cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cognitive-based approach to introductory computer science courses: lesson learned

A project has been undertaken this past year using a cognitive based approach to implement the Computing I and II courses as defined in Implementation D of Computing Curricula 1991. The salient features of this project include: (i) strategic sequencing and associated levels of mastery of key topics based on Bloom levels; (ii) a spiral approach to presentation; (iii) integral use of structured closed labs; (iv) frequent feedback and (v) early use of teams. This project has led to a series of course documents that explicitly define and schedule course micro-objectives, that map each micro-objective to a specific Bloom knowledge level, and that help to achieve and measure those objectives.
FACIAL EMOTION IDENTIFICATION AND EXPRESSION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: LESSONS FROM IMAGE ANALYSIS OF BRAINS AND FACES

s / Schizophrenia Research 102/1–3, Supplement 2 (2008) 1–279 3 compared to the castrated monkeys (p=0.019). On the other hand, the intact monkey showed no difference in latency to retrieve a treat when it was placed in front of the fear-invoking plastic snake (p=0.18). Conclusions: The castrated monkeys showed longer latency in response to the threatening face of another monkey, but no difference in latency in response to an innately fear-provoking object. This suggests that specific behavioral responses particularly those involving responses to emotional faces may be more sensitive to late maturational changes in sex steroids. References [1] Weickert et al. submitted Human Molecular Genetics FACIAL EMOTION IDENTIFICATIONAND EXPRESSION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: LESSONS FROM IMAGE ANALYSIS OF
Comparing results from a physical model with satellite and in situ observations to determine whether biomass burning aerosols over the Amazon brighten or burn off clouds

[1] Biomass burning (BB) aerosol particles affect clouds through competing microphysical and radiative (semi-direct and cloud absorption) effects, each of which dominates at different degrees of aerosol loading. Here, we analyze the influence of competing aerosol effects on mixed-phase clouds, precipitation, and radiative fields over the Amazon with a climate-air pollution-weather forecast model that treats aerosol-cloud-radiative interactions physically. Extensive comparisons with remotely sensed observations and in situ measurements are performed. Both observations and model results suggest an increase in cloud optical depth (COD) with increasing aerosol optical depth (AOD) at low AODs, and a decrease in COD with increasing AOD at higher AODs in accord with previous observational and modeling studies. The increase is attributed to a combination of microphysical and dynamical effects, whereas the decrease is attributed to a dominance of radiative effects that thin and darken clouds. An analogous relationship is shown for other modeled cloud variables as well. The similarity between the remotely sensed observations and model results suggests that these correlations are physically based and are not dominated by satellite retrieval artifacts. Cloud brightening due to BB is found to dominate in the early morning, whereas cloud inhibition is found to dominate in the afternoon and at night. BB decreased the net top of the atmosphere solar+IR irradiance modestly, but with large diurnal variation. We conclude that models that exclude treatment of aerosol radiative effects are likely to over-predict the microphysical effects of aerosols and underestimate the warming due to aerosols containing black and brown carbon.
Nanosecond image processing using stimulated photon echoes.

Processing of two-dimensional images on a nanosecond time scale is demonstrated using the stimulated photon echoes in a rare-earth-doped crystal (0.1 at. % Pr3+:LaF3). Two spatially encoded laser pulses (pictures) resonant with the 3P0–3H4 transition of Pr3+ were stored by focusing the image pulses sequentially into the Pr3+:LaF3 crystal. The stored information is retrieved and processed by a third read pulse, generating the echo that is the spatial convolution or correlation of the input images. Application of this scheme to high-speed pattern recognition is discussed.
The reduced genus 1 Gromov-Witten invariants of Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces

0. Introduction 691 0.1. Mirror symmetry predictions for a quintic threefold 691 0.2. Computing GW-invariants of hypersurfaces 693 0.3. Mirror symmetry formulas for projective CY-hypersurfaces 695 1. Equivariant cohomology and stable maps 698 1.1. Definitions and notation 698 1.2. Setup for localization computation on M1,1(P, d) 701 1.3. Contributions from fixed loci, I 704 1.4. Contributions from fixed loci, II 708 2. Localization computations 712 2.1. Regularizable power series in rational functions 712 2.2. Regularizability of GW generating functions 714 2.3. Proofs of Propositions 1.1 and 1.2 717 3. Algebraic computations 721 3.1. Linear independence in symmetric rational functions 722 3.2. The genus 0 generating functions 723 3.3. Proof of Theorem 3 725 Appendix A. Some combinatorics 730 Appendix B. Comparison of mirror symmetry formulations 733 Acknowledgments 736 References 736
The production of He-3 and heavy ion enrichment in He-3-rich flares by electromagnetic hydrogen cyclotron waves

A new model is presented for the production of He-3 and heavy ion enrichments in He-3-rich flares using a direct single-stage mechanism. In analogy with the production of electromagnetic hydrogen cyclotron waves in earth's aurora by electron beams, it is suggested that such waves should exist in the electron acceleration region of impulsive solar flares. Both analytic and test-particle models of the effect of such waves in a nonuniform magnetic field show that these waves can selectively accelerate He-3 and heavy ions to MeV energies in a single-stage process, in contrast to other models which require a two-stage mechanism.
Compton Scattering of the Microwave Background by Quasar-blown Bubbles

At least 10% of quasars drive rapid outflows from the central regions of their host galaxies. The mass and energy flow rates in these winds are difficult to measure, but their kinetic luminosities probably exceed 10(exp 45) ergs/s. This kind of outflow easily sunders the interstellar medium of the host and blows a bubble in the intergalactic medium. After the quasar shuts off, the hot bubble continues to shock intergalactic gas until its leading edge merges with the Hubble flow. The interior hot gas Compton scatters microwave background photons, potentially providing a way to detect these bubbles. Assuming that quasar kinetic luminosities scale with their blue luminosities, we integrate over the quasar luminosity function to find the total distortion (y) of the microwave background produced by the entire population of quasar wind bubbles. This calculation of y distortion is remarkably insensitive to the properties of the intergalactic medium (IGM), quasar lifetimes, and cosmological parameters. Current Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) limits on y constrain the kinetic luminosities of quasars to be less than several times their bolometric radiative luminosities. Within this constraint, quasars can still expel enough kinetic luminosity to shock the entire IGM by z = 0, but cannot heat and ionize the IGM by z = 4 unless omega(sub IGM) much less than 10(exp -2).
"Topological" (Chern-Simons) quantum mechanics

We construct quantum-mechanical models that are analogs of three-dimensional, topologically massive as well as Chern-Simons gauge-field theories, and we study the phase-space reductive limiting procedure that takes the former to the latter. The zero-point spectra of operators behave discontinuously in the limit, as a consequence of a nonperturbative quantum-mechanical anomaly. The nature of the limit for wave functions depends on the representation, but is always such that normalization is preserved.
TinyLex: static n-gram index pruning with perfect recall

Inverted indexes using sequences of characters (n-grams) as terms provide an error-resilient and language-independent way to query for arbitrary substrings and perform approximate matching in a text, but present a number of practical problems: they have a very large number of terms, they exhibit pathologically expensive worst-case query times on certain natural inputs, and they cannot cope with very short query strings. In word-based indexes, static index pruning has been successful in reducing index size while maintaining precision, at the expense of recall. Taking advantage of the unique inclusion structure of n-gram terms of different lengths, we show that the lexicon size of an n-gram index can be reduced by 7 to 15 times without any loss of recall, and without any increase in either index size or query time. Because the lexicon is typically stored in main memory, this substantially reduces the memory required for queries. Simultaneously, our construction is also the first overlapping n-gram index to place tunable worst-case bounds on false positives and to permit efficient queries on strings of any length. Using this construction, we also demonstrate the first feasible n-gram index using words rather than characters as units, and its applications to phrase searching.
Impedance and dielectric spectroscopy revisited: Distinguishing localized relaxation from long-range conductivity

Abstract The advantages of plotting a.c. data in terms of impedance, electric modulus and dissipation factor simultaneously are illustrated. Complex impedance is generally employed for ionic conductors because it can easily distinguish between bulk and grain boundary effects. However, comparison with the modulus and dissipation factor data allows easier interpretation of the microscopic processes responsible for the measured a.c. response. In particular, the difference between localized (i.e. dielectric relaxation) and non-localized conduction (i.e. long range conductivity) processes within the bulk of the material may be discerned by the presence or the absence of a peak in the imaginary modulus versus frequency plot. Similarly, the absence or presence of a peak in the imaginary impedance versus frequency plot can be correlated to space charge effects and non-localized conductivity. Long-range conductivity results in nearly complete impedance semicircles but no frequency dispersion in the permittivity while localized conductivity is reflected in a frequency dependent permittivity but no measurable conductance. The degree to which these assignments may be made is related to the dielectric relaxation ratio ( r = ϵ s ϵ ∞ ) and the differences between the time constants of the different relaxation processes present in the material being examined.
Plasma volume and electrolytes during progressive water deprivation in chickens (Gallus domesticus).

Abstract 1. 1. Studies were performed to examine the effects of progressive water deprivation in the fowl ( Gallus domesticus ). 2. 2. A reduction in plasma volume and an increase in capillary permeability to protein were observed only after 3 or 4 days of dehydration. 3. 3. Moderate changes in arterial blood pressure and heart rate were noted in dehydrated birds but respiratory rate and body temperature remained unchanged. 4. 4. Dehydration was associated with increases in the concentration of total solutes, sodium and chloride in plasma but no changes were noted in plasma potassium levels or arterial pH. 5. 5. The results indicate that the chicken can maintain volume more effectively during water deprivation than several mammalian species.
A compact FEL upconverter of coherent radiation

Abstract The objective is to generate a powerful millimeter-wave FEL signal in a single pass, using a coherent microwave source (24 GHz) to prebunch the electron beam for a harmonically-related wave (72 GHz); one would obtain a millimeter wave source which is phase-referenced to a coherent laboratory source. We use the Columbia FEL facility, operating the electron beam at 600 kV, 100 A; undulator period = 1.85 cm and 200 G ( K = 0.2); electron beam diameter = 3 mm inside an 8.5 mm ID drift tube; guiding field of 8800 G. Under these conditions, both the microwave signal (5 kW input) and the millimeter signal will show travelling-wave gain in the TE11 mode. We report initial experimental results for the millimeter wave spectrum and find an overall power gain of ∼20 for the 24 GHz input wave. Also presented are numerical solutions of the wave growth using the FEL equations with slippage.
The Interaction Between Deep Convection and Easterly Waves over Tropical North Africa: A Weather State Perspective

AbstractThe interaction between deep convection and easterly waves over tropical North Africa is studied using a weather state (WS) dataset from the International Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and reanalysis products from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast, as well as radiative fluxes from ISCCP and a precipitation dataset from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project. Composite analysis based on 21 yr of data shows that stronger latent and radiative heating of the atmosphere are associated with stronger, more organized, convective activity than with weaker, less organized, convective activity, implying that any transition from less to more organized and stronger convection increases atmospheric heating. Regression composites based on a meridional wind predictor reveal coherent westward propagation of WS and large-scale wind anomalies from the Arabian Sea into East Africa and through West Africa. The analysis shows that enhanced, but unorganized, convective activity, which devel...
Gene-by-Environment (Serotonin Transporter and Childhood Maltreatment) Interaction for Anxiety Sensitivity, an Intermediate Phenotype for Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a dispositional characteristic that predisposes to the development of anxiety disorders (eg, panic and post-traumatic stress disorder) and major depression. AS is subject to genetic and environmental influences, the former as yet unidentified and the latter known to include childhood maltreatment. The serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with depression, but most consistently in the context of environmental stress. We tested the hypothesis that 5-HTTLPR genotype and childhood maltreatment would interact to increase susceptibility to AS in young adults. Subjects were European-American college undergraduates (N=150, median age 18 years) characterized on a measures of AS (Anxiety Sensitivity Index) and retrospective childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire [CTQ]). 5-HTTLPR genotypes were obtained from blood-derived DNA. Linear regression was used to model relationships between 5-HTTLPR, childhood emotional abuse, and AS; covariates such as sex, neuroticism, and ancestral proportion scores were incorporated into some models in a larger, ethnically heterogenous sample (N=247) to evaluate robustness of the findings to model assumptions. A statistically signficant interaction was observed between levels of childhood emotional (or physical) maltreatment and 5-HTTLPR genotype. Specifically, S/S individuals with higher levels of maltreatment had significantly higher levels of AS than subjects in other groups. No such relationship was found for neuroticism, attesting to the possible specificity of the findings for AS. Findings were consistently robust to the inclusion of covariates, and were not confounded by population stratification. In conclusion, these results provide evidence of a specific genetic influence on anxiety sensitivity—an intermediate phenotype for anxiety (and depressive) disorders; this effect is modified by severity of childhood maltreatment. These findings are consistent with the notion that 5-HTTLPR operates broadly to moderate emotional responsivity to stress.
Modern physics brings semiconductor technology to a turning point

Semiconductor Processing has always been dominated by standard chemical processes. With the event of techniques such as Plasmas, Electron and Ion Beams, Lasers etc… which have been extensively studied in the Laboratory, physical techniques are replacing standard chemistry in several important areas of the Semiconductor Technology. This paper will concentrate on the areas in which physical processes are already, or are likely to become important. Costs, improved Semiconductor performances and environment control regulations are the main factors behind this evolution. The Semiconductor Industry has always been one of the major users of costly chemicals of high purity, requiring special care when handling and using them, with problems of both supply and disposal, problems of water supply and large area of floor space. In addition to that, wet chemistry processing is becoming a limiting factor in the performances of the most advanced semiconductor devices due to difficulties in controlling the uniformity of production processses and its inherent limitation when working at the atomic or molecular scale. The major steps involved in silicon processing for transistors and integrated circuits manufacturing can be classified as follows: • — Photolithography • — Silicon doping • — Deposition of dielectrics and metals • — Surface preparation.
Clinical practice guidelines for chronic cardiovascular disorders: a roadmap for the future.

The World Health Organization lists ischemic heart disease and stroke as the top 2 leading causes of death worldwide in 2011, responsible for 7 million and 6.2 million deaths, respectively.1 The concept of risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) was introduced in 1961, based on epidemiologic observations from the Framingham Heart Study. Hypertension and abnormal blood lipid levels were key risk factors shown to be associated with an increased risk of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death; later, stroke was identified as an important outcome as well, especially in women and racial/ethnic subgroups. Accordingly, clinicians want to provide their patients with the best possible advice with respect to the management of cardiovascular risk, often implementing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines designed to improve health outcomes.
Coral reef bleaching in the 1980s and possible connections with global warming.

Scleractinian corals and their symbiotic dinoflagellate algae build massive, wave-resistant coral reefs that are pre-eminent in shallow tropical seas. This mutualism is especially sensitive to numerous environmental stresses, and has been disrupted frequently during the past decade. Increased seawater temperatures have been proposed as the most likely cause of coral reef bleaching, and it has been suggested that the recent large-scale disturbances are the first biological indication of global warming. This article describes recent bleaching events and their possible link with sea warming and other environmental stresses, and offers some speculation on the fate of coral reefs if the Earth enters a sustained period of warming.
Understanding the root locus using gain plots

An alternate graphic representation of the Evans root locus plot, called gain plots, which exposes the relationship between the gain and the pole locations in polar coordinates, is presented. Gain plots portray the magnitude and angle on each closed-loop system eigenvalue in the complex plane as a function of gain. The gain plots highlight several important stability and performance features of the system. Inspection of the gain plots provides information about the closed-loop eigenvalue sensitivity to changes in gain. Gain plots provide a unified approach for single-input, single-output and multivariable systems where compensation dynamics are governed by a single scalar gain amplifying all plant inputs. An example demonstrates the utility of the gain plots for multivariable systems that possess complex conjugate root loci. The state space representation for this example is a linearized model of the vertical plane dynamics of an aircraft with three inputs, three outputs, and five state variables. >
Looking Beyond Spring for the Season: An African Perspective on the World Order after the Arab Revolt

There is much misunderstanding today about the decision of African countries not to endorse the military intervention in Libya undertaken by France, Great Britain, and the United States in conjunction with a few Arab States. This act of non-cooperation is the result of a tension that is much deeper and, contrary to punditry, goes to the core of the future of global governance and international morality today. This tension arises from two clashing positions: (1) the tendency of a fraction of states frequently self-designated as the West to usurp the mantle of international community, and (2) the longstanding objection from ‘Africa’ that the will of the international community may be appropriated by a small fractions of its constituents, however powerful. The underlying opposition extends today to all domains of international law, from the inception of law (in this case UN resolutions), to its interpretation and implementation, to the appreciation of its execution, or judgment. Hoy dia hay un fuerte malente...
Producers, Directors, and Horizontal Communication in Television News Production

This study examines the horizontal communication between producers and directors as they put together a television newscast. Results of the Internet survey show that producers tend to be younger and less experienced than the directors they work with, that producers and directors don't communicate often or effectively in the process of putting together a daily newscast, and that they don't believe their counterpart contributes the information they need in order to best perform their jobs. Correlations between the amount of information relayed between producers and directors and ratings performance indicate a link between internal communication and market profitability.
The role of nutrition, body condition and lactation on calving success in muskoxen

Relationships between nutrition, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and fertility were explored in 11 captive female muskoxen between 1988–1994. In 1987, six adult female muskoxen were allocated to high plane (HP) or low plane (LP) nutritional treatments (HP n= 3; LP n= 3), which were maintained year-round through spring 1995 (HP n= 6; LP n= 5). Treatment group size fluctuated annually. Age, lactation status, calving date and calf birth weight were recorded for each cow. Body weight was measured weekly and BCS measured bi-weekly throughout the mating season from 1 August to 31 October. Sixty-one complete observations of BW and BCS in autumn, lactation status and calving success were collected. Body weight and BCS differed significantly (t-test) with pregnancy (P < 0.001) and nutritional treatment (P < 0.001). A significant logistic regression model was generated for the relationship between BW in October and pregnancy (P < 0.001). When BCS each month was combined with BW in October, BCS in September was the most significant variable (P < 0.001) and the only one to enter the model. Neither lactational status nor year, in combination or alone, was significant. Both BW in autumn (176 kg provides a 50% probability of a female calving the following spring) and BCS (score of six provides a 50% probability of successful calving) can be useful predictors of fertility in muskoxen. The ability of muskoxen to make significant gains in weight and body condition in autumn may represent a nutritional control point regulating reproduction in this species.
Spatial Variability in Hydrologic Properties of a Volcanic Tuff

Spatial variability of hydrologic properties was quantified for a nonwelded-to-welded ash flow tuff at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the potential site of a high-level, nuclear waste repository. Bulk density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and sorptivity were measured on core specimens collected from outcrops on a grid that extended vertically through the entire unit thickness and horizontally 1.3 km in the direction of ash transport from the volcanic vent. A strong, geologically determined (deterministic) vertical trend in properties was apparent that correlated with visual trends in degree of welding observed in the outcrop. The trend was accurately described by simple regression models based on stratigraphic elevation (vertical distance from the base of the unit divided by unit thickness). No significant horizontal trends in properties were detected along the length of the transect. The validity of the developed model was tested by comparing model predictions with measured porosity values from additional outcrop sections and boreholes that extended 3000 m north, 1500 m northeast, and 6000 m south of the study area. The model accurately described vertical porosity variations except for locations very close to the source caldera, where the model underpredicted porosity in the upper half of the section. The presence of deterministic geologic trends, such as those demonstrated for an ash flow unit in this study, can simplify the collection of site characterization data and the development of site-scale models.
Cadmium toxicity and bioconcentration in laregmouth bass and bluegill

The exposure of juvenile largemouth and bluegill to cadmium (0.0005 to 0.85 mg/liter) resulted in accumulation of this metal in concentrations greater than those of the water. The quantity of metal accumulat d increased as the exposure concentration increased. An equilibrium developed between the concentrations of the metal in the water and in the tissues after approximately 2 months. Metal accumulations on the bass tissues were higher in the internal organs, followed by the gills and the remainder of the body.
Complex behavior in a simple system: Low-temperature Ag/Ag(100) growth revisited

The experimentally observed nonmonotonic temperature dependence of the surface roughness in Ag/Ag(100) growth over the temperature range $T=55\char21{}180\text{ }\text{K}$ is examined. In general, we find that the surface roughness depends sensitively on a competition between a variety of low-barrier processes including downward funneling of depositing atoms, island relaxation via edge zipping and edge diffusion, atom attraction, and concerted interlayer diffusion at kinks. The short-range attraction of depositing atoms to microprotrusions also plays a crucial role in determining the surface roughness, especially at low temperature. By taking these processes into account in our simulations, good agreement with experiment is obtained over the entire temperature range.
Naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal increases pontine glutamate levels in the rat.

Extracellular fluid (ECF) levels of glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) were measured in the locus coeruleus (LC) during morphine withdrawal by using microdialysis in conscious morphine-dependent Sprague-Dawley rats. Guide cannulae were implanted chronically and rats were given intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infussions of morphine (26 nmol/1 μl/ht) of saline (1 μl/hr) for 3 days. Microdialysis probes (2 mm tip) were inserted into the LC 24 hr before precipitation of withdrawal by i.c.v. injection of naloxone (12 or 48 nmol/5 μl). Behavioral evidence of withdrawal (teeth-chattering, wet-dog shakes, etc.) was detected following naloxone challenge in morphine, but not in saline-infused rats. Increases (P<0.01) in ECF levels of Glu (and Asp, to a lesser degree) were noted after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal only in the morphine group. The ECF Glu levels in the LC increased from 9.6 ± 2.7 to 15.5 ± 5.0 μM following 12 nmol/5 μl naloxone, and from 9.5 ± 1.9 to 20.5 ± 3.3 μM following 48 nmol/5 μl naloxone, before and in the first 15 min sample after the precipitation of withdrawal in the morphine-dependent rats, respectively. These results provide direct evidence to support the role of excitatory amino acids within the LC in morphine withdrawal.
Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis and Mitral Stenosis

Abstract An instance of coexistent mitral stenosis and idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis is reported. Mitral valvulotomy and resection of hypertrophic muscle were successfully performed. The physiology of the combined lesion is discussed.
Technical note: A modified potential attenuation equation for cathodically polarized marine pipelines and risers

Abstract A previously developed first-principles-based equation for potential attenuation along marine pipelines and risers with multiple, equally spaced, identical galvanic anodes was modified to accommodate an error in its derivation. Both the original and modified equations account for the electrolyte (anode), coating, polarization, and metallic path resistances and, as such, represent improvements over previously available representations. Coordinate mapping-based finite difference method (CoMB-FDM) solutions are presented; and to the extent possible, accuracy of the proposed modified equation is verified.
DICER-and AGO3-dependent generation of retinoic acid-induced DR2 Alu RNAs regulates human stem cell proliferation

Although liganded nuclear receptors have been established to regulate RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-dependent transcription units, their role in regulating Pol III-transcribed DNA repeats remains largely unknown. Here we report that ~2-3% of the ~100,000-200,000 total human DR2 Alu repeats located in proximity to activated Pol II transcription units are activated by the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) in human embryonic stem cells to generate Pol III-dependent RNAs. These transcripts are processed, initially in a DICER-dependent fashion, into small RNAs (~28-65 nt) referred to as repeat-induced RNAs that cause the degradation of a subset of crucial stem-cell mRNAs, including Nanog mRNA, which modulate exit from the proliferative stem-cell state. This regulation requires AGO3-dependent accumulation of processed DR2 Alu transcripts and the subsequent recruitment of AGO3-associated decapping complexes to the target mRNA. In this way, the RAR-dependent and Pol III-dependent DR2 Alu transcriptional events in stem cells functionally complement the Pol II-dependent neuronal transcriptional program.
Rates of urine excretion by house mouse (Mus domesticus): Differences by age, sex, social status, and reproductive condition.

A series of five experiments was used to test hypotheses about factors affecting excreted urine output per day in male and female house mice (Mus domesticus). Urine was collected in metabolism cages over a 24-hr period. Male house mice excrete urine at a rate 1.5–2.0 times that of females. Daily average urine output increases with age for both sexes and for mice of the same age; urine output per day is correlated with body mass. Females in estrus produce more urine than females in diestrus. Urine output per day increases during the latter two thirds of pregnancy and remains high throughout lactation. Density does not influence urine output per day for either sex over the range of densities tested. Castration reduces urine output per day in male mice, but ovariectomy in females does not alter rates of urine production. Dominant males produce more urine than subordinate males, but there are no similar effects for female mice. The findings have potential implications for our understanding of the functional and ecological uses of urine by house mice.
Environment and mode of deposition of a Pliocene coral bed; coral thicknets and storms in the fossil record

A bed of Late Pliocene age from west central Florida is dominated by smoothed, bioeroded and broken colonies of the coral Septastrea crassa (Holmes). This bed appears to have formed as a result of the destruction of a coral thicket by one or more severe storms over a relatiuely short period of time. The coralla surfaces were «sandblasted» during the storm(s) and smoothed. The shattered thicket was then subjected to bioerosion for an estimated period of 25-3O years, before being buried relatively quickly by an influx of sediment, possibly by a migrating sand wave. The coral grew upon and was in turn grown upon by a variety of encrusting organisms including barnacles, bryozoans and oysters. The coral bed is continuous with both overlying and underlying assemblages allowing reconstruction of its paleoenvironmental setting and history
Properties of 23Na implanted targets

Abstract Ten types of 23Na implanted targets have been fabricated for the purposes of investigating the effects of proton beam bombardment on the implanted sodium distribution. Targets were implanted at energies of ENa = 10–30 keV using copper, tantalum, and nickel as host materials. Thin layers (100–200 A) of chromium and gold were also evaporated over some of the targets to provide a protective layer for the implanted sodium. The 23Na(p, γ) resonance at a lab proton energy of Ep = 309 keV was used to determine the implanted distribution. Successive resonance profile measurements are presented for each implanted target, and the concurrent loss of 23Na resulting from beam bombardment is reported. The calculated temperature rise of the targets indicates that beam heating has a negligible effect on the implanted sodium distribution, and that the principal mechanism for 23Na loss during beam bombardment is sputtering.
Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Blocks Angiogenesis via Its Carboxyl Terminus

Objective— Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is the primary regulator of the tissue factor (TF) coagulation pathway. As such, TFPI may regulate the proangiogenic effects of TF. TFPI may also affect angiogenesis independently of TF, through sequences within its polybasic carboxyl terminus (TFPI C terminus [TFPIct]). We aimed to determine the effects of TFPI on angiogenesis and the role of TFPIct. Methods and Results— Transgenic overexpression of TFPI attenuated angiogenesis in the murine hindlimb ischemia model and an aortic sprout assay. In vitro, TFPI inhibited endothelial cell migration. Peptides within the human TFPIct inhibited endothelial cell cord formation and migration in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 165 but not VEGF121. Furthermore, exposure to human TFPIct inhibited the phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2 at residue Lys951, a residue known to be critical for endothelial cell migration. Finally, systemic delivery of a murine TFPIct peptide inhibited angiogenesis in the hindlimb model. Conclusion— These data demonstrate an inhibitory role for TFPI in angiogenesis that is, in part, mediated through peptides within its carboxyl terminus. In addition to its known role as a TF antagonist, TFPI, via its carboxyl terminus, may regulate angiogenesis by directly blocking VEGF receptor 2 activation and attenuating the migratory capacity of endothelial cells.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery with or without Embolization for Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Treatment options for symptomatic dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) include surgery, embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We reviewed our DAVF experience at the University of Pittsburg
Observations on Hydroceles Following Adolescent Varicocelectomy

Purpose: There is wide variation in the reported incidence of hydrocele after varicocelectomy (0% to 29%). We determined the incidence of hydroceles and hydrocelectomy following adolescent varicocelectomy, the time it took for them to manifest, and the results of aspiration and surgical correction.Materials and Methods: Our adolescent varicocele registry was reviewed to identify patients with a post-varicocelectomy hydrocele. We evaluated physical examination and ultrasound findings, postoperative interval to development and treatment results.Results: A total of 400 patients with at least 6 months of postoperative followup underwent 521 varicocelectomies (16 redo, 1 right, 104 bilateral) from 1987 to 2010. Mean followup was 32 months (range 6 to 182). Hydrocele was detected in 80 of 521 (15.4%) at a mean of 2 years after surgery. The incidence of hydrocele was higher in open vs laparoscopic (p <0.001), bilateral vs unilateral (p = 0.013), nonlymphatic sparing vs lymphatic sparing (p = 0.043) and Palomo vs...
Does using the medial or lateral humeral line improve reliability of Baumann angle measurement on plain x-ray? The effect of humeral length visualized on the x-ray.

BACKGROUND Baumann angle (BA) is a common measure of coronal plane alignment of the distal humerus. We hypothesize that the reliability of measuring BA would be improved by using the medial and lateral cortical margins of the humerus seen on plain x-ray, rather than the estimated central humeral line, which is the "standard" technique. Further, we analyze whether the amount of humerus visible on the film improves the reliability of the method. METHODS A total of 71 anteroposterior elbow digital radiographs from patients aged 0 to 12 were measured 3 times by 5 qualified observers. Each digital measurement included (1) BA using the estimated central humeral line; (2) BA using the medial humeral line (BA-MHL); and (3) BA using the lateral humeral line (BA-LHL). Inadequate radiographs or those showing any indication of current or previous fracture were excluded. Intraobserver reliability was estimated for each rater using a 1-way analysis of variance model and interobserver reliability of each set of measurements was estimated using a 2-way analysis of variance. RESULTS The mean and SD for the BA, BA-MHL, and BA-LHL in females were 70.0 (6.73), 68.0 (6.84), and 72.3 (7.93), respectively, and for males 73.0 (5.22), 70.0 (5.56), and 76.0 (6.18), respectively. Intraobserver reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) for BA, BA-MHL, and BA-LHL averaged 0.85, 0.92, and 0.90, respectively. Average interobserver reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) for BA, BA-MHL, and BA-LHL were 0.79, 0.71, and 0.76, respectively. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability of BA and BA-LHL were significantly improved when at least 7 cm of humerus was visible on the x-ray, as compared with 7 cm of the distal humerus is visible on the radiograph. In addition, at least 7 cm of the distal humerus on anteroposterior radiographs improves reliability of measuring BA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic study-Level II.
Spectroscopy of 112 Pd using heavy-ion-induced fission

High-spin states in 112Pd were studied using prompt γ-ray spectroscopy with Gammasphere following heavy-ion-induced fission in the reaction 18O + 208Pb at 91 MeV. A new 8+ level at 2638 keV was discovered with transitions connecting it to the yrast band and the quasi-gamma band. The three, now established, closely spaced 8+ states indicate a mixing between the ground-state band, s-band, and quasi-gamma band. Several high-spin structures with likely negative parity have been extended to higher spin and it is proposed that they are based on the νh 11/2(g 7/2 d 5/2) and νh 11/2(s 1/2 d 3/2) configurations.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Childhood

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has important differences in children compared with adults, particularly with regard to the range of causes and the outcomes in infants. Survival is highly dependent on etiology, particularly in the youngest patients, and pursuit of the specific cause is therefore necessary. The clinical utility of defining the genotype in children with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy exceeds that at other ages and has a highly favorable cost/benefit ratio. Although most of the available information concerning treatment and prevention of sudden death is derived in adults, management of children requires consideration of the differences in age-specific risk/benefit ratios.
Early implementation of legislative children's mental health reform: the Minnesota/Hennepin County Experience.

The objectives of this study were to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota’s Comprehensive Children’s Mental Health Act of 1989 and its early implementation in Hennepin County, Minn. Data were collected from official documents and key informants relative to three implementation criteria: (1) community-based and family-centered values; (2) the range, coordination, and affordability of services; and (3) process, outcome, and consumer accountability. Findings suggest that the state law is a laudable, yet seriously limited, attempt to reform the system of care for children with emotional disorders. While the law is strong in its intent regarding community-based value, range, and coordination of services as well as process accountability, implementation has been hampered by weaker intent with respect to other criteria and by a lack of a comprehensive financing plan. Despite these limitations in the state law, Hennepin County has moved to use the law as leverage to improve the local system of care. Implications for reformers in other states center on the issues of state/county relationships, scope of initial efforts, choice of organizational structure, and the interplay of financing and accountability issues.
A panoramic view of the skull base: systematic review of open and endoscopic endonasal approaches to four tumors

Endoscopic endonasal surgery has been established as the safest approach to pituitary tumors, yet its role in other common skull base lesions has not been established. To answer this question, we carried out a systematic review of reported series of open and endoscopic endonasal approaches to four major skull base tumors: olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM), tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSM), craniopharyngiomas (CRA), and clival chordomas (CHO). Data from 162 studies containing 5,701 patients were combined and compared for differences in perioperative mortality, gross total resection (GTR), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, neurological morbidity, post-operative visual function, post-operative anosmia, post-operative diabetes insipidus (DI), and post-operative obesity/hyperphagia. Weighted average rates for each outcome were calculated using relative study size. Our findings indicate similar rates of GTR and perioperative mortality between open and endoscopic approaches for all tumor types. CSF leak was increased after endoscopic surgery. Visual function symptoms were more likely to improve after endoscopic surgery for TSM, CRA, and CHO. Post-operative DI and obesity/hyperphagia were significantly increased after open resection in CRA. Recurrence rates per 1,000 patient-years of follow-up were higher in endoscopy for OGM, TSM, and CHO. Trends for open and endoscopic surgery suggested modest improvement in all outcomes over time. Our observations suggest that endonasal endoscopy is a safe alternative to craniotomy and may be preferred for certain tumor types. However, endoscopic surgery is associated with higher rates of CSF leak, and possibly increased recurrence rates. Prospective study with long-term follow-up is required to verify these preliminary observations.
Eosinophilic inflammation is associated with elevation of interleukin-5 in the airways of patients with spontaneous symptomatic asthma ☆ ☆☆ ★ ★★

Abstract In vitro and in vivo studies have shown an important role for interleukin-5 (IL-5) in regulating eosinophil proliferation, survival, and effector function. Because eosinophilic inflammation is an important component of symptomatic episodes of asthma, we have investigated whether increased levels of IL-5 protein are present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with spontaneously symptomatic asthma (FEV 1 , 61% predicted; FEF 25%-75% , 30% predicted) compared with patients with asymptomatic asthma (FEV 1 , 88% predicted; FEF 25%-75% , 76% predicted). The percent of BAL eosinophils (10.5% vs 0.6%) ( p = 0.0001) and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (386.0 ng/ml vs 6.3 ng/ml) ( p = 0.0001) was greater in BAL fluids derived from patients with symptomatic asthma compared with patients with asymptomatic asthma. Levels of IL-5 measured with an immunoradiometric assay were significantly higher in patients with symptomatic asthma ( n = 26) compared with those with asymptomatic asthma ( n = 18) (274 pg/ml vs p = 0.02). The increased IL-5 levels were noted in a subset of patients with symptomatic asthma with BAL absolute eosinophil counts greater than 10 6 (IL-5, 664 pg/ml; n = 10) as opposed to patients with symptomatic asthma with BAL eosinophil counts less than 10 6 (IL-5, n = 16) ( p = 0.005). This study suggests that IL-5 is not only induced in experimental models of allergen-induced asthma but can also be detected as asthma progresses from the asymptomatic to the clinically symptomatic state in subjects with significant BAL eosinophilia. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1995;96:661-8.)
Two-photon resonant multiphoton ionization and stimulated emission in krypton and xenon.

Forward- and backward-directed, stimulated emissions have been observed following two-photon pumping of the 5p states of krypton and the 6p', 7p, 8p, and 4f states of xenon. Multiphoton ionization spectra are also obtained and compared with the photon-detected excitation spectra. In krypton coherent emissions from the 5p states to the 5s are observed, and for xenon many p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}s, d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p, and f\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d cascade emissions are observed. By analogy to the well-studied alkali-metal and alkaline-earth examples, the emissions are assigned as amplified spontaneous emission. Several intensity anomalies in the xenon p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}s emissions are not understood at present. Interference effects due to coherent cancellation between competing excitation pathways may be occurring.
Simplex solid states of SU(N) quantum antiferromagnets

I define a set of wave functions for $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ lattice antiferromagnets, analogous to the valence bond solid states of Affleck et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 799 (1987); Commun. Math. Phys. 115, 477 (1988)], in which the singlets are extended over $N$-site simplixes. As with the valence bond solids, the new simplex solid (SS) states are extinguished by certain local projection operators, allowing one to construct Hamiltonians with local interactions which render the SS states exact ground states. Using a coherent state representation, I show that the quantum correlations in each SS state are calculable as the finite temperature correlations of an associated classical model with $N$-spin interactions on the same lattice. In three and higher dimensions, the SS states can spontaneously break $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ and exhibit $N$-sublattice long-ranged order as a function of a discrete parameter which fixes the local representation of $\mathrm{SU}(N)$. I analyze this transition using a classical mean field approach. For $Ng2$, the ordered state is selected via an ``order by disorder'' mechanism. As in the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki case, the bulk representations fractionalize at an edge, and the ground state entropy is proportional to the volume of the boundary.
A term project for a course on computer forensics

The typical approach to creating an examination disk for exercises and projects in a course on computer forensics is for the instructor to populate a piece of media with evidence to be retrieved. While such an approach supports the simple use of forensic tools, in many cases the use of an instructor-developed examination disk avoids utilizing some key aspects of a digital investigation by overly focusing on the mechanics of retrieval. We recently developed a course on computer forensics that utilized a large-scale, team-based term project involving the forensics examination of a computer system. In this article we describe an approach for providing examination disks for student use in a term project that reinforces the investigative aspect of the process.