cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emergency Messages in the Commercial Mobile Alert System

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiated the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) to ensure that emergency situations are effectively communicated to the general public. CMAS uses the existing commercial telecommunications infrastructure to broadcast emergency alert text messages to all mobile users in an area affected by an emergency. One of the limitations of CMAS is that the maximum message size is 90 characters of plaintext. This paper proposes an enhancement to CMAS that provides more detailed information within the 90-character text using an encoding technique. The viability of the enhancement is demonstrated using a prototype that generates and broadcasts CMAS emergency alerts to Android phones, on which an emergency response application intercepts, decodes and displays the alerts to users.
Neurotransmitter Transporters: Is Glycosylation Necessary for Function?

A detailed description of the glycosylation of proteins is beyond the scope of this chapter. A brief outline of the process of glycosylation is described (Fig. 1). Emerging nascent polypeptide in the rough endoplasmic reticulum acquires a core of oligosaccharide from dolichol pyrophosphate catalyzed by glycosyltransferase (Hirschberg and Snider, 1987). This initial core of sugar residues (two N-acetylglucosamine(GlcNAc), nine mannose and three glucose residues) undergoes post-translational processing in endoplasmic reticulum and golgi to yield a final form of the oligosaccharide core. The specificity of sugar residues in the core is due to the presence of specific glycosyltransferases which are cell and tissue specific (Hubbard and Ivat, 1981; Kornfeld and Kornfeld, 1985).
Anal Sepsis: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Presentation

Perianal sepsis is one of the most commonly observed anorectal lesions, leading to abscess formation and often fistula development. Despite its prevalence, it also remains one of the most challenging anorectal conditions to treat, often requiring multiple attempts and different management strategies. Fundamental to the adequate management of these conditions, however, is an understanding of anorectal anatomy and pathophysiology leading to abscess and fistula formation. Of interest, history is replete with ancient accounts of anorectal surgery, from ancient Egypt to Hippocrates, to John Ardene of England’s “Treatise on Fistula, Hemorrhoids and Clyster” written in 1367. A turning point for anorectal surgery came in 1686 when the French King Louis XIV, who suffered from a fistula-in-ano, ordered his physician Philip to conduct clinical trials on the available methods of fistula treatment at that time. After 1 year of studies, the first “evidence-based” decision in anorectal surgery was made and the king submitted to a fistulotomy that ultimately cured him.
An a priori solution to the replication crisis

Possibly, the replication crisis constitutes the most important problem in psychology. It calls into question whether psychology is a science. Existing conceptualizations of replicability depend on...
Market Responses to Consumer Demand and Regulatory Change

Publisher Summary Consumer concerns about current commercially grown genetically modified organisms (GMO) determine their marketability in some cases. At the same time, GMO adoption has preceded rapidly in the US, as well as in other major producing countries. As a result, the world market for corn and soybeans is developing a new channel for guaranteed non-GM crops to meet demand in markets where GMOs are not desired. For the remainder of bulk commodity trade, supplies in all likelihood contain at least some GMOs due to the mixing that occurs in the marketing channel. This chapter explores the determinants of this process of market segmentation and the implications for the agricultural supply chain. Four sets of issues, beginning with consumer demand and moving up the supply chain to consider costs are explained. First, the size of emerging non-GMO market segments created by consumer demand or by regulation is examined. Secondly, labeling alternatives are tested and thirdly, alternative marketing arrangements for supplying non-GM crops are examined. Finally, the use of the first three issues to speculate on the direction of change for world markets is discussed in this chapter.
The Natural History of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Introduction Adolescent idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) affects 2% to 3% of the population of which only 0.3% to 0.5% of affected patients will have a curvature of >20 degrees, the curve magnitude at which treatment is generally recommended. For AIS the current natural history data is limited and most of the information comes from a small body of literature from the University of Iowa. Methods The Iowa natural history studies began as retrospective reviews but beginning in 1976, the cohort was followed prospectively. Outcomes assessed in this group of patients included; mortality, pulmonary function, pregnancy-(effect of pregnancy on scoliosis and the effect of scoliosis on pregnancy), radiographic, curve progression, and osteoarthritis. In addition, validated questionnaires were used to evaluate back pain, pulmonary symptoms, general function, depression, and body image. Results Patients with untreated AIS can function well as adults, become employed, get married, have children, and grow to become active older adults. Unfortunately, untreated scoliosis may lead to increased back pain and pulmonary symptoms for patients with large thoracic curves. Patients with untreated AIS can also develop substantial deformity, and the cosmetic aspect of this condition cannot be disregarded. Conclusions The summary findings of this unique lifetime natural history of AIS patients provides patients and parents a solid evidence base upon which to make informed decisions.
A Robust Scheme of Vertebrae Segmentation for Medical Diagnosis

Precise and reliable segmentation of vertebral column is crucial for accurate computer aided diagnostic system (CADx). It assists the radiologists and doctors in identifying various pathologies in the vertebrae with better visualizations. Accurate segmentation of vertebral disks and bones from the medical images is a tough job and becomes more challenging when dealing with various deformities and pathologies. While remarkable success was achieved by deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) in medical image segmentation, it is still a difficult task for DCNNs to handle the medical image segmentation problems with various deformities and anatomical complexities. In this paper, we propose a novel and efficient framework to address the subject problem by integrating a parametric level set approach in deep convolutional neural networks. The proposed scheme utilizes the probability map of pre-trained deep network to initialize the level set and it refines the output iteratively under the action of various forces to fine-tune the training of deep network. Thus the learning of the network is improved and the network is able to accommodate high topological shape variations in the vertebrae. This proposed method was evaluated on two different datasets. The first one is 20 publically available 3D spine MRI dataset to perform disc segmentation and the second one is 173 computed tomography scans for thoracolumbar (thoracic and lumbar) vertebrae segmentation. The dice score was found to be 90.37 ± 0.9 percent for disks segmentation and 94.7 ± 1.1 with ASSD of 0.1 ± 0.04 mm for thoracolumbar vertebrae segmentation. The results reveal that our proposed method is robust over multiple segmentations and outperformed the recently published state of art methods.
Constrained Hierarchical MPC via Zonotopic Waysets

A multi-level hierarchical Model Predictive Control (MPC) formulation is presented for constrained linear systems with finite operation. The control formulation guarantees satisfaction of both state and input constraints during operation and terminal state constraints at the end of operation. Coordination between controllers at different levels is achieved through the use of waysets. These waysets form terminal constraints on lower-level controllers that provide flexibility in short-term operation while guaranteeing the long-term ability to satisfy constraints beyond the prediction horizon of these controllers. The waysets are represented as constrained zonotopes to enable computationally efficient on-line calculation. Constraint satisfaction is proven for a hierarchy with an arbitrary number of levels while a numerical example with a two-level hierarchy demonstrates the key features of the approach.
Extended bladder catheterization for women with positive dye tests after obstetric vesicovaginal fistula repair surgery

Objective To determine the success rate and factors that result in a negative dye test after extended bladder catheterization after surgery for obstetric fistula. Methods A retrospective cohort study was carried out on women who underwent obstetric fistula repair in Malawi and had ≥14 days of bladder catherization. Variables such as age, class of fistula, previous repairs, menopausal status, and HIV status were examined for association with successful healing at the end of the catheterization period. Results Fifty-two patients had a positive dye test after the intended period of catheterization and the catheterization period was extended by 7 days. Of these patients, 29 (55.7%) had a subsequent negative dye test. Older women (mean age 28.4 years) who developed a fistula were more likely to have a negative dye test after extended catheterization, compared to their younger counterparts (mean age 20 years) (P=0.0018). Other variables were not found to be significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion More than half of the patients with a positive dye test had complete closure of the fistula defect after an extension of bladder decompression. It is reasonable to consider an extension of bladder catheterization for 7 days after an initial positive dye test.
Demonstrating School Counselor Efficacy in Individual Interventions Using Single-Case Research Design: A Guided Process:

School counselors are tasked with many activities, including demonstrating the effectiveness of interventions they use with students. The American School Counselor Association recommends that schoo...
Hospitalist and Intensivist Experiences of the “Open” Intensive Care Unit Environment: a Qualitative Exploration

Most U.S. academic medical centers employ “closed” intensive care units (ICUs), where critically ill patients are admitted under the supervision of intensivists managing dedicated ICU teams. Some centers utilize a unique “open” ICU structure, where primary services longitudinally follow patients who become critically ill into the ICU with intensivist comanagement. The impact of open ICUs on patient care and education of trainees has not been well-characterized. The objective of this study is to characterize affordances and barriers to education and patient care, from the perspectives of hospitalists and intensivists teaching in the ICU. We conducted semi-structured interviews with hospitalist and intensivist faculty at a large academic medical center with an open ICU structure. We coded deidentified interview transcripts to inductively analyze the data for themes and subthemes. We recruited hospitalist and intensivist faculty members who attend on teaching services in the open ICU system. Given the complexity of multiple teachers and learners in the ICU environment, we selected shared mental models as our primary theoretical lens through which we analyzed and interpreted our data. We identified three main themes regarding education in the open ICU system: (1) communication challenges, (2) educational barriers and affordances, and (3) structural barriers and affordances. Hospitalists and intensivists agreed on some barriers and facilitators to education, such as continuity of care, yet they disagreed on others. Specifically, hospitalists and intensivists had a shared mental model regarding barriers to patient care and education in the open ICU structure, but had divergent opinions regarding the affordances of the structure, such as continuity and availability of ICU expertise. The open ICU environment presents facilitators and barriers to trainee education and patient care. Our findings can be leveraged to improve communication, education, and patient care on both hospitalist and ICU teams.
The Bean Beetle Microbiome Project: A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience in Microbiology

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are an effective means of transforming the learning and teaching of science by involving students in the scientific process. The potential importance of the microbiome in shaping both environmental health and disease makes investigations of microbiomes an excellent teaching tool for undergraduate microbiology. Here, we present a CURE based on the microbiome of the bean beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus), a model system for undergraduate laboratory education. Despite the extensive research literature on bean beetles, little is known about their microbiome, making them an ideal system for a discovery-based CURE. In the CURE, students acquire microbiological technical skills by characterizing both culturable and unculturable members of the beetle gut-microbial community. Students plate beetle gut homogenates on different media, describe the colonies that are formed to estimate taxonomic diversity, extract DNA from colonies of interest, PCR amplify the16S rRNA gene for Sanger sequencing, and use the NCBI-nBLAST database to taxonomically classify sequences. Additionally, students extract total DNA from beetle gut homogenates for high-throughput paired-end sequencing and perform bioinformatic and statistical analyses of bacterial communities using a combination of open-access data processing software. Each activity allows students to engage with studies of microbiomes in a real-world context, to apply concepts and laboratory techniques to investigate either student or faculty-driven research questions, and to gain valuable experiences working with large high-throughput datasets. The CURE is designed such that it can be implemented over either 6-weeks (half semester) or 12-weeks (full semester), allowing for flexibility within the curriculum. Furthermore, student-generated data from the CURE (including bacterial colony phenotypic data, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences from cultured isolates, and bacterial community sequences from gut homogenates) has been compiled in a continuously curated open-access database on the Bean Beetle Microbiome Project website, facilitating the generation of broader research questions across laboratory classrooms.
Scalable Fabrication and Metrology of Silicon Nanowire Arrays Made by Metal Assisted Chemical Etch

A scalable fabrication technique for silicon nanowires based on integrating nanoimprint lithography, metal assisted chemical etching (MACE), and spectroscopic scatterometry is presented in this article. The resulting wafer-scale process has demonstrated reliable and repeatable fabrication of high aspect ratio silicon nanostructures, and can provide cost-effective fabrication to enable applications in electronics, energy, point-of-use healthcare and sensing. Traditional pattern transfer using plasma etching suffers from etch taper and loss of feature fidelity at high aspect ratios, unlike MACE. However, MACE has largely been demonstrated in the literature over small areas, with scarce information on full wafer etching, critical dimension control, and etch depth uniformity. In this paper, we demonstrate a 100mm wafer high yield process to fabricate silicon nanowires. A large-area characterization of the process has been developed using imaging spectroscopic scatterometry. This scatterometry technique provides full wafer data on critical dimension control, etch depth uniformity, and presence of nanowire collapse defects. This work shows the promise of MACE as a next generation etch technology.
IoT-Based Unique Air and Noise Pollution Monitoring System

Humans around the world cause pollution but also suffer an extreme level of issues arising from the same, right from being an active contribution to the global warming crisis and to causing localized health problems to people who breathe the same air. Whereas the noise pollution side of things is slowly taking rise around the world due to the significant increase in personally owned vehicles and the shifting of heavy-duty industries into the city limits. This has an adverse role to play in the sanctity of one's mental and auditory health with certain extreme cases leading to deafness. Efforts are being made to enhance the conduciveness of the surrounding environment and reduce harmful elements by using top-notch technology and equipment. However these efforts require continuously updated databases, which is currently a field that neither possesses adequate amount of collected data nor the means to acquire the same. We propose a system which uses Internet of Things (IoT) innovation to collect the input data in real time to monitor and analyze the air quality and ambient noise. An IoT-based system operates on both automatic and manual modes for various operations like limit testing, solution suggestion procedures, etc. Emerging IoT technologies which are trending today, like IoT devices, can be used to assemble a huge amount of air and sound-associated data varying from time series data from sensors to spatial data from cameras to human observations gathered and recorded via mobile applications. In this model, the air quality sensor, the sound sensor, and temperature and humidity sensors are placed in the open surroundings, and the information gathered is transmitted to the data controller which in turn checks the obtained data against the set permissible limits and suggests necessary steps to ensure a safe and high-quality ambience.
Management of well appearing infants born to afebrile mothers with inadequate GBS prophylaxis: A retrospective comparison of the three approaches recommended by the COFN.

BACKGROUND There are three different approaches set forth by the Committee on the Fetus and Newborn (COFN) for managing asymptomatic neonates born to mothers with inadequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for early-onset Group B Strep (GBS) infection. The first approach is that of categorical risk factor assessments, and recommends that asymptomatic infants born to afebrile mothers with inadequate IAP for GBS be monitored with clinical observation for 36-48 hours. The second approach recommends serial physical examinations and vital signs for 36-48 hours to closely monitor changes in clinical condition for all patients. The Kaiser Permanente EOS risk calculator (SRC) is an example of the third approach, a multivariate risk assessment, and it takes into consideration several perinatal risk factors. This multivariate risk assessment then provides recommendations for reassessment and management based on presume risk of the infant developing or having Early Onset Sepsis (EOS). The aim of our study was to compare these three recently published recommendations from the COFN for the management of asymptomatic neonates born to afebrile mothers with inadequate IAP for GBS. STUDY DESIGN This is a retrospective study of asymptomatic neonates with gestational age ≥35 weeks born to afebrile mothers with indicated inadequate IAP for GBS between April 2017 and July 2020. Management recommendations of the SRC were compared to the recommendations of categorical risk assessment and risk assessment based on clinical condition. RESULTS A total of 7,396 infants were born during the study period, 394 (5.3%. to mothers with inadequate IAP. Recommendations for these infants according to both the categorical risk factor guideline and the clinical condition guideline include extended, close observation. However, the SRC recommended routine newborn care for 99.7%.f these infants. None of the infants developed EOS. CONCLUSION The SRC recommend routine neonatal care without enhanced and prolonged observation for nearly all asymptomatic infants born to afebrile mothers with inadequate IAP. As none of the infants in this cohort had EOS, further studies in a larger cohort are needed to establish the safety of SRC in neonates born to mothers with inadequate IAP.
Parallel hermite interpolation: an algebraic approach

Givenn+1 distinct points and arbitrary order derivative information at these points, a parallel algorithm to compute the coefficients of the corresponding Hermite interpolating polynomial inO (logn) parallel arithmetic operations usingO (n 2) processors is presented. The algorithm relies on a novel closed formula that yields the expansion of the generalized divided differences in terms of the given function and derivative values. We show that each one of the coefficients in this expansion and the required linear combinations can be evaluated efficiently. The particular cases where up to first and second order derivative information is available are treated in detail. The proof of the general case, where arbitrarily high order derivative information is available, involves algebraic arguments that make use of the theory of symmetric, functions.
Proving the Usefulness of Demonstrations: Using M&M's to Develop Attribute Control Charts.

Experiential-based mini-demonstrations are useful to facilitate student learning on a wide variety of topics. The purpose of this teaching brief is two-fold: (1) it outlines a useful mini-demonstration to teach attribute control charting when the sample size is unknown, and (2) adds additional proof that experiential methods positively impact upon student learning. The goal of this mini-demonstration is to assist undergraduate and graduate students to develop their hands-on statistical quality control charting and quality management concepts. By using this mini-demonstration in one operations management class and not another, students that participated in this mini-demonstration performed significantly better (p= .05) than their counterparts in testing. The mini-demonstration may be extended to include computer integration, used in small or large class sizes, and provides an efficient, effective use of classroom time to develop concepts.
Logarithmic spiral grids for image processing and display

Abstract A picture digitization grid based on logarithmic spirals rather than Cartesian coordinates is presented. Expressing this curvilinear grid as a conformal mapping yields many geometric observations useful for computer graphics and picture processing. The exponential mapping induces a computational simplification that suggests parallel architectures in which most geometric transformations are effected by data shifting in memory rather than arithmetic on coordinates. These include noise-free rotation, scaling, and some projective transformations. Conformality of the mapping also preserves many important local picture-processing operattions such as edge detection. Real-time animation or processing of arbitrarily shaded pictures is suggested.
Langley Research Center's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel: Testing Capabilities and Recent Modernization Activities

Description, capabilities, initiatives, and utilization of the NASA Langley Research Center's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel are presented. A brief overview of the facility's operational capabilities and testing techniques is provided. A recent Construction of Facilities (Car) project to improve facility productivity and efficiency through facility automation has been completed and is discussed. Several new and maturing thrusts are underway that include systematic efforts to provide credible assessment for data quality, modifications to the new automation control system for increased compatibility with the Modern Design of Experiments (MDOE) testing methodology, and process improvements for better test coordination, planning, and execution.
Performance of iterative methods for Newtonian and generalized Newtonian flows

We consider the use of accelerated gradient-type iterative methods for solution of Newtonian and certain non-Newtonian (power-law and Bingham models) viscous flow problems. The formulations are based on penalty and mixed finite element methods, and such factors as the effect of the penalty parameter, asymmetry, continuation and preconditioning are examined. Both primitive variable (mixed) and penalty finite element methods have been extensively applied to Navier-Stokes problems. In this study we consider the application of these methods to generalized Newtonian fluids (such as power-law fluids) and the use of iterative techniques for the solution of the associated Jacobian systems for Newton iteration. Most finite element codes employ sparse elimination solvers for system solution, and there are several open issues related to the use of iterative methods; such as, how efficient are modern iterative methods for Navier-Stokes problems and for generalized Newtonian fluids? What complications arise for mixed or penalty methods, and how is the convergence influenced by choice of penalty parameter? For Navier-Stokes problems the inertial term u - Vu for velocity u introduces a non-symmetric contribution in the discrete problem. This in turn will influence the choice of iterative method and performance of the method. In addition, this non-linear term will become more significant as the flow velocity increases (higher-Reynolds-number flows). Convergence of the outer Newton non- linear iteration is sensitive to the choice of starting solution iterate-the initial iterate should lie in a 'ball of attraction' of the solution to the non-linear problem. Parameter and arc-length continuation techniques may determine a sequence of solutions on a continuation path, thereby providing improved starting iterates and better iterative performance. In the present study we conduct several exploratory investigations and numerical experiments concerning these issues.
Endogenous excitatory amino acid release from brain slices and astrocyte cultures evoked by trimethyltin and other neurotoxic agents

Trimethyltin (TMT) is a toxic alkyltin compound that is known to produce neuronal necrosis in the CNS. The present study examined the effects of TMT on the release of excitatory amino acids (EAA) from cortical slices prepared from adult and aged (24 months old) rats. The calcium dependence of TMT-induced EAA efflux was evaluated and compared to other neurotoxic agents. The actions of TMT were also evaluated in an astrocyte culture model to assess glial contributions to TMT-induced EAA efflux. TMT (10–1000 μM) evoked a dose-related increase in GLU and ASP efflux during a 30 min incubation period and this efflux was sustained or slightly higher during a 15 min recovery period. TMT-stimulated GLU efflux was not altered in aged rats. TMT-induced GLU efflux was significantly reduced by removing extracellular calcium and including 10 μM EGTA in the incubation media. Calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, verapamil, flunarizine, amiloride, neomycin) and MK-801 did not significantly attenuate TMT-induced GLU efflux. Diltiazem (25 μM) produced modest but inconsistent reductions in TMT-induced GLU efflux from brain slices, and significantly inhibited the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from TMT-treated astrocyte cultures. TMT did not increase GLU efflux from glial cultures during a 30 min incubation period, but did significantly elevate GLU efflux during the 15 min recovery period. TMT evoked the release of EAA by both calcium dependent and independent mechanisms in brain slices. TMT at high concentrations also produced a delayed increase in glial GLU efflux. These studies suggest that excitotoxic mechanisms may contribute to TMT-induced neurotoxicity.
The spatial effects of a tax on housing and land

Abstract This paper analytically investigates the spatial consequences of a tax on housing and land. In general, a property tax is not spatially neutral; instead it disproportionately affects certain parts of the city. The property tax can therefore create distributional inequities and can distort the pattern of residential and industrial location. We derive conditions on locational preferences and housing production that determine which parts of a city will be disproportionately affected by a property tax. Empirical estimates suggest that central locations will be disproportionately affected by property taxes.
120-day comparative analysis of adhesion grade and quantity, mesh contraction, and tissue response to a novel omega-3 fatty acid bioabsorbable barrier macroporous mesh after intraperitoneal placement.

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate adhesion formation, mesh contraction, and tissue response to an omega-3 fatty acid barrier—coated lightweight polypropylene mesh (C-Qur) after intra-abdominal placement, and compare these properties to those of other commercially available meshes. Materials and methods. After randomization, 3 × 3 cm pieces of Atrium C-Qur, Mesh ProLite Ultra, Composix, Parietex, Proceed, Sepramesh, and DualMesh were sewn to the intact peritoneum on either side of a midline incision in 41 New Zealand white rabbits. Necropsy was performed at 120 days, and explants were evaluated for adhesion grade, adhesion amount, and mesh contraction. Histologic evaluation included extent of capsule formation, abdominal wall tissue ingrowth, degrees of inflammation and vascularization of the surrounding tissue, and the presence of mesothelialization. Results. There were no significant differences between the C-Qur mesh and the commercially available meshes tested with regard to adhesion grade or amoun...
Evaporation of Tungsten Under Various Pressures of Argon

Theory of the mechanism of the evaporation of a tungsten filament in the presence of an inert gas.---A theory of the evaporation of a heated tungsten filament immersed in an inert gas is developed in which it is assumed that the evaporating atoms diffuse through a film of stationary gas surrounding the filament. The diameter of the film is calculated from Langmuir's equation for the heat loss from a filament. The theory leads to the relation $\mathrm{maP}log\frac{b}{a}=\mathrm{constant}$, where $m$ is the rate of evaporation, $P$ is the pressure, and $a$ and $b$ are the diameters of the filaments and gas film respectively.Test of the theory. Rate of evaporation of a tungsten filament at 2870\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in a gas mixture, 86% argon, 14% nitrogen.---By measuring the loss in weight of the filament the rate of evaporation for various gas pressures was calculated. The rates varied from 230\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ gr/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ sec. in a vacuum to 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ gr/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ sec. at a pressure of 165 cm. It is shown that when $b$ is calculated from Langmuir's equation for heat loss the expression $\mathrm{maP}log\frac{b}{a}$ is actually constant for gas pressures in excess of 10 cm. The fact that the round filaments developed a hexagonal cross-section in accord with the normal crystalline shapes of tungsten grains is further evidence of the backward diffusion of evaporated metal with consequent condensation on the filament.
Effect of acetylcholine on St. Louis encephalitis infection in the mouse.

Summary and ConclusionsMice inoculated intranasally with the virus of St. Louis encephalitis were treated by the intraperitoneal injection of acetylcholine in large but well tolerated dosages. The survival rate of the treated animals was 55%, as compared to 31% for the control animals. Reasons are given for believing that the observed effect may be the result of alterations in cerebral metabolism.
Noninvasive Personalized Genomics

Whenever there is cell death, apoptotic cell free DNA fragments appear in the circulation of the host. These fragments, typically 145-160 base pairs in size, represent a minute fraction of total DNA in the host circulation. If care is taken to avoid host cell breakage, the apoptotic DNA fragments can be analyzed to provide information about the genome of the cells that produced them. In pregnancy, analysis of apoptotic DNA fragments has allowed the development of very effective noninvasive aneuploidy testing. Indeed it is possible to reconstruct the entire fetal genomic DNA sequence from these fragments. In cancer it is possible to view copy number, sequence, and epigenetic differences between the tumor and the host by analyzing circulating free DNA. While this work is still at early stages it is reasonable to predict that an array of useful noninvasive cancer diagnostic tests should soon result from such studies. It is furthermore likely that a careful search for informative apoptotic DNA fragments that differ in methylation from DNA in the circulation of a normal host might lead to methods for the early detection of other clinical situations that are characterized by inappropriate cell death.
Evolutionary learning of graph layout constraints from examples

We propose a new evolutionary method of extracting user preferences from examples shown to an automatic graph layout system. Using stochastic methods such as simulated annealing and genetic algorithms, automatic layout systems can find a good layout using an evaluation function which can calculate how good a given layout is. However, the evaluation function is usually not known beforehand, and it might vary from user to user. In our system, users show the system several pairs of good and bad layout examples, and the system infers the evaluation function from the examples using genetic programming technique. After the evaluation function evolves to reflect the preferences of the user, it is used as a general evaluation function for laying out graphs. The same technique can be used for a wide range of adaptive user interface systems.
Isolation and gas chromatographic characterization of some toxaphene components

Abstract Column chromatography of technical toxaphene on activated alumina reproducibly yields eight major fractions from which 2,2,5-endo,6-exo,8,9,10-heptachlorobornane and 2,5,6-exo, 8,8,9,10-heptachlorodihydrocamphene may be readily isolated by preparative gas—liquid chromatography. These and some other reported toxaphene components were characterized by gas—liquid chromatographic retentions relative to aldrin on packed columns of OV-101, OV-17, and QF-1, and on a capillary open-tubular column of OV-101. Structural assignments were revised for some components on the basis of retentions. The fractionation and isolation procedure may have general utility for separating toxaphene components, and the retention data form a convenient basis for component comparison.
The effect of growth rate control on the morphology of nanocrystalline diamond

In this paper, we report an effective means to grow nanocrystalline diamond films by increasing the nucleation rate and decreasing the growth rate through the adjustment of the CVD process parameters. Nanodiamond films with grain size as small as 5–10 nm by CH4/H2/N2 Microwave Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (MPECVD) and 10–20 nm by CH4/H2 MPECVD have been achieved with this technique. Utilizing the extremely small grain size of the nanodiamond films, we apply a novel nano-mold transferring technique facilitated by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to fabricate high aspect-ratio diamond nano-tips for enhanced electron field emission.
Note: A short note on the overpartition function

In this brief note, we give a combinatorial proof of a variation of Gauss's q-binomial theorem, and we determine arithmetic properties of the overpartition function modulo 8.
A Perspective on the History of Generabability Theory.

What psychometric and scientific perspectives influenced the development of G theory? What practical testing problems gave impetus to its adoption? What work remains to be done?
Hierarchical Role Immediacy and Superordinate Control Orientation: Notes Toward a Theory

This paper, which is a structural‐functional attempt to explain a restricted domain of interpersonal perception within the school as an organization, presents some of the author's findings as a clue to one possible effect of the hierarchically contrived authority system of the school on certain of the organizational participants' perceptions of one another. If the findings and theory are valid, they may help to explain one of the explicit ways in which the school may he exploitive of the individual—exploitive in the sense that not all of the individual's interpersonal needs may be equally relevant to the organization's strivings towards goal attainment. The economy necessarily associated with organizational goal attainment and the resulting expediency for an adequate flow of organizational authority may operate to induce a lack of organizational recognition of certain of the individual's vital interpersonal needs. The author proposes his notes toward a theory in an effort to explain how and why people come to perceive certain other people as they do within the context of the school as an organization.
An Investigation of the Physical Mechanism of Heat Transfer Augmentation in Stagnating Flows Subject to Freestream Turbulence

Experiments have been performed in a water tunnel facility to examine the physical mechanism of heat transfer augmentation by freestream turbulence in classical Hiemenz flow. A unique experimental approach to studying the problem is developed and demonstrated herein. Time-Resolved Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (TRDPIV) and a new variety of thin film heat flux sensor called the Heat Flux Array (HFA) are used simultaneously to measure the spatio-temporal influence of coherent structures on the heat transfer coefficient as they approach and interact with the stagnation region. Velocity measurements of grid generated freestream turbulence are first performed to quantify the turbulence intensity, integral length scale, and isotropy of the flow. Laminar flow and heat transfer at low levels of freestream turbulence (Tux ≅ 0.5–1.0%) are then examined to provide baseline flow characteristics and heat transfer coefficient. Similar experiments using the turbulence grid are then performed to examine the effects of turbulence with mean turbulence intensity, Tux ≅ 5.5%, and integral length scale, Λx ∼ 3.25 cm. At a mean Reynolds number of ReD = 21,000 an average increase in the mean heat transfer coefficient of 43% above the laminar level was observed. To better understand the mechanism of this augmentation, flow structures in the stagnation region are identified using a coherent structure identification scheme and tracked in time using a customized tracking algorithm. Tracking these structures reveals a complex flow field in the vicinity of the stagnation region. Filaments of vorticity from the freestream are amplified near the plate surface leading to the formation of counterrotating vortex pairs and single sweeping vortex structures. By comparing the transient heat flux measurements with the tracked vortex structures it is clear that heat transfer augmentation is due primarily to amplification of stream-wise vorticity and subsequent vortex formation near the surface. The vortex strength, length scale, and distance from the stagnation plate are key parameters affecting augmentation. Finally, a mechanistic model is examined which captures the physical interaction near the wall. Model results agree well with measured heat transfer augmentation.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The Generation of Large Numbers of Ice Crystals in an Electric Field

Abstract A very small electrically conducting wire or fiber, when charged to about 3000 V dc in a cold chamber with its air supersaturated with respect to ice, produces a dense streamer of tiny, free floating ice crystals in the temperature range −8 to −15C. Some of the crystals show evidence their structure is modified by the electrical field or that coagulation with other crystals or cloud droplets occurs. That similar effects occur in natural clouds is suggested by the occurrence of certain crystal types in snow storms. The concentration of crystals which form in the cold chamber could, if the phenomenon occurs in convective clouds, readily explain the chain reaction mechanism which must occur when such clouds are rapidly glaciated. The suggestion is made that studies of the role played by tiny fibers in clouds should be initiated.
Longitudinal Residual Strains in Coronary Arteries

Constitutive formulation is fundamental to the study of vascular mechanics. A robust and accurate constitutive model can aid in the design of tissue engineered grafts or provide insights for growth and remodeling studies. Strains in constitutive model are defined with reference to a stress-free configuration. Therefore, identifying the appropriate stress-free configuration is important and has been the focus of many studies. Fung [1] and Vaishnav and Vossoughi [2] independently presented evidence showing that the traction-free state of a blood vessel is not stress-free due to the presence of residual strains. These residual strains are evident when a vessel ring in the unloaded state opens up into a sector in response to a radial cut. Chuong and Fung [3] proposed quantifying these residual strains by measuring the opening angle of the sector. The opening angle is defined as the angle between two lines which join at the midpoint of the inner wall extending to the tips of the inner wall at the location of the radial cut as shown in Figure 1. This technique has now become the canonical method for measuring residual strains in blood vessels. It is believed that this single radial cut can relieve a majority of the vessel’s residual stress [4].Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Statistical adjustments for brain size in volumetric neuroimaging studies: Some practical implications in methods

Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain data provide a valuable tool for detecting structural differences associated with various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Analysis of such data, however, is not always straightforward, and complications can arise when trying to determine which brain structures are “smaller” or “larger” in light of the high degree of individual variability across the population. Several statistical methods for adjusting for individual differences in overall cranial or brain size have been used in the literature, but critical differences exist between them. Using agreement among those methods as an indication of stronger support of a hypothesis is dangerous given that each requires a different set of assumptions be met. Here we examine the theoretical underpinnings of three of these adjustment methods (proportion, residual, and analysis of covariance) and apply them to a volumetric MRI data set. These three methods used for adjusting for brain size are specific cases of a generalized approach which we propose as a recommended modeling strategy. We assess the level of agreement among methods and provide graphical tools to assist researchers in determining how they differ in the types of relationships they can unmask, and provide a useful method by which researchers may tease out important relationships in volumetric MRI data. We conclude with the recommended procedure involving the use of graphical analyses to help uncover potential relationships the ROI volumes may have with head size and give a generalized modeling strategy by which researchers can make such adjustments that include as special cases the three commonly employed methods mentioned above.
Recent Advances In The Calculation Of X-Ray Optical Constants From X-Ray Attenuation Measurements

Dispersion analysis and sum rules have been used for many years to anal1yze experimental x-ray absorption data and to determine scattering factors from this data. It has been noted that there is disagreement between previously tabulated absorption data and well-known sum rules. There is also substantial disagreement between experimentally determined scattering factors and those that are predicted from scattering theory. We will show that the combined tools of sum rules and dispersion analysis can be used to guide one in determining where corrections need to be made in existing absorption data. Experimentally determined scattering factors can be taken into account in this analysis by the use of subtracted dispersion relations. This provides a check on the consistency of the absorption data used in the dispersion analysis.
Progress in Synthesis of Micro- and Mesoporous Composite Molecular Sieve

Micro- and mesoporous composite molecular sieves enable to achieve grades distribution of pore sizes and appropriate collocation of acidity,which have potential applications in catalysis and adsorption of large molecules.This review focus on some of the most recent results during the last decades.The techniques applied to synthesize different micro-mesoporous composite molecular sieves includes single template, dual template, crystallization of mesoporous walls, alkaline desilication, vapor-phase transport synthesis,and microwave radiation hydrothermal synthesis.
Promoting understanding of chemical bonding and spontaneity through student explanation and integration of ideas

This article explores the effectiveness of intervention discussion sections for a college general chemistry course designed to apply research on student preconceptions, knowledge integration, and student explanation. Two interventions, on bond energy and spontaneity, were tested and intervention student performance was compared with that of a control group that did not use the experimental pedagogy. Results indicate that this instruction, which identifies students' initial conceptions and integrates those ideas into class discussion, leads to enhanced conceptual understanding. The intervention group outperformed the control group on a written course midterm, the thermodynamics portion of a standardized American Chemical Society examination, and an in-depth interview. In interviews, the intervention group students explained the energetics of bond breaking and formation at a more sophisticated level than did the control students. In contrast, control students were more tenuous in their thinking, tended to contradict themselves more when discussing bond energy, and harbored more misconceptions about spontaneity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 39: 464–496, 2002
A New Childhood Social Studies Curriculum for a New Generation of Citizenship

Traditional concepts of civic education in the United States and the expanding horizons curriculum scope and sequence are challenged by globalization and transnationality because new understandings of citizenship are emerging. In our conceptual analysis, we reconceptualize social studies curriculum for childhood to meet these changes. First, we propose a theoretical framework synthesizing literature in the areas of multicultural, global, and democratic education. Second, we propose opening curriculum and research to the voices of students, especially transnational students. Such reconceptualizations have important implications for a social studies curriculum for childhood that is socially just and responsive to the changing sizes, types, and qualities of the communities with which students engage.