cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential sensitivity to auditory feedback delay intervals: a preliminary study.

Differential sensitivity to delay interval change (jnd) was assessed for six subjects at 12 standard delay times ranging from 30 msec to 360 msec. The speaker’s self-generated speech signal (/da/) ...
A hardware-independent data acquisition package incorporating a simulation driver and simulation description language

Device drivers for commercial data acquisition boards (DASH-16, DT2801) and a device driver for a virtual data acquisition board have been developed and incorporated in a single package for a multiple station anesthesia research laboratory. The package provides a compiler for a simulation description language which is used to program the virtual board. The package, written in C for the IBM PC, was designed to be easily extended with additional drivers. Applications using the package can control all supported devices without the programmer having to learn the details of the hardware.
The far-infrared properties of polyamino acids

The far-infrared absorption between 3 and 650 cm−1 of several amino acids and polyamino acids is measured under a variety of conditions. The far-infrared spectra of amino acids and short-chain oligomers are extremely temperature dependent with the appearance of numerous narrow absorption lines at 4.2 K. These absorption lines broaden or disappear at 300 K or for absorption measurements on samples in solution. For longer polymers, relatively broad nearly temperature-independent absorption lines are observed with little difference between the spectra of polymers in solution or in the solid state. These results are explained in terms of the crystalline order of the samples.
An easily constructed, tuning free, ultra-broadband probe for NMR.

Abstract We have developed an easy to construct, non-resonant wideband NMR probe. The probe is of the saddle coil geometry and is designed such that the coil itself forms a transmission line. The probe thus requires no tuning or matching elements. We use the probe with a spectrometer whose duplexer circuitry employs a simple RF switch instead of the more common λ /4 lines, so the entire probe and spectrometer perform in an essentially frequency-independent manner. Despite being designed with electro- and magnetostatic formulas, the probe performs well at frequencies up to 150 MHz and beyond. We expect that with additional design effort, the probe could be modified for use at significantly higher frequencies. Because our construction method relies on commercial circuit fabrication techniques, identical probes can be easily and accurately produced.
Cyclopolymerization: Cyclization of diallylcyanamide to pyrrolidine derivatives

Free-radical addition of perfluoroalkyl iodides (RFI) to diallylcyanamide gave cis- and trans-1-cyano-3-iodomethyl-4-(perfluoroalkyl)methylpyrrolidine (Ia,b). Five-membered ring products were preferentially formed in this reaction by other 1,6-dienes having terminal vinyl groups. This strongly suggests that cyclopolymerization of such monomers occurs in analogous fashion, instead of leading to 6-membered rings as has been previously understood. Dehydrohalogenation of Ia,b gave 3-methylenepyrrolidine derivatives as expected. Infrared and NMR spectra clearly show the exocyclic CH2 group. The influence of reaction conditions on the yield of cyclization product Ia,b and certain side products was investigated.
PS1-58: Clinicians’ Use of Automated Reports of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate: A Qualitative Study

Background/Aims Improving both awareness and identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important among primary care providers so they can provide appropriate clinical care; one method that has been widely embraced is the use of automated reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by clinical laboratories. We undertook a qualitative study to examine how clinicians responded to the onset of automated reporting of eGFR at Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW).
The effect of antibiotics on the results of theGuthrie test given to phenyketonuric patients

Experimental and clinical studies were carried out to establish the effect of antibioticson the results of the Guthrie test used for the determination of phenylalanine levels. Bacillus subtilis (used in the Guthrie test) was found to be very sensitive to several antibiotics. Antibiotics added directly to blood samples of phenylketonuric patients usually had no influence on the results of the Guthrie test. The oral administration of oxacillin and tetracycline to 8 phenylketonuric patients for 5 days was not associated with changes in the results in the Guthrie test.
Plasticity and damage in cellular amorphous metals

Abstract Compressive mechanical properties of low-density, open-cell Zr-based bulk metallic glass foams processed by the salt replication method are investigated as a function of relative density and pore size in the ranges 14–28% and 150–355 μm, respectively. Scaling behaviors for strength and stiffness are discussed in the context of models developed for conventional metal foams, and appropriate modifications presented where necessary. Deformation and damage features not addressed by such models are then discussed in terms of the unique conditions allowing ductility in amorphous metal foams. It is shown that despite a small number of brittle uniaxial strut failures, ductile deformation by strut bending predominates in the foams, with the result that all but the densest foam could be compressed to a nominal strain in the vicinity of 80% without macroscopic fracture.
Erratum: On improved WKB (uniform asymptotic) quantum conditions, Dunham corrections, the Langer modification, and RKR potentials

An improvement to the WKB quantum condition for the rotation‐vibration levels of diatomic molecules, known empirically to give RKR potentials of increased accuracy and to account for the Dunham correction Y00, is derived using uniform asymptotic methods. The role of the Langer transformation in this problem is also discussed.
Uptake of 3-O-methyl-(14)C-D-glucose by a unicellular blue-green alga.

The uptake of 3-O-methyl-14C-d-glucose, a non-metabolizable sugar, by autotrophically grown Synechococcus cedrorum was studied at low sugar concentrations in the incubation medium (0.71–11.36 μM), in the light and in the dark. Optimum sugar accumulation against a concentration gradient occurred within dark-treated “starved” cells that were incubated in the light. This phenomenon was greatly inhibited by metabolic inhibitors; it was much less when sugar uptake was observed in the dark. Control cells incubated in the light accumulated 3-O-methyl-14C-d-glucose against a concentration gradient only at lower sugar concentrations (0.71–2.84 μM) and to a lesser extent than the dark-treated cells. Sugar uptake against a concentration gradient by the control cells was completely inhibited in the dark. The results indicate that the morphologically simple unicellular blue-green alga, S. cedrorum, is under certain conditions capable of obtaining a sugar from its medium by an active transport process.
Is conformational flexibility in a supramolecular reagent advantageous for high-yielding co-crystallization reactions?

A conformationally flexible tris-carboxylic acid has been employed in the construction of several co-crystals involving a variety of ditopic N-heterocyclic hydrogen-bond acceptors.
Functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles for use for in-situ anion immobilization

Anatase particles (40−60 nm) were coated with an organosilane monolayer terminated with an ethylenediamine (EDA) ligand. These functionalized nanoparticles (FNPs) were then treated with an aqueous solution of Cu(II) to create a cationic Cu−EDA complex bound to the nanoparticle surface. Cu(II) and EDA ligand incorporation were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The Cu(EDA)2 FNP was then studied for its binding affinity for pertechnetate anion from a Hanford groundwater matrix. The Cu(EDA)2 FNP was also evaluated for its injectability into a porous medium for possible application as a subsurface semipermeable reactive barrier. Injection was readily accomplished, and resulted in a highly uniform distribution of the FNP sorbent in the test column.
Long-term effect of thj.age and rainfall on herbicide leaching to shallow groundwater

The interaction of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) crop production practices with rainfall on the movement of three herbicides into shallow groundwater was evaluated over 4 yr. Groundwater was sampled from unconfined (< 1.5m deep) and confined (<3 m and 4.5 to 11 m deep) monitoring wells in 1989–1992 and analyzed for atrazine, alachlor, and cyanazine . Pesticide concentrations were cyclical: residues were highest soon after application, declined during the growing season, then increased during winter recharge. Alachlor and cyanazine were at nondetectable levels within 3 mo after application. Atrazine residues, present in confined groundwater all year, ranged in concentration between 0.03 to 1.9 and 0.16 to 3.7 ug L−1 for the CT and NT plots, respectively. Herbicide residues were higher in unconfined (< 1.5 m deep) than confined (< 3 m deep) groundwater. Atrazine was sporadically detected in groundwater to 4.6 m, but not deeper. Lateral transport in confined groundwater to untreated areas was evident. The rapid movement of herbicides to groundwater with the first major rain after application suggest that preferential transport may be common. Results of this study also indicate that timing, amount and intensity of rainfall relative to pesticide application may be the primary factors governing pesticide leaching.
Gastrointestinal cancer: Pathogenesis, risk factors and the development of intermediate biomarkers for chemoprevention studies

Dietary, environmental and genetic factors contribute to the etiology, pathogenesis and risk for gastrointestinal cancers. Measurements of cell proliferation and differentiation further identify abnormal cellular properties associated with increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancer. In precancerous esophagus, the proliferative compartment increases in size, increased ploidy and dysplasia develop, and epithelial cells express abnormal cytokeratins and ectopic tumor-associated antigens. In precancerous stomach, increased proliferative activity and metaplasia develop. Intestinal enzymes and mucins are expressed and normal gastric antigens are replaced by intestinal or embryonic antigens. In flat colonic mucosa and in colonic adenomas, expansions of the proliferative compartment occur. Gene expression is modified gene deletions occur and blood group-related antigens are modified as the cells undergo abnormal differentiation and develop into adenomas and carcinomas. Chemopreventive regimens are now being tested to determine whether they modify such intermediate biomarkers toward normal levels characteristic of lower risk for neoplasia. It is anticipated that the utilization of intermediate biomakers in chemoprevention studies may permit more novel chemopreventive regimens to be tested in human subjects than heretofore was possible. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Two-Band Electron-Phonon Interaction in Rhenium

Anomalies were observed in the electronic component of the ultrasonic attenuation of transverse and longitudinal waves in high-purity rhenium, which could not satisfactorily be explained by the free-electron or real-metal theories of Pippard. A two-band model will be developed to explain the observed attenuation.
Use of Mucoid Bacterial Mutants to Circumvent Clumping of Cells and Minicells Containing R Plasmids Derepressed for Pilus Synthesis

Abstract Clumping of bacteria containing R factors derepressed for pilus synthesis interfered with the separation of cells and minicells. Mucoid derivatives of these bacteria provided the means of preventing clumping and allowing a good separation. This method may be generally useful in dealing with autoagglutination of bacterial cultures.
Participation in a diabetes education and care program: experience from the diabetes care for older adults project.

There is very little reported information concerning the participation of older adults in diabetes education and care programs, factors related to their attendance, and the influence of attendance on program outcomes. In this study, which was part of a larger study of insulin therapy, subjects (≥65 years old) assigned to the intensive management group (n=53) were provided with educational sessions during the 18-month study period. Data for this group were examined to determine factors that influenced enrollment and attendance. Attendance rates for individual participants averaged 72% during the first 6 months months and 68% during the subsequent 12 months. Demographic factors. baseline knowledge test scores, and baseline glycosylated hemoglobin levels did not significantly influence participation. Greater distance from the clinic and shorter time using insulin were significantly related (P=.05) to attendance. Perceived benefits of the program included diabetes education (45%), glucose control (23%), and i...
POD Nanoparticles Expressing GDNF Provide Structural and Functional Rescue of Light-induced Retinal Degeneration in an Adult Mouse

Peptide for ocular delivery (POD) is a novel cationic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) which, when conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-POD), can deliver plasmid DNA to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of adult murine retina. PEG-POD nanoparticles containing an expression cassette for glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (PEG–POD~GDNF) were investigated for their ability to inhibit light-induced photoreceptor apoptosis. PEG-POD~GDNF, control nanoparticles, or buffer were injected into the subretinal space of adult murine retina and retinal degeneration induced by blue light. Animals injected with PEG-POD~GDNF showed a significant reduction (3.9–7.7 fold) in apoptosis relative to control-injected animals. The thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the superior retina of PEG-POD~GDNF-injected eyes was significantly greater (23.6–39.3%) than control-injected retina 14 days post-light treatment. PEG-POD~GDNF-injected eyes showed a 27–39% greater functional response relative to controls, as measured by electroretinogram (ERG) 7 days post-light treatment. This is one of only two studies demonstrating histological and functional rescue of a mouse model of retinal degeneration following nonviral administration of a transgene into adult retina. Although rescue is short lived for clinical application, this study represents an important step in the development of nonviral gene therapy for retinal diseases.
Hybrid Variable Fidelity Optimization by Using a Kriging-Based Scaling Function

Solving design problems that rely on very complex and computationally expensive calculations using standard optimization methods might not be feasible given design cycle time constraints. Variable fidelity methods address this issue by using lower-fidelity models and a scaling function to approximate the higher-fidelity models in a provably convergent framework. In the past, scaling functions have mainly been either first-order multiplicative or additive corrections. These are being extended to second order. In this investigation variable metric approaches for calculating second-order scaling information are developed. A kriging-based scaling function is introduced to better approximate the high-fidelity response on a more global level. An adaptive hybrid method is also developed in this investigation. The adaptive hybrid method combines the additive and multiplicative approaches so that the designer does not have to determine which is more suitable prior to optimization. The methodologies developed in this research are compared to existing methods using two demonstration problems. The first problem is analytic, whereas the second involves the design of a supercritical high-lift airfoil. The results demonstrate that the krigingbased scaling methods improve computational expense by lowering the number of high-fidelity function calls required for convergence. The results also indicate the hybrid method is both robust and effective.
A Hardware/Software Co-Design for RSVP-TE MPLS

This paper presents a hardware/software co-design for Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) using RSVP-TE as a signaling protocol. MPLS is the protocol framework on which the attention of network service provider is focused as it provides privacy and unbreakable security to users. It is meant to primarily prioritize internet traffic and improve bandwidth utilization. As such it provides the possibility of associating quality of service per flow. Furthermore it increases the performance of internet applications and overall efficiency. MPLS solutions are meant to be used with Layer 2 and or Layer 3 protocols. So far MPLS protocols are implemented by equipment providers in the equipment software package. However, software based solutions decrease overall performance of the network. This paper introduces a new FPGA based hardware architecture through which the overall MPLS performance is enhanced by executing core tasks in hardware while allowing other tasks to be executed in the associated FPGA processor to guard against performance degradation. The hardware component is emphasized with descriptions of its architecture and performance.
Work at home for computer professionals: current attitudes and future prospects

The subject of this paper is work performed in the home with computer and communications technology, also known as telecommuting. The article reports on two studies of work at home: a quasi-experimental field study of organizational telecommuting pilot programs, and an attitude survey comparing computer professionals who work at home to employees doing similar jobs in traditional office settings. The results of the field study demonstrated that working in the home had little impact on employee performance; however, supervisors were not comfortable with remote workers and preferred their employees to be on site. In the survey, work in the home was related to lower job satisfaction, lower organizational commitment, and higher role conflict. The survey also included computer professionals who worked at home in addition to the regular work day. The author suggests that performing additional unpaid work in the home after regular work hours may be an important trend that merits further investigation. The studies demonstrate that while computer and communications technology have the potential to relax constraints on information work in terms of space and time, in today's traditional work environments, corporate culture and management style limit acceptance of telecommuting as a substitute for office work.
Terrain Visualization and Map Reading

The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) conducts research in support of the Army’s training and personnel requirements. As part of this mission, basic and applied research concerned with map reading has been conducted and sponsored by ARI. Potential applications of this research range from the design of military maps to map reading training. This research generally has been in response to particular military needs, yet is highly related and increasingly points to a need to consider individual differences as important factors in the ability to read and use a map. The purpose of this paper is to describe the operational problem which exists when a soldier reads a military map; to review research conducted by the Army in the areas of map design, map reading abilities and map reading training; and to describe techniques which may assist in training soldiers to read a map. This review will emphasize the problems involved in visualizing a three-dimensional space via a two-dimensional map representation (terrain visualization) and will consider individual differences in spatial abilities as they relate to map reading facility.
Effect of the human chorionic gonadotropin diet on patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo report a case of left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pulmonary embolisms in a patient who initiated the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) diet 2 weeks prior to presentation.CASE SUMMARYA 64-year-old white female presented with leg swelling and shortness of breath. Lower extremity ultrasound revealed left leg DVT, and a computed tomography angiogram revealed bilateral pulmonary embolisms. A complete history and physical examination were unremarkable for any risk factors for acute thrombosis, with the exception of the initiation of the HCG diet approximately 2 weeks prior to presentation; the patient was taking 20 sublingual drops of HCG twice daily. Results of her hypercoagulable workup were negative. Upon admission, therapy was started with enoxaparin 120 mg subcutaneously twice daily and warfarin 5 mg orally once daily. According to the Naranjo probability scale, initiation of the HCG diet was a probable cause of our patient's adverse effects.DISCUSSIONThe HCG diet ...
Estimating True Antimalarial Efficacy by Heteroduplex Tracking Assay in Patients with Complex Plasmodium falciparum Infections

Heteroduplex tracking assays (HTAs) of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 block-2 were used to assess complexity of infection and treatment efficacy in a trial of three antimalarial treatments in 141 Malawian pregnant women. An elevated complexity of infection (COI) was associated with anemia, parasite burden, and human immunodeficiency virus infection but was not associated with age or gravidity. Comparisons of HTA patterns before and after treatment allowed the classification of 20 of 30 (66%) recurrent episodes as either definite treatment failures or reinfections. An elevated COI was strongly associated with treatment failure (P = 0.003). An algorithm was developed to assign a probability of failure for the 10 indeterminate participants, some of whose infections shared a single variant of high prevalence (>10%). By summing these probabilities, treatment efficacy was estimated.
Pathophysiology of Migraine

The cause and pathophysiology of migraine are not well understood. Over the years research into migraine pathophysiology has focused on the physiology and pharmacology of the headache, the changes in cerebral cortex associated with the symptoms of the aura, and more recently the genetics underlying the migraine syndromes. In this discussion, the neuroanatomical structures activated during migraine attacks, the traditional theories of migraine that serve as the foundation for current research, and the essential findings from current migraine pathophysiological research will be reviewed. Investigations in migraine can be divided into those related to the brain events initiating a migraine attack, those examining the mechanisms of activation and transmission within trigeminal afferent neurons, and those focused on the effect of and the modulation of nociception trigeminal input within the central nervous system.
The Treatment of Stages I–IV Favorable Histology Wilms' Tumor

The prognosis for children with Wilms’ tumor (WT) has improved dramatically. During the last three decades, the National Wilms Tumor Study Group (NWTSG), the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), and the United Kingdom Children’s Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) conducted sequential studies of treatments for children with WT. The results will be reviewed in the light of long-term follow-up. Areas for future investigation will be identified.
Design of a Kalman filter for rotary shape memory alloy actuators

Measuring the state variables of systems actuated by shape memory alloys (SMAs) is normally a difficult task because of the small diameter of the SMA wires. In such cases, as an alternative, observers are used to estimate the state vector. This paper presents an extended Kalman filter (EKF) for estimation of the state variables of a single-degree-of-freedom rotary manipulator actuated by an SMA wire. This model-based state estimator has been chosen because it works well with noisy measurements and model inaccuracies. The SMA phenomenological models, that are mostly used in engineering applications, have both model and parameter uncertainties; this makes the EKF a natural choice for SMA-actuated systems. A state space model for the SMA manipulator is presented. The model includes nonlinear dynamics of the manipulator, a thermomechanical model of the SMA, and the electrical and heat transfer behavior of the SMA wire. In an experimental set-up the angular position of the arm is the only state variable that is measured besides the voltage applied to the SMA wire. The other state variables of the system are the arm's angular velocity and the SMA wire's stress and temperature, which are not available experimentally due to difficulty in measuring them. Accurate estimation of the state variables enables design of a control system that provides better system performance. At each time step, the estimator uses the SMA wire's voltage measurement to predict the state vector which is corrected as necessary according to the measured angular position of the arm. The input and output of the model are used for the EKF simulations. The state variables collected through model simulations are also used to evaluate the performance of the EKF. Several EKF simulations presented in this paper show accurate and robust performance of the estimator, for different control inputs.
Inhibition of poly(A) polymerase by rifamycin derivatives

Abstract The effect of several rifamycin derivatives on poly(A) synthesis in vitro was tested using purified rat liver mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase assayed with an exogenous primer. When used at a concentration of 300 μg/ml, derivatives AF/013, PR/19, AF/AETP, M/88 and AF/ABDP completely inhibited activity corresponding to 50 μg of enzyme protein. Under similar conditions, derivatives DMAO and AF/MO failed to inhibit enzyme activity. Studies with PR/19 showed that the drug interacted directly with the enzyme molecule and did not affect the enzyme-primer complex formation. The inhibition by the drug could be reversed by increasing the substrate (ATP) concentration. It is concluded that some rifamycin derivatives can specifically inhibit template-independent nucleotide chain elongation reactions.
Coplanar waveguide semiconductor phase shifter

When the semiconductor substrate under the microstrip transmission lines is properly doped, a substantial phase shift of the propagating wave by an applied DC bias voltage is demonstrated. The device is inexpensive to fabricate and easy to implement, especially in monolithic structures. © 1995 John Wilet & Sons, Inc.
Ultrafiltration Treatment of Poultry Processing Wastewater and Recovery of a Nutritional By-Product

Abstract A lab-scale membrane ultrafilter was constructed with one pair of tubular membranes, a circulation pump, and a storage tank. It was devised to treat the poultry processing wastewater in the laboratory and, simultaneously, to recover a by-product which was found to have nutritional value for its protein and fat contents. The wastewater collected from the poultry processing plant was circulating at 2.8 kg/cm2 (40 psi) and 57 liter/min (15 gal/min) around the membrane to perform an average membrane flux of 407 liter/day/m2 (10 gal/day/ft2). The original wastewater and the resulted permeate and concentrate were analyzed for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), nitrogen, fat and protein. The permeate, which contained only 240 mg/liter TS and 131 mg/liter COD, was believed to be safe for direct discharge or potential reuse. The by-product, which was generated from the drying of the concentrate, contained 30 to 35% of true protein and 24 to 45% of fat. The chemical score based on amino acid analysis was comparable to that of soybean protein. The results indicated that this new method may have great potential for application to the treatment of poultry processing wastewater. The by-product with its nutritional value could make it possible to generate an economic return for the processing industry to reclaim the operating cost and, perhaps, a part of the facility investment.
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase is indispensable for the cardiac adaptive effects of exercise.

Exercise results in beneficial adaptations of the heart that can be directly observed at the ventricular myocyte level. However, the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for these adaptations are not well understood. Interestingly, signaling via neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) within myocytes results in similar effects as exercise. Thus, the objective was to define the role NOS1 plays in the exercise-induced beneficial contractile effects in myocytes. After an 8-week aerobic interval training program, exercise-trained (Ex) mice had higher VO2max and cardiac hypertrophy compared to sedentary (Sed) mice. Ventricular myocytes from Ex mice had increased NOS1 expression and nitric oxide production compared to myocytes from Sed mice. Remarkably, acute NOS1 inhibition normalized the enhanced contraction (shortening and Ca2+ transients) in Ex myocytes to Sed levels. The NOS1 effect on contraction was mediated via greater Ca2+ cycling that resulted from increased phospholamban phosphorylation. Intriguingly, a similar aerobic interval training program on NOS1 knockout mice failed to produce any beneficial cardiac adaptations (VO2max, hypertrophy, and contraction). These data demonstrate that the beneficial cardiac adaptations observed after exercise training were mediated via enhanced NOS1 signaling. Therefore, it is likely that beneficial effects of exercise may be mimicked by the interventions that increase NOS1 signaling. This pathway may provide a potential novel therapeutic target in cardiac patients who are unable or unwilling to exercise.
Future images: An art intervention with suicidal adolescents

In this study, the effectiveness of an art future-image intervention (AFI) designed to increase self-esteen, improve future time perspective, and decrease depression in hospitalized suicidal adolescents was tested. A pretest-posttest time series design was used with two groups, an experimental group and an attention placebo group. The experimental group, although hospitalized for a shorter length of time ( p = .08), showed greater positive changes than the placebo group. Both groups improved on all measures during and after hospitalization. Experimental participant enthusiasm, shorter hospitalization, and positive comments at follow-up warrant continued testing and refinement of the AFI.
Scheduling with uncertain resources: Representation of common knowledge

We describe a system for scheduling a conference based on incomplete information about available resources and scheduling constraints. We explain the representation of uncertain knowledge and related common-sense rules, which allow reasoning based on uncertain and partially missing data.
Christoph Reuter. My Life is a Weapon: A Modern History of Suicide Bombing

Christoph Reuter traces the historical phenomenon of suicide attacks to the Assassins, a late 11th century Islamic group that carried out such operations for 170 years. Today, these attacks are see...
Evaluating readability

Readability formulas have drawbacks when used with persons who are not fluent in English. Most such formulas depend upon the assumptions that longer words and longer sentences are more difficult than those which are not. The author asserts that these assumptions do not hold, and that there are other factors which contribute to relative difficulty when dealing with nonfluent readers. Vocabulary, sentence structure, text organization, and presentation, factors affecting readability that can be controlled by the writer, are discussed.
Implementing and Evaluating Comprehensive Evidence-Based Approaches to Prevent Youth Violence: Partnering to Create Communities Where Youth Are Safe From Violence

Violence, including its occurrence among youth, results in considerable physical, emotional, social, and economic consequences in the U.S. Youth violence prevention work at the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes preventing youth violence-related behaviors, injuries, and deaths by collaborating with academic and community partners and stakeholders. Since 2000, DVP has funded three rounds of CDC's National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPCs) in 5-year cycles, with the goal of supporting university-community partnerships so that the best science can be utilized in order to prevent youth violence. The current YVPCs focus on: (a) partnering with communities to identify community needs; (b) selecting and implementing the best comprehensive evidence-based programs to meet those needs; and (c) rigorously evaluating whether those efforts have a community-level impact on youth violence rates. The introduction to this special issue on the current YVPCs provides a brief historical overview on the YVPC Program; outlines the YVPCs' accomplishments to date; and describes the current YVPCs, their community partners, and their activities. The introduction concludes with an overview of the special issue.
Collection of Lanthanides and Actinides from Natural Waters with Conventional and Nanoporous Sorbents

Effective collection of trace-level lanthanides and actinides is advantageous for recovery and recycling of valuable resources, environmental remediation, chemical separations, and in situ monitoring. Using isotopic tracers, we have evaluated a number of conventional and nanoporous sorbent materials for their ability to capture and remove selected lanthanides (Ce and Eu) and actinides (Th, Pa, U, and Np) from fresh and salt water systems. In general, the nanostructured materials demonstrated a higher level of performance and consistency. Nanoporous silica surface modified with 3,4-hydroxypyridinone provided excellent collection and consistency in both river water and seawater. The MnO2 materials, in particular the high surface area small particle material, also demonstrated good performance. Other conventional sorbents typically performed at levels below the nanostructured sorbents and demonstrate a larger variability and matrix dependency.
Research Progress in Catalysts of Photo Catalytic Decomposition of Water

As one of the environmentally friendly technologies for preparation of renewable energy to utilize solar energy,photo catalytic decomposition of water into hydrogen has been extensively studied.It has been regarded as the best way of solving the energy and environmental problems.The key to successfully realize photo catalytic decomposition of water into hydrogen under visible light is preparation of photocatalysts.In this paper,some new types of photocatalysts for decompositing water into hydrogen,such as titanium dioxide and titanates,niobates,tantalates,vanadates,tungstate,were introduced.The methods of improving photo catalytic activities including nanosized photocatalysts,ion-doping,composite semiconductors,were discussed.And the prospect of future research field was also previewed.
Different Approaches to Equating Oral Reading Fluency Passages

Using curriculum-based measures (CBM) to identify and monitor students’ oral reading fluency (ORF) is challenging, with student performance subject to numerous sources of variability. One source of variability that is beyond teachers’ or students’ control stems from differences in text difficulty across CBM probes at any given grade level. These differences are referred to collectively as form effects on students’ ORF. This chapter examines the research on form effects and different solutions that have been discussed in the research literature for reducing or removing form effects from CBM assessments. These solutions are referred to collectively as equating methods. The chapter examines four different equating methods using data from a sample of 1867 students from grade 6–8 who were evaluated on subtests of the Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA) to illustrate the differences across the methods. These methods either focus on the equating of raw scores, or on the estimation of true fluency scores through the modeling of test forms. The raw score methods include linear and equipercentile equating, while the true score methods include linear and nonlinear equating using latent variables (LVs). The results are discussed in terms of their implications for developers and users of CBM assessments.
Effect of thiazides on colonic NaCl absorption: role of carbonic anhydrase.

The mechanisms by which the benzothiadiazide class of diuretics inhibit electroneutral NaCl absorption are not fully understood. We studied the mechanisms of thiazide action in perfused loops of di...
Cellular and molecular effects of recombinant interferon gamma in chronic granulomatous disease.

This article reports the results of recent studies of in vitro and in vivo treatment with recombinant human interferon gamma to ameliorate the physiologic defect of chronic granulomatous disease.
A Simplified Graphical Grand Lot Acceptance Sampling Procedure

Acceptance inspection and compliance testing often require levels of protection for both the consumer and the producer that make for large sample size relative to lot size. A given sample size can, however, be made to apply to several lots jointly if th..
Dopamine D2 receptor imaging and neuroleptic drug response.

Studies with positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography have yielded important findings concerning the relationship between dopamine D 2 receptor occupancy and neuroleptic dose, plasma neuroleptic levels, and clinical response. For typical neuroleptics, therapeutic response is associated with occupancy levels as low as 60%-70%, which can be achieved at lower doses than are routinely used. For these drugs, extrapyramidal side effects increase, and therapeutic response remains unchanged with higher occupancy levels. Although the mechanisms responsible for the improved clinical efficacy and tolerability of atypical neuroleptics are still poorly understood, antipsychotic efficacy has been observed at lower D 2 receptor occupancy rates than with typical neuroleptics. It is unclear whether the lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects observed with the atypical neuroleptic clozapine can be attributed to its lower D 2 occupancy, its relatively specific effects on the ventral striatum, or its nondopaminergic effects. There are a number of additional unresolved issues, including the high interindividual variation in scan outcome measurements, possible effects of concomitant medication, possible effects of endogenous dopamine, and assumptions in various strategies used to model receptor densities and occupancy rates.
The differential outcomes effect

The differential outcomes effect refers specifically to the increase in speed of acquisition or terminal accuracy that occurs in discrimination training when each of two or more discriminative stimuli is correlated with a particular outcome (e.g., type of reinforcer). The present review summarizes studies concerned with the differential outcomes effect, provides a behavioral analysis of the phenomenon in terms of operant-respondent interactions, and offers suggestions for future research.
Design and demonstration of a CubeSat-scale spatial heterodyne imaging spectrometer

We report on the design and demonstration of a CubeSat-scale spatial heterodyne spectrometer suitable for high-resolution imaging of molecular bands against the earth surface or limb. The demonstration instrument is tuned to a methane absorption band at 1637-1657 nm. The spectral resolution of 0.13 nm is sufficient to resolve individual methane lines, intervening CO2 absorption, and background scattering. The all-transmissive design utilizes volume holographic gratings for high optical efficiency.
Characterization of the MSP-1 protein in field samples of Plasmodium falciparum and its homology to the Plasmodium vivax MSP-1 protein

Merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) is one of the several proteins on the surface of the asexual merozoite of malaria parasites. It undergoes a two stage proteolytic cleavage to form a C-terminal 19-kDa fragment or PfMSP119 that is used for red blood cell invasion. A homologue of PfMSP-119 of Plasmodium falciparum called PvMSP-119 has been identified in Plasmodium vivax. Recently, attention has been focused on this C-terminal cysteine-rich region as an important determinant of haplotypes that characterize the malaria parasite in endemic areas. In this study, sequence specific primers were used to determine the PfMSP-119 haplotypes from field samples and PvMSP-119 haplotypes from both field and Aotus adapted parasites. 163 PfMSP-119 samples from Kisumu-Kenya were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) typed at position 1644 in the first epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain followed by sequencing of a random selection of positive samples so as to evaluate molecular changes at positions 1691, 1700 and 1701 in the second EGF-like domain. 121 selected samples gave bands, with 80% typing as GAA (E) and 20% as CAA (Q) at position 1644. From computer-alignment sequences, samples 96B216 confirmed as the Uganda-PA haplotype (E-KNG), 96B209 as the PfMAD20 haplotype (E-TSR), 96B208 as the PfK1/Wellcome haplotype (Q-KNG), 96B183 as the Uganda-PA haplotype (E-KNG) and 96B017 as the E-TSG haplotype. Next, genotyping and sequence analyses of the PvMSP-119 fragment against reference sequences from GenBank demonstrated isolates as belonging to either one or the other of two parental haplotypes identified as Belem and Sal-1 strains. Comparison of PfMSP-119 and PvMSP-119 fragments demonstrated highly conserved cysteine amino acids in the two EGF-like domains. Key words: Merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Plasmodium falciparum, epidermal growth factor (EGF), GenBank, Plasmodium vivax, malaria parasite.
Distributionally robust risk-constrained optimal power flow using moment and unimodality information

As we incorporate more random renewable energy into the power grid, power system operators need to ensure physical constraints, such as transmission line limits, are not violated despite uncertainty. Risk-constrained optimal power flow (RCOPF) based on the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) is a convenient modeling tool, ensuring that these constraints are satisfied with a high probability (e.g., 95%). However, in practice, it is often difficult to perfectly estimate the joint probability distribution of all uncertain variables, including renewable energy production and load consumption. In this paper, we propose a distributionally robust RCOPF approach by considering all possible probability distributions that share the same moment (e.g., mean and covariance) and unimodality properties. Moment and unimodality information can be estimated based on historical data, and so the proposed approach can be applied in a data-driven manner. In view of the computational challenges, we derive a conservative and a relaxed approximation of the problem. We reformulate these approximations as semidefinite programs (SDPs) facilitating the use of highly efficient off-the-shelf optimization solvers (e.g., CVX). We demonstrate the proposed approach based on a modified IEEE 9-bus power network.
Kant's Conceptualism: a New Reading of the Transcendental Deduction

I defend a novel interpretation of Kant's conceptualism regarding the contents of our perceptual experiences. Conceptualist interpreters agree that Kant's Deduction aims to prove that intuitions require the categories for their spatiality and temporality. But conceptualists disagree as to which features of space and time make intuitions require the categories. Interpreters have cited the singularity, unity, infinity, and homogeneity of space and time. But this is incompatible with Kant's Aesthetic, which aims to prove that these same features qualify space and time as intuitions, not concepts. On my interpretation, the feature is objectivity. Space and time are objective, in that they ground our judgments in geometry and mechanics.
Expression of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 in an alkali injury model of retinal gliosis

Citrullination is an important posttranslational modification that occurs during retinal gliosis. We examined the expression of peptidyl arginine deiminases (PADs) to identify the PADs that mediate citrullination in a model of alkali-induced retinal gliosis. Mouse corneas were exposed to 1.0 N NaOH and posterior eye tissue from injured and control uninjured eyes was evaluated for transcript levels of various PADs by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR). Retinas were also subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC) for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), citrullinated species, PAD2, and PAD4 and tissue levels of GFAP, citrullinated species, and PAD4 were measured by western blots. In other experiments, the PAD4 inhibitor streptonigrin was injected intravitreally into injured eyes ex vivo to test inhibitory activity in an organ culture system. We found that uninjured retina and choroid expressed Pad2 and Pad4 transcripts. Pad4 transcript levels increased by day 7 post-injury (p 0.05) by qPCR. By IHC, PAD2 was expressed in uninjured eyes along ganglion cell astrocytes, but in injured retina PAD2 was downregulated at 7 days. On the other hand, PAD4 showed increased staining in the retina upon injury revealing a pattern that overlapped with filamentous GFAP staining in Muller glial processes by 7 days. Injury-induced citrullination and soluble GFAP protein levels were reduced by PAD4 inhibition in western blot experiments of organ cultures. Together, our findings for the first time identify PAD4 as a novel injury-inducible druggable target for retinal gliosis.
Ensuring Moral Development in Physical Education

The physical education setting offers a unique opportunity to educate the whole student. It would seem appropriate then, that physical education teachers place strong emphasis on the aspect of moral development and character building, however, this can be a challenging task. To accomplish this, the purpose of this article is to provide strategies to physical education teachers that can be easily implemented within their physical education classroom. Key strategies include modeling appropriate behavior, incorporating teacher and student led discussions, pinpointing positive as well as negative behavior, creating sporting dilemmas, using indirect teaching styles, creating a task-involving climate, and using principles such as the “hand of fair play” within physical education programs.
Interleukin-10 Conjugation to Carboxylated PVP-Coated Silver Nanoparticles for Improved Stability and Therapeutic Efficacy

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a key anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine and therefore represents a potential therapeutic agent especially in inflammatory diseases. However, despite its proven therapeutic efficacy, its short half-life and proteolytic degradation in vivo combined with its low storage stability have limited its therapeutic use. Strategies have been developed to overcome most of these shortcomings, including in particular bioconjugation with stabilizing agents such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly (vinylpyrolidone) (PVP), but so far these have had limited success. In this paper, we present an alternative method consisting of bioconjugating IL-10 to PVP-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag-PVPs) in order to achieve its storage stability by preventing denaturation and to improve its anti-inflammatory efficacy. Silver nanoparticles capped with a carboxylated PVP were produced and further covalently conjugated with IL-10 protein by carbodiimide crosslinker chemistry. The IL-10 conjugated Ag-PVPs exhibited increased stability and anti-inflammatory effectiveness in vitro. This study therefore provides a novel approach to bioconjugating PVP-coated silver nanoparticles with therapeutic proteins, which could be useful in drug delivery and anti-inflammatory therapies.