cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prolonged survival upon ultrasound-enhanced doxorubicin delivery in two syngenic glioblastoma mouse models

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans with a very poor prognosis. Chemotherapeutical treatment of GBMs is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This physical and metabolic barrier separates the blood from the brain parenchyma and prevents the entry of toxins but also of potentially useful chemotherapeutics from the blood into the brain. Microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound (MB-FUS) has been proposed to disrupt locally and reversibly the BBB to facilitate diffusion of drugs from the micro vasculature into brain tissue. The present study investigates the feasibility and the safety of such an approach in two syngenic mouse models of GBM (GL261 and SMA-560). Local doxorubicin (DOX) concentration in MB-FUS sonicated normal brain tissue as well as in brain tumor tissue was increased as compared to the unsonicated control tissue in the contralateral hemisphere. Moreover, ultrasound mediated BBB disruption, in combination with DOX therapy, resulted in a significant increase of survival and in a slower disease progression in the two syngenic GBM mouse models. In conclusion, our results confirm that MB-ultrasound might ultimately be an effective technology to improve the therapy of GBM, and they provide for the first time evidence that combining MB-FUS with DOX treatment is effective in syngenic mouse models for GBM which can serve as preclinical models to study the impact of immune system on the therapeutic application of MB-FUS chemotherapy.
Inside the Extreme Sport of Competitive Eating

Sociologist Priscilla Ferguson considers competitive eating as an expression of identifiably American connections between abundance and country. Overeating both honors country and transgresses soci...
Impact of product pricing and timing of investment decisions on supply chain co-opetition

Abstract In supply chain co-opetition, firms simultaneously compete and co-operate in order to maximize their profits. We consider the nature of co-opetition between two firms: The product supplier invests in the technology to improve quality, and the purchasing firm (buyer) invests in selling effort to develop the market for the product before uncertainty in demand is resolved. We consider three different decision making structures and discuss the optimal configuration from each firm’s perspective. In case 1, the supplier invests in product quality and sets the wholesale price for the product. The buyer then exerts selling effort to develop the market and following demand potential realization, sets the resale price. In case 2, the supplier invests in product quality followed by the buyer’s investment in selling effort. Then, after demand potential is observed, the supplier sets the wholesale price and the buyer sets the resale price. Finally, in case 3, both firms simultaneously invest in product quality and selling effort, respectively. Subsequently, observing the demand potential, the supplier sets the wholesale price and the buyer sets the resale price. We compare all configuration options from both the perspective of the supplier and the buyer, and show that the level of investment by the firms depends on the nature of competition between them and the level of uncertainty in demand. Our analysis reveals that although configuration 1 results in the highest profits for the integrated channel, there is no clear dominating preference on system configuration from the perspective of both parties. The incentives of the co-opetition partners and the investment levels are mainly governed by the cost structure and the level of uncertainty in demand. We examine and discuss the relation between system parameters and the incentives in desiging the supply contract structure.
Guinea pig proacrosin is synthesized principally by round spermatids and contains O‐linked as well as N‐linked oligosaccharide side chains

Proacrosin is the zymogen precursor of acrosin, a sperm protease believed to play an essential role in fertilization. In this study, we used primary cultures of guinea pig spermatogenic cells to examine the temporal appearance and mechanisms of synthesis and processing of proacrosin during acrosome development. Following [35S]methionine incorporation and immunoprecipitation, cultured spermatogenic cells were found to synthesize two forms of proacrosin (Mr 54,000 and 57,000). Proacrosin was synthesized mainly by round spermatids. By immunoblotting, proacrosin became very prominent in round spermatids and persisted throughout spermiogenesis. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the Mr 54,000 form of proacrosin was converted to the Mr 57,000 form, presumably reflecting posttranslational processing of carbohydrate side chains. When spermatogenic cells were cultured in the presence of tunicamycin, the synthesized proacrosin had an Mr of 54,000. However, in vitro translation of mRNA extracted from guinea pig testis followed by immunoprecipitation indicated that the core polypeptide of proacrosin has an Mr of 44,000. Guinea pig spermatogenic cells incorporated glucosamine and fucose into the oligosaccharides of proacrosin. Treatment of guinea pig testis proacrosin with N-glycosidase or O-glycosidase reduced the Mr by 3-7%. These results indicate that proacrosin is synthesized by postmeiotic cells and the enzyme contains N- and O-linked oligosaccharides.
Perceived discrimination and peer victimization among African American and Latino youth.

Perceptions of racial discrimination constitute significant risks to the psychological adjustment of minority youth. The present study examined the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and peer nominations of victimization among 173 (55 % female) African American, European American and Latino youth. All respondents completed peer nominations of victimization status whereas the African American and Latino youth completed subjective measures of racial discrimination. The results indicated that African American and Latino’s subjective perceptions of racial discrimination were linked to nominations of overt and relational victimization when rated by their European American peers. The results suggest that there is consistency between African American and Latino youth’s perceptions of racial discrimination and nominations of peer victimization by their European American peers.
Stimulation of human monocyte β-glucan receptors by glucan particles induces production of TNF-α and IL-1β

Abstract β-glucans are pharmacologic agents that rapidly enhance host resistance to a variety of biologic insults through mechanisms involving macrophage activation. To determine whether stimulation of the β-glucan receptors on human monocytes resulted in cytokine production, monolayers of monocytes were incubated with purified yeast glucan particles and measured for tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA and protein. By Northern blot analysis, TNF-α mRNA was detected within 30 min of incubation with glucan particles, peaked at 2 h, and remained elevated for at least 8 h. Glucan induction of IL-1β mRNA followed a similar time-course of initiation and accumulation. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), significant levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were present in supernatants of glucan-treated cells within 1 h and plateau levels of both cytokines were approached within 4 h. At particle-to-cell ratios of from 0.4 to 18, glucan particles induced dose-dependent increases in TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA and corresponding increases in TNF-α and IL-1β proteins. Exposure of monocytes to glucan particles for 0–30 min and washing before continued incubation for 4 h in particle-free buffer induced production and secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β in a time-dependent fashion compatible with phagocytosis. The pretreatment of monocyte monolayers with trypsin reduced glucan-induced production of TNF-α and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner with 5 μg/ml of trypsin effecting reductions of greater than 50%. Thus, glucan particles induce human monocyte production of TNF-α and IL-1β by a mechanism that is dependent on trypsin-sensitive β-glucan receptors.
Excavations in drug chirality: 1. Cyclothiazide

Abstract There is a great deal of current interest in the role and importance of chirality in the development of new drugs, but little attention is being paid to the stereochemistry of older drugs. Indeed, many older chiral drugs were introduced without adequate information on their stereochemical identity or composition. We have examined one such drug, the antihypertensive diuretic agent cyclothiazide. Standard sources of drug information and the research literature do not provide data on the stereochemical composition of clinically used cyclothiazide, although scattered reports indicate that the drug may consist of "several stereoisomers." Inspection of the chemical structure of the drug, 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-3-(5-norbornen-2-yl)-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazin e-7- sulfonamide 1,1-dioxide, shows that it can exist as eight stereoisomers that may form four racemates. Using synthesis, fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, gas-liquid chromatography, chiral and nonchiral high-performance liquid chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we determined that pharmaceutical cyclothiazide is in fact a mixture of the eight stereoisomers in the form of the four racemates. The two racemates with endo configuration at the norbornene moiety predominate over the exo racemates, and small but significant differences in isomer distribution between different batches of the drug were observed. We urge that in studies of older drugs the stereochemical details be considered.
A comparison of batch processing and instant turnaround

A study of the programming efforts of students in an introductory programming course is presented and the effects of having instant turnaround (a few minutes) as opposed to conventional batch processing with turnaround times of a few hours are examined. Among the items compared are the number of computer runs per trip to the computation center, program preparation time, keypunching time, debugging time, number of runs, and elapsed time from the first run to the last run on each problem. Even though the results are influenced by the fact that “bonus points” were given for completion of a programming problem in less than a specified number of runs, there is evidence to support “Instant” over “Batch”.
The solubility of group I and group II fluorosulfates in fluorosulfuric acid

Abstract The solubilities at 25° of some Group I and Group II fluorosulfates in fluorosulfuric acid have been determined. The solubilities (g fluorosulfates/100 g fluorosulfuric acid) are LiSO3F, 38.78; NaSO3F, 80.21; KSO3F, 63.83; RbSo3F, 89.43; CsSO3F, 132.4; MgSo3F, 0.12; CaSO3F, 16.39; SrSO3F, 14.52 and BaSO3F, 4.67. These results can be rationalized on the basis of lattice and solvation energy considerations. These solubility trends are consistent with those of the corresponding fluorides in hydrogen fluorides.
Learning Sequential Decision Rules Using Simulation Models and Competition

The problem of learning decision rules for sequential tasks is addressed, focusing on the problem of learning tactical decision rules from a simple flight simulator. The learning method relies on the notion of competition and employs genetic algorithms to search the space of decision policies. Several experiments are presented that address issues arising from differences between the simulation model on which learning occurs and the target environment on which the decision rules are ultimately tested.
Baroclinic instabilities in Jupiter's zonal flow

The baroclinic stability of Jupiter's zonal flow is investigated using a model consisting of two continuously stratified fluid layers. The upper layer, containing a zonal shear flow and representing the Jovian cloudy regions above p ∼ 5 bars, is the same as Eady's (1949) model for the Earth. The lower layer has a relatively large but finite depth with a quiescent basic state, representing the deep Jovian fluid bulk below p ∼ 5 bars. Due to the presence of the lower layer, the linearized non-dimensional growth rates are drastically reduced from the O(1) growth rates of the original Early model. Only very long wavelengths relative to the upper fluid's radius of deformation L_1 are unstable. Eddy transports of heat are also reduced relative to estimates based on scaling arguments alone. Since the hydrostatic approximation for the lower-layer perturbation breaks down at great depths, a second model is presented in which energy propagates downward in an infinitely deep lower fluid obeying the full linearized fluid equations. In this model, the growth rates are again very small, but now all wavelengths are unstable with maximum growth rates occurring for wavelengths O(1) relative to L_1. These results illustrate the importance for the upper-layer meteorology of the interface boundary condition with the lower fluid, which is radically different from the rigid lower boundary of the Earth's troposphere.
Direct measurement of hepatic thyroxine flux in normal man.

ABSTRACT The hepatic extraction ratio, clearance and flux of thyroxine measured by brachial artery and hepatic vein catheterization in normal man yields values similar to those determined indirectly. The rate of thyroxine clearance by the liver is from 20 to 94 ml/min and the average thyroxine flux is about 1 μg of hormonal iodine/min/m2 of body surface area. The portal circulation does not contribute to the extraction ratio. The clearance by the liver exceeds that produced by biliary excretion by 100-fold. It accounts for 60% of the early rate of removal of labeled thyroxine from the blood. The hormonal molecule in the hepatic venous effluent was unchanged although traces of radioactivity with the mobility of tetraiodothyroacetic acid were found.
Absence of age-related increase in systolic blood pressure in ambulatory patients with HIV infection.

ABSTRACT Background Systolic blood pressure is well known to increase significantly with age and is strongly correlated with stroke and coronary artery disease. We and other investigators have reported a low prevalence of hypertension in subgroups of patients with HIV infection. In the present study, we examined an ambulatory population of patients with HIV infection to determine whether in the outpatient setting they may lack an age-related increase in systolic blood pressure. Methods In an ambulatory outpatient practice, medical records of 178 consecutive patients with HIV infection and those of 200 control subjects were examined. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and other clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Scatter plots were generated to compare age with systolic blood pressure. Spearman rank correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between systolic blood pressure and age and other variables. Results Patients ranged in age from 13 to 69 years. There was only a very slight increase (which did not achieve statistical significance) in systolic blood pressure with aging in the patients with HIV infection, in contrast to the control population, in which an age-related increase in systolic blood pressure was seen that was comparable to published Framingham data. Mean systolic blood pressure for the group as a whole was 118.2 ± 1.1 mm Hg. Mean serum albumin was 4.2 ± 0.04 g/dL and was only slightly diminished in older patients. Mean serum cholesterol was 176.8 ± 3.4 mg/dL and this bore no relationship to aging. More advanced stages of HIV infection also did not correlate with the lack of age-associated systolic hypertension. Conclusion The present population of ambulatory patients infected with HIV seem to lack an age-related increase in systolic blood pressure; this may be caused by such variables as autonomic dysfunction or factors that may attenuate the development of atherosclerosis.
Aspectual influences on early tense comprehension

This study investigated the aspect first hypothesis which claims that children initially use verbal morphology to mark aspect and not tense. Experiment 1 tested 46 two- and three-year-old children's comprehension of tense as it is marked in the auxiliary system using a sentence-to-scene matching task. Children were presented with multiple performances of the same event and asked where a character is V'ing, was V'ing and is gonna V. Results showed that even the two-year-old children could successfully understand tense in this experiment. Experiment 2 changed the information available in the scenes by varying whether or not the past-time event reached its completion point. Thirty-six two-, three- and four-year-old children participated. The results showed that the two-year-olds could only successfully understand past and present auxiliaries when past-time information in the scenes was coextensive with completion information in the scenes. This result suggests that these children may be making a grammatical aspect (perfective/imperfective) judgment and not a tense (past/present) judgment, or at least, that grammatical aspect influences tense interpretation for these children.
Teaching and nurturing: changing conceptions of self as teacher in a case study of becoming a teacher

Interest is growing in better understanding how teachers think and how they come to think like teachers. From a theoretical orientation informed by insights gained from symbolic inter‐actionism, recent research in the role metaphors play in self‐understanding, and schema theory, the authors present a case study of the first year of teaching of a divorced mother of five young children. Over the course of the year this teacher's understanding of herself as teacher changes, as indicated by changes in her personal teaching metaphor, teacher is nurturer. The reasons for these changes are explored. Of particular note is the struggle this teacher has balancing the demands of home and work. Finally, some implications for teacher education are discussed.
Adenovirus-mediated antisense ATM gene transfer sensitizes prostate cancer cells to radiation.

Treatment failure after radiation therapy of prostate cancer (PC) could be a significant problem. Our objective is to design genetic radiosensitizing strategies for the treatment of PC. Cells from individuals with the genetic disorder ataxia telangiectasia (AT) are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation. Therefore, we examined whether attenuation of the AT gene product, AT mutated (ATM), in PC cells could result in an increased intrinsic radiosensitivity. A p53-mutant PC cell line, PC-3 was infected with adenoviral vectors, expressing antisense ATM RNA to various domains of the ATM gene. Immunoblot analyses of cellular extracts from antisense ATM-transfected PC-3 cells showed attenuated expression of the ATM protein within 2 days of viral infection. Compared with cells infected with an adeno-β-galactosidase vector, antisense ATM-transfected PC-3 cells showed aberrant control of S-phase cell-cycle checkpoints after exposure to ionizing radiation. Under these conditions, the intrinsic radiosensitivity of the PC-3 cells was enhanced. Consequently antisense ATM gene therapy could serve as a paradigm for strategies that target the cellular survival mechanisms of an irradiated tumor cell and may provide therapeutic benefit to patients undergoing radiation therapy for PC.
Mining generalised disjunctive association rules

This paper introduces generalised disjunctive association rules such as "People who buy bread also buy butter jam", and "People who buy either raincoats or umbrellas also buy flashlights". A generalised disjunctive association rule allows the disjunction of conjuncts, "People who buy jackets also buy bow ties or neckties and tiepins". Such rules capture contextual inter-relationships among items.Given a context (antecedent), there may be a large number of generalised disjunctive association rules that satisfy the minsupp and minconf constraints. It is computationally expensive to find all such rules. We present algorithm thrifty traverse which borrows concepts such as subsumption from propositional logic to mine a subset of such rules in a computationally feasible way. We experimented with our algorithm on US census data as well as transaction data from a grocery superstore to demonstrate its computational feasibility, utility and scalability.
Fully relativistic electron-impact ionization of atomic ions

A fully relativistic electron-impact ionization cross section is calculated as a triple partial-wave expansion of the first Born scattering amplitude. The target atomic ion is described by a Dirac-Fock approximation, a jj subconfiguration average method is used to calculate the scattering algebra, and the radial partial waves (epsilon-clj) are computed in distorted-wave potentials. The resulting general computational scheme is applied to electron-impact ionization of U/sup 89+/. The fully relativistic cross-section results are compared with those obtained from both nonrelativistic and semirelativistic theories.
General High-Altitude Orbit Corrections Using Electrostatic Tugging with Charge Control

The use of an electrostatic force to perform general orbit corrections on a passive geosynchronous space object is investigated. Using inertial thrusters, a space tug approaches and settles into a piecewise fixed relative location with respect to a deputy object that needs to be towed to a new orbital location. Once in place, an electrostatic force is created between the two bodies using noncontact charge transfer, enabling the tugging craft to perform an inertial thrusting maneuver to modify the deputy orbit without physical contact. An open-loop analytical performance study is performed where variational equations are used to predict how much general orbital elements may be changed using this electrostatic force over one orbital period for a satellite at geosynchronous altitude. In contrast to earlier work, eccentric orbits and plane changes are also considered. The thrust direction issues associated with repositioning the tug craft during orbit modifications to achieve desired tugging force are also in...
Flash photoionization of gamma-ray burst environments

The H-alpha line emission that a flash-photoionized region emits is calculated. Archival transients, as well as various theoretical predictions, suggest that there may be significant ionizing flux. The limits on the line flux which might be observable indicate that the density must be fairly high for the recombination radiation to be observable. The intense burst radiation is insufficient to melt the dust which will be present in such a dense medium. This dust may attenuate the observable line emission, but does not attenuate the ionizing radiation before it ionizes the neutral medium surrounding the burst source. The dust can also produce a light echo. If there are indeed gamma-ray bursts in dense clouds, then it is possible that the burst was triggered by Bondi-Hoyle accretion from the dense medium, although it is unlikely on statistical grounds that all bursts occur in clouds.
Lateral space-charge effects on ballistic electron transport across graded heterojunctions

Abstract Hot electron transport across graded compound semiconductor heterojunctions has been explored using a two-dimensional formulation of the self-consistent ensemble Monte Carlo method. The AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterojunction imbedded into a vertical field effect transistor with two ohmic contacts (source, drain) and two lateral Schottky gates has been used as an example. Lateral space charges modulated by the gates are shown to control ballistic injection of electrons over the heterojunction under steady state conditions. The transient response to a gate pulse is found to be determined by carrier transit from the heavily doped source contact region into the channel. A conceptual one-dimensional section model is used to explain the Monte Carlo results.
Naloxone does not alter amphetamine-induced rotational behavior or striatal dopamine levels of nigrally-lesioned rats

Previous studies on rats have shown that the opioid antagonist naloxone attenuates amphetamine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity and increases in extracellular dopamine in the brain. However, in this study, naloxone did not attenuate amphetamine-induced rotational behavior or increases of extracellular dopamine in the intact striatum of nigrally-lesioned rats. These results suggest differences in the way in which endogenous opioids contribute to the behavioral and neurochemical effects of amphetamine in nigrally-lesioned compared to intact rats
Atomic collision processes relevant for heavy ion beam probes

Atomic collision processes of fast Tl and Cs ions with particles in a high temperature fusion plasma are investigated. At low beam energies ( >
Evolutionary genetics and infertility.

PROBLEM: Mapping the human genome and advances in human evolution indicate a critical role for genetics in the study of reproduction. METHOD OF STUDY: Literature in human evolution, genetics and reproduction. RESULTS: This paper will focus on three points: (1) the course of primate evolution, (2) implications of this course for reproduction in humans, and (3) evolutionary mechanisms. Reproduction is the driving force of evolution, and sex selection is the important factor in determining reproductive activity. The hypothesis will be presented that the reproductive inefficiency of Homo sapiens (one of four pregnancies succeeds) is the consequence of the development of genetic isolation from other species of Homo that was necessary to drive the evolution of Homo sapiens. This hypothesis is based on the evidence that Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis are separate species and that intermating would not yield fertile offspring (Haldane's Rule). This mating barrier involves zoological and linguistic differences and genetic mechanisms preventing fertile interspecies mating (chromosomal incompatibilities, disruption of genomic imprinting and recessive lethal defects). CONCLUSIONS: The medical and philosophical implications of modern reproductive technologies that may circumvent mating barriers must be addressed prospectively: propagation of genetic defects that would be eliminated by natural selection; the specter of 'genetic enhancement'; human cloning; and attempts to control the future direction of the evolution of Homo sapiens.
Calcineurin-mediated BAD dephosphorylation activates the caspase-3 apoptotic cascade in traumatic spinal cord injury.

We report here that activation of the caspase-3 apoptotic cascade in spinal cord injury is regulated, in part, by calcineurin-mediated BAD dephosphorylation. BAD, a proapoptotic member of the bcl-2 gene family, is rapidly dephosphorylated after injury, dissociates from 14-3-3 in the cytosol, and translocates to the mitochondria of neurons where it binds to Bcl-x L . Pretreatment of animals with FK506, a potent inhibitor of calcineurin activity, or MK801, an NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, blocked BAD dephosphorylation and abolished activation of the caspase-3 apoptotic cascade. These findings extend previous in vitro observations and are the first to implicate the involvement of glutamate-mediated calcineurin activation and BAD dephosphorylation as upstream, premitochondrial signaling events leading to caspase-3 activation in traumatic spinal cord injury.
Aseismic Roof Isolation System: Feasibility Study with 13-Story Building

An investigation is carried out of a 13-story building to assess the viability and effectiveness of a recently proposed roof isolation system that aims at reducing the response of buildings to eart...
Tangible Benefits of the Study of Latin: A Review of Research

ABSTRACT This article examines the linguistic benefits of Latin in light of recent research which seems to document the relevance of Latin in building English vocabulary and reading skills. Evidence is cited from eight educational projects in which an experimental group of students taking Latin, and a control group not taking Latin, were pretested, posttested, and compared with regard to English verbal skills. In each case, the Latin students showed significant gains over the control group. Other studies supporting these findings are cited, as well as projects presently being conducted. These studies yield important pedagogical implications: (1) Educational administrators and curriculum specialists should consider the significance of Latin in improving language skills; (2) The language profession should assume the responsibility of disseminating information about this research; and (3) Responsible educators should combat the tendency to ignore research data for budgetary or other reasons.
Organic Agriculture as Environmental Reform: A Cross-National Investigation

Organic agriculture is a prime case for studying social processes of environmental reform. We empirically assess the environmental consequences of organic agriculture using cross-national data and find that greater area of organic agriculture land is associated with lower fertilizer consumption while larger average organic farm size is associated with higher fertilizer consumption. Then we investigate the cross-national factors influencing organic land area and average farm size. We test hypotheses derived from three theoretical perspectives: neoliberal modernization (NLM) theories, international political economy (IPE) theories, and world polity theory. In support of NLM theories, we find that agricultural export intensity is positively associated with organic agriculture land area. In support of IPE theories, we find that both economic development and agricultural export intensity have significant, positive effects on average organic farm size. World polity theory is supported with a positive associatio...
On the Relationship Between Pricing and Capacity Decisions in Inventory Systems with Stochastic Demand

We address the simultaneous determination of pricing and capacity investment strategies in a multi-period setting under demand uncertainty. In our model a monopolistic flrm makes three decisions: capacity investment (or disinvestment), production (inventory), and price, all of which can be specifled dynamically as a function of the state of the system. We analyze the optimal joint strategy and through that investigate the relationships between the main strategic decision variables: price and capacity. We consider models that allow for either bi-directional price changes or models with markdowns only, and in the latter case we prove that capacity and price are strategic substitutes. Short Title: Relationship between pricing and capacity decisions
Automated repair of complex systems by fault compensation

A formal method used to repair discrete-event systems consisting of communicating processes is described. Two mechanisms of repairing faulty systems are proposed: the first inserts a new "compensator module" into the communication channel between the faulty process and one or more of its neighbors; the second modifies a neighbor of the faulty process in a compensating manner. The two mechanisms fall under a class of methods in which faults are not fixed by replacement of a faulty unit with a fault-free one, but where changes to the non-faulty parts of the system repair the system. A finite-state model is used to describe processes, and the problem is solved for two models of communication: the symmetric (or the handshake) model and, an asymmetric model. The algorithm is described, and examples are presented, including an indication of how the approach may be applied as part of a sophisticated fault management system for communication networks. >
Stability of WISC scores of children hospitalized for emotional disturbance.

Summary.-Test-retest data on the WISC were obtained for 25 children who had been hospitalized with emotional disturbances. An analysis of the reliability coefficients and difference between means showed stability on verbal subtests is as high or higher than reliabilities reported for non-disturbed children using test-retest methods. One exception is the Comprehension subtest on which emotionally disturbed youngsters show considerably less stability than nondisturbed children. Stability on performance subtests is considerably lower for emouonally disturbed children than for non-disturbed in test-retest studies with the exception of Picture Arrangement which is more reliable than the testretest data for normals. Performance and Full Scale IQ increase significantly on retesting. For a test in such wide use as the WISC, there has been surprisingly little investigation of its stability over time for either normal or specific populations. Only recently did Quereshi ( 1968) report Full Scale, Verbal and Performance IQs and subtest scores among a large group of children, 5 through 14 years of age, retested over a 3-mo. interval. Other studies of WISC stability among mental defectives (Rosen, Statlings, Floor, & Nowakinska, 1968; Throne, Schulman, & Kaspar, 1962 ) , learning disorders (Coleman, 1963 ), and delinquents (Kempler & Schaefer, 1969) have shown that disability is in part a function of the population studied. For example, in studies with normal children (Quereshi, 1968; Holloway, 1954) significant increases in Full Scale IQ have been shown; while no such increase was shown for mental retardates (Throne, et al., 1962). There have been no reported studies on the stability of WISC scores in hospitalized emotionally disturbed children. The purpose of the present study was to determine the stability of the WISC IQ and subtest scores in such a group. This information would be helpful in assessing the trustworthiness of initial evaluations and whether there are some special intellectual characteristics of these youngsters. METHOD
Rapid and selective extraction, isolation, preconcentration, and quantitation of small RNAs from cell lysate using on-chip isotachophoresis

We present a technique which enables the separation of small RNAs—such as microRNAs (miRNAs), short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs)—from ≥66 nucleotide RNAs and other biomolecules contained in a cell lysate. In particular, the method achieves separation of small RNAs from precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) in less than 3 min. We use on-chip isotachophoresis (ITP) for the simultaneous extraction, isolation, preconcentration and quantitation of small RNAs (∼22 nucleotides) and employ the high-efficiency sieving matrix Pluronic F-127; a thermo-responsive triblock copolymer which allows convenient microchannel loading at low temperature. We present the isolation of small RNAs from the lysate of 293A human kidney cells, and quantitate the number of short RNA molecules per cell to be 2.9 × 107. We estimate this quantity is an aggregate of roughly 500 types of short RNA molecules per 293A cell. Currently, the minimal cell number for small RNA extraction and detection with our method is ∼900 (from a 5 µL sample volume), and we believe that small RNA analysis from tens of cells is realizable. Techniques for rapid and sensitive extraction and isolation of small RNAs from cell lysate are much-needed to further uncover their full range and functionality, including RNA interference studies.
Silicon contact technology for flip chip

In order to accommodate the flurry of new packaging technology, such as flip chip and chip scale packages, there is a need for technological innovation in the electrical contacting methods for probing, testing, and burn-in of these new packages. This paper presents a novel silicon contact technology as a contactor for testing the various flip chip and chip scale packages (CSPs). The basic silicon contact technology consists of square micromachined pockets that are etched into a silicon substrate. The pockets are dimensioned and arrayed to mirror the solder bump arrangement of the package. The bumps are, therefore, nestled in these electrically conductive pockets for testing and burn-in. Electrical connections are made through metal interconnects to the periphery. The pockets can be constructed in different ways to meet the tolerances and the other mechanical, material, and electrical requirements of the package bumps. As the size and pitch of the bumps decrease, the pockets can be scaled to smaller sizes to accommodate the new dimensions. This new contact technology has numerous scalable advantages over other standard contact technologies.
Calcium Antagonists: Effects on Cardio-Renal Risk in Hypertensive Patients

Calcium antagonists comprise 2 main subclasses, dihydropyridines and nondihydropyridines, and have been studied extensively in hypertensive patients. Early meta-analyses suggested that short-acting calcium antagonists were associated with higher mortality rates resulting from cardiovascular events and other etiologies. Recent meta-analyses failed to show any substantive difference between long acting calcium antagonists and other antihypertensive drug classes with regard to cardiovascular outcomes in those with low to moderate cardiovascular risk or kidney disease progression among those with stage 2 or 3 nonproteinuric kidney diseases. The data from calcium antagonist trials are consistent in that they decrease stroke incidence but fail to protect against new-onset heart failure. In people with proteinuric kidney disease, that is > 300 mg protein/gram creatinine, use of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists to lower blood pressure without the use of agents that block the renin angiotensin aldosterone system does not provide optimal slowing of nephropathy progression. This relates directly to lack of antiproteinuric effects with this subclass and not seen with nondihydropyridine agents that reduce proteinuria to a greater degree than dihydropyridines. Thus, calcium antagonists are safe and as efficacious as other antihypertensive agents to reduce cardiovascular risk. They should be avoided in people with systolic dysfunction but may be used for blood pressure lowering in people with preserved systolic function. Dihydropyridine calcium antagonists should only be used in conjunction with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in proteinuric kidney disease because they will not optimally slow kidney function loss in their absence.
Teaching introductory and advanced computer graphics using micro-computers

In the past few years there have been significant advances in both the computational and graphics capabilities of micro-computers. In graphics the standard (for the IBM compatible world) has advanced from the Computer Graphics Adapter (CGA) through the Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) to the present Video Graphics Array (VGA). With the multiple color capability of the VGA, images can be constructed which use graphics shading algorithms. This allows us to teach more advanced concepts in introductory courses and even to teach some topics in advanced courses using these machines. In this paper I will discuss how these hardware improvements have allowed for changes in our introductory graphics course and also our experience in teaching an advanced course using these machines.
A Measure Focusing on Part-Time/Full-Time Employees

This paper examines the differences between part-time and full-time employees using a recently developed measurement scale, partial inclusion as an underlying theoretical framework. Differences were found among part-time employees as they had higher levels of inclusion and involvement.
Structure and Philosophy in the Classroom Makes you a Better Teacher

Copyright: © 2012 Mandabach KH. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Are you prepared for class is a note that I posted prominently in office when I started teaching college classes. However, that note means more than just having a general lesson plan or outline of what I plan for class that day. It means having a plan to integrate my extensive industry experience into the hotel, restaurant management or culinary classes I am teaching. Most importantly preparation means being able to articulate my experiences into an understandable philosophical structure a student will find useful as a foundation to build their careers.
Analysis of the Effects of Japan,s Positive List System on China,s Export Food Trade over the Past Five Years

Five years have passed since Japan issued the Positive List System.Based on previous related studies,we here analyze the data on China,s food exports to Japan over the past decade which could be divided into three stages according to trade volume.Meanwhile,the reasons for changes in the trade volume of each stage are discussed.In conclusion,the Positive List System had some negative effects on our food exports to Japan initially,but those effects are fading now.This is a normal performance of green barrier,s timeliness.It also reflects Chinese advancements in treating the system.
Flexible Crystal Frameworks.

Building upon and complementing recent results on the rigidity theory of periodic bar-and-joint frameworks, this paper studies tetrahedral structures modeled on specific crystalline materials: quartz, cristobalite and tridymite. The general theory predicts at least three infinitesimal degrees-of-freedom. Here, we investigate the actual deformations of these structures. We show that quartz and cristobalite have smooth three-dimensional configuration spaces, but ideal high tridymite is a singular configuration with a six-dimensional tangent space. The topology around this singularity is explicitly described.
Mapping properties to monitor forests: Landholder response to a large environmental registration program in the Brazilian Amazon

Across the tropics, development banks and conservation donors are investing millions in property mapping and registration projects to improve accountability for deforestation. An evaluation of the effectiveness and accuracy of existing environmental registries is crucial to assure the success of future efforts. This study presents an evaluation of deforestation and registration behavior in response to one of the largest of these property registration programs to date — the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) in the Amazonian state of Para. From late 2007 to 2013, approximately 100,000 properties covering 30 million hectares of self-declared claims were entered in this digital registry. We used fixed effects regression models and property level data to assess how registration influenced deforestation on different sizes of properties. Registration had little impact on deforestation behavior, with the exception of a significant reduction on “smallholder” properties in the size range of 100–300 ha. We link this reduction to interacting incentives from forest protection and land regularization policies and suggest that desire to strengthen land claims motivates these landholders’ response to the environmental registry. We also present evidence that some landholders may be registering incomplete or inaccurate parcels into the self-declared system to strategically benefit from policy incentives. Our results for smallholder properties indicate that environmental registries may have potential to facilitate reductions in deforestation if combined with a favorable combination of incentives. However, in places where land tenure is still being negotiated, the utility of environmental registries for forest policy enforcement and research may be limited without ongoing investment to resolve uncertainty around land claims.
Gendered Morality Tales: Discourses of Gender, Labour, and Value in Globalising Asia

AbstractAcross Asia, the pursuit of national and global capital accumulation has relied on flexible, feminised work forces and patriarchal models of social reproduction. These gendered patterns of production and reproduction, while central to Asia’s neoliberal ‘miracle’ economies, have also generated powerful discourses that devalue women and their work. Drawing on case studies from across the region, this paper examines the links between these globalising dynamics and provocative local depictions of Asian women as active, desiring, and immoral. These ‘gendered morality tales’ reveal the complex cultural and ideological work that sustains neoliberal models of national economic development. At the same time, these moralising narratives offer insight into the localised negotiations through which marginalised and gendered citizens confront their subordination within the region’s hierarchically ordered political economies.
Towards a Philosophy of Applied Mathematics

If there is any trend in contemporary philosophy of mathematics worthy of the label “New Wave”, it is surely the call to turn our attention to the practices, priorities and developments that are prized by working mathematicians. Most actual mathematicians, unsurprisingly, have little interest in the questions that have dominated the philosophy of mathematics since the 1960s. Few mathematicians, for example, are likely to be troubled by Benacerraf’s argument in “What Numbers Could Not Be” that numbers are not objects for the simple reason that they typically do their mathematics without worrying about what numbers might be. Similarly, the extended debates between platonists and nominalists, and the associated epistemo-logical worries about our knowledge of ordinary mathematics, have little impact on what is usually called “mathematical practice”.
Transmission-Line Modeling of Multi-Section DFB Lasers

Multi-section semiconductor lasers have been the subject of extensive study in recent years. This is due to the need for a spectrally pure, widely tunable, and high-speed lightwave source, that is a key-element for optical communication systems consisting of wavelength dependent multiplexing techniques, such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), as well as for frequency modulation schemes, such as frequency shift keying (FSK). In such systems high-speed, wavelength-tunable single-mode laser diodes are used as either directly modulated light sources at the transmission end, or as local oscillators for channel selection and demodulation at the detection section.