.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate endometrial stripe thickness (EST) among patients with tubal pregnancy (TP) and intrauterine pregnancy (IUP). Design: Historical cohort. Setting: City hospital. Patient(s): Ninety-four women suspected to have TP. Intervention(s): Serum βHCG and sonographic EST measurements. Main Outcome Measure(s): Comparison of age, gestational age (GA), EST, and log βHCG. Result(s): The two groups of women, 65 with TP and 29 with IUP, had similar mean ages (±SD) of 28.6 ± 5.7 and 28.6 ± 6.1, respectively. The median values of GA in the 2 groups were similar, 46.6 and 44.6 d, respectively. The mean values for EST (±SD), adjusted for GA, were significantly different: 9.9 ± 5.9 mm in the TP group and 12.6 ± 5.3 mm in the IUP group. The mean values (±SD) of log βHCG in the 2 groups also differed significantly: 6.90 ± 1.29 and 7.52 ± 0.97, respectively. No correlation was found between EST and GA or log βHCG within either group. Conclusion(s): The mean EST in women with TP was significantly smaller than in women with IUP. The wide range of EST values and their overlap precludes the utilization of EST as a single feature in the diagnosis of a tubal pregnancy.
Renal trauma and preexisting lesions of kidney

Abstract Preexisting lesions of the kidney with renal trauma were present in 15.4 per cent of children and 4.4 per cent in the all-age group. Half of these lesions were hydronephrotic kidneys while cyst, tumor, and abnormal position were found with much reduced frequency. When a minor injury results in renal trauma, evaluation must exclude an underlying preexisting lesion of the kidney.
Okadaic acid stimulates inflammatory cytokine gene transcription in murine peritoneal macrophages

Abstract The involvement of protein phosphorylation in controlling proinflammatory cytokine gene expression by mononuclear phagocytes has been examined using okadaic acid (OA), a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. OA (100 nM) was able to stimulate accumulation of TNFα and IP-10 mRNAs in thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from C57B1/6 mice. The responses to OA or LPS were similar in several respects. The OA- and LPS-stimulated increases in IP-10 and TNFα mRNA were mediated through increases in the transcriptional activity of the genes as measured by nuclear run-on analysis. Both OA- and LPS-stimulated mRNA accumulation were independent of protein synthesis. Furthermore, OA and LPS resulted in elevated κ B binding activity in treated macrophages which coincided temporally with the increased transcriptional activity of the two cytokine genes. The polypeptide composition of κB motif binding complexes from LPS- or OA-treated macrophages was similar. However, OA-induced expression of the TNFα and IP-10 genes was markedly delayed (detectable expression was only seen at 4-8 hr after stimulation) relative to that seen in LPS-stimulated macrophages in which both transcription and accumulation of mRNA can be seen within 30 min to 1 hr. Furthermore, the combination of LPS and OA had differential effects on TNFα and IP-10 mRNA levels; TNFα mRNA expression was prolonged in cells stimulated with LPS plus OA as compared to cells treated with LPS alone. This difference was the result of an increase in the half-life of cytoplasmic TNFα mRNA. No similar effect was seen on IP-10 mRNA stability. Thus, although protein phosphorylation appears to be important in regulating cytokine mRNA levels, OA and LPS most likely function via at least partially distinct cellular mechanisms.
Production and loss of methanesulfonate and non-sea salt sulfate in the equatorial Pacific marine boundary layer

We measured the concentrations of aerosol methanesulfonate (MSA) and non-sea salt sulfate (NSS) in the remote Pacific marine boundary layer (MBL) at Christmas Island (157°W, 2°N) in July and August of 1994. The project-average MSA displayed a distinct diurnal variation, decreasing to 8.6 ppt at sunrise and increasing to 12.1 ppt by sunset. The average NSS diurnal variation ranged from 196 ppt at sunrise to 235 ppt at sunset. Large-particle dry deposition may account for 10–20% of the observed nighttime decrease, with entrainment of cleaner free tropospheric air responsible for the rest. The entrainment velocity inferred from the nighttime decrease averaged 0.5±0.2 cm/s. A simple model suggests that NSS and MSA were produced at rates of about 74 and 6 ppt per day, respectively. Between 30 and 40% of the daily dimethylsulfide (DMS) flux forms NSS and 3% forms MSA.
Nonparametric Multivariate Descriptive Measures Based on Spatial Quantiles

Abstract An appealing way of working with probability distributions, especially in nonparametric inference, is through “descriptive measures” that characterize features of particular interest. One attractive approach is to base the measures on quantiles. Here we consider the multivariate context and utilize the “spatial quantiles”, a recent vector extension of univariate quantiles that is becoming increasingly popular. In terms of these quantiles, we introduce and study nonparametric measures of multivariate location, spread, skewness and kurtosis. In particular, we define a useful “location” functional which augments the well-known “spatial” median and a “volume” functional which plotted as a “spatial scale curve” yields a convenient two-dimensional characterization of the spread of a multivariate distribution of any dimension. These spatial location and volume functionals also play roles in the formulation of “spatial” skewness and kurtosis functionals which reduce to known versions in the univariate case. We also define corresponding spatial “asymmetry” and “kurtosis” curves which are new devices even in the univariate case. Tailweight and peakedness measures, as distinct from kurtosis, are also discussed. To aid better understanding of the spatial quantiles as a foundation for nonparametric multivariate inference and analysis, we also provide some basic perspective on them: their interpretations, properties, strengths and weaknesses.
On Teaching Holography: Experiences At RIT

The author presents his experiences in setting up a course in basic display holography within the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The course goals, outline and projects are discussed as well as the future prospects for advanced course work in applications areas.
Fitting a fractional ARIMA model to time series data

Abstract This paper provides a time domain method to estimate the parameter d for fractionally differenced ARIMA (p, d, q) models. These models are considered better models to model long term persistence and to get long range forecasts. Two important results by Hosking(1984) are used to extend the estimator of d for an ARIMA (0, d, 0) model by Gupta and Ji(1992) to the range d∈(0, 0.5), the range in which the model is truly a long memory model. The asymptotic normality of our new estimator for d∈(0, 0.25) is derived. A simulation study is done to compare the performance of our new estimator with some of the other estimators that exist in the literature. We also make some comments about the general ARIMA (p, d, q) model and suggest a procedure to estimate such a model. The simulation results support our suggestion.
Parent Behavior Importance and Parent Behavior Frequency Questionnaires: Psychometric characteristics.

This study examined the psychometric characteristics of two parenting measures: the Parent Behavior Importance Questionnaire (PBIQ) and Parent Behavior Frequency Questionnaire (PBFQ). Both research questionnaires are based on the parent development theory (PDT) and offer parent as well as non-parent respondents the opportunity to rate 38 parenting behaviors in terms of importance or frequency, respectively. The parenting behaviors correspond to one of six PDT parenting characteristics (i.e., bonding, discipline, education, general welfare and protection, responsivity, sensitivity); according to the PDT, these characteristics vary in importance and frequency according to children’s developmental levels as well as unique characteristics and needs. Psychometric examination of these questionnaires reveals that the scales have strength in terms of reliability and validity. Results are discussed relative to reliability and validity, the PDT, and current parenting research.
RNA AND PROTEIN METABOLISM IN SENESCENT SHOOT APICES OF 'ALASKA' PEAS'

A B S T R A C T Seniescence of shoot apices of Pisum sativum L. 'Alaska' as measured by cessation of stem elongation was delayed by removal of flowers. Analyses of total RNA, nitrogen, protein and inorganic phosphorus in shoot tips of deflowered and control (flower- and fruit-bearing) plants throughout ontogeny revealed that the levels of all these metabolites declined during senescence. Also throughout ontogeny shoot tips of control and deflowered plants were compared with respect to their ability to enzymically degrade RNA and to take up and incorporate P23-orthophosphate into RNA. The specific activity of ribonuLclease increased as senescence progressed while the absolulte activity appeared to decrease in correlation with a decrease in total nitrogen content. Compared with nonsenescing shoot tips, senescing shoot tips accumulated less p32 but exhibited an apparent enhancement of p32 incorporation into RNA, which was attributed to a reductionl in the endogenious phosphorus pool causing a smaller dilution of the accumulated p32. It is concliided that decreases in the levels of RNA, protein and inorganic phosphorus and in. the transpirational uptake of nutrients are factors correlated with seniescence of the shoot apex.
Criteria used to define and evaluate socially competent behavior among women

Criteria used to evaluate socially competent behavior of women are described and critiqued. Many definitions of social competence do not employ a process view of social behavior in which individual goals and values as well as specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors are considered. This may result in the imposition of artificial goals on consumers of assertion and social skills training programs and the neglect of individual goals. The relationship between the definition of competence used and the assessment methods relied on is discussed. The advantages of focusing on specific goals are noted and a checklist that consumers can use to review the content of training programs is provided.
13S Condensin Actively Reconfigures DNA by Introducing Global Positive Writhe: Implications for Chromosome Condensation

Xenopus 13S condensin converts interphase chromatin into mitotic-like chromosomes, and, in the presence of ATP and a type I topoisomerase, introduces (+) supercoils into DNA. The specific production of (+) trefoil knots in the presence of condensin and a type II topoisomerase shows that condensin reconfigures DNA by introducing an ordered, global, (+) writhe. Knotting required ATP hydrolysis and cell cycle-specific phosphorylation of condensin. Condensin bound preferentially to (+) supercoiled DNA in the presence of ATP but not in its absence. Our results suggest a mechanism for the compaction of chromatin by condensin during mitosis.
A breadth-first approach to efficient mesh traversal

Complex 3D polygonal models are typically represented as triangular meshes, especially when they are generated procedurally, or created from volumetric data sets through surface extraction. Existing 3D rendering hardware, on the other hand, processes one triangle at a time. Therefore triangle meshes need to be converted to individual triangles when they are fed to the graphics pipeline. The design goal of such conversion algorithms is to minimize the number of vertices that are sent redundantly to the rendering pipeline. This paper proposes a breadth-first approach to traverse triangle meshes that reduces vertex redundancy to very close to the theoretical minimum. With the proposed scheme, no triangle vertices need to be specified multiple times, barring exceptional cases. In addition, owing to a prefetching technique, the on-chip storage requirement for effective mesh traversal remains small and largely constant regardless of the mesh size. Our experimental results show that assuming a 64-vertex buffer, the redundant transformation overhead associated with the proposed approach is between 1.00% and 7.330/o, for a set of 8 triangle meshes whose size ranges from 2,992 to 40,000 triangles.
Diophantine Undecidability over Algebraic Function Fields over Finite Fields of Constants

Abstract We show that Diophantine problem (otherwise known as Hilbert's Tenth Problem) is undecidable over the fields of algebraic functions over the finite fields of constants of characteristic greater than two. This is the first example of Diophantine undecidability over any algebraic field. We also show that the Diophantine class of a holomorphy ring of an above mentioned algebraic function field does not change if the set of primes at which the functions of the ring are allowed to have poles is changed by adding or removing of finitely many primes.
SENSORY EVALUATIONS ON TANGERINE‐GRAPEFRUIT JUICE BLENDS

Tests were conducted on blends of tangerine and grapefruit juices reconstituted from concentrates. Flavor thresholds, preferences and influences of ∘Brix and ∘Brix/acid ratio on tangerine-grapefruit juice blends were established from evaluations by panelists who were familiar with citrus juices. Flavor thresholds of tangerine in grapefruit juice were 14–15%. Blends at concentrations of 15–35% differed significantly from and were preferred over unblended grapefruit juice. Increasing ∘Brix of the blends caused a significant difference among blends, but the influence of ∘Brix/acid ratio was negligible.
American Quilts and Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2nd ed Amelia Peck with Cynthia V. A. Schaffner. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art and MQ Publications, 2007.

American Quilts and Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2nd ed Amelia Peck with Cynthia V. A. Schaffner. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art and MQ Publications, 2007.Nineteenth-century bedcovers were made to be functional and beautiful, but they are also intriguingly complicated historical objects. Amelia Peck's second edition of American Quilts and Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art uncovers that complexity through an in-depth analysis of the highlights of the Metropolitan collection, ninety stunning examples accompanied by superb illustrations. The visual form of these objects is predictably spectacular, but equally fascinating are the accounts of production and original use, the genealogies of the forms, and the biographies of those who made them, valued them, and preserved them.There are two historical narratives that wind their way through the individual examples: American social history on the one hand and the stylistic history on the other. Organized in sections on quilts (pieced, applique'd, and wholecloth) and coverlets (woven and embroidered), the text is comprised of essays providing factual and contextual information on each of the ninety bedcovers.The objects evoke many interesting aspects of nineteenth-century social history. There is abundant information about individuals, such as family connections among quilt-makers and collectors, and regional traditions among coverlet weavers. For anyone accustomed to thinking of modern artists as eccentric and romantic figures, this biographical material reminds us that the production of great beauty is just as likely to occur within a very ordinary life as in an unconventional one. The objects themselves are also laden with historical significance, especially in terms of textiles, which have been comprehensively researched. We learn, for example, that pieced quilts were not made from leftover old clothes and linens but rather from commercially marketed fabric. This means that by virtue of their production of bedcovers, women at once conformed to familiar gender roles (too delicate and passive to have professions or hold positions of authority in public life and so confined to domesticity), but also as consumers played an active role in the economy. Moreover, cutting, piecing, and stitching lent themselves to team work, and so quilt-making, unlike more solitary domestic tasks, justified visiting with other women and thereby enabled the cultivation of private female society. …
Geometry of shadows.

Shadows provide a strong source of information about the shapes of surfaces. We analyze the local geometric structure of shadow contours on piecewise smooth surfaces. Particular attention is paid to intrinsic shadows on a surface: that is, shadows created on a surface by the surface’s own shape and placement relative to a light source. Intrinsic shadow contours provide useful information about the direction of the light source and the qualitative shape of the underlying surface. We analyze the invariants relating surface shape and light-source direction to the shapes and singularities of intrinsic shadow contours. The results suggest that intrinsic shadows can be used to directly infer illuminant tilt, qualitative global surface structure, and, at intersections with surface creases, the concavity/convexity of a surface. We show that the results obtained for point sources of light generalize in a straightforward way to extended light sources, under the assumption that light sources are convex.