cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Separating Myth from Reality in Education: Introduction to the Special Issue

The field of education contains a diversity of practices that are intended to facilitate learning (e.g., learning activities and pedagogical methods). Practitioners, administrators, and students also hold many beliefs about learning that guide their approach to education. Although some of thesepractices andbeliefsare supportedbyempirical findingsfrom rigorousscientific research, many others have little or no evidence to support them. In order to improve education, it is critical to identify effective practices and accurate beliefs. Correspondingly, it is also critical to correct misconceptions about ineffective practices and inaccurate beliefs. In this special issue, Educational Psychology Review examines some common practices and beliefs in education with the goal of contributing to the ongoing effort to separate myth from reality. Each article in this special issue evaluates the evidence that supports a common educational practice or belief. In addition to providing valuable information about the evidence to support specific practices or beliefs, all of the articles model an evaluation process that could be applied to other practices and beliefs. The authors begin by defining and documenting the existence of the practice or belief. Next, they delineate criteria for evaluating the efficacy of the practice or the accuracy of the belief (i.e., How can this practice or belief be evaluated experimentally? What would constitute good evidence? What evidence should be disqualified and why?). After setting up objective criteria, they describeand evaluate the evidence for and against the practice or belief. Finally, they draw conclusions based on the strength and credibility of the evidence, discuss the implications for education, and provide recommendations for future research. Using this framework, each article in the special issue addresses a unique topic relevant to current beliefs and practices about learning. Some of the articles evaluate widely held intuitive beliefs about learning that turn out to be unsupported by empirical evidence. Finn and Tauber (2015) review the literature on the pervasive and misleading effect of the fluency of cognitive processing on students’ perceptions of learning. Situations that increase the fluency or ease of processing are widely believed by students to be efficacious for learning. However, the
Advanced characterisation methodology for engineered surfaces

In the recent years there has been an increasing interest in manufacturing products where surface topography plays a functional role. These surfaces are called engineered surfaces and are used in a variety of industries like semiconductor, data storage, micro–optics, MEMS etc. Engineered surfaces are designed, manufactured and inspected to meet a variety of specifications such as size, position, geometry and surface finish to control physical, chemical, optical and electrical properties of products. As manufacturing industries strive towards shrinking form factor resulting in miniaturisation of surface features, measurement of such micro and nano scale surfaces is becoming more challenging. Great strides have been made in the area of instrumentation to capture surface data, but the area of algorithms and procedures to determine form, size and orientation information of surface features still lacks the advancement needed to support the characterisation requirements of R&D and high volume manufacturing.
Structural behavior of a cable stayed bridge through the use of a long-term health monitoring system

The Zhanjiang Bay Bridge is a cable stayed bridge with a main span of 480m. Structural behavior due to thermal effects is presented in this paper in according to data received from a health monitoring system (HMS) since 2006. Data obtained from the analysis includes temperature gradients and time lags in the steel box girder, concrete tower, and stayed cables. By comparing the measured and calculated thermal displacements, it was possible to estimate the unmeasured thermal gradient on the surface of the towers as well as to determine that one of the expansion joints was likely constrained and contributing to the bridges asymmetrical displacement.
IRS2 integrates insulin/IGF1 signalling with metabolism, neurodegeneration and longevity

Understanding how metabolism and nutrient homeostasis integrates with life span and neurodegeneration is a complicated undertaking. Important inconsistencies have emerged recently regarding the role of insulin-like signalling and the progression of neurodegenerative disease. Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are associated with clinical Alzheimer's disease, whereas study in lower organisms shows that reduced insulin-like signalling slows the progressive neurodegeneration and increases life span. From a clinical perspective, compensatory hyperinsulinaemia to overcome systemic insulin resistance is thought to be a healthy goal, because it circumvents immediate catastrophic consequences of hyperglycaemia; however, study in flies, nematodes and mice indicate that excess insulin signalling can damage cellular function and accelerate ageing. Maintenance of the central nervous system (CNS) has particular importance for life span and metabolism. A conflict arises because reduced insulin/IGF1 signalling in the CNS is associated with longevity, but can dysregulate glucose and energy homeostasis, and promote overweight. Here, we explore how the genetic manipulation of insulin/IGF1 signalling system can influence systemic metabolism, life span and neurodegeneration.
On contact lithography of high-aspect-ratio features with incoherent broadband ultraviolet illumination

The electromagnetic response of a system, comprising a quartz binary phase-shift mask in contact with a photoresist layer over a silicon wafer and exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light in the 250-610 nm spectral regime, was computed with emphasis on absorption in the photoresist. Results indicate that high-aspect-ratio features can be produced by incoherent broadband illumination, consistently with recent experimental findings.
Electroanatomic Substrate and Ablation Outcome for Suspected Epicardial Ventricular Tachycardia in Left Ventricular Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

Objectives The aim of the study was to define the epicardial substrate and ablation outcome in patients with left ventricular nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and suspected epicardial ventricular tachycardia (VT). Background Ventricular tachycardia in NICM often originates from the epicardium. Methods Twenty-two patients with NICM underwent detailed endocardial and epicardial bipolar voltage maps and VT ablation for suspected epicardial VT. Eight patients with normal hearts and idiopathic VT served to define normal epicardial electrograms. Low-voltage regions were also assessed for wide (>80 ms), split, or late electrograms. Results Normal epicardial bipolar voltage was identified as >1.0 mV on the basis of the reference population. Confluent low-voltage areas were present in 18 epicardial (82%) and 12 endocardial (54%) maps and were typically over basal lateral LV. In the 18 patients with epicardial VT on the basis of activation/pacemapping, the mean epicardial area was greater than the endocardial low-voltage area (55.3 ± 33.5 cm2vs. 22.9 ± 32.4 cm2, p 80 ms), split, and/or late electrograms rarely seen in the reference patients (2.3%). During follow-up of 18 ± 7 months, ablation resulted in VT elimination in 15 of 21 patients (71%) including 14 of 18 patients (78%) with epicardial VT. Conclusions In patients with NICM and VT of epicardial origin, the substrate is characterized by areas of basal LV epicardial > endocardial bipolar low voltage. The electrograms in these areas are not only small ( 80 ms), split, and/or late, and help identify the substrate targeted for successful ablation.
Histological and histochemical investigations on the Langerhans' islets of the frog (Rana ridibunda).

Summary The Langerhans' islets of the frog Rana ridibunda are built up of A, B, and D cells like other vertebrates. The phospholipids (Baker's test) are located in the capillary pole of the B cells, where also β-granules are present. In the cells of the endocrine pancreas there is found also some quantity of glycogen, but the reaction for zink is negative. The quantity of RNA in the cytoplasme of the islets' cells is minimum.
Moral License in Video Games: When Being Right Can Mean Doing Wrong

Research on video game violence has found largely consistent evidence that violence in video games tends to be associated with an increase in antisocial behavior. However, this body of work has mostly ignored one prominent feature of many violent games: moral decision making. It is possible that the influence of video game violence could change when moral decisions are brought into the context. One way video games change behavior is through changes in players' self-perceptions, a process called identity simulation. In addition, a perspective called moral license predicts that these effects should not necessarily be consistent across behaviors, in that people should try to balance selfishness with keeping the moral high ground across many behaviors. Therefore, moral choices (or immoral choices) in a video game may predict less moral (or more moral) behaviors right after the game. However, later behavior may revert yet again, creating a cycle of pro- and antisocial behaviors. The present experiment asks participants to make moral choices in a video game, and then measures their behavior on two subsequent tasks. Results indicate that taking what participants perceive to be the more moral mind-set in the video game predicts more antisocial behavior on the first task, but more pro-social behavior on the next task. These results support identity simulation and moral license processes in a video game and moral behavior context, and indicate that there may be greater complexity in video game violence effects than previously understood.
A Study on Flow Phenomena in Mixed Lubrication Regime by Porous Medium Model

A porous medium model is basically a macroscopic description of the fluid behavior and is considered more appropriate to the mixed lubrication regime. The present work has successfully combined the flow factor method, porous medium model and continuum percolation theory to investigate the flow phenomena in the mixed lubrication regime. Not only the lubricant flow can be solved but also the anisotropoic percolation threshold can be obtained. Instead of the flow factor which is singular near h=o, the lubricant flux iTself is considered. A new definition of the pressure flow factor which is more appropriate to the mixed lubrication realm is suggested
A computerized coding system for organs, tissues, lesions, and parasites of bivalve mollusks and its application in pollution monitoring with Mytilus edulis

Abstract A computerized coding system for evaluating effects of pathologic and parasitologic disease on bivalve mollusks has been developed. Date, geographic location, and organ system(s) involved can be compared with prevalence and intensity of gross and microscopic lesions as well as parasitic infections on an individual, sample, or specific parameter basis. The system is open-ended and can be easily modified or expanded as new parameters are recognized. Samples of 50 Mytilus edulis have been collected from 11 sites along the east coast of the United States from Virginia north to the Canadian border, examined, and analyzed using this system. Over 2000 lesions and/or parasites have been diagnosed from more than 700 specimens collected from these sites. The majority of lesions were inflammatory (15 types with almost 1000 examples). Degenerative changes were seen 600 times, repair and proliferative responses 60 times, and parasitic infections 300 times. The most frequent tissue involvement was in the vesicular connective tissue (> 600 lesions). Digestive glands had over 500 lesions, gill and plicate organs 300, and gonads 105. Lesions that appeared to be associated with pollution were inflammation, mucous cell hyperplasia, and ciliate infections in the gill.
Photovoltage in Conjugated Polymer Photovoltaics with a Titanium Dioxide Anode

We study the photovoltaic response of inorganic/organic composite devices containing the conjugated polymer, MEH-PPV, and a semi-transparent layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, which is similar to that employed in the Gratzel photoelectrochemical cell. Comparison of the photovoltage obtainable under illumination with either a Au, Ag, Al or Ca back electrode suggests that the built in potential is determined largely by the difference between the quasi Fermi level of the TiO2 under illumination and the work function of the back electrode. A qualitative model for charge generation and transport through the device is presented.
Ab initio study on the thermochemistry of vinyl radical and cation

Abstract The G2 calculations have been used to resolve current discrepancies in the experimental data on the thermochemistry of vinyl radical ( 1 ) and cation ( 3 ). The calculated enthalpies of formation for 1 and 3 (Δ H f 298 ( 1 ) =301.4 and Δ H f 298 ( 3 ) =1116.8 kJ/mol) agree well with some recent experimental estimates. While the G2 value of the adiabatic ionization energy for 1 (8.61 eV) differs from the recommended value of 8.25 eV, it is in very good agreement with the earlier experimental data of J. Berkowitz, C.A. Mayhew and R. Ruscic (J. Chem. Phys. 88 (1988) 7396): 8.59±0.03 eV.
Effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infants by maternal influenza vaccination status.

Background Influenza virus infection can predispose patients to secondary pneumococcal infections. Children are at greatest risk for pneumococcal infection in the first year of life and are not considered fully protected by pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) until their third dose at 6 months of age. Infants less than 6 months cannot receive influenza vaccination, though maternal influenza vaccination can protect infants. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 9807 mother-infant pairs enrolled in a managed care organization for infants born June 1, 2002, to December 31, 2009. Exposure was assessed for receipt of infant PCV only and the combination of PCV and maternal influenza vaccine (trivalent inactivated vaccine). Outcomes of interest were acute otitis media and medically attended acute respiratory infection in the first year of life. We estimated the adjusted incidence of illness, incidence rate ratios and vaccine effectiveness using the ratio of incidence rate ratios between the periods of noncirculating influenza and that of at least local influenza circulation. Results For medically attended acute respiratory infection, vaccine effectiveness for the combination of trivalent inactivated vaccine and PCV was 39.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.6%-46.7%) and for PCV only was 29.8% (95% CI: 11.4%-44.3%). For acute otitis media, vaccine effectiveness for the combination of trivalent inactivated vaccine and PCV was 47.9% (95% CI: 42%-53.3%) and for PCV only was 37.6% (95% CI: 23.1%-49.4%). Conclusion In infants, the combination of maternal influenza vaccine and infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccination confers greater protection from acute otitis media infections and medically attended acute respiratory infections than does PCV alone.
OPTIMAL COAGULANT CONCENTRATION, SOYMILK AND TOFU QUALITY AS AFFECTED BY A SHORT‐TERM MODEL STORAGE OF PROTO SOYBEANS

Soybeans were adjusted to water activities (Aw) from 0.60 to 0.81, and stored at 30C for up to 3 months. At 1-month intervals, soybeans were retrieved from the storage and processed into 10.5 Brix soymilk. The optimal coagulant concentration (OCC) for making filled tofu was determined using a titration method. Other soymilk characteristics, including total solids, protein, 11 S/7 S protein ratio, phytate, titratable acidity, pH and color, were also determined. Filled tofu was prepared from each stored soybeans with the respective OCC using MgCl2 or CaCl2. With increasing Aw or storage time, the OCC decreased significantly. The decrease in OCC was significantly correlated to the difference in soymilk titratable acidity and the change in soymilk pH. Soybean storage time slightly decreased the breaking stress and apparent Young's modulus of the filled tofu, particularly the MgCl2 coagulated tofu. With increasing Aw or storage time, the lightness and yellowness intensity of both soymilk and tofu decreased, whereas their redness intensity increased. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Tofu and soymilk are popular soybean foods. Using optimal concentration of coagulant in soymilk is the most critical step among many steps of unit operations during tofu manufacturing for achieving high quality tofu. Improper use of coagulant can lead to product failure and therefore significant economic loss for the manufacturers. The optimal coagulant concentration varies not only with processing condition, but also with soybean materials which are affected by variety and storage conditions. Acidity, pH and food color are important quality factors to influence taste and consumer acceptance. Soybeans are subject to storage and transportation before processing. Storage length and environmental humidity are two of important factors which affect soybean quality and processing property. This study provides very important information that is useful for the soymilk and tofu manufacturers in controlling product quality through the understanding of the chemistry and processing characteristics of stored soybeans. Manufacturers can utilize the methods presented in this article to calculate the optimal coagulant concentrations to avoid product failure and to produce the best quality products.
Fluid dynamics and mass transfer of interacting drops -a mathematical modelling approach

Abstract An accurate and computationally efficient description of the transport mechanisms of accelerating, interacting drops in a gaseous environment is important for the basic understanding of this particular class of two-phase flows and for the improvement/design of trace gas absorption, dense spray, and fuel droplet combustion processes. Modelling of such a complex system requires: (i) a system conceptualization which renders the multiple drop analysis mathematically tractable, (ii) the development of governing equations detailed and flexible enough to represent differential as well as integral system parameters, and (iii) an accurate and efficient numerical scheme for a useful computer simulation model. We started out with a lumped parameter approach where trace gas absorption with chemical reaction in a jet-like stream of falling drops was considered. This analysis yielded the aerodynamics of the jet-induced entrainment corridor, the velocities of the accelerating drops, and the mass transfer rate of ambient trace gases into the stream of drops. In order to gain more insight into the dynamics of interacting drops, we developed a distributed parameter model for the coupled two-phase momentum/mass transfer of spherical drops in the Reynolds number range 50
Influence of vitamins A, C, and E and β‐carotene on aflatoxin B1 binding to DNA in woodchuck hepatocytes

BACKGROUND There is extensive epidemiologic evidence suggesting a protective role for micronutrients in cancer incidence. This evidence comes from studies of fruit and vegetable intake and serum levels of specific micronutrients. There also is limited in vitro evidence demonstrating that micronutrients can influence the first step in carcinogenesis, binding of chemical carcinogens to DNA. These in vitro studies allow the determination of specific effects of individual micronutrients. The influence of micronutrients on DNA binding of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatocarcinogen, in mammalian cells is unknown. Woodchuck hepatocytes were used as a model to investigate the effects of vitamin A (all-trans retinol), C (ascorbic acid), ascorbyl palmitate (a synthetic lipophilic derivative of ascorbic acid), vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and beta-carotene on AFB1-DNA binding. METHODS Woodchuck hepatocytes were treated with 4 doses (0.080, 0.40, 2.0, and 10 microM) of [3H]AFB1 or with different combinations of AFB1 and the vitamins for 6 hours, and adduct levels determined. Western blot analysis of protein extracts of treated cells was used to determine the effects of vitamin A and beta-carotene on glutathione-S- transferase M1 levels. RESULTS Vitamin A inhibited formation of AFB1-DNA adducts in a dose-dependent manner throughout a concentration range of 34-122 microM by 40-80%. Vitamin C (0.080-10 mM) was much less effective than vitamin A as an inhibitor of AFB1-DNA binding. Treatment with 6.0-48.3 microM ascorbyl palmitate reduced adduct levels at lower AFB1 concentrations but had no significant effect at higher AFB1 concentrations. beta-Carotene and vitamin E enhanced covalent binding of AFB1 to DNA. Enhancement with beta-carotene was observed when both tetrahydrofuran or liposomes were used as the administration vehicle. Western blot analysis indicated that neither the vitamin A nor beta-carotene treatment affected glutathione-S-transferase M1 protein levels. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that micronutrients play a complex role in the process of chemical carcinogenesis. Although protective effects were seen with several antioxidant vitamins, increased DNA adduct formation was observed with beta-carotene and vitamin E. This antioxidant activity may be unrelated to the inhibition of DNA adduct formation. Additional studies are needed to understand the mechanism of enhanced adduct formation.
The flavor problem

Abstract It is noted that in any theory based on conventional mechanisms for SU(2) × U(1) breaking in which there is any explanation of what the flavors are, the scale for flavor changing neutral current effects is generically of the order of the SU(2) × U(1) breaking scale, 300 GeV. To make it much larger than 300 GeV requires an unnatural fine tuning of the parameters. This applies not only to dynamical mechanisms such as technicolor and the composite Higgs mechanism, but also to models with softly broken supersymmetry.
Impulse attenuation of waves emanating from a cylindrical cavity in anisotropic media

Abstract Closed form solutions are given for stress waves resulting from the application of exponentially decaying pulses applied to cylindrical cavities in anisotropic media. It is shown that the initial compressive impulse may decay with range at a much smaller rate than the total impulse; consequently, such a possibility must be taken into account for the design of instruments or other imbedded objects.
Nitrogen mineralization in high-elevation forests of the appalachians. II. Patterns with stand development in fir waves

Wave-like patterns of mortality and regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea {L.} Mill.) and Fraser fir (A. fraseri {Pursh.} Poir.) forests at high elevations in the Appalachian Mountains offer a unique opportunity to study the effects of stand development on nitrogen cycling. We sampled two fir waves, one with Fraser fir on Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and one with balsam fir on Whiteface Mountain in New York. Net nitrogen mineralization for 3 summer months at Mt. LeConte was high in the dead fir zone (47 kg-N/ha), lower in the regeneration and juvenile zones (24 and 21 kg-N/ha), and highest in the mature zone (61 kg-N/ha). This sampling period probably accounted for about 60% of the annual total. The pattern was similar in the balsam fir wave on Whiteface Mountain, with N mineralization rates of 39 and 33 kg-N/ha over 2 months for the regenerating and juvenile zones, and 43 and 54 kg-N/ha for the mature and dead zones. Throughfall nitrogen followed a fairly similar pattern, with rates ranging from 4.5 to 10 kg-N/ha for 2 or 3 months across all zones at both sites. Tension-free lysimeters indicated very little leaching of nitrogen below 30 cm depth (the maximum was 2.6 kg-N/ha), but these estimates may be low. We conclude that nitrogen mineralization is high at all stages of stand development, perhaps exceeding the uptake capacity of the trees. Rates of nitrogen leaching may be high in these ecosystems and should receive further attention.
Factors of problem behavior in visually impaired children

The Behavior Problem Checklist was completed by teachers of 104 students in a residential school for the visually impaired. Four separate factor analyses were performed. Additional analyses were conducted to determine the effect on the factor structure of sex, race, and age. Three factors that correspond to dimensions found in earlier research and previously labeled conduct disorder, personality problem, and inadequacy-immaturity were found. Overall, the visually impaired children tended to have problem behavior patterns similar to other populations, and these patterns were largely independent of the visual handicap.
Remodeling chromatin structures for transcription: What happens to the histones?

Activation of gene transcription in vivo is accompanied by an alteration of chromatin structure. The specific binding of transcriptional activators disrupts nucleosomal arrays, suggesting that the primary steps leading to transcriptional initiation involve interactions between activators and chromatin. The affinity of transcription factors for nucleosomal DNA is determined by the location of recognition sequences within nucleosomes, and by the cooperative interactions of multiple proteins targeting binding sites contained within the same nucleosomes. In addition, two distinct types of enzymatic complexes facilitate binding of transcription factors to nucleosomal DNA. These include type A histone acetyltransferases (e.g. GCN5/ADA transcriptional adaptor complex) and ATP-driven molecular machines that disrupt histone-DNA interactions (e.g. SWI/SNF and NURF complexes). These observations raise the important question of what happens to the histones during chromatin remodeling. We discuss evidence supporting the retention of histones at transcription factor-bound sequences as well as two alternative pathways of histone loss from gene control elements upon transcription factor binding: histone octamer sliding and histone dissociation.
Conformational changes induced in ionized poly(L-arginine) and poly(L-histidine) by sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Circular dichroism spectra have been obtained for cationic poly(L-arginine) and poly(L-histidine) in aqueous solutions containing varying amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The detergent induces a disorder-order transition in both polypeptides. In each case the transition is cooperative and occurs when the ratio of detergent to amino acid residue is near unity. The ordered structure formed by poly(L-arginine) is readily identifiable as an α helix. Poly(L-histidine) appears to form a β structure in which the 211-nm electronic absorption band of the imidazole group exhibits significant rotatory strength.
Partnership of PGC-1α and HNF4α in the Regulation of Lipoprotein Metabolism

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) is a transcriptional coactivator involved in several aspects of energy metabolism. It is induced or activated under different stimuli in a highly tissue-specific manner and subsequently partners with certain transcription factors in those tissues to execute various biological programs. In the fasted liver, PGC-1α is induced and interacts with hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and other transcription factors to activate gluconeogenesis and increase hepatic glucose output. Given the broad spectrum of liver genes responsive to HNF4α, we sought to determine those that were specifically targeted by the combination of PGC-1α and HNF4α. Coexpression of these two molecules in murine stem cells reveals a high induction of mRNA for apolipoproteins A-IV and C-II. Forced expression of PGC-1α in mouse and human hepatoma cells increases the mRNA of a subset of apolipoproteins implicated in very low density lipoprotein and triglyceride metabolism, including apolipoproteins A-IV, C-II, and C-III. Coactivation of the apoC-III/A-IV promoter region by PGC-1α occurs through a highly conserved HNF4α response element, the loss of which completely abolishes activation by PGC-1α and HNF4α. Adenoviral infusion of PGC-1α into live mice increases hepatic expression of apolipoproteins A-IV, C-II, and C-III and increases serum and very low density lipoprotein triglyceride levels. Conversely, knock down of PGC-1α in vivo causes a decrease in both apolipoprotein expression and serum triglyceride levels. These data point to a crucial role for the PGC-1α/HNF4α partnership in hepatic lipoprotein metabolism.
EVIDENCE FOR TWO DISTINCT TYPES OF PENICILLINASE-PRODUCING NEISSERIA GONORRHŒÆ

Since their recognition early in 1976, penicillinase (beta-lactamase)-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (P.P.N.G.) have been isolated in more than 15 countries. Most strains isolated in or epidemiologically linked with the Far East are relatively resistant to tetracycline in vitro, are phenotypically wild-type or proline-dependent auxotypes, and carry a plasmid with a molecular weight of 5800 000 (5-8 X 10(6)) daltons coding for beta-lactamase production. In contrast, P.P.N.G. epidemiologically linked with West Africa are more susceptible to tetracycline, require arginine for growth, and their gene coding for beta-lactamase synthesis is contained in a smaller 3-2 X 10(6) dalton plasmid. Moreover, 43% of the Far Eastern strains, but none of those from West Africa, have an additional 24-5 X 10(6) dalton conjugative plasmid which transfers the beta-lactamase R factor(s) to other gonococci. The presence of this conjugative plasmid may explain the relatively high prevalence of P.P.N.G. in certain areas of the Far East.
A note commenting on ‘Vocabulary control and information technology’ by Derek Austin

In the January 1986 issue of Aslib Proceedings, an article by Derek Austin entitled ‘Vocabulary control and information technology’ appeared. In this article, Austin quoted some of Harold Borko's writings, and while the quotes are accurate, Borko would like to provide some elaborations and explain his position in a little more detail.
Unfinished Conquest: The Guatemalan Tragedy

Spanning the years of civil war in Guatemala, "Unfinished Conquest" portrays an embattled country facing the third cycle of a conquest that began when the conquistadors arrived in the sixteenth century. As personal narrative weaves with reportage and oral testimony, we meet the victims, champions, and villains of a society torn apart by violence and injustice.
Teen Use of Emergency Contraception: Methods of Access and Perceived Barriers

Purpose: To examine the effect of policies regarding access to emergency contraception (EC) on promptness of use of EC and satisfaction with experience of using EC among adolescents.
When is your surgeon good enough? When do you need a "referent surgeon"?

Recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend mitral valve repair in asymptomatic patients at an experienced center, assuming the likelihood for repair is ≥ 90%. This has raised the question of how you define an experienced center (or surgeon). This article describes thoughts on the criteria that should make up a Center of Excellence: surgical training; intraoperative echocardiography; high volume; cardiology involvement; audit of clinical outcomes and outcomes of repair; and associated surgery for atrial fibrillation and tricuspid regurgitation. High-volume programs (≥ 140 mitral valve operations per year) have the lowest mortality and highest repair rate. Although some pathologic conditions may be repaired with a high degree of certainty by experienced (nonreferent) surgeons, considerable variation still exists. Recent publications of repair rates and outcomes using minimally invasive surgery and conventional surgery highlight this variability.
Surface finish quality of the outer AXAF mirror pair based on x-ray measurements of the VETA-I

We employ the X-ray measurements of the VETA-I taken at the X-Ray Calibration Facility (XRCF) of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to extract information about the surface finish quality of the outermost pair of AXAF mirrors. The particular measurements we consider are 1D scans of the core of the point response function (PRF) (FWHM scans), the encircled energy as a function of radius, and 1D scans of the wings of the PRF. We discuss briefly our raytrace model which incorporates the numerous effects present in the VETA-I test, such as the finite source distance, the size and shape of the X-ray source, the residual gravitational distortions of the optic, the despace of the VETA-I, and particulate contamination. We show how the data constrain the amplitude of mirror surface deviations for spatial frequencies greater than about 0.1/mm. Constraints on the average amplitude of circumferential slope errors are derived as well.
Mu and delta receptors: their role in analgesia in the differential effects of opioid peptides on analgesia.

Utilizing the mouse tail-flick assay, the rank order of analgesic potency for various opioids (i.c.v.) is beta h-endorphin greater than D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin greater than morphine greater than D-Ala2-met-enkephalinamide much greater than met-enkephalin much greater than leu-enkephalin. Assuming mu receptor mediation of analgesia, there is an affinity and analgesic potency (ie: D-Ala2-Leu5-enkephalin has 1/7 the affinity of morphine for the mu receptor but is 18X more potent as an analgesic). Additionally, sub-analgesic doses of various opioid peptides have opposite effects on analgesic responses. Leu-enkephalin, D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin or beta h-endorphin potentiate morphine or D-Ala2-met-enkephalinamide analgesia whereas met-enkephalin or D-Ala2-met-enkephalinamide antagonize opioid-induced analgesia. Using the enkephalins as the prototypic delta ligands (100 fold selective) and based on their effects on analgesia, we suggest that Leu-enkephalin-like peptides interact with the delta receptor as an "agonist" to facilitate and met-enkephalin-like peptides as an "antagonist" to attenuate analgesia. Given the biochemical evidence of a coupling between mu and delta receptors, we suggest that the mechanism of facilitation or attenuation of analgesia by the enkephalins is a direct in vivo consequence of this coupling. Further, the analgesic potencies of various opioid ligands can be better correlated to the combination of their simultaneous occupancy of mu and delta receptors.
Laryngeal Correlates of Frequency Change: A STROL Study

Vocal fold area and thickness were studied as a function of fundamental frequency of phonation using the stroboscopic-laminagraphic (STROL) technique. Two lamina-grams each were measured for seven ...
Stabilization of a Nitroxide with a β-Hydrogen by Metals: Structure and Magnetic Properties of Adducts of N-Oxy-N-tert-butyl-(2-pyridyl)phenylmethanamine with Mn(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) Hexafluoroacetylacetonates†

Transition metal hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes of a nitroxide bearing a β-hydrogen, N-oxy-N-tert-butyl-(2-pyridyl)phenylmethanamine (2-PyBNO), were synthesized and characterized. X-ray analys...
Sizing up metatranscriptomics

A typical marine bacterial cell in coastal seawater contains only ∼200 molecules of mRNA, each of which lasts only a few minutes before being degraded. Such a surprisingly small and dynamic cellular mRNA reservoir has important implications for understanding the bacterium’s responses to environmental signals, as well as for our ability to measure those responses. In this perspective, we review the available data on transcript dynamics in environmental bacteria, and then consider the consequences of a small and transient mRNA inventory for functional metagenomic studies of microbial communities.
Culture of mesothelial cells from bovine pericardium and characterization of their arachidonate metabolism.

Cultures of mesothelial cells from bovine pericardium were established and their arachidonate metabolism was characterized. The identification of the cultured cells was based on morphological observations, and by electrophoretic analysis of cytoskeletal proteins, which demonstrated a pattern previously reported for mesothelial cells. Factor VIII-related antigen was present by indirect immunofluorescence, but the cells had no thrombomodulin activity. The cultured pericardial cells metabolized arachidonic acid to 6-ketoprostaglandin F1α and a small amount of prostaglandin E2. The same metabolites were produced by pieces of intact parietal pericardium but not by pieces from which mesothelium had been removed. The cultured mesothelial cells produced 94.6 ± 60.4 (mean ± S.D.) ng/mg (n = 3) cell protein of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1α in response to the calcium ionophore A23187, 117.3 ± 13.6 ng/mg (n = 3) with exogenous arachidonic acid, 18.3 ± 11.3 ng/mg (n = 5) with bradykinin, 8.4 ± 4.3 ng/kg (n = 4) with histamine and 11.2 ± 9.7 ng/mg (n = 5) with thrombin. All of these values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control (2.1 ± 1 ng/mg, n = 5). From these results, we conclude that the mesothelial cells account for the arachidonate metabolism in the pericardium. The production of prostaglandin I2 occurs in response to physiological or pathological, agonists, and is substantial. That is, it is approximately the same as endothelial cells. The release of eicosanoids by mesothelial cells into the pericardial space may have a significant role in cardiac physiology and pathology.
Towards cardiac and respiratory motion characterization from electrophysiology data for improved real time MR-integration

Background Electro-anatomical voltage mapping (EAM) is an invasive technique used for the identification of ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrate and subsequent guidance of VT ablation [1]. The mapping of VT substrate is very timeconsuming procedure, requires highly skilled electrophysiologist, is associated with patient risk and is an invasive procedure. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI allows non-invasive evaluation of 3D structure of scar. Therefore, LGE has the potential to identify the VT substrate and can now be integrated in the current clinical platform for guidance of VT ablation as a roadmap. However, fusion of the two imaging modality is very challenging due to respiratory and cardiac motion during the mapping which results in large errors in data fusion. Our aim in this study is to develop a novel algorithm to detect the respiratory and cardiac-induced motion of the mapping catheter during the VT ablation to facilitate integration of LGE MRI to EAM data. Methods
Single bend wiring

Abstract The problem of wiring pairs of points with wires having at most one bend is considered. We develop an O ( n 2 ) algorithm to determine whether or not a set of n point pairs can be wired in this manner on a single layer. When this is possible, our algorithm generates the layout. We show that determining the maximum number of point pairs that can be wired in with at most one bend is NP-hard. The problem of determining the minimum number of layers needed to wire a set of n point pairs is also NP-hard.
Estimation for Partially Nonstationary Multivariate Autoregressive Models

Abstract For an m-variate (“partially”) nonstationary vector autoregressive process {Y t }, we consider the autoregressive model Φ(L)Y t = e t , where Φ(L) = I − Φ1 L − … − Φ p L p and det{Φ(z)} = 0 has d < m roots equal to unity and all other roots are outside the unit circle. It is also assumed that rank {Φ(1)} = r, r = m − d, so that each component of the first differences W t = Y t − Y t − 1 is stationary. The relation of the model to error correction models and co-integration (Engle and Granger 1987) is discussed. The process {Y t } has the error correction representation Φ*(L)(1 − L)Y t = −P 2(I r − Λ r )Q 2 1 Y t-1 + e t , where Q(I m − Φ(1))P = J = diag(I d , Λ r ) is in Jordan canonical form and Q' = [Q 1, Q 2]. It follows that the transformation Z t = QY t = [Zt 1t , Z2 2t ] t is such that the d × 1 process Z 1t is nonstationary with Z 1t − Z 1t-1 stationary while Z 2t is stationary. Asymptotic distribution theory for least squares parameter estimators of the model is first considered. A Gaussia...
Shoulder kinematics in subjects with frozen shoulder.

Abstract Rundquist PJ, Anderson DD, Guanche CA, Ludewig PM. Shoulder kinematics in subjects with frozen shoulder. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:1473–9. Objectives To describe 3-dimensional humeral motion in subjects with frozen shoulder and to determine whether a consistent capsular pattern of restriction was present. Design Descriptive study including repeated measurements of shoulder kinematics. Setting Motion-analysis laboratory. Participants Ten (9 women, 1 man) volunteers with a diagnosis of idiopathic adhesive capsulitis and 10 (9 women, 1 man) subjects with asymptomatic shoulders as comparison subjects. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Electromagnetic tracking sensors monitored the 3-dimensional position of the trunk, scapula, and humerus throughout active shoulder motions. Peak humeral positions relative to the trunk and scapula were determined for shoulder flexion, abduction, scapular plane abduction, external rotation (ER), and internal rotation (IR). Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, percentage of normal) were calculated and capsular patterns described. Results For humeral position relative to the trunk, subjects' mean peak motion was as follows: abduction, 98.4°; ER at the side, 4.5°; ER with the arm abducted, 33.5°; flexion, 116.9°; IR at the side, 54.3°; IR with the arm abducted, 17.8°; and scapular plane abduction, 113.4°. For humeral position relative to the scapula, subjects' mean peak motion was as follows: abduction, 46.4°; ER at the side, 34.7°; ER with the arm abducted, 45.3°; flexion, 70.5°; IR at the side, 10.3°; IR with the arm abducted, −6.4°; and scapular plane abduction, 61.7°. Conclusions Symptomatic subjects demonstrated substantial kinematic deficits during humeral range of motion. No single capsular pattern emerged.
A Theory for Invariant Object Recognition in the Frontoparallel Plane

We suggest a new computational theory for position, size, and orientation invariant recognition of planar gray-scale forms in frontoparallel view. The theory employs a spatial-frequency representation which approximates the complex-logarithmic conformally mapped Wigner distribution of a gray-scale image. Our discussion emphasizes the theoretical significance, method of computation, and practical utility of this powerful new representation for image pattern recognition.
Glutathione Depletion Down-regulates Tumor Necrosis Factor α-induced NF-κB Activity via IκB Kinase-dependent and -independent Mechanisms

Reduced glutathione (GSH) plays a crucial role in hepatocyte function, and GSH depletion by diethyl maleate was shown previously to inhibit expression of NF-κB target genes induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and sensitize primary cultured mouse hepatocytes to TNF-mediated apoptotic killing. Here we demonstrate in the same system that GSH depletion down-regulates TNF-induced NF-κB transactivation via two mechanisms, depending on the extent of the depletion. With moderate GSH depletion (∼50%), the down-regulation is IκB kinase (IKK)-independent and likely acts on NF-κB transcriptional activity because TNF-induced IKK activation, IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, NF-κB nuclear translocation, NF-κB DNA binding in vitro, and NF-κB subunit RelA(p65) recruitment to κB sites of target gene promoters all appear unaltered. On the other hand, with profound GSH depletion (∼80%), the down-regulation also is IKK-dependent, and a timeline is established linking the inhibition of polyubiquitination of receptor-interacting protein 1 in TNF receptor 1 complex to partial blockage of IKK activation, IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, and NF-κB nuclear translocation. Of note, pretreatment with antioxidant trolox protects against the inhibitory effect of profound GSH depletion on IKK activation and NF-κB nuclear translocation but fails to restore expression of NF-κB target genes, revealing both IKK-dependent and -independent inhibition. These findings provide new insights into the complex effects of oxidative stress and redox perturbations on the NF-κB pathway.
Assessment of Radiated Fan Noise Prediction Capabilities Using Static Engine Test Data

This paper describes further assessment of the CDUCT-LaRC code via comparison with static engine test data. In an effort to improve confidence in the use of CDUCT-LaRC for liner optimization studies addressing realistic three-dimensional geometries, inlet radiated fan noise predictions were performed at 54% and 87% engine speed settings. Predictions were then compared with far-field measurements to assess the approach and implementation. The particular configurations were chosen to exercise the three-dimensional capability of CDUCT-LaRC and it s applicability to realistic configurations and conditions. At the 54% engine speed setting, the predictions capture the general directivity and acoustic treatment effects quite well. Comparisons of the predicted and measured directivity at the 87% power setting were more problematic. This was likely due in part to the difficulties in source specification and possibly the nonlinear nature of buzz-saw tones at this engine operating condition. Overall, the approach captured the basic trends and provided a conservative estimate of liner effects from which relative performance metrics could be inferred.
Anterior resection for adenocarcinoma of the distal large bowel

Among 400 patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal large bowel, anterior resection resulted in more anastomotic leaks, postoperative urinary retention and diarrhea when used for lesions of the mid-rectum than when used for lesions of the proximal rectum or sigmoid colon. However, the operative mortality, long-term morbidity and 2 year survival were similar among patients with lesions at all three locations.
Counterpart experimental study of ISP-42 PANDA tests on PUMA facility

Abstract A counterpart test to the Passive Nachwarmeabfuhr und Druckabbau Test Anlage (Passive Decay Heat Removal and Depressurization Test Facility, PANDA) International Standard Problem (ISP)-42 test was conducted at the Purdue University Multi-Dimensional Integral Test Assembly (PUMA) facility. Aimed to support code validation on a range of light water reactor (LWR) containment issues, the ISP-42 test consists of six sequential phases (Phases A–F) with separately defined initial and boundary conditions, addressing different stages of anticipated accident scenario and system responses. The counterpart test was performed from Phases A to D, which are within the scope of the normal integral tests performed on the PUMA facility. A scaling methodology was developed by using the PANDA facility as prototype and PUMA facility as test model, and an engineering scaling has been applied to the PUMA facility. The counterpart test results indicated that functions of passive safety systems, such as passive containment cooling system (PCCS) start-up, gravity-driven cooling system (GDCS) discharge, PCCS normal operation and overload function were confirmed in both the PANDA and PUMA facilities with qualitative similarities.