cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Superfund Program Past and Present Funding Implications

The present research examines the impact of not reauthorizing the Superfund taxes on the operations of the program. EPA NPL site status data were obtained from the EPA CERCLIS database for analysis in this study. Data were selected for the fiscal years 1981 to 2009 in four NPL listing status categories: proposal to the NPL, final NPL listing, deletion from the NPL, and achievement of construction completion. Since the Superfund tax expired in 1995, data from the 1981 to 1995 fiscal years and data from the 1996 to 2009 fiscal years were analyzed to determine if there were mean differences in NPL status achievements for those time frames potentially caused by lack of funding. The data in the fifth category (partial NPL deletion) were not analyzed because the EPA did not begin tracking this category as a program goal until 1997. EPA uses the status of sites in these categories to track achievement of program goals and effectiveness. The null hypothesis for this study is that there is no difference between program outcomes (NPL site status data reported by fiscal year) for the time period from 1981 to 1995 and 1996 to 2009 meaning that the failure to re-authorize the Superfund tax has not affected the clean-up of contaminated sites and how they are managed. The alternative hypothesis is that failure to re-authorize the Superfund tax has affected the clean-up of contaminated sites and how they are managed. In support of the alternative hypothesis, there were mean differences (for time frames 1981 to 1995 and 1996 to 2009) for NPL site status achievements for the following milestones: final listing on the NPL, deletion from the NPL, and achieving construction completion status on the NPL. These results suggest that variations in funding may have some impact on NPL status achievements.
Integrating Motion Predicate Classes with Spatial and Temporal Annotations

We propose a spatio-temporal markup for the annotation of motion predicates in text, informed by a lexical semantic classification of these verbs. We incorporate this classification within a spatial event structure, based on Generative Lexicon Theory. We discuss how the spatial event structure suggests changes to annotation systems designed solely for temporal or spatial phenomena, resulting in spatio-temporal annotation.
Link-Contexts for Ranking

Anchor text has been shown to be effective in ranking [6] and a variety of information retrieval tasks on web pages. Some authors have expanded on anchor text by using the words around the anchor tag, a link-context, but each with a different definition of link-context. This lack of consensus begs the question: What is a good link-context? The two experiments in this paper address the question by comparing the results of using different link-contexts for the problem of ranking. Specifically, we concatenate the link-contexts of links pointing to a web page to create a link-context documentused to rank that web page. By comparing the ranking order resulting from using different link-contexts, we found that smaller contexts are effective at ranking relevant urls highly.
The Death of Nietzsche's Zarathustra

Preface Texts and citations Introduction: the clue to the riddles 1. The eternal recurrence of the same 2. Demon or god? 3. The dwarf and the gateway 4. The great noon 5. The laughing lions 6. The shepherd and the serpent 7. Circulus vitiosus deus 8. Post-Zarathustra Bibliography Index.
With Justice for Whom? The Presumption of Moral Innocence in Rape Trials

The O.J. Simpson case is but a recent example of the high profile criminal trials that have garnered unprecedented public attention and scrutiny. In March, 1991, for example, no one could ignore the brutal beating of Rodney King, captured on videotape and broadcast innumerable times before and after the trials of the police officers accused in the case. And certainly few will forget the aftermath of the state's prosecution in Simi Valley, California, when an all-white jury acquitted the police officers. The upsurge of rage culminating in the Los Angeles rebellion demonstrated the politicized nature of the criminal trial: The police officers' acquittals epitomized for many the larger political reality that African-Americans continue to be uniquely victimized by police power in a nation that has historically refused to do anything about it.' To witness a continued disregard for racism evokes profound despair in communities like South Central Los Angeles. If, after all of this time, not even the objective proof of a videotape could convince ajury that white police officers had brutalized a Black man, what could? For many African-Americans, the real source of rage stemmed not from the videotape, but from the trial's removal from the racially diverse city of Los Angeles to a white middle-class enclave in Simi Valley, which produced a jury that included no AfricanAmericans.' The acquittal in the King case illustrated vividly that this case was not simply about one man's experience. Rather, African-Americans viewed it as an indictment of the racism that remains deeply entrenched in this country. Rodney King could have been any African-American, and therein lies the foundation for fear, anger, and hopelessness. It is this identification with the victim in the context of high-profile criminal trials that Professor George Fletcher describes in his book, With Justice for Some. Fletcher expresses anger that the criminal justice system subjects victims to further victimization and characterizes the reaction and riots following the King acquittal as an example of victims engaging in the "political trial." The victims of whom he speaks-homosexuals,
Employee Sabotage in the Workplace: A Biopsychosocial Model

Recently, there has been an increased interest in workplace violence. However, the psychiatric literature has paid little, if any attention to the specific subject area of workplace property harm or sabotage by employees. The specific psychology and/or psychopathology of the individual worker may be relevant in the evaluation of sabotage behavior. However, psychosocial factors associated with behavior within organizations and originating in part from the job itself are not likely to be considered in the initial assessment. We therefore introduce concepts from the organizational behavior literature that may facilitate and complement psychiatric evaluation of sabotage in the workplace. These concepts will fill the gap in a biopsychosocial assessment of sabotage in the workplace and provide a nexus for future interdisciplinary studies of workplace property violence.
Issues in Social Work

This chapter explores five issues germane to current and future understandings and practices of social work: post-modernism/social construction, globalization, evidence-based practice, ethics, and the profession. Beginning with a discussion of the meaning of the term “issue,” the chapter proceeds to a discussion of each of the above topics and their interrelationships. No claim is made that the issues discussed are the definitive ones for the profession, only that they are important and deserve consideration. Keywords: issues; post-modernism; social construction; social constructionism; globalization; evidence-based practice; ethics; social work profession; professionalism
A new nonlinear optimization algorithm for asymmetric FIR digital filters

A new nonlinear optimization algorithm is presented for designing lowpass asymmetric FIR digital filters. The new algorithm is based on the iterative use of the generalized multiple exchange (GME) algorithm. The new algorithm can design optimal filters that simultaneously meet specifications on the group delay and the magnitude of the frequency response. The algorithm is based on nonlinear optimization because the frequency response magnitude and group delay are nonlinear functions of the filter coefficients. This ISCAS-94 paper includes a filter design example with specifications on the maximum permissible errors in the group delay and the frequency response magnitude. In spite of the nonlinearities in this design problem, the new algorithm determines a unique optimal solution. A mathematical proof of optimality is included. >
A policy-based analysis of the impacts of casino gambling.

In 2003, as part of a lecture series sponsored by the American Gaming Association, Richard LaBrie and Howard Shaffer issued a ‘concept statement’ titled Toward a Science of Gambling Regulation. They stated, “The set of gambling regulations within a jurisdiction represent that jurisdiction’s strategy for preventing negative consequences….We propose that gambling regulations would be more effective if the regulatory process was science-based” (2003, p. 1). This paper represents a step towards scientifically analyzing variations in existing policies to determine how effective they are in reaching policy goals. A quasi-experimental matching procedure is utilized to assess the impacts of casinos at the county level. Additional analysis examines the effects of various policies on economic development outcomes. The findings suggest that more restrictive casino policies reduce the economic impacts associated with casino development.
Parental Involvement in Infant Sleep Routines Predicts Differential Sleep Patterns in Children With and Without Anxiety Disorders

This study compared parents' retrospective reports of their involvement in infant settling strategies and their relation to current sleep patterns among children (N = 84, ages 7-11) with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and healthy controls. Parents of children with GAD were significantly more likely to report rocking their infants to sleep and putting infants down when they were already asleep than parents of healthy controls, even when accounting for infant health-related factors and parental anxiety. Greater involvement in infant sleep routines also predicted sleep patterns (measured via actigraphy) during childhood, though opposite relationships were observed in the two groups. Early involvement was related to poorer sleep in control children but better sleep for children with GAD even after controlling for current parenting practices. Findings suggest differential effects of early sleep-related parenting for children with and without later anxiety disorders with possible implications for early intervention.
The role of Na/K-ATPase in cardiac stem cells (1094.6)

It has been shown that Na/K-ATPase is involved in cardiac remodeling in 5/6th partial nephrectomized (PNx) mice and rats. Our recent work observed that genetic reduction of the Na/K-ATPase α1 subunit results in higher cardiac c-kit positive cell numbers. To delineate the mechanisms, we isolated sphere forming cardiac stem cells from Na/K-ATPase α1 heterozygous mice and their wild type littermates to compare their proliferation capacity. It was found that heart tissue from α1 heterozygous mice produces more phase-bright cells than that from WT mice during the same time period, indicating a faster growth rate with reduction of Na/K-ATPase. The formation of first generation cardiospheres (CSps) on poly-D-lysine coated surfaces is also faster with cells isolated from α1 heterozygous mice. To test the proliferation rate in in vitro culture, the purified primary CSps derived cells (PCDCs) were obtained by growing first generation CSps on fibronectin coated surfaces. These cells show positive staining of progeni...
Gastric acidity influences the blood response to a beta-carotene dose in humans.

The effect of gastric acidity on the blood response to a single dose of 120 mg beta-carotene in humans was investigated in 12 normal subjects (5 women, 7 men) aged 23-68 y. Omeprazole was used for 7 d to obliterate gastric acid secretion and to raise gastric pH to > 4.5. In a crossover design, six subjects were randomly assigned to take beta-carotene with omeprazole either at the beginning (day 9) or at the end (day 26) of the study. The beta-carotene response in blood was not altered by the experimental order. Results from the high-gastric-pH phase (ie, with omeprazole) were analyzed together and compared with the results from the low-gastric-pH phase (ie, without omeprazole). The increases of serum concentrations of both trans beta-carotene and cis beta-carotene 6 and 24 h after the beta-carotene dose were significantly greater at a low gastric pH (pH = 1.3 +/- 0.1, ie, without omeprazole) than those at a high gastric pH (pH = 6.4 +/- 0.3, ie, with omeprazole), P < 0.02. Similarly, 24 h after beta-carotene administration, the area under the blood beta-carotene response curve (trans plus cis beta-carotene) was significantly greater at a low gastric pH (6825 +/- 760 nmol.h/L) than at a high gastric pH (3390 +/- 550 nmol.h/L), P < 0.002. In investigations of bacterial overgrowth, gelatin capsule disintegration and isomeric profiles associated with high and low pH, we could not identify factors to explain the differences observed in the blood response curves between low-gastric-pH and high-gastric-pH conditions. A suppressed blood response of beta-carotene at a high intraluminal pH may have been due to the slower movement of negatively charged micelles through the unstirred water layer and cell membrane.
Methods and Applications of Quality-of-Life Measurement During Antihypertensive Therapy

The measurement and evaluation of health-related quality of life during antihypertensive therapy has contributed to physicians‘ understanding of how patients respond to therapy in terms of physical, psychological, and social well-being. Comparative clinical trials of antihypertensive drug therapies have demonstrated that treatment produces no perceptible improvements in health status. Thus, the ‘burden’ of the therapeutic regimen from the patient‘s perspective is greatly magnified. Research has also demonstrated that patient expectation and preference are important components of quality-of-life assessment when the purpose of this assessment is to predict or explain human behavior. Drug properties, including mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics, have been shown to influence the impact of drug side effects and the degree to which patients tolerate therapy. Researchers have attempted to standardize the construct of quality of life to have broad applications in health care policy and management; however, clinical research in hypertension should focus on the components of health-related quality of life that influence patient outcomes with regard to behaviors affecting adherence. Antihypertensive agents that maximize patient acceptance and quality of life are now available. Future quality-of-life research should be directed toward learning more about human behavior so that adherence to nonpharmacologic interventions such as diet and exercise will be enhanced.
Azimuthal AVO Workflow And Evaluation At an East Texas Fractured Reservoir

Summary We applied azimuthal anisotropy of amplitude versus offset (AzAVO) inversion technique to land 3D seismic data at an east Texas gas field. In general, AzAVO provides geologically interpretable anisotropy anomalies that correlate with previously interpreted faults and also correlate with the few subsurface data (FMI and cross-dipole sonic) that we have. The inversion quality is affected by signal/noise in the data and the application of random noise attenuation in the pre-processing enhances the results. We are encouraged to have developed an integrated workflow for the processing and interpretation of azimuthal seismic anisotropy.
Remote Sensibilities: Discourses of Technology and the Making of Indonesia’s Natural Disaster

During the extended El Nin˜o drought of 1997–8, fires devastated Indonesia’s forests, creating a vast shroud of smoke that reached as far as mainland Southeast Asia. This article examines the interpretation of these fires — their causes, damages and solutions — by the Indonesian government, international donors, environmental activists and local farmers. It explores the contexts and consequences of these discourses of disaster, and specifically investigates the central role of remote technology — a ‘hegemonic’ representational tool, in some circumstances creatively appropriated to serve new democratic agendas. A narrow focus on remotely sensed data is not strictly a methodological but also a political choice, one which obscures alternative experiences of disaster and produces solutions that do not address long term social and political processes leading to the fires. What is missing from most current analyses of the fires, and from remote assessments in general, is a textured understanding of social landscapes and the role they play in creating fire hazards.
Fractionation of Soybean Oil Meal for Growth and Antiperotic Factors 2. Studies with Genistin and Soysterols

Abstract Soybean oil meal is an excellent source of growth promoting as well as antiperotic factors for turkey poults, and these can be concentrated in methanol extracts ofof soybean oil meal (Kratzer et al., 1959). Further characterization of these factors is desirable. Phospholipids (McKinneyey et al., 1937), saponins (Burrell and Walter, 1941), sitosterols (Kondo and Mori, 1936), genistin (Walz, 1931; Walter, 1941), and stigmasterol (Kraybill et al., 1940) have been isolated from soybeans and alcoholic extracts of soybean oil meals. Genistin has estrogenic properties as tested by mice (Cheng et al., 1953), and stigmasterol is believed to be an antistiffness factor for guinea pigs (Rosen krantz et al., 1951). A study of these well characterized compounds for the growth promoting and antiperotic behavior when fed to turkey poults has been undertaken. Saponins were not studied because they inhibit the growth of chicks (Peterson, 1950). Purified diets containing isolated soybean protein (Drackett …
DC PLASMA POLYMERIZATION OF HEXAMETHYLDISILOXANE

Hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) was polymerized onto metallic and insulating substrates in a parallel-plate DC reactor. The limits of the DC reactor with respect to pressure and power were determined for deposition of PP-HMDS films. In all conditions ranging from 5 Pa/0.3 W to 100 Pa/50 W, solid films were deposited. No powders or oily films were obtained under any condition in this operating range. The films were polymeric in nature,i.e., they were neither carbon-like nor SiOx-like films. The structures and crosslink densities of the plasma films dependend strongly on the deposition conditions. The highest deposition rates, up to 2 μm per minute (or0.3 mg/cm2 min), were obtained at high power, pressure, and flow rate conditions. An efficiency ɛ is introduced, defined as the fraction of the monomer that is retained in the form of a polymer deposited on the substrate. Efficiencies as high as 25% could be obtained in certain conditions. Pulsing the discharge power increased the conversion efficiency markedly, but the effect depended strongly on the monomer used. In addition to HMDS, plasma polymers were also deposited from pyrrole in pulsed conditions for comparison. A method is described for depositing films on insulators from a DC glow discharge using two wire meshes held at a negative potential.
Digital control of a heating system for hot water and space heating

Abstract The design of control strategies for heating systems supplying hot water and space heating are explored. The control problem is modelled as consisting of 1. (i) two control loops (boiler and domestic hot water tank) and 2. (ii) three control loops (boiler, domestic hot water and an environmental space). The problem with two control loops was solved by decoupling the model equations and designing two standard digital PI controllers, one for controlling the flow rate of natural gas to the boiler and the other for modulating the heat exchange between the boiler and the DHW tank. For the problem with three control loops, a feedback-control law has been designed to hold the boiler, domestic hot water and zone air temperatures at desired operating points. The control-law design is based on a multivariable pole-placement technique. It is shown that in both cases, the controller performance is good in terms of disturbance rejection and transient-response characteristics.
Evidence of excretion of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides by the human liver.

1. The liver excretes DDT and dieldrin into the bile. 2. The dieldrin content of bile from a worker having very high tissue stores is much greater than it is in persons with no occupational exposure. This suggests the existence of substrate-responsive excretory mechanisms. 3. We have tentatively identified the aldehyde degradation product of dieldrin in adipose fat, bile,and gall stone. The ketone product has not been found in fat, bile, or gall stone.
Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Testicular Cancer

With long-term survival in excess of 90% across all stages, testicular cancer has come to represent the model for successful multidisciplinary cancer care. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) remains an integral component of testis cancer management strategies for both early- and advanced-stage disease. Commensurate with improvements made in clinical staging and in our understanding of the natural history of testis cancer, lymphatic spread, and neuroanatomy, considerable modifications in the technique and template of RPLND have taken place. The morbidity of primary RPLND and postchemotherapy RPLND is low when performed by experienced surgeons. This article reviews the evolution, role, and technique of RPLND in contemporary practice.
Quantitative immunofluorescence assay for cyclobutyldithymidine dimers in individual mammalian cells.

An indirect immunofluorescence procedure was developed for the measurement of cyclobutyl dithymidine dimers in DNA of individual Syrian hamster embryo cells using a specific monoclonal antibody. A fluorescein-labeled secondary antibody and a fluorochrome which binds to DNA were used to measure the photoproduct and total DNA in the same nucleus. Fluorescence intensity was quantitated with a computer-assisted microfluorometric system which was calibrated with a uranyl oxide impregnated glass slide. Similar dose-response curves, i.e. normalized fluorescence intensity plotted as a function of dose of germicidal irradiation, were obtained with two different cell types. Normalized fluorescence intensity per nucleus was related to thymidine dimer content with a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using DNA isolated from cells given doses of germicidal irradiation identical to those used in the immunofluorescence assay. Thymidine dimer levels produced by 10 J/m2 of germicidal irradiation (approximately 8 x 10(5)/nucleus) and which allow for 15-30% cell survival can readily be detected. The specific monoclonal antibody was labeled with tritium and used in the immunofluorescence assay to relate the number of antibodies bound to the number of thymidine dimers per cell. The data revealed that approximately 45% of the thymidine dimers in cells exposed to 100 J/m2 of germicidal irradiation and essentially all the T mean value of T in cells receiving 20 J/m2, were being detected in the indirect immunofluorescence assay. This technique can provide a sensitive means for measuring various types of DNA damage in individual cells given that the appropriate probes are available. It can be especially useful for monitoring occupationally or environmentally exposed populations where usually only small samples of cells or tissues are available.
The yeast regulator of transcription protein Rtr1 lacks an active site and phosphatase activity

Regulator of transcription 1, Rtr1, has been proposed to function as an RNA polymerase II phosphatase. Here, the lack of phosphatase activity in purified Rtr1 and the absence of an active site in the structure of the yeast protein suggest that Rtr1 does not dephosphorylate RNA polymerase II.
Enhancement of visual and auditory evoked potentials during blockade of the non-specific thalamo-cortical system.

Abstract Reversible cryogenic blockade of the non-specific thalamo-cortical system in the region of the inferior thalamic peduncle produces in chronic cat preparations: 1. 1. An enhancement of short-latency, visual evoked responses in widespread cortical regions (posterior sigmoid, anterior suprasylvian, primary visual and primary auditory cortices). 2. 2. An enhancement of both visual and auditory evoked responses. 3. 3. An enhancement of the first positive peak of the optic tract-elicited cortical response and the third and fourth peaks of the optic radiation-elicited potential, implying both a greater transmission through the lateral geniculate body and a greater cortical response to a constant afferent input. These electrophysiological results are correlated with behavioral deficits in response inhibition and directed attention.
Dimensions of instructional psychology

This paper highlights eight topics cogent to psychologically enlightened instructional theory. Discussed issues include: (1) a multivariate model of man, (2) American school's cultural heritage, (3) the limitations of scientific reductionism, (4) developmentalism in school learning, (5) individual differences, (6) decision-oriented instructional research, (7) teacher education, and (8) the separation of learning theory from instructional theory. Implications for future instructional theorizing are offered.
US&R: A new framework for redoing (Extended Abstract)

USR experienced users can take even greater advantage of its functionality. US&R's data structure organizes the recovery information in a natural tree-like fashion that is easy to implement in a variety of interactive settings, including text editors, graphics layout systems, algorithm simulators, and program development systems.
Estimation of Ventricular Volumes by a Constant Infusion Indicator Dilution Technique

A constant infusion indicator dilution method for estimating ventricular volumes is introduced and its feasibility demonstrated. Using this method, volumes can be calculated by two different approaches, one of which does not assume effective distribution of indicator throughout end diastolic volume ( EDV ). This offers a means of assessing the effects of nonmixing on the form of the stepwise rise in concentration of the constant infusion curve, which has relevance to the basically related stepwise decline in concentration following sudden injection of indicator. It is suggested that the degree of mixing of diastolic venous return in the previous end systolic volume ( ESV ) is basic to the distribution of indicator introduced into the ventricle. If mixing is incomplete, the site of origin of stroke volume ( SV ) from EDV is an important factor in determining the form of an indicator dilution curve and the EDV as calculated from ratios of successive concentrations. The possible range of effects of nonmixing on the form of the constant infusion curve for ventricular volume, as derived from a mathematical model, is outlined. End diastolic volumes, as estimated from ratios of successive concentrations in a series of constant infusion indicator dilution curves obtained experimentally, are tabulated, and as a group do not differ materially from those obtained by the sudden injection method.
Identifying gene-environment and gene-gene interactions using a progressive penalization approach

In genomic studies, identifying important gene-environment and gene-gene interactions is a challenging problem. In this study, we adopt the statistical modeling approach, where interactions are represented by product terms in regression models. For the identification of important interactions, we adopt penalization, which has been used in many genomic studies. Straightforward application of penalization does not respect the “main effect, interaction” hierarchical structure. A few recently proposed methods respect this structure by applying constrained penalization. However, they demand very complicated computational algorithms and can only accommodate a small number of genomic measurements. We propose a computationally fast penalization method that can identify important gene-environment and gene-gene interactions and respect a strong hierarchical structure. The method takes a stagewise approach and progressively expands its optimization domain to account for possible hierarchical interactions. It is applicable to multiple data types and models. A coordinate descent method is utilized to produce the entire regularized solution path. Simulation study demonstrates the superior performance of the proposed method. We analyze a lung cancer prognosis study with gene expression measurements and identify important gene-environment interactions.
Coaxial phase separator for on-line extraction in flow-injection systems

Abstract The design of a coaxial porous membrane phase separator for use with on-line liquid-liquid extraction in flow-injection work and based on porous membrane tubing is presented. An infrared detector was used. For the extraction of benzyl alcohol from water into carbon tetrachloride, the fraction extracted was 0.48 using an extraction coil of 100 cm × 0.8 mm i.d., a mixing tee and a phase separator constructed of 2.0-μm pore diameter tubing. The dispersion of the separator (mixing tee, extraction coil and phase separator) was 1.16 and represents a small contribution to the total system dispersion. Greater lengths of porous tubing or larger pore diameter tubing produce larger dispersion. The porous membrane tubing is rugged; phase separators constructed from 2.0-μm pore tubing were used for many months and none ruptured.
Temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance of sputtered Fe/Cr superlattices.

The temperature dependence of the resistivity of three sputtered Fe/Cr superlattices was analyzed. Two are antiferromagnetic and one is ferromagnetic. Also, a series of Fe/Cr superlattices was characterized as a function of Cr thickness by means of resistivity, Kerr-rotation, and x-ray-diffraction measurements. Magnetoresistance measurements for films with 32-\AA{} Fe layers confirm the presence of three oscillations with peaks at \ensuremath{\sim}11, 27, and 42 \AA{} Cr. The Kerr-rotation measurements for fixed Fe thicknesses of 15, 25, 32 and 40 \AA{} indicate that the first antiferromagnetic region is always between \ensuremath{\sim}6 and 17 \AA{} Cr thickness. The low-angle x-ray results show that the structure is not ideal, based on comparison to dynamical simulation or to the quality of similarly prepared Fe/Mo superlattices. The magnetoresistivity of the antiferromagnetic films decays from its maximum value at low temperature with a ${\mathit{T}}^{2}$ behavior below \ensuremath{\sim}100 K, while a ferromagnetic film could be similarly approximated by a ${\mathit{T}}^{3/2}$ behavior. These power laws are a consequence of the thermal excitation of magnons in these anisotropic antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic superlattices, respectively. The resistivities due to sd-interband scattering ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{s}\mathit{d}}$ are approximated by a ${\mathit{T}}^{2}$ behavior and roughly a ${\mathit{T}}^{3}$ behavior, respectively. This indicates that for the antiferromagnetic films the dominant contributions to ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{s}\mathit{d}}$ come from processes mediated by magnons as well as phonons.
A Data-Driven Dispositions Model for Teacher Candidates and Program Review

Abstract This article examines an assessment initiative for reviewing and developing student dispositions to address faculty concerns about the issue, as well as attend to programmatic needs. The presented disposition model is part of a coordinated and multitiered collegewide initiative for gathering, reviewing, and analyzing data in a central assessment system that is used for examining measures of students' dispositions connected to an institutional conceptual framework, program goals, and external accreditation performance data. Initial data, derived from 430 undergraduate and 64 graduate candidates, recommended intervention for 46 candidates, and only 2 were recommended for formal review by a faculty committee.
Pointwise pressure observations of a canonical structural acoustics model

In this paper, we study regularity properties of a physically motivated observation associated with a controlled partial differential equation (PDE) model on a rectangular domain. This particular PDE describes the active control of acoustic pressure in a chamber by means of piezoelectric activation; and involves a wave coupled to a structurally damped beam equation, with the coupling being accomplished by boundary trace terms. The observation here consists of pointwise (in space) measurements of the velocity of the wave component, with this velocity representing the acoustic pressure of the system. As defined then, the observation of the system, like the control imput, is modeled by an unbounded operator. The main result of this paper is the discovery of an energy space such that for initial data taken from this space, the desired observation of the acoustic pressure is well defined.
What experience is required for acquiring tool competence? Experiments with two callitrichids

Cottontop tamarins, Saguinus oedipus, do not spontaneously use tools in the wild or in captivity. Yet, adults and naive infants with no experimental experience with tools show impressive sensitivity to their design features in tool choice experiments. Based on these findings, it has been hypothesized that tamarins are equipped with an innate mechanism for recognizing the functional features of tools (Hauser et al. 2002a, b, Animal Behaviour, 64, 299–311). An alternative explanation is that the initial exposure to one tool during training triggered their sensitivity to a suite of functionally relevant features during generalization. Here, we test this hypothesis, bypassing the training phase, and presenting tool-naive tamarins with a variety of tool choices, each pairing involving novel featural changes to the tool's design. We also tested experimentally naive common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, a closely related species that, like tamarins, do not spontaneously use tools either in the wild or in captivity. Following the first experimental session, there was no evidence that either species selected tools based on their design characteristics. This finding forces a rejection of the hypothesis that tamarins are equipped with an experience-independent, innate representation of tools. Exposure to several more sessions generally failed to alter the tamarins' discrimination, but caused marmosets to preferentially pick the functionally correct tools, attending to relevant featural dimensions (shape, material). Overall, these results suggest that nontool users may have an innate mechanism that operates over object mechanics more generally (i.e. as opposed to tools specifically), and this mechanism is triggered on the basis of a relatively impoverished input.
Modification of cloned brain Na+ channels by batrachotoxin.

The effects of batrachotoxin (BTX) on cloned α-subunit Na+ channels were examined in CHO-K1 cells (a chinese hamster ovary cell line) transfected with rat brain NaIIA cDNA. Under whole-cell patch clamp conditions, BTX shifted the voltage dependence of the activation process by about 45 mV towards the hyperpolarizing direction and eliminated the inactivating phase of Na+ currents. Repetitive depolarizations greatly facilitated the binding of BTX with NaIIA channels while the membrane was held at −100 mV. In chloramine-T-pretreated cells, the association rate of BTX binding with the NaIIA channel was 6.5-fold faster than that in untreated cells. The estimated association rate constant for BTX binding with the open form of NaIIA channel was 1.11×106 mol−1·s−1 at room temperature. BTX-modified NaIIA channels were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a complicated manner. First, the TTX binding to the closed state of BTX-modified NaIIA channels was not voltage dependent. The KD value of TTX was measured at 8.9 nM, which was similar to that of unmodified channels (KD=14.2 nM). Second, the block of the open state of BTX-modified NaIIA channels by TTX was voltage dependent; depolarization reduced the potency of TTX block between −20 mV to +50 mV. Below −30 mV, the TTX affinity began to level off, probably because of the increased presence of the closed state. Unexpectedly, steady-state inactivation of BTX-modified NaIIA channels was minimal as measured by the two-pulse protocol, a phenomenon distinctly different from that found in GH3 cells. Neutral local anesthetic benzocaine, however, drastically enhanced the steady-state inactivation of BTX-modified NaIIA channels, with its maximal effect around −60 mV. We conclude that BTX can bind and modify the NaIIA α-subunit. However, a specific subtype of α-subunits and/or an unidentified modulating process may be required for the optimal steady-state inactivation of BTX-modified Na+ channels.
Characterization of beta-glucuronidase in the retinal pigment epithelium.

PURPOSE. To study the biochemical and molecular characteristics of the lysosomal enzyme s-glucuronidase (GUSB) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and other tissues of different species. METHODS. Freshly isolated and cultured cells were harvested, and GUSB activity was measured fluorimetrically in cell homogenates or tissue culture media using the synthetic substrate 4-methyl-umbelliferyl s-D-glucuronide (4-MUG). The temperature and pH optima, and thermal stability of GUSB in the RPE and fibroblasts were established. Distribution of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the natural substrates of GUSB, in the RPE and fibroblast cell layer and media was examined by cellulose acetate electrophoresis following 72 h of metabolic labeling with Na 2 35 SO 4. Total or poly A + -RNA isolated from cells or tissues of different species were examined in Northern blots to identify GUSB mRNA transcripts. RESULTS. Among all the species, the activity of GUSB and its mRNA level was found to be consistently high in RPE cells. In ...
Design and synthesis of a new class of hydrophobic binding sites

Abstract The design, synthesis and basic aggregation and binding behavior of a new class of water-soluble molecules with hydrophobic binding sites are reported.
Liver enzymes, race, gender and diabetes risk: The atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study

Aims To examine the associations of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) with diabetes risk and to determine whether associations differ by race and/or gender. We hypothesized that all liver enzymes would be associated with diabetes risk and that associations would differ by race and gender. Methods Prospective cohort of 7495 white and 1842 black participants without diabetes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Poisson and Cox models adjusted for demographic, socio-behavioural, and metabolic and health-related factors were used. Results During a median of 12 years of follow-up, 2182 incident cases of diabetes occurred. Higher liver enzyme levels were independently associated with diabetes risk: adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.68 (1.49–1.89), 1.16 (1.02–1.31) and 1.95 (1.70–2.24) comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. Gamma-Glutamyl transferase was most strongly related to diabetes risk, even at levels considered within the normal range (≤ 60 U/l) in clinical practice. Adjusted incidence rates by quartiles of liver enzymes were similar by gender but higher in black versus white participants. Nonetheless, relative associations of ALT, AST, and GGT with diabetes were similar by race (P for interactions > 0.05). Conclusions Compared with ALT and AST, GGT was more strongly associated with diabetes risk. Our findings suggest that abnormalities in liver enzymes precede the diagnosis of diabetes by many years and that individuals with elevated liver enzymes, even within the normal range as defined in clinical practice, are at high risk for diabetes.
An evaluation of salmonella (Ames) test data in the published literature: Application of statistical procedures and analysis of mutagenic potency

We searched the published literature for Salmonella test data on some 450 chemicals. Only 137 of more than 400 articles containing original data satisfied minimum criteria for a quantitative analysis [1751 experiments, comprising data on 152 chemicals (Table 1)]. Many of these papers did not report basic information about the test protocol (Table 2). We used previously described statistical procedures (Bernstein et al., 1982) to estimate the initial slopes of the dose-response curves and corresponding standard errors. We also applied tests for significance and linear goodness-of-fit. We then used the results of these analyses to examine several issues: (1) Linearity of the low dose region of the dose-response curve. We found that the overwhelming majority of curves were linear, though ability to detect non-linearity of dose-response curves in the standard plate test is only limited. 7% of all experiments to which the goodness-of-fit test was applied were curves of increasing slope, and with a few possible exceptions, these were not obviously associated with any particular mutagens, even those generally considered to produce non-linear effects such as MNNG and EMS (Table 3). (2) Performance of the statistical test for significance. Results of the statistical test for significance of the dose-response were compared with author's opinions as to positivity. In almost all cases (94%) results of the statistical test and authors opinions were the same. In the examples of conflicting opinions, the reasons were: (a) the statistical test places more weight than do most authors on the presence of a linear dose-response; (b) most authors tend to require at least a 2-fold increase over the spontaneous background for 'significance', and (c) when the number of spontaneous revertants is small (e.g., TA1537), authors tend to require a larger increase in induced revertants than when the spontaneous background is large, whereas the statistical procedure makes no such distinction. These factors result in the statistical test tending to identify more experiments as positive than do authors, provided there is a linear dose-response, and authors tending to judge more experiments as positive when the dose-response is not linear. (3) Reproducibility. Among the 1751 experiments there were 122 data-sets (a total of 333 experiments) in which the same chemical was tested by two or more different laboratories under the same protocol. 21 of the 122 data-sets had some disagreement between experiments as to whether results were positive or negative (Table 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, and sample sizes for the prevented fraction in cross-sectional studies

The prevented fraction (PF) is the proportion of disease occurrence in a population averted due to a protective risk factor or public health intervention. The PF is not equivalent to the population attributable risk (AR). The AR is appropriate for epidemiologic studies of disease etiology, and for estimating the potential impact of modifying risk factor prevalence. The PF more directly measures the impact of public health interventions, however, and thus is an important evaluation tool. We derived the variance of the estimated PF by using maximum likelihood theory for cross-sectional studies. We used simulations to compare the performance of confidence intervals based on various transformations of the estimated PF. The logit transformation was the best choice when PF > or = 0.3, whereas the untransformed estimate was best when PF < 0.3. We present formulae for hypothesis testing and sample size calculations, discuss the issues of interaction and confounding and give two estimators adjusted for confounding.
Join processing in relational databases

The join operation is one of the fundamental relational database query operations. It facilitates the retrieval of information from two different relations based on a Cartesian product of the two relations. The join is one of the most diffidult operations to implement efficiently, as no predefined links between relations are required to exist (as they are with network and hierarchical systems). The join is the only relational algebra operation that allows the combining of related tuples from relations on different attribute schemes. Since it is executed frequently and is expensive, much research effort has been applied to the optimization of join processing. In this paper, the different kinds of joins and the various implementation techniques are surveyed. These different methods are classified based on how they partition tuples from different relations. Some require that all tuples from one be compared to all tuples from another; other algorithms only compare some tuples from each. In addition, some techniques perform an explicit partitioning, whereas others are implicit.
Contourless stimuli produce binocular brightness summation.

Abstract Absolute magnitude estimates by 16 observers reveal that complete binocular brightness summation occurs for flashed Ganzfeld conditions. In other words, the view using both eyes appears twice as bright as with one. However, using the same technique, but with 2° fields, no such summation is found. In addition to showing that, on the average, human observers can act as photometers, the results suggest that either complete summation or averaging of the monocular brightness can occur, depending upon the presence of contours.
Thirty-day readmissions after elective spine surgery for degenerative conditions among US Medicare beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Readmissions within 30 days of hospital discharge are undesirable and costly. Little is known about reasons for and predictors of readmissions after elective spine surgery to help plan preventative strategies. PURPOSE: To examine readmissions within 30 days of hospital discharge, reasons for readmission, and predictors of readmission among patients undergoing elective cervical and lumbar spine surgery for degenerative conditions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Patient sample includes 343,068 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent cervical and lumbar spine surgery for degenerative conditions from 2003 to 2007. OUTCOME MEASURES: Readmissions within 30 days of discharge, excluding readmissions for rehabilitation. METHODS: Patients were identified in Medicare claims data using validated algorithms. Reasons for readmission were classified into clinically meaningful categories using a standardized coding system (Clinical Classification Software). RESULTS: Thirty-day readmissions were 7.9% after cervical surgery and 7.3% after lumbar surgery. There was no dominant reason for readmissions. The most common reasons for readmissions were complications of surgery (26%‐33%) and musculoskeletal conditions in the same area of the operation (15%). Significant predictors of readmission for both operations included older age, greater comorbidity, dual eligibility for Medicare/Medicaid, and greater number of fused levels. For cervical spine readmissions, additional risk factors were male sex, a diagnosis of myelopathy, and a posterior or combined anterior/posterior surgical approach; for lumbar spine readmissions, additional risk factors were black race, Middle Atlantic geographic region, fusion surgery, and an anterior surgical approach. Our model explained more than 60% of the variability in readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: Among Medicare beneficiaries, 30-day readmissions after elective spine surgery for degenerative conditions represent a target for improvement. Both patient factors and operative techniques are associated with readmissions. Interventions to minimize readmissions should
A new relaxation framework for quadratic assignment problems based on matrix splitting

Quadratic assignment problems (QAPs) are known to be among the hardest discrete optimization problems. Recent study shows that even obtaining a strong lower bound for QAPs is a computational challenge. In this paper, we first discuss how to construct new simple convex relaxations of QAPs based on various matrix splitting schemes. Then we introduce the so-called symmetric mappings that can be used to derive strong cuts for the proposed relaxation model. We show that the bounds based on the new models are comparable to some strong bounds in the literature. Promising experimental results based on the new relaxations are reported.