cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classroom response systems have not 'crossed the chasm': estimating numbers of chemistry faculty who use clickers

Results of a national survey of faculty usage of assessment tools are presented and framed within the concept of the technology adoption life cycle. Specifically, the use of classroom response systems as reported by survey participants suggests that the adoption of this technique in chemistry is still at the “early adopters” stage, or perhaps is just beginning to cross into the “early majority” category. This transition is viewed within this model as a chasm to be crossed, and data from this work suggest that transition is not yet fully achieved.
Land Readjustment During Post-Disaster Urban Reconstruction

Land readjustment (LR), a land management technique used to consolidate plots of land for unified planning of infrastructure, servicing, and subdivision (Doebele, 1982), has received increased atte...
Is thrombosis of the infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm an acceptable alternative

Aortic aneurysm thrombosis with extra-anatomic bypass has been proposed for persons with infrarenal aortic aneurysms who are "too debilitated" to undergo standard aortic reconstruction. Thirteen patients (mean age, 75 years) were selected between January 1980 and June 1984 for axillobifemoral bypass with bilateral iliac artery occlusion to manage their infrarenal aortic aneurysms (mean size, 6.3 cm; range, 4.9 to 7.5 cm). Preoperative risk factors were cardiac (angina, compensated congestive heart failure, and significant preoperative arrhythmias), 100% of patients; pulmonary (symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with a 1-second forced expiratory volume less than 50% of the predicted value), 46% of patients; renal (creatinine value greater than or equal to 2.0 mg/dl or creatinine clearance less than 20 ml/min), 46% of patients; or nutritional (albumin less than or equal to 3.5 gm/dl or body weight less than 90% of ideal), 46%. Ninety-two percent of the patients had two risk factors whereas 46% had three or more risk factors. The operative mortality rate was 31%; three patients died of multisystem organ failure and another died of thrombin-induced consumptive coagulopathy and hemorrhage. (Our operative mortality rate for conventional graft replacement of abdominal aortic aneurysms is less than 3%.) Morbidity in persons surviving at least 1 month included thrombosis of the extra-anatomic bypass graft requiring thrombectomy (three patients), ischemic colitis (two patients), ischemic neuropathy (one patient), and patients), ischemic colitis (two patients), ischemic neuropathy (one patient), and bilateral above-knee amputations (one patient). Thrombosis of the aneurysm was not achieved in two patients despite use of fluoroscopically controlled embolization of runoff vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
STRONG CHAOTIFICATION OF DISCRETE TIME SYSTEMS BY SMALL FEEDBACK CONTROL

The problem of making a stable discrete time system chaotic has attracted considerable interest. The definition of chaotification used in these studies is based on introducing a feedback control which establishes the existence of a scrambled set for the controlled system. In this note, we introduce a stronger and potentially more useful definition of chaotification based on the existence of an absolutely continuous invariant measure (acim). The utility of this approach is that once a desired chaotic behavior (in the form of an acim near a stable fixed point) is specified, we can determine a small feedback control (as a function of the stable system) such that the controlled dynamical system exhibits the desired behavior. An example is worked out in detail.
The Clean Development Mechanism in the Solid Waste Management Sector: Sustainable for Whom?

Abstract Using a waste-to-energy project located in a landfill on the outskirts of San Salvador as a case in point, we argue that the UN's Clean Development Mechanism falls short of its stated mandate to promote sustainable development. While the mechanism may provide environmental and economic value creation for some stakeholders, it provides value destruction for others, namely for the disenfranchised communities neighboring the project site. We describe three specific challenges that the solid waste management industry represents for the CDM and suggest that a revised plan would incorporate a social inclusion agenda in partial fulfillment of the requirements for CDM approval.
The minority community as a natural business incubator

Abstract This study examines two methods of business implementation, the formal business incubator and a minority business community. A general picture of the business incubator is gathered from a review of business literature and compared to the initial results of a case study of the Ismaili Pakistani community in a midsize southwestern city. Major differences between the two implementation means are the motivations prompting the business initiations and some variety in services offered. Findings reinforce the necessity of understanding the institutional underpinnings of various types of business creation processes, as well as the continued importance of characteristics of the business founder.
Physician home visits for persons with dementia: Is there a need?

This study explores the potential role ofphysician home visits in the care of persons with dementia. Family caregivers (n = 182) of relatives with irreversible dementia were surveyed about their use of physician home visits, perceptions of the availability of home visits and anticipatedfuture need for this service. Persons with dementia who had used home visits had higher functional and mobility deficits, were more likely to have used other types of in-home assistance and were more likely to require catheter or decubitus care. Over half of the sample intends to use physician home visits in the future, but mostfamilies have not investigated the availability of the service. Barriers to the use of physician home visits are presented and policy implications are discussed.
Study of Carbon-14 Labeled Sterculic Acid in Chickens

Abstract Recently the synthesis of methyl-(9, 10 methylene)-octadec-9-enoate (methyl sterculate) has been reported by Gensler et al. (1970) and Altenburger et al. (1970). In the present study (methylene-14 C)-sterculic acid was synthesized and administered to laying hens in order to determine whether the acid was metabolized or accumulated in the animal. (Methylene-14 C)-methyl sterculate was prepared from methyl stearolate and 14 C-diazomethane (Altenburger et al., 1970) and hydrolyzed to 14 C-sterculic acid for intravenous injection into twelve-month old S.C. White Leghorn hens. Two of the three birds were fasted for 24 hours after injection and then sacrificed. A third bird was fed a standard laying diet and sacrificed after five days. The experimental procedure and the preparation of the samples was described by Berry et al. (1969). Samples were prepared from ovaries, liver, heart, blood and fat tissues (abdominal and skin fat), from daily collected feces and eggs and from carbon dioxide in…
Complementary specificity of restriction endonucleases of Diplococcus pneumoniae with respect to DNA methylation

Abstract Restriction endonucleases Dpn I and Dpn II are produced by two distinct strains of Diplococcus pneumoniae. The two enzymes show complementary specificity with respect to methylation of sites in DNA. From the identity of its cleavage site with that of Mbo I, it appears that Dpn II cleaves at the unmodified sequence 5′-G-A-T-C-3′. Dpn I cleaves at the same sequence when the adenine residue is methylated. Both enzymes produce only double-strand breaks in susceptible DNA. Their susceptibility to Dpn 1 and not Dpn II shows that essentially all the G-A-T-C sequences are methylated in DNA from the pneumococcal strain that produces Dpn II as well as in DNA from Hemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli. In the dam-3 mutant of E. coli none of these sequences appear to be methylated. Residual adenine methylation in the dam-3 mutant DNA most likely occurs at different sites. Different but characteristic degrees of methylation at G-A-T-C sites are found in the DNA of bacterial viruses grown in E. coli. DNAs from mammalian cells and viruses are not methylated at this sequence. Mitochondrial DNA from Paramecium aurelia is not methylated, but a small proportion of G-A-T-C sequences in the macronuclear DNA of this eukaryote appear to be methylated. Possible roles of sequence-specific methylation in the accommodation of plasmids, in the replication of DNA, in the regulation of gene function and in the restriction of viral infection are discussed.
Application of perturbation methods in optical scatterometry

Optical scattering techniques can provide rapid, non-destructive measurements of nanometer-scale structures for micro-fabrication process control. In general, these techniques compare measured optical characteristics of a sample to results generated from a theoretical model. The models can be computationally expensive, especially when used with iterative methods to obtain a solution to the inverse problem. However, the structures of interest are normally restricted to small changes from some nominal structure. Perturbation theories have been used to efficiently calculate the effects of small changes on the performance of photonic crystals. In this paper, we apply these perturbation techniques to the optical scatterometry problem and demonstrate a calculation of the change in the scattered signal due to edge roughness from an array of holes in a dielectric.
The Moon as a piece of Mercury

The giant impact on Earth proposed by some to generate the Moon could not have happened because the amount of carbonate rock and organic carbon present on Earth closely approximates the amount of CO2 predicted for the Earth's early atmosphere by comparison with the present atmosphere of Venus. It is suggested that the Moon may have fissioned from Mercury more than 4.4 billion years ago and may have been captured by the Earth no later than 3.2 billion years ago.
Manganese octahedral molecular sieve catalysts for selective styrene oxide ring opening

Manganese octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) catalysts prepared by different methods have been employed for terminal ring opening of epoxides. Conversions ranging from 14% to 80% were obtained depending on the properties of the OMS catalysts. The catalysts act as Lewis acids in the reaction to facilitate nucleophilic attack on styrene oxide. Doping with other transition metals such as V, W, and Mo may alter the Lewis acidity of the materials and hence, leads to significant enhancement in conversions (100%) and selectivities for the ring opening. Effects of different solvents and nucleophiles were also studied in the reaction. This process using OMS catalysts is environmentally friendly and the catalysts can be reused without loss of activity.
Most Effective and Least Effective Boards of Nonprofit Human Service Agencies

A study was conducted of 13 United Way agencies to determine if there were variables that would significantly discriminate between the boards of human services agencies judged most effective and those least effective. Stepwise multiple discriminant analyses revealed three functions that discriminated: Organizational Awareness—accounting for 59% of the variance; Shared Managerial Responsibilities-accounting for 23% of the variance; and Administrative Trustee Duties—accounting for 18% of the variance.
Expert Commentary: Role of Surgery for the Management of CSF Leaks:

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) was described nearly 70 years ago, and for years it was essentially equated with post dural puncture headaches (PDPH) (1). The interest in this entity substantially increased after the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities of this disorder were recognized in the early 1990s (2-6), and consequently many more patients were diagnosed than before and a far broader clinical spectrum of this disorder began to become apparent. It also came to be recognized that the overwhelming majority if not all cases of SIH result from spontaneous cerebrospinal (CSF) leaks and that the independent pathogenic parameter is loss of CSF volume (7).
β′ Subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase is responsible for streptolydigin resistance in Bacillus subtilis

BACTERIAL RNA polymerase consists of a core (α2ββ′) and a sigma (σ) factor which form the active holoenzyme (α2ββ′σ) (ref. 1). Significant differences in size of the β and β′ subunits occur in the enzymes from various bacterial species2. The exact functions of the larger subunits are still unknown. In Escherichia coli the β′ subunit is the largest polypeptide and is involved in the binding of RNA polymerase to DNA3; the β subunit is responsible for both rifampicin4 and streptolydigin5,6 resistance. In contrast the largest RNA polymerase polypeptide in Bacillus subtilis is responsible for rifampicin resistance and has been designated as β (ref. 7). The second largest polypeptide of B. subtilis contains the two zinc atoms associated with RNA polymerase8 and has been designated as β′. We demonstrate here, using subunit reconstitution studies, that the second largest subunit of B. subtilis RNA polymerase—the β′ subunit—is responsible for streptolydigin resistance. Since the β subunit of E. coli is responsible for resistance to both antibiotics, a divergence in function has occurred between the β and β′ subunits of B. subtilis and E. coli. These and other studies9 thus show clearly that function cannot be attributed to the two larger subunits purely on their relative size. Furthermore the identification of streptolydigin resistance with the β′ subunit and the map locations of rifampicin and streptolydigin resistance in B. subtilis10 indicate that the genes for the β and β′ subunits are very closely linked and that streptolydigin resistance determines the rpoC locus in B. subtilis.
Production and secretion of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) by the human lacrimal gland

Purpose. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) isoforms 1 and 2 have recently been detected in stimulated human tear fluid. The purpose of this study was to determine if these TGF-βs are produced and secreted by the lacrimal gland.Methods. To accomplish this, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect expression of TGF-pl and TGF-β2 mRNAs in normal human and rabbit lacrimal gland biopsies. Northern blot analyses were used for comparing the relative levels of expression of these TGF-β mRNAs in rabbit lacrimal glands. Human lacrimal gland biopsies were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for production of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 latency associated peptide (LAP), and TGF-β2 proteins. Super-natants of unstimulated and carbachol-stimulated human lacrimal gland explant cultures were evaluated for secretion of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 by ELISA.Results. TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 mRNA expression was found in all human and rabbit lacrimal gland specimens by RT-PCR. A greater level of expression of TGF-β1 t...
Adoptive T-cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumours

Solid tumours can be eradicated by infusion of large amounts of tumour-specific T-cells in animal models. The successes seen in preclinical models, however, have not been adequately translated to h...
Spectral weights and the profile bowl

In these experiments, listeners detected changes in the shape of a complex spectrum that varied in overall level. With multicomponent complexes, a typical finding is that the listeners were more sensitive to changes made in the middle components of the spectrum than to changes made at either edge. We used a technique developed by Berg (1989) to estimate the weight listeners attached to the different components of the spectrum in making these judgements. For reasons not understood, the pattern of spectral weights was nearly optimum for a change made in the middle component of the spectrum and much poorer when the change occurred at either edge.
Coherent Structure Visiometrics: From the Soliton to HEC *

In this paper I give a brief personal review of the history of the early soliton days and how they led to the visiometrics and reduced modeling paradigm that has been a part of my approach to nonlinear science in the last three decades. I illustrate it with HEC (Hybrid Elliptic-Contour): a fast, minimal, asymptotically motivated model for unforced, 2-dimensional incompressible weakly dissipative turbulence (U2DIT).
Increased Oxygen Extraction Fraction Is Associated With Prior Ischemic Events in Patients With Carotid Occlusion

Background and Purpose—The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between misery perfusion (increased oxygen extraction fraction, OEF) and baseline risk factors in patients with carotid occlusion. Methods—One-hundred seventeen patients with atherosclerotic carotid occlusion were studied prospectively by clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, and positron emission tomography (PET). PET measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and OEF were made on enrollment in the study. Increased ipsilateral OEF was identified by comparison with 18 normal control subjects. Twenty-five baseline clinical, epidemiological, and arteriographic risk factors were assessed on study entry. Student t tests, χ2 tests, and Fisher exact tests with Bonferroni correction were used to assess statistical significance (P<.05). Results—Of 117 patients, 44 had increased OEF distal to the occluded carotid and 73 had normal OEFs. Thirty-nine of the 81 patients with prior ipsilateral ischemic s...
The Karyotype of Gossypium Herbaceum L.

SUMMARYThe karyotype of Gossypium herbaceum var. africanum reveals that it has five chromosomes with median centromeres, three with slightly submedian centromeres, and five with submedian centromeres. Chromosome 7 and 12 have satellites. The satellite of chromosome 7 is about twice as a large as that of chromosome 12. These satellites could be on a long stalk, or very close to the rest of the chromosome. The total complement length was found to have a mean of 66.12 microns, and an average length of 2.54 microns per chromosome.
Microphase separation transition and rheology of side-chain liquid-crystalline block copolymers

Microphase separation was induced from homogeneous polystyrene-block-polyisoprene (SI diblock) copolymer by grafting of a liquid-crystalline (LC) monomer onto the polyisoprene (PI) block. The origin of the formation of microdomain structure in the side-chain LC block copolymer from a homogeneous SI diblock copolymer is explained in terms of a dramatic increase in repulsive segmental interactions between the constituent blocks. For the investigation, three homogeneous SI diblock copolymers with varying block length ratios (SI-5/6, SI-10/6, and SI-14/3) were synthesized via anionic polymerization in tetrahydrofuran as solvent. This resulted in PI blocks having the following microstructures: 34% 1,2-addition, 59% 3,4-addition, and 7% 1,4-addition. Subsequently, the PI blocks in each of the SI diblock copolymers were first hydroxylated via hydroboration/oxidation reactions to yield hydroxylated SI diblock copolymers (SI-5/6-OH, SI-10/6-OH, and SI-14/3-OH), and then a liquid-crystalline (LC) monomer, 6-[(4-cyano-4'-biphenyl)oxy]hexanoic acid (5CN-COOH), synthesized in our laboratory, was grafted onto the hydroxylated PI blocks (PI-OH), yielding side-chain LC diblock copolymers (SI-5/6-5CN, SI-10/6-5CN, and SI-14/3-5CN). The disappearance of the -COOH and -OH groups after coupling reaction was confirmed using 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that at room temperature SI-5/6-5CN has spherical microdomains, SI-10/ 6-5CN has hexagonally packed cylindrical microdomains, and SI-14/3-5CN has lamellar microdomains. The LC phase of the side-chain block copolymers was identified using polarizing optical microscopy. The clearing temperature (T cl ), determined by differential scanning calorimetry, of the side-chain LC block copolymers is found to be ca. 84 °C, whereas the T cl of LC monomer 5CN-COOH is 170 °C. Oscillatory shear rheometry indicates that the sphere-forming block copolymer SI-5/6-5CN undergoes a lattice disordering/ordering transition at 140 °C and a demicellization/micellization transition at 155 °C, while both the cylinder-forming block copolymer SI-10/6-5CN and lamella-forming block copolymer SI-14/3-5CN undergo microphase separation transition at temperatures much higher than 240 °C, the highest experimental temperature employed. Binodal curves exhibiting upper critical solution temperature were constructed, via cloud point measurement, for four pairs of polystyrene (PS) and PI grafted with 5CN-COOH (PI-5CN). An expression for the temperature dependence of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter X for the PS/(PI-5CN) pair was determined and compared with the X expression for the PS/PI pair. The origin of the formation of microdomain structure in the side-chain LC block copolymers SI-5CN from a homogeneous SI diblock copolymer is explained in terms of molecular weight, block composition, and X for the PS/(PI-5CN) pair.
Design and Analytical Validation of Post-tensioned Column Bases

A post-tensioned (PT) column base connection for use in a seismic resistant PT frame is presented. The PT column base connection allows for self-centering behavior of columns (i.e., returns to its original position with negligible residual drifts). The PT column base connection consists of PT high strength bars, buckling restrained steel plates, reinforcing plates, keeper plates and shim plates. This paper will discuss design considerations for the PT column base connection based on a performance-based design approach, and evaluate the PT column base connection using validated finite element (FE) models.
Control of colorectal cancer using organotin polymers

The efforts described in this paper are aimed at designing organotin polymers that control the growth of various cancers; here colorectal cancer and to identify structure/property relationships that will assist in this goal. The growth of colorectal cancer is affected employing a wide range of organotin condensation polymers. The EC50 values are primarily dependent on the nature of the Lewis base but the CI50 value is dependent on both the nature of the Lewis base and Lewis acid. EC50 values down to the nanograms/mL range are found. A number of products exhibit CI50 values greater than 2.
Stochastic growth with irreversible investment

Abstract This paper provides a unified treatment of the theory of optimal growth when investment is irreversible and output from production is uncertain. Under a convex technology and fairly general assumptions on the random environment, it is shown that optimal policies are monotonic and converge to a unique limiting distribution which is independent of the initial stock. The paper concludes with a comparison of optimal policies in the presence and absence of irreversibility.
Processing and chop length effects in brown-midrib corn silage on intake, digestion, and milk production by dairy cows.

Abstract In this experiment, we evaluated the influence of increasing chop length and mechanical processing of whole-plant brown-midrib corn silage on intake, digestion, and milk production by dairy cows. Corn silage treatments were harvested at three-quarter milk line stage of maturity at 13- and 19-mm theoretical chop length without processing, or at 19- and 32-mm theoretical chop length with processing at a 2-mm roll clearance. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows that averaged 102 ± 17 d in milk at trial initiation were randomly assigned to treatments in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Preplanned orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate effects of processing (19 processed vs. 19 mm unprocessed) and chop length (13 vs. 19 mm unprocessed and 19 vs. 32 mm processed). Treatments were fed in total mixed rations containing 60% forage (67% corn silage and 33% alfalfa silage) and 40% shelled corn and soybean meal-based concentrate (dry matter basis). Milk yield was unaffected by treatment. Dry matter intake was unaffected by corn silage processing, but increasing corn silage chop length reduced dry matter intake in unprocessed (26.6 vs. 25.5 kg/d) and processed (25.9 vs. 25.1 kg/d) chop length contrasts. Processing reduced milk fat content (3.36 vs. 3.11%) and yield (1.43 vs. 1.35 kg/d), increased total-tract starch digestion (92.9 vs. 97.4%), and decreased total-tract neutral detergent fiber digestion (51.0 vs. 41.8%). Total chewing time (min/d) was unaffected by treatment. Masticate mean particle length was unaffected by chop length in unprocessed and processed corn silage treatments. In this study with brown-midrib corn silage fed to dairy cows producing 43 kg/d of milk, there were no benefits from crop processing or increasing chop length on lactation performance.
Group Leader Development: Effects of Personal Growth and Psychoeducational Groups

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to compare the effects of personal growth groups and psychoeducational groups on counselor education students' (n = 74) empathy and group leader self-efficacy. Additionally, we compared the degree to which participants in each group valued: (a) cohesion, (b) catharsis, and (c) insight. There were no significant differences in empathy, group leader self-efficacy, or cohesion between the groups; however, members of the personal growth groups valued catharsis and insight more than members of the psychoeducational groups. Implications for group work educators and future research are discussed.
CSHELL: a high spectral resolution 1-5 um cryogenic echelle spectrograph for the IRTF

A 1 - 5.4 micrometers Cryogenic Echelle Spectrograph (CSHELL) for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility is described. It achieves a resolving power of 5,000 to 40,000 using slits ranging from 4.0' to 0.5' in width and 30' long. It operates in a single-order long-slit mode, and a circular variable filter is used as an order sorter. Two infrared arrays are employed to achieve spectral coverage from 1 - 5.4 micrometers : a 256 X 256 HgCdTe NICMOS-3 array for 1 - 2.5 micrometers and a SBRC 58 X 62 InSb array for 2.8 - 5.4 micrometers . A closed- cycle cooler is employed to keep the optics and supporting structure at 73 K and to maintain the detectors at their proper operating temperatures. The entire spectrograph fits within an envelope of 64 cm X 35 cm X 27 cm. The instrument is controlled by a microcomputer mounted on the telescope, but the observer commands the instrument from a UNIX X Windows workstation on the Internet. This use of the Internet for communication between instrument control and user interface computers facilitates remote observing. A limiting magnitude of 12.3 mag is achieved for S/N equals 10 in 1 hour integration time, at resolving power of 20,000 at 2.2 micrometers wavelength.
Electromagnetic response of quantum dots.

Les interactions a plusieurs corps ne produisent aucun deplacement significatif dans la frequence d'absorption de l'infra-rouge lointain pour un systeme de points quantiques bien separes avec des potentiels de confinement paraboliques. Ceci est contraire au resultat base sur l'approximation de la phase aleatoire, mais en bon accord avec de recents resultats experimentaux
A note on high-breakdown estimators

Abstract It is shown that regression-equivariant high-breakdown estimators necessarily possess the exact-fit property as defined by Yohai and Zamar (1987). Examples are give showing that estimators possessing the exact-fit property can exhibit unusual finite-sample behavior.
Titin-mediated control of cardiac myofibrillar function

According to the Frank-Starling relationship, ventricular pressure or stroke volume increases with end-diastolic volume. This is regulated, in large part, by the sarcomere length (SL) dependent changes in cardiac myofibrillar force, loaded shortening, and power. Consistent with this, both cardiac myofibrillar force and absolute power fall at shorter SL. However, when Ca(2+) activated force levels are matched between short and long SL (by increasing the activator [Ca(2+)]), short SL actually yields faster loaded shortening and greater peak normalized power output (PNPO). A potential mechanism for faster loaded shortening at short SL is that, at short SL, titin becomes less taut, which increases the flexibility of the cross-bridges, a process that may be mediated by titin's interactions with thick filament proteins. We propose a more slackened titin yields greater myosin head radial and azimuthal mobility and these flexible cross-bridges are more likely to maintain thin filament activation, which would allow more force-generating cross-bridges to work against a fixed load resulting in faster loaded shortening. We tested this idea by measuring SL-dependence of power at matched forces in rat skinned cardiac myocytes containing either N2B titin or a longer, more compliant N2BA titin. We predicted that, in N2BA titin containing cardiac myocytes, power-load curves would not be shifted upward at short SL compared to long SL (when force is matched). Consistent with this, peak normalized power was actually less at short SL versus long SL (at matched force) in N2BA-containing myocytes (N2BA titin: ΔPNPO (Short SL peak power minus long SL peak power)=-0.057±0.049 (n=5) versus N2B titin: ΔPNPO=+0.012±0.012 (n=5). These findings support a model whereby SL per se controls mechanical properties of cross-bridges and this process is mediated by titin. This myofibrillar mechanism may help sustain ventricular power during periods of low preloads, and perhaps a breakdown of this mechanism is involved in impaired function of failing hearts.
Substance use predictors of victimization profiles among homeless youth: A latent class analysis

Abstract Although a substantial body of literature demonstrates high prevalence of street victimization among homeless youth, few studies have investigated the existence of victimization classes that differ on the type and frequency of victimization experienced. Nor do we know how substance use patterns relate to victimization classes. Using latent class analysis (LCA), we examined the existence of victimization classes of homeless youth and investigated substance use predictors of class membership utilizing a large purposive sample (N = 601) recruited from homeless youth-serving host agencies in three disparate regions of the U.S. Results of the LCA suggest the presence of three distinct victimization profiles – youth fit into a low-victimization class, a witness class, or a high-victimization class. These three victimization classes demonstrated differences in their substance use, including rates of substance abuse/dependence on alcohol and/or drugs. The presence of distinct victimization profiles suggests the need for screening and referral for differential services.
On network flow functions

This article covers an investigation of the capacity of a network as a function of the capacities of its individual arcs. The case of two variables was investigated in detail, and it was found that each pair of arcs either consistently help each other or consistently hinder each other. Interaction types were computed for a number of special cases, such as arcs in parallel or arcs in series.
The influence of rapid rural-urban migration on Korean national fertility levels

Abstract We apply an autoregressive model to personal migration and pregnancy histories recorded in the 1974 Korean World Fertility Survey to assess the adaptation effect of rural-urban migration on migrant fertility and national fertility levels. The results support the hypothesis that there is a substantial adaptation effect which increases as the size of the destination city increases. The effect of rural-urban migration on national fertility levels is significant. It was estimated that the 945,400 rural-urban women migrants who moved between 1965 and 1970 would avoid, on average, 71,300 births annually during their 24 years of urban residence.
Negotiating Military Alliances: Legal Systems and Alliance Formation

Do domestic legal systems affect states' propensity to form military alliances? This article, building upon the existing research in international relations, adopts a socio-legal approach to understanding international treaty making. By focusing on the essence of international negotiations—communication between states' representatives—I argue that negotiating parties who share a common legal language have a common a priori understanding concerning concepts under discussion. Domestic laws operating within states impact the process of creation of international law embodied in treaties. Empirical analyses show that states with similar legal systems are more likely to form military alliances with one another. Additionally, domestic legal systems influence the way that states design their alliance commitments. In general, my findings suggest that the influence of domestic laws does not stop at “the water's edge.” It permeates the interstate borders and impacts the relations between states, especially the treat...
Glucocorticoid accelerates renal functional maturation in fetal lambs

Renal function was measured in seven premature lambs delivered spontaneously after a fetal injection of betamethasone, four near term lambs delivered via cesarean section after a fetal injection of a placebo and in ten spontaneously delivered full term lambs. Glomerular filtration rates were significantly higher in the premature betamethasone treated than in the near term placebo treated and the full term lambs. Fractional sodium excretions were significantly lower in the betamethasone treated preterm than the placebo treated near term lambs. This suggests that glucocorticoid accelerates renal glomerular and possibly tubular maturation. As in the lung, fetal administration of glucocorticoid stimulates functional maturation of the kidney.
“Prey Play”: Learning about Predators and Prey through an Interactive, Role-Play Game

ABSTRACT “Prey Play” is an interactive role-play activity that provides fifth-grade students with opportunities to examine predator–prey interactions. This four-part, role-play activity allows students to take on the role of a predator and prey as they reflect on the behaviors animals exhibit as they collect food and interact with one another, as well as limiting factors. Through this activity, students will enhance their communication and observation skills and showcase their creativity.
Measured patterns of a resistive V-dipole fed with a double-Y balun

The performance of a double-Y balun feeding a resistive V-dipole is evaluated via antenna-pattern measurements. An optical link is constructed for containing the feedline radiation to a laser receiver unit and the antenna under test (AUT), hence avoiding the uncertainty caused by cable radiation in a conventional antenna pattern-measurement setup. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 380–383, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21356
EUS-guided angiography: a novel approach to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the vascular system.

Background Indications for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures under EUS guidance continue to expand. Objective To assess the feasibility and safety of EUS-guided angiography in a live porcine model. Setting Five acute experiments under general anesthesia. Design and Interventions A linear echoendoscope was advanced into the stomach. Thoracic and abdominal aorta, celiac axis, superior mesenteric and splenic artery, splenic, portal, and hepatic veins were injected with contrast by using FNA needles under fluoroscopy. The animals were then killed for postmortem examination. Main Outcome Measurements Ability to achieve angiography without complications. Results All vessels were identified and punctured without technical difficulties. Injections of the large-caliber vessels resulted in a blush of contrast, whereas selective injection of the smaller vessels (splenic artery, hepatic veins) demonstrated clear vascular opacification. Injection of contrast was technically easiest with the 19-gauge FNA needle and most difficult with the 25-gauge needle. There were no changes in vital signs and hemodynamic parameters during vascular injection of any vessel. At necropsy, the 25-gauge FNA needle did not cause any visible vascular injury or bleeding. The 22-gauge needle left a visible puncture mark without active bleeding. In 1 of 5 pigs, the 19-gauge needle caused a localized vascular hematoma around large-caliber vessels and 150 mL of intra-abdominal blood. Limitation Technical challenges remain to achieve an adequate flow rate of contrast for prolonged visualization of large vessels. Conclusion EUS-guided angiography is technically easy and safe and has potential for a wide array of diagnostic and therapeutic vascular interventions.
Feeding Adaptations of Some Predaceous Hemiptera

Feeding adaptations in five species of predaceous heteropterans (Geocoris punctipes (Say), Nabis alternatus Parshley, Podisus maculiventris (Say), Zelus renardii Kolenati and Sinea confusa Caudell) representing four families (Lygaeidae, Nabidae, pentatomidae, and Reduviidae) were studied. Mouthparts were examined with scanning electron and light microscopy. Radio-labeled ( 14 C) inulin was used to determine that preoral digestive enzymes originate in the salivary glands rather than the gut. All species tested positive for proteinase and phospholipase, but only N. alternatus and P. maculiventris tested positive for salivary amylase. Evidences of salivary stylet collars were observed in all five species, and flanges were studied in detail in G. punctipes and appear to be related to leverase for stylets. Direct observations and video replays showed that the toothed mandibular stylets penetrate, rasp, and cut prey tissues; maxillary stylets form salivary and food canals that deliver saliva and remove liquified prey contents from within. Movements of invading stylets within prey as they probe narrow recesses, such as legs and antennae, are amazingly quick and agile, sometimes bending back upon themselves. These morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations permit aconcerted pre-digestion of prey from within and allow these predators to feed efficiently upon prey that equal or exceed them in size
Accounting for Lag Order Uncertainty in Autoregressions: the Endogenous Lag Order Bootstrap Algorithm

Conventional asymptotic and bootstrap methods for finite-order autoregressive models condition on the estimated lag order of the model as though it were known to be the true lag order. Even if the order is estimated correctly, this procedure ignores the sampling uncertainty about the lag order estimate and may result in spurious inferences. In this paper an appropriately modified bootstrap algorithm is introduced that reflects the true extent of sampling uncertainty in the regression estimates. This endogenous lag order bootstrap algorithm recognizes that lag order selection is an integral part of the sampling procedure by re-estimating the lag order in each bootstrap iteration. It is suggested that the endogenous lag order bootstrap algorithm should routinely replace the standard bootstrap algorithm in applications. Monte Carlo simulations show that ignoring lag order uncertainty may seriously undermine the coverage accuracy of bootstrap confidence intervals for vector autoregression impulse response estimates. Endogenizing the lag order choice is shown to improve coverage accuracy in small samples at negligible additional computational cost. As the lag order uncertainty declines in large samples, the performance of the endogenous lag order interval converges to that of the standard interval.
109 Sargent Street Newton 58, Massachusetts

(1950). 109 Sargent Street Newton 58, Massachusetts. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 315-324.
Marital Quality and Psychological Adjustment Among Mothers of Children with ASD: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relationships

Using data drawn from a longitudinal study of families of children with ASD, the current study examined the impact of marital quality on three indicators of maternal psychological adjustment: depressed mood, parenting efficacy, and subjective well-being. Multiple regression analyses indicated marital quality to be a significant cross-sectional and longitudinal predictor of maternal adjustment. In the cross-sectional regressions, marital quality negatively predicted maternal depression and positively predicted parenting efficacy, and well-being, while in the longitudinal regressions, initial levels of marital quality negatively predicted maternal depressed mood and positively predicted well-being at follow-up. Longitudinal regression results also revealed that marital quality mediated the relationship between family SES and maternal well-being. Study limitations and implications are discussed.
Preservation of renal blood flow during hypotension induced with fenoldopam in dogs

The introduction of drugs that could induce hypotension with different pharmacological actions would be advantageous because side effects unique to a specific drug could be minimized by selecting appropriate therapy. Specific dopamine-1, (DA1) and dopamine-2 (DA2) receptor agonists are now under clinical investigation. Fenoldopam mesylate is a specific DA1 receptor agonist that lowers blood pressure by vasodilatation. The hypothesis that fenoldopam could be used to induce hypotension and preserve blood flow to the kidney was tested. Systemic aortic blood pressure and renal blood flow were measured continuously with a carotid arterial catheter and an electromagnetic flow probe respectively, in order to compare the cardiovascular and renal vascular effects of fenoldopam and sodium nitroprusside in ten dogs under halothane general anaesthesia. Mean arterial pressure was decreased 30 ± 8 per cent from control with infusion of fenoldopam (3.4 ± 2.0 μg · kg− 1 · min− 1) and 34 ± 4 per cent with infusion of sodium nitroprusside (5.9 μg · kg− 1 · min− 1) (NS). Renal blood flow (RBF) increased during fenoldopam-induced hypotension 11 ± 7 per cent and decreased 21 ± 8 per cent during sodium nitroprusside-induced hypotension (P < 0.01). Sodium nitroprusside is a non-selective arteriolar and venous vasodilator that can produce redistribution of blood flow away from the kidney during induced hypotension. Fenoldopam is a selective dopamine-1 (DA1) receptor agonist that causes vasodilatation to the kidney and other organs with DA1 receptors and preserves blood flow to the kidney during induced hypotension.
Nuclear orientation as a tool for studying the structure of very unstable nuclei

With the availability of modern isotope separator on-line systems it has become possible to make broad and systematic studies of low-energy low-spin nuclear structure. A vital ingredient in such a program is unique spin-parity assignments to all low-lying levels. A most desirable complement to spin-parity information is detailed spectroscopic information. Obtaining such information far from stability is difficult because of low activity production. Nuclear orientation provides a means for obtaining spin assignments usingsingles measurements. This is less demanding on source intensities thanγ -γ angular correlation coincidence measurements. Further, nuclear orientation can provide information on magnetic moments and on multipole mixing ratios. A number of structural problems are discussed: the need for unique spin assignments in systematics schemes; the need to distinguish between E2+E0 and M1 transitions; the importance of measuring E2-M1 mixing ratios; and the value of magnetic moment information. Particular emphasis is placed on the desirability of obtaining such information in the neutron-deficient Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi isotopes, based upon the experimental program at the UNISOR facility.
Trisomics and alien addition lines in rice

Primary and secondary trisomics as well as telotrisomics have been well characterized in rice morphologically and the transmission rates of extra chromosomes have been investigated. Primary trisomics have been utilized for associating genes and linkage groups with respective chromosomes. Secondary trisomics and telotrisomics were employed to associate genes with respective chromosome arms. As a result the positions of centromeres on the linkage maps could be pinpointed. Monosomic alien addition lines (MAALs) have a complete chromosome complement of Oryza sativa and a single chromosome of a wild species in genus Oryza. All the MAALs of O. officinalis and O. punctata have been produced. A partial set of MAALs of 5 other wild species of rice have also been produced. These aneuploid stocks of rice are useful not only for genetic study such as gene dosage analysis but also for rice breeding.
A detailed characterization of the adult mouse model of glycogen storage disease Ia.

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSDIa) is caused by a genetic defect in the hepatic enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase-α), which manifests as life-threatening hypoglycemia with related metabolic complications. A G6Pase-α knockout (KO) mouse model was generated to study potential therapies for correcting this disorder. Since then, gene therapy studies have produced promising results, showing long-term improvement in liver histology and glycogen metabolism. Under existing protocols, however, untreated KO pups seldom survived weaning. Here, we present a thorough characterization of the G6Pase-α KO mouse, as well as the husbandry protocol for rearing this strain to adulthood. These mice were raised with only palliative care, and characterized from birth through 6 months of age. Once KO mice have survived the very frail weaning period, their size, agility, serum lipids and glycemic control improve dramatically, reaching levels approaching their wild-type littermates. In addition, our data reveal that adult mice lacking G6Pase-α are able to mate and produce viable offspring. However, liver histology and glycogen accumulation do not improve with age. Overall, the reliable production of mature KO mice could provide a critical tool for advancing the GSDIa field, as the availability of a robust enzyme-deficient adult offers a new spectrum of treatment avenues that would not be tolerated by the frail pups. Most importantly, our detailed characterization of the adult KO mouse provides a crucial baseline for accurately gauging the efficacy of experimental therapies in this important model.
Morphogenesis of the dorsal pigmentary pattern in wild-type and mutant Rana pipiens

Abstract The transition from larval to adult pigmentary patterns during metamorphosis of wild-type. burnsi, and kandiyohi R. pipiens is described. Larval fusiform epidermal melanocytes form a pattern that exactly corresponds to the adult spotting pattern. It is concluded that the larval epidermal pattern expresses a “prepattern” in the larval tissue for the adult pattern. This “prepattern” is visible in kandiyohi, but not in burnsi, tadpoles. The role of the extracellular environment in pigmentary pattern determination is discussed. Gradual changes in all chromatophore densities accompany larval development, while abrupt changes accompany metamorphic climax. There is a net increase in all chromatophore densities by the completion of metamorphosis. Kandiyohi density changes differ quantitatively but not qualitatively from those of wild type. In both wild type and kandiyohi, differentiation of many new dermal melanophores in presumptive spot regions effects expression of the adult spotting pattern. The relative roles of chromatophore differentiation and mitosis in pattern expression, and the hormonal control thereof, are discussed.