cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inquiring into Inquiry-oriented Teacher Education

In this article, Tom develops a set of dimensions that reveal the different ways in which inquiry-oriented teacher education can be conceptualized. Three dimensions are proposed and dis cussed : (a) the arena ofthe problematic, (b) the model of inquiry by which a particular arena of the problematic is to be studied, and (c) the ontological status of educational phenomena. The relevance of each dimension to inquiry-oriented teacher educa tion is explored, and rationales for inquiry-oriented teacher education are located on the three dimensions.
Fuel Composition Effects on the Velocity Field in a Lean Premixed Swirl-Stabilized Combustor

Fuel composition effects on the flow-field of a lean premixed swirl-stabilized burner were studied. Methane (CH4 ) was enriched with hydrogen (H2 ) to vary the fuel composition. The burner inlet had 28-degree swirl vanes located in the annulus around a centerbody. Combustion occurred in an air-cooled quartz chamber at atmospheric pressure. The measurements were obtained, using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, which allowed the 2-D velocity and vorticity fields to be examined for different fuels. The average velocity field was significantly altered, including the shape of the central and corner recirculation zones in the H2 enriched flames. The instantaneous velocity fields showed corresponding differences as well. The length scales and vorticity levels of the time-averaged velocity field differed from those for the instantaneous fields, indicating the importance of temporally resolved measurements.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Accurate intelligible models with pairwise interactions

Standard generalized additive models (GAMs) usually model the dependent variable as a sum of univariate models. Although previous studies have shown that standard GAMs can be interpreted by users, their accuracy is significantly less than more complex models that permit interactions. In this paper, we suggest adding selected terms of interacting pairs of features to standard GAMs. The resulting models, which we call GA2{M}$-models, for Generalized Additive Models plus Interactions, consist of univariate terms and a small number of pairwise interaction terms. Since these models only include one- and two-dimensional components, the components of GA2M-models can be visualized and interpreted by users. To explore the huge (quadratic) number of pairs of features, we develop a novel, computationally efficient method called FAST for ranking all possible pairs of features as candidates for inclusion into the model. In a large-scale empirical study, we show the effectiveness of FAST in ranking candidate pairs of features. In addition, we show the surprising result that GA2M-models have almost the same performance as the best full-complexity models on a number of real datasets. Thus this paper postulates that for many problems, GA2M-models can yield models that are both intelligible and accurate.
Ideal observer analysis of crowding and the reduction of crowding through learning

Crowding is a prominent phenomenon in peripheral vision where nearby objects impede one’s ability to identify a target of interest. The precise mechanism of crowding is not known. We used ideal observer analysis and a noise-masking paradigm to identify the functional mechanism of crowding. We tested letter identification in the periphery with and without flanking letters and found that crowding increases equivalent input noise and decreases sampling efficiency. Crowding effectively causes the signal from the target to be noisier and at the same time reduces the visual system’s ability to make use of a noisy signal. After practicing identification of flanked letters without noise in the periphery for 6 days, subjects’ performance for identifying flanked letters improved (reduction of crowding). Across subjects, the improvement was attributable to either a decrease in crowding-induced equivalent input noise or an increase in sampling efficiency, but seldom both. This pattern of results is consistent with a simple model whereby learning reduces crowding by adjusting the spatial extent of a perceptual window used to gather relevant input features. Following learning, subjects with inappropriately large windows reduced their window sizes; while subjects with inappropriately small windows increased their window sizes. The improvement in equivalent input noise and sampling efficiency persists for at least 6 months.
Performance of a dual, 1200 V, 400 A, silicon-carbide power MOSFET module

A dual 1200 V, 400 A power module was built in a half-bridge configuration using 16 silicon-carbide (SiC) 0.56 cm2 DMOSFET die and 12 SiC 0.48 cm2 JBS diode die. The module included high temperature custom packaging and an integrated liquid cooled heat sink while conforming to the footprint and pinout of a commercial dual IGBT package. Die encapsulant was not used, to allow data collection by infrared thermal imaging. The module was DC tested at currents up to 400 A and coolant temperatures up to 100 °C. Switching was evaluated in a boost converter at load power levels up to 25 kW and at frequencies up to 30 kHz with coolant temperatures up to 80 °C. Acceptable current sharing between MOSFET die was observed over the switching frequency and coolant temperature ranges. Package thermal resistances and MOSFET and diode power losses were characterized. Results were compared to those simulated for a 400 A IGBT module.
Deadlock freedom using edge locks

We define a series of locking protocols for database systems that all have three main features: freedom from deadlock, multiple granularity, and support for general collections of locking primitives. A rooted directed acyclic graph is used to represent multiple granularities, as in System R. Deadlock freedom is guaranteed by extending the System R protocol to require locks on edges of the graph in addition to the locks required on nodes.
Phasic and enduring negative symptoms in schizophrenia: biological markers and relationship to outcome.

Abstract Negative symptoms have been associated with poor response to neuroleptics, enlarged ventricles, cognitive impairment, and poor outcome in schizophrenia. These associations appear, however, to be dependent on the phase of study, suggesting that acute-phase (phasic) negative symptoms may be pathophysiologically distinct from enduring negative symptoms that persist through the residual phase. To compare correlates of enduring and phasic negative symptoms, we studied 60 drug-free schizophrenic patients (DSM-III-R and SADS/RDC) at baseline, 4 weeks after neuroleptic treatment, and assessed the 1 year outcome. We rated positive and negative symptoms at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. At baseline, premorbid function, neuropsychological function, ventricle–brain ratio (VBR) and symptom response to an anticholinergic agent were assessed, and a two-night sleep EEG and 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) were conducted. Phasic negative symptoms were defined as the change in negative symptoms (baseline to 4 weeks) and enduring negative symptoms as severity of negative symptoms at 4 weeks. Patients had varying proportions of phasic and enduring symptoms; the two did not define distinct subgroups. Phasic negative symptoms were significantly correlated with global treatment response, positive symptom treatment response, response to anticholinergic agent, baseline post-dexamethasone cortisol, and shortened REM latency. Enduring negative symptoms were significantly correlated with residual positive symptoms and global psychopathology, VBR, poor performance on neuropsychological testing, decreased slow-wave sleep, poor premorbid function, and poor 1 year outcome. These data suggest that phasic negative symptoms and enduring negative symptoms may be caused by different pathophysiological mechanisms.
A statewide, population-based time-series analysis of the increasing frequency of nonoperative management of abdominal solid organ injury.

Introduction Emergency operative intervention has been one of the cornerstones of the care of the injured patient. Over the past several years, nonoperative management has increasingly been recommended for the care of selected blunt abdominal solid organ injuries. The purpose of this study was to utilize a large statewide, population-based data set to perform a time-series analysis of the practice of physicians caring for blunt solid organ injury of the abdomen. The study was designed to assess the changing frequency and the outcomes of operative and nonoperative treatments for blunt hepatic and splenic injuries. Methods Data were obtained from the state hospital discharge data base, which tracks information on all hospitalized patients from each of the 157 hospitals in the state of North Carolina. All trauma patients who had sustained injury to a solid abdominal organ (kidney, liver, or spleen) were selected for initial analysis. Results During the 5 years of the study, 210,256 trauma patients were admitted to the state's hospitals (42,051 ± 7802 per year). The frequency of nonoperative interventions for hepatic and splenic injuries increased over the period studied. The frequency of nonoperative management of hepatic injuries increased from 55% in 1988 to 79% in 1992 in patients with hepatic injuries and from 34% to 46% in patients with splenic injuries. The rate of nonoperative management of hepatic injuries increased from 54% to 64% in nontrauma centers compared with an increase from 56% to 74% in trauma centers (p = 0.01). In patients with splenic injuries, the rate of nonoperative management increased from 35% to 44% in nontrauma centers compared with an increase from 33% to 49% in trauma centers (p < 0.05). The rate of nonoperative management was associated with the organ injury severity, ranging from 90% for minor injuries to 19%-40% for severe injuries. Finally, in an attempt to compare blood use in operatively and nonoperatively treated patients, the total charges for blood were compared in the two groups. When compared, based on organ injury severity, the total blood used, as measured by charges, was lower for nonoperatively treated patients. Conclusions This large, statewide, population-based time-series analysis shows that the management of blunt injury of solid abdominal organs has changed over time. The incidence of nonoperative management for both hepatic and splenic injuries has increased. The study indicates that the rates of nonoperative management vary in relation to the severity of the organ injury. The rates of increase in nonoperative management were greater in trauma centers than in nontrauma centers. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that this newer approach to the care of blunt injury of solid abdominal organs is being led by the state's trauma centers.
Fair, effective, efficient and differentiated scheduling in an enterprise data warehouse

A typical online Business Intelligence (BI) workload consists of a combination of short, less intensive queries, along with long, resource intensive queries. As such, the longest queries in a typical BI workload may take several orders of magnitude more time to execute, compared with the shortest queries in the workload. This makes it challenging to design a good Mixed Workload Scheduler (MWS). In this paper we first define the design criteria that make a 'good' MWS. We then use these criteria to design rFEED, a MWS that is fair, effective, efficient, and differentiated. We simulate real workloads and compare our rFEED MWS with models of the current best of breed commercial systems. We show that the rFEED MWS works extremely well.
Determination of monomer concentrations in crystallizing lysozyme solutions

We have developed a non-optical technique for the study of aggregation in lysozyme and other protein solutions. By monitoring the rate at which lysozyme traverses a semipermeable membrane it was possible to quantitate the degree of aggregation in supersaturated solutions. Using this technique, we have measured the concentration of monomers and larger aggregates in under- and oversaturated lysozyme solutions, and in the presence of crystals, at pH 4.0 and 3 percent NaCl (0.1M NaAc). Comparison of these concentration profiles with (110) face growth rate data supports the theory that tetragonal lysozyme crystals grow by addition of preformed aggregates and not by monomer addition. The data suggest that a considerable population of aggregates larger than dimers are present at lysozyme concentrations above 22 mg/ml. Determination of dimer concentrations, and equilibrium constants for subsequent aggregation levels, are currently underway.
Revision of the Neotropical brown lacewing genus Nomerobius (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae)

The Neotropical hemerobiid genus Nomerobius is revised. Four valid species are recognized, two of which, cuspidatus Oswald and spinosus Oswald, are described as new. The valid species Hemerobius signatus Hagen is transferred to Nomerobius. Sympherobius modestus var. connexus Banks is transferred to Nomerobius, but its species identity is uncertain. Nomerobius annulicornis Navas is removed from Nomerobius and synonymized with Sympherobius intervenalis Banks. Lectotypes are designated for Megalomus psychodoides Blanchard, Sympherobius modestus Banks, and S. modestus var. connexus Banks. The males and females of each valid species are keyed. The following interspecific relationships are hypothesized: (( psychodoides + cuspidatus ) + ( signatus + spinosus )).
Changes in the kinetics of muscle contraction in vitamin D-depleted rats

Using an in situ rat soleus neuromuscular preparation, changes in the muscle contraction kinetics in response to vitamine D depletion were studied. For a single isometric contraction, the time-to-peak tension (Tp) and the time-for-recovery-half-way-to-resting tension (T1/2r) were recorded. For a 150 Hz, 300 msec tetanus, the T1/2r was determined. Animals raised on high-calcium, high-phosphate, vitamin D-depleted diets showed prolongation of all parameters. Repletion of vitamin D returned Tp and T1/2r values to normal. Neither dietary calcium deficiency nor thyroparathyroidectomy produced an prolongation of Tp or T1/2r values. Therefore, based upon the experimental data, it appears that vitamin D or one of its metabolites, independent of any effect on the serum calcium or serum phosphate concentration, is necessary for normal muscle relaxation.
Personal and Social Education: citizenship and biography

Abstract The paper argues for the importance of Personal, Social and Moral Education (PSME) programmes. If offers a suggestion as to what should be regarded as desirable objectives and outcomes of such courses in terms of discussion of the meaning of citizenship today. This flows from a brief analysis of the essentials of society in modernity. It is argued that PSE can achieve forms of communication with pupils more significant than in the ordinary run of secondary education. But for this to take place, the courses must be derived from a combination of a teacher's intention to initiate moral dialogue and the need to connect with the pupil's lifeworld’. A way of becoming concrete’ and a need for a ‘biographical’ approach are both advocated and discussed.
Teaching Artists and the Craft of Handmade Books.

ABSTRACTThe craft of handmade books examined as the site of collaborations around art and literacy.
Crystallization in polymer melt spinning

The crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene) terephthalate (PET) melt spun into fiber monofilaments was examined using a laboratory set-up. The wind-up speeds ranged from free fall under gravity to 1500 m/min. The major additional variables that were manipulated included the mass flow rate and the filament temperature profile. The structure of the as-spun fibers was probed using tensile tests, differential scanning calorimetry, optical birefringence, and x-ray diffraction. It was found that while the filaments that had been spun nonisothermally were essentially amorphous, those that had been made under isothermal conditions at temperatures ranging from 180°C to 240°C were oriented and crystalline. In addition, the rate of oriented crystallization was much greater than that under quiescent conditions at the same temperature. This is perhaps the first published study which shows that highly crystalline (up to 40% crystallinity) PET fibers can be obtained at low spinning speeds merely by altering the fiber temperature profile while the material is still above the polymer glass transition temperature.
Hooked trichomes: a physical plant barrier to a major agricultural pest.

Hooked epidermal appendages (trichomes) on leaves of field bean cultivars effectively capture nymph and adult leafhoppers. Frequency of capture and capture mortality are highly correlated with trichome density. Hooked trichomes inserted at angles less than 30° are ineffective in capture.
PREDICTING THE ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF MILK CHOCOLATE

Electrorheology is the study of the effects of electric fields on the flow properties of fluids. These materials generally exhibit an increase in apparent viscosity and a greater yield stress over an unelectrified sample. The phenomenon requires an electric field and polar particles suspended in an insulating oil. A standard concentric cylinder viscometer, fitted with with custom made electrical attachments, was converted into an electrorheometer. This system allowed control of DC voltage (0-450 Volts mm -1 ), fluid temperature (35C-40.5C), and shear rate (0.022 s -1 - 8.744 s -1 ) while observing the resulting effects on the shear stress. Dimensional analysis was used to study the rheological response of milk chocolate when subjected to electric fields. Dimensionless groups were identified to explain the phenomena, and multiple regression analysis was used to predict the electrorheological flow behavior of milk chocolate. Over the ranges of input variables, the electric field-induced forces dominated the rheological response over thermal forces, and a prediction equation for apparent viscosity was developed as a function of electric field strength and shear rate. This mathematical expression allows for prediction of milk chocolate rheology in the presence of an electric field.
Gestational sac aspiration: a novel alternative to dilation and evacuation for management of early pregnancy failure.

Abstract Study objective To explore the effectiveness (success, safety, and complications) of a novel technique of gestational sac aspiration in the management of early pregnancy failure as an alternative to dilation and evacuation (D&E) and conservative management. Design Prospective historical cohort study comparing effectiveness of gestational sac aspiration (study group) to conservative management (control group) with follow-up until negative quantitative beta human chorionic gonadotropin testing is achieved (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). Setting An infertility treatment center. Patients Among 60 women with failed early pregnancies that were achieved by in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination, 20 underwent gestational sac aspiration, whereas 40 chose conservative management. Interventions Gestational sac aspiration was done by transvaginal ultrasound–guided needle aspiration under conscious sedation. Aspirated tissue was sent for karyotyping. Both study and control (conservative management) groups received close follow-up with ultrasound and serial beta human chorionic gonadotropin measurements. Measurements and main results There was no significant difference in age, infertility factor, or treatment between study and control groups. Mean gestational age was 8 versus 6 weeks in study and control groups, respectively (p Conclusion Gestational sac aspiration is a simple and safe outpatient technique that is more effective than conservative management of early pregnancy failure and less invasive than D&E. Moreover, the technique provides a high probability of obtaining a noncontaminated adequate gestation tissue sample for chromosomal study.
Fecal Bacteriotherapy for Clostridium difficile Infections — Its Time Has Come

Abstract Clostridium difficile treatment failures and recurrences occur at rates of 22.3% and 22.1%, respectively. For patients who have refractory/recurrent disease, there are limited treatment options. The use of a fecal suspension from a healthy donor instilled via a nasogastric tube, during colonoscopy, or by enema in a patient with recurrent or refractory C. difficile infection has shown a response rate of 75 to 100% with minimal adverse effects. There are multiple published case series that provide variations in administration procedures. The main barrier is the need for institutions and clinics to develop protocols to ensure this treatment modality is available to patients with this debilitating and potentially fatal disease.
A Systematic Review of Trial-Based Functional Analysis of Challenging Behavior

Trial-based functional analysis of challenging behavior is a variation of traditional functional analysis and is gaining attention in empirical research. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review peer-reviewed studies which implemented trial-based functional analyses of challenging behavior. Systematic searches of electronic databases, journals, citations of a seminal study, and reference lists resulted in 13 studies included in this review. Studies were summarized in terms of (a) participant characteristics, (b) target challenging behavior(s), (c) TBFA characteristics, (d) TBFA outcomes, and (e) a description of the function-based intervention applied (if applicable). Across these 13 studies, 36 full trial-based functional analyses were conducted, 47 participants were included, and 14 topographies of challenging behavior were assessed. Trial-based functional analyses were implemented in classroom and home settings and were implemented by teachers, service providers, or researchers. Trial-based functional analysis appears to be a promising means of assessing challenging behavior in applied settings and deserves continued attention in empirical research.
Determining Indicators of Exposure and Effects for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): An Introduction

Endocrine disruptors are characterized by their influence on animal endocrine systems resulting in reproductive, developmental, neurological, and immune dysfunction. The purpose of this overview is to provide the reader with a sense of the activities within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), in particular NHEERL, that address the many facets of research on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and to highlight the approach being taken at the different organizational levels within the USEPA, including screening, testing and evaluating endocrine disrupting chemicals. As a part of this endeavor, the USEPA continues to evaluate the current research activities in order to better understand and refine the process of risk characterization of EDCs. Thus, the participants in this session were asked to review their research within the framework of a better identification of EDC effects, better characterization of those compounds that have endocrine disrupting activity and how to incorporate this info...
Man-machine projects at SRI

Stanford Research Institute has been actively engaged in man-machine-graphics research for several years. During that time, government and commercial projects have been carried out that utilize new techniques, resulting in the nucleus of a new body of knowledge. This paper reviews 17 projects briefly, and attempts to draw some conclusions about the basic techniques in this field. Software and hardware aspects are considered, and some indications are given about trends that might be expected in the future. Some applications discussed are mass data reduction, textmanipulation, production scheduling, multivariate data analysis and graphic data presentation, speech synthesis, robot navigation strategy, meta-compiler systems and high-level-language design for interactive displays.
Insulin‐induced hypotension and neurogenic orthostatic hypotension

Insulin-induced hypoglycemia induced a fall in blood pressure (BP) in patients with idiopathic orthostatic hypotension (IOH) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), but not in control subjects. Only in IOH was there a correlation between plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels and maintenance of BP during the test. The hypotension was not affected by pretreatment with propranolol. Hypotension during insulin-induced hypoglycemia is manifested in patients who lack an adequate NE response. The hypotension, however, may be due to a central action of insulin because not all MSA patients with impaired NE release become hypotensive.
γ‐Aminobutyric acidB receptors and the development of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a highly abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and the ligand for GABAA, GABAB, and GABAC receptors. Unlike GABAA and GABAC receptors, which are chloride channels, GABAB receptors are G-protein linked and alter cell-signaling pathways. Electrophysiological studies have found GABAB receptors in cultured embryonic hypothalamus, but the distribution of these receptors remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the expression of GABAB receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) during embryonic mouse development. GABAB receptors were present in the VMH at all ages examined, from embryonic day 13 to postnatal day 6. Using a brain slice preparation, we examined the effect of GABAB receptor activation on cell movement in the embryonic VMH as the nucleus forms in vitro. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen decreased the rate of cell movement in a dose-dependent manner. Baclofen reduced cell movement by up to 56% compared with vehicle-treated controls. The percentage of cells moving per field and the angles of cell movement were not affected. With our previous findings of GABAA receptor activation, it is likely that GABA influences VMH development via multiple mechanisms. J. Comp. Neurol. 449:270–280, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Prostacyclin Synthase Gene Transfer Modulates Cyclooxygenase-2–Derived Prostanoid Synthesis and Inhibits Neointimal Formation in Rat Balloon-Injured Arteries

Previous studies have shown that prostacyclin (PGI2) synthase (PCS) gene transfer inhibits neointimal formation in balloon-injured arteries. However, the role of each cyclooxygenase (COX) isoform in this healing mechanism remains unknown. We hypothesized that overexpression of PCS may modulate COX-2–mediated prostaglandin (PG) metabolism. That is to say, excessive PGH2 derived from COX-2 after balloon injury may be converted into PGI2 rather than PGE2 or thromboxane (TX) A2 by overexpressed PCS. We examined the expression of COX isoforms and evaluated the role of COX-2 with regard to the effects of PCS gene transfer by using 4-(4-cyclohexyl-2-methyloxazol-5-yl)-2-fluorobenzenesulfonamide (JTE-522), a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Rats were divided into 4 groups in conjunction with PCS gene transfer and JTE-522 treatment. The PCS gene (30 μg) was transfected into rat balloon-injured arteries by a lipotransfection method. JTE-522 (30 mg/kg per day) was administered for 14 days after balloon injury. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated marked COX-2 expression on the neointima. PCS gene transfer markedly inhibited neointimal formation, but JTE-522 reversed this beneficial effect. PCS gene transfer augmented PGI2 production and decreased PGE2 production without affecting TXA2 production, but JTE-522 inhibited this increase in PGI2 production. In conclusion, PCS gene transfer modulated COX-2–mediated prostanoid synthesis and inhibited neointimal formation after balloon injury.
Palliative radiofrequency ablation of a fungating, symptomatic breast lesion.

vanSonnenberg E, Shankar S, Parker L, Cheung L, Morrison P, Silverman S, Igelhart D(AQ1) adiofrequency ablation has been used for a myriad of malignancies in numerous organs, both for cure and palliation. The use of this therapeutic technique for breast carcinoma is limited. Reports in the literature have focused on preoperative radiofrequency ablation followed by resection, as feasibility studies [1–7]. Cryotherapy also has been piloted experimentally and clinically for ablation of breast tumors [8]. We describe radiofrequency ablation that provided some benefit to a patient with a large exophytic, symptomatic breast cancer.
A new three-phase series resonant active power filter

In this paper a new three-phase series resonant active power filter is presented. The proposed approach employs a series resonant LC tank tuned to a high frequency along with a PWM rectifier topology to cancel lower order (5,7,11,13) harmonics generated by nonlinear loads. The PWM control of the active filter allows for independent control of several lower order (5,7,11,13) harmonics, both in amplitude and in phase, to effectively cancel load generated harmonics under varying load conditions. The LC resonant frequency is chosen to be high, thus resulting in smaller sizes of passive components. Further, a zero voltage switching strategy with capacitive snubbers is explored to minimize the switching losses. The simulation and preliminary experimental results presented verify the concept of the proposed system. >
The watermelon stomach: clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment

The watermelon stomach syndrome is an increasingly recognized cause of persistent acute or occult gastrointestinal bleeding, typically in elderly women. This disorder often presents with severe iron deficiency anemia, and a variety of associated conditions including autoimmune disease, cirrhosis, achlorhydria, and hypochlorhydria. Diagnosis is made by the characteristic endoscopic appearance of visible linear watermelon-like vascular stripes in the antrum. Histology confirms the vascular nature of this disorder, showing dilated and thrombosed capillaries in the lamina propria, associated with reactive fibromuscular hyperplasia. The optimum treatment of choice is not known. Several treatment options, including surgical antrectomy, and endoscopic photocoagulation with Nd:Yag laser, heater probe therapy, and bipolar electrocautery, have yielded excellent results. Pharmacological agents have also been used to treat selected numbers of patients, most of which comprise a small number of case reports.
Effect of water addition and nitrogen fertilization on the fluxes of CH 4 , CO 2 , NO x , and N 2 O following five years of elevated CO 2 in the Colorado Shortgrass Steppe

Abstract. An open-top-chamber (OTC) CO 2 enrichment (~720 m mol mol -1 ) study was conducted in the Colorado shortgrass steppe from April 1997 through October 2001. Aboveground plant biomass increased under elevated CO 2 and soil moisture content was typically higher than under ambient CO 2 conditions. Fluxes of CH 4 , CO 2 , NO x and N 2 O, measured weekly year round were not significantly altered by CO 2 enrichment over the 55 month period of observation. During early summer of 2002, following the removal of the open-top-chambers from the CO 2 enrichment sites in October 2001, we conducted a short term study to determine if soil microbial processes were altered in soils that had been exposed to double ambient CO 2 concentrations during the growing season for the past five years. Microplots were established within each experimental site and 10 mm of water or 10 mm of water containing the equivalent of 10 g m -2 of ammonium nitrate-N was applied to the soil surface. Fluxes of CO 2 , CH 4 , NO x and N 2 O fluxes within control (unchambered), ambient CO 2 and elevated CO 2 OTC soils were measured at one to three day intervals for the next month. With water addition alone, CO 2 and NO emission did not differ between ambient and elevated CO 2 soils, while CH 4 uptake rates were higher and N 2 O fluxes lower in elevated CO 2 soils. Adding water and mineral N resulted in increased CO 2 emissions, increased CH 4 uptake and decreased NO emissions in elevated CO 2 soils. The N addition study confirmed previous observations that soil respiration is enhanced under elevated CO 2 and N immobilization is increased, thereby decreasing NO emission.
Psychiatric Assessment of Aggressive Patients: A Violent Attack on a Resident

Aggressive patients often target psychiatrists and psychiatric residents, yet most clinicians are insufficiently trained in violence risk assessment and management. Consequently, many clinicians are reluctant to diagnose and treat aggressive and assaultive features in psychiatric patients and instead focus attention on other axis I mental disorders with proven pharmacological treatment in the hope that this approach will reduce the aggressive behavior. Unclear or nonexistent reporting policies or feelings of self-blame may impede clinicians from reporting assaults, thus limiting our knowledge of the impact of, and best response to, aggression in psychiatric patients. The authors pre-sent the case of a young adult inpatient with a long history of antisocial and assaultive behavior who struck and injured a psychiatric resident. With this case in mind, the authors discuss the diagnostic complexities related to violent patients, the importance of assessing violence risk when initially evaluating a patient, and the relevance of risk assessment for treatment considerations and future management. This report illustrates common deficiencies in the prevention of violence on inpatient psychiatric units and in the reporting and response to an assault, and has implications for residency and clinician training.
Forecast of wireless communication technology: A comparative study of regression and TFDEA Model

This study presents a formal comparison of TFDEA with regression model to forecast wireless communication technology. In addition to the data set from the former research, up-to-2011 4G network technologies are added and analyzed. The research was designed to set the point of forecasting in 2001 so that technologies between 2001 and 2011 are to be forecasted using data set between 1979 and 2001. The results from both TFDEA and regression model are compared and discussed. This comparative study can provide forecasters with different aspects between ‘best-practice measurement’ and ‘average practice measurement’ and, ultimately, help to select the suitable approach for their purposes.
THE SHAPE OF A PENDENT LIQUID DROP

Formal solutions of the static equilibrium equations for the form of the outer surface of a pendent liquid drop are studied. An approach is adopted in which only the one-parameter family determined by vertex height (u sub 0) need be described. Attention is restricted to rotationally symmetric configurations, and all symmetric solutions are characterized for the case where the Lagrange parameter lambda is equal to zero. It is shown that for any u sub 0 the function u(r; u sub 0) can be extended as a parametric solution of a system of equations for all arc lengths, yielding a curve without limit sets or double points, and that the resulting capillary rotation surface spreads out indefinitely away from the axis r = 0. The asymptotic form of the surface in the case of large absolute values of u sub 0 is characterized quantitatively, along with the global structure of all such surfaces.
Transmutation and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

In the January 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush announced a new Advanced Energy Initiative, a significant part of which is the Global Nuclear Energy Initiative. Its details were described on February 6, 2006 by the U.S. Secretary of Energy. In summary, it has three parts: (1) a program to expand nuclear energy use domestically and in foreign countries to support economic growth while reducing the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. (2) an expansion of the U.S. nuclear infrastructure that will lead to the recycling of spent fuel and a closed fuel cycle and, through transmutation, a reduction in the quantity and radiotoxicity of nuclear waste and its proliferation concerns, and (3) a partnership with other fuel cycle nations to support nuclear power in additional nations by providing small nuclear power plants and leased fuel with the provision that the resulting spent fuel would be returned by the lessee to the lessor. The final part would have the effect of stabilizing the number of fuel cycle countries with attendant non-proliferation value. Details will be given later in the paper.
Tax‐loss carryforward and futures hedging

Our research is motivated by the Corn Products vs Arkansas Best Supreme court decisions that brought on the controversy of the tax treatment of gains and losses from futures hedging. The usefulness of a futures contract as risk management tool depends on the tax code. In this paper we address implications of capital treatment of futures positions (disallowing offset for tax purposes) when tax-loss carryover is allowed. Our analysis utilizes a two-period model to capture the inter-temporal effects. We investigate the optimal hedge ratios under these scenarios analytically where possible, and numerically where necessary. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of nitrogen and potassium nutrition on the growth of nonembryogenic and embryogenic tissue of sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck)

Mineral nutrients are one of the most basic components of plant tissue culture media. Nitrogen in the form of NH4+ and NO3- is the dominant mineral nutrient in most plant tissue culture formulations, with effects dependent on both the proportion and the amount of NH4+ and NO3-. The effects of nitrogen nutrition on the growth of nonembryogenic and embryogenic cell lines of sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. 'Valencia'), tissues routinely used in citrus horticultural and plant improvement research, was explored using an experimental approach free of ion confounding that included a 2-component mixture (NH4+:K+) and a quantitative factor [NO3-] crossed by the mixture, thereby providing ion-specific estimates of proportional and amount effects. First, the linear mixture component, though only a comparison of the design space vertices, was highly significant for both tissue types and showed that NH4+ was required by both tissues. Second, the NH4+ * K+ mixture term was highly significant for both tissue types, revealing that NH4+ and K+ exhibit strong synergistic blending and showed that growth was substantially greater at certain blends of these two ions. Third, though the interaction between the NH4+:K+ mixture and NO3- amount on fresh weight accumulation for both tissue types was significant, it was substantially less than the main effect of the NH4+:K+ mixture. Fourth, a region of the design space was identified where fresh weight growth was increased 198% and 67% over the MS medium controls for nonembryogenic and embryogenic tissues. By designing a mineral nutrient experiment free of ion confounding, a direct estimation of ion-specific proportional and amount effects on plant tissue growth is possible. When the ions themselves are the independent factors and/or mixture components, the resulting design space can be systematically explored to identify regions where the response(s) is substantially improved over current media formulations. In addition, because the response is over a defined experimental region, a specific medium formulation is more accurately interpreted as a coordinate in the specified design geometry.
Independent Pixel and Two Dimensional Estimates of LANDSAT-Derived Cloud Field Albedo

A theoretical study has been conducted on the effects of cloud horizontal inhomogeneity on cloud albedo bias. A two-dimensional (2D) version of the Spherical Harmonic Discrete Ordinate Method (SHDOM) is used to estimate the albedo bias of the plane parallel (PP-IPA) and independent pixel (IPA-2D) approximations for a wide range of 2D cloud fields obtained from LANDSAT. They include single layer trade cumulus, open and closed cell broken stratocumulus, and solid stratocumulus boundary layer cloud fields over ocean. Findings are presented on a variety of averaging scales and are summarized as a function of cloud fraction, mean cloud optical depth, cloud aspect ratio, standard deviation of optical depth, and the gamma function parameter Y (a measure of the width of the optical depth distribution). Biases are found to be small for small cloud fraction or mean optical depth, where the cloud fields under study behave linearly. They are large (up to 0.20 for PP-IPA bias, -0.12 for IPA-2D bias) for large v. On a scene average basis PP-IPA bias can reach 0.30, while IPA-2D bias reaches its largest magnitude at -0.07. Biases due to horizontal transport (IPA-2D) are much smaller than PP-IPA biases but account for 20% RMS of the bias overall. Limitations of this work include the particular cloud field set used, assumptions of conservative scattering, constant cloud droplet size, no gas absorption or surface reflectance, and restriction to 2D radiative transport. The LANDSAT data used may also be affected by radiative smoothing.
TLR7 and TLR9-activated inflammation is differentially regulated in asthma

Background: Innate immunity is the first line of our defence in response to pathogens. Pattern recognition receptors, including the toll-like receptors (TLRs), recognise several pathogen-associated microbial patterns (PAMPs) and trigger immune and inflammatory responses to destroy invaders. RNA viruses such as rhinovirus, are a common cause of exacerbations of asthma. Severe asthma patients have an increased incidence of asthma exacerbations and are usually treated with high doses of corticosteroids. Aims & Objectives: Determine the effect of TLR7 and TLR9 activation on inflammatory cytokine release and the modulation of these responses by corticosteroids in blood monocytes from severe asthmatic patients. Methods: Human blood monocytes were obtained from whole blood from healthy volunteers and asthmatic subjects. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of dexamethasone (10-9 – 10-6 M) for 1 hr or left untreated, prior to overnight stimulation with either 5 μg/ml imiquimod (TLR7 agonist) or 5 μg/ml CpG DNA (TLR9 agonist). Supernatants were collected for CXCL8 cytokine release by ELISA. Results: TLR7 and TLR9 agonists induced CXCL8 release in blood monocytes. Dexamethasone inhibited this response in a concentration-dependent manner in all subject groups. However, the induction of CXCL8 release was significantly higher in blood monocytes from healthy volunteers and non-severe asthmatics compared to severe asthmatics. Conclusion: Both TLR agonists show a differential inflammatory response in severe asthma. We are currently investigating whether this effect is mirrored at the transcriptional level. The pathway(s) leading to these differential responses in human blood monocytes will be investigated.
Light‐Switching Excimer Beacon Assays For Ribonuclease H Kinetic Study

Members of the RNase H family can be found in nearly all organisms, from archaea and prokaryota to eukaryota. RNase H also has wide applications in molecular biology and biotechnology in terms of its unique cleaving property. Retroviral RNase H, a part of viral reverse transcriptase, is an important pharmaceutical target, as it is absolutely necessary for the proliferation of retroviruses, such as HIV. Inhibitors of this enzyme could therefore provide new drugs against diseases like AIDS. E. coli RNase H usually requires at least six base pairs of RNA– DNA hybrids as substrates to bind and cleave effectively in solution, while the hybrid length required in living cells might be somewhat greater. [3] The complete digestion of poly(rA):poly(dT) by E. coli RNase H yields oligoribonucleotides with varying chain lengths, ranging from monomers to hexamers. [4] In order to understand more about these functions and processes, and more importantly, to screen new drugs against retroviruses, it is necessary to develop a fast, real-time, sensitive, and isotope-label-free system to assay the cleavage activity of RNase H. A number of traditional methods have been used to assay the enzyme activities and evaluate the kinetic parameters, such as the acid-soluble release of RNA fragment, [5] gel electrophoresis, [4] and HPLC. [6] The acid-soluble and gel-electrophoresis techniques require radioisotope-labeled substrates, and the HPLC method needs micromolar concentrations of substrate. All of these methods are indirect, discontinuous, and time-consuming. Recently, an RNA–DNA duplex was incorporated into a fluorescent probe to study RNase H in real time; however, only very short substrate sequences could be analyzed. Moreover, the complexity in the RNA–DNA oligonucleotide synthesis can also result in a low yield and restrict its general utility in enzyme-activity studies. [7]
Fetal myelomeningocele: natural history, pathophysiology, and in-utero intervention

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a common birth defect that is associated with significant lifelong morbidity. Little progress has been made in the postnatal surgical management of the child with spina bifida. Postnatal surgery is aimed at covering the exposed spinal cord, preventing infection, and treating hydrocephalus with a ventricular shunt. In-utero repair of open spina bifida is now performed in selected patients and presents an additional therapeutic alternative for expectant mothers carrying a fetus with MMC. It is estimated that about 400 fetal operations have now been performed for MMC worldwide. Despite this large experience, the technique remains of unproven benefit. Preliminary results suggest that fetal surgery results in reversal of hindbrain herniation (the Chiari II malformation), a decrease in shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, and possibly improvement in leg function, but these findings might be explained by selection bias and changing management indications. A randomized prospective trial (the MOMS trial) is currently being conducted by three centers in the USA, and is estimated to be completed in 2010. Further research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of MMC, the ideal timing and technique of repair, and the long-term impact of in-utero intervention.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF RURAL AMERICA IN THE NEXT CENTURY

Judging by statistics from the past half-century, rural America will continue to grow faster than urban America. The spread of large cities, the creation of new ones, the addition of 30 million more senior citizens, and the diffusion of immigrants into rural areas are powerful forces contributing to rural growth. Rural areas are competitive in a broad range of industries, eventually including significant elements of today’s high wage, urban-oriented growth industries. Some rural places will be left behind, but past policy experience shows that alleviating conditions in distressed rural areas is well within the nation’s capacity. The official statistical system that divides the nation into metropolitan and rural areas misdirects policy discussions by hiding rural growth and obscuring the intertwined nature of urban and rural activities. Four-fifths of rural growth has occurred in areas reclassified as metropolitan, and two-fifths of all farmers farm in metropolitan America.