cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What is Technology Education? A Review of the “Official Curriculum”

Abstract Technology education, not to be confused with educational technology, has an “official curriculum.” This article explores this “official curriculum” and answers the following questions; what are the goals of technology education, what should technology education look like in classrooms, and why technology education is important. This article provides a primer on technology education that would be helpful to educational professionals interested in helping students become more technological literate.
Intellective Correlates of Preschoolers' Spontaneous Play

Summary Thirty-four middle class four-year-old preschoolers were observed in free play for 20 one-minute observations and behavior was coded for cognitive and social play. Five conservation tasks and the Raven Progressive Matrices and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were administered to each child. Three play factors labelled sociodramatic, constructive, and parallel play and two cognitive factors labelled intelligence and conservation ability were found. Correlation of factor scores showed that constructive but not sociodramatic types of play were positively and significantly associated with intelligence. Parallel play was negatively related with conservation. Whereas the latter finding is not inconsistent with the Piagetian hypothesis that social interaction and decentration are reciprocally related, the former finding is a contribution to the play literature by suggesting that sociodramatic play may not be the only play with important cognitive consequences.
An analysis of the origins of the cholinergic and noncholinergic septal projections to the hippocampal formation of the rat

These experiments were directed at determining the proportion and distribution of cholinergic septal cells which project to the rat hippocampal formation. Injections of WGA-HRP were placed into different regions of the hippocampal formation and sections through the septal complex were processed for the simultaneous demonstration of the retrogradely transported marker and for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity. Preliminary analysis of adjacent normal series prepared either for the demonstration of ChAT or stained by the Nissl method demonstrated several distinct cell groups in the classically defined medial septal nucleus and vertical limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band. The groups of cells ranged from almost entirely ChAT-positive to entirely noncholinergic. On the basis of shape and size of the constituent cells, the ChAT-positive cells of the septal complex were divided into dorsal, intermediate, and ventral subdivisions. The proportion of retrogradely labeled cells that were also ChAT positive ranged from 22.8% to 77.4% in different experiments. When only the hippocampus and dentate gyrus are considered, this variation can largely be accounted for by the topographic organization of the septohippocampal projection. The medial, noncholinergic half of the medial septal nucleus projects primarily to the rostral or septal portions of the dentate gyrus and hippocampus, whereas the lateral half, in which the dorsal ChAT group is located, projects heavily to more temporal levels. Rostral portions of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus receive most of their cholinergic input from the ventral ChAT cell group which forms a major component of the vertical limb of the nucleus of the diagnoal band. While some ChAT-positive cells in the intermediate group project to the hippocampal formation, they are generally less numerous than those from the dorsal and ventral groups. However, in a control experiment in which the WGA-HRP injection was placed into the cingulate cortex overlying the rostral hippocampal formation, the intermediate ChAT group accounted for 71.2% of the double-labeled cells.
Efficacy of intravenous midazolam versus clonidine as premedicants on bispectral index guided propofol induction of anesthesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized control trial.

Background: Midazolam and clonidine are preferred premedicants whose effects are not restricted to the preoperative period. In addition, these premedicants significantly modulate not only the intraoperative requirements of the anesthetic agents, but also the postoperative outcome. We aim to compare the efficacy of both the agents in view of premedication, induction characteristics, hemodynamic changes and postoperative complications utilizing bispectral index (BIS) using propofol anesthesia. Materials and Methods: The type of this study was randomized control trial conducted on patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Study included 105 patients of either sex aged 20-60 years. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups: Intravenous midazolam (Group 1), clonidine (Group 2), and normal saline (Group 3) (control). The initial value of BIS and Ramsay Sedation Score, dose of propofol required for induction were noted in each group and monitored for pulse rate, electrocardiograph, noninvasive blood pressure, and BIS. Results: The requirement of propofol ranged from 40 to 150 mg. Mean requirement was maximum in Group 3 (109.43 ± 20.14 mg) and it was minimum in Group 1 (78.57 ± 22.15 mg). A significant reduction in consumption of propofol with the use of midazolam (P Conclusion: Both clonidine and midazolam contributed equally in lowering propofol consumption. Reduction in the induction dosage of propofol and hemodynamic variations were also observed to be similar with the use of midazolam or clonidine as premedicants. Both provide a beneficial effect in relation to recovery and less postoperative complications. However clonidine premedication was found to be more effective in preventing post operative shivering and can be recommended in routine practice.
Whole protein dissociation in a quadrupole ion trap: identification of an a priori unknown modified protein.

A protein mixture derived from a whole cell lysate fraction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which contains roughly 19 proteins, has been analyzed to identify an a priori unknown modified protein using a quadrupole ion trap tandem mass spectrometer. Collection of the experimental data was facilitated by collision-induced dissociation and ion/ion proton-transfer reactions in multistage mass spectrometry procedures. Ion/ion reactions were used to manipulate charge states of both parent ions and product ions for the purpose of concentrating charge into the parent ion of interest and to reduce the product ion charge states for determination of product ion mass and abundance. The identification of the protein was achieved by matching the uninterpreted product ion spectrum against protein sequence databases with varying degrees of annotation, coupled with a scoring scheme weighted for the relative abundances of the experimentally observed product ions and the frequency of fragmentations occurring at preferential si...
Determination of absolute palaeointensity using a multi-specimen procedure

THE determination of the absolute strength of the ancient geomagnetic field from igneous rocks and other fired materials requires the original thermoremanent magnetization (palaeo-TRM) to be compared with that artificially acquired (lab-TRM) in a known field. In the Thellier approach1, in which several sets of heatings are involved, the progressive removal (unblocking) of the palaeo-TRM is compared to the progressive acquisition (blocking-in) of the lab-TRM. But serial thermal treatments can cause significant physicochemical alteration to the magnetic carriers in a specimen (see, for example, refs 1–5), and for this reason Shaw2 proposed a method employing only one thermal treatment. The peak temperature of exposure during a Shaw determination, however, must be above the highest Curie point of the sample. Here we present a new approach to the determination of palaeointensity which attempts to minimize both the number of heatings and the peak temperatures involved. It is based in principle on the Thellier method1, in that it involves step-heating to several temperatures, but it departs dramatically from past practices in that several specimens are used for each determination. A comparison of the two methods shows that the new, multi-specimen methods may give reliable results for samples for which the Thellier method fails.
Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-lithospermic acid.

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)-lithospermic acid, a potent anti-HIV agent, has been accomplished in a convergent manner in nine steps. The synthesis features an enantioselective intramolecular oxa-Michael addition catalyzed by a quinidine derivative, a hypervalent iodine-mediated rearrangement of chromanone to dihydrobenzofuran, an enantioselective α-oxyamination, and an intermolecular C–H olefination.
Classification of temperature response in germination of Brassicas

Abstract Since soil temperature affects germination and emergence of Brassica napus L., mustard [ B. juncea (L.) Czerniak. and Sinapsis alba L.], and Camelina [ Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz.] planting dates have to be adjusted to prevent crop failures. These crops can be used as biofuel feedstocks and some mustard varieties can be used as a soil biofumigant. Knowledge of germination temperature optima/range for brassicas is critical for inclusion of these crops into crop rotations. The B. napus varieties ‘Clearwater’ (UI-C-1), ‘DKW 13-86’ (Roundup ® ready), and ‘Gem’ (UI-G-1); the mustards ‘Caliente 61’, ‘Florida Broadleaf’, ‘Idagold’, ‘Kodiak Brown’, and ‘Pacific Gold’, and the Camelina line ‘NEB C-1’ were germinated in the dark in Petri-dishes at 4, 10, 16, 21, 27 or 32 °C for up to 12 days. The shortest time to maximum germination (2 days) for all but ‘Florida Broadleaf’ and ‘Kodiak Brown’ occurred at 16 °C. ‘NEB C-1’ had the greatest percent germination at all temperatures except 32 °C where it was lower; ‘DKW 13-86’ decreased with increased temperature; ‘Clearwater’, ‘Gem’, ‘Pacific Gold’ and ‘Kodiak Brown’ had optimum germination between temperature extremes; ‘Caliente 61’ had the lowest maximum percent germination at 4 °C; ‘Florida Broadleaf’ had increased germination with increased temperature, and germination of ‘Idagold’ was not affected by temperature. Variability in Brassica seed germination in response to temperature indicates that there may be the opportunity for flexibility in the planting dates over which these crops can be sown.
Interdisciplinary Web-Enabled Spatial Decision Support System for Watershed Management

The process of integrating discipline-specific hydrologic, economic, and fish health models in the context of a web-enabled spatial decision support system (SDSS), WebL2W is discussed. As part of a larger research project, this component focused on the issues of integrating assessment models with different spatial and temporal resolution and providing an interface and modeling/decision processing environment. Spatial decision support systems and the advantages of internet-based, cross disciplinary modeling for the watershed management decision process are described. The importance of GIS base and derived data is highlighted in conjunction with a description of the hydrologic, economic, and fish health model components. Users interact with the map interface of WebL2W using the Back Creek Basin near Roanoke, Va. as the sample watershed and choose one of four available housing templates as the development mode. Following creation of a suitable development "scenario" for the watershed, the models are executed and results are displayed to the user. Tools, methods, and architecture utilized for construction of the web-enabled SDSS are delineated, and a case study illustrates the functionality of WebL2W.
Immune cells mediate epinephrine secretion from bovine chromaffin cells in vitro.

Abstract Potential immunological influences on peripheral catecholamine secretion were investigated by measuring epinephrine secretion from chromaffin cells in vitro in response to cell-free conditioned media from mononuclear cells. Chromaffin cells were isolated from bovine adrenals whereas mononuclear cells were isolated from bovine spleen tissue or whole bovine blood. In secretion experiments epinephrine release and epinephrine remaining in cells was determined such that secretion was expressed as % of total cell content. After 90 minutes exposure to conditioned media, 22.8±1.1% of content was released compared to 1.7±0.2% with RPMI media. Secretion after filtration (
Religious self-identification and cultural values in Black and White Americans1

Racial groups differ in religious denomination, yet the variations between denominations as they are related to cultural values remain unclear. This study examined differences in self-identified religious denominations in the cultural values of Black and White Americans. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant effect for race and cultural values supporting that self-identified religious denomination differs by racial group membership. Discriminant function analyses for Blacks and Whites separately also revealed significant differences in cultural value preferences and self-identified religious denomination, such that certain values predicted participant self-identified denomination. Results inform efforts to increase counselling competence for the inclusion of religiousness in therapy. Suggestions for further research are considered.
Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery: clinical and catheterization findings

In this report clinical and angiographic data on three patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is presented. Two of our cases demonstrated rich collateralization with good preservation of left ventricular (LV) function. The third case, with initial subtotal occlusion and no collaterals, sustained a severe anterolateral myocardial infarction (MI) responding to the use of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). This report is consistent with the findings of others who suggest the possible beneficial effect of collaterals in preserving myocardial contractility in this unusual situation. We suggest that the IABP may be of benefit in patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery and sparse collaterals who remain unstable and cannot be operated on immediately.
Clinical implications of exercise immunology

Abstract Maintaining leanness and a physically active lifestyle during adulthood reduces systemic inflammation, an underlying factor in multiple chronic diseases. The anti-inflammatory influence of near-daily physical activity in lowering C-reactive protein, total blood leukocytes, interleukin-6, and other inflammatory cytokines may play a key role in lowering risk of cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia, and dementia. Moderate exercise training causes favorable perturbations in immunity and a reduction in incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). During each bout of moderate exercise, an enhanced recirculation of immunoglobulins, neutrophils, and natural killer cells occurs that persists for up to 3-h post-exercise. This exercise-induced surge in immune cells from the innate immune system is transient but improves overall surveillance against pathogens. As moderate exercise continues on a near-daily basis for 12–15 weeks, the number of symptoms days with URTI is decreased 25%–50% compared to randomized sedentary controls. Epidemiologic and animal studies support this inverse relationship between URTI risk and increased physical activity.
The foldon substructure of staphylococcal nuclease

To search for submolecular foldon units, the spontaneous reversible unfolding and refolding of staphylococcal nuclease under native conditions was studied by a kinetic native-state hydrogen exchange (HX) method. As for other proteins, it appears that staphylococcal nuclease is designed as an assembly of well-integrated foldon units that may define steps in its folding pathway and may regulate some other functional properties. The HX results identify 34 amide hydrogens that exchange with solvent hydrogens under native conditions by way of large transient unfolding reactions. The HX data for each hydrogen measure the equilibrium stability (Delta G(HX)) and the kinetic unfolding and refolding rates (k(op) and k(cl)) of the unfolding reaction that exposes it to exchange. These parameters separate the 34 identified residues into three distinct HX groupings. Two correspond to clearly defined structural units in the native protein, termed the blue and red foldons. The remaining HX grouping contains residues, not well separated by their HX parameters alone, that represent two other distinct structural units in the native protein, termed the green and yellow foldons. Among these four sets, a last unfolding foldon (blue) unfolds with a rate constant of 6 x 10(-6) s(-1) and free energy equal to the protein's global stability (10.0 kcal/mol). It represents part of the beta-barrel, including mutually H-bonding residues in the beta 4 and beta 5 strands, a part of the beta 3 strand that H-bonds to beta 5, and residues at the N-terminus of the alpha2 helix that is capped by beta 5. A second foldon (green), which unfolds and refolds more rapidly and at slightly lower free energy, includes residues that define the rest of the native alpha2 helix and its C-terminal cap. A third foldon (yellow) defines the mutually H-bonded beta1-beta2-beta 3 meander, completing the native beta-barrel, plus an adjacent part of the alpha1 helix. A final foldon (red) includes residues on remaining segments that are distant in sequence but nearly adjacent in the native protein. Although the structure of the partially unfolded forms closely mimics the native organization, four residues indicate the presence of some nonnative misfolding interactions. Because the unfolding parameters of many other residues are not determined, it seems likely that the concerted foldon units are more extensive than is shown by the 34 residues actually observed.
Diverting non-haem iron catalysed aliphatic C–H hydroxylations towards desaturations

Carboxylate-ligated, non-haem iron enzymes demonstrate the capacity for catalysing such remarkable processes as hydroxylations, chlorinations and desaturations of inert, aliphatic C-H bonds. A key to functional diversity is the enzymes' ability to divert fleeting radicals towards different types of functionalization using active site and/or substrate modifications. We report that a non-haem iron hydroxylase catalyst [Fe(PDP)] can also be diverted to catalytic, mixed hydroxylase/desaturase activity with aliphatic C-H bonds. Using a taxane-based radical trap that rearranges under Fe(PDP) oxidation to furnish a nortaxane skeleton, we provide the first direct evidence for a substrate radical using this class of stereoretentive hydroxylation catalysts. Hydroxylation and desaturation proceed by means of a short-lived radical that diverges in a substrate-dependent manner in the presence of carboxylic acids. The novel biomimetic reactivity displayed by this small molecule catalyst is harnessed to diversify natural product derivatives as well as interrogate their biosynthetic pathways.
Learning about the X from our parents

The X chromosome is generally understudied in association studies, in part because the analyst has had limited methodological options. For nuclear-family-based association studies, most current methods extend the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) to the X chromosome. We present a new method to study association in case-parent triads: the parent-informed likelihood ratio test for the X chromosome (PIX-LRT). Our method enables estimation of relative risks and takes advantage of parental genotype information and the sex of the affected offspring to increase statistical power to detect an effect. Under a parental exchangeability assumption for the X, if case-parent triads are complete, the parents of affected offspring provide an independent replication sample for estimates based on transmission distortion to their affected offspring. For each offspring sex we combine the parent-level and the offspring-level information to form a likelihood ratio test statistic; we then combine the two to form a composite test statistic. Our method can estimate relative risks under different modes of inheritance or a more general co-dominant model. In triads with missing parental genotypes, the method accounts for missingness with the Expectation-Maximization algorithm. We calculate non-centrality parameters to assess the power gain and robustness of our method compared to alternative methods. We apply PIX-LRT to publically available data from an international consortium of genotyped families affected by the birth defect oral cleft and find a strong, internally-replicated signal for a SNP marker related to cleft lip with or without cleft palate.
Pathways of gastrointestinal protection and repair: Mechanisms of action of sucralfate

Abstract Protection, i.e., prevention of major lesions and the mechanisms of repair/healing of major tissue loss in the gastrointestinal mucosa, are multifactorial processes. Conceptually, it is useful to categorize the components and mechanisms of gastroprotection and distinguish between: (1) Preservation of existing cells either by enhanced resistance of cells or by decreased exposure to damaging agents that can be achieved by maintenance of proper blood flow, vascular permeability, motility, mucus and bicarbonate secretion. If these mechanisms fail and tissue necrosis ensues, (2) replacement of lost tissue is achievable by either the original cells (e.g., epithelia), by cell migration (restitution) and proliferation (regeneration), and/or by connective tissue repair (e.g., fibroblasts, collagen) through cell proliferation and production of extracellular matrix. For acute gastroprotection ("cytoprotection"), maintenance of blood flow in the upper mucosa and epithelial restitution are listed as key mechanisms. For the long-term safeguarding of the mucosa, proper mucus and bicarbonate secretion, as well as ability to respond by cell proliferation, are the proposed key mechanisms of mucosal defense. The mechanisms of action of sucralfate are also multifactorial. The acute gastroprotection by sucralfate is a prostaglandin- and sulfhydryl-sensitive process: after early protection of microvasculature and maintenance of blood flow, along with direct or indirect preservation of the proliferative zone, rapid restitution repairs the initial epithelial defect. The mechanisms of accelerated healing by sucralfate of chronic ulcers include enhanced mucus and bicarbonate secretion, increased ability of mucus to maintain pH gradient, stimulated binding of epidermal growth factor and other growth factors, and maintained or enhanced blood flow resulting in increased cell proliferation leading to granulation tissue formation and re-epithelialization. The slight direct antipeptic and bile-acid binding property of sucralfate might also contribute to its ability to accelerate ulcer healing.
The conformation of semi-rigid polymers during flow through a fixed fiber bed

Abstract Linear conservative birefringence measurements of dilute and semi-dilute solutions of the semi-rigid polymer xanthan gum in a glycerine and water solvent are conducted during flow through a disordered fiber bed. Even though the plug flow through the bed contains no average velocity gradient our results show that the xanthan gum molecules stretch, on average, in the direction of flow. The polymer stretch or birefringence increases with the number of fiber interactions within the bed until a steady-state conformation is attained. The degree of stretch increases monotonically with increasing De pore (the ratio of a characteristic polymer relaxation time and the characteristic flow time in a bed pore). The results show a number of qualitative differences when compared to those for the flow of flexible polyisobutylene (PIB) (Evans et al., J. Fluid Mech., 28 (1994) 319) through the same fiber bed. In particular, xanthan gum attains a steady-state conformation after convecting 12 pore-lengths in the bed (compared to approximately 25 for the PIB solution) and this value is independent of De pore whereas it increased with increasing De pore for the flexible polymer. Additionally the steady-state birefringence of the xanthan gum solutions displays no critical De pore at which the birefringence increases dramatically (as does the flexible polymer system) and instead exhibits a slow growth with increasing De pore . These unique results are interpreted and understood using novel Brownian dynamics simulations of a semi-rigid bead-rod polymer model flowing through a simulated stochastic porous bed flow field created via a spectral expansion. Our results show that the simulations can predict most of the experimental results, at least qualitatively, and in some instances quantitatively, and therefore provide an important tool for understanding these complicated phenomena.
Design considerations for the WISDM smart phone-based sensor mining architecture

Smart phones comprise a large and rapidly growing market. These devices provide unprecedented opportunities for sensor mining since they include a large variety of sensors, including an: acceleration sensor (accelerometer), location sensor (GPS), direction sensor (compass), audio sensor (microphone), image sensor (camera), proximity sensor, light sensor, and temperature sensor. Combined with the ubiquity and portability of these devices, these sensors provide us with an unprecedented view into people's lives---and an excellent opportunity for data mining. But there are obstacles to sensor mining applications, due to the severe resource limitations (e.g., power, memory, bandwidth) faced by mobile devices. In this paper we discuss these limitations, their impact, and propose a solution based on our WISDM (WIireless Sensor Data Mining) smart phone-based sensor mining architecture.
Low Electrolytic Conductivity Standards.

Standards of low electrolytic conductivity were developed to satisfy the demands of the U.S. Navy and American industry for the measurement of high quality water. The criteria for the selection of appropriate solvent and solutes, based on the principles of equivalent conductivity and Onsager's limiting law, are described. Dilute solutions of potassium chloride and benzoic acid in 30 % n-propanol-water have been chosen as standards. The electrolytic conductivity of both sets of these solutions as a function of molality was determined. Solutions of potassium chloride and of benzoic acid are recommended for use as 5 μS/cm, 10 μS/cm, 15 μS/cm, 20 μS/cm, and 25 μS/cm conductivity standards. Solutions prepared from potassium chloride in 30 % n-propanol-water have been certified as Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). SRM 3198 and SRM 3199 are certified nominally at 5 μS/cm and 15 μS/cm, respectively, at 25.000 °C.
What Moves Stock Prices: Another Look

In 1989, Culter, Poterba, and Summers published an article examining the extent to which ex post movements in aggregate stock prices could be attributed to the arrival of news. They concluded that most of the 50 largest movements in the S&P 500 could not be matched with any convincing explanation for why future profits or discount rates might have changed. Since 1989, there has been an explosion in information technology, enhanced market regulation, and stock-trading innovation, as well as the introduction of new, equity-related financial products. The author explores whether Culter, Poterba, and Summers’s conclusion still holds, and reports that it is intact. If anything, the mystery has deepened, because the size of unexplained market movements has grown.
Hope and Life Satisfaction in Black College Students Coping With Race-Related Stress

This exploratory study examined the effects of hope and coping with race-related stress on life satisfaction in Black college students. Findings indicated that students with high hope had greater coping efficacy and used more problem-focused coping than students with low hope. Neither coping nor hope had a direct effect on life satisfaction. However, six of the nine Coping × Hope interactions were significant. Contrary to expectations, the pattern of interactions suggested that for students with high hope, life satisfaction was associated with less frequent use of active coping strategies, and for students with low hope, life satisfaction was associated with greater use of active coping strategies. We suggest future directions for research on the role of hope and coping in Black individuals dealing with race-related stress.
SPECTRAL TECHNIQUES FOR OFF-LINE TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS*

In this paper we present some of our recent results on applications of spectral techniques over finite fields to the problems of testing and diagnosis of computer systems.
Linear multiuser detectors for quasi-synchronous CDMA systems

A linear decorrelator detector is proposed for a quasi-synchronous code-division multiple-access (QS-CDMA) cellular system. It is assumed that each of N users has a GPS generated local clock and attempts to transmit in synchrony with the other users in its cell. The base station thus receives N signature waveforms which are approximately synchronized, but with a small timing error due to local oscillator drift and Doppler shifts. The residual timing offset is discretized, and a decorrelator is constructed which attempts to reject the multiuser interference vectors corresponding to the set of possible offsets. Bounds and analytical results for the bit error rate (BER) are obtained for various interferer conditions. >
Efficient aggregation over moving objects

We study two types of aggregation queries over a set S moving point objects. The first asks to count the number of points in S that are dominated by a query point Q at a given time t. The second asks to find the maximum number of points in S that are dominated by a query point at any time. These queries have several applications in the area of Geographic Information Systems and spatiotemporal databases. For the first query and any fixed dimension d, we give two different solutions, one using O (/spl radic/ N) time and O (N) space and another using O (log N) time and O (N/sup 2/ space, where N is the number of moving points. When each of the points in S is moving piecewise linearly along the same line and the total number of pieces is O (N), then we can do the count query in O (/spl radic/ N) time and O (N) space. For the second query, when all objects move along the x-axis, we give a solution that uses O (log N) time and O (N/sup 2/) space in the worst case. Our solutions introduce novel search structures that can have other applications.
Vibrational dissipation and dephasing of I2(v= 1–19) in solid Kr

Time- and frequency-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering is used to carry out systematic measurements of vibrational dephasing on I2(v = 1–19) isolated in solid Kr, as a function of temperature, T = 7–45 K. The observed quantum beats, ωv′,v″ allow an accurate reconstruction of the solvated molecular potential, which is well represented by the Morse form: ωe = 211.56 ± 0.14, ωexe = 0.658 ± 0.006. Near T = 7 K, the coherence decay rates γv,0 become independent of temperature and show a linear v-dependence, indicative of dissipation, which must be accompanied by the simultaneous creation of at least four phonons. At higher temperatures, the T-dependence is exponential and the v-dependence is quadratic, characteristic of pure dephasing via pseudo-local phonons. A normal mode analysis suggests librations as the principle modes responsible for pure dephasing.
The role of causal discourse structure in narrative writing

All writers produce text content and ideally connect it together according to discourse conventions. We investigate whether a particularly strong discourse convention, the need for causal coherence in narratives, can predict the kind of text writers will produce. Causality has been found to be a significant discourse factor in reading comprehension and hence can be expected to determine also what writers produce during composition. In Experiment 1, writers composed short continuations at various points throughout a simple narrative, whereas in Experiment 2, writers composed continuations to complete several narratives. The results indicate that causality indeed plays a major role in composition. Writers tend to produce new text in such a way that it is causally connected to the prior text. Furthermore, writers favored causal relations of necessity or of necessity and sufficiency while largely avoiding relations of sufficiency alone, which suggests a general discourse constraint to be maximally informative (e.g., Grice, 1975).
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence in Methadone-Maintained Patients

Thirty-two cocaine-dependent methadone-maintainedpatients received an 8-week course of auricular acupuncture for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Fifty percent completed treatment; 88% of study completers attained abstinence, defined as providing cocaine-free urine samples for the last 2 weeks of the study, yielding an overall abstinence rate of-44%. Abstainers reported decreased depression, a shift in self-definition, decreased craving, and increased aversion to cocaine-related cues. Post-hoc comparisons to pharmacotherapy with desipramine (DMI), amantadine (AMA), and placebo revealed a higher abstinence rate for acupuncture (44%) than for AMA (15%) or placebo (13%), but not significantly higher than for DMI(26%).
Microdose Induced Data Loss on Floating Gate Memories

Heavy ion irradiation of flash memories shows loss of stored data. The fluence dependence is indicative of microdose effects. Other qualitative factors identifying the effect as microdose are discussed. The data is presented, and compared to statistical results of a microdose target-based model
Assessment of Extruded Grain Amaranth as a Feed Ingredient for Broilers. 2. Apparent Amino Acid Availability Values

Abstract Apparent amino acid availabilities (AAAA) were determined for grain amaranth in two experiments using broilers. Total collection method (TCM) and acid-insoluble ash (AIA), as a marker, were used for these determinations. Individual amino acid availabilities for the extruded grain were calculated both by regression analysis and by difference from the basal diet. From the linear regression equations, TCM produced more accurate results than did the AIA method, based on standard errors of the intercept and coefficient of determination. Predicted AAAA, based on linear regression equations, from the TCM were 92.4, 79.9, and 89.4% for methionine, lysine, and arginine, respectively. Using the TCM and calculation by difference, average AAAA on an as-fed basis were 85.0, 79.1, and 92.9% for methionine, lysine, and arginine, respectively. The AAAA of 11 other amino acids were also determined.
One million dollars per mile? The opportunity costs of Hurricane evacuation

Emergency managers should balance the benefits and costs of voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders when issuing orders prior to a hurricane. The only estimate of hurricane evacuation costs is the often-quoted “one million dollars per mile” of evacuated coastline. The purpose of this paper is to pursue better measures of the opportunity costs of hurricane evacuations that depend on storm intensity, behavior, and population. We model the hurricane evacuation decision of households using revealed and stated preference methods with data from a survey of North Carolina residents who experienced 1998s Hurricane Bonnie. We use the evacuation predictions and estimates of household evacuation costs to estimate the aggregate opportunity costs of hurricane evacuations. We find that hurricane evacuation costs for ocean counties in North Carolina range from about $1 million to $50 million depending on storm intensity and emergency management policy. These costs are much less than “one million dollars per mile” of evacuated coastline.
Application of a variable time‐step finite‐difference method for the one‐dimensional melting problem including the effect of subcooling

A new numerical method is proposed for the one-dimensional melting problem. Unlike many of the existing numerical techniques which either immobilize the moving interface by a suitable coordinate transformation or search for the moving interface under a fixed grid, fixed-time-step finite-difference formulation, the present method was a fixed grid, variable time-step approach. Each time step in the computation is determined iteratively by requiring that the interface be located at a mesh point, one grid space from the previous interface location. Results of two sample calculations show that the present method is superior to the conventional finite-difference method both in its accuracy and computational efficiency. The formulation is mathematically simple and can be applied with no difficulty to problems with nonplanar geometry and initial subcooling. The present method is applied to the analysis of the melting of a finite slab subjected to a constant heat flux boundary condition. Some interesting effects of initial subcooling on the physics of melting are illustrated and discussed.
Discussion of maternal stress during pediatric primary care visits

Objective To determine whether the discussion of maternal stress in pediatric primary care is associated with the mother's satisfaction with her child's provider. Methods Children ages 5–16 and their mothers (N = 747) were recruited from the waiting rooms of 13 geographically diverse pediatric primary care sites from 2002 to 2005. Directly after the visit, the mother reported her satisfaction with the attention that the provider gave to her and her child's problems and also reported whether the provider understood the problems that she wanted to discuss during the visit. The mother also reported whether the visit included discussion of her "stresses and strains" and the discussion of child mood or behavior. Results Thirty-five percent of mothers discussed their stresses and strains with their child's provider. The mother was more likely to be "completely" satisfied with the attention that she and her child received from the provider (odds ratio [OR] 2.43, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.43–4.11) and to agree "strongly" that the provider understood the problems she wanted to discuss (OR 1.95, 95% CI, 1.32–2.93) when the visit included the discussion of maternal stress after controlling for the reason for the visit, number of previous visits, provider specialty (family practice or pediatrics), youth mental health status, whether the visit included the discussion of child mood or behavior, and maternal distress measured with a standard screening tool. Conclusions The mother was more satisfied with her child's primary care provider when maternal stress was discussed during the visit. This finding should somewhat alleviate fears that mothers will react negatively to discussion of their stress during pediatric visits.
Using abstraction and Web applications to teach criteria-based test design

The need for better software continues to rise, as do expectations. This, in turn, puts more emphasis on finding problems before software is released. Industry is responding by testing more, but many test engineers in industry lack a practical, yet theoretically sound, understanding of testing. Software engineering educators must respond by teaching students to test better. An essential testing skill is designing tests, and an efficient way to design high quality tests is to use an engineering approach: test criteria. To achieve the maximum benefit, criteria should be used during unit (developer) testing, as well as integration and system testing. This paper presents an in-depth teaching experience report on how we successfully teach criteria-based test design using abstraction and publicly accessible web applications. Our teaching materials are freely available online or upon request.
A cepstral based speaker recognition system

Development of a fixed limited vocabulary automatic speaker recognition system is described. The operation of the system is based on extraction of ceptstral features from single isolated word utterances by various speakers. A dynamic time warping algorithm is used in the comparison stage to bring the feature vectors being compared into time alignment. A nearest neighbor rule is used to determine the identity of the speaker. >
Identification of the Gene Encoding the Alternative Sigma Factor ςB from Listeria monocytogenes and Its Role in Osmotolerance

Listeria monocytogenes is well known for its robust physiology, which permits growth at low temperatures under conditions of high osmolarity and low pH. Although studies have provided insight into the mechanisms used by L. monocytogenes to allay the physiological consequences of these adverse environments, little is known about how these responses are coordinated. In the studies presented here, we have cloned the sigB gene and several rsb genes from L. monocytogenes, encoding homologs of the alternative sigma factor sigmaB and the RsbUVWX proteins, which govern transcription of a general stress regulon in the related bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The L. monocytogenes and B. subtilis sigB and rsb genes are similar in sequence and physical organization; however, we observed that the activity of sigmaB in L. monocytogenes was uniquely responsive to osmotic upshifting, temperature downshifting, and the presence of EDTA in the growth medium. The magnitude of the response was greatest after an osmotic upshift, suggesting a role for sigmaB in coordinating osmotic responses in L. monocytogenes. A null mutation in the sigB gene led to substantial defects in the ability of L. monocytogenes to use betaine and carnitine as osmoprotectants. Subsequent measurements of betaine transport confirmed that the absence of sigmaB reduced the ability of the cells to accumulate betaine. Thus, sigmaB coordinates responses to a variety of physical and chemical signals, and its function facilitates the growth of L. monocytogenes under conditions of high osmotic strength.
Management of benign colonic strictures

Abstract Benign colonic strictures are uncommon but not rare in endoscopic practice. Strictures of the colon develop as a consequence of numerous disorders. Colonic strictures typically are asymptomatic or cause chronic obstructive symptoms. Nonsurgical methods, particularly dilatation and occasionally endoscopic stent placement or laser therapy, are currently available options in the treatment of benign colonic stricture. Surgical treatment is reserved for those who fail endoscopic remediation or are not candidates for endoscopic treatment.
Le corp(u)s théâtral des femmes

A partir des annees 1960 – et dans le but de changer l’image des femmes sur la scene theâtrale quebecoise –, des actrices, des ecrivaines, des dramaturges et des regroupements feministes commencerent a denoncer l’alienation et l’exploitation dont les femmes etaient victimes. Dans cet article, je propose d’analyser comment ces artistes mirent en scene et firent parler le corps feminin. Je vais explorer la representation scenique du corps aussi bien que l’expression de la sexualite feminine. De nombreux sujets lies a cette theâtralisation du corps seront traites : l’ideal de la beaute ; l’anorexie et l’obesite ; la grossesse et la maternite ; l’erotisme, tant lesbien qu’heterosexuel ; le viol ; et la menopause. Les pieces du theâtre des femmes furent ecrites, montees et jouees uniquement par des comediennes pour que les spectatrices puissent se reconnaitre dans les personnages feminins qui evoluaient sous leurs yeux, et s’identifier a l’ensemble de la production du spectacle. Afin de creer des personnages feminins plus credibles, il fallut rejeter les conventions du realisme dramatique et imaginer d’autres strategies de representation. Il fallut aussi transgresser les tabous associes au corps feminin et inventer un nouveau discours dramatique qui permettait aux femmes de parler honnetement de leur corporealite.
PnET-II3SL/SWAT: Modeling the Combined Effects of Forests and Agriculture on Water Availability

The climate change and variability phenomenon, because of its potential to exert significant influences on the hydrologic cycle, the economy, and human society as a whole, has drawn considerable attention from the scientific community and government agencies worldwide. In response to growing concerns, we are attempting to expand our understanding of the relationship between land-use heterogeneities, water availability, and climate change/variability in the southeastern United States. Specifically, this paper describes the coupling and validation of a hydrologic-forest productivity model (PnET-II3SL) with a hydrologic-agricultural productivity model to represent the hydrologic response characteristics of large spatial areas. The resulting code is capable of generating scientifically sound predictions of the effects of future climatic conditions, with regards to water availability, in the heterogeneous watersheds of the southeast. Validation efforts are described, utilizing long-term historical records, for...
Shear-induced activation of platelets

Abstract Platelet-rich plasma was subjected to shear in Poiseuille flows through tubes, i.d. = 305, 406 and 508 μm. Bulk-average shear stresses were 300, 750 and 1000 dynes/cm2 and the average residence times were 25–1650 ms. These shears for these residence times did not produce cell lysis but did activate the platelets so that their response to exogenous ADP were reduced and platelet factor 3 was released. Also, thromboelastographic measurements indicated shear-induced hypercoagulability. Allowing samples to stand 30–60 mins after being sheared revealed some of the indicated activation was reversible. Adding the anticoagutant heparin to sheared samples produced an anomalous response. The quantitative results were independent of tube surface-volume ratio, but were dependent on both level of shear stress and on residence time.
A location-based business service model for mobile commerce

Mobile commerce has two characters that are fundamentally unique to traditional e-commerce: local business orientation and dynamic user context. These characteristics call for improvements of business service models and the information technology infrastructure. This paper proposes a business information centre model, called l-hub, to support local businesses by providing better mobile services for consumers. The implementation aspects of this model are examined.