cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disavowed: The Stories of Two Novice Teachers.

Abstract This case study used narrative inquiry to explore two novice English teachers’ experiences in the classroom and factors that caused them to leave the profession. Participants were one male and one female located in two southeastern (US) states. Data include transcripts of e-mails, spanning a 17-month period, between the participants and researcher and individual audio-taped interviews conducted by the researcher in May 2005. The teachers’ narratives of disavowal reinforce the need for strengthening induction and mentoring programs, as well as the fostering of caring, healthy work environments.
Characterization of monospecific antisera against all five vesicular stomatitis virus-specific proteins: anti-L and anti-NS inhibit transcription in vitro.

Abstract Antisera against each of the five proteins of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) were produced in rabbits, and the IgG fractions were shown to be specific for the individual proteins of purified VSV or VSV-infected cytoplasm by immunodiffusion and by immunoprecipitation. All of the IgG fractions inhibited transcription in vitro by ribonucleocapsids (RNPs) isolated from detergent-lysed virions. However, when RNPs were isolated from VSV-infected cytoplasm, only anti-L and anti-NS IgG fractions inhibited transcription, providing direct evidence that both L and NS proteins are necessary for transcription. None of the IgG fractions inhibited protein kinase activity by RNPs isolated from virions or from VSV-infected cytoplasm.
Choice based on exclusion in pigeons.

When humans acquire a conditional discrimination and are given a novel-sample-comparison choice, they often reject a comparison known to be associated with a different sample and choose the alternative comparison by default (or by exclusion). In Experiment 1, we found that if, following matching training, we replaced both of the samples, acquisition took five times longer than if we replaced only one of the samples. Apparently, the opportunity to reject one of the comparisons facilitated the association of the other sample with the remaining comparison. In Experiment 2, we first trained pigeons to treat two samples differently (to associate Sample A with Comparison 1 and Sample B with Comparison 2) and then trained them to associate one of those samples with a new comparison (e.g., Sample A with Comparison 3) and to associate a novel sample (Sample C) with a different, new comparison (Comparison 4). When Sample B then replaced Sample C, the pigeons showed a significant tendency to choose Comparison 4 over Comparison 3. Thus, when given the opportunity, pigeons will choose by exclusion.
Voting the Gender Gap

Lois Duke Whitaker, ed. (2008). Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press, 232 pp., $20.00, ISBN: 978‐0‐252‐07525‐4. The 2008 presidential election, from Hillary Clinton's historic run for the De...
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and erythropoietin upregulation with deferoxamine salvage after neonatal stroke

Abstract Treatment with deferoxamine (DFO) is protective against focal ischemia with global hypoxia when given as a preconditioning stimulus in neonatal rodents. DFO acts as an iron chelator and may stabilize HIF1α. Therefore, we hypothesized that DFO would protect against pure ischemia–reperfusion injury when given after the insult and that the protection would be associated with expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and downstream target genes such as erythropoietin (Epo). To test these hypotheses, we performed middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in postnatal day 10 (P10) rats for 1.5 h followed by treatment with DFO or vehicle upon reperfusion. Preserved brain volumes were measured with cresyl violet staining 1 week after the insult. HIF1α and Epo expression were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses at different time points after injury. We found that DFO treatment preserved brain volumes when compared to vehicle ( P
Engineering design notebook for sharing and reuse

Abstract The concept of an electronic or digital engineering design notebook used by designers to capture information for reuse and sharing is becoming reality in many different flavors. Our development of pens (Personal Electronic Notebook with Sharing) responds to observed designers' needs for a lightweight tool that is facile enough to compete with paper notebooks in functionality. Each time informal design notes are entered in pens, a project information web automatically grows. As it grows, selections can be incrementally shared with collaborators over the Internet's World-Wide Web (WWW). In an era where both network security concerns and distributed collaboration demands are growing together, pens has the capability for information sharing that is independent of security firewalls. To evaluate the utility of the pens notebook concept, a prototype was developed and used by 14 mechanical engineering design teams, many of which were composed of geographically distributed team members.
The fate of synthetic mid-urethral slings in 2013: A turning point.

Introduction Since the introduction of the first retropubic tension-free synthetic sling to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), newer approaches, different techniques and new devices have been created. Transobturator and single-incision sling (SIS) techniquespara-were developed with the goal of diminishing the rate of complications andspeeding the recovery phase.
A Markov Chain Model for Fatigue Crack Growth, Inspection and Repair: The Relationship Between Probability of Detection, Reliability and the Number of Repairs in Fleets of Railroad Tank Cars

A Markov chain model to simulate the process of fatigue crack growth, non-destructive inspection and repair in a fleet of railroad tank cars is developed and presented. Crack growth is modeled to reproduce crack shapes that were observed during destructive tear-down tests at the end of life for several tank cars. The Markov chain model is further extended to include non-destructive inspections using POD curves that were established during baseline tests of several methods used in the railroad tank car industry. Next, the model is used to predict the effect of various non-destructive inspection techniques on fatigue-related reliability of the fleet, as well as the number of repairs that are required as a result of the inspections.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Learning from nature – novel synthetic biology approaches for biomaterial design

Many biomaterials constructed today are complex chemical structures that incorporate biologically active components derived from nature, but the field can still be said to be in its infancy. The need for materials that bring sophisticated properties of structure, dynamics and function to medical and non-medical applications will only grow. Increasing appreciation of the functionality of biological systems has caused biomaterials researchers to consider nature for design inspiration, and many examples exist of the use of biomolecular motifs. Yet evolution, nature's only engine for the creation of new designs, has been largely ignored by the biomaterials community. Molecular evolution is an emerging tool that enables one to apply nature's engineering principles to non-natural situations using variation and selection. The purpose of this review is to highlight the most recent advances in the use of molecular evolution in synthetic biology applications for biomaterial engineering, and to discuss some of the areas in which this approach may be successfully applied in the future.
Growth of epitaxial germanium-silicon heterostructures by chemical vapour deposition

Germanium-silicon epitaxial layers are now being applied in a variety of heterojunction devices on silicon substrates. In this paper, I review the growth of these structures by chemical vapor deposition. While a wide variety of growth conditions have been used, there is a general trend toward low temperature processes where surface chemical reactions play a dominant role. The present understanding of the decomposition of various reactants is therefore reviewed, followed by a discussion of the implications for growth kinetics. The introduction of defects during growth will also be discussed. Finally a summary of recent device developments will be given.
On material symmetry in mechanics

Abstract The main feature of this paper is the usage of transformations of all coordinates present in the constitutive equation of a given class of materials (generalised coordinates) to describe symmetry of materials within the class. The materials considered here are elastic materials and liquid crystals, although the procedure can be used to describe the symmetry of other classes. One of the end-results of the exercise is that various theories of symmetry can be viewed together.
A131: Associations of Short–Term Pollution Exposures With Childhood Autoimmune Disease

Background/Purpose: Fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a 2.5–mm cut point, PM2.5) is a measurable component of ambient urban pollution. Our preliminary data suggests that short-term PM2.5 exposures are associated with the clinical presentation of Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in young children ([1]). In this EPA funded project, we are further testing the hypothesis that clinical autoimmune disease presentation and exacerbation is associated with exposures to short–term pollution, focusing on PM2.5. We are establishing associations between short–term PM2.5 exposure and the clinical onset of systemic onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritics (soJIA) and Kawasaki Disease (KD) and the clinical exacerbation of Henoch Schonlein Purpura (HSP). Methods: Cases are from existing physician operated SoJIA and KD datasets diagnosed in United States and Canadian metropolitan regions. Cases of HSP arise from a US national hospital database (Children's Hospital Association). The study utilizes a case–crossover study design to define associations of short-term PM2.5 with the event dates of symptom onset of soJIA and KD (fever onset) and of hospitalization for HSP exacerbation from metropolitan regions, stratified by parameters of disease activity. Results: We have assembled PM2.5 exposure measurements from urban monitors and have carefully imputed PM2.5 to provide day–to–day temporal variability and resolution for reliable time series indexes of pollution exposures for each metropolitan area (Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Denver, Cleveland). To date, case–crossover analysis results establishing risk of the event dates of clinical symptom onset and hospitalization exacerbation for the pediatric rheumatic diseases under study are preliminary. Conclusion: Well–constructed, environmental epidemiology studies examining the triggers of disease onset and exacerbation in pediatric rheumatic diseases are few and far between. Findings from this Environmental Protection Agency funded project will have a significant impact on the field of particulate induced environmental epidemiology research of autoimmune disease.
A preliminary study of THC-LSD interactions on rabbit EEG and behavior

Quantified cortical and hippocampal electroencephalograms (EEG) and corresponding behaviors were recorded from rabbits who were given either acute or subacute (12-day) delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC;.5 mg/kg, iv) followed by acute lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD; 50 μg/kg, iv). The results indicated that acute THC does not block the stimulant effects of LSD (increases in standing and activity). However, subacute THC produced tolerance to the depressant cortical EEG (increase in delta) and behavioral (sprawling) activity of the cannabinoid and blocked some excitatory effects of LSD.
Neuroleptic-induced vacuous chewing movements as an animal model of tardive dyskinesia: a study in three rat strains.

Vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) in three different rat strains developed at considerably different rates after 19 weeks of continual haloperidol treatment at an average daily dose of 1.5 mg/kg. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats displayed relatively high rates of VCMs with low variability, compared to Wistar (W) and Long Evan (LE) rats. Atropine decreased but did not abolish VCMs in two of the three strains (LE>SD). After haloperidol withdrawal, VCMs remitted gradually in all strains, but least rapidly in the SD rats. In a separate group of SD rats, VCMs were rated weekly from the start of haloperidol treatment and showed considerable interindividual variability. Even after 24 weeks of continuous haloperidol, 12 out of 32 treated rats showed no VCMs at all, while 13 out of 32 had intense movements, analogous to the clinical situation in which only some patients treated with neuroleptics develop tardive dyskinesia. These results indicate that there are individual and strain differences in the development of VCMs, and suggest that there may also be genetically determined differences in the development of tardive dyskinesia.
Scaling laws for carbon-based electric double layer capacitors

Abstract This paper presents scaling laws for the integral capacitance of electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) supported by rigorous analysis and experimental data for porous carbon-based electrodes. First, dimensionless similarity parameters were identified based on dimensional analysis of the modified Poisson–Boltzmann model for binary and symmetric electrolytes. Then, a correlation for the equilibrium potential at the Stern/diffuse layer interface near planar electrodes and near cylindrical and spherical pores was obtained as a function of previously identified dimensionless numbers for a wide range of parameters. Similarly, an analytical expression was proposed for the dimensionless double layer integral capacitance of planar electrodes. Finally, scaling analysis was applied to experimentally measured integral capacitance of mesoporous carbon electrodes with a wide range of morphology and different electrolytes. To maximize the integral areal capacitance, the electrolyte should have small ion effective diameter and large dielectric constant. The electrode pore diameter should be tailored to match the ion diameter.
Endotoxic shock has differential effects on renal and splanchnic eicosanoid synthesis

This study examined the differential effects of endotoxin on renal and splanchnic vascular (SV + SI) eicosanoid synthesis. Dogs were anesthetized and subjected to a challenge of 1 mg/kg (i.v.) bolus of B-lipopolysaccharide endotoxin followed by a 3 h infusion of endotoxin at 0.5 mg/kg/h. The kidney and SV + SI were cannulated and perfused in vitro with Krebs buffer. The venous effluent from the kidney and SV + SI were assayed for 6-keto-PGF1a (PGI2), PGE2, Leukotriene B4 (LTB4), LTC4, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) by enzyme immunoassay. Endotoxin treatment markedly increased splanchnic PGI2 release (splanchnic vasodilator) two fold and decreased release of all other measured eicosanoids. Endotoxin treatment markedly increased renal PGE2 (renal vasodilator) but did not significantly increase PGI2. These data showed that endotoxin treatment stimulated both the splanchnic vascular bed and kidney to increase synthesis and release of their major endogenous vasodilator eicosanoids.
Reactive lipid species from cyclooxygenase-2 inactivate tumor suppressor LKB1/STK11: cyclopentenone prostaglandins and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal covalently modify and inhibit the AMP-kinase kinase that modulates cellular energy homeostasis and protein translation.

LKB1, a unique serine/threonine kinase tumor suppressor, modulates anabolic and catabolic homeostasis, cell proliferation, and organ polarity. Chemically reactive lipids, e.g. cyclopentenone prostaglandins, formed a covalent adduct with LKB1 in MCF-7 and RKO cells. Site-directed mutagenesis implicated Cys210 in the LKB1 activation loop as the residue modified. Notably, ERK, JNK, and AKT serine/threonine kinases with leucine or methionine, instead of cysteine, in their activation loop did not form a covalent lipid adduct. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal, 4-oxo-2-nonenal, and cyclopentenone prostaglandin A and J, which all contain α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, inhibited the AMP-kinase kinase activity of cellular LKB1. In turn, this attenuated signals throughout the LKB1 → AMP kinase pathway and disrupted its restraint of ribosomal S6 kinases. The electrophilic β-carbon in these lipids appears to be critical for inhibition because unreactive lipids, e.g. PGB1, PGE2, PGF2α, and TxB2, did not inhibit LKB1 activity (p > 0.05). Ectopic expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and endogenous biosynthesis of eicosanoids also inhibited LKB1 activity in MCF-7 cells. Our results suggested a molecular mechanism whereby chronic inflammation or oxidative stress may confer risk for hypertrophic or neoplastic diseases. Moreover, chemical inactivation of LKB1 may interfere with its physiological antagonism of signals from growth factors, insulin, and oncogenes.
Impact of Preoperative 64-Slice CT Scanning on Mini-Maze Atrial Fibrillation Surgery.

BackgroundMultidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is emerging as a powerful noninvasive diagnostic tool. The appropriate role of this technique in the preoperative evaluation of cardiovascular dis...
Intracellular distribution and polyadenylate content of adeno-associated virus RNA sequences

Abstract The synthesis of adeno-associated virus (AAV2) RNA in KB3 cells coinfected with adenovirus type 2 as a helper has been studied. Previous studies revealed a discrete 20 S AAV RNA species which was present in the nucleus and polysomes and a second, heterogenous population of smaller AAV RNA molecules (4 to 18 S) present only in the nucleus and nonpolysomal regions of the cytoplasm. In the present study, the AAV genome sequence representation and polyriboadenylate [poly(A)] sequences in AAV RNA were correlated with the size of the RNA and its cellular distribution. Most of the 20 S AAV RNA contained a poly(A) sequence of 200 nucleotides in length, whereas the heterogenous 4 to 18 S AAV RNA contained little or no poly(A). Both the poly(A)(+) and the poly(A)(−) RNA, as well as RNA isolated from the cell nucleus, cytoplasm, or polysomes, contained the same set of AAV RNA sequences complementary to 70 to 75% of the AAV DNA minus strand. These results indicate that a single polyadenylated AAV mRNA species is synthesized and that this represents most, if not all, of the entire portion of the AAV genome that is stably transcribed.
Fitting library services into the lives of the poor

Purpose – This paper sets out to provide an overview of the current state of library services to the poor, and to suggest how it can be improved.Design/methodology/approach – Uses examples to illustrate the gulf between how public libraries often address services to poor patrons, and the obstacles faced and services required for poor patrons to use the library.Findings – While many libraries think they are adequately serving their poorer constituents, often this is not the case. While one removes barriers to the traditional services one provides, determining the services they want or need is often neglected.Originality/value – Uses examples of how libraries can better serve poor patrons, and offers sound advice on establishing reasonable limits in developing such services.
Debunking Anti-Intellectualism: An Examination of African American College Students' Intellectual Self-Concepts

Framed within the debate on African American "anti-intellectualism," this study examined a longitudinal sample of 460 African American students' intellectual self-concept and college grades (GPA) through regression analyses resulting from their college experiences. The findings showed that the college environment had a modest influence on African American students' intellectual self-concept but quite a significant impact on students' GPAs. The author suggests that African American academic achievement in college has more to do with the educational environment and a robust intellectual self-concept at college entry than with a culture of "anti-intellectualism" among African American students.
The synthesis of length within and between perceptual systems

Two experiments are reported comparing the accuracy of Ss in making length combinations visually, haptically, and intersensorally. It was hypothesized that there would not be significant differences among the three conditions for perceptual combinations of length, because length is a highly familiar dimension that is capable of being cognitively organized. The hypothesis was supported, and the findings were related to other research comparing intra- and intersensory processes.
Effects of intrathecal ACTH on opiate A algesia in the rat

Abstract The effects of administration of opiates and ACTH onto the lumbar spinal cord of rats were investigated. ACTH, morphine and β-endorphin were administered to the lumbar spinal cord via chronically implanted spinal catheters. Effects on nociceptive thresholds using the tail-flick test were observed. Intrathecal morphine and β-endorphin caused analgesia whereas effects of intrathecal ACTH were variable. About half the animals showed small increases in tail-flick latency with intrathecal ACTH, the other half showing either decreases in tail-flick latency or no effect. In contrast, intrathecal ACTH consistently reversed the analgesia caused by either intrathecal morphine or β-endorphin. The results are discussed in terms of interactions between ACTH and opiates.
Deconvolution of the confounding variations for reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction by separate analysis of biological replicate data

Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) uses threshold cycles (Ct values) for measuring relative gene expression. Ct values are signal-to-noise data composed of target gene expression and multiple sources of confounding variations. Data analysis is to minimize technical noises, evaluate biological variances, and estimate treatment-attributable expression changes of particular genes. However, this function is not sufficiently fulfilled in current analytic methods. An important but unrecognizable problem is that Ct values from all biological replicates and technical repeats are pooled across genes and treatment types. This violates the sample-specific association between target and reference genes, leading to inefficient removal of technical noises. To resolve this problem, here we propose to separate Ct values into replicate-specific data subsets and iteratively analyze expression ratios for individual data subsets. The individual expression ratios, rather than the raw Ct values, are pooled to determine the final expression change. The variances of all biological replicates and technical repeats across all target and reference genes are summed up. Our results from example data demonstrate that this separated method can substantially minimize RT-qPCR variance compared with the traditional methods using pooled Ct profiles. This analytic strategy is more effective in control of technical noises and improves the fidelity of RT-qPCR quantification.
Direct measurement of critical concentrations and assembly rate constants at the two ends of an actin filament

Abstract Actin filament bundles isolated from Limulus sperm were used for quantitative electron microscope studies of F-actin assembly. The assembly rate constants were calculated. In addition, the critical concentrations (C o s) for both filament ends were directly determined. In 75 mM KCI and 1–5 mM Mg ++ , the C o s were 0.1 μM and 0.5 μM for the barbed and pointed ends, respectively. Substitution of Ca ++ (20–200 μM) for Mg ++ resulted in C o s of 0.4 μM for both filament ends. Consistent with these findings, filament growth occurred only from the barbed ends of Limulus bundles "seeded" into F-actin solutions in KCI and Mg ++ . Finally, filaments originally grown from the pointed filament ends of Limulus bundles were gradually lost as the actin solution reached steady state. These results demonstrate that actin filaments can "treadmill" under physiological conditions, albeit at very slow rates.
Ganglion cell pathways for rod vision

Measurements of the acuity of rod vision made by two different techniques show it to vary only slightly with eccentricity. At eccentricities beyond 15 deg acuity is well predicted from the sampling properties of the mosaic of the P-class of ganglion cells. With decreasing eccentricity acuity falls progressively below the sampling limit of P-cells, but even at the lowest eccentricity examined (5 deg) does not reach the limit imposed by the sampling properties of the mosaic of M-cells. At an eccentricity of 5 deg rod vision could be supported by as few as 20% of P-cells.
Using market research to convert federal technology into marketable products

This paper discusses the need for a new market-research strategy to ensure timely applications of federally-developed technology in the private sector. It emphasizes the use of market research to facilitate the conversion of new technology into marketable new products and to guide decisions regarding future directions for technology research. Market research is a widely used source of information in the private sector, but historically it has been excluded from federal research programs.
Emergent categorical representation of natural, complex sounds resulting from the early post-natal sound environment.

Cortical sensory representations can be reorganized by sensory exposure in an epoch of early development. The adaptive role of this type of plasticity for natural sounds in sensory development is, however, unclear. We have reared rats in a naturalistic, complex acoustic environment and examined their auditory representations. We found that cortical neurons became more selective to spectrotemporal features in the experienced sounds. At the neuronal population level, more neurons were involved in representing the whole set of complex sounds, but fewer neurons actually responded to each individual sound, but with greater magnitudes. A comparison of population-temporal responses to the experienced complex sounds revealed that cortical responses to different renderings of the same song motif were more similar, indicating that the cortical neurons became less sensitive to natural acoustic variations associated with stimulus context and sound renderings. By contrast, cortical responses to sounds of different motifs became more distinctive, suggesting that cortical neurons were tuned to the defining features of the experienced sounds. These effects lead to emergent “categorical” representations of the experienced sounds, which presumably facilitate their recognition.
Seasonal, intraseasonal, and interannual variability of global land fires and their effects on atmospheric aerosol distribution

[1] In order to understand the variability of global land fires and their effects on the distribution of atmospheric aerosols, statistical methods were applied to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) fire products as well as the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) aerosol index products for a period of 4 years from January 1998 to December 2001. The fire data in this period manifested a strong annual cycle of land fires in Southeast Asia with a peak in March and in Africa and North and South America with a peak in August. The data also indicated interannual variations in Indonesia and Central America associated with the 1998–1999 El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle. The variability of global atmospheric aerosol is consistent with the fire variations over these regions. However, in southwestern Australia, intense fires were recorded in TRMM fire data, but no smoke was observed in the TOMS aerosol product. Excluding the Australian region, the correlation between fire count and TOMS aerosol index is about 0.55 for fire pixels. Empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF) and singular spectrum analysis methods were used to analyze the TRMM Science Data and Information System pentad fire composite data and TOMS pentad aerosol index data for this 4 year period. The EOF analyses showed contrast between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and also intercontinental transitions in Africa and America. These analyses also identified 25–60 day intraseasonal oscillations that were superimposed on the annual cycles of both fire and aerosol data. The intraseasonal variability of fires showed a similarity of Madden-Julian oscillation mode.
Physiological properties of fresh-cut watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in response to 1-methylcyclopropene and post-processing calcium application

Seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb. Mansfeld, cv. Millionaire) fruit were exposed to 10 µL L−1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or air for 18 h. Afterward, the fruit were processed into placental-tissue pieces, treated with calcium dips (20 g kg−1 CaCl2) or deionized water, and stored in vented containers for 7 days at 10 °C. At intervals during storage, fresh-cut placental tissue was monitored for respiration, ethylene production, firmness, electrolyte leakage, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and microbial growth. Ethylene production was below detection in fresh-cut placental tissue, consistent with the low ethylene production in intact watermelon fruit. Respiration rates were significantly enhanced in response to tissue processing, and continued to increase throughout the 7 days of storage. Tissue derived from 1-MCP-treated fruit showed enhanced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS, EC 4.4.1.14) activity, suppressed respiratory rates and undetectable levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO) activity during storage. Post-processing calcium dips (CaCl2) had little influence on ACS activity relative to tissue not receiving calcium, but significantly enhanced ACO activity and maintained firmness of fresh-cut tissue throughout storage. The data collectively support the conclusion that 1-methylcyclopropene treatment of intact watermelon fruit is alone unlikely to benefit the storage duration of fresh-cut watermelon. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Using the comparison of steric versus electronic effects to infer mechanistic information in stepwise electrophilic addition reactions involving three-membered cyclic intermediates

Abstract Correlations of IP's versus relative reactivities or formation constants of reactions of alkenes with ArSCl, MeCO 3 H, Ag + , or HgCl 2 reveal that complexation reactions show steric dependence, that additions with the first step rate-determining are sterically independent, and that those with the second step rate-determining are sterically dependent.
Current status of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in the United States: risk factors and frequency of complications

Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is a major limiting factor in the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Because of the widespread use of these medications, the morbidity and costs associated with GI complications of NSAID use are significant. On the other hand, the costs of providing prophylactic cotherapy to all patients to prevent NSAID-induced ulcers and bleeding are prohibitive. The presence of specific risk factors (advanced age, prior peptic ulcer disease and bleeding, high NSAID doses and concomitant therapy with corticosteroids or anticoagulants) identifies patients who are most likely to have a GI complication. The recognition of these risks in specific patients may influence therapeutic decisions that could decrease the morbidity and costs of NSAID therapy.
Analysis of perchlorate in human urine using ion chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

Because of health concerns surrounding widespread exposure to perchlorate, we developed a sensitive and selective method for quantifying perchlorate in human urine using ion chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Perchlorate was quantified using a stable isotope-labeled internal standard (18O4-perchlorate) with excellent assay precision (coefficient of variation <5% for repetitively analyzed quality control material). Analytical accuracy was established by blind analysis of certified proficiency testing materials prepared in synthetic urine matrix; calculated amounts deviated minimally from true amounts, with percent differences ranging from 2% to 5%. Selective chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry reduced the need for sample cleanup, resulting in a rugged and rapid method capable of routinely analyzing 75 samples/day. The lowest reportable level (0.025 ng/mL) was sufficiently sensitive to detect perchlorate in all human urine samples evaluated to date, with a ...
Issues and Challenges of Chemical Mechanical Polishing for Nano-scale Memory Manufacturing

As the design rule of memory devices is scaled down to nanoscale, the number of the CMP process has increased considerably due to the complexity of integration scheme. The CMP for isolation has increased significantly because the isolation process of metal contact plugs and damascene metallization at nanoscale has been successfully enabled by the CMP. The CMP selectivity, which depends strongly on the chemistry of the slurry, must be tuned for the various new materials. Recently, in order to get over the limitation in lateral shrinkage of the memory device, several emerging applications have been investigated extensively. A vertical integration needs the new CMP process such as high removal rate Cu CMP. Next generation memories need the CMP process for new materials such as GeSbTe, conductive oxide, and magnetic materials. Since any nano-size scratch will be a killer defect at the nanoscale memory, both the CMP equipment and the consumables must be maintained with tighter degree of control specifications.
Transverse Bragg resonance laser amplifier.

We propose and analyze a new type of optical amplifier that is formed by addition of gain in the periodic cladding of a transverse Bragg resonance waveguide [Opt. Lett. 27, 936 (2002)]. Using the coupled-wave formalism, we calculate the mode profiles, the exponential gain constant, and, for comparison, the gain enhancement compared with those of conventional semiconductor optical amplifiers. In contrast with coupled-mode theory, in one-dimensional structures (e.g., the distributed-feedback laser) the exponential gain constant in the longitudinal direction is involved in both longitudinal and transverse confinement, and its solution has to be achieved self-consistently, together with the quantized guiding channel width.
Higher classification of the ant subfamilies Aneuretinae, Dolichoderinae and Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

. An analysis of the cladistic relationships among the ant subfamilies Aneuretinae, Dolichoderinae and Formicinae demonstrates the monophyly of these three subfamilies, and places Dolichoderinae and Formicinae as sister groups. This latter result differs from most previous studies which consider Aneuretinae and Dolichoderinae as sister groups.
Performance analysis of the consensus-based distributed LMS algorithm

Low-cost estimation of stationary signals and reduced-complexity tracking of nonstationary processes are well motivated tasks than can be accomplished using ad hoc wireless sensor networks (WSNs). To this end, a fully distributed least mean-square (D-LMS) algorithm is developed in this paper, in which sensors exchange messages with single-hop neighbors to consent on the network-wide estimates adaptively. The novel approach does not require a Hamiltonian cycle or a special bridge subset of sensors, while communications among sensors are allowed to be noisy. A mean-square error (MSE) performance analysis of DLMS is conducted in the presence of a time-varying parameter vector, which adheres to a first-order autoregressive model. For sensor observations that are related to the parameter vector of interest via a linear Gaussian model and after adopting simplifying independence assumptions, exact closed-form expressions are derived for the global and sensor-level MSE evolution as well as its steady-state (s.s.) values. Mean and MSE-sense stability of D-LMS are also established. Interestingly, extensive numerical tests demonstrate that for small step-sizes the results accurately extend to the pragmatic setting whereby sensors acquire temporally correlated, not necessarily Gaussian data.
High marks for transformative teachers.

As an educator working to reform introductory undergraduate courses, I was perplexed by B. Alberts's announcement about a Science prize for inquiry-based lab modules (“A new college Science prize,” Editorial, 7 January, p. [10][1]). Given that inquiry modules are readily available in a variety of excellent, peer-reviewed resources ([ 1 ][2]–[ 6 ][3]), students' inexperience with this lesson format is likely not due to lack of access to such materials. The persistent deficiencies in college science teaching discussed in the Editorial point to a problem much larger than availability of inquiry modules. Real transformation, as outlined in the recent AAAS Vision and Change “call to action,” for example ([ 7 ][4]), requires much more than inquiry teaching. For instance, faculty need to assess how well students entering a course can apply scientific thinking to questions about major concepts, and then assess whether such critical thinking skills improve after instruction. In my view, faculty who teach truly transformed science courses, as defined by elements such as these, deserve the honors. 1. [↵][5]The National Science Digital Library ([nsdl.org][6]). 2. Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning ([pogil.org][7]). 3. Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College ([serc.carleton.edu][8]). 4. Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology ([tiee.ecoed.net][9]). 5. Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning Online ([taste.merlot.org/merlotcollection.html][10]). 6. [↵][11]Association for Biology Laboratory Instruction ([ableweb.org/][12]). 7. [↵][13]Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action (American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC, 2010). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1202096 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-6 [4]: #ref-7 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [6]: http://nsdl.org [7]: http://pogil.org [8]: http://serc.carleton.edu [9]: http://tiee.ecoed.net [10]: http://taste.merlot.org/merlotcollection.html [11]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text" [12]: http://ableweb.org/ [13]: #xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7 in text"
PON Technology in the Verizon Network

Bandwidth demand in homes and businesses is steadily increasing. To meet this demand, Verizon is deploying an all fiber access network using a PON (Passive Optical Network) architecture. The network of the future needs to be robust and flexible. Verizon's FTTP (Fiber to the Premises) network provides Verizon the infrastructure to meet ever increasing bandwidth needs. Verizon's fiber-optic network provides the capability for nearly unlimited bandwidth for voice, Internet and high-definition TV services, and is designed to handle new applications as they develop. Verizon's services, FiOS Video and FiOS Internet, offer video and data services that are unmatched by any other service provider. Verizon has an aggressive deployment planned - that is on track. Service innovation will continue to accompany infrastructure deployment. Market acceptance is beating expectations.
Secure routing in peer-to-peer distributed hash tables

Distributed hash tables (DHTs) provide efficient and scalable lookup mechanisms for locating data in peer-to-peer (p2p) networks. Several issues, however, prevent DHT-based p2p networks from being widely deployed -- one of which is security. Malicious peers may modify, drop, misroute lookup requests, or even collude to deny the availability of target data. To address these security concerns, we propose an extension to Chord named Sechord. The main idea is that the source can determine whether the next hop is valid or invalid by estimating how far the next hop is from its finger pointer. If the next hop is too far away from the finger pointer, especially compared to the average distance between two consecutive peers, the source can infer some ongoing malicious activities. Our modifications require no trust between two nodes except node join. Moreover, each node utilizes locally available information to evaluate hops encountered during the lookup routing process for validity. These modifications have been implemented and evaluated in the presence of malicious nodes. Our results show that Sechord significantly enhances the security of structured p2p systems at the expense of slightly increased hop count.
Energizing networks of free-choice learning organizations around the USCOP report and One Ocean

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission both underscore the need to elevate the level of awareness of the general public concerning the importance of the ocean on their lives no matter where they live and the importance of their lives and livelihoods on the ocean no matter where they live. The nation has a number of potentially powerful networks of free-choice learning institutions dedicated to ocean education and literacy. These include the nation's aquariums that are linked together by one or more of the following networks: the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE), Coastal America's Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers, CORE, and The Ocean Project. These networks could, and should, make a significant contribution to ocean literacy and education. Individually the nodes in the networks do, but the value added from the networks is disappointingly small. The USCOP report provides a singular opportunity that should not be missed. We will propose a strategy involving the MTS to fire all the "synapses".
Robust Kernel Principal Component Analysis

Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) is a popular generalization of linear PCA that allows non-linear feature extraction. In KPCA, data in the input space is mapped to higher (usually) dimensional feature space where the data can be linearly modeled. The feature space is typically induced implicitly by a kernel function, and linear PCA in the feature space is performed via the kernel trick. However, due to the implicitness of the feature space, some extensions of PCA such as robust PCA cannot be directly generalized to KPCA. This paper presents a technique to overcome this problem, and extends it to a unified framework for treating noise, missing data, and outliers in KPCA. Our method is based on a novel cost function to perform inference in KPCA. Extensive experiments, in both synthetic and real data, show that our algorithm outperforms existing methods.
CHIMERISM AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION FOR TYPE IV GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE AND TYPE 1 GAUCHER’S DISEASE

Background Liver transplantation for type IV glycogen storage disease (branching-enzyme deficiency) results in the resorption of extrahepatic deposits of amylopectin, but the mechanism of resorption is not known. Methods We studied two patients with type IV glycogen storage disease 37 and 91 months after liver transplantation and a third patient with lysosomal glucocerebrosidase deficiency (type 1 Gaucher's disease), in whom tissue glucocerebroside deposition had decreased 26 months after liver replacement, to determine whether the migration of cells from the allograft (microchimerism) could explain the improved metabolism of enzyme-deficient tissues in the recipient. Samples of blood and biopsy specimens of the skin, lymph nodes, heart, bone marrow, or intestine were examined immunocytochemically with the use of donor-specific monoclonal anti-HLA antibodies and the polymerase chain reaction, with preliminary amplification specific to donor alleles of the gene for the beta chain of HLA-DR molecules, follo...
Stability of high dimensional nonlinear systems using Krasovskii's theorem

Liapunov's direct method is used to establish a finite region of asymptotic stability for nonlinear systems with an arbitrary number of state variables. The procedure is a geometric one in multidimensional space which uses the Fletcher-Powell minimization technique to find the maximum time derivative of the Liapunov function on the closed Liapunov hypersurface. Three detailed examples are presented, the first being the classical 2-variable CSTR with heat transfer and the third being a 32-variable 16-stage model of an adiabatic tubular reactor with axial diffusion.
Effects of steam pelleting and extrusion of feed on phytate phosphorus utilization in broiler chickens

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of pelleting and extrusion of feeds on the utilization of phytate P by broilers. The first experiment investigated the effects of pelleting the whole corn-soybean meal (SBM) diet, the corn, or SBM separately on phytate P utilization. The P-deficient basal diet contained 0.5% total P and 0.2% phytate P. Steam pelleting the whole diet, the corn, or SBM separately did not decrease the severity of the P deficiency obtained and there were no indications of increased phytate P utilization. In the second experiment, the whole corn-SBM P-deficient diet was extruded. Extrusion of the diet did not influence bone ash and P rickets, both sensitive criteria of P deficiency. Extrusion decreased Ca, P, and phytate P retention and decreased the ME value of the diet. In the third experiment, phytate P retention by chickens fed three commercial pelleted diets was compared to chicks fed the corn-SBM P-deficient diet. Phytate P retention by the chickens fed the commercial diets was much lower than retention by chickens fed the corn-SBM P-deficient diet. These studies gave no indication that pelleting or extrusion of corn-SBM diets would increase phytate P utilization by broiler chickens.
Note on Phase Locking to the Envelope of a Periodically Pulsed Sine Wire

A periodically pulsed sine wave in noise, typical in wildlife tracking systems, is often envelope demodulated in the signal detector. An automatic detector using correlation techniques might employ a binary (bang-bang) multiplier in the phase-lock loop to lock onto the demodulated pulse train. A threshold device in front of or incorporated into the multiplier to quantize the pulse envelope causes loop gain effects, which are analyzed in this paper. A trade off from high loop gain to low loop threshold is the result as the quantizer threshold is lowered to the point where noise envelope alone exceeds the threshold 37 percent of the time.
An Application of Stochastic Control Theory to Financial Economics

We consider a portfolio optimization problem which is formulated as a stochastic control problem. Risky asset prices obey a logarithmic Brownian motion, and interest rates vary according to an ergodic Markov diffusion process. The goal is to choose optimal investment and consumption policies to maximize the infinite horizon expected discounted hyperbolic absolute risk aversion (HARA) utility of consumption. A dynamic programming principle is used to derive the dynamic programming equation (DPE). The subsolution-supersolution method is used to obtain existence of solutions of the DPE. The solutions are then used to derive the optimal investment and consumption policies.
Politics of Critical Pedagogy and New Social Movements

The proponents of critical pedagogy criticize the earlier Neo‐Marxist theories of education, arguing that they provide only a ‘language of critique’. By introducing the possibility of human agency and resistance, critical pedagogists attempt to develop not only a pedagogy of critique, but also to build a pedagogy of hope. Fundamentally, the aim of critical pedagogy is twofold: 1) to correct the pessimistic conclusions of Neo‐Marxist theories, and 2) to transform a ‘language of critique’ into a ‘language of possibility’ (, p. 108). Then, what political projects do critical pedagogies present to us? What alternative visions of schooling do critical pedagogies offer against the mainstream pedagogy? The purpose of this paper is to identify main projects of critical pedagogy, and to explore overarching politics that underlie the field of critical pedagogy. Although there are diverse theories and approaches in critical pedagogy, three overarching projects can be identified, which I call: 1) the project of exper...