cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping Information Landscapes: New Methods for Exploring the Development and Teaching of Information Literacy

In Mapping Information Landscapes: New Methods for Exploring the Development and Teaching of Information Literacy , Whitworth discusses information literacy in relationship to practice theory and discusses mapping as a practice with objectives similar to those of information literacy: namely, finding, selecting, organizing, and communicating information.
Faculty Empowering Faculty: SoTL Leaders Catalyzing Institutional and Cultural Change

Faculty are increasingly interested in engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) across disciplines, necessitating educational development support. While many institutions utilize one-time workshops and faculty communities offering professional development funding, the case study presented in this article takes a different approach. The aim of the Engaged Teacher-Scholar (ETS) program is to support faculty growth in a process of becoming ETS leaders across the university campus. ETS leaders advance an individual SoTL research project and are trained to develop a plan for and offer professional development events to their department, college, and university related to SoTL. The article presents an overview of the program’s objectives, organization, and outcomes over four years of implementation. The article concludes with implications for implementation at other institutions.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum of the Crab Nebula

The electromagnetic spectrum of the Crab Nebula has been determined experimentally in the radio, optical, and X-ray regions [1], in which it follows a power law of the type S(v)=Av − α ,where S(v)is the power (in watts/m2 sec Hz), A and α are constants, and v is the frequency in Hz. Recent measurements [2–5], however, show a deviation from a power law in the microwave region (see Figure 1). In this paper, we investigate the origin of this deviation and calculate the γ-ray spectrum due to this increase in the microwave photons via the Compton scattering from high-energy electrons.
Review of R.A. Duff, Answering for Crime: Responsibility and Liability in the Criminal Law

Every account of the structure of criminal law involves an attempt to explain the content of and relationship between four basic concepts: wrongdoing, responsibility, fault, and punishment. The most ambitious accounts focus on a single concept in terms of which the others can be understood. ANSWERING FOR CRIME contains illuminating discussions of a variety of discrete issues, ranging from the relationship between attacks and endangerments to the difference between strict responsibility and strict liability, to the justification of mala prohibita crimes. But the greatest contribution of this marvelous book lies in Antony Duff's elegant and arresting vision of criminal law's conceptual foundation.
The wealth effects of the risk-based capital requirement in banking: The evidence from the capital market

Abstract The imposition of risk-based capital requirements has been advocated by some regulatory authorities as a means of mitigating the incentive problems created by fixed-premium deposit insurance. However, their imposition also constitutes a requirement to maintain an exogenously influenced capital structure, which may adversely affect the values of the firms involved. This paper examines the wealth effects of the announcement of the Basle Committee's intention to impose, across international boundaries, a pre-determined minimum level of risk-adjusted capital. We find that, in general, the equity values of a sample of large, publicly traded banks decrease at the time of the announcement. Further, those banks with capital levels which are deficient relative to the mandated levels suffer the largest relative losses.
It is not Just the Economy: Declining Migration and the Rise of Secular Rootedness

Americans have always been viewed, both by themselves and by others, as a migrant society. However, migration rates have reached record lows: only 1.6% of Americans moved from one state to another in 2009, and only 3.7% moved from one county to another. This research conducts a decomposition of the change in migration rates between 1999 and 2009 using data from the Current Population Survey. The analysis concludes that about 63% of the decline in migration rates between 1999 and 2009 can be attributed to the direct effects of the economic crisis that began in 2007, and another 17% of the decline can be attributed to demographic changes (e.g. the aging of the population) but that the remaining 20% of the decrease in migration is due to a decline in migration behaviour, or increased rootedness, that applies to all demographic categories. The discussion focuses on the implications of the universal, or secular, rise in rootedness for migration studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding the Role of Formal Specification Techniques in Requirements Engineering

The need for more rigorous and systematic approaches to requirements engineering has led to considerable research on structured specification methods (SSMs) and formal specification techniques (FSTs). SSMs are based on descriptive tools that utilize a small set of simple, graphical, modeling concepts, while FSTs are based on mathematical modeling tools. The ease of use of SSMs is tempered by its lack of support for rigorous semantic analysis. On the other hand, FSTs provide considerable support for semantic analysis but are often difficult to read and understand. This suggests that SSMs and FSTs can play complementary roles in software specification activities. In this paper we describe our experiences with a class project that applied a requirements engineering process based on an integrated SSM and FST.
Constructional Design Patterns as Reusable Components

Reusing software is a challenge to researchers and practitioners. Design reuse, in the form of object-oriented design patterns, has emerged with the premise that coding is not the most difficult part of building software, it is the decisions we make early at the design level. Design patterns promise new reuse benefits early in the development lifecycle. To reap the benefits of deploying these proven design solutions, we need to define design composition techniques to construct applications using patterns. These techniques should be supported by versatile design models. In this paper, we introduce a new composition approach that utilizes constructional design patterns as building blocks. The term constructional is used for a particular type of patterns that abstract a structure of interfacing classes. The approach glues together the design structure of patterns at various levels of abstraction for the purpose of developing pattern-oriented designs. The internal details of the pattern structure are hidden at high design levels (pattern views) and are traceable to lower design levels (class views). We define pattern interfaces and develop three hierarchical traceable views: namely the Pattern-Level, Pattern-Level with Interfaces, and Detailed Pattern-Level views. Each design view represents a particular design level granularity with different types of relationships between design artifacts. The proposed pattern views represent a visual method to capture interaction between patterns while hiding details not utilized directly in the design. We use an example to illustrate the applicability of the approach.
Halomethyl-metal compounds : LXI. Phenyl(fluorodibromomethyl)mercury, a fluorobromocarbene precursor☆

Abstract Phenyl(fluorodibromomethyl)mercury has been prepared by reaction of fluorodibromomethane, phenylmercuric chloride and sodium methoxide or potassium tert-butoxide in THF at low temperature. This organomercury reagent is an excellent source of fluorobromocarbene, releasing CFBr within 20 min at 80° or within 4 days at room temperature. The addition of PhHgCFBr 2 -derived CFBr to the CC bond of 10 olefins and to the CO bond of (CF 2 Cl) 2 CO and the insertion of CFBr into the SiH bond of triethylsilane are described. Reduction of Et 3 SiCHFBr with tri-n-butyltin hydride gave Et 3 SiCH 2 F.
Fracture Toughness of Ceramics by the Vickers Indentation Crack Length Method: A Critical Review

Fracture toughness is an important property that characterizes a material's brittleness or resistance to fracture. Although some fracture toughness test methods have been refined and even standardized, many researchers have continued to use the Vickers indentation crack length method as an expedient. In this paper, Vickers indentation fracture resistance data for Standard Reference Material SRM 2100 are presented and the weak points of the method are reviewed.
Social distancing of the neglectful family: Sex, Race, and Social Class Influences

Parents who are neglectful of their children tend to be socially isolated. One explanation for this is that they are shunned by the community because of their deviant lifestyles. A social distance questionnaire was constructed and administered to 232 urban residents. Scalogram analysis yielded two scales of social distancing behavior applicable at the neighborhood level. Males and working class respondents averaged greater distancing than females and members of the middle class among both Blacks and Whites. Implications for social network interventions to prevent neglect are offered.
ASPECTS OF BILIRUBIN METABOLISM—BEFORE AND AFTER BIRTH

INTEREST in hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant has, over many years, resulted in the accumulation of a considerable amount of information. However it is only recently that advances in knowledge of the biochemistry involved have permitted bringing together the many clinical and laboratory observations into a meaningful picture. There are still important gaps in our knowledge, permitting some speculation and inviting further investigations, but many of the major features are now clear. Bilirubin has limited solubility in water but is easily soluble in organic solvents. Conjugation with glucuronic acid reverses these solubility characteristics. Transport of unconjugated bilirubin ("indirect" bilirubin) within the body is facilitated by binding with protein which increases its water solubility. To excrete bilirubin into proteinpoor aqueous media, such as urine or bile, it must first be conjugated to increase its water-solubility.
Distribution of type III secretion systems in Vibrio parahaemolyticus from the northern Gulf of Mexico

Aims: Two well-characterized Vibrio parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factors – thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related haemolysin – are produced by strains containing the tdh and trh genes, respectively. Most strains of V. parahaemolyticus contain two nonredundant type III secretion systems (T3SS), T3SS1 and T3SS2, both of which contribute to pathogenicity. Furthermore, a recent study has revealed two distinct lineages of the V. parahaemolyticus T3SS2: T3SS2α and T3SS2β. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of these pathogenicity factors in environmental isolates of V. parahaemolyticus. Methods and Results: We collected 130 V. parahaemolyticus isolates (TCBS agar) containing tdh and/or trh (determined by colony hybridization) from sediment, oyster and water in the northern Gulf of Mexico and screened them and 12 clinical isolates (PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis) for pathogenicity factors tdh, trh, T3SS1, T3SS2α and T3SS2β. The majority of potential pathogens were detected in the sediment, including all tdh−/trh+ isolates. T3SS2α components were detected in all tdh+/trh− isolates and zero of 109 trh+ isolates. One T3SS2α gene, vopB2, was found in all tdh+/trh− clinical strains but not in any of the 130 environmental strains. Fluorescence in situ hybridization adapted for individual gene recognition (RING-FISH) was used to confirm the presence/absence of vopB2. T3SS2β was found in all tdh−/trh+ isolates and in no tdh+/trh− isolates. Conclusions: The combination of haemolysins found in each isolate consistently corresponded to the presence and type of T3SS detected. The vopB2 gene may represent a novel marker for identifying increased virulence among strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study to confirm the presence of T3SS2β genes in V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Gulf of Mexico and one of the few that examines the distribution and co-existence of tdh, trh, T3SS1, T3SS2α and T3SS2β in a large collection of environmental strains.
Exploring the influence of ancient and historic megaherbivore extirpations on the global methane budget

Globally, large-bodied wild mammals are in peril. Because "megamammals" have a disproportionate influence on vegetation, trophic interactions, and ecosystem function, declining populations are of considerable conservation concern. However, this is not new; trophic downgrading occurred in the past, including the African rinderpest epizootic of the 1890s, the massive Great Plains bison kill-off in the 1860s, and the terminal Pleistocene extinction of megafauna. Examining the consequences of these earlier events yields insights into contemporary ecosystem function. Here, we focus on changes in methane emissions, produced as a byproduct of enteric fermentation by herbivores. Although methane is ∼ 200 times less abundant than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the greater efficiency of methane in trapping radiation leads to a significant role in radiative forcing of climate. Using global datasets of late Quaternary mammals, domestic livestock, and human population from the United Nations as well as literature sources, we develop a series of allometric regressions relating mammal body mass to population density and CH4 production, which allows estimation of methane production by wild and domestic herbivores for each historic or ancient time period. We find the extirpation of megaherbivores reduced global enteric emissions between 2.2-69.6 Tg CH4 y(-1) during the various time periods, representing a decrease of 0.8-34.8% of the overall inputs to tropospheric input. Our analyses suggest that large-bodied mammals have a greater influence on methane emissions than previously appreciated and, further, that changes in the source pool from herbivores can influence global biogeochemical cycles and, potentially, climate.
Plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations relate to intake source in the Framingham Offspring Study

Background: Low vitamin B-12 status is prevalent among the elderly, but few studies have examined the association between vitamin B-12 status and intake. Objective: We hypothesized that vitamin B-12 concentrations vary according to intake source. Design: Plasma concentrations and dietary intakes were assessed cross-sectionally for 2999 subjects in the Framingham Offspring Study. The prevalence of vitamin B-12 concentrations 4 times/wk (12%) and those who consumed no fortified cereal (23%) and between those in the highest and those in the lowest tertile of dairy intake (13% compared with 24%, respectively), but no significant differences by meat tertile. Regression of plasma vitamin B-12 on log of intake, by source, yielded significant slopes for each contributor adjusted for the others. For the total group, h = 40.6 for vitamin B-12 from vitamin supplements. Among non-supplement-users, b = 56.4 for dairy products, 35.2 for cereal, and 16.7 for meat. Only the meat slope differed significantly from the others. Conclusions: In contrast with previous reports, plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations were associated with vitamin B-12 intake. Use of supplements, fortified cereal, and milk appears to protect against lower concentrations. Further research is needed to investigate possible differences in bioavailability.
Acupuncture effects on autonomic responses to cold pressor and handgrip exercise in healthy humans

Acupuncture at P6, Liv 3 and Li 4 attenuates the increase in blood pressure during mental stress in healthy humans. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that acupuncture at these points has a generalized depressor effect seen during other stimuli to the autonomic nervous system. Thirty-eight healthy humans (mean age 33 +/- 13 years) performed handgrip exercise (n = 20) or the cold pressor test (n = 18) before and after acupuncture at P6, Liv 3 and Li4. To control for repeated interventions, subjects underwent an identical protocol on a different day, during which acupuncture was replaced by quiet rest. Blood pressure and heart rate increased similarly during the first and repeat intervention (handgrip or cold pressor test). Acupuncture did not attenuate the increase in blood pressure (delta mean arterial pressure [MAP] 9.3 +/- 1.8 vs 7.3 +/- 3.1 mmHg) or the increase in heart rate (delta heart rate [HR] 6.7 +/- 2.1 vs 6.0 +/- 2.0 bpm) during handgrip exercise. Similarly, acupuncture did not attenuate the increase in blood pressure (delta mean arterial pressure [MAP] 14.8 +/- 5.0 vs 14.8 +/- 4.8 mmHg) or the increase in heart rate (delta heart rate [HR] 5.3 +/- 2.1 vs 8.7 +/- 3.6 bpm) during the cold pressor test. In summary, in normal healthy humans, acupuncture at P6, Liv 3 and Li 4 does not attenuate the blood pressure or heart rate responses during handgrip exercise or the cold pressor test.
Abstract 1008: Retinoids and TRAIL target early stage intestinal polyps inApcMin/+mice

The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal timing of treatment for a novel chemoprevention approach in a mouse model of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). FAP is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor Apc (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene, which results in the formation of hundreds to thousands of polyps, predominantly in the colon and rectum. Left untreated, these polyps will form colorectal adenocarcinomas. Although surgical removal of the colon eliminates the colon cancer risk, these individuals are also at increased risk for other primary cancers, including tumors of the small intestine and stomach. Systemic chemopreventive interventions to specifically remove the pre-cancerous cells in these individuals could greatly improve their outcomes and quality of life. Recently, we have developed a new method based on the ability of combined retinoid and TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand) treatment to induce apoptosis and regression of intestinal polyps in Apc Min/+ mice, a mouse model of FAP. Treatment of these mice with retinoid causes an increase in TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5 as well as a concomitant decrease in the decoy receptors. APC deficiency leads to a decreased level of the anti-apoptotic protein FLIP (flice-like inhibitory protein). Thus, the combination of TRAIL and retinoid specifically targets APC deficient cells for apoptosis. Following up on these findings, we have tested the hypothesis that early stage adenomas of the intestine will respond more readily to TRAIL and retinoid treatment than those at a later stage. We used Apc Min/+ mice at either two months of age or five-six months of age. Each group of mice was given three treatments of retinyl acetate and TRAIL within one week. Following the last treatment, the intestine was harvested from each mouse and the polyps were counted. The number of polyps in each group of mice was compared with the polyp number in age matched non-treated mice. Results: When treated at two months of age, Apc Min/+ exhibit a nearly 50% decrease in polyp number following only one week of therapy. Conversely, Apc Min/+ treated at five-six months of age did not show any significant difference in polyp number compared to non-treated mice. Conclusion: Earlier stage adenomas respond more readily to the combined treatment of retinoid and TRAIL. This is likely due to additional mutations acquired by the later stage polyps. The cause of this resistance is a current area of study. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1008. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1008
Caudate nucleus in retrieval of trace eyeblink conditioning after consolidation

Trace eyeblink conditioning (EBC) is an associative learning task in which a stimulus-free trace period separates the presentation of a behaviorally neutral conditioned stimulus (CS; whisker stimulation) from a behaviorally salient unconditioned stimulus (US; air puff to the eye). Repeated pairings of the CS with the US results in the emergence of the conditioned response (CR; eyeblink after CS presentation and before US presentation). The goal of these experiments was to determine whether the caudate nucleus (CN) plays a role in retrieval of previously acquired trace EBC after memory consolidation. Lesions of the CN were made 1 month after initial trace EBC. CN-lesioned rabbits performed fewer adaptive CRs and more short-latency non-adaptive responses than sham-lesioned controls. They were not able to improve their CR performance after consolidation as were controls. Single-unit recordings taken from separate cohorts of rabbits demonstrated that neurons in the CN were still responsive to the CS and US 1 month after initial trace EBC, particularly in the medial and ventral CN on trials when a CR occurred. The proportion of rate-increasing neurons was higher in trace-conditioned than in pseudo-conditioned rabbits. Neurons in regions destroyed in the behavioral experiment demonstrated prolonged firing during the trace period, which might underlie the results from the behavioral experiment. These data demonstrate that the CN plays an important role in retrieval of a previously learned associative task after memory consolidation has occurred.
Agent-based modeling simulation under local network externality

In general, consumer utility of network goods is affected by the entire network size. The socio-cultural-economic affinities of consumers influence the network externality processes. In this work, we treat a consumer decision as a consumer decision dynamic process. We then formulate a dynamic structural representation of a consumer network structure, structure of utility function and decision rule under the influence of local network externality concept. This formulation generates a mathematical model for a consumer decision dynamic process. The byproduct of the dynamic model leads to an agent-based simulation model. The simulation model is used to investigate different types of consumer decision dynamic market equilibriums. Moreover, prototype illustrations are given to exhibit the association between network attributes and its market equilibriums.
TOTALSYNTHESE VON SANGLIFEHRIN A

Das Immunsuppressivum Sanglifehrin A wurde erstmals in einer Totalsynthese hergestellt. Der Aufbau der makrocyclischen Einheit der Zielverbindung gelang durch eine selektive intramolekulare Stille-Kupplung, und die Spirolactameinheit wurde durch Paterson-Aldolreaktion erhalten. Zu den abschliesenden Schritten gehorten eine intermolekulare Stille-Kupplung und die Offnung der internen Acetaleinheit. Diese konvergente Synthesestrategie macht den Weg frei fur die Synthese von Bibliotheken neuartiger Sanglifehrinanaloga fur biologisches Screening.
An analysis of errors in conventional cardiac catheterization data.

Abstract The catheterization data obtained from 77 patients with isolated ventricular septal defect was examined for correlations between pressures and blood flow ratios. Although theoretically expected, and noted by other workers, 1 no significant correlation between left atrial mean pressure and pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio or the ratio of pulmonary flow-to-predicted cardiac output could be found. An attempt was made to estimate the amount of error in the catheterization data. By comparing pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratios over time in 44 cases, a 57 per cent error was found. Comparing the percentage deviation from normal of systemic resistances in the same way for 32 patients, a 39 per cent error was noted. These figures are comparable to a 41 per cent error derived from typical catheterization data and to an average error of 57 per cent obtained by Mesel working with dogs with an artificially created VSD. We can only conclude that there is a need for a more accurate method of measuring blood flows or, until that exists, great care in obtaining and reporting conventional catheterization data.
Did the Puerto Rico Project Have Consequences? A Personal View

Those of us who participated as fieldworkers in the Puerto Rico Project gathered regularly at the University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras) during the eighteen months we were in the field to compare notes, discuss our work together, and advance our research cooperatively. During that time a distinct difference between our integration in the communities where we were working and in the university community where we gathered became apparent to some of us. It was a coefficient of the class and other differences that separated the university faculty from the working men and women among whom some of us lived in the field, and it was reflected in political differences, among others. A substantial fraction of the university faculty was strongly committed to political independence, whereas a large majority of rural dwellers supported the Popular Democratic Party, then in power. It was not surprising that these differences were linked to others, such that some of us felt we were more fully accepted by the laboring c...
Spring Establishment of Turf-Type Tall Fescue Seed Crops with Cereal Companion Crops

Le propos de cette etude est de determiner les effets competitifs d'une cereale de printemps sur la croissance, le rendement en graines et les repercussions economiques au niveau de la fetuque
Anesthetic modulation of cerebral hemodynamic and evoked responses to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in cats

We measured cerebral blood flow and somatosensory evoked potentials during transient focal cerebral ischemia in cats to compare the effects of four commonly used anesthetic regimens: ketamine/fentanyl/N2O (fentanyl), pentobarbital, ketamine/alpha-chloralose (alpha-chloralose), and ketamine/halothane/N2O (halothane). Six cats in each group were subjected to 60 minutes of left middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. Although the amplitude of the initial somatosensory evoked potential wave complex was highest in the alpha-chloralose group (58.6 +/- 16.5 microV) and smallest in the halothane group (27.5 +/- 5.7 microV), amplitude fell by 75% in all groups upon occlusion. Baseline cerebral blood flow varied substantially between groups (e.g., in the right intersylvian gyrus: fentanyl, 96 +/- 12; pentobarbital, 30 +/- 5; alpha-chloralose, 24 +/- 3; and halothane, 76 +/- 11 ml/min/100 g). Occlusion decreased cerebral blood flow to subcortical (e.g., left caudate) structures in all groups (fentanyl, 29 +/- 11%; pentobabital, 45 +/- 12%; alpha-chloralose, 27 +/- 13%; and halothane, 18 +/- 5% of baseline). Postischemic hyperemia occurred in the cortical regions of cats anesthetized with pentobarbital or alpha-chloralose that had reduced cerebral blood flows during occlusion but not in cats anesthetized with fentanyl (cerebral blood flow during occlusion not different from that of cats anesthetized with pentobarbital or alpha-chloralose) or halothane. After 120 minutes of reperfusion, cerebral blood flow had returned to baseline values in all groups. Recovery of cerebral blood flow and somatosensory evoked potential amplitude at that time did not differ among groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Solving Arcing Issues in CVD Processes

As the semiconductor industry continues to scale feature sizes, higher deposition/etch rate and better gap-fill abilities are continuously required for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and other processes. To achieve higher deposition rates, higher plasma power and density are required, which can lead to plasma arcing. Arcing is a severe issue common to CVD processing. Minor arcing can generate particles/defects. Severe arcing can completely destroy wafers and reactor components. In this paper, three typical arcing cases are examined using a 300mm CVD system. These include chamber body arcing using a high density plasma (HDP) phosphosilicate glass (PSG) chamber, electrostatic chuck (ESC) arcing using an HDP undoped silicate glass (USG) chamber, and wafer arcing with an advanced patterning film (APF) chamber. In each case, root causes were established and solutions to prevent arcing were demonstrated. Brief theories of arcing in CVD processes and arcing detection methods are also discussed.
Numerical hartree–fock characterization of metastable states of the He −2 anion

The potential energy curve for the metastable 4IIg state of the He anion is obtained from fully numerical Hartree–Fock (HF) calculations and is used to evaluate the spectroscopic constants. The resonant 4Σ state of He and the excited a3Σ state of He2 are also investigated. The 〈R2〉 expectation value calculated for numerical orbitals indicates a diffuse character of the anion wave functions.
A Class of Inside-Out Algorithms for General Programs

In this paper the Fiacco-McCormick SUMT technique is embedded in a class of inside-out algorithms. Convergence is demonstrated for the nonlinear programming problem under fairly general conditions and the algorithms are interpreted in a geometric structure.
Energetics of the transition between lecithin monolayers and bilayers

Abstract The energetics of the following equilibrium phase transitions for dimyristoyl lecithin in water at 23.5°C were measured by monolayer methods: gel ⇆ gaseous monolayer (11.2 kcal/mole); liquid-crystal ⇆ gaseous monolayer (4.4 kcal/mole); liquid-expanded monolayer ⇆ gaseous monolayer (2.5 kcal/mole). Analysis of the hydrocarbon and polar group contributions to each of these transitions indicates major differences between the internal energies of each of the condensed phases of lecithin. The use of solvent for preparing lecithin monolayers when T
First-principles formation energies of monovacancies in bcc transition metals

Monovacancies for seven bcc d-transition metals V, Cr, Fe, Nb, Mo, Ta, and W have been studied in detail from first-principles calculations. A full-potential, linear muffin-tin-orbital (FP-LMTO) method has been used in conjunction with both the local-density approximation (LDA) and the generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) to calculate volume-relaxed vacancy formation energies in all seven metals. A complementary ab initio pseudopotential (PP) method has been used to calculate both volume- and structure-relaxed LDA formation energies and formation volumes in V, Nb, Mo, Ta, and W. Fully relaxed PP geometries have also been applied to FP-LMTO LDA and GGA calculations. From these results, the following clear trends and conclusions emerge: (i) for the same fully relaxed geometry, FP-LMTO-LDA and PP-LDA formation energies are nearly identical; (ii) the lowest calculated formation energies are within or close to experimental error bars for all bcc metals except Cr, and the overall agreement with experiment is better for the $4d$ and $5d$ metals than the $3d$ metals; (iii) GGA and LDA formation energies are very similar for the $4d$ and $5d$ metals but for the $3d$ metals, and especially Fe, GGA performs better; (iv) volume- and structural-relaxation contributions lower the calculated formation energy by 0.1--0.5 eV, and improve agreement with experiment; (v) fully relaxed LDA formation volumes are in the narrow range $(0.45--0.62){\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0},$ where ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0}$ is the equilibrium atomic volume; and (vi) the dominant structural effects are an approximate 5% inward relaxation of the first near-neighbor shell for group-V metals and a corresponding 1% inward relaxation for group-VI metals, with the exception of Mo, for which the second-shell atoms also relax inward by about 1%.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based actuator for nozzle-diffuser pumps in plastic microfluidic systems

Abstract Plastic casting is an inexpensive technique for fabrication of disposable microfluidic systems for various biochemical applications. Epoxies are ideal for microfluidic applications and have excellent optical, thermal and chemical properties and are biologically inert. Pumps are critical for these systems and have a wide variety of applications including transport, mixing, cooling and creating pressure differences. In this paper, we discuss the fabrication of a valve-less nozzle–diffuser pump integrated within a plastic microfluidic system. The pump uses thermal actuation, making use of the large volumetric expansion of a wax patch, when it transitions from solid to liquid phase. The wax used is polyethylene glycol, MW 8000 (PEG 8000) a carbowax with a volume expansion of up to 30%. The melting point of the PEG 8000 is 60 °C and thermal modeling shows that pump operates with fluid temperatures of less than 100 °C at the interface which is critical in order to prevent sample loss due to evaporation. Testing of fabricated devices show maximum flow rates of 70 nl/min and generation of pressure heads of up to 1400 Pa.
A hybrid protection-restoration mechanism for enhancing dual-failure restorability in optical mesh-restorable networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of enhancing dual-failure restorability in path-protected mesh-restorable optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks. A key finding of recent studies that have demonstrated the need to survive simultaneous dual-link failures is that designs providing complete (i.e. 100%) protection from all dual-failures may need almost thrice the spare capacity compared to a system that protects against all single-link failures. However, it has also been shown that systems designed for 100% single-link failure protection can provide reasonable protection from dual-link failures. Thus, the motivation of this work is to develop a hybrid mechanism that provides maximum (close to 100%) dual-failure restorability with minimum additional spare capacity. The system architecture considered is a circuit-switched WDM network with dynamic arrival of sessions requests. We also consider sparse wavelength conversion, where only some nodes have converters. We propose an adaptive mechanism, which we term active protection, that builds upon a pro-active path protection to provide complete single-failure restorability and adds dynamic segment-based restoration. The objective is to optimize network survivability (and minimize spare capacity needs) with ragard to dual-link failures while maintaining complete single-failure restorability. The basic premise of the algorithm is to identify scenarios in the dual-link failure model that necessitate additional spare capacity and provide protection for those scenarios only. Our findings indicate that the proposed scheme achieves close to complete (100%) dual-failure restorability with only maximum of 3% wavelength-links needing two backups even at high loads. Moreover, at moderate to high loads, our scheme attains close to 16% improvement over the base model that provides complete single-failure restorability.
Anxiety and burnout in the health care work environment.

Burnout is linked to many problems of employees and to organizational effectiveness. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, this study considered the effects of ...
Review of viscous damping in micromachined structures

Damping in a vibratory mechanical device plays an important role in modulating the response of the system. It is of critical importance to understand the nature of damping and to be able to effectively control it for micro-machined devices such as sensors or actuators. For example, if damping is too low in a micro-machined lateral accelerometer, the severe degree of resonance of the accelerometer upon an impact of external force may produce such a large signal that cripples its control circuitry resulting in total system failure. High damping (near critical) is generally desired for accelerometers. As for yaw rate gyroscopic sensors, on the other hand, low damping is required in order to achieve sufficient sensitivity of the system under a given driving force and for certain types of applications. Therefore, in designing a MEMS device, the consideration of damping must be taken into account at the earliest stage. Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) devices are often operated in an isolated environment filled with nitrogen or other types of gas such that the gas functions as a working fluid and dissipates energy. A gas film between two closely spaced parallel plates oscillating in normal relative motion generates a force, due to compression and internal friction, which opposes the motion of the plates. The damping, related to energy loss of the system, due to such a force is referred to as squeeze film damping. In other cases, two closely spaced parallel plates oscillate in a direction parallel to each other, and the damping generated by a gas film in this situation is referred to as shear damping. Under the small motion assumption, both flow induced force is linearly proportional to the displacement and velocity of the moving plates. The coefficient of the velocity is the damping coefficient. The review will start with a discussion on effective viscosity coefficients that were used in some of the early work by T. Veijola et al., M. Andrews et al. and others. In general, the capping pressure for a micro-machined system is below or much below the atmospheric pressure. As pressure decreases, the mean free path of the gas molecules ( nitrogen for example) increases. When the mean free path is comparable to the air gap between two plates, one may no longer be able to treat the gas as continuum. Therefore, an effective viscosity coefficient is introduced such that governing equations of motion for fluid at relatively high pressures can still be used to treat fluid motion at low pressures where the mean free path is comparable or even larger than the air gap of the plates
Practices of Teaching Problem Solving Skills in Robotics Education

The present paper presents the practices of teaching problem solving skills in robotics education using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT at a college level. The fundamentals, the components, and the main course design were introduced in the paper. Problem solving log data were collected from 16 undergraduate students enrolled in this course during the first eight weeks of the course. The data showed that lack of knowledge/understanding was the main cause of problems students encountered. Students most frequently used technical manuals to gather information, and used analysis to process knowledge, and mainly used trial and error to solve problems when they encountered them. Practical applications and implications were included.
Closed form solutions to simultaneous buffer insertion/sizing and wire sizing

In this paper, we consider the delay minimization problem of an interconnect wire by simultaneously considering buffer insertion, buffer sizing and wire sizing. We consider three cases, namely using no buffer (i.e., wire sizing alone), using a given number of buffers, and using the optimal number of buffers. We provide elegant closed form optimal solutions for all three problems. These closed form solutions are useful in early stages of the VLSI design flow such as logic synthesis and floorplanning.
Initial results from long-term measurements of atmospheric humidity and related parameters in the marine boundary layer at two locations in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Measurements of boundary layer moisture have been acquired from Rotronic MP-100 sensors deployed on two NDBC buoys in the northern Gulf of Mexico from June through November 1993. For one sensor, which was retrieved approximately 8 months after deployment, the post- and precalibrations agreed closely and fell well within WMO specifications for accuracy. The second sensor operated continuously from June 1993 to February 1997 (∼3.5 years). Buoy observations of relative humidity and supporting data were used to calculate specific humidity and the surface fluxes of latent and sensible heat. Specific humidities from the buoys were compared with observations of moisture obtained from nearby ship reports, and the correlations were generally high (0.7–0.9). Surface gravity wave spectra were also acquired. The time series of specific humidity and the other buoy parameters revealed three primary scales of variability, small (∼h), synoptic (∼days), and seasonal (∼months). The synoptic variability was clearly dominant and occurred primarily during September, October, and November. Most of the synoptic variability was due to frontal systems that dropped down into the Gulf of Mexico from the continental US followed by air masses which were cold and dry. Cross-correlation analyses of the buoy data indicated that: (1) the moisture field was highly coherent over distances of 800 km or more in the northern Gulf of Mexico; and (2) both specific humidity and air temperature served as tracers of the motion associated with propagating atmospheric disturbances. These correlation analyses also revealed that the prevailing weather systems generally entered the buoy domain from the South prior to September, but primarily from the North thereafter. Spectra of the various buoy parameters indicated strong diurnal and semidiurnal variability for barometric pressure and sea surface temperature (SST) and lesser variability for air temperature, wind speed and significant wave height. The surface fluxes of latent and sensible heat were dominated by the synoptic events which took place from September through November with the transfer of latent heat being primarily from the ocean to the atmosphere. Finally, an analysis of the surface wave observations from each buoy, which included calculations of wave age and estimates of surface roughness, indicate that major heat and moisture flux events coincide with periods of active wave growth, although the data were insufficient to identify any causal relationships.
Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson Disease

The clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease (PD) is based on the identification of some combination of the cardinal motor signs of bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and postural instability, but few attempts have been made to develop explicit diagnostic criteria. We propose a clinical diagnostic classification based on a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the sensitivity and specificity of the characteristic clinical features of PD. Three levels of diagnostic confidence are differentiated: Definite, Probable, and Possible. The diagnoses of Possible and Probable PD are based on clinical criteria alone. Neuropathologic confirmation is required for the diagnosis of Definite PD in patients with the clinical diagnosis of Possible or Probable PD. Criteria for histopathologic confirmation of PD are also presented.
Simple strategies or simple tasks? Dynamic decision making in 'complex' worlds

Decision makers in operational environments perform in a world of dynamism, time pressure, and uncertainty. Perhaps the most stable empirical finding to emerge from naturalistic studies in these domains is that, despite apparent task complexity, performers only rarely report the use of complex, enumerative decision strategies. If we accept that decision making in these domains is often effective, we are presented with a dilemma: either decision strategies are (covertly) more complex than these performers claim, or these tasks are (subtlely) more simple than they might appear. We present a set of empirical findings and modeling results which suggest the latter explanation: that the simplicity of decision making is not merely apparent but largely real, and that tasks of high apparent complexity may yet admit to rather simple types of decision strategies. We also discuss empirical evidence that sheds light on the error forms resulting from the tendency of performers to seek and employ heuristic solutions to ...
Preparation of Microcrystalline Progesterone Using Ultrasound

Microscopic crystals of progesterone were prepared by insonating saturated solutions of the hormone. Suspensions were made of the crystalline precipitates in 1% tyloxapol solution. Individual crystals were measured by projecting photographs on a calibrated screen.
Helical Cerenkov effect with very strong magnetic fields

The helical Cerenkov effect results from the helical electron motion in a medium with a rather strong magnetic field B. However, at the same radiation angle and the same frequency at which the helical Cerenkov effect is observed one will see harmonic radiation if the parallel (with respect to the magnetic field B) electron velocity components are above and below the helical Cerenkov effect threshold. Increase in the strength in B decreases the number of harmonics at both sides of the helical Cerenkov effect threshold. The radiation frequency dependent asymptotic limit is achieved, by definition, when the number of harmonics, regardless whether occurring below or above the helical Cerenkov effect threshold, is reduced to just the first one. In the visible spectrum and for silica aerogel as a medium such as asymptotic limit already happens at B approximately equal to 100 T. There is also a universal frequency dependent asymptotic limit when, regardless of the medium and the radiation angle, no harmonic radiation can occur and only the helical Cerenkov radiation should exist. In the visible spectrum, we argue, this should happen at B approximately equal to 104 T. For magnetic fields that are even stronger than this, as for example the ones that can be found in neutron stars (pulsars), B < 108 T, not only that harmonic radiation does not appear but the helical Cerenkov effect degenerates into a form of the ordinary Cerenkov effect, whose angular dependence, however, is determined with respect to the direction of the magnetic field rather than the initial electron velocity.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Integrating Technology into Educating Preservice Special Education Teachers

Abstract Since students can be greatly assisted by the technological advances in education, the special education department's goal was to make sure their future teachers would be Mailing and able to utilize computers for their students. Students were introduced to computer aided instruction and technology in all of their undergraduate classes. In some classes, technology was discussed or demonstrated, while in other courses the preservice teachers were required to complete several projects using computers. The researchers evaluated the impact of these different efforts to infuse technology into the classes on the preset vice teachers' attitudes toward using computers in their classrooms. The authors include a description of the activities and the outcomes of technology integration. Future plans involve the incorporation of presentation software, spreadsheets, databases and the utilization of on-line resources. Also, suggestions are provided to the teacher educator about the infusion of technology.
AN ENZYMIC MICROMETHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF GLUTAMINE AND ASPARAGINE IN BLOOD.

Abstract 1. 1. A comparatively simple enzymic microcolorimetric method has been described for determining total glutamine and asparagine in blood. 2. 2. The method is extremely sensitive and small amounts of blood can be used, especially in case of small laboratory animals. 3. 3. Good recovery has been achieved for glutamine and asparagine both in blood and in pure solutions.
Lactogenic Hormones Cause Glycosylation-Independent Targeting of the GLUT1 Glucose Transporter of Mammary Epithelial Cells to a Subcompartment of cis- and/or medial-Golgi

Lactogenic Hormones Cause Glycosylation-Independent Targeting of the GLUT1 Glucose Transporter of Mammary Epithelial Cells to a Subcompartment of cis- and/or medial-Golgi