cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mrs: high performance mapreduce for iterative and asynchronous algorithms in Python

Mrs [1] is a lightweight Python-based MapReduce implementation designed to make MapReduce programs easy to write and quick to run, particularly useful for research and academia. A common set of algorithms that would benefit from Mrs are iterative algorithms, like those frequently found in machine learning; however, iterative algorithms typically perform poorly in the MapReduce framework, meaning potentially poor performance in Mrs as well.Therefore, we propose four modifications to the original Mrs with the intent to improve its ability to perform iterative algorithms. First, we used direct task-to-task communication for most iterations and only occasionally write to a distributed file system to preserve fault tolerance. Second, we combine the reduce and map tasks which span successive iterations to eliminate unnecessary communication and scheduling latency. Third, we propose a generator-callback programming model to allow for greater flexibility in the scheduling of tasks. Finally, some iterative algorithms are naturally expressed in terms of asynchronous message passing, so we propose a fully asynchronous variant of MapReduce.We then demonstrate Mrs' enhanced performance in the context of two iterative applications: particle swarm optimization (PSO), and expectation maximization (EM).
Interpreting model discovery and testing generalization to a new dataset.

Automated techniques have proven useful for improving models of student learning even beyond the best human-generated models. There has been concern among the EDM community about whether small prediction improvements matter. We argue that they can be quite significant when they are interpretable and actionable, but the importance of generating meaningful, validated, and generalizable interpretations from machine-model discoveries has been under-emphasized in educational data mining. Here, we interpret a Learning Factors Analysis model discovery from a geometry dataset to suggest that students experienced difficulty applying the square root operation in circlearea backward problem steps. We then sought to validate and generalize this interpretation in the context of a completely novel dataset. Results indicated that our interpretation of the small, automated prediction improvement not only held up in the context of a novel dataset but also generalized to new types of problems that didn’t exist in the original dataset. We argue that identifying cognitive interpretations of automated model discoveries and assessing the generalizability of such interpretations are critical to translating those model discoveries to concrete improvements in instructional design.
Animal Models of Focal Ischemia

Ischemic stroke is a highly heterogeneous disease with variation in size, location, and cause of occlusion. In addition, differences in underlying comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, and aging, and sex-specific sensitivity to ischemia make replicating this condition in one animal model impossible. Yet animal models have and will continue to be an integral and important part of understanding stroke pathophysiology and in developing treatments. Understanding the strengths and limitations of the different models of focal ischemia as well as experimental and physiological variables that influence stroke outcome are critical to successful use of these models.
DLSTM approach to video modeling with hashing for large-scale video retrieval

Although Query-by-Example techniques based on Euclidean distance in a multidimensional feature space have proved to be effective for image databases, this approach cannot be effectively applied to video since the number of dimensions would be massive due to the richness and complexity of video data. The above issue has been addressed in two recent solutions, namely Deterministic Quantization (DQ) and Dynamic Temporal Quantization (DTQ). DQ divides the video into equal segments and extracts a visual feature vector for each segment. The bag-of-word feature is then encoded by hashing to facilitate approximate nearest neighbor search using Hamming distance. One weakness of this approach is the deterministic segmentation of video data. DTQ improves on this by using dynamic video segmentation to obtain varied-length video segments. As a result, feature vectors extracted from these video segments can better capture the semantic content of the video. To support very large video databases, it is desirable to minimize the number of segments in order to keep the size of the feature representation as small as possible. We achieve this by using only one video segment (i.e., no video data segmentation is even necessary) with even better retrieval performance. Our scheme models video using differential long short-term memory (DLSTM) recurrent neural networks and obtains a highly compact fixed-size feature representation with the output of hidden states of the DLSTM. Each of these features are further compressed by hashing them into binary bits via quantization. Experimental results based on two public data sets, UCF101 and MSRActionPairs, indicate that the proposed video modeling technique outperforms DTQ by a significant margin.
Quantitation of carbohydrate sweeteners and organic acids in human oral fluid using HPLC analysis

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of carbohydrate sweeteners and organic acids in oral fluid. To separate these compounds, an ion-moderated partition resin HPLC column (Aminex HPX-87H) was used. All components of the HPLC system were interconnected using stainless steel capillary tubing. Isocratic elution with 0.01 N sulfuric acid provided the profile of both compound classes. The compounds were detected using a refractive index detector. The method employed computerized data collection and integration (Omega-2 system) with a detection sensitivity of 0.1 µg compound per HPLC assay (80 µl). This method is useful in caries research, because it detects minute amounts of sugars and organic acids in oral fluid during clearance studies of various foods in the mouth.
Availability of a sports dietitian may lead to improved performance and recovery of NCAA division I baseball athletes.

The purpose was to survey dietary habits (DH) and nutrient timing (NT) practices of baseball student-athletes (mean ± SD; 20.7 ± 1.4 yr.) from three NCAA Division I institutions, and examine the effect of a sports dietitian (SD) in regard to nutrition practices. Descriptive statistics and Pearson X 2 analyses were run. Responses on 10 DH and 5 NT items differed (p ≤ 0.10) between athletes who sought dietary planning from a SD (n = 36) versus those who consulted a strength and conditioning coach (SCC, n = 42). In regard to DH items, the SD group found it easier to eat before activity (92% vs. 71%, p = 0.03), did not consume fast food (31% vs. 14%, p = 0.02), caffeinated beverages (57% vs. 46%, p = 0.02), or soda (56% vs. 37%, p = 0.10), prepared their own meals more often (86% vs. 73%, p = 0.07), and took daily multi-vitamins (56% vs. 32%, p = 0.02). The SCC group ate more at burger locations (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.02). In regard to NT items, the SD group ate breakfast before training/lifting sessions (67% vs. 37%, p = 0.02), and had post-workout nutrition options provided (61% vs. 27%, p = 0.01). The SCC group reported pre-competition meals of fast food (58% vs. 45%, p = 0.01), and sport coaches who were less aware of healthy food options (39% vs. 65%, p = 0.05). The SD is as a valuable asset to an intercollegiate athletics program. In the current study, athletes from the SD group consumed less high calorie/low nutrient dense items, ate before exercise, and consumed healthier options post-exercise. The presence of a SD was linked to provision of healthier food options during team trips. The evidence-based eating strategies and dietary plan provided by a SD may lead to improved performance and recovery.
Inconsistent device use in pediatric cochlear implant users: Prevalence and risk factors.

Objectives: Cochlear implants (CIs) afford an opportunity for children with a significant hearing loss to access spoken language through auditory input, but challenges post-implantation could imped...
Herbivory and a Simple Field Test for Total Phenolics in Trees

Many deciduous and coniferous trees contain varying levels of phenolics, including tannins. “Blackwater rivers” in forested areas of the world, such as the Amazon basin or the southern United States, carry phenolics (tannins) leached out of trees. Such rivers differ in plant and animal life from “whitewater rivers.” The biological functions of such plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) have been debated for a long time. They often have antimicrobial functions, but also serve as repellents and feeding inhibitors against herbivorous insects and vertebrates, notably birds and mammals. Animals have evolved many mechanisms to cope with phenolics in their diet. These start with food processing. For instance, beavers consume experimental sticks of the phenolics-rich witch hazel only after leaving them in the water for 2–3 days, apparently to leach out unpalatable compounds (Muller-Schwarze et al. 2001). Many birds and mammals eat clay to adsorb phenolics so they never will be absorbed in the intestines. If they are taken up in the blood stream, such PSMs will eventually be rendered harmless by oxidation and other processes, followed by conjugation, in the liver. They then will be excreted in the urine. The levels of phenolics vary with plant parts and season. Most valuable parts such as buds, flowers, and catkins are more heavily defended. For the winter, more phenolics are translocated to the bark. This is thought to intensify defense at a time when the tree is dormant and cannot respond to herbivore damage by wound healing and regrowth. Among the phenolic glycosides, salicin (saligenin glycoside) and salicortin occur in the bark of willow (Salix spp.) and “poplar” (Populus spp.), tremulacin in the bark of P. tremula and P. tremuloides. The heartwood of P. tremuloides contains tremulone and related compounds.
Burners and Stingers

The burner or stinger syndrome is one of the most common injuries seen in sports medicine. It has been reported to affect more than 65% of college football players. Athletes describe a burning or stinging pain that radiates down one upper limb. Symptoms are usually temporary, lasting only a few minutes, but can be recurrent and lead to permanent neurologic deficits. Burners are primarily believed to be either an upper cervical root (C5 or C6), or upper brachial plexus trunk injury, but an injured peripheral nerve can cause similar symptoms. Early recognition, proper diagnosis, and appropriate management can help ensure a quick recovery and prevent a more catastrophic event.
Strategies to Modify School-Based Foods to Lower Obesity and Disease Risk

• School-based interventions to modify dietary practices in children are generally supported as a means to reduce obesity and to combat obesity-related disease.
An integrative model for short-term treatment.

Approaches to interpersonal helping continue to proliferate with literally hundreds of overlapping and competing models currently on the clinical scene. Although therapists, researchers, and clinicians have striven diligently to identify which models may be best suited for which clients, problems, and so forth, these efforts have as yet produced little that is definitive, at least little that is backed by persuasive evidence. These developments have sparked a continuing movement toward eclecticism in practice as well as the rise of “integrative” practice models. The essential function of integrative models is to provide ways of synthesizing this diversity for purposes of practice, training, and research. Although the syntheses they offer are inevitably partial and selective, they can present theoretical horizons and technical combinations not found in single models.
Vertical profiles of Volcanic Aerosol and Polar Stratospheric Clouds Above Kiruna, Sweden: Winters 1993 and 1995

Vertical profiles of aerosol were measured in February 1993, and January - March 1995 using balloon-borne particle counters released from Kiruna, Sweden. Condensation nuclei (CN) and aerosol with radii ≥ 0.15 - 10.0 µm were measured in 8-12 size classes. The three flights in 1993 were within the polar vortex. Temperatures were below polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) threshold temperatures on one flight and a thin PSC was observed. The volcanic aerosol in the 1993 vortex was similar to that in 1992. In 1993, surface areas were 10 - 20 µm2 cm-3 and volumes 1 - 3 µm3 cm-3. In 1995 three of five flights were within the polar vortex. The volcanic aerosol had decreased to 3 - 7 µm2 cm-3 and 0.1 - 0.4 µm3 cm-3. The top of the volcanic aerosol layer in both years was near 500 K potential temperature (~20 km). A thick nitric acid and water PSC was observed in January 1995. In the thickest region of this PSC nearly all CN were observed to be activated, and surface areas of 5 - 10 µm2 cm-3 were calculated. The volumes observed in this PSC were closer to what would be expected for particles composed of nitric acid trihydrate than for ternary solution droplets. In 1993 the opposite was observed, the volumes in the thin PSC were closer to what would be expected for ternary solution droplets.
Genetic Algorithm Based Design Optimization Of CMOS VLSI Circuits

The proliferation of portable and hand-held electronics combined with increasing packaging costs is forcing circuit designers to adopt low power design methodologies. Low power designs of microprocessors and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) result in increased battery life and improved reliability. In this paper, we examine the application of genetic algorithms to the low-power design of combinational logic. In particular, we consider the use of genetic algorithms for the optimization of standard cell based designs which account for 20–50% of a typical microprocessor die size. Our algorithm optimizes a user-specified function of delay, power, and area under performance constraints. Empirically, we find that the run time for our algorithm scales linearly with circuit size. In our extensive benchmark suite, this algorithm has reduced power by 17% on the average and as much as 24% on some circuits.
Fed-batch culture of Sf-9 cells supports 3 3 10 7 cells per ml and improves baculovirus-expressed recombinant protein yields

Yields of cell and baculovirus-expressed recombinant protein in Sf-9 cultures were improved using fed-batch addition of glucose, amino acids, lipids, yeastolate ultrafiltrate, vitamins, iron and trace metals. Using this approach, the highest maximum cell and recombinant b-galactosidase volumetric yields obtained, 3 3 10 .ml and 900 units.ml , respectively, were both approximately triple their respective values in unamended cultures.
Cultural contexts of individualism vs. collectivism: Exploring the relationships between family bonding, supervision and deviance:

The primary focus of this paper is to test the cross-national generalizability of the relationship between parental attachment and delinquency. Countries were divided on individualistic and collect...
Assessing Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression

Pediatric bipolar disorder and major depression are topics which have received a marked increase in attention by the mental health community in recent years. This group of disorders, when present, is very serious and debilitating. Also, symptoms can wax and wane for many years. Thus, identification and treatment are very important. One of the greatest concerns regarding this mental health condition is misidentification, often through the application of symptoms that do not truly represent pediatric mood disorders . A variety of symptoms have been reported in the literature. A brief review of the behaviors which have been described in the literature to characterize pediatric mood disorders follows. This section is followed by relevant topics in diagnosis and methods used to identify major depression and bipolar disorder.
Effects of Backscattered Electrons on Multipactor Simulations with Parallel Magnetic Fields

Multipactor breakdown is highly dependent on the precise secondary electron properties of the electrode materials and these properties are often subject to some uncertainty. The sensitivity of the multipactor breakdown threshold to various coefficients for the number of reflected electrons compared to true secondaries is modeled using a particle tracking numerical code. This analysis is performed both with and without a confining magnetic field parallel to the RF electric field. The simulations show that the breakdown threshold is sensitive to the fraction of backscattered electrons in the SEY curve. In the presence of a confining magnetic field, the addition of reflected electrons in the simulation tool accounts for breakdown threshold reductions seen in previous experimental work, but not previously seen in numerical modeling.
Presidents Abroad: The Politics of Personal Diplomacy:

A president’s most precious commodity is time, and nowhere is this scarcity more apparent than with respect to international travel. Personal presidential involvement in diplomatic relations has pr...
Considerations for Immunohistochemistry

Although immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been known and applied for decades, major advances such as robotic sample processing, digital slide image capture, and innovative computerized data analysis uphold the relevance of the technology in current laboratory practice. In keeping with this notion, the expression of a protein by a given tissue or cell can be readily defined using methods like immunoblotting or mass spectrometry. However, when it comes to assessing the microenvironmental location and potential cellular connections, only IHC can provide the pathophysiological spatial context. Thus, IHC enables the selective localization and visualization of protein antigens in tissue sections by means of antigen-specific antibodies that are conjugated to selective fluorescent or enzymatic tags, which can be readily revealed by fluorescence microscopy or chemically pigmented reactions. Since IHC relies on the highly specific antigen and antibody interactions, the technology can be used to identify cell or tissue antigens that range from amino acids and proteins to infectious agents and specific cellular populations and their relevant functional properties, thus underscoring its critical application as a key research/diagnostic tool for investigators studying animal or human tissues. With well-developed tests and controls, correct procedure, and equipment, IHC can be used to analyze a wide variety of cell and tissue structures, processes, and functions, such as cell cycle analysis and tissue protein binding in health and disease. Notably, these applications were previously inaccessible by traditional histochemistry staining techniques, which only identified a limited number of proteins and tissue structures. In the past, this process was semiquantitative at best, but new advances are making it possible to obtain quantitative results using IHC. The present chapter reviews the history and applications of IHC, basic principles, techniques, troubleshooting, analysis, and data interpretation. This chapter will further cover the latest innovations in IHC slide preparation and labeling for advanced diagnostic and prognostic applications, such as CyTOF and laser capture microdissection, which allows high-throughput quantitative methods of proteomics, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and genomics on selective cells and tissue regions.
Hydroformylation of olefins with the water soluble HRh(CO)[P(m-C6H4SO3Na)3]3 in supported aqueous-phase. Is it really aqueous?

The hydroformylation of olefins with the water soluble complex HRh(CO) [P(m-C6H4SO3Na)3]3 (1) is dependent on the solubility of the olefins in the aqueous phase. In contrast, when the aqueous solution of1 is immobilized on a high surface area silica support the effects of the size of the olefins diminish. The immobilized catalyst1 on silica shows significant water loss but not rhodium leaching. It is proposed that the hydrophilic support holds the water soluble phosphines by hydrogen bonding of the hydrated sodium-sulphonate groups to the surface.
Similarity Theory in the Surface Layer of Large-Eddy Simulations of the Wind-, Wave-, and Buoyancy-Forced Southern Ocean

AbstractMonin–Obukhov similarity theory is applied to the surface layer of large-eddy simulations (LES) of deep Southern Ocean boundary layers. Observations from the Southern Ocean Flux Station pro...
Near-Infrared Intraoperative Imaging Can Successfully Identify Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a deadly disease. Complete surgical resection provides patients with the best opportunity for long-term survival. Unfortunately, identification of disease during r...
Introduction to special issue of contemporary justice review on reimagining restorative justice

Restorative justice (RJ) is expanding in the United States and other Western countries as both a philosophical and practical approach for responding to harm. This seems to reflect an increasingly o...
An analytical model to evaluate reminders for medication adherence.

Abstract Objectives Several interventions have been proposed to improve medication adherence including those using reminders. The performance of reminders, including effectiveness and side effects, varies widely in different settings. We must study this for improving decision making on how, when, and where to use what type of reminders. Methods Analytical modeling is an effective and low-cost method to derive preliminary or intermediate results and insights for further study of interventions for medication adherence. We developed an analytical model that can be used to evaluate the performance of reminders in various settings, including effectiveness, side effects, and healthcare cost savings for medication adherence. Results Context-aware reminders perform better than simple reminders for willing patients even when they completely rely on reminders for taking their doses. Simple reminders lead to more side effects than context-aware reminders. Further, context-aware reminders generate more healthcare savings without side effects and a comparable cost of the intervention. The results contribute to an improved understanding of reminders and are used to derive a set of guidelines for patients, healthcare professionals, decision-makers, and mobile app developers. Conclusions The proposed model is a low cost and effective tool to derive results and insights for the use of reminders in different settings to improve medication adherence. Therefore, the model can be utilized as a decision-making tool for deciding whether to pursue an RCT on healthcare interventions. The analytical model can be extended for complex scenarios of multiple interdependent medications, adaptation with patients’ condition and behavior, and composite interventions.
Novel Use of Subcostal Polyethylene Bands to Manage Tumor-Related Scoliosis Requiring Serial Imaging: A Case Report.

CASE A 16-year-old male patient with severe kyphoscoliosis, paraplegia, and neurogenic bowel/bladder caused by a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma was treated surgically using a hybrid fusion construct with polyethylene bands after neoplasm resection. Owing to the necessity of serial postoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies to evaluate the recurrence of pathology and known effect of metal artifact from spinal instrumentation, preservation of radiographic resolution was critical. CONCLUSION We describe the novel utility of polyethylene bands placed around the ribs as a safe and effective form of hybrid construct for reducing radiographic metal artifact in spinal deformity cases requiring serial imaging.
The scope of tobacco cessation randomized controlled trials in low- to middle-income countries: Protocol for a scoping review

Tobacco consumption is the leading cause of preventable death globally. The global mortality burden of tobacco use lies predominantly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). There is much evidence on the effectiveness of tobacco cessation RCTs in high-income nations. However, the evidence base in LMICs is far more limited. To effectively design randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that mitigate tobacco-related harms in LMICs, further understanding of RCTs in this environment will be helpful. We will provide quality evidence regarding the scope of tobacco cessation RCTs in LMICs. A scoping review of tobacco cessation RCTs will be conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science and Sociological Abstracts will be searched to capture current literature. We will review RCTs that have already been done on tobacco cessation in the LMICs. The key outcome will be tobacco cessation in adults. Examples of the key outcome include smoking abstinence and reduction of tobacco use. Study selection will conform to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and study quality assessed with a modified version of the Cochrane Collaboration’s instrument. As researchers attempt to minimize the harms from tobacco in LMICs, they need to be aware of scientific evidence to develop RCTs to achieve their aim. The review will complement the evidence base on tobacco cessation in LMICs.
Salmonella enterica's "Choice": Itaconic Acid Degradation or Bacteriocin Immunity Genes

Itaconic acid is an immunoregulatory metabolite produced by macrophages in response to pathogen invasion. It also exhibits antibacterial activity because it is an uncompetitive inhibitor of isocitrate lyase, whose activity is required for the glyoxylate shunt to be operational. Some bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, encode enzymes that can degrade itaconic acid and therefore eliminate this metabolic inhibitor. Studies, primarily with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium, have demonstrated the presence of similar genes in this pathogen and the importance of these genes for the persistence of the pathogen in murine hosts. This minireview demonstrates that, based on Blast searches of 1063 complete Salmonella genome sequences, not all Salmonella serovars possess these genes. It is also shown that the growth of Salmonella isolates that do not possess these genes is sensitive to the acid under glucose-limiting conditions. Interestingly, most of the serovars without the three genes, including serovar Typhi, harbor DNA at the corresponding genomic location that encodes two open reading frames that are similar to bacteriocin immunity genes. It is hypothesized that these genes could be important for Salmonella that finds itself in strong competition with other Enterobacteriacea in the intestinal tract-for example, during inflammation.
Modeling the Reciprocal Relationships Between Group-Based Developmental Trajectories of Peer Delinquency and Self-Reported Delinquency During Adolescence: An Application of Interactional Theory:

This study examines whether one’s own delinquency and peer delinquency are reciprocally related and how prior delinquency and bonding variables influence peer delinquency trajectories. Using data f...
Quantization for spectral super-resolution.

We show that the method of distributed noise-shaping beta-quantization offers superior performance for the problem of spectral super-resolution with quantization whenever there is redundancy in the number of measurements. More precisely, we define the oversampling ratio $\lambda$ as the largest integer such that $\lfloor M/\lambda\rfloor - 1\geq 4/\Delta$, where $M$ denotes the number of Fourier measurements and $\Delta$ is the minimum separation distance associated with the atomic measure to be resolved. We prove that for any number $K\geq 2$ of quantization levels available for the real and imaginary parts of the measurements, our quantization method combined with either TV-min/BLASSO or ESPRIT guarantees reconstruction accuracy of order $O(M^{1/2}\lambda^{1/2} K^{- \lambda/2})$ and $O(M^{1/2} \lambda^{3/2} K^{- \lambda})$ respectively, where the implicit constants are independent of $M$, $K$ and $\lambda$. In contrast, naive rounding or memoryless scalar quantization for the same alphabet offers a guarantee of order $O(M^{-1}K^{-1})$ only, regardless of the reconstruction algorithm.
Debt, Control, and Collusion

Partial ownership of stock in multiple competing firms is an important scholarly and policy topic in both corporate and antitrust law. Until now, the discussion has focused on ownership. This essay shifts the debate from a focus on common ownership to a focus on common control. No prior work has addressed the role of debt-related corporate control in corporate governance and competition, but debt-control-based governance is a critical part of the corporate landscape. Further, various creditors can exert control over more than one company in the same industry without any ownership. These insights in the corporate finance and bankruptcy law literatures have not penetrated antitrust debates or policy. Applying such insights, this essay suggests that a fundamental change in antitrust policy is necessary to police against debt-control-based collusion.
Multimedia in Teacher-Directed and Student-Centered Mathematics Classrooms

Teacher-directed classrooms are defined as traditional classrooms in which the teacher is the main source for students’ gain of knowledge. Student-centered classrooms are centered on learner needs that direct learning. Multimedia is a tool used in classrooms to support students in the learning process. With the rise in need for developing critical thinking skills and mathematics language learning, it is important to investigate multimedia in teacher-directed and student-centered classrooms. The literature review serves as the purpose to promote teachers’ knowledge on developing mathematics lessons that incorporate multimedia. With the use of multimedia in mathematics lessons, learner needs can be supported when developing mathematics language and critical thinking skills. A literature search was conducted to examine multimedia in teacher-directed and student-centered mathematics classrooms. Theories were addressed to serve as the foundation for teacher-directed and student-centered instruction. Furthermore, theories were addressed to support the use of multimedia in mathematics classrooms. Literature were examined through multiple databases for teacher-directed and student-centered instruction. Furthermore, literature was examined on the use of multimedia for learning in mathematics classrooms. Strategies are discussed for integrating multimedia into mathematics classrooms to develop mathematics language and critical thinking skills. Future research should examine multimedia with different instructional practices in mathematics classrooms. Furthermore, future research can indicate how these instructional practices can conjointly lead to student achievement. Problems to overcome with future studies on the use of multimedia with instructional practices are discussed. Recommendations are made for expanding teacher knowledge and skills on use of multimedia to develop students’ mathematics language and critical thinking skills.
Enthalpy of formation of LixCoO2 (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.0)

Single-phase 03-type Li x CoO 2 (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) samples were synthesized by chemically extracting lithium from LiCoO 2 with an oxidizer, NO 2 BF 4 , in acetonitrile medium under an argon atmosphere. The enthalpy of formationof Li x CoO 2 at 298 K was determined by high-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry. The enthalpy of formation from binary oxides plus oxygen for Li x CoO 2 at 298 K varies linearly with x, and Li x CoO 2 becomes energetically less stable with decreasing x. From the linear trend, the enthalpies of formation for 03-type CoO 2 and monoclinic Li 0 . 5 CoO 2 were estimated. Monoclinic Li 0 . 5 CoO 2 is energetically more stable than the undistorted 03-type Li 0 . 5 CoO 2 . For CoO 2 , the energetic stability decreases in the order O1 > P3 > 03.
The reaction of carbazole with carbohydrates: I. Effect of borate and sulfamate on the carbazole color of sugars

Abstract The reaction of carbazole with hexuronic acids or with polymers containing hexuronic acid in H 2 SO 4 develops more rapidly and has greater color when it proceeds at higher temperatures. However, non-specific interference due to sugars is greater at higher temperatures. Borate increases the carbazole color with hexuronic acids and with glycosaminoglycans (GAG), but not with galactose and mannose. Sulfamate supresses the carbazole reaction with hexoses under conditions in which it may or may not depress the color yield with hexuronic acids or GAG. The combination of borate and sulfamate increased the sensitivity and assured the specificity of the carbazole reaction with hexuronic acids. The duration of heating prior to the carbazole reaction is critical. The difference in the kinetics of the carbazole reaction permits the separate estimation of heparin and chondroitin sulfate A and C in the presence of each other.
Catecholamine toxicity in cerebral cortex in dissociated cell culture.

Identification of endogenous toxins and characterization of the mechanisms by which toxins produce cell injury and death may help understand both normal modeling of cell populations and connections in the CNS as well as abnormal cell loss. The toxicity of catecholamines intrinsic to the CNS was investigated using the model system of rat cerebral cortex in dissociated cell culture. All catecholamines tested, including norepinephrine (NE), dopamine, and epinephrine, were toxic to neurons as well as glia at a concentration of 25 microM when added to cultures 24 hr after plating. Toxicity was evident after 48 hr exposure to NE, as monitored by loss of cells from the cultures. Toxicity did not seem to be mediated by adrenergic receptors because, although the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (but not the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine) was similar in its toxic effect to NE, the beta- adrenergic antagonist atenolol did not block the toxic effect of NE. Toxicity could be mimicked by hydrogen peroxide, a product of the oxidative degradation of catecholamines. Toxicity of NE was blocked by catalase. The neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), supposedly selective for catecholaminergic neurons, was found to be toxic over the same concentration range as NE. These results suggest that endogenous catecholamines may play a role in normal and abnormal cell death, and suggest that caution be used in relying on the specificity of 6-OHDA and other supposedly selective neurotoxins.
Using Consistent Subcuts for Detecting Stable Properties

We present a general protocol for detecting whether a property holds in a distributed system, where the property is a member of a subclass of stable properties we call the locally stable properties. Our protocol is based on a decentralized method of constructing a maximal subset of the local states that are mutually consistent, which in turn is based on a weakened version of vector time stamps. The structure of our protocol lends itself to refinement, and we demonstrate its utility by deriving some specialized property-detection protocols, including two previously-known protocols that are known to be efficient.
Masseter inhibitory periods and sensations evoked by electrical tooth pulp stimulation in patients with oral-facial pain and mandibular dysfunction

The masseter inhibitory period (silent period) and sensations evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation were examined in 12 healthy subjects and 12 patients with oral-facial pain and mandibular dysfunction (MPD). Trains of 30 pulses were applied to an upper incisor and the threshold intensities for detecting sensation, for detecting pain sensation and for the masseter inhibitory period were determined. Masseter activity was monitored during tooth stimulation by electromyographic recordings from surface electrodes. Electrical tooth stimulation elicited three different configurations of masseter inhibitory periods in both groups: single, double and merged. MPD patients exhibited a greater proportion of single inhibitory periods. The combined average total durations of the three types of configurations were less in MPD. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there is an increase in excitability of the central masseter motorneuron pool in MPD, resulting in a reduction in the effective duration of the masseter inhibitory period. The higher incidence of single inhibitory periods in MPD patients also could result from this increased central excitatory state. There was no difference between masseter inhibitory periods evoked in either painful or non-painful muscles, and no particular configuration associated with pain sensation. The findings do not support the hypothesis that nociceptive input contributes to the increase in duration of the silent period in MPD. Although there were no significant differences between masseter inhibitory period threshold, detection thresholds or pain threshold for both groups, MPD patients had detection thresholds higher than their masseter inhibitory thresholds. These effects may be related to differential central neural influences on sensory-discriminative and reflex pathways in the trigeminal system.
An inventory of interpersonal style.

Summary The aim of the report is to present data regarding the Interpersonal Style Inventory (ISI-B). Fourteen hypothesized bipolar dimensions of personality are identified in 370 men and 471 women. Six more inclusive higher-order factors were also found in both sexes. These are Extroversion vs. Introversion, Socialized vs. Unsocialized, Independent vs. Dependent, Structure Seeking vs. Avoidance, Stable vs. Neurotic, and Tempo. A discriminant function analysis indicates that the ISI distinguishes between working adults, college students, outpatient neurotics, and prisoners of both sexes. Evidence of the concurrent validity of the scales is also presented.
Investigating the Differential Effectiveness of a Batterer Treatment Program on Outcomes for African American and Caucasian Batterers

Objective: This study (a) evaluated a batterer intervention program (BIP) by investigating changes in psychological variables (i.e., truthfulness, violence, lethality, control, alcohol use, drug us...
Tridentate Copper Ligand Influences on Heme−Peroxo−Copper Formation and Properties: Reduced, Superoxo, and μ-Peroxo Iron/Copper Complexes

In cytochrome c oxidase synthetic modeling studies, we recently reported a new mu-eta2:eta2-peroxo binding mode in the heteronuclear heme/copper complex [(2L)Fe(III)-(O2(2-))-CuII]+ (6) which is effected by tridentate copper chelation (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 12716). To establish fundamental coordination and O2-reactivity chemistry, we have studied and describe here (i) the structure and dioxygen reactivity of the copper-free compound (2L)FeII (1), (ii) detailed spectroscopic properties of 6 in comparisons with those of known mu-eta2:eta1 heme-peroxo-copper complexes, (iii) formation of 6 from the reactions of [(2L)FeIICuI]+ (3) and dioxygen by stopped-flow kinetics, and (iv) reactivities of 6 with CO and PPh3. In the absence of copper, 1 serves as a myoglobin model compound possessing a pyridine-bound five-coordinate iron(II)-porphyrinate which undergoes reversible dioxygen binding. Oxygenation of 3 below -60 degrees C generates the heme-peroxo-copper complex 6 with strong antiferromagnetic coupling between high-spin iron(III) and copper(II) to yield an S = 2 spin system. Stopped-flow kinetics in CH2Cl2/6% EtCN show that dioxygen reacts with iron(II) first to form a heme-superoxide moiety, [(EtCN)(2L)FeIII-(O2-)...CuI(EtCN)]+ (5), which further reacts with Cu(I) to generate 6. Compared to those properties of a known mu-eta2:eta1-heme-peroxo-copper complex, 6 has a significantly diminished resonance Raman nu(O-O) stretching frequency at 747 cm(-1) and distinctive visible absorptions at 485, 541, and 572 nm, all of which seem to be characteristics of a mu-eta2:eta2-heme-peroxo-copper system. Addition of CO or PPh3 to 6 yields a bis-CO adduct of 3 or a PPh(3) adduct of 5, the latter with a remaining FeIII-(O2-) moiety.
Lightning amplitude spectra in the interval from 100 kHz to 20 MHz

The electric radiation fields produced by lightning return strokes, stepped leaders, and intracloud discharge processes have been Fourier-analyzed to determine amplitude spectra for these processes from about 100 kHz to 20 MHz. The fields were recorded under conditions where the lightning locations were known and where the field propagation from the lightning sources to the recording site was entirely over salt water. The spectra for return strokes show an f exp -1 frequency dependence from 100 kHz to 2 MHz, an f exp -2 dependence between 2 and 10 MHz, and an f exp -5 decrease above 10 MHz. In the 1 to 20 MHz range, the spectra of the initial fast transition in return strokes, the initial fast-rising portion of leader steps and the fast transitions in positive intracloud pulses are surprisingly similar.
Silicon‐Directed Nazarov Cyclizations. Part VI. The anomalous cyclization of vinyl dienyl ketones

Reactions, of various vinyl dienyl ketones (see la–e, li) with FeCl, give rise to β,γ-unsaturated α-vinyl-cyclo-pentenones (see 2a–e, 2i, Table 2). The reaction succeeds for vinyl dienyl ketones with substituents on either double bond. Aryl dienyl and alkyl dienyl ketones (see 1f–h) do not cyclize cleanly. The effects of substituents on the rate of reaction is discussed in terms of the mechanism of the rearrangement. A 13C-labeling study establishes the pathway as an unusual 1-hydroxypentadienyl-cation electrocyclization to a cyclopentenyl cation which collapses via a pinacol rearrangement to the α-vinyl ketone.
Urodynamic findings in patients with Currarino syndrome.

Purpose: Currarino syndrome is an inherited disorder consisting of a triad of anorectal anomaly, sacrococcygeal defect and presacral mass. We evaluated the urological issues in patients with Currarino syndrome and sought to determine whether spinal cord detethering improves urinary tract function.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 14 patients diagnosed with Currarino syndrome. We evaluated urinary signs/symptoms and urodynamic findings before and after spinal cord detethering.Results: All patients with Currarino syndrome having a sacral defect and presacral mass were diagnosed between birth and 6 years. Of the patients 86% had a tethered spinal cord that was surgically detethered between 8 months and 6 years (average 3 years). Overall 10 of 12 children who underwent surgery had voiding complaints postoperatively, including urgency, frequency and incontinence. Five patients had recurrent urinary tract infections, of whom 3 had vesicoureteral reflux that resolved spontaneously. Three patient...
Comparison of External Beam and Combination Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Patient-Reported Outcomes of Sexual Function With 5-Year Follow-up

prostate and proximal seminal vesicles as defined on non-contrast CT and fused T2 MRI with a 3 mm posterior margin and a 5 mm margin in all other directions. Patients were instructed to empty their bladder prior to simulation and treatment, and the entire bladder and its contents were contoured as a single structure. Inverse plans were generated with a prescription dose (PD) of 35 to 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions to the PTVusing 6 MV photons. QOL surveys including the American Urological Association (AUA) Symptom Index were conducted before and after treatment every 3 months for the first year and then every 6 months. Late urinary flare was defined as an AUA score > 15 with an increase 5 above baseline with subsequent return to baseline within 2 years. Phenomenologic NTCP models were fit to bladder DVHs and late urinary flare outcome data using maximum likelihood estimation. Results: Twenty-nine patients experienced late urinary flare within 2 years of completion of prostate SBRT. Fitting of urinary bladder DVH data to a Lyman NTCP model resulted in parameter estimates of m, TD50, and n of 0.19 (-0.09 to 0.47), 38.7 Gy (31.1 to 46.4), and 0.13 (-0.14 to 0.41), respectively. Subsequent fits to threshold dose and hottest volume probit models revealed a significant association of late urinary flare with volume of bladder receiving doses greater than 36.6 Gy as well as dose to the hottest 12.7% of bladder volume. Similar results were obtained using a dose-volume cutoff model that additionally demonstrated a significant association of volume of bladder receiving at least 50% of the PD with late toxicity. The hottest volume probit model demonstrated the best fit of the data and suggests dose-volume cutoffs for D12.7% of 30 and 33.5 Gy in five fractions for a predicted complication rate of 5% and 10% at 2 years, respectively. Conclusions: NTCP modeling of late urinary flare after prostate SBRT demonstrates a relatively small volume effect for dose to the urinary bladder, suggesting that reduction of volume receiving elevated dose will result in decreased incidence of late urinary toxicity. Future studies will be needed to examine the impact of dose to the prostatic urethra. Author Disclosure: T.P. Kole: None. B. Wu: None. M. Tong: None. S. Lei: None. L.N. Chen: None. S. Suy: None. A. Dritschilo: None. E.D. Yorke: None. S.P. Collins: G. Consultant; Accuray, Inc.
ON THE EIGENFREQUENCIES OF A FLEXIBLE ARM DRIVEN BY A FLEXIBLE SHAFT

Abstract The simulations of multibody dynamic systems with flexible components are generally based on solving the equations of motion by using approximate methods. This approach is taken because these systems' closed-form solutions are often not directly available. These methods often assume a solution as a finite series in terms of modal functions with time-varying coefficients. The eigenmodes of the system under study are preferable as the set of the basis functions used in these series because such expansions provide greater accuracy with fewer terms. As a consequence, accurate estimation of system eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes is extremely useful (potentially necessary) in the effective modelling and simulation of these systems. In this paper, a new general model consisting of rotor, shaft, hub, beam, and payload, as might be encountered in certain industrial robots, is presented and investigated. This model is similar in nature to those studied previously by a number of researchers, but it is more general in form. The authors believe that this model contains a more realistic (and higher fidelity) representation of the rotor–shaft–hub assembly of this system and its interaction with a flexible beam (arm) and associated payload. Through this model the relative influence of seven key dimensionless mass, stiffness and geometric parameters (ratios) on system eigenfrequencies and modes may be qualitatively and quantitatively investigated. These investigations may include many special cases such as flexible shaft+rigid beam, rigid shaft+flexible beam, cantilever–free beam, pinned–free beam, fixed–free shaft, etc. Given the volume of numerical studies which may be performed to this end, this paper concentrates on the effect of the two parameters representing the mass and stiffness ratios of the system manipulator on its driveline.