cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The interaction between learning styles, ethics education, and ethical climate

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how learning styles and learning spaces interact to stimulate deep learning. Specifically the paper investigated the interaction of learning styles with ethics education and the ethical climate to influence the likelihood of engaging in ethical behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from two groups of students – those who had completed a business ethics course and those who had not completed a business ethics course. The sample consisted of 180 undergraduate students at a private university in the USA. Data were analyzed using regression analysis to test the hypotheses. A scenario-based measure of the likelihood of engaging in ethical behavior was developed and implemented in the study. Findings – Both ethics education and ethical climate had a direct impact on a student ' s likelihood of engaging in ethical behavior. The interaction between learning style and business ethics class significantly impacted experiential learners’ like...
Second Life: A Virtual World Platform for Profiling Online Behavior for Network and Information Security Education? An Initial Investigation

Virtual worlds have become increasingly popular with the growth of high speed Internet access worldwide and online gaming. The popularity of massively multiplayer online role playing games MMORPG, such as World of Warcraft, and virtual worlds, such as Second Life, has created an opportunity for educators to build a learning platform that students can readily relate to. This paper explores some of the possibilities of utilizing one particular virtual world Second Life as a platform for network and information security training with a focus on the profiling of online behavior. In particular it describes the initial attempts of its use at one of the Pennsylvania State University's campuses.
Polygalacturonases of a latent and wound postharvest fungal pathogen of muskmelon fruit

Abstract Partially purified endo- and exo-polygalacturonases (PG) from two fungal pathogens (Phomopsis cucurbitae and Rhizopus stolonifer) were compared in relation to their ability to macerate netted muskmelon tissue at different stages of fruit development. PG extracts from P. cucurbitae, a latent infection pathogen, produced little maceration until fruit were 50 days post-anthesis (10 days postharvest). In contrast, PGs from R. stolonifer, a wound pathogen, produced high levels of maceration at all stages of fruit development from 20 to 50 days post-anthesis. Both pathogens demonstrated highest levels of total PG activity in mesocarp and lowest levels in exocarp (peel) tissues. Isoelectrofocusing–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated two prominent PG isozymes in R. stolonifer and nine isozymes in P. cucurbitae. Cell wall carbohydrate analysis showed an approximately 6-fold decrease in galactosyl residue content between 10 and 50 days post-anthesis in uninfected fruit. Infected fruit showed approximately 7- and 8-fold decreases in galacturonic acid content when infected with P. cucurbitae and R. stolonifer, respectively. Significant decreases in cell wall rhamnosyl and arabinosyl residues occurred during infection of fruit with both pathogens. These results support a role for cell wall pectin degradation during the decay process of muskmelon by these pathogens. The ability to macerate fruit tissue, as related to the latent infection phenomenon, may be due to substrate specificity or inhibitors present in muskmelon fruit tissue.
Factors for One-Sided Tolerance Limits for Balanced One-Way-ANOVA Random-Effects Model

Abstract A technique based on the noncentral t distribution for obtaining one-sided tolerance limits for a balanced one-way-anova random-effects model is developed. These limits are such that the probability is γ that at least a proportion p of the population consisting of very many specimens from very many batches exceeds the calculated lower limit. A few selected tables are given, and an example illustrates the use of the derived tolerance factors.
Effect of Naturally Changing Zooplankton Concentrations on Feeding Rates of Two Coral Species in the Eastern Pacific

Zooplankton concentrations are known to vary by as much as an order of magnitude over a lunar cycle. Here, we conducted an experiment to determine the effect of ambient zooplankton concentrations over a lunar cycle on feeding rates of the corals Pavona gigantea (Verrill) (mounding coral, 3.0 mm diameter polyps) and Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) (branching coral, 1.0 mm diameter polyps) in situ on a shallow reef at Isla Contadora, Gulf of Panama (Pacific), Panama. Coral fragments exposed to either enhanced or ambient zooplankton concentrations were allowed to feed for 1 h, collected, and their gut contents dissected. The number of zooplankton captured was counted, feeding rates calculated per cm2, and the species composition of captured zooplankton assemblages determined. Although both species captured the same zooplankton assemblage, feeding rates were always significantly higher for P. gigantea than for P. damicornis. Under ambient flow and zooplankton concentrations, feeding rates were highly correlated with zooplankton concentration in the 200–400 μm size class. Under constantly enhanced zooplankton concentrations in the control fragments, feeding rates did not vary significantly over the lunar cycle. As such, coral feeding rates vary not as a result of lunar phase per se, but with changes in zooplankton abundance over the lunar cycle. Coral feeding rates are directly proportional to ambient zooplankton concentrations and may vary by as much as 50% over a lunar cycle, suggesting that corals must cope with major swings in sources of fixed carbon and nutrients over relatively short timescales.
English as a Second Language at the Community College: An Exploration of Context and Concerns

Issues relating to instruction in English as a second language (ESL) in community colleges are the diversity of the student population, the position of ESL programs within institutions, the employment and training of instructors, the newly defined Generation 1.5 population, and financial and funding concerns.
The Color of Lactotroph Secretory Granules Stained with FM1-43 Depends on Dye Concentration

When pituitary lactotroph granules undergo exocytosis in the presence of FM1-43, their cores absorb dye and fluoresce brightly. We report that different granules fluoresce with different colors, despite being stained with a single fluorescent dye; emission spectra from individual granules show up to a 25 nm difference between the greenest and reddest granules. We found a correlation between granule color and average fluorescence intensity, suggesting that granule color depends upon dye concentration. We confirmed this in two ways: by increasing FM dye concentration in granules, which red shifted granule color, and by partially photobleaching the FM dye in granules, which green shifted granule color. Increasing stimulation intensity (by increasing KCl concentration) increased the proportion of red granules, indicating that granules exocytosing during intense stimulation bound more dye. This, perhaps, reflects differences in granule core maturation and condensation in which mature granules with condensed cores bind more FM dye but require more intense stimulation to be released. Concentration-dependent color shifts of FM dyes may be useful for monitoring aggregation processes occurring on a size scale smaller than the optical limit.
Bursicon, a hormone which mediates tanning of the cuticle in the adult fly and other insects

Abstract Bursicon is the term for a hormone which occurs in the blood of newly emerged flies and of insects of other orders at the time of the moult, and which is necessary for the tanning of the adult fly and presumably other insects. The blood of a fly at the instant of emergence is devoid of this hormone. If the head is ligatured at this time the rest of the body never tans. It tans when injected with blood taken from a fly a short time after emergence. Bursicon activity begins to show up in the blood 2–3 min after emergence. It reaches a maximum titre after 30–60 min, when it produces tanning in a ligatured fly in thirty-times dilution. Then the activity decreases and has disappeared about 10 hr later. The blood of all other stages, larvae, pupae, or older adults, is devoid of activity. Bursicon was found in the blood of 3 different fly species, with the effect interchangeable in all combinations. It was also found at the time of the moult in the blood of insects of four other orders: Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera, but appears to be confined to stages which tan after the moult. Bursicon is secreted by the neurosecretory cells of the pars intercerebralis of the brain. This region contains the whole activity of the brain, while the brain without this region is devoid of activity. Bursicon activity is also contained in the combined ganglion of the thorax in about six times the concentration in the brain. Secretion from the thoracic ganglion is activated by a nervous stimulus from the brain travelling via the ventral connective. The initiation of tanning is affected by two different mechanisms: (1) Activating stimuli from sensory receptors in the cuticle conducted to the brain via the central nervous system and operating when the fly is no longer confined to the medium in which it emerges. Cutting the connective in the neck prevents these stimuli from reaching the brain. (2) The removal of an inhibition which is in effect while the newly emergedfly is actively digging. Bursicon acts on the cuticle directly, and not via another hormone system. The initiation of pumping air into the intestine and that of tanning seem to be independent processes. All tests so far conducted on the chemical nature of bursicon indicate it to be a protein. It is precipitated by typical protein precipitants, with loss of activity in the case of TCA, alcohol, acetone, but full retention of activity after (NH4)2SO4 precipitation. It is not dialysable. The activity is lost after treatment with trypsin or pronase. Bursicon is not a phenolic substrate necessary in tanning. There is overwhelming direct and indirect evidence that bursicon is neither one of the conventional brain hormones known in insects, nor the juvenile hormone, nor ecdyson, nor a newly discovered hormone, proctodone. In view of these facts, and of its occurrence in many orders of insects at the time of the moult, it was deemed necessary to coin a name for it (from the Greek svϱσικoς (bursikos)—pertaining to tanning).
Mechanism of action of thrombin on fibrinogen. II. Kinetics of hydrolysis of fibrinogen-like peptides by thrombin and trypsin

Abstract A series of oligopeptide substrates for bovine thrombin and bovine trypsin has been prepared. These peptides have similar amino acid sequences as the α (A) chain of bovine fibrinogen around the arg-gly bond which is hydrolyzed by thrombin, and are of increasing length. The longest peptide synthesized is the octapeptide gly-gly-gly-val-arg-gly-pro-ala-NH 2 . The rates of hydrolysis of the arg-gly linkage in these peptides have been measured. In addition, the relative inhibition of fibrinogen clotting by these peptides was determined; also, constants for the inhibition of the thrombin- and trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of p -tosyl- l -arginine methyl ester by these peptides were measured. The data indicate that, for both thrombin and trypsin, the enzyme contains at least three subsites, corresponding to the carboxyl side of the hydrolyzed linkage of the substrate, which are involved in substrate binding. A comparison is also made with the rate of proteolysis of the α (A) chain of native bovine fibrinogen by bovine thrombin. This comparison shows that none of the synthetic peptides studied here is as good a substrate as fibrinogen, indicating that some additional factor outside of the eight amino acids in our largest peptide must be involved, in order to account for the high specificity of thrombin.
POSTTRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR EXPRESSION BY RETINOIC ACID IN A HUMAN LUNG EPITHELIAL-CELL LINE

Retinoic acid transiently induced expression of high levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line H460a. Scatchard analysis revealed a 40-fold increase in the expression of EGFR on the cell surface of H460a cells within 48 h of treatment with 5 mu M concentrations of retinoic acid. RNase protection and nuclear run-off assays established that increases in EGFR expression in retinoic acid-treated cells were not the result of increased promoter activity of EGFR gene, but were more likely the result of a posttranscriptional mechanism. Immune complex kinase assays demonstrated that the EGFR induced by retinoic acid was functionally active. We conclude that retinoic acid exerts its control over expression of the EGFR in H460a cells through a posttranscriptional mechanism. Moreover, elevated EGFR might play a role in the increased tumorigenic potential exhibited by retinoic acid-treated H460a cells.
The best teacher : Mediating effects of experience with employed women on men managers' responses to subordinates' mistakes

What role does experience with working women play in determining men managers' views of women managers? To investigate this question, we analyzed responses of a small sample of experienced men managers with varying degrees of experience with working women. Of primary concern were men managers' attribution of causes for a woman manager's poor performance and their choice of response to such poor performance. The data confirmed that experience with women managers as colleagues and with employed wives affects the stability of men managers' causal attributions as well as the severity of their responses to a woman manager's poor performance. The implications of these findings are discussed.
A brief review of some problems in using national accounts data in level of output comparisons and growth studies

Abstract After an initial burst of enthusiasm for establishing their national accounts 30 or 40 years ago, some countries have made continuous improvements, while others have done little to maintain even their initial system. Presently most developing countries make their basic estimate of GDP from the production side, and most do not have adequate surveys to permit a consistency check of their production and expenditure side estimates. The base surveys for expenditures and production are typically over ten years old, and the lags in basic surveys for constructing constant price estimates are frequently longer. A number of countries estimate their growth from a weighted average of volume indexes and make no attempt at direct deflation; many of those that do deflate their current expenditure estimates do so at a very aggregate level. Users of national accounts should be aware of the varying quality of the estimates across countries and hopefully continual questioning of the numbers will help to encourage improvement.
Improving the care of patients treated with hemodialysis : A report from the health care financing administration's ESRD core indicators project

To determine the impact of a quality improvement intervention on dialysis care delivered to hemodialysis patients, we studied 213 hemodialysis facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Dialysis adequacy measurements made on two random samples of 30 patients per treatment center, or all patients if fewer than 30 were treated, selected in October 1994 (preintervention) and October 1995 (postintervention) were used to estimate the facility mean urea reduction ratio (URR) and the proportion of patients with a mean URR less than 50%. The 10% of facilities (n = 22) with the highest proportion of patients with a mean URR less than 50% in the facility at preintervention were selected for an intervention that included feedback of facility-specific mean URR, educational programs, a quality improvement workshop, and monitoring until improvement was attained. Changes between preintervention and postintervention facility mean URR and proportions of patients with a URR less than 60% and 65% were used to assess the impact of the intervention. After 1 year, the mean URR had increased an average of 7% in intervention centers compared with an increase of 1.4% (P < 0.001) in the remainder of the treatment centers in the Network. There was an average reduction of 17.2% in the proportion of patients with a URR less than 65% in intervention centers compared with 4.8% in the other facilities (P < 0.001). Comparable reductions in the proportion of patients with a mean URR of less than 60% were 16.2% in intervention centers and 2.0% in comparison facilities (P < 0.001). After controlling for facility case mix and other characteristics, the intervention was independently associated with an absolute 2.4% increase in facility-specific mean URR. We conclude that the intervention was associated with improvement in hemodialysis care.
On the number of solutions to the linear comple-mentarity problem

Given ann × n matrixA and ann-dimensional vectorq letN(A, q) be the cardinality of the set of solutions to the linear complementarity problem defined byA andq. It is shown that ifA is nondegenerate thenN(A, q) + N(A, ?q) ? 2n, which in turn impliesN(A, q) ? 2n ? 1 ifA is also aQ-matrix. It is then demonstrated that minq?0N(A, q) ? 2n?1 ? 1, which concludes that the complementary cones cannot spanRn more than 2n?1 ? 1 times around. For anyn, an example of ann × n nondegenerateQ-matrix spanning allRn, but a subset of empty interior, 2[n/3] times around is given.
Cancer risk assessment using blood dioxin levels and daily dietary TEQ intake in general populations of industrial and non-industrial countries

We previously measured polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in U.S. foods and estimated the daily dioxin toxic equivalent (TEQ) intake to be from 0.3 to 3.0 pg 1-TEQ/kg body weight for adults. These values are similar to values reported in Canada, Germany, England, and the Netherlands. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dioxin Reassessment Draft Documents currently propose a cancer risk-specific dose estimate of 0.01 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day (U.S. EPA, 1994). This risk-specific dose estimate represents a lifetime (70 years) dose which results in a plausible upper bound cancer risk of 1 x 10(-6) (the probability of one additional cancer per one million exposed population over a lifetime). The proximate source of almost all dioxin intake in the general population is from food. Using our data for daily dietary dioxin exposure and the EPA's proposed risk specific dose, we estimate that over a lifetime a maximum of 30 to 300 excess cancers per million could result from the ingestion of dioxin containing food products. In the U.S. population of 260 million, a maximum range of 7,800 to 78,000 excess cancers over a lifetime (70 years) or 111 to 1,114 cases/year might be directly linked to dioxin exposure from food. Because these calculations are based on conservative approaches to setting an upper bound, "true" risk is not likely to exceed this value. At present, one-third of all Americans will develop cancer over a lifetime and one in four Americans are likely to die from cancer. For 1995, it was estimated that there would be 1,252,000 new cancer cases in the U.S. From this, we calculate that a maximum between 0.009% and 0.09% (111-1,114 cases/year) of all cancer cases in the U.S. might be directly linked to dioxin intake in food, assuming intakes have remained constant over a lifetime. Previous studies have suggested that as much as 70% of the total cancer risk in humans may be attributable to diet, primarily as a function of caloric and synthetic chemicals in the diet. (NAS, 1996) These figures do not take into account the ingestion of more contaminated food products, other sources of exposure, possible interactions of PCDDs and PCDFs with other chemicals, or increased incidence of cancer from the cancer promoting actions of dioxins. In addition, we reviewed average U.S. general population blood TEQ (ppt, lipid) levels, which reflect body burden, with levels of persons living in less industrialized countries. These data were used to compare the cancer risk of individuals living in the U.S., an industrial country, to those living in selected less industrialized countries. With the assumption that similar populations were being compared, it is estimated that in the non-industrial region of north Vietnam there is one-third the risk of dioxin-related cancer compared with the United States, while Cambodians have a dioxin-related cancer risk that is 14 fold less than the U.S. at this time.
Cassini spacecraft post-launch malfunction correction success

After the launch of the Cassini “Mission-to-Saturn” Spacecraft, the volume of subsequent mission design modifications was expected to be minimal due to the rigorous testing and verification of the Flight Hardware and Flight Software. For known areas of risk where faults could potentially occur, component redundancy and/or autonomous Fault Protection (FP) routines were implemented to ensure that the integrity of the mission was maintained. The goal of Cassini's FP strategy is to ensure that no credible Single Point Failure (SPF) prevents attainment of mission objectives or results in a significantly degraded mission, with the exception of the class of faults which are exempted due to low probability of occurrence. In the case of Cassini's Propulsion Module Subsystem (PMS) design, a waiver was approved prior to launch for failure of the prime regulator to properly close; a potentially mission catastrophic single point failure. However, one month after Cassini's launch when the fuel and oxidizer tanks were pressurized for the first time, the prime regulator was determined to be leaking at a rate significant enough to require a considerable change in Main Engine (ME) burn strategy for the remainder of the mission. Crucial mission events such as the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) bum task which required a characterization exercise for the PMS system 30 days before the maneuver were now impossible to achieve. This details the steps necessary to support the unexpected malfunction of the prime regulator, the introduction of new failure modes which required new FP design changes consisting of new/modified under-pressure and over-pressure algorithms; all which must be accomplished during the operation phase of the spacecraft, as a result of a presumed low probability waived failure which occurred after launch.
Computed Tomographic Colonography: Ready for Prime Time?

Computed tomographic (CT) colonography is a noninvasive method to evaluate the colon and has received considerable attention in the last decade as a colon-imaging tool. The technique has also been proposed as a potential primary colon cancer-screening method in the United States. The accuracy of the technique for the detection of large lesions seems to be high, perhaps in the range of colonoscopy. Overall, the field is rapidly evolving. Available data suggest that CT colonography, although a viable colon cancer screening modality in the United States, is not ready for widespread implementation, largely because of the lack of standards for training and reading and the limited number of skilled readers.
Quantitation of Intestinal D-Xylose Absorption in Normal Turkeys

Abstract Both a standard method and a modified micromethod of quantitating intestinal D-xylose absorption were successfully performed in turkeys. Absorption peaks and curves for both tests closely resembled those observed in humans. The micromethod was preferred because it could be performed in poults as young as 3 days of age, required a smaller sample size, and was more economical and less time-consuming. Both tests were suitable for experimental and clinical determination of small intestinal absorptive function in the turkey.
A semi-defined medium for culturing Nomuraea rileyi

A semi-defined medium was successfully used to culture several natural and mutant isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus, Nomuraea rileyi. The medium contains only two complex ingredients at very low levels, yet permits germination and mycelial growth of N. rileyi. The medium also facilitates recovery and detection of hydrolytic enzymes. Use of the formulation could simplify nutritional, biochemical and physiological studies with N. rileyi and also might be used to culture other entomopathogenic fungi.
Effect of Ionic Strength on the Apparent Anti-coagulant Activity of Bovine Heparin

THE preparation of a series of fractions1 of commercial bovine heparin with varying molecular weight and biological activity by solvent (ethanol-water) elution and by Ecteola column chromatography gave us an opportunity to investigate the role of electrostatic interactions on the anti-coagulant activity of these fractions.
Mining billions of AST nodes to study actual and potential usage of Java language features

Programming languages evolve over time, adding additional language features to simplify common tasks and make the language easier to use. For example, the Java Language Specification has four editions and is currently drafting a fifth. While the addition of language features is driven by an assumed need by the community (often with direct requests for such features), there is little empirical evidence demonstrating how these new features are adopted by developers once released. In this paper, we analyze over 31k open-source Java projects representing over 9 million Java files, which when parsed contain over 18 billion AST nodes. We analyze this corpus to find uses of new Java language features over time. Our study gives interesting insights, such as: there are millions of places features could potentially be used but weren't; developers convert existing code to use new features; and we found thousands of instances of potential resource handling bugs.
Modeling radiative transfer in photobioreactors for algal growth

Simulations of radiative transfer within an air-lift photobioreactor (PBR) are demonstrated by coupling it to the fluid hydrodynamics and employing wavelength dependant properties for the participating media. The radiative properties of the algal media are determined by matching the numerical predictions against measurements of radiative intensity distributions. To assist towards the design, scale-up and optimization of such reactors, a parametric investigation of the relative importance of the angular resolution of the radiation calculations, scattering phase functions of the bubbles, air mass flow rate and the bubble size are investigated by examining the 3D distributions of radiation within the PBR. Two hundred and eighty eight solid angles in the finite volume (FV) formulation of the radiative transfer equation (RTE) provide an optimum combination of speed and accuracy in the resulting calculations. While scattering results in a more effective redistribution of the energy, the results from employing isotropic and forward-scattering phase functions for the bubbles are found to be similar. The importance of bubble scattering diminishes at algal concentrations (>0.5g/L) where the radiation attenuation is dominated by the absorption coefficient of the algal media. While [email protected] sized bubbles more effectively redistribute the radiation downstream of the radiators compared to larger sized bubbles, the differences in the radiation profiles obtained from [email protected] and [email protected] bubbles were small within this reactor. The radiation distributions are also influenced by the mass flow rate of air. The calculations demonstrate the need to rigorously account for the air flow rate, bubble size and the scattering effects of bubbles through fully coupled numerical solutions to the fluid flow and radiative transfer equations and provide some best practice guidelines for increasing the fidelity of radiation simulations in PBR's.
Diffraction gratings in sol–gel films by direct contact printing using a UV-mercury lamp

Abstract We report on the fabrication of diffraction gratings in photosensitive sol–gel thin films by direct contact printing using a UV-mercury lamp. Titanium amplitude masks were used to replicate diffraction gratings into photosensitive sol–gel films by contact printing with an incoherent UV-light source. Gratings with 1-μm period were fabricated in sol–gel films. The diffraction efficiencies of each diffracted order were measured and compared to theoretical values. The demonstrated process of contact printing using a regular UV-light source in the optically compatible sol–gel material has potential for large-scale fabrication of submicrometer gratings at very low cost.
Legendre's differential operators and application to linear differential equations

The purpose of this article is to develop the concept of Legendre's differential operators, which are constructed from both ascending and descending operators. These operators are anticommutative except for the lowest eigen‐value l = 0. The application of Legendre's differential operators to linear differential equations is also discussed.
Tissue-engineered fibrin scaffolds containing neural progenitors enhance functional recovery in a subacute model of SCI.

Two recurring problems with stem/neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation therapies for spinal cord injury (SCI) are poor cell survival and uncontrolled cell differentiation. The current study evaluated the viability and differentiation of embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (ESNPCs) transplanted within fibrin scaffolds containing growth factors (GFs) and a heparin-binding delivery system (HBDS) to enhance cell survival and direct differentiation into neurons. Mouse ESNPCs were generated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) using a 4−/4+ retinoic acid (RA) induction protocol that resulted in a population of cells that was 70% nestin positive NPCs. The ESNPCs were transplanted directly into a rat subacute dorsal hemisection lesion SCI model. ESNPCs were either encapsulated in a fibrin scaffold; encapsulated in fibrin containing the HBDS, neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-AA); or encapsulated in fibrin scaffolds with NT-3 and PDGF-AA without the HBDS. We report that the combination of GFs and fibrin scaffold (without HBDS) enhanced the total number of ESNPCs present in the treated spinal cords and increased the number of ESNPC-derived NeuN positive neurons 8 weeks after transplantation. All experimental groups treated with ESNPCs exhibited an increase in behavioral function 4 weeks after transplantation. In a subset of animals, the ESNPCs over-proliferated as evidenced by SSEA-1 positive/Ki67 positive ESCs found at 4 and 8 weeks. These results demonstrate the potential of tissue-engineered fibrin scaffolds to enhance the survival of NPCs and highlight the need to purify cell populations used in therapies for SCI.
Actinides in metallic waste from electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuel.

Argonne National Laboratory has developed a pyroprocessing-based technique for conditioning spent sodium-bonded nuclear-reactor fuel in preparation for long-term disposal. The technique produces a metallic waste form whose nominal composition is stainless steel with 15 wt.% Zr (SS-15Zr), up to ∼ 11 wt.% actinide elements (primarily uranium), and a few percent metallic fission products. Actual and simulated waste forms show similar eutectic microstructures with approximately equal proportions of iron solid solution phases and Fe-Zr intermetallics. This article reports on an analysis of simulated waste forms containing uranium, neptunium, and plutonium.
Measurements of the 1s Lamb shift in hydrogen-like chlorine

Abstract Recently quite a few experiments were performed in order to measure the ls Lamb shift in hydrogen-like heavy ions (16 ⩽ Z ⩽ 36). In this paper the general problems encountered in such experiments are discussed and some typical experiments and their limitations are described. At the end we propose an experiment to measure the ls Lamb shift in hydrogen-like chlorine with a precision of better than 0.5%, competitive with the 1s Lamb shift measurement in hydrogen and with the 2s Lamb shift measurements in hydrogen-like heavy ions. Later this accuracy can be significantly improved with bare heavy ions produced in novel ion sources presently under development.
Photomask Manufacturing: An Example of Synchronized Ecosystem Learning

An empirical study of the productivity of manufacturing photomasks concludes that the uncontrolled growth of optical proximity effect correction and resolution enhancement techniques is driving up the cost of pattern generation and mask inspection to levels that threaten the profitability of photomask manufacturing. The marginal cost of production capacity, which is defined as the additional capacity required to produce one more mask per unit time is the driving metric.
Enhancing Sustainable Nutrient and Irrigation Management for Potatoes

Two aspects of nutrient and irrigation best management practices (BMP) in relation to sustainable agricultural production systems described in this paper are: (i) application of crop simulation model for decision support system; and (ii) real-time, automated measurement of soil-water content to aid in optimal irrigation scheduling aimed at minimizing leaching losses below the root zone. Water transport through the soil profile within and below the crop root zone plays an important role in determining the nutrient transport, uptake, and possibly leaching below the crop root zone. Minimizing leaching losses is important to avoid wastage of nutrients and decrease or prevent nutrient contamination of surficial groundwater. Capacitance probes were used in this study for real-time, automated measurement of soil water content at various depths in the soil, i.e., within and below the root zone. Depth-integrated soil-water contents were calculated for the rooting depth and below the rooting depth during potato (So...
Behavioral and Electroantennogram Responses of Phorid fly Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) to Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta Odor and Trail Pheromone

The phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis is an introduced parasitoid of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta in the United States. Previous studies show that phorid flies are attracted to host ant workers at disturbed colonies, to colonies exhibiting aggressive interspecific interactions, and to fire ant mating flights. In a series of behavioral and electroantennogram (EAG) experiments, we confirm the possible use of fire ant odor as cues for host location by P. tricuspis. We tested the response of P. tricuspis of different sex and mating status to several host-related odor stimuli including live fire ant workers, extracts of worker whole body, head, thorax, and abdomen, and (E,E)-α-farnesene, a trail pheromone component of Solenopsis fire ants. Results from Y-tube olfactometer bioassays demonstrated the attraction of mated female P. tricuspis to live S. invicta workers. In addition, extracts of S. invicta worker whole body and thorax elicited strong olfactometer response in female flies (mated and unmated) and mated males, but not in unmated males. Pseudacteon tricuspis did not show significant attraction to extracts of S. invicta worker head and abdomen, or to (E,E)-α-farnesene, irrespective of sex and mating status. In EAG experiments, female and male P. tricuspis showed significant EAG response to extracts of worker whole body, head, and abdomen, and to a less extent, thorax extract, but not to (E,E)-α-farnesene. Females showed slightly greater EAG response than males, but EAG response was not affected by mating status. These results suggest that fire ant thorax is likely the source of kairomones used as host location cues by P. tricuspis, and support the hypothesis that fire ant worker trail pheromones are not likely used by P. tricuspis for host location.
Space-Current Flow in Vacuum-Tube Structures

From well-known formulas for space-current in diodes and for amplification factor in triodes, interelectrode capacitance, plate current, and potential distribution in triodes and multigrid tubes are determined through use of the concept of planes of equivalent potential. By the same means, amplification factor in multigrid tubes is derived.
COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY OF LOCAL BURN WOUND THERAPY

Summary A group of patients with burns covering a surface area under 30 percent was treated with either 0.5% silver nitrate or Sulfamylon. Both agents appeared to be equally effective in controlling bacterial growth. Eschar separation was often prolonged, particularly when bacterial growth was well controlled. It seems that early excision and grafting of the small burn wound may be a valuable way to decrease cost and morbidity. Since the average hospital stay for these patients was more than 40 days, more vigorous efforts must be made to heal these wounds. When comparing the two modes of therapy in the treatment of the small thermal injuries, Sulfamylon may be the better drug due to its ease of administration and good patient and personnel acceptance.
A Monte Carlo simulation model for stationary non-Gaussian processes

A class of stationary non-Gaussian processes, referred to as the class of mixtures of translation processes, is defined by their finite dimensional distributions consisting of mixtures of finite dimensional distributions of translation processes. The class of mixtures of translation processes includes translation processes and is useful for both Monte Carlo simulation and analytical studies. As for translation processes, the mixture of translation processes can have a wide range of marginal distributions and correlation functions. Moreover, these processes can match a broader range of second order correlation functions than translation processes. The paper also develops an algorithm for generating samples of any non-Gaussian process in the class of mixtures of translation processes. The algorithm is based on the sampling representation theorem for stochastic processes and properties of the conditional distributions. Examples are presented to illustrate the proposed Monte Carlo algorithm and compare features of translation processes and mixture of translation processes. q 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reconquest of the subjective. Against the waning of psychiatric diagnosing.

Psychiatric research over the past three decades has now acquired the esteem it clearly deserves. Since empirical research presupposes definition of the object one studies and availability of instruments to measure it, operationalisation of diagnosis and development of psychometric instruments have become major concerns for psychiatry. This progress was promoted to a large degree by biological psychiatry. The search for biological underpinnings of abnormal human behaviour and the study of the efficacy and mechanism of action of biological treatments are both contingent on the use of standardised diagnoses and objective measurement. Biological psychiatry moved in recent years from a minority position into the mainstream, and its methods became the standard approach, especially in research.
Carbon Economy of Sour Orange in Relation to Mycorrhizal Colonization and Phosphorus Status

Abstract The effects of plant phosphorus (P) status and the mycorrhizal (M) fungus, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, on the carbon (C) economy of sour orange ( Citrus aurantium L.) were determined during and following active M colonization. There were four treatments: M seedlings grown at standard-strength (1 mM) P (M1) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants grown at one, two and five times standard-strength P (NM1, NM2 and NM5). Mycorrhizal colonization, tissue dry mass, P content, root length and leaf area were determined in five harvests from 6 to 15 weeks of age. Rate of C assimilation (A) was determined at 7, 8 and 12 weeks by gas exchange. Partitioning of 14 C was determined from 7 to 15 weeks using a 10-min pulse followed by a 24-h chase period. For a given attribute, M1 plants were compared to the curve defining the NM response as a function of tissue P concentration. In contrast to the large effects of P nutrition on C economy of sour orange, M effects were generally subtle. Mycorrhizae increased the root biomass fraction, the root length/leaf area ratio and the percentage of 14 C recovered from below-ground components. A higher percentage of below-ground 14 C was in the respiration and soil fractions in M than NM plants of equivalent P status. Mycorrhizal plants tended to enhance A only for a brief period. Mycorrhizal plants had lower relative growth rates than NM plants of equivalent P status, suggesting that the temporarily enhance A of M plants did not fully compensate for their greater below-ground carbon expenditure. Problems of interpreting the dynamic effects of mycorrhizae on C economy that are independent of P nutrition are discussed.
Facemasks and facial deposition of aerosols

Passage of aerosol around or through a facemask can result in deposition on the face and in the eyes. The present study quantified facial and eye deposition in a model simulating drug delivery to a young child. Aerosol delivery and facial deposition of radiolabeled saline test aerosols were studied in vitro with filters and a gamma camera. A child's face facsimile, attached to a piston pump, was used to simulate the patient receiving aerosol therapy. A filter placed in the oropharynx of the face facsimile measured aerosol delivery (inhaled mass). Seven commercially available facemasks in combination with three jet nebulizers were studied for aerosol delivery to the "patient" as well as for deposition on the face and in the eyes. Inhaled mass varied from 2.24-5.96% of nebulizer charge (drug placed in the nebulizer). Facial deposition varied from 0.44-2.34% of nebulizer charge, with eye deposition at 0.09-1.78%. All facemasks leaked aerosol, with significant facial and eye deposition approaching in magnitude delivery to the lung. Factors affecting facial and eye deposition include the interactive design characteristics of the facemask and nebulizer, as well as the aerodynamic properties of the aerosol.
Cue-induced reinstatement of food seeking in rats that differ in their propensity to attribute incentive salience to food cues

Cues associated with food availability and consumption can evoke desire for food, sometimes leading to excessive intake. We have found, however, that food cues acquire incentive motivational properties (the ability to attract and to serve as conditional reinforcers) in some individuals (sign-trackers), but not others (goal-trackers). We asked, therefore, whether rats that are attracted (attribute incentive salience) to a food cue are the same individuals in which a food cue reinstates food seeking behavior, and whether this is modulated by hunger. We report that a food cue produced more robust reinstatement in individuals prone to attribute incentive salience to reward cues (sign-trackers), than in those that do not (goal-trackers). Furthermore, hunger significantly facilitated reinstatement in sign-trackers, but not goal-trackers. In conclusion, individual variation in the propensity to attribute incentive salience to food cues may contribute to susceptibly to eating disorders, and therefore, studies on the psychological and neurobiological basis of this variation may provide new insights into such disorders.
Anastomotic leak detection by electrolyte electrical resistance.

ABSTRACTObjective: To characterize a new method of postoperative gastrointestinal leak detection based on electrical resistance changes due to extravasated electrolyte contrast. Background: Postoperative gastrointestinal leak results in increased patient morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs that can be mitigated by early diagnosis. A sensitive and specific diagnostic test that could be performed at the bedside has the potential to shorten the time to diagnosis and thereby improve the quality of treatment. Materials and Methods: Anaesthetized rats underwent celiotomy and creation of a 5-mm gastrotomy. In experimental animals, electrical resistance changes were measured with a direct current ohmmeter after the introduction of 5 cc of 23.4% NaCl electrolyte solution via gavage and measured with a more sensitive alternating current ohmmeter after the gavage of 1–5 cc of 0.9% NaCl. Comparison was made to negative controls and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Leakage from the gastrotomy induced ...
Depressing Effect of Caffeine at Crayfish Neuromuscular Synapses II. Initial Search for Possible Sites of Action

Caffeine's unexpected depression of synaptic transmission in the superficial flexor muscle system (SFM) of Procambarus clarkii was studied by looking at three known sites of action of this drug: via adenosine and ryanodine receptors and inhibition of phosphodiesterase.1. JPs did not change in size when exposed to physiological concentrations of adenosine, suggesting that the SFM system lacks presynaptic adenosine receptors.2. JPs slightly increased in size in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, the opposite response to that obtained with caffeine, suggesting that caffeine is not acting via this pathway.3. A calcium ionophore immediately enhanced synaptic transmission in the SFM system but when given in combination with caffeine the enhancement is reduced and declines over time.4. Serotonin enhanced synaptic transmission in the SFM system, but when given in combination with caffeine this enhancement was not observed.5. These caffeine effects are interpreted in terms of alterations to the calcium homeostatic mechanisms of the terminals.
Dextranglucosidase Activity in Supragingival Plaque

Enzyme activity was present in pooled dental plague that hydrolyzed dextran added to glucose. Hydrolysis of dextran occurred in the pH range of 5.15 to 7.1. Glucose released endogenously from plague alone was equivalent in amount to that released by amyloglucosidase; therefore, it was from starchy sources.
STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF FEVER XVIII. ACTIVATION OF LEUKOCYTES FOR PYROGEN PRODUCTION

Blood leukocytes, in contrast to exudate leukocytes, release little or no pyrogen when incubated in 0.15 M NaCl unless previously activated by exposure to endotoxin or to a protein activator that is present in acute exudate fluid. The activation process, which also occurs during phagocytosis, involves the synthesis of cellular protein, presumably related to the pyrogen molecule. Evidence is presented that generation of pyrogen in sterile inflammatory lesions depends on both the activator and the anaerobic conditions in the exudate fluid.
Numbers matter to informed patient choices: a randomized design across age and numeracy levels.

Background. How drug adverse events (AEs) are communicated in the United States may mislead consumers and result in low adherence. Requiring written information to include numeric AE-likelihood inf...
Tapinillus longipes (Taczanowski), a web-building lynx spider from the American tropics (Araneae: Oxyopidae)

Summary For the first time a member of the spider family Oxyopidae, Tapinillus longipes (Taczanowski), is reported to utilize a web for prey capture under natural conditions. It is suggested that this behaviour is primitive for the family Oxyopidae.
Techniques for decreasing power and increasing legibility of electronic watches

Abstract Two novel techniques are described for decreasing the high voltage power requirements and increasing the legibility of solid state electronic watches. These techniques are particularly applicable when the electro-optic display medium is either a scattering liquid crystal or a rotatable dipole solution.