cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tissue culture of male mammalian gonads.

This review will be limited to tissue culture of post-natal male mammalian gonads specifically, since their physiology and culture requirements differ from those of embryonal testes or ovaries. Also, a more general review of gonadal tissue culture of various vertebrate Amniotes has been published recently (1). A meaningful study on the growth and differentiation of mammalian testes in vitro presupposes a thorough knowledge of their morphologic and physiologic characteristics-particularly, the dynamics of spermatogenesis. The process of spermatogenesis by which male gametes are produced takes place within the seminiferous tubules and involves a highly organized sequence of events and precise timing. Much information has been gained in recent years on the duration of complete spermatogenesis in various species, as well as the duration of each evolutionary step in this process. For example, 48 days are required for completion of spermatogenesis in the rat (2); 36 days in the mouse (3); and 64 days in the human (4). The spermatogenic process begins soon after birth, and until the animal becomes sexually mature the extent of germ cell differentiation and testes development, in general, are closely related to the age of the animal (5). In seasonal breeders, the morphologic and functional changes in the testes are also dependent on the time of the year. In sexually mature animals the testes are composed of various cell types with different properties. Some cell types differentiate and divide by either mitosis (spermatogonia) or meiosis (spermatocytes); others undergo differentiation without division (spermatids); and still others do not differentiate or divide (Sertoli cells). Microscopic examination of crosssections of the seminiferous tubules re-
Cultivating Student Teachers' Disposition and Ability to Construct Knowledge

Abstract This article describes a method of supervision that brings together teacher candidates and supervisors to help the candidates develop a disposition towards and ability to construct knowledge. The method represents a change in the candidate-supervisor relationship from one that is potentially adversarial to one that treats teaching as a reflective, inquiry-based, knowledge-producing activity. It envisions supervision as a process where candidate and supervisor move beyond the mere cognitive aspects of instruction to creatively and intelligently using those within a socio-cultural context.” The authors present two cases to illustrate this method and discuss the continuing implementation and validation of this approach.
Parametrization of the cosmic ray ion-pair production rate above 18 km

Abstract Cosmic rays are a significant source of ionization in the stratosphere and the lower mesosphere. Because the collision cross section of these energetic particles is small, the ion-pair production rate above 30 km is directly proportional to the atmospheric number density. Between 30 and 18 km increasing numbers of secondary cosmic ray particles cause a rapid increase in the ionization rate which is proportional to a simple power law in number density or pressure. The Earth's magnetic field also modulates the incident flux so that for magnetic latitudes below about 60° the ion-pair production rate is also proportional to a factor of (A+B sin4Λ).
Reviewing and Changing Answers on Computer‐adaptive and Self‐adaptive Vocabulary Tests

Results obtained from computer-adaptive and self-adaptive tests were compared under conditions in which item review was permitted and not permitted. Comparisons of answers before and after review within the "review" condition showed that a small percentage of answers was changed (5.23%), that more answers were changed from wrong to right than from right to wrong (by a ratio of 2.92:1), that most examinees (66.5%) changed answers to at least some questions, that most examinees who changed answers improved their ability estimates by doing so (by a ratio of 2.55 to 1), and that review was particularly beneficial to examinee s at high ability levels. Comparisons between the "review" and "no-review" conditions yielded no significant differences in ability estimates or in estimated measurement error and provided no trustworthy evidence that test anxiety moderated the effects of review on those indexes. Most examinees desired review, but permitting it increased testing time by 41 %. The effects of reviewing and changing answers on fixed-item paper-and-pencil
Representation of the tongue in the cerebellar nuclei of the monkey.

Abstract Electrophysiologic techniques were used to determine the pattern of representation of the tongue within the cerebellar nuclei of the monkey, Macaca mulatta . The cerebellar nuclei were stimulated with bipolar, concentric electrodes, and lingual activity was recorded electromyographically from the extrinsic tongue musculature with indwelling needle electrodes. Correlative gross tongue movements were also monitored via a system of force-displacement transducers. The results indicate that the tongue is represented within each of the four cerebellar nuclei; however, the degree of representation is not equivalent. Whereas numerous stimulus sites in the fastigal and anterior interposed nuclei were effective in influencing tongue muscle activity, effective sites were limited to medial and rostral regions of the dentate nucleus and to a small central region of the posterior interposed nucleus. This particular pattern of tongue representation in the cerebellar nuclei has implications for the anatomicofunctional organization of the cerebellum for controlling other somatic motor organs.
The spectrum of R Cygni during its exceptionally low maximum of 1983.

Spectres obtenus en 1983 lors du plus faible maximum jamais enregistre. Etude des raies d'emission et d'absorption dans l'IR proche et le visible
Maximizing Exposure-Limited Resolution of Practical Rotating Mirror Cameras

The important relationships among the parameters of rotating mirror cameras are derived, and the consequences for exposure-limited application are discussed. The internal optical geometry of both smear and framing cameras is presented, and the optimum mirror position obtained. Some suggestions for mechanical design are given. The information should be useful both to designers and to purchasers.
Causes of concentration differences between a scanning mobility particle sizer and a condensation particle counter

Accurate aerosol concentration measurement is important in many applications of aerosol science. Here we compare aerosol concentration measurements of classified NaCl aerosol in the size range of 20 to 80 nm (diameter) between a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and a condensation particle counter (CPC). The SMPS systematically measured higher concentrations than the CPC, with the difference increasing with decreasing particle size. Experiments suggest several causes for the discrepancy. First, the factory calibration of the SMPS impactor flow was incorrect for the study site at 780 mbar. Second, the neutralizer used in the SMPS was inefficient in bringing the classified aerosol to charge equilibrium, and third, there were significant losses of charged aerosol within the CPC. The comparisons were improved with proper impactor flow calibration and proper charge neutralization of the classified aerosol before measurement by the SMPS and CPC. The results of this study point to the importance of proper conditioning of aerosol below about 100 nm for measurement with the SMPS and condensation-based particle counters.
Variables influencing medical student learning in the operating room

Abstract Background The operating room (OR) is an important venue where surgeons do much of medical student teaching and yet there has been little work evaluating variables that influence learning in this unique environment. We designed this study to identify variables that affected medical student learning in the OR. Methods We developed a questionnaire based on surgery faculty observations of learning in the OR. The medical students completed the questionnaire on 114 learning episodes in the OR. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to establish the strength of association between various variables and the student's overall perception of learning. Results The students evaluated 27 variables that might impact their learning in the OR. Strong correlations were identified between the attending physician's attitude, interactions and teaching ability in the OR and the environment being conducive to learning. Conclusions Surgical faculty behavior is a powerful determinant of student perceptions of what provides for a favorable learning environment in the OR.
Hierarchical optimal force-position-contour control of machining processes. Part II. Illustrative example

There has been a tremendous amount of research in machine tool servomechanism control, contour control, and machining force control; however, to date these technologies have not been tightly integrated. This paper develops a hierarchical optimal control methodology for the simultaneous regulation of servomechanism positions, contour error, and machining forces. The contour error and machining force process reside in the top level of the hierarchy where the goals are to 1) drive the contour error to zero to maximize quality and 2) maintain a constant cutting force to maximize productivity. These goals are systematically propagated to the bottom level, via aggregation relationships between the top and bottom-level states, and combined with the bottom-level goals of tracking reference servomechanism positions. A single controller is designed at the bottom level, where the physical control signals reside, that simultaneously meets both the top and bottom-level goals. The hierarchical optimal control methodology is extended to account for variations in force process model parameters and process parameters. Simulations are conducted for four machining operations that validate the developed methodology. The results illustrate that the controller can simultaneously achieve both the top and bottom-level goals.
Letter From the Lady on Bed 3

Abstract [Geiderman JM. Letter from the lady on bed 3. Ann Emerg Med. June 2000;35:626-627.]
ARMI: an adaptive, platform independent communication library

ARMI is a communication library that provides a framework for expressing fine-grain parallelism and mapping it to a particular machine using shared-memory and message passing library calls. The library is an advanced implementation of the RMI protocol and handles low-level details such as scheduling incoming communication and aggregating outgoing communication to coarsen parallelism when necessary. These details can be tuned for different platforms to allow user codes to achieve the highest performance possible without manual modification. ARMI is used by STAPL, our generic parallel library, to provide a portable, user transparent communication layer. We present the basic design as well as the mechanisms used in the current Pthreads/OpenMP, MPI implementations and/or a combination thereof. Performance comparisons between ARMI and explicit use of Pthreads or MPI are given on a variety of machines, including an HP V2200, SGI Origin 3800, IBM Regatta-HPC and IBM RS6000 SP cluster.
Comments on On Normalizing Constants in Queueing Networks by P. G. Harrison

Comments on Harrison, P. G. 1985. On normalizing constants in queueing networks. Opns. Res.33 464-468.
Stress-related anhedonia is associated with ventral striatum reactivity to reward and transdiagnostic psychiatric symptomatology

Background Early life stress (ELS) is consistently associated with increased risk for subsequent psychopathology. Individual differences in neural response to reward may confer vulnerability to stress-related psychopathology. Using data from the ongoing Duke Neurogenetics Study, the present study examined whether reward-related ventral striatum (VS) reactivity moderates the relationship between retrospectively reported ELS and anhedonic symptomatology. We further assessed whether individual differences in reward-related VS reactivity were associated with other depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use via stress-related anhedonic symptoms and substance use-associated coping. Method Blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was collected while participants (n = 906) completed a card-guessing task, which robustly elicits VS reactivity. ELS, anhedonic symptoms, other depressive symptoms, coping behavior, and alcohol use behavior were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Linear regressions were run to examine whether VS reactivity moderated the relationship between ELS and anhedonic symptoms. Structural equation models examined whether this moderation was indirectly associated with other depression symptoms and problematic alcohol use through its association with anhedonia. Results Analyses of data from 820 participants passing quality control procedures revealed that the VS × ELS interaction was associated with anhedonic symptoms (p = 0.011). Moreover, structural equation models indirectly linked this interaction to non-anhedonic depression symptoms and problematic alcohol use through anhedonic symptoms and substance-related coping. Conclusions These findings suggest that reduced VS reactivity to reward is associated with increased risk for anhedonia in individuals exposed to ELS. Such stress-related anhedonia is further associated with other depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use through substance-related coping.
Assessing Teachers' Beliefs about Their Science Teaching Context

The primary purpose of this study was to develop and apply a method for assessing teach- ers' context beliefs about their science teaching environment. Interviews with 130 purposefully selected teachers resulted in 28 categories of environmental factors and/or people who were perceived to influence science teaching. These categories were used to develop items for the Context Beliefs about Teaching Sci- ence instrument and provided evidence for content validity. Construct validity was partially confirmed through factor analysis that resulted in 26 items and two subscales on the final instrument. Using Ford's Motivation Systems Theory and Bandura's Theory of Collective Efficacy, additional evidence for construct validity was found in the modest correlation of context beliefs with outcome expectancy beliefs and the low correlation with science teaching self-efficacy beliefs. The instrument was tested using 262 teachers participating in long-term science professional development programs. These teachers possessed fairly pos- itive context beliefs and, according to Ford's theory, should be capable of effective functioning in the class- room. It was concluded that the assessment of context beliefs would complement current science teacher self-efficacy measures, thereby allowing researchers to develop profiles of science teachers' personal agency belief patterns. It could also be used to determine the factors which predict particular personal agency belief patterns, and assess teachers' perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of school science programs, and could be used in planning and monitoring professional development experiences for science teachers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 37: 275 - 292, 2000.
Carrier and Clock Recovery for 8 PSK Synchronous Demodulation

Synchronous demodulation of Phase-shift-keyed transmissions requires the recovery of carrier and clock timing signals. Envelope detection of the 70 MHz IF signal is used to recover clock, and baseband processing is used to recover carrier for an 8 PSK digital radio with a data rate of 90 Mbits/s in the 11 GHz band. A sequential phase detector is used in a high noise application. Two versions of the carrier recovery circuit are presented. The first one employs hot carrier diode quads to form a compound Costas loop. The second one employs ECL exclusive-OR gates. Emphasis is placed on providing high performance while conserving energy, space, and manufacturing cost.
The neurology of solid organ transplantation.

Transplantation is the rescue treatment for end-stage organ failure with more than 110,000 solid organs transplantations performed worldwide annually. Recent advances in transplantation procedures and posttransplantation management have improved long-term survival and quality of life of transplant recipients, shifting the focus from acute perioperative critical care needs toward long-term chronic medical problems. Neurologic complications affect up to 30–60 % of solid organ transplant recipients. Common etiologies include opportunistic infections and toxicities of antirejection medications, and wide spectrum of toxic and metabolic disturbances. Most complications are common to all allograft types, but some are relatively specific for individual allograft types (e.g., central pontine myelinolysis in liver transplant recipients). Close collaboration between neurologists and other transplant team members is essential for effective management. Early recognition of complications and accurate diagnosis leading to timely treatment is essential to reduce the morbidity and improve the overall transplant outcome.
Vibrational entropies of alloying and compound formation: Experimental trends

Abstract Using phonon density-of-states data from the literature, the vibrational entropies of formation were calculated for 32 different alloys and intermetallic compounds in the harmonic approximation. The vibrational entropies of formation span a wide range from -0.64kB to +0.55kB atom−1. The change in vibrational entropy when a minority species is substituted for a majority species was also calculated. These vibrational entropies of alloying ranged from -0.39kB to +1.0kBatom−1. Some correlations of the vibrational entropies to the thermophysical properties of the elements are reported. Correlations of vibrational entropies to predictions of a bulk Debye model were unsuccessful because the Debye temperature emphasizes a minority of phonons that have low energies. Good correlation was found between the vibrational entropy of formation and the differences in nietallic radii of the alloy species. The vibrational entropies of alloying for L12, A15 and Laves phase compounds were most successfully correlated...
Computation of Object Approach by a Wide-Field, Motion-Sensitive Neuron

The lobula giant motion detector (LGMD) in the locust visual system is a wide-field, motion-sensitive neuron that responds vigorously to objects approaching the animal on a collision course. We investigated the computation performed by LGMD when it responds to approaching objects by recording the activity of its postsynaptic target, the descending contralateral motion detector (DCMD). In each animal, peak DCMD activity occurred a fixed delay delta (15 </= delta </= 35 msec) after the approaching object had reached a specific angular threshold thetathres on the retina (15 degrees </= thetathres </= 40 degrees). thetathres was independent of the size or velocity of the approaching object. This angular threshold computation was quite accurate: the error of LGMD and DCMD in estimating thetathres (3.1-11.9 degrees) corresponds to the angular separation between two and six ommatidia at each edge of the expanding object on the locust retina. It was also resistant to large amplitude changes in background luminosity, contrast, and body temperature. Using several experimentally derived assumptions, the firing rate of LGMD and DCMD could be shown to depend on the product psi(t - delta). e-alphatheta(t-delta), where theta(t) is the angular size subtended by the object during approach, psi(t) is the angular edge velocity of the object and the constant, and alpha is related to the angular threshold size [alpha = 1/tan(thetathres/2)]. Because LGMD appears to receive distinct input projections, respectively motion- and size-sensitive, this result suggests that a multiplication operation is implemented by LGMD. Thus, LGMD might be an ideal model to investigate the biophysical implementation of a multiplication operation by single neurons.
Mode of Filamentous Growth of Leucothrix mucor in Pure Culture and in Nature, as Studied by Tritiated Thymidine Autoradiography

Abstract Mode of growth of Leucothrix mucor filaments was measured by autoradiography with tritiated thymidine. Studies were performed on L. mucor in pure cultures in free suspension, as an epiphyte of pure cultures of the red alga Antithamnion sarniense, and as an epiphyte of red algae in the sea. Statistical analyses of the distribution of growing cells was done by use of the nonparametric One-Sample Runs Test and a Cluster analysis adapted from quadrat analyses of plant ecologists. No evidence of preferential growth at base or tip of L. mucor filaments was obtained in any of these studies. However, in nature, but not in the laboratory, there were regions of L. mucor filaments which were nongrowing or dormant. Such nongrowing regions could incorporate tritiated glucose.
Root growth analysis: An underutilised approach to understanding aluminium rhizotoxicity

Despite numerous published studies, the mechanistic bases for Al rhizotoxicity and for intraspecific differences in Al tolerance remain elusive. Classical methods of growth analysis offer a means to describe quantitatively the onset of root growth inhibition in response to an Al challenge, and any subsequent recovery in growth rates (i.e. acclimation). Such information could help elucidate tolerance mechanisms (i.e. constitutive vs. inducible). Despite this potential utility, however, published data of high accuracy and precision are few, especially with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this paper, a conceptual framework for analysing root growth responses to Al is presented. Specially designed tanks and a computerised video analysis system were used to monitor root elongation in a simple medium (1 mMCaCl2, pH 4.3) containing varied Al concentrations. Root lengths of five wheat cultivars were measured every 2 to 5 h for 48 h after Al challenge. Growth rates typically exhibited a brief (1–2 h) lag phase prior to a sharp decline, followed by a recovery phase of ≈ 12 h duration. At low levels of Al (i.e. sufficient to cause a 10% reduction in net elongation) post-recovery growth rates generally equalled those of control roots, but were significantly reduced at Al concentrations yielding a 40 to 50% reduction in net elongation. All cultivars exhibited similar inhibition-acclimation response patterns and these responses did not explain differences in sensitivity to Al. Nonetheless, solution Al concentrations required to elicit the same growth responses varied by 20-fold across the five cultivars, consistent with the notion that root exclusion of Al is a significant component of differential Al tolerance in wheat.
Optimal foraging and community structure: implications for a guild of generalist grassland herbivores

A particular linear programming model is constructed to predict the diets of each of 14 species of generalist herbivores at the National Bison Range, Montana. The herbivores have body masses ranging over seven orders of magnitude and belonging to two major taxa: insects and mammals. The linear programming model has three feeding constraints: digestive capacity, feeding time and energy requirements. A foraging strategy that maximizes daily energy intake agrees very well with the observed diets. Body size appears to be an underlying determinant of the foraging parameters leading to diet selection. Species that possess digestive capacity and feeding time constraints which approach each other in magnitude have the most generalized diets. The degree that the linear programming models change their diet predictions with a given percent change in parameter values (sensitivity) may reflect the observed ability of the species to vary their diets. In particular, the species which show the most diet variability are those whose diets tend to be balanced between monocots and dicots. The community-ecological parameters of herbivore body-size ranges and species number can possibly be related to foraging behavior.
Dexmedetomidine for patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac procedures: A noninferiority study

When anesthetizing children with congenital heart disease for diagnostic cardiac catheterization, anesthesiologists and cardiologists seek to use anesthetic regimens that yield minimal hemodynamic changes and allow for spontaneous ventilations. Recently, dexmedetomidine has been used as an anesthesia adjunct because of its sedative and analgesic properties and minimal ventilatory depressive effects. We tested the hypothesis that the combination of sevoflurane and dexmedetomidine is non-inferior to sevoflurane alone as it refers to hemodynamic measurements during diagnostic cardiac catheterization in children with a transplanted heart, one ventricle (Fontan procedure), or normal cardiac physiology. Patients were anesthetized with inhalation of sevoflurane in nitrous oxide/oxygen and, after baseline hemodynamic measurements, successive boluses of dexmedetomidine followed by continuous infusion were administered. In this study, non-inferiority was shown when differences at steady-state (dexmedetomidine + sevoflurane) compared to baseline (sevoflurane alone) and its associated 95% confidence interval fell completely within the range of plus or minus 20%. Forty-one (26 normal physiology, 9 cardiac transplantation, and 6 Fontan) patients were enrolled. Non-inferiority of sevoflurane + dexmedetomidine compared with sevoflurane alone was shown for heart rate, but not for arterial blood pressure in patients with normal and cardiac transplant physiology. In patients with normal cardiac physiology, non-inferiority was demonstrated for bispectral index. Therefore, while the lack of depressive respiratory effects and non-inferiority for heart rate are desirable, the lack of non-inferiority of dexmedetomidine + sevoflurane combination for arterial blood pressure do not justify the routine use of this combination compared with sevoflurane alone for children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization.
The ‘Magic’ of Reference

I admire the way Howard Wettstein in The Magic Prism1 so clearly explains and develops the issues and doctrines he considers while never losing sight of the facts of human thought and action that such philosophical views are ultimately meant to account for. His main aim is to reject the widespread assumption that a speaker refers to an object by his words only if he has some individuating knowledge or belief or conception some discriminating "cognitive fix" or "mode of presentation" through which he can focus on that particular object. "The direct reference revolution" that Wettstein champions would do away with that assumption altogether. But behind this goal there is a larger target. Wettstein sees that assumption about reference as an expression of a much more general commitment to the "primacy" or "priority of thought over language" as a way of explaining how inert sounds and marks and movements can have the kind of meaning or "life" they obviously have for us. The idea is that the "magic" is performed by human thought; that is what "enlivens" those otherwise "dead" parts of the world that we thereby take to mean something. The requirement of a "cognitive fix" for each individual act of reference can accordingly be seen as a vestige of the still-dominant but "notoriously individualistic Cartesian tradition" of thought (p. 64). In the idea of "direct" reference, without "cognitive" intermediaries, Wettstein sees promise of an end to "linguistic Cartesianism" once and for all.
Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction Caused by Diltiazem in a Neutropenic Patient

OBJECTIVE:To describe a case of diltiazem-induced intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a neutropenic patient.CASE SUMMARY:A 74-year-old male with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia developed atrial fibrillation on day 12 of induction chemotherapy. He was initially treated with diltiazem 5 mg intravenously every 5–10 minutes for 5 doses and an amiodarone 150-mg loading dose intravenously. Diltiazem 30 mg orally 4 times daily and amiodarone continuous infusion were started thereafter. Amiodarone therapy was discontinued after one day due to an untoward adverse effect. The diltiazem dose was then escalated. By day 14, the patient was receiving diltiazem 120 mg orally 4 times daily. On day 15, he developed increasing abdominal distention with hyperactive bowel sounds. On day 16, a radiographic examination showed multiple dilated loops of both the small and large bowel representing possible intestinal pseudo-obstruction; diltiazem was discontinued that day. Starting on day 18, the patient showed recovery o...
Administrative Degree Options Outside Pharmacy for Pharmacists Interested in Administrative Careers in the Health Care Field

A variety of challenges facing the health care system in general and the profession of pharmacy in particular creates a need for pharmacists who have completed advanced education and training in administration. Some may choose to look outside academic pharmacy for graduate degree programs in administration.Four types of administrative degrees — MBA, MHA, MPA, and MPH — are described. A list of factors to be considered by a person thinking about pursuing graduate education in this area is presented and discussed. The admission process is described as it may typically occur for such programs in order to familiarize pharmacists with what criteria are likely to be used.An informed evaluation of the alternatives available will help students select the program best suited to their career goals.
A broad spectrum analysis of the dielectric properties of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

The dielectric permittivity, 3 0 , and the loss factor, 3 00 , of dry poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were measured using a dielectric analyzer in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz and between the temperature range of K150 to 275 8C. The dielectric response of the sub-Tg g transition of PHEMA has been widely studied before but little to no DEA data above 50 8C is present in the literature. In this study the dielectric spectrum is presented up to and above the Tg. The electric modulus formalism is used to reveal the g, b, a and conductivity relaxations. The apparent activation energies for the relaxations are presented. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Applied Linear Regression Models

Providing a blend of theory and application, this text emphasizes understanding concepts, which are demonstrated by means of worked-out examples. The theoretical side enables applications of regression analysis to be carried out successfully. Computer and graphic plots focus the text on analysis and models, and discussion of regression diagnostics includes the DFBETAS, DFFITS, and PRESS measures. Model building is examined in order to allow students to see how the model-building process integrates many of the elements considered in earlier chapters. This edition includes new topics, such as: robust tests for constancy of the error variance, smoothing techniques to explore the shape of the regression function, robust regression and non-parametric regression techniques.
High accuracy multigrid solution of the 3D convection-diffusion equation

We present an explicit fourth-order compact finite difference scheme for approximating the three-dimensional (3D) convection-diffusion equation with variable coefficients. This 19-point formula is defined on a uniform cubic grid. Fourier smoothing analysis is performed to show that the smoothing factor of certain relaxation techniques used with the scheme is smaller than 1. We design a parallelization-oriented multigrid method for fast solution of the resulting linear system using a four-color Gauss-Seidel relaxation technique for robustness and efficiency, and a scaled residual injection operator to reduce the cost of multigrid inter-grid transfer operator. Numerical experiments on a 16 processor vector computer are used to test the high accuracy of the discretization scheme as well as the fast convergence and the parallelization or vectorization efficiency of the solution method. Several test problems are solved and highly accurate solutions of the 3D convection-diffusion equations are obtained for small to medium values of the grid Reynolds number. Effects of using different residual projection operators are compared on both vector and serial computers.
Information technology and public deliberation: research on improving public input into government

We propose a panel to examine research programs on the uses of information technology (IT) tools with public deliberation to enhance the value of public input into government. "Wicked" planning problems and intractable policy issues require novel solutions. Better public input can contribute to resolving such difficult issues. IT and deliberation have both been promoted as means of improving public input on difficult issues. These methods may help the public better understand the issues, motivate their involvement, develop better ideas for address the issues, and enhance the legitimacy of eventual policy decisions. A number of researchers are examining whether deliberation and IT in combination can be especially helpful. The panel will examine several such efforts and their research questions, methods, experiences, and results. The panel should help build synergies between research groups, disseminate novel approaches, and raise awareness of the strengths and potential pitfalls of research in this area.
Cloning and Characterization of a Protein Kinase A Anchoring Protein (AKAP)-related Protein That Interacts with and Regulates Sphingosine Kinase 1 Activity

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that has novel dual actions. S1P is the ligand for a family of G protein-coupled receptors known as S1PRs that mediate various physiological functions. Growth factors rapidly activate sphingosine kinase type 1 (SPHK1) resulting in phosphorylation of sphingosine to form S1P, which plays important roles in cell growth regulation and protection from apoptosis. However, little is known of the mechanism(s) by which SPHK activity is regulated. Using a yeast two-hybrid screening approach, we cloned a 3-kb cDNA encoding a SPHK1-interacting protein (SKIP). BLAST analysis revealed that SKIP corresponded to the C-terminal region of a larger (∼7 kb) cDNA that encoded a protein with a high degree of similarity to a family of protein kinase A anchor proteins (AKAP). In confirmation of the yeast two-hybrid assay, glutathione S-transferase (GST)-SPHK1 specifically pulled down SKIP, whereas GST did not. Moreover, immunoprecipitation of in vitro translated SPHK1 and SKIP revealed that SKIP and SPHK1 are tightly associated. Furthermore, SKIP overexpression in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts reduced SPHK1 activity and interfered with its biological functions. The apoptotic-sparing effect of SPHK1 against serum deprivation was reduced when co-transfected with SKIP. In addition, SPHK1-enhanced cell proliferation was also abolished by SKIP, with a corresponding decrease in activation of ERK. Taken together, these results indicate that SKIP is a novel protein likely to play a regulatory role in the modulation of SPHK1 activity.
Therapeutic Biomechanics Concepts and Clinical Procedures to Reduce Implant Loading. Part II: Therapeutic Differential Loading

Practical laboratory procedures were suggested in order to provide a modified occlusal anatomy to reduce implant loading. The concept of differential mobility caused by the flexion between a natural tooth/periodontal ligament interface with its supporting bone, compared with the stiffness of the implant/bone interface, was described. When individual tooth-supported and implant-supported prostheses coexist in the same arch, this differential mobility can shift the loading disproportionately from the natural teeth to the implants. A new concept of therapeutic differential loading is introduced and a clinical technique of differential occlusal adjustment is described to bring about a more favorable distribution of loading to all the supporting bone. Long-term natural tooth intrusion can cause implant overload. Therefore, it is suggested that periodic differential occlusal adjustment procedures be used to re-establish a long-term balance of loading between individual implant- and tooth-supported prostheses within the same arch.
Development of a Rubric to Improve Critical Thinking

Context: Health care professionals, including athletic trainers are confronted daily with multiple complex problems that require critical thinking. Objective: This research attempts to develop a reliable process to assess students' critical thinking in a variety of athletic training and kinesiology courses. Design: Our first step was to create a panel of professionals, faculty, students, and critical thinking specialists to create a list of desirable traits and skill sets. Next, the panel specifically examined the language used by a university's existing critical thinking rubric and considered possible modifications for the kinesiology and athletic training education programs. This process involved the creation of a team of raters who participated in a norming process. Setting: University undergraduate classroom. Participants: Students enrolled in a lower level anatomy class and a higher level motor learning class within the kinesiology program and a group of stakeholders. Outcome Measures: To develop con...
The United States Tax Court - A Court for All Parties

This article seeks to explain the role of the Tax Court both within the system of taxation and the system of tribunals of the United States. To provide this explanation, the article will address several specific areas: 1) the mission of the Court; 2) the placement of the Court within the judicial system and the scope of its jurisdiction; 3) selection of judicial officers of the Court; 4) the internal organization of the Court and its opinions; 5) access to the Court; 6) policy issues facing the Court; and 7) interaction between the Court and the public outside the courtroom. The article will describe the Tax Court as it exists in 2015 and only briefly touch on historical matters as necessary to understand the current status of the Court.
Far-field radiated energy scaling in elastodynamic earthquake fault models

Abstract Measurements of the far-field radiated energy in very simple elastodynamic fault models is presented, and the scaling of the radiated energy with moment and rupture length is examined. The models produce a complex sequence of events having a wide range of sizes as a result of a frictional-weakening instability. Thus, radiated energy from a broad range of sizes of events can be measured. Using conservation of energy, I am able to measure the far-field energy very accurately and efficiently. I study a range of frictions, from velocity weakening to slip weakening, in order to examine the effects of the physics of the rupture source on the radiated energy. Examining the scaling of radiated energy as a function of moment and rupture length, I find differences for slip-weakening as compared to velocity-weakening friction. I find distinct differences in how the apparent stress scales with moment and also how the apparent stress divided by the stress drop scales with moment for the different frictions. Most dramatically, the apparent stress divided by the stress drop is significantly smaller for slip weakening relative to velocity weakening. This suggests that measurements of radiated energy versus moment and rupture length in earthquakes, combined with forward elastodynamic modeling, can be used to constrain possible source physics.
Luminescence of Alizarin and its Metal Complexes

The red/near-infrared emission spectra of alizarin (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinonone), the potassium salt of alizarin and the aluminum and zinc complexes of alizarin in the solid state are reported. The emission is assigned to an alizarin localized transition from an in-plane nonbonding orbital delocalized over the anthraquinone rings to a predominantly π* C=O acceptor orbital (nπ* ligand localized excited state). The cobalt, nickel and copper complexes do not emit from their nπ* excited state. In these complexes, metal centered d-d excited states which lie lower in energy than the ligand localized state effectively deactivate the luminescence.
Effects of Shared Active Surface Technology on the Communication and Speech of Two Preschool Children With Disabilities

Shared active surface (SAS) technology can be described as a supersized tablet computer for multiple simultaneous users. SAS technology has the potential to resolve issues historically associated w...
Surgical Treatment Experience of Ebstein Malformation On Infants and Children

Objective: To summarize the surgical treatment and effect of ebstein malformation on infants and children. Methods: 21 patients who were operated on included 12 boys and 9 girls with main age at( 2. 5 ± 1. 07) years from 4 months to 4 2 /12 years,with weight at( 8. 21 ± 3. 41) Kg. All of children with preoperative diagnosis by ultrasonic cardiogram were tricuspid valve malformation with tricuspid valvuloplasty and atrialized ventricular longitudinal folding. in which there were 2 cases with two-way grenn surgery with the treatment of intracardiac consolidation deformation Three pointed leaf down the most in the distance was about 2. 6 ~ 4. 1 cm. Results: There was one hospital death,one died of low cardiac output syndrome. There were complications in 21 cases,3 cases of perioperative period combined supraventricular tachycardia( SVT),2 cases of premature beat,transient Ⅲ degree atrioventricular block in 1 case,3 cases of pneumonia,were cured out of the hospital. Follow up was completed in 20 patients from 3 months to 4years,in which there were mild tricuspid regurgitation of 12 cases,light to moderate in 5 cases,1 cases of postoperative 3 years of severe tricuspid regurgitation,the second line of tricuspid valve replacement surgery. Conclusions: The early surgery should be done for infant children with tricuspid malformation ahead of the disc ring progressive expanding secondary pathological changes. Intraoperative eliminating tricuspid regurgitation,maximum function of the right ventricular are the key to successful operation. The tricuspid valvuloplasty and atrialized ventricular longitudinal folding is an ideal surgical method. Maintenance and right ventricular function after surgery for the treatment of arrhythmia is essential for the postoperative treatment.
Preeclampsia and Related Disorders: Clinical Aspects and Relevance of Endothelin and Nitric Oxide

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder believed to result from widespread endothelial dysfunction. Endothelin and nitric oxide are two potent vasoactive agents of endothelial origin and, as such, are postulated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. If these agents are found to be important in preeclampsia, they will most likely exert their effects locally, rather than systemically. Future research on the autocrine and paracrine effects of endothelin and nitric oxide may yield important insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of this enigmatic disease.
A Spline-Eulerian-Lagrangian Splitting Scheme for the Diffusion-Convection Equation

A Spline-Eulerian-Lagrangian splitting scheme for solving one-dimensional diffusion-convection equation numerically has been presented. This scheme is simple and effecient. It can give out the good results for 1-D. linear diffusion-convection equation and nonlinear Burger’s equation. Four typical and difficult numerical examples have been given. The agreement between numerical results and the exact solutions is quite satisfactor
Multi-dose Romidepsin Reactivates Replication Competent SIV in Post-antiretroviral Rhesus Macaque Controllers.

Viruses that persist despite seemingly effective antiretroviral treatment (ART) and can reinitiate infection if treatment is stopped preclude definitive treatment of HIV-1 infected individuals, requiring lifelong ART. Among strategies proposed for targeting these viral reservoirs, the premise of the “shock and kill” strategy is to induce expression of latent proviruses [for example with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis)] resulting in elimination of the affected cells through viral cytolysis or immune clearance mechanisms. Yet, ex vivo studies reported that HDACis have variable efficacy for reactivating latent proviruses, and hinder immune functions. We developed a nonhuman primate model of post-treatment control of SIV through early and prolonged administration of ART and performed in vivo reactivation experiments in controller RMs, evaluating the ability of the HDACi romidepsin (RMD) to reactivate SIV and the impact of RMD treatment on SIV-specific T cell responses. Ten RMs were IV-infected with a SIVsmmFTq transmitted-founder infectious molecular clone. Four RMs received conventional ART for >9 months, starting from 65 days post-infection. SIVsmmFTq plasma viremia was robustly controlled to <10 SIV RNA copies/mL with ART, without viral blips. At ART cessation, initial rebound viremia to ~106 copies/mL was followed by a decline to < 10 copies/mL, suggesting effective immune control. Three post-treatment controller RMs received three doses of RMD every 35–50 days, followed by in vivo experimental depletion of CD8+ cells using monoclonal antibody M-T807R1. RMD was well-tolerated and resulted in a rapid and massive surge in T cell activation, as well as significant virus rebounds (~104 copies/ml) peaking at 5–12 days post-treatment. CD8+ cell depletion resulted in a more robust viral rebound (107 copies/ml) that was controlled upon CD8+ T cell recovery. Our results show that RMD can reactivate SIV in vivo in the setting of post-ART viral control. Comparison of the patterns of virus rebound after RMD administration and CD8+ cell depletion suggested that RMD impact on T cells is only transient and does not irreversibly alter the ability of SIV-specific T cells to control the reactivated virus.
Artifact illustration using computer videographs

Artifact illustration is an essential part of any archaeological project. Previously, this was done using photographs or line drawings, but by using a videocamera interfaced with a graphics computer a new type of illustration, a videograph, is produced, combining photographic details with the ability to modify and enhance the resultant image.
A Delicate Balance: The Interdependence of Natural, Artefactual and Human Systems

Governing the anthropocene entails, in part, constituting a delicate balance among distinct types of systems. Building on the work of Sir Geoffrey Vickers, I identify three types of systems-natural, artefactual, and human. Each has its own requirements for stability and sustainability. Together they have further requirements for functioning interdependently, particularly in any form we ought to consider desirable. I outline some of what these concepts suggest, and argue that understanding stability, sustainability, and interdependence in cybersystemic terms may put us in a better position not only to govern the anthropocene, but to govern it more responsibly. I explore some practical implications of this view in comparing major water projects in Singapore and California.
A Note on Drawing Conclusions in the Study of Visual Search and the Use of Slopes in Particular

The slope of the set size function as a critical statistic first gained favor in the 1960s due in large part to the seminal papers on short-term memory search by Saul Sternberg and soon, many others. In the 1980s, the slope statistic reemerged in much the same role in visual search as Anne Treisman and again, soon many others brought that research topic into great prominence. This note offers the historical and current perspective of the present author, who has devoted a significant portion of his theoretical efforts to this and related topics over the past 50 years.