cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Hydrogen Cars

There are three credible reasons for switching to hydrogen cars: reducing air pollution, reducing COemissions, and reducing oil consumption. Widespread deployment of hydrogen cars could support all three objectives--but, at least for the next quarter-century, in each case there are other options that could achieve these ends faster and far more cost-effectively.
Dostoevsky and the Metaphysical Foundation of the Liberal Regime

Abstract Though few would attach the label of liberal to Dostoevsky as a thinker his life and work can be seen as motivated by a concern for human freedom. As an editor and author he advocated a course of action for his nation's intelligentsia that would transform the Russian autocracy into a liberal regime. This course of action was dictated by his insight into the necessary foundation for a liberal regime, a principle of self-abnegation that rested in turn on the conviction that human beings share in an immortal principle. This insight points to and gives content to the true goal of the liberal regime, the recognition and protection of human dignity.
Evaluation of a model for the treatment of combined mental illness and substance abuse: the Bellevue model for peer-led treatment in systems change.

Abstract The present study evaluated a model program at Bellevue Hospital Center incorporating a peer-led self-help (PLSH) approach which can be applied to bring about systems-level change in a variety of settings where persons with dual diagnosis are encountered. A total of 461 consecutive MICA inpatient admissions were evaluated to compare the PLSH unit with two standard psychiatric units. The PLSH program was associated with a higher rate of acceptance of aftercare referral (93% vs. 74%) and aftercare attendance (52% vs. 30%) among patients with no prior psychiatric hospitalizations (N = 111). In addition, the PLSH program appeared to benefit chronically impaired MICA patients (N = 350) or those with a history of prior psychiatric hospitalizations, as they were more likely to accept referral to aftercare treatment than were chronic patients discharged from the standard psychiatric units (96% vs. 81%). Such a program, when more widely applied, could yield decreased recidivism and considerably lower medi...
Abstract 4045: Pediatric osteosarcoma lung metastasis: variations in clinical management

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Background: Nearly 20% of patients with newly diagnosed osteosarcoma have detectable metastatic disease at presentation, most of which is located in the lungs. These patients have a poor prognosis with survival of generally less than 30%. NCCN guidelines as well as many osteosarcoma clinical trials endorse resection of metastases as part of standard treatment. There are limited recommendations as to the timing or method of resection. Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to establish practice patterns among members of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society, a multi-disciplinary sarcoma focused organization. Participants were asked about management of lung metastases in 3 clinical scenarios (2 cm unilateral, 0.5 cm unilateral, and multiple bilateral lung nodules). Questions evaluated timing of management, decision to resect, technique of resection, and decision to explore the contralateral lung. Results: 183 individuals completed the survey. Most report initiating nodule management after neoadjuvant therapy. If the nodule disappeared after neoadjuvant therapy or definitive surgery, most report not performing surgical resection. Among nodules resected after neodjuvant therapy or definitive surgery that were unchanged in size, thoracotomy is the most commonly reported surgical technique. When only unilateral nodules were present on imaging, few choose to explore the contralateral lung (11% in 2.0cm and 10% in 0.5cm, compared to 70% in multiple bilateral nodules). Pediatric Oncologists were more likely to initiate management earlier than Medical Oncologists for 2.0cm nodule (90% vs 63%, p<0.001), 0.5 cm nodule (77% vs. 47%, p <0.005), and multiple bilateral nodules (79% vs. 51%, p =0.008). Conclusion: There is marked heterogeneity among treating clinicians in their management of pulmonary metastases in osteosarcoma. Variation was also noted between medical specialties. Prospective trials are needed to evaluate if these differences have significant implications on outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed metastatic osteosarcoma. Citation Format: Andrea T. Vo, Onita Bhattasali, Michael Roth, Jonathan Gill, David Geller, Lor Randall, Richard Gorlick. Pediatric osteosarcoma lung metastasis: variations in clinical management. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4045. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4045
The yield of a second screening flexible sigmoidoscopy in average-risk persons after one negative examination

Abstract Background/Aims: The American Cancer Society recommends that asymptomatic persons aged ≥50 years undergo Sigmoidoscopy every 3–5 years. However, the yield of a second examination 3 years later in persons who are initially negative is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the yield of a second flexible Sigmoidoscopy in average-risk persons aged ≥50 years after an initial negative examination. Methods: Two hundred fifty-nine asymptomatic, average-risk persons who had undergone a negative screening flexible Sigmoidoscopy examination at age ≥50 years underwent a second examination at least 2 years later (mean, 3.4 years). Results: The second examination found adenomas in 15 (6%) screenees, but no cancers or large (>1 cm) or severely dysplastic adenomas were detected. Persons aged ≥60 years at the time of the second examination were more likely (10%) to have adenomas than those Conclusions: These data suggest that the American Cancer Society should consider changing its recommendation for screening flexible Sigmoidoscopy in asymptomatic, average-risk persons to 5-year intervals after a negative examination.
Consumption of the Folate Breakdown Product para-Aminobenzoylglutamate Contributes Minimally to Urinary Folate Catabolite Excretion in Humans: Investigation Using [13C5]para-Aminobenzoylglutamate

Folate catabolism represents the major route of folate turnover in humans and involves cleavage of the C9-N10 bond producing a pterin and para-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG). Thus, the quantitation of pABG and its acetylated more predominant counterpart para-acetamidobenzolyglutamate (apABG) may be useful in assessing folate status and requirements. However, until the in vivo fate of dietary pABG is understood, studies using pABG excretion parameters can not be fully interpreted. As part of a larger study, an oral dose (376 nmol or 100 micro g) of [(13)C(5)]pABG in 40 mL apple juice was ingested by pregnant women (2nd trimester, n = 2) and nonpregnant controls (n = 2) consuming controlled total folate intakes of 450 or 850 micro g/d. Urine collections (24 h) were obtained over the next 4 d and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to measure urinary [(13)C(5)]pABG, [(13)C(5)]apABG and [(13)C(5)]folate. Of the 376 nmol [(13)C(5)]pABG administered, only 17.5 +/- 6.4 nmol; mean +/- SEM) or 4.6 +/- 1.7% of the dose was accounted for in the urine. Most of the excreted [(13)C(5)]pABG, in acetamido form (15.1 +/- 5.3 nmol), was excreted the day after the dose. No urinary [(13)C(5)]folate was detected. Folate intake did not seem to influence the urinary excretion of total pABG derived from oral pABG, whereas pregnancy may lessen total pABG excretion derived from oral pABG. Overall, these results suggest that the contribution of dietary pABG to the urinary excretion of pABG and apABG is small.
Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation with decacationic functionalized fullerenes: Oxygen-independent photokilling in presence of azide and new mechanistic insights

Functionalized fullerenes are gaining wide interest for mediating photodynamic therapy (PDT) of diseases such as cancers and infections. We recently reported the synthesis of two new decacationic fullerene monoadducts: C60[>M(C3N6+C3)2]–(I−)10(LC14) and its derivative with a light-harvesting antenna conjugated as a C60[>CPAF–(MN6+C3)2]–(I−)10 nanostructure (LC15). We studied the ability of these compounds to mediate PDT of human cancer cells in vitro when excited by UVA light or by white light. Here we report the synthesis of a new fullerene derivative C60[>M(C3N6+C3)2][>M(C3N6C3)2]–(I−)10 (LC16 derived from LC14), as a malonate bisadduct containing a covalently bound decatertiary amine arm. We investigated the relative abilities of the three compounds to generate singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radicals (HO·), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) after excitation by UVA or by white light. We used three different classes of pathogenic microbial cells (Gram-positive bacterium, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, and fungal yeast Candida albicans). LC15 was the most powerful broad spectrum antimicrobial fullerenyl photosensitizer (FPS) followed by LC16, and LC14 was least powerful. Killing depended on both fullerene monoadduct concentration and light fluence. UVA was five times more effective than white light for killing, but not for generation of ROS and relative absorption was greater in white spectral region. Bacterial killing was not much inhibited by addition of azide anions and in some cases was potentiated. In the absence of oxygen, microbial photokilling was highly potentiated (up to 5 logs) by the addition of azide anions. We conclude that molecular functional addends that encourage a type I electron-transfer mechanism increase the ability of photoactivated fullerene monoadducts to kill microbial cells. Oxygen-independent photokilling is possible with fullerene monoadducts in the presence of azide anions, probably mediated by azidyl radicals. UVA excitation may kill bacteria partly by an electron-transfer mechanism directly into bacteria as well as by ROS.
Branching dendritic trees and motoneuron membrane resistivity.

Abstract This paper is concerned with both the quantitative information and the theory required for the interpretation of certain experimental results obtained with intracellular microelectrodes. The theory treats the spread of current from a neuron soma into branching dendritic trees. Formulas are derived for the calculation of membrane resistivity from physiological measurements of whole neuron resistance and anatomical measurements of soma and dendritic dimensions. The variability of available anatomical and physiological information is discussed. The numerical result is an estimated range of membrane resistivity values for mammalian motoneurons, and a corresponding set of values for the dendritic to soma conductance ratio. These values are significantly greater than those currently accepted in the literature, mainly because the dendritic dimensions appear to have been underestimated previously. Analysis of the histological evidence also reveals significant quantitative differences between infant, adult, and chromatolytic motoneurons. The theory builds upon the classical theory of axonal membrane electrotonus; all important assumptions are explicitly stated and discussed. The theory is general and can be applied to many types of neurons with many types of dendritic trees; it is also relevant to the diffusion of material in neurons. The 3 2 power of dendritic trunk diameter is shown to be a fundamental index of dendritic size. Another parameter characterizes the extensiveness of dendritic branching.
A testbed to support Radio-to-Router interface testing and evaluation

In highly dynamic airborne and wireless environments, per link information becomes crucial in effectively routing packets throughout the network and preserving application QoS. In recent years, a number of radio-to-router protocols such as Point-to-Point over Ethernet RFC55781, Dynamic Link Exchange Protocol (DLEP), and Radio-to-Router Control Protocol (R2CP) have emerged to provide per link information from radio-to-router to help make more informed routing decisions on highly dynamic links operating at various data rates and to possibly provide flow control. In addition, integrating and testing radio-to-router protocols with both unicast and multicast routing protocols designed to operate in MANET environments provides fundamental insights into the their performance and real-world utility. To effectively evaluate each of the Radio-to-Router protocols and understand some of the practical implementation issues, a flexible testbed supporting multiple emulated DoD radios and their link characteristics, as well as multiple open source and commercial routers that support radio-aware routing is needed. In this paper, we present a 6-node testbed that supports emulation of several directional, electronic switch-beam, and omnidirectional radio technologies as well as routing technologies to help automate evaluation and testing of RFC5578, DLEP, and R2CP. Specifically, we describe the system setup, some challenges with supporting current DoD radio technologies and temporary solutions, and provide some examples of results and data derived from multiple runs on the emulation network.2
Minor-element signature of relic olivine grains in deep-sea particles - A match with forsterites from C2 meteorites

The results of high-precision electron microprobe analyses on relic forsterites in 13 different deep sea particles (DSP) are described, comparing their 'minor' element (Mn, Cr, Ca, Ti, Al) signatures with those of olivines found in several types of meteorites. The results show that the DSP olivines do not match those from terrestrial and lunar rocks and achondritic meteoroties, match poorly those of the carbonaceous Allende (CV3) and Orgeuil (CI) meteorites, but are well matched with olivines from C2 meteorites, including the unusual Belgica 7904 meteorite.
Technical Communication Internship Requirements in the Academic Economy: How We Compare among Ourselves and across Other Applied Fields.

This article reports a study of internship requirements in technical communication programs compared with three established professions and one emerging profession that have certification or licensing requirements for practitioners. The study addresses three questions about technical communication internship programs: 1) Are internships offered as a way to fulfill program academic credit requirements? 2) If internships are offered, are they required or elective? 3) What are the minimum/maximum academic credits allowed for internships toward fulfillment of program requirements and the number of workplace hours of internship required? To answer these questions we focused on three elements of internship program management: academic credits, workplace hours per academic credit, and total workplace hours required. Our findings indicate that there is considerable disparity for these factors among programs in our field and that we lack criteria similar to those used in established professions for internships.
Effect of La and Y on crystallization temperatures of hafnia and zirconia

Crystallization of amorphous Y- and La-doped HfO2 and ZrO2 nanophase powders was studied using thermal analysis and high-temperature x-ray diffraction. Substantial increase of crystallization temperature of amorphous hafnium and zirconium oxides could be achieved by alloying with La2O3. The crystallization temperature of Hf2La2O7 composition is higher than 900 °C, which makes it a candidate for advanced gate dielectrics. In contrast, Y-doping did not significantly raise the crystallization temperature.
Water, energy, land use, transportation and socioeconomic nexus: A blue print for more sustainable urban systems

Preparation for global movement to urban regions requires a holistic study of infrastructure interactions. The impact of water and energy on one another has been studied to show how they are dependent upon one another. Other infrastructure interactions also are vital to designing more sustainable cities. The primary infrastructures are: water, energy, land use, and transportation. Creating more sustainable cities may involve low-impact development techniques, opting for compact living, and studying alternatives for water, energy, and transportation provision. Every city is different, and infrastructure decisions should be tailored to fit each city. This group is primarily focused on the greater Atlanta region and the Phoenix area.
A symbolic approach toward high-level variation-aware topology synthesis of Delta-Sigma modulators

This article presents a methodology for automated high-level variation-aware topology synthesis of ΔΣ (Delta-Sigma) modulators. The methodology targets an optimal high-level ΔΣ modulator topology in terms of statistical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) variation. In the proposed methodology, a systematic symbolic formulation of statistical SNR variation is made so that variations of capacitors are directly translated to SNR variation. The symbolic formulation of statistical SNR variation is then taken as the cost function guiding the topology synthesis process. A ΔΣ modulator template topology, which compactly represents all possible modulator topologies, is used so that the solution space is complete. To facilitate the search for an optimal topology, a mixed-integer non-linearly constrained programming (MINLP) program is formulated. By solving the MINLP program, an optimal solution with least statistical SNR variation can be obtained. A few experiments have shown the solved optimal topologies have less SNR va...
The Impact of Childhood Physical Abuse and Age of Sexual Initiation on Women's Maladaptive Posttraumatic Cognitions

Child abuse survivors often exhibit long-standing maladaptive beliefs. Sexual risk-taking could contribute to the maintenance of such beliefs by reinforcing cognitions that originally resulted from child abuse. In this study, 64 community women, most with elevated posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, completed measures of childhood abuse, sexual risk-taking, and posttraumatic cognitions. Age of first consensual sexual intercourse mediated the relationship between childhood physical abuse and maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions in adulthood. Thus, age of sexual intercourse initiation might play an important role in women's recovery from childhood physical abuse. Clinicians should consider the possible impact of women's sexual history when challenging their cognitions during trauma-based cognitive behavioral therapy. Further, decreasing risky sexual behavior might partially protect against the negative effects of trauma.
Anergy in vivo: down-regulation of antigen-specific CD4+ Th1 but not Th2 cytokine responses

Efficient immunologic tolerance, defined as antigen-specific unresponsiveness, can be peripherally induced by the i.v. injection of syngeneic splenocytes coupled with antigen using ethylene carbodiimide (ECDI). We have previously reported that unresponsiveness induced via i.v. injection of syngeneic splenocytes coupled with intact, UV-inactivated Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV-SP) resulted in 'split tolerance'. Both virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity and IgG2a levels were inhibited, whereas IgG1 levels were increased when compared with sham tolerized controls. In the present report we demonstrate that tolerance induced by i.v. injection of TMEV-coupled splenocytes resulted in antigen-specific inhibition of T cell proliferation, as well as IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in response to both whole TMEV and the immunodominant viral epitope. Additionally, tolerance induction resulted in abrogation of Th1-derived [IL-2, IFN-gamma and LT/tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta)] cytokine mRNA expression in response to in vitro stimulation with UV-inactivated TMEV as determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In contrast, expression of Th2-derived (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) cytokine mRNA was not affected in tolerized mice. Tolerance functioned directly at the level of CD4+ Th1 cells at both the induction and effector limbs as depletion of CD8+ T cells both prior to in vivo tolerization or in vitro culture had no effect on inhibition of Th1-specific responses. The mechanism of in vivo tolerance induction appeared to be anergy of CD4+ Th1 cells since IL-2, IFN-gamma and LT/TNF-beta mRNA expression as well as virus-specific proliferative responses could be restored by addition of rIL-2 to in vitro cultures of tolerant, CD4+ Th1 populations. These results suggest that in vivo 'split tolerance' induced by i.v. injection of ECDI-fixed, antigen-coupled splenocytes involves anergy of TMEV-specific, CD4+ Th1 lymphocytes and concomitant priming of Th2 cells. The induction of antigen-specific, in vivo anergy has important implications in the design of therapeutic strategies for immunopathologic diseases mediated by Th1 lymphocytes, especially T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders.
Toward a Vivid Pedagogy in the Multilingual Blended Classroom

In spite of a boom in studies on blended learning, including much related to English language learners (ELLs), few have aimed at identifying empirically validated practical and theoretical underpinnings to guide the design of blended-learning activities and research. Meanwhile, recent work in second language (L2) motivation theory has illuminated avenues for exploring how learner-generated multimodal artifacts may represent inherently interesting units of instruction as well as sites of L2 identity formation. This paper aims at both applied and basic ends: (a) to argue that empirically validated evidence already exists for an immediate application of an informed multimodal blended-learning pedagogy for ELLs, and (b) to suggest a theoretical framework based on current L2 motivation theory to guide future research.
Evolution of marine mammals: Back to the sea after 300 million years

The fossil record demonstrates that mammals re-entered the marine realm on at least seven separate occasions. Five of these clades are still extant, whereas two are extinct. This review presents a brief introduction to the phylogeny of each group of marine mammals, based on the latest studies using both morphological and molecular data. Evolutionary highlights are presented, focusing on changes affecting the sensory systems, locomotion, breathing, feeding, and reproduction in Cetacea, Sirenia, Desmostylia, and Pinnipedia. Aquatic adaptations are specifically cited, supported by data from morphological and geochemical studies. For example, analysis of oxygen isotopes incorporated into fossil tooth enamel indicates whether these mammals foraged in (and, therefore, ingested) fresh water or sea water. Comparisons between groups are made to see if there are any common patterns, particularly relating to adaptations to aquatic life. Results show that aquatic characteristics evolved in mosaic patterns and that different morphological solutions to aquatic conditions were achieved separately in each of these groups. Changes in the axial and appendicular skeleton assist with locomotion for aquatic foraging. Nostril and eye placement modifications accommodate wading versus underwater foraging needs. All groups exhibit aquatic adaptations directly related to feeding, particularly changes in the dentition and rostrum. The earliest representatives of these clades all show morphological features that indicate they were feeding while in the water, suggesting that feeding ecology is a key factor in the evolution of marine mammals.
The isolation of salannin from Melia dubia

Abstract The bitter principle in Melia dubia Cav. fruits is salannin, previously found in Melia azadirachta L.
Ionic Conductivity of Sodium fluoride

The electrical conductivity of single crystals of pure NaF and NaF doped with CaF2 has been measured as a function of temperature from 450 to 970°C. Analyses of these data by a leastsquare method to yield the usual defect parameters have been based on two models: 1. a perfect crystal perturbed by isolated cation vacancies, isolated anion vacancies, divalent cation impurity, and divalent cation impurity-cation vacancy complexes, and 2. one which includes the long-range Coulomb interactions between isolated defects in addition to the four defects of the first model. More satisfactory agreement with the experimental results is apparent when the latter model is employed, but non-random deviations between experiment and theory were evident for both models over the entire temperature range of observation.
New Microalloyed Steel Applications for the Automotive Sector

Developments related to the use of microalloy additions, primarily of Ti, Nb, and V, and controlled processing are reviewed to illustrate how steels with tailored microstructures and properties are produced from either bar or sheet steels for new automotive components. Microalloying additions are shown to control the necessary strengthening mechanisms to produce high strength materials with the desired toughness or formability for a specific application. Selected examples of direct cooled forging steels, microalloyed carburizing steels, and advanced high strength sheet (AHSS) steels are discussed.
A Displacement Metric for Finite Sets of Rigid Body Displacements

There are various useful metrics for finding the distance between two points in Euclidean space. Metrics for finding the distance between two rigid body locations in Euclidean space depend on both the coordinate frame and units used. A metric independent of these choices is desirable. This paper presents a metric for a finite set of rigid body displacements. The methodology uses the principal frame (PF) associated with the finite set of displacements and the polar decomposition to map the homogenous transform representation of elements of the special Euclidean group SE(N-1) onto the special orthogonal group SO(N). Once the elements are mapped to SO(N) a bi-invariant metric can then be used. The metric obtained is thus independent of the choice of fixed coordinate frame i.e. it is left invariant. This metric has potential applications in motion synthesis, motion generation and interpolation. Three examples are presented to illustrate the usefulness of this methodology.© 2008 ASME
Thermal-Infrared Images as a Basis for Structure Mapping, Front Range and Adjacent Plains in Colorado

High-altitude thermal-infrared images, taken at various times of the day over the Front Range and adjacent plains in Colorado, display many linear and circular topographic features. These features are enhanced by thermal shading effects and commonly are better displayed than in photographs. Comparison with geologic maps of a control area in the Front Range shows that most lineaments drawn from the thermal images represent geologic features, principally faults. A previously unobserved circular feature at the Central City–Idaho Springs mineral district bounds most of the area of gold mineralization; it is a topographic delineation of the most intensively altered ground in the district and may reflect extremely subtle structure related to the presence of an unexposed intrusive body. Lineaments in the plains probably mark subtle structural trends related to the Denver basin and to folds not otherwise expressed at the surface.
From Ego to “We-Go”: Neurobiology and Questions for Psychoanalysis: Commentary on Papers by Trevarthen, Gallese, and Ammaniti & Trentini

The self is a social self to begin with. The research reviewed indicates that, from infancy, innately given brain processes support social reciprocity and the development of “we-ness.” Implications for psychoanalysis and needs for future research are discussed.
School District Democracy: School Board Voting and School Performance

In line with social capital theory, citizen involvement in local education policy making should affect education performance. Specifically, because voting turnout and candidate competition in school district elections are accountability mechanisms and reflections of a district's social capital, these characteristics of school board elections should affect how schools perform. Using official Missouri election records and school district data, this article examines the effect of district social capital (i.e., voting turnout and candidate competition), demographics, and school resources on school performance (i.e., standardized test scores and graduation rates). Mixed support is found for social capital theory, with voting turnout significantly affecting standardized test scores, though not graduation rates, and candidate competition influencing graduation rates, though in an unexpected direction. This study expands our understanding of the factors affecting school performance and informs the discussion of education reform. En linea con la teoria del capital social, la participacion de los ciudadanos en la hechura de las politicas de educacion local deberia afectar el rendimiento escolar. Especificamente, porque la participacion en la votacion y el grado de competencia entre candidatos en las elecciones en los distritos escolares son mecanismos de rendicion de cuentas y un reflejo del capital social del distrito, estas caracteristicas de las elecciones del consejo escolar deberian afectar el desempeno de las escuelas. Utilizando registros oficiales de las elecciones en Missouri e informacion de los distritos escolares, este articulo examina el efecto del capital social del distrito (i.e., participacion en la votacion y el grado de competencia entre candidatos), la demografia, y los recursos escolares en el rendimiento escolar (i.e., los resultados estandarizados de las pruebas y las tasas de graduacion). Se encuentra un apoyo mixto para la teoria del capital social donde la participacion en la votacion afecta considerablemente los resultados estandarizados de las pruebas, aunque no a las tasas de graduacion, y en una direccion inesperada, el grado de competencia entre candidatos influye a las tasas de graduacion. Este articulo amplia nuestro entendimiento de los factores que afectan el rendimiento escolar y fortalece la discusion sobre la reforma educativa.
Compressed video processing for cut detection

One of the challenging problems in video databases is the organisation of video information. Segmenting a video into a number of clips and characterising each clip has been suggested as one mechanism for organising video information. This approach requires a suitable method to automatically locate cut points (boundaries between consecutive camera shots in a video). Several existing techniques solve this problem using uncompressed video. Since video is increasingly being captured, moved, and stored in compressed form, there is a need for detecting shot boundaries directly in compressed video. The authors address this issue and show certain feature extraction steps in MPEG compressed video that allow the implementation of most of the existing cut detection methods developed for uncompressed video for MPEG video stream. They also examine the performance of three tests for cut detection by viewing the problem of cut detection as a statistical hypothesis testing problem. As the experimental results indicate, the statistical hypothesis testing approach permits fast and accurate detection of video cuts.
Modeling aspects of print-processing skill: implications for reading assessment

This study examined how well elementary students’ performance on a set of commonly-used reading assessments conformed to a model of automatic print processing. The assessments included measures of word recognition-untimed, word recognition-timed, oral reading accuracy, oral reading rate, silent reading rate, and spelling. The proposed print-processing model, based on the work of Perfetti (1992) and Share (1995), held that contextual reading accuracy is directly related to automatized word knowledge which is directly related to reading rate. Structural equation modeling showed that the performance data had an acceptable fit to the proposed model and to a second, post hoc model in which automatic word recognition is directly related to contextual reading accuracy. However, additional regression analyses tended to favor the initial model. Because the six print-processing components in this study proved to be reliable and related, and because two of the components (word recognition–timed and spelling) are seldom used in conventional reading assessments, the results have important implications for practice.
Promise in Action: Examples of Institutional Success

This chapter highlights institutional examples of intentional approaches to ensuring that every student's experience reflects the promise of the institutional brand or mission as well as the distinct and differentiating nature of the institution's educational philosophy and purpose.
High-pressure and high-temperature studies on oxide garnets

We report high-pressure and high-temperature studies on a series of oxide garnets of chemical composition ${A}_{3}{B}_{2}{C}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$. The members of this family investigated are gadolinium scandium gallium garnet (GSGG), gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG), and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). The GSGG and GGG are doped with both neodymium and chromium while the YAG is doped only with neodymium. Photoluminescence, synchrotron x-ray-diffraction, and laser heating studies were carried out in a diamond-anvil cell. Variety of optical sensors (ruby, Sm-doped YAG) and x-ray pressure marker (copper) were employed for pressure measurement. Pressure-induced amorphization was observed in GSGG at 58\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 GPa and GGG at 84\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4 GPa by x-ray-diffraction studies. The photoluminescence studies show only gradual broadening of emission bands through the amorphization transition. On increasing pressure beyond amorphization, very broad and featureless emission bands were observed in the fluorescence spectra at 77\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 GPa for GSGG and at 88\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 GPa for GGG. Laser heating of the pressure-induced amorphous phase in GSGG caused recrystallization to the stable cubic phase. High-pressure x-ray study on YAG shows that it retains cubic phase up to 101\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4 GPa. A pressure-volume relation for each member of the oxide garnet at ambient temperatures is presented, structural transformation mechanisms, and application of oxide garnets as pressure sensors are also discussed.
Signaling Pathways for Antigen Receptor-Mediated Induction of Transcription Factor CREB in B Lymphocytes

Abstract We previously reported that cross-linking surface immunoglobulin (sIg) leads to induction of the transcription factor CREB in B lymphocytes through phosphorylation at Ser 133 , despite the lack of an increase in cAMP. Further, cAMP-raising agents fail to induce CREB Ser 133 phosphorylation and CRE-dependent gene expression in these cells, which differs sharply from the situation in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells where CREB responds to elevation of cAMP through the activity of protein kinase A. In this study, we characterized the signal transduction pathways leading from sIg engagement to CREB activation. By using specific inhibitors for protein kinase C (PKC), Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II), and protein kinase A (PKA), we found that anti-Ig-induced CREB Ser 133 phosphorylation depends on PKC, but does not require activation of PKA or CaM kinase II. The differential responsiveness of CREB to forskolin in PC12 cells and BAL-17 B cells may relate to the more marked elevation of cAMP in the former as opposed to the latter; however, high concentrations of dbcAMP which should readily enter B cells and artificially increase cAMP levels still failed to induce CREB Ser 133 phosphorylation, even in conjunction with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Taken together, the cAMP/PKA pathway does not appear to be as active a contributor to CREB phosphorylation in B lymphocytes as in PC12 cells, and does not appear to be involved in sIg-induced, PKC-dependent, CREB activation.
Inhibition of Non-ATG Translational Events in Cells via Covalent Small Molecules Targeting RNA

One major class of disease-causing RNAs is expanded repeating transcripts. These RNAs cause diseases via multiple mechanisms, including: (i) gain-of-function, in which repeating RNAs bind and sequester proteins involved in RNA biogenesis and (ii) repeat associated non-ATG (RAN) translation, in which repeating transcripts are translated into toxic proteins without use of a canonical, AUG, start codon. Herein, we develop and study chemical probes that bind and react with an expanded r(CGG) repeat (r(CGG)(exp)) present in a 5' untranslated region that causes fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Reactive compounds bind to r(CGG)(exp) in cellulo as shown with Chem-CLIP-Map, an approach to map small molecule binding sites within RNAs in cells. Compounds also potently improve FXTAS-associated pre-mRNA splicing and RAN translational defects, while not affecting translation of the downstream open reading frame. In contrast, oligonucleotides affect both RAN and canonical translation when they bind to r(CGG)(exp), which is mechanistically traced to a decrease in polysome loading. Thus, designer small molecules that react with RNA targets can be used to profile the RNAs to which they bind in cells, including identification of binding sites, and can modulate several aspects of RNA-mediated disease pathology in a manner that may be more beneficial than oligonucleotides.
Knowledge based system for scheduling and control of an automated manufacturing cell

Abstract Cell Manager (Cm) is a prototype knowledge based system for real-time control and short-term planning of an automated manufacturing facility. It uses background of mathematical programming, simulation, and heuristic search. The Cm engine allows tracking of time related events and facts in discrete or continuous time. The use of Cm is illustrated on a cell that processes discrete batches of parts. There are four workstations and the material handling system consists of automated guided vehicles.
Nanosize effect on the hygroscopic growth factor of aerosol particles

[1] The hygroscopic growth factors of NaCl particles having dry mobility diameters of 6 to 60 nm were measured using a tandem nano-Differential Mobility Analyzer. The growth factors steadily decreased within detection limit for dry sizes below 40 nm. The decrease is quantitatively predicted by a model that includes the Kelvin effect and a size-dependent shape factor. This factor is not tuned to the data but rather is grounded in theoretical predictions from literature. Agreement in growth factors for particles generated by two independent methods (namely, vaporization-condensation and electrospray), as well as observations of prompt deliquescence, indicates the absence of significant chemical impurities.
Reflections On the Life and Times of Alan Watson

"I first heard of Alan Watson long before I ever met him because we had several mutual friends, all of whom seemed to regard him as a never-ending topic of conversation, both in his personal exploits and in his professional ones. Upon finally meeting him, I must confess to a sense of disappointment, which I suppose is not all that uncommon when one meets a 'legend' in the flesh. The person I had pictured as larger than life seemed anything but. However, he was very approachable and engaging, although there was the lingering impression that underneath the surface he did not suffer fools easily. But if he deemed you worth his while, he had all the time in the world for you, as generations of students and budding young scholars discovered."
Darcy's law‐based model for wicking in paper‐like swelling porous media

The wicking of liquid into a paper-like swelling porous medium made from cellulose and superabsorbent fibers was modeled using Darcy's law. The work is built on a previous study in which the Washburn equation, modified to account for swelling, was used to predict wicking in a composite of cellulose and superabsorbent fibers. In a new wicking model proposed here, Darcy's law for flow in porous media is coupled with the mass conservation equation containing an added sink or source term to account for matrix swelling and liquid absorption. The wicking-rate predicted by the new model compares well with the previous experimental data, as well as the modified Washburn equation predictions. The effectiveness of various permeability models used with the new wicking model is also investigated. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010
Functional analysis of hypomethylation variants of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Abstract The is mutant F1 of vesicular stomatitis virus, New Jersey serotype, directs the synthesis of undermethylated 5′-terminal cap structures in vitro . In order to determine the relationship between the is and hypomethylation phenotypes, a spontaneous revertant rev ts F1 of the is phenotype was analyzed. The revertant retained the hypomethylation phenotype. The four cap structures (GpppA, 7mGpppA, GpppAm, and 7mGpppAm) synthesized in mutant and revertant-directed reactions in the presence of low as well as high concentrations of AdoMet were resolved by HPLC. Quantitation of the data and analysis of cap substrate to product ratios revealed that despite apparent similarities between the two hypomethylation phenotypes, the functional lesions in F1 and rev ts F1 were different. F1 displayed an AdoMet concentration-dependent alteration in the GpppA → GpppAm reaction and an AdoMet concentration-independent alterationp in the GppA → 7mGppA reaction. In contrast, rev (ts) F1 displayed AdoMet concentration-dependent alterations in the reactions GppA → 7mGppA and GpppAm → 7mGpppAm.
Molecular view of the interfacial adhesion in aluminum‐silicon carbide metal‐matrix composites

The binding energies, electron charge transfer, bond lengths, and core level shifts of Al‐Al, Al‐Si, Al‐C, and Si‐C dimers have been calculated self‐consistently using the linear combination of atomic orbitals‐molecular orbital theory. The exchange interactions are treated using the unrestricted Hartree–Fock theory and correlation corrections are included through the Moller–Plesset perturbation scheme up to fourth order. The results are used to understand the nature and strength of bonding at the interface of Al and SiC crystals. The strong bonding of Al‐C dimers compared to Al‐Al and Al‐Si is shown to be responsible for the aluminum carbide formation at the interface. The charge transfer between the constituent atoms in the dimer and the accompanying core level shifts are also shown to be characteristic of what has been observed at the Al/SiC interface.
Case-Based Reasoning for Converting Working Stress Design-Based Bridge Ratings to Load Factor Design-Based Ratings

In 1995, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) required that all bridges, regardless of the design method used for the original design, be based on the load factor design (LFD) method. In order to comply with the FHWA requirements, state departments of transportation have converted to the LFD method for all new bridge ratings. Further, all existing bridges previously rated using the working stress design (WSD) method must be converted to the LFD method. Consequently, thousands of bridges must be rerated using the LFD method. Steel bridges rated by the WSD method have critical data missing to make the proper conversion to the LFD method. This paper presents a methodology and an intelligent decision support system to help bridge engineers convert a WSD-based bridge rating to the LFD-based rating with little human effort using the artificial intelligence approach of case-base reasoning. The proposed methodology can help bridge engineers create the missing LFD-based data efficiently and quickly with a minimum amount of work. This research demonstrates how bridge engineers can use a novel computing paradigm and modern computer tool to convert an antiquated database to current design.
Cyclic quasi-symmetric designs and self-orthogonal codes of length 63

Abstract The enumeration of binary cyclic self-orthogonal codes of length 63 is used to prove that any cyclic quasi-symmetric 2 - ( 63 , 15 , 35 ) design with block intersection numbers x = 3 and y = 7 is isomorphic to the geometric design having as blocks the three-dimensional subspaces in PG ( 5 , 2 ) .
Issue Highlights—March 2012

ZAP-70, REVISITED In this journal issue, three manuscripts examine various aspects of ZAP-70 detection in B cell leukemias. This topic is of such intense interest to the clinical cytometry community that a special issue of Cytometry Part B was dedicated to this subject (1) and that improvement and standardization of this technique remains a crucial matter over 5 years later. Two of the current manuscripts (2–4) deal with the subject of controls for ZAP-70 detection. In reading these, it is worth revisiting previous reports from the 2006 special issue concerning controls for ZAP-70 staining to gain a broader appreciation of importance of such controls, as well as previous reports by these same groups addressing technical issues related to ZAP-70 (2–4). A third manuscript in the current issue by Craig et al., takes a look at bcl-2 and ZAP-70 in B- lymphoblastic leukemia and in hematogones. The reader might find the previous work by Davis and Schwartz (5) reporting low levels of ZAP-70 expression in precursor B cells and hematogones relevant to the current findings.
Game Mods: Customizable Learning in a K16 Setting

A game mod describes a modification within an existing commercial computer-based game that has been created by a user. By game modding, a user can participate in the creative process by taking the setting of his or her favorite game and customizing it for entertainment purposes or to convey information. For years, commercial computer-based game developers committed considerable resources toward preventing users from hacking into or hijacking their games. Now several computer-based game developers provide editors with their products to encourage users to create content and to allow educators, for instance, to take advantage of the benefits and production quality of commercial computer games in order to create customized instruction. This article focuses on mainstream, accessible games with straightforward modding tools that easily can be integrated into a learning environment.
Dilmun: gateway to immortality.

IN 1861 Sir Henry Rawlinson first identified the island of Bahrain as the land of Dilmun mentioned in Sumerian and Babylonian texts. Since then, archaeological excavations have been undertaken on Bahrain by E. L. Dunnand (1880); T. Bent (1889); M. Jouannin (1903); Col. F. B. Prideaux (1906-8); E. MacKay (1924); P. B. Cornwall (1940-41); G. Bibby (1954-), and most recently by I. Moawiyah (1977-78).' The cuneiform references to Dilmun, recovered from Mesopotamia, fall into two distinct categories: (1) commercial, dedicatory, and astrological inscriptions, and (2) Sumerian literary compositions. From the inscriptions of the former there can be little doubt that Dilmun was a specific geographical locality involved in international trade.2 Dilmun's commercial enterprise has occupied the principal attention of scholars attempting to understand the economic relations that brought Dilmun, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Civilization into contact.3 There can be little doubt that Dilmun was of importance to Mesopotamian commerce or that ancient Dilmun is correctly identified as modern Bahrain. It is not my purpose here to rehash these already established facts. This paper concentrates on specific Sumerian literary compositions that refer to Dilmun as a fabulous land, as a land of paradise and as an antechamber to the spirit world, in light of the tens of thousands of tumuli-tombs on Bahrain. From the earliest period of archaeological exploration on Bahrain, it was noted that the island contained an almost inestimable number of burial tumuli.4 Literally hundreds of these have been excavated, though we still lack a comprehensive publication of them. G. Bibby estimated that in 20 square miles there existed 100,000 tumuli ranging from one meter to 12 meters in height.5 The most recent excavator of these tumuli, Ibrahim Moawiyah, estimates that over 150,000 tumuli exist on Bahrain