cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
You Gotta See It to Believe It: Teaching Visual Literacy in the English Classroom

Expanding the definition of literacy and using visual strategies comprehensively can strongly affect student learning. Educators can contribute to the growth and understanding of the world of nonprint text by helping students learn to read and create visual products critically. When educators bridge popular culture and traditional texts, students become authentically motivated and engaged in their learning. This article highlights vignettes of visual literacy at work through successful classroom practices. من المحتمل أن يؤثر توسيع تعريف معرفة القراءة والكتابة واستخدام استراتيجيات بصرية بطريقة شمولية على تعلم الطالب حق التأثير. ولكن يستطيع المعلمون أن يساهموا في نمو عالم النصوص غير المطبوع وفهمه بواسطة مساعدة الطلاب في تعلم القراءة وخلق منتجات بصرية نقديا. وحين يربط المعلمون الثقافة العامة والنصوص التقليدية فإن الطلاب يصيرون متحمسين ومنشغلين في تعلمهم. لذلك تسلط هذه المقالة الضوء على مشاهد وجيزة من التعلم البصري في حالة العمل من خلال ممارسات الصف الناجحة. 扩大读写文化的定义及全面使用视觉策略能大大地影响学生的学习。教育工作者如能帮助学生批判性地学习和创制视觉作品，他们可以对非印刷文本世界的增长与认识作出贡献。当教育工作者把大众文化与传统文本接连起来时，学生便会有真正的学习动机及真正投入学习。本文使用一些鲜明的成功课堂教学实践片段，以说明视觉读写文化所产生的影响力。 Etendre la definition de la litteratie et utiliser a fond des strategies visuelles peut avoir un effet important sur l'apprentissage scolaire. Les enseignants peuvent contribuer au developpement et a la comprehension du monde des textes non ecrits en aidant les eleves a lire et a creer des produits visuels de facon critique. Quand les enseignants etablissent des ponts entre la culture populaire et les textes traditionnels, la motivation et l'investissement des eleves dans l'apprentissage deviennent authentiques. Cet article met en lumiere des exemples de litteratie visuelle qui marchent dans des pratiques de classes reussies. Расширение понятия грамотности и разностороннее использование визуальных стратегий способно кардинально изменить академическую жизнь школьника. Педагоги могут внести свой вклад в развитие подростков и в их представления о мире невербальных текстов, научив их критически подходить к чтению и созданию визуальных продуктов. Когда учителям удается соединить поп-культуру и традиционные тексты, учащиеся начинают проявлять настоящий интерес к учебе. В статье приводятся примеры успешного применения навыков визуальной грамотности в рамках школьного урока. Ampliando la definicion de alfabetizacion y usando estrategias visuales integralmente puede tener un efecto muy grande en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Los educadores pueden contribuir al crecimiento y al entendimiento del mundo de textos no impresos ayudando a los estudiantes a aprender a leer y crear productos visuales de forma critica. Cuando los educadores hacen conexiones entre la cultura popular y los textos tradicionales, los estudiantes se interesan y participan autenticamente en el aprendizaje. Este articulo saca a relucir esbozos de competencias visuales en el acto debido a practicas exitosas en el salon de clase.
Nuclear power struggles after Chernobyl: The case of West Germany

This article analyses the nuclear power controversy in West Germany since the Chernobyl accident. After briefly summarising the previous history of the controversy, it focuses on the responses to Chernobyl by government, parties, the general public, and the protest movement. Three factors are stressed to explain why despite society‐wide mobilisation the quest for a nuclear moratorium failed. First, the growth of the nuclear power sector was already completed, minimising the stakes of conflict. Second, the nuclear opposition became deeply split over goals and strategies. Third, the CDU/FDP coalition government remained steadfastly pro‐nuclear. Finally, the probable conflict trajectory in the 1990s is considered, taking into account the abandonment in 1989 of the fuel reprocessing project at Wackersdorf.
On the possibility of detecting solar flare effects in the zodiacal light

To evaluate possible effects of solar flares on the brightness of the inner zodiacal light, it is necessary to consider the brightness contribution along the line of sight and as a function of sun-particle distance. For this purpose, models of the brightness contribution along the line of sight are presented for both dielectric and metallic particles with a spatial distribution of the form 1, 1/r, and 1/r-squared. These models are discussed in terms of the geometry of shock front interaction. A reported zodiacal light enhancement following a solar flare (Blackwell and Ingham, 1961) is analyzed on the basis of the shock front geometry.
Novel system for wireless in-motion EV charging and disabled vehicle removal

This paper proposes roadway electrification to facilitate wireless charging to accomplish two purposes. The system allows electric vehicles (EVs) traveling on an electrified lane to receive a charge update. It also permits charging of a low-profile autonomous emergency assist vehicle. Several vehicles of this type would be stationed along a congested roadway allowing an automated and quick response to clear incident situations such as roadway debris, abandoned or disabled vehicles, and minor accidents. It is anticipated that by accomplishing both EV charging and incident response, the system can help to reduce important problems of incident delay, injury and deaths to emergency response personnel, and petroleum related emissions. A case study using data from Washington's State Route 520 indicates that the system can potentially save up to 50% of the induced delay due to incidents. The concept of operations for the system is described in the paper and aspects of technology readiness are explored.
Before the headache: infant colic as an early life expression of migraine.

Objective: Childhood periodic syndromes are thought to be early life expressions of the genetic tendency for migraine. The objective of this study was to determine whether maternal migraine is associated with an increased risk of infant colic, because this may indicate that colic is a childhood periodic syndrome. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in general pediatric clinics. To minimize recall bias, mothers were surveyed at their infants9 2-month-old well-child visit, the age when colic is most prevalent. Colic was ascertained via parental report using modified Wessel criteria. Migraine history was obtained by having a physician diagnosis or a positive screen on ID Migraine. The primary outcome measure was difference in colic prevalence in infants with and without a maternal history of migraine. Results: Data from 154 infant-mother pairs were analyzed. Infants with a maternal history of migraine were 2.6 times as likely to have colic as infants without a maternal history of migraine (29% vs 11%, prevalence ratio 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2−5.5), p = 0.02). There was no difference in the accuracy with which migraineur mothers perceived their infants9 colic status compared with that of nonmigraineur mothers. Data on paternal history of migraine were available for 93 infants. Infants with a paternal history of migraine may have a higher prevalence of colic (22% vs 10%), although the prevalence ratio 2.3 (0.6−9.4, p = 0.24) had wide confidence intervals. Conclusions: Maternal migraine is associated with increased risk of infant colic. Because migraine has a strong genetic underpinning, this association suggests that colic may be an early life manifestation of migraine.
The effect of propranolol and its isomers on Purkinje neurones in rat cerebellum.

Abstract The effect of dl-propranolol and its isomers on noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) responses of Purkinje neurones of the rat cerebellum was studied. Propranolol isomers failed, but the dl- and l-isomer antagonized the inhibitory responses to NA and 5-HT respectively. The results indicate that the clinical effect of propranolol and its isomers is not related to their β-adrenergic blocking activity but it may involve another neuronal mechanism.
Lymphoproliferation following antigenic stimulation in severe combined immunodeficiency disease

Abstract To assess the immune responses to specific antigen, three diphtheria and tetanus toxoid immunizations were administered to an infant girl with marked impairment of both cellular and humoral immune functions who was monitored in a gnotobiotic environment since birth. Before and after stimulation no circulating diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin could be detected. However, each immunization was followed by progressive lymphocytosis, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and the appearance of a thymic shadow on chest X ray. Biopsies of the lymph nodes and thymus showed few lymphocytes and prominent reticular cells. During this time the proportion of T cells increased from 30 to 70%. Despite this, her lymphocytes were not stimulated when cultured in the presence of nonspecific mitogens or antigens. Helper lymphocyte function was transiently demonstrable after the second DT immunization by an in vitro immunoglobulin production assay. An additional transient leukemoid reaction occurred 2 weeks after bone marrow transplantation from a histocompatible brother. These findings support the concept that in those patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disease, with lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphocytosis, the cellular proliferation may be the result of antigenic stimulation.
Understanding the Inversion-Layer Properties of the 4H-SiC/SiO2 Interface

The performance of 4H-SiC power MOSFETs is limited by the less than ideal electron inversion-layer mobility due to the poor quality of the SiC-SiO2 interface. This poor interface causes several undesirable behaviors of the electrical performance of SiC MOSFETs, including: (1) strong shifts in the threshold voltage with temperature, (2) low channel mobility and (3) strong sensitivity of the mobility to the channel doping concentration. These features are explained by a high density of interface states, the high surface electric field induced in SiC inversion layers, and the combined effectsa combination of Coulomb and surface roughness scattering.
Characterization of Structural Changes of Metallothionein by Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (IM-MS): Metal-Free Vs. Metallated Forms

Metal ions play important roles in many chemical and biochemical processes, such as oxidation, oxygen transport, and electron transfer. The cellular trafficking of metal ions is controlled by a group of low molecular weight (6-10 kDa), cysteine-rich proteins (∼30%) referred to as metallothioneins (MTs). X-ray crystallography and NMR studies of fully cadmium-metallated human MTs revealed two distinct metal-binding clusters: N-terminal β domain Cd3(Cys)9 (residue 1-30) and C-terminal α domain Cd4(Cys)11 (residue 31-61), with metals tetrahedrally coordinated to the cysteinyl thiols. Although the structure of Cd7MT was published 30 years ago; the structures of metal-free and partially-metallated MTs are difficult to determine and the metal-binding mechanism is still debated. To investigate how the metal binding influences structure of human MT-2A, we performed titration experiments and the structural distribution was directly probed by using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), IM-MS is used to measure the collision cross section (CCS), which is a direct measure of ion size, for the mass-selected ion. MT-2A IM-MS studies reveal a decreasing size for the ion as the extent of metallation increases. We interpret this data as evidence that increasing numbers of metal ions yield more compact ion structures. In some cases multiple conformers are observed for some ions. Although a single CCS profile was observed for 5+ charge state of apoMT (1050 A2), the CCS profile was broadened as the number of Cd2+ ion increased, which suggest a high degree of conformer diversity among the ion population. For Cd4MT, two distinct populations (CCS of 980 and 890 A2) were obtained, whereas Cd7MT has two distinct populations at 750 and 890 A2. We are currently employing molecular dynamics simulations to gain insight into the 3-D conformations of the various metallated protein species.
A General Flow Graph Technique for the Solution of Multiloop Sampled Systems

This paper presents a flow graph approach for analyzing multiloop sampled-data systems. Two techniques for finding the sampled output are examined. These are, first, construction of a “sampled” signal flow graph from the original system; second, a general gain formula which can be directly applied to the original system. The theorems necessary to establish the formula are rigorously proved. The first technique allows two possible modes of solution. The sampled output can be found directly from the sampled flow graph by the use of Mason’s formula, or in case of a more complicated multiloop system, the problem of enumerating nontouching feedback loops can be simplified by the use of topological matrices. Techniques developed in the paper are also applied to the solution of multirate systems.
Macro-ripple phase formation in bilayers composed of galactosylceramide and phosphatidylcholine

As determined by freeze fracture electron microscopy, increasing levels of bovine brain galactosylceramide (GalCer) altered the surface structure of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayers by inducing a striking "macro-ripple" phase in the larger, multilamellar lipid vesicles at GalCer mole fractions between 0.4 and 0.8. The term "macro-ripple" phase was used to distinguish it from the P beta' ripple phase observed in saturated, symmetric-chain length phosphatidylcholines. Whereas the P beta' ripple phase displays two types of corrugations, one with a wavelength of 12–15 nm and the other with a wavelength of 25–35 nm, the macro-ripple phase occurring in GalCer/POPC dispersions was of one type with a wavelength of 100–110 nm. Also, in contrast to the extended linear arrays of adjacent ripples observed in the P beta' ripple phase, the macro-ripple phase of GalCer/POPC dispersions was interrupted frequently by packing defects resulting from double dislocations and various disclinations and, thus, appeared to be continuously twisting and turning. Control experiments verified that the macro-ripple phase was not an artifact of incomplete lipid mixing or demixing during preparation. Three different methods of lipid mixing were compared: a spray method of rapid solvent evaporation, a sublimation method of solvent removal, and solvent removal using a rotary evaporation apparatus. Control experiments also revealed that the macro-ripple phase was observed regardless of whether lipid specimens were prepared by either ultra-rapid or manual plunge freezing methods as well as either in the presence or absence of the cryo-protectant glycerol. The macro-ripple phase was always observed in mixtures that were fully annealed by incubation above the main thermal transition of both POPC and bovine brain GalCer before rapid freezing. If the GalCer mixed with POPC contained only nonhydroxy acyl chains or only 2-hydroxy acyl chains, then the occurrence of macro-ripple phase decreased dramatically.
The Influence of Prolactin on Food Intake of Turkey Hens

Abstract The effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of turkey prolactin on food intake of turkey hens was studied. Adult, nonlaying medium-weight turkey hens, exposed to 6 hr of light per day, were used in Experiment 1. In Experiments 2 and 3, medium-weight and large-weight turkey hens, respectively, exposed to a long photoperiod and in production, were used. Prolactin was injected into free-feeding hens at doses ranging from 800 to 3200 ng. The ICV injection of prolactin had no significant effect on food intake of hens maintained under 6 hr light per day and not in egg production. In hens exposed to long photoperiods and in egg production, the ICV injection of prolactin caused a significant decrease in food intake. These results suggest that prolactin, acting at the level of the central nervous system, decreases food intake in photostimulated turkey hens.
Fatty acid transport in multiple carboxylase deficiency fibroblasts.

Holocarboxylase synthetase (HS) and biotinidase deficiencies have been identified as causes of biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) deficiency has been shown to occur in multiple carboxylase deficiency, and HS(−) fibroblasts are being employed to investigate compensatory regulatory responses in cells deficient in ACC. In previous studies, biotin starved HS(−) fibroblasts showed a reduced fatty acid content, an abnormal percentage composition of fatty acids, and a preservation of longerchain fatty acid contents of cells. We herein ask whether the mutant cells show compensatory increases in the transport of longer-chain fatty acids from the medium into fibroblasts. In the present experiments there was no change in the uptake of arachidonate, palmitate or oleate following growth of mutant and control fibroblasts in (+) or (−) biotin conditions. Differential fatty acid uptake from the medium is therefore not a compensatory mechanism in HS(−) cells, and cannot account for the specific changes in fatty acid composition produced by biotin restriction.
Which H is the most important in triple-H therapy for cerebral vasospasm?

Purpose of review To summarize the recent literature of the hemodynamic management of subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral vasospasm, also designated as 'triple-H' therapy, and discuss each component of this management approach individually. Recent findings Following the publication of a review on circulatory volume expansion in the Cochrane Registry database in 2004 and a meta-analysis in 2003, there are no new randomized trials of triple-H therapy to prevent or treat cerebral vasospasm. However, physiological studies have been reported that contribute to the understanding of some of the components of triple-H therapy. Summary There remains a paucity of information regarding the efficacy and safety of triple-H therapy. The complexity in exploring this topic derives not only from the interdependence of the different components of triple-H therapy but also by the limitation in the assessment of hemodynamic variables. However, there is some emerging physiologic data suggesting that normovolemic hypertension may be the component most likely to increase cerebral blood flow after subarachnoid hemorrhage. In contrast, hypervolemic hemodilution is associated with increased complications and might also lower the hemoglobin to excessively low levels.
Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy of nylon-6 blends: binary blends with poly(methyl methacrylate) and ethylene vinyl ester/alcohol copolymer

Abstract Films of blends of nylon-6 with poly(methyl methacrylate), (PMMA) and poly(ethylene-vinyl alcohol) were cast from formic acid solutions and examined by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. At high contents of nylon-6 the vinyl alcohol of the copolymer reacts with formic acid to form vinyl formate. In contrast, the films of 100% copolymer and of the 25 75 and 10 90 blends contained both the alcohol and the ester groups. The FT i.r. results indicate that there are specific interactions between the amide group on nylon-6 and the ester group of PMMA or the copolymer. Data are also presented which show that there are at least two amorphous phases - one miscible containing both the polymers and the other containing almost pure noncrystallizable component. The differences in the specific interactions in the two blend systems are largely due to the inversion of the ester group in the pendant chain.
ACTIVE CONTROL OF FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS

Since mechanically flexible systems are distributed-parameter systems, they are infinite-dimensional in theory and, in practice, must be modelled by large-dimensional systems. The fundamental problem of actively controlling very flexible systems is to control a large-dimensional system with a much smaller dimensional controller. For example, a large number of elastic modes may be needed to describe the behavior of a flexible satellite; however, active control of all these modes would be out of the question due to onboard computer limitations and modelling error. Consequently, active control must be restricted to a few critical modes. The effect of the residual (uncontrolled) modes on the closed-loop system is often ignored. In this paper, we consider the class of flexible systems that can be described by a generalized wave equation,u tt+Au=F, which relates the displacementu(x,t) of a body Θ inn-dimensional space to the applied force distributionF(x,t). The operatorA is a time-invariant symmetric differential operator with a discrete, semibounded spectrum. This class of distributed parameter systems includes vibrating strings, membranes, thin beams, and thin plates. The control force distribution $$F(x,t) = \sum\limits_{i = 1}^M { \delta (x - x_i )f_i (t)} $$ is provided byM point force actuators located at pointsx i on the body. The displacements (or their velocities) are measured byP point sensorsy i(t)=u(z j,t), oru t(z j,t),j=1, 2, ...,P, located at various pointsz j along the body. We obtain feedback control ofN modes of the flexible system and display the controllability and observability conditions required for successful operation. We examine the control and observation spillover due to the residual modes and show that the combined effect of spillover can lead to instabilities in the closed-loop system. We suggest some remedies for spillover, including a straightforward phase-locked loop prefilter, to remove the instability mechanism. To illustrate the concepts of this paper, we present the results of some numerical studies on the active control of a simply supported beam. The beam dynamics are modelled by the Euler-Bernoulli partial differential equation, and the feedback controller is obtained by the above procedures. One actuator and one sensor (at different locations) are used to control three modes of the beam quite effectively. A fourth residual mode is simulated, and the destabilizing effect of control and observation spillover together on this mode is clearly illustrated. Once observation spillover is eliminated (e.g., by prefiltering the sensor outputs), the effect of control spillover alone on this system is negligible.
DNA-binding domain mutations in SMAD genes yield dominant-negative proteins or a neomorphic protein that can activate WG target genes in Drosophila

Mutations in SMAD tumor suppressor genes are involved in approximately 140,000 new cancers in the USA each year. At this time, how the absence of a functional SMAD protein leads to a tumor is unknown. However, clinical and biochemical studies suggest that all SMAD mutations are loss-of-function mutations. One prediction of this hypothesis is that all SMAD mutations cause tumors via a single mechanism. To test this hypothesis, we expressed five tumor-derived alleles of human SMAD genes and five mutant alleles of Drosophila SMAD genes in flies. We found that all of the DNA-binding domain mutations conferred gain-of-function activity, thereby falsifying the hypothesis. Furthermore, two types of gain-of-function mutation were identified – dominant negative and neomorphic. In numerous assays, the neomorphic allele SMAD4 100T appears to be capable of activating the expression of WG target genes. These results imply that SMAD4 100T may induce tumor formation by a fundamentally different mechanism from other SMAD mutations, perhaps via the ectopic expression of WNT target genes – an oncogenic mechanism associated with mutations in Adenomatous Polyposis Coli. Our results are likely to have clinical implications, because gain-of-function mutations may cause tumors when heterozygous, and the life expectancy of individuals with SMAD4 100T is likely to be different from those with other SMAD mutations. From a larger perspective, our study shows that the genetic characterization of missense mutations, particularly in modular proteins, requires experimental verification.
The More Rational Side of Self-Serving Prototypes: The Effects of Success and Failure Performance Feedback

Abstract People have a tendency to believe that the attributes they view as self-descriptive are more important for success than those they view as non-self-descriptive. That is, the prototypes that people possess of social concepts tend to be self-serving. We propose that this bias may arise because people rationally infer from their experiences of achievement that their personal skills and characteristics are related to success. In two studies, the correlation between participants' self-ratings on number of attributes related to a domain and their ratings of importance of those attributes to success within that domain was examined before and after performance feedback was provided. As expected, those who received success feedback came to perceive a stronger relationship between “what they had” and “what it takes to succeed” than did those who received failure feedback. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for the development and consequences of self-serving prototypes.
Use of rhizobacteria for biocontrol

Abstract Our understanding of the biochemical and genetic basis of the suppression of soil-borne plant pathogens by introduced rhizobacteria has advanced greatly over the last few years. It is known that secondary metabolites, such as the phenazines, 2, 4-diacetylphloroglucinol and hydrogen cyanide, have a critical role in the biocontrol of some pathogens. The biosynthetic loci for some of the metabolites have been cloned and expressed in other rhizobacteria resulting in ‘transgenic’ strains with improved biocontrol activity.
Social impact evaluation of the US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Debate over environmental policy often focuses on social impacts of those policies, but few empirical studies examine the impacts of environmental regulations once they are implemented. A quasi-experimental design based on survey data is used to assess the social impacts of the US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) on the West Virginia chemical industry. Changes in employment, manufacturing process, product line, and manufacturing costs are evaluated. RCRA seems to have produced changes in manufacturing processes, but we find no statistically significant impacts on.jobs, product line, or manufacturing costs.
Regional Anesthesia as an Adjunct for Eyelid Surgery in Dogs

Eyelid surgery plays an important role in the management of a variety of ophthalmic diseases. Surgery on the adnexa and eye is routinely performed on an anesthetized patient. Minor procedures, such as conjunctival biopsy, may be performed in an awake patient using only topical anesthesia. Retrobulbar, peribulbar, and local anesthesia are less commonly used in general practice; however, they can provide significant advantages when used appropriately. Advantages to local anesthesia/sedation include being able to perform some ophthalmic procedures without having to place the patient under general anesthesia, ability to maintain the patient under a lighter plane of general anesthesia, improved postoperative comfort, and potentially smoother recoveries from general anesthesia. This article reviews this author's current indications and techniques for regional anesthesia as an adjunct to eyelid surgery in dogs.
Robust motion estimation under varying illumination

The optical-flow approach has emerged as a major technique for estimating scene and object motion in image sequences. However, the results obtained by most optical flow techniques are strongly affected by motion discontinuities and by large illumination changes. While there do exist many separate techniques for robust estimation of optical flow in the presence of motion discontinuities and for dealing with the problems caused by illumination variations, only a few integrated approaches have been proposed. However, most of these previously proposed integrated approaches use simple models of illumination variation; a common assumption being that illumination changes by either just a multiplicative factor or just an additive factor from frame to frame, but not both. Some other previously proposed integrated approaches are limited to specialized tasks such as image registration or change recovery. To remedy this shortcoming, this paper presents a new robust approach to general motion estimation in an integrated framework. Our approach deals simultaneously with motion discontinuities and large illumination variations. Our model of illumination variation is general, in the sense that it admits both multiplicative and additive effects.
Epidermal growth factor-mediated T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor transcriptional activity is essential but not sufficient for cell cycle progression in nontransformed mammary epithelial cells.

Because beta-catenin target genes such as cyclin D1 are involved in cell cycle progression, we examined whether beta-catenin has a more pervasive role in normal cell proliferation, even upon stimulation by non-Wnt ligands. Here, we demonstrate that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) transcriptional activity in nontransformed mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and that its transcriptional activity is essential for EGF-mediated progression through G(1)/S phase. Thus, expression of dominant-negative Tcf4 blocks EGF-mediated Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity and bromodeoxyuridine uptake. In fact, the importance of EGF-mediated Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity for cell cycle progression may lie further upstream at the G(1)/S phase transition. We demonstrate that dominant-negative Tcf4 inhibits a reporter of cyclin D1 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, dominant-negative Tcf4 suppresses EGF- mediated cell cycle activity specifically by thwarting EGF- mediated Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity, not by broader effects on EGF signaling. Thus, although expression of dominant-negative Tcf4 blocks EGF- mediated TOPFLASH activation, it has no effect on either EGF receptor or ERK phosphorylation, further underscoring the fact that Tcf/ Lef-mediated transcription is essential for cell cycle progression, even when other pro-mitogenic signals are at normal levels. Yet, despite its essential role, Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity alone is not sufficient for cell cycle progression. Serum also stimulates Tcf/ Lef transcriptional activation in MCF-10A cells but is unable to promote DNA synthesis. Taken together, our data support a model wherein EGF promotes Tcf/ Lef transcriptional activity, and this signal is essential but not sufficient for cell cycle activity.
Permanent Pacemaker Wire Vegetation in the Right Atrium

A 64-year-old patient presented with methicillin-sensitive staphylococcal bacteremia 4 weeks after intravenous implantation of a ventricular pacemaker. The patient continued to have positive blood cultures despite antibiotic therapy with nafcillin. Multiple pulmonary abscesses were noted on chest radiograph and CT scan …
Vibration measurements of Olmsted prototype wickets by laser techniques

Mostafiz R. Chowdhury and Robert L. HallStructures Laboratory, CEWES-SS-A3909 Halls Ferry RoadU.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment StationVicksburg, MS 39180-6199, USAABSTRACTThis paper discusses the effectiveness of scanning laser techniques for measuring the dynamicresponse of the Olmsted Prototype Wicket Dam at the Smithland facility, Smithland, KY. Full-scale
Class Probability Estimates are Unreliable for Imbalanced Data (and How to Fix Them)

Obtaining good probability estimates is imperative for many applications. The increased uncertainty and typically asymmetric costs surrounding rare events increases this need. Experts (and classification systems) often rely on probabilities to inform decisions. However, we demonstrate that class probability estimates attained via supervised learning in imbalanced scenarios systematically underestimate the probabilities for minority class instances, despite ostensibly good overall calibration. To our knowledge, this problem has not previously been explored. Motivated by our exposition of this issue, we propose a simple, effective and theoretically motivated method to mitigate the bias of probability estimates for imbalanced data that bags estimators calibrated over balanced bootstrap samples. This approach drastically improves performance on the minority instances without greatly affecting overall calibration. We show that additional uncertainty can be exploited via a Bayesian approach by considering posterior distributions over bagged probability estimates.
Asymptotic behaviors for second order stochastic lattice dynamical systems on Zk in weighted spaces

Abstract In this article, we study the asymptotic behavior of solutions to the second order stochastic lattice differential equation on Z k with additive white noise in weighted space which includes solutions with bounded components. We first consider the existence and uniqueness of solutions, and then establish the existence of tempered random bounded absorbing sets and global random attractors.
Simulating Nitrogen Losses from Agricultural Land: Implications for Water Quality and Protection Policy

: EPIC, a soil erosion/plant growth simulation model, is used to simulate nitrogen losses for 120 randomly selected and previously surveyed cropland sites. Simulated nitrogen losses occur through volatilization, surface water and soil runoff, subsurface lateral flow, and leaching. Physical and crop management variables explain a moderate but significant proportion of the variation in nitrogen losses. Site slope and tillage have offsetting effects on surface and ground water losses. Nitrogen applications in excess of agronomic recommendations and manure obtained off the farm and applied to the sites are significant contributors to nitrogen losses. Farm characteristics such as production of confined livestock, total manure nitrogen available, and farm income per cropland acre explain a relatively large portion of the variability in manure nitrogen applied to survey sites. The results help to identify farm characteristics that can be used to target nutrient management programs. Simulation modeling provides a useful tool for investigating variables which contribute to agricultural nitrogen losses.
Coherent excitation of the n=3 states in hydrogen

This paper is a theoretical discussion of a ''coherence effect'' in the excitation of hydrogen atoms to the n = 3 state by electron bombardment. By coherence is meant that the density matrix describing the atom after the collision has off-diagonal matrix elements in the field-free basis. The differential cross section for producing Balmer-$alpha$ photons at 90$sup 0$ to the electron beam is calculated as a function of an applied longitudinal electric field. The off-diagonal elements show up as a dependence of the observed light on the direction of the electric field. Theoretical results based on the Born approximation are compared with an experiment at 200 and 500 eV. It is pointed out that this method for measuring relative phases of scattering amplitudes can be generally applied and is not restricted to n = 3 excitation of hydrogen. (AIP)
Gaeumannomyces incrustans sp. nov., a root-infecting hyphopodiate fungus from grass roots in the United States

A root-infecting hyphopodiate fungus with a Phialophora anamorph was isolated from the roots of several turfgrass species in the United States. The teleomorph was produced by crossing opposing mating types on sterile wheat stems in Sach's agar. The fungus is described as Gaeumannomyces incrustans.
The academic initiative (2)

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I think that my short speech will be a natural continuation of my colleague's lecture since I will also be speaking about computers and about the academic milieu. There were a lot of projects concerning the presentation of IBM to this public. However, without hesitation we decided that the subject that we want to discuss is the IBM initiative addressed to the Polish academic and scientific milieu. In our firm we call it the IBM Academic Initiative.
A giant nerve net with multi-effector synapses underlying epithelial adhesive strips in the mouth of Beroë (Ctenophora)

We present ultrastructural evidence for the first known example of a giant nerve net in the phylum Ctenophora. The giant fibre system in Beroe underlies paired strips of adherent epithelial cells that run inside the lips. Interlocking actin-lined cell junctions between opposing adhesive strips keep Beroe's large mouth closed while the ctenophore searches for prey. The giant neurons, up to 6-8 microns in diameter, form a continuous lattice-like plexus rich in vesicles, microtubules, and 'presynaptic triads'. A novel feature is that individual giant axons make synaptic contacts with more than one type of effector, i.e. longitudinal muscle fibres and epithelial adhesive cells. Contact of prey with sensory receptors on the lips of Beroe induces rapid disappearance of the actin-lined adhesive cell junctions, and muscular opening of the mouth to ingest prey. Electron microscopy of food-opened mouths shows local thickening of longitudinal muscles and widening of the basal ends of epithelial cells in the adhesive strip, correlated with retraction of the adhesive epithelium into the mesoglea. Addition of 1% Triton X-100 to formaldehyde fixative in the absence of prey also elicits regional thickening of longitudinal muscles at the location of the adhesive strips (visualized by rhodamine-phalloidin staining). The giant neuron system may serve as a final common pathway to rapidly signal disassembly of actin-based junctions between adhesive cells as well as contractions of longitudinal muscles underlying the adhesive strips, thereby enabling Beroe to open its mouth rapidly to engulf prey.
A multiscale observational case study of an isolated tornadic supercell

Abstract This work deals with the analysis of an isolated tornadic supercell thunderstorm that took place on the plain of Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) causing several damage. The analysis is performed using different kind of data, looking in the available information for possible signatures that could be helpful in the forecasting and nowcasting procedures. The analysis reveals that rather than a single cause for the tornadic storm development, there is an “interaction” of several effects. In particular, a favorable environment seems to be produced by the interplay between synoptic and mesoscale environments with a fundamental role played by orography. Radar data, in particular Doppler measurements, are fundamental to the recognition and interpretation of the events but in this particular case they could give little useful information for the forecasting and nowcasting procedures. The most robust signals of an environment prone to the onset of severe deep moist convection come from the thermal gradients at the ground and by the vertical profile analysis. The reason why the event took place in that specific place and not in others is still unknown.
The thermal regime of an intertidal mytilus californianus Conrad population on the Central Oregon Coast

Abstract Data describing the thermal environment of an intertidal population of Mytilus californianus Conrad were collected over a four-year period. A formula estimating tissue temperature during exposure to air was established and used to calculate the internal temperature of mussels each hour of the day in a mussel bed located at +3 ft above mean low low water level. The resulting thermal regime was then discussed in terms of average temperature, daily extremes, and periods of heating and cooling. From experiments using radioactive labelled Isochrysis it was found that periods of exposure lead to increased assimilation efficiency. The thermal regime was used to calculate scope for growth by incorporating both its acute and acclimatizing effects on oxygen consumption, filtration rate, and assimilation. Particulate food levels had a greater effect upon seasonal values for scope for growth than temperatures within the normal environmental range. An energy budget was established for animals at various heights in the intertidal to produce a quantitative picture of the decrease in scope for growth with height. An exposure period may lead to slight increases in energy available for growth during winter. Maximum temperature changes may induce spawning at advantageous times. The implications for reconstructing and predicting thermal regimes of intertidal animals are discussed.
Pressure modes of mechanical ventilation: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Numerous pressure modes are currently available on ventilators. The application of microprocessor technology has resulted in sophisticated mode options that are very responsive to patient-initiated efforts, yet little is known about how to use the modes or their effect on patient outcomes. This article describes a wide variety of pressure modes including traditional modes such as pressure support and pressure-controlled ventilation in addition to less traditional new modes such as airway pressure release ventilation, biphasic positive airway pressure, Pressure Augmentation (Bear 1000, Viasys Healthcare, Yorba Linda, California), Volume Support (Maquet, Bridgewater, New Jersey), Pressure Regulated Volume Control (Maquet, Bridgewater, New Jersey), Volume Ventilation Plus (Puritan Bennett, Boulder, Colorado), Adaptive Support Ventilation (Hamilton Medical, Switzerland), and Proportional Assist Ventilation (Drager Medical, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada). The "good, the bad, and the ugly" issues surrounding the application, evaluation, and outcomes of the modes are discussed.
A comparison of exact and model solutions for the initiation of debond fracture

Abstract Debonding of a rigid rod from a compressible elastic matrix is considered. A simple model for the initiation of debond fracture is given and comparisons between this simple model and an exact analysis is made.
Characterization of corrosion resistant clay/epoxy ester composite coatings and thin films

Abstract The processibility and corrosion resistance of epoxy ester coatings was improved by the addition of cloisite 15A clay. The weight percent of clay was increased from 1% to 10% of clay. The presence of clay in the coatings was confirmed by using the Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, FTIR. The effect of clay on the contact angle of the coatings was determined by using the video contact angle analyzer. The surface contact angle of the coatings decreased with increasing weight percent of clay. The surface roughness as measured by atomic force microscope, AFM decreased with the addition of clay up to 1 wt.% loading. The dynamic mechanical property of the coatings was determined by using the Seiko Dynamic Mechanical Spectrometer, DMS. The reinforcement of epoxy ester with organoclay resulted in a significant increase in the glass transition temperature, Tg. However, there was no significant change in the height of the tangent of the loss angle, tan δ with variation in the clay concentration, indicating that there was no significant change in the damping behavior of the epoxy ester coatings as a result of reinforcement by organoclay.
Introduction: Intersections of culture and religion in African-American communities

As a child of the blues, hip hop culture and rap music bring together the ‘best of both worlds’ of culture and religion respectively. The interrogation of cultural production by African-American scholars across fields is not a new phenomenon, however, a rigorous examination of the religious and theological contours of hip hop culture, such as rap music, are slowly beginning to take shape. In this Introduction, we contextualize one such attempt as expressed in this journal you hold, to think religion and hip hop together in new and exciting ways. Here, we give thought to the multifaceted ways in which the changing syncretic cultural cartography of hip hop in general and rap music specifically push and force a re-thinking of religious sensibilities and the quest for life meaning. More than that, we take the position that not only does the genius of hip hop culture and rap music call and yearn for a more complicated terrain of the religious, but likewise, offers a rich opportunity to rethink the rugged terra...
Music and Science During the Scientific Revolution

Historically, music has been classiaed both as a aeld of natural philosophy and as a performing art. Those savants interested in music’s association with natural phenomena offered elaborate schemes in order to account for its physical basis. After all, acoustics was to become a branch of physics. Many concerned themselves, for example, with physical accounts that could distinguish dissonance from consonance. They also delved into such theoretical problems as mathematically dividing up the octave in different ways, establishing various musical temperaments.2 Debates among musical theorists (so-called because they were exclusively interested in the theoretical qualities of music) concerning the appropriate temperament for pieces raged throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Meanwhile, natural philosophers such as Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and Christiaan Huygens busied them-
Dose-Response Relationships in Expression of Biomarkers of Cell Proliferation in In Vitro Assays and Inhalation Experiments

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring mineral fibers which are associated in occupational settings with increased risks of malignant mesothelioma (MM), lung cancers, and pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis). The six recognized types of asbestos fibers (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite) are different chemically and physically and may have different dose-response relationships in the development of various asbestos-associated diseases. For example, epidemiologic and lung fiber content studies suggest that the pathogenic potential and durability of crocidolite is much greater than chrysotile asbestos in the causation of human MM. We have used isolated mesothelial cells, the target cells of MM, as well as epithelial cells of the lung, the target cells of lung cancers, in vitro to elucidate the dose-response relationships in expression of early response protooncogenes and other genes critical to cell proliferation and malignant transformation in cells exposed to crocidolite and chrysotile asbestos, as well as a number of nonpathogenic fibers and particles. These studies reveal distinct dose-response patterns with different types of asbestos, suggesting a threshold for effects of chrysotile both in in vitro studies and inhalation experiments. The different patterns of gene expression have been confirmed in lungs of rats exposed by inhalation to these types of asbestos. Experiments also suggest no observed adverse effect levels after evaluation of lung injury, inflammation, and fibrosis at lower concentrations of both types of asbestos.
Selective feedback between dispersal distance and the stability of mutualism

The evolution and maintenance of mutually beneficial interactions has been one of the oldest problems for evolutionary theory. For cooperation to be stable, mechanisms such as spatial population structure must exist that prevent non-cooperative individuals from invading cooperative groups. Selection