cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The activation patterns of embryonic chick motoneurones projecting to inappropriate muscles

Chick lumbosacral motoneurones were caused to innervate foreign muscles by surgically rotating or shifting the limb bud about the anterior-posterior axis in stage 17-18 embryos. The activation pattern of such wrongly projecting motoneurones was assessed at stages 35-38 by recording electromyographic activity from muscles in an isolated spinal cord/hind limb preparation. Muscle activity was classed as flexor- or extensor-like according to the characteristics of the patterned sequence of bursts elicited by a single shock to the thoracic cord. Wrongly projecting motoneurones did not have their activation pattern altered to one appropriate for the muscle innervated; therefore in some cases a particular muscle was activated with a pattern similar to its original one, and in other cases in an opposite manner. Mixed flexor-extensor-like activation of a single muscle was, however, rare. The identity of motoneurones projecting to a muscle was determined by their cord location following retrograde labelling with horseradish peroxidase. This allowed us to conclude that motoneurones could develop their normal pattern of activation even when projecting to foreign muscles. It is concluded that the cord circuits (presumably composed of local interneurones responsible for the activation of motoneurones in the isolated cord preparation are not altered by retrograde influences from the muscle. Wrongly projecting motoneurones, which were maintained throughout the normal cell death period, were activated during spontaneous embryonic movements, and in many cases were found to have a behaviourally inappropriate activation pattern. These observations are discussed in relation to proposed mechanisms by which developmental errors in connectivity are corrected.
Mechanisms and performance measures in mastery-based incremental repeated acquisition: behavioral and pharmacological analyses

Low doses of d-amphetamine may enhance learning, depending on the conditions under which learning is studied. The objective of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity of procedural variations of an incremental repeated acquisition procedure to very low-dose d-amphetamine administration. A 60-min session began with a one-link chain (single lever press) that incremented to a maximum of a four-link chain using three levers: left (L), right (R), and back (B). Backward (five rats) and forward (five rats) training procedures were used to build the chain. In pseudo-randomized presentations, a performance session (same chain every session) and a learning session (chain differed from session to session) were imposed. Some learning chains had an embedded repeated response (e.g., LRRB), and others had no such repeat (e.g., LRLB). The product of chain length and number of reinforcers divided by total reinforcers was the primary marker of progress during a session (i.e., progress quotient (PQ)). After behavior stabilized, d-amphetamine (0.01–3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered. Acquisition was superior for the backward training group during non-repeating learning sessions, across all but the highest doses of d-amphetamine. Very low, clinically relevant, doses of d-amphetamine improved acquisition for the backward training group during repeating learning sessions. Under some conditions, low doses of d-amphetamine enhanced learning for one training procedure group. A novel dependent measure (“PQ”) was a superior marker of progress on this mastery-based learning task.
Internal Evaluation in a Developing Organization: Impediments to Implementation.

T h e i n t e r n a l e v a l u a t i o n f u n c t i o n in A m e r i c a n h u m a n s e r m c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a s evolved w i t h i n t he l a s t two d e c a d e s . T h e goal of " s e l f e v a l u a t i n g " o r g a n i z a t i o n s m a y b e m o r e a n idea l t h a n a r ea l i t y (Wildavsky, 1972), b u t as r e s o u r c e s s h r i n k a n d h u m a n n e e d s grow, t h e i n t e r e s t in a n i n h o u s e m e c h a n i s m to m o n i t o r p r o g r a m d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c h a n g e will c o n t i n u e to grow.
Range effects and dimensional organization in visual discrimination

Pigeons were trained to discriminate two types of visual forms that could vary in two orthogonal dimensions. One set of stimuli was designed to have relatively integral dimensions, while the other set of stimuli was intended to have relatively separable dimensions, for the pigeon. A first experiment provided evidence that the dimensions of our two stimulus sets differed in the degree of separability. The second experiment examined the effect of increased stimulus range on discrimination of the two stimulus sets. Results from this experiment indicated that increases in range in either relevant or irrelevant dimensions reduced discrimination for the integral stimulus set. For the separable stimulus dimensions, however, performance declined only with increased stimulus range along a relevant dimension. In the third experiment, stimulus range was increased along either one or two dimensions of the stimulus. Correlated changes in stimulus range along two dimensions had an impact only for integral stimuli. In summary, these experiments demonstrate that the organizational structure of stimulus dimensions determines the impact of increases in stimulus range, probably due to the attentional properties of different stimulus forms.
Non-explosive lava–water interaction in Skaelingar, Iceland and the formation of subaerial lava pillars

Hollow cylinders of basalt < 2.5 m tall and generally < 1 m in diameter were generated by non-explosive lava–water interactions during the emplacement of the Laki lava flow in Iceland during 1783–1784. We know of only one location within the Laki lava flow where these basalt formations occur: a valley called Skaelingar, located at ~ 64.0°N, 18.5°W, which contains a tributary stream to the Skafta River. Skaelingar was temporarily filled with Laki lava when the main body of the lava flow advancing down the Skafta River valley became blocked, forcing lava to flow upstream into tributary valleys along the north side of the river. After the blockage within the Skafta River valley was removed, the Laki lava mostly drained out of these tributary valleys. We refer to the remaining vertical hollow basalt pipes as lava pillars because they morphologically resemble subaerial lava trees and submarine lava pillars that have been observed at mid-ocean ridges. We propose that the subaerial pillars formed as an inflating lava flow advanced slowly over water-saturated ground, or perhaps into temporarily ponded water, causing heated columns of water to rise between adjacent advancing lava lobes. The subaerial pillars continued to grow in height and diameter as the lava flow inflated. When the lava drained back out of the valley, the lava pillars were left standing. Thus, the Icelandic subaerial pillars represent a non-explosive interaction between lava and water.
Measurements of computer anxiety: A review

The objective of this article is to present a review and discussion of scales and questionnaires developed to assess computer anxiety. Included are descriptions of the scales, scale development procedures, and reliability and validity testing. Research questions generated and examined with the scales are also included. Finally, problems with reliability and validity testing are presented along with an assessment of future directions of computer anxiety research.
Are you Gambling with Your Business?—What You Should Know about Legal Differences Between Gaming Ashore and Afloat

There are critical legal distinctions for casino liabilities depending upon whether they are on land or afloat. Distinctions also exist depending upon whether the casino is floating but stationary, or navigating on U.S. waters, or navigating on international waters. Liabilities for injuries to employees are radically different between land‐based and floating casinos. Casino vessels enjoy advantages for suit time requirements, choice of law, and choice of forum for resolving disputes. Conflicting rulings exist as to whether state or maritime dram shop laws apply as to service of alcohol to a vessel passenger, who causes injury to a third party after disembarking. These distinctions, along with others, are compared. Gambling incorrectly on employee obligations, applicable insurance, and dram shop liabilities could be a costly mistake.
When Is Justice Fair? An Integrated Approach to the Outcome Versus Procedure Debate

Defendants’ perceptions of the fairness of their criminal processing outcomes have been the stated concern of some criminal justice reformers. Past research has suggested that these perceptions are influenced by characteristics of the outcome received as well as by characteristics of the process through which the outcome is imposed. This analysis tests a theoretical path model of perceived outcome fairness, which examines the relative influence of both outcome and process characteristics, using survey data collected from 619 prison inmates incarcerated in Minnesota and Illinois. The results indicate that factors related to both outcome and process significantly influence sample inmates’ perceptions of their criminal justice processing outcomes and together explain a substantial portion of the total variance. However, two process-related characteristics are found to be the most powerful predictors of perceived outcome fairness. Inmates’ perceptions that they are fairly treated by their lawyer, judge, and prosecutor are the strongest correlates of perceived outcome fairness, followed by the mode of disposition through which their outcomes are imposed; inmates who plea bargain are more likely than those who go to trial to perceive their outcome as fair.
A cascaded sigma-delta pipeline A/D converter with 1.25 MHz signal bandwidth and 89 dB SNR

A low-noise multibit sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture suitable for operation at low oversampling ratios is presented. The ADC architecture uses an efficient high-resolution pipelined quantizer while avoiding loop stability degradation caused by pipeline latency. A 16-b implementation of the architecture, fabricated in a 0.6-/spl mu/m CMOS process, cascades a second-order 5-b sigma-delta modulator with a four-stage 12-b pipelined ADC and operates at a low 8X oversampling ratio. Static and dynamic linearity of the integrated ADC are improved through the use of dynamic element matching techniques and the use of bootstrapped and clock-boosted input switches. The ADC operates at a 20 MHz clock rate and dissipates 550 mW with a 5 V/3 V analog/digital supply. It achieves an SNR of 89 dB over a 1.25-MHz signal bandwidth and a total harmonic distortion (THD) of -98 dB with a 100-kHz input signal.
Community-based intervention programs for trachoma control

Trachoma continues to be a leading cause of blindness largely confined to developing countries. Trachoma control programs have primarily been oriented to drug therapy, an approach which may be successful if it is community-based. However, the costs to ensure long-term success are substantial. Community-based health education approaches to reduce risk factors currently provide the most promising approach for long-term trachoma control.
State Prisoner Misconduct: Contribution of Dual Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders

Using self-report data from American state prisoners (N = 14,499; 79.8% male) and negative binomial regression, this study found prisoners with preadmission dual serious mental and substance use disorders reported greater diversities and numbers of disciplinary infractions in general compared to inmates without dual disorders. Findings were mixed for diversity and number of assaultive infractions. Variety and numbers of charges for infractions in general and assault were strongly associated with previous and current incarceration experiences with assault victimization. The article concludes with suggestions for corrections policies such as screening for dual disorders, PTSD, and assault victimization, and future research.
Novel Approach to the Diagnosis of Fractures in an Austere Environment Using a Stethoscope and a Cellular Phone

Background Fracture diagnosis in the austere environment where radiographic tests are not available can be a challenge. In the past, a diagnostic technique has been described using a tuning fork and stethoscope to assess decreased sound conduction in the fractured extremity. In this study, we evaluate the use of a cellular phone's vibrate function and a stethoscope to limit equipment carried by expeditionary practitioners. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of fracture diagnosis using a cellular phone and stethoscope. Methods This is a pilot study to assess the usefulness of the above technique before clinical implementation. In 3 cadavers, we created fractures of the humerus and femur. Twenty-seven emergency medicine residents and an attending physician performed the diagnostic technique. Results Overall, the use of the cellular phone and stethoscope resulted in a sensitivity of 73% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64 to 0.81) and a specificity of 83% (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.88), with a positive predicted value of 68% (95% CI: 0.59 to 0.77) and a negative predicted value of 86% (95% CI: 0.81 to 0.90). Positive likelihood ratio was 4.3, and negative likelihood ratio was 0.32. Conclusions The use of a cellular phone and stethoscope may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of fractures in the austere environment. However, further study is needed to validate these findings in the clinical environment.
Electronic structure model for n- and p-type silicon quantum dots

Abstract We present effective mass, single-particle calculations of the electronic structure of n- and p-type silicon quantum dots. The structures investigated approximate silicon quantum dots fabricated on 〈 001〉-oriented SIMOX wafers. The effects of possible built-in strain are investigated in the framework of deformation potential induced splitting of the six degenerate conduction band valleys and the splitting of the degeneracy at the top of the bulk valence band. We present the energy levels and their degeneracies as functions of the dimensions of simple tetragonal model quantum dots. Our results are relevant for silicon quantum dots that are sufficiently small such as to lead to a predominance of the confinement energy over the Coulomb energy.
Fast volume rendering using a shear-warp factorization of the viewing transformation

Several existing volume rendering algorithms operate by factoring the viewing transformation into a 3D shear parallel to the data slices, a projection to form an intermediate but distorted image, and a 2D warp to form an undistorted final image. We extend this class of algorithms in three ways. First, we describe a new object-order rendering algorithm based on the factorization that is significantly faster than published algorithms with minimal loss of image quality. Shear-warp factorizations have the property that rows of voxels in the volume are aligned with rows of pixels in the intermediate image. We use this fact to construct a scanline-based algorithm that traverses the volume and the intermediate image in synchrony, taking advantage of the spatial coherence present in both. We use spatial data structures based on run-length encoding for both the volume and the intermediate image. Our implementation running on an SGI Indigo workstation renders a 2563 voxel medical data set in one second. Our second extension is a shear-warp factorization for perspective viewing transformations, and we show how our rendering algorithm can support this extension. Third, we introduce a data structure for encoding spatial coherence in unclassified volumes (i.e. scalar fields with no precomputed opacity). When combined with our shear-warp rendering algorithm this data structure allows us to classify and render a 2563 voxel volume in three seconds. The method extends to support mixed volumes and geometry and is parallelizable.
Citizen Environmental Activism in China: Legitimacy, Alliances, and Rights-based Discourses

While China’s environmental problems have been well publicized to a global audience, its citizens’ environmental activism is lesser known. This paper assesses the major environmental activism that Chinese environmental Non-Government Organizations and Chinese citizens have engaged in since the mid-nineties to date, focusing, in particular, on the unique nature of such activism in an authoritarian context. I argue that environmental activism in China has garnered legitimacy and provided citizens with opportunities to become agents of social change. Chinese citizens have become adept at taking advantage of the state’s wish to enforce environmental regulations at the local level, adept at developing alliances with Chinese officials as well as with, in some cases, transnational actors, and adept at using communicative technology to demonstrate and to organize their environmental discontent. Chinese environmental activism has also helped environmentally affected victims to learn of, and to exercise, their rights as citizens.
The Socialization of Juveniles in Primate and Foraging Societies: Implications for Contemporary Education

A symposium invitation in 1973 prompted the author to reflect on lessons about the lives of juveniles in foraging and primate societies and to explore the implications of those lessons for the understanding and reform of modern schooling.
Patterns of growth and the effects of scale on the feeding kinematics of the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)

Successful capture of prey often depends, in part, on the magnitude, duration and speed of feeding behaviours. Animal size and experience are potentially important to these aspects of behaviour, but the effects of scale on the muscular dynamics of and capture by aquatic vertebrates remain relatively unknown. This study examines scale effects on prey capture kinematics in the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum , an inertial suction feeder. Morphometric analyses were performed on the heads and feeding apparati of 12 specimens between 71 and 244 cm total length (TL). These data indicated isometric growth of the feeding apparatus. The kinematics of prey capture in another 12 specimens (33 to 268 cm TL) were recorded with high speed video (200 fps). Across the size range, maximal angular excursions remained constant whereas the maxima of linear excursions increased isometrically. However, various phases of the prey capture sequence apparently did not increase in duration. Regressions of the components of prey capture timing generally had slopes between 0 and 0.5, supporting a model of muscular scaling initially proposed for largemouth bass. This model implies that increases in the duration of prey capture are the result of physiological constraints on muscular contraction. There is also a pattern of scaling across several taxa of aquatic vertebrates consistent with a second model of musculoskeletal scaling, although it does not necessarily apply within each taxon.
npr-1 Regulates Foraging and Dispersal Strategies in Caenorhabditis elegans

Wild isolates of Caenorhabditis elegans differ in their tendency to aggregate on food [1, 2]. Most quantitative variation in this behavior is explained by a polymorphism at a single amino acid in the G protein-coupled receptor NPR-1: gregarious strains carry the 215F allele, and solitary strains carry the 215V allele [2]. Although npr-1 regulates a behavioral syndrome with potential adaptive implications, the evolutionary causes and consequences of this natural polymorphism remain unclear. Here we show that npr-1 regulates two behaviors that can promote coexistence of the two alleles. First, gregarious and solitary worms differ in their responses to food such that they can partition a single, continuous patch of food. Second, gregarious worms disperse more readily from patch to patch than do solitary worms, which can cause partitioning of a fragmented resource. The dispersal propensity of both gregarious and solitary worms increases with density. npr-1-dependent dispersal is independent of aggregation and could be part of a food-searching strategy. The gregarious allele is favored in a fragmented relative to a continuous food environment in competition experiments. We conclude that the npr-1 polymorphism could be maintained by a trade-off between dispersal and competitive ability.
How A North Carolina Program Boosted Preventive Oral Health Services For Low-Income Children

Dental caries (tooth decay), the most common chronic disease affecting young children, is exacerbated by limited access to preventive dental services for low-income children. To address this problem, North Carolina implemented a program to reimburse physicians for up to six preventive oral health visits for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than age three. Analysis of physician and dentist Medicaid claims from the period 2000–2006 shows that the program greatly increased preventive oral health services. By 2006 approximately 30 percent of well-child visits for children ages six months up to three years included these services. However, additional strategies are needed to ensure preventive oral health care for more low-income children.
Evaluation of the BactiCard Neisseria for Identification of Pathogenic Neisseria Species and Moraxella catarrhalis

The BactiCard Neisseria (Remel, USA) is a chromogenic enzyme substrate system for identifying Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria lactamica, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The identification system consists of a card with four test circles impregnated with chromogenic substrates for indoxyl butyrate esterase (IB), prolyl aminopeptidase (PRO), γ-glutamyl aminopeptidase (GLUT), and s-galactosidase (BGAL). These substrates permit the identification of Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Neisseria lactamica, respectively. After hydration of the circles with buffer, colonies from growth on selective media or a subculture are applied to the four circles. IB and BGAL reactions are read for a blue-green color after 2 and 15 min, respectively. PRO and GLUT reactions are read at 15 min for a red color after addition of a developer reagent. Identifications obtained with the BactiCard Neisseria were compared with those obtained using conventional procedures for 558 isolates in a blinded fashion. The BactiCard Neisseria identified 100% of 254 Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 100% of 125 Neisseria meningitidis, 53 (98.2%) of 54 Neisseria lactamica, and 123 (98.4%) of 125 Moraxella catarrhalis isolates. The BactiCard Neisseria is an accurate and rapid system for identification of these microorganisms in the clinical laboratory.
Valuing Diversity Implementing Our Best Intentions

Articles in this issue describe the genesis, development, and implementation of the Counseling Psychology Model Training Values Statement Addressing Diversity. This commentary extends the dialog on issues inherent to the Values Statement and the accompanying articles contained in this issue, with particular attention to the resolution of conflicting values and to empirical findings related to attitude change of bias and prejudice.
Chronic disease prevention: the importance of calls to action

prevention and control of chronic diseases. 1 It is an important contribution to efforts to ensure that chronic diseases receive the global and national attention commensurate with their enormous health and economic burdens, especially in low- and middleincome countries. 2 Our call for action is 2-fold: an urgent call to implement policies where we already have the evidence on intervention cost-effectiveness (salt reduction, tobacco control and a multiple drug regime for managing high cardiovascular risk); and a similar call to collect rigorous evidence on other beneficial interventions with the potential for making a difference in populations. Regarding the latter, the editorial confirms our assessment that the absolute effect size of many interventions such as community-based health promotion and changes in saturated and trans-fat intake needs to be confirmed. This is why we called for more rigorous evaluations of these interventions instead of their outright scaling up—an important distinction. Urgent operational research is needed now to identify the best ways to implement effective interventions in communities. However, there is much in the editorial with which we agree. Population growth and ageing are key driving forces of the chronic disease pandemics. The point is clearly made in Figure 2 of the first paper in the Lancet chronic disease series. 2 We note that for the age group of 470 years, the proportion of deaths due to chronic diseases is projected to rise from 87.5% in 2005 to 90.9% in 2030. We agree too that the engagement of clinicians in the chronic disease response will be critical, especially as the health systems strengthening agenda and the reinvigoration
Direct numerical simulation of the sedimentation of solid particles with thermal convection

Based on the study of isothermal inert particle sedimentation, the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian technique was used to solve the problem of sedimentation of two solid particles with thermal convection, including the energy equation. The results show that because of the dynamic wake caused by thermal convection, the trajectory of particles are distinct from each other when settling in isothermal, cool and hot fluid; there is vortex shedding in hot fluid, while in cool fluid a strong upward thermal plume forms.
Guarding the Switch: Cultivating Nationalism during the Pullman Strike

The Pullman Strike of 1894 was a cataclysmic event for the nation. During its violent course, the print media provided an interpretive frame that portrayed the strike in large measure as an immigrant-inspired attack on American laws and democratic customs. Often characterizing the strikers as “foreigners” in the thrall of anarchist ideologies and a tyrannous labor chieftain, journalists painted a stark picture indeed. Employing framing theory, Gramsci's notion of hegemony, and recent insights on the ethnic quality of nationalism, this essay argues that newspapers and other major print periodicals significantly contributed to the formation of nationalist attitudes at a time when many Americans were deeply worried over the direction in which the country was headed.
Nonlinear Control of Unmanned Combat Aircraft During Take-off

Unmanned combat aircraft have been projected to provide significant improvements in performance over their manned counterparts, without endangering the crew, thus offering a cheaper and more viable option. A major challenge in this nascent area is the design of the flight control system. This paper deals with the design of a feedback linearized controller for automating take-off, which is an inherently nonlinear phase of flight. Pilot opinion was codified to serve as a standard for control design. Based on this, the aircraft was made to track a predetermined pitch rate, accounting for saturations in the the elevator and elevator rates. Simulations show that the performance of the controller is acceptable in the presence of plant uncertainty and sensor noise. Of the plant parameters, variations in the centre of gravity affect it most. Response in the presence of sensor noise is good. A Monte-Carlo simulation shows that the controller does not exhibit unstable tendencies and its performance is acceptable. With these promising results, feedback linearization is proposed as a good nonlinear control design tool for automating combat aircraft take-off. Â© 1998 by S. Pradeep.
Aggressive Children's Perceptions of Behaviorally Similar Peers: The Influence of One's Own Behavioral Characteristics on Perceptions of Deviant Peers

Students (grades 3, 7, and 10) classified as aggressive, withdrawn, or nondeviant responded to descriptions of four types of hypothetical male peers: aggressive (AG), withdrawn (WD), aggressive-withdrawn (AW), and neutral (NEU). Aggressive students were more likely to report that they would include the AG peer in social activities than did the withdrawn and nondeviant children. Similarly, the aggressive group had fewer negative affective responses to the AG peer stimuli than did the nonaggressive groups. Findings were consistent with other researchers' assertions that aggressive students evidence a self-serving bias in evaluations of their competence and a tendency to discount their role in aggressive exchanges. Within-subject differences revealed that, on some dimensions, aggressive children made fewer distinctions among the deviant hypothetical peers than did nondeviant and withdrawn children. Results are discussed in terms of how similarities between the perceiver and target can inform both research an...
Construction and Characterization of a Nanowell Electrode Array

Gold nanowell electrode arrays, with a nanowell depth of approximately 600 nm, have been prepared using commercially available anopore membranes as templates. Electrodes were prepared by forming a copper film on anopore, followed by electrodeposition of gold throughout the pore and finally removal of the copper to expose the nanowells. The electrodes were characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical methods. Dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayers were found to passivate the electrode. C. R. Martin coined the term “template synthesis” to describe a method in which the pores of a nanoporous membrane act as templates for the synthesis of nanostructures of a desired material. 1 As the pores within these membranes are nearly cylindrical and of uniform diameter, monodisperse nanocylinders of a desired material can be obtained. This method has been applied to the formation of nanowires, 2 metal nanostructures 3 and hollow metal tubules, 4 conductive 5 and insulating polymers, 6 and semiconductors. 7 (For a review of general template-based methods for the preparation of nanomaterials see ref 1.) The formation of gold metal nanostructures by Martin’s group using anopore disks as a template 3 was accomplished by sputtering a thin layer of Ag onto one side of the membrane in order to form an electrode, followed by the galvanostatic deposition of Ag to seal the pores and potentiostatic deposition of Au into the pores on top of the Ag microcylinders. Nitric acid was then used to dissolve away the Ag, leaving Au nanostructures. In this report we discuss a modification of this method which allows us to form an array of Au nanoelectrodes, 200 nm in diameter and which have a controlled depth, embedded within an anopore template. The nanoelectrode array was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical methods. Passivation of the electrodes with alkanethiol molecules in a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was also investigated. Anodisc membranes obtained from Whatman were used as the template material for gold nanoelectrode fabrication.
The Influence of School Administrators on Teacher Retention Decisions

This article explores the relationship between school contextual factors and teacher retention decisions in New York City. The methodological approach separates the effects of teacher characteristics from school characteristics by modeling the relationship between the assessments of school contextual factors by one set of teachers and the turnover decisions by other teachers in the same school. We find that teachers’ perceptions of the school administration has by far the greatest influence on teacher retention decisions. This effect of administration is consistent for first-year teachers and the full sample of teachers and is confirmed by a survey of teachers who have recently left teaching.
Early human milk feeding is associated with a lower risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a frequent cause of mortality and morbidity in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Human milk (HM) feeding has been associated with lower risk of NEC. However, mothers of VLBW infants often experience insufficient milk production, resulting in mixed feedings of HM and formula. Moreover, medical complications often limit the volume of feeding they can be given. Objective: To determine if high proportions of (50% or greater) HM enteral feeding within the first 14 days of life are protective against NEC. Method: This was a prospective cohort study of VLBW infants who were grouped according to the HM proportion of enteral feeding in the first 14 days: <50% (low human milk, LHM, n=46) and 50% (high human milk, HHM, n=156). The outcome of interest was development of NEC (Bell stage 2 or 3). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and to assess potential confounding due to perinatal risk factors. Result: Two hundred and two infants were studied. Confirmed NEC occurred in 5/46 (10.6%) of the LHM group, as compared with 5/156 (3.2%) of the HHM. Gestational age was the only perinatal factor associated with risk of NEC. After adjustment for gestational age, HHM was associated with a lower risk of NEC ((OR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.68), P=0.01). Conclusion: Enteral feeding containing at least 50% HM in the first 14 days of life was associated with a sixfold decrease in the odds of NEC.
Combining field experiments and individual‐based modeling to identify the dynamically relevant organizational scale in a field system

Community ecologists continually strive to build analytical models that realistically describe long-term dynamics of the systems they study. A key step in this process is identifying which details are relevant for predicting dynamics. Currently, this remains a limiting step in development of analytical theory because experimental field ecology, which provides the key empirical insight, and theoretical ecology, which translates empirical knowledge into analytical theory, remain weakly linked. I illustrate how an individual-based computational model of species interactions is a useful way to bridge the gulf between empirical research and theory development. I built a computational model that reproduced key natural history and biological detail of an old-field interaction web composed of a predator species, a herbivore species and two plant groups that had been the subject of extensive previous field research. I examined, using simulation experiments, how individual behavior of herbivores in response to changing resource and predator abundance scaled to long-term population-level and community-level dynamics. The simulation experiments revealed that the long-term community dynamics could be highly predictable because of two counterintuitive reasons. First, seasonality was a strong forcing variable on the system that removed the possibility of serial dependence in population abundance over time. Second, because of seasonality, short-term behavioral responses of herbivores played a much stronger role in shaping community structure than longer-term processes such as density responses. So, simply knowing the short-term responses of herbivores at the evolutionary ecological level was sufficient to forecast the long-term outcome of experimental manipulations. This study shows that an individual-based model, once it is calibrated to the real-world field system, can provide key insight into the biological detail that analytical models should include to predict long-term dynamics.
HMG CoA Reductase: A Negatively Regulated Gene with Unusual Promoter and 5' Untranslated Regions

The rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis, HMG CoA reductase, is controlled by negative feedback regulation of transcription. We have isolated the reductase gene from a bacteriophage lambda genomic library prepared from hamster UT-1 cells. The 25 kilobase gene is split into 20 exons. The 5' untranslated and promoter regions differ from those of previously characterized genes. The 5' untranslated region encompasses as many as 670 nucleotides; contains up to eight AUG codons upstream of the codon used to initiate translation; and has multiple transcription initiation sites as determined by S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension analysis. The promoter region lacks a characteristic TATA box and CCAAT box; is rich in G + C residues (65%); and contains repeat sequences homologous to the 21 base pair repeats of the SV40 promoter. These unusual features may be relevant to the mechanism of expression of "housekeeping" genes, particularly those that are subject to negative feedback regulation.
Tunable electronic interactions between anions and perylenediimide

Over the past decade anion–π interaction has emerged as a new paradigm of supramolecular chemistry of anions. Taking advantage of the electronic nature of anion–π interaction, we have expanded its boundaries to charge-transfer (CT) and formal electron transfer (ET) events by adjusting the electron-donating and accepting abilities of anions and π-acids, respectively. To establish that ET, CT, and anion–π interactions could take place between different anions and π-acids as long as their electronic and structural properties are conducive, herein, we introduce 3,4,9,10-perylenediimide (PDI-1) that selectively undergoes thermal ET from strong Lewis basic hydroxide and fluoride anions, but remains electronically and optically silent to poor Lewis basic anions, as ET and CT events are turned OFF. These interactions have been fully characterized by UV/Vis, NMR, and EPR spectroscopies. These results demonstrate the generality of anion-induced ET events in aprotic solvents and further refute a notion that strong Lewis basic hydroxide and fluoride ions can only trigger nucleophilic attack to form covalent bonds instead of acting as sacrificial electron donors to π-acids under appropriate conditions.
Evaluation for an observation effect in a prospective cohort study of oral health outcomes

Abstract– Objectives: Evaluation for changes in behavior due to research participants' knowledge that behavior is being observed (also referred to as a Hawthorne effect or reactivity) has received little attention in the dental literature. The Florida Dental Care Study, a prospective, non-randomized, longitudinal study of oral health outcomes, provides some inferential power to evaluate for an effect on dental care use due to participants' knowledge that this behavior was being observed. The purpose of this paper is to document that an observation effect can occur in dental studies, and to estimate its magnitude in four groups that were defined by their typical approach to dental care as stated at baseline: consistent regular attenders (CRAs); inconsistent regular attenders (IRAs); consistent problem-oriented attenders (CPOAs); and inconsistent problem-oriented attenders (IPOAs). Methods: At baseline, 873 respondents with at least one natural tooth and who were 45 years of age or older participated for an interview and clinical dental examination. Respondents were asked about their dental care use in general and check-up use in particular at 6-month intervals over a period of 24 months. Results: Dental care use in general and check-up use in particular varied across time points and across the four groups of the sample. There was some stimulation in dental care use for the sample overall, but by the 18-to-24-month period, use had returned to baseline levels. In a direction opposite from that hypothesized, results from the CRAs suggested decreased use of dental care over the course of the 24 months of observation. No consistent pattern was evident for the IRAs, CPOAs, or IPOAs. Conclusions: An observation effect was evident, but was modest in magnitude and differed within and between sub-groups of the sample. While self-selection into dental care user groups is an expected and desirable feature of this design, the size of the user/non-user groups was affected for some sub-groups. We conclude that dental care studies with the potential for an observation effect should evaluate for this effect by distinguishing sub-groups of the sample based on their propensity (as stated at baseline) to use dental care. These differential effects across sub-groups should be taken into account as inferences are made.
Endurance exercise training is associated with elevated basal sympathetic nerve activity in healthy older humans

We tested the hypothesis that endurance training is associated with altered basal levels of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and responses to acute stress in healthy older adults. MSNA (peroneal microneurography) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentrations were measured during supine rest, a cold pressor test, and isometric handgrip (40% maximal voluntary force to exhaustion) in 16 older masters endurance athletes [10 men, 6 women; 66 +/- 1 (SE) yr] and 15 healthy normotensive untrained control subjects (9 men, 6 women; 65 +/- 1 yr). The athletes had higher levels of estimated daily energy expenditure and maximal oxygen uptake and lower levels of resting heart rate and body fat than the control subjects (all P < 0.05). MSNA during supine rest was elevated in the athletes whether expressed as burst frequency (43 +/- 2 vs. 32 +/- 3 bursts/min, respectively; P < 0.05) or burst incidence (75 +/- 4 vs. 52 +/- 5 bursts/100 heartbeats, respectively; P < 0.01). These whole group differences were due primarily to markedly higher levels of MSNA in the athletic vs. untrained women (48 +/- 4 vs. 25 +/- 3 bursts/min, 82 +/- 3 vs. 38 +/- 3 bursts/100 heartbeats, respectively, P < 0.001). In contrast, basal plasma NE concentrations were not significantly different in the athletes vs. control subjects. The MSNA and plasma NE responses to acute stress tended to be greater in the athletes. These findings indicate that vigorous regular aerobic exercise is associated with an elevated level of MSNA at rest and a tendency for an enhanced response to acute stress in healthy normotensive older humans.
Effect of Externally Applied Liquid Pressure on Wicking in Paper Wipes

Wicking of liquid under externally applied liquid pressure into three paper wipes is studied for the first time. Darcy's law and capillary-tube flow form the basis of two separate theoretical models which were tested through experiments. The wicking and wetting parameters of the tested wipes were measured independently to enable such a comparison without the use of any fitting parameters. Darcy model is found to work better under zero hydraulic pressure, i.e. pure wicking; however capillary model is more accurate when the incoming liquid is pressurized. An increase in the applied pressure led to an increase in the liquid absorption rate and a decrease in the saturation time. However, its relative effect on the absorption rate and saturation time was found to decrease with an increase in its magnitude.
Inversion of the puerperal uterus managed by the Haultain technique

Abstract Inversion of the puerperal uterus with its attending mortality remains a formidable problem. The purpose of this report is to present a case of uterine inversion treated by the method of Haultain and briefly to consider the more controversial aspects of the management of this complication. The procedure of Haultain has rarely been mentioned in the American literature, 2 although it seems an ideal method of treatment in those cases of inversion approached abdominally and not easily reduced by the method of Huntington. 3,4
Specificity of eczematous hypersensitivity to p-aminobenzoic acid butyl ester (butesin).

SummaryA case is reported with eczematous hypersensitivity restricted to alkyl esters of p-aminobenzoic acid. No reaction was obtained with substances deviating from this basic structure in the ring or in the side chain.
Learning complicated concepts reliably and usefully (Extended abstract)

We show how to learn from examples (Valiant style) any concept representable as a boolean function or circuit, with the help of a teacher who breaks the concept into sub concepts and teaches one subconcept per lesson. Each subconcept corresponds to a gate in the boolean circuit. The learner learns each subconcept from examples which have been randomly drawn according to an arbitrary probability distribution, and labeled as positive or negative instances of the sub-concept by the teacher. The learning procedure runs in time polynomial in the size of the circuit. The learner outputs not the unknown boolean circuit, but rather a program which, for any input, either produces the same answer as the unknown boolean circuit, or else says "I don't know." Thus the output of this learning procedure is reliable. Furthermore, with high probability the output program is nearly always useful in that it says "I don't know" very rarely. A key technique is to maintain a hierarchy of explicit "version spaces." Our main contribution is thus a learning procedure whose output is reliable and nearly always useful; this has not been previously accomplished within Valiant's model of learn ability.
Surveillance of the resistance of Musca domestica to insecticides in Dalian

Objective To understand the insecticide resistance of Musca domestica to 5 common insecticides in Dalian,and provide a reference for fly control.Methods The median lethal dose(LD50) of the drug on Musca domestica was determined by dropping method.Results The LD50values of deltamethrin,beta-cypermethrin,dichlorvos,chlorpyrifos and propoxur were 0.009 141 28(μg/♀),0.044 499 52(μg/♀),0.137 490 08(μg/♀),0.184 592 448(μg/♀),and 97.27(μg/♀),respectively.The resistance index of Musca domestica to propoxur,deltamethrin,beta-cypermethrin,chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos were 275.474 4,23.439 2,15.892 7,6.134 7,and 2.313 1,respectively.Conclusion The collected Musca domestica in Dalian presented obvious resistance to the five insecticides,and showed high resistance to propoxur,deltamethrin and beta-cypermethrin,middle resistance to chlorpyrifos,and low resistance to dichlorvos.
A brief behavioral intervention for insomnia in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.

Behavioral sleep education has shown promise in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but has received much less study in adolescents with ASD. We conducted a pilot study of a brief sleep intervention delivered to 18 adolescents, ages 11–18 years, and their parents. Adolescents had sle
Preparation of Reduced Iron Powders Magneto-Rheological Fluid Using Iron Scale

Iron scale of the rolled steel was solved by H2SO4,and FeSO4 solution was got after purification.Then α-Fe2O3 powders were prepared by precipitation method using(NH4)2CO3.After α-Fe2O3 was reduced by H2,the reduced iron powders were mixed with some silicone oil and a little nano Fe3O4 to prepare reduced iron powders magneto-rheological fluid(MRF).The reduced iron powders were characterized and the properties of the powders and MRF were studied.The results show that the particle size of reduced iron powders was about 1 μm and the specific saturation magnetization was the same as carbonyl iron powders.The reduced iron powders MRF belonged to Binham fluid and the shear stress could increase effectively by adding 0.8wt% nano Fe3O4.The reduced iron powders MRF not only had good anti-sedimentation stability,but also superior magneto-rheological properties in low magnetic field intensity.
Kinesiology Career Club: Undergraduate Student Mentors' Perspectives on a Physical Activity-Based Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility Program.

The purpose of this article is to present university student mentors' perspectives on the impact of a teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) model youth program called the Kinesiology Career Club. Data sources in this qualitative case study included program observations, mentoring reflections, and semistructured interviews. Data analysis produced 320 raw meaning units coded into two high-level themes, six mid-level themes, and 14 low-level themes. Findings indicate that high school participants are able to transfer TPSR goals to their possible futures, explore kinesiology and other careers of choice, and effectively address potential life hopes and fears. Service learningâ€“based outcomes of personal, intellectual/career, and social/community influence for the university student mentors were also revealed in the findings.