cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Teacher in the Pennsylvania Project.

R EVIEWERS of research proposals and studies usually bring various kinds of experience and competence to the task of compiling a critique of the rationale, objectives, design, implementation, and procedures for gathering and analyzing data described in a particular research report. In this case, comments are focused primarily on the area of teacher training because of my own confidence in dealing with this aspect of foreign language education, because of the crucial importance of the role of participating teachers in carrying out the experimental design, and because the variables of teacher behavior and performance are of major concern in the implementation of any approach to foreign language instruction. Education majors, methods students, student teachers, and experienced teachers are likely to be confused and overwhelmed by conflicting statements regarding how they should or should not behave in the foreign language classroom. Gross misstatements and over-simplified generalizations, and unproved claims are often made in favor of "traditional" (foreign language learning is an intellectually acquired discipline) or "audio-lingual" (foreign language acquisition is a behaviorally cultivated skill) texts, classes, and teachers. Most foreign language educators take sides in this issue and choose a position somewhere on the continuum that ranges from "grammar translation" to "fundamental skills method." Students who participate in methods classes are usually forced by example and/or exclusion of alternative choices to teach a certain way or "method." Despite the argument that has been raging, some indisputable facts exist: 1. Not everyone (foreign-language educators or teachers) advocates the same "method". Each approach is widely found throughout the country. 2. Teachers mix techniques and methods of foreign language instruction, thus forming the "eclectic approach." 3. Well-controlled research has not proved conclusively that any method is superior to another.
Conformational Studies of Haloperidol

The high field1H,19F, and13C NMR spectra of haloperidol (HP) in CDCl3 solution were recorded and analyzed with the aid of both homonuclear (H, H-COSY, H, H-COSYLR) and heteronuclear (H,C-COSY) chemical shift correlation experiments. Through space interactions between (1) the piperidine ring and the chlorinated phenyl ring and (2) the fluorinated phenyl ring and a methylene group were identified using phase sensitive Nuclear Overhauser and Exchange Spectroscopy (NOESY). The NOESY results are consistent with a planar structure rather than a folded version of haloperidol.
A low-cost, portable, and quantitative spectral imaging system for application to biological tissues.

The ability of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to extract quantitative biological composition of tissues has been used to discern tissue types in both pre-clinical and clinical cancer studies. Typically, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy systems are designed for single-point measurements. Clinically, an imaging system would provide valuable spatial information on tissue composition. While it is feasible to build a multiplexed fiber-optic probe based spectral imaging system, these systems suffer from drawbacks with respect to cost and size. To address these we developed a compact and low cost system using a broadband light source with an 8-slot filter wheel for illumination and silicon photodiodes for detection. The spectral imaging system was tested on a set of tissue mimicking liquid phantoms which yielded an optical property extraction accuracy of 6.40 ± 7.78% for the absorption coefficient (µa) and 11.37 ± 19.62% for the wavelength-averaged reduced scattering coefficient (µs’).
Chemical fractionation of Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb in sewage sludge amended soils at the end of 65-d sorghum-sudan grass growth

Heavy metals are potentially toxic to human life and the environment. Metal toxicity depends on chemical associations in soil. Understanding the chemical association of trace elements in soils amended with biosolids is very important since it determines their availability within rhizosphere and mobility beyond the rhizosphere. A sequential extraction method was used to determine the various chemical associations [labile (exchangeable + sorbed), organic, carbonates, and sulfides] of Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb at the end of sorghum-sudan grass growth (65d) in Candler fine sand (pH = 6.8) and in Ogeechee loamy sand (pH = 5.2) amended with wastewater treatment sludge (WWTS) obtained from two different sources at application rates of 0, 24.7, 49.4, 98.8, and 148.2 Mg ha−1. Results of this study indicated that irrespective of the soil type, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Pb in the labile fractions (exchangeable + sorbed) were in the range of 0–3.0 mg kg−1 and the amount for Zn was in the range of 0.2–6.6 mg kg−1. Therefore, their...
Does chemoradiotherapy improve outcomes for surgically resected adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagus

Background To use a population-based registry to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy or radiation on survival for patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or stomach.
Composite priority queue

This paper presents formulas for calculating waiting time for customers in a queue with combined preemptive and head-of-line (nonpreemptive) priority scheduling disciplines and describes the reasoning behind them. This work has been applied in the development of programmable terminal control units.
Refractive index of solid argon

Synopsis The refractive index of solid argon at 5893 A was measured in the temperature range from 78° to 84° K and at pressures up to 71 atmospheres by determination of the angle of minimum deviation of a prism-shaped sample. At 83.81°K and P = 0, n = 1.26820 ± 0.00016.
Interactions between the retinoid X receptor and a conserved region of the TATA-binding protein mediate hormone-dependent transactivation

The retinoid X receptor (RXR) participates in a wide array of hormonal signaling pathways, either as a homodimer or as a heterodimer, with other members of the steroid and thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. In this report the ligand-dependent transactivation function of RXR has been characterized, and the ability of RXR to interact with components of the basal transcription machinery has been examined. In vivo and in vitro experiments indicate the RXR ligand-binding domain makes a direct, specific, and ligand-dependent contact with a highly conserved region of the TATA-binding protein. The ability of mutations that reduce ligand-dependent transcription by RXR to disrupt the RXR-TATA-binding protein interaction in vivo and in vitro suggests that RXR makes direct contact with the basal transcription machinery to achieve activation.
Neural dynamics in reconfigurable silicon

A neuromorphic analog chip is presented that is capable of implementing massively parallel neural computations while retaining the programmability of digital systems. We show measurements from neurons with Hopf bifurcations and integrate and fire neurons, excitatory and inhibitory synapses, passive dendrite cables and central pattern generators implemented on the chip. This chip provides a platform for not only simulating detailed neuron dynamics but also using the same to interface with actual cells in applications like a dynamic clamp. The programmability is achieved using floating gate transistors with on-chip programming control. The switch matrix for interconnecting the components also consists of floating-gate transistors. Massive computational area efficiency is obtained by using the reconfigurable interconnect as synaptic weights.
A positioning fixture for L-shaped rotating undercutting microknives.

A simple, inexpensive device which controls the insertion, positioning and withdrawal of cortical undercutting microknives is described. The device aids the “rolling” insertion of an L-shaped microknife which produces a minimum amount of overlying tissue damage while it holds the knife steady during undercutting and allows the blade to be withdrawn by way of the same track through which it was inserted.
Sieving by agarose gels and its use during pulsed-field electrophoresis.

(1990). Sieving by Agarose Gels and its Use During Pulsed-Field Electrophoresis. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 319-344.
Electrochemical Atomic-Layer Epitaxy: Electrodeposition of III-V and II-VI Compound Semiconductors

Electrochemical atomic-layer epitaxy (EC-ALE) is an approach to electrodepositing thin-films of compound semiconductors. It takes advantage of underpotential deposition (UPD), deposition of a surface limited amount (a monolayer or less) of an element at a potential less negative than bulk deposition, to form a thin-film of a compound—one atomic layer at a time. Ideally, the 2-D growth mode should promote epitaxial deposition. Many II-VI and a few III-V compounds have been formed by EC-ALE. TI-VI films such as CdSe, CdS, and CdTe have been successfully formed. In addition, deposition of III-V compounds of InAs and InSb are being explored, along with initial studies of GaAs deposition. Depositions of the I-VI systems are better understood so this report will focus on the III-V’s, particularly InAs and InSb. Building compounds an atomic layer at a time lends electrochemical-ALE to nanoscale technology. Deposited thickness ranged from a few nanometers to a few hundred. The films are typically characterized by atomic-force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) and ellipsometry. InAs deposits are also characterized by infrared reflection absorption.
An improved monolithic instrumentation amplifier

The design of an instrumentation amplifier fabricated using monolithic thin-film-on-silicon bipolar processing is described. The circuit features input as well as output overload protection, internal compensation, and improved noise and drift performance. A novel method of input-output signal coupling is described, which does not depend on tracking current sources, and provides a high degree of isolation for all but the desired signal components. The circuit is described in detail, and the layout techniques used to minimize thermal interaction are outlined. Finally, the performance of the circuit as typified by several production lots is reported.
Non-Thermal Atmospheric RF Plasma in One-Dimensional Spherical Coordinates

Summary form only given. We present one-dimensional simulations of atmospheric pressure RF-excited plasma with two concentric spherical electrodes and the inner electrode powered. This study is related to our previous articles of two-dimensional numerical modeling of the RF-excited plasma needle. Since the two- dimensional model has the disadvantage of being computationally intensive, several important issues are best investigated with the use of a geometrically simpler model such as one-dimensional spherical model. In this study, the coupled continuity equations and electron energy equation are solved with Poisson's equation using the finite element method. A mode transition is observed in the discharge power-voltage curve between 1 mW and 1000 mW. In the low power mode, ionization rate peaks only near the inner electrode. The electron-impact excitation and ionization rates peak in the local cathodic phase. In the high power mode, however, the rate of ionization peaks near the outer electrode as well as the inner electrode. The inner sheath significantly shrinks and the direct electron-impact ionization is the primary ionization reaction near the inner electrode. The ionization rate near the outer electrode is due to ohmic sheath oscillation heating of electrons. Penning ionization is the major ionization reaction near the outer electrode. Thus, two different ionization mechanisms coexist near the inner and outer electrode. Electron heating near the outer electrode may have implications for surface processing in atmospheric pressure microdischarges.
Routine counseling about intrauterine contraception for women seeking emergency contraception

Abstract Objective To compare contraceptive knowledge and use among women seeking emergency contraception (EC) before and after an inner-city clinic began providing structured counseling and offering same-day intrauterine device (IUD) or implant placement to all women seeking EC. Study design For 8 months before and 21 months after this change in clinic policy, women aged 15–45 who wanted to avoid pregnancy for at least 6 months were asked to complete surveys immediately, 3 and 12 months after their clinic visit. In addition, we abstracted electronic medical record (EMR) data on all women who sought EC ( n =328) during this period. We used chi-squared tests to assess pre/post differences in survey and EMR data. Results Surveys were completed by 186 women. After the clinic began offering structured counseling, more women had accurate knowledge of the effectiveness of IUDs, immediately and 3 months after their clinic visit. In addition, more women initiated IUD or implant use (survey: 40% vs. 17% preintervention, p=0.04; EMR: 22% vs. 10% preintervention, p=0.01), and fewer had no contraceptive use (survey: 3% vs. 17% preintervention, p Conclusions Routine provision of structured counseling with the offer of same-day IUD placement increases knowledge and use of IUDs 3 months after women seek EC. Implications Women seeking EC from family planning clinics should be offered counseling about highly effective reversible contraceptives with the option of same-day contraceptive placement.
Hypertonic saline worsens infarct volume after transient focal ischemia in rats.

Background and Purpose—Hypertonic saline (HS) has been advocated as a hyperosmolar agent for the treatment of cerebral edema, especially after traumatic brain injury. We tested the hypothesis that continuous intravenous HS administered during reperfusion from transient focal cerebral ischemia attenuates infarct volume. Methods—Halothane-anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by the intraluminal occlusion technique. At the onset of reperfusion, rats received a 10-mL/kg intravenous bolus of 0.9% saline (SAL, n=8) or 7.5% SAL (chloride:acetate 50:50, n=8) followed by a continuous infusion for 22 hours. In a second series of experiments, ischemic damage was determined in cohorts treated with equivolumetric 3% saline (n=8) or 20% mannitol (n=8). In a third series, regional cerebral blood flow was measured ([14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiography) at 6 hours of reperfusion in 7.5%-SAL–treated (n=5) or SAL-treated (n=5) animals. Results—In SAL rats, serum N...
Rapid microtiter assays for poxvirus topoisomerase, mammalian type IB topoisomerase and HIV-1 integrase: application to inhibitor isolation

We have developed microtiter assays for detecting catalysis by type IB topoisomerases and retroviral integrases. Each assay employs model DNA substrates containing biotin in one strand and digoxigenin in another. In each case action of the enzyme results in the formation of a single DNA strand containing both groups. This allows the reaction product to be quantified by capturing biotinylated product DNA on avidin-coated plates followed by detection using an anti-digoxigenin ELISA. The order of addition of reactants and inhibitors can be varied to distinguish effects of test compounds on different steps in the reaction. These assays were used to screen compound libraries for inhibitors active against mammalian topoisomerase or HIV integrase. We identified (–)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, as a potent inhibitor of religation by mammalian topoisomerase (IC 50 of 26 nM), potentially explaining the anti-cancer properties previously attributed to this compound. New integrase inhibitors were also identified. A similar strategy may be used to develop microtiter assays for many further DNA modifying enzymes.
MANDELBROT’S ECONOMICS AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY

A quarter century has passed since the bulk of Benoit Mandelbrot’s articles on economics were published. This paper outlines the broad reactions to Mandelbrot’s theses within the economics profession. There are two separate literatures which have responded skeptically to his innovations: that which considers the empirical possibility that economic time series are best described as stochastic processes based upon Levy stable distributions; and that which considers the possible evidence for chaotic dynamics in economic time series. The paper concludes that much of the skepticism in orthodox economics is founded upon inadequate empirical premises, especially when compared to the approach of physicists to similar issues.
RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY OF THE HAND IN CEREBRAL PALSY AND SPASTIC PARALYSIS RESULTING FROM INJURY TO THE SPINAL CORD

1. In cerebral-palsy patients, the majority of deformities about the hand cannot be aided by surgery. The prognosis is somewhat better for surgical procedures in those patients who have had an injury of the cervical cord with resulting spasticity of the hands. Spastic hands which are reasonably good from the outset can be improved by stretching, splinting, and re-education; those which lack a major muscle group or which have a specific deformity may, in some instances, be aided by surgery. The operative procedures are selective. Preliminary observation and study are essential. The end result is never a cure, but only an improvement in the ability to learn specific functions. Even though the better hand, or normal hand if present, will be used for most activities, the surgical procedures can give the patient a "helping hand", which will increase his independence. 2. Selective tenotomies and tendon transfers can improve function of the hand in certain patients with cerebral palsy or with spasticity resulting from trauma to the cervical cord. However, even with a carefully chosen and well executed program, failures will occur. 3. Tendon surgery, if indicated, is done as the initial procedure and is followed when necessary by joint arthrodesis. Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb is a useful procedure. The position of the wrist for arthrodesis should be determined carefully prior to the definitive operation. Neurectomies of the forearm or hand musculature have not been done in this group of patients.
Avoiding extinction: the future of economics

New physical constraints emerged in the 20th century and are changing the decision criteria used until now. Two optimisation problems are equivalent: (1) maximising discounted utility with a long-run survival constraint and (2) maximising a new type of utility that treats the present and future equally. The latter originates in normative axioms introduced by the author in Chichilnisky (1996a), which capture the essence of sustainable development. The article shows that in the economics of the future, normative and positive goals converge: the axioms representing what we would like merge with what will be observed. The 'weight' given to the long-run future is identified with the marginal utility of an environmental asset along a path that narrowly avoids extinction. No prior welfare criteria satisfy the axioms for sustainable development introduced by Chichilnisky (1996a; 1997). The implied decision criteria have practical implications for new forms of cost-benefit analysis, choices under uncertainty, optimal extraction of renewable resources and the optimisation of investment and trade. These preferences have been tested experimentally (Chanel and Chichilnisky, 2008) and identify the limits of nonparametric econometrics (Chichilnisky, 2009c).
Predictive model for adhesion loss of molding compounds from exposure to humid environments

While absorbed moisture poses a significant threat to the reliability of microelectronic assemblies, the role of moisture to the constitutive damage behavior of interfacial adhesion is not clear. There currently exists a lag in fundamental empirical data depicting the loss in interfacial adhesion as a function of moisture concentration. Given this lag in experimental data, even less effort has been spent developing predictive models that account for the effect of moisture on interfacial adhesion. This paper presents a systematic study conducted to better understand the fundamental science of moisture-induced degradation of interfacial adhesion. It is comprised of both experimental and modeling components of analysis. The experimental portion of this work characterizes the intrinsic interfacial adhesion loss from moisture and identifies the major energy dissipation mechanisms involved in the debonding process for an epoxy-metal bond. The analytical model is based on absorption theory and uses fracture mechanics to predict the loss in adhesion as a function of moisture content. Good agreement is obtained when comparing model predictions to experimental data.
Not in the Mood? Affective State and Transactive Communication

This study expanded transactive memory theory by incorporating affective influences on processes that have been primarily examined through a cognitive lens. Drawing on J. P. Forgas' (1995) affect infusion model, the research developed a multilevel model of the role of individual- and group-level state positive affect for individual transactive communication, operationalized as information seeking and sharing. A test of the model using 25 student groups showed that (a) both individual- and group-level positive affect were positively related to individual volume of transactive communication; (b) affective homogeneity among members of a group had a significant relationship to information sharing, but not information seeking; and (c) the interaction between affective homogeneity and group positive affect did not impact either transactive communication process.
Today's Personal Income Tax: Measuring Change and Discovering Innovation

This study expands on the author's 2005 research on the design of the personal income tax. The paper explores in depth the structural differences between the state and local tax regimes at December 31, 2014 and their 2003 counterparts.
Phagocytosis as a Surface Phenomenon. III. Influence of C1423 on the Contact Angle and on the Phagocytosis of Sensitized Encapsulated Bacteria

It has earlier been shown that specific anticapsular antibody increases the contact angle of encapsulated bacteria to a higher level than that of phagocytes, which makes phagocytosis possible. It was also shown that complement increases the contact angle and the phagocytosis of sensitized encapsulated bacteria even further.In this work it was demonstrated that the complement (C) components C1, C4, C2 and C3 together cause a marked increase of the contact angle, as well as of the phagocytosis of sensitized Escherichia coli 055 (EcAb). C components from C5 to C9 had no further influence on either the contact angle or the phagocytosis of EcAb.
Geopolitical Spaces: The Dialectic of Public and Private Space in the Palestine–Israel Conflict

The four-year-old al-Aqsa Intifada is portrayed by Israel and much of the American media as attacks in public space that prevented the operation of "normal" civil society. The source of the threat to Israeli public spaces is projected as emanating from the Palestinian private spaces of family households. Destruction of these private spaces is justified by the dialectical portrayal of Israeli public space; both then become geopolitical spaces. Israel has also attacked Palestinian public space—schools and Palestinian Authority offices—and has virtually demolished the infrastructure necessary to allow the administration of civil affairs to function and to act as an envelope for a public sphere.Using NGO reports, this paper highlights the experience of the ordinary Palestinians caught up in this dialectic of violence and resistance: the destruction of Palestinian public and private spaces to "secure" the Israeli state and the targeting of Israeli public space as a politics of Palestinian desperation, in the a...
Impact of Seasonality and Reproduction on Social Structure, Ranging Patterns, and Fission–Fusion Social Organization in Red Ruffed Lemurs

The red ruffed lemur, Varecia rubra, is a large-bodied, highly frugivorous lemur that gives birth to litters which are initially nested and then later transported orally to hidden, protected arboreal spots where they are periodically left unattended (e.g., Vasey, in press). A major question arises as to how a primate with such an unusual, costly reproductive pattern, involving simultaneous investment in multiple young, has become adapted to a diet that is seasonally scarce and requires relatively great foraging effort (e.g., in terms of time and/or distance traveled). To address this issue, I examine and compare the ranging patterns of female and
POLYPHOSPHAZENES: STRUCTURE AND APPLICATIONS

During the past ten years it has been conclusively demonstrated that stable polyorganophosphazenes can be prepared from an inorganic precursor, polydichlorophosphazene, by careful control of polymerization and substitution reaction conditions. A wide variety of polymers have been prepared by this route. Molecular weights of these polymers range from 10 5 to 10 6 . Evidence accumulated so far indicates that these polymers can be prepared free of gel and extensive chain branching. Both semicrystalline and amorphous polymers have been prepared. The successful preparation of stable polyorganophosphazenes appears to have resulted in a new class of inorganic backbone polymers for both research and development. This paper describes some of the dilute solution characterization and technological development of these polymers.
Melt-cast magnesial spinel refractories

The melt-cast MShL refractories of a magnesial spinel composition are characterized by a fine-grain, isometric structure with adequately developed direct contact between the high-refractory phases. The excellence of the technical properties of these refractories is the result of the strength of accretion of the crystals and the large number of direct contacts between them. At similar cooling rates of the crystallized MShL refractories, the graininess of the structures and their breakup by cavities into fine fragments (right down to individual grains) increase with an increase in the concentration of Cr2O3 and MgO.
Effects of Different Urea Amount and Seedling Number/Hole on Yield of Qianyou 301,a New Hybrid Rice Variety

Qianyou 301,a new hybrid rice variety,was tested to investigate effects of different urea amount and seedling number/hole on its yield.The results indicate that there is no significant difference in different seedling number/hole and a significant difference in different urea application amount under the cultivation condition in the first ten-day period of April of sowing time,12,000 holes/667m2 of plant density and only applying urea fertilizer.The yield of 670 kg/667m2 can be gained under 1 seedling/hole and 15 kg/667m2 of urea amount with 3 applications.The cultivation technique for high yield of Qianyou 301 is discussed at the same time.
Shoulder instability in athletics.

SUMMARY Shoulder instability continues to be a problem in athletes, but the incidence of recurrence and disability can be greatly reduced by a proper diagnosis initially and by adequate initial treatment. If recurrence does occur, adequate surgery using the techniques available should permit the athlete to continue with active participation. At the present time we favor the Bristow method of repair but realize that there are many other methods for repairing anterior dislocations of the shoulder that have given good results in the hands of those who are skilled in their use. Emphasis must be placed upon the complete rehabilitation of the athlete following surgery in order to get him back to full unrestricted use of his shoulder.
Electronic Release of Pathology and Radiology Results to Patients: Opinions and Experiences of Oncologists

Purpose:There is an emerging standard to provide patients rapid electronic access to elements of their medical records. Although surveys of patients generally support it, this practice is controversial among oncologists, because few empiric data are available for scenarios of potentially life-threatening conditions like cancer. We report the views of oncologists about patient electronic access to radiology and pathology results that could potentially indicate disease progression.Methods:Four months before oncologists were surveyed, final results of radiology/pathology reports were routinely made available to patients online through a secure portal after a 7-day, hold to provide clinicians time to review and communicate results with the patients. Mixed methods were used to assess physician attitudes and experiences toward this change.Results:One hundred twenty-nine oncologists were surveyed, and 82 (64%) responded. A small majority (54%) responded that the release of reports was somewhat or very beneficial...
Quality Control in Radioimmunoassay

An active quality control program is an absolute necessity to assure precision and accuracy of radioimmunoassay results. Guidelines for the initiation of an intralaboratory quality control program include a discussion of normal values and their establishment, preparation of a quality control pool, preparation and use of control charts, and the use of duplicates. The value of external surveys is also reviewed.
Controlling Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality After Lung Transplantation for Pulmonary Hypertension

Lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension now accounts for more than 18% of all transplantations performed with 1-year survival rates for primary pulmonary hypertension approximating 65%. Patients have NYHA class III or IV symptoms and typically have marked right ventricular dysfunction. Accelerated or acute decompensation can occur. A decline in status leads to a patient with severe right heart failure, hepatic dysfunction and severe malnutrition, conditions that increase perioperative morbidity and mortality. Immediate right ventricular dysfunction may be related to allograft injury with persistent elevation of pulmonary artery pressures or to intrinsic right ventricular disease; this can be supported with inotropic medications. Single-lung transplantation results in postoperative physiology that can require aggressive therapy to limit mortality. When allograft dysfunction occurs, significant hypoxemia results to a greater degree than that observed with single-lung transplantations for other diseases or following double-lung transplantation. As a result, careful donor selection for a single lung transplantation is crucial. The most common reason for prolonged ventilation is allograft reperfusion injury with ventilation-perfusion mismatching. Neuromuscular blockade can decrease oxygen utilization and improve chest wall compliance, whereas lateral positioning with the native lung down can be crucial to improving V/Q matching. Differential lung ventilation allows the application of larger quantities of positive end-expiratory pressure to the injured allograft. The use of exogenous nitrates has been advocated to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance. Nitric oxide has attractive potential benefits because it can be delivered directly to the lungs and functions to dilate the pulmonary vascular bed. All else having failed, we and others have successfully used extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support cardiopulmonary function.
ANISOTROPY OF THE AORTIC TISSUE IN THE AXIAL AND TRANSVERSE DIRECTIONS

ABSTRACT Mechanical properties of the porcine aortic tissue were studied by subjecting circumferential and longitudinal strips of the tissue to uniaxial states of stress. Stress-strain curves and transverse strain vs. axial strain curves were obtained for strips in the circumferential (6) and longitudinal (z) directions. The fact that these curves were distinct suggested anisotropic behavior of the tissue. To quantify the degree of separation of these curves directly, indexes of anisotropy were computed as ratios of stresses and strains in the θ and z directions at equal values of axial strains or stresses. It is shown that various stress and strain ratios, which would have a uniform value of unity if the tissue were isotropic, are far from having a constant value of one.
Calorimetric Determination of Thermodynamic Stability of MAX and MXene Phases

MXenes are layered two-dimensional materials with exciting properties useful to a wide range of energy applications. They are derived from ceramics (MAX phases) by leaching, and their properties reflect their resulting complex compositions which include intercalating cations and anions and water. Their thermodynamic stability is likely linked to these functional groups but has not yet been addressed by quantitative experimental measurements. We report enthalpies of formation from the elements at 25 °C measured using high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry for a layered Ti–Al–C MAX phase, and the corresponding Ti–C based MXene. The thermodynamic stability of the Ti3C2Tx MXene (Tx stands for anionic surface moieties, and intercalated cations) was assessed by calculating the enthalpy of reaction of the MAX phase (ideal composition Ti3AlC2) to form MXene. The very exothermic enthalpy of reaction confirms the stability of MXene in an aqueous environment. The surface terminations (O, OH, and F) and cat...
Visualization of phage DNA degradation by a type I CRISPR-Cas system at the single-cell level

Background The CRISPR-Cas system is a widespread prokaryotic defense system which targets and cleaves invasive nucleic acids, such as plasmids or viruses. So far, a great number of studies have focused on the components and mechanisms of this system, however, a direct visualization of CRISPR-Cas degrading invading DNA in real-time has not yet been studied at the single-cell level.
Abstract 258: Pitx2 Promotes Murine Myocardial Regeneration after Myocardial Injury

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Compromised myocardial function, due to the lack of self-renewal capacity in mature hearts, is a major reason for heart failure. Available therapies can only ameliorate, but not reverse the loss of functional myocardium. With heart transplantation as the only available cure, design of an effective regenerative therapy has become imperative for cardiovascular research. To repopulate the heart with de novo cardiomyocytes, most attempts have been based on the transplantation of cardiac, non-cardiac stem cells or their derivatives, however a more profound knowledge of stem cells is required for achieving significant progress. Meanwhile, triggering endogenous regenerative capacity is a compelling strategy for cardiac repair. It has been reported that proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes strongly contributes to regeneration. Thus, efforts have been made to reintroduce mature cardiomyocytes into mitotic cycle. The mechanisms underlying the proliferation of cardiomyocytes during development and their homeostasis during adulthood are not fully understood, but likely require tight regulation of transcription factors in specific cell types. We have previously shown that the mouse Hippo kinase cascade is a major heart-size control pathway during development. In addition, activation of Yap, a transcriptional cofactor inhibited by Hippo, by genetically disrupting Hippo signaling is sufficient to induce juvenile and adult myocardial regeneration after surgery-induced myocardial infarction. Here we identified the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (pitx2) as a potential downstream target and cofactor of Yap in mouse heart. Our data indicates that Pitx2 expression is induced by myocardial injury, and is required for neonatal myocardial regeneration in a postnatal day 1 (P1) apex resection model. Further studies show that over-expression of pitx2 in adult cardiomyocytes is sufficient to promote the restoration of myocardial structure and function after myocardial infarction. Together, we show that pitx2 is a new manipulator of myocardial regeneration and could serve as a novel therapeutic target in cardiac regenerative therapy.
Die Entwicklung einer Anwendung

Die nachstehenden Uberlegungen betreffen Anwendungsentwicklungsphasen, in denen ein Entscheid bezuglich einer Fortsetzung des Projektes zu treffen ist. Konkret betrifft dies die Phasen Objektsystem-Design (OSD) und Informationssystem-Design (ISD), In den restlichen Phasen der Anwendungsentwicklung, also im Konzeptionellen Daten-bankdesign (KDBD) und im Prozessdesign (PD), sind weniger Entscheidungsprozesse als vielmehr Routineprozesse von Bedeutung. Wahrend letztere bedenkenlos den Speziausten zu uberlassen sind, sind Entscheidungsprozesse unbedingt kooperativ, also mit Beteiligung der Entscheidungstrager, Schlusselpersonen, Sachbearbeiter sowie Informatiker, zu durchschreiten. In Abschnitt 7.2 kommt ein entsprechender Leitfaden, der sogenannte Problemlosungszyklus, zur Sprache. Letzterer ermoglicht die systematische Vorbereitung einer Entscheidung und gelangt sowohl im Objektsystem-Design (OSD) wie auch im Informationssystem-Design (ISD) zur Abwicklung (die beiden Phasen unterscheiden sich lediglich hinsichtlich des Detaillierungsgrades). Vorerst kommen wir aber in Abschnitt 7.1 nochmals auf das systemtheoretische Vorgehensprinzip “Vom Groben zum Detail” zu sprechen und erlautern, warum bei der Bearbeitung von Problemen grundsatzlich Losungsvarianten ins Auge zu fassen sind.
Developmental Disabilities Law and the Roles of Psychologists

Over the last decade Congress has passed a number of laws affecting developmentally disabled persons.1 Federal and state courts also have articulated important rights for developmentally disabled persons.2 State legislatures have enacted new laws, often in response to congressional or court action.3
Comparative characterization of in vivo and in vitro noise of the SIROF Utah electrode array

Microelectrode arrays are one of the most important tools for advancing our knowledge of biological neural systems. Thorough characterization of microelectrode arrays helps designers optimize neural interface circuits and systems as well as microelectrodes themselves, which in turn enables a better understanding of nervous systems. Noise and impedance of electrode arrays are important for determining specifications for neural interface electronics, but data are largely lacking in the literature. This work presents engineering-oriented characterizations of the commonly used SIROF Utah Electrode Array. The study demonstrates a strong correlation between noise and impedance, and finds a significant increase in both noise and impedance in vivo versus in vitro. We also observe an increase in low-frequency (< 1 kHz) noise in vivo that is consistent with biological noise reported elsewhere.
Fear conditioning model predicts key temporal aspects of conditioned response production

Five temporal aspects of the production of a conditioned response (CR) have been documented. Most of these phenomena were demonstrated using short-delay conditioning procedures, which are appropriate for eyeblink CRs. Relatively less is known about temporal aspects of CR production in longer delay conditioning procedures, which are common, for example, in studies of fear conditioning. Here, we show through computer simulations that our circuit-level model of fear conditioning predicts that these five time-domain phenomena should also be witnessed in longer delay conditioning procedures, provided that a suitable behavioral or neural probe is used. We explain how and why these phenomena emerge naturally from this general type of circuit-level model, which relies on intrinsic neuronal dynamics for time-domain computations, and we point out that the model furnishes a computational platform for Pavlov’s original notion of a slowly spreading “wave of excitation.” In accordance with Pavlov’s thinking, these various temporal phenomena are captured using a contiguity-driven learning mechanism.
Location of multiple equilibrium configurations near limit points by a double dogleg strategy and tunnelling

A hybrid method for locating multiple equilibrium configurations has been proposed recently. The hybrid method combined the efficiency of a quasi-Newton method capable of locating stable and unstable equilibrium solutions with a robust homotopy method capable of tracking equilibrium paths with turning points and exploiting sparsity of the Jacobian matrix at the same time. A quasi-Newton method in conjunction with a deflation technique is proposed here as an alternative to the hybrid method. The proposed method not only exploits sparsity and symmetry, but also represents an improvement in efficiency. Limit points and nearby equilibrium solutions, either stable or unstable, can be accurately located with the use of a modified pseudoinverse based on the singular value decomposition. This pseudoinverse modification destroys the Jacobian matrix sparsity, but is invoked only rarely (at limit and bifurcation points).
Naturalism, evolution, and self-defeat

L'A. montre que la structure logique de l'argumentation d'Alvin Plantinga dans son livre Warrant and Proper Function a ete mal interpretee et que celle-ci ne revele pas que le naturalisme est vaincu.
Estimation of Generalized Poisson Distribution by the Method of Weighted Discrepancies

The generalized Poisson distribution (GPD) has been found to be a very versatile discrete distribution with applications in various areas of study such as engineering, manufacturing, survival analysis, genetic and branching processes. In this paper, we study the estimation of generalized Poisson distribution by the method of weighted discrepancies between observed and expected frequencies. The methods of maximum likelihood, minimum chi-square and the minimum discrimination information estimation are special cases of the weighted discrepancies method. It is found that the weighted discrepancies method is better than the minimum chi-square method and compares very well with the maximum likelihood method.
Just in Time Load Balancing

Leveraging Loop Level Parallelism (LLP) is one of the most attractive techniques for improving program performance on emerging multi-cores. Ordinary programs contain a large amount of parallel and DOALL loops, however emerging multi-core designs feature a rapid increase in the number of on-chip cores and the ways such cores share on-chip resources - such as pipeline and memory hierarchy, leads to an increase in the number of possible high-performance configurations. This trend in emerging multi-core design makes attaining peak performance through the exploitation of LLP an increasingly complex problem.
Electronic Thermal Expansion and the Coherent Acoustic Phonons Generation

We have investigated the thermal expansion dynamics of metal films using femtosecond electron diffraction. We show that the electronic thermal expansion from the transient heating of conduction electrons contributes significantly in driving coherent acoustic phonons.
Adaptation-based programming

Partial programming is a field of study where users specify an outline or skeleton of a program, but leave various parts undefined. The undefined parts are then completed by an external mechanism to form a complete program. Adaptation-Based Programming (ABP) is a method of partial programming that utilizes techniques from the field of reinforcement learning (RL), a subfield of machine learning, to find good completions of those partial programs. An ABP user writes a partial program in some host programming language. At various points where the programmer is uncertain of the best course of action, they include choices that non-deterministically select amongst several options. Additionally, users indicate program success through a reward construct somewhere in their program. The resulting non-deterministic program is completed by treating it as an equivalent RL problem and solving the problem with techniques from that field. Over repeated executions, the RL algorithms within the ABP system will learn to select choices at various points that maximize the reward received. This thesis explores various aspects of ABP such as the semantics of different implementations, including different design trade-offs encountered with each approach. The goal of all approaches is to present a model for programs that adapt to their environment based on the points of uncertainty within the program that the programmer has indicated. The first approach presented in this work is an implementation of ABP as a domain-specific language embedded within a functional language. This language provides constructs for common patterns and situations that arise in adaptive programs. This language proves to be compositional and to foster rapid experimentation with different adaptation methods (e.g. learning algorithms). A second approach presents an implementation of ABP as an object-oriented library that models adaptive programs as formal systems from the field of RL called Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). This approach abstracts away many of the details of the learning algorithm from the casual user and uses a fixed learning algorithm to control the program adaptation rather than allowing it to vary. This abstraction results in an easier-to-use library, but limits the scenarios that ABP can effectively be used in. Moreover, treating adaptive programs as MDPs leads to some unintuitive situations where seemingly reasonably programs fail to adapt efficiently. This work addresses this problem with algorithms that analyze the adaptive program’s structure and data flow to boost the rate at which these problematic adaptive programs learn thus increasing the number of problems that ABP can effectively be used to solve. This work demonstrates a powerful new model for writing adaptive computer programs, and seamlessly integrates advanced RL technologies into general-purpose programming languages.