cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching the Economics of the Environment

This article addresses what is currently taught about the environment in the school curriculum and explains how an economics approach can change it. A recent study in the United States provides evidence supporting the suspicions of many economists that the environmental education in schools is often flawed. The Independent Commission on Environmental Education (1997) concluded that most curriculum materials it examined lacked an emphasis on basic economic concepts. Curriculum materials would be improved by recognising the importance of economic forces. For example, markets provide incentives that influence people's environmental actions and market approaches — as opposed to government command and rule systems — foster cooperation between groups and individuals. The primary contribution of economics to environmental education is recognition of the tragedy of the commons. The tragedy of the commons states that people take better care of things they own and tend to overuse things they do not own. This simple...
Comparison of incisor inclination in patients with Class III malocclusion treated with orthognathic surgery or orthodontic camouflage.

Introduction Reports comparing Class III patients treated by camouflage and those treated by orthognathic surgery are not numerous. The purpose of this study was to compare the dental and skeletal values of Class III patients treated with these methods against normative data and over the course of treatment. Methods Thirty-three surgical and 39 camouflage Class III patients were selected from a graduate orthodontic clinic and regional private practices, and lateral cephalograms were digitized. Skeletal and dental values were obtained, and mean and efficacy evaluations referenced to ethnic norms were calculated. Results At pretreatment, the surgery patients had more severe skeletal discrepancies and more compensated incisors. During presurgical orthodontic treatment, most of the surgery group's mandibular incisors were significantly decompensated, although half of the maxillary incisors remained compensated. The surgical move improved 90% of these patients but to only 60% to 65% of the norm. The camouflage group was compensated at pretreatment, and they became more compensated in the end. After treatment, there were no differences between the incisor positions of the 2 groups. Conclusions There was no statistical difference in incisor inclination and position between the Class III surgical and camouflage groups after treatment; there was a significant difference in the pretreatment and posttreatment incisor inclination and position compared with normative values for both the surgical and the camouflage groups; the maxillary and mandibular incisors were not adequately decompensated in the surgical group, but significant improvement in mandibular incisor position and axial inclination was achieved presurgically. The outcome of the surgical correction was limited by the inadequate presurgical orthodontic incisor decompensation, and orthodontic compensation of incisors occurred postsurgically to achieve an optimal occlusal result.
The treatment of amenorrhea of endocrine origin

Abstract Careful investigation and accurate diagnosis are a prerequisite for successful therapy in amenorrhea of endocrine origin. Twenty cases of amenorrhea were treated with various therapeutic agents. Of thirteen patients treated with estrogenic hormone, bleeding and enlargement of the uterus with improvement in secondary sexual characteristics was produced in every case. One patient became pregnant while under treatment after eight months of amenorrhea. Four patients continued to menstruate after treatment was discontinued, and one of these subsequently became pregnant after three years of sterility. Gonadotropic hormone was used in five cases and bleeding accomplished in three. One of these three later became pregnant. X -ray, in stimulating doses to the ovaries, has been unsuccessful in three cases. However, as this was used only in those cases where vigorous therapy by other methods had failed, this poor result is not so significant as if the cases had been unselected. Dilatation of the cervix to produce menstruation through pituitary stimulation was successful in the two cases in which it was attempted. One of these patients later became pregnant after twelve years of sterility.
A Validity Study of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery and the Stanford-Binet with Black Preschool Children:

The Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery (WJPEB) and the Stanford-Binet were administered in counterbalanced order to a sample of 60 black preschoolers. The estimates for the WJPEB Preschool Cognitive, Skills, and Knowledge clusters and the Stanford-Binet were compared by a repeated one-way analysis of variance. The F test was significant beyond the p < .01 level, so the means were compared via Tukey's HSD method. The WJPEB Cognitive scale and the Binet yielded comparable means. This finding differs from previous investigations, which reported significant meanscore discrepancies with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised for various handicapped samples. The multiple comparison technique also revealed that the WJPEB Knowledge scale was significantly lower than the Binet and WJPEB Cognitive and Skills scales. Based on this finding and an examination of the content of the subtests, it was hypothesized that the cultural loading of the items may account for the depressed scores on the WJP...
Finances of American Unions in the 1970s

The aggregate finances of American unions in the 1970s are examined and compared with their state in 1962. We find that unions’ real financial wealth declined in the 1970s to the levels of the previous decade, while their real income grew at a much slower rate than during the 1960s. These results suggest that unions may face financial as well as operational problems in the future.
Catecholaminergic enzymes, vasopressin and oxytocin distribution in Siberian hamster brain.

Siberian hamsters exhibit marked seasonal changes in physiology and behavior that are triggered by the daylength and that can be mimicked in the laboratory by changing the photoperiod, making them a convenient and popular species for the study of regulatory biology. Because no atlas of neurotransmitter distribution exists for this species, the purpose of the present study was to map the distribution of cell bodies containing catecholaminergic synthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-β-hydroxylase) and several neurotransmitters (arginine vasopressin and oxytocin) in Siberian hamster brain using immunocytochemistry. The distributions of these catecholaminergic synthetic enzymes and neurotransmitters largely were similar to those for Syrian hamsters with some notable differences. There were novel groups of neurotransmitter- or synthetic enzyme-immunoreactive neurons such as tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, dopamine-β-hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells in the motor trigeminal, hypoglossal, and paraabducens nuclei, and arginine vasopressin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive cells within the nucleus of the diagonal band, dorsal hypothalamic area, and arcuate nucleus compared with Syrian hamsters. This is the first description of the distribution of cell bodies for some commonly studied catecholaminergic synthetic enzymes and peptides in Siberian hamsters.
Encephalitis hospitalization rates and inpatient mortality in the United States, 2000-2010.

Background Encephalitis rates by etiology and acute-phase outcomes for encephalitis in the 21st century are largely unknown. We sought to evaluate cause-specific rates of encephalitis hospitalizations and predictors of inpatient mortality in the United States.
Longitudinal treatment effects among cocaine users: a growth curve modeling approach.

This study examined longitudinal treatment effects among cocaine users. The study examined a sample of 371 cocaine users screened from arrestees in jails and from patients in sexually transmitted d...
Invoking a Transnational Metropolis: The Making of the Øresund Region

Invoking. Transnational Metropolis: The Making of the Oresund Region. Per Olof Berg. Anders Linde-Laursen. and Orvar Lofgren. eds. Lund: Studentlitteratur, 2000. 317 pp., maps, appendix, references.
Estimation and Testing for a Markov Model of Reinforcement

The contagious Poisson process is a Markov process which has been used to represent the reinforcement of events. Standard methodsfor estimating and testing this model are shown to be generally inefficient and usually inconsistent. New methods making use of events counts from two or more adjacent intervals of time are proposed and illustrated. The model is also generalized to allow for initial heterogeneity.
Membrane traffic research: challenges for the next decade.

The study of membrane traffic is now a well-established area of research, and one that has resulted in several Nobel prizes including ones awarded to Albert Claude, George Palade, and Christian DeDuve in 1974, Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein in 1985, Gunter Blobel in 1999, and most recently James Rothman, Randy Schekman, and Thomas Sudhof in 2013. As a result of their studies and other research, we now have fundamental insights into the organization and routes of transport between the cells' membranous organelles. Moreover, we have defined the basic “cellular machinery” that governs protein and lipid synthesis, that ensures selective recognition of proteins and lipids, and that promotes vesicle fission, transport, and fusion. In addition, we have a large number of insights into the regulatory molecules that control these processes including the Rab GTPases and their effectors. While the challenges for the future are many, this essay is focused on areas of investigation that we see as moving forward at a rapid pace, which speak to how membrane traffic contributes to overall cell and tissue function, and which are likely to provide important avenues of funding for both established and new investigators. These challenges include how membrane traffic is regulated in response to metabolic needs, how molecules are transferred between organelles, how membrane traffic is regulated and functions during processes such as development, and how membrane traffic is used by highly differentiated cells to perform specialized cell functions.
Heat transfer of a nuclear reactor containment spray drop

Abstract Heat transfer rates to spray droplets under the conditions of a LOCA in a LWR have been evaluated by systematic solution of the governing partial differential equations subject to appropriate initial and boundary conditions. The numerical calculations are based on new correlations. The computations have been facilitated through the use of an efficient hybrid-difference scheme. Results have been provided for the average heat transfer and for the effects of the drop-size, droplet spray angle, initial injection velocity, the containment temperature and pressure on the heat transfer to the drop. The drop fall-heights before attaining thermal equilibrium with the containment atmosphere have been predicted for various conditions. The importance of accurately calculating the drag associated with a moving drop experiencing condensation has been discussed in the context of developing the results.
Matrix computation of deformed lineation patterns

Abstract The superposition of distortional strains on originally small circle lineation loci leads to a range of lineation patterns. Such patterns can be calculated using matrix techniques. Matrix computation, together with modern computer graphics capabilities, greatly facilitate investigation of complex lineation loci. The computational scheme can be used to display the results of a range of geometric combinations of original small circles and superposed strains. The resultant patterns are similar to those found by recent field studies of lineations associated with individual mesoscopic folds. Such deformed loci appear to provide a useful data set for quantitative strain analyses.
Social Perception in Learning Disabled Adolescents

Nonverbal social perception in learning disabled adolescents was investigated using standardized tests of social intelligence and nonverbal communication. It was found that LD adolescents in both grades 8 and 9 were significantly lower in nonverbal social perception skill than control students. In LD adolescents, the Cartoon Predictions subtest of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence appeared to be the paper-and-pencil measure that would be the most useful as a quick index of this skill level.
Uniformity of Double Saddlepoint Conditional Probability Approximations

This paper presents results showing that the error involved in using the double saddlepoint distribution function approximations of Skovgaard (1987,J. Appl. Probab.24875?887) are uniformly bounded. Particular attention is paid to distributions of sufficient statistics arising from generalized linear models. This work is intended in part to validate the use of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo by Kolassa and Tanner (1994,J. Amer. Statist. Assoc.89697?702) using these conditional distribution function approximations.
Development of two piezoelectrically actuated mesoscale robot quadrupeds

The design of two piezoelectrically-actuated mesoscale robot quadrupeds is described. In each design, two piezoelectric actuators are used in conjunction with multi-degree of freedom articulated legs to create elliptical leg motions necessary for rough terrain capabilities. One design incorporates inertially-decoupled five-bar linkages for legs, while the other a two degree-of-freedom spatial linkage for each leg to achieve elliptical foot motion. The five-bar design has a footprint that measures 9 cm X 6.5 cm and weighs 51 grams, and the spatial linkage design has a footprint of 9 cm X 12 cm and weighs 29 grams. Data is presented for each design that characterizes nominal speed and typical power consumption. The ability to turn left or right is provided by shifting the input frequency to emphasize different dynamic modes in the robots.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Destructive Interference of Imaginary Resonant Contributions to χ (3)

The first observation of destructive interference of imaginary contributions to ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ from different resonances is reported. Destructive and constructive interferences were obtained between Raman and two-photon absorption (TPA) contributions in organic liquids. Accurate TPA and two-photon dispersion spectra of C${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ obtained by using these interferences in ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ are reported. The TPA experiment described is superior to the classical TPA experiments in its accuracy and in the fact that it lacks the uncertainties originating from scattering processes which compete with true TPA.
Theory of soil air movement due to pressure fluctuations

Abstract An equation has been derived from which the air pressure at any point in the soil can be calculated from the variance spectrum of air pressure at the soil surface. From the equation, two additional equations have been derived, one permitting the calculation of the root mean square (rms) vertical velocity, and the second permitting the calculation of the rms displacement of the soil air. Using the latter two equations and an empirical equation to describe spectra obtained from field measurements, calculations showed that frequencies higher than 1 c/sec make the largest contribution to soil air velocity. Similar calculations showed that low frequencies below 1 c/day make the largest contributions to displacement. The contributions of high frequencies to both velocity and displacement were predicted to attenuate rapidly with depth. Increasing permeability caused a roughly proportional increase in the predicted velocity and displacement for most of the conditions studied. The total predicted rms velocity at the surface for all frequencies in the air pressure spectrum was of the same order of magnitude as values computed by other workers for single pressure waves.
Evaluation of Viewpoints of Health Care Professionals on the Role of Ethics Committees and Hospitals in the Resolution of Clinical Ethical Dilemmas Based on Practice Environment

We sought to evaluate whether health care professionals’ viewpoints differed on the role of ethics committees and hospitals in the resolution of clinical ethical dilemmas based on practice location. We conducted a survey study from December 21, 2013 to March 15, 2014 of health care professionals at six hospitals (one tertiary care academic medical center, three large community hospitals and two small community hospitals). The survey consisted of eight clinical ethics cases followed by statements on whether there was a role for the ethics committee or hospital in their resolution, what that role might be and case specific queries. Respondents used a 5-point Likert scale to express their degree of agreement with the premises posed. We used the ANOVA test to evaluate whether respondent views significantly varied based on practice location. 240 health care professionals (108—tertiary care center, 92—large community hospitals, 40—small community hospitals) completed the survey (response rate: 63.6 %). Only three individual queries of 32 showed any significant response variations across practice locations. Overall, viewpoints did not vary across practice locations within question categories on whether the ethics committee or hospital had a role in case resolution, what that role might be and case specific queries. In this multicenter survey study, the viewpoints of health care professionals on the role of ethics committees or hospitals in the resolution of clinical ethics cases varied little based on practice location.
Resistance of Mice with Limited Intestinal Flora to Enteric Colonization by Clostridium botulinum

Infant botulism is an age-dependent illness that is caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum infecting the intestinal tract. Because of composition of the intestinal microflora determines the resistance of mice to enteric colonization by C. botulinum, attempts were made to identify the kinds of bacteria that prevent this in vivo growth. Orogastric challenges of 50 spores of C. botulinum type A were given to adult germfree mice, which are highly susceptible, and to gnotobiotic adult mice carrying the eight species comprising the Charles River Altered Schaedler flora or two or three of the limited number of species constituting a different flora (the University of Wisconsin Gnotobiote Laboratory [UW-GL] flora). These floras did not prevent infection due to C. botulinum; however, death rates among the mice with defined floras were significantly lower than those among germfree mice exposed to C. botulinum. Botulinum toxin continued to be produced while animals surviving nearly lethal cases of botulism convalesced slowly but uneventfully. Gnotobiotic mice with the complete UW-GL flora were not infected when challenged with 10(5) spores of C. botulinum.
The ascites to serum amylase ratio identifies two distinct populations in acute pancreatitis with ascites.

Background/Aim: While the characteristics of ascites in the setting of chronic pancreatitis are well established, little has been written about the characteristics of spontaneous, c
Interpretation of canonical analysis: Rotated vs. unrotated solutions

Orthogonal rotation of canonical variates is shown to preserve the major properties of the canonical solution and may increase its interpretability.
The Speed-Time Time Electrograph

The determination of speed-time curves and current-time curves as related to the duty cycles of electric railway motors may be greatly simplified by the use of an electrograph which has been developed, thereby making unnecessary the usual calculations which require considerable time. In this machine, the curves are drawn on an oscillograph screen. The equipment, which can also be used to obtain other characteristics, depends for its operation upon the similarity of equations in the mechanics of train movement and those involved in the electrograph circuit.
Ionic regulation in migrating juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch

Abstract 1. 1. The mean levels for hematocrit (37.8 per cent) percentage of total dissolved solids (4.77 percent), and sodium (146.7 mequiv./l), potassium (8.58 mequiv./l), calcium (6.73 mequiv./l), magnesium (1.08 mequiv./l) and chloride (117.3 mequiv./l) concentrations in blood plasma were determined for juvenile coho salmon in fresh water. 2. 2. Observations suggest a correlation between hematocrit and temperature during the winter and spring residence in fresh water. 3. 3. No premigratory change in electrolyte composition was observed. 4. 4. Migrating juvenile coho salmon were transferred into sea water to observe changes in blood parameters during the adjustive phase. 5. 5. The adjustive phase was apparently completed in about 36 hr and was characterized by transient increases in plasma concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium.
Cyclic subspace regression with analysis of wavelength-selection criteria

Abstract Common methods of building linear calibration models are principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares (PLS), and least squares (LS). Recently, the method of cyclic subspace regression (CSR) has been presented and shown to provide PCR, PLS, LS and other related intermediate regressions with one algorithm. When forming a linear model with spectral data for quantitative analysis, prediction results can be adversely affected by responses that do not conform well to the linear model proposed. Wavelength selection can be used to eliminate wavelengths where such problem responses occur. It has recently been reported that CSR regression vectors can be formed by summing weighted eigenvectors where weights are determined from the hat matrix, singular values, and eigenvectors characterizing the sample space. Investigation of these weights shows that wavelength selection based on loading vectors can be misleading. Specifically, by using CSR it is shown that a small weight for an eigenvector can annihilate a large peak in a loading vector. In this study, correlograms are used with CSR regression vectors and eigenvector weights as wavelength-selection criteria. It is demonstrated that even though a model generated by LS for a wavelength subset produces substantially reduced prediction errors relative to PCR and PLS, CSR weight plots show that the LS model overfits and should not be used. Simulated situations containing spectral regions with excess noise or nonlinear responses are examined to study the effectiveness of wavelength selection based on the previously listed criteria. Near infrared spectra of gasoline samples with several known properties are also studied.
A data dependent computer algorithm for the detection of muscle activity onset and offset from EMG recordings

This paper describes modifications to an algorithm presented by Marple-Horvat and Gilbey (1992) for identifying bursts of muscle activity in electromyographical (EMG) recordings. Our efforts to apply their algorithm to spontaneously moving infants and toddlers resulted in limited success. The modified algorithm makes several parameters dependent on the data being analyzed; these changes enabled it to analyze a variety of EMG recordings more effectively. The original algorithm had a success rate (correctly identified bursts) of 62.9% and combined error rate (number of insertions and deletions) of 73.0% when applied to an independent test data set. The modified algorithm displayed a success rate of 85.4% and combined error rate of 23.6%.
NMDA application potentiates synaptic transmission in the hippocampus

The NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) class of glutamate receptor plays a critical role in a variety of forms of synaptic plasticity in the vertebrate central nervous system. One extensively studied example of plasticity is long-term potentiation (LTP), a remarkably long-lasting enhancement of synaptic efficiency induced in the hippocampus by brief, high-frequency stimulation of excitatory synapses. LTP is a strong candidate for a cellular mechanism of learning and memory. The site of LTP induction appears to be the postsynaptic cell and induction requires both activation of NMDA receptors by synaptically released glutamate and depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane. It is proposed that this depolarization relieves a voltage-dependent Mg2+ block of the NMDA receptor channel, resulting in increased calcium influx which is the trigger for the induction of LTP. This model predicts that application of a large depolarizing dose of NMDA should be sufficient to evoke LTP. In agreement with a previous study, we have found that NMDA or glutamate application does potentiate synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. This agonist-induced potentiation is, however, decremental and short-lived, unlike LTP. It is occluded shortly after the induction of LTP and a similar short-term potentiation can be evoked by synaptically released glutamate. We thus propose that LTP has two components, a short-term, decremental component which can be mimicked by NMDA receptor activation, and a long-lasting, non-decremental component which, in addition to requiring activation of NMDA receptors, requires stimulation of presynaptic afferents.
An Approach for Alignment, Mounting and Integration of IXO Mirror Segments

The telescope on the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) comprises nearly 15 thousand thin glass mirror segments, each of them is capable of reflecting board-band soft x-rays at grazing angles. These mirror segments form densely packed, two-staged shells, in a Wolter type I optical design, in which each pair of the mirrors focus x-ray onto the focal plane in two reflections. The requirement in angular resolution of the IXO telescope is 5 arc-seconds. This requirement places severe challenges in forming precisely shaped mirror segments as well as in aligning and mounting these thin mirrors, which are 200 to 400 mm in size and 0.4 mm in thickness. In this paper, we will describe an approach for aligning and mounting the IXO mirror segments, in which no active adjustment is made to correct for any existing figure errors. The approach comprises processes such as suspension of a mirror under gravity to minimize gravity distortion, temporary bonding onto a strongback, alignment and transfer to a permanent structure and release of mirror from the temporary mount. Experimental results and analysis in this development are reported.
Are the proposed substance P receptor sub-types, substance P receptors?

Abstract Recently, a number of laboratories have postulated the existence of receptor sub-types for substance P. This review is intended to represent a critical appraisal of these reports. In the majority of cases, the evidence for the existence of receptor sub-types has been obtained from observed potency differences of agonists. The problems with this approach are discussed. In addition, information obtained through subtannce P antagonists, binding studies and investigations of second messenger systems is presented and discussed in relation to the above receptor subdivisions. It is concluded that the present results are consistent with the existence of three receptor sub-types; however, it is suggested that substance P is the natural agonist for only one of these receptors, and that substance K and tuftsin may be the transmitters for the other two receptor sub-types.
Temporal responses of actively modelocked erbium-doped fibre laser irradiated by gamma-rays

An actively modelocked erbium-doped fibre laser (EDFL) was irradiated with three separate doses that totalled 22 krad(Si). These in situ experiments allowed system performance to be monitored before, during, and after irradiation of the EDFL by gamma-rays. The optical pulse width, centre wavelength and bandwidth did not significantly change. Recovery periods between irradiation allowed the EDFL to anneal and recover a portion of its pre-irradiation output power.
Validation of a Brief PTSD Scale for Clients With Severe Mental Illnesses

Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are more common in severe mental illnesses (SMI) clients than in the general population, yet brief screens for detecting probable PTSD in SMI clients...
Bending Modified J-Q Theory and Its Application to Fracture Constraint Analysis

The J-Q theory [1,2] can characterize the crack-tip fields and quantify fracture constraints for various geometric and loading configurations in elastic-plastic materials, but it fails to do so for bending-dominant geometries at large-scale yielding (LSY). This issue significantly restricts its applications to fracture constraint analysis. A modification of the J-Q theory is thus proposed in this paper as a three-term solution with an additional term to address the global bending stress to offset this restriction. The nonlinear global bending stress is linearly approximated in the region of interest at LSY. To verify the bending-modified J-Q solution, detailed elastic-plastic finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out under plane strain conditions for three conventional bending specimens, i.e., single edge notched bend (SENB), single edge notched tension (SENT) and compact tension (CT) specimens for X80 pipeline steel. Deformation considered varies from small-scale yielding (SSY) to LSY. The results show that the bending modified J-Q solution can well match FEA results of crack-tip stress fields for the bending specimens at all deformation levels from SSY to LSY, and the modified parameter Q is a load- and distance-independent constraint parameter at LSY. Thus, the modified parameter Q can be effectively used to quantify the crack-tip constraint for bending geometries. Its application to fracture constraint analysis is demonstrated by ranking crack-tip constraint levels for fracture specimens and by determining constraint corrected J-R curves for the X80 pipeline steel.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Reducing the latency and improving the resolution of vector quantization with anamorphic stretch transform

Application of the recently introduced Discrete Anamorphic Stretch Transform to data clustering is proposed and demonstrated. We show that the Transform enhances vector quantization in terms of its computation speed and peak SNR by increasing the image coherence. To validate our technique's utility in data compression, we show superior performance compared to JPEG 2000.
Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicles

As Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EVs and HEVs) become more prevalent, there is a need to change the power source from gasoline on the vehicle to electricity from the grid in order to mitigate requirements for onboard energy storage (battery weight) as well as to reduce dependency on oil by increasing dependency on the grid (our coal, gas, and renewable energy instead of their oil). Traditional systems for trains and buses rely on physical contact to transfer electrical energy to vehicles in motion. Until recently, conventional magnetically coupled systems required a gap of less than a centimeter. This is not practical for vehicles of the future.
Benthic invertebrate colonization: source distance effects on community composition

The trends in colonization and establishment of equilibrium benthic communities in a reclaimed coal strip-mined river channel were analyzed for 17 months after channel construction. The MacArthur-Wilson island colonization theories and an analysis of community composition by simultaneous daily comparisons between source and new channel communities were employed. Each downstream site attained an equilibrium condition at approximately twice the time required for a site 200 m closer to the upstream source area of drifting colonizers. When considering functional groups of aquatic invertebrates, the collector-gatherers and collector-filterers of detrital material were the initial colonizers. With respect to foraging habit, those invertebrates which were found commonly in the water column above the substrate, the swimmers and clingers, were found to be the initial colonizers of the most distant substrate islands. As habitat complexity increased, trophic complexity increased with priority of arrival and dispersal potential determined by trophic position and foraging habit. It is suggested that the Jaccard community association analysis be used to assess stable new community conditions. The index provides an indication in changes in diversity and density and can be compared with source area communities to determine simultaneous changes within both communities. Ultimately, the restored channel ‘islands’ become a continuous extension of the source area habitat. Colonization trends and time to stability are affected by number of pools, tributary streams, and elimination of rare species populations prior to reclamation.
Evidence for an autologous immune complex pathogenic mechanism in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis

Evidence for an autologous immune complex pathogenic mechanism in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Clinical and experimental studies have suggested a role for antiimmunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis associated with streptococcal infection. We attempted to localize anti-IgG in the kidneys of 22 patients who had renal biopsies performed 7 to 66 days after the onset of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). In addition to routine localization of immunoglobulins and C3, specimens were stained with neuraminidase-treated, heat-aggregated, and unmodified IgG. Twelve biopsies showed staining with fluorescein-labeled human neuraminidase-treated IgG. A lesser number gave positive staining with the other IgG preparations. Following treatment of slides with 0.01 M citrate buffer, seven previously negative biopsies showed positive staining with neuraminidase-treated IgG. The demonstration of anti-IgG by these methods was possible in 19 out of 22 biopsies. It correlated best with the presence of C3 and IgG, and to a lesser extent with IgM, in the renal glomerulus. These results and our previous finding of elevated levels of serum anti-IgG early in the course of APSGN, and as early as 8 days following the antecedent streptococcal infection, support a role for anti-IgG in the immune pathogenesis of APSGN. Although our series of studies support the hypothesis that anti-IgG is formed to an IgG modified enzymatically by streptococcal product, the formation of this autoantibody to IgG incorporated in an exogenous (streptococcal antigen-antibody) complex can not be ruled out.
Normative Beliefs Regarding Aggression in Emerging Adulthood

Few studies have examined the nature of aggression in emerging adulthood (ages 18–25), a unique developmental period wherein relationships become increasingly important and intimate. Consistent with a greater emphasis on relationships, relationally manipulative forms of aggression may be particularly salient during this time period. Based on content analysis of perceptions of 134 undergraduate students, this study documents a significant spectrum of normative aggressive behaviors among emerging adults. Participant responses were coded into categories reflective of current aggression research. Findings indicate that perceptions of salient aggressive strategies vary by gender of both the aggressor and the victim. For example, male aggression was most often described as being verbal or directly physical in nature, especially in same-sex dyads. In contrast, female aggression was most often described as being indirectly relational, verbal, or non-verbal (ignoring/avoiding) across dyads. However, direct relational aggression was also fairly prominent in perceptions of female aggression toward males.
Fluid steering in a microfluidic chip by means of thermally responsive phospholipids

Abstract The viscosity of aqueous phospholipid preparations comprised of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC) increases with temperature. This macroscopic change occurs over a narrow temperature range beginning at 24 °C and reaching a maximum at a temperature as high as 29 °C, which makes this lipid preparation functional as a thermally responsive material for fluid steering in a microfluidic device. Based on systematic evaluation of similar preparations, we demonstrate the utility of this material to direct fluid flow in a double-T microfluidic chip using a simple lab-built temperature control system. Flow of fluorescein labeled lipid preparation through the microfluidic channels is monitored with an inverted epi-fluorescence microscope and captured as digital video. The fact that phospholipids are also used in analytical separations alludes to the potential of this material to simultaneously direct fluid and provide chemical selectivity in lab-on-a-chip devices. This is the first example of directed fluid flow in a microfluidic device with biologically compatible DMPC–DHPC preparations.
Changing National Images: International Public Relations and Media Agenda Setting

Research within the agenda-setting framework has generally ignored the potential influence of purposive efforts by external actors (those outside the political system) to manipulate media coverage related to their interests. The present study uses interrupted time-series analysis to examine one such set of manipulative efforts, those undertaken by professional public relations consultants to influence the images of foreign nations as portrayed in the United States press. Data represent New York Times coverage of six nations that signed public relations contracts with American firms during the period from 1974 to 1978, and one nation that expressly rejected such a contract. The analysis identifies consistent patterns of improvement along two primary dimensions of national image, visibility and valence, which are associated in time with the public relations contracts.
Recurrent ischemic events in two patients with painless vertebral artery dissection

Vertebral artery dissection causes endothelial changes and stenosis that may lead to recurrent ischemic neurological events. The diagnosis may not be obvious because the dissection may be painless and "spontaneous" (no obvious trauma). Magnetic resonance angiography has increasingly been used to screen patients for this disorder, but its accuracy has not yet been established.Two patients were admitted with repeated transient ischemic attacks and strokes over 11 months and 1 month, respectively. Neither had a history of trauma, cervical pain, or headache. Magnetic resonance angiography failed to visualize vertebral artery dissections that were later revealed by conventional angiography. One patient's events were stopped by balloon occlusion of the vertebral artery proximal to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery branch.Magnetic resonance angiography is not yet sensitive enough to always visualize vertebral artery dissection. Vertebral artery dissection is a life-threatening condition that requires aggr...
Use of Zernike polynomials for efficient estimation of orthonormal aberration coefficients over variable noncircular pupils

An efficient way of estimating orthonormal aberration coefficients on variable noncircular pupils is proposed. The method is based on the fact that all necessary pieces of information for constructing orthonormal polynomials (via the Gram–Schmidt process) can be numerically obtained during a routine least-squares fit of Zernike polynomials to wavefront data. This allows the method to use the usual Zernike polynomial fitting with an additional procedure that swiftly estimates the desired orthonormal aberration coefficients without having to use the functional forms of orthonormal polynomials. It is also shown that the method naturally accounts for the pixelation effect of pupil geometries, intrinsic to recording wavefront data on imaging sensors (e.g., CCDs), making the coefficient estimate optimal over a given pixelated pupil geometry. With these features, the method can be ideal for real-time wavefront analysis over dynamically changing pupils, such as in the Hobby–Eberly Telescope (HET), which is otherwise inefficient with analytic methods used in past studies.
Investigation of the frequency dependence of Barkhausen emissions for measuring the depth dependence of magnetic properties

Abstract Discontinuous displacement of Bloch walls and discontinuous domain rotation are two of the mechanisms which contribute to Barkhausen emissions. Measurements of the pulse height spectra and root mean square ac amplitude of the emissions have been used to investigate the depth dependence of magnetic properties. An ac exciting field was superimposed on a constant dc field and the Barkhausen emissions were analyzed at different dc field strengths. The depth of penetration of the ac field, and hence the depth of the Barkhausen emissions, is controlled by the skin depth.
Constitutive histone H2AX phosphorylation and ATM activation are strongly amplified during mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes

Objectives : We recently postulated that constitutive activation of Ataxia Telangiectasia, Mutated (CAA) and constitutive histone H2AX phosphorylation (CHP) seen in cells not treated with genotoxic agents are the events triggered by DNA damage caused by endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), the product of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. The aim of this study was to seek further evidence in support of this postulate, namely to test whether the levels of CAA and CHP correlate with cells metabolic activity. Materials & Methods : Peripheral blood lymphocytes are non-cycling (G 0 ) cells characterized by minimal rate of oxidative metabolism. A dramatic rise in transcriptional and translational activity, an increase in number of mitochondria, and induction of DNA replication, occur during their mitogenic stimu- lation. This classic model of cell activation was chosen to study a possible correlation between CAA and CHP versus metabolic activity and generation of ROS. Results : The levels of CAA and CHP in lymphocytes were increased many-fold during their stimulation. This increase was paralleled by the rise in extent of endogenously generated ROS. The growth of stimulated lymphocytes in the presence glucose antimetabolite 2-deoxy-D-glucose led to markedly lowered translational activity, decreased ROS generation and correspondingly attenuated CHA and CAA. Conclusions : The present data are consistent with our postulate that CHP and CAA report DNA damage by endogenous oxidants whose level correlates with metabolic activity. Because cumula- tive DNA damage by ROS generated via oxidative metabolism is considered the key mechanism responsible for cell ageing and senescence the data imply that these processes are delayed in G 0 quiescent lymphocytes or stem cells as compared with proliferating cells.
Demyelination induced by murine hepatitis virus JHM strain (MHV-4) is immunologically mediated

The neurotropic mouse hepatitis viruses (MHV), in particular strain JHM (JHMV or MHV-4), cause experimental central nervous system demyelination that pathologically resembles multiple sclerosis, an important human demyelinating disease. The mechanism of JHMV-induced demyelination remains unclear, though its tropism for oligodendrocytes had led to the belief that JHMV causes demyelination by direct lysis of these myelin-producing cells. However, several studies have also implicated the involvement of immune responses in the demyelinating process. In this communication, we present evidence that generalized immunosuppression with gamma irradiation prevents JHMV-induced demyelination, a finding that was not limited to a particular strain of JHMV or to one strain of mouse. In addition, significant paralytic-demyelinating disease was restored to infected, irradiated mice after the adoptive transfer of nylon wool nonadherent splenic cells and appeared to be restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). These observations indicate that the principal mechanisms of JHMV-induced demyelination are most likely immunopathological.
Risk of uterine rupture in labor induction of patients with prior cesarean section: an inner city hospital experience

Abstract Objective This study was undertaken to determine the risk of uterine rupture in patients induced with oxytocin or misoprostol after 1 or more previous cesarean sections. Study design Patients with 1 or more previous cesarean sections who delivered after 28 weeks' gestation between 1996 and 2002 were identified by database. Among 3533 total patients, rates of uterine rupture were compared among 4 groups: oxytocin induction (n=430), misoprostol induction (n=142), spontaneous labor (n=2523), and repeat cesarean section without labor (n=438). Statistical analysis included χ 2 test, Fisher exact test, unpaired t test, and Mantel-Haenszel test. Results Rate of rupture was increased in all inductions compared with that of the spontaneous labor group. Among patients with 1 prior cesarean, rupture rates with misoprostol and oxytocin induction were 0.8% and 1.1%, respectively. Conclusion Induction of labor with oxytocin or misoprostol is associated with a higher rate of uterine rupture compared with those who deliver after spontaneous labor. After 1 prior cesarean, rupture rate with misoprostol induction is not increased compared with oxytocin induction.
Modular dynamic response from motion databases

Animation of humanoid figures is a significant component in many current applications (e.g., video games, movie-making). However, the process of creating viable animations can be tedious, timeconsuming, and expensive due to the complexity of controlling a character through a large number of degrees-of-freedom. Such difficulties can be further compounded when the character is subject to external force, as often the case in video games. Recent dynamic response methods by Zordan et al. [Zordan et al. ] and Mandel [Mandel ] go beyond limp passive “ragdoll” animation by transitioning between motion capture playback and controlled physical simulation. When an unanticipated external force is applied to the character, a search is performed in the motion capture database to find the closest matching pose to the character’s current configuration. The found pose serves as a desired configuration for the character to servo towards and transition back into motion capture playback. Current dynamic response methods use a monolithic motion database that: 1) requires a significant computation burden for search (70% of computation time for Zordan et al.) and 2) does not readily incorporate user input. We address both of these limitations by using a modular collection of motion databases each representing some action (e.g., run, punch, kick). Through modularity, we invoke smaller independent search procedures on each database, where the choice of desired pose is informed by the action represented by each database. Eventually, we envision dense motion databases constructed from learned parameterized models [Jenkins and Mataric ; Kovar and Gleicher ].