cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alexithymia and Anxiety Sensitivity in Patients with Non-Cardiac Chest Pain

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine independent and combined influences of alexithymia and anxiety sensitivity on chest pain and life interference in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). Theories of NCCP posit a central role for emotion in the experience of chest pain, however, studies have not examined how alexithymia characterized by a difficulty identifying or verbalizing emotions, may influence this relationship. This study examined 231 patients (56% females, M age = 50 years) with chest pain seeking cardiac evaluation, who showed no abnormalities during exercise tolerance testing. Forty percent (40%) scored at or above the moderate range of alexithymia. Whereas health care utilization was associated with elevated alexithymia among men, health care utilization was associated with elevated anxiety sensitivity among women. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that alexithymia and anxiety sensitivity were both uniquely and independently associated with pain severity and life interference due to pain. Alexithymia-pain links were stronger for men compared to women. Secondary analyses conducted with a subsample suggest that alexithymia may be increasingly stable over time (i.e., 18-month follow-up). Findings are largely congruent with theoretical models of NCCP showing that personality and emotional factors are important in this medically unexplained syndrome.
Münchausen's syndrome by proxy as a form of child abuse

Munchausen's syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is an emotional disorder in which the parent, almost always the mother, induces or fabricates illness in her child in order to gain medical attention. Although numerous case studies exist in pediatric and medical literature, most nurses are unaware of the warning signs of this disorder. Psychiatric consultation liaison nurses are in an ideal position to identify and intervene in MSBP situations and can also support the pediatric nursing staff through feelings of denial, shock, and guilt as they recognize the syndrome and its danger to the child.
Stream-channel response to floods, with examples from central Texas

The principle that most geomorphic work is accomplished by relatively frequent events of moderate intensity requires modification for application to stream channels in certain climatic and physiographic settings. Small drainage basins in regions of highly variable flood magnitudes appear to have a high potential for catastrophic response. Flash-flood potential for small basins can be regionally mapped by computing the standard deviation of the logarithms of the annual flood peaks. Highly right-skewed flood-frequency distributions indicate that a high potential exists in certain arid regions of the southwestern United States and in the seasonal subtropical-to-steppe climate region of central Texas. High-magnitude flood response is also promoted by physiographic factors, such as hillslope morphology, soils, rock type, and drainage density. The relative importance of overland flow, which produces intense flood peaks, versus interflow and ground-water flow, which produce more uniform streamflow, appears to integrate both the climatic and the physiographic influences on the potential for catastrophic floods. Another factor in realizing the climatic-hydrologic potential for catastrophic stream-channel response is the resistance of the channel itself to scour. Small limestone streams in central Texas show significant channel modification only during the rare high-magnitude floods characteristic of that region. This is mainly because of the high response threshold required to scour bouldery alluvium and dense valley-bottom vegetation. Effects of especially intense floods on such streams include the following: entrainment of jointed bed rock and boulders as much as 3 m in diameter, uprooting of trees that usually bind coarse-grained point bars, macroturbulent transport of boulders even over divides into adjacent drainages, local scour of chutes on meander bends, and passive boulder deposition on other preflood valley-bottom surfaces.
Evidence for dopamine receptor pruning between adolescence and adulthood in striatum but not nucleus accumbens

Abstract Postnatal development of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor families in striatum and nucleus accumbens of rats was studied at 25, 35, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 days using autoradiography. These ages were selected to test the hypothesis that dopamine receptors were overproduced prior to puberty (day 40), and pruned back to adult levels thereafter. This hypothesis was confirmed in striatum but not nucleus accumbens. D1 receptor Bmax ([3H]SCH-23390) peaked at 40 days, with levels 67 ± 21% greater than at 25 days. However, Bmax levels were at least 35% lower at 60–120 days than at 40 days. Similarly, D2 receptor numbers ([3H]YM-09151-2) increased 144 ± 26% between 25 and 40 days, but were reduced by 34–38% between 60–120 days. In contrast, D1 and D2 receptor Bmax increase approximately 150% between 25 and 40 days in nucleus accumbens, levels fell slightly at 60 or 80 days, but were no different at 100 and 120 days then they were at 40 days. These findings suggest that these two major dopamine target regions follow different developmental strategies, and this has implications for etiological theories of schizophrenia that focus on anomalous receptor pruning.
Doped Carbon Nanoparticles as a New Platform for Highly Photoluminescent Dots

There have been rapid advances in the development and applications of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) represented by CdSe/ZnS. However, a serious limitation of these QDs is the necessary use of toxic heavy metals. It is reported here that small carbon nanoparticles doped with inorganic salts serve as a highly promising new platform for brightly photoluminescent dots. The photoluminescent carbon dots with the carbon core doped with ZnO (CZnO-Dots) or ZnS (CZnS-Dots) in aqueous solutions are competitive to the commercially available CdSe/ZnS QDs in luminescence brightness.
The ideologies behind newspaper crime reports of Latinos and Wall Street/CEOs: a critical analysis of metonymy in text and image

This study illustrates how metonymy in image and text work together to produce dominant ideologies in US media discourse, through careful, multidisciplinary analysis of over 25 articles in online U...
Importance of Practices: A National Study of General and Special Early Childhood Educators

The purpose of this study was to determine general early childhood educators' (ECE) and early childhood special educators' (ECSE) perceptions of the importance of practices when applied to two different populations of young children—those with disabilities or those without disabilities. Of the 250 mail surveys distributed randomly to the membership of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the 250 surveys mailed to members of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC), 169 NAEYC members and 238 DEC members completed the survey resulting in a response rate of 81%. Findings revealed that few differences existed between the two professional groups' perceptions of the importance of these practices. The results of this study suggest that professionals from the two fields have more beliefs in common than different. Hopefully, by learning more about one another's perceptions of important practices, professionals representing the two groups will be able to work towards the ultimate g...
Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of Crystalline Carbon Nitride Superhard Coatings

Crystalline β-C3N4 was predicted to have mechanical properties similar to those of diamond. Until recently, only amorphous carbon nitride coatings were made in spite of numerous attempts. This lack of success in making crystalline coatings suggests that β-C3N4 is metastable. Using TiN as seeding layers and under proper processing conditions, we were able to synthesize fully crystalline carbon nitride composite coatings with hardness in the 45–55 GPa range, which is at the low end of diamond. Suggestions for further improvements and implementation with other deposition techniques will be made.
The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service: a premiere cancer information and education resource for the nation.

Through the National Cancer Act and its amendments (National Cancer Act, 1971; National Cancer Act Amendments, 1974), the U.S. Congress mandated that the National Cancer Institute (NCI)—the nation’s lead agency for cancer information and research—provides accurate, up-to-date information about cancer to all segment of the U.S. population. In 1975, the NCI established the Cancer Information Service (CIS), a premieer resource for providing cancer information and education to the nation. The CIS is designed to maximize reach to the public by responding to the cancer needs of clients through several communication technologies, including a telephone service, e-mail, and real-time instant messaging. By offering cancer information to the public through one-on-one interactions with CIS information specialists, the CIS is in a unique position to fill the gap that lies between the preferred, interpersonal source of the health care provider and the actual, impersonal Internet. Cancer Information Service can play an important role in providing health care practitioners, health departments, caregivers, and researchers with up-to-date and accurate information about cancer and clinical trials. Currently, 10% of CIS callers are health professionals. Referring patients to the CIS can augment health practitioners’ ability to convey important health information to patients. The CIS program uses NCI resources to educate clients on cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation and smoking cessation in simple terms that they can understand. Additionally, the CIS works with organizations to develop educational programs and interventions to reach underserved populations. A unique component of this information and education program is its ability to contribute to the field of health communications research by collaborating in research studies throughout the U.S. Finally, since its inception in 1975, the CIS has assisted international organizations with starting a cancer information service and as such is seen as a “stem cell” from which many international CIS programs have derived.
AC/DC System Dynamic Performance - Transient Stability Augmentation with Dynamic Reactive Power Compensation

The dynamic performance of an ac/dc system is evaluated for a system configuration which consists of a large generating plant synchronized to a relatively sparsely connected ac system with a back-to-back HVdc tie to a relatively strong asynchronous ac system. The emphasis of dynamic performance is on transient stability, where stability augmentation is achieved primarily by improving the transient reactive power capability of the ac/dc system. Additionally the effects of machine fault torques are evaluated. The particular study system configuration is suitable for operation of large generating plants near the borders of asynchronous power systems with power sharing by utilities in each asynchronous system.
Flow cytometric analysis of organ preservation-induced endothelial cell membrane damage.

Abstract Organ preservation for transplantation is associated with endothelial cell damage. This vascular injury results in increased capillary permeability, graft edema, and early graft dysfunction. This damage may be the limiting factor in preservation of these organs. This study uses flow cytometric assessment of membrane integrity to examine the effects of various organ preservation solutions on human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures. Confluent plates of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated at 4 °C for 24, 48, and 72 hours in commonly used preservation solutions. After cold incubation, the cells were harvested and stained with propridium iodide and fluorescein diacetate. Cells were examined using a flow cytometer for membrane integrity and cytosolic activity. When examined after 24, 48, and 72 hours, cells stored at 4 °C in a 5% polyethylene glycol salt solution were significantly less damaged than those stored in any other solution ( p p
Molluscan Species Diversity at North Pacific Hydrothermal Vents: What We Know and What it May Mean*

Hydrothermal vents in the deep sea are harsh, temporally unpredictable habitats with what appears to be a distinct fauna. Decades of subsea research with crewed and remote vehicles have generated a list of known species; is the species list complete? Evidence derived from mollusks sampled at hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise (EPR), and Gorda and Juan de Fuca ridges suggests that the answer is yes. A 2006 compilation of hydrothermal vent species based on decades of research is updated and compared to specimens from these three active ridges in collections of the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) that resulted from limited collecting activity. Only three dives at each of the two Gorda Ridge vents collected all named species; 90% of the 20 species known from Juan de Fuca Ridge were collected in nine cruises. At the EPR, only 81% of the 43 known species were collected, but differences among the ridges were not significant. The limited FMNH collections increased the known ranges of six species from Juan de Fuca to Gorda Ridge and of nine species on the EPR. In addition, the EPR appears to host more rare species, potentially due to the frequent temporal changes at these vents. Mollusks currently known from each ridge, with their expanded ranges, are listed; the implications of these results for recent discoveries of slow-spreading vent fields are discussed.
A new geometric description of the right ventricle

An accurate model of the geometry of the right ventricle would be particularly useful for volume determination by imaging techniques, as well as for mechanical modelling. In this study, a new mathematical model for the right ventricle geometry based on its crescentic cross-sectional shape is proposed and used to calculate its volume in imaged ex-vivo casts. An excellent correlation (r = 0.97) was found between volume as derived from the model and actual volume measured by water displacement.
Comparison of transaxial resolution in 180° and 360° SPECT with a rotating scintillation camera

Using circular 180° and 360° SPECT acquisition modes the transaxial resolution of line sources in air and water were measured at different positions in the field of view. With the 180° acquisition mode, all line sources in air located off the axis of camera rotation (AoR) showed an oval distortion. This distortion was systematically related to the starting point of the rotating detector. On axis line sources in air were undistorted, regardless of the 180° acquisition starting angle. The 360° acquisition images of the line sources in air showed a similar effect but in a very mild form. In water, transaxial reconstructions of line sources (off axis) showed an enhancement of the oval distortion for both the 180° and 360° acquisitions. Computer simulations of the line source measurements were performed and correlated well with the experimental data. The line source results are explainable by the inherent depth dependent response of the scintillation camera. In clinical SPECT studies, distortions of this nature will be most appreciable with 180° imaging of small organs that are located off the AoR.
Quality of Care in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Advances in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are published routinely in medical journals. Some treatments are sufficiently helpful that their conclusions are incorporated into clinical guidelines. However, such publications and proclamations may go unheeded among practitioners. Underuse, overuse, and misuse of clinical therapeutics, diagnostics, and routine medical processes are sufficiently prevalent among IBD practitioners that movements are afoot to determine the best methods for achieving a minimal uniformity of effective care. Such explorations are part of an effort to improve the quality of care. In this article, we review the background that has led to a push toward quality improvements in medicine in general, in gastroenterology in general, and within IBD specifically.
A note on a risk‐return measure of hedging effectiveness

In a recent paper, Kuo and Chen (1995) propose a simplification of the Howard and D'Antonio (1984, 1987) model of hedging effectiveness. This note extends Kuo‐Chen's suggested simplification to derive the optimal hedge ratio and second order conditions (SOCs) of the Howard‐D'Antonio model. These SOCs were previously reported incorrectly by both Howard and D'Antonio (1984, 1987) and Chang and Shanker (1987). The corrected SOC is less restrictive than supposed previously and shows that there is no need to make a priori assumptions about risk‐return relatives between spot and futures assets to ensure that SOCs conditions are satisfied. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 18:867–870, 1998
Area-preserving piecewise affine mappings

For any two polygons that have the same area, we show how to construct isomorphic triangulations that have additional area-correspondence properties. We use those isomorphic triangulations to prove that there always exist everywhere-area-preserving piecewise-affine homeomorphisms between any two simple polygons of the same area. We prove that, moreover, every piecewise-affine homeomorphism between the boundaries of the two same-area simple polygons extends to a piecewise-affine area-preserving homeomorphism of the interiors as well.
Electron excitation of Li S and D states

Electron-impact excitation of the Li 3S, 4S, 3D, and 4D states have been measured from threshold to 1200-eV impact energy. The intensities of emission lines from these states have been measured relative to the 2P-2S resonance line, and cross sections are obtained by normalizing to the resonance-line cross section and correcting for branching ratios. Cascade corrections to these total cross sections have been made at the higher energies, using available Born cross sections. The resulting direct cross sections show a uniform convergence at high energy to available Born cross sections and to E/sup -1/ behavior. At lower energies the S- and D-state cross sections have very different forms: the S states rise abruptly at threshold and drop rapidly past a narrow peak, while the D states rise gradually to a very broad maximum. Comparisons are made to available cross section calculations.
Serotonergic Regulation of Membrane Potential in Developing Rat Prefrontal Cortex: Coordinated Expression of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT7 Receptors

The developing prefrontal cortex receives a dense serotonergic innervation, yet little is known about the actions of serotonin [5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] in this region during development. Here, we examined the developmental regulation of 5-HT receptors controlling the excitability of pyramidal neurons of this region. Using whole-cell recordings in in vitro brain slices, we identified a dramatic shift in the effects of 5-HT on membrane potential during the postnatal developmental period. In slices derived from young animals [postnatal day (P) 6 to P19], administration of 5-HT elicits a robust depolarization of layer V pyramidal neurons, which gradually shifts to a hyperpolarization commencing during the third postnatal week. This progression is the result of coordinated changes in the function of 5-HT7 and 5-HT2A receptors, which mediate different aspects of the depolarization, and of 5-HT1A receptors, which signal the late developing hyperpolarization. The loss of the 5-HT7 receptor-mediated depolarization and the appearance of the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization appears to reflect changes in receptor expression. In contrast, the decline in the 5-HT2A receptor depolarization with increasing age was associated with changes in the effectiveness with which these receptors could elicit a membrane depolarization, rather than loss of the receptors per se. Together, these results outline coordinated changes in the serotonergic regulation of cortical excitability at a time of extensive synaptic development and thus suggest a key role for these receptor subtypes in the postnatal development of the prefrontal cortex.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Translational regulation of synthesis and regulation of processing of the enzyme in the uterus by estradiol

Abstract 12 h after intravenous administration of estradiol to ovariectomized mature rats, and 18-fold increase in the rate of synthesis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase ( d -glucose-6-phosphate: NADP + oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) is observed. At that time, functional mRNA pools coding for this protein are only elevated 7-fold, suggesting that estradiol may be exerting effects at a posttranscriptional level of protein synthesis. The effect of estradiol on the rate of translation of the mRNA for this enzyme was evaluated by estimating the average ribosomal transit times in control and estradiol-treated rats under in vivo conditions. Transit times for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were decreased from 4.9 min in estrogen-deprived rats to 2.0 and 3.4 min, respectively, in 12 or 24 h estradiol-treated rats. Transit times for total released proteins in the cytosol were similarly decreased from 2.3 min to 1.0 and 1.3 min in the same groups of animals. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase has pyroglutamate as its NH 2 -terminus indicating that this region of the protein exists in a transient precursor form. The difference between the expected time after [ 3 H]glutamate administration that [ 3 H]pyroglutamate should be found in the enzyme and the observed first occurrence of [ 3 H]pyroglutamate in the enzyme is 9, 2.5 and 4 min in control and 12 or 24 h in estradiol-treated rats, respectively. This indicates that the ‘processing’ or removal of an NH 2 -terminal peptide from a percursor form of this enzyme is finalized after release of a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase precursor from ribosomes and that the processing event is enhanced by estradiol.
Real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR for Salmonella Typhimurium detection from lettuce and tomatoes

Abstract Salmonella outbreaks linked to fresh produce stress the importance of rapid detection methods to help prevent disease. Real-time reverse-transcriptase-PCR (rt-RT-PCR) is based on the detection of mRNA (shorter half-life than DNA), showing promise of detecting viable pathogens while eliminating the need for gel electrophoresis. The research is aimed at applying rt-T-PCR to detect Salmonella from spiked lettuce and tomatoes within one day. Twenty-five grams of lettuce and ∼100 g of tomatoes were inoculated with 1–8 log CFU of an overnight culture of Salmonella Typhimurium. Bacteria were recovered with 0.05 mol/L glycine–0.14 mol/L saline buffer (containing 0.05 g/100 ml Tween-20, 3 g/100 ml beef extract). For low inocula (5 log to 1 log CFU), a short pre-enrichment of 6 h in peptone buffer was carried out to improve assay sensitivity. Serial dilutions were spread plated on Xylose Lactose Tergitol 4 (XLT4) agar and incubated at 37 °C for 48 h and portions used for RNA extraction using the Qiagen RNeasy ® Mini Kit. SYBR Green one step RT-PCR kit with invA gene primers and an internal amplification control was used for detection. Reaction conditions were 50 °C/40 min, then 94 °C/45 s, 58 °C/45 s, 72 °C/45 s for 45 cycles followed by melt temperature analysis. This rt-RT-PCR procedure could detect 4 log CFU/25 g Salmonella from lettuce and tomatoes (100 g) after pre-enrichment. Without pre-enrichment, Salmonella detection from lettuce was 6 log CFU/25 g and from tomatoes was ∼6–7 log CFU/100 g. These results show that rt-RT-PCR can be used to detect Salmonella contamination in produce within 24 h.
Political ideology affects energy-efficiency attitudes and choices

This research demonstrates how promoting the environment can negatively affect adoption of energy efficiency in the United States because of the political polarization surrounding environmental issues. Study 1 demonstrated that more politically conservative individuals were less in favor of investment in energy-efficient technology than were those who were more politically liberal. This finding was driven primarily by the lessened psychological value that more conservative individuals placed on reducing carbon emissions. Study 2 showed that this difference has consequences: In a real-choice context, more conservative individuals were less likely to purchase a more expensive energy-efficient light bulb when it was labeled with an environmental message than when it was unlabeled. These results highlight the importance of taking into account psychological value-based considerations in the individual adoption of energy-efficient technology in the United States and beyond.
Catalyst characterisation of Fe-doped-titanium dioxide

Fe (5 wt. %) doped TiO2 was synthesised using a hydrothermal method. This material was characterised by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, BET surface area, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The BET surface area was 136 m²/g and crystal sizes of 1.6 microns. SEM results showed crystal structures that were regular and pyramidal in shape. This catalyst only showed anatase phase. This favoured phase could be due to iron ions inserted into the TiO2 lattice and forming Ti-O-Fe bonds. It was found that doping TiO2 with 5 wt. % Fe caused a red shift in the absorption of the material to the visible light range and there was an increased absorption in the ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, in the 450-590 nm range. These characteristics are very favourable for the use of 'free' visible light in order to activate the Fe (5 wt. %) doped TiO2 photocatalyst. [Received: September 4, 2009; Accepted: November 30, 2009]
AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO LINEAR PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS WITH STOCHASTIC INPUT-OUTPUT COEFFICIENTS

Deriving acceptable farm plans where input-output coefficients are stochastic is a complex problem. Previous formulations have required many simplifying assumptions about the stochastic variables in the analysis. This paper presents an alternative approach based on the mean absolute deviation, which permits solution by a conventional linear programming algorithm whilst avoiding some of those assumptions previously required. The formulation also incorporates a stochastic objective function. Examples are provided using the situation of stochastic feed supply with reference to representative sheep-grain farms on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Results from these suggest that this alternative approach is a distinct improvement on earlier stochastic formulations which utilize linear programming algorithms.
Semi-Automated Hexahedral Mesh Generation of Human Vertebrae by Isoparametric Mapping

Subject-specific finite element models provide a means to explore inter-subject biomechanical variations, and have been widely used in the study of spinal fusion such as stress-shielding due to spinal instrumentation [1], and to assess biomechanical response to aging and disease [2–4]. Three-dimensional finite element models of vertebrae are usually constructed from CT scans. However, manual generation of meshes is labor intensive. As such, techniques that simplify creation of meshes are needed to make finite element analysis more feasible for large biomechanical studies and clinical applications.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
emb-1 Encodes the APC16 Subunit of the Caenorhabditis elegans Anaphase-Promoting Complex

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, temperature-sensitive mutants of emb-1 arrest as one-cell embryos in metaphase of meiosis I in a manner that is indistinguishable from embryos that have been depleted of known subunits of the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C). Here we show that the emb-1 phenotype is enhanced in double mutant combinations with known APC/C subunits and suppressed in double mutant combinations with known APC/C suppressors. In addition to its meiotic function, emb-1 is required for mitotic proliferation of the germline. These studies reveal that emb-1 encodes K10D2.4, a homolog of the small, recently discovered APC/C subunit, APC16.
Microwave properties of monolithic Y-Ba-Cu-O transmission line devices fabricated by the laser-writing patterning technique

ABSTRACT We report on the microwave characteristics of coplanar strip transmission line devicesfabricated in epitaxial YBaCuO thin films deposited on LaAlO3 substrates using the novel laser-writing patterning technique. This technique uses laser heating to selectively anneal regions of an oxygen depleted YBaCuO thin film to form local superconducting phases. In this manner, superconductive coplanar strip transmission line structures surrounded by the semiconductingYBaCuO phase were patterned with no photomasks, surface contamination or edge degradation.The propagation characteristics of transmission line devices were measured with a HP8510 networkanalyzer from 1 to 20 GHz. At 300 K, the transmission line circuits displayed poor transmissioncharacteristics due to the high conductivity of the semiconducting phase and small conductivityenhancement of the oxygenated regions. As the circuits were cooled below 89 K, the Tc of thesuperconducting phase, the measured 521 was near 0 dB indicating little attenuation along thehigh quality transmission lines. Q-factors as high as 5,000 were measured from coplanar striptransmission line resonator circuits at 6 GHz and 24 K.
Efficient vibration mode analysis of aircraft with multiple external store configurations

A coupling method for efficient vibration mode analysis of aircraft with multiple external store configurations is presented. A set of low-frequency vibration modes, including rigid-body modes, represent the aircraft. Each external store is represented by its vibration modes with clamped boundary conditions, and by its rigid-body inertial properties. The aircraft modes are obtained from a finite-element model loaded by dummy rigid external stores with fictitious masses. The coupling procedure unloads the dummy stores and loads the actual stores instead. The analytical development is presented, the effects of the fictitious mass magnitudes are discussed, and a numerical example is given for a combat aircraft with external wing stores. Comparison with vibration modes obtained by a direct (full-size) eigensolution shows very accurate coupling results. Once the aircraft and stores data bases are constructed, the computer time for analyzing any external store configuration is two to three orders of magnitude less than that of a direct solution.
WINNING THE BATTLE AND LOSING THE WAR: EXAMINING THE RELATION BETWEEN GRADE RETENTION AND DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL

The aim of this investigation is to provide a comprehensive review of dropout research that examines grade retention within both associative and predictive models. A systematic review of seventeen studies examining dropping out of high school prior to graduation demonstrates that grade retention is one of the most powerful predictors of dropout status.The discussion addresses the discrepancies among the perspectives of many educational professionals regarding the effectiveness of grade retention and deleterious long-term correlates. The transactional model of development is presented, which emphasizes developmental trajectories over time, in order to facilitate the interpretation of the association between grade retention and school withdrawal. Educational professionals, teachers, researchers, parents, and policymakers considering the efficacy of grade retention are encouraged to consider the implications of these findings. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. In a review of retention research spanning the last 100 years, Jimerson (2001a) concluded that the results of research published during the past decade examining the efficacy of grade retention on academic achievement and socioemotional adjustment are consistent with the converging evidence and conclusions of research from the remainder of the century that fail to demonstrate that grade retention provides greater benefits to students with academic or adjustment difficulties than does promotion to the next grade. Moreover, results of recent longitudinal retention research suggests that children who are retained are more likely to drop out and less likely to attend post high school educational programs (Jimerson, 1999). The aim of this investigation is to provide a comprehensive review of dropout research that examines grade retention as a predictor variable.
Long noncoding RNAs as metazoan developmental regulators

The study of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is still in its infancy with more putative RNAs identified than those with ascribed functions. Defined as transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides without a coding sequence, their numbers are on the rise and may well challenge protein coding transcripts in number and diversity. lncRNAs are often expressed at low levels and their sequences are frequently poorly conserved, making it unclear if they are transcriptional noise or bonafide effectors. Despite these limitations, inroads into their functions are being made and it is clear they make a contribution in regulating all aspects of biology. The early verdict on their activity, however, suggests the majority function as chromatin modifiers. A good proportion show a connection to disease highlighting their importance and the need to determine their function. The focus of this review is on lncRNAs which influence developmental processes which in itself covers a large range of known activities.
Effects of Alkaline and Acid Pretreatments on Alaska Pollock Skin Gelatin Extraction

: Pretreatments with different alkalis and acids at different concentrations were used to determine their effects on gelatin extraction from Alaska pollock skin. The alkaline pretreatments with the OH concentrations lower than 0.5 mol/L removed noncollagenous proteins without significant loss of skin collagen. The acid pretreatments caused loss of collagen, even using a weak acid with a low H concentration at a low temperature. The presence of proteases might cause degradation of gelatin extract, but the pretreatments with NaOH or Ca(OH)2 at 0.1 mol/L OH concentration, or acetic acid at 0.05 mol/L H concentration could significantly decrease the degradation by proteases. The combination of an alkaline pretreatment followed by an acid pretreatment not only removed the noncollagenous proteins, but also provided the proper pH condition for extraction, during which some cross-linkages could be further destroyed but with less breakage of polypeptide chains.
SIMULTANEOUS IMAGING OF VAPOR AND LIQUID SPRAY CONCENTRATION USING COMBINED ACETONE FLUORESCENCE AND PHOSPHORESCENCE

This study aims to improve a technique for measuring fuel distributions, e.g. mixture fraction and droplet sizes, in evaporating and mixing (two-phase) fuel sprays. The technique is based on planar laserinduced fluorescence of acetone, used as a surrogate fuel. Previous work investigated the use of signal level to discriminate against liquid acetone droplets bigger than a critical size. However, droplet streaks were observed. To determine the cause of the streaks, time decay experiments of the signal were conducted and. indicate that acetone phosphorescence is the cause. The phosphorescence lifetime and the phosphorescence to fluorescence ratio for the spray were determined and are similar to that of the vapor (in the absence of oxygen). Further measurements of bulk liquid acetone found widely different values for the phosphorescence lifetime and P/F ratio based on the exposure of the liquid acetone to oxygen. A method is suggested for simultaneous droplet size and vapor mixture fraction measurements. It utilizes two images acquired with a short delay. The first (short exposure) image captures the vapor and liquid fluorescence, and the second (long exposure) image measures the liquid phosphorescence. There is also some difference in the spectral content of the liquid fluorescence and phosphorescence The phosphorescence streaks also have the potential to provide some droplet velocity information.
The Effect of Tension on the Electrical Resistance of Single Bismuth Crystals

The compensated potentiometer method of measuring minute variation in small resistances which was developed by P. W. Bridgman has been used in the study of the effect of tension, applied parallel to the direction of current flow, on the resistance of single bismuth crystals. The tension coefficient of resistance at 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C has been found to depend on the orientations both of the principal (111) and secondary ($11\overline{1}$) cleavage planes with respect to the tension. For the limiting case of the principal cleavage plane perpendicular to the tension, the coefficient is independent of the orientation of the secondary cleavage planes; in that of the principal cleavage plane parallel to the tension, the coefficient varies very little and is very probably independent of the secondary orientation. In the case where the normal to the principal cleavage plane makes an angle of about 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with the tension, the variation of the coefficient with the orientation of the secondary cleavage plane seems to be a maximum. This variation involves a change in sign as well as in magnitude, so that for certain orientations the coefficient becomes positive instead of remaining negative. The coefficient shows trigonal symmetry, as it must do if it is to be consistent with the known corporeal trigonal symmetry of the bismuth crystal. The paper presents only these empirical results.
Connecting Pauling and Mulliken Electronegativities.

A conversion formula between Pauling and Mulliken electronegativities is derived from a new analytic treatment of the classic valence bond model for a single bond A−B in terms of Mulliken-Jaffe “a and b” parameters for the atomic valence states. The new formula works better than the traditional linear and half-power empirical formulas. The results are consistent with an absolute Pauling scale in which both electronegativities approach zero simultaneously.
A special class of dynamical polysystems.

Metric state-time dynamical polysystem with sequentially compact topological space, noting sliding state trajectories
Creatures in the Classroom: Preservice Teacher Beliefs About Fantastic Beasts, Magic, Extraterrestrials, Evolution and Creationism

Faculty have long expressed concern about pseudoscience belief among students. Most US research on such beliefs examines evolution-creation issues among liberal arts students, the general public, and occasionally science educators. Because of their future influence on youth, we examined basic science knowledge and several pseudoscience beliefs among 540 female and 123 male upperclass preservice teachers, comparing them with representative samples of comparably educated American adults. Future teachers resembled national adults on basic science knowledge. Their scores on evolution; creationism; intelligent design; fantastic beasts; magic; and extraterrestrials indices depended on the topic. Exempting science education, preservice teachers rejected evolution, accepting Biblical creation and intelligent design accounts. Sizable minorities “awaited more evidence” about fantastic beasts, magic, or extraterrestrials. Although gender, disciplinary major, grade point average, science knowledge, and two religiosity measures related to beliefs about evolution-creation, these factors were generally unassociated with the other indices. The findings suggest more training is needed for preservice educators in the critical evaluation of material evidence. We also discuss the judicious use of pseudoscience beliefs in such training.
Promoting parental use of nonpharmacologic techniques with children during lumbar punctures

A pretest and posttest with control group design was used to examine the effect of teaching eight children with acute leukocytic leukemia, aged 6 to 14 years, and their parents about selected nonpharmacologic techniques, then to support their use of these techniques during children's lumbar punctures. Children's distress behaviors were observed and recorded during the procedures. A Visual Analogue Scale was used to obtain children's self-report and parents' and staff nurses' perceptions of children's pain during the procedure. Posttest comparison of four subjects in the treatment group with four subjects in the control group indicated that the treatment group had fewer expressions of verbal resistance (P = .04), less muscular rigidity (P = .04), and more parent interventions (P = .06). Preintervention with postintervention comparison of all eight subjects indicated that following intervention, children had lower levels of self-reported pain (P = .09), fewer requests for emotional support (P = .07), fewer expressions of verbal fear (P = .10), and fewer information-seeking questions (P = .10). Comments from children and parents indicate that children benefitted from nonpharmacologic techniques.
Design, synthesis, and binding affinities of pyrrolinone-based somatostatin mimetics.

Tetrapyrrolinone somatostatin (SRIF) mimetics (cf. 1), based on a heterochiral (d,l-mixed) pyrrolinone scaffold, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for biological activity. The iterative synthetic sequence, incorporating the requisite functionalized coded and noncoded amino acid side chains, comprised a longest linear synthetic sequence of 23 steps. Binding affinities at two somatostatin receptor subtypes (hsst 4 and 5) reveal micromolar activity, demonstrating that the d,l-mixed pyrrolinone scaffold can be employed to generate functional mimetics of peptide β-turns.
Role of barrier penetration in complete fusion of heavy ions

Abstract The relevance of tunneling in determining the cross section for complete fusion is explored. The classical model with frictional forces is used for the determination of the trajectory of two heavy ions up to the classical turning point. The penetrability of the barrier is calculated quantum mechanically. It is shown that the so calculated transmission coefficient differ from the sharp cut-off approximation, but yield cross section for complete fusion which are not significantly different from the cross section neglecting quantum mechanical effects.
Hydrostatic correction for sigma coordinate ocean models

[1] How to reduce the horizontal pressure gradient error is a key issue in terrain-following coastal models. The horizontal pressure gradient splits into two parts, and incomplete cancellation of the truncation errors of those parts cause the error. Use of the finite volume discretization leads to a conserved scheme for pressure gradient computation that has better truncation properties with high accuracy. The analytical coastal topography and seamount test cases are used to evaluate the new scheme. The accuracy of the new scheme is comparable to the sixth-order combined compact scheme (with an error reduction by a factor of 70 comparing to the second-order scheme) with mild topography and much better than the sixth-order combined compact scheme with steep topography. The computational efficiency of the new scheme is comparable to the second-order difference scheme. The two characteristics, high accuracy and computational efficiency, make this scheme useful for the sigma coordinate ocean models.
Elevated glucose increases mesangial cell sensitivity to insulin-like growth factor I.

To determine the effects of glucose on insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)-induced mesangial cell (MC) proliferation, we have examined the relationships between IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) sec...
A new excitation technique for wide-band short backfire antennas

A new excitation technique is developed to improve the impedance bandwidth and to lower the manufacturing cost of a short backfire antenna (SBA). The new excitation structure consists of a planar monopole and a microstrip feed line, both of which are printed on the same dielectric substrate. By splitting the printed monopole with a slot, a wide-band performance can be achieved. The new split-monopole-excited SBA achieves an impedance bandwidth of about 15% [voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR <2)] while maintaining good radiation performance. As an example, an SBA configuration with the new excitation topology was designed and measured at the 5 GHz UNII band, and good agreement was observed between the simulation and experiment. The effects of the geometric parameters of the excitation structure on the impedance performance are investigated and the operating mechanism of the split-monopole-excited SBA is discussed. Being a low-cost, high-gain, and wide-band directional antenna, the new SBA can find applications in various wireless systems, such as LMDS, WLAN, and the emerging WiMAX networks.
Ability Differences Among People Who Have Commensurate Degrees Matter for Scientific Creativity

A sample of 1,586 intellectually talented adolescents (top 1%) were assessed on the math portion of the SAT by age 13 and tracked for more than 25 years. Patents and scientific publications were used as criteria for scientific and technological accomplishment. Participants were categorized according to whether their terminal degree was a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and within these degree groupings, the proportion of participants with at least one patent or scientific publication in adulthood increased as a function of this early SAT assessment. Information about individual differences in cognitive ability (even when measured in early adolescence) can predict differential creative potential in science and technology within populations that have advanced educational degrees.
Taxa-specific changes in soil microbial community composition induced by pyrogenic carbon amendments

The effects of pyrogenic carbon on the microbial diversity of forest soils were examined by comparing two soil types, fire-impacted and non-impacted, that were incubated with laboratory-generated biochars. Molecular and culture-dependent analyses of the biochar-treated forest soils revealed shifts in the relative abundance and diversity of key taxa upon the addition of biochars, which were dependent on biochar and soil type. Specifically, there was an overall loss of microbial diversity in all soils treated with oak and grass-derived biochar as detected by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. Although the overall diversity decreased upon biochar amendments, there were increases in specific taxa during biochar-amended incubation. DNA sequencing of these taxa revealed an increase in the relative abundance of bacteria within the phyla Actinobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes in biochar-treated soils. Together, these results reveal a pronounced impact of pyrogenic carbon on soil microbial community composition and an enrichment of key taxa within the parent soil microbial community.