cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modifiable Determinants of Birth Weight Variability in Twins

Intrauterine growth retardation is a major contributor to the increased perinatal morbidity and mortality reported for twins. Prenatal factors influencing intrauterine growth were evaluated in 80 w...
Significance of interfaces in solid-state cells with porous electrodes of mixed ionic–electronic conductors

Abstract Solid-state cells based on different electrolyte materials and identical electrodes of a porous mixed ionic–electronic conductor (MIEC) are studied using impedance spectroscopy. It is found that impedance spectra of these cells are dramatically influenced by the properties of the electrolytes, implying that the electrolyte–electrode interfaces, including the triple-phase boundaries (TPBs), are important reaction sites in these cells and can not be ignored, in general, in modelling the electrode kinetics of porous MIEC electrodes. Further, the observed effect of electrical state of an MIEC electrode (or an applied voltage across the cell) on cell impedance conclusively confirms that the nature of the rate-limiting step(s) of the electrode reactions occurring in such a cell is electrochemical; it is not true, in general, that the electrode kinetics of such a cell are determined merely by pure chemical processes such as `surface exchange' and oxygen diffusion.
OSHA Enforcement Policy for Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis

On October 8, 1993, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued mandatory guidelines that establish an enforcement policy for protecting exposed workers against tuberculosis (TB). The instructions, issued to OSHA regional administrators and compliance officers nationwide, cover both the application of specific OSHA standards that are pertinent to TB inspections and of the OSH Act's general duty clause, which obligates employers to provide safe and healthful workplaces. OSHA's guidelines are effective immediately, except for the respirator requirements, which will become effective on January 6,1994. Employers found in violation of the guidelines can be fined. Those states that run their own job safety and health programs were given 30 days to advise OSHA on their plans for enforcement against TB.
The implications of client satisfaction feedback for beginning family therapists: back to the basics.

Several family therapy scholars (Lebow & Gurman, 1995; Pinsof & Wynne, 1995; White, Scott, & Russell, 1997) have emphasized the need for further research to evaluate the relationship between the specific types of skills beginning family therapists utilize in therapy and therapeutic outcome. The issue of how researchers endeavor to make such evaluations also is of prime importance. Most (if not all) of what is written and discussed about therapy is based upon the therapist’s rather than the client’s experience (Garfield, 1978; Gurman, 1977; Kantor & Andreozzi, 1985; Kruger, 1985). When the client’s experience of therapy is discussed, it is from the impression of therapists, researchers, and theoreticians rather than of the clients themselves (Kuehl, Newfield, & Joanning, 1990). The problem of ignoring or minimizing clients’ perspectives in outcome research was highlighted by Stolk and Perlesz (1990), who utilized clients’ ratings of their satisfaction with therapy to evaluate the effectiveness of a family therapy training curriculum. They found that client satisfaction was lower among those clients of therapists who had 2 years of training versus those of therapists without any training. “Although trainees improved on trainerand self-rated skill measures over the course of training, these changes were not paralleled by families’ increased satisfaction with therapy” (Stolk & Perlesz, 1990, p. 56). This perceptual incongruity points toward the importance of incorporating client feedback into outcome research, a position supported by several scholars in recent years (O’Connor, Meakes, Pickering, & Schuman, 1997; Sells, Smith, & Moon, 1996; Shilts, Rambo, & Hernandez, 1997). This study challenged the historical marginalizatiodexclusion of clients’ perspectives from outcome research by relying solely on client-satisfaction ratings of therapy to assess outcome and select the sample. The sample consisted of cases where clients had rated the outcome of therapy as either “extremely satisfying” or “extremely dissatisfying.” After selecting the sample, client and therapist feedback from both groups of cases were analyzed in terms of what was considered good and not good about the therapy experience, including how the client-therapist relationship was perceived. The goal was to identify themes linked to the divergent outcomes.
Fast, 3D imaging via confocal line scanning of a Bessel beam using a single galvo mirror

We developed a light-sheet illumination microscope that can perform fast 3D imaging of transparent biological samples. The light-sheet is created by raster scanning of a Bessel Beam with one galvo-mirror. Fluorescence excited from the thin layer of the sample is de-scanned by the same galvo-mirror, and then spatially filtered by a slit so that out-of-focus fluorescence generated by the side lobes of the Bessel beam is rejected. The spatially filtered fluorescence is returned by a series of optics and is re-scanned by the same galvo-mirror across the chip of a camera such that the fluorescence image is constructed in real-time. Compared to two-photon Bessel beam excitation or other confocal line scanning approaches, our method is of lower cost, simpler, and doesn’t require calibration and synchronization of multiple galvo mirrors. We demonstrated the capability of fast 3D imaging and background rejection capabilities of this microscope with fluorescent beads embedded in PDMS.
A Review of Oxidation on Steel Surfaces in the Context of Fire Investigations

During the course of a fire and subsequent exposure to the environment, iron and low-carbon steels oxidize by two mechanisms: high temperature oxidation and atmospheric corrosion. Of particular interest to fire investigators are oxide properties and distribution that could be of use to better understand important characteristics of the fire such as the location the fire originated, the direction the fire traveled or even temperature versus time characteristics. This could be particularly valuable in cases where burn damage to combustible material, which is known to be an important indicator of fire origin, is so extensive that little if any material remains after the fire. However, there is little data in the literature that specifically addresses the utility of oxide properties in the context of fire investigations. In this paper, we review the literature associated with both the high-temperature oxidation and atmospheric corrosion mechanisms in the context of a fire and post-fire environment. This review illustrates that both mechanisms are very complex and coupled to an equally complex and often ill-defined combustion environment associated with fires. As a result, the contribution of oxide characteristics to fire investigations is currently limited to identifying regions at the fire scene that reached temperatures sufficient to damage the protective coatings or to form wustite (FeO), which occurs at about 570°C. While oxide thickness developed during high-temperature oxidation may be related to the fire environment, its significance in fire investigations will likely depend on numerous confounding factors, which could include complex lattice defect formation processes, a complex and variable combustion environment, the dependency on both exposure time and exposure temperature, and the mass and surface area of the steel in question. Although variations in oxide color are often observed after a fire, no clear physical link between color variations and important characteristics of the fire has yet to be demonstrated by data currently available in the literature. Instead, oxide color is dependent on oxide thickness, the type of oxides present, natural variations of color for the same oxide, and the type and concentration of combustion products or other contaminants in the lattice structure. Language: en
New high-performance thermosetting polymer matrix material systems

Abstract The synthesis of amorphous, soluble triarylphosphine oxide-containing imide oligomers and arylene ether sulfone triarylphosphine oxide copolymers is described. The imide oligomers were controlled-molecular-weight systems endcapped with 3-phenylethynyl aniline. The arylene ether copolymers were synthesized in high molecular weight with controlled amounts of a novel comonomer, which contained pendent aryl amino groups that were subsequently functionalized with 4-phenylethynylphthalic anhydride. The phenylethynyl groups were employed to afford a higher curing temperature (380–420°C), which widens the processing window between T g and the cure temperature compared with the well studied ethynyl-endcapped systems. The polyimides were synthesized via solution imidization techniques, using the ester acid derived from various dianhydrides and several aromatic diamines. The ‘one-pot’ procedure utilized N -methylpyrrolidinone as the primary solvent and o -dichlorobenzene as the azeotroping agent, and reproducibly produced fully imidized soluble polyimides. Thermally cured polymers displayed good solvent resistance and exhibited glass transition temperatures comparable to their high-molecular-weight linear analogues. These polyimides also showed excellent thermal stability as judged by dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (t.g.a.). The arylene ether phosphine oxide copolymers were synthesized by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of the activated aryl dihalides with various bisphenolates. The thermally cured polyimides also exhibit excellent solvent resistance. Both the triarylphosphine oxide-containing polyimides and the arylene ether copolymers exhibited very high char yields as determined by t.g.a., e.g. the polyimides displayed about 50% char at 700°C in air.
Effects of tannic acid on erythrocyte enzymes.

MANY properties of the red cell have been studied with the aid of tannic acid since the original observations by Roberts1. Treatment with this acid causes reduction in anion permeability2, agglutination3, alterations in osmotic resistance4 and renders erythrocytes capable of adsorbing proteins from solution5. The latter characteristic serves as a basis for the widely used procedures of passive haemagglutination. We have shown that the exposure of human erythrocytes to tannic acid, in conditions commonly employed in passive haemagglutination techniques, results in irreversible inactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)6. The effect on this membrane enzyme7 was dependent on concentration, pH, time and temperature. Although the mechanism by which tannic acid exerts its action on the red cell has not been elucidated, it has been suggested that in low concentrations this agent traverses the erythrocyte membrane4. To test this hypothesis we have investigated the effect of tannic acid on two intracellularly located enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)8 and acid phosphatase7.
Seeding Change through International University Partnerships: The MIT-Portugal Program as a Driver of Internationalization, Networking, and Innovation

Higher education systems around the globe are experimenting with different strategies to foster internationalization and networking, achieve critical research mass, and strengthen innovation and labour market integration. This paper discusses how Portugal, since 2006, has pursued a distinctive international collaborative strategy to induce critical changes in strategic focus areas at its leading institutions. Utilizing survey and interview data from the MIT-Portugal Program, this paper demonstrates how international collaborations are used to raise student internationalization and selectivity rates, to create national clusters of excellence, and to re-orient engineering education towards innovation and entrepreneurship. The data show that MIT-Portugal has created significant spillovers into Portuguese institutions, underscoring the potential of international collaborations to be drivers of systemic change. We argue Portugal's collaborative approach represents a model strategy for building a targeted human resource, research, and innovation base suited for long-term economic growth. Our findings are relevant for other countries facing similar transition challenges.
Evidence that cannabidiol does not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of tetrahydrocannabinol in man

The pharmacokinetics of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administered intravenously was evaluated in four subjects after oral administration of placebo and 1500 mg of cannabidiol (CBD) according to a crossover design. The cannabidiol pretreatment had no apparent effect on THC pharmacokinetics, yet there may have been minimal effect on the formation and excretion of metabolites. The total (metabolic) blood clearance of THC averaged 17.4 ml/min/kg without CBD and 20.9 ml/min/kg with CBD, and was probably hepatic blood flow limited. The apparent steady-state volume of distribution averaged 9.86 (with CBD, 10.54) liters/kg. Irrespective of CBD pretreatment, the renal clearance of THC metabolites ranged from 17 ml/min after approximately 1 hr to 1.13 ml/min 3.5 days after dosing with THC. The apparent terminal halflife for metabolites averaged 8.2 days.
Thoracoscopic mammary artery mobilization in redo minimally invasive coronary bypass operations.

Abstract Background . It has been stated that thoracoscopic internal thoracic artery (ITA) mobilization is not recommended in the redo minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) situation, presumably because adhesions from the previous coronary artery bypass grafting operation may preclude a thoracoscopic approach. However, there are advantages to thoracoscopic ITA mobilization in MIDCAB that could also be realized in the redo situation. Methods . In 200 MIDCAB procedures over the last 3 and a half years, 11 patients, ages 49–83 (mean 69), were identified as having undergone an attempted ITA mobilization in a redo situation. Results . Thoracoscopic ITA mobilization was successful in 9 out of 11 patients (81%). One patient had complete pleural symphysis precluding this approach, and 1 patient had poor mammary flow after harvest and this conduit was not used. Both failures were in female octogenarians. Conclusions . To realize the advantages of a thoracoscopic ITA mobilization MIDCAB, both right and left thoracoscopic ITA mobilization can safely be performed in the redo situation. Thoracic adhesions precluding a thoracoscopic approach were encountered in only 1 of 11 redo coronary artery bypass grafting patients.
Application of scanning tunnelling microscopy to the study of fracture morphology of polycarbonate

Fracture tests were conducted on compact tension specimens of polycarbonate. The general morphology of the resulting fast, unstable fracture was analysed using optical and scanning electron microscopes. A technique was developed to enable the use of scanning tunnelling microscopy for studying the detailed fracture morphology of polycarbonate and other non-conducting materials. This technique yielded high-resolution pictures of the various regions on the fracture surface of polycarbonate. It also provided invaluable, quantitative descriptions of the step heights associated with the recesses, protrusions and other features on the fracture surface.
Effects of High-Protein Versus High-Carbohydrate Diets on Markers of β-Cell Function, Oxidative Stress, Lipid Peroxidation, Proinflammatory Cytokines, and Adipokines in Obese, Premenopausal Women Without Diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of high-protein versus high-carbohydrate diets on various metabolic end points (glucoregulation, oxidative stress [dichlorofluorescein], lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde], proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6], adipokines, and resting energy expenditure [REE]) with high protein–low carbohydrate (HP) and high carbohydrate–low protein (HC) diets at baseline and after 6 months of dietary intervention. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We recruited obese, premenopausal women aged 20–50 years with no diabetes or prediabetes who were randomized to HC (55% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 15% protein) or HP (40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 30% protein) diets for 6 months. The diets were provided in prepackaged food, which provided 500 kcal restrictions per day. The above metabolic end points were measured with HP and HC diet at baseline and after 6 months of dietary intervention. RESULTS After 6 months of the HP versus HC diet (12 in each group), the following changes were significantly different by Wilcoxon rank sum test for the following parameters: dichlorofluorescein (−0.8 vs. −0.3 µmol/L, P < 0.0001), malondialdehyde (−0.4 vs. −0.2 μmol/L, P = 0.0004), C-reactive protein (−2.1 vs. −0.8 mg/L, P = 0.0003), E-selectin (−8.6 vs. −3.7 ng/mL, P = 0.0007), adiponectin (1,284 vs. 504 ng/mL, P = 0.0011), tumor necrosis factor-α (−1.8 vs. −0.9 pg/mL, P < 0.0001), IL-6 (−1.3 vs. −0.4 pg/mL, P < 0.0001), free fatty acid (−0.12 vs. 0.16 mmol/L, P = 0.0002), REE (259 vs. 26 kcal, P < 0.0001), insulin sensitivity (4 vs. 0.9, P < 0.0001), and β-cell function (7.4 vs. 2.1, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report on the significant advantages of a 6-month hypocaloric HP diet versus hypocaloric HC diet on markers of β-cell function, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, proinflammatory cytokines, and adipokines in normal, obese females without diabetes.
Thermo-mechanical damage modeling of a glass–phenolic composite material

Abstract This study is on the development of a thermo-mechanical damage model (TMDM) for glass–phenolic composite materials subject to high temperature and thermal radiative environments. The damaged composite is expressed as two regions of non-charred and charred materials. Homogenization methods are used to formulate the damaged material in terms of the volume fractions associated with composite fiber, resin and char. Equations are derived that employ Darcy’s law to account for the gas transport within the structure. Mechanical response of the composite is taken into account by solving a homogenized system of linear elasticity equations which introduces the gas-phase pressure in a self-consistent manner. A finite element method is developed to solve the thermal and mechanical equations for a two-dimensional clamped composite beam subject to thermal radiative heating. Overall, good agreement is obtained between the numerical predictions and experimental data for temperature and gas pressure. Results show the decomposition of the resin and char formation create local stress concentrations across the pyrolysis front. The origin of these stresses are from thermal expansion and contraction across the front and the generation of locally high pore gas pressures from resin decomposition.
Charge-Transfer Hybrids Containing Covalently Bonded Polyoxometalates and Ferrocenyl Units

Two new charge-transfer hybrids with one or two ferrocenyl units covalently attached to a hexamolybdate cluster through an extended pi-conjugated bridge have been prepared using Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions on monoiodo- or diiodo-functionalized cluster substrates in over 60% yields. These hybrids have been characterized by (1)H NMR, FTIR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. The electronic spectra of these hybrids show a broad absorption tail extending beyond 550 nm, indicating the existence of charge-transfer transition from the ferrocenyl donor to the cluster acceptor. The observation of the clear charge-transfer transition indicates the contribution of charge-transfer resonance to the ground state in both 2a and 2b even though the donor-acceptor separation distance of 11.29 A is rather long, signaling a through-bond charge-transfer nature made possible by the organic pi-conjugated bridge. Cyclic voltammetry studies reveal a one-electron oxidation wave and a one-electron reduction wave for the hybrid with one ferrocenyl unit. For the one with two ferrocenyl units, a lower reduction potential and a two-electron oxidation wave are observed, indicating negligible electronic interactions between the two ferrocenyl units.
Visualizing knowledge in new educational environments: a course on learning objects

This article describes the learning objectives, the course activities, experiences and outcomes of a graduate level course on learning object design. The course was developed and taught at The Ohio State University by the author during the Spring Quarter of 2003. Students from the visual design and education disciplines partnered to work on a client‐initiated, authentic, grant‐funded project. The students, working in teams and serving as expert consultants to each other, were tasked with designing prototypes for learning objects to be used by freshman high school students, particularly those with disabilities. The course provided an opportunity to observe how developers actually built learning objects and to apply that knowledge to better understanding the issues facing faculty when challenged with the same tasks.
Measuring Gender Bias in the Salaries of Tenured Faculty Members.

A sample selection statistical procedure is used to correct for the effects on salary of gender bias in promotion from associate to full professor.
Metabolism of 1-Fluoro-1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane, and 1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-chloroethane

1-Fluoro-1,1,2-trichloroethane (HCFC-131a), 1,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-132b), and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane (HCFC-133a) were chosen as models for comparative metabolism studies on 1,1,1,2-tetrahaloethanes, which are under consideration as replacements for ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Male Fischer 344 rats were given 10 mmol/kg ip HCFC-131a or HCFC-132b or exposed by inhalation to 1% HCFC-133a for 2 h. Urine collected in the first 24 h after exposure was analyzed by 19F NMR and GC/MS and with a fluoride-selective ion electrode for the formation of fluorine-containing metabolites. Metabolites of HCFC-131a included 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl glucuronide, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl sulfate, dichlorofluoroacetic acid, and inorganic fluoride. Metabolites of HCFC-132b were characterized as 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl glucuronide, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl sulfate, chlorodifluoroacetic acid, chlorodifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate, chlorodifluoroacetaldehyde-urea adduct, and inorganic fluoride. HCFC-133a was metabolized to 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl glucuronide, trifluoroacetic acid, trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate, trifluoroacetaldehyde-urea adduct, inorganic fluoride, and a minor, unidentified metabolite. With HCFC-131a and HCFC-132b, glucuronide conjugates of 2,2,2-trihaloethanols were the major urinary metabolites, whereas with HCFC-133a, a trifluoroacetaldehyde-urea adduct was the major urinary metabolite. Analysis of metabolite distribution in vivo indicated that aldehydic metabolites increased as fluorine substitution increased in the order HCFC-131a < HCFC-132b < HCFC-133a. With NADPH-fortified rat liver microsomes, HCFC-133a and HCFC-132b were biotransformed to trifluoroacetaldehyde and chlorodifluoroacetaldehyde, respectively, whereas HCFC-131a was converted to dichlorofluoroacetic acid. No covalently bound metabolites were detected by 19F NMR spectroscopy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Simultaneous measurement of cholecystokinin- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity from cat frontal cortex in vitro: Effect of morphine andd-Ala2-d-Leu5-Enkephalin

The two peptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) have been demonstrated to be discretely distributed in the cerebral cortex. This distribution closely parallels the distribution of mu- and delta-opiate receptors in the frontal cortex. The basal efflux and potassium-stimulated release of VIP- and CCK-immunoreactivity was studied in the presence and absence of morphine and D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADL), agents with relative affinity for the mu and delta receptors, respectively. The basal efflux of VIP- and CCK-immunoreactivity was not affected by these opiates; however, the potassium-stimulated release of VIP-immunoreactivity was profoundly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by both morphine (ED50 = 1 X 10(-9) M) and DADL (ED50 = 3.02 X 10(-9) M). The inhibition produced by either morphine or DADL was shown to be reversed by naloxone.
Modeling canopy structure and heterogeneity across scales: From crowns to canopy

Abstract Canopy studies have been limited in ecological investigations due to problems of canopy accessibility, and the lack of efficient sampling and modeling methods. The primary objective of this study was to develop an efficient modeling approach to describe the 3-dimensional, hierarchical structure of individual crown shells within stands and corresponding canopy patches. Crown shells were modeled based on crown ratio, maximum cardinal radius, vertical position, and shape. Canopies were represented by adding unique crowns to simulated point patterns of trees of known aggregation as measured by Pielou's index of nonrandomness. Canopy patches were delineated at multiple horizontal and vertical scales using the ARC INFO geographic information system (GIS). The patterns of canopy patches are clearly variable and scale dependent. Canopy patterns become more diverse at broader horizontal scales, and change greatly from the lower to the upper canopies. The modeling approach used in this study has general utility in characterizing 3-dimensional canopies of many types of forests.
Note on Gradient Estimate of Heat Kernel for Schrödinger Operators

Let be a Schrodinger operator on . We show that gradient estimates for the heat kernel of with upper Gaussian bounds imply polynomial decay for the kernels of certain smooth dyadic spectral operators. The latter decay property has been known to play an important role in the Littlewood-Paley theory for and Sobolev spaces. We are able to establish the result by modifying Hebisch and the author’s recent proofs. We give a counterexample in one dimension to show that there exists in the Schwartz class such that the long time gradient heat kernel estimate fails.
Serving Women with a Purposeful Vision

Developing a computer science curriculum that provides more engaging and creative contexts for the early learning of computing has resulted in making the discipline and its practice more appealing and intellectually fascinating. This is one of five articles providing personal perspectives on gender diversity in computing. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/p0yiNYZouR4 is a video interview in which Deepak Kumar, a professor of computer science at Bryn Mawr College and the associate director for education and diversity in the Center for Science of Information, discusses the importance of gender diversity in computing with Alfred C. (Alf) Weaver, the director of the University of Virginia's Applied Research Institute.
Metal-semiconductor-metal neutron detectors based on hexagonal boron nitride epitaxial layers

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) possesses extraordinary potential for solid-state neutron detector applications. This stems from the fact that the boron-10 (10B) isotope has a capture cross-section of 3840 barns for thermal neutrons that is orders of magnitude larger than other isotopes. Epitaxial layers of hBN have been synthesized by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Experimental measurements indicated that the thermal neutron absorption coefficient and length of natural hBN epilayers are about 0.0036 μm-1 and 277 μm, respectively. To partially address the key requirement of long carrier lifetime and diffusion length for a solid-state neutron detector, micro-strip metal–semiconductor–metal detectors were fabricated and tested. A good current response was generated in these detectors using continuous irradiation with a thermal neutron beam, corresponding to an effective conversion efficiency approaching ~80% for absorbed neutrons.
Simultaneous extraction and chromatographic analysis of morphine, dilaudid, naltrexone and naloxone in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

Mise au point d'une methode qui permet la separation et la quantification de 4 opiaces au cours d'une meme analyse par chromatographie HPLC. Les solvants chromatographiques, le phosphate dihydrogene d'ammonium et l'acide octanesulfonique fournissent les meilleures conditions de separation. L'extraction de 4 opiaces a partir des liquides biologiques est commune
A computationally feasible approximate resolution matrix for seismic inverse problems

SUMMARY Seismic inversion produces model estimates which arc at most unique in an average sense. The model resolution matrix quantifies the spatial extent over which the estimate averages the true model. Although the resolution matrix has traditionally been defined in terms of the singular value decomposition of the discretized forward problem, this computation is prohibitive for inverse problems of realistic size. Inversion requires one to solve a large normal matrix system which is best tackled by an iterative technique such as the conjugate gradient method. The close connection between the conjugate gradient and Lanczos algorithms allows us to construct an extremely inexpensive approximation to the model resolution matrix. Synthetic experiments indicate the data dependence of this particular approximation. The approximation is very good in the vicinity of large events in the data. Two large linear viscoelastic inversion experiments on p-τ marine data from the Gulf of Mexico provide estimates of the elastic parameter reflectivities corresponding to two different seismic sources. Traditionally, one evaluates the accuracy of the two reflectivity estimates by comparing them with measured well logs. The approximate model resolution matrices agree with the well-log ranking of the two models and provide us with a way to compare different model estimates when, for example, such well-log measurements are not available.
Model capabilities for in-situ oil shale recovery

The extensive oil shale reserves of the United States are now under development as an energy source. One of the approaches for extracting oil from shale is the so called modified in-situ retort. The operation of such retorts for maximum yield requires an understanding of oil loss mechanisms so that operating strategies that minimize these losses can be developed. The present modeling capabilities for describing the behavior and yield from a modified in-situ retort are discussed. It is shown how the advances made in describing retort chemistry have greatly increased the predictive capabilities of these models. Two models that have been subject to comparison with laboratory retorts are described. The first is a one-dimensional model that treats the retort as a packed bed reactor, the second is a quasi-two-dimensional examination of block retorting. Both models are capable of predicting retorting rates, off gas composition and oil yield losses to coking and combustion. The block model, for example, describes conditions where local oil yield losses can be as high as 50%. Areas for further model improvement include additional work on describing retort chemistry, such as the steam/char and gas phase combustion reactions. The major need for modeling now is expansion to more » multi-dimensional simulation. This is necessary if a predictive capability is to be developed for field situations where sweep efficiency losses and gravitational effects become important. « less
Self-Sorting Map: An Efficient Algorithm for Presenting Multimedia Data in Structured Layouts

This paper presents the Self-Sorting Map (SSM), a novel algorithm for organizing and presenting multimedia data. Given a set of data items and a dissimilarity measure between each pair of them, the SSM places each item into a unique cell of a structured layout, where the most related items are placed together and the unrelated ones are spread apart. The algorithm integrates ideas from dimension reduction, sorting, and data clustering algorithms. Instead of solving the continuous optimization problem that other dimension reduction approaches do, the SSM transforms it into a discrete labeling problem. As a result, it can organize a set of data into a structured layout without overlap, providing a simple and intuitive presentation. The algorithm is designed for sorting all data items in parallel, making it possible to arrange millions of items in seconds. Experiments on different types of data demonstrate the SSM’s versatility in a variety of applications, ranging from positioning city names by proximities to presenting images according to visual similarities, to visualizing semantic relatedness between Wikipedia articles.
LABEL: pediatric brain extraction using learning-based meta-algorithm.

Magnetic resonance imaging of pediatric brain provides valuable information for early brain development studies. Automated brain extraction is challenging due to the small brain size and dynamic change of tissue contrast in the developing brains. In this paper, we propose a novel Learning Algorithm for Brain Extraction and Labeling (LABEL) specially for the pediatric MR brain images. The idea is to perform multiple complementary brain extractions on a given testing image by using a meta-algorithm, including BET and BSE, where the parameters of each run of the meta-algorithm are effectively learned from the training data. Also, the representative subjects are selected as exemplars and used to guide brain extraction of new subjects in different age groups. We further develop a level-set based fusion method to combine multiple brain extractions together with a closed smooth surface for obtaining the final extraction. The proposed method has been extensively evaluated in subjects of three representative age groups, such as neonate (less than 2 months), infant (1–2 years), and child (5–18 years). Experimental results show that, with 45 subjects for training (15 neonates, 15 infant, and 15 children), the proposed method can produce more accurate brain extraction results on 246 testing subjects (75 neonates, 126 infants, and 45 children), i.e., at average Jaccard Index of 0.953, compared to those by BET (0.918), BSE (0.902), ROBEX (0.901), GCUT (0.856), and other fusion methods such as Majority Voting (0.919) and STAPLE (0.941). Along with the largely-improved computational efficiency, the proposed method demonstrates its ability of automated brain extraction for pediatric MR images in a large age range.
Unified excitation and performance diagnostic adaptive control framework

Model-based controllers contain two elements that must be adjusted to maintain desired performance: parameters of the process model and a tuning parameter in the controller design equation. A unified framework is presented where vector quantizing networks are used in pattern-based methods for diagnosing process excitation and controller performance. Excitation diagnostics identify sufficiently excited dynamic process data for model updating. Performance diagnostics analyze set point response data and determine appropriate updates to the tuning parameter. Supervisory adaptation logic enables these two adaptive mechanisms to work together to maintain model accuracy and desired controller performance. The method is general to a number of model-based control algorithms and process model forms. Demonstrations employ a FOPDT model, as well as both the PI and DMC algorithms for set point tracking and disturbance rejection in a simulation and a bench-scale process.
The Development and Evolution of Family Therapy Research: Its Impact on Practice, Current Status, and Future Directions

Science has always been a central part of family therapy. Research by early pioneers focused on studying the efficacy of both couple and family interventions from a systemic perspective. Today we know more now than ever before about the processes of diverse families and the therapeutic outcomes of family therapy practices. Despite the acknowledged importance of family therapy research, there are still questions about its impact on “real life” practice. Despite all the flaws of each, research and practice are critical interacting elements of a dialectic relationship: High-quality practice combines reliable scientific knowledge with individual clinical judgment made by family therapists in the context of their dynamic transactions with a family or couple. Future research can help uncover the mechanisms we have yet to know and test the ones we have identified while the dynamic interaction of research and practice that can lead to further innovations and developments central to the future of family therapy.
Blocking the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCR2 chemokine pathway induces permanent survival of islet allografts through a programmed death-1 ligand-1-dependent mechanism.

Islet allografts are subject to rapid rejection through host cellular immune responses involving mononuclear cell recruitment and tissue injury. Interruption of leukocyte recruitment through chemokine receptor targeting is of therapeutic benefit in various experimental models, but little is known about the contribution of chemokine pathways to islet allograft rejection. We found that murine islets produce monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; CCL2) in vitro and that islet allograft rejection was associated with intragraft expression of MCP-1 and its receptor, CCR2. We therefore investigated whether MCP-1 and CCR2 are required for the rejection of fully MHC-disparate islet allografts. Wild-type mice treated with blocking anti-MCP-1 mAb plus a brief, subtherapeutic course of rapamycin had long-term islet allograft survival, in contrast to the effect of treatment with either mAb or rapamycin alone. CCR2 −/− mice treated with rapamycin also maintained islet allografts long-term. Both MCP/CCR2- and rapamycin-sensitive signals were required for maximal proliferation of alloreactive T cells, suggesting that MCP-1/CCR2 induce rejection by promoting alloreactive T cell clonal expansion and homing and migration. Prolonged islet allograft survival achieved by blockade of the MCP-1/CCR2 pathway plus rapamycin therapy was accompanied by a mononuclear cell infiltrate expressing the inhibitory receptor, programmed death-1 (PD-1), and its ligand (PD-L1, B7-H1), and prolongation of islet allograft survival was abrogated by anti-PD-L1 mAb therapy. These data show that the blockade of MCP-1 binding to CCR2 in conjunction with subtherapeutic immunosuppression can have profound effects on islet allograft survival and implicate the expression of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in the regulation of physiologic responses in vivo.
Microarray data assembler.

SUMMARY: Large volumes of microarray data are generated and deposited in public databases. Most of this data is in the form of tab-delimited text files or Excel spreadsheets. Combining data from several of these files to reanalyze these data sets is time consuming. Microarray Data Assembler is specifically designed to simplify this task. The program can list files and data sources, convert selected text files into Excel files and assemble data across multiple Excel worksheets and workbooks. This program thus makes data assembling easy, saves time and helps avoid manual error. AVAILABILITY: The program is freely available for non-profit use, via email request from the author, after signing a Material Transfer Agreement with Johns Hopkins University.
Combination of Raman tweezers and quantitative differential interference contrast microscopy for measurement of dynamics and heterogeneity during the germination of individual bacterial spores

Raman tweezers and quantitative differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy are combined to monitor the dynamic germination of individual bacterial spores of Bacillus species, as well as the heterogeneity in this process. The DIC bias phase is set properly such that the brightness of DIC images of individual spores is proportional to the dipicolinic acid (DPA) level of the spores, and an algorithm is developed to retrieve the phase image of an individual spore from its DIC image. We find that during germination, the rapid drop in both the intensity of the original DIC image and the intensity of the reconstructed phase image precisely corresponds to the release of all DPA from that spore. The summed pixel intensity of the DIC image of individual spores adhered on a microscope coverslip is not sensitive to the drift of the slide in both horizontal and vertical directions, which facilitates observation of the germination of thousands of individual spores for long periods of time. A motorized stage and synchronized image acquisition system is further developed to effectively expand the field of view of the DIC imaging. This quantitative DIC technique is used to track the germination of hundreds or thousands of individual spores simultaneously.
The Self-Report Family Inventory An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Researchers explored the factor structure of the Self-Report Family Inventory with a sample of heterosexual parents who have a son or daughter who self-identifies as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Results suggest that a two-factor solution is appropriate. Research and clinical implications are offered.
Dissolution behavior of MgO–pyrochlore composites in acidic solutions

The dissolution behavior of sintered MgO–pyrochlore (Nd2Zr2O7 was chosen for this study) composites in HNO3 and H2SO4 solutions has been studied. The dissolution in 11 M HNO3 and 7.9 M H2SO4 at 60 C resulted in a selective dissolution of MgO. It was found that initially the fraction of dissolved MgO increases linearly with dissolution time. Magnetic bar stirring enhanced the mass transfer rate and resulted in a higher dissolution rate of MgO compared with the static and ultrasonic dissolution. It also provided mechanical forces to completely disintegrate the undissolved Nd2Zr2O7 porous matrix into residual powder. Both MgO and Nd2Zr2O7 can be dissolved in boiling concentrated (18 M) H2SO4, and Nd2Zr2O7 dissolves incongruently. The dissolution of Mg
Model System for High-Throughput Screening of Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitors in Escherichia coli

Novel human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors are urgently needed for combating the drug-resistance problem in the fight against AIDS. To facilitate lead discovery of HIV protease inhibitors, we have developed a safe, convenient, and cost-effective Escherichia coli-based assay system. This E. coli-based system involves coexpression of an engineered -galactosidase as an HIV protease substrate and the HIV protease precursor comprising the transframe region and the protease domain. Autoprocessing of the HIV protease precursor releases the mature HIV protease. Subsequently, the HIV protease cleaves -galactosidase, resulting in a loss of the -galactosidase activity, which can be detected in high-throughput screens. Using Food and Drug Administration-approved HIV protease inhibitors, this E. coli-based system is validated as a surrogate screening system for identifying inhibitors that not only possess inhibitory activity against HIV protease but also have solubility and permeability for in vivo activity. The usefulness of the E. coli-based system was demonstrated with the identification of a novel HIV protease inhibitor from a library of compounds that were prepared by an amide-forming reaction with transition-state analog cores. A novel inhibitor with a sulfonamide core of amprenavir, E2, has shown good correlation with the in vitro enzymatic assay and in vivo E. coli-based system. This system can also be used to generate drug resistance profiles that could be used to suggest therapeutic uses of HIV protease inhibitors to treat the drug-resistant HIV strains. This simple yet efficient E. coli system not only represents a screening platform for high-throughput identification of leads targeting the HIV proteases but also can be adapted to all other classes of proteases. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease, essential for processing HIV viral polyproteins into individual structural proteins and replication enzymes during virus maturation, has been an attractive target for antiviral therapy development (9). Several HIV protease inhibitors designed to bind the active site of HIV protease have been shown to have in vivo efficacy and are currently in clinical use. This line of therapy, by itself or in combination with reverse transcriptase inhibitors, has revolutionized antiviral treatments and dramatically lowered the number of deaths due to AIDS (32). However, widespread
Revisiting Polymer Surface Diffusion in the Extreme Case of Strong Adsorption

Revisiting polymer surface adsorption with a level of quantification not possible at the time of earlier seminal contributions to this field, we employ fluorescence microscopy to quantify the in-plane diffusion of end-labeled polystyrene adsorbed onto quartz and mica from cyclohexane solution, mostly at 25 °C. Care is taken to prohibit a surface-hopping mechanism, and the experimental techniques are adapted to measurements that persist for up to a few days. The main conclusion is that we fail to observe a single Fickian diffusion coefficient: instead, diffusion displays a broad multicomponent spectrum, indicating that the heterogeneity of surface diffusion fails to average out even over these long times and over distances (∼600 nm, the diameter of a diffraction-limited spot) greatly exceeding the size of the polymer molecules. This holds generally when we vary the molecular weight, the surface roughness, and the temperature. It quantifies the long-believed scenario that strongly adsorbed polymer layers (m...
APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF TERRITORY SIZE AND SHAPE

▪ Abstract Intraspecific variation in territory size and shape can have strong effects on population structure and dynamics. The traditional theoretical approach to the study of territory size is based on optimality models that analyze decisions of focal residents as responses to the costs and benefits of defense. These models have stimulated numerous empirical studies showing that territory holders adjust their behavior according to rates of intrusion and availability of food. However, models of optimal territory size are applicable only in limited circumstances because they focus on unilateral decisions rather than on interactions. Furthermore, observational and experimental studies often find that territory sizes are insensitive to food supply. Recently, greater emphasis has been placed on two alternative approaches. The first concerns interactions among contiguous neighbors and how these affect use of space. In these models territory size and shape are determined by the balance of pressure exerted at ...
Collaborative Inquiry to Make Data-Based Decisions in Schools.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a long-term collaborative inquiry project for diverse teams of teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents. The teams engaged in collaborative inquiry to collect and analyze local data to make data based decisions about how to improve teaching and learning. The results suggest the collaborative inquiry not only positively influenced the teachers, but also helped them engage in a continuous improvement process that allowed them to take more ownership over local data and expand their role in their schools’ decision-making processes.
THE CIGAR CASE-BEARER OF THE APPLE (COLEOPHORA FLETCHERELLA)

In 1889 I received from the late William Brown, of Charlottetown, P. E. I., some larvae of a small case-bearer, which he had found in large numbers upon his plum trees, and which also occurred in his pear and apple orchards. Since that time this insect has made itself well-known by its injuries in apple orchards in various localities in the Maritime Provinces, and in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. A beautifully illustrated and carefully prepared bulletin has been issued by Mr. M. V. Slingerland, of Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, in which the life history of this most interesting but very serious enemy of the fruit grower is fully described. The above illustration, kindly lent by the editor of the Canadian Horticulturist, is copied from that bulletin.