cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engaging Students in Learning: An Application With Quantitative Psychology

In response to calls for more engaging and interactive pedagogy, we simultaneously implemented 4 rousing learning activities: peer-mentored learning, student reports of what was clear (or not) from a previous lecture, consult corners where student groups provided course-informed solutions to problem-based scenarios, and applied projects presented to the class. Students in several sections of a quantitative psychology course responded positively, reporting significantly less anxiety and greater self-efficacy regarding quantitative topics at the end of the semester compared to the beginning. We provide suggestions for applying these learning activities to other psychology courses.
OneBusAway: results from providing real-time arrival information for public transit

Public transit systems play an important role in combating traffic congestion, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting compact, sustainable urban communities. The usability of public transit can be significantly enhanced by providing good traveler information systems. We describe OneBusAway, a set of transit tools focused on providing real-time arrival information for Seattle-area bus riders. We then present results from a survey of OneBusAway users that show a set of important positive outcomes: strongly increased overall satisfaction with public transit, decreased waiting time, increased transit trips per week, increased feelings of safety, and even a health benefit in terms of increased distance walked when using transit. Finally, we discuss the design and policy implications of these results and plans for future research in this area.
Trends in black-white differentials in dietary intakes of U.S. adults, 1971-2002

Background Disparities in the health status of blacks and whites have persisted despite considerable gains in improved health of the U.S. population. Tracking changes in black–white differentials in dietary attributes over time may help in understanding the contribution of diet to these disparities. Methods Data were used from four National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted between 1971 and 2002 for trends in self-reported intakes of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, fruits and vegetables, and the energy density of foods among U.S. non-Hispanic black ( n =7099) and white ( n =23,314) men and women aged 25 to 74 years. Logistic and linear regression methods were used to adjust for multiple covariates and survey design. Results Energy intake, amount of food, and carbohydrate energy increased, whereas percentage of energy from protein, fat, and saturated fat decreased over time in all race and gender groups ( p p p p =0.004). Conclusions Dietary intake trends in blacks and whites from 1971 to 2002 were similar, which suggests that previously identified dietary risk factors that differentially affect black Americans have not improved in a relative sense.
Osteopontin Ablation Attenuates Progression of Colitis in TNBS Model

Introduction OPN has been implicated in the inflammatory response to Crohn’s disease. We hypothesized that OPN deficiency protects against different stages of TNBS-induced colitis in a modified model that mimics Crohn’s disease.
Incomplete Explanations: The Case of U.S. Performance in the International Assessments of Education

In the past few years, it has been argued that the international assessments are seriously flawed by sampling and test bias and that conclusions about U.S. educational inferiority are unwarranted. Alternatively, it has been argued that the differences in national performances are related to cultural differences, institutional arrangements such as curriculum and length of the school year, and ineffective pedagogy. To clarify these issues, I review the history of the assessments and evaluate the major explanations of the achievement differences. I examine, in depth, the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of curriculum-centered explanations because of their relevance to school reform (Westbury, 1992, 1993).
Sound Velocity Measurements

A method for measuring the modu lus of elasticity of fibers and films by sonic means is described, and the results of an exploratory study of this modulus in various nat ural and synthetic fib ers ...
A finite element method for approximating the time-harmonic Maxwell equations

In this paper we study the use of Nedelec's curl conforming finite elements to approximate the time-harmonic Maxwell equations on a bounded domain. The analysis is complicated by the fact that the bilinear form is not coercive, and the principle part has a very large null-space. This difficulty is circumvented by using a discrete Helmholtz decomposition of the error vector. Numerical results are presented that compare two different linear elements.
Detachment energies for a negative hydrogen ion embedded in a variety of Debye plasmas

Very accurate variational calculations have been performed to determine the ground state energy of the negative hydrogen ion when it is embedded in a variety of Debye plasmas. The results predict a high degree of stability even under strong plasma conditions. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Sunspots and the physics of magnetic flux tubes. X - On the hydrodynamic instability of buoyant fields

The hydrodynamics of cylindrical buoyant bubbles (magnetic flux tubes) in an atmosphere is examined. Their dynamical stability is considered, with particular attention to the Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. The instabilities are sufficient to cause fragmentation in the absence of some strong stabilizing effect such as surface tension or an internal azimuthal magnetic field. The results of the stability analysis are first applied to rising gas bubbles in liquids. Then, since agreement with the experimental data is found, the results are applied to the similar problem of the rising magnetic flux in the sun. Magnetic flux tubes in a fluid velocity field are intrinsically unstable, unless twisted. With the known dynamical limits on the degree of twisting, an upper limit on the diameter of the order of a few hundred kilometers is found for the stability of individual flux tubes in the photosphere. Observations show that tubes, except when clustered to form sunspots, are generally not larger than this amount. Therefore, it is suggested that the hydrodynamic instability of larger tubes is a prime cause of their absence from the solar photosphere.
4-pi Compton imaging with single 3D position-sensitive CdZnTe detector

A 3D CdZnTe detector can provide 3D position information as well as energy information of each individual interaction when a gamma ray is scattered or absorbed in the detector. This unique feature provides the 3D CdZnTe detector the capability to do Compton imaging with a single detector. After detector calibration, real-time data acquisition and imaging are implemented with a single detector system. Because the detector has a finite size and any point in the detector can be the first scattering position, 3D gamma-ray imaging in near field is possible. In this work we will show the result of the 4π Compton imaging with a single 15mm × 15mm × 10mm CdZnTe detector. Different algorithms for sequence and imaging reconstruction will be addressed and compared. The angular uncertainty is estimated and the most recent results from measurements are presented.
The molecular basis of chemomechanical coupling in muscle and in other biological engines.

It is argued that the force driving muscular shortening (psi) differs from that (phi) responsible for rigor tension generation. psi is associated with ATP-induced dissociation of actomyosin (a.m.), whereas phi is due to an isomerization reaction of a.m., following the hydrolysis of ATP. Both forces are intimately coupled with appreciable changes in the structure of the hydration shell of a.m., mainly at the interface between the two proteins, which involve the release of stored energy. When an active muscle is allowed to shorten freely, psi gives rise to a sliding distance (s.d.) delta l1 which differs in character and in magnitude from the s.d. (delta l2) observed when a muscle which had developed rigor tension isometrically is released. The maximal values of the two forces (psi 0 and phi 0) as well as delta l2 are calculated on the basis of experimental data. The forces and their corresponding s.d.'s are related through the standard free energies of the chemical reactions which are responsible for them. It is claimed that the same mechanochemical (m.c.) mechanisms operate also in all microtube-based locomotion and force-generation systems and, furthermore, that practically the same values of psi 0, phi 0, delta l1, and delta l2 are shared by the two types of biological m.c. convertors.
Mass loss and qualitative change in stream-incubated fine particulate organic matter derived from leaves differing in rate of processing

The initial quantitative breakdown of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) was investigated by measuring the loss (over 73 days) of substrate mass of particles of known size ranges (53–125 µm, 125–250 µm, 250–500 µm, 500 µm-1 mm) and derived from known organic sources (Alnus rubra, Acer macrophyllum, Polystichum munitum). Qualitative examinations (organic content, C : N ratio) also were made. Particles ranging from 500 µm to 1 mm in diameter differed greatly from particles in other size ranges, and results of studies with these particles closely resembled results of coarse particulate (CPOM) leaf pack studies. Despite variation, alder particles generally exhibited the greatest mass loss, those of sword-fern, the least, and mass loss of bigleaf maple particles was intermediate. Organic contents of all particle substrates decreased over time. In general, the C : N ratios of alder particles increased, those of bigleaf maple decreased, and those of sword-fern exhibited little change. All particle substrates were incubated in the field in vials, which allowed for influx of natural detritus of unknown source and period of residence. Given the overall abundance and prevalence of the FPOM resource in lotic systems, standardization of a procedure such as that used in this investigation would be useful in extending understanding of stream system processes, including detrital processing and decomposition.
A Gen-2 Hand-Held Optical Imager: Phantom and Preliminary in-vivo Breast Imaging Studies

Diffuse optical imaging is a promising non-invasive and non-ionizing modality for breast cancer diagnosis. Hand-held optical imagers are developed toward rapid clinical translation due to their portability and patient-comfort. In our Optical Imaging Laboratory, a Gen-2 hand-held optical imager has been developed capable of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and has a flexible probe head designed to contour to different breast tissue curvatures. The optical imager is composed of an intensified charge-couple device (ICCD) based detector, and six 785nm laser diodes (connected the probe heads via optical fibers). Herein, phantom studies were performed in order to validate the target detection capabilities of the imager. Experimental studies using slab phantoms demonstrated that the imager can detect targets up to 2.5 and 5 cm deep via reflectance and transmission measurements, respectively. In addition, resolution studies have demonstrated the ability of the system to resolve two 0.95cm diameter targets, placed 0.5cm apart and at a depth of 2cm. Preliminary in-vivo breast imaging studies have been carried out on healthy human subjects. These studies have demonstrated that targets can be detected by varying the pressure applied during imaging with superficially placed target(s) in the intra-mammary fold.
ED length-of-stay and illness severity in dizzy and chest-pain patients.

Emergency department (ED) length of stay, illness severity, and patterns of ED-based testing can be used to compare different ED patient populations. To assess the relative significance of ED patients with dizziness and chest pain in emergency medicine practice, the investigators formed a retrospective chart review of 3,864 adults (age > or = 16 years) seen at the University of North Carolina Hospitals' ED during May and June of 1991. Patients were eligible if they had any complaint of dizziness (n = 259), nontraumatic chest pain (n = 168), or both (n = 18). ED length of stay and illness severity, as measured by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, were not significantly different between the two groups. Dizzy and chest-pain patients were both high users of ED-based testing, but management patterns were different. Chest-pain patients were more likely to undergo electrocardiogram and x-ray testing, whereas dizzy patients more often received testing such as brain computed tomography scanning (10.8% v 3.6%, P = .01). ED patients with dizziness and chest pain were similar with regard to ED length of stay. Given their overall similarities to the chest-pain group, dizzy patients appear to represent a significant population of ED patients and may warrant more clinical study.
A Numerical Study for Biomimetic Structures to Control Wall Shear Stress in Water

There are numerous practical applications whose operational efficiency depends on the shear stress (skin friction drag) on their functional surfaces, including artificial reefs, artificial hearts, and continuous flow microbial fuel cells. For the most part, the fundamental physics that govern surface shear stress are well understood and established, especially for relatively simple shapes such as a sphere or cylinder. However, the use of passive, bio-inspired, additive structures to control surface shear stress has thus far seen limited investigation. To evaluate the effect of geometrical forms on surface shear stress, 29 biomimetic structures based on sharkskin, cacti, and ocean-dwelling suspension feeders were studied. The structures were modeled in COMSOL Multiphysics, and the shear stresses on their surfaces were studied. The results show that shear stress on the surface of a structure depends not only on surface area, but also on the general form of the structure. In addition, the surface shear stress of some structures display a strong dependence on fluid-flow orientation, while others do not.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Pericardial window using video assisted thoracoscopy

Abstract Creation of a pericardial window using video assisted thoracoscopy (VAT) was successful in 7 of 8 adult patients. Advanced VAT techniques offer an alternative approach for surgical treatment of significant pericardial effusion. In appropriately selected patients, it provides an alternative to standard surgical techniques.
Dose-response relationships between mouse allergen exposure and asthma morbidity among urban children and adolescents

Home mouse allergen exposure is associated with asthma morbidity, but little is known about the shape of the dose-response relationship or the relevance of location of exposure within the home. Asthma outcome and allergen exposure data were collected every 3 months for 1 year in 150 urban children with asthma. Participants were stratified by mouse sensitization, and relationships between continuous measures of mouse allergen exposure and outcomes of interest were analyzed. Every tenfold increase in the bed mouse allergen level was associated with an 87% increase in the odds of any asthma-related health care use among mouse-sensitized [Odds Ratio (95% CI): 1.87 (1.21-2.88)], but not non-mouse-sensitized participants. Similar relationships were observed for emergency department visit and unscheduled doctor visit among mouse-sensitized participants. Kitchen floor and bedroom air mouse allergen concentrations were also associated with greater odds of asthma-related healthcare utilization; however, the magnitude of the association was less than that observed for bed mouse allergen concentrations. In this population of urban children with asthma, there is a linear dose-response relationship between mouse allergen concentrations and asthma morbidity among mouse-sensitized asthmatics. Bed and bedroom air mouse allergen exposure compartments may have a greater impact on asthma morbidity than other compartments.
Central effects of diisopropyl-fluorophosphonate (D.F.P.) in Urodele Larvae.

1. Amblystoma punctatum embryos and larvae were exposed at various developmental stages to D.F.P. concentrations ranging from 10−5 to 10−10 M.
Measuring the Ability to Perceive the Emotional Connotations of Written Language

Emotionally laden writing is essential to our personal and professional lives. The purpose of this article was to design and evaluate a new test of the ability to decode the emotional connotations of written material. A series of 3 studies (totaling 457 participants) were used to demonstrate that the Metaphors Test measures a single construct, has strong internal consistency, has strong convergent validity with tests related to emotional and social intelligence, and has strong discriminant validity with vocabulary and personality. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the Metaphors Test is more closely associated with emotion perception than emotional understanding. Unlike most other tests that tap this skill, the stimuli for the Metaphors Test do not include any explicit emotion words; it is therefore a unique and valuable measure of emotion perception.
Physical aging of the glassy state: sub-Tg ice nucleation in aqueous sorbitol systems

Abstract The effects of isothermal and isochronal annealing below the glass transition on the devitrification temperature, Td, and excess enthalpy, ΔH, of the hydrated sorbitol glass have been investigated by DSC. Following isothermal annealing, both Td and ΔH vary with annealing time in a curvilinear manner. Both curves of Td and ΔH versus isochronal annealing temperature appear in a cupola shape, peaking at approximately the same annealing temperature corresponding to the annealing time duration. The Td shift and ΔH variation coincide with each other and are probably of the same origin in association with the glass relaxation. Td shift can be used as a measure of the extent of physical aging in the glasses of cryoprotective agents. High density of ice nuclei evidently occurs at temperatures near glass transition and thus the temperature of cryopreservation for biological systems should be well removed from the glass transition range.
Sclerotization of insect cuticle: A new method for studying the ratio of quinone and β-sclerotization

Abstract Sclerotized cuticle upon hydrolysis yields conventional amino acids, ketocatechols and/or aryl amino acid adduct(s) depending on the mode of sclerotization. In the absence of structural details of the bridged hydrolysis products, the two modes of sclerotization have been assessed by differential labelling and chromatography. Insect cuticle labelled with either DOPA or tyrosine was hydrolyzed and chromatographed on dihydroxyboryl cellulose and Dowex 50 columns. Dihydroxyboryl cellulose specifically and quantitatively retained all catechols, while Dowex 50 separated basic aryl amino acid adduct(s) from amino acids. Hydrolysates of cuticles labelled with DOPA were resolved into non-catecholic and catecholic fractions; the ratio of radioactivity present in these two fractions reflected the ratio of quinone tanning and β-sclerotization. However, cuticle labelled with tyrosine required additional chromatography of the non-catecholic fraction on Dowex 50 to determine this ratio.
Numerical Study of the Momentumless Wake of an Axisymmetric Body

A second or der turbulence closure is us ed to calculate the turbulent flow in a swirling axisymmetric mom entumless wake. The solutions are compared with recent experimental and numerical data. Simulations corresponding to the component flows (i.e. bare body wake and jet) are also performed with the same turbulence closure. The comparisons with other experi mental and numerical data reveal that the predictions of the model for the axisymmet ric jet are quite good although larger discrepancies exist for the Reynolds stress tensor for both axisymmetric wake and zero -momentum wake.
Waardenburg syndrome: case report

A 15-year-old Arab boy presented with congenital deafness, heterochromia iridis (right, brown; left, blue), poliosis (white forelock), with an area of leukoderma beneath the forelock, broad nasal root, and lateral displacement of the medial canthi (Fig. 1). Further investigation revealed that one of his siblings was similarly affected. The child was diagnosed with Waardenburg syndrome. Figure 1. Waardenburg syndrome: white forelock, heterochromia iridis, broad nasal root, leukoderma and hypertrichosis of medial eyebrows Download figure to PowerPoint As the child grew older, the leukodermic patch on the scalp became more evident, together with confluence of the eyebrows (synophrys).
Final meeting of NSF Commission on Future

The third and final meeting of the Commission on the Future of the National Science Foundation was held on November 7. Although this was the shortest of the three meetings, it provided the clearest indication of their report, which is due November 20. The commission was originally charged with examining the future role of NSF. The final report is likely to go considerably beyond this mandate, reviewing federal science and technology policy and the conduct of research and development in the United States. This report is the first step in what National Science Board Chair James Duderstadt promised would be a lengthy process of internal board discussions and meetings across the country. Duderstadt, while noting that NSF commissions are uncommon, said that the issues of the day demanded the present commission and predicted that the report would be a mechanism for launching a dialogue on science policy. He also said that the report would serve as a foundation for board meetings on future NSF budget requests. Perhaps most importantly, Duderstadt said that with the incoming Clinton administration, the forthcoming report could have great impact.
The genome-linked protein of picornaviruses. VII. Genetic mapping of poliovirus VPg by protein and RNA sequence studies

Abstract The poliovirus genome-linked protein (VPg) has been subjected to radiochemical microsequence analysis. Sequence studies of virion RNA by a modification of Sanger's dideoxy method have revealed a base sequence corresponding to the amino acid analysis. This result proves that VPg is virus-encoded. The RNA sequence has allowed us to predict the total amino acid sequence of VPg and part of its precursor. VPg is, at most, 27 amino acids long. It maps within the 3′ terminal segment of the viral genome that encodes the precursor polypeptide NCVP1b for the virus-specific RNA polymerase NCVP4.
Enteric transport of chlordecone (Kepone®) in the rat

Disposition of chlordecone (Kepone®)in the rat is quantitated. Particular attention is devoted to the role of the intestinal tract in excretion, as well as absorption, of the parent form of the halogenated pesticide. A detailed physiological pharmacokinetic model for the GI tract is presented in which the organs are segmented into a series of well- mixed compartments representing stomach, small intestine, cecum, and large intestine. The model is applied to the early time behavior of data from the following two types of studies in the rat: (1) the movement of a nonabsorbable tracer along the GI tract, and (2) the enteric transport of parent chlordecone. Model parameter values for the gut wall permeability-area products for parent chlordecone determined for the rat are used to estimate the corresponding values for man based on scale- up considerations. The enhancement of excretion rates through use of orally administered adsorbents is discussed.
Evaluating the effectiveness of dyslipidemia control strategies

Abstract While cost-effectiveness analyses of anti-hyperlipidemia programs featuring drug treatment suggest that the best use of public dollars is to delay treatment until an individual develops coronary heart disease, a comprehensive hyperlipidemia treatment policy must take a broader perspective. The high case-fatality rates of patients exhibiting first manifestations of coronary heart disease, the limited population impact of interventions aimed solely at high risk groups, the cost of testing to identify the high risk segment of the population, the social origins of the behavioral risk factors for coronary heart disease, and the perspective of the individual must also be considered. Available data suggest that the best public policy to control the burden of heart disease is one with two components: On the one hand, all individuals without clinically manifest heart disease would be encouraged to adopt healthy behaviors without an attempt to sort the population into ‘high’ and ‘not high’ risk groups. On the other hand, the risk factors of individuals who already have coronary heart disease would be treated aggressively with a case-management system of follow-up. The data that support this conclusion are presented in this paper.
Action of polyvalent cations on sodium transport across skin of larval and adult Rana catesbeiana.

The actions of alkaline earth (AE) and transition element (TE) cations on Na+ transport across skin of larval and adult Rana catesbeiana were compared. Bathed on the outside by Ca+2-free Ringer's, both larval and adult skins maintained a stable short-circuit current (3–4 μAmps cm−2 for larval skin and 20–30 μAmps cm−2 for adult skin). Addition of Ca+2 to the external bath reduced the SCC; maximal inhibition was about 36% for larval skin and 22% for adult skin. Other AE divalent cations were also inhibitory. The order of effectiveness was: Ba+2 = Ca+2 > Sr+2 > Mg+2 for larval skin and Ba+2 > Ca+2 = Mg+2 for adult skin. Sodium influx was markedly elevated when Ca+2 was removed from the external medium. Current-voltage analysis indicated that Ca+2 increases the resistance of the active pathway without affecting the shunt resistance or the electromotive force of Na+ transport (ENa) in larval and adult skins. The SCC across adult skin was stimulated by TE cations (Co+2, Cd+2, La+3). These ions were inhibitory on larval skin. The transition in the response occurred at stage XXI. The inhibitory effect of TE on larvel skin resembles that seen in response to AE cations and we postulate a common mechanism. Since larval skin lacks the selective Na+ channels found in apical membranes of adult skin, we infer that the mechanism of inhibition by AE cations is not on these channels. A more general phenomenon such as change in surface charge at the apical membrane seems more reasonable. The stimulatory action of TE cations in adult skin is discussed in terms of interference with the Na+-self-inhibition response. Apparently, larval skin lacks some component of the molecular mechanism underlying this response.
Adolescent bicultural stress and its impact on mental well-being among Latinos, Asian Americans, and European Americans.

The perception of bicultural stress, stress due to discrimination/prejudice, immigration, and acculturation, was investigated in relation to mental well-being in a sample of urban Latino (n = 304), European American (n = 215), and Asian American (n = 131) 8th grade students. Bicultural stress was reported by all ethnic groups and was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms and less optimism (only for females), after accounting for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and age. Latino and Asian American youth were more likely to report more stressors, although after controlling for sociodemographic variables the differences predominantly remained only between Asian Americans and European Americans. Lower socioeconomic status, male gender, and not speaking English also were associated with more stress. The negative impact of bicultural stress on adolescent depressive symptoms and optimism indicates the need for mental health researchers and service providers to consider the cultural context of stress for adolescents. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 519–534, 2007.
Some Banach Spaces on Which All Biholomorphic Automorphisms Are Linear

The question of whether biholomorphic maps are linear has been treated in various forms by several authors. In particular, Harris [I ] has shown that a biholomorphic map of the unit ball of one space to another which takes 0 to 0 is a restriction of a linear isometry between the two spaces. He then showed that if the unit ball of a Banach space is a homogeneous domain, then it is holomorphically equivalent to the unit ball of another Banach space if and only if the two spaces are isometrically isomorphic. He asked whether this result would hold without the assumption about a homogeneous domain. Kaup and Upmeier [2] gave an answer to this question by showing that two complex Banach spaces are isometrically equivalent if and only if their open unit balls are biholomorphically equivalent. In a recent paper. Stacho [5 1 gave a short proof of the fact that all biholomorphic automorphisms of the unit ball in certain Lp-spaces are linear. In the present note, we show how Stacho’s method can be used to obtain the same result for the C,-spaces and the spaces LP(R. E), where E is an arbitrary Banach space. R is a-finite, and 1 <p < + co, p # 2. In particular. for the discrete case, we get the result that I,(E) has the linear biholomorphic property whether E has the property or not. On the other hand, we show that c,(E) has the property if and only if E has it. A function Q on the open unit ball B(E) of a Banach space is said to be holomorphic in B(E) if the Frechet derivative D@(x, .) of 4 at x exists as a bounded linear map of E into E for each x E B(E). A function 4 from B(E) to B(E) is biholomorphic if 4-l exists and both + and # ’ are holomorphic. The proofs of Theorems 1 and 2 below as well as the theorem in IS] are based on the following lemma proved by Stacho in 1-S 1.
Regulation of Atmospheric O2: Feedback in the Microbial Feedbag

We know from the geological record that the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere is naturally regulated: Too much oxygen would have led to global destruction of forests by fire, but too little and any fire would have been unsustainable. But what is the mechanism of oxygen regulation? In their Perspective, Kump and Mackenzie discuss results presented in the same issue by Van Cappellen et al. (p. 493) suggesting that microbes in marine sediments play a crucial role in controlling oxygen levels.
Effect of gender on outcomes of beating heart operations

Abstract Background . A worse outcome has been observed in women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared with men. We sought to determine whether this gender difference would be applicable in off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) procedures. Methods . We compared outcomes among 187 consecutive patients undergoing OPCAB over a 12-month period by a single surgeon (J.H.L.). This study included 61 women and 126 men, representing 91% of all isolated CABG operations during the same time. Results . The demographics were as follows: Women (n = 61) were older than men (n = 126) (67.5 versus 64.6 years; p = 0.05). They had a greater prevalence of congestive heart failure (28% versus 17%; p = 0.005), and were more frequently on intravenous nitroglycerin preoperatively (49% versus 32%; p = 0.05). Overall mortality was 1.6% (3 of 187). In-hospital complications were as follows: deaths 3.3% in women and 0.9% in men ( p = 0.25); major bleeding 0% in women and 3.2% in men ( p = 0.30); stroke 1.5% in women and 0% in men ( p = NS). Mediastinitis or renal failure was not noted in either group. Extubation times (6.6 versus 6.1 hours; p = 0.001), surgical intensive care unit length of stay (43 hours versus 37 hours; p = 0.013), and postoperative length of stay (6.4 days versus 5.8 days; p = 0.014) were all significantly longer in women compared with men. When OPCAB women were compared with a matched cohort of women undergoing CABG, length of stay was similar, whereas OPCAB men realized a 13% reduction in length of stay compared with men undergoing conventional CABG ( p = 0.002). Conclusions . Women presenting for OPCAB are older and have greater comorbidities than men. The elimination of cardiopulmonary bypass did not improve the recovery time of women, a finding that was strikingly different from the effect seen in men. These compelling results suggest that biochemical, hormonal, or pharmacokinetic factors in women may neutralize the anticipated beneficial effect of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass.
Diatomic molecules and metallic adhesion, cohesion, and chemisorption - A single binding-energy relation

Potential-energy relations involving a few parameters in simple analytic forms have been found to represent well the energetics of a wide variety of diatomic molecules. However, such two-atom potential functions are not appropriate for metals. It is well known that, in the case of metals, there exist strong volume-dependent forces which can never be expressed as pairwise interactions. The present investigation has the objective to show that, in spite of the observation concerning metals, a single binding-energy relation can be found which accurately describes diatomic molecules as well as adhesion, cohesion, and chemisorption on metals. This universality reveals a commonality between the molecular and metallic bond.
Excitatory and inhibitory synaptic function in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract in embryonic rat

Abstract The embryonic development of synapses in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) was investigated in rat to determine when synapses begin to function. Using a brain slice preparation we studied appearance of synaptic receptors on second order rNST neurons and investigated the development of postsynaptic responses elicited by afferent nerve stimulation. Prenatal excitatory and inhibitory synaptic responses were recorded as early as E14. Glutamatergic and GABAergic postsynaptic responses were detected as early as E16. Both NMDA and AMPA receptors contributed to glutamatergic postsynaptic responses. GABAergic postsynaptic responses resulted primarily from activation of GABAA receptors. However, functional GABAC receptors were also demonstrated. A glycinergic postsynaptic response was not found although functional glycine receptors were demonstrated at E16. Solitary tract (ST) stimulation-evoked EPSCs, first detected at E16, were eliminated by glutamate receptor antagonists. ST-evoked IPSPs, also detected at E16, were eliminated by GABAA receptor antagonist. Thus, considerable prenatal development of rNST synaptic connections occurs and this will ensure postnatal function of central taste processing circuits.
Processing of high-resolution multiparametric radar data for the Airborne Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar APR-2

Following the successful Precipitation Radar (PR) of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, a new airborne, 14/35 GHz rain profiling radar, known as Airborne Precipitation Radar - 2 (APR-2), has been developed as a prototype for an advanced, dual-frequency spaceborne radar for a future spaceborne precipitation measurement mission. . This airborne instrument is capable of making simultaneous measurements of rainfall parameters, including co-pol and cross-pol rain reflectivities and vertical Doppler velocities, at 14 and 35 GHz. furthermore, it also features several advanced technologies for performance improvement, including real-time data processing, low-sidelobe dual-frequency pulse compression, and dual-frequency scanning antenna. Since August 2001, APR-2 has been deployed on the NASA P3 and DC8 aircrafts in four experiments including CAMEX-4 and the Wakasa Bay Experiment. Raw radar data are first processed to obtain reflectivity, LDR (linear depolarization ratio), and Doppler velocity measurements. The dataset is then processed iteratively to accurately estimate the true aircraft navigation parameters and to classify the surface return. These intermediate products are then used to refine reflectivity and LDR calibrations (by analyzing clear air ocean surface returns), and to correct Doppler measurements for the aircraft motion. Finally, the the melting layer of precipitation is detected and its boundaries and characteristics are identifIed at the APR-2 range resolution of 30m. The resulting 3D dataset will be used for validation of other airborne and spaceborne instruments, development of multiparametric rain/snow retrieval algorithms and melting layer characterization and statistics.
Structure-energy correlation for grain boundaries in F.C.C. metals—III. Symmetrical tilt boundaries

Abstract The correlation between the structure and zero-temperature energy of symmetrical tilt grain boundaries (STGBs) in f.c.c. metals is investigated using two embedded-atom-method potentials (for Cu and Au) and a Lennard-Jones potential fitted for Cu. Similar to free surfaces, misorientation phase space associated with these simple planar defects consists of only two degrees of freedom, namely those associated with the GB plane. The sampling of this two-dimensional phase space in terms of the stereographic triangle shows energy cusps as its corners and along its edges. These cusps are shown to arise from GB geometries with particularly small planar unit cells. Similar to free surfaces, a good correlation is found between the number of broken nearest-neighbor bonds per unit area and the GB energy. Also, as in our earlier study of twist boundaries, a practically linear relationship is found between the GB energy and volume expansion at the boundary. Finally, a comparison with twist boundaries shows that the STGBs represent the endpoints of the energy vs twist-angle curves. This enables a direct comparison of the properties of twist and tilt boundaries.
The reliability of thermoluminescence dating: A pilot experiment

The accuracy of thermoluminescence dating of pottery was tested by utilizing dendro-chronologically dated provenances in the northern part of the American Southwest. Fairly accurate determinations were achieved for potsherds recovered from sedimentary rock soil, while much younger dates were obtained for potsherds recovered from volcanic rock soil. The reduction of accumulated dose through radon escape might be responsible for the much younger dates of the sherds buried in volcanic soil. The application of the technique to samples recovered from soil matrices in volcanic materials, to burnt volcanic rocks, or to sherds containing ample volcanic rocks should be avoided for reliable determinations.
Generalized bidirectional associative memories for image processing

The bidirectional associative memory (BAM) so far is limited to two input/output patterns. Recently, Humpert has suggested the generalization of the BAM to a bidirectional associative memory with several input/output patterns (BAMg). The generalization of the BAM to the BAMg raises several interesting questions regarding the inter-connections and updating of neuron fields. Some of the possible configurations of the BAMg are investigated in the paper. The BAMg is very useful in many image processing applications where-in storage and retrieval of sets of images is required. Each set may contain two or more images. In this paper, we have developed a software simulation for the BAMg, and have used the BAMg to store and retrieve three sets of images. Each set consists of three images. During the retrieval partial or noisy images are used as the stimulus vectors to retrieve corresponding images in other sets. The results are presented in the paper.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ex vivo perfusion with anticoagulated blood decreases ischemia/reperfusion injury☆

Rat muscle flaps (cutaneous maximus) were subjected to 4 hours of room-temperature ischemia followed by 44 hours of cold (4 degrees C) ischemia before transplantation. Experimental flaps underwent a 15-minute ex vivo perfusion with heparinized-citrated blood between the warm and cold ischemic treatments; control flaps were not perfused. After 1 or 48 hours of recirculation, muscle dehydrogenase activity was found to be higher in the perfused flaps, indicating better muscle viability. Lipid peroxidation was lower in the perfused flaps, indicating a reduction in free radical generation. Histologic assessment revealed that perfused flaps underwent less injury than unperfused flaps. The findings of this study indicate that replacement of standing blood with anticoagulated blood, with the use of a brief ex vivo perfusion protocol, has a significant protective effect against ischemic injury. The experimental design mimics a realistic point of intervention and presents a paradigm for the clinical treatment of amputated extremities.
A Ghost in the Catalog: The Gradual Obsolescence of the Main Entry

Is main entry still relevant in the catalogs of the 21st century? This article reviews the role of main entry in a card catalog and the changing nature of main entry in the electronic environment. Arguments for and against abandoning main entry are examined through the lens of Cutter's principles for a catalog. To achieve Cutter's objectives, the use of main entry is no longer needed in modern catalogs. A comparison of Resource Description and Access (RDA) and other metadata schemes regarding main entry is investigated and reveals that librarians' unwillingness to retire main entry may limit RDA's use vis-a-vis other schemes.
A Decompositional Approach to Metaphorical Compound Analysis: The Case of a TV Commercial

This article applies a decompositional approach to analyzing the metaphorical structure of a China Central Television (CCTV) Olympics commercial as a multimodal discourse from the perspective of cognitive semantics. The Beijing 2008 Olympics' motto was “One World, One Dream,” which highlights the notion of the world as a “global village.” The commercial converges on this motto with a metaphorical imagery of a bird's nest being built by birds from all over the world. While “bird's nest” is commonly mapped metaphorically onto some target concepts, such as “unity” and “harmony,” the metaphorical imagery is also motivated by the fact that the Beijing National Stadium looks like a bird's nest, and is therefore nicknamed “the Bird's Nest.” It is argued that the commercial is structured by one central metaphor, a metaphorical compound, manifested multimodally through the multimodal discourse: “PEOPLES OF THE WORLD MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BEIJING OLYMPICS ARE BIRDS FLYING FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES TO BEIJING WIT...
Measurement of sweating rate with capacitance sensors

A new forced-evaporation type skin capsule for measuring local sweat gland activity in humans is described and details of its construction and problems of calibration are presented. The capsule is self-contained, portable, and inexpensive making it well suited for use in arrays to make multiple simultaneous determinations on adjacent skin areas. Sweat is evaporated from the skin surface by a stream of dry nitrogen gas; subsequent changes in capsule relative humidity and temperature are measured by a commercially available thin-film capacitance sensor and a solid-state current regulating device, respectively. These changes are measured within the capsule itself so no external water vapor analyzer is needed. Data acquisition and evaporation rate calculations are handled by an on-line microcomputer.
Hyphal tip growth in Achlya bisexualis. II. Distribution of cellulose in elongating and non-elongating regions of the wall.

We have approached the problem of hyphal tip growth by comparing the cell wall composition of elongating and non-elongating regions of the hyphae of Achlya bisexualis. To ensure that we could distinguish between elongating and non-elongating hyphae, light microscopic observations were used to determine the rates of elongation under growing and non-growing conditions. When elongation was measured in 10 min intervals it was found to consist of fluctuating periods of fast and slow growth rates, in the form of cycles. Even under our growing conditions, however, a very small number of hyphae in a colony are not elongating. SEM analysis revealed that elongating hyphae have tapered apices, whereas non-elongating hyphae have a rounded apex. The major matrix wall components, 1,3-β-glucans, were localized with an indirect immunogold technique specific for these polymers. This method resulted in their localization to all regions of both elongating and non-elongating hyphae, including the apex.
Study Design and “Evidence” in Patient-oriented Research

Individual studies in patient-oriented research, whether described as “comparative effectiveness” or using other terms, are based on underlying methodological designs. A simple taxonomy of study designs includes randomized controlled trials on the one hand, and observational studies (such as case series, cohort studies, and case–control studies) on the other. A rigid hierarchy of these design types is a fairly recent phenomenon, promoted as a tenet of “evidence-based medicine,” with randomized controlled trials receiving gold-standard status in terms of producing valid results. Although randomized trials have many strengths, and contribute substantially to the evidence base in clinical care, making presumptions about the quality of a study based solely on category of research design is unscientific. Both the limitations of randomized trials as well as the strengths of observational studies tend to be overlooked when a priori assumptions are made. This essay presents an argument in support of a more balanc...
Improving the Mathematical Content Knowledge of General and Special Educators: Evaluating a Professional Development Module That Focuses on Number Sense

Student performance in mathematics has been linked to the mathematical knowledge of the teacher. Based on this finding, a 5-day professional development module was created to improve teachers’ mathematical knowledge and their understanding of number sense. We found no difference prior to the professional development in mathematical content knowledge for teaching mathematics (CKTM) between special education teachers (at the K-12 level) and general education teachers (K-6). Results revealed that participating teachers made significant gains in mathematical CKTM. Implications and recommendations for professional development in mathematics are provided.
Docetaxel for treatment of solid tumours: a systematic review of clinical data

Summary Docetaxel is a semisynthetic taxane, a class of anticancer agents that bind to β tubulin, thereby stabilising microtubules and inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Docetaxel was first approved for the treatment of anthracycline-refractory metastatic breast cancer in the mid-1990s. Since then, several randomised trials have reported improved time-to-progression, overall survival, or both in metastatic breast cancer treated with single-agent docetaxel or docetaxel-based combination regimens. Data from two adjuvant trials have shown a survival benefit with the addition of docetaxel to standard anthracycline-based regimens in patients with high-risk early breast cancer. In four randomised studies, docetaxel improved survival in locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Moreover, two trials have shown that docetaxel combined with estramustine or corticosteroids improves survival in metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer. Here, we review major randomised phase III trials with docetaxel in the treatment of solid malignant disease.
Group Lifting Structures for Multirate Filter Banks II: Linear Phase Filter Banks

The theory of group lifting structures is applied to linear phase lifting factorizations for the two nontrivial classes of two-channel linear phase perfect reconstruction filter banks, the whole- and half-sample symmetric classes. Group lifting structures defined for the reversible and irreversible classes of whole- and half-sample symmetric filter banks are shown to satisfy the hypotheses of the uniqueness theorem for group lifting structures. It follows that linear phase group lifting factorizations of whole- and half-sample symmetric filter banks are therefore independent of the factorization methods used to construct them. These results cover the specification of whole-sample symmetric filter banks in the ISO/IEC JPEG 2000 image coding standard.