cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Net-length-based routability-driven power-aware clustering

The state-of-the-art power-aware clustering tool, P-T-VPack, achieves energy reduction by localizing nets with high switching activity at the expense of channel width and area. In this study, we employ predicted individual postplacement net length information during clustering and prioritize longer nets. This approach targets the capacitance factor for energy reduction, and prioritizes longer nets for channel width and area reduction. We first introduce a new clustering strategy, W-T-VPack, which replaces the switching activity in P-T-VPack with a net length factor. We obtain a 9.87p energy reduction over T-VPack (3.78p increase over P-T-VPack), while at the same time completely eliminating P-T-VPack's channel width and area overhead. We then introduce W-P-T-VPack, which combines switching activity and net length factors. W-P-T-VPack achieves 14.26p energy reduction (0.31p increase over P-T-VPack), while further improving channel width by up to 12.87p for different cluster sizes. We investigate the energy performance of routability (channel width)-driven clustering algorithms, and show that W-T-VPack consistently outperforms T-RPack and iRAC by at least 11.23p and 9.07p, respectively. We conclude that net-length-based clustering is an effective method to concurrently target energy and channel width.
The influence of subzero temperatures on fatigue behavior of composite sandwich structures

Abstract The fatigue lives and failure modes of foam core carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy composite sandwich beams in 4-point bending were characterized from room temperature (22 °C) down to −60 °C. Similar previous investigations had focused on elevated temperatures only, but the low temperature fatigue behavior must be understood so that these materials may be evaluated for possible use in the hull structures of ships, which operate in cold regions. Core shear was found to be the dominant fatigue failure mode for the test specimens over the entire temperature range from 22 °C down to −60 °C. Significant increases in the useful fatigue life with brittle type core shear failure were observed at low temperatures by comparison with the corresponding room temperature behavior. Fatigue failure at the low temperatures was catastrophic and without any significant early warning, but the corresponding failures at room temperature were preceded by relatively slow but steadily increasing losses of stiffness. Two different approaches were used to investigate stiffness reductions during fatigue tests, and both approaches led to the same conclusions. Experimental observations regarding the location of fatigue crack initiation were confirmed by static finite element analyses for both materials.
Automated chest wall line detection for whole-breast segmentation in sagittal breast MR images.

Purpose: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the clinical management of breast cancer. Computerized analysis is increasingly used to quantify breast MRI features in applications such as computer-aided lesion detection and fibroglandular tissue estimation for breast cancer risk assessment. Automated segmentation of the whole-breast as an organ from the other parts imaged is an important step in aiding lesion localization and fibroglandular tissue quantification. For this task, identifying the chest wall line (CWL) is most challenging due to image contrast variations, intensity discontinuity, and bias field. Methods: In this work, the authors develop and validate a fully automated image processing algorithm for accurate delineation of the CWL in sagittal breast MRI. The CWL detection is based on an integrated scheme of edge extraction and CWL candidate evaluation. The edge extraction consists of applying edge-enhancing filters and an edge linking algorithm. Increased accuracy is achieved by the synergistic use of multiple image inputs for edge extraction, where multiple CWL candidates are evaluated by the dynamic time warping algorithm coupled with the construction of a CWL reference. Their method is quantitatively validated by a dataset of 60 3D bilateral sagittal breast MRI scans (in total 3360 2D MR slices) that span the full American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density range. Agreement with manual segmentation obtained by an experienced breast imaging radiologist is assessed by both volumetric and boundary-based metrics, including four quantitative measures. Results: In terms of breast volume agreement with manual segmentation, the overlay percentage expressed by the Dice's similarity coefficient is 95.0% and the difference percentage is 10.1%. More specifically, for the segmentation accuracy of the CWL boundary, the CWL overlay percentage is 92.7% and averaged deviation distance is 2.3 mm. Their method requires ∼4.5 min for segmenting each 3D breast MRI scan (56 slices) in comparison to ∼35 min required for manual segmentation. Further analysis indicates that the segmentation performance of their method is relatively stable across the different BI-RADS density categories and breast volume, and also robust with respect to a varying range of the major parameters of the algorithm. Conclusions: Their fully automated method achieves high segmentation accuracy in a time-efficient manner. It could support large scale quantitative breast MRI analysis and holds the potential to become integrated into the clinical workflow for breast cancer clinical applications in the future.
E. coli ribosomal RNA contains sequences homologous to insertion sequences IS1 and IS2.

The insertion sequence (IS) elements, IS1 and IS2, present in multiple copies in the Escherichia coli chromosome1–3, are transposable genetic elements of known nucleotide sequence4,5. These elements can modulate gene expression6–7, but it is not known whether they normally function in genetic control. To determine whether IS elements could exert control through specific RNA transcripts, we hybridised λ NNC1857r14 (carrying IS1) and pBR322 (carrying a portion of IS2) to Northern blots8 of E. coli RNA. Regions of homology between the IS elements and ribosomal RNA were observed. Computer analysis of reported nucleotide sequences detected large segments of homology between the IS elements and both 23S and 16S rRNA. Additional homologous sequences in ΦX174 and a leader region of a ribosomal protein gene cluster were also detected. The homologous sequence between IS2 and 16S rRNA is the same sequence in ΦX174 DNA which codes for the ends of the E and D gene and the start of J. The partial IS sequences may represent silent evolutionary remnants or they could modulate the expression of genes carrying these sequences.
Quality Control of Inhalation Therapy: The Results of Therapy, with and without Control, and Methods of Developing Such Control, in a Community Hospital

Deficiencies in quality of therapy in multiple areas, were demonstrated during a longterm surveillance program. Both training in and present methods of clinical monitoring were inadequate. One-third of patients were significantly under/over ventilated, pressures were used in a rote manner and respiratory rate control was lacking. Feedback to the physician was missing. These problems were correctable, once identified; example: reduction in incidence of tachypnea 21 to 8 percent and hypoventilation 27 to 14 percent. Correction required routine respiratory measurements, intensive inservice education, appropriate staff changes and improved physician liaison. Additionally, patients’ actual ventilatory requirements must be established, in which physicians must become more directly involved. Finally, unless the quality of intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) provided is uniformly maintained, there will be no way that response to therapy can be accurately assessed.
Second-order electro-optic effect in diamond.

Observation of a second-order electrooptic effect in diamond, leading to the determination of an order of magnitude for the appropriate second-order electrooptic coefficient of diamond. A linear effect, forbidden by symmetry, is also observed and attributed to random residual strains, an average estimate of which is obtained as .00001 for the particular sample used in this experiment. Birefringence due to second-order dispersion effects is also discussed.
The Changing Epidemiology of Reye's Syndrome in the United States: Further Evidence for a Public Health Success

A syndrome consisting of encephalopathy and fatty metamorphosis of the liver was first described by R. D. K. Reye et al 1 in Australia in 1962 and by George Johnson and coworkers 2 in the United States in 1963. In contrast to the cases reported by Reye et al—which occurred primarily in infants and young children (66% were ≤2 years of age) and had no distinct seasonality—the patients first described by Johnson et al were older (between 6 and 13 years of age) and the cases occurred during an outbreak of influenza B in a community in North Carolina. Despite these differences, the similarities of these two descriptions led to the common designation of this clinicopathological entity as Reye-Johnson or Reye's syndrome . Following its initial description, Reye's syndrome became increasingly recognized in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States as a distinct entity, occurring in association with outbreaks of
Determining the presence or absence of middle ear disorders: an evidence-based systematic review on the diagnostic accuracy of selected assessment instruments.

Purpose To conduct an evidence-based systematic review on the state of the evidence and the diagnostic accuracy of multifrequency tympanometry (MFT), 1000 Hz tympanometry, and wideband acoustic tra...
Quantitative radiocardiography. I. Theoretical considerations.

The theoretical background and limits of radiocardiography for the measurement of cardiac output, and of right ventricular and pulmonary blood volumes, are discussed. Injection of a known amount of radioiodinated (I131 ) human serum albumin (RIHSA) into the right atrium, and concomitant recording of a double-peaked time activity curve by means of a shielded scintillation detector placed over the precordium, allows measurement of cardiac output. The geometric arrangements that best approach ideal conditions are described. It is shown that the physiologic significance of the value for output as measured from the radiocardiograms varies with the indicator-flow ratio in 2 sides of the heart. The necessary conditions for measurement of right ventricular volumes from the radiocardiograms are presented, and the theoretical limits of the technic are evaluated. The problem of the measurement of pulmonary blood volume (PBV) from RIHSA radiocardiograms is-discussed. While it is not possible to make a direct measurement of mean PBV from RIHSA radiocardiograms, the limits within which the volume lies are indicated. (P.C.H.)
Self Organization and Redox Behavior of Poly(vinylferrocene)-block-Poly(isobutylene)-block-Poly(vinylferrocene) Triblock Copolymer †

Self organization and redox behavior of a ferrocene containing triblock copolymer, poly(vinylferrocene)-block-poly(isobutylene)-block-poly(vinylferrocene), with narrow molecular weight distribution in solutions and in thin films were investigated. Dynamic light scattering studies of the block copolymer in dilute solutions indicated that the polymer chains aggregated at relatively low concentrations. The aggregations of polymer chains were observed in toluene, as well as in tetrahydrofuran at concentrations as low as 0.014 mg/mL and 0.0045 mg/mL, respectively. Thin films of the copolymer showed reversible single electron redox behavior, similar to that of ferrocene. Morphology and micro-phase separation of the copolymer was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.
The perception of Malayalam nasal consonants by Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Oriya, Bengali, and American English listeners: A multidimensional scaling analysis

Abstract In cross-language speech perception studies, perceptual categories are often represented by abstract units, such as phonemes or their context-dependent variants, allophones. These abstract units were evaluated in a perceptual similarity test employing a broad range of non-native stimuli and listener groups. An AXB classification test using Malayalam nasal consonants varying in place of articulation (bilabial, interdental, alveolar, retroflex, palatal, velar) was administered to three sets of listener groups with similar coronal nasal consonant inventories: dental–retroflex (Marathi, Punjabi), alveolar–retroflex (Tamil, Oriya), and alveolar (Bengali, American English). A multidimensional scaling analysis of the similarity scores revealed language-specific differences that were not predictable from the listener groups' nasal consonant inventories, as represented by either phonemes or allophones. The dental–retroflex and alveolar groups showed intra-group differences in their clustering of nasal consonants, resulting in language-specific perceptual spaces. Only the alveolar–retroflex group spaces were similarly organized. The results demonstrate that native perceptual categories must be modeled at a “suballophonic” level of description.
Electric dipole moment of sulfuric acid from Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

Abstract The electric dipole moment of H 2 SO 4 in the gas phase has been measured using pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Ninety one Stark-shifted frequencies at a series of electric field strengths have been recorded for the 1 10 ← 0 00 transition. The total molecular dipole moment ( μ tot = μ c ) was determined to be 2.9643(67) D. This is approximately 0.24 D greater than the previous literature value obtained from similar measurements on the 6 43 ← 5 33 transition. Both ab initio and DFT calculations using Dunning’s aug-cc-pVnZ (n = D, T, Q, Q+d) basis sets concur with the present result.
Chemical lonization-mass spectrometry of secondary oxidation products from methyl linoleate and linolenate

Chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (CI-MS) with a direct exposure probe was used to analyze a series of hydroperoxy cyclic peroxides and dihydroperoxides obtained from methyl linoleate and linolenate by either autoxidation or photosensitized oxidation. The mass spectra obtained with isobutane and ammonia as reacting gases showed fragmentation patterns similar to those ditions of gas chromatography (GC)-electron impact (EI)-MS. Because the fragmentation patterns obtained under either CI-MS with a direct exposure probe or GC-(EI)-MS conditions are sufficiently predictable, these techniques are powerful analytical tools for the structural characterization of lipid oxidation products. These techniques are also useful to elucidate the cleavage pathways to volatile lipid oxidation products of flavor and biological significance.
Electronic behaviour of liquid Se0.5Te0.5 doped with monovalent elements

The electrical conductivity s' and thermopower S have been measured in Mx(Se0.5Te0.5)1-x alloys with doping elements M=Tl, Ag, Cu and Na with x<0.1. The behaviour of S and s' indicates that electronic transport shifts at x<0.02 from the valence band of Se0.5Te0.5 to an acceptor band which grows with increasing x. The conductivity of the states in the band increases exponentially with T, and this is accounted for by thermal dissociation of the acceptor ions from clusters with the positive ions which form at low T. Analysis of the dependence of S on composition supports the conclusion that the acceptor ions are diatomic molecular ions formed by the doping element and the chalcogen, and the positive ions are threefold-bonded (D+) chalcogen ions. For Cu alloys, there is evidence that most of the copper dopant atoms are in the bivalent state at low T.
Polarization in Phase Modulated Optical Links: Jones- and Generalized Stokes-Space Analysis

Component birefringence can cause signal impairments in phase modulated optical links. At the transmitter, imperfect launch conditions couple phase modulation to unintended polarization modulation. At the receiver, polarization modulation creates spurious photocurrents due to birefringence in, and time delays between, interferometric paths. In this paper, we analyze such systems, and develop a formula for the photocurrent as a function of 11 system parameters. We utilize both the Jones description and our recent generalization of the Stokes description that includes optical phase, examine several special cases for phase modulated RF optical links, and evaluate some typical system performance issues.
An approach to quantification of biaxial tissue stress-strain data

Delineation of the mechanical properties of biologic tissues is one of the cornerstones of biomechanics. Abundant data from uniaxial tests exist but these cannot be extrapolated to describe three-dimensional properties of tissue. Biaxial stress-strain studies have been performed using skin, blood vessels and pericardium. Quantitative description of tissue properties in these studies has employed either polynomial or exponential strain-energy functions. Interpretation of these data, however, is difficult because of wide variability of the estimated coefficients of these functions. This variability has been attributed to experimental noise, numerical instabilities in the algorithms, or to strain-history dependence. No systematic method has been proposed to evaluate the variability. This paper describes a statistically based approach to assessing the sources of and accounting for variability of coefficients in describing biaxial stress-strain data. Our data are from canine pericardium subjected to various combinations of simultaneous biaxial stretching. We first determine a suitable strain-energy function with the least number of free parameters that will fit the data reasonably. We then perform residual analysis to see if standard statistical methods can be used to assess the variability. If not, we use a nonparametric method called bootstrapping that is suitable for assessing the uncertainty in the coefficients. Using a five-parameter exponential strain-energy function, pericardial tissue is found to be strain-history dependent and anisotropic. These findings cannot be attributed to either experimental noise or instability in the numerical algorithms.
Comparison of Two Methods for Calculating the Frictional Properties of Articular Cartilage Using a Simple Pendulum and Intact Mouse Knee Joints

In attempts to better understand the etiology of osteoarthritis, a debilitating joint disease that results in the degeneration of articular cartilage (AC) in synovial joints, researchers have focused on joint tribology, the study of joint friction, lubrication, and wear. Several different approaches have been used to investigate the frictional properties of articular cartilage. In this study, we examined two analysis methods for calculating the coefficient of friction (micro) using a simple pendulum system and BL6 murine knee joints (n=10) as the fulcrum. A Stanton linear decay model (Lin micro) and an exponential model that accounts for viscous damping (Exp micro) were fit to the decaying pendulum oscillations. Root mean square error (RMSE), asymptotic standard error (ASE), and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated to evaluate the fit and measurement precision of each model. This investigation demonstrated that while Lin micro was more repeatable, based on CV (5.0% for Lin micro; 18% for Exp micro), Exp micro provided a better fitting model, based on RMSE (0.165 degrees for Exp micro; 0.391 degrees for Lin micro) and ASE (0.033 for Exp micro; 0.185 for Lin micro), and had a significantly lower coefficient of friction value (0.022+/-0.007 for Exp micro; 0.042+/-0.016 for Lin micro) (p=0.001). This study details the use of a simple pendulum for examining cartilage properties in situ that will have applications investigating cartilage mechanics in a variety of species. The Exp mu model provided a more accurate fit to the experimental data for predicting the frictional properties of intact joints in pendulum systems.
CFD studies on burner secondary airflow

In many fossil power plants operating today, there is insufficient means to assure the proper balancing of the secondary airflows between the individual burners of wall-fired units. This mismatch leads to decreased boiler efficiency and increased emissions. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of a fossil power plant wind box was performed. The model solved the three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the k–e turbulence model. The CFD results were validated by the experimental data taken from a 1/8th scale model of a wall-fired fossil unit. Simulations under various mass flow rates specified at inlet, various baffle positions and two opening conditions of the burners were obtained to identify the optimum design in terms of the equalization of the secondary airflow through the burners. This study demonstrated that the combination of experimental and CFD approach can be an effective tool in the research of burner secondary airflow balancing.
Reversed-phase chromatographic behavior of proteins in different unfolded states.

A series of standard small globular proteins in different unfolded states was studied by gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The retention parameters Z [slope of log capacity factor (k') vs. log molar concentration of organic modifier, 1-propanol, in the mobile phase] and log I (the value of log k' at 1 M 1-propanol) were derived from gradient retention data. Each protein in four different conformational states, i.e., folded, chromatographic surface-unfolded, urea-unfolded and disulfide-bridge reduced-unfolded, showed a variation of 10-fold in Z and up to 10(12)-fold in I values. For the different states of all the proteins studied, the order of Z and I values was as follows: folded much less than surface-unfolded less than urea-unfolded less than reduced-unfolded. The differences in the values of the coefficients suggest, in agreement with literature reports, that proteins with their disulfide bridges cleaved have the largest degree of unfolding. In addition, the Z and I values and solution refolding kinetics all suggest that chromatographic surface-unfolded proteins have a lower degree of unfolding than their urea-unfolded forms. It was also found that an additional chemical cross-link in lysozyme caused a significant decrease in the first-order rate constant of the surface-induced unfolding process.
Mesenteric nitric oxide and superoxide production in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background A proposed mechanism of intestinal injury in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) involves vascular dysfunction through altered nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. We hypothesize that this dysfunction results in an imbalance in nitric oxide (•NO) and superoxide (O 2 •– ) production by the intestinal vascular endothelium, which contributes to the intestinal injury seen in NEC. Materials and Methods Neonatal rat pups were divided into two groups. Control pups were breast fed and housed with their mother. Experimental NEC pups were housed separately and either exposed to formula feeding and 5% to 10% hypoxia alone (FF/H) or with the addition of lipopolysaccharide (FF/H/LPS). Mesenteries from each group were analyzed for •NO and O 2 •– production with and without NOS inhibition by N G -monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Western blot analysis for eNOS, phosphorylated eNOS (phospho-eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS) was performed, and each terminal ileum was graded for intestinal injury by histology. Results Histology revealed mild intestinal injury (grade 1–2 on a 4-point scale) in the FF/H group and severe injury (grade 3–4) in the FF/H/LPS group. The FF/H cohort had significantly increased •NO and lower O 2 •– production, while the FF/H/LPS group shifted to significantly decreased •NO and increased O 2 •– production. L-NMMA inhibited >50% of O 2 •– production in all three groups but only inhibited •NO production in control and FF/H pups. Western blot analysis revealed increased levels of phospho-eNOS in FF/H pups and increased iNOS in FF/H/LPS pups. Conclusions This study demonstrates in the progression of NEC, intestinal ischemia is associated with a shift from •NO to O 2 •– production, which is NOS-dependent. Potentially greater injury results from impaired vasodilatation and over-production of reactive oxygen species.
Developmental biology: tail of decay.

Humans and other vertebrates develop in a head-to-tail sequence. A mechanism that is based on a gradual decay of RNA appears to contribute to this process.
Determination of particle-diameter distributions in silica and gold suspensions

Abstract A small angle X-ray scattering method for determining particle-diameter distributions in dilute polydisperse suspensions of spherical particles with average diameters under 1,000 A has been tested by using this technique to find the particle-diameter distribution in three Ludox4 silica suspensions and two gold sols. The results of the X-ray determinations were checked by comparing them with diameter distributions obtained from electron micrographs. Within experimental uncertainty, the distributions obtained by the two methods were in agreement. The results of this investigation suggest that the X-ray method is a practical way for finding diameter distributions in suspensions of spherical particles with average diameters under about 1,000 A. The accuracy, while not high, should be sufficient for most purposes. This technique is applicable even to particles too small to permit diameter distributions to be obtained from electron micrographs.
Investigation of longitudinal 31P relaxation in metal selenophosphate compounds.

Abstract Molten salt syntheses yield a rich variety of metal selenophosphate compounds which have a wide range of 31 P T 1 longitudinal relaxation times (20–3000 s). There is a qualitative positive correlation between squared dipolar couplings and 1/ T 1 , suggesting that these interactions contribute to relaxation. However, two of the compounds, K 2 CdP 2 Se 6 and Rb 2 CdP 2 Se 6 , have T 1 which are significantly shorter than what is expected from dipolar couplings. The ESR spectra of these compounds show the presence of unpaired electrons which may accelerate the rate of 31 P relaxation. The importance of relaxation in application of 31 P NMR to these systems is demonstrated in analysis of the mixture of crystalline products formed in a Ag 4 P 2 Se 6 synthesis. At short relaxation delays, the NMR intensities are non-quantitative and overestimate the concentration of an Ag 7 PSe 6 impurity.
Glossolalic speech from a psycholinguistic perspective.

This is a psycholinguistic study of glossolalia produced by four speakers in an experimental setting. Acoustical patterns (signal waveform, fundamental frequency, and amplitude changes) were compared. The frequency of occurrence of vowels and consonants was computed for the glossolalic samples and compared with General American English. The results showed that three of the four speakers had substantially higher vowel-to-consonant ratios than are found in English speech. Phonology, morphology, and syntax of the four glossolalic productions were analyzed. This revealed two distinct forms of glossolalia. One form, which we called “formulaic” tends towards stereotypy and repetitiousness. The second form, which we called “innovative” shows more novelty and unpredictability in the chaining of speech-like elements. These contrastive forms of glossolalia may relate to dimensions of linguistic creativity. Precise correlates with personality patterns, educational backgrounds, psychopathology, and other sociolinguistic variables remain to be employed.
Butyrated lard in the ad libitum feeding of " filled milk " for veal production.

Summary In experiments involving 34 three-day-old male calves from the five major dairy breeds, it was found that ad libitum feeding of an emulsified filled milk containing butyrated lard gave average daily gains of 2.16 lb. over an 8-week experimental period. These gains, which averaged 241% of Morrison standards, were equal to those obtained on whole milk and were significantly better than the gains obtained on a filled milk containing lard. On the basis of this work, it appears that the short chain fatty acids are important for the calf and that such a butyrated lard-filled milk can satisfactorily replace whole milk in the feeding of dairy calves.
A good antisense molecule is hard to find

Antisense molecules and ribozymes capture the imagination with their promise of rational drug design and exquisite specificity. However, they are far more difficult to produce than was originally anticipated, and their ability to eliminate the function of a single gene has never been proven. Furthermore, a wide variety of unexpected non-antisense effects have come to light. Although some of these side effects will almost certainly have clinical value, they make it hard to produce drugs that act primarily through true antisense mechanisms and complicate the use of antisense compounds as research reagents. To minimize unwanted non-antisense effects, investigators are searching for antisense compounds and ribozymes whose target sites are particularly vulnerable to attack. This is a challenging quest.
On the evaluation of reachable workspace for redundant manipulators

In this paper, we discuss the problem of computing the reachable workspace for redundant manipulators. Algorithms that compute workspace boundary points by using screw theory are presented. These algorithms cannot distinguish holes and voids that are buried within the reachable workspace. We present an algorithm that utilizes inverse kinematics in order to detect the unreachable regions (holes and voids) within the reachable workspace.
Measurement of the Attitudes of Teachers Toward "Teaching as a Profession"

AbstractThis study concerns the initial development of a scale to measure teachers' attitudes toward teaching as a profession.A modification of the W-technique, a combination of the equal-appearing interval and paired-comparison methods, was utilized to construct the scales. Teachers were used to judge the statements in the preliminary stages of scaling. An alternate scale was constructed for correlational purposes and later a revised scale was also developed from the same statements.An estimate of test-retest reliability was obtained. In one college class a correlation coefficient of .92 was obtained between the original and alternate scales. In another class, the test-retest coefficient for the original scale was .99 and .97 between the alternate and original scales.The high correlation gives evidence for the reliability of the original scale and both scales appear ready for further research purposes.
Progress in analysis and design of RC shells

Abstract A historical overview of progress in reinforced concrete (RC) thin shells from early to modern times is presented. As this paper is prepared for a special issue of Engineering Structures in honour of Professor Alexander C. Scordelis, his notable contributions to the analysis of reinforced concrete shells and folded plates receive special attention.
Alexander Raven Thomson, Philosopher of the British Union of Fascists

This study surveys the career and political philosophy of Alexander Raven Thomson, one of Sir Oswald Mosley's lieutenants in the British Union of Fascists (BUF), the largest party on the extreme right in Britain in the interwar era. It explores key issues relating to the BUF, such as: What type of society did Thomson and the Blackshirts wish to establish in Britain? Who were some of the major domestic and international intellectual influences on him and the BUF? Was the BUF essentially a homegrown movement or was it, as critics argued, an imitation of Italian and German fascism? What does Thomson's career reveal about the inner politics of the movement? The aim of this article is to provide a better understanding of Thomson, one of the lesser-studied BUF officials, and of the movement to which he devoted his life.
A Test and Cross-Validation of the Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire Factor Structure Among Western University Students:

The Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) is a measure of university students’ approach to learning. Original evaluation of the scale’s psychometric properties was based on a sample of Hong Kong university students’ scores. The purpose of this study was to test and cross-validate the R-SPQ-2F factor structure, based on separate cohort data (Cohort 1: n = 1,490; Cohort 2: n = 1,533), among students attending a university in the United States. Factor analytic results did not support the scale’s original factor structure, instead suggesting an alternative four-factor model of the scale data. In the cross-validation study, multisample confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the scale’s measurement model parameters (e.g., factor loadings) were invariant across independent samples. Despite support for the scale’s respecified factor structure for Western university students, continued research is recommended to improve the scale’s psychometric properties. Implications for test sco...
The Relationship of Learning and Performance Improvement at Different System Levels

The importance of learning for organizational effectiveness is no longer questioned. Research in the last decade has identified the central role of learning for enhancing individual development. team effectiveness, leadership. innovation, and competitive advantage. However, this acknowledgement of learning's importance has been accompanied by the lack of conceptual clarity when learning, change, innovation, and performance-all desirable states and co-variants of each other-are necessarily studied together. Because learning and performance strongly influence each other, we are often left confused by which is the phenomenon of interest. This confusion is compounded when levels of analysis are considered. This paper examines learning and performance improvement first as separate constructs, then as complimentary elements in organization systems. Using a four-level systems model, changes in the relationship between learning and performance improvement are examined at different levels of the model.
Ureteral obstruction in the neonatal guinea pig: interaction of sympathetic nerves and angiotensin.

The contribution of sympathetic nerves to the hemodynamic effects of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was investigated in the neonatal guinea pig. The left ureter was partially constricted (or sham-operated) at birth, and sympathetic innervation was inhibited by guanethidine and compared with saline vehicle-treated animals. At 15–20 days of age, blood presure, cardiac output, total vascular resistance (TVR), renal blood flow, and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were determined before and after infusion of enalapril. UUO reduced cardiac output, increased TVR, and increased RVR of the ipsilateral kidney, whereas guanethidine treatment had no additional effects. Enalapril decreased RVR only in obstructed kidneys and not in intact opposite kidneys of animals with UUO. This was not affected by guanethidine administration. In contrast, enalapril decreased RVR only in guanethidine-treated (but not saline-treated) sham-operated guinea pigs. Therefore, UUO increases angiotensin-dependent vascular tone of the ipsilateral kidney independent of renal innervation. However, UUO decreases angiotensin-mediated vascular tone of the contralateral kidney, an effect unmasked by sympathectomy.
A rapid enzyme-immunoassay for the detection of ciguatoxin in contaminated fish tissues.

An enzyme-immunoassay procedure for the detection of ciguatoxin has been developed using the sheep anti-ciguatoxin serum described earlier in the radioimmunoassay method for ciguatoxin. In the enzyme-immunoassay procedure, the sheep anti-ciguatoxin was coupled to horseradish peroxidase. Analyses of fish tissues showed that the enzyme-immunoassay procedure distinguished between clinically documented toxic and nontoxic tissues (P < 0.001). Comparisons of the enzyme-immunoassay method with the radioimmunoassay for ciguatoxin and with a mouse bioassay demonstrated significant associations (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). Preliminary studies showed that purified ciguatoxin inhibited the binding of sheep anti-ciguatoxin horseradish peroxidase to toxic fish tissues. Results suggest that the enzyme-immunoassay procedure may be valuable for routine direct assessment of ciguatoxin in fish tissues because of its practicality, sensitivity and specificity.
Who is following us? Data mining a library's Twitter followers

Purpose – Twitter is an increasingly popular social networking tool for libraries to use to reach out to their patrons, but very little research has been done to determine who is following library tweets. The aim of the paper is to use the existing Twitter follower information for the Sterling Evans Library at Texas A&M as a test bed to determine the composition of Evans Twitter followers. The Medical Sciences Library's primary user groups are made up largely of graduate and professional students, making the difference in the number of graduate and undergraduate followers of particular interest.Design/methodology/approach – Follower data were gathered from the Evans Twitter page and each user was identified and categorized. Additional data were collected on the number of tweets, and the state of the account, active or inactive.Findings – A total of 432 follower accounts were examined. A total of 54.37 percent were identified as affiliated with Texas A&M University. The largest group of followers were stud...
Cloning and characterization of the p42 subunit of mammalian translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3): Demonstration that eIF3 interacts with eIF5 in mammalian cells

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) is a large multisubunit protein complex that plays an essential role in the binding of the initiator methionyl-tRNA and mRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit to form the 40S initiation complex. cDNAs encoding all the subunits of mammalian eIF3 except the p42 subunit have been cloned in several laboratories. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a human cDNA encoding the p42 subunit of mammalian eIF3. The open reading frame of the cDNA, which encodes a protein of 320 amino acids (calculated Mr35 614) has been expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein has been purified to homogeneity. The purified protein binds RNA in agreement with the presence of a putative RNA binding motif in the deduced amino acid sequence. The protein shows 33% identity and 53% similarity with the Tif35p subunit (YDR 429C) of yeast eIF3. Transfection experiments demonstrated that polyhistidine-tagged p42 protein, transiently expressed in human U20S cells, was incorporated into endogenous eIF3. Furthermore, eIF3 isolated from transfected cell lysates contains bound eIF5 indicating that a specific physical interaction between eIF5 and eIF3 may play an important role in the function of eIF5 during translation initiation in eukaryotic cells.
Para-Hisian entrainment: a novel pacing maneuver to differentiate orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia from atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Introduction: Para-Hisian pacing during sinus rhythm can help to identify the presence of an accessory pathway (AP). In this maneuver, the retrograde activation time and pattern are compared during capture and loss-of-capture of the His bundle while pacing from a para-Hisian position. However, identification of a retrograde AP does not necessitate that it is operative during the tachycardia of interest; conversely, slowly conducting or “distant” bypass tracts may not be identified. We evaluated the utility of entrainment or resetting of tachycardias from the para-Hisian position to help distinguish atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) from orthodromic atrioventricular tachycardia (AVRT). Methods and Results: Para-Hisian entrainment/resetting was evaluated in 50 patients: 33 with AVNRT and 17 with AVRT. The maneuvers were performed using a standard quadripolar catheter placed at the His position: low output for right ventricular (RV) capture and high output for both RV and His capture. The retrograde atrial activation sequence, SA interval (interval from stimulus to earliest retrograde atrial activation), and “local” VA interval (interval between the ventricular and atrial electrograms at the site of earliest retrograde atrial activation) were compared between His and His/RV capture. The ΔSA was >40 ms in patients with AVNRT and was <40 ms in all but one patient with AVRT. In concert with the ΔSA interval, the ΔVA interval was able to fully define the mechanism of the tachycardia in all patients studied. Conclusion: Para-Hisian entrainment/resetting can determine the course of retrograde conduction operative during narrow complex tachycardias. It is a useful diagnostic maneuver in differentiating AVNRT and orthodromic AVRT. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 1321-1328, December 2003)
Erratum to: Microstructural and biomechanical alterations of the human aorta as a function of age and location

The online version of the original article can be found underdoi:10.1007/s10237-010-0209-7.D. Haskett · U. Utzinger · J. Vande GeestGraduate Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Engineering,The University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen St.,PO Box 210240, Tucson, AZ 85721-0240, USAG. JohnsonAgriculture and Biosystems Engineering,The University of Arizona, 1177 E 4th St. Room 403,PO Box 210038, Tucson, AZ 85721-0038, USAA. Zhou ·J. Vande Geest (
Cyanobacterial Contribution to Algal Nuclear Genomes Is Primarily Limited to Plastid Functions

Summary A single cyanobacterial primary endosymbiosis that occurred approximately 1.5 billion years ago [1–3] is believed to have given rise to the plastid in the common ancestor of the Plantae or Archaeplastida—the eukaryotic supergroup comprising red, green (including land plants), and glaucophyte algae [4–8]. Critical to plastid establishment was the transfer of endosymbiont genes to the host nucleus (i.e., endosymbiotic gene transfer [EGT]) [9, 10]. It has been postulated that plastid-derived EGT played a significant role in plant nuclear-genome evolution, with 18% (or 4,500) of all nuclear genes in Arabidopsis thaliana having a cyanobacterial origin with about one-half of these recruited for nonplastid functions [11]. Here, we determine whether the level of cyanobacterial gene recruitment proposed for Arabidopsis is of the same magnitude in the algal sisters of plants by analyzing expressed-sequence tag (EST) data from the glaucophyte alga Cyanophora paradoxa . Bioinformatic analysis of 3,576 Cyanophora nuclear genes shows that 10.8% of these with significant database hits are of cyanobacterial origin and one-ninth of these have nonplastid functions. Our data indicate that unlike plants, early-diverging algal groups appear to retain a smaller number of endosymbiont genes in their nucleus, with only a minor proportion of these recruited for nonplastid functions.
Culture and 'compliance' among leprosy patients in Pakistan.

Abstract In Pakistan approx. 30% of the 18,000 known leprosy patients have dropped out of their treatment programs. To investigate reasons for such widespread noncompliance, 128 diagnosed leprosy patients—59 outpatients and 69 inpatients—were interviewed in Karachi. More than half of the ‘noncompliant’ outpatients denied having the disease. Denial was found to be an understandable coping mechanism in view of the severe stigma associated with leprosy. The presence of close-knit extended families, in which joint decision-making was the norm and in which such a dread diagnosis could spel the end of job and marriage prospects for even distant relatives, contributed to the likelihood of denial. In such a setting, the very term ‘noncompliant’ appeared to be an oversimplification since it covered so many different types of culturally-constrained behavior. In addition, many of the patients who initially seemed most ‘compliant’ by virtue of being long-term hospital inpatients in fact owed their hospitalization to the fact they had been markedly non compliant in the past. Thus the usual view that adherence to a biomedical treatment regimen constitutes ‘compliance’ and that nonadherence to such a regimen constitutes ‘noncompliance’ proved inadequate for understanding the health behavior of these Third World leprosy victims. The study also showed that many patients had initially consulted traditional healers, inadequately-trained physicians, and/or untrained medical practitioners for treatment of their symptoms, which resulted in lengthy delays before they were correctly diagnosed. Further, even after the diagnosis was made and appropriate medications were prescribed by trained personnel, most patients were not told what had caused their leprosy and how the drug regimen worked to combat it: when questioned, only 4% of the 128 respondents attributed the disease to infectious organisms. In addition, patients were usually not warned in advance of the possibility of undesirable side effects from their leprosy medications, which led to further ‘compliance’ problems. The findings of this study emphasize the need for better training of physicians and other health care providers in early diagnosis of leprosy and better health education of diagnosed patients. To be truly effective, the treatment of leprosy must include counseling of extended families and education of the public at large as well as enhanced communication with the patients themselves.
5'-Methylthioadenosine and related compounds as precursors of S-adenosylmethionine in yeast.

Abstract A supplement of 5′-methylthioadenosine (1.0 mM) in the culture medium of the yeast Candida utilis doubled the intracellular level of S -adenosylmethionine. 70% of the specific radioactivity of [8- 14 C]adenine- or 35 S-labeled 5′-methylthioadenosine was recovered in S -adenosylmethionine. The possibility of incorporation of the unfragmented nucleoside was tested by dilution experiments. An additional supplement of adenine or l -methionine greatly reduced the isotope recovery in the sulfonium compound; degradation of the nucleoside is thus indicated as the first phase of the recycling process.
Rat hepatic bile acid sulfotransferase: Identification of the catalytic polypeptide and evidence for polymeric forms in female rats

A monoclonal antibody, PK1B, directed against rat liver bile acid sulfotransferase was used for the purification and characterization of the enzyme. Incubation of rat liver supernatant with the antibody followed by immunoprecipitation with Staphylococcus aureus cells demonstrated that PK1B reacted with 90% of the enzymatic activity present in the liver supernatant from female rats and 40 to 50% of the activity in male liver preparations. Immunoadsorption chromatography with PK1B bound to Sepharose isolated active enzyme which was purified greater than 75-fold. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of this preparation in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol demonstrated three polypeptides: Mr 29,500; 32,500, and 34,000. Western blot analysis indicated that PK1B recognized an epitope which was found only on the Mr 29,500 polypeptide. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis associated the enzymatic activity with this Mr 29,500 band. High-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of immunopurified enzyme defined three distinct, enzymatically active protein populations: I (Mr 400,000 to 170,000); II (Mr 130,000), and III (Mr 43,000). An Mr 29,500 polypeptide was the sole constituent of Peaks I and III and a major constituent of Peak II. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of 2-mercaptoethanol indicated that in Peak II, catalytically active Mr 29,500 protein is associated with the other two polypeptides by disulfide bonds. In contrast, Peak I consists of a polymer of Mr 29,500 polypeptide which is independent of disulfide interaction.