cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A thermodynamic investigation of crystalline and amorphous Se−Te alloys

The heats of formation, referred to the component elements in their stable crystalline forms, of crystalline Se−Te alloys containing 0 to 100 at. pct Te and amorphous alloys containing 0 to 30 at. pct Te were measured by liquid metal solution calorimetry. The heats of formation of the crystalline and amorphous alloys changed nonmonotonically with composition in a parallel manner. The crystalline alloys had negative heats of formation in the range of 0 to approximately 17 at. pct Te; the largest negative value of approximately−0.235 kcal/g-atom occurred at 10 at. pct Te. At 20 at. pct Te the heat of formation was positive and had a value of approximately 0.115 kcal/g-atom and at higher tellurium concentrations it again turned negative but was very small. The heats of formation of all amorphous alloys investigated were positive. A minimum of approximately 0.810 kcal/g-atom at 10 at.pct Te and a maximum of 1.040 kcal/g-atom at 20 at. pct Te corresponded to the largest negative value and the largest positive value of the heat of formation of the crystalline alloys of the respective compositions. The temperatures of maximum rates of crystallization and fusion and the heat effects associated with the crystallization and fusion of the amorphous alloys were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. With increasing tellurium concentration the temperature of crystallization decreased and the heat effect and the temperature associated with fusion increased.
Teaching Online - A Time Comparison

The success of distance courses has prompted universities nationwide to increase the number of courses offered online. As the number of these courses has increased, the challenges involved in developing and offering them have become more apparent. One particular difficulty when teaching in an online format is that it can be more time-consuming than teaching in a traditional in-class format. This case study investigates this issue through the use of a detailed comparison of the time required to prepare and teach a traditional course, and that required for the same course presented in an online format. The additional time required by the online format is found to result largely from increased student contact and individualized instruction and not from the use of technology per se. Introduction and Significance of the Study There has been a rapid growth in the institutions offering distance education courses and the number of students that are taking online courses. During the 1999-2000 academic year 7.6% of all undergraduates took at least one distance education course and 60% of these courses were offered online. By the 2000-2001 academic year, 90% of public institutions offered distance-education courses. Looking specifically at the fall term 2002, 81% of all higher education institutions offered online courses and over 1.6 million students took at least one of these (Allen and Seaman 2003, NCES 2003). The developing and offering of these courses has not come without significant challenges. One difficulty faced by instructors of online courses is the large time requirement involved in teaching these courses. This study directly compares two courses, one online and one in-class, in order to determine the factors that result in the teaching time disparity. Two courses were taught and logged simultaneously by the same instructor. This analysis compares time spent teaching online courses with
The Web and Virtual Schools

Abstract This paper focuses on the role of government in the growth of Web-based virtual schools. First, it describes the current evolving situation. It then discusses ways in which U.S. federal, state, and local governments have developed virtual schools, and presents some information about international initiatives in this area. It also identifies similarities and differences among virtual schools. Finally, challenges for Web-based virtual schools are discussed.
The Behavioral Component of Changing Partisanship

This article examines the impact of prior voting behavior on future party identification using the CPS 1972-74-76 Panel Study. The probability of changed partisanship increases with the occurrence of defection among Republicans and Democrats, and with the occurrence of one-party voting among Independents. However, most partisan change is not preceded by nonreinforcing behavior. Several alternative models are offered which fit many of the remaining changers. The behavioral patterns that accompany the adoption of Independence are different from the patterns accompanying the adoption of partisanship in a manner confirming the notion of two dimensions in the party ID measure, partisanship and Independence.
The First General Method for the Synthesis of Transition-Metal π Complexes of an Electronically Diverse Family of 1,2-Azaborolyls

A general method for the synthesis of new families of transition-metal-free 1,2-azaborolides (3) has been developed, based on a readily available precursor (1). These azaborolides react with a variety of transition-metal electrophiles to produce an unprecedented array of η5-azaborolyl adducts (4) (substituents bound to boron: nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and phosphorus).
Stable isotope assisted assignment of elemental compositions for metabolomics.

Assignment of individual compound identities within mixtures of thousands of metabolites in biological extracts is a major challenge for metabolomic technology. Mass spectrometry offers high sensitivity over a large dynamic range of abundances and molecular weights but is limited in its capacity to discriminate isobaric compounds. In this article, we have extended earlier studies using isotopic labeling for elemental composition elucidation (Rodgers, R. P.; Blumer, E. N.; Hendrickson, C. L.; Marshall, A. G. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2000, 11, 835−40) to limit the formulas consistent with any exact mass measurement by comparing observations of metabolites extracted from Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown with (I) 12C and 14N (natural abundance), (II) 12C and 15N, (III) 13C and 14N, or (IV) 13C and 15N. Unique elemental compositions were determined over a dramatically enhanced mass range by analyzing exact mass measurement data from the four extracts using two methods. In the first, metabolite masses were m...
Ethanolamine Activates a Sensor Histidine Kinase Regulating Its Utilization in Enterococcus faecalis

Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive commensal bacterium of the human intestinal tract. Its opportunistic pathogenicity has been enhanced by the acquisition of multiple antibiotic resistances, making the treatment of enterococcal infections an increasingly difficult problem. The extraordinary capacity of this organism to colonize and survive in a wide variety of ecological niches is attributable, at least in part, to signal transduction pathways mediated by two-component systems (TCS). Here, the ability of E. faecalis to utilize ethanolamine as the sole carbon source is shown to be dependent upon the RR-HK17 (EF1633-EF1632) TCS. Ethanolamine is an abundant compound in the human intestine, and thus, the ability of bacteria to utilize it as a source of carbon and nitrogen may provide an advantage for survival and colonization. Growth of E. faecalis in a synthetic medium with ethanolamine was abolished in the response regulator RR17 mutant strain. Transcription of the response regulator gene was induced by the presence of ethanolamine. Ethanolamine induced a 15-fold increase in the rate of autophosphorylation in vitro of the HK17 sensor histidine kinase, indicating that this is the ligand recognized by the sensor domain of the kinase. These results assign a role to the RR-HK17 TCS as coordinator of the enterococcal response to specific nutritional conditions existing at the site of bacterial invasion, the intestinal tract of an animal host.
Refugee cross-cultural adjustment: Tibetans in India

Abstract There are currently over 15 million refugees displaced around the globe. These uprooted individuals face the crucial problems of placement and adjustment, the latter being the focus of this article. Specifically, Tibetan refugees in India have necessarily accepted the challenge of adjustment, given the different culture, language, religion, and ethnic background encountered—a situation characteristic of host communities in general. Their patterns of social organization in exile have made the Tibetans uniquely well-adjusted, with notable economic and social gains. This paper illustrates how the institutions of religion, the economy, education, and government have facilitated the adjustment of Tibetans to their environment in India, allowing them to serve as a model for other international refugees.
Characterization of ryanodine receptors in oligodendrocytes, type 2 astrocytes, and O‐2A progenitors

In this study we have investigated the expression of ryanodine receptors (RyRs), and the ability of caffeine to evoke RyR-mediated elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) in glial cells of the oligodendrocyte/type 2 astrocyte lineage. Immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies identified ryanodine receptors in cultured oligodendrocytes, type 2 astrocytes, and O-2A progenitor cells, at high levels in the perinuclear region and in a variegated pattern along processes. Glia acutely isolated from rat brain and in aldehydefixed sections of cortex were similarly found to express RyRs. Caffeine (5-50 mM) caused an increase in [Ca2+]i in most cultured type 2 astrocytes and in 50% of oligodendrocytes. Responses elicited by caffeine were inhibited by pretreatment with ryanodine (10 microM) or thapsigargin (1 microM), and the peak response was unaffected by removal of [Ca2+]o. O-2A progenitor cells, in contrast, were largely unresponsive to caffeine treatment. Pretreatment with kainate (200 microM) to activate Ca2+ entry increased the magnitude of caffeine-evoked [Ca2+]i elevations in type 2 astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and caused caffeine to activate responses in a significant proportion of previously non-responding O-2A progenitors. In both type 2 astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, caffeine evoked Ca2+ changes which propagated as wavefronts from several initiation sites. These wave amplification sites were characterized by significantly higher local Ca2+ release kinetics. Our results indicate that several glial cell types express RyRs, and that their functionality differs within different cell types of the oligodendrocyte lineage. In addition, ionotropic glutamate receptor activation fills the caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ stores in these cells.
Future facilities for nuclear and particle physics at Brookhaven

Abstract The RHIC-AGS complex at Brookhaven National Laboratory is actively producing important results in nuclear and particle physics. Plans to develop these facilities for new experiments in these fields are discussed.
A developmental approach to training for intercultural sensitivity

Abstract The development of Intercultural sensitivity demands attention to the subjective experience of the learner. The key to such sensitivity and related skills in Intercultural communication is the way in which learners construe cultural difference. This article suggests a continuum of stages of persona! growth that allows trainers to diagnose the level of sensitivity of individuals and groups and to sequence material according to a developmental plan. The developmental continuum moves from ethnocentrisrn to ethnorelativism . Earlier stages of the continuum define the parochial denial of difference, the evaluative defense against difference, and the universalist position of minimization of difference. Later stages define the acceptance of difference, adaptation to difference, and the integration of difference into one's world view. The stages of development are illustrated with typical statements and behaviors of learners that can be used to diagnose levels of sensitivity, and strategies to facilitate movement from each stage to the next are suggested. Special attention is given to questions of ethics and credibility that often arise in intercultural training situations.
Rational design of new antituberculosis agents: receptor-independent four-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis of a set of isoniazid derivatives.

A 4D-QSAR analysis was carried out for a set of 37 hydrazides whose mimimum inhibitory concentrations against M. tuberculosis var. bovis were evaluated. These ligands are thought to act like isoniazid in mycolic acid biosynthesis. Results indicate that nonpolar groups in the acyl moiety of ligands markedly decrease biological activity. Molecular modifications of the ligand NAD moiety, including nonpolar groups and hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups, seemingly improve ligand interactions with amino acid residues of the InhA active site.
Use of proliferation rate, p53 staining and perforating elastic fibers in distinguishing keratoacanthoma from hypertrophic lichen planus: a pilot study.

Background: Distinguishing keratoacanthoma (KA) and hypertrophic lichen planus (LP) histopathologically can be difficult, and the challenge is compounded by the tendency of KA to arise in association with hypertrophic LP. Methods: In this pilot study, we compared 18 cases each of KA and hypertrophic LP for proliferation index (MIB-1), p53 staining and the presence of perforating elastic fibers (elastic Verhoeff-van Gieson) to determine the utility of these staining modalities in distinguishing KA from hypertrophic LP. Results: Proliferation index in KA compared to hypertrophic LP is 88.2 (mean positive MIB-1 cells/×100 field), SD = 56.6 and 47.3, SD = 68.4, respectively. p53 staining in KA compared to hypertrophic LP is 251 (mean positive cells/×100 field), SD = 117 and 158, SD = 119, respectively. Fifteen of eighteen (83%) keratoacanthomata demonstrate perforating elastic fibers compared to 1/18 (6%) for hypertrophic LP. Conclusion: Proliferation index is not significantly different between KA and hypertrophic LP (p = 0.059). Expression of p53 is increased in KA over hypertrophic LP (p = 0.024). The presence of perforating elastic fibers in KA is significantly different from hypertrophic LP (p < 0.0001) and suggests that elastic Verhoeff-van Gieson staining may be of practical benefit in distinguishing KA from hypertrophic LP in difficult cases. Bowen AR, Burt L, Boucher K, Tristani-Firouzi P, Florell SR. Use of proliferation rate, p53 staining and perforating elastic fibers in the distinction of keratoacanthoma and hypertrophic lichen planus: a pilot study.
A New Approach for Modelling Strategic Voting in Multiparty Elections

Whether citizens vote strategically, using their votes to defeat their least-preferred candidate, or vote sincerely, voting for their first choice among the alternatives, is a question of longstanding interest. We offer two innovations in searching for the answer to this question. First, we begin with a more consistent model of sincere voting in multiparty democratic systems than has been presented in the literature to date. Secondly, we incorporate a new operationalization of the objective potential for strategic behaviour. We offer a test of strategic voting in the 1987 British general election based on the variance in strategic setting across constituencies in Britain. We allow voters to use available information about the relative standings of parties in their constituency in deciding whether or not to cast a strategic vote. We estimate a lower level of strategic voting than many other methods have estimated. We also demonstrate that the use of self-reported vote motivation causes errors in estimating the amount of strategic voting, and that this problem is exacerbated the further from the election the self-report is obtained.
Gravity waves and mesospheric clouds in the summer middle atmosphere: A comparison of lidar measurements and ray modeling of gravity waves over Sondrestrom, Greenland

We conducted gravity wave ray-tracing experiments within an atmospheric region centered near the ARCLITE lidar system at Sondrestrom, Greenland (67N, 310 deg E), in efforts to understand lidar observations of both upper stratospheric gravity wave activity and mesospheric clouds during August 1996 and the summer of 2001. The ray model was used to trace gravity waves through realistic three-dimensional daily-varying background atmospheres in the region, based on forecasts and analyses in the troposphere and stratosphere and climatologies higher up. Reverse ray tracing based on upper stratospheric lidar observations at Sondrestrom was also used to try to objectively identify wave source regions in the troposphere. A source spectrum specified by reverse ray tracing experiments in early August 1996 (when atmospheric flow patterns produced enhanced transmission of waves into the upper stratosphere) yielded model results throughout the remainder of August 1996 that agreed best with the lidar observations. The model also simulated increased vertical group propagation of waves between 40 km and 80 km due to intensifying mean easterlies, which allowed many of the gravity waves observed at 40 km over Sondrestrom to propagate quasi-vertically from 40-80 km and then interact with any mesospheric clouds at 80 km near Sondrestrom, supporting earlier experimentally-inferred correlations between upper stratospheric gravity wave activity and mesospheric cloud backscatter from Sondrestrom lidar observations. A pilot experiment of real-time runs with the model in 2001 using weather forecast data as a low-level background produced less agreement with lidar observations. We believe this is due to limitations in our specified tropospheric source spectrum, the use of climatological winds and temperatures in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere, and missing lidar data from important time periods.
Transient diffusion from a well‐stirred reservoir to a body of arbitrary shape

A theoretical study was made of transient diffusion to a body immersed in a finite volume of well-stirred fluid. The major contribution of this work was the development of a technique for solving the problem for a three-dimensional body of arbitrary shape. The solutions are in a form that is useful for determining diffusion coefficients insolids by means of the constant-volume experimental technique. The partial differential equation coupled with the ordinary differential equation describing the diffusion process is transformed into a single integral equation in terms of the solute concentration in the reservoir. A numerical technique is then presented for solving the integral equation. Numerical solutions were computed for the three geometries that possess analytical solutions: the infinite slab, the infinite cylinder, and the sphere. By properly choosing the step-size numerical results were easily obtained that agreed with the exact solution to four decimal places. New solutions were computed for two three-dimensional geometries: the finite cylinder and the rectangular prism. A range of shape factors and ratios of the volume of the reservoir to that of the solid body were employed for each geometry. It was shown that by selecting the ratio of volume to external surface area as the characteristic length of each shape object, the solutions for all shapes were brought close together and were identical during the initial part of the transient.
Immediate placement and immediate provisional abutment modeling in anterior single-tooth implant restorations using a CAD/CAM application: A clinical report

A patient underwent immediate implant placement and immediate provisional restoration with nonocclusal loading in the right central incisor area. A provisional custom abutment and a cemented provisional restoration were fabricated. At the impression appointment, an implant level impression was made and the provisional abutment was scanned for fabrication of the definitive custom abutment. This clinical report describes how CAD/CAM technology can facilitate the definitive restoration of immediately placed and loaded implants by allowing the fabrication of the definitive abutment as an exact duplicate of the provisional abutment.
Linearly many faults in dual-cube-like networks

The dual cubes were introduced as a better interconnection network than the hypercubes for large scale distributed memory multiprocessors. In this paper we introduce a generalization of these networks, called dual-cube-like networks, which preserve the basic structure of dual cubes and retain many of its topological properties. We investigate structural properties of these networks beyond simple measures such as connectivity. We prove that if up to kn-k(k+1)2 vertices are deleted from a dual-cube-like n-regular network, then the resulting graph will either be connected or will have a large component and small components having at most k-1 vertices in total, and this result is sharp for k@?n. As an application, we derive additional results such as the cyclic vertex-connectivity and the restricted vertex-connectivity of these networks.
Instruction Boot Camp: Better Instruction Through Collaborative Course Design

ABSTRACT This case study details Oregon State University Libraries and Press’ Instruction Boot Camp, a professional development event inspired by several different instructional improvement models, where librarians have a chance to work collaboratively in small groups of four to six to redesign a library instruction session. Librarians from six different departments participated in two Instruction Boot Camp sessions in 2012. The benefits of such collaboration include drawing upon the collective wisdom of the group to design a course and having a dedicated time to work on instruction. Although our assessment did not include student-learning outcomes, participating librarians found this a useful and valuable experience.
‘Fellow Traveler of the Air’: Rod Holmgren and leftist radio news commentary in America's Cold War

As the Second World War came to an end in August 1945, Edwin Levin, the radio columnist for the progressive New York City daily PM, hoped ‘that peacetime radio will apply its tremendous war‐born en...
Deictic categories in the language of autistic children.

Certain characteristics of the syntactic structures of the language of autistic children, such as their lack of mastery of pronomialization, have been described. It is proposed that further investigation of syntactic structures, particularly those related to deixis, may show a specific deviance in verbal autistic children. A pilot investigation of the production of tense markers in three autistic, three mentally retarded, and two normal children is reported. The testing for the production of tense inflections was done in a standardized structured test situation using pictures and toys. The transcripts were scored according to agreed-upon criteria for expecting the appearance of a certain tense form. Significant differences were found in the production of the past tense; the percent of correct responses was 80% for the normal children, 8% for the autistic subjects, and the mentally retarded subjects fell in between with 60%. It is concluded that the initial hypothesis of deviance of language acquisition in childhood autism, particularly in areas related to language deixis, is strengthened by the results.
Simultaneous co-design of distributed on-chip power supplies and decoupling capacitors

The effective design of power distribution networks has become highly challenging with each technology generation. The power delivery network is becoming large, making the system analysis process computationally complex. The large number of on-chip power supplies and intentional decoupling capacitors inserted throughout an integrated circuit further complicates the analysis of the power distribution network. To fully exploit the on-chip power supplies and decoupling capacitors, a new design methodology is required to simultaneously design the power distribution network that considers all of the power supplies and decoupling capacitors. Interactions among the power supplies, decoupling capacitors, and active circuitry are investigated in this paper utilizing a computationally efficient methodology. The effect of physical distance on the power supply noise is investigated. A design methodology for simultaneous placement of the on-chip voltage regulators and decoupling capacitors is also described in this paper. This methodology changes conventional practices where the power distribution network is designed first, followed by the placement of the decoupling capacitors.
MR imaging of shear waves generated by focused ultrasound

This study has shown that magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) can detect shear waves excited by focused ultrasound (FUS) in both gel phantoms and ex vivo muscle. Good agreement was shown between the shear modulus measured from MRE images generated using FUS and that using previously reported MRE techniques. The shear wave displacement amplitude at the FUS focus was studied and found to be proportional with both FUS ultrasonic pulse intensity and the FUS modulation pulse period over the range tested.
A tool kit for builders of composite models

Abstract I motivate and discuss a dynamical picture of strong gauge interactions in a simple class of models, some of which yield massless composite fermions. I show how to put simple components together into models that can describe quarks with color and flavor.
Optimizing measurement of self-reported adherence with the ACTG Adherence Questionnaire: a cross-protocol analysis.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that a superior assessment of antiretroviral adherence may be obtained with the ACTG Adherence Questionnaire by using the method employed in this analysis.
The Mueller-Hillis maneuver: can it be used to predict dystocia?

OBJECTIVE To assess prospectively the utility of intrapartum Mueller-Hillis maneuvers in predicting labor abnormalities. METHODS Patients underwent Mueller-Hillis maneuvers upon admission in active labor. Outcomes of each labor were assessed, and correlations were sought between the degree of descent and outcome. Labor curves were constructed for each patient, and labor abnormalities were described by an observer blinded to descent and outcome. The relationship of labor abnormality to outcome also was evaluated. RESULTS One hundred six patients had Mueller-Hillis maneuvers performed. The distribution of results was as follows: no descent (N = 25) 23.6% one station (N = 33) 31.1%, two stations (N = 46) 43.4%, and three stations (N = 2) 1.9%. Lack of descent failed to indicate increased risk of abdominal delivery, operative vaginal delivery, need for oxytocin augmentation, prolonged second stage, or labor curve abnormality. Analysis of parity (nulliparous versus multiparous) did not alter these findings. CONCLUSION We present normative data for the results of Mueller-Hillis maneuvers performed in active labor. To our knowledge, no such data exist. We also failed to find a relationship between dystocia and descent with the maneuver. Until this test is demonstrated to be useful, it should not be used to predict dystocia.
Quality guidelines = designer metrics

In spite of the significant body of research on traditional source code metrics, there has been a general failure to produce conclusive evidence as to their effectiveness for measuring software quality. We describe and recommend a potentially much more powerful and sensitive quality assessment alternative, software quality guidelines. Software quality guidelines are presented as “designer metrics”, that is, user-defined rules or constraints relating to measurable features of a program's structure, semantics, and syntax that affect its quality. To provide a methodology for designing, applying, and validating software quality guidelines, we recommend and briefly summarize IEEE standard 1061. This standard gives a process for constructing and implementing a software quality metrics framework that can be tailor-made to meet quality requirements for a particular project and/or organization. Our paper then demonstrates how software quality guidelines fit within the IEEE framework and gives an example illustrating how user-defined guidelines can be applied to evaluate or assess the quality of an Ada source unit. This guideline-based assessment of quality is then compared with an analysis based on traditional McCabe and Halstead metrics. Finally, we introduce a tool being developed by SAIC, called AdaReVu, as an effective mechanism for implementing and applying user-defined quality guidelines for Ada source code.
Introduction: Problem-Solving Courts

Problem-solving courts have become a significant feature of the U.S. justice system, and their popularity appears to be growing internationally with courts under way or in development in countries such as Australia and Great Britain. Drug courts are the most visible type of problem-solving court, but other varieties are beginning to take hold. Mental health courts, domestic violence courts, and community-based courts among others are beginning to handle a considerable portion of the legal workload in many jurisdictions. Criminal law violations as well as neighborhood conflicts and interpersonal disputes are increasingly being referred to problem-solving courts rather than to traditional criminal or civil courts.
Coupled finite element and cellular automata methods for analysis of composite structures with fluid–structure interaction

Abstract This study examines multiple computational techniques to analyze dynamic responses of composite structures subject to Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI). A plate bending finite element with displacement degrees of freedom only is developed and implemented using a Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulation. Because the plate elements can be stacked on top of one another like 3-D solid elements, delamination or debonding between any two layers can be modeled easily. Multiple approaches to analyzing such failure are presented and evaluated. A hybrid Finite Element–Cellular Automata (FE–CA) approach is also presented to model a fluid domain as an acoustic field using the wave equation. The coupled technique can take advantage of both methods such as computational efficiency, non-reflecting boundary representation and easy coupling with a structure with a complex shape. The FE–CA fluid model is then combined with the DG structural model to simulate fluid–structure interaction. All the computational techniques are assessed for their accuracy by comparing with analytical, experimental and other numerical solutions. Each technique addressed shows promise for flexible and accurate modeling of dynamic behaviors of damaged or undamaged laminated composite structures subject to fluid–structure interaction with moderate computational costs.
The Relationship of Race, Class, and Gender with Mathematics Achievement for Fifth-, Eighth-, and Eleventh-Grade Students in Pennsylvania Schools.

Abstract This integrative study of student socioeconomic status (SES), race, and gender focused on mathematics achievement derived from the Pennsylvania Educational Quality Assessment Program for the years 1981 through 1984. Analyses were conducted at the 5th, 8th and 11th grade levels. Replicable achievement differences in mathematics were observed across grade levels for student SES and race, but not for gender. White students were found to score higher than black students and achievement varied directly with student SES level. The only replicable interaction to emerge was a relatively weak but persistent SES by race effect that occurred for all analyses involving students attending low SES schools. This was a function of the fact that, although achievement increased across student SES level for both white and black students the increment tended to be slightly larger for white students. Supplementary analyses of mathematics achievement incorporating school SES, student SES, and race were also performed....
Variations in under-five mortality estimates in Nigeria: explanations and implications for program monitoring and evaluation.

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 aims at reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. However, monitoring this goal is a challenging task. With an estimated 162 million people in 2011, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with generally poor maternal and child health indicators. Maternal mortality ratio was estimated at 545 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008 and recent data show that under-five mortality rates have varied tremendously. This paper provides a synthesis of the data collection and estimation procedures used by the two major sources of child mortality data in Nigeria (the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys; and Demographic and Health Surveys) and the importance of reflecting on these dynamics in order to utilize the mortality estimates in program monitoring and evaluation. While efforts to seek explanations for the unstable trends in mortality rates are ongoing, this study calls for stakeholders to seek studies that employ more detailed and robust disaggregation methods that take into account the relative impact of socio-demographic, medical, and public health variables on mortality rates. This will be crucial in assessing the effectiveness of selected interventions in reducing mortality. Further, the study encourages collection, use, and triangulation of health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) and other available data which could assist in monitoring progress towards achieving MDGs since HDSS as well as census or survey data would provide an opportunity to measure and evaluate interventions through longitudinal follow-up of populations.
Phosphorylation of surface proteins of HeLa cells using an exogenous protein kinase and [γ-32P]ATP

Abstract The enzymatic phosphorylation of surface proteins of living cells with the aid of a protein kinase isolated from rat skeletal muscle and [ 32 P]ATP has been described. Utilizing monolayer cultures of HeLa cells the degree of phosphorylation was dependent on the amount of the protein kinase used, the labeled [ 32 P]ATP and the incubation time. The phosphorylation was stimulated to a limited degree by cyclic AMP. After a 10-min labeling period, 86–95% of the label was removed with a brief treatment of 0.05% trypsin. Partial characterization of the labeled surface components revealed an instability of the label to hot NaOH, but good stability in hydroxylamine. The label was not removed by lipid extraction. Using a high resolution gel electrophoresis system it was shown that the label is distributed among at least 15 bands. The mildness of the procedure was verified by the continued growth of the cells.
Security Personalization for Internet and Web Services

The growth of the Internet has been accompanied by the growth of Internet services (e.g., e-commerce, e-health). This proliferation of services and the increasing attacks on them by malicious individuals have highlighted the need for service security. The security requirements of an Internet or Web service may be specified in a security policy. The provider of the service is then responsible for implementing the security measures contained in the policy. However, a service customer or consumer may have security preferences that are not reflected in the providerâ€™s security policy. In order for service providers to attract and retain customers, as well as reach a wider market, a way of personalizing a security policy to a particular customer is needed. We derive the content of an Internet or Web service security policy and propose a flexible security personalization approach that will allow an Internet or Web service provider and customer to negotiate to an agreed-upon personalized security policy. In addition, we present two application examples of security policy personalization, and overview the design of our security personalization prototype.
Enhanced peripheral blood T-cell cytotoxicity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Monoclonal antibodies to the CD3 component of the T-cell antigen receptor can trigger antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells to elicit nonantigen-specific cytotoxicity, possibly by mimicking or bypassing the requirement for antigen triggering. We have used this technique to investigate the possible presence ofin vivo primed cytotoxic T cells, of unknown antigen specificity, in peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Peripheral blood lymphocytes, which were depleted of background natural killer (NK) activity (CD16−), from patients with Crohn's disease exhibited significantly enhanced levels of anti-CD3-triggered T-cell cytotoxicity compared with lymphocytes from normal subjects. Enhanced lytic activity was also found in some patients with ulcerative colitis and in patients with ulcerative colitis postcolectomy. These results were not influenced by treatment or disease activity. There was no correlation between the anti-CD3-triggered T lytic activity and the NK activity in normal subjects or in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The surface antigen phenotype of the anti-CD3-triggered T killer cell was CD3+, CD8+, CD16−, and Leu 7+. The results provide indirect evidence for increased activity of a subpopulation of cytotoxic T cells, of unknown antigen specificity, in inflammatory bowel disease. Increased activity in patients with ulcerative colitis postcolectomy suggests that this might reflect a fundamental immunological disturbance.
Learning set without transfer suppression: A replication and extension

Rhesus monkeys that had previously formed a discrimination-learning set were given six six-trial discrimination problems each day: five new problems followed by a reversal of one of the five. Marked negative transfer was obtained on Trial 1 of reversals over a period of many weeks, confirming results of an earlier study with stump-tailed monkeys. With continued training, performance improved on Trial 1 of reversals. The results support the contention that improvement in performance on Trial 1 of reversals that are interspersed during learning-set training represents learning to reverse when familiar stimuli reappear, rather than transfer suppression. Evidence from later trials of reversals suggested that stump-tailed monkeys persist in making old, inappropriate responses longer than do rhesus monkeys.
Dynein motors transport activated Trks to promote survival of target-dependent neurons

Mutations that alter dynein function are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, but it is not known why defects in dynein-dependent transport impair neuronal survival. Here we show that dynein function in axons is selectively required for the survival of neurons that depend on target-derived neurotrophins. Stimulation of axon terminals with neurotrophins causes internalization of neurotrophin receptors (Trks). Using real-time imaging of fluorescently tagged Trks, we show that dynein is required for rapid transport of internalized, activated receptors from axon terminals to remote cell bodies. When dynein-based transport is inhibited, neurotrophin stimulation of axon terminals does not support survival. These studies indicate that defects in dynein-based transport reduce trafficking of activated Trks and thereby obstruct the prosurvival effect of target-derived trophic factors, leading to degeneration of target-dependent neurons.
The influence of clusters on the stress in a sheared granular material

Abstract Particle dynamic simulations were carried out to examine the effect of microstructure formation on the stress tensor in a sheared granular material. Clusters, which form due to the inelastic nature of collisions between the particles, have been observed by previous researchers in both experiments and computer simulations. By varying the parameters of the system, the effect of clustering has been examined for simply sheared systems of inelastic disks and spheres. It was found that the long-time average stresses and granular temperature initially increased with the system size and then approached limiting values as the size of the system was further increased. It was also observed that the distribution of stresses initially broadened with system size and then approached limiting distributions as the size of the system was further increased. Combining the values of the stresses obtained from our simulations with a previous theory for the clustering length scale, it has been determined that once clusters are fully formed in a system, the stresses no longer increase. These results suggest that under certain circumstances a small system can capture the overall behavior of a much larger system, and by knowing the variation of stress with system size it is possible to determine whether or not the effect of clustering is significant for a particular application. In addition, we conclude that it is important to identify relevant microstructures in granular flows and simulate a large enough system so that the effects related to these microstructures are not missed.
Comparative biological activities of a plaque-purified variant and a Turkish native isolate of SpliNPV-B against Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) is an important pest of many cultivated plants worldwide and five different geographical Nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) strains of this pest have been isolated to date. Two of these, a plaque-purified variant of the S. littoralis NPV from Morocco (SpliNPV-M2) and a SpliNPV isolated from field-infected S. littoralis larvae found in Turkey (SpliNPV-TR1), were compared biologically in terms of infectiveness (median lethal dose, LD50) for third instars and in terms of virulence (median lethal time, LT50) for neonates and third-instar S. littoralis larvae. The LD50 values of SpliNPV-TR1 and SpliNPV-M2 were 20.73 and 185.21 occlusion bodies (OBs)/larva, respectively, with non-overlapping confidence limits indicating they were significantly different. Thus, SpliNPV-M2 was found to be significantly less infective (about nine times higher LD50) than SpliNPV-TR1. The LT50 values of neonates for SpliNPV-M2 and SpliNPV-TR1 were 37 and 43.9 h at a concentration of 106 OBs ml−1, respectively. For these same isolates, the LT50 values at a concentration of 3 × 106 OBs ml−1 were calculated as 35.6 and 41.7 h, respectively. The LT50 values of third instars for SpliNPV-M2 and SpliNPV-TR1 were 147.4 and 160.5 h, respectively, at a dose of 3000 OBs/larva and 145.4 and 152.4 h, respectively, for the same isolates at a dose of 20 000 OBs/larva. On the other hand, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) revealed a lack of lethality of the SpliNPV-TR1 isolate. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimized spin-component scaled second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory for intermolecular interaction energies

The optimal set of scaling parameters that minimize the error between spin-component scaled (SCS-MP2) and scaled opposite spin (SOS-MP2) theories and CCSD(T) in computing intermolecular binding energies were determined using multivariate linear least squares analysis. Counterpoise corrected intermolecular binding energies among a diverse test set of hydrogen bonded, dispersion, and mixed complexes (S22 training set) were obtained using RI-MP2 theory and the cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, and Q) and the extrapolated cc-pV(XY)Z (XY = D → T, T → Q) atomic orbital basis set series. Optimization of the opposite spin-component scaling parameter yielded the SOS(MI)-MP2 model, with the ability to outperform RI-MP2 theory in obtaining accurate intermolecular binding energies among dispersion complexes with only fourth-order computational effort. At the extrapolated cc-pV(DT)Z and cc-pV(TQ)Z levels, for example, intermolecular binding energies among dispersion complexes were computed with RMS errors of 1.00 kcal/mol and 0.87 k...
Deriving benefits from conflict resolution: A macrojustice assessment

Effective conflict resolution procedures serve to minimize dysfunctional effects of conflict and maximize functional effects. In the literature on conflict resolution procedures, the effectiveness of procedures has been evaluated primarily from the perspective of the individual. This article suggests that a system-level analysis of the pattern of outcomes resulting from different conflict resolution procedures is a necessary component in formulating a comprehensive framework for the design and evaluation of conflict resolution systems in organizations. The analytic questions addressed by this study concern associations between resolution procedures and outcome patterns in a system created specifically for conflict resolution within organizations: the grievance system. The pattern of outcomes was found to vary with the conflict resolution procedure. It is suggested that this has important implications for effective conflict resolution systems.
Regulation of high-density lipoprotein by inflammatory cytokines: establishing links between immune dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.

Coronary artery disease is a primary co-morbidity in metabolic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity. One contributing risk factor for coronary artery disease is low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLc). Several factors influence steady-state HDLc levels, including diet, genetics and environment. Perhaps more important to coronary artery disease is factors that attribute to the dynamics of reverse cholesterol transport, storage, and excretion of excess cholesterol. HDLc biogenesis, clearance and innate ability to serve as a cholesterol acceptor and transporter all contribute to HDLc's function as a negative regulator of cardiovascular disease. With the recent failure of torcetrapid, focus is being placed on HDLc biology and its role in various metabolic diseases. Low HDLc levels are often associated with an increased state of background inflammation. Recently, several syndromes with clear pro-inflammatory components have been shown to be inversely correlated with low HDLc levels in the absence of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Early studies with HDLc during the acute-phase response suggest that HDLc is substantially physically modified during acute infection and sepsis, and recent studies show that HDLc is physically modified by chronic pro-inflammatory disease. In this review, several of these connections are described and cytokine signalling related to HDLc is examined. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sox5 and Sox6 are needed to develop and maintain source, columnar, and hypertrophic chondrocytes in the cartilage growth plate

Sox5 and Sox6 encode Sry-related transcription factors that redundantly promote early chondroblast differentiation. Using mouse embryos with three or four null alleles of Sox5 and Sox6, we show that they are also essential and redundant in major steps of growth plate chondrocyte differentiation. Sox5 and Sox6 promote the development of a highly proliferating pool of chondroblasts between the epiphyses and metaphyses of future long bones. This pool is the likely cellular source of growth plates. Sox5 and Sox6 permit formation of growth plate columnar zones by keeping chondroblasts proliferating and by delaying chondrocyte prehypertrophy. They allow induction of chondrocyte hypertrophy and permit formation of prehypertrophic and hypertrophic zones by delaying chondrocyte terminal differentiation induced by ossification fronts. They act, at least in part, by down-regulating Ihh signaling, Fgfr3, and Runx2 and by up-regulating Bmp6. In conclusion, Sox5 and Sox6 are needed for the establishment of multilayered growth plates, and thereby for proper and timely development of endochondral bones.