cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building Worlds: Bridging Imperative-First and Object-Oriented Programming in CS1-CS2

When teaching introductory computing courses, we are often guilty of writing rudimentary programming assignments - those meant to illustrate one simple language feature, comprised mostly of code that will never be used beyond the assignment. Admittedly, first-year computing students must navigate a myriad of challenges, sometimes learning both imperative and object-oriented programming, in addition to mastering syntax, logic,debugging, and testing. To tackle the difficulties of developing CS 1 and CS 2 courses that engage students in learning while addressing the numerous course objectives, we chose to challenge students to create virtual worlds in one large comprehensive two-quarter long programming project. Students were granted creative freedom within a framework that gradually introduced many programming skills and that required the mastery of object-oriented programming and some engaging algorithms. We present the curriculum, performance comparisons, and observations. Overall, we consider the experimental courses a success that will have an impact on our department's future curricular offerings.
Interactive Effects of Carbon Dioxide and Water Stress on Potato Canopy Growth and Development

Reductions in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) canopy growth are observed with mild water stress. Potato growth is enhanced by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide ([CO 2 ]), but interactions of [CO 2 ] and water stress on canopy formation and dry matter partitioning have not been studied. Two soil-plant-atmosphere research (SPAR) experiments were conducted at 370 or 740 μmol mol -1 [CO 2 ] and six different irrigations from 10 to 100% of the daily water uptake of the control. Increases in plant length from 23 to 111 cm at 60 d after emergence (DAE), leaf appearance duration from 38 to 71 d, leaf appearance rate from 0.5 to 0.93 leaves d -1 , individual leaf area from 50 to 175 cm 2 , and lateral branch elongation were observed as irrigation increased. Values were generally smaller for elevated [CO 2 ] plants under water stress. Biomass increased with irrigation from 73 to 346 g plant -2 . The percentage allocated to the canopy increased with irrigation from 50 to 80% in ambient and 30 to 80% in elevated [CO 2 ]. Despite decreased canopy size, elevated [CO 2 ] plants produced similar total biomass, but higher yield, at most irrigations. Reduced canopy mass in elevated [CO 2 ] plants was attributed to suppressed lateral branch development due to an interactive effect of [CO 2 ] and water stress on tuber sink strength. These results indicate that water stress predicted by climate change models will be mediated somewhat under [CO 2 ] enrichment.
Cloning and Biochemical Characterization of Blisterase, a Subtilisin-like Convertase from the Filarial Parasite, Onchocerca volvulus

Abstract Blisterase is a subtilisin-like proprotein convertase of nematodes. The enzyme is named after the blistered cuticle found in Caenorhabditis elegans with the bli-4 e937 mutation. The critical role of the enzyme in cuticle production makes it a potential drug target for parasitic nematodes. We have cloned and expressed blisterase from the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus, a major cause of blindness in Africa. The catalytic domain of the protease exhibits 84% identity with the corresponding domain of its closest homologue, C. elegans blisterase. O. volvulus blisterase expressed in insect cells has maximal activity in 1 mm calcium at neutral pH. The protease is inhibited by EDTA, the suicide substrate decanoyl-RVKR-chloromethylketone, α1-antitrypsin Portland and by its own propeptide. Substrate assays with fluorescent peptides show that O. volvulus blisterase requires a P4 arginine and a basic amino acid at P1 for cleavage. The kcat of blisterase on the peptide substrate, t-butyloxycarbonyl-RVRR-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide was determined to be 0.018 s-1. In vitro cleavage studies with the nematode polyprotein antigen demonstrated that blisterase cleaved at tetrabasic (RRKR) but not at dibasic (KR) sites. This report describes the first biochemical characterization of the nematode specific protease, blisterase.
Evaluation of Locomotive Cable Insulation Life Under Varying Temperature Loading

A method is described for evaluating the life of cable insulation subjected to the varying temperature and time electrical service conditions of a locomotive. This type of evaluation becomes more important as the current ratings of higher fuel efficiency locomotives are increased, subjecting cable insulation materials to higher operating temperatures. Insulations evaluated by this proposed technique are first tested at several elevated constant temperatures to determine their thermal aging characteristics. Based on the material performance data, the insulation life consumed by the thermal stresses imposed by the locomotive duty cycle is calculated. This method can be readily applied to measure the effects of temperature cycles on cable life, objectively compare the performance of different insulations, and assess the design margin of locomotive cables. It may also be used to establish Association of American Railroads (AAR) specification requirements for thermal aging tests based on the conditions of actual field application. A method for evaluating cable life through testing and duty cycle analysis has been developed and verified by examination of cables in service. A new high performance insulation developed by the General Electric Wire and Cable Business Department is shown to offer reliable service life under the varied and demanding operating conditions of today's higher performance locomotives.
D0 Evidence for CP Violation and Implication for CPT Violation in B-Meson Mixing

A D0 analysis measuring the charge asymmetry A{sub sl}{sup b} of like-sign dimuon events due to semileptonic b-hadron decays at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider is described. It differs by 3.2 standard deviations from the Standard Model prediction to provide first evidence of CPT-invariant anomalous CP violation in the mixing of neutral B mesons, and is compared to the CP-violating phase obtained from a D0 analysis of the time-dependent decay angles in B{sub s}{sup 0} {yields} J/{psi}{phi}. If CPT violation is allowed, the dimuon asymmetry also yields the first sensitivity to CPT violation in the B{sub s}{sup 0} system.
Economics of transplantation: a review of the literature

Abstract Background Economic issues are important in transplantation. We reviewed the literature about health economics as well as transplantation and highlighted areas for further development. Methods We searched the MEDLINE database for the economic literature on kidney, kidney-pancreas, liver, heart, lung, and heart-lung economic studies. Results The evidence that kidney transplantation provides better quality of life over dialysis and decreases costs are consistent. The economic evidence regarding kidney organ-shortage policies (donor action, expanded-criteria donor use) show that these are very cost-effective. Liver, heart, and lung transplantations provide quality-of-life benefits, increase health-care costs, and seem to be generally cost-effective. The cost-effectiveness of different indications, patient groups, and organ-shortage actions needs to be studied in non–kidney transplantation. Across all organs, there is a need to explore the quality-of-life impact of comorbidities and immunosuppressive medications. Surrogate outcomes may become an important tool in pharmacoeconomic research, whereas the use of Markov models and large registries such as the United States Renal Data System will continue to be widely used. Conclusion The contributions of health economics to transplantation are numerous. Future research are to be expected in the fields of quality of life, cost-effectiveness, insurance coverage, and organ allocation.
Activity in Physical Education: Process or Product?

In our concern about making physical education classes more active, has the message about activity overshadowed the message about helping students learn something in physical education?
Impact of Contact Resistances on Electrical and Thermal Transport in Carbon Nanotube Network Transistors

The breakdown mechanism of carbon nanotube (CNT) networks is explored using a coupled electro-thermal model, which simulates both electrical and thermal transport in CNT network thin film transistors (CN-TFTs). The numerical results are validated against experimental observations on CN-TFTs with similar device geometry, network statistics, and thermal environment. We find the numerical predictions are in good agreement with experimental measurements of power and temperature of CN-TFT devices. Comparing the simulation results with experiments, we observe that the CNT-substrate thermal conductance per unit length is ∼0.1 Wm−1 K−1. This value represents high contact thermal resistance, but is very close to experimental estimations. The thermal profile and breakdown behavior of the CNT network is observed to be more sensitive to CNT-substrate interfacial thermal conductance compared to that of the CNT-CNT interface. The effect of CNT network density on breakdown behavior is also analyzed for relatively low densities of the network. The peak power dissipation in CN-TFTs before breakdown increases with network density, and this peak power is reached at the same source-to-drain bias (VSD) for all considered densities. The breakdown patterns in CN-TFTs of all considered densities are also observed to have similar characteristics.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Interactions between circulating peptides and the central nervous system in hemodynamic regulation.

Abstract Enkephalins and endothelins are endogenous peptides, which, at least at pharmacologic doses, produce complex hemodynamic responses after intravenous administration. The enkephalins, when injected into conscious animal models and humans, increase blood pressure, heart rate and minute ventilation. This response occurs by activation of specific opiate receptors located outside the blood-brain barrier; the actual mechanism involves an increase in adrenergic autonomic nervous system tone and a decrease in cholinergic tone. These opiate receptors may activate afferent fibers, perhaps nicotinic cholinoceptors; in many ways their properties are suggestive of chemoreceptors. Furthermore, enkephalin responses appear to be modulated by gamma-aminobutyric acid complexes, in that the reversal of the excitatory hemodynamic responses seen in the conscious state to vasodepressor responses after barbiturate anesthesia may result from alteration of the state of activation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid complex. The enkephalin receptors are localized to the vertebral artery vascular distribution; the specific site may be the area postrema, a blood-brain barrier-deficient circum-ventricular organ demonstrated to modulate heart rate and blood pressure and to represent a target site for circulating angiotensin II. Endothelin increases heart rate and blood pressure when infused slowly into conscious or anesthetized dogs, although barbiturates do blunt the increase in heart rate. The mechanism appears to involve modification of autonomic tone, but also some element of direct vasoconstrictor activity. Interestingly, rapid bolus doses of endothelin produce only vasodepressor responses, suggesting that the rate and concentration at which circulating endothelin reaches afferent receptors or vasoconstrictor sites on vascular smooth muscle may determine the net hemodynamic response observed. At higher doses, both enkephalins and endothelins may produce emesis, an action often mediated by the area postrema. These observations suggest mechanisms by which circulating peptides may communicate with vasomotor control centers within the central nervous system and potentially modulate cardiovascular responses.
Period ‘bubbling’ in simple ecological models: Pattern and chaos formation in a quartic model

Abstract There has been much interest of late in the control of chaos. Particularly it has been recently shown how chaos can be averted in simple ecological models through reverse period doubling, or bubble formation. However, if the assumption that the descending tail of the 1-D map must be strictly descending is relaxed, a new form of chaos may emerge. These observations may be especially important in higher degree models, such as quartic maps, which arise in a variety of ecological applications. The combination of potential period doubling and reverse period doubling lead to cascading bubbles, and the formation of chaos across a broad range of parameter values.
On research relevance, professors’ “real world” experience, and management development: are we closing the gap?

This small‐sample (N = 84) study investigated human resource management practitioners’ views of academic research relevance to, and management professor effectiveness in, management development. Results indicate that practitioners do not particularly value academic research, especially relative to other kinds of information they may access in pursuing their management development. Practitioners view management professors as somewhat ineffective, especially relative to executives and consultants, as instructors in management development seminars and workshops. A curvilinear relationship between company size and respondents’ ratings of both academic information’s utility and professors’ effectiveness was also observed. Implications for future research are discussed, as well as for efforts to enhance research’s relevance and increase professors’ managerial work exposure.
Electromagnetic-field calculations for irregularly shaped, layered cylindrical particles with focused illumination.

Theoretical procedures are presented for the determination of internal and external electromagnetic fields for the plane two-dimensional problem of an arbitrary monochromatic field (e.g., a focused laser light sheet) incident upon an irregularly shaped, layered cylindrical particle. Equations for the arbitrary illumination of a layered circular cylindrical particle are also given as a special case of the general solution.
Flux effects in solid particle erosion

Abstract Systematic measurements of the steady state erosion rate as a function of erodent particle flux were made for a range of different erosion conditions. A significant decrease in erosion rate with increasing flux was observed. A first-order particle collision model was developed that provides a physical basis for describing the flux effect. The data confirm the exponential dependence of the erosion rate on flux predicted by the model. Further analysis of the data within the context of the collision model also provides new insight into the particle impact process.
Data File Layout Inference Using Content-Based Oracles

Data file layout inference refers to the problem of identifying the organizational characteristics associated with a structured text file, where every record in a text file shares the same structural properties. These properties include: character encoding, record length, field length (indicated by delimiting characters or fixed length), field position, and field semantic content. Within this paper, the above information is referred to as the layout of a file. This structural layout information is required to extract, transform, and load files into workflows within various data warehouse and data mining applications. A common need, layout inference is a manual, labor intensive process requiring human expertise whenever a file's layout is unavailable, miscommunicated, or changed. This paper proposes an automated methodology for solving the layout inference problem by discovering the metadata of a structured text file and reports the results of a prototype system for real data files from customer data integration and management application.
GOING BEYOND EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE FOR IMPROVED SEMANTIC BASED INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

This paper proposes a novel model that incorporates word semantics into information retrieval, enabling a whole new range of semantic based retrieval applications. Concepts can be sought instead of simple words, and the retrieval of words that are semantically related to the input keywords is also possible. A novel encoding scheme applied to words creates the groundwork for this model and enables the application of complex semantic operators. One of the most powerful operators introduced by the model is the semantic wildcard, able to fulfill information requests expressed along general-specific lines. For instance, a search for animal# will match any concept that is of type animal, going beyond the explicit knowledge stated in texts. Additionally, a new lexical locality operator is introduced, making possible the retrieval of paragraphs rather than entire documents. Both semantic indexing and paragraph indexing paradigms proposed in the model have been implemented in a system that was tested on questions run against an index of 130,000 documents. A significant improvement was observed over classic keyword based retrieval systems, in terms of precision, recall and success rate.
The Signature of Quasi-Nilpotent Fiber Bundles

A quasi-nilpotent fibration, as defined in [HR] , is a Serre fibration F~E-,B of connected spaces with the property that n I B acts nilpotently on H*(F;A) 1. [This notion depends, of course, on the abelian group of coefficients used; in our theorem below, A will be the real numbers R.] An important class of quasi-nilpotent fibrations is that of the simple fibrations, namely those in which the action of the fundamental group is simple (= trivial). A number of results concerning fibrations, originally proved under the assumption that the fibration be simple, have been recently extended to the more general context. An example of such a result, useful in certain situations, is the Zeeman comparison theorem for the spectral sequence of a fibration [HR]. Another, much simpler, result is the multiplicativity of the Euler characteristic
Interaction of nitrogen oxides with sublimed layers of (meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)cobalt(II); IR evidence of oxo-transfer from (nitro)porphyrinatocobalt(III) to free nitric oxide

Interaction of a low-pressure NO2 with sublimed layers of (meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)cobalt(II) (Co(TPP)) leads to formation of 5-coordinate nitro complex Co(III)(TPP)(NO2). Upon exposure of these layers to pyridine vapors, the fast reaction with formation of 6-coordinate nitro-pyridine porphyrins (Py)Co(III)(TPP)(NO2) occurs. By means of IR spectroscopy and use of nitrogen oxide isotopomers, it is shown that an oxo-transfer reaction occurs from 5-coordinate species to free nitric oxide (NO) while the 6-coordinate complex is rather inert. It is also demonstrated that the stepwise addition of low-pressure NO2 to nitrosyl complex Co(TPP)(NO) leads to formation of the nitro complex most likely by an exchange reaction.
Sabotaging Civil Service Reform in Aid-Dependent Countries: Are Donors to Blame?

Summary International development assistance has focused increasing resources on raising civil service capacity in low-income country administrations plagued by low pay, poor establishment controls, and the absence of merit-based human resource practice. At the same time, donors sabotage civil service capacity development over the longer term. Notwithstanding international accords calling on donors to curtail this behavior, collective action problems constrain donors from dismantling the projectized aid infrastructure that fragments government institutions. We identify practical implications of this collective action dilemma and explore alternative reform approaches. We examine an agency-level civil service reform (ACSR) in Cambodia, in comparative perspective, showing how strategic, incremental introduction of merit-based incentives yielded benefits in one ministry but faltered when the pilot was expanded to other agencies. To the extent that the accumulated ACSR experiences have achieved some , albeit limited, traction, they may offer a small but significant beacon for those seeking to move forward on civil service reform under difficult conditions.
On some classes of optimal and near-optimal polynomial codes

We generalize a recent idea for constructing codes over a finite field F"q by evaluating a certain collection of polynomials over F"q at elements of an extension field. We show that many codes with the best parameters presently known can be obtained by this construction. In particular, a new linear code, a [40,23,10]-code over F"5 is discovered. Moreover, several families of optimal and near-optimal codes can also be obtained by this method. We call a code near-optimal if its minimum distance is within 1 of the known upper bound.
Sensitive and rapid method for amino acid quantitation in malaria biological samples using AccQ.Tag ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring.

An AccQ•Tag ultra performance liquid chromatography−electrospray ionization−tandem mass spectrometry (AccQ•Tag-UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for fast, reproducible, and sensitive amino acid quantitation in biological samples, particularly, the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is presented. The Waters Acquity TQD UPLC/MS system equipped with a photodiode array (PDA) detector was used for amino acid separation and detection. The method was developed and validated using amino acid standard mixtures containing acidic, neutral, and basic amino acids. For MS analysis, the optimum cone voltage implemented, based on direct infusion analysis of a few selected AccQ•Tag amino acids with multiple reaction monitoring, varied from 29 to 39 V, whereas the collision energy varied from 15 to 35 V. Calibration curves were built using both internal and external standardization. Typically, a linear response for all amino acids was observed at concentration ranges of 3 × 10−3-25 pmol/μL. For some amino acids, concentration lim...
Accuracy of direct genomic values derived from imputed single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes in Jersey cattle

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the predictive ability of direct genomic values for economically important dairy traits when genotypes at some single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were imputed rather than measured directly. Genotypic data consisted of 42,552 SNP genotypes for each of 1,762 Jersey sires. Phenotypic data consisted of predicted transmitting abilities (PTA) for milk yield, protein percentage, and daughter pregnancy rate from May 2006 for 1,446 sires in the training set and from April 2009 for 316 sires in the testing set. The SNP effects were estimated using the Bayesian least absolute selection and shrinkage operator (LASSO) method with data of sires in the training set, and direct genomic values (DGV) for sires in the testing set were computed by multiplying these estimates by corresponding genotype dosages for sires in the testing set. The mean correlation across traits between DGV (before progeny testing) and PTA (after progeny testing) for sires in the testing set was 70.6% when all 42,552 SNP genotypes were used. When genotypes for 93.1, 96.6, 98.3, or 99.1% of loci were masked and subsequently imputed in the testing set, mean correlations across traits between DGV and PTA were 68.5, 64.8, 54.8, or 43.5%, respectively. When genotypes were also masked and imputed for a random 50% of sires in the training set, mean correlations across traits between DGV and PTA were 65.7, 63.2, 53.9, or 49.5%, respectively. Results of this study indicate that if a suitable reference population with high-density genotypes is available, a low-density chip comprising 3,000 equally spaced SNP may provide approximately 95% of the predictive ability observed with the BovineSNP50 Beadchip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA) in Jersey cattle. However, if fewer than 1,500 SNP are genotyped, the accuracy of DGV may be limited by errors in the imputed genotypes of selection candidates.
Secularism, Criticism, and Religious Studies Pedagogy

. Secularization, the idea that religion would gradually diminish over time, was once widely assumed to be true by scholars of religion, but the unexpected resurgence of religious traditions has called it into question. Related debates on the distinction between religion and the secular have destabilized religious studies further. What does the crisis of secularization and secularism mean for the religious studies classroom? This essay proposes a model of religious criticism in the wake of secularism. No longer simply claiming a “view from nowhere,” students and instructors can (by observing standards of evidence, reason, and self-disclosure) combine criticism with learning. Drawn from aesthetic and ethical traditions of criticism, religious criticism can be practiced by “teaching the conflicts” and through the pedagogical models of Freire and hooks.
Measuring the effects of spectral smearing and enhancement on speech recognition in noise for adults and children

Broadened auditory filters associated with sensorineural hearing loss have clearly been shown to diminish speech recognition in noise for adults, but far less is known about potential effects for children. This study examined speech recognition in noise for adults and children using simulated auditory filters of different widths. Specifically, 5 groups (20 listeners each) of adults or children (5 and 7 yrs), were asked to recognize sentences in speech-shaped noise. Seven-year-olds listened at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) only; 5-yr-olds listened at +3 or 0 dB SNR; and adults listened at 0 or −3 dB SNR. Sentence materials were processed both to smear the speech spectrum (i.e., simulate broadened filters), and to enhance the spectrum (i.e., simulate narrowed filters). Results showed: (1) Spectral smearing diminished recognition for listeners of all ages; (2) spectral enhancement did not improve recognition, and in fact diminished it somewhat; and (3) interactions were observed between smearing and SNR, but only for adults. That interaction made age effects difficult to gauge. Nonetheless, it was concluded that efforts to diagnose the extent of broadening of auditory filters and to develop techniques to correct this condition could benefit patients with hearing loss, especially children.
The fate during infection of the coat protein of the spherical bacteriophage R17

Abstract Infection of E. coli by the spherical bacteriophage R17 was found to be similar to that by the tail-bearing bacteriophages. By means of the technique of Hershey and Chase (1952) , the coat protein was found to be sensitive to shear while the viability and the nucleic acid remained insensitive and associated with the host.
Lexical uniqueness effects on phonemic restoration

Abstract Phonemic restoration is a powerful auditory illusion in which listeners hear a part of a word that has in fact been replaced by another sound. Two experiments explore whether the strength of the illusion is affected by whether a single lexical item could be restored. In Experiment 1, more perceptual restoration was found for stimuli that were multiply restorable (e.g., “_egion” → “legion” or “region”) than for lexically unique ones (e.g., “_esion” → “lesion”). In Experiment 2, lexical uniqueness was examined as a function of time: Words become lexically unique when enough has been heard to eliminate all alternatives. This manipulation also affected the strength of the illusion. The results complement those of other techniques in supporting an active role for lexical representations in the perception of speech.
Noninvasive detection of renal allograft inflammation by measurements of mRNA for IP-10 and CXCR3 in urine.

Noninvasive detection of renal allograft inflammation by mea- surements of mRNA for IP-10 and CXCR3 in urine. Background. We explored the hypothesis that measurements of mRNA encoding interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) or the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in urinary cells offer a noninva- sive means of elucidating cellular traffic causing acute rejection of human renal allografts. Methods. We obtained 63 urine specimens from 58 renal allo- graft recipients who underwent 63 allograft biopsies to resolve the basis for graft dysfunction, and 27 additional urine samples from 24 other patients with stable allograft function. Twenty- seven of the 63 biopsies were classified as acute rejection, 20 as other, and 16 as chronic allograft nephropathy. We measured the levels of transcripts for IP-10 and CXCR3, and a consti- tutively expressed gene 18S rRNA in the urine specimens and correlated transcript levels with renal allograft diagnosis. Results. mRNA levels of IP-10 (P < 0.0001) or CXCR3 (P < 0.0001) but not the levels of 18S rRNA (P = 0.56) predicted intragraft cellular traffic causing acute rejection. Receiver- operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that acute rejection can be predicted with a sensitivity of 100% and a speci- ficity of 78% using the (log-transformed) cutoff value of 9.11 copies of IP-10, and with a sensitivity of 63% and a specificity of 83% using the cutoff value of 11.59 copies of CXCR3. Im- munohistologic analysis of allograft biopsies showed exuberant expression of IP-10 and CXCR3 during acute rejection whereas both were absent in grafts with stable function. Conclusion. Our investigation demonstrates that intragraft cellular events associated with acute rejection of human renal allografts can be noninvasively identified by measurements of mRNA for IP-10 and CXCR3 in urinary cells.
Kinetic and microstructure studies of poly(ethylene‐co‐p‐methylstyrene) copolymers prepared by metallocene catalysts with constrained ligand geometry

This paper discusses the poly(ethylene-co-p-methylstyrene) copolymers prepared by metallocene catalysts, such as Et(Ind) 2 ZrCl 2 and [C 5 Me 4 (SiMe 2 N t Bu)]-TiCl 2 , with constrained ligand geometry. The copolymerization reaction was examined by comonomer reactivity (reactivity ratio and comonomer conversion versus time), copolymer microstructure (DSC and 13 C-NMR analyses) and the comparisons between p-methylstyrene and other styrene-derivatives (styrene, o-methylstyrene and m-methylstyrene). The combined experimental results clearly show that p-methylstyrene performs distinctively better than styrene and its derivatives, due to the cationic coordination mechanism and spatially opened catalytic site in metallocene catalysts with constrained ligand geometry. A broad composition range of random poly(ethylene-co-p-methylstyrene) copolymers were prepared with narrow molecular weight and composition distributions. With the increase of p-methylstyrene concentration, poly(ethylene-co-p-methylstyrene) copolymer shows systematical decrease of melting point and crystallinity and increase of glass transition temperature. At above 10 mol % of p-methylstyrene, the crystallinity of copolymer almost completely disappears.
6-Hydroxydopamine treatment of neonatal rats. I. Effects on the development of the spinal cord noradrenergic system.

Abstract The spinal cord contains noradrenergic (NA) pathways which descend from cell bodies in the medulla oblongata and pons to terminate at all levels in the spinal gray matter. The present studies sought to determine the patterns of postnatal development of pre- and postsynaptic elements of NA transmission in the spinal cord. Significant presynaptic development is evident at birth as reflected by substantial high-affinity uptake of norepinephrine (NE) into synaptosomes (0.65–0.90 pmol/mg protein). There is a subsequent increase in uptake on postnatal day (PND) 5, followed by a decrease in 5–10 days to essentially adult levels, starting on PND 20 (0.30–0.35 pmol/mg protein). This decrease in NE uptake occurs coincident with increases in the density of postsynaptic α1 and β adrenergic receptors and also NE-stimulated accumulation of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Peaks in the development of α1 receptors (PND 10) and β receptors (PND 20) and NE-stimulated cAMP accumulation (PND 15) were also followed by decreases to adult levels. The neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was administered at birth to determine the effects of denervation on the development of the spinal NA systems. At each day following 6-OHDA, synaptosomal uptake of [3H]NE was reduced by two-thirds compared with control values. α1 and β adrenergic receptor binding are uniformly increased along with a parallel increase in NE-stimulated accumulation of cAMP. While uniformly increased over control, the pattern of postnatal increases and decreases in receptors and cAMP accumulation is maintained. These results suggest that developmental signals for the expression of α1 and β receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in the postsynaptic receptor systems are maintained despite the loss of presynaptic input from descending NA pathways.
Rana catesbeiana tail fin lactogenic hormone receptor: hydrodynamic characterization.

Abstract 1. 1. The hydrodynamic properties of the 125 I-hGH-receptor-detergent complex of the tadpole tail fin were determined. 2. 2. Based on the distribution coefficient from chromatography on Sepharose 6B the Stokes' radius of the complex was 5.03 nm. 3. 3. Using centrifugation through sucrose/H 2 O and sucrose/ 2 H 2 O gradients the complex was determined to have a sedimentation coefficient of 4.05 S and a partial specific volume of 0.810 cm 3 /g. 4. 4. The 125 I-hGH-receptor-detergent complex was calculated to have a mol wt of 121,000 and a frictional ratio of 1.38. 5. 5. Based on a calculated detergent content of 0.430 g/g complex the mol weight of the 125 I-hGH-receptor was 69,100 and the mol wt of the receptor alone was 47,100.
Production of insulinomimetic antibodies against rat adipocyte membranes by hybridoma cells.

SJL mice were injected intraperitoneally with adipocyte plasma membranes or with intrinsic membrane proteins obtained by extraction of plasma membranes with dimethylmaleic anhydride. Three days after the boost injection, the spleens were removed and fused with NS-1, a thioguanine-resistant myeloma cell line derived from P3X63 Ag8 (Balb/c). Following selection for hybrids with hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine, medium of the hybrid cells was tested for its ability to bind to the plasma membrane of the adipocyte and to stimulate the oxidation of D-(1-14C) glucose to 14CO2. Approximately 40% of the wells containing hybridomas derived from splenocytes of SJL mice immunized with plasma membranes produced immunoglobulin that bound to adipocyte plasma membranes. About 30% of these mimicked the ability of insulin to stimulate the oxidation of D-(1-14C) glucose to 14CO2 in adipocytes. Media from 51% of the wells containing hybridomas derived from splenocytes of SJL mice immunized with intrinsic membrane proteins produced immunoglobulin that bound to the plasma membrane and 48% of those stimulated glucose oxidation. The bioactivity of the hybrid cell media could be blocked by adsorption with intrinsic membrane proteins or by the removal of immunoglobulins using formalin-fixed Staphylococcus aureus. The hybrids generated in this study can be divided into three categories: (1) hybrids that secrete antibodies that can bind to plasma membranes and mimic insulin action of glucose transport; (2) hybrids that secrete antibodies that bind to plasma membranes but do not stimulate the oxidation of D-(1-14C) glucose to 14CO2; and (3) hybrids that produce no antimembrane antibodies. The data suggest that interaction of immunoglobulins with specific membrane proteins is essential in mimicking the action of insulin on glucose transport and oxidation in the rat adipocyte.
Creating a Competitive Advantage through Quality

It is becoming more and more important for companies to have an optimal alignment between business strategy and information strategy. The approach developed in Hewlett-Packard is one way to achieve this. Proper alignment and embeddedness within the IT environment is needed to realise business objectives to achieve competitive advantage. Effectiveness and flexibility are the key-words to ensure competitive advantage by delivering a maximum service level to the customers, by reacting adequately on market changes and to optimise the business processes. Harvesting the creativity of users is an important aspect of the process. ‘Our fundamental goal is to build positive, long-term relationships with our customers, relationships characterised by mutual respect, by courtesy and integrity, by a helpful, effective response to customer needs and concerns, and by a strong commitment to providing products and services of the highest quality.’ (extracted from Hewlett-Packard’s Corporate Objectives for Customers) One of the objectives of Hewlett-Packard is to create a competitive advantage both for the customers and the company by selling and delivering quality business solutions. This objective and the globalisation of our services ask for a business solution delivery approach based on standard products and in conformity with internationally accepted standards. The quality of the business solution delivery process is managed through the project delivery process. The customer’s business solution delivery appreciation is an implicit result of the quality of each individual project. This quality is based on international standards and generic company methodologies. These standards and methodologies combined with the quality of the people are the drivers for the embedding of quality within the entire organisation. The resulting total quality approach triggers a continuous quality improvement process in order to guarantee a win-win situation for both the customer and Hewlett-Packard. For the delivery of quality business solutions there must be a homogeneous set of quality objectives, performance goals, quality system implementation guidelines and a strategy for continuous quality improvement. Within Hewlett-Packard, the Project Management Services department is responsible for the project delivery process with which the quality of the business solution delivery is managed. This paper describes how this is done.
Predicting the distance for nasojejunal tube insertion in children.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE. As no consistent predictor of insertion tube distance has been determined for intestinal feeding tubes and fluoroscopic placement is very expensive, this study sought a reliable method of blind placement. DESIGN AND METHODS. This cross-sectional study measured the internal distance from the lip to the pylorus in 387 children undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and compared those measurements to the external distances measured from the nose around the ear to the 10th rib and lip around the ear to the 10th rib. RESULTS. Regression equations using height fitted in four age groups were the best predictors of the internal pyloric distances. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Predicting this distance with height may help healthcare providers be more successful in blind placement of intestinal feeding tubes. A table of predicted nasointestinal tube insertion distances is included.
A Preliminary Study: Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy versus Sertraline as First-line Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability in the developed world, yet broadly effective treatments remain elusive. The primary aim of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) monotherapy, compared to sertraline monotherapy, for patients with acute MDD. This open-label, nonrandomized controlled trial examined a MBCT cohort (N = 23) recruited to match the gender, age, and depression severity of a depressed control group (N = 20) that completed 8 weeks of monotherapy with the antidepressant sertraline. The 17-item clinician-rated Hamilton Depression Severity Rating Scale (HAMD-17) was the primary outcome measure of depression to assess overall change after 8 weeks and rates of response and remission. The 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR16) was the secondary outcome measure to further assess depression severity. Both cohorts were demographically similar and showed significant improvement in depression ratings. No difference was found in the degree of change in HAMD-17 scores (t(34) = 1.42, p = 0.165) between groups. Secondary analysis showed statistically significant differences in mean scores of the QIDS-SR16 (t(32) = 4.39, p < 0.0001), with the MBCT group showing greater mean improvement. This study was limited by the small sample size and non-randomized, non-blinded design. Preliminary findings suggest that an 8-week course of MBCT monotherapy may be effective in treating MDD and is a viable alternative to antidepressant medication. Greater changes in the self-rated QIDS-SR16 for the MBCT cohort raise the possibility that patients derive additional subjective benefit from enhanced self-efficacy skills.
Interpersonal perceptual accuracy as a function of dogmatism

Abstract Despite the generally held assumption that perception of others is partially shaped by the personality of the perceiver, few studies have been devoted directly to this question, and none have involved individuals in the course of ordinary transactions with their environment. A field experiment was conducted in which 46 S s, divided into small groups and working on personally relevant and important tasks, interacted over a 10-week period. Tested at the end of this period, the hypothesis that open-minded S s are more accurate perceivers of another's degree of dogmatism than are closed-minded S s was supported ( p
Physiological responses ofCalanus finmarchicus andMetridia longa (Copepoda: Calanoida) during the winter-spring transition

Population dynamics, vertical distribution and metabolism of copepods have been related to the onset of the spring phytoplankton increase in Kosterfjorden, western Sweden, in 1983. The overwintering stages of the two marine copepodsCalanus finmarchicus andMetridia longa displayed large differences in metabolic activity and behaviour.C. finmarchicus overwintered as Stage V copepodites in deep water and began to metamorphose to adults by the time the phytoplankton spring bloom started. Stage V copepodites did not feed, had low rates of respiration and excretion and low digestive enzyme activities, and remained in the deep water throughout the day and night.M. longa overwintered as adults, performed diurnal vertical migration, and had relatively high respiration and excretion rates and high digestive enzyme activities.M. longa fed throughout the entire water column, but feeding was most intense in the surface waters during the night. Adult femaleC. finmarchicus andM. longa responded rapidly to the onset of the spring phytoplankton bloom by increasing metabolic activities. Comparable results from Balsfjorden, northern Norway, indicated similar differences between the two species there, although the events in the phytoplankton and zooplankton populations in spring occur 1 to 2 mo later andM. longa spawns well after the culmination of the spring phytoplankton bloom. The differences due to species-specific variability and geographical locality are discussed and related to overwintering strategies.
Discovery and development of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is an important target in cancer because of its role in maintaining transformation and has recently become the focus of several drug discovery and development efforts. While compounds with different modes of action are known, the focus of this review is on those classes of compounds which inhibit Hsp90 by binding to the N-terminal ATP pocket. These include natural product inhibitors such as geldanamycin and radicicol and synthetic inhibitors comprised of purines, pyrazoles, isoxazoles and other scaffolds. The synthetic inhibitors have been discovered either by structure-based design, high throughput screening and more recently using fragment-based design and virtual screening techniques. This review will discuss the discovery of these different classes, as well as their development as potential clinical agents.
Lumbar Cerebrospinal Fluid in Dogs with Type I Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in dogs with Hansen type I intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is classically described as normal or mildly inflammatory with a predominance of large mononuclear cells or neutrophils in severe acute herniations. However, we have observed a moderate to marked pleocytosis with a predominance of lymphocytes in some dogs with IVDH. Hypothesis: Moderate to marked CSF pleocytosis occurs more commonly in dogs with type I IVDH than is reported in the literature. Lymphocytic predominance is more common than nonlymphocytic pleocytosis in dogs with chronic IVDH. Animals: Four hundred twenty-three client-owned dogs with type I IVDH. Methods: Retrospective study. Lumbar CSF of dogs with surgically confirmed type I IVDH was evaluated cytologically. Information obtained from medical records included signalment, prior clinical history, time from onset of signs to presentation, neurologic status, and intraoperative findings. Dogs with prior history and/or intraoperative evidence consistent with chronic IVDH before an acute herniation were termed acute-on-chronic (AOC). Results: Pleocytosis (> 5 cells/uL) was present in 51% of dogs, including 23% with cervical IVDH and 61% with thoracolumbar IVDH. Moderate or marked inflammation (≥ 20 cells/uL) was identified in the CSF of 51% of dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH and pleocytosis. A predominance of lymphocytes was significantly more common in dogs examined > 7 days from onset of signs (P= .032) and in dogs with AOC IVDH (P= .0013). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Moderate to marked CSF pleocytosis in dogs with type I IVDH is more common than previously reported. Lymphocytic pleocytosis is most common in dogs with chronic progression or AOC IVDH. Lymphocytic inflammation in the CSF of some dogs might suggest an immune-mediated response to chronically herniated disc material.
Retrograde Filling of the Renal Vein on Computerized Tomography for Blunt Renal Trauma: an Indicator of Renal Artery Injury

AbstractAssessment of the traumatically injured pediatric patient with computerized tomography has become standard medical practice. We report the unique finding of retrograde flow of intravenous contrast material into the renal vein as a diagnostic indicator of traumatic renal artery injury. With the increasing use of high-speed computerized tomography as the initial study to evaluate and stage blunt abdominal trauma, this finding may assist the physician in the early diagnosis of severe renovascular injury.
The Melanoma Epidemic: More Apparent Than Real?

To examine inconsistencies between the growth in incidence of melanoma and more modest changes in melanoma-related mortality, we reviewed the medical literature on the incidence of melanoma diagnosis and associated mortality and on the changes in diagnosis and mortality over time. Increases in melanoma surveillance activity have been associated with increases in the diagnosis of thin melanomas, but the incidence of advanced tumors has changed minimally. The large increases in diagnosis of melanoma without commensurate increases in advanced tumors and mortality are not compatible with presumed malignant behavior of thin melanomas. Increased intensity of melanoma surveillance may artificially increase the incidence of melanoma by harvesting histologically "malignant" but biologically benign tumors. Little available evidence suggests the presence of an actual increase in the frequency of biologically malignant tumors. Attempts to increase screening intensity for melanoma may result in further increases in diagnosis of melanomas. Nevertheless, limitations in histopathologic diagnostic techniques will continue to hinder efforts at early identification of those at risk for death from melanoma without diagnosing melanoma in large numbers of patients with biologically benign pigmented skin tumors.