cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SEAT BELT LEGISLATION IN REDUCING VARIOUS DRIVER-INVOLVED INJURY RATES IN CALIFORNIA

This study makes use of econometric models to examine the impact of seat belt laws on various driver-involved injury rates in California in both single- and multiple-vehicle accidents. The study makes use of a large data set from the U.S. D.O.T. State Traffic Accident Files and accounts for the general impact of seat belt laws as well as their dynamic effects on injury rates. The models adjust for a wide range of additional contributing factors to injury rates, including the influence of unemployment rates, speed limits, companion effects, and others. Robust results are obtained for the efficacy of seat belt legislation on reducing (moderate to fatal) injury rates in California.
IN VITRO ANALYSIS OF VENOM FROM THE WASP NASONIA VITRIPENNIS: SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DIFFERENT CELL LINES AND VENOM-INDUCED CHANGES IN PLASMA MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY

The lethal effects of crude venom prepared from the ectoparasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis were examined with cultured cells from six insect and two vertebrate species. Venom caused cells from Sarcophaga peregrina (NIH SaPe4), Drosophila melanogaster (CRL 1963), Trichoplusia ni (TN-368 and BTI-TN-5B1-4), Spodoptera frugiperda (SF-21AE), and Lymantria dispar (IPL-Ldfbc1) to round up, swell, and eventually die. Despite similar sensitivities and overlapping LC50 values [0.0004–0.0015 venom reservoir equivalents (VRE)/µl], profound differences were noted at the onset of cytotoxicity among the six insect cell lines: over 80% of the NIH SaPe4 and SF21AE cells were nonviable within 1 h after addition of an LC99 dose of venom, whereas the other cells required a 5–10-fold longer incubation period to produce mortality approaching 100%. In contrast, cells from the grass frog, Rana pipiens (ICR-2A), and goldfish, Carassius auratus (CAR), showed little sensitivity to the venom: six venom reservoir equivalents were needed to induce 50% mortality in ICR-2A cells [50% lethal concentration (LC50)=0.067 VRE/µl), and 9 VRE did not yield sufficient mortality in CAR cells for us to calculate an LC50. All susceptible cells showed similar responses when incubated with wasp venom: retraction of cytoplasmic extensions (when present), blebbing of the plasma membrane, swelling of the plasma and nuclear membranes, condensation of nuclear material, and eventual cell death attributed to lysis. The rate of swelling and lysis in NIH SaPe4 and BTI-TN-5B1-4 cells exposed to venom appeared to be dependent on the diffusion potential of extracellular solutes (Na+=choline>sucrose≥raffinose>K+), which is consistent with a colloid-osmotic lysis mechanism of cell death. When T. ni cells were cotreated with venom and the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine, cell swelling and lysis increased with increasing drug concentration. In contrast, cells from S. peregrina were protected from the effects of the venom when treated in a similar manner. Addition of certain divalent cations (Zn+2 and Ca+2) to the extracellular media 1 h postvenom incubation rescued both BTI-TN-5B1-4 and NIH SaPe4 cells, suggesting that protection was gained from closure of open pores rather than prevention of pore formation. Venom from N. vitripennis displayed no hemolytic activity toward sheep erythrocytes, supporting the view that venom intoxication is not by a nondiscriminate mechanism. A possible mode of action of the venom is discussed.
Diminishing Marginal Utility in Economics Textbooks

Many introductory microeconomics textbook authors derive the law of demand from the assumption of diminishing marginal utility. Authors of intermediate and graduate textbooks derive demand from diminishing marginal rate of substitution and ordinal preferences. These approaches are not interchangeable; diminishing marginal utility for all goods is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for diminishing marginal rate of substitution, and the assumption of diminishing marginal utility is inconsistent with the assumption of ordinal preferences. In this article, the author argues that demand curves should not be derived from diminishing marginal utility in introductory textbooks and suggests that introductory text authors begin their treatment of demand with diminishing marginal value.
Aluminum-Containing Vaccine Associated Adverse Events: Role of Route of Administration and Gender

Anthrax vaccine, adsorbed (AVA) is a vaccine containing aluminum hydroxide that is administered as six subcutaneous (s.q.) doses over 18 months. It is the only aluminum hydroxide licensed for s.q. administration. To optimize the vaccination schedule and route of administration, a prospective pilot study comparing the use of fewer doses administered intramuscularly (i.m.) as well as s.q. with the licensed schedule and route was performed. Data from that study on injection site reactions were extracted for this report. Erythema and induration occurred more commonly when the vaccine was administered s.q. compared to i.m. (P < 0.0001, P = 0.002, respectively). S.q. nodules were found only among the s.q. group (P < 0.0001). Erythema, induration and s.q. nodules were more common in women compared with men (P < 0.001) after the first s.q. dose of AVA dose. Reaction rates decreased when the interval between the first two doses of AVA was increased from 2 to 4 weeks.
Disruption of smooth muscle gap junctions attenuates myogenic vasoconstriction of mesenteric resistance arteries.

Communication between vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells via low-resistance gap junctions may facilitate vascular function by synchronizing the contractile state of individual cells within the vess...
Application of peripheral blood progenitors to dose-intensive therapy of breast cancer

Dose-intensive therapy has been used with increasing frequency in the treatment of women with breast carcinoma. This therapy requires chemotherapeutic agents that exhibit a steep dose-response curve and that have myelosuppression as their primary dose-limiting toxicity. To hasten or to rescue hematologic function after dose-intensive therapy, a hematopoietic rescue is used. The source of this rescue has traditionally been autologous bone marrow cells. However, circulating peripheral blood progenitor cells can also reconstitute hematopoiesis after dose-intensive therapy. The only prerequisites are that hematologic recovery is at least comparable and that survival is not adversely affected by the source of the stem cell graft. Peripheral blood progenitors can be procured in sufficient numbers after priming or mobilization with chemotherapy and/or hematopoietic growth factors. Peripheral blood progenitors collected in this fashion have led to complete and sustained hematologic reconstitution in women with metastatic breast cancer involving the marrow. In addition, peripheral blood progenitors can be used to augment autologous bone marrow grafts, further hastening hematologic recovery after dose-intensive therapy. Future studies will examine the role of peripheral blood progenitor support of multiple doseintensive cycles in women with breast cancer.
An error-free generalized matrix inversion and linear least squares method based on bordering

The paper develops a method from which algorithms can be constructed to numerically compute error-free (free from computer roundoff error) generalized inverses and solutions to linear least squares problems having rational entries. A multiple modulus system is used to avoid error accumulation that is inherent in the floating-point number system. Some properties of finite fields of characteristic p, GF(p), are used in conjunction with a bordering method for matrix inversion to find nonsingular minors of a matrix over the field of rational numbers.
The focusing of light scattered from diffuse reflectors using phase modulation

“Indirect photography” was recently demonstrated for imaging hidden scene information through the collection and radiometric modeling of light reflecting off of visible reflecting surfaces. The ability to focus the beam that reflects off the visible surface to a tight spot on the hidden object is theorized to simulate a direct line of sight from the light source to the object, reducing the radiometric model to that of the previously demonstrated “dual photography.” Experiments involving the focusing of light transmitted through highly scattering media have been adapted to the case of reflection. The focusing of a HeNe laser reflected off diffusely scattering surfaces to a tight spot is demonstrated using phase control. A liquid crystal spatial light modulator assigns pixelated phase delay to the beam to conjugate the scattering properties of the reflector. Intensity enhancement values between 13.8 and 122.3 are achieved for the surfaces studied. Samples with relatively strong specular reflection achieve higher enhancement for a given geometry. More diffusely reflecting materials achieve higher enhancement in regions of nonspecular scatter, facilitating non-mechanical beam steering.
Amino acid transport by two glial cell lines and by proliferating glia

Glial membrane function was evaluated by investigating the transport of 12 amino acids by two glial cell lines in culture and in a model of glial proliferation. C-6 and C-21 glia had very similar profiles of amino acid accumulation. Uptake velocities were greatest for glutamic acid and least for γ-aminobutyric acid in both cell types. Culture of C-6 glia in higher concentrations of fetal bovine serum resulted in altered cell and culture morphology, glial proliferation, and selective increases in amino acid uptake. Leucine, phenylalanine, and valine uptake velocities increased fivefold. Uptake of aspartic and glutamic acids, lysine, and serine more than doubled, whereas that of the other amino acids showed no change. Accumulation of amino acids into C-6 glia was saturable and temperature sensitive. The individual transports were distinct in their response to substrate inhibition and to sodium omission. Uptake of the putative neurotransmitters did not manifest the marked sodium dependence found in central nervous system preparations. We conclude that glial cells have characteristic membrane processes for amino acid transport which can interact with the microenvironment. These systems undergo profound but selective changes during glial proliferation induced by serum. Similar alterations may occur during gliosis, resulting in disturbance of the microenvironment and neural function.
The effect of stable stratification on turbulence anisotropy in uniformly sheared flow

Abstract Direct numerical simulation of uniform shear flow is used to study the anisotropy of fluctuating motion in a stably stratified medium with uniform mean shear. Turbulence is found to be three dimensional over a wide range of gradient Richardson numbers in the two flows investigated here: vertical mean shear ( d U dz and horizontal mean shear ( d U dy . The role of the turbulent Froude number in establishing the regime of stratified turbulence observed here is described. The fluctuating velocity gradients are examined. The vertical of streamwise velocity is found to dominate the other components of turbulent dissipation in both horizontal and vertical shear flows.
Development of a Coupled DSMC - Particle Photon Monte Carlo Method for Simulating Atomic Radiation in Hypersonic Reentry Flows

With a fast reentry speed, the Stardust vehicle generates a strong shock region ahead of its blunt body with a temperature above 60,000 K. These extreme Mach number o ws are sucien tly energetic to initiate gas ionization processes and thermal and chemical ablation processes. The generated charged particles aect nonequilibrium atomic and molecular energy distributions and shock layer radiation. In this work, we present the rst loosely coupled direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) simulations with the particle-based photon Monte Carlo (p-PMC) method to simulate Stardust reentry o ws in the transitional o w regime. Eleven species including 5 ionization processes were modeled in DSMC, and the average ion velocity model was used to simulate electron motion. At these altitudes, the degree of ionization is predicted to be between 3 - 7 % along the stagnation line, and the maximum translational and electron temperatures are approximately 60,000 K and 20,000 K, respectively. To ecien tly capture high nonequilibrium eects, emission and absorption cross section databases using the Nonequilibrium Air Radiation (NEQAIR) were generated, and N and O radiation was calculated by the p-PMC method. It was found that the N emission is approximately one order of magnitude higher than the O emission along the stagnation line due to the higher concentration of N at this altitude. The radiation energy change calculated by the p-PMC method has been coupled in the DSMC calculations. It was found that while the N and O atomic radiation does not have impact on the o w eld at 81 km, at 68.9 km, the stronger radiation aected the o w eld. The radiation resulted in lowering the gas temperatures in the high emission region, but slight increase of temperatures near the body as well as convective heat ux to the Stardust surface.
Mercurous nitrate as a histochemical reagent for calcium phosphate in bone and pathological calcification and for calcium oxalate

An aqueous solution of mercurous nitrate reacts with bone and tissue calcified sites with the formation of brown to black amorphous masses and feathery crystals, the last resembling the crystals formed from the action of an aqueous solution of mercurous nitrate on calcium orthophosphate. Calcium oxalate reacts with this mercurous nitrate solution to form brown to black deposits on the surface of the oxalate particles; this suggests an adsorption phenomenon. The brown deposits are blackened by ammonium hydroxide, gold chloride, and many sulphur-containing compounds.
Distribution estimation for biased data

Biased observations arise when a sampling procedure chooses an observation with probability that depends on the value of the observation. This is an interesting sampling procedure that favors some observations and neglects others. This article presents results on sharp minimax estimation of nonparametric distribution functions and densities that allow us to answer the long-standing Cox question on how a biased sampling affects accuracy of the estimation. The theory has many interesting byproducts including optimal results for a boundary problem, a model of recurrence distributions and an average risk. The case of small data sets is also discussed, numerical simulations are presented and S-PLUS software with adaptive estimates is available.
The institutional library committee part II: a tool for getting things done

Purpose – This article's purpose is to show how the institutional library committee can be employed to improve library services through work contributions.Design/methodology/approach – The article presents the problem of limited staff time for new initiatives, explains how the library committee can be employed to help, and then lists possible projects for them to undertake.Findings – The article finds that library committees can be useful in supplementing staff work, if managed well.Practical implications – The library committee can help the library accomplish more with little or no increase in library staffing.Social implications – Library committee members can contribute to library functionality in practical ways beyond facilitating communication and garnering support.Originality/value – The value of the article is in finding another way to do more with what you have.
A Fast Algorithm for the Computation and Enumeration of Perfect Phylogenies

The perfect phylogeny problem is a classical problem in computational evolutionary biology, in which a set of species/taxa is described by a set of qualitative characters. In recent years, the problem has been shown to be NP-complete in general, while the different fixed parameter versions can each be solved in polynomial time. In particular, Agarwala and Fernandez-Baca have developed an O(23r (nk3 + k4)) algorithm for the perfect phylogeny problem for n species defined by k r-state characters [SIAM J. Comput., 23 (1994), pp. 1216--1224]. Since, commonly, the character data are drawn from alignments of molecular sequences, k is the length of the sequences and can thus be very large (in the hundreds or thousands). Thus, it is imperative to develop algorithms which run efficiently for large values of k. In this paper we make additional observations about the structure of the problem and produce an algorithm for the problem that runs in time O(22r k2 n). We also show how it is possible to efficiently build a structure that implicitly represents the set of all perfect phylogenies and to randomly sample from that set.
Hydrogen peroxide treatment effects on the particle size distribution of alluvial and marsh sediments

Pretreatment of sediment with hydrogen peroxide to remove organic constituents and aid deflocculation is a common component of particle size analyses of terrestrial and marine sediments. This study...
Adsorption properties of vapor-protective fabrics containing activated carbon

Abstract Barrier properties of air-permeable protective fabrics incorporating microporous activated carbon are evaluated using simulants of toxic chemical agents, both in dry atmospheres and at high humidity. Performance of an adsorbent fabric is dependent on kinetic factors as well as adsorption capacity, with the overall rate limited by vapor phase mass transfer over a wide range of environmental conditions. For dynamic adsorption, the characteristic sigmoid breakthrough curve of effluent vapor concentration against time is best described using a modified Wheeler equation including an adjustable parameter ( a ) which compensates for axial dispersion in the fabric. For powdered carbon impregnated in a polyurethane foam fabric, the calculated dynamic adsorption capacity ( A d ) is ca 10 percent lower than the equilibrium adsorption capacity ( A e ) obtained at the same vapor concentration for each carbon and adsorbent fabric. An additional 10 percent decrease in A d and A d for the supported carbon relative to dry powdered carbon is attributed to partial blocking of the pore volume by components of the acrylic binder formulation used in the fabric process. Adequate protection is attained even in the presence of faults (e.g. holes, tears and open seams) provided that the smallest dimension of the fault does not exceed a minimum size determined by the net rate of adsorption. This concept is demonstrated by experiments with fabrics possessing known fault arrays.
Resolving the Growth of 3D Colloidal Nanoparticle Superlattices by Real-Time Small-Angle X‑ray Scattering

The kinetics and intricate interactions governing the growth of 3D single nanoparticle (NP) superlattices (SLs, SNSLs) and binary NP SLs (BNSLs) in solution are understood by combining controlled solvent evaporation and in situ, real-time small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). For the iron oxide (magnetite) NP SLs studied here, the larger the NP, the farther apart are the NPs when the SNSLs begin to precipitate and the closer they are after ordering. This is explained by a model of NP assembly using van der Waals interactions between magnetite cores in hydrocarbons with a ∼21 zJ Hamaker constant. When forming BNSLs of two different sized NPs, the NPs that are in excess of that needed to achieve the final BNSL stoichiometry are expelled during the BNSL formation, and these expelled NPs can form SNSLs. The long-range ordering of these SNSLs and the BNSLs can occur faster than the NP expulsion.
Alluvial stratigraphy and geoarchaeology in the American Southwest

Many of the activities of prehistoric people who lived in the American Southwest were concentrated around alluvial environments. In this arid to semiarid environment, alluvial settings provided freshwater for drinking, a biologically rich environment for hunting and gathering, and water for agriculture. When investigating the prehistory of cultures centered around an alluvial environment, an understanding of the geologic history of that environment is important. The geologic history of deposition, erosion, and stability of any stream is recorded in its stratigraphy of sediments, erosional unconformities, and soils. Stratigraphy provides the framework to chronologically order and date archaeological sites. Further, the stratigraphic record allows archaeologists to ascertain the effects of geological processes on the preservation of the archaeological record, determining which parts of the archaeological record are absent, which have potentially been preserved, and how fragmentary are the preserved portions of the record. The limitations that geologic processes impose on the archaeological record must be recognized and understood before meaningful interpretations of prehistory can be made. Geoarchaeological studies of alluvial environments also provide the information needed to reconstruct changes that occurred to the environment during the late Quaternary. These landscape reconstructions provide the environmental context that may help to explain changes that occurred to human cultures over time. These concepts are illustrated with examples from the American Southwest where alluvial environments were crucial for survival and cultural development. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Discriminative virtual views for cross-view action recognition

We propose an approach for cross-view action recognition by way of ‘virtual views’ that connect the action descriptors extracted from one (source) view to those extracted from another (target) view. Each virtual view is associated with a linear transformation of the action descriptor, and the sequence of transformations arising from the sequence of virtual views aims at bridging the source and target views while preserving discrimination among action categories. Our approach is capable of operating without access to labeled action samples in the target view and without access to corresponding action instances in the two views, and it also naturally incorporate and exploit corresponding instances or partial labeling in the target view when they are available. The proposed approach achieves improved or competitive performance relative to existing methods when instance correspondences or target labels are available, and it goes beyond the capabilities of these methods by providing some level of discrimination even when neither correspondences nor target labels exist.
Vibrational spectrum of sulfuryl bromide fluoride

Abstract The infrared grating spectrum of gaseous SO 2 BrF was obtained in the 2000–33 cm −1 region, as well as the Raman spectrum of liquid SO 2 BrF. A complete assignment was made of the vibrational spectrum using a C s symmetry model, based on infrared band shapes and spectral results for other sulfuryl halides.
A Practical Multiple Model Adaptive Strategy for Multivariable Model Predictive Control

Abstract Model predictive control (MPC) has become the leading form of advanced multivariable control in the chemical process industry. The objective of this work is to introduce a multiple model adaptive control strategy for multivariable dynamic matrix control (DMC). The novelty of the strategy lies in several subtle but significant details. One contribution is that the method combines the output of multiple linear DMC controllers, each with their own step response model describing process dynamics at a specific level of operation. The final output forwarded to the controller is an interpolation of the individual controller outputs weighted based on the current value of the measured process variable. Another contribution is that the approach does not introduce additional computational complexity, but rather, relies on traditional DMC design methods. This makes it readily available to the industrial practitioner.
Genetic programming and AI planning systems

Genetic programming (GP) is an automatic programming technique that has recently been applied to a wide range of problems including blocks-world planning. This paper describes a series of illustrative experiments in which GP techniques are applied to traditional blocks-world planning problems. We discuss genetic planning in the context of traditional AI planning systems, and comment on the costs and benefits to be expected from further work.
Computation of the Electrical Double Layer Properties of Semipermeable Membranes in Multicomponent Electrolytes

A methodology is presented for calculating of the surface potential, Donnan potential, and ion concentration profiles for semipermeable microbial membranes that is valid for an arbitrary electrolyte composition. This model for surface potential, Donnan potential, and charge density was applied to recently reported experimental data for gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus brevis, Rhodococcus opacus, Rhodococcus erythropolis, and Corynebacterium species. These calculations show that previously unconsidered trace amounts of divalent and trivalent cations at very low concentrations (10−6 M) can have significant effects on the calculated surface and Donnan potentials, at ionic strengths of I ≤ 0.01 M, and that these effects need to be considered in accurate modeling of microbial surface. In addition, the calculated ion concentration profiles show that owing to the relatively high surface charges that can develop in microbial membranes, electrostatic effects can act to significantly concentrate divalent (factors of 5 × 103) and trivalent (factors of 2 × 104) cations within the bacterial cell wall. Comparison of the calculated concentration factors with those derived from experiments shows that a significant fraction of the uptake of metal by bacteria can be explained by the proposed electrostatic model.
Research notes and communications: The effect of product recall announcements on shareholder wealth

Previous research Has found that product recall announcements in the automobile industry are associated with negative abnormal returns. We extend this research by examining announcements of product recalls and products taken off the market outside the automobile industry. We find negative abnormal returns for these announcements and that the returns are significantly more negative when products are replaced (or the purchase price is returned) than when the products are checked and repaired. We find only limited evidence that government-ordered recalls produce more negative returns than voluntary recalls.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the open-access ChemWiki resource as a replacement for traditional general chemistry textbooks

Open educational resources (OERs) provide a potential alternative to costly textbooks and can allow content to be edited and adapted to a variety of classroom environments. At the University of California, Davis, the OER “ChemWiki” project, as part of the greater STEMWiki Hyperlibrary, was developed to supplant traditional post-secondary chemistry textbooks. The effectiveness of using this OER was assessed by comparing two general chemistry classes, one using ChemWiki and one using a traditional textbook, during the spring quarter of 2014. Student performance was measured using common midterms, final, and a pre/post content exam. We also employed surveys, the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) for Chemistry, and a weekly time-on-task survey to quantify students’ attitudes and study habits. The effectiveness of the ChemWiki compared to a traditional textbook was examined using multiple linear regression analysis with a standard non-inferiority testing framework. Results show that the performance of students who were assigned readings from the ChemWiki section was non-inferior to the performance of students in the section who were assigned readings from the traditional textbook, indicating that the ChemWiki does not substantially differ from the standard textbook in terms of student learning outcomes. The results from the surveys also suggest that the two classes were similar in their beliefs about chemistry and minimal overall study time. These results indicate that the ChemWiki is a viable cost-saving alternative to traditional textbooks.
Control of Borrelia burgdorferi-Specific CD4+-T-Cell Effector Function by Interleukin-12- and T-Cell Receptor-Induced p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activity

Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, results in a Th1 response and proinflammatory cytokine production. Mice deficient for MKK3, an upstream activator of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, develop a lower Th1 response and exhibit an impaired ability to produce proinflammatory cytokines upon infection with the spirochete. We investigated the contribution of p38 MAP kinase activity in gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production in CD4+ T cells in response to specific antigen through T-cell receptor (TCR)- and interleukin-12 (IL-12)-mediated signals. The specific inhibition of p38 MAP kinase in T cells and the administration of a pharmacological inhibitor of the kinase during the course of infection with the spirochete resulted in reduced levels of IFN-γ in the sera of infected mice. Our results also demonstrate that although p38 MAP kinase activity is not required for the differentiation of B. burgdorferi-specific CD4+ T cells, the production of IFN-γ by Th1 effector cells is regulated by the kinase. Both TCR engagement and IL-12 induced the production of the Th1 cytokine through the activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway. Thus, the inhibition of this pathway in vitro resulted in decreased levels of IFN-γ during restimulation of B. burgdorferi-specific T cells in response to anti-CD3 and IL-12 stimulation. These results clarify the specific contribution of the p38 MAP kinase in the overall immune response to the spirochete and its role in the effector function of B. burgdorferi-specific T cells.
The problem of fraud in the banking industry: Are biometrics the answer?

Fraud is a growing problem in the banking industry. New legislative requirements have highlighted biometric technology as a reliable secondary means of authentication. This study is a review of literature on biometrics with a focus on feasible alternatives and implementation issues in the banking industry. The literature indicates that techniques like retinal scanning show promise. However, standards are needed in the following areas: (1) allowable degree of invasiveness, (2) desired ease of use, (3) use of biometric data and (4) security of biometric data templates. It is difficult to quantify savings from implemented systems. Therefore, top management should be involved in adoption decisions.
Improving the writing skills of college students

Advanced writing skills are an important aspect of academic performance as well as of subsequent work- related performance. However, American students rarely attain advanced scores on assessments of writing skills (National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2002). In order to achieve higher levels of writing performance, the working memory demands of writing processes should be reduced so that executive attention is free to coordinate interactions among them. This can in theory be achieved through deliberate practice that trains writers to develop executive control through repeated opportunities to write and through timely and relevant feedback. Automated essay scoring software may offer a way to alleviate the intensive grading demands placed on instructors and, thereby, substantially increase the amount of writing practice that students receive.
Comprehensive Residential Education, Arts, and Substance Abuse Treatment (Creasat): A Model Treatment Program for Juvenile Offenders

This article describes an alternative treatment model for adolescent substance abusers confined to a residential juvenile correction facility. Substance abuse trends among youth and the connection between substance use and juvenile delinquency are explored. Essential components of effective adolescent substance abuse treatment programs are outlined with particular attention to arts-based delinquency intervention programs. Specifically, this article describes the program philosophy and program components of a model treatment program for juvenile offenders--Comprehensive Residential Education, Arts, and Substance Abuse Treatment (CREASAT). An integral piece of the CREASAT program is The Matrix Institute addictions model for adolescent treatment, which takes into account the developmental factors that initiate and/or maintain substance use. This comprehensive model is based on social learning theory, cognitive behavioral principles, and the adolescent's environment and readiness for change. Finally, the importance of cultural skills for substance abuse treatment professionals in the juvenile justice system is discussed.
The Synthesis and Origin of the Pectic Polysaccharide Rhamnogalacturonan II – Insights from Nucleotide Sugar Formation and Diversity

There is compelling evidence showing that the structurally complex pectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) exists in the primary cell wall as a borate cross-linked dimer and that this dimer is required for the assembly of a functional wall and for normal plant growth and development. The results of several studies have also established that RG-II structure and cross-linking is conserved in vascular plants and that RG-II likely appeared early in the evolution of land plants. Two features that distinguish RG-II from other plant polysaccharides are that RG-II is composed of 13 different glycoses linked to each other by up to 22 different glycosidic linkages and that RG-II is the only polysaccharide known to contain both apiose and aceric acid. Thus, one key event in land plant evolution was the emergence of genes encoding nucleotide sugar biosynthetic enzymes that generate the activated forms of apiose and aceric acid required for RG-II synthesis. Many of the genes involved in the generation of the nucleotide sugars used for RG-II synthesis have been functionally characterized. By contrast, only one glycosyltransferase involved in the assembly of RG-II has been identified. Here we provide an overview of the formation of the activated sugars required for RG-II synthesis and point to the possible cellular and metabolic processes that could be involved in assembling and controlling the formation of a borate cross-linked RG-II molecule. We discuss how nucleotide sugar synthesis is compartmentalized and how this may control the flux of precursors to facilitate and regulate the formation of RG-II.
High Yield Synthesis of B4C/BN Ceramic Materials by Pyrolysis of Polymeric Lewis Base Adducts of Decaborane(14).

Polymers of type [B10H12˙diamine]x (diamine=H2NCH2CH2NH2, (CH3)2NCH2CH2NH2, (CH3)2NCH2CH2N(CH3)2, etc.) have been found to be useful ceramic precursors. In a stream of argon, their pyrolysis gives B4C/BN; in a stream of ammonia, BN.
Transient performance of SiC MOSFETs as a function of temperature

This research was completed to study the effects of extreme transient conditions on Silicon Carbide MOSFET devices. Two different transient conditions that are common in power converters were studied in this paper. The first is effects of voltage rise time, or dV/dt, on these devices. The second is the effects of current pulses with short pulse width and high peak currents. Both of these tests were conducted at temperatures of 150 °C to determine the performance of these devices in high stress environments. For both of these experiments, testing apparatus had to be designed and built to create these specific conditions.
Scattering of light from thin polymer films. I. Multiple scattering

A general method is described to take into account the multiple scattering effect in a small-angle light scattering from thin polymer films. It is seen that multiple scattering tends to make the scattering envelope more diffuse, reducing the intensity in the high intensity regions and increasing it in the low intensity regions. The method is applied here to a spherulitic system, but it is valid for any other system where the principal scattering is in the forward direction.
Role of Ca2+ in diperoxovanadate-induced cytoskeletal remodeling and endothelial cell barrier function.

Diperoxovanadate (DPV), a potent inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases and activator of tyrosine kinases, alters endothelial barrier function via signaling pathways that are incompletely under...
Structural and biochemical characterization of human mitochondrial branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase phosphatase

The branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase phosphatase (BDP) component of the human branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC) has been expressed in Escherichia coli and purified in the soluble form. The monomeric BDP shows a strict dependence on Mn(2+) ions for phosphatase activity, whereas Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) ions do not support catalysis. Metal binding constants for BDP, determined by competition isothermal titration calorimetry, are 2.4 nm and 10 μm for Mn(2+) and Mg(2+) ions, respectively. Using the phosphorylated decarboxylase component (p-E1b) of BCKDC as a substrate, BDP shows a specific activity of 68 nmol/min/mg. The Ca(2+)-independent binding of BDP to the 24-meric transacylase (dihydrolipoyl transacylase; E2b) core of BCKDC results in a 3-fold increase in the dephosphorylation rate of p-E1b. However, the lipoyl prosthetic group on E2b is not essential for BDP binding or E2b-stimulated phosphatase activity. Acidic residues in the C-terminal linker of the E2b lipoyl domain are essential for the interaction between BDP and E2b. The BDP structure was determined by x-ray crystallography to 2.4 A resolution. The BDP structure is dominated by a central β-sandwich. There are two protrusions forming a narrow cleft ∼10 A wide, which constitutes the active site. The carboxylate moieties of acidic residues Asp-109, Asp-207, Asp-298, and Asp-337 in the active-site cleft participate in binding two metal ions. Substitutions of these residues with alanine nullify BDP phosphatase activity. Alteration of the nearby Arg-104 increases the K(m) for p-E1b peptide by 60-fold, suggesting that this residue is critical for the recognition of the native p-E1b protein.
Accounting for Poisson noise in the multivariate analysis of ToF‐SIMS spectrum images

Recent years have seen the introduction of many surface characterization instruments and other spectral imaging systems that are capable of generating data in truly prodigious quantities. The challenge faced by the analyst, then, is to extract the essential chemical information from this overwhelming volume of spectral data. Multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and other forms of factor analysis promise to be among the most important and powerful tools for accomplishing this task. In order to benefit fully from multivariate methods, the nature of the noise specific to each measurement technique must be taken into account. For spectroscopic techniques that rely upon counting particles (photons, electrons, etc.), the observed noise is typically dominated by ‘counting statistics’ and is Poisson in nature. This implies that the absolute uncertainty in any given data point is not constant, rather, it increases with the number of counts represented by that point. Performing PCA, for instance, directly on the raw data leads to less than satisfactory results in such cases. This paper will present a simple method for weighting the data to account for Poisson noise. Using a simple time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry spectrum image as an example, it will be demonstrated that PCA, when applied to the weighted data, leads to results that are more interpretable, provide greater noise rejection and are more robust than standard PCA. The weighting presented here is also shown to be an optimal approach to scaling data as a pretreatment prior to multivariate statistical analysis. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Annual cycles of growth and reproduction in hatchery–reared Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus, raised on forage or pelleted diets

Annual cycles of growth and reproduction of hatchery–reared Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus, were investigated. Animals were raised on either forage (goldfish, Carassius auratus) or a pelleted salmon feed. Male and female year–class 1 largemouth bass were sampled throughout one complete yearly cycle (January–December). A biphasic growth cycle was observed in both forage–fed and pellet–fed fish. No increase in body length or weight was observed until approximately midway through the spawning period (May), after which fish grew at a consistent rate for the remainder of the study. The reproductive cycle of forage–fed fish was characterized by a rapid increase in gonadosomatic index (GS1) between January and April, followed by a prolonged spawning period (April–July) during which GSI progressively declined. Fully regressed gonads were observed in September and October, and a resumption of gonadal recrudescence was observed between October and December. Visceral adipose deposits (expressed as mesenteric fat index; MFI) were resorbed during gonadal growth and the initial stages of the spawning period, and restored during the post–spawning phase. Fish raised on pelleted feed had growth and reproductive cycles that parallelled those of forage–fed fish, but several significant differences were observed between the two diet groups. During the growth phase of the cycle, pellet–fed largemouth bass grew significantly faster than forage–fed largemouth bass, and had significantly larger MFIs than forage–fed largemouth bass at all times of the year. Pellet–fed fish also had significantly larger GSIs than forage–fed fish. These data indicate that diet composition may be an important determinant of growth and reproductive function in this species.
Perspectives on the crystal densities and packing coefficients of explosive compounds

We have investigated possible relationships between four crystal properties: experimental densities and computed intrinsic molecular volumes, packing coefficients and amounts of free space per molecule in the crystal lattices. Our focus was upon C-, H-, N-, O-containing explosive compounds. The objectives were to gain some insight into how densities might be increased, to improve detonation performance, and the amounts of free space per molecule decreased, to counter one of the factors promoting undesired sensitivity to accidental stimuli. The issue of molecular planarity was also examined. The best correlation found between the four properties is perhaps a surprising one: The free space per molecule increases as the molecules are bigger. On the other hand, some relationships that seem to be intuitively reasonable turn out to be quite weak. The principal positive conclusions are that it is desirable for explosive compounds to be composed of molecules that are small and preferably planar.
Modern network interdiction problems and algorithms

A network interdiction problem usually involves two players who compete in a min‐max or max‐min game. One player, the network owner, tries to optimize its objective over the network, for example, as measured by a shortest path, maximum flow, or minimum cost flow. The opposing player, called the interdictor, alters the owner’s network to maximally impair the owner’s objective (e.g., by destroying arcs that maximize the owner’s shortest path). This chapter
Transmembrane Mucin Expression and Function in Embryo Implantation and Placentation

Transmembrane mucins (TMs) are extremely large, complex glycoproteins that line the apical surfaces of simple epithelia including those of the female reproductive tract. TMs provide a physical barrier consistent with their role as part of the innate immune system. This barrier function must be overcome in the context of embryo implantation to permit blastocyst attachment. Three major TMs have been identified in uterine epithelia of multiple species: MUC1, MUC4, and MUC16. MUC1 has been found in all species studied to date, whereas expression of MUC4 and MUC16 have been less well studied and may be species specific. The strategies for removing mucins to permit embryo attachment also vary in a species-specific way and include both hormonal suppression of TM gene expression and membrane clearance via cell surface proteases. Studies emerging from the cancer literature indicate that TMs can modulate a surprisingly wide variety of signal transduction processes. Furthermore, various cell surface proteins have been identified that bind either the oligosaccharide or protein motifs of TMs suggesting that these molecules may support cell attachment in some contexts, including trophoblast interactions with cells of the immune system. The intimate association of TMs at sites of embryo-maternal interaction and the varied functions these complex molecules can play make them key players in embryo implantation and placentation processes.
Classification of Perinatal Ischemic Stroke

Advances in classification, causes, treatment and outcome of perinatal ischemic stroke are reviewed by researchers at Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary; and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Asking different types of polar questions: The interplay between turn, sequence, and context in writing conferences

Using video recordings of one-on-one writing conferences as data, this conversation analytic study provides a sequential analysis of student-initiated question–answer sequences and demonstrates tha...
TEST: A modular scientific nanosatellite

A powerfully instrumented, reliable, low -cost, and 3 -axis stabilized nanosatellite is being developed as part of the Air Force University Nanosatellite -3 Program. The Thunderstorm Effects in Space: Technology (TEST) nanosatellite imple ments a new, highly modular satellite bus structure and common electrical interface that is conducive to satellite modeling, development, testing, and integration flow. TEST is a low -cost ($0.2 M) nanosatellite (30kg) in final development by Taylor Univer sity and the University of Illinois. TEST implements a variety of plasma, energetic particle, and remote sensing instrumentation with the objective of understanding how lightning and thunderstorms influence the upper atmosphere and the near -space environme nt. The TEST modular design and instrumentation challenges portions of satellite systems (such as future DOD DMSP and NASA LWS Geospace Missions), while complementing large multi -probe and remote sensing programs. TEST includes a variety of proven instrume ntation: two 1m Electric Field (EP) probes, a thermal plasma density Langmuir Probe (LP), a 5 to 100 kHz Very Low Frequency (VLF) Receiver, two large geometric factor cooled ( -60 ° C) Solid State Detector (SSD) spectrometers for energetic electrons and ions (10 keV< E <1 MeV), a 3 -axis Magnetometer (MAG), a O 2 Hertzberg UV Photometer, a 391.4 nm Transient Photometer and a 630 nm Imager for airglow and lightning measurements. In addition, the satellite is three -axis stabilized using CO 2 band horizon sensors, as well as a two -stage passive radiator for instrument cooling. TEST instrumentation and satellite subsystems are packaged in modular cubes of 10 cm increments. A common modular electrical interface board is used to standardize each of the subsystems for data flow, ground support, and data analysis.