cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Computer-Based Expository and Discovery Methods of Instruction on Aural Recognition of Music Concepts

This study presents a comparison of the effectiveness of computer-based expository and discovery methods of instruction for fostering the aural recognition of selected musical concepts. The expository method (EM) contained the instructional sequence (a) definition of the concept, (b) examples, (c) practice exercises. The discovery method (DM) contained the instructional sequence (a) examples, (b) practice exercises, (c) opportunity to verbalize discovery, (d) definition of the concept. The DM group spent more time than the EM group working with the software (p = .03). The groups did not differ significantly on total time spent in instruction (p = .19). No significant differences were found between treatments on the posttest or retention test. Both groups improved from pretest to posttest and declined from posttest to retention test (p < .01). A relationship was found between subjects' ability to define the concepts verbally and their ability to recognize aurally examples of the musical concepts. Greater v...
The fine structure of Nyctotherus cordiformis (Ehrenberg)

SYNOPSIS. An electron-microscopic investigation of gluaraldehyde-and osmium-vapor-fixed Nyctotherus cordiformis has revealed the following: (1) A thin epiplasmic layer lies directly beneath a single limiting membrane. (2) The somatic kinetosomes are arranged in approximately 76 parallel rows separated from each other by a vacuolated region 2.4 μ wide. (3) The kinetosomes in each row are paired (both members ciliated), with 7 tubular fibrils (18-21 mμ) originating radially from the right posterior margin of the posterior kinetosome, passing upward and anteriorly as a compact bundle. Also finding their origin in the proximity of the right radial fibrils point of origin are approximately 7 tubular fibrils, extending downward and posteriorly, where they join with adjacent posteriorly directed fibrils. Tangentially arranged tubular fibrils originate from the left anterior margin of both kinetosomes and are directed upward and anteriorly. Dense filamentous material surrounds both kinetosomes and extends laterally towards the adjacent rows. (4) Peculiar, electron-dense, spherical bodies (10-14 mμ) and larger rectangular bodies are present in the lumen of the kinetosomes. (5) A fine filamentous reticulum is present under the double row of kinetosomes of the UM as well as the 100 membranellar units of the AZM. (6) Oral fibrils (18 mμ) in groups of 3 extend upward into the ectoplasmic folds which separate the membranellar units; additional fibrils extend deep into the anterior and posterior ectoplasmic regions. (7) The nemadesmata originate on the right side of the buccal cavity and extend outward to their apparent terminus in the vacuolated ectoplasm. A brief historical account and results of light-microscopical investigation employing silver impregnation methods are also included as well as a discussion of the anteriorly directed right radial fibrils, deep posterior fibrils and their non-kinetodesmal affinities.
Seasonal and Diurnal Changes in Cirrus Clouds as Seen in Four Years of Observations with the VAS

Abstract GOES VAS multispectral observations in the carbon dioxide absorption band at 15 μm have been used to compile cloud-cover statistics over the continental United States for the past 4 years. The CO2 technique calculates both cloud-top pressures and effective emissivities and reliably distinguishes semitransparent cirrus from opaque clouds. The frequency of semitransparent cirrus clouds exhibits small seasonal variation; they are generally present 25%–30% of the time in all seasons. Diurnal variations of semitransparent cirrus are found only in the summer months and correspond to diurnal variations in convection in the Rocky Mountains and southeastern United States, increases of 20% in cirrus are noted subsequent to the convective cloud activity. In the winter months, no diurnal change in semitransparent cirrus is detected. Attempts to correlate cirrus with some common atmospheric features reveal that a majority of cirrus occurred where dynamic parameters indicate rising vertical motion but that con...
John Dewey and the Virtue of Cook Ding’s Dao

Certain discussions about “relativism” in the philosophy of Zhuangzi turn on the question of the morality of his dao 道. Some commentators, most notably Robert Eno, maintain that there is no ethical value whatsoever to Zhuangzi’s dao as presented in the Cook Ding episode and other “knack passages.” In this essay, it is argued that there is indeed a moral dimension to Cook Ding’s dao. One way to recognize it is to explore the similarity between that dao and John Dewey’s notion of educational method. There are moral traits that Dewey can appeal to in recommending his method. It is argued here that these traits represent the moral features of Cook Ding’s dao as well.
Improved trigeminal and facial nerve tolerance following fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for large acoustic neuromas.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate improved cranial nerve tolerance following fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for large acoustic neuromas, defined as tumours with pons-petrous distance (A) > 1 cm and midporous transverse diameter (A + Y) > 2 cm. Of 28 patients with acoustic neuromas treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, 19 had large tumours at high risk for radiosurgery-induced cranial neuropathy. Six patients received 36 Gy in six, weekly, fractions and 13 patients received 30 Gy in six, weekly, fractions. 15 patients had evaluable trigeminal nerve function and 16 had evaluable facial nerve function. At a median follow-up of 4.5 years, tumour shrinkage was seen in 10 patients and tumour size was stable in nine. None of the patients developed any evidence of transient, or permanent, trigeminal or facial neuropathy at any time during their follow-up period. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy may offer a superior therapeutic ratio to single fraction stereotactic radiosurg...
Resistance in psychotherapy: Conclusions that are supported by research

Theoretical literature is contradictory in most areas, but virtually all theories agree on the existence of patient resistance. Furthermore, these theories propose similar views regarding the implications, and effects of resistance. However, theories differ widely in both the assumed causes of resistance and the methods of dealing with resistant patients. Common to various theoretical definitions is an assumption that resistance is both a dispositional trait and an in-therapy state. While the focus of this article is on resistance as a general phenomenon, the vast majority of research has given particular attention to a special class of resistance that is the reaction against the sense of being controlled by others. This “reactance” is manifested in oppositional, angry, and uncooperative behavior. In both its general and more specific forms, resistance bodes poorly for treatment effectiveness. However, nondirective and paradoxical strategies have been found to be quite successful in overcoming resistant and reactant states. In addition, matching low-directive and self-directed treatments with potentially resistant patients tends to attenuate the negative effects of resistance traits. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Pervasiveness of framing effects among physicians and medical students

Researchers have been documenting the influence of framing upon decision making for more than two decades; decisions appear to change in response to superficial changes in the presentation of possible outcomes. Several studies of medical decision making have revealed; for instance, that clinical decisions differ when options are presented as gains (survival rates) rather than losses (mortality rates). However, most studies of framing effects in the medical domain have utilized a very limited number of clinical problems that have not allowed an adequate test of the prevalence of the phenomena. To extend previous studies, we presented three groups of subjects (experienced internists, residents, and third-year medical students) with booklets containing twelve hypothetical medical cases. Half of the subjects received gain versions and half received loss versions of the same cases. Chi-square analyses revealed that framing did not influence any of the decisions of medical students and influenced the decisions of residents and experienced physicians on only two of the clinical problems (the same two problems). It appears that the prevalence of framing effects in the clinical domain may be limited.
Two-point velocity statistics over Lake Ontario

Cross-spectra between wind speeds on several masts in Lake Ontario have been analyzed. As previously predicted, coherence over water (small intensity of turbulence) between wind speeds measured on masts lined up with the wind appears to be larger than over land, and increases with decreasing Richardson numbers. As a result, in cold air over warm water, wind speed fluctuations are well predictable from upstream measurements. For large angles between the anemometer line and wind, the difference between coherence over land and water disappears. Furthermore, there is no significant difference in vertical coherence between water and land. When the wind is parallel to the anemometer line, small ‘eddies’ travel, in agreement with Taylor's hypothesis, with the local mean wind speed. Large eddies travel significantly faster. Vertical phase delay increases with increasing Richardson number.
Contaminants of dinitrochlorobenzene

DNCB (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene) is used in the treatment of alopecia areata, recalcitrant verrucae, and for evaluating immunocompromised patients. Currently, there is no pharmaceutical grade of DNCB available for clinical use. Recently, no nitrochlorobenzene contamination was found with the use of positive ion detection gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We examined six commercial sources of DNCB, with the use of negative ion detection gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, for volatile impurities such as nitrochlorobenzene which might remain from the manufacturing process. The use of negative ion detection increases the sensitivity of this technic to benzene rings substituted with electron withdrawing groups like the nitrochlorobenzenes. We found that all sources of DNCB contain various combinations of nitrochlorobenzene, dinitrobenzene, nitrodichlorobenzene, and other isomers of DNCB. Nitrochlorobenzene has been shown to be mutagenic in the Ames test and carcinogenic in animal studies. The presence of nitrochlorobenzene and other contaminants in commercial grades of DNCB raises questions about the continued clinical application of this agent.
The effect of cyclic nucleotides on purine biosynthesis and the induction of PRPP synthetase during lymphocyte activation.

Abstract The activation of lymphocytes has been used to study the regulation of mammalian gene expression. Concanavalin A (Con A) added to mouse spleen lymphocytes in serum-free medium leads to an increase in the rate of DNA synthesis as great as 1000 fold, commencing 20 hr after its addition. Prior to 20 hr, the rate of purine synthesis increases 10–100 fold as measured by accumulation of the purine intermediate, formyl glycineamide ribonucleotide (FGAR). Addition of dibutyryl cyclic GMP to the lymphocyte suspensions results in a 10 fold increase in the rate of DNA synthesis in the absence of Con A and enhances both purine synthesis and DNA synthesis in its presence. The activity of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase (PRPP synthetase), an enzyme central to purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis, is increased 2–10 fold during the activation. The increase begins to appear 8 hr after Con A addition and requires concomitant protein synthesis. The induced PRPP synthetase activity is stimulated by the presence of cyclic GMP in the enzyme assay. Addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP to Con A-stimulated lymphocytes inhibits FGAR production, the stimulation of DNA synthesis, and the appearance of cyclic GMP-sensitive PRPP synthetase. These studies suggest that cyclic nucleotides play a significant role in the molecular mechanism of lymphocyte activation, the regulation of purine biosynthesis, and of eucaryotic genetic expression.
Activation of purinergic receptor subtypes in the nucleus tractus solitarius elicits specific regional vascular response patterns.

Abstract The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) is a major integrative site in the brain stem involved in central autonomic control. Several lines of evidence indicate that ATP, acting at P 2x purinoceptors, and adenosine, acting at A 2a adenosine (P 1 ) purinoceptors, play synchronous roles as transmitter substances in NTS-mediated mechanisms of cardiovascular control. The purpose of this study was to examine regional vascular response patterns elicited by selective activation of purinergic receptor subtypes in the NTS. Adult male rats were anesthetized with a mixture of α-chloralose and urethane. Pulsed-Doppler flow probes were placed on the iliac, renal and superior mesenteric arteries via a midline laparotomy for measurement of regional blood flow velocities. The animal was then mounted prone in a stereotaxic unit and the dorsal surface of the medulla was surgically exposed in the region of the obex. Microinjections of α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-MeATP), a selective P 2x purinergic receptor agonist, or 2- p -(2-carboxyethyl)Phenethylamino-5′- N -ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680), a selective A 2a adenosine (P 1 ) receptor agonist, were made into the subpostremal region of the NTS via multibarrel glass micropipettes. Both α,β-MeATP (25 and 100 pmoles/rat) and CGS 21680 (2 and 20 pmoles/rat) produced significant dose-related reductions in blood pressure and heart rate. These agonist-elicited depressor response patterns were associated with a pronounced and preferential dilation of the iliac vascular bed. However, α,β-MeATP, but not CGS 21680, also caused significant dilation of the renal and superior mesenteric vascular beds, although lesser in magnitude compared to the iliac bed, whereas the hypotensive actions of CGS 21680 were considerably more prolonged compared to the very rapid and transient effects of α,β-MeATP. These resutls support the view that extracellular ATP and adenosine via synchronous actions at specific purinergic receptor subtypes in the NTS may be functionally linked as neural signalling substances to selectively coordinate the regulation of regional vasomotor tone.
Cloud‐to‐ground lightning characteristics over Houston, Texas: 1989–2000

[1] Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning detected by the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) indicates a relatively high flash density over Houston, Texas, for the 12-year period 1989–2000. A significant enhancement of 45% in the flash density is observed compared to the nearby surrounding areas. The strength of the enhancement varies on the basis of season and time of day, with the greatest increases occurring during the summer (58%) and during the 0900–1800 LT time periods in each season. Observations indicate that large lightning events (defined as days with >100 flashes in a geographic region that includes Houston and nearby rural areas) were responsible for the climatological lightning anomaly and that increased thunderstorm initiation was not the most significant cause of the enhancement. A decrease (−12%) in the percentage of positive flashes is observed over the city. Higher negative median peak currents along the coast and well into the Gulf of Mexico were also discovered. Several explanations for our observations are suggested. The urban heat island and increased cloud condensation nuclei concentrations, especially from industrial pollution, are speculated to be significant factors in creating lightning enhancement. Pollution effects are speculated to cause a change in a thunderstorm's charge distribution, which can affect the polarity of CG flashes. The potential effect of the nearby coastal Gulf salt water on the calculated peak current is examined. Variations in multiplicity values across the region are observed but not explained.
Femtosecond IR spectroscopy: methods and applications to protein dynamics

We have developed a fs IR absorption spectrometer that provides high sensitivity in both near- and mid-IR regions. High sensitivity is attained using a dual beam approach: a fs broadband IR probe pulse is split into sample and reference pulses which are routed through and around the sample, respectively. The two pulses are directed through a monochromator before impinging on photodetectors.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The theoretical development of a multichannel time-series myoprocessor for simultaneous limb function detection and muscle force estimation

The theoretical development and simulation of a complete time-series myoprocessor which provides reliable and economical predictions of both the magnitude and direction of limb motion from the spectral content of the surface EMG is discussed. Treating multiple channels of surface EMG as a vector-valued autoregressive process incorporates spatially distributed information which extends the operating range of parallel filtering limb function classifiers and reduces their sensitivity to modeling conditions. Active joint moment is estimated simultaneously from the pooled variance of the prewhitened EMG generated during the classification procedure. Estimation from the prewhitened sequence imposes no additional computational requirements and extends optimal myoprocessor to include multiple channels of serially dependent data. Such a system may be applied to the control of actively powered prostheses or orthoses. >
On mutation fixation resulting from nitrosoguanidine-induced DNA damage in Escherichia coli K12 ada-.

Abstract Brief treatment with nitrosoguanidine of E. coli defective in the removal of the premutagenic lesion, give rise to cells that segregate mutant clones. No depletion in the number of such cells occurs for at least 4 generations of growth in liquid medium. It is concluded that premutagenic lesions persist and result in copying errors by an otherwise normal replication machinery.
Warfighter auditory situation awareness: effects of augmented hearing protection/enhancement devices and TCAPS for military ground combat applications.

AbstractObjective: To determine the effects of current hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPEDs) and tactical communications and protection systems (TCAPS) on auditory detection and identification of three critical military signals associated with potential “threats.” Design: Utilizing a 6 × 3 within-subject experimental design, 24 normal-hearing Virginia Tech Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and active duty soldiers participated. Study sample: Five HPEDS and TCAP devices plus the open ear were tested. On each trial, either wearing a device or with open ears, subjects walked along a 3000-foot line of discrete distance markers toward the auditory threat, which was not visible but still within line-of-sight over flat terrain, stopping to listen when instructed. On approach to the threat, the linear distance at first detection was measured, followed by a continued approach until positive identification occurred. Then the subject reversed direction, retreating away from the threat until detec...
Work in progress - combined introduction of C and assembly with a focus on reduction of high-level language constructs

This paper describes the reform of a sophomore-level course in computer organization for the Computer Science BS curriculum at the University of Texas at El Paso, an urban minority-serving institution, where Java and integrated IDEs have been adopted as the only language and development environments used in the first three semesters of study. This effort was motivated by faculty observations and industry feedback indicating that upper-division students and graduates were failing to achieve mastery of non-garbage-collected, strictly imperative languages, such as C. The similarity of C variable semantics to the underlying machine model enables simultaneous mastery of both C and assembly-language programming and exposes implementation details that are difficult to teach independently, such as subroutine linkage and management of stack frame. An online lab manual has been developed for this course that is freely available for extension or use by other institutions. In this paper, we report on pedagogical techniques for facilitating student understanding of the relationships between high-level language constructs, such as algebraic expression syntax, block-structured control-flow structures, and composite data types, and their implementations in machine code.
Post–Cytochrome c Protection from Apoptosis Conferred by a MAPK Pathway in Xenopus Egg Extracts

In response to many different apoptotic stimuli, cytochrome c is released from the intermembrane space of the mitochondria into the cytoplasm, where it serves as a cofactor in the activation of pro...
Neutron production from Li(d, xn) driven by high-intensity laser-target interactions

Plasma based neutron sources traditionally utilize d-d or d-t nuclear fusion reactions. These two reactions have been known for a long time and widely used for neutron production. But neutrons can also be produced in nuclear reactions of deuterium with other low-Z elements such as lithium, beryllium and carbon. The neutron yield and directionality can be improved significantly by bombarding thick targets (∼1 mm) made of these elements with high energy (MeV) deuterons. The higher neutron yield compared to both d-d and d-t reactions is due to the very large cross section for neutron production (∼1 barn) even at incident deuteron energies as high as 100 MeV. The most remarkable feature of the neutron generation process is that at deuteron energies above 10 MeV the neutrons are emitted in a very narrow cone, forming a pencil-like beam. In this work, we study the neutron production from deuterium-lithium nuclear fusion reactions driven by a high-intensity ultrashort pulse laser. A set of differential cross sections for the Li(d, xn) reaction for incident deuteron energies of up to 50 MeV is assembled and tested by comparing the angular distribution of emitted neutrons against experimental data. The neutron production from laser-target experiments has been studied theoretically as a function of laser energy with a 3D Monte Carlo ion beam-target deposition model. The neutron yield in the forward direction is estimated to be ∼108 neutrons/ster per unit laser energy. The proposed scheme for neutron production from d-Li reactions is superior to that from d-d reactions, producing a collimated beam of neutrons with higher neutron yield.
Analysis of Linsker's application of Hebbian rules to linear networks

Linsker has reported the development of structured receptive fields in simulations of a Hebb-type synaptic plasticity rule in a feedforward linear network. The synapses develop under dynamics determined by a matrix that is closely related to the covariance matrix of input cell activities. We analyse the dynamics of the learning rule in terms of the eigenvectors of this matrix. These eigenvectors repre sent independently evolving weight structures. Some general theorems are presented regarding the properties of these eigenvectors and their eigenvalues. For a general covariance matrix four principal parameter regimes are predicted. We concentrate on the Gaussian covariances at layer L3 + C of Linsker's network. Analytic and numerical solutions for the eigenvectors at this layer are presented. Three eigenvectors clonunate the dynamics: a DC eigenvector, in which all synapses have the same sign; a bi-lobed, oriented eigenvector; and a circularly symmetric, centre-surround eigenvector. Analysis of the circumstances in which each of these vectors dominates yields an explanation of the emergence of centre-surround struc- tures and symmetry-breaking bi-lobed structures. Criteria are developed estimating the boundary of the parameter regime in which centre-surround structures emerge. The application of our analysis to Linsker's higher layers, at which the covariance functions were oscillatory, is briefly discussed.
A comparison of right posterior sectorectomy with formal right hepatectomy: a dual‐institution study

Objectives Right posterior sectorectomy (RPS) preserves liver volume but typically requires a longer parenchymal transection distance than does right hepatectomy (RH). This study was conducted to define the advantages of one approach over the other.
Domestic Practices in Foreign Lands: Lessons on Leadership for Diversity in American International Schools

One of the prevalent concerns in educational leadership practices in urban schools in the United States relates to diversity issues, especially the disengagement among students of certain ethnic groups with regard to succeeding in school. In this ethnographic study, educators who once served in U.S. public schools were invited to reflect on this issue. Their perceptions as educators in K-12 American international schools were significant because their overseas experience seemed to develop new perceptions about leadership for diversity. The questions in this study included, (a) What kind of leadership for diversity is being practiced in American international schools that can inform the U.S. social and cultural educational landscape? and (b) How can educators' knowledge of teaching and leading in multicultural settings inform schools with high demographic diversity? The educators' lessons included deep concerns in relation to public schools, especially the practice of educating for assimilation instead of ...
Practical study of a defense against low-rate TCP-targeted DoS attack

It has been proven in theory and through simulations [3, 9] that a low-rate TCP-targeted Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack is possible by exploiting the retransmission timeout (RTO) mechanism of TCP. In contrast to most DoS attacks, this exploit requires periodic, low average volume traffic in order to throttle TCP throughput. Consequently this attack is hard to detect and prevent, since most DoS detection systems are triggered by high-rate traffic. For the attack to be successful, the attacker must inject a short burst of traffic, capable of filling up the bottleneck buffers, right before the expiration of the sender's RTO. This forces the sender's TCP connections to timeout with very low throughput. The effectiveness of the attack depends on the attacker's synchronization with the victim's RTO. Certain commercial systems follow the guidelines of RFC-2988 [4] (suggesting a minimum RTO of 1 sec), making this synchronization is far from impossible, while popular operating systems using lower minRTO values (e.g. Linux) are still vulnerable to an attacker using a low latency network. RTO randomization was proposed by [9] as a defense against this attack, since it prevents the attacker from synchronizing attack traffic with RTO expiration intervals. In this paper, we study the results of the attack on a real system (Linux), and evaluate the effectiveness the of RTO randomization in defending against low-rate TCP targeted DoS attacks, showing that the method can prevent a TCP flow from being throttled from attack traffic.
Communicating User Experience: Wicked Problems, Patchwork Personas, and the ICTD Project Lifecycle

Research in the ICT4D field implicates lack of user-centered design in the high rate of ICTD project failure. The field of user experience UX offers potentially fruitful approaches for user-centered design. In the ICTD context, these principles and methods clash with the triple constraints of project management time, scope and funding. This paper introduces the user persona from UX design as a powerful tool for considering the user's perspective within resource-constrained ICTD projects. Although personas appear simple, they introduce complex communicative affordances, pragmatic benefits, and risks to ICTD projects. A brief conclusion revisits the larger problem of ICTD project failure, and considers the potential role of personas in addressing this problem.
The Effect of Higher Education on Police Behavior

In the past, police scholars have examined the impact of higher education on different measures of officer behavior, most notably arrest and the use of force. Much of this prior work has suffered from poor methodologies, such as inadequate samples and the inability to control for theoretically relevant variables. In addition, previous inquires have focused on but one single behavior per study. In an attempt to overcome some of these limitations, we examine the effect of officer education on three key decisionmaking points (i.e., arrest, search, and use of force) by relying on observational data from two medium-sized cities.The results of the analysis indicate that higher education carries no influence over the probability of an arrest or search occurring in a police— suspect encounter. College education does, however, significantly reduce the likelihood of force occurring. Results may be due to the amount of discretion officer’s exercise in pursuing these behaviors. Recommendations for future inquiries re...
Power to detect selective allelic amplification in genome-wide scans of tumor data

Motivation: Somatic amplification of particular genomic regions and selection of cellular lineages with such amplifications drives tumor development. However, pinpointing genes under such selection has been difficult due to the large span of these regions. Our recently-developed method, the amplification distortion test (ADT), identifies specific nucleotide alleles and haplotypes that confer better survival for tumor cells when somatically amplified. In this work, we focus on evaluating ADT's power to detect such causal variants across a variety of tumor dataset scenarios. Results: Towards this end, we generated multiple parameter-based, synthetic datasets—derived from real data—that contain somatic copy number aberrations (CNAs) of various lengths and frequencies over germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genome-wide. Gold-standard causal sub-regions were assigned within these CNAs, followed by an assessment of ADT's ability to detect these sub-regions. Results indicate that ADT possesses high sensitivity and specificity in large sample sizes across most parameter cases, including those that more closely reflect existing SNP and CNA cancer data. Availability: ADT is implemented in the Java software HADiT and can be downloaded through the SVN repository (via Develop→ Code→SVN Browse) at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/hadit/. Contact: ninad.dewal@dbmi.columbia.edu Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hermite normal form computation using modulo determinant arithmetic

This paper describes a new class of Hermite normal form solution procedures which perform modulo determinant arithmetic throughout the computation. This class of procedures is shown to possess a polynomial time complexity bound which is a function of the length of the input string. Computational results are also given.
Picosecond double pass amplifier.

The authors have designed and tested a simple double pass picosecond amplifier system for Nd:YAG laser.(AIP)
Dissecting the Golden Goose: Components of Studying Creative Writers

What does it take to be a great creative writer? What components are important for analyzing and comparing writers? Research on creativity, in general, has increased over the past few decades, but there are still many questions to be answered about creative writing. A model of creativity proposed by Sternberg and Lubart (1995, 1996) was used as a theoretical framework to examine 6 variables: motivation, intelligence, personality, thinking styles, knowledge, and environment. Empirical research on each of these variables was compared and discussed. After reviewing the literature on the creative individual, certain components stood out as being especially important. The pattern of internal variables (e.g., intrinsic motivation, instability, impulsivity) was more relevant than were the external variables (e.g., environment).
Microwear Analysis of Some Clovis and Experimental Chipped Stone Tools

Stone, bone or ivory implements used to kill and butcher a menagerie of now largely extinct animals are found at late Pleistocene terrestrial big game kills. Tool function of big game kill artifacts is often assumed but not confirmed by reference to artifact form and archaeological context. Experimentally produced microwear traces, however, do provide an empirical basis to judge the likely use of the archaeologically derived artifacts. Microwear on experimental tools and Clovis points from Colby unequivocally show consistent patterns of tool use as projectile points and butchering tools; evidence of site-specific haft binding technique, of tool maintenance, and use-life histories. A further evaluation of the “Keeley method” of identifying micropolishes, how they form and rates of formation, indicates that conventional incident light microscopy is severely limited in its application for microwear studies.
Toxicity of organic mixtures saturated in water to Daphnia magna. Effect of compositional changes

Abstract The toxicity of aqueous solutions saturated with mixtures of hydrophobic organic liquids is contrasted to that of solutions prepared from solids. Data for a variety of mixtures are presented and are related to the solubilities of the components. It is shown that in the absence of biological interactive effects, the toxicity of a component in a saturated mixture of liquids will be equal to or less than that of a corresponding solution of its most toxic component. In contrast, for solutions derived from a mixture of solids, the toxicity will equal or exceed that of a corresponding saturated solution of its most toxic component, and will tend to increase with the complexity of the mixture.
Effects of vitamin B12 on normal thyroid function in rats.

SummaryCrystalline vit. B12 was fed to immature rats of both sexes in order to determine whether the vitamin could alter thyroid function in normal or thyroprotein-treated rats. The growth rate of the rats supplemented with the vitamin was increased above that of the normal or thyroprotein-treated controls, but there was no significant effect on thyroid weight or uptake of I131. It is concluded that vit. B12 does not alter normal thyroid activity in rats.
HU binding to a DNA four-way junction probed by Förster resonance energy transfer.

The Escherichia coli protein HU is a non-sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that interacts with DNA primarily through electrostatic interactions. In addition to nonspecific binding to linear DNA, HU has been shown to bind with nanomolar affinity to discontinuous DNA substrates, such as repair and recombination intermediates. This work specifically examines the HU−four-way junction (4WJ) interaction using fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The conformation of the junction in the presence of different counterions was investigated by Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements, which revealed an ion-type conformational dependence, where Na+ yields the most stacked conformation followed by K+ and Mg2+. HU binding induces a greater degree of stacking in the Na+-stabilized and Mg2+-stabilized junctions but not the K+-stabilized junction, which is attributed to differences in the size of the ionic radii and potential differences in ion binding sites. Interestingly, junction conformation modulates b...
X-Ray Variability in Active Galactic Nuclei: Two Things That Everybody Should Know

X-ray variability is a distinguishing property of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), and the energetics and time scales of the emission dictate that the X-rays must originate very close to the central engine. In this review I discuss two basic topics from AGN variability research. The first is the correlation of the variability time scale with the X-ray luminosity, and the second is the structure of the X-ray light curve. In each case, I first review the old results that have been known for approximately the last 10 years and then I discuss very new results which may force us to modify our ideas about the origin of AGN X-ray variability. Note that I am discussing the variability of non-blazar type AGN.
Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein II Compromises Brain Endothelial Barriers and May Promote Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT Cerebral malaria (CM) is a disease of the vascular endothelium caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It is characterized by parasite sequestration, inflammatory cytokine production, and vascular leakage. A distinguishing feature of P. falciparum infection is parasite production and secretion of histidine-rich protein II (HRPII). Plasma HRPII is a diagnostic and prognostic marker for falciparum malaria. We demonstrate that disruption of a human cerebral microvascular endothelial barrier by P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes depends on expression of HRPII. Purified recombinant or native HRPII can recapitulate these effects. HRPII action occurs via activation of the inflammasome, resulting in decreased integrity of tight junctions and increased endothelial permeability. We propose that HRPII is a virulence factor that may contribute to cerebral malaria by compromising endothelial barrier integrity within the central nervous system. IMPORTANCE Cerebral malaria is a devastating disease. Patients have high levels of the protein HRPII in their blood. We have found that endothelial cell barriers become leaky when treated with concentrations of HRPII similar to those found in patients. This result suggests that HRPII may be important in cerebral malaria. Our finding that HRPII functions by causing inflammation suggests points of intervention for therapy or vaccination against this disease.
Training in rural surgery: a resident's perspective.

I have now completed the first six months of what may prove to be the best year of my residency experience. I am a fourth-year general surgery resident at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland. As the first general surgery resident to matriculate into the university’s rural surgery training program (RSTP), I have had the privilege of participating in the development of its curriculum and of catching a glimpse of the realities associated with a rural surgical practice. The purpose of this program is described in the article on page 13 by John G. Hunter, MD, FACS.
Evaluation of angiogenesis.

Every year, thousands of individuals around the world suffer from severe lower extremity vascular disorders that are amenable to neither medical nor surgical treatment, and thus amputation is required. A substantial portion of these amputations might be avoided by stimulating blood vessel growth to the affected lower extremity. In a new therapeutic approach, certain recombinant growth factors, administered as genes or recombinant proteins, have been used successfully to promote neovascularization (1,2). However, prior to the investigation of such therapy in human patients, it is necessary to obtain specific information in animal studies regarding the basic mechanisms involved in lower-extremity collateral vessel development. In particular, the use of genetically engineered mice (e.g., mice that have specific genes deleted or overexpressed) allows one to investigate relevant key factors for neovascularization that can be related to human subjects (3-6). Accordingly, we developed a murine model of angiogenesis (7). In this model, the left femoral artery, including all major side branches of one hind limb, is excised, rendering the limb ischemic. The subsequent development of collateral blood vessels in the ischemic limb can then be monitored in vivo at arbitrarily selected time-points by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and measured ex vivo by immunohistochemistry to determine capillary density.
Ex luna, scientia: lunar occultation as a paradigm for nuclear astrophysics

Next-generation nuclear astrophysics investigations must address a demanding set of requirements to probe the matter and energy life-cycle in our Galaxy and throughout the Cosmos. Enhanced flux sensitivity and (near) all-sky monitoring are just two of these requirements; cost effectiveness and other programmatic restrictions pose additional challenges. These competing goals can be addressed with a paradigm change, i.e. performing investigations from lunar orbit and utilizing a new detection and imaging technique. We report on our development of the Moon as a platform for nuclear astrophysics utilizing the Lunar Occultation Technique (LOT). Here source fluxes are temporally modulated as they are repeatedly occulted by the Moon; the modulation, as observed by a suitably configured instrument in lunar orbit, enables the detection, imaging, and characterization of both point- and extended-sources, narrow-line and broadband sources. Key benefits include maximizing the ratio of sensitive-to-total deployed mass and the operational simplicity relative to other detection schemes. A mission based on the LOT, the Lunar Occultation Explorer (LOX), will be the first to employ occultation as the principle method to characterize the intensity, variability, and spectra of detected sources.
Systematic parameter study of a nonlinear electromagnetic energy harvester with matched magnetic orientation: Numerical simulation and experimental investigation

Abstract This paper reports the systematic parameter study of a tristable nonlinear electromagnetic energy harvester for ambient low-frequency vibration. Numerical simulations and experimental investigations are performed on the harvester which consists of a cantilever beam, a tip coil, two tip magnets and two external side magnets. The external side magnets are deployed symmetrically along a concave surface parallel to the trajectory of the cantilever tip with a controllable distance so that the magnetic orientation of the tip magnets are matched with that of the side magnets. Therefore, instead of the ternary position parameters ( d , h , α ), a binary parameters pair ( d 0 , d ) is used to characterize the position of the side magnets and the performance of the energy harvester. The magnetic force and magnetic field on the cantilever tip therefore depend on the relative distance in the tip displacement direction between the tip magnets and side magnets, but is independent of the position of the side magnets on the concave surface. The magnetic force (field)-distance relationship is measured experimentally and curve fitted to obtain explicit expressions, in order to characterize the magnetic force (field) when the side magnets are placed at varied positions along the concave surface. Numerical simulation is, then, performed to predict the electromagnetic voltage output and the bandwidth of the energy harvester. The simulation results coincided with the measured data. Significant broadband response is obtained experimentally and the maximum RMS power output is 40.2 mW at 0.45 g of excitation. The proposed structure showcasing the matched magnetic orientation is characterized by the binary parameters pair ( d 0 , d ) and the systematic parametric approach could contribute to the design and study of nonlinear broadband energy harvesters.
A Cloud With a Silver Lining: Helping Students Learn About Professionalism.

ABSTRACTProblem: Educators face many challenges in teaching professionalism. Despite attempts to define professionalism, it remains abstract for students and often not fully appreciated until they are in clinic. Without a way to make it personally relevant, students will likely be less motivated to learn. Intervention: We used student-generated word clouds to facilitate reflection and discussions, thereby helping students make their perceptions of professionalism more explicit. Group discussion was followed by a 5-minute written reflection. Word clouds created in Semesters 1 and 7 enabled students to compare perceptions at two points in the curriculum. Context: The George Washington University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a 3-year, 8-semester, 109-credit postgraduate program that includes 34 weeks of clinical practice. Reflection is foundational to the curriculum, and students reflect on their learning and professional growth each semester. Historically, students were introduced to professionalis...
Investigating management choices for canine heartworm disease in northern Mississippi.

There are concerns that the chronic use of macrocyclic lactone preventives to kill adult heartworms (“soft-” or “slow-kill”) may have contributed to the development of macrocyclic lactone resistance. This prospective analysis was designed to expand our understanding of currently employed treatment decisions, protocols utilized in a “slow-kill” methodology, and trends in heartworm prevention in a region with concerns about macrocyclic lactone resistance. We tested the hypothesis that practitioners underestimate the actual percentage of heartworm-positive dogs treated with “slow-kill” therapy. Owners’ financial concerns and veterinarians’ efforts at meeting client preferences are the primary reasons for employment of “soft-kill” treatment. A prospective analysis of dogs determined to be heartworm-positive when presented to a mixed-animal practice in northern Mississippi was conducted for the second quarter of 2016. Client records were scrutinized for heartworm preventive purchase history. Veterinarians in the four-doctor practice completed a questionnaire regarding their beliefs and practices of heartworm treatment. Forty of 321 canine patients tested heartworm-positive with a commercial antigen test kit. Of these, two were considered to be due to possible product failure. The majority (75.0%) of patients received a “slow-kill” method, a percentage greater than that estimated by the practitioners. Patients were equally likely to have received adulticidal treatment as they were to receive no treatment (12.5%). Injectable moxidectin was the most common preventive used in “slow-kill” treatment (80.65%). Client financial concerns were cited as the primary reason for choosing “slow-kill” treatment (79.0%). Despite American Heartworm Society recommendations, clients and veterinarians prefer the “slow-kill” method of heartworm treatment. Trends in patient heartworm preventive history show that poor client compliance remains the predominant explanation for heartworm infection. Thus, consistent use of existing, effective heartworm preventives should be the primary goal in reducing prevalence of heartworm infection, regardless of the recognized threat of resistance. It is also noteworthy that practitioner estimates may be suspect in their accuracy. Further study is needed on the risks and efficacy of “slow-kill” treatment and the effects of different ML preventives for this off-label use.
Causal Constructs and Conceptual Confusions

Behavior analysts take the position that prediction and control constitute the goals of science. This assumption has resulted in descriptive operations being overlooked and misunderstood. Among the most serious of these misunderstandings is the confusion of events with descriptive constructions. Confusion is likely when the events described present problems of observation, when they appear to resemble our descriptions of them, and when they are taken to be synonymous with our reactions to them. Examples of confusing events with their descriptions are examined in the context of the radical behavioral interpretation of causality, along with their implications for a scientific understanding. An alternative interpretation of causal knowledge is suggested.