cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overview on LTCC microfluidic device fabrication

Briefly introduce the structure and the application of LTCC cavity and microfluidics, as well as the fabrication method. Analyze the reason of LTCC cavity deformation when it is laminated and sintered. Expound the method of controlling cavity deformation with filling carbon sacrificial material, and progressive lamination process with no additional fugitive material. An example on LTCC meso-analytical system for chloride ion determination in drinking waters is introduced.
Role of mineralocorticoids in adaptation of rabbit cortical collecting duct after loss of renal mass.

The mechanism of compensatory adaptation and hypertrophy of the cortical collecting duct (CCD) was studied by in vitro microperfusion technique after surgical loss of functioning nephrons in the rabbit. Sodium transport was increased at 1 wk (lumen-to-bath sodium transport of 127 +2- 9 vs. 61 +/- 11 pmol.mm-1.min-1 in sham-operated animals, P less than 0.01) and 3 wk (111 +/- 19 vs. 54 +/- 7 pmol.mm-1.min-1, P less than 0.05) but not 16 h (81 +/- 13 vs. 78 +/- 8 pmol.mm-1.min-1) after loss of renal mass. The functional adaptation was accompanied by an increase in the size of the CCD. A rise in plasma aldosterone levels preceded and accompanied the increased sodium transport rate. Adrenalectomy at the time of reduction of renal mass totally prevented the development of both hypertrophy and sodium transport adaptation (sodium transport 15 +/- 8 pmol.mm-1.min-1). When adrenalectomy was combined with clamping the plasma aldosterone level in the nonstressed physiological range, compensatory hypertrophy and adaptation also failed to develop (sodium transport, 66 +/- 10 pmol.mm-1.min-1), but with high-dose aldosterone replacement both the hypertrophy and adaptation of sodium transport (130 +/- 23 pmol.mm-1.min-1) were restored. The results document the importance of increased mineralocorticoid activity in the development of compensatory hypertrophy and adaptation of sodium transport in rabbit CCD after loss of renal mass.
Innovative agents in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells. However, the overall survival of patients with MM has increased dramatically within the past decade. This is due, in part, to newer agents such as immunomodulatory drugs (lenalidomide, thalidomide, and pomalidomide) and proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib, carfilzomib, MLN9708). These and several other new classes of drugs have arisen from an improved understanding of the complex environment in which genetic changes occur. Improved understanding of genetic events will enable clinicians to better stratify risk before and during therapy, tailor treatment, and test the value of personalized interventions. The ultimate goal in this incurable disease setting is to reduce the impact of cancer- or chemotherapy-related side effects. Nurses and advanced practitioners are integral to the treatment team. Thus, each should be aware of changes to the current drug landscape. Targeted drugs with sophisticated mechanisms of action are currently under investigation. Patients gain access to newer drugs within the context of clinical trials. Awareness of such trials will help accrual and determine if therapeutic benefit exists. In this article, we will describe new agents with unique and targeted mechanisms of action that have activity in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma.
Preservice and beginning teachers’ perceptions of the influence of high stakes tests on their literacy‐related instructional beliefs and decisions

Abstract This longitudinal study examined preservice and beginning teachers’ perceptions of ways their literacy related instructional beliefs and decisions were affected by learning to teach in a high stakes testing environment. Data collection over a three‐year period included open‐ended survey responses from 64 teacher interns and individual interview responses from 8 former interns during the first and second years of teaching. Responses to the surveys and individual interviews were coded using themes that emerged from the data. Results of the study indicated that the preservice and beginning teachers varied in their perceptions of how high stakes tests influenced their literacy instruction. While many participants described strong influences of these tests on their instructional decisions, others reported only minimal effects. In addition, teachers frequently reported effects on their instructional decisions, but no effect on their instructional beliefs.
Theory and Practice in Geoarchaeology: A Brief Discussion with Examples

As previously noted, the first edition of this book did not contain any discussion of theory nor for that matter practice in geoarchaeology. In many regards, the present chapter reprises much of that banished discussion, hence the seemingly heavy reliance on articles that date from that earlier time period. Those discussions are still germane and have been largely retained from those preceding edits as well as updated. Henry Frankel (2012) in his four-volume treatise on the controversy of continental drift and the rise of plate tectonics theory makes it clear that plate tectonics theory is just that—a theory. There is no agreed upon explanation for the origin nor the mechanism for movement of the Earth’s continental plates. Plates move; that is proven, but that is the mechanism, not the reason nor the explanation. That said, continental drift-plate tectonics theory is the greatest theoretical accomplishment of the twentieth century by earth science. Before that time, geology made, perhaps, two salient contributions to the general knowledge of the Earth system. The first was the principle of uniformitarianism, as proposed by James Hutton, and established in geology by Lyell, as more than just a “method” for describing the Earth. Likewise, geology’s recognition of the antiquity of the Earth expanded our understanding of the natural world. Arthur Holmes published The Age of the Earth: An Introduction to Geological Ideas (Holmes 1913/1927) in which he presented a range of 1.6–3.0 billion years.
tPA and scuPA: New Concepts in the Treatment of Acute Stroke

Recombinant DNA techniques have allowed the synthesis of two relatively thrombus-specific thrombolytic enzymes, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and single- chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA, pro-urokinase), in quantities sufficient for clinical studies. The possible use of these interesting proteins in the treatment of acute thromboembolic stroke is the subject of this review. The hypothesis that is central to the possible use of these agents is that neurological function may be preserved and ischemic injury reduced if agents which produce dissolution of thrombi are given early in the course of acute thrombotic stroke [1]. Recent experience with local infusion of the conventional thrombolytic agents urokinase and streptokinase imply that fibrin-specific agents may have value in the treatment of acute stroke. The theoretical basis for the use of these agents follows directly from the molecular mechanisms of endogenous thrombolysis.
Quality of Pork Cooked by Stir-Fry and Two Microwave Procedures

AbstractTwo microwave procedures were compared with traditional stir-fry cooking for pork tenderloin. The microwave/heat resistant glass-plate method achieved a 26% energy saving, and the stir-fry method provided a 51% energy saving as compared to the microwave/browning utensil procedure. The meat cooked by the three methods did not differ in the sensory attributes of flavor, juiciness, color intensity or color uniformity. The meat cooked by the two microwave methods was less intense in aroma and less tender than the stir-fried pork, but the magnitude of difference between the means was small. Moisture, fat content, thiamin and riboflavin retention of the meat were not significantly different among the three cooking methods.
Modules of Finite Length and their Endomorphism Rings

Topics in this chapter are: (1) the Kurosh-Ore theorem for modular lattices 17.4; (2) the Schreier refinement theorem 17.6; (3) the Jordan-Holder theorem 17.7; (4) Fitting’s lemma 17.16; (5) theorems of Kothe-Levitzki and Kolchin on putting matrices simultaneously in triangular form 17.19 and 17.30; and (6) nilpotency of nil submonoids of monoids satisfying various chain conditions 17.19–25.
Anxiety symptoms prior to a prostate cancer diagnosis: Associations with knowledge and openness to treatment

Aim Research suggests that anxiety may be a common response to a cancer diagnosis, but research is needed to examine anxiety before diagnosis. Anxiety before diagnosis may relate to the comprehension of relevant health information or openness to potential treatments. This study examined anxiety and these outcomes in men who were waiting to learn of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Objectives One goal of this study was to determine whether anxiety would increase as men came closer to learning the results of their prostate cancer biopsy. Another goal was to test whether anxiety was associated with knowledge about prostate cancer or openness to different treatments. Methods Men (N = 265) who were facing a prostate cancer diagnosis were surveyed at two time points. Time 1 occurred at the time of biopsy, and Time 2 occurred immediately before men received their biopsy result. At each time point, men reported their anxiety about prostate cancer and their biopsy result. At Time 2, they completed a knowledge test of information about prostate cancer and reported their openness to different potential treatments. Results Anxiety symptoms increased as men came closer to learning their diagnosis. Also, higher anxiety was associated with lower knowledge and greater openness to particular treatments like surgery. Interactions showed that when anxiety increased from Time 1 to Time 2, having high or low knowledge mattered less to treatment openness. Conclusion Waiting for a cancer diagnosis is an important time period in which anxiety may increase and relate to information processing and openness to treatments. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Men undergoing prostate cancer screening have been found to experience high and low levels of anxiety. Research has shown that negative emotions like anxiety are common following a cancer diagnosis, but little research has examined emotions right before diagnosis. Anxiety has been associated with information processing and motivation to engage in preventive behaviours. What does this study add? Applies and tests a theoretical idea related to how anxiety may change as one approaches personally relevant threatening health feedback. Shows relationships between changes in anxiety and knowledge in the context of waiting for actual health feedback. Associates increased anxiety in the prostate cancer context with knowledge and openness to different treatments.
Military Operational Effectiveness

Sleep loss is a common reality in military operations and can significantly degrade a range of mission-relevant performance capacities. Military sleep research has focused on developing tools and techniques to measure sleep, model its effects on performance, and develop and test potential countermeasures to temporarily restore performance degraded by sleep loss. Without sleep, cognitive performance degrades about 25% for each 24-h period, but low-dose stimulants, such as caffeine, may be useful for temporarily sustaining performance. Commanders must view sleep as a critical need, and plan proactively for its resupply, just as they would for ammunition, food, or water.
Interactive effects of temperature, food and skeletal mineralogy mediate biological responses to ocean acidification in a widely distributed bryozoan.

Marine invertebrates with skeletons made of high-magnesium calcite may be especially susceptible to ocean acidification (OA) due to the elevated solubility of this form of calcium carbonate. Howeve...
From Rabindranath Tagore to Rituparno Ghosh: Domestic Space, Gender and the Nation in Chokher Bali

Chokher Bali is set in the years immediately preceding the Partition of Bengal. As a result, the domestic space in Chokher Bali is a space inscribed by the myriad strands of nationalism, tradition, modernity, femininity and questions of emerging consciousness about ‘the woman question’ that engage in a creative open-ended interplay. The present paper initially seeks to read this space of domesticity as a political space where the nation is expected to be performed through its women in the ghar, the home as opposed to bahir, the world. It does so by reading the novel together with Rituparno Ghosh’s film of the same title.
Enacting Skillful Research Performance through Abductive Reasoning

Few outsiders pay attention to organization and management research, suggesting we need to enhance our skillful research performance. We are uniquely able to address grand challenges that societies face since all involve organizing, but we fail to deliver on our capabilities because we focus instead on filling small gaps in our own theories and use constricted notions of rigor. I develop one way to enact skillful research that contributes to resolving grand challenges rather than just extend our own theories. Enacting more skillful research performance relies on abductive reasoning to cycle through formulating, evaluating, and reframing rich understandings that define and resolve practical problems. I explain how to use cycles of abductive reasoning and outline new criteria for publishing to support this enhanced enactment of skillful research performance.
Patient and clinician ethical perspectives on the 2006 Centers for Disease Control and prevention HIV testing methods.

Objectives.CDC 2006 recommendations for new HIV testing methods in U.S. health-care settings (opt-out approach, general medical consent, and optional prevention counseling) have been the subject of...
Correlates of Positive Parenting Behaviors

The present study examined the influence of maternal and child characteristics on parenting behaviors in a genetically informative study. The participants were 976 twins and their mothers from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study and the Twin Infant Project. Indicators of positive parenting were coded during parent–child interactions when twins were 7–36 months old. Child cognitive abilities and affection were independent correlates of positive parenting. There were significant gender differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on positive parenting, with shared environmental influences on parenting of girls and additive genetic influences on parenting of boys. Girls received significantly more positive parenting than boys. Differences in etiology of positive parenting may be explained by developmental gender differences in child cognitive abilities and affection, such that girls may have more rewarding interactions with parents, evoking more positive parenting.
An Aggregation Algorithm for Markov Chains

Chapter 12 uses a Markov chain model (Nix and Vose 1992) of a complete finite-population EA with selection, mutation, and recombination. Each state of the Markov model is a particular population of the EA. If there are N states, then the Markov chain model is defined by an N × N matrix Q called the “one-step probability transition matrix,” where Q(i,j) is the probability of going from state i to state j in one step. The n-step (transient) behavior of the system is described by the nth power of Q, Q n . For EAs, the number of states grows enormously as the population size (or string length) increases (e.g., see Table 12.1), which can make the models computationally intensive. Our motivation for examining the Markov chain models was to explore the differences between mutation and recombination in EAs. However, due to the large size of the models, this chapter makes an excursion and introduces a novel technique for simplifying Markov models, in order to automatically reduce the number of states in the model.
High-Throughput Screening of Plant Cell-Wall Composition Using Pyrolysis Molecular Beam Mass Spectroscopy

We describe a high-throughput method for estimating cell-wall chemistry traits using analytical pyrolysis. The instrument used to perform the high-throughput cell-wall chemistry analysis consists of a commercially available pyrolysis unit and autosampler coupled to a custom-built molecular beam mass spectrometer. The system is capable of analyzing approximately 42 biomass samples per hour. Lignin content and syringyl to guaiacol (S/G) ratios can be estimated directly from the spectra and differences in cell wall chemistry in large groups of samples can easily be identified using multivariate statistical data analysis methods. The utility of the system is demonstrated on a set of 800 greenhouse-grown poplar trees grown under two contrasting nitrogen treatments. High-throughput analytical pyrolysis was able to determine that the lignin content varied between 13 and 28% and the S/G ratio ranged from 0.5 to 1.5. There was more cell-wall chemistry variation in the plants grown under high nitrogen conditions than trees grown under nitrogen-deficiency conditions. Analytical pyrolysis allows the user to rapidly screen large numbers of samples at low cost, using very little sample material while producing reliable and reproducible results.
Health Services Research in Head and Neck Cancer

Scientists have studied the benefits of medical interventions for centuries. With the rapid evolution and growth of social medicine in the post-World War II era, research methods developed by clinical epidemiologists, demographers, economicsts, management theorists, psychologists, and statisticians joined traditional epidemiological research in studies of the medical care field. Utilizing these techniques and those that traditionally have been used by clinicians, a new field of research evolved which is frequently called “health services research”. It is best viewed as a field not a discipline, and for the most part is population-based.[1]
Co-dependent microstructural evolution pathways in metastable δ-ferrite in cast austenitic stainless steels during thermal aging

Abstract Cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS) are excellent alloys because they combine high corrosion resistance with high strength and toughness. However, they are susceptible to embrittlement upon long-term thermal aging at elevated temperatures. Thus, the microstructural evolution pathways during thermal aging need to be understood to predict and potentially prevent embrittlement. Atom probe tomography was used to identify and quantify the microstructural evolution pathways of the δ-ferrite in different CASS alloys aged for up to 10,000 h at temperatures between 290 °C and 400 °C. The four steels – CF8, CF8M, CF3, and CF3M − which vary by Mo and C concentration, each experienced spinodal decomposition of the δ-ferrite, and precipitation of G-phase clusters and Cu clusters attached to the G-phase. There were large differences in the extent of these features due to their Mo and C concentration. Using radial distribution function analysis, the interactions of constituent elements was found to determine the evolution of these features, with Mo and C specifically influencing the movement of Cr, Ni, Si, Mn, and Cu atoms due to their relative miscibility with these elements. The results will help inform predictive models for the use of duplex stainless steels for extended operation at high temperatures.
Twirling Triplets: The Qualia of Rotation and Musical Rhythm:

While musicologists have long noted that triplet rhythms evoke sensations of rotation in listeners, no theory has been proposed to account for this apparent association. To investigate this phenome...
Compliance with Cancer Quality Measures Over Time and Their Association with Survival Outcomes: The Commission on Cancer's Experience with the Quality Measure Requiring at Least 12 Regional Lymph Nodes to be Removed and Analyzed with Colon Cancer Resections.

Many quality measures in cancer care are process measures. The rates of compliance for these measures over time have not been well described, and the relationships between measure compliance and survival are not well understood. The National Cancer Database, representing cancer registry data from approximately 1500 Commission on Cancer (CoC) cancer programs, was queried to determine the rates of compliance, with the CoC’s colon cancer quality measure requiring 12 regional lymph nodes be removed at resection. Data were assessed in 2003, before the measure was reported to programs, through 2015. Measure compliance and risk-adjusted survival were examined by hospital type. From 2003 to 2015, 544,018 cases of colon cancer were analyzed for number of nodes removed. In 2003, compliance was 52.8% and National Cancer Institute (NCI) centers had the highest compliance rate (69.0%), followed by academic cancer centers (61.9%), comprehensive community hospitals (50.9%), and community hospitals (44.0%). Between 2003 and 2015, compliance improved for all hospital types, although differences remained. Risk-adjusted survival in 2009 was better at NCI centers [hazard ratio (HR) 0.76] than at academic cancer centers (HR 0.90), which had better survivals than comprehensive community programs (HR 0.93) when compared with patients treated at community hospitals. After introduction of this quality measure, performance at CoC-accredited hospitals improved over the subsequent 13 years, and survival by hospital type paralleled measure compliance by hospital type. This demonstrated measurement may be associated with improvements in performance, and that there are differences in performance and outcome by hospital type.
Acceptance of Self-Driving Cars: Does Their Posthuman Ability Make Them More Eerie or More Desirable?

The arrival of self-driving cars and smart technologies is fraught with controversy, as users hesitate to cede control to machines for vital tasks. While advances in engineering have made such autonomous technology a reality, considerable design work is needed to motivate their mass adoption. What are the key predictors of people's acceptance of self-driving cars? Is it the ease of use or coolness aspect? Is it the degree of perceived control for users? We decided to find out with a survey (N = 404) assessing acceptance of self-driving cars, and discovered that the strongest predictor is "posthuman ability," suggesting that individuals are much more accepting of technology that can clearly outclass human abilities.
Diffusion of nanoparticles within a semidilute polyelectrolyte solution

We studied the diffusion of charged gold nanoparticles within a semidilute solution of weakly charged polyelectrolyte, polyacrylic acid (PAA) of high molecular weight (Mw = 106 g mol−1) by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Nanoparticle size (d) was varied between 5 nm to 40 nm and PAA volume fraction (ϕ) in water ranged from about 8ϕ* to 33ϕ*, where ϕ* is the overlap volume fraction. The reduced diffusion coefficient – defined as −D/Do, where D is the diffusion coefficient in PAA solution and Do is that in neat water – has a weak dependence on the particle size. D follows a power law of the form ∼ϕ−0.5, which can be explained by a mean-field hydrodynamic theory in porous medium. Additional, rheology measurements showed a zero shear rate viscosity and shear thinning, which are typical of high molecular weight polyelectrolytes.
NanoCommunication-based Impermeable Region Mapping for Oil Reservoir Exploration

Oil continues to play a significant role in providing worldwide energy. Impermeable zones (i.e., underground areas that allow only few hydrocarbons-collecting fluids, to pass through) can cause significant challenges during the drilling and oil production periods. The problem of mapping an impermeable area has been investigated mainly using seismic sensors deployed on the Earth surface. The existing solutions continue to be imprecise. In this paper we propose a solution that employs nanodevices enabled with wireless THz communication capabilities. The nanodevices are deployed underground and collected as part of oil exploration and recovery. Wireless connectivity among nanodevices is used for mapping underground flow propagation paths, and implicitly, impermeable areas. Since the deployment underground of nanodevices is costly, in this paper we aim to reduce the number of insertion and collection/production wells. Through simulations, we show that our proposed solution achieves good accuracy in mapping impermeable zones, with a reduced cost.
Closely Observed Layers: Storytelling and the Heart

I excavate layers of dead people’s residential debris; my trowel gradually reveals the thousands of events that have created the layers and material fragments of past lives. At the same time, my mind buzzes with all the small stories that rise up out of the debris of the dead residents. This chapter, inspired by the writing of George Saunders, by Slow (Careful) Archaeology, and by Slow Data, finds the heart in the specifics of the archaeological record and the slow versioning of one story that emerges from them about a house and its 10 residents who lived and died and were buried at the East Mound of Catalhoyuk at least 9000 years ago.
Thirdhand Smoke Exposure Causes Replication Stress and Impaired Transcription in Human Lung Cells

Thirdhand cigarette smoke (THS) is a newly described toxin that lingers in the indoor environment long after cigarettes have been extinguished. Emerging results from both cellular and animal model studies suggest that THS is a potential human health hazard. DNA damage derived from THS exposure could have genotoxic consequences that would lead to the development of diseases. However, THS exposure-induced interference with fundamental DNA transactions such as replication and transcription, and the role of DNA repair in ameliorating such effects, remain unexplored. Here, we found that THS exposure increased the percentage of cells in S-phase, suggesting impaired S-phase progression. Key DNA damage response proteins including RPA, ATR, ATM, CHK1, and BRCA1 were activated in lung cells exposed to THS, consistent with replication stress. In addition, THS exposure caused increased 53BP1 foci, indicating DNA double-strand break induction. Consistent with these results, we observed increased micronuclei formation, a marker of genomic instability, in THS-exposed cells. Exposure to THS also caused a significant increase in phosphorylated RNA Polymerase II engaged in transcription elongation, suggesting an increase in transcription-blocking lesions. In agreement with this conclusion, ongoing RNA synthesis was very significantly reduced by THS exposure. Loss of nucleotide excision repair exacerbated the reduction in RNA synthesis, suggesting that bulky DNA adducts formed by THS are blocks to transcription. The adverse impact on both replication and transcription supports genotoxic stress as a result of THS exposure, with important implications for both cancer and other diseases.
What Role Should Investigative Facts Play in the Evaluation of Forensic Science Evidence

Concern about contextual bias has led some authorities to recommend that forensic scientists know as little as possible about the facts of the underlying case when interpreting physical evidence; but concern about contextual ignorance has led other authorities to recommend, to the contrary, that forensic scientists know as much as possible in order to frame questions properly. This article recommends a case manager model that addresses both concerns. This article also responds to standard objections to the use of blind procedures in forensic science, explaining why contextual bias cannot be conquered through willpower; why use of domain-irrelevant contextual facts undermines the value of forensic evidence; how a well-known cognitive illusion (the ‘introspection illusion’) can mislead forensic scientists into thinking they can control their biases, when they cannot; and how a paradoxical feature of forensic inference (the ‘criminalist’s paradox’) can mislead analysts into thinking they should rely on contextual facts, when they should not.
Evaluating self-efficacy and personality differences of nursing students in clinical simulation

Background: This present research was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a clinical simulation where senior nursing students cared for a standardized patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The goal of the simulation was to teach the nursing students how to work with children with autism. In addition, the study aimed to determine if individual differences in personality affect students’ abilities to complete the simulation and how a student’s personality may affect their perceptions of the simulation. Projected outcomes included learning the use of appropriate communication strategies, improved assessment skills, prioritization of care, development of problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities when dealing with children with ASD. Methods: Simulations are verified as effective training mechanisms to increase students’ self-efficacy in multiple nursing settings. Therefore, seventy-five senior baccalaureate nursing students completed the standardized patient simulation for care of an individual with ASD. The effect on the students’ self-efficacy was measured using the Occupational and Academic Self-Efficacy for Nursing Measure, the IPEP-NEO short form, and an ASD simulation study questionnaire. Results and conclusions: Logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between personality measures and experience with ASD. The higher the openness and extraversion scores the more likely respondents were to disclose positive benefits in relation to expectations, communication strategies, teamwork, and reflection.
Efficacy, Cost, and Complications of Demineralized Bone Matrix in Instrumented Lumbar Fusion: Comparison With rhBMP-2.

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objectives:To evaluate demineralized bone matrix as an adjunct for instrumented lumbar spine fusion compared with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protei...
The high forecasting complexity of stochastically perturbed periodic orbits limits the ability to distinguish them from chaos

A long-standing question in applications of dynamical systems theory is how to distinguish noisy signals from chaotic steady states. Information-theoretic measures hold promise to resolve this problem. We apply two such measures to numerically computed phase-space trajectories of continuous-state nonlinear oscillators: forecasting or statistical complexity, which quantifies the minimum memory required for the optimal prediction of discrete observables, and the entropy rate, which quantifies their intrinsic unpredictability. We estimate empirical generating partitions to obtain discrete observables faithfully representing continuous-state chaotic time series. We focus on the problem of distinguishing stochastically perturbed periodic orbits from chaotic attractors that exist at nearby parameter values, in a region of the parameter space where a strange invariant set exists. We find that a stochastically perturbed, stable, high-period ( $$p=15$$ ) orbit of a periodically driven Duffing oscillator admits high values of both information measures, making it difficult to distinguish it from chaotic states at adjacent parameters, even with small noise. However, for a low-period ( $$p=3$$ ) orbit, such a distinction becomes easier, as both measures admit considerably lower values compared to a chaotic attractor at a nearby parameter. Furthermore, the forecasting complexity of the selected periodic orbits increases with noise as they undergo a transition to “noise-induced chaos.” For sufficiently high noise levels, our ability to distinguish chaos from noise depends on model-order selection when estimating forecasting complexity and also on the exact choice of discrete observables used to encode phase-space trajectories.
Cuddle-Calm Intervention to Strengthen Emotional Connection

Background: Healthy parent-child emotional connection (EC) enhances child development, reduces parenting stress, and is teachable. This study explored the feasibility and efficacy of a brief primary-care intervention to strengthen EC. Method: Together with the Nurture Science Program at Columbia, we created brief illustrated booklets titled “CUDDLE” and “CALM,” which are acronyms linked to simple rhyming couplets teaching parents how to strengthen EC and reduce emotional upset. Subjects comprised a convenience sample of mainly low-income parents of 2- to …
Mass Spectrometry-Based Methods for Characterization of Hypomodifications in Transfer RNA

Quantitative characterization of the identity and location of nucleoside modifications (added posttranscriptionally) in RNA molecules is the first step for associating them to biochemical functions and disease. This chapter examines the ways to reduce the RNA complexity for accurate identification and quantification of modifications in transfer RNA (tRNA). These analytical methods are organized under three subsections. (1) RNA purification: We will contrast the classical and the affinity-based purification methods for tRNA enrichment. (2) Modification detection and abundance: Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods involving high-energy collision dissociation and chromatographic retention time-based assignment will be compared. Ways to compute the relative abundance and application of multiple mass filters to document absolute amounts with external vs internal calibration for computing changes will be discussed. (3) Site-specific quantification: Relative quantification of modifications in the sequence context through isotope-labeling and signature oligonucleotide digestion products during RNA modification mapping will be examined. Thus, we will discuss a range of methods suitable for characterization of hypomodifications in tRNA (or any other RNA) in this chapter.
Interpreting Outcome Measures of Disease and Health in Cattle Research and Practice

Evaluating the association between multiple predictor variables such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and parity level on a dichotomous outcome such as a displaced abomasum or no displaced abomasum is common in dairy research and practice. The risk ratio (RR) can be estimated to evaluate the strength of the association, i.e., how likely the outcome is to happen based on the levels of the predictor variables. The purpose of this study is to outline an applied method for estimating the RR with PROC GENMOD using SAS software version 9.2. This estimate is preferred to the odds ratio (OR), which can sometimes overestimate the effect and can be difficult to interpret.
Chapter 4 The Neurospora crassa plasma membrane H+ -ATPase

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structure and dynamics of the Neurospora ATPase and other P-type ATPases, allowing the formulation of an approximate structural model for these enzymes. It discusses the information available on the catalytic mechanism of the H + -ATPase and enzymes within the framework of this structural model. From these considerations, relatively straightforward schemes for the molecular mechanisms by which the H + -ATPase and the other P-type ATPases might catalyze ATP hydrolysis-driven ion translocation can be visualized. Progress toward understanding any enzyme usually depends on the ease with which the enzyme can be isolated, the amounts obtainable, and the stability of the final preparation. The H + -ATPase gene sequence indicates the presence of eight cysteine residues in the molecule. To ascertain the chemical state of these cysteine residues, direct chemical studies with established cysteine and cystine reagents have been carried out. Titrations with the cysteine reagent—dithiobisnitrobenzoate—and the cystine reagent—nitrothiosulfobenzoate—indicated the presence of six free cysteines and one disulfide bridge in the molecule.
Linear quadratic tracking problems in Hilbert space - Application to optimal active noise suppression

A unified treatment of the linear quadratic tracking (LQT) problem, in which a control system's dynamics are modeled by a linear evolution equation with a nonhomogeneous component that is linearly dependent on the control function u, is presented; the treatment proceeds from the theoretical formulation to a numerical approximation framework. Attention is given to two categories of LQT problems in an infinite time interval: the finite energy and the finite average energy. The behavior of the optimal solution for finite time-interval problems as the length of the interval tends to infinity is discussed. Also presented are the formulations and properties of LQT problems in a finite time interval.
Charting the Postdramatic

Following in the tradition laid out by Michael Kirby and RoseLee Goldberg, Hans-Thies Lehmann in his Postdramatic Theatre (first published in Germany in 1999) attempts to define a critical vocabulary and landscape for what has variously been called performance, performance art, installation art, and so on. More simply, it's theatre, but a theatre which decenters the text as a defining element in the production
Current knowledge about skin-to-skin (Kangaroo) care for preterm infants

Skin-to-skin ("kangaroo") care for preterm infants is becoming widespread in Western Europe. During this care the mother holds her diaper-clad premature infant against her skin beneath her clothing and allows self-regulatory access to breast-feeding. Fathers hold their infants skin-to-skin also. Research projects in Western Europe and the United States provide data that support the safety and effectiveness of this method. Infants held skin-to-skin are warm enough and have regular heart rate and respirations, more deep sleep and alert inactivity, less crying, no increase in infections, greater weight gain, and earlier discharge. Lactation is more productive and of greater duration. Parents become attached to their infants and feel confident about caring for them. This research is summarized and annotated in a table, along with descriptive reports and videotapes. These data can be used by health care professionals to make informed decisions about offering kangaroo care opportunities to selected parents and their preterm infants.
Thin film solar cell with 8.4% power conversion efficiency using an earth‐abundant Cu2ZnSnS4 absorber

Using vacuum process, we fabricated Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells with 8.4% efficiency, a number independently certified by an external, accredited laboratory. This is the highest efficiency reported for pure sulfide Cu2ZnSnS4 prepared by any method. Consistent with literature, the optimal composition is Cu-poor and Zn-rich despite the precipitation of secondary phases (e.g., ZnS). Despite a very thin absorber thickness (~600 nm), a reasonably good short-circuit current was obtained. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements suggest a minority carrier-diffusion length on the order of several hundreds of nanometers and relatively good collection of photo-carriers across the entire absorber thickness. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The histochemistry of mucins in certain primate salivary glands.

Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of squirrel and rhesus monkeys and man contain histochemically demonstrable neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and sulfomucins. Judged by results obtained with a variety of staining procedures and by the effects of prior sialidase digestion, periodate oxidation and certain chemical modifications on the several staining procedures, differences are revealed in the types of mucosubstances within each cell type. Specifically, sialic acid-containing mucosaccharides are present uniformly in the mucous cells of the submandibular glands of both monkeys and in a posterior segment of the sublingual gland of the rhesus monkey. Sulfomucin is the predominant secretion of the sublingual gland of the squirrel monkey and is also found in the anterior portion of the sublingual of the rhesus monkey as verified by S35O4 = autoradiography. This latter sulfomucin is admixed with a small amount of sialomucin. One or the other or mixtures of these two mucins in about equal proportions are present in the mucous acini of human submandibular glands. Seromucous acini in the human submandibular gland form a granular secretion with strong affinity for aldehyde fuchsin possibly attributable to a sulfated mucosubstance. Other and perhaps some of the same seromucous acini in this gland produce a granular secretion containing sialic acid in probable proximity, as shown by the periodate-para diamine procedure after sialidase, to a hexose or deoxyhexose. A sulfomucin forms the major secretory component in the mucous acini of human sublingual glands. However, some mucous acini in this sublingual gland produce a mixture of sialo- and sulfomucins either in different or the same cells. Seromucous demilunes or acini in the human sublingual gland produce a granular secretion rich in sialic acid like that in the submandibular gland.
Hydroxystilbene isomer-specific photoisomerization versus proton transfer.

The ground- and excited-state acidities of 3- and 4-hydroxystilbene have been investigated in aqueous solution. Approximate pKa* values determined from the Forster equation are similar for the two isomers; however, 3-hydroxystilbene behaves as a photoacid in water, whereas 4-hydroxystilbene does not. Singular value decomposition with self-modeling is used to obtain more accurate pKa* values for 3-hydroxystilbene. The different behavior of the isomeric hydroxystilbenes is attributed to differences in their excited-state CC torsional barriers. 3-Hydroxystilbene has a high barrier and a long singlet lifetime, permitting proton transfer to compete with other singlet decay pathways, whereas 4-hydroxystilbene has a low barrier, and thus proton transfer cannot compete with CC torsion.
DTC marketing of genetic tests: the perfect storm.

The target article on “Direct to Confusion: Lessons Learned from Marketing BRCA Testing” by Ellen Matloff and Arthur Caplan (2008) perceptively outlines lessons from the direct-to-consumer (DTC) ma...
Measurements of boundary-layer flow and boundary roughness over Campeche Bank, Yucatan

Abstract Aseries of boundary-layer measurements was made at three anchor stations on Campeche Bank, Yucatan. Measurements consisted of current speed at six levels within 1.5 m of the bed, current direction, and stereophotographs of boundary. Analysis of the drag coefficient revealed that the boundary-layer flow was hydrodynamically transitional and the magnitude of the drag coefficient varied between 2·10 −3 and 6·10 −2 as a function of the flow conditions and bed configuration. These data appear to be representative of flows of an intermediate nature, not only in the observed variations of the drag coefficient with respect to Reynolds number but in the way that the drag coefficient correlates with other measurements made in low- and high-velocity environments, respectively.
Photodissociation of O2+(H2O)

Abstract The photodissociation cross section of the weakly bound positive ion cluster O 2 + (H 2 O) has been measured at 15 discrete energies between 1.833 and 2.727 eV. Measurements indicate the cross section increases smoothly from 0.6 to 6 × 10 -18 cm 2 over this energy range. These cross section values are the largest reported for a positive ion cluster of atmospheric importance.
Conformational analysis of alkylated biuret and triuret: evidence for helicity and helical inversion in oligoisocyanates

The conformations of several oligoisocyanates have been investigated by NMR in order to study the onset and dynamics of helicity in polyisocyanates. Pentaethylbiuret and hexaethyltriuret were found to adopt turns and helices in solution. For hexaethyltriuret, symmetric and asymmetric helices are present. Not only is an interconversion of these forms observed (ΔGSA‡ = 9.3 ± 0.4 kcal/mol) but also a reversal of helicity (ΔGPM‡ = 9.0 ± 0.4 kcal/mol). The coalescence pattern for the latter process provides direct evidence for a concerted, conrotatory helical inversion.
Amplitude Death Solutions for Stabilization of DC Microgrids With Instantaneous Constant-Power Loads

Constant-power loads on dc microgrids create a destabilizing effect on the circuit that can lead to severe voltage and frequency oscillations. Amplitude death is a coupling induced stabilization of the fixed point of a dynamical system. This paper applies amplitude death methods to the stabilization problem in this constant-power setting. The amplitude death methods provide an open-loop control solution to stabilize the system. Two methods, one using delay, the other using circuit heterogeneity, are examined. Each method is demonstrated through numerical simulations.
Field-stiffening effect of magneto-rheological elastomers

Abstract Magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) are a class of soft active materials known for their tunable stiffness. Dispersed with magnetic particles, these polymer-based composites tend to be stiffer under a magnetic field. Such a stiffening effect is often attributed to the magnetic interaction among filler particles, but the well-acknowledged dipole-interaction model fails to explain the stiffening effect in tension/compression, which was observed in experiments. Other mechanisms, such as the effect of non-affine deformation, have been proposed, but there is no conclusive evidence on the dominating mechanism for the field-stiffening effect. This paper investigates various filler-chain structures, and seeks to identify the ultimate origin of the field-stiffening effect in MREs. Two different methods are used for cross verification: a dipole-interaction model and a finite-element simulation based on continuum field theories. This paper studies both the shear and axial deformation of the material, with a magnetic field applied in the particle-chain direction. It is found that while the magnetic interaction between particles is indeed the major cause of the stiffening effect, the wavy chain structure is the key to the modulus increase. Besides, chain–chain interaction and non-affine deformation are shown to be insignificant. In addition, the dependence of the stiffening effect on filler concentration is calculated, and the results qualitatively agree with experimental observations. The models also predict some interesting results that could be easily verified by future experiments.
Quench propagation in high Tc superconductors

Abstract The quenching process in composite high Tc and low Tc superconductors has been studied in detail. Specifically, thermal stability and quench protection issues were addressed to gain a better understanding of how high Tc superconductors may be best used in superconducting magnet applications. A series of experiments has been performed to measure quench propagation velocities - a parameter that quantifies the quenching process - along short samples (≈12 cm) of both low Tc (niobium tin) and high Tc [BiPbSrCaCuO(2223)] composite superconductors as a function of operating temperature, transport current and background magnetic induction. A computer simulation has also been developed to predict the behaviour of these conductors during a quench. The simulation includes the temperature and magnetic field dependence of material properties and generates temperature profiles that are marched out in time. Simulated voltage traces are also generated for comparison with the experimentally recorded voltage traces. The assumption that quench propagation velocities are constant, generally used in quench analysis for low Tc conductors, is also reasonable for high Tc conductors and thus, velocities may still be experimentally extracted from high Tc conductors. In general, quench propagation velocities are two or three orders of magnitude slower in high Tc conductors than in low Tc conductors. This indicates that magnets wound with these conductors are unlikely to be self-protecting. For the same reasons that they are difficult to protect, they are likely to be much more stable in response to thermal disturbances than their low Tc counterparts.