cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patronage Behavior of Apparel Shopping: Part I. Shopping Orientations, Store Attributes, Information Sources, and Personal Characteristics:

This is the first part of a two-part paper which deals with patronage behavior of apparel shopping. Part I examines the comprehensive relationships among key variables which impact patronage behavior of apparel shopping. Nationwide data (N = 482) were analyzed by utilizing multiple regressions to investigate the relationships among patronage behavior, store attributes, shopping orientations, information sources, and personal characteristics. Based on the results, patronage profiles for discount store, specialty store, department store, and catalog shopping were developed Predictors of store attributes, shopping orientations, and information sources were identified. Marketing implications are discussed
Monocyte/macrophage interactions with base and linear- and star-like PEG-modified PEG-poly(acrylic acid) co-polymers

Poly(ethylene glycol):poly(acrylate) PEG-g-PA co-polymers were made that inhibited nonspecific protein and cellular adhesion. PEG-g-PA co-polymers were then covalently modified with either cell adhesion peptides or fragments of antibodies to monocyte/macrophage integrin receptors (anti-VLA4, anti-beta(1), anti-beta(2), and anti-CD64) known to enhance macrophage adhesion and, perhaps, modulate their activation. Peptides were either directly conjugated to the base material or linked by way of PEO-star tethers. Fragments of the antibody region containing the antigen-binding site (Fab' fragments) were coupled to other PEG-g-PA samples using the sulhydryl end groups on Fab' fragments to amine-bearing PEO stars. Macrophage adhesion rates, phagocytic response (oxidative burst), and cytokine expression were determined for each PEG-g-PA material. Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence was used as a semiquantitative indication of monocyte-macrophage phagocytic activation (oxidative burst). Macrophage cytokine expression in response to control, base, and modified materials was determined by ELISAs for TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8. Tissue culture poly(styrene) (TCPS)-mediated the greatest number of adherent monocyte/macrophage cells relative to PEG-g-PA materials. Both YRGDS and YEILDV peptides, whether directly or indirectly (via StarPEO) conjugated to PEG-g-PA, increased adhesion versus controls. Fab' fragments of all four antibodies also promoted enhanced adhesion versus controls. Fab'StarPEO materials presented two orders of magnitude fewer ligands per surface unit area than peptide star materials (10(8) vs. 10(10)), but were able to adhere similar numbers of cells. For surfaces presenting Fab'(VLA-4) or YEILDV, both of which may both bind to a cell's VLA-4 receptor, the Star:VLA4 surface showed a greater number of adherent monocyte/macrophages. This result suggests that the Fab' had a higher affinity to the cell receptor than a corresponding minimal peptide binding sequence. All materials exhibited low oxidative burst (luminescence counts per minute, LCPM) per cell DNA without the addition of exogenous stimuli (LCPM/DNA PEG-g-PA > StarPEO. Cells adherent to peptide-modified materials and Fab'-modified materials were overall less stimulated. The method of presenting the peptides (i.e., directly or via Star PEO) influenced the level of cytokine secreted by the adherent macrophage.
The fast Hartley transform on the hypercube multiprocessors

The Fast Hartley Transform is a promising alternative to the Fast Fourier Transform when the processed data are real numbers. The hypercube implementation of the FHT is largely dependent on the way the computation is partitioned. A partitioning algorithm is presented which generates evenly-loaded tasks on each node and demands only a regular communication topology — the Hartley graph. Mapping from the Hartley graph to the Gray graph (binary n-cube) is straightforward, since the Hartley graph has a similar structure as the Gray graph. However, the communication is not always between the nearest neighbors and thus may take some extra time. Moreover, the slowness of the communication in the presently available architectures imposes a limitation on the speedup when a large number of processors are used.
K*SQL: a unifying engine for sequence patterns and XML

A strong interest is emerging in SQL extensions for sequence patterns using Kleene-closure expressions. This burst of interest from both the research community and the commercial world is due to the many database and data stream applications made possible by these extensions, including financial services, RFID-based inventory management, and electronic health systems. In this demo we will present the K*SQL system that represents a major step forward in this area. K*SQL supports a more expressive language that allows for generalized Kleene-closure queries and also achieves the expressive power of the nested word model, which greatly expands the application domain to include XML queries, software trace analysis, and genomics. In this demo, we first introduce the core features of our language in expressing complex pattern queries over both relational and XML data. We overview the architecture of our unifying engine and its user-friendly interfaces. We also present several K*SQL queries from stock market, XML, software trace analysis and genomic applications.
Fast Time-Resolved Magnetic Optical Rotatory Dispersion Measurements. 2. Confirmation of Mueller Analysis and Application to Myoglobin Ligand Photolysis

Experimental verifications are presented of expressions derived in the preceding paper that describe a simple and sensitive near-null technique for nanosecond time-resolved magnetic optical rotatory dispersion (TRMORD) spectroscopy. Expressions verified include those describing artifacts associated with strain, imperfect Faraday compensation, and photoselection-induced orientation of the sample. The accuracy of MORD data obtained with this method is demonstrated by comparison with MORD curves calculated from the Kramers-Kronig transform of independently measured magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra. The separation of natural and magnetic optical rotations for chiral biological macromolecules and potential artifacts associated with this separation are discussed. This work confirms the prediction in paper 1 in this series that the MORD technique is less sensitive to linear birefringence (arising from strained optics or photoselected samples, for instance) than the related near-null MCD technique previously developed in this lab. Possible problems associated with imperfect Faraday compensation are discussed, as is the prediction in the preceding paper of a coupling between photoselection-induced linear dichroism of the sample and Faraday rotation of the solvent. Photolysis measurements on carbonmonoxymyoglobin demonstrate that an excitation geometry in which the sample is probed along the unique axis of excitation minimizes the latter effect, improving accuracy in MORD measurements on photoselected samples. The TRMORD technique is applied to the ligand rebinding reaction of photolyzed carbonmonoxymyoglobin in Soret-region spectral measurements that demonstrate the ability of this technique to measure multichannel time-resolved magnetooptical data with a precision suitable for global kinetic analysis.
THE MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS (MDV) UNIQUE SHORT REGION : ALPHAHERPESVIRUS-HOMOLOGOUS, FOWLPOX VIRUS-HOMOLOGOUS, AND MDV-SPECIFIC GENES

Abstract Despite its previous classification as a gammaherpesvinus, primarily due to its lymphotropism, Marek's disease virus (MDV), an oncogenic avian herpesvirus, is phylogenetically more related to the “neurotropic” alphaherpesviruses, characterized by its prototype, herpes simplex virus (HSV) (Buckmaster et al. , 1988, J. Gen. Virol. 69, 2033–2042). In this report we present the DNA sequence of an 11,286-bp DNA segment encompassing the entire 11,160-by-long U s region of the oncogenic avian herpesvirus, Marek's disease virus. Eleven open reading frames (ORFs) likely to code for proteins were identified; of these, 7 represent homologs exclusive to alphaherpesvirus S component genes. These include MDV counterparts of HSV US1 (ICP22), US2, US3 (a serine-threonine protein kinase), US6, US7, and US8 (HSV glycoproteins gD, gl, and gE, respectively), and US10. Three additional ORFs were identified with no apparent relation to any sequences currently present in the SwissProt or GenBank/EMBL databases, while a fourth was found to exhibit significant homology to an uncharacterized fowlpox virus (FPV) ORF. Having precisely identified the IR S -U s and U s - TR s junctions, we have corrected and clarified their previously reported locations. By characterizing genes encoding three new alphaherpesvirus-related homologs (US1, US8, and US10), completing the sequence for a fourth (US7), and identifying 2 new MDV-specific ORFs (SORF1 and SORF3) and a fowlpox homolog (SORF2), our sequence analysis of the “virulent” GA strain of MDV (vMDV) extends upon that of a 5255-bp segment located in the U s region of the “very virulent” RB1 B strain of MDV (vvMDV) (Ross et al., 1991, J. Gen. Virol. 72, 939–947; 949–954). These two sequences were found to exhibit 99% identity at both nucleotide and predicted amino acid levels. Combined with the fact that MDV U s sequences failed to show statistically significant CpG deficiencies, our analysis is consistent with MDV bearing a closer phylogenetic relation to alphaherpesviruses than to gammaherpesviruses. Because alpha herpesvirus-specific U s region genes are primarily nonessential for virus replication, they are thought to be important biological property determinants. Thus, our sequence provides a foundation for further MDV studies aimed at resolving the apparent discrepancy between MDV's genetic and biologic properties.
Discrete-storm water-table fluctuation method to estimate episodic recharge

We have developed a method to identify and quantify recharge episodes, along with their associated infiltration-related inputs, by a consistent, systematic procedure. Our algorithm partitions a time series of water levels into discrete recharge episodes and intervals of no episodic recharge. It correlates each recharge episode with a specific interval of rainfall, so storm characteristics such as intensity and duration can be associated with the amount of recharge that results. To be useful in humid climates, the algorithm evaluates the separability of events, so that those whose recharge cannot be associated with a single storm can be appropriately lumped together. Elements of this method that are subject to subjectivity in the application of hydrologic judgment are values of lag time, fluctuation tolerance, and master recession parameters. Because these are determined once for a given site, they do not contribute subjective influences affecting episode-to-episode comparisons. By centralizing the elements requiring scientific judgment, our method facilitates such comparisons by keeping the most subjective elements openly apparent, making it easy to maintain consistency. If applied to a period of data long enough to include recharge episodes with broadly diverse characteristics, the method has value for predicting how climatic alterations in the distribution of storm intensities and seasonal duration may affect recharge.
Optimization of multicomponent pervaporation for removal of volatile organic compounds from water

Abstract Optimal operation of a hollow fiber membrane module for pervaporative removal of multicomponent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater was studied. A shell-and-tube heat-exchange ttype of hollow fiber module was considered for treatment of a wastewater containing toluene, trichloroethane (TCE) and methylene chloride. Three kinds of membranes, i.e., poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), polyether- block -polyamides (PEBA) and polyurethane (PUR) membranes, were studied. A mathematical model of the module was developed. The flux equations of the model were derived using mass transfer coefficient as described in our previous study. A cost model of the system was used to study the effect of different process and design variables on annual treatment cost. The effects of multicomponent feed mixtures, liquid boundary layer mass transfer resistance, and downstream pressure on the module performance and process economics were studied. A multidimensional optimization technique was used to determine the operation conditions for minimum cost. The sensitivity of the operation cost with respect to different process variables was also studied. The annual treatment cost was found to be relatively insensitive to the downstream pressure in the low pressure iange (for example, 0–2000 Pa for toluene removal, 0–3000 Pa for TCE removal and 0–1500 Pa for methylene chloride removal). The optimal downstream pressure increased with the increase of Henry's law constant of the compounds. The capital cost was found to be dominant in the total treatment cost at laminar flow regime, while the operating cost is diminant cost at turbulent flow regime.
Free latissimus dorsi flap used in treatment of cerebral aspergillosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Cerebral aspergillosis infection is a rare disease in children that carries extremely high morbidity and mortality. Although occurring most commonly in the immunosuppressed patient, cerebral aspergillosis infection has been reported after trauma or neurosurgical procedures. Amphotericin B is the main medical therapy for cerebral aspergillosis. However, surgical treatment is often required for cases of abscess or granuloma formation. Despite aggressive antifungal treatment and surgical intervention, aspergillosis of the central nervous system is often fatal. We present a case report in which a free latissimus dorsi muscle flap was used in conjunction with antifungal medication and surgical debridement to treat intracranial and epidural aspergillosis in a young male following complex craniofacial trauma.
Talking to the ceiling: an interface for bed-ridden manually impaired users

Even though computer interfaces for handicapped and elderly people have already been investigated for quite some time, little attention has been paid to the special access problems of bed-ridden people. In this video and paper, we present a human-computer interface that enables a person who is almost completely paralyzed and on an artificial respirator to write literary texts on his own again. Many of the observations give clues for the design of interfaces for bed-ridden manually impaired users in general.
Diffusion of pyridine in Illinois No. 6 Coal; measuring the swelling and deswelling characteristics by combined methods of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI)

Abstract The time-dependent swelling and deswelling of Illinois No. 6 coal by pyridine were measured by combined NMR and NMRI techniques. The results indicate that pyridine transport in this coal proceeds via Case II diffusion for swelling and via Fickian diffusion for deswelling. Once the relative pyridine concentrations reach values between 0.65 and 0.45, the coal's physical state changes from a glassy to a rubbery state. Transitions are well recorded by an inflection observed in the trend of spin-lattice relaxation or spin-spin relaxation of pyridine, as the coal swells and deswells. NMRI data indicate that the coal swelling is anisotropic, with swelling in a plane perpendicular to the coal bedding plane being 13% greater than that parallel to the coal bedding plane; however, the process of deswelling is almost isotropic. The differences between the swelling and deswelling characteristics are discussed from the viewpoint of coal's intrinsic structural properties and stored geologic pressure effects.
Assessing assumptions of a combined structure-function index.

Purpose Medeiros et al. developed a combined structure-function index for glaucoma by combining two ganglion cell models developed by Harwerth et al. The current study assessed assumptions of the Medeiros combined structure-function index by evaluating whether the two Harwerth models gave similar distributions of ganglion cells in an independent dataset. Methods The Harwerth models were applied to our previously published data for retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness (Stratus OCT 3.4) and visual field sensitivities (24-2 SITA Standard) from one eye each of 51 patients with glaucoma and 62 age-similar control subjects free of eye disease. RNFL thicknesses and perimetric sensitivities were converted to ganglion cell numbers using the Harwerth model for perimetry and the Harwerth model for RNFL. These two estimates of ganglion cell number were compared for the inferior temporal (IT) and superior temporal (ST) sectors of the optic disc and the corresponding visual field locations. Comparisons were made with 14 visual field locations per sector (including a point in the macula for the inferior temporal sector) and with 13 locations (no point in the macula). Data for controls and patients were analysed separately, comparing mean values for RNFL perimetry models. Bonferroni correction was applied to control for repeated tests of significance. The difference between mean values for the RNFL and perimetry models was quantified by equating the means for controls through reduction of the assumed axon diameter used by the RNFL model. Results For the control group, the Harwerth RNFL model yielded smaller mean number of retinal ganglion cells than the Harwerth perimetry model, 23–47% lower (t > 13, p 6.5, p < 0.0001). Conclusions The Harwerth RNFL model consistently gave lower ganglion cell numbers than the Harwerth perimetry model, and this discordance persisted in patients even after reducing assumed axon diameter for controls. This finding contradicts the assumptions of the Medeiros structure-function index.
Suppression of the in vitro humoral immune response of mouse splenocytes by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene metabolites and inhibition of immunosuppression by α-naphthoflavone

Abstract Exposure to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) has been demonstrated by numerous investigators to result in suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of mice and cultured splenocytes. The mechanism(s) of this DMBA-induced immunosuppression, however, is not well characterized. PAHs must be converted to reactive metabolites via cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase systems to exert their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Thus, we have hypothesized that immunosuppression seen upon exposure to DMBA may also be mediated by its reactive metabolites. The objective of this study was to determine if DMBA metabolites can suppress the in vitro, T-dependent humoral immune response to sheep red blood cells. Compounds were evaluated in the in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response at concentrations of 10−9 to 10−5 m . DMBA and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were also evaluated for their ability to suppress the in vitro PFC response. Addition of either of these PAHs to splenocyte cultures produced a concentration-dependent suppression of the PFC response, in which B[a]P was found to be 17.5-fold more potent that DMBA. These results are in contrast to those found in vivo, where DMBA has been shown to be more potent than B[a]P at suppressing humoral immunity. The 3,4-diol metabolite of DMBA produced a concentration-dependent suppression (10−8 to 10−5 m ) of the in vitro PFC response and was found to be 65-fold more potent than the parent compound DMBA. In contrast, the 5,6-diol metabolite of DMBA had no effect on the PFC response or cell viability. Both the 3-OH-DMBA and 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methyl-benz[a]anthracene (7-OHMe-12-Me-BA) metabolites were found to be immunosuppressive at concentrations of 10−6 m . Furthermore, suppression by 7-OHMe-12-Me-BA was observed at concentrations as low as 10−8 m . Immunosuppression by the 7-Me-12-OHMe-BA and the di-OHMe-BA metabolites was only observed at high (10−5 m ) concentrations. The cytochrome P450 inhibitor, α-naphthoflavone (ANF), was utilized to determine if cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism is involved in DMBA-induced suppression of the in vitro PFC response. ANF (10−5 m ) reversed the DMBA-induced immunosuppression seen at 10−5 m and attenuated the immunosuppression at 3 × 10−5 and 10−4 m . The results of these studies demonstrate that several metabolites of DMBA which can be generated by the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase systems are immunosuppressive in the in vitro PFC response assay. Furthermore, the cytochrome P450 inhibitor, ANF, was able to reverse DMBA-induced immunosuppression. However, since the degree of DMBA-induced and B[a]P-induced suppression of humoral immunity in vitro does not correlate with that observed in vivo, DMBA metabolites generated within the spleen may not be responsible for or may only partially contribute to the immunosuppression observed in the whole animal.
Alleviation of a transient stability crisis using shunt braking resistors and series capacitors

Abstract As a result of a severe disturbance, a bulk electric power system may be perturbed into an emergency state condition, whereby transient stability is not maintained and machine synchronous operation is lost. A generic methodology is presented that uses physical control means to alleviate such a transient stability crisis. Series braking capacitors and shunt braking resistors are the primary control means for such an event because of their speed of operation. The paper presents a simple control model formulated in an observation decoupled Thevenin equilibrium frame as a control space. This approach requires only locally available measurements. The minimum angle optimal aiming strategy is used to decide on necessary control action, which is then implementable through direct and inverse influence mappings presented for the two control means considered. Experimental results are also included to indicate the practical usefulness of these techniques.
What Should We Be Fine Tuning in Acute Coronary Syndromes—Dosing of Antiplatelet Therapy or Data Presentation?

The CURRENT OASIS 7 (The Clopidogrel and Aspirin Optimal Dose Usage to Reduce Recurrent Events-Seventh Organization to Assess Strategies in Ischemic Syndromes) trial recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine and a subgroup of this trial published in The Lancet evaluated alternative dosing strategies for clopidogrel and aspirin in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes. Critiques of these clinical trial data have been previously published and debated, but this study brings to light another area of scientific discussion. Using this trial as an example, this commentary emphasizes several key aspects of the clinical trial data presentation and publication process that need to improve and reminds clinicians of the many limitations to subgroup analyses.
Computation of continuous-energy neutron spectra with discrete ordinates transport theory

A procedure is presented to obtain a continuous-energy representation of the neutron spectrum using one-dimensional discrete ordinates calculations with a combination of multigroup (MG) and pointwise (PW) nuclear data. This provides the capability of determining the fine-structure energy distribution of the angular flux and flux moments within the resonance range as well as the smoother spectrum in the high- and thermal-energy ranges. A new method called a submoment expansion is developed to accurately calculate the Legendre moments of the elastic scatter source for the PW transport calculation, and the coupling between the MG and PW calculations is discussed in detail. The continuous-energy flux spectra can be utilized as problem-dependent weighting functions to process self-shielded MG cross sections for reactor physics and/or criticality safety analysis. This calculational method has been implemented in a new PW transport code called CENTRM that can be executed as a module in the AMPX and SCALE computer code packages. An example application using ENDF/B-VI cross-section data to analyze critical benchmarks is presented.
United Mine Workers of America: Centennial Conference

The coal fields have been the setting for some of the most legendary traditions of class conflict in American labor history. Dishonest and irregular pay, child and convict labor, mine disasters and black lung, repression of unions and the suffocating paternalism of the company towns ?these have been among the more potent symbols of labor exploitation in industrial America. Relatedly, the mining regions have yielded an unmatched legacy of labor militancy and solidarity, embodied most enduringly in the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The recent, hard-fought Pittston strike illustrates how alive and immediate this history remains in the coal fields today. On October 18-20, 1990, approximately one hundred people, primarily labor historians and UMWA officials, gathered at Penn State University to mark the union's centenary and to evaluate its history and current prospects. UMWA President Richard Trumka set the tone with his keynote address, "A World to Win: A New Unionism for the '90s." In order to remain vital, he argued, the labor movement needs to redefine the meaning of unionism, to expand beyond the workplace to confront the community needs ? social, financial, legal, etc. ? of its members as well. But in doing so, he added, the unions must not shed their traditional commitments to workplace issues and social justice and become mere purveyors of credit cards and travel services. It is both a moral and a strategic imperative that the unions reconcile their roles at the workplace and in the community, for working people pursue empowerment in both realms. Trumka turned next to the "new proletariat of service workers" in offices, hospitals, and the like. He called on the labor movement to reject the assumption that these workers cannot be organized, likening such thinking to that of the American Federation of Labor leaders regarding industrial workers during the 1930s. Finally, Trumka noted the response of white working people in Louisiana to the racist populism of U.S. Senate candidate David Duke. Liberals, he observed, tend to denounce the racism and move on; the challenge of the labor movement is to address the economic distress and political disaffection that make struggling white workers susceptible to Duke's demogoguery. "Labor is the only entity in America capable of challenging American racism at its roots," Trumka concluded.
A content-addressable polychromatic neural net using a (Ce:Fe)-doped LiNbO3 photorefractive crystal

Abstract A polychromatic neural net using a (Ce:Fe)-doped LiNbO 3 photorefractive crystal is presented. This neural net is a two-level high-content addressable memory. The first level is a polychromatic Hamming net for color image classification, and the second level is a mapping net, based on a photorefractive crystal associative memory. The major advantage of this neural net is the large storage capacity and it requires a fewer interconnection links. Experimental demonstrations are provided, in which is shown that the proposed neural net is consistent with the theoretical model.
Insensitive TATP Training Aid by Microencapsulation

There is a need in the explosives detection community for an insensitive, storage-stable source of triacetone triperoxide (TATP). To achieve this, the solvent evaporation microencapsulation technique was used to disperse TATP in a plastic matrix. This lowered the shock sensitivity greatly and prevented loss of TATP at room temperature, allowing for easy long-term storage. It was then demonstrated that pure TATP vapor was released on demand from the matrix by heating.
Cellulase in Phytoparasitic Nematodes

An enzyme which produces reducing substances from carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is present in homogenates of phytoparasitic and some myceliophagous nematodes but is absent from Panagrellus sp., Neodiplogaster sp. and from Trichinella spiralis. Temperature inactivation time, optimum ionic strength, pH optima, and substrate specificity were determined for Meloidogyne sp. and Ditylenchus myceliophagus preparations. Characteristics of cellulase differed in the two nematodes. Highest quantities of CMC-ase were present in preparations from root-knot and cyst nematode larvae.
Rheological behavior of rubber carbon black compounds in various shear flow histories

Abstract The rheological properties of rubber carbon black compounds are studied in various shear flow histories. In particular we studied (i) stress relaxation, (ii) transient and steady state shear flow, (iii) stress relaxation after steady flow, (iv) sequential shear flow history, (v) storage effects, (vi) programmed step shear histories. At low carbon black concentrations, the rheological response is similar in character to that of unfilled elastomers. For carbon black concentrations of 20 percent by volume and above, the compounds exhibit yield values which increase with carbon black concentration and decreasing particle size. The rubber carbon black compounds exhibit ‘hysteresis loops’ in programmed step shear histories and rheological property growth in storage experiments.
Cognitive Performance and Cognitive Style of Young Children

For 31 white preschool children of the University Child Development Laboratory and their parents measures given were Piagetian tasks for cognitive performance and Coate's Preschool Embedded Figures Test for cognitive style and a demographic questionnaire for parents. Pearson correlations of cognitive performance with cognitive style of young children and performance differences by children's sex and age, and parental income were estimated. Significant values between cognitive performance and cognitive style were noted. No significant differences by sex of children or by parental income were found. Developmental differences by age of children were noted for both cognitive performance and style. Possible value of such information for parents and teachers was suggested.
Becoming Lesbian Mothers

Abstract Lesbian mothering strategies are commonly theorized as instances of assimilationism or resistance. This essay critiques those approaches and presents a promising alternative using the conceptual framework of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Their concepts of “becoming” and “rhizoming” are utilized as mechanisms for understanding the inconsistencies and contradictions that constitute the subjectivities of two lesbian co-mothers. The essay concludes with the political implications of these analyses.
Enhancing Preservice Elementary Teachers' 21st-Century Information and Media Literacy Skills

This two-semester pedagogical study investigated the effectiveness of an approach to information and media literacy instruction for elementary preservice teachers. Participants were trained in and then used a systematic process of searching for, evaluating, and using journal articles and Websites. Two-thirds of the Semester 1 participants were unsuccessful identifying relevant, high-quality journal articles and one half inaccurately evaluated the quality of Websites. After three opportunities for formative assessment were added to the instruction model in Semester 2, participants proficiently evaluated Websites and three-fourths were able to find relevant journal articles. The results demonstrate the importance of formative assessment and the need to provide preservice teachers with information and media literacy training so they are better able to navigate and evaluate digital-age resources to expand their content mastery and teach their students 21st-century skills.
Quantitative precipitation estimation using dual-polarization radar network over the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex

The Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensing (DCAS) paradigm introduced by the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (NSF-ERC) for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) has shown great advantages to observe and track low-level atmospheric conditions during the 5 years operation (2007–2011) in Southwestern Oklahoma. To demonstrate the DCAS concept and mitigate the increasing vulnerability to urban flash floods, CASA, in collaborative with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), has been establishing its first urban radar network in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area. The eight-node X-band dual-polarization radar network is expected to provide improved hazardous weather forecasts, warnings and response in this densely populated metroplex.
TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF A QUANTUM DOT WITH SUPERCONDUCTING LEADS

We report a numerical study of transport properties of a quantum dot with superconducting leads. We introduce a general phenomenological model of quantum-dot transport, in which electron tunnel rates are computed within the Fermi-golden-rule approach. The low-temperature current-voltage ($I\ensuremath{-}V$) characteristics are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations of Ralph et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3241 (1995)]. At higher temperatures, our results reveal interesting effects due to the thermal excitation of quasiparticles in the leads as well as the thermal population of excited quantum levels in the dot. We also study the photon-assisted tunneling phenomena in our system and point out its potential for millimeter wave applications.
Microbiological analysis of sepsis complicating non-surgical biliary drainage in malignant obstruction

Cholangitis with sepsis is a common complication of non-surgical biliary drainage and represents a difficult management problem. Microbiological data for 18 septic episodes in 15 patients following endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) and 14 septic episodes in 14 patients following percutaneous transhepatic drainage (PTD) were reviewed. In the EBD group, all 18 patient episodes of sepsis had blood cultures and 10 had bile cultures obtained. In total, 17 gram-negative isolates and 5 gram-positive isolates were grown in the EBD sepsis group. All of the 14 PTD patients had bile cultures and 13 had blood cultures. In total, 23 gram-negative isolates and 26 gram-positive isolates were grown in the PTD sepsis group. When PTD cultures were compared with EBD cultures, there were significantly more gram-positive cultures (26 vs. 5) associated with PTD sepsis than EBD sepsis (p
Methionine depletion induces transcription of the mRNA (N6-adenosine)methyltransferase

This study examines the genetic expression of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding subunit of the mRNA (N6-adenosine)methyltransferase (MT-A70) in cultured cells under conditions known to affect transmethylation reactions. Methionine dependence, disrupted methionine metabolism, and increased transmethylation reactions are all phenotypes characteristic of cancer cells. The results show that both methionine depletion and inhibition of S-adenosyl-L-methionine formation can induce up to a four-fold increase in transcription of this S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding subunit. The two splice-variant mRNAs produced from the MT-A70 gene are transcribed at different rates depending on the level of S-adenosyl-L-methionine inhibition. This result may reflect differing Km values toward the substrate for the different enzyme isoforms. 3-Deazaadenosine, an inhibitor known to block certain mRNA transmethylations, was shown to have no effect on MT-A70 gene expression. This result indicates that the control of MT-A70 gene expression is directly related to methionine availability and the subsequent synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine.
Coral reef bleaching and global climate change: Can corals survive the next century?

Coral reef ecosystems are threatened on a worldwide basis, with overfishing, diseases, eutrophication, hurricanes, overpopulation, and global climate change all contributing to recent declines in reef-forming corals or phase shifts in community structure on time scales not observed previously (1–3). These changes are in contrast to recent periods of long-term stability in coral reef communities over geological time scales of thousands of years (4, 5). A recent meta-analysis of coral cover throughout the Caribbean has shown an 80% decline that has been both long term (e.g., decadal) in duration and region-wide (6). For the last two decades, coral reef biologists have attributed much of the increase in coral mortality to coral bleaching subsequent to elevated seawater temperatures occurring on both regional and global spatial scales (7). Coral bleaching, a stress response of reef-forming corals, results in the loss of their symbiotic algal partner that supplies a large percentage of the nutritional requirements of the coral host and causes the corals to appear white (ref. 7 and Fig. 1). Since 1979, there have been dozens of reports of coral bleaching associated with elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs), whereas from 1876 to 1979, only three events were recorded (8). The recently released Fourth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC; www.ipcc.ch) states with 90% certainty that most of the observed warming of the planet over the last half-century has been caused by human activities from the accumulation of greenhouse gases. On the heels of the IPCC report, in this issue of PNAS, Donner et al. (9) provide a quantitative assessment of the contribution of human-induced climate change for the most devastating coral-bleaching event on record, the Caribbean-wide coral bleaching in 2005.
Carbon dynamics under long-term conservation and disk tillage management in a norfolk loamy sand

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is an important process to mitigate CO 2 emissions. Our objectives were to determine the rates of C sequestration and to determine if the SOC pool was at or approaching equilibrium in plots under long-term (24-yr) conservation (CT) and disk tillage (DT) management. The plots were Norfolk loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Kandiudult) and were under a row crop rotation. All plots received annual subsoiling, while only plots under DT were surface disked. Soil cores were collected to 90 cm deep. After 24 yr, the only significant increase in SOC occurred in CT plots at a 0- to 5-cm depth. The SOC pool in plots under DT was at a near-steady state, while the SOC pool under CT was not at equilibrium. This supports the conclusion that CT is an effective countermeasure to offset atmospheric CO 2 emissions.
Noninvasive evaluation of mid-left ventricular obstruction by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography and color flow Doppler echocardiography

Three patients with midventricular obstruction resulting from three different pathophysiologic mechanisms and differing anatomic bases for the development of obstruction are presented. In the first patient, a membrane-like structure appeared to cause some fixed obstruction, but a superimposed dynamic component to the obstruction was also evident. Papillary muscle hypertrophy with approximation of the papillary muscles during systole was the mechanism in the second patient. In the third patient, apical infarction with hyperdynamic contraction of the mid- and basal portions of the myocardium appeared to be the pathophysiologic mechanism. Color flow Doppler echocardiography was particularly useful in localizing the site of obstruction and allowed further evaluations by pulsed and continuous-wave Doppler techniques to precisely determine pressure gradients.
HIV infection and vaginal douching in Central Africa.

Previous research has suggested that frequent vaginal douching modifies vaginal flora and increases the risk of cervical infections -- a probable risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To assess the association between HIV infection and vaginal douching 397 women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Bangui Central African Republic during 1994-95 were interviewed regarding their sexual behavior and vaginal douching practices in the preceding 3 years. The overall HIV prevalence rate was 34%. Douching primarily for hygiene or treatment of a vaginal discharge was reported by 195 women (49%); its mean weekly frequency was 7 times. A commercial antiseptic was used by 140 women (72%); 48 (25%) used a noncommercial preparation (largely herbs) and 7 (3%) used water. The analysis was restricted to women who used commercial or noncommercial preparations at least once a week (104 and 32 women respectively). 25 (21.7%) of the 115 HIV-positive women reported use of commercial antiseptics compared with 79 (35.4%) of seronegative women (odds ratio 0.6; 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9 after adjustment for condom use lifetime number of sexual partners and marital status). Use of noncommercial preparations was reported by 17 (14.8%) seropositive and 15 (6.7%) seronegative women (adjusted odds ratio 1.7; 95% confidence interval l.0-3.0). Although these findings should be considered preliminary it is speculated that the antifungal and bacteriostatic properties of commercial antiseptics used after sexual intercourse may reduce the inoculum of HIV through a flushing mechanism or reduce the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases that serve as co-factors for HIV infection. Moreover the agents used in noncommercial preparations may irritate vaginal mucosa enhancing HIV transmission.
Defining the concept of supply chain quality management and its relevance to academic and industrial practice

Abstract Even though much attention has been focused on supply chain management (SCM) concepts in recent years, its interlinking with the quality management perspective is often limited and tangential in nature. While the importance of quality management is universally recognized, academic researchers need a more focused approach in evaluating quality management issues within the internal and external supply chain contexts. Consequently, in this study we define the concept of supply chain quality management (SCQM), and evaluate its relevance in academic and industrial practice by comprehensively reviewing prior quality and SCM literature in major journals and inductively identifying the themes that emerge within it. In particular, we take a more critical look at those published studies that specifically lie at the interface of quality and external SCM, and argue that quality practices must advance from traditional firm centric and product-based mindsets to an inter-organizational supply chain orientation involving customers, suppliers, and other partners. We also show that SCQM across inter-organizational supply chains has received scant research attention, even though that perspective is sorely needed in delivering value to customers in often globally scattered supply chains. A case study of a firm that is a first-tier supplier in an offshoot of automotive supply chain is presented to better illustrate the SCQM themes and their treatment in industrial practice. Based on our research, the case study, and experience of working with firms in the domain of quality management and the ISO 9001 certification processes, we propose a Quality-SCM framework that can be used to place prior work in perspective, as well as identify three specific opportunities for future SCQM research.
Short term forces and changing partisanship

This research stemmed from the growing realization that party ID is not purely the long-term force originally conceptualized. The current conception is that it is a combination of a standing decision and responses to political events. The research addresses two questions: For what proportion of partisan changers is party ID a lagging, stable attachment to be changed only after a period of disaffection from one's party? What is the relative power of the various time 1 short term forces to alter party ID time 2?
FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING OF ALLOPHYCOCYANIN AND PHYTOCHROME BY ESTRIOL

— At 293 K the long-wavelength absorption and emission band of 1.4 μM allophycocyanin is decreased by estriol (Δ1-3-5(10)-estratriene-3,16α, 17β-trio!) in the range 0.8-6.6 μM in the presence of 11% alcohol (vol/vol). The binding of estriol is shown to be of high affinity, 1:1 with allophycocyanin. The free energy of this binding process (ΔG°) is -33.6 kJ mol' and single binding site dissociation constant (KD) 1.0 ×10–6M. Estriol at 21 μM effectively quenches the fluorescence of 1.4 M large molecular weight phytochrome in its red absorbing form at 77 K while having little or no effect on the phototransformation difference spectrum at 293 K.
Cis-Trans isomerization of oleic acid by nitrous acid

Oleic acid wascis-trans isomerized by HNO2 generatedin situ by reacting NaNO2 with a mineral acid. The influence on the reaction of time, temp, agitation, solvent, amt of catalyst and type of mineral acid was investigated. Optimum reaction conditions were defined for achieving equilibrium isomerization in 30 min with minimum by-product formation. After isomerization, nitrogenous by-products were efficiently removed using silicic acid. The active species causingcis-trans isomerization was tentatively identified as free radical nitrogen dioxide.
Use of an electronic patient portal among disadvantaged populations.

BACKGROUND Electronic patient portals give patients access to information from their electronic health record and the ability to message their providers. These tools are becoming more widely used and are expected to promote patient engagement with health care.
Chaotic inflation and supersymmetry breaking

We investigate the recently proposed class of chaotic inflation models in supergravity with an arbitrary inflaton potential V({phi}). These models are extended to include matter fields in the visible sector and we employ a mechanism of supersymmetry breaking based on a particular phenomenological version of the KKLT mechanism (the KL model). We describe specific features of reheating in this class of models and show how one can solve the cosmological moduli and gravitino problems in this context.
Surface area enhancement of silica fibers by sol-gel processes

Abstract Non-porous silica fibers, 1 μm in diameter and up to 100 μm long, have been coated by dispersion in silica sols in order to increase their specific surface area and improve the adsorption capacity for chromatographic bioseparations. Both acid- and base-catalyzed sols were investigated. Coatings with an acid-catalyzed sol resulted in a hundredfold increase in the specific surface area of the fiber. However, formation of fiber flocks by this method caused problems in packing chromatographic columns with these fibers. By contrast, coatings by dispersion in base-catalyzed sols resulted in looser flocks that facilitated column packing. Various sol compositions and fiber mass concentrations in base-catalyzed sols increased the specific surface area of the fibers by up to 30 times. Washing with acetone or ethanol reduced the specific surface area of the coated fibers by about 80%.
Anti-TNF therapies in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, sepsis, and myelodysplastic syndromes.

An attempt has been made in this article to summarize the state-of-the-art clinical experience with the use of anti-TNF therapies in four diseased states with special emphasis on myelodysplastic syndromes. Given the central role of TNF-alpha in initiating and perpetuating the chronic damage produced in the diseased organs by controlling a cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as its acute role in sepsis, theoretically speaking, neutralization of this peptide was a natural therapeutic choice. Results of the initial clinical trials appear encouraging and sometimes dramatic in their efficacy. The mechanism of response however, is interesting in that even when TNF-alpha is directly targeted by a monoclonal antibody, the resulting benefits can frequently not be attributed to TNF suppression alone. Rather, it appears that a more general effect on the T-lymphocytes is also contributing to the responses being seen. This raises the new possibility of combining anti-cytokine and anti-T-cell strategies to treat at least the more chronic diseases such as Crohn's disease and myelodysplastic syndromes. Continued clinical trials testing these strategies are clearly warranted.