cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A perspective on the major purposes and basic procedures for teacher evaluation

Teacher evaluation is considered here to have two major purposes - selection and assistance. Procedures for teacher evaluation should vary accordingly. Specifically, it is proposed that detached procedures are appropriate for teacher selection, and collaborative procedures are appropriate for teacher assistance. The term “detached” is used here to mean methods of evaluation in which objectivity is paramount and in which the evaluator is expected to be able to recount the evaluation procedures with precision sufficient for replication. The term “collaborative” is used here for procedures that allow the evaluator to place concern for improvement of an individual teacher’s performance ahead of concern for objective standards. “Collaborative” procedures allow the evaluator to follow up on hunches that are not based on replicable observation or testing procedures but which may be the basis of fruitful discussions with teachers. The term “selection,” as used here, means initial hiring decisions, retention decisions, and reviews for merit awards or career ladder advancement. We may expect evaluation for selection to become increasingly important in schools. Systems for rewarding or advancing effective teachers, based on some type of evaluation, are major components in recent reports on school reform. Evaluation systems that make reliable and valid selections of particularly effective teachers may make a significant contribution to teacher improvement by providing incentives for improved teaching. A second purpose of teacher evaluation is direct assistance to teachers. This assistance takes place in a variety of situations. It may be formal ‘“coaching” such as proposed by Joyce and Showers (1982). It may be the informal help and advice of a mentor teacher at the top of the ladder assigned to assist new teachers. It may be the assistance of a building principal acting in the role of “instructional leader.” While teacher selection provides an incentive system, assistance provides direct help. Both are likely to contribute to teacher improvement, and both are based on teacher evaluation. Yet the procedures of evaluation appropriate for one are inappropriate for the other. This article will attempt to explain why this is so.
Patient Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Arthroplasty Surgery in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Little is known about the economic value patients place on effective treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) to patients with advanced hip OA by measuring their preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for either procedure. Seventy-three patients younger than 65 years with advanced hip OA reviewed information about the risks and benefits of THA and HRA and were asked which procedure they would choose and how much they would be willing to pay for it. Sixty-nine percent of patients chose THA (average WTP, $69 419) and 31% chose HRA (average WTP, $83 195). There was no correlation between WTP and annual income or total assets. However, patients with modest income and assets could have reported that they were willing and able to pay more than they could actually afford, and WTP dropped and correlation with income rose if we excluded high responses from the poorest respondents. These results may have important policy implications as patients are asked to share a greater burden of the cost of their care for chronic conditions such as OA.
Computational modeling of Smolder Combustion and Spontaneous Transition to Flaming.

Abstract A numerical transport model was developed to study the spontaneous transition from smoldering to flaming combustion in polyurethane foam. The numerical transport model is two-dimensional with an eight-step reduced reaction mechanism. The reaction mechanism includes seven heterogeneous and a global homogeneous gas phase reaction and is capable of simulating both forward and opposed smoldering combustion. The current study examines the transition to flaming in normal gravity for flow assisted forward smoldering combustion as a function of an externally applied heat flux and the velocity and oxygen concentration of a forced gas flow. Reaction rates, species profiles, gas phase temperatures, and condensed phase temperatures are examined. Three reactions were found to play a major role in leading to the prediction of transition to flaming. Favorable agreement of temperature response, time to spontaneously transition from smolder to flaming, and location of the transition event between simulation results and experimental data is demonstrated.
Quantifying aerosol direct radiative effect with Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer observations: Top-of-atmosphere albedo change by aerosols based on land surface types

Using internally consistent albedo, aerosol, cloud, and surface data from the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) instrument onboard the Terra satellite, top-of-atmosphere (TOA) spectral albedo change (dα) in the presence of aerosols over land is estimated and its dependence on aerosol and surface properties is analyzed. Linear regressions between spectral TOA albedo and aerosol optical depth (AOD) for different surface types are examined to derive the aerosol-free TOA albedo. MISR surface BiHemispherical Reflectance (BHR) values are used to differentiate surface types. We find relatively high correlations between spectral TOA albedo and AOD for BHR-stratified data in 2° × 2° grid cells. The global mean values of cloud-free dα over land for June–September 2007 are estimated to be 0.018 ± 0.003 (blue), 0.010 ± 0.003 (green), 0.007 ± 0.003 (red), and 0.008 ± 0.006 (near-infrared). Individual regions show large variations from these values. Global patterns of dα are determined mainly by AOD and aerosol radiative efficiency. Large positive values of dα are observed over regions with high aerosol loading and large single-scattering albedo, where the aerosol scattering effect is dominant. The presence of light-absorbing aerosols reduces aerosol radiative efficiency and dα. Surface reflectance influences both aerosol scattering and absorbing effects. Generally, the aerosol radiative efficiency decreases with increasing BHR. We also examined dα-AOD correlations over different vegetation types. We find the smallest dα values are over needleleaf forests and shrublands, whereas the largest values are over cropland and barren regions. The aerosol radiative efficiencies are lowest over needleleaf forests and barren regions and highest over grasslands and croplands.
Cyber-physical security metric inference in smart grid critical infrastructures based on system administrators' responsive behavior

To protect complex power-grid control networks, efficient security assessment techniques are required. However, efficiently making sure that calculated security measures match the expert knowledge is a challenging endeavor. In this paper, we present EliMet, a framework that combines information from different sources and estimates the extent to which a control network meets its security objective. Initially, EliMet passively observes system operators' online reactive behavior against security incidents, and accordingly refines the calculated security measure values. To make the values comply with the expert knowledge, EliMet actively queries operators regarding those states for which sufficient information was not gained during the passive observation. Finally, EliMet makes use of the estimated security measure values for predictive situational awareness by ranking potential cyber-physical contingencies that the security administrators should plan for upfront. Our experimental results show that EliMet can optimally make use of prior knowledge as well as automated inference techniques to minimize human involvement and efficiently deduce the expert knowledge regarding individual states of that particular system.
Corticocortical and Collateral Thalamocortical Connections of Postcentral Somatosensory Cortical Areas in Squirrel Monkeys: A Double-Labeling Study with Radiolabeled Wheatgerm Agglutinin and Wheatgerm Agglutinin Conjugated to Horseradish Peroxidase

Experiments were performed to determine whether thalamic neurons send collaterals to more than one subdivision of postcentral somatosensory cortex, and to evaluate the fidelity of somatotopic connections between cortical representations of the body surface. After microelectrode recordings identified the locations of the representations of the fingertips along the border of area 3b with area 3a and along the border of area 1 with area 2, one tracer, tritiated N-acetyl wheatgerm agglutinin ([3H]WGA), was injected into the rostral representation at the 3a-3b border, and another, wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA:HRP), was injected into the caudal representation at the 1-2 border.The results indicate that three thalamic regions are interconnected with both border zones. Regions of overlapping retrograde and anterograde label included the ventromedial portion of the lateral division of the ventroposterior nucleus (VPL), which is known to represent the digits; the medial extent of a...
Streaming, low-latency communication in on-line trading systems

This paper presents and evaluates the performance of a prototype of an on-line OPRA data feed decoder. Our work demonstrates that, by using best-in-class commodity hardware, algorithmic innovations and careful design, it is possible to obtain the performance of custom-designed hardware solutions. Our prototype system integrates the latest Intel Nehalem processors and Myricom 10 Gigabit Ethernet technologies with an innovative algorithmic design based on the DotStar compilation tool. The resulting system can provide low latency, high bandwidth and the flexibility of commodity components in a single framework, with an end-to-end latency of less then four microseconds and an OPRA feed processing rate of almost 3 million messages per second per core, with a packet payload of only 256 bytes.
Molecular mechanisms and functional implications of polarized actin remodeling at the T cell immunological synapse.

Transient,specialized cell–cell interactions play a central role in leukocyte function by enabling specific intercellular communication in the context of a highly dynamic systems level response. The dramatic structural changes required for the formation of these contacts are driven by rapid and precise cytoskeletal remodeling events. In recent years, the immunological synapse that forms between a T lymphocyte and its antigen-presenting target cell has emerged as an important model system for understanding immune cell interactions. In this review, we discuss how regulators of the cortical actin cytoskeleton control synaptic architecture and in this way specify T cell function.
Active Site Mapping of the Catalytic Mouse Primase Subunit by Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis

In the eukaryotic cell, DNA synthesis is initiated by DNA primase associated with DNA polymerase alpha. The eukaryotic primase is composed of two subunits, p49 and p58, where the p49 subunit contains the catalytic active site. Mutagenesis of the cDNA for the p49 subunit was initiated to demonstrate a functional correlation of conserved residues among the eukaryotic primases and DNA polymerases. Fourteen invariant charged residues in the smaller catalytic mouse primase subunit, p49, were changed to alanine. These mutant proteins were expressed, purified, and enzymatically characterized for primer synthesis. Analyses of the mutant proteins indicate that residues 104-111 are most critical for primer synthesis and form part of the active site. Alanine substitution in residues Glu105, Asp109, and Asp111 produced protein with no detectable activity in direct primase assays, indicating that these residues may form part of a conserved carboxylic triad also observed in the active sites of DNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases. All other mutant proteins showed a dramatic decrease in catalysis, while mutation of two residues, Arg162 and Arg163, caused an increase in Km(NTP). Analysis of these mutant proteins in specific assays designed to separately investigate dinucleotide formation (initiation) and elongation of primer indicates that these two activities utilize the same active site within the p49 subunit. Finally, mutations in three active site codons produced protein with reduced affinity with the p58 subunit, suggesting that p58 may interact directly with active site residues.
Bibliometrics as a tool to map uncharted territory: A study on non-professional interpreting

The descriptive and predictive applications of bibliometric methods are used in this paper to identify and describe non-professional interpreting as an emerging specialty within Translation and Interpreting Studies. ‘Collective communication efforts’ are used as a token of scholarly interest on this new area and exploited bibliometrically to build a corpus of relevant publications. Publication count methods are applied to this corpus of 268 scientific works published between 1973 and 2013 in order to shed light on the evolution of this research front, as well as its main features in terms of creation and dissemination of knowledge (authorship, publication types and disciplinary affiliations). Results point to an early apparition of the topic in the early 1970s, but a delayed growth in scholarly production starting in the early 2000s and taking the shape of journal articles and chapters in collective volumes. Research is spearheaded by a small group of scholars with a continuous interest in the issue and c...
Scholarly communication and electronic journals: an impact study

With the exception of a few experimental projects, peer-reviewed electronic journals (ejournals) have been in existence for only about ten years. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of ejournals, at this early point in their lives, on the scholarly communities they are serving. The study addresses the question: To what extent are scholars and researchers aware of, influenced by, using, or building their own work on research published in ejournals? To put the question another way: What impact are ejournals having on the process of scholarship, research, and the advancement of knowledge? A sample of scholarly, peer-reviewed ejournals was drawn and techniques of citation analysis were used to conduct several analyses. The data show, with a few possible exceptions, that the impact thus far of ejournals on scholarly communication has been minimal. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Mathematical Treatment of the Electric Conductivity and Capacity of Disperse Systems ii. The Capacity of a Suspension of Conducting Spheroids Surrounded by a Non-Conducting Membrane for a Current of Low Frequency

Mathematical theory.---The following formula for the specific capacity $C$ of the suspension, i.e., the parallel capacity of a one centimeter cube of the suspension, is derived in terms of the capacity ${C}_{0}$ of one ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ of the membrane surrounding the spheroids, the major axis $2q$ of a spheroid, the specific resistances $r$ and ${r}_{1}$ of suspension and suspending phase, and a constant $a$ which depends only on the axis ratio $\frac{a}{b}$ of the spheroid: $C={C}_{0}aq(1\ensuremath{-}\frac{{r}_{1}}{r})$. The values of $a$ are given in a table. One application of the formula is the determination of the thickness of interphasial membranes (biological, adsorptive, chemical). The formula can also be used for a suspension of polarizable homogeneous spheroids when the polarization resistance is small compared to the impedance of the polarization capacity.
Outflow refreshment angiography: a bright blood, bright static tissue technique.

Abstract A new “bright blood” strategy, outflow refreshment imaging, is introduced in which a number of overlapping slices are excited in rapid succession. Flowing spins that refresh each overlapped slice portion contribute a bright signal. Additionally, static tissue in each non-overlapped slice portion also yields a bright signal. However, the flow/static contrast is comparable to that produced in inflow refreshment images, and angiograms can be generated by conventional maximum intensity projection processing. The dual ability to visualize angiograms and static tissue images is a major benefit of the strategy. Computer simulations of flow sensitivities and in vivo results are presented which compare the outflow and inflow refreshment imaging strategies.
Stable and unstable elastica equilibrium and the problem of minimum curvature

The Euler-Bernoulli equations governing a stable equilibrium configuration of an elastica, subject to pin supports, can be derived by a formal calculus of variations via a local minimum principle for the strain energy of the elastica. Such a derivation was carried out by Lee and Forsythe [4] in their analysis of open and closed nonlinear spline curves. The basic equation satisfied for each unloaded span between supports by the curvature (or normalized bending moment) k is the familiar equation in the arc length variable
AprilCal: Assisted and repeatable camera calibration

Reliable and accurate camera calibration usually requires an expert intuition to reliably constrain all of the parameters in the camera model. Existing toolboxes ask users to capture images of a calibration target in positions of their choosing, after which the maximum-likelihood calibration is computed using all images in a batch optimization. We introduce a new interactive methodology that uses the current calibration state to suggest the position of the target in the next image and to verify that the final model parameters meet the accuracy requirements specified by the user. Suggesting target positions relies on the ability to score candidate suggestions and their effect on the calibration. We describe two methods for scoring target positions: one that computes the stability of the focal length estimates for initializing the calibration, and another that subsequently quantifies the model uncertainty in pixel space. We demonstrate that our resulting system, AprilCal, consistently yields more accurate camera calibrations than standard tools using results from a set of human trials. We also demonstrate that our approach is applicable for a variety of lenses.
Postnatal Development of the Vallate Papilla and Taste Buds in Rats

The postnatal maturation of the vallate papilla and its taste buds was quantitatively investigated in rats by light microscopy. Specifically, we mea- sured postnatal increases in the size of mature vallate taste buds and the vallate papilla, increases in the thickness of the gustatory epidermis, and increases in the number of mature taste buds and taste cells per bud. Mature taste buds, defined as those having a taste pore, are rare at birth but proliferate rapidly during the first postnatal month until an average of 610 mature taste buds has accumulated by 90 days. Throughout this postnatal period, mature taste buds adjust to the develop- mental thickening of the epidermis by continuously increasing in length. Mature taste buds also increase in width, in part due to a threefold increase from 10 and 45 days in the number of taste cells per bud. From 10 to 21 days there is an average daily net increase of three cells per mature taste bud. The maturational increase in taste buds and cells may contribute to the functional changes in taste nerve re- sponses known to occur over the course of several generations of taste receptor cells. The dimensions of the vallate papilla and the surface area of the gustatory epithe- lium increase logarithmically with age. Although mature taste buds continue to increase in number until 90 days, both taste bud density (178/mm2) and the number of cells per mature taste bud (70-75 cells) reach ceilings by 45 days. Thus, density- dependent factors appear to control vallate taste bud maturation. The immaturity of lingual taste buds in newborn rats supports the view that odor, rather than taste, is the chemosensory signal that guides suckling in altricial rodents.
Leaf inclination of Dryas octopetala L. and its dependence upon latitude

Dryas octopetala L. is a dwarf shrub with a range that extends from the arctic to central Europe and Japan. Leaves of Dryas octopetala appear to be less steeply inclinec in arctic populations than in alpine populations at temperature latitudes. This pattern of an increase in inclination angle with decreasing latitude is consistent with that found for a significant number of other plant species and may be adaptive for the higher stresses placed on tropical and temperate plants by incident solar flux.
Threat/reward-sensitivity and hypomanic-personality modulate cognitive-control and attentional neural processes to emotional stimuli

Temperamental-traits (e.g. threat/reward-sensitivity) are found to modulate cognitive-control and attentional-processes. Yet, it is unclear exactly how these traits interact with emotional-stimuli in the modulation of cognitive-control, as reflected by the N2 event-related potential (ERP), and attentional-processes, as reflected by the P2 and P3 ERPs. Here in an ERP emotional-Go/NoGo task, 36 participants were instructed to inhibit their response to Fearful- and Happy-faces. Individual-differences in threat-sensitivity, reward-sensitivity and hypomanic-personality were assessed through self-report. Hypomanic-personality was assessed, given its relationship with reward-sensitivity and relevance to mood-disorder symptoms. Concerning cognitive-control, individuals with elevated threat-sensitivity displayed more-negative N2s to Happy-NoGo (relative to Fearful-NoGo) faces, whereas both individuals with elevated reward-sensitivity and hypomanic-personality displayed more-negative N2s to Fearful-NoGo (relative to Happy-NoGo) faces. Accordingly, when cognitive-control is required (during Go/NoGo), a mismatch between one's temperament and the valence of the NoGo-stimulus elevates detection of the need for cognitive-control. Conversely, the modulation of attentional-processing was specific to threat-sensitivity, as there was no relationship between either reward-sensitivity or hypomanic-personality and attentional-processing. Elevated threat-sensitivity was associated with enhanced early (P2s) and later (P3s) attentional-processing to Fearful-NoGo (relative to Happy-NoGo) faces. These latter findings support the negative attentional-bias model relating elevated threat-sensitivity with attentional-biases toward negative-stimuli and away from positive-stimuli.
C−H Bond Activation by Air-Stable [(Diimine)MII(μ2-OH)]22+ Dimers (M = Pd, Pt)

Air- and water-tolerant C−H activation is observed in reactions of [(diimine)Pt(μ2-OH)]22+ dimers with allylic and benzylic C−H groups. The reactions proceed in good yields under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies indicate that the active species is the monomeric [(diimine)Pt(OH2)]2+ dication. The related palladium species, [(diimine)Pd(μ2-OH)]22+, exhibit similar stoichiometric activations and also effect catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene to benzene with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant.
Single-locus complementary sex determination in the inbreeding wasp Euodynerus foraminatus Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The Hymenoptera have arrhenotokous haplodiploidy in which males normally develop from unfertilized eggs and are haploid, while females develop from fertilized eggs and are diploid. Multiple sex determination systems are known to underlie haplodiploidy, and the best understood is single-locus complementary sex determination (sl-CSD) in which sex is determined at a single polymorphic locus. Individuals heterozygous at the sex locus develop as females; individuals that are hemizygous (haploid) or homozygous (diploid) at the sex locus develop as males. sl-CSD can be detected with inbreeding experiments that produce diploid males in predictable proportions as well as sex ratio shifts due to diploid male production. This sex determination system is considered incompatible with inbreeding because the ensuing increase in homozygosity increases the production of diploid males that are inviable or infertile, imposing a high cost on matings between close relatives. However, in the solitary hunting wasp Euodynerus foraminatus, a species suspected of having sl-CSD, inbreeding may be common due to a high incidence of sibling matings at natal nests. In laboratory crosses with E. foraminatus, we find that sex ratios and diploid male production (detected as microsatellite heterozygosity) are consistent with sl-CSD, but not with other sex determination systems. This is the first documented example of sl-CSD in a hymenopteran with an apparent natural history of inbreeding, and thus presents a paradox for our understanding of hymenopteran genetics.
Infrared Spectra of VnBzn+1 Sandwich Clusters: A Theoretical Study of Size Evolution

Results of density functional theory computations of infrared (IR) spectra of linear sandwich VnBzn+1, n = 1−6, complexes are presented. It is shown that the systematic changes in the spectra as a function of the complex size can be categorized and understood in terms of responses of the “parent” modes of the Bz molecule and the VBz complex. The analysis presented should be applicable to a broad class of linear sandwich systems.
A novel reactor system that permits the direct determination of deactivation kinetics for a heterogeneous catalyst

Abstract This reactor system consists of a differential reactor and a single-pellet reactor both with external recycle of the inlet feed. The design and operation of these two reactors permit direct determination of the deactivation kinetics for a heterogeneous catalyst and a better value for the initial reaction rate. Direct determination of deactivation kinetics is not possible in systems operating at constant space velocity because the reaction mixture composition varies with time. For the system presented in this paper deactivation data are obtained at constant reaction mixture composition by varying the space velocity to compensate for catalyst deactivation. Feed rates, recycle rates, and reactor system volumes in our system are designed to minimize system response time which for this system is on the order of a few seconds. To demonstrate the operation of this novel reactor system, the fouling of a platinum catalyst was studied using a model reaction.
Dietary self-selection, activity and carcass composition of rats fed thiouracil

Abstract The interaction of dietary self-selection and spontaneous running wheel activity as fat regulating mechanisms was studied in rats treated with thiouracil. Both hypothyroid and euthyroid rats were given the opportunity to either select their diets, engage in running activity or both. Thiouracil treated rats reduced carbohydrate intake while maintaining protein intake levels equal to those of controls. Thiouracil treatment reduced running activity levels when the rats were given the opportunity to select their diets, but did not affect the running levels of rats fed a control diet. All groups given access to running wheels were at the same carcass fat level except the control diet fed, thiouracil treated rats which were at a lower fat level. It was suggested that, at least for hypothyroid rats, the combination of dietary self-selection and running activity is a more efficient mechanism for regulating carcass composition than is either behavior alone.
Synergistic contributions of asparagine 46 and aspartate 52 to the catalytic mechanism of chicken egg white lysozyme

The X-ray structure of a chicken egg white lysozyme (ChEWL) complex with a peptidoglycan-derived inhibitor suggests that interactions of Asn46 and Asp52 with the D-subsite N-acetylmuramic acid residue help to distort that pyranose ring into the reactive half-chair conformation and that a hydrogen bond is formed between Asn46 and Asp52 [Strynadka, N. C. J., & James, M. N. G. (1991) J. Mol. Biol. 220, 401-424]. These hypotheses were investigated through the D52A, N46A, and D52A/N46A mutants of ChEWL. The Michaelis constants of the D52A and D52A/N46A ChEWL complexes with Micrococcus luteus cells are 3- and 4-fold higher, respectively, than the wild-type KM; the corresponding kcat values are 25- and 50-fold lower, respectively, than the wild-type kcat. These results support the proposal of Strynadka and James. The velocities of reactions catalyzed by the N46A and D52A mutants are approximately equal to each other for all classes of substrate, suggesting that the respective roles of Asn46 and Asp52 in transition state stabilization do not vary. The mutation of either Asn46 or Asp52 to Ala apparently disrupts the interactions of the other (nonmutated) residue with the substrate, supporting the crystallographic evidence of a hydrogen-bond interaction between the two residues. The mutations do not change the values of the dissociation constants of complexes with (carboxymethyl)chitin complexes, suggesting that ground state complexes of ChEWL with chitin-derived substrates differ in conformation from complexes with bacterial peptidoglycans.
Threshold minimization and directional laser emission from GaN microdisks

2-micrometers thick GaN microdisks with the following shapes: circular; square; and quadrupolar with various deformation amplitudes have been investigated by optical pumping. For circular microdisks, the minimum laser threshold was found when the pump is a ring-shaped 355 nm laser beam. An imaging technique is used to photograph (with a CCD camera) the sidewall of the microdisk at various angles in the horizontal plane. From the imaging results as a function of observation angle, it is possible to extract information about the laser output location along the sidewall and its far-field angular pattern. Image results for the quadrupoles (with optical pumping of the top face) suggest that the directionality of laser emission is associated with chaotic- orbits that emerge just outside the highest curvature edges. With focused pumping of the same quadrupole structures at the middle of the top face, only Fabry-Perot modes involving the two lowest curvature interfaces are observed.
Estimation of a bivariate symmetric distribution function

Abstract We consider the efficient estimation of a bivariate distribution function (DF) under the class of radially symmetric distributions and propose an estimator based on the mean of the empirical distribution and survival functions. We obtain the mean and variance of the estimator and show that it has an asymptotic normal distribution. We also show that the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator of the bivariate DF coincides with the new estimator under radial symmetry. We study the asymptotic relative efficiency of this estimator and show that it results in a minimum of 50% reduction in sample size over the empirical DF at any point (x,y) in R 2 . A bootstrap procedure to test whether the data support a radially symmetric model is examined. A simulation study compares the size and power of this test under bivariate normality, against alternatives in the Plackett's family of bivariate distributions, to two other procedures based on Kolmogorov–Smirnov distance.
Models of U-series disequilibria generation in MORB: the effects of two scales of melt porosity

Abstract Conflicting evidence exists about the extent of melt–mantle reaction as melt ascends beneath a mid-ocean ridge. On the one hand, uranium series (U-series) disequilibria in mid-ocean ridge basalts suggest that melts reactively flow towards the surface and continuously re-equilibrate with lower pressure mantle. On the other hand, trace elements in abyssal peridotites suggest fractional melting and isolation of ascending melt from surrounding lower pressure peridotite. Following a suggestion by Kelemen et al. (1997) [Kelemen, P.B., Hirth, G., Shimizu, N., Spiegelman, M., Dick, H.J.B., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. 355, 283–318], I construct a model for melting beneath mid-ocean ridges which consists of two materials having different melt porosity distributions in order to quantitatively assess whether the U-series and abyssal peridotite observations could actually be compatible. The melting column consists of a volumetrically dominant lherzolite which produces melt by decompression and a volumetrically minor dunite which serves as a conduit for fast melt ascent. A suction parameter S (after Iwamori (1994) [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 125, 1–16]) controls the transfer of melt between the lherzolite and dunite media. S can vary from 0 where none of the ascending melt flows through the dunite melt conduit (reactive porous flow melting) to 1 where the melt produced in the lherzolite is immediately transferred to the dunite (near-fractional melting). Transport times of U-series nuclides are accounted for in both porosity regimes based on calculated flux balances. Results show that the trace element patterns observed in abyssal peridotites require S to range from 0.5 to 0.8 depending on assumptions about the composition of the original source material. U-series models are evaluated in terms of three quantities: S, χ (the volumetric fraction of dunite), and a2/ηC which lumps together several constants relating to permeability. 226 Ra and 231 Pa excesses are most sensitive to a2/ηC (which affects the melt porosity within the melting region). 226 Ra excesses match the observed levels of 226 Ra excess in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) at all values of S. 231 Pa excesses favor lower values of S as models with high S produce significantly less ( 231 Pa )/( 235 U ) than that observed. There remains some disparity between the values of S required by the abyssal peridotite data and the observed 231 Pa excesses although further refinement of partition coefficients could resolve the difference. Within the models presented, the two geochemical observations are close to being reconciled if S=0.5 and the mantle permeability is at least 1×10−14 m2. However, a factor of two higher bulk partition coefficient for U (DU=0.003) would allow the observed ( ( 231 Pa )/( 235 U ) ) to be matched at S=0.5 while dropping the required bulk permeability to less than 1×10−15 m2.
Glutathione-mediated chlorothalonil detoxification in channel catfish gills

Abstract Maintenance of the glutathione (GSH) pathway is critical in guarding against the toxic effects of a variety of pollutants. However, despite their importance as an initial line of defense against waterborne toxicants, little is known regarding the role of fish gills in GSH-mediated xenobiotic metabolism. In these studies, the role of channel catfish gills in the detoxification of 2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile (chlorothalonil), an electrophilic fungicide, was examined. Chlorothalonil was metabolized in vitro by gill cytosolic and microsomal glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Chlorothalonil metabolism by cytosolic fructions was reduced markedly when GSH was omitted from reaction mixtures. Microsomal metabolism of chlorothalonil did not occur in the absence of GSH and in the presence of an NADPH-regenerating system lacking GSH. Channel catfish exposed in vivo to chlorothalonil had increased gill GSH and cysteine concentrations after 72 h exposure, and increased gill gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) activity at 144 h of exposure. Our results show that the gills play an important role in the metabolism and detoxification of chlorothalonil in the channel catfish. Catfish can maintain elevated gill GSH concentrations in the presence of chlorothalonil by increasing gill cysteine concentrations.
Adequacy of mucosal biopsies for evaluation of intestinal cytokine-specific mRNA - Comparative study of RT-PCR in biopsies and isolated cells from normal and inflamed intestine

Endoscopic biopsies are being increasingly utilized to investigate cytokine profiles in normal and diseased intestine. To evaluate the adequacy of mucosal biopsies as a source of cytokine-specific mRNA, we measured their content of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and compared it to that of autologous lamina propria mononuclear cells in control and inflammatory bowel disease-involved specimens. High-quality total RNA was recovered more consistently from cell isolates than from biopsies. Interleukin-1β mRNA was reliably detected in both cell and biopsy samples, whereas IL-2 mRNA was measurable in all lamina propria cells but not always in biopsies. Compared to controls, levels of IL-1β were significantly elevated in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cells and biopsies, and a weak but significant correlation existed between values derived from the two sources. In contrast, only ulcerative colitis cell isolates but not biopsies contained significantly reduced concentrations of IL-2 mRNA compared to those of control and Crohn's disease samples, and no correlation was found between cell and biopsy contents. Widely different levels of cytokine-specific mRNA were present in closely adjacent biopsies, particularly for IL-2. These results suggest that mucosal biopsies are suitable to assess some but not all cytokine-specific mRNA due to variation in RNA recovery, intrinsic level of cytokine gene expression, and substantial variability of cytokine transcripts.
A bioluminescent assay for glycogen phosphorylase in cultured cells.

Abstract A new method for the determination of glycogen phosphorylase (1,4α- d -glucose:orthophosphate α-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.1) in cultured cells is described. The assay utilizes bacterial luciferase (EC 2.7) in a liquid scintillation spectrometer to measure NAD(P)H formed in a coupled enzyme reaction comprising glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and phosphoglucomutase (EC 2.7.5.1). This assay is highly sensitive, easily detecting as little as 10 μU phosphorylase, fast and simple to perform. With modifications this procedure can be extended to measure other glycogenolytic enzymes and intermediates.
Late-Quaternary diminution and abundance of prehistoric bison (Bison sp.) in eastern Washington state, U.S.A.

Bison (Bison spp.) occurred in eastern Washington state during the late Quaternary. This area is considered to be peripheral to the center of this taxon's natural range. Bison in the plains east of the Rocky Mountains, the heart of this range, underwent diminution during the late Quaternary, and apparently also did so in other, peripheral areas. A ratio diagram of measurement data derived from eight zooarchaeological collections of bison remains recovered from eastern Washington, in combination with the presence of both sexes and all age classes of individuals, indicate that local bison may have also undergone diminution there. There are, however, a relative paucity of bison remains during the middle Holocene and an apparent 2000-year absence of bison from eastern Washington at this time. As a result, the hypothesis that bison became smaller elsewhere and then immigrated to eastern Washington cannot be falsified. Both the diminution and the fluctuating abundance of bison appear to be responses to forage quality and quantity.
Effect of Implant Shape and Material Properties on Stresses in the Glenoid Components of Total Shoulder Arthroplasties: A Finite Element Analysis

The geometry of the glenohumeral joint is osseous, naturally nonconforming and minimally constrained, thus the essential requirement of a glenohumeral prosthesis in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is prevention of joint degeneration and glenoid loosening. A variety of glenoid prostheses have been developed. Nonconforming glenohumeral implants are common for TSA. However, the nonconforming shape increases the instability when the humeral head is in the central region, where motion frequently occurs. Conforming implants can increase joint stability, but the “rocking-horse” effect [1] caused by the conforming shape is thought to lead to high stresses and moments at the glenoid rim when the humeral head approaches the periphery during its range of motion. The hybrid design, with a conforming center and a nonconforming periphery, combines the advantages of both nonconforming and conforming implant geometries. It has been shown [2] that the peak stress generated in glenoid components during activities of daily living can be as high as 25 MPa, which exceeds the polyethylene yield strength of the glenoid component and can lead to wear and cold flow of the component. Polyethylene has also been shown to be viscoelastic [3]. Therefore, both elastic-plastic and viscoelastic-plastic models of the glenoid implant were used to determine how viscoelasticity affected stress in the implant. The effects of implant shape on the stresses in the center, transition, and superior zones for the three different glenoid implant shapes, as well as on the stress in the underlying cement and bone, were determined in this study.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Beyond interaction: meta-design and cultures of participation

Most interesting, important, and pressing problems facing societies in the 21st century transcend the unaided individual human mind. They require collaborative systems to explore, frame, solve, and assess their solutions. Cultures of participation represent foundations for the next generation of collaborative systems by supporting all stakeholders to participate actively in personally meaningful problems. Meta-design supports cultures of participation by defining and creating social and technical infrastructures in which users can choose to become designers. These developments create new discourses in human-computer interaction (HCI), complementing and transcending current approaches centered on interaction.This article illustrates these objectives and themes with specific examples and articulates their relevance for the OzCHI conference theme "Design, Culture and Interaction".
Lateral dominance and development of cerebral specialization.

Summary Left-handed and right-handed 5–6 year old children were given Verbal and nonverbal (Performance) subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) in order to reveal possible differences in abilities between the two groups. Since previous studies by other authors showed such differences in specific adult groups, this investigation sought to discover whether or not differences associated with handedness (1) are detectable earlier in development and (2) exist in nonspecialized individuals. This study indicates that there are no significant differences between left-handed and right-handed 5-year-old children with respect to their verbal and performance abilities.
Expression of syndecan-1 and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor are associated with survival in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND Recently, the authors identified molecular signatures and pathways associated with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma histology and lung development. They hypothesized that genetic classifiers of histology would provide insight into lung tumorigenesis and would be associated with clinical outcome when evaluated in a broader set of specimens. METHODS Associations between patient survival and immunostaining for 11 representative histologic classifiers (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], CDK4, syndecan-1, singed-like, TTF-1, keratin 5, HDAC2, docking protein 1, integrin α3, P63, and cyclin D1) were examined using a tissue microarray constructed from nonsmall cell lung carcinoma specimens. RESULTS Sixty-three tumors were examined, including 43 adenocarcinomas, 11 large cell carcinomas, and 9 squamous cell carcinomas. Sixty-three percent of tumors were clinical Stage I lesions, and 37% were Stage II–III lesions. In a multivariate analysis that controlled for age, gender, and race, syndecan-1 expression was found to be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.31 [95% confidence interval, 0.18–0.87]; P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis also indicated that EGFR expression was associated with a significant reduced risk of death. CONCLUSIONS The authors demonstrated that expression of either of the nonsmall cell lung carcinoma subtype classifiers syndecan-1 and EGFR was associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of death, with this reduction being independent of histology and other confounders. The results of the current study suggest that loss of expression of these histologic classifiers is associated with biologic aggressiveness in lung tumors and with poor outcome for patients with such tumors. If their significance can be validated prospectively, these biomarkers may be used to guide therapeutic planning for patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
A systematic evaluation of the core communication skills expected of a perfusionist.

Background: The objective of this systematic evaluation was to identify the sentinel standards necessary to obtain a core level of communication required of a clinical perfusionist during cardiopul...
Multiple identities and psychological well-being: a reformulation and test of the social isolation hypothesis

Drawing upon symbolic interactionist theory, this paper reconceptualizes social isolation as the possession offew social identities. Social identities (enacted in role relationships) give meaning and guidance to behavior, and thus should prevent anxiety, depression, and disordered conduct. The "identity accumulation hypothesis"-the more identities possessed by an actor, the less psychological distress helshe should exhibit-is tested and supported using panel data from the New Haven community survey (Myers et al., 1971). The interaction between identity accumulation and identity change is also examined, under differing assumptions regarding the structure of multiple identities. Results indicate that integrated individuals benefit more from identity gain and also suffer more from identity loss than isolated individuals. The implications of these results for social isolation theory and for previous conceptions of the effects of multiple roles are discussed.
Computer aided preform design in forging using the inverse die contact tracking method

The inverse die contact tracking method presented in this paper utilizes both the forward and inverse finite element simulations to design the preform shapes in forging processes. The procedure starts with the forward simulation of a candidate preform into the final forging shape. A record of the boundary condition changes is produced by identifying when a particular segment of the die makes contact with the workpiece surfaces in forward simulation. This recorded time sequence is then optimized according to the material flow characteristics and the state of die fill to satisfy the requirement of material utilization and forging quality. The modified boundary conditions are finally used as the boundary condition control criterion for the inverse deformation simulation. Additionally, a procedure to determine process staging points using trial forward simulation is given. As an example, the preform design of a plane strain forging process is performed. The fuller, buster and blocker dies are designed by using the inverse deformation simulation.