cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of explicit teacher-implemented phoneme awareness instruction in 4-year-olds

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gains would be observed in an integrated group of 4-year-olds when phoneme awareness skills were explicitly taught by trained early childhood educators. In a quasi-experimental design with a delayed treatment approach, one classroom (N = 14) was randomly assigned to receive the instructional program in fall, while a second classroom (N = 10) served as a control and subsequently received the program in spring. Baseline assessment of speech and language skills indicated there were four participants with speech and/or language impairments. The teacher training involved an initial workshop and weekly hour-long mentoring meetings; the program was provided for 20 min a day, 4 d a week, for 10 weeks. Outcome measures of phoneme awareness and letter knowledge skills were obtained from non-standardized tasks administered pre-instruction and post-instruction, at mid-year and end-year points. When each classroom received the phoneme instruction, participants made gains in letter knowledge and phoneme level skills in comparison with group performance under regular instruction. These gains were statistically significant for phoneme blending and letter knowledge. Using an aggregate of all outcome measures, the gain for each classroom when under instruction was statistically significant as compared with when that same classroom was receiving the regular curriculum. Children with speech and/or language impairment responded more variably. Gains in the more difficult phoneme awareness skill of blending suggest the potential for marked change with an intensive, explicit classroom instruction and hold promise for SLPs collaborating with preschool teachers to provide time-efficient PA instruction.
Adaptive pole placement control of paper machines with singular pencil models

Xiaochun George WangNational Research Council of Canada, Institute for Machinery Research6620 S. W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC., Canada. V6T 1Z4.ABSTRACTThe problem of pole placement for linear stochastic systems is considered. The system, represented in state space form,is formulated into an singular pencilsystem model whose internal variables and parameters are estimated using an ordinaryKalman ifiter. The estimated internal variables and parameters are then used in the state feedback controller to place thepoles of the closed loop system onto desired locations.Key words: Adaptive control, pole placement, singular pencil models, estimation, paper machines
Sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficieny virus infection among women with pelvic inflammatory disease

Both human immunodeficiency virus infections and pelvic inflammatory disease are sexually acquired illnesses of great consequence to women. This study was undertaken to determine if women hospitalized with pelvic inflammatory disease, in a community endemic for human immunodeficiency virus, were at high risk to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus and if human immunodeficiency virus infections altered their hospital course. One hundred ten women hospitalized with pelvic inflammatory disease in Brooklyn (in a hospital in which 2% of parturients are human immunodeficiency virus seropositive) agreed to human immunodeficiency virus testing; 15 (13.6%) were found to be seropositive. Seropositive women were significantly more likely to have an admission white blood cell count 3 ( p = 0.001). Human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity was not associated with a higher frequency of other sexually transmitted diseases although there was a trend toward more cases of syphilis among human immunodeficiency virus-infected women. Similarly, although there was no significant difference in rates of operative intervention (26.6% among seropositive and 8.4% among seronegative; p = 0.058), there was a trend toward more surgery among those who were human immunodeficiency virus infected. Women hospitalized with pelvic inflammatory disease, in a community endemic for human immunodeficiency virus, are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection. More research is needed to verify a trend toward more refractory infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected women.
Inactivation of the tricarboxylate carrier of liver mitochondria by (−)-erythrofluorocitrate

Abstract The tricarboxylate carrier function of isolated liver mitochondria, as measured by the rate of isocitrate efflux from externally added citrate or cis-aconitate, is inhibited by preincubation with 10 −8 to 10 −7 M (−)-erythrofluorocitrate. This inhibition is irreversible. Aconitate hydratase of mitochondria is unaffected by these low concentrations of fluorocitrate. The activation of the tricarboxylate carrier by (−)-erythrofluoromalate is abolished by (−)-erythrofluorocitrate.
The roles of glucose and AMP in regulating the conversion of phosphorylase a into phosphorylase b

Abstract The ability of glucose to assist the action of phosphorylase a phosphatase on phosphorylase a , appears to be mediated through conformational changes in the phosphorylase. The system is an example of control of enzyme activity by regulation of the conformation of the substrate, and parallels the similar effect of AMP in inhibiting the dephosphorylation.
Welfare Effects of Financial Innovation in Incomplete Markets Economies with Several Consumption Goods

Abstract We show that in almost every incomplete markets economy with more than one consumption good, and with sufficiently many uninsured states of nature, at any general equilibrium of this economy it is possible to arbitrarily perturb the equilibrium utilities merely by introducing the appropriate asset-making, for example, all agents worse off. This result demonstrates that the examples given by Hart (on the optimality of equilibrium when the market structure is incomplete, J. Econ. Theory11 (1975), 418-443) and others are actually general phenomena and is in sharp contrast to the intuition that innovation, since it expands financial opportunities, should benefit all agents. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers D52, D60, G10.
Earth Resources Satellite Systems for flood monitoring

The environmental satellites NOAA-2 and ERTS-1 observed flooding in United States' rivers such as the Mississippi during 1973. Combination of NOAA-2 observation frequency and the ERTS-1 resolution provides an adequate satellite system for monitoring floods. Several polar-orbiting satellites of the ERTS type could view flooded areas at a reasonably high resolution every three to five days. A high-resolution earth-synchronous satellite would further enhance flood mapping by providing observations whenever clouds are absent.
International Pediatric Congress.

Child survival (and the overall health and well-being of children) lies at the heart of everything the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) does. We believe every child has the right to grow to adulthood in health, peace, and dignity. We share this vision and mission uniquely with pediatricians and the national organizations that represent them at the 24th International Pediatric Congress. Here I summarize UNICEF’s current perspective on the work to be done. Active participation by the global pediatric community as allies can hasten achievement of our shared goals. Our commitment to child survival is as old as UNICEF. In the 1940s and 1950s, UNICEF provided food and basic health interventions to children in war-torn countries; in the 1960s and 1970s, UNICEF expanded its work into virtually every developing nation in which children’s lives were at risk; in the 1980s, UNICEF helped inspire a global child-survival “revolution”; and in the 1990s, UNICEF led efforts to help the world achieve its first set of global goals focused on the health and well-being of children. The United Nations (UN) Secretary General’s report on progress in reaching the World Summit goals was the evidence base for determining the new goals at the 2002 UN Special Session on Children. The report revealed that the 1990 World Summit for Children target of reducing the child mortality rate to 100 per 100000 live births in 1990), and a …
Complications of open radical retropubic prostatectomy in potential candidates for active monitoring.

Objectives With the widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening, there is now concern about the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa). One of the most difficult aspects of PCa management is a balance of the often-competing goals of cancer control with functional outcomes and quality of life. To address this issue, we examined the potency, continence and overall complication rates associated with radical prostatectomy (RP), specifically in potential candidates for active monitoring. Methods From a large RP database, we compared potency, continence, and complication rates among men meeting one of the following active monitoring criteria from the literature: clinically localized, Gleason score of 7 or less, and no significant comorbidities; T1b-T2b NOMO, Gleason score of 7 or less, and PSA of 15 ng/mL or less; and T1c PCa. Results There were 3458, 3533, and 2338 men who met the above criteria, respectively. After 18 months of follow-up, potency was preserved in 70% to 74%. At least 93% of patients were continent, and the rate of surgical complications ranged from 5% to 7%. Increasing age was significantly associated with a greater risk of all complications. Conclusions Men with newly diagnosed low-risk PCa must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treatment. In young men with low-risk PCa, RP was associated with a relatively low complication rate and good long-term functional outcomes. However, with increasing age, RP was associated with significantly higher complication rates. These results can be used to help guide management decisions for men with low-risk disease.
Arabic root and pattern morphology without tiers

This paper is an argument for the constraint on grammars known as the 'true generalization condition' (Hooper, 1976: I3): all rules express generalizations true for all surface forms. I make this condition fully explicit by interpreting it to mean the prohibition of the three transformational rule-types: deletion, movement and feature-changing. The argument takes the form of a comparison of a recent autosegmental analysis of the intricate facts of Arabic root and pattern verb stem morphology with an alternative which observes the condition. I hope to show how the latter analysis in every empirical aspect is equivalent to the former in its claims about Arabic, and significantly differs, as the result of observing the true generalization condition, in its lack of numerous un-empirical claims made in the autosegmental analysis. In so far as both have descriptive adequacy, the analysis governed by the true generalization condition, termed 'non-transformational', has also explanatory adequacy in the sense of Chomsky, I964: 28-9, since it is closely determined, or selected, by the true generalization condition. The form of the present paper is as follows: first, a quick look at the facts of Arabic at issue (Section 2), then a presentation of the autosegmental analysis of these by John McCarthy (I98 I) (Section 3), some criticisms of the autosegmental analysis (Section 4), presentation of an alternative analysis which has none of the faults of the autosegmental analysis and which is governed by the true generalization condition (Section 5), and concluding discussion which summarizes the essential criticisms of the autosegmentaltransformational analysis of Arabic root and pattern morphology and presents the main argument of the explanatory adequacy of the nontransformational alternative (Section 6).
Critical Fermi surfaces and non-Fermi liquid metals

At certain quantum critical points in metals an entire Fermi surface may disappear. A crucial question is the nature of the electronic excitations at the critical point. Here we provide arguments showing that at such quantum critical points the Fermi surface remains sharply defined even though the Landau quasiparticle is absent. The presence of such a critical Fermi surface has a number of consequences for the universal phenomena near the quantum critical point which are discussed. In particular the structure of scaling of the universal critical singularities can be significantly modified from more familiar criticality. Scaling hypotheses appropriate to a critical fermi surface are proposed. Implications for experiments on heavy fermion critical points are discussed. Various phenomena in the normal state of the cuprates are also examined from this perspective. We suggest that a phase transition that involves a dramatic reconstruction of the Fermi surface might underlie a number of strange observations in the metallic states above the superconducting dome.
Excess volumes of n-hexane +n-heptane, +n-octane, +n-nonane, and +n-decane at 283.15, 298.15, and 313.15 K

Abstract Excess volumes V E have been measured by the use of a vibrating-tube densimeter for n -hexane+ n -heptane, + n -octane, + n -nonane, + n -decane at 283.15, 198.15, and 313.15 K. The V E 's are negative, and become systematically more negative as either the temperature or the size of the molecules increases. The V E ( x ) become less symmetrical about x = 0.5 as the size of the molecules increases. These results are in sharp contrast to the analogous results for (cyclohexane + n -alkane).
Translational Repression of the Escherichia coli α Operon mRNA IMPORTANCE OF AN mRNA CONFORMATIONAL SWITCH AND A TERNARY ENTRAPMENT COMPLEX

Abstract Ribosomal protein S4 represses synthesis of the four ribosomal proteins (including itself) in theEscherichia coli α operon by binding to a nested pseudoknot structure that spans the ribosome binding site. A model for the repression mechanism previously proposed two unusual features: (i) the mRNA switches between conformations that are “active” or “inactive” in translation, with S4 as an allosteric effector of the inactive form, and (ii) S4 holds the 30 S subunit in an unproductive complex on the mRNA (“entrapment”), in contrast to direct competition between repressor and ribosome binding (“displacement”). These two key points have been experimentally tested. First, it is found that the mRNA pseudoknot exists in an equilibrium between two conformers with different electrophoretic mobilities. S4 selectively binds to one form of the RNA, as predicted for an allosteric effector; binding of ribosomal 30 S subunits is nearly equal in the two forms. Second, we have used S4 labeled at a unique cysteine with either of two fluorophores to characterize its interactions with mRNA and 30 S subunits. Equilibrium experiments detect the formation of a specific ternary complex of S4, mRNA pseudoknot, and 30 S subunits. The existence of this ternary complex is unambiguous evidence for translational repression of the α operon by an entrapment mechanism.
Correlates of Problem Recognition and Intentions to Change among Caregivers of Abused and Neglected Children.

Abstract Objective To identify individual, family, and caseworker characteristics associated with problem recognition (PR) and intentions to change (ITC) in a sample of caregivers who received in-home child welfare services following substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. Methods Caregivers were interviewed at 4 weeks, 16 weeks, and 1 year after referral for in-home services. In these interviews, the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale assessed PR and ITC in relation to caregiving practices. Additional data were obtained from administrative records and surveys of in-home services caseworkers. We used growth models to identify caregiver, family, and caseworker characteristics associated with initial levels of PR and ITC, and with changes in PR and ITC over time. Results Contrary to expectations, there were no overall increases in PR and ITC during the first 4 months of in-home services. PR and ITC scores fluctuated over time, in relation to some external events, case characteristics, and caseworker characteristics; however, we were able to account for small portions of the variance in PR and ITC. Controlling for social desirability bias and other variables in the analysis, negative life events, lack of network support, and the severity of caregiver depression were associated with greater PR; housing problems were associated with lower PR. Caregiver depression and age were associated with ITC. Caregivers whose children had been removed from their homes showed significant increases in ITC in the first few months of in-home services. The duration of caseworkers’ child welfare experience predicted increases in their clients’ PR in the first 4 months and more frequent contacts with an experienced caseworker predicted small, but significant increases in ITC over time. Conclusions PR and ITC are associated with somewhat different case characteristics and may be affected by caseworkers’ experience.
Note on a Theorem of Eng

A theorem of O. Eng on the Poincare polynomial of parabolic quotients of finite Coxeter groups evaluated at –1 is given a case-free geometric proof for Weyl groups.
Ischemia-induced neuronal apoptosis

Hypoxic-ischemic neuronal death has long been considered to represent necrosis, but it now appears that many brain neurons undergo apoptosis after either global or focal ischemic insults. This event is probably substantially distinct from ischemia-triggered excitotoxicity, which tends to produce necrosis. While many questions remain unanswered, the concept of ischemic apoptosis has raised exciting prospects of combining anti-apoptotic with anti-excitotoxic treatments to achieve heightened therapeutic benefits in the brains of patients traumatized by cardiac arrest or stroke.
Expression of TGFα autocrine activity in human colon carcinoma CBS cells is autoregulated and independent of exogenous epidermal growth factor

Autocrine transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) activity and control mechanisms for its expression were examined in a representative clonal isolate (CBS4) of a well-differentiated human colon carcinoma cell line designated CBS. CBS4 cells expressed TGFalpha and its receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr). Blockade of EGFr and TGFalpha by neutralizing antibodies inhibited clonal growth and the initiation of DNA synthesis from quiescence in CBS4 cells. Therefore, TGFalpha is an autocrine growth factor for CBS4 cells. Several studies have indicated that activation of the EGFr by exogenous EGF stimulates TGFalpha expression. However, in CBS4 cells EGF did not induce TGFalpha mRNA expression, indicating that EGF does not affect TGFalpha transcription in these cells. Exogenous treatment of exponentially growing cells with either EGF or EGFr blocking antibody enhanced release of TGFalpha protein into the conditioned medium. This indicated that the release of TGFalpha into the conditioned medium by exogenous EGF was at least partially due to the displacement of TGFalpha from the TGFalpha/EGFr complexes. Similarly to exponentially growing cells, the EGFr blocking antibody and EGF also enhanced TGFalpha release into the medium of CBS4 cells after release from quiescence. These results indicated that exogenous EGF had little if any effect on TGFalpha expression in these cells and suggested that TGFalpha expression might be under endogenous TGFalpha control. Blockade of the autocrine TGFalpha loop by TGFalpha neutralizing antibody suppressed TGFalpha mRNA both in exponentially growing and quiescent cells, demonstrating that autocrine TGFalpha is autoregulatory in this system.
Eight Simple Rules for Singing Multicultural Music.

Plato said in his Republic, "Music is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul."1 As musicians, we know this to be true. As music educators interested in music from traditions other than our own, we see this music as a window into the soul's expression in another culture. Performing music of another culture can give us a direct, visceral experience that listening alone cannot. If music is to function as a bridge between cultures, as performers we must be ready to move out of our comfort zones and experience music in a completely new way. The root of the word "culture" is the Greek word kultus, meaning "belief." The musical expressions of a culture come from the shared beliefs of that culture. Therefore, "multiculturalism" involves multiple beliefs, some of which will be different from those we hold in our native culture. In a musical context, these beliefs influence things such as what makes good singing technique, the proper time and place to perform a certain piece, who should sing a certain piece, what constitutes a good musical arrangement, and other issues of performance practice, language, and even religious beliefs.
Electrical impedance, electrochemistry, mechanical stiffness, and hardness tunability in glassy carbon MEMS µECoG electrodes

We report on electrical, electrochemical, mechanical stiffness, and hardness tunability of patternable glassy carbon (GC) microelectrodes for applications in bio-electrical signal recording and stimulation. Results from in vivo testing of a novel µECoG GC microelectrode array with beta activity recording of stimulation signals and their power spectra is reported, demonstrating a quantifiable superior performance of these electrodes as compared to metal electrodes. The microelectrodes - made from lithographically patterned and subsequently pyrolyzed polymer precursor - have excellent electrochemical stability in ionic solutions and respond well to chemical surface property modifications. In addition, lithographically patternable GC offers a unique tailorability functionality that enables fabrication of electrodes with a range of mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical properties that closely match the behavior of soft tissues. The pyrolysis conditions that drive this flexibility (i.e., maximum temperature, duration of pyrolysis, and ramp rate) could be varied to enable useful properties such as: (i) tailorable mechanical stiffness and hardness offering a much better stiffness-matching with soft tissues, (ii) tailorable electrical impedance for better impedance-matching with tissues, and (iii) tailorable electrochemical property useful for optimized stimulation and recording. We demonstrate that pyrolysis treatment at temperature of 1000?C offers the most favorable electrochemical characteristics (least charge transfer resistance, most charge injection capacity, and decreased polarization resistance) and least impedance, whereas 800?C results in maximum modulus of 55GPa and hardness of 7GPa. We, therefore, submit that these significant and original results reported here build a strong case for making GC microelectrodes, probes of choice for bio-signal sensing and stimulation applications, particularly for µECoG systems.
Simultaneous speciation of arsenic and selenium in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A procedure for the simultaneous determination of six selenium species and six arsenic species in human urine by ion-pair, reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS has been developed. Selenium species, trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe), selenocystine (SeCys), selenite (SeIV), selenourea (SeUr), selenomethionine (SeMet), selenoethionine (SeEt), and arsenic species, arsenocholine (AsC), arsenobetaine (AsB), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), methylarsonic acid (MMA), arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV) were separated on a C8 reversed phase column by a mobile phase of 13.0 mmol l−1 tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (ion-pair reagent) and 1.3% methanol at pH 5.7–5.8 (adjusted with malonic acid). The total analysis took less than 10 min with isocratic elution at a flow rate of 1.0 ml min−1, and was free from chloride interference due to the complete separation of the analyte species from chloride. The detection limits, in synthetic urine for an injection volume of 50 μL, ranged between 0.1 and 0.4 μg l−1 for the six arsenic species (except AsC) and between 0.7 and 2 μg l−1 for the six selenium species (at m/z 78). The repeatability was less than 10% (RSD) for 1 μg l−1 arsenic species and 5 μg l−1 selenium species, except for AsC. Quantification was based on response factors in a synthetic urine matrix relative that of AsV in the mobile phase. The response factors for selenium species showed considerable compound dependence. Recoveries from spiked urine samples ranged from 81% to 103%, except for SeUr and SeEt, which were not recovered. The method was applied to the determination of arsenic and selenium species in urine, which only required filtering through a 0.45 μm membrane filter and dilution with mobile phase in order to measure arsenic and selenium urinary metabolites.
Parameter and moment bounds for a nonlinear stochastic ecology model

A differential equation model of a marine ecosystem is formulated as a stochastic process. The ecosystem is modeled by considering the random exchange of a chemical nutrient between three components of the ecosystem. The Chapman-Kolmogorov equations and the moment or cumulant generating functions for the process are derived to examine analytically the behavior of the moments of the process. Through the use of differential inequalities, bounds on the exchange rate parameters are derived to reflect component extinction. Bounds on the moments of the process are also obtained.
Oculomotor adaptation to wedge prisms with no part of the body seen

When S looks at a visual target through prisms, adaptive shifts in reaching behavior occur even though he sees no part of his body through the prisms. These shifts are caused by a change in the judgment of the direction of gaze (oculomotor change), which in turn is caused by two secondary prismatic effects: (a) asymmetry of the visual display and (b) apparent rotation about a vertical axis of a panel or wall facing S. The “asymmetry” factor contributes 22% of the total oculomotor change, and the “rotation” effect contributes the remaining 78%. Oculomotor change is not facilitated by eye-movzment activity. The adaptive oculomotor change induces a non-adaptive proprioception change about one-tenth as large as the oculomotor change. These findings are capable of accounting for the previously unexplained results reported by Wooster in 1923, and also for the current controversy about the role of reafferent stimulation in sensorymotor adaptation.
Flow adjustment and interior flow associated with a rectangular porous obstruction

The flow at the leading edge and in the interior of a rectangular porous obstruction is described through experiments and scaling. The porous obstruction consists of an emergent, rectangular array of cylinders in shallow flow, a configuration that mimics aquatic vegetation. The main features of the flow depend upon the non-dimensional canopy flow-blockage, which is a function of the obstruction width and porosity. For the ranges of canopy flow-blockage tested in this paper, the fluid decelerates upstream of the obstruction over a length scale proportional to the array width. For high flow-blockage, the interior adjustment length within the porous obstruction is set by the array width. For low flow-blockage, the array's frontal area per unit volume sets the interior adjustment length. Downstream of the adjustment regions, the interior velocity is governed by a balance between the lateral divergence of the turbulent stress and canopy drag, or by a balance between the pressure gradient and canopy drag, depending on the lateral penetration into the array of Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) vortices, which is set by the non-dimensional canopy flow-blockage. For a porous obstruction with two stream-parallel edges, the KH vortex streets along the two edges are in communication across the width of the array: a phenomenon that results in cross-array vortex organization, which significantly enhances the vortex strength and creates significant lateral transport within the porous obstruction.
Los Alamos energetic particle sensor systems at geostationary orbit

The Los Alamos National Laboratory has provided energetic particle sensors for a variety of spacecraft at the geostationary orbit (36,000 km altitude). The sensor system called the Charged Particle Analyzer (CPA) consists of four separate subsystems. The LoE and HiE subsystems measure electrons in the energy ranges 30 to 300 keV and 200 to 2000 keV, respectively. The LoP and HiP subsystems measure ions in the ranges 100 to 600 keV and 0.40 to 150 MeV, respectively. A separate sensor system called the spectrometer for energetic electrons (SEE) measures very high-energy electrons (2 to 15 MeV) using advanced scintillator design. In this paper we describe the relationship of operational anomalies and spacecraft upsets to the directly measured energetic particle environments at 6.6 R/sub E/. We also compare and contrast the CPA and SEE instrument design characteristics with the next generation of Los Alamos instruments to be flown at geostationary altitudes.
Discharge patterns of baroreceptor-modulated neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius

Activity of baroreceptor-modulated neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) was recorded extracellularly during selective pressure stimulation of carotid baroreceptors, using an isolated carotid sinus preparation in anesthetized dogs. One of two different patterns of activity was recorded from individual baro-sensitive neurons in response to slow ramp increases in carotid sinus pressure. The cause of these two distinct firing patterns is not known but preliminary results indicate that it may be due in part to input from different functional types of baroreceptors. These results suggest that some differentiation in blood pressure control may be encoded in the responses of central baro-sensitive neurons in the NTS.
Retinol influences contractile function and exerts an anti-proliferative effect on vascular smooth muscle cells through an endothelium-dependent mechanism.

Rat aortic rings maintained in organ culture for as little as 24 h show significant loss of contractile responsiveness to different agonists. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) in culture quickly de differentiate into a non-contractile phenotype with a marked capacity for proliferation. Rat aortic ring segments cultured in retinol supplemented (10–6 M) medium showed significantly increased active tension development in response to 80 mM K+ depolarization compared with 7-day cultured control rings. The improvement of contractile performance of the cultured aorta segments in retinol-supplemented media was lost when rings were denuded of endothelium prior to culture, suggesting the endothelial cell layer as the mediator of this effect. Retinol at concentrations up to 10–5 M was found to have no direct effect on proliferation of cells of the A7r5 SMC. However, retinol was found to augment significantly the growth inhibition of A7r5 cells grown in co-culture with bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). It was further observed that media conditioned with BAEC treated with 10–6 M retinol expressed SMC growth inhibitory properties compared with media conditioned by untreated BAEC cells or unconditioned media. Examination of cultured rat aortic ring segments by electron microscopy and BAEC cells with phase contrast microscopy revealed that retinol had obvious effects on endothelial cell morphology and ultrastructure. These results indicate that retinol exerts its effects primarily on the endothelium, which in turn secretes stable factors that directly affect SMC proliferation and contractility.
Robust robotic assembly through contingencies, plan repair and re-planning

Enabling mobile robots to assemble large structures in constrained environments requires planning systems that are both capable of dealing with high complexity and can provide robust execution in the face of run-time failures. We achieve execution robustness through exception handling capabilities that are seamlessly integrated throughout the planning system. Having these recovery mechanisms in place allows us to leverage their capabilities to compensate for problems introduced by approximations made during planning. Turning an apparent problem into an opportunity, we are able to plan complex assembly tasks and execute them robustly without the computational cost associated with more sophisticated planners and apply some of the savings toward recovering from unforeseen run-time errors. We show results where simple planning strategies paired with exception-handling are able to achieve the same outcomes (and in less time) as more elaborate methods would.
Long-wavelength analysis of the coupling between solidification and Soret-driven convection at positive separation ratio.

An investigation is made of the coupling between Soret-driven convection, at positive separation ratio, and a solid-liquid interface. This phase boundary forms upon the solidification of an upper portion of a thin layer of a dilute binary mixture that is confined between highly conducting and nearly impermeable horizontal plates. Using a long-wavelength expansion, a nonlinear evolution equation is derived that includes the coupled effects of solidification and thermosolutal convection due to the Soret effect. The validity of the derivation is found to be limited to regions, in the parameter space, that are determined as functions of the separation ratio, the Lewis number, and the thickness of the solid layer. The numerical solutions of the evolution equation show that the formation of the solid layer affects the leading-order concentration profile, and that the deviation of the interface from its planar state is weakly affected by the convective currents in the liquid. The interface morphology, however, has the same form as the convective pattern in the fluid mixture. The consideration of boundaries that are poor conductors of heat leads to a problem that is characterized by a heat-transfer Biot number \ensuremath{\gamma} and a mass-transfer Biot number \ensuremath{\beta}. The threshold values for the onset of convection are determined, and their dependence on \ensuremath{\beta} and \ensuremath{\gamma} is discussed.
Observing Users: An Empirical Analysis of User Interaction with Online Finding Aids

This article presents the results from a usability study of the finding aid Web display at the Southern Historical Collection. The results show that Internet proficiency may be slightly more important than archival expertise when navigating online finding aids, that novice users are able to attain a considerable understanding of finding aids without the help of mediators, that archival terminology is a significant barrier only when presented without context, and that users rely heavily on series titles and (ctrl + F) when searching. Interest in Web 2.0 was relatively high for features helping users to organize personal information but lower for features requiring trust in other users.
EXCITATION OF THE 4F STATES OF HELIUM.

Recent studies of the population processes of the 4F state in helium by observation of the infrared radiation from this state have given direct experimental evidence for the 41P to 4F excitation-transfer process. The behavior of the apparent cross sections of the 41P and 4F states with pressure is used to evaluate the cross section for the excitation transfer and the cross section for electronic excitation to the 4F state. Analysis of the data indicates a cross section of 1.5 × 10−14 cm2 for the 41P to 4F transfer and 1.6 × 10−19 cm2 at 100 eV for the electron excitation plus cascade of the 4F state. Apparent cross sections of the 4F state are presented at high and low pressures from onset to 450 eV. At high pressure the apparent cross section is similar to that of the 41P state. As the pressure is lowered, the shape of the excitation function approaches that of a 1D state.
Interaction of N-Methylphenazinium Methyl Sulfate with the Thylakoids of Illuminated Chloroplasts in the Presence of 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea.

The light-dependent quenching of the chlorophyll a fluorescence at room temperature by N-methylphenazinium methyl sulfate (PMS) was investigated with isolated chloroplasts inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Other investigators have considered this quenching to be a consequence of the formation of a high energy membrane state related to photophosphorylation.It was found that the fluorescence quenching was accompanied by a reversible bleaching of PMS which could not be attributed to its photo-reduction. Both fluorescence quenching and PMS bleaching, and their dark reversal, were similarly affected by the experimental conditions. In particular, they were only slightly sensitive to the presence of uncouplers of photophosphorylation. However, bleaching and fluorescence quenching were strongly inhibited by uncouplers when the creation of a proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane was made possible by a presence of some PMS in its reduced form.It is suggested that the bleaching of PMS resulted from its binding to the thylakoid membranes when charges became available during conformational changes as a consequence of the light reaction in photo-system I. The same conformational changes were apparently responsible for the fluorescence quenching, but a large pH gradient across the membranes was not essential.
Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging of In Vivo Cellular Dynamics

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging technology capable of cellular resolutions. OCT is based on the detection of backscattered near infrared laser radiation and is analogous to ultrasound B-mode imaging except reflections of light are detected rather than sound. Using the Xenopus laevis (African frog) developmental biology animal model, in vivo mitotic activity of differentiating mesenchymal cells was imaged throughout the cell cycle. Individual cell nuclei and membranes were identified with OCT free-space resolutions of 5 µm. Cell migration was observed by tracking neural crest melanocytes within nontransparent Xenopus specimens which may be relevant in developmental and molecular biology. Cell morphology was confirmed with corresponding histology. Optical coherence tomography may have the potential for imaging in vivo cellular morphology in humans for the early detection of neoplastic changes.
Prosthetic Reconstruction of the Edentulous Maxilla

Abstract Presurgical planning for the treatment of the maxillary edentulous patient is followed with an entire step-by-step construction of the maxillary prosthesis. I emphasize prosthetic try-ins that ensure proper abutment placement to maximize superior aesthetics and occlusion. Techniques demonstrated will reduce both chair time and stress to the dentist and patient. Also, proper coordination with the laboratory technician frees the doctor from doing time-consuming procedures intraorally. A temporary prosthesis is constructed and used as a guide for the final prosthesis. The efficiency of the following indirect technique allows this service to reach a greater number of patients.
Effect of Colchicine, Colcemid, and Vinblastine on the Agglutination, by Concanavalin A, of Transformed Cells

The sensitivity of transformed 3T3 fibroblasts to agglutination by concanavalin A is reduced by alkaloids that bind specifically to protein subunits of microtubules.
CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY AND PHAGOCYTOSIS AND KILLING FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE IRON-DEFICIENCY ANÆMIA

Abstract The in-vitro cell-mediated immune response of eight children with severe iron-deficiency anaemia was evaluated by blast-cell transformation and in-vitro incorporation of tritiated thymidine into phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. There was no significant defect in the children with iron-deficiency anaemia. In addition the phagocytosis and killing function (P.K.F.) of leucocytes from these same children was studied. 'On admission P.K.F. was abnormal in only one of the eight malnourished children.
Detecting anisotropic scattering with hidden Markov models

The authors propose that hidden Markov models (HMMs) and multiaperture synthetic aperture radar (MASAR) imaging can be used to construct automatic target detection algorithms. Their preliminary studies show that HMM MASAR detection: effectively exploits anisotropic scattering differences between target and multiple clutter classes; is computationally efficient; can be used with either single polarisation or multipolarisation SAR imagery; and can be used with either coherent or noncoherent subapertures. Further, the results indicate that the accuracy of HMM MASAR detection is comparable to other techniques while requiring orders of magnitude less computation. These results suggest that the HMM MASAR detection technique could be effectively deployed in fielded automatic target recognition systems.
The Relationship between Emotional Openness and the Attitudes towards Seeking Professional Counseling of English-Speaking Caribbean College Students.

This study investigated the impact of emotional openness on attitudes towards seeking professional counseling of 500 English-speaking Caribbean college students, some living in the U.S. and others resident in the Caribbean. Length of stay in the U.S. was included as a potentially influential variable. Results indicated that emotional openness is a statistically significant predictor of the attitudes of Caribbean college students in general towards seeking professional counseling, while, where relevant, length of stay in the U.S. was not. Implications for university counselors both in the Caribbean and the U.S. are discussed.
Rallying Around the Flag and Partisan Change: The Case of the Persian Gulf War

The Persian Gulf war boosted President George Bush's popularity in the classic rally-around-the-flag pattern. This paper explores whether such a rally has additional effects by influencing partisan...
The energetic cost of the fever response in three species of ectothermic vertebrates.

1. 1. Three species of ectothermic vertebrates: goldfish (Carassius auratus), green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea), and desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) were used in this study. 2. 2. Metabolic rates for each species were determined at the normal afebrile preferred body temperature and at the febrile preferred body temperature or other higher body temperatures. 3. 3. The febrile metabolic rate (or higher rate) was significantly greater than the afebrile metabolic rate (or lower rate) in each species. 4. 4. The average increase in energetic cost for goldfish and desert iguana was 64.5% while the increase for the green tree frog was between 24 and 70%.
Bioavailability of theophylline following a rectally administered concentrated aminophylline solution

Abstract A two-way complete crossover bioavailability study of solutions of theophylline given orally or rectally in 16 healthy subjects was conducted. Blood samples were obtained prior to dosing and at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hr. Plasma theophylline was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. In the fasting subjects solutions given orally were absorbed faster (0.95 versus 1.95 hr to peak), reaching a higher peak concentration (7.26 versus 4.87 μg/ml) than the solutions given rectally. Depending on the method of computation, solutions given rectally were estimated to be 86% to 87% as bioavailable as the solutions given orally, with 75% of the subjects having 80% or greater relative bioavailability.
Effect of chronic administration of ethanol on GABAA receptor assemblies derived from α2-, α3-, β2- and γ2-subunits in the rat cerebral cortex

Abstract Chronic administration of ethanol decreased the immunoprecipitation of the [ 3 H]flunitrazepam binding activity for GABA A receptor assemblies derived from α 2 -, α 3 - and γ 2 -subunits in the rat cerebral cortex. However, the [ 3 H]muscimol binding sites derived from these subunits were not affected. Thus, chronic ethanol causes the down-regulation of the benzodiazepine sites derived from the α 2 -, α 3 - and γ 2 -subunits without affecting the GABA binding sites.
A comprehensive analysis of recruitment and transactivation potential of K-Rta and K-bZIP during reactivation of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma. K-Rta and K-bZIP are two major viral transcription factors that control reactivation of this virus. Here we report a genome-wide analysis of transcriptional capacity by evaluation of a comprehensive library of 83 putative KSHV promoters. In reporter assays, 34 viral promoters were activated by K-Rta, whereas K-bZIP activated 21 promoters. When K-Rta and K-bZIP were combined, 3 K-Rta responsive promoters were repressed by K-bZIP. The occupancy of K-Rta and K-bZIP across KSHV promoters was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation with a viral promoter-chip in BCBL-1 cells. In addition, acetylation of local histones was examined to determine accessibility of promoters during latency and reactivation. Finally, 10 promoters were selected to study the dynamics of transcription factor recruitment. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the responsiveness of KSHV promoters to K-Rta and K-bZIP, and describes key chromatin changes during viral reactivation.
Comparison of pepsins isolated from porcine, bovine and Penicillium jathiuellum.

Abstract 1. 1. The reactivities of pepsins, isolated from three different sources (porcine, bovine, and Penicillium jathiuelum ), toward ester and peptide substrates were compared. 2. 2. Porcine pepsin showed the highest activity followed by penicillopepsin with bovine pepsin being the least active. 3. 3. The esterase activity of penicillopepsin was greater than that of porcine pepsin with bovine pepsin again showing the least activity. 4. 4. The CD spectra indicate that porcine and bovine pepsin have similar conformations, even though bovine pepsin shows less ellipticity at 220 nm. 5. 5. Penicillopepsin showed a completely opposite sign in the near-u.v. region of the CD spectrum. 6. 6. The far-u.v. region of the CD spectrum of penicillopepsin strongly suggests a β-sheet structure. 7. 7. Previously reported X-ray crystallographic data suggest that porcine pepsin has a compact three-dimensional structure, while the structures of bovine and penicillopepsins are partially unfolded.
The impact of location and number of cores on the diagnostic accuracy of renal mass biopsy: An ex vivo study

To evaluate whether renal mass biopsy (RMB) biopsy location or number affected diagnostic accuracy in a prospective ex vivo study. Three cores (1 central and 2 peripheral) were obtained for histologic processing from each of 48 renal masses after nephrectomy. Individual biopsy cores were evaluated independently for tumor subtype and grade by a single, blinded GU pathologist. Although individual biopsy cores were informative and confirmed accurate in only 59 % of samples, accuracy increased to 85 % with three-core biopsy (p < 0.01). Cancer identification with a single peripheral core increased to 77 % by adding a central core (p = 0.005), to 80 % with a second peripheral core (p = 0.008), and to 85 % with three cores (p = 0.001). Similarly, diagnostic yield for histologic subtyping increased from 44 % for 1-core biopsy to 59–63 % with 2-core biopsy (p = 0.03) and to 67 % with 3-core biopsy (p = 0.02). The correct subtype was confirmed at nephrectomy for 63 % of clear cell RCC, 60 % of papillary RCC, 100 % of chromophobe RCC and 75 % of oncocytomas. When recorded, nuclear grade corresponded to final grade assignment in 56 % and was within 1 grade in an additional 37 %. RMB has not been used routinely in the evaluation of renal cortical neoplasms because of reportedly high rates of indeterminate or inaccurate diagnoses. In this prospective, ex vivo study, single-core RMB results in a low diagnostic yield. Obtaining multiple cores significantly improved diagnostic yield, with similar results with two-core and three-core RMB. We therefore recommend that RMB for suspicion of cancer include at least two peripheral cores.