cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the reliability of student evaluations of teaching: choosing the right coefficient

Many of the studies used to support the claim that student evaluations of teaching are reliable measures of teaching effectiveness have frequently calculated inappropriate reliability coefficients. This paper points to three coefficients that would be appropriate depending on if student evaluations were used for formative or summative purposes. Results from the present study indicated that students had very low absolute inter-rater reliability, but somewhat higher consistency inter-rater reliability.
Atrioventricular node modification and ablation for ventricular rate control in atrial fibrillation.

M A c a i a p H t s e R q e v p f s 6 p a p a n o ntroduction trial fibrillation (AF) may cause embolic stroke and conestive heart failure (CHF) and increases mortality in paients with CHF. AF causes symptoms in some patients but ay be asymptomatic in others. One of the principal causes f symptoms and ventricular dysfunction is the rapid venricular response (RVR) often associated with AF. In some atients, a high vagal tone, or atrioventricular (AV) nodal isease, limits the ventricular response to AF to nearly ormal heart rates at rest and during exercise. These patients re often asymptomatic and do not develop tachycardiaediated ventricular dysfunction. In other patients, howver, AV nodal conduction is rapid, resulting in excessively igh ventricular rates at rest and during exercise. These atients are often highly symptomatic and may have tachyardia-mediated ventricular dysfunction, requiring AV odal blocking drugs such as beta receptor blockers, calium channel blockers, and digitalis, alone or in combinaion, to control ventricular rate. However, pharmacological rate control is often difficult, nd AV node–blocking drugs may cause side effects, inluding hypotension, CHF, and marked bradycardia or auses. Consequently, the nonpharmacological approaches f AV node modification or AV node ablation and paceaker implantation were developed and widely impleented in patients with AF and pharmacologically refracory RVR. This paper will review the role of AV node odification and AV node ablation with pacemaker implanation as methods for ventricular rate control in patients ith AF.
Backbending in the 12-[541] band in 181 Ir

Abstract A backbending has been observed in the 1 2 − [541] band in the odd-proton nucleus 181Ir at ħω ∼ 0.3 MeV, with Δi x ∼ 6.5 h , in contrast with only an upbend observed near this frequency in the “core” nucleus 180Os. The nature of this backbend is explored in the framework of the cranked Hartree-Fock-Boguliubov approximation.
The DOCK protein sponge binds to ELMO and functions in Drosophila embryonic CNS development.

Cell morphogenesis, which requires rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, is essential to coordinate the development of tissues such as the musculature and nervous system during normal embryonic development. One class of signaling proteins that regulate actin cytoskeletal rearrangement is the evolutionarily conserved CDM (C. elegans Ced-5, human DOCK180, Drosophila Myoblast city, or Mbc) family of proteins, which function as unconventional guanine nucleotide exchange factors for the small GTPase Rac. This CDM-Rac protein complex is sufficient for Rac activation, but is enhanced upon the association of CDM proteins with the ELMO/Ced-12 family of proteins. We identified and characterized the role of Drosophila Sponge (Spg), the vertebrate DOCK3/DOCK4 counterpart as an ELMO-interacting protein. Our analysis shows Spg mRNA and protein is expressed in the visceral musculature and developing nervous system, suggesting a role for Spg in later embryogenesis. As maternal null mutants of spg die early in development, we utilized genetic interaction analysis to uncover the role of Spg in central nervous system (CNS) development. Consistent with its role in ELMO-dependent pathways, we found genetic interactions with spg and elmo mutants exhibited aberrant axonal defects. In addition, our data suggests Ncad may be responsible for recruiting Spg to the membrane, possibly in CNS development. Our findings not only characterize the role of a new DOCK family member, but help to further understand the role of signaling downstream of N-cadherin in neuronal development.
Validation of a self-report questionnaire version of the Child Activity Limitations Interview (CALI): The CALI-21.

Abstract The Child Activity Limitations Interview (CALI) is a measure designed to assess functional impairment due to chronic pain in school-age children. In this study, we present a self-report questionnaire version of the CALI (the CALI-21) that extends the original interview measure. The purpose of this study was to provide internal consistency, cross-informant reliability and construct validity of the CALI-21 on a clinical sample of children and adolescents with chronic pain conditions. One hundred fifty-five children and adolescents (65 males, 90 females; ages 8–18 years, M = 14.31, SD = 2.45) with chronic pain completed questionnaires as part of their clinic intake procedures at their consultation visit in a pediatric pain management clinic. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to measure latent constructs within the broader domain of functional impairment. Results of the exploratory factor analysis yielded two factors representing limitation in Active and Routine activities on both parent and child reports. Parent and child total CALI scores correlated with measures of pain intensity, however, different patterns of correlations emerged between age, pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and the Active and Routine factors. The CALI-21 showed good internal consistency, high cross-informant reliability, and demonstrated construct validity. The CALI-21 provides increased flexibility via the questionnaire format in the assessment of pain-related activity limitations in children. Factor analysis extends information about specific types of activity limitations experienced by children.
The Things of Caesar: Mark-ing the Plural (Mk 12:13–17)

This article observes the rarely-discussed phenomenon that the Marcan paying-the-tax scene refers to tax in the singular, whilst the concluding saying uses the plural ‘the things of Caesar and of God’. The article accounts for this phenomenon by means of developing traditions. The section under the heading ‘Mark’s scene and saying about taxes (12:13–17)’ counters the common claim that scene and saying originated as a unit from the historical Jesus. It proposes that whilst the saying may have originated with Jesus, the scene as we have it did not. The section under the heading ‘Social memory, orality, and a multi-referential saying?’ suggests some contexts that the saying about the things of Caesar addressed pre-Mark. And under the section ‘Trauma and Mark’s scene’ it is argued that Mark created a unit comprising scene and saying to negotiate the ‘ trauma’ of the 66–70 war. The unit evaluates freshly-asserted Roman power as idolatrous and blasphemous whilst simultaneously authorising the continued involvement of Jesus-believers in imperial society.
Degenerative Myelopathy in 18 Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dogs

Postmortem examination was performed on 18 Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs (mean age 12.7 years) with clinical signs and antemortem diagnostic tests compatible with a diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy. Tissue sections from specific spinal cord and brain regions were systematically evaluated in all dogs. Axonal degeneration and loss were graded according to severity and subsequently compared across different spinal cord segments and funiculi. White matter lesions were identified in defined regions of the dorsal, lateral, and ventral funiculi. The dorsolateral portion of the lateral funiculus was the most severely affected region in all cord segments. Spinal cord segment T12 exhibited the most severe axonal loss. Spinal nerve roots, peripheral nerves, and brain sections were within normal limits, with the exception of areas of mild astrogliosis in gray matter of the caudal medulla. Dogs with more severe lesions showed significant progression of axonal degeneration and loss at T12 and at cord segments cranial and caudal to T12. Severity of axonal loss in individual dogs positively correlated with the duration of clinical signs. The distribution of axonal degeneration resembled that reported in German Shepherd Dog degenerative myelopathy but differed with respect to the transverse and longitudinal extent of the lesions within more clearly defined funicular areas. Although these lesion differences might reflect disease longevity, they could also indicate a form of degenerative myelopathy unique to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog.
Reduced Levels of Glycogen and Glucose-6-Phosphatase in Livers of Guinea Pigs Infected with Trypanosoma gambiense

Terminal hypoglycemia and depletion of glycogen in the liver are known to occur in experimental African trypanosomiasis. This condition is not due to the consumption of glucose by the trypanosomes but to a true metabolic disturbance of the liver. Rats infected with pathogenic African trypanosomes form considerably less hepatic glycogen from orally administered carbohydrate than do normal ones [1]. Infected rats form little or no glycogen at all from body proteins, even under the influence of cortisone [1]. In addition, infected animals are unable to synthesize glycogen from sodium pyruvate, a substance not utilized by the trypanosomes. The activities of the 4 hepatic enzymes involved in the direct utilization of glucose-6-phosphate were studied because of their close relationship to synthesis of glycogen and release of glucose. It was found that the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) was greatly decreased in livers of terminally infected guinea pigs. An endogenous inhibitor of G-6-Pase has been found in homogenates of infected liver, a finding that indicates a true dysfunction of the liver during infection with Trypanosoma gambiense.
Binding of metabolically activated benzo(a)pyrene to DNA and histones of rat liver, lung and regenerating liver.

Abstract Binding of metabolically activated benzo(a)pyrene (BP) to the DNA and histones of nuclei isolated from rat liver, lung, and regenerating liver was examined. Separation of enzymically degraded DNA by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography resulted in several peaks of radioactivity and the major peak was probably derived from the binding of 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide of BP with DNA. A high level of BP metabolites was also bound to the Hl histone fraction. The patterns of BP binding with the components of nuclei from the different cell types were similar. Implications of these observations as related to carcinogenic tissue susceptibility are discussed.
Advocacy Versus Scholarship Revisited: Issues in the Psychology of Women

The apparently contradictory relationship between advocacy and scholarship is examined in this article, which attempts to determine how much of the dilemma is due to the nature of the psychology of women itself and how much is a result of interaction with the social institutions of academia and the structure of psychology as a scientific discipline. Factors which impede the legitimization of new paradigms are discussed from a sociology of knowledge perspective. The additional dilemmas of women as scientists, women as a content area, and feminism as a theoretical conception are also considered. It is suggested that professional legitimacy is a property largely conferred by those outside the field and that collective rather than personal activities will determine the extent to which the psychology of women will affect the field as a whole.
Facilitation of avoidance acquisition by lesion of the median raphe nucleus: evidence for serotonin as a mediator of shock-induced suppression.

Rats with electrolytic lesions of the midbrain raphe, sham lesions, or nonmanipulated controls were trained on a discriminated Y-maze active-avoidance task. Subsequent to avoidance training all subjects were sacrificed and forebrain concentrations of serotonin were measured. It was found that raphe lesions greatly enhanced acquisition of the avoidance response and significantly decreased forebrain serotonin levels. Measures of motor activity recorded in addition to the avoidance response indicated that raphe lesions attenuated the behavioral suppression or “freezing”, typically observed following shock, producing a behavioral baseline more compatible with acquiring the avoidance response.
What Are New Towns for

THE UNITED STATES IS SHOWING CONSIDERABLE INTELLECTUAL AND GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST IN NEW TOWN OR NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE ARTICLE EXAMINES THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADVANCED TO JUSTIFY A NEW TOWNS POLICY IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC INTEREST RANGING FROM THE ECONOMIC TO THE SOCIAL TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES THAT A MAJOR NATIONAL EFFORT TO EFFECT POPULATION REDISTRIBUTION THROUGH NEW TOWNS IS NEITHER FEASIBLE NOR DESIRABLE. HOWEVER, UNDER PROPER CONTROLS, NEW TOWNS MIGHT BE USEFUL TO DEVELOP AND TEST CERTAIN APPROACHES WHICH ARE TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER MODES OF URBANIZATION. /AUTHOR/
Two-Dimensional Finite Element Ablative Thermal Response Analysis of an Arcjet Stagnation Test

The finite element ablation and thermal response (FEAtR, hence forth called FEAR) design and analysis program simulates the one, two, or three-dimensional ablation, internal heat conduction, thermal decomposition, and pyrolysis gas flow of thermal protection system materials. As part of a code validation study, two-dimensional axisymmetric results from FEAR are compared to thermal response data obtained from an arc-jet stagnation test in this paper. The results from FEAR are also compared to the two-dimensional axisymmetric computations from the two-dimensional implicit thermal response and ablation program under the same arcjet conditions. The ablating material being used in this arcjet test is phenolic impregnated carbon ablator with an LI-2200 insulator as backup material. The test is performed at the NASA, Ames Research Center Interaction Heating Facility. Spatially distributed computational fluid dynamics solutions for the flow field around the test article are used for the surface boundary conditions.
Molecular pathogenesis of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency-associated liver disease: a meeting review.

In recent years, we have witnessed several important paradigm shifts in understanding the molecular basis of liver disease in alpha-1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency. These shifts have become possible as a result of a number of advances in research on the cell biology of aggregation-prone mutant proteins and in research on the pathobiological mechanisms of liver disease in general. Late-breaking research in these areas was the subject of an AASLD/Alpha-1 Foundation Single Topic Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 26 to 28, 2006. The conference was titled “Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and Other Liver Diseases Caused by Aggregated Proteins.” Investigators from all over the world, representing a broad array of scientific disciplines and perspectives, discussed the pathobiology of AT deficiency, mechanisms of cell injury in diseases associated with aggregation-prone proteins, pathways by which cells respond to protein aggregation and mislocalization, and mechanisms of liver injury in general and in diseases related to AT deficiency. A session of the meeting was devoted to novel therapeutic strategies being developed for AT deficiency as well as to strategies either in development or already being applied to the class of diseases associated with mutant proteins. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:1313–1323.)
The effects of rate and route of nutrient intake on protein metabolism

Isotopic measurements of protein kinetics are useful for the investigation of metabolic protein disorders during surgical illness. The effects of rate and route (oral vs parenteral) of nutritional substrate intake have not been well defined. Fischer 344 rats were infused with a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solution at either 25, 100, or 175% of their normal substrate intake or were fed an oral diet ad libitum. After 4 days, [15N]glycine was infused at 0.138 mg 15N/hr for 24 hr. Whole-body protein turnover (WPT), synthesis, and catabolism were determined by 15N urea enrichment. Fractional synthesis rates (FSR) of liver and muscle protein were calculated by analyzing 15N tissue enrichment. WPT (r = 0.93, P < 0.001) and liver FSR (r = 0.57, P < 0.01) increased linearly with TPN infusion rates. All rats had protein synthesis rates greater than catabolism rates except for the rats infused with 25% TPN. Although caloric intake was the same in rats fed orally and those infused with 100% TPN, the orally fed rats had faster WPT (P < 0.001), synthesis (P < 0.05), catabolism (P < 0.001), and liver FSR (P < 0.05) than the TPN rats. Muscle FSR was not significantly affected by either the route of feeding or the TPN infusion rate. In this study, rate and route of substrate intake affected protein kinetics in the whole animal and liver, but not in muscle. Rate and route of nutrient intake need to be carefully specified and controlled during isotopic studies of protein kinetics.
Lens β-crystallins: the role of deamidation and related modifications in aging and cataract.

Crystallins are the major proteins in the lens of the eye and function to maintain transparency of the lens. Of the human crystallins, α, β, and γ, the β-crystallins remain the most elusive in their structural significance due to their greater number of subunits and possible oligomer formations. The β-crystallins are also heavily modified during aging. This review focuses on the functional significance of deamidation and the related modifications of racemization and isomerization, the major modifications in β-crystallins of the aged human lens. Elucidating the role of these modifications in cataract formation has been slow, because they are analytically among the most difficult post-translational modifications to study. Recent results suggest that many amides deamidate to similar extent in normal aged and cataractous lenses, while others may undergo greater deamidation in cataract. Mimicking deamidation at critical structural regions induces structural changes that disrupt the stability of the β-crystallins and lead to their aggregation in vitro. Deamidations at the surface disrupt interactions with other crystallins. Additionally, the α-crystallin chaperone is unable to completely prevent deamidated β-crystallins from insolubilization. Therefore, deamidation of β-crystallins may enhance their precipitation and light scattering in vivo contributing to cataract formation. Future experiments are needed to quantify differences in deamidation rates at all Asn and Gln residues within crystallins from aged and cataractous lenses, as well as racemization and isomerization which potentially perturb protein structure greater than deamidation alone. Quantitative data is greatly needed to investigate the importance of these major age-related modifications in cataract formation.
Effects on Productivity and Morale of a Systems-Designed Job-Enrichment Program in Pacific Telephone:

In two experiments over a 14-mo. period, 56 maintenance mechanics (framemen) served as experimental (N = 21) and control (N = 35) groups. Framemen carried work responsibilities on large “frames“—serving the larger business communities. Quantity aspect of the work consisted of 24-hr., day-to-day connection of wires to complete new, re-arranged, or disconnected circuits. The quality aspect could be measured by number of customer complaints which could be directly traced to inefficient or careless work on the frames. For the experimental groups only, all jobs were “systems analyzed.” Analyses were carried out and job enlargement (horizontal loadings) and job enrichment (vertical loadings) were implemented. Feedback was provided on productivity of individuals. “Hawthorne effects” and fluctuations of effort due to subtle types of supervisor-employee interaction were controlled by alternating supervisors and other environmental controls. Job satisfaction of each group was measured by the Job Description Index b...
Steric Effects of the Initiator Substituent Position on the Externally Initiated Polymerization of 2-Bromo-5-iodo-3-hexylthiophene

Externally initiated polymerization of 2-bromo-3-hexyl-5-iodothiophene was attempted from four aryl and thiophene based small molecule initiators functionalized with a phosphonate moiety. Initiated poly(3-hexylthiophene) product was obtained in various yields depending on the nature of the initiating molecule. Reaction intermediates for the oxidative addition and the ligand exchange steps were analyzed utilizing both experimental and theoretical methods. It was observed that an ortho substituent plays a crucial role in the outcome of the polymerization mechanism and that aryl based initiators are generally more stable than thiophene based initiators. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the importance of the steric effects on the success of the externally initiated chain growth polymerization mechanism.
Rate of nitrous oxide exchange across the middle ear mucosa in monkeys before and after blockage of the mastoid antrum.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that mastoid volume buffers the rate of change in middle ear pressure caused by transmucosal, inert gas exchange. STUDY DESIGN: Twelve monkeys were randomly assigned to group 1 or group 2. Right ears of group 1 had sham surgery and of group 2 had obstruction of the mastoid antrum. Before and after surgery, the time constant for transmucosal N2O exchange was estimated from N2O breathing experiments. The hypothesis predicts that the postoperative time constant measured for right ears of group 2 but not group 1 is greater than that measured before surgery. RESULTS: Mastoid antrum block significantly decreased right middle ear volume but did not affect the time constant for transmucosal N2O exchange. CONCLUSION: A mastoid gas-reserve function is not supported by the experimental data. SIGNIFICANCE: These results for monkeys and the theory developed to explain the effect of mastoid volume on transmucosal inert gas exchange suggest that the results for previous experiments in humans interpreted as evidencing a mastoid gas-reserve function are consistent with alternative explanations.
736–3 Costs and Complications of Non-thoracotomy Defibrillator Systems: Impact of Health Care Financing Administration Guidelines

Non-thoracotomy implantable defibrillator (ICD) systems have been shown to have lower costs and fewer complications than thoracotomy systems. Recent interpretation of Health Care Financing Administration regulations has challenged reimbursement for investigational devices or combinations of components not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (“off-label”). We compared the costs and complications associated with approved pulse generator/lead systems (CPI 1600/Endotak, CPl 1705/Endotak and Medtronic 7217/Transvene, n = 136) with investigational and “off-label” systems (CPI 1625/Endotak, CPI 1715/Endotak, Medtronic 7219/Transvene and Ventritex V100 or V110/TVL and Vl00/Endotak, n = 79). Age [63 ± 12 years versus 63 ± 11 years (mean ± SD)] and ejection fraction (31 ± 15% versus 31 ± 11%) were similar for patients with approved and investigational systems, respectively. However, total hospital charges including preoperative care and evaluation, implant procedure and hardware, postoperative testing and revisions were $64 ± 19,000 for approved devices versus $57 ± 16,000 for non-approved devices (p = 0.02) despite higher overall costs of newer pulse generators and leads. Total length of stay was 17 ± 10 days versus 14 ± 8 days (p = 0.03) and complications including lead dislodgement, increased defibrillation threshold, hematoma and infection were 25/136 versus 4/77 (p l 0.005) for approved and investigational or “off-label” systems, respectively. Based on data provided by the manufacturers, anticipated average battery longevity is 3.8 years for approved systems and 5.5 years for investigational or “off-label” systems. Conclusions The prudent use of current investigational or “off-label” nonthoracotomy ICD systems is more cost-effective and is associated with fewer complications than approved ICD systems. When increased battery longevity is considered, long term costs of non-thoracotomy ICD therapy may be improved dramatically with the use of investigational or “off-label” systems. Review of reimbursement regulations may be warranted.
Health-related quality of life following a surgical weight loss intervention

Nursing is concerned with the well-being of the whole person; therefore, understanding the patient's perspective of the impact of a surgical weight loss intervention (SWLI) is essential. The purpose of this study was to examine the self-reported health-related quality of life of individuals after a SWLI. A convenience sample of participants in a post-SWLI support group completed the SF-12v2, a demographic form and a global quality of life measure. Findings indicate that although overall quality of life was rated excellent or very good, self-report of health-related quality on social functioning, vitality, and mental health was less positive. The findings of this pilot study indicate the need for research regarding the understanding of the meaning of psychosocial and physiological well-being to the person who undergoes a SWLI and a need for a more holistic support focus inclusive of psychosocial development strategies. As nurses committed to the wholeness of individuals, it is critical that we recognize the social and emotional needs of this emerging group of patients and implement strategies to enhance individual wholeness and well-being after SWLI.
Upregulation of calpain activity and expression in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: a putative role for calpain in demyelination

The degradation of myelin proteins has been implicated in destabilization of the myelin sheath in autoimmune demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In order to investigate the role of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (calpain), which degrades myelin proteins, the activity and expression (translational and transcriptional) of this enzyme were examined in spinal cords of Lewis rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. In addition to calpain, the translational expression of calpastatin (endogenous inhibitor of calpain) and extent of neurofilament (NFP) and myelin protein degradation were evaluated via Western blotting in controls and rats with EAE. The transcriptional expression of millicalpain, microcalpain, and calpastatin as examined by RT-PCR was not significantly increased in EAE. However, calpain translational expression was increased by 206.5% while the levels of 68 kDa NFP and myelin-associated glycoprotein were decreased by 42.9 and 39.7%, respectively, in animals with EAE compared to controls. Calpastatin isoforms (180, 110, 80, and 68 kDa) were significantly increased in EAE as well. The findings of increased activity and translational expression of calpain in EAE suggest a major role for this enzyme in myelinolysis associated with autoimmune demyelinating diseases.
Two new natural substituted hexenophenones from the fungus Scytalidium

Abstract Two metabolites of the fungus Scytalidium Sp. FY strain, have been shown to be 5′-formyl-2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-(E)-4-hexenophenone 3 and 5′-formyl-2′-hydroxyl-4′-methoxy-(E,E)-sorbophenone 4.
Micro Matters The Aesthetics of Power in NASA’s Flight Readiness Review

The primitive stuff of institutions is the individuals who staff them. This is seen in the plasticity of relations between leaders and followers. In this article, it is argued that excessive manage...
Experimental measurement of the rate of methyl tert-butyl ether hydrolysis in sub- and supercritical water

Experiments were conducted to measure the isothermal rate of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) decomposition in water at hydrothermal conditions (T = 150−600 °C and P = 250 bar). The primary identified products of the reaction of MTBE were methanol, isobutene, and tert-butyl alcohol. An assumed first-order rate constant for the hydrolysis of MTBE was determined at each temperature and showed a local maximum below the critical temperature of water (374 °C) followed by a local minimum above it. This behavior was modeled using an acid-catalyzed mechanism, which resulted in a rate expression with a first-order dependence on the concentration of H+. Because of the dramatic decrease in the ion dissociation constant of water (Kw) in the critical region, the drop in the rate of reaction could be modeled quantitatively over the entire temperature range.
I/O efficient algorithms for serial and parallel suffix tree construction

Over the past three decades, the suffix tree has served as a fundamental data structure in string processing. However, its widespread applicability has been hindered due to the fact that suffix tree construction does not scale well with the size of the input string. With advances in data collection and storage technologies, large strings have become ubiquitous, especially across emerging applications involving text, time series, and biological sequence data. To benefit from these advances, it is imperative that we have a scalable suffix tree construction algorithm.The past few years have seen the emergence of several disk-based suffix tree construction algorithms. However, construction times continue to be daunting—for example, indexing the entire human genome still takes over 30 hours on a system with 2 gigabytes of physical memory. In this article, we will empirically demonstrate and argue that all existing suffix tree construction algorithms have a severe limitation—to glean reasonable disk I/O efficiency, the input string being indexed must fit in main memory. This limitation is attributed to the poor locality exhibited by existing suffix tree construction algorithms and inhibits both sequential and parallel scalability. To deal with this limitation, we will show that through careful algorithm design, one of the simplest suffix tree construction algorithms can be rearchitected to build a suffix tree in a tiled manner, allowing the execution to operate within a fixed main memory budget when indexing strings of any size. We will also present a parallel extension of our algorithm that is designed for massively parallel systems like the IBM Blue Gene. An experimental evaluation will show that the proposed approach affords an improvement of several orders of magnitude in serial performance when indexing large strings. Furthermore, the proposed parallel extension is shown to be scalable—it is now possible to index the entire human genome on a 1024 processor IBM Blue Gene system in under 15 minutes.
Adipose Tissue as an Endocrine Organ

Obesity is one of the most important health challenges faced by developed countries and is increasingly affecting adolescents and children. Obesity is also a considerable risk factor for the development of numerous other chronic diseases, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The epidemic proportions of obesity and its numerous comorbidities are bringing into focus the highly complex and metabolically active adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is increasingly being considered as a functional endocrine organ. This article discusses the endocrine effects of adipose tissue during obesity and the systemic impact of this signaling.
Mass and Ion Transport in Ketones and Ketone Electrolytes: Comparison with Acetate Systems

Self-diffusion coefficient measurements were performed for pure n-alkyl ketone liquids using the pulsed field gradient NMR spin-echo technique. Ionic conductivities and dielectric constants of 0.0055 mol·L−1 tetrabutylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate in 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-octanone, 2-nonanone, and 2-decanone were also measured. The temperature-dependent conductivities and diffusion coefficients over the range 5–80 °C can be described using the compensated Arrhenius formalism. Compensated Arrhenius equation plots were used to calculate the average activation energy for both sets of data. The average activation energy from conductivity data is approximately equal to that from diffusion data. The data for the pure ketones and ketone-based electrolytes are compared with analogous data for pure n-alkyl acetates and n-alkyl acetate-based electrolytes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10953-013-9983-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Synthesis of interactive hand manipulation

We present an interactive physics-based motion synthesis technique for creating hand manipulation across a wide variety of tasks, objects, user interventions, and stylistic preferences. Given an object being manipulated, a single pose specifying the desired initial contact, and the kinematic goals of the manipulation, our algorithm automatically generates hand-object manipulation that is responsive to unscripted external disturbances. Our algorithm simulates the dynamic coupling between a passive dynamic system and an active dynamic system by formulating a sequence of constrained optimizations. This formulation allows the user to synthesize a manipulation task by describing simple, keyframe-like kinematic goals in the domain of object configuration. The algorithm will automatically produce the hand motion that achieves the kinematic goals via coupled dynamic equations of motion.
Temporal activity of syntopic Peromyscus in the central Appalachians

Partitioning of time may allow coexistence of syntopic species that occupy similar ecological niches. Circadian activities, expressed as hours after sunset, were described and potential for temporal segregation examined for Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and Peromyscus maniculatus nubiterrae at low densities in a deciduous forest of western Maryland. Sherman live-traps equipped with digital timers recorded capture time of individuals of these two species from spring 1988 through winter 1989. Nocturnal activity of P. leucopus was unimodal, whereas activity of P. maniculatus was variable. Onset of nocturnal activity for both species was closely tied to sunset across seasons. A significant difference ( P < 0.05) was observed between activity patterns of these species in spring, when a greater proportion of captures of P. maniculatus than that of P. leucopus occurred in the early morning hours. This temporal segregation during the breeding season may result in fewer interspecific encounters at a time when energy must be conserved for reproduction.
The diplomacy of tiananmen: Two‐level bargaining and great‐power cooperation

(2000). The diplomacy of tiananmen: Two‐level bargaining and great‐power cooperation. Security Studies: Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 139-178.
The inner radius of univalence of normal circular triangles and regular polygons

In this paper we define normal circular triangles and we show that Lehto's inner radius of univalence is 2k 2 for a normal circular triangle whose smallest interior angle is kπ. Using this result we show that the inner radius of univalence of a regular n-sided polygon is 2[(n-2)/n)2.
Morphological control of DDR zeolite crystals in Sigma-1 assisted hydrothermal synthesis using reduced organic agents

Morphological control of zeolite crystals is useful for fabrication of high performance zeolite adsorbents and membranes. Here we report a simple way of controlling decadodecasil 3R (DDR) zeolite crystal morphology by varying the pH of the Sigma-1-seeded precursor solution and hydrothermal crystallization under static conditions. The precursors contained Ludox sol as silica source and reduced amounts of structure-directing agent, 1-adamantane amine (ADA), and organic solubility enhancer, ethylenediamine (EDA), as compared to those used in the literature. DDR zeolite crystals with shapes of hexagonal thin plate, rhombus block, and hexagonal prism were obtained from precursors with identical SiO2:ADA:EDA:H2O molar ratios when the pH was adjusted by HCl or NaOH solutions to ~8.6, 10–12, and ~12.4, respectively. The morphologically different DDR zeolite crystals exhibited similar BET surface areas and gas adsorption capacities for N2, O2, CH4, and CO2.
Power flow analysis of distribution systems with embedded induction generators

Small-scale induction machines are being increasingly used as generators in low-and-medium voltage distribution systems to generate electricity and enhance the main grid. Such nonconventional sources of energy are commonly known as Distributed Generators (DGs). These DGs are usually modeled as PV or PQ models in the steady-state and power flow analysis of distribution systems. However, when connected to a weak distribution network, modeling of induction generators (IGs) as PV nodes is not always appropriate due to the unregulated terminal voltage as well as the poor voltage regulation. On the other hand, handling them as PQ nodes has long been considered as an over simplified approach. This paper discusses the modeling of the induction machine as an admittance load. For this purpose, a grid-connected Cage Rotor Induction Generator CRIG is used. The generator was also assumed to supply a local load, therefore its minimum capacitor bank value required for self-excitation is estimated. The machine's active power is assumed constant and the reactive power dependency on machine's slip is ignored. In this paper, operating at maximum torque is considered. The slip at which maximum regenerative torque occurs is computed from the machine's data and the operating conditions, and the admittance model is then obtained. This model is integrated into the commonly used backward/forward method and the results are reported. Compared to the PV model, reasonable results were obtained with less computational efforts.
Coherent phonon generation and detection in ultrathin SrTiO3 grown directly on silicon

Time-resolved two color pump-probe polarization spectroscopy was performed at room temperature on SrTiO3 films grown directly on Si with film thickness varying from 2 nm to 7.8 nm. An E-symmetry mode with a characteristic frequency of 0.2 THz is impulsively generated and measured in these coherently strained tetragonal phase SrTiO3 thin films. A superimposed exponentially decaying signal observed indicates the possible relaxational hopping of Ti ion between double potential wells. The dependence of the coherent phonon signal on pump and probe laser polarization helps to identify the symmetry of the phonon modes.
A PDF propagation approach to model turbulent dispersion in swirling flows

Abstract A computationally efficient approach that solves for the spatial covariance matrix along the dense particle ensemble-averaged trajectory has been successfully applied to describe turbulent dispersion in swirling flows. The procedure to solve for the spatial covariance matrix is based on turbulence isotropy assumption, and it is analogous to Taylor's approach for turbulent dispersion. Unlike stochastic dispersion models, this approach does not involve computing a large number of individual particle trajectories in order to adequately represent the particle phase; a few representative particle ensembles are sufficient to describe turbulent dispersion. The particle Lagrangian properties required in this method are based on a previous study (Shirolkar and McQuay, 1998). The fluid phase information available from practical turbulence models is sufficient to estimate the time and length scales in the model. In this study, two different turbulence models are used to solve for the fluid phase – the standard k–e model, and a multiple-time-scale (MTS) model. The models developed here are evaluated with the experiments of Sommerfeld and Qiu (1991). A direct comparison between the dispersion model developed in this study and a stochastic dispersion model based on the eddy lifetime concept is also provided. Estimates for the Reynolds stresses required in the stochastic model are obtained from a set of second-order algebraic relations. The results presented in the study demonstrate the computational efficiency of the present dispersion modeling approach. The results also show that the MTS model provides improved single-phase results in comparison to the k–e model. The particle statistics, which are computed based on the fundamentals of the present approach, compare favorably with the experimental data. Furthermore, these statistics closely compare to those obtained using a stochastic dispersion model. Finally, the results indicate that the particle predictions are relatively unaffected by whether the Reynolds stresses are based on algebraic relations or on the turbulence isotropy assumption.
Pouring Rights Contracts and Childhood Overweight: A Critical Theory Perspective

PURPOSE. To examine school environments, and in particular, pouring rights contracts and how they relate to childhood overweight from a critical theory perspective. CONCLUSIONS. Pouring rights contracts provide a profit to powerful mega-corporations at the expense of children's health. There is a need to move beyond a solely individual approach to addressing childhood overweight and involve a social ecology approach. This would involve a push for social change, including removal of soda machines from schools, and changing marketing practices targeted at children. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Nurses are poised in community situations to actively effect social changes to improve health outcomes of our nation's most vulnerable people, but nurses must get involved.
Increased Abundance Of Gallionella Spp., Leptothrix Spp. And Total Bacteria In Response To Enhanced Mn And Fe Concentrations In A Disturbed Southern Appalachian High Elevation Wetland

The Sorrento wetland hosts several Fe- and Mn-rich seeps that are reported to have appeared after the area was disturbed by recent attempts at development. Culture-independent and culture-based analyses were utilized to characterize the microbial community at the main site of the Fe and Mn seep. Several bacteria capable of oxidizing Mn(II) were isolated, including members related to the genera Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Leptothrix, but none of these were detected in clone libraries. Most probable number assays demonstrated that seep and wetland sites contained higher numbers of culturable Mn-oxidizing microorganisms than an upstream reference site. When compared with quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) assays of total bacteria, MPN analyses indicated that less than 0.01% of the total population (estimated around 109 cells/g) was culturable. Light microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) images revealed an abundance of morphotypes similar to Fe- and Mn-oxidizing Leptothrix spp...
Evaluation and treatment of acute bronchitis at an academic teaching clinic.

ABSTRACT Background Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that antibiotics provide no benefit for acute bronchitis, yet 55 to 90% of patients who receive this diagnosis are treated with antibiotics. Given substantial data against antibiotics for acute bronchitis, it could be expected that physicians at academic teaching institutions would be less likely to prescribe antibiotics. However, limited data of antibiotic use for acute bronchitis in this setting has been published. Methods Charts of patients seen between January 1 and October 25, 2000, who received an ICD-9 diagnosis of acute bronchitis or upper respiratory infection (URI) at the University of Virginia internal medicine clinic were reviewed. Patients were excluded if they had no cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, symptoms for ≥3 weeks, or antibiotics for another reason. Results Of the 160 patients included in this study, 105 (66%) received an antibiotic. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with increasing age ( P =0.002), purulent cough ( P =0.003), abnormal exam ( P =0.003), and comorbidities ( P =0.03) were most likely to receive an antibiotic. Smoking, duration of symptoms, gender, and race did not predict antibiotic use ( P > 0.05). Macrolides accounted for 68% of antibiotics. Twenty-two (14%) of all patients received a chest radiograph and 72 (45%) received an inhaler. Of those who had chest radiographs negative for signs of infection, 76% received an antibiotic. Conclusion In our teaching clinic, antibiotics were overused, whereas chest radiographs and inhalers were underused for the evaluation and treatment of acute bronchitis. Recently published guidelines will help curb use of antibiotics, but a more intensive intervention, including physician and patient education is probably necessary.
The effect of mechanical strain on matrix metalloproteinase production by bovine trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose. To evaluate the effects of mechanical stretching of trabecular meshwork cells on matrix metalloproteinase activity. Methods. Cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells grown on collagen-coated elastomer were subjected to 10% biaxial mechanical stretching. After various time intervals, culture medium was collected from stretched and non-stretched control cells. Matrix metalloproteinase activity was studied by zymography and levels of inhibitors were determined by immunoblotting or immunoassay of the collected medium. Results. Trabecular meshwork cells subjected to mechanical strain showed increased stromelysin and gelatinase A activity at 24 to 72 hours after initial stretching compared to control cells. By 72 hours of strain, stromelysin activity increased to up to 73% (p < 0.01) whereas gelatinase A activity increased by 31% (p < 0.05). The increased metalloproteinase activity was reversible with relaxation of mechanical stretch. Levels of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and ...
Chemoembolization Decreases Drop-Off Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients on the Liver Transplant List

Introduction The drop-off risk for patients awaiting liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is 22%. Transplant liver availability is expected to worsen, resulting in longer waiting times and increased drop-off rates. Our aim was to determine whether chemoembolization can decrease this risk.
Simulation Research on Stress – Damage Law of the Blood Cells

Through simulation analysis of the blood cell by Abques under the function of the different pressures, the change of the cell’s axial diameter and the importance of the effect of external force and double concave shape on the erythrocyte’s deformability are obtained. It lays the foundation for the research artificial organs lubrication.
TRIPLOCHITIOXYLON (STERCULIACEAE): A NEW GENUS OF WOOD FROM THE EOCENE OF OREGON AND ITS BEARING ON XYLEM EVOLUTION IN THE EXTANT GENUS TRIPLOCHITON'

A new sterculiaceous wood, Triplochitioxylon oregonensis gen. et sp. n., was collected from a Middle Eocene locality in the Clarno Formation of Oregon. Anatomical data indicate a close natural relationship between T. oregonensis and the living species of Triplochiton, a genus endemic to tropical Africa. The fossil is believed to represent a population of the group or complex from which Triplochiton evolved. The basic differences in the xylem organizations of the two genera are explained by a significant reduction of fusiform initial length and by a complete suppression of post-cambial parenchyma strand elongation in the extant genus. Paleobotanical and biogeographical evidence suggest that the xylem evolution has been strongly influenced by the increasing aridity of the African continent.