cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isotopic abundances: inferences on solar system and planetary evolution

Members of the Royal Swedish Academy, ladies and gentlemen. In thinking over why I am here today, I recalled the story of Tom Sawyer, a character of Mark Twain's. On a beautiful, bright Saturday morning, when all of his friends were playing, he appeared by the wall in front of his aunt's house with a bucket of whitewash paint and a long-handled brush. Before him stood about thirty meters of continuous wooden fence, three meters tall. He dipped his brush and passed it over a plank and then repeated it. Then he stopped and compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unpainted fence and became melancholy. Then he took up the brush again and went to work. A friend came by and teased him for working on Saturday when he could be swimming or playing. Tom said it wasn't so bad, because a boy didn't get the chance to whitewash a fence every day. Tom took a new brush stroke at the fence and stepped back to note the beauty of the effect. His friend got interested and then asked permission to make a stroke or two. He then offered Tom the core of an apple he had just started to nibble on. Tom told him that it was doubtful that his friend could help because this was the front fence and that a very good and sophisticated job had to be done. Possibly only but one child in a thousand, possibly two-thousand, could do it. Well, after this denial, his friend just had to try and offered Tom the whole apple for a chance to paint. Then more young friends came around to attempt this challenging task. By the end of the afternoon, Tom was the wealthiest boy in town. He had twelve marbles, a key that didn't unlock anything, a piece of blue glass to look through, a tin soldier, a dog collar (but no dog) and lots of other valuable things. The fence had been coated three times and if he had not run out of whitewash, Tom would have bankrupted every kid in the village. My presence here is due to an ability to attract young talent to help whitewash the fence. The only difference is that we have just started on the job.
Cellular microRNA miR-181b Inhibits Replication of Mink Enteritis Virus by Repression of Non-Structural Protein 1 Translation

Mink enteritis virus (MEV) is one of the most important viral pathogens in the mink industry. Recent studies have showed that microRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs of length ranging from 18–23 nucleotides (nt) participate in host-pathogen interaction networks; however, whether or not miRNAs are involved in MEV infection has not been reported. Our study revealed that miRNA miR-181b inhibited replication of MEV in the feline kidney (F81) cell line by targeting the MEV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) messenger RNA (mRNA) coding region, resulting in NS1 translational repression, while MEV infection reduced miR-181b expression. This is the first description of cellular miRNAs modulating MEV infection in F81 cells, providing further insight into the mechanisms of viral infection, and may be useful in development of naturally-occurring miRNAs antiviral strategies.
Simulating marine boundary layer clouds over the eastern Pacific in a regional climate model with double-moment cloud microphysics

A double-moment cloud microphysics scheme with a prognostic treatment of aerosols inside clouds has been implemented into the International Pacific Research Center Regional Atmospheric Model (iRAM) to simulate marine boundary layer clouds over the eastern Pacific and to study aerosol-cloud interactions, including the aerosol indirect effect. This paper describes the new model system and presents a comparison of model results with observations. The results show that iRAM with the double-moment cloud microphysics scheme is able to reproduce the major features, including the geographical patterns and vertical distribution of the basic cloud parameters such as cloud droplet number, liquid water content, or droplet effective radii over the eastern Pacific reasonably well. However, the model tends to underestimate cloud droplet number concentrations near the coastal regions strongly influenced by advection of continental aerosols and precursor gases. In addition, the average location of the stratocumulus deck off South America is shifted to the northwest compared with the satellite observations. We apply the new model system to assess the indirect aerosol effect over the eastern Pacific by comparing a simulation with preindustrial aerosol to an otherwise identical simulation with present-day aerosol. Resulting changes in the cloud droplet number concentration are particularly pronounced in Gulf of Mexico and along the Pacific coastlines with local changes up to 70 cm(-3) (50% of the present-day value). The modeled domain-averaged 3-month (August-October) mean change in top-of-atmosphere net cloud forcing over the ocean owing to changes in the aerosol burden by anthropogenic activities is -1.6W m(-2) (Less)
Detection of silicate emission features in the 8- to 13-μm spectra of main belt asteroids

A presentation is given of 8.0-13.0 micron spectra (Delta lambda/lambda = 0.02-0.03) for six main belt asteroids, which range from 58 to 220 km in diameter and sample the five principal taxonomic classes (C, S, M, R and E). Narrow, well-defined silicate emission features are present on two of the asteroids, the C-type 19 Fortuna and the M-type 21 Lutetia. No comparable emission features are observed on the S-types 11 Parthenope and 14 Irene, the R-type 349 Dembowska or the E-type 64 Angelina.
Faster PDE-based simulations using robust composite linear solvers

Many large-scale scientific simulations require the solution of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). The effective solution of such nonlinear PDEs depends to a large extent on efficient and robust sparse linear system solution. In this paper, we show how fast and reliable sparse linear solvers can be composed from several underlying linear solution methods. We present a combinatorial framework for developing optimal composite solvers using metrics such as the execution times and failure rates of base solution schemes. We demonstrate how such composites can be easily instantiated using advanced software environments. Our experiments indicate that overall simulation time can be reduced through highly reliable linear system solution using composite solvers.
Genetic effects of habitat fragmentation and population isolation on Etheostoma raneyi (Percidae)

The use of genetic methods to quantify the effects of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation on population structure has become increasingly common. However, in today’s highly fragmented habitats, researchers have sometimes concluded that populations are currently genetically isolated due to habitat fragmentation without testing the possibility that populations were genetically isolated before European settlement. Etheostoma raneyi is a benthic headwater fish restricted to river drainages in northern Mississippi, USA, that has a suite of adaptive traits that correlate with poor dispersal ability. Aquatic habitat within this area has been extensively modified, primarily by flood-control projects, and populations in headwater streams have possibly become genetically isolated from one another. We used microsatellite markers to quantify genetic structure as well as contemporary and historical gene flow across the range of the species. Results indicated that genetically distinct populations exist in each headwater stream analyzed, current gene flow rates are lower than historical rates, most genetic variation is partitioned among populations, and populations in the Yocona River drainage show lower levels of genetic diversity than populations in the Tallahatchie River drainage and other Etheostoma species. All populations have negative FIS scores, of which roughly half are significant relative to Hardy–Weinberg expectations, perhaps due to small population sizes. We conclude that anthropogenic habitat alteration and fragmentation has had a profoundly negative impact on the species by isolating E. raneyi within headwater stream reaches. Further research is needed to inform conservation strategies, but populations in the Yocona River drainage are in dire need of management action. Carefully planned human-mediated dispersal and habitat restoration should be explored as management options across the range of the species.
Reliability and validity of the CTOPP Elision and Blending Words subtests for struggling adult readers

Almost half of American adults struggle with reading but there is a dearth of reading-related assessments for these adults. In turn, researchers and practitioners use assessments designed for children with these adults. This study examined the psychometric and descriptive attributes of the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP) Elision and Blending Words subtests with struggling adult readers. The sample included 207 native English speaking adults reading between the third- and fifth-grade levels. Analyses included comparisons of struggling adult readers to the CTOPP norm group. Results revealed lower overall performance and reliability and validity for struggling adult readers compared to the norm group. In addition, analyses included comparisons of performance, reliability, and validity within the group of struggling adult readers by age. The older adults had lower overall performance as well as more questionable reliability and validity. This study raises concern about administering and interpreting Elision and Blending Words subtests with struggling adult readers.
Application of release rate data to hazard load calculations

The author illustrates methods of applying heat, smoke and toxic gas release rate data to calculating fire hazard loading values.
Oxidation resistant coatings for refractory metal cermets

Abstract Refractory metal cermets have attractive mechanical properties for high temperature applications, but exhibit poor resistance to oxidation attack. A two-step coating process has been developed in order to provide an effective high temperature oxidation resistance. W–HfN and Mo–ZrN cermet samples were initially coated with a layer of Mo through a Mo(CO) 6 decomposition reaction. The second step involved a co-deposition of B and Si by a pack cementation treatment. The resultant aluminoborosilicate coating exhibits good adherence to the cermet samples. Oxidation exposure at temperatures up to 1400 °C demonstrated minimal mass change and an unaltered cermet microstructure.
The effect of experimental imperfections on TOSS spectra

Abstract The effect of imperfections on the TOSS experiment, used to suppress rotational sidebands in magic-angle-spinning NMR, is examined. We consider the effects of errors in pulse lengths, phases, and timing as well as resonance offset effects. Errors in the phases of the π pulses have no effect on the efficiency of sideband suppression, and only introduce a phase shift into the spectrum. In contrast, errors in the length of the π pulses or in their timing lead to an attenuated center-band as well as the reintroduction of residual sidebands. Our results show that phase alternation of the π pulses does not necessarily compensate for pulse length errors and can, in fact, exacerbate their effects. The use of composite π pulses in TOSS is briefly examined and is shown to yield superior performance for spectral lines far from resonance.
Formation of a DNA mismatch repair complex mediated by ATP

The mismatch repair proteins, MutS and MutL, interact in a DNA mismatch and ATP-dependent manner to activate downstream events in repair. Here, we assess the role of ATP binding and hydrolysis in mismatch recognition by MutS and the formation of a ternary complex involving MutS and MutL bound to a mismatched DNA. We show that ATP reduces the affinity of MutS for mismatched DNA and that the modulation of DNA binding affinity by nucleotide is even more pronounced for MutS E694A, a protein that binds ATP but is defective for ATP hydrolysis. Despite the ATP hydrolysis defect, E694A, like WT MutS, undergoes rapid, ATP-dependent dissociation from a DNA mismatch. Furthermore, MutS E694A retains the ability to interact with MutL on mismatched DNA. The recruitment of MutL to a mismatched DNA by MutS is also observed for two mutant MutL proteins, E29A, defective for ATP hydrolysis, and R266A, defective for DNA binding. These results suggest that ATP binding in the absence of hydrolysis is sufficient to trigger formation of a MutS sliding clamp. However, recruitment of MutL results in the formation of a dynamic ternary complex that we propose is the intermediate that signals subsequent repair steps requiring ATP hydrolysis.
Rapid Determination of Sugar Level in Snack Products Using Infrared Spectroscopy

: Real-time spectroscopic methods can provide a valuable window into food manufacturing to permit optimization of production rate, quality and safety. There is a need for cutting edge sensor technology directed at improving efficiency, throughput and reliability of critical processes. The aim of the research was to evaluate the feasibility of infrared systems combined with chemometric analysis to develop rapid methods for determination of sugars in cereal products. Samples were ground and spectra were collected using a mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometer equipped with a triple-bounce ZnSe MIRacle attenuated total reflectance accessory or Fourier transform near infrared (NIR) system equipped with a diffuse reflection-integrating sphere. Sugar contents were determined using a reference HPLC method. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to create cross-validated calibration models. The predictability of the models was evaluated on an independent set of samples and compared with reference techniques. MIR and NIR spectra showed characteristic absorption bands for sugars, and generated excellent PLSR models (sucrose: SEP 0.96). Multivariate models accurately and precisely predicted sugar level in snacks allowing for rapid analysis. This simple technique allows for reliable prediction of quality parameters, and automation enabling food manufacturers for early corrective actions that will ultimately save time and money while establishing a uniform quality. Practical Application: The U.S. snack food industry generates billions of dollars in revenue each year and vibrational spectroscopic methods combined with pattern recognition analysis could permit optimization of production rate, quality, and safety of many food products. This research showed that infrared spectroscopy is a powerful technique for near real-time (approximately 1 min) assessment of sugar content in various cereal products.
Exercise-associated amenorrhea: are altered leptin levels an early warning sign?

IN BRIEF: Although the exact cause of the female athlete triad (amenorrhea, disordered eating, and osteoporosis) is unknown, recent research implicates leptin, a hormone that is secreted by adipocytes. Leptin may be an important indicator of nutritional status and may also play a role in reproductive function. Physicians who develop a plan for early recognition and treatment of exercise-induced amenorrhea now may prevent the more serious consequences of osteopenia and osteoporosis later.
Job satisfaction in professional dual-career couples: Psychological and socioeconomic variables

Abstract The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relative contribution of some psychological and socioeconomic and background variables to job satisfaction in fully employed and underemployed spouses, identified through a university and through community organizations. Subjects were surveyed using mailed questionnaires. A return rate of 60.03% was obtained from the total number of subjects who were mailed questionnaires. There were no significant differences among Fully Employed and Underemployed (i.e., positions requiring less education than that obtained) spouses or couples on job satisfaction; across all employment statuses, only the psychological factors (i.e., self-esteem, career salience, and home salience) were significant ( p
Direct-Deposition and Multiple Materials Integration of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

High-aspect-ratio three-dimensional structures using biocompatible materials are critical for tissue engineering applications. This study develops a multi-nozzle direct-write approach to construct tissue engineering scaffolds with complex three-dimensional structures utilizing polymeric materials. This approach provides the capability to fabricate three dimensional scaffolds by depositing biocompatible UV-curable polymeric material and thermoplastic material (paraffin wax) layer-by-layer, which respectively are used as structural material and supporting material that will be removed later on. The designed structure is built by selectively extruding drops and/or filament through a set of syringes that host different functional materials, following a layer-by-layer sequence. The location of the deposition is precisely controlled by a high precision three-dimensional translational stage. After different structural/functional materials and the supporting material are deposited with predesigned pattern, the supporting material is removed by using appropriate chemical solvent which will not affect physical and chemical properties of the designed structure. The mechanical property of the structure, the equilibrium modulus and dynamic stiffness, can be engineered by designing different pore size for the scaffold. The multi-nozzle based direct writing approach provides a practical solution to build scaffolds for tissue engineering and integrate multiple functional materials together into a single scaffold structure.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Knights of the razor: black barbers in slavery and freedom

Douglas Walter Bristol, Jr, Baltimore, The John Hopkins University Press, 2009, x+216 pp., US$50.00 (hardback), ISBN 9780801892837 In Knights of the Razor, Douglas Walter Bristol Jr, documents the ...
Quality Market: Design and Field Study of Prediction Market for Software Quality Control

Given the increasing competition in the software industry and the critical consequences of software errors, it has become important for companies to achieve high levels of software quality. Generating early forecasts of potential quality problems can have significant benefits to quality improvement. In our research, we utilized a novel approach, called prediction markets, for generating early forecasts of confidence in software quality for an ongoing project in a firm. Analogous to financial market, in a quality market, a security was defined that represented the quality requirement to be predicted. Participants traded on the security to provide their predictions. The market equilibrium price represented the probability of occurrence of the quality being measured. The results suggest that forecasts generated using the prediction markets are closer to the actual project outcomes than polls. We suggest that a suitably designed prediction market may have a useful role in software development domain.
The Role of Social Support in Collegiate Recovery Communities: A Review of the Literature

In the past decades one response to the increase of college drinking is the growing prevalence of Collegiate Recovery Communities (CRC). Numerous publications on these programs exist, yet a review does not. With a growing need for evidence-based model programs to address the concerns of alcohol abuse and dependence on college campuses, the importance of a collection on the effectiveness of CRCs exists. The goal of this article is to compile a thorough overview of data on CRCs in the United States, focusing specifically on the role of social support in recovery maintenance. Recommendations for future directions are discussed.
A community-based walking trial to improve neighborhood quality of life in older adults: a multilevel analysis

Background: Few studies have considered the neighborhood as a context in which to examine the physical activity and quality of life relationship.Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a neighborhood walking program on quality of life among older adults. It was designed as a randomized trial involving a multilevel design with neighborhoods corresponding to primary sampling units and residents to secondary units.Methods: Five hundred eighty-two communitydwelling senior residents (65 years of age or older) in neighborhoods in the northeast metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, were recruited through telephone, direct mail, and referrals. The walking intervention was delivered at the neighborhood level. Neighborhoods (N = 56) were randomly assigned to a 6-month, 3 times per week, leader-led walking group activity (n = 28) or an information-only control group (n = 28). Primary outcome measures included SF-12 (Physical, Mental summary scores) and life satisfaction (SWLS); the secondary outcome measure was neighborhood walking activity, assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months of the study period.Results: Compared to the control neighborhoods, results from multilevel, longitudinal analyses indicated significant improvements in the primary outcomes of SF-12 Physical (p < .05), SF-12 Mental (p < .05) summary scores, and SWLS (p < .05), over the course of the 6-month intervention. A significant increase was also observed in the secondary outcome of walking activity (p < .05).Conclusions: Implementing a neighborhood-based walking program of low to moderate intensity is feasible and beneficial for promoting quality of life among senior residents at a community level.
Evolution and plasticity of photosynthetic thermal tolerance, specific leaf area and leaf size: congeneric species from desert and coastal environments

Summary • We examined whether increased high temperature photosynthetic thermal tolerance (PT), reduced specific leaf area (SLA) and reduced leaf size represent correlated and convergent adaptations for recently diverged Encelia, Salvia, Atriplex and Eriogonum congeneric species pairs from contrasting thermal and water environments (the Mojave Desert and coastal California). We also studied whether variation in PT is associated with inducible small heat shock protein expression (sHsp). • Traits were measured in a common environment (CE) and in the field to partition effects of phenotypic plasticity and genetic divergence. • We found little evidence for convergent adaptation of PT (CE measurements). Field measurements revealed significant plasticity for PT, which was also associated with increased sHsp expression. Compared to coastal congeners desert species had lower SLA in the CE. These differences were magnified in the field. There was a negative correlation between SLA and PT. Desert species also tended to have smaller leaves both in the CE and in the field. • SLA and leaf size reductions represent repeated evolutionary divergences and are perhaps convergent adaptations for species radiating into the desert, while PT is highly plastic and shows little evidence for convergent adaptation in the congeneric species pairs we studied.
Unravelling the pathogenesis and molecular genetics of Hirschsprung's disease

Recently, genetic defects in two different signalling pathways have been shown to be defective in patients with Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). The first is the RET proto-oncogene, a transmembrane signal peptide. RET mutations cause 15–20% of sporadic and up to 50% of familial cases of HSCR. The second defect involves the endothelin B receptor (EDNRB), a G-protein transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor. Defects in EDNRB cause 5% of HSCR and these are predominantly sporadic cases. The impact of these discoveries on the evolution of clinical treatment of HSCR will be by defining phenotype/genotype subgroups and allowing more precise definition of genetic recurrence risks.
Vibrational relaxation of OCS(ν3)

Abstract A laser-induced fluorescence method has been used to measure rate constants for relaxation of the ν3 (2062 cm−1) vibrational level of OCS. A frequency-doubled CO2 laser was used to pump OCS directly to the excited level. At 295 K the rate constants for relaxation by OCS, He, Ar, Kr, H2, O2, NO2 and H2O were 144, 8.0, 8.0, 8.3, 27, 11, 61 and 675, respectively, in units of 10−14 cm3/molecules.
CHANGING ACADEMIC CULTURES AND EXPANDING EXPECTATIONS: MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SCHOLARSHIP AT SMALL CHRISTIAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Many small Christian colleges and universities are changing their cultures from focusing solely on teaching to embracing a teacher–scholar model. Motivating faculty at these small colleges to engage in scholarly activities is becoming one of the top priorities of administration. The culture at private colleges with enrollments of less than 5000 is significantly different from larger state institutions. Faculty at Christian colleges and universities are often stretched thin with teaching loads, committee work, student advising and community involvement. Even so, some faculty at these colleges are making their mark as noted scholars in their fields. The research reported in this paper surveyed faculty at Council for Christian College and University member institutions and posed the question, “What motivates some faculty members to engage in research when other faculty do not?” A questionnaire based on focus group responses and interview responses explored what either motivates or discourages faculty to acti...
Studies with aprindine

Aprindine is a very effective antiarrhythmic agent with a narrow therapeutic-toxic ratio. It has been used successfully in treating patients who have both supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Aprindine slows conduction in all cardiac fibers and suppresses digitalis-induced after-depolarizations. Voltage-clamp studies indicate that aprindine, in higher doses, suppresses the slow inward current in frog atria. In the dog subjected to coronary artery occlusion, aprindine may be arrhythmogenic, antiarrhythmic, or have no effect on the development of arrhythmias, depending on the temporal relationship between time of administration and time of occlusion.
Scepticism and the Development of the Transcendental Dialectic

Kant's response to scepticism in the Critique of Pure Reason is complex and remarkably nuanced, although it is rarely recognized as such. In this paper, I argue that recent attempts to flesh out the details of this response by Paul Guyer and Michael Forster do not go far enough. Although they are right to draw a distinction between Humean and Pyrrhonian scepticism and locate Kant's response to the latter in the Transcendental Dialectic, their accounts fail to capture two important aspects of this response. The first is that Kant's response to Pyrrhonian scepticism is also a response to Hume. The second is that aspects of this response are decidedly positive. In particular, I argue (1) that Kant believed Hume's scepticism manifested important elements of Pyrrhonian scepticism and (2) that both Pyrrhonian scepticism and Hume had a significant positive influence on the development of the Transcendental Dialectic.
Identification of the substrate and pseudosubstrate binding sites of phosphorylase kinase γ-subunit

Using site-directed mutagenesis, we proposed that an autoinhibitory domain(s) is located at the C-terminal region (301-386) of the phosphorylase kinase γ-subunit (Huang, C.-Y. F., Yuan, C.-J., Livanova, N. B., and Graves, D. J. (1993) Mol. Cell. Biochem. 127/128, 7-18). Removal of the putative inhibitory domain(s) by truncation results in the generation of a constitutively active and calmodulin-independent form, γ1-300. To probe the structural basis of autoinhibition of γ-subunit activity, two synthetic peptides, PhK13 (γ303-327) and PhK5 (γ343-367), corresponding to the two calmodulin-binding regions, were assayed for their ability to inhibit γ1-300. Competitive inhibition of γ1-300 by PhK13 was found versus phosphorylase b (Ki = 1.8 μM) and noncompetitive inhibition versus ATP. PhK5 showed noncompetitive inhibition with respect to both phosphorylase b and ATP. Calmodulin released the inhibition caused by both peptides. These results indicate that there are two distinct autoinhibitory domains within the C terminus of the γ-subunit and that these two domains overlap with the calmodulin-binding regions. Two mutant forms of γ1-300, E111K and E154R, were used to probe the enzyme-substrate-binding region using peptide substrate analogs corresponding to residues 9-18 of phosphorylase b (KRK11Q12ISVRGL). The data suggest that Glu154 interacts with the P-3 position of the substrate (Lys11) and Glu154 interacts with the P-2 site (Gln12). Both E111K and E154R were competitively inhibited with respect to phosphorylase b by PhK13, with 14- and 8-fold higher Ki values, respectively, than that observed with the wild-type enzyme. These data are consistent with a model for the regulation of the γ-subunit of phosphorylase kinase in which PhK13 acts as a competitive pseudosubstrate that directly binds the substrate binding site of the γ-subunit (Glu154 and Glu154).
The synthesis of antigenic determinants for yeast d-mannan, and a linear (1→6)-α-d-gluco-d-mannan, and their protein conjugates

Abstract 2- O -Benzoyl-3,4,6-tri- O -benzyl-1- O -tosyl- d -mannopyranose and 2,3,4-tri- O - benzyl-6- O -( N -phenylcarbamoyl)-1- O -tosyl- d -glucopyranose were allowed to react with partially blocked 2-[4-( p -toluenesulfonamido)phenyl]ethyl α- d -manno- and -gluco-pyranosides. Disaccharides having α- d -Man p -(1→2)-α- D -Man p , α- d -man p -(1→6)-α- d -Man p , α- d -Man p -(1→6)-α- d -Man p , and α- d -Glc p -(1→6)-α- d -Man p structures, and a branched trisaccharide having the structure α- d -Man p -(1→2)-[α- d -Man p -(1→6)]-α- d -Man p were synthesized. The oligosaccharides were deblocked with sodium in liquid ammonia to give glycopyranosides having a free primary aromatic amine which were converted into isothiocyanate derivatives with thiophosgene. The functionalized oligosaccharides were then coupled to bovine serum albumin to give protein conjugates.
Critical Race Theory as ordinary theology of African American principals

William Tate proposed that critical race scholars in education look to moral and spiritual texts to unpack and interrogate the workings of race and other forms of marginalization in schools. While Tate did not offer the ways in which this vision is manifest, the participants in this study situated themselves within a religio‐spiritual worldview through which they sought social justice in schools. The authors in this paper highlight a theoretical framework by an inclusive reading of Critical Race Theory as ‘ordinary theology’ to explore how Black female principals interrogate gendered and raced practices and promote social justice in schools.
Differential immunoglobulin class-mediated responses to components of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle in systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease

ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to determine whether patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) possess differential IgM- and IgG-specific reactivity against peptides from the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP).MethodsThe IgM- and IgG-mediated responses against 15 peptides from subunits of the U1 snRNP were assessed by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in sera from patients with SLE and MCTD and healthy individuals (n = 81, 41, and 31, respectively). Additionally, 42 laboratory tests and 40 clinical symptoms were evaluated to uncover potential differences. Binomial logistic regression analyses (BLR) were performed to construct models to support the independent nature of SLE and MCTD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves corroborated the classification power of the models.ResultsWe analyzed IgM and IgG anti-U1 snRNP titers to classify SLE and MCTD patients. IgG anti-U1 snRNP reactivity segregates SLE a...
Hemispheric potentials evoked by speech sounds during discrimination tasks.

Abstract We studied the feasibility of adapting the method of Wood et al. (1971) for determining cerebral dominance for language and did not obtain consistent asymmetries of evoked responses in the left hemisphere to stop consonant task (SCT) as compared with fundamental frequency task (FFT). Likewise, the right hemisphere-evoked potentials for SCT and FFT did not show consistent asymmetries. However, we did find that the evoked responses at T 3 were attenuated as compared with those at T 4 , regardless of the task performed (FFT pr SCt). These findings may be useful in developing a test for cerebral dominance for language.
Intensity-dependent regional cerebral blood flow during 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in healthy volunteers studied with H215O positron emission tomography: i. effects of primary motor cortex rTMS

Abstract Background The changes in brain activity produced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) remain unclear. We examined intensity-related changes in brain activity with positron emission tomography (PET) in normal volunteers during rTMS delivered to the left PFC. Methods In 10 healthy volunteers, we delivered 1-Hz rTMS at randomized intensities over left PFC with a figure-eight coil. Intensities were 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120% of the right-hand muscle twitch threshold. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) scans were acquired with H 2 15 O PET during rTMS at each intensity. Results Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation intensity was inversely correlated with rCBF in the stimulated and contralateral PFC, ipsilateral medial temporal lobe, both parahippocampi, and posterior middle temporal gyri. Positive correlations of rCBF with intensity occurred in ipsilateral anterior cingulate, cerebellum, contralateral insula, primary auditory cortex, and somatosensory face area. Conclusions The intensity-related inverse relationship between 1-Hz rTMS and prefrontal activity appears opposite to that seen with rTMS over the motor cortex in a companion study. Intensity-dependent increases in rCBF were seen in a number of distant cortical and subcortical areas with PFC rTMS, suggesting activation of left anterior cingulate, claustrum, and cerebellum. The regional differences in direction of rTMS effects and the greater activation of distant structures at higher intensities sug-gest the potential importance of higher-intensity prefrontal rTMS for therapeutic applications in neuropsychiatric patients.
Ab initio simulation of the properties of ferroelectric materials

Ferroelectric (FE) materials display very peculiar structural, electrical, and electromechanical features. Their properties have been addressed, by means of ab initio simulations, from 1990. Since then, a great number of different contributions has greatly expanded our understanding of this important class of materials; quite often, these contributions were based on novel theories, methods, and algorithms. Nowadays, many properties can be accurately computed and predicted from first principles for a given FE material. Even more important, the work of the last decade has revolutionized our qualitative view of the phenomenon of ferroelectricity at large. We review the major advances concerning structural and lattice-dynamical properties, spontaneous and induced polarization, dielectric and piezoelectric properties, and structural phase transitions at finite temperature. Special attention is devoted to illustrating the novel methods which made such advances possible.
Trace elements in aerosol particles from Bermuda and Barbados: Concentrations, sources and relationships to aerosol sulfate

The concentrations of selected trace elements and non-sea salt sulfate were determined for aerosol particle samples collected over the open North Atlantic Ocean as part of the Atmosphere/Ocean Chemistry Experiment (AEROCE). The concentrations of atmospheric sea salt and mineral aerosol, which together dominate the mass of particulate material in the atmosphere, were higher at Barbados than at Bermuda. In contrast, the impact of pollution sources on trace element concentrations was more evident at Bermuda than at Barbados. At both sites Sb and Se were enriched significantly over the concentrations expected from mineral dust or from atmospheric sea salt. Moreover, the concentrations of Sb and Se were correlated, and the observed Sb/Se ratios often were similar to those resulting from anthropogenic emissions. At Bermuda, the concentrations of Sb and Se co-varied with non-sea salt sulfate, suggesting that a significant fraction of the non-sea salt sulfate is anthropogenic. In a broader context, the synthesis of results demonstrates that trace element data are useful for evaluating the relative contributions of anthropogenic vs. natural sources to the budgets of non-sea salt sulfate in acrosol particles.
Barriers to and Facilitators of Interprofessional-Interdepartmental Interventions Unearthing Departmental Culture

This study evaluates how emergency department (ED) and medical intensive care unit (MICU) providers interact in the setting of a quality improvement project designed to enhance transport/care for patients from the ED to the MICU. Focus groups were conducted with nurses, residents, physician assistants, and physicians from the ED and MICU at baseline and 6 months regarding their thoughts on and perspectives of the intervention and working with colleagues from another department. Data were then analyzed utilizing a multistep coding scheme that identified key barriers to and facilitators of the interprofessional-interdepartmental intervention. Analysis also showed, however, that variances in departmental culture play a significant role in the willingness and ability of providers to practice interdepartmental team-based care. It is argued that anticipating and acknowledging these differences and designing systems to address them prior to launch will be essential to the development and implementation of effective interdepartmental quality improvement interventions.
Mathematical modeling of the movement of suspended particles subjected to acoustic and flow fields

Abstract When particles are subjected to an acoustic field particle trajectories depend on the particle and fluid compressibility and density values. Hence a combination of acoustic and flow fields on particles can be used to deflect and trap, or to segregate and/or fractionate fine particles in fluid suspensions. Using particle physics in an acoustic field, a mathematical model was developed to calculate trajectories of deflected particles due to the application of acoustic standing waves. The resulting second order ordinary differential equation was quite stiff and hence difficult to solve numerically and did not have a closed form solution. The analysis of the above equation showed that the basic problems with numerical solutions could not be ameliorated through the use of standard rescaling techniques. A combination of phase space and asymptotic analysis turns out to be far more useful in obtaining approximate solutions. An approximate solution was derived which enabled the calculation of the particle trajectories and concentration at collection planes in the acoustic field. Analysis of the solution showed that all the particles move toward the pressure node to which the particles are supposed to move. Particles with 2 μm diameter took approximately 20 s to reach that node. Then at the bench scale, the above technology was implemented by building a flow chamber with two transducers at opposite ends to generate an acoustic standing wave. SiC particle trajectories were tracked using captured digital images from a high-resolution microscope. The displacements of SiC particles due to an acoustic force were compared with the mathematical model predictions. For input power levels between 3.0 and 5.0 W, the experimental data were comparable to mathematical model predictions. Hence it was concluded that the proposed approximate solution was both quantitatively and qualitatively closer to experimental results than the simplified form ignoring the second order term reported in the literature.
Health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an individual’s perception of physical and mental health. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between symptoms and HRQOL in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), using a modification of a HRQOL model in COPD. Design A correlational descriptive design was used to examine the relationships between symptoms and HRQOL in individuals with COPD. Subjects A convenience sample of 58 subjects with a medical diagnosis of COPD, specifically chronic bronchitis or emphysema, was evaluated. Measures The Vertical Visual Analogue Scale, Baseline Dyspnea Index, Bronchitis-Emphysema Symptom Checklist, Positive and Negative Affect Scales, Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire, and Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 Health Survey were used. Results Variables that affected the physical health component of HRQOL included breathlessness, physical impairment, and reduced activities of daily living (adjusted R 2 = .52, P 2 = .58, P Conclusions Breathlessness, physical impairment, reduced activities of daily living, hopelessness and anxiety, and negative affective trait seem to contribute to physical and mental components of HRQOL in individuals with COPD.
Chinese democracy: The lessons of failure

China's experiments with democracy in this century were few in number, short in duration, and limited in their democratic characteristics. Democratic institutions malfunctioned in numerous ways. Nine sets of causes for the failure of Chinese democracy can be suggested: ideology, internal and external war, military intervention, Chinese political culture, underdevelopment, a peasant mass, flaws in the design of Chinese constitutions, moral failures by democratic politicians, or the lack of transactional benefits for military‐based elites in the process of democratic transition. Each of these factors is reviewed critically with an eye to its possible lessons.
Birthdate effects on school performance and adjustment: A longitudinal study.

AbstractThe effects of age at school entry on school performance and adjustment were examined by comparing six birthdate groups, each representing two months of the calendar year of school entry. School performance measures were tests of cognitive skills at school entry, parent and teacher ratings of performance at grade 3, and tests of aptitude and achievement at grade 4. School adjustment variables were ratings of behavioral and emotional functioning by parents at school entry and grade 3 and by teachers at kindergarten and grade 3. The use of school-based services was also assessed. Results indicated age group differences on cognitive ability at school entry, with the youngest group having the lowest scores and the oldest group having the highest scores. There were no age differences with respect to performance and adjustment in subsequent years.
Age‐related alteration in catecholamine activity within microdissected brain regions of ovariectomized fischer 344 rats

The effects of increasing age on catecholamine (CA) metabolism in microdissected brain regions and on serum and pituitary hormone levels were examined in ovariectomized Fischer 344 rats. Young (4 to 5 months old) and middle-aged (9 to 10 months old) normally cycling and old repeated pseudopregnant rats (21–22 months old, PP) were ovariectomized to eliminate the complicating effects of cyclic gonadal steroid fluctuations. CA metabolism was examined 2 weeks later. To determine CA turnover rates, each agegroup was subdivided into three groups, which were killed by decapitation 0, 45, or 90 min after administration of α-methyl-para-tyrosine (α-mpt). Dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations were determined in microdissected brain regions by radioenzymatic assay, and turnover rates were estimated. Steady-state concentrations of NE were not altered in middle-aged rats, but NE turnover rates increased in middle-aged rats in five of the six areas examined. While NE concentrations did not change with age in the median eminence (ME), NE turnover rates increased significantly in the two older age groups. These data indicate that the age-related decline in NE concentrations in several ventral diencephalic nuclei is preceded by a period of hyperactivity in noradrenergic neurons. DA concentrations were generally decreased in most areas examined in old versus young rats, with dramatic DA depletions (42–78%) observed in five regions. However, no consistent relationship between DA concentrations and turnover rates was seen either in regions with stable DA levels or in those which showed an age-associated decrease in DA concentrations. In the ME, a 42% decline in DA concentration was associated with an increase in the DA turnover rate in the oldest group of rats. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were similar in all three age groups of ovariectomized rats, while serum prolactin was elevated four-fold in old compared to younger animals. These data indicate that a complex pattern of regional alterations in CA metabolism accompanies the aging process and these may be related to the pseudopregnant state and hormone secretory capacity of aging Fischer 344 rats.
Futility-based offspring sizing

Parameter control in evolutionary algorithms (EAs) has been shown to be beneficial; however, the control of offspring size has so far received very little attention. This paper introduces Futility-Based Offspring Sizing (FuBOS), a method for controlling offspring size on a per generation basis without even requiring the user to set an initial offspring size value. We show that on several complex problems, an EA employing FuBOS performs on par with a highly tuned, fixed offspring size EA while being far more efficient in terms of fitness evaluations and much easier to tune as well.
Micro/nano engineering on stainless steel substrates to produce superhydrophobic surfaces

Abstract Creating micro-/nano-scale topography on material surfaces to change their wetting properties has been a subject of much interest in recent years. Wenzel in 1936 and Cassie and Baxter in 1944 proposed that by microscopically increasing the surface roughness of a substrate, it is possible to increase its hydrophobicity. This paper reports the fabrication of micro-textured surfaces and nano-textured surfaces, and the combination of both on stainless steel substrates by sandblasting, thermal evaporation of aluminum, and aluminum-induced crystallization (AIC) of amorphous silicon (a-Si). Meanwhile, fluorinated carbon films were used to change the chemical composition of the surfaces to render the surfaces more hydrophobic. These surface modifications were investigated to create superhydrophobic surfaces on stainless steel substrates. The topography resulting from these surface modifications was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and surface profilometry. The wetting properties of these surfaces were characterized by water contact angle measurement. The results of this study show that superhydrophobic surfaces can be produced by either micro-scale surface texturing or nano-scale surface texturing, or the combination of both, after fluorinated carbon film deposition.