cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Can Developmental Theory Contribute to Elementary Science Instruction

Children personally construct explanations of natural phenomena, some of which differ from currently accepted scientific explanations. The replacement of personal explanations with scientific explanations, as well as the development of concrete, formal, and post-formal reasoning patterns, requires self-regulation in which alternative explanations are generated and tested in a hypothetico-predictive fashion. Consequently, inquiry-based science instruction in which students explore nature; encounter puzzling observations; and, subsequently, generate and test their own explanations not only helps them acquire meaningful concepts, it also helps them develop intellectually and become scientifically literate.
CABECT: collaborating across boundaries to engage undergraduates in computational thinking (abstract only)

Innovative solutions for complex problems entail diversity of perspectives, and students must learn to integrate concepts from multiple disciplinary areas. Yet, to provide collaborative experiences that cross disciplinary boundaries, educators must navigate numerous administrative and pedagogical challenges. In this hands-on workshop participants will learn how to leverage existing courses for students and faculty to collaborate across disciplines and with a community partner, to develop socially-relevant computational solutions for real-world problems. Participants will also brainstorm ideas on addressing specific challenges at their own institutions. The intended audience is educators interested in engaging their students in deep computational thinking through immersive multidisciplinary collaborative experiences. Registered participants will be reimbursed the workshop registration fee through NSF Award# 1141170. We will additionally offer a stipend to participants who adopt our model, administer assessments and provide us with their results for analysis and inclusion in reports. More information will be available at http://tardis.tcnj.edu/cabect/. Laptop Recommended.
Local limiting behavior of the zeros of approximating polynomials

Let f be a piecewise analytic (but not analytic) function in Ck[a, b], k ⩾ 0, and let p*n be the sequence of polynomials of best uniform approximation to f on [a, b]. It is well known that every point of [a, b] is a limit point of the zeros of the p*n. Let x\gE [a, b], and suppose that f is analytic at x and f(x) ≠ 0. The main purpose of this paper is to show that there exists a constant γ (which depends only on x) such that there is no zero of p*n within the circle of radius (γ/n) log n centered at x, for all sufficiently large values of n.
Stress and Sorcery in Three Social Groups

The hypothesis that stress factors associated with culture change are related to higher levels of belief in sorcery is tested here. It is hypothesized that these beliefs function as a "culturally constituted defense mechanism" for individuals as a means of coping with stressors. The hypothesis is tested in three different social groups, using two different measures of stress factors associated with culture change. The general proposition receives substantial empirical support, although the direction of the relationship is reversed in one case. The importance of the results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Approximate expressions for viscous attenuation in marine sediments: relating Biot's "critical" and "peak" frequencies.

Simple approximate relations are proposed for the viscous attenuation per cycle of the fast compressional and shear waves in the low-to-intermediate frequency range. Corresponding closed-form formulas are derived for frequencies at which maximum viscous attenuation per cycle occurs according to the Biot–Stoll theory of elastic wave propagation in marine sediments. In the new formulas, Biot’s approximation [M. A. Biot, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 34, 1254–1264 (1962)] for the frequency-dependent viscosity correction factor F(f ) and the assumption of relatively low specific loss (Q−1<0.2) [J. Geertsma and D. C. Smith, Geophysics 26(2), 169–181 (1962)] are used to provide an accurate representation of the fast compressional and shear wave attenuation from low frequencies through a transition region extending to two or three times Biot’s critical frequency fc. The approximate viscodynamic behavior of marine sediments for the fast compressional and shear waves shows similarities to that of a “homogeneous relaxation” ...
Intimal Hyperplasia After Balloon Injury Is Attenuated by Blocking Selectins

Background Cell adhesion molecules facilitate the adherence of platelets and leukocytes to the vascular endothelium in response to injury. Restenosis after balloon angioplasty is thought to represent the response to vascular injury. The role of cell adhesion in this process is unclear. Methods and Results This study was performed in New Zealand White rabbits that underwent balloon angioplasty of the iliac artery. Expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-selectin on endothelium was determined by immunohistochemistry and increased at 6 hours with a peak expression 24 to 48 hours after balloon injury, returning to baseline by 1 week. The expression of L-selectin on circulating leukocytes, measured by flow cytometry, was significantly increased at 48 hours, with return to baseline by 1 week. In seven animals, the selectins were blocked with an analogue of sialyl-LewisX given as an IV bolus of 10 mg/kg followed by 2 mg · kg−1 · h−1 IP infusion for 7 days. After 4 weeks, compared with control animals, the stu...
Medicine without borders: a literature review of short-term international medical missions

Abstract Background Each year, medical providers and trainees travel to low-income and middle-income countries to deliver direct medical care via short-term medical missions (STMMs) lasting between 1 day and 2 years. In spite of the high prevalence of STMMs, little aggregate information exists about where STMMs go, the services they deliver, and their relationship to the recipient country's health-care system. Our objective was to review the literature on STMMs to better understand their characteristics and identify how they link to the in-country health system. Methods We searched MEDLINE-indexed articles on STMMs published between January, 2010, and August, 2014. Exclusion criteria included publications with exclusive focus on medical school curricula, commentaries, and publications on military or disaster medicine. Of 1538 identified articles, 152 met our criteria. Data extracted from the full text of the eligible articles included article type, subject, and STMM details such as location and duration. Findings Nearly half of all articles (72 [47%]) described one or more specific STMMs without any evaluation of the STMM's work; 48 (32%) broadly discussed the concept of STMMs (eg, ethics, best practices); and 32 (21%) evaluated some aspect of an STMM, such as cost-effectiveness or post-operative complication rates. Most articles focused on the implementation of STMMs (66 [43%]), personal experiences of STMMs (36 [24%]), or ethical issues (23 [15%]). Data from 102 articles that detailed an STMM reveal that most medical teams came from the USA, and most STMMs went to Latin America (42 [42%]) or sub-Saharan Africa (34 [34%]). About 40% of articles (41) explicitly state that students were involved in the STMM. About a third (36 [35%]) of these articles did not specify how long the STMM lasted, and approximately half (53[52%]) did not specify how many people were involved in the STMM. Most publications also lacked essential details about STMMs' link to the destination countries' existing health systems. There was little description of the local health needs or how the STMM would affect local health-care delivery, either favourably or unfavourably. Interpretation Published articles suggest that the prevalence of international STMMs is on the rise. However, very few publications include rigorous evaluation of the services rendered or describe how STMMs link to the recipient country's health-care system. Funding None.
Ethanol tolerance of cerebellar Purkinje neurons from selectively outbred mouse lines: in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological investigations

The electrophysiological activity of cerebellar Purkinje neurons was characterized in long sleep (LS: ethanol sensitive) and short sleep (SS: ethanol insensitive) mice made tolerant to ethanol. After 1 to 4 weeks of feeding on a liquid ethanol diet, mice of both lines were less sensitive to the sedative and ataxic effects of parenteral ethanol than were controls. In addition, cerebellar Purkinje cells in ethanol-fed LS and SS mice were less responsive than the controls to the depressant effects of ethanol applied via bath perfusion in vitro and via local pressure ejection application in vivo. Tolerance to the electrophysiological effects of ethanol were already apparent after 7 to 9 days on the ethanol diet, and the degree of tolerance did not increase significantly in either mouse line fed ethanol for an additional 1-3 weeks. Finally, the differences in ethanol sensitivities of naive mice (LS greater than SS) were maintained following the development of tolerance. We conclude that tolerance to both the cellular and behavioral depressant effects of ethanol can be observed after chronic feeding with ethanol in LS and SS mice, and that there are no significant differences in the degree of tolerance developed by these mice. In addition, our data suggest that the inherited differences in ethanol sensitivity between LS and SS mice, and the changes in ethanol sensitivity which occur in these mice with chronic exposure to this depressant agent, are mediated by different mechanisms.
Myoblasts are aligned with collagen fibrils in regenerating frog tadpole tails

Abstract Myoblasts in the regenerating frog tadpole tail differentiate from mesen chymal cells that lie next to the basement membrane of the epidermis of the tail. As these cells elongate and form myotubes, they orientate uniformly in the longitudinal axis of the tail. The collagen fibrils of the basement membrane adjacent to the myogenic cells are also orientated in the tail axis just prior to and during the time when the myogenic cells are elongating. This has been demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy of thin sections, by differential interference contrast microscopy of isolated basement membranes, and by scanning electron microscopy of the inner surface of the basement membrane. Since elongating myoblasts are in contact with the longitudinally orientated fibrils, the latter could provide directional cues to the elongating myoblasts. This proposition is supported by the finding that isolated basement membranes readily orientate cells that are cultured upon their inner surfaces.
A sense of touch begins to gather momentum

An extensive survey of over 300 reports worldwide shows that the state‐of‐the‐art in tactile sensing — defined as continuously variable touch sensing over an area where there is special resolution — is primitive. Only now is a new level of sophistication beginning to appear. However, for industrial systems the simplest may prove to be the most reliable.
The rhetoric of a lobbyist: Benjamin Franklin in England, 1765‐1775

During his ten‐year stay in England as a colonial representative, Benjamin Franklin exhibited the qualities of a skillful lobbyist. He was committed to, and accurately represented, American interests; he urged moderation on British leaders and moderate resistance on his own clients; he based his major appeal to the British Government on the grounds of practical self‐interest.
Safety and efficacy of hydromorphone as an analgesic alternative to morphine in acute pain: a randomized clinical trial.

Study objective We compare a standard weight-based dose of intravenous hydromorphone (Dilaudid) to a standard weight-based dose of intravenous morphine in adults presenting to the ED with acute severe pain. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial conducted in an academic medical center. Of the 198 adult patients presenting to the ED with acute severe pain who were randomized to receive either intravenous hydromorphone at 0.015 mg/kg or intravenous morphine at 0.1 mg/kg, 191 patients had sufficient data for analysis. The main outcome measure was the difference between the 2 groups in pain reduction at 30 minutes as measured on a validated numeric rating scale. Adverse effects, pain reduction at 5 minutes and 2 hours postbaseline, and additional analgesics and antiemetics were tracked as secondary outcome measures. Results The mean change of pain from baseline to 30 minutes postbaseline in patients allocated to intravenous hydromorphone was −5.5 numeric rating scale units versus −4.1 in patients allocated to intravenous morphine (difference −1.3; 95% confidence interval −2.2 to −0.5). Adverse effects were similar in both groups, with the exception of pruritus, which did not occur in patients receiving hydromorphone (0% versus 6% [difference −6%; 95% confidence interval −11% to −1%]). No patient required naloxone. Conclusion For the treatment of acute, severe pain in the emergency department, intravenous hydromorphone at 0.015 mg/kg represents a feasible alternative to intravenous morphine at 0.1 mg/kg.
The diffuse double layer in ionic liquids

The equations used to describe the diffuse double layer in the Eigen-Wicke model of ionic liquids are presented. They are then used to estimate the potential drop across the diffuse layer and its differential capacity for two representative systems which contain monovalent ions of equal diameter. The first one is molten RbCl at 750 °C. The second system is a room temperature ionic liquid with typical parameters to describe its properties. The results of the calculations are compared with the available experimental data. It is concluded that the Eigen-Wicke model does not consider the change in local potential experienced by a given ion in the ionic liquid. The need for Monte Carlo data for the diffuse double layer in molten salt systems is emphasized.
Artificial intelligence technology transfer in computer information systems: The Arizona State University perspective

Abstract The Decision & Information Systems (DIS) Department in the College of Business, Arizona State University, houses one of the leading edge computer information systems (IS) graduate programs in the country. DIS faculty continue to develop innovative pedagogical and research approaches, particularly in the area of emerging technologies. One of the emerging technologies we have targeted is artificial intelligence (AI). Our objective in AI research and teaching has been to bridge the transfer of this technology from the laboratories of computer scientists to productive applications in modern business organizations. Recent DIS graduates already play a leading role in managing AI application development, conducting AI research, and they are actively involved in crafting practical AI tools to support organizational knowledge workers. Our AI curriculum is based on a student model that targets the development of knowledge, skills, and experience. In our doctoral dissertations, we have sought to balance traditional approaches to IS research with innovative methodological paradigms. Overall, we stress technical skill development and a deeply rooted understanding of literature in AI and its emerging subfields.
Liver-specific induction of Abcg5 and Abcg8 stimulates reverse cholesterol transport in response to ezetimibe treatment

Abstract Objective Previous studies have shown ezetimibe treatment results in a 2–6-fold increase in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). However, recent sterol balance studies question the role of biliary sterol secretion in RCT, and challenge the hypothesis that ezetimibe increases RCT through decreased absorption of biliary cholesterol in the intestine. We set out to determine whether ezetimibe may increase RCT by mechanisms that are independent of its well-established inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption. Methods C57BL/6J, Npc1l1 -KO, and/or Abcg8 -KO mice were fed a chow diet with or without ezetimibe and fecal [ 14 C]-neutral and [ 14 C]-acidic sterols were measured to examine macrophage-to-feces RCT. We measured the expression of RCT related genes in the liver and jejunum in these mice. To confirm our significant gene expression findings, we utilized primary human hepatocytes cultured with or without a glucuronated metabolite of ezetimibe. Results Our studies revealed that treatment with ezetimibe was associated with increased expression of hepatic Abcg5 and Abcg8 . Ezetimibe did not directly affect expression in the liver, but this expression was due to the inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption. This conclusion was supported by the absence of an ABCG5/ABCG8 expression response to treatment with an ezetimibe metabolite in primary human hepatocytes. Finally, we found that the ezetimibe-dependent stimulation of RCT was attenuated in the absence of Abcg8 . Conclusions Our study is the first to demonstrate ezetimibe treatment cooperatively stimulated macrophage-to-feces RCT by indirectly increasing liver Abcg5/Abcg8 expression in addition to its known suppression of intestinal cholesterol absorption.
Neurologic Disease in Naturally Occurring Salmonella choleraesuis Infection in Pigs

A granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis was seen in 17 feeder pigs submitted for diagnostic evaluation from eight farms. Vasculitis and destructive microgranulomas were widespread in both brain and spinal cord. Occasionally there were microabscesses. Salmonella choleraesuis var. kunzendorf was isolated from six of the eight groups, and there were lesions of acute salmonellosis in all animals examined. In three of the affected herds the principal disease manifestation was neurologic.
Nitrogen Use in Durum and Selected Brassicaceae Oilseeds in Two-Year Rotations

ABSTRACT Brassicaceae oilseeds can serve as potential feedstocks for renewable biofuels to o˛ set demand for petroleum-based alternatives. However, little is known about oilseed crop yield potential and N use in semiarid, wheat ( Triticum spp.)-based cropping systems that dominate the northern Great Plains (NGP). A 5-yr study was conducted in northeast Montana to investigate the yield poten-tial of a direct seeded system of durum ( T. durum Desf.) in rotation with either chemical fallow or three Brassicaceae oilseeds: camelina [ Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz], crambe ( Crambe abyssinica Hochst. ex R.E. Fries), and canola-quality Brassica juncea L. Overall, results from the study indicated that seed yield in the three Brassicaceae oilseeds tested in rotation with durum was related ( P < 0.001; r 2 = 0.68) to a nitrogen recovery index (NRI), indicating the importance of nitrogen use (NU) eˇ ciency in dryland oilseed production, and that B. juncea generally used N more eˇ ciently than crambe and camelina. Similarly, NRI was related (
The monodromy group of a function on a general curve

LetC g be a general curve of genusg≥4. Guralnick and others proved that the monodromy group of a coverC g →ℙ1 of degreen is eitherS n orA n . We show thatA n occurs forn≥2g+1. The corresponding result forS n is classical.
Gas-insulated power transformers

Power transformers have reached such a degree of perfection that it seems unlikely that there is room for substantial improvement in any fundamental characteristic. However, the insulation of conventional transformers is in the main dependent upon a liquid which is not only inflammable but has other undesirable characteristics. The substitution of gas for oil as the insulating medium eliminates the undesirable characteristics of the latter, and in addition, gasinsulated units have other advantages. Of the various gases having desirable properties for use in modern equipment, sulphur hexafluoride is prominent. It is produced commercially in the United States. After reviewing the advantages of gas-insulated transformers, the paper examines the fundamental characteristics of this electro-negative gas, and experimental data are presented of its electric strength relative to oil. Of considerable interest to the designer is the peculiar behaviour of gases subjected to impulse tests. It is shown that, for the same low-frequency electric strength, gas-insulated units have lower impulse strength than oil-filled transformers. This deficiency, however, can be overcome with liberal margins of safety if gas-insulated transformers are protected with modern lightning arresters. The cooling of these new transformers is by forced circulation of the gas. The thermal capacity of gas-insulated units is, of course, somewhat lower than that of oil-filled units; theoretically, it would appear that, on this account, the overload capabilities of gas-filled transformers might be much lower than those of oil-filled units. This apparent deficiency is partially nullified by the fact that the thermal ageing characteristics of conventional class-A materials used in the construction of transformers is higher in gas than in oil. Consequently, the overload capabilities of gas-insulated units compare quite favourably with those of oil-filled units cooled by forced circulation of the liquid. Two units rated at 2000kVA at 69kV are in service in New York City; a third unit rated at 10 000kVA at 69 kV is in operation at Allentown, Pennsylvania. This unit is briefly described. Several other units, some of higher apparent power and voltage are now under construction. Development is proceeding, and it appears that in the near future some very large transformers may be built which could be installed next to, or built as an integral part of, the generators, and this at considerable overall cost reduction over present practices.
Optical Planet Discoverer: how to turn a 1.5-m class space telescope into a powerful exo-planetary systems imager

Optical Planet Discoverer (OPD) is a 1.5m class space telescope concept working as a visible nulling-interferometer imager. It is designed to detect Jupiter-like planets orbiting main sequence stars 10pc away in a few minutes of integration and carry out a low resolution (~20) spectroscopy of their atmosphere. OPD would fit in the budget envelope of a discovery class mission. It would serve as an efficient precursor to a Visible Terrestrial Planet Finder (VTPF), a scaled-up 4m class version based on the same optical scheme and allowing direct detection of 10pc Earthlike planets in a few hours. We detail here OPD's optical principle layout, which is primarily driven by an integrated stellar light attenuation of 1e-6 in the final focal plane. The optical concept is based on a double-shearing nulling interferometer followed by an array of single-mode waveguides. The waveguides array ensures high residual starlight suppression - as already demonstrated at the 1e-6 level by preliminary JPL visible LASER nulling experiments - together with diffraction limited imaging of the circumstellar environment over a 2 arcsec field. During the observations, the telescope is spun around the line of sight to allow for proper detection of fixed planetary signatures against residual off-axis speckle patterns at the 1e-9 level. Use of the single-mode waveguide array to filter out scattered starlight eliminates the requirements for pristine λ/4000 rms wavefronts anywhere in the optical train. With OPD, stringent phase requirements apply only to scales larger than 5 cm - the equivalent size of the pupil regions to be recombined and nulled in a given fiber, so that phase specifications can be met using low order active optics.
The 6.9 F semirigid ureteroscope in clinical use

The 6.9 F semirigid ureteroscope has a hybrid design that shares the rigid ureteroscope body with the fiberoptic imaging bundle of the flexible ureteroscopes. This allows more space for the inner channel, so that there are two working channels of 3.4 F and 2.3 F. This ureteroscope was used in 65 cases on 57 patients without dilatation of the intramural ureter. It was mainly used for the management of ureteral calculi (29 cases) and for visual diagnostic purposes (28 cases). The double-channel design proved extremely helpful in lithotripsy, while the ability to access the ureter without dilatation gave a consistently clearer picture for diagnostic purposes. Forty-two cases were done under local anesthesia with sedation. In 1 patient a minor perforation developed secondary to use of electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL). Postoperatively, 7 patients complained of colic, and in 5 patients a low grade fever developed, while 2 patients had both.
Polymer-conjugated inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α for local control of inflammation

Burns, chronic wounds, osteoarthritis, and uveitis are examples of conditions characterized by local, intense inflammatory responses that can impede healing or even further tissue degradation. The most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs available are often administered systemically, but these carry significant side effects and are not compatible for patients that have underlying complications associated with their condition. Conjugation of monoclonal antibodies that neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines to high molecular weight hydrophilic polymers has been shown to be an effective strategy for local control of inflammation. Lead formulations are based on antibody inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α conjugated to hyaluronic acid having molecular weight greater than 1 MDa. This review will discuss fundamental aspects of medical conditions that could be treated with these conjugates and design principles for preparing these cytokine-neutralizing polymer conjugates. Results demonstrating that infliximab, an approved inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-α, can be incorporated into the conjugates using a broad range of water-soluble polymers are also presented, along with a prospectus for clinical translation.
Radial basis function neural network for hydrologic inversion: an appraisal with classical and spatio-temporal geostatistical techniques in the context of site characterization

This paper investigates three techniques for spatial mapping and the consequential hydrologic inversion, using hydraulic conductivity (or transmissivity) and hydraulic head as the geophysical parameters of concern. The data for the study were obtained from the Waste Isolation and Pilot Plant (WIPP) site and surrounding area in the remote Chihuahuan Desert of southeastern New Mexico. The central technique was the Radial Basis Function algorithm for an Artificial Neural Network (RBF-ANN). An appraisal of its performance in light of classical and temporal geostatistical techniques is presented. Our classical geostatistical technique of concern was Ordinary Kriging (OK), while the method of Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) constituted an advanced, spatio-temporal mapping technique. A fusion technique for soft or inter-dependent data was developed in this study for use with the neural network. It was observed that the RBF-ANN is capable of hydrologic inversion for transmissivity estimation with features remaining essentially similar to that obtained from kriging. The BME technique, on the other hand, was found to reveal an ability to map localized lows and highs that were otherwise not as apparent in OK or RBF-ANN techniques.
Parallel Motions of Coronal Hard X-Ray Source and Hα Ribbons

During solar flares Hα ribbons form and often move away from the local magnetic polarity inversion line (PIL). While the motion perpendicular to the PIL has been taken as evidence for coronal magnetic reconnection in the so-called CSHKP standard model, the other velocity component parallel to the PIL is much less adopted as a property of the magnetic reconnection process. In this Letter we report an event in which the motion parallel to the PIL is found in both Hα ribbons and a thermal hard X-ray source. Such commonality would indicate a link between the coronal magnetic reconnection and footpoint emissions as in the standard solar flare model. However, its direction implies a reconnection region that is increasing in length, a feature missing from the standard two-dimensional model. We present a modified framework in which the variation along the third dimension is allowed, in order to assess the effect of such a proper motion on estimation of the magnetic reconnection rate. Data used are hard X-ray maps from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), Hα filtergrams of Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO), and the SOHO Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) magnetogram obtained for the 2004 March 30 flare.
Vibrating in the background

Retroviruses make up a large proportion of the mammalian genome. A new study shows that an mRNA nuclear export receptor can act as a modifier of endogenous retrovirus insertion mutations by interacting with the mutated pre-mRNA.
Organotypic Bioelectric Activity in Cultured Reaggregates of Dissociated Rodent Brain Cells

Complex repetitive-spike or slow-wave discharges can be evoked, and can also occur spontaneously, in small clusters of neurons which reaggregate in vitro after dissociation of cerebral cortex, brainstem, or spinal cord from the fetal mouse. Even after random dispersion in culture, these cells still form functional synaptic networks with bioelectric discharge patterns and pharmacologic sensitivities characteristic of the organ (that is, organotypic).
“How Am I Not Myself?” Despair in Sickness Unto Death as Misguided Attempts Toward Self-Actualization

This article is an attempt at a creative exegesis of Kierkegaard’s diagnosis of despair in Sickness Unto Death, that is, the overextension of the self into one side of the polarities of personality...
Extracting dynamics of excitonic coherences in congested spectra of photosynthetic light harvesting antenna complexes

We present an analysis of dephasing rates for multiple zero-quantum electronic coherences in the Fenna–Matthew–Olson (FMO) pigment–protein complex using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy. We employ the linear prediction Z-transform to determine both the frequency and decay rates of 8 individually assigned exciton–exciton coherences. Despite congestion in the spectra, we can isolate multiple crosspeaks signals and analyze their dephasing rates. A non-trivial relationship exists between the excitons and the bath determining the lifetimes of different exciton–exciton coherences. We propose that the correlations that protect long-lived electronic coherence may yield microscopic knowledge regarding the structure of the protein bath surrounding the chromophores.
Cystic fibrosis in the Ohio Amish: Gene frequency and founder effect

A high incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF), 1/569 live births (0.00176), was found among 10 816 live births in an Ohio Amish isolate. The minimum gene frequency calculated from this incidence was 0.042. In marked contrast, a second Amish isolate was described with no occurrence of CF among 4448 live births. Founder effect is the most probable explanation for the difference in the CF gene frequency between the two communities. Pedigree analysis identified a single ancestral couple born in the 1700s common to all obligate heterozygotes.
Are Negative Automatic Thoughts Associated with ADHD in Adulthood

Recent randomized controlled trials indicate that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an efficacious treatment. Although treatments for adults with ADHD target negative automatic thoughts, there is a lack of empirical evidence demonstrating that such cognitions are associated with ADHD. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between ADHD and negative automatic thoughts typically associated with depression in a group of adults diagnosed with ADHD (n = 81). Across the sample, self, collateral, and clinician ratings of inattentive ADHD symptom severity, but not hyperactive-impulsive symptom severity, were significantly associated with negative automatic thoughts after considering the role of current depressive symptom severity. Subsequent categorical analyses were conducted by subdividing the ADHD sample into those with (n = 34) and without (n = 47) a comorbid depression diagnosis, and adding a control group (n = 43). Analyses indicated that (a) the ADHD group with comorbid depression reported significantly more negative automatic thoughts than both controls and the ADHD group without comorbid depression, and (b) the ADHD group without comorbid depression reported significantly more negative automatic thoughts than controls. These findings provide an empirical basis for adult ADHD CBT to target negative automatic thoughts, which share a relationship with ADHD even after accounting for the confounding role of depression. Modification of negative automatic thoughts may be a mechanism of change in adult ADHD CBT and should be considered in future research.
Numerical simulation of combustion-driven oil transport on the top land of an internal combustion engine piston:

AbstractA mathematical model of a lubricant film attached to the top land of an internal combustion engine piston was formulated. Multidimensional oil transport induced by gas flows within the top ...
Mainframe Administered Drill and Practice Quizzes for Gerontology Classes

The main focus of this article is the development of a CBE program for the administration of drill and practice quizzes in an introductory gerontology course. The programs are written in DEC's C.A.S. source language and are administered on the VAX 11/785 mainframe central processing unit. The program and its operations are described in detail. Those wishing to obtain copies of the program may directly contact the author.
Sophisticated temporal pattern recognition in retinal ganglion cells.

Pattern recognition is one of the most important tasks of the visual system, and uncovering the neural mechanisms underlying recognition phenomena has been a focus of researchers for decades. Surpr...
THE SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM OF THE BAT CRICOTHYROID MUSCLE

The bat cricothyroid muscle is believed to participate in the production of the short bursts of frequency modulated ultrasound which these animals use as an echolocation device. The evidence seems to indicate that this muscle must be extremely fast acting. It possesses a very well developed sarcoplasmic reticulum, consisting of intercommunicating longitudinal and transverse tubular elements. The transverse elements, situated at the level of the junction between the A and the I bands, are tripartite complexes of tubules called triads, and these are sometimes replaced by more complex structures, the pentads. The intermediate element of the triad appears as a slender continuous tubule, which can be shown to come into close contact with the sarcolemma and also to share with it certain common staining properties. The longitudinal components of the reticulum consist of very numerous tubules which link successive triads to each other and anastomose to form multiple layers of close-meshed reticula in the interfibrillar sarcoplasm. Both the longitudinal and the transverse elements of the sarcoplasmic reticulum form a continuous network across the muscle fiber. It is suggested that the extraordinary development of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the bat cricothyroid is related to the unusual physiological properties of this muscle.
An LED multiplexer with improved efficiency

Light emitting diodes (LED) have been increasingly used as light sources for projection display. LEDs have numerous advantages as a light source for these applications especially when used with a digital micro-mirror spatial light modulator such as the device offered by Texas Instruments. LEDs create an expanded color gamut, they can be modulated at very high rates (thus, eliminating the need for a color wheel), and they last longer than other light sources. One disadvantage they have is the luminous output is lower than would be desired for most front projection applications. Smaller pocket projectors have used the LED sources successfully, but the luminous output is limited to between 25 and 100 lumens. One of the areas of light loss in the illumination system is in the multiplexer that combines the three colored LEDs into a coaxial illumination beam. In this paper, this loss is quantified and an alternate multiplexer design is proposed.
Hydrogen Exhaustion and Explosions of Stars

IT is a well-established fact that energy production in stars is due to the thermonuclear transformation of hydrogen into helium. Since hydrogen forms about one half of normal stellar material, the rate of its consumption, that is, the luminosity of the star, determines the stellar life-span; in the case of our sun it can be calculated to be about fifty thousand million years, which is very long as compared with the estimated age of the stellar universe. Since, however, stellar luminosity (hydrogen consumption) increases very rapidly with stellar mass (hydrogen content), the life-spans of brighter stars are considerably shorter. Thus stars of about zero absolute magnitude would run through their hydrogen evolution in a few thousand million years, that is, in a period of time which is generally accepted as representing the age of our universe. Indeed, we notice that the stars of zero absolute magnitude seem to represent a demarcation line in the stellar population of our galaxy. Thus the main sequence of the Russell–Hertzsprung diagram shows a noticeable discontinuity at that particular point. The brighter stars are very scarce in space and are in a state of rapid axial rotation; the fainter stars are very abundant and scarcely rotate at all. Also, within stellar population II, as defined by Baade (the regions of the galaxy where no interstellar material is present), the upper part of the main sequence is completely absent.
Continuous in Situ Electrochemical Monitoring of Doxorubicin Efflux from Sensitive and Drug-Resistant Cancer Cells

One of the least well understood problems in cancer chemotherapy is the cross-resistance of certain tumor cells to a series of chemically unrelated drugs. Multidrug resistance (MDR) can be attributed to several different biophysical processes, among them increased drug efflux. This has been found to correlate with overexpression of the cell surface 170-kDa P-glycoprotein that actively excludes cytotoxic drugs against their concentration gradient. To better understand MDR, experimental methods are needed to study drug efflux from cancer cells. Continuous measurement of efflux of nonfluorescent drugs on the same cell culture in situ, or assessing efflux from a few cells or even a single cell, is beyond the capabilities of existing technologies. In this work, a carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode is used to monitor efflux of doxorubicin from a monolayer of two cell lines: an auxotrophic mutant of Chinese hamster ovary cells, AUXB1, and its MDR subline, CHRC5. Because doxorubicin is both fluorescent and electroactive, the results could be validated against existing data obtained optically and with other techniques on the same cell lines, with good agreement found. The electrochemical detection, however, is capable of in situ monitoring with high temporal resolution and is suitable for single-cell studies.
Convective model of Hartmann flow

AN analysis of the residence time distribution of a tracer -£*in the fluid flowing through a continuous flow system is one of the important tools in the study of dynamic and dispersion characteristics of the system." The residence time distribution is defined as the fraction of a tracer material introduced into a system at a dimensionless time 6 = 0 which appears at the outlet of the system between 6 and 6 + d6.> 2 The tracer materials may be radioactive isotopes, electroconductive materials, dye stuffs, temperature variations, etc. If the injection of a tracer into the flow system is in the form of an impulse function such as a Dirac delta function, the response at the outlet of the system to the input commonly called the C(0) function is identical to the residence time distribution function (RTDF).' 2 Similarly, if the tracer is continuously applied to the inlet of the system in the form of a step input, the response at the outlet of the system is called the cumulative residence time distribution function or the F(0) function. The F(0) function and C(0) function are related as' 2 C(0) = [dF(6)/d6] (1) Since the residence time distribution function may be directly related to the degree of the tracer distribution either in longitudinal or transversal direction or both, it can be used to develop models to represent the dispersion and dynamic characteristics of flow systems."
Sensing and Filtering: A Fresh Perspective Based on Preimages and Information Spaces

This monograph presents an unusual perspective on sensing uncertainty and filtering with the intention of understanding what information is minimally needed to achieve a specified task. Information itself is modeled using information space concepts, which originated from dynamic game theory (rather than information theory, which was developed mainly for communication). The guiding principle in this monograph is avoid sensing, representing, and encoding more than is necessary. The concepts and tools are motivated by many tasks of current interest, such as tracking, monitoring, navigation, pursuit-evasion, exploration, and mapping. First, an overview of sensors that appear in numerous systems is presented. Following this, the notion of a virtual sensor is explained, which provides a mathematical way to model numerous sensors while abstracting away their particular physical implementation. Dozens of useful models are given, each as a mapping from the physical world to the set of possible sensor outputs. Preimages with respect to this mapping represent a fundamental source of uncertainty: These are equivalence classes of physical states that would produce the same sensor output. Pursuing this idea further, the powerful notion of a sensor lattice is introduced, in which all possible virtual sensors can be rigorously compared. The next part introduces filters that aggregate information from multiple sensor readings. The integration of information over space and time is considered. In the spatial setting, classical triangulation methods are expressed in terms of preimages. In the temporal setting, an information-space framework is introduced that encompasses familiar Kalman and Bayesian filters, but also introduces a novel family called combinatorial filters. Finally, the planning problem is presented in terms of filters and information spaces. The monograph concludes with some discussion about connections to many related research fields and numerous open problems and future research directions.
Differences in Temperature Responses of Achene Types in Centaurea melitensis

Southern California has a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and hot dry summers. This type of environment is associated with irregular temperature patterns and rainfall, which can be unpredictable. Unpredictable environments can threaten the germination and survival of plants like Centaurea melitensis. To ensure germination and survival under unpredictable environmental conditions, some plants may develop characteristic structures like cleistogamous flower heads, and in some cases they will develop heteromorphic achenes. Morphological differences between peripheral and center achenes may indicate variable responses to temperature. Additionally, unpredictable environmental conditions may lead to differences in the number of peripheral achenes to center achenes in each head type. This study was designed to investigate differences in germination of peripheral and center achene’s of each head type CH (Chasmogamous), iCL (Initial cleistogamous) and fCL (Final cleistogamous) when subjected to constant temperatures 5oC, 10oC, 15oC, 23.5oC and 30oC. Differences in achene ratios (central to peripheral) and persistence were also investigated. A total of 400 achenes per achene type were used. Twenty achenes were placed in a petri dish filled with 6 ml of distilled water; the plates were incubated at one of five temperatures for seven days. The number of achenes (peripheral to central) remaining in the flower heads three months post dispersal achenes was documented. The results indicate that Centaurea melitensis was significantly affected by temperature. A fraction of the achenes remain in the flower head until early fall. Ratio differences in peripheral and center achenes may be a reflection of unstable environmental conditions. Centaurea melitensis is a non-native winter annual that resides in areas of disturbance, such as those found along roadsides, open fields and among California coastal sage scrub. It is also known to grow in subnitrophilous pioneer pasture communities (Porras and Munoz, 2000ab; Bossard and Randall, 2000). All these plant communities are associated with a Mediterranean type climate, which consists of wet winters and hot dry summers (Di Tomaso, 2001; Porras and Munoz, 2000ab; Maddox et al. 1985). Although predictable, this type of climate can result in irregular temperature patterns and rainfall variation (NOAA; Ritter, 2006; Porras and Munoz, 2000ab; Roche et al. 1997). In southern California, where Centaurea melitensis is commonly found in open fields and among California coastal sage scrub, irregular temperature patterns and variable rainfall can lead to significant environmental changes threatening germination and survival (Porras and Munoz, 2000ab). For instance, in San Bernardino, California, temperatures during winter months can dip 1 Bain: Centaurea melitensis Achenes Types Response to Temperature
Spatial regulation of nanos is required for its function in dendrite morphogenesis.

Summary Spatial control of mRNA translation can generate cellular asymmetries and functional specialization of polarized cells like neurons. A requirement for the translational repressor Nanos (Nos) in the Drosophila larval peripheral nervous system (PNS) implicates translational control in dendrite morphogenesis [1]. Nos was first identified by its requirement in the posterior of the early embryo for abdomen formation [2]. Nos synthesis is targeted to the posterior pole of the oocyte and early embryo through translational repression of unlocalized nos mRNA coupled with translational activation of nos mRNA localized at the posterior pole [3, 4]. Abolishment of nos localization prevents abdominal development, whereas translational derepression of unlocalized nos mRNA suppresses head/thorax development, emphasizing the importance of spatial regulation of nos mRNA [3, 5]. Loss and overexpression of Nos affect dendrite branching complexity in class IV dendritic arborization (da) neurons, suggesting that nos also might be regulated in these larval sensory neurons [1]. Here, we show that localization and translational control of nos mRNA are essential for da neuron morphogenesis. RNA-protein interactions that regulate nos translation in the oocyte and early embryo also regulate nos in the PNS. Live imaging of nos mRNA shows that the cis -acting signal responsible for posterior localization in the oocyte/embryo mediates localization to the processes of class IV da neurons but suggests a different transport mechanism. Targeting of nos mRNA to the processes of da neurons may reflect a local requirement for Nos protein in dendritic translational control.
Beyond the encyclopedia: Collective memories in Wikipedia

Collective memory processes have been studied from many different perspectives. For example, while psychology has investigated collaborative recall in small groups, other research traditions have f...
The impacts of lending, race, and ownership on rental housing rehabilitation

Abstract This paper presents an empirical analysis of landlords' rehabilitation investment decisions in a large sample of buildings in one city—focusing on impacts of lending patterns, race, and ownership. The study finds that availability of loans from major institutional lenders—banks and savings and loans—in a neighborhood has a substantial independent impact on repair decisions, after controlling for a multitude of other neighborhood and building variables. For all landlords taken together, loan availability problems rather than owners' discriminatory attitudes seem to discourage some otherwise profitable repairs in black neighborhoods. But significant differences appear between owner-occupant landlords and others. After detailing these findings, the paper summarizes several policy directions they suggest.