cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of Clast Attrition in Basal Till

Sources of 1,852 basal till pebbles from sites in east-central New Hampshire were identified. Measurements of pebble size, shape, roundness, breakage, lithology, weathering, and distance from source were determined. Roundness, breakage, and size distributions of the pebbles, when compared to their distance from source, indicate that a state of dynamic equilibrium is reached between the processes of abrasion and crushing. The average pebble survives long enough to abraid to a roundness of .5 on Krumbein9s scale, then is crushed again. The early attainment of this equilibrium, within a mile of the source, suggests that the clasts go through at least several cycles of crushing and abrasion per mile of transport. After many miles of transport, certain pebble shapes gradually evolve as stable forms. Spheres are the most stable, discs and rods less so (in that order), and blades are least stable in the subglacial environment. Comparisons to experimental data for the same rock types suggest that abrasion and crushing are about equally effective mechanisms in the production of subglacial till. The pebbles appear to be deposited in multiples of 6 to 7 mi from their source.
Gene Polymorphism Studies in a Teaching Laboratory

I present a laboratory procedure for illustrating transcription, post-transcriptional modification, gene conservation, and comparative genetics for use in undergraduate biology education. Students are individually assigned genes in a targeted biochemical pathway, for which they design and test polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. In this example, students used genes annotated for the steroid biosynthesis pathway in soybean. The authoritative Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) interactive database and other online resources were used to design primers based first on soybean expressed sequence tags (ESTs), then on ESTs from an alternate organism if soybean sequence was unavailable. Students designed a total of 50 gene-based primer pairs (37 soybean, 13 alternative) and tested these for polymorphism state and similarity between two soybean and two pea lines. Student assessment was based on acquisition of laboratory skills and successful project completion. This simple procedure illustrates conservation of genes and is not limited to soybean or pea. Cost per student estimates are included, along with a detailed protocol and flow diagram of the procedure.
Restricted Stereochemistry of Solvation of Allylic Lithium Compounds: Structural and Dynamic Consequences

Several 1-sila allylic lithium compounds have been prepared with potential ligands for Li substituted at the 2-position. They are [2-[[cis-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)-1-pyrrolidinyl]methyl]-1-(trimethylsilyl)allyl]lithium (22), [2-[[cis-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)-1-pyrrolidinyl]methyl]-1-(dimethylethylsilyl)allyl]lithium (23), [2-[[bis(2-methoxyethyl)amino]methyl]-1-(dimethylethylsilyl)allyl]lithium (24), [2-[[bis(2-methoxyethyl)amino]methyl]-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)allyl]lithium (25), and [2-[2-[bis(2-methoxyethyl)amino]-1,1-dimethylethyl](ethyldimethylsilyl)]allyllithium (26). Using diethyl ether or THF solutions all these compounds exhibited one bond 13C, 7Li spin coupling of ∼8 Hz, a 1:1:1:1 13C NMR pattern indicating monomeric structures; all show ligand resonances to be magnetically nonequivalent and reveal C1, C3 13C NMR shifts of about 40 and 75 δ which lie between those for model delocalized 1 and localized species 2. These compounds are concluded to be examples of the heretofore missing folded, intern...
Biogeophysical impacts of cropland management changes on climate

[1] It is well known that expansion of agriculture into natural ecosystems can have important climatic consequences, but changes occurring within existing croplands also have the potential to effect local and global climate. To better understand the impacts of cropland management practices, we used the NCAR CAM3 general circulation model coupled to a slab-ocean model to simulate climate change under extreme scenarios of irrigation, tillage, and crop productivity. Compared to a control scenario, increases in irrigation and leaf area index and reductions in tillage all have a physical cooling effect by causing increases in planetary albedo. The cooling is most pronounced for irrigation, with simulated local cooling up to ∼8°C and global land surface cooling of 1.3°C. Increases in soil albedo through reduced tillage are found to have a global cooling effect (∼0.2°C) comparable to the biogeochemical cooling from reported carbon sequestration potentials. By identifying the impacts of extreme scenarios at local and global scales, this study effectively shows the importance of considering different aspects of crop management in the development of climate models, analysis of observed climate trends, and design of policy intended to mitigate climate change.
BKV splice sequences based on analysis of preferred donor and acceptor sites

Abstract We have determined the DNA sequences which correspond to the splicing regions in the transcripts of human papovavirus BKV, an evolutionary variant of SV40. To precisely localize the excision points in the BKV sequence, we have conducted a preliminary analysis of numerous viral and eukaryotic splice site sequences. This analysis suggests that the preferred sequence for the donor site belongs to at least one of four groups: Pu GTAxG, Pu GTAxxT, Pu GTxx GT, Pu GTxAG (= the cleavage site). These four groups derive from the two basic sequences, Pu GTxxG and Pu GTA. An optimal donor site might be: AG GTAAGT. The preferred sequence for the acceptor site is of the form PyPyxxPyAG; no dinucleotide AG occurs within 13 nucleotides prior to the terminal AG of the 3' end of the intervening sequences. As we have found in this study of BKV splicing RNA splice points when the DNA sequence is known.
Quality Assurance Assessment of the Use of Linezolid in the Treatment of Thermal Injury Patients at a Community Teaching Hospital

We sought to evaluate the adverse effect profile of linezolid among thermal injury patients requiring treatment for Enterococcus species or other Gram-positive infection warranting treatment with linezolid. Seventy-six inhalation injury and/or thermal injury patients experiencing 94 exposures to linezolid for 48 hours or longer (range, 2-83 days) were included. We evaluated leukocyte count and platelet count for the time period preceding, during, and after therapy with linezolid based on specified time periods of exposure for evaluation of specific adverse effects. Sixty-three of 76 (83%) patient admissions were complicated by inhalation injury. The average TBSA involvement was 34.4% (range, 0-98%). The onset of thrombocytopenia before linezolid therapy was noted in 21 of 57 patients (36.8%), which was attributable to fluid resuscitation and acute platelet consumption. After they were exposure to linezolid, 12 patients developed thrombocytopenia. Platelet counts recovered in 7 of these 12 patients with continued exposure to linezolid; however, thrombocytopenia persisted for more than 9 days after therapy in 9 patients, of whom 6 patients succumbed to sepsis. On average, thrombocytes increased by 102,000/mm3 during linezolid treatment. Leucopenia was rare in thermal injury patients, and persisting thrombocytopenia in this population was associated with sepsis and mortality. Continuing linezolid therapy after the onset of thrombocytopenia among survivors almost always resulted in recovery from thrombocytopenia.
Tetracycline Binding to Bovine Serum Albumin Studied by Fluorescent Techniques

Binding of demeclocycline and oxytetracycline to bovine serum albumin was studied using fluorescent methods. The mechanism of binding for tetracyclines is shown to be hydrophobic. The number of binding sites and the equilibrium constants were calculated over a range of protein concentrations. Two strong binding sites, at or near the tryptophan residues of bovine serum albumin, were found for both tetracyclines. The equilibrium constants for tetracyclines increased with increasing protein concentration, and the number of binding sites on the protein decreased with increasing protein concentration. These findings suggest the possibility of a sharing of one tetracycline molecule by more than one protein molecule at relatively high protein concentrations.
Relativistic Quantum Cryptography

Using entangled photons and a low-loss optical delay, we implement a novel quantum cryptography protocol in which every photon contributes to the key, yielding enhanced efficiency, and an advantage for six- versus four-basis state protocols.
Scores on Exercise Dependence among Dancers

A number of researchers have suggested that the syndrome of exercise dependence (addiction) is paralleled by a tendency towards eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. As considerable research has reported a high incidence of eating disorders among dancers and as rigorous physical demands are inherent in dance, we hypothesized that dancers would present a higher profile of exercise dependence on the Negative Addiction Scale than other athletes. To test this hypothesis, 47 female ballet and modern dancers completed a survey on exercise dependence adapted from Hailey and Bailey (1982) to assess quantitatively exercise dependence. Scores were compared with those obtained from 39 female endurance (running) athletes and 16 female nonendurance (field hockey) athletes. Significantly higher scores on dependence for dancers than for endurance or nonendurance athletes were noted. The data indicate that dancers may be at greater risk for psychophysiological problems associated with exercise dependence than other athletes and so should be monitored for symptoms.
Kappa and q Indices: Dependence on the Degrees of Freedom

The kappa distributions, or their equivalent, the q-exponential distributions, are the natural generalization of the classical Boltzmann-Maxwell distributions, applied to the study of the particle populations in collisionless space plasmas. A huge step in the development of the theory of kappa distributions and their applications in space plasma physics has been achieved with the discovery that the observed kappa distributions are connected with the solid statistical background of non-extensive statistical mechanics. Now that the statistical framework has been identified, it is straightforward to improve our understanding of the nature of the kappa index (or the entropic q-index) that governs these distributions. One critical topic is the dependence of the kappa index on the degrees of freedom. In this paper, we first show how this specific dependence is naturally emerged, using the formalism of the N-particle kappa distribution of velocities. Then, the result is extended in the presence of potential energies. It is shown that the kappa index is simply related to the kinetic and potential degrees of freedom. In addition, it is shown that various problems of non-extensive statistical mechanics, such as (i) the correlation dependence on the total number of particles; and (ii) the normalization divergence for finite kappa indices, are resolved considering the kappa index dependence on the degrees of freedom.
Inhibition of prostate cancer growth and metastasis using small interference RNA specific for minichromosome complex maintenance component 7

Minichromosome complex maintenance component 7 (MCM7) is a critical component of DNA replication licensing. Amplification and overexpression of MCM7 leads to high rate of prostate cancer metastasis. Recent studies indicate that MCM7 genome encodes a putative 'super-oncogene' cluster including MCM7 oncogene and a miRNA cluster that knocks down the expression of several critical tumor-suppressor genes. In this study, we constructed a vector that constitutively expresses small interference RNA (siRNA) specific for MCM7. Introduction of this vector into prostate cancer cell lines PC3 or Du145 decreases the expression of MCM7 by 80%. The vector inhibits DNA synthesis and generates growth arrest of these cancer cells. Severe combined immunodeficient mice were xenografted PC3 or Du145 tumors, and subsequently treated with this vector through tail vein injection with polyethylenimine. The animals had dramatically smaller tumor volume, less metastasis and better survival rate in comparison with the controls. As a result, intervention of MCM7 expression using siRNA approach may hold the promise for treating androgen refractory prostate cancer.
Development of substrates for through glass vias (TGV) for 3DS-IC integration

Through-substrate vias (TSV) are critical for Three-Dimensional Stacked Integrated Circuits (3DS-IC) integration. While silicon traditionally has been used in this application, glass has properties that make it a very intriguing material for through substrate via applications. We note that the term glass describes a broad material set, with a wide range of properties driven by composition. For example, compositional changes allow tailoring of mechanical and thermal properties. Furthermore, novel forming processes available today enable reduction or elimination of time consuming and costly thinning or polishing processes, as well as opportunities to more easily scale the footprint of the substrate. Significant progress has been made to develop techniques to provide suitable through holes for vias in different glass compositions, which leverages the versatility of glass to create a substrate for TSV.
Turbulent Augmentation of Internal Convection Over Pins in Staggered Pin Fin Arrays

The objective of this reserch was to investigate pin fin midline heat transfer in terms of our understanding of stagnation region heat transfer for cylinders in cross flow and turbine airfoils. An experimental investigation was conducted in a staggered pin fin array at Reynolds numbers of 3000, 10,000, and 30,000 based on the maximum velocity between cylinders. Midline distributions of static pressure and heat transfer were acquired for rows 1 through 8 at the three Reynolds numbers. Turbulence measurements and velocity distributions were acquired at the inlet and in between adjacent pins in rows using hot wire anemometry. One dimensional power spectra were calculated to determine integral and energy scales. Midline heat transfer distributions are reported as Nusselt number divided by the square root of Reynolds number as a function of angle. In these terms, heat transfer was found to increase through row 3 for a Reynolds number of 30,000. After row 3, heat transfer diminished slightly. Reynolds number for each row was recast in terms of an effective approach velocity, which was found to be highest in row 3 due to the upstream blockage of row 2. Based on this effective velocity Nusselt number divided by the square root of Reynolds number increased through row 4. These data indicate that heat transfer is highest in row 3 pins due to the highest effective velocity while heat transfer augmentation due to turbulence is highest in row 4 and beyond. Hot wire measurements show higher turbulence intensity and dissipation rates upstream of row 4 compared to upstream of row 3. Generally pressure, heat transfer, and turbulence measurements were taken at all rows providing a better understanding of turbulent transport from pin fin arrays.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Gender Disparity in the Advanced Industrial Society: Female - Male Relations at a Recently Coeducated College

The consequences of structural change in advanced industrial society are examined with regard to male-female relations at a college that, until recently, admitted only men. Special attention is focused on conflicts which emerge as female and male students attempt to cope with the admission of women. In this regard, the struggle for power, both covert and overt, is studied as the men attempt to maintain their position and the newly arrived women try to establish a niche in this formerly all-male world. Such issues as the relative resource base of males and females and the struggle over the utility of ascriptive and achievement criteria in the treatment of fellow students are examined in detail. Data are drawn from participant observation and from student surveys.
Relations between neuropsychological performance and brain morphological and physiological measures in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia

Correlational approaches that examine the relation between neuropsychological measures and brain morphology or physiology in schizophrenia have yielded inconsistent results. This may be due in part to difficulties in ascertaining precisely to what degree each measure deviates from its genetically and environmentally determined potential level. We attempted to surmount this problem in a paradigm involving monozygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia. In this paradigm, the difference score between the unaffected member and affected member of a twin pair should represent the degree of pathologic involvement irrespective of actual level. In correlating intrapair difference scores of anatomic structures measured from magnetic resonance imaging (n = 15) and prefrontal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) (n = 10) with cognitive abilities (after partialing IQ), we found strong associations between (1) the left hippocampus and a parameter of verbal memory, and (2) prefrontal rCBF with symptom scores and perseveration on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. These results support other research implicating medial temporal and prefrontal regions as important in the symptomatic expression and cognitive failures of schizophrenia. Overall, however, there was a relative paucity of significant associations between neuroanatomic and neurocognitive variables. This may have been due to the relatively restricted ranges of hippocampal size or cognitive ability found in this sample.
Establishing the reliability and concurrent validity of physical performance tests using virtual reality equipment for community-dwelling healthy elders.

AbstractPurpose: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and concurrent validity of commonly used physical performance tests using the OmniVR™ Virtual Rehabilitation System for healt...
Toxicity problems in mulch tillage

Abstract Apparently, phytotoxic substances of many different types are produced by a myriad of microorganisms and higher plants. Knowledge of the chemical nature of these phytotoxic substances is useful agronomically, for example, in contributing to an understanding of the results obtained with various crop rotations. Furthermore, such information is important ecologically, inasmuch as naturally occurring phytotoxic substances from higher plants and microorganisms also affect plant and microbial ecology. This area of research is of great importance in guiding future study as follows: (a) plan and regulate tillage in the stubble-mulch system in order to achieve soil and water conservation needs while minimizing phytotoxicity; (b) design suitable tillage machinery compatible with good conservation practices and minimal phytotoxicity; and (c) research for crop adaptation and breeding to exploit the yield potential of stubble-mulching. The isolation and identification of new phytotoxic substances will undoubtedly result in the discovery of some new compounds suitable for use in the control and management of both plants and microorganisms. This area of research is complex, and much work will be needed before the many aspects of the interaction of the phytotoxic substances with plants and microorganisms can be understood fully.
Spectrin and ankyrin in brain

Further similarity between mammalian erythrocyte spectrin and pig brain spectrin has been demonstrated by (a) formation of hybrid molecules with brain alpha-chains and erythrocyte beta-chains and by (b) identification of an ankyrin protein in brain membranes. Hybrid spectrin molecules prepared from brain alpha-chains and erythrocyte beta-chains were visualized by low-angle rotary shadowing as double-stranded rods (dimers) 100 nM in length. 125I-labeled brain alpha-chain that was hybridized with erythrocyte beta-subunit acquired ability to bind to ankyrin sites on erythrocyte membranes. 125I-labeled brain alpha-chain bound only to beta-subunits of erythrocyte and brain spectrin following transfer of these polypeptides to nitrocellulose paper from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels. Thus brain spectrin and mammalian erythrocyte spectrin have shared functional sites involved in association of their subunits. Additional evidence for similarity of brain and erythrocyte membranes is the finding of a 210,000 Mr membrane protein in brain that cross-reacts with erythrocyte ankyrin and has a water-soluble domain of 72,000 Mr that is produced by protease digestion. The 72,000 Mr domain of brain ankyrin has been isolated by affinity chromatography on erythrocyte spectrin-Sepharose, and was demonstrated to bind directly to erythrocyte and brain spectrin. The brain 72,000 Mr fragment has distinct peptide maps from the erythrocyte 72,000 Mr ankyrin fragment and thus is not a result of erythrocyte contamination.
Understanding patient perceptions of shared decision making

Abstract Objective This study aims to develop a conceptual model of patient-defined SDM, and understand what leads patients to label a specific, decision-making process as shared. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 primary care patients following a recent appointment. Patients were asked about the meaning of SDM and about specific decisions that they labeled as shared. Interviews were coded using qualitative content analysis. Results Patients’ conceptual definition of SDM included four components of an interactive exchange prior to making the decision: both doctor and patient share information, both are open-minded and respectful, patient self-advocacy, and a personalized physician recommendation. Additionally, a long-term trusting relationship helps foster SDM. In contrast, when asked about a specific decision labeled as shared, patients described a range of interactions with the only commonality being that the two parties came to a mutually agreed-upon decision. Conclusion There is no one-size-fits all process that leads patients to label a decision as shared. Rather, the outcome of “agreement” may be more important than the actual decision-making process for patients to label a decision as shared. Practice implications Studies are needed to better understand how longitudinal communication between patient and physicians and patient self-advocacy behaviors affect patient perceptions of SDM.
Finite-element analysis of laminated bimodulus composite-material plates

Abstract Finite element analysis of the equations governing the small-deflection elastic behavior of thin plates laminated of anisotropic bimodulus materials (which have different elastic stiffnesses depending upon the sign of the fiber-direction strain) is presented. Single-layer and two-layer cross-ply, simply-supported rectangular plates subjected to sinusoidally distributed normal pressure and uniformly distributed normal pressure are analyzed. For the sinusoidally loaded case, the finite element solutions are gratifyingly close to the exact closed-form solutions.
Visualization of microscale particle focusing in diluted and whole blood using particle trajectory analysis

Inertial microfluidics has demonstrated the potential to provide a rich range of capabilities to manipulate biological fluids and particles to address various challenges in biomedical science and clinical medicine. Various microchannel geometries have been used to study the inertial focusing behavior of particles suspended in simple buffer solutions or in highly diluted blood. One aspect of inertial focusing that has not been studied is how particles suspended in whole or minimally diluted blood respond to inertial forces in microchannels. The utility of imaging techniques (i.e., high-speed bright-field imaging and long exposure fluorescence (streak) imaging) primarily used to observe particle focusing in microchannels is limited in complex fluids such as whole blood due to interference from the large numbers of red blood cells (RBCs). In this study, we used particle trajectory analysis (PTA) to observe the inertial focusing behavior of polystyrene beads, white blood cells, and PC-3 prostate cancer cells in physiological saline and blood. Identification of in-focus (fluorescently labeled) particles was achieved at mean particle velocities of up to 1.85 m s−1. Quantitative measurements of in-focus particles were used to construct intensity maps of particle frequency in the channel cross-section and scatter plots of particle centroid coordinates vs. particle diameter. PC-3 cells spiked into whole blood (HCT = 45%) demonstrated a novel focusing mode not observed in physiological saline or diluted blood. PTA can be used as an experimental frame of reference for understanding the physical basis of inertial lift forces in whole blood and discover inertial focusing modes that can be used to enable particle separation in whole blood.
The effect of product positioning in a comparison table on consumers' evaluation of a sponsor

This paper examines the effect on consumers’ perceptions resulting from the positioning of a sponsor in relation to a competitor or competitors in a comparison table of a print advertisement. We hypothesize when a sponsor places its product in the right-hand panel and the competitor’s product in the left-hand panel, respondents will react with a favorable evaluation for the sponsor as a result of two primary forces. The first is a general preference for an object positioned on the right as opposed to an object positioned on the left. The second is a vastly prevalent left-to-right reading habit. The prevalent left-to-right reading habit can lead consumers to subconsciously perceive this layout as a positive comparative advertisement, and the reversed placement is perceived as a negative comparative advertisement. We confirmed the hypothesis with three laboratory experiments.
Femtosecond laser ablation and deposition of metal films on transparent substrates with applications in photomask repair

We describe experiments using ultrashort pulses of laser light to ablatively remove opaque and partially transmitting materials from transparent substrates. Pulses of 100 femtosecond duration at a wavelength of 266 nm were used to repair defects on photomasks used in lithographic printing of integrated circuits, with better than 100 nm spatial resolution. Details of the development and implementation of a photomask repair tool, presently operating in manufacturing, which exploits the advantages of ablation with femtosecond pulses, are presented. We further describe experiments where pulses of 400 nm light were used to photolytically deposit Cr metal with better than 200 nm resolution. Finally we describe a gas phase 35 femtosecond laser source used to extend this approach to ablative mask repair at 193 nm.
The influence of physical soil conditions on the formation of root nodules of Melilotus officinalis in the montane zone of Rocky Mountain National Park

Exotic invasion is a key threat to native biological diversity, second only to habitat degradation. Melilotus officinalis is an exotic species that thrives in areas of anthropogenic disturbances and low nutrient availability. Typically, natural disturbance facilitates native species establishment and maintains species diversity; however, anthropogenic disturbance facilitates exotic species establishment. M. officinalis functions as a competitor in the montane communities because of its symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria, a symbiosis that allows the plant to acquire nitrogen. Although the ability to fix nitrogen permits M. officinalis to grow in nitrogen depleted soils, the soil must have a microclimate that is favorable to symbiosis and nodulation. We analyzed abiotic soil characteristics in Rocky Mountain National Park to determine if nodulation was related to soil texture, as well as in the mid-range level of soil and temperatures. We found that nodules on plant specimens showed a positive correlation with soil moisture and temperature, and occurred in a specific range of moderate moisture and temperature. Soil texture was not correlated to nodule formation.
XXIV. Visual sensations caused by a magnetic field

(1914). XXIV. Visual sensations caused by a magnetic field. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 28, No. 164, pp. 188-207.
Prevention of human papillomavirus infections and associated diseases by vaccination: a new hope for global public health.

Cervarix® and Gardasil®, 2 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, have been approved and implemented globally in young adolescent women with the hope of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer several
The role of platelets in arterial thrombosis and the rationale for blockade of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors as antithrombotic therapy

Platelet aggregation plays a crucial role in ischaemic arterial thrombosis. Recent biochemical data indicate that the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor mediates platelet aggregation by binding fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, or other ligands, that can span between platelets. New antiplatelet agents that block the binding sites on GPIIb/IIIa are efficacious in arterial thrombosis animal models and are now being evaluated in human disease. A mouse/human chimeric monoclonal antibody fragment (c7E3 Fab) and agents modelled after the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) cell binding motif are in development. c7E3 Fab showed significant efficacy in reducing ischaemic complications after angioplasty in patients at high risk of such complications in the EPIC study, and thus has been approved for use in the U.S. and several European and Scandinavian countries. These new agents also hold considerable promise in the treatment of other thrombotic disorders, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction.
MICRORNA-483 TARGETING CONNECTIVE TISSUE GROWTH FACTOR: IMPLICATION IN KAWASAKI DISEASE

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis that can result in endothelial dysfunction and coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in 25% of untreated children. Our previous studies suggests Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) is involved in KD patients with CAA, evidenced by positive staining
An Effort to Upgrade Perinatal Nursing Practice in Albania

In 1994 the Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, New York, and the University Hospital in Tirana, Albania, entered into a partnership designed to upgrade certain aspects of the health care system in Albania. During a 2-week trip, an American contingent of nurses and nurse-midwives worked to increase the knowledge base of Albanian nurses about some of the most important issues in perinatal care and of the roles of nurses and nurse-midwives in the United States as patient advocates and educators.
Climate Change and the Limits to the Growth-oriented Model of Development: The Case of China and India

This paper discusses the interplay between the rise of China and India in the world economy and the global climate emergency. It considers alternative growth scenarios for China and India. The resu...
Race and Gender Oppression in the Classroom The Experiences of Women Faculty of Color with White Male Students

Research shows that an oppressive classroom environment impairs learning and academic performance for students with oppressed identities. Less research examines faculty perceptions of their classroom, but such research could reveal whether an oppressive environment impairs teaching effectiveness. Although the literature shows that women faculty of color spend a disproportionate amount of time teaching, researchers have not systematically examined their classroom experiences. My study relies on transcripts of 17 in-depth interviews with women faculty of color at a large, predominantly white research institution. Despite their legitimate authority as professors, these women describe gendered racism in their classroom interactions with students. Specifically, they depict white male students as challenging their authority, teaching competency, and scholarly expertise, as well as offering subtle and not so subtle threats to their persons and their careers.
Theoretical analysis of the effects of two pH regulation patterns on the temperature sensitivities of biological systems in nonhomeothermic animals.

Abstract When protonation reactions comprise a part of biochemical reaction schemes in vivo, the temperature sensitivities of chemical equilibria and of enzymatic rates are modulated according to the variation of pH with TB (body temperature). Two patterns of pH regulation have been established, each pattern controlling the ionization states of different titratable groups as TB changes: dpH dT B ≅ 0 pH unit/° C for the blood of heterothermic mammals (constant charge for phosphate groups, e.g.), and dpH dT B ≅ −0.017 pH unit/° C for intracellular and blood compartments of vertebrate and invertebrate poikilotherms (constant charge for histidine imidazole and -SH groups). Calculations demonstrate the feasibility of the following. (i) A large effect of TB on a metabolic branch point is possible when the competition of two pathways for common substrate is governed by two titratable groups with large differences in ΔHio values (ionization enthalpy), e.g., phosphate and alpha amino groups. (ii) The effect of temperature on the amount of free energy released from equilibrium chemical reactions (as might occur for reactions not controlled by rate-limiting enzymes) would depend strongly on the value of ΔHi0, and on which of the two pH regulation patterns was present. (iii) If free energy released from ionization reactions were coupled to activation processes of enzyme catalysis, so as to effectively decrease free energy barriers, the temperature sensitivities of reaction rates would be smaller in pH environments in which pH varied inversely with TB than in environments of constant pH, regardless of ΔHi0. (iv) Different mechanisms for the modulation of metabolism as a function of TB might have evolved for animals with different values of dpH dT B .
First reports of Draba pennellii and Draba pedicellata (Cruciferae) in Utah, and new distribution records for Draba kassii, Draba novolympica, and Hackelia ibapensis (Boraginaceae).

ABSTRACT. The discovery of Draba pennellii Rollins and D. pedicellata (Rollins & R.A. Price) Windham var. pedicellata, both previously known only from Nevada, is reported here from the Deep Creek Mountains of western Utah. The documentation of significant populations of D. pennellii and D. pedicellata var. pedicellata in Utah is important for accurate botanical inventories and floristic studies in both Utah and Nevada, New distribution records for D. kassii S.L. Welsh, D. novolympica Payson & St. John, and Hackelia ibapensis L.M. Shultz & J.S. Shultz are described, and the significance of these range extensions and new populations is discussed.
Is downsizing and disbanding specialty care teams a counterproductive strategy for cost reduction in health care

Cost reduction is a major focus of healthcare in the United States (US) and throughout the world. US hospitals are merging and downsizing staff as a major effort in cost containment. Specialty care teams such as nutrition support, IV therapy, and infection control, have been early prey to downsizing or elimination by administrators who perceive these programs as dispensible amenities. This will most likely prove to be counterproductive and excessively costly. In 1994, the US Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research published The National Bill for Diseases Treated in the U. S. Hospitals, which listed medical complications from the use of a device or procedure for diagnosis or treatment among the top ten most costly health-related problems in the US, at an annual cost of $3.1 billion. An extraordinary number of medical devices are used in the delivery of parenteral and enteral nutrition. Both modalities carry significant risk for costly complications related to the associated medical device. The incidence of central venous catheter (CVC) complications alone is estimated at well over 10%. The consequences of adverse events with vascular catheters and enteral feeding devices can be life-threatening. Patients may survive elaborate, high-tech surgical procedures after trauma or lifethreatening illnesses only to later suffer or die as a result of insufficient knowledge of prevention or treatment of medical device-related complications, or failure of the device itself. Patients surviving such adverse events may be left with profound abnormalities such as neurological impairment, disfigurement, loss of limb, or permanent loss of venous access sites; all negative outcomes which result in extended length of hospital stay and inordinate costs. Another costly and unfortunate outcome of device-related adverse events is malpractice litigation, not typically a line-item in a hospital’s or agency’s budget. Following are examples of recent legal cases where large sums were awarded for patients who suffered or died from such events.
The ethical, moral, and pragmatic rationale for brain augmentation.

We can say with certainty that our species would be unlikely to exist as it does today without augmentation. Cognitive- and neuroenhancements are just the latest in a long line of augmentations that have helped our species to survive and flourish. While there are some valid concerns, the benefits of brain augmentations like tDCS will likely far outweigh their costs when properly used. The continued pursuit of cognitive- and neuro-enhancement will help us to improve our quality of life, reduce suffering from brain and mental illness, and enhance our chances of survival long-term. Conflict of interest statement The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Maximum a posteriori probability line tracking for nonstationary processes

The problem of estimating the instantaneous frequency (IF) of a discrete time FM signal in additive white noise is addressed. The IF laws are modeled as first-order stationary Markov processes defined on the unit circle and a recursive algorithm for determining the maximum a posteriori probability IF sequences is derived. The basic single signal algorithm is of complexity O(N/sup 3/T) where T is the length of the signal segment and N is the number of subintervals of discretization of (0,2 pi ) used for the maximization step. Some examples are given to illustrate the tracking ability of the method. >
Crystalline Growth of Wurtzite GaN on (111) GaAs

Gallium Nitride films were grown on (111) gallium arsenide substrates using reactive rf magnetron sputtering. Despite a 20% lattice mismatch and different crystal structure, wurtzite. Heteroepitaxy was observed for growth temperatures between 550-600{degrees}C. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed (0002) GaN peak with a full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) as narrow as 0.17{degree}. Possible surface reconstructions to explain the epitaxial growth are presented.
Chemical Scavenger Probes in Nonequilibrium Gasdynamics

IRECT, local measurements of atom, free radical, excited molecule, and/or ion concentrations are required in the experimental study of nonequilibriu m flow fields and for calibrating high enthalpy test facilities In attempts to simulate the conditions of hypervelocity flight it is necessary to know whether the test gas composition (e g , population of excited states) is not, in some sense, singular, particularly when an electrical discharge is used to heat the gas Although gas-sampling techniques have been successfully applied to the study of local stable species concentrations both in subsonic and supersonic steady flows,1"3 rapid heterogeneous and homogeneous leactions in the sampling system have precluded their direct use for unstable species We wish to point out here that this difficulty can frequently be eliminated by introducing a "scavenger" gas immediately inside the probe The scavengei rapidly and quantitatively reacts with the unstable species in the sampled gas to form one or more stable pioducts, which can then be analyzed downstream by any one of a numbei of conventional techniques The authors have successfully applied this principle in sampling nonequilibiium supersonic sti earns of active nitiogen for both atoms and excited molecules Details of the experimental technique, and the implications of this work to our understanding of the chemistiy of active nitrogen will be found in a forthcoming paper 4 Here we confine our attention to some
Performance analysis for diversity reception of digital signals over correlated fading channels

A general approach is presented for analyzing the performance of digital signaling with multichannel reception on correlated fading channels. The approach is based on a complex Gaussian model for the joint distribution of the fading on the multiple channels, and previous results on the unified performance analysis of digital signaling on fading channels using an alternative representation of the Q(/spl middot/) function. Numerical results that illustrate the effect of correlation on the diversity gain from multichannel reception are also presented.
FAMILY STRUCTURE AND COLLEGE GRADUATION: IS THE STEPPARENT EFFECT MORE NEGATIVE THAN THE SINGLE PARENT EFFECT?

We use data from the National Longitudinal Education Study (NELS) to build upon previous research that considered the negative effects of living in mother-only families and stepparent families on the subsequent educational attainment of children. Our results break new ground in finding that although those who lived in a mother-only family are not less likely overall to graduate college than those who lived with two biological parents, they are significantly less likely to graduate college given four-year college attendance even when other important factors are controlled. In addition, we find that those who lived in a stepparent family are less likely overall to graduate college than those who lived with two biological parents when other important factors are controlled. This difference for those who lived in a stepparent family is due to lower chances of four-year college attendance given high school graduation and of college graduation given four-year college attendance.
Advanced Computing and Communications Research under NSF Support

This paper discusses the research initiatives and programs supported by the National Science Foundation to promote high-end computing and largescale networking. This work mainly falls under the US interagency activity called High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC). The paper describes the Federal geovernment context of HPCC, and the HPCC programs and their main accomplishemnts. Finally, it decribes the recommendations of a recent high-level advisory committee on information technology, as these are likely to have a major impact on the future of government initiatives in high-end computing and networking.
Functional significance of the outer dense fibers of mammalian sperm examined by computer simulations with the geometric clutch model

The flagella of mammalian sperm possess certain structural characteristics that distinguish them from simple flagella. Most notable of these features are the sheath (surrounding the axoneme), the outer dense fibers of ODFs (that are attached to the outer doublets), and the connecting piece (which anchors the ODFs at the base of the flagellum). In this study, the significance of these specialized axonemal elements is explored. Their impact on microtubule sliding and force production within the axoneme is specifically analyzed. A working hypothesis is developed based on the premise that forces produced by interdoublet sliding are transferred to the ODFs. In this way, the torque required to bend the flagellum is developed between the ODFs, which are anchored in the connecting piece. This working hypothesis was incorporated into the pre-existing "geometric clutch" model that earlier simulated only cilia and simple flagella. The characteristic length and stiffness of bovine sperm flagella were specified as modelling parameters. Additionally, the inter-ODF spacing of bull sperm was incorporated to calculate doublet sliding and bending torque. The resultant computer-simulated pattern of flagellar beating possesses many of the attributes of the beat of a live bull sperm flagellum. Notably, this life-like simulation can be produced using parameters for the central axonemal "motor" that are comparable to those effective in modelling a simple flagellum. In the proposed scheme, the accessory structures of the mammalian sperm axoneme provide increased stiffness while at the same time providing a means to proportionately raise the bending torque to overcome that additional flexural rigidity. This capacity is due to the inter-ODF distances being larger than the corresponding interdoublet spacings. If force is transmitted to the flagellar base by way of the ODFs, then the larger effective diameter generates both a greater bending torque and increased interdoublet sliding. This has the interesting effect of consolidating the energy from more dynein cross-bridges into the production of a single bend. Consequently. greater bending torque development is permitted than would be possible in a simple flagellum. In This way, the same 9 + 2 organization of a simple flagellum can power a much larger (and stiffer) version than would otherwise be possible.
Conserved Histone Variant H2A.Z Protects Euchromatin from the Ectopic Spread of Silent Heterochromatin

Boundary elements hinder the spread of heterochromatin, yet these sites do not fully account for the preservation of adjacent euchromatin. Histone variant H2A.Z (Htz1 in yeast) replaces conventional H2A in many nucleosomes. Microarray analysis revealed that HTZ1-activated genes cluster near telomeres. The reduced expression of most of these genes in htz1Δ cells was reversed by the deletion of SIR2 (sir2Δ) suggesting that H2A.Z antagonizes telomeric silencing. Other Htz1-activated genes flank the silent HMR mating-type locus. Their requirement for Htz1 can be bypassed by sir2Δ or by a deletion encompassing the silencing nucleation sites in HMR. In htz1Δ cells, Sir2 and Sir3 spread into flanking euchromatic regions, producing changes in histone H4 acetylation and H3 4-methylation indicative of ectopic heterochromatin formation. Htz1 is enriched in these euchromatic regions and acts synergistically with a boundary element to prevent the spread of heterochromatin. Thus, euchromatin and heterochromatin each contains components that antagonize switching to the opposite chromatin state.
Tree LANs with collision avoidance: protocol, switch architecture, and simulated performance

Packet collisions and their resolution create a performance bottleneck in random access LANs. A hardware solution to this problem is to use collision avoidance switches. These switches allow the implementation of random access protocols without the penalty of collisions among packets. We describe the designs of some tree LANs that use collision avoidance switches. The collision avoidance LANs we describe are broadcast star and CAMB tree (Collision Avoidance Multiple Broadcast tree). We next present a possible implementation of a collision avoidance switch using currently available photonic devices. Finally, we show the performance of broadcast star and CAMB tree networks using simulations.
Alteration in epithelial permeability and ion transport in a mouse model of total parenteral nutrition

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of total parenteral nutrition administration on intestinal ion transport and intestinal epithelial permeability. Additionally, to assess the role of interferon-γ on the total parenteral nutrition-induced loss of epithelial barrier function.DesignRandomized, contro