cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teacher Preparation for Culturally Diverse Classrooms: Performance-Based Assessment of Beginning Teachers.

To respond to an increasingly diverse student population, educators need to evaluate how well teacher education programs prepare graduates in culturally responsive teaching (CRT). In this study, we used a performance-based assessment to determine whether (a) different levels of preservicepreparation in CRT and (b) preparation in special versus general education affected foundational CRT skills of 68 beginning teacher graduates of 4 traditional university programs. Preparation was designated as high or low according to participants' recollections of preservice coursework and internship experiences. Scores on nine performance criteria selected for their relevance to CRT were analyzed using a 2 $$ 2 multivariate analysis of variance. We found no differences due to level of preparation in CRT, but special and general education teachers differed on three criteria: knowledge of students' backgrounds, fairness, and extending students' thinking. We discuss implications for future research, measurement, and accoun...
Reduced oxidative tissue damage during endotoxemia in IRAK-1 deficient mice

Abstract The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered by bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays a key role during the pathogenesis of sepsis. Given the key role that the interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) plays in LPS-mediated Toll-like-receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, we herein tested whether deletion of IRAK-1 gene in mice may render protection from LPS-induced oxidative tissue damage. In this report, we studied the levels of oxidative stress in vital organs including liver, kidney, and brain from wild type (WT) and IRAK-1 deficient mice injected with a lethal dose of LPS (25 mg/kg), a TLR4-specific agonist. We demonstrated that LPS challenge induced marked elevation of lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels in the plasma and tissues of WT mice, as well as elevated pro-inflammatory mediators. In contrast, IRAK-1 deficient mice had significantly lower lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels, as well as lower levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. Mechanistically, LPS triggered higher levels of iNOS activity and elevated membrane translocation of p47 phox , a key component of NADPH oxidase in immune cell derived from WT mice compared to IRAK-1 deficient mice. Additionally, tissues harvested from WT mice injected with LPS exhibited reduced activities of anti-oxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In contrast, LPS challenge failed to reduce the activities of GPx and SOD in IRAK-1 deficient tissues. As a consequence, LPS caused significantly pronounced damage to liver and kidney tissues in WT mice as compared to IRAK-1 deficient mice.
Theoretical interpretation of Schottky barriers and ohmic contacts

Abstract We review a theory of Schottky barriers that explains the following experimental findings: (i) observed barrier heights and Fermi-level pinning positions for GaAs, InP, GaSb, AlAs, GaP, InAs, and other III–V semiconductors; (ii) switching of the observed barrier heights and Fermi-level pinning positions for III–V semiconductors as a function of surface treatment or reactivity of the metal; (iii) alloy dependence of Schottky barrier heights for the ternaries Al 1− x Ga x As, GaAs 1− x P x , Ga 1− x In x P, InP 1− x As x , and In 1− x Ga x As; (iv) different slopes d E /d x for different metal contacts to AlGaAs, and an apparent cusp in the slope for Al contacts as a function of alloy composition; (v) observed Schottky barriers for a wide variety of Si/transition-metal-silicide interfaces; (vi) observed barriers for Ge, diamond, and amorphous Si; (vii) observation that Fermi-level pinning for p-GaAs disappears at the annealing temperature of the antisite defect As Ga . The theory provides a microscopic realization of the phenomenological defect model of Spicer, Lindau and coworkers. We find that most Schottky barriers are explained by dangling bonds - intrinsic dangling bonds for group IV semiconductors and antisite (as well as intrinsic) dangling bonds for III–V semiconductors. Ohmic contacts are explained in the present picture by shallow levels, which are also predicted by the theory.
Recombinant human leptin does not alter gut hormone levels after gastric bypass but may attenuate sweet cravings

Bariatric surgery improves glucose homeostasis and alters gut hormones partly independent of weight loss. Leptin plays a role in these processes; levels are decreased following bariatric surgery, creating a relative leptin insufficiency. We previously showed that leptin administration in a weight-reduced state after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) caused no further weight loss. Here, we discuss the impact of leptin administration on gut hormones, glucostasis, and appetite. Weight stable women after RYGB were randomized to receive placebo or recombinant human metreleptin (0.05&#x2009;mg/kg twice daily). At weeks 0 and 16, a liquid meal challenge was performed. Glucose, insulin, C-peptide, GLP-1, PYY, glucagon, and ghrelin (total, acyl, and desacyl) were measured fasting and postprandially. Appetite was assessed using a visual analog scale. Mean post-op period was months; mean BMI was &#x2009;kg/m2. At 16 weeks, there was no significant change in weight within or between groups. Fasting PYY was significantly different between groups and the leptin group had lower sweets craving at week 16 than the placebo group (). No other differences were observed. Leptin replacement does not alter gut hormones or glucostasis but may diminish sweet cravings compared to placebo in this population of post-RYGB women.
Phase diagram calculations of organic plastic crystal binaries: (NH2)(CH3)C(CH2OH)2-(CH3)2C(CH2OH)2 system

Abstract Thermodynamic analysis of a binary, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMPL, (NH 2 )(CH 3 )C(CH 2 OH) 2 )–2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (NPG, (CH 3 ) 2 C(CH 2 OH) 2 ), “plastic crystal” system has been performed and the AMPL–NPG phase diagram has been calculated. The low temperature phases generally have layered or chain structures ( α or β phases), and when heated transform to the high temperature plastic crystal ( γ ′ or γ ) phase. The AMPL-rich γ ′ phases have a BCC and the NPG-rich γ phases have FCC structure. The low temperature ( α and β ) and liquid phases are assumed to be ideal and the plastic crystal phases ( γ ′ and γ ) are described using subregular solution models. The Gibbs energies of pure components were determined with the inclusion of heat capacity data. The Gibbs energies of metastable modifications were estimated by assuming ideal solutions of the phases. The excess Gibbs energy parameters were optimized using Thermo-Calc (TCC) software to fit the experimental phase diagram data. The magnitudes of the interaction parameters are very small and thus the solution phases are almost ideal.
Vapor pressure of some tris-(Heptafluorodimethyloctanediono) lanthanide(III) chelates

Abstract Vapor pressures were measured by a modified Knudsen effusion method on seven Ln(fod) 3 chelates (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Er, and Yb; fod = C 3 F 7 COCHCOC(CH 3 ) 3 − ). Vapor pressures increased as the atomic number of the lanthanide ion increased; a typical pressure is 10 −4 mm at 100°C for Gd(fod) 3 . ΔH sub values were constant at 37 kcal/mole for all Ln(fod) 3 compounds except La(fod) 3 . ΔS sub values were divided into three sets that coincided with three different crystal structures observed from X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Interpolated ΔS sub and a constant ΔH sub were used to estimate vapor pressures for unmeasured Ln(fod) 3 compounds.
In Pursuit of Performatives

IT SOMETIMES happens that a philosopher will develop a view on some topic and then later come to reject it. J. L. Austin was perhaps unique in that he not only rejected a philosophical view of which he himself was the author, he patiently developed the view and then showed it to be ultimately unsatisfactory within the compass of the same work. And he did this not once but three times, in material intended for publication.' I am thinking, of course, of his notion of performative utterances: the view that there is a class of utterance, the members of which would on standard grammatical grounds be classed as statements, yet whose proper business is not to state anything but to perform some act. For example, to say 'I promise to be there' is to promise to be there, and not (or at least not merely) to state that one promises nor even to state that one will be there. It has recently been suggested, however, by Professors Chisholm2 and Black,3 that Austin bungled the job with performatives: that he 'despaired'4 of the notion too readily. Consequently, Chisholm and Black each puts forth an amended definition of performatives which is intended to avoid the difficulties Austin encountered and which led him to abandon the doctrine altogether in favour of a more thoroughgoing analysis of 'the forces of utterances'.5 In this paper I wish to suggest that neither Chisholm's nor Black's amendment in any way avoids the difficulties Austin foresaw, and that both of these attempts to amend Austin's analysis are based upon a fundamental misunderstanding of his reasons for abandoning it. First of all, what did lead Austin to 'despair' of performatives? The main reason seems to be that he could not find a satisfactory answer to his own question: 'How can we be sure, how can we tell,
Survival and growth of peach trees and pest populations in orchard plots managed with experimental ground covers.

Abstract Field experiments conducted in North and South Carolina (USA) demonstrated that survival and growth of peach trees ( Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) as well as the severity of orchard pest populations (arthropods and nematodes) are profoundly affected by the plant species selected for orchard ground cover. Cover crops of brome ( Bromus mollis L.), hard fescue ( Festuca longifolia Thuill.) and rattail fescue ( Vulpia myuros (L.) C. Gmelin) caused high mortality in young peach trees. Bahia-grass ( Paspalum notatum var. sauri Parodi) stunted tree growth, and Korean lespedeza ( Lespedeza stipulacea Maxim.) supported unacceptably large populations of arthropod pests. Nimblewill ( Muhlenbergia schreberi J.F. Gmelin) emerged from these experiments as the most promising candidate for ground cover in commercial peach orchards. This short-statured perennial grass tolerated drought, grew well in partial shade, did not harbor two-spotted spider mites ( Tetranychus urticae Koch) or catfacing insects (Hemiptera), inhibited populations of ring nematodes ( Criconemella xenoplax (Raski) Luc and Raski), and survived winter weather with little injury. Nimblewill successfully crowded out most weed species, but it did not appear to be highly competitive with peach trees for water and nutrients even when growing directly under the tree canopy.
Anti-aggressive effects of agonists at 5-HT1B receptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus of mice.

In rodents, serotonin 1B (5-HT1B) agonists specifically reduce aggressive behaviors, including several forms of escalated aggression. One form of escalated aggression is seen in mice that seek the opportunity to attack another mouse by accelerating their responding during a fixed interval (FI) schedule. Responses preceding the opportunity to attack may reflect aggressive motivation. This study investigated the effects of two 5-HT1B receptor agonists on the motivation to fight and the performance of heightened aggression. Male mice were housed as “residents” and performed nose-poke responses on an FI 10-min schedule with the opportunity to briefly attack an “intruder” serving as the reinforcer. In the first experiment, the 5-HT1B receptor agonist, CP-94,253 (0–10 mg/kg, IP), was given 30 min before the FI 10 schedule. To confirm that CP-94,253 achieved its effects via 5-HT1B receptors, the 5HT1B/1D receptor antagonist, GR 127935 (10 mg/kg, IP) was administrated before the agonist injection. In the second experiment, the 5-HT1B agonist CP-93,129 (0–1.0 μg) was microinjected into the dorsal raphe 10 min before the FI 10 schedule. The agonists had similar effects on all behaviors. CP-94,253 and CP-93,129 significantly reduced the escalated aggression towards the intruder at doses lower than those required to affect operant responding. The highest doses of CP-94,253 (10 mg/kg) and CP-93,129 (1.0 μg) decreased the rate and accelerating pattern of responding during the FI 10 schedule; lower doses were less effective. GR 127935 antagonized CP-94,253’s effects on all other behaviors, except response rate. These data extend the anti-aggressive effects of 5-HT1B agonists to a type of escalated aggression that is rewarding and further suggest that these effects are associated with actions at 5-HT1B receptors in the dorsal raphe.
Contribution of cyanate to the albumin binding defect of uremia

Abstract The binding of [ 14 C]warfarin to normal human serum albumin (HSA), carbamoylated albumin, and plasma of patients with renal failure was investigated. Warfarin binding to extensively carbamoylated albumin (exhibiting a molar ratio of homocitrulline: albumin of ca . 7) was markedly diminished. The decrease in binding was apparently due to a decrease in the primary binding affinity constant. The K a for warfarin binding to HSA was 1.6 × 10 5 M −1 compared to 0.88 × 10 5 M −1 for carbamoylated HSA. Binding to normal plasma was significantly greater than to plasma from uremic patients. Mean fractions bound (±S.E.M.) were 98.0 ± 0.2 and 94.1 ± 1.6 respectively (P 14 C]warfarin to carbamoylated albumin with a homocitrulline: albumin molar ratio of 0.5 was marginally diminished, suggesting that the carbamoylation of albumin that occurs during renal failure contributes only slightly to the defective plasma binding of warfarin in uremia.
A Simple Proof of the Restricted Isometry Property for Random Matrices

We give a simple technique for verifying the Restricted Isometry Property (as introduced by Candes and Tao) for random matrices that underlies Compressed Sensing. Our approach has two main ingredients: (i) concentration inequalities for random inner products that have recently provided algorithmically simple proofs of the Johnson–Lindenstrauss lemma; and (ii) covering numbers for finite-dimensional balls in Euclidean space. This leads to an elementary proof of the Restricted Isometry Property and brings out connections between Compressed Sensing and the Johnson–Lindenstrauss lemma. As a result, we obtain simple and direct proofs of Kashin’s theorems on widths of finite balls in Euclidean space (and their improvements due to Gluskin) and proofs of the existence of optimal Compressed Sensing measurement matrices. In the process, we also prove that these measurements have a certain universality with respect to the sparsity-inducing basis.
Cognitive impairment, oral self‐care function and dental caries severity in community‐dwelling older adults

Objective To investigate whether oral self-care function mediates the associations between cognitive impairment and caries severity in community-dwelling older adults. Background Cognitive impairment affects activities of daily living and compromises oral health, systemic health and quality of life in older adults. However, the associations among cognitive impairment, oral self-care capacity and caries severity remain unclear. This increases difficulty in developing effective interventions for cognitively impaired patients. Materials and methods Medical, dental, cognitive and functional assessments were abstracted from the dental records of 600 community-dwelling elderly. 230 participants were selected using propensity score matching and categorised into normal, cognitive impairment but no dementia (CIND) and dementia groups based on their cognitive status and a diagnosis of dementia. Multivariable regressions were developed to examine the mediating effect of oral self-care function on the association between cognitive status and number of caries or retained roots. Results Cognitive impairment, oral self-care function and dental caries severity were intercorrelated. Multivariable analysis showed that without adjusting for oral self-care capacity, cognition was significantly associated with the number of caries or retained roots (p = 0.003). However, the association was not significant when oral self-care capacity was adjusted (p = 0.125). In contrast, individuals with impaired oral self-care capacity had a greater risk of having a caries or retained root (RR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.15, 2.44). Conclusion Oral care capacity mediates the association between cognition and dental caries severity in community-dwelling older adults.
Design and Testing of Fiber-Optic Wall Shear Gauge for Hot Flows

This investigation details the design, analysis, and testing of a new, two-component wall shear gauge for three-dimensional, high-temperature flows. This gauge is a direct-measuring, nonnulling design with a round head surrounded by a small gap. Two flexure rings are used to allow small motions of the floating head. Strain gauges are mounted on the flexures, and fiber-optic displacement sensors measure how far polished faces of counterweights move in relation to a fixed housing. The strain gauges are for validation of the newer fiber optics. The sensor is constructed of Haynes® 230®, a high-temperature nickel alloy. All components, in pure fiber-optic form, can survive to a temperature of 1073 K. The dynamic range of the sensor is from 0-500 Pa. Higher shear forces can be measured by changing the floating head size. No damping or water cooling of the sensor is required. Finite element modeling was used during the design and analysis of the sensor. Static structural, modal, and thermal analyses were performed using the ANSYS finite element package. Repeated cold-flow tests at Mach 2.4 and Mach 4.0 under high-Reynolds-number conditions have been accomplished in the Virginia Tech Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with semiempirical prediction methods.
NMDA sensitization and stimulation by peroxynitrite, nitric oxide, and organic solvents as the mechanism of chemical sensitivity in multiple chemical sensitivity

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a condition where previous exposure to hydrophobic organic solvents or pesticides appears to render people hypersensitive to a wide range of chemicals, including organic solvents. The hypersensitivity is often exquisite, with MCS individuals showing sensitivity that appears to be at least two orders of magnitude greater than that of normal individuals. This paper presents a plausible set of interacting mechanisms to explain such heightened sensitivity. It is based on two earlier theories of MCS: the elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite theory and the neural sensitization theory. It is also based on evidence implicating excessive NMDA activity in MCS. Four sensitization mechanisms are proposed to act synergistically, each based on known physiological mechanisms: Nitric oxide-mediated stimulation of neurotransmitter (glutamate) release; peroxynitrite-mediated ATP depletion and consequent hypersensitivity of NMDA receptors; peroxynitrite-mediated increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, producing increased accessibility of organic chemicals to the central nervous system; and nitric oxide inhibition of cytochrome P450 metabolism. Evidence for each of these mechanisms, which may also be involved in Parkinson's disease, is reviewed. These interacting mechanisms provide explanations for diverse aspects of MCS and a framework for hypothesis-driven MCS research.
Sports Engineering Program at UCD

The University of Colorado Denver (UCD) has taken the leadership role with the first Sports Engineering Program in the United States. Sports Engineering is an exciting new area of emphasis for graduate degrees in engineering. This educational program is offered through cooperation between the downtown Denver College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Anschutz Medical Campus, both part of the University of Colorado Denver. This program is showing great promise for high enrollments and exciting research opportunities working with the sports equipment manufacturers, the athletes, and the sports medicine community.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Mechanism-based multi-surface plasticity model for ideal truss lattice materials

Abstract The mechanical behavior of ideal truss lattice materials is controlled by the so-called direct action mechanism at the microscale which involves the uniform stretching and compressing of individual truss members. Standard homogenization techniques have been employed to develop a general micromechanics-based finite-strain constitutive model for truss lattice materials. Furthermore, a specialized small-strain plasticity model has been derived. Both models have been implemented in a finite-element program and used to simulate the anisotropic plastic behavior of the octet-truss lattice material in various applications including cyclic uniaxial loading, pure shear, and three-point bending. The constitutive model predictions agree well with the results obtained from discrete finite element models. Regarding the plasticity of the octet-truss lattice material, it has been found that the elastic domain is constrained by twelve pairwise parallel hyperplanes in the six-dimensional stress space. Moreover, the mechanism-based small-strain formulation reveals that the direction of plastic flow is normal to the pressure-dependent macroscopic yield surfaces.
Insulation, Radiation, and Convection in Small Arctic Mammals

The insulation (I), skin area (As), surface area (A), effective surface area for radiant energy exchange (Aee), and convection coefficient (hc) were determined for six species of small arctic mammals. Measurements were made under steady-state conditions using pelt-covered, internally heated Wood's metal casts of the animals. Surface areas of the animals studied depended primarily on body mass; shape was of lesser importance. The latter finding was an artifact of different fur lengths—the elongate species studied (weasels) had short fur, whereas more compact animals (lemmings) had much longer coats which greatly increased their diameters and therefore areas. Insulation in blackbody radiation conditions depended primarily on pelage depth but also to some extent on the density of hair growth. Measured values of Aee were approximately equal to values of A. Convection coefficients varied directly with wind velocity and inversely with body diameter. Nusselt Number-Reynolds Number plots of convection data revealed that convection from the animals was approximately the same as that from similar-sized cylinders, and that shape and pelage characteristics were not important in determining hc.
The Origins of Femtomolar Protein–Ligand Binding: Hydrogen Bond Cooperativity and Desolvation Energetics in the Biotin–(Strept)Avidin Binding Site

The unusually strong reversible binding of biotin by avidin and streptavidin has been investigated by density functional and MP2 ab initio quantum mechanical methods. The solvation of biotin by water has also been studied through QM/MM/MC calculations. The ureido moiety of biotin in the bound state hydrogen bonds to five residues, three to the carbonyl oxygen and one for each –NH group. These five hydrogen bonds act cooperatively, leading to stabilization that is larger than the sum of individual hydrogen-bonding energies. The charged aspartate is the key residue that provides the driving force for cooperativity in the hydrogen-bonding network for both avidin and streptavidin by greatly polarizing the urea of biotin. If the residue is removed, the network is disrupted, and the attenuation of the energetic contributions from the neighboring residues results in significant reduction of cooperative interactions. Aspartate is directly hydrogen-bonded with biotin in streptavidin and is one residue removed in avidin. The hydrogen-bonding groups in streptavidin are computed to give larger cooperative hydrogen-bonding effects than avidin. However, the net gain in electrostatic binding energy is predicted to favor the avidin-bicyclic urea complex due to the relatively large penalty for desolvation of the streptavidin binding site (specifically expulsion of bound water molecules). QM/MM/MC calculations involving biotin and the ureido moiety in aqueous solution, featuring PDDG/PM3, show that water interactions with the bicyclic urea are much weaker than (strept)avidin interactions due to relatively low polarization of the urea group in water.
Escherichia coli O157: H7 Growth in Laboratory Media as Affected by Phenolic Antioxidants

Five strains of Escherichia coli O157 :H7 with ATCC 11775 E. coli were grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth (pH 5.8, adjusted with citric acid) and treated with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), and propyl gallate (PG) individually or combined. Additives ranged from 100-400 ppm with inocula levels between 5 and 10 4 CFU/mL in tissue culture plates or in flasks ; samples were incubated at 4°C or 37°C for 24 hr. Additive antimicrobial efficacy varied with inoculum level and incubation temperature. BHA at ≥200 ppm was bactericidal on all strains. Polyhydroxyl additives (TBHQ, PG) were less effective at 4°C. BHA-BHT combinations were synergistic at 4°C.
Systematic Identification of H274Y Compensatory Mutations in Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase by High-Throughput Screening

Compensatory mutations contribute to the appearance of the oseltamivir resistance substitution H274Y in the neuraminidase (NA) gene of H1N1 influenza viruses. Here, we describe a high-throughput screening method utilizing error-prone PCR and next-generation sequencing to comprehensively screen NA genes for H274Y compensatory mutations. We found four mutations that can either fully (R194G, E214D) or partially (L250P, F239Y) compensate for the fitness deficiency of the H274Y mutant. The compensatory effect of E214D is applicable in both seasonal influenza virus strain A/New Caledonia/20/1999 and 2009 pandemic swine influenza virus strain A/California/04/2009. The technique described here has the potential to profile a gene at the single-nucleotide level to comprehend the dynamics of mutation space and fitness and thus offers prediction power for emerging mutant species.
Phospholipids as Determinants of Membrane Protein Topology PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE IS REQUIRED FOR THE PROPER TOPOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE γ-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID PERMEASE (GabP) OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract Evidence is accumulating that the topological organization and hence function of some membrane proteins are not solely determined by the amino acid sequence of the protein but are also influenced by the lipid composition of the membrane. The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) permease (GabP) of Escherichia coli has been found in this study to be affected both topologically and kinetically by membrane lipids. Using single cysteine accessibility methods with viable E. coli strains of natural lipid composition and those lacking phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), we have shown that the N-terminal hairpin of GabP is inverted relative to the membrane in PE-lacking cells, with a hinge point in transmembrane domain III. The rate of GABA transport is reduced by more than 99% in PE-lacking cells. The Michaelis constant for GABA transport is not greatly affected nor is the dependence of transport on energy. However, “transport specificity ratio” analysis demonstrated a clear transition state stability difference for GABA and nipecotic acid between the protein in PE-containing and PE-lacking cells. The patterns of observed effects are similar to those seen with the phenylalanine transporter of E. coli (Zhang, W., Bogdanov, M. Pi, J. Pittard, A. J., and Dowhan, W. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 50128–50135), also an amino acid/polyamine/organocation family member but quite distinct from those observed with lactose permease (Bogdanov, M., Heacock, P. N., and Dowhan, W. (2002) EMBO J. 21, 2107–2116), a major facilitator superfamily member. Therefore, by extending the studies of similarities and differences in lipid responses among and between family groups, we may identify elements within the proteins that facilitate lipid responsiveness.
Multi-geometry241AmBe neutron irradiator: Design and calibration for total-body neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis provides an accurate elemental assessment of body compositional compartments; the analytical technique identifies skeletal, muscle, protein, and fat masses. Our irradiator system uses 56241AmBe sources (4.4·107 n/s each) which can be arranged in four basic geometries to examine body sizes from a preterm infant (500 g, 30 cm) to a very large adult (120 kg, 2m). Both in vivo and human cadaver studies have been performed. Precisions of 1 to 2% for total body Ca, P, Na, and Cl have been obtained.
Exploiting local low-rank structure in higher-dimensional MRI applications

In many clinical MRI applications, not one but a series of images is acquired. Techniques that promote intra- and inter-image sparsity have recently emerged as powerful strategies for accelerating MRI applications; however, sparsity alone cannot always describe the complex relationships that exist between images in these series. In this paper, we will discuss the modeling of higher-dimensional MRI signals as matrices and tensors, and why promoting these signals to be low-rank (and, specifically, locally low-rank) can effectively identify and exploit these complex relationships. Example applications including training-free dynamic and calibrationless parallel MRI will be demonstrated.
Data Switching in Communication Networks using Orbital-Angular-Momentum Multiplexing

We discuss data switching techniques in communication networks using orbital-angular-momentum (OAM). Reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing, data switching between OAM beams from different input ports, and polarization switching are described.
Techniques for measuring bulge–scar pattern of free surface deformation and related velocity distribution in shallow water flow over a bump

One of the unsteady features of shallow water free surface waves over a bump is the bulge–scar pattern of the free surface deformation. An imaging technique is developed to measure the duration, displacement and size of the bulge–scar pattern from the bump top to the primary wave crest. A unique configuration of particle image velocimetry is used to measure the velocity distribution under the visualized free surface bulge at the primary wave trough. Test results indicate that the bulge–scar pattern of the free surface deformation is related to a stream-wise vortex pair in the secondary flow over the bump. The new measurement techniques may work together with the conventional measurement techniques to obtain a complete database for the shallow water free surface instability over the bump.
English in Tanzania: A linguistic cultural perspective

T alking about ‘English in Tanzania’ or what Schneider (2007) has in general categorized as postcolonial English for that matter instantaneously evokes notions pertaining to language contact as well as the fi eld of contact linguistics. It was the British colonization of East African territories in the fi rst half of the 20th century that brought English into the region and consequently set off the contact process with indigenous local languages that would subsequently shape and defi ne the dynamics of linguistic culture as still observed today. Of particular interest is the contact and subsequent coexistence between English and Swahili especially in Tanzania. There is no any country in sub-Saharan Africa other than Tanzania that provides a perfect illustration of the dynamics of language contact in the 20th century and beyond between a European language and an indigenous African language in the African setting – to the extent that a story of ‘English in Tanzania’ would blatantly appear incomplete without bringing in a story of ‘Swahili in Tanzania’ and vice versa. This is exactly what this paper has assigned itself to do – examining a linguistic culture that has evolved in a particular time and space with English and Swahili occupying the center. Nevertheless, the literature on the topic abounds; only that its linguistic cultural dimension has not been privileged enough. Linguistic culture encompasses dynamics related to language contact phenomena such as lexical and grammatical borrowings, code-mixing, bilingualism, language shift, development of pidgins and creoles, attitudes toward languages, linguistic stereotypes and prejudices, and the like. Contact linguistics as an analytical tool pertaining to the structural aspects of bilingual language production is not marginalized in linguistic cultural approach but rather it is highlighted in order to provide concrete evidence on the cultural dimension. In this regard, ‘English in Tanzania’ is explored by contextualizing it within the parameters of the dynamics of Tanzanian linguistic cultural landscape. Specifi cally the paper outlines the dynamics of Tanzanian linguistic culture evolving around the English language, of course, alongside Swahili in terms of distinct political periods between the British colonial era and today’s era of globalization; second, it concentrates on actual language use and related public discourse as observed in public space; third, it demonstrates communicative creativity arising from the coexistence between English and Swahili and, fi nally, it concludes with recapitulation regarding the signifi cance of linguistic cultural approach to sociolinguistics explorations.
Development of a multidisciplinary–multiresponse robust design optimization model

Robust design is an efficient process improvement methodology that combines experimentation with optimization to create systems that are tolerant to uncontrollable variation. Most traditional robust design models, however, consider only a single quality characteristic, yet customers judge products simultaneously on a variety of scales. Additionally, it is often the case that these quality characteristics are not of the same type. To addresses these issues, a new robust design optimization model is proposed to solve design problems involving multiple responses of several different types. In this new approach, noise factors are incorporated into the robust design model using a combined array design, and the results of the experiment are optimized using a new approach that is formulated as a nonlinear goal programming problem. The results obtained from the proposed methodology are compared with those of other robust design methods in order to examine the trade-offs between meeting the objectives associated w...
On Commoner's liveness theorem and supervisory policies that enforce liveness in free-choice Petri nets

A Petri net (PN) (Peterson, 1981; Reisig, 1985) is said to be live if it is possible to fire any transition from every reachable marking, although not necessarily immediately. A free-choice Petri net FCPN) is a PN, where every arch from a place to a transition is either the unique output arc from that place or it is the unique input arc to the transition. Commoner's Liveness Theorem (cf. Hack, 1972, Ch. 4; Reisig, 1985, Section 7.2) states that a FCPN is live if and only if every siphon contains a marked trap at the initial marking. A siphon (trap) is a collection of places P such that •P ⊆ P• (P• ⊆ •P). We concern ourselves with marking-dependent supervisory policies that can prevent the firing of a transition. We characterize supervisory policies that enforce liveness in non-live FCPNs using observations that strongly parallel Commoner's Liveness Theorem. We use this characterization to establish the existence of supervisory policies that enforce liveness in a Class of FCPNs called independent, increasing free-choice petri nets (II-FCPNs).
Direction repulsion between components in motion transparency

Abstract We measured the perceived direction of one motion component as a function of the contrast and speed of a second component for three pattern classes: plaids with two different spatial frequency components, multi-aperture patterns, and contrast-modulated (CM) patterns. The components were moving at ±63.4 or ±71.6 deg to the vertical, angles where motion transparency always occurred under our conditions. For multi-aperture and CM patterns on a single spatial scale, the components were perceived to deviate from the component motion directions by up to 20 deg at high contrasts or high speeds of the second component. However, for plaids with components on different spatial scales, the test components were perceived moving in the component directions regardless of the contrast or the speed of the second component. Our data show that this direction repulsion between components occurs within a single spatial scale but not between widely separated spatial scales. This implies that two different mechanisms are involved in motion transparency.
Data mining algorithm for manufacturing process control

In this paper, a new data mining algorithm based on the rough sets theory is presented for manufacturing process control. The algorithm extracts useful knowledge from large data sets obtained from manufacturing processes and represents this knowledge using “if/then” decision rules. Application of the data mining algorithm developed in this paper is illustrated with an industrial example of rapid tool making (RTM). RTM is a technology that adopts rapid prototyping (RP) techniques, such as spray forming, and applies them to tool and die making. A detailed discussion on how to control the output of the manufacturing process using the results obtained from the data mining algorithm is also presented. Compared to other data mining methods, such decision trees and neural networks, the advantage of the proposed approach is its accuracy, computational efficiency, and ease of use.
Rigging Test Bed Development for Validation of Multi-Stage Decelerator Extractions

The Low Density Supersonic Decelerator project is developing new decelerator systems for Mars entry which would include testing with a Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test Vehicle. One of the decelerator systems being developed is a large supersonic ringsail parachute. Due to the configuration of the vehicle it is not possible to deploy the parachute with a mortar which would be the preferred method for a spacecraft in a supersonic flow. Alternatively, a multi-stage extraction process using a ballute as a pilot is being developed for the test vehicle. The Rigging Test Bed is a test venue being constructed to perform verification and validation of this extraction process. The test bed consists of a long pneumatic piston device capable of providing a constant force simulating the ballute drag force during the extraction events. The extraction tests will take place both inside a high-bay for frequent tests of individual extraction stages and outdoors using a mobile hydraulic crane for complete deployment tests from initial pack pull out to canopy extraction. These tests will measure line tensions and use photogrammetry to track motion of the elements involved. The resulting data will be used to verify packing and rigging as well, as validate models and identify potential failure modes in order to finalize the design of the extraction system.
Empowerment in School Nursing Practice: A Grounded Theory Approach

Professional empowerment is vital to nurses' productivity and job satisfaction. A grounded theory study was conducted to describe the basic social process experienced by school nurses in relation to professional empowerment. Interviews with 10 school nurses led to the development of a situation-specific theory of school nurse empowerment, Making a Difference: The Role of the School Nurse in the Health of Children in Schools. This theory was derived from four theoretical constructs: (a) enlisting support, (b) getting through the day, (c) maintaining control over practice, and (d) adjusting to challenges. Interviews revealed that knowing at the end of each school day that they made a difference in the health of children resulted in feelings of empowerment. Participants cited various areas in which their sense of empowerment was limited, including salaries and workload. Despite these issues, they believed they had a positive impact on the health of children, leading to job satisfaction and feelings of value.
Comment on ‘Influence of surface composition on initial hydration of aluminium in boiling water’ by A. Strålin and T. Hjertberg

Abstract A polemic on the recent paper entitled “Influence of surface composition on initial hydration of aluminium in boiling water”, by A. Stralin and T. Hjertberg [Appl. Surf. Sci. 74 (1994) 263]. Attention is drawn to the misinterpretation of a feature that can appear in the Al2p XPS spectra of Al-Mg alloys when using a Mg Kα X-ray source. Stra and Hjertberg suggested that this feature was related to the formation of MgAl2O4 on the metal surface. This feature, however, was most likely the Mg Kα X-ray-induced Mg KLL Auger line from MgO, which can have a significant intensity if the magnesium oxide surface concentration exceeds that of aluminum oxide. This feature would be absent in the Al2p XPS spectra of Al-Mg alloys when using an Al Kα X-ray source, because of the apparent binding energy shift of the Mg KLL Auger line caused by the (233 eV) difference in kinetic energy between the two X-ray sources.
“WE ALL LOVE CHARLES” Men in Child Care and the Social Construction of Gender

Based on four years of participant-observation field research and focused interviews with men and women child care workers, the author analyzes how the marking of men workers and their experiences doing child care work show how deeply feminized the work of child care is. When men choose to do child care work, they become suspect. This suspicion manifests in restriction of men's access to children in child care centers. Restricted access of men workers to children (compared with the access of women workers to children) implies men's desire for access to children is pathological. In these and other ways, the organization of child care and the accountability of persons to sex category systematically push men away from nurturing responsibilities and bind these responsibilities to women workers.
Measurement of thermophysical properties of molten silicon using an upgraded electrostatic levitator

Accurate measurements of thermophysical properties of molten silicon have been attempted using an upgraded electrostatic levitator. In order to reduce the temperature gradient in the levitated sample four laser beams of equal intensity with tetrahedral heating arrangement were used. A new image processing technique was adopted to get reliable sample volume (or density) measurements. In order to increase the accuracy of surface tension and viscosity measurements sample mass was continuously monitored throughout the experiment and the effect of mass loss was accounted for in the final analysis. Based on these new improvements, the results for the density, the specific heat over hemispherical total emissivity, the surface tension and the viscosity of molten silicon can he expressed by ρ(T) = 2.583 - 1.851 × 10 4 (T - T m ) - 1.984 × 10 7 (T T m ) 2 g/cm 3 (1370 K < T < 1830 K), C p /e T = 149.433 - 0.03735 × (T - T m ) + 8.0 × 10 5 (T - T m ) 2 - 1.1838 × 10 7 (T - T m ) 3 + 1.6342 × 10 9 (T - T m ) 4 J/mol K (1370 K < T < 1830 K). σ(T) = 721.13 - 0.0615 × (T - T m )mN/m (1459 K < T < 1845 K). and η(T) = 0.5572-5.39 × 10 4 (T - T m )mPas (1635 K < T < 1845 K) with T m = 1687 K. respectively. The hemispherical total emissivity of molten silicon at the melting temperature was determined to he 0.171.
Importance of proton transfer in contact charging

The transfer of protons in contact-charging experiments is an example of an ion transfer mechanism and is suggested by the availability and mobility of the H+ ion. In contact charging experiments using metal beads and a resin containing an acidic additive, the author found that the metal beads develop a positive charge, and analysis of the bead surface with a proton-specific dye indicates an increased proton content. These results provide confirmation for proton transfer in contact charging as is often suggested.
Solid state NMR: The essential technology for helical membrane protein structural characterization.

NMR spectroscopy of helical membrane proteins has been very challenging on multiple fronts. The expression and purification of these proteins while maintaining functionality has consumed countless graduate student hours. Sample preparations have depended on whether solution or solid-state NMR spectroscopy was to be performed – neither have been easy. In recent years it has become increasingly apparent that membrane mimic environments influence the structural result. Indeed, in these recent years we have rediscovered that Nobel laureate, Christian Anfinsen, did not say that protein structure was exclusively dictated by the amino acid sequence, but rather by the sequence in a given environment (Anfinsen, 1973) [106]. The environment matters, molecular interactions with the membrane environment are significant and many examples of distorted, non-native membrane protein structures have recently been documented in the literature. However, solid-state NMR structures of helical membrane proteins in proteoliposomes and bilayers are proving to be native structures that permit a high resolution characterization of their functional states. Indeed, solid-state NMR is uniquely able to characterize helical membrane protein structures in lipid environments without detergents. Recent progress in expression, purification, reconstitution, sample preparation and in the solid-state NMR spectroscopy of both oriented samples and magic angle spinning samples has demonstrated that helical membrane protein structures can be achieved in a timely fashion. Indeed, this is a spectacular opportunity for the NMR community to have a major impact on biomedical research through the solid-state NMR spectroscopy of these proteins.
Treatment Barriers for Low-Income, Urban African Americans With Undiagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

African Americans in low-income, urban communities are at high risk for exposure to traumatic events as well as for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Approximately 22% of 220 participants recruited from urban hospital medical clinics met survey criteria for PTSD. Among the common traumas were having relatives/friends murdered (47%), being attacked with weapons (64% of men), and being sexually attacked (36% of women). Although desiring mental health services, only 13.3% of those with PTSD had prior trauma-focused treatment. Barriers to treatment included limited transportation and finances, family disapproval, and unfamiliarity with accessing treatment, among others. These data highlight the need for an awareness of the high prevalence of trauma and PTSD in this population.