cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enabling Students to Construct Theories of Collaborative Inquiry and Reflective Learning: Computer Support for Metacognitive Development

To develop lifelong learning skills, we argue that students need to learn how to learn via inquiry and understand the sociocognitive and metacognitive processes that are involved. We illustrate how software could play a central role in enabling students to develop such expertise. Our hypothesis is that sociocognitive systems, such as those needed for collaborative inquiry and reflective learning, can best be understood as a community of interacting agents, who each have expertise in accomplishing particular high-level goals. We introduce a system, named SCI-WISE, that houses a community of software agents, such as a Planner, a Collaborator, and an Assessor. The agents give strategic advice and guide students as they undertake collaborative research projects and as they reflect on and revise their inquiry processes. Students can easily modify SCI-WISE so that it expresses their own theories of how to do inquiry and how best to coach and scaffold the process. We describe curricular activities in which middle school students use SCI-WISE to engage in ainquiry about inquiry,a thereby making inquiry and metacognition topics of investigation. Finally, we discuss how such activities should lead to improvements in their inquiry learning skills as well as to their metacognitive development in general. (http://aied.inf.ed.ac.uk/members99/archive/vol_10/white/full.html)
Interactions of Tyrosyl Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase from Escherichia coli with Its Substrates: INHIBITION BY TRANSFER RIBONUCLEIC ACID

Abstract Transfer RNA inhibited the tyrosine-dependent ATP-pyrophosphate exchange catalyzed by tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli. The inhibition was specific for tRNAtyr; it was competitive with tyrosine and noncompetitive with ATP. tRNA modified by periodate oxidation or by limited digestion with phosphodiesterase proved to be a stronger inhibitor of the enzyme than native tRNA; the inhibition by these tRNA's, however, was no longer purely competitive with tyrosine. Measurements of the binding of tRNAtyr to the enzyme by means of nitrocellulose filters revealed 1 mole of tRNAtyr bound per mole of enzyme.
Flex-GP: genetic programming on the cloud

We describe Flex-GP, which we believe to be the first largescale genetic programming cloud computing system. We took advantage of existing software and selected a socket-based, client-server architecture and an island-based distribution model. We developed core components required for deployment on Amazon's EC2. Scaling the system to hundreds of nodes presented several unexpected challenges and required the development of software for automatically managing deployment, reporting, and error handling. The system's performance was evaluated on two metrics, performance and speed, on a difficult symbolic regression problem. Our largest successful Flex-GP runs reached 350 nodes and taught us valuable lessons for the next phase of scaling.
Chapter 9 Extracellular matrix in early cortical development

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the recent findings and those of other laboratories on extracellular matrix in developing cortex and provides a brief review of recent observations on the distribution of receptors for extracellular matrix (ECM). The studies of the distribution and production of ECM components during development of the cerebral cortex have suggested several hypotheses regarding their functional role. In the earliest stages of cortical development, fibronectin is produced by cells in the ventricular zone throughout the telencephalic vesicle, where it may serve as a part of the local environment that supports cell division and determines cell fate. Fibronectin is also distributed along radial glial processes. Axons leaving the cortical plate cross the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)-rich subplate and then turn to follow a path containing much less CSPG. In contrast, the cortical trajectory of thalamic axons is centered on the subplate, indicating that CSPGs in the subplate are not a barrier to axon outgrowth and may instead be serving as guidance cues that distinguish afferent from efferent pathways. Neuro can, a central nervous system (CNS)-specific CSPG with many molecular features that indicate roles in cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions, is the only CSPG defined to date whose distribution supports a role in distinguishing afferent from efferent pathways.
Vibration-rotation energies of tetrahedral XY4 molecules: Part II. The fundamental ν3 of CH4☆

Abstract The matrix elements derived in the first paper of this series are used to compute the frequencies of the tetrahedral fine structure components of the rotational lines of the fundamental ν 3 of CH 4 . The theoretically predicted frequencies are compared with the recent high resolution spectra of Plyler et al. A best fit for the splitting patterns is obtained with the following splitting constants: t 224 = −2.93 × 10 −3 cm −1 , t 134 = −4.5 × 10 −6 cm −1 , t 244 = −5.0 × 10 −6 cm −1 . Analysis of the unperturbed frequency positions and the weak forbidden P and R branch lines gives the following rotational constants: B 0 = 5.240 cm −1 , D 8 = 1.0 × 10 −4 cm −1 , B 3 ( R = J ) = 5.191 cm −1 , B 3 ( R = J + 1, J − 1) = 5.201 cm −1 , ζ 3 = 0.054 7 .
Bayesian inference based decision reliability under imperfect monitoring

Reliability of a cooperative decision mechanism is critical for the proper and accurate functioning of a networked decision system. However, adversaries may choose to compromise the inputs from different sets of components that comprise the system. Often times, the monitoring mechanisms fail to accurately detect compromised inputs; hence cannot categorize all inputs into polarized decisions: compromised or not compromised. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian inference model based on multinomial evidence to quantify reliability for a cooperative decision process as a function of beliefs associated with observations from the imperfect monitoring mechanism. We propose two reliability models: an optimistic one for a normal system and a conservative one for a mission critical system. We also provide an entropy measure that reflects the certainty or uncertainty on the calculated reliability of the decision process. Through simulation, we show how the reliability and its corresponding entropy changes as the accuracy of the underlying monitoring mechanism improves.1
Ranking information in networks

Given a network, we are interested in ranking sets of nodes that score highest on user-specified criteria. For instance in graphs from bibliographic data (e.g. PubMed), we would like to discover sets of authors with expertise in a wide range of disciplines. We present this ranking task as a Top-K problem; utilize fixed-memory heuristic search; and present performance of both the serial and distributed search algorithms on synthetic and real-world data sets.
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) describes a spectrum of clinically, pathologically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders of unknown aetiology. FTLD spectrum disorders collectively represent a leading cause of early-onset dementia, with most cases presenting between 45 and 64 years of age. FTLD is characterized by progressive changes in behaviour, executive dysfunction and/or language impairment and can be differentiated clinically into three frontotemporal dementia (FTD) syndromes as follows: (i) behavioural variant (bvFTD); (ii) semantic dementia (SD); and (iii) progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA). Additionally, there is a significant clinical, pathological and genetic overlap between FTD and motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS) and the atypical parkinsonian syndromes, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). bvFTD is characterized by progressive behavioural impairment and a decline in executive function with frontal lobe-predominant atrophy, SD by a loss of object knowledge with prominent anomia and asymmetrical atrophy of the anterior temporal lobes and PNFA by expressive or motor speech deficits with predominantly left peri-sylvian atrophy. Recent advances in molecular biology and immunohistochemical staining techniques have further classified the FTLD spectrum disorders based upon the predominant neuropathological protein into three main categories: (i) microtubule-associated protein tau (FTLD-TAU); (ii) TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (FTLD-TDP); and (iii) fused in sarcoma protein (FTLD-FUS). Up to 40% of FTD patients report a family history of neurodegenerative illness, and one-third to one-half of familial cases of FTD follow an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Mutations in MAPT, PGRN, TARDBP, VCP and CHMP2B have been described, along with a recently identified C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion. To date, there are no US FDA-approved treatments or disease-modifying therapies for FTD. Pharmacological strategies have focused on neurotransmitter replacement and modulation for the treatment of behavioural, motor and cognitive symptoms of FTD, and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antipsychotics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate NMDA receptor antagonists. At present, adequate management of FTD symptoms involves a combination of pharmacological therapy with behavioural, physical and environmental modification techniques.
Parallel Processing using PVM

PVM is a software application that allows you to turn TCP/IP networked computers into a single virtual machine in order to run parallel programming
Unifying multiple knowledge domains using the ARTMAP information fusion system

Sensors working at different times, locations, and scales, and experts with different goals, languages, and situations, may produce apparently inconsistent image labels that are reconciled by their implicit underlying relationships. Even when such relationships are unknown to the user, an ARTMAP information fusion system discovers a hierarchical knowledge structure for a labeled dataset. The present paper addresses the problem of integrating two or more independent knowledge hierarchies based on the same low-level classes. The new system fuses independent domains into a unified knowledge structure, discovering cross-domain rules in this process. The system infers multi-level relationships among groups of output classes, without any supervised labeling of these relationships. In order to self-organize its expert system, ARTMAP information fusion system features distributed code representations that exploit the neural networkpsilas capacity for one-to-many learning. The fusion system software and testbed datasets are available from http://cns.bu.edu/techlab.
URBAN SPRAWL, OBESOGENIC ENVIRONMENT, AND CHILD WEIGHT

Using the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth along with the child survey, we examine the relationship between urban sprawl of U.S. metro counties and the body mass index (BMI) of children who reside in these counties. We make a distinction between urban sprawl in a county and its geographical placement in the urban hierarchy. Even after accounting for unobserved individual heterogeneity and resulting selection bias, we find that urban sprawl is positively related to child BMI and distance to large metros is negatively related to child BMI. These effects are somewhat pronounced among girls and middle/high school children.
Non-Thermal Aspects of Supernova Remnants

Supernova remnants have played a vital part in the development of modern astronomy. The discovery and identification of the radio sources Taurus A and Cassiopeia A provided a crucial impetus to the then infant science of radio astronomy. The prediction of linear polarisation by Shklovskii and its subsequent detection furnished the first evidence for the widespread importance of non-thermal processes within astronomical objects. However supernova remnants are now most often viewed as lying at the interface between the physics of the explosion and the astronomical description of the interstellar medium, telling us about the energy of the former and the ambient structure of the latter.
Phase I study of weekly outpatient paclitaxel and concurrent cranial irradiation in adults with astrocytomas.

PURPOSEAstrocytomas are extremely resistant to currently available treatments. Cranial irradiation is a mainstay of frontline therapy, but tumor recurrence is nearly universal. Paclitaxel has shown antitumor efficacy against astrocytoma cell lines, and is a potent radiosensitizer. For these reasons, we conducted a phase I study of weekly paclitaxel and concurrent cranial irradiation in patients with newly diagnosed astrocytomas.PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients with astrocytomas were eligible for this study following initial surgery if they had a Karnofsky performance score (KPS) > or = 60%; normal hematologic, liver, and renal function; and could give informed consent. Beginning on day 1 of treatment, patients received paclitaxel by 3-hour infusion once weekly for 6 weeks, concurrent with standard cranial irradiation. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed on 10 patients.RESULTSSixty patients were enrolled; 56 were fully assessable. Forty-eight had glioblastomas (GBMs), 10 anaplastic astrocytomas (AAs), and t...
Positive Psychological Factors are Associated with Lower PTSD Symptoms among Police Officers: Post Hurricane Katrina

Following Hurricane Katrina, police officers in the New Orleans geographic area faced a number of challenges. This cross-sectional study examined the association between resilience, satisfaction with life, gratitude, posttraumatic growth, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in 84 male and 30 female police officers from Louisiana. Protective factors were measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Gratitude Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Growth inventory. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C). Potential associations were measured using linear regression and analysis of variance. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and alcohol. Mean PCL-C symptoms were 29.5 ± 14.5 for females and 27.8 ± 12.1 for males. Adjusted mean levels of PCL-C symptoms significantly decreased as quartiles of resilience (p Language: en
Cardiovascular responses to hypoxemia and acidemia in fetal lambs.

Abstract Circulatory responses to hypoxemia and acidemia were studied in 10 fetal lambs in utero with gestational ages of 122 to 142 days. Vinyl catheters were placed in fetal and maternal vessels, and the fetuses were studied 2 to 5 days postoperatively. Fetal heart rate, arterial pressure,Po 2 ,Pco 2 , and pH were measured during a control period and while the standing ewe breathed 6 per cent oxygen and 3 per cent carbon dioxide through a plastic bag over its head. Fetal cardiac output and distribution and absolute organ blood flows were calculated from injections of 15μ nuclide-labeled microspheres, during the control and hypoxemic states. One group of 5 fetuses only became hypoxemic (meanPo 2 12 and mean pH 7.36), but the other 5 fetuses also developed acidemia (meanPo 2 12 and mean pH 7.28). Fetal arterialPco 2 values were normal throughout. During hypoxemia, fetal arterial pressure increased, and fetal heart rate decreased. Although cardiac output fell in all but one fetus, the decrease was significant only in the acidemic group. Blood flow to the fetal body decreased in all, but the change was significantly greater in the acidemic group. Umbilical blood flow was maintained in all fetuses during hypoxemia. The per cent distribution of cardiac output to the placenta rose from 41 to 48 per cent and from 41 to 57 per cent in the hypoxemic and acidemic groups, respectively. Blood flow to the brain, heart, and adrenals increased two- to three-fold in all fetuses during hypoxemia while pulmonary, renal, splenic, gut, and carcass flows decreased. The changes were of greater magnitude in fetuses with combined hypoxemia and acidemia. These studies quantitate the fetal circulatory changes that occur in unanesthetized fetal lambs in utero during maternal hypoxemia.
FT-IR spectrometry in materialography

Abstract Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was utilized in the analysis of various materials as a complementary technique to scanning electron microscopy during microstructural characterization. Applications included: (1) the identification of resin and filler additives in organometallic cements; (2) differentiation between resin type, and quantification of their degree of conversion; (3) identification of the fracture pathway in resin-bonded glass-filled resin composites; (4) characterization of resin degradation due to air and ethanol exposure; (5) detection of thin lubricating oil films on stainless steel; (6) characterization of the oxidation of stainless steel as a function of temperature and exposure time at room temperature; and (7) characterization of the aqueous corrosion of stainless steel during exposure in 0.1M sodium chloride. The results presented include scanning electron micrographs for the relevant structural details together with the FT-IR absorbance versus wavenumber spectra for the phase or component of interest. FT-IR techniques included diffuse reflectance, microtransmission with the FT-IR microscope, and polarization-modulated external reflection-absorption techniques. The results showed (1) that polymethyl methacrylate and alumina are additives in some dental cements; (2) that one type of bonded composite fractures entirely through the adhesive bonding resin; and (3) that ethanol degradation of resin occurs via an increase in the concentration of carbonyl C  O bonds. The extreme sensitivity with the external reflection technique was demonstrated by (1) the continued detection of thin oil films on polished stainless steel after numerous attempts to wipe the oil from surface; (2) the ability to differentiate the surface of stainless steel due to different exposure times to room temperature air; and (3) the ability to distinguish corroded surfaces after immersion for varying times in a chloride solution.
Molecular evolution of plant AAP and LHT amino acid transporters

Nitrogen is an essential mineral nutrient and it is often transported within living organisms in its reduced form, as amino acids. Transport of amino acids across cellular membranes requires proteins, and here we report the phylogenetic analysis across taxa of two amino acid transporter families, the Amino Acid Permeases (AAPs) and the Lysine-Histidine-like Transporters (LHTs). We found that the two transporter families form two distinct groups in plants supporting the concept that both are essential. AAP transporters seem to be restricted to land plants. They were found in Selaginella moellindorffii and Physcomitrella patens but not in Chlorophyte, Charophyte or Rhodophyte algae. AAPs were strongly represented in vascular plants, consistent with their major function in phloem (vascular tissue) loading of amino acids for sink nitrogen supply. LHTs on the other hand appeared prior to land plants. LHTs were not found in chlorophyte algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carterii. However, the characean alga Klebsormidium flaccidum encodes KfLHT13 and phylogenetic analysis indicates that it is basal to land plant LHTs. This is consistent with the hypothesis that characean algae are ancestral to land plants. LHTs were also found in both Selaginella moellindorffii and Physcomitrella patens as well as in monocots and eudicots. To date, AAPs and LHTs have mainly been characterized in Arabidopsis (eudicots) and these studies provide clues to the functions of the newly identified homologs.
Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor signalling induces autophagy in malignant glioma cells

Malignant gliomas highly coexpress platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptor, suggesting the presence of an autocrine loop. Therefore, disruption of PDGF ligand/receptor complex represents a promising strategy for the treatment of malignant gliomas. However, the mechanisms of the antitumour effect exerted by the inhibition of PDGF-mediated cell growth remain unclear. In the present study, using anti-PDGF neutralising antibody, we investigated the effect of the inhibition of PDGF signalling on malignant glioma U87-MG, D54, and T98G cells with high levels of PDGF-A and -B. As a control, normal fibroblast MRC5 cells expressing low levels of PDGF-A and -B were used. Treatment with anti-PDGF neutralising antibody did not affect the expressions of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and Akt, but suppressed the level of phosphorylated Akt in tumour cells, indicating the inhibition of PDGF signalling. The cell viability of all malignant glioma cells tested in this study was significantly inhibited in a time-dependent manner following the treatment compared to that of fibroblast cells (P<0.02 to <0.05). The antitumour effect of anti-PDGF antibody was suppressed by the activation of Akt and enhanced by the downregulation of Akt. Interestingly, the inhibition of PDGF signalling induced the development of acidic vesicular organelles and the autophagosome membrane association of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, which are characteristic of autophagy, in malignant glioma cells, while apoptotic cell death was not observed. Together these findings imply a new concept of autophagy for PDGF autocrine inhibition in malignant gliomas.
Intracomplex electron transfer between ruthenium-65-cytochrome b5 and position-82 variants of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c

We tested the idea that the aromatic ring on the invariant residue Phe-82 in cytochrome c acts as an electron-transfer bridge between cytochrome c and cytochrome b5. Ru-65-cyt b5 was prepared by labeling the single sulfhydryl group on T65C cytochrome b5 with [4-(bromomethyl)-4'-methylbipyridine][bis(bipyridine)]ruthenium 2+ as previously described [Willie, A., Stayton, P.S., Sligar, S.G., Durham, B., & Millett, F. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 7237-7242]. Laser excitation of the complex formed between Ru-65-cyt b5 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae iso-1-cytochrome c at low ionic strength results in rapid electron transfer from the excited-state Ru(II*) to the heme group of Ru-65-cyt b5 followed by biphasic electron transfer to the heme group of cytochrome c with rate constants of (1.0 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) s-1 and (2.0 +/- 0.04) x 10(4) s-1. Variants of iso-1-cytochrome c substituted at Phe-82 with Tyr, Gly, Leu, and Ile have fast-phase rate constants of 0.4, 1.9, 2.1, and 2.0 x 10(5) s-1 and slow-phase rate constants of 5.3, 3.5, 2.4, and 2.0 x 10(3) s-1, respectively. Increasing the ionic strength to 50 mM results in single-phase intracomplex electron transfer with rate constants of 3.8, 3.1, 3.0, 5.0, and 4.5 x 10(4) s-1 for the wild-type, Tyr, Gly, Leu, and Ile variants, respectively. These results demonstrate that an aromatic side chain at residue 82 is not needed for rapid electron transfer with cytochrome b5. Furthermore, two conformational forms of the complex are present at low ionic strength with fast and slow electron-transfer rates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Magnetism and superconductivity in rare-earth ternary borides

The observation of magnetism and superconductivity in both the ternary rare‐earth rhodium borides (MRh4B4) and the Chevrel phase ternaries MxMo6S8 (with x close to 1) and most recently (i) the discovery of re‐entrant magnetism accompanying a transition to a normal metallic state at T<Tsc (the superconducting transition temperature) and (ii) the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity have generated considerable excitement as to the origin of these phenomena. We discuss the origin of magnetism and superconductivity in the MRh4B4 compounds and re‐entrant magnetism in ErRh4B4 using the results of ab initio self‐consistent LMTO energy band calculations. The total and separate l‐decomposed contributions to the density of states (DOS) arising from the two M, eight Rh and eight B atoms per unit cell are used to estimate their various contributions to magnetic ordering (via the 4f‐5d RKKY interaction) and/or superconductivity (using a Gaspari‐Gyorffy model to obtain the electronic contributions to λ, the electron‐phonon coupling parameter, and McMillan strong coupling theory to obtain Tsc). Comparisons are made with recent experimental results and several experimental speculations about the re‐entrant magnetism state are presented including the possibility of a mixed (ferromagnetic and superconducting) state.
Transplanted islets from lpr mice are resistant to autoimmune destruction in a model of streptozotocin-induced type I diabetes.

The mechanism by which β-cells die during autoimmune diabetes has remained a subject of intense investigation. The loss of β-cells in the disease is T cell mediated and thought to result from a number of different insults including apoptosis induction through the death receptor CD95. However, the role of CD95 in autoimmune diabetes, studied primarily in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model, has been controversial. We have used an alternative model of autoimmune diabetes triggered by repeated low doses of streptozotocin. In this model, islet grafts from C3H mice that carry the lpr mutation, and therefore lack the ability to undergo apoptosis through CD95-CD95L interaction, were completely protected when grafted in autoimmune diabetic mice despite periinsulitis (infiltration of T cells) which however did not progress to islet destruction. In contrast wild-type grafts were rapidly eliminated in autoimmune recipients. Our data provide strong support for a major role of CD95 in the destruction of islets in autoimmune mice.
The Unique Contribution of Emotional Impulsiveness to Impairment in Major Life Activities in Hyperactive Children as Adults

Objective Emotional impulsiveness (EI) may be a central feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) contributing impairment beyond the two ADHD dimensions of inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity. Method We evaluated EI in hyperactive (N = 135) and control (N = 75) children followed to adulthood (mean age 27 years). The hyperactive cases were subdivided into those individuals whose ADHD persisted (ADHD-P) and did not persist (ADHD-NP) to adulthood. We examined the additional contribution of EI apart from ADHD symptoms to global ratings of impairment in 10 major life activities, adverse occupational and educational outcomes, criminal and driving outcomes, and money management difficulties at ages 21 and 27. Results The ADHD-P group reported more EI symptoms than either the ADHD-NP or community control groups. EI uniquely contributed to seven of 10 major life domains and to overall impairment beyond ADHD symptoms. Severity of EI uniquely contributed to numerous impairments in occupational, educational, criminal, driving, and financial outcomes beyond ADHD symptoms. Conclusions EI is as much a component of ADHD as are its two traditional dimensions and is associated with impairments beyond those contributed by the two traditional dimensions.
Torsional Shear Tests on Laminated Veneer Lumber Using a Universal-Type Test Machine

AbstractThis paper presents a study in which a universal-type test machine was configured to apply torsion load-to-failure to estimate the orthotropic shear strengths of full-size laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The objective of the study is to provide insight and detail to a lesser known torsion test setup, while at the same time estimating the torsional shear strength of 1.9E eastern species LVL, hitherto unknown. It was found that at large angles of twist of approximately 23° or more, the test apparatus experienced slippage at the bearings and had the potential to become unstable due to high lateral forces. This was not an obstacle for calculating the shear strength of LVL in this study, as it is a relatively noncompliant material, but likely would be an issue for more compliant materials. The mean in-plane and through-thickness plane shear strengths of 1.9E eastern species LVL were estimated to be in the range of 7.2–11.2 MPa and 5.9–7.3 MPa, respectively.
Calcium germanium substituted iron garnet films for magnetic bubble applications

Mixed rare earth iron garnet films containing calcium and germanium have been grown on (111) oriented gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates. The effect of growth conditions on film composition and properties is discussed. The 5 μm diameter bubble films have good magnetic properties; however, temperature control during film growth is very critical.
Electronic ground state of inversion layers in many-valley semiconductors

We present a self-consistent many-body calculation of the possible ground states in the inversion layers of many-valley semiconductors (as typified by Si) in the metal-oxide-semiconductor configuration. A complex phase diagram results when the various electronic interactions are regarded as free parameters; for experimentally reasonable values, a charge-density wave is the ground state at the Si(111)-Si${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ interface with the experimentally observed valley degeneracy and cyclotron mass. At the Si(100)-Si${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ interface, the paramagnetic state remains stable over the experimentally accessible region of the phase diagram. Applications to other systems are briefly mentioned and experimental tests of the theory are suggested.
NITRATE ANALYSIS IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-NITROGEN-PHOSPHOROUS DETECTION

Nitrate analysis in body fluids is an important part of the study of nitric oxide metabolism. A sensitive, simple procedure for nitrate analysis was developed by producing nitrobenzene from the nitrate in the samples and benzene. The nitrobenzene produced was measured on a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector. Cl-, which interfered with the derivitization procedure, was removed as silver chloride after precipitation with silver lactate. Rat urine samples were also analyzed after elution through a C18 reverse-phase sample preparation column to remove organic molecules that competed with benzene for the nitrate in the sample. A benzene derivative, 2-nitro-1,3-dimethylbenzene (2-nitro-m-xylene), was chosen as an internal standard for GC analysis. Recovery of nitrate was 67 +/- 2% in serum and 87 +/- 8% in urine. Sensitivity of the procedure was 1 microM. This procedure offers improvements in sensitivity, simplicity, and consistency over previously published procedures and makes possible the measurement of nitrate and determination of isotopic ratios by GC-MS on the same sample.
The national criminal justice reference service

The function and services of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service of the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (Department of Justice, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration) are delineated. Instructions for use of the reference system are included.
Mass‐transfer mechanisms for zeolite ion exchange in wastewater treatment

In spite of the increasing commercial use of zeolites for binary and multicomponent ion exchange, understanding of the basic mass-transfer processes associated with multicomponent zeolite systems is quite limited. This study evaluates Na-Ca-Mg-Cs-Sr ion exchange from an aqueous solution using a chabazite zeolite. Mass-transfer coefficient are determined from experimental batch-reactor data for binary and multicomponent systems. The experimental data indicate that diffusion through the microporous zeolite crystals is the primary diffusional resistance. Macropore diffusion also significantly contributes to the mass-transfer resistance. Various mass-transfer models are compared with the experimental data to determine values for intraparticle diffusivities. Effective diffusivities obtained accurately predict experimental data sing a variety of models. Only the model accounting for micropore and macropore diffusion occurring in series accurately predict multicomponent data using diffusivities from the binary system. Liquid and surface diffusion both contribute to macropore diffusion. Surface and micropore diffusivities are concentration-dependent for the system of interest.
Plant Spacing and Reflected Far‐Red Light Effects on Phytochrome‐Regulated Photosynthate Allocation in Corn Seedlings

Allocation of photosynthate among leaves, stems, and roots is critical in seedling establishment. Corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings were grown in different spacing patterns in a field and with different reflected far-red (FR) to red (R) light ratios to test the effects of a modified FR/R ratio on photoassimilate allocation. Green leaves absorbed most of the R and reflected much of the FR. Therefore, close-spaced plants received more reflected FR and higher FR/R ratios. Seedlings that received the higher FR/R ratios developed longer and narrower leaves, longer stems, and less massive roots. Stem elongation was an early response to increased FR/R ratio even though light did not impinge directly on the stems, which were initially at or below the soil surface and covered by several layers of leaves. Row orientation did not significantly alter FR/R ratio or seedling morphology because corn leaves are not heliotropic and did not function as directional FR reflectors, as was observed for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a previous study [...]
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in an adolescent

Abstract A 16-year-old boy was stricken with a progressive neurologic disorder characterized primarily by dementia progressing to severe neurologic debility in 12 months and death 28 months following the first symptoms. Pathologic examination showed a spongiform encephalopathy, consistent with a clinical diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The noteworthy features of the case are the age of onset, the somewhat prolonged course and the amount of white matter change. These are discussed within the frame of reference of CJD and the spongiform encephalopathies of infancy and childhood. Animal inoculation studies employing post-mortem embalmed brain as inoculum are currently in progress to determine the transmissibility of this patient's disease.
The mechanism of paramagnetic NMR relaxation produced by Mn(II): role of orthorhombic and fourth-order zero field splitting terms.

Mn(II) is a spin-5/2 paramagnetic ion that mediates a characteristically large NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (NMR-PRE) of nuclear spins in solution. In the range of high magnetic field strengths (above about 0.3 T), where the electronic Zeeman interaction provides the largest term of the electron spin Hamiltonian, NMR relaxation mechanism is well understood. In the lower field range, the physical picture is more complex because of the presence in the spin Hamiltonian of zero field splitting (ZFS) terms that are comparable to or greater than the Zeeman term. This work describes a systematic study of the relaxation mechanism in the low field range, particularly aspects involving the dependence of NMR-PRE on the orthorhombic (E) and fourth-order (aq(4), q=0,2,4) ZFS tensor components. It is shown that the fourfold (a4(4)) and twofold (a2(4)) fourth-order components exert large orientation-dependent influences on the NMR-PRE. Thus, fourth-order terms with magnitudes equal to only a few percent of th...
Do Tropical Cyclones Shape Shorebird Habitat Patterns? Biogeoclimatology of Snowy Plovers in Florida

Abstract : The Gulf coastal ecosystems in Florida are foci of the highest species richness of imperiled shoreline dependent birds in the USA. However environmental processes that affect their macroecological patterns, like occupancy and abundance, are not well unraveled. In Florida the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) is resident along northern and western white sandy estuarine/ocean beaches and is considered a state-threatened species. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that favorable nesting areas along the Florida Gulf coastline are located in regions impacted relatively more frequently by tropical cyclones. The odds of Snowy Plover nesting in these areas during the spring following a tropical cyclone impact are seven times higher compared to the odds during the spring following a season without a cyclone. The only intensity of a tropical cyclone does not appear to be a significant factor affecting breeding populations. Conclusions/Significance: Nevertheless a future climate scenario featuring fewer, but more extreme cyclones could result in a decrease in the breeding Snowy Plover population and its breeding range. This is because the spatio-temporal frequency of cyclone events was found to significantly affect nest abundance. Due to the similar geographic range and habitat suitability, and no decrease in nest abundance of other shorebirds in Florida after the cyclone season, our results suggest a common bioclimatic feedback between shorebird abundance and tropical cyclones in breeding areas which are affected by cyclones.
Bias-induced stress transitions in sputtered TiN films

We report on intrinsic stress properties of magnetron sputtered titanium nitride films deposited under different conditions. By proper selection of processing parameters, films with low stress can be obtained. Unstressed film formation is favored by low substrate bias voltage, high pressure, or use of heavy sputtering gases. Stress relief is, however, accompanied by an increase in resistivity and a decrease in film density. As a result of these changes the effectiveness of such titanium nitride films as diffusion barriers between silicon and aluminum is minimal.
Veal calf waste characteristics

Abstract Effluent samples obtained from five veal operations in northern California over a 12-week period were chemically analyzed. Total Solids produced per day per livestock weight were about 20% of that estimated for beef feeders. The percentages of Volatile Solids and N, P, K nutrients were also considerably lower but the aerobic biodegradability of the Volatile Solids, determined by the BOD 5 test, was about 70% higher.
Vascular endothelial growth factor, placenta growth factor and their receptors in isolated human trophoblast

The expression of the angiogenic growth factors, vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and placenta growth factor (PIGF) was demonstrated in isolated human term cytotrophoblast and in vitro differentiated syncytiotrophoblast. RNase protection assays demonstrated VEGF expression in both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast while prominent PIGF expression was detected in both types of trophoblast by Northern blot analyses. VEGF expression increased approximately eightfold in trophoblast cultured under hypoxic conditions (1 per cent O2) yet PIGF expression decreased 73 +/- 5.5 per cent in the same trophoblast. These results suggest distinct regulatory mechanisms govern expression of VEGF and PIGF in trophoblast. Characterization of the VEGF/PIGF receptors, KDR and flt-1, revealed the presence of flt-1 mRNA in isolated cytotrophoblast and in vitro differentiated syncytiotrophoblast. KDR was not detected in the isolated trophoblast. Exogenous rhVEGF induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity in the normal trophoblast indicating that the flt-1 receptors on trophoblast are functional. Trophoblast-derived VEGF/PIGF could act in a paracrine fashion to promote uterine angiogenesis and vascular permeability within the placental bed. In addition, presence of function flt-1 on normal trophoblast suggests that VEGF/PIGF functions in an autocrine manner to perform an as yet undefined role in trophoblast invasion, differentiation, and/or metabolic activity during placentation.
Prediction of the EM pulses generated at the impact of two missiles

In this paper, the electrical pulse generated before collation of two flying missiles at an altitude of about 80 km is studied. The application of this result is mainly on the prediction of the impact of generated EM pulse to the missiles' electronic and communication systems during the collision of the two missiles. Multiple images of the charges are used to simulate the charge distribution on the missiles. The formulation is verified using simple spherical charges. The simulated results show that an EM pulse will be generated at the time of impact. The pulse width of the EM pulses is in the range of 5-10 ms. The pulse spectrum extends to about 1 MHz. Above 1 MHz, the spectrum of the EM pulse is very weak.
Effect of pathological changes in computer generated action potentials in lower limb muscles of children with cerebral palsy

Lower limb muscles of children with cerebral palsy undergo progressive pathological changes. Type-I fiber abundance and Type-II fiber deficiency are found to be common in these muscles. Both fiber types also suffer from atrophy. This paper investigates the effects of simulated physiological changes that occur in muscles of subjects with cerebral palsy using computer generated muscle action potentials (CGAPs). The results showed decrease in peak to peak amplitude, area under the curve and mean frequency and increase in rise time of the CGAPs of the subjects with cerebral palsy from those of normal subjects.
EFFECTIVENESS OF RANOLAZINE IN PATIENTS WITH REFRACTORY ANGINA

An increasing number of patients (pts) have refractory angina (RA) despite optimal medical management that is not amenable for revascularization. RA pts have a relatively low mortality rate (<4%/year) but significant limitations in their quality of life. The Ranolazine RA Registry Trial was designed
The isomeric biliverdins from ring-cleavage of deuteroporphyrin-IX

Summary Treatment of zinc(II) deuteroporphyrin-IX dimethyl ester with thallium(III) trifluoroacetate, followed by acid treatment, affords the four isomeric oxophlorins (oxyporphyrins) in a reaction which is considerably more easy to control than the traditional method involving “coupled oxidation” of the corresponding hemin. The oxophlorins, obtained in very high yield, are chromatographically separable on a preparative scale. Using nuclear Overhauser enhancement and NMR spin-decoupling experiments, the isomeric deuterobiliverdins and meso-acetoxyporphyrins derived from the isomerically pure oxophlorins are assigned definitive structures. This work suggests that the original assignments of the β- and δ- deuterobiliverdins, made on the basis of coupled oxidation of deuterohemin-reconstituted hemoglobin, should be reversed. Implications for heme orientation in deuterohemin-reconstituted hemoglobin are discussed.
Die hintere untere Kapselplastik zur operativen Behandlung der hinteren Schulterinstabilität

Uber einen hinteren Zugang wird die stark uberdehnte hintere und untere Gelenkkapsel nach oben geschwenkt, um das erweiterte Kapselvolumen zu verkleinern. Die Lange der lateralen Kapseldissektion und die Ausdehnung des verschobenen Kapselgewebes kann dem Grad und der Richtung der Laxizitat angepast werden. Ein abgelostes hinteres Labrum wird vor der Kapselraffung am Glenoidrand reinseriert. Zusatzliche knocherne Verstarkungen sind nur selten notwendig, zum Beispiel bei Glenoidhypoplasie oder bei Revisionseingriffen.
Discovery methodology for the development of direct factor VIIa inhibitors.

Introduction: Heparin and warfarin have historically been the only antithrombotics available. Recently, however, newer anticoagulants have been developed. Factor VIIa (fVIIa) inhibitors represent one of the new and potentially exciting classes of anticoagulants currently under development. Indeed, several methodologies have been used to develop fVIIa inhibitors. Areas covered: The authors highlight some of the methologies applied for the discovery of fVIIa inhibitors including phage display, isolation of endogenous peptides from hematophagous animals and the use of the 1,5-benzothiazepine molecular scaffolds and screens of large chemical libraries previously used to identify other serine protease inhibitors. Although these screens were intended to identify thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, the compounds often had concomitant fVIIa activity. The authors also discuss the utilization of medical chemistry techniques for the discovery of these compounds. Expert opinion: FVIIa inhibitors represent a viable opt...
Brief Diagnostic Group Treatment of Sexually Abused Boys

We report a brief treatment format for young sexually abused boys that has both diagnostic and therapeutic implications. A general format is outlined, and then a group is described in more detail. Examples from each session are given that illustrate both therapeutic issues and issues related to the effects of sexual abuse on this sample. Implications for longer, more intensive treatment are given.
Developmental and induced responses of nickel-based and organic defences of the nickel-hyperaccumulating shrub, Psychotria douarrei

Summary • Developmental and inducible changes in metal-based (nickel (Ni)) and organic defences (phenolics) are compared in the Ni-hyperaccumulating shrub, Psychotria douarrei. • Young and old leaves of P. douarrei shrubs, subjected to different degrees of simulated herbivory, were analyzed for metals, tannins, macronutrients and total carbon, and compared with a co-occuring nonhyperaccumulator shrub, Ficus webbiana. • Leaf age affected both nickel Ni-based and organic defences in P. douarrei; foliar metal concentrations were higher in mature leaves, whereas organic defences were higher in young leaves. Neither metal-based nor organic defences were increased by simulated herbivore damage, implying noninducibility, although some organic defence compounds were significantly reduced. P. douarrei had a greater percentage of total phenolics, condensed tannins and protein precipitation ability than F. webbianai. Since total carbon content did not differ between species, Psychotria invests more of its leaf carbon budget in organic defences than does Ficus. • Data suggest that P. douarrei foliage is well protected by Ni, but tannins have multiple functions. The high concentrations of tannins in Psychotria leaves might function as a detoxification mechanism for elevated cytoplasmic metal concentrations, in addition to providing defensive benefits.
Symptomatic overlap between microscopic colitis and irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective study

Abstract BACKGROUND:: Microscopic colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are the common causes of watery diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Previous retrospective data and post hoc analysis of information from a randomized controlled trial have suggested that there is considerable overlap between the symptoms seen in patients with microscopic colitis and the symptom-based criteria for IBS. We sought to study this overlap in a prospective cohort. METHODS:: A random cohort of patients with biopsy-proven microscopic colitis seen at our institution were administered a symptom questionnaire. Based on their responses, the proportion of patients who met various definitions for IBS was determined. Clinical characteristics of those meeting IBS criteria were compared with those who did not. RESULTS:: In the 120 patients who were included, 38% to 58% met the diagnostic criteria for IBS. These patients tended to be younger and more likely female than those who did not meet IBS criteria. CONCLUSIONS:: Patients with microscopic colitis frequently meet the diagnostic criteria for IBS. Therefore, these criteria are not specific enough to exclude the presence of microscopic colitis. In patients with watery diarrhea, colonoscopy with mucosal biopsies should be performed if symptoms are not controlled by antidiarrheal medications.
ANCHOR INSPECTOR: Intended and unintended effects of a graphics-oriented expert system

Abstract Expert systems are not generally used for tasks involving the analysis of perceptual information such as the inspection of parts coming off an assembly line. However, a human-machine system consisting of an expert system and a human inspector together can provide an economical and effective solution to this problem. This paper discusses the design, development, and implementation of ANCHOR INSPECTOR, a graphics-oriented expert system, in a small medical device manufacturing company. Serving as a trainer and assistant, the system was successful in reducing labor costs attributed to experts at the company. Interestingly, information gathered by the expert system supported a decision that resulted in the redesign of the manufacturing process, which eventually led to the obsolescence of the expert system.