cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrologic Modeling Uncertainty Resulting From Land Cover Misclassification

Abstract: A stochastic, spatially explicit method for assessing the impact of land cover classification error on distributed hydrologic modeling is presented. One-hundred land cover realizations were created by systematically altering the North American Landscape Characterization land cover data according to the dataset’s misclassification matrix. The matrix indicates the probability of errors of omission in land cover classes and is used to assess the uncertainty in hydrologic runoff simulation resulting from parameter estimation based on land cover. These land cover realizations were used in the GIS-based Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment tool in conjunction with topography and soils data to generate input to the physically-based Kinematic Runoff and Erosion model. Uncertainties in modeled runoff volumes resulting from these land cover realizations were evaluated in the Upper San Pedro River basin for 40 watersheds ranging in size from 10 to 100 km2 under two rainfall events of differing magnitudes and intensities. Simulation results show that model sensitivity to classification error varies directly with respect to watershed scale, inversely to rainfall magnitude and are mitigated or magnified by landscape variability depending on landscape composition.
Deswelling of ultrathin molecular layer-by-layer polyamide water desalination membranes

The selective layer of pressure-induced water desalination membranes is an ultrathin and highly crosslinked aromatic polyamide (PA) film that separates salt from water based on differences in permeability, which is a product of diffusivity and solubility. Characterizing the transport properties of the selective layer is necessary in understanding its permselective performance. However, measuring transport of ultrathin films in general is nontrivial. Here, Poroelastic Relaxation Indentation (PRI) is employed as a simple deswelling technique for measuring the transport properties of these ultrathin selective layers.
The role of angular momentum in the splitting of isolated eddies

The question of which oceanic eddies can split and break up is addressed with the aid of two simplified analytical models which rely on the conservation of integrated angular momentum. First, an inviscid barotropic model with an initial round vortex is considered. The conditions necessary for the breakup of the vortex without exchanging angular momentum with its environment are examined. A solution for the final state is obtained without solving for the highly nonlinear transient splitting process. It is found that only cyclonic eddies meet the necessary condition for splitting — anticyclonic eddies can never split, no matter what their structure is . The cyclones are subject to a critical intensity above which breaking is possible and below which splitting is impossible. Specifically, cyclones with relative vorticity higher than f (where f is the (uniform) Coriolis parameter) can split into 2 eddies, whereas cyclones with a vorticity higher than f /3 can split into 3 or 4 vortices. The peculiar asymmetry between anticyclones and cyclones is a result of the conservation of integrated angular momentum. This can be demonstrated by noting that during the splitting process, the newly formed eddies are pushed away from their original center of rotation acquiring planetary torque. Therefore, in order for splitting to occur, the torque of the parent eddy must be large enough to accommodate for this addition of planetary torque. It turns out that only cyclones, which typically have more absolute angular momentum than their anticyclonic counterparts (because they rotate in the same sense as the spin of the earth), have enough torque to allow splitting. The above analysis is also applied to the splitting of a fully nonlinear zero potential vorticity lens. As in the barotropic anticyclonic cases, splitting is strictly impossible because the parent eddy does not have enough angular momentum. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1990.t01-2-00006.x
Effects of 28% Protein Diets Differing in Quality on Channel Catfish Performance, Processing Traits, and Production Economics in a Multi-Batch System

Three 28% protein feeds (premium, standard, or a low-cost diet) were fed to channel catfish in a pond study to compare growth, production, and costs as a follow up to similar work with 32% protein feeds. Twelve 0.1-ha earthen ponds at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Aquaculture Research Station were stocked with carryover fish (0.39 kg mean weight) at 5,860 fish/ha and fingerling catfish (mean individual weight of 15.4 g) at 12,500 fish/ha. Total yield (gross and net) did not differ between fish fed the premium as compared to the standard diet, but that of the premium diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed the low-cost diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ between fish fed the premium and standard diets, but was lower than the FCR of fish fed the low-cost diet. There were no differences found in processing yields among treatments. Given the lower cost of the 28% standard diet and yields equivalent to those of the 28% premium diet, the 28% standard diet was econo...
Synthesis of the A-B subunit of angelmicin B.

An efficient synthesis of the tricyclic A−B subunit 2 of angelmicin B is described. A formal three-component coupling of aldehydes 4 and 6 with γ-silylallylborane 7 was employed to assemble the tetrahydrofuranyl core of 2, a strategy highlighted by the stereoselective [3 + 2] annulation of allylsilanes 5a/5b with aldehyde 4. The efficiency of the [3 + 2] annulation was greatly improved by using the allylic benzhydryldimethylsilane 5b compared to the allylic phenyldimethylsilane 5a.
Ethics and environmental marketing

Corporations have scrambled to bring to market products positioned and advertised as addressing the needs of the environmentally-conscious consumer. The vast majority of claims presented in support of these products are best described, however, as confused, misleading or outright illegal. Ethical considerations have not yet been integrated into environmental marketing, and as a result, long-term harm on both the individual and societal level may result. A framework for reversing this trend is presented. It identifies the sequence of actions necessary for the development and communication of ethical environmental marketing claims. The sequence is based upon two aspects of ethical theory: moral style and normative behavior. Specific implications for marketers' actions at each stage in the sequence of framework development are also discussed.
A solid phase assay for topoisomerase I interfacial poisons and catalytic inhibitors.

We report a mechanism-based screening technique to rapidly identify eukaryotic topoisomerase I targeting agents. The method is based on genetic tagging of topoisomerase I to immobilize the enzyme on a solid surface in a microtiter well format. DNA is added to the wells, and retained DNA is detected by Pico Green fluorescence. Compounds that result in an increase in Pico Green staining represent potential topoisomerase interfacial poisons, whereas those that reduce fluorescence report catalytic inhibitors; therefore, the solid phase assay represents a “bimodal” readout that reveals mechanisms of action. The method has been demonstrated to work with known interfacial poisons and catalytic inhibitors. This method is rapid, robust, economical, and scalable for large library screens.
Experiences in Large-Scale, Component Based, Model-Driven Software Development

Over the past 5 years, the Subscriber Software group of the Motorola Networks and Enterprise division has been engaged in establishing a Model-Driven software development approach to allow the efficient creation of quality software to be used in a variety of different product lines produced. Historically, this division has operated internally as three independent product groups, with each group producing a new product line every 2 to 3 years. In addition, each product line may contain 10-20 product variants, often distinguished through software with an expected lifetime of a particular product to exceed 10 years. A clear challenge for the division was to cope with the ever increasing rate of change in technology, the growing number of active product lines, accelerating the introduction of new product lines to meet customer demands, while simultaneously maintaining the current workforce size. This paper seeks to capture the experiences over these past 5 years, covering the challenges encountered in deploying this approach to a global workforce, redefining the organizational boundary lines, and overcoming the difficulties in meeting both short term product centric development time constraints while balancing a longer term strategic objective. In particular, the paper will focus on aspects on Model-driven development that are critical to large scale deployment, such as model(s) organization, distribution and control, in addition to component creation and management and quality aspects of multi-product line software. In addition, the paper will address the importance of formal architectures and design as applied to this approach... The paper concludes with the establishment of a cohesive environment for large-scale component based model-driven software development, with an emphasis on minimizing the overhead associated with artifact management, while maximizing consistency across the entire environment.
Spectral reflectance of drying soil

Moisture content is a key factor for soil in many fields. In this paper, soil spectral reflectance is observed over the whole drying process. The relation between volumetric water content and the depth of the water absorption bands revealsdifferent trends at different bands. The depth of the water absorption band increases with increasing moisture content at some wavelengths and decreases at others. In both cases, a simple linear fitting can estimate and predict soil moisture content from water absorption band depth.
Voluntary Inhibition of Galvanic Skin Response

To assess the effectiveness of instructional set in voluntary inhibition of GSR 43 male Ss were assigned to 3 treatment groups. All groups were shown 4 slides of female nudes once, were given a break or instructions, and were shown the slides again. Group 1 received instruction to try to inhibit their response. Group C1 received instruction about the nature of the GSR measure. Group C2 received no special instructions. Scores were changes in mean peak amplitude of skin conductance between presentations. Analysis of variance indicated no suppression had occurred. Inspection of the data led to the conclusion that the instructions were followed by higher skin conductance, probably from increased anxiety or skeletal artifact.
Specific Activity of α1Proteinase Inhibitor and α2Macroglobulin in Human Serum: Application to Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract The shifting balance between proteinases and proteinase inhibitors in blood, a function of their relative affinities and concentrations, has long been hypothesized to influence immune competency. The identification of proteinase-activated receptor responses in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system suggests a potential explanation. The major serum proteinase inhibitor, α1proteinase inhibitor (α1PI, α1-antitrypsin), has been reported to increase in concentration during inflammation. Quantitative determination of serum α1PI has traditionally been performed nephelometrically; however, antigenically quantitated levels may not be representative of functional capacity. It has previously been observed that α1PI in serum exhibits bimodal behavior as the result of various concentrations of proteinase inhibitors, specifically α2macroglobulin (α2M) and inter-α-trypsin inhibitor, which compete in binding to a panel of serine proteinases. Consequently, it has not previously been possible to assign a numerical value for the specific activity of these competing proteinase inhibitors in serum. By applying known constants representing the association of proteinase inhibitors with porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE), the theoretical relationship between the functional and antigenic values for α1PI and α2M has been empirically derived allowing, for the first time, the calculation of their specific activities in serum. As predicted, the serum concentration of α1PI was found to be highly correlated with residual uninhibited PPE catalytic activity in healthy individuals, but not in individuals exhibiting fragmented or complexed α1PI. Using these techniques, both the antigenic and functional levels of α1PI were determined in sera from subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) who had been clinically diagnosed as having either periodontal disease or gingival health. Determination of quantitative levels by antigen-capture suggests that the IDDM subjects with periodontitis manifest dramatically increased levels of fragmented serum α1PI compared with their orally healthy counterparts or normal controls. In contrast, functional analysis of serum α1PI revealed no differences between the three subject populations. The elevated levels of antigenically determined serum α1PI reflect the inflammatory status of periodontal disease. These results support the importance of and provide methodology for determining the functionally active levels of α1PI allowing reexamination of changes detected during the acute phase of inflammation, replacement therapy, and longitudinal studies in relevant disease processes including malignancy and diabetes.
Modeling leptin receptor insensitivity by comparing how leptin or leptin receptor mutations in mice affect body weight, basal metabolism, body temperature and feeding behaviors

Abstract. Leptin, a protein hormone produced principally in adipose tissue, plays a major role in the regulation of food intake, hunger, satiety and metabolism. Most obesity is likely the result of the body's resistance to leptin. The purpose of this experiment was to model leptin receptor insensitivity by comparing how the lack of leptin or the leptin receptor in mutant mice would affect body weight, basal metabolism, body temperature and feeding behaviors. Eighteen mice were used: 6 controls, 6 mutant ob/ob (defective for the expression of leptin), and 6 mutant db/db (defective for the expression of the leptin receptor). After 24 weeks of free access to food and water, the ob/ob mice weighed more than the control and db/db mice (P=0.0012). Both the ob/ob and db/db mice had lower metabolic rates (P = 0.0194) and body temperatures (P < 0.0001). As expected, the db/db mice had the greatest water intake (P=0.0060) and cage waste (P=0.0499) reflective of their diabetic state. The normal mice ate more than th...
Posterior cruciate ligament replacement with a two-strand quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft and a tibial inlay technique.

Background: Complete ruptures of the posterior cruciate ligament alter knee kinematics and may result in functional limitations with sports and daily activities. We prospectively evaluated the functional results and knee stability after posterior cruciate ligament replacement with use of a two-strand quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft and a tibial inlay technique. Methods: Nineteen patients were followed for a mean of thirty-five months postoperatively. All had a chronic knee injury, and eight had additional ligament reconstructions. The results were measured with stress radiography, arthrometric testing, and two validated knee-rating instruments. Results: Eighteen patients rated the knee condition as improved. Before surgery, eleven patients had pain with daily activities, but only one had such pain at the time of the latest follow-up. Significant improvements were noted for pain, swelling, giving-way, walking, climbing stairs, squatting, running, jumping, and twisting and turning (all p ≤ 0.05). Eleven patients returned to low-impact sports, and two patients were able to participate in strenuous sports without problems. At the time of the latest follow-up, stress radiography revealed that fourteen knees had ≤5 mm of increased posterior tibial translation between the reconstructed and the contralateral side, three knees had 6 to 10 mm, and two knees had >10 mm. No knee had an infection, permanent limitation of knee motion, or patellar fracture. Conclusions: Posterior cruciate ligament replacement produced reasonable subjective, functional, and objective results in this group of complex, chronic knee injuries. The tibial inlay approach was useful in nine revisions in which prior tibial tunnels had to be avoided. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fundamental process during pulsed-laser deposition of thin films

A model to estimate plasma absorption during deposition of thin films has been developed. In this model, the time-dependent plasma dimension is replaced by the time dependent ablation depth which can be determined by numerical simulations. A model to predict the spatial in- homogeneities in the laser-deposited films has also been developed.
Impacts of IT Advances and E-commerce on Transportation in Producer Services

ABSTRACT Producer services have been among the most rapidly growing industries, as measured by employment, in the United States and in Europe in recent decades. The production and delivery of these specialized forms of service industry work require the use of transportation and communications systems in a variety of ways, including the physical movement of people working in these industries, as well as the movement of the information related to the production and distribution of their work. Some of this work is performed in localized markets, requiring travel between clients and suppliers in local transportation modes, such as auto, bus, or other types of transportation. Other work is done by specialists who travel interregionally and globally to do their work, primarily traveling to their clients. There is little knowledge of how these production relationships have changed with the advent of the Internet and the widespread use of e-mail in the business production process. Within the framework of this STELLA initiative, this paper outlines research needs in this area, and frames an approach that would produce badly needed knowledge about impacts on the producer services of the Internet and related e-commerce initiatives on physical transportation systems at a local to interregional scale.
An anomaly in disk scheduling: a comparison of FCFS and SSTF seek scheduling using an empirical model for disk accesses

A model for disk accesses based on published measurements is developed. The model is used to show that under highly probable conditions, FCFS seek scheduling is superior to SSTF scheduling in the sense of having a lower mean queue length. A simple example of an arrival sequence illustrating this anomaly is presented.
Utilizing Symbolic Interactionism to Assist People with Mental Retardation during the Grieving Process

In recent years, people with mental retardation have begun to lead lives similar to other citizens. New opportunities, such as employment within the community and/or independent habitation, have al...
Quantification of ST-segment changes during coronary angioplasty in patients with left bundle branch block

Electrocardiographic manifestations of ischemia are difficult to interpret in the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB). Recently developed techniques allow continuous computerized digital analysis of ST segments that can be zeroed to the patient's own baseline electrocardiogram even if that baseline is abnormal conduction. With use of this technology, ST-segment changes during balloon coronary occlusion were compared in 10 patients with LBBB versus an age-, sex-, and coronary anatomy-matched population of 20 control subjects with normal baseline conduction. ST-segment deviation of greater than or equal to 1 mm from baseline was present in 80% of patients with LBBB and in 75% of control patients (difference not significant). There was no significant difference between patients with LBBB versus control patients in maximal ST-segment deviation (2.6 +/- 1.7 vs 2.0 +/- 1.0 mm) or in ST-segment deviation measured after 60 seconds of occlusion (2.4 +/- 1.3 vs 1.8 +/- 1.1 mm). ST-segment deviation reached 1 mm more quickly in patients with LBBB (33 +/- 11 seconds) than in control subjects (60 +/- 36 seconds) (p = 0.003). It is concluded that ST-segment analysis is feasible in patients with LBBB using digital self-referenced ST analysis and may provide important clinical information regarding the presence of myocardial ischemia.
Characteristics of a human epidermal squamous carcinoma cell line at different extracellular calcium concentratrions

A continuous line derived from a human skin squamous cell carcinoma has been grown in media of high, normal and low Ca2+ concentrations. The growth rate was unaffected by the Ca2+ levels even though morphological changes were observed. Desmosomes were absent at low Ca2+ and areas of cell piling were observed at high Ca2+. Cell protein staining patterns on polyacrylamide gels were identical for cells grown at the three Ca2+ levels. The variations were minor for the glycoproteins reacted with 125I-conA. Lactoperoxidase iodination revealed changes in cell surface proteins, most markedly in the emergence of new proteins at high Ca2+.
Some Factors Affecting Pupation Site of Drosophila

A method of rearing Drosophila melanogaster (ten to a six-dram shell vial) is described, by means of which it is possible to assay the sites of pupation. Criteria for listing pupae as central or peripheral are given and pertinent methods of statistical analysis are discussed. A section is included on the normal activities of Drosophila larvae under the standard conditions of our experiments. The rest of the paper concerns the effects of varying environmental factors on pupation site. Temperature was found to cause maximal peripherality in the range between 22° and 25° C. Increased moisture content in the medium tends to increase peripherality. No effect of age of medium was found in spite of the desiccation of the medium on standing. The effect of moisture content of the air was very similar to that of moisture content in the medium; an increase in relative humidity produced an increase in peripherality. Increased larval density significantly decreases peripherality. Sex of a larva had no relation to its pupation site. Earlier pupating larvae are peripheral; later pupating larvae tend to be central. Duration of autoclaving does not affect pupation site.
A statistical analysis of side-chain conformations in proteins: Comparison with ECEPP predictions

A comparison of the statistical distributions of side-chain conformations of 17 amino acids (Gly, Ala, and Pro excluded), observed in 63 nonhomologous globular proteins (covering 10,832 residues), is made with similar distributions calculated from the low-energy conformational states for the same amino acids (blocked with acetyl and N-methylamide groups at the N- and C-termini, respectively) obtained by Vasquezet al. [(1983),Macromolecules 16, 1043–1049 using the ECEPP/2 force field. Those residues (i) with linear side chains (Arg, Lys, Met, Cys, Ser), or those that are unbranched through theγ-carbon atom (Glu, Gln) show good agreement, whereas (ii) those with side chains that are branched at C β or C γ show poor agreement with ECEPP calculations. A possible explanation for this is shown to be the greater tendency for side-chain atoms in class (ii) to interact with the backbone and/or adjacent side chains. Accordingly, ECEPP/3 calculations, carried out after elongating the backbone chain of the model peptide unit (by adding three Ala residues on each side of the central residue, and then blocking the termini as before), result in distributions that are often closer to the observed side-chain distributions. The implications of these results for the relative importance of short-range versus long-range interactions in determining protein structure are discussed.
Porosity of Fibrin Networks Measured by Macroion Flow

In the tragic event of an injury, the body's main mechanism to hinder blood loss is to form a thrombus. This process primarily consists of the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin through an enzymatic reaction catalyzed by thrombin. The fibrin network's structure is dependent on the concentration of thrombin present as well as on environmental conditions during network formation. Here we present how thrombin concentration and flow conditions affect the formation of fibrin in a controlled environment. Fibrin networks are grown in a microfluidic device and their porosity is determined using conductance measurements in the presence of macroions of various sizes. The porosity of fibrin is relevant to its biological role influencing the outcome in the wound healing process.
Effect of sea water interaction on strontium isotope composition of deep-sea basalts

Abstract Analyses of rim-to-interior samples of fresh tholeiitic pillow basalts, deuterically altered holocrystalline basalts, and older, weathered tholeiitic basalts from the deep sea indicate that 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the older basalts are raised by low temperature interaction with strontium dissolved in sea water. 87 Sr/ 86 Sr correlates positively with H 2 O in these basalts; however, there is little detectable modification of the strontium isotope composition in rocks with H 2 O contents less than 1%. The isotope changes appear to be a function of relatively long-term, low-temperature weathering, rather than high-temperature or deuteric alteration. Strontium abundance and isotopic data for these rocks suggest that strontium content is only slightly modified by interaction with sea water, and it is a relatively insensitive indicator of marine alteration. Average Rb-Sr parameters for samples of apparently unaltered basalt are: Rb= 1.11ppm; Sr= 132ppm; 87 Sr/ 86 Sr= 0.70247.
Radiotolerance of Microorganisms Isolated from Radiation Fields on a University Campus: Implications for Shallow Subsurface Growth of Microorganisms on Mars

The surface of Mars is exposed to higher levels of solar and galactic cosmic ray irradiation than Earth due to its very weak magnetic field. Thus, microorganisms that could possibly survive in the shallow subsurface of Mars would likely be radiotolerant. To better understand microorganisms that might reside in this environment of Mars, a number of isolates were obtained from the area around a gamma-radiation source, 137Cs, located on the UMR campus. Radiation sensitivity assays were performed on the isolates as well as on the common bacterium, E. coli. All the organisms tested were able to withstand exposures up to 20 Gy. The E. coli control did not survive exposures of 200 Gy, while the isolate designated 1B-1 could. Another isolate, Cont-1, also withstood this exposure. Each of the isolates produced white growth on solid medium and their cells are rod-shaped. The study of these isolates and similar organisms could enhance our knowledge of these unique extremophilic bacteria and might provide insight into the microorganisms that could be present in the shallow subsurface of Mars.
Mechanism of Aldehyde Oxidation Catalyzed by Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

The mechanism of oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid catalyzed by horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH) has been investigated using the HLADH structure at 2.1 A resolution with NAD+ and pentafluorobenzyl alcohol in the active site [Ramaswamy et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 5230−5237]. Constructs for molecular dynamics (MD) investigations with HLADH were obtained by a best-fit superimposition of benzaldehyde or its hydrate on the pentafluorobenzyl alcohol bound to the active site Zn(II) ion. Equilibrium bond lengths, angles, and dihedral parameters for Zn(II) bonding residues His67, Cys46, and Cys174 were obtained from small-molecule X-ray crystal structures and an ab initio-derived parameterization of zinc in HLADH [Ryde, U. (1995) Proteins: Struct., Funct., Genet. 21, 40−56]. Dynamic simulations in CHARMM were carried out on the following three constructs to 100 ps: (MD1) enzyme with NAD+, benzaldehyde, and zinc-ligated HO- in the active site; (MD2) enzyme with NAD+ and hydrated benzaldehyde m...
Using Gröbner bases to determine algebra membership, split surjective algebra homomorphisms determine birational equivalence

k is a field, X"1,..., X"n are indeterminates over k and f"1,...,f"m@?k[X"1,...,X"n]. This note presents a simple algorithm, based on Grobner bases, to test if a given polynomial g of k[X"1,...,X"n] lies in k[f"1,...,f"m]. If so, the algorithm produces a polynomial P of m variables where g=P(f"1,...,f"m). Say @w: B->k[X"1,...,X"n] is a homomorphism where @w(b"i)=f"i, for algebra generators {b"i}@?B. If @w is onto, our algorithm gives a homomorphism @l:k[X"1,...,X"n]->B, where the composite @w@l is the identity map. In particular, the algorithm computes the inverse of algebra automorphisms of the polynomial ring. A variation of our test if k[f"1,...,f"m]=k[X"1,...,X"n], tells if k(f"1,...,f"m)=k(X"1,...,X"n). Existing computer algebra systems, such as IBM's SCRATCHPAD II, have Grobner basis packages which allow the user to specify a term ordering sufficient to carry out the algorithm.
The Subtle Transmission of Race Bias via Televised Nonverbal Behavior

Compared with more explicit racial slurs and statements, biased facial expressions and body language may resist conscious identification and thus produce a hidden social influence. In four studies, we show that race biases can be subtly transmitted via televised nonverbal behavior. Characters on 11 popular television shows exhibited more negative nonverbal behavior toward black than toward status-matched white characters. Critically, exposure to prowhite (versus problack) nonverbal bias increased viewers' bias even though patterns of nonverbal behavior could not be consciously reported. These findings suggest that hidden patterns of televised nonverbal behavior influence bias among viewers.
Principles for literacy assessment

From the article's introduction: “What gets assessed is what gets taught” is a common assertion whose meaning is often underestimated. It is not just what gets assessed, but how it is assessed that has implications for what is learned. When a child who is asked the meaning of his report card grades responds, “If I knew that I'd be the teacher” he is saying something about the relationships of authority learned in the process of assessment. When a teacher wishes out loud that her faculty “could discuss retention and realistic expectations for grade levels without the nastiness and accusations,” she is also reporting on the relational aspect of assessment practices (Johnston, 2003, p. 90). Our goal in this article is to offer a framework for understanding literacy assessment that incorporates these dimensions and reminds us of the broader picture of literacy assessment of which we often lose sight.”
Thin Film Reflection Properties of a Warm Isotropic Plasma Slab Between Two Half-Space Dielectric Media

This paper describes electromagnetic wave behavior within a thin metal film bounded by two different dielectric materials. The film is isotropic, homogeneous, temporally and spatially dispersive with complex refractive index n p . The geometry of the film is a slab bounded by half-space dielectrics of refractive indices n I (input medium) and n T (output medium), which are assumed to be real. Since the film is spatially dispersive it is modeled as a warm plasma using macroscopic Maxwell’s equations coupled with hydrodynamic equations for a compressible electron gas. The electron gas or plasma considers positive ions to be stationary, in the background, ensuring overall charge neutrality. The waves at the input, output and inside the plasma slab are described. The characteristic roots for the warm plasma are derived from the dispersion relation for oblique incidence of the wave in the input medium of refractive index n I . The power reflection coefficient for refractive indices ≥1 is derived and its results are presented in segmented regions bounded by the zeros of the characteristic roots known as critical points.
Rat Mast Cell Protease I Alters Cell Metabolism

Abstract Rat connective tissue mast cells are known to store significant amounts of mast cell protease I (RMCP I), which suppresses normal cell growth and mediates cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines, including the fibrosarcoma cell line FL. To better define its effects on FL cells, RMCP I was added to FL cultures for 30 min. Analysis of de novo nuclear protein synthesis revealed that RMCP I suppressed the expression of three proteins (41, 46, and 69 kD) and enhanced the expression of two other proteins (25 and 32 kD). Treatment of FL cells with diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP)-inactivated RMCP I proved that these effects were largely independent of the protease catalytic site. Western blot hybridization, using a monoclonal antibody to phosphotyrosine-containing proteins, revealed that RMCP I inhibited phosphorylation of a nuclear and a cytoplasmic 81-kD tyrosylprotein. Inhibition of nuclear tyrosine kinase activity by RMCP I appeared to be catalytic site dependent, whereas cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase inhibition was independent of RMCP I proteolytic activity. Biotinylated RMCP I was used to identify potential surfacebinding ]proteins. Three specific binding complexes (130, 150, and 210 kD) were detected. The binding of biotinylated RMCP I to these surface proteins was inhibited by excess unlabeled RMCP I, but not by trypsin or chymotrypsin. We speculate that the binding proteins may be critical in initiating RMCP I-induced metabolic changes on FL cells. The ability of RMCP I to alter the metabolism of cells suggests that it may have an important role in regulating their functions.
Self-consistent heats of formation for the ethyl cation, ethyl bromide, and ethyl iodide from threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy.

The dissociative photoionization onsets of Br and I loss reactions were measured for C2H5Br and C2H5I, respectively, by threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy to establish the heats of formation of these two basic ethyl halides. The appearance energy of ethyl cation from ethyl bromide was found to be 1074.2 ± 0.8 kJ mol−1, and that from ethyl iodide was found to be 1016.4 ± 0.8 kJ mol−1. The heats of formation of ethyl bromide and ethyl iodide are interconnected through the ethyl cation. In establishing the thermochemistry of the ethyl halides, the ethyl cation heat of formation was concluded to be 915.5 ± 1.3 kJ mol−1 on the basis of a recent value for ethyl radical heat of formation and the well-established ionization energy and on the basis of ab initio isodesmic calculations using recent PEPICO data. Using this anchor, we obtained the following heats of formation: ΔfH0K°[EtBr] = −40.8 ± 1.5 kJ mol−1 and ΔfH0K°[EtI] = 6.3 ± 1.5 kJ mol−1. These results are more consistent wi...
Minimum energy CMOS design with dual subthreshold supply and multiple logic-level gates

This paper presents a method for minimum energy digital CMOS circuit design using dual subthresh-old supply voltages. Stringent energy budget and moderate speed requirements of some ultra low power systems may not be best satisfied just by scaling a single supply voltage. Optimized circuits with dual supply voltages provide an opportunity to resolve these demands. The delay penalty of a traditional level converter is unacceptably high when the voltages are in the subthreshold range. In the present work level converters are not used and special multiple logic-level gates are used only when, after accounting for their cost, they offer advantage. Starting from a lowest per cycle energy design whose single supply voltage is in the subthreshold range, a new mixed integer linear program (MILP) finds a second lower supply voltage optimally assigned to gates with time slack. The MILP accounts for the energy and delay characteristics of logic gates interfacing two different signal levels. New types of linearized AND and OR constraints are used in this MILP. We show energy saving up to 24.5% over the best available designs of ISCAS'85 benchmark circuits.
The effects of estradiol on gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the developing mouse brain.

Abstract The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis plays a critical role in the control of reproduction. Two key hormonal components of the HPG axis are gonadal steroids and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Gonadal steroids are known to organize the development of neural substrates which control adult reproductive behavior; GnRH is required for normal reproductive structure and function. The possibility that gonadal steroids may produce organizational changes in the pattern of GnRH staining observed in the brain is investigated through the use of injections of estradiol to neonatal mice and subsequent GnRH immunocytochemistry at 2 months of age. Our results indicate that the number of GnRH-immunoreactive (GnRH-ir) cells is normally lower in females than males. Estradiol did not affect the number of GnRH-ir cells in females, but significantly increased the number of GnRH-ir cells in males, suggesting that early exposure to estradiol results in masculinization of the GnRH axis of males.
Quality of Life Issues in Bladder Cancer Patients Following Cystectomy and Urinary Diversion

HRQOL outcomes in bladder cancer patients undergoing cystectomy and urinary diversion are an important component in the critical assessment of bladder cancer treatment. To date, understanding of HRQOL in these patients remains poor. Although it is known that there are common factors that most likely affect HRQOL for all patients, it is unclear whether factors unique to a specific type of diversion impact HRQOL in a way that makes one type of diversion superior to another. Factors such as stoma maintenance, catheter use, urinary incontinence, body image, and sexual side effects are potentially different for each major type of diversion and most likely impact HRQOL, but a consistent advantage of one type of diversion over another has yet to be demonstrated. With slight changes in the approach to studying HRQOL outcomes, this question could be answered. Prospective study designs, appropriate adjustment for confounding factors, diverse patient populations, and the use of validated and disease-specific instruments would greatly enhance understanding of HRQOL in patients undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer. By understanding these issues more completely, patients could be counseled not only about their predicted surgical risks and survival but also about the impact their disease will have on their longer-term quality of survival. Patients will then be able to make a more fully informed decision on the most appropriate form of therapy for this serious life-altering disease.
Can patients help with long-term total knee arthroplasty surveillance? Comparison of the American Knee Society Score self-report and surgeon assessment

Objectives. To compare patient self-report of knee flexion, extension, range of motion (ROM) and American Knee Society (AKS) Pain, Knee and Functional scores with a clinician assessment. Methods. A total of 239 consecutive total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients (290 knees) were mailed surveys with an AKS questionnaire and lateral knee photographs that showed knee ROM in 108 increments to compare their operated knee(s) ROM. Patients were subsequently seen in clinic and their ROM, AKS Pain, Knee and Functional scores were measured. Patient- and physician-reported measures were compared using independent sample t-test and correlated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. A priori rules for comparisons were based on previously published reports. Results. A total of 286 knees had both survey and clinic data available and constituted the analytic set. Patient-reported and physicianassessed extension, flexion and ROM were: 3 � 4.88 vs 1.4 � 4.38 (P < 0.001), 111.4 � 14.68 vs 110 � 12.88 (P ¼ 0.04) and 108.6 � 16.8 vs 108.6 � 14.38 (P ¼ 0.98). There was a moderate correlation between patient and physician assessments (extension ¼ 0.31; flexion ¼ 0.44; ROM ¼ 0.42; P � 0.001 for all). Patient-reported and physician-assessed AKS Pain, Knee and Functional scores were: 35.8 � 15.6 vs 43.9 � 11.1 (P < 0.001), 79.8 � 20 vs 88.9 � 13.3 (P < 0.001) and 57.7 � 23.1 vs 65.7 � 26.4 (P < 0.001), respectively. Patient- and physicianassessed AKS Pain, Knee and Functional scores had moderate–high correlation (r ¼ 0.49, 0.49 and 0.70; P � 0.001 for all). Conclusion. Long-term surveillance of TKA patients may be possible using a self-report AKS, but the average 8- to 10-point difference between patient- and physician-reported AKS scores (patients reporting poorer scores) represents a substantial impact on this outcome instrument. Since patient-reported responses have clear value in global assessment, further evaluation with other validated outcome instruments is warranted.
Bimodal Microstructure in Silicon Nitride–Barium Aluminum Silicate Ceramic‐Matrix Composites by Pressureless Sintering

A distinct bimodal microstructure has been obtained in a Si3N4–BAS (barium aluminum silicate) ceramic-matrix composite by pressureless sintering. It is shown that the addition of coarse β-Si3N4 seeds causes abnormal grain growth in this composite, and hence encourages the formation of a bimodal microstructure. This abnormal grain growth is due to the nature of the heterogeneous nucleation mechanism in Si3N4α-to-β phase transformation, and is promoted by the transformation. After complete phase transformation, further abnormal grain growth is comparably slow and governed by the Ostwald ripening mechanism. Therefore, a stable bimodal microstructure can be easily achieved by pressureless sintering.
Low Vitamin D and High Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Serum Levels Associate with Infectious and Cardiac Deaths in the HEMO Study

Longitudinal studies testing the relationship between repeated measures of vitamin D or fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and infectious and cardiac hospitalizations and death in hemodialysis patients have not been reported. We examined the association between yearly 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and FGF23 serum levels and various clinical outcomes using time-dependent Cox regression models with repeated yearly measures and fixed-covariate Cox models with only baseline values after controlling for important clinical covariates in the HEMO study. During a median follow-up of 3 years, 582 of the 1340 participants died, and 499 and 514 participants had a hospitalization or death attributed to infectious and cardiac causes, respectively. Patients in the highest 25(OH)D quartile had the lowest risk of infectious events (hazard ratio [HR] 0.66 versus the lowest quartile; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.49-0.89), cardiac events (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.96), and all-cause mortality (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.34-0.62) in time-dependent analyses. No significant associations of 1,25(OH)2D with clinical outcomes were observed in time-dependent or fixed-covariate Cox models. In contrast, the highest FGF23 quartile was associated with a higher risk of infectious events (HR, 1.57 versus the lowest quartile; 95% CI, 1.13-2.18), cardiac events (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.06-2.08), and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.07-2.12) in fixed-covariate Cox models. The addition of inflammation markers into the statistical models did not attenuate these associations. Thus, disordered mineral metabolism may affect outcomes in chronic hemodialysis patients.
Initial Evaluation of Fenofibrate for Efficacy in Aiding Smoking Abstinence.

INTRODUCTION Primate and rodent models show that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) ligands, including fibrate medications, reduce nicotine reinforcement, reward, and related effects. We tested fenofibrate, the most common U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved fibrate for lipid control versus placebo for initial evidence of efficacy in smoking cessation using a validated cross-over procedure for early Phase 2 evaluations. METHODS Adult dependent smokers (N = 38) in this 4-week within-subjects study were those already intending to try to quit in the next 2 months. All smoked ad libitum during weeks 1 (baseline) and 3 (washout) and began fenofibrate (160 mg/d; dosing approved for lipid control) or placebo near the end of weeks 1 and 3. Following each 4-day dose run-up, they were then instructed to try to quit for 4 days (Tuesday-Friday) during weeks 2 and 4, with the order of medication conditions counter-balanced and administered double-blind. Abstinence was verified daily in each 4-day quit period by self-report of no smoking in the prior 24 hours and carbon monoxide .20). CONCLUSIONS Although higher dosing or other proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonists may show efficacy, this study indicates that fenofibrate does not aid ability to stop smoking during a brief practice quit period in dependent smokers high in current quit interest.
Measuring Aptitude Processes with Multicomponent Latent Trait Models.

Aptitude measurement has had significant influence on educational research and practice since Binet constructed the first intelligence test. Despite the long history of aptitude measurement, however, the nature of the individual differences that are measured by current aptitude tests remains a very controversial area in educational and psychological research. In fact, in the recent annual review chapter on individual differences in abilities (Carroll & Maxwell, 1979), considerable surprise is expressed that defining the nature of intelligence is as important in current research as it was when Carroll (1954) reviewed the field twenty-five years ago. However, Carroll and Maxwell (1979, p. 633) note that significant potential for change has resulted from ". . . cognitive psychology and the prospect that its perspectives may be able to reform psychometrics and the theory of ID's in a radical way." One important new direction for intelligence research is cognitive component analysis of aptitude. This research seeks to clarify the construct validity of aptitude tests by studying the test item as an information-processing task. Contemporary cognitive psychology methods which were designed for studying covert mental events have been applied by cognitive component researchers to identify the processing operations, memory stores and strategies that are involved in solving items. A major method which is used in cognitive component research is mathematical modeling of item differences in response time or accuracy from item subtasks and/or stimulus complexity measures. The subtasks or complexity measures represent specified processing components, in accordance with a prior theory. Cognitive component analysis has been successfully applied to several popular types of aptitude test items including verbal analogies (Barnes & Whitely, in press; Sternberg, 1977a, 1977b; Pellegrino & Glaser, 1979; Whitely & Barnes, 1979), geometric analogies (Mulholland, Pellegrino & Glaser, 1980), linear syllogisms (Sternberg, 1979), spatial orientation and visualization (Egan, 1979) and reading comprehension (Frederiksen, 1979). Component models of item performance have often yielded multiple correlations in the .90's (cf. Sternberg, 1977; Mulholland et al., 1980). Cognitive component analysis is potentially quite significant for aptitude measurement. Each processing component represents a separate construct that can potentially contribute to both item and subject differences in performance. If the test developer could adequately assess separate component contributions to performance, item sets could be systematically selected to represent specified processing abilities.