cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biocrude oils from the fast pyrolysis of poultry litter and hardwood

The safe and economical disposal of poultry litter is becoming a major problem for the USA poultry industry. Current disposal methods such as land application and feeding to cattle are now under pressure because of pollution of water resources due to leaching, runoffs and concern for mad cow disease contamination of the food chain. Incineration or combustion is potentially applicable to large scale operations, but for small scale growers and EPA non-attainment areas, this is not a suitable option because of the high cost of operation. Thus, there is a need for developing appropriate technologies to dispose poultry litter. Poultry litters from broiler chicken and turkey houses, as well as bedding material were converted into biocrude oil in a fast pyrolysis fluidized bed reactor. The biocrude oil yields were relatively low ranging from 36 wt% to 50 wt% depending on the age and bedding material content of the litter. The bedding material (which was mostly hardwood shavings) biocrude oil yield was 63 wt%. The higher heating value (HHV) of the poultry litter biocrude oils ranged from 26 MJ/kg to 29 MJ/kg while that of the bedding material was 24 MJ/kg. The oils had relatively high nitrogen content ranging from 4 wt% to 8 wt%, very low sulfur (<1 wt%) content and high viscosity. The viscosities of the oils appeared to be a function of both the source of litter and the pyrolysis temperature. The biochar yield ranged from 27 wt% to 40 wt% depending on the source, age and composition of the poultry litter. The biochar ash content ranged from 24 wt% to 54 wt% and was very rich in inorganic components such as potassium and phosphorous.
Models of Limit Held by College Calculus Students.

This study documents 10 college students' understanding of the limit concept and the factors affecting changes in that understanding. Common informal models of limit were identified among the 10 students, who were then presented with alternative models of limit and with anomalous limit problems. The problems were designed to encourage students to make changes in their own models to reflect a more formal conception. Individual models of limit varied widely even among students who initially described limits in similar ways. The dynamic aspect of these models was extremely resistant to change. This resistance was influenced by students' belief in the a priori existence of graphs, their prior experiences with graphs of simple functions, the value they put on conceptually simple and practically useful models, and their tendency to view anomalous problems as minor exceptions to rules. These factors combined to inhibit students' motivation to adopt a formal view of limit.
A fracture mechanics evaluation for the life expectancy of polyethylene butt fusion joints

Abstract A fracture mechanics methodology for assessing the failure of butt fusion joints of similar and dissimilar polyethylene (PE) due to slow crack growth is presented. Slow crack growth tests are performed at ambient and elevated temperatures on three-point bend specimens containing a centrally notched joint. A visoelastic model is used to deduce the crack growth history from the measured load-point displacement record. Master curves for correlating the time for initiation of crack growth and the crack growth rate with the stress intensity factor are developed by bidirectional shifting of elevated temperature data. These data are used to predict the life expectancy of joints in pressurized PE pipes at the operating temperature or to establish the maximum permissible flaw compatible with a prescribed design life. The life expectancy of a joint produced by cross fusing two different PE pipes is determined to be greater than that of a similar joint in the lower fracture resistant PE.
Spatial analyses to evaluate multi-crop yield stability for a field

This paper proposes that yield stability patterns exist for multiple crops planted on the same land area over a period of years that growers can use to their advantage in planning crop management strategies using precision agriculture technologies. This study examines the relationship of soil elevation, slope, aspect and curvature to crop yield stability using a digital elevation model of the study area derived from a precise light detection and ranging (LIDAR) image of the farming area and surroundings. Three crop years of cotton and two crop years of corn yields were used to evaluate this hypothesis. The interpolation methods of Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), simple Kriging and Natural Neighbor found in ESRI's ARCGIS were used to produce crop yield maps. These methods were also compared in the analysis. Simple Kriging gave the best R^2 estimates of yield as a function of elevation, slope, curvature and aspect. When the SAS FastCluster procedure was used to group yield points together using topographical features, the resulting regression analyses R^2 values of yield as a function of elevation, aspect, curvature and slope by cluster number were improved.
Hepatic Insulin Gene Therapy Normalizes Diurnal Fluctuation of Oxidative Metabolism in Diabetic BB/Wor Rats

Previous studies of hepatic insulin gene therapy (HIGT) focused on glycemic effects of insulin produced from hepatocytes. In this study, we extend the observations of glycemic control with metabolically regulated HIGT to include systemic responses and whole-body metabolism. An insulin transgene was administered with an adenoviral vector [Ad/(GlRE)3BP1-2xfur] to livers of BB/Wor rats made diabetic with polyinosinic polycytidilic acid (poly-I:C) (HIGT group), and results compared with nondiabetic controls (non-DM), and diabetic rats receiving different doses of continuous-release insulin implants (DM-low BG and DM-high BG). Blood glucose and growth normalized in HIGT, with lower systemic insulin levels, elevated glucagon, and increased heat production compared with non-DM. Minimal regulation of systemic insulin levels were observed with HIGT, yet the animals maintained normal switching from carbohydrate to lipid metabolism determined by respiratory quotients (RQs), and tolerated 24-hour fasts without severe hypoglycemia. HIGT did not restore serum lipids as we observed increased triglycerides (TGs) and increased free fatty acids, but reduced weight of visceral fat pads despite normal total body fat content and retroperitoneal fat depots. HIGT favorably affects blood glucose, normalizes metabolic switching in diabetic rats, and reduces intra-abdominal fat deposition.
On algebras, manifolds, and fibre bundles in physics

This article surveys the mathematical or physical aspects of algebraic realizations, fibre bundles, supermanifolds, super Lie groups, and super Lie algebras.
Cultural Foundations of Tokenism: Evidence from the Leveraged Buyout Industry

Existing explanations of tokenism predict similar experiences for all numerically small, low-status groups. These explanations, however, cannot account for variation in the experiences of different...
Photodissociation pathways of the 2,3-benzofluorene cation

Benzofluorene (C 1 7 H 1 2 ) cations have been studied in the vapor phase by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. The identification of certain fragmented species from electron impact/ matrix optical experiments (see Banisaukas, J.; Szczepanski, J.; Vala, M.; Hirata, S. J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 3713) provided the background for the present detailed studies of the dissociation pathways of the cation via FT-ICR mass spectrometry. Both hydrogen and acetylene loss pathways along various photodissociation routes have been identified.
Controlled Degradation and/or Protection Zones — Nonsensea

Man's activities are an ever-increasing threat to ground-water quality. New EPA policies encourage cities to discharge sewage effluent on land. Irrigated agriculture is incompatible with high-quality ground water where deep percolation water is not removed by drainage. Present drinking-water quality standards cannot be used to determine the suitability of water for potable use if such water is waste-water-derived. Where sewage effluent is applied to land, persistent trace organics occur in underlying ground water. Some of these organics may be carcinogenic or otherwise toxic, and much additional research is needed. Controlled degradation of ground water still is degradation. High-quality ground-water resources either are to be protected, or aquifers eventually must be abandoned as sources of high-quality drinking water. In the long term, there is no in-between. The choice will be dictated by economic and environmental considerations. For example, the most economical use of aquifers below irrigated valleys ultimately may be to serve as facilities for treatment, storage, and conveyance of municipal waste water from surrounding communities, so that this water can be used again for unrestricted irrigation. While such uses of aquifers may be far off, they should be anticipated now to allow proper planning.
Macroscopic length changes during the B2 ⇆ R and M → B2 transitions in equiatomic NiTi alloys

Abstract In equiatomic NiTi alloys the structural transition B2 → R and the martensitic transformation both occur in the same temperature range on cooling. Indeed, the temperature Ms at the start of the martensite transformation may be above or below the temperature TR at the start of the B2 → R distortional transition, apparently depending on prior processing and thermomechanical treatment. The B2 → R transition causes a continuous volume contraction below TR. In the alloy primarily studied here, the volume decreases approximately linearly on cooling below TR (about 35 °C), reaching 0.5% at about 0 °C, by which temperature almost all the R phase has transformed to martensite. When TR is above MS and the temperature AS at the start of the reverse transformation in a 100% martensite specimen is above TR, an interesting situation exists such that the transformation on cooling is R → M while that on heating is M → B2. The larger transformation strain for R → M makes it thermodynamically less favorable for the martensite to form from the R phase and may be a factor in stabilizing the R phase with respect to the martensite phase at low temperatures. This may also cause transformation defects to form on cooling, with the result that the driving force for the reverse M → B2 transformation increases as the amount of martensite formed is increased. The difference between the transformation strain for R → M and the reverse strain for M → B2 appears to cause some reorientation stresses on heating, resulting in the re-formation of the martensite platelets into more self-accommodating groups. This is reflected in smaller values of the residual macroscopic strain after a partial retransformation.
Integrating Mobile Computing and Security into a Computer Science Curriculum (Abstract Only)

The poster describes our project of integrating mobile computing and security into the Computer Science program at North Carolina A&T State University. Twelve (12) course modules in mobile computing and security are being developed and integrated into existing Computer Science courses such as computer programming, software development, operating systems, and information assurance courses. Each course module includes learning objectives, a tutorial, presentation slides, hands-on labs and/or case studies, test questions, etc. The course module material we develop and our teaching experiences will be beneficial to computer science educators who are considering including mobile computing and mobile security into their curricula.
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii thermal tolerance enhancement mediated by a mutualistic interaction with vitamin B12-producing bacteria

Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors affecting the growth and survival of microorganisms and in light of current global patterns is of particular interest. Here, we highlight studies revealing how vitamin B12 (cobalamin)-producing bacteria increase the fitness of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii following an increase in environmental temperature. Heat stress represses C. reinhardtii cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (METE) gene expression coinciding with a reduction in METE-mediated methionine synthase activity, chlorosis and cell death during heat stress. However, in the presence of cobalamin-producing bacteria or exogenous cobalamin amendments C. reinhardtii cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase METH-mediated methionine biosynthesis is functional at temperatures that result in C. reinhardtii death in the absence of cobalamin. Artificial microRNA silencing of C. reinhardtii METH expression leads to nearly complete loss of cobalamin-mediated enhancement of thermal tolerance. This suggests that methionine biosynthesis is an essential cellular mechanism for adaptation by C. reinhardtii to thermal stress. Increased fitness advantage of METH under environmentally stressful conditions could explain the selective pressure for retaining the METH gene in algae and the apparent independent loss of the METE gene in various algal species. Our results show that how an organism acclimates to a change in its abiotic environment depends critically on co-occurring species, the nature of that interaction, and how those species interactions evolve.
“Crisis” versus Aesthetic in the Copernican revolution

IN A chapter in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions entitled "Crisis and the Emergence of Scientific Theories", Thomas Kuhn states: " I f awareness of anomaly plays a role in the emergence of phenomena, it should surprise no one that a similar but more profound awareness is prerequisite to all acceptable changes of theory. On this point historical evidence is, I think, unequivocal. The state of Ptolemaic astronomy was a scandal before Copernicus' announcement. ''1 A paragraph later he elaborates:
Induced cosmological constant expected above the phase transition restoring the broken symmetry

The vacuum energy density now is small or zero but must have been prodigious if the universe was once hotter than ${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{15}$ K and if elementary-particle symmetry is spontaneously broken by a Higgs mechanism. If symmetry is broken nondynamically, in the hot disordered phase the huge vacuum energy density is nevertheless negligible, compared to the energy density of ultrarelativistic particles. Because the broken symmetry is non-Abelian, the long-range forces arising on symmetry restoration need not lead back to an anisotropic, inhomogeneous, or domain-structure universe.
Chain pharmacy blood pressure intervention, Medicare nonadherence, and prestroke depression

Chain pharmacy BP intervention Robinson et al.1 reported that “community pharmacists can positively affect patient medication adherence ... with an improvement in patient BP.” Pharmaceutical care (PC) pharmacies (n = 9) and usual care (UC) pharmacies (n = 7) were selected from the same pharmacy chain in Tampa, FL. Patients who had at least one antihypertensive dispensed within the previous 6 months were selected from each pharmacy. Nearly 44% (n = 78) of the patients in the PC group and 32% in the UC group (n = 62) completed the study. PC patients had at least three face-to-face pharmacist encounters after enrollment. The intervention consisted of disease, lifestyle, and medication counseling, plus adherence-improvement training. Baseline blood pressure (BP) measures were similar. Systolic BP declined by nearly 10 mm Hg in the PC group and nearly 3 mm Hg in the UC group (P < 0.05). Baseline diastolic BP was lower in the PC group (82.4 vs. 87.4 mm Hg), but the PC group still had nearly a 3–mm Hg decline compared with the UC group’s 1– mm Hg decline (P = 0.16). PC group adherence was higher (91%) compared with the UC group (78%) 6 months later. Implications. Most PC studies have been conducted in medical clinics, independent pharmacies, or a combination of the two. These results demonstrate that PC services can be successfully implemented in a practice setting typically considered “too busy.” The key is that these pharmacists had the support and assistance of management and, in collaboration with patients and their providers, successfully achieved guideline-based clinical outcomes.
Immunologic Basis of Cardiovascular Disease in HIV-Infected Adults

Cardiovascular complications are more common in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals than in age-matched uninfected individuals. Antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications, suggesting that viral replication directly or indirectly causes vascular disease. Long-term effective antiretroviral therapy does not fully restore vascular health, and treated adults continue to have higher-than-expected rates of disease progression. Although this excess risk during therapy is likely due to multiple factors, a growing body of evidence suggests that chronic inflammation, which persists during effective antiretroviral therapy, is directly and causally associated with vascular dysfunction and the accelerated development of atherosclerosis.
Effectiveness of parallel joins

The effectiveness of parallel processing of relational join operations is examined. The skew in the distribution of join attribute values and the stochastic nature of the task processing times are identified as the major factors that can affect the effective exploitation of parallelism. Expressions for the execution time of parallel hash join and semijoin are derived and their effectiveness analyzed. When many small processors are used in the parallel architecture, the skew can result in some processors becoming sources of bottleneck while other processors are being underutilized. Even in the absence of skew, the variations in the processing times of the parallel tasks belonging to a query can lead to high task synchronization delay and impact the maximum speedup achievable through parallel execution. For example, when the task processing time on each processor is exponential with the same mean, the speedup is proportional to P/ln(P) where P is the number of processors. Other factors such as memory size, communication bandwidth, etc., can lead to even lower speedup. These are quantified using analytical models. >
Two regions of GLUT 2 glucose transporter protein are responsible for its distinctive affinity for glucose.

The glucose transporter in the hepatocyte and pancreatic beta-cell (GLUT 2) has a lower affinity for glucose than other members of the glucose transporter family. To investigate the molecular mechanism for the distinctive affinity of GLUT 2 for glucose, we expressed chimeric GLUT 2 and GLUT 4 proteins in Xenopus oocytes and measured 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport. In the oocyte system, GLUT 2 had a Km of 31.8 +/- 2.8 mM for 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, whereas GLUT 4 had a Km of 7.2 +/- 2.4 mM under equilibrium exchange conditions. GLUT 4/GLUT 2 chimera that contained the intracellular loop and transmembrane domains 7-12 of GLUT 2 (amino acids 239-497) had a Km similar to that of wild-type GLUT 2. A GLUT 4/GLUT 2 chimera in which the COOH-terminal 30 amino acids of GLUT 4 were replaced with the corresponding region of GLUT 2 had a 2-fold higher Km than GLUT 4, but still had a much lower Km than GLUT 2. These results indicate that both transmembrane domains 7-12 and the COOH-terminus of the protein are responsibl...
A multimedia document model for continuous media

Multimedia documents are created by including information from various media in a single entity referred to as a document. A document model is required by an editor in order to represent the document electronically. Multimedia document models must contain temporal information so that the representation of continuous media, such as audio and video, is sufficient for the rendering of those media objects. In this paper, we present a multimedia document model called MEDIADOC. >
THE CONCENTRATION OF GONAD-STIMULATING HORMONE IN BLOOD SERUM AND OF OESTRIN IN THE URINE THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY IN THE MARE*

Cole and Hart (1930 and 1930a) have shown that the blood serum of mares contains a gonad-stimulating hormone between the 45th and the 150th days and small amounts of oestrin during the last half of pregnancy. According to Zondek (1930), tremendous amounts of oestrin are present in the urine of the mare between the 74th and 260th days. The concentration of these hormones at the various stages of pregnancy has not, however, been systematically studied. Many problems might be more easily solved if exact information on this point were available. For example, one question concerns the sources of these hormones. Does the fetus with its attending membranes initiate an unusual activity of the hypophysis and ovary or are the hormones in question vicariously produced during this phase of reproduction? Another problem concerns the fate of the gonad-stimulating hormone. It is not excreted in the urine unchanged for only rarely can it be detected there. Thus it must be eliminated with other body excretions or destroye...
Familiarity Breeds Trust: Collective Action in a Policy Domain

Researchers are currently refining the concept and theory of trust to focus on identifying the bases of trust within specific domains. This paper examines the development of trust within the domain of agricultural water policy, where trust is a critical resource for solving collective action problems. The analysis uses data from a mail survey of farmers in agricultural water policy to integrate three theoretical frameworks: the conventional generalized trust perspective, Levi's transaction cost theory of trust, and Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith's Advocacy Coalition Framework. The results demonstrate that while there is a close relationship between the attitude of trust and beliefs about the behavior of policy actors, the dynamics of trust within policy domains should be understood within the context of institutional structures and competing political values.
The Impending Demise Of LIFO: History, Threats, Implications, And Potential Remedies

Since its approval by congress in 1939, the last-in-last-out (LIFO) inventory cost flow assumption has historically been utilized by a significant portion of U.S. companies for both tax and financial reporting purposes. However, despite its extensive use and wide acceptance in practice, the LIFO inventory method is currently endangered by two powerful movements that make its future existence far from certain. The first of these movements is the ongoing convergence of U.S. and international accounting standards. Whether future global harmonization of accounting practice come from continued convergence or outright adoption of international accounting standards, this harmonization poses a threat to the continued use of LIFO since LIFO is prohibited under international accounting rules. The second movement is grounded in governmental attempts to lessen the current federal budget deficit. The elimination of LIFO has been targeted as a way of reducing the deficit within the Obama administration’s deficit reduction efforts. The momentum of these two threats to LIFO makes the topic of LIFO’s future ripe for discussion. This study discusses the history of LIFO, illuminates the current threats the method faces, and outlines the most common remedies that have been proposed to mitigate the financial impact faced by companies that will be negatively affected by any such elimination of the method.
Ambiguity, Ambivalence, and Apprehensions of Taking HIV-1 Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Male Couples in San Francisco: A Mixed Methods Study

Objective: We conducted a mixed-methods study to examine serodiscordant and seroconcordant (HIV-positive/HIV-positive) male couples' PrEP awareness, concerns regarding health care providers offering PrEP to the community, and correlates of PrEP uptake by t
Isolation and Culture of Post-Natal Mouse Cerebellar Granule Neuron Progenitor Cells and Neurons

The cerebellar cortex is a well described structure that provides unique opportunities for studying neuronal properties and development1,2. Of the cerebellar neuronal types (granule cells, Purkinje cells and inhibitory interneurons), granule neurons are by far the most numerous and are the most abundant type of neurons in the mammalian brain. In rodents, cerebellar granule neurons are generated during the first two post-natal weeks from progenitor cells in the outermost layer of the cerebellar cortex, the external granule layer (EGL). The protocol presented here describes techniques to enrich and culture granule neurons and their progenitor cells from post-natal mouse cerebellum. We will describe procedures to obtain cultures of increasing purity3,4, which can be used to study the differentiation of proliferating progenitor cells into granule neurons5,6. Once the progenitor cells differentiate, the cultures also provide a homogenous population of granule neurons for experimental manipulation and characterization of phenomena such as synaptogenesis, glutamate receptor function7, interaction with other purified cerebellar cells8,9 or cell death7.
Sharing in BitTorrent Can Be Rational

Consider a game played by two mountaineers climbing a mountain.Both are only interested in attaining the summit and can only reach it with help from the other. Over an infinite number of discrete periods they play a symmetric simultaneous game where they may either help the other a fixed distance up the mountain at some cost, or do nothing. Can these mountaineers climb their mountain?
Convection‐driven motion of the North American craton: Evidence from P‐wave anisotropy

SUMMARY We study the effect of anisotropy on P-wave traveltimes and generalize Backus (1965) well-known expression of azimuthal velocity dependence to the sphere. The variation of P-wave traveltimes on the lower hemisphere due to anisotropy is described by a set of 15 parameters. For single-crystal olivine a set of six parameters describes about 98 per cent of the variation and for practical purposes of mantle seismology this set of six parameters should be sufficient. We find a coherent pattern of anisotropy throughout the North American craton. The anisotropy is characterized by fast directions dipping toward the southwest, roughly in the direction of absolute plate motion, and shallow dip angles (<45°). This is consistent with a simple-shear deformation of the deep lithospheric roots, due to the relative motion between plates and deeper mantle. If this is correct, it implies that the deeper mantle convects faster than the plate velocity and that the mantle helps to drive the motion of the North American plate.
Modeling the Effect of Size on Defect Proneness for Open-Source Software

Quality is becoming increasingly important with the continuous adoption of open-source software. Previous research has found that there is generally a positive relationship between module size and defect proneness. Therefore, in open-source software development, it is important to monitor module size and understand its impact on defect proneness. However, traditional approaches to quality modeling, which measure specific system snapshots and obtain future defect counts, are not well suited because open-source modules usually evolve and their size changes over time. In this study, we used Cox proportional hazards modeling with recurrent events to study the effect of class size on defect-proneness in the Mozilla product. We found that the effect of size was significant, and we quantified this effect on defect proneness.
Yng1p Modulates the Activity of Sas3p as a Component of the Yeast NuA3 Histone Acetyltransferase Complex

The mammalian ING1 gene encodes a tumor suppressor required for the function of p53. In this study we report a novel function for YNG1, a yeast homolog of ING1. Yng1p is a stable component of the NuA3 histone acetyltransferase complex, which contains Sas3p, the yeast homolog of the mammalian MOZ proto-oncogene product, as its catalytic subunit. Yng1p is required for NuA3 function in vivo but surprisingly is not required for the integrity of the complex. Instead, we find that Yng1p mediates the interaction of Sas3p with nucleosomes and is thus required for the ability of NuA3 to modify histone tails. These data, and the observations that other ING1 homologs are found in additional yeast complexes that posttranslationally modify histones, suggest that members of the ING1 class of proteins may have broad roles in enhancing or modifying the activities of chromatin-modifying complexes, thereby regulating their activities in transcription control. Eukaryotic DNA is packaged into a nucleoprotein structure known as chromatin, consisting of DNA, histones, and nonhistone proteins. This structure is able to modulate access of the cellular machinery to DNA, thus regulating processes like transcription, replication, repair, and recombination. Numerous multiprotein complexes capable of modifying chromatin exist within a cell. The most studied of these complexes include the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, which use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to alter the association of DNA with histones, and the histone modifying complexes, which posttranslationally modify histones. The best-characterized class of histone-modifying complexes is the histone acetyltransferases (HATs), which use acetylcoenzyme A as a substrate to acetylate lysine residues within the amino-terminal tails of histones. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae these include the GCN5-dependent SAGA,
Cloning and molecular characterization of cGMP-gated ion channels from rod and cone photoreceptors of striped bass ( M. saxatilis ) retina.

Vertebrate photoreceptors respond to light with changes in membrane conductance that reflect the activity of cyclic-nucleotide gated channels (CNG channels). The functional features of these channels differ in rods and cones; to understand the basis of these differences we cloned CNG channels from the retina of striped bass, a fish from which photoreceptors can be isolated and studied electrophysiologically. Through a combination of experimental approaches, we recovered and sequenced three full-length cDNA clones. We made unambiguous assignments of the cellular origin of the clones through single photoreceptor RT-PCR. Synthetic peptides derived from the sequence were used to generate monospecific antibodies which labeled intact, unfixed photoreceptors and confirmed the cellular assignment of the various clones. In rods, we identified the channel α subunit gene product as 2040 bp in length, transcribed into two mRNA 1.8 kb and 2.9 kb in length and translated into a single 96-kDa protein. In cones we identified both α (CNGA3) and β (CNGB3) channel subunits. For α, the gene product is 1956 bp long, the mRNA 3.4 kb, and the protein 74 kDa. For β, the gene product is 2265 bp long and the mRNA 3.3 kb. Based on deduced amino acid sequence, we developed a phylogenetic map of the evolution of vertebrate rod and cone CNG channels. Sequence comparison revealed channels in striped bass, unlike those in mammals, are likely not N-linked-glycosylated as they are transported within the photoreceptor. Also bass cone channels lack certain residues that, in mammals, can be phosphorylated and, thus, affect the cGMP sensitivity of gating. On the other hand, functionally critical residues, such as positively charged amino acids within the fourth transmembrane helix (S4) and the Ca2+-binding glutamate in the pore loop are absolutely the same in mammalian and nonmammalian species.
Are There Risks Associated With Empiric Acid Suppression Treatment of Infants and Children Suspected of Having Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background: It has become common practice to empirically treat infants and children who have suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease by using acid-suppressive medications. However, evidence to support the effectiveness of these medications in the pediatric population is limited. With multiple studies in adult patients indicating increased risk of infection, we reviewed the literature to determine the association between acid-suppressive medications and serious adverse effects in infants and children. Methods: We conducted a PubMed search on the adverse effects of H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors in pediatric patients. The studies selected were original research and systematic reviews with control groups and study objectives evaluating the relationship between acid-suppressive medications and serious adverse effects (namely, infections). Results: Fourteen studies met our inclusion criteria. The majority of studies found a significant association between acid-suppressive medications and the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis/bacteremia, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal infections in infants and children. Conclusions: Given the questionable efficacy of H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors and the growing evidence of increased risk of serious infections, acid-suppressive medications should be used cautiously in infants and children suspected of having gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Computational Diversions: Julia Variations

One of the favorite display shelves in every recreational programmer’s cabinet of curiosities belongs to the Julia sets. Julia sets, named after the French mathematician Gaston Julia, have a variety of equivalent mathematical definitions; they are also remarkably easy graphical entities to generate with a minimal degree of programming. Here’s the basic idea: suppose you have a complex polynomial function f(z). (A good example-to-think-with is the quadratic function f(z) = z 2 ? c, where c is some constant complex number.) If you iterate f(z) a very large number of times, starting from a particular initial value z0, and follow the values of the successive points under iteration, you will find that the sequence of complex number values either becomes arbitrarily large (goes to infinity), or it doesn’t. So some starting z0 points ‘‘go to infinity’’ and some don’t. Plot the values of z0 whose sequences go to infinity in one color (say, white); and those whose sequences don’t in another (say, black). The black points constitute the filled Julia set of the function f, and the boundary between black and white is the Julia set. Given this definition, you might imagine that these sets are of interest only to a dedicated subculture among mathematicians; but the graphical plots of the Julia sets are in fact remarkably appealing, and form an easily-programmed class of fractals for computer programming students. Here’s the general algorithm (written in pseudocode) through which you can program a Julia set for a quadratic polynomial:
Parental information, motivation, and adherence behaviors among children with sickle cell disease.

Background Identification of psychosocial correlates of health care utilization has become an important strategy in improving clinical care. The objective of the study was to examine the fit of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model, applied to health care utilization among children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Procedure Participants were parents of 150 children, ages 1–17 years, receiving care in a sickle cell center. Parents completed questionnaires assessing information, motivation, adherence behaviors, and other factors with respect to SCD management. Data regarding health care utilization in the previous 12 months were obtained from parent report and electronic medical records. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine associations between IMB factors and health care use. Results Parents rated highly in the domains of information, motivation, and adherence behaviors for managing their child's SCD. Children of parents reporting higher satisfaction with social supports had higher odds (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.03–2.15) of two or more routine hematology visits in the previous 12 months. Neither information nor adherence behavior was associated with urgent or routine care use. Among other variables measured, high parental illness-related stress and child health status reported as fair/poor were the strongest predictors of urgent care use while private insurance type was the strongest predictor of routine care use. Conclusions Among IMB factors, social support was associated with routine health care utilization. Social support and parental illness-related stress may serve as important, modifiable targets in interventions to allocate needed resources to families and reduce unnecessary medical care. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 1204–1210. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Observations of the Early Evolution of an Explosive Oceanic Cyclone during ERICA IOP 5. Part I: Synoptic Overview and Mesoscale Frontal Structure

Abstract The structural evolution of the extratropical cyclone that occurred during intensive observation period 5 (IOP 5) of the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA) is presented. In the present paper, the focus will be on the synoptic-scale development of the cyclone and the mesoscale frontal structure in the vicinity of the surface low center at a time early in its period of rapid deepening. Within this context the much higher resolution analyses of the three-dimensional wind field of the circulation center are discussed in the companion paper. The surface low center appeared initially as one of at least two mesoscale circulation centers along a preexisting low-level frontal zone approximately aligned with the Gulf Stream. Development occurred in association with the approach of a synoptic-scale upper-level trough from the west. As in the ERICA IOP 4 cyclone, a bent-back warm front-representing the extension of the warm front to the west of its point of intersection wit...
Computational Brick Stacking for Constructing Free-Form Structures

Our work explores new design methods and workflows that operate at the intersection of emerging biological technologies and advanced computation and engineering. In 2014 we won a competition to construct a large scale temporary installation to host a series of weekend parties. Our proposal explores the future of architecture by using innovative computational tools to test a new material system at an architectural scale. This paper focuses on the design of a custom computational brick stacking logic that generated the structure’s brick layout within the specific constraints of a new organic material. The resulting digital model was utilized directly to guide the structure’s construction, creating a feedback loop where changes made on site could be fed back into the model to recalculate the layout in real time. While computation and technology play a crucial role in this proposal, the ultimate goal is to show how innovation in materials and methods can lead to a more responsive, intelligent, and sustainable architectural practice.
Family literacy—predictors of program participation and goal attainment in Kentucky.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how various components of family literacy programs such as operational characteristics (enrollment procedure, hours of operation, time of class, curriculum selection, type of instruction, and age of child served) and staff characteristics (gender, full or part time status, and educational attainment level) influence the recruitment, and goal attainment of adults in family literacy programs. This research investigated factors that could help educational administrators improve family literacy programs through increased enrollment, and improvement of goal attainment of participants. This exploratory, quantitative study utilized 2002-03 data submitted by family literacy programs in Kentucky. Two hierarchical multiple regressions and three Pearson Correlation's were conducted. Neither of the hierarchical multiple regressions on recruitment and goal attainment showed any significant relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Two Pearson Correlations were conducted that addressed the relationship between the presence of male staff members and the number of male and total students enrolled. There was no significant correlation between the variables. A third Pearson Correlation addressed the relationship between the hours of week of instruction and goal attainment. This was a positive correlation. Findings indicate that providers in Kentucky have developed multiple program models for delivering family literacy services. Lack of significance in the analysis indicates there does not seem be a definitive program model that will result in improved recruitment or goal attainment of the students.
Vascular and neural complications in supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.

1. Supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children may be associated with injuries to nerves or blood vessels which are much more serious than the fracture. 2. The early recognition of such complications is imperative. 3. Early and adequate treatment of acute vascular complications is necessary, even though it means surgical exploration of the antecubital fossa and resection of the injured segment of the brachial artery. 4. Adequate and early treatment of acute vascular injuries usually ensures a good prognosis, but delay may lead to serious and permanent disability. 5. Palsies of nerves should be observed for a few weeks after adequate reduction of the fracture. If no improvement has taken place in function of the nerve or nerves in question after this period, surgical exploration is advisable.
PHANTOMM flow tagging measurements in a swirling, turbulent flow

The development of turbulence in a lid driven cylinder is studied using the PHANTO&IM flow tagging technique. Ensembles of line displacement images are used to compute, average velocities, turbulence intensities, and spatial correlations. These measurements are obtained over a Reynolds number range of 0 5 Re 5 2 x 10’ for a cylinder of aspect ratio of two (a = 2.0). Practical, experimental considerations related to the use of this technique are also discussed.
Treatment on Trial: The Rhetoric and Reality of the New York House of Refuge, 1857–1935

The failure of contemporary correctional programs to rehabilitate adult and juvenile offenders can partially be attributed to the failure of criminologists and correctional administrators to appreciate the development, operation, and impact of early penitentiaries and reformatories. The bias of contemporary criminologists in favor of empirical research has resulted in the completion of literally thousands of empirical studies of various aspects of the criminal justice system, but only a few good studies of its historical development.' The assumption of empirically oriented criminologists that these ahistorical studies can contribute significantly to our understanding of the impact of rehabilitative programs is questionable. C. Wright Mills summarized the utility of the majority of empirical studies for understanding social problems when he pointed out that, "The thinness of results is matched only by the elaboration of the methods and care employed." 2 The unfortunate result of this ahistorical condition is that policy makers learn nothing from the past, the same rehabilitative programs are implemented continually in different forms but with basically the same substance and, as might be expected, offenders are not rehabilitated and society is not protected. One aspect of the criminal justice system which merits increased historical inquiry is the juvenile justice system. As late as
Calcium Requirement of the Pheasant Chick

Abstract INTRODUCTION MUCH of the calcium-related pheasant research has been conducted to determine whether the pheasant population is or can be established on noncalcareous as well as calcareous soil. While referring to vegetative sources of protein, Dale and DeWitt (1958) suggested there is reason to believe that calcium deficiency may be more serious to the pheasant. There are a few reports in the literature concerning the calcium requirement of the breeding pheasant hen under confinement conditions (Dale and DeWitt, 1958; Greeley, 1962;Chambers et al., 1966;and Hinkson et al., 1970). However, there is even less scientific information available with regard to the calcium requirement of the pheasant chick. Skoglund (1940) apparently was the first researcher to investigate the dietary calcium requirement of the Ring-necked pheasant. According to Scott and Reynolds (1949), Skoglund (1940) concluded that best results are obtained with dietary levels of about 1.5 percent calcium and about 1.0 percent phosphorus.…
Exploring Beginning Teachers’ Content Knowledge

An ongoing concern of policy makers has been the content knowledge of teachers. With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, secondary teachers were mandated to adequately demonstrate their competence in a particular subject area. More recently, the America Competes Act (2007) emphasized the importance of strong content knowledge among elementary and secondary teachers of science.
Model workshop on nutrition counseling for dietitians

Evaluation results suggest that workshop participants gained knowledge and that their attitudes and behavior changed.
Shared Faculty-Student Lifestyle Habits and Their Implications for College Student Retention.

Previous research confirms that first-semester grade-point average (GPA) is related to college student persistence, retention, and graduation. Thus, it is important to identify factors related to e...
Processing Remotely Sensed Data: Hardware and Software Considerations

Analog and digital remotely sensed data are used operationally in many hydrologic and water management applications. Analog remotely sensed data (e.g. aerial photographs) are routinely analyzed visually using optical instruments such as stereoscopes. Digital remote sensor data are analyzed using a digital image processing system that consists of both hardware and software.This chapter introduces fundamental: image processing system characteristics, image processing (and some GIS) software requirements, and commercial and public providers of digital image processing systems.
Hawthorne and the temperatures of secrecy

In his famous speech titled “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” (5 July 1852), Frederick Douglass praises the virtues of heat. He portrays as cold the failure of the United States to “extend” to its black population “the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence.” It would be easy for him to celebrate U.S. independence, says Douglass, if the United States had acted warmly by distributing political rights more widely: “For who is there so cold, that a nation’s sympathy could not warm him?” Although Douglass’s speech offers an illuminating account of American Revolutionary history, he insists that the times call for fire rather than light: At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation’s ear, I would, to-day, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire… The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused. Douglass would like to be, like Kant’s Hume, the spark that ignites an awakening, a rouser of the sleeping. It is a cold nation, suggests Douglass, that oppresses part of its population. Such coldness is to be dispelled not by a gentle warming, but by the shock of fiery heat.
Gothic Landscapes of the South

Surveying the development of the Southern Gothic landscape, Sivils locates its origins in seventeenth-century captivity narratives by figures such as Garcilaso de la Vega and Captain John Smith. He then traces the cultural evolution of the Southern Gothic landscape through a selection of texts by Henry Clay Lewis, Charles Chesnutt, William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor and others. Referencing critics such as Maria del Pilar Blanco and Yi-Fu Tuan—and placing emphasis upon the portrayal of the swamp as related to issues of racial oppression—Sivils ultimately argues that these landscapes function as much more than just passive settings. They are, rather, dynamic sites of haunting that reflect, and at times participate in, the South’s legacy of human and environmental abuse.