cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of learning and motivation among high school students

The academic performance of minority high school students, particularly in urban inner-city settings, is of great interest to educators and individuals concerned with the academic development of these students. It is widely recognized that in order to positively influence academic achievement related factors such as learning and study behavior, motivation, attitudes, self-concept, and other pertinent psychosocial characteristics should also be targeted for positive change. The present study compared 20 sophomore students who participated in a special program and 128 of their nonprogram peers on achievement and related measures. The program at a target high school was structured to positively impact achievement, as well as related student behavior and attributes. Significant differences were found on achievement, attendance, learning and study behavior and skills, self-concept, and other pertinent psychosocial attributes.
Comparison of white neutron sources for nuclear astrophysics experiments using very small samples

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to compare the relative merits of four white neutron source facilities for nuclear astrophysics experiments. The four facilities are the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator, the Manuel Lujan Jr. Neutron Scattering Center, the CERN-TOF facility, and the Oak Ridge Spallation Neutron Source. The criteria for this comparison are based on experiments designed to determine astrophysical rates for neutron-induced reactions using radioactive as well as very small stable samples – areas largely unexplored at present.
Shrinking the Public Safety Net or Helping the Poor Play by the Rules? The Changes in the State-Level Policies That Affected Low-Income Families With Children in the Welfare Reform Era: 1994–2002

Despite the claimed success of the 1996 Welfare Reform, little research using multivariate regression has examined changes in multiple public safety-net programs. Thus, we still do not know whether public safety-net programs for the poor have shrunk or increased nationwide, along with the sharp declines in cash assistance. Using state-level data between 1994 and 2002 and state fixed-effects model, this study examines changes in nine safety-net programs designed for low-income families with children along with decreases in support from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the results indicate that the decline in AFDC/TANF support was not associated with increases in support for the economic self-sufficiency of low-income families; safety-net programs for the poor shrunk during the 1996 reform. As there is an increasing need for an effective use of public dollars to assist the poor in the present recession, future researchers should turn their at...
Issues of Gender in Promoting Tolerance for Homosexuality

Although a recent review suggests that students' attitudes toward homosexuality change as a result of taking a human sexuality course, research in this area has not adequately addressed the issues of gender of target and gender of respondent. Attitude measures rarely distinguish between lesbians and gay men; respondents are expected to hold more negative attitudes toward homosexuals of their own sex; and women are expected to be more readily influenced in some situations. This study shows that women and men did not differ significantly in their attitudes toward lesbians and gay men, but attitudes toward lesbians were more easily changed than attitudes toward gay men regardless of the gender of the respondent.
Low-dimensional representation of faces in higher dimensions of the face space

Faces can be represented efficiently as a weighted linear combination of the eigenvectors of a covariance matrix of face images. It has also been shown [ J. Opt. Soc. Am.4, 519– 524 ( 1987)] that identifiable faces can be made by using only a subset of the eigenvectors, i.e., those with the largest eigenvalues. This low-dimensional representation is optimal in that it minimizes the squared error between the representation of the face image and the original face image. The present study demonstrates that, whereas this low-dimensional representation is optimal for identifying the physical categories of face, like sex, it is not optimal for recognizing the faces (i.e., discriminating known from unknown faces). Various low-dimensional representations of the faces in the higher dimensions of the face space (i.e., the eigenvectors with smaller eigenvalues) provide better information for face recognition.
A universal mapping characterization of the completion by cuts

Closed maps of lattices are defined to be those satisfying the condition that the inverse image of closed ideals are closed ideas. Residuated maps are closed and closed maps are complete-join homomorphisms. The natural embeddingj of a lattice into its completion by cuts is a closed map. For every closed map ϕ from a latticeL into a complete latticeM, there exists a unique closed map φ* from the completion by cutsL intoM such that φ*j=φ. This characterizes the completion by cuts.
Studies On a Growth Supplement for Caenorhabditis Briggsae From Freeze-Dried Bacteria

Freeze-dried bacteria isolated from Panagrellus redivivus, contained a growth supplement that initially supported rapid growth and reproduction of Caenorhabditis briggsae. However, after four serial subcultures, the nematodes became sluggish and eventually died. Evidence is given that C. briggsae utilizes the bacterial cell as a food source, thereby showing that the bacterium-nematode relation is not one of mutualism.
High-Frequency Replanning Under Uncertainty Using Parallel Sampling-Based Motion Planning

As sampling-based motion planners become faster, they can be reexecuted more frequently by a robot during task execution to react to uncertainty in robot motion, obstacle motion, sensing noise, and uncertainty in the robot's kinematic model. We investigate and analyze high-frequency replanning (HFR) where, during each period, fast sampling-based motion planners are executed in parallel as the robot simultaneously executes the first action of the best motion plan from the previous period. We consider discrete-time systems with stochastic nonlinear (but linearizable) dynamics and observation models with noise drawn from zero mean Gaussian distributions. The objective is to maximize the probability of success (i.e., avoid collision with obstacles and reach the goal) or to minimize path length subject to a lower bound on the probability of success. We show that, as parallel computation power increases, HFR offers asymptotic optimality for these objectives during each period for goal-oriented problems. We then demonstrate the effectiveness of HFR for holonomic and nonholonomic robots including car-like vehicles and steerable medical needles.
Changes in masculine and feminine traits over time: A meta-analysis

Sixty-three samples providing single-sex means on the Bem Sex-Role Inventory [BSRI; S. L. Bem (1974) “The Measurement of Psychological Androgyny,”Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 42, pp. 155–162] and 40 reporting similar data on the Personal Attributes Questionnaire [PAQ; J. T. Spence and R. L. Helmreich (1978)Masculinity and Feminity, Austin University of Texas Press] for American undergraduates were located and analyzed. Women’s scores on the BSRI-M and PAQ-M (masculine) scales have increased steadily over time (r’s = .74 and .43, respectively). Women’s BSRI-F and PAQ-F (feminine) scale scores do not correlate with year. Men’s BSRI-M scores show a weaker positive relationship with year of administration (r = .47). The effect size for sex differences on the BSRI-M has also changed over time, showing a significant decrease over the twenty-year period. The results suggest that cultural change and environment may affect individual personalities; these changes in BSRI and PAQ means demonstrate women’s increased endorsement of masculine-stereotyped traits and men’s continued nonendorsement of feminine-steretyped traits.
Parameterization for distributed watershed modeling using national data and evolutionary algorithm

Distributed hydrologic models supported by national soil survey, geology, topography and vegetation data products can provide valuable information about the watershed hydrologic cycle. However numerical simulation of the multi-state, multi-process system is structurally complex and computationally intensive. This presents a major difficulty in model calibration using traditional techniques. This paper presents an efficient calibration strategy for the physics-based, fully coupled, distributed hydrologic model Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Model (PIHM) with the support of national data products. PIHM uses a semi-discrete Finite Volume Method (FVM) formulation of the system of coupled ordinary differential equations (e.g. canopy interception, transpiration, soil evaporation) and partial differential equations (e.g. groundwater-surface water, overland flow, infiltration, channel flow, etc.). The matrix of key parameters to be estimated in the optimization process was partitioned into two groups according to the sensitivity to difference in time scales. The first group of parameters generally describes hydrologic processes influenced by hydrologic events (event-scale group: EG), which are sensitive to short time runoff generation, while the second group of parameters is largely influenced by seasonal changes in energy (seasonal time scale group: SG). The Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES) is used to optimize the EG parameters in Message Passing Interface (MPI) environment, followed by the estimation of parameters in the SG. The calibration strategy was applied at three watersheds in central PA: a small upland catchment (8.4ha), a watershed in the Appalachian Plateau (231km^2) and the Valley and Ridge of central Pennsylvania (843km^2). A partition calibration enabled a fast and efficient estimation of parameters.
Mobility of the Ions in the Corona Discharge

The mobility of the ions generated in the d.c. corona discharge have been directly measured. Gas, moving with a uniform velocity, was ionized in a cylindrical corona tube and then passed into an ion chamber consisting of a hollow cylinder with electrodes along the axis. The ion current to the last electrode, when plotted as a function of the cylinder potential, exhibited maxima which indicated the presence of groups of ions. Calculation revealed a large number of groups whose mobilities, for oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, were all less than.716 cm/sec per volt/cm, ranging down to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ cm/sec per volt/cm. Nearly all mobilities were found below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, the ions apparently being generated in equal numbers, except now and then a greater number of a certain mobility were formed. The fact that the ions all possessed small mobilities seems to indicate that J. Kunz made the correct assumptions when he calculated the average value from the experimental determination of the pressure increase in the d.c. corona.
Pulmonary nodule detection: what features attract attention?

The goal of the study was to determine if there are certain physical features of pulmonary nodules that attract visual attention and contribute to increased recognition and detection by observers. A series of posteroanterior chest images with solitary pulmonary nodules were searched by six radiologists as their eye-position was recorded. The signal-to-noise ratio, size, conspicuity, location, and calcification status were measured for each nodule. Dwell parameters were correlated with nodule features and related to detection rates. Only nodule size (F = 5.08, p = 0.0254) and conspicuity (F = 4.625, p = 0.0329) influenced total dwell time on nodules, with larger more conspicuous nodules receiving less visual attention than smaller less conspicuous nodules. All nodule features examined influenced overall detection performance (p < 0.05) even though most did not influence visual search and attention. Individual nodule features do not attract attention as measured by “first hit” fixation data, but certain features do tend to hold attention once the nodule has been fixated. The combination of all features influences whether or not it is detected.
GUEST EDITORIAL: AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL WORK TEXTBOOKS FOR AGING CONTENT: HOW WELL DO SOCIAL WORK FOUNDATION TEXTS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR OUR AGING SOCIETY?

In an effort to strengthen the basic aging competency of social work students, the authors assessed the general quantity and quality of aging content in a sample of foundation social work textbooks. Of nearly 10,000 pages reviewed, only about 3% (309 pages) included aging content. A foundation cultural diversity text included the most aging content (6%), with only 5% aging-related content identified in HBSE texts, 2% across practice books reviewed, 4% within policy texts, 2% in research texts, and less than 1 page in the 1 field education text. A textbook analysis framework and a review of findings are provided.
Nutrition screening initiative: development and implementation of the public awareness checklist and screening tools.

The 1991 Consensus Conference of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI), Nutrition Screening I: Toward a Common View, has led to increased professional awareness of poor nutritional status and better definitions and standards for identification of risk factors and indicators of poor nutritional status in older Americans. Characteristics by which risk factors of poor status are to be recognized and indicators for subsequent assessment have been described. A conceptual framework for a public awareness checklist was agreed upon, and preliminary drafts of basic screening instruments were reviewed. Since the consensus conference, much has been accomplished in terms of format, sequence, language, presentation style, and weighting of data elements contained in the public awareness checklist and the screening tools. This discussion provides a brief overview of their development and recommendations for their appropriate use.
The elastic moduli of a sheet containing circular holes

Abstract W e apply computer simulation techniques to obtain the clastic moduli of a matrix containing circular holes. As the area fraction of holes increases, the Young's modulus of the composite decreases from E0 until it eventually vanishes at the percolation threshold. We study three distinct geometries: (a) periodically centered circular holes on a honeycomb lattice, (b) periodically centered circular holes on a triangular lattice, and (c) randomly centered circular holes. All three cases have the same dilute limit that can be calculated exactly. By examining the narrow necks between adjacent circles, we have calculated the critical behavior for the regular cases and obtain critical exponents of 1 2 or 3 2 , depending on the local breakdown mode at the necks. For (c) we compare our results with an effective-medium theory, which predicts that the Poisson's ratio tends to 1 3 as the percolation threshold is approached, independent of its value in the pure system. Our results are also compared with recent experimental results. Based on this work, we propose that the relative Young's modulus E E 0 of a two-dimensional sheet containing circular holes, overlapping or not, is the same for ail materials, independent of the Poisson's ratio v0, for any prescribed geometry.
Henry’s constants and activity coefficients of some organic solutes in 1-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate and in 1-methyl, 3-trimethylsilylmethylimidazolium chloride

Abstract Using a customized capillary gas–liquid chromatography column, Henry’s constants and activity coefficients at infinite dilution are reported for benzene, toluene, ethyl acetate, 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, acetonitrile, nitromethane, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, and 1-propanol in ionic liquids 1-butyl,3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [BMIM][HSO4] and 1-methyl,3-trimethylsilylmethylimidazolium [SiMIM][Cl] chloride from 313 to 413 K. These acidic ionic liquids may provide suitable media for acid-catalyzed chemical reactions.
Histochemical localization of dehydrogenases in the cercaria and excysted metacercaria of Echinostoma revolutum (Trematoda)

Abstract 1. 1. Histochemical studies for twelve dehydrogenases were done on cercariae and in vitro excysted metacercariae of Echinostoma revolutum . 2. 2. Strong to slightly positive activity was demonstrated at various sites for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (α-GPDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), NADH diaphorase (NADHD) and NADPH diaphorase (NADPHD). 3. 3. No activity was observed for alcohol dehydrogenase (ALDH) and β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (β-HBDH). 4. 4. With the exception of G-6-PDH, reactions were more intense in the cercaria than the excysted metacercaria, suggesting that cercariae require more energy than metacercariae.
Caspase-1 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors may protect against peroxynitrite-induced neurotoxicity independent of their enzyme inhibitor activity

We investigated the mechanism of 3-morpholinosyndnomine (SIN-1) neurotoxicity in nearly pure neuronal cultures. In a simple saline solution, SIN-1 neurotoxicity was found to be mediated by peroxynitrite and independent of glutamate receptor activation [Y. Zhang & P.A. Rosenberg (2002) Eur. J. Neurosci, 16, 1015-1024]. To further study the mechanism of peroxynitrite toxicity to neurons we investigated the role of caspases and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in this model system. Ac-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethyl ketone (Ac-YVAD-cmk), a specific caspase-1 inhibitor, completely blocked neurotoxicity as well as ATP depletion induced by SIN-1. However, a caspase-3 inhibitor and a pan-caspase inhibitor were both without effect. These results suggested that the protection of Ac-YVAD-cmk might not be due to its inhibition of caspase-1. Indeed, Western blot analysis and assay of caspase activity indicated that caspase activation was not involved in SIN-1 toxicity. Ac-YVAD-cmk also completely blocked in vitro protein nitration induced by SIN-1 or peroxynitrite, suggesting that Ac-YVAD-cmk may interact with peroxynitrite directly. Similarly, although activation of PARP is thought to be a major cause of peroxynitrite-induced ATP depletion, and two PARP inhibitors, 1,5-dihydroxyisoquinoline (DHQ) and 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), completely prevented ATP depletion and neurotoxicity induced by SIN-1, SIN-1 did not increase poly (ADP-ribosyl)ation and PARP activity. Furthermore, DHQ and 3-AB completely prevented in vitro protein nitration induced by peroxynitrite, indicating that DHQ and 3-AB directly interact with peroxynitrite. Taken together, these results suggest that in the model system used here peroxynitrite neurotoxicity is independent of caspase and PARP activation, and therefore implicate a novel mechanism.
Time-resolved fluorescence studies of the effects of metabolism on the In Vitro reversible binding and accumulation of benzo[a]pyrene in DNA

Time-resolved fluorescence techniques have been employed to compare the DNA association constant of the parent hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene versus that of trans-7, 8-dihydroxy-7, 8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene. The latter molecule is a highly carcinogenic metabolite derived from benzo[a]pyrene. Solubilization experiments were also carried out to compare the maximum total uptake of benzo[a]pyrene and of the metabolite by DNA. In the solvent system used in the association constant measurements (20% methanol) the association constant for benzo[a]pyrene is 3.0+0.3 × 104M-1 while that of the more polar proximate carcinogen is 7.5 times lower. The results of the solubilization studies carried out in buffered aqueous medium demonstrate that at a DNA concentration of 5 × 10-4M in PO-4 the maximum uptake of benzo[a]pyrene into DNA is one molecule per 2.2+0.5 × 103 nucleotide bases. The maximum uptake of the more soluble proximate carcinogen is 4 to 25 times greater than that of the parent hydrocarbon. The present results indicate that metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene leads to the formation of a nonreactive proximate carcinogen which has a lower binding constant than the parent hydrocarbon, but which is better able to diffuse through a polar medium and to accumulate at ultimate biological target sites.
Effect of Intervention for Psychological Distress on Rehospitalization Rates in Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

Psychosocial factors affect the development of coronary heart disease and morbidity and mortality of patients with known coronary heart disease. A prior study has shown that psychological distress in patients with known coronary heart disease increased medical and economic costs. This study examined the effects of commonly available psychological interventions offered to patients entering cardiac rehabilitation after hospitalization for angina, myocardial infarction, angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass grafting. A total of 380 patients were screened with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Those with T-scores ≥63 (≥91 percentile) on the General Severity Index (GSI) subscale were randomly assigned to usual care or special intervention. Special intervention included a psychiatric evaluation, plus one to seven sessions of behavioral therapy. The percentage of patients rehospitalized for cardiac symptoms within 12 months of psychological evaluation was 43% for special intervention and 40% for usual care (NS). A correction for crossover between the treatment groups resulted in a favorable trend toward intervention, with 35% of the psychologically treated patients rehospitalized vs. 48% of the untreated patients (NS). Although there was a nonsignificant reduction of the SCL-90-R's GSI T-score, the depression score was significantly reduced in the special intervention group.
Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species in Neurons by Haloperidol

Haloperidol (HP) is widely prescribed for schizophrenia and other affective disorders but has severe side effects such as tardive dyskinesia. Because oxidative stress has been implicated in the clinical side effects of HP, rat primary cortical neurons and the mouse hippocampal cell line HT-22 were used to characterize the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other cellular alterations caused by HP. Primary neurons and HT-22 cells are equally sensitive to HP with an IC50 of 35 microM in the primary neurons and 45 microM in HT-22. HP induces a sixfold increase in levels of ROS, which are generated from mitochondria but not from the metabolism of catecholamines by monoamine oxidases. Glutathione (GSH) is an important antioxidant for the protection of cells against HP toxicity because (1) the intracellular GSH decreases as the ROS production increases, (2) the exogenous addition of antioxidants, such as beta-estradiol and vitamin E, lowers the level of ROS and protects HT-22 cells from HP, and (3) treatments that result in the reduction of the intracellular GSH potentiate HP toxicity. The GSH decrease is followed by the increase in the intracellular level of Ca2+, which immediately precedes cell death. Therefore, HP causes a sequence of cellular alterations that lead to cell death and the production of ROS is the integral part of this cascade.
Recovery of 14C-labeled sugar and alcohol derivatives in gas chromatography

Abstract The recovery of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives in gas chromatography was determined by using 14 C-labeled compounds. Under the conditions used approximately one-half of the cholesterol derivative was recovered. Four-fifths of the glycerol derivative and one-fourth of the stearyl alcohol derivative were recovered. Approximately one-fourth of the TMS derivatives of glucose, fructose and sucrose were recovered. Rechromatography of the TMS derivative of glucose resulted in the same loss as found initially. With the TMS derivative of glocuse- 14 C, radioactivity was found throughout the length of the column. Thus decomposition and/or deposition of the derivative occurred throughout the column. The recovery of the triflouroacetyl derivative of glucose was less than of the TMS derivative.
Extra cytoplasmic function σ factor activation.

The bacterial cell envelope is essential for cell viability and is a target for numerous antibiotics and host immune defenses. Thus bacteria must sense and respond to damage to the cell envelope. Many bacteria utilize alternative σ factors such as extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors to respond to cell envelope stress. Although ECF σ factors are utilized by both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria to respond to cell envelope stress, the mechanisms of sensing differ. In this review, we examine the events and proteins that are required for activation of two model extracytoplasmic function σ factors, σE in E. coli and σW in B. subtilis.
Nitrate- and nitrite-responsive sensors NarX and NarQ of proteobacteria

Nitrate and nitrite are efficient respiratory oxidants for anaerobic growth. In Escherichia coli, the homologous nitrate reductase (Nar) two-component regulatory systems NarX-NarL and NarQ-NarP collaborate to control anaerobic respiratory gene expression in response to nitrate and nitrite. Several other species classified in the gamma and beta subdivisions of the proteobacteria contain only a single Nar two-component regulatory pair. This raises questions concerning the physiology of anaerobic respiration as well as the evolution, function and cross-regulation of two-component regulatory systems. Here, I focus on the sensor histidine kinases NarX and NarQ, and present a comparison of the deduced NarX and NarQ primary sequences from a broad sampling of proteobacteria. This comparison defines shared features, including a large central region of unknown function that appears to be unique to this family of sensor kinases. I then consider the phylogenetic distribution of narX and narQ genes in relation to anaerobic respiratory enzyme repertoire and physiological function. One noteworthy observation is that narXL genes are specifically associated with the structural genes for membrane-bound nitrate reductase, narGHJI, whereas organization and linkage of the narQ and narP genes is quite variable. I conclude with some speculative thoughts on the evolutionary and functional divergence of the NarX-NarL and NarQ-NarP regulatory systems. Overall, this analysis aims to provide a basis for future hypothesis and experimentation in this area.
Unconventional Central Bank Measures for Emerging Economies

Unconventional central bank measures are playing a key policy role for many advanced economies in the 2007-09 global crisis. Are they playing a similar role for emerging economies? Emerging economies have widely used unconventional foreign exchange and domestic short-term liquidity easing measures. Their use of credit easing and quantitative easing measures has been much more limited. Thus, unconventional measures are much less important for emerging economies compared to advanced economies in achieving broader macroeconomic objectives. The difference can be attributed to the relatively limited financial stress in emerging economies, their external vulnerabilities and their limited scope for quasifiscal activities.
An Integrated Circuit Control System for the Pewee Reactor

A control system utilizing digital and linear integrated circuits is described which was developed for low-power testing of Pewee 1, a reactor of the Rover program. The control system, while rather simple in concept, requires over 900 integrated circuits for its implementation. The control-rod actuators use geared-down electric stepping motors which permit precise positioning of the control rods within 0.01 deg. The system is versatile and easy to operate, which minimizes the time and effort required to execute experiments, as was proven during low-power testing of Pewee 1 during May and June, 1968.
Coating of SiC surface by thin carbon films using the carbide-derived carbon process

The conversion of silicon carbide surfaces into carbon upon exposure to a helium–chlorine–hydrogen gas mixture was studied. During this process, the more energetically favored reaction of Cl2 with Si rather than C causes the selective etching of silicon from the SiC surface and leads to the formation of a carbide-derived carbon (CDC) film. Surfaces of single crystal SiC wafers as well as industrial polycrystalline alpha-SiC ceramics were treated using different gas concentrations at various temperatures. The resulting CDC films were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XPS analysis of carbon C1s fundamental peak and valence band spectra revealed that the CDC films are not phase pure but consist of a mixture of sp2 and sp3 bonded carbon. A strong difference in the nature of the CDC process for different types of SiC materials (single crystal or industrial ceramics) was observed, which may result from the different SiC grain boundary conditions and surface morphology effects in these materials. The CDC films were also tested for suitability as seed layers for the subsequent growth of ultrananocrystallie diamond films.
The retention of SO2 by nylon filters

Abstract The retention of SO2 by nylon filters was determined in laboratory and field studies. Less than 4% of the SO2 was retained by nylon filters manufactured before May 1984. A change in filter material at that time appears to have greatly increased the retention of SO2 to values as high as 70%. Therefore, the SO2 retention by a nylon filter preceding an SO2 collection filter must be taken into account. Some organic sulfur compounds may also be retained on nylon filters.
Freezing points and related properties of electrolyte solutions. III. The systems NaCl−CaCl2−H2O and NaCl−BaCl2−H2O

The freezing temperatures of aqueous calcium chloride and barium chloride and their mixtures with sodium chloride were measured at equivalent molalities of 0.1 to 1.5 mole-kg−1. Osmotic and activity coefficients of the mixtures were calculated at the freezing points of the mixtures. From the freezing points and calorimetric enthalpies of mixing of sodium chloride-magnesium chloride solutions, osmotic and activity coefficients were calculated at 298°K. Agreement of the calculated properties with isopiestic and electrochemical measurements at 298°K is excellent.
Wave-wave coupling in multiple-ion plasmas

The purpose of this note is to point out that the presence of more than one ion in a plasma opens up several possibilities for wave-wave coupling that are not available in a single-ion plasma. This can be demonstrated by using the ‘parallelogram construction’ on an ω-k diagram as discussed for whistler waves by Harker and Crawford [1969]. The basic requirement to satisfy energy and momentum conservation in wave-wave coupling is that the frequencies ω and wave vectors k of three waves satisfy ω3=ω2±ω1k3=k2±k1((1))
An adenosinetriphosphate-activated hemolytic system. II. Utilization of adenosinetriphosphate in the reaction.

Failure to demonstrate ATP1 utilization in an ATP-activated hemolytic system had been previously reported. In the present study ATP utilization is shown to be associated with the hemolytic reaction and also with the ATP-dependent inactivation of the hemolytic factor of the system by crude, washed, human red cell stroma. Using crude stroma, relatively large ATP utilization occurs and continues, but at a decreasing rate, after inactivation of the hemolytic factor is complete. With purified stroma there is very slight uptake of ATP by the stroma in the presence of hemolytic factor and Mg++. This uptake can only be demonstrated by radioactive ATP. Both C14- and P32—labelled nucleotide were used for this purpose. In the presence of an excess of stroma the uptake seems to be dependent on the amount of hemolytic factor used. Evidence is given contraindicating the possibility that this uptake is non-specific.
APD Measurements of V-8 Ignition Emanations

Amplitude-probability-distribution (APD) data are presented for ignition emanations from V-8 engines of used motor vehicles. Outputs from both single and multiple engines running at 1500 rpm were measured with an omnidirectional antenna over the frequency range from approximately 20 MHz to 1 GHz. In each case, the antenna was oriented similarly with respect to the vehicle(s)-vertical, height 3 m, distance 10 m. Results are presented on Weibull-distribution sheets and compare favorably with those of Hsu et al. [1] using a different technique. On each sheet, APD distributions are given for various received bandwidths between 1 and 300 kHz. For the larger bandwidths, curves are straight lines with large negative slopes. At narrower bandwidths and for multiple vehicles, slopes are less steep. Major conclusions from the APD results include the following. 1) Although overlapping of successive pulses at a detector becomes more prominent at narrower bandwidths, measurements are still valid and representative for a given bandwidth. 2) Measurements indicate good repeatability. 3) Curve shapes are essentially independent of tuned frequency, but do depend upon bandwidth and number of vehicles. 4) Amplitudes are functions of tuned frequency and number of vehicles.
Opsonization Effects on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis-Macrophage Interactions

High antibody titers in ruminants infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis correlates with disease progression. Effects of humoral responses during mycobacterial infection are not completely understood. This study suggests that activation status may be an important factor in determining macrophage ability to limit proliferation of opsonized M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis.
A Note on Almost GCD Monoids

A commutative cancellative monoid H (with 0 adjoined) is called an almost GCD (AGCD) monoid if for x, y in H , there exists a natural number n = n(x, y) so that x n and y n have an LCM, that is, x n H ∩ y n H is principal. We relate AGCD monoids to the recently introduced inside factorial monoids (there is a subset Q of H so that the submonoid F of H generated by Q and the units of H is factorial and some power of each element of H is in F ). For example, we show that an inside factorial monoid H is an AGCD monoid if and only if the elements of Q are primary in H , or equivalently, H is weakly Krull, distinct elements of Q are v -coprime in H , or the radical of each element of Q is a maximal t -ideal of H . Conditions are given for an AGCD monoid to be inside factorial and the results are put in the context of integral domains. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 13A05, 13F05, 20M14.
Hepatitis C Virus Sensing by Human Trophoblasts Induces Innate Immune Responses and Recruitment of Maternal NK Cells: Potential Implications for Limiting Vertical Transmission

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the world's most common blood-borne viral infection for which there is no vaccine. The rates of vertical transmission range between 3 and 6% with odds 90% higher in the presence of HIV coinfection. Prevention of vertical transmission is not possible because of lack of an approved therapy for use in pregnancy or an effective vaccine. Recently, HCV has been identified as an independent risk factor for preterm delivery, perinatal mortality, and other complications. In this study, we characterized the immune responses that contribute to the control of viral infection at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) in the early gestational stages. In this study, we show that primary human trophoblast cells and an extravillous trophoblast cell line (HTR8), from first and second trimester of pregnancy, express receptors relevant for HCV binding/entry and are permissive for HCV uptake. We found that HCV-RNA sensing by human trophoblast cells induces robust upregulation of type I/III IFNs and secretion of multiple chemokines that elicit recruitment and activation of decidual NK cells. Furthermore, we observed that HCV-RNA transfection induces a proapoptotic response within HTR8 that could affect the morphology of the placenta. To our knowledge, for the first time, we demonstrate that HCV-RNA sensing by human trophoblast cells elicits a strong antiviral response that alters the recruitment and activation of innate immune cells at the MFI. This work provides a paradigm shift in our understanding of HCV-specific immunity at the MFI as well as novel insights into mechanisms that limit vertical transmission but may paradoxically lead to virus-related pregnancy complications.
Evaluation of the triangular cord sign in the diagnosis of biliary atresia.

Background. Infantile cholestasis continues to represent a diagnostic challenge. It is very important to diagnose surgically correctable disorders, such as biliary atresia, in a timely manner to prevent progressive damage to the liver. It has been recently suggested that the triangular cord (TC) sign is a simple and useful tool in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. Methods. We prospectively studied 65 infants presenting with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (age range: 32–161 days). All patients underwent ultrasonographic examination with a 7.0-MHz transducer (Acuson, Mountain View, CA). The TC was defined as a triangular, or tubular, echogenic density seen immediately cranial to the portal vein bifurcation. Results. The TC sign was identified in 25 infants, and all of them had histologic features suggestive of biliary atresia; the diagnosis was confirmed at surgery by gross morphology of hepatobiliary system, and liver biopsy, with or without intraoperative cholangiogram. Among the 40 patients who did not have the TC sign, 6 had paucity of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Three had alph-1-antitrypsin deficiency, and 31 had neonatal hepatitis. None of the 40 patients who did not have the TC sign developed acholic stools. Seven patients with biliary atresia were followed by ultrasonographic examination for 6 months after the Kasai procedure. The TC sign disappeared in all patients after the surgery; however, the TC sign reappeared in 3 patients who developed progressive cholestasis after the procedure. Conclusion. The TC sign is a simple, timesaving, and reliable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of infants with infantile cholestasis. The TC sign may also prove to be helpful in following patients after hepatoportoenterostomy. We suggest a new diagnostic strategy for patients suspected to have biliary atresia. When the TC sign is visualized, the patient should undergo intraoperative cholangiogram to confirm the diagnosis of biliary atresia, reserving percutaneous liver biopsy for those patients in whom the TC sign could not be detected.
Security concerns of system users: a proposed study of user preceptions of the adequacy of security measures

Based on previous work on individuals' attitudes and beliefs about their information systems environment, a theoretical model of the determinants of security concern is presented. An approach to testing the main assertions of the model, using a cross-study comparison of security perceptions from two different survey instruments is described. The first study, conducted in 1985-6, used a sample base of 1063 randomly selected Data Processing Management Association members. The second study surveyed 357 end-users in 10 organizations in the 1986-7 time frame. The data elicited by these research questions will be analyzed in the near future, but the analytical procedures are delineated in the article. >
Spontaneous Ionization of Gases at High Temperature

When sufficient thermal energy is available, the molecules cules of a gas are ionized at a rate that can significantly affect the operation of an electrostatic precipitator. At a given temperature, thermal effects may depend more on the presence of minority ionic species such as O - and the alkali metals than on the bulk constituents of the gas, and the electrical behavior of a precipitator will be strongly influenced by traces of such impurities. These effects may become noticeable even below 1500°F.
Projecting the minimum acceptable oxide thickness for time-dependent dielectric breakdown

A technique is presented for determining the thinnest oxide which satisfies a given time-dependent dielectric breakdown reliability specification. The intrinsic limit for a 10-yr lifetime at 125 degrees C is estimated to be 80 A for 5.5-V operation and 50 A for 3.6-V operation. For the particular technology studies here, 150-AA oxide meets typical reliability specifications for 5.5-V operation, and 80-AA oxide is acceptable for 3.6-V operation (both at 125 degrees C). >
Epigenetic drug therapy based on bromodomain inhibition.

Histone acetylation is one of the key events associated with higher order chromatin organization and gene expression. The bromodomain (BRD) is composed of the conserved 110 amino acid stretch forming a hydrophobic acetyl-lysine (KAc) binding pocket for recognizing e-N-acetylated lysines on histones and nonhistone proteins [1]. The human genome encodes over 60 BRDs belonging to proteins with very different functions including the BET family (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT) characterized by tandem BRDs and an extra-C terminal domain [2]. While BET proteins participate in the global recruitment of transcriptional regulatory complexes to acetylated chromatin, the discovery of small molecules that target the KAc binding domain has opened an exciting opportunity for developing new treatments [3]. Selective effects of BRD inhibitors could be attributed to a peculiar behavior of super-enhancers that control key genes associated with disease pathogenesis [4,5]. According to the latest findings, super-enhancers function as exceptionally large regulatory domains that differ from typical enhancers in size, density and content of master regulators, capacity for transcriptional activation and sensitivity to perturbation. Treatment with the BET-bromodomain inhibitor initiates a preferential loss of BRD4 at super-enhancers and consequent transcription elongation defects. In ESCs, superenhancers are occupied by OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG, whereas in more differentiated cell types, super-enhancers recruit celltype-specific master regulators that specify cell identity. In addition to transcription factors, cofactors and chromatin remodeling enzymes, super-enhancers are enriched with Mediator and BRD4 complexes [4,5]. Therefore super-enhancers regulate genes associated with lineage specification or cell identity and could be an excellent choice for a whole new class of therapeutic drugs.
Robot muscles in a subzero temperature environment

The Stiquito robot is a walking insect-like device that has the ability to carry small payloads, such as sensors and actuators. In an effort to create a Stiquito robot that may one day be used in Mars exploration, many different technologies have to be researched. Flexinol® wire, which gives the legs of the Stiquito robot muscle-like propulsion, is one of these technologies. An aspect of this technology that will require testing for modification is the effect a subzero environment will have on Flexinol® wire operations. The purpose of this paper is to show the findings on the effects of subzero temperatures on the Flexinol® wire.
Convergence-zone episodic memory: analysis and simulations

Human episodic memory provides a seemingly unlimited storage for everyday experiences, and a retrieval system that allows us to access the experiences with partial activation of their components. This paper presents a neural network model of episodic memory inspired by Damasio''s idea of Convergence Zones. The model consists of a layer of perceptual feature maps and a binding layer. A perceptual feature pattern is coarse coded in the binding layer, and stored on the weights between layers. A partial activation of the stored features activates the binding pattern, which in turn reactivates the entire stored pattern. A theoretical worst-case analysis shows that the memory capacity of the model is several times larger than the number of units in the model. Computational simulations further indicate that the average capacity is an order of magnitude larger than the worst case. Simulations also show that if more descriptive binding patterns are used, the errors tend to be more plausible (patterns are confused with other similar patterns), with a slight cost in capacity. The convergence-zone episodic memory could therefore account for the large capacity of human episodic memory, and also explain why the memory encoding areas may be several orders of magnitudes smaller than the perceptual maps.
Patients' perception of stopping or continuing treatment of cervical dystonia with botulinum toxin type A.

Despite widespread commercial acceptance of botulinum toxin (BTX) for idiopathic cervical dystonia (ICD), no follow up has been performed to determine when and why some patients stop therapy. It has been suggested that some patients who stop BTX treatment may do so because of permanent improvement.1 We surveyed 155 patients with ICD who were treated over 6 years with BTX to determine when and why patients stopped treatment with BTX, and what adverse events and changes in dose and/or frequency of treatments occurred in those who continued treatment. Of the 133 (86.6%) individuals returning the surveys, 104 continued on BTX treatment and 29 had stopped therapy. Of the 29 subjects no longer receiving BTX, 11 individuals had only received one or two injections. Prior surgical treatment for ICD did not influence their decision to stop therapy. Of those 104 of 133 continuing on BTX treatments, two thirds of the subjects reported the injections always help, whereas one quarter estimated one set of injections did not help. One third of those continuing treatment reported the first injection was most helpful, whereas another one third felt all injections were similarly effective. After an initial adjustment, BTX dosages and frequency of treatment remained stable in this group.
A Reluctant Writer's Entry Into a Community of Writers

By drawing upon numerous real-world experiences with reluctant writers, the author illustrates how tapping their interests can lead to improved writing skills and attitudes toward writing. The critical link between identity and writing is emphasized. Though the experiences in this article are drawn from the author's work with basic writers at the community college level, the article is applicable for writing teachers of all levels. The author presents both practical applications and research-based responses to many of the issues facing teachers who are charged with the task of improving the writing skills of reluctant writers.
The standard molar enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K of crystalline germanium diselenide (GeSe2). Thermochemical GeSe bond-dissociation enthalpies. Revised values for the standard molar enthalpies of formation of GeF4(g) and SeF6(g)☆

Abstract The standard molar enthalpy of formation of GeSe2(cr) at 298.15 K, ΔfHmo, has been determined by fluorine combustion calorimetry to be −(102.2±2.6) kJ·mol−1. The corresponding standard molar Gibbs energy of formation at 298.15 K, ΔfGmo, is −(101.3±2.9) kJ·mol−1. From the present study and other critically assessed values from the literature, we deduce the following bond-dissociation enthalpies in GeSe2(g) at 298.15 K: Dmo(GeSeSe) = (230±8) kJ·mol−1 and Dmo(GeSe) = (481±7) kJ·mol−1. Earlier values from this laboratory for ΔfHmo(GeF4, g, 298.15 K) and ΔfHmo(SeF6, g, 298.15 K) have been adjusted to −(1191.4±0.5) kJ·mol−1 and −(1117.9±0.5) kJ·mol−1, respectively.