cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A thermodynamic approach to heat and mass transport in stored agricultural products

Abstract The fundamental laws of equilibrium thermodynamics and a mass transport equation based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics are used to analyze the temperature and moisture concentration fields in the porous medium of an agricultural storage bin. The non-linear differential equations are integrated numerically and the results are shown to compare favorably with experimental data obtained from the literature.
Multi-scalar cartographic analysis of 2008 and 2010 election returns in Wisconsin, USA

The 2008 election cycle signaled a recent high in Democratic voting in the State of Wisconsin. At the national level, Wisconsin awarded its electoral votes to Democrat Barack Obama. Democrats performed well at the state level too, taking control of the State Assembly, State Senate, and Governor's mansion, a first since 1986. By 2010, in the wake of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, voters turned their attention away from Democrats. Nationally, Democrats lost 63 seats in the House of Representatives and clung to a three seat majority in the US Senate. Wisconsin voters propelled Republicans to victory in unprecedented fashion, making it the only state in the 2010 election cycle in which one party lost majorities in both houses of the state legislature and the governorship. The purpose of this paper is to use cartographic illustrations at the county and voting district levels to provide spatial evidence of voting patterns in the State of Wisconsin. County-level analysis is provided for th...
De novo chronic graft-versus-host disease in marrow graft recipients given methotrexate and cyclosporine: risk factors and survival.

Abstract A retrospective study was performed to determine risk factors for the development of de novo chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients given marrow grafts from HLA-identical sibling donors (85%), HLA-nonidentical family members (3%), or HLA-matched unrelated donors (12%) and for postgrafting immunosuppression with methotrexate and cyclosporine. We also examined the impact of chronic GVHD on survival and identified patients at low risk for chronic GVHD in whom immunosuppression might be stopped safely early after transplantation. Among 489 patients with either grade 0 or I acute GVHD, 33% developed chronic GVHD. Overall survival was 70%, and relapse-free survival was 63% at 8 years. Risk factors for chronic GVHD were found to include donor buffy coat infusions among patients given transplants for aplastic anemia (relative risk [RR] = 2.9, P=.05), patient-donor sex/parity combination (likelihood ratio test, P Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2000;6(6):633-9.
ON THE THEORY OF COHERENT SCATTERING PROCESSES IN LIQUIDS

The coherent scattering structure factor of liquids for x-rays and slow neutrons are shown to determine completely both the correlation function and the direct local interaction function of liquids, which quantities are the only operating elements of the general static liquid model of Ornstein and Zernike. Of these functions only the former has been derived so far from the data accumulated essentially on the coherent scattering of x-rays by liquids. It is shown that the directly available experimental structure factors completely determine the even moments of these molecular distribution functions. The zeroth moment of the correlation function augmented by unity is essentially the liquid concentration fluctuation which determines its isothermal compressibility. These quantities become thus directly derivable from the structure factor measurements without any arbitrary and uncertain manipulations In terms of the model, a straightforward method leads, with the empirically obtainable total cross section, to the total incoherent slow neutron scattering cross sections in liquids. These should yield information on their energy spectrum not available through other types of scattering processes, such as x-rays, for instance.
The Alzheimer-related gene presenilin 1 facilitates notch 1 in primary mammalian neurons.

Abstract The normal functional neurobiology of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) related gene presenilin 1 (PS1) is unknown. One clue comes from a genetic screen of Caenorhabditis elegans , which reveals that the presenilin homologue sel-12 facilitates lin-12 function [D. Levitan, I. Greenwald, Facilitation of lin-12-mediated signalling by sel-12, a Caenorhabditis elegans S182 Alzheimer's disease gene, Nature 377 (1995) 351–355]. The mammalian homologue of lin-12, Notch1, is a transmembrane receptor that plays an important role in cell fate decisions during development, including neurogenesis, but does not have a known function in fully differentiated cells. To better understand the potential role of Notch1 in mammalian postmitotic neurons and to test the hypothesis that Notch and PS 1 interact, we studied the effect of Notch1 transfection on neurite outgrowth in primary cultures of hippocampal/cortical neurons. We demonstrate that Notch1 inhibits neurite extension, and thus has a function in postmitotic mature neurons in the mammalian CNS. Furthermore, we present evidence demonstrating that there is a functional interaction between PS1 and Notch1 in mammalian neurons, analogous to the sel-12/lin-12 interaction in vulval development in C. elegans [D. Levitan, T. Doyle, D. Brousseau, M. Lee, G. Thinakaran, H. Slunt, S. Sisodia, I. Greenwald, Assessment of normal and mutant human presenilin function in Caenorhabditis elegans, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93 (1996) 14940–14944; D. Levitan, I. Greenwald, Effect of Sel-12 presenilin on Lin-12 localization and function in Caenorhabditis elegans , Development, 125 (1998) 3599–3606]. The inhibitory effect of Notch1 on neurite outgrowth is markedly attenuated in neurons from PS1 knockout mice, and enhanced in neurons from transgenic mice overexpressing wild type PS1, but not mutant PS1. These data suggest that PS1 facilitates Notch1 function in mammalian neurons, and support the hypothesis that a functional interaction exists between PS1 and Notch1 in postmitotic mammalian neurons.
Calcitriol Protection against Dopamine Loss Induced by Intracerebroventricular Administration of 6-Hydroxydopamine

Calcitriol has been implicated as an agent that has neuroprotective effects in various animal models of diseases, possibly by upregulating glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The present study examined the neuroprotective effects of calcitriol in a model of early Parkinson's disease. Rats were treated daily with calcitriol or saline for 7 days before an intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), and then for 1 day or daily for 3(1/2) to 4 weeks after lesioning. Evoked overflow and tissue content of dopamine (DA) were determined 3(1/2) to 4 weeks post lesion. The 8-day calcitriol treatment did not attenuate 6-OHDA-induced decreases in evoked overflow of DA, nor did it protect against 6-OHDA-induced reductions in tissue levels of DA in the striatum or substantia nigra. However, the long-term calcitriol treatment did significantly increase evoked overflow of DA, as well as the amount of DA in the striatum, compared to saline treated animals. GDNF was significantly increased in the substantia nigra, but not in the striatum, of non-lesioned, calcitriol treated rats. These results suggest that long-term treatment with calcitriol can provide partial protection for dopaminergic neurons against the effects of intraventricularly administered 6-OHDA.
Finitely Presented Right Modules Over a Left Pure‐Semisimple Ring

j ^)- Zimmermann-Huisgen [22, Corollary 2]showed that these are the left pure-semisimple rings defined below. And although leftpure-semisimple rings have many attractive features (see [15, p. 210]), it is not knownwhether they are all of finite representation type, that is, left artinian with only finitelymany indecomposable left modules.Auslander [1] showed that every left pure-semisimple artin algebra is of finiterepresentation type (an artin algebra is a ring which is finitely generated as a moduleover an artinian centre). If A is an artin algebra an
Microwave Applications in Medicine in the U.S.A. - a Short Overview

In the last ten years, microwaves have been used increasingly in the U.S.A. in the areas of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine as well as in surgery. For example, possive radiometry is an important tool for measuring the temperature of subcutaneous regions of the human body non-invasively, with the potential of detecting deep seated tumors. Microwave hyperthermia, meanwhile, is currently in use in many medical centers in the U.S.A. in the treatment of cancer as an ancillary modality to rediation therapy and chemotherapy, and in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a technique presently being tested in humans in a FDA IDE study. Microwave balloon angioplasty (MBA), a modality currently being tested in animals, combines heat and mechanical force (balloon) to open occluded and partially occluded arteries. The following short discussion concentrates on the topics dealt with most often in material published in IEEE MTT. The area of medical applications of microwave imaging is not included.
Calcium signaling in prostate cancer cells: Evidence for multiple receptors and enhanced sensitivity to bombesin/GRP

BACKGROUND Cellular calcium is an important second messenger for growth regulation. We sought to identify potentially important receptors on prostate tumor cells by screening over 20 agonists for their ability to increase intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in several human prostate tumor cell lines. METHODS Intracellular calcium mobilization was detected using fura-2. RESULTS We found bombesin, GRP, ATP/UTP, lysophosphatidic acid, thrombin, endothelin, histamine, and bradykinin increased [Ca2+]i in the advanced tumor cell lines DU-145, PC3, and PPC-1. Bombesin failed to elevate [Ca2+]i in an immortalized human prostate cell line. Rank-order of potency studies suggested the presence of P2U nucleotide receptors for ATP/UTP on prostate epithelial cells. Potency studies also revealed GRP>>bombesin>>neuromedin B at elevating [Ca2+]i in responding tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that androgen independent prostate tumor cell lines express multiple receptors capable of elevating intracellular calcium, and suggest that GRP receptors may be selectively expressed and/or coupled to calcium signaling during prostate tumor progression. Calcium sensitive cellular events may therefore contribute to the progression of prostate cancer. Prostate 30:167–173, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effective Methods and Materials for Teaching Law to Preservice Teachers

Abstract Schools today function in an environment of complicated rules and regulations. Training preservice teachers in educational law is not only necessary; it is important work. Professors and administrators were surveyed on the methods, materials, and strategies that they employed to teach education law to preservice teachers. The predominant teaching method used was lecture in combination with class discussion. Other methods used in conjunction with lecture and class discussion were case method and problem-based learning. Teaching strategies include the use of teacher-specific education law textbooks, media/technology, simulations, educational games, and cooperative learning groups. Emphasis needs to be placed on better preparing preservice teachers in the area of school law. This article offers insight into the effective methods, materials, and strategies currently being used in teaching preservice teachers school law.
The construct of general intelligence

Abstract The construct of general intelligence is discussed in a number of different contexts. The fundamental empirical basis for it is the positive trend among the smallest correlations among cognitive measures. Differences among factor models which recognize this in different ways are discussed. Evidence for the general factor in intelligence is also found in the difficulty in finding evidence for differential validity of tests from one criterion to another. Performance on Piagetian tasks reflects mainly general intelligence. Individual differences in aural comprehension of language anticipate later individual differences in intellectual development. Selective forces which produce differences among schools operate largely on the general factor. To the extent that there is a genetic contribution to individual differences on cognitive tests, it appears to be to the general factor variance. Social class differences among whites appear to be largely on the general factor, but black-white differences require other dimensions. Although the general factor is, in a sense, real, it is not interpreted as an entity within the organism. Instead it is an abstraction resulting from the many genes, the many environmental pressures, and the many neural structures involved in the wide variety of human behaviors which can be labelled cognitive or intellectual.
Controllability analysis for a flapping-wing mav with power and control actuators

The world's first robotic insect capable of vertical takeoff was developed and demonstrated by the Harvard Microrobotics Lab. This vehicle consisted of a single power actuator that drove both wings symmetrically. In this case, there was no method to generate body torques, only lift could be modulated. The Harvard Microrobotics Lab has modified this configuration to include not only a single power actuator, but also control actuators for each wing, with the ultimate goal of being able to generate body torques. The objective of this work is to analyze the controllability of a flapping-wing micro air vehicle equipped with a power actuator to provide the mechanical power for flapping as well as left and right control actuators. The control actuators cause a small displacement of the wing root which causes a change to the wing kinematics, such that pitch and yaw torques can be generated.
The moral consequences of social selection.

For half a century explaining human altruism has been a major research focus for scholars in a wide variety of disciplines, yet answers are still sought. Here, paradigms like reciprocal altruism, mutualism, and group selection are set aside, to examine the effects of social selection as an under-explored model. To complement Alexander’s reputational-selection model, I introduce group punishment as another type of social selection that could have impacted substantially on the development of today’s human nature, and on our potential for behaving altruistically. Capital punishment is a decisive type of social selection, which in our past hunter–gatherer environment was aimed primarily against intimidating, selfish bullies, so it is proposed that moral sanctioning has played a major part in genetically shaping our social and political behaviours. Aggressive suppression of free-riding deviants who bully or deceive has made a cooperatively generous, egalitarian band life efficient for humans, even as it has helped our species to evolve in directions that favour altruism.
Challenges in keeping pace with immunogenicity advances throughout the clinical development of a biological therapeutic

Progress in the assessment of immunogenicity over the past decade has been rapid; therapeutics in late-phase clinical studies today are subject to antidrug antibody analyses that have evolved considerably since the start of their clinical development. Data from bridging and direct ELISA methods used for the analysis of antidrug antibodies generated in response to an antibody therapeutic will be presented. The case study will highlight some of the challenges faced and the learning points gained from supporting immunogenicity analysis for these therapeutics.
Role of the bZIP Transcription Factor IREBF1 in the NGF Induction of Stromelysin-1 (Transin) Gene Expression in PC12 Cells

Stromelysin-1 (ST-1) is one of the most nerve growth factor- (NGF) responsive gene products expressed in PC12 cells. In previous work, we identified a novel NGF-responsive element in the proximal promoter region of the ST-1 gene that participates in this induction, and showed that it bound a protein present in the nuclei of PC12 cells. Here, we identify a transcription factor that specifically recognizes this regulatory element—the interferon-response element binding factor-1 (IREBF1), a member of the basic leucine zipper gene family. We show that IREBF1 is constitutively expressed in PC12 cells and that overexpression of IREBF1 augments NGF-responsive ST-1 gene regulation, but does not affect basal levels of expression. On the other hand, expression of a mutated form of this transcription factor lacking the DNA binding domain attenuated NGF responsiveness, without affecting basal levels of expression. These data suggest that IREBF1 is part of the NGF-responsive transcriptional machinery necessary for the expression of ST-1 in PC12 cells.
TMTSF)2ClO4 in the extreme quantum limit

Abstract Magnetotransport and magnetization measurements on (TMTSF) 2 ClO 4 in fields up to 31 T reveal an extraordinarily stable semimetallic state, with a constant filling factor (ν), from 8 to 27 T. The relative Hall value and energy gap of this state suggest that it is related to the ν= 1 3 fractional quantum Hall effect. At 27 T there is a new transition to a compensated semiconducting phase. After a brief review of the “low-field” behavior, we discuss the properties of these novel high-field phases.
A compact system with live converter for neutron spectrum measurements

Abstract A “live” plastic scintillator converter has been added to our compact, neutron detector system. The latter employs a large-area, proton telescope, consisting of multiwire chambers, ΔE and E detectors to measure the energy and angle of recoil protons. The “live” converter provides an increase in count rate by a factor of 6 as well as some improvement in neutron energy resolution. Neutron scattering data for a 65 MeV neutron beam at CNL and for neutron energies from 60 to 240 MeV at LAMPF have been taken with this type of system.
Anesthesiology and the graduating medical student: a national survey.

Each year, many anesthesiology housestaff positions remain vacant or are filled by foreign medical graduates. While possibly reflecting an overabundance of such housestaff positions, this situation also suggests a lack of U.S. student interest in anesthesiology. To investigate this phenomenon, the authors conducted a survey of American medical school graduates of 1976. The results reveal that 65% of students receive minimal or no systematic exposure to anesthesiology or anesthesiologists. When such exposure occurs, it comes after many students have developed strong specialty preferences. Many students saw anesthesiology as limited in scope and unchallenging and indicated that they did not select anesthesiology because it entails insufficient primary patient care. Contrasts between those entering and not entering anesthesiology suggest, however, that certain variables which are subject to manipulation--such as amount, timing, and content of exposure to anesthesiology--could alter student attitudes and potentially generate increased student interest in the specialty.
Combined heat, air, moisture, and pollutants transport in building environmental systems

Combined heat, air, moisture and pollutants transport (CHAMP) exists across multi-scales of a building environmental system (BES): around the building, through the building shell/envelope, inside a multizone building, and in the micro-environments around occupants. This paper reviews previous work and presents a system model for simulating these transport processes and their impacts on indoor environmental quality. Components of the system model include a multizone network flow model for whole building, a room model for air and pollutant movement in ventilated spaces, a coupled heat, air, moisture, and pollutant transport model for building shell, an HVAC model for describing the dynamics of the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and shared databases of weather conditions, transport properties of building materials, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from building materials and furnishings. The interactions among the different components, and challenges in developing the CHAMP system model for intelligent control of BES are also discussed.
On the Issue of Completeness in Second Language Acquisition.

The issue of completeness in adult second language acquisition is critical in the development of a theory of second language acquisition. Assuming the Chomskyan definition of core grammar as being ...
Multicenter evaluation of the role of UroVysion FISH assay in surveillance of patients with bladder cancer: does FISH positivity anticipate recurrence?

The significance of a positive UroVysion FISH assay is uncertain in patients with normal cystoscopy. This multicenter study evaluates the clinical significance of a positive FISH assay in patients with no visible tumor and excluding those with a positive cytology. A multi-institutional, retrospective study of patients with a history of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder identified 664 patients with a FISH assay after excluding those with cystoscopic evidence of a tumor and/or positive cytology. Our primary end point was cancer recurrence, defined by biopsy. Progression was defined as recurrence with a tumor stage ≥T2. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test as a one-tailed test and Chi-square test with significance at 0.05, using SPSS® version 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Of the 664 patients in this study, tumor stage was Ta (363, 55 %), T1 (183, 28 %), and CIS (109, 16 %) and most were high grade (440 pts, 66 %). The median follow-up was 26 months (3–104 months), and 277 (41.7 %) patients were recurred. In patients who were FISH positive, mean time to recurrence was 12.6 months, compared to 17.9 months if FISH negative (p = 0.03). In univariate analysis, atypical cytology, positive FISH, cystoscopic findings (atypical vs. normal), and previous intravesical therapy were associated with recurrence (p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, pathologic stage, cystoscopic findings, and cytology were independently associated with recurrence (p < 0.05). Progression to ≥T2 disease occurred in 34 (5.1 %) patients in this cohort. On multivariate analysis, only initial T stage and FISH result were found to be independent predictors of progression (p < 0.05). Patients with a positive FISH and atypical cytology are more likely to recur even in the absence of visible tumor. FISH positivity may portend a higher risk for progression. These findings require prospective validation.
Isocyanide derivatives of manganese cobalt nonacarbonyl: synthesis and characterization

The synthesis and spectral characterization of isocyanide derivatives of MnCo(CO) 9 of the type MnCo(CO) 9− n (CNR) n ( n =1,2; R=( p -MeOC 6 H 4 )NC, (2,6-xylyl)NC, (t-butyl)NC, (n-butyl)NC, (2,6-diisopropylphenyl)NC) are reported. The X-ray structure of MnCo(CO) 8 ((2,6-xylyl)NC) ( 1 ) and MnCo(CO) 7 ((2,6-xylyl)NC) 2 ( 2 ) are reported herein as well. The structures of 1 and 2 contain a single metal–metal bond and no bridging ligands. The length of the Mn–Co bond is 2.870(1) and 2.9035(7) A in 1 and 2 , respectively. The IR spectra of Mn(CO) 5 Br, Mn 2 (CO) 10 , MnCo(CO) 9 and MnCo(CO) 9− n (CNR) n ( n =1,2; R=CH 3 ) were calculated using density functional theory. The calculated IR spectra were employed to assign the structure of the MnCo(CO) 9− n (CNR) n ( n =1,2) compounds.
Biophysical Aspects of Ca2+ - Transport Sites in Skeletal and Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase

Calcium is involved in a variety of cell functions, such as controlling cell division and growth, muscle contraction, hormone secretion, and in the excitation-contraction coupling mechanism (1). Intracellular calcium is regulated by the plasma membrane and the subcellular organelles. The plasma membrane extrudes calcium via the Ca2+-pump ((Ca2+ + Mg2+) -ATPase) and via the Ca2+ : Na2+ countertransport system (1). The subcellular organelles that contribute to Ca2+ -regulation are mainly the sarcoplasmic reticulum, via the Ca2+-pump, and the mitochondria via the Ca2+ uniport system (2,3). Sarcoplasmic reticulum plays primary role in the regulation of cytoplasmic calcium in skeletal muscle and thus in the contraction-relaxation cycle. In cardiac muscle the important role of sarcoplasmic reticulum in regulating the contraction-relaxation cycle, is more complex since the organelles function is regulated by Catecholamines (4).
Operative experience in an orthopaedic surgery residency program: the effect of work-hour restrictions.

Background: The implementation of Section 405 of the New York State Public Health Code and the adoption of similar policies by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2002 restricted resident work hours to eighty hours per week. The effect of these policies on operative volume in an orthopaedic surgery residency training program is a topic of concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the work-hour restrictions on the operative experiences of residents in a large university-based orthopaedic surgery residency training program in an urban setting. Methods: We analyzed the operative logs of 109 consecutive orthopaedic surgery residents (postgraduate years 2 through 5) from 2000 through 2006, representing a consecutive interval of years before and after the adoption of the work-hour restrictions. Results: Following the implementation of the new work-hour policies, there was no significant difference in the operative volume for postgraduate year-2, 3, or 4 residents. However, the average operative volume for a postgraduate year-5 resident increased from 274.8 to 348.4 cases (p = 0.001). In addition, on analysis of all residents as two cohorts (before 2002 and after 2002), the operative volume for residents increased by an average of 46.6 cases per year (p = 0.02). Conclusions: On the basis of the findings of this study, concerns over the potential adverse effects of the resident work-hour polices on operative volume for orthopaedic surgery residents appear to be unfounded.
Immunohistochemical comparison of vascular and sinusoidal adherens junctions in cavernosal endothelium.

Abstract Objectives To characterize endothelial cell-to-cell junctions in the sinusoids and microvasculature of the corpus cavernosum. Methods Corporal tissue was obtained from 6 potent human subjects, cut into 5-μm cryosections, and double-labeled with consecutive applications of primary and secondary antibodies. Laser scanning confocal microscopy identified subcellular localization of endothelial anchoring and adhesion molecules. Fluorescence intensity was rated as strong, weak, or absent by two observers. Results The cavernosal endothelial adherens junction was composed of vascular endothelial cadherin, alpha-catenin, plakoglobin, vinculin, and the regulatory proteins beta-catenin and ZO-1. Adherens junctions in sinusoids were elongated, redundant, and narrow versus short, dense, linear cell-to-cell contacts in small arterioles and venules. Vinculin expression along the basal interface of the endothelium and stroma was weak in the sinusoids and strong in the arterioles. Definite sinusoidal expression of CD31 and CD34 was noted. P-selectin was only expressed within the cavernosal microvessels. Conclusions The regulatory and structural proteins extending from vascular endothelial cadherin provide immunohistochemical evidence of a role for adherens junctions in cavernosal endothelial barrier function and cellular homeostasis. The sinusoidal endothelium has a unique junctional phenotype consistent with its blood trapping function. Differential expression of functional proteins in sinusoidal and microvascular endothelium may reflect segmental variation in hemodynamic exposure to pressure, stretch, or flow.
Analyzing IT-enabled effectiveness in government sector: a RBV and dynamic capability perspective

Government organizations in developing countries are increasingly being held to the same or even higher standards of efficiency as their counterparts in the developed countries. IT has played a significant role in enhancing the efficiency of government organizations in developed countries; however, government organizations in developing countries have so far failed to fully exploit IT to support improvements envisaged by e-governance. In this study, we respond to the empirical gap in the understanding of IT-enabled effectiveness in the government organizations in developing countries. We report the findings of an exploratory case study conducted at the Directorate of Income Tax (DIT) in India. We use RBV and dynamic capabilities perspective of the firm in addition to notions of complementarity and simultaneity as theoretical lenses to analyze the case. Our findings and analysis indicate that the strong capabilities in matching, choosing, assessing, and executing IT opportunities affect IT-enabled value in government organizations. Our study also highlights the significance of complementary and simultaneous development and execution of IT related capabilities. These findings have practical implications for government organizations that are currently in the process of digitally enabling themselves.
Corticosterone Acts in the Nucleus Accumbens to Enhance Dopamine Signaling and Potentiate Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking

Stressful life events are important contributors to relapse in recovering cocaine addicts, but the mechanisms by which they influence motivational systems are poorly understood. Studies suggest that stress may “set the stage” for relapse by increasing the sensitivity of brain reward circuits to drug-associated stimuli. We examined the effects of stress and corticosterone on behavioral and neurochemical responses of rats to a cocaine prime after cocaine self-administration and extinction. Exposure of rats to acute electric footshock stress did not by itself reinstate drug-seeking behavior but potentiated reinstatement in response to a subthreshold dose of cocaine. This effect of stress was not observed in adrenalectomized animals, and was reproduced in nonstressed animals by administration of corticosterone at a dose that reproduced stress-induced plasma levels. Pretreatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486 did not block the corticosterone effect. Corticosterone potentiated cocaine-induced increases in extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and pharmacological blockade of NAc dopamine receptors blocked corticosterone-induced potentiation of reinstatement. Intra-accumbens administration of corticosterone reproduced the behavioral effects of stress and systemic corticosterone. Corticosterone treatment acutely decreased NAc dopamine clearance measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that inhibition of uptake2-mediated dopamine clearance may underlie corticosterone effects. Consistent with this hypothesis, intra-accumbens administration of the uptake2 inhibitor normetanephrine potentiated cocaine-induced reinstatement. Expression of organic cation transporter 3, a corticosterone-sensitive uptake2 transporter, was detected on NAc neurons. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which stress hormones can rapidly regulate dopamine signaling and contribute to the impact of stress on drug intake.
Electrical conduction of selected refractories

The author details the laboratory testing of electrical conduction in selected refractories used in the construction of electrically boosted glass tank-furnaces. Fused-cast AZS (40% zirconia), a typical electrode block, does conduct to failure under appropriate conditions of temperature and voltage. Bonded AZS (28.5% zirconia) does conduct on a controlled basis. Sillimanite, bonded dense zircon, bonded AZS (21% zirconia), and high resistance fused-cast AZS do not conduct. The author recommends elimination of fused-cast AZS materials from tanks with bottom electrodes and the use of bonded AZS (21% zirconia) or bonded dense zircon in their place. The development of high-resistance fused-cast AZS refractory for the market place is strongly recommended. >
Photo-assisted CVD of a-Si:H solar cells and a-SiGe:H films

High-efficiency (10%) a-Si solar cells and promising a-SiGe-H alloy films have been deposited by mercury-sensitized photochemical vapor deposition. Alloy films were prepared from mixtures of SiH/sub 4/, Si/sub 2/H/sub 6/, GeH/sub 4/, He, and H/sub 2/. The effects of gas composition and substrate temperature on film composition, H/sub 2/ bonding, and optoelectronic properties are reported. Silicon dihydride bonding is shown to decrease with increasing deposition temperature. A maximum in the ratio of dihydride to monohydride absorption peaks occurs at about 60% Ge. Preferential attachment of H to Si increases with Ge content. It is essential to minimize dihydride bonding to obtain good optoelectronic properties. Hole properties (L/sub p/ and E/sub u/) show much less dependence than electron properties (photoconductivity and conduction band tail) on Ge content for 1.4-eV films. >
Tree-based overlay networks for scalable applications

The increasing availability of high-performance computing systems with thousands, tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands of computational nodes is driving the demand for programming models and infrastructures that allow effective use of such large-scale environments. Tree-based overlay networks (TBO~Ns) have proven to provide such a model for distributed tools like performance profilers, parallel debuggers, system monitors and system administration tools. We demonstrate that the extensibility and flexibility of the TBO~N distributed computing model, along with its performance characteristics, make it surprisingly general, particularly for applications outside the tool domain. We describe many interesting applications and commonly-used algorithms for which TBO~Ns are well-suited and provide a new (non-tool) case study, a distributed implementation of the mean-shift algorithm commonly used in computer vision to delineate arbitrarily shaped clusters in complex, multi-modal feature spaces.
Collusion Theory: Where to Go Next?

This note comments on Feuerstein's (Feuerstein, Switgard, “Collusion in industrial economics: A survey,” forthcoming in Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, 2005) survey of collusion theory. I start by presenting evidence from a recent real-world collusion case: the lysine industry. Based on this, I point out a few areas where collusion theory can improve: (a) the problem of equilibrium choice (bargaining over each firm's share), which is especially important in asymmetric oligopolies; (b) the problem of equilibrium implementation, including in particular communication in an asymmetric information context; and (c) the relation between price wars and collusion. I conclude with a few notes on policy issues, namely leniency programs and cartel detection strategies.
iHITS: extending HITS for personal interests profiling

Ever since the boom of World Wide Web, profiling online users' interests has become an important task for content providers. The traditional approach involves manual entry of users' data, which requires intensive labor and time. Recent approaches utilize machine learning and clustering techniques to build the profiles, by analyzing the content of the Web pages visited by the users. Because such solutions rely heavily on the textual information, although they are capable of differentiating different topics of interests, it remains a difficult task to determine the users' different levels of interests in a given topic as well as gauge the shift of interests over time. In this paper, we propose iHITS, which is an extension to the HITS (hypertext-induced topic search) algorithm. The algorithm automatically determines a ranked list of user's interests through link analysis on Web pages that the user visited. The visit pattern is obtained from the browsing history. We evaluate our approach by comparing automatically-generated interest profiles of the users with users' manual entry to examine its accuracy and effectiveness. Our evaluation shows that the approach is promising and achieves satisfactory results. Our study introduces a novel approach to build a user-interests profiling systems with the capability to automatically capture and rank users' browsing interests preference.
Culturally Responsive Teaching: Examining Teachers’ Understandings and Perspectives

This action research study examines a graduate level course on Ethnicity and Education. Eighteen teacher participants enrolled in a Master of Education program. Course instructors analyzed teacher participants’ perceptions of culturally responsive teaching. A teaching plan, a post-course questionnaire, a focus group interview, and a follow up questionnaire were collected after the course. Analysis of the data generated three themes: 1) Doing culturally responsive activities; 2) Moving towards culturally responsive teaching as a perspective; and 3) Being a culturally responsive teacher . This article suggests ways teacher educators might re-conceptualize culture-based courses to deepen teacher perspectives rather than merely enhance teaching activities which support culturally responsive teaching and learning.
Use of Space by Western Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Inhabiting a Variable–Flow Stream

Abstract In central Texas, western cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) inhabit small, low-productivity limestone streams characterized by variability in seasonal flows. An 11-year study of western cottonmouths was conducted at Honey Creek, a spring-fed stream flowing 3.2 km to its confluence with the Guadalupe River, Comal County, to determine how this predator used space in this narrow, linear, and dynamic system. During 57 searches along the 1,564-m study area, 39 sexually mature, 14 subadults, and 4 juvenile snakes were marked. Rates of recapture did not differ between sexes, but females outnumbered males (2.3∶1) and adults were recaptured more frequently than juveniles. Distances between captures were less than predicted if distributions were random, and distances did not vary with number of times captured or time between captures.
Meaning, sound, and syntax: Lexical priming in sentence production.

Theories of sentence production based on speech errors divide lexical-syntactic integration pro cesses into two components. The first involves formulating an abstract structural representation that includes semantically specified lexical items. The second involves placing phonologically specified content words into a syntactic frame whose configuration is determined by the initial structural representation. Syntactic form thus may be influenced directly by variations in the semantic processing of words, but not by variations in phonological processing. This hypothesis was tested and supported in two experiments. In both, participants produced extemporaneous picture descriptions. Production of each description was preceded by the presentation of a priming word that was semantically or phonologically related to a target word likely to occur in the description. Semantically primed targets tended to appear as the subjects of active and passive sentences, whereas the same targets when they were not primed were more likely to appear as the objects. Phonological priming, although equal to semantic priming in ability to elicit the target words, was not reliably related to syntactic form.
Customer relationship management for a small professional technical services corporation

Customer relationship management (CRM) products and services attempt to produce a better connection between businesses and their customers. These tools are being employed in all fields of business and information technology industries. We focus on the development of one very specific CRM tool to serve the needs of a small consulting and software development corporation. Though specialized for one company, many aspects of this CRM tool can be generalized for the wider range of small and midsized consulting businesses, which are becoming software development firms. These midsized companies deal with very specific issues in customer interactions. This CRM system solves some of the most common struggles companies in this category have keeping their customers satisfied. Primarily this system provides a conduit for businesses along with their clients and customers to deal with support and service problems. We have developed the necessary database schema and structure to support a Web-based CRM system and front-end portal for both the clients and employees to access, input, and transfer information. This CRM tool shows how customer service systems can work for small consulting and software businesses
Folding of Tandem-Linked Domains

One of the factors, which influen- ces protein folding in vivo, is a linkage of protein domains into multidomain tandems. However, rel- atively little is known about the impact of domain connectivity on protein folding mechanisms. In this article, we use coarse grained models of pro- teins to explore folding of tandem-linked domains (TLD). We found TLD folding to follow two scenar- ios. In the first, the tandem connectivity produces relatively minor impact on folding and the mecha- nisms of folding of tandem-linked and single domains remain similar. The second scenario involves qualitative changes in folding mechanism because of tandem linkage. As a result, protein domains, which fold via two-state mechanism as single isolated domains, may form new stable inter- mediates when inserted into tandems. The new intermediates are created by topological con- straints imposed by the linkers between domains. In both cases tandem linkage slows down folding. We propose that the impact of tandem connectivity can be minimized, if the terminal secondary struc- ture elements (SSEs) are flexible. In particular, two factors appear to facilitate TLD folding: (1) the interactions between terminal SSE are poorly ordered in the folding transition state, whereas nonterminal SSE are better structured, (2) the interactions between terminal SSE are weak in the native state. We apply these findings to wild-type proteins by examining experimental F-value data and by performing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We show that immunoglobulin-like domains appear to utilize the factors, which mini- mize the impact of tandem connectivity on their folding. Several single domain proteins, which are likely to misfold in tandems, are also identified. Proteins 2007;67:795-810. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nonlinear-carrier control for high-power-factor rectifiers based on up-down switching converters

In this paper, nonlinear-carrier (NLC) control is proposed for high-power-factor rectifiers based on flyback, Cuk, Sepic, and other up-down power converters operated in the continuous conduction mode (CCM). In the NLC controller, the switch duty ratio is determined by comparing a signal proportional to the integral of the switch current with a periodic nonlinear-carrier waveform. The shape of the NLC waveform is determined so that the resulting input-line current follows the input-line voltage, as required for unity power factor rectification. A simple exponential carrier waveform generator is described. Using the NLC controller, input-line voltage sensing, error amplifier in the current-shaping loop, and multiplier/divider circuitry in the voltage feedback loop are eliminated. The simple high-performance controller is well suited for integrated-circuit implementation, Results of experimental verification on a 150 W flyback rectifier are presented.
Detection of a common chimeric transcript between human chromosomes 7 and 16

Interchromosomal chimeric RNA molecules are often transcription products from genomic rearrangement in cancerous cells. Here we report the computational detection of an interchromosomal RNA fusion between ZC3HAV1L and CHMP1A from RNA-seq data of normal human mammary epithelial cells, and experimental confirmation of the chimeric transcript in multiple human cells and tissues. Our experimental characterization also detected three variants of the ZC3HAV1L-CHMP1A chimeric RNA, suggesting that these genes are involved in complex splicing. The fusion sequence at the novel exon-exon boundary, and the absence of corresponding DNA rearrangement suggest that this chimeric RNA is likely produced by trans-splicing in human cells.
English light verb construction identification using lexical knowledge

This research describes the development of a supervised classifier of English light verb constructions, for example, take a walk and make a speech. This classifier relies on features from dependency parses, OntoNotes sense tags, WordNet hypernyms and WordNet lexical file information. Evaluation shows that this system achieves an 89% F1 score (four points above the state of the art) on the BNC test set used by Tu & Roth (2011), and an F1 score of 80.68 on the OntoNotes test set, which is significantly more challenging. We attribute the superior F1 score to the use of our rich linguistic features, including the use of WordNet synset and hypernym relations for the detection of previously unattested light verb constructions. We describe the classifier and its features, as well as the characteristics of the OntoNotes light verb construction test set, which relies on linguistically motivated PropBank annotation.
Are Low-Income Peer Health Coaches Able to Master and Utilize Evidence-Based Health Coaching?

PURPOSE A randomized controlled trial found that patients with diabetes had lower HbA1c levels after 6 months of peer health coaching than patients who did not receive coaching. This paper explores whether the peer coaches in that trial, all low-income patients with diabetes, mastered and utilized an evidence-based health coaching training curriculum. The curriculum included 5 core features: ask-tell-ask, closing the loop, know your numbers, behavior-change action plans, and medication adherence counseling. METHODS This paper includes the results of exams administered to trainees, exit surveys performed with peer coaches who completed the study and those who dropped out, observations of peer coaches meeting with patients, and analysis of in-depth interviews with peer coaches who completed the study. RESULTS Of the 32 peer coach trainees who completed the training, 71.9% lacked a college degree; 25.0% did not graduate from high school. The 26 trainees who passed the exams attended 92.7% of training sessions compared with 80.6% for the 6 trainees who did not pass. Peer coaches who completed the study wanted to continue peer coaching work and had confidence in their abilities despite their not consistently employing the coaching techniques with their patients. Quotations describe coaches’ perceptions of the training. CONCLUSIONS Of low-income patients with diabetes who completed the evidenced-based health coaching training, 81% passed written and oral exams and became effective peer health coaches, although they did not consistently use the techniques taught.