cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Review of State Policies on Principal Professional Development.

Although principal professional development (PPD) has been proven to improve school performance at various levels, professional development (PD) for teachers receives more time, resources, and attention at both district and state level. When PPD is provided it often does not meet research-based recommendations. The literature was reviewed and five criteria areas with multiple indicators for effective PPD outlined; these were subsequently revised and validated by experts in the field. The PPD certification policies of each U.S. state that made this information publicly accessible was examined through Department of Education websites, with clarification by phone when necessary. This study revealed that only one state met all indicators, and that most states did not have comprehensive, research-based PPD policies. Given the significant effect school leadership has on student achievement and school improvement, further research on PPD implementation should be prioritized.
Chapter 5 – General Procedures

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the classical molecular biology methods that are routinely used in clinical molecular diagnostic laboratories, either as part of patient testing procedures or as quality control and/or quality assurance measures. These procedures may also serve as building blocks of more sophisticated molecular diagnostic procedures. Although important molecular biology methods such as plasmid construct preparation, bacterial transformation, or transfection of mammalian cells are rarely if ever used in a molecular diagnostic laboratory, others such as gel electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction and ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry are commonly used. As the most commonly used analytical procedure in a molecular pathology laboratory, gel electrophoresis allows visualizing patient nucleic acid specimens or their assay products directly. Qualitative as well as quantitative information can be obtained from this procedure. Oftentimes, it is part of an assay procedure either as a quality control measure or as a detection method. Dependent on application needs, different gels or gel formats, such as agarose versus polyacrylamide, or slab gel versus capillary gel, can be used. A standard agarose gel apparatus is also referred to as a submarine apparatus, where a tray containing solidified agarose gel is submerged in buffer solution during electrophoresis. A gel tray is usually placed in a gel apparatus filled with running buffer before sample loading.
5.22 – Autoimmune Models*

Animal models of autoimmunity fall into four categories: (1) those induced by immunization with self-antigen, (2) those induced by exogenous agents including drugs, biologicals, environmental agents, and microbes, (3) those that arise spontaneously, and (4) those that are produced by genetic manipulation (homologous recombination, transgenics). The autoimmunity exhibited by these models covers a spectrum of diseases that fall into two broad categories: organ-specific and systemic autoimmunity. In organ-specific autoimmunity the target antigens and pathology are found in a single organ. Examples include myasthenia gravis, gastritis, thyroiditis, and diabetes. In systemic autoimmunity the self-antigens are far more ubiquitous in their tissue distribution and pathology is manifest in multiple organ systems. Examples include arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and scleroderma. Autoimmunity is multifactorial in nature with genetic predisposition, environment, infection, and chemical/drug exposures influencing disease expression. The overarching theme in controlling the expression of autoimmunity is the maintenance of immune tolerance to self. Animal models of autoimmune diseases have played a central role in the discovery of many of the mechanisms that result in the breaking of self-tolerance. This chapter describes a number of experimental animal models of autoimmunity and the underlying mechanisms that lead to disease. Also discussed is the influence of chemical/drug exposure in the generation of autoimmunity and the use of animal models as both healthy and autoimmune-prone populations in identifying potential chemical inducers of autoimmunity.
Novel Workflow for Conversion of Catheter-Based Electroanatomic Mapping to DICOM Imaging for Noninvasive Radioablation of Ventricular Tachycardia.

Abstract Purpose A recent clinical trial has demonstrated that noninvasive radioablation (NIRA) has the potential to reduce recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) that is refractory to drugs and standard catheter ablation. Electroanatomic mapping (EAM) that would be useful for planning is obtained during catheter ablation, but incompatibility between EAM and DICOM formats required for radiation planning has impeded the use of existing catheter-based mapping to guide NIRA and is an important hurdle for its wider adoption. In this paper we define a process to facilitate the fusion of catheter-based EAM with DICOM imaging for radiation planning. Method and Materials The raw data export of the CARTO3 EAM system (version 6.0.45.171, ".mesh" file) was processed with a MATLAB script to generate 3-dimensional (3D) visual took kit files containing X, Y, Z coordinates obtained during mapping and corresponding impedance, voltage, and other point-based information. The image could then be visualized with standard image processing software (3D Slicer) and the target outlined on the image surface. This structure was in turn converted to a DICOM image and fused with patient thoracic imaging using anatomic landmarks. Robustness of the workflow was assessed through implementation with a second magnetic resonance imaging based VT ablation planning system, ADAS-VT. Results This process facilitated the fusion of EAM and DICOM imaging to inform selection of NIRA targets. The workflow was found to be robust and compatible with a second VT ablation planning system. Conclusions The conversion of catheter-based EAM to a DICOM compatible format permits the fusion of images for radiation planning and provides an avenue for the wider application of NIRA. Further improvements in the compatibility of these imaging formats would be expected to improve quality and reproducibility of image fusion.
Really New Services: Perceived Risk and Adoption Intentions

This paper examines the influence of various facets of perceived risk (financial, performance, social, psychological, time, privacy) on consumers’ attitude toward really-new services (RNS) and thei...
Redefining Global Strategy: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter

Introduction -- Value in a world of differences -- Semiglobalization and strategy -- Differences across countries: the CAGE distance framework -- Global value creation: the ADDING value scorecard -- Strategies for global value creation -- Adaptation: adjusting to differences -- Aggregation: overcoming differences -- Arbitrage: exploiting differences -- Playing the differences: the AAA triangle -- Toward a better future: getting started.
SALINIZATION IN UZBEKISTAN

As the amount of agricultural lands has increased over the years in Uzbekistan, problems associated with the impacts of irrigation water use have occurred. The most serious and widespread of the effects may be the secondary salinization of soils. Serious salinization problems along the lower courses of the Syr Dar'ya and Amu Dar'ya basins are a contrast to milder problems along their upper courses. This paper illustrates the extent of the soil salinization problem in Uzbekistan, identifies key problem areas, and demonstrates the need for an adequate response.
Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Following the Introduction of 13-Valent Conjugate Vaccine in Children in New York City From 2007 to 2012

Importance Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a leading cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia in children. In March 2010, a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was introduced to the routine childhood immunization schedule. The PCV13 contains 6 serotypes not included in the previously recommended 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, including serotype 19A, the predominant cause of IPD prior to the introduction of PCV13. Objectives To describe changes in the epidemiology and incidence of IPD in children younger than 5 years in New York City (NYC) after the introduction of PCV13 and assess PCV13 coverage in NYC. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective analysis of population-based IPD surveillance data of the general population residing in NYC between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2012. Invasive pneumococcal disease cases were identified by laboratory reporting of positive pneumococcal cultures from a normally sterile body site in NYC residents younger than 5 years. Isolates were serotyped. Participants included 468 cases younger than 5 years with IPD reported through routine surveillance to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Main Outcomes and Measures Absolute differences and percentage changes in IPD incidence before and after the introduction of PCV13 by serotype grouping, age, and race/ethnicity. The number of PCV13 doses administered to children younger than 5 years was calculated using the NYC immunization information system. Results There were 468 IPD cases from 2007 to 2012. The incidence of IPD decreased by 69.6% (95% CI, −79.3% to −55.5%) from 21.0 cases per 100 000 (2007-2009 mean) pre-PCV13 to 6.4 cases per 100 000 (2011-2012 mean) post-PCV13. Estimates of disease caused by serotypes included in the PCV13 decreased by 82.5% (95% CI, −90.0% to −69.3%), including a 79.7% reduction in serotype 19A (95% CI, −89.0% to −62.4%). Reductions in IPD incidence were seen in all age groups, with the largest reduction in children younger than 12 months (80.4%; P = .005). Incidence decreased significantly in all racial/ethnic groups. The percentage of children younger than 5 years in NYC with 1 or more doses of PCV13 increased from 47.8% in 2010 to 89.8% in 2012. Conclusions and Relevance The incidence of IPD in NYC children younger than 5 years and, particularly, the incidence of IPD caused by serotype 19A decreased dramatically following the introduction of PCV13, with reductions among all age and racial/ethnic groups. This represents a significant achievement for public health immunization programs and underscores the importance of achieving high immunization coverage.
A kinetic study of polymer crystallization from solution

The crystallization of moderately dilute solutions (ca. 1%) of poly(decamethylene terephthalate) in 1,2-dichloroethane has been studied by microscopy and light scattering and it has been found that a well-defined transition occurs in the growth rate for the crystallizing particles. The transition occurs at an average size of ca. 2.5 · 10−5cm., and probably represents the change from single crystal to polycrystal growth. Both stages of growth show a linear increase in dimensions with time, but the growth rate for the first stage is approximately twenty times less than that for the second. The nuclei responsible for initiating growth stem from heterogeneities, but their extremely small size (< 100 A.) makes it unlikely that they are adventitious solid impurities. An alternative is that they may be associated with abnormalities in the polymer molecules themselves, involving chemically-modified sites in the chains. Die Kristallisation von Polydecamethylenterephthalat aus masig verdunnten Losungen (ca. 1%) von 1,2-Dichlorathan wurde mit Hilfe von Mikroskopischen und Lichtstreuungs-Messungen untersucht. Bei einer mittleren Grose der kristallisierenden Teilchen von etwa 2,5 · 10−5 cm zeigte die Wachstumsrate einen wohdefinierten Sprung, der Wahrscheinlich durch den Ubergang vom Wachstum der Einkristalle zu dem der polykristallinen Gebilde verursacht wird. In beiden Wachstumsstufen nehmen die Partikeldimensionen linear mit der Zeit zu, aber die Geschwindigkeit ist zuerst etwa 20 mal kleiner als im weiteren Verlauf der Kristallisation. Aus dem Verlauf der Kristallisation wird auf eine heterogene Keimbildung geschlossen, wobei die extrem kleine Ausdehung der Keime (< 100 A) die Annahme von Anomalitaten in der Konfiguration der Ketten als Ursache der Keimbildung nahelegt.
Image reconstruction from TE scattering data using strong permittivity fluctuation theory

Compared to the TM case, the inverse scattering problem for the TE incident field is more complicated, due to its stronger nonlinearity. This work provides an effective method for the reconstruction of 2D inhomogeneous dielectric objects from TE scattering data. The algorithm is the combination of the distorted Born iterative method and strong permittivity fluctuation theory. Numerical simulations are performed and the results show that the distorted Born iterative method for strong permittivity fluctuation (SPF-DBIM) converges faster and can obtain better reconstructions for objects with larger dimensions and higher contrast in comparison with the ordinary distorted Born iterative method (DBIM). A frequency hopping technique is also applied to further increase the contrast.
SPADES a system for parallel-agent, discrete-event simulation

Simulations are an excellent tool for studying AI. However, the simulation technology in use by, and designed for, the AI community often fails to take advantage of much of the work in the larger simulation community to produce stable, repeatable, and efficient simulations. I present SPADES (SYSTEM FOR PARALLEL-AGENT DISCRETE-EVENT SIMULATION) as a simulation substrate for the AI community. SPADES focuses on the agent as a fundamental simulation component. The "thinking time" of an agent is tracked and reflected in the results of the agents' actions. SPADES supports and manages the distribution of agents across machines while it is robust to variations in network performance and machine load. SPADES is not tied to any particular simulation and is a powerful new tool for creating simulations for the study of AI.
Rudimentary deep tissue imaging through a wearable real-time monitoring system

We present a novel wearable monitoring system to image the dielectric properties of internal body tissues pixel-by-pixel, and effectively determine irregularities in real-time. The proposed system consists of a flexible wearable sensor and a dielectric constant extraction technique. A set of on-body electrodes is employed to obtain scattering parameters used to extract the electrical properties of the underlying tissues at 40 MHz. Preliminary results show that accuracies as high as 6.75% can be achieved. Using this sensor, tissue abnormalities can be identified unobtrusively for a wide range of applications.
The association between knowledge of hepatitis C virus status and risk behaviors in injection drug users.

Aims The three primary objectives of this study were (1) to document the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and awareness of one's status in a sample of street-recruited injection drug users (IDUs); (2) to compare the drug use and HCV risk behaviors of IDUs who reported that they were HCV infected with those who were unaware of their status and subsequently tested positive for HCV antibodies; and (3) to assess associations between risk factors and HCV status by comparing those who tested positive with those who tested negative. Design IDUs responded to structured interview questions assessing HCV risk behaviors and were offered a free HCV test. Setting Subjects were recruited through street outreach in Denver, CO, USA. Participants Participants were current, out-of-treatment IDUs. Measurements A modified version of the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA) and HCV test results were used. Findings Of the 197 participants, 20% had been diagnosed previously with HCV. Of those who did not know their status, 61% tested positive for HCV antibodies. Those who knew they were positive had been injecting longer but engaged in fewer HCV risk behaviors than those who did not know their status. Compared to those who tested negative, those who tested positive were more likely to be male, non-white and older. They also had been injecting longer, were more likely to use heroin and/or crack cocaine and consumed more alcohol. Conclusions In this study, a very large proportion of injection drug users who had hepatitis C were unaware of it, and they were engaging in more risk behaviors than those who were aware of their positive status. Risk factors associated with positive HCV status were identified so that those who are most at-risk for HCV might be targeted for testing and subsequent prevention or care.
Limits of predictive current-ripple suppression in switching power-supply ICs

Large inductance requirements (for accuracy) in switching power supplies for portable applications impede system-on-chip (SoC) integration and therefore form-factor reduction because on-chip inductances are invariably low and off-chip inductors intolerably obtrusive. Cancelling the current ripple of innately small on-chip inductors, however, keeps the effective output current ripple and its resulting output voltage variation (i.e. accuracy) within acceptable window limits (e.g. 50-200 mA and 20-50 mV), effectively multiplying the on-chip inductance and circumventing the need for bulky off-chip inductors. To this end, while gyrators and other voltage-mode inductor multiplier circuitry simulate relatively high inductances, they cannot supply the 250-750 mW loads typically attached to battery-powered switching regulators, which the predictive current-mode multipliers discussed in this paper can. The basic objective is to cancel the ac inductor current ripple with an inverting ac replica and allow the on-chip inductor to source the full dc load. Ac mismatches in the form of amplitude, delay and non-linearity, however, limit the extent to which the original ac ripple is cancelled, constraining the inductor multiplication factor to finite values. The foregoing paper describes, illustrates and derives the effects of these mismatches on the multiplication factor and shows how realistic non-idealities (e.g. up to 10% gain error and less than 10 ns of delay) can yield inductance multiplication factors of 125 H/H at 100 kHz and 11.5 H/H at 10 MHz in a practical switching dc-dc power-supply integrated circuit (IC).
Phase behavior of polystyrene–polyisoprene–toluene systems in the temperature range 15–45°c

The phase behavior of narrow molecular weight distribution samples of polystyrene and polyisoprene in the presence of toluene was investigated by means of gel permeation chromatography. Equilibrium phase diagrams, tie lines, and critical points for a number of partially miscible polystyrene-polyisoprene-toluene systems were generated at 15 and 30°C and 1 atm pressure. The data were combined with previously reported results at 45°C. Using the experimentally determined phase compositions along with literature values of the polymer–solvent interaction parameters, the polymer–polymer interaction parameters were evaluated using the Flory–Huggins theory. The influence of temperature, polymer molecular weight, and polymer–solvant interaction parameters on the size, shape, and location of the equilibrium phase curve, the location of the critical point, and the polymer–polymer interaction parameter was studied.
A MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDY ON THE CITRATE LYASE OF STREPTOCOCCUS DIACETILACTIS.

Summary By the use of pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, the dissociation constant of Mn2+-citrate lyase (citrate oxaloacetate-lyase, EC 4.1.3.6) has been determined to be 0.4 · 10−4 M. This value is in agreement with the kinetically determined value. No evidence for ternary complex formation was found. The reaction would seem to be one that involves a metal-enzyme acting upon citrate (or acetate and oxaloacetate) rather than an enzyme acting upon a metal-citrate complex.
Diversity of ascomycete laccase gene sequences in a southeastern US salt marsh.

The diversity of ascomycete laccase sequences was surveyed in a southeastern US salt marsh using a degenerate primer set designed around copper binding sites conserved in fungal laccases. This gene was targeted for diversity analysis because of its potential function in lignin degradation in the salt marsh ecosystem and because few studies have assessed functional gene diversity in natural fungal communities. Laccase sequences were amplified from genomic DNA extracted from 24 isolates (representing 10 ascomycete species) cultured from decaying blades of Spartina alterniflora, and from DNA extracted directly from the decaying blades. Among the ascomycete isolates, 21 yielded a PCR product of expected size (˜900 bp) that was tentatively identified as laccase based on sequence similarities to previously published laccase sequences from related organisms. Overall, 13 distinct sequence types, containing 39 distinct sequences, were identified among the isolates, with several species yielding multiple distinct laccase types. PCR amplifications from early and late decay blades of S. alterniflora yielded seven laccase types. Of these, five were composed of sequences >96% similar at the amino acid level to sequences from three cultured ascomycetes previously found to be dominant members of the fungal communities on decaying S. alterniflora blades. Two of the laccase types from the natural-decay clone library were novel and did not match any of the sequences obtained from the cultured ascomycetes. The 39 distinct sequences and 15 distinct laccase sequence types retrieved from the S. alterniflora decay system demonstrate high sequence diversity of this functional gene in a natural fungal community.
Effects of after-ripening and storage regimens on seed-germination behavior of seven species of Physaria

Abstract The after-ripening response has been well documented in many plant species but studies of this topic are lacking in many new oilseed crops such as Physaria . In a factorial experiment, we tested the effect of different after-ripening periods and germination conditions on freshly harvested seeds of seven Physaria species, Physaria argyraea , Physaria fendleri , Physaria gracilis , Physaria rectipes , Physaria recurvata , Physaria sessilis , and Physaria thamnophila . The seeds were stored for 4 and 12 weeks over two saturated salt solutions (LiCl and MgCl 2 ) to equilibrate seed moisture at three storage temperatures (5, 25, and 35 °C). We likewise tested a dormancy-breaking protocol on these species by using conditions previously recommended for use in genebanks for P. fendleri . The germination tests were conducted with light (1052 lux) and gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) (100 ppm) and without them. Results suggested that conditions previously set for P. fendleri are also adequate for P. gracilis, P. recurvata, and P. sessilis , but may still be not optimal for the perennial species, P. argyraea , P. thamnophila , and P. rectipes . Overall, higher germination percentages were obtained with light and GA 3 treatments. In all species, we observed slight differences between total germination results after 4 weeks and 12 weeks of storage, with higher values evident only in P. fendleri, P. recurvata, and P. thamnophila after their fresh seeds were subjected to 12 weeks of after-ripening at warm temperatures.
Thermoregulation in mice following acute chlordimeform administration.

Abstract CBA/J mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the formamidine insecticide chlordimeform (CDM) while colonic temperature, preferred ambient temperature (Ta), and lethality were monitored. In the first experiment there was a dose-dependent decrease in colonic temperature when measured 60 min after administering CDM doses of 0, 15, 30, 60, and 75 mg/kg. The hypothermic effect of CDM was more pronounced at a Ta of 20°C than at 30°C. In the second experiment, CDM at doses > 30 mg/kg caused a dose-dependent reduction in preferred Ta from the normal value of approx. 30°C to approx. 22°C. Thus, the CDM-treated mouse lowered body temperature by selecting a cool Ta which accelerated the hypothermic effect. In the final experiment, a 90 mg/kg i.p. injection of CDM (the approximate LD50 dose) caused 10% and 0% mortality at a Ta of 20 and 30°C, respectively, and 80% mortality at a Ta of 35°C. It is concluded that the physiological and behavioral response to CDM administration, i.e., selecting a cool Ta and lowering body temperature, may be beneficial to survival.
Food preferences among the Polish young adults

Abstract Preferences for various food were investigated among university students in northern Poland. Cucumbers and tomatoes from the vegetable category, and peaches, sweet cherries, strawberries, grapes and apples, all fruit of sweet taste, were the most preferred items. From the meats, chicken was selected by almost half the subjects, and cod and herrings were mostly chosen among fish. Of the dairy products, hard cheese was ranked in the highest position, followed by low-fat cottage cheese and low-fat milk. For beverages, fruit juices, and for desserts, fresh fruit, ice cream and cheesecake, were best liked. The significant choice factors for both vegetables and fruit included freshness and taste; and the least important were advertising and fashion. The rankings of items and choice factors among male and female students were highly correlated, but significant gender influence on degree of liking for many vegetables and fruit and scores of their choice factors was also observed. ©
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression in the ovary during the rat estrous cycle

Recent evidence indicates that the GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) gene is expressed in a number of tissues besides the anterior pituitary gland, suggesting that GnRH may serve other functions in addition to its role as a hypothalamic releasing factor. In particular, high levels of GnRH-R transcripts have been detected in rat and human ovarian granulosa cells. To better understand the role of the GnRH-R in the ovary under physiological conditions and to determine which follicles are potentially responsive to the actions of GnRH, we used in situ hybridization histochemistry and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for measurement of ovarian GnRH-R messenger RNA (mRNA) expression during the rat ovulatory cycle. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that total ovarian GnRH-R mRNA levels were elevated significantly at 1800 h on proestrus and again at 0900 and 1800 h on estrus compared to metestrus 0900 h levels. In situ hybridization analysis of GnRH-R gene expressio...
Ni(II) complexation to amorphous hydrous ferric oxide: an X-ray absorption spectroscopy study.

Ni(II) sorption onto iron oxides and in particular hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) is among the important processes impacting its distribution, mobility, and bioavailability in environment. To develop mechanistic models for Ni, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis has been conducted on Ni(II) sorbed to HFO. Coprecipitation revealed the formation of the metastable {alpha}-Ni(OH){sub 2} at a Ni(II) loading of 3.5 x 10{sup -3} mol g{sup -1}. On the other hand, Ni(II) formed inner-sphere mononuclear bidentate complexes along edges of FeO{sub 6} octahedra when sorbed to HFO surfaces with Ni-O distances of 2.05-2.07 {angstrom} and Ni-Fe distances of 3.07-3.11 {angstrom}. This surface complex was observed by EXAFS study over 2.8 x 10{sup -3} to 10{sup -1} ionic strength, pH from 6 to 7, a Ni(II) loading of 8 x 10{sup -4} to 8.1 x 10{sup 03} mol g{sup -1} HFO, and reaction times from 4 hours to 8 months. The short- and long-range structure analyses suggest that the presence of Ni(II) inhibited transformation of the amorphous iron oxide into a more crystalline form. However, Ni{sup 2+} was not observed to substitute for Fe{sup 3+} in the oxide structure. This study systematically addresses Ni(II) adsorption mechanisms to amorphous iron oxide. Themore » experimentally defined surface complexes can be used to constrain surface complexation modeling for improved prediction of metal distribution at the iron oxide/aqueous interface.« less
Monoclonal antibodies to the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate: production, properties and comparison with polyclonal antibodies.

Hybridomas that secrete monoclonal antibodies to the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate (MTX) were produced by fusion of FO myeloma cells with splenocytes obtained from BALB/c mice immunized with L-MTX covalently bound to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). When the MTX/KLH molar ratio was 4301 or 5301 (high MTX series), 238412 (58%) or 157405 (39%), respectfully, of antibody producing hybridomas secreted only antibodies to MTX. In contrast, only 15412 (40%) or 54405 (13%) hybridomas secreted only antibodies to KLH. When the molar ratio was 501 (low MTX series), only 14343 (4%) of the wells obtained anti-MTX and 93343 (27%) contained antibodies to KLH. The predominance of anti-MTX over anti-KLH secretors in the 2 high MTX series, and the reverse predominance of anti-KLH secretors over anti-MTX hybridomas in the low MTX series was highly significant (P < 0.001). The anti-MTX antibodies were mainly IgG1 with fewer IgG2a and IgG2b subclasses. All were kappa chain isotypes. No IgM or IgA antibodies were detected. Titers and binding constants of monoclonal anti-MTX antibodies in ascites fluid obtained from mice injected with selected cell lines were higher than those of conventional rabbit, mouse, or goat antibodies. Based on results of competitive inhibition radioimmunoassays, the ascites monoclonal antibodies were at least as specific as the conventional antibodies for MTX compared to structurally related compounds. IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies had high titers in complement mediated hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes that contained MTX on the cell surface (E-MTX) and also bound 125I-labeled protein A when complexed to MTX on these cells. IgG1 antibodies were relatively weak in the hemolysis assay and failed to bind 125I-labeled protein A directly. Hemolytic activity and 125I-labeled protein A binding were markedly enhanced when E-MTX cells were treated sequentially with IgG1 anti-MTX then rabbit IgG antibodies to mouse IgG1.
Operation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)–inhibin B feedback loop in the control of primate spermatogenesis

This paper reviews our current understanding of the function and operation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-inhibin feedback loop in the male rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Inhibin B is the major testicular inhibin in the monkey, and the pattern of secretion of this hormone during postnatal development is temporally coupled to that of gonadotropin. Inhibin B secretion by the Sertoli cell is stimulated by FSH and inhibited by luteinizing hormone (LH), the latter presumably acting via Leydig cell production of testosterone (T). The dynamics of the FSH-inhibin B feedback loop in the adult monkey is revealed following unilateral orchidectomy (UO). Interestingly, a sustained, 50% deficit in inhibin B secretion occurs after UO and this persistent error signal, in turn, results in elevated concentrations of FSH in the circulation. The elevated secretion of FSH appears to be the principal drive for the increased sperm output by the remaining testis. Available data for the functioning of the FSH-inhibin B feedback loop in the human male are placed in perspective, and a model for the negative feedback regulation of sperm number in primates is proposed.
Investigating language use through corpusbased analyses of association patterns

The present paper argues that analyses of language use provide an important complementary perspective to traditional linguistic descriptions, and that empirical approaches are required for such investigations. Corpus-based techniques are particularly well suited to these research purposes, enabling investigation of research questions that were previously disregarded. Specifically, the paper discusses the use of corpus-based techniques to identify and analyze complex "association patterns": the systematic ways in which linguistic features are used in association with other linguistic and non-linguistic features. Several illustrative analyses are discussed, investigating the use of lexical features, grammatical features, and the overall patterns of variability among texts and registers.
Instrumented Team Learning—A New Concept for Teaching Twelfth Grade English:

Group learning can work if the group is held accountable for the learning that takes place.
Long vs. short monitoring intervals for peach harvesters exposed to foliar azinphos-methyl residues.

A dermal monitoring study of peach harvesters exposed to azinphos-methyl (AM) residues was conducted in Sutler County, California. Harvesters were paid by piecework, which allowed characterization of the relationship between dermal exposure (DE) and time or production. Workers wore 2 long-sleeved knit T-shirts for each monitoring interval and also provided a hand residue sample. Dislodgeable foliar residue (DFR) samples were also collected. The highest correlations were found for inner shirts vs. production and DE vs. time worked (r2 = 0.67, P < 0.01). DE was greatest after 2-h exposures and reached equilibrium after 3 h, indicating that exposure estimates from shorter intervals would overestimate exposure.
The measurement of nucleic acid phosphorus turnover in rat liver by the constant exposure technique

Abstract Using the continuous exposure technique, we have compared measurements of nucleic acid turnover obtained with phosphate-P32 with previous observations in which C14O2 was used as a tracer. When proper correction was made for the precursor pool, the rate constant for P32 incorporation into the RNA was found to be similar to that previously observed for C14 incorporation into the RNA purines. It is therefore concluded that RNA is synthesized and degraded as a unit. In young growing rats the rate of growth, estimated from the increase in liver weight, was compared with the increase in DNA estimated from the incorporation of P32. The latter values were lower than the former as was observed previously with C14. This discrepancy may be attributed to a decreasing concentration of DNA in the livers during the experimental period chosen. From the similarity in the rates of incorporation of C14 and of P32 into the DNA, it appears that DNA is likewise synthesized as a unit.
The effect of visual design and placement of intra-article navigation schemes on reading comprehension and website user perceptions

Multipage articles on websites require intra-article navigation schemes and, when well designed, such navigational schemes signal the topical structure of the article's contents. This study examines the effect of the visual design and placement of intra-article navigation schemes on website users' reading comprehension and user experience. Using an informational medical website, four treatments of an intra-article navigation scheme were varied in their level of visual distinctness from the site's other navigation devices and in their placement in the web page. Significant differences were found for reading comprehension and perceived knowledge gained. Reading comprehension was highest with an intra-article navigation scheme that was most visually distinct as an article table of contents and that replaced the site's navigation on the web page layout. Paradoxically, participants' perceptions of the amount of knowledge they gained were rated lowest for this condition. Suggestions for navigation design are presented.
Food preparation supplies predict children's family meal and home-prepared dinner consumption in low-income households.

Frequent family meals and home food preparation are considered important for children’s nutritional health and weight maintenance. This cross-sectional study tested whether these parent-driven behaviors are related to the availability of food preparation supplies in low-income urban households. Caregivers of children ages 6–13 provided information on family meal frequency, child consumption of home-prepared dinners, household food insecurity, and attitudes towards cooking. Researchers used a newly developed Food Preparation Checklist (FPC) to assess the availability of 41 food preparation supplies during a physical audit of the home environment. Caregivers and children provided anthropometric measurements and jointly reported on child dietary intake. In ordinal logistic regression models, greater home availability of food preparation supplies was associated with more frequent family meals and child consumption of home-prepared dinners. Associations were independent of household financial strain, food insecurity, caregiver attitudes toward cooking, and sociodemographic characteristics. Fewer food preparation supplies were available in households characterized by greater food insecurity, lower income, and negative caregiver attitudes towards cooking, but did not differ by child or caregiver weight status. As in prior studies, more frequent family meals and consumption of home-prepared dinners were associated with healthier child dietary intake in several areas. We conclude that food preparation supplies are often limited in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged households, and their availability is related to the frequency with which children consume family meals and home-prepared dinners. The potential role of food preparation supplies as contributors to socioeconomic disparities in child nutritional health and obesity deserves further study.
HOT: Hodge-optimized triangulations

We introduce Hodge-optimized triangulations (HOT), a family of well-shaped primal-dual pairs of complexes designed for fast and accurate computations in computer graphics. Previous work most commonly employs barycentric or circumcentric duals; while barycentric duals guarantee that the dual of each simplex lies within the simplex, circumcentric duals are often preferred due to the induced orthogonality between primal and dual complexes. We instead promote the use of weighted duals ("power diagrams"). They allow greater flexibility in the location of dual vertices while keeping primal-dual orthogonality, thus providing a valuable extension to the usual choices of dual by only adding one additional scalar per primal vertex. Furthermore, we introduce a family of functionals on pairs of complexes that we derive from bounds on the errors induced by diagonal Hodge stars, commonly used in discrete computations. The minimizers of these functionals, called HOT meshes, are shown to be generalizations of Centroidal Voronoi Tesselations and Optimal Delaunay Triangulations, and to provide increased accuracy and flexibility for a variety of computational purposes.
Compositional Space Parameterization: Theory and Application for Immiscible Displacements

Summary Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations in compositional flow simulators are used to find the partitioning of components among fluid phases, and they can be a time consuming kernel in a compositional flow simulation. We describe a tie-line-based compositional space parameterization (CSP) approach for dealing with immiscible gas-injection processes with large numbers of components. The multicomponent multiphase equilibrium problem is recast in terms of this parameterized compositional space, in which the solution path can be represented in a concise manner. This tie-line-based parameterization approach is used to speed up the phase behavior calculations of standard compositional simulation. Two schemes are employed. In the first method, the parameterization of the phase behavior is computed in a preprocessing step, and the results are stored in a table. During the course of a simulation, the flash calculation procedure is replaced by the solution of a multidimensional optimization problem in terms of the parameterized space. For processes where significant changes in pressure and temperature take place, this optimization procedure is combined with linear interpolation in tie-line space. In the second method, compositional space adaptive tabulation (CSAT) is used to accelerate the equation of state (EOS) computations associated with standard compositional reservoir simulation. The CSAT strategy takes advantage of the fact that, in gas injection processes, the solution path involves a limited number of tie-lines. The adaptively collected tie-lines are used to avoid redundant phase-stability checks in the course of a flow simulation. Specifically, we check if a given composition belongs to one of the tie-lines (or its extension) already in the table. If not, a new tie-line is computed and added to the table. The CSAT technique was implemented in a general-purpose research simulator (GPRS), which is designed for compositional flow simulation on unstructured grids. Using a variety of challenging models, we show that, for immiscible compositional processes, CSAT leads to significant speed up (at least a several-fold improvement) of the EOS calculations compared with standard techniques.
Use of split Hopkinson pressure bar for testing off-axis composites

Abstract This work attempted to characterize the high strain rate behavior of fiber composites using off-axis composite specimens and the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Various factors affecting SHPB analysis, such as specimen–bar interface friction, extension–shear coupling and the rise time of the loading pulse were numerically and experimentally investigated. A numerical analysis was employed to qualitatively study the effects of extension–shear coupling and interface friction. It was also found experimentally, that strong interface friction existed for various off-axis angles of AS4/3501-6, especially for small angles. This results in bending waves in the bars and non-uniform stresses and strains in the specimen, which violate the assumptions of the SHPB analysis. Improving the interface conditions by lapping and lubricating the composite contacting surfaces was investigated as a means to achieve a nearly frictionless interface condition. A second numerical analysis of the SHPB experimental set up studied the effect of the rise time of the loading pulse on the early part of the dynamic stress–strain curve. Pulse shaping using copper tabs at the point of impact of the striker bar and the incident bar was found to generate gently rising pulses, which helped in generating more accurate dynamic stress–strain curves. These modifications were used to produce dynamic stress–strain curves of various off-axis S2/8552 glass–epoxy specimens.
Thermal decomposition of energetic materials 52; On the foam zone and surface chemistry of rapidly decomposing HMX

Abstract Studies designed to perturb selected surface and foam zone reactions characteristic of burning HMX are described. This was done by determining the gas product ratios from carefully controlled fast thermal decomposition (> 100 K/s) of a thin film of HMX in atmospheres of Ar, H 2 , O 2 , CO, NO, NO 2 , and NH 3 . The results are correlated with experimental combustion data and thermochemical modeling studies of nitramines. A consistent picture about some of the probable reactions in the heterogeneous foam and fizz zones emerges. H 2 , CO, O 2 , and NO affect the secondary thermolysis reactions in these zones. NH 3 appears to affect both the primary and secondary reactions, while NO 2 is directly involved in primary decomposition reactions. HNCO and CH 2 O appear to be products from secondary condensed phase reactions. The results suggest that NH x sites and NO 2 are catalyzable species for burn-rate modification of nitramine propellants.
Measurement of the Mössbauer Recoilless Fraction in β -Sn for 1.3 to 370°K

Doppler-shift measurements of M\"ossbauer recoilless fractions $f$ in $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Sn show discrepancies of the order of 20 to 30% and sometimes bear quoted errors of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10%. Such discrepancies can be caused by using incorrect values of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, the internal conversion coefficient; ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{m}$, the mean life of the excited state; ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{A}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{S}$, the absorber and source linewidths; and $B$, the nonresonant background present in the detector at the energy of the M\"ossbauer $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays. In the present work, the use of a black resonant absorber and the technique x-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ delayed coincidences combine to eliminate dependence on these parameters in first approximation. In particular, the results $f=0.455\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.010$ at 77.3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and $f=0.72\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$ at 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K are obtained. The errors are systematic, and are due largely to uncertainities in evaluating the residual resonant transmission of the black absorber, the total magnitude of which is about 5% for $T\ensuremath{\le}100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K. For the experimental temperature range of $1.3\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\le}370\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K, $f$ values are obtained at over 300 points for two different source samples. The results are as much as 20% higher than some previously reported values, and also do not agree well with the theoretical calculations of DeWames, Wolfram, and Lehman for $T\ensuremath{\le}150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K. On the other hand, when the data are expressed in terms of a Debye temperature $\ensuremath{\Theta}$ derived at each temperature from the Debye formula for $f$, the $\ensuremath{\Theta}$ values show remarkably little variation with temperature, and fall on a smooth curve. The results at low temperature help to clarify the data of Wiedemann, Kienle, and Pobell in the superconducting region and immediately above.
SIMULATION AND RESISTIVITY MODELING OF A GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR WITH WATERS OF DIFFERENT SALINITY

Abstract Apparent resistivities measured by means of repetitive dipole-dipole surveys show significant changes within the Cerro Prieto reservoir. The changes are attributed to production and natural recharge. To understand better the observed geophysical phenomena, we performed a simple reservoir simulation study combined with the appropriate DC resistivity calculations to determine the expected magnitude of apparent resistivity change. We consider production from a liquid dominated reservoir with dimensions and parameters of the Cerro Prieto ‘A’ reservoir and assume lateral and vertical recharge of colder and less saline waters. Based on rather schematic one- and two-dimensional reservoir simulations, we calculate changes in formation resistivity which we then transform into changes in apparent resistivity that would be observed at the surface. Simulated changes in apparent resistivities over the production zone show increases of 10 to 20% over a 3 year period at the current rate of fluid extraction. Changes of this magnitude are not only within our ability to discern using proper field techniques, but are consistent in magnitude with some of the observed effects. However, the patterns of apparent resistivity changes in the simulated dipole-dipole pseudosection only partially resemble the observed field data. This is explained by the fact that the actual fluid recharge into the ‘A’ reservoir is more complicated than assumed in our simple, schematic recharge models. DC resistivity monitoring appears capable of providing indirect information on fluid flow processes in a producing geothermal reservoir. Such information is extremely valuable for the development of quantitative predictions of future reservoir performance.