cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical aspects governing the choice of backfill materials for nuclear waste repositories

A general method of selection of backfill material for nuclear waste disposal has been derived from a large body of data on sorption of actinides and fission products. These sorption studies identified four major factors of importance in enhancing sorption: pH, chemi-sorption, oxidation-reduction, and special reactions with clay minerals. It appears that simple cation exchange plays a very minor role, especially in the pH range of 7 to 9 that is common to groundwaters. In addition to consideration of radionuclide retardation, physical factors such as water retardation and thermal conductivity have been incorporated in the design. All of the materials employed in the backfill are natural minerals that are commercially available.
A Brief History of US Fair Use

In our role as writing teachers, we've been asked to adopt "post-modern practice" by releasing old-fashioned notions of single authorship and obsolete pedagogy that forbids plagiarism under a "detect-and-punish" regime (DeVoss & Porter, 2006, DeVoss & Rosati, 2002). Instead, we are to teach "digital ethics" and Fair Use. But what exactly is "Fair Use"? This is a doctrine we as writing teachers need to understand because while public figures such as Lawrence Lessig, Jessica Litman, and Siva Vaidhyanathan argue that the law needs to be changed, in the meantime we have classes to teach. Writing teachers increasingly teach writing on networked computers, and therefore our need to understand the basic doctrine of Fair Use is as great as our need to understand the rules of anti-plagiarism. This paper first reviews current US Copyright Law, and then briefly traces the concept of "Fair Use" from its inception as "fair abridgment" in 1700's England to its current interpretation in US case law. US Copyright policy, the regime legally defining invention, imitation, compilation, and appropriation, is set through complex interactions between a variety of players. These influential interactions include the habits of writers (Vaidhyanathan, 2001, Porter, 2005, DeVoss & Porter, 2006, Hart-Davidson, 2001, Bartow, 1998). The tension between stakeholders who wish to share, and stakeholders who wish to contain and control information is viewed as a "battle," "war," and "fight" (Yu, 2004, DeVoss & Porter, 2006). In this fight, the writing student and teacher thus become actors, willingly or not, determining how copyright operates (Porter, 2005). Because we as teachers are key players in the continual remediation of copyright policy, we should have a basic critical understanding of US Copyright Law and how Fair Use is situated within our copyright regime.
Microemulsion‐mediated removal of residual gasoline from soil columns

In situ pumping of micellular solutions of surfactant (S) and cosurfactant (CoS) in water (W) through contaminated soils or aquifers offers potential for enhanced remediation of residual nonaqueous‐phase liquids (NAPLs). Extremely low interfacial tension generated between a W/S/CoS mixture and residual NAPL in soil pores may initially mobilize the NAPL, which is then transported temporarily as a separate phase by immiscible displacement. The NAPL is then solubilized by micro‐emulsification as the W/S/CoS mixture forms a stable W/S/CoS/NAPL micro‐emulsion that undergoes miscible displacement through the pore space. This remediation technique was tested under laboratory conditions by sequentially flushing a saline solution and a W/S/CoS mixture through columns of a sandy soil recently contaminated with residual leaded gasoline (LG). Prior to the flushings, the soil was initially contaminated by applying a W/S/CoS/LG microemulsion. A simple conceptual transport model with kinetic clogging of soil pores adequ...
Demo abstract: Open-access full-duplex wireless in the ORBIT testbed

In order to support experimentation with full-duplex (FD) wireless, we integrated an open-access FD transceiver with the ORBIT testbed [1]. In particular, an ORBIT node with a National Instruments (NI)/Ettus Research Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) N210 software-defined radio (SDR) was equipped with the Columbia FlexICoN Gen-1 customized RF self-interference (SI) canceller box. The RF canceller box includes an RF SI canceller that emulates an RFIC canceller, which is implemented using discrete components. It achieves 40 dB RF SI cancellation across 5 MHz bandwidth. This demonstration presents the design and implementation of the open-access FD transceiver and the baseline program, as well as an example of a remote FD experiment where 85 dB overall SI cancellation is achieved across both the RF and digital domains.
Deep brain stimulation: calculating the true costs of surgical innovation.

Considerations of the cost of innovations like deep brain stimulation must take into account intangible and economic benefits of the treatment. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Design of a Beyond-Line-of-Sight Microwave Propagation Study Across the Gulf of Mexico

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) uses statewide, redundant, physically separate, fiber and microwave communications networks for mission critical services. However, there are two specific geographical regions that do not support redundant, physically separate networks. These two regions are the Florida panhandle and the Florida Keys. It may be possible to remove this vulnerability and implement a redundant communication path by utilizing a beyond Line-of-Sight(b-LoS) microwave link. A b-LoS microwave link uses the atmospheric evaporative duct which can be present immediately above large bodies of water. A propagation study project is underway that will investigate using this evaporative duct to create a 500-mile microwave link, across the Gulf of Mexico, between Key West and Destin, Florida. Such a link could potentially create an opportunity to introduce redundancy for both vulnerable geographic regions at the same time. This study will require the remote operation of two temporary microwave propagation test stations over an extended period. The separate transmit and receive test stations will use two candidate microwave frequencies for one-way link tests between the two locations. At the end of the propagation study, the results will be published and recommendations on next steps will be presented to the FDOT.
Approximate Identities and Lagrangian Poincaré Recurrence

In this note we discuss three interconnected problems about dynamics of Hamiltonian or, more generally, just smooth diffeomorphisms. The first two concern the existence and properties of the maps whose iterations approximate the identity map with respect to some norm, e.g., \(C^1\)- or \(C^0\)-norm for general diffeomorphisms and the \(\gamma \)-norm in the Hamiltonian case, and the third problem is the Lagrangian Poincare recurrence conjecture.
Reflection Analysis of Spherical FDTD Absorbing Boundary Conditions

A system of equations is derived for the purpose of predicting numerical performance of absorbing boundary conditions for the finite-difference time-domain method in spherical coordinates. Multi-layer reflection analysis, coupled with spherical wave functions, are used to construct this system of equations. Subsequent analysis detail the strong performance dependence on ABC's radial distance and rotational mode orders. Obtained results can serve to design and/or develop efficient spherical FDTD absorbing boundary conditions.
Learning Patient Engagement in Care Management: Performance vs. Interpretability.

The health outcomes of high-need patients can be substantially influenced by the degree of patient engagement in their own care. The role of care managers includes that of enrolling patients into care programs and keeping them sufficiently engaged in the program, so that patients can attain various goals. The attainment of these goals is expected to improve the patients' health outcomes. In this paper, we present a real world data-driven method and the behavioral engagement scoring pipeline for scoring the engagement level of a patient in two regards: (1) Their interest in enrolling into a relevant care program, and (2) their interest and commitment to program goals. We use this score to predict a patient's propensity to respond (i.e., to a call for enrollment into a program, or to an assigned program goal). Using real-world care management data, we show that our scoring method successfully predicts patient engagement. We also show that we are able to provide interpretable insights to care managers, using prototypical patients as a point of reference, without sacrificing prediction performance.
An Analysis of Skin Test Responses to Spherulin-Based Coccidioidin (Spherusol®) Among a Group of Subjects with Various Forms of Active Coccidioidomycosis.

A reformulated skin test for coccidioidomycosis, Spherusol®, was recently approved for use in the USA. We hypothesized that it could be useful in predicting severity of illness and outcome in various types of coccidioidomycosis. Subjects with non-meningeal coccidioidomycosis attending a clinic in the coccidioidal endemic region were skin tested with Spherusol® and clinical data were collected at the time of testing and at follow-up. Twenty-seven subjects were studied, eight of whom had extrathoracic dissemination. A total of 15 subjects had positive tests, including 11 of 19 subjects with non-disseminated pulmonary disease and four with extrathoracic disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Among those with non-disseminated pulmonary disease, age ≥ 65 years, female sex, and antifungal therapy were significantly associated with a negative test on univariate but not multivariate analysis. For 23 subjects, there was a trend for those not on antifungal therapy at the time of follow-up to have a positive test but no association with coccidioidal complement-fixation titer or overall outcome. Not all subjects with non-disseminated pulmonary coccidioidomycosis were found to be skin test positive and half of those with extrathoracic disseminated disease manifested dermal hypersensitivity. In this small study, the results of the skin test were not clinically predictive of disease severity or outcome.
Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

Key Clinical Points Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (WAHA) is a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by anemia, reticulocytosis, other laboratory evidence of h...
Copyright Explainer: Can an Animal Make a Copyrighted Work?

Essay discussing whether a non-human animal can be considered an author for purposes of the Copyright Act.
Role of Uveal Melanocytes in the Development of Myopia

Reduction of nitric oxide (NO) may inhibit the development of experimental myopia. Uveal melanocytes reduced the amount of exogenous NO in culture medium provided by a NO donor (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, SNAP). Uveal melanocytes have the receptors of various neurotransmitters, melatonin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-s (TGF-s) and can respond to most of these factors, all of which are known to play a role in the development of myopia. These factors may bind to and modulate the functions of uveal melanocytes and thus influence the development of myopia.
Arrhythmias Associated with Inflammatory Cardiomyopathies.

To provide an approach to the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias associated with inflammatory cardiomyopathies. Inflammatory cardiomyopathies are increasingly recognized as the etiology of both ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. There have been recent studies providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of arrhythmias in inflammatory cardiomyopathies and exploring the role of various diagnostic tools and treatment strategies. Patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathies often present with one or more arrhythmias, including atrioventricular block, atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and occasionally sudden cardiac death. Given dynamic pathophysiology and heterogeneous presentation, the management of arrhythmias in these patients presents unique challenges. We review the current approach to the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias in this challenging cohort of patients with an emphasis on cardiac sarcoidosis.
More than Control: Partisan Differences in the Use of Statutory Constraints on the Bureaucracy

Bureaucratic agencies have discretion when implementing laws. Because legislators and bureaucratic officials may have different policy preferences, legislators have developed a number of methods to control those officials. Previous research suggests that legislators who are ideologically aligned with the executive branch are more likely to grant the bureaucracy discretion in policy implementation because of their shared policy goals. This is referred to as the "Ally Principle". However, sometimes ideologically aligned legislators place significant constraints on bureaucratic agencies. Why do these legislators curb discretion from supposedly allied agencies? I argue that statutory constraints are a policy tool, and that Republican legislators use them in an effort to reduce the scope of government bureaucracy. I then test this theory using the text from twenty-four years of U.S. Congressional legislation. I find that while Democrats' behavior is consistent with the Ally Principle, Republican legislation displays strong evidence of a "reverse" Ally Principle.
Efficacy of Venetoclax and Dexamethasone in Refractory IgM Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia with t(11;14) and TP53 Mutation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is an uncommon disease. IgM multiple myeloma (MM) is an infrequent subtype that accounts for less than 1 percent of MM cases. IgM pPCL is quite rare with only a few cases published to date. We describe a case of a patient with IgM pPCL who initially presented with hyperviscosity syndrome requiring urgent plasma exchange. His bone marrow biopsy demonstrated t(11;14). He progressed on proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulating agents, and other chemotherapy medications but later achieved very good partial response (VGPR) to venetoclax and dexamethasone. Given the poor prognosis of pPCL, further studies using venetoclax alone or in combination with other novel agents as first-line treatment options are warranted particularly in patients with t(11;14).
REIT Debt Pricing and Ownership Structure

We show that ownership by institutional investors with increased incentives to monitor decreases the cost of both public and private debt in the REIT industry. Our study focuses on four types of “incentivized” investors: long-horizon institutional investors, public pension funds, institutions with significant portfolio allocations to particular REITs (motivated institutional owners), and institutional investors that specialize in REITs. In addition, we confirm our findings using a composite index that incorporates only that part of incentivized ownership that is free from the effects of total institutional ownership. Finally, we provide evidence that some of the empirical relationships that we observe can be attributed to monitoring effects and cannot be entirely explained by the intentional selection of REITs with low agency risk into institutional portfolios.
Shear Behavior of Ultra High Performance Concrete Beams without Stirrups

Ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPC) possesses high compressive and tensile strength,as well as higher ultimate tensile strain, and this can be utilized to realize high shear capacity in UHPC beams. A finite element based numerical model is developed in ABAQUS for tracing response of UHPC beams throughout the loading range; from preloading to collapse stage. The model accounts for detailed stress strain response of UHPC in both compression and tension and strain hardening effect. Response parameters generated from the model namely deflections, crack propagation, and failure mode are alidated against measured data from experiments on UHPC beams. The developed model is applied to study the response of beams with varying shear reinforcement ratio to explore the feasibility of eliminating stirrups in UHPC beams. Results indicate that unlike conventional concrete beams, UHPC beams perform well under dominant shear loading even when no stirrups are provided. In other words, eliminating stirrups does not result in reduction of ductility and load carrying capacity of UHPC beams.
Activation But Not Inhibition of the Indirect Pathway Disrupts Choice Suppression in a Freely Moving, Multiple Choice Foraging Task

The dorsomedial striatum (DMS) plays a key role in action selection, but little is known about how direct and indirect pathway spiny projection neurons (dSPNs and iSPNs) contribute to choice suppression in freely moving animals. Here, we used pathway-specific chemogenetic manipulation during a serial choice foraging task to test the role of dSPNs and iSPNs in learned choice suppression. We found that chemogenetic activation, but not inhibition, of iSPNs disrupted learned suppression of nonrewarded choices, contrary to predictions of the prominent ‘select/suppress’ heuristic. Our findings suggest that iSPNs’ role in stopping and freezing does not extend in a simple fashion to choice suppression. These data may provide insights critical for the successful design of interventions for addiction or other conditions in which suppression of behavior is desirable.
Chapter 6 The structure and biosynthesis of bacteriochlorophylls

Publisher Summary Bacteriochlorophylls a and b (Structure 4) are the best known Chls produced by photosynthetic bacteria. Specifically, these bacteriochlorophylls (BChl) are the photosynthetic pigments of purple bacteria, and their purple color results from the fact that the parent porphyrin macrocycle is ‘reduced’ not only in ring D [which gives rise to the green color characteristic of Chl a ], but also in ring B. Thus, one might regard the BChl a and b as ‘tetrahydroporphyrins'. This is certainly true for the case of BChl a , but the reduction state of BChl b might more correctly be described as being at the same ‘dihydro’ level as for the normal plant Chls. Simple migration of the ring B ethylidene double bond into ring B proper would actually yield a macrocycle at the same reduction level as Chl a. However, BChl b also possesses a purple color because the ring B ethylidene moiety still constitutes a structural interference of the n-electron delocalization pathway. BChls a from different sources have been shown to possess variability in their 7-side chain esterifying alcohol; for example, the BChl a from Rhodobacter sphaeroides possesses a phytyl ester (i.e. BChl a phy ) while the same pigment from Rlzodospirillum rubrum features geranylgeraniol (i.e. BChl α 88 ). The best known purple BChl, BChl a (3), is found in Rhodospirillaceae. BChl b is the major pigment in Rhodopseudomonas viridis.
Adaptive Task Assignment for Crowdsourced Classification

Crowdsourcing markets have gained popularity as a tool for inexpensively collecting data from diverse populations of workers. Classification tasks, in which workers provide labels (such as "offensive" or "not offensive") for instances (such as "websites"), are among the most common tasks posted, but due to human error and the prevalence of spam, the labels collected are often noisy. This problem is typically addressed by collecting labels for each instance from multiple workers and combining them in a clever way, but the question of how to choose which tasks to assign to each worker is often overlooked. We investigate the problem of task assignment and label inference for heterogeneous classification tasks. By applying online primal-dual techniques, we derive a provably near-optimal adaptive assignment algorithm. We show that adaptively assigning workers to tasks can lead to more accurate predictions at a lower cost when the available workers are diverse.
A New Approach to the Introduction of the Sidestroke

(1972). A New Approach to the Introduction of the Sidestroke. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 68-68.
Conversational Case-Based Planning for Agent Team Coordination

This paper describes a prototype in which a conversational case-based reasoner, NaCoDAE, was agentified and inserted in the RETSINA multi-agent system. Its task was to determine agent roles within a heterogeneous society of agents, where the agents may use capability-based or team-oriented agent coordination strategies. There were three reasons for assigning this task to NaCoDAE: (1) to relieve the agents of the overhead of determining, for themselves, if they should be involved in the task, or not; (2) to convert seemingly unrelated data into contextually relevant knowledge -- as a case-based reasoning system, NaCo-DAE is particularly suited for applying apparently incoherent data to a wide variety of domain-specific situations; and (3) as a conversational CBR system, to both unobtrusively listen to human statements and to proactively dialogue with other agents in a more goal-directed approach to gathering relevant information. The cases maintained by NaCoDAE have question and answer components, which were originally intended to maintain the textual representations of questions and answers for humans. By associating agent capability descriptions and queries with the case questions, NaCoDAE also assumed the team role of a capability-based coordinator. By encoding fragments of HTN plan objectives in its case actions, we were able to convert NaCoDAE into a conversational case-based planner that served compositionally-generated HTN plan objectives, already populated with situation-relevant knowledge, for use by the RETSINA team-oriented agents.
Evidence for stem cells in the peripheral blood of mice.

Leukocytes from the peripheral blood of normal F1 hybrid mice have been successfully used to promote survival of lethally irradiated parent and closely related homologous animals. Identification of donor-type red cells and leukocytes has been established on samples of blood taken from several long-term survivors. Histologic data and serologic typing of cells from lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleens of chimeras killed early after irradiation and treatment established that injected peripheral leukocytes had transplanted and were proliferating into lymphocytes, granulocytes, and erythrocytes. Fe59 was taken up by red cells and spleens of leukocyte-injected mice but not by tissues of radiation control animals. The newly formed, Fe59-labeled erythrocytes were hemolyzed by immune serum specific for donor-type antigens.
Double Diffusive Natural Convection in a Nuclear Waste Repository

In this study, we conduct a two-dimensional numerical analysis of double diffusive natural convection in an emplacement drift for a nuclear waste repository. In-drift heat and moisture transport is driven by combined thermal- and compositional-induced buoyancy forces. Numerical results demonstrate buoyancy-driven convective flow patterns and configurations during both repository heat-up and cool-down phases. It is also shown that boundary conditions, particularly on the drip-shield surface, have strong impacts on the in-drift convective flow and transport.
Hedonic models and air pollution: Twenty-five years and counting

This paper reports a meta analysis of how effectively hedonic property models have detected the influence of air pollution on housing prices. Probit estimates are reported describing how data, model specification, and local property market conditions in cities represented in thirty-seven studies influence the ability of hedonic models to uncover negative, statistically significant relationships between housing prices and air pollution measures.
Designing the spreadsheet-based decision support systems course: An application of Bloom's taxonomy

Abstract Decision support systems (DSS) have played an important role in organizations for many years. As DSS continue to be developed for industry applications, a number of business programs in universities offer a specialized course aimed at helping students better understand and develop DSS systems to support decision making. Spreadsheet software coupled with an application programming language can serve as a useful DSS generation software package for such courses. To help students develop their technical skills for spreadsheet-based DSS, the principles underlying Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives can serve as a guiding framework for instructional design. This article describes how Bloom's taxonomy has been used to support the design of two different DSS courses, an undergraduate course and an MBA course. Student survey data collected over the past four years from students enrolled in nine sections of the DSS courses are reported. Based on the survey findings, as well as the instructor's observations, it appears that a teaching strategy based on Bloom's taxonomy offers a worthwhile framework for instructors who teach a spreadsheet-based DSS course.
Soft Elastohydrodynamic Analysis of Radial Lip Seals With Deterministic Microasperities on the Shaft

A numerical analysis is conducted to investigate the elastohydrodynamic effect of deterministic microasperities on the shaft of a lip seal. Various geometries of microasperities (triangular, square, hexagonal, and circular) are put into a 100-by-100-μm unit cell and are investigated using Reynold’s Equation. For each shape, the area fraction of the microasperity is varied between 0.2 and 0.8, and the asperity height is varied between 0.3 and 5 micron. The calculation for load capacity and friction coefficient indicates that there are values for asperity height where load capacity and friction coefficient are optimized. These optimum heights were reached at 1–3 μm. Although the lip seal surface is considered to be smooth, reverse pumping can still be obtained using an oriented triangular design. The Couette flow rate for this asperity showed lubricant is reverted back toward the seal side 2.6 times more than using a conventional lip seal. The presence of all designs in the lip seal shows significant improvement on lubrication characteristics, i.e. increasing load support and reducing friction coefficient.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Esophageal erosion 9 years after anterior cervical plate implantation.

Abstract Background Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is 1 of the most common spinal procedures performed. Most complications are observed during the intraoperative or immediate postoperative period. Long-term complications are not often described. A review of literature revealed 5 years as the longest complication interval. We present a case of esophageal erosion 9 years after initial surgery that was successfully treated. Case Description We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with recurrent pneumonia secondary to esophageal erosion almost 1 decade after anterior cervical spine surgery. This is the longest documented delay in presentation of esophageal erosion published to date. The diagnosis was made during EGD and the treatment consisted of plate removal and esophagus repair. The pertinent literature is reviewed and the therapeutic implications are discussed. Conclusions In this report, we describe an uncommon case of esophageal erosion 9 years after anterior cervical plating. In cases of hardware migration even many years after surgery or in patients with intrinsic esophageal disease, potential esophageal damage should be considered.
Indicators of surgery and survival in oncology inpatients requiring surgical evaluation for palliation

Background We sought to determine the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes associated with surgical consultation for symptom palliation in oncology inpatients.
Sustainable energy development: incentive programs

From small initiatives targeting residential customers for small installations to big projects, green programs are becoming familiar terms to customers, and many believe that such programs can ultimately make a difference in global energy portfolio. The purpose of the presentation is to offer some rationale for marketing of green power, provide a brief overview of some of the existing efforts in the United States and abroad, and attempt to identify the conditions and future trends for survival of renewable energy in the energy marketplace.
Case report: Diagnosis and hydrostatic reduction of an intussusception under ultrasound guidance

A case of ileo-colic intussusception with successful hydrostatic reduction under ultrasound guidance is reported. This has not been described previously in the literature.
Electrical, mechanical, and physical properties of denervated latissimus dorsi muscles of the chicken.

Abstract The anterior (ALD) and posterior (PLD) latissimus dorsi muscles of Cornish-cross chickens were examined after 1 wk of denervation to determine changes which might occur in their electrical and mechanical properties. Both muscles exhibited increased percentage of water and intracellular sodium concentrations, and decreased intracellular potassium concentrations. Although the denervated PLD had a relative increase in the volume of its extracellular space, the ALD experienced a relative decrease in extracellular space. The normal resting membrane potential dropped from −70 mv (ALD) and −74 mv (PLD) to −57 mv after denervation. The mechanical threshold of the ALD, determined by potassium contracture studies, occurred at a lower [K]0 in the denervated than in the control muscle; nevertheless, the resting potentials at threshold were the same. Similarly, the denervated ALD approached its maximum mechanical response at a lower [K]0 than the control muscle, but at identical membrane potentials. This implies that the role of the membrane in excitation-contraction coupling was not eliminated by denervation. However, the denervated muscle developed only one-half the tension of the control muscle which suggests a deficiency in the excitation-contraction coupling process within the muscle fiber. The relationship between the resting potential and [K]0 for the control ALD followed the Nernst equation, whereas potentials obtained from the denervated muscles were lower than predicted. This may be attributed to the effects of other ions on the resting potential, changes in the membrane permeability characteristics, or possible intracellular potassium binding.
Homophonic Hamlet: Making Hamlet Ma(i)d

(2009). Homophonic Hamlet: Making Hamlet Ma(i)d. The Explicator: Vol. 67, No. 3, pp. 209-212.
Genetic manipulation of microspores and microspore-derived embryos

Recent advances in plant cell and molecular biology have furthered the genetic manipulation of many plant species and advanced the options for crop improvement. Among the many targets for genetic manipulation, microspores offer several unique advantages: they are haploid, single-celled, and highly synchronized. In many plant species microspores develop into haploid embryos, and eventually haploid and doubled haploid plants, after in vitro anther or microspore culture. This induced in vitro developmental pathway of microspores, termed microspore embryogenesis, can be used to recover individual homozygous plants from microspores and microspore-derived embryos after genetic manipulation such as mutagenesis and gene transfer. The highly efficient microspore embryogenesis system inBrassica napus has been used successfully to obtain various mutants after microspore mutagenesis, and to achieve gene transfer mediated byAgrobacterium tumefaciens.
Thermal rearrangements of norcaradiene

Multireference ab initio methods and density functional theory with a 6-31G* basis set have been applied to study the interconversions of norbornadiene, 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, norcaradiene, and toluene. These include the [1,5]hydrogen shift in cycloheptatriene, the [1,5]carbon shift (walk rearrangement) in norcaradiene, the ring flip of cycloheptatriene, and the formation of norcaradiene from cycloheptatriene. Our best theoretical calculations for the walk rearrangement predict that the Woodward−Hoffmann “forbidden” suprafacial-inversion transition state and the “allowed” suprafacial-retention pathway differ in energy by <1 kcal/mol. Further, both transition states are effectively biradical-like. The transition state for formation of toluene from norcaradiene proceeds via a hydrogen transfer transition state that is formed directly from the “allowed” transition state for the walk rearrangement but not from the “forbidden” transition state. Further, the transition state for the transannular hydrogen shift...
The euro’s progress: macroeconomic consequences of a single currency

Puts the decline of the euro’s value following its introduction down to rapid US economic growth and the expansionary policies of the European Central Bank. Contrasts popular UK opposition to joining the euro with business pressure to do so, and suggests that the five stated conditions for entry have almost been met. Looks at economic conditions in other European countries and compares growth rates, unemployment, inflation and capital movements in the UK, USA and the eurozone. Outlines some views on the likely future of the euro and its effects on other currencies; and concludes that the macroeconomy of the eurozone “will bear continued watching”.
WE-D-I-609-04: Comparison Between PET And Bioluminescence Imaging For Quantitative Assessment Of Tumor Burden

Purpose: A number of imaging modalities have been described for the study of rodent models of human biology and disease. Several of these modalities are based on traditional clinical imaging approaches, such as MRI, CT, PET/SPECT, and can often serve as methods for validating some of the newer modalities such as bioluminescence imaging (BLI), which has shown to be a highly sensitive tool for visualizing tumors, neoplastic development, metastatic spread and response to therapy. In this report, the ability of BLI to noninvasively quantitate the growth of orthotopic rat neuroblastomas was investigated. Method and Materials: Male nude (nu/nu) mice 7 – 8 weeks of age were used in this study (N=6). Orthotopic rat neuroblastomas derived from N2A neuroblastoma cells genetically engineered to stably express firefly luciferase (N2ALuc) were implanted subcutaneously by injecting 100 μl NaCl (0.9%) containing 3×106 viable cells in the left hind flank of the mice. Tumor burden was monitored over time by quantitation of photon emission and viable tumor volume using a cryogenically cooled CCD camera and positron emission tomography (PET), respectively. Animals were injected 200uCi of 18FDG one hour before PET imaging. The viable tumor boundary was delineated on PET images using an in-house software at each time point and the tumor volume was then calculated. Results: A comparison between the BLI findings and the PET-defined tumor volume revealed a good correlation (R2=0.8) between detected photons and viable tumor volume. Conclusion: Before small animal imaging as a means to assess tumor growth and response to therapy in orthotopic tumor models, animal survival was used as the primary therapeutic end point. The ability of imaging to follow temporal changes in tumor volume and response to treatment in an individual animal provides an accurate and rapid method for assessment of experimental therapeutics.
Vector aberration theory on a spreadsheet: analysis of tilted and decentered systems

The third-order vector aberration theory developed by Roland Shack, and later extended to fifth order by Kevin Thompson, is adapted to a personal computer spreadsheet program. Several examples are given to illustrate the ease of application of this approach to the analysis, and in some cases optimization, of a variety of tilted and decentered systems. These include an afocal pupil relay system using three off-axis parabolas, a similar system where the third parabola is replaced by an off-axis ellipse, and a tilted component IR lens. The results of the spreadsheet analyses are compared with similar results obtained from a commercial lens design program.
Statistical Exploration of Matrix Hydrologic Properties for the Bandelier Tuff, Los Alamos, New Mexico

The Bandelier Tuff forms the top of the thick vadose zone at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Subsurface pathway performance or risk assessments at Los Alamos require characterizing the unsaturated hydrologic properties of the Bandelier Tuff. The objective of this study was to analyze available unsaturated zone matrix hydrologic properties data for the Bandelier Tuff from the Los Alamos area for the purpose of developing estimates of properties and parameters for modeling vadose zone flow and transport. The hydrologic properties bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and the van Genuchten equation parameters, residual and saturated water contents, α, and n , were measured or estimated from measured data. A nonparametric statistical approach was used because of the small sample size leading to nonnormal distribution of the samples. The following differences were investigated: (i) between boreholes for a given unit within a site and (ii) between sites for a given unit. Results for borehole analyses within a location found that properties were different at one location and could be combined at another. The testing between locations found that samples could be readily combined. Linear correlation analyses of the one geologic unit that was the most consistent across the Los Alamos site found that there was essentially no relationship between matrix hydrologic properties or parameters to allow surrogate properties to be used for prediction. This preliminary analysis indicated that investigations at LANL will require more detailed sampling on a site-specific basis because properties cannot be transferred or estimated with any confidence.
Influence of canine recombinant somatotropin hormone on biomechanical and biochemical properties of the medial meniscus in stifles with altered stability

Objective-To determine biomechanical and biochemical properties of the medial meniscus in a semistable stifle model and in clinical patients and to determine the effect of canine recombinant somatotropin hormone (STH) on those properties. Animals-22 healthy adult dogs and 12 dogs with meniscal damage secondary to cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture. Procedure-The CCL was transected in 15 dogs, and stifles were immediately stabilized. Implants releasing 4 mg of STH/d were placed in 7 dogs, and 8 received sham implants. Seven dogs were used as untreated controls. Force plate analysis was performed before surgery and 2, 5, and 10 weeks after surgery. After 10 weeks, dogs were euthanatized, and menisci from surgical and contralateral stifles were harvested. The torn caudal horn of the medial meniscus in dogs with CCL rupture comprised the clinical group. Creep indentation determined aggregate modulus (H A ). Poisson's ratio (v), permeability (k), and percentage recovery (%R). Water content (%W), collagen content (C), sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content, and collagen type-I (cl) and -II (cII) immunoreactivity were also determined. Results-Surgical and clinical groups had lower H A , k, %R, C, sGAG, cl, and cII and higher %W than the non-surgical group. Surgical stifles with greater weight bearing had stiffer menisci than those bearing less weight. Collagen content was higher in the surgical group receiving STH than the surgical group without STH. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Acute stabilization and moderate weight bearing of the CCL-deficient stifle appear to protect stiffness of the medial meniscus. Normal appearing menisci from CCL-deficient stifles can have alterations in biomechanical and biochemical properties, which may contribute to meniscal failure.
Distributed fuzzy logic price negotiation in market based multi-agent control

Market-based models in Multi-Agent systems that use fuzzy logic are not new ideas, but most solutions focus on learning and optimization without regards to the resilience of the system. In this paper we present two agent fuzzy inference systems that enable producer and consumer agents in the market to negotiate on the price of the desired resource until a unique allocation is achieved. By constraining consumers to a budget and providing redundant producers capable of meeting market demand under stress conditions, fuzzy price negotiation allows consumer agents to reason alternative solutions should a producing agent fail in the market.
A Mediation Model for Dynamic Literacy Instruction

Jerome Bruner (1987) remarked that Vygotsky's conception of development was also a theory of education. It is a dynamic theory of learning and teaching: the learning evolves through the teaching; and, at the same time, the teaching evolves through the learning. I shall here present a mediation model for dynamic literacy instruction that applies this idea to classroom research and makes it accessible to, and functional for, teachers.
How Perceptions of an Intervention Program Affect Outcomes

Goals for Health was a National Cancer Institute funded program designed to impact health behaviors of adolescents living in rural Virginia and New York. This study examined three specific objectives: (a) to examine participants' perceptions of the program components and the relationship between program components and overall program perception, (b) to examine whether subgroups of our participant population perceived the program differently, and (c) to examine whether having positive perceptions of the program predicted changes in program outcomes. Results indicated that program components were significantly related to program perceptions. Perceptions of the program did not differ by subgroup and program perceptions significantly predicted changes in tobacco attitudes and self-efficacy about eating behaviors. Given these findings, school consultants should become aware of how implementation of a program and perceptions of a program may impact program outcomes.
Real-world MVD's

According to database theory, a database designer can specify any set of data dependencies, no matter how complex, to constrain a database scheme. This paper investigates how much complexity is actually needed in real-world situations. It is shown that every "natural" set of mvd's must belong to a class of mvd's called conflict-free. Conflict-free sets of mvd's have the desirable property that they allow a unique 4NF dependency preserving database scheme; moreover, non conflict-free sets have no such normalization. If a set of mvd's is not conflict-free, then the dependencies are inadequately specified; there are semantic concepts that are unrepresented in the scheme. These concepts are isolated, and it is shown that adding these concepts amounts to making the set of mvd's conflict-free.
The interpretation of burden among pueblo Indian caregivers

Abstract Caregiver burden is a key construct in gerontological research, however, burden measures are rarely evaluated for their cultural validity. This study used focus groups (N = 33 participants) to elicit Pueblo Indian family caregivers' interpretations of an existing burden scale. Qualitative analysis of the focus group discussions on the relevance of the 22 scale items revealed similarities and differences with non-Indian endorsements of these burden constructs. Items measuring the strains created by caregiving within the extended family were emphasized, whereas items reflecting the importance of individual concerns were seen as less important. Findings are discussed in terms of the Pueblo cultural orientation to elder care.
Proximal aortic control in traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta

A technique is described for gaining proximal control of a ruptured thoracic aorta that avoids entering the hematoma while providing a deep medial corner suitable for sewing in a graft.
Gentian violet and ferric ammonium citrate disrupt Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

Objective/Hypothesis: Bacterial biofilms are resistant to antibiotics and may contribute to persistent infections including chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma. Discovery of substances to disrupt biofilms is necessary to treat these chronic infections. Gentian violet (GV) and ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms to determine if either substance can reduce biofilm volume. Study Design: The biofilm volume and planktonic growth of PAO1 and otopathogenic P. aeruginosa (OPPA8) isolated from an infected cholesteatoma was measured in the presence of GV or FAC. Methods: OPPA8 and PAO1 expressing a green fluorescent protein plasmid (pMRP9-1) was inoculated into a glass flow chamber. Biofilms were grown under low flow conditions for 48 hours and subsequently exposed to either GV or FAC for an additional 24 hours. Biofilm formation was visualized by confocal laser microscopy and biofilm volume was assayed by measuring fluorescence. Planktonic cultures were grown under standard conditions with GV or FAC. Statistical analysis was performed by Student t test and one-way ANOVA. Results: GV reduced PAO1 and OPPA8 biofilm volume (P < .01). GV delayed the onset and rate of logarithmic growth in both strains. FAC reduced OPPA8 biofilm volume (P < .01), but did not effect of PAO1 biofilms. FAC had no effect on planktonic growth. Conclusions: The efficacy of GV in disrupting biofilms in vitro suggests that it may disrupt biofilms in vivo. The effect of FAC on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms is strain dependent. Strain differences in response to increasing iron concentration and biofilm morphology stress the importance of studying clinically isolated strains in testing antibiofilm agents.
‘Rocky Mountain Talent Search’ at the University of Denver

The ‘Rocky Mountain Talent Search’ (RMTS) at the University of Denver was developed based on the talent search model developed by Dr Julian Stanley of Johns Hopkins University. This article summarizes the establishment of RMTS and outlines its contemporary programs. Guided by the philosophy that gifted students have unique needs, require academic challenge and crave interaction with their intellectual peers, the RMTS program continues to offer assessment, recognition and summer enrichment programs for academically gifted students. Now in its 23 year, RMTS is flourishing and expanding its offerings annually.
T cell receptor (TCR) BV gene repertoires and clonal expansions of CD4 cells in patients with HIV infections

Despite extensive investigation, the pathogenesis of T cell depletions that characterize AIDS has not been elucidated. To study this process further, we evaluated T cell antigen receptor beta-chain variable gene (TCRBV) repertoires in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 23 HIV-infected patients. Expression levels of 28 TCRBV were determined by multiprobe RNase protection assay after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications. Abnormal expansions (> 2 s.d. from mean normal values) were frequent in HIV CD4, accounting for 26% of total measured TCRBV in this population. The number and magnitude of abnormalities among individuals were inversely proportional to their CD4 counts (P < 0.012 and P < 0.01, respectively). While abnormalities were not randomly distributed among TCRBV subfamilies, no particular genes were expanded or contracted among all patients. Only 14% of CD8 TCRBV were proportionally expanded (P < 0.01 compared with CD4), and there were limited concordances between paired CD8 and CD4 repertoires among individuals. CDR3 length analyses and TCRBV sequencing showed that most CD4 expansions comprised clonal or oligoclonal populations. Thus, T cell responses in HIV patients are characterized by severe TCRBV biases and clonal expansions among CD4 subsets, and these processes are exaggerated with disease progression. The heterogeneity and oligoclonality of the TCRBV expansions are consistent with responses to HIV-encoded or other conventional antigens rather than superantigenic effects. The presence of CD4 clonal proliferations in these patients may be important in the pathogenesis of HIV, and the absence or reduction of many T cell specificities due to oligoclonal expansions may increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections.