cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase transformations in a uranium + 14 at.% niobium alloy

Abstract After quenching or quenching and aging, uranium-niobium alloys near the monotectoid composition exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties including the curious shape memory effect (SME). In this study, the transformation of the elevated temperature b.c.c. phase during both continuous cooling and isothermal aging was investigated by dilatometry and X-ray diffraction on a 14 at.% alloy. Two transformation stages were detected during rapid cooling from 1075 K to room temperature. The end product was the metastable transition phase. α″, which had a monoclinic unit cell geometry and was thought to transform martensitically according to the reaction sequence γ(b.c.c.) → γ°(tetragonal) → α″(monoclinic). For the fastest quenching rate. Ms was 435K and MF approximately 340 K. The Ms was found to vary significantly with cooling rate, increasing by 120 K when the cooling rate was reduced from 243 K/s to 2.1 K/s. The reverse transformation temperatures, As and AF were heating rate dependent and increased as the rate was decreased. The γ to α″ transition could also be accomplished isothermally by aging at a temperature 165 K above Ms. Indirect evidence was presented to suggest that the supersaturated parent phase may be modified by solute atom precipitation during aging or slow cooling thus promoting the time-dependent transformation to α″ at temperatures above Ms.
Analysis of laboratory growler impact tests

Growler impact tests have been performed in IOT's Ice Tank facility. Free-floating parallelepiped-shaped growlers (small glacial ice masses) were impacted with a heavy apparatus (i.e. impact plate) designed to simulate a ship bow. Impacts were conducted at speeds ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 m/s, at three growler orientations, and at impact plate angles of 45°, 30°, and 15°. The impact plate measured forces and incorporated a new panel for pressure measurements. Peak loads increased linearly with impactor speed, and increased with impact plate angle. Growler orientation affected peak impact loads, where the greatest values occurred when the long axis of the growler was normal to the impact plate surface. The duration of the impacts for a particular growler was approximately constant regardless of the test parameters. Thin sections of ice from the zones of impact showed the ice to be relatively intact. Data and thin section observations from a few crushing tests in an MTS machine on samples of the same iceberg ice corroborated with pressure data and thin sections from the growler impact tests. The growlers appeared to be resilient to impacts and could withstand many impacts without significant damage to the bulk ice.
Arthritis disability and heart disease disability.

Objective Arthritis is the most common health condition in midlife and late life, and heart disease is the leading cause of death. This article compares disability impacts of these 2 preeminent health problems. Methods Using data from the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement, we studied specific limitations and disabilities, accommodations used (buffers), and accommodations needed (barriers) for US population groups of adults with arthritis disability, heart disease disability, both arthritis and heart disease disability, and disability due to other conditions. Weights and complex SE adjusted for sample design. We hypothesized that arthritis disability is more extensive and troublesome than heart disease disability. Results People with arthritis disability had more numerous, longer, and more bothersome disabilities than people with heart disease disability. People with arthritis disability used more equipment and rehabilitation, whereas people with heart disease disability emphasized personal assistance, medications, and medical services. People with arthritis disability experienced more barriers and needs in activities and services. People with disabilities from both arthritis and heart disease were especially disadvantaged, with high levels of limitations and accommodations. People with disability from other conditions had the highest social participation, fewest disabilities, and most tailored accommodations of all groups. Conclusion Arthritis had higher and more extensive disability impact than heart disease. Both groups had more difficulty, buffers, and barriers in their lives than people disabled by other conditions. Therefore, arthritis and heart disease are premier conditions for disability attention and alleviation in the US population.
Production of Ethanol from Cellulose Using Clostridum thermocellum

Clostridium thermocellum was used to produce ethanol from cellulose in a continuous system. Batch fermentations were first performed to observe the effects of buffers and agitation on generation time and ethanol production. Continuous fermentations were carried out at 60/sup 0/C and pH 7 using pure cellulose as the limiting substrate. The maximum ethanol concentrations produced with 1.5 and 3% cellulose fermenting liquid were 0.3 and 0.9% respectively. The yield of ethanol was about 0.3 grams per gram of cellulose consumed. While the continuous fermentaion of cellulose with Clostridium thermocellum appears to be feasible, it may not be economically promising due to the slow growth of the organism.
Circumferential Pelvic Antishock Sheeting: A Temporary Resuscitation Aid

Acute traumatic pelvic ring instability causes severe pain and associated hemorrhage. Circumferential pelvic sheeting provides patient comfort and noninvasive, rapid, and temporary pelvic ring stability. A bed sheet is readily available, inexpensive, easily applied around the pelvis, and disposable.
Evaluation of High Compliant Low Ag Solder Alloys on OSP as a Drop Solution for the 2nd Level Pb-Free Interconnection

Low Ag content alloys (Sn1.2Ag0.5Cu) with or without Ni doping on Cu organic solderability preservative (OSP) were evaluated as a high G drop solution to Sn4.0Ag0.5Cu with Ni/Au surface finish for the mobile electronics. Three key points are studied in this paper. First, the effect of increasing compliance of alloy was studied. High compliance and high plasticity energy dissipation effectively toughened the crack tip and prolonged the time to reach the critical stress for the fracture. Second, the effect of Ni doping to the interfacial phase formation was studied. The substitution of Ni for Cu effectively suppresses growth kinetics of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) and makes the IMC layer thin. Finally, reliability tests were conducted to evaluate thermomechanical and high G drop resistance of low Ag alloys with Cu OSP surface finish. Overall, low Ag content alloy systems enhance high G shock resistance significantly without sacrificing thermomechanical performance.
Psychometric comparisons of the standard and abbreviated DBAS-10 versions of the dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep questionnaire

Abstract Objective : To evaluate the psychometric properties of the DBAS-10, a recently proposed abbreviated version of the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep Scale (DBAS). Population : Two hundred and eleven (69 normal sleepers; 142 insomnia suffers) middle-aged and older adults (age 40–79 years) drawn from two separate cohorts of research volunteers. Method : Volunteers in the first cohort (69 normal sleepers; 69 insomnia sufferers) completed the full DBAS on one occasion. Volunteers in the second cohort (73 insomnia sufferers) completed the full DBAS prior to treatment and at multiple subsequent time points to assess treatment-related changes. A series of statistical tests were conducted with one or both cohorts to investigate the comparability of the DBAS-10 and full DBAS, the internal consistency of each instrument, the factor structure of the DBAS-10, and the validity of this instrument. Results : Statistical findings showed that the DBAS-10 correlated highly with the full DBAS, had respectable internal consistency, effectively discriminated normal sleepers from insomnia sufferers, and detected cognitive changes resulting specifically from CBT intervention. Although factor analysis empirically identified three conceptually meaningful DBAS-10 subscales, the subscale structure varied somewhat from previous factor analytic findings with this instrument. Conclusions : The DBAS-10 generally appears to have very acceptable psychometric properties although subscales previously proposed for this instrument may vary across research populations. Nonetheless, results encourage the use of this instrument in studies concerned with the nature and treatment of sleep-disruptive cognitions.
CD47 and the control of immune hemolysis

Oldenborg and colleagues (page [3500][1]) provide convincing evidence for the role of CD47 in modulating immune hemolysis in NOD mice, which are naturally prone to the development of mild autoimmune hemolysis. Previously, these investigators have shown that CD47-SIRPα signaling inhibits macrophage
Evaluating alliance-focused intervention for potential treatment failures: A feasibility study and descriptive analysis.

This article describes a pilot study evaluating the feasibility of an approach developed to test the efficacy of a therapeutic intervention (brief relational therapy) for patients with whom it is difficult to establish a therapeutic alliance. In the first phase of the study, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either short-term dynamic therapy (STDP) or short-term cognitive therapy (CBT), and their progress in the first eight sessions of treatment was monitored. On the basis of a number of empirically derived criteria, 18 potential treatment failures were identified. In the second phase of the study, these identified patients were offered the option of being reassigned to another treatment. The 10 patients who agreed to switch treatments were reassigned either to the alliance-focused treatment, referred to as brief relational therapy (BRT), or a control condition. For patients coming from CBT, the control condition was STDP. For patients coming from STDP, the control condition was CBT. The results provide preliminary evidence supporting the potential value of BRT as an intervention that is useful in the context of alliance ruptures.
The association of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and group B streptococci with preterm rupture of the membranes and pregnancy outcome

There is conflicting evidence regarding a possible causal role for Chlamydia trachomatis in the development of preterm premature rupture of the membranes. We investigated the relative prevalence of endocervical infection with C. trachomads and group B streptococci in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes compared with a control group taken from the same obstetric population. C. trachomads was isolated from 23152 (44%) patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes versus 13184 (15%) women in the control group ( p Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Group B streptococci were isolated from 16% of the patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes versus 4% of the control population ( p C. trachomads and N. gonorrhoeae . Endocervical infection with C. trachomads did not significantly affect early maternal complication rates after delivery.
From Tara to Oz and Home Again: Home Sweet Movies

(1990). From Tara to Oz and Home Again: Home Sweet Movies. Journal of Popular Film and Television: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 52-63.
Gene expression of innate Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-type cytokines during early life of neonatal foals in response to Rhodococcus equi

Focusing on the first 3 weeks of life, this study examined the mRNA transcript development of different Th-type cytokines in foals in response to Rhodococcus equi infection in vitro. Results demonstrated the significant up-regulation in expression of Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-type cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-17, IL-23p19, and TNF-α) in R. equi infection of bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) cells of 10-day-old foals. Consequently, signature cytokines of 3 Th cell types, IFN-γ (Th1), IL-4 (Th2), and IL-17 (Th17), were used to compare temporal response patterns of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to stimulation with R. equi. Foals responded to R. equi stimulation by producing similar amounts of IFN-γ mRNA transcripts from birth through 3 weeks of age, suggesting an absence of age-related impairment in Th1-type cytokine response to R. equi during the first 3 weeks of life. It remains debatable whether this Th1 response to R. equi in foals≤3 weeks of age is generally immature relative to older foals or adult horses. IL-4 expression by R. equi-stimulated PBMCs was significantly decreased at birth, and IL-17 expression was relatively reduced during the first week of life. Among all cytokines studied, IL-17 mRNA transcripts were induced with the highest magnitude of fold-change both in BAL cells and in PBMCs. Under the conditions studied, in vivo administration of a CpG failed to modulate the Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-type cytokine expression patterns in PBMCs.
Ostéotomies percutanées de dérotation de l'avant-bras dans les synostoses radio-ulnaires congénitales de l'enfant

Resume La position en pronation complete du poignet dans les synostoses radio-ulnaires superieures congenitales retentit sur la fonction du membre superieur surtout dans les formes bilaterales. La derotation du squelette anti-brachial est l’intervention habituellement proposee. Les techniques et les sites envisages pour cette chirurgie sont nombreux, et soulignent les difficultes, les risques et les complications possibles. A propos d’une serie de 12 cas, nous proposons de realiser la derotation par une osteoclasie d’un ou des deux os de l’avant-bras effectuee en percutane. La nouvelle position permettant un gain moyen de 51° est assuree par un plâtre brachio-palmaire jusqu’a consolidation. La surveillance post-reductionnelle est necessaire. Nous n’avons cependant pas eu de complication vasculo-nerveuse, probablement par le peu d’hematome ainsi cree. Le prejudice esthetique est quasiment nul et il n’y a pas de re intervention pour ablation de materiel. Sa realisation est d’autant plus facile que l’enfant est jeune, et impose donc une indication operatoire avant l’apparition de la gene fonctionnelle.
Silicon vidicon system for measuring laser intensity profiles

A silicon-target vidicon and minicomputer system providing rapid recording, readout, and processing of laser beam intensity profiles is described. Results are presented for 150-psec, 1064-nm neodymium laser pulses. Use of a thick, neutron-transmutation-doped silicon target reduced spatial sensitivity nonuniformities and coherent interference modulation. Modifications of commercial cameras to provide linearized output and timing control are described. The vidicon signal is recorded in a video disk recorder, digitized, and stored on a magnetic disk. Selected 1-D profiles and color isointensity whole beam profiles are available on CRT displays. Using a PDP-11 computer, the beam is analyzed to yield a peak energy flux within 100 sec after the laser pulse. The performance of the vidicon system is compared with photographic film techniques. Results show a sensitivity uniformity of succeeds, equals93% peak to peak over a target distance of 9.6 mm, linear dynamic range of greater, similar20, and absolute flux agreement within +/-10%. The system is useful for other laser wavelengths and pulse durations as well as for nonlaser applications.
Demonstration of tolerance to ethanol in non-nervous tissue: effects on vascular smooth muscle.

Rats were maintained on liquid diets containing ethanol (6.8% v/v) or sucrose (controls) for periods of 2 and 6 wk to determine whether excised aortic or venous (portal vein) smooth muscle would exhibit any change in tone or reactivity when exposed to vasoactive agonists or to added ethanol (ETOH) in vitro. The results indicate that portal veins (PV) from the 2-wk ETOH group show marked attenuation of (A) spontaneous tone, (B) angiotensin and K+-induced contractions, and (C) Ca2+-induced contractions. In contrast, PV from rats on ETOH for 6 wk only show depression of tone and Ca2+-induced responses when compared to sucrose-fed controls. Exposure of the PV to ethanol in vitro inhibits spontaneous tone of control sucrose-fed animals but exerts little action on PV obtained from ETOH-maintained rats. Although the addition of a high bathing concentration of ETOH (430 m/W) can evoke potent contractions in normal aorta, it fails to exert such action in most aortas obtained from rats maintained on ETOH. In vitro ETOH also dose-dependently inhibited all drug-induced contractions of blood vessels from control rats, but exerted little inhibition on PV and aortas obtained from ETOH-maintained rats. These data indicate (1) chronic ETOH ingestion can directly influence vasomotor tone, reactivity of vascular muscle, and permeability of vascular membranes to Ca2+; (2) chronic ETOH treatment can induce a progressive “tolerance” in vascular tissue; and (3) the development of tolerance in vascular smooth muscle to ETOH may aid in explaining why long-term alcoholic animals and man do not develop signs of hypotension.
The Eschatological Conversion of ‘All the Nations’ in Matthew 28.19-20: (Mis)reading Matthew through Paul

The Great Commission in Matthew envisions the eschatological conversion of some from among ‘all the nations’ (πάντα τὰ ἔθνη) to Israel’s Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, and to his authoritative interpr...
Transglutaminase 2 inhibitor, KCC009, disrupts fibronectin assembly in the extracellular matrix and sensitizes orthotopic glioblastomas to chemotherapy

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2, a.k.a. tissue transglutaminase) belongs to a family of transglutaminase enzymes that stabilize proteins by affecting covalent crosslinking via formation of amide bonds. Cell surface TG2 is directly involved as an adhesive receptor in cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. Here, we show that TG2 activity is elevated in glioblastomas compared with non-neoplastic brain. Immunofluorescent studies showed increased staining of fibronectin colocalized with TG2 in the ECM in glioblastomas. In addition, small clusters of invading human glioblastoma cells present in non-neoplastic brain parenchyma secrete high levels of TG2 and fibronectin that distinguish them from normal brain stroma. Downregulation of TG2 in U87MG glioblastoma cells with RNAi demonstrated decreased assembly of fibronectin in the ECM. Treatment with KCC009 blocked the remodeling of fibronectin in the ECM in glioblastomas in both in vitro and in vivo studies. KCC009 treatment in mice harboring orthotopic glioblastomas (DBT-FG) sensitized the tumors to N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea chemotherapy, as measured by reduced bioluminescence, increased apoptosis and prolonged survival. The ability of KCC009 to interfere with the permissive remodeling of fibronectin in the ECM in glioblastomas suggests a novel target to enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy directed not only at the tumor mass, but also invading glioblastoma cells.
Multiple-choice learning of line-drawn facial features: III. Transfer as a function of performance or observation

Utilizing data previously reported (Marx, 1979b, 1979c),this article extends the analysis of sex differences and performance/observation in transfer. Some rather complex interactions relating performance/observation in learning to same-sex or different-sex stimulus materials are interpreted as suggesting that transfer may be more effective after performance for relatively easy materials and more effective after observation for more difficult materials.
Characterization of the head-twitch response induced by hallucinogens in mice: detection of the behavior based on the dynamics of head movement.

Rationale The head-twitch response (HTR) is a rapid side-to-side rotational head movement that occurs in rats and mice after administration of serotonergic hallucinogens and other 5-HT2A agonists. The HTR is widely used as a behavioral assay for 5-HT2A activation and to probe for interactions between the 5-HT2A receptor and other transmitter systems.
Grain yield, seed weight, seed N concentration, and nodule activity of soybean as influenced by defoliation and N fertilizer

Abstract It is unknown if nitrogen (N) fertilizer application will ameliorate the yield loss associated with severe defoliation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] at the R5 stage of growth. The objective of this field study was to investigate the interaction of N fertilization rate and extent of defoliation on soybean yield, seed weight, seed N concentration, and nodule activity. Field experiments were conducted in 1988 and 1989 on a Drummer silty clay loam (Typic Haplaquolls). Treatment variables were three cultivars: BSR 101, Chamberlain, and Elgin 87; three N fertilizer rates applied one day after defoliation: 0, 84, and 168 kg N ha‐1 as urea; and three levels of defoliation: 0, 50, and 75%. Grain yield was not significantly affected by N rate but did decrease with defoliation. Fertilizer N did not ameliorate the yield reduction associated with defoliation. Seed weight decreased linearly with increasing defoliation. Plants exposed to the most severe defoliation produced seed which weighed 1 g 100‐1 se...
Application of NDE technologies to support in-service health monitoring of flexible composite components

The Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center is evaluating nondestructive evaluation techniques for the inspection of flexible rubber composites in a shipboard service environment. The composite components are constructed of low-loss rubber materials, with several layers of reinforcement fabric located in the mid-thickness of the material. In a preliminary investigation, specimens aged in a laboratory environment and specimens removed form in-service platforms were inspected using near-field microwave techniques. The aged specimens contained small cracks and surface imperfections, while the in-service specimens exhibited delaminations between the rubber base material and the fabric plies. Inspections using a 33.375 GHz, open-ended rectangular waveguide demonstrated the ability to detect delaminations between the rubber casings and fabric plies, as well as for the detection of cord breakage of the fibers. Additional work is being planned to quantify the inspection capabilities relative to an acceptance criterion and to conduct in-service pilot studies with naval inspection personnel.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Correlated Interaction and Group Selection

AbstractOkasha ([2005]) argues that correlated interactions are necessary for group selection. His argument turns on a particular procedure for measuring the strength of selection, and employs a re...
Alcohol-dependent individuals discount sex at higher rates than controls.

Abstract Background Research on delay discounting has expanded our understanding of substance dependence in many ways. Recently, orderly discounting of sexual rewards has been demonstrated in both substance-dependent individuals, and healthy controls. Less clear, however, is if rates of sexual discounting are higher than controls in alcohol-dependent-individuals. Methods 20 alcohol-dependent individuals and 21 healthy control participants completed two delay-discounting tasks. One task involved monetary rewards, whereas the other involved the discounting of sexual rewards (i.e., number of sex acts). Results Alcohol dependent individuals discounted sexual rewards at significantly higher rates than did controls. There was a trend toward, but not a similarly significant relation for the discounting of monetary rewards. Conclusions Rates of sexual discounting are elevated in alcohol dependent individuals. If this relation is replicated in other at risk populations, the rapid devaluation of sexual rewards may be a laboratory marker of impulsive sexual choices.
TREATMENT OF ACUTE IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA (aITP) IN CHILDREN: A'RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF 120 CASES 164

alTP in children is generally a benign disease with a high frequency of spontaneous remission. Nevertheless the risk of life threatening haemorrhage exists as long as the platelet count remains below 20 × 109 / 1. Therefore the debate over treatment versus no treatment is still open.
Interface controlled precipitate dissolution and constitutional liquation

The paper reviews some of the kinetic aspects of second phase dissolution in binary and multicomponent systems, and relates them to the phenomenon of constitutional liquation, which is one of the causes of liquation in the subsolidus portion of the weld heat affected zone (HAZ) of these alloys. Particular attention is devoted to the concept of interface control during precipitate dissolution, and its effect on the extent and kinetics of constitutional liquation. It is shown that the presence of a sluggish interfacial reaction during precipitate dissolution has the potential to completely eliminate subsolidus liquation in the HAZ. Some of the conditions under which precipitate dissolution might become interface controlled are discussed. It is proposed that some of these variables can be controlled either through proper alloy design or through appropriate heat treatments, in order to develop microstructures which resist liquation in the subsolidus HAZ.
Token System Design for Autonomic Wireless Relay Networks

This paper proposes a novel framework for incentivizing self-interested transceivers operating in autonomic wireless networks to provide relaying services to other transceivers in exchange for tokens. Tokens represent a simple internal currency which can be used by the transceivers in a network to exchange services. Our emphasis in this paper is on developing optimal designs for the token system, which maximize the system efficiency, i.e. the probability that the relay transmission will be executed by transceivers whenever they are requested to provide such services. Particularly, we prove that the efficiency of the relay network heavily depends on issuing the proper amount of tokens rather than an arbitrary amount. First, we study the transceivers' optimal strategies (i.e. the strategies that maximize the transceivers' own utilities) using the formalism of repeated games. We prove that these strategies exhibit a simple threshold structure. We also prove that the threshold is unique given transmission costs. Second, we determine the optimal token amount which needs to be introduced in the relay system to maximize the overall relay network efficiency. This amount needs to be neither too small (since a too small amount leads to a small relaying service request probability) nor too large (since a too large amount leads to a small relaying service provision probability) and depends on the threshold strategy that the self-interested transceivers adopt. We subsequently develop an efficient algorithm which is able to determine, depending on the network characteristics, the threshold to be implemented by the optimal strategies and the optimal token amount. Finally, simulation results show the effectiveness of our token system design in providing incentives for cooperation among self-interested relays in autonomic wireless relay networks.
Integrating Rigor and Relevance in Public Administration Scholarship: The Contribution of Narrative Inquiry

A traditional view of scholarly quality defines rigor as the application of method and assumes an implicit connection with relevance. But as an applied field, public administration requires explicit attention to both rigor and relevance. Interpretive scholars' notions of rigor demand an explicit inclusion of relevance as an integral aspect of quality. As one form of interpretive research, narrative inquiry illuminates how this can be done. Appreciating this contribution requires a deeper knowledge of the logic of narrative inquiry, an acknowledgement of the diversity of narrative approaches, and attention to the implications for judging its quality. We use our story about community-based leadership research to develop and illustrate this argument.
Effect of calcination rate on petroleum coke properties

The excellent work of Bui, Perron, and Read studied several process parameters pertinent to the calcination of green petroleum coke and the subsequent effect on calcined coke properties. One parameter studied was a calcination rate that was comparatively fast. Other work has shown that the calcination rate may be more important in its effect on anisotropic, or premium, coke properties that on more isotropic coke properties than was suspected by Bui, Perron, and Read.
COMPARISON OF STIRRING AND VORTEX MIXING FOR THE EXTRACTION OF AVAILABLE NUTRIENTS FROM SOIL USING A LABORATORY ROBOT

Abstract We investigated the efficiency with which a laboratory robot is able to extract available nutrients from soil contained in tubes. We have shown that for vortex mixing, the volume of soil and extractant are of critical importance. In cases where the soil/extractant volumes are small (e.g. 2 mL soil: 10 mL extractant), extraction of all the nutrients investigated was good. However, keeping the ratio the same, but increasing the volumes to 6 mL soil:30 mL extractant leads to an overall decrease in extracting efficiency. Using a paddle stirrer to mix the soil and extractant together results in the same extraction efficiency across the range of soil/ extractant volumes.
Just-In-Time Teaching in Sociology Or How I Convinced My Students to Actually Read the Assignment:

data in my introductory sociology course, I made a startling and disappointing discovery. For the most part, students simply were not bothering to read the basics version of the introductory survey textbook that I assigned. This discovery presented me with two related challenges. First, I had to carefully choose readings that would enhance student learning, active engagement with the material, and critical thinking. Second, I had to find an instructional method that would motivate students to actually read the material. In this teaching note, I describe how I came to select readers, rather than comprehensive survey textbooks, and how I utilized instructional technology through Just-in-Time (JiT) quizzes to encourage students to read them. Perhaps my students had good reason not to read the introductory textbook. Such textbooks have often been discussed and debated in the pages of Teaching Sociology. Rau and Baker (1989) criticized introductory texts for lacking intellectual depth and rigor. Hinch (1988) criticized their encyclopedic approach, charging that it failed to inspire critical thinking in students and erroneously separated theory, method, and fact. Others have charged that introductory texts fail to provide sufficient or appropriate coverage of certain topic areas such as race and ethnicity (Dennick-Brecht 1993), class stratification (Lucal 1994), disability (Taub
Sensitivity of dilepton angular distributions to the gluon spin

Abstract Previous work on properties of dilepton angular distributions which are independent of parton distribution functions is extended to include scalar gluons. For moderate dilepton transverse momentum and large mass, the three measurable coefficients are quite sensitive to the gluon spin. Results are presented for both the annihilation and Compton scattering processes.
Bronchoscopy in paediatric intensive care.

Bronchoscopy is a highly versatile technique in the context of intensive care and has many potentially valuable indications. Safety is of paramount importance and the risks in critically unstable patients are correspondingly greater than in more stable children. The main contraindication to bronchoscopy is if it will provide no useful information. The procedure is obviously more risky in children with severe hypoxia, uncontrolled bleeding diathesis, cardiac failure or severe pulmonary hypertension. Monitoring should include at least oxygen saturation, blood pressure (ideally by continuous, invasive monitoring) and preferably capnography. Indications for bronchoscopy in paediatric intensive care include endobronchial toilet, sometimes instilling recombinant human DNAase even in children who do not have cystic fibrosis; checking tube patency and position; assisting in a difficult intubation or tube change; achieving the selective intubation of a main bronchus; the diagnosis and management of ventilator-associated pneumonia or the ventilated, immunocompromised host; the assessment of lobar collapse or focal hyperinflation; airway stent assessment; assessment of stridor on extubation and the diagnosis of any associated disease. New iatrogenic complications are also likely to be discovered. The procedure is very safe if performed by experienced operators with back-up from doctors skilled in airway management and the monitoring of sick children.
Construct Validity of I-Level Classification

Presently, California's Community Treatment Project (CTP) may be granted its claim of relative success in rehabilitating "neurotic" male delinquents. But earlier, more extensive, success claims by CTP researchers have been justifiably questioned by outside researchers. The present findings provide a possible reason for the limited success of CTP. With the data from Jesness's Preston study, Costner's multiple indicator procedure, and stepwise multiple regression, there is no evidence that competence in interpersonal relations and social maturity are important in I-level classification. But intelligence and moral orientation explain substantial amounts of the variance in I-level. These findings are contrary to the emphasis in CTP and in I-level theory, the basis of CTP.
An approach to teaching simulation to undergraduates

Although traditionally a subject for graduate study, simulation has recently been included in many undergraduate curricula. After a discussion of the objectives of a simulation course for undergraduates, this paper recommends an approach to teaching such a course which makes use of a commercially available simulation language, such as GPSS or SLAM. This approach is discussed in relation to the course objectives. Finally, the results of the authors' experience with this approach are discussed.
Effects of suspended clay on Daphnia body growth and fitness

SUMMARY 1. Suspended sediments often reduce the abundance, fitness, and feeding rates of planktonic cladocerans. This paper examines the effect of suspended clay particles on the body growth and life-history parameters of Daphnia ambigua. Cohorts were exposed to zero or 50mgl−1 suspended clay (particle size <2μm). Individuals exposed to clay had significantly lower body lengths at a given age than individuals in the control cohort. Parameters for the von Bertalanffy body growth equation were calculated for each individual; the asymptotic maximum body length (lmax) was reduced, but the growth rate constant (k) was unaffected, by the presence of suspended clay. Body length at reproductive maturity was lower in the presence of suspended clay; this may be an adaptive response and is similar to the response of cladocerans to limiting food concentrations. 2. Age-specific survivorship and fecundity were both reduced, and the ages of maturity and first reproduction were both increased, in the presence of suspended clay. The overall effect of these demographic changes was a 70% decline in the net reproductive rate (Ro), a measure of fitness. 3. Suspended clay affected the relationship between body length and fecundity. Animals of a given length produced fewer eggs in the presence of suspended clay. In addition, there was a significant interaction in the effects of body length and clay on brood size: the slope of the regression line of brood size as a function of body length was lower in the presence of clay. This interaction has also been observed in limiting food concentrations, and may be caused by reductions in body length at maturity in low food or high clay environments. 4. The similarity between the effects of limiting food concentrations and suspended clay on Daphnia body growth, survivorship, fecundity, and brood size makes sense, given previous observations showing that suspended clay reduces the feeding rate of D. ambigua by up to 70% due to mechanical interference with feeding behaviours.
Sp(3,R) mean field theory for heavy deformed nuclei

Algebraic mean field theory (AMFT) for the symplectic $\mathrm{sp}(3,R)$ algebra is used to derive collective rotational bands in the Riemann ellipsoidal approximation. AMFT is formulated in terms of symplectic density matrices that are defined by the quantum mechanical expectations of the $\mathrm{sp}(3,R)$ operators. The mean field approximation restricts the densities to a coadjoint orbit of the canonical transformation group $\mathrm{Sp}(3,R).$ For principal axis rotation, a system of three algebraic equations is derived from energy minimization on an orbit surface. The system is solved self-consistently for the axis lengths and the potential tensor.
Absorption parameters of very dense molecular spectra for the HITRAN compilation

Cross sections for the heavy molecules CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-13, CFC-14, CFC-22, CFC-113, CFC-114, CFC-115, CCl4, ClONO2, N2O5, HNO4, and HNO3 are included on the HITRAN 91 database. For many of these species, the cross sections vary by a factor of two between room temperature and temperatures near 210 K. The chemical importance of the heavy molecules, the quantitative accuracy of the HITRAN 91 cross sections, and the need for additional spectroscopic quantification are discussed.
Investigating motionese: The effect of infant-directed action on infants' attention and object exploration

Adults modify their communication when interacting with infants, and these modifications have been tied to infant attention. However, the effect infant-directed action on infant behavior is understudied. This study examined whether infant-directed action affects infants, specifically their attention to and exploratory behaviors with objects. Forty-eight 8- to 10-month-old infants and their caregivers participated in a laboratory session during which caregivers demonstrated objects to infants using infant-directed action. Results indicated that variation in amplitude and repetition were tied to differences in infant attention, and varying levels of repetition were tied to differences in object exploration.
Ancient Properties of Spider Silks Revealed by the Complete Gene Sequence of the Prey-Wrapping Silk Protein (AcSp1)

Spider silk fibers have impressive mechanical properties and are primarily composed of highly repetitive structural proteins (termed spidroins) encoded by a single gene family. Most characterized spidroin genes are incompletely known because of their extreme size (typically >9 kb) and repetitiveness, limiting understanding of the evolutionary processes that gave rise to their unusual gene architectures. The only complete spidroin genes characterized thus far form the dragline in the Western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus. Here, we describe the first complete gene sequence encoding the aciniform spidroin AcSp1, the primary component of spider prey-wrapping fibers. L. hesperus AcSp1 contains a single enormous (∼19 kb) exon. The AcSp1 repeat sequence is exceptionally conserved between two widow species (∼94% identity) and between widows and distantly related orb-weavers (∼30% identity), consistent with a history of strong purifying selection on its amino acid sequence. Furthermore, the 16 repeats (each 371-375 amino acids long) found in black widow AcSp1 are, on average, >99% identical at the nucleotide level. A combination of stabilizing selection on amino acid sequence, selection on silent sites, and intragenic recombination likely explains the extreme homogenization of AcSp1 repeats. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of spidroin paralogs support a gene duplication event occurring concomitantly with specialization of the aciniform glands and the tubuliform glands, which synthesize egg-case silk. With repeats that are dramatically different in length and amino acid composition from dragline spidroins, our L. hesperus AcSp1 expands the knowledge base for developing silk-based biomimetic technologies.
Recombination-Promoting Activity of the Bacteriophage λ Rap Protein in Escherichia coli K-12

The rap gene of bacteriophage λ was placed in the chromosome of an Escherichia coli K-12 strain in which the recBCD gene cluster had previously been replaced by the λ red genes and in which the recG gene had been deleted. Recombination between linear double-stranded DNA molecules and the chromosome was tested in variants of the recGΔ red+ rap+ strain bearing mutations in genes known to affect recombination in other cellular pathways. The linear DNA was a 4-kb fragment containing the cat gene, with flanking lac sequences, released from an infecting phage chromosome by restriction enzyme cleavage in the cell. Replacement of wild-type lacZ with lacZ::cat was monitored by measuring the production of Lac-deficient chloramphenicol-resistant bacterial progeny. The results of these experiments indicated that the λ rap gene could functionally substitute for the E. coli ruvC gene in Red-mediated recombination.
Parameter decoupling for transfer function identification during quasi-harmonic operation

Using a frequency domain model arising from Fourier moment functionals of the Shinbrot type (1957), it is shown how a particular decoupling can be exploited in estimating parameters that characterize the numerator and denominator transfer function polynomials when sinusoidal probing signals are used during an otherwise transient or nonstationary state of operation. Potential applications include frequency analyses of lightly damped systems for which establishing steady state or stationary operation may require unreasonably long settling times.
Traumatic Left Ventricular Papillary Muscle Rupture: The Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Diagnosis and Surgical Management

We report a case of left ventricular posteromedial papillary muscle rupture caused by blunt chest trauma. Transesophageal echocardiography was used to establish the diagnosis and to assist with surgical repair of the mitral valve apparatus. Echocardiographic findings of the acutely ruptured papillary muscle are reviewed.
Measurements of NaI(Tl) Electron Response: Comparison of Different Samples

This paper measures the sample to sample variation in the light yield proportionality of NaI(Tl), and so explores whether this is an invariant characteristic of the material or whether it depends on the chemical and physical properties of the tested samples. We report on the electron response of nine crystals of NaI(Tl), differing in shape, volume, age, manufacturer and quality. The proportionality has been measured at the SLYNCI facility in the energy range between 3.5 to 460 keV. We observe that while samples produced by the same manufacturer at approximately the same time have virtually identical electron response curves, there are significant sample to sample variations among crystals produced by different manufacturers or at different times. In an effort to correlate changes in the electron response with details of the scintillation mechanism, we characterized other scintillation properties, including the gamma response and the x-ray excited emission spectra and decay times, for the nine crystals. While sample to sample differences in these crystals were observed, we have been unable to identify the underlying fundamental mechanisms that are responsible for these differences.
A Fourier-Based Solver for 3-D High-Frequency Surface Scattering Problems

We present a high-frequency algorithm for the numerical solution of problems of wave scattering by bounded obstacles in three dimensions. The algorithm combines the use of an ansatz for the unknown density in a boundary integral formulation of the scattering problem with an extension of the ideas of the method of stationary phase. It relies on the fast Fourier transform for the high-order interpolation of the unknowns and is error controllable for moderate to very high frequencies with virtually fixed computational times
Geometry-based estimation of occlusions from video frame pairs

The knowledge of occlusions and newly-exposed areas, a natural consequence of changing object juxtaposition in a 3D scene, can be effectively used to improve video coding efficiency, video rate conversion quality and view interpolation fidelity. Although various occlusion estimation methods have been proposed to date, most of them are not robust or are computationally complex. In this paper, we study two simple, well-known occlusion estimation methods, one based on a photometric mismatch between two frames of an image sequence, while the other based on a geometric mismatch. We demonstrate their weaknesses and propose a new geometric method that exhibits good robustness to noise in the data while maintaining low computational complexity.
Energy-efficient transceiver circuits for short-range on-chip interconnects

Transceiver blocks for low-swing signaling across short on-chip wires are proposed. First, a charge-sharing transmitter enables adjustable swing signaling from a single supply voltage. Compact sense-amplifier offset correction is introduced that enables improved sensitivity without increasing energy/conversion. Finally, digital hysteresis tuning is used to implement compact decision feedback equalization. Optimized for low-energy applications and operating from Vdd = 0.2−1.0V, measurements show energy efficiencies of 4.0–136fJ=bit=mm across 1mm and 4mm wires in 65nm-CMOS.
Coalescing binary systems of compact objects to (post)5/2-Newtonian order: Late-time evolution and gravitational-radiation emission.

The late-time evolution of binary systems of compact objects (neutron stars or black holes) is studied using the Damour-Deruelle (post){sup 5/2}-Newtonian equations of motion with relativistic corrections of all orders up to and including radiation reaction. Using the method of osculating orbital elements from celestial mechanics, we evolve the orbits to separations of {ital r}{approx}2{ital m}, where {ital m} is the total mass, at which point the (post){sup 5/2}-Newtonian approximation breaks down. With the orbits as input, we calculate the gravitational wave form and luminosity using a post-Newtonian formalism of Wagoner and Will. Results are obtained for systems containing various combinations of compact objects, for various values of the mass ratio {ital m}{sub 1}/{ital m}{sub 2}, and for various initial values of the orbital eccentricity.